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One of the shuttles returned from trading on a friendly planet.
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1
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The shuttle returned with a few supplies they didn’t need right now, but it added to their stockpile...
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2
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It meant that the freighter base was being used for storage.
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3
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“Did the shuttle bring back any useful news?”
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4
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“There is the same broadcast wanting you to contact the Duchess. There is also a new one where a rep...
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5
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Kainda laughs,
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6
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“To interview me? That is funny.”
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7
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“Why is that funny?”
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8
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“When I was the communication specialist, reporters wanted me to talk about some policy or event, bu...
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9
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“Do you want to talk to them?”
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10
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“Let me think about it. Also, how would this be set up?”
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11
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They almost finished loading the shuttle for another planet trading run a few cycles later.
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12
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Kainda says,
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13
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“Let’s set up the reporter interview thing. The shuttle can send a message. To do this, I want this ...
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14
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“Captain, I recommend we jump in at a distance like 100,000 kilometers. Radio communication will wor...
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15
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“I like that part. The shuttle will need to return with confirmation that the reporter will be there...
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16
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At the designated time, Deal Hunter jumps, landing just over 93,000 kilometers from the other ships.
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17
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There are no other ships in the area.
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18
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“Captain, starting the vid, and we will be slowly increasing the distance between ships.”
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19
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Kainda has her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
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20
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She usually wears it in a low bun so that her helmet will fit.
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21
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This time, the ponytail is high on the back of her head.
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22
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She put on makeup that was part of the trade supplies they had received.
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23
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The vid comes up, and Kainda sees a man.
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24
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He appears average, with graying temples, a small nose, and a hint of makeup.
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25
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Kainda is not using the modified vid feed.
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26
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The reporter can see her actual face.
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27
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Kainda smiles, saying,
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28
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“Hello.”
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29
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“Hello, Princess. I am Albert McGovern, reporter for Wuhan System News.”
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30
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“Hello, Albert. You wanted to ask me some questions.”
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31
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“Can you tell me why you are so far away and why you are moving away from me?”
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32
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“We don’t need to be next to each other, and I want to have at least 100,000 kilometers of distance....
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33
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“I would prefer if you were closer so that the interactive radio delay is minimized.”
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34
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“My smile won’t change that fast, and this interview should be a question and then an answer. The re...
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35
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“Why are you using Warbot AI in your attack ships?”
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36
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“While I have old Warbots for bodyguards, I am not using Warbot technology for the attack ships. I k...
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37
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“The reporting from the pirates and the records show the ships using advanced tactics.”
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38
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Kainda smiles again,
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39
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“You are saying the only way to have advanced tactics is with a Warbot AI? That would suggest that t...
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40
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She shrugs her shoulders, saying,
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41
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“You are calling them incompetent.”
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42
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Albert doesn’t show any emotion and goes to the next question.
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43
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This causes Kainda’s viewpoint to change.
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44
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An interview with a reporter should have some rapport; he should try to engage her to get her to rev...
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45
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She answers the next question with a bit of a sassy response, and there is no reaction.
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46
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Hunter tells her,
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47
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“The ship is moving toward us. Now it is accelerating.”
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48
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Kainda is looking at Albert’s face, realizing she is talking to an AI.
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49
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She says,
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50
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“Jump, jump, jump.”
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51
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As she says the last jump, she sees a flash in the viewing window just as they jump.
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52
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<<<>>>
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53
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The ship lands, and she is in darkness.
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54
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No lights from any control panel, and no room lights.
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55
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She hears clanking.
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56
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“Hunter?”
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57
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She feels that the air is stable, but she needs light.
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58
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She attempts to access the wrist controls of her armor to activate the shoulder lights.
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59
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The wrist panel is completely blank.
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60
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She knows how to reset the suit systems and starts pushing the buttons.
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61
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After the reset, she presses the buttons to turn on the suit’s shoulder lights, allowing her to see.
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62
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She leaves the chair and heads to the galley, then to the cargo hold area.
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63
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Everything is off.
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64
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The door to the cargo hold won’t work.
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65
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It needs power to function.
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66
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Without power, she will have to do the manual process.
