The AI War by Stephen Ames Berry

Author:Stephen Ames Berry
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Science Fiction, American, General, Science fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780812531930
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1987-05-01T03:57:10.028000+00:00

12

"Here it comes," said R'Gal. He sat back, staring at the symbols threading across the complink.

"You're running a bleed-back," said N'Trol. He stood in the small circle that clustered around the gunnery console.

Entering gunnery control, R'Gal had gone to the dead console, sat and typed rapidly into the complink. D'Trelna had grunted as the complink came on, a small light amid the otherwise dark controls.

"What's a bleed-back?" asked John. He'd found over the past few years that though the technical details of a starship's systems were beyond him, what those systems did and why was usually clear.

"Bleed-back's a way of making the executing program display an algorithm," said N'Trol, intent on the complink screen. "You need Imperial machine code to do it, though—we have only the overlay code Fleet used."

"That's it," said R'Gal, tapping the screen as the readout finished.

"It's not even half a line long!" exclaimed the Terran. "And it's immobilized this huge ship?"

"E equals M C squared takes up even less space," said K'Raoda.

"There was a philosopher once," said R'Gal, busy at the keyboard again, "who maintained that all knowledge could be reduced to three bars." He whistled the three bars as he finished. "Ready, Commodore," he said, looking at D'Trelna.

"What now?" asked D'Trelna uneasily. He knew their mission lay in alien hands—knew it, and hated it.

"I've changed one variable," said R'Gal. "It should purge the system and restore computer. "But"—he held up a finger—"it may not restore the overlay—certainly the overlay will be permeable. It's going to need work."

"We can get along without the overlay," said L'Wrona. "Anything else?"

R'Gal nodded. "Ship'll be dead for a while—no power."

"Define 'a while,' " said N'Trol. "It gets very cold, very fast out here."

"A few moments only—long enough for Alpha Prime to wipe you."

They all glanced at the mindslaver, holding station at the other end of the Egg's weird shield.

"And the corsair?" said the commodore.

"Once we're operational, I can send them the algorithm," said R'Gal. "Providing their communications are still up. Otherwise, I'll take it over and enter it personally."

"Fine," said D'Trelna. "Do it."

R'Gal pressed Go.

Nothing happened for a moment, then the complink winked off. Outside, the shield disappeared—as did Alpha Prime.

K'Raoda broke the silence. "She jumped," he said, staring through the armorglass. "Why didn't she blast us?"

"Perhaps she was already jump-plotted," said N'Trol.

"He's right," said R'Gal. "You flatter yourselves to think you're the R'Actolians' lead priority. Wouldn't it be nice to know where she's going in such a rush?" he added.

A faint chirp, then lights and instruments came back on. A gentle rush of warm air filled the room as life systems returned to normal. Outside, restored to its usual configuration, the faint haze of the shield enfolded Implacable.

"Excuse me," said N'Trol, replacing R'Gal at the complink. Calling up ship's status, he watched as the readout scrolled by, L'Wrona hanging over his shoulder. When it had finished, captain and engineer exchanged glances.

"She'll do," said N'Trol. "Hangar deck's a mess, some of the electronics are crisped, and the computer's going to have some glitches, no doubt.

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