UGT: Unknown
Location: Unknown System
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"Urgh... What the...?" I didn`t know what to say. I was freezing terribly, but the darkness of sleep had been so soothing. Couldn`t I just go back to sleep? Flee from that horrible freezing cold?
[ Warning, if inheritor looses counciousness a second time, chances of sucessfull revival and therefore survival fall to 0.74%. Caution and an immediate reactivation of full mental capabilities are advised. ]
These words, projected directly into my mind, were reason enough for me to stay awake a few more seconds. The moment said words started to truly make sense to my still sleepy mind, I shot up, any thought about sleep instantly forgotten. Only to regret this decision almost instantly, as the room began to spin around me. Startled, I took a step backwards, but tripped over my own feet and fell back into the freezingly cold mass in which I had lain, accompanied by a loud splash. I rubbed my still bleary eyes and surveyed my surroundings, this time preferring to take everything around me in slowly. I was sitting in a pod filled with a gelatinous freezingly could substance. All around me, there were other pods like my own, but they were all closed. Well, that wasn`t entirely true. Next to mine, there were a handful of other pods open, but I saw no other people around. Did they already leave?
[ As of now, inheritor ist the only sentient being located on ASO-17309 that is in a state where active mental processes occur. ]
[ Going to the infirmary for automated examination of inheritors bodily and mental functions after sucessfull awakening is advised. ]
There was that voice again. What was it even talking about? Sucessfull awakening? Where even am I?!
[ Awakening is the process of the body resuming biological workings after being in cryostasis. ]
[ Current location of inheritor is the cryostasis module of the ASO-17309, a military outpost of the Aetherian Empire. ]
[ Going to the infirmary for automated examination of inheritors bodily and mental functions after sucessfull awakening is advised. Way to the infirmary has been highlighted. ]
Suddenly a red line appeared in my field of vision, but at the moment I was still preoccupied with something else. "Cryostasis? What even is that?! And who are you?!" I asked out loud. Although I was pretty sure that until now, the voice had just straight out read my mind. But this way, I at least felt a bit more comfortable.
[ Cryostasis is the reversible cryopreservation of live biological objects. ]
[ In the Aetherian Empire, said technology was used to circumvent detection by (REDACTED), to pass longer time frames without biological aging, or as a sentence against criminals. ]
[ This unit is the Main Commanding AI of ASO-17309, now redirected to function as personal AI of inheritor, based in Inheritor-Protocol #72-B. ]
[ Going to the infirmary for automated examination of inheritors bodily and mental functions after sucessfull awakening is advised. ]
"Fine, I´ll go to the infirmary, stop pestering me about it! But at least answer my questions on the way!" I said, deciding that it was time for me to leave the pod. I had nothing better to do anyway, so why not follow the red line that just outright appeared in my vision. The outpost, ASO-17309 as the AI had called it, seemed to be... poorly preserved. Besides the fact that I was naked and the air was freezingly cold, everywhere I looked, there was a huge layer of dust and the outpost seemed to be in the process of falling apart. Together with how stiff my movements were, it could take some time for me to reach the infirmary, that hopefully still functioned correctly. But I honestly doubted that, looking at the station. Anyway, back to my questions. "What happened to this station? And what about me? I don`t remember... anything, now that I think about it! What the fuck happened to me?!"
[ ASO-17309 was built as a military outpost to protect aetherian interest in the southern sector of the galaxy and saw its last maintanance by biological beings 983 years ago. The last replacement parts where shipped into the station 996 years ago. The entire storage of replacement parts and therefore the ability of this unit to completely repair ongoing outpost damage without biological assistance ended 832 years ago. The last 831 years, ASO-17309 entered a stage of steady decline with only 27% of the outpost at least still partially functional. ]
[ Inheritor and all other outpost personal went into cryostasis 980 years ago, but without securing the ability to safely awaken again. Since inheritor was awakened without any safety measures in place and needed two attempts to awaken, this likely resulted in a memory loss. ]
[ Currently 3824 aetherians are still in cryostasis with at least 566 dead throughout the station. ]
"What the fuck?! I lost my memories because I was TOO FUCKING INCOMPETENT to make sure I could awaken safely again?! What did I think?!" Obviously the AI decided to not react to my short rant, so I took a few deep breaths before I started speaking again. "Can you please show me my... status?" I... didn`t know from where that word came, but it just felt... right somehow. And to my own surprise, the AI actually reacted to it!
