In the previous version of the self-destruct system, the bombs’ emergency activation sequence could be initiated by any crew member who had access to the explosives, which was basically anyone on the ship. Many of the Nine just chalked up the sinking of the Colossus 3 to a mistake by a crew member who had died in the blast, but Carlton had always suspected that it was done on purpose. Now he was sure Mallik had been the one behind it.
The new system required the bombs to be activated by two officers on the bridge. Until then, the bombs were inert. Not even Chen or Carlton could activate them alone. The fail-safes on all of the Colossus ships were linked together by encrypted radio signal so that if the self-destruct was activated on one ship, it would begin the countdown on the other ships as well. The bombs would have to be disabled on all of the ships for the self-destruct system to fail. If the Colossus AI went rogue after the singularity was reached, then each of the ships would be a danger.
Carlton had always hated the entire fail-safe concept. They’d poured a billion dollars into Colossus, and the thought that one of the other Nine could wipe it all away with a single command was ridiculous no matter what risk Colossus could pose.
“What if we deactivated the fail-safe?” Carlton asked.
Gupta gaped at him. “What?”
“Mallik is getting close to launching his final Vajra satellite. We can’t let another ‘accident’ delay or stop us.”
“If your attack on his life hadn’t gone so badly, we would have been able to stop him from launching it without Colossus.”
“A fully operational Colossus was always our best option,” Carlton said. “Once it reaches the singularity, it will be able to access any computer system on the planet, including his satellite network. We’ll be able to shut it down from here. The attempt on Mallik’s life was simply an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”
“And it was an epic blunder. Your news outlets have been plastering the story all over the place.” He narrowed his eyes at Carlton. “I wonder if Natalie Taylor really is on our side.”
“She said there were operatives there who stopped her, but they didn’t seem to be Mallik’s people, either.”
Gupta snickered. “She ‘said.’ I noticed she’s not even here.”
“She’s on her way back. I spoke to her while she was in the air.”
“If she’s so confident that they weren’t Mallik’s people, then who were they?”
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“We don’t know. But we need to be ready to deal with a third party. Remember, it wasn’t Mallik who took out the facility on Jhootha Island.”
“Another failure. We should have closed it down as soon as the Colossus 5 was attacked. I should have taken over the project myself.”
“You’re suddenly getting a spine?” Carlton said in amusement. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Then I have another surprise for you,” Gupta said.
The guards behind them raised their weapons and pointed them at Chen and Carlton.
“What are you doing?” Chen demanded.
“What I should have done the moment we left the Library. It’s obvious I can’t trust you, Carlton.”
“I’m impressed,” Carlton said, nodding his head at the guards in appreciation of Gupta’s double cross. “But you’re correct that you shouldn’t have trusted me.”
He raised a hand, and automatic weapons fire cut down all but one of the guards where they stood. Natalie Taylor and Carlton’s private security squad emerged from their hiding places behind the vats.
Carlton smiled at the remaining guard, who had tipped Carlton off about the betrayal. “Welcome to the winning team.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Carlton walked up to Gupta and said, “I knew you would try something like this. I just wanted to wait and see who the other traitors were. Now it appears you are the only traitor left.” He turned to Taylor. “And you’ve just redeemed yourself. Take him back to his cabin and keep him there until I figure out if I want him alive or dead.”
All of his bravado was gone, and Gupta’s lip was quivering as Taylor and the loyal guard led him away. The remaining members of Carlton’s squad began stacking up the bodies.
Chen looked at Carlton in astonishment at what had just happened.
“I prize loyalty above all else,” Carlton said to him. “Remember that.”
“Of course, sir,” Chen said.