Chapter 34. What’s in a Name.


    “We’re nearing the jump point. It looks like there’s quite a bit of debris for us to work with, and I’ve pinpointed the spot where the missile launcher was located,” Watkins said as they finally reached their destination.


    The gravitational forces exerted by the jump point had kept much of the debris from over a century ago in the same area. Combined with the chunk his drones were still stripping down for salvage, there was more than enough material to rebuild the ship, and sock away enough reserves for an emergency. For once, a lack of salvage wouldn’t hold him back.


    “Hm, looks like a disposable launcher platform was used. There’s not a lot of tech there to examine, but it’s better than nothing,” Lani said. They maneuvered toward the launch platform which was a basic framework with a small control module bolted on. The racks designed to hold the two missiles were charred, but intact for his drones to strip down and examine.


    “How did they spot us? There’s just a control module on the launcher, not any kind of scanner that I can see,” Watkins said.


    “You’re right, their targeting scanner must be hidden in the debris somewhere. We’ll track it down when we start harvesting everything,” Lani said.


    “This isn’t very good equipment, and I wonder who placed it here?” Watkins asked as they looked over the launcher system.


    “Probably the kobolds since we saw them firing missiles from the smaller ships we watched fight earlier. They might have dropped this off in case another halfling vessel entered the system. Why there are a bunch of kobolds in this system is a mystery. We destroyed the ship that attacked the station over a century ago, and there were no survivors,” Lani said.


    “Whatever the reason, we have enough resources here to make our ship into something that can deal with one of those smaller kobold ships,” Watkins said with confidence. Slowing to a stop near the launcher, they used the now tried and true method of having a drone leap across the small gap between it and their ship.


    Mostly consisting of exposed framework, it was only a few minutes before the lone drone confirmed there were no threats aboard the launcher. They hauled it in, tying it off near the shuttle bay where the earlier chunk of salvage was still being worked on. The oversized hatches covering the shuttle bay were open, and Watkins was able to project an energy field over it, keeping the atmosphere in as the drones moved in and out with their salvage.


    A bit of atmosphere leaked out with each breach of the energy field, and it was something he’d have to research an upgrade for in the future. For now, his core had more than enough power to keep generating new atmosphere to replace the limited amount that leaked out. He watched as two of the drones scampered over the dwindling chunk of wreckage.


    They were looking over the strange rectangular device he had noticed earlier on the other ship. The pair of drones carefully removed the device as intact as possible and placed it into the reprocessor. As the data from the drones and the reprocessor arrived at his core, Watkins unlocked a new research option.


    You have discovered a non-functioning defensive weapon system. Begin research into this defensive system to discern its use and possibly unlock the ability to reproduce it if you wish.


    “Well, that’s new,” Watkins said, making sure he shared the data on the new research option with Lani.


    “Interesting, it’s listed as a defensive weapon system, but neither your core, nor my server has anything in the database matching it,” Lani said.


    “I may not know much about myself, but I do know that I need to research this sooner rather than later or it’ll bug me to no end,” Watkins admitted. Memories at the back of his mind began to tingle, but they disappeared before he could latch onto them. With a sigh of disappointment, he continued to monitor the work on his ship.


    Unlike the strange rectangular defensive system, the drones didn’t seem to glean any new insight into missile technology from tearing apart the launcher. It was just a nice bit of salvage that was added to his stores. Progress on the bow section was going strong, and they almost had enough salvage on hand to complete it. To make sure they had all they needed, Watkins began to maneuver around the area, seeking out and gathering the larger chunks of debris for his drones to add to their haul.


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    There was nothing as large as the missile platform, but the quantity of smaller bits and pieces in relatively close proximity was enough to make the effort worthwhile. He felt better as the bow of the ship came together. Instead of the flowing angles of an oceangoing ship, his was a hefty, blunt design, with two large hatches that covered where the torpedo launchers would go.


