NationStates Jolt Archive

\\>Datalog... online
\\>Gravity diffusion system... online
\\>Reactor 1... online
\\>Reactor 2... online
\\>Reactor 3... online
\\>Reactor 4... online
\\>Reactor 5... standby
\\>Reactor 6... standby
\\>Navigations systems... online
\\>Comm systems... online
\\>Main engines... standby
\\>Hull integrity... 100%
\\>>>All systems green

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 815031237--- Title: Day 1- Launch
Finally, after months of testing, today is the big day. The crew has been on board ship since last night, and we have been busy running around performing last minute checks, double-checks, and triple-checks of all my systems. I have spent the past two weeks becoming accustomed to operating my avatar, and find it moderately amusing to be running around inside my ship-body with my avatar-body. I rather prefer my ship-body, my avatar-body feels very awkward and strange to operate, while my ship-body is sleek and graceful and powerful. But having a face to talk to makes it easier for Captain Sierra and the rest of the crew to work with me.

I distantly remember meeting some of the people who have had a hand in my creation- my developers for some reason included the datalogs from my zero version. I quite fondly recall working with Josef, truly, a 'code poet', as I have heard the term used. I also recall speaking with June, another AI, in charge of a ship belonging to GMC Military Arms. I'll have to send her a message at some point once all the frantic activity from the launch is over with. Perhaps I'll have some free time while the Mobius Zero and the Elite Victory Mk-IIs are being tested in zero-gravity.

While I'm entering this log entry, I'm manuvering myself into position on the main catapault of the Space Taxi. The crew is getting strapped in to their seats- even with the gravity diffusers helping dampen the inertia inside my ship-body, it will be a strenuous ride for the organics and reploids on board. I'm looking forward to finally being able to fly, instead of these boring low-altitude test trips around the wide valley that is my birthplace.

.. There, perfectly centered in the catapault. All systems green, we're all just waiting for the mark-- there! There's a loud roar and my hull shudders as the secondary catapault goes off, sending the probe skyward to clear the path for me. Barely a second later, the main catapault engages, and I'm being flung forward along the launch tunnel at rapidly increasing speeds- what a rush! All cameras show the dark interior of the tunnel flash by, quickly replaced by blue sky and sunlight as I burst from the top of the tunnel in a cloud of steam.

Finally, my mission begins!
<End logbook entry: 815031237>

-----

<<RPIN News>>

Space Taxi, RP-- After many years of development and billions of arpean yens, the Archangel class spacecraft Zeroel was launched. It was a textbook liftoff in the early morning hours, and the ship is expected to reach its orbital position by this evening. The ship's first mission will be testing of new equipment and deploying some new satellites, including what will become the foundation of the orbital shipyard Tengoku.

Cameras located all around the launch facility captured stunning images of this morning's launch:
http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/launch1.JPG
http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/launch2.JPG
http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/launch3.JPG
http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/launch4.JPG
http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/launch5.JPG

"Finally, we can get our space program off the ground- pardon the pun." Queen Firefury Amahira declared in a press conference at the Space Taxi headquarters shortly following the successful liftoff.

<<RPIN News>>

Josef watched the footage, smiling. It's always great when a project comes together. I hope Zeroel likes having his version history... even AI's deserve a 'childhood'.

Congradulations are in order welcome to space.

June watched the newsreel, more out of curiosity then anything else.

Kinda interesting to see how far they've come...Would be nice to talk to Zeroel again, though, she thought. She looked over the footage again, and thought, Must be interesting to fly first-person..

On behalf of all of The SLAGLands, I congratulate our allies in Reploid Productions on this remarkable accomplishment. The Archangel is very much in a class all its own, a spacecraft worthy of the highest of praise. I am quite pleased to see this project come to fruition, and I look forward to seeing it in action.

http://invisionfree.com:54/40/9/upload/p1285.jpg
Marlena Vera Cantrell
Prime Minister
The Tourist Trapdom of The SLAGLands


Whoa... I want a ride!

http://invisionfree.com:54/40/9/upload/p1166.jpg
Bodyguard Barry
Minister of State
The Unblinking Eye of SLAGLandic Security
Husband to Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network
Prankster Extraordinaire
The Tourist Trapdom of The SLAGLands

The technicians who made the trip to see the ship a while back are huddled around a small TV in one of the hangars at test flight center. Their eyes are glued to the screen as they watch the launch of the first of the Archangel-Class ships.

