A new chapter for The Hungry Stars is here (and an update to another one of my stories will be coming before the month’s end). In this chapter, we’re completing shifting from slow build-up to payoff as story will be focusing mostly on Nibiru for some time to keep things moving on that front. I hope you’ll all enjoy what’s coming up and that it will be worth the wait.
In the meantime, here’s a snippet from the new chapter: Captain Lucille Kallimakos trying to restrain an over-eager[proactive] combat AI as her ship drifts closer to Nibiru and the unsuspecting Lakhesis…
For the full story, check out the links above!
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//calculations complete//
“Yes,” Captain Kallimakos answered the insistent throbbing in the back of her mind, her breath creating steam clouds in the cold air of Phantom-1’s bridge“I know. The likelihood of detection is still too high.”
//adjusting variables//
//re-analyzing//
///calculations complete//
Lucille let out a chuckle which created another short-lived brume. No, she told the praetor. We are not acting without authorization from Fleet Operations.
Phantom-1’s response to that statement was an analytic chart showing the alpha-cruiser’s position and that of Lakhesis, along with projections of the latter’s course and notes on the former’s current velocity. It would be at least four more days before Phantom-1 would drift close enough to intercept the larger vessel. With only minor[nearly undetectable] bursts of acceleration, that time could be reduced substantially, but the alpha-cruiser’s orders had not changed. They were not to risk detection. Confederate sensors were better than the League’s own, but how much no one was quite certain.
So define for me ‘nearly undetectable’ against an unknown, Lucille reprimanded her charge. Your calculations only assume a 7% increase in sensor efficiency and even then, the likelihood of being seen is greater than five percent. At 10% greater efficiency – which is well within the margin of error you’ve provided – the probability that we’ll be seen goes up to fourteen percent. Justify a one in seven chance of detection because you’re impatient.
//probability of [neutral] vessel being declared contagion//
Has it?
//probability calculated at-//
Has it?
//mission parameters remain within observation and clandestine approach stage. no current indication of hostile intent from [neutral] vessel//
Yes, Kallimakos affirmed. Exactly. With the latest update from Fleet Operations, the vessel’s praetor had become more impatient[proactive] and aggressive[tactically prepared]. It was more of a struggle to hold Phantom-1 in check. She understood the need for praetors, but breaking them in[restricting] was taxing.
Run those adjusted figures for rapid deployment of the crew, she told it. Can we do anything about the failure rate?
//terminal failure rate of biological components remains at of 17.63% //
//successful revivification of terminal biological components at 43.21%//
“We can do better,” the captain announced. “If we need a crash, then it’s a combat situation and we can’t have a fifth of the crew incapacitated, even if we get forty percent back.”
//life functions suppressed beyond nominal levels. emergency resuscitation protocols place heavy strain on biological systems. limitations of secondary assistance noted//
Find a way around it, the woman told her ship. Work the problem. Get us below 15%.
//additional mission parameters accepted//
~
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