Omega Force: Rebellion (OF11), стр. 18
"Any progress?"
"Yes," Tauless said hesitantly.
"But…" Jason prompted.
"But there is no practical way to correct the problem, at least not yet. I know you prefer brevity first, details second, so I'll get right to the point. Lucky suffers intermittent system failures whenever he tries to power up his onboard weapons," Tauless explained. "It has to do with the prototype power distribution system integrated into the powerplant of the Mk.2 body. Even though it is significantly smaller than his old body, it has tremendous power draws. The first stage routing system is unable to accommodate this, and the resulting errors cause a cascading effect in the logic of the subprocessors that manage body functions."
"I've seen him fire his weapons," Jason argued.
"It's not an absolute that it will happen each and every time," Tauless said. "What's likely causing it is that Lucky's new body has a lot of additional systems in it that are related to what we assume its normal job would be: infiltration and covert operations. There are powerful holographic projectors, sustained flight mode capability, enhanced secondary actuators for increased strength…when you have those running in the background in an autonomous mode, and then plasma cannons on top of that, it's just too much."
"What's our best solution?"
"In time, Lucky will probably learn to more precisely control the different systems he now carries and be able to manage the power loading better," Tauless said. "In the meantime, we're suggesting disabling the onboard weaponry. He'll have all other functions, but he'll need to carry a weapon with him as you and Crusher do."
"That's actually not as bad as I was expecting," Jason said thoughtfully. "He's so damn strong he could carry anything from a concealed small-bore laser pistol to a crew served antiaircraft weapon. What does he think about all of this?"
"You should probably ask him that yourself," Tauless said. "He's in the lab and awake."
Jason clapped his friend on the shoulder and walked into the lab area that Mok had set aside on his sprawling estate grounds. When he walked in, a pair of engineers that Mok had found—and Kage vetted—put their instruments down and walked out of the cavernous room without a word. Lucky was lying prone on an inclined table, an access panel in his side open and diagnostic cables running out to different interfaces.
When the Mk.2 body had first been acquired, they'd had to disable the interlocks that prevented unauthorized tampering so they could perform the integration with Lucky's primary matrix. Since there were so many growing pains when it came to Lucky controlling the new body, they'd temporarily left the panels accessible, with Jason being the only person, besides Lucky himself, who knew how to open them. Once they were absolutely certain Lucky was fully in control, and all the supporting systems were stabilized, access to the body's internals would be completely under his control.
"Captain," Lucky greeted him.
"I heard you've been trying to do too many things at the same time," Jason said. "Tauless said you'll probably have to carry a gun now like the rest of us."
"An unfortunate, and hopefully temporary, setback," Lucky said. "Once I master control of the other integrated systems, I am confident I can resume using my onboard weaponry."
"Have the eggheads figured out how they're going to lessen the load on your powerplant?"
"For now, we will install an inhibitor module that blocks signals to power up my plasma cannons and the couplings behind my shoulders for the hard-point weapons," Lucky said. "Once that is installed, I will be back to FMC, but will need to outfit myself from our armory."
"Let's raid Mok's armory first and see if he has something that's a little more suited to your superior strength and coordination," Jason said. "Either way, it'll be good to have you full mission capable again and out in the field."
"I agree. Perhaps I can visit his engineering labs and design a weapon more suited to my tastes."
"That should be interesting," Jason said. "Take Twingo with you. He'll get his feelings hurt if you box him out of a design project, and I'm not listening to his whining for the next two months."
"I will make certain that I—" Lucky's head snapped over towards the closed door. "Mok's aide, Similan, is approaching."
"How the hell can you know that through a closed security door?" Jason asked. The heavy armored door swung open with a whine of actuators before the battlesynth could answer and, sure enough, Similan walked in. Jason was never sure what to make of the stiff, formal consigliere. He had the bearing and discipline that screamed military, but he seemed to be little more than a glorified butler most of the time. But Similan enjoyed Mok's complete trust, and that wasn't something that came easily, so Jason was accordingly careful around him.
"What's up, Similan?"
"Up?" Similan looked up in confusion, then scowled. "My master has asked if you would be present when he interviews our…guest…that you've brought. Lord Felex is on his way, as well." Jason winced at the mention of Crusher's real name and title.
"Please tell me that you didn't actually call him that."
"I'm sorry, Captain, but I simply cannot call the Lord Archon of Galvetor Crusher, Similan said indignantly.
"Fair enough," Jason said before turning to Lucky. "You able to walk?"
The battlesynth had already pulled the diagnostic cabled out, and the access panel in his torso was sealing, obviously intending on leaving with them. Similan looked concerned and opened his mouth to protest.
"I'm sure Mok will be fine with Lucky being there." Jason headed off the argument. "Lucky has a skillset we might find useful when questioning a…guest."
"Very well," Similan said, sounding resigned to the fact that Jason likely wouldn't listen if he was told 'no' and, with Lucky there, he had no chance of physically stopping him, although it could be interesting if he tried. Jason had wondered for some