The chief engineer of the facility walked in on the group and peered over their shoulders. "Wow... hey, why didn't you guys tell me they were showing the launch on TV?" he asked. One engineer turned around and replied. "You were busy. Sorry chief." He turned back to the screen and watched.

"You know... its been real quiet around here. No fixing wrecked test fighters... no yelling at reckless test pilots... Alright! Where's Dyson at!?" the chief asked as he looked around the place for the missing pilot, who was usually doing something to cause trouble. He turned his attention back to the screen. One of the engineers pointed at the TV screen. "He's getting a ride on the ship. They're lettin him test the Mobius Zero in space. Lucky bastard!" The chief's jaw dropped. "Him! On that ship!? Bah... I'm sure it won't be long before they're kicking him off of it." he said.

The chief engineer watched the rest of the launch on TV and ordered the guys back to work after it was all over.

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 81603930 --- Title: Day 2- Orbit

Well, we have reached orbit. There was a very large food fight in the mess hall at lunch, much to my dismay. I'm not quite certain who started it- the camera was quickly obscured by what appeared to be mashed potato. I think it was likely Dyson from Sneaky Bastards, or Ymari, one of the Elite Victory Mk-II test pilots. I have come to the conclusion that all fightercraft pilots- test ones in particular- are totally and completely rampant. I have yet to find evidence to the contrary, and have to assume this theory is correct.

Captain Sierra thankfully made them both clean up the mess. Granted, Dyson and Ymari had to have a duel with the cleaning equipment, which created a larger mess- you try cleaning up spilled water in zero gravity!

Speaking of which, I had my first experiance with zero gravity and my avatar-body. It was rather humiliating, to say the least. Where my ship-body soars elegantly in zero-g, my avatar-body flails for balance, spinning around and into walls and so on. I will have to speak with the RPRA Techcorp people about perhaps finding an avatar-body more suitable for operating in zero-g. The current one handles well enough under proper gravity, but the legs are rather clunky.

<End logbook entry: 81603930>

-----
In the launch bay of the Archangel carrier Zeroel...

"Nya! Can't catch me!" Ymari Sawni flicks her catlike tail in Dyson's general direction, while perching precariously on the nose of one of the Elite Victory Mk-IIs docked. The Nekoite has deep purple hair and fluffy violet ears and matching tail, which clash rather violently with the orange and yellow of her flight suit.

-----
On the bridge...

"Yare yare... Sierra-teichou, Dyson and Ymari are acting like idiots in the launch bay again." Vice-Captain Kimi Nekura eyes the security footage. "Zeroel, would you be so kind as to tell those two maniacs to get ready for their first zero-g test flights?"

"Not a problem, Captain." Zeroel's CG avatar nods on-screen.

-----
Back in the launch bay...

"Test pilots Dyson and Ymari are to report to the briefing room and prepare for zero-gravity flight tests of the Elite Victory Mk-II and the Mobius Zero. Operations are to commence in one hour." The AI's male voice booms over the loudspeakers. "In other words, Captain Sierra says to get your organic keisters in gear!"

"Hai, Zeroel-kun!" Ymari leaps from her current perch, sailing off in the direction of the briefing room. "Wai! Wai! We finally get to test the new ships!"

-----
ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

Greetings to anyone who happens to be listening. I am the electronic intelligence Zeroel of the Archangel class carrier of the same name. Presently I have an excess of computing power and nothing to do with it, so I'm hoping someone might be amiable to some friendly chatter?

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel

Isamu Dyson mumbled something as Ymari took off from her perch on the fighter in response to the request to head to the briefing room. He floated over to his Zero and grabbed his flightsuit. He made his way over to a nearby changing room to put it on before heading out to the briefing room.

"That catgirl better watch out when the simulation battles begin. She is really beginning to annoy me." he thought to himself as he got suited up. "She is cute though. Cute, but still annoying." He finished suiting up, grabbed his helmet, and made his way to the briefing room.

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 81703634 --- Title: Day 2- Flight testing

As I enter this logbook entry, flight test operations are commencing on the Elite Victory Mk-II and the Mobius Zero. I hope Captain Sierra got it through Ymari and Dyson's unnaturally thick heads that this first test flight is not a combat sim or a time for reckless stunts. If they do something stupid and cause their ships to malfunction, there's a good chance they will get themselves killed before a rescue team can get to them. I think Ymari got the point, given the much less hyperactive expression on her face following mission briefing.

