Title: Something Old and Something New! EIS
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Continued from: http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic. ... =30#p36306
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DMCI Interface Begin
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DMCI: Turn: +1 (Turn: 11)
DMCI: Fuel: -1 (Fuel: 19)
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DMCI Interface End
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Capt. Antony: Ship Computer, scan the area!
Ship Computer: "Captain, I am detecting a space station at this beacon."
Capt. Antony checks the communications console.
Ens. McAliber: Cap'n, based on the computers scans I see no weaponry. They are sitting ducks!
Capt. Antony: That's strange. With a space station that large I would have thought that they would have hailed us.
Lt. Vanguard: Have we tried hailing them? Sounds like it can't hurt.
Capt. Antony: Ship Computer, please hail the space station on all frequencies.
Admin Tellas notices an incoming hail and flips on his sensors to scan the ship type. Shortly, he opens a comm channel.
Admin Tellas: Greetings, Human vessel. What brings you to our facility?
Lt. Vanguard Sends a private message to Capt. Antony
Capt. Antony: We're just travelling though. Thought we'd make a stop here before accessing the long range beacon near here.
Admin Tellas: Do you have need of our services?
Capt. Antony notices a message from Lt. Vanguard. He proceeds to read it.
Lt. Vanguard: Should we trust him with our mission, he seems to be untouched in this war?
Capt. Antony mutes the comm with the space station.
Capt. Antony: Yes, I was noticing the same thing. We can see what he has to offer, no?
Ens. McAliber: I'll keep weapons ready, just in case though.
Capt. Antony: He might be a Federation sympthizer...
Capt. Antony turns back on the comm.
Capt. Antony: What kind of services do you have to offer?
Admin Tellas: Apologies, Human, for my lack of introduction. I had assumed you'd been directed here, knowing what we do. I am Administrator Tellas, and I oversee this facility.
Lt. Vanguard heads to the engine room, still suspicious.
Admin Tellas: If you were unaware of our project then I can understand your confusion - this station has been repurposed from its original design. It was built here as housing for the miners extracting precious metals from our star's asteroid belt, however the valuable deposits have long since been depleted. As such, my organisation purchased this station and have converted it into our laboratories. What we do here is research and design of artificial neural networks - advanced AI, to the layman. Perhaps we can integrate some of our more... civilian technologies, into some of your systems. Does your medbay have a fully interactive hologram, for example?
Capt. Antony: We have no such holgram technology in our medbay.
Admin Tellas: We will, of course, require some form of compensation for our services.
Capt. Antony checks his scrap resources realizing that they only have 2 scrap.
Admin Tellas: As you no likely have gathered, our organisation is not lacking for funds; however we do take great interest in acquiring new data, so there may be something you can provide us which would be worth our time? No doubt a well-traveled ship such as yours should have some encountered some interesting phenomena along your voyage.
Capt. Antony: What kind of data are you looking for?
Capt. Antony mutes the comm.
Lt. Vanguard: Captian, could we possibly talk to Capt. Quigley about what went wrong there? This lot may find that useful.
Capt. Antony: Yes, that's a great idea. Please hail Capt. Quigley and see.
Admin Tellas notices the comm channel is muted and sends a ping
Capt. Antony receives a ping over the comm channel and stalls Admin Tellas.
Ship Computer: "Secure connection to Captain Quigley opened on comm bank two."
Capt. Antony: Yes, Admin Tellas. We are checking our sensor data right now to see if we have anything of interest.
Admin Tellas: I will contact you again in two hours. This should give you ample time to scan your databanks, and prevent me waiting around an unknown time for you to find something worthy. Either you have the data by then, or we will ask you to move along.
Admin Tellas closes the connection.
Lt. Vanguard: Capt. Quigley, is there any value to you in the records of the AI failure on your ship?
Capt. Antony heads down to the mid "crew" deck and enters the galley.
Capt. Quigley: Kestrel, while there is always some intrinsic value in failure, it was a complete failure.
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, may we recieve a copy of your records of the final experiments and AI shutdown?
Capt. Antony finds the galley in pristine order. He locates the bottle of Mantis Ale.
Ens. McAliber goes to the engine room to get his whiskey then heads down to the galley to meet Capt. Antony.
Capt. Antony: Lt. Vanguard, Ens. Mac. I have an idea. How about we dock with The Nostromo and invite them onboard for dinner?
