Scientists are calling for an investigation into the safety of controversial new automatic exploration protocols after a science ship accidentally clipped a Dimensional Horror yesterday.
The USS Navigator had been traversing through the Hell’s Maw black hole system when it ran an evasion light warning and clipped the limb of the system’s resident Dimensional Horror.
Emergency services attended the scene and confirmed the eldritch being had only sustained minor damage. The remains of the 48 human crew members aboard the Navigator have yet to be identified.
Image: A sublight traffic camera in Hell's Maw captures the USS Navigator moments before disaster.
The Navigator’s logs show that its chief scientist, Dr James Kerk, had not realized the ship was set to ‘passive stance’ and was caught off guard when the automated navigation system routed towards the Dimensional Horror as the most efficient route to the nearest hyperlane.
The Scientist & Technician First Union (STFU), of which Kerk was a member, has long since been opposed to the use of automated surveying technology.
“This would never have been a problem if the ship was manually piloted,” STFU spokesperson Mikhail Kontarsky told Xenonion. “Humans have never made piloting errors before. This technology took our jobs, and now it’s taking our lives.”
CybrexCorp, developer of the automated navigation system, states it is investigating the issue. CEO Nax Golarisg told a press conference: “The automated navigation sensors are not designed to work in dark environments like space. Until they are, we advise all ships to steer clear of Hell’s Maw and check their stance setting.”
At the time of press it is unclear as to whether the Dimensional Horror will seek damages.
