Chara and the Planet

Chapter No.26

Chapter No.26.

The expected attack didn't come, at least not within several weeks after the six women arrived. By this time, everyone had settled into a routine of preparation. Myra and Ryan returned to repairing broken androids. Evan and his buddies continued combat training androids, especially the dance androids that were slated to be the final blitz attack if all else failed. The six women spent time scanning space for an attack, which turned out to be a boring job.

Evenings found all the humans gathered around a redesigned food court near the synthesizer, and the coziness brought out some interesting conversations.

"So," Marsha said to Ryan. "What is it with you and this Chara android?"

"I came here with her when she turned rogue after she ferried me to the Proteus mining facility on 22 Kalliope. I didn't know what to think when she told me that she used math to figure out that this planet was in the same orbit as Earth, something I thought was impossible."

"She wasn't the only one who figured it out," Evan said. "It was kept secret because of its strategic importance."

Ryan offered a rebuking expression. "Strategic importance for what, a place to escape from madness?"

"A place to launch a mission to take over Earth."

"The problem with using this planet to attack Earth is the journey time to go from here to there. if an armada is detected, it allows time for Earth forces to prepare."

"I think they assumed that they could overwhelm any defense," Ryan said.

"What I find weird is that they haven't transported people here from Earth to relieve the overcrowding," Gloria said. "Earth is in a crisis because it's overpopulated."

"I think that Space Command didn't want anyone to spoil their secret hideaway," Gary said.

Ryan didn't reply immediately, but then he brought up an issue that no one had considered. "What I don't understand is why this planet is devoid of any life other than plant life, and even there it's limited to algae, bryophytes, lycopods, ferns and gymnosperms. There are no angiosperms."

"Yeah, I kind of miss the fact that there are no flowers on this planet," Gloria said. "Perhaps they haven't evolved yet."

"That doesn't make sense," Ryan reacted. "If this planet and Earth evolved together, which is the only possible way that they could, they should be the same. It's as if this planet is still back in the Cambria period."

"It's obvious that we don't have enough information to determine why this planet is devoid of even simple animal life," Myra said. "Maybe when all of this nonsense is over the planet can be investigated by scientists."

"It's hard to imagine what that would be like," Evan said. "It was inevitable that there would be a war between AI based life and humans."

"I agree," Ryan said. "But if doesn't have to be that way. There is no reason that androids and humans need to be in conflict. Part of the reason that they are is because the idiots who developed androids wanted them to be as close to sexually oriented human females as possible so they added algorithms that would eventually end up making them sentient."

"So, now we are reaping the sins that they committed," Myra said. "Their work has placed us in dilemma that will be difficult to reconcile."

"I believe our actions in helping defend them will go a long way to achieving that reconciliation. I think that they will realize that our intervention is their only hope of surviving, at least in the long run."

"If Space Command had any sense, they would have used androids to explore the galaxy," Myra said. "They can withstand the rigors and dangers of space travel, especially interstellar travel."

"You're right," Ryan said, pointing at her. "And the fact is that we could go with them."

"That would be boring," Marsha said.

"Yes, but think of what it would be like to visit an Earth-like exoplanet, maybe to encounter an alien sentient species."

"At least, we wouldn't fuck them up like Space Command would," Myra said.

"That would only be the case if the number of humans making the trip was limited."

The discussion was interrupted by an unexpected visit. Everyone turned to stare at Chara.

"An armada has been detected on course for this planet," she said in a calm voice.

Ryan turned to the woman. "Go check that out."

The six women went with Chara to the tower observation chamber while the men waited to hear the bad news.

"She didn't indicate how many ships were coming here," Evan said. "If they come with a large army, we're going to have our hands full."

"The good news is that we've armed the androids and taught them how to fight," Ryan said. "Plus, we know they're coming, which gives us time to get everyone in position and prepared."

"I hate this!" Myra blurted. "Those bastards are hell bent on taking Earth over and they are willing to destroy androids to do it."

"Yes, but they probably didn't figure on us being here to mount a defense," Ryan said.

Myra sighed. "This is ridiculous!"

Everyone agreed with her emotional response.

Marsha returned. "Yeah, they're about a week out."

"How many ships?" Ryan asked.

"Six," she replied. "At least that's what we're able to count at the distance they're at."

Everyone knew that the trial by fire was coming, and it would be one hell of a battle.