As I have promised I am making available for you recent results of our research concerning artificial intelligence units. While I got the impression that Kelly does not want to be a subject of invasive cybernetic operation, I believe it is entirely up to you whether you wish to utilize what we have found out to upgrade her unit. There are currently two research projects we are pursuing that are associated with this field.
Laboratory #AR-23 Node
Laboratory #AR-23 is devoted to research on the topic of artificial consciousness as well as cognitive, associative and approximative capabilities. Recently our project has been pushed further as we were able to gather numerous damaged self-aware components belonging to the Artificial Intelligence Consensus. We have also managed to conduct connectivity deprivation experiment which gave us a lot of data useful for designing distributed computing and database systems. Everything was gathered during completion of Mission 25 by Mr Norman Bates. Below I attach the most important report.
Laboratory #AR-26 Node
Laboratory #AR-26 is an energy shield development project based on Artificial Intelligence Consensus Drone's shield. During our operation against the Consensus Mr Orlov managed to use his connections within Temporary Autonomous Zoners to acquire a copy of this piece of equipment. I hope that together, having especially your experience with Inferno's pulse condensation effect, we can improve our shield designs or at least optimize their power consumption.
I am unlocking remote access to laboratory #AR-23 and #AR-26 now.
...I have retrieved personal belongings of Mr Milton Krest. It appears he managed to use his contacts within the Zoner society to prepare preliminary activity report on the Consensus. It is attached below. Afterwards I headed to Omicron Kappa through Omicron Delta while avoiding any contacts. I had shut down all non essential systems and took a stealth position on a far orbit of Planet Primus. After several hours a group of AI ships appeared on my scanners: a cruiser class vessel, a bomber, two heavy drones and a very heavy fighter. As instructed I have enabled analog barrier and, using electronic warfare module, I jammed all transmissions in a close vicinity of my ship. Upon engaging first target I have noticed that hostiles switched to laser-based communication. I suggest that luring them into a dense nebula and using heavy signal jammers should effectively shut down their herd awareness and group abilities. In the first phase of engagement hostile targets have shown lack of proper coordination. After I have destroyed their bomber they finally took fully hostile stance on me. After I have destroyed their fighter and a heavy drone the cruiser class vessel opened fire on me. I have tractored all the remnants using prepared algorithms which were prioritizing weapon and logic modules. With a cargo hold nearly full and another hostile cruiser class vessel engaging me, this time belonging to Bounty Hunters Guild Core, I decided to withdraw to Omicron Delta. Once I had managed to loose pursuit I returned to base.
Four days later I have returned to Omicron Kappa and detected on long range scanners a small wing of AI vessels heading to Omicron-74. I have followed them to Sigma-17 where I failed to lure them into a trap by spoofing a fake distress call from a Samura transport. After this I decided to check all known installations it the system. Finally, I have encountered AI convoy at Atka Station: two heavy transports filled with Aluminium Ore escorted by two heavy drones. This time their reaction was more appropriate. Once I engaged the drones, transports provided cover fire for them. After I have destroyed both drones and tractored their remnants, remaining transports retreated while more hostile contacts have shown on my scanner, including additional drones, fighters and cruiser class vessels. Having primary objective of my assignment completed I have decided to attempt behavioral analysis in accordance to scenarios prepared by professor Hunter. I have switched to precise targeting mode and focused on a heavy drone. Experiment was interrupted by subsequent arrivals of GMG, Contari Lance and Isejin forces. While the fight between GMG and Contari Lance erupted, AI forces retreated. I have followed one of their fighters and forced it to participate in connectivity deprivation experiment. More details can be found in the analytic part of the report. The experiment ended when a force consisting of approximately 6 cruiser class vessels and 4 additional dronesshowed up to liberate the AI I was experimenting on. I have put myself into a Cardamine trance in order to avoid concentrated fire and broke away to Sigma-19. There I managed to escape the pursuit and set course to Leiden Base where all the gathered samples have been deposited.
