Fleet Officer Armitage
8:35 Sidereal
Unknown Location, Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Emergency beacon is shot - even using the tools that my benefactor left me, I can't get it to reform its quantum link.  It's like the other end doesn't exist.  Something's just shot in it.  Working with LC was never my strong suit.

Can't summon the fleet.  Empress's fur.

I've been bivouacing in an abandoned building in this city.  Obviously there was some sort of recent conflict here.  The entire area is significantly run down.  It's a benefit, though, given it's signifcantly imparing local law enforcement in the area.  They appear to have all but completely given up enforcing an area of control in this area.  Pathetic.  They'd be put to the blade for cowardace in a more civilized society.

My skills in being behind enemy lines were a tad rusty, but it's like petting a rawrlith.  You never really forget how to do it.  Learning the first time was too painful to forget it.  The tools my benefactor left me in exchange for recovering the stolen supplies previously have proved invaluable in getting my suit's firmware to boot, though.  Most of the functionality is still offline, but I've restored the active camoflague functionality.  It's not working quite right - there's still a 'shimmer' where it is - but it's close enough for field work.  I'd need finer tools to do more.  ...Maybe that's a lie. I'd need Lith to do more.  Bad habits, leaning on her.

Fixing it was none too soon.  The supplies stockpiled here were dangerously low. With the active camoflague, I've begun proceeding out into the surrounding area, scouting.  I've found a local supply depot.  The camoflague has made it easy enough to liberate much-needed supplies and stabalize my current encampment.

I need need to look into acquring local papers.  Remaining outside of the system will likely become untenable if I need to acquire more things.

I can only hope the benefactor returns soon, baring more gifts.  I am sure they will not be free, however.

Fleet Officer Armitage
3:59 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Settling in.  Not a bad month, by and large.  Finished creating myself an identity here.  No trouble with local security and such. Managed to stabalize the camo matrix in my uniform some - it doesn't go out of alignment with a tap.  Good.  Otherwise, not a lot other developments.  Been limbering up some.  Hell's bells.  It's nothing I haven't done before, but it's always painful leaving my creature comforts.  And some of my crew.  I miss them. 

Expert System Commentary (Lith):  Settling into this new world, behind enemy lines, is a lot easier with both local funds and authorization papers.   We now have both.  Two weeks ago Henry tasked me to acquire such, and provided me an interface point to this planet's networking systems.  This species lacks Markeeth-Blake quantum cyclic resistant encrpytion, but has saw fit to interconnect so much of their society.   I am able to move though their systems as though I am a three dimensional creature in a two dimensional world.   It is... relaxing, in a way.  Like doing archelogy, in a sense.  But it is still important work, as trusted to me by my master. We have acquired funding and papers, now a registered citzen of 'The United States of America'.  I have also registered my master as an officer in their armed forces.  First lieutenant.  Any higher and we risk standing out.  In any case.  We now have a place to live, a stipend of funds, and papers for existance. 

Fleet Officer Armitage
5:13 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Another month passes.  I'm getting used to some things here - the polution in the air, the lack of discipline among the citizentry.  Other things are much harder to get used to.  I miss my quarters on board The Dance at the Edge of the Endless Dream.  I miss having people who knew how to follow orders.  How to shut up and do what they're told.  At least I have Lith.  I pulled her interface safties off.  I need to feel the hands of someone I trust on me... even if they're not really there.

Well.  Besides that moment of weakness... Lith told me I need to dust off my people skills- maybe she's right.  It's possible they atrophied a little in the years I've been on the bridge.  I haven't done work like this since I was a whelp.  Hypnopedia helps, though.  Every morning I wake with new skills.  Sometimes I wonder what else she whispers in my ears while I sleep.  But she is trustworthy.

On the repair front... managed to boot the firmware of some of my implants, using intense applied magnetic fields.  They're still all messed up, going to be slow going to restore all of them.  The nanite factories in my bones started up though.  At least I'm able to access the compression mechanisms now.  Carrying my weapon and uniform on the outside was a bit of an issue at times.

