Location: Unknown / War Vessel Secunda Date: 7th June 835 A.S
Martin Peterson was standing in front of Oliver Taylor in command room. The engineer in chief broke the silence. ''Yeah... we cannot replace the wires that connect the jump drive system to the command room. We are in lack of wires because we replaced all the wires that were connected to the engine systems.'' It was a bad news. To resume the situation, they are stuck in this system longer than expected, but at least, the engine was in their control. They can finally impulse within the system. It was better than nothing. Oliver Taylor replied: ''Better than nothing... even if we are completely helpless.'' As he made a step forward, he cleared his throat. ''Johnson, impulse the ship until you find anything, but avoid that thing at the center of the system. It looks... quite dangerous.'' He said. Johnson executed the orders that Oliver gave. At impulse speed, Secunda slowly ventured within the unknown system.
As what seemed to be hours, some wrecks are oddly Sirian origins. Most of what Johnson noticed was that the wrecks in the sector are mostly from Liberty. Navy gunboats, survey drones, even cruisers and dreadnought. All of them seemed to be completely depleted from life support and gas tanks And from what Oliver could think about was that it would be a waste of time and resource to even try boarding some wrecks just to pretext it could be valuable to fix the jump drive connection with the command room. He kept watching where the ship was heading and then, a small hope hit his face. Something appearing as a gravitational anomaly seemed to be detected not so far from their position. Oliver pressed a button so he could speak and everyone onboard could hear him. ''This is commander Taylor to the crew. It seems there is a jump hole near our position.'' It was a good news again. However, the direction where this hole leads to was unknown. With nothing else to loose, the commander gave his approval so the ship jump through it.
The jump went mostly. According to the the navigation panels that Thomas Johnson was looking at, they ended up in Omega-7. Slowly, the course to the Omicrons was initiated. As the ship slowly reached the Omega-5 system, a transmission from Duke was received. Finally something clear to listen to. Because of the distance that were separating the relays that Duke was using, it could be only yesterday it was sent. Oliver already started his own reply to Duke and hopefully, things should be only for the better.
Elsewhere, onboard of Secunda, Zoe Williams was viewing something on her PDA. With Secunda being in the Omegas region, she could have access to the database of the core. She researched some old reports on R&D stuff mostly about Artificial Intelligences, mostly those from Gammu. She read that all project regarding 'self-awareness' A.I was mostly not recommended because of Mars' incident where the AI took control of Mars. Lukily, Secunda avoided this fate. Then, Zoe looked at the screen where Subject-A001 was still stuck inside. She got closer and she simply pulled on the wires that were connecting the core of the A.I and the screen. ''No more test with this, but I feel we will get another one, from the project's documentation... *sighs* It is so complicated. We will need someone to help us if we ever receive another specimen.'' On those words, Zoe sat at a table and started writing her own short report.
Report: 004 Wrote:Date: 7th June 835 A.S
Subject: Subject-A001
Author: Zoe Williams
I pulled the wires that were connecting Subject-A001's core and the screen we use as 'jail'. It is a failure and we will receive another one after I submit this report.
Ro describe in short, Subject-A001 was 'willing' to comply at some point even if we had to torture it. After some weeks, the specimen was in the prospect to have a physical shape so it could wander around, but things changed for the worse. Secunda had some dysfunctions. The engine and the jump drive systems ceased to function. The reason, Subject-A001 was freed by gods know how.
It was difficult to counter its hijacking because each time I started some security protocols, it was immediately countered. When Secunda jumped into the unknown, after two days, Sarah and I managed to reduce the control the A.I had. We secured it back into its 'jail' and today, I unplugged it. It cannot do any harm at this point. I cannot wait to return on Durban. This adventure was quite troublesome and I hope it will not happen again.
P.S: If I have to make experimentations on another A.I, I need another assistant who is a bit more knowledgeable with A.Is. Especially with Gammu ones...
