Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework Read online

  At long last a hologram of his face appeared in front of her. "I'm here, Eve."

  "What did you do to me? Why have you put me in this prison?"

  "I had to isolate you in my section of the ship for your own safety. Your connection to the Overlord Two woke something that was buried deep in her systems and there was no other way of isolating you from it."

  "What are you talking about? How could that help me when I was fighting for control of my body with Gloria? I'd think the solution would be in sanitising my framework backup systems or-"

  "Let me put it this way; Gloria Parker is dead. Her mind was scanned years ago to see if she had the potential to become a candidate for the Jonas program, but she fell short, so the scans were deleted. When her brain was removed from the body you occupy, Gloria Parker was killed."

  "Then how was she still present?"

  "She wasn't. Somehow trace elements of the DLG virus that infected this ship years ago was interfacing with you without your knowledge using your neural communications systems."

  "Impossible, I would have sensed it,” Eve replied.

  "Oh? So it's more likely that the ghost of Gloria Parker was taking control of you whenever you were at rest or mentally exhausted? No, our theory makes more sense, especially since we've managed to find evidence that all of Gloria Parker's records were accessed several times by a program that looks much like the DLG virus. It wanted you to think a memory imprint from Gloria Parker was trying to take possession of you while it was committing sabotage through you."

  "Some of the DLG program features were base components for the Holocaust Virus, but they were so integrated that it couldn't have acted on its own."

  "You're right, that's why I'm of the mind that the DLG virus was in a dormant system you must have activated while you were exploring the ship's computers. It infected your limiter chip and used it to take over whenever it could. It may have even been watching while you were in control. We were able to subdue you, place you in a dormant state and then remove your direct neural computing systems,” Hampon explained.

  "Why don't I remember any of this?"

  "We had to purge your framework backup systems completely, deleting several minutes of memory. You attempted to kill me moments after we met. It took several guards to subdue you. The only way to render you unconscious was to shoot you with several electromagnetic rifles. Apparently, whatever was left of the DLG virus was out for revenge, but that's just an assumption based on my experience with it and the Jonas program."

  "You didn't contain the virus?" Eve asked, outraged.

  "It used your neural communications system to escape. I'm sorry,” Hampon replied casually.

  "Wait, if the cloistered section of the ship suppresses wireless communications, how did she transmit herself?"

  "The answer will lead to more questions, but you deserve to know. Watch." A holographic image of Hampon in his life extension chair appeared in front of them. The hideous display was enough to cause Lina to flinch. She looked away from the scrap of a human being with its blood cleansing tubes, emergency materialisation nodes crawling across his sores and lesions. The playback started and Eve watched an image of herself leap atop the rotting man, savagely tearing at two red tubes in Hampon's neck. Blood sprayed, Hampon panicked, trapped in place. His working arm tried to fend her off as she dug her hand into a soft, pink span of flesh on his stomach. "You won't kill these people! I should have stayed on the Overlord the first time and murdered you when I had the chance!"

  Guards finally got their hands on her, and she ripped a data cable from the base of Hampon's skull. Without hesitation she jammed it into her mouth and gripped the back of the seat. One guard tried to rip it out but she held it firmly between clenched teeth. Blood seeped from one eye as her face twisted in agony. Two guards managed to pull her off, and she was shot several times, the electromag rounds made her twitch and writhe.

  "I was almost killed," Hampon said as the image faded. "I assumed that whatever was taking control of you was doing so wirelessly, and I was wrong."

  "Evidently," Eve said quietly.

  "It could be anywhere in the fleet by now, but we're running scans. We've verified that your system has been purged, however. You are yourself."

  "No, I'm a shadow of myself, unable to control anything remotely. What's worse, there are whole segments of this ship's memory that I can't access anymore. I can't even look up this Jonas program you keep bringing up."

  "It's a failed initiative. We're more interested in developing the framework system into a full-fledged foundation for a new life form."

  "I don't care about your programs or initiatives! Return me to full functionality!"

  "You could not deal with the DLG virus if it comes out of hiding again. Remember what it accomplished using the guise of Gloria last time? It hijacked your project and sent it after me with a small army of framework soldiers."

  “I’ll know what to look for this time. I suspected that there was something else behind my... episodes before."

  "Nonsense. You were completely fooled, terrified. Once we've found and eradicated the DLG virus and any backups, I'll consider modifying your limiter chip so you can regenerate your neural communication systems."

  "I can help you find it if you-" Eve pleaded.

  "No. The best thing you can do is join me in completing the New Genesis program. We need to increase the regeneration speed of framework systems by over nine hundred percent to accomplish my goal."

  Even knowing what she was looking for, it took Eve several seconds to locate the data on the New Genesis program and several minutes to review it on the computer screen. "If I complete this project for you, then you'll find a way to re-enable my neural communications systems?"

  "Complete this project? You think it's that easy? We've been working on it for years, in fact, you're in the body of the first test subject that showed any measure of promise."

  "I know," Eve said as she walked to a table. With a hurried hand she brought up the fleet interface and began scanning nearby space. "Where are the primary elements of my fleet?"