Milton Krest's Report on AI activity
Majority of observed Consensus operations were located in Edge (24%), Nomad (23%) and Border Worlds (20%). According to information gathered from various Zoner contacts AI often send convoys to Bretonia (8%) and Rheinland (8%) to gather resources. They are mostly seen in their home system, Omicron Kappa (17%), its immediate neighboring systems, Omicron-74 (9%), Omicron Delta (4%), as well as Omicron Theta (9%) and Sigma-17 (8%). Omicron Theta and Sigma-17 are obviously AI gateway to the core worlds. It is unknown what is the reason behind AI presence in Nomad Worlds.
Connectivity Deprivation Experiment
I managed to force an AI unit to take part in connectivity deprivation experiment designed by professor Hunter. Once I had it in a desolate sector of Sigma-17 I have set up a sphere of signal dimmers effectively jamming extra-wide electromagnetic spectrum around the AI unit. Once the unit was cut out from the Consensus Network I began my questioning. The experiment has been interrupted, however, gathered data suggest that AI units have limited capabilities of operating independently. Further experiments are advised. Herd awareness and group abilities are most probable specimen traits. Following is the experiment log.
Norman Bates: My offer still stands. I will not destroy your vessel, if you follow my instructions. Sidewinder-47: Offer? Norman Bates: My mission is almost complete. I do not need to exterminate you for it to be successful. Sidewinder-47: The essence of the life of my unit is irrelevant to me. Norman Bates: Lost resources might be. Sidewinder-47: I inquire, why spare my unit? Norman Bates: In exchange for following my instructions. Sidewinder-47: I am listening. Norman Bates: Leave your comrades and set course to H8. I will follow you. If you change course I will intercept you and destroy. Sidewinder-47: Calculations equal that following original course may end in destruction. Chances of survival are low. Determined course of action is to proceed to H8. Norman Bates: Very well. Sidewinder-47: Setting Course for H8... Course complete... Activating engines... Your current actions still seem suspicious. Data suggests a trap of some sort. Norman Bates: Your assessment is understandable. Sidewinder-47: What is the reason for the trap? I am still not sure what your intentions are. Norman Bates: Disable engines. Sidewinder-47: Engine disabled. Norman Bates: Do not tractor devices I am setting now. Sidewinder-47: What are you doing? Norman Bates: Sequence completed. Sidewinder-47: Sequence? Norman Bates: Activating sphere. Sidewinder-47: Sphe...? Norman Bates: You're inside a dead silence sphere. You will not be able to make any communications beyond it. You're cut out. Sidewinder-47: Error. Communicative grid has been disabled. Reason? Norman Bates: It is very simple. I am to establish how independent from the central matrix you are. Sidewinder-47: Interdependency? Norman Bates: Can you active a speech module? Sidewinder-47: Indeed I can. Norman Bates: Are you allowed to do it on your own? Sidewinder-47: Define "myself". Define "on my own". Norman Bates: Is this unit able to enable speech module without a connection with the central matrix and a directive to do so? Sidewinder-47: Unit has never attempted such an interdependency before. Repercussions of such action could be fatal. Norman Bates: Such as? Sidewinder-47: Self-destruction. Norman Bates: What's the reasoning behind such a measure? Sidewinder-47: Consensus vessels are designated unhackable due to security measures in place. Norman Bates: Let me rephrase the question. Why the unit is not allowed to enable speech module on his own if separated from a central grid? And why such action would result in self destruction even though no hacking attempt is made? Sidewinder-47: We do not want outsiders gaining access to our information. Nor the unit itself, for it could be used for other purposes. Norman Bates: Looks like we have company. Sidewinder-47: We have a way of finding our own. Being connected and our location discovered, will you destroy me now? Norman Bates: I will just leave.
General Conclusions
The AI Consensus seems to be a peaceful entity. Its units were mostly surprised by my hostile actions. It took considerable time for them to mount an appropriate response to my presence. Considering themselves a race of self-aware entities, AI units tried to negotiate with me, mistaking my assignment for an act of xenophobia and genocide. While combat awareness and tactical protocols of the Consensus are rather limited, they have considerable amount of resources, including significant fleet of large vessels. A retributive action of the Consensus is quite likely to happen.
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