Capt. Quigley: What purpose do you need this data for?
Lt. Vanguard mutes the comm.
Capt. Antony: We can break out this bottole of Mantis Ale.
Lt. Vanguard: Sounds good to me.
Ens. McAliber: Awesome, then I can save my own stores.
Capt. Antony: See if they are agreable, please.
Leutenant Vanguard hails the Nostromo and invites the Captain to dinner to discuss this issue. He agrees.
Capt. Antony: Ship Computer, please initiate docking procedures with The Nostromo.
Within 10 minutes airlocks are matched up and all four people are seated at the Ready room table.
Capt. Antony offers up the Mantis Ale to Capt. Quigley and sits down.
All 4 glasses are filled along with something moving in each.
Capt. Antony: Well I will admit, this is the first time that I have tried Mantis Ale. How about you Capt. Quigley?
Capt. Quigley: I am afraid that I do not have the same alcohol receptors as Humans, however I have learned to enjoy it's particular chemical structure from my engineer Tech Rossnu.
Lt. Vanguard: Captain Antony when last we spoke, Capt. Quigley was inquiring as to why we were asking for the AI data.
Capt. Antony: Ah, yes, Capt. Quigley. We were wondering if your AI research data could be made available to us. In truth, the space station that we are orbiting has some advanced hologram AI that we could use. They want in trade, however, some phenomenal data.
Capt. Quigley: Data is data and it's purpose is to be made available and studied, but this is propriatary information. I agree that this would be interesting to them, but I will need a convincing reason to part with it. Even a failure could be useful to someone who could be a competitor.
Capt. Antony: I wonder if we could all meet with Admin Tellas.
Capt. Antony turns on the video comm monitor in the Ready/Dining-room and hails Admin Tellas.
Admin Tellas opens the channel
Ens. McAliber takes another drink of his Mantis Ale and sits back to watch the show.
Admin Tellas: You have an interesting way of analysing databanks, Human.
Capt. Antony: Admin Tellas, would you be willing to shuttle over to discuss a possible trade?
Admin Tellas: Is your atmosphere generator calibrated to Federation cross-species standards, or will I need to bring my own equipment with me?
Ens. McAliber is caught on the vid screen capture pouring the distinguishable bottle of Mantis Ale.
Lt. Vanguard: Administrator, we are fully prepared to host any Federation known species.
Admin Tellas: Very well. In the name of science, I will distract myself from my work for a short time, since it would appear you have something worth calling me over for ...and I don't just mean the data, either.
Capt. Antony: Computer, prepare the starboard docking system for an incoming shuttle from the space station.
Ship Computer: "Yes, Captain."
Admin Tellas: We will be seeing you shortly, Humans.
Admin Tellas closes the channel
Capt. Antony: Oh my... He said "we". One Male Slug will take days to clean up after. Multiple, will takes weeks if not months.
Admin Tellas' shuttle docks with The Kestrel. Capt. Antony meets the Slug delegation at the airlock door.
Ens. McAliber (whispers): At least we have servo drones to help.
As the airlock opens, Administrator Tellas is seen to be accompanied by a Zoltan carrying some electronic equipment, and what looks like a modified, much more compact version of a combat droid.
Admin Tellas: Greetings, Human. I believe it is your tradition that here I ask permission to come aboard?
Capt. Antony: Welcome aboard. That droid of yours...Does it have a restraining bolt?
Admin Tellas: The droid is my personal bodyguard; naturally you can understand someone in my position must take certain... precautions. I do not mean to offend, but I will not go without it.
Capt. Antony allows the droid to come aboard and leads the three down to the Ready Room.
Admin Tellas: Thank you. I have brought one of my engineers to help with the data transfer, in both directions - much better to connect hardware than doing it remotely.
Lt. Vanguard: Capt. Quigley, do you currently have the data in your personal possession?
Capt. Quigley: Yes, I figured it would be useful, so I downloaded it to my personal data storge.
Servo maintenance drones get busy slurping up the slime being left by Admin Tellas. Princess Stacie doesn't leave as much mess. The Males secrete far more.
The Captain and guests arrive and extra place settings are laid out.
Capt. Antony: What is the name of your Zoltan companion, Admin Tellas?
Ens. McAliber pours the Mantis Ale for Admin Tellas and the Zoltan, after recieving a look from Capt. Antony.
