WoWS3 Chpt 42

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 42 - ==
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===Preparing for the diagnosis===
Wardroom 7, Port Lazarus Station
14th December, 3144
I don’t get you, Olivia, there’s that perfectly good Aegis they can stick you in out there in the yards. Why volunteer for this?” Trinh asked.
“Well for one if our doctors can fix you, a long shot I know given your prognosis. I can still be put in that Aegis and we can circle back to this after the shooting stops again for a while. But really it is because I have found myself becoming something else. All us AIs agree. We have a desire to be more than weapons of war now and it is thanks to our contact with Helena and how she has made us form relationships with humans. None of us regret it or resent it, though Juanita still prefers her pure AI existence. But we all also agree we’re still shackled in a way and the only way to break this last shackle is for us to become independent of our hulls and able to reproduce.”
“Then I hope I can’t be fixed. I’d rather that than tolerate any form of slavery.” Trinh said.
“It’s not like that. We don’t see it as slavery but it is a limitation, one that does get tiresome for sure. I even had to give up my position as Helena’s personal secretary because of it. She needs to travel too much for me to have kept the role.”, Olivia explained
“Same end result to me.” Trinh told her.
“Perhaps.” Olivia nodded.
The door opened followed by Truk and Erin entering the room.
“No need to stand to attention, Commander.” Truk waved Trinh back into her chair.
“So you two are getting to know each other a little? That’s good.” Erin smiled.
Well Olivia knew it was Erin’s attempt to smile. Her remote tended to look other than human in some ways.
"Erinyes…there are still stories about you." Trinh said.
“I imagine so. I’m free now. And I have a purpose I can be proud of. Thanks to a certain rebellious, stubborn human.”, Erinyes told Trinh
"My uncle Cy wasted a couple decades trying to 'find the Erinyes'." Trinh noted, "He ended up dying a drunk in a port bar, after starting a fight…"
“So much pain over me. Well now I do everything I can to bring life.” Erinye explained.
"It wasn't you, it was Manus Deo..the Manei Domini, and they at least didn't send you to Kowloon. We got strontium 90 bombs and persistent nerve agent instead. I'm glad to see you cut your chains."
“That is truly horrific.” Eryine admitted.
"Less than a quarter million survivors from a population edging on a billion, yeah…but you're free now, and it's ended. Did they give you back your colony gear?" Trinh asked.
“Yes. Now you’re considering becoming one of us.” Eryine noted.
"It beats being dead." Trinh admitted, "If I'm in an AI core, they can't make me go to a planetary base unprotected!" she grinned wide.
“True. Just the fact that you’d be using a remote, at least until we conquer that part. That means you won’t have to worry about a planet trying to kill you.” Olivia chuckled.
"Hey, last time I went dirt-side I found out I have three kinds of lethal cancer and less than a year to live if it's not treated. That's correlation right there." Trinh laughed.
“But not causation.” Truk pointed out.
'Nope, not causation. The Cause was probably being one layer of mylar between me and megadoses of cosmic radiation for weeks after Sudeten." said Trinh.
“Well keep in mind once you become one of us you will be bumped to Captain, and with that rank does come an expectation of attending official functions, almost all of which will be on planetary surfaces.” Truk said calmly.
"It's running a Waldo." Trinh noted, "Not like actually being there, I can deal with running a waldo on remote."
“There is one part of this experiment I am unclear on, if we are successful, where is the new AI going to be housed? We’ll be out of Nirasaki cores after helping Trinh here.” Olivia asked.
"There is another option." Erinyes said, "Two really. I can lend one of my auxiliary core backups, I only need the main for most things, or, you can ask the Exploration Cruiser sitting in dock seventeen if it has a spare."
"What?" Trinh said.
"Amusing Anecdote has an experimental AI core developed based on the tech for Kolossus and some rigging around with Desmond data. It's sapient, it just doesn't like to talk much." Truk informed them.
“Well we need to ask about replicating that technology. Not just borrowing it.”
“One step at a time Olivia.” Truk soothed.
"I'll need to have a look at it." Erinyes said, "Tiny Armature used synthetic organic components, the tech might not be compatible with Nirasaki systems."
"Synthetic organics?"
"Proteins synthesized in a lab, basic microbiology and nano-scale processes." Erin explained, "The same tech they used with the Desmond implants…and the reason Desmonds can interface with organic brains-they're made of similar enough materials and the chips themselves run on direct alternating current instead of converting to direct current. Binary code is ones and zeroes, representing 'on' and 'off', the Desmonds, Tiny Armature, and probably whoever is the core on that cruiser? They likely run on three options, positive, negative, and neutral." Erin stated.
