Chapter 28: Disinformation

“The FTL communications is a bug, continuously reporting our position, destination, velocity to the PLUS. It’s a Trojan horse to discover our home worlds. Yes, I could disable the bug but it’s wiser to wait until they commit their ships to a red herring destination. We will lead them on a wild goose chase. The best tactic, is to modify the data and send them false information where we are going, a false position and velocity. We can continually frustrate them with disinformation.”

I agree. JoAnn is encrypting a series of algorithms that corrupts the data sent to the PLUS, in a believable way. To prevent dissecting the false data to harvest accurate information, the different algorithms will be applied in a random sequence. In addition, we will frequently appear to change course and destination. Keep moving the goal posts.

JoAnn found other nasty bits incorporated in the tech they so generously gave us. They were ready to seize control of the ship and remotely pilot it. JoAnn fried those circuits.

Visiting one or more of the humanoid worlds is wiser than heading for home because, not only do we hope to shake our tail, I hope to start rebellions. If these human look alike folks also share rebellious freedom loving natures with us, it shouldn’t be difficult.

The PLUS are some real SOBs, but I’m a bigger SOB than they can imagine. I had lots of practice.

The darkmatter database and mapping computer appears to be free from sabotage and malware. The greatest asset is it can detect darkmatter from a considerable distance. JoAnn hooked it to navigation as a lookout. Thanks PLUS. This bit of technology may be the most valuable of all. Saves ships and lives.

“Could I talk to the grand poohbah with out revealing our actual where abouts? For peace of mind, I’d like to give him a piece of my mind.”

The call was promptly answered. They must have been waiting by the phone.

“Wish you were here, poobah. I would invite you outside, even hold the door for you. Lovely view. You can see almost forever.”

“You cheated, lord Iron.”

“You tried to cheat in multiple ways. I succeeded, poopy poobah.”

“Your escape is escape to nowhere. I am disabling your ship. You will drift for eternity. Enjoy the view of forever, lord Iron.”

“JoAnn, adjust the bug to show us aimlessly drifting. Can you do that? Thanks. Good girl!”

“Someday, you will realize what a horrible mistake it was to provoke me, poobah. You may think you have won this round, but I will win the war and reduce your culture to primitive slime. I can’t, dammit! You already ARE primitive slime. You thwarted me again, poobah. Fuck you!”

Hanging up on the PLUS was a satisfaction. Oops, Brenda and I have a good laugh afterwards. Even JoAnn laughs. I didn’t know AI chips had that capability.

Onward to the humanoid worlds. The poopy poobah’s thinking he set us adrift, makes the disinformation the bug sends them simple. We are apparently drifting just as they expect. They aren’t likely to do a visual checkup. Their first clue we aren’t where they think we are, will be open rebellion on one or more of their captured worlds.

I hope.

FTL is delightful. We are traveling so fast, we will arrive at the first PLUS controlled humanoid world in the next chapter. Disinformation.

Arrive firstist with the mostist. Always use the element of Surprise. We are here, in orbit. Monitoring public broadcasts, they certainly look human, but the mood and attitudes expressed in the broadcasts is downtrodden, listless, subdued, beaten.

Where would we find a counter culture if it exists? Where are the rebels if any exist?

Hope you’re enjoying.

Yob