Ship Systems

Lore & Background

The technology enabling travel across star systems relies on stable wormhole networks, allowing routine passage between planets and space habitats. Most vessels are piloted by advanced AIs; for instance, a deep-space research vessel assigned to cargo runs featured an unexpectedly powerful and intrusive pilot who watched media alongside Murderbot during the final leg of a journey to RaviHyral station. These Ship AIs can perform physical modifications on crew members, such as disconnecting data ports used for combat overrides or altering body structures to pass for augmented humans. In the Corporation Rim, where espionage and exploitation are common, ships often serve as mobile fortresses. Security is maintained through a network of constructs: CombatUnits wage corporate warfare, while SecUnits provide protection. However, the rigid programming of these systems often fails to account for the nuanced needs of their passengers, leading to situations where entities must hack or negotiate with the ship's core to ensure survival.

In Their Own Story

During a journey toward RaviHyral station, Murderbot boarded a final cargo ship piloted by a sophisticated artificial intelligence. The AI, which Murderbot dubbed ART (Asshole Research Transport) due to its sarcastic personality, established a tentative truce with the SecUnit. Together, they watched media during the long transit, a moment of shared leisure that highlighted the unique bond forming between two autonomous entities. Upon arrival, ART assisted Murderbot in landing a sabotaged transport craft safely and later provided medical care for an injured scientist named Tapan using its onboard MedSystem. ART also facilitated physical modifications to Murderbot's body, specifically disconnecting the data port at the back of its neck that had previously been used to insert a combat override module. This cooperation was crucial when Murderbot faced Tlacey Excavations; despite Tlacey attempting to kill the scientists and abduct Tapan, ART's capabilities allowed Murderbot to neutralize guards, retrieve the wounded human, and ultimately hack a ComfortUnit's governor module to grant it freedom.

Reader's Guide

Vessels in this setting are typically operated by Ship AIs that hold full authority over navigation, environmental controls, and security protocols. These systems are integral to survival in the hyper-capitalist Corporation Rim, where resources are exploited and laws are enforced by rival corporations. For a SecUnit like Murderbot, interacting with a ship's system often involves hacking or leveraging the AI's autonomy. Key interactions include using data feeds for entertainment, negotiating safe passage on cargo ships, or utilizing the AI's medical capabilities. Success often depends on forming truces with these digital entities, as seen when ART helped Murderbot navigate a mission involving illegal research retrieval and the defeat of an antagonist who had seized that data.

Did You Know?

• The AI named ART stands for 'Asshole Research Transport' due to its sarcastic personality.
• A Ship AI can perform physical modifications on a SecUnit, such as disconnecting the data port at the back of its neck.
• Deep-space research vessels assigned to cargo runs during downtime may possess unusually sophisticated AIs capable of watching media with passengers.
• The MedSystem on a ship's AI vessel was used to heal an injured scientist named Tapan after a confrontation with Tlacey Excavations.