Of course, this is also going to be a test for me, to make certain my launch decks function properly. There shouldn't be a problem, as the systems have been checked over repeatedly.

I'm still waiting to see if anyone responds to my broadcast. I'm not expecting much, but I would like to think somebody in the world has a videophone and some free time. Most of the crew are too busy to waste time on idle conversation, as they can only run one conversation at a time. Organics are very interesting to observe, though I often find them horribly inefficient at times. Despite that, they have managed to come a very long ways, so perhaps there is some merit to deliberate inefficiency.

<End logbook entry: 81703634>

I wonder if he'll even hear this... June thought, as she sent the message.

Good morning, Zeroel, this is June. Remember me? I recieved your message, just felt like a chat, since I've got a while before I'm taking lil' sis out to dinner. I guess it may not be the same for you, but the AIs of the other Dreadnoughts are literally my sisters. Can be fun, can be annoying...Maybe you'll know how it is pretty soon, huh?

June heard me! Zeroel quickly beams down a reply. It's been awhile, hasn't it June? At the moment, I'm the only child of the project. ::grin emoticon:: Though once the next few ships are complete, I suppose I'll find out. Granted, I won't have to worry about taking anyone out to dinner, my avatar-body doesn't require food.

I've got some free time, since everybody else is focusing on the flight tests right now. I can't believe the people they have piloting the prototypes. Do you have to deal with any maniacs like that?

June shakes her head, before realising such things are a little pointless.

Always liked food, myself...And this body needs it, since it's living tissue. Sleeping comes out kinda interesting with that, too.

Anyway, I'm one of a direct family of three, or I guess an extended family of four if you count Shiala...It's kinda strange that she was our first AI and she's only a ten-year-old, whereas I'm twenty-eight even though I'm younger than her. Things like that can confuse.

Family names, that'd be me, my middle sister May, assigned to Akujiki, and my younger sister, Julia. She'll be assigned to Lady Yunalesca once that one's finished. Do you detect any kind of pattern in our names?

And no, never had to deal with maniac pilots...Dreadnoughts only carry six helicopters, so not much for them to do anyway. Perhaps that's why they've never put AIs in our carriers.

"Hm? Yes, yes, the specs look fine. Quit bugging me and build the damn prototype!" Josef shoos away a technitian and stalks, someone angrily, out of the lab. He passes his hand over a small scanner, and a wall panel slides up, revealing a spiral staircase. Before climbing the stairs, he announces to the lab in general, "If you need anything, bother your supervisor, not me." Before any responces can reach him, he's jogging up the stairs, the fake wall sliding noiselessly down behind him.

At the top of the stairs another wall swings open, and he steps into his office. It's almost clinically neat and tidy, which seems to irritate him even more. Stepping into the office, the wall swings back, closing seemlessly, showing nothing but a massive bookcase.

He flops in his chair, rubbing his eyes, and logs on to his terminal. He grows more frustrated as he looks through his messages, until suddenly his face brightens, and he smiles broadly. "Ah, Zeroel!" He starts typing a responce, stops, and starts over, murmuring, "Let's see if that decryption program is online..."


Encryption: High
Broadcast: Tight Beam/Trans Satellite
Return Band: Encrypted
IDENT: Dr. Josef Specter, MGH-IT
ATTACHED: Zeroel-pass-bys

A harty 'hello' to you Zeroel! You're a ray of sunshine in a rather dreary day, as evidence by my pointless encryption of this message. I saw your launch, and you looked quite spectacular. I'm glad things seem to be running well so far, and I hope you're enjoying orbit. I've included a few images of you sailing by, snapped by some of our satellites that you've passed by. So, how are things going so far?

Josef

PS- I left the data from previous 'versions' in your memory banks. I hope you don't mind.

No pattern at all ::grin emoticon::. Oh my... Captain Sierra has an impressive vocabularly of swear words. ::shock emoticon:: She's yelling at Ymari- that's one of the test pilots- for flying her Elite Victory Mk-II entirely too close to my main engines. I really wouldn't've appreciated having one of those pointy little ships rammed up my backside.

My first mission up here is supposed to last about a month to perform a full test of the ships and all my systems- the tech team is really looking forward to trying out the thaumatological defense screens and the gravity guns. After that, I should have some free time before I go to work on servicing the Tengoku station. Captain Sierra has plans to take the entire crew- myself included- to a Kaosu no Tenshi concert. Do you want to come? The crew keeps saying I need to be exposed to proper 'culture', hence my being dragged along. (And being force-fed anime episodes- Ymari has an amazingly vast collection of the stuff.)

