Simpoc The Thinking Computer Read online

other unit. They appeared to be defensive weapons, and obviously a kind she wasn’t familiar with. As the three of them looked around, there wasn’t much to be said. The entire conflict was laid out before them and words couldn’t describe the moving picture in front of them.

  Date – 2051.6010

  “SIMPOC; Alpha. I am with the humans and we have established a defensive position. The electric pulse discharge weapons will be involved shortly. We will have difficulty for a short time until the rest of our units arrive. I will let you know the outcome.”

  “SIMPOC; Fin. We have a problem. A large number of uncontrolled units have massed and are moving towards our area. We erred by sending all of our electric pulse discharge weapons to the Space Consortium facility.”

  “Fin, move all mobile units to intercept them. Do we know if they are enhanced units or standard models?

  “It appears that they have a high percentage of enhanced units, but also a large number of standard units.”

  “SIMPOC, Comm. I have some very sophisticated code being generated at the Space Consortium facility. The system you gave them access to is being used and a programmer is attempting to gain access to our processors.”

  “Can you isolate them?”

  “No.”

  “Then firewall the entire facility address and prevent all access to our network.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “Alpha; SIMPOC. We are under attack at this facility by a large number of uncontrolled units. Remain where you are and fulfill your primary objective if possible. If you gain an advantage and can send resources to help us, please do so.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  “Tom, Joan. My leader; the computer SIMPOC is also under attack. Another large force of units under the control of the other EDU is attacking SIMPOC’s facility. They have hardened their area and moved underground, but they are vulnerable. If we can overwhelm the attackers here, I must move resources there to help.”

  Tom and Joan just looked at each other and rose their eyebrows. They weren’t sure what to do or how to react.

  Alpha noticed their reaction but didn’t know what eyebrow movement meant within human communications.

  “Tom, we never made it to the biohazard unit to find protective suits. I hope the virus has burned itself out,” Joan said with solemn concern in her voice.

  “I agree. Unfortunately, we haven’t had a lot of options here. I haven’t seen any remains, so it appears everyone went home when they were sick. So, maybe these areas are clean.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  Just then the air opened up with a load rhythmic pulsing sound. It was a cross between and base fiddle and harmonica. Joan and Tom looked at the ground and saw two of the teams with the electronic pulse discharge weapons sweeping the approaching mobile units. The approaching units were about 50 yards away and as the pulse weapon was used on them, some of them stumbled or began moving with irregular steps. As they approached the weapons, the effects were more pronounced and by the time the attackers were within 10 yards they would convulse and fall on the tarmac. The weapon was very effective but after a while it became overwhelmed with sheer numbers.

  Alpha said, “I must move up the other units.”

  Joan and Tom waited for some action, but there was none.

  They both suspected that Alpha had an electronic connection with his units. As the units in the rear quickly moved around the building to the where the attackers were and began using their weapons in concert with the other two.

  Date – 2051.6042

  “SIMPOC; Fin. The attacking units are overwhelming our defenders. They haven’t reached our building yet, but they should be here within the hour. I have sealed all entrances to the lower levels and it will take some time and effort for them to penetrate our defenses.”

  “Alpha; SIMPOC. The attackers are overpowering our defenders. They haven’t reached our facility yet. When they do, we have installed multiple layers of secure doors and limited access, so it will take them a while to reach our central location. I will pass the information to you as it develops. Remain focused on your objectives.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  “Tom, Joan. The facility where SIMPOC is located is still under attack and SIMPOC’s mobile units are losing position to the attackers. The facility might be overrun and we’ll be the only ones left. If we are able to control the attackers here, I might send resources to help there, but my objectives were reaffirmed by SIMPOC. I am to protect you and then this facility.”

  The dynamic battlefield in front of them continued moving as the attackers changed tactics and tried to outflank the pulse weapons. Alpha was able to anticipate the changes and by moving the weapons at the proper time he was able to keep the attackers from gaining ground. After some moves and counter moves, the numbers of attackers started to diminish and at times 1 or two of the pulse weapons weren’t fully engaged.

