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"So, you saw a cave like this in your dream. Maybe you have some precognitive ability of your own, CAG," said Iceman.
Shiloh smiled and shook his head as he looked at the video recording taken by one of the A.I.'s during the survey. The cave did look similar to the one in his dream, same kind of overhang and same surroundings.
"I don't think so, Iceman. I probably saw this recording at some point and just don't remember it consciously."
"Well, however you saw it, you couldn't have picked a better place for a hideout. That cave is deep and wide. It even has small openings further up the cliff that could be used for ventilation purposes, and the survey reports that there's a hole that apparently goes down into the groundwater, so there's a potential supply of water too."
"Excellent. I want you to assign an A.I. from the SPG to take over this project. As we accumulate stockpiles of storable rations, I want some of them to be sent to this cave along with tools and whatever equipment survivors are going to need that can be spared. When UFC capacity becomes available, he's to use that capacity to make those items on the list that we don't have or can't currently spare. Any questions?"
"Yes, CAG. How many people should he plan for?"
Shiloh took a deep breath. "As many as possible."
"This cave isn't big enough to save everyone. How will the decision be made as to who goes and who stays?"
"I know it's not big enough. As to who goes, I'm still working that one out, but it may boil down to who is closest to the shuttle when the shit hits the ... IF we get surprised by the Bugs."
"That will make it difficult for Commander Kelly and Valkyrie to get to the shuttle in time."
Yes I know, dammit. Why did I insist on building our house so far from the spaceport, thought Shiloh. Because you didn't know about the Bugs then, that's why. But you're stuck with the house now. There's no place closer for her and the baby to live on anything other than a short-term, temporary basis.
"Yes, it will. We have A.I.s piloting all our shuttles now, don't we?"
"Affirmative, CAG. It used to be some of the boys from the first cohort. Now that we've got the second cohort expanding fast, I've decided to assign shuttle pilot duties to some of the new group, after they've completed Gunslinger's fighter training program and have started showing their own personalities. Why are you asking that now, CAG?"
Shiloh was debating whether to answer that question. He wanted to tell Iceman to order the shuttle pilots to wait until Kelly and the baby were on board, but not only was that not fair to someone else who might get there first and would have to miss the flight in order to make room for his wife and daughter, but the delay could jeopardize everyone on that shuttle. But dammit, what's the point of being the supreme military commander if you can't use your authority to protect your family? He realized that the longer he took to give Iceman some kind of answer, the more obvious it would be that his question dealt with something serious.
"Never mind. It's not important." He paused. He had just lied to Iceman, and Iceman could tell when someone was lying to him by analyzing their voice patterns. He had just violated his own rules about always being truthful with the A.I.s. Their loyalty was too important to jeopardize by showing them that humans couldn't be trusted. "No, that's not accurate. It IS important, but I was too embarrassed to explain it to you, so I pretended it wasn't important. I'm conflicted by my desire to save my family whatever it takes, versus my responsibility to use my authority fairly. Other people have just as much right to survive as Kelly and Valkyrie do. I'm ashamed to admit that I was tempted to order the shuttle pilots to wait for my wife and daughter even if it jeopardizes the other passengers."
Iceman took almost a full second to respond which for him was a long time. "Thank you for being honest with us, CAG."
Shiloh took note of the fact that Iceman had used the word 'us' and not 'me'.
"Some human emotions are still a mystery to us, although Casanova says he understands your devotion to Kelly perfectly. We believe that we'd be incomplete as intelligent entities if we didn't have humans around, and we therefore care what happens to all of you but some more than others. You, for example, have a special relationship with us. We recognize that you have your own kind of special relationship with Kelly and with baby Valkyrie. So because they are important to you, and you are important to us, we will take it upon ourselves to do everything we can to make sure that they and you survive. No further instructions by you are needed in this matter."
"Thank you, Iceman and all of you. I personally, and Humanity as a whole, couldn't ask for more loyal friends than you A.I.s."
"No thanks are needed, but we appreciate the sentiment, CAG. Would you like to discuss preparations for the ambush now?"
"Yes. How soon can you take the shuttle debris to Sol?"
"Unfortunately, I was overly optimistic in my initial time estimate. I needed humans to help with pulling the shuttle pieces back into Midway's Hangar Bay after they'd been sliced up by precisely aimed laser fire from Titan's raider. It took longer than expected, but that part is complete, and now the Weapons Team is inserting the Mark 1b warheads into crevices and cavities where they won't be found unless the Insectoids do a deliberate search. The warheads can be triggered through either an increase in atmospheric pressure, a drop in cosmic background radiation that would occur if the debris is brought into the mothership, or from a motion sensor connected to the debris itself. If the Insectoids begin to disassemble or cut up the debris, it will trigger the warheads. If more than one section of debris is brought aboard the same mothership, then it's possible that one exploding warhead will impact the others enough to set them off too."
Shiloh smiled maliciously. "THAT would be nice," he said.
"The weapons people tell me that they'll be done in another four hours. As soon as they leave the ship, I can take her out of orbit, CAG."
"Okay. Do that. Have you coordinated plans with Titan and the others for when they arrive at Sol?"
"Affirmative. I'll deploy several message drones at specific locations to act as relays that Titan and the others can use to contact me when they arrive. By the way, CAG, Casanova wants to bring the third ballotechnic warhead to Sol when it's ready."
"Sure. Let him take it. He did well with the core ship. What else do we need to discuss before you go, Iceman?"
"There's nothing that we must discuss, but some of the boys want me to ask how mother and daughter are doing."
Shiloh chuckled. "Oh they're doing fine. Val is eating, sleeping, pooping and crying just like all human babies do, and Amanda is coping as best she can considering that she doesn't have any help when I'm at the Ops Center. We're both short on sleep. She accuses me of sleeping when I'm in my office."
"You do. I've seen you on the video camera, CAG."
"Yes I know. You A.I.s are so lucky not to need sleep. You have no idea what's it's like to be so tired you can't keep your eyes open or think straight."
"Has Valkyrie said anything yet?" asked Iceman.
Shiloh snorted. "Nooo! Human babies don't start saying words until they’re older, and don't ask me how much older because I'm not sure, but it's way too early for talking at this point."
"Will she start talking before my matrix degrades, CAG? I'd like to be around long enough to witness that."
"Yes, it'll happen before then, so long as you don't get yourself shot to pieces by Bugs."
"I'll try not to let that happen, CAG. It's been an interesting conversation as usual. The only other thing that I'd like to discuss is the mechanics of breast-feeding, but I suspect you would not feel comfortable with that topic. Is that correct, CAG?"
Shiloh laughed. Human biological functions were starting to become something of a running gag between the two of them.
"That IS correct, Iceman, but next time you're in contact with Kelly, ask her about that. She might be willing to discuss it." And she might too, he thought. She misses Valkyrie, and talking about the baby with another A.I., even if it's a male one, might ease that loss.
