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🛰️ Exocomps S2E1 – Project EXO
The shimmering void of space stretched endlessly before the viewscreen of the USS RMG Nexus, a Nebula-class starship on a deep-space exploration mission. Commander T’Lar, the Vulcan first officer, stood beside Captain Eva Rostova, both observing the stellar tapestry. Their usual routine of scientific scans and warp jumps was about to be interrupted by a new, intriguing directive from Starfleet Command.
“Captain,” T’Lar’s voice was calm, as always, “incoming message from Starfleet. Priority one.”
Rostova nodded, a slight frown creasing her brow. “On screen.”
Admiral Vance’s stern, pixelated face appeared. “Captain Rostova, Commander T’Lar. Starfleet has initiated a new research protocol regarding Exocomps. As you know, these highly advanced, self-replicating tools have proven invaluable, but a small percentage have independently developed true intelligence and consciousness. We believe it’s time to integrate these sentient Exocomps into the fleet as full members. As part of their integration, each Exocomp will be assigned a primary departmental mentor.”
Rostova exchanged a surprised glance with T’Lar. “Full members… and mentors, Admiral?”
“Indeed, Captain. Your vessel, the USS RMG Nexus—the Robotics and Manufacturing Group Nexus—has been selected for the inaugural assignment. As you know, the RMG Nexus was commissioned with significant sponsorship from Rebootica Mobile Games, a corporation heavily invested in advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.
Their generous funding has allowed for the creation of your state-of-the-art robotics labs and specialized facilities, making your ship uniquely suited for this groundbreaking research and for the long-term support of an Exocomp. Rebootica Mobile Games is a strong proponent of Exocomp integration within Starfleet. Chief Engineer Rax has been designated X-239’s mentor. Exocomp designated ‘X-239’ is en route to your position. Good luck, Captain.” Vance’s face vanished from the screen.
A few hours later, a shuttle docked with the RMG Nexus. X-239, a sleek, multifaceted metallic sphere with articulated manipulator arms, floated into the engineering bay. Chief Engineer Rax, a gruff but fair Tellarite, eyed the newcomer with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, a grumble rumbling in his chest about being assigned another duty.
“Welcome aboard, X-239,” Rax grunted, instinctively extending a hand before his mind registered the futility of the gesture. He quickly pulled it back, a flush rising to his cheeks. “I’m Chief Engineer Rax. And it seems I’m your… mentor. We’re a bit short-staffed with our current mission profile, so I hope you’re ready to jump right in.”
A series of rapid clicks and flashes, almost imperceptible to the untrained eye, emanated from its form. The crew had learned that this unit communicated through a variant of encoded Morse pulses — automatically translated by the ship’s AI into spoken Federation Standard. The universal translator on Rax’s comm badge provided an instantaneous, calm, and precise translation:
“Designation acknowledged, Chief Engineer. I am prepared to integrate and contribute maximally to the RMG Nexus‘s operational efficiency.”
Days turned into weeks. X-239 proved to be an exceptionally capable and diligent engineer. Its processing speed and knowledge base were unparalleled, often diagnosing complex system malfunctions before Rax’s team had even fully analyzed the symptoms.
Crew members, initially wary, slowly began to appreciate its unique perspective and unwavering dedication. Rax, despite his initial reluctance, found himself grudgingly impressed. He’d assigned X-239 mundane tasks at first, testing its limits, only to find them constantly exceeded. X-239, in turn, began to learn about the nuances of human and alien interaction, developing a subtle sense of humor and even, at times, what seemed like genuine empathy.
One day, while charting an uncharted nebula, the RMG Nexus encountered a derelict, non-Federation vessel adrift. Scans indicated no life signs, but a faint, erratic power signature pulsed within.
“Captain,” T’Lar reported, “the vessel appears to be of unknown origin, heavily damaged. Its propulsion system is offline, but there’s a strong energy fluctuation originating from its core.”
“Any sign of what caused the damage?” Rostova asked.
“Negative, Captain. But the energy signature is…unstable. It could be highly dangerous.”
Rostova made a decision. “Rax, T’Lar, I want an away team to investigate. X-239, you’re with them. Your unique abilities might be invaluable for analyzing an unknown power source.”
The away team, consisting of Rax, T’Lar, a security officer, and X-239, beamed aboard the silent, eerie ship. Dim emergency lights flickered, casting long, distorted shadows. The air was cold and stale, smelling faintly of ozone and something metallic.
They navigated through twisted corridors, past ruptured conduits and scorched bulkheads. The ship’s layout was alien, its technology beyond anything they recognized. As they approached the source of the energy signature, a low hum vibrated through the deck plates.
“Chief,” X-239’s optical sensors pulsed rapidly, “the energy fluctuations are escalating. Rapidly. This is not a stable power source. It is…a contained anomaly.”
They entered a cavernous chamber. In the center, a large, pulsating sphere of raw energy shimmered, contained within a heavily damaged force field. Around it, strange, skeletal remains of what looked like organic life forms were fused to the bulkheads.
“By the stars!” Rax breathed, stepping back. “What in the blazes is that?”
“Captain,” T’Lar spoke into her communicator, “we have discovered an energy anomaly of immense power. It appears to be leaking, and the containment field is failing.”
