Aidan’s return trip to his tent went without incident. He put enough of the scrap parts he had collected into his stash to make space for him to remove his equipped items. He sighed in relief and glanced down at the mangled skin suit he was wearing.
I’m probably going to need another one of these, he said to Astra.
You will, but hopefully, the next ones will have more upgrades. Personally, I’d prefer them to install a superconductor layer into the skin suit, so we’re prepared for future equipment.
What will that do? Aidan wondered.
Right now, I have to use significant processing power to work through the System to do things like paint targets on your minimap. The System isn’t optimized to work that way, and your equipment certainly isn’t. With a few upgrades, like a neural interface and a superconductor layer in your skin suit, I can interface directly with your gear and do a wide variety of things through subsequent connections.
Aidan frowned at the AI’s explanation. He found that he understood approximately none of it. Sorry, Astra, but I’m not a tech guy. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Aidan heard his AI companion make an exasperated noise in his head.
You know what, Aidan? It’s fine. You’re barely an evolved monkey, so I don’t even know why I try. Fortunately, I didn’t pick you for your grasp of technology since I’m more than capable of providing that. The AI took a moment to think about the best way to explain the concept to him.
Imagine that doing something through the System is like communicating over WiFi. In most cases, it works fine, but there are times when other signals can slow down the connection or make communication impossible. In most scenarios, it’s better to have a wired connection to whatever you’re trying to communicate with. That’s what I’d like to have. A neural interface will connect your brain to an external network, and a superconductor layer in your skin suit will extend that link to whatever you’re wearing. From there, we can use your equipment to connect with anything it comes to contact with.
Aidan wasn’t sure if he liked connecting his brain to anything, neural interface or not. However, he could readily admit that Astra had already demonstrated her worth. It would be helpful if he could make her even more capable.
How would something like that work in battle? He asked.
Well, you remember how I took over those drones? Or how I had to fight the other AI during our battle? That was all done through the System. It was like you trying to fight underwater while wearing weights. It was suitable for leveling, but it was far more complex than it needed to be. With the upgrades I’m recommending, you could simply lay a palm on a drone or the installation in general, and I probably could’ve disabled the whole thing.
Got it, Aidan nodded. I’ll see what I can do. I’m not sure I want someone poking around in our brain, but if you can come up with some schematics, I bet we can get it over to the tech dorks for production.
Really? Astra asked with a measure of skepticism.
What do you mean, really? Aidan said, annoyed.
Oh, nothing, I’m just surprised, is all, Astra admitted. I thought you would fight tooth and nail over this common-sense upgrade. I might need to update my psychological profile. Your general distrust of technology seems to be relaxing.
Aidan scowled. You’ve been the only stable thing since I entered the System not so long ago. You’ve only spoken up when it was appropriate or helpful, and I probably wouldn’t have survived that Progenitor ruin without you.
You definitely wouldn’t have survived without me. Not probably, Astra sniffed.
Okay, fine. I definitely wouldn’t have survived. Either way, with this spy in the camp, this has suddenly turned into some serious shit. Worse, our faction is clearly ill-equipped to survive with someone like Dr. Smith in charge.
Yes, she’s quite unpleasant—even by human standards, Astra agreed.
Aidan ignored the slight on his species and changed the subject to something more pressing.
What’s going to happen when I log out?
Well, there’s a delay as the two realities sync up. It works fine because it takes time for the machinery in your world to retrieve your pod and place it somewhere you can exit. You won’t tell the difference. You’ll pretty much fall asleep in the System and wake up in your old world.
What happens to my body here? Aidan asked.
It’ll disappear after a few seconds if you’re in a safe place like this. If you were in a neutral zone like Stalkmitzil, it might take minutes for your body to disappear. During that time, your inventory would be insecure, and someone could move your body while your consciousness wasn’t around. If that happens, you’ll return to where they moved your body.
That sounds ripe for abuse, Aidan commented.
It is. Astra agreed. It’s even worse if you’re in the wild or in an enemy location. In those cases, your body doesn’t disappear at all.
Aidan swallowed heavily at the imagined ways that situation could go terribly wrong. Well, on that note… let’s log out. Will you be with me in my world?
From now on, I’ll always be with you. Astra promised.
Aidan wasn’t sure if it was a comforting thought or not. Regardless, he logged out through his System interface and woke up inside his coffin.
The entire process took place in the literal blink of an eye. He opened his eyes to the pitch-black interior of the coffin and placed a palm on the shell. With a faint beep, the door hissed open, and he was bombarded with the sounds of what he would call the mausoleum. He stepped out of his coffin and saw that Guzman was already waiting at the entrance.
Aidan took another opportunity to look around as he headed toward his friend. Just like last time, there weren’t many people choosing to return to their world. It was faintly quiet as automated machinery went through their routine of sorting and stacking newly entered coffins or retrieving coffins for those who had logged out of the System.
Guzman looked up as Aidan reached him. “Took you long enough,” he said by way of greeting.
