Free The Lost Fleet: Genesis: A Slaver Wars Novel by Raymond L. Weil

the AI. For a moment, he was silent and then he responded. “Fleet Admiral
Strong, I was hoping you would bring some of the other AIs.” Then he addressed
ZED. “In response to your question, for the time being access to any of the
computers on this ship will be denied. Perhaps at a later date that will
change. You must understand that for security reasons, I am not quite ready to
grant you full access to the systems on this vessel.”
    “We
understand,” Jeremy said quickly before ZED could say anything else. He knew
the AI was highly inquisitive; it was one of the reasons Kurene got along with
ZED so well. In that the two were alike.
    Jeremy didn’t
want to risk offending Kazak. He knew from past experience with ZED that the AI
could get seriously sidetracked if it became interested in a particular line of
research. He knew the AI was intensely curious about the science that had built
the ship.
    “Very well,”
Kazak replied after a moment. “If you will follow me, we will go to the Command Center and once there I will answer as many of your questions as I am able.”
    Jeremy nodded.
There was so much he wanted to know, and the science and technology on this
ship might be the key to defeating the remaining Simulin forces still in this
galaxy. It might even allow them someday to find a way back to the home galaxy
and the Federation.
    -
    As they made their
way through the ship, Jeremy was amazed at what he was seeing. Several times
they paused as small-multiarmed robots floated by on their way to do some type
of work or repairs.
    “Since I’ve
managed to repair the ship, all of the automatic functions are now operating,”
Kazak explained as he pointed to several of the small robots. “These are repair
automatons responsible for routine maintenance of the ship’s systems. They are
capable of maintaining every major system on the ship.”
    “What about
the nanites you used when the Dominator first reached Gaia?” asked
Kurene. Nanite technology was something the Altons found highly intriguing.
    “Those are for
more serious repairs. If the ship has suffered major damage or the complete failure
of internal systems, the nanites are capable of repairing or completely
rebuilding anything on the ship. Each group of nanites can be programmed to
complete a specific task. To ensure there can never be a danger from the nanites,
they are also programmed to disintegrate following seventy of your hours after
which a new group must be activated.”
    “I am highly
interested in your nanite technology,” ZED spoke in his mechanical voice. “They
would be quite useful on our new AI warspheres.”
    “That will be
something we will discuss at a later date,” Kazak responded. “I believe it
would be relatively easy to program the nanites to do repair work on your
vessels. Even the small repair robots, which I have activated on the Dominator ,
you might find useful as they will free up more of your people to perform other
duties.”
    Jeremy nodded
to himself. This could help greatly with their manpower shortage. Already he
was finding out things that could be extremely useful in the future. He
wondered if it would be possible to try some of the small robots out on the
Gaia class battlecruisers.
    Kazak led them
to a turbo lift, which rapidly propelled them through the ship to the command
level. After exiting, they quickly made their way to the Command Center. Stepping inside, everyone froze upon seeing the astonishing view. In the center of the
room was a raised dais with what appeared to be a dozen or so consoles. In the
center of the dais was an upraised platform where the ship’s commander would
sit. However, what astonished all of them was that the walls on all sides plus
the ceiling seemed to be one gigantic viewscreen. It was like stepping out into
space and being able to see everything around you.
    “This is amazing,”
gasped Admiral Jackson as he looked around wide-eyed. He had never imagined
something like