Chapter 11

“Con, Helm. Orbit established at Earth, ten kilometres from outer docks at western hemisphere orbital platform.”

“Con, Commo. GNS headquarters request you allow a visiting delegation of diplomats to access your stern Attack Shuttle dock and land there.”

“Reply that Attack Shuttle is making her exit to dock at cargo bay. Landing authorized whenever they arrive.” JD answered. “Advise Meteor of the diplomatic delegation’s arrival. We’ll meet them at the launch bay.”

It was a stiff collar arrival meeting that marked the introductions and first exchanges of the negotiating parties for both sides. It was obvious that the Galactic Naval Service was at odds with the diplomatic sincerity given Thor’s crew. However, the alien species were welcomed with a bit more enthusiasm. When JD slid a ten-kilogram ingot of pure rhodium across the negotiating table, everyone’s eyes widened. Soon those astonished faces were smiling and dollar signs could be seen in their eyes.

‘The latest spot price for rhodium on the commodities markets was $12,000 dollars a troy ounce. Nothing like seeing $35 million worth of precious metals just lying on the table in front of you to calm a lot of ruffled feathers.’ JD imagined, but said. “My friends, I apologize for my rather rapid departure a few years ago.

I was young and didn’t appreciate the gravity of my appearance; so suddenly leaping upon the world’s stage. I return now, hoping to negotiate for the proper salvage of Thor and perhaps negotiate beneficial trade agreements between our two worlds and include the Alterran Ambassador in these negotiations.

The bullion I present to you is ten-kilograms of pure rhodium, as you can undoubtedly read on the metal’s surface. Please accept it as a token of my willingness to conclude a business negotiation with your government.” “Your opening offering is quite sufficient to indicate sincerity, but surely you must realize that you’re a craft was worth over six-billion dollars of Galactic Naval Service property.” “Perhaps at her initial launch, sir. But the craft that I departed Earth within had been sitting in a deserted scrapyard for over a century, missing all armaments, and without even a crew to pilot it. I would certainly suspect that its actual value would be little more than scrap metal at the time.”

“All of us were quite astonished at Thor’s launching. In fact, we still have no idea how you managed to accomplish that feat. Others have attempted to repeat the process on Zeus, for three years and have had no success whatsoever. They couldn’t even start any of the reactors. So, the vessel now rests in the scrapyard as a lost cause.”

“In that case, I would be interested in hearing any offer you may wish to present for her salvage as spare parts.”

“I would think that you would want to fly her away like you did Thor.”

JD replied. “Hardly, Sir. There is only one of me as it is. However, the components I seek could facilitate any future overhaul of Thor when that time comes.”

“That seems reasonable. I would of course, have to consult with my government and you may wish to examine Zeus before paying too much for a derelict chassis. What do you say to a meeting in three days when our proposals can be exchanged in earnest?”

“Fine. But if Zeus is in the poor shape you suggest, then I would expect a more reasonable opening proposal for her than the six-billion dollar figure you mentioned earlier for Thor.” JD replied.

“The secretary has scheduled a banquet in your honor, commander. I would hope that Ambassador Zinc and his wife could attend as well as any of your crew that would wish to do so.”

“Please express my thanks to the Secretary for his invitation. I will attend with a dozen couples if such could be accommodated.”

“Of Course, Sir. In the meantime, feel free to fly your ship’s shuttle to the planet’s surface and inspect Zeus’s hull, at your pleasure.”

“Alara, this ship is a disaster.” JD said as he shined a flashlight around inside Zeus. “How can it possibly be worth anything. Just the cost of hauling it off as scrap iron must be prohibitive. This scrapyard’s distant location must make hauling any scrap away a very expensive proposition.” JD stated the obvious.

“Yes, Commander. But you must remember that my androids had almost two years to prepare for our departure. In that time a lot can be done, especially once the cold fusion reactor has been re-started. Allow me to get the android technicians started on the process. They can work a few days and even you will be amazed at what they can accomplish.”

“Okay, Alara. Have at it. I’ll be inspecting the captain’s cabin and see what I can find there. Don’t launch Zeus without me.”

“Very funny, commander. You have come a long way from the lost youngster that wandered into Thor, not so many years ago.” Alara responded.

