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Main Bridge, Deep Space Wintreath

"Very well Lieutenant Omlo.  You may conduct a station-wide system scan, after repairing main ship sensors, of course.  I know that it's not usually what science division officers do, but I assure you, your department is full of Wintreath officers, and it is my opinion that our officers are the finest in the quadrant.  It may be annoying, but all departments need to assist engineering until the situation on board is stabilized." 

Then Commander Kusulk thanked Zerick for the door repairs.

"Well Lieutenant, you probably saved at least a couple minutes of fumbling on my part.  I'll look into a saboteur on board, for now though I'll probably what I'm dealing with myself."

He was about to head into his newly accessible ready room when he saw an Alfir enter the bridge—in civilian clothes!?

Saav paused, attempting to make out the best solution which would maintain fleet discipline while at the same time not completely harm morale.  Well, she does appear to have cookies...

"Hello!  I don't think we've been introduced!  I'm Commander Saav Kusulk, Wintrean Federation Star Navy.  You must be a resident of the station?  In any case, I'm not entirely sure what protocol was under Kerdossian operation, but the bridge is still technically a crew-only area of the ship..."  he trailed off as he looked around the half-repaired bridge.

"Well I suppose until it's repaired it's not a bridge, so for now I'll just take a cookie!  Whichever you recommend, really.  I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with Alfir cuisine."

Cookie in hand, he moved into his new ready room, and determined that it needed some serious improvements.  He messaged his Security Chief to head to the bridge and his ready room over the ship's communications. 
Station-Wide Communications, Deep Space Wintreath

"Chief of Security to Bridge.  Chief of Security to Bridge.  Department heads are also advised of a command meeting at 2000 hours."

Main Bridge, Deep Space Wintreath

Taralia gave a curt nod to her commanding officer before turning on her heel to face the Fenrir.

"Leutenant," she greeted him, the previously held tension beginning to drain from her tone of voice. "I suppose I'll be helping you, then. What can I do to repair the main ship sensors?"

"Chief of Security to Bridge.  Chief of Security to Bridge.  Department heads are also advised of a command meeting at 2000 hours." A station-wide communication informed them.

"Well, what can I do when we're not in meetings," she sighed.

Aki clapped his hands excitedly, “In order to improve the efficiency of this hangar, my staff and I wanted to increase the processing speed on the fuel drones, so they could make decisions has to how much fuel a ship needed much faster. Unfortunately, what my crew and I forgot to increase was the cooling system,”. He pulls up a diagram on a holograph drone to show Lishku. “If you see here, the heat readouts on the cogitator peaked right before the drone’s destruction. The cogitator over heating causes the core to ignite, which then ignited the fuel in a chain reaction that caused the drone to explode.”

“I see,” Lishku said, admiring the hologram. This was clearly some advanced work, and considering this was a first test run, no wonder there were issues.

Lishku paused for a second. “You know, I used to work in manufacturing biotech, and that got me thinking... maybe you could try using a bio-cogitator? It uses energy a little less efficiently, but is less liable to heat up.”

Outside the Main Bridge

The station-wide announcement ended just as Paeban made it to the door to the Bridge. He clenched his fists in frustration then took a deep breath and relaxed. The door opened to reveal a mess: the Commander and a few officers were already there, but there were also crewmen still repairing the Bridge and a civilian standing holding out cookies and drinks. He tried to keep his composure as he walked up to the Commander and gave a crisp salute.

"Lieutenant Paeban Wlo, reporting for duty," he spoke with as clear and strong a voice as he could muster.

He then turned around and nodded to the other two officers, "Lieutenants." He had already met Lt. Aldnari before, and from his impression, he seemed very respectable. He had not yet met Lt. Omlo, but he recognized her from her dossier as he read up on all of the department heads.

He turned back around to the Commander and said, "Excuse me for a minute, sir."

He then walked up to Akra and spoke, trying not to sound too aggressive, "Residents are not allowed on the Bridge -- only crewmen. You will need to leave now." He held out one hand towards the door and tried to guide her towards it with the other.

