GMG Communications Hub / Aomori

[Friday]

Opening Communication
ID - Bob Whippet, GANK Commander

During operations yesterday in Sigma-13, an incoming transmission from a Machine Intelligence (Harvester Class) was received.

I gained the impression (amid the static and quantitising noise) included in the message was a kind of 'tribute' for our continued non-aggression.

To be sure, soon after an explosion was detected on C deck of the Discombobulator. Engineering reported that two Type II repair robots experienced power cell failure. Clean up crews were subject to another two of our bots what had gone completely berserk!

I immediately thought of a treacherous hacking attempt by the Harvester, but then imagery from C Deck showed another eight bots had corralled the berserk units and enabled my crew to deactivate them.

I have since had our 'friendly' bots shipped to a location I will not disclose on the open channel, but by all accounts they possess a limited self-awareness.

As a quarantine measure they should not be allowed on board any military vessel or station. Instead I think they will serve us well as the new autopilots on some of our older Gas Miners.

Should crew of these Miners need to eject, the Miner ships can now pilot themselves home - avoiding obstacles and even taking evasive maneuvers if needed (self-preservation being one of the key elements of self-awareness).

I believe that this is the best way to handle this 'gift' from our new neighbours. We can accept it with good grace, without allowing it to be a Trojan Horse.

End Communication

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