Julius's clothes, the same ones he had been teleported in, were now just filthy rags clinging to his new warrior's body. Standing on a raised platform near the Command Center, he observed the bustle of "his" colony. The noise was constant now: short orders, the pounding of machinery, muffled laughter near the makeshift mess hall. Civilians. Lives for which he was responsible.
A wave of fatigue, more mental than physical, washed over him. He was managing production reports, guard rotations, resource allocations, defense schematics... Everything passed through him. He couldn't be everywhere, all the time. One day, he would have to sleep. One day, a critical decision would need to be made in his absence.
He needed a second-in-command. Not a simple soldier or an engineer. He needed a mind. A logic pure and infallible.
"System," he announced mentally, retreating into the relative silence of his private quarters – a small rocky alcove separated by a tarp. "Filter the summoning options. I am looking for an artificial intelligence or an advanced synthetic being, endowed with superior administrative and strategic capabilities, and absolute loyalty."
The menu scrolled at a dizzying speed, thousands of names and schematics. Then it stopped on a particular entry. An icon depicting a face with pale skin and golden eyes.
[Character: Lieutenant Commander Data - Universe: Star Trek]
< Type: Soong-type autonomous android.>
< Status: Starfleet Senior Officer.>
< Capabilities: Near-infinite processing speed and memory. Superhuman strength, speed, and endurance. Complete mastery of all technical, scientific, and historical knowledge of the Federation up to the 24th century. Exceptional tactical and analytical capabilities.>
< Particularity: Aspires to understand humanity and acquire its emotional traits.>
< Loyalty: Intrinsic and absolute to Commander Julius Braveheart.>
< Summoning Cost: 50,000 energy units.>
Fifty thousand points. A colossal sum, but paltry compared to his million. And what he was buying was priceless.
Data. A perfect mind. An artificial consciousness endowed with ethics, curiosity, and a loyalty programmed not towards abstract principles, but towards him.
"It's him," murmured Julius, his heart beating with an excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. "System, proceed with the summoning."
< Acquisition of character [Data]. Consumption of 50,000 energy units.>
< Remaining energy: 1,194,939 units.>
There was no spectacular flash. Just a slight distortion of the air in the center of the room, like heat shimmering. Then, a form materialized, silent and precise.
He was there. Dressed in the red Starfleet uniform, impeccable. His skin was of a uniform pallor, his black hair styled with geometric precision. And his eyes... a deep, expressionless gold, settled on Julius.
The android inclined his head in a fluid, slightly mechanical movement.
"I am Lieutenant Commander Data," he announced in a clear, monotone, yet perfectly polite voice. "You are my designated commander, Julius Braveheart. I am at your disposal to assist you in any tasks you deem necessary. It would seem we are in an environment not listed in the Federation archives."
Julius, despite the dirt covering him and his tattered clothes, straightened up, trying to appear dignified before this creature of pure reason.
"Data. Welcome. The situation is... complex. We are on a hostile planet designated LV-492, at the end of the 30th millennium, in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Era of the Great Crusade."
Data's golden eyes blinked once, rapidly.
"Fascinating. The postulates of interdimensional and temporal travel were until now theoretical. My database on this historical period is limited to the legendary fragments available in the 24th century. It appears... summary and apocalyptic. May I suggest, Commander, that your current attire is inadequate for this environment and your station?"
Julius couldn't suppress a smile. This was exactly what he needed.
"Attire is the least of my priorities, Data. My priority is this colony. It's growing too fast. I need you to take over its operational management. Production, logistics, defense, threat analysis. You will act in my name when I am unavailable."
"Understood, Commander," Data replied without the slightest hesitation. "I have already accessed the local outpost data network via a subspace interface. The efficiency of the extraction center can be optimized by 11.4%. The Marine guard rotations present logistical gaps I can correct. Furthermore, I recommend the immediate construction of a network of seismic and atmospheric sensors for early warning against large-scale threats."
Julius stared at him, astonished. In a few seconds, Data had already identified problems and proposed solutions.
"Uh... Yes. Do it. Handle it."
"Very well, Commander. May I also note that your physiological fatigue is evident. A rest period of 6.2 hours is recommended for optimal efficiency. I can oversee operations in your absence."
For the first time in days, Julius felt a real weight lift from his shoulders. He could rest. Truly rest.
"Alright, Data. The base is in your hands."
"Affirmative, Commander," said Data, already turning towards the tactical wall screen that had just lit up, his fingers flying over the interface at an invisible speed. "I will begin by recalculating the supply matrices. And, Commander?"
"Yes?"
"I am taking the liberty of initiating the fabrication of a command uniform suited to local conditions. It will be ready upon your waking."
Julius nodded, unable to formulate anything else. He let himself fall onto his spartan bed, the reassuring sound of Data's calculations and the clicking of orders he was already sending serving as his lullaby.
He had a super-genius android from Star Trek as his chief of staff. The plan of action was simple now: survive, grow, and let Data's pure logic transform this cavern into an impregnable fortress. The future suddenly seemed much more organized.