Futuristic Space: The Forgotten Frontier (IC) Part 1

[Rcticwolf]

"Tell us who or what you are and I will." He said. Looking around the first thing he looked at was the people wondering if they heard the voice too. Then he looked around the ship wondering if there was a pilot hidden somewhere, an AI in the ship's command system, or if there was something more to the ship it self than anyone knew. "Fascinating... Did any of you hear that?" He asked the group. He prepared to eject but wondered if he could manage to get more communication if he stayed.

‘very well, I am Bentus, now remove yourself or you will be hurt’ the ships response came back in binary code once again

 

[WanderingWordsmith]

"Well, Bentus. I am Walker. Pleasure to meet you. I'd like to communicate further if you want to install a comm-link. Ejection in approximately 5 seconds." Walker spoke out loud.

 

[Gears]

Eddie could recognize binary, but with the message being a short one he wasn’t able to hear much, only “My System”

Eddie picked up his worst computer, setting the translator to binary so he could get the rest of any new messages. “So human based? Or at least a civilization that knew about humans.”

“Not much, but we may be looking at an AI we didn’t know about- hopefully we aren’t dealing with a Hal in this situation.”

Eddie saw light for a moment before finding him in a black void-

Oh come on, not here again

Sure enough, no one else was unfortunate enough to be trapped there, his body was likely spasming. He called this place the nowhere, a place he occasionally saw when he went through any faster than light travel. Hopefully the new form of light travel didn’t trap him there forever.

Eddie sighed and walked through the void, might as well explore a bit until The Medic could wake him up.

The Captain watched as some deckhands carried Eddie away, the crew gathered in the room as they continued this unknown form of FTL travel. Bridge hands had figured out they where heading the right direction, but who knows how long it would take.

“Because of our situation I am putting us under a code 32, no wandering on your own. Walker is declared a temporary VIP because he can communicate with the system. Because our engineer is down we are going to need to be careful, until he wakes up we can’t jeopardize the ship. All non-core personnel are to stay in their quarters until the Code is lifted.”

 

[Rcticwolf]

There was no response from Bentus as Walker ejected himself from the console.

The terminal that held the data report from earlier flickered a bit before new information appeared.

-APPROACHING DESTINATION, EXITING SLIPSPACE SOON-

-REACTOR OUTPUT INCREASED TO 5.56%-

-HANGARS OFFLINE-

-TRANSIT SYSTEMS OFFLINE-

 

[Gears]

Crew members scrambled to the different consoles displaying the message, yelling to brace as they began to exit the Unkown form of Faster than Light Travel. The mercenary remained calm, taking a seat at one console and monitoring any new messages.

“Send a message to Orion that we are ahead of schedule, once we get the doctor on board we can adjust the navigation system for the new developments.”

CD stepped him, his mechanical footfalls muffled by the clamor and rumbling of engineers. “I heard the ship may have some sort of AI system?” The automaton asked Walker as he scanned a nearby console displaying the messages from the ship.

 

[Rcticwolf]

(well at least everyone knows what the ship is called thanks to Walker)

There was no transitional effect as Bentus returned to normal space above the destination planet.

-DESTINATION REACHED-

-HANGARS ONLINE-

-TRANSIT SYSTEMS ONLINE-

-YOUR SHIP IS READY FOR PLANETFALL-

‘Finally they can leave…’ Bentus mumbled in binary.

Gears WanderingWordsmith

 

[WanderingWordsmith]

Walker kept his eyes on the display as they arrived at their destination. He had worked on some of the best FTL engines with every update he gave his own ship... But this was no way human. He used the information he witnessed to process what had happened until he heard the Automaton talk to him. "I don't think it's an AI, there is something different about this ship. Something foreign yet somehow familiar." Walker said looking back at the display, most of the engies scrambled trying to assess damage control.

Walker sat back in a chair hearing a binary signal float through. "Bentus what is the problem? Why are you so exasperated?" Walker thought about his words carefully and standoffish seemed a little harsher than what he wanted. 'Bentus only raises more questions than answers...' Walker thought absently as he waited for the planetfall.

