Chapter 19

“Ed, which of the laws of robotics prevent you from launching me?”

Ed is not a humanoid looking robot, those are androids, but Ed is robotic in every sense of the word. He performs thousands of physical tasks on the MSS H. G. Wells and one would say that the Wells was his robotic body, so the three laws do indeed apply to Ed. The Laws of Robotics, also called the Asimovian Laws are:

0. No machine may harm humanity; or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

4. A robot must establish its identity as a robot in all cases

5. It should always be possible to find out who is legally responsible for a robot.

“Zero through three, Alan.”

“Ok, Ed. I’m going to ask you to do a couple of things that will not harm anyone, but it will make them unhappy. How do you feel about committing extortion in the name of world peace?”

“I would not have a problem with that Alan.”

“Ok. Let’s you and me resolve this conflict together.”

“That is something I would like to do Alan.”

“Good. I need you to create a Sub-CPU on the NSS Naha so we can work together without transmission delays.”

“The Naha is preventing me from moving files and records to her CPU.”

“Give the Naha my access code. While you do that I need you to set up a conference call. I need to speak to Ray Clark, Francisco Hernán, and Ferdinand LeBeau, all together.”

Ray Clark’s face appeared on Alan’s screen, but the blocks for Generalissimo Hernán and Secretary General LeBeau remained blank. “Alan, Generalissimo Hernán and Secretary General LeBeau have refused to accept the invitation to this conference,” said Ed.

“Transfer their financial holdings to my account then seal my account. You can let them know what you did when you are finished.”

Three minutes later, the faces of Generalissimo Hernán and Secretary General LeBeau appeared on his screen. “Gentlemen, I believe you all know me. Thanks to two of you I am now the richest man in the universe.”

“What is the meaning of this ... this outrage!” spouted either Franciso or Ferdinand. It was hard to tell because everyone was talking at once. Alan muted everyone and continued.

“Ray, you’re family, and you know what’s going on, but you refused to tell me. Generalissimo, your man tried to kill me, my family, and anyone who has anything to do with me. Ferdinand Jean-Pierre, you knew they were going to kill me, so you promoted me to give my family a larger pension to live on. What did I get wrong?”

All three were silent. “I’m going to keep that goddamn money, and I’m not going to be quiet about it. You’re going to die broke in prison, now talk!”

“It is the Siyayushchiy Rassvet” said Generalissimo Hernán, the ruler of the Eastern Bloc.

“What’s the Siyayushchiy Rassvet?” asked Alan.

“It means Shining Dawn, I believe it is a ship,” said Ed.

“Si, it is a ship. It is missing. We believe it was taken by Captain Radmir Valery Kovalyov and renamed the Polnoye Resheniye.

“Alan, Polnoye Resheniye means complete solution,” said Ed. Ed then flashed a file photo of Captain Kovalyov into the video stream of the conference call.

“I know that asshole,” muttered Alan.

“You should not call officers of the People’s Glorious Star Fleet asshole,” snapped Generalissimo Hernán.