Ghost Signals, Episode 4: Part 3.1
RAIVEN (V.O.) So, we've got...roughly another horut before the ship goes dry?
We move to a shot of the two of them examining the readout a beat later. Steggy has her hands in her pockets as she tries coming up with a plan.
STEGGY (nods, to Raiven) Aye- there abouts.
RAIVEN How much can we cover in terms of distance with that much fuel?
STEGGY 9,000 metros- 10,000 with a bit of conservation. That should get us relatively close to the next planet on long range sensors.
RAIVEN That's right around when the Path I made ends- grand!
STEGGY Yeah. After this expedition's complete, barring a miracle, we'd be all but stranded on a different side of the universe a trillion metros from home.
RAIVEN Yeah. Normally, with the legal issues facing us, this would be a cause for celebration. But the thought of being alone with a CGAI and a stale arsed Brownie sounds like a miserable existence.
STEGGY At least food supply's in good measure.
RAIVEN For now... (pause) Let's go through the chem detail. See if we can't find some elements on other planets that we can blend together into a suitable alt-fuel.
STEGGY Might be a touch easier said than done. But I'll get to work on it ASAP.
RAIVEN Cheers, Steggy...
Steggy disappears a split second later back into the hardware of the ship. The good Doctor starts moving a second later away from the console and down to the end of the walkway a few steps.
RAIVEN (Cont.) How's Dez doing? Have you caught a glimpse of her this morgen?
STEGGY (from the speakers) Nothing new or ominous, Doc. Just her going 'round her cell, exercising and chowing.
RAIVEN Good. At least that's stable.
STEGGY You thinking of picking her brain on the map or the fuel synth...or picking at other things?
RAIVEN (humorless chuckle) Just curious is all. Though now you mention it, given her fanish inclanations...it's not such a bad idea to see if she could shed a shiny light on the Path.
STEGGY I'll send a copy of your data to her cell, along with a copy of my "Backscratcher" in case things go south.
RAIVEN "Backscratcher?" You chose that as the name?
STEGGY It sounds intimidating- and it actually does help scratch your back.
CUT TO:
INT. DEZ-LEI'S CELL- Minute Later
Dez-Lei, in a white and gray work shirt, looking over on a regular tablet display the same map we saw Raiven looking at earlier. You can see bits of her dress uniform stiffly hung up on the wall as she speaks.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (after a mid-sized pause) ...And it just flat lines at this point?
RAIVEN Essentially, yeah. The ship's sensors have been regenning our course the weatt. But the result's still the same.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI You try reconfiguring the sensor array to compensate for any unforeseen atmospheric radiation?
RAIVEN Steggy made a go of that three datums ago, but couldn't find a working solution. I tried it after her, and had just about as much good fortune.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (glances over at Raiven) And now you send it to me, hoping I can break the clog.
Raiven nods, eliciting the briefest half-grin from the soldier before returning to the screen.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Cont.) I'm flattered by the consideration. Though the solution for your dilemma is actually quite simple.
RAIVEN It is?
The AC Second Class types on the tablet's keyboard for a few moments.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (handing the tablet back to Raiven) All you gotta do is tap the sensors into the sonic cannon on the left wing on the next regen. It should fix whatever issues you have, get you a better Path configuration.
RAIVEN (placing the tablet under her arm; to AC Second Class Dez-Lei) Thanks...how did you become so skilled in tech diagnostics?
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI Learning technological schemas for all kinds and sizes of aeros is an important education base for all Armed Forces recruits.
RAIVEN (trying to be witty) Is that next to Intimidation, Conformity, and the wonderful world of Brainwashing?