The Katoptris' Bridge - Hours Later
Grim scrolled through the tablet's contents. In front of him was the bridge's holo-table, displaying a holographic image of the damaged ship. Sections of the ship were lit up in a bright red, denoting the damaged sections of the ship. There were also lines of red, yellow, and orange crisscrossing the ship, showing where the Kryptonian's heat vision had cleanly cut through the craft.
To his right was Barbara, standing beside a powerline that disappeared behind her and out of the bridge's door. It would weave itself throughout the halls until eventually ending in the hanger, leading up to the exposed hydrogen engine of one of the ship's Warthogs.
It had been Phoebe's suggestion after having shut down the fusion reactor, the AI entirely focused on assessing the new damage. To that end, she had had Barbara and Grim rig up a series of wires and powerlines throughout the ship, prioritizing the bridge and living quarters. But this was a temporary solution as the warthog's hydrogen fuel cell would only last for a few days. Luckily, the two Huragok were expected to have replaced the fusion reactor by that point.
Grim had initially been worried about having to manufacture parts for the reactor, an impossible task considering the state of the fabrication suite. But Phoebe explained that the Huragok would be able to cannibalize some parts of the damaged reactor and rebuild it without issue. Something that still boggled Barbara's mind when she had learned of the Engineers' capabilities.
Unfortunately, that was the only good news to come out of Phoebe's damage report.
"Ok, please slow down. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of using a mini-black hole to travel across space," Barbara huffed as she eyed the hologram.
"Technically, we just use the energy produced from the creation and then subsequent collapse of the microscopic black holes to create a tear in space-time. Which we then travel through." Phoebe corrected, earning her a blank look from Barbara.
The archeologist turned her disbelieving eyes to Grim, a statue in the room besides the occasional movement of his finger on the tablet.
"You just casually create and then collapse black holes to travel through space?" She questioned, feeling her brain short-circuit.
"Essentially," Grim answered levelly, his visor never leaving the tablet in his hold.
"And all your ships can do this?" Barbara asked, her voice increasing in pitch.
"No." Grim dismissed. Luckily, it seemed Phoebe had more to say on the matter.
"Most of the UNSC's dropships and air-to-ground vehicles lack a slipspace drive, Ms. Minerva. The drive itself is too large to be mounted within such vehicles. However, there have been a few reports of successful mountings of such drives on Pelicans by the insurrectionists. Although, I wouldn't suggest such practices here." The AI explained.
"Why? And is this like an average warship where you come from then?" Barbara sighed as she eyed the bridge around her.
"If you incorrectly mount a slipspace drive, it can cause a rapid destabilization of the core and initiate a large destabilization event. Such events usually result in the complete vaporization of all the ship's crew and any nearby personnel." Phoebe laid out before Barbara interrupted her.
"Vaporization?" The archeologist questioned, barely holding back a screech.
"Black holes, remember?" Grim interjected, seemingly unbothered by their discussion.
"And your ship?" Barbara all but whispered into the room.
"Technically, this ship could be considered to be a flagship for ONI. But its actual classification is that of a Prowler." Phoebe said as she looked about the room.
"Prowler?"
"It's the general class the UNSC assigns to its stealth ships. Mainly, because these ships aren't meant to be seen or heard by the Covenant, and instead prowl quietly through space."
"Then why would it be considered a flagship?" Barbara pointed out. She may not be an expert in ship designations or even the Navies of the world. But even she could see that a stealth ship posing as a flagship would cause issues.
"ONI prides itself on being highly secretive and stealthy. Which means most of their ships are Prowlers with the occasional Frigate thrown in, should the need arise. But this ship is a Sahara-class Heavy Prowler, which is generally more aggressive and larger than its counterparts. Specifically, the Katoptris has been retrofitted and upgraded to be far more armored and armed than the standard Sahara-class." Phoebe explained, sounding both a bit smug and proud of her home.
"But, why? It's a stealth ship." Barbara pointed out confusedly.
"She's meant for VIP, HVT, and general high-value asset transport. Because of that, ONI felt the need to ensure that the Katoptris could stand on its own in a fight. Which is why they added the Archer missile pods and the fabrication suite."
