Meetings

Posted on 07 Jul 2020 @ 5:22pm by Ensign Kat Walker & Commander Marcus Wilcox

1,126 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Ab Intra
Location: Cargo Bay Two, Deck 27

Kat was in her standby state, low power usage mode. Her main reactor was offline, the unit drawing power from the umbilical that Madalene Sabine had provided. No avatar was generated, there was no need to with nobody there to interact with her. The derelict, heavily damaged alien walker lay there where it had been, but the AI core would show some activity as it tried to work through the Officer's Course for commission into the Federation as Ensign. The first step to becoming a fighter pilot.

The doors to the cargo bay opened and Marcus stepped inside to the mostly quiet compartment. There was almost never pure silence, and when there was, well he knew that was never a good sign. Standing still his head moved around to allow his eyes to look around the entire cargo bay. He had read fragmented information about this crew member, but walked into this blind.

As the new person entered the cargo bay the sensor array on the nose of the derelict wreck stirred, focusing. The AI core showed more activity, buried deep within the heavily damaged, stricken chassis, and with a flicker a holographic projection of a young woman manifested. She offered a soft smile at Marcus as the latter approached, speaking in a kind voice. "Hello Commander Wilcox. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Marcus’ walking gait faltered for a split second. He stopped within a socially acceptable distance with the holographic projection. He found it impressive it could recognize him. He wondered if it was the right way to describe the AI. He focused on the projection for a moment, and then looked over at the wreck for several moments before returning his gaze back to the projection. “Kat Walker I presume?”

"You presume correctly Commander," Kat offered with a nod. "I'd been looking forward to meeting you."

Marcus nodded, finding the idea of an intelligence being directly connected to a computer network fascinating. Or at least he recognized that he was making an assumption. His head cocked to the side as he tabulated and organized his thoughts about the new crew member. “Reviewing the roster I came to your name, recognizing you are a new addition to the crew, so I wanted to meet you,” He finally said, breaking the momentary silence.

Her smile spread a little, as she introduced herself. "I am an Evo 3 type crystalline AI with full personality submatrix," she motioned to the broken wreckage behind her, "currently installed in a model 2501 Kinetic Ambulatory Trooper type urban pacification walker. Though my physical form is damaged and non-functional. I am currently doing the Starfleet officer's course, with intent to take the fighter pilot training upon graduating. I am also currently working with Engineering and Operations to design an interface cradle to physically fit my AI core into a Valkyrie."

Marcus looked at the 2501 Kinetic Ambulatory Trooper type Urban Pacification Walker. The name alone spoke volumes, only supported by what looked like weaponry. He glanced between the two, putting the whole picture together. “What motivates you to be a fighter pilot?” He finally asked after resting his gaze on the hologram.

I am designed and built to operate a light vehicle, be it military or civilian," Kat began to explain, motioning to the side where a holographic projection of the walker in full repair appeared, scaled down to about human sized, moving around. "A function I cannot perform in my current state. Furthermore, one of my primary behavior directives is to be helpful, which I find very difficult in my current state as well," She lowered her hand, the holographic walker halted, and the top half of the body lifted off, to show a rudimentary layout of the internals. The cockpit for a humanoid pilot, behind that the reactor, but between them a crystalline cube, pulsing rhythmically with a light blue hue.

"After research, considerable thought and conversation with other crew I decided that to have my AI core fitted into a modified Valkyrie fighter would allow me to best fulfill my original design parameter as well as obey my personality directive," as she spoke, a hologram of an appropriately scaled Valkyrie fighter appeared next to the walker. The crystalline cube lifted from the holographic walker, as the cockpit of the Valkyrie opened and the humanoid seat and controls faded out, to be replaced by a cradle, in which the crystalline cube fit.

"Allowing me to perform the function I was designed and built for as well as be useful to this crew and this ship that I have come to call home," she concluded, watching Marcus with that practiced, soft smile - though the smile faded a bit. "And I am really looking forward to - ... freedom of movement again, after spending so much time here in this cargo bay, in wrecked condition."

Marcus listened intently, his facial expressions changing minutely as the conversation progressed. He looked around when she stopped talking at the cargo bay, nodding to himself. “A cell is only as small as you wish it,” He muttered, more to himself than to the conversation returning his gaze intently on the hologram. “I appreciate your candor and logic in the situation. I would welcome a more detailed conversation on strategy and tactics of your former physical design at some point.”

"Do you have any specifics in mind, Commander?" Kat asked.

“Whatever you deem relevant or transferable to space based or planet aerial combat,” Marcus replied cocking his head slightly to the side again.

"I do not currently have detailed files on combat tactics of any sort. All my volatile memory was erased, most likely due to protocol kicking in to protect tactical doctrine from falling into hostile hands when I became damaged and lost in space," she explained. "As such I only know my own design, its limits and possibilities, but no advanced tactics. Though I expect that to be a major part of pilot training. I am very much looking forward to starting that once I have my basic officer training complete."

“Your interpretation of Starfleet Doctrine will be intriguing,” Marcus answered after a moment of silence looking again at the damaged apparatus. “What is your timeline to completion of Officer training?”

"Should be very soon," Kat offered. "I am confident I'll make it."

“We will begin pilot training as soon as you are done,” Marcus stated. “Report to me when you are done Officer School.”

"I will," Kat easily replied, with a nod. "Was there anything else, Commander?"

“Negative. I will leave you to your studies,” Marcus replied with a curt but polite tone.

Kat smiled softly, gave a nod. "Alright. Thank you for visiting Commander," she spoke, her hologram giving a flicker and vanishing.

[End Log]

 

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