linked into the tube suit comlink. For emergency response to anyone in a suit.”
He blinked. Of course a large spaceship would have a computer that ran most automated systems. No matter the size of the crew, machines were vital. And voice-responsive expert systems had been common in business and mil-intel operations for decades. “So how do we connect with this . . . this ship computer? We’re humans. We talk English, not Alien jabber-jabber.”
Jane faced the long, empty hallway. Like him she wore a transparent tube suit. On top of which was her backpack with her canteen slung from her neck. Inside the tube suit, which closely hugged the contours of her body, she gave a shrug. “We ask.” She paused. “Spaceship computer mind, do you hear and understand me?”
A hum sounded inside Bill’s clear helmet. “I hear and understand you.”
Jane turned thoughtful. “Why are you talking with me? Won’t the ship captain block your communication?”
“I am required to respond to all bioforms who occupy a vacuum suit.” Another hum sounded in Bill’s helmet. “That is according to Protocol Seven, Emergency Operations of the Ship. The wearing of a vacuum suit by any bioform while inside this ship indicates an emergency situation.”
Damn .
“Can you display for me an interior map of this spaceship? So we can reach Captain Diligent Taskmaster with important information,” Jane said calmly.
Another hum sounded. “I can. Where do you wish the map displayed?”
Jane gestured to her right. “This wall to my right will do, if you have imaging capability that will appear on the wall.”
The hum lasted longer this time. “The wall can be made visual. But that choice limits my full display options. Do you wish a three dimensional map of this ship’s interior, similar to what is viewed by ship crewmembers?”
“Yes!” he and Jane both said loudly.
“Projecting,” it said with a short hum.
Before Jane and Bill a man-high holo took form in the hallway.
A teardrop shape floated before them, similar in shape to the collector pod that had hovered over his lake before it had shot Bill with the red taser beam. The shape shimmered and grew translucent. Two main hallways now appeared inside the teardrop, along with many box-like rooms that linked to the hallways.
“Excellent,” Jane said. “Identify which chamber is the command bridge, which the engine room, which the food service area, which . . . identify all areas accessible to a crew lifeform with English lettering that indicates the room function.”
A long hum sounded. “As you wish.”
Bill blinked, then stared. He had an excellent memory for spatial forms, which had aided him in his Technical Surveillance Operations work. He gestured to Jane. “ Me now ,” he signed.
She nodded understanding. He looked intently at the identified spaces and hallways. “Ship mind,” Bill called loudly, “can you display the locations of all ship crew, including the location of Captain Diligent Taskmaster? Do so if you can. Also show the location of myself and the other bioform next to me.”
“I can,” it said with a low hum. “Displaying.”
Seven red dots now appeared on the teardrop holo. One red dot was nearby, in the cell he’d occupied. That must be the grizzly bear Alien. It occupied a place labeled as Containment Unit Chamber. The remaining four dots were at the far end of the ship holo, in the round space marked as Command Bridge Chamber. He and Jane were located near the narrow end of the ship, just ahead of what was labeled an Engine Chamber. The tunnel they faced led to that space. Side hallways showed in the holo, the first of them lying just ahead of them. The side hallway led to another long hallway that ran the length of the ship. That hallway reached the nose of the teardrop, where the Bridge room was located. In between were rooms marked as Food Chamber, Habitat Chambers, Fusion Power Plants, Factory Chamber, Air Renewal/Production Chamber,
He blinked. Of course a large spaceship would have a computer that ran most automated systems. No matter the size of the crew, machines were vital. And voice-responsive expert systems had been common in business and mil-intel operations for decades. “So how do we connect with this . . . this ship computer? We’re humans. We talk English, not Alien jabber-jabber.”
Jane faced the long, empty hallway. Like him she wore a transparent tube suit. On top of which was her backpack with her canteen slung from her neck. Inside the tube suit, which closely hugged the contours of her body, she gave a shrug. “We ask.” She paused. “Spaceship computer mind, do you hear and understand me?”
A hum sounded inside Bill’s clear helmet. “I hear and understand you.”
Jane turned thoughtful. “Why are you talking with me? Won’t the ship captain block your communication?”
“I am required to respond to all bioforms who occupy a vacuum suit.” Another hum sounded in Bill’s helmet. “That is according to Protocol Seven, Emergency Operations of the Ship. The wearing of a vacuum suit by any bioform while inside this ship indicates an emergency situation.”
Damn .
“Can you display for me an interior map of this spaceship? So we can reach Captain Diligent Taskmaster with important information,” Jane said calmly.
Another hum sounded. “I can. Where do you wish the map displayed?”
Jane gestured to her right. “This wall to my right will do, if you have imaging capability that will appear on the wall.”
The hum lasted longer this time. “The wall can be made visual. But that choice limits my full display options. Do you wish a three dimensional map of this ship’s interior, similar to what is viewed by ship crewmembers?”
“Yes!” he and Jane both said loudly.
“Projecting,” it said with a short hum.
Before Jane and Bill a man-high holo took form in the hallway.
A teardrop shape floated before them, similar in shape to the collector pod that had hovered over his lake before it had shot Bill with the red taser beam. The shape shimmered and grew translucent. Two main hallways now appeared inside the teardrop, along with many box-like rooms that linked to the hallways.
“Excellent,” Jane said. “Identify which chamber is the command bridge, which the engine room, which the food service area, which . . . identify all areas accessible to a crew lifeform with English lettering that indicates the room function.”
A long hum sounded. “As you wish.”
Bill blinked, then stared. He had an excellent memory for spatial forms, which had aided him in his Technical Surveillance Operations work. He gestured to Jane. “ Me now ,” he signed.
She nodded understanding. He looked intently at the identified spaces and hallways. “Ship mind,” Bill called loudly, “can you display the locations of all ship crew, including the location of Captain Diligent Taskmaster? Do so if you can. Also show the location of myself and the other bioform next to me.”
“I can,” it said with a low hum. “Displaying.”
Seven red dots now appeared on the teardrop holo. One red dot was nearby, in the cell he’d occupied. That must be the grizzly bear Alien. It occupied a place labeled as Containment Unit Chamber. The remaining four dots were at the far end of the ship holo, in the round space marked as Command Bridge Chamber. He and Jane were located near the narrow end of the ship, just ahead of what was labeled an Engine Chamber. The tunnel they faced led to that space. Side hallways showed in the holo, the first of them lying just ahead of them. The side hallway led to another long hallway that ran the length of the ship. That hallway reached the nose of the teardrop, where the Bridge room was located. In between were rooms marked as Food Chamber, Habitat Chambers, Fusion Power Plants, Factory Chamber, Air Renewal/Production Chamber,
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