Of racing and shuttles

Posted on 21 Jul 2023 @ 12:51pm by Ensign Kat Walker & Lieutenant JG Zhivise Silatuyok

1,661 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Deus ex Machina
Location: Flight Deck

It was a bit unusual for a helm officer to be down on the flight deck, but for Clovis, you never knew when he would be called up to pilot one of Odin's auxiliary craft. So, here he was to take a look at Odin's auxiliary craft, unaware of one of the other interesting crewmembers.

Clovis has always liked shuttles, especially the newer ones, they were sleek and just looked good. And, he was always impressed with how far you could go in one, it wasn't recommended, but again doable, "mmm, can't wait to take one of you out for a spin," he muttered as he ran a hand over the hull of one of the shuttles.

"The Type 9 is a well-liked shuttlecraft, yes. I've heard it flies like a smaller shuttle and is well respected for its acceleration and turning," A kind, female voice sounded behind Clovis. "Though, I'm partial to the Valkyrie III, myself," the young woman wearing fighter pilot grey offered with a warm smile.

"Ah, yes my counterpart," Clovis said with a chuckle, "and yes the Valk's are very nice, but I don't know there is just something about the Type 9 that gets my blood going, oh lieutenant Clovis Bray, chief helm officer," he added holding his hand out.

"Ensign Kat walker, callsign Deadeye," the young woman replied, shaking his hand. She seemed just a little too perfect, with flawless skin and an athletic build. "I'm one of the fighter pilots. That one's mine," she added, motioning to the Valkyrie mark III behind her. "Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever have the opportunity to fly, or even be a passenger in, a type 9. Though I agree, they are sleek machines, and I regret my inability to enjoy one."

Clovis had to cock his eyebrow hearing that, and not knowing, "sorry I am a bit confused, are you afraid to be on a shuttle?"

"That would be something wouldn't it, a fighter pilot afraid of flying a shuttle," Kat smiled an amused smile. "But, no. I am an artificial intelligence. This avatar you see before you - " she waved " - can't be more than a few hundred meters from my physical AI core without lag-induced difficulties." she motioned once again to the fighter behind her, which flashed its landing lights by way of greeting.

"Seriously?!" Clovis said hoping that didn't come off too rude, but that was a) extremely cool, b) fascinating, "...that is fascinating, I didn't realize that Starfleet was this close to that type of tech and that they were actually pursuing that tech," Clovis added.

She just seemed amused at his reaction, taking it in stride. "Yes, really. But I am not Starfleet technology. Come, I'll show you my core, as you seem so interested." With that, she motioned him towards the fighter, as the canopy opened. Inside was a jumble of cables - power, control, cooling - connecting a crystal cube around 1 meter on all sides. A faint blue glow emanated from the core, and Clovis could see millions of little traces across each surface, diving in deep, emerging from within.

With each thought, each calculation, each active thread, a trace lit up a brighter blue. A sea of activity, calm as she was, but always active. The ebb and flow of thought. "I am made by a race called the Drul'Anu. Unfortunately, they are unknown to the Federation, and I don't know if there are any more of me around. But the Federation took me in and gave me a purpose. So while I am not of the Federation originally, I do consider Starfleet - and this ship - my home."

Simple wasn't the right word, as it just wasn't simple it was a thing of beauty, "well I am glad that we have been able to make you feel like you are home, but I am sorry if you are truly the last of your kind," Clovis said knowing that she was an AI, but still knowing that you were the last it was a tough concept to swallow.

"This is just amazing," he added his knowledge of engines was basic, but as a pilot, he did need to know something about them, "very, very impressive," Clovis said looking back at the pilot all smiles, "thank you for letting me take a look."

"You're very welcome," Kat responded, as the cockpit canopy closed again. "If I may ask, what is it about the type 9 that you like, Lieutenant?"

"Shuttle racing," he said simply, "during RnR I try and shuttle race as often as I can, and again just look at it, it is sexy as hell," he chuckled.

"Shuttle racing?" She quirked a brow. "I can see how that would be interesting, yes. What is it about racing itself that draws you?"

