Haunting.
The journey through the ships lower levels was a little uncomfortable, in part because Anthony only vaguely recalled how to get to the Front hangar. That, and the fact that he had Maggie seal off all the levels of the Hope aside from the primary, back when the NH 03 was still tied into the system, if only to preserve power.
Ten levels down, and then to go all the way to the front of the ship, where, eventually, he would reach the control room for the hangar and the Haunt’s stationed within the Hangar itself.
It offered no direct hangar Access, as the only time personal would need to enter the Hangar was if someone had to manually control a Haunt. But the system otherwise was tied to the ships automation, meaning, Maggie.
However, it was not completely dependent on it as the Haunts were also an emergency measure to patch up exterior damage. Meaning, in case the AI was cut off, the Haunt’s could be manually started and given Verbal or manual commands.
Through that, the integrated Virtual Intelligence could be ordered to perform tasks, just as though it was the AI controlling it, if perhaps not with the same efficiency.
“ How many levels does this ship have ? “ Kira asked as they finally reached the ten levels below the primary, the designations however were unclear to her as the deck designations went from A1, being the Primary deck, to B1 through B5, and then C1 through C5.
“ 32 I believe, unless there where any changes. May even be less. The Launch was rushed because earth started investigating. “ Anthony responded, reaching to a dimly lit control panel to turn on the emergency lighting, as otherwise, only the area around the access hatch would be illuminated.
“ So few ? “ She wondered.
“ Yeah. Ship was designed to house up to 8000 people at most. Could probably fit a lot more, but living space and sustainable food production would be stretched. The idea was that, in case the Sleep capsule’s failed, that the Hope could still work as a sort of, generational ship. Offering room for a growing population until a suitable colony prospect had been found. “ He responded, starting to lead the way towards the lower levels central hallway.
“ Still, 32 decks, the ship could fit a lot more, right ? “ Kira wondered, the ship was massive after all. In her mind, 32 decks hardly covered half of what the frame could hold, perhaps not even a third.
“ Possibly, but I think the design mentioned a lot of space for Infrastructure. Like, power, water, industrial, recycling. “ Anthony mused, and then paused briefly as he recalled something.
“ Crap, recycling, the water reclamation system. I hope it’s still running. Tank’s should last a while, but eventually I will need to see to them. Think I need to make a Priority list of things to fix soon. “ He muttered as they reached the main hallway, where he had to unlock a minor bulkhead to make way for them, glad they could be manually opened unlike the major bulkheads that required the Vita system to function.
“ Still, you can’t have that much infrastructure to take up this much space. “ Kira wondered.
“ Much of it is dedicated to automated industry. The Hope is set up to act as an Industrial outpost once a colony is founded. It has a mechanism to unfold it’s central structure. The NH series was meant to supply the ship with resources through it, and it is a small scale shipyard of sorts. It was meant to provide everything we need on and off planet, until more intricate infrastructure is erected. “ Anthony clarified.
“ So, you came prepared. Means you got some ship blueprints and so forth too huh ? “ Kira inquired, growing more then curious now as that could suggest a little more about the ships actual origin, considering that, until now, they found no actual mention of this ship anywhere, or, the Horizon shipyard where it was supposedly build.
It was information they had gotten from Maggie, but neither Thomas, nor other contacts could confirm that there ever had been a shipyard in the Oort cloud.
“ Used to. “ Anthony admitted, opening another bulkhead, and he figured that it would be two more until they reached the Hangars control room.
“ Used to ? “ Kira inquired.
“ Yeah, most of it was tied to the Magi system, alongside the primary Maggie unit, most computer systems got scrambled so badly, I wonder if there is anything left. At the very least, the small scale production still has it’s original blueprint system, or I would never have gotten here in the first place, probably. “ Anthony noted, kind of feeling lucky about that little detail now.
“ Which reminds me, there is also the Shield system. I think there was something about systems being unable to be placed to close to the edge of the hull, due to the artificial magnetosphere creation. “ He added then as he recalled that little detail, something about magnetization if he recalled right.
“ Hmm, I think someone on our side mentioned the system being unstable. Who knows, may find improvements once we researched how it works. “ Kira suggested while another Bulkhead was being opened.
“ Perhaps. Honestly. The longer I am here, the more I wonder if there is a point to fixing the Hope, but it’s a plan to aim for, and given that she seems tied to my ability. Well, who knows. “ Anthony mused, and then suddenly stopped in his track as he chuckled.
“ You know, that Queen of yours, trading her daughter for the shield tech. Perhaps I should get Tilly a Collar. “ He said with a smirk, and then started to move ahead again, unaware of how deep that idea might sting a Siren’s interest in the right way.
“ You wouldn’t ! “ Kira hissed a little to firmly, so that Anthony paused again, if only briefly, so he could look at Kira.
“ Don’t know. I honestly know very little about your people. Tilly won’t share much either. But by what I gather from her so far, she does not want to be given a choice. And, in a way, she is just a slave right now, a very happy, very eager one by what I can see. “ He argued, and then felt a little guilty about sharing that thought.
“ Well, a man can dream anyway. Still got a week, and then we will see where her head is at. “ He noted as he approached the last bulkhead, finding himself enjoying the idea to consider Tilly as slave of sorts, if of the purely intimate kind.
Kira did not respond to that, falling back a few steps while she mutters a “ Damn it. “ Under her breath, quick to stash that tail into her pants as her body intended to signal interest in that idea of his, of collars and no choice given.