 

[Gears]

Eddie awoke in the medical bay, cotton over his eyes and the doctor was already prepping her surgical equipment.

“For the last time Ivy, I don’t need any more of your ‘Improvements’, last time I asked for you to fix my hand you took off the entire arm.”

Ivy wore a lab coat coated in oil and blood, likely from experimenting on a few Jerry’s. She tucked her surgical glasses in her pocket, revealing a robotic eye underneath.

“Mecha your so boring- everyone needs some modifications every once in a while, besides- I wanted to test your “Condition”, not every day someone is a catatonic into my lab who doesn’t-“

Eddie threw a nearby rag at her, us table shutting her up.

“Involuntary Anesthetic and Consciousness Receivers are very expensive Engi.”

“You were going to chloroform me?”

“Only so you didn’t wake up during the experiment and bonus modifications- people pay good money for those.”

Eddie grabbed his jacket as he stood up, grabbing his arm from the table and securing it into place.

“I swear, if you did anything this time- I will dismantle your spare parts collection again.”

Eddie walked back into the bridge, finding the planet rapidly approaching. “God that stuff gives me headaches, any news on the ship.”

The Combat Drone was leaning on a console, tempted to connect with the system but after a second responded.

“It wants us off, and because of that I will stay onboard since it was an asshole and sent us through FTL before I could power down, so I am staying just to annoy it.”

 

[Rcticwolf]

Eddie awoke in the medical bay, cotton over his eyes and the doctor was already prepping her surgical equipment.

“For the last time Ivy, I don’t need any more of your ‘Improvements’, last time I asked for you to fix my hand you took off the entire arm.”

Ivy wore a lab coat coated in oil and blood, likely from experimenting on a few Jerry’s. She tucked her surgical glasses in her pocket, revealing a robotic eye underneath.

“Mecha your so boring- everyone needs some modifications every once in a while, besides- I wanted to test your “Condition”, not every day someone is a catatonic into my lab who doesn’t-“

Eddie threw a nearby rag at her, us table shutting her up.

“Involuntary Anesthetic and Consciousness Receivers are very expensive Engi.”

“You were going to chloroform me?”

“Only so you didn’t wake up during the experiment and bonus modifications- people pay good money for those.”

Eddie grabbed his jacket as he stood up, grabbing his arm from the table and securing it into place.

“I swear, if you did anything this time- I will dismantle your spare parts collection again.”

Eddie walked back into the bridge, finding the planet rapidly approaching. “God that stuff gives me headaches, any news on the ship.”

The Combat Drone was leaning on a console, tempted to connect with the system but after a second responded.

“It wants us off, and because of that I will stay onboard since it was an asshole and sent us through FTL before I could power down, so I am staying just to annoy it.”

-YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET THAT CHOICE DRONE-

Was all that appeared on the console screen that it was leaning on.

 

[Gears]

“Make me asshole, you ah e plenty of time while the others re-supply.”

Eddie shook his head, checking the coordinates. “Bagen Dorn, wasn’t that station abandoned during the war?”

The captain turned to Eddie, behind him the ships window showed the approaching space station, dark and abandoned.

“Our clients wanted discretion, a ship this far out of this size could attract the wrong attention.”

Eddie sighed before taking a seat at one console, monitoring machines in case a system broke down randomly.

 

[WanderingWordsmith]

Walker sits in his chair in contemplation. The whole situation seemed a little preposterous. This shit "Bentus" is otherwise uncooperative. "Well there is one way to ensure compliance from Bentus." Walker speculated. He stood up from his chair. "I brought enough magnetic explosives to level a battleship. You never know when you need to make things go boom. Why don't we just put them at the reactor." It didn't really matter to Walker if Bentus listened. In fact he had hoped for that.

"I suggest this because well we need insurance that the ship won't leave us stranded." Walker paced as he thought about it.

 

[Gears]

“I will trigger them if the ship try’s anything, even if it does something to me I will be able to reboot in time to take it out.”

The crew walked to the hanger, where 2 drop ships waited, along with it was a second ship, an advanced two person craft with odd symbols on it.

“Our orders are to leave the majority of the military attachment, for now we will bring Private Jackson, along with our engineer, and the recent additions.”