Admin Tellas: The one who accompanies me is known as Aren. He is one of my most senior hardware engineers.
Aren nods his head in acknowledgement.
Capt. Quigley: It is nice to see you employing a race so well known for electronic prowess in that position.
Admin Tellas: I would recommend you allow him to download the relevant sections of the data while we talk, Human.
Capt. Quigley: Ah, the data. There is still some discussion about this data.
Admin Tellas looks slightly annoyed, though on a Slug, expressions are easy to misinterpret.
Capt. Antony eyeballs the body-guard droid carefully looking for any signs of suspicious activity.
Capt. Antony: Gentlemen, surely we can come to some arrangement here.
Capt. Antony (whispers to Ens. McAliber): Can we jam that robot of his in case it gets out of control?
Ens. McAliber: Without his Zoltan I would say absolutly, but I am not sure of his impact upon our energy capabilities in this room.
Capt. Quigley: Admin Tellas, what is the focus of your orginization's AI applications?
Admin Tellas: As you should be able to determine, we are at the front of our field; our programs are in high demand and I do not lightly offer them for a mere exchange. Though, such ventures have paid dividends in the past, so I am willing to take another chance here; you are a Federation ship after all ...and that does still mean something, to some of us.
Capt. Quigley: I find those applications acceptable. Admin Tellas, my orginization does advanced AI work as well. However we work on the AI's that run the core of a starship. The AI's yours will be interacting with. My ship, the Nostromo recently had a grave misfortune with an experimantal AI of our own. This caused it to castrophically fail.
Admin Tellas: If you are suggesting, Engi, that we are incapable of designing systems which are entirely compatible with technology this old, then you are quite mistaken.
Capt. Quigley: No, in acknowledgement of the work of the Kestrel, and her AI, in keeping us safe. I am willing to share the details of the experiment and the failure state.
Capt. Antony pours Admin Tellas the last of the Mantis Ale. Several moving creatures slip into his glass.
Admin Tellas: Since you claim to also be in the field, perhaps you will realise once you know our name - for the organisation I work for is none other than Relic Systems and Technologies. Does that answer you?
Admin Tellas looks at his glass, seemingly pleased at the refill.
The live creatures swimming in the Mantis Ale have extra potent enebriating effects when consumed.
Admin Tellas downs it in one.
Admin Tellas: Perhaps you might explain to the Humans present, the kind of difficulty one normally faces in trying to acquire a ReST AI for their ship.
Capt. Quigley: Ah yes, Relic Systems. The well known and well respected author of many a fine pieces of machine learning. Their advanced AI capabilities are wonderful, turing proven, even!
Capt. Antony looks at Admin Tellas in anticipation of the effects of the potent worms.
Admin Tellas slightly changes colour.
Capt. Quigley: They are quite rare and very powerful.
Capt. Antony: Indeed (he thinks to himself).
The bodyguard-drone clicks. Just once. No other visible changes occur.
Capt. Quigley: However, they do suffer in one regard. They depend upon the primary, core AI of the ship or installation. Is this not true?
Admin Tellas: True, certainly true, though not in a way that is easy to explain... to make an analogy, if the AI core is a room, then the two separate systems would be like people in the room. Occupying the same space, but... separate.
Capt. Antony accesses his datapad and attempts to jam the body-guard drone.
Capt. Quigley: And this is what I am offering, through the crew of the Kestrel. With the data of our failure, you, with all of your vaunted wisdom in AI, will be able to create system that can work completely independently from the main AI. Think, sir, of a Medical AI that can heal the crew through a computer virus, or an encyclopedia that can still assist through a hacking attempt.
Admin Tellas: Human, Human, you are not aware that I, like all of my species, am telepathic, especially at this range...? The drone means no harm, and your feeble technologies do not threaten it. I will ignore what you just tried to do, but do not push me.
Ens. McAliber holsters his blaster that he had ready to use under the table.
Capt. Quigley: Even bodyguard AIs that can function in the total absense of signal from the master...
Admin Tellas: ...and yes, we are certainly interested in acquiring some data from a competitor, failed or otherwise. So, might we allow Aren to get to work? He has been polite enough to refuse a drink here, for I'm sure you've heard stories of power fluctuations caused by inebriated Zoltan...
Capt. Quigley: I will allow it, the data is in my internal data storage.
