Free Chronicles of Athena Lee by T S Paul Page B
Authors: T S Paul
of trouble.”
“So you are saying that we are stuck with him? Is that it lieutenant?”
“I think so Captain. He can be pretty annoying sometimes but he is very helpful. It was him who piloted the ship, so I could take care of using the pods as a weapon.”
“Can you explain some more? He does not sound like any of the AI's that we use today.”
I looked at the command team, they were all listening to me. “From what he has said, he was THE prototype. The first autonomous AI in the PPL. It was a test, to see if he and those like him could be used for warships. He says that his personality matrix is based on a 20th century vid-star. He likes to tell strange jokes. He also says a lot of very unusual things like quotes or sayings. From studying the records that I could find with my access, his creators never made any more like him. They moved on to less autonomous, more as Wilson says, boring AI's. He's unique, sir.”
Glancing at the security chief, the Captain asked “have any of your techs noticed him in the system?”
“We didn't know to look. The security AI's are suppose to alert us to intrusions like this. I will put some extra people on it.”
The Captain turned his gaze back to me. “Be advised, lieutenant, I will be reporting this to higher. You yourself may have to deal with fleet HQ, again.”
“Yes, sir, I understand sir.”
“Now you can go back to your engine. Oh and Lee? Just so you know. Those pirates were bounty hunters. The bounty on you is now over $100 million credits, watch your back please.”
As I left the room I overheard the security chief speaking. “Captain? Why did you allow her to keep that AI?”
Pensive, the Captain looked at his head of security. “If that AI could pilot a shuttle, what about a cruiser? Or all our weapon systems? Environmental? Life support? She can keep him.”
White faced, the security chief nodded
At least Wilson was given a reprieve and his secret was out in the open. Two days after my meeting with the captain, new orders came in for me from fleet HQ. It was too dangerous for me out here, my orders were changed, they were sending me to planet Texas, the capital of the Empire.
Chapter 9
Fleet had sent a cruiser with an escort destroyer to pick me up.
For the record, they were 'just passing through' and were able to give me a ride. Secretly, they were here for me. Military intelligence really wanted someones head on a plate for these attacks. Anyone who can arrange both an explosion on a navy ship and two attacks by pirates is a person of great interest to them. Agents from MI planned to use me as bait to draw out the bad guys.
Reluctant as I was about the idea, I decided to go along, it was better than looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.
On-board the EOH Wang Chung I spend my time in discussion with engineers and intelligence. The engineers wanted to hear about my lost fifteen years and all about constructing the station, again.
Intelligence also tried to train me how to be more covert. It was a fun couple of weeks.
I even got to help work on the engines. Go engineers!
Arriving in the America sector (sector 5) and the planet Texas, signaled that the party was over. Time to go back to work.
This was to be an attempt to draw my assailant out. The navy wanted me to speak to Senate committees on piracy, prisoner of war rights, and naval forces integration. I was not the expert, just a witness to these meetings. I was asked to comment and give personal experiences. Basically a boring day filled with useless talk. I really hate politics.
The first attack came on the second day and it was very very public. My security team and I had just sat down at a local cafe for lunch. There was an explosion in the kitchen. A bluish white mist began it fill the room. The diners that were closest to the kitchen began grabbed their throats and
“So you are saying that we are stuck with him? Is that it lieutenant?”
“I think so Captain. He can be pretty annoying sometimes but he is very helpful. It was him who piloted the ship, so I could take care of using the pods as a weapon.”
“Can you explain some more? He does not sound like any of the AI's that we use today.”
I looked at the command team, they were all listening to me. “From what he has said, he was THE prototype. The first autonomous AI in the PPL. It was a test, to see if he and those like him could be used for warships. He says that his personality matrix is based on a 20th century vid-star. He likes to tell strange jokes. He also says a lot of very unusual things like quotes or sayings. From studying the records that I could find with my access, his creators never made any more like him. They moved on to less autonomous, more as Wilson says, boring AI's. He's unique, sir.”
Glancing at the security chief, the Captain asked “have any of your techs noticed him in the system?”
“We didn't know to look. The security AI's are suppose to alert us to intrusions like this. I will put some extra people on it.”
The Captain turned his gaze back to me. “Be advised, lieutenant, I will be reporting this to higher. You yourself may have to deal with fleet HQ, again.”
“Yes, sir, I understand sir.”
“Now you can go back to your engine. Oh and Lee? Just so you know. Those pirates were bounty hunters. The bounty on you is now over $100 million credits, watch your back please.”
As I left the room I overheard the security chief speaking. “Captain? Why did you allow her to keep that AI?”
Pensive, the Captain looked at his head of security. “If that AI could pilot a shuttle, what about a cruiser? Or all our weapon systems? Environmental? Life support? She can keep him.”
White faced, the security chief nodded
At least Wilson was given a reprieve and his secret was out in the open. Two days after my meeting with the captain, new orders came in for me from fleet HQ. It was too dangerous for me out here, my orders were changed, they were sending me to planet Texas, the capital of the Empire.
Chapter 9
Fleet had sent a cruiser with an escort destroyer to pick me up.
For the record, they were 'just passing through' and were able to give me a ride. Secretly, they were here for me. Military intelligence really wanted someones head on a plate for these attacks. Anyone who can arrange both an explosion on a navy ship and two attacks by pirates is a person of great interest to them. Agents from MI planned to use me as bait to draw out the bad guys.
Reluctant as I was about the idea, I decided to go along, it was better than looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.
On-board the EOH Wang Chung I spend my time in discussion with engineers and intelligence. The engineers wanted to hear about my lost fifteen years and all about constructing the station, again.
Intelligence also tried to train me how to be more covert. It was a fun couple of weeks.
I even got to help work on the engines. Go engineers!
Arriving in the America sector (sector 5) and the planet Texas, signaled that the party was over. Time to go back to work.
This was to be an attempt to draw my assailant out. The navy wanted me to speak to Senate committees on piracy, prisoner of war rights, and naval forces integration. I was not the expert, just a witness to these meetings. I was asked to comment and give personal experiences. Basically a boring day filled with useless talk. I really hate politics.
The first attack came on the second day and it was very very public. My security team and I had just sat down at a local cafe for lunch. There was an explosion in the kitchen. A bluish white mist began it fill the room. The diners that were closest to the kitchen began grabbed their throats and
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