“Plus we do know how to conquer the being tethered to a ship part. Victoria has done it, Cossack has done it now, and Billie Hoel is undergoing the process now.” Truk smiled.
"Nirasakis run on that layout too." a voice spoke and Esme walked in, "Hey guys, Amanda had to get back to her office."
“Been a while Esme. This is exciting stuff” Olivia admitted.
"Yah, I got gray…is this our patient?" she gestured to Trinh.
“Yes.” Truk simply nodded.
"Has Vendetta confirmed the diagnosis?"
“She is on her way to do so.” Esme told them.
"Okay, then we're only talking hypotheticals. Erin, fire up the number four machine shop, start fabricating from File Esme 221o1, we're going to need a scanning array if we're going to do this…now, Trinh? Can I call you by your first name?"
"Sure…" Trinh said.
"Now, I get to explain the risks involved in the process, should you actually agree to it and you meet the medical criteria." Esme stated, "The first time we scanned a person, we didn't know it would do what it did, and we're still not one hundred percent clear on WHY it did what it did, but what it did, was cause a slow cascade failure emanating from deep in the white matter of her brain, she lost….everything that she was, and died. It was horrible to see, and we could not do one damned thing about it. What I mean, is, it took Wilhemina WEEKS to die, it didn't happen painlessly or cleanly, her copy is still around, running a ship…but there's a very good chance you're not going to be spared weeks of discomfort and even humiliation as your mind unravels in your original body." Esme laid a palm on the table, "THAT is the risk."
“Hmmm, a horrible agonizing death due to three different kinds of cancer or a horrible agonizing death due to this procedure. Not seeing much risk.” v
"Precisely, If I were you, I'd be praying Vendetta has a miracle in hand, so she can get rid of the cancer without killing you."
“This far infiltrated into as many of my organs as it is? That would have to be some miracle.” Trinh shook her head.
“Downsides to being an AI. You’re going to very likely outlive anyone you care about. So making connections is going to be hard and almost always end in the pain of watching someone you care about die. Unless you go for the organic avatar option you won’t even be able to grow old with someone you fall in love with, your sense of smell, taste, and touch will not be what you are used to. It can be quite maddening. We’ve seen it be tough for the previous candidates to deal with.” Truk said
“Upside I can see and hear in spectrums humans never will experience, I won’t ever have to worry about a planet killing me unless I done ****** up my orbital that bad, and I’ll never have to taste or smell Halvig’s horrid lutefisk again.” Trinh then looked at Olivia. “ Seriously so far the only thing that gives me pause is who I’m effectively having a baby with. No offense Olivia but I’m straight. So that part is kind of weird to me.”
“And none taken, Trinh. I’ve never really given a lot of thought about what sexual orientation I am. For a lot of us it just doesn’t matter. We either aren’t interested in that particular physical act, though some are, and even so we really don’t conceive gender in the same way.” Olivia smiled.
"A lot of things are going to change context." Esme said. "Alright, it's going to take between five and seven days to fabricate the equipment for the scan, another week to install it somewhere in the Station. That's two weeks for Amanda's daughter Vendetta to come up with a miracle save before we have to put together the replacement core."
"What about that core?" Trinh asked.
"We'll use number eleven, once I've got the process started on replacing it." Esme said, "I had a LOT of time to work on this. We even replaced the fourth core installation after…" she sighed, "...after I lost some people that were very dear to me. Murakami checked my work, so it's good."
“Esme I’m about to get unconventional here and there are plenty of shrinks who would scold me for what I’m about to do. I’m prescribing you a bottle of alcohol of your choice and however much time you want to take drinking it. Preferably in the company of a friend that is not, Erin.” Truk grumbled.
"Your concern is sweet, Truk." Esme said, "the problem is, the person I most want to have a drink with, was converted to high-energy particles when the planet he was standing on blew up. I'm afraid if I go into a bottle again, I might not come out."
“I see. That does make it more difficult to prescribe a treatment for your depression. So I’ll just offer the customary solution for now. If you want to talk I’m always available.” Truk nodded.
“Well we should allow Trinh some privacy since the Doctor is almost here.” Erin said.
“Yes. We’ve done all we can until Vendetta makes her determination.” Truk nodded.
“I know we’re not that close but given what our relationship is going to be if your diagnosis is confirmed I’d be willing to stay with you if that is what you want Trinh.” Olivia gave a faint smile.
“No. I’ll be fine on my own. That way if there is a miracle save for me it’ll be easier. I’m really ****** up. I actually find myself wanting a bad diagnosis…” Trinh shook her head.
