Chapter 11: Computer Sin
The acceleration was now just .2 g and Captain Brezinski was eager to resume their engine acceleration. Eric-Peter's interpretation of the computer data indicated they were several degrees off their predicted heading. A small angular correction was needed, prior to resuming their thrust and acceleration. The crew seemed to be enjoying the reduced gravity, but she knew that production and morale would begin to fall off under zero thrust.
The ship had tolerated the sling pretty well and the minor structural damage was almost restored. The drones had not found any significant damage to the outside of their ice ball. The inspection of the four thrust tubes was yet to be completed. The central detonation chamber was found to be operational as was the propellent facility. The intrinsic repair and monitoring robots had continued to function during the sling. These robots tolerated the high radiation doses without difficulty. Despite the use of primarily neutron explosives, the residual radiation made human involvement impossible. A small .1 megaton charge was configured and the thrust gates were set to control the angular velocity of the ship. Ignition was delayed until the final inspection of the control tubes was completed
The Captain was enjoying her exercise period prior to the beginning of the course correction when the call came in from Mike to return to the bridge ASAP. Captain Brezinski found Mike examining the video reports of the drone inspecting tube number three. The emergency gate was almost 90% closed, precluding the use of this tube entirely. Eric-Peter was asked to compute an alternate firing sequence to avoid the use of the damaged tube. Eric-Peter reported, "Tube number three appears to be critical for the proposed correction. An attempt without it will probably induce a spin which will be very difficult to control with the side thrusters." Mike agreed with Eric-Peter and the Captain asked for suggestions. Repair of the emergency gate seemed to be the best solution. The computer was unable to explain the malfunction of the gate or offer an explanation for the sensor malfunction. Captain Brezinski told Mike to develop a protocol for the repair and to present it to the command conference at the 18:00 meeting. Mike was about to object to the short time allowed, but thought better of it when he saw the concerned look on the Captain's face. Mike was excused from the bridge and returned to the engineering department for review and planning.
A complete review of the gate mechanism and sensors was performed. The computer produced the possible scenarios which could have caused the pattern of dysfunction. It appeared that the radiation detection module had become dislodged during the sling. This shorted out the gate closure circuits, but did not interrupt the position sensor. This allowed the gate to close up to the point that the position sensor detected the closure. This sensor was a fail safe mechanism and there was no way for the computer to override the mechanism. The sensor mechanism had been installed in the tube during its manufacture on Earth and the only access to it now was through the shaft of the tube. The computer said it could assume the function of the sensor and gate closing circuits, if the faulty module could be replaced by a remote sensing unit. John Kotsubue said, "The access is very limited, it will take a very special drone. It must have the ability to weld in multiple positions and simultaneously protect the wiring to the gate mechanism."
The computer agreed that the gate wiring would have to be protected and it would program the drone with a fail safe protocol for protecting the wiring. John was not sure a drone would be able to complete the task and asked why he could not perform the task. Mike knew John had an uncanny ability to understand and repair machinery despite his almost total lack of formal education. John obviously did not understand the danger of radiation exposure, and Mike told him that the protocols would not allow human exposure to such extensive radiation. John replied, "I could probably fix the module in less than an hour and would not receive that much radiation."
Mike said absolutely not unless a plan could be devised to shelter John from the radiation. John said he would work on it. Mike decided the team would build the drone and have the computer program it to protect the gate wiring. The computer said the autosupplier would be able to fabricate the components, but hand finishing of the welding arm would have to be performed by the engineering staff. Mike asked for a time estimate and the computer said the autosupplier would take about 12 hours for the casting and preparation of the special drone parts. John thought his crew could complete the arm assembly in another 12 to 16 hours plus time for testing. Mike decided to tell the captain that he would need another 48 hours to complete repairs.
The daily 18:00 conference agenda was reduced to quick status reports from the department heads and a full discussion of Mike's plan. Eric-Peter listened to the report but was obviously bothered by the 48 hour estimate. Captain Brezinski asked Eric-Peter to explain why he was concerned. He replied, "Without a course correction in the next 36 hours we are in danger of entering the asteroid belt."
This thought sobered the entire group. Captain Brezinski told Mike he had 36 hours to complete the repair. Mike agreed it would be possible if they shortened the testing procedures. She approved the plan and wished Mike good luck. Brother Simon offered his prayers, but Mike just grumbled and left the room. The Captain told Brother Simon to be more cautious discussing religion around Mike. Brother Simon agreed to be more discrete, but could not understand the discomfort that Mike had about religion. Captain Brezinski reminded him that the mission allowed for the individual practice of religion, but that great care must be taken to protect everyone from the stress of undue influence on their personal beliefs. If Mike chose to believe that religion was somehow evil, that belief had to be honored. Brother Simon accepted this but vowed to continue his prayers privately.
