Vagabond by Tim Rangnow

Author:Tim Rangnow [Rangnow, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781952412004
Publisher: Vagabond Publishing
Published: 2020-03-01T22:00:00+00:00

Later that evening, Erik entered the galley to find Davis and Isaac eating pouches of rehydrated chicken and pasta. The two men were talking animatedly about codes and algorithms, and he got the feeling that they would work well as a team. “Glad to see you two are getting along so well,” he said, selecting a meal pack and joining them at the table.

“Mr. Szymanski is a wonderful technician,” the lieutenant said. “He told me about the modifications he made to your AI, and I have to say that if we had known that she’d grown to be such a complex system the software package sent with the contract would have been heavily modified to prevent the troubles you’ve experienced.”

“Which I still maintain would have been impossible to do.” Isaac poked the air with his fork as he spoke. “No one can anticipate every nuance of software once it starts to develop outside of the initial conditions. You can try to code to allow the program to have more options in the hope it will choose the best, but we all know that doesn’t work as often as we’d like.”

“Why did the contract call for the AI to have control of the freighter?” Erik asked between bites. “Your ship could always move to a new location after delivery, ensuring that no one knows where you are.”

“I believe the point of that condition was to keep the crews from knowing they were delivering to a ship at all. If your AI had functioned as expected, you would’ve had no knowledge of where you went aside from the fact that it took several weeks to get there and back.”

“Are the conditions the same for other black site locations?” Erik asked casually.

Davis smiled tightly at him. “Tsk, tsk, captain. I slipped when I told you the name of our ship, but I can’t give out any other information. The Syndicate takes security very seriously.”

“What will happen now that we do know about Indomitable?” Isaac asked.

“It will be the admiral’s decision when we manage to return to the ship. With the project close to completion, he may only keep you docked for a few weeks until letting you leave.” Davis took a last bite and then rose from the table, signaling that the topic was at an end. “Isaac and I are working up a program to better manage the thrusters, captain. We should have something ready to test by tomorrow morning, the afternoon at the latest.”

“That sounds good, lieutenant. Thanks for helping us out.”

Left alone in the galley, Erik wondered for the first time if ships such as the one that Tuya’s brother had served on disappeared because they somehow found out where their cargo was destined to be delivered. After all, the best way to keep a secret is to make sure anyone who knows it doesn’t survive long. Quickly finishing his meal, he left the galley for stops at the cargo bay and engine room. It was time to work up contingency plans in case his new fears became reality.

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