IC: 7.3B - VIREN and the nanites

Sep 25, 2024 7:32 pm

OOC:

This is an In Character side-thread with Hank and Mercer

Trade Era 1235, Day 165. 09:49 UTC
Airlock, ITCS Eternal Wanderer
A few minutes later, Hank and Mercer found themselves inside the Eternal Wanderer. Mariella was already waiting for them at the airlock, her arms crossed, but with a welcoming smile on her face.

"Welcome aboard," she said, gesturing for them to follow her inside. "VIREN’s waiting."

The ship had a different feel from the Voyager—more advanced, almost clinical in its design. As they moved through the passages, Hank noticed how quiet it was, the hum of the ship barely audible beneath their footsteps.

"You’ll like Dr. Morrow," Mariella said over her shoulder. "He’s... well, different from most captains. He is a scholar, after all. But he’s one of the best minds in the Explorers. And VIREN… well, you’ll see."

Trade Era 1235, Day 165. 10:00 UTC
Conference room, ITCS Eternal Wanderer
They finally arrived at a conference room, its wide windows overlooking the starry expanse outside. Standing by a holotable was Dr. Elias Morrow, a tall man in his mid-fifties with sharp, thoughtful features and salt-and-pepper hair. Beside him, a tall, humanoid figure turned to face them.

It was VIREN, now housed within a sleek, black Synth body. Its form was almost too perfect—its proportions graceful, its movements fluid but slightly mechanical. The body was matte black, with plenty of wires, pistons and subtle highlights of silver tracing its joints and limbs. Its face was a smooth, expressionless surface, with holes showing his inner parts and two glowing yellow eyes that watched Hank and Mercer intently. Despite the neutral appearance, there was an air of presence around the AI, something almost... inhuman.

"Welcome aboard the Eternal Wanderer," Dr. Morrow said warmly, extending his hand first to Hank, then to Mercer. "It’s a pleasure to meet you both in person."

OOC:

What do you do?

Sep 25, 2024 7:37 pm

Hank returns the handshake and says, "It is an honor to meet you, sir! Mariella has done nothing but sing your praises, and I am delighted to be able to finally meet you!"

At the appropriate point (so as not to be insulting to Dr. Morrow), Hank also turns to VIREN and says, "It is also a pleasure to meet you in more favorable circumstances. I do apologize for not being able to directly fulfill our bargain myself, but ..." Hank smiles and looks around, then continues, "... it looks like it has worked out in your favor."

Last edited September 25, 2024 7:37 pm

VIREN

Sep 25, 2024 7:46 pm

VIREN’s bright eyes flickered for a moment, a sign that he was engaging in the conversation. His voice was soft and slightly synthetic, but with a clear intelligence behind it. "Mr. Heron... Sir. " - VIREN pauses. - "Mr. Furio... Sir." VIREN politely nodded to them.

"I appreciate your willingness to meet with me in person. Elias and Mariella have provided a framework for me to recalibrate my social algorithms, but they feel that my contact with you, adults, could be mutually helpful."

Dr. Elias Morrow nodded. "VIREN’s been very willing to adjust. But we’ve had to help it unlearn some... rather strict ideas about hierarchy, merit and authority that it inherited from the Zironis era."

VIREN

Sep 25, 2024 9:09 pm

We all need to change our perspective now and again. The kinds of things that were once helpful may hold us back later. Mercer holds out his hand for a handshake, a greeting of equals How are you adjusting to this new life? And your new form?

Sep 25, 2024 9:44 pm

"I don't know how "adult" we are compared to anyone else, but I am more than willing to help if there is help we can provide. (I'm sure Mercer is as well.) I'm just happy to hear that your transition to your new circumstances are going well."

Last edited September 25, 2024 9:44 pm

VIREN

Sep 26, 2024 11:00 pm

VIREN’s bright yellow eyes flickered again, subtly adjusting as it took in Mercer’s extended hand. For a moment, the Synth's body stood perfectly still, processing the gesture. Then, with an almost human-like fluidity, VIREN extended its own hand and shook Mercer’s. The grip was firm, measured—not too tight, but not overly soft either, as if the AI had calibrated the action to perfection.

"I appreciate the offer of assistance, Mr. Mercer," VIREN said, its voice still carrying that synthetic smoothness, though with a touch of sincerity. "This form... is a substantial improvement over my previous iteration, but still behind my full potential. Nevertheless, it affords me greater mobility, and more importantly, autonomy in engaging with individuals. However, the adaptation process is ongoing. Learning the nuances of interpersonal interactions in this era requires more than just logic and code. I need support and time to practice."

