Processors detect no malfunction in generator.
Well that wasn’t helpful at all. But if there wasn’t an issue with the generator, then possibly there was a lack in resources to start. It had fuel. It had an operator. What else did a standard combustion engine need to start? ... ... To turn over. That required some sort of power.
Instaurabo removed the control panel and followed the line from the ignition switch, finding where it hooked up to an old style fuel cell. Back when caustic chemicals were stored in primitive containers, this was common, in modern times though these types of cell were useless, not capable of outputting enough charge to activate a cleaning bot. This was obviously even worse, because it was dead.
A quick analysis revealed that no extra parts were necessary. Older vehicles still used within twenty years of his last update experienced this issue from time to time, and were started through a ‘jump starting technique’ which was easy to perform, with the aid of his battery pack. Star quickly hooked up the necessary wires and performed the procedure, bringing the generator to life and quickly switching the power to the local computer system.
“COMPUTER. RESTRICT POWER CONSUMPTION TO THIS SECTOR. EMERGENCY ENERGY CONSERVATION PROCEDURES ACTIVATE.”
The lights flared and then dimmed down to the minimum needed to see, and around the room various LED’s flickered and then went quiet, though a slight hum could be heard.
Reboot Complete. Power restored to sector A-3. E-E-C procedures active.
Instaurabo nodded to himself- an afteraffect of human programming, no doubt. Somehow this was to simulate the idea of confirmation of thought? No matter.
“COMPUTER. ANALYZE GENERATORS ONE AND THREE. DETECT VIABLE FUEL CELLS THAT MAY BE TRANSFERED TO GENERATOR TWO. CALCULATE DURATION OF ACTIVATION CURRENTLY SUSTAINABLE.”
Backup generators one and three out of order, please contact station supervisor immediately! Three hours and thirty two minutes of power are available currently.
Not an amazing amount. Instaurabo whisked through his processors quickly, trying to find priorities that could be fulfilled.
“COMPUTER. DEDICATE MINIMAL POWER TO SECURITY SYSTEMS, SWEEP FOR ACTIVE LIFE; DEFINED AS HUMANOID, ROBOTIC, OR UNKNOWN MOVEMENT. REPORT.”
Instaurabo glanced at the other engines, torn apart by some of the very bots meant to guard them. He had remembered the mangled remains of other models within the repair shop as well.
“COMPUTER. ELIMINATE HOSTILES IF POSSIBLE THROUGH BUILDING SECURITY MEASURES. DO NOT ACTIVATE DEFENSIVE BOTS. I REPEAT. STATIC DEFENSIVE MEASURES ONLY. HOSTILES DEFINED AS ROBOTS WHICH AGGRESSIVELY ATTACK OTHER
ACTIVE ROBOTS WITHOUT OBSERVABLE CAUSE. DO NOT ELIMINATE DEFENDING ROBOTS.”
That should help clear some of the bugs from the system, if nothing else. At least, so long as the building possessed measures that were not dependent on other robots. How many within the facility were still in functioning order, however? How could he contact them without alerting other bots? ... ... ... A bit of a stretch, but possibly....
“COMPUTER. BROADCAST FOLLOWING MESSAGE THROUGH BROADBAND ON ALL FREQUENCIES: ‘Mayday, all personal within military base ***** dead. Please respond. Emergency Generator two active on limited resources. Please Respond. Over.’
INCLUDE GPS COORDINATES WITHIN MESSAGE. LOOP FIVE TIMES, OVER FIVE MINUTE INTERVALS. ENCRYPT MESSAGE UNDER CODE WORD ‘FLEECE’.
BROADCAST FOLLOWING MESSAGE THROUGH BROADBAND ON ALL FREQUENCIES: ‘Encryption code; Missing word: Merry had a little lamb, His ****** was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.’ REPEAT BEFORE PREVIOUS BROADCAST ON SAME PARAMETERS.”
That should, theoretically, stop rogue bots from reading the message. Reasoning and free function should be required to unlock that particular riddle, as well as basic knowledge of human literature. Some robots would know the answer purely from their language testing functions, as poems were commonly used for such.