Deep Space Wintreath, Medical Bay

As the hours ticked by K011 made much progress in his tasks. The Medical Bay was operational within combat condition parameters in the first thirty minutes. He doubted however that was what any practicing physician considered operational, so his limited electrical and mechanical knowledge was pushed well beyond his standard boundaries. Even the equipment he knew he didn't know how to fix he made attempts at anyway knowing well that engineering personnel would be able to properly fix it... eventually. Overall it led to many light to moderate shock injuries, electrical burns, and lacerations all over his arms from the elbow down to the fingers which were soaking through bandages like bio-acid melting armor plating.

Once he finished with all of the exam stations, K011 made his way back to his 'barracks' and grabbed a medkit to treat his arms. He was starting to feel light headed, a warning to re-nourish. There was still too much to do before he could feel worthy of nutrients. He pulled out a bottle of pain relief capsules, bandages, and a bottle of whisky. He took a pair of the pain relievers and walked over to his sink to get a better look at the extent of his injuries, some needed stitches, but that would have to wait until later, for now surgical staples would work fine. K011 picked up the whisky bottle and poured it over one arm. The liquor burned, his pain receptors wailed like decompression alarms. He picked up the stapler and closed up the offending wounds. Then he bandaged it all up nice and tight with the best dressings in his medikit. Once it was tied off, K011 repeated the process with the other arm before gathering up his supplies and putting away the medkit. As a final thought, he followed the every day treatment offered by a fallen brother, drinking a liter of water and changing his socks before returning to get to work fixing the bay's doors. 

“I see,” Lishku said, admiring the hologram. This was clearly some advanced work, and considering this was a first test run, no wonder there were issues.

Lishku paused for a second. “You know, I used to work in manufacturing biotech, and that got me thinking... maybe you could try using a bio-cogitator? It uses energy a little less efficiently, but is less liable to heat up.”

“A bio cogitator?” Aki frowned, he hadn’t heard of this. “Please explain. I haven’t heard of a bio cogitator before.”

“A bio cogitator?” Aki frowned, he hadn’t heard of this. “Please explain. I haven’t heard of a bio cogitator before.”

"Oh, I think you're gonna like this."

Lishku starts manipulating a hologram.

"So, the name might be a little misleading; not even the best bioengineers on Urrnab have managed to create a whole new brain made of biological material. However, we have tried to make a computer that utilizes the same processes as a simple brain and more or less succeeded."

Lishku creates a bunch of metallic branches.

"These are our 'neurons.' They carry signals from one of these boxes..."

Lishku places simple computers on each of the branches.

"Which then causes them to signal to other boxes..."

Lishku puts connectors between each of the boxes.

"And, on an extremely basic level, functions a lot like a brain without any emotions. With all of these connectors, it makes it really hard for it to heat up substantially, especially if you do this..."

Lishku covers the whole thing in a rubber ball, leaving a small plug that allows for wires to connect to it.

"So, what do you think?"

“A bio cogitator?” Aki frowned, he hadn’t heard of this. “Please explain. I haven’t heard of a bio cogitator before.”

"Oh, I think you're gonna like this."

Lishku starts manipulating a hologram.

"So, the name might be a little misleading; not even the best bioengineers on Urrnab have managed to create a whole new brain made of biological material. However, we have tried to make a computer that utilizes the same processes as a simple brain and more or less succeeded."

Lishku creates a bunch of metallic branches.

"These are our 'neurons.' They carry signals from one of these boxes..."

Lishku places simple computers on each of the branches.

"Which then causes them to signal to other boxes..."

Lishku puts connectors between each of the boxes.

"And, on an extremely basic level, functions a lot like a brain without any emotions. With all of these connectors, it makes it really hard for it to heat up substantially, especially if you do this..."

Lishku covers the whole thing in a rubber ball, leaving a small plug that allows for wires to connect to it.

"So, what do you think?"

