It also occurred to Jael that she herself might never have had those thoughts if she hadn't left New Jerusalem, and the life and farm they'd had there. The realization took her by surprise.
Mei-Li Huygens-Gurejian hadn't been killing time, talking about herself. Part of her job was to make herself human for her listeners. That accomplished, she went on to prepare them briefly for the training they'd begin when she'd finished.
They could not, she told them, learn to operate a servo-a bot body-while still organics. What they could do, though, was learn and get used to what warbots did in combat, especially individual and small-unit tactics.
"Some of it," she said, "is much like the things you already do. Every day, while training as organics, you learn things that warbots need to know. And most of the time, in combat, warbots work with organics, and need to know what you know and do. So those of you who make yourselves available for warbot service-in case you're ever maimed or fatally injured-will already know much of what you need to know. You'll have it stored in your brains. And what you learn in the training you begin tonight will teach you the rest.
"The main thing you'll need to do, after being bottled and installed, is learn to operate your new body, the servo. And that's not so much learning as it is simply practice. You'll find that your arms and legs will work very much like they always have. Intend them to do something and they'll do it. But your center of gravity will be higher, so your sense of balance will feel a little off at first. Also your arms will be considerably longer, and you'll have to get used to that. You'll weigh a lot more, so it will be harder to dodge. And you'll be a lot faster, a lot stronger, and a lot more durable. Meanwhile, some things you'll have to be more careful about, till you get used to doing them in your new body. And some things you can be less careful about."
A lecturer is a kind of teacher, Jael thought. No wonder she's good at explaining. She wished she could get to really know this woman, this giantess.
"What you'll begin here this evening," Huygens went on, "is called `virtuality training.' You'll wear a special helmet, and sit in a little room, seeing and hearing a realistic video scene all around you. Seeing it as if through bot eyes, hearing it as if through bot ears. The sounds that go with the scenes will be partly the sounds of battle, including orders from officers. And partly it will be the voices of your trainer and your coach, telling you what's going on and what to do. As an imaginary warbot, you'll seem to move around and fight within that scene, but without ever leaving your module. Your coach will be seeing the same things you see, and talk to you through your earphones. It'll be awkward at first, but that will soon pass."
Abruptly she went from being a professor to being a sergeant or whatever. "And that," she said, "is it. End of lecture. On your feet! Sergeant Burlingham will take you to the training section."
Burlingham was another bot. As the company followed him down a corridor, Jael had a nervous stomach.
Chapter 27
Messages
Encrypted pulse OSPCO
Bloemfontein to all AMS program labs
Subject(s): venom studies
We have what appears to be the appropriate insertion loci to work from, to increase broad-spectrum venom virulence in AMS. Exploratory work is under way. Suggestions?
– Marijka V.
(Issa, can you send me 12 of your best clone for some exploratory work? MV)
Encrypted pulse OSPCO
Lusaka to Bloemfontein AMS; copy all AMS program labs
Subject(s): venom studies
Suggest Selenarctos thibetanus as a test species. They are reportedly less venom-sensitive than any other Ursidae, even the honey bear. Availability of test material may be a problem. Check with Institute of Biosystem Research @ Dehra Dun. If they can't advise you, no one can.
– Jabari H.
Encrypted pulse OSPCO
Bangui to all AMS program labs
Subject(s): 1. reproductive enhancement (fecundity of queens); 2. security break.
1. We have an enhanced clone whose queens, under Hesselink B conditions, averaged 3,873 viable inseminated eggs per day over 14 days. A busy lady! See attachment.
2. Minutes ago, university received E threats from "Peace Front" re program, so the cat is out of the bag. You will be hearing from the Bureau soonest, if you haven't already.
– Issa L.
(Marijka, 12 princesses are on their way to you. IL)
Encrypted pulse OSPCO
2912.07.13/16:27G
OSP to AMS Nairobi; copy all AMS program labs
Subject(s): Foulbrood project
Kanika, given the update by Marijka on the venom project (shudder), and by Issa on the fecundity project (shiver), I certainly hope you folks are making good progress.
– Benny
Encrypted pulse OSPCO
OSP to all AMS program labs
Subject(s): NSS 12
At 03:05G this date, NSS 12 reported passing the halfway point (eccentricity 1.06) to Tagus. Looks good so far, but don't depend on it.
– Debbie C.
"Excuse me," said Major General Pyong Pak Singh, and took the call on his privacy receiver. "Pak," he said.
"Sir, this is WO-3 Kiefer." Yolanda Kiefer sounded very young, something he hadn't gotten used to. She was older than he was. "Dierdre just brought a message from War House," she went on. "About two minutes' worth. I can read it to you if you'd like."
A savanted message. "Just a moment, Kiefer," he said, and turned to his visitor, Mayor Ritala of nearby North Fork. "This will take perhaps two minutes."
The Luneburgian nodded.
"Read it to me," Pak said. "I'm ready."
"From Lieutenant General Titu Cioculescu, deputy chief of staff, Commonwealth Army." Cioculescu, Pak thought, impressed. Lefty Sarruf's right hand. "To Major General Pyong Pak Singh, commander, New Jerusalem Liberation Corps. Greeting. When you have reached New Jerusalem, you will provide War House with three Wyzhnyny prisoners alive and unwounded. Do not rely on serendipity. Develop a plan, and train teams accordingly. You will be informed later on how the prisoners are to be processed. Personnel will be provided to handle and transport them. You will be further informed as appropriate.
"(signed) Cioculescu."
Frowning, Pak pursed thin lips. "Thank you, Kiefer. Is that it?"
"Yes, General."
"I'll answer him when I've seen it in writing."
Reaching, the general disconnected, wondering what War House wanted with prisoners. It seemed highly improbable they had a translation program for whatever language the Wyzhnyny spoke, or whistled, or gestured, or however they did it. It didn't occur to him that the questions might have originated from an agency he'd never heard of: the Office of Special Projects. And that the answers would come not from questioning, but from chromatographs and other tests.
He turned to his visitor. "Mayor Ritala, I appreciate that your merchants would like my troops to come into town more often, and I'm glad their behavior meets with your approval. But we are on Pastor Luneburger's World to train, preparing to fight a very dangerous foe. The present schedule of passes on alternate Sevendays will have to suffice, and at any rate it's about as often as their very modest pay permits." He paused. "Is there anything else?"