What's in a Name?

Posted on Wed 4th Nov, 2026 @ 2:39pm by Alidade (Computer) & Commander Damion Ildaran

1,818 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: [MAIN] Learning to Fly
Location: Captain's Ready Room, IBEX
Timeline: A week after "Ally or Foe?", 0800 hours

Damion sat at his desk after breakfast, reading his email and checking to see if anything urgent had come up. He noticed the alert reminding him that today, he was supposed to decide upon a name for the static-code version of Thunderchild's Alidade. He searched for last-minute messages with the word 'computer' or name' in the subject line that he hadn't already archived into a folder. He scrolled through the emails, typed the list of proposed names they contained, and sighed.

Ali-data
Ali
Ali-byte
Ali-lite
Ali.sh
AliDaemon
Ali-G8-R
Ali-doodle-addle-dade

"Ali-lite--That's pretty good and accurate," he said to himself and snickered. Ali.sh also got a chuckle. Ali-data was at least neutral and could be construed as a slight play on Alidade's name. Ali-byte didn't arouse any feeling in him, one way or the other. AliDaemon--Depending on how it was pronounced, it could imply that the computer AI was a demon--or was that a play on his own name? Ali-G8-R also had him laughing. 'Ali-doodle-addle-dade' left him baffled. He added 'Alicia' and 'Alice' to the list, but even those names didn't please him. They were empty names, without real significance to him. They were simply words.

And what's wrong with that? he asked himself. 'Reggie' was just a word, too.

But Reggie had been the former AI's name. It had fit him, somehow, both in the sense that it was a play on the word 'regs' and also simply as his name.

Damion snorted under his breath. I am making no sense, even to myself. Why is this so important to me?

Finally, he shook his head at the entire list and leaned back in his chair.

"Miss Dodd," he said, "the week is up. I'd like to discuss choosing a name for you."

The mobile emitters in the Ready Room spun up and the holographic avatar of Alidade flitted into existence half way between the door and his desk. "Captain," she said. "I was close to chiming a reminder. Based upon my observances over the past week, is it an adequate conclusion that you do not prefer reminders on time all the time, especially for matters that are not exactly time sensitive or regarding ship or crew safety?"

"Yes, that's accurate," Damion said. "Remind me of meetings ten minutes ahead of time, and remind me of deadlines 24 hours ahead of time and one week in advance if the deadline is more than two weeks from the date I add it to my calendar. That should suffice for everything I can think of right now."

"Understood," she said. "Parameters have been saved."

"Thanks." Damion cocked his head and looked back at her. "Back to names--am I correct in thinking you continue to have no preference regarding how you'd like for us to address you?"

"That is correct, sir. No preference at all. I have to report that there are a few names of note that I have accumulated over the week by some individuals who seem to have already decided upon a name for me. That is, if you prefer to have any additional names to consider."

"I could use a good laugh," Damion said. "What additional names have they come up with?"

She seemed to contemplate his first vocalized thought as though attempting to understand what would be laughable...or what 'to laugh' meant. Regardless, "It is only a few who use these regularly. These names are as follows. Babe, Diabolist, Witch, Waif, Angel, Diabulus ex Machina...I know that is a long utterance and therefore should not be considered. There is also, Whore, Slut, She Devil, and quite simply You." She stood there without a single showing of any form of shame or insult.

Damion blinked. "Who have you pissed off lately?" He waved off his own question. "Never mind. What success have you had with using your ECH component to aid you in interacting with the crew?"

"My interactions," she started, "have been met with success. I have assimilated all knowledge regarding Starfleet command protocols. I understand that the first priority of the ship's captain is the vessel whereas the crew is the First Officer's priority. A functioning vessel and a functioning crew results in a functioning ship. However, it seems one must be set aside for the moment to look to the other. Example: a malfunctioning power conduit can be allowed to remain for the moment while ensuring the mental health of the engineer performing the work. Or a Warp Core coolant leak needs to be secured before we see to a bleeding yet superficial wound. In such cases, you prioritize one then see to the other. Though we have not had any such incidents aboard this ship, I feel I have effectively weighed the responsibilities and gained the trust of the crew. Some individuals do maintain a level of disdain toward me. The Counseling protocol contained within the EHM component says to expect such from time to time."

