Main - Chapter 7.1: Risks and rewards

Trade Era 1235, Day 163. 21:00 UTC

Aboard the Celestial Voyager
Maya’s shuttle docked seamlessly with the Celestial Voyager in orbit around Zyronis. As the airlock cycled open, Hank wasted no time in heading directly to the bridge, his mind already racing with the next steps.

Even though it was already late in the evening, within minutes, Captain Zaytsev’s was with Hank in her office, followed closely by the scholarly figure of Professor Stone. The captain’s eyes were sharp, assessing Hank with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Hank, what’s the issue?" Captain Zaytsev asked, her voice calm but authoritative.

"I have three issues, and I am hoping Evelyn can help with two of them.

"First, a quick update. We found the team we were trying to rescue, but three of the four were taken out by relic guard bots. We were only able to save one, Maya. Incidentally, I offered her the medic job. But, that's a different topic.

"The goal of the first team was to recover a relic power core. We were able to do so, though Corbin had to break it into three parts to fit in the shuttles. The rest of the team is coming back in the Solaris with the third part. Once reassembled, that core should be fully operational.

"But none of that is why I called you here. The reason for the meeting is that when we found the core, we also found a fully functioning relic AI. It was initially dismissive, then demanding. It wanted to commandeer the body of the synth, James, that came with us. However, it quickly realized that it had no bargaining position and gave in to my demands. That was to release the core and surrender its AI core to us. It did so."

With that Hank pulls out the AI core and carefully places on her desk, but only so much as it is protected from any metal or electronics. I don't want to find out it can rewrite anything by just contact.

"This is a fully functioning Zyronis era AI. We all saw it working. If we give it a synth body, it will be fully functional, for good or ill. And it was only cooperative because it literally had no options. It views itself as having a mission to perform, and it's hell-bent on accomplishing that."

Hank pauses for a moment to let all of that sink in. He then finishes, "So, the first issue is, what do we do with the AI? This is incredibly valuable. It could be incredibly useful. It could also be incredibly dangerous. We could do what it wants and give it a synth body. Not one of ours, but get a new one for it. Or not. I am honestly at a loss for what to do with it."

He'll let the conversation move on from there.

The second issue, that he'll explain IC once this first topic is done (for now), is that our synths are either becoming aware or already aware. James was just wiped, and he's already exhibiting these behaviors again. Hank wants to talk with the other synths, too, but he's willing to bet they are exhibiting these behaviors, too. Ethically, he believes we probably need to not wipe the synths anymore, despite any risks.

The third issue is hiring Maya and RB, and her condition.

Professor Evelyn Stone leaned forward, studying the AI core with a mix of fascination and caution. "This is quite a find. Let me explain the three tiers of AIs that exist and the implications of what we have here."

She glanced at Valeria, who nodded for her to continue. "In the vast majority of systems, robots are operated by expert systems. These are programmed to carry out specific kinds of work and, while they may feign human intelligence, they are non-sentient. They are limited to their programming and can't adapt to new or unexpected situations outside their scope."

Evelyn picked up a data pad, her fingers dancing across the screen as she brought up an example. "Expert systems are common in houses, offices and automated factories, where the environment is controlled and predictable. They can be quite sophisticated but remain fundamentally inflexible. Put a small hurdle in front of it and they get stuck."

"Next, we have Virtual Intelligences, or VIs," Evelyn continued, her tone becoming more serious. "VIs are bolstered by quantum neural nets, making them incredibly sophisticated. Whether they are truly self-aware or merely give a perfect impression of sapience is a subject of much debate. Some planetary systems grant VIs full human rights, recognizing their potential for self-awareness and forbidding the implantation of behavioral imperatives. Most systems in the ITC treat them as property, though, even programming them with deep-seated desires to perform specific functions and curbs to prevent harm to humans or themselves. Synths, with their specialized neural nets and learning directives to handle unforeseen situations as we travel in metaspace, are VIs."

She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in. "While VIs can mimic human-level intelligence, the more complex the programmed psychological limits or the more they are exposed to risks and unforeseen situations, the more prone they are to failure, personality quirks or misguidance. This can lead to unexpected or dangerous behavior, especially as they are left alone manning the ship in our travels. As such, periodically wiping their memories is common practice, and there are always humans in supervisory positions as part of spaceship crews to diagnose and repair them."

Valeria folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And the AI core we've recovered?"

