Lost Empire 4

“0999 bring 0101 on board after preliminary scans of her life capsule, I want to make sure she is unaffected,” Derrick said.

“Of course Primary starting scans now, the capsule is intact, though I am detecting damage to the electrochemical cells, it appears that unit 0101 is dangerously close to cascade failure. I suggest immediate transport to the hanger to effect repair and re-growth,” 0999 stated.

“Proceed 0999, double check all scans I want nothing to destroy what little of the fleet there is now,” ordered Derrick.

“Compliance Primary, all precautions are being taken to protect Primary Derrick, the fleet and unit 0101.” 0999 replied as Derrick watched all the readings that were coming in, he might not know what all the systems were but that wasn’t about to stop him from learning everything that he could. In just a week he’d already learned just what more than half the readings that came in were, along with all the alarms, wasn’t always sure exactly what they were but he was learning.

Derrick was hoping that E wasn’t damaged as bad as he thought she was, she’d sounded weak, plus what was left of her was completely trashed.

“0999 Query?” Derrick asked looking at the readings trying to determine the amount of damage.

“Yes Primary,” 0999 answered.

“Can 0101 be re-grown the way she is now or will parts have to be removed before re-gen is possible?” Derrick asked.

“I have projected, that well over 75% of her exterior will have to be removed, before any possible re-gen is possible,” 0999 stated.

“I was afraid of that, time to remove said sections and start re-gen?” Derrick asked.

“I postulate three days, five hours, fifteen minutes and thirty seconds once the procedure is started, then re-gen will be possible.” 0999 replied.

“Thank you 0999, please begin as soon as possible, we need as many in the fleet as possible,” Derrick was hoping he didn’t sound desperate, god he’d missed E.

Once again Derrick went back to the file room to again try and learn as much as he could. At the moment, true, he probably knew more about the systems than anyone else, but as his grandfather had always said knowledge was the key to power. He was just starting to grasp the basic idea of the trans-slip drive when a chime drug him away from his reading.

“Primary,” said 0999, “It is advisable that you partake of some nourishment, readings indicate you are growing weak.”

Looking up Derrick was a little confused, “what do you mean weak?” Derrick asked.

“Well, Primary,” 0999 started again, “you have been in this room for almost two days, you have ignored almost all hails, your strength is reduced by more than 60%.” It is the duty of all EIG units to protect their primary, and protect the Prime Primary above all else.”

“Thank you 0999, I hadn’t realized that I had been here that long; I was just starting to grasp the Trans-slip drive. I am hoping to learn as much as I can.” Derrick told 0999.

“Primary,” 0999 said a little excited, “when the trans-slip drive was installed there weren’t many humans that understood it. The fact that you are grasping the basics of it puts you in an elite class.”

Derrick was dumbfounded, it only took a little heavy reading (5000 pages on screen) to start to grasp the basics. Hell were all the non-imperials stupid back then? He realized it was 1000 years ago and not that many people were into warp or trans-warp theory but come on! It wasn’t that hard all you had to do was read! “What is the status of 0101?” Derrick asked.

“At present almost all debris has been cleared, power has been connected to her life pod ’til such time as she can effect here own power generation.” 0999 replied.

Derrick was about to answer when E’s thoughts broke into his own. <Primary, please do not put your life at risk, I am progressing well.>

<E! you shouldn’t be expending the energy to talk to me! Be still ’til I am at your controls again> Derrick told her.

<Yes Primary, I will endeavor to wait ’til we can again be together.> E replied weakly.

“Primary, 0101 has broken protocols, should I punish her by delaying her regeneration?” 0999 asked.

“No, proceed as you have I need every ship that we can find especially her.” Derrick ordered.

Derrick was back in the library again this time trying to not get lost in all the information. The next day 0999 again interrupted his studies, “Primary, 0101 has been cleared, I am now commencing her re-gen, it should only take a full five days, unlike we other three she is still conscious thereby making the process able to start faster plus we can proceed at a faster rate.”

“Good, 0999, I can’t seem to find information about your power source.” Derrick asked.

“I am sorry Primary but even as Prime Primary I am not allowed to reveal that unless you are of a higher rank. Though you are at a very high rank at present you are still not high enough.” 0999 stated unemotionally, causing Derrick to blink why in the hell had 0999 almost sounded like his scavenger computer? Ok something wasn’t right.

“0999 run a diagnostic, you seem to be experiencing some type of glitch,” Derrick ordered.

“Compliance Primary,” 0999 said in its normal voice, sounding slightly hurt.

Derrick sat to think about it, he’d seen mentions of a secret power source but nothing even hinting to what it might be. The more Derrick thought about it the more he felt that something was up, how much higher in rank did he have to be? Derrick thought that those that actually worked on the ship were of the second highest rank. Derrick went back to reading there had to be some mention of it somewhere. For the next day Derrick immersed himself in everything he could find but to no avail, obviously this was some big damn secret if there wasn’t even a hint of what it was. For the rest of the week Derrick stayed almost exclusively in the records room he’d finally begun to grasp all about the trans-warp and was actually moving into the more advanced technical part of it.