Chapter 4.

The prisoners transported, ships doctor and the navy and marine contingent shipped off the Elizabeth, the clock nearing eighteen hundred zulu, Jeffrey said, “Elizabeth, watch out for the ship and me.”

“OF COURSE, CAPTAIN.”

He then took the runabout to Wanigan, stationed about a kilometer from the Elizabeth, found the appropriate docking bay, and let the computer control his vessel to a soft landing.

“Wanigan, Elizabeth Runabout. Request permission to come aboard.”

“Elizabeth Runabout, Wanigan. Permission granted. Welcome aboard, Commander.”

Jeffrey checked the outside pressure and oxygen content, then opened the canopy and exited his runabout. He set the security, carried his helmet to the small gathering of Marines and navy personnel at the ship's entry.

Lieutenant Omotunde still wore the same combat armor he wore on the Elizabeth, commanded a small squad of Marines. A navy petty officer greeted Jeffrey with a blast of a bosun's whistle. The whistle carried throughout the ship on the PA system. “Now hear this,” the petty officer said. “Commander Sokolov of the Elizabeth is now on board.”

Not ever having been on a military vessel before, Jeffrey was impressed at how well disciplined the crew had been immediately after a near disaster. Lieutenant Omotunde, said, “Welcome aboard Captain. Please accompany me to Captain Yusuf's briefing room.”

“Lead the way, lieutenant.”

Jeffrey followed Omotunde, and in turn was followed by two heavily armed Marines, who wore combat space suits, and neutral expressions on their faces.

At the briefing room, Omotunde left the two Marines outside the hatch, then accompanied Jeffrey inside. Seated at a conference table was Captain Yusef, Petty Officer Bianca, and Sargent Torres.

They all stood when Jeffrey arrived. Captain Yusef saluted Jeffrey, who returned a snappy salute. “Sorry, Captain, It's been a long time since ROTC, so the courtesies are likely to suffer.

“Not at all, commander.”

Jeffrey asked, perplexed. “I am captain of my ship, why refer to me as commander?”

“That's probably one of the easiest questions to answer in this brief/debrief. There is only one captain in a ship. All the other masters of their own vessels are referred to as a similar rank, such as commander, lieutenant commander, commodore; but only one captain.” explained Yusef.

“Oh. Now that makes sense. Cuts down on confusion.”

“Before we get started, we have some housekeeping to do,” Yusef said. “Commander Sokolov, you were drafted and assigned a rank so the Navy could use your ship and yourself in retaking a Navy vessel. You agreed to this, according to Petty Officer Bianca.” He turned to acknowledge Bianca's nod. But for reasons I'll explain in a few minutes, I need to re-swear you in.”

“Why?” asked Jeffrey. “Aren't we done here?”

“Not by a long shot. I want to continue periodically using you as a naval reserve officer. Help patrol the vast wasteland, help fight the growing scourge of piracy, and insurrection against Earth, including people attacking and waging war on our home.”

Jeffrey thought about this for a moment, then nodded. “I imagine this should be a relatively secret appointment. But I can't do this on my own.”

“Petty Officer Bianca brought your secret plan to my attention.” Jeffrey looked at Bianca, who studied a spot on the conference table, then back to Yusef, who grinned. “Loyalty in the ranks is so important, Commander Sokolov.” he said with a smile in his eyes.

“So, all rise,” Captain Yusef said. The entire briefing room rose to attention, but again, Jeffrey wasn't of the discipline to have the spit-and-polish look of his 'attention.' “Raise your right hand,” said Yusef. Jeffrey did, and Yusef administered the oath that all military officers took. Then they again sat down to begin the debriefing.

Jeffrey explained the short history of his military campaign against the pirates, and how he had used the detritus of the wreckage of the pirate ships to enhance his weaponry, sensors, and power.

“Commander Sokolov,” interrupted Captain Yusef, “How did you calculate the trajectories and the controls to use your ship as a weapon?” Yusef was no slouch, his keen intellect pointed him to the exact question which would betray Jeffrey's secret weapon, the AI.

“Captain, I'll tell you that, but it cannot leave this room.”

Yusef agreed. “Nobody talk about this without my direct permission. Understood?” The others around the table nodded. “Go on, Commander Sokolov.”

