Episode 91. Lingua's New Cocoon
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Monday, August 19, 2024 - 11:41
- Location
-
- Unknown Space
- USS Enterprise
- Storage Hold (Cocoon)
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
After Captain Agnes Rodriguez's unexplained healing, the crew of USS Enterprise continues its long survival project. Repairs are moving slowly: destroyed engines, obsolete systems, limited resources. Under T'Met and Tarsi's supervision, the crew is integrating Schak'Irra technology into Enterprise and preparing to install a 26th-century artificial intelligence: Lingua. While Angie watches over operations and Gomard coordinates the field teams, Agnes regains her strength and authority, but the mystery of her healing remains unsolved.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Timeline of Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| T'Met | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Captain | Vulcan | Prime Timeline |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Robert Gomard | NATO / Army | Colonel | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Lingua | Starfleet / Temporal Division | N/A | Artificial Intelligence | Prime Timeline |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Unknown Space |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi (Unofficial) |
| Science | T'Met (Unofficial) |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Security | Robert Gomard (Unofficial) |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers |
Robert Gomard's squad 4 Vulcan survivors from Schak'Irra Emmanuel Macron Lingua (Being unpacked) |
| Detainees | Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards |
TL;DR
One week after the battle against the Tholians, T'Met finally activates Schak'Irra's artificial intelligence aboard Enterprise. Lingua manifests as a sensitive holographic projection full of personality: curious, ironic... and a touch theatrical. Faced with Agnes's distrust, she takes offense, then begins singing to express her mood, leaving the captain both amused and intrigued. Very quickly, Lingua takes control of the ship's probes and locates their position: the Alpha Quadrant, one light-year from Tellar Prime. But without propulsion, reaching the planet is impossible. The moment is interrupted by Colonel Gomard's arrival, warning Agnes that the prisoner, The Grand Tsar, is showing troubling signs of distress.
Story
A long week has passed since the battle against the Tholians, and the entire crew of Enterprise is working relentlessly to restore the ship. Unfortunately, the repair reports that reach me day after day are worrying because of our limited means. To solve some of our problems, I authorized T'Met to install Schak'Irra's artificial intelligence in a storage hold near the shuttle bay. I gently open the door and observe the scene with curiosity. The room is cluttered, filled with stacked containers, stored equipment, and a few consoles from Schak'Irra. A humanoid shape is projected on a central display stand mounted beside an improvised console operated by T'Met.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good morning, T'Met. May I come in?
Capt. T'Met
Yes, Captain. Come in. We are in the middle of adaptation.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I came to see your progress. How is it going with the AI?
Lingua
Good morning, Captain Rodriguez. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Lingua.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
An image floating in the air? Can she see me?
Capt. T'Met
Of course Lingua can see you. You can also answer her and interact with her.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Uh, what can I say to her?
Capt. T'Met
A large part of her knowledge has been reconnected. You may discuss any subject you wish.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Uh, all right. Uh, hello there. Uh, how do you find your new environment?
Lingua
I am glad you have hosted me, Captain Rodriguez, but I must admit that this new Cocoon is... cramped.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Cocoon?
Lingua
That is the name of the room where I live. Usually, a Cocoon is equipped with holo-projectors that allow me to modulate my own environment, where I can do anything I want like a true biological being.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Seriously? But you are an image.
Capt. T'Met
Captain Rodriguez, address her as if you were speaking to a human. Lingua possesses a degree of sentience and suffers from hyperesthesia.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
A machine with emotions... well, now I have seen everything...
Lingua
♪♫ Can't you see, it's the chemistry,
♪♫ You really must agree,
♪♫ Together we are beautiful,
♪♫ We are beautiful.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Whoa, what was that?
Capt. T'Met
She was affected by your words and compensated for her distress by singing.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
But I did not say anything offensive. Talk about sensitive...
Capt. T'Met
From her point of view, you humiliated her. Regard her not as a machine, but as a member of your crew.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I offer you my sincerest apologies, Lingua. I had no bad intentions.
Lingua
Apology accepted, Captain Rodriguez. As a primitive being from the 21st century, it is entirely understandable that you do not grasp all the subtleties of my behavior.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Now that was inappropriate of you. Ha ha...
Our conversation is suddenly interrupted by the storage hold's intercom chime...
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Hello, Captain, do you read me?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, Mr. Corda, go ahead.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
I have lost control of the surveillance probes. They, uh, how can I put this...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
They what? Speak, Corda!
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
It looks like they are dancing, Captain.
Lingua
Hee hee hee.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Mr. Corda. Noted. Rodriguez out!
Lingua
Hee hee hee.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Tell me, Lingua, by any chance, are you the one playing with my probes?
Lingua
Oops, sorry, Captain. T'Met provided me with instructions that I am trying to execute with the means available. I took control of your probes in order to find Enterprise's position in space. Using your readings and the maps from the 26th century, I am extrapolating the information. One moment, please... [...] There... I inform you that we are in the Alpha Quadrant, Tellar sector, one light-year from Tellar Prime, a Minshara-class planet. In your era, the Tellarites have excellent spaceports and repair workshops. I recommend going there as a priority.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Impressive, Lingua, but you are forgetting one important detail. We no longer have propulsion.
Lingua
I am aware of Enterprise's condition, Captain Rodriguez. Commander Tarsi and your engineers will not be able to repair your outdated systems and replace them with those from Schak'Irra. These operations must be carried out in dry dock.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I thought you could help us.
Lingua
Enterprise is a rudimentary vessel, and my capabilities are limited to reading the information contained in your computers. Without my proprioception matrix, I am unable to provide further information on the condition of the propulsion system.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yet you took control of my probes.
Lingua
Affirmative, Captain Rodriguez. They are connected to your electronic systems, which are now part of my virtual neural network.
Capt. T'Met
I will install the intracorpus sensor network and the advanced tactile perception system during the week so she can find solutions.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hey, wait a minute. You have my green light, but I do not want Lingua taking control of my ship and making it dance the way she did with my probes...
Capt. T'Met
Lingua is like a child. She can sometimes be unpredictable. Her advanced cognitive capabilities allow her to simulate various emotional states, but her ethical parameters prevent her from committing harmful acts.
Lingua
That is correct. In addition, T'Met is applying a futurization technique to me.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Futurization? That seems strange to apply to an AI.
Capt. T'Met
Indeed, Captain. But Lingua is more than a simple AI. Futurization consists of projecting her capabilities into future scenarios where she succeeds in adapting. This positively reinforces her algorithms.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
How do you proceed?
Capt. T'Met
We use visualizations and simulations. For example, I am currently guiding Lingua through scenarios where she successfully navigates Enterprise's analog systems. This helps reprogram her algorithms so she can adapt more effectively.
Lingua
I find it... soothing. This method lowers my stress level and improves my performance. Ooooh, look! Here comes Colonel Gomard.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Knock knock. Hello, everyone. Sorry to disturb you. Hello, Lingua.
Lingua
I am not armed, Colonel. Please do not draw your weapon again.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Do not worry, Lingua. I was looking for Captain Rodriguez.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What is it, Robert?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
You should come see the prisoner. He is acting strangely.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Which prisoner?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
The Grand Tsar.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good grief! I had completely forgotten about him. What has he done now?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
The doctor and Manu are there. They will explain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Okay. T'Met and Lingua, I will come back to see you later. We will need to find a way to reach the planet you located.
Lingua
See you later, Captain Rodriguez.