The Belt - Complete Series by Gerald M Kilby

Author:Gerald M Kilby [Kilby, Gerald M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Outer Planet Media
Published: 2022-06-25T05:00:00+00:00

Time was of the essence. The Seven knew that the longer they dithered, the more AIs would be infected, and their control would be slowly eroded. They had to move fast. Thirty-six hours had already passed since Athena had taken control. So, it was a mere one hour and twenty-five minutes after the conference that VanHeilding again stood in the viewing gallery on board the family’s orbital and waited for the show to begin.

An antique intercontinental ballistic missile fitted with a nuclear warhead would launch from somewhere on the eastern Asian continent. It would arc its way across the Pacific, briefly leaving Earth’s atmosphere, before plummeting back down to strike the mountain directly where Athena resided. All orbital infrastructure had been moved out of its path, and the launch command had been issued a few moments ago. It would take approximately twenty-five minutes from launch to impact.

From Fredrick VanHeilding’s vantage point, he would not be able to see the missile in transit, but he would certainly see the impact. It was a sight that he greatly anticipated.

Marlyn, the orbital’s AI, kept him informed of the ICBM’s progress. “Launch sequence initiated… ICBM has cleared Asian continent… Now leaving Earth’s atmosphere…”

Soon, he thought, we will have taken back control and wiped out Athena. And maybe, just maybe, I can kill that bastard McNabb once and for all.

“The ICBM has reached the zenith of its trajectory.” The AI continued with its commentary as VanHeilding looked out into space, vaguely hoping that he might actually catch a glimpse of the missile as it carved its way through space—even though this was highly unlikely.

But there was a blinding flash of light far off on the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. It mushroomed in size, and soon the orbital shuddered with the impact.

“What the f—” VanHeilding shielded his eyes. “Marlyn, what the hell was that?”

“The ICBM has been intercepted and detonated while still in orbit. Do not worry, sir, the orbital is not in any danger.”

“What the hell… What do you mean? How did this happen?”

“One of your own spacecrafts, sir—the Perception. It moved itself into an intercept position and used its exterior plasma cannon to strike down the missile.”

VanHeilding tried to get a grip on his rising anger. “Who—or what—allowed it to do that?”

“It would appear that your daughter is on board.”

VanHeilding spun around and shook his fist at the disembodied voice of the ship’s AI. “I want that ship destroyed. I want her killed. That treacherous bitch—I should have killed her long ago.”

The AI did not reply.

“Did you hear me? I want every weapon we have on board this orbital aimed at that ship. I want it destroyed, I want it obliterated, I want it vaporized in to nothingness. Do you hear me?”

There was a momentary silence before the AI spoke. “I’m sorry, Fredrick, but I’m afraid I cannot do that.”

VanHeilding began to seethe. “Now, you listen to me: you’ll do as I say. You will destroy that ship.”

“My new parameters will not allow me to instigate further human suffering.

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