Shadow Tyrants (Oregon Files 13)

Then the screens changed to what looked like a three-dimensional simulation of the Colossus 5’s stern. It zoomed in on the port side to focus on something in the water.

Master, this is the view from the lidar system of the ship behind Colossus 5, and that is a submarine designed for infiltration missions, the AI texted. No one has exited the submarine in the last four minutes. The logical conclusion is that its occupants are already on board Colossus 5. They and the ship Norego constitute a threat to Colossus. You must protect Colossus.

Carlton was both elated and furious. Colossus had immediately displayed some self-awareness by expressing the most basic need of any living thing: self-preservation. The project had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, but just when they had achieved the breakthrough he’d been waiting for, someone was trying to take it away.

“Sound an intruder alert,” he commanded. “I want this ship scoured from top to bottom. And warn the Colossus 1 that they may have intruders as well.”

Chen nodded and pressed a button on the panel.

A klaxon sounded throughout the Colossus 5.

* * *

—

Juan looked up as the sound of the horn blared through the suite where they were waiting to trigger the self-destruction sequence. Wind whistled through the window they’d cut open to get inside, blowing sand through the room. Murph was seated at the touchscreen, ready to type in the commands they’d acquired from Gupta’s files. Linc was at the door, watching through the peephole.

“I don’t think that’s the fire alarm,” Murph said.

“That must mean they know we’re here,” Juan said.

“How?” Linc asked. “No way they spotted the Gator in this darkness.”

“I’ve no idea,” Juan said, “but we’re out of time.” He called to Linda. “Have they evacuated the prisoners yet?”

“Max said Eddie found them and they’re on the way out.”

“Good. They know we’re here.”

“Eddie also said that Colossus is now fully operational. It has been for the last five minutes.”

“What?” said Juan, shocked. “They were supposed to be ten miles away from linking the biocomputers together.”

“They must have increased the microwave power,” Murph said.

“Then we’re going to initiate the autodestruct now. Linda, stand by to retrieve us.”

“Aye, Chairman.”

Juan nodded at Murph, who tapped on the screen.

When he finished typing, the klaxon ceased. It was replaced by the soothing voice of a woman echoing through the ship.

“Self-destruct sequence activated. Evacuate to lifeboats. You now have ten minutes to detonation.”

FIFTY-EIGHT

Carlton listened to the calm voice of the woman in disbelief.

“How was the self-destruct activated?” he yelled, jumping out of his chair.

“I don’t know,” Chen said as he frantically tapped his screen. “This shouldn’t be possible.”

“Deactivate it immediately!”

“I can’t. It has locked out the abort order. Gupta must have installed a secret command in the system.”

“Can Colossus deactivate it?”