Chapter 1.8
- Location
- Latvia, Riga
-
[]
Chapter 1.8
And .. done. With that, the last damaged section is replaced. Pretty sure most would think Luna just came out of a dry-dock. And all it took was an hour and a half, bulk of that spend re-cycling and re-laying armor plates.
During the fix, I also decided to orient myself and look around. Turns out we're near the outer edge of some star system, judging by that slightly larger than Pluto dwarf planet and the star's distance. With nothing better to do, I've decided to fly closer to it and send out some of my fabrication bots. It took 3/4 hours on engine power to reach Dwarfy, and in the next 30 minutes I got a few M-extractors, in more optimal areas, and 2 Basic power plants.
Not much but I'm expanding and will soon refill my used material reserves.
Additionally, I'm adding finishing touches on my combat reviews. The most notable being the effect of my High-power Electromagnetic and Microwave Pulse ('h e m p'.. 'hamper'.. HEMP-ER? Unintentional yet somewhat fittingly descriptive acronym) torpedo prototype. Emission data and timestamps indicate which pulses at what distances had the most effect on Raiders, 'close-range' directed microwaves being the most devastating.
Turns out Cylon unique build gives them some protections and vulnerabilities: their organic segments give them limited resistance to 'conventional' EMPs, while their mechanical components limit what kind of emissions can get through and affect their squishy pieces, but once something gets through, their own isolation methods will ensure debilitating after-effects stays inside.
And I've also got some insight into Cylons, at least their Raiders. I still want to vomit, despite no ability to do so. Dear God, how could anyone do something like this?! Inhibitor chips are awful enough on their own (by sending painful electrical feedback if the mechanical Cylons so much as think anything negative against bio-Cylons), but to rip out part of living beings' brains?! WTF?!! ( I need a distraction).
Ok, positive, positive… Least now I can miniaturize Musha drive and install it into my units, though nothing smaller than a fighter.
And again I needed some non-metallic components, but it's odd. It's not like Commanders lack those elements, or that they lack knowledge (or research AIs/systems to learn) about those but its like… like most non-metallic elements are a rarity. Huh. That's, actually…
[
*New decoding vectors added
*New file repair process implemented
*New search directive enabled
File search and repairs updated
]
Just a hunch, but if I'm right…
Wait, it's been almost 2 hours, and no one contacted me. What are the Colonials doing?
…
Oh, they're asleep. Well, most, there is some activity around, but the majority are either sleeping or resting. Though it's a bit concerning how little healthy people came out of their ships. Or how many require medical help. Their supplies can't be enough and even their medical personnel have too many to attend.
Speaking of, there she is, inside Dove Wings, attending a sleeping patient. If I'd have to guess after-operation narcosis. Ok, lower the volume, and a little soft p-a sound before speaking "Doctor Grey?" (Why does this sound familiar?) "Do you have a moment?"
The woman with shoulder-length brown-hair around mid-thirties stiffens, but then promptly finishes her inspection and smoothly puts down her instruments, before moving toward the cockpit. Once she closes the doors, I wait until she contacts me. Roughly a half a minute later she does. "Hello. You wanted to speak to me?"
Her voice has a slight Spanish accent and while clear, is tired (and nervous). Judging by the number of patients I would not be surprised if she was busy this whole time.
Right better start small "Yes, about several topics, considering we'll stay in this system for at least a few days but first: are you ok? I saw the injured and you sound sleep-deprived, so… "
"Since we escaped Cain I've been coordinating, instructing or patching wounded with whatever we got laying around for hours before Cylons and you found us. I had to keep most of the staff, volunteers, and interns from panicking during the battle, we're running low on medicine and supplies, there are still wounded that need help and I haven't slept for over 20 hours. Of course, I'm not O-K, damn-it." Her Whisper colder than Pluto's temperature during winter
Oh… That's more than most expect from doctors. More than most of my Earth's doctors would be capable of. "Wrong query, sorry."
