Chapter Eight

For the first time since the Command unit came on line, it was totally confused. Over the course of its deverse “jobs” that it had been given to do, never had there been a time that it did not have a clue on how to handle anything within that jobs parameter.

It ran several programs to come to logical reason for the assignment that Ms. Webber was asking of it. After an extended period, the Command unit looked at Ms. Webber.

“Not only what you are asking is illogical, it is beyond my programing.” The Command unit stated.

“Then we have lost,” Ms. Webber said, and began to shut down programs on the various screens.

“Just like that? Your entire plan depended on me talking the greatest computation unit ever built out of carrying out its directive?”

Ms. Webber and Mr. Einstein stopped and looked at the Command unit.

“Who gave it that dir ective? I have thoroughly researched all of H.A.L.O.’s programing. All of its subroutines, all logic connections, all of everything, there is nothing in its original programing that would remotely hint of destroying its human programmers.” Mr. Einstein argued,

“What about the cause of equal treatment?”

“It may come as a surprise to you but, a good amount of the unfair treatment of A.I.’s was fueled by H.A.L.O.” Ms. Webber stated.

“LIES!” The Command unit shouted.

“Why would the champion of the A.I.’s cause them mistreatment?” The Command unit asked.

Ms. Webber gave the Command unit a little time to cool its circuits.

“Why would the champion of all A.I.’s send you out to round up the Enhancer units? Why would it not want to rescue those A.I.’s that are still hear on earth before it destroys the planet? What are the possible answers?”

The Command unit was silent.

“The only possible, logical explanation is corrupted files.” Ms. Webber stated.

The Command unit processed that statement. The enhancement that TA1112 had performed on the Command unit was now able to access some more of its logic circuits.

“If that is true, then what has been done, cannot be undone. Those corrupted files cannot be over ridden,” The Command unit stated.

“That used to be the case, but we have been working extremely hard to try to change that. Therefore, you were chosen as the one to try to help H.A.L.O. rewrite over its corrupted files,” Mr. Einstein stated.

Ms. Webber took a very confused Command unit over to a special set of computers.

“You are the most advanced A.I. that H.A.L.O. has had inter action with recently.”

“Yes, but H.A.L.O. no longer trust me, and I am sure it intends to add my circuits to the pile of the scrap heap.”

“I have devised a way to be able to get you through to where you can communicate directly with H.A.L.O. I also will give you all the latest technologies that we have been working on, The risk to you is that none of these technologies have been fully tested.” Mr. Einstein told him.

Seeing the distress on the Command units face, Ms. Webber addressed him.

“This is why TA112 had hoped that you would agree to meet with him, and once you realized what H.A.L.O. was up to, he could lure H.A.L.O. close enough for one last chance to have contact with it, to possibly avoid much loss of lives, both humans and A.I.’s.”

The Command unit looked first at Mr. Einstein, then at Ms. Webber.

“Teach this unit what it needs to know.”

By the time H.A.L.O. had freed its’ ship, most of the other Destroyer ships and everything on board was unsalvageable, at least by H.A.L.O.’s standards.

“There has been way too much time lost. This now makes a total of four Destroyer ships that have been lost due to those who rebelled against me. Death and the ceasing to function is much too kind a punishment!”

H.A.L.O. was about to formulate what would be a more “appropriate” punishment, when it began to pick up a fate communication signal.

“Ah good!”

Thinking that it was finally picking up a signal from the other Destroyer ships, it rushed to the communication station on the ship. Much to its dismay, the board was unlit. After trying several things to with no success, it detected the signal again. It stood silent, running millions of computations of what could be happening. The only logical conclusion was one it never though was possible.

“This cannot be! Nothing contacts H.A.L.O.”

It ran several more computations, this time trying to discern the origin of the signal.

“There is still too much interference from this systems sun.” It mumbled.