"Right, because that's exactly what I think of when I think of a stealth ship. Heavily armored and packed with guns." Barbara grumbled as she pulled a chair over and fell into it. She then turned her attention back to the Spartan.
"I take it by the fact you're still scrolling through that tablet that things aren't all sunshine and rainbows." She observed, casually.
"We were lucky," Grim answered as if that explained everything.
"I guess not being reduced to irradiated dust or being vaporized by a black hole has to count for something," Barbara grumbled, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand as she crossed her legs.
"Those were just the fun ways to die!" Phoebe jumped in. "The girl could have hit one of the missile pods, or one of our Havoks, or the armory. All of which would have killed us. I say we're getting off light."
"The slipspace drive is gone." Grim pointed out and Barbara thought she could make out a note of petulance in his tone.
"Yep." Phoebe agreed with a tired sigh, knowing the Spartan wasn't happy about any of this.
Whatever had come out of the girl's eyes had done a number on the drive. Whether by choice or by accident, it didn't really matter anymore. Either way, the result was the same. The main drive core had been reduced to a melted puddle on the floor while a few of the drive's sections had been cleanly blasted through. Only to have a few additional charred lines cut into these bisected sections when the girl had tried to cover her eyes. Overall, the slipspace drive was unrecoverable. Not even the Engineers could repair melted metal.
The same could be said for fabricator one down in the fabrication suite. Its many limbs and builders had been sliced through or melted. Meaning that the Engineers would need to rebuild it much like their fusion reactor. At least fabricator two had been spared.
Beyond that, the girl had managed to cut long, melted gouges throughout the rest of the ship. Most of which only affected the redundant equipment on the ship. But there were several notable exceptions. Such as one of the armor cradles in the Armor Hall, which may or may not need to be completely extracted from the floor in order to be replaced. She had also hit a few of the extra Warthogs and Razorbacks, but those could be repaired easily once the fabrication suite was repaired. However, there was one issue that Phoebe could already tell they wouldn't be able to repair.
The AI panned her gaze over to her Spartan just as he lowered the tablet.
"We're stuck." He said, the observation floating into the room like a lead balloon.
"That's generally what happens when you crash into a hill," Barbara answered sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work.
"Yes, we are." Phoebe agreed, already knowing what Grim had seen.
"What's our options?" Grim pressed, his mind already working on plan B through H.
"I'm working on it," Phoebe answered.
"Phoebe." Grim pressed once more, his voice containing a sole note of frustration.
"I'm working on it." Phoebe repeated, "I need some time to figure out exactly what we can do. Because last I checked, there's nothing in the UNSC database strong enough to raise the ship back into position. Unless you want to build an entire crane."
"What?" Barbara asked, her eyes nervously flicking between the two of them.
"The Katoptris has been bisected." Grim answered the woman.
"Specifically, one of her blasts has cut through the entirety of the ship's hull, at approximately midship. Nothing noticeable or even unmanageable while on the ground, but combined with the many other cuts and tears, we'll probably never be space-worthy again." Phoebe explained. "But that's still a lesser issue compared to the slipspace drive."
"Why? You managed to build the Owl and all the turrets surrounding the base with the fabricators, and the drive isn't that much larger than one of your jeeps. Just repair the fabricator and have it build a replacement." Barbara pointed out.
It was somewhat slow going, but she was learning the capabilities of the tech that surrounded her daily. Most of which outclassed anything she had seen before. It should have been a simple matter to fix in her mind. Time consuming, but still simple.
"I'm afraid, Ms. Minerva, that there are things even our fabricators can't replicate. The slipspace drive is one of those things." Phoebe answered for the two of them.
"But you're an AI. Surely you have the drive's blueprint and the ability to build another." Barbara protested.
"Slipspace drives are tricky." Phoebe started. "You're right in that I have the blueprints and procedures to build another, and our fabricators could easily build most of another drive. The Huragok could also help for some of the trickier areas, but the main issue is the element we use to generate the black holes. This world is at least centuries away from being able to replicate the process needed to generate and then enhance it."