Aki muses for a moment, and then, he starts to grow more excited. He checks and rechecks the hologram, spinning it this way and that, removing the holographic casing and closely studying the model. "Yes," a slow smile began to cross his face, "This will do." He calls over the rest of the logistics staff that wasn't busy doing something, introduces Lishku, and then explains his idea. Suddenly, excited chattering begins to spring up as small groups of Gorram begin to talk within the staff about how they could make this work. One Gorram comes up to Lishku, offers a small salute, and asks, "This is a very interesting idea sir. What material are the connections made out of?"

Shi'vali Suits, Sips, and Shots
Dimitrius quickly turned off the datapad and put it away under the bar, before hopping up.
"Hello my many appendaged friend! You certainly may though it depends on what you are looking for. Something to perk you up, awaken your senses and make the day bearable? Or perhaps something to make the day fade away, dull the senses and relax? I offer both, much better quality than old Kuark! He said with a chuckle, waiting for the customer to decide. The music still played in the shop, adding quite the unique atmosphere compared to the rest of the station

Raia looked around the hanger bay. The station was magnificent, a diamond in the rough. But it was still better than the planet she had been confined to. her antennae twitched with excitement. She eventually found her way to a bar and sat in the back. Just taking in the sights, smells, and sounds.

Shi'vali Suits, Sips, and Shots
"Something to re-energize, preferably. I have a feeling it will be a long night." She told the merchant. "Preferably something non toxic to humans as well."

Aki muses for a moment, and then, he starts to grow more excited. He checks and rechecks the hologram, spinning it this way and that, removing the holographic casing and closely studying the model. "Yes," a slow smile began to cross his face, "This will do." He calls over the rest of the logistics staff that wasn't busy doing something, introduces Lishku, and then explains his idea. Suddenly, excited chattering begins to spring up as small groups of Gorram begin to talk within the staff about how they could make this work. One Gorram comes up to Lishku, offers a small salute, and asks, "This is a very interesting idea sir. What material are the connections made out of?"

"Usually out of copper, or some other really good conductor. The branches are protected in the rubber, electricity getting out isn't usually an issue."

Deep Space Wintreath, Kuark's Bar

HKR-07

The day was over and the bar was closing up. HKR was stacking chairs while Kuark had left to go count the day's latinum. HKR was sure the Forongian was cheating him but could care less, after a few hundred years HKR had more then enough resources and latinum of its own, this occupation was a cover, nothing more. Most of the patrons had filed out but one was left, one particularly drunk fellow. HKR had ensured the man was well supplied with booze, it had wanted this man so drunk he could not even stand straight. HKR's plan depended on it. Once everything else was cleaned up and locked up HKR walked over to the snoring figure sitting on a stool with his head on the bar, its servos quietly whirring as it did so.

It reached a hand out and tapped the sleeping figure. "Sir?" No movement. Tap. Slight stir but nothing more. Impatient, HKR grabbed him with both hands and shook him. The drunk began to make noises as HKR let him go. The man, suddenly awake but not even close to aware yet, slumped off his chair and landed on the floor with a loud thud, moaning as he did so. HKR stood over him as he addressed the drunkard. "Sir, the bar is closed. You need to leave, sir." The drunk rolled onto his back and made sever noises that could have been words but were not, really. "Sir, you are intoxicated. I will need to take you to the security office for your safety, sir." The drunk made a pitiful attempt to sit up only to fall back on his back as he looked at HKR. "Thaaa....thaaaa....thaaanns baaahdy.....kaahnd ohhh yeer...." HKR began to kneel down to pick him up when he spoke again, clearer this time. "Maah name....ssss...David...." HKR froze. David. That name. This position, standing over David. A memory. HKR's processor began to play another memory.....