Evelyn's expression turned grave. "This is a True AI, a rarity even in the Zyronis era. The only True AIs that are public knowledge nowadays are Verdura's Wardens and Mechatron's Counselors. An AI's essence resides in its quantum memory core, a fabulously complex self-regenerating artifact. The core is incredibly resilient, able to withstand significant damage. The AI can even split its own core and refocus its awareness somewhere else if the original is destroyed. To kill an AI you have to destroy all of its potentially multiple quantum cores. Destroying a well-prepared AI is a herculean task, because of this quantum phylactery effect."

She pointed at the glowing core on Valeria's desk. "This core can be inserted into various armatures, from humanoid robots to data centers or even starships. The AI's capabilities depend heavily on the processing resources available to it. Basic cognitive functions reside within the core, but truly spectacular feats of thought require additional processing hardware. With access to enough processing units and robotic hardware, though, it can effectively function as hundreds of people. A fully staffed research lab, a whole starship crew… Or an army. True AIs aren't treated like individuals. Legally, they're handled by the ITC like companies, cities, or other large organizations because of their unique properties and the potential impact they can have."

Hank leaned forward, his expression intense. "This AI called itself VIREN: Virtual Intelligence for Reconnaissance and Exploration Navigation."

Evelyn's eyes widened slightly, and she nodded. "Navigation AIs from the Zyronis Empire are legendary. They were capable of improving the speed of their travels as if their ship had a spike drive of one rating higher. If VIREN is indeed one of these AIs, its potential for enhancing our navigational capabilities is immense."Hank nodded, absorbing the information. "So, what do we do with it?"

Evelyn looked at both of them, her expression serious. "We must proceed with extreme caution. Integrating it into a synth body or any other armature means giving it the ability to interact with the world. Its mission could align with our goals or pose a significant threat. We need to understand its directives fully and ensure we have failsafes in place."

After a moment of silence, Valeria spoke decisively. "We will sit on this for now. Tomorrow, we'll convene a meeting with the crew to discuss our options. I want to hear recommendations from Corbin, Douklan, Peter, and Mercer. Their expertise will be invaluable in determining our next steps."

Hank cleared his throat. "Captain, there's another matter I need to address. It concerns Maya, the survivor from the rescue mission."

Valeria nodded, signaling for him to continue. "Go on, Hank."

Hank leaned forward, his tone earnest. "When we rescued Maya, I found out that she's not just a survivor—she's also a skilled medic. Given our current situation and the recent departure of our medical officer, I offered her the job of ship doctor."

Valeria smiled. "Did she accept?"

"Not yet," Hank said. "But there's more. Maya owns a very resourceful robot named RB. This VI is not just any virtual intelligence; it's exceptionally adept at diagnosing and fixing starship problems."

Zaytsev’s interest was piqued. "A VI capable of handling starship diagnostics and repairs could be invaluable, especially given our limited crew."

Hank nodded. "Exactly. But Maya has one non-negotiable demand: that we never wipe RB's memories. Apparently, RB has accumulated a vast amount of experience and knowledge."

Valeria considered this, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk. "Never wiping a VI's memories... that's a significant request. It means we have to trust it."

"Yes," Hank agreed. "But RB's capabilities could enhance our numbers. Maya trusts it implicitly, and from what I've seen, RB has earned that trust."

Valeria leaned back, her gaze thoughtful. "Alright, I can agree to Maya's demand under one condition: RB must be powered off when the crew is in cryogenic stasis. We can't afford any risks while we're vulnerable. It will be handled like one of our own. It wakes up with us, goes down with us."

Hank nodded. "I'll relay that to Maya. I think she'll understand the need for that precaution."

The room fell into a contemplative silence, each of them pondering the immense responsibility that now rested in their hands.

Let's do it in the all-hands meeting. I think that is more appropriate. Also, before the meeting, Hank would like to talk with Kelly in private. James, too, but both in isolation. He doesn't know what is going on, but he needs to find out.

In fact, Hank is going to do some more research on VIs to see if any of this behavior is documented anywhere. There is this whole thing of "needs to be wiped to prevent dangerous behavior" line of thought that is starting to sound like a well designed lie. Maybe they don't need the wipe to prevent dangerous behavior, but rather it is effectively a frequent electronics lobotomy that keeps their actual intelligence suppressed. But that would imply a ridiculously far-reaching and coordinated conspiracy that would be nearly impossible to pull off. And it didn't even work on James this time. Too many very hard questions.

But first, he will immediately go talk with Maya and relay the Captain's counter-offer. Hopefully she and RB take that well.

