Dive Deep into Creativity: Discover, Share, Inspire
"Anger is better than despair, Captain." It may not exactly be the most comforting, but it was the only word of advice that he could offer in this situation. It was a human choice that had to be made. He began to look around the ship for what he could find to perhaps do some repairs. A lot had been pulled out of the ship, probably floated far off by now, but there were a lot of panels he could remove to try to repair the hole at the very least. It would expose some wiring and the like but that was something that would not be an immediate problem. Nobody would be fumbling around back here anyways and that hole needed sealing. He moved off in search of any crates that might have been tied down to strip of their metal siding and the torch so he could get to welding... and perhaps he could weld the vents shut while he was at it. Keep them trapped inside as long as possible. Fortunately the torch was locked up safe. If they had lost that their situation would have been far worse than it was now.
"I can't make that decision for you, Captain." He didn't know what the best choice for them would be. He only knew that they needed to exercise extreme caution due to the creature being pregnant and more than likely laying eggs in those vents.
It was quite intelligent to his knowledge and he was certain that it had managed to find a way to survive. Nothing was more important than offspring to any species and it would do whatever it took to persevere them. He supposed that they may be able to contact the UC and have precautions put in place to land in quarantine, because the UC wanted the creature and they wanted it badly. For what he did not know, but he feared it may not be good. And a pregnant creature at that? He didn't think that there were any truly good answers here. "The UC would undoubtedly sell an arm and a leg to get that creature. Perhaps you ought to contact them for aid."
"I can't make that decision for you, Captain." He didn't know what the best choice for them would be. He only knew that they needed to exercise extreme caution due to the creature being pregnant and more than likely laying eggs in those vents.
It was quite intelligent to his knowledge and he was certain that it had managed to find a way to survive. Nothing was more important than offspring to any species and it would do whatever it took to persevere them. He supposed that they may be able to contact the UC and have precautions put in place to land in quarantine, because the UC wanted the creature and they wanted it badly. For what he did not know, but he feared it may not be good. And a pregnant creature at that? He didn't think that there were any truly good answers here. "The UC would undoubtedly sell an arm and a leg to get that creature. Perhaps you ought to contact them for aid."
"My damage is only cosmetic, captain. I'm afraid we have bigger problems." He didn't think that there was any gentle way to put this, so he needed to just say it. "The creature is pregnant." He feared that it might lay eggs somewhere within the ship if it hadn't already done so and if that was the case then the ship was already contaminated. Finding them in the vents would be extremely difficult. Especially considering most of their equipment was destroyed in that blast.
"I apologize for the damage to the ship, but it was too dangerous to lay down arms. If they learned about the creature's condition they would have taken advantage of it." He was glad that they had at least not gotten any of the creatures spawn. If they had taken that and spread it from port to port who knew what would happen to the galaxy. How much death it could have caused.
"My damage is only cosmetic, captain. I'm afraid we have bigger problems." He didn't think that there was any gentle way to put this, so he needed to just say it. "The creature is pregnant." He feared that it might lay eggs somewhere within the ship if it hadn't already done so and if that was the case then the ship was already contaminated. Finding them in the vents would be extremely difficult. Especially considering most of their equipment was destroyed in that blast.
"I apologize for the damage to the ship, but it was too dangerous to lay down arms. If they learned about the creature's condition they would have taken advantage of it." He was glad that they had at least not gotten any of the creatures spawn. If they had taken that and spread it from port to port who knew what would happen to the galaxy. How much death it could have caused.
He made sure to get a good hold for the jump and made it through just fine, although it was still a little rough and he didn't know exactly how a human body might have done in his position. Not well he suspected. Once they seemed to have made the jump he hoped that they might be able to get a handle on the problems that they were facing. The parasite was going to have to wait. He needed to see what he could do about the broken comms, the giant hole in the ship and maybe clean up detail with the mess those bodies left behind. His main concern was still the parasite, but he had no hope of gaining an advantage over it here and it was probably somewhere securely within the vents by now.
He made sure to get a good hold for the jump and made it through just fine, although it was still a little rough and he didn't know exactly how a human body might have done in his position. Not well he suspected. Once they seemed to have made the jump he hoped that they might be able to get a handle on the problems that they were facing. The parasite was going to have to wait. He needed to see what he could do about the broken comms, the giant hole in the ship and maybe clean up detail with the mess those bodies left behind. His main concern was still the parasite, but he had no hope of gaining an advantage over it here and it was probably somewhere securely within the vents by now.
