Aethership Analysis!

===> COH <===> 3/24/2020, 9:49:00 AM <===

	Mo had been spending time at the abandoned airfield in the mojave desert that bordered the Gam Saan mine. It was in the lone hangar that Arumi would find the sidekick, and his dragon guide, as they puttered about the aethership zeppelin.
Dropped.

	This time, though? There would be a THIRD voice in the mix, aboard the ship. The boarding ramp was down, the door to the central cabin open. Someone was talking with Mo. A male with a foreign accent - notes of the Queen's English and a Thousand and One nights in the voice.

Arumi had that long friendly conversation with Mo, but had to go due to council business. She returns though. Ready to work. Pulling her car fully into the hangar, she gets out, and starts walking around it. "How do you get on board?" she calls out.

	Mo voice said, "Just wait til you meet the Doc. I wish you were really here to meet her, but maybe if we ever find you again, you can tell yourself all about her?"
	Then Fu chimed in, "One step at a time, Thomas. We don't even have the Hollow-Captain running at full capacity yet. Let's not overtax him, please."

	Then Mo's voice, excitedly, "DOC! COME ON UP THE RAMP AND MEET THE HOLLOW-CAPTAIN!"

	Lights would illuminate the boarding ramp, blinking in invitation for Arumi.

Arumi keeps walking, finds the ramp, and walks up it quickly. Dress swishing as he makes her way up. "The hollow captain?" she asks as she comes on deck and sees...

	Captain al-Mirzam! In the - well, it wasn't flesh at all. No, he seemed to be some sort of projection. The quality of the image was good - for a hundred years ago, ether-techwise. Better than current Consensual standards, but not cutting edge by any measure of current Ether-tech. The holo-Captain turns to greet Arumi when she boards. "Welcome to the Nashira. I'm the ship's emergency hologram. I've been programmed with much of Captain al-Mirzam's knowledge, and the historical record of the Irregular's adventures and journeys. But - but - but - but -" The hologram glitches momentarily. "But - but - but - long term storage has corrupted some of my files. I don't remember how I ended up on Isla Todos Santos, or where the Captain went." He gives a western now, with a swashbuckler's flourish. "MoGui speaks very highly of you, doll. The kid was always excitable."

Arumi gawks at the projection. Giving a friendly wave... as she approaches. "Captain. I am Dr. Arumi Hanada. Thank you. I've taken on Mo as my research assistant, and I'm also going to try to help fix up your ship. I Think the first thing I'd like to work on is your long term storage. Is there anything you can tell me to help me work on that?"

	Mo watches the hologram with awe and reverence. It was clear he missed his mentor and surrogate father figure very much. But there was sadness in Mo as well. he wasn't able to hug the image, and he knew deep down that it wasn't /really/ the captain. But for now? The "hollow" captain would have to do. Mo makes his way over to Arumi, speaking softly. "Isn't he amazing? I mean, not as amazing as the real deal, but for a hollow captain, he's nifty isn't he?"

	Captain al-Mirzam was of Arabic descent, perhaps mixed with caucasian somewhere along the way. In his 40s, he was still possessed of much vitality. A handsome face, a fit body, a bearing that screamed LEADERSHIP. Well, echoes of all that at any rate. A memory frozen in digital amber.

	The Captain looks to Arumi, "The ship's diagnostics show we're mostly in good shape. The aethergas has maintained its viability and integrity. But we need repairs to various parts - Navigation. Propulsion. Defense. And the overall structural integrity has suffered a bit from the ravages of temporal vagaries."

Arumi gestures in a rolling motion with her hands. "Great, Captain. I can do a complete scan of the hull and skeleton of the ship, and make repairs as needed, using modern materials science and Etheric engineering as needed. Propulsion is my specialty. I've personally been working on plans for a ship to get into the Sidereal, etherspace, and conventional space. I'll get it going." She then winks to Mo. "The Captain has done amazing work, and we'll do it justice."

	The holo-Captain gives Arumi a nod before taking a step back and looking around. "Thank you, doctor." An eyebrow arches, and the hologram's brow furrows. "I need to make sure there aren't any active foreign agents in the data systems. if you would be so kind as to review the diagnostics and analytics printed out there," he raises a gloved hand to indicate a small desk. "I'll continue a deep probe of the core files? That's where the most critical, but delicate, work will be needed."

