The NCOM-12
Captain John J. Banarra of the Starship Emilio Jacinto steps up to the transporter booth with a heavy heart. This will be his last day as captain of the Jacinto, the starship that he served as captain for six years and first officer for three years. He has been given the commission of a new starship that is shielded with secrecy that he doesn't even know what it looked liked. In all his years serving in Earth's Star Command, he has never left a starship with a heavier heart than today. In his nine years with the Starship Emilio Jacinto, he has faced death dozens of times. He has endured the death of their captain and survived the promotion as captain of the ship, earning respect from his crew and collegues.
John has been asking himself. Why is he being transferred to another ship? The message was sent via sub-space communications while the Starship Jacinto is exploring sector 41 inside Garamor space. There aren't any additional information aside from his being transferred to another ship which makes John question the motive of the message. But he is an officer of Earth's Star Command, a captain in fact that he is obliged to go wherever the command thinks he should go.
Star Command - Conference Room
Captain Banarra sat at the end of the long rectangular table. At the head of the table is Admiral Richard Grinn head of Star Command's Operations. To his left is an old associate of him, Doctor Torin Meck and to his right is Mr. Juan Velasco, head of the Rannan Shipping Company.
"I appreciate that you have the time for this hasty meeting captain. How was your trip home?" Admiral Grinn casually asks.
"It's good admiral. There were some minor issues in the Jacinto's propulsion engines but we managed to solve that problem."
"I see." Admiral Grinn replied. "Well, I know you're anxious to know what this meeting is about captain."
"Very anxious admiral." Banarra replied. "You didn't left much of the message for me to take a hint."
"That's because everything that will be discussed in this room is with strict confidentiality." Moving over to his left. "Captain you already knew Doctor Meck?"
"How are you doctor?" Banarra said smiling.
"Fine as ever John. Fine as ever." replied Doctor Meck with a wide smile on his face.
"... and to my right is Mr---"
"Juan Velasco, President of Rannan Shipping." Banarra said interrupting Admiral Grinn. Mr. Velasco nods in return.
"Well, since we all know each other. Let's get down to business. You all know that most of the Philippine Starships are built by Rannan Shipping."
"Yes." Banarra replied. "The new Patriot class that is also being tested by Japan, Australia and Indonesia has just completed their shakedown."
"And will be in service within the month." Mr. Velasco added.
"Impressive ships." Admiral Grinn remarked. "Moving on, Star Command is working with Rannan Shipping and built the most advanced, nay, revolutionary communications array that this side of the galaxy has seen."
Admiral Grinn flicked a switch and a large monitor displays a cylindrical image of a satellite with the logo of Earth's Star Command on its side.
"Behold... The NCOM-12."
"NCOM-12." Banarra muttered.
"The NCOM-12 is a multi-quantum core communications satellite that is capable of sending holographic projections to a starship 5,000 light years away in any direction. The scientists from Rannan also told me that the array is capable of extending beyond the maximum broadcasting limit with just a few tweaks in its system."
"In theory admiral. But if need be we can make the necessary modifications." Mr. Velasco said.
"Wait a minute." Banarra interrupts. "Why do we need a satellite that sends holo data across the galaxy? Our sub-space communications are doing just fine."
Admiral Grinn smiled then he stands up and motioned Banarra to come near.
"Come here captain, I want to show you something."
Banarra stands up and walked over to the admiral whose hands is extended. "Touch my hand captain."
When Banarra tried, his hands passed right through the admiral's hands. Shocked, he tried poking the admiral's ribs and saw that his fingers went through.
"You are all just a projection?" Banarra said. "But where're the projectors? Emitters?"
"There are none my friend." Dr. Meck answered him. "Only this." He poked his chest and it became transparent, revealing a rectangular device floating inside his chest.
"That is a mobile holo projection card."
Banarra steps back confused. Mr. Velasco saw through his confusion and tried to explain the mechanics of the project.
"The NCOM-12 broadcasts a linkup of a person's holographic data to the Holographic Projection Card that you just saw inside Doctor Meck's hologram. The Holo-Card emits holographic light and traps that light in a force field creating the illusion of the person. Every detail of the person, the hair, the color of the eyes, lips and physique is projected in a controlled mixture of holographic forcefield which enables the controller, the person to move and hold objects as if he is really here."
"Another thing, the forcefield is also configured to feel as if you are touching the person itself." Mr. Velasco added.
"Amazing." Banarra blurted out after poking Doctor Meck's face and feeling as if he's touching flesh.
"I felt that John." Doctor Meck remarked. "The sensors in the holo-card sends back tactile data to me so don't try to slap me because I will feel it."
"Truly amazing." Banarra said smiling this time.
"So you see now captain?" Admiral Grinn said. "The NCOM-12 will enable us to send holographic projections of crew members across space defying distance to a holo-card inside a starship on patrol or on exploration. No longer will crewmembers face death on a mission since they won't really be in the starship but inside NCOM-12. They can be retransmitted to another starship that needs them with a blink of an eye."
"And you're all in NCOM-12?"
"No we're not." Doctor Mech said. "I'm in my room."
"I'm in my office." Admiral Grinn said.
"Well I'm in a golf course." Mr. Velasco grinned. "I'm just taking a break from golf."