In her eyes, her body reacted far to eagerly to that suggestion, as he hardly seemed to have the guts to put through such idea’s. By what she seen, all he may be good for was perhaps the occasional bout in bed, if she really were desperate for some attention that is, and she’s not at all in agreement with her body about that.
“ There we go. “ Anthony spoke when the bulkhead opened, opening the path up into a control room that overlooked a large hangar.
“ You coming ? “ He asked, looking back at Kira and realizing that she was doing, something, although not registering what she was doing in detail.
Instead, he moved into the control room where he would try to turn on the control consoles, deeply to inhale with relieve as the beeping sound of the console signaled it’s boot-up sequence.
“ Perfect, seems to work just fine. “ He proclaimed, watching the screen as it begun to display the initial informations about the system, and then finally give him the item list of available options.
“ Well, I sure do hope your not scared of spiders. “ He warned then, looking back to see how Kira entered the control room.
“ Spiders ? Why would I be scared of spiders ? “ Kira claimed, though that claim did not look very convincing as there was a spark of worry on her face.
“ You’ll see. “ Anthony said with a chuckle, selecting the first of four storage containers to activate the Haunt within. This caused the Hangar before them to be illuminated in yellow warning lights, which soon was followed by an automatic warning message.
“ Warning ! Haunt unit activation. Please vacate the Central Staging area. “ The system announced through the loudspeakers, a message that would repeat a few more times while a massive gate opened up on the right side of the hangar.
It was followed by a series of loud clanking sounds as the storage container behind the door was being moved into place, out of which a shuttle begun to carry a large black spider, curled up to safe space.
“ The Fuck. “ Kira already gasped just seeing the size of that unit.
But then it sprung to life, it’s internal systems booting up, which was followed by it’s legs stretching out to the side, firmly to plant down onto the ground around it’s body, only to skitter forward at a speed that should seem improbable for a unit that size. The red glass cover that posed as it’s eyes briefly gleaming as the optical system begun to take in it’s surrounding.
It was quick to turn to the right once it reached the middle path, and then to the left, orienting itself before it moved onto the large area marked with a circle. There, it idly moved it’s front-legs and even moved it’s mandibles, like it was actually alive, enough to leave Anthony with a sense of dread.
“ Who the FUCK Designs something like that ! “ Kira near squealed, having taken a few steps back from the window, as if scared that the Haunt would jump up there.
“ Warning. Connection failure to Central AI unit, Manual or Verbal command Input required. “ The system announced before Anthony could speak, but Anthony sure was glad he wasn’t the only one to feel this design to be, disturbing.
“ Designed after a Wolf spider, mostly for it’s proportions and eye placement I think. It is a multi-functional design. Mining mostly, if usually for Asteroid mining, but space and ground combat is in it’s build philosophy as well. No idea who designed or even build it, but. Well, I think I might have a nightmare now. “ Anthony exclaimed while telling the system through the interface to seal the spider into a drop pod.
“ How the hell is that thing useful in mining ?! “ Kira demanded, not seeing a proper use case for it.
“ High powered laser cutters in its mandibles. It either devours raw matter to store in its abdomen, or cuts larger pieces of asteroid apart, and then latch onto it with it’s legs to steer it into the Hope’s resource drop point, which is often preferable with larger quantities of raw metals and such. “ Anthony noted, watching as the Haunt pulled it’s legs in, while two large mechanical arms in the hangar steered two half's of a drop pod towards the spider to seal it in.
“ Ah crap. I was to eager it seems. How the heck do I transfer this data now. “ Anthony cussed, assuming that Eden would hardly use the same programming language. Transferring the planetary data from the Padd to the Haunt unit would be problematic.
Kira was meanwhile just standing there, her hands balled into fists as she shook in a mixture of anger and fright. She wasn’t able to say anything, because if she did, she felt like she would verbally tear Anthony apart right now, and as he mentioned himself, this was an option he was not looking forward to use either.
“ Wait, optical. “ Anthony realized, opening the map on the Padd again, looking for deposit data on the map. It would be inaccurate, but the haunt would have to do the rest.
And soon as he found a suitable location, with a large crater nearby that could serve as a landmark, he would look for the systems target acquisition options, which eventually opened up a covered lens on the console, allowing the system to scan the currently displayed map.
“ Further Input required. “ The system then announced, to which Anthony pointed to the location on the map where the gold content was shown.
“ Select suitable drop location around that area and start Mineral excavation. Prioritize gold. Permitted operation depth is two meters. Collect until filled, then go into standby until further notice. “ Anthony instructed, and receiving a prompt, “ Acknowledged. “ From the system.
“ Why the heck don’t you just use one of your androids ? “ Kira finally asked.
“ Because, the Haunt has storage, and I am assuming, hoping even, that material has to be simply in a form of storage that I can access. If that works, I can just repair soon as the Haunt stops working. If not, I can still carry an Android down there with the NH 03 to unload and restart the mining process. “ Anthony explained.
“ Warning, Drop Sequence Initiated. Setting orbital path to scan for Drop location. “ The system announced then while Kira looked at Anthony like she wanted to slap him.
“ I hate you so much right now ! “ She hissed, and then turned around to walk back into the hallway, leaving Anthony to actually chuckle as he thought that little changed for women in that regard, even amongst different species. He did warn her after all, though perhaps he should have been more clear about it ?