Library Entry - N/A
Jeet Stories:
Contacts - Jeet “the Geek” Pringtip – Combat Specialist?
Don't Judge a Robot by its Cover.
1097-045 Mora/Spinward Marches (SM 3124)
Mora Highport, Tukera Lines Ship Repair Facility
There were problems. A lot of them. And Jeet had been seconded to a department that didn't seem to be his area of expertise. Rather than repairing the 232 Toolbots in the facility, he was now in an office somewhere deep in the Tukera Lines arm of the Highport. Jeet was worried. Perhaps his little projects had finally drawn too much attention. The form-factor he had chosen, in retrospect, may have been a bit indiscreet, considering he had travelled into the Imperium to further his experience.
But, if Jeet wanted to study Robotics at the cutting edge of technology, he had to go were the Tech Levels were at the leading edge. Techworld was good. But not good enough for Jeet. And the only place Jeet knew was the Imperium. Just, their robot designs looked like crap. Even if there were researchers developing independent intelligences. Like Doctor Theodore Krenstein. What Jeet would give to work for that guy!
"Do you know why you are here?" The man in the serious suit nearly shouted at Jeet. Jeet froze. Jeet wasn't used to the environment, wasn't used to the company, and had barely gotten his routine in the workshop figured out. He couldn't be in trouble, yet. Could he? The guy wasn't one of the Maintenance Execs, there weren't any Tech Researchers around, no shop steward present, so this was really out of Jeet's experience. He had no idea. Then, he spotted the badge icons. Very bad words. Jeet figured he was cooked.
"Sir, I have no idea. I just got to the station two weeks ago. I was getting my work routine down. Research Supervisor Donaldson said I needed to gain some experience on the repair bay robots before I could work on some of the engineering issues with the designs." The suit was giving Jeet the once over, with serious glare.
"Have I done something wrong? I haven't been here long enough to learn all the rules and regs, so I apologize if I did something unintentionally." Jeet hoped nobody had seen him pocketing the fasteners and clamps two days ago. His projects needed some tidying up, and the clamps and fasteners would be just the thing to get the cable runs tightened up.
Jeet heard something behind him. A memory flashed of his escort through this wing of the station. And Jeet got worried. Without looking, he recalled they were big, and by the bulges under their clothes, they were Vemene. Tukera's Security Agency did not have a good rep in the maintenance shop, or the research division. Nobody messed with Tukera, not even the local organized crime groups. The stories were that the local police were never called. And bodies were never found. At least not on the Highport. Jeet started to sweat.
The suit seemed to relax a bit, and a glimmer of a smile attempted to appear. "M. Pringtip, you are not in 'trouble'. You were recommended by HR. Seems your application testing indicated there were things that may allow you to fit in with our division of Tukera." Yes. Jeet was not mistaken. The icons on the suit's badge were Vemene. Jeet focused in on the man. "Would you say, M. Pringtip, that you are not hard-bound by rules?"
"Sir, not knowing why you are asking, I find it very hard to answer 'Yes' to that question. It would seem to me that the answer could only mean the termination of my contract with Tukera." Jeet gave the suit a hard stare in return. "Are you suggesting that you are actually looking for someone with a wandering moral compass?"
The suit smiled. Really smiled. It wasn't comforting in the least. "Let us say, we are recruiting new staff for the Vemene, and a specific mission has come up that needs a way to infiltrate another organization. We need a robot that has an adaptable external appearance, but doesn't require physical attributes when altered. And it has to be somewhat autonomous. It has to be able to adapt its programming or directives on the fly, so to speak, as it may be in a shielded location and not able to contact an operator for advice. We are prepared to train you in any specialties you need, if you can handle the basics of robotics. And both HR and Donaldson say you've got the foundational knowledge we need. What do you say?"
"When do I start?" Jeet smiled, stood, and held out his hand.
This is where Jeet learns Art (Holography) and Science (Sophontology) to complete the mission. He learns to visually disguise a moving object, and to get robots to somewhat act independently. Not quite AI, but a limited scope and for restricted, situationally appropriate, scenarios, the programming could make a robot seem to act and respond to changing parameters correctly. Jeet also picks up Investigate in the process.
More to follow, later...
Notes:
Tukera Lines Robotics Div:
232-BHR-7 class Toolbot (service robot): The Tukera Lines model 232_BHR-7 starport mechanic is a track mounted toolbot designed for delicate repair work on electronics and control systems. Its arms are extremely dexterous but not very strong, and are intended for easy access to restricted work spaces.
| 232-BHR-7 Toolbot | |
| Tech Level | TL–12 |
| Mass | 947kg |
| Cost | Cr1,839,130 |
| Mode | Ground (Tracked) |
| Type | Industrial Vehicle |
| Speed | 65/45 |
| Cargo | none |
| Crew | 0 |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Armament | none |
| Manufacturer | Tukera Lines |
Tukera Lines Security:
The Vemene are the covert security agency of Tukera Lines. The agency's official mission is to thwart piracy, hijacking, theft, and sabotage directed against Tukera's ships and planetary installations. Critics charge that the real mission of the Vemene is to suppress Tukera's competition by any means necessary, legal or illegal.
