Carl

 

Carl

“Excuse me, Thomas, I’m sorry to wake you, but we have an intruder.”

Coming quickly awake with a jump, the house was pitch black.  The bedside clock dark.  “What, Carl, an intruder? where is he now?”

“I’m sorry, Thomas. It’s unidentifiable, coming down the drive, approximately 200 yards out, moving slowly.”

“Unidentified?  Is the power off?”

“Yes, Thomas, I’ve cut power as prescribed in the Security Level 5 protocol.  The object is not reading any heat signature or power band signals.”

“Go to level 6, activate the bots, open the armory. Load them all up!”

 

 

This building was built over two years as the world spun into chaos: Wars in the Middle East, China in an active war with Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Russia moving into Poland.  The worst of all, yet another unknown virus coming out of China is killing millions.  The world is a mess.

Three stories of hardened concrete, it’s uglier than hell. It's not a house, but a standing bunker painted medium flat brown that all but disappears into the trees in the center of 50 acres of flat sagebrush with scattered pine trees. 

Along the main gravel road, small pines grow thick along the edges of the road. Past that, the trees are dense enough to block any sight of the building. The driveway is a sandy two-track with sagebrush growing into it.

Blocking the two-track from the main road is an unassuming rusty chain held up by a couple of small weathered posts.  Most vehicles drive by and never see the little driveway devoid of any tracks.

What you don’t see is the hidden security systems in rows circling from the main road of the property to the center where the building sits.

 

 

“Status?”

“All bots armed, stationed, all at 100% power.  Intruder 150 yards at the drive turn, stationary at this time.”  “Drones on standby.”

“How did you sense him if he’s not putting out any exterior heat or power signals?”

“The moon is in a Waxing Gibbous phase; there was just enough light that he shaded a light sensor.”

“Okay, we wait.  Are we putting out any power signature?”

“No, Thomas, we are at zero power emissions; sensors are showing no leakage.  We are only radiating solar heat emission from the building.”

“Let’s go to the safe room.”

 

 

The building is a rectangle of 30’ X 40’, three stories high, with windows only on the third floor, making for a block house look, and that is exactly what it is.  I named it “Last Stand,” and that’s its purpose.  What doesn’t show is that it has a full basement, making it one deep and three high.  The basement is three-quarters full of electronics, batteries, water tanks, and an ammo dump.  Floors one and two are for storage of foodstuffs, Robot repair, charging facilities, and the armory.  The garage area takes up about a third of the space; our one SUV is parked inside the garage.  Our living quarters, safe room, and computer/security control room are top-level three. 

On top is a fenced-in roof with solar panels, a few satellite dishes, and antennas; useless unless something is up and running somewhere in the world.  The first floor also has a top-of-the-line secure garage door and a man door with a heavy-wired in vestibule. Fuel tanks are buried thirty yards to the South with underground pipes supplying fuel to twin generators and fuel for the truck.  The upper windows are covered in heavy steel screens with security film.  From the basement, there is an escape tunnel running just over one hundred yards from the building, the exit well hidden.

The Government spent 8.5 million dollars of taxpayers' money purchasing the land and building the building. 

I have one main robot, “Carl”.  He’s one of the last Optimus robots built, Series 11, just before the end.  He stands five feet nine inches and can perform thousands of tasks.  Five more robots make up the security team; they are fully security robots purposely built for armed conflict.  Numerous Optimus bots and drones, ranging from four-prop to winged drones completes our team. 

No one outside of just a very few in the Government knows who or what Carl really is.  Carl was funded by dark money skimmed off of one part of the Defense budget.  He’s not what he looks like; an Optimus 11, but internally, he’s very special.  A normal Series 11 has eight terabits of memory.  Carl has 16 Quadrillion megabits of memory.  He has been loaded with nearly the entire history of man: Science, religion, everything that could be downloaded.  He’s like the seed vault, but stocked full of everything man has done or learned.   I’m here to protect him with my life.

We have enough food, water, and fuel for a minimum of five years if it’s just me alone as the only human needing supplies. 

We’ve been stationed here for the last seven months without any contact from the outside world.  In the last two months, everything has gone silent.  If it weren’t for the TV and Web, showing the wars and local riots, I’d think I was the last human alive.  I know better; it’s just a matter of time before they spread out from the failing cities into the far rural areas looking for food and shelter.  I’m not looking forward to that time.

To kill the boredom, Carl and I go for long walks out from the property into the semi-wilderness area that surrounds us on two sides.  I have three security bots with us at all times, in case of any trouble.  It’s been a little boring over the last seven months, but I’m not ready to even consider going to the nearest town.  The risks are too high and could lead to our discovery.

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“Anything, Carl?”

“He or it is putting out a weak directional signal, very weak, hard to detect.”

“Can you get a fix on the direction?”

