the suggestion.
“Sir, that would not be a problem. There is an alternative that could disable the tankers and the warships. The civilian space dock has a large entertainment area that includes entertainment nodes used by ships that are in range. It is well known that these arcades provide captains of large ships gratuities if they keep their ships in range of the nodes for their crew’s use. The node could be infected so that when a member of a ship’s crew connected to it, a BOT would be uploaded that would search the computer systems until it accessed command and control. Then an order could be sent to lock out all access to the ship’s systems,” Beater explained.
“You can do that? Go ahead and start the process now. Let me know when you’re done, and we’ll take care of them all at once,” Johnson said, trying not to sound as excited as he felt.
“I doubt you will be able to get all of the ships. I am sure as soon as the first few ships find out they have a problem, they will notify the others. I estimate the best number of ships you will be able to get would be six, depending on their alertness and the ability of their cyber-technicians.”
“Beater, can the BOT order the ships to fly into the gas giant?”
“That would be beyond the ability of the BOT.”
“How about the BOT having the ship give you remote access so you could steer it into the gas giant or initiate self-destruct of the ships?”
“I will create the BOT so that it puts a new lockout on all systems by changing the access codes. I will have the only access to the controls. Then I will see what I can do remotely,” Beater offered.
“Go ahead and get started. Initiate as soon as possible. Keep either me or the XO in the loop. I want to get this done and get out of this asteroid field. Meeting adjourned.”
Culpepper Plantation, planet Dixie
29 October 2128
Scotty stiffened as he felt Sam make a slight jolt. The naked pair had been spooning in their sleep under the ground cloth. Both were instantly aware that the other was awake and that they were not alone. Scotty cursed silently to himself as he saw that his holster was out of immediate reach and his carbine was even farther away. Sam’s weapons were by their feet. Although it was still nighttime, they could see well in the twilight of the gas giant.
“Ambassador Scholl?” a voice asked from deep in the wood line.
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” Scotty said as he looked around for anything he could use as a weapon.
“My apologies for disturbing you, Ambassador. I’m Lieutenant Raphael Semmes of the New Mississippi Scouts. My orders are to find you and take you to a place of safety. I see, sir, that you are enjoying the hospitality of Dixie, so I shall have my scouts turn away until you and your companion can be presentable.”
Scotty stifled a laugh as he dashed for his clothing and threw Sam hers so she could dress under the ground cloth. After dressing, he reached for his belt with the holster, expecting to be stopped. Looking over at Sam, he saw that she was already dressed and was holding her shotgun.
“Lieutenant Semmes, please feel free to come into our camp.” Scotty was facing the direction from which he’d heard the lieutenant’s voice. Feeling the presence of someone behind him, he turned around and saw three soldiers.
A tall, muscular, black officer stood less than a yard away, and two muscular, white enlisted women of medium height were less than three yards from him. Their faces, painted green and blue, blended in with their camouflage combat uniforms, which seemed to have been ripped from the forest. They all wore identical camouflage caps. On the front of the man’s cap, a black bar had been sewn in. The design was the same as the one used on Earth. Each carried a carbine similar to Scotty’s, except they had electronic scopes and long silencers. The remainder of their field gear consisted of vests that had numerous pockets for
“Sir, that would not be a problem. There is an alternative that could disable the tankers and the warships. The civilian space dock has a large entertainment area that includes entertainment nodes used by ships that are in range. It is well known that these arcades provide captains of large ships gratuities if they keep their ships in range of the nodes for their crew’s use. The node could be infected so that when a member of a ship’s crew connected to it, a BOT would be uploaded that would search the computer systems until it accessed command and control. Then an order could be sent to lock out all access to the ship’s systems,” Beater explained.
“You can do that? Go ahead and start the process now. Let me know when you’re done, and we’ll take care of them all at once,” Johnson said, trying not to sound as excited as he felt.
“I doubt you will be able to get all of the ships. I am sure as soon as the first few ships find out they have a problem, they will notify the others. I estimate the best number of ships you will be able to get would be six, depending on their alertness and the ability of their cyber-technicians.”
“Beater, can the BOT order the ships to fly into the gas giant?”
“That would be beyond the ability of the BOT.”
“How about the BOT having the ship give you remote access so you could steer it into the gas giant or initiate self-destruct of the ships?”
“I will create the BOT so that it puts a new lockout on all systems by changing the access codes. I will have the only access to the controls. Then I will see what I can do remotely,” Beater offered.
“Go ahead and get started. Initiate as soon as possible. Keep either me or the XO in the loop. I want to get this done and get out of this asteroid field. Meeting adjourned.”
Culpepper Plantation, planet Dixie
29 October 2128
Scotty stiffened as he felt Sam make a slight jolt. The naked pair had been spooning in their sleep under the ground cloth. Both were instantly aware that the other was awake and that they were not alone. Scotty cursed silently to himself as he saw that his holster was out of immediate reach and his carbine was even farther away. Sam’s weapons were by their feet. Although it was still nighttime, they could see well in the twilight of the gas giant.
“Ambassador Scholl?” a voice asked from deep in the wood line.
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” Scotty said as he looked around for anything he could use as a weapon.
“My apologies for disturbing you, Ambassador. I’m Lieutenant Raphael Semmes of the New Mississippi Scouts. My orders are to find you and take you to a place of safety. I see, sir, that you are enjoying the hospitality of Dixie, so I shall have my scouts turn away until you and your companion can be presentable.”
Scotty stifled a laugh as he dashed for his clothing and threw Sam hers so she could dress under the ground cloth. After dressing, he reached for his belt with the holster, expecting to be stopped. Looking over at Sam, he saw that she was already dressed and was holding her shotgun.
“Lieutenant Semmes, please feel free to come into our camp.” Scotty was facing the direction from which he’d heard the lieutenant’s voice. Feeling the presence of someone behind him, he turned around and saw three soldiers.
A tall, muscular, black officer stood less than a yard away, and two muscular, white enlisted women of medium height were less than three yards from him. Their faces, painted green and blue, blended in with their camouflage combat uniforms, which seemed to have been ripped from the forest. They all wore identical camouflage caps. On the front of the man’s cap, a black bar had been sewn in. The design was the same as the one used on Earth. Each carried a carbine similar to Scotty’s, except they had electronic scopes and long silencers. The remainder of their field gear consisted of vests that had numerous pockets for
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