Upon the Camara freighter I've organised landed on a nearby field close to campus grounds, it became immediately apparent that the vessel Alexander and Captain Roy have collected did not contain organic material, or lifeforms at all - nontheless, it was emitting both some incomprehensible radio signals and heavy radiation. The vessel was still functioning, but barely - this, and the strong radiation called for an immediate solution.
An engineer who volunteered to CSR shortly after the Ashington mission, John - Johnny - Buckland, have reconstructed a repair ship, and he offered it for CSR use. I gladly accepted his offer, as we came up with a cureagous plan - using the on-field repairing abilities of the Nanobots, we'd try to stabilise the vessel, and stop the source of leaking radiation in space, to avoid potentional injuries. Time grew short however, and while I watched from the repair ship's board cameras how the operation was going, Alexander boarded the vessel to instruct John, as well as to try to communicate with the vessel, should such a possibility occur. Captain Roy, quick-promoted to be a Senior Researcher of the CSR, promised to join the flight as soon as the final repairs of the Equinox took place.
The following dialogue and camera recordings are the ones recorded during the repair operation. For practical reasons, we won't submit the video records here - I have selected the few most memorable pictures of the operation in order to make this memoir more intriguing.
CSR|Repair.Team: Captain, can you hear us? CSR|Repair.Team: This is Alexander speaking. CSR|Repair.Team: The ship is the property of Johnny Buckland, an apprentice of us. CSR|Repair.Team: We are convicting our initial scans. CSR|Repair.Team: The probe is emitting green waves, possibly the source of the strong radiation. Xaror: *neaaaarby vessel detecte...* Xaror: *system error* CSR|Repair.Team: It seems to be present in its natural state, but with the damage, it's leaking. CSR|Repair.Team: It's emitting signals. Xaror: *initiating scan program* CSR|Repair.Team: I'm sending a cloud of nanobots to try if they can integrate to it's hull. Xaror: *system error* Xaror: *repair drones class 4 detected* Xaror: *activating tractor system* CSR|Repair.Team: The probe tractored the bots! Amazing! Xaror: *initiating rrrrrr.... repair pro* Xaror: *repair program initiated* Xaror: *repair drones depleted* CSR|Repair.Team: It's initiating a sort of self-repair mechanism. Xaror: *main processor repaired* Xaror: *nearby vessel detected* Xaror: *initiating scan program* Xaror: *unable to check database* Xaror: *database hard drive flooded* Xaror: *depleting fluids* Xaror: *failure* Xaror: *database hard drive flooded* CSR|Repair.Team: God, we did not have the time to dry it our properly yet. CSR|Repair.Team: Emitting lasers to do so. CSR|RV-Equinox: RV-Equinox reporting for duty. CSR|Repair.Team: Welcome, Captain. CSR|Repair.Team: Laser drying process initiated. Xaror: *fluid depleted* CSR|Repair.Team: It's dried out. Xaror: *starting database hard drive* Xaror: *complete* Xaror: *initiating scan program* Xaror: *scan complete* Xaror: *vessel "Repairship" already in database* CSR|Repair.Team: Signals are strengthening. Xaror: *initiating scan program* CSR|Repair.Team: It's emitting a sort of scan signature itself! Xaror: *vessel "Pilgrim" already in database* Xaror: *no unknown vesseld detected* Xaror: *initiating cruise engine* Xaror: *failure* Xaror: *engine damaged* Xaror: *initiating repair program* Xaror: *insufficient repair drones* CSR|Repair.Team: It's still has a haul breach. There. CSR|Repair.Team: Emitting additional drones. Xaror: *repair drones detected* Xaror: *initiating tractor system* Xaror: *repair program initiated* Xaror: *report: engine repaired* Xaror: *report: outer hull repaired* Xaror: *report: personality core partially repaired* CSR|Repair.Team: Signals changing. Xaror: *activating communication program* Xaror: "This is the data collection drone "Xaror X-ATM092." CSR|Repair.Team: It's emitting audial waves! Xaror: "Please specify your question." CSR|Repair.Team: It's asking questions, Captain. We've found...I don't know what have we found. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Repair team, your is done here. Xaror: "This is the data collection drone "Xaror X-ATM092." Xaror: "Access level 1 granted." CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Please contact with the professor, or with Alexander. Xaror: "Please specify your question." CSR|Repair.Team: Alexander: Copy. I'm remaining here with the ship. CSR|Repair.Team: To Vessel Xaror: What are you? Xaror: "This is the series U8 data collection drone "Xaror X-ATM092." Xaror: "This vessel has been constructed in the automated facility "BGH251F2." CSR|Repair.Team: Are you aware of your surroundings? CSR|Repair.Team: Captain,feel free to ask. Xaror: "Location: Planet Cambridge." Xaror: "System: Cambridge." Xaror: "A Bretonian system." Xaror: "Sirius Sector." Xaror: "Please specify." CSR|Repair.Team: Who operated the facility which constructed you? Xaror: "The automated facility "BGH251F2" is being controled by the construction program "SAM08G." CSR|Repair.Team: Who wrote the construction program SAM08G? Xaror: "The construction program "SAM08G has been created by the area control program "BIS8." CSR|RV-Equinox: I don't think we can make sense of this... CSR|Repair.Team: Agreed. Vessel Xaror, what was your mission in Newcastle? CSR|RV-Equinox: This drone doesn't know who made it, or doesn't want to tell us. Xaror: "Last mission: Exploration of the unused Slomon K'Hara installation within Newcastle." CSR|RV-Equinox: How's the mission progress? Xaror: "Mission incomplete." CSR|Repair.Team: It used the expression "Slomon K'Hara". It surely has background information. CSR|RV-Equinox: Checking data... CSR|Repair.Team: What was the reason of this incompletence? Xaror: "The Slomon K'Hara installation #5 is being protected by a scanning shield." Xaror: "No exploration possible." CSR|Repair.Team: Are you aware of that you were damaged? That it was us who have repaired you? Xaror: "Please keep a minimum distance from this AICD unit." CSR|Repair.Team: Define the term AICD. Xaror: "AICD: Aritificial Intelligence Core Drone." CSR|Repair.Team: Captain. *whistles* CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: I found somehting interesting abozt this Slomon K'hara, in one of the older IMG files. It's related with the Nomad. CSR|RV-Equinox: Interesting. CSR|Repair.Team: Indeed. Slomon K'Hara is the term used by xenoarcheologists in the Institute to refer to the Nomads. CSR|Repair.Team: But this vessel was surveilling a Nomad facility, it can't be one. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: As I told you before - an Artificial Intelligence. But why would it survey a Nomad facility? I can't understand. Xaror: *database error* Xaror: *information blocker detected* CSR|Repair.Team: We shall ask. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: AICD, specify it. CSR|Repair.Team: What is the source of your information blockage? Xaror: "The database cannot be checked for the searching parameters "Slomon K'Hara." Xaror: "implanted object detected* Xaror: *self scan initiated* Xaror: *removing object* Xaror: *failure* CSR|RV-Equinox: Someone doesn't want us to know more. CSR|Repair.Team: Vessel. The unknown material you scanned are nanobots. CSR|Repair.Team: They were emitted by us to repair you. CSR|Repair.Team: Removing them would be hazardous. Xaror: *unknown object detected* Xaror: *signature: Das Wilde* CSR|RV-Equinox: No, it's not the nanobots. CSR|RV-Equinox: Must be something different. CSR|RV-Equinox: Can we remove that thing? CSR|Repair.Team: I see...The blockage itself is what must be of Wilde origin. CSR|Repair.Team: Vessel Xaror, let us help. CSR|Repair.Team: We have special repair and engineering equipment onboard. Xaror: "Every intent to deal damage to this vessel will be answered with lethal force." CSR|Repair.Team: We do not intend to do damage, Vessel. Xaror: *opening hatch* CSR|Repair.Team: Emitting repair lasers. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Repair team, procced with extreme caution. CSR|Repair.Team: Copy.