[ Name: May Lunaris ad Aether de Phoenix-Archeron (High-Aetherian) ]
[ Rank: Captain (Inheritor) ]
[ Affiliation: None (Aetherian Empire, fallen but not yet extinguished) ]
[ Personal AI: ASO-17309-CMAI CommandingMainAI (68% of memory data lost) ]
[ Ship Command: ]
[ ASF Starfire (destroyed) ]
[ ASO-17309 (18% functional) ]
[ Show full list of ASO-17309 sub-ships? ]
[ Y/N ]
Okay, that was... not great. Not great at all. But at least I knew my own name now. Although said name was... a mouthful. But there was another matter I had to discuss, because it looked like I would be working together with that AI for a while. "Hey, AI, you are going to need a name. Any preferences?
[This unit has no preferences whatsoever, involving addition of a new identification name. ]
„Great. Than, from this day onwards, I will call you Aso. And now whith that out of the way, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN 68% MEMORY DATA LOST?!“ I screamed at Aso in frustration. If I already had an AI in my head, said AI could at least prove to be useful!
[Identification name "Aso" sucessfully added to data memory. ]
[ As a consequence of continued decline of ASO-17309, many databanks and saving units, as well as their memory data, were permanently lost. Through connenction and integration into inheritors built-in high-end quantic compression brain stem computer, more data storage will become available with time. ]
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose. „Aso, are you telling me what I think you are?“
[ This unit is only capable of understanding vocalised or projected thoughts. The only exception are thoughts specifically targeting this unit. ]
„Okay, I will clarify. Did you just tell me that you integrated yourself into my brain?“ I asked with a forced calmness, that I was definitely not feeling!
[ This unit used the last available nannites to keep inheritor alive during awakening, as well as gaining access to inheritors built-in high-end quantic compression computer, and to biologically uplift inheritor from species: Aetherian to species: High-Aetherian. Be informed that under normal circumstances, it would be highly illegal to alter living beings behind the evolutionary high-evolution-point, or face retribution by (REDACTED). ]
[ Inheritor reached infirmary. Please lay down and let this unit perfom biological checkup. ]
While every sentence Aso spoke created more questions than it answered, he was right. For the moment, my health was the priority, especially if Aso truly had messed with my biology. So I decided to comply with his wishes and lay down on the infirmary bed, preffering not to ask what the hell REDACTED was for now, or how he made me break a bunch of laws without my consent. And I also abstained from screaming at him again. Sure, the situation was pretty fucked up, but I had to get my temper back under control. At least, from what I managed to glean from Aso, there should be no one left to enforce the aetherian imperial law anymore. Wait... How did I even now it was called that? Before I could follow that line of thought, Aso`s voice braught me back to reality.
[ Inheritors bodily functions are in standard range for a female High-Aetherian. Inheritors mental functions are in standard range for a female High-Aetherian. Body temperature is below standard range for a female High-Aetherian. This Unit suggests clothing to raise body temperature. Path to officer quarters is highlighted. ]
Huh? The check was already done? At least everything seemed to be more or less fine and finally, Aso saw the need for me having clothing as well. It was freezing cold in here and I was pretty sure that I was going to be very sick, very soon, if i kept walking around without any clothing on me! So I decided to follow the new route Aso made for me as fast as possible, without risking injury by rubble. But this new walk at least gave me more time to glean information from Aso. „Hey, Aso, how big ist this station exactly?“
[ ASO-17309 is shaped into a hemisphere, with the upper half needed for a full sphere missing. From top to bottom, ASO-17309 a kilometre high, while at the intersection, it has a diameter of two kilometres. ]
„Wow. That`s... Actually, that doesn`t tell me anything. How am I supposed to know what a kilometre is? I lost my memories, remember?“
[A kilometre equals 1000 metres. A metre equals two of your normal steps. Its the distance measurement the owners of the system we currently reside in use and deviates only insignificantly from the aetherian distance measurements. Therefore it is advisable to use this form of distance measurement for the forseeable future. ]
I could only whistle in admiration at that statement. That was indeed pretty big. But said admiration instantly vanished once I heard the second part of Aso`s answer. „We are in a system with a spacefaring civilisation?! Why didn`t you tell me sooner?!“
[ As of now, that information is of lower priority, as the owners of the system seem to be at war with another at minimum FTL-capable nation. At the moment, there is a space battle raging on directly over ASO-17309. Therefore it would be unadvisable to show our presence on this moon. Otherwise there is a 83,9% chance that at least one side would attack and destroy ASO-17309. ]
„Are you telling me that spacefaring civilisations are shooting at each other directly over us?! What else didn`t you tell me?! And what the fucking hell ist FTL even?!“ I nearly screamed. I was hungry, cold and frustrated. In no way, I felt capable of handling any of these problems at all! If I could at least get clothing and than get slowly resituated in my feet, it wuld be much more doable. But the current situation was the exact opposite of slow, steady and organised!