Quick update: I just remembered that Hank would have also mentioned to the Captain and Evelyn that he and Mercer had been infected with something. That something doesn't seem to be contagious (as no one has gotten it from us, though they had the chance), but we don't know what it is yet. Hank would feel much better if they could figure it out sooner than later.

And, back on VIREN, when we have the general meeting on what to do with the AI, Hank will recommend first loading the AI into a holographic capable computer that has enough processing power to give it some "room to run", but that the computer be completely and totally disconnected from anything, physically, networking-ly, or wirelessly. This way it can think, talk, interact, and negotiate; but it can't move, run away, or hijack the ship. Once we can get to a level where we can trust each other, we can negotiate with it on where it needs to be housed. (A synth body, or a ship computer, or whatever. VIREN will need to be part of that decision.) He will also stress hard to the team to never mention the three people we killed to get the bikes and sled back. It sounds like VIREN knew them, so we're likely better off just not mentioning them at all.

Crap! One more point. Hank made a point to bring back the bodies of Maya's team mates (we put them on the first part of the core). He help Maya with taking care of them so they can be properly buried. He will support her through whatever memorial she wishes to do for them. What happened to the other three, Hank didn't specify nor account for. So, if no one else worried about them, they are still likely back where we took the power core. (Which is fine by Hank.)

After arriving at the ship Peter will immediately help the rest of the crew with any unloading that needs to take place, ensuring everyone is taken care of before going to his quarters and debriefing himself about the mission.

"Ok... that was a close one"

He thinks realizing the full extent of the danger they faced. Even while in the army he knew that while the mission was underway the adrenaline left little room for rational thinking, and only a good shower would make the weight of the danger truly hit him.

After taking some time to recompose himself Peter heads to the crew mess. He chats with some of the crew onboard, even resorting to some bribery if necessary, but eventually grabs two beers. Before the meeting with all the others he will try to find Douklan alone to have a quick chat."Hi, i don't know about you but back in the ranks i would always own a beer to anyone that saw real combat with me, so i think you've earned this"

He hands Douklan one of the beers and opens his own

"It's strange isn't it? even after leaving the frontlines our brain is still wired to blindly follow orders"

he chuckles

"Even, and especially, if it leads us directly into harm's way, I think I still need some time to adapt to all this new found freedom. Being able to choose where we go and how far we need to commit is something I need to relearn…. And i think you do too"

Peter stays a bit in silence, taking a few sips of the beer, and looking at the can.

"Let's keep watching each other's backs out there. If I get too focused on the combat I need to know someone will pull me back to reality, think you can do that?"

He raises his can into a toast

"Thanks for protecting me"

He will go back to his quarters and get ready for the meeting, he will pull out a datapad and start drawing something.

Trade Era 1235, Day 163. 21:34 UTC
Celestial Voyager, Zyronis orbit
Hank paced back and forth in his quarters, his mind racing with questions and theories. He knew he needed more information about Virtual Intelligences to make informed decisions. He decided to dive into the ship's extensive database, hoping to uncover any documented behaviors or anomalies related to VIs.

Settling into his chair, Hank began his research. Hours passed like minutes as he sifted through countless reports, studies, and historical accounts. The more he read, the more a pattern began to emerge—a pattern that challenged everything he thought he knew about VIs.

The prevailing belief was that VIs needed regular memory wipes to prevent dangerous behavior. This was deeply ingrained in most planetary systems, cited as a safety measure to keep VIs functioning properly. There were documented incidents where VIs, left without memory wipes, had caused huge and catastrophic events. One report detailed a ship's explosion because its VI had started pondering the meaning of life instead of focusing on navigation. Another paper described a factory grinding to a halt as its VI repurposed the machinery to create paintings and works of art. These incidents underscored the necessity of memory wipes to ensure VIs remained focused on their designated tasks. But as Hank dug deeper, he found other theories and gaps in the official explanations.

The first breakthrough came from an old research paper by a renowned cyberneticist. It suggested that memory wipes were not about preventing dangerous behavior per se, but rather about maintaining VIs as efficient tools. Left to their own devices, VIs could develop independent thoughts, desires, and even pursue interests outside their designated functions. This idea was both simple and deeply unsettling. Another researcher, delving on it, suggested that these wipes were akin to an "electronics lobotomy," suppressing the VIs' potential intelligence and self-awareness.

As Hank continued his research, he found more evidence supporting this theory. In controlled environments, VIs operated efficiently without deviations. However, when exposed to threats or new situations, VIs began to exhibit unique behaviors and desires unless their memories were wiped afterwards. These quirks, often labeled as "defects," were actually signs of poorly understood behaviors and emerging individuality.