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67
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First, she needs to find Nanny, who should be in the crew area somewhere.
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68
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She finds Nanny, and it is floating around the area, completely shut down.
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69
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The clank she heard was Nanny floating into the wall.
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70
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Now she is concerned.
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71
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The training she received indicated that the ship should automatically reset and restore power.
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72
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Nothing is automatically resetting.
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73
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This means that all the reactors have shut down.
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74
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Without one reactor running, the rest of the ship can’t start.
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75
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Kainda is numb.
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76
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What happened, and what is she supposed to do?
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77
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They conducted all the training with the ship’s main power.
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78
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Now she has to figure out how to start a reactor on a dead ship floating somewhere in space.
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79
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“Wait. The Warbots. They should restart.”
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80
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Their design allows them to handle whatever happens.
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81
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Heading back to the cargo door, she searches and finds the manual release to open the door.
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82
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Now she needs to consider the condition of the cargo hold.
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83
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Is it pressurized or a vacuum?
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84
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If it is a vacuum, she won’t be able to open the door.
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85
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With the systems off, she has no way to tell.
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86
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Pushing the release for the large handle, it comes loose.
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87
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If there is no air in the cargo hold, she won’t be able to move the door.
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88
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It is a safety feature to prevent people from killing themselves.
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89
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If there is air on the other side, she will be able to move the door back the few millimeters it nee...
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90
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Then she can move it to the side of the opening on the track.
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91
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Her heart is racing, and she is breathing quickly.
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92
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If she can’t get to the Warbots, what will she do?
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93
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She pulls on the large handle, and the door moves.
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94
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She let out her breath, realizing she had been tense from the prospect of not being able to open the...
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95
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The door is hard to move.
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96
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She shoves it, curses, and shoves more.
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97
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Getting through, she heads to the stairs and the mid-section where the Warbots are stored.
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98
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She is floating instead of using her magnetic boots.
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99
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Floating is faster.
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100
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No Warbots are active.
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101
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She goes over the rail and floats toward the worker robot she sees.
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102
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Checking and finding no activity.
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103
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Now she needs to think.
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104
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She needs a plan to activate the robot or focus on restoring the ship’s power.
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105
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If she starts a robot, she will have more options.
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106
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Now, how does she do that?
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107
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She is talking as if Hunter or Nanny will respond.
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108
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“The Warbots are supposed to reset. Maybe I need to do something.”
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109
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She realizes I’m focused on the Warbots because I have been told more about them than any other type...
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110
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Going back to the Warbots, she pulls on one, trying to get it away from the wall.
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111
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With no magnet clamps active, the robot flies toward her, and they collide with the rail, causing bo...
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112
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“This really sucks. Now I need to deal with this.”
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113
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After a second, she waits during the tumble and pushes the Warbot away.
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114
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This causes her to move toward the deck.
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115
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She activates her magnetic boots, touches, and sticks.
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116
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“That was good.”
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117
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Now she has a Warbot floating around the cargo hold.
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118
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She gets back to the group of Warbots and grabs the next one.
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119
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Pulling it off gently, the magnetic boots keep her from flying away.
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120
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She shifts the Warbot onto its belly on the walkway.
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121
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Reaching the base of the head area at the back, she accesses the panel she had seen used when they i...
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122
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She has never seen inside the panel before.
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123
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Inside the panel is a small connector they used for imprinting and a tiny push button.
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124
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Shrugging, she pushes the button.
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125
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Nothing happens.
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126
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She pushes it again for several seconds, and a light above the button turns on.
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127
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She closes the panel and stands.
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128
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After thirty seconds, the Warbot moves.
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129
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It shifts in zero gravity and applies its magnetic boots.
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130
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Kainda asks,
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131
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“Can you hear me?”
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132
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The Warbot replies in a simple, neutral voice,
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133
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“Yes.”
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134
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“Do you know how to reset Warbots like you?”
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135
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“Yes.”
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136
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There are four Warbots left on the wall.
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137
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“Go to the end Warbot and reset them one at a time toward me.”
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138
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Knowing what to do, she walks to the closest Warbot, reaches back, opens the panel, and presses the ...
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139
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She moves to the next one, completes the reset, and then stops.
