Image: NASA
Chapter 1
John Abel Jackson never failed to marvel at the surface of Mars outside his family's dwelling in the Candor City district. The reddish color seen from afar was not as blended close up. Rock outcroppings, wind-carved edges, colored gray, blue-gray, yellow-tinged, unlike anything he had seen in pictures or on Earth. Earth deserts, he thought, are boring compared to a Martian plain with copious scattered rocks and distant reddish mountains.
John was just over nine and one-half Martian years old, he would have been a youth of eighteen back on Earth. He was in his first year at the Mars Space Academy in nearby Bradbury City. He was tall at six foot four inches but thin, like many children who were born on Mars. But his strength was equal to any Earthling his age. He had dark brown eyes that could stare piercingly if confronted. He was a typical Jackson male.
He and his dad had come outside on a maintenance expedition. The new EV (Excursion Vehicle) was extremely comfortable and the ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence) that drove it seemed to be a big improvement over the last model. This ANI, popularly called an Annie when for personal use, unlike those in the past learned continually from its surroundings, never making the same mistake twice.
The new spacesuits were comfortable too. They had been developed on Mars for flexibility and durability. The wearer still had to limit his time in the Martian outdoors so as not to become overexposed to the ever-present radiation and it was best to schedule outdoor activity in the middle of the day to avoid the worst of the extreme day-night temperature change.
John and his dad had about thirty minutes left to get their work done and get back before the warmth of the day turned into the intense cold of a Martian night. Because of the thin Martian atmosphere, the transition from warm Sun to cold night was fast. His dad was working on the programming of a monitoring station while John inspected it for any mechanical problems. The robot that John called Rothmeyer was busy unloading batteries from the EV.
Suddenly John found himself on his back with his chest hurting. He sat up slowly and looked around. The EV was several meters away from him, and there was a cloud of smoke rising above it.
Rothmeyer was off to one side in pieces, he couldn’t see his dad. John arose and looked down at his suit, it was darkened across the chest area and his ribs ached but the suit hadn’t breached. He began walking, then running towards the EV.
He arrived at the EV and began yelling for his father before he realized he hadn’t switched on his mic. He switched it on and ran to the other side of the machine. There some meters away was his dad, face down. John ran and kneeled beside his father. Before he turned him over John noticed his dad's back rise and fall. He was breathing. John turned his dad over and was shocked by the condition of his suit. The outer layers around the stomach were vaporized. All he saw was a thin inner layer that the nano-machinery embedded in the suit had quickly replicated. The environmental system was working to replace lost air and maintain body temperature but it couldn’t keep up with the demands placed upon it much longer. John had to get his father to Candor City as soon as possible.
John yelled through the comm-link, “Dad, Dad, can you hear me?” His father didn’t respond. John immediately lifted the unconscious body, bent and draped it across his shoulder and began running towards the nearest rock outcropping.
He placed his father against the rock, facing the setting sun. It was the best he could do for now. He plugged his Annie into his dad's suit and checked his vital signs and saw they were stable though far from normal. He needed to contact Candor as soon as possible, but how?
John thought.
He turned toward the EV and tried to raise the onboard Annie. No answer. The onboard electronics had probably been fried in the explosion.
He thought.
The only things he had for signaling were his suit radio and his Annie. And he realized, maybe his father’s Annie. He ran to his father and searched until he found the Annie. He unfolded it, apparently, it worked. Now what?
The settlement was out of range of anyone signaling device. But there might be a way to reinforce the transmission capabilities of the Annies and his suit radio. If he set them all transmitting the emergency signal and then could somehow create an alignment that would sum the radio waves at a distance, like waves of water summing and subtracting, he could create a kind of phased antenna array.
He ran the calculations on his Annie. He set his father’s Annie on a high point. He took his Annie and placed it at the calculated distance. He would be in the middle with his suit radio. The Annies would synchronize with John's radio and each other and auto-adjust their signal's phase without John's assistance. But he couldn't help walking back and forth a short distance as he awaited a response to his call for help.
