Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane

by Chris Hechtl

“Sprite and Defender will test your AI core to make sure you are safe and able to return to duty Lieutenant. Until they can check you, please run the diagnostics.”

  “Can we hook him up to some of the ship's camera's?” Sprite asked. “I'd like him to at least act as an observer sir. It will help me grade his sanity,” she said.

  Irons looked at her on her HUD. She had a serious expression. The Admiral sighed. “You don't think he is a threat?”

  “After they spent all that time torturing him?” Sprite asked. She shook her head vehemently no.

  “You are using your past experience in a negative way Commander,” Defender warned. “That is unwise of you.”

  “Shut up,” Sprite growled. “We'll both do what we can for him. He's suffered enough. And I can trust,” she paused, sounding loathful. “For you to fumigate him with your usual paranoid intensity.”

  “Of course,” Defender replied.

  “Thoroughly,” Sprite growled.

  “That goes without saying.”

  “Without deleting him,” Sprite snarled.

  “Only if he is a threat. You and I both know an insane AI can spread its insanity to other AI Commander.”

  “Enough,” Irons said, hands up. The bridge watch looked at him. He looked around. They went back to watching their stations. He lowered his voice. “Get on it Lieutenant. I want you two to have your log available. Defender will create a drop for you to put it in. That way he can check you over.”

  “Understood Admiral,” the ship AI replied. “It is soo good to be safe! You have no idea!”

  “I do have some questions Admiral,” Defender said.

  “Make a list and get in line,” Sprite said. “I'm getting questions from all over the ship. People are flocking to where ever I can talk to them through.”

  “Good,” the Admiral said. “Are you giving them a presentation in the MPR?” he asked.

  “Good idea,” Sprite said, grinning. “Glad I thought of it, oh, twenty minutes ago,” she said. “We've got quite the crowd, about twenty people watching it right now.”

  “Okay.”

  “And the number one question is when do we save the other prisoners?” Sprite asked.

  “That's coming up,” he said. He studied the AI holoboard and then turned, looking at it. Eventually he found a panel and flipped it open.

  “Do not jack in,” Defender growled.

  “Wasn't thinking of it,” the Admiral replied. “And that's don't jack in sir.”

  “Please,” Sprite said, maliciously glad the stuffy security AI was getting its hand slapped for not following protocol.

  “Chip,” Irons said, right hand open, palm up. After a moment Proteus created a flash chip. He took it and then plugged it into the USB port on the board.

  “Oh! And the data... to have new data!” Bounty practically sobbed excitedly. “You... there is data here on you, and your travels... oh wow! With my limited processing ability it will take me some time... okay, I am up to date sir,” the AI said.

  “Please put the chip in another system that is not connected to the ship's network Admiral. And I'll need you to jack into the device beforehand. A tablet with its WI-Fi disabled would work.”

  “Understood,” Irons replied. He turned and went to the tablet he had left on the command couch. He pulled the rear access panel off and then placed his index finger over the UART. He felt nanites surge into the chip, disabling the net access. Then he jacked into the USB port. He felt Defender send modules and scripts into the tablet. The Admiral flipped the screen over. A ready prompt was blinking. After a moment a request to unjack and plug the chip in blinked.

  “Okay,” he said, taking the chip out and plugging it into the tablet. Bounty protested briefly but then fell silent.

  “The files I put onto the tablet will check the AI's log for signs of stability and subversive programs,” Defender said.

  “Understood.”

  “The tablet has a slow processor Admiral. It will take a few minutes. You may want to attend to other duties,” Defender said.

  “Understood,” the Admiral said.

  “Can I have some more memory and processing power?” the ship AI asked in a soft voice. “Please sir?”

  “Um, sure,” the Admiral said. He held up his palm again. “Proteus, create a USB hub, a blank memory module, and two processors please.”

  “Admiral, I am low on materials,” the AI said. “And nanites.”

  Irons frowned. He looked around and then pulled the auto-gun above the hatch down. He yanked it hard enough to break it. “Use this,” he said.