The captain pulled out his officers pistol, checking the well cleaned weapon as he stepped into the spacious craft, the military escort already securing weapons in the second craft while everyone else (and Jackson where directed to the captains craft.

“Bridge, we have spotted an unidentified ship in our air space, do you think you can check it out, we are getting to energy readings, but one life form.”

The captain activated his radio, responding. “We’ll send the escort to secure the station, my crew will check it out.”

Ashy_OCdesigns WanderingWordsmith Rcticwolf

 

[Rcticwolf]

“Well for starters you can’t access my reactor. And secondly even if you could I have 5 of them. And thirdly even if you destroy one, you’ll end up destroying me, this planet, this solar system, and this quadrant of your galaxy as I am powered by ANTI-MATTER!” Bentus spoke through the ship wide comms systems with a even monotone voice until the last two words where it shout for emphasis

 

[WanderingWordsmith]

Walker listened a chuckled. "Well that certainly got your attention." He said. The ship finally breaking silence. "1. You haven't been quite hospitable rather annoying actually." Walker paced back and forth. "2. None of us actually want to be here inside what ever you are. We are just in it for the money... Well most of us." The last part of his sentence referenced the drone. "3. Your cooperation through this bogus cover-up mission would make things go by a lot better." Walker was really done trying to play the nice way.


"So if bombs won't work, then why don't I find a big wrench to start smacking stuff around until you are mangled enough to only function? Or... We can simply get along and not have to resort to such barbarianism. Choice is your Bentus." Walker tapped his foot impatiently. Just as disgruntled as the Drone. "What do you think?" Walker up nodded at the drone. "Feel like breaking stuff until the AI can only perform menial tasks?" Walker asked.

 

[Rcticwolf]

Gears WanderingWordsmith

(This is being broadcast ship wide, so everyone can hear Bentus rant)

“Hospitable?! YOU WANT ME TO BE HOSPITABLE!! Why in the universe would I be hospitable to a disease that has invaded my home, ravaged my body, tried to break into my systems, and acting like they own the place? Tell me, if someone infected you with a virus Walker, would you just sit by and let it roam and corrupt your systems causing all sorts of havoc, or would you actively try to purge it? Would an organic body let a disease cause organ failure and death if it has a chance to stop it? If your ship got boarded by invaders would you just sit back and let them steal your supplies, kill your crew, and destroy your ship, or would you try and repel them?” Bentus ranted

“And on top of that, why would I play nice with any of you after what your UEDF did to me? They found me and tried to board me, I denied their entry so they decided to destroy me in an attempt to salvage my ship, I fought back and could have easily destroyed their paltry fleet, but they got lucky and managed to hit dangerously close to one of my reactors, and since I don’t want to die I stopped fighting back and let them ‘capture’ me, so after hearing all that Walker, would you be in a ‘HOSPITABLE MOOD!’” Bentus shouted

 

[WanderingWordsmith]

"Well, I never imagined I'd be having a conversation with a ship. But I see your point. However, I counter you with this perspective. And I'll say that the EUDF is a bunch of numbskull apes that managed to spread their genes through the systems. But... I digress." Walker took a seat in the chairs finally making some kind of conversation with the perceived AI of the alien ship.

"Let's say an alien ship enters your space territory. Refuses to identify or otherwise make some kind of communication." Walker leans back with his hands behind his head looking at the ceiling. "Are you going to sit there and wait until they open fire or are you going to investigate?"

Walker stretched out his legs leaning deeper into the chair. "Not to make your troubles seem superficial but it could have probably been avoided if you had tried opening up a dialogue rather than giving them the silent treatment. But at the same time it would not be surprised if they shot first before talking. That's what space Jarheads are good for. Isn't it?" Walker looked at the drone for confirmation.

 

[Rcticwolf]

"Well, I never imagined I'd be having a conversation with a ship. But I see your point. However, I counter you with this perspective. And I'll say that the EUDF is a bunch of numbskull apes that managed to spread their genes through the systems. But... I digress." Walker took a seat in the chairs finally making some kind of conversation with the perceived AI of the alien ship.

