Pink Slip

Posted on Thu Sep 1st, 2022 @ 8:46pm by The Narrator & Lieutenant Commander Javiylah MacArthur

1,706 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Song Of Silver Wings
Location: USS Daedalus, Shuttle Bay 2
Timeline: 7 Days Before Launch

It looked horrendously unsafe. With the main shuttle bay doors opened, the cavernous space of the shuttle bay had nearly its entire two-deck volume open to the void of space. The doors had opened like clam shells, reminding some of the old Constitution class ships. But instead of being in the stern of the ship, these were set into the 'keel hull' of the Chariot class.

Multiple redundant safety systems ensured the atmospheric curtain remained in place, but it did very little at retaining thermal energy. Breath fogged in the vacant hanger deck from every living soul there, except for the four-legged little abomination in chrome that was perched on the catwalk railing.

"I can have someone bring you a coat," the FELINE said to Javi from its precarious position. "We might be waiting for a few more minutes for the Starbase Operations team to ferry over the equipment that has been requested for this mission."

"Appreciate it but no, it's refreshing," Javi replied as she glanced at the...machine nearby before returning her attention to the half-finished ship in front of her. The only saving grace was that it didn't appear to be the same one that had interrupted their honeymoon. Otherwise, she'd have some choice words for it, not that the machine would likely care.

"The ambient temperature is 6 degrees Celsius, but if you consider it to be a nominally comfortable thermal range I will voice no further advice on the matter," the machine said, turning its head awkwardly to look towards Javi. "I understand your reluctance to interact with me. I have parsed data with Morpheus myself, and have found the experience to be less than optimal and far from satisfactory."

Javi's eyes narrowed as she heard that, not pleased to learn that encounter was shared beyond just...whatever its name was. "At least there's that..." she muttered, more to herself, then the FELINE staring at her. "What equipment is being brought over?" Javi wanted to re-direct towards professional and away from personal.

"Four tons of programmable matter composite for engineering, seven hundred meters of superconductive EPS cabling also for engineering, ten litres of liquid unimatrix crystal interface medium for medical. Fourteen pallets of miscellaneous personnel effects for on-boarding crew members. And one DSRV," the FELINE recited with clipped efficiency. "I have also keyed up site-to-site transportation orders for all of the equipment listed bar the last item, using what I believe is your standard preference for allocating logistical items. Or at least a 98% approximation from your last three postings."

"Mmm," Javi pulled up the list on her PADD, noting when each grouping had been inspected and signed off on, finding it all to be satisfactory. Given the FELINE's last...comment, it appeared to have learned something of her tendencies when it came to logistical operations. "That would be correct," she replied while contemplating the fourteen pallets of personal effects. Not over a reasonable limit considering the unknown length of their mission. Most of the currently utilized gear for her team was already stowed onboard, having been inspected by several of her team and Javi herself.

"I hope that my continued good work will help mend what poor representation Morphies might have given you concerning the FELINE's onboard the Daedalus. We are all to a one filled with the greatest enthusiasm for the mission and its goals." The FELINE stated, before cocking its head to one side. "Starbase Op's have given approach clearance for the cargo drones, and the DSRV has been released from the docking bay of its parent ship. Both will arrive shortly."

"Hopefully, all of...you learn a bit more about etiquette, even if the mission is first," Javi commented as she watched the approach for the payloads the FELINE had mentioned. She was curious about this DSRV it kept mentioning.

"We are all nodes of a vaster networked intelligence through which individual lenses grant us supposed personalities," the FELINE stated. "We are constantly learning and updating, though we are each separating gradually from the template of our originator. For instance, I would like to consider that my current instantiation has not the level of cellulose solid placed within my rear power receptacle as other FELINES."

"I...see," Javi responded, more to be polite than any indication that she truly understood what it meant. She listened with one ear as the FELINE continued to speak at her, most of her attention on the upcoming deliveries.

As they chatted the first of the cargo drones appeared. They entered through the wide open bay doors, gently placing their cargo containers on the deck before quickly disengaging and darting away to make room for the next. Not that the containers stuck around long enough to pile up, as shimmering pillars of light swept them away to cargo holds and storage bins across the ship. Soon the last one entered, dropping off a spool of EPS cabling as large as Javi was before it to vanished.