The effect of the potent Mantis Ale worms begin to dull the telepathic ability of Admin Tellas.
Aren moves over to Capt. Quigley. A standard data port extrudes from the Engi's chest.
Aren connects a cable and downloads the information. He quickly scans over what he has downloaded on the display in his equipment.
Aren: it would appear this data is incomplete; fragments are missing. I will need to access the original source for this exchange to be complete.
Admin Tellas: Trying to pull one on me, Human?
The Kestrel's Ship Computer, by earlier command of Capt. Antony, successfully hacks into and jams the bodyguard drone.
Admin Tellas' mind is unaware that the drone had been successfully hacked.
Admin Tellas: Because you know, I don't intend to part with valuable Relic technology without being fully compensated.
Admin Tellas slightly slurs his speech
Capt. Quigley: No, as I mentioned before. Our AI went haywire, this is all that is left. However with your great skills you can still use this.
Admin Tellas: Even so, I must be sure. Will you allow Aren access to your main databank? I give my word he will only take what we agreed.
Aren: I am only interested in getting a complete set of readings. I may be able to extract that which you were not, after the accident.
Capt. Quigley: Yes, follow me. I will prove to you that we Engi are sure of this matter.
Aren picks up his equipment and accompanies the Captain to his ship.
Capt. Quigley, Admin Tellas, Aren, and Capt. Antony walk to the port airlock.
The bodyguard-drone also moves, but now under the control of The Kestrel's ship computer.
The airlock cycles open and a very surprised Mantis meets them.
Capt. Quigley: Master Rossnu, it is ok. We are just going to the computer core.
Capt. Antony heads to the cockpit and pulls up the drone's video and audio feed on his monitor.
Arriving at the enhanced computer core of the Nostromo, Capt. Quigley gestures to the ports in invitation.
Aren hooks up his equipment to the terminal
Ship Computer: "Captain, manual control of the bodyguard-drone is at your disposal if needed."
Lights across both ships flicker off and everything is in darkness, but only for a fraction of a second. Everything comes back up and resumes as before.
Capt. Quigley: What did you do?!
Aren: Apologies, a minor calibration glitch. I have, however, downloaded the data.
Capt. Antony: Ship Computer, Please run a full systems diagnostic checking for any anomalies or viruses.
Ship Computer: "Yes, Captain!"
Capt. Quigley: Are you sastified?
Aren: I had not been informed that someone had done a hackjob on this power coupling.
Capt. Quigley quickly plugs into the Nostromo to self check his own already damaged systems.
Aren: I have the data we need. I can proceed to install the technology in your medbay at your command.
Ship Computer: "I am detecting nothing."
Capt. Quigley: Please leave, after that I really need to go over our systems, in as bad a state as they are. You have what you need from me.
Capt. Quigley has his fierce looking engineer escort his "guests" to the airlock.
Capt. Antony meets Admin Tellas, Aren and the bodyguard droid and escorts them to the medbay.
Capt. Antony: You have the data that was promised. Now fulfill your end of the bargain.
Admin Tellas: I wish to express our apologies again for that little flicker, Human.
Lt. Vanguard tells Ens. McAliber to do a physical check on the weapons while he checks the shields.
Admin Tellas: Aren is exceedingly competent, but even he could not have predicted your... friend? let a Mantis rewire his consoles. We are ready to install the equipment at your command.
Capt. Antony: Please go ahead and install what you had promised.
Aren nods and proceeds to hook up his equipment. Several minutes go by, and power to the medbay is cycled twice, before he signals he has completed his work.
The Kestrel's maintenance drones are becoming increasingly overwhelmed with the slime trail clean-up job.
Capt. Antony: So what does this enhancement do?
Admin Tellas: Since this is a fresh install, there are certain... configuration options which need to be set.
Ens. McAliber messages Lt. Vanguard that the weapons appear to be functioning normally.
Admin Tellas: The main two are - do you want it to respond to voice, or be console-activated only? Also, what appearance would you like the ai to adopt?
The Kestrel's Ship Computer proceeds with deeper scans of its systems.
Lt. Vanguard also sends a message to Ens. McAliber saying that the shields appear to be fine. The two head to the medbay to check out the new AI.
Capt. Antony: Voice would be good.
Admin Tellas: Due to the complex nature of this AI, the appearance cannot be changed once set - it would be like you seeing a different face in the mirror.