Although he regretted the loss of life it was -he supposed- a poetic justice for the pirates to die in such a way. He heard the call. The only problem was that the devastation of firepower that had been rained down on him left the comms absolutely useless and he was unable to respond or to even update the captain on the situation here. Which meant that he would have no warning about the parasite and the extreme danger that it was going to pose to anyone that it came on contact with. He would just need to hold on and hope for the best. Maybe there was still a chance to prevent the worst from coming true.
Although he regretted the loss of life it was -he supposed- a poetic justice for the pirates to die in such a way. He heard the call. The only problem was that the devastation of firepower that had been rained down on him left the comms absolutely useless and he was unable to respond or to even update the captain on the situation here. Which meant that he would have no warning about the parasite and the extreme danger that it was going to pose to anyone that it came on contact with. He would just need to hold on and hope for the best. Maybe there was still a chance to prevent the worst from coming true.
It only took a blink to activate thermal imaging to see through the smoke and mist to find his targets and when he did, he took a few more well aimed shots at them without the pressure of being fired at in return. It was just a shame about the synthetic skin being so damaged to reveal the tungsten alloy shell beneath. It would take some time for the nanobots to repair, and the humans always tended to be quite uncomfortable with it. They didn't like it when things were different or unfamiliar to them. "I was designed to withstand battle with Terrormorphs. Your efforts are wasted." He didn't bother with more warnings. They had plenty of them and had not been swayed. He was now authorized to kill to preserve the life of his crew.
He took a few hits that tore through his clothing and synthetic flesh to reveal metal beneath. Though it was nothing that his tungsten alloy couldn't handle. There wasn't much that could penetrate it. Waiting for a reload he took a few shots of his own. He was well aware that he was going to need to hold them off for as long as he possibly could and buy the captain some time to do whatever he needed. "It isn't too late to turn around and leave." He still offered them a way out in between returning fire. "I cannot promise your lives if you continue to refuse." The parasite certainly wouldn't think twice or give warning.
"Your warning was given. ROE have changed. I'm free to open fire if you take another step." He lifted his EM rifle and focused it on the man. Briefly he gave a glance to the sample and were he human he might have paled at the results and what it meant for them. It was why he quickly turned and smashed the lab apart with the butt of his rifle. It would be too dangerous for the pirates to get that information into their hands and so long as the creature remained in the vent, they'd not get another sample so easily.
"Your warning was given. ROE have changed. I'm free to open fire if you take another step." He lifted his EM rifle and focused it on the man. Briefly he gave a glance to the sample and were he human he might have paled at the results and what it meant for them. It was why he quickly turned and smashed the lab apart with the butt of his rifle. It would be too dangerous for the pirates to get that information into their hands and so long as the creature remained in the vent, they'd not get another sample so easily.
Caz inhaled sharply upon seeing the smoke cannister, because he feared what it might do to the parasite. It could easily irritate the creature and if it were irritated there was no telling how it was going to react. That fog was undoubtedly going to go straight into the vents where the creature was. It was not so much out of concern for the pirates themselves, but rather the damage that they could do if they carried the parasite along with them to other planets. "I should like to politely ask you to leave before any further harm to property or person is done." He had to issue his warning first or he could not act. It was against his protocols. He quickly glanced at the sample. Still analyzing. Almost done. He just needed to stall them long enough to get that sample properly secured.
Caz inhaled sharply upon seeing the smoke cannister, because he feared what it might do to the parasite. It could easily irritate the creature and if it were irritated there was no telling how it was going to react. That fog was undoubtedly going to go straight into the vents where the creature was. It was not so much out of concern for the pirates themselves, but rather the damage that they could do if they carried the parasite along with them to other planets. "I should like to politely ask you to leave before any further harm to property or person is done." He had to issue his warning first or he could not act. It was against his protocols. He quickly glanced at the sample. Still analyzing. Almost done. He just needed to stall them long enough to get that sample properly secured.
