Morin

Thirty years ago the Omega Corporation cracked the secret of
hyper-speed, making something travel faster that it's physically
possible to travel. The result was a new era for all, ventures to be
sought out on whole new worlds, resources to be discovered, and things
to be done.

Edward Harring was a space captain; he lived in the far frontier, in
his starship, which was called the 'Explorer'. A very large and very
slick thing it was, the fastest drive, the hardest armour, the biggest
guns and more expensive than you could ever imagine. Together Harring
and the crew of the Explorer went on a daily basis where probably
no-one had gone before.

Captain's log - 26/01/2045 - 0700 local time
Today my crew and I have been tasked with a mission of special
significance; we are to escort the great Analyst of intergalactic
renown, Mr G.F.X Morin, to the annual concept summit in the third
planet of the Sol system, known as Earth to the locals. There, he and
the greater minds of the galaxy will confer on the highest ideas and
most important issues of the day.

This is going to be a dangerous mission; the route back to Earth is a
procession of shady back-alley territories where one wouldn't ever stop
longer than it takes to refuel. My message to the crew will be this:
Keep the doors locked and the windows rolled up, don't speak to the
locals, they're probably just trying to scam money out of you, and for
the love of God tread the Analyst with the respect he deserves.

1400 local time
"On behalf of all present on The Explorer, I would like to officially
welcome you on board, Analyst." I greeted Morin flawlessly, he seemed
impressed, in turn each of the senior officers gave him a gentle bow
then I proceeded to show him to his quarters.

En route to his suite I was quickly told not to enquire about any of
the information he was bringing to the summit, these genius Analysts
are always bringing back information about trends in the intergalactic
economy, which of course is brought back to the summits for the good of
all mankind. In the wrong that information it could bring the whole
system crashing down, making those wrong hands incredibly rich in the
process, those are the people who will be after us; we will be dealing
with serious hardcore criminals here, as well as the usual riffraff?
We're about to find out how tough this bird's armour really is.

2200 local time
So far the mission is going without a hitch, but then it has barely
begun. At 1412 hours I gave the order to set course for Earth, full
power, and right this very minute the Explorer is gliding through the
heavens at countless trillions of miles per second using it's patented
Hyper-speed drive so secret that Omega forbids us to look inside.

Morin is safe, armed guards outside his room at all times, and the AI
is always watching ... Morin is safe, right ? of course he is, pull it
together Ed, no pirates, assassins or mobsters are getting anywhere
near him, chances are they'd never even be able to catch up with us.
The thing is, as the great ship Explorer slides silently through the
black veil I can tell, we're already being followed? An old foe of mine
is following; maybe the animosity between us has grown so potent that I
can sense it? we don't have long. Attack is coming.

Captain's log - 27/01/2045 - 0500 local time
This is how it began. We were nearing a fuelling station; I'd timed it
perfectly so we'd only have to stop once,
"Officer Smith - I want full sensor sweeps - highest possible
resolution running constantly."
"Sir? That's not standard -"
"I know it's not, do it anyway. These aren't the parts of space where
people care about standard procedure; you should know this by now. We
are not in good company around these populations? maximum
velocity."
"Yes sir."
I hate to be forceful with the younger officers, but if the Explorer
were in the hands of those as inexperienced as Mr Smith, we'd never
have survived the assault. Here in the depths of this slum territory,
we're always alone, one crew on one ship with the eyes of all the local
people tearing across the sky to track us, wondering if they had a
chance taking what we have; Morin.

Morin and the AI had been conferring, and they saw it, what I had
feared. There are a thousand stars a second streaking past our windows
and if you had a ship that was fast enough, agile enough, you can nip
between the stars, hiding behind the glare, gradually catching up to
the great Explorer, I felt it coming, and surely enough, it came, my
old enemy, my nemesis.

"Sir, take a look at this" Morin and the AI and myself turned to a view
pane, and there it was, that faint trace nipping from star to star
almost faster than the sensor sweep could catch it. In that moment the
great danger became real, It knew it had been spotted, and within
seconds, broke from cover, scorching towards us at superluminal
velocity and pounding upon the Explorer immediately with its war-grade
arsenal. It is the sentient starship COM-1100, it came to kill me,
destroy the Explorer but most seriously, take Morin.

It had been gradually adding to itself, for decades it had been
stealing new weapons and parts, and by this point it was immense, the
COM filled out entire view, the stars had gone to its dead black gloss.
We had survived its first attack wave but already it was repositioning
for the next strike, I could almost feel its CPU glaring upon us,
yearning for possession of Morin.

At this point the elegant frame of Morin passed in front of me,
completely unfazed he said "You know the procedure. Begin at
once."
At that point all I could do was nod subserviently as it was all out of
my hands, as I said, this is a mission of special significance, and
special rules are in force.
"I'm taking over command of this ship. Smith, have it noted in the log.
AI, you will be my second in command." Morin and the machine headed
toward the front of the ship immediately. "AI, determine the weaknesses
of that thing." He commanded.
"I have already begun." The machine affirmed.
"Good. Harring, stall COM until the AI Formulates a strategy."