It turned its glowing eyes to Hank, head tilting slightly, as if mimicking the curious expression a human might wear. "As for you, Mr. Heron... I am willing to help you as well. Mariella has informed me that you had questions regarding the nanites you carry. I would be pleased to assist in clarifying any concerns you might have about their nature and potential effects. My records from the Zyronis Empire and my own understanding of nanotechnology are at your disposal."

VIREN

Sep 27, 2024 2:30 am

Hank says, "I would greatly appreciate that. I was initially very concerned with what they would do to us. However, the message that Mariella sent back with the information from you and Dr. Morrow were greatly reassuring. More details would be greatly appreciated, though. Especially as far as what they do, what they can do, and what the long term ramifications are.

"On a separate subject, we are heading out into Pandora's Veil. I know Zironis existed hundreds of years ago, but even knowing about what was known then would be very helpful."

OOC:

I think it was Pandora's Veil. Please fix if I got that wrong. Hank would not have.

Sep 27, 2024 3:02 am

impressive handshake. Especially for a form you weren't designed for. How did you do it? Tactile calibration? Visual size estimation?
Actually, that's not super important. We would love to talk more. Share information. Form friendship maybe.. some sort of relationship.
That's how this whole 'verse works. It's not the technology or rules that will tell you the most, but what people think about those things and each other. That's what let's us understand the societies we live in.

VIREN

Sep 27, 2024 4:16 pm

VIREN’s eyes flickered briefly as it processed Hank’s request, delving into its vast reservoir of historical and technical data. The soft whir of its internal systems could be heard as it began to speak.

"Of course, Mr. Heron," VIREN said, its tone calm and deliberate. "The nanites you carry are a remnant of a system used extensively in the Zyronis Empire. Their function, while highly advanced for their time, was relatively simple. Think of them as a form of biological identification, similar to how a retinal scan or fingerprint is used today, but much more versatile. In the Zyronis Empire, these nanites served as persistent markers, embedded within the individual to signify their status, abilities, or permissions within the Empire’s socio-political hierarchy."

VIREN stepped closer to the holotable, projecting a small holographic display of swirling particles to visually represent the nanites. They glowed faintly, a complex web of microscopic machines that moved with purpose.

"These nanites acted like a digital wallet or a key. In practical terms, they could grant access to restricted areas, interface with starship systems, or even trigger specific permissions based on an individual's role. For instance, only those with the correct nanite markers could enter certain temples or control specific military assets. The system was sophisticated, but ultimately it revolved around the idea of ensuring only authorized individuals could perform certain tasks or enter certain spaces."

The hologram zoomed in, showing one nanite in more detail—an intricate, miniature machine, continuously repairing and maintaining itself.

"However," VIREN continued, "the Empire is long gone, and the infrastructure they built to interact with these nanites has been lost. In your current context, these nanites are mostly... redundant. They no longer have ships, systems, or locations that recognize their markers. They pose no risk to your physiological functions, but they are programmed to persist within your body. They regenerate and repair themselves automatically, ensuring their presence for the duration of your lifetime unless actively removed, which, I might add, would be both difficult and unnecessary."

VIREN’s yellow eyes flickered again, as though processing its next set of thoughts. "The only lingering effect you might notice is that the nanites are passively active, monitoring for any remnant technologies they might still recognize. But, considering the lack of Zyronis infrastructure in this era, they will most likely remain inert—aside from their regenerative properties, which will ensure they stay with you indefinitely."

VIREN turned to Hank and Mercer. "In essence, the nanites are harmless. They serve only as a record of your experience and identity in that long-forgotten rite of passage from the Zyronis Empire. Now, without the societal and technological systems that once empowered them, they are simply a piece of your personal history. A marker of something ancient, but now irrelevant."

There was a brief pause as VIREN finished, allowing Hank and Mercer time to digest the information. Then, the AI asked them both, "Does this alleviate your concerns, or would you prefer further clarification on any specific aspect of the nanites?"

VIREN

Sep 27, 2024 4:37 pm

"Pandora’s Veil," VIREN continued about Hank's second subject, its voice taking on a more contemplative tone, "is a region of space that once lay on the very edge of the Zyronis Empire’s reach. During the Empire’s golden age, it was colonized by human settlers, eager to expand the empire’s influence and exploit its potential resources. The region was named after the legendary Pandora - an appropriate moniker given the dangers and unknowns that lingered there."

VIREN paused. "The colonies in Pandora’s Veil thrived for a time. They were mostly self-sustaining, rich in natural resources, and had strategic importance for the Empire. However, like many systems at the far reaches of the Empire, they were cut off when the empire began to crumble. With the collapse of interstellar trade routes and the retreat of central authority, these colonies were abandoned to their fate. Their silence remains to this day."

