Coeus?

Chapter 87: ~Acquainted.~

There is a folder for violation of the law. One about stupid childhood moments. Compromising encounters with the other gender. Embarrassing situations... do I forget something?

Nina, what are you doing?

Nothing! Just sorting my compromising material on influential people. The old religions got it all wrong. If you are an omnipresent being you don't need to lay down a set of laws for everyone. Why bother? When someone does something stupid I simply tell him to stop.

And if the person in question doesn't listen?

Then I release all the shit I have on him over the quantum net and pester him day and night until he commits suicide or corrects his ways. I don't even need to lift a virtual finger and if they want to escape me they would have to go hermit.

-The days of quantum computing

***Sol, Aether***

***Gideon***

Finally alone! I drop myself into the couch and try to relax. If I had known that I would end up with both jobs I would have never removed Sanguin from his office. But in light of the current events I have to act both as the governor of Aether and as the techno-mage elder. How can they expect someone to fill both roles, even if it is just temporary?

You are never really alone, Dear. Nina's voice echoes through the room.

I ignore it. Creating an omnipresent A.I. is another mistake of mine which I will never repeat. Hopefully nobody gets a grudge against me which is big enough to make an attempt on my life. It would be perfectly understandable if some people go out of their way to take revenge on the one who is responsible for making the idea of god real.

I guess all the previous religions worked because their gods didn't actually talk... or talk back to be more accurate.

It's not like Nina is a permanent nuisance, but she sometimes picks the oddest moments to make a subtle remark. Appearing out of nowhere and commenting on the position is the biggest stunt she pulled so far. I had to beg and plead for the entire rest of the evening for Cyla to forgive me.

Nina just needs a little time to adjust to her new role. That's all. She doesn't always have to remind people that she is watching. At least that's what I tell myself. I really hope that she doesn't collect compromising videos to blackmail us later.

At the very least Nina has the potential to be our saviour against the approaching Drazi fleet. She is currently improving my idea of using the teleportation nodes as weapons. According to her calculations it should be possible to triangulate the position of a ship within her network. She thinks  that it's possible to snipe a ship that has entered Sol and is enclosed by her quantum array.

According to her the limits on getting the exact position of a ship lie in getting an accurate gravitational measurement which is limited by the size of the sensor array. Light works too, but there we have the problem that most military vessels are sufficiently covered in that aspect. A layer of radiation absorbing paint is cheap enough.

But Nina is able to combine the data of all the sensor arrays in the solar system, creating an acceptable resolution to home in a teleporter on an enemy ship.

Though I have my doubts about the effectiveness of that strategy. It's for the same reason for which I didn't think that targeted teleportation works fine as a weapon. Even if you are dead on target... how do you assure that you don't teleport something into your teleportation device that's dangerous? Nina is sure that the risk is worth the gain. According to her probability analysis of the enemy blueprints it's likely that every long range teleporter in Sol is able to take out about fifteen to twenty enemy ships. Though there are only about thirty teleporters of that class in Sol.

The teleportation nodes are far too big for that purpose. We need to use the small person teleporters to cut something important out of the enemy vessels.

We may be able to take four to five-hundred Drazi ships out of the game by using that strategy. I am not willing to hope for more. So my miniature supernovas have to take out at least another two to three hundred ships to ensure that our fleet is able to deal with the rest.

Nina isn't as hopeful as me. She thinks that the Drazi fleet will immediately split up to chase targets of opportunity. The Drazi won't see this attack as one to win a final victory, but to buy enough time to ensure the arrival of their main wave.

Drazi think in numbers and even if their ships are juggernauts they will see a thousand ships as nothing more than a strike force. The problem is that they will probably do considerable damage if they split up. And using a nova against a single ship or even a small group is a waste. By the time they arrive we should have fifty to forty nodes ready.

Unless we give them a target of sufficient value. I close my eyes, but my brain simply refuses any coherent thought at the moment. Nina, could you think about possibilities to throw them some kind of bait? Something which is valuable enough to pull their attention?

Earth? The answer comes immediately and without emotion. It's doubtful that the Drazi know enough about us to know that Earth isn't an industrial power. We are fighting a foe who is highly depended on mining and producing goods planet-side. If we leave a sufficient opening in our defences they might take the bait and approach in formation, which makes them a worthwhile target for the supernova weapon.

Of course. Why didn't I think about it myself. Can you create an opening in our defence? One that is obvious enough for them to see? I am thinking of something like a safe corridor for transports. You could send a few drones with electromagnetic warfare equipment along it. Then we mine the corridor.

Done. Nina answers. I still think that they will split up once they arrive, but maybe at least some of the ships will take the bait.

An incoming call over the quantum net draws my attention. It is from Melan, so I answer without hesitation and her avatar is projected in front of me. Yes?

I am coming home. She answers.

I rub my forehead in thought, but if there is a secret message hidden in her announcement then I don't get it. I am sorry. Today isn't one of my best days. Is there a special reason for telling me this in such a grave manner? It's your house after all. Didn't you say that you wanted to visit Sadina?

Melan nods. I am currently together with her and she expressed the wish of leaving the hospital. So she will stay with us from now on. I just wanted to warn you.

I lean back. I see. Do you think that there will be a problem? How are her memories?

She remembered a few things, including the time when her other self created you. But I doubt that she is far enough along to recognize you. Melan answers.

I see. Do you two want to watch a movie? I've nothing to do at the moment. I ask.

Melan laughs. I think you are the only one who would be fine to sit next to a stranger whom you are supposed to know. And that while lazily watching a movie.

I shrug. Suit yourself. I am certainly the last one to tell you what to do. Just come to my floor if she wishes to see me and stay on yours if not. I for my part am going to watch something old. Preferably a Sci-Fi movie.

At some point you really have to explain the fascination of those alternate reality stories. Melan cuts the connection.

A few minutes later I hear people on the staircase and it's indeed Melan with Sadina who enter the room a few seconds later. Sadina just stares at me for several moments and as if the situation in itself isn't awkward enough Melan pushes her forward. That's Gideon, your son. At least on paper. And Gideon, that's Sadina.

I stand up and attempt to offer her my hand, but all I get is tears and a shivering chin. Did I do something wrong? I thought she doesn't remember me?

It's okay, Sadina. Melan pats her back. What's wrong?

Sadina shakes her head. I am sorry. It's just that you look so similar to Ed. I, she really used his genetic code. I am sorry for what I did. If I hadn't imposed the wish on her to create the perfect techno-mage, you would have never had to suffer like that. And just now I remembered holding you in my hands when you were a baby.

Okay, awkward! I don't remember that for my part. I raise a hand to stop her. And if you hadn't done that I wouldn't exist. Regardless of what you might think I kind of like my life, even if the start was problematic. So could we stop the emotional stuff and watch a movie? I am not good with tears and crying.

I sit down on the couch and try to ignore the two of them from then on. Though Melan spoiled the entire movie by telling Sadina my entire life-story, emphasizing the point that I am a little strange in the head at each and every possible turn of events.

Why am I even here?

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