"Oh, no, no, I'm sorry, I didn't want vent I just-" (fear, not ok)
"Hey, hey, it's fine. A doctor's job on its own is stressful at the best of circumstances, that you managed to do what you have despite the circumstances speaks highly of you. Aaand that's one of the reasons I wanted to talk with you." here goes.
"I'll be blunt: I have little-to-no medical knowledge and certainly nothing that can be safely applicable. What I can do right now is to provide 'raw' materials and some finished products like scalpels, gauzes, nigh-distilled water, water in general."
"Okey, but.."
"But if you need complex things like MRI or anti-cancer drugs I, in return, need detailed information, either a physical example or schematics to …"
"Why is that? What do you gain from this, specifically?" she's quick on the uptake. Here goes.
".. as I was saying first it would allow me to help you, and I gain insight into making devices that I couldn't before. And yes that IS my 'price': I obtain new knowledge, you - gain resources and goods that you couldn't otherwise in this situation."
"You're not really subtle in what you want. Why is that? I mean, besides the information what do you really gain?"
"For one - a smidgen of your trust. You don't have to guess and worry why I do this, you outright know what I acquire… Let's don't mince words, doc: your culture is technophobic. Not all of you are against advanced technology, but you people, in general, have been hurt by Cylons, your own tech, your own creation. For over half a century you Colonials have demonized Cylons, demonized your own tech, and only recently have started the first small steps towards healing when out of nowhere Cylons came back and this fuckery happened. I am not your enemy, but as Sharp said I am an outsider. People don't immediately trust Unknowns, and as is normal I have to earn you trust. Speaking frankly is a start. All I ask, Doctor Ashly Grey, help me help you."
"I see. I'll need to consult others, but in general …"
- - - - - - - - -
Thought threading and such multitasking still feels weird yet it is useful especially since just as the good doctor finished her rant I spotted Star's Memory captain Jarvis and few others in Viper's flight control deck. (What are they doing there?) Since Ashly calmed down I won't end my conversation with her, but I need to talk with the Memory's captain as well.
Discretely activating microphones and … "… elling you this Rait-guy is hiding somethin'." uhhh, really?
"Then what, pray tell, will he gain from that?" woman's voice countered "Unlike with Cain, we have no useful resources, without repairs our ships are worthless scraps. He d.."
"Exactly! He had NO reason to save us -" interruption!
Though not loud the ringing and blinking console easily gets the attention of all occupants in the room. There are some shouts and disorganized attempts to do something (to name a few: answering, ignoring, leaving the room), but Jarvis quickly took the lead. In a minute the arguing stopped and a measure of calm restored, Jarvis answered the console: "Hello?"
The screen, along with several subtle cameras, activates with my chosen symbol displayed.
"Hello, infrared showed this room was occupied, did something happen?" I said, the sign lighted upon every syllable (for psychological effect).
"Shit it's him"
"quiet! He'll hear you"
"Oh, just me and some acquaintances wanting to talk few things in private.. in a separate room.. when everyone's asleep, *hufff*" constructing a possible narrative … I can use that "of course it looks suspicious. I'm sorry we don't want to imply we're ungrateful, it's just a lot to take in."
"It's fine, this is an unusual situation even for me," if only you knew. "But while we're at it: are there any problems? Are there enough resources to go around? Too cold, or hot?"
"Well, ah, we're... well you KNOW our situation, and far as I can tell, no, people are too tired to worry about such stuff for now... Why such interest?"
"After a.. simple night's sleep you could discuss what problems we have and concentrate on those that can be solved. I know most don't trust me, so little chats like this might get you guys less jumpy and more aware of me."
"Heh, well then guess we'll get out of your hair then... you have hair, right?"
Of all the - "... Yea, we'll talk "in the morning" then. Good night," with that I end the conversation and switch off the screen. Dievs žēlīgais, that was embarrassing!
- - - - - - - - -
Similar little conversations happen throughout the ship some, and while some are tense, all are too tired to do more than voice their discomfort, before they go to bed.
So now I have about 6-to-8 hours to myself. Maybe industry building and some of their requests would distract me for a while. Tomorrow will be awkward.
___________________________________________
A/N: So can't promise I'll update this regularly, but here's what I have completed for now.
