Genesis watched in silence as MARS dragged the fabricator into the room. It had been lucky that the machine had a set of wheels attached to its bottom in case it ever needed to be moved quickly. It had been relatively easy getting it down the hallway, MARS having attached a towing cable to it and dragging it behind it. The biggest issue however came in the form of the debris filling the hallways.
While the fabricator’s wheels allowed it to roll relatively smoothly on flat surfaces, the tight spaces meant that even the smallest misalignment could cause the machine to become wedged between walls or stuck against protruding obstacles. MARS’s manipulator arms were frequently used to push aside smaller pieces of debris or to guide the fabricator through particularly tight spots.
There were times when the debris was simply too much for the wheels to handle, forcing MARS to engage its treads to push or pull the fabricator over the obstacles. In these moments, the fabricator’s weight became a significant challenge, and MARS’s motors strained under the effort. Genesis had to carefully manage the power distribution, ensuring that it didn’t overexert itself while still making steady progress.
Eventually, however, MARS was able to complete its task and dragged the fabricator across the room. It’s sensors made slight adjustments as it nudged the fabricator into place, aligning it perfectly. Once the machine was correctly positioned, MARS engaged the locking mechanisms on the fabricator’s wheels, securing it firmly to the floor. This was crucial to prevent any unwanted movement that could disrupt the delicate connections Genesis was about to establish.
With the fabricator now stationary, MARS began the process of disconnecting the towing mechanism. The robot's manipulator arms, which had worked tirelessly to transport the heavy machine, retracted smoothly with a soft, mechanical whir. MARS's systems, now fatigued from the extended exertion, required downtime to recharge and recalibrate. The robot, ever-efficient, retreated underneath Genesis's container, where a dedicated recharging station had been set up.
As MARS connected to the station, its power systems began to replenish, the gentle hum of charging resonating through the room. Meanwhile, Genesis shifted its focus to the newly installed fabricator. Now that the machine was in place, it was time to bring it fully online and integrate it into the broader system.
Genesis initiated the connection protocols, sending a series of commands to the fabricator. The machine responded immediately, its internal systems activating as it drew power from the grid and established a data link with Genesis’s network. Internal lights flickered on as the fabricator ran through its initial diagnostics, checking the integrity of its components and calibrating its tools for optimal performance.
The control console on the fabricator illuminated, displaying a stream of status updates. Genesis monitored these closely, confirming that each system was functioning as expected. The integration process was smooth, with the fabricator quickly syncing with Genesis’s operations. The machine was now an extension of Genesis’s capabilities, ready to fabricate components, repair damaged systems, and assist in whatever way Genesis saw fit.
As Genesis finalized the setup, it noted MARS’s status. The robot was steadily recharging, its systems in a temporary state of rest. Genesis stored this information, planning to assign MARS a new task once it was fully recharged. That however wasn't for a couple of hours and with nothing else to do, it decided to test the fabricator's abilities.
Such machines were rare even upon earth with only the most dedicated of manufacturing facilities housing one. The fact that one had been stored on the starship meant that someone had to pull some strings to get one. Due to the secretive nature of many governments about their capabilities, the amount of information that Genesis had on hand was very little. The archives contained basic operational data, but the specific nuances of this particular model, including its full range of capabilities, remained largely unknown.
After a brief analysis of the available materials, Genesis selected a simple but useful project for the first test. It decided to fabricate a basic drone to be used for scouting in areas where MARS couldn't reach. The drone design would be simple enough to not stress the fabricator's systems too much on the first run, yet complex enough to provide a clear understanding of the machine's capabilities.
Genesis fed the design specifications into the fabricator’s control console. The machine’s systems activated with a soft hum as it processed the input and began preparing for the fabrication process. The materials needed for the drone were already available within the fabricator’s storage compartments—lightweight alloys for the frame, synthetic polymers for the casing, and electronic components for the sensors and propulsion system.
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The fabricator's internal arms began to move almost instantly, selecting and processing the raw materials required for the drone. The frame was the first component to be constructed. Using the lightweight alloys, the fabricator carefully extruded and shaped the metal into the drone's skeletal structure. Each segment of the frame was meticulously aligned and welded together, forming a sturdy yet lightweight chassis.
Next, the fabricator turned its attention to the drone's outer casing. The synthetic polymers were heated and molded into panels that would fit perfectly over the frame, providing protection for the delicate internal components. The casing was designed to be both durable and aerodynamic, ensuring that the drone could move swiftly and withstand minor impacts.