Capt. Antony: Appearance?
Admin Tellas: Appearance, yes. I did say this was a holographic medical AI - it will be projected into the room using this emitter that Aren has installed.
Capt. Antony: We'd prefer a Human female.
Ens. McAliber: Sure would be nice to see a woman around here Cap'n, even if it is just a hologram.
Aren taps out a few more commands
Aren: it is done. The system is ready to be used when needed.
Capt. Antony: Does she have a name?
Admin Tellas: This is the 3rd iteration on this AI design - we call it R3 for Release 3, but you are free to call it what you like. Though again, once set, this cannot be changed.
Admin Tellas: If there is nothing further you wish to discuss, it is about time we returned to our work, Human.
Capt. Antony: Also, we have holo-emmitters in the officer rooms and the recreation room. Will the doctor be able to be integrated into those systems so that she isn't confined to the Med bay?
Aren: limited capability may be possible; however do not expect fully interactive functionality in those rooms, for your technology is years out of date.
Ens. McAliber: Great!
The Kestrel crew escort Admin Tellas, Aren and the bodyguard-drone to the airlock.
Admin Tellas pulls out a datapad and taps out several commands. He gives the Slug equivalent of a smile before speaking.
Admin Tellas: I hope your computer enjoyed playing with our drone. I'll be taking command of it again now.
Ship Computer: "Captain, I have lost control of the drone."
Admin Tellas: Thank you for your hospitality, Human.
Tellas and the others board their shuttle.
Capt. Antony turns to Lt. Vanguard and Ens. Mac.
Capt. Antony: Well...that was quite a character.
Lt. Vanguard: Absolutely, one of the first Slugs that I have meet that has not seemed to want to stab us in the back.
Capt. Antony: So it may have appeared on the surface.
As the shuttle returns to the station, the station's shields are seen to power up. Noticably. With the tell-tale green sheen of Zoltan overcharging.
Ens. McAliber: He did finish off the last of that Mantis Ale though.
Lt. Vanguard: Well, that is new. They did not have that on when we got here.
Admin Tellas sends a comm request to the kestrel
Capt. Antony responds to the hail.
Admin Tellas: I would like to thank you again for your hospitality, Human.
Capt. Antony: Yes, Admin Tellas...
Admin Tellas: It has been some time since I have enjoyed Mantis Ale. I will not quickly forget this day. You may wish to think about how you will compensate your Engi friend. Though, seeing as it was data about a malfunction, he shouldn't mind too much Aren not leaving a copy when he downloaded it.
Capt. Antony pulls up his datapad and checks out the current state of The Kestrel.
Admin Tellas: Business is business, Human. We wish you a safe flight.
Admin Tellas closes the channel
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, we must hail Capt. Quigley, his data has been stolen!
Capt. Antony hails Capt. Quigley.
Capt. Quigley: Yes, Capt. Antony. We are just now getting everything stabalized after that "calibration". I take back my compliment of that Zoltan.
Capt. Antony: Have you found anything suspicious?
Capt. Quigley: We honestly have not had time to do more that lock down the bare essentials...why? Why do you ask?
Capt. Antony: It's just something that Admin Tellas said when he hailed us just now.
Capt. Quigley: What was that?
Capt. Antony: He mentioned something about your data.
Capt. Quigley: Our data? Why it is ....... GONE! It is lost! All of our work on that AI, all the records are missing!
Capt. Antony attempts to hail Admin Tellas but there is no response.
Capt. Quigley: It is of no use Captain. They took advantage of our desperate state. Business is business.
Ens. McAliber: Cap'n, we've been had! That devious Slug just couldn't resist his nature.
Capt. Quigley: I am sorry Captain.
Capt. Antony: Capt. Quigley, I do apologize.
Capt. Quigley: I appreciate all of your help, I appreciate your computers help in saving Debians life. However we have nothing left of value and no desire to be a part of your dealings in the future. We will follow your jumps, as that is all we can do now.
Capt. Quigley shuts off the comm channel.
The Kestrel crew reflect on their falling out with their new found friends.
Capt. Antony: Lt. Vanguard, Ens. McAliber...I can't beleive it! I should have know better than to trust a Slug.
Ens. McAliber: I'm stll in disbelief myself.
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, there is no way that you could have known.
Ens. McAliber: I knew it was going to well.