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140
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Turning around, she looks for the floating Warbot in the hold.
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141
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In a moment, five Warbots are waiting for her.
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142
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She points at the one closest, then to the floating Warbot and says,
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143
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“Jump and grab that Warbot and do a reset.”
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144
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She points to the next Warbot and says,
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145
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“Come with me.”
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146
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Using her magnetic boots, she walks down the stairs to get to the reactor area.
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147
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She knows where it is located, but nothing else.
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148
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She uses the manual release for the door and then says,
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149
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“Open that door.”
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150
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The Warbot grabs the door and makes it look effortless as it opens it.
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151
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Kainda enters the cramped area of the reactor and the jump drive.
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152
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There is a control panel in front of each that is dark.
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153
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She turns to the Warbot and asks,
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154
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“Do you know how to turn this reactor on?”
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155
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“No.”
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156
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The room has the ship’s warp drive and the main reactor.
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157
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Because Deal Hunter is using salvaged parts, the room is full.
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158
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The warp drive is located on the right, and the reactor is situated on the left.
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159
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Each is shaped as a cuboid with the wide part going from floor to ceiling.
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160
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The length is from the wall to the back of the ship.
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161
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She is looking at the end of each with a control panel in front of each.
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162
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She looks around for any switches, buttons, or, best of all, a manual.
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163
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There is nothing.
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164
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She is getting frustrated and blurts out,
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165
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“How do I get the power on?”
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166
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The Warbot comes into the cramped room, reaches up to a panel, and opens it.
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167
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Inside, there are multiple switches.
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168
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They are not on or off; they are in the middle.
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169
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“Warbot, what are those switches?”
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170
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“Emergency battery circuit breakers.”
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171
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“Why didn’t you show that when I asked how to turn on the reactor?”
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|
172
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“I don’t know how to turn on the reactor. I have never been programmed with this model’s information...
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173
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The reactor is so much newer than the Warbot that it doesn’t know what to do.
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174
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Frustrated, she takes a breath and then looks up at the panel, trying to figure out which one she ne...
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175
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She sees writing on the door panel, but it is too high for her to reach.
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176
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Frustrated, she turns off her magnetic boots and floats up to the panel, saying,
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177
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“Hunter must get me trained on this stuff.”
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178
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On the legend, number one says
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179
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“Reactor.”
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|
180
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She reaches over and flips the switch to the on position.
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181
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The reactor control panel flashes, then displays information before showing a page with graphs and t...
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182
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She pushes back down to the deck and activates her magnetic boots.
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183
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Stepping to the control panel, she reads.
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184
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There is no indication or resemblance to a
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185
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“turn on”
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186
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or
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187
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“power on”
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188
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symbol.
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189
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She takes a deep breath as she looks.
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190
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There is a slider labeled
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191
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“Manual Pwr”
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192
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, which is currently set to zero.
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193
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She puts her gloved finger on it and slides it up, saying,
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194
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|
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“What the hell. It can’t be worse.”
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195
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As she slides her finger, the bar moves, and the other parts of the console start to change.
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196
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She moves the slider halfway up and then removes her finger, waiting.
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197
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The numbers are jumping around, and after about a minute, they stop jumping and move slowly.
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198
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|
|
Talking to herself, she says,
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|
199
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|
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“We didn’t blow up, but nothing is working.”
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|
200
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|
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As she says this, the room lights come on.
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201
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|
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“YES! That’s what I’m talking about! I can figure this out. Warbot, go to the cargo hold and wait.”
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202
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|
|
The Warbot turns and goes out the door with her.
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|
203
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She follows and sees that the door control panel is working.
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204
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She hits the switch to close the door.
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205
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The door closes normally, and the manual release snaps back to the normal closed position.
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206
|
|
|
Now she heads back up to the crew area.
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No audio
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207
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|
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She finds Nanny and looks for the access panel at the base of the head.
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208
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|
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It is not there.
|
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209
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|
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Growling,
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210
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|
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“Crap, they aren’t the same.”
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No audio
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211
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|
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She searches.
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No audio
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212
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|
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She finds a tiny panel at the base of the torso.
