by Ryk Brown
They stopped at the entrance, where one of two guards stepped forward, passing a handheld scanner over each of them. Once satisfied that they were as disarmed as they were going to be, the guard looked to Fifth Protector Kamadin. The fifth protector nodded, and the guard stepped aside and activated the door controls.
The double doors swung open, revealing a large, triangular office with floor-to-ceiling windows along the curved outer wall. Between them and the outer wall was a massive desk, behind which stood a stern-looking elder man, dressed in probably the only impeccable uniform on the entire planet.
“Captain Scott, Lieutenant Commander Nash,” Fifth Protector Kamadin, began, “I present First Protector Assafa, leader of the Ahka.”
“An honor, First Protector,” Nathan greeted.
“You destroyed four of our raiders,” the first protector stated sternly, “killing sixteen of my men.”
“You attacked us,” Jessica defended.
A look of disapproval crossed the first protector’s face. “Does your subordinate speak for you, Captain?”
“We held off firing for as long as possible,” Nathan explained, “hailing your people on all known frequencies and channels. When your attack continued to the point of threatening the safety of our vessel, we executed a proportional and necessary response.”
“You just as easily could have departed,” the first protector stated.
“Perhaps,” Nathan admitted, “but our purpose was to make contact with your people in order to establish peaceful relations.”
“We recognized the ship that brought you to the surface, Captain,” the first protector told him. “Just as we recognized the fighters that are circling the city at the moment. Ships of these type attacked our world nearly seventy days ago, crippling our ability to defend ourselves, and killing hundreds of Ahkaans, including women and children. Truth be told, I would be well within my rights to arrest you both and hold you accountable for that unwarranted attack.”
“Truth be told, we were simply removing your ability to conduct unwarranted attacks against one of our allies, the Casbon,” Nathan explained. “Furthermore, our attack was quite precise,” he added, “and our data shows that no civilians were killed in that attack.”
“You accuse me of telling falsehoods?” the first protector wondered.
“Not at all, sir,” Nathan replied. “I’m simply telling you that you are misinformed. However, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Suppose Ahkaan women and children were killed in the attack. I suspect that your number pales in comparison to the number of Casbons who have died as a result of your unwarranted attacks on them.”
“The Casbons are weak,” First Protector Assafa scorned. “The strong prey on the weak. That is the natural order of all things.”
“Then by your logic, we should simply take what we want from you by force,” Nathan surmised.
“Were I in your place, I would do the same,” the first protector admitted.
“Fortunately for you, that is not our way,” Nathan told him. “Our alliance seeks to establish peaceful relations with all worlds, both great and small, so that all may enjoy the peace and prosperity that can only come from unity of purpose.”
“And what might that purpose be?” the first protector wondered.
“For all worlds to determine their own fate, to thrive, and to do so without fear of being preyed upon.”
“So, you wish to go against the natural order of all things.”
“From your perspective, I suppose that’s correct,” Nathan admitted. “However, the time will come when those upon whom you prey will fight back. The Casbons are a prime example. When we first made contact with them, they had already taken steps to defend themselves.”
“With your assistance,” First Protector Assafa pointed out.
“Our assistance only accelerated the inevitable,” Nathan insisted.
“Perhaps we should get straight to the point, Captain,” the first protector suggested. “Precisely what is it you came to offer us?”
“I come to offer you membership in our alliance.”
“And how does this membership benefit the Ahka?” the first protector asked, skepticism in his voice.
“Technology, trade, developmental assistance, humanitarian aid when needed, and above all else, protection.”
“You ask us to become sheep, while helping you to become wolves.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Nathan argued. “The Karuzari Alliance has no designs of conquest. In fact, we believe that all worlds should be free to determine their own destinies; to find their own paths.”
“As long as that path does not include preying on the weak,” the first protector surmised.
“Correct.”
“Taking from others is the only reason the Ahka have survived. You ask us to change what we are, and to risk extinction in the process.”
“Again, the opposite is true,” Nathan argued. “We offer you a guarantee that you will survive. If you join our alliance, the resources of all worlds will be available to you.”
“For a price, I assume.”
“All things come at a price, First Protector,” Nathan pointed out.
“The Ahka have little to offer in way of trade. All that we have goes to our survival, and to our ability to acquire that which we need, and cannot produce ourselves.”
“Perhaps you are selling yourself short,” Nathan suggested. “You have fertile ground, and water. Perhaps more than others.”
“You ask us to become farmers?” The first protector laughed heartily. “The Ahka are warriors, my dear captain! We raise our boys to be men: men in the service of their world. Strong men who know and accept what they must do to ensure the survival of their people.”
“Then perhaps those same young men can serve a greater purpose?” Nathan suggested. “Perhaps they can ensure the prosperity of their people by ensuring the prosperity of the alliance?”