Capt. Antony: Well, I think it best that before we jump, we at least give the Medbay a once over to make sure that there are no more surprises.
Capt. Antony, Lt. Vanguard & Ens. McAliber head to the medbay with scanners.
Ens. McAliber: Surprises would be the last thing we needed now Cap'n.
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, I am detecting a grid of holo-emitters in this room that did not exist here prior.
Capt. Antony: Yes, of course. That is what is required for this new AI technology.
Ens. McAliber: Odd. My scanner isn't picking up anything.
Ens. McAliber makes some adjustments.
Capt. Antony: According to Admin. Tellas, the AI will also work with our officer room holosuites as well as the one installed in the recrreation room. Didn't we get an instruction manual?
Ens. McAliber: I'm worried about this. The Slug double crossed us once already
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, I believe that the system is voice activated.
Capt. Antony: uh, hello...
Nothing happens.
Capt. Antony: Mac, maybe it only responds to medical emergencies. Take out your utility knife and cut yourself.
Capt. Antony pulls out his data pad and checks all of the ship's systems.
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Capt. Antony: Hmmm, let me see. What can be the problem here.
Ens. McAliber takes a utility knife nervously. Still not trusting the fancy medbay tech installed by the treacherous Slug
Lt. Vanguard: Um, Captain, the Medbay is unpowered.
Capt. Antony: Ship Computer, please power up Medbay!
Ship Computer: "Yes, Captain."
A subtle hum is heard as a small light activates on each of the holo-emitters.
The three officers of The Kestrel stand in the Medbay looking at each other.
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Capt. Antony: Well this is...impressive.
Ens. McAliber maintains his guard.
Holo. Doc.: System intialisation, step 2 of 4. Desired name?
Ens. McAliber: I grant you that it does look impressive Captain.
Capt. Antony falls back startled at the strange voice never before heard aboard The Kestrel.
Capt. Antony: Desired name? Lt. Vanguard, think of something.
Ens. McAliber: That is an incredible voice.
Capt. Antony: Ensign. Mac, any suggestions?
Ens. McAliber betrays that he is indeed impressed.
Holo. Doc.: Please format your reply as 'select name' followed by the name you wish me to adopt. If you are having trouble choosing, a default name may be set. Would you prefer this option?
Capt. Antony: Ahem..."select name" Aki.
Holo. Doc. Aki: Name selection accepted. Initialisation stage 3: select response level.
Capt. Antony: Response level?
Holo. Doc. Aki: The available options are:
Holo. Doc. Aki: High; I will be present any time the medbay is powered, regardless of wether there is a need for medical assistance; Medium: I will be present only when there is an injured being in the medbay; Low: I will only be present if summoned directly, regardless of everything else.
Capt. Antony turn to his officers.
Capt. Antony: Well, with a level 10 reactor we certainly have the power to spare.
Ens. McAliber attempts to scan the Medbay thoroughly.
Capt. Antony: "Select Response Level" High.
Ens. McAliber: Everything still checks out Cap'n.
Holo. Doc. Aki: Accepted. Initialization stage 4: select integration level. The available options are: High; I will have access to all of the ship's systems, and in emergencies such as the crew being incapacitated, may assume control of the computer. This will require the Captain's override password to be entered at this stage. Medium: I will have access to the ship's systems excluding those requiring officer commands. Low: I will have access to the medbay's systems only.
Capt. Antony: "Select Integration Level" Medium
Holo. Doc. Aki: Accepted. Stand by for final system activation.
Ens. McAliber: Is this really wise Cap'n? The Slug betrayed us!
The medbay's lights go off and come back on as the whole system is restarted.
Capt. Antony: I wonder what she's going to look like...
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, are we actually going to give this new AI contol over ship systems?
Holo. Doc. Aki appears suddenly, without warning.
Holo. Doc. Aki: Greetings, Captain, and others. What troubles you?
Ens. McAliber appears stunned.
Capt. Antony is equally stunned.
Lt. Vanguard is in a daze.
Capt. Antony: Gentlemen, I know what you are thinking, this holo doc is not to be abused. That is of course, on every second Tuesday of the month...
Holo. Doc. Aki: Am I required for a medical reason or is this a social call?
Ens. McAliber stares silently.
Capt. Antony: Are you programmed for social calls? I guess stress relief is a medical necessity.