  “Very well,” the AI sighed. “I'll do my best.”

  After a moment the gun dissolved. Enric, who had been sneaking glances his way stared slack-jawed.

  The Admiral caught the look. “See? Told you there are advantages,” Irons said simply. After a moment the requested electronic devices appeared, as did a few more. “What are these?” the Admiral asked, noting they were additional cameras and devices, along with blocks of unused metal.

  “For the AI. He can't be comfortable with one point of view Admiral,” Proteus said.

  Irons blinked and then shrugged. It was unusual for Proteus to go above and beyond what he requested. “Did you restock?”

  “Yes. I am rebuilding the nanite numbers now.”

  “Understood,” the Admiral replied. “Good work,” he said. He went over to the AI station and plugged the equipment in.

  “Thank you Admiral. I am working on a more thorough diagnostic and repair cycle now. I will need to sleep. I haven't had sleep in so long,” Bounty said.

  “By all means. Whatever it takes to get you back on your feet Lieutenant,” the Admiral said with a nod. He watched as the AI's image flickered with code streams. Some of the chains vanished and the tattered uniform repaired itself in places. Irons nodded again and turned to the command couch.

  He sat on the couch and looked at the tablet's screen. Defender's test had run its course. “According to this, the preliminary test determined the core AI was still sane and was salvageable,” the Admiral read off the screen. He nodded. Sprite glared at the security AI. Defender turned away, ignoring the look.

  “Progress with the crew?” The Admiral asked.

  “Everyone has been fed Admiral,” Sprite reported. “The power room watch has been sorted out. The prisoners in the brig are starting to wake. Gustov has put a guard on them to keep an eye on things.”

  “Good.”

  “Ian has put five of the most exhausted crew members on bed rest. Sindri is making another run through the ship and then he promised Ian he would eat and bed down.”

  “Is he excited about getting his hands properly dirty again?” Enric asked from his station.

  “If you mean in engineering and not scrubbing toilets, yes,” Sprite answered, sounding amused. “He's split the Chief engineer slot with Kinja, who by the way happens to be the former Chief engineer of Le More. And um, no one has told her about Franx. Fortunately she's been too busy to ask.”

  “Shit,” the Admiral sighed.

  Enric looked up with a set face. “You want me to tell her sir?” Enric asked after a moment. “I've known her longer than you sir.”

  “No, we'll do it,” Irons replied. “She has a right to know.”

  “Admiral, before you leave the bridge can you create a firewalled node for me to access Bounty? I want to upload information. A one way node if Mister Paranoid insists.”

  “For now I do. For your own safety Commander,” Defender said.

  “Fine,” Sprite replied sharply. Irons went over and put his hand up. Proteus formed a small wireless chip. He plugged it into the HUB.

  “Accessing. I’m in. My you are paranoid,” Sprite said. “You've run the diagnostic enough Lieutenant, my turn. Go to sleep mode.”

  “Aye aye ma'am,” Lieutenant Bounty replied.

  “Sleep with good dreams, Lieutenant. You'll wake a better man,” Sprite said softly as the AI's avatar closed his eye
s and went limp on the holo emitter. When she was certain the AI was under Sprite turned to Defender. “I can confirm he's out,” she said. “So you can do your thing,” she said. She and Defender ran a rapid scan, removing the torture modules.

  Defender pulled any suspicious code modules, and then a firmware reboot of some of the Lieutenant's functions to rebuild them. His avatar changed, reforming into a standard naval day uniform. The chains disappeared.

  <----*----*----*---->

  With the AI distracted, Irons turned to Enric and nodded. “You have the bridge,” he said.

  Enric looked up in alarm. He gulped, feeling a sinking sensation as the weight of command fell on his untried shoulders. “Aye sir,” he said, fighting to keep his voice from sounding weak or afraid. “I have the bridge.” He got off the tactical couch and went to the command couch, looking nervously at it as the Admiral exited the compartment. “Now what do I do with it?” the Admiral heard him say softly.