Eric-Peter and the computer continued to work on the navigational problems and it appeared that the initial concern regarding the asteroid belt was justified. A course correction was essential to prevent a possible collision, which at their present speed would be catastrophic with even a minor asteroid. Captain Brezinski was not pleased with their report.
Mike's crew began working on the drone parts as soon as they came from the autosupplier. The finish was very good but the bearings and critical attachment points had to be reamed by hand under the microscope. Completion of the drone took almost 28 hours. The estimated repair time was two hours and 30 minutes. The proposed testing sequence had to be scrapped. The evaluation of the drone was limited to observing it function on a mockup of the damaged sensor while still on the assembly bench. Mike called the Captain and reported that the drone was ready but untested. Captain Brezinski asked Mike if he was ready to proceed. He replied simply, "No but we have no other apparent choice."
Captain Brezinski concurred and ordered Mike to deploy the drone. The entire crew had at least part of their monitors connected to the video output of the drone in order to monitor its progress.
The drone entered the tube without difficulty and progressed to the damaged sensor. The video display revealed that the sensor had been dislodged with a broken weld evident on the close up views. The drone began the repair program by using the plasma torch to cut away the remaining weld. The cutting was 60 percent complete when the drone suddenly shut down. Mike was able to bring the light and video functions back, but the drone no longer responded to the other commands being sent. The computer tried to override the shutdown but was unable to because of the fail safe circuits which had been inserted to protect the gate wiring. Captain Brezinski called for a status report, and Mike had to tell her the drone had failed.
Captain Brezinski told Mike, "Get the damn drone fixed so we can get out of here." She then told Eric-Peter to begin plotting a minimal collision course through the asteroid belt utilizing only the side thrusters. Eric-Peter nodded and began working on the complex guidance issue.
John presented Mike with an alternate plan. Mike was impressed with the simplicity and the presentation of the plan. John was not known to be fond of c
omputers and never logged onto the computer except to interface with the autosupplier. The plan he presented involved a simple shield tube from which John's arm's would protrude and enable him to work. The transport drone would take him to the opening of the propulsion tube and then a small compressed air cylinder would propel him into the tube. Stopping the forward motion would be accomplished by magnetic breaking along the edge of the tube. The EVA suit was adequate for a 4 hour period of activity. The radiation dose to the arms was high but the overall dosage was acceptable as long as John completed the task within one hour. Mike was excited about the plan and called the Captain and asked for a conference. The conference was held in the engineering office. Captain Brezinski received the report and asked John if he was volunteering to perform this task knowing the risk. John replied that he was volunteering and had worked out the risk with the computer. Captain Brezinski asked Doc Jules if the radiation dose was acceptable.
Doc Jules replied, "The overall dose was high, but acceptable. John's hands and arms would have to be watched closely for the development of skin cancers in the coming years." The computer was asked if John's calculations were accurate and it replied that it had worked with John on the plan.
Captain Brezinski agreed to accept the proposal. She wished John, "Good luck and good speed."
John smiled and said, "I will take all of the luck that I can get."
John had already assembled his tools and presented to the docking bay, where he was helped into his EVA suit. He climbed into the cargo bay of the transport drone and connected his safety line. The shield tube which had been adapted from a nuclear bomb case was loaded next. The bay doors were open and the auto pilot proceeded slowly to tube number three. John told Mike, "I really enjoy working outside the ship. The beauty of the ship could only be appreciated from outside and the light from Jupiter made it even more special." The autopilot guided the drone to the port of the tube and docked it with a magnetic docking line. John positioned his shield tube in the entrance and with a little difficulty entered the thrust tube. The compressed air accelerated him slowly down the tube. After traveling about 300 meters, John began slowing by deploying the magnetic break pads. The uneven surface caused John to bounce around like a bobsled in slow motion. John reached the damaged sensor and used his plasma torch to thin but not penetrate the remaining welds. After the welds had been weakened, John pried the plate from the broken edge and inserted a heat shield to protect the gate wiring. John now finished his cutting and removed the damaged sensor panel. The replacement remote panel was placed and John tack welded it into position. The computer reported the sensor was working and it could now control the emergency gate. John began the finish welding of the plate. The seal needed to be complete and John had allowed 20 minutes for this portion of the project. Doc Jules was relieved to see that John was on schedule, but troubled by the marked increase in blood pressure and rise in body temperature. John told him, "Not to worry. If the good doctor needed some fortification of his nerves, the medicine is secure in a cabinet below my bunk."