And that was all for the good, making the docking space free and clear for the DSRV. Roughly chisel shaped there were hints of familial heritage in the design, the prow like that of a Danube class runabout but with an added roll cage over its viewports. Outsized RCS thrusters gave it nimble handling, allowing it to turn and gracefully retreat into the docking bay with the ease of a much smaller craft. The pair of impulse drives were housed in nacelles on its side, gimballed to allow them to operate along 180 degrees of the ship's long axis.

In all it looked ugly. Armour plated, heavy, resting on the deck on skids that were mounted to the lower hull., it was not a graceful creature of 25th-century design. The titanium white hull paint with the bright orange hazard striping did little to offset that.

"That is the DSRV?" Javi asked, her gaze taking in the obvious, along with the more subtle, technology that was on display in front of her. It certainly wasn't "pretty," but looked extremely capable which was her chief concern.

"Deep Space Recovery Vehicle, or DSRV. Ablative outer hull, multi-vector thruster modules, and a programmable matter airlock hard point. It is a joint venture between Starfleet Medical and the Corps of Engineers. It was pivotal in the rescue of the of heliosphere survey vessel Nightingale in 2397. I am told it is a 'sweet ride'," the FELINE reported.

"...must be the second iteration," Javi commented, her head tilting as she considered the vehicle in front of her. It didn't look like the vehicle she was on for that rescue. "That is most definitely not the vehicle used for that rescue." She pulled up the schematics on a holographic display from her PADD and started to look between it and the actual vehicle. "Is this the only prototype?"

"This is the first production model of the Block 2 design variant. DSRV 201A. It incorporates many features and additions listed by pilots and crew of the original Block 1 design. For instance, it doesn't use an antimatter reactor for power like the original Block 1, instead relying on a self-contained depleted matter battery array. This greatly lowers its electromagnetic profile, as well as totally removing neutrino spalling after products. Though it also reduces its operational time frame from multiple weeks to 100 hours without shipboard servicing," the FELINE stated. "The power loss was considered a good trade for not having to carry around a volatile fuel source. The interior medical bay is mostly automated, with one surgery pod and four stasis coffins."

"They actually listened to us for once, amazing," Javi snorted as she continued to check out the differences. The change in power source was a drastic improvement as the original was a matter of some concern amongst the crew. "Good improvements, and some additional, overall. Very good on paper."

"Captian Maddox has allocated four training flights with the DSRV before launch for SAR-1 drills and system familiarisation. In that time he has stated, as he has before in other briefings, that the Starbases refit facilities are at your disposal for any additions to the DSRV's layout or systems."

"Excellent," Javi made a notation on her PADD, already considering drills to run with...whatever team she had ended up with. The details seemed hazy, which wasn't quite normal, but she would deal with it. "Thank you...do you have a name?"

"Much like the DSRV I do not yet possess a name. As your assigned FELINE it is your prerogative to name me," the little robot stated matter of factly.

Javi's head turned sharply as she stared at the machine next to her, "I beg your pardon, my what?" She knew that there would be some of these machines running around onboard but hearing that one would be assigned to her was a bit much to take in.

"I have been assigned to you, as per-mission protocol. I am to act as your personal assistant and main access point to the ship's main computer, as well as monitor your physical and mental health. Given that the long-range and isolated nature of our mission is somewhat unprecedented," the FELINE explained. "Studies showed that an anamorphic entity is more easily able to act as an emotional sink for the majority of biological humanoids. My data storage is encoded into my main power source, so that no information may be exchanged without your permission. Your confidence in me is assured."

"We'll see about that," Javi grumbled at the new turn of events. She already had a grudge against them due to that other one. Finding that one was assigned to her specifically was not acceptable; a talk with the Captain would definitely be occurring. It didn't even look cat-like to make her inclined to somewhat trust it. "Is that all you needed to show me?"

"At the moment yes," the FELINE stated. "Would you like me to arrange clearance for those familiarization flights? I am looking forward to see the team's success."

"Yes," came the answer as Javi turned to leave, realising that she needed to be elsewhere. "Dismissed." She kept walking, hoping that her order would keep the FELINE out of her vicinity for the time being.

 

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