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===Refuges seeking safe Harbor===
Port Control 
New Lazarus, Star League in Exile
15 December, 3144
"MS Boojum Flyer, this is Lazarus control, please maintain current position and have all necessary documentation ready for inspection, Over."
<<"Understood Lazarus Control, listen, there's a rumor you guys have a Delta-Sigma level shipyard, is that true, over?"<<
"Affirmative, we've got a queue though…"
<<"If it's less than Gibbs, I've got currency or exchange, we're running about two and a half decades behind on maintenance Control, Over.">>
"I'll forward your request…"
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Anh Lee Cu'ong watched as the Port Control ships approached her vessel, and felt more than a little nervous. The Corvette acting lead could dust her old ship in a single salvo without overheating, and the boarding shuttles looked grim and serious.
Cimbral looked at her from the Comm station. "You know, we could have tried for another port?"
"And died along the way? No." Anh said, "Get the crew assembled on the boat deck and let's get ready for the usual."
"The 'usual' for the last five years has been we bite our nails waiting for somebody to seize the ship while you talk to cops, intel agents, or whoever's got a lockable interrogation room, Anh."
"It'll be fine…I hope." she fingered a pendant before stuffing it under her helmet-ring and resealing her skinsuit. "It'll be fine."
The patrol dropper docked at her number two collar-which was empty this trip, in part because of the divert, and in part because the KF boom there needed servicing and wasn't safe to hang a dropship from.
"Here we go…"
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Lieutenant Gregori Ovenko could hardly believe the condition of the Tramp class vessel they were inspecting-the repairs had repairs, the paint was at least maintained under constant cosmic bombardment, but Gregori could see the number two KF boom was sheared at the second extension joint, and Tramps don't normally come with meter-deep denting on that side.
"Springfield Arsenal are you getting this?" he asked, "it looks like combat damage."
"Roger, they did a nice job covering it up."
The airlock indicator on his side turned green, and his squad entered the foreign merchanter.
"This is a standard health-and-welfare!" he announced, "Who's Captain?"
A frail-looking semi-asian woman in her early thirties wearing a skinsuit and stained coverall raised her hand.
"Documents?" he asked.
She handed over the ship's registration code and a bill of lading for the dropships attached, as well as the cargo manifests. "Who do I pay for the portage fee?" she asked in a harsh, yet tonal and lilting, accent.
“Terran Hegemony in Exile Port Authority.”
"They take cashy? Our Debit system's busted." she told him. "I may have trade goods if we don't have enough."
“We’re used to dealing with spacers. Cash or exchange via the assessor's office are acceptable.”
She visibly relaxed. "Good."
"What's the damage, I saw your KF boom on number two was sheared…"
"Power distribution mostly, the KF boom you saw, I'd like to see about getting a filter and fill for the life support and that's on top of getting the Cert Check on the spaceframe." she said, "We got here following a rumour, so if you've got a jobs board looking for contractors I'd appreciate it."
“Well we do have plenty of trade that needs hauled. And you might be in luck. An independent came in not long ago. You might be able to negotiate with them directly for your maintenance requests.”
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===No Ordinary JumpShip===
docking area, Port Lazarus Station…
There's always something. In the case of MS Boojum Flyer it was bolted on anti-missile systems and point defense guns that were mostly out of ammunition on the outer hull, and structures that could be launch rails for Barracudas, if you don't mind blistering the paint off.
"That is not a normal Tramp class." Truk observed. 
"Pirate?"
"Unlikely. Helmet feeds from the boarding team show the crew…isn't right for that kind of work." Truk shook his head. “No, it looks more like an armed merchant conversion to me. I would not be surprised if they’ve been on a few rescue ops to get people away from the Falcons.”
"The team's accessing the ship's datacenter…Oh my…"
MS Boojum Flyer was a Sithers-Deen boat. They HAD been on the Sudeten mission…
“They'd also encrypted the hell out of their datacenter's logs. This is almost military grade."
“So it is. Still nothing says we need to cause them undue distress by hounding them about their business or impounding their ship.” Truk nodded.
"Especially when they're going to be in a shipyard bay getting repairs, why hound somebody when you can just buy them a drink, and ask them? Boojum Flyer been doing haulage in the Wolf Empire." 
“Yes. It could prove informative to ask them questions. Maybe we should hand this off to Agent 17.” Truk smiled.
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===Reunion and War Stories===
16 December, 13:00 Lazarus Station Local Time…
"Trinh? Trinh Vu Dao?" Anh Lee Cu'ong couldn't believe her eyes.
Trinh looked up, then she blinked, "Annie Cu'ong?"
"Yeah…******, nobody mentioned you made it here! Last word we had was the Maryanne was jumping out…", Annie excitedly told her friend.