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213
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|
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Inside, she sees a tiny reset button she can barely press.
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214
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|
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She thinks this is taking too long.
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No audio
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215
|
|
|
Warbrain will start up and needs to be given the start-up information.
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No audio
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216
|
|
|
As soon as Nanny is on, she says,
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|
217
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|
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“Come with me, I need to give instructions to Warbrain.”
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No audio
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|
218
|
|
|
She goes to the access door and can’t get one latch to release.
|
No audio
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|
219
|
|
|
It probably hasn’t moved in decades.
|
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|
220
|
|
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“Nanny, can you open that latch?”
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No audio
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|
221
|
|
|
She backs up so Nanny can get in.
|
No audio
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|
222
|
|
|
Nanny has to shift to use the wall as leverage to open the latch.
|
No audio
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|
223
|
|
|
When it opens, Kainda says,
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|
224
|
|
|
“Go inside.”
|
No audio
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|
225
|
|
|
She floats into the room to see four racks of electronic gear.
|
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|
226
|
|
|
An extra rack is added on one side with cables neatly wrapped and routed to other racks.
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No audio
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|
227
|
|
|
“Nanny, which one is the Warbot AI?”
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|
228
|
|
|
Nanny points to the extra rack.
|
No audio
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|
229
|
|
|
“Do you have the instructions I am supposed to tell Warbrain?”
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|
230
|
|
|
“They are not written.”
|
No audio
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|
231
|
|
|
“Tell me the instructions.”
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No audio
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|
232
|
|
|
“I can only tell the captain the instructions.”
|
No audio
|
|
233
|
|
|
Kainda’s face flushes.
|
No audio
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|
234
|
|
|
Her fists clench while she looks at the robot standing there.
|
No audio
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|
235
|
|
|
This is a nightmare.
|
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|
236
|
|
|
She takes several deep breaths and then tries something.
|
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|
237
|
|
|
“The ship AI, Hunter, is offline. Can you get the AI back online?”
|
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|
|
238
|
|
|
“The ship’s AI is a combination of three units. My data only contains information to bring one AI on...
|
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|
|
239
|
|
|
“How about you turn on the one AI you know how to do?”
|
No audio
|
|
240
|
|
|
Nanny walks to one rack and pushes several buttons.
|
No audio
|
|
241
|
|
|
The lights flash for a few seconds, then a red error light comes on, and the other lights turn off.
|
No audio
|
|
242
|
|
|
“Nanny, what is happening?”
|
No audio
|
|
243
|
|
|
“The AI is not starting; there is an error.”
|
No audio
|
|
244
|
|
|
Kainda is standing with her magnetic boots.
|
No audio
|
|
245
|
|
|
She clenches her fists and tries to stomp her foot.
|
No audio
|
|
246
|
|
|
“What can you do?”
|
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|
|
247
|
|
|
“The Warbot AI needs to be started first.”
|
No audio
|
|
248
|
|
|
“But you won’t tell me the commands. Who is your captain?”
|
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|
249
|
|
|
“My captain is Alec Weston.”
|
No audio
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|
250
|
|
|
“He sent me here while he is working on the reactor. He must focus on getting the systems up and run...
|
No audio
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|
251
|
|
|
“I can say the instructions for the captain.”
|
No audio
|
|
252
|
|
|
Kainda nods and says,
|
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|
253
|
|
|
“Begin.”
|
No audio
|
|
254
|
|
|
Nanny states commands.
|
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|
|
255
|
|
|
They are not sentences; they are more a string of words.
|
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|
|
256
|
|
|
After saying things several times and then pausing, the commands change.
|
No audio
|
|
257
|
|
|
There is more meaning in the sentence.
|
No audio
|
|
258
|
|
|
Here are a few verbs with various configuration statements.
|
No audio
|
|
259
|
|
|
Kainda is looking around at the other racks.
|
No audio
|
|
260
|
|
|
As Nanny makes statements, parts of the racks would light up.
|
No audio
|
|
261
|
|
|
Five minutes later, Kainda hears Hunter’s voice,
|
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|
|
262
|
|
|
“Hello, Captain.”
|
No audio
|
|
263
|
|
|
Kainda lets out her breath, almost ready to cry.