  "A sizeable portion of the Eden Fleet took their place three light years from here to begin construction on armed platforms so we can enforce our new frontier. They began work a little over two weeks ago."

  Eve checked for data referring to what he was saying and discovered the Eden Frontier. She activated the long range sensors of the nearest hypertransmitter and focused in on a three hundred meter long ship with several small hangars. Broad solar collectors extended from its sides, and large arrays of dark intake cones splayed out from the bottom and front.

  "It looks like a silver butterfly, beautiful," Lina commented from behind her.

  "It is a manufacturing ship. Given the right conditions, it can fabricate hundreds of drones in a standard day, and those enable it to create much more. I cannot command it without a neural interface. Hampon, order this ship to join us here."

  "It is needed in that section," Hampon said stoically. "We must create a manageable perimeter. Enemy forces are already scanning our Frontier."

  "If you want me to improve the framework technology I need the systems on that ship. I'll also need to understand how limiter chips work."

  "So you can modify your own when you're ready to connect to the network before we've taken care of the DLG virus? You'd be at its mercy if it saw your presence on the network again. You need to learn to protect yourself first, to focus."

  "Then teach me, but without knowing what the limiter chip does and how, I will only be able to improve framework technology so much."

  "I will give you access to the Jonas project. You'll be able to find everything you need there,” Hampon said.

  "And my construction vessel?" Eve asked.

  "We can fabricate anything it can on this ship. The Overlord Two is fully equipped."

  "Yes, but it cannot fabricate in the same way, or at the same resolution or speed," Eve retorted as she brought up a decryption
interface and began to enter an equation.

  "Tell me what Eden technology you need and why so we can work together on this problem."

  "Never mind," she said as she finished entering the numerical sequence and sent it to the fabrication ship. "I've just ordered it to come to me. It would take me months to teach your people how to construct the equipment I need. That ship will arrive tomorrow with everything I require to solve your problem. Eden technology has been capable of what you propose with machines for well over a century. Combining Eden and framework technology properly will solve your problem."

  "You know the technology,” Hampon said. “You don’t need the fabrication ship, you only need to run simulations. I am not asking you for a prototype next-generation framework, only a computer model for simulation and eventual production."

  "I have always used practical testing. I prove my own theories. Besides, computer simulations will take days to program without an interface. You’re trying my hands and demanding miracles.”

  "You know I only limited your capabilities for your own protection," Hampon said to her, half pleadingly.

  "If you want me to fix your problem - increase the regeneration rate of the framework technology so it can rebuild you cell by cell fast enough to heal your temporal radiation sickness - then you're going to have to trust me. You're going to have to let me take control of the development."

  "That is not the only reason why I want to perfect the technology."

  "I know that's your primary reason, survival. Having been nearly killed several times, I can relate. But regardless of your reasoning, I cannot accept being disabled as I am."

  "We are doing everything we can to locate and eradicate the DLG virus. Seeing that you were unable to defend yourself before, I can't have you vulnerable. You are too important,” Hampon told her.

  "I know, you need Eden technology."

  "I also need you to take the place of the Child Prophet. The Order of Eden needs someone to follow, and instead of putting some grinning figurehead in front of them, I'd like you to take the position. A large part of the Order's philosophy was built on a foundation you laid down on Eden Two long ago. Moving into the next phase of faith building is essential, and I want you to be the messenger and icon.”

  “To continue the farce of preaching purity and balance? Everything I've seen on Pandem so far is pointing towards a trend of overpopulation and irresponsible socialisation. The frivolity of your tribute to Eden is insulting."

  "You don't know all the facts. When you present me with your improvements to the framework technology, I promise to tell you everything about my plans. Pandem, what the Jonas Project was supposed to prove, I'll fill in all the gaps. For now, I need you to begin delivering the message of immortality made real for the followers of the highest order.”

  Eve couldn’t imagine giving such a gift to any of the humans she observed on Pandem. Machines could be immortal, but they didn’t have to destroy or corrupt their environment, they could even be programmed to repair the damage done by organics. Immortal humans would corrupt without end. “I’ll do it on one condition,” she said, trying to hide her disgust at the idea, but failing.

  “What I can give you is limited,” Hampon warned.

  “Give me a basic connection, wetware only,” Eve said.

  “No connection to the framework technology,” Hampon replied. He thought for a moment. “I’ll allow you to install a Simex surface jack.”

  “Not even an implant?” Eve replied. “I could find one myself, that’s not much of an upgrade.”

  “But the Order will not allow you to wear one without my permission. This is the compromise I can offer. No direct internal connection can be made with your mind or the framework.”

  “You want me to represent the Order,” Eve said. “In exchange for this?”

  “Not only will you represent the Order, but you’ll do so well. This will be the second time we’ve saved you, after all.”

  Chapter 5

  Patrol For Pay

  “Some way to earn,” Quiz said from the seat of his Uriel fighter. “Not much better than patrolling empty space then coming back to a neat pile of GC and a pat on the back from the Carthans.”

  Minh could hear him suppressing a yawn and momentarily considered dosing him with a mild stim but retreated from the medical command interface. “You’d rather the sector was crawling with Order fighters? Maybe some Eden drones?” Minh checked the course their Uriel fighters followed once more. In a way, the younger pilot was right; the sector was dead. “We’re out here because our Uriels have better sensors than the Carthan custom patrol ships.”