Arumi nods to the Captain's image. "I will, Captain. Mo here has told me you did get mixed up in extradimensional conflicts, and I'll be mindful of that. Hope to get your ship fully functioning soon."

	The holo-captain nods to Arumi. "We did, yes. Most of the ship's systems are enhanced with dimensional-tech daemons but they appear to have gone ... dormant. No surprise, as I myself was only activated when MoGui and his pals came and salvaged me." A pause. "I'll be back." And then he blinks out of sight as the projection vanishes.

	Mo lets out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding in. "Well. This explains why the Cap'n had me study the Nexus arts. He always said I was like a living nexus point - a doorway, or crossroads. I've learned how to lower or raise the wall, and how to do dimensional augmentation of objects!"

Arumi will get right to work. Pulling her phone out of her bag, she starts taking notes. "Okay. Agenda. First, study ship's system's logs to check for foreign agents. Any traces of htem in diagnostic and analytics reports must be noted and acted upon. Second, find the ships's data stores and diagnose any problems with them. Make sure to recover as much data as possible. Third, do a complete scan of the ship's skeleton and hull. Make repairs and reinforcements as needed." She then walks to the desk, and sits. "Mo, So what you're saying is.... when you say wall, you mean you break down the integrity of the contiguous ether to allow interdimensional travel? That's ... interesting."

	Mo trails along behind Arumi like a loosely tethered balloon, bobbing along happily. "Yeah, the Wall - the barrier between the middle kingdom, here, and the yang, yin, and yomi realms. I can focus and see the ebb and flow, and then grab and shape it, making it thinner and weaker, or thicker and stronger." He uses his hands to demonstrate various mudras - obviously eastern mysticism but there was something to be said for the interplay between certain shapes and resonances! "I can even make it so I can walk across at dragon nests and stuff. The Captain said I was a natural."

	Fu corrects, clearing his throat. "He means a natural channel," offers the dragon to Arumi.

Arumi squeaks. and taps on her phone again. "Fourth, find propulsion and navigation systems. Diagnose and make repairs and augmentations. That's important to actually get off the ground and into Etherspace." She then starts rummaging around the desk, looking for whatever display or console would give her access to those logs.

As she searches, she speaks to Mo. "Sounds like you are. I assume it's... some sort of innate talent you have, as a result of your unique heritage. Perhaps something in your eyes, or your lungs, or even some neural pattern that happens to influence the etheric matrix in ways humans just can't do."

	Mo nods, then reaches over and presses his hand to a spot on the desks surface, activating another holographic projection - a virtual display, after a fashion. "There you go. Touch your hand to the panel, so the cap'n can add you to the access log as the ranking Society member aboard."

Arumi will comply, her hand probably much smaller than the men's hands the system would have been built for, so long ago. "Alright. Anything else you can tell me? Thank you Mo."

	The virtual optical display comes to life! "Dr. Arumi Hanada, recognized as ranking Society member currently aboard the Nashira. Full access to the Nashira's Optical Engine and Odyllic flow mapping granted."

Arumi gawks, sighing in amazement as she uses this antique, and terribly impressive technology. "Wow," she whispers. "Thank you Nashira," she says softly as she starts adapting to the interface presented. "Now let's get a look at the diagnostic and analytic logs of ship's systems. Do a scan for intruders."

	Mo leans in a little over the Doc's shoulder, watching and learning as best he can. At Arumi's request the display begins pulling up and displaying various schematics from the ship, piece by piece. But then? The lights blink, fluttering on and off for a few moments, as well as the display. "The system's power supply bank is currently overtaxed. There is a gap in the system. Attempting to re-route," offers the display. "No intruders currently detected."

Arumi lifts her phone again, and taps a note "No intruders detected. New second step. Find power supply, and augment. Scan for drains on power." Then glancing up to Mo. "We're getting there. One step at a time. Now let's find this very fine ship's engine."

