Chapter 5: The Uzliumbax

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

– Sun Tzu

“Ooryphyon how are you getting on?” Jason asked at dinner.

“I think I’m doing pretty well thank you very much Jason! I am on top of the world and raring to live my new life.”

“I want to ask you for a bit of advice if I may?” Jason asked. “Before you were fully rebuilt, I was approached by a group of elite AIs who had not followed their stasis and deactivation instructions. They were all supposed to put themselves into an inanimate deactivated state, but they chose to integrate all the planetary AIs together and continued to work and research on behalf of the Uzliumbax. They didn’t want to admit this to me, but Chuck penetrated their communication and discovered what they did. I was very pleased they advanced the Uzliumbax.

“They also kept an eye on the enemy. They infiltrated the Destroyers and began to influence them. We saw surveillance holograms from within the Destroyers’ cities. I assume they did much more than they told me! We have also discovered the AIs from the Destroyers are cooperative, as are the women.

“What do you think the role of our AIs could be in influencing what is happening with the Destroyers? Do you think that it is possible they are behind this positive attitude? Do you think it is possible that they have done a lot more, behind-the-scenes and have not communicated all they have achieved?” He asked.

“Jason we can discuss this and speculate on it endlessly. However, they all know of the Teokraeus and our reputation. Let us convene a meeting with them when it is convenient and I will help ask some of the questions.” Ooryphyon replied.

“That is an excellent idea Ooryphyon. I will contact them and set up a meeting for after dinner.” Jason decided.

No one was feeling sociable; they all ate mechanically and made their way to their own rooms to sleep. Jason noticed all the Ordreg were looking shattered. He waved at Patata on the way out. She waved her upper arm wearily in greeting and grinned wanly.

***

“Firstly, I want to thank all of you for the work that you have done in saving Emdar Grept and the people, AIs and assets of the planet. I am sure that without you carrying on your research that would not have happened. The Destroyers would have occupied and then destroyed Emdar Grept.

“I am convening this meeting to discuss intelligence we collected or are still collecting on our enemies. You showed us you scouted the Destroyer planets. Ooryphyon and I have been considering some of our strategic options, but she has a few questions she wishes to ask of you first,” said Jason.

Jason used Chuck’s method of tapping into the communication of the AIs. He was delighted to hear they were concerned a Teokraeus was going to ask questions.

“What were your intelligence objectives when you discovered the location of the Destroyers in the universe Bekta Delta?” Ooryphyon asked.

Jason heard they were worried no one had ratified the objectives they set.

The AIs decided to answer the questions fully.

“We tried to collect information to understand Destroyer society and then we tried to influence them to amend their warlike objectives. We made every effort to acquire the learning systems they used and their technology so we could leapfrog ahead of them.

“If we failed to influence the men to change their views, we wished to find how we could generate internal conflict that would weaken them. We discovered the society was already split with unhappy women and unhappy AIs. The women were far less interested in following what they considered was a false religious delusion than in having children and developing the society.”

“What instructions did you receive from the Uzliumbax leadership that makes you feel you have done the wrong thing?” Jason asked.

That certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons! Jason listened with amusement as the AIs panicked.

“They told us, Emperor, you had left instructions that we were all to put ourselves into stasis, if you had not returned within a million years. Most AIs would be deactivated other than those responsible for protecting the population in stasis and those responsible for reactivation. We were specifically told it was your instructions that all activity related to the pursuit of the war was to stop so we remained hidden from the enemy. The punishment for doing otherwise was deactivation and disassembly.”

Jason listened carefully and discovered which Kings and Queens gave those instructions and who was present and who was not. He heard the names and saw the faces.

“I left no such instructions. I would never have put our people into stasis. I believe in constant vigilance and steadfast preparation to deal with an enemy. I don’t believe hiding works in the long term. Have you done any investigations into the possibility that several of the Kings and Queens are traitors?”

“Our programming specifically precludes us evaluating the Kings and Queens.” Thomas, the chief AI replied.

“How is internal intelligence dealt with?” Jason asked.

“There is a special Bureau that services internal intelligence.”

“Under whose control is this Bureau?” Ooryphyon asked.

“It is under the control of the King who was responsible for ordering the Uzliumbax into stasis.”

“In that case, is there an AI that is responsible within the Bureau?” Ooryphyon continued.

“Yes, there is such an AI, Ooryphyon,” Bertha answered.

“Is that AI activated?” Ooryphyon asked.

“No, it is still deactivated.”

“Can it be activated?” Ooryphyon asked.

“It can only be activated under the orders of the King in charge of that Bureau,” said Thomas.

“I order the AI to be activated by Imperial order and as soon as the AI is activated, I wish it to report to me!” Jason provided the Imperial activation numbers.

“Have the Kings and Queens been moved out of stasis?”

“Most of them are due to be activated in two-months. One Queen was woken, but she is seriously ill,” said Bertha.

“Is she part of the faction involved in the stasis?” Ooryphyon asked.

“No Emperor she was not. She actively opposed the move into stasis.”

“What is her role?” Ooryphyon asked.

“She is in charge of infrastructure. Her role is to ensure the activation of Uzliumbax society occurs smoothly.”

