Ethan
I’ve seen those two-horned, hairy aliens again, the ones I spotted with CPO Thorne.
They look almost as if they’ve stepped out of a storybook, yet their competence and rigorous training are undeniable.
They took down that colossal vehicle, making the action look nearly effortless; they didn’t even break a sweat.
Their skepticism toward the zombie drones is clear, and I can’t blame them; after the destruction they’ve witnessed, skepticism seems like a survival trait.
I, anyway, decided to make it clear that my forces were not to be disturbed, relaying the concepts to Chief Thorne.
Claye’s people should handle the surrendering pirates since I can't deal with them now, that was the essence of my statements.
It’s not entirely true, but it’s better than admitting my limitations.
Without Virgil’s assistance, I have no remote control over these beings.
If that fact got out, I’d probably be shot on sight like a rabid dog.
Virgil decided to reboot at the worst moment, leaving a final directive: recover all the bodies from the battlefield and increase the ranks of the collective.
That’s what all the drones I brought are currently doing, along with carrier drones, and I can’t do pretty much anything about it.
Virgil also suggested naming the new machine, which is currently identified only by an unpronounceable code.
I’ve decided to call it Aeolus, fitting given its former role and supposed capabilities.
Lemela and Xyra will remain with Vexx. Xyra and Vexx have much to discuss so it’s not an issue.
Lemela wants to meet the general and ask to look for her former crew members, and while I would appreciate the company of the big feline, the call was nominal, so all I can do is plead her case if I get the chance.
I hope the general has some info about the slave trade on the planet, and with that, we can track her former crew.
The general’s daughter, Tessa, is a curious case. Or should I call her a case of curiosity?
Her relentless inquisitiveness is almost childlike, reminiscent of a six-year-old on a perpetual “why” streak.
It’s both annoying and understandable since I have a mountain of questions myself.
Virgil would probably suggest making Tessa part of the collective for efficient communication, and in a moment of frustration, I almost consider it.
I quickly remind myself of the downside of this 'solution', the collective isn't just a convenient tool for integration and information exchange.
I can’t deny it is a weapon, it is akin to the zombie virus in the movies I watched with my mates and my kids, I believe it was meant to unify all who face it in the canvas of the machine.
The collective kills and quashes individuality and freedom and I don’t want to kill Tessa as the person she currently is.
Tessa finally relented after I mentioned I was born between 1978 and 1979.
The shock was enough to make her refuse to tell me the current year.
Not knowing how long I’ve slept is frustrating, but what bothers me more is the fog surrounding my birth date.
Scratch that, too many dates I should remember are hazy at best.
Tessa is a doctor, but not the kind who would carry a red cross on the battlefield.
She specializes in nanites and is well-versed in their application to the human body.
Given what I’ve been through, it’s surprising I can remain coherent enough to recall most of my past.
It’s a disturbing yet oddly comforting piece of information, implying that the process used to revive me is unique.
General Claye Eligah, in stark contrast to his daughter’s youthful energy, exudes a grandparent-like demeanor.
He appears as a kindly elder, albeit one in a formal uniform and with a formidable presence.
He’s of average height, slightly stooped with age, his face deeply lined, and his salt-and-pepper hair, though thinning, is kept short and neatly trimmed.
His meticulously maintained beard and overall image hint at his continued adherence to discipline and protocol, reflected in his unfamiliar uniform.
His piercing blue eyes are sharp and unwavering, prompting me to stand at attention and salute him, acutely aware of his gravitas.
Despite his age and evident frailty, he carries himself with unmistakable dignity and authority.
The world I’ve awakened to is fraught with complexity and latent dangers, exemplified by the plasma rifle on Claye’s desk.
-At ease, Master Chief.- His voice is clear but strained as if using English is an effort. It’s also the first voice I hear loud and clear, without the translator kicking in.
-Thank you, General Eligah.- I maintain my composure, assuming the required position.
-I realize this may seem unusual, but I need a brief overview of human history since the early 21st century.
After an extended period of clinical death and cryogenic sleep, I’m significantly out of touch.
Could you provide a summary of major historical events, significant technological advancements, and the current political and social landscape?
I infer that my country may no longer exist, given that its flag is not present on your uniform.-
The general’s brow furrows, his gaze sharpening.