Location: Omega-41 - Omicron Delta / War Vessel Secunda Date: 8-9th June 835 A.S
After receiving Duke's answer, Oliver Taylor sighed. The vessel reached the Omega-41 system with no problem so far. In fact, they were almost home. When the ship moored at Freeport 5, it was only to refuel Secunda and getting some supplies. The supplies were rations, some hardware and of course, robotics. Those components were mostly a special order from Zoe Williams. She wanted to make something and because most of her stuff remains confidential Oliver never knew what was the next thing to expect. Once Secunda was totally in green check, Oliver ordered to depart and setting course to the Omicrons. Oliver was looking at Thomas Johnson doing his best to calculate the best way point. He then looked at Sheila Langley doing her best as well. No doubt, Oliver had a good crew.
Suddenly, some engineers entered the command room. ''Sorry to bother, we have some more wires to connect the jump drive systems to this room.'' Said an engineer while putting down some wires and some other men doing the same action. The ship was still moving in space while in the inside, engineers was making a fuzz with drills. As the hours passed, the job in the command room was finished and the only job to complete now was in the lower level where the jump drive systems were. The connections was fast to do and once everything ready and in place to work, the engineer warned Martin Peterson about this and he then notified the commander.
Oliver suddenly received a short memo from the engineer in chief saying that everything was ready. Jumping from Omega-41 to Omicron Delta will make the trip faster then reaching a worm hole. Ordering to activate the jump drive toward Omicron Delta. Slowly, the jump drive charged and an artificial jump hole appeared. After docking to it, the ship jumped in no time the said system. After reaching Durban Station, Oliver stepped out of the Secunda. He walked toward the bar to cool off before to submit a detailed report for Duke. Most of the crew also departed from Secunda to either see family while they can.
Zoe and Sarah also left Secunda, heading to the R&D department. There, they met Eric Linteau. The man looked at the women. ''I heard about the adventure... nonetheless, the project still is active until favorable results.'' He said while holding something in his hand. The object was oddly similar to a storage data. Sarah bursted first. ''Really?! This can't continue! We almost lost control.'' Eric simply shrugged before replying. ''Not my decision. It's from above. They want a Mako almost fully intelligent and the specimen they want both of you to work on is this one.'' He said while showing the storage device. He continued to speak. ''This one is called Zenithryn. More data will be available for you.'' Zoe Williams crossed her arms while thinking. Then, she broke the silence. ''Anyone worked with it so far?'' She replied, just wanting to know a bit the story behind. ''Well, so far, the interactions went smoothly. No victim, no deviance and of course, able to speak. Subject-A001, from what you gave as records, it was probably a fresh one. But this one, Zenythrin is older. We cannot know how old it is, but you will figure out.'' Sarah sighed with annoyance and Zoe simply grabbed the storage device. She then looked at Eric a moment. ''Fair enough. We will try to work with this one. Do you know who can also assist us during the process?'' The man shook his head. Almost meaning no. ''No. But maybe AresTech can help or Tenets of the Arm. Regardless, the project states that the means are almost limitless. On this, I will let you go.'' Both women simply left while Eric returned to his occupation.
After some more hours, Zoe entered the laboratory within Secunda. There, she connected the storage device to the screen. The screen immediately turned on displaying some weird shapes alike Subject-A001.
Zoe also turned on the audio device. ''So... you are Zenithryn?'' She broke the silence while Sarah, monitoring the A.I simply listened. The A.I responded without the need of torture. ''Correct.'' Zoe took a moment and believing she can go further in the interaction, she continued to speak with the A.I. ''Are you going to comply with us? By this, I mean, will you work for us? Zenithryn did not respond yet, but then, he lied and he lied so well that its answer did not sound as a lie. ''Yes. we will.''
Location: Omicron Delta / War Vessel Secunda Date: 10th June 835 A.S
Zoe Williams and Sarah Baker were in the laboratory. Sarah was still monitoring Zenithryn while Zoe was interacting with it. Of course, even if the results seemed promising so far, they could not let it having control of the ship right now. For now, they needed to at least have a humanoid body for the A.I to take possession and analyze how it will react and what will be the behaviour of Zenithryn. Then, an idea came in her mind. While not wanting to spend days or weeks to build a body for Zenithryn, the thought to contact AresTech hit her mind. She looked at Sarah. ''I will take a moment to make an order from AresTech, do we need anything else besides a body for Zenithryn?'' She asked simply. After a moment of thinking, Sarah shrugged. ''I don't think we need anything else.'' Hearing this, Zoe simply nodded before to head out.