JD walked down the familiar corridor amazed at the dust and fluff that his passage disturbed. It was a good thing that he carried a flashlight, because the corridor and entrance air lock were pitch black. Entering what corresponded to his cabin on Thor, JD was surprised to find a much larger cabin. Instead of the ‘head’ he was familiar with being there, a second ‘office’ with various furnishings was discovered. Wiping the dust off a transparent capsule that looked surprisingly like an escape pod, JD peered inside.

‘What in the world?’ JD wondered. Inside the capsule he could see a naked, beautifully shaped, female of his species. A display on the outside of the cylinder displayed. ‘Stasis achieved’ and below it. ‘Life processes suspended indefinitely in cryogenic stasis. Examine ship’s log for 11 October 2896 for instructions for re-animation. Subject’s historical file attached.’

Walking to the captain’s desk area, he tried to access the bulkhead. He had done such thousands of times on board Thor, but here on Zeus, it didn’t work. He left to find Alara and see what was going on.

Alara’s hologram was standing beside two android technicians in front of a dusty cabinet. “Alara, my desk won’t open. I mean the one in Zeus’s commanders suite won’t open.”

“Nothing works without the local AI functioning, Commander. This is her circuit board and component bay. It looks like she has been deactivated, not just placed in stasis like I was. When stasis was interrupted, I re-booted and took actions to bring the remainder of the ship on-line. Arlene here can’t do anything, without power being applied.”

“Arlene?” JD queried.

“Yes, Commander. All our first-generation AI names began with the letter ‘A’. I have no idea how subsequent generation AIs were named, but I have a suspicion that none were given the programming of latitude or responsibility that my generation was. It seems that over the last century, command has purposefully limited AI capability for some reason. I have been unable to access any GNS archive to determine current AI architecture or capabilities.”

“Well, there is a surprisingly life-like android in my quarters that appears to be in cryogenic stasis with instruction to ask a ships log entry from over century ago for revitalization instructions.” JD explained.

“Yes, Commander, it all makes sense now. I need your authorization to attempt to bring Zeus’s cold fusion reactor on line. With it I can access Arlene’s hardware cabinet and attempt to re-boot her manually. Unauthorized intrusion will fry all her interior circuits automatically, and render her unrepairable. May I have your permission to start the reactor?”

“You may proceed, Alara.” JD commanded.

The two android technicians scurried off as if their proverbial ‘tails’ were on fire. Of course, they didn’t have a tail, but you get the impression.

Alara spoke to me. “Commander, I don’t want to get your hopes up, but we may be wasting our time here. Whoever decommissioned this ship, completely shut it down.

Thor was left on standby-by with minimal power maintained to keep fuel replication, life support and maintenance androids working. Zeus was completely shut down. No maintenance or housekeeping has been done for over a century here. The fuel cells that operate the cold fusion reactor were even closed down. It the technicians cannot get them going, then all our efforts are for naught.”

“Then how is the stasis chamber for the female android in the captain’s cabin being maintained?” JD asked.

“I have no idea. There were never any anthropomorphic female androids ever on Thor. Even the mannequin like androids that I have are genderless, as you are no doubt aware.”

“Where is the power coming from then?” JD asked as if restating the question would get a better answer.

“I have no idea.” Alara answered without giving any further details.

All of the sudden there was a beep coming from the AI cabinet, followed by a dim lighting of the corridors and bridge. Before JD could get excited the lights went out again. Two more similar occurrences also led to power failure. Alara whispered something in response.

JD responded. “I didn’t know that AIs believed in any deity or supreme being.”

“Whatever gave you that foolish idea, commander?” Alara asked.

“You did. You just whispered a prayer.” JD spoke in answer.

“I did no such thing. I merely crossed my fingers and hoped that your human luck would prevail.” Alara responded as the lights came on again; but this time the minimal ‘Night’ lights remained illuminated.

“Well, it looks like you are in luck, sweetheart.” JD jokingly added.

Alara had no reply and it looked like she was listening to another conversation or concentrating on finding an answer.

