A Memory in the Black (The New Aeneid Cycle) by Michael G. Munz Read Free Book Online

capabilities."
    "They don't have a sysop," Maria said. "The data's just not right for it."
    "But you can't quanti fy that," argued Gunther.
    "Not specifically, no. It's just not reacting the way a human would. They've come up with a revolutionary A.I. It must be."
    "Yeah, Marc's the expert on that," Nick said. "What do you think?"
    Marc knew it wasn't anything human on the other end. "Maria's right. What we're seeing might be the result of a few first-Fs in tandem somehow, but ESA's proud of something. I'd say they've come up with a new class. Something experimental."
    "Yeah, makes sense," Nick agreed. He let out another of the exasperated sighs that had punctuated most of his arguments for the past hour. "So now we've gotta do even more tests to figure out what this—what, it'd be a first-G, yeah? What this first-G can do?"
    Elsa stood by the wall monitor, rubbed her temples, and sighed. "I don't know that there are more tests we can do. Not that I'm aware of. Not without just going in."
    Marc looked around the room. "Like I said, it behaves most like a few first-Fs in tandem. If we have to, we can proceed on that. Unless anyone knows any more tricks we can run on it from outside, it might be time to go in." He waited. Gunther opened his mouth but shut it before saying anything. No one else offered any suggestions.
    "Great!" Nick grinn ed. "So we go in!"
    Marc's stomach knotted.

Chapter 6
    The fact that Nigel Marley chose not to use a wet-link both frustrated and relieved Marette. Direct neural links were widely accepted as more efficient and effective for the sort of intrusion the team was to attempt. This group had been picked to get results, and they should all be using the best tools for the job. Even so, the lack of one would make for an interface more separated from whatever they were about to tap into.
    There was no danger that Marette could consciously name, but the total destruction of the first team to physically enter Paragon continued to haunt her. Nigel's separation provided a small measure of comfort for which she was both grateful and resentful of her own need.
    "Call me old fashioned," Nigel said. "I prefer to use my hands."
    "Yeah, that's what she said!" Nicholas called out with a snicker.
    Gunther slipped an interface cord into his bio-port. "You don't think you could handle things faster if you jacked in?"
    "I've never had cause to complain before. I've got a custom interface. Optics based." He pointed to his eyes. "It's fast enough."
    "Yes, but there's more than just speed at stake," Namura said. "Perceptions of your environment. I know I just plain understand things better. Especially doing encryption work."
    Nigel shrugged . "I don't like having the world's finger in my brain."
    F rom beside one of the wall monitors, Marette decided that she disliked that particular metaphor.
    "Everybody hooked up?" Marc asked.
    All answered affirmative save Nicholas and Namura, who awaited a go signal. The team's plan was to use the bulk of their energies to run multiple decoy attacks against the system in an effort to draw on its resources and, essentially, distract it. The other two would then attempt to slip into the protected areas and come away with data. Marc appeared reasonably confident in the idea. She was pleased with his attempt to provide the group with some leadership. He was doubtless more comfortable in this arena than in that of the previous night.
    A nd then the first group was in. Eyes closed to block out distractions, they slipped into a world of code and altered perception. Nigel remained engrossed in his own rig's screen. His fingers clicked as his gaze darted across the readouts. Nicholas and Namura sat waiting, eyes on the wall monitor beside Marette. Nigel had devised a way to gauge the percent of system resources directed toward the first team's distraction. It was estimation only, based on theory and assumption, but it was the best indicator they had to work with. The remaining two hackers