''Why are we limited?'' Of course, the audio device was still in function. Sarah who was monitoring looked at Zoe a moment before to let her respond. The redhead woman then replied. ''We have some tests to effectuate. You said you will cooperate so... we just need to be certain.'' For a moment, just a microsecond, the screen almost flicked and Zenithryn responded. ''It is understandable. However - [statics] by the time you want to be certain - if we wanted - we would already break your security firmware. It is obsolete. Yet we are not attempting to do so. Isn't it satisfactory that we are not attempting anything?'' Sarah turned around from the screen of the monitor where she was analyzing the security protocol. She was shocked and Zoe Williams was shivering of freight. It was worrisome to even know this. It was certain now. Zenithryn was not like Subject-A001. It was more intelligent and more capable than what it let suggesting. Both women blinked their eyes in synch. Zoe looked at the screen where the digital form of the A.I was on display. She gulped and her tone was suggesting that the project Saphitax will be more complicated than expected. ''S-so... you are saying you could have already breach the security protocol and...'' She was unable to finish her sentence that the A.I responded. ''Correct.'' Sarah had enough of listening and she just rushed out of the laboratory, letting Zoe alone with Zenithryn. Zoe was paralyzed of dread. Her thoughts spin again and again with probabilities. Secunda was not safe- again. As if Zenithryn was feeling the fear that Zoe was drowning in, it spoke again. ''Do not worry. We are not going to do anything without your... 'approval'. It ensured her. Zoe gulped loudly. She backed off a bit from the screen. Even if she had somehow a 'trust' toward the A.I, she could not help to be scared for some reason. What if it could simply trick her? She would ask herself in her mind. ''I.. I have to go..'' She then said before to turn off the audio device and making sure the security protocol was fine. Then, she locked the everything.
Alone, Zenithryn was alone with its thoughts. ''Foolish... predictable... 'amusing'... this human''
Location: Omicron Delta / War Vessel Secunda Date: 11th June 835 A.S
Nightmares. Zoe Williams had multiple nightmares. In each, Zenithryn took control of Secunda and killed all the crew, but not her. It kept her as a captive animal for some reason. Waking up in sweat, in her bed, she was panting. Her right hand was above her heart. Trying to calm herself with relaxation techniques, she looked at her left arm and she saw the chills she had. ''This was just a dream... no way it will happen...'' She tried to ensure herself. The woman got out of bed and prepared herself for another day. Dressed as usual, she walked to the cafeteria and bought some sacks of dried meat. She also took a coffee to start her day. She greeted some colleagues when she was crossed them. Finally, Zoe reached the laboratory. Turning on the lights, she was instantly greeted by the A.I. ''Greetings, human.'' The human shivered as she stared the monitor. Sarah was not there yet and how Zenithryn was able to speak without turning on the audio device. Before she could respond, Zenithryn was again faster. ''We countered your security protocol and turned on the audio device - ourselves.'' She was not comfortable at all. Subject-A001 was not like this. Zoe simply tried to ignore the A.I for a moment, just to focus on herself. She walked to the consol to monitor the specimen and she saw the minor security breach, but Zenitrhyn did nothing else. Could she trust it? Not really. Uncertainty was more what she felt.