	Mr. Fu makes his way over, "I can try and supplement the ship's power, if necessary." Lightning arcs around the little azure dragon's eyes. "Not a permanent solution, but I've done it before to allow for repairs while keeping core functions running."

Arumi nods to Mr. Fu. "We may need that. But I'm going to look. We may not need that. I'm a Professor of five etheric disciplines. I should be able to fix 150 year old technology." She will then, looking back to see if they follow," get up and rush below decks, trying to find the engine room.

	Mo smiles and scoops up Mr. Fu then follows along, "Engineering is aft, yeah. That was my fave part of the ship as a kid. Dirty hands keep the machinery running," offers Mo happily. "Just follow the lighting pathway."

Arumi giggles. "I'm really impressed with the lighting on board. That was probably one of the more advanced aspects. I wonder if he added it later, perhaps, in the early 20th century." Moving as fast as she can on her chunky sandals, she will make her way right there.

	Mo nods. "The Captain's favorite hobby was Optical Engines," he offered. "And the possibilities for using pho - pho - pho -" A pause, "Bits of light to do this and that. But also the basic uses an' stuff."

Arumi giggles. "Optical engines. It turns out both Dr. Whateley and I do extensive work with lenses and light. If any new lenses are needed for this ship's optical engine, I have a very good lab, just down the freeway a bit, to make any replacement parts we needed." She's eager to see just what this optical engine looks like.

	The Nashira's engine room - well, this is ostensibly the most Etherite part of the whole ship. The aethertech is dated, of course, but apparently Captain al-Mirzam was especially creative, even for his time, in the modifications and customizations he made to the various systems down here. For the most part? Things seem to be humming along but clearly the ravages of time and the breakdown of certain protective maintenance procedures have taken their toll.

	Mo looks around with nostalgia, then to Arumi. Both he and Fu speak at the same time, with the same question: "Well?"

Arumi will walks up to the engine. Pulling down her goggles, the first thing she does is a complete scan of the thing. Matter composition, temperature, light emissions, etheric anomalies, the works. Walking around it from any angle, hands on her goggles, spinning them very slowly, carefully, to get just the right etheric harmonics.

	Things could all stand a refresh of protective and preventive maintenance procedures. But the key point of need seems to be the odyllic capacitor, which has clearly suffered some deterioration to its central lens component. Its causing all the rest of the ship's systems to tax the core power supply!

Arumi looks over "Mo, Mr. Fu, run above deck and shut down the main engines immediately. I actually do need to remove the main lens, replicate it in my lab, and replace it. It's the entire problem withe power. Hurry, before it can do more damage."

	Like a well oiled machine, Mo and Mr. Fu snap into action. This isn't their first alert response aboard the ship, obviously. "Got it!," says Mo as he spins about and heads off with the little azure dragon in tow, rushing to get above deck and do as Arumi had indicated.

	Mo looks to Mr. Fu as they split up to begin shutting things down. "We won't - you don't think we'll lose the hollow-captain, right?"

	Mr. Fu does his part while answering Thomas's question, "I think that Captain al-Mirzam, in /any/ incarnation, is made of sterner stuff than most challenges that could present themselves. Courage, Thomas. Trust in the Society." And then? Just like that, the ship is Shut. Down. Self-powered emergency lighting and a few other isolated systems are all that remain.

Arumi meanwhile gets to work. She grabs a pair of work gloves from her bag, slipping them on, and as soon as temperatures are low enough, she approaches the engine, climbing on, to open the access port and very slowly, very carefully remove the main lens. Assuming it's not too big to be handled by one teenage scientist.

	The lens is designed to be handled by a single engineer. And while its design was elegant, the passage of time and the failure of maintenance procedures had clearly taken its toll on the capacitor.

Arumi holds the lens, very, very carefully. She will cling to it as she comes out from behind the engine, and starts going upstairs. "Coming through, careful," she calls out in case either of them decides to RUSH at her in any way. "Holding delicate equipment careful."

	Its a good thing she called out, because Mo? He was /exactly/ the type to rush at folks in his unbridled enthusiasm! Instead? he and Mr. Fu wait with bated breath until Arumi emerges from below decks with the precious cargo. "Is that it? Can you - will you be able to make repairs? Is the ship in danger of losing anything while it gets repaired? Mo peppers the air with questions, before Mr. Fu gives him /a look/ to pipe down and let Arumi catch her figurative breath from the extraction operation.