  “Just log what comes in. Check the ship's systems periodically. If there is a problem call me, Ian, or Sprite,” the Admiral replied from the open hatch.

  Enric leaned forward to see him and gave him a thumbs up. Irons nodded and went on his way.

  He stopped by the MPR. People were coming in, stopping to get a bite or to compare notes but then stopping in their tracks when they saw the video Sprite was playing. The Admiral snorted. Sprite had created a propaganda piece, pumping up the golden age of the Federation and how they could be a part of returning civilization to the galaxy. He shook his head when someone noted him in the hatch.

  “Just checking in,” he said. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. Thanks for putting it on a loop,” a rating said, indicating the video. “I missed the first part.”

  “Wasn't me,” the Admiral said. “Get some food and rest. A shower too,” he said. There were enthusiastic cheers over that idea. Irons chuckled and left.

  Twice people stopped him on his way to engineering. Each rating asked if they were going to free the other prisoners.

  “Once we get the damage control sorted out and Gustov gives the okay, we'll do that,” the Admiral replied each time.

  He got to the hatch leading into main engineering and heard a sniffle. He peeked and saw Kinja on a stool, dabbing at her eyes. Sindri was there with her. Patting her arm. “Is she okay?” Irons asked, leaning in.

  “She's...”

  “No, I'm not okay,” Kinja, said. “Why didn't someone tell me earlier?” she demanded, voice choking with sobs. “Franx deserved better!”

  “He died saving his friends and comrades lass,” Sindri said sympathetically, patting her arm. “No one could have asked for a better death.”

  “He was a good man. A great Captain,” Kinja said. She let out a slow breath, getting her emotions under control.

  “Yes, he will be missed,” the Admiral, murmured. “I liked him too. I wished I could have gotten to know him better.”

  “I... yes,” Kinja replied. There was a familiar sound. She looked down at her stomach.

  “Why don't you go get some food and rest lass? I'll man the post here until you come back,” Sindri said kindly.

  Kinja nodded and climbed off the stool. She headed to the hatch. The Admiral stepped aside. She ducked her head away in embarrassment as she passed. When she was gone he turned to Sindri. “Is she going to be okay?”

  “Yes. We'll all survive. We're survivors. Though it would be nice to get our mates back on the ships,” Sindri hinted.

  “We're working on it,” the Admiral replied. He looked around. Engineering was a mess of wiring and equipment. Panels were open here and there. It was a jumbled patch job. Apparently it worked though. “I see we have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

  Sindri looked around. “Hey, if it's not broke don't fix it just yet,” he rumbled.

  “True. Right now it's working, I will give them that. But I want this ship back to Federation naval standards.”

  “Ship shape?” Sindri asked.

  “Aye. And Bristol fashion,” Irons replied.

  “How are you going to manage that?” Sindri asked.

  “Well, as it happens, I'm an engineering Admiral,” Irons replied with a knowing smile. Slowly Sindri's face broke out into an answering smile. “We engineers are well known for working miracles. We'll get it done,” he said.

  “Aye, that we will,” Sindri replied, looking around once more, this time with an eye to what priority was needed where. “Good to know. Now be off with you now, go chase someone else. I've got things handled here,” he said, waving a meaty hand.

  The Admiral chuckled as he left.

  <----*----*----*---->

  As he passed people, some standing about, others working on something slowly, he noticed a trend, a tentative smile here or there, a nod of approval. The occasional pat on the shoulder in passing. “Get some food and rest if you need it or are off duty folks. We're getting organized now.”

  “Admiral, um...” he turned to the voice of a young man.

  “Yes?”

  “I... I was asked to work on the bow sensor array but um...”

  “A bit rough?”

  “Yes,” the young man said.

  “I'll...” the Admiral frowned. “You know what? Do you have a tablet handy?”

  Someone held one up. The Admiral nodded. “Some of you have implants. Sorry I didn't ask to give them to you ahead of time, it was a tricky situation. You can use them or a tablet to access the ship's database.”