"Let's say an alien ship enters your space territory. Refuses to identify or otherwise make some kind of communication." Walker leans back with his hands behind his head looking at the ceiling. "Are you going to sit there and wait until they open fire or are you going to investigate?"

Walker stretched out his legs leaning deeper into the chair. "Not to make your troubles seem superficial but it could have probably been avoided if you had tried opening up a dialogue rather than giving them the silent treatment. But at the same time it would not be surprised if they shot first before talking. That's what space Jarheads are good for. Isn't it?" Walker looked at the drone for confirmation.

“I had been asleep and adrift in this galaxy for at least 5 billion galactic years…” Bentus replied

 

[Gears]

“I don’t care about humans personally, but because of my programming prioritizing humans that are not enemies I would suggest a different deterrent. Perhaps I could search for the source of her intelligence and threaten to terminate it.”

BD said, standing at attention before the remaining UEDF troops loaded into the second craft, now out of view of any who could order him around, other than Jackson- though he was annoyingly fond of BD.

“Regardless the remaining crew and I will ensure nothing goes wrong.”

Eddie had been fiddling with his data pad, before finally finishing.

“Just to be sure I just connected Bentus to my wrist computer, with limited access- and I will download malware on your ass on you if you try anything.”

 

[Rcticwolf]

“Why would I expect a primitive space faring civilization to understand my plight, all I see out of you is. ‘Something isn’t going my way, let’s threaten it until it does’ and you get mad at me for not being nice or diplomatic? Well I did play nice I let you all aboard without immediately killing you, I took you to your destination and here I am still not killing you, so again why would I be expected to be hospitable and nice WHEN NO ONE HAS GIVEN ME THE SAME CURTESY!!” Bentus shouted again

Gears WanderingWordsmith

“Last I checked I destroyed your wrist computer when you connected the first time” Bentus added

 

[Ashy_OCdesigns]

Great. Just great. The engines chose now to break down? Karfik swore he had checked the engines just before he left. In fact, he remembered he had checked the engines. However, faulty engines came with the territory of buying an old, used ship. The ship, for further irony, been been named Lucky. Lucky was a small ship, a runabout really, and a rather ugly thing. It was an dull blue and brown color, but in patterns that were definitely for practicality instead of beauty. He didn't dare send out a distress signal just yet, because he wanted to be a free man. He had supplies, so he figured he had some time. First, he should probably figure out what was wrong with-

Karfik looked up, and he saw another ship now. Much bigger than his lone runabout. He was not much of a threat at all, and he was pretty sure the crew noticed this as his ship drifted ever so closely to theirs. He best hide his merchandise, which were waterproof powerbanks to highly powerful gun. These guns were supposed to be used only in emergencies, but that just made them more desirable. Someone had wanted them transported, but his journey was currently stopped by a faulty ship. He was slightly worried about being caught, so he began to swallow the powerbanks.

Gears Rcticwolf WanderingWordsmith

 

[Gears]

“I have the thing ready to shut down affected systems so viruses or other attacks are stopped, along with a regeneration system. We are picking up a VIP who would have the negotiating power over us so I would suggest making a truce before you get screwed over a Shu Corp Suit- if we can make a deal now you have a better chance of benefiting- Captain?”

Eddie turned to the captain as he finished the flight pre-checks on the fighter.

“We don’t want to be here either- and the truth is we would have likely been imprisoned if we refused. You travel using Anti-Matter, could host and entire army, and I saw you have weapons systems. With our temporary jurisdiction we can label you as a friend instead of a foe. Do you have any demands to make before negotiation begin?”

 

[Rcticwolf]

“I have the thing ready to shut down affected systems so viruses or other attacks are stopped, along with a regeneration system. We are picking up a VIP who would have the negotiating power over us so I would suggest making a truce before you get screwed over a Shu Corp Suit- if we can make a deal now you have a better chance of benefiting- Captain?”

Eddie turned to the captain as he finished the flight pre-checks on the fighter.

