Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Once more, the research team reconvened to work on the Rakatan computer.

Lucinia for a change wasn't wearing her usual makeup. Her lips were pale, and her blonde hair was a little less restrained than usual, strands floating around her face. But she seemed entirely unconcerned about these things, and her expression was studiously serious as they gathered to examine the strange console.

This venture had cost him more then he had been expecting so it was important that Alister see it through. It was unlikely that he would profit from it otherwise.

"So, where should we start?" He asked as he looked over the strange device in front of them.

"Might as well see what options it'll you give you once you start it up." He looked over the tech. "Lieutenant Hin used binary machine code to communicate with a Rakatan device. Maybe that'll help."

Jo'ren leaned back, he was content to let the experts do their thing but would support if he could. He was the only one who really knew Rakatan tech first hand. Not that anyone else knew that of course.

Still alive after the aspirant's challenge today (unless she was smoted for sass), Shaisha arrived to see the progress on this.

She thoughtfully stroked one of the spurs alongside her jawline, glancing between Dravvad and machine. "What did the cost for repairs come to in the end, mr. Dravvad?" she'd hate for one of her favorite mechanic and tinkerer to bankrupt himself on a project, or feel like he got cheated.

"Around three thousand credits. Though you and the Lady Malveaux contributed a large amount to that." He offered glancing towards Lord Tenebrous.

"It might." He replied glancing towards Jo'ren. "But we wont know for certain until we get ur all figured out."

Xyll had arrived fashionably late. She hadn't been here the other day, but she was still curious about what, if any, data the computer they'd retrieved might hold. It was worth taking some time out of her day for, to be certain.

"I trust you haven't cracked all of its secrets without me present?" She asked as she joined them.

Lucinia smiled tolerantly.

"No, no. Only the first few." She peered curiously around the machine. "I am sure it has more secrets to give up. We shall have them."

She turned to Alister, still smiling. "Mister Dravvad. Would you do the honors? Your work on this has been instrumental." She gestured at the device, indicating that he should turn it on.

Jo'ren nodded. "Yeah, go ahead. We can split up the costs between us. Got to be something of value in here. Maybe locations of other stations noone remembers?"

OOC: Computers or Mechanics check at Average with a setback to complete the repairs.

Of course it could just be a series of reports to a superior too. Maybe some sort of recipe for Rakatan Stew, not that he was going to point that out. The room full of Sith Lords were assuming this was a treasure trove.

Flipping the proper switches was easy enough after the work they had done, and soon enough it came purring to life.
Mechanics at average with a set back, gearhead - 1 set back, assistance: 2eP+3eA+1eB+2eD 4 successes, 1 advantage

The screens powered up and after completing a brief boot up there was a blue screen with strange icons and script that was not Basic. The screens projected semi-three dimensional images of what was depicted on the screen.

"Well well." Lucinia said, smiling. "This is progress. Let's see what we have, shall we?"

She pushed forward, eyes narrowing to examine the images.

"What's all this then?" she mused as she looked at the symbols. It was probably Rakatan, or something else old and ancient that wasn't Sith or Basic.

Alister back away to let the women have a better view, there were five of them here after all and only one computer. Perhaps one of the ladies could puzzle out the language?

"It could be Rakatan, or some sort of coding language they had created." He pulled out a datapad. "Translation will likely be difficult."

Xyll, naturally, took a look as well. She was no expert in anything Rakatan related; but one never knew if she'd recognize something.

OOC: Daunting Computer or Lore check with 2 setback due to obscurity and age.

Fortunately, Lucinia made a specific study of obscure and ancient things. And Alister was incredibly talented with machines of all sorts. Between the two of them, they managed to make some good progress.

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Help computah! Daunting Lore, Alister assist, Secret Lore -1eD -1eS: 2eP+3eA+3eD+1eS 3 successes, 1 advantage

This is some kind of artificial intelligence database driven system, it is difficult to grasp as it utilizes a melding of the Force and technology not yet possible by Imperial standards. This takes about forty minutes of work to devise a simplistic translation system through a standard Datapad, so pulling data is slow as it can only process so much at a time.

The basics that Alister can see is that the core processing drive is running on a miniature singularity with a metallic layered construct around it built to take that heat energy and dissipate it to near absolute zero allowing it to run an almost impossible amount of data constantly.

With Lucinia guiding the process they also find that it has an interface, it is some kind of mental process they could probably build a crude mockup quickly but it would be painful to utilize but it seems that is how this device works. The external processes were damage but the core computing software never stopped even when removed the station.

Alister estimates it has enough power reserves to continue running long after most black holes have evaporated.

Lucinia took a deep breath, her expression interested. "Well. This is quite the find, isn't it?"

She turned to Alister first, then to the rest of the group. "We should be able to construct something to interface with it." She pursed her lips. "It seems that it will be painful to use. I am not concerned; I volunteer to use it, once it's been constructed."

Alister blinked at that. "I will not argue against your choice, Lady Malveaux. I will point out that this is a artificial intelligence that has likely had no contact with anyone for centuries, and that it thinks at speed we can barely comprehend. Not to mention it was made to interface with a species with a different brain chemistry then you."

"I can't say if it's actually sapient, but there remains the fact that we don't know and that interfacing with it could very well drive you insane in a matter of moments."