Marginal Improvement.
Code, lines of code. Now that Anthony was actually starting the work, he came to the realization that simply stripping down Vita to it’s base operating logic was, insufficient.
It wasn’t just the movement, there should be a balancing system, the haptic feedback, Sensory controls, optical, scanner, voice transmission, communication algorithms, and so much more. It was to much, way to much. And looking at the row of suspended Androids on either wall, it wasn’t just for one unit type.
There was the Industrial, the Medical, the Military and the lab model, and they each had their own variation of build-in tools to suit their role, and sub par work would not only render them useless, it could outright backfire if the parameters he set where off by just a bit. The haptic feedback alone would determine grip strength. To much, and they destroy what they should tend to, to little, and they’d be no better then a third rate robotic unit.
He needed Maggie, not as she is on the NH 03, but the primary variant. If she had the capacity, and storage space, that would permit her to create basic VI on her own, and through trial and error, she could create a code base that could perfectly suit various tasks.
“ Anthony ! “ Kira called out, drawing his attention finally as she had been trying to address him a few times now.
“ What ?! “ He grunted, somewhat unfriendly, so that Kira was taken aback.
Anthony was currently sitting besides one of the Androids in storage, a maintenance tool connected to the unit that he had repaired earlier, and inputting code at a quick pace. And he was so focused, he was showing a side of himself that left Kira a little unsettled.
It was not just the focus, but the stern look, devoid of that friendly demeanor he usually held, not that skepticism either. And neither that, as she thought, half-assed play at dominance he had with Tilly, this was, different.
“ Well ?! “ He demanded, looking up from the small screen towards her, and there was something like genuine anger in his eyes, like he was going to strangle her unless she gave him a very good reason as to why she bothered to interrupt him.
And then, the next moment, it was gone, his facial feature’s softening as he looked at her a moment longer, like someone flipped a switch.
Was Thomas’s assumption right ? Was he wearing two faces ? One that was the socially acceptable version, and the one that was who he really was ? Or was she just reading to much into it ?
Honestly, the way he responded just then, it made her feel small for some reason, nearly had her flinch back.
“ Eh, the NH ship. You said you needed it to dock to the Hope again. “ She finally spoke, remarking on what he had said earlier today, before that little incident with the Haunt.
She was still pissed about that, and was planning to let him feel that for a while, but his response had suddenly disarmed her anger and left her feeling like perhaps she was the one at fault.
“ Oh ? Got anything back yet ? If you guys could move the access point to one of the other two docking points, we can have the 03 dock back to it’s original port. “ He offered, reaching out to close the maintenance tools display for now, he needed a break anyway.
How long has it been since they came back up from the Haunt Hangar ? 8 hours ? And he spend near 5 of those, copying the Vita to a still working hard-drive, which he now was working on ever since.
He did find himself a little annoyed with how restricted the Maintenance tool was, it allowed for code changes, but it felt to rigid in it’s application, the small screen did not help a lot either.
“ Yeah, they are preparing to detach the docking scaffold they attached to the port. We need to unlock one of the other ports though. “ Kira reported, reminding of the lacking unity between the Hope’s and their docking ports, which forced them to use a roundabout way to adapt it to their own ports.
It caused Anthony to ponder for a moment. The docking ports for the 01 and the 02 where below either wing section, access to those two where through the lower levels as well. Problem was, it required the Vita system in that area to unlock the armor plating to permit passage, and save for the Vita in the crew area, the others had stopped functioning, if in part due to his attempts to grant more access to Maggie.
“ How about we use the Haunt’s hangar instead ? I can set the System to keep the hangar doors open, you would need to set up an airlock at the access points to the ships interior though. “ Anthony suggested.
“ Are you serious right now ?! “ Kira responded, her anger flaring right back up at the recollection of that, thing.
“ Hey, I am not planning to launch the other haunts for now. And I am not confident I can actually open the other two docking ports. And there never has been another access port. The Hope was never intended to visit a port, it’s meant to become one. “ Anthony countered.
“ Well, I can make the suggestion at least. “ Kira admitted, catching herself in her anger as she found herself lightly confused how the mood had shifted. He turned softer, and she had sprung right back to being upset with him.
“ Please do. I think my prediction about the Androids was off, by a long shot. “ He admitted, and then smiled softly as he spotted Ina taking a peak around the corner.
“ Well, has your Majesty sensed the chance to be spoiled again ? “ Anthony spoke with a soft smile.
And Kira then watched how Ina approached Anthony, leaning a paw against his thigh, expecting to be lifted into his lap, only for him to do just that, promptly to shower her with affection.
It made Kira wonder, was what she saw perhaps just annoyance and frustration of someone that felt bothered for being interrupted in his work flow ? No, that gaze, it was like someone, that outright hated the presence of another.
