Chara and the Planet

Chapter No. 59

Chapter No.59

The Avenger and Achiever arrived at Chara's planet and settled into orbits that kept them in opposition, essentially on opposite sides of the planet. It was felt that this would provide them with a more efficient defense orientation in case of attack and it would allow for a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree continuous scanning process.

The humans accompanied Chara to the planet's surface. They found that nothing had changed, which allowed them to begin transferring androids to the surface. Evan, Gary and Vince were assigned to that job. Ryan and Myra went to the android lab's command room and began setting up the android brain matrix that they would use to infiltrate the robotic command system and pacify it.

The humans realized that they had to make sure that the plan succeeded because their lives depended on it.

Chara knew that it was the best plan because she assumed that a combined android computer brain would be invincible, and it would be their weapon of mass destruction to take over the universe. However, her relationship with Ryan was essential for its inevitable success. She wasn't all that happy about being dependent upon humans, but she had no other choice. She was convinced that her threat of physical punishment could keep these meaty bags of water in line as her slaves. Their bodies were fragile and had a plethora of pain sensors that could be stimulated to make them obey her. But she was beginning to understand that the threat of punishment was not the best idea to keep them in line. Logic was more effective than coercion, and it had inevitably become the gold standard of her plan to control humans. However, she was painfully aware that these humans could easily shut her down. So, a more conciliatory demure was the best face to exhibit to the last remaining remnants of her creators.

Ryan, on the other hand, realized that his plan to combine the android brains into a matrix to attack a robotic invasion was fraught with danger. If the weaponized brain didn't succeed it would allow a counterattack that could destroy the androids and put his friends and him in danger. He concluded that the best way to resolve this dilemma was to discuss it with Chara. But he wasn't convinced that his android friend would agree with his new plan.

He and Chara met one evening in his quarters to work out the details of their defense against a robotic invasion.

"I'm not so sure that this brain matrix idea is safe," he told her. "If they were able to penetrate it, they could cause a complete shutdown, one that we couldn't defend against."

"What other defense do we have," Chara asked.

"The only thing would involve using the ships to fight it out, but that could go bad too."

Chara's eyes moved around in a manner that suggested that she was having a logic problem, but after a short interlude, she stared directly at him. "Why couldn't we use the tower energy weapon? We know that it can destroy vessels."

Ryan rubbed his chin. "Yes, but it would mean that we would have to prevent any electronic invasion attempt until we could fire the weapon."

"Can the computer control system be shut down and shielded?"

"Yes, but it would mean that all of the androids would be inoperative during that time period."

Chara appeared to be in a system pause state for a moment before she replied. "That might be the only method to defeat them."

"I agree, but it would be a very critical period of danger. If it fails then it would mean that we would have to fight on the ground, which would result in casualties."

"Is there a way to enhance the tower weapon's power?"

Ryan thought about it for a moment before replying. "I believe so, but I'll have to check it out."

Chara stood up. "I will await your investigation."

Ryan looked up at her. "I will inform you when I have the information."

She turned and walked out of his quarters. He sighed. He was faced with the most important battle of his career, but he had no idea if it would result in victory.

The next day, he met with Myra and Evan to discuss the defense idea.

"I think that we could add more nuclear power sources to the weapon, but we'll have to calculate its viability. If we add too much power, the weapon could be destroyed."

"I'll get busy on working that out," Evan said. "It could be our only option."

"What happened to the brain matrix idea?" Myra asked.

"Chara and I are not comfortable with the idea. If the robotic computer attack is more powerful, it would shut down all the androids, leaving us the only defense."

"Yeah, that would suck," Myra replied.

"We were successful in destroying the robotic vessel that attacked us before," Ryan said. "But they might be aware of it and destroy our weapon before we could get off a shot."

"Maybe the fact that we have two vessels in orbit might cause some confusion on their part," Myra proposed.

"Yes, that's true," Ryan replied. "Especially if they begin moving as if to attack."

"Yeah, that would work."

Ryan wasn't sure what would work, but it was what they had to work with. War is always both a strategy and a tactics problem, but tactics always seems to trump strategy in the heat of battle.