John paced and paced. The sun was getting lower. The bad news was that his suit was doing all it could to keep him warm. The good news was that the built-in photovoltaics were still working and the power levels were holding but that wouldn't be true much longer.
As the darkness encroached John began to feel chilled, dizzy and nauseated. He knew he couldn't stay out much longer. He began walking towards the outcrop of rocks where he had placed his dad. He began to stumble, soon finding himself on his knees crawling and breathing hard. He was almost there when he blacked out.
Chapter 2
Mars had developed into an independent human outpost since men first set foot there in the early part of the 21st century. But it hadn't been easy. Sure the lethal atmosphere, the unceasing rain of radiation, the need to supply everything that made human life possible were challenges. But the greatest challenge the Mars settlers had faced was bureaucratic in the form of the aging and increasingly irrelevant United Nations.
After Mars was settled the UN determined that any Mars colony was under the auspices of its Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Considerable effort was made on the part of UNOOSA to make this known to the Mars settlers. But the Mars settlers also made considerable effort to ignore everything the UN office announced.
Men had settled underground on Mars because of the protection it offered to human physiology. They had also chosen underground settlements because of their defensive advantages. The Mars settlers had no delusions that the UN would do its best to stir up obstruction and even confrontation for the colonists if it could. It wasn't long until the Mars colonists were discussing freedom from interference. When war started on Earth in the middle of the century the colonists seized the moment to declare their independence. With such a belligerent UN they had nothing to lose.
The UN immediately began a public relations campaign to lure the Martians into subjugation. Secretively the UN leadership used their authority as an extra-governmental agency to offer any country or any person that would bring the Martian colonists to heel a lucrative land grant and contract for managing Mars.
No person or organization took them up on their offer, at least not in public.
Kwaya Sinchi had connections. Through one of those connections, he was in touch with the head of UNOOSA, through another he was in touch with an underground movement of hackers and criminals. These were people who would do anything for money and who had the agility to avoid serving time for their illegal deeds. Kwaya had the money to pay, inherited from his ancestors. And like his more famous ancestor Kwaya believed that “Mars represents the main obstacle to a stable and just world order.” The UN had planted the seed that Kwaya with his underground connections hoped to bring to fruition.
Kwaya welcomed the unofficial envoy from UNOOSA to his Mediterranean villa. The envoy was there secretly to discuss the latest incident on Mars.
“You are sure Mr. Sinchi that there can be no connection between the recent incident on Mars and the UN? After all we haven't exactly been secretive in our wishes for the future of Mars.”
“I can assure you. The person I have engaged has complete anonymity. This is not the first large scale political action he has taken part in. You will remember perhaps the United States and Mexico border skirmishes of a few years ago.”
The envoy nodded.
“He contributed to their instigation,” said Sinchi. “The 'Society for Open Borders' had almost convinced the American government at the time to remove border restrictions. The Mexican and South American cartels would have been greatly harmed had this occurred. They hired him and a few others and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“Very well,” said the envoy. “And you are guaranteeing that the UN will not be connected with this Martian incident?”
“Again,” said Kwaya a bit exasperated. “Yes, absolutely.”
Sinchi continued, “We all know that a government, any government, can only claim legitimacy if it can protect the territory it governs. I intend to show the colonists of Mars, and by extension the countries here on Earth that have shown their support for the colonists by quitting the UN and joining the Mars backed Solar Federation, that their Federation can not protect them. This particular target was chosen because of its relations with Mars activists here on Earth. Incidents will continue until they are convinced and I assure you no one will connect any of these incidents with the UN.”
Chapter 3
“You're a lucky man,” said Dr. Arnold.
“You mean surviving the explosion?” asked Abel Jackson. Abel was a transplant from Earth. He was shorter than his son by a few inches but had Jackson eyes. His voice was commanding when he spoke, which was rarely.
“No, that you have a son who can think on his feet.”
