A few weeks of moving furniture, arranging and decorating, and time spent sourcing the necessary company equipment had Aspen's little office finally starting to feel like more of a home than the spartan arrangements on-board the Attlerock. Amazing what kind of effect a few paintings, some live plants, and quality rugs and sofa chairs can have. With their educational achievements affixed on the wall, a proper working desk and a sizable memory foam bed in place, they were well on their way to making themselves a space here.
This was true of more than simple creature comforts. Lately, in between flight operations, they'd busy themselves at the workstation in their quarters with research, situated just in front of the window facing the stable Baxter object. A recent conversation had sparked inspiration in them, an avid holo-novel enthusiast, regarding the application of bio-neural processors to simulating all the neural sensory data a human would feel while piloting a spacecraft, especially the feeling of g-forces pressing on the body, while the pilot remains safely separate from the actual vehicle in question, operating it through a standard remote link.
While it could be a useful training aid for some skills if it turns out to be viable, the result of this project should serve as a way to vastly improve pilot safety standards in the spacecraft racing scene without sacrificing the visceral physical sensations that make it so addictive for racers, Aspen included - human perception would scarcely be able to tell it isn't in mortal danger if the feeling of "being in the cockpit" is replicated one-to-one in the mind of the pilot!
"Well, some purists would probably swear off it", they mutter quietly as they examine a completed bio-neural array, recently bought from a trip to Chartres Space Colony in Gallia. It's hard for them to shake the morbid intuition, stirred by the opinion of a passing freelancer on the subject, that not being able to watch people die by hitting asteroids at cruise speed might leave some fans... disappointed. Better not to give much credence to those thoughts.
In any case, while their understanding of the nerve centers of the brain will be critical in the calibration stage, the mechanical side of the project, they realize, is a little over their head. It'll take a good couple months of byplay with any available Ikarus' technicians to build a working model.
If nothing else, having a project to pursue and experience to gain in between peeking into the dark places of Sirius and avoiding the political firestorms outside keeps them steady. For now.
Sailas Montgomery stood with his arms behind his back looking at a screen in their conference room which displayed the EV-Starlight moored to the station. At the moment, they were only in the theorem stage of research...thinking up ways to bend reality to their control. He reached for a mug with his coffee. He took a sip as he continued staring at the screen, as if willing his hypothetical hypothesizes to take form in reality.
"If only..." he said more to himself than anyone else. The Conference was the perfect test bed for this type of technology...even though he knew if they were successful they could never let it out on the open market. He'd witnessed too many breakthroughs be used by parties who wanted to bend it to their will in killing one another.
He went to take another sip of his coffee and spoke into the mug before doing so. "The IRG Cores will unlock this mystery for us...I just know it."
He took his sip and sat the mug back on the counter, waiting for his compatriots as well as putting all his focus into the screen, willing his thoughts into reality.
Brad's eyes narrowed once entering his office. "I knew it" he muttered to no one in particular, "those dirty little lying engineers, it hasn't been fixed at all" he exclaimed into the empty room. Turning on his heel is quickly left, working his way though the maze of Corridors before finding himself outside of Sailas open door. Light from his well lit, and level room showing out into the hall. "Oyi, I have a bone to pick with you." Brad called into the open door quickly entering behind his words, as if using them as a shield. "I don't care what cores from who's backyard you bought, I was explicitly promised my office would be made level, and Sean's cutesy sticky note claiming he" Brad brought up his hands in a pair of air quotes. "made my desk level but did nothing about the floor, isn't what was promised"
Sailas turned to face Brad whom had just come into his office under the speed of light yelling about his office. At first, Sailas' face was dark and foreboding with a hint of a snarl for a half a second before it vanished, replaced with subtle humor.
"Seems we need to pay our engineers more for the amusement they bring." It appeared as if Brad was about to yell another string of obsinities before Sailas brought his hands up in a placating measure. "Don't kill me. I'll prioritize your office to get fixed. Honestly the upgrades have been taking up all of our time, including the engineering team."
Sailas sighed and collapsed into the chair behind him. Afterwards he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and held his head in his hands. "Have you seen the reports Aspen sent?" he said, his voice changing to that of dread. "It might be time..." he mumbled under his breath, barely audible.
Sailas gingerly worked on a large new system directly in front of him. Cautiously installing different components. He leaned back and wiped his brow, briefly looking over his work with a satisfied look. He rose and began cleaning up his work space and sealing the panel over the wall. Shortly thereafter, he entered a series of commands in a nearby terminal and stood back for several moments as he watched the code flying past the screen.
It had been a whirlwind of a month. His research project was concluded and what he'd gleaned from it was exciting and concerning all at once but his hard work had paid off. The station was finally getting ready for it's major overhaul and materials and tech had been coming in from all corners of Sirius, those materials had made what sat in front of him possible and was only the first phase of his operational plan...a plan he hadn't shared with many of the others.
"Abaddon, state directive." he said to the system.
Code:
Voice print recognized, Dr. Sailas Montgomery, Director. My directive is to analyze data from Baxter Anomalies and alert SLRC Team of instability of nearby "stable" anomaly.
"What are your event levels."
The AI sat and formulated a response and parsed the data at it's disposal.
Code:
Affirmative.
Level 5 - Anomaly is stable and under containment. Teams are on standby. Energy levels from singularity nominal.
Level 4 - Anomaly is more active than normal but all parameters are within normal operating parameters. Teams are on standby. Energy levels erratic, but stable.
Level 3 - Singularity at the core of the anomaly is beginning to show signs of instability, high possibility of higher levels. Teams are active in scans and attempts to secure containment. Energy levels are highly erratic, IRG power core disconnected from singularity to prevent overheat and overcharge.
Level 2 - Core of Baxter Anomaly is becoming unstable and a bridge to another location has been detected. Teams active in scans and attempts to secure containment. Energy levels spiking aggressively signaling a possible breach. SECURITY TEAMS ACTIVE.
Level 1 - Breach event in progress. Bridge complete and ship(s) are or have crossed the threshhold. Teams active with attempts to secure containment. Scans terminated. Energy levels spiking dangerously effecting subspace. SECURITY TEAMS ACTIVE.
"Define 'Containment'"
Code:
Affirmative.
Attempts to stabilize anomaly using a variation of ARAPSS Mk. VIII "Augur" Active Probing Scanner technology utilizing planned "Ikarus v2" plans.
"Give me a success rate based on available data."
Code:
Affirmative.
0.72%
"Well, better than 0% I guess. ABADDON, using your currently available sensor suite, begin active scans of the area around Ikarus. Include scans of anomaly nearby."
Code:
Affirmative.
Warning, be advised. Distance to Anomaly considerable for current sensor suite. Readings will not be accurate until "Ikarus v2" project has been completed. Beginning scans.
"Well, one project done. Another thousand left." he said walking away from the terminal, busying himself in his next project.