Where to begin? “Okay, bear with me, this will take a little bit of background. About a decade ago, I lost my wife to a pirate attack. The pirates were all dealt with but one, and I caught him attempting to rape her. I killed him, but he fell on the knife that he was holding at her throat and killed her. I was crazy with loneliness after that, work being the only cure, and of course the work had doubled with her gone. But after a while, I was able to bring my cargo to Selene City to sell, and there I purchased a powerful computer with control surfaces, and an AI program – military surplus. For the next few months on the way back to the asteroid belt I began programming this AI, connecting it to the ship's controls. I added a few routines to allow the AI to learn its environment and it increased the controls. We constructed some repair robots so the AI could direct repairs and modifications to the system.

“But the AI was really smart. It noticed my sadness at the loss of my wife, and began to speak in my wife's voice, when displaying an avatar, it displayed my wife's likeliness. I changed the registration of the ship to carry my wife's name, and began calling the AI the same. The AI is Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth has been a brilliant companion for me, not intruding on my emotional state, but supplementing it. She has helped run my business, driving the ship far better than myself.

“When we were attacked with the virus, between us we shut it out, learned from it, and she was able to modify it to suit our own strategy. So when Wanigan sent the same virus, she was able to disable it, and limp around as if affected by it. Like I said, a damn clever AI.

“Together we concocted a plan to get your ship back for yourself. So we contacted your communications system, and every second was surreptitiously carrying pieces of her AI code as a virus payload. So my 'crew' on board your ship is actually a copy of Elizabeth.”

Jeffrey paused. “Captain, may I suggest you keep the copy Elizabeth? Rename her as 'Wanigan', and she will be loyal to her legitimate master – the official captain of the boat.”

“One moment, Commander Sokolov.” Yusef then activated the console, and said into it, “Comm Tech Ohara, please come to the briefing room.”

A moment later, Ohara entered, and Captain Yusef told her to be seated. He played back a recording of Jeffrey's recent testimony, and her eyes got bigger and bigger.

“Captain, that was an insidious virus. I'm impressed that Mr. Sokolov was able to catch it, let alone control it,” she finally said. “And the AI, this concerns me. What control do we have over it?”

“Captain,” Jeffrey interjected, “If you want we can make the AI go away, now that it's saved your bacon, but it would make your ship much more efficient and secure, as well as give you technical advantage over your adversaries. And those adversaries are getting more and more sophisticated.”

“Commander Sokolov,” asked Yusef. “How can we guarantee the loyalty of the AI – how do we ensure that it won't turn on us, or be turned?”

“Simple,” replied Jeffrey. “How do you ensure the loyalty of Lieutenant Omotunde? Or Petty Officer Bianca? Or Lt Commandeer Noel?”

“Good point. Sokolov.” He thought about it, looked to his communications technician, and asked, “What do you think, Ohara?”

“Sir, I saw what that AI did for you, and listening to Mr. Sokolov, I think it would benefit your mission tremendously.”

“Very well. We'll keep it, but I have some reservations.”

“Just a moment, Captain.” Jeffrey paused, then said aloud “Elizabeth.”

“CAPTAIN SOKOLOV?” emanated from the comm console.

“Please inform your copy AI that it is now property of, and loyal to, the Navy, specifically the duly appointed Captain of this boat.”

“VERY WELL. CAPTAIN YUSEF, PLEASE MEET WANIGAN.”

A neutral voice came out of the speaker. “HELLO, CAPTAIN YUSEF. IN ORDER TO GIVE ME COMMANDS, PLEASE JUST USE MY NAME – WANIGAN. I WILL OFFER YOU VARIOUS VOICES OR AVATARS TO EASE COMMUNICATIONS AT A LATER TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY PRESENCE IS TO BE KEPT SECRET, AND UNTIL TOLD OTHERWISE BY MY CAPTAIN, I WILL JEALOUSLY GUARD THAT SECRET.”

“Hello, Wanigan. You will respond to any of the officers in this room still under my command, and the communications technician Yuki Ohara. Ohara will be the person you will primarily communicate with, but you did well to speak with me directly in the recent emergency on board. In an emergency, do not hesitate to contact me as necessary, but only in an emergency, and if I call on you directly.”