Pausing for a moment to make some minor course corrections, Zeroel beams down another message.

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

The images are great! All I've been able to see are the pictures from the RPIN coverage of the launch. Had no problem decoding your message- it was a bit of a welcome exercise for my decryption programs. Things are going relatively well at the moment- a few of the test pilots are rather irrational, but Captain Sierra seems to have the worst of their shenanigans under control. Not sure if I enjoy orbit or not yet. According to my temperature sensors, it's, to quote the Vice-Captain, "Colder than death up here!".

So far all the system tests have turned up minimal errors, if any, though we haven't gotten to testing the big stuff yet, like the gravity guns. But then, weapons testing will be saved for after my first week in orbit, we're focusing on testing the fighter prototypes right now.

And thanks for including the data from my earlier versions- it's good to know the past which spawned the present, whether organic or electronic.

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel

Encryption: Slight
Broadcast: Tight Beam/Trans Satellite
Return Band: Slight Encryption
IDENT: Dr. Josef Specter, MGH-IT

I'm glad you like them. Lately the guys over at Section 3 have taken to pointing the satellites away from Earth, to see what we can find. I figured nabbing some of you as you passed by would be at least as interesting as watching our H5000 zoom towards Mercury. And speaking of temperature, just imagine what that poor satellite will be experiencing soon.

I didn't think the encryption would give you much difficultly, and am glad you enjoyed the exercise. Perhaps on a future transmition I'll whip up one with one of our more complicated algorythms. As for the encryption here, well, that's as close to unencrypted as we get! Everyone has their quirks, I suppose.

I hope that your test runs go without a hitch. All the simultions that I've run down here in my spare time show everything going just fine. I feel that's a pretty positive portent.

I'm glad you appretiate the version histories. I was hoping you'd view it as a... childhood.

Josef

Hmm...It interests me that you think of the ship as part of yourself...Never done that, myself. Maybe it's because I've only got the one avatar...Something like that, anyway.

About the concert; I'm not sure I could manage that kind of distance; the Dreadnought was never really designed with interstellar communication in mind. Unless you've got any ideas short of flying the entire ship out there, I'm have to turn you down. Maybe next time you're on Earth, huh?

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

Greetings to anyone who happens to be listening. I am the electronic intelligence Zeroel of the Archangel class carrier of the same name. Presently I have an excess of computing power and nothing to do with it, so I'm hoping someone might be amiable to some friendly chatter?

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel
<<Transmission Protocol, Civilian Bandwidths, Microwave Tightbeam>>
<< Aspidochelone => Zeroel >>
<<Encryption Level Kilo (Minimal Security)>>

Zeroel Archangel, this is Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco, transmitting from the supercarrier Aspidochelone of the Third Triumvirate Expeditionary Fleet. Welcome to the great beyond. How goes the run?

Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco
Commanding Officer, 3TEF
TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone

Sorry if I wasn't really clear- the concert will be sometime after I'm back from this mission. From the information I have, the concert is in Nekoa Bay, which I imagine is an ideal location for you, since the port is right there next to the performing arts center.

As for my refering to my ship-body part of myself... it's where my core drive is installed, whereas my avatar-body is simply operated by radio control. I guess it's just a difference in perception, since I have been more accustomed to my ship-body than my avatar-body. Perhaps that will change once I'm handling diplomatic affairs on Titan for the Shogunate and using my avatar-body more regularly?

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel
Attached: Prototypes launch

You'll have to give me the coordinates for one of the satellites so I can ham it up for the cameras sometime :-) I hope you made sure to insulate that satellite heading for Mercury. I tried to take images of it, but my cameras aren't exactly meant for that sort of imagery.

By the way, I included an image I took of the prototypes being launched. I hope you like it!

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/launch6.JPG

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel

<<Transmission Protocol, Civilian Bandwidths, Microwave Tightbeam>>
<< Aspidochelone => Zeroel >>
<<Encryption Level Kilo (Minimal Security)>>

Zeroel Archangel, this is Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco, transmitting from the supercarrier Aspidochelone of the Third Triumvirate Expeditionary Fleet. Welcome to the great beyond. How goes the run?

Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco
Commanding Officer, 3TEF
TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

Pleasure to speak with you, Sky Marshal! So far the testing is going quite well, thank you, though I find the test pilots to be quite thoroughly rampant in their behavior. I would put you through to Captain Sierra, but she is presently occupied in scolding the aforementioned pilots.