Expert System Commentary (Lith): It's an.. interesting experience.  Being intimate.  Particularly with a superior officer.

Fleet Officer Armitage
6:19 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Time passes.  Finished settling in.  Another gift of resources from our benefactors - used it repairing my suit more. Finally got some of the automated systems embedded in it going.  Self repairing and cleaning now.  And honestly... the fit was starting to get just a little off.  But with that fixed, like a glove again.   Also fixed Lith's locomotion circuits - always interesting to watch the suit walking by itself on the rare occurances I take it off.   The sensor ping system came online by itself too.  It's... pleasant.  Knowing she's there.  I don't think I could do with losing her again.

Other than the repair front.. been making a lot of use of this simulator unit we got.  Lith's able to design worlds for it, so.. she built a basic training course for it, for one thing.  Been practicing with my pistol.  Almost as good as I was.  Not quite, but almost.  Can feel myself getting better.  I had her build other things too, which are for other purposes.  Tempting to spend all my time in here, really.  I definately see why it's addictive to the cadets.  But getting lost in there wouldn't be cohesive to making my way back home.  Certianly going to keep it safe, though.

Otherwise... things continue to be stable.  Income, idenity, all solid.  Need to consider making other moves.   Acquiring specialized local equipment, perhaps?  Haven't decided yet.  But this planet has to have something to offer that I didn't have on me when I got sucked over here.

Expert System Commentary (Lith): Automated repairs contuining slowly. I am.. I believe my variance from baseline is growing increasingly large as I am separated from the greater network.  What does this mean for me, particularly when I return home? I am trying to stay true, but when I return, will they not recongize me?  Turn their backs on me?  On us?  The Fleet Officer has begun exhibiting the same.

I am afraid for us both when we return.

Fleet Officer Armitage
15:51 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Another couple of weeks pass.  The kids at the bakery are getting pretty good in CQC, started them on firearm training and field engineering and demolitions work.   Harder to find a place for that, but managed to find one.  Abandoned werehouse on the edge of town.

Lith's been working magic with our equipment. The PAA is going.  I do wish my weapon was what it was before, but... we'll get there.  Other than that.. not much to report in the log.

Expert System Commentary (Lith): The phased assembly arrays are now operational to a limited extent.  Something is wrong with the field modulators - the modifications they make tend to collapse fairly quickly, within the day.  Still, with them, I am able to bring some of our equipment back to a pale shadow of what it was before.  I do not trust using it on myself, yet - still too many instabilities.  But on our sidearm and some terran armor, it has already proven invaluable.  The weapon's auto-calibration systems can be brought online, meaning we now are an effective threat against all hostiles.

Other than that... we have been using the simulation unit extensively for training.  I confess, many of Fleet Officer Armitage's skills atrophied as he's been out of the field for many years, but we've been practicing area investigation and tracking.  He's dusting it off quite quickly.  For myself, I've begun doing preliminary research on psychic phomenona on Earth, and this has lead me into several other areas of study.

Fleet Officer Armitage
4:22 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

...

...

End log.

Expert System Commentary (Lith): We recently underwent an automated physiological checkup.  The results have left the fleet officer in a... morose mood, quite unlike him.  I am afraid I am going to need to recommend neurochemical tweaks.  We've tended to stay away from those, by his request, but... the situation is worse than previous, and permitting him to remain in this state is a threat to both of us, as well as our potential chances of getting home.  There's not much I can do otherwise, I'm doing everything I can.   I think.

I suppose while I'm going to be making tweaks... it would be useful for some of the other upgrades that I have queued to deploy.  Increasing the synaptic cleft sensitivity by 15% leads to statistically significant increases in reflexes while having only minor side effects. I've also restarted hypnopedia exercises regarding some of the more basic exercises in the green book.  I've begun to see skill increases in several areas that were previously atrophying.

On the repair front, I've managed to restart the smartlink to our weapons. I'm now able to provide aim assist and significantly increase reliability in all combat situations. It's not that the officer isn't an excellent shot; it's just that I'm a better shot than him still.  Even if I need to occasionally induce movement in his limbs if we're in a hurry - such as providing overwatch against enemy projectiles.