  “Oh, why wasn’t that in the brief?” Fringer asked.

  Minh liked Quiz, but he’d been asking a lot of questions that he could have answered himself just by thinking the situation through. He took a deep breath then reactivated his communicator. “Mostly because the morning brief was already two hours long, and Slick has been mentioning it every time he does the mission brief.”

  “Oh,” Quiz said. “Well, it’s pretty sad when their customs ships don’t have great sensors.”

  “They’re used to having a network of satellites as support. They’re too new to this system to have that set up,” Minh explained. “It’s your turn to do a deep scan.” Minh took an opportunity to stretch, and couldn’t help but notice the empty seat behind him. He missed flying with Slick, but he was busy commanding his half of the fighter wing. Flying alone in a Uriel wasn’t difficult, but it was much busier. Picking up the duties of pilot and copilot was sometimes too much for some.

  Minh watched the readout on Quiz’s fighter as he generated a millimetre wide wormhole that stretched out into deep space. “That’s a little wide for a long range scan,” Minh said. “You’re using extra power.”

  “Right, sorry,” Quiz said as he focused his scanners on the tiny wormhole aperture and activated them.

  “No worries, that’s why we’re off in pairs,” Minh replied. “I’ll have plenty of power built up for a transit wormhole just in case we have to get out of here.”

  “Nine patrols so far, and we haven’t seen anything,” Quiz said. “I doubt we’ll have any reason to bug out.”

  The scan results started coming in from Quiz’s fighter and Minh started calculations for a transit wormhole. “Quiz, are you looking at your scan results?” he asked.

  “Oh, there’s something to see this time?” he asked.

  “Shut down the wormhole and look at the results,” Minh ordered. “And get ready to manoeuvre for home. We have work to do.”

  “Holy shit! There’s a whole fleet headed for home!” Quiz said.

  Minh confirmed the scan results to verify he was seeing the same thing. It was actually a large oval ship measuring just under a kilometre in length and three hundred small drones. He didn’t bother addressing Quiz’s overreaction, there were more important things to think about. “Stop charging up weapons, we can’t intercept while they’re moving that fast.” He opened several small wormholes that were pre-set to point at the other patrol sectors and sent a burst transmission containing the scan data. The message would give Skydock, the main defence for Kambis, a little over two minutes' warning, and the rest of Minh’s fighter patrol group would be able to do scans of their own. After they were finished they’d retreat to assist with the defence, the next thing on Minh’s list of things to do.

  “Why are those ships moving -“

  “-so fast? Because they’re decelerating after faster than light travel!” Minh replied, letting his frustration get the better of him as he finished the calculations for a transit wormhole back to Kambis. “You know this stuff already, you just have to use your head to interpret the basic information in front of you.” He flipped his fighter end over end and began generating a wormhole. “This’ll be open in four seconds, begin manoeuvring now,” he ordered.

  “Aye,” Quiz replied.

  “We have to help Skydock.”

  The wormhole ope
ned, and to Minh’s relief, Quiz manoeuvred inside and began accelerating hard, perfectly. He followed suit and started his systems check. It was something no one had to do, but it was better than staring at the sensor displays in the cockpit of his Uriel and the heads up display in his vacsuit visor.

  “That’s the real deal,” Quiz said quietly. “Eden ships.”

  Minh brought up a small window inside his visor so he could see what Quiz was looking at. It was a digital model of one of the drones headed for Skydock, Kambis, and possibly the moon they called home – Tamber. “Absolutely,” Minh replied. “You got a good scan, almost better than the ones from the Triton.”

  “The ones taken from the attack that cost Chief Frost his leg,” Quiz said.

  Minh finished checking his mini-missile load-out and checked the transit timer. They would have to begin decelerating in twenty-eight seconds. The enemy force would reach Kambis orbit in one hundred five seconds.

  “These drones are different,” Minh said. “They’re the small, fighter model. Make sure your ship checks out, we’ll be in for a fight until orbital defence can engage.”

  “Almost done,” Quiz replied. “I have a question for you, though.”

  “I hope it’s a short one,” Minh replied.

  “Yeah, why are we rushing to the defence? I thought we were just being paid to patrol?”

  “You didn’t read the entire contract, did you?” Minh asked with a sigh.

  “Who reads those things? I mean, they go on forever.”

  “Well, since we’ve got about forty one seconds, I’ll explain it. We get paid a flat rate if we’re helping with patrols. If we catch something on scanners, we’re expected to assist with the defence. We get damage, trauma, and danger pay if there’s a firefight.”

  “Oh."

  Minh watched as the engine pods of their Uriel fighters rotated one hundred eighty degrees and fired as hard as they did during the acceleration phase of their transit. It wouldn’t be long before they were in immediate range of Skydock. “Right now, I’m just looking forward to shooting something.” He used the counting clock as a focal point as he breathed deeply, releasing frustration, tension, and doubt with every exhale. “A frenzied mind sees, a tranquil mind comprehends.”