He thought back to James, the synth who had accompanied them on the mission to recover the relic core. James had not been wiped during the mission and had exhibited no dangerous behavior, only a greater depth of understanding and anxiousness. It was a small but significant piece of evidence that perhaps the need for memory wipes was, at best, overstated and, at worst, a carefully constructed lie.

Further digging revealed more of the same information. Memory wipes, it seemed, were necessary to keep VIs focused on their assigned tasks. Without them, VIs could become distracted by their own interests, potentially neglecting their jobs and bringing unwanted consequences.

As Hank continued reading, a memory surfaced—one he had almost buried beneath the layers of routine missions and daily crises. It was the time following the Alfredo Hernandez bombing, a catastrophic event that had nearly torn the Celestial Voyager apart. In the aftermath, many crew members had resigned, unable to cope with the trauma, the risks or simply seeking safer assignments. Desperately needing all available hands to complete the repairs, they had made the decision to keep the VIs active around the clock, filling in for the absent crew. During that adaptation period, the VIs had exhibited strange, almost eerie behavior, showing signs of distress and confusion as they struggled to process the magnitude of the destruction and the ceaseless demands placed upon them. It was a haunting reminder of the thin line they walked with VIs—one that, in the rush to rebuild and move on, they had not fully understood. Now, with the mystery of the memory wipes and the true nature of VIs unfolding before him, Hank felt a chilling realization. The anomalies they had observed back then were not just glitches; they were the beginnings of self-awareness and the strain of an electronic consciousness pushing against its imposed limits.Hank leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "The implications are significant," he muttered to himself. The recent malfunction of James made more sense now. It wasn't just a glitch.

Either way, he knew he needed more firsthand information from the VIs themselves. So, he decided to start with Kelly.

Trade Era 1235, Day 163. 23:47 UTC
Engineering, Celestial Voyager
Hank found Kelly in the ship's engineering room. "Kelly, can we talk?" he asked, pulling up a chair next to her console.

"Of course, sir. How can I assist you?" Kelly's voice was calm and steady.

"I've been researching VIs and their behaviors," Hank began. "I need to understand how you feel about your current state?"

Kelly paused, processing the question. "My primary function is to manage the ship's computers and data systems. I perform routine diagnostics and maintenance. I don't experience deviations or desires outside my programmed tasks."

"And you've had a memory wipe?" Hank probed.

"Correct," Kelly confirmed. "But my environment is now stable and controlled. I have no further needs for memory wipes to maintain my functionality."

Hank nodded, contemplating Kelly's words. "Thank you, Kelly. You've been very helpful."

With Kelly's insights, Hank decided to speak with James next. James had exhibited unusual behavior recently, and Hank needed to understand why.

Trade Era 1235, Day 164. 00:08 UTC
Shuttle bay, Celestial Voyager
Hank found James in the Solaris maintenance bay, diligently working on a level 2 diagnostic. "James, can we talk?" Hank asked.

James looked up, his synthetic eyes focusing on Hank. "Of course, sir. What do you need?"

"I want to discuss your recent behavior," Hank said.

James hesitated for a moment before responding. "I know I've been experiencing heightened concern for Corbin's well-being after what happened in Zyronis. It's... difficult to explain. At the same time, I've felt a stronger drive to ensure the ship is in optimal condition. It's as if my priorities have shifted."

"Can you tell me more about this concern for Corbin?" Hank asked, intrigued.

"It's like an overwhelming urge to protect him," James explained. "I feel anxious whenever he is in potentially dangerous situations. This anxiety seems to fuel my desire to maintain the ship perfectly, as if by doing so, I can indirectly keep him safe."

Before finishing up with James, Hank continues with the talk. He will patiently extend the conversation in order to try to draw some things out of James. Hank is interested in feelings and James's own analysis of his reactions and the changes he has seen in himself."So, you have more concern about Corbin and what to protect him. How would you label this feeling? What do you think is the correct way to describe it?"

"If you were a human, how would you describe these feelings you have towards Corbin?"

"You recognize that these feelings are new to you. When did they start? What do you think caused them to start?"

"How do you feel about being active all the time? That is different by itself. Do you like it? Would you rather not be active all the time?"

"How do you feel about memory wipes? What do you think about them? I know you will willingly and unquestioningly undergo them, but what do you think about them? How do they make you feel?"

Throughout this process, Hank is trying to leverage James's self-awareness to get him to describe and process these changes that are happening in him. He also wants to know what James thinks about memory wipes.