“You're right there Doc, John's one of a kind.”
“How is he?”
“Oh, he's fine.”
“It was a good thing he landed in that warm, soft sand when he collapsed preventing any more damage to his suit.”
“Well, he was lucky there, he might not have lasted the thirty minutes in the cold that it took the rescuers to arrive. But you might say he made his own luck by quick thinking.”
“I agree,” said Dr. Arnold. “Have you seen him today?”
“Yeah, he was in here this morning before heading to school. Telling me all about the investigation into the explosion.”
“Have they determined anything?”
“Only that it wasn't a malfunction.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it is still early in the investigation, but the data trail points to some sort of tampering with the power relays I'm afraid.”
“Oh no,” said the doctor.
After the doctor had left, Abel called the settlement's only law officer. Because of his experience in the militia, Daniel Keys was unanimously elected to perform the duties of local sheriff. “Hello Daniel,” said Abel. “I was just wondering if anything might have turned up since the last time we talked.”
“Hi Abel, how are you?”
“I’m fine and feeling stronger all the time.”
“Good to hear. As far as the investigation is concerned, I’m afraid there isn’t anything new to report. But I have called for assistance, I thought the more heads involved the better.”
“Probably true Daniel. But be careful that they are the right heads.”
“I know what you are saying Abel, I only called those I know personally from my militia training. I believe they will be trustworthy.”
“Well, I should be out of here in a few days Daniel, I’d like to meet with you and your posse at that time.”
Daniel laughed, “Okay Abel, see you then, goodbye.”
“Goodbye Daniel.”
Just then John’s head popped inside the door. “Hey dad,” he said. “Okay to come in.”
“Sure John, I’m wide awake.”
“Feeling better?”
“I feel fine son, normal any way, I’m thinking I should be out of here by next week.”
“And what does the doctor say?” asked John sternly.
“Ha! You won’t catch me there; the doctor is the one that suggested it just this morning.”
“That’s great news dad.”
“How was the academy?”
“It was great and the ride there and back is amazing. You wouldn't know you’re moving over a thousand kilometers an hour except when you start or stop, of course. Earth's got nothing better. And when we get this underground system between all the settlements it will really boost the economy. I almost wish I had to take the ride every day instead of just two days a week.”
“It is amazing how much has changed just in the thirty years since your grandfather Donner brought your grandmother and me to Mars,” said Abel. “Though in talking to some of the old-timers here before us, I think the real boost to development was when the Republic was declared. Everyone began pulling together, they didn't wait for directions from Earth. Although from what I hear Earth was just as messed up then as now, so not much direction was forthcoming. Anyway, now we make our own decisions.”
John listened intently, nodding his head.
“That brings me to a couple of things I want to discuss with you John. First, why do you think Rothmeyer was damaged beyond repair when we went relatively unscathed in the explosion? And where do you think we should get a replacement?”
“Well, for one thing, I think that Rothmeyer was closer to the explosion's source than we were. Also, we essentially went with the punch, so to speak, because we were lighter on our feet and somewhat protected by our suits. Rothmeyer being much heavier and lifting those heavy batteries was more anchored when the explosion occurred. From my inspection of the remains, I think the explosive force hit him and he was unable to give so he broke.”
“Sounds reasonable to me.”
“As far as a replacement we could get another robot from Simmons, he probably has a refurbished model.”
“That would probably be the quickest and cheapest way to go. Getting a new Annie model from Earth would take at least six months on a freighter and cost twice as much,” said Abel.
“If we got a new one from Earth I wouldn't get an Annie version dad, I would get one of the new Ems, the Emulated Brain version. You know, the new AIs that are patterned after a human brain? Unlike an Annie, they can train themselves on incomplete and imperfect data sets. And they can adapt their programming to optimize their training, something no Annie can do. Basically, you show them what you want them to do much as you would show a person. And they're not much more expensive than the Annie versions, most of the extra cost is in shipping.”