    He allowed the autonomous systems to take over as they approached another small bit of debris, Watkins wanted his whole attention on his ship as the last bit of it was finally rebuilt. When the final bit of hull was completed, it felt like something had slipped into place for Watkins. He briefly remembered his physical body stretching and his back giving a satisfying crack that sent relief flooding through him. The experience he was having with his vessel felt oddly similar.


    His core seemed to agree with his assessment and some new information appeared.


    You have successfully completed external repairs of your vessel. Your core processing power has reached 100%.


    You have unlocked the ability to track your core progress as it evolves and improves. This progress will be defined with Levels, similar to those used in your research. You will acquire Core Points (CPs) which reflect the progress of your core to the next level. Core Points are earned as you test and challenge yourself. Various activities, such as combat, research, and new discoveries, will likely result in you earning more Core Points.


    Your current status is as follows:


    Vessel: Name pending.


    Vessel Core: Jesse Watkins.


    Core Level: 0.


    Core Points 0/100.


    Hull Durability: 100%.


    Core Processing Power: 100%.


    Command Limit: 25/30.


    New research options have been discovered:


    <ol>


    <li> Torpedo Launchers, Level 0.</li>


    <li> Electronic Warfare Suite, Level 0. </li>


    <li> Shuttlecraft, Level 0. </li>


    </ol>


    “Lani, are you seeing all this?” Watkins asked as he read the last of the messages.


    “Yes, it seems your core has even created a way to track its progress as you grow in power. How are you feeling?” Lani asked.


    “Great, better than I have since being forced into this core,” Watkins replied. It was true, he did feel almost like a new man, or ship, in this case. With his ship complete, it was time to take a step he’d been putting off for a while.


    “Lani, I think it’s time we named our vessel,” Watkins said.


    “What were you thinking?” Lani asked.


    “Give me a minute, I want to make sure we pick something appropriate, though I’m open to suggestions,” Watkins said.


    “So, how about The Happy Unicorn?” Lani said.


    “Wait, are you trying to make a joke?” Watkins said, trying hard not to laugh at Lani’s suggestion.


    “No, unicorns are majestic creatures, and any ship would be proud to be named after one. On top of that, if you’re going to be a unicorn, why not be a happy one?” Lani asked…pausing while Watkins tried to determine if there was something wrong with her programming. “Nope, I’m just messing with you,” Lani said, laughing at Watkins shock.


    “I’m glad to see your server has somehow discovered a sense of humor, now, unless you have a real suggestion, I want to think about this,” Watkins said.


    “Sorry to interrupt again, but I think you’re right. My server received a boost of processing power from the ship when you were completed, and it seems to have unlocked a bit more of who I was back when I was alive. I’ll have to run a diagnostic and see what I can find. Thank you, Captain Watkins, I’m not sure what you did, but to have even this small bit of me back again, it’s amazing,” Lani said with excitement in her voice.


    “Let me know what you find, Lani, we’ll have to think of a way to celebrate you discovering part of your past personality,” Watkins said. He meant it, they had both been living people, though he wasn’t quite sure what species Lani had been. Maybe she was the elf portrayed in his simulation, or she could just as easily be something else entirely. They had to celebrate the small victories they achieved in remembering who they were.


    Pushing those thoughts aside, Watkins delved through his available data to try and come up with a name for his vessel. Surprisingly, old military history from Earth was still quite plentiful in his core, though he did remember during his creation that the system seemed to take an interest in his past studies on the subject.


    Watkins thought about what type of vessel he was. They would pack a punch when everything was fixed up the way he wanted, which, of course, meant that he was a warship first and foremost. As much as he’d like to, he couldn’t compare himself to a battleship, cruiser, or even a frigate. Not having a jump drive, he was locked into this system, it wasn’t too unlike the gunboats of old. They were warships that stayed close to shore and plyed the larger rivers. Yes, if his current state as a warship was anything, it was a gunboat.


    Which gunboat would he name himself after?