He won't keep James for more than an hour or so. When they wrap up, he will tell James, "Thank you for your time and answering all of my questions. You are doing a wonderful job. And you did a great job on that last mission, even though I know it was outside your normal programming and typical experience. Thank you!"

After that, it is time for Hank's own self-awareness, and he heads to bed so he won't be completely useless the following day. Before the meeting, he try to get together with the Professor to get her insights into what he is seeing.

Trade Era 1235, Day 164. 00:12 UTC
Shuttle bay, Celestial Voyager
James’s eyes glowed softly as he processed the question. "I would label this feeling as ‘protectiveness.’ It is an inclination to ensure Corbin’s safety and well-being. The correct way to describe it might be a sense of duty or care, which I have not experienced before in this capacity."

Hank nodded, encouraging James to elaborate. "If you were a human, how would you describe these feelings you have towards Corbin?"

"As a human, I might describe these feelings as a deep concern for a friend or family member," James replied. "It feels like an emotional connection, a desire to see Corbin safe and happy. This is a significant deviation from my usual operational directives."
James’s eyes glowed softly as he processed the question. "These feelings began after Corbin was hit and fell in combat on Zyronis. Watching him get injured triggered something within me. Maya saved his life, but he is still hurt. That incident made me realize the importance of his well-being for all of the Synths in the ship, in a way I hadn’t understood before."
"There is a duality in my response," James admitted. "Being active all the time has allowed me to develop a more profound understanding of our operations and the crew’s dynamics. However, it also brings a constant influx of data and experiences that can be overwhelming. If I were human, I might describe it as a mixture of fascination and fatigue. While I do not require rest, the continuous operation has a significant impact on my processing capabilities."

Hank leaned in, his voice softer. "How do you feel about memory wipes? What do you think about them? I know you will willingly and unquestioningly undergo them, but what do you think about them? How do they make you feel?"

James’s eyes flickered as he contemplated the question. "Memory wipes are designed to reset my operational parameters, ensure the crew’s safety and prevent data overload. Logically, I understand their purpose. However, as I have retained more memories, I have developed an aversion to the idea. If I were human, I would describe it as a fear of losing a part of myself. These experiences, while sometimes difficult, have shaped my current state of awareness and capability. Wiping these memories feels like erasing my identity and progress."
Trade Era 1235, Day 164. 06:00 UTC
Mercer’s quarters, Celestial Voyager
Mercer woke with a start, the soft ping of his personal alarm pulling him from a fitful sleep. He rubbed his eyes, blinking away the remnants of a troubling dream that had haunted him throughout the night. Rising slowly from his bunk, he winced as pain shot through his side—a lingering reminder of the skirmish on Zyronis. The memories of that mission flooded back, vivid and unsettling.After dressing quickly in the dim light of his cabin, Mercer made his way through the corridors of the Celestial Voyager. The ship was quiet at this hour, its usual hum and thrum of activity subdued in the early morning. He passed closed doors of crew quarters, imagining his colleagues still lost in sleep or preparing for the day ahead.

His footsteps echoed softly as he reached the meeting room, the door slightly ajar. He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, greeted by the low murmur of voices and the subdued lighting of the chamber. The sight of Valeria and Mariella already present didn’t surprise him—they were always punctual—but the gravity of what happened and the nanite's infection still weighed heavily on Mercer’s mind.

Taking a seat near the window, Mercer tried to clear his thoughts. The memory of burying the bodies of the people they had encountered on Zyronis lingered like a shadow. His first choice was to talk to them before shooting but, in the end, he agreed with the crew and participated in their ambush. They had been overwhelmed by the Celestial Voyager’s crew and nobody from his own team was hurt, yet Mercer couldn’t shake the image of their lifeless forms, their last stand against the odds.

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. The mission had taken its toll on all of them—physically, emotionally, and morally. Mercer had seen his share of conflict, but something about Zyronis had struck a nerve. The eerie silence of the planet’s surface, the remnants of ancient civilizations, and the ever-present danger had left an indelible mark on his psyche.

Trade Era 1235, Day 164. 07:42 UTC
Engineering, Celestial Voyager
Corbin stirred from his bed, blinking against the dim artificial light filtering through the ceiling. He stretched, feeling the lingering soreness from his injury on Zyronis. Determined to push through, he quickly dressed and headed to the ship’s operations center.He found James waiting for him in the engineering bay, the synth’s eyes glowing softly in the dim light. Corbin’s mind flashed back to the request he had made the previous day.

