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This article researched/written by Erica (erica@netcon.net.au)
BLAKE: [To ZEN:] Surface conditions? ZEN: The planet Cephlon has a breathable atmosphere with a high oxygen content. The radiation level is in excess of normal tolerance levels, and prolonged exposure could result in tissue damage. Massive variations in temperature levels. Gravity is one point two five G.[Avon enters the flight deck dressed in surface clothes and checks his weapon.] BLAKE: Life forms? ZEN: There is no current information. Logic units suggest that remaining life may have mutated through exposure to high radiation.
ZEN: The atmosphere on Exbar is breathable, but the envelope is narrow and oxygen begins to run out at relatively low altitudes. The terrain supports minimum vegetation which becomes increasingly sparse at higher altitudes. Near the top of the chalk escarpments, which are a feature of the area specified, the air is dangerously thin.
AVON: Zen, details of destination. ZEN: Asteroid PK One One Eight has diameter of zero point one zero two spacials. It was removed from serial orbit five years ago for heurite ore extraction. Mined out in two years and discarded in Beta region. Life support systems installed by mining company presumed still functional. AVON: Presumed?
TARRANT: ... Zen, put up Kairos. ZEN: Kairos. The fourth planet of the star Xymines in the constellation Lypterion.ZEN: The planet has an orbital revolution of fifteen Earth years. The fertile zone is small, and noted for the suborganic growth of Kairopan, a highly prized crystal, which is gathered during the first week following the vernal equinox. This is known as the Harvest of Kairos.
There are a few instances where Zen has access to Federation records:
ZEN: The freighter is on course for the only habitable planet in Zone Nine. BLAKE: Which is? ZEN: Code-named Horizon. BLAKE: "Horizon"? AVON: Code-named by whom? ZEN: Data was obtained via Federation cipher. Data also suggests that it is visited annually by a Federation supply freighter. BLAKE: Carrying what? ZEN: There is no information. BLAKE: What are the surface conditions on Horizon? ZEN: Negative information. BLAKE: Population? ZEN: Negative information. BLAKE: Well, is there any information on Horizon? ZEN: Negative. BLAKE: Well, is the information on Horizon classified? ZEN: Negative information.
AVON: Let us settle this neurotic little worry. Zen, do you have sufficient information to be able to tell us when the next major volcanic eruption on the planet Obsidian is to be expected? ZEN: Federation report one zero sub five, date code three zero three... VILA: That's a long time ago. ZEN: Atmospheric and ground tests undertaken by Federation assessment team, collated in Federation teletext predicted no heavy volcanic activity for some years. VILA: How many years is some years? ZEN: No more detailed prediction was made. VILA: Wonderful. And why did the Federation assessment team stop bothering, does anybody know that? Zen, do you know? ZEN: That information is not available.
Presumably such records were obtained either through interception of a transmission (like in Horizon) or they were in Zen's data banks already. One might wonder where the System got such information from. It appears that the System's knowledge of the Federation was greater than the Federation's of the System.
AVON: Zen, there were three major battles in this sector during the galactic war. [He takes off his gun belt and puts it on the couch.] Is that correct? ZEN: That is correct. AVON: Did either side land survivors or damaged ships on the surface of the planet Obsidian? ZEN: Available data suggests that they did not. AVON: That's what I thought. Zen, do you have any information as to any neutral status accorded the planet Obsidian? ZEN: No official neutral status was accorded the planet Obsidian.
Zen has information on Obsidian which has been updated since the galacticwar. In this case it appears to be Federation information. This suggests that
Zen's data banks are not static.
Question: where is he getting the new information from? It seems unlikely that the System would continue to update Zen’s data banks when it knows that the ship has been stolen. And Federation computers are not going to tell him anything without the correct authorisation, which he doesn't have. Possibilities:
Star Charts
AVON: Look at it, Blake. Look at the configuration of the stars. That position is unique in the universe. BLAKE: Ah! Of course. Zen can give us a precise astral fix and tell us exactly where the event is supposed to have happened.
BLAKE: Confirm boundary. ZEN: Confirm Liberator is now crossing the theoretical boundary of the galaxy and is entering intergalactic space.
ZEN: is able to identify on his scanners many types of ships including Federation pursuit ships.
A few examples from the many:
BLAKE: Identify. ZEN: Available data classifies them as Federation pursuit ships.
ZEN: Sensors report spacecraft approaching. AVON: Identify. ZEN: Analysis indicates they are Mark Four Federation interceptors.
The following indicate that Zen’s data banks include design schematics andspecifications for different types of ships:
JENNA: Zen says it's a Mark Three Galaxy Class cruise. BLAKE: I want everything in the data banks concerning Galaxy Class cruisers. ZEN: Complete data is extensive.
JENNA: Zen located her about five minutes ago. We put her on the scanner to run a security check. Suddenly she just went off course. CALLY: Shouldn't we try and help them? BLAKE: If they're still alive. [To ZEN:] Identification? ZEN: The ship is a Spacemaster, Series Five. Four neutron power units with a maximum thrust of four by six. BLAKE: Does she carry life capsules? ZEN: Standard equipment specification lists two high-impact, unpowered survival modules.
And there are some ships that Zen cannot identify:
BLAKE: Zen, visual detector scan and computer analysis on grid one one five, please. ZEN: The signal is mechanical. It emanates from a space projectile of unidentified origin.
The guardians' capsule.
JENNA: Listen, Blake, we've got a problem. There's an unidentified ship moving in on our position. BLAKE: [V.O.] Federation? JENNA: Zen says not...
The Amagon ship.
ZEN: Interceptor activity. Forward sensors indicate standard defence formation flanking the transporter. TARRANT: Identification. ZEN: No information. Hull structure similar to ex-Federation Hunter-Killer class pursuit ship. Modified fin suggests primitive Time Distort facility.
ZEN: Information. Detectors indicate a vessel is approaching. AVON: Identification? ZEN: Negative.
The alien crypt ship.
It would appear that Zen has information on Federation ships mostly, another indication that the System knew more about the Fed than the Fed did about it. But see the following:
ZEN: Information. A space vehicle has been registering on the detectors. Visual scan now indicates that it is approaching the Liberator. Present status suggests the vehicle will attempt docking beside port entry. AVON: Can you identify it? ZEN: Negative.
Funny that he shouldn't have identified this one. It was either Klegg and his goons, in which case it was presumably a Federation ship, or it was Tarrant, who reckons he was in a life capsule from the Federation ship that picked him up when his own ship (which was also presumably Federation) was damaged. One possible explanation is that Liberator's detectors had been damaged in the battle and weren't working sufficiently well to enable Zen to see more than that there was some sort of vessel there.
BLAKE: Suppose Zen gave us the necessary information and detailed instructions. AVON: Oh, come on, Blake! This is not something you do by numbers, not even highly sophisticated ones. This is an area that has remained the exclusive province of specialists.
Gan's brain operation.
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