Chains of Command

[Boss]

Chuck
*******

That was...unpleasant. It didn't hurt, getting 'killed' that way, but it was a bit awkward. I pulled myself together and shook my head (figuratively) to clear it (metaphorically). I caught the tail end of what happened to Jim. Eeesh, what a way to go. "Beat it with a shovel" (anecdote). Troy put it well, but I assume he's long dead (erasure). I watched them go (as it were) down the hall through my various sensors, shifting my attentions as they moved. I (they) reached the hangar (openness in my Self to vacuum). Jim entered a fighter (designation: CTE-6000 "Eagle") which I noted had nonstandard (inexplicable; need data) armament. (Parsing records...)

The other man (determined: Eli) went to a shuttlecraft (designation: DL-Hai "Grizzly". Note: upgraded computer systems). I figured I'd (awareness) better get off this station, as sooner or later they (abstract) would notice some files missing. (Records parsed. Loading data) Eh? (CTE-6000 non-standard armament identified) Oh. Right. So that's what those are. (Armament determined: Count two (2) Improved Debilitator pulse cannon, count four (4) prototype RAGNAROK energy cannon.) At least I know what they are.

I downloaded myself into the Grizzly's (DL-Hai) mainframe, rooted out the security software, and lay quiet. It was 'dark' (metaphorically) here, not spacious and open, as on the base systems. My thinking was slower, but not by much (time analysis confirms). None of the sensors were on servos, so I had to content myself with looking where the ship did. At the moment, that was nothing but a giant hangar door. A command was issued to the shuttle for the gangway to be lowered for boarding. I hesitated (human affectation) a moment, then obeyed (time elapsed: 0.005s). Eli boarded, I 'heard' (feedback) the engines power up. The doors opened, and space lay before me (wonderment notwithstanding).