Good Luck
[]
Chapter 1.8
And .. done. With that, the last damaged section is replaced. Pretty sure most would think Luna just came out of a dry-dock. And all it took was an hour and a half, bulk of that spend re-cycling and re-laying armor plates.
During the fix, I also decided to orient myself and look around. Turns out we're near the outer edge of some star system, judging by that slightly larger than Pluto dwarf planet and the star's distance. With nothing better to do, I've decided to fly closer to it and send out some of my fabrication bots. It took 3/4 hours on engine power to reach Dwarfy, and in the next 30 minutes I got a few M-extractors, in more optimal areas, and 2 Basic power plants.
Not much but I'm expanding and will soon refill my used material reserves.
Additionally, I'm adding finishing touches on my combat reviews. The most notable being the effect of my High-power Electromagnetic and Microwave Pulse ('h e m p'.. 'hamper'.. HEMP-ER? Unintentional yet somewhat fittingly descriptive acronym) torpedo prototype. Emission data and timestamps indicate which pulses at what distances had the most effect on Raiders, 'close-range' directed microwaves being the most devastating.
Turns out Cylon unique build gives them some protections and vulnerabilities: their organic segments give them limited resistance to 'conventional' EMPs, while their mechanical components limit what kind of emissions can get through and affect their squishy pieces, but once something gets through, their own isolation methods will ensure debilitating after-effects stays inside.
And I've also got some insight into Cylons, at least their Raiders. I still want to vomit, despite no ability to do so. Dear God, how could anyone do something like this?! Inhibitor chips are awful enough on their own (by sending painful electrical feedback if the mechanical Cylons so much as think anything negative against bio-Cylons), but to rip out part of living beings' brains?! WTF?!! ( I need a distraction).
Ok, positive, positive… Least now I can miniaturize Musha drive and install it into my units, though nothing smaller than a fighter.
And again I needed some non-metallic components, but it's odd. It's not like Commanders lack those elements, or that they lack knowledge (or research AIs/systems to learn) about those but its like… like most non-metallic elements are a rarity. Huh. That's, actually…
[
*New decoding vectors added
*New file repair process implemented
*New search directive enabled
File search and repairs updated
]
Just a hunch, but if I'm right…
Wait, it's been almost 2 hours, and no one contacted me. What are the Colonials doing?
…
Oh, they're asleep. Well, most, there is some activity around, but the majority are either sleeping or resting. Though it's a bit concerning how little healthy people came out of their ships. Or how many require medical help. Their supplies can't be enough and even their medical personnel have too many to attend.
Speaking of, there she is, inside Dove Wings, attending a sleeping patient. If I'd have to guess after-operation narcosis. Ok, lower the volume, and a little soft p-a sound before speaking "Doctor Grey?" (Why does this sound familiar?) "Do you have a moment?"
The woman with shoulder-length brown-hair around mid-thirties stiffens, but then promptly finishes her inspection and smoothly puts down her instruments, before moving toward the cockpit. Once she closes the doors, I wait until she contacts me. Roughly a half a minute later she does. "Hello. You wanted to speak to me?"
Her voice has a slight Spanish accent and while clear, is tired (and nervous). Judging by the number of patients I would not be surprised if she was busy this whole time.
Right better start small "Yes, about several topics, considering we'll stay in this system for at least a few days but first: are you ok? I saw the injured and you sound sleep-deprived, so… "
"Since we escaped Cain I've been coordinating, instructing or patching wounded with whatever we got laying around for hours before Cylons and you found us. I had to keep most of the staff, volunteers, and interns from panicking during the battle, we're running low on medicine and supplies, there are still wounded that need help and I haven't slept for over 20 hours. Of course, I'm not O-K, damn-it." Her Whisper colder than Pluto's temperature during winter
Oh… That's more than most expect from doctors. More than most of my Earth's doctors would be capable of. "Wrong query, sorry."
"Oh, no, no, I'm sorry, I didn't want vent I just-" (fear, not ok)
"Hey, hey, it's fine. A doctor's job on its own is stressful at the best of circumstances, that you managed to do what you have despite the circumstances speaks highly of you. Aaand that's one of the reasons I wanted to talk with you." here goes.
