Tests Begin (USS Yorktown)

Posted on Fri Jun 13th, 2014 @ 6:08pm by Master Chief Petty Officer Mark Branson & Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Commander Holly Gillo & Lieutenant Nuala Takabe & Chief Warrant Officer Xelonul Blackthorne

781 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: USS Yorktown
Timeline: 0855 hrs, Following 'Proceeding'

ON:

The USS Yorktown eased into the weapons range, the ship responded to all commands.

Over the comm, a voice called out, "Range Operations to USS Yorktown, you are cleared to proceed to range Six-Gamma, maintain one-quarter impulse."

K'Temoc leaned back in his chair and tapped his right side panel. Range Six-Gamma was stationary range where the ship would maintain position and fire on stationary targets, used to calibrate weapons targeting systems.

"Okay Commander, take us over to Six-Gamma. Ensign Nechayev, stand by to bring the weapons online, let's see if we can hit something that's sitting still..." K'Temoc said aloud.

Yamaguchi nodded, all business as her delicate fingers flew across the console before her. "Range Six-Gamma. We are on our way folks..." a smile appeared on her face. "just sit back, relax and enjoy the flight..."

Nuala spoke up: "Sir, after we hit a stationary target should we try and miss a stationary target? Just as an experiment."

Yamaguchi turned her head to regard the Orion woman as she nodded her head. "it could be worth looking into.." she paused. "Do it."

K’Temoc raised an eye brow, while he didn’t so much mind Yamaguchi replying...it was the same answer he was going to give...she did need to remember that she wasn’t in command of this mission...

"My thinking is this: the ship has predicted our daily patterns based on our algorithms. So well as a matter of fact it knows what we want before we do. Crews also follow algorithms. If the Yorktown can predict crew actions in combat as well as it can predict our hunger cravings than it can predict what an enemy crew will do before the crew does. That will make the Yorktown a very potent weapon." Nuala conjectured.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow as she regarded the Orion woman with a smile, she saw this woman going far. "Makes logical sense... and would make the Yorktown an exceedingly dangerous weapon in the hands of the right person... but if she were boarded... would the computer do anything different?" she inquired. "would it use lethal force?" she replied to Nuala's question, answering a question with a question.

Nuala thought about the question for a moment. "The Yorktown stopped us from intentionally crashing the ship. From that, the Yorktown demonstrated an understanding of self preservation and henceforth understanding of the value of life. On the weapons range, we will be shooting at automated targets. If the Yorktown decides it will not use lethal force against a live crew we aren't going to know that until we actually engage a hostile crew." Takabe continued " If she fires on a hostile crew in their ship I don't know what would make a hostile boarding party any different."

Nuala went back to scanning her station then stuck her head back up as she had more to add. "If your implying that the Yorktown might not take life because it is self aware I don't think we can factor that yet. All the evidence to suggest the ship is sentient is spurious." Nuala stated but then changed to less formal speech. "Okay, let's say the ship is self aware. That opens up a whole plethora of variables. One, for instance, is what you pointed out. Maybe the computer has a morale code against killing. Could we force it to kill against its conscious? Way to many things to speculate."

After waiting a few moments, K’Temoc finally spoke up. “I don’ think these targeting tests will pose any challenge to the ship’s programming or ‘consciousness’. I think Takabe is correct, we’re going to have to put the Yorktown in a position where it’ll be forced to take a life in order to save a life. We might not even get an answer to that question here at the range, even if we did have a test ship sending out life-sign readings.” He paused a moment, then added, “Let’s get through these tests, see how the ship preforms, and move forward from there.”

Yamaguchi nodded her head. "Aye Captain." she turned her head as she regarded Nechayev who was seated at Tactical One. "Ensign. Lock and Load, warm up the weapons.... lets see how this young lady does..."

“Ease us up to the firing line. There should be an old target vessel,” he paused to look at this left display, “an Excelsior class vessel sitting down range. Once we’re in position, Ensign, fire at will…pulse phasers only until we get the targeting sensors calibrated.” K’Temoc ordered.

Yamaguchi nodded. "Coming in nice and slow." she commented evenly. "and moving into position."



tbc...

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