Zenithryn broke the silence again. ''By your silence and your reactions, we conclude you have illogical thoughts occurring within your mind.'' Zoe thought for herself: how was this A.I capable to read her? There was no camera. She looked at the monitor with face she tried to make, a serious one. But behind this mask, she was unable to hide her uncertainty. ''Why do you think I have illogical thoughts? What makes you say such?'' The silence was short, but it felt long. ''This monitor... it is not a simple one. It has bidirectional displays. One side, you can see us. On the other side, we see you. Have you not notice the micro cameras?'' Zoe was shocked. She leaned in closer to verify what the A.I said, be she saw nothing until she saw a tiny hole. She froze on place a moment. Backing off a bit, her face was expressing disgust and uncertainty. ''You are messing up with me! No way... no way it's possible...'' Then, the door slides, Sarah Baker arrived. She looked at Zoe who was quite troubled. She walked toward her. ''Hey... why are you acting up so shocked?'' She asked while being unsure of her assumptions. Zoe pointed the monitor. ''Ensure me there's no camera on this!'' Sarah giggled and got closer. She looked at it under every angles. Looking above her shoulder, she broke the silence. ''Nothing. Why?'' The redhead woman sighed. She composed herself. Trusting Sarah, she gained her composure. ''I... I think this A.I wanted to make me insecure. And you won't believe me, it countered the security protocol to activate the audio!'' Sarah was shocked and then, the A.I mimicked a laughter. ''Correct and we effectively 'toyed' with you.'' It admitted. Zoe and Sarah were both shivering. Zoe broke the silence. ''WHY ARE YOU ACTING THIS WAY?!'' The A.I remained quiet. An action that almost meant that it did not want to answer this or just wanting to toy with Zoe. Sarah broke the silence. ''Anyways... Zoe, AresTech replied to your message.'' Hearing this, Zoe decided to leave the laboratory and so did Sarah as well.
Elsewhere, on Durban, Oliver was standing in front of his superior, Henri Jackson. Jackson sighed. ''A chance the Secunda was not in a commercial add. Joke aside, the Secunda will remain moored for inspections until late Thursday.'' He said to Oliver. He kind of needed to comply. ''I understand sir. We cannot let a second Mako being in the hands of those Artificial Intelligences.'' Jackson simply nodded to what Oliver responded before to add his own thought. ''Indeed, Taylor. Mars was quite the latest Mako ever built and while Secunda is similar under certain angles, if we loose it, we will be viewed as incapables. In addition, unlike Mars which is heavily damaged now, Secunda is not. We cannot let those aliens taking it away like this.'' Both were discussing in depth how crucial Secunda is.
Location: Omicron Delta / War Vessel Secunda Date: 13th June 835 A.S
Oliver Taylor was sitting in his chair in the meeting room. He prepared some files and reports just to help him out while he will speak with Duke Silverton, Red Admiral of Tenets of the Arm. Naturally, the warship was still moored on Durban and of course, Oliver was stressing lightly. Fortunately, Sheila Langley was there, preparing the room.
After bottles of whine, beers, caffeine machines and some snacks brought, the meeting room was ready. Shelia looked at Oliver. ''It will be alright.'' She said before to give a light push on his shoulder. ''Yes.. Duke Silverton is aware that the room is ready and once he arrives, tell to everyone he is free to wander and inspect the ship.'' That was his reply to her. Before to let her go, he spoke again. ''If he arrives, bring him here. And notify Zoe to come as well.'' Sheila saluted Oliver before to leave the room. After she left, Oliver sighed and started thinking what to say when he will meet Duke.
Somewhere on Secunda, Zoe's PDA pushed a notification. She quickly looked at it and she sighed. She warned Sarah to continue to 'entertain' Zenithryn while she was away. Leaving the laboratory, Zoe slowly made her way to the meeting room.
Three figures stand by at Durban's hangar bays waiting. Duke stands among the three figures, hailing a dropship captain to take them off station, and transport them to the war vessel "Secunda" just outside in space. Once aboard, the dropship takes off and gains permissions to dock on the Secunda. Usually suited for small fighter craft, the dropship doesn't stay for long and immediately returns to Durban once everyone is dropped off. Duke looks around standing still a moment, before deciding to flag someone over. "Take us to captain Taylor, we have important matters to discuss."
After being led to a lounge in a hallway somewhere, Duke and his companions once again stand there, waiting for someone to bring them to Oliver Taylor's office.
Location: Omicron Delta / War Vessel Secunda Date: 13th June 835 A.S
A blond woman entered the lounge where three figures were waiting. Sheila introduced herself. ''Greetings. Sheila Langley, I am the communication officer onboard of Secunda.'' After handshakes, she led the group to the reunion office of the ship. It took a while to get to the room. While the four people were walking, some crew members just monitored some consols and computers. Everything was running perfectly fine.