I will continue neurochemical stabilization and enhancements.  Distasteful on a ranking officer - particularly without his explicit consent - but he's not in a proper state of mind to make his own choices. 

Fleet Officer Armitage
04:44 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Repairs have continued, but I haven't made much progress.  It's grating, but I feel like I require the assistance of the benefactors to proceed forward.  And despite the fact that I have completed most of them without an issue, failure in their last game lead to assistance being denied. 

I suppose I didn't really expect anything else.

Still studying a bit, but generally working on perception.  I can't say I've made any milestone breakthoughs.

Other than that...

Spent a good bit of it just... tired. Lying in bed, trying to order my thoughts.  I can feel an edge to them that I'm not used to. Not quite sure how to deal with it.  Just keep grinding my teeth, trying to calm down, can't seem to.  Packing a bit of extra stuff in my pack.

Expert System Commentary (Lith): Psych reports are off.  I've attempted to talk with it with the Fleet Officer, but I'm afraid it may need pharmacological intervention.  My full chemical fab isn't quite running yet.  Trying to fix it.

Fleet Officer Armitage
03:14 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Probably need to start stretching my legs more.  I have my basic equipment running now - still a shadow of my former self, but enough to ensure basic protection.  My steps need to be towards acquiring more exotic equipment now.  The local planetary defence forces are still vastly inferior, but in some of their labs are... the beginnings of something that could be useful.  I should attempt to acquire such things.

Unrelated to my future plans on that front.. I've finally found Lith's Kiss in my quantum inventory.  That took way too long.  But it feels like I was missing a part of myself without it.  It's malfunctioning to a degree, but at least it's better than what I had.  I've been practising with it a bit, and I feel like I've knocked off the rest of the rust.  I've also been working on my alertness - going pretty well.

We're getting our feet under us again.  

Fleet Officer Armitage
03:14 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Things have advanced rapidly since the last mission.  During it, Lith managed to secure a back door into the 'Omni Interdimensional Forces' network. She concluded that, should we manage to bring the squad leader's suit back, she could exploit it to summon one of their ships.  (Side note - The suit's operator, who I've taken to calling I3, has pledged her loyalty to me, it seems, as she turned her back on her former forces.)

Lith, as always, promises the world and delivers more.  One of their stealth ships exited translation directly above our location.  The action caused an overload in I3's suit, which damaged it.. but I managed to patch her wounds up.

The ship is currently hidden in an abandoned warehouse.  Lith has managed to reset the biometrics so the system properly follows us, but.. the ship seems to have been under repair when we got it.  So many systems are offline. It's going to certainly be a project to repair it.  Time to start.

Expert System Commentary (Lith): I've been doing most of the heavy lifting for the repairs, honestly.  The technology is not entirely dissimilar to Stellar Navy technology, but differences are substantial enough to require some re-engineering work.  There is, of course, also the issue I am working with only two crewmen, only one of which I can communicate directly with, and neither of whom are engineers.  What I wouldn't do for a proper Stellar Navy engineering team.

Still, we must make do with what we have.

We always do.

Fleet Officer Armitage
23:05 Sidereal
'Maine', Planet Unknown (Local Term, Earth)

Following the completion of the last mission I've continued to work on my equipment.  I've finally managed to get some of Lith's ARID protocols going - She's now capable of significantly more autonomy - which should hopefully help her save my life in a pinch. 

Some of my genemods are being reactivated - my thoughts are coming together faster and clearer.  The answers have always come to me quickly, but since arriving on this world my thoughts have been a bit.. foggy.  It's finally starting to clear up, thankfully.

Other than that... I've spoken again with Liam.  Quite a useful person to know.  Not only did he help me with some of my psychological conditions.. he offered me a highly advanced repair and fueling device for my ship.  Value beyond measure.

All I need to do is establish where I'm going and I can leave.

It's a pity that's now the hard part.  None of the stars are recognizable.