He selected the first EM weapon that he could get his hands on, checked it over and decided that this would be the best option if he had to use one even if the pirates wouldn't show them the same curtesy. Weapon in hand he hurried back to the makeshift lab to check in on the sample and the progress that it was making. He needed to know more about the creature. "In the lab with the sample waiting for it to analyze. I've acquired the EM rifle." He informed over the nearest intercom. It seemed that now was the moment of truth as the humans so often liked to phrase it. Those pirates were going to come through here and they were going to have to do their best to stop them causing too much damage.
He selected the first EM weapon that he could get his hands on, checked it over and decided that this would be the best option if he had to use one even if the pirates wouldn't show them the same curtesy. Weapon in hand he hurried back to the makeshift lab to check in on the sample and the progress that it was making. He needed to know more about the creature. "In the lab with the sample waiting for it to analyze. I've acquired the EM rifle." He informed over the nearest intercom. It seemed that now was the moment of truth as the humans so often liked to phrase it. Those pirates were going to come through here and they were going to have to do their best to stop them causing too much damage.
"But, Captain... the parasite." He realized that they had gotten into a very dangerous situation. If these raiders managed to get infected and carried it to other planets... a good portion of humanity could be wiped out. He quickly snatched up the blood sample from the floor and rushed it to the make-shift lab to get the processing started so that it could be analyzed quickly once the problem at hand was dealt with. With the sample cooking he hurried into the other room to find a weapon to prepare to defend them. Normally it was against his programming to harm a human, but there were some cases in which he could act, and this was one of them. Still, he would try to resolve it peacefully until he was left with no other choice.
"But, Captain... the parasite." He realized that they had gotten into a very dangerous situation. If these raiders managed to get infected and carried it to other planets... a good portion of humanity could be wiped out. He quickly snatched up the blood sample from the floor and rushed it to the make-shift lab to get the processing started so that it could be analyzed quickly once the problem at hand was dealt with. With the sample cooking he hurried into the other room to find a weapon to prepare to defend them. Normally it was against his programming to harm a human, but there were some cases in which he could act, and this was one of them. Still, he would try to resolve it peacefully until he was left with no other choice.
He paused mid crawl and glanced at the intercom, about to get up and answer when he saw a motion out of the corner of his eye disappear behind a crate in the far back of the cargo hold. By the time he managed to get around the crates he only found an open grate that led into the ventilation systems. Out of the frying pan and into the fire as the humans so liked to phrase it. There was no way he was going to fit into the ventilation system as big as he was. He would need to find an alternative. Standing he hurried over towards intercom. "Captain, I'm afraid the creature's cage was damaged in the collision. It has escaped into the ventilation."
He paused mid crawl and glanced at the intercom, about to get up and answer when he saw a motion out of the corner of his eye disappear behind a crate in the far back of the cargo hold. By the time he managed to get around the crates he only found an open grate that led into the ventilation systems. Out of the frying pan and into the fire as the humans so liked to phrase it. There was no way he was going to fit into the ventilation system as big as he was. He would need to find an alternative. Standing he hurried over towards intercom. "Captain, I'm afraid the creature's cage was damaged in the collision. It has escaped into the ventilation."
He'd just leaned in to take the sample when the collision happened, sending him arse over end. It took a moment for his sensors to adjust to the fact that he was very much upside down, most of his weight on his shoulders and neck -which would likely have broken any human neck- and he had to tilt his head to take in the scene before him. He stared at the very open cage door and the very missing creature before inhaling sharply. "Oh dear. David is going to be very upset with me." He managed to right himself after some effort and then carefully began to search through the cargo. "Where've you gone?"
He'd just leaned in to take the sample when the collision happened, sending him arse over end. It took a moment for his sensors to adjust to the fact that he was very much upside down, most of his weight on his shoulders and neck -which would likely have broken any human neck- and he had to tilt his head to take in the scene before him. He stared at the very open cage door and the very missing creature before inhaling sharply. "Oh dear. David is going to be very upset with me." He managed to right himself after some effort and then carefully began to search through the cargo. "Where've you gone?"
"Protecting humanity is my primary directive. I'll always look out for you, Captain." He turned towards the med kit to gather the things he would need to take the blood sample and get it analyzed. The creature didn't exactly look thrilled to be locked away and even less thrilled when it took a prick from the syringe, but he made it as quick and painless as possible for it before taking the sample to the lab. Now he would see what properties he could recognize in the blood of the creature and if the UC was telling the truth about what it could do.
