Sylvia

Full Name: Sylvia
Species: Artificial Intelligence
Home Planet: N/A

Conception

When the USS Silverado was renovated and pushed back into service, one of the upgrades included a completely new and modern computer core. Equipped with all the newest technologies, it provided more computing power than those servicing the average Ambassador-class starship. There was only one minor flaw: Due to budgetary constraints, the only software available was the same program originally licensed to Silverado: LCARS MT 4.0. (Unconfirmed reports claim that the original licensing key, similar to the one stuck on your computer, can be found in the Computer Core Control room.)

The first signs that anything unusual was happening in the computer core started showing up shortly after the core was installed. Operations Officer San Jall thought it would be amusing to replace the ship's standard personality profile with that of Captain Stafford's mother. While annoying, the resulting changes in the computers behavior, such as an obsession with food and calling crewmembers 'dear', were considered minor.

Incubation

Several months after launch, Silverado encountered and disabled a Matrian starship. Unfortunately, the ships Dream Machine was damaged. The resulting energy field severely altered the personalities of the entire crew. It also had a strange effect on the computer core. This led to the discovery that the combination of old software and new hardware had led to a very unusual situation: bio-neural gel-backs were being used to run and process the computer's personality profile. In essence, a simulated personality was being processed by a pack of lab-cultured brain cells.

Birth

During Silverado's attack on Matria Prime, a Dream Machine was used by Stafford and some of his officers to gain entry to the Matrian Dreamland. Unfortunately, this last exposure to the mind-altering effects of the Dream Machine pushed the already shaky situation over the edge, resulting in the development of a new, sentient life form in Silverado's computer. Deciding to take on the name Sylvia, she retained many of the personality traits originally programmed in by Jall, while also development many new and unexpected behaviors.

USS Silverado

While the bio-neural gel-pack containing her program may be considered her brain, the ship is considered her body. As such, Sylvia has remained on Silverado for the most part, providing all the same services as a ship's computer, while adding her own special flair. She left briefly to assist other Operation Salvage ships in Star Traks: Silverado - Season 3, but returned after she became the target of several kidnapping attacks. She and Stafford, despite a rocky start, formed a strong, working relationship. Sylvia was also instrumental in Jall's promotion to first officer...although he doesn't know that.

For safety and portability, all of the computer components involved in maintaining Sylvia were moved into a single self-contained, self-powered and armored module, allowing her to be easily moved from ship to ship. Great care must be taken in disconnecting her, however, as a sudden disconnection causes severe malfunctions in the ship's computer.