"Speed, precise maneuvers, and then depending on who is sponsoring the race some fun, and particularly nasty surprises," Clovis said with a chuckle, "...and well there is a nice little prize for usually the top three," he added.

"Particularly nasty surprises?" Kat queried. "How do you mean?"

"The last race I did he dropped an artificial black hole, just out of nowhere it was...it was fun," Clovis said grinning.

"Isn't that very dangerous? Does anybody ever get hurt in these races?" Kat asked, looking concerned.

"It is, and that's why waivers are signed basically saying that you have agreed to encounter any kind of dangers while racing," Clovis said still keeping his mischievous grin as if doing this kind of thing was the greatest thing ever.

Kat made a face. "That's horrible."

"Well, I mean it is, and isn't on purpose, or the aim isn't to kill, just to push the limits of the pilots," Clovis said, not sure if that would help or not.

Kat shook her head a bit. "No, it's alright. I'm sorry, my comment was - less than thoughtful," she explained, her voice soft. "It might sound strange coming from a combat AI installed in an advanced weapons platform, but my base programming tells me to value life. As a combat pilot, I am expected to take life, but that is in a scenario where the opposing force means to enforce their will through the use of weapons and violence, upon that which I am sworn to uphold. What you are describing goes against my programming. But, part of why I became a Federation combat pilot is because I agree with the tenets of the Federation, in that a citizen should have the freedom to choose for themselves. A freedom you are exercising by partaking in those races."

Clovis was impressed, still getting used to some of the oddities of this ship, knowing that most Starfleet vessels, well actually no other Starfleet vessel had some of these oddities.

"That is very impressive programming," Clovis said trying to figure something out, "....what else can you process, I mean are you able to process certain emotions?" Clovis said before realizing how that was an incentive thing to say. "Sorry didn't mean...actually, I don't know how to actually broach that subject," he said with a nervous chuckle.

"A pessimistic person would say no, but even to the most optimistic person, I do not have emotions in the sense that you do," Kat replied calmly. "I am capable of experiencing a negative or positive response to people or situations, in various gradations of intensity. To some, this might resemble disgust or joy, and possibly beyond. But in the end, it's all mathematics and weighted variables run on a neural network computer. You have shown what I take as kindness and a genuine interest in me and my capabilities, so you have already earned a positive modifier for any interactions I have with you. For some people on this ship, I would categorize the amount of positive modifier to be akin to friendship."

"That makes sense, there are certain people like that minus the neural network doing the processing, but they process like they have one, very analytical," Clovis said glad that he had met some of them, so he was able to experience all the different kinds of people.

"...the reason I asked that, is to see if you would like to simulate a shuttle race, if you are able to be active within the holodeck, it won't be the same thing but it'll give you an idea of what shuttle racing is," he suggested.

"I am, and I could, but I'm not sure it would be fair in a competitive sense," Kat spoke, shifting her avatar a bit - a completely superfluous gesture, but she had found it made people more comfortable than interacting with a completely stationary one. "A significant part of my programming is dedicated to calculating optimal flight paths and conserving kinetic energy, and I would not be able to achieve the same sense of joy that you do. I have no adrenaline equivalent."

"Fair point," Clovis said as his brain still processing that this was a fully functional AI, "no that makes sense, well I do look forwarded to flying with you, either while piloting the Odin, or a shuttle," Clovis said with a smile.

"... Though I wouldn't say no to a friendly try-out," Kat smiled.

"Of course, I am sure I can set something up, I'll find my favorite course I have raced, and I'll let you know," Clovis said getting used to speaking to this AI as if she was real, though I guess she was just different.

"Alright. I look forward to the opportunity," Kat replied.

"Excellent, I'll reach out once I have it set up, it was great meeting you, and I look forwarded to doing some missions with you," Clovis said giving her a nod, "....," Clovis was about to say something but stopped as he was unsure what he wanted to say.

"Well, it was very nice meeting you, Lieutenant," Kat offered a way out of the situation.

 

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