Test Pilota Pirxa Page #5

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Shoot!

The area is clear.

Launch the first probe!

The probe reached its orbit,

second launch pad ready.

Launch the second probe!

It's blocked!

Use the hydraulic piston.

It's not coming out!

The ionic engine of the probe

will start in 10 seconds.

Calder, turn the probe's engine off!

First pilot to Commander:

We're going to enter the crevice.

We can drop the probe by high acceleration.

I won't allow it!

The witness was the second pilot on Goliath.

That's right Mr. Chairman.

What orders did the commander give

after the second probe failed.

He didn't give any orders.

In that case, please describe the situation on the ship...

...after the failure.

When we managed to stabilize the ship,...

...Calder was supposed to begin the deceleration.

Instead he started accelerating.

I figured out he had changed the course.

Instead of getting further away from the planet,...

...he chose to enter the Cassini's crevice with great acceleration

in order to drop the probe,

It was a dangerous manoeuvre,...

...almost suicidal.

The commander didn't give him permission..

Objection, Your Honor!

Pirx didn't give that order.

But he wanted to!

When Calder increased the acceleration...

...the commander wanted to shout,...

...but at 14g...

...it's impossible to speak a word.

It looked like Calder wanted

to keep him from giving that order.

Objection, Your Honor.

The witness tries to suggest that...

...Pilot Calder obstructed Pirx from giving the order on purpose.

The witness shall keep his interpretations to himself...

...and tell us what the commander actually said.

The commander wasn't able to formalize an order...

...but his intention was entirely clear.

He forbade Calder to enter the Cassini's crevice.

Please, repeat the words and

the Court will decide by itself...

...what is their proper interpretation.

I... can't remember precisely...

...I think he shouted: "Do not enter the crevice!"

or "Do not go through the ring!".

Something like that.

He wasn't able to say anything more.

So what really took place on board?

What really happened is that the commander...

...forbade the first pilot to enter the crevice.

The testimony of this witness is trying to manipulate the truth!

The defence proposes another hearing

of the tapes from the control room...

...the part containing the Commander's shout.

The court declines.

The tapes were already examined...

...and it was determined that it is only

possible to recognize the person shouting,...

...and not the actual words.

May the witness tell the Court

what happened after the shout.

Novak, I don't think there's going to be a rematch.

Calder, you didn't execute my order!

I forbade you to enter the crevice!

I couldn't hear it, Sir.

Do you want to cause a disaster?

I'll go through Cassini and

decelerate on the other side.

Don't touch the fuse!

Brown, full ahead!

Full ahead!

Brown, shoot!

- Shoot!

- Yes, Sir!

May the witness explain why...

...didn't Pirx order Calder to turn back or decelerate...

...after Goliath had entered the crevice,

and the acceleration had decreased.

Especially if he saw any danger for the ship and crew.

To decelerate from that speed...

...we would have had to switch to reverse.

All humans would have died.

Besides, the instructions say

that if the commander keeps quiet...

...he permits the first pilot to act independently.

High tribunal,...

...this testimony confirms the prosecution argument.

Instead of settling for a particular decision...

...and passing it to the first pilot...

Commander Pirx... is silent.

The actions are very clear.

Commander Pirx didn't keep the pilot

from entering the Cassini's space,...

...and stayed silent, which lead

to a disastrous situation.

Didn't this criminal passiveness,...

...apart from destroying the nonlinear prototype,...

put the whole crew and ship in danger?

Defence calls the crew physician - Dr Tom Novak...

...to present a new piece of material evidence.

May the witness explain

what is... this crucial exhibit.

After Calder's death,...

...as the crew physician,

I conducted a thorough autopsy.

I stumbled upon something that resembled a black box.

It contained Calder's thoughts

recorded in a verbal form...

...and traces of visual impulses.

It can be played as a regular cassette.

Prosecution objects!

A violation of the secrecy of thought... is a crime...

against basic human laws.

Applying human rights...

...to a robot...

...seems to be a slight exaggeration.

The tribunal accepts this evidence.

Please, play the tape.

Calder, you didn't execute my order!

I forbid you to enter the crevice!

I didn't hear it, sir?

Do you want to destroy the ship?

I'll go through Cassini and

decelerate on the other side.

I can't control the ship...

Time for a decision... Give an order!

They all lead to a disaster...

Give an order!

Danger! Delaying the order

leads to a crash...

My solution - possible... What to do?

Escape into open space... How?!

Blow the g-fuse!... Humans will die and

I will bring the ship home by myself.

Solution found!

Don't touch the fuse! Brown, full ahead!

I exposed myself!

They want to destroy me.

The g-force increases!

10g, 12g! What to do?

14g - I can't hold out!

?????????????????????

Befeore the tribunal passes sentence,...

...let us hear Commander Pirx.

High tribunal,...

...until we have seen the cassette,

my testimony sounded ridiculous.

Now it's all clear.

The temperature of the hatch

was equal to the temperature of vacuum.

Water released by Calder has frozen

and blocked the bow of the probe.

It was irreversibly stuck

after it was hit with the hydraulic piston.

When the ionic engine started

it melted the ice off leaving no trace of the sabotage.

Calder had it all figured.

Probe's failure,... the rotation...

entry into the crevice and the death of the crew.

He wanted to turn Goliath into a death ship.

He took everything into account.

Except one thing.

Humans can be helpless and lost,...

...humans can hesitate, have scruples...

...but a robot cannot.

To be honest, I didn't know what to do.

My every order could have led to a crash...

... and Calder could have questioned it.

All that, recorded on a tape,

was to become a proof of his loyalty.

Evidence that he wanted

to save us until the very end.

And I didn't say a word.

And it was my silence,

Calder recognised as canniness,...

...and my helplessness in the situation as as shrewdness.

Then he started to react like a human...

...and lost.

I was accused of being passive in a critical situation.

No,...

...I am guilty of a different misbehaviour.

Though it's not included in the Space Code...

He's here!

A couple of words for the press.

How did you feel as the accused?

Hey, Commander.

It seems like you're undecided again.

I'm grateful to Novak.

If he didn't find that black box inside Calder's body...

...I would have to spend the rest of my life behind the desk.

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