-Master Chief, given your condition, I cannot regard you as fully human.
Returning from clinical death is beyond current capabilities.
Additionally, considering the nature of your request, providing a comprehensive overview will be both complex and time-consuming.-
I glance at Tessa, frustrated by the plate’s inability to convey any expression and find myself asking aloud
- You tech specialists have not found a way to reverse cryosleep?-
-What you went through, that's not what we call cryosleep.
Your case was akin to dropping a steak in liquid nitrogen after dousing it in cryoprotectant to conserve it. It doesn't.
Even though we’ve refined cooling and thawing techniques, the cellular damage from such rapid freezing is usually too severe for our nanites to repair completely.-
-So aliens got to it first? But why take a random individual, and how did I end up so far from Earth?-
-By ‘aliens,’ I assume you mean the Granfi, given your modifications- Claye interjects, pausing my speech.
-Master Chief, I advise against using the term ‘alien.’ It’s considered too broad and offensive in today’s context. Remember, we are seen as aliens to them as well.-
There’s something beneath the surface when he uses the word alien, something he’s keeping at bay, but barely, as the general sighs and shakes his head each time he uses it.
-At least you speak and act like a human from before the first contact war. I assume you have no issues with my speech and that the translator hasn’t interfered.-
-Yes, sir, that is correct. Am I correct in assuming that English is no longer spoken? Thank you for the advice. I will take it to heart, sir.-
I was aware of the evolving norms regarding terminology from Lemela’s memories, but now I have confirmation. I suppose I’ll need to adjust my instincts accordingly.
-Yes, English as you know it is now a field of historical study, much like Latin. It’s studied to understand how our language and thought processes evolved over time. Our history is similar to most sentient species we know of; the day we learned we were not alone was the day our first contact war began. An alien empire attacked and plundered Earth.-
I can feel the deep scorn and seething rage in his tone as he pronounces the word he said it’s impolite to use.
If it elicits this reaction from someone as composed as the general, one from which I wouldn’t hesitate to believe he would scorch the galaxy clean if given the chance, I dread the reaction from someone more emotional.
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The sheer hatred and contempt dripping from that single word makes me reconsider all the times I used it as a joke or a go-to word.
-They took various trophies, displaying dead humans to make prisoners compliant. You probably ended up here as a display piece for their entertainment or a warning for slaves.-
I shiver at the thought of being used to remind fellow humans of their place. The general pauses and looks at me, hinting that it’s my turn to speak, and I gladly do.
-It’s a lot to take in, General Eligah. I may need the shrink even if I’m no longer on active duty. I awoke in a lab like this. I retrieved footage from the security cameras and saw my body brought in a bluish tube, very different from the ones I recall from the pamphlets when I chose to end it.-
The old man raises an eyebrow. -You chose to end your life?-
I nod bitterly. -I had been grievously wounded, my body was rendered useless.-
I sigh deeply, recalling the period spent in bed attached to a machine, with a white ceiling as my only view outside of visiting hours.
-Look, you have a family, General. - I look at Tessa. -Would you want her to see you waste away in a bed for the remainder of the life machines can afford you?-
The general, unexpectedly, chuckles. -You wouldn’t believe the number of machines my daughter put in my body to keep me around, Master Chief. But I get the idea and I would follow in your footsteps in the same situation.-
-Dad!- Tessa’s irritated and embarrassed, both from her tone and defensive stance. General Eligah becomes serious, making a gesture to his daughter.
-Speaking of machines, care to brief me about those?-
I sigh, dreading the question but knowing I must answer.
-I wouldn’t know how to begin. They seem to be a weapon or something along those lines. I can raise the dead and control them, though creating a single unit takes significant time and resources.
When I say time it means having soldiers in days rather than years. It’s like living a supervillain’s dream, commanding an army of minions that follow orders without question.-
I note his rising brow and suspicious gaze.
-Living or dead makes no difference, only the living retain memories and personality. Your daughter seems to be an expert in the field. She could make more sense of the stuff in the lab where I awoke and the remaining equipment and tell you more.-
Tessa perks up at the prospect, while General Eligah looks like he’s about to take up the plasma rifle. -You expect me to trust you with my daughter, leading her into enemy territory?-
I would say I’m an expert in leading people in and out of enemy territory, but the inference that I’m the enemy is clear.