Doc Jules told John, "I will forgo the fortification for now. You need to complete your task and report to the sickbay ASAP."
Doc Jules called Brother Simon and asked him how the shield, that John was using, reduced the radiation levels so dramatically. Brother Simon replied it was a ferrous alloy that was much less protective than lead. Doc Jules asked him, "How could the total radiation dose be reduced a thousand fold if the shield was not effective."
Brother Simon replied that a reduction of that magnitude did not seem possible. Doc Jules told Brother Simon that John's vital signs were becoming erratic, and he was concerned something was wrong. Brother Simon told him that he would check the radiation figures and call him back. Doc Jules then called Mike and told him, "John's mission should be called off because of the change in his vital signs."
Mike asked if another 15 minutes could be allowed and Doc Jules said that he would know in just a few more minutes. Mike grumbled about interfering doctors and called Captain Brezinski. He told her that Doc Jules had asked him to scrub the mission. Captain Brezinski replied, "I am on my way to the sickbay to find out what is going on."
The Captain and Brother Simon arrived at about the same time. The Captain asked Doc Jules what the problem was. Doc Jules told her, "John's vital signs are becoming unstable and he is acting as if he were developing acute radiation sickness."
Captain Brezinski asked how that could be if the proposed radiation limits were within the acceptable range. Doc Jules said he did not understand how the numbers were arrived at, but John was acting as if he was receiving five to 10 thousand rads acutely. Brother Simon who was busy punching numbers into a pocket computer, spoke up and said the level was going to be between six and eight thousand rads to the whole body and a much higher dose to the arms. Captain Brezinski began swearing and asked how such a terrible mistake could have been made. Brother Simon replied, "I am not sure it was a mistake. It looks like the numbers have been fudged intentionally."
The Captain called Mike and told him to cancel John's mission immediately. Mike replied, "O.K." He called John on the communicator and told him to return to the ship immediately. John told Mike, "Maybe you should join the doctor for some fortification and leave me alone. I have work to do."
Captain Brezinski began to cut in on Mike's conversation, but Brother Simon touched her on the arm and shook his head "no." Brother Simon told her, "John has already received a lethal dose and trying to get him to stop now is meaningless."
The Captain asked Mike to join them in the sick bay. When Mike arrived, he found a somber group waiting for him and asked, "What the hell is going on?"
Captain Brezinski told him the radiation figures were incorrect and that John had acute radiation poisoning that was going to be fatal. Mike swore again and asked how that bad of a mistake could have been made. Brother Simon told him that it was not a mistake. This set Mike back a bit. Captain Brezinski asked what the prognosis was for John. Doc Jules informed her that if John was lucky, he would die of lung hemorrhage in a few hours but if he did not die, he would start to develop CNS radiation syndrome with confusion and severe headaches. If John was unlucky enough to survive for 36 hours his intestinal tract would decay and he would develop severe diarrhea and abdominal pain. If he was really unlucky, he would survive the abdominal problems and in about three weeks his bone marrow would shut down and he would either bleed to death or die of infection. Captain Brezinski took this news in and asked if there was anything that could be done for John. Doc Jules said that he would control the pain.
Captain Brezinski called John and told him Doc Jules had informed her that the radiation exposure was excessive. John said, "I knew this before I started. It was my choice to proceed."
The Captain said, "Thank you."
John said, "Captain, it has been an honor to be included in your crew, and this is my gift to you and the rest of the crew." Nobody said anything for several minutes. John said he was about finished and they should have the computer cycle the gate a few times while he watched. Captain Brezinski told the computer to do as John asked, and after a few cycles John said the system was a go. She asked John to return to the ship as soon as possible. John asked her if she had talked to Doc Jules about the radiation. Captain Brezinski admitted that she had. John then asked, "I request permission to refuse the order to return to the ship and instead be allowed to stay outside and watch Jupiter and our ship." Captain Brezinski looked at Doc Jules and Brother Simon and they both nodded yes, and so she granted permission.
Captain Brezinski told the crew and the computer to prepare for firing and course correction. Brother Simon and Doc Jules were told to stay in contact with John and provide whatever comfort they could give. Doc Jules asked John how he was feeling and John admitted, "Doc, I have the worse hangover of my life and I am a little short of breath." Doc Jules told him to turn up the oxygen leve
l a little to help the breathing.
Brother Simon asked if he was afraid of dying, and John said a little but that he was much more afraid of suffering. John then told them the story of the dogsled race and how he had faced death then and found it not to be as frightening as he had thought. Death with honor was acceptable to John as this was the way of his ancestors. Brother Simon asked John if he could offer a prayer for him and John said he would appreciate it. John asked the computer if it could play some traditional Eskimo music and it was done. John then told them that his was going to be a traditional Eskimo death where the sick were allowed the peace and solitude that the cold brought, and that he was going to turn off his heater.