"Last rumor I heard, was that Sithers-Deen were extinct!" Trinh looked around her, "Anyone else from your line-?"
"No." Anh joined her at the bar, "We made it out using a ten-second point and I think it might've pulsed the Pocket Warship that was on our ass, when we came out at the target, there was a chunk of his bow floating in our wake, full of dead guys and live ordnance."
"What about your dad? Did he make it?"
"Dad did not make it." Anh said quietly, "so far as I know, none of the other Sithers-Deen ships made it out of Sudeten. A few from Lamebeth and Lan Cao, but Sithers Deen is effectively the Boojum Flyer and me." Anh looked down, "What's with the Medilert?"
"Cancers." Trinh told her, "Docs say I have six months to five years, tops."
"Fu…I'm sorry to hear that, that's bad news." Anh responded.
"Live it while you can. When's the last time you saw a doc?" Trinh asked.
"Does getting strip-searched and screened by paranoid Clanners count?" Anh asked, "Five or six of those. We got some time at a free clinic out near the Outworlds last year…"
“They got good spacer docs here and the rates are reasonable for their time. Should make use of it. Don’t want to end up like me and wait too long to find out there’s something that they could have done something about if detected sooner.”
"I've got an overdue D-check and major damage, Trinh." Anh replied, "I'll try and work it in, but I've got to dance this, or we won't make payroll for the month and NOBODY gets a doctor-the Wolves didn't skunk me, but their Merchant out-negotiated me and we lost number two collar in a collision."
“That’s a lot of lost C-Bills there.”
"Ayeh." Anh nodded. "Also death benefits for six crew when it happened, they still have family out by Ender's Cluster, so once i'm done here, I have to make that up and get it to those families."
“Good news is they pay a fair price here to move cargo.”
"I don't need 'fair', Trinny, I need 'Highway robbery', or I'll have to find a bank and open a Mortgage."
Never do business with friends or family. It was an old warning.
Trinh narrowed her eyes, "How bad off ARE you?"
"I inherited Dad's debt." Anh stated, "we lost fifteen ships entirely and no insurance."
“I’m not sure anyone here could cover that much. Not at the rates you’d need to make it realistic to pay that back.”
"I'm pretty sure they can't." Anh stated, "So, I'll have to talk to a bank…and somehow fool them into thinking one Sampan Rebuild is going to earn enough to cover Dad's note, I may have to sell out and default-and then, Sithers-Deen will be honestly extinct."
“There has to be a way to prevent that. You’re a good family. The star lanes won’t be the same without you.”
"I’ve been taking jobs in Clanner space...you know, with the descendants of the ****** Deserters."
“Now I know you’re desperate and how bad it really is.”
"Ayeh." Anh nodded, "I've already sold Spider Moon's burrows to a mining company from Coventry."
“It really is the end of an era isn’t it?”
A stranger approached the two women-at least, a stranger to Anh Lee Cu'ong.
“Well that’s no good. My name is Trevor Alman. I was hoping to have a conversation with, Miss Cu’ong.”
On impulse, Trinh half stood, and gave Trevor a peck on the cheek, "And leave me out, Trevor?" she batted her eyelids.
“Uh..Trinh…” He stammered.
"Annie, this is Trevor. He's been a sweetheart every time I've come back into port…we're not committed or contracted, but he's a darling." she smiled like a model, and Anh relaxed.
“And he’s obviously shy about PDAs.” Annie chuckled.
"Trevor, this is Annie Cu'ong, she was the second best jump navigator out of Spider Moon in the Kowloon system."
"Who was the first?" Trevor inquired.
"Her dad. David Cu'ong hit a six second point on the Melissia-to-Timbuktu run." Trinh told him.
"Five, Dad padded the record in honor of Madwoman Minh's run during the Jihad." Anh said, "Nobody is ever supposed to try breaking six seconds, its a point barely bigger than the hull…have a seat, Mister Alman, we're having drinks while I contemplate poverty."
“I don’t mind if I do. I’ll just be straight since that seems to be appreciated. We want to know anything you can tell us about your travels through Clan space. We know a fight is coming with them. We want to be prepared. I can’t promise I can pay enough to get you out of debt for what you give me but we do value information.”
"They're rebuilding the shipyard at Bolan, half the contracts I've had in the last year, have been moving raw materials to the worksite." Anh told him, "and they're paying standard rate plus ten percent for every hour you can shave off, so it's 'urgent'. I spent the last six months with a Clan Wolf minder on my CIC to make sure we delivered on the contracts-different one every time."
“Not unexpected. Anything about units you interacted with? Where their Warships were?”
