Is there a problem?” he asked.

“With this, yes,” she said.

“Yes, and no. This does nothing to affect our calculations. Whatever her motivations, the ship and its crew benefit from this equipment. And right now, that’s the decision we have to make.”

Mei-Lin nodded with practical truthfulness to most everything, returned to the initialization checklist on her PADD and then to Zedd.

“Hi,” he said. “Core.”

“Hello Captain Sykes. I have received your biographic information from the data you sent me. I’m also seeing Senior Engineering Officer Zhao in engineering bay. Afternoon.”

Mei-Lin raised an eyebrow at Zedd.

“Afternoon,” Zedd replied. “Run a full diagnostic of all systems. Tell me what you’re finding.”

“Diagnostic …” There was a pause, approximately four seconds, which for a bio/neural processing cluster (the core) was a long time. “Diagnostic completed. The warp core is running at 94.3% efficiency after the recent crystal installation. Adjusting the plasma injector timing would increase that efficiency to 97.1%. The EPS relay on the secondary port grid shows micro-fracture repairs performed approximately 48 hours ago. Seal integrity is 99.4%, so no additional action is needed. All sensor arrays are functioning nominally. Navigation systems are integrated and show an improved processing response time of approximately 63% compared to the previous baseline. Tactical systems are functioning nominally. Life support is normal across all decks.” The core paused briefly again. “In addition, I’ve noted that the starboard relay has been functioning at approximately .003 degrees above baseline for the last 40 hours. Engineering Officer Zhao has this documented in her personal maintenance log.”

Mei-Lin looked at the display. “It saw the starboard relay.”

“You flagged it,” Zedd said.

“I flagged it in my personal maintenance log,” she said. “Not in the ship’s database.” She looked at the core housing. “It accessed my PADD log.”

“The Core has read-access to all authorized crew PADDs as part of ship systems integration protocol,” the Core stated. “Engineering Officer Zhao’s maintenance logs are part of the ship’s operational history. I apologize if this came as a surprise to you.”

“It didn’t come as a surprise,” Mei-Lin said slowly. “What is your recommendation regarding the starboard relay?”

“Replacing the secondary feed conduit within the next 72 hours will prevent development of a greater variance issue,” she stated. “This replacement component is stored in engineering stores, Bay Three, Shelf Four. Estimated installation time is approximately 40 minutes.”

Zedd and Mei-Lin gave each other a look; the look of two people who suddenly realized their ship was going to be operated differently than they had been operating it twenty minutes earlier.

“What is the current status of all ship systems?” Zedd asked.

“All primary systems are nominal. Secondary Power Distribution is running at 91% efficiency – a 2% improvement from the previous core’s baseline. Environmental Systems are stable across all decks except for one small variation on Deck 3 that I previously addressed. The navigation array is calibrated and integrated. Tactical systems are ready. Fabrication units on Deck 4 are in a scheduled maintenance cycle initiated by Engineering Officer Zhao at 14:00 hours.” The core paused again briefly. “I should note that our sensor net is detecting a vessel registered to the Ferengi Alliance currently docked in the adjacent berth that has been conducting passive commercial-type scans of us since 06:00 hours today. Prior cores did not recognize these scans as important enough to notify you. However, I have notified you of this event as I believe it may be related to a commercial interest rather than a security risk and I will continue to monitor and advise you if the scan types change.”

Zedd viewed the display on his console. “Can you determine what kind of scans they were doing?”

“They conducted a passive commercial-style sensor sweep consistent with Pre-Purchase Assessment Protocols. They are assessing our systems profile rather than collecting tactical information. Based on my analysis, I believe this to be a commercial interest rather than a security risk. However, I will continue to monitor and advise you if they alter their scanning procedures.”

As Mei-Lin watched the display with an increasing level of interest, she turned toward Zedd and said quietly… “They got something that the prior core missed for six hours.”

“Yes,” Zedd replied.

“That will significantly alter how we conduct operations…”

“Yes,” he said again. “It will.”

The Dutchman cycled around them with a new level of activity as a ship that was paying attention in ways it hadn't paid attention before; Zedd remained in his engineering bay with the data port still warm against the base of his neck from his interface connection and considered Tiraa and what she had installed onboard, and what it would ultimately mean for this crew to operate onboard a ship that could sense its own environment in such a manner….

He wasn't sure whether "awareness" was even a suitable term for what this ship was evolving into.

He was pretty darn certain that awareness was insufficiently descriptive for whatever form of awareness this ship was growing into, and that he was going to learn what it was one diagnostic at a time.

“Thanks,” he said to Mei-Lin and to the ship at the same time — which felt like the appropriate way to express gratitude.

“Thank you Captain”, stated the Core — which surprised him somewhat.

He put down the installation checklist and made his final entry and avoided examining too closely the fact that this ship had just expressed gratitude to him for a compliment that he was not positive he directed toward it.

The Dutchman recognized that distinction.

Either it was extremely comforting or completely different.

Most likely both.