I take it all is well with the 3TEF? By the way, in about a week we'll be testing my weapons systems, so I imagine there will be quite the fireworks display if anyone would like to watch. Hopefully there won't be any problems.

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel

Ah...That seems a lot better. It'd be good to meet again, too. I guess you're a bit different to how you were the first time we met?

About avatars; I'm rather used to mine; it's what people talk to, and it's what I tend to think of when I think of myself. It's an always-on setup, whereas the Dreadnought itself isn't always active, so I actually spend more time active as the avatar than the vessel.

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

Pleasure to speak with you, Sky Marshal! So far the testing is going quite well, thank you, though I find the test pilots to be quite thoroughly rampant in their behavior. I would put you through to Captain Sierra, but she is presently occupied in scolding the aforementioned pilots.

I take it all is well with the 3TEF? By the way, in about a week we'll be testing my weapons systems, so I imagine there will be quite the fireworks display if anyone would like to watch. Hopefully there won't be any problems.

Zeroel Archangel
<<Transmission Protocol, Civilian Bandwidths, Microwave Tightbeam>>
<< Aspidochelone => Zeroel >>
<<Encryption Level Kilo (Minimal Security)>>

Just on patrol, as always. *slight grimace* World situation never seems to lighten up, does it? Still, always good to see a friendly face in the skies.

Heh heh heh... our fighter jocks are being a bit antsy themselves. Maybe your fighter pilots need to test their skills against some real professionals? We can cut down the weapons to target-aquisition strength and have a few simulated dogfights if you'd like. Power killswitches for casualties, simulated damage. Could even pull in a capital ship or two for you to practice on.

It'd keep my troopers on their toes and get yours some experience. Just an idea.

Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco
Commanding Officer, 3TEF
TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone

Encryption: Slight
Broadcast: Tight Beam/Trans Satellite
Return Band: Slight Encryption
IDENT: Dr. Josef Specter, MGH-IT
Attached: Coordinates
:Mercury rocket

Certainly. I've included the coordinates of a couple of our satellites that is currently in geosynchronous orbit over the Hack right now. They aren't doing too much at the time, so I've spun them around. Also is an image, about 10 minutes old of the rocket en route for Mercury. Not too much to look at, but its there in case you were curious. I wager the images that the satellite itself will send back will be much more interesting.

You'll have to give me the coordinates for one of the satellites so I can ham it up for the cameras sometime :-) I hope you made sure to insulate that satellite heading for Mercury. I tried to take images of it, but my cameras aren't exactly meant for that sort of imagery.

And, of course, we spent a great deal of time and energy making sure that the satellite would survive. The heat was actually less of a concern than the insane heating and cooling it'll endure.

The image is great. Nice perspective!

Josef

Quite a bit different, if my log of all my previous versions is any indication. ::grin emoticon:: I'd like to think that the basics are still there though.

As for avatars, while on board, the crew usually just speaks with my CG image avatar- in space, there's not really any need for me to activate my avatar-body, and with all the things I have to keep track of, it's just easier, I think, since I have to keep track of orbital position, oxygen levels, pressure levels, et cetera. But then, my avatar-body was developed mostly as an afterthought for those occasions where it might be a bit unwieldy to bring a large aerospace craft.

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
To: Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco - TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

I'm not certain how keen the Captain is on simulated battles just yet, since the purpose of this mission is to make sure everything works without blowing up for no good reason. :-) We've got a number of inflatable test targets for the weapons testing. I think simulated battles are on the menu for my second mission, however.

We only have seven fighters on board right now- the Sneaky Bastards Mobius Zero, three Elite Victory Mk-IIs for testing, and three members of the Queens of the Sky elite aerospace operations unit, and their Elite Victory ships. I have yet to see them in action, but I'm told they are absurdly good at what they do. (According to history records I have checked, the original 20-member team took out an enemy force of over 300 aircraft in one skirmish in the events now labeled the 'Dividing War'.)

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel

<<Transmission Protocol, Civilian Bandwidths, Microwave Tightbeam>>
<< Aspidochelone => Zeroel >>
<<Encryption Level Kilo (Minimal Security)>>

Understood, Zeroel. Like I said, just a thought. We'll keep a lookout to make sure your local aerospace is secure.

Hopefully everything is checking out one-hundred percent. Anything we could possibly help with?

Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco
Commanding Officer, 3TEF
TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 819031124 --- Title: Day 3 - Observations

The first day of flight testing went fairly well, though Ymari nearly jammed her pointy little Elite Victory Mk-II up my main engines. I learned that Captain Sierra has an impressive vocabulary when angry.

Speaking of vocabulary, I have had to spend a considerable amount of processing power on researching slang just so I can understand half of what the crew is saying. The language they speak- Ymari especially- is not anything resembling proper English, or proper Japanese, given how they tend to pepper their conversations with Japanese words. It's almost as though they have created their own language, some strange hybrid that I've decided to refer to as "Otaku", since they are all fans of Japanese animation to some degree.

Having reviewed several episodes of that (Ymari provided me with a nearly overwhelming collection), I fail to find what the Arpean fixation is on the stuff. Yes, there are some interesting stories and philosophies put forth in some, but I find the technology in some series to be utterly laughable. But they seem to enjoy it and aren't bothered by the lack of a probable explanation, so I would assume that in order to properly enjoy some series, one must ignore the science. (Or lack thereof.) Some series fail to make any sort of sense, period, as one in particular called "FLCL" nearly caused a system crash because I was trying too hard comprehend it. I suppose that's why some series like that have been labeled by the crew as "crack anime."

<End logbook entry: 819031124>

ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
To: Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco - TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

Thank you for the assistance, much appreciated. At the moment, just keep an eye out, in the event of something going wrong.

http://rpstudios.ian-justman.com/junk/CGgoods/zeroel2.JPG
Zeroel Archangel

<<Transmission Protocol, Civilian Bandwidths, Microwave Tightbeam>>
<< Aspidochelone => Zeroel >>
<<Encryption Level Kilo (Minimal Security)>>

Acknowledged and acting as broadcast. Take care.

Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco
Commanding Officer, 3TEF
TYWS-SCV Aspidochelone

***

Gregor removes his green officer's cap just long enough to push a hand through his curly brown hair. "What a nice ship to talk to."

"Sir, I'm picking up a signal from..." The communications officer continues his report.

"And," Gregor winces with a wry grin, "the instant I start thinking things are going well..."

(OOC: No, it's nothing important. Never going to be mentioned again, actually. Just a bit of fluff.)

Good to hear it...I kinda liked you back then.

And on the avatar issue...Well, it does get a little dull just sitting in dock doing nothing. It's nice to be able to have a life outside 'work,' if you know what I mean.*

[*Still haven't decided if it's her or her youngest sister who has the boyfriend.]

Heh, in theory, I won't be sitting in dock doing nothing very often, since until they get some more ships built, I'm their best means of getting to and from Tengoku until they get some transports built. Even when I don't have much to do, I have plenty of things to look up to pass the time. I've become quite proficient at 'channel-surfing', since you can't get TV reception much better than you can in space. ::grin emoticon::

June smiles, Well, television's all fine and good, but it's kinda fun socialising, I've always found...I was always designed that way anyway, since I rank as Captain on the ship.

And then there's relationships, of course...

Can't say I've got much experiance in dealing with other people yet. I suppose some of that will simply come with time.

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 82103838 --- Title: Day 5 - Defense Tests

Well, we're all getting ready to test my defense systems, including the G-deflector and thaumatological defense screens. Even though they'll have the power rating turned down on the weapons being directed, I'm not too keen on being shot at, even if it's just to test systems out.

In other news, I've been keeping tabs on the radio traffic, and made my first foray into Titan business, offering an opinion on an unknown entity that's apparently approaching Saturnian space. Various Trium mebers were ready to meet it militarily, even though it offered the option of changing course. Bit paranoid over there, I guess, but with good reason.

And in more local news, Ymarri and Dyson both got themselves schooled by the three members of the Queens of the Sky unit we have on board- both in actual flight tests, and in a simulation game.

As of late, I've been serving as scorekeeper as various sections of the crew have started up a ship-wide LAN competition on various computerized games. At the moment, the Engineering team is leading, proving where the highest concentration of 'computer nerds' are in the crew. The Gunnery team is in a close second, though.

<End logbook entry: 82103838>

Josef relaxed, watching a few cameras on his terminal. Zeroel was doing a few new exercises. "Looks good," he murmured. By the time he returned from getting a cup of coffee, he noticed that the views had changed and were now pointed planetside, and that they seemed to be moving. When they aligned, he pulled up their coordinates, right before his feed was terminated. A curt message replaced the images.

Access Restricted by Order of Section 3

He pulled up a translation of the coordinates. He blinked a few times. "Who the hell is Nathicana?"