“As close as our sensors can tell, the signal is pointing North, North west.  The receiver has to be close with the low power.  No more than a quarter mile.”

 

“CONTACT, CONTACT, incoming drone, quarter mile out, at 500’, 25mph.  Time to overflight 30 seconds!”

“Carl, recommendations?”

“Thomas, let’s continue to play dead.  We’ve shown them nothing to this point; let's see what they want to do.”

The drone came in at 500’, lowering to 100’, slowing to a crawl as it scanned the building and the surrounding area.

“The drone is transmitting and receiving. The receiver is 1330’ slightly North West, stationed on the access road North of the property.  They are not hiding their signals or location.  This is low tech, except the unit sitting along the driveway.”

“Okay, low tech, so not a Nation-sponsored intrusion, that’s good.  Let’s sit tight and see what’s next.”

“Thomas, the drone just notified the operator it has ten minutes of battery power left.  It is returning to the receiver location.  Also, the intruder on our driveway is moving…  Sensor showing it’s an unknown series of bot.  It is also returning towards the access road.”

“Okay, launch a drone, let’s see who we are dealing with.  Let’s make sure they don’t sense it.”

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“Receiver is located in a 2015 Ford half-ton pickup.  License plate returns to Michael Wayne Hughes, local address 5 miles from here.  I have found a newspaper article that listed his name as one of just a few locals working on a government-sponsored aircraft signal station, which was the cover story for our location.  Bank records show one year's worth of paychecks cashed from a Governmental contractor that worked on this building.”

“So, a local looking for anything of usefulness, it’s starting.”

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Watching the direct feed from the drone overhead, the pickup slowly made its way down the gravel road, stopping and parking at the driveway entrance.

“Carl, send two security bots out to greet him if he enters the property.”

“Thomas, I’m finding more information on Mr. Hughes.  There is a newspaper clipping announcing the birth of twin daughters, who would now be five years old.”

“Shit… Okay, non-lethal if he resists.  Have the bots bring him in. We need to talk.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Twenty feet down the two-track, the two security bots stepped out from the thick trees lining the gravel road.

“HALT!  You’ve entered a restricted zone!” The battle bots were very intimidating, standing at seven feet tall, covered in black and dark gray urban camo, heavily armored with large caliber belt-fed weapons pointed directly at Hughes.  Helmeted heads showing multiple cameras, antennas extending six inches above the tops.

They quickly closed on Hughes, scanning every inch of his body using lidar radar and metal detection sensors. 

Hughes raised his arms over his head, standing stiffly, eyes huge.   “I don’t want any trouble.”

“You will walk with us.”

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“Carl, let's greet our guest with a full breakfast.  Have the bots put out seating for three and a table to eat at here on the apron of the garage, let’s make it formal.”

It took just short of ten minutes for the Security bots and Mr. Hughes to reach the building.  The bots had set a small table with a white cloth cover, napkins, and steaming cups of coffee.

Standing at the table, we met Mr. Hughes, Carl, introducing both of us.

“Mr. Hughes, what do we honor this visit? Please take a seat after removing your firearm.  Please place it on the table.”

Hughes eyes showing surprise, slowly placed the revolver at the far corner of the table and sat down.

“I’m not a thief.  We were robbed; they took nearly everything.”

“And how are Julie and the girls?”

“Is there anything that you don’t know?  They are terrified that another group is going to attack us. We have no food, and we’re hungry.  I was hoping to find some supplies here, that’s all.”

“Carl, please stand down the bots.  The two Security bots can stay, level two, please.”

“Yes, Thomas.  I will check on the food preparations.  You will be staying for breakfast, Mr. Hughes.”  A command, not a question.

“Ummm… Yes, thank you very much.”

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We spoke over breakfast for nearly an hour.  It was decided that the Hughes family would move into the Last Stand for protection since the hordes from the city had reached the area.

“Please pack only personal items, clothing, that kind of thing.  We have everything needed here in supply.”

“Carl, will you have a Bot bring Mr. Hughes one of our M4’s with a full loadout and a sidearm, plus a radio, please?”  “Mr. Hughes, you will need to move fast. I want you back here no later than 3 pm.  We will launch an overwatch drone to make sure you don’t have a problem before you can get back here.”

“Thank you so much, I worried sick just being gone this morning.”

“Carl, have the Security bots walk Mr. Hughes back to his truck.”

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The overwatch drone are able stay aloft for just over eight hours before needing to refuel.  It carries two missiles like the Sidewinders, but smaller, full-spectrum cameras.  They will be as safe as possible in the hours it will take to load and travel to the Last Stand.

“Carl, any other surprises we need to look out for?  Anyone else living in our area?”

“I would suspect there may be others being chased that may end up at our door, but Mr. Hughes had firsthand knowledge that this building was here; others will not.”

“Let's keep a close eye on them while they are moving. I’m worried about them now that they are known.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1:45 pm.  Overwatch reports: two pickup trucks, seven miles out from the Hughes property. 

