The “Iron Lady” pulled away down the tunnel. I was even less sure of what was going on than before, watching the walls blur by in uncertainty.

“So, what do I call you?”

“I am Mother,” came the response. But it was more than a response.

Attached to it were a variety of signatures and certificates, often used by interoperating systems for identification. This was Tunneler 13, a multi-purpose autonomous mineral extraction vehicle. And that was a library card for the “Mother” it claimed to be.

The more answers I got, the less things made sense. The safety lights in the walls made a hypnotically regular march across my vision.

“And who are you?”

“Lieutenant First Class Ivan Reckall, Mother. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” was my response. I submitted my USNE friend-or-foe tag. Quid pro quo and such.

“Where are we going, Mother?”