"Protecting humanity is my primary directive. I'll always look out for you, Captain." He turned towards the med kit to gather the things he would need to take the blood sample and get it analyzed. The creature didn't exactly look thrilled to be locked away and even less thrilled when it took a prick from the syringe, but he made it as quick and painless as possible for it before taking the sample to the lab. Now he would see what properties he could recognize in the blood of the creature and if the UC was telling the truth about what it could do.
"I'll take a small blood sample. The UC won't notice." He thought that it was really better to be safe than sorry and to take a small sample that way they would know if the creature was used. Call it a little insurance. It wouldn't hurt to know what properties this creature held and if it would really do what the UC insisted it was going to do. "It won't hurt to have evidence. Just in case." He was also well versed in legalities, so he knew that it was important to have this if things did go wrong.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that." Unfortunately, there were certain firewalls that he couldn't always breach, and this happened to be one of them. He personally suspected it was a 50/50 chance if he was honest, but he wasn't allowed to say that even if he would like to. It was possible he could do his own pre-emptive studies on the creature. Non-invasive. All he would need was a little blood sample and he could do a little research of his own.
"Ah, sorry, Captain. According to protocol the only response I'm allowed is, 'of course you can trust your government'." His face was blank, but he still sighed. He of course knew exactly what they might do with such a creature. Perhaps they were being honest, but it was hard to say. He had worked with the Xeno Science division before they had tossed him out insisting that he was a 'malfunctioning' piece of equipment when he questioned the ethics. It was how he had managed to get bounced around so much from place to place. "I'll keep an eye on the creature until then." He may not be able to do much when the UC got it, but for the time being he could keep it secure.
"Ah, sorry, Captain. According to protocol the only response I'm allowed is, 'of course you can trust your government'." His face was blank, but he still sighed. He of course knew exactly what they might do with such a creature. Perhaps they were being honest, but it was hard to say. He had worked with the Xeno Science division before they had tossed him out insisting that he was a 'malfunctioning' piece of equipment when he questioned the ethics. It was how he had managed to get bounced around so much from place to place. "I'll keep an eye on the creature until then." He may not be able to do much when the UC got it, but for the time being he could keep it secure.
"As you say, Captain." He couched in front of the crate and observed carefully the creature within. "If we're on the subject then may I ask the question - are you quite comfortable with the idea that the UC may use this creature as a Xenoweapon?" He thought that it was worth mentioning. It wasn't ethical at all, but that didn't stop humans from doing such things. It never ceased to be odd to him the lengths humans would go to simply to kill one another. Overly complicated means at that. One might call it clever, but he thought that it was a waste to kill non-combatants.
"As you say, Captain." He couched in front of the crate and observed carefully the creature within. "If we're on the subject then may I ask the question - are you quite comfortable with the idea that the UC may use this creature as a Xenoweapon?" He thought that it was worth mentioning. It wasn't ethical at all, but that didn't stop humans from doing such things. It never ceased to be odd to him the lengths humans would go to simply to kill one another. Overly complicated means at that. One might call it clever, but he thought that it was a waste to kill non-combatants.
"Not at all, Captain. You needn't explain yourself to machinery." He folded his hands behind his back and observed the creature carefully. Of course, it didn't exactly surprise him that the UC would be interested in such a dangerous creature. "I rather find it fascinating."
He thought he may as well stay in the cargo bay with the creature just to be certain. After all it was much safer if he was the one to do it... the creature would undoubtedly be able to sense he was not the usual target as much as he may look the part and leave him be. "I wouldn't recommend it, Captain. If a ship picks it up it could spell disaster. Not only for the ship, but for any planet it lands upon. Some parasites can go into stasis for years until something warm blooded comes along."
"Not at all, Captain. You needn't explain yourself to machinery." He folded his hands behind his back and observed the creature carefully. Of course, it didn't exactly surprise him that the UC would be interested in such a dangerous creature. "I rather find it fascinating."
He thought he may as well stay in the cargo bay with the creature just to be certain. After all it was much safer if he was the one to do it... the creature would undoubtedly be able to sense he was not the usual target as much as he may look the part and leave him be. "I wouldn't recommend it, Captain. If a ship picks it up it could spell disaster. Not only for the ship, but for any planet it lands upon. Some parasites can go into stasis for years until something warm blooded comes along."
"You brought a man-eating parasite onto the ship?"