"I'll be blunt: I have little-to-no medical knowledge and certainly nothing that can be safely applicable. What I can do right now is to provide 'raw' materials and some finished products like scalpels, gauzes, nigh-distilled water, water in general."
"Okey, but.."
"But if you need complex things like MRI or anti-cancer drugs I, in return, need detailed information, either a physical example or schematics to …"
"Why is that? What do you gain from this, specifically?" she's quick on the uptake. Here goes.
".. as I was saying first it would allow me to help you, and I gain insight into making devices that I couldn't before. And yes that IS my 'price': I obtain new knowledge, you - gain resources and goods that you couldn't otherwise in this situation."
"You're not really subtle in what you want. Why is that? I mean, besides the information what do you really gain?"
"For one - a smidgen of your trust. You don't have to guess and worry why I do this, you outright know what I acquire… Let's don't mince words, doc: your culture is technophobic. Not all of you are against advanced technology, but you people, in general, have been hurt by Cylons, your own tech, your own creation. For over half a century you Colonials have demonized Cylons, demonized your own tech, and only recently have started the first small steps towards healing when out of nowhere Cylons came back and this fuckery happened. I am not your enemy, but as Sharp said I am an outsider. People don't immediately trust Unknowns, and as is normal I have to earn you trust. Speaking frankly is a start. All I ask, Doctor Ashly Grey, help me help you."
"I see. I'll need to consult others, but in general …"
- - - - - - - - -
Thought threading and such multitasking still feels weird yet it is useful especially since just as the good doctor finished her rant I spotted Star's Memory captain Jarvis and few others in Viper's flight control deck. (What are they doing there?) Since Ashly calmed down I won't end my conversation with her, but I need to talk with the Memory's captain as well.
Discretely activating microphones and … "… elling you this Rait-guy is hiding somethin'." uhhh, really?
"Then what, pray tell, will he gain from that?" woman's voice countered "Unlike with Cain, we have no useful resources, without repairs our ships are worthless scraps. He d.."
"Exactly! He had NO reason to save us -" interruption!
Though not loud the ringing and blinking console easily gets the attention of all occupants in the room. There are some shouts and disorganized attempts to do something (to name a few: answering, ignoring, leaving the room), but Jarvis quickly took the lead. In a minute the arguing stopped and a measure of calm restored, Jarvis answered the console: "Hello?"
The screen, along with several subtle cameras, activates with my chosen symbol displayed.
"Hello, infrared showed this room was occupied, did something happen?" I said, the sign lighted upon every syllable (for psychological effect).
"Shit it's him"
"quiet! He'll hear you"
"Oh, just me and some acquaintances wanting to talk few things in private.. in a separate room.. when everyone's asleep, *hufff*" constructing a possible narrative … I can use that "of course it looks suspicious. I'm sorry we don't want to imply we're ungrateful, it's just a lot to take in."
"It's fine, this is an unusual situation even for me," if only you knew. "But while we're at it: are there any problems? Are there enough resources to go around? Too cold, or hot?"
"Well, ah, we're... well you KNOW our situation, and far as I can tell, no, people are too tired to worry about such stuff for now... Why such interest?"
"After a.. simple night's sleep you could discuss what problems we have and concentrate on those that can be solved. I know most don't trust me, so little chats like this might get you guys less jumpy and more aware of me."
"Heh, well then guess we'll get out of your hair then... you have hair, right?"
Of all the - "... Yea, we'll talk "in the morning" then. Good night," with that I end the conversation and switch off the screen. Dievs žēlīgais, that was embarrassing!
- - - - - - - - -
Similar little conversations happen throughout the ship some, and while some are tense, all are too tired to do more than voice their discomfort, before they go to bed.
So now I have about 6-to-8 hours to myself. Maybe industry building and some of their requests would distract me for a while. Tomorrow will be awkward.
___________________________________________
A/N: So can't promise I'll update this regularly, but here's what I have completed for now.
Good Luck
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