They needed Thomas back here, and observe his behavior more closely.
“ Off by how much ? “ Kira posed a question, if mostly to hide away her internal observations on his behavior.
“ Hmm, well, I guess, Months, and thats just for one unit ? I may have to tear each type apart just to figure out each component. Find a way for the program to address each of them, and find the right parameters for their movement, power-levels and so forth.
Yeah, make that least a year, and that is a Hopeful assumption. Without documentation, I am stuck with a slow Trial and error approach. Would be easier to design a new model from the ground up. “ He admitted, and then looks at Kira.
“ Unless I can repair the Hope’s AI system first, Move Maggie from the NH 03, and lift her learning restrictions. That way, she can implement a Virtual intelligence on her own, and at a much faster pace then I ever could. Probably should find another name for either variant too, calling them each Maggie will be, bothersome. “ Anthony wonders then half in thought.
“ Problem is, the AI core needs to be repaired, electronics are fried, and the cooling vat system has to be booted up before I can lower the core to start it up, for which, I need to move a Vita over there. Though I guess, that is the lesser problem, implementing a stop gap for the Cooling system control should be easier then the other options. “ He went on, and then chuckle as Kira looked at him like she was telling him to utter less technical detail.
“ Well, at least you have a plan I guess. “ She simply noted, giving up on reprimanding him for his lengthy explanations, she was realizing that, when it came to his coding work, he could enter a whole different zone, even if still unsure if that whole character change thing was something else entirely.
“ Yes. “ He sighed, looking at the units suspended around him, wishing that the units he used before would still work, but that reactor explosion had rendered them useless too. If only he could recycle these units, least, part of them, use the materials to repair the AI core, and then proceed with the rest.
“ That is not such a bad idea. “ He suddenly realized, picking up Ina as he leaned to get up.
“ What is ? “ Kira inquired.
“ My ability, it seems to draw the resources out of the resource storage. Least, while there are resources. So, what if I place the Androids I don’t need in there ? They are resources too, just, in a new form. That should be more then enough to fix the AI core. “ He explained, even if not sure himself, but he could at least try it.
“ And that, thing, on Lyria ? “ Kira noted.
“ I will need more resources anyway to fix all the ship Systems. “ He countered.
“ Then that would leave the power-supply next. How long can your AI system run on your backup system ? “ Kira asked as they currently had jury rigged four small backup reactors to the ship, and it was barely providing a surplus right now.
“ At full, A month I guess ? Should be enough to get the reactors fixed. Once Maggie is back on the ship, and able to implement her own VI system, she should be able to do the same for the Vita nodes, and the Reactor. “ Anthony mused.
“ You mean, like the last time ? “ Kira countered.
“ Well, step by step I guess. And once the 03 is docked, we can tie her reactor in to the Hope as a stop gap. “ He offered.
“ Hm, well I guess that sounds plausible. “ Kira agreed.
“ I’ll contact Marianna. But, no trying to fix the Core till I am back. “ Kira insisted, Anthony wasn’t aware yet of Aria, and for now, they intended to keep it that way.
It would be bad if he gained access to her with his ability, as she was tied into nearly everything on Eden. And depending on how his power worked, that could give him near instant control over their entire world.
“ Alright, Mom. “ Anthony responded with a smirk, totally throwing off Kira’s hopes to asses his character.
It left Kira wondering how someone could be so seemingly inconsistent in character. Sure, you tend to find new sides to everyone when you get to know them better. But between the suggestion and hints of reclusive, near anti-social behavior, and this, clown, what was the truth ? Was she simply, missing something to see the greater Picture ?
“ I give up. “ She groans, shaking her head as she turned to leave, planning to Contact Aria for the necessary changes in plans.
Anthony chuckled as he watched her leave, and then leaned back against the wall, his smile slowly fading as he looked over the row’s of androids. His mind already calculating how many he would need, what he would need, just for the Core to be fixed, if he could specifically target it separately, as he wasn’t sure yet if there was an aspect of an entity playing a role in his ability.
Would his ability try and target the whole ship ? Well, in that case, he would have too little resources available anyway. But if he could target the AI Core separately.
“ It is going to get a bit noisy. “ He whispered at Ina, leaning to sit back down, stroking over her head as he begun to focus on the Android again, having it boot up, only to swap vision with it, just like the last time.
Looking over at his actual body, he could see how Ina now looked towards the Android he controlled, shaking his head with slight amusement at how smart that little vixen was.
Then he moved the Android to stand up, so he could turn, and grab another Industrial android, planning to carry at least five of them over, well, maybe ten. They should have around 150 of them, so wasting a few to get the Magi System online again was a cheap price to pay.