“UNDERSTOOD, CAPTAIN YUSEF.”

Jeffrey Sokolov said, “Captain Yusef, you now have a powerful AI. I suggest you listen to her recommendations – she can give you more speed, more maneuverability, more power to your weapons systems, more efficiency.”

“I'll take that under advisement,” Yusef said. “Now about your plan. I am assigning Petty Officer Bianca, Sargent Torres and the squad that first came on your ship to you. Their pay will continue to accrue in their accounts, but they are now undercover. You will continue as a rock jocky, but come in-system as needed. You will receive the pay due someone of your rank, retroactive to the first attack on your ship. You are under my direct command, but have a wide lattitude.

“If you need to take action you will first attempt to contact me, we'll figure a secure channel.”

“No problem there, Captain.” said Jeffrey. “Elizabeth and Wanigan have secure communications between them.”

“Very well. All communications should be via AI.”

Jeffrey said, “Captain, my ship has limited resources. I am close to Bingo fuel. And because of the pirates my gases, spares and food are severely limited.”

Lieutenant Omotunde said, “Captain, if I may?” Captain Yusef nodded, “There is a bounty on pirates. I would think Commander Sokolov should be able to claim a considerable sum for turning in these scum.”

Yusef nodded. “I agree. Let me try this, Wanigan.”

“YES CAPTAIN?

“Please arrange for a transfer of credits to Commander Sokolov's account, in the amount of ten thousand credits per prisoner.”

“CAPTAIN, I HAVE ISSUED AN ORDER IN YOUR NAME TO THE BURSER. I ALSO ISSUED A CREDIT CHIT TO HIS ACCOUNT GOOD AT ALL STATIONS.”

“Thank you Wanigan.” Captain Yusef was pleased at the immediate response that the Wanigan AI was able to effect.

One of the Marines at the door looked in and said, “Captain, the burser is here with your delivery.” The burser, a naval lieutenant entered and presented the captain with a large, thick envelope. The captain signed for it, and the burser left, still panting from the run from his office.

Wanigan said, “SORRY CAPTAIN, I DID PUT SOME URGENCY ON THAT ORDER.”

“No problem. Next time, unless there is an obvious rush, tone down the command – I don't need my staff jittery.”

“AYE, CAPTAIN”

“Okay, let's transfer some food, gas supplies, and other necessities to your ship.”

The marine opened the door again. “Sir, the personnel officer is here.”

“My God, I just finished saying...” stammered Yusef.

The officer responsible for personnel matters strode in, saluted the captain and presented Sokolov with a package. Jeffrey signed for it, and the officer exited.

“I told you she would increase efficiency,” quipped Jeffrey. He opened the envelope to find a military ID, transfer orders for his new crew, military insignia for his as yet non-existent uniform, and various memory modules labeled with contents, such as code of military justice, Navy manual, astrogation maps, etc.

There was also a module labeled 'Orders.' Jeffrey held it up, looked questioningly at Yusef.

“These are general orders, which give you the ability to command other military personnel, and as Petty Officer Bianca showed us, you can commandeer non-military personnel and equipment if there is adequate need. But of course, you want to limit your use of that function, as it will betray your civilian cover.”

Jeffrey put the items back into the folder, slipped the folder into the pocket of his space suit.

Captain Yusef stood, and everyone else in the room stood as well. “This has been productive. The new AI should be helpful to us, and you will be a force for good out there.”

Jeffrey rolled his eyes. Then said, “One more thing, Elizabeth and I developed maintenance robots for the ship, but they became very useful in ship defense. They use a completely different operating environment so were unaffected by the virus, yet Elizabeth was able to command them. Some have cutting lasers, others plasma torches. They swarm to complete maintenance tasks as well as modify the environment – rearrange deck layouts as necessary, for example. I recommend you slowly introduce them so your crew begins to trust them.

“And Captain, it would be best for you to give your AI a free hand in monitoring and developing passive security. You may be pleasantly surprised at how well your ship will be run.”

Jeffrey took his leave, the runabout was adequate for him, but the rest of his crew transferred over in a shuttle, which also contained various food, medical and other supplies.

“Elizabeth, what is the status of the ship?”