Xaror: *unknown object damaged* Xaror: *depleting* Xaror: *ion particles detected* Xaror: *initiating repair program* CSR|RV-Equinox: Emergency, repair vessel, get back ASAP! Xaror: *repair complete* CSR|Repair.Team: Equinox, you hear me? The particle dropped by the vessel caused an ion particle buildup in our systems. CSR|RV-Equinox: Yeah, our scanners received the emission too. CSR|RV-Equinox: The scanners went black for a second, nothing serious. CSR|Repair.Team: Copy. No permanent damage to ship hull or systems.
Xaror: *initiating self scan* Xaror: *scan complete* Xaror: *subroutines powering up* CSR|Repair.Team: Captain, it's emitting stronger signals than ever before. CSR|Repair.Team: That blockade was the cause. Xaror: "Thank you for the repair of this AICD vessel. Can I do something for you?" CSR|Repair.Team: Probably it was also what emitted the strong radiation waves, not the damage. Xaror: "Why am I here anyway?" CSR|Repair.Team: To AICD vessel, this is Alexander Giles, independent Head Researcher of Cambridge Stellar Research. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: The radiation was emitted by the damaged weapons, I think. CSR|Repair.Team: You've had an unexpected collision with one of our surveillance probes in the Newcastle system. CSR|Repair.Team: We tractored you in, brought you here to Cambridge and repaired you. Xaror: *personality core malfunctioning* Xaror: "Report: Personaly core heavily damaged" Xaror: "Temporary powerup possible" CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Then power up temporarily the personality core. Xaror: *error* Xaror: *personality core still cooling* CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Hell.... CSR|Repair.Team: Emitting cooling waves. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: AICD, is the cooling system working properily? Xaror: "Damaged systems list/-lsit_long : Personality core; Xaror: *cooldown complete* Xaror: *powering up personality core* Xaror: *powerup complete* Xaror: *subroutines initiated* Xaror: "It seems this vessel has been heavily damaged. I highly recommend transferring my program into another AICD." CSR|Repair.Team: We don't have the resources. CSR|Repair.Team: We can temporarily store your databank. CSR|Repair.Team: We will need your instructions on how to repair you. CSR|Repair.Team: You are the first... AICD we have encountered. Xaror: "Then this vessel should be kept operational. Once damaged on this level it cannot be fully repaired." Xaror: "My program might be too big for your database." CSR|Repair.Team: Then we shall do our best. Do you know on whose behalf am I speaking on? Xaror: "No." CSR|Repair.Team: I am Alexander Giles, Head Researcher of Cambridge Stellar Research. Xaror: "Okay." Xaror: *saving valuable data* CSR|Repair.Team: You collided with one of our surveillance vessels in the Newcastle system. CSR|Repair.Team: We tractored you in, and brought you here, and helped reinitiate your systems. Xaror: "I thank you for that." Xaror: "I find a lot of data in my database I didn't have when my program has been activated the last time. Xaror: "This AICD must have been running on it's basic functions." CSR|Repair.Team: It indeed was. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Can you send the data to the RV-Equinox? Xaror: "The data can be transferred. But that might take a while." CSR|Repair.Team: Captain, best to do that on the planet. CSR|Repair.Team: We have spoken to you multiple times, but you - is it a you? - did not seem to react. Xaror: *personality core overheating* CSR|Repair.Team: AICD, turn it off before damaging your systems. CSR|Repair.Team: Are you willing to come back with us to Cambridge? CSR|Repair.Team: We would like to initiate a mutual share of information with you. CSR|Repair.Team: And cooperation. Xaror: "Please keep this vessel operational. If you manage to push forward into the distant Omicrons this vessel will activate an automated system that leads it back to the facility "BGH251F2." CSR|Repair.Team: Copy. Xaror: "Please take keep this vessel ope... [static]" Xaror: "This is the data colelction drone "Xaror X-ATM092." Xaror: "Please specify your question." CSR|Repair.Team: It's back to it's basic functions. CSR|Repair.Team: Personality core have turned off. CSR|Repair.Team: Captain, tractor it and take it back to Cambridge. CSR|Repair.Team: It's safe enough to move now. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: Alexander, one of my engineers says, that he may be able to patch up the cooling system. CSR|RV-Equinox: Cpt.Roy: understood. CSR|RV-Equinox: Initiating tractor beam. CSR|Repair.Team: Copy.