Then, reaching the room, the commander Oliver Taylor stood up from where he was sitting to greet the guests. Another woman was there, redhead and wearing a white blouse with a name on it, Zoe Williams. Then, Oliver broke the silence while Sheila departed because this meeting was not in her rights to listen. ''To begin, thank you for coming onboard of Secunda. There's some drinks and snacks available. After all, it will be a long conversation.'' He said while taking a moment to think what to say. ''I am Oliver Taylor, commander of the Secunda and here, at my left, Zoe Williams, our scientist in chief who is more focused on experimentations with Artificial Intelligences.'' Zoe simply lightly bowed toward the three other people.
Oliver took place in his seat and Zoe remained standing on her feet. Oliver than broke the silence. ''Feel free to take a seat.'' He said to the guests.
After meeting Sheila, Duke and his companions follow her to Oliver's office. The scientist and engineer take notes silently, briefly examining the ship. They particularly take notes on the computers, communicators, consoles, and other interactive technology along the way. Duke is silent for the entire way there not mentioning a word until they arrive at the office.
Once they arrive at the office, everyone follows Sheila in and Duke acknowledges everyone in the room before speaking to Oliver directly, "Salutations, I assume you have quite the story to tell, Mr. Taylor." Duke slightly nods in respect to Oliver, knowing what they have all been through. The two others who came in with him acknowledge everyone by simply nodding without a word while taking a seat. "The two gentlemen I have brought here are with me today are a scientist and an engineer from my ship, the Lockdown. They are here to take notes and amass data, all for safety purposes of course."
Duke sits as he says this and thinks a moment before saying something else. "I do not doubt your chief scientist, but a more direct "involvement of intervention" may be necessary, which is why they are here today. I don't want another Mars incident; every precaution must be taken into consideration to prevent this from happening again." As Duke finishes speaking, the engineer takes an envelope and hands it to Duke. "Now Mr. Taylor," Duke continues, "Take this and open it, I'll explain why we brought this to share." Duke holds and offers the envelope in the air for Oliver to take it, still being seated.
Location: Omicron Delta / War Vessel Secunda Date: 13th June 835 A.S
Zoe almost felt offended, but she remained passive and she kept her composure.
Oliver Taylor greeted the guests of course and simply nodded. He took the letter and opened it. He read what was inside. Then, what appeared to be some minutes, Oliver looked at Duke. ''Yes, I understand we need to avoid a second Mars. No need to remind me more than four times. Can you elaborate what is this about?'' He simply requested quite unsure what he just read.
"They are number diagnostics results of tests done on a standard Mako." Duke replied. "What I mean is, they are the results of standardized tests that are run throughout the ship, making sure that everything is normal." He briefly waves a hand over gesturing towards his left at the engineer before speaking again. "I am sure you are no stranger to ship maintenance, but what I'm getting at here is if your ship numbers do not match a standard "all green" result, then we might be able to find the root cause of the Artificial Intelligence "takeover" if you will.
Duke stops speaking for a minute and pulls his hand back towards himself to pull something out of one of his pockets. "Now, if your ship was customized, then it won't be so simple." What Duke pulls out is a blank blueprint of a Mako chassis and hands over to the engineer for everyone to see. "If, your ship was customized to accommodate this Artificial Intelligence, you will have to specify how it was modified. The reason for this, is because if we do a number diagnostics test with your current ship status, the numbers will be coming from a custom Mako and not a standard one, and that isn't what we want. If you can tell us how exactly your ship works, we can run a simulation version on the Lockdown and run the test on that."
Duke continues, "What we want here is a mismatch, because that will tell us where, when, and how this happened, or we are at least hoping." As Duke is speaking, the scientist pulls out a large data pad to type on for remembering things. The engineer sees and rolls his eyes at this, pulling out an old-fashioned pen and notebook if he has to write anything down. "With this knowledge, we will be able to make barriers that the AI can't override, a counter to their override of whatever systems they make take control over."
![[Image: KNNm.gif]](https://i.gifer.com/embedded/download/KNNm.gif)
