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"Good to see you finally made it, Lieutenant Perez. I could really use your help with fine tuning the Warp core. We have an hour at best to get this ship capable of reaching it's top speed. Hop to it!" And then she continued on her way.

"Aye, ma'am."

Julio grabbed his toolkit and rushed to the warp core, but when he reached the hulking mass of glowing machinery, he hesitated. He was used to dealing with hydraulics, with intakes and outputs, with fuel and electricity. Hell, he even considered nuclear engines to be fairly easy, on account of their superficial similarity to certain types of advanced jet and rocket engines. But this "Warp Core" was radically different from any other machine he had ever worked with. A device not merely capable of giving a push or moving itself about, but capable of bending the typical rules of the universe itself and giving Einstein a wedgie to send this ship away at FTL speeds. It was orders of magnitude more complex than Julio's typical fare, and about as much more powerful as well.
"Easy, Julio," he muttered to himself as he geared up. "You have the manual. Just follow it to the word, and everything will be fine..."

The suite Julio wore was a simple primitive pressure suit, meant to keep the human engineer alive in the vacuum-sealed chamber of the inner Warp Core. Keeping the innermost workings of the Warp Core in vacuum was absolutely crucial, as a failure to maintain this vacuum during operation would lead to "your vessel being destroyed in every way possible- and in some ways that are essentially impossible", as his personalized manual put it. Julio had a suspicion that a Warp Core fault of this kind was what destroyed the last vessel, and that all they were going to see when they arrived near the site where the last mission vanished would be a bright flash of light, and then nothing at all.

Julio walked slowly and carefully. The small room was completely silent, except for the noise of his footsteps and the rebreather.
"Okaaay... 'To boot up the Warp Core system and to perform initial diagnostics, attach CGX Cable #3 to CGX port Blue 47, and press <INITIALIZE>'..."
He pulled a cable from his toolkit and plugged it into one of thousands of ports within the machine. This would connect the Warp Core's internal relativistic computer to the ship's master computer, allowing it to check calibration and synchronization with the rest of the ship, as well as upload new procedures and download travel logs. Julio waited on a response...

"...And then I said, 'No, close him up!'"

A burst of laughter came from the Medical Bay. Dr. C. R. McNamara smiled at his fellow medical staff, who seemed to take a liking to their new boss. He felt a buzzing on his wrist and looked down at his watch.

"Alright, everyone, finish gettin' settled in and familiar with all the equipment. Some of it may be a little higher tech than some of you are used to, so make sure you know all the ins and outs. I don't want any mistakes on this ship because someone didn't take the time to read the damn manual.

"I'll be headin' up to the bridge to meet our Captain and the other officers. Don't go breakin' anything while I'm gone. I'm lookin' at you, Jenkins."

A couple chuckles followed Mac as he left the comfort of the Medical Bay and headed towards the bridge.

Ah, a good group, he thought to himself. This could've been a very long mission if I had to worry about any of them. Now hopefully the Captain and officers don't have sticks up their asses.

Bridge USS Frosthold (OVN-0474)

T'plail turned away from the weapons control panel and smirked. 

A combat droid telling jokes, is this what the world has come to?  UGC has outdone themselves...

"Might I enquire as to why such knowledge is urgent, unit PAAR-85?  And I might also enquire as to why a droid assigned to the maintenance bay possesses sophisticated artificial intelligence software.  But I'm sure you can clarify that to me eventually yourself.  Though I'm afraid we're currently on a rather strict schedule, but for now I believe it wouldn't be too much trouble to reassign you to a department more, er, deserving... of your talents.  Unless you find security a mundane task, that is."

T'plail twirled back around to the console.  Her ship's console.  What a wonderful feeling.  She activated the ship's comm system, partly in awe as her voice echoed throughout the decks.

"Attention all departments.  This is the captain.  All command-level personnel are requested in the bridge conference room for departure briefing.  Senior staff, bridge for departure briefing.  T'plail out."

Partially failing to conceal a smile and a bit of pride, she turned back to the PAAR unit.

PAAR-85, 'Perry'

Spoiler

As the Captain turned away, Perry stood waiting. Well, she was a bitch. Not surprising, many clients were either deceived or just prejudiced since he was a robot. No matter, he had personally strangled, stabbed, detonated, sliced, shot and generally killed many of his previous clients and will probably continue since they had a nasty tendency to try and eliminate him or cheat him. The thought caused his face to flash for a second, just a split second, his true feelings....

Spoiler

....before he caught himself and got back to his regular face. Damn, that was happening more often. What was happening to him?

Spoiler

When the Captain turned to face him again, he spoke.

'Observation: Evidently, you are unaware of my full purpose. I would be pleased to...enlighten you whenever you have the time as I see that you are busy."

