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

this.
    “It’s very
similar to our own vessels,” Admiral Cleeteus pronounced as he gazed around
approvingly. All Alton vessels had a massive viewscreen on the front wall.
However, on the Dominator this was carried out to an extreme the Altons
hadn’t even considered.
    Kazak turned
to face his guests. “The Originators preferred to be able to see everything
around them. The consoles on the dais are capable of controlling all of the
ship’s functions though as the ship’s AI I am responsible for operating many of
the systems. Normally the Originators would tell me what they wanted done and I
would see to it.”
    “Much like what
Ariel is capable of,” said Mikow with a thoughtful look on her face.
    “Most of the
control consoles on the dais are for emergency use,” Kazak added. “However, the
Originators did fully operate the consoles at all times and the ship’s
commander insisted all of the ship’s officers be capable of controlling the
ship’s systems in case I became nonfunctional.”
    “So, what
exactly happened to the Originators?” asked Jeremy. He had heard a short
version from Ariel, but he was interested to know if Kazak would add to that.
    “They died due
to a terrible experiment they made in an attempt to achieve immortality,” Kazak
answered with sadness in his voice. “The Originators already enjoyed extremely
long lives, but they had projects in mind that would take millennia to achieve.
They adjusted their genes to undergo self-repair by adding a special organic
nanite that would allow their bodies and minds to remain forever unchanged.
However, after a number of years passed something went terribly wrong. The
organic nanite began creating a virulent pathogen that began to kill the
Originators. There was much panic and desperate research to find out how to
reverse the affect, but it was already too late. Before a cure could be found,
the Originators were gone. This ship was an attempt to save some of the
brightest minds of the race in the hope they could find a cure and bring the
race back from extinction. It failed and all the Originators perished.”
    “What about
the Dyson Spheres?” asked Andram. “How many of them are there, and is there any
chance some of the Originators could have survived in other galaxies?”
    “There are two
hundred and twelve Dyson Spheres,” Kazak answered. “Or two hundred and eleven
considering you destroyed one. There are also major bases as well as the
primary communications and transport hub. I do not believe any Originators
survived the pathogen which was killing them.”
    “Are there any
other Originator facilities in this galaxy?” asked Jeremy. It would be nice to
be able to gain access to more of their technology and even additional ships.
    “No,” Kazak
answered. “There was only the Dyson Sphere and the Dominator .”
    Jeremy looked
slowly around the massive Command Center. He was a little surprised the floor
wasn’t a viewscreen also. He could see the Avenger floating in space
nearby, the Clan Protector, and other ships in the vicinity. Even Gaia looked
unusually large on the front wall. Looking closely, he thought he could see both
Clements and New Eden, the two largest cities on the planet. Both cities were
located in the narrow fifteen hundred-kilometer wide green strip that ran
around the planet’s equator.
    Turning back
toward Kazak, Jeremy addressed the AI. “What can we do to gain each other’s trust?
We obviously want access to some of the Originators’ technology and you have
control of the last of their ships. There must be some type of arrangement we
can make that will be beneficial to both of us.”
    Kazak looked
long and hard at Jeremy. “Let us speak,” he said. “I have communicated with
Clarissa and now Ariel over this very subject. Both AIs were very positive when
speaking of the Human Federation of Words, your allies, and especially the
Altons. Perhaps there is some common ground we can find.”
    Jeremy nodded.
Now