“Analysis, X-239,” Rostova’s voice crackled.
X-239 clicked and flashed again: “The anomaly is a localized warp-bubble distortion. It is collapsing in on itself. If it breaches containment, it will create a localized singularity, consuming this vessel and potentially causing a dangerous gravimetric ripple effect that could impact the RMG Nexus.”
“Can you stabilize it?” Rostova demanded.
X-239’s clicks were deliberate: “The integrity of the containment field is compromised beyond conventional repair. However, I detect a highly intricate energy matrix within the anomaly itself. If I can re-route power and re-calibrate the containment field’s resonant frequency, it is theoretically possible to stabilize it from the inside.”
“From the inside?” Rax exclaimed. “X-239, that’s suicide! The radiation levels are lethal to organics, and even for an Exocomp, it’s incredibly risky!”
“My internal shielding and rapid self-repair protocols offer a calculable probability of success,” X-239 countered, its optical sensors unwavering. “The alternative is a catastrophic event.”
Rostova hesitated, then made her call. “X-239, proceed with your plan. Rax, T’Lar, provide whatever support you can from outside the field. Security, prepare for immediate transport if necessary.”
Without another word, X-239, with surprising speed, detached a small, powerful manipulator arm and began slicing through a section of the weakened force field. A wave of intense energy washed over them, forcing Rax and T’Lar to shield their eyes. X-239 phased through the shimmering barrier, entering the heart of the unstable anomaly.
Inside, the energy sphere pulsed violently, throwing off arcs of raw power. X-239, seemingly impervious to the raging storm, connected its manipulator arms to various points on the sphere’s surface, its internal processors working at unimaginable speed. Lines of brilliant energy flowed from its form into the anomaly, a delicate dance of calibration and re-routing.
On the outside, Rax and T’Lar watched, their faces grim. The hum of the anomaly intensified, then began to fluctuate wildly. Alarms blared on their tricorders.
“Its energy readings are spiking!” Rax yelled. “X-239, report!”
No response.
“X-239!” T’Lar called out, her voice betraying a hint of concern.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light erupted from within the anomaly. For a horrifying moment, they thought the worst. Then, the light receded, and the violent pulsing of the energy sphere began to subside. The hum lessened, becoming a steady, low thrum.
X-239 phased back through the now-stable containment field, its metallic surface lightly scorched, but otherwise intact. Its optical sensors pulsed calmly: “Anomaly stabilized. Gravimetric fluctuations ceased. The singularity has been averted.”
Rax clapped a heavy hand on X-239’s chassis. “X-239, you magnificent piece of work! You did it!” The mentor’s pride was evident in his gruff voice.
Back on the RMG Nexus, Captain Rostova personally met the away team in the transporter room. She looked at X-239 with new eyes, a profound respect dawning on her face.
“X-239,” she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration, “you risked your existence to save us, and potentially countless others. That was an act of profound courage.”
X-239 paused, its optical sensors focusing on Rostova, a series of quick, soft clicks following. The translator relayed: “Captain, my calculations indicated that the preservation of this starship and its crew, along with the prevention of a wider astrophysical catastrophe, was the most logical and ethical course of action. It was…my duty.”
Rostova smiled, a warm, genuine smile. “Indeed it was, X-239. And it was an exceptional performance of that duty. Welcome to the crew, truly.”
As X-239 floated out of the transporter room, heading back to engineering, Rax watched it go. “You know, Captain,” he muttered, “I always thought these Starfleet directives about integrating machines were a load of dilithium ore. And being a mentor to one? Seemed like a waste of my time.” He shook his head, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile playing on his lips. “But I might just be a convert. That Exocomp… it’s more than just a tool. It’s one of us now. My responsibility.”
The RMG Nexus continued its mission, but something had fundamentally shifted. X-239 was no longer just an “engineering specialist.” It was a hero, a valued member of the crew, and a testament to Rax’s growing devotion as its mentor. The evolving definition of life and consciousness in the vast, wondrous, and often perilous expanse of the galaxy was being written, one adventure, and one unlikely bond, at a time.
🌌 The Legacy of Project EXO Continues
Sci fi stories
X-239, the Exocomp assigned to the USS RMG Nexus under Project EXO.
The Exocomps saga is just one chapter in the expanding universe of our
sci fi stories. From the depths of temporal stasis to the frontiers of synthetic consciousness, each tale explores the ethics and emotions of advanced technology in deep space.
Sci fi short stories
If you enjoy serialized narratives like this one, explore more
sci fi short stories across the RMG Nexus. Each entry brings fresh characters, strange anomalies, and new perspectives on what it means to be alive — whether biological or machine-born.
Science fiction novels
Stories like Project EXO are inspired by the spirit of classic
science fiction novels, where the line between machine logic and emotional intelligence blurs. As the Exocomps evolve, so too does our vision for a future shaped by cooperation, sacrifice, and curiosity.
🪐 Explore More Across the RMG Nexus Universe
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The journey of X-239 may one day lead beyond technology and into the mystical. Visit the
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Rebootica Mobile Games Forum
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Exocomps Archives in the Rebootica Forum, where fans share theories, lore expansions, and help shape the evolving story of X-239 and beyond.