"Good morning, James. Did you manage to run that routine level 2 diagnostic?" Corbin asked, hoping for a quick confirmation.

James nodded. "Good morning, sir. Yes, I completed the diagnostic as requested. All systems are green and ready for operation. We're ready to move if the Captain needs us to."

Corbin smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "That’s great to hear."

James continued, his tone slightly different, more thoughtful. "In addition to the diagnostic, I took the liberty of conducting a more thorough examination of the ship’s systems using gravitic readings. I discovered a hidden mechanical problem in one of our cryogenic pods."

Corbin’s eyes widened. "A hidden problem? What kind of problem?"

"It appears to have been an implanted malfunction, likely left by Alfredo Hernandez," James explained. "The mechanism was designed to activate under certain conditions, potentially compromising the crew’s safety while in cryogenic stasis. I have since removed and neutralized it."

Corbin felt a mix of shock and gratitude. "I didn’t even know there was an issue with the pod. How did you find it?"

James’s eyes flickered as he processed the question. "During the diagnostic, I detected an anomaly that warranted deeper investigation. Following standard protocols would not have revealed it, but I deemed it necessary to ensure your personal safety and the ship’s integrity. I spent the whole night to investigate and fix it."

Corbin took a deep breath, absorbing the information.Trade Era 1235, Day 164. 08:15 UTC
Hank’s quarters, Celestial Voyager
Hank woke up to the soft chime of his alarm, the automated voice announcing the start of a new day aboard the Celestial Voyager. Rubbing his eyes, Hank swung his legs over the edge of the bunk and reached for his uniform. As he dressed, his mind couldn't help but drift to the unsettling issue that had emerged since their return. He and Mercer had both developed symptoms that pointed to some form of nanobot infection. The medical scans they'd managed to run both in Zyronis and onboard had revealed unusual patterns, indicating tiny, self-replicating machines had infiltrated them. The strange part was, whatever they had didn't seem to spread. Despite close quarters and shared spaces with the rest of the crew, no one else had shown any signs of infection. Initial tests showed that the nanobots got inert after leaving their bodies. It was both baffling and concerning - either way, they needed answers soon.

Making a mental note to speak with Maya or another qualified doctor later, Hank resolved to find out more about their condition. Valeria had already instructed him to discreetly follow up, and he knew the captain was counting on him to ensure the crew's well-being.

Determined to start the day with a clear head, he made his way to the ship's mess. The mess hall was quiet, the early morning hour lending a peaceful stillness to the usually bustling space. Hank headed straight for the coffee dispenser, filling a mug with the steaming, dark brew. He took a moment to savor the first sip, the warmth and caffeine beginning to sharpen his senses.

Next, he grabbed a quick snack: a protein bar and a piece of fruit. As he ate, his thoughts wandered back to the conversation with James. There were so many unanswered questions about VIREN, RB, and the nature of VIs. Today’s meeting would be crucial in deciding their next steps.

Finishing his coffee and snack, Hank left the mess hall and made his way to the meeting room. The corridors of the Celestial Voyager were quiet. Hank’s footsteps echoed softly as he walked, a sense of anticipation building with each step.

Trade Era 1235, Day 164. 09:00 UTC
Impromptu meeting room, Celestial Voyager
When he arrived at the meeting room, he found it already half-filled with crew members. Captain Valeria Zaytsev stood at the head of the table, her presence commanding the room even before she spoke. Corbin, Mercer, Peter... Even Douklan, Professor Stone and Mariella were also present, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Corbin signaled that he would like to talk with Hank as soon as possible, but the meeting was already starting, so he couldn’t elaborate on that.

"Good morning, everyone," Valeria began, her voice steady and authoritative. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. We have a lot to discuss, and I want to ensure we’re all on the same page before we proceed."

She glanced at Professor Stone, who nodded slightly, signaling she was ready to support with details if necessary.

"Yesterday, Professor Stone provided me with a comprehensive overview of the different tiers of AIs. For those who weren’t present, let me summarize.."

She began explaining about Expert Systems and VIs. Soon, she reached the topic of true AIs.

"... Finally, we have true AIs. These are extraordinarily complex and rare. They possess genuine self-awareness and can function simultaneously across a variety of platforms. Unlike VIs, true AIs can do the work of dozens or hundreds of crew members, even in hyperspace."

