WCGW Chpt 255

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==Chapter 255 - What Could Go Wrong==
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Linden (Former Outworlds System)
5th January, 3047
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Reginald Traveline walked the corridor that ran along RWS Krait, Tracker Class Surveillance Warship, the entire jump core inspecting the work that had been done by the small army of locals. The automated shipyard was already slowly guiding the nose of the Krait back into place so the automated welders could begin their task of making the ship whole once again. While he had no experience with warships and even very few JumpShips, he knew workmanship and so far, he had found very little to even mention to anyone. He stopped to watch a team of locals reattaching electrical connections, smiling when one of them found a terminal end that might cause a problem and they swiftly replaced the connector with a new one. He walked over and picked up the "bad" terminal end and wiggled some of the pins, only a few of them moved ever so slightly. He laid the terminal back in the small toolbox and continued his inspection. Back in the Inner Sphere, I doubt any tech would have replaced that end since it was still within tolerance, he thought.
After his inspection he went back to the construction bay control room where Dennis Stinson, the local computer guru, was monitoring the automated shipyard. "How does it look, Dennis?" He asked
"Everything is nominal. The computer says 29 hours to complete the actual repairs and then we have several days of pressure tests on the hull integrity. According to the downloaded manual that came from Krait, that is an 8 bar over pressure that must hold for a minimum of 24 hours with no loss in pressure. But while that is happening the computer will be running a full diagnostic on all systems aboard the Krait. If everything passes, she should be ready for a test jump by the end of the week." Dennis Stinson said
"Damn, this thing is amazing. I wonder what else she can do." Reginald Traveline said more to himself than to Dennis Stinson.
"Well, you can make design modifications of any ship in her database. Which is now four total. You cannot exceed a designs weight limit, as that alters the designs jump core parameters. As far as I can tell, since I had nothing better to do than read everything I could find aboard this station. We do not have the algorithms to recalculate such a change. However, changes to internal structure, increase armor, reposition weapons mounts, increase or decrease crew quarters, and all other such changes are completely within its capabilities. Though I would recommend a new build over a major design change to an existing ship as that would probably require a complete tear down." Dennis Stinson said
"What about constructing ships that do not have jump cores?" Reginald Traveline asked
"Like a Dropship? Sure, it could do that if you had all the required design specifications in the proper format and computer language. By that I mean this station runs on three different computer languages, one we call Star League standard, which is what everyone here learns. It runs the stations environmental systems and day to day systems. Then you have a variation of that language which runs the stations factory equipment and the automated construction bay. There is a third language variation that is running the criteria for the Krait repairs out there. All three are running at the same time and talking to the stations central computer ban, which is fascinating and an incredibly hard feat to accomplish." Dennis Stinson said
"Why the last two being different? Why not just the one language to do both?" Reginald Traveline asked
"Educated guess here, the last computer language only comes into play when dealing with Star League Defense Force designs. The encryption is like nothing I have ever seen. Very complicated stuff. I can only read what it lets me, as in what it displays on the screens here. Yet without that little key your Major left plugged in, the encryption would prevent anyone from accessing even the Krait design information now in the stations database. I only know that because I removed that key and the Krait vanished from the database until I put the key back in. The Carrack was still there though. Your not copying the information from the database either, tried that one also. With or without that key. Nor can you copy any of the computer coding for the third language. Tried that and got a warning that scared the crap out of me. Said "Further attempts to extract classified information would be deemed hostile intent and self-destruct protocols would be initiated". I would advise leaving that idea off the table forever." Dennis Stinson said
"Yeah, I keep forgetting there is a nuke on this station." Reginald Traveline replied suddenly feeling a chill go up his spine.
"It does make you heed any warning you get though. Made me stop dead in my tracks and quit playing with that encrypted stuff totally." Dennis Stinson said as his eyes swept across the various screens displaying a wide variety of information. Reginald Traveline took his sudden silence as his cue to leave.
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Thazi (Independent System)
"It is time for me to leave, David. It has been a very pleasant and enjoyable visit. I wish you and your people the very best. They are in very good hands." Archon Melissa Steiner-Davion said
"Your welcome to come back and visit anytime you find the time, Melissa. I also appreciate your help in solving our financial problems. As I promised last night, I will setup the other steel factory over on Wokha to handle the manufacturing there. Does not mean I will not ship iron ore and others back here to be processed also though. It will take a year or two to even get it built and workers trained over there." President David Mitchell replied
"That would be fine, David. Your word is good enough for me. When I get to Wokha, I will make sure everyone understands exactly what I expect of them and what your to be paid. Just keep our secret exactly that, a secret. I will tell you when you can make a wave." Melissa said
"Lips are sealed. I do not wish to create a problem, but I also have to look after my people." Mitchell honestly told her.
"As we all must. Until we meet again, David." Melissa said as she turned to climb the ramp of the Monarch Passenger Liner Dropship.
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