"But you know the process and what the final element should look like." Barbara retorted before another thought popped into her mind. "What about the girl's ship? Does it have something we could use?"
"We don't know anything about her tech or her ship. We can let the Huragok have a go at it, but they generally work better with a plan or blueprint. So, we're not going to risk what remains of our ship on the off chance we can integrate her ship's tech." Phoebe answered, before switching to Barbara's second question.
"As for replicating the process, we don't have the specialists needed to oversee and actually complete the process. We could maybe figure out a way to outsource it to this world's scientists, but the science behind it hasn't been understood here and that could lead to accidents."
"Or new weapons," Grim added.
Barbara felt her blood chill as the implications of what Grim was suggesting settled in her mind. He was right, she couldn't think of one government on Earth that wouldn't want to harness their technology and weaponize it. Miniature black holes would become the new nukes.
"Which means we need to be careful with who we trust if we want to find a way home." Phoebe finished for the group.
"Then we should probably stay away from LexCorp. Lex Luthor will certainly take your tech and find some way to use it against Superman." Barbara said.
"Noted. Anyone else we should probably stay away from?" Phoebe noted as she looked toward Barbara.
Barbara could only shrug. "Wayne Enterprises may be interested, but Gotham is a hell hole so I wouldn't put my eggs there either… Sorry, but I was an archeologist, not a scientist. I can't really add anything beyond what you probably can find in the news or on the internet."
"S.T.A.R Labs," Grim spoke, drawing the attention of the two. Phoebe seemed to stare at him for a second, an assessing look in her eyes.
"What're you thinking, Smiles?" She asked.
"S.T.A.R Labs. Two birds, one stone." Grim answered. He then tilted forward and tapped a few buttons on the holo-table. The image of the ship disappeared and was replaced by S.T.A.R Lab's logo.
Grim then started to explain. "We need to get the girl under control. Failing that, we need to be able to prevent her from damaging the ship further. S.T.A.R Labs has her counterpart's data and probably the most comprehensive look at her biology. With both, we should be able to figure out a way to communicate with her and maybe control her. We can also access their scientists' records and start combing through for candidates we can use to assist us with the slipspace drive."
"Define control," Barbara demanded tentatively.
Grim's gaze tilted towards her, the Spartan regarding her for a second before he spoke.
"She's too dangerous, regardless of whether or not all of this was an accident. We need a way to protect ourselves and that means finding a way to cancel out her powers." Grim answered logically.
Barbara leaned back, rubbing her temples as she considered Grim's proposal. The idea of "controlling" the girl left a sour taste in her mouth, even if she could see the logic. The Kryptonian was dangerous, even accidentally—she didn't need to imagine the devastation another outburst could cause if she managed to hit the armory or engine core. Still, something about the cold, calculated way Grim discussed it made her uncomfortable.
"She's still just a girl." She tried.
It seemed that Grim had nothing to say to that, as he just stared at her. His golden visage hiding his thoughts.
"Barbara," Phoebe started, trying to soothe the woman. "We're not saying we're going to neutralize her or force her into anything. We're just trying to prepare, so this doesn't happen again. Part of that is figuring out how to talk with her."
Barbara nodded slowly, but she wasn't entirely convinced. "Communication doesn't need control." She glanced at Grim, searching his visage. He'd barely moved, but the way he stood, rooted and unyielding, spoke volumes.
"Grim," she ventured, hesitating only a moment. "You're planning for every possibility, but—" she trailed off, feeling oddly exposed under his silent scrutiny. She forced herself to continue, her voice softer. "You know, she just crash-landed and there's no way she knows where she is. She's going to realize that she's alone and that's going to make her scared. Maybe we don't need to contain her; maybe we just need to reach her."
His gaze didn't waiver, but there was something in the tilt of his head, a slight shift, that made her wonder if her words were sinking in. For the first time, Barbara noticed the slight weariness at the edges of his posture, as though he had been carrying the sole weight of everything that had happened around them like this was all somehow something he should have seen coming and prevented, however subtle. She saw a soldier who rarely paused to think beyond survival and the mission, who hadn't allowed himself to slow down.