Aidan shrugged. “Needed to get in some of my beauty sleep.”
“Well, you probably need to get some more then because you look like ass,” Guzman joked.
Aidan looked past his friend with feigned arrogance. “Saving the world takes a serious toll. Be lucky that I’m here as a hero to my people.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever hero.” Guzman chuckled. “I had time to grab my cell phone from the locker and tell Marsh we wanted to meet. He’s waiting for us in his office.”
Aidan nodded. “Cool, lead the way, peasant,” he said imperiously before Guzman punched him hard in the shoulder.
“This way, my lord,” Guzman said with a mock bow.
Aidan rubbed his shoulder as he followed his friend. “You don’t have to be a dick,” he muttered.
Guzman only laughed and led them through the complicated series of passages that got them to the mausoleum’s administrative section. When they arrived at the unassuming door that marked Marsh’s office, Guzman gave a quick rap on the metal before letting the two friends in.
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Marsh was poring over a folder that he gently closed as they entered. He was still wearing his trademark black and white uniform, but the coat was resting on the back of his black leather chair, his tie was slightly loose, and the top button of his shirt was undone. With his shirt sleeves rolled up and the slight ink stains on his finger, the man presented the image of a hardworking bureaucrat pulling a late night at the office.
Aidan glanced around and saw that Marsh’s office was as spartan as the man himself. He had a government-issued desk with a late-model computer as its sole decoration. There were two gray upholstered chairs for visitors and a small artificial plant in the corner of the room. The room might better be described by what it lacked rather than what it held.
The envoy didn’t spot a single family photo, school diploma, or meritocratic award on the walls. Nothing in the room indicated a single personal detail about Sean Marsh. It looked as if he considered himself just a temporary occupant of the room—ready to leave or stay as required.
“Gentlemen,” Marsh nodded his head. “What can I help you with this evening?”
Guzman sighed as he took a seat. Aidan sat down as well.
“Where to start?” Guzman started.
“I prefer to start with the bad news,” Marsh said with a sly smile.
Aidan found himself liking the man more for that fact alone.
“Well, there’s a spy in the camp.” Guzman said casually.
Marsh frowned and laced his fingers together atop the desk. “Tell me more,” he flatly ordered.
Guzman looked over at Aidan, so the envoy took the lead.
“We met up with a sapient race in the System. They were more advanced than we thought and asked us to do a favor for them as a condition of a trade deal we were trying to ink.”
Marsh reached over to a stack of folders on the desk and pulled one out. He flipped it open and began reading silently.
“Yes, the gnomes,” Marsh said suddenly before looking up at Guzman. “This is the race that your team discovered in the early days, right?”
“Another team technically discovered them, but my team had the most exposure,” Guzman clarified.
“Alright, so what was the favor?” Marsh asked with a raised brow.
“They asked us to clear hostile forces within a Progenitor ruin,” Aidan answered. “The ruin ended up being an advanced listening post. It was collecting every signal across the continent.”
“Let me guess,” the fed interrupted with steepled fingers. “One of those signals happened to be originating from our camp even though we shouldn’t have any communication technology yet.”
“Hit the nail on the head, and it gets worse,” Guzman commented.
“Fuck,” the fed swore.
Aidan nodded his head before continuing. “The signal was going to Taiwan and then pinging over to where theoretically China would be in the System.”
Marsh was quiet for a moment as he rubbed his temples with his knuckles. After a few minutes, he looked up at the pair.
“Alright, so what do you suggest?”
Guzman leaned back in his seat. “I think the posture of the mission needs to be changed from a scientific one to a military one. For too long, the civilian leadership focused inwardly on decoding the Codex rather than pursuing outside engrams and doing our best to disrupt our adversaries. We’ve discovered more in a single combat patrol than in the nine months in the System.” He definitively stated. “Not only that, but everybody in the camp needs to be searched for handheld comm equipment. We’ll start with the military team leaders, move on to the rest of the military, and then put the camp on lockdown while the civilians are searched.”
Marsh whistled lowly. “That’s going to piss some people off. Not just in camp but with the brass too. We have civilians from all over the government, military contracting companies, and intelligence agencies who will feel like their toes are getting stepped on.”
“I can think of something that might help,” Guzman offered.
“What’s that?” Marsh asked with a wrinkled brow.
Aidan looked over at his friend in interest too. This was something they hadn’t discussed.
Guzman hooked a thumb at Aidan. “You put him in charge.”
“Me?” Aidan asked
“Him?” Marsh echoed.
Guzman shrugged his shoulders. “Yep. Aidan isn’t a trooper class like you probably expected him to be. In fact, he’s a diplomat.”
“A diplomat?” Marsh asked, still trying to figure out where Guzman was heading.
“If Aidan is a diplomat, we can technically say that he’s a civilian instead of in the military. If you make the right noises with the State Department, it might be easier to sell this as a change in leadership style rather than a military coup.”