"We have mobile projection units patched up near where we really are. The NCOM-12 is in a very far place captain. This demonstration is only to show you what you will be doing for the next three years."
"Three years?"
The admiral flicked another switch and an image of a starship appeared on the screen.
"Captain, behold your new commission. The Starship Ricarte."
John has been asking himself. Why is he being transferred to another ship? The message was sent via sub-space communications while the Starship Jacinto is exploring sector 41 inside Garamor space. There aren't any additional information aside from his being transferred to another ship which makes John question the motive of the message. But he is an officer of Earth's Star Command, a captain in fact that he is obliged to go wherever the command thinks he should go.
Star Command - Conference Room
Captain Banarra sat at the end of the long rectangular table. At the head of the table is Admiral Richard Grinn head of Star Command's Operations. To his left is an old associate of him, Doctor Torin Meck and to his right is Mr. Juan Velasco, head of the Rannan Shipping Company.
"I appreciate that you have the time for this hasty meeting captain. How was your trip home?" Admiral Grinn casually asks.
"It's good admiral. There were some minor issues in the Jacinto's propulsion engines but we managed to solve that problem."
"I see." Admiral Grinn replied. "Well, I know you're anxious to know what this meeting is about captain."
"Very anxious admiral." Banarra replied. "You didn't left much of the message for me to take a hint."
"That's because everything that will be discussed in this room is with strict confidentiality." Moving over to his left. "Captain you already knew Doctor Meck?"
"How are you doctor?" Banarra said smiling.
"Fine as ever John. Fine as ever." replied Doctor Meck with a wide smile on his face.
"... and to my right is Mr---"
"Juan Velasco, President of Rannan Shipping." Banarra said interrupting Admiral Grinn. Mr. Velasco nods in return.
"Well, since we all know each other. Let's get down to business. You all know that most of the Philippine Starships are built by Rannan Shipping."
"Yes." Banarra replied. "The new Patriot class that is also being tested by Japan, Australia and Indonesia has just completed their shakedown."
"And will be in service within the month." Mr. Velasco added.
"Impressive ships." Admiral Grinn remarked. "Moving on, Star Command is working with Rannan Shipping and built the most advanced, nay, revolutionary communications array that this side of the galaxy has seen."
Admiral Grinn flicked a switch and a large monitor displays a cylindrical image of a satellite with the logo of Earth's Star Command on its side.
"Behold... The NCOM-12."
"NCOM-12." Banarra muttered.
"The NCOM-12 is a multi-quantum core communications satellite that is capable of sending holographic projections to a starship 5,000 light years away in any direction. The scientists from Rannan also told me that the array is capable of extending beyond the maximum broadcasting limit with just a few tweaks in its system."
"In theory admiral. But if need be we can make the necessary modifications." Mr. Velasco said.
"Wait a minute." Banarra interrupts. "Why do we need a satellite that sends holo data across the galaxy? Our sub-space communications are doing just fine."
Admiral Grinn smiled then he stands up and motioned Banarra to come near.
"Come here captain, I want to show you something."
Banarra stands up and walked over to the admiral whose hands is extended. "Touch my hand captain."
When Banarra tried, his hands passed right through the admiral's hands. Shocked, he tried poking the admiral's ribs and saw that his fingers went through.
"You are all just a projection?" Banarra said. "But where're the projectors? Emitters?"
"There are none my friend." Dr. Meck answered him. "Only this." He poked his chest and it became transparent, revealing a rectangular device floating inside his chest.
"That is a mobile holo projection card."
Banarra steps back confused. Mr. Velasco saw through his confusion and tried to explain the mechanics of the project.
"The NCOM-12 broadcasts a linkup of a person's holographic data to the Holographic Projection Card that you just saw inside Doctor Meck's hologram. The Holo-Card emits holographic light and traps that light in a force field creating the illusion of the person. Every detail of the person, the hair, the color of the eyes, lips and physique is projected in a controlled mixture of holographic forcefield which enables the controller, the person to move and hold objects as if he is really here."
"Another thing, the forcefield is also configured to feel as if you are touching the person itself." Mr. Velasco added.
"Amazing." Banarra blurted out after poking Doctor Meck's face and feeling as if he's touching flesh.
"I felt that John." Doctor Meck remarked. "The sensors in the holo-card sends back tactile data to me so don't try to slap me because I will feel it."
"Truly amazing." Banarra said smiling this time.
"So you see now captain?" Admiral Grinn said. "The NCOM-12 will enable us to send holographic projections of crew members across space defying distance to a holo-card inside a starship on patrol or on exploration. No longer will crewmembers face death on a mission since they won't really be in the starship but inside NCOM-12. They can be retransmitted to another starship that needs them with a blink of an eye."
"And you're all in NCOM-12?"
"No we're not." Doctor Mech said. "I'm in my room."
"I'm in my office." Admiral Grinn said.
"Well I'm in a golf course." Mr. Velasco grinned. "I'm just taking a break from golf."
"We have mobile projection units patched up near where we really are. The NCOM-12 is in a very far place captain. This demonstration is only to show you what you will be doing for the next three years."
"Three years?"
The admiral flicked another switch and an image of a starship appeared on the screen.
"Captain, behold your new commission. The Starship Ricarte."
posted by Farut Barbakusi at 5:14 PM
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