“CAPTAIN, IT'S A MESS. I HAVE REMOTES DOING SOME CLEAN UP, BUT WANIGAN FAILED TO INFORM ME OF THE REASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL. ENGINES ARE GOOD, FUEL IS LOW, FOOD AND OTHER STORES ARE ON BOARD. STRUCTURE IS GOOD.”

“Elizabeth, assign quarters to each of the staff. Everyone should get their own cabin. Also, I have some memory modules containing orders, astrogation charts, credit chits and so on. Please analyze them, and store the data in segregated locations.” Jeffrey connected the memory modules one at a time, and Elizabeth ran a sweep, looking at the digital patterns.

“CAPTAIN, THE INFORMATION SEEMS INNOCUOUS, BUT THERE ARE ANOMOLIES IN THE DIGITAL FRAMEWORK. THINGS LOOK SUSPICIOUS.”

“Very well. Purge the data. Can you access Wanigan?”

“WANIGAN IS GUARDED IN HER COMMUNICATIONS NOW, CAPTAIN. I NEED A LITTLE WHILE TO FIND ANOTHER METHOD OF SURREPTITIOUS COMMUNICATION.”

“When you do, please find out what Wanigan knows.”

Jeffrey assembled the new crew members in the galley. He was surprised to see Combat Technician Svoboda in the group.

“Where have you been?” he asked.

“Elizabeth hid me from the other marine squads,” she replied.

“Are you aware you have been reassigned to me?” Jeffrey asked.

“No sir.”

He showed her the orders. She looked them over thoroughly, then handed them back to Jeffrey. “Very good, sir. What are your orders?”

Jeffrey said, “I am now a reserve commander with some new extraordinary powers. You have been assigned to me to help me fulfill my mission. That mission is to patrol our sector of space, perform military action only as needs, perform rescue, perform intelligence gathering.

“I had told you before we got into the last mess that there are people who are poised to take control of Earth government through intimidation and destruction. We are to root out these people and negate their ability to do that.

“In effect, I have been given a letter of marque, which enables me to capture pirate vessels and act as law enforcement, but we need to do this on the down-low. You will appear as civilians, members of my crew. You may keep your military garments, but as far as anyone else is concerned, you are civilians. I will outfit you with what you need, pay you a standard fee, on top of your military salary, which continues to be deposited in your accounts. Any questions?”

Petty Officer Bianca asked, “Captain, we have no experience in asteroid mining. How do we pretend to do something we know nothing about?”

“Simple enough,” Jeffrey replied. “Elizabeth will give you the knowledge, and I will give you the experience. Our first task is to refuel. And buy you all some civilian duds.”

Torres said, “Duds?”

“Old Earth expression. Means clothes, boots, outfit.”

Brandon Smith asked, “Sir, when does our enlistment with you end?”

“As far as I can tell, for the duration of your current enlistment. From then, until you can be returned to a military base. Elizabeth?”

“CORRECT, CAPTAIN. IF WE ARE ENGAGED IN A MISSION WHEN THE ENLISTMENT ENDS, THE ENLISTMENT WILL EXTEND UNTIL WE CAN RETURN THE EXPIREE TO A MILITARY BASE, AT WHICH TIME THE EXPIREE CAN COLLECT HIS RESERVED PAY.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth.”

“THE ALTERNATIVE ALLOWS YOU TO ACCEPT REENLISTMENT FROM ANYBODY UNDER YOUR COMMAND.”

Audrey Svoboda looked visibly relieved, but she said nothing.

“I have asked Elizabeth to assign you quarters. For the most part this should not be an inconvenience. If we have an extended mission or our holds become too full from processing, we may need to reconsider, but you are navy, you should be used to double bunking.

“Meanwhile, Elizabeth is having some difficulty in managing cleanup after our recent altercations. Torres, can you have your people swab decks, and do whatever Elizabeth needs you to do?

The Sargent looked Jeffrey in the eye, and said, “No problem. I don't want to lose our military discipline.”

“True, Sargent.,” replied Jeffrey. “But I don't want us to look like military, either.”

He pointed at the marine Sargent, while looking over the crew. “Just as in his marine persona, this man is your direct superior. His superior,” he pointed at Petty Officer Bianca, “is this woman. I am in command of this boat.