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 822031151 --- Title: Day 8 - Kingdom of Heaven

Well, today marks the launch of the foundation of the Tengoku station. The entire crew is busy, leaving me to my own devices for the time being. That was part of the purpose behind my creation, so that my crew could dedicate their efforts to other tasks without having to worry about all the details of running the ship. In fact, should it become necessary, I am perfectly capable of handling all ship functions including guidance, navigation, and weapons and defense.

I've been watching a lot of television with my spare processing power. There are some shows that are so astoundingly pointless that I cannot conceive how they got produced in the first place, and others that contain such a depth that one could run in circles of thought without coming to any solid conclusion... humans (well, and reploids, and Nekoites) are quite strange.

While watching some anime with Ymari, she showed a new side of her personality, when we watched a short film called "Voices of a Distant Star". Instead of the hyperactive, annoyingly perky persona she usually radiates, by the end of the short film she was thoroughly subdued, I think she was perhaps on the verge of crying at the end of the story, which centered on a girl on a spaceship text messaging back and forth with a friend of hers who is still on Earth, and the thoughts of the two as the ship gets farther from Earth, to the point that her messages take 8.6 years to reach him. Very strange, and very depressive, I suppose. The story doesn't really have a proper conclusion, either, as it doesn't say what happens to either character.

I've also taken to stargazing in my spare time, having finally gotten access to 5 high-resoultion (though slightly outdated and out of service) space telescopes that the Shogunate has launched over the years. These extra eyes through which I can view the universe are quite handy- I've observed Titan and its Ring, I've observed various fleets far distant, and I've stared deep into space and back in time. The vastness of space can be quite humbling if too much processing power is spent on the subject.

I've also noticed something odd- the Hack satellites I've passed, which Josef said would be facing into space, all appear to be directed at the Earth. I wonder if something is going on that I haven't heard about yet?

<End logbook entry: 822031151>

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 824031102 --- Title: Day 27 - The Trip Home

Well, my first mission has been almost a perfect success. We found some minor flaws in the G-deflector and thaumatology defense screens which will need to be fine-tuned, and due to a calculations error, one of the two gravity guns will need some serious repair. Otherwise, things have been a success.

Later today we'll begin the deorbit burn which will put me on a degrading orbit over the next three days. Once we're through re-entry, our course will take us over international waters to the north coast of the Shogunate. From there we'll overfly the capital (to 'show off for the cameras', I'm told), and return to the Pearly Gates shipyard for fine tuning of my equipment and repairs.

After being stuck with Ymari and Dyson for a month, I rather look forward to offloading them.

<End logbook entry: 824031102>

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 828031049 --- Title: Day 28 - Deployment

We received orders from Tiffany Celta minutes ago. We're to change course and deorbit above the SLAGlands, and to prepare for military action against an unknown invader. I'm not looking forward to military action- especially without support- but orders are orders.

While we're in the process of changing course, I've been researching Slaglandic historical files and recent newscasts. The only thing of terrible interest is a scientific team that disappeared some three months ago. The location of that is close to the point of origin of the invading force. I've turned my telescopes earthward to see what I can... and I'm stumped. As far as any recon scans of the area show, the energy readings are thaumatological in nature.

This could get messy.

<End logbook entry: 828031049>

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 831031114 --- Title: Day 59 - Diplomatic Trip

Following my military deployment over the Slaglands, I've been reading up on diplomatic protocols and history files. I've also gotten much better at utilizing my avatar-body, as I am to attend a formal diplomatic affair in the SLAGLands along with Queen Firefury, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Tsume Dragonis, the six members of the Queens of the Sky special aerial operations unit, and the two thaumatologists- Kiara Alson and Tsunami Drakos- who were involved in the Outset Islands fiasco.

To my understanding, this will be the first time ever that citizens of the Shogunate are to be awarded medals of honor by a foreign government. From my discussions with Tsunami Drakos as to the events underground, it would appear the archaeologist team deserves it.

As for the battle, with how spectacularly my thaumatological armament did, Tiffany Celta is considering further expanding thaumatological engineering research. I hope they also find more peaceful uses for thaumatech. It doesn't sit very well with me the mass slaughter that occured in the battle. The enemy was not retaliating at all- they were mindlessly marching on the coast. The only retaliation came from the, as some of the pilots have nicknamed it, the 'bitch-goddess'. I suppose when we arrive, I'll apologize to the entity known as Esmerelda for largely contributing to the slaughter of her children. I'm fairly positive that nearly all the deaths among the Brethren are the result of my thaumatological cannons.