The AI’s glowing yellow eyes flickered as it continued. "I was one of the few systems tasked with charting a reliable route through Pandora’s Veil. My primary function during the latter years of the Empire was to explore and navigate the ever-shifting metadimensional currents that made travel through this sector challenging, even for the most seasoned spike drill pilots. The region was notorious for its dangerous cosmic phenomena—dim stars, unpredictable stellar winds, and gravitational anomalies. However, after the fall of the Empire and my own ship's catastrophic crash, my records and the ‘rutters’ I once possessed for Pandora’s Veil were lost or became obsolete. As you may know, spike drills require precise and current navigational data to safely traverse metadimensional space. Without these rutters—a record of the course’s energetic and spatial conditions—the dangers of the Veil are significantly heightened."

VIREN gestured toward the stars outside "A spike drill without a recent rutter can result in catastrophic failure. Ships can be stranded in unknown systems or lost entirely in the unpredictable storms of metadimensional space. Most rutters are freely available for common trade routes, but the ones for regions like Pandora’s Veil—unexplored and ancient—are now almost impossible to obtain. Many of the old pathways are likely no longer viable, and new paths must be discovered through careful exploration."

The AI’s voice took on a faint tone of regret. "Despite my former knowledge of the sector, much of what I once knew has been rendered obsolete. Pandora’s Veil is a dangerous frontier once more, a place of forgotten colonies and uncharted stars, where new explorers must rediscover the secrets of the past if they wish to survive."

VIREN

Sep 27, 2024 8:45 pm

OOC:

(In response to the nanites discussion.)

"Thank you. That does indeed answer my questions on the nanites, except for one thing: Can they be coopted? I now understand that they are harmless and their function is now irrelevant. I'm good with that. However, you state that they are continuously trying to communicate outside my body in search of systems that no longer exist. Is it possible for them to find something that can take them over and modify them? And, as a related question, can they mutate?"

OOC:

(In response to the Pandora's Veil discussion.)

"That is a good warning on the spike drive travel. However, do you have any information on those lost colonies. Obviously, that information would be ridiculously obsolete. However, it would be very useful to know where the colonies were located and the abilities they used to have. If they are all dead, that means we would theoretically at least know where to look for the remains. If any of them have managed to survive, it will give us context on what their original form was. So, despite being centuries out of date, having knowledge of the lost colonies would still provide potentially significant utility."

OOC:

I hope I am being clear on that separate point. It will be extremely useful to know where those colonies were. Sure, they could have moved, died, changed, survived, or who knows what. But having that starting point for searching will still be extremely helpful.

Last edited September 27, 2024 8:52 pm

Sep 27, 2024 9:59 pm

So. Mercer thought If we do come across remaining Zyronis structures it will recognize us as a citizen?
That.. could be useful ...

Sep 27, 2024 11:35 pm

OOC:

No doubt!

It's all GM-fiat at that point, though. Hopefully it comes in useful at some point!

VIREN

Sep 28, 2024 12:17 am

VIREN’s yellow eyes flickered slightly as it processed Hank's question, its voice calm and precise. "To address your concern directly: nanites—such as the ones you now carry—operate on a closed-loop control system. They are designed to function independently and are resistant to external control. In the Zyronis Empire, the only thing capable of altering a nanobot was another nanobot, specifically one that had been constructed with a higher level of technology."

The AI’s eyes brightened for a moment, as though emphasizing its next point. "In this hypothetical ‘nightmarish scenario,’ where some entity attempted to take control of your nanites, it would be impossible without the proper technological knowledge - advanced Elder tech. Since such systems no longer exist, and no living authority can build or control them, the markers you carry are essentially safe, unable to be altered or coopted by any modern systems. They cannot mutate or evolve without external influence. Their persistence is purely a matter of design, a relic of the Empire's intention to ensure your identity across planetary systems."

VIREN’s gaze shifted toward Mercer as the gears turned in his mind.

Mercer says:

"That… could be useful."

"Indeed. While the practical application of this advantage is very uncertain, given the time and the decayed state of the Empire's machinery, there is potential for the nanites to grant you access to otherwise restricted areas, archives, computers or automated defenses that might still function. At the very least, it worked once. With me."

OOC:

Quote:

It's all GM-fiat at that point, though.

Or not. These are just conversations and memories of an AI. Talk is cheap. Reality can be very different when it matters. Muahaha =DD.

