LtCmdr Jovenan – If you break something, I’m telling the Captain
Jovenan
((Sensor pod, USS Artemis))
Jovenan lifted the helmet of the Beholder. The “one-size-fits-most” headpiece was a surprisingly simple part for the otherwise complex system – pilots and other machinery operators had used helmet-mounted displays for centuries now. Although she had heard that other technologies had been tested, all the way to linking to the integrated optical implants, the old solution had proven the most reliable and accessible. She demonstrated lowering the visor to Lt K’Wara before extending it to them.
Jovenan: Alternatively, we could test it out just around the ship. I could launch test dummies that emit radiation or signal that can only be detected by the right choice of scanners. It would be your task as the operator of the Beholder to find them. You’re the Chief of Ops now, would you approve such a training exercise?
K’Wara: Well, by some miracle, the Chief Science Officer does seem to be suspiciously available at the moment, so why not? Approved.
After all the complications and expectations advancing in one’s career came with, it was nice to see for once how much easier it could also make life. Sure, she’d still need to notify their exercise to the bridge so that the people there wouldn’t be alarmed of the unplanned probe launch, not to mention writing a post-exercise report of Lt K’Wara’s and the system’s performance. Just because there were fewer people to question their decision didn’t mean they could get everything past their superiors.
Jovenan: Want to give it a go? Oh, by the way, you don’t happen to have any medical ailments that make you faint easily, nauseated or something similar? Operating the Beholder can get a bit… trippy.
K’Wara: ‘Trippy’ sounds like my kind of night, Sir.
That sounds… promising. Jovenan wondered for a moment if it was the wisest to give access to an advanced scientific tool to someone who liked it “trippy”. However, she decided to read it as a joke, judging by their expression that didn’t seem to her like that of an adrenaline junkie jumping to a racing shuttle. Besides, she could terminate the Beholder at any time and take control, and if she needed to do so, she was doing the ship a service by exposing their new Chief of Ops as a risk to their safety.
Jovenan: Oo-kay. I’ll notify the bridge and prepare the targets and the probes. Get yourself to the seat.
She stepped nearer to the computer terminal near the Beholder. Once the bridge acknowledged her message and permitted the training exercise, she prepared a series of target probes and the drone for a launch. Each unmanned vehicle made a swooshing sound as they departed the pod’s launchers. She left them hanging in the empty space for a while. When she turned to Lt K’Wara, they had managed to get themselves fully strapped to the chair.
K’Wara: All right, so how will this work then?
She stepped in front of the Lieutenant.
Jovenan: It’ll be a full-body experience. Turning your head will shift your field of vision ::rolls the helmet in her hands:: as you would expect, but the sensitivity of is up so that you can still see behind you without breaking your neck. Use your right hand to navigate the HUD. The left hand is for the drone controls, pitch, yawn and roll. The velocity is controlled by your legs.
She placed the helmet over their head. While they adjusted it, she made sure the controls to each of their limbs were attached correctly. Satisfied with the setup, she looked at the dark, opaque visor as if she was looking at their eyes through it. So far, so good.
Jovenan: Have you ever operated anything like this?
K’Wara: Never, but it does seem very intuitive... ::flexes fingers:: Will there be a safety margin around the Ship itself? Don’t want to accidentally freak out any bridge crew manning the Yawn Watch.
Jovenan: Yes, there is. You can see the distance at the corner of your HUD at all times. At one hundred metres, the proximity alert will go off; you can’t miss it. If the drone comes closer than fifty metres, the system will automatically halt the movement and cut you off. I can also take control at any moment, so don’t do anything stupid, okay?
K’Wara: Response
She nodded – just to herself, since the Lieutenant couldn’t see her – and walked back to her terminal. With a few clicks, she gave control of the drone to the Beholder.
Jovenan: Okay, it’s all yours now. Subtle movements. When you’re ready, try to move the drone above the pod at 150 metres, and then adjust the drone so that you can see the ship straight ahead. Never drop below 100 metres. Got it?
K’Wara: Response
While the drone moved, Jovenan didn’t let her attention slip away for a second. If something went wrong, it was the most likely to happen during the first few minutes – assuming the Lieutenant didn’t start taking unnecessary risks once they got more familiar with the controls.
Jovenan: Okay, slow down, a bit more and there! Well done. Now, let’s start with something easy. You should see a bright spot at your bearing 015 mark 340. It’s one of the five targets, each emitting at different forms of electromagnetic radiation. You’ll need to find them all for me and identify the frequency. Questions?
K’Wara: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11