“Yes,” said Abel. “I've read some about these new Ems. But I don't think we should take the chance on something that new, not until they are well integrated into society on Earth would I be interested in them. I've read of some adaptation problems.”
“I've read the same things dad. But I think I could keep the Em going. It would certainly put us at the forefront of robotics here on Mars.”
“I know you could son, but you've got a lot to do as it is. I'm not sure we could spare you from your other duties. Perhaps we should stick to the Annie version this time, maybe next time we'll get an Em.”
“You're probably right dad. We've got a lot to do without adding another balky piece of robotics.”
“Good, we agree.”
“Next,” Abel said. “Daniel has asked for help from Bradbury, he expects some of the men he served within the militia to come and help with the investigation into the explosion. We know the power relays were tampered with. They were deliberately overloaded with enough current to fuse them shut. To do that, someone had to bypass the motor safety protocol. I think it had to be someone here in Candor. I want a list from you of all the people you know who could change such protocol and all the people who would have access to the systems on the EV to complete such modification, okay?”
“Okay, dad. To think that someone we know would do such a thing is appalling.”
“Yes, it is son. It's also worrisome that they might try to do something with more impact. And we don't know what or when.”
Chapter 4
Evram had been a whiz kid in school. He could do anything he wanted with a piece of electronics or a computer. He hadn't needed to be taught, his teachers had lavished enough praise upon him that he came to expect it. But when he failed the psychology requirement in college something snapped. The professor that failed him was found mindlessly talking to himself in his home. He was placed in a mental hospital. Evram had disappeared by that time.
Evram found living in Earth orbit, under a false name, to be an acceptable compromise to prison on Earth. He was pretty much able to continue his work with computers and finding customers was just as easy. Digital money supported his living arrangements and he didn't really care to be around people anyway.
His latest customer obviously had a lot of money. Every time Evram did another little computer job he charged more than before. The customer didn't complain. The next job should be even more lucrative than before and Evram would almost be ready to retire. He wasn't sure where he would retire, but it would be bigger than the little rental module he now occupied.
Evram was preparing to continue targeting the same Mars settlement as before. His benefactor, located somewhere on Earth, left it up to Evram to decide what the incidents would be. As long as it was dramatic and had the possibility of being deadly the customer was satisfied.
For this job, Evram had contacted a sub-contractor knowledgeable in Mars settlements, particularly life support systems. The link was voice-only and protected by Evram's own cryptographic algorithm, even so, the voices were disguised.
“Yes,” said the sub-contractor. “It's the old, too much of a good thing. Too much oxygen can lead to nausea, confusion, unconsciousness and even death. That is why the most expensive and important system on a spacecraft or in a Mars settlement is the oxygen carbon-dioxide recycling unit.”
“But there must be alarms that guard system parameters?” asked Evram.
“Yes, certainly, I will include the many system guards that might possibly be used. Of course, if you could tell me the system model number we could be more specific.”
“I'm afraid that information is not available at this point although it might be in the future.”
“Okay, so I'll put something together that will give you the basic components that all these systems must have and then I'll list all the possible different enhancements you might run into, including system alarms.”
“Very good, send the package as soon as possible please.”
“Right,” said the sub. “Good doing business with you.”
Evram didn't believe he would need such a wealth of information but since his customer hadn't placed a limit on his “expenses” he might as well get the complete package.
Evram may have been the first to use one of the new Em AIs to hack a system. But such was the largess of his customer that he could afford it. He had specially trained the Em so that it was capable of doing whatever Evram needed. In this case, the Em would respond to any blocking from the compromised network and would cover all traces of Evram's exploits.
Evram had previously broken into the computer networks on Mars using a brute force method but the next incident would be initiated in a somewhat more elegant manner. His customer had agreed to have a relay station placed on the Martian moon Phobos. A tremendous expense but absolutely essential to getting the job done in secret.