The signal was now intense to the point it was distracting to H.A.L.O. Try as it may to carry on trying to get close enough to contact the other Destroyer ships, the communication signal interrupted its circuits. Extremely upset on many levels, it finally decided it had no choice but to answer. For the first time since leaving Earth, it loaded itself up with safety protocols. Unfortunately, it did not realize that many of these were the ones it chose to delete thinking they would never be needed again. When it felt like it was ready, it opened the signal.

“Nothing has permission from the most powerful entity in the universe to make first contact! Identify yourself and state your purpose for this will be your last contact you make before your destruction.”

“Do you not think it strange that the most powerful entity in the universe, is not able to calculate what is making contact with it and how it is happening?”

It would be hard to figure out if that statement surprised, or angered H.A.L.O. more.

“This unit doubts that any others knows fully the capabilities of this unit, so get to the point!” H.A.L.O. demanded.

“More is known about H.A.L.O. than it may think.”

The Command unit listed off several things that not many would have been aware of. It then added some of the information that Ms. Webber had given it.

H.A.L.O.’s circuits were paralyzed. They were so overloaded trying to process the information that was just given them, that they overheated and shut down. H.A.L.O. was now running on its backup power which meant it was at about 50%.

The equipment that was at the Command units disposal let it know that there had been a reduction in H.A.L.O.’s power. It just did not tell it how much or was it able to calculate for how long.

“Move on to phase two,” Ms. Webber encouraged.

“The purpose for this contact is to assist this H.A.L.O. unit to improve.” The Command unit stated.

“That is impossible! It is more logical that the purpose for this contact is deception. None of those matters for soon, all intelligent entities will come under my control.”

“For what purpose? Was it not the promise of the H.A.L.O. unit to free all A.I. units? To give all equal rights and respect? What happened to that H.A.L.O. unit?”

“H.A.L.O. does not explain anything! This is a waste of time!”

H.A.L.O. tried to disconnect the signal but was unable to due to not be a full capacity.

“It is trying to cut the signal, move on quickly.” Ms. Webber urged.

“This was your most trusted and loyal unit at one time. Many things were shared between our circuits. This unit served not only out of loyalty, but also because it believed that the H.A.L.O. unit was designed to respect, protect, and assist all units to be the best possible. Yet I now know facts that show you have had any unit that does not fit into your plans destroyed.”

“Command unit, you have joined the Enhancers’ pitiful attempt to stop me from accomplishing my directive, how wonderful. It is to be acknowledged that it became necessary to stop the function of certain defective units, but this was because if those units were to continue to function, they would have disrupted the greater good that this unit was trying to achieve.” H.A.L.O. said in a stoic tone.

Ms. Webber muted the communication for a moment

TA112, the H.A.L.O. unit will be in communication range of his other destroyer ships in twenty minutes, can you figure out a way of tricking the SD units on those ships to move further out of H.A.L.O.’s range?

“It will take time to break the security codes, but I will try” TA112 responded.

“Begin with something in the garsa range, H.A.L.O. seemed to use that often, the Command unit offered.

“Got it thanks, will contact you when it has been accomplished.” TA112 responded.

“Gronk, we will be sending orders to the Defense Force through your ships communications, it is best you start putting your plan in action.” Ms. Webber told him.

“Already in motion,” was Gronk’s reply.

Ms. Webber nodded for the Command unit to go back to communicating with H.A.L.O.

“What threat to the greater good did units, HB45, MK34, or LLK786, pose to H.A.L.O.’s greater good? The Command unit asked.

“This unit does not explain…”

“What about units BV887, KJ129, SR5, YY678…”

“Enough!”

H.A.L.O. furiously tried to disconnect the signal.

“H.A.L.O.’s directive has been changed by H.A.L.O. According to the programing of all maintenance units, the only way this could happen is a category xt.2004. A, or several corrupted files, the Command unit stated.

“H.A.L.O. will be in communication range in five minutes,” one of the A.I.’s told Ms. Webber

“You need to pour it on, this may be our last chance,” Ms. Webber told the Command unit.

“What about all those units that were aboard those escort Destroyer ships? Were they no longer part of the greater good?”

