"So, Sam. What is all the commotion about?"

Dr Elune sat in their chair, glancing around the board, with only Laura, John and Ren being available, "Well... To be blunt, we have been overlooking something. Something big."

Laura raised an eyebrow, "Such as? You have all the tools you need. Alex is able to use the new CPU, and just needs to move themself over. The station is ready to work autonimously from you two. Everyone to head out with you is already packed. What is the issue, other than how you are received?"

John tapped his chin, "I agree with Laura. Funds should be alright, with what you have left us. Especially with the HPS selling well, and AHOR going through organ integration simulations."

Dr Elune grimaced, and looked at Alex, "You of all people should have noticed our issue here, John. Something we all take for granted... Other than Alex's assistance, of course."

"Regarding that, doctor. I suspect that administration and maintenance requirements will go up, once I am no longer directoing the drones."

John grimaced, "Yeah, me and Quyet have been going through that. We have allocated more people to running deliveries and directing drones, but engeneering has been pressed as it is..."

Laura smirked, "You underestimate us. Most of that has been new orders, from HPS and AHOR... Along with anything else Sam and Ren cook up. Being reduced to maintenance only will balance out."

Dr Elune coughed, "Ahem. Not what I was reffering to." Looking to John, the doctor sighed, "You don't just manage finances and HR, remember?"

"Hmm? Well, I also manage stock controls, I suppose."

"Yes, you do. And?"

"... I see no problem. You have enough food, water, fuel..." Johnpaused for a moment, "... Electricity is not something I have considered. We always seem to manage, between the radiation absorbtion and fuel."

"Exactly. You also manage our utilities... And what are we bringing with us?"

"The most powerful, most advanced supercomputer we can build." Laura groaned, "That is a good point, Sam. How the heck will Alex run on a puny shuttle?"

John paled, "Alex generally equates to the majority of our electrical output. Even after developing the more efficient processing and data transmission, the drainage levels haven't gone down."

Alex politely raised a hand, "Um, if I may? I do spend a lot of processing on station observation, both internal and external. I also record everything in a more complex manner then the new AI I have left behind, which is already running under my current protocols. Thirdly... I run simulations much more detailed than neccesary." Turning to Ren, they smiled, "I am sure this will decrease considerably."

Ren nodded, "While I haven't anticipated this issue, I have been looking over Alex's processes. I estimate power usaged to reduce to barely a tenth of current draw, based of what I have seen."

Laura sighed in releif, but John shook his head in dismay, "Laura... How much power can the shuttle generate?"

"Hmm? Based of full radiation absorbtion, leaving a smidge of light to navigate from..." Laura tapped away on a screen, calculations flashing past on the display in the middle of the room, "About this much, not counting fuel generators."

John silently brought up a report from the last month. Everyone went silent as they looked at the figures. "A tenth, you said. Great. We go from being two hundred times over, to being merely twenty."

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Dr Elune groaned, but Laura thought for a moment, humming, "Wait. I could redirect energy runoff from the engines... No, that won't be enough."

"Excuse me." Everyone turned to Alex again at the interruption, "During the flight, I will not have that much external stimulus. I will help pilot the shuttle, but this will rarely require my full attention. So, outside operating an AHOR body... I could shut down. Build up power reserves."

Laura nodded, "That should work. Your new system is designed to convert and store energy... You could be a backup energy drum for the shuttle. At current specs, if you reduce further to only one percent of current processing... Then run only 12 hours a day... That would fit almost perfectly."

Alex nodded, "I could mange even half that, if I avoid sims, and run off the shuttle's sensors. Piloting an AHOR at human-level perception would be about three to four percent... So, I shall reserve that to a few hours each day."

"That would be great, Alex. Fuel-based power generation can help, if you decide to go the full day."

Ren smirked as he butt in, "You neglect one important factor... We are only headed to the fourth haven. That isn't far."

Dr Elune glared at Ren for a moment, before taking a deep breath, "We are thinking longer term. After all, you are the one constantly mentioning Mars... And I don't want to have to rebuild the shuttle for that."

Ren blinked, "Oh. Good point. Wait, you want that little shuttle to manage an entire haven jump, through the Rings?" He shook his head in dibelief, "Not even our shuttle can do that, super AI nonwithstanding. We hitch onto bigger vessels, trade for fuel and supplies. Use their engine power to propel us."

Dr Elune nodded, "That could work. Of course, this is assuming we aren't fugitives at that point." Dr Elune glanced at Alex, "We haven't gone public yet... And we have no guatantee that it will go well. We wish to avoid relying on just our shuttle, yes... But powering Alex with fuel is a risky thing, long term. And full output is impractical, even with relying on a freighter or a mobile station."

Ren shrugged as he leant back, and Laura huffed, "Either way, it's settled. The shuttle is already designed to support fuel modules, for when assisted planetary takeoff isn't an option. You can consider attaching fuel tanks for longer distances that way."

Alex nodded, with a slight frown. Dr Elune patted their back reasurringly, "Don't worry... I know you prefer running properly. At Havens, we will pay for a dedicated power line, and you can go full blast. In between... We will try and keep trips short."

"Thank you, doctor."

Laura giggled, "If you two are done, anything else?"

Dr Elune rolled their eyes, "Nope. Alex has the schematic for the shuttle, yes?"

Alex nodded, "I do, doctor."

"Then we can work on it as we go... Should an upgrade prove nessesary. Alex, try practicing on the low-energy processing before we go... And Laura. Fill us up... Hopefully we will barely need any fuel, but better safe than sorry."

As everyone got up, the doctor hid a releived groan... Leaving the station behind was going to be tough.