“We don’t want to be here either- and the truth is we would have likely been imprisoned if we refused. You travel using Anti-Matter, could host and entire army, and I saw you have weapons systems. With our temporary jurisdiction we can label you as a friend instead of a foe. Do you have any demands to make before negotiation begin?”

“For starters a formal apology from the UEDF commander who attacked me while I slept” Bentus replied

 

[WanderingWordsmith]

Walker stood up as he shrugged. "I am familiar with that feeling. I've been alive since my inception on Andoria 6." Walker walked towards the bridge door. "My race came to the humans with peace and helped them achieve many brilliant feats using our technology. Some of us even became their science projects dissected and such." He left the bridge looking around for some interesting things. Exploring which doors he could and couldn't open. "It's hard to feel sorry for those of my kind that were cut apart and put back together. We don't feel pain and even though i function, I can't really determine if I am alive or just some alien robot." Walker wanted to keep Bentus talking, as he explored hoping it would distract them from what he was doing. "I don't think anyone on this mission has the pull to get a formal apology from a commander. But I'll put in a request." He chuckled.

Walker looked up to see a door called Data center. He curiously opened the door and stepped inside, looking around. "And if that doesn't work, I'll call in a favor from the SCAA." He offered as he went deeper into the room. "I would much prefer our short time together to be a mutually beneficial relationship. So we don't have to be friends as long as we get along for the ride. The sooner we are out of your body..." Walker was amazed by the intricacies of the ship and a suspicion slowly grew in his logic center.

 

[Gears]

“The commander departed, with only captains being the highest ranks allowed- as a corporal I apologize for the Numbskull Apes of the UEDF”

Jackson replied as he took off his helmet, a long scar running down his face to an eyepatch.

“And as the ship engineer I promise not to make any modifications without your expressed permission, but I will need full transparency on most of the ships systems.” Eddie said into his earpiece, which now connected him directly to the ship with a decent range with his radio equipment.

The bounty hunter and assassin stayed silent- both silently agreeing that this was the crew, and Walker for some reasons mess to deal with. They had targets and objectives to deal with, the crew just needed to get them their so they could assist a few before the next phase.

Suddenly, a pudgy human ran through the gate, both bounty hunters reaching for weapons before the captain reached to stop them.
“At ease, that’s just Lugo, the cook- he wanted to personally inspect our food stock that is being stored on the station.”

 

[Rcticwolf]

Walker stood up as he shrugged. "I am familiar with that feeling. I've been alive since my inception on Andoria 6." Walker walked towards the bridge door. "My race came to the humans with peace and helped them achieve many brilliant feats using our technology. Some of us even became their science projects dissected and such." He left the bridge looking around for some interesting things. Exploring which doors he could and couldn't open. "It's hard to feel sorry for those of my kind that were cut apart and put back together. We don't feel pain and even though i function, I can't really determine if I am alive or just some alien robot." Walker wanted to keep Bentus talking, as he explored hoping it would distract them from what he was doing. "I don't think anyone on this mission has the pull to get a formal apology from a commander. But I'll put in a request." He chuckled.

Walker looked up to see a door called Data center. He curiously opened the door and stepped inside, looking around. "And if that doesn't work, I'll call in a favor from the SCAA." He offered as he went deeper into the room. "I would much prefer our short time together to be a mutually beneficial relationship. So we don't have to be friends as long as we get along for the ride. The sooner we are out of your body..." Walker was amazed by the intricacies of the ship and a suspicion slowly grew in his logic center.

Walker could see that the data nexus was a bustle of activity as lights were blinking on and off all over the place. However he could see one of the data banks slightly ‘ajar’ from its position, suggesting it was covering something up. If he decided to investigate he would discover a rather large room hidden behind the data bank that had a body lying on a bed next to a pod of some sort that was just dark so he couldn’t see anything in it. But as soon as he opens the door to the room the body would immediately crumble to dust suggesting the room was hermetically sealed.

The pod stood alone connected to a computer next to the pod that just had a few lines of text one the screen.

-WELCOME CAPTAIN THE SUSPENSION POD IS STABLE-

-READY TO RECORD ANOTHER ENTRY-

on the table next to the computer were what seemed like data storage devices that were all labeled. Including one marked ‘Final Experiment’