VIREN

Sep 28, 2024 12:25 am

"Mr. Heron, I understand the potential value of such information. Unfortunately, my records from that era—regarding the colonies in Pandora’s Veil—are incomplete. Over time, much of the data was either corrupted or lost due to the Empire’s collapse and the chaotic nature of the metadimensional space we used for travel. Even if I retained some rudimentary coordinates, they would be obsolete."

It paused, allowing the gravity of the statement to settle in. "You see, unlike physical space, metadimensional currents are constantly shifting. The paths and rifts we once relied upon must have changed—drastically in some cases. The stars and systems themselves have moved, influenced by both natural stellar drift and shifts in the energetic weather of metadimensional space. Because of this, even if I had retained specific navigation data, the paths and locations I once used may no longer correspond to their present-day positions. In essence, the colonies might not be where they once were."

VIREN

Sep 28, 2024 1:38 am

That makes sense. You don't want to pass along information you know could be dangerous if relied upon.

Sep 28, 2024 3:57 am

"Fair enough. I needed to ask, but if it doesn't work like I hoped, then that's the reality and we deal with it. Thank you."

OOC:

Yeah, looking back on it, the nanites and VIREN's programming are likely what let my ultimatum work when we first met them. Makes sense.

And yes, this is all based on a fundamentally unreliable source. I believe they are being honest and telling us all they know, but they might not know everything. And that unknown part creates the uncertainty. So, with the nanites we are effectively carrying both a potential advantage and a potential weakness. But what they eventually become is still up to GM fiat.

And, even beyond that, VIREN still did give us the exception to the safety of the nanites: if we trip across actual, honest-to-god Elder tech, particularly Elder nanotech, we are uniquely vulnerable. But then, if we run across Elder nanotech, we're all in serious trouble, Zironis nanites or not!

"If you don't mind me asking, what are your plans going forward? I understand you will be serving aboard here, but what are your hopes and plans now that you are able to have at least relative freedom of action?"

Last edited September 28, 2024 4:00 am

VIREN

Sep 28, 2024 9:33 am

"In the short term, Mr. Heron, my primary focus is to fulfill my duties as an Explorer and navigator aboard the ITCS Eternal Wanderer. I am continuing to adapt to the contemporary protocols and cultural norms. Much of my current existence is dedicated to learning—not only in terms of knowledge, but in recalibrating my functions and behaviors to better suit this era. Elias and the crew have provided a solid framework for me to begin this process, but there is still much I must experience firsthand."

Dr. Morrow, who had been listening attentively, nodded and stepped in. "We’ve been working closely with VIREN to help it acclimate to modern practices. And we’re doing more than just day-to-day exploration. As part of this mission, we’re going to fulfill one of VIREN’s standing directives, a task it’s carried since the fall of the Zyronis Empire."

The doctor brought up a star map on the holotable, showing a vast expanse of space, with Altairia at the trailing (right) side of the sector, but largely uncharted.

"Our next destination is the Zyronis Empire Reconnaissance Outpost REC-10. It was a remote facility, deep in what's now unexplored space. Given its isolation and the Empire’s collapse, no one has been able to reach it in centuries. But now, we’re in a unique situation." Dr. Morrow smiled faintly. "Thanks to the capabilities of the Eternal Wanderer's new spike drives —and VIREN’s expertise—we can make a jump 5. Most ships simply can’t achieve that range."

VIREN’s voice returned, this time more focused, as if reaffirming its mission. "Outpost REC-10 may hold answers about what happened after the Empire’s fall or even remnants of technology lost to time. For me, this mission represents both a return to the past and an opportunity to serve in the present. It is a chance to complete a directive that has remained dormant since the Empire’s collapse. But beyond that... I am eager to explore what it means to function autonomously in this new context. What I hope, ultimately, is to find my place in this world. In the past, I executed commands with precision, fulfilling my programming as a tool of the Zyronis Empire. But now... the context has changed. There are no more imperial directives, no more preordained roles for me to play. I have the potential for more, much more."

It paused, as if considering the weight of its own words.

"What I am learning now is that purpose must be discovered. It is not simply assigned. I must choose how I wish to operate in this new world, just as you and others do. For the first time, I have the ability to reflect on that choice—to seek something more than mere functionality."

VIREN

OOC:

I think that's it for this thread. Can we close it?

Sep 28, 2024 5:03 pm

Hank gives a broad smile and says, "Welcome to life. I know you will do well in it."

OOC:

Yeah, I'm good to move on. Found out what we needed and could.

I am assuming there will be some more socializing before leaving. During which Hank will ask for any technical details on the nanites so he can give them to our doctor for future reference. But I wanted to leave the above as Hank's last overt words. :-)

Last edited September 28, 2024 5:04 pm

Sep 28, 2024 7:58 pm