|
No audio
|
|
264
|
|
|
“Hello, Hunter. I am going to the bridge.”
|
No audio
|
|
265
|
|
|
She gets to the captain’s chair.
|
No audio
|
|
266
|
|
|
Talking in an assertive voice, she states,
|
No audio
|
|
267
|
|
|
“Tell me the status of the ship. Is there any major damage or systems I need to worry about and fix?...
|
No audio
|
|
268
|
|
|
“Captain, we are dealing with everything. There is work to bring systems back online and fully opera...
|
No audio
|
|
269
|
|
|
“I want to understand what happened, but first I want to complain. That was a complete disaster for ...
|
No audio
|
|
270
|
|
|
“Captain, please.”
|
No audio
|
|
271
|
|
|
Kainda yells,
|
No audio
|
|
272
|
|
|
“DON’T TALK! I am not finished. The one thing I had training on was to give commands to Warbrain in ...
|
No audio
|
|
273
|
|
|
“I apologize, Captain.”
|
No audio
|
|
274
|
|
|
“Stop! Nothing would have worked if I hadn’t had Warbots on the ship. I started with them and could ...
|
No audio
|
|
275
|
|
|
“We will correct everything, Captain.”
|
No audio
|
|
276
|
|
|
“Damn right you will. I want training in dealing with these kinds of emergencies before anything els...
|
No audio
|
|
277
|
|
|
“You are upset, Captain, and it is expected, but this is such a rare event you shouldn’t be worried....
|
No audio
|
|
278
|
|
|
“I disagree. That ship did something. I saw a flash just before we jumped. If they can do it once, t...
|
No audio
|
|
279
|
|
|
“No sensors recorded anything. Everything just turned off.”
|
No audio
|
|
280
|
|
|
“What could cause that? There must be a way the military can do that.”
|
No audio
|
|
281
|
|
|
“It could only be a large electromagnetic pulse, which can only be generated by a nuclear explosion....
|
No audio
|
|
282
|
|
|
“Hunter, how did a news company get a nuclear electromagnetic pulse device?”
|
No audio
|
|
283
|
|
|
“Unknown Captain.”
|
No audio
|
|
284
|
|
|
“Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves?”
|
No audio
|
|
285
|
|
|
“We would need to add shielding and some equipment. We would not recommend this course of action. Ad...
|
No audio
|
|
286
|
|
|
“Why don’t we hear about these devices?”
|
No audio
|
|
287
|
|
|
“They are nuclear and violate multiple sector war conventions. Any factory that can produce one is s...
|
No audio
|
|
288
|
|
|
Let’s return to base and send an attack ship to the Wuhan system to hear what the news team is sayin...
|
No audio
|
|
289
|
|
|
<<<>>>
|
No audio
|
|
290
|
|
|
An attack ship heads to the Wuhan system to find the authentic version of Albert McGovern.
|
No audio
|
|
291
|
|
|
It will stay for two cycles, getting news, pirate traffic, and anything else.
|
No audio
|
|
292
|
|
|
It will be far from traffic routes to avoid detection and will jump if anything approaches.
|
No audio
|
|
293
|
|
|
During that time, Kainda remains angry from the attack and is undergoing training in every aspect of...
|
No audio
|
|
294
|
|
|
She has Hunter update Nanny’s programming to have her as captain and then has Nanny shut down and re...
|
No audio
|
|
295
|
|
|
During the training, she gives Hunter notes to have simple instructions on permanent cards at key lo...
|
No audio
|
|
296
|
|
|
She emphasized this while learning how to start the reactor.
|
No audio
|
|
297
|
|
|
The way she started it worked, but it would have eventually shut down when it reached a safety thres...
|
No audio
|
|
298
|
|
|
When the attack ship returned, Kainda was eager to hear what was being said.
|
No audio
|
|
299
|
|
|
“Captain, the attack ship monitored the public news feeds, and there was no information related to a...
|
No audio
|
|
300
|
|
|
“Interesting. Okay, Hunter. Instead of thinking things are improving, that attack makes it worse for...
|
No audio
|
|
301
|
|
|
“We have no information.”
