| |
MessageHeader=MTC-LRC.4029571.396823
Timestamp=567.3467.23.783
OriginatingVessel=VENTAS_CALIR.CS45.VENTAS-341
SubmittedBy=CRS.05623928.ACTING_CSO
Progress=PAYLOADON.RET.CORNAV
Requirements=NAV_CONF
Status = AMBER/RED
Hanna and Colin watched the pod’s main terminal as Brother Anderson composed the message data.
“That’s the easy part done,” he spoke out loud. “Now for the body, I’m thinking something along the lines of...”
More data appeared on the screen:
IssuesList:
_ID01
_DESC=CREW_LOST
_SEV=RED
_ACTION=N/A
_ID02
_DESC=NAV_CONF
_SEV=AMBER
_ACTION=’navigational coordinates confirmation required’
_ID03
_DESC=HULL_DMG
_SEV=RED
_ACTION=N/A
_ID04
_DESC=PAYLOAD
_SEV=AMBER
_ACTION=’bulk payload loss imminent RISK=RED’
_ID05
_DESC=FUEL/SUPPLIES
_SEV=GREEN
_ACTION=N/A
“How does that look?” He addressed them both, but they both knew he was really talking to Colin. Colin twisted his mouth, read the screen, glanced at Hannah, then back at the screen.
“Seems pretty good I guess.”
“Any thoughts Hannah?” the robot asked.
“Uh, no not really. Except... that Action line, ’navigational coordinates confirmation required,’ does that mean... are we lost?”
“Oh that? No. We aren’t lost. That’s just standard boilerplate stuff,” Colin reassured her. “It’s just that standard operations protocol insists on a coordinate check before and after any major course change. It’s a safety thing, designed more for crowded shipping lanes, to avoid collisions and that kind of thing. Still, even way out here in no man’s land, it is quite useful. A slight miscalculation can end up costing days or even weeks of travel time and fuel. It never hurts to get a second opinion.”
“Except when time is of the essence,” piped in Brother Anderson.
“Which it isn’t,” said Colin. What was the robot implying? Did he have that little trust in the ship’s remaining integrity? And if so, why wouldn’t he have discussed it with Colin instead of making an insinuation like that. It annoyed Colin more than a little, but also disturbed him. It was time for him to do another thorough inspection of his own. “How long will it take to get a reply anyway, would you figure?”
“Best case scenario around six hours, but it depends on a number of factors, only some of which I have current data for. It could be up to twelve hours, or even longer.”
“So in six to twelve hours we should expect to get the reply, including the coordinates. Then what?” Hannah asked.
“Then we should initiate our emergency protocols and begin the course correction maneuver as soon as possible.” answered Colin, shooting Brother Anderson a dirty look as he accented the last four words.
Brother Anderson ignored it, instead asking, “So are we all in agreement then? Regarding the message, that is. Shall I send it?”
Colin and Hannah exchanged a somewhat nervous look, but one which included a resigned nod.
“Send it,” they both answered in unison.