An Axe To Grind by Jon R Osborne
Author:Jon R Osborne [Osborne, Jon R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seventh Seal Press
Published: 2020-03-24T22:00:00+00:00
* * *
Ashok scuttled back to the shuttle, eager to return to his quarters aboard the Bountiful Excess. The crude shelter the Human mercenaries operated in barely reduced the ambient dust and reeked of their sweat and food stuff. The Human commander had remained adamant regarding the three-cycle delayâ72 of their hoursâdespite Ashokâs offer of additional financial incentive.
Perhaps he should have located the Besquith before opening negotiations? If the commander had delayed in hopes that his personnel could locate the quarry, Ashok could expedite the process.
âWhat did you find?â Ashok asked the elSha technician waiting in the shuttle. The shuttle shuddered with liftoff. Ashok grabbed the straps of his harness and secured himself.
One of the elShaâs eyes tracked Ashok. âThe mammals are cleverer than I gave them credit for,â the technician admitted. âThey detected our attempted intrusion.â
âI am quite aware.â Ashok remembered the large Humanâs outburst. His temper rivalled Master Archivist Heloxiâs. âThe commander objected to our investigations. Were they hiding an artificial intelligence?â
The elSha made a derisive click. âThese monkeys? Whoever provided the lead doesnât know much about AIs. The Humans use a multi-node, networked, virtual intelligenceâadvanced for themâbut not a self-aware AI.â
âItâs just as well they donât,â Ashok said. If the technician had discovered that the mercenaries harbored an artificial intelligence, it could have given Ashok another negotiating advantage. How would Commander Tovesson have reacted if Ashok threatened to expose their AI? Ashok shuddered in his safety harness. It was just as well they didnât have one. âWhat else did you find?â
âBoring stuff. Their roster and equipment manifest are out-of-date, so I hope enough gear and soldiers survived Peepoâs invasion for your mission.â
âThe commander seemed confident,â Ashok stated. Even if the Humans did not eliminate or capture the target, the attack should disrupt UCX operations. âHave you connected to the planetary network?â
The technician clicked again. âThey modeled their network on the GalNet but used out-of-date equipment. A trainee and a Lumar could hack this network. Do you want to know how many files depict mating activity?â
âNo.â
âA lot. I mean, a lot a lot.â The elSha shook his head in disgust. âWhat am I searching for?â
âFind out anything you can regarding Besquith incarcerated by the planetary government,â Ashok replied. âI am sending you two UAAC identities.â
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