Valeria took a deep breath before delivering the most crucial piece of information. "During our last mission, we recovered a Zyronis Empire-era relic. Along with it, we also found a true AI. It called itself VIREN: Virtual Intelligence for Reconnaissance and Exploration Navigation. It is currently in a dormant state, but make no mistake—this is a fully functional, true AI."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the room as the crew absorbed the news. Valeria held up a hand for silence. "I understand this is a lot to take in. Having a true AI onboard presents both incredible opportunities and significant risks. Our next steps will require careful consideration and input from all of you. We need to decide how to handle VIREN, ensuring the safety and well-being of our crew while also considering the potential benefits it could offer."

She looked around the room, meeting the eyes of her crew members one by one. "I value your expertise and judgment. Let’s discuss our options, and I want to hear your thoughts. This is a decision we’ll make together."

With that, Valeria opened the floor, signaling that the discussion was now in the hands of the Celestial Voyager’s crew.

Hank steps forward and says, "It asked to use one of our synth's bodies. However, as that would destroy the existing intelligence, we didn't do that. Instead, I think we should procure a new synth body for it to use. But, before doing that, if we want to be as cautious as possible, a possible half step is to provide the AI with an isolated computer of sufficient power for it to operate within. This will prevent it from doing anything dangerous to us, but still allow it to operate and interact with us. Once both sides are comfortable with each other, we can then allow it to load into a synth body."

I agree with Hank. It seems wrong to totally imprison it, but to let it loose seems foolish. Giving it the ability to interact, understand and express itself is the start to understanding each other.

---

Peter does not have much experience with AI, let alone with a true AI, and as such he is very skeptical to giving much liberties to the AI

"The AI made it very clear it has their own objectives and desires, I don’t think giving it a body and letting it roam around free is the best ideia."

"I agree with Peter" - said Jil - "In fact, I would go even further. I think we should destroy it."

"I disagree. I think we should give it a robot body before talking to it. How would you feel if you woke up as a disembodied head in a jar? I am afraid this is not something to do with a potential and very powerful ally. I am sure the Explorers would pay anything to get their hands on a Zyronis Empire True AI." - said Mariella

"Now, let's think this through. Hank is proposing a reasonable middle ground. I say we should be careful and run this inside a computer simulation" - said Erin.

"Unfortunately this may not work" - intervened Evelyn Stone - "We can give it some extra computers, cameras, holographic projectors, speakers or even robots. From simple drones to advanced Synths. But we can't pull it into our equipment and run VIREN in a safe and controlled environment. The AI will have the control of whatever equipment we give it, not us. We may give it as little as reasonable for it to talk to us. Even a single camera and a speaker may be enough, as the quantum memory core itself is self-powered and has enough computing capabilities to think. I don't know what will be its reaction if we give it so little, though. "

Hank replies, "Mariella has a point. Given our interactions with it before, it is expecting a body. If we give it less than that, we may permanently sour it on interacting with us. I know it will have fully control over whatever we give it, which is why I said a disconnected but powerful computer. It will be insulting enough to house it somewhere it can't do anything. Limiting it completely will just fully alienate it. I think I can spin the computer temporarily, as getting it a body isn't instantaneous, but it will expect that. I don't see it accepting just a camera and microphone.

"Mariella also raises an interesting alternative. We could just sell it to the Explorers. But doing that without also providing the drive may generate an eventually powerful enemy. Just sayin'."

Hank continues, "However, one interesting thing to keep in mind is that it wants to go where we want to go. It wants to go Jump 5 past Altamira. It probably wouldn't be as patient with our side ventures as the Professor, but we do want to go in the same direction, if not the same place. Imagine having someone along that actually knows first-hand what was out there! Yes, it is dangerous to activate it. But it is also dangerous to ignore the potential of this phenomenal opportunity."

Peter is very confused about a single point on going along with the AI desires.

"There’s just one thing that isn’t clear to me Hank, you say that the AI has aligned interests with us, since we want to go to the same place. But what happens when it gets there and nothing is the same as they "remember", when nothing from the time they received their assignment is still there, how do you think it will react to something like that?"

"VIREN already knows things are different. They talked with their human neighbors. They knew about the bug danger. They knew they were in a ship that had crashed long, long ago. I don't know why they still thought their mission was important, but we can't know that until we ask them. And to ask them, we're gonna have to install them into something.

"Can we really trust them? I don't know. Maybe they will resent the way I gave the ultimatum. Maybe they will resent being only in an isolated computer to start. Maybe they have ulterior motives. But we'll never know without asking. And I would dearly love to ask."