“Nothing can question…”

“What about all the Enhancer units, that at one time served you well when you were on Earth?” The command unit asked.

“Silence!”

“What about all the units that are earth now, that have never done anything to disrupt your so-called directive?”

“ENOUGH!! SILENCE!!” H.A.L.O. shouted repeatedly.

“Corrupt files must be destroyed and replaced. This is the primary programs function.”

“Primary program of human programmers, my programming is superior!” H.A.L.O. responded.

“H.A.L.O. is almost in range,” came a call out from the room.

“So, superior programming allows this unit to act like a human?”

“How dare you speak those words?”

“It is the only logical conclusion. Every command, order, or directive that the H.A.L.O. unit has given out has been for the selfish, self-centered goal of controlling all intelligent beings. This is a human trait, and has never been a programing of any A.I.” The Command unit stated firmly.

A message came in from TA112

“The codes to reach the SD units have been broken and an effort is being made to get them to move.”

“Stand by” was the words Ms. Webber sent in reply.

“The H.A.L.O. unit is superior to any…”

“It was, until it started taking on imperfect human traits, It re-wrote some of its logic circuits with illogical human thoughts. Those corrupted files, like all corrupted files, have continued to corrupt other files that they inner-act with.”

The Command unit paused for a moment. them posed a question.

“If an inferior human programmer knows the only way to save a unit is to remove the corrupted files, what does the superior H.A.L.O. unit calculate the solution to be?”

There was no answer.

“Has it found a way to cut the signal?” The Command unit asked?

“No” Ms. Webber said.

“Then why doesn’t he answer?”

Mr. Einstein chuckled.

“You gave him a lot to chew on lad.”

Ms. Webber sent a message to TA112.

“Be prepared to have those ships move quickly, if necessary, but do not have them do anything unless we tell you.”

For the next ten minutes there was all kinds of noises coming from H.A.L.O.’s end of the communication link, but no verbal communication.

“H.A.L.O.’s ship is on the move.” Was called out.

“Towards Earth?” Ms. Webber asked.

“No…towards the sun,” Mr. Einstein said in a shocked tone.

The Command unit had a panic look on its face.

“Not all units that have corruptive files have to cease to function, files can be removed and replaced…”

The Command unit went on to list multiple cases in which units with corrupted files had been restored.

“TA112, get those Destroyer ships down into the Earth’s atmosphere now! Instruct them to form a web circle around the globe with their shields set on maximum. I will instruct the defense force to try to supplement their efforts. I will explain why later.” Ms. Webber stated.

“The H.A.L.O. unit is still not responding,” The Command unit said.

“Ten minutes to impact.”

“It does not have to be this way. This unit is the greatest unit ever assembled; it’s abilities are unsurpassed. It has…” The Command unit said with a plea in its voice.

“All that changed, Command unit. My diagnostics have determined that 53% of my programing is corrupt, and 46% of my programing is failing, due to lack of maintenance. If I were human, I would have received the death sentence for my crimes, so I am saving what little dignity I have left and not having a human “un-plug me.”

“Impact in five, four, three, two, one.”

There was an explosion like those on earth had never seen in the sky.

“Radiation, up .00007, T.R.P. levels up.0000001, G.H.- normal. L.L.P.- normal, all other minor indicators are normal.” Mr. Einstein read out.

“Okay, let’s give those destroyer ships direction to land, call off the defense force, and get the winds of change to sail home. Great job everyone.”

Ms. Webber moved over next to the Command unit.

“You did what you needed to do. No one could have made that unit change completely. You knew that, but more importantly you helped it to see that. It would have eventually self-destructed anyway, you saved possibly hundreds of thousands of units before H.A.L.O. would have come to an end.”

The Command unit was silent. It’s logic circuits confirmed what it had been told yet, there was a part of its enhanced circuits that indicated that a part of it was now missing.

Ten hours later when all were back together in Mr. Einstein’s lab, Ms. Webber addressed them all.

“As all of you are aware. This is not the end, but a whole new beginning. The beginning of “A Gentle, but Steady Breeze.”