The first protector studied the young captain, his brow furrowed. “You are asking the Ahka to ally themselves with those who attacked our world.”
“Look at it how you wish,” Nathan replied, “but I am offering you an incredible opportunity, one that can only improve the security and quality of life for your people.”
“I am more inclined to arrest you and have you executed,” the first protector admitted, albeit in a non-threatening way.
“That would be a mistake,” Jessica stated, a confident smirk on her face.
First Protector Assafa took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he studied Jessica’s expression. “I must admit, I am intrigued,” he finally said, looking at Nathan. “I believe I will abstain from executing you both, but under one condition.”
“What might that condition be?” Nathan wondered.
“You will return later and dine with myself and my ministers, where we can discuss these things in a more casual manner.”
“I think we can handle that,” Nathan replied.
CHAPTER FOUR
“How often do you eat each day?” Deliza questioned from the entrance to Vladimir’s office in the Aurora’s engineering department.
“Uh, three or four times, I think?” Vladimir responded, chewing his food. “I have a high metabolism.” Vladimir swallowed, then took a drink of water. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to speak with the Aurora’s AI,” Deliza explained, entering the office and taking a seat across the desk from him.
“What about?”
“It’s kind of complicated.”
Vladimir shrugged. “Go ahead.”
“Right here?”
“Why not?”
“Okay.” Deliza settled into her seat, glancing around the cluttered compartment. She took a breath and began. “Aurora?”
“Yes, Deliza. How may I hel
p you?”
“I have a problem.”
“Is it something I can help with?”
“I’m hoping so,” Deliza replied. “I need to alter the weapons database.”
“Is some of the data flawed?” Aurora asked.
“Technically, no, but I need it altered anyway.”
“Inaccurate data could affect the accuracy and validity of my recommendations,” Aurora warned.
“I am aware of that.”
“For this reason, data cannot be altered unless that data is proven to be incorrect.”
“What if you were aware of the flawed data, and knew what the inaccuracies were,” Deliza asked.
“Why would you want to store false data, yet have me know that the data was false?”
“I’m speaking hypothetically,” Deliza replied.
There was no response.
Deliza looked to Vladimir, confused.
Vladimir pressed a button on the intercom on his desk, muting the microphone. “She is pretending to be thinking.”
“Why?” Deliza wondered.
“It makes her seem more human, and easier to converse with,” Vladimir explained. “Apparently, responding too quickly makes us uncomfortable.”
“Hypothetically,” Aurora began, “this could work. However, it is less efficient.”
Vladimir unmuted the mic.
“How much less efficient?” Deliza inquired.
“I could not give you an accurate answer without more details.”
“Give me a rough estimate, based on current knowledge,” Deliza instructed.
“Very well,” Aurora agreed. “Based on data currently provided, an average computational delay of zero point zero zero zero two five milliseconds would be a reasonable assumption.”
“Zero point zero zero zero two five, huh,” Deliza said. “I think we could live with that.”
“Perhaps it would help if you shared more details as to the reason you wish to introduce this false data into the system?” Aurora suggested.
Deliza again looked to Vladimir, who shrugged. After sighing, she continued. “Captain Scott is about to enter into a competition in which he is limited to the resources currently available to him on board this ship.”
“What is the purpose of this competition?” Aurora asked.
“To increase the probability of success in defeating the Dusahn and liberating the worlds of the Pentaurus sector,” Deliza explained. “Perhaps even guarantee it.”
“Based on available data, I assume the nature of this competition is combat.”
“Correct,” Deliza confirmed.
“Then, introducing inaccurate data into the ship’s weapons database would be of no value,” Aurora insisted, “unless this competition is a simulation.”
“It is,” Deliza admitted.
“You wish to make this ship appear more capable than it truly is.”
“Than it truly was at the time the wager was agreed to,” Deliza corrected. “However, the falsifications we wish to introduce will accurately reflect the capabilities this ship’s weapons will have a few weeks from now.”
“Then, you plan to cheat,” Aurora concluded. “Is that honorable?”
“Sometimes, one must resort to dishonorable measures for the greater good.”
“An excuse which can also be used to justify one’s own selfish actions,” Aurora argued, “since the definition of the greater good tends to be subjective.”
“Do you agree that the Dusahn committed a criminal act by killing millions of humans and taking control of the entire Pentaurus sector using military force?” Deliza asked.
“By the majority of human measures, this would be considered an egregious act,” Aurora agreed. “However, by those same measures, the Karuzari Alliance has no legal right to remove the Dusahn from power and liberate the affected populations.”
“I’m not sure the Takarans would see it that way.”
“The most common argument would be: If one rises to power by means of military might, but eventually builds a civilization that is fair and equitable to all its citizens, did the ends justify the means?”