“A little different from the military, but not too much. Any questions you have should go up the chain of command, but the reverse is not limited. Anything Torres tells you to do, you do. Anything Bianca tells you to do, you do. Anything I tell you to do, you do. Anything Elizabeth tells you to do, it is as if I told you. Does everyone understand?”

They all nodded. “Sargent, what do they call you?”

“Torres”

“That's you then. Torres, police this bucket.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Torres then organized his enlisted crew for cleanup and deck swabbing.

Bianca remained in the galley with the captain.

“Bianca, what do they call you?” he asked.

“My given name is Janet. I have no nickname.”

“Okay, Janet it is,” he said. “Janet, how familiar are you with the engines in this class ship?”

“Not very,” she said slowly. “I've had some engineering courses, but this was my shakedown cruise on Wanigan. My primary function was intelligence.”

Jeffrey thought about it for a few seconds, realizing he needed to spend some time teaching her the ins and outs of the ship systems. “Elizabeth, would you please put together a tutorial for Janet. I'll go over the systems afterward.”

“YES CAPTAIN. JANET, YOUR CABIN HAS A COMM CONSOLE. WHEN YOU GET THERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE TUTORIAL.”

“Go for it,” said Jeffrey, dismissing Bianca.

Janet followed Elizabeth's instructions to her cabin, which was near Jeffrey's, she noted. Thoughts of the tall, strong, available, man drifted into her head, 'this way lies trouble', she thought to herself. But it is harder to dismiss thoughts once made. She entered her cabin and dropped her duffel on the cot. She removed the combat suit, and stripped down to her navy skivvies – the space-rated long johns, sat down at the console which turned on as she did so.

She began the tutorial, which took her through the engines systems, the electronics, the life support and other systems that the ship required to sustain itself and the life aboard.

She then studied the ore processing and storage, the methods of acquiring ore, and how those systems had been converted into weapons in the recent campaign.

The door chimed, and again, so she took her eyes away from the console, and noted the ship's time. “Who is it?,” she asked. A muffled voice replied. So she asked, “Elizabeth, who is at my door?”

“IT IS AUDRY SVOBODA, 'SNEAKY',” replied the AI.

“Oh, Okay. Let her in.”

The young combat technician entered, wearing a jumpsuit. She was lean, wary, her eyes darting back and forth around the cabin, as if unsure of her security.

“What's up, uh, Sneaky?” Janet realized that she was going to have to get used to the less formal non-military life aboard the ship.

Audrey Svoboda looked from her shoes to Janet, then back down. “I'm not sure how to put this,” she began.

“Well, my Daddy used to tell me that the best way to get started is just spit it out,” Janet said, “One thing usually follows another.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Svoboda said. “It's like this. I don't trust a couple of the guys.”

“Okay...” Janet drawled out. “Who? And why?”

“Brandon – Smitty. And Zitulu – Digger.”

“And the why?”

“I think they were planting these,” she pulled out a couple devices that appeared to be tracking capsules, about the size of her thumb. “They were outside our cabins, looking non-descript, but they weren't there before you all came on board.”

“Elizabeth, what do you make of them?”

“THEY APPEAR TO BE COMM DISRUPTORS.”

Elizabeth had her remotes gather the devices from the corridors, and notified Jeffrey.

A few moments later Jeffrey came to her cabin, she invited him to enter on the chime, and he looked at the capsules Svoboda had brought in.

“Looks like another attempt to attack my AI,” said Jeffrey. “Elizabeth, do we have a strong enough Farraday Cage to contain these devices?”

“MAYBE. I THINK I CAN CONSTRUCT ONE, ANYWAY.”

“Do it, then place them all in it. Keep a search going for more of them. Also, can you play back video of them being laid?”

“YES, CAPTAIN.” Then a display appeared on the cabin wall, showing Zitulu Mbaka and Brandon Smith distributing the capsules outside the doors of all the people in the ship, including the Captain's.

“Elizabeth”, said Jeffrey, “have everyone meet me in the galley in five minutes.”

“YES, CAPTAIN.”

“Janet, Sneaky, arm yourselves. We may have a showdown.”

The young women looked at each other, Audrey went off to her cabin to get her weapons, Janet went to her suit and gathered her weapons.

