Weapons of choice

"Right," said Brasch, with a hint of actual enthusiasm creeping into his voice. "But to fabricate such a thing, you'd have to factor in advances across a whole range of areas." He turned back to Yamamoto. "The thinking machines used in the design of this pad, and which control most of the machinery on the Sutanto, they use what Moertopo calls 'quantum processors,' and they rest upon multiple generations of antecedent technology. Would I be right in assuming, Lieutenant, that using an abacus to design a quantum processor would prove impossible?"

"You would."

"With twenty years' work, I suppose we might just leapfrog our current industrial base up to speed, but-"

"But there are many more pressing problems," Yamamoto agreed. "These processors, Moertopo?" mused the admiral. "They're like electrical calculating machines?"

"Much more than that, sir," interrupted Hidaka. "They are almost like brains. In fact, the Americans who arrived with Moertopo call their computing machines Combat Intelligences, and allow them to make significant decisions."

"And it was they who decided to annihilate Spruance's fleet?" Yamamoto asked.

"I imagine they detected a threat and reacted, because their human controllers could not," Moertopo said before hurrying on to add, "The Sutanto is not equipped with a CI system."

"Luckily for Kakuta," said the admiral.

"And we were not fired on," said Moertopo. "Unlike Kolhammer's force."

"Tell me, Lieutenant, what sort of a man allows a machine to make his decisions for him, especially such a fundamental choice as when to flee and when to strike?"

Moertopo struggled to answer. He didn't know whether Yamamoto was speaking philosophically or demanding a hard answer. When it became evident he was out of his depth, Brasch grasped the opportunity to interpose himself.

"If I may, Admiral Yamamoto, this is the crux of our dilemma. What sort of men could do such a thing? you ask. Whereas I say, what sort of world produced them? What paths led them to their destiny? Moertopo tells us, and the library files on the Sutanto confirm, that the Allied force that arrived here represents a pinnacle of military technology. What we must ask and answer quickly is-how did this come about?

"I would say the question is even more important than determining how they arrived. That they are here is an established fact. How they will change events, is not."

"I think I understand your point, Major. You are less concerned with artifacts such as rockets than with historical potential. Does the Axis have the potential to prevail in this conflict?"

"Until now, I would have said no."

"And I would have agreed with you," said Yamamoto, raising his hand to forestall any protest from Hidaka.

"Even now," continued Brasch, "with everything in flux, the advantage lies with the Allies because of the manpower and vast productive potential of the English-speaking world. True, we have both benefited from a windfall, but they-like us-have received a finite gift. Missiles, once fired, can never be fired again. On the other hand, the knowledge of those missiles cannot now be withdrawn."

"Which means what?" Hidaka demanded. "That we are to be destroyed more efficiently by American factory workers? You contradict yourself, Major Brasch. You just said that we couldn't hope to produce these superweapons for many years. If we cannot, neither can they."

"Indeed," said Yamamoto, "but the issue may not have been decided. Moertopo, from your understanding, did this Kolhammer command a force capable of deciding a war against the combined resources of the entire Axis?"

Ali Moertopo felt the full weight of expectation fall on him. His first instinct was to dissemble, but a finely honed sense of self-preservation suggested that honesty was in fact called for. None of these men was a fool. With time to study the files on his vessel, they could find their own answers. But if Yamamoto came to value his opinion, he could trade on it.

Nevertheless, the gilded cage didn't fool him. His life still hung in the balance.

"If his battle group had survived the journey here intact, they would sweep you from the oceans in a day," he said. "Without satellite coverage, it might take a short while to fix the position of your fleets, but once found they would be sunk to the last ship without the loss of a single American life. However, as I understand it, his carrier has been crippled and grave damage was inflicted on the rest of the task force."

Or I wouldn't be here.

Yamamoto leaned back in his chair and regarded the Indonesian like a cat considering a feathered breakfast. "You base this on the signals you intercepted when Kolhammer arrived?"

"There was a lot of traffic."

Yamamoto barely moved his head as he grunted noncommittally.

"How long before they are repaired?"