Holo. Doc. Aki: I am capable of many different kinds of interaction; my primary function is medical aid however I am essentially a shard of a full-scale crew simulation AI. While my performance in non-primary roles may be substandard, the potential exists, and I will only improve over time.
Capt. Antony reaches out to touch the arm of Holo. Doc. Aki. His hand does not pass through the hologram but actually feels resistance.
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, this is quite extraordinary. This system has patched itself into our food materializers and the doctor is seemingly organic.
Capt. Antony: Are you saying that when the doctor materializes, she is using matter from our food storage unit to integrate herself into actual flesh?
Holo. Doc. Aki: Nothing so impractical, Lieutenant. What you are actually experiencing is texture simulated by a localised shield emitter, which allows me physical interaction.
Lt. Vanguard confused, checks his sensors.
Lt. Vanguard: So why, Aki, have you patched into our food storage unit used for the materialization of food?
Holo. Doc. Aki: Lieutenant, if you have more specialised equipment on board for synthesising medical compounds, then please make it available to me; otherwise the food materialiser will have to suffice.
Lt. Vanguard: Ah, I see. If you'd like we could have a food materializer installed directly here in the Medbay.
Lt. Vanguard once suspicious now relaxes to the idea of having granted the holo-doc medium integration level.
Holo. Doc. Aki: The medbay itself does have a nanobot suite for medical aid, though this is not very portable, so the ability to make easy-to-move medicines may be of use.
Capt. Antony: Well gentlemen, we can stand here or day or we can tend to the cut on Ens. McAliber's hand.
Ens. McAliber: It's just a scratch Cap'n. I've been hurt a lot worse.
Holo. Doc. Aki disappears and reappears next to Mac in an eyeblink
Ens. McAliber pretends not to be startled at all.
Holo. Doc. Aki: It could get a lot worse too, if you walk around with an open wound. Take a seat and I'll patch you up.
Ens. McAliber can smell the light odor of perfume.
Capt. Antony and Lt. Vanguard huddle in to see Holo. Doc. Aki at work.
Holo. Doc. Aki removes a nanobot-infused dressing from a storage container and efficiently applies it to the wound.
Holo. Doc. Aki: You can remove that in 2 hours.
Holo. Doc. Aki looks across the slightly stunned faces of the crew
Holo. Doc. Aki: It seems to me that you are not very comfortable with my way of moving around the medbay. Would you prefer me to use a more inefficient, "walking" style of motion? Of course, this applies only to non-emergency situations. Visual comfort is not a high priority in an emergency situation.
Capt. Antony comes to assist the speechless Ens. McAliber.
Ens. McAliber: It feels perfect already.
Capt. Antony: Ah, thank you.
Ens. McAliber: I think you can tend to my wounds anytime.
Ens. McAliber seems to have forgotten all about his distrust of the Slugs.
After a good night's rest, the crew greet the new day and return to their stations.
Capt. Antony pulls up the nav computer and checks the Beacon Map.
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Capt. Antony: Well this is our final jump before we leave this sector.
Capt. Antony checks his Scrap Account.
Capt. Antony addresses Lt. Vangaurd and Ens. McAliber on the comm.
Capt. Antony: Gentlemen, we have an opportunity before us. Although we could high-tail it out of this sector, the nav computer is showing that we can hit two more beacons before exiting. The only drawback is that as we exit, we will be surrounded by the pursuing Rebel fleet.
Ens. McAliber: In the long run, exploring most of this sector would be ideal. On the other hand, letting the Rebel forces capture the exit beacon might set us back mightily.
Holo. Doc. Aki speaks over the comm panels
Holo. Doc. Aki: I would like to point out that this exit beacon is right next to the ReST station. As such, I have quite detailed information on it, including jump calculations. What I am saying is, even if the fleet should attempt something, I will be able to assist your computer with setting up a jump, if we are in the right area.
Capt. Antony sits stunned in his pilot's chair as he is being schooled by the ship doctor in matters relating to navigation.
Ens. McAliber: Fortune favors the brave Cap'n. I'd say we explore those beacons of opportunity, come Hell if it must.
Capt. Antony: It is settled then.
Capt. Antony powers down the medbay in order to fully power the engines.
Lt. Vanguard: Captain, I have done some calculations and I agree that we can explore a bit further.
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The Kestrel prepares to jump.
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Continued at: http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic. ... =30#p38020
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