The following repair of the drone went much more subtly than originally predicted. Our programmers managed to restore the drone's functions, but they did not manage with it's memory bank - the drone used an encryption and programming language that was entirely different from what they have ever seen before, and it was a small wonder itself that such efforts could be done.
After the drones' eventual restart, I rushed to the scene and finally made contact with what seemed to be a sentient, artificial intelligence drone, reported as been sighted in various locations of the Sirius Sector, but with they motives and origins of these devices remaining unknown - even their sightings have been dismissed as fairy tales originating from drunk freelancers. I myself have not believed in the existence of such a vessel before - but now, here it was, right in front of my observing eyes.
And what more: after the vessel learnt about how we rescued it, and about our goals, it offered it's help - an undertaking that have most likely never occured before in history. With the vessel, which named itself Xaror now flying under our banner, Cambridge Stellar Research have yet again fulfilled a dream I never ever sought to achieve.
Who knows what else lies beyond the depth of the stars?
The Cambridge Stellar Research group's second mission turned out to be success, but at a very high cost. The object was planet Waterford, in Leeds system. It's an ice planet with temperatures ranging between -74°C and -58°C. The planet's surface is covered by millions of wonderful ice sculptures, which serve as decoration for Bowex official banquets. Otherwise the sculptures origin was unknown. Until the CSR landed there and came up with a theory regarding the ice.
On the 13th of May 818 the scientists set out on the Equinox with Professor Dawson. The group found a cave, with a tunnel leading down to 20kms depth. As the professor wanted to analyze the water found down the Xaror came up with the blueprints of a drone, which were built in two days on the Equinox. It gathered the necessary samples and while exiting the cave earthquakes caused a cave-in, covering the professor himself, Alexander and two other, a scientist and an engineer.
With the help of lasers they managed to cut a new tunnel in the ice, but it was too late for Calista Bronn, main engineer of the Equinox who was there because of the drone. The others were transported to Med.Force.Two, which happened to be in a nearby system. Currently they're attended at Freeport 1.
With the loss of the four people the research slowed down, but the AICD managed to came up with the best possibility. The cause could be an asteroid made of sulphur which upon entering the atmosphere melted, and caused the surface ice to melt too. The materials were scattered all over the planet and the erosion didn't manage to destroy the ice, where there was a higher concentration of those materials. The wind eventually cuts it's way through the ice leaving the sculptures of slightly different materials.
***Personal log entry***
Cpt. Roy Khan
Location: CSR|RV-Equinox, Planet Cambridge, Cambridge, Kingdom of Bretonia
After finishing the research of Planet Waterford we can focus on other important things. The Temporary Autonomous Zoners of Baffin granted a sum of 165 Million credits to our "fledgling Stellar Research Division". The objective is Goddess Geode, in Baffin. We will have to examine the resonance frequencies, and the energies focused and amplified by the geode. It will be interesting.
There are also there are organisms of which the Zoners think that they might be proto-nomad in the system, and as we don't have specialists in the field of biology I contacted with the woman whom we met back at planet Leeds. Philosophiæ Doctor Moore, or Vii will be a great addition to our team. At least I hope. But I'm sure she's very talented and she knows what she's doing.
The resupply will be finished tomorrow, and we will immediately set out to Baffin. Xaror has already updated our navigation systems with the shortest and safest route. I'm glad we have that AICD. It helps in a lot of things.
***Log entry***
Cambridge Stellar Research
Surveillance mission 4, final report
Captain Roy Khan
Location: Pennsylvania system
The surveillance of planet Lansdale for Michael Henderson of the Deep Space Enterprises was a success.
The travel from Baffin system to Pennsylvania was a clear trip, without any trouble. We met with the Sightseer as fast as we entered the system, and it led us to our destination. We immediately scanned the planet and landed nearby. The scans showed increased radiation, so the first team didn't entered the structure, just mapped the surroundings.
We sent down three other groups to take all data possible, and document everything before we hand it over to the tourist guys. Several data disks were found, blueprints, personal logs etc. We're still processing on them. Also we took all 14 bodies we found there, plus one humanoid. He was a bounty hunter, who ended up in the ventilation system who knows how...
*Log entry ends.***
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
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