Man and the Machine (VI)

"Sam, I'm sure the original crew didn't bury a fully operational ship to get a fresh start. So, what's the skinny?"

There was a subtle pause there before Sam replied, "Skinny? What is a skinny Matt? My translation matrix is unable to properly interpret this word."

Matt chuckled softly to himself, "Sam, I see we're going to have to create a new language file. The English language that I speak is probably the most fluid language on my planet and the hardest to learn. Not only is there the language itself, but a set of colloquialisms or region specific customisations which approximate a different dialect."

Sam asked, "Dialect? What is that?"

Matt replied as he continued walking, "Basically a dialect is a different version of the same language. For example, German has 12 separate dialects, Swiss German is incomprehensible to someone who speaks High German.

"English itself is the bastardised product of three separate languages, High German, French and Latin. As each of those languages evolved, especially after the German vowel shift so too did English. Instead of dialects which are the same words either spoken differently or given different meanings or in some circumstances a product of the two. English has colloquialisms which are region specific additions to the common vocabulary or changes to certain words."

Matt came to an intersection and stopped his diatribe on the nature of earth languages and asked, "Sam which way to the bridge?" Immediately a red line about a metre in length appeared about 2 metres in front of him and started moving.

Matt followed as he continued, "In German for example, if I were to ask you 'What is this?' in one dialect I'd say, 'Was ist los?' and in another I'd say 'Wos is das?' they both mean roughly the same thing. Where as in English, no matter where you are 'What is this?' will always be 'What is this?'

Matt felt a little sheepish after having to explain all of that to Sam. They'd have to get to slang language later it seemed. "So Sam, what I was asking for, was a damage and status report of the ship."

Sam immediately said, "Hmm so in this instance skinny meant situation, how fascinating. Anyway status report, aye Captain. Do you want issues listed in order of severity of damage, priority of repair or ease ofrepair?"

Matt thought about it for a moment before answering, "Cross reference Priority with Ease."

Sam made the necessary adjustments before continuing, "Very well. The highest priority is power, currently reserves are below 1% of total capacity. At current usage there is 10 days power remaining before catastrophic failure.

"Fusion reactor fuel supplies are completely depleted. Anti-Matter reactor is unusable. Number 2 Fusion reactor only operates at half capacity, lateral strut 543 has buckled and will need to be replaced before we can reach orbit."

"Also the wave guides that allow the extraction of energy from the Energised Plasma Stream do not seem to be working at regular efficiency. The Chief Engineer was unable to account for this problem before the decision to land was made and effort was shifted to that endeavour. That problem will also keep the Kovali from reaching orbit."

Matt mulled over this for a moment before asking, "Sam, are the fusion reactors able to use any form of Hydrogen or do you need Deuterium?"

After a few minutes in which Sam and Matt clarified terms Sam replied, "Yes Matt, the reactors can utilise any of the 3 forms of Hydrogen to achieve Nuclear Fusion."

"Alright, well I think I might have an idea on how to resolve the immediate power crisis, the fighter's have micro-fusion energy cores don't they?"

Sam almost immediately replied, "Yes Matt, but you can't simply remove the energy cores from the fighters and chain them together, and even if you could they don't produce the energy that a single reactor does."

Matt smiled, "No I'm thinking about using the micro-cores to hydrolyze water. I was thinking a couple of 44 Gallon barrels worth. But I'll need that maintenance robot to transport them down to the ship. As well as establish some sort of permanent entrance to this cave. I really don't want to have to climb down a hole every time I need to come here."

Sam countered with, "There are tunnels leading to a sealed subterranean entrance, I'll have the maintenance bot unseal them when you are ready to leave. But there something I need to discuss with you first, I want you to take a side arm with you when you leave."

Matt stopped just outside the CIC entrance as Sam told him he needed a gun. "Why Sam? There is no foreseeable danger between here and my home. Besides the presence of a piece of advanced technology especially a weapon would arouse questions we don't want should it be found."

Sam reluctantly replied, "You are my Captain, it is my duty to protect you. You have no crew, and if anything happens to you I will not be able to help you. You must go armed until you have a crew to protect you while you are off the ship. That's non-negotiable Captain."

Matt sighed and threw up his hands, "Fine, take me to the Armoury then so I can get a weapon and go home before...." IAN, Matt's mind shouted to him. He would be lucky if Ian hadn't called the Police by now.

Matt ran down the halls, following the red line till he reached the nearest small arms locker. He entered his code and opened the locker, looking for something that wouldn't stand out too much and yet fulfil Sam's requirements.

He eschewed the energy rifles and something that looked remarkably like a light-saber for something that looked like a jellyfish. His knowledge told him it was a bio-mechanoid that would bond to his central nervous system through a series of fine fibres that would penetrate his skin. It could fire destructive pulses of energy and would be easy to conceal.

He placed it on his bare arm and waited for the bonding procedure to begin. It took a few seconds to begin and then he started to feel a warmth, a slight heat which grew. The heat blossomed, and felt like his whole arm was on fire, heat upon heat, mixed with what felt like bolts of electrical current coursed through his arm. His legs collapsed from underneath him and he screamed as he thought it couldn't get any worse.

Until the fury of ice coursed through the sensations of his hand burning; fire, ice and electricity coursed through his arm and he thought for a minute that the pain would drive him under. But it didn't, and after what felt like an eternity of pain but was really a minute the maelstrom receded.

Sam's panicked voice finally reached through to him, "Matt, Captain are you alright. Shall I have you returned to medical...."

"No Sam, I'm fine. Though I think we'll have to have these warning labels translated." Matt said as he stood up, there was a label with red text next to the bio-mechanoid compartment. Knowing his luck it probably said, only use if stupid or demented. He groaned a moment and shook the pain from his mind as he staggered out of the small arms locker. "There, I'm armed now show me out."