Chapter two

Four large Destroyers ships hovered over the planet Cyclone. Each of them sending out an optic wave as well as an in-depth cosmic scans. Each ship collected and shared all data collected in the blink of an eye.  On the command ship was a processing unit that all the data collected was sent to. This processing unit aboard the lead ship was not only in charge of the command ship, but also the entire fleet sent out on this mission. It's circuits chattered about at supersonic speed. These were the finest four ships the Destroyers ( An A.I. species ) had. They had been on over three hundred missions that were considered impossible, or at the very least, highly improbable to achieve. The Black Death, as this group of ships were known, would reduce any resistors to a pile tin .000825mm thick The coded messages between the lead ships command unit and all other processor went something like this.

“All reports negative.

“Impossible, all R.A.P. reports showed a 99% occupancy rate. Recalculate and rerun,” the Comand unit ordered.

“Same results, all negative," was the reply.

“List reasons for such a gross error!” The Command unit demanded.

“1) R.P. malfunction," 

"(2) Hydro interference," 

"(3) Unknown improved Cosmic Shield Protectors,"

"(4) Deception.”

The Command unit would each time list numerous reasons why each possible reason for the error should be quickly rejected until it came to number four.

“More details on reason #4.” The Command unit demanded.

“Enhancer units have in the past used illegal methods they have come in contact with in order to escape.” 

“Sight examples!” The Command unit snapped.

1)  “2204sm. They used figets methods of launching ships undetected."

2)  "2399sm. They modified a Simiter cloak to pass under the 4455-scout fleet."

3)  "2523sm. The units posed as…” 

“Enough!"

The Command unit ran several programs.

“Speculate the method of deception used in this case.”

The processing units ran several long in-depth programs.

“Most probable method was a serial form of wave linking, this would involve using a current steady stream signal to a certain location and linking their traceable signal into it. Then at some point disconnecting and going to their actual location”

“Is it possible to locate their disconnect spot?” The Comand unit asked.

The processing units again went silent as it contemplated that question.

“Given 45 M.P.S there would be an 85% chance of finding that  location, and a 58% chance of tracing any signal residue.

“Do it now!” the Command unit signaled.

“85%, 56%, those are not acceptable numbers, but they are higher chances than those that I will have my logic circuits in one piece if I have to report our lack of progress in this assignment to H.A.L.O." The Command unit hummed.

When the 45 M.P.S. had expired, the processing unit reported to the Command unit.

“Our calculations being complete and we have determined four possible spots where they could have broken off with minimum detection.”

“Send me those on a spectrograph.” The Command unit signaled.

“Option #3... Set a course, full shields, and full weapons.” The Command unit signaled to all ships.

“You do realize that is not the most likely spot.” The processing units warned.

“Yes, but it is the way those do gooders think, and it happens to be the closest route to the most primitive planet around. Now ships, obey my command!"

The planet Cyclone was spared anymore suffering, and the “Black Death' fleet cleared the planet’s atmosphere before going into interplanetary slip stream.

“The deception they used, I want put in our logs, for future reference.” The command unit signaled to all ships.

“Command unit 00514, you have left the planet Cyclone, and are not returning to your scheduled patrol, explain your actions.”

This was not a signal that the Command unit expected or was prepared to answer. It carefully checked the frequency signal that carried the coded message. It was determined that it was a lower ranking Centurion scout that sent the message. Armed with that knowledge, the Command unit was confident in signaling a “Mind your own business,” type reply. Of course, also included in that message was a bunch of codes that were above the Centurions comprehension, to back off the questioning, at least for the time being.

“That isn’t going to buy much time, but it may be enough that I won’t get my circuits melted before I can give a better report," the Command unit hummed to itself.

When the four Destroyer ships arrived at the coordinates the processing units had given them, all the ships began vapor sweeps. For one hundred and seventy-five clicks, the ships scanned in all directions, yet nothing significant showed on their screens.

“Re-tune the scanners to include Janks salt.” The Command unit ordered.

It took another fifty-five long clicks, but suddenly progress was made. The Command unit evaluated the data and plotted a course. Just before the ships all went to slip stream, the auto defenses for all the ships kicked on. The Command unit quickly canceled the slip stream order and placed the ships in the defensive formation. It was an old program that the command unit was required to have. Ever since the Destroyers' ships had gain the power and size that they were now, no one would ever dream of attacking them. However, something had tripped their defensive sensors, and the kind of misfortune the Command unit was having so far, he could not take any chances. Frustratingly, the Command unit could not get any kind of clues on what might have set the sensors off. No readings on ships, incoming weapons fire of any kind…nothing! While all the ships were still on high alert, the Command unit ran a diagnostic on the defense sensors.

After waiting and watching for one hundred and ten clicks, the Command unit concluded that it had to have been trick signal that the Enhancers had set up to delay or throw them off. The Command unit reissued the order to launch through the slip stream. The ships realigned and launched. When the destroyer ships came out, they again began and a wide vapor sweep that once again included Janks salt. This time the results were completely zero.

“This is not logical. It is more deception! I will figure out your pattern enemy of mine. I will find you, incinerate you, and bring all of you back to H.A.L.O in an exceedingly small melted heap.”

Once again, the defensive sensor was triggered, and the ships went into their defensive formations. This time all weapons and defenses were automatically brought online. This caught the command unit by surprise. As far as its programming was informed, only it had complete control over the wepons' functions.

“Ship unit, cpdrx49595. Explain override of command function for bringing weapons online without authorization.” The command unit demanded.

“Authorization code zpt115 was issued.” The ships computer replied.

The Command unit processed this information. It took the unit many clicks before it realized what was going on. H.A.L.O. had also built into each Destroyer ship an override program if the Command unit deviated from its assignment. The warning that the Centurion scout had sent, most have triggered this program.

This was good news, bad news, scenario. The good news is the centurion scout would probably not report the incident to H.A.L.O., because this auto programing should control all ships on the assignment from now on, which was the bad news. This Command unit happened to be the most experienced and successful leader unit the Destroyers had. Because of all its successes, it began to develop what humans would call “prideful tendencies.”

"This Command unit is not going to let some built in fancy sub routine get all of the credit for the capture of the Enhancers,” the Command unit hummed to itself.

 It then explored the possibilities of writing a program that would  over-ride that sub-routeen and give complete control of the fleet back to it. At the same time, it ordered a full diagnostic of what was triggering the defense sensors.