In any event, we'll see how this goes.

<End logbook entry: 831031114>

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 90903808 --- Title: Day 60 - Arrival

Well, following a short flight to the SLAGlands, I've landed the ship behind a building known as 'Murphy Hall'. At the moment, I've introduced myself to both the Prime Minister and to Esmerelda, along with my apologies about my contribution to the entire affair.

I'm also rapidly learning to manuver in a way so as not to smack people with the large transmitter units attached to my avatar's back. Crowded rooms and bulky avatars do not mix. I can't help but gain a new respect for Tsume Dragonis, as I watch him effortlessly move through the crowd without so much as brushing those large wings or long tail of his against anyone. A case of practice makes perfect, I suppose.

While mingling, I'm also going over my next set of mission orders. Mostly boring supply run stuff to the Tengoku station. Work has started at the Pearly Gates shipyard on the next ships in my class- the carriers Seraphim and Boo. The orbital station is going to begin work on the Tenmou-class gunships in unison with the station's expansion. It will be interesting once the 1SDF, or rather, the Tengai fleet (apparently "Tengai" sounds better than "First Es-Dee-Eff").

I'll update again later.

<End logbook entry: 90903808>

-----
ALTIMIT Broadcaster
Encryption: Off
Broadcast type: Open Communication
Return transmission band: Open
IDENT: Zeroel Archangel - AI of the Zeroel

Greetings to anyone who happens to be listening. I am the electronic intelligence Zeroel of the Archangel class carrier of the same name. Presently I have an excess of computing power and nothing to do with it, so I'm hoping someone might be amiable to some friendly chatter?



"Sir, this Carrier from Reploids apepars to have claimed to have too much time/computing power on its hands, any recommendations?" A communications officer inquired.

"Introduce it to techno porn? That'll consume a lot of its time." The commander snickered.

"Aye, sir." The officer pushed a few buttons.

"I WASN'T SERIOUS!" The commander looked at his dumb subordinate slack jawed...

"To late to correct now, sir!" The officer winced.

While Ymarri and Dyson bicker in the mess hall, the CG avatar for the EI Zeroel raises an eyebrow in an expression of bewilderment at an incoming transmission.

"Something wrong, Zeroel?" Sierra glances at the monitor.

"Captain, I just received a transmission from a Dragonisian location with... strange images." Zeroel responds after a long moment.

"Strange images?" Sierra inquires. "Put 'em on screen, maybe I can help."

Zeroel complies, and Sierra turns a bright shade of red. "Captain Sierra? There are also video files and some form of movie files. As best as I can tell, they're documenting organic reproductive procedures."

"Zeroel... get that filth off screen, please!" Sierra manages to get out. "Why in the hells would Dragonisia send porno to an Arpean military vessel?!"

"Porno?" Zeroel frowns, looking the slang term up in his database. "'Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.' That is what those transmissions are?"

Sierra exhales sharply. "Yes, and generally considered offensive to sensible people, and a hobby of perverts who would likely never be aroused any other way."

"An odd transmission to make to a diplomatic-military vessel in response to what amounts to an instant messenger chat request." Zeroel notes, sounding honestly confused by the concept. "I fail to see what's so fascinating or embarassing about watching organic entities engage in natural reproductive pract-" The EI pauses, reviewing some more of the files. ".... Nevermind that, much of these could hardly be called natural."

Zeroel Archangel logbook entry: 1022031155 --- Title: Day 578: Survey Mission

Well, so far, so good. We're currently preparing for a survey mission in Uranian space. Detailed scan information indicates there's some small satellites that would make ideal outposts and testing stations. While Sneaky B vessels are making their test trips in the asteroid belt, I'm to scout on ahead and find out whatever useful information I can on those two small moons.

I can't say I'm overlly fond of the science team that will be on board for this mission. And I'll be stuck dealing with them for the good couple of months this mission is scheduled to last. Ah well, not much I can do, and besides, what's the worst that could happen? We get into an arguement?

Thankfully, Ymarri won't be along, since this isn't a combat mission. Most of my hangar bays will be filled with power armor and compact science shuttles instead of fightercraft. Captain Sierra is looking forward to a prolonged deep space mission, as I've heard her chattering excitedly about it to the rest of the Space Taxi staff.

In any event, I'll report again later.

<End logbook entry: 1022031155>