In the 54th century most people have a hand-held data processing unit, called a "set". Sets are usually in heavy use, since they provide most of the everyday computing capacity needs. A set doesn't have a keyboard or any other such means of control (although some sets have a touch-screen) - it is controlled by speech. A set also has the capability to produce sound. This is usually done by vibrating the entire screen - trying to read text on the screen while playing a low-frequency sound will give you a terrible headache.
Discrimination by nationality is illegal in
the work market, and has been for a long time already. All mid-size and large
companies have become multinational and the employees don't necessarily speak
the same language. Here sets also come in handy - they can translate virtually
any language into any other. While this can happen transparently to the user, it
is considered good manners that the sender of the message checks the translation
before sending - if the sender knows anything about the target language, that
is. A set can also be used as a translator in a real-life conversation, since it
can translate and synthesize speech while the user is speaking.
A personal log entry date and time format is day.month.year hour.minute
Contents
O'Bannon Corporation Employees
Crew of Morgan Le Fay
Keith Pearlman - captain
Daniel Jeunet - doctor
Michael Floyd - science
David van Lint - engineer
Jeff Emerson - data
O'Bannon Corporation Employees
Crew of Morgan Le Fay
Keith Pearlman - captain
11.6.5379 16.32
Well, we were barely out of hybernation when I and Dave got into one of our fights. What is that guy's problem? It's a good thing nobody was there to see it. He really let me have it. Says I couldn't command a class Z ship if my life depended on it. I really hate the way he questions my abilities. He thinks he's so fucking smart. Daniel told me he's overeducated for this job - but does education mean everything? No.
He's been getting more and more annoyed with me. I just don't get it. It's me that should be annoyed. At first it was difficult to keep a straight face with that guy and his Shakespeare accent. Every time he opened his mouth I thought he was Hamlet and I was Mercutio. Now that I know he hates my guts, it's easy not to smile.
Daniel Jeunet - doctor
Logs translated from french
11.6.5379 16.17
Heard David and Keith shouting in the kitchen of level two. I was listening to some music in my office, when suddenly their pulses raced up on my screen. I turned the music down shortly and could hear their shouting all the way here.
This thing between them has blown out of proportions. I'm surprised David doesn't see it. They have nothing against each other, they're just frustrated, both of them.
Keith of course doesn't like David because he doesn't take orders at face value. Keith's orders obviously aren't the best possible. Sometimes I wonder why they made him the captain. Maybe because they want the research done properly and thought that as a captain he wouldn't mess it up.
David on the other hand has good reason to be pissed - not at Keith, though. He's possibly the smartest man I've ever worked with. He told me he has class A designer certificate. I was blown away - I knew he was clever, but I didn't know he was a big shot. What the hell is he doing here? He told me they had sent him to make sure the latest research station in Procyon is built right - that they had nobody else to send there so he would have to go. It sounds strange - why did they really want David to go? One would think they would want him on Tau Ceti 3. And why did David accept it? With another company he could be making threefold the money he's making now.
Anyway, back in Procyon I told Keith we've all been underestimating David. I was hoping Keith would back off. I knew David wouldn't back off - he's very stubborn. Well, Keith kind of avoided David for a while, but it seems they've reverted back to open confrontations again.
Michael Floyd - science
11.6.5379 17.57
David was at it again. He popped into my office on his way down to level one. I was having trouble with some calculations concerning a hypothetical satellite orbiting a planet-moon system. David told me immediately where I had gone wrong. I thought I was the only mathematician on board - I was obviously wrong.
David van Lint - engineer
11.6.5379 16.29
I exchanged some words with Keith just now. It started with the endless debate about that disagreement we had on Procyon A2a. Keith offers little challenge in a debate. Both of us got a little upset. I was quite harsh on him. I have no regrets, though - the man is an idiot and always will be.
If there is one thing I dislike it's incompetence, and Keith is full of it. On the other hand I feel sorry for him. This thing has gotten ridiculous. Keith is probably really hurt and I'm just playing games.
This kindergarten assigment is getting on my nerves.
11.6.5379 18.20
Mail from Jeff: he found the lock on the biodetectors. He seems to be quite competent after all. Obviously he's panicing. How typical of him not to try to guess the password. Little does he know it is the infamous f-word he seems to love so dearly.
I have no intention to turn the detectors on, however. Whatever triggered the alarm could still do the same although it is very unprobable. I'll have to explain the situation to Jeff later.
11.6.5379 19.10
I'm checking level one. This work is boring to say the least. There's a claiming-operation scheduled at 19.12. Fortunately it's automated, so I don't have to worry about it. I don't feel too well right now - hybernation always makes me a bit sick. I'm going to check the cargo bays in a minute.
Jeff Emerson - data
11.6.5379 18.17
I'm checking the system and what do I find: David's been messing around again. This is pretty serious - he's turned off the biodetectors on levels one and two. I told him to never do this kind of thing but obviously he doesn't care what I say. Better keep this thing under wraps - Keith would certainly blow a fuse if he knew. Better yet, I might lose my job. Oh shit, looks like that english fuck locked the biodetectors so that I can't turn them back on. I'd go down there and drag him up here to turn it back on if doing that didn't arouse suspicion. All I can do right now is to mail him.
Last updated 1997