Black Lagoon

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel’s eyes lit up when they entered the engine room. She recognised a navigational computer when she saw one and this looked advanced even with today’s advancements in technology.

She could not read the language but the majority of the controls were self-explanatory – although she soon realised there were a lot more than she was used to. Perhaps some were linked to the gateways? As she pored over it, she looked for a data port. She desperately wanted to find a way of downloading both the schematics but also its star charts. Who knows what parts of wild space they’d visited? What planets they’d encountered that were not visible due to physical conditions – or simply remote locations.

Finally she found something and searched her pockets for a suitable lead to connect the computer to her datapad.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Oriime had seen these computers and they were beautiful, the Nirvana had one such computer for its navigation as well as a normal back up. Even with advancements being tens of thousands of years these were still far superior as she spoke. "These are still highly valued, self calculating and adaptable. They can increase the speed of any ship because it regulates the course your are taking and gives you only the best way to go that most don't even see. IN a way one fo the reasons why they could get out across the galaxy and develop their own empire. Plus it helps that all of their ships were able to be self sustaining at a level even my mothers ships can't reach yet." She wanted to see more and was bringing up the star sharts on it while using the force. Using different things to tap keys as sounds came out giving musical notes. "You need six arms and to know how to make the music to get it to actually work though. Much easier for Knight since she can just grow six arms."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was fascinated and couldn’t stifle a chuckle at the end. Having six arms to use the computer was a significant drawback – and in many ways an excellent anti-theft device. Throwing in the fact that it seemed to be operated at least in part by sound and she knew she would not easily be able to tap into its technology and therefore not be able to utilise its advanced features. But she was determined to download their star maps and even just the idea of a navicomp that regulates the course being travelled in a self-regulated way was something she could see herself adopting as something of a pet project going forwards.

“The arms thing is a drawback, granted. But I’ll see what I can learn from it before I give up completely. It’s here and I’m here, so I should give it a few minutes of my time at least.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"Well only a drawback if you aren't used to it. The gree function just fine and it makes using their technology that much more difficult." Though there had been strives forward in being able to use it. The work with the Nirvana showed how to interface with it in ways others in the galaxy could not and combining that navigational computer along with say a hybrid drive like they had been working on to work with the charon otherspace drive and normal hyperdrives. It was a way that Orihie knew her mother was trying to make the most advanced tech for those who could use it. Ships that could handle the strain of its problems. "THis though we have learned a great deal about how to interface with. Experimented with it, you just need to know the music." She was looking for it and focusing as the one switch sounded and you could hear it. Her hands were moving when she touched the control working to mirror the sounds and pull up the different information onto the datapad translated for them.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was truly impressed with how Orihime handled the computer. She accepted that the sounds were, in essence, a language that could be learned like any other, but that didn’t stop her being amazed.

“I’m not used to it, that’s for sure,” she said as Orihime continued to work the machine, pulling data into the portable device she held. “And I can see how combining the technology held with our current computers, drives and engines would be an ideal marriage. Especially if you don’t have an ear for music.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She gave a nod of her head. "Essentially all Gree technology is based on the sounds. Resonating crystals that create the music that you need to know how to goes together. Which in some cases if you can't preform or understand it. Makes using their technology near impossible. Even if we manage with many of the things you still need to know how to work with the control and resonating crystals." She was working with it and showing the locations of the Gree worlds at the time as the map had the old charts showing where influence between the different civilizations was within the space itself. There was a lot same as the massive network of connected gates they had at the time spanning across the galaxy including going in to tython in the deep core itself. "There we go, some fo the old maps themselves."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened and learned. The Gree sounded an interesting species and their technology so different to what she was used to. And she was amazed to see just how far the gate network went. Tython jumped out at her – not only for the fact of its location but the thought that it had temples, and she’d never visited them. Until recently, of course, it had been in One Sith hands, but now she realised belatedly that it was somewhere she ought to visit, if only to say she’d been there. She had no idea what the Sith had left intact but it would be an interesting visit regardless.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking at her and there was more when she moved back a little from it showing the data that they were downloading to give them some new information. She thought of a few things thought for them when she pulled back stretching a little. Playing the music for the navicomputer before she was looking at some of the informaiton for herself. "We should be able to find a very nice use for this. Few people know all fo the gree locations and this points the way towards the library of manuals. Where they had almost an entire planet dedicated to storing information and knowledge." She was thinking about that and... yeah finding it compared to the others would be such an amazing thing to see.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel readily agreed with her friend. The information the computer held alone was worth the visit, let alone where it potentially led them.

“I suspect the full location list will spark a hundred new missions at least and who knows how many after that.” Sorel knew that such treasure hunts were like that – one lead generates two, which generates four and so on. True explorers never ran out of adventures, because the clues to new locations never dried up.

“But that planet that doubles as a library? That’s one I’d sure like to visit.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She was looking at Sorel and nodded in agreement. All of the work they had going into this could prove very useful but a location fo the famed library of manuals. A place few others even knew about or had ever heard of except in some obscure texts. it was a big thing that you would be able to and should be able to work with. She had a few ideas of the things that they should be able to do here while searching. "We can start our own search for it. Once we get out of here, there is a lot of cool stuff to still see maybe but we have a lot of information about what it is that is going on around here." Orihime was looking as she brought up a lot more of the information sticking around. To turn parts over until she stuck around here getting her datapad ready. "We have so much about the planet and about the people that had been here."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel looked around. They had already spent a long time on the planet – and had to be careful that personal interests didn’t get in the way of the one commodity they did not have in plentiful supply – time.

