Chapter Six
H.A.L.O. had modified it’s programing several times. As advanced of a unit as it was, it failed to detect that each modification, also impacted it in a negative way. It’s circuitry was at it’s maximum when it left earth. With each modification, something was replaced, or in most cases deleted. At first it was minor subroutines, but the more advanced the modifications that H.A.L.O. made, the more other important functions were deleted to make room for those modifications.
“What is taking those ships so long? They should have been in attack position by now.”
H.A.L.O. tried to run a check on their location.
“Now what is wrong!”
H.A.L.O. had taken control of the entire fleet of ships to not allow for any more delays. That action occupied a lot more of his circuitry than it had calculated. The result of that miscalculation was it lost all communication with those ships. The most H.A.L.O. could gather was that the ships had grouped up but were waiting further instructions. H.A.L.O. burned out several circuits trying to reestablish communications with the fleet. It became so over heated in this effort that if it did not pay attention to all the warning signals it was getting from its safety program, it would have gone into a meltdown.
After its cold fans had time to restore H.A.L.O.’s circuitry, it kicked back into action.
“Nothing else matters! This task is to important to waste any more time on.”
H.A.L.O. summoned its personal ship, and the rest of its Destroyer ships.
“This will be even more satisfying. I will be able to be there when the earth and all it’s human inhabitants are blown into fine particles!”
Still unable to discover why it was not able to communicate with the fleet, H.A.L.O. took no chances with his escort ships. It placed its last sub-command units in each of them. These units were a step below the programing of the command unit, but several steps above the SDII that H.A.L.O. had sent out earlier.
It quickly calculated the percentages of circuitry that would need to be devoted to each task that would need to be caried out simultaneously. This function was carried out on a normal basis all the time. H.A.L.O., like other well advanced A,I,’s was programmed with the ability to shift whatever power, calculation function, data storage, etc., to what was needed at the time. H.A.L.O. was the only one built at the time that could re-shift those elements around as it seemed fit. It was also the only unit built at that time that did not have to surrender control of that function back to it’s human programmer. Of course this proved to be a huge mistake, and what ultimately brought about the current crisis the humans have found themselves in.
Fully confident that it had perfectly divided up it’s priorities. H.A.L.O. plotted the quickest course to meet up with the other Destroyer ships that were standing by, waiting further instructions.
Using all the information that had been sent back to it from all the other ships that had gone out before it, H.A.LO. easily avoided all the previous traps and illusions, that the Enhancers had created. H.A.L.O. also calculated out what other various tricks that he thought they might try to pull and was on the lookout for these.
It gave H.A.L.O. great satisfaction as he counted out the great number of minor traps that it avoided. All it took each time was a minor course correction. H.A.L.O. then simply increased the speed of the ships to make up for the time lost having to alter its course.
H.A.L.O. was taking so much pleasure in watching the number of traps that it was avoiding, it failed to notice how far it’s flight path had varied. By the time the ships computers warning signals registered with H.A.L.O., it was too late. All ships dropped out of the slipstream and slowly all ships controls, and anything hooked into the ships controls, went dead.
It did not take H.A.L.O. to figure out what happened, but that did not make it any less upset. As a matter of fact, it made it even more upset. The minor traps that the Enhancers had set were all part of a bigger trap. Each time H.A.L.O. made it’s minor course correction it moved its ships closer to a path that would make it pass through the strongest output of electron waves sent out by earth’s sun. Any ship that passed through this section of the Milky Way galaxy always used what is called the solar tunnel. Basically, a slip stream that is close enough to the sun to enhance the speed of the ship, without any side effects. This was H.A.L.O.’s original course. The slight course corrections added up to the point that it put the ships outside the slipstream’s protective wall. Now not only were H.A.L.O.’s ships without power, if something was not done within 72 hours, the ships shielding would completely fail and the melted scrap heap that H.A.L.O. wanted as the fate of his opposers, would suddenly become his destiny.
It had been a long time since H.A.L.O. had to deal with a situation that meant its' survival. The last one being just before it left earth for good. It now again had to refocus its circuitry to figure out how to get out of this situation. Because a good number of units that could have been useful to him to help assess the situation were hooked into the ship at the time of the shutdown, it was going to take it a bit longer to do all the assessment itself.
Surprisingly, H.A.L.O. went about this task in a calm orderly fashion. The first order of business was to calculate the multiple possible solutions with the least amount of damage to the ships, along with the solutions that would take the least amount of time to accomplish. None of the calculations, using these two criteria were to H.A.L.O.’s liking. Its circuitry buzzed and whirled as it varied the equation trying to come to a solution that was acceptable, but no matter how much it changed the variables, the most logical plan would take far longer than it wanted it to. Soon Its circuits began to overheat again.
“This delay, in the long run, does not really matter. Even if those misfits do manage to get to earth, none of the humans will ever believe that they are in danger. As a matter of fact, even if they did, and they had a millennium to prepare, they would not have a .0000000006% chance of survival. Yes, in the end, the miserable human race will be gone, and all other intelligence will come under my complete control.
****************************************************************************************************************
Ms. Webber, the Command unit, TA.112, Mr. Einstein, and Gronk, worked for several hours on not only coming up with the best tactical plan for the Defense Force, but also came up with indisputable logic on why it should be a combo force. While that group was hard at work devising that plan, the other Enhancers, working with the advanced A.I.’s at Mr. Einstein’s lab made an interesting discovery.
“TA112! We have been able to detect that there are now a total of eleven Destroyer ships that less than 50 hours from being in attack range. However, the seven closest are in stasis mode.”
“Those seven have to be under H.A.L.O.’s direct control. It would not risk sending out any more Command units.” The Command unit stated.
“Why would they not be given the go ahead to move forward and attack, and why would H.A.L.O. send four more? Gronk asked.
“I bet you can answer those questions.” Ms. Webber said looking at TA112.
“The only logical explanation would be for some unknown reason, H.A.L.O. lost communication with the ships and had to take a ship to bring itself into closer range of the ships that are awaiting its orders.” TA112 stated.
“WHAT? H.A.L.O. is coming here? The Command unit stated in what could easily be described as a panic.
“Something tells me you were counting on that.” Ms. Webber said.
“More hoping than counting.” TA112 replied.
TA112 then quickly checked the details of the report the Enhancers brought concerning the location and condition of the other four Destroyer ships. It was so involved in looking at the report that it did not notice that Ms. Webber had also came over to view it.
“My, my, you are really a clever little TA unit are you not?”
“Well actually it was a long shot, based on H.A.L.O.’s pattern and his time away from maintenance upgrades.” TA112 admitted.
“This is exactly the break we needed. Mr. Einstein, if you would be so kind as to personally deliver our plan to the Security Council, I believe that will carry more weight. TA112, if you would disperse your other Enhancer units to assist in getting the humans in the bunkers, then depart with Captain Gronk to set sail to set up the second command base.”
The Command unit waited its instructions.
“When Mr. Einstein returns, the three of us will work on what I have in mind for you to do.” Ms. Webber stated in a reassuring tone.
Comments (2)
See all