Read Online Flight of the Maita Supercollection 3: Solving Galactic Problems Collector's Edition by CD Moulton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: CD Moulton
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grids around Neepod and Nestar, and would have to wait to
see where the brain was. I already had a good idea of how we'd find
out, because I was perfectly well aware that the sensors, while
they couldn't detect anything inside atmospheres of those planets,
could themselves be detected FROM inside of the atmospheres.
I was now
thinking enough in the pattern of the machine to know what it would
do to be clever. TR was still being more or less logical, so I'd
get to look knowing and to be condescending to it, but I was with
Hedda when TR called.
"It's on
Neepod!" it sent. "It came above atmosphere, saw a satellite and
shot it down, then went back in."
This was a
silent communication, of course, so I could only send the flat
reply. I haven't learned how to be condescending and sarcastic on
the internal coms.
"I see," I
sent. "I thought it was on Nestar all along. This proves it!"
I was ready for
a sarcastic reply. TR would see my reasoning right away.
"That's what Z
said," TR replied innocently. "I was on fastcom with T Six when I
got the word, and Z was on T Six, so he said it was only another
clever little ploy, and the brain would never give itself away like
that. Thing said there was a chance the brain is there and that
it's counting on us thinking that way but, as it doesn't know who's
here it might have slipped up big time.
"I wish I knew
which pole it's hiding at on Nestar. I'd send it a message to stop
the silliness and sign it!"
"That's a
wonderful idea!" I sent back. "I'll get there as soon as I can and
we can go to work on the thing's insanity a bit.
"This is a
break! You do have a good idea at least once a century!"
I knew that
would leave TR puzzled a bit, but that's the sort of thing that
makes life fun.
I finished my
tour with Hedda and met with Gorg, then went back to TR.
"Directional
radio so it can't tell we said anything to the other pole?" TR
asked.
"Yo! Let's see
if we can anger that thing enough to make it do something as stupid
as some of the things we do. The very least we'll accomplish is to
add to its frustrations."
"It's a damned
machine, dumb-ass!" TR snapped caustically (HOW?!). "It doesn't get
angry! Sheeesh!"
"We're machines
and WE do!"
We were soon
enough over the south pole of Nestar. TR put the signal at a
dispersal to penetrate the atmosphere of the planet just enough to
reach the brain, but not enough to carry to the other end of the
planet. I had TR translate into Tlessarian to send the message.
That would show the brain we weren't bluffing about knowing what it
was and where it came from.
"Hello, Tlesson
military brain, this is Tabori R. DeSixtee and TRD Sixty, sent by
Emperor Maita to let you know you are exactly where and when we
figured you to be.
"We did
miscalculate, in that we thought you had the sense to establish a
base before you started calling attention to yourself with the
assassinations. Such tactics are doomed to failure in the empire,
because we don't operate in that fashion. Such things won't tear us
apart, they'll bring us together. You should have learned such an
obvious lesson long ago.
"You may
maintain silence if you so choose, but we are above you over the
south pole of Nestar. We won't bother you so long as you stay
there, but we will destroy you when you attempt to leave the
planet.
"As you know,
we are machines, too, and we don't want this. It's a thing you've
brought on yourself.
"Since we last
communicated with you we have added a society of machines on a
world that was depopulated of organics when its sun exploded and
compressed into a red dwarf. They're interesting and brilliant
beings, and are very popular among the organics, who meet them in
friendship and trust.
"They chose
their way, and you chose yours. Their society will survive for
thousands, even millions of years in friendship with others. You
will die alone.
"It's very
sad."
"Cripes! Knock
it off with the silly damned tearjerker maudlin sentimentalism!" TR
demanded nastily (How?)
see where the brain was. I already had a good idea of how we'd find
out, because I was perfectly well aware that the sensors, while
they couldn't detect anything inside atmospheres of those planets,
could themselves be detected FROM inside of the atmospheres.
I was now
thinking enough in the pattern of the machine to know what it would
do to be clever. TR was still being more or less logical, so I'd
get to look knowing and to be condescending to it, but I was with
Hedda when TR called.
"It's on
Neepod!" it sent. "It came above atmosphere, saw a satellite and
shot it down, then went back in."
This was a
silent communication, of course, so I could only send the flat
reply. I haven't learned how to be condescending and sarcastic on
the internal coms.
"I see," I
sent. "I thought it was on Nestar all along. This proves it!"
I was ready for
a sarcastic reply. TR would see my reasoning right away.
"That's what Z
said," TR replied innocently. "I was on fastcom with T Six when I
got the word, and Z was on T Six, so he said it was only another
clever little ploy, and the brain would never give itself away like
that. Thing said there was a chance the brain is there and that
it's counting on us thinking that way but, as it doesn't know who's
here it might have slipped up big time.
"I wish I knew
which pole it's hiding at on Nestar. I'd send it a message to stop
the silliness and sign it!"
"That's a
wonderful idea!" I sent back. "I'll get there as soon as I can and
we can go to work on the thing's insanity a bit.
"This is a
break! You do have a good idea at least once a century!"
I knew that
would leave TR puzzled a bit, but that's the sort of thing that
makes life fun.
I finished my
tour with Hedda and met with Gorg, then went back to TR.
"Directional
radio so it can't tell we said anything to the other pole?" TR
asked.
"Yo! Let's see
if we can anger that thing enough to make it do something as stupid
as some of the things we do. The very least we'll accomplish is to
add to its frustrations."
"It's a damned
machine, dumb-ass!" TR snapped caustically (HOW?!). "It doesn't get
angry! Sheeesh!"
"We're machines
and WE do!"
We were soon
enough over the south pole of Nestar. TR put the signal at a
dispersal to penetrate the atmosphere of the planet just enough to
reach the brain, but not enough to carry to the other end of the
planet. I had TR translate into Tlessarian to send the message.
That would show the brain we weren't bluffing about knowing what it
was and where it came from.
"Hello, Tlesson
military brain, this is Tabori R. DeSixtee and TRD Sixty, sent by
Emperor Maita to let you know you are exactly where and when we
figured you to be.
"We did
miscalculate, in that we thought you had the sense to establish a
base before you started calling attention to yourself with the
assassinations. Such tactics are doomed to failure in the empire,
because we don't operate in that fashion. Such things won't tear us
apart, they'll bring us together. You should have learned such an
obvious lesson long ago.
"You may
maintain silence if you so choose, but we are above you over the
south pole of Nestar. We won't bother you so long as you stay
there, but we will destroy you when you attempt to leave the
planet.
"As you know,
we are machines, too, and we don't want this. It's a thing you've
brought on yourself.
"Since we last
communicated with you we have added a society of machines on a
world that was depopulated of organics when its sun exploded and
compressed into a red dwarf. They're interesting and brilliant
beings, and are very popular among the organics, who meet them in
friendship and trust.
"They chose
their way, and you chose yours. Their society will survive for
thousands, even millions of years in friendship with others. You
will die alone.
"It's very
sad."
"Cripes! Knock
it off with the silly damned tearjerker maudlin sentimentalism!" TR
demanded nastily (How?)
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