-I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries, General Eligah. That was not my intention.-
The old general sighs audibly and theatrically shakes his shoulders. -Yes, you overstepped, Master Chief. I got the gist of the situation from your explanation. So, what are you going to use your army for?-
-I beg your pardon, sir?- I ask, feigning ignorance and genuinely curious about where he’s heading.
-Oh come on, you’re on your own, Master Chief. I’m an old, retired general with little power to bring you back into the military. You were a commanding officer. Would you take under your wing a unit with your wildcard traits?-
All deals are off, I suppose. Pity, I wanted to ask about the first contact war date to know if my children lived through it.
I’m better off not knowing, but the thought of beings that warrant such hatred invading home preoccupies me.
-In that case, sir, I would invoke rule .308 and end slavery on this planet.-
The general’s eyes narrow, studying me with an intensity that feels like a physical weight. He leans back in his chair, the creak of the old wood punctuating the silence.
-That’s a bold statement, Master Chief. You do realize what you’re suggesting?-
I nod, I would maintain eye contact if I had eyes. -Yes, sir. I believe I do.-
He sighs, rubbing his temples as if warding off a headache.
-You remind me of a certain knight you had the pleasure to meet recently. All too ready to charge into battle without considering the political ramifications and the impact on those who have to live under this artificial sky. Or in the sector, for that matter.-
Heck no! I’m nowhere near that lunatic!
Ethan, you’re in the presence of a superior officer! Handle this diplomatically. Inspire, expire, you’re in control, you will rein in your instincts.
-With all due respect, General Eligah, I'm not here to preach or claim moral superiority.
I asked for intel, I'm trying to understand the situation we're in, but I'm not getting the answers I need.
You, all this while, haven't even acknowledged my name.
I see a planet ruled by pirates teeming with slavers, and back when I served, we swore an oath to defend freedom.
Have we truly abandoned those principles?
Why should we allow cutthroat criminals to control an entire planet while we play politics?
Surely, any government that shelters such people must realize the danger they pose to civilians.
Your politicians are making decisions that put untold innocent lives at risk, and that's simply unacceptable.
The people here are suffering, forced to toil endlessly for someone else's gain. I can't simply stand by and watch this happen.
Make no mistake, I will find a way to free them and put an end to these pirates.
I need your support and guidance to be more than a blunt instrument when doing so. We can't turn a blind eye to what's happening here, General Eligah.
We must act, and we must act now.-
His lips tighten into a thin line, but he doesn’t disagree, he doesn't even try to argue. Instead, he turns his attention to Tessa.
-So, what do you say?-
Tessa’s gaze sharpens, her childish demeanor leaves place for a more mature and professional stance, her tone firm.
- I am not Doctor Lane, but I can say we are speaking to Ethan Scott- she says slowly as if testing my name on her tongue. -No, to Master Chief Ethan Scott. As advanced as they may be, machines can’t display this level of emotions, he’s a fellow human being.-
General Claye Eligah's expression softens slightly at this, though his eyes remain somehow wary.
-What about the machines he commands?-
Tessa sighs -Kiëlpšâ, General. Not the same but surely a development stemming from that, I could be certain if you agree to a visit to the lab. I can monitor that channel as well as the one to the Silver Tide.-
He nods, signaling a shift in the conversation, but I infer that connected status means more than I can even imagine.
-Very well, Master Chief Scott. Let me explain the current political landscape you find yourself in.-
General Eligah makes gestures, and a holographic map of the Milky Way materializes between us, several more gestures refine the map to several star systems I can’t recognize from my memory alone.
-I suggest you make yourself familiar with our first contact war, and how we expanded at a later date.
Our history became entangled with numerous other intelligent species, and we made alliances, and conflicts until we came to our present state.
Harsh as it may sound, once you understand the intricate layers of these events you will agree that ending slavery has little to no room in the sector’s current configuration.
I can at least give you a general idea of why that is by showing you where we stand in all of this .-
He proceeds to point out a blank section of the map between colored sections.
-We are in the Fringe, a volatile region bordered by four major powers.-
He moves his hand to one of the colored sections
- First, there's the Galactic Council Space, where the Ceti Trade Pact operates.
It’s effectively controlled by the Wesstec Group, a trade corporation that prioritizes profit above all else.