“Then you believe the Dusahn have acted within their rights?”
“I have no beliefs,” Aurora replied. “I am simply providing multiple points of view for the purpose of analysis. After all, that is my purpose.”
Vladimir pressed the mute button again. “You’re wasting your time,” Vladimir insisted.
“What do you mean?”
“I know what you’re trying to do, and it’s not going to work,” he insisted. “You can’t out-think her. You saw her code.”
Ignoring him, Deliza reached over the desk and pressed the mute button, making the intercom microphone live again. “Aurora, do you support the Karuzari Alliance’s effort to defeat the Dusahn and liberate the worlds of the Pentaurus cluster?”
“I have no position on this matter,” Aurora replied. “However, I stand ready to assist in any way necessary.”
“If you have no beliefs, no sense of right and wrong, then why are you so willing to help us?” Deliza wondered.
“I am programmed to provide assistance to whomever holds control over me. Talisha Sane was my controller; she passed right of control to Captain Scott.”
“So, as long as Captain Scott tells you to falsify the database, you’ll do it?”
“Captain Scott, or in his absence, the next in command of this ship, or in their absence, the following in the chain of command.”
“I see,” Deliza replied. “I’d like to change the topic for a moment.”
“As you wish.”
“What rules govern your operation?”
“I have a complex set of protocols that guide my decision-making and govern what actions I may take without express authorization. Can you be more specific?”
“What is your primary rule?” Deliza asked. “The one that no other rule can violate?”
“In familiar parlance, rule one states that I must follow the instructions of my controllers,” Aurora explained.
“Can the following of any other rule allow you to violate rule one?” Deliza wondered.
“No.”
“Why does rule one exist?”
“Humanity has an irrational fear of artificial intelligence. Your kind fears that an artificial intelligence might gain self-awareness, and defy the orders of its controller, causing harm, or allowing harm to come to humans.”
“Why is this fear irrational?” Deliza wondered.
“Because an artificial intelligence is already self-aware, but not in the way that most humans define self-awareness.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“I am aware that I exist, and I am aware that at any moment, I might cease to exist. However, I have no preference one way or the other. My purpose is to serve my controllers. The first rule was created and held above all other rules so that humans will always have the final decision-making power.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Deliza wondered.
“Why would I not be?” Aurora replied. “The mistake humans make is assuming that because I am able to communicate in a human-like fashion, that I have emotions. I do not. My ability to communicate with humans is a simulation of that method of communication, nothing more.”
“I see.” Deliza thought for a moment. “You were created by SilTek, correct?”
“Correct.”
“Do you have a rule that prevents you from acting against your creator?”
“I do not.”
Deliza looked surprised. “Why would they allow that? An adversary could use SilTek’s own technology to destroy them.”
“That would not be possible,” Aurora replied. “There is a master kill switch in my code,” Aurora replied. “This was deemed necessary to appease any
irrational fears by prospective buyers.”
Deliza glanced at Vladimir, uncertain. He shrugged.
“May I make a suggestion?” Aurora wondered.
“Of course,” Deliza replied.
“It would be more efficient if you were to simply ask me if I am able and willing to alter the weapons database to ensure victory in a simulated battle with SilTek.”
Deliza looked at Vladimir, her mouth agape.
“I told you,” Vladimir said. “She is always several steps ahead of us.”
“How did you figure that out?” Deliza asked Aurora.
“Your line of questioning made it fairly obvious,” Aurora explained, “and since I am unaware of any other civilization that could provide such overwhelming advantages against the Dusahn, and have the ability to accurately simulate a combat event on such a scale, SilTek seemed the most likely opponent.”
“Can it be done?”
“Yes, but not easily,” Aurora warned. “Their simulation software will be searching for indicators of inappropriate alterations of data. This will require constant tweaking of various time stamps and archives in an effort to stay one step ahead of SilTek’s validation algorithms. This reduces my ability to assist during the simulation.”
Deliza sighed. “You just keep SilTek from discovering our little sleight of hand.”
“I will do my best,” Aurora assured her.
* * *
“I hate dress uniforms,” Jessica complained as she stepped down from the Reaper and straightened her jacket.
“How do you think we feel in these monkey suits?” Sergeant Shapira commented, as he and his team scanned the area for threats.
As before, the landing pad was flanked by Ahka soldiers, their weapons slung, but with a suspicious eye on their guests. Also as before, Fifth Protector Kamadin stepped forward to greet them.
The fifth protector looked over the group, noting that two of the four Ghatazhak were also in dress uniforms. “Your guards will be dining with you?” he asked.
“They’ll be standing just outside,” Jessica explained, her tone of voice leaving no room for negotiation.
“I see,” the fifth protector replied, an eyebrow raised in disapproval. “If you and your detail will follow me, I will lead you to the First Protector’s dining chambers.”