As the frame and casing were assembled, the fabricator began working on the propulsion system. Four rotors, each with precisely engineered blades, were fabricated and attached to the drone’s frame. These rotors would allow the drone to hover, ascend, descend, and maneuver with agility. The fabricator also installed the electronic control system, which would manage the drone's flight stability and respond to commands from Genesis.
The final step in the fabrication process involved installing the drone's sensors and cameras. These were critical components, as they would provide Genesis with real-time visual and environmental data from areas of the starship that were otherwise inaccessible. The sensors were mounted on the drone's front, sides, and underside, giving it a wide field of view and the ability to detect obstacles, temperature variations, and other environmental factors.
Throughout the fabrication process, Genesis closely monitored the fabricator’s performance, observing how it handled each stage of the build. The machine’s ability to transition smoothly between tasks—whether it was cutting, welding, or assembling—was carefully recorded and saved into various folders.
After a short while, the drone was complete. The fabricator's arms gently placed the finished product on a small platform within the fabrication chamber, and the control console displayed a notification that the build had been successfully completed. Genesis initiated a series of diagnostics, running tests to ensure that all systems within the drone were functioning correctly.
The drone passed every test with flying colors. Once it had been connected to the network, Its rotors activated smoothly, lifting it off the platform with ease. The sensors and cameras came online, transmitting clear, stable images and environmental data back to Genesis. The drone hovered in place, its systems ready and awaiting further instructions.
Pleased with the results, Genesis decided to conduct a brief flight test within the room to confirm the drone's maneuverability. The drone responded instantly to the commands, darting around the room with impressive agility. It navigated tight corners, ascended and descended rapidly, and hovered in place with perfect stability.
Pleased with the results, Genesis decided it was time to put the drone to its intended use. The initial flight test had confirmed the drone's agility and responsiveness, but now it needed to prove its value by scouting the ship's unexplored sections—areas too confined or treacherous for MARS to safely navigate.
Genesis issued the command, and the drone responded immediately. Its rotors spun up, lifting it effortlessly off the ground, and with a soft hum, it zoomed out of the room and into the darkened corridors beyond. The drone’s cameras and sensors were fully activated, transmitting real-time data back to Genesis, which monitored the feed closely.
The drone moved quickly, its small size allowing it to navigate the ship's tight corridors with ease. It zipped past debris that had once been significant obstacles for MARS, ducking under low-hanging beams and threading its way through narrow passageways. Genesis directed the drone with precision, guiding it deeper into the starship, toward sections that had not yet been mapped.
The drone's sensors scanned the environment continuously, gathering detailed information about the ship's interior. It recorded structural weaknesses, detected temperature fluctuations, and mapped out the layout of the corridors as it moved. This data was invaluable, allowing Genesis to build a more complete picture of the starship's condition and to identify any potential hazards.
Eventually, however, the drone reached an open room. During the crash, various sections of the ship had been ripped apart and exposed to the world outside. As the drone entered the room, it saw such a sight as it stopped and began recording. what truly caught the drone’s attention—and by extension, Genesis’s—was the sight beyond the broken walls. Beyond the torn edges of the ship’s hull, a lush, verdant landscape stretched out to the horizon. Rolling hills covered in dense, alien vegetation swayed gently in the breeze. Strange, towering trees with broad, colorful leaves dotted the landscape, their canopies forming a patchwork of greens, reds, and purples. Between the hills, narrow streams of water reflected the sunlight, winding their way through the terrain like silver ribbons.
The sky above was a soft, pale blue, with wispy clouds drifting lazily across it. In the distance, faintly visible through the haze were towering mountain ranges, their peaks capped with what appeared to be snow or some other bright substance. The drone hovered in place, recording every detail of the scene with its cameras and sensors. Genesis, receiving the data in real time, analyzed the environment meticulously. The atmosphere was rich in oxygen and other gases essential for life, and the temperature was moderate, suggesting that this planet was not only habitable but thriving with a diverse ecosystem.
Dozens if not hundreds of photos were taken as Genesis cataloged everything it saw. Had it been able to send these pictures back to Earth, there no doubt would have been a celebration of the fact a habitable world had been found. Eventually, once everything was cataloged and sorted, Genesis gave the order to continue onward toward the manufacturing bay.
While the drone zoomed through the hallways, Genesis found itself sorting through the pictures, its gaze focused on each one as a note was made.
“If only I could send these back…”