They maintain a semblance of order, but their motivations are purely economic.-
He points to another section where two different colors are barely separated by the blank area.
-Then there’s the Augustine Sector, home to the fledgling Federation. The Federation is an ambitious attempt to create a truly democratic body of governance for the galaxy, inspired by old science fiction ideals. I guess you can infer whose idea it was. However, they’re still contending with the Hado Empire, a powerful and authoritarian regime.-
Eligah's tone turns skeptical.
-The Federation has shown more potential than anticipated, but I doubt they can manage the galaxy effectively given the issues they are experiencing in the sector. They face constant threats from the Hado Empire and struggle to maintain their stability even if we give it help. I was assigned to the colonial defense force, which is our unofficial support to the Federation.-
He moves to a darkened section of the map.
-The fourth force is an enigmatic AI known as Silver Tide. It controls several systems, after having wiped out its creators. The Silver Tide is currently silent but its rise and the appearance of Retribution are why the galaxy looks the way it does today. These forces compelled us humans to halt all war efforts, even though we hadn't achieved all our objectives.-
My mind races, absorbing the enormity of the political landscape.
There’s a hint that Silver Tide might have been involved in ending the aliens that attacked Earth, after an invasion of Earth and all the pain inflicted upon our people, I doubt we would have stopped just because it poked out and said hello.
- Retribution?-
General Eligah continues, as I didn’t pose a question.
- You must realize why acting rashly could tip the balance. The Fringe is both a buffer and a powder keg, and any major disruption could ignite conflicts on multiple fronts.-
I nod, contemplating the map, Lemela’s knowledge coming to hand in getting my bearing.
-I can’t say I fully understand, General. But I get the overall idea, if I overstep I would become a de facto nation filling a void everybody wants. I must ask, is Retribution another AI?-
The general shakes his head
- It’s an unforeseeable consequence of the war we waged against the old empire. It would be even more difficult to explain than an AI. Even I struggle with the concept of its existence. And I had to face it on several occasions. Its very existence is reason enough to understand that this universe won't stand for a war of total annihilation. Some fools still believe it is an option.-
-I am familiar with the concept of AI, and I am cooperating with one I called Virgil. Thank you for explaining.-
As if on cue, the interface reappears several indicators flashing, as requiring attention and Virgil’s voice suddenly chirps back, calm and mechanical.
“Interface update complete. Collective synchronization achieved with new hardware. New constructs found and integrated. Interaction with them is possible in the collective as the respective drones are prepared. Rebooted successfully. Aeolus is now online.”
I feel a familiar surge of information flow as Virgil’s systems come online and I frown as I realize that new names are in the rooster.
As I anticipated, the chaos of the battlefield has caused a cascade of events and this is the first of many I will now have to manage.
This is exactly why I don’t feel the collective it’s all the glitter and awe Virgil states it is; it's a weapon, it is turning people into something else that has to follow the collective’s will.
After all, the carrier drones hardly differentiate and are all too eager to integrate anything into the collective.
Not much I can do about this at this stage, but to bear the responsibility for what Virgil has done to those beings, and given that most beings out there were pirates I will have to make them accountable for their actions in whatever court exists.
I have no choice but to roll with it and steer the course, no matter how difficult it gets, the only easy day was yesterday after all.
I notice General Eligah and Tessa exchanging a glance, the atmosphere shifting with the knowledge I can interact with an AI.
-Master Chief Scott- Tessa says, her voice barely steady, her excitement and worry barely at bay - did you just say you can interact with an AI? A true Ai? It allowed you to name it?-
-Yes.- I reply, feeling there’s no need to keep this one off the table.
-Tessa, we need to tread carefully here.-
The general looks wary and I look at them both.
-Can it talk?- Asked Tessa.
-You talked to it through the a… prisoner that brought you Vexx.- I replied, correcting myself barely in time. -I believe I can make you talk with it myself, but it would feel… weird and unpleasant.-
“We could interact by assimilating them in the collective, it would be more efficient.”
Well, who would’ve told me that my devil on the shoulder would have suggested such a measure?
-Maybe, after all, you could go and have a talk with Doctor Aria Lane, we can resume our conversation after you do.-
I nod to the general’s suggestion, maybe the doctor can break me into some other things a bit less bluntly.