Arumi shakes her head. "The ship is now powered down. I'm going to take this lens back to my lab, and study it. I will attempt to replicate it in my lab, and make a new one to put into the engine. Most of my Etheric engineering and Energetic physics work involves lenses used to excite the ether. I should be able to dot his easily. Anyone have a towel, or something soft I can use to wrap this up?"

	Mo make his way over to the Captain's desk, and rifles through drawers, eventually producing a swatch of chamois leather cloth, which he brings over to Arumi. "Here you go."

Arumi nods to Mo. "Thank you." She then very delicately wraps the thing up, and carefully shoves it into her bag. Placing it just so it won't rattle around. "Great. Now before I go, I should take a look at the data archives, to see if there are any signs of damage, or attack. Would you two mind leading me there?"

	Mr. Fu gives Arumi a nod, "This way to the Difference Engine - its located in the Captain's ready room." Mo smiles and nods, "What Mr. Fu said," as the young chinese man trundles off after the little azure dragon.

Arumi keeps a hand on her bag a good deal of the time as she will follow. "You guys were quick turning off the engine. Thank you. It looks like the lens is just... damaged. And glass isn't easy to just fix. It'll be easier to craft a new one to the same specifications, I expect."

	Mo visibly breathes out a sigh of relief as he holds the door open to the ready room for Arumi. "I'm glad we were lucky enough to cross paths. All of this wouldn't really be possible without you. Neither Mr. Fu or I are equipped for this sorta thing. Basic repairs, yes, but rehab and renovation? Not so much."

	The ready room is small and cozy, a round table with chairs anchoring the center of the space. Tucked away in a corner? Another desk, with the interface for the Difference Engine that serves as the Nashira's databanks.

Arumi giggles. "Luck and observation. You did choose to reach out to me." Once in the room though, she focuses entirely on the task at hand. Carefully setting her bag down on the round table, off to one side. Then approaching the difference engine. Goggles still on, just in case. She starts to examine the thing carefully, checking every door, every cubby, every surface, for clues as to what's going on.

	The Difference Engine is likely one of the last pieces of the ship to have had its protective maintenance procedures expire, as most everything seems to be in good shape. But a few of the optical lenses that serve as mediums for photonic data could stand some maintenance.

Arumi takes a deep breath. "Alright. These are going to need replaced, too. But I have a plan." She pulls out her phone, and starts very carefully taking photographs of everything, from every angle, to document it. She takes out each lens, one by one, measuring it and photographing it, then slipping it back into place. "One lens at a time though. We'll get the engine back up. Then we'll fix the difference engine. Sound good?"

	Mo watches as Arumi makes her documentation, holding his breath again. It would devastate him if the holo-captain somehow was damaged or compromised by the delicate work needed. "Ok," he says quietly, breathing out. "DO you mind if I help you help the ship? Just to ... like, make sure you get all the lucky breaks?"

Arumi giggles. "Sure. If you want to come along to my lab, when I grind the lens for the engine, I'd like you to be there. You are my assistant after all. You'll be useful."

	"And I can help align the joss in your workshop, too. Better safe than sorry, right?" Mo looks at Arumi hopefully. This? All of this? This meant the world to him. Another sigh of relief, and he nods. "Thank you, Doc. You're the greatest." He then grabs his messenger bag so that Fu can hop in, gathers up his luopan, and heads on after the Doctor.

Arumi gets up slowly, checking her phone, slipping it back in her bag. She pats it, making sure the engine's lens is secure, and protected. "I'd better get this back to the lab. I'll pick you up sometime this week to do that work, alright? Mr. Fu, you're welcome to come along if you like."

	Mo offers a nod, "Sounds like a plan. I'll work on gathering whatever materials I can for structural repairs and such in the meantime. And Mr. Fu and I need to check in on some other irons that we have in the fire, so to speak."
===> Server closed the connection. <===> 3/24/2020, 11:50:22 AM <===