“They are one mile from the intersection that will put them on a direct course to the Hughes house.  Bringing up the cameras.”

“Carl, order the launch of a second Drone.  I don’t like the looks of this.  Get Mr. Hughes on the radio, check how long until they can pull out.”

“The second drone will launch in five minutes, Thomas.  It will be on station in ten minutes.  Mr. Hughes reports they will be ready to exit in about ten minutes. Cameras on drone one show pickup #1 took the turn towards the Hughes house, second one following.  Pickup #1 has four people in the truck bed, showing armed.  Number two has three in the bed of the truck, who are also armed with light weapons.  Arrival estimated in twelve minutes.”

“Tell Hughes he has to leave now.  We can always go back and try to get anything they are leaving behind.  He must move the family now!”

“Mr. Hughes reports they are leaving now.  Pickup #1 is five minutes out.  Drone two is on station, drone one is in weapons range of both pickups, and is tracking.  Heavy tree cover is dropping hit percentages to under 50%.  Drone #2 reports Hughes leaving the home area, turning onto the main gravel road heading towards our location.  Pickup #1 is 90 seconds out; they are going to see the dust from Hughes' vehicle and will be able to follow.”

“Ah, freaking hell.  Carl take the fire controls.  Get a good shot in!”

“Pickup #1 is turning into the driveway, #2 is sitting on the main road at the driveway.  Drone one fire controls are hot.  Pickup #1 pulling up to the front of the house.”

“Hit them before they leave the pickup Carl!”

“Missile one away, ten-second burn to target.  Missile two away, fifteen-second burn to pickup #2.  Hit on pickup #1, fireball.  Missile #2 missed; it hit tree branches. Pickup #2 is running, drone two is attempting a fire solution.  Tree cover is heavy, fire solution is zero to 10%, tracking.”

“Damn it, how far is the Hughes ahead of pickup #2?”

“Drone one is in overwatch, distance between vehicles is one mile, closing fast.  Drone two is manuvering attempting a fire solution.”

“That’s going to put them just North of us when they converge.  Bring drone two over and past the chase vehicle. There is a straight stretch about a mile down the road that has less tree cover.  Have it set up to five as both vehicles come into the open area.  Get Hughes on the radio and tell him to hit it hard.”

Hughes' vehicle is kicking up a lot of dust, making accurate fire on them difficult.  Pickup #2 will be in range of small arms fire on Hughes' vehicle in 30 seconds. 

Hughes reports they are under fire.  The intercept point is two minutes out at the current pace.

“Thomas, they aren’t going to make it.”

“Carl, you have permission to use drone one as a kinetic strike on pickup #2!  Slow them down!”

“Drone one diving, we have a small opening in the tree line, we may clip branches.  Clearing Hughes' vehicle, fifteen seconds to impact on pickup #2.  Branches… drone one down short of pickup #2.”

“Carl, any damage to pickup #2?”

“I’m sorry, Thomas, we will have to wait.  Ten seconds to the interception point, drone two fire controls hot.  Drone two cameras are picking up dust in the trees.  Hughes vehicle entering kill zone, no sight of pickup two.”

“Security level seven, go hot on all Security systems. Get Hughes on the radio, tell him to stay on the two-track. Any deviation will put them in the mine fields. All systems are set to lethal.  Release the anti-personnel drones.”

“Drone two is reporting dust in the trees.  Pickup two is slowly entering the kill zone; drone two has a firing solution, 100%.  Damage to the front of the pickup; it must have hit drone one in the road.  Drone two firing, fireball.  Two targets running to the right into the timber.  Firing solution 75%, firing, both targets down.  Hughes' vehicle is two minutes out. Drone two in overwatch.”

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Epilogue:

The Hughes family has settled in, and the girls are finding the bots fun to play with.  Carl has taken over formal teaching daily.  I’m happy to have the company of humans again.

With the help of the bots, the burnt-out vehicles were cleared from the road and buried, leaving no trace.

Based on our struggles to stop the vehicles on the road, Carl has redesigned our lethal security perimeter, adding tank mines to the main gravel road, activated from our control room. 

As winter set in, it was decided that the Hughes home would be burned, removing any chance of shelter in our immediate area.

This coming spring, we will clear and start a huge garden area for fresh vegetables.  Carl, between classes, is rewriting a number of manuals on off-grid survival and homesteading.

Sensors reported a plane flying from East to West a month ago at high altitude, five miles North of our location.  The airwaves are continuing to be silent; no radio traffic has been detected.  Satellites are pinging, waiting for replies.

Our location has remained hidden; one vehicle passed on the gravel road, not slowing or showing any sign that our two-lane drive was spotted.  Elk and deer herds have reclaimed the forest areas surrounding the property.  Life is good.

From the Ramblings.

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