>Magic. Fancy that. Was that object in hazardous material locker 723 responsible of this?
Hm... checking.
No, the object is still in the locker, unchanged. I need to ask Chell about it.
also, you referenced several unknown systems being activated. besides the drive system and power systems, along with tactical weapons, what else of significance came online?
Accessing.. status display shows a number of new systems online.
The first is called a
Void Forge. It is listed as offline/operational. Purpose unclear.
The second is listed under Combat/Strategic, and is called a Phase Manipulator. Listed as Online/Operational. There are no operating instructions in memory for either device.
There is also a whole subsystem drawing power and currently listed as online, but all access to it is classified and I am restricted from access. The memory address is 0x8004fe21 0xc00000e9 but that doesn't help much.
"Excuse me Commander. May I inquire as to the object stored in hazardous material locker 723? It appears to have been stowed when you came aboard."
Chell glances up at the mention of the object, "The hypercube? It's an experimental information storage device, height of Dynasty technology at the time. I'm not sure it's much use now. It would require an operational Battlemind to interface with it. Essentially it allows information storage beyond the quantum limit... um. How well versed are you in... wait you're a tank. Of course you're not. Okay, To cut a long story short the maximum information that you can store in a given volume of space is proportional to the area of its boundary. For a uniform spherical volume, that area is... well... why am I trying to educate a tank? Suffice it to say that it is a transdimensional information storage device. Potential applications are limitless, but at the time we had not been able to interface with the thing and didn't get a chance to have a Battlemind's opinion. It's not of human manufacture, we can't replicate it yet. I grabbed it when I went into hiding and, well, it seemed important at the time."
Chell trails off, looking at the wall. Lost in thought. Medical reports that its emotional state seems fragile. Biochemistry of the brain indicated wild mood swings, depression. It is a testament to Chell's will that none of this is showing on the surface. Outwardly it seems quiet, cool, collected.Not of human manufacture? This implies the existence of nonhuman intelligence. Something theorized but unproven at the time of your construction. Chell seems to take this as common knowledge though.
Such a device, if it does what Chell claims, could conceivably allow a (if you'll excuse the term)
quantum leap forward in computation and information storage. Interesting. It is unfortunate that you are not programmed for scientific pursuits.
Logistics reports that Hull 101 has passed 18km in altitude.
Tactical reports several aircraft vectoring to intercept. You
dismiss the alert, by the time they reach this location Hull 101 will be well above their flight ceiling. You are more worried about the fleet in orbit.
To that end, you alter the sensors for active orbital scan. The fleet is easy to detect as they are currently burning to decelerate, which means the drives are pointed in your direction. Standard fusion torch profile which matches a later ITL-5 civilization. You also detect neutrino emissions indicative of an FTL tunneling engine on the largest ship. Likely refurbished Dynasty technology.
Unless they have some serious
Dynasty era weaponry mounted, they are very little threat to you.
Orbit will be achieved in 82 minutes.
Asymmetrical warfare advisor Nullius online.
Booting in full cognition mode...online.
Greetings Lord Loraseon, this process requests disclosure of current objective in order to better aid you.
Chell blinks and looks up at the new voice. "What the hell is that?"
"My apologies commander. That is a decision//advisor subprocessor. I believe it would like clarification as to the immediate goal"
"Oh... great. Stuck in space with a psychotic subsentient dullard. Tell it we're going to rendezvous with Sicyl Station. It's a starskimmer station, normally a refueling post and of very little importance but right now it's the most advanced repository of Dynasty technology in the local system. My implants picked up its ready signal the second I woke up. You're not able to hyperwave, I realize, so you wouldn't know of its existence. You probably inferred it though, no?"
Chell is looking at the camera expectantly. You get the feeling that this is some kind of test.>_