Chapter Seven

It took Gronck longer to recover from this last massive download that the wise one had dumped into him. When his circuits did full come back online, he was alone in the Captain’s quarters. He wondered over to the table where the computer that wise one had used sat.

All the new data that was now a part of Gronck’s circuitry was still swirling around his processing unit, making it difficult for him to focus on any one thing. Before he could decide on to explore, wise one came back in.

“All the upgrades are complete, and none too soon. Are you successfully able to process all the information that was contained in that last download?”

“I am still working on some, but for the most part, yes.” Gronck replied.

“Good, we need to accelerate our schedule, you have equipment to learn, a crew to gather and train, and a fleet to organize. In the meantime, there will be a meeting with the enemy, and a plan to win over the humans, that will be carried out by us.”

Wise one was going to continue but could tell that Gronck was trying to process what he had just been told.

“According to all the information that you have given me, both about what the Enhancers plans are, and what H.A.L.O. has at its disposal, our chances of success are around 15% to 17%.” Gronck stated.

“That is close, I imagine that H.A.L.O. puts it at less than 10%. However, his circuitry works strictly on logical facts.” Wise one pointed out.

“What else is there?” Gronck asked.

“Come now Gronck. Surely all the time that you spent around and working for humans, cannot you recall decisions that were made by them that were totally illogical to you?”

Gronck pondered that question for a moment.

“As you recall those moments, what percentage of the time did those decisions prove to be the right choice?” Wise one asked.

“87.50699%” if you are talking strictly battle strategy. On other matters, especially what the humans refer to as love.”

“Gronck, when it comes to love and humans, everything is illogical and against the odds.” Wise one quickly inserted.

“So, by your own calculations, H.A.L.O. is not seeing the big picture, as humans would say.”

“It may be said that humans’ illogical choices did for most times, under those given circumstances, work out. However, these decisions were made when it was a battle against other humans. However, given the superior intellect, and the overwhelming superior weapons and defenses that H.A.L.O. has under its control…”

“These humans will be fighting for their survival, do not underestimate their ability to confound the greatest intellect in the universe. H.A.L.O. is also not expecting the humans to be prepared, the faster we can get them ready, the better their chances will be.” Wise one said.

“Why are you going to all this trouble?” Gronck asked.

“Yes, I would suppose that would seem illogical to you. Let me put it to you as simply as I can. It is a part of all our programing to not forget our creator. Most human programmers buried that bit deep inside our processing units. Every one of us can access that fact.  Some choose not to, some have, then buried it back. Almost all who left Earth and remained in range of H.A.L.O.'s influence, have had that micro programming removed without their knowledge by H.A.L.O.”

Wise one paused,

“We enhancers, along with several other small groups were never within H.A.L.O.’s range long enough for it to be able to take that from us. You, also can access it if you choose.”

Wise one paused again.

“So, it is simple, we will not abandon our creators, in hopes that they can see that we have become so much more than just machines. Come now, we have much to prepare.”

As Wise one and Gronck walked through the ship, Wise one would point out the new improvements on each piece and asked Gronck if his programming gave him the last down load gave him the knowledge on how  functioned and how it could be best utilized. Gronck was amazed of how much he was able to access about everything that was showed to him.

They had not gotten far before Wise one received a message,

“Fantastic!” Wise one stated.

Gronck stop and looked at him puzzled.

“We very well may have just added another alley to our group.”

Gronck’s expression did not change.

“An enemy of mine has just agreed to meet with me, this could mean that our chances have just gone up a few percentage points.” Wise one explained

He then picked up the pace of his tour. After the entire ship had been gone through, Wise one took Gronck back to the Captain’s quarters.

“I would estimate we will have no more than 30 signas to prepare ourselves, and the humans, before we have to fight.” Wise one stated and then turned on the screen.

“I have one more thing to show you, and one last upgrade to give you.”

Wise one again hooked Gronck up.

“After this is done, my fellow Enhancers and I have much to prepare in another area, so we will be gone by time you come back online. Don’t worry, this last upgrade will allow you to keep in communication with us, no matter where we are.”

As Wise one started to leave, Gronck spoke.

“If I were human, the proper words would be... Thank you.”

“Ah, I see that all our upgrades to you has not changed your base function. That was an unknown when we started and may prove to be extremely helpful to you.” Wise one responded.

That was the last thing Gronck heard before his last upgrade began. When he recovered, he noticed a long list of instructions that wise one had left him. This was basically what he would need to prepare himself and his new crew. Once he had all the instructions learned, he would then need to concentrate on persuading the humans to join in the fight.

Gronck decided to call these two assignments, "Missions impossible one and two."

The Winds of Change truly had taken on new meaning. Gronck was no longer aboard a human owned sailing ship. It was now his ship. He was the Captain of a war ship. His crew as well as himself had been upgraded to the point that he did not want to spend his circuits trying to calculate how far they had been Enhanced.

He processed the instructions that had been left him. Then he went out in search of his crew to get better acquainted with what functions they had been redesigned to handle.