Explanation: I just needed to introduce myself to you at the earliest possibility, as per my programming requirements. I will be at my post in the Maintenance Bay whenever you need me. And as you are my employer, I would be more than happy to take up whatever position you require of me at any time. After all, you are my master, superior to me in every way... right?"

"Comment: Also, I would prefer it if you called me Perry. I've always found it a bit disconcerting to be called by my Model and Unit number, a bit akin to me addressing you as Fleshy Female Human number 16,384,234,952. I assume. Now, since you are busy I will take my leave unless you had something you wished to ask me?'

Kal Vau stepped into the bridge, noticing the droid and the woman he assumed was his captain. "Greetings captain, beautiful ship you got here." He stated before simply finding a good spot to claim in the room for the briefing.

Aurelius watched as Johann walked away. "Interesting person... Definitely looks like he's had a past."

He stood there for a while in the middle of the hallway, till Qwerty came up behind him humming a tune.

"Hello master! Any reason you're just standing in the middle of this corridor?"

"Just met one of the other senior staff. Interesting fellow. I'm quite interested in what his past has to offer in terms of a story."

"I guess we'll find out that one way or another."

Just then, the Captain's announcement came on.

Qwerty spoke up, "Should I tag along?"

Aurelius thought of the answer for a bit. "I don't think it's quite time for you to be introduced to the others. You are still considered illegal with your degree of sentience, as well as being undocumented, after all."

"All right then, I shall return to your room and look through any information that is accessible from there."

Aurelius nodded as Qwerty and Aurelius parted ways. He walked at a brisk pace to the bridge to not keep the others waiting and arrived in good time. As he entered the room, he announced, "Ello. Aurelius reporting for briefing." and took a seat wherever he could find one.

As he technically counted as command staff, Johann had to report to the bridge.
Military discipline, this is new...
When he got there, he did his best salute and stood off to the side for whatever watered down briefing the captain intended to give.

Bridge USS Frosthold (OVN-0474)

T'plail acknowledged the entrances of the first sections of the senior staff. 

"Hello!  You must be Chief of Security Vau!  I should definitely like to know what you think of the new combat systems installed on the Frosthold.  Many are some of the most advanced weapons we've ever installed on a starship!  Though I must admit, the engineering systems and computer network still need work, and a considerable amount I might add.  The fleet has neglected systems that might prove useful but not vital so far."

Upon the entry of what appeared to be the military security officer—von Tomlin—she thought, as well as someone who appeared to be in computer systems or engineering... she remarked, "Well it would seem that some departments are a little more punctual than others!" 

"How is the progress coming along in your respective departments?"

Spoiler

Bridge USS Frosthold (OVN-0474)

T'plail acknowledged the entrances of the first sections of the senior staff. 

"Hello!  You must be Chief of Security Vau!  I should definitely like to know what you think of the new combat systems installed on the Frosthold.  Many are some of the most advanced weapons we've ever installed on a starship!  Though I must admit, the engineering systems and computer network still need work, and a considerable amount I might add.  The fleet has neglected systems that might prove useful but not vital so far."

Upon the entry of what appeared to be the military security officer—von Tomlin—she thought, as well as someone who appeared to be in computer systems or engineering... she remarked, "Well it would seem that some departments are a little more punctual than others!" 

"How is the progress coming along in your respective departments?"

Vau nodded, smirking beneath his helm. "I took a quick tour of the vessel, and security men keep tagging in, so all good on that front. As far as weapons...well, its good enough for a skirmish, but if we need to take on any larger force...." Vau cracked his neck..."Well we have a saying in Yaim Rusur, 'Ogir cuyir nayc kyr'amur, guuror jaon-kyr'amur' or, 'There ain't no kill like overkill. So yes if it were my ship, I would put more weapons on board, but for now she'll do. As for the network, that's a bit out of my skillset."

Jacobus slinked out of the room as quietly as he had come. He was a hardened killer, so the emotions he felt now surprised him. He did not expect Mrs Wolfskermer to throw herself in front of her husband to act as a human shield, but that bit of sentiment stopped being strange to him a long time ago. They were both dead, just two more loose ends tied off. Still, for a second, he hesitated when she pulled her stupid stunt, and that is what perplexed him now.

Now he had to figure out how to get aboard the ship, in search of his true target: Hendrik Wolfskemer himself, the man who had come closer to killing him than anyone else had ever been able to. The man who had made off with his masterpiece. The man who had ruined all his plans, and then vanished into the great empty void of space to try and evade him and his cohorts.

Hendrik's parents never talked, and for that, he respected them, but they were let down by their own son, since Hendrik never revealed what he had done to Jacobus and his collaborators. He had probably thought their ignorance would be their salvation, but this also was a flawed sentiment: If general Wolfskemer had known there was a target on his back, he would have been a problematic mark, indeed. Jacobus had always respected him as a peerless commander and strategist. It was a shame his morals got in the way, or he could have been a most useful asset in their plans.