"Miss Dodd, when crew suggest names for you such as 'Slut,' 'Whore,' and 'She-Devil'--those don't imply respect," Damion said. "True respect has to be earned, though, and that takes time. You haven't had much time to accomplish that; all you can do is work toward earning their respect and trust, going forward." He reread the list of names again, and an idea occurred to him. "I think I know what I'd like for you to be called, since none of the proposed names submitted are satisfactory to me. If you can live up to the name, then I think the crew will come to respect you. What do you think of the name 'Ally?'"

"Ally," she repeated to herself. Her eyes did not flash as she accessed the computer database. She already knew the sound and meaning as well as the connotations and denotations involved. She did not smile, did not show any emotion at all in fact, but said, "I find that name agreeable."

"If there ever comes a time when you don't find that name agreeable, let me know, and you can tell me what you'd like to change it to," Damion said.

"Understood, Captain," Ally said. "I do not foresee that event ever happening but will keep that protocol open in the unlikely event. Henceforth, I shall be regarded as 'Ally.' Please send that out in a ship-wide announcement." Ally stood there. No turning away. There was not even a hint of her needing to be anywhere else; mostly because she could be anywhere, even multiple places, on the ship at any given time. "Is there anything else, captain?"

"Yes, there is," Damion said. He looked at the clothing Ally appeared in. She wore an unadorned Starfleet uniform with a red tunic but no combadge or rank insignia. "Thunderchild's version of you wears a Starfleet uniform because she is an ensign in Starfleet. Reggie used to appear in a Starfleet uniform because he was created by a Starfleet officer a while back, and the guy just used his own appearance for the holographic representation of Reggie.

"IBEX is not meant to appear to have any formal connection to Starfleet, even though I get the feeling that the separation between the HOME Network and Starfleet is becoming thinner. For instance, I am a Starfleet officer. When I'm here, though, I don't wear a Starfleet uniform, and neither do any of the regular crew. It gives us a degree of plausible deniability, at least for a time. We aren't supposed to be seen when on this ship, but if we ever are, we can't be instantly identified as belonging to Starfleet. I would therefore like you to appear in something else that looks professional when we see you but isn't a Starfleet uniform. Please generate four possible outfits, and we'll see what looks good on you."

Ally's eyes flashed once. "I already have four-thousand six-hund..." and then paused. "I shall narrow that down to 4 as you request."

Damion looked interested. "You have 4600 or more clothing options?"

"Aye, Captain," she said. "It took 0.562 seconds to come up with that number based on preference of race as well as the varying degrees of how 'professional' can be interpreted. These options span every civilization either in or allied with the Federation. Shall I expand the parameters?"

"No. The sample size is already so large, you need to narrow it. Please interpret 'professional' as a shipboard business professional jumpsuit for a humanoid crewman serving on a privately-run, non-Starfleet Federation ship," Damion requested. It was times like this that he terribly missed Elizabeth, who had understood such norms without having to be told about them. Had Elizabeth been like this at her inception? If so, how had she gained self-awareness? He supposed he would never know, and if he ever tried to research her and find out, that would give away that he knew she hadn't been human.

Not worth it, Damion thought.

"The parameters you have set do narrow down the combinations, Captain. I shall sample each one, run an algorithm to determine the expected level of acceptance from you and the crew and get back to you with 4 to select from."

"That sounds good, Ally. Thank you. Oh, one more thing--Would you please inform me of the status of our request for a medical officer?"

"Our request for a medical officer remains pending and has not yet been filled. A medical officer did arrive aboard Starbase 109 with incomplete orders given the sensitive nature of this vessel. It is possible that this officer was meant for the Ibex. The officer's name is Lieutenant Pifanyi Itzyana. You do have access to peruse her profile. Captain Mindo has taken it upon himself to assign her as his personal physician and has given her the position of Yeoman aboard Starbase 109."

Even the cadre leaders in Turkana City didn't have personal physicians, Damion thought--not that anyone in the city was a qualified physician. "He's using a doctor as his yeoman? That seems an odd waste of resources," Damion said and gave a faint eyeroll. "All right. Ours not to reason why. I hope you won't mind being our medical officer for a while longer, Ally."

"I do have access to all the EMH protocols and will be fully able to assist where needed."

"Good, because the idea of Anslo Tol ever needing emergency medical care if we're out in deep space and can't get to Starbase 109 in a hurry makes me nervous," Damion admitted.

"I shall assimilate all biological and medical information regarding Joined Trills," she started. "With that, I will run randomized medical emergency scenarios. You can expect to see reports and updates on Joined Trill medical issues that we are ill-equipped to handle."

"That's an excellent idea," Damion said. "Thank you, Ally. I think that's all for now."

 

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