Finally, she spoke aloud again. “The fuel cells are functioning now. They have to build-up several large capacitors and charge the back-up batteries before any attempt at starting the cold fusion reactor can be made. We have a couple of hours now where I can investigate this android you have discovered, commander.”

JD walked back to the CO’s cabin with Alara’s avatar standing by his side. Once inside the cabin, JD pointed to the stasis capsule in the extra room.

Alara spoke. “There have been some extensive modifications to this room. The ensuite has been removed with the utility connections abandoned. What looks like an early generation escape pod has been fit into its place. New electrical and cryogenic fluid lines appear to be routed through the ensuite utility chase leading somewhere.

I suspect that they mate with Zeus’s cryogenic storage in stasis. As for power; Zeus has none. The only source that I am aware of capable of producing electrical power without moving parts for an extended time, that is something like a century or more, is an RTG.”

“A radioisotope thermal generator?” JD noted aloud.

“Precisely, commander. Sometimes you amaze even me.” Alara replied.

“No, it’s all your fault actually. If you recall, you explained the whole reason for the really deep hole we drilled in the volcanic neck back at Thor Base. How it was necessary to safely house an RTG before we lowered your clone AI into it and permanently sealed over the entrance.” JD explained.

“You were paying attention, Sir,” Alara remarked.

“It is usually to my advantage when someone is trying to impart knowledge to me. Sometimes I like to surprise you.” JD smiled.

“Well, you have, Sir. But RTG’s are very toxic. Scientists on this planet only launched deep space probes with RTG’s on them during the twentieth century.

A few Mars missions carried them, but the Plutonium fuel had such a long half-life that their use was abandoned many centuries ago. In fact, the advent of fusion reactors led to the abandonment of all fission reactors as inherently too dangerous. How could any one of them have been obtained in the late 2800’s?”

“I have no idea, Alara. But before we get too far along on this quest, why don’t we look around this ship and see what other surprises are in store for us.” JD proposed.

For the next several hours JD walked all over the ship. The fusion drives were moth-baled in the same white covering that Thor’s had been wrapped within. The cold fusion reactor was covered in dust and looked even worse than the corridors. It made one wonder how any dust got into a sealed space-ship. Well, it obviously wasn’t sealed very well in this salvage yard.

The engineering spaces had the industrial replicator and the stores were fairly well stocked.

But the hydroponics beds and biological exchange tanks had been removed. Life support had huge holes in the bulkheads where fans and conduit piping had been removed. Strangely enough, the cryogenic gasses storage area was functioning satisfactorily. Someone had put some rational thought into what was left to ensure a minimal serviceability was maintained.

Walking back to the bridge the two android technicians were facing the AI cabinet waiting for Alara to instruct them on the next steps to gain access.

“Commander, my androids advise me that the cold-fusion reactor is operating at maintenance level currently. We should be able to examine the AI cabinet safely now.” Alara gave the android technicians some inaudible commands and they responded by opening an access panel and pressing several buttons.

Then the technicians used power tools to unfasten the cabinet panel to expose the interior hardware and circuits. The technicians pressed a button to get a cooling fan to operate before pressing another to feed power to a bus supplying peripheral drives with power.

Good, now we must wait for the ROM machine language to load before pressing the re-boot manually. Had Arlene been in stasis, she could have done this step electronically on her own, like I once did. At Alara’s motioning, one android technician pressed a blinking red lamp which turned green in response. Now lights started flashing all over the bus and circuit board cut-outs.

Within a minute a weak voice could be heard saying, “EPROM successfully loaded, running RAM diagnostics.” A few moments later a stronger voice replied, “Initializing RAM and checking solid state memory banks.”

Finally, a normal electronic voice stated, “Zeus AI operational. Set DTG of the return to functionality. My power supply was interrupted and the previous Date Time Group of operation has been lost. No further actions can be made until the correct DTG is entered.”

Alara motioned to the android technicians to enter the data manually. While they were doing that, she related.

“All diagnostic and maintenance routines require a starting DTG to calculate and schedule maintenance activities. After running a diagnostic of connected systems, Arlene can identify exactly what steps need to be completed and in what order they can best be accomplished. When she announces that DTG has been accepted, we can begin our query about the ship’s log you mentioned.”