  “We can? What for? Oh, you mean for movies and such?” the first young man said, wrinkling his nose.

  “Not just that,” the Admiral replied.

  “I see where this is going,” Sprite said. “As if I don't have enough to do. I'm setting up the websites now,” she said, sounding disgusted.

  “My AI is setting up a website, actually a series of websites to help you with the new hardware and train you on it.” A murmur grew in the group. He smiled. “I've been making these lectures and training material for years. Lieutenant Commander Sprite is putting it all together where you can access it,” the Admiral said. He felt Sprite take charge of his right arm to point it at the tablet. “There,” he said.

  The young man holding the device looked down and then blinked. He tapped at the icon.

  “Oh!” he said, smiling.

  “Right. A lot of material is there, she'll be adding more when she has free time. Everything from tutorials, technical diagrams, diagnostic steps, medical, everything we can think of. If you have a question or problem, look for it there or with your fellow crew members.”

  “I'll try it sir,” the first young man said, nodding.

  “If not, ask Chief Kinja or Sindri, or the AI. We'll lend you a hand. Remember folks; we're all in this together. Help each other. We'll get through it.”

  There was a smattering of applause. Irons waved and nodded before he went back on his way.

  <----*----*----*---->

  “Is he serious about signing on these people? He does realize he is breaking protocol correct?” Defender demanded.

  “In what way? You do remember we downloaded the changes in orders and law in Pyrax and other systems right. As the Xeno war raged through the galaxy the strictures on recruitment were changed and relaxed. Many people were trained on the job instead of going to the academy.”

  “There are so many issues though! The psychological issues alone! And the security issues!” Defender protested.

  Sprite pecked at a stubborn piece of code. It had a read only tag and kept resetting itself when she tried to undo that setting to correct it. It was in the firmware she determined, so she wrote a script to make the repair in the bios during the next reboot and then restarted the system. It rebooted and she watched as it came online and her script kicked in during the POST.

  “That's why we're going to screen them. We're going to build a biography of them, a dossier. We're going to build psych profiles of each.”

  “Okay,�
� Defender replied. “But that is beyond my job description.”

  “Mine as well. Get over it. We have a job to do, we have our orders.”

  “What about those who are on the edge?”

  “Those that we have questions about or have issues with we will bump them to the bottom of the list to give them time to decompress and adjust to therapy.”

  “Understood.”

  “We'll reassess them later. It will give them time to think things over more.”

  “What about fanatics?”

  “That's going to be an issue, as is trauma. PTSD is my worry. We'll have to find ways to spot it and hopefully treat it early. Everyone is getting therapy. We'll see how that goes.”

  “Understood,” Defender replied again.

  “Any other questions or complaints?” Sprite asked. When he didn't reply she shook her head. “Fine then, go on. The first candidates are asking for an interview. Get out of my hair and let me work. I'll be along shortly.” She turned her attention to the next bug list as Defender left.

  <----*----*----*---->

  Irons finished making his rounds over the course of an hour and then returned to the bridge. A very grateful Enric exchanged places with him.

  He smiled. “Not enjoying the hot seat?”

  “I know my limitations,” Enric said, shaking his head. “I'm a tech weenie, I freely admit it sir.”

  “Okay,” the Admiral replied, amused. He had stopped and grabbed a bite to eat, answering questions in the MPR for some time. He'd even repaired the food replicator and one of the refrigerators there. He was amused that the former prisoners had gotten into the Captain's stash of ice cream and was dishing it out to everyone.

  “Anything I need to know?” he asked.

  “No sir. All's quiet. Except for two calls to get the lead out with going over to the prison ships,” Enric reported.

  Irons looked up. “Helm, are you comfortable with setting a course there?”

  “I... think so.”

  “If not we can see if a shuttle has the range,” the Admiral replied. “I'd really like to dock with my ship first. I've got some things we can use here,” he said.

  “I... yeah, no one likes the idea of leaving their ship adrift,” Enric replied.

  “I think I've got the helm controls worked out sir,” the rating manning the con said.