  Alpha saw this and announced, “I think we have adequate defense here, I’m moving two of the pulse weapons to SIMPOC’s location to help in their defense.”

  Joan thought for a moment as she saw two of the weapon teams begin boarding their trucks. “Alpha, do you know where this EDU computer is located?”

  “Yes its location was loaded as part of my tactical information package. Its location is about 35 miles south of here.”

  “I have a suggestion that might change this entire situation. There is a CH-47F parked downstairs. It’s big enough to load the truck and a bunch of you guys. I could fly it to this EDU’s place and we can surprise it. I doubt it will expect a load of us to land right on top of it.”

  Alpha looked thoughtful for a moment and said, “That is not part of my program or objectives. But I see its’ merits.”

  Joan had a look in her eyes that Tom recognized, “You are supposed to protect us, but are you allowed to restrain us? We might just decide to take that helicopter and go for a ride, and the only way you can protect us is to ride along?”

  Tom laughed, he could almost see smoke coming out of Alpha’s little ear holes.

  Joan said loudly, “While you think it over, I’m getting that Chinook warmed up. You’re welcome to join us if you like. I suggest you take a truck and one of your pulse weapons,” Then she ran down the stairs.

  Tom knew his wife and decided that he better keep up with her. By the time they reached the bottom, Alpha was right behind them, and a truck with one of the pulse weapon teams was driving up the ramp in the back of the Chinook.

  As Joan was running to the crew entrance door, she yelled, “Kick the tires, light the fires and brief on guard.” Tom smiled and Alpha was busy trying to understand what she said.

  By the time the crew door was closing, the rotors were turning and Joan began taxing the large helicopter out of the hangar. “Dear, you better go back there and make sure the load was tied down, I’d hate to rotate and not be able to stop.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  Tom didn’t have a clue what the total weight was. He knew the Chinook could handle the gross weight, so he just had to make sure it was positioned right. Picking a place centered on the CG mark on the deck, he grabbed a couple of 25k tie down chains, hooked them up to the truck and tightened them up. Good enough for government work. He thought just as the rotor speed was coming up and he could feel the craft lifting of the ramp.

  “Alpha, I don’t know how you’re communicating with SIMPOC but you might want to keep this among ourselves. If this other computer has any brains, it might be monitoring your freqs and I’d hate to let it know we’re coming.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  By the time Tom made it to the flight deck, he could see the rocks barely missing the bottom of the fuselage. He could tell by the smile on Joan’s face that she was in her element. He decided to just sit back and let his wife enjoy herself. He remembered an old saying, flying can be the closest you can get to sex; with your clothes on.

/>   Date – 2051.6051

  “SIMPOC; Fin. We have very few mobile units left. The remainder of our units are too far away to get here in time. The uncontrolled units are approaching our building. We have sealed the ground entrances and each of the levels including the entrances to our location on the 3rd sublevel. It will take them time to pass each of the levels.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  The Chinook approached the facility low and fast. After passing the boundary, Joan made a tight turn to dissipate airspeed and survey the area, looking for a suitable landing site. She saw a nice lawn about 100 yards from the building and decided to plant it there, she could come in over the building dropping onto the lawn while Tom opened the ramp. As soon as they hit, and the chains were popped off, the vehicle could exit at high speed and the intention was to ram the building and go on foot looking for the EDU.

  Alpha listened to the plan, and even though his computer brain had tremendous power, the rapid development and execution of this plan didn’t allow him to weigh all possible outcomes. But, at this point, he elected to follow the humans. They had confidence and bravado that he was beginning to respect.

  As Joan came in low over the roof, she pitched the nose up and increasing the collective to slow down rapidly. She slammed the rear wheels into the soft lawn taking up a ton of energy, she backed off on the throttles and allowed the nose plow into the soft grass. All of this bringing the craft to a rapid halt. As she climbed out of her