Doc Jules told him, "I think the custom has merit, and that most people are not allowed to die with dignity."
After a few minutes, John said he would share a dream that he had several years prior.
"In this dream, I was in a small ship that was going to crash. My fear was disabling me and the knowledge of my eminent death was overwhelming. A voice told me that I needed to look at the other face of life. This voice produced a sense of calm and I found myself talking to my brother. My brother was explaining to me that the estate had been taken care of and that my will was being followed. I told my brother that the things in the will did not matter and that memories were the essential nature of life. I found myself interacting with many of the people I had known. We seemed to communicate without ever actually seeing each other. I never actually died, but just assumed this altered state."
After telling of his dream, John said he felt now almost like he had in his dream. Brother Simon was obviously touched by the story and had tears visible on his face. He told John his dream was the clearest explanation of the theology of death he had ever heard.
John then told them, "I placed a signed confession in with my "fortification" stock. I take full responsibility for the deceit. The computer had refused to go along with me at first, but I succeeded in persuading it after the drone had failed." John then asked, "Please tell the people in my village that I have acted with honor. In keeping with the Eskimo tradition, I have sacrificed my life for the good of the many." Brother Simon promised the story would be sent during their next transmission to Earth.
The ship shuddered as the controlled explosions vaporized the water and the resulting steam was super heated and vented through the propulsion tubes. John reported the vapor trails were beautiful being back lighted from the light of Jupiter against the blackness of space. His speech was becoming slurred as the cold penetrated. It was beginning to feel like the Arctic Ocean. His body temperature was beginning to drop and his pulse was slowing. Brother Simon began to pray in Latin and John said the sound was almost as nice as an Eskimo chant. In just a very short time, the transmissions from John stopped and within another 20 minutes, the heart stopped. Brother Simon prayed, "God, accept this man for the goodness that he was, and may he rest in your peace." A spontaneous moment of silence was observed by the crew that was mixed with many tears.
It took a few days for the ship to stabilize on its new course and for the near constant acceleration of about one gee to resume. Captain Brezinski called the ship's tribunal to order for the purpose of a court martial. The official record was to read: "John Kotsubue and the computer are charged with intentional falsification of ship's data." The computer was included as a coconspirator because of its obvious involvement.
Doc Jules was given the task of representing John, and Mike was asked to represent the computer. Brother Simon was given the task of the prosecutor. The Captain called the hearing to order and gave general instructions to the members. Brother Simon opened by recounting the details of the case and how the falsification of the data directly caused the death of a crew member. Doc Jules presented John's case using the short confession that John had left. John admitted in his confession that he had asked the computer to estimate the maximum radiation exposure that Doc Jules would approve and then changed the report figures to meet these estimates. John doubted the success of the drone from the start and felt the survival of the ship was worth the life of one individual. John's confession closed with a request that the Captain not judge him an unworthy crew member and that the computer not be held responsible for his actions.
Mike presented the computer case by having the computer play back the interaction it had with John. Mike also pointed out that the computer said it had worked with John on the plan, but never vouched for the validity of the data.
Brother Simon, acting as the prosecutor, asked for a guilty verdict for John based on the confession that was presented. He also asked for a guilty verdict for the computer based not on an action by the computer but rather because of the "sin of omission" committed by the computer. Mike objected that the morality of sin should not be an issue with the tribunal, and that based on the evidence presented the computer had not broken any actual rules. Brother Simon countered that the "ethics of computers" demanded honesty and that an act of omission was a serious offense. Mike asked if the ethics that Brother Simon referred to was limited to computers built by humans or if the ethics applied to all computers in the universe. Brother Simon argued that ethics for computers should be universal and asked the computer for a report. The computer responded that protocols prevented disclosing any specific information about other worlds, but that in a general sense Brother Simon was correct. Brother Simon closed by stating that mutual trust between the crew and the computer had been damaged by the computer's "sin of omission" and that punishment was required. Mike closed by stating that since the computer had not actually performed the falsification and the action had resulted in saving the ship, that the charges should be dropped.
The Captain, having listened to the presentations, announced her decision. John Kotsubue was found guilty of falsifying ship's data with cause. The computer was found guilty of conspiracy to falsify data through its act of omission. Punishment was to consist of notification of the tribunal's decision to all crew members, and a recording of the case on the computer's data banks for review during all future interactions. The Captain then announced that the new fusion engine would be called the Kotzebue engine, in remembrance of the gift that John bestowed on the crew.