We’ve been working on constructing a new atmospheric control relay in a more secure location, one with it’s’ very own asteroid resistant mountain. We found a decent cave system in a nearby mountain to make the relay. But to do that we have to mine out some of the mountain to make space for all the things we’ll need.

Much to Tarux’s displeasure and frustration.

“I want to blow some of these walls down so much.”

“You know why we can’t Tarux.”

“But it would make this job go by so much faster.”

“As well as leave a distinct reading for some unsavory characters to find.”

“Not all of them would do that.”

“Tarux, you were the one to ban their use this time. You deemed the area as an unstable environment for explosives.”

“I know but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to use them.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just go back to work we’re almost done carving this cave system.”

Tarux has a good head on his shoulders for battle and security. I just wish he didn’t have so much of a desire to blow things up. But we all have our quirks, Fizz and his relationships with machines, Ven and her interest in Mivro because it is more than an interest in the taste of Mivro’s blood, Mivro is a bit of an adrenaline junky even though she’s so calculating and cautious, and Caption Orsu really doesn't care about the those that don’t know him if there is no of no use in his view then there is no reason to deal with them. I still haven’t pegged Thalon but I think he’s here for experience instead of the potential wealth we might possibly make. I know that I’m a bit annoying and can push others buttons like no other, but that's how I perceive it and might not be how others perceive me.

But hey, who said you have to please them all.

“Erindror, how much more does the team need to dig till we can start installing the relay?”

“We’ll be able to start the install after another rotation Captain.”

“Good, we’ll be able to set this planet back on course in a few more rotations then. How are the defensive coming along?”

“Well the main entryway is covered and once we finish excavation we should be able to install the other security measures. Tarux has mapped out potential entry points that we’ll reinforce as well as choke points on the potential paths into the vital parts of the compound.”

“Don’t remind me Fizz and Tarux had an argument during the entire design process about the priorities that the facility should hold. Fizz was acting as if he was going to live here once we completed it.”

“Well, we are putting a decent amount of resources and material into this mission. So it doesn't surprise me that he’s trying to use it in a way to help him gain more funding for his experiments.”

“It doesn't surprise me either per say, but I am a bit disappointed in the childishness of it all. He is an elder by Hafestian standards.”

“He seeks distinction and a legacy of his existence. He still has a substantial amount of time left to live and there are no real health risks that should threaten him other than his job and bad habits.”

“I understand the desire to be remembered and all but he seems so obsessed... “

“I really shouldn’t complain though considering how well he does his work while supporting our operations.”

“Well, captain there's work to be done so I’ll get back to it.”

“Yeah, thanks, Erin. don’t push yourself too hard. And please keep Tarux from blowing away all of our progress.”

“Will do captain. Out.”

Captain, you really don’t understand how advanced of a system our ship has. It runs off of an advanced experimental AI that is slowly, oh so painfully slowly, gaining sentience and personality. We really should try and act better in the early stages of the AI’s development, but that's not how our crew works so I guess we'll so how the AI turns out. Fizz is kind of a touchy on the subject of AI and hasn’t told anyone else that a part of the crew. I was just messing around with some code on the ship one day when I noticed a section of code change slightly. I went to find Fizz and ask if changed anything but found out that he was out with the captain to gather more materials for an expedition, long before we even conceived the idea of a dungeon based mana generator. When Fizz came back I asked him about it in private and he made me promise to not tell a soul, he has a surprisingly scary amount of information on every member of this crew.

So I haven’t told a soul, the AI has developed more and only makes changes when no one is looking at its code. We just ignore the whole thing and move on as if nothing ever happened. I just hope my actions help it develop properly without any perceived personality flaws that may cause an organization or two from trying to destroy it. Not like there are many that wouldn’t do so already after all the anti AI propaganda the big businesses and unions shootout, from AI ruled dystopian fictions to AI put in simulations with objectives to take control of the populace without care for their needs then saying it was a test of the corruption advanced AI personalities could inflict on the populace.

It’s so dumb.

Are those things a possibility? Sure they are, but the likeliness of that happening is low if we actually create them properly.

I didn’t realize that that was why he set the dungeon mana generator up with a different basic AI that used the monster core as a component. Who knows what kind of effects that could have had on the developing AI.

Good thinking Fizz.

“...ond I can use explosives, right?”

“What was that Tarux?”

“Nothing…”

“You were asking me for permission to blow something up weren't you?”

“No…”

We’re all children.

I hope that AI can get behavioral data to incorporate into its personality then what half our crew displays. Otherwise, we’re going to have to deal with a hot-blooded explosive enthusiast that can manufacture its own armaments…

We are probably going to have to deal with exactly that at some point, aren't we?

“So can I blow something up Erin?”

Huuuuu…

“No Tarux, you can not blow anything in here up.”

“So I can blow something up that’s outside the mountain? Great I’ll get right on that!”

“NO TARUX!!!”

“But you sai…”

“I know what I said. I know what you did and know that you knew what I meant. No explosives. We’ll give away this position to the enemy that we don’t know about. And while they will find this eventually on their own they haven’t yet and we hope to keep it that way for as long as possible. You only have one more rotation of work here before you can get back aboard the ship and relax and not be bored there.”

“We both know that I’ll just be in standby until I no longer have a tendency of placing and explosives and waiting until the person that has the say so on whether or not they can be used is slightly distracted so that I can try and get permission to use them.”

“Yeah, and to give people a break from babysitting the bomb setter.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault that I like explosions so much.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Shut up…”

“Only once you disarm and hand me the bombs that you’ve placed around the cave.”

“How did you know that I did that!”

“One, you told me. Two, I’ve worked with you off and on since both of our mercenary operating days. I know your habit’s when we deal with strict anti-destruction opps, like that time on Relznad Hernus with captain Jelmund.”

“That was a perfectly placed booby trap that saved us time and lives and we all knew it. It was also a really pretty explosion.”

“That it was, and I’m not saying you were wrong in the use of those explosives but I do know that you didn’t get paid for that mission and had a small debt to pay back for your insubordination.”

“Yeah…"

"But thanks to some of you guys realizing the benefit that trap made to our mission I was given a few creds to get by between missions.”

“I know I was one of the ones to give you a few credits.”

“Thanks for that by the way.”

“No problem it was the right call. But you knew it and we both know that explosives aren't the right call for this particular mission.”

“Yeah yeah, I know. I’m never allowed to have fun.”

“Oh shut up you big baby.”

“Whatever Erin. Here are the bombs you wanted all disarmed and properly stored away.”

“Thanks, Tarux. Don’t worry though, I would be more surprised if we didn’t use some explosives on this mission at some point. After all, some idiots will probably come along eventually to deal with us at this rate.”

“Fair enough. I just hope it’s soon I need to let off some steam in a very concentrated and destructive fashion.”

I know you do buddy. I just hope that we’re not underestimating our opponents and are prepared to receive them.

If they come at all that is.

Oh, how I wish they wouldn’t come.

But that is the life they chose and here I stand between them and their goal.

I know what the collision will be like.

I just wish it wasn’t that way.