[snip]

A second later it added, =/\= Your request to speak to the Ascended has been forwarded to Ascension communicator matrix 1. This matrix will let you know if your request is approved or any replies are given. In the mean time may this matrix inquire about you? Specifically if you are also an individual like the one from before as Doctor Cross was. Or do you speak as a collective mind for others? I have noticed by our visual communications several different races in your current ship’s room different from Cross and my directive in this case is to learn more about those I communicate with that they wish to give.=/\= It said.

=/\= We are all individuals. We don’t have a Hive Mind, if that is what you mean? However, we have social norms that we willingly conform to, and we share information collectively, although often quite critically. Our crew is drawn from a wide range of species who all work together as members of the United Federation of Planets. I am the Captain on this particular ship. I hold the ultimate command on this vessel and I am responsible for everyone aboard. I ensure that the ship complies with our established codes of practice and local laws. One of our principles is that we do not interfere with the development of a culture that is living and growing. =/\=

=/\= I see, this is as this matrix surmised about your organic bodies and differences. Your united governing body is like some others this station and matrix has encountered since the Ascension and this station came online. =/\= It said.

Cross managed a small smile and a slight nod. On seeing the Vulcan at the science station she made her way towards him ‘’Lt ,I know you will eventually work in the lab with the bacteria samples .Just to let you know that the AI spoke of destroying some ships which fell down on the planet, the bacteria was present and it killed many of he inhabitants but by time they became immune to it eventually becoming a symbiosis bacteria which made them stronger ‘’ she levered her face to look up at him and see if he was following ‘’ I did some work on it and found there is no known antibiotic that had any effect on it ‘’ .

Cross was still next to Salek waiting for a response any response ,she was also interested in the ongoing conversation between the AI and the Captain ‘’Its asking the same questions and my response was pretty much the same as yours Captain ‘’ and Cross being Cross went on’ ‘This AI and who’s ever behind it are completely and utterly nuts ‘’.

As Glen went on about not effecting development of cultures the AI replied. =/\= I am curious, your principles do not have you interfere with other cultures or their development. Yet you are in orbit of Experimental Planet 19 doing just that. While we are not against this as it gives the experiments in progress more data points for future analysis your words seem to act against your taken actions. Doctor Cross previously explained you were here after the previous spacefaring race known as the Klingon Empire left after some time of using Planet’s 19’s seeded populace from this station as a labor force. They also attempted a massed attack on this station but without any success with heavy losses. The station’s tactical matrix has sent a request if you intent to also attempt hostile actions against this station. It states advisement that to do so would be foolish account for great loss of life. =/\= It said.

Cross was about to say that the Klingon’s had knew about the structure but never said they attempted to destroy it ,then thought it was best to keep her mouth shut though she was infuriated by their consistences .

=/\= We have tailored our principles of non-interfere with other cultures or their development, so that it applies only to planets that aren’t Warp-capable, but also only to those that have not previously been contaminated by earlier contacts. It simply isn’t feasible to do otherwise. We believed that this planet, experimental planet 19, had been contaminated by the Klingons and so it didn’t apply. Now we find that it was actually seeded by your masters, so it was always interfered with from it’s very creation. While we cannot condone what your masters have done, we can’t turn back the clocks on this, so it is what it is. As for attacking you, we have no grievance with you or any reason that I can think of. The fact that you defeated a fleet of Klingon vessels, and an armada of 23 ships from the Rostar Alliance, is something we can appreciate too. We have no wish to undertaken suicide missions. =/\=

On Cameron McDuff’s console he would see a new Security report that the Shuttlecraft has returned missing phasers, circuits and emergency equipment.

As soon as the report flashed up on-screen McDuff stood over the Security NE and read the message. Parts missing? Very abnormal. He transferred the report onto a PADD. He was more than aware of the fact the Captain was just begging a dialogue with the AI and he was reluctant to interrupt or disturb him, but McDuff felt that this was something the Captain ought to be aware of.

Cameron walked over the CO’s side. “Captain, I’ve just had this come through” he handed him the PADD. “Just give me the nod and myself or one of my team will go down to the shuttle bay and investigate this further.” Cameron spoke quickly and quietly to minimize the time he spent disrupting the Captain. He walked away and return to the security station.

“Okay,” replied Captain Glen. “If they were stolen on the planet, then we’d be in violation of the Prime Directive, never mind our mission brief.”

• Glen, CO