Guzman’s tone grew excited. “In fact, to justify the change, Aidan created a trade deal with a sapient species in the System. It makes sense that we treat the System like a foreign country rather than an interesting location to study the Codex.”
Marsh leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful look. “That might work for the bureaucracy. I’ll discuss it with the National Security Advisor, and he’ll bring it up to the President. For the spooks, I’ll let them know they missed a spy and that we’re doing a cleanup for them. No one has to know. We just need their support going forward.”
Aidan sighed. “I don’t really want to be in charge of the camp. I didn’t join up to lead a herd of cats and play politics. I want to serve my country.”
Marsh’s gaze sharpened. “This is serving your country,” he reprimanded. “This is probably the most important thing you’ll ever do for your country.”
He’s right. Astra added. You’re an Envoy. You were destined to either lead this faction or create your own. It was only a matter of time. Better that it’s a faction you’re familiar with and who can support you than trying to cobble together your own alliance.
Aidan sighed. He didn’t like it, but he understood the political reality.
“Yeah, alright.” He agreed aloud with a glance at Guzman. Before springing the conversation on him, he wished his friend would have warned him. His friend only shrugged in return and waited for Marsh’s decision.
“Alright, I need time to get Aidan officially approved. I’m sure our lawmakers will have to figure out what to call you, how you’ll get paid, and all that crap.” Marsh began before Aidan interrupted.
“I don’t care about titles or getting paid,” Aidan protested.
“You don’t, I don’t, and no one with a functioning head on their shoulders cares about those kinds of things when we have an active spy in our camp, but I assure you, our lawmakers care.”
Marsh waved a hand. "Take that for what you will. However, I’m officially appointing you the Acting Commander of Camp Plymouth with all the rights and responsibilities that entails until such time a replacement has been chosen or you have been confirmed by the appropriate committees in Congress.”
The fed paused so that Aidan would consider the full import of his next orders. “For now, you’ll report directly to no one else but me. From this moment forward, anyone exiting the System will be detained and interrogated to make your job in the System a bit easier.” He pointed to Guzman.
“Guzman will be the sole messenger between you and me on either side of the System. It isn’t an official order if it isn’t coming from his lips. That said, your first order is to find the spy in your camp. Don’t bother exiting the System until that mission is completed.”
“Why don’t you want me to leave?” Aidan questioned.
“Plausible deniability,” Marsh said simply. “If you’re inside, no one will be able to muck up the operations with politics. I’ll tell everyone else I gave you these orders for national security reasons, and if they disagree, they can take it up with you inside the System. It’s not like they can pull you from your coffin and force you to log out. Meanwhile, they’ll have to support my plan until Guzman logs out again for different instructions.”
Guzman nodded his understanding. “How long do you want me to wait?”
Marsh thought it over before replying. “Give me at least three days to work through the bullshit. By that time, I expect you to have found the spy, and whatever new orders I have to be made moot.”
Aidan marveled at the grit Marsh displayed. He never would have expected this level of competency and efficiency from a member of the bureaucracy.
“I’m glad you’re on our side,” Aidan said with an appreciative tone.
“I’m just glad this was discovered sooner rather than later.” Marsh nodded before standing up.
Aidan and Guzman rose as well. They knew a polite dismissal when they saw one. “You don’t have much time. Grab some chow, maybe a shower, and a new skin suit,” the fed said with a considering glance at their garb. “After that, get to work.”
Guzman and Aidan nodded before making a motion to leave. Marsh stopped them with some parting words.
“Oh, and gentlemen? Good hunting.”
Guzman and Aidan exited the room and entered the hallway. “Which way first?” Aidan asked.
“Let’s drop by the armory and get new skin suits.” Guzman decided.
The two men set off and were soon issued brand-new skin suits. When they had left, Aidan couldn’t help laughing as the armory techs looked forlornly at the ravaged equipment the two men returned to them. Unfortunately, they hadn’t possessed a more advanced version of the skin suit. Or at least, they didn’t have something they were willing to give the barbarians that had destroyed their last one. Still, Aidan asked as he had promised. He figured he would need to get someone inside the System to build him something custom rather than rely on the standard issue suit they were providing to everyone.
After that, the two men showered and changed back into their new suits. Apparently, the garments were self-cleaning and practically created a sterile environment inside, but nothing replaced the comfort of a warm shower after a long day of action. Aidan had thought he would be tired, but apparently, the extra points in constitution made him feel like he could go a few days without feeling drowsy.
His friend had just laughed when he mentioned the fact to Guzman over chow. Apparently, at his level and with his constitution, he regularly went an entire week without feeling the need to sleep. The extra time allowed the warriors to level their skills even further. Aidan wondered if there was a point where he wouldn’t need to sleep again. In some ways, that seemed like a good thing, but sometimes sleep wasn’t about how tired your body was. It was about how tired your mind became. It was a stark reminder that they were well on their way to becoming something far removed from the average human being.
Finally, Aidan found himself back in his coffin. He closed his eyes and once again woke up in his tent. This time, a flurry of System messages awaited him.