But their track record in finding things was impressive as their list of achievements would testify. So turning in what they’d found so far would give the two the leeway to begin the search for the fabled library planet. On the basis they would not be able to catalogue the full inventory, simply finding it would be the goal and they could hand over to the archivists and librarians once they had located it.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking at Sorel and they should be able to find some things for themselves to work with. She wanted to see what they could do before heading off but there was a lot here. The informaiton about the world itself, the information about the reactors and ways to improve what they had to work with. It was going to give the two of them a whole lot of cool things before they went off searching for the library planet itself as Orihime had it. "We can and with this information we should be able to improve the ship itself to work for us. More power and energy int he ship will allow using less energy thanks to the sleg and limit the wear and tear possibly. We should be able to make it even easier to handle things."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened and – as ever – had a hundred questions. That was the thing with Orihime, she had so much knowledge, just one sentence from her encouraged a deluge of queries from Sorel. And so it was.

“Are you talking about improvements to this ship, or our own ships? And what sort of improvements? And how much more power and energy exactly? As a percentage. And what will the impact be on speed, and shield strength? And how much less wear and tear? And how does that effect handling?”

Sorel smiled at the end of her monologue. “There, I didn’t hold back for once. That’s what’s going on in my head right now.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking at her and had a look on her face though while she was watching prepared to answer them. "Our own ships, this one is old and in the side of a mountain. so we'd be developing things for ourselves to use on your ship, on mine or on my mothers." Oh yes there were some plans to go with that as they were moving to get a few other things prepared. "I am ready though, we can go off and search for this Library of Manuals ourselves. Get some information and given its location on the map... no where near anyone else in space. We'll be able to explore, see things and who knows what else we could find... More information or places to go off and explore."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel agreed with her friend. The current ship was advanced technologically but did not represent something they could take from the planet and use. But the information and knowledge that went into creating it could.

“And I like your plan. Let’s take whatever information we can from this ship that we can adapt and apply to our own. Then call in the researchers to come and take a look whilst we head off to the new planet and see what still exists there.” It had occurred to her that the place could have been stripped bare – or suffered any number of natural catastrophes over the many centuries since it was last occupied. But even that prospect was an adventure – and Sorel loved adventures.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime looked at her as Sorel had the idea and they could do it all. Taking the information as she was moving back through the ship with all of her things. The datapad was there in her hand as she walked through the ship seeing if there was anything they might have missed while leading the way. "We'll do just that, we've spent a good few hours here and whatever had been following us should be gone maybe.... or it might be surprised by the power suddenly returning. From here she could see it as the lights were there going up and you could see the streaks in the sky where the sun was peaking at the horizon. That small area and she was going up the central area seeing the snow all around them. Orihime wanted to see what they might be able to find here.... or well she had the thought of a snowball fight.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel had almost forgotten about the thing that had tracked them here – but the dawn was now due and predators that favoured the night tended to avoid the glare of the sun. So it was most likely it would be gone by now. And if not, it was easier to deal with something you could see and prepare for.

“Sounds like a good plan. Let’s get whatever data we can from here and then head back to our ship. Then we can call this one in and head off to the next port of call.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Perfect, Orihime was reaching up and going back through the facility as she knew the path now seeing it all. They could always come back anyways if there was a reason to and the reflecting sun on the snow was all around them. The mountains that were around and the massive crater didn't look nearly as dangerous when there was light above and going in. The snow reflecting the light downwards until she had the jeep so they could head back to the ship and she started it up. With a few datacubes for their information from here to look over for themselves. She waited for the moment while getting in the jeep prepared to handle the situation if anything was there. She dind't sense or see anything moving but that didn't mean it wasn't there when they were moving off on the road seeing more of the mountains and it was desolate looking with trees and snow. Some ruins it looked like jutting out from the mountain that they had missed as well as a landing area for airships overlooking the valley below the roads.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Looking out and down from their vantage point, Sorel was amazed how they’d managed to get up here so easily. In the dark, with just a little moonlight to help them guide their way, the journey had seemed steep but straightforward. But in the full light of day, it was clear that a wrong turn could easily have sent them over the side of the mountain and crashing into the trees below. It was a credit to Orihime’s driving that they’d made such quick progress when being pursued. And it might have explained why whatever was tracking them held back – no doubt used to prey falling to their deaths and therefore being easily dealt with, as opposed to a direct confrontation.

“They say downhill is quicker than up, but on this occasion, I’d settle for just getting down in one piece.” She surveyed the valley below. “I’ll keep an eye out for unwanted guests.” And as Orihime took the controls, Sorel used the Force to sense for anyone – or thing – in the vicinity.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

That was a good idea and she could see how it might be a danger to go with some fo the things. Wanting to see the work for themselves as the jedi could continue down the road and it was thankfully very very clear compared to how it had been or how it had seemed at night. She figured it was just a bunch of stuff and certain doom... now she could see there really wasn't much and the trees that were looking dangerous really were just normal and there. Maybe her mind had been playing tricks with her as Orihime was heading down and into the highway when it came around. Vehicles there that she could see more of and signs for different places with some interest. Most seemed to show small tourist places like a large ball of twine.... or place where so and so married and she was guessing they were famous or something. The city was also visible in the distance for them to see along with parts of it where the wash came out and there were massive crystals growing that the water she guessed had smoothed into a wall.