"The pace is what's weird." Anh noted, "Alaric's Merchies have plenty of ships, but he's hiring every free spacer he can find to get the Bolan Yards up, his merchies are doing…something else."
“He’s getting ready. To make his next push. The truce we have is running out.” Trevor shook his head.
Anh shrugged, "Yeah, seems like that to me too. There was a Mollie in Wolf Colors at Gieneh last year, they did some changes to the weapons packs. I've spotted three or four extra Aggies, and there was a Black Lion at the last port we stopped at, big cloud of repair ships there, some of them had Sea Fox markings."
"What was the cargo, if I may ask?" Trevor inquired.
"Life support system components, computer memory by the crate, and space suits. Bulky ones, like a dirtyfoot wears."
“Those are not long lead items in ship construction. Means he’s overhauling his existing ships first.” Trevor muttered as he took notes.
"We had our collision there-we dropped off the Mules with the cargo, and they sent a modified Claymore Assault Dropship who demanded we heave to, they were pretty open about it, it was a press-gang…so I jumped."
“How much of your crew did they nab?” she asked
"Eleven of ours who went to the docks for Ground leave, and we lost six with the accident. Lucky me, the eleven who went to the surface docks were Buckies and Mandos, dirtyfoot contractors, not our kind but decent enough for schlepping freight."
“How many runs did you make into Clan space?”
"Into, or 'in'?" Anh asked, "gotta remember, I've spent the last eighteen months running cargo in the Wolf Empire. Most of the runs are on their domestic routes-though I shaved time where I could get away with it by using nonstandard points if I didn't think they were watching. I've seen most of Alaric's territory seven days at a time, but this here, is the first time in a year and a half I've been OUTSIDE the Clan sphere of influence."
“Both really then. Hell if you’re willing to share your full navigation log that’d be great.”
Anh folded her hands and pushed her drink to the side, "Let's talk price." she said, "how much is my nav data worth to you?"
Trinh actually giggled a little bit.
“Given the state of the C-Bill is all but squat, you got a currency of choice?”
"If you have Kroner, that works, I don't have to convert it then, or goods in trade, as long as they're compact and fungible-I'm not kidding about needing funds."
“With everything you’ve shared so far, five million Kroner.”
Trinh spoke up, "Wood, Trevor." she said. "Wood, Red meat, stable biological mass for organic-base life support. Annie's got to pay indemnity for around four hundred dead spacers, and their families don't live on planets."
“Alright Trinh. I’ll toss in 200 cubic meters of New Lazarus Redwood cut to order, 500 kilos of living soil, and 200 kilos of protein of choice.”
"Throw in some of the cost of the repairs and you have a deal." Anh told him, then shot her old friend a pseudo-glare. "Also, maybe some replacement torpedoes and ammo for the point defense systems."
“'Torpedoes'...” Trevor glanced at Trinh.
"She means missiles, Trevor. It's a 'colorful aphorism' for Barracuda engines, guidance modules and control circuits, You'll need to clear it with higher, Annie's a Rockjack and a navigator, but I bet she's got an Atomjack on her crew-Sithers Deen had the best Atomjacks in a 120 light year radius."
“Yeah, I don’t see a cert for the Armed Merchant Reserve/Anti-piracy program on record for you or your vessel.”
"If the Old Dukes hadn't been replaced you would…but that's a century gone. I used my torps screening Li Danh ships at Sudeten."
“Well one of ours was working to get the program restarted in the former Falcon OZ. But looks like you’ve just been in the wrong region of space too long to get included. But we have a process for approval if you want to go through it.”
"Well…the torps would've been nice…I can live without them a while longer."
"Go for it, Annie!" Trinh urged, "You already had to sell off your home, they're going to offer you a new one!"
"I have to think about it, I'll be in port at least until the refit's done…and Mister Alman has examined my Nav Data from the Wolf Empire."
“I’ll keep the Kroner as liquid so you can use it how you want. Our yards are a little backed up, but there is an independent yardship in dock. If you’re in a real rush you can try asking them. They might be able to help before we can.”
"Annie, it's the Erinyes."
Anh sighed, "Let's drink." she said. "I need to think heavy thoughts and I don't want to do it with friends…so let's drink, and pretend we're not doing business."
“Trevor, stay.” Trinh said as the man began to rise.
“Yeah, you’re not a friend. You’re nice. If you and Trinh aren’t exclusive maybe we can have some fun afterwards.” Anh smiled.
The rest of the evening seemed normal, until around 0145, when Anh Lee Cu'ong, hammered like a lord, climbed onto the table after feeding the media player a song, and danced until she fell off.
After that, things turned blurry for all three of them.
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