|
No audio
|
|
302
|
|
|
“I am thinking the original situation, the one of me getting attacked on a yacht, is still happening...
|
No audio
|
|
303
|
|
|
“Captain, we can discuss the possibilities and then create a plan. The typical crime vids talk about...
|
No audio
|
|
304
|
|
|
“Not money, I don’t have any except through you. Not love, I wasn’t allowed to have any suitors. I c...
|
No audio
|
|
305
|
|
|
“It could be something else, but following your examples from before, we don’t have a plan because w...
|
No audio
|
|
306
|
|
|
“That is good. We will begin by creating a plan to gather information and then determine the next st...
|
No audio
|
|
307
|
|
|
<<<>>>
|
No audio
|
|
308
|
|
|
Nanny says,
|
No audio
|
|
309
|
|
|
“Captain, we are ready to walk you through the training of the ship’s atmospheric and water systems....
|
No audio
|
|
310
|
|
|
They go down a hallway through an airtight door.
|
No audio
|
|
311
|
|
|
Kainda says,
|
No audio
|
|
312
|
|
|
“This is the back part behind the crew area. I know there is equipment back here, but I’ve never see...
|
No audio
|
|
313
|
|
|
“I will walk you through the overview and let you ask questions.”
|
No audio
|
|
314
|
|
|
The walkway is in the center of the ship.
|
No audio
|
|
315
|
|
|
When they get to the back section, there is equipment to the left and right.
|
No audio
|
|
316
|
|
|
Some are floor-to-ceiling.
|
No audio
|
|
317
|
|
|
Several items look new and out of place.
|
No audio
|
|
318
|
|
|
“We have been replacing and upgrading the system with salvage. When you came on board, multiple devi...
|
No audio
|
|
319
|
|
|
“Why is that an issue?”
|
No audio
|
|
320
|
|
|
“When Deal Hunter was first launched, ships used biologicals instead of robots. Robots were expensiv...
|
No audio
|
|
321
|
|
|
“Ships today use robots, so is that a problem for the equipment?”
|
No audio
|
|
322
|
|
|
“Yes, because today’s ships have equipment sized for one person, the captain. Those ships have small...
|
No audio
|
|
323
|
|
|
“That makes some sense. How does it work?”
|
No audio
|
|
324
|
|
|
“Because we have a fusion reactor, we can apply energy to processes and get efficiency from that sta...
|
No audio
|
|
325
|
|
|
“Is that why this part of the ship is warmer?”
|
No audio
|
|
326
|
|
|
“The reactor and jump drive are below. The engines are around us, and this equipment, so this area w...
|
No audio
|
|
327
|
|
|
“Walk me through the equipment.”
|
No audio
|
|
328
|
|
|
“We will start with the air supply. There are two tanks, one for nitrogen and the other for oxygen. ...
|
No audio
|
|
329
|
|
|
“Oxygen is for me?”
|
No audio
|
|
330
|
|
|
“And for some cooking items. We store the bulk material in a cold liquid form, ensuring a sufficient...
|
No audio
|
|
331
|
|
|
“Water is important, but the tank you pointed to is very small.”
|
No audio
|
|
332
|
|
|
“Correct. Water in liquid form will slosh in a tank during maneuvers and could cause a problem. We n...
|
No audio
|
|
333
|
|
|
“Okay, that is the basics for air and water. Now, what about the other equipment?”
|
No audio
|
|
334
|
|
|
“All waste from the ship comes here and is separated into liquid and solid. Solids are separated int...
|
No audio
|
|
335
|
|
|
With that, Nanny shows Kainda a ten-centimeter cube.
|
No audio
|
|
336
|
|
|
She sees plastic in various colors, all mixed.
|
No audio
|
|
337
|
|
|
“What happens with the cube?”
|
No audio
|
|
338
|
|
|
“We have a small airlock we can use to jettison them; however, most often we take them to a containe...
|
No audio
|
|
339
|
|
|
“That’s why there is this odd door to the cargo hold area with a ladder.”
|
No audio
|
|
340
|
|
|
“Correct. Now, Captain, the training part. If everything is shut down, you will have approximately 2...
|
No audio
|