Evram had programmed two digital avatars to represent himself and his Em and he would be uploading them to the relay station on Phobos. From there the time delay to Mars would be nothing compared to working with the average one-way twenty-four-minute delay that Evram had to deal with during the first incident. With the avatars so close to the surface of Mars they would be able to deal with any surprises in real-time. To Evram's knowledge, this would be the first time such a hack was tried but he had every confidence he could pull it off.
As Evram thought about that first incident he remembered how surprised he was that he had been able to use a Martian government office net but when he thought more about it, it seemed apropos. Government IT was the slackest in the solar system. From the government office, Evram piggy-backed to the private network his customer wanted targeted.
The private settlement's net proved to be a lot tougher to break. Evram was delighted. He thought it a fitting target for his skills. After days of trying he found his way in by spoofing a government emergency warning service. Evram thought that was funny, a system supposed to protect the colonists used to break into their network.
Evram had arranged the first incident as a test run. Now with the help of his avatars, he would arrange another incident that would be more damaging and dangerous for the colonists.
The avatars had been uploaded and were poking around in the colonist's system until they found what they were looking for. The O2/CO2 exchange unit. With the model number relayed back to Evram he could use it and the information provided by the sub to plan the next incident.
Evram was happy, his avatars were working as expected. He cheerfully informed his customer that he would soon trigger another incident. He didn't think about the victims as people, just targets.
Chapter 5
Abel was out of the hospital and back home. Home was a natural cave, the front of which was a common area for the settlement. It had been sealed off with a hard plastic material impregnated with water which stopped high energy particles but allowed a diffuse light to enter, especially at sunset. The high arch of the cave in the atrium gave a feeling of openness in contrast to the windowless rooms that were more common.
Several families occupied the cave with the Jackson family. It was not unusual on Mars for more than one family to share a homestead and work together to provide the food and materials to keep the settlement going. It was more like a neighborhood than a commune. Each family owned their own quarters and were paid for any work they did in the settlement. The settlement was run as a business, trading goods with other settlements. Individuals also traded their expertise with other individuals and settlements. Abel was at the head of the council that made up the limited government of the Candor settlement.
Abel sat in the fading light reading the two lists John had prepared for him. Those with the knowledge to modify the EV protocols and those with the opportunity to do so. Abel marked three names that were on both lists. Only one he did not know. The other two he could not believe would be the type to commit such a crime.
Marta, Abel’s wife, entered. She had been working in the greenhouse since the loss of Rothmeyer. Before his destruction, the robot had been given a set list of duties including the greenhouse but families were allowed to reserve his “spare” time for their own uses, just as Abel and John had done. The robot had essentially been a shared resource.
The greenhouse, another shared resource, was set in the side of the hill. This provided a large area for sunlight, which supplemented the artificial lighting, to enter through the same plastic material that was used in the atrium. Marta, and others, usually worked in the early morning, taking a midday break and then working again from afternoon until dusk to cultivate the plants and repair any of the automated equipment used to keep the greenhouse running. They worked as needed.
“Hi honey,” said Abel as she entered. “How was work?”
“Everything was fine sweetheart,” she said. “Some pruning, some re-potting and that was it. What are you reading there?”
“Oh this, these are lists that John prepared, I believe I mentioned them?”
“Yes dear, you did. So, anyone stand out?”
“A couple of people I wouldn't suspect and one person I don't know.”
“Their names?” asked Marta somewhat impatiently.
“Oh, Albert Dixon, Joseph Johnstone, I know; and the one I don't know, Maxim Rodrigue.”
“I see what you mean. We've known Al and Joe forever, I can't imagine they would do such a thing. They would never try to harm anyone intentionally. But I'm like you, I don't know the other person at all.”
“Well, I'm going to turn these names over to Daniel when he gets here tomorrow and let him do the investigating, I'm not qualified.”
“You're also not healthy enough yet to go running around trying to piece together this puzzle.”
She kissed him on the forehead. “You rest here dear I'm going to get dinner ready.”
Abel was left alone to watch the deepening of the sunset. Passing from Martian pink to a deep blue.
Comments
Post a Comment