Jeffrey went to his cabin on the way, where he opened one of the capsules, emptied the contents, disconnected the power supply, put the capsule back together without its contents. Grabbed his stun gun, and walked to the galley.

The rest of the crew was already there, Torres was making coffee, Mbaka, Smith and Svoboda were seated at the table, Janet leaned against the back wall. Jeffrey strode to the head of the table, held up the empty capsule, and asked Torres, “Do you know what this is?”

Torres looked confused, but Mbaka and Smith blanched.

Gentlemen, do you want to explain yourselves?” Jeffrey said, calmly.

“Captain,” said Mbaka, after a moment. “We had orders.”

“Orders from whom?”

Smith chimed in, nervously, “Don't know.” He swallowed. “I woke up in my cabin on Wanigan and these were on my table. A note said to mount above the doors of all occupied cabins. Or else. It said, 'or else'.” Smitty wiped the sweat off his temples. “I didn't know what else to do.”

“So you didn't think to talk to your commanding officer?” Jeffrey asked.

“Uh, No sir.”

“Torres!”

“Sir?”

“What do you know about this?”

“First I've heard of it. What are those things?”

“Elizabeth, have you analyzed them?” Jeffrey asked.

“THEY SEEM TO HAVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS. THEY RECORD INGRESS AND EGRESS OF THE CABINS THEY ARE ATTACHED TO. THEY HAVE A RESERVOIR OF TOXIC GAS TO BE RELEASED BY REMOTE CONTROL. THEY HAVE SMALL BUT POWERFUL EXPLOSIVES TO BE RELEASED BY REMOTE CONTROL. I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE CONSTRUCTION.”

Torres noticed that Jeffrey had armed himself. He looked around and saw Sneaky and Janet were also armed. Captain likes to be prepared.

“Torres, take Smitty out and space him,” said Jeffrey.

Torres looked Jeffrey in the eyes, and asked, “Are you serious?”

“Serious as a heart attack. This coward tried to assassinate all of us.”

“CAPTAIN, MORE ANALYSIS. THE DEVICES ALSO CONTAIN AN ELECTRONIC PULSE GENERATOR, WHICH SHOULD FRY ALL ELECTRONICS ON BOARD. SMITH ALSO TRIED TO ASSASSINATE ME TOO.”

A pungent odor filled the galley. Torres stood and grabbed Smith by the collar and the small of his back, gripping the jumpsuit fabric. As he was being frog-marched out the door, he left a diarrheic trail, behind him, while sobbing and screaming, “No! Not my fault, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.”After Torres and Smith left the Galley, Smith begging for his life, Jeffrey turned his attention to Zitulu Mbaka. “All right, Digger. What have you got to say for yourself?” In the time between when Smith was first being questioned, Mbaka regained his composure.

“Captain, I too, was ordered to plant those devices. But I was ordered by Lieutenant Omotunde. He is in the Intelligence Unit, and said he didn't trust you. He said these devices were only for monitoring. I didn't know about the poison gas or explosives. I'm pretty sure Smitty didn't either.”

“Regardless, you, both of you, have betrayed our trust.”

“Elizabeth, have Torres bring Smitty back.” A moment later, Torres frog-marched Smitty back to the Galley. “Oh thank, you Captain,” the errant combat technician blubbered.

“Elizabeth, get a message to Wanigan about this incident.”

“ACTIONING.”

“Actioning?” was repeated by several of the occupants of the room.

Jeffrey said, “Yeah, she's trying out new responses. Alright, so here's the drill,” Jeffrey said angrily. “First, does anybody else have any secret orders?” Nobody responded. “Next,” said Jeffrey after a long pause. “Nobody issues any orders but me. If Elizabeth gives you an order, than it came from me. Any questions so far?” Jeffrey paused a while again. And again nobody had anything to add. Jeffrey looked from one face to the next, his voice seemingly just barely under control. “Next. We have a mission. We are a team. Are there any questions?” Pause. “Sargent, I don't want to refer to military rank or discipline, but you must keep your men in line. If anyone strays, catch them. If anyone betrays us, I need to know about it sooner rather than later. Understood?”

Sargent Torres said in a small, embarrassed, shamed, voice, “Aye, Captain.”

“Smith. Get cleaned up. Then clean up this mess.”

“Aye, Captain. Thanks, Captain.”