Y00-17 stood motionless in the center of his dormitory. The Artificial Intelligence did not require sleep. However, his exoskeleton's power core needed to be removed and recharged every forty eight hours for an extended period of time, so that it could operate at peak efficiency. If necessary, Metalhead's physical body could continue operation for up to one hundred and sixty eight hours at sub optimal efficiency levels before its power core forced a shut down of all systems. But while the machine was situated as a statue in the midpoint of the sleeping compartment, the AI that controlled it was quite active. Y00-17 busied himself by downloading gigabits of information from the Exeralune's data stores while simultaneously conversing with the ship's own AI, ANI. She was pleasant company; the two of them got along quite well. Still, Metalhead was subtly watching the other AI's every move. The organic members of the Exeralune's crew had expressed their distrust of the Artificial Intelligence on numerous occasions, which prompted the ever-loyal Y00-17 to begin observing his fellow synthetic life form. He had, so far, not witnessed any suspicious behavior by the machine. It was possible that this marked ANI as innocent of all charges; however, it could also mean that she knew Y00-17's intentions and was purposefully going out of her way to avoid suspicion. Subterfuge was not Metalhead's primary area of expertise, so he had little to go by except what he had picked up from public networks and verbal exchanges with organics.

A shrill siren echoed throughout the bridge. Y00-17 questioned ANI of the sound's purpose, and she informed him that an unknown object sat in the path of the Exeralune. An image of the mysterious ship appeared in his mind's eye, implanted by ANI. This was the object that blocked their warp path. The vehicle was of similar size and make to the Exeralune itself. From what Y00-17 calculated, the chances of meeting such a vessel at this interval were quite low. It was likely, then, that their assailant was here specifically to block the UNT ship's path. ANI seemed to agree with Y00-17's calculations. The mathematical possibility that this encounter was completely random was so minuscule that it warranted little to no observation by the pair of Artificial Intelligences, which had begun rapidly shooting messages to each other as they questioned the event. 

ANI was distracted, however, by her duties to the crew, and responded 0.0021 seconds slower than usual. Y00-17 announced his departure from the network in the most formal way possible and installed himself into his personal VW-11c "Bokite" Spacefighter, as ordered by Captain Hidden Eagle.

Y00-17's Bokite was equipped with the single fire long range variant of the elzion cannon. The small, expendable fighter was not the type of craft Y00-17 was used to flying. His last Spacefighter had been better armed and armored, as well as larger and more durable. It had been an extension of Metalhead's programming. But this Bokite would have to do; at least until Y00-17 could convince the captain to purchase a better vessel for the AI's personal use.

The other miniature carrier had launched four of its own spacefighters, which appeared to be escorting a much larger boarding vessel. Y00-17 successfully downloaded himself into the Bow Fighter and launched the small spacecraft from its hangar. The floor underneath the ship opened up and the Bokite fell into the vast darkness below. Y00-17 activated his propulsion systems and entered a holding pattern around the Exeralune. He awaited the arrival of the other spacefighters, as well as further orders from Captain Hidden Eagle. Y00-17 also set to work scanning the approaching enemies, hoping to find out more about them before he was forced to engage.