Jade's Fiction » Vital Signs » 01 - ISS Merricade - Debris Field
01 - ISS Merricade - Debris Field
CLASSIFIED Property of RT Intergalactic
Clearance Zeta and Above
Filed under: Investigations — VESUVIUS
ISS MERRICADE - COCKPIT AUDIO LOG - EARTH-2972-11-02
J45P3R*: Captain.
EMORY: Yeah, Jas?
J45P3R: I am detecting a large amount of debris in the surrounding area.
EMORY: Oh. Is it good debris?
J45P3R: It is debris. I do not know whether it is good or bad.
EMORY: I mean, is it salvage, or did we stumble across an asteroid field?
J45P3R: Scanning. The debris is manmade in origin.
EMORY: This far out? Wonder what it could be.
J45P3R: Further analysis required. Would you like me to run identification scans?
EMORY: If you could. Let me know if you find anything good—anything valuable to scientists, collectors, or syndicates. If anything’s too out of the way, we can swing back and pick it up after we deliver this shipment.
J45P3R: Noted. I will be unavailable for higher-level functions for approximately 20.7 hours.
EMORY: Gotcha.
*Archivist’s note: J45P3R, or “Jasper”, was the designation of the A.I. aboard the ISS Merricade.
ISS MERRICADE - GALLEY AUDIO LOG - EARTH-2972-11-06
EMORY: Hey, Jas? Play me something old.
J45P3R: How old, Captain?
EMORY: Hmm. 24th century? Something from Arikawa’s 2nd collection.
[music playing]
EMORY: Good choice, as always.
J45P3R: Thank you, Captain.
ISS MERRICADE - WORKSHOP AUDIO LOG - EARTH-2972-11-07
J45P3R: Captain.
EMORY: I’m in the middle of something. I’ve almost figured out this—ah, damn it!
[sigh]
EMORY: It broke. [unintelligible] … my last one, too.
J45P3R: My condolences.
EMORY: Sure, sure. What’d you have for me, Jas?
J45P3R: Based on your parameters of ‘valuable to scientists or collectors,’ my scans indicate the debris resembles antiquated shipboard phase drive machinery.
EMORY: Ooh, yeah, that’s good. Bring that aboard.
J45P3R: Tractoring.
J45P3R: Opening salvage deposit.
J45P3R: Sealing salvage deposit.
J45P3R: Pressurizing. The item is now aboard, Captain.
ISS MERRICADE - WORKSHOP AUDIO LOG - EARTH-2972-11-07
EMORY: Jas, can you check the database for those specs I just scanned in?
J45P3R: Affirmative. Please note, the database is only up to date to Earth-2966-12-31.
EMORY: Yes, Jas, thank you. You remind me every time.
J45P3R: It is my job.
EMORY: Don’t sound so pleased with yourself.
ISS MERRICADE - WORKSHOP AUDIO LOG - EARTH-2972-11-10
EMORY: Jas.
J45P3R: Yes, Captain?
EMORY: Am I reading this right? This part stopped being manufactured in Earth-2581?
J45P3R: That is correct. The advent of a new multiphasic-input engine in Earth-2577 rendered all previous iterations obsolete. This particular part became available in Earth-2523.
EMORY: Then this wreck is almost 400 years old.
J45P3R: Scanning database for notable disappearances between Earth-2523 and Earth-2581. Several instances found.
EMORY: List ‘em.
J45P3R: Cross-scanning database for disappearances of single-phase ships with blueprints containing this part. I found: GSS Calderon, GSS Furiya, GSS Prominent, IPSS Machu Picchu, [REDACTED], UEV Titan VII, and SV Conquistador.
J45P3R: Cross-scanning database for salvage records: no matches found.
EMORY: Drop a location marker. We’ll let the crew at Lotus Station know when we get there for a resupply.
J45P3R: Location marker activated.
EMORY: [unintelligible] … and I wonder if Guierra’s still—
J45P3R: Captain.
EMORY: Mm?
J45P3R: I am detecting life signs in the debris field 0.05 parsecs from here.
EMORY: You’ve got to be kidding me. Well, let’s go check it out, then.
J45P3R: Setting course.