Nanotroopers Episode 14: The HNRV Factor

by Philip Bosshardt

  ***ANAD has primary inhibit on containment…containment interferes with Prime Key…normal swarm effects are constrained…ANAD will comply with all test procedures…outside of containment…all inhibits are active in current config…no one should have concerns…***

  Fatah glanced sideways at Sheila Reaves, who lounged against a bulkhead with a sour look on her face. “No one should have concerns, my ass. I’m keeping my HERF gun fully charged at all times.”

  Winger knew the crew was uneasy. “Look, I know what you’re all thinking. Is this the same ANAD we left Table Top with a few months ago? Well, are any of us the same as before? We’ve been through a hell of a lot. Sheila, Turbo, Mighty Mite…all of us are on edge. But we’ve got a critical mission...we’ve got to get ANAD up and working and get to that asteroid. When you joined the Corps, you didn’t sign up for a vacation. Every nog learns that the first day of Basic…even ANAD knows that. Now let’s figure out a way to make this work and get to it. Dismissed—“

  The crew scattered from the crew’s mess and went about their jobs. Winger stayed behind, to address the ANAD swarm, after they were alone.

  “ANAD, somehow we’ve got to check your effectors. I want to make sure your configs are optimized for working with the asteroid surface materials.”

  ***Hub…ANAD effectors are maintained in optimal state for any config…further testing is nonessential use of time…recommend geomorphology of asteroid surface structures be loaded into core processor so ANAD can review details…***

  “ANAD, why so testy all of a sudden? What is it…what’s going on? Ever since the last re-gen, you’ve been hard to get along with. Did we miss something in the re-gen?”

  ***Hub…ANAD recommends loading configs for asteroid surface operations…configs should be checked against database and tested in simulations***

  Winger had the distinct impression the question was being avoided. “You know the best way to download templates is in containment. I know you don’t like containment, but we’ve got to get this right.”