I will not pretend that I wasn't angered by their demeaning tone, but
stepped back without so much as a frown to complete my assignment as
ordered. I didn't want to do it, I knew that as soon as the com link
was open, the insipid voice of that creature would come pouring upon us
like an avalanche, as it then did; "Harring, do not attempt to stall
COM, COM instructs you to hand over the individual Morin to it at once
and then prepare to die."

The murky and unearthly vocalizations of COM always have a stupefying
effect on people, I'd evolved ways to combat it in my mind but still,
it became hard to think in that crucial moment where a good captain is
supposed to rise above. "COM? what makes you think you can possibly
defeat us now."

Immediately the reply pours out "COM has had its weapons systems
substantially upgraded since our last encounter, you will not withstand
its attack. Surrender or your ship will be destroyed."

"But if you do that, you'll kill Morin." Hearing that, the ship's two
new commanders turned to give me a most deliberate glare of
disapproval, as the enemy resumes;
"COM has anticipated this, it will vaporise other areas of your ship,
killing many humans in the crew until you surrender or an access route
has been cut large enough for a probe to fly in and abduct Morin
physically." A dreadful gasp arose from all the crew; the atmosphere
had grown so cold that I could almost see their breath
vaporising.

Morin and the AI remained undaunted. The voice of COM resumed,
encompassing and smothering our minds further, "COM has calculated that
it will take you five minutes and thirty seconds to take Morin to a
transport craft and launch it. COM's attack will begin in that amount
of time unless Morin is surrendered. COM's weapons are now at full
power." Immediately the AI gave the signal to break communications,
which I did gratefully.
"Captain Harring. Come with us at once." Morin's call came.

I was directed to a room away from the rest of the crew where Morin
began to assert: "We have five minutes only so listen and don't speak.
Myself and the AI have formulated a plan. Using the advanced medical
equipment on board we will be able to infuse a sample of my DNA into
another crewmember so that they temporarily read as me."
"You want to kill one of my officers!"
"We're running out of time I said do not speak. That crewmember will be
placed in the transport craft and it will be rigged to appear that an
accident has happened in which the craft is launched at hyper-speed in
the wrong direction giving us our opportunity to escape. Once the COM
ship has collected the craft we will trigger its self destruct,
damaging COM just long enough for us to reach Earth territory where the
defence net will protect us."
"Damn it man COM isn't stupid, it will detect the self destruct trigger
and shut it down!"
"We think not, your officer will swallow the trigger. COM will not be
able to extract it fast enough without risking killing what it thinks
is ME. Believe me Captain; the ship will be far too distracted with
extracting information from me that it can use to make itself
rich."

The situation had grown far uglier than I could stomach, but if it had
to be done then it had to be done, "Ok then, I will do it, spare my
crew."
The AI then turned directly to me, "You cannot do this, com knows you
already, and you rank too highly, your orders are to select an
insignificant officer to sacrifice. Go, quickly!"

I departed the room urgently, if at least to get away from them and the
disgust they heaved in my gut, that disgust surpassed only by the
immense self loathing that was welling up in my heart. By chance, a
young man was passing as I emerged from the conspiracy, nobody in
particular, just a technician, and not a great one, as I recalled from
his record. "Officer!" broke him in his stride? I told myself I
couldn't bring myself to do such a vile thing, and I certainly wished
that were true but at that moment as his glare caught mine I had to
understand the critical value that Morin's genius would bring to
billions across the galaxies, and weigh it against the worth of him? I
had a duty to perform, a gross and black duty, but a duty
nonetheless.

"Officer, please step into this room, the Analyst has a - special
assignment, for you."
With that said, I silently stepped aside from the door, allowing the
young man to proceed to his death. Make no mistake that a part of my
own life was then dirtied forever.

Captain's Log - 28/01/2045 - 15:35 local time.
The Explorer is now just a few hours from the protection of Earth's
defences, the filth of this rancid part of space is beginning to clear
in the distance; our hands however, are still stained with blood. Morin
tells me that the Earth is a place of some awesome scenic beauty,
glistening bright cityscapes of magnificent stature and pure bright air
for all, where his summit will soon begin.

The Omega Corporation has forwarded its immense gratitude in our
successfully conveying Morin through the wilderness and assures me that
a replacement technician will be sent as soon as possible. We are to
spend a few days in orbit while the Explorer is repaired courtesy of
the Omega summit committee, where we may take brief leave if we
wish.

After all that, our next mission begins. We are to escort the great
Admiral Rutherford - a tactician of intergalactic renown - to a
military base on the far side of the galaxy. No doubt there will be
many enemies seeking to attain his invaluable tactical knowledge, but
this is a mission of special significance, and we will succeed at
whatever cost.