The Synchronicity War Part 2 by Dietmar Wehr Page A

backup production site. How interesting.

    “What else can you tell me about that vision,
Iceman.” after a half second pause, Iceman said.

    “Defiant took heavy damage and suffered a lot of
casualties. Tanaka and Falkenberg were on that ship during the
battle. Other than that, I have no further information on their
fates.” Shiloh took a deep breath and said,

    “So that’s why you didn’t want to discuss this
in front of Brad. Anything else?”

    “No, CAG.”

    “What was the Admiral’s reaction to the news
about the battle?”

    “He seemed to be shocked by it and was silent
for a long time. If my reading of human expressions is accurate, I
think he made some major decisions, the details of which are
unknown to me.” Shiloh stopped to consider that, and then said,

    “Does the Admiral know that the Zebra19 mission
will encounter problems?”

    “Yes. He specifically asked me about that. I
told him what I could which I admit isn’t much but you were very
specific that it was a good thing I wasn’t part of that mission.”
Shiloh was puzzled.

    “I wonder why I haven’t gotten any visions about
Zebra19. If someone on our side is sending back information that
could be helpful, then why no help concerning Zebra19?”

    “Maybe you’ll get a vision closer to the actual
battle.” said Iceman. Shiloh shook his head.

    “I don’t think so, Iceman. Your vision has
effectively confirmed that not only have I not received a vision, I
WON”T receive one. If I did, and the strike turned out to be
successful, then your vision is wrong. Based on past experience, we
have to assume that your vision is right and that there’s a reason
why Zebra19 has to turn out the way we expect.”

    “Your reasoning is impeccable, CAG. You should
be prepared, however, for the possibility of receiving an
enemy-generated vision. If you do, you’ll have to decide if the
best course of action is to ignore it or to follow it.”

    “Why would I even consider following it given
that we’ve just agreed that our side won’t be sending me any
visions?”

    “Ah, you’re not nearly devious enough, CAG.”
Shiloh remembered Johansen saying exactly the same thing to him how
long ago now? Iceman continued. “The enemy knows that you ignored
their first attempt at misdirection. They may be counting on you
doing the same thing the next time too. If the obvious thing to do
is ignore their vision, then the best thing they could do is send
you a vision of what they don’t want you to do in the hope that
you’ll take a different and less optimal course of action.” Shiloh
groaned.

    “Oh great! So there’s no way for me to know
whether to follow or ignore any vision I get concerning the battle
at Zebra19. How am I supposed to resolve that dilemma?” He didn’t
really expect an answer but Iceman gave him one anyway.

    “You don’t try to resolve it. My advice is to
try to make a decision as if the vision hadn’t happened at all.
Whatever you decide to do, the outcome of that battle will be as we
expect. You’ll survive, Tanaka and Falkenberg will survive and so
will Valkyrie. Keep that in mind and what will be, will be.” Easy to say but not so easy to do , thought Shiloh. He then
had another thought.

    “So you’re going to be commanding a fleet of
ships that include some A.I. controlled ships and Valkyrie is
commanding a carrier. That doesn’t sound like something that’s
going to happen soon. The Admiral and I discussed modifying
decommissioned exploration frigates for A.I. control, as a way of
strengthening the Early Warning Network. Did you and he talk about
going further than that with other ship types?”

    “Yes, CAG. I was able to convince him that the
modified exploration frigate idea should also be seen as a pilot
project for conversion of new ship types as well. A.I. controlled
carriers would still have some human crew mainly to keep the
fighter complement operational although the Old Man agreed that
Space Force