Jacobus was nearly at his sky car when he received the message: someone had gotten him the opening he needed. He had to report to the ship as a field engineer.

And so it was, six months ago, that he had secured all the intel he needed, and acquired the new identity to let him aboard. Now, he was quietly inspecting the ship, just another member of the crew going about his duties. As far as anyone on this vessel was aware, he was a kind old man, always ready to help everyone with any issues, personal or professional, they might have.

If only these people knew that he would gladly throw any number of them out the airlock if they got in his way.

PAAR-85, 'Perry'

Spoiler

As the command level meeting began, Perry stood off in a corner, close enough to see but not close enough to notice. He began a crossscan of the dossiers he had....'burrowed' from the ship mainframe with the database UGC had installed in him. The security chief was competent enough, if a bit gun happy (then again, most of their gung-ho people were) with few skeletons in the closet. One of his underlings, Von Tomlin, flagged in his algorithms as potential trouble. The Captain was a typical, dry, uninteresting command level officer, no interest to him, the maintenance and engineering crew were all pretty typical, some former military, straight outta school hires, nothing....

Spoiler

.....wait...........that face..........what the hell was Jacobus Malan doing here? He accessed Malan's file in the UGC database. A killer, murderer, engineer and all around scumbag....his type of guy. Obviously, Malan had an agenda. No way that he would join this expedition as a mere field engineer unless there was something else he wanted.....

Spoiler

...which Perry would, of course, have to extract from him. Hopefully a friendly conversation would convince Malan to tell Perry what was going on. As for the kabal of the goody two shoes in the bridge......they did not need to know about this particular development.

Perry left the bridge, heading towards Malan's private quarters. Time for a little chat.....

Namora blitzed onto the bridge looking incredibly frustrated and displeased. She leaned against a bulkhead and crossed her arms with her shoulders hunched.

"Captain, whatever this is, make it quick. I don't have time for this."

Malan had just finished digging into his private stash of biltong when his wrist lit up: Threat to identity and safety detected. He was puzzled, to say the least. He probed his watch for a location, and it displayed an image of a robot outside his door. "Liewe fok, dis een van daai robotte."

Seeing no alternative, he decided to trust his instincts. If this robot had figured out his true identity, but had still come here, instead of reporting it to an officer, then it obviously was not loyal to this crew, and could be a potential resource.

If it didn't know his true identity, then Malan would be unwise to arouse its suspicion by not letting it into his quarters.

Malan decided to take his chances and open the door to let the robot in. "Welcome. Please come in. Make yourself comfortable."

translation of Afrikaans

Holy fuck, it's one of those robots

PAAR-85, 'Perry'

Spoiler

Perry entered Malan's room, scanning for traps or other abnormalities. Then, he scanned Malan. He was acting friendly and unworried and yet... dilated pupils, tensed muscles, faster heartbeat, he was worried. So, considering everything, facing off with a trained killer, Perry decided to do the smart thing and mess with him.

"Friendly Introduction: Hello, Mr Malan! I'm part of the welcoming committee for this vessel. As part of the killers and scumbags community, I welcome you!"

Perry's hands were outstretched at his side, like he was going to hug Malan.

"Sarcastic Statement: I must admit, I did not expect an absolute monster like you on this journey but you can imagine my surprise when I saw that the great Jacobus Malan was on this vessel! And with what could best be described as fanciful imaginations in his dossier that leave out all the best parts! The death, destruction and, judging by my scans, extensive cybernetic implants."

Spoiler

His right hand flipped back and his stab spike shot out. Perry tapped the side of his head as he approached menacingly.

"Threat: So, my homicidal friend, what are you doing here really? Do tell...."

To say that Malan was impressed would have been a massive understatement. He had heard of these bots, and even seen one in action on one of his assassinations before, but this bot was something else entirely.

Luckily, this had not been the first time his cover had been blown.

The following went through his thoughts in split seconds:

1. This was definitely a rogue bot.

2. It was Goddamn arrogant.

3. This couldn't have been much more than a scare tactic, since if Malan died, the wounds would clearly identify a bot as the killer, unless his body could somehow be gotten rid of.

4. His watch would send out an immediate distress signal the moment he lost his pulse, and would record the nature of his death, meaning even that plan would be blown to hell.

5. Who the fuck did this bot think it was dealing with? Some green rookie who'd never been on the other side of an interrogation before? FUCK. HIM.

6. Those electric knives would make short work out of this bot if he stuck it into its CPU. He hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"You must possess an impressive CPU. Surely you calculated your actions well beforehand. Let us not pretend that you can kill me. At least not without taking major damage, and your cover will be blown all to shit if you do manage it. I'd rather discuss what a rogue unit is doing here. That would be much more interesting.

"So come now, let's bury the threats and discuss this like civilised creatures, you magnificent piece of engineering."