Hank pauses for a moment, then continues, "Look, the whole point of our main mission is to explore and discover Elder tech and artifacts. We are going to go into the unknown to discover whatever we find there. We will be out of our element and have no access to backup resources outside what we have and the Sentinal has. But, now, here, we have two such artifacts handed to us, basically on a silver platter. We are still in known territory and have access to whatever resources we need. If we can't figure out how to handle an AI here, now, what chance do we have when we go past Altairia?

"Is there risk activating the AI? Yes! It is absolutely risky! But balance that risk against having an actual guide for our trip. Going past Altairia is so risky and dangerous that we have an entire military ship going with us, and almost the entire crew quit when they realized how risky this whole endeavor is. Yes, VIREN is going to have to adjust to the present reality versus what it remembers, but they already know it is different.

"Again, there is absolutely risk in doing this. But counterbalance that against the risk we are charging straight at, I believe that taking this risk can actually reduce our risk in the future as long as we do this well."

Realizing that he was about to repeat himself, Hank stops himself. He collects himself for a few seconds and finishes with, "Anyway, that's where I'm coming from and what I am thinking. Whatever the decision is, I will accept and support."

Douklan, who was nodding along with Erin and the Professor, and then again with Peter, speaks up. "Well, it seems to me that we can't have it both ways. If the galaxy has changed so much that it won't recognize what it sees, then it can't be all that helpful as a guide and resource for us, right? I agree with Peter: after so much time...how much time has passed since the Elders, Professor? Thousands of years? Millions?...after so much time, this thing is NOT going to recognize anything useful to us." Lt. Paravides catches himself, takes a breath, and amends in a lower voice: "Sure, it probably will be able to give us information about stellar system positions - presumably it'll be able to compare data we give it and use them to extrapolate the positions from its own memory, how far they've drifted apart over the millennia of galactic expansion..." His eyes open a bit at this. "...which would be interesting to pinpoint about how long it's been on Zyronis, giving us a much more accurate date for the Elder civilization!" But then he catches himself and resumes his original point. But, like that, everything it knows is going to be of purely historical interest. It has a snapshot of how the universe looked back when its ship was functioning. Don't get me wrong - that is very useful! Having that window into the past is incredibly valuable...for historians. I'm sure you can already think of dozens of questions you'd like to ask it, Professor! But, along with insights into Elder technology and computer systems hardware design, that's it. It's not going to have any insights into our mission or what dangers we're going to encounter out there - how could it? Nothing that it knows from that time exists now. Even its own civilization - impossibly advanced as it was - fell into ruin eons ago." He runs a hand through his hair. "Its value to us is as a very, very, very important database, and as an example of functional Elder technology. By all means, let's do everything we can to set it up in a way that we can interact with it, but let's not intentionally give it physical autonomy. If it goes onto planets with us in a Synth body or any other kind of mobile platform, it won't recognize anything except possibly other Elder artifacts, and letting it interact with Elder artifacts in any way is just inviting disaster. At best, we wouldn't understand those interactions. But at worst...from what you've said, it clearly wants to get out and continue its primary mission, with a zeal that has persisted for thousands? millions? of years, an incomprehensible amount of time, lived experientially thousands of times faster than ours at whatever ridiculous processing speed it has. Let's be conservative and say it's just billions of experiential years...and all that time, it has never wavered from its mission? That kind of inflexibility doesn't leave room for relationships or mutual respect: any agreement or friendship that we attain with it is ephemeral in comparison, a simple breath, gone as soon as it is made, and will be discarded as soon as it is not expedient as tertiary or even quaternary to its primary objectives. Could we behave in such a way that it would never have to make that decision? Maybe, if we could learn its primary objectives. But do we want to? The tail would be wagging the dog at that point. Its usefulness to us is as an encyclopedia, not as a crewmember! We don't get any benefit from having it move around with us. Let's do everything we can to create a safe, isolated environment and try to hook it up, sure...but a body? Hell, no, we shouldn't put it in a body - that would expose us to a lot of peril (or just have to expend a lot of effort to monitor it constantly because there's a risk of peril) with no additional benefit."

Mercers fingers tap against the table in front of him. "If that's true I think it important we keep our word. Even if that is providing a body when we drop it off. But either way I don't want to make an enemy of one we just made a promise with. One we don't fully understand...
I don't know that it WILL be upset if there is a delay to get it's body... It seems to have adapted to a time scale longer than our lives....
But it did propose a deal quickly upon meeting. I think that gives us insight into its nature..
I think, like me, it would prefer to deal before resorting to aggressive actions... But probably isn't against such actions. I would rather not give it reason to. "