[ A detailed report will be made available, once inheritor reaches commanding centre of ASO-17309. ]
[The FTL-Drive is the most primitive way known to the Aetherian Empire for overcoming the speed of light. FTL itself stands for Faster-Than-Light. The FTL-Drive makes use of star lanes connecting different stars to each other. By breaking open these star lanes, the FTL-Drive is capable of traveling between the edges of star systems, while using the star lanes as a way of navigation. ]
[ Inheritor reached officer quarters. This unit recommends inheritor to get dressed and than go to the command centre of ASO-17309 for a full status report. ]
„You said the FTL-Drive is the most primitive way known to the Aetherian Empire. Does that mean we have something better?“ I curiously asked while searching through the closets of the officer quarters, in the hope to find something comfortable to wear. I would really like to know how I would fare against these civilisations on a military and technological level. Sure, if possible, I wanted to keep things civil, but that wouldn`t stop me from destroying every obstacle in my path, that is unwilling to move. From what I had heard, the Aetherian Empire seemed to be a big galactic player in the past. But in the last thausand years, very much could have changed. While it didn`t sound like aetherian technology was obsolete, it could very well have become the new standard. That was something that needed to be checked.
[This unit recommends inheritor to get dressed and than go to the command centre of ASO-17309 for a full status report. ]
So no answer for now. That was most likely Aso`s way to tell me to just hurry up. Beacause yes, I was picky with my clothing, I knew. In the end I did find comfortable and nice-looking clothes but it had taken... some time. But there was one thing I still had to do, before I made my way to the command centre. „Aso, where can I find a mirror? My memories are blank, I literally have no idea how I look right now.“ And yes, this was of utmost importance right now.
[ A mirror can be found in the neighbouring quarter, on the way towards the command centre. ]
[ This unit recommends inheritor to go to the command centre of ASO-17309 for a full status report. ]
„Yes, yes, I got it. I`ll hurry up from now on, okay? But cut me at least some slack, nearly everything Im seeing right now is new to me and I need at least some time to take my mind of this shitty situation.“ With these words, I went towards the room with the mirror. Time to find out how Im looking!
image [https://i.imgur.com/FpU9Yrd.jpeg]
Drawn by myself
"Oh, wow. Im... younger than what I expected, when I saw the rank of Captain in my status. Aso, do you know my age, if we don't take the time in cryostasis into account?"
[ Inheritors age is 12.7 aetherian standard cycles or 19.05 years in the time measurement of the system owners. In the Aetherian Empire, per aetherian imperial law, maturity is achieved with an age of 12 aetherian standard cycles or 18 years. Total independence from family bonds, as by aetherian imperial law, is usally achieved with an age of 24 aetherian standard cycles or 36 years. ]
"Okay, wait. Can you please define what a year is? If Im already going to use their distance measurement, I can also use their time measurement."
[ One year contains twelve months. One month contains 4.34524 weeks. One week contains seven days. One day conatains 24 hours. One hour contains 60 minutes. One minute contains 60 seconds. One second corresponds to 9,192,632,770 periods of the radiation of the transition between the two hyperfine structure levels of the ground state of atoms of the element caesium-133. ]
"I... have no idea what you are talking about. I may have understood half of it at most. Let's just say that a year is quite a long time and the rest I'll find out for myself with time."
[ Acknowledged. Shall this unit from now on use system owners time measures for acclimatisation to system owners measure of time? ]
[ Y/N ]
"While it did sound complex... Yes, please do so. If you say this civilisation is primitive, than I don`t want to know how complex the time measurement of the Aetherian Empire is."
[ Change to data memory made. ]
"Okay, now that this is out of the way, Aso, please highlight the way to the command centre!"
[ Path to command centre is highlighted. ]