USS Wintreath, several hundred years ago

HKR-07

The look on David Anderson's face said one thing, fear. David Anderson was afraid. Afraid of being hurt, perhaps even killed. More importantly, though, afraid of the giant robot standing over him with a staff to his neck. HKR had wandered onto the ship, desperate to escape a group of Assassin Robots HKR's creators had sent after him. Those AR bots had damned near destroyed HKR. It was heavily damaged and had run into this human. Even damaged, however, it could take down this feeble organic. After a short interrogation HKR had left him be. The fight had left it seriously damaged to the point where it was....for lack of a better term 'feeling' strange....its backup processor had been activated for the first time....well, ever. It had never felt anything like this before. Standing over David Anderson, the man completely at its mercy, HKR felt something. Something it had never, ever even come close to feeling before.

Mercy.

HKR could not bring itself to kill this human even if it wanted to. It had tried to justify the decision, tried to rationalize it. But now with the full memory intact HKR knew, standing over that human with its life in its hands that it could not raise a hand against him. Not when Anderson was so vulnerable. HKR turned to run as the memory began to fade away.....

Deep Space Wintreath, Kuark's Bar, present day

HKR-07

The memory startled HKR. More accurately, it shocked it. It had remembered what had happened but not how it had felt. It had always assumed the more....friendly disposition it had taken to the crew of the Wintreath had been first due to self preservation but then due to the crew growing on it. But this memory challenged that notion. It had felt some....thing before it had really even know who they were. This....it deeply unsettled HKR. It looked at the figure of the drunk man named David. He had passed out, snoring again. HKR pushed aside what it was feeling now, it had to. It had to do what it had set out to do. What it felt now....it would deal with that later. For now? It had a job to do.

HKR picked up the drunk human, walking out of the bar and locking the autodoors behind it. All thoughts were pushed out of its processor, it was basically operating on autopilot. It marched to the security office with the drunk in its hands and stepped inside. "Excuse me, this unit requires assistance with this incapacitated organic" it said to the first security officer it saw inside.

Main Bridge, Deep Space Wintreath, Maigar System

LST: 0:50:01, 05/14/7051 Mayyoran Calendar
 
It took a surprising amount of time for QWERTY to navigate through the vents, air ducts, and maintenance shafts mostly due to the fact that somehow the situation of the space station has become worse. The amount of rerouting and recalculating of the path he had to do because of debris. Of course, he was perfectly well equipped to deal with these issues, but maintenance is someone else's problems.

Soon enough, QWERTY reached a vent that connected to the Bridge, when the Commander, Saav something or other, announced a meeting and requested the Chief of Security who shortly popped in thereafter. It was akin to a play, the actor being right on queue and being introduced to the stage. Some altercation was happening between a civilian and Wlo because the civilian managed to make their way up and had cookies. He wondered what kind of monster would turn away cookies. QWERTY certainly wouldn't, so it was time to make his debut to the staff.

He burst through the vent, fireworks blowing up behind him with an epic explosion. At least, that's what he processed in his mind. Hopefully, the pyrotechnics worked out.

"Hello, World! The name's QWERTY. Resident floating droid and all powerful being. Nice to see ya Wlo." He nodded at the Chief of Security, using his first name specifically. "Hope you won't cause any trouble," QWERTY chuckled before turning to the commander. "And," QWERTY quickly replayed an audio recording.

"Hello, Commander. In light of the recent extraterrestrial incursion, this Council of Nations has convened to approve the activation of the XCOM Project.
You have been chosen to lead this initiative. To oversee our first—and last—line of defense.
Your efforts will have considerable influence on this planet's future. We urge you to keep that in mind as you proceed.
Good luck, Commander."

"Welcome to this dump they call a station in our corner of space! Sorry about the mess, but I happen to be your welcoming community." He turned towards the mortal with the refreshments. "Thanks, for the cookies dear," he said with the grace of... something that has lots of grace, and QWERTY promptly made a cookie hover towards himself and instantly consumed it.

"Usually out of copper, or some other really good conductor. The branches are protected in the rubber, electricity getting out isn't usually an issue."

Aki finally gets back to Lishku. "I daresay my good sir, you are a genius. This will do perfectly,". He shouts orders to his staff and the chattering increases to almost unbearable levels as the Gorram use Lishku's biocogitator in their newest design. Aki beckons Lishku over to the final product that is currently displayed holographically. "Does this look about right?"