Pearl of the Stars

As close to fully repaired as was ever likely to be the case, the Council Fleet amassed a few light minutes away from the jump point. The terms of their alliance with the Others stated they were unable to enter Others space, at least until their mutual enemy was eradicated.

The Fleet was to jump from Xintax to Hixia, the system that had seen one of the most brutal battles in the war. Once there they would join up with the Others fleet and together they would traverse three No Man’s Land star systems – Tinser, Ryban, and Hel – the latter star being a black hole.

***

“Ma’am.” The image of a technician appeared upon the screen in Grace’s quarters as she hit the button to answer the call. He looked flustered. It was a look Grace did not like to see upon the face of one of her most senior techs.

“What is it?” She asked kindly, attempting to prevent her own face contorting into a look of worry.

“We have a... problem,” the tech replied, clearly choosing his words carefully. A problem was the last thing Grace needed. She was about to lead the Council Fleet to rendezvous with the Others so together the two formerly warring parties could fight on the same side. It was not something she was looking forward too. “It’s Major Hynes.”

***

A half hour before the Fleet was due to make the jump to the Hixia star system, Captain Grace Ifhans entered the technician’s office. To say it was untidy would have been a huge understatement, but Grace had no doubt there was order to the chaos... somewhere.

She took a seat as the tech saluted, and waited for him to finish whatever it was he was doing. A few seconds later he too took a seat. To Grace he appeared even more worried and flustered in person than he had during their brief call.

“Major Hynes...” the tech paused, searching for the best way to broach the subject. “...is not Major Hynes.”

“Excuse me?” Of all the things the technician could have said, Grace had most certainly not been expecting that. “Explain yourself.”

“It appears the Major Hynes we have on board is in fact AI, incredibly advanced.”

“AI,” Grace muttered, shaking her head as she did so. “You’re telling me Hynes is a fickling robot?!”

“In layman’s terms, yes.”

“You’re certain?” Grace had to ask the question, not that she doubted the techs analysis.

“Unfortunately Ma’am, I am indeed certain. The technology is of the like I have never seen, and there is only one race I can think of that would be able to create such a thing.” He paused, his body sagging visibly. “That said, Hynes has been with us from the very start of this mission. Even had our new enemy possessed the technology to create such a realistic AI, there simply has been no opportunity for them to switch their version with the real Major Hynes.”

“Assuming we had the real Major Hynes to begin with,” Grace added, although she really did not want to consider what possibilities that particular train of thought might throw up.

“That would imply another race,” said the tech as the realisation dawned.

“Where is Major Hynes now?”

“In the brig Ma’am however his systems have shut down. We do not know whether or not is it a permanent state but had he not shut down, we would be none the wiser.”

“Thank you,” said Grace as she stood up to leave. As her hand touched the panel to activate the door she turned and added, “I think.”

***

Ten minutes before the Fleet was due to jump, Grace sat in the conference room with all screens directed at her position. She would not normally have arranged a meeting so hastily, especially as the minutes prior to a jump were incredibly busy for ship commanders. But there was information that needed to be given.

“You’re sure? Asked Captain Casper.

“Yes Danielle, I am,” replied Grace.

“That suggests the presence of another unknown race of beings, vastly superior in intelligence to any we’ve encountered,” Captain Hubbard mused. “If, as the evidence suggests, this artificial intelligence has been with the Fleet since we left Victoria, the chances are that whoever or whatever this race may be, they have infiltrated our own government.”

“There may not be another race,” said Captain Dihou quietly. Grace had requested her presence at the meeting. She was quickly running out of friends within the Fleet, and Dihou had more than proved herself. “What if the AI is of Council design?”

“It’s possible. We don’t know of any advances in the field though.”

“That doesn’t mean that no advances have been made,” Dihou insisted. “We already know that someone within the government does not want us to succeed.”

“So in that respect, it is not too far beyond the realms of possibility that secrets are being kept,” Captain Erstwhile added to the conversation.

“Use the three day jump to hammer out theories with your own techs,” said Grace as she noticed the red light flashing silently above the door to the conference room, indicating there were only two minutes remaining before the jump to Hixia. “Return to your duties captains. We will reconvene as soon as we reach Hixia.”