Grim flexed his hands, pulling them tightly closed before releasing them slowly, a grounding technique some of the Spartans had picked up in basic. He then spoke.
"The Spartans were charged with the protection of Humanity….. That includes you, Barbara." He started, using her first name for the first time since she had met him. "But not her….. That doesn't mean we're not going to try to understand and help her. It just means that we need to be more skeptical of her."
"Grim, not everyone and everything is out to cause problems or pose a danger to humanity. Especially not the girl down in the med bay. Alien or not." Barbara retorted gently.
"You say that because you're hopeful and think that the girl isn't a threat. Thirty billion others and I had that same type of hope snuffed out thirty years ago." Grim observed.
"That's not fair to her." Barbara pointed out.
"No, it isn't." Grim agreed. "But I can't let myself hope like you do. It could kill too many people."
"It's that hope that makes us human, Grim."
With that, the room went silent. Neither party moved as they stared at one another, trying to understand what the other may be thinking. Barbara's eyes seemed to be scanning Grim as if she could see his face beneath his armor. Meanwhile, Grim allowed himself to drift a bit, his mind going back to the early days of training, the last time he allowed himself to hope like she did. That feeling hadn't made it through the first five weeks of training.
Eventually, Phoebe, ever the diplomat, cut through the tension in the room by speaking,
"I think it seems like S.T.A.R Labs is our next move, so we should probably figure what to do with you and the WMD down in the med bay while we're away."
"Nice save," Barbara mumbled, shifting her attention back to the AI.
"We can lockdown non-essential areas and have the Huragok can focus on the fusion reactor while we're away. In the meantime, the hydrogen cells in the Warthog should last until we get back. If we maintain its current power routine." Grim listed off easily, falling back into his militaristic mindset.
"You're not locking her away in the med bay." Barbara interrupted, a challenge in her tone.
Grim gave her a quick look before looking to Phoebe, clearly deferring to the AI.
"It actually might be good for her to familiarize herself with the ship. But, until we're not relying on battery power for the defenses, we can't let you outside of the ship until we get back." Phoebe explained.
"I can also get her set up in a room…somehow." Barbara said as she crossed her arms and leaned back on her chair.
"Good. I'll also create a quick program that you can go through with her to try and teach her a few words of English. If you get through that, the internet should be an option. I'm showing that our encrypted connection should be back online within the hour." Phoebe added on. The AI then turned to Grim.
"I already know which lab they're storing the isolated system, but once we're back online I'll pull everything I can about the facility. That being said, the lab in question is located on the outskirts of Gotham and is a notorious target for the local rogue elements." She explained.
"Heightened security?" Grim questioned flatly.
"Definitely." Phoebe answered. "Also, its possible that we won't be the only ones trying to take something."
Barbara sent the AI a raised eyebrow, while Phoebe could practically feel a similar gesture emitting from Grim.
"Gotham's B statistics are astronomically high as compared to literally any other city. Both here and back in our reality." She explained. "But, more importantly, that means that this operation could go from being a stealth op to being a full-blown firefight at the drop of a hat."
Grim sent the AI an understanding nod, his mind already planning his loadout. But then, another thought occurred to him.
"Pull the city's layout as well. If we get into a firefight, I want redundancies on redundancies." He ordered.
"Understood. I'll also pull the last forty-eight hours of traffic and police data. We probably won't need it, but it'll be helpful for our incursion and extraction."
"Good." Grim spoke. He then pivoted and began to leave the bridge, heading for the armory to gear up before warming up the Owl. But then, Barbara called out, her voice making him pause in his tracks.
"Grim!... Be careful. Gotham is one bad day away from being a warzone… Most nights its considered to be under lockdown, and I know that's probably not a problem for you…. Just….. be careful….. alright?" She nearly pleaded with him, a nervous look on her face.
Grim gave her a look over his shoulder, considering her request. But then, he gave her a small nod as he turned back towards the hall and made his way to the armory.