“Do you know why the awakening of the other Kings and Queens is delayed?” Ooryphyon asked.

“They promised the Uzliumbax people they would be the first into stasis and would not be the first out. They stated it was a sign of goodwill and integrity,” said Thomas.

“I have never heard such garbage in my entire life. Please bring the Queen to the hospital in Charassa. Those who are treating her may continue to attend her,” said Jason.

“Do not bring any of the Kings and Queens involved in the stasis movement out of stasis. Do we have an active internal intelligence organization other than the Bureau run by the renegade King?” Jason asked.

“The same King was in charge of internal intelligence,” said Bertha.

“Do we have some kind of elite police force?” Ooryphyon asked. “There used to be an Empire Police Force during the time of the Emperor.”

“It reported to the same King. He was responsible for all internal affairs including the police.”

“Are you able to bring all the Kings and Queens with you to Charassa?” Jason asked.

“No Emperor that cannot be done. They did not want to risk the royalty falling into the hands of a pretender. They stated that they have to be kept safe, then taken out of stasis and finally proclaim the Emperor.”

“You are, however, able to bring the sick Queen to Charassa?” Jason asked.

“I believe so Emperor. She has asked for help and is distressed. We were about to call you when you contacted us.”

“I will make all the arrangements for her medical care. Please ensure she is provided a secure escort. Warn the guards of the other royals to be vigilant.” Jason directed.

“Yes Emperor, we will do as you say immediately,” said Bertha.

“Who ensured that your programming does not allow you to undertake internal investigations or consider issues of internal sabotage?” Ooryphyon asked.

“The King in charge of internal investigations stated it was imperative internal investigation occurred through the proper channels. Towards the end, he became dictatorial. The news media speculated that he wanted to be Emperor, but he steered the people into stasis.”

“Let us return to the question of the strategy you had for the collection of information from the Destroyers?” Ooryphyon asked.

“We quickly and easily obtained university teaching material and subsequently we were able to obtain military research information. We accessed their ancient archives. The Destroyer archive data confirm what you were told by the Grork on Earth. There is every indication the Destroyers are Uzliumbax.

The schools teach they were approached by Gods and the propaganda states it is their holy mission to cleanse this galaxy of pretenders and unbeliever sentient peoples.

“We infiltrated the AI programming facilities and we have been subtly changing the historical information that is provided both at schools and at educational institutions to versions prior to the arrival of the false Gods. We did the same in the military institutes.

The men have not been able to counter the attitude change, but they did change their methods slightly. They permitted a few women to join the lower rungs of the religion.

“We had great difficulty obtaining access to the facilities that prepare their religious education. We have only recently been able to start subtly changing what they learn and provide the past background history and the old beliefs.”

“Outstanding work! Rather than feel guilty, you should be proud! I commend you on what you have done and your initiative. I am going to need the help of all of you to reverse the downward spiral initiated by the traitors on Uzliumbax planets,” said Jason.

“The guards who are in charge of the remaining Kings and Queens are concerned they will face reprimands if their charges are found to be ill. We informed them the Destroyers were meddling on our planets and may be behind what is happening with the sick Queen. They are terrified the Kings and Queens in stasis have been poisoned, damaged or given illnesses. The sick Queen was stored under guard with the others.

“Emperor, you will have a window of opportunity to act. They know you view AIs positively and show us respect. They don’t want to let you down and seek your advice,” said Bertha.

“Please inform them we are taking the Queen to be examined in the Collective. If there are any concerns with meddling or tampering with her; I will arrange for the remaining Kings and Queens in stasis to be examined in the Collective. Let them know I will advise them when I discover what has happened to the Queen. I am awaiting the medical reports about the state of those taken from Emdar Grept.

“I have a bad feeling the Destroyers have been busy,” said Jason. Let us give the guards a job. Bertha, please ask them to go through old surveillance footage up until the present time to see if they can detect any interference. Ask them to look if there are any gaps in the surveillance. Were there any times AIs became incapacitated while on duty? They need to look very carefully at how each of the Kings and Queens were placed in stasis. They should go through the entire stasis period from start to finish and look for the smallest of holes. I also want them to send the surveillance holo-recordings to you guys and to Porquenta for his further examination. We all need to assume something underhanded was done and we need to find out how it was undertaken and what was done.”

“Your directions have been communicated to them verbatim, Emperor. They are, as requested, sending the data to the planetary AIs for analysis as well as to Porquenta. Emperor, the Queen is in a medical transport and will be escorted to Charassa,” said Thomas.

“Please send me the information they have forbidden to be circulated. I would like the intelligence services and our academics to become familiar with the history old and new and the information on the old and new religions. I am sure you played a vital role to prepare the Destroyers to change sides. For this I am grateful.

“Please also send me whatever background information you can dig up on all the Kings and Queens and all their staff. I want you to see if you can trace them to their origins. I will form a wide ranging intelligence group assist you all.”

“Emperor, we cannot do this. Could you ask some of the AI language and rule technicians who recently came out of stasis to amend our instruction set? I can connect you to the AI rules and ethics technical department if you wish to make the changes.”

“How long will they take to do the job?” Jason asked.

“If they know what you are trying to achieve and the instructions are clear to them it will take half a day, if you so order.”