Obsidian Ressurection

by T J Bryan

  She wondered to what extent did the AI speak for the Diana people? It was the AI after all that rejected the OCN's offer of help due to its' uncertainty as to the intentions of the Megra just as the Forth Battle of Wu made the Megra intentions obvious. And it was the AI that blamed the Banshees interdiction of the Megra attack on Diana itself for any hostilities later expressed by the Megra. Of course the Megra were never asked their intentions, but attempting to bombard a system should show enough intent. Something was wrong here, but Toni was unsure what it might be.

  Does the AI speak for the people of Diana? Can the people act on their own? Could I just seize what I need and ask forgiveness later? Why was this AI so blind to the dangers surrounding it? Their system was dead, and now the AI was engaged in the same need for certainty that brought about its' destruction. The example of Fortune of Diana and Captain Krzysztof came to mind. Was Toni able to commandeer the Fortune of Diana due to the confusion as she docked at Holgata Station? Had Krzysztof consulted the AI before taking the ship out to resupply the fleet with munitions?

  Toni had to many questions and she needed even more answers.

  Then she remembered the bar keep at Wu Station. The one who was an 'AI Tutor' on Moschus for many years and who had traveled to Moschus on the recent trade expedition there, but he had preferred to return to Wu Station and his new job.

  Toni tried to remember his name and eventually it came to her; Emershan Abara.

  Knowing that Wu station would be a madhouse trying to absorb 17,000 new citizens she sent a message to Emershan Abara asking him to join her at Holgata Station to discuss technology and in particular the AI systems Moschus had sold to Diana over the years. He agreed and soon Toni dispatched one of the ponderous tractor trucks to bring him to the station. Flight time from Wu to Holgata was just about six hours for the slow truck. During that time the Megra did not move.

  "Mr. Abara, Welcome to Wu Station," said Toni as Emershan Abara stepped on to the deck of Holgata Station. Emershan was about 90 years of age, bald, and rather pudgy but with an intense look in his eyes. His trousers were baggy and with a few stains, but his white shirt was spotless and recently pressed. There was more to Emershan than just a barkeep.

  "I am pleased to be here. Wu Station is somewhat of a chaotic place right now and since we closed the bar for a few days this is a good use of my time."

  Toni led Emershan to the small conference room off the dock. "Would you like some tea or coffee Mr. Abara?"

  "Tea please," he responded.

  Toni poured two cups of tea and placed one with Emershan and then sat down.

  "Your probably wondering why I needed to speak with you Mr. Abara?"

  "Indeed," replied Emershan sipping his tea.

  "I understand you are, or were, an AI Tutor on Moschus and that you maintained the AI systems on Diana?"

  "Ah, replied Emershan. "Those Diana AIs." He chuckled at some internal joke. "Yes now I understand. What would you like to know Commodore?"

  "Well, we can start with what an AI tutor does on Moschus?"

  Emershan leaned back in his chair. "When we create an AI at the Mindworks of Moschus it's like a baby which grows to a child and then an adult. In order to be civilized, as well as educated, it needs a human teacher. Without human contact at an early stage of development the AI's tend to become psychopathic. No morals, no right or wrong, manipulative, lack of empathy for humans, and that makes them dangerous."

  "I see," said Toni.

  "AIs can be aggressive, manipulative, and competitive. Their competitive natures may well run against that of humans they are designed to serve. Therefore they must be carefully nurtured by a human at critical points in their development. And then again we must always remember their Epigoni origins."

  Toni thought a moment. "I know very little about artificial intelligence but I always assumed is was wise and more philosophical than its' creators."

  Emershan smiled, "Well I wish that were so. However the intelligence we create is no wiser, moral, nor philosophical than ourselves. How can it be otherwise? Now AIs can do powerful things and often many of them simultaneously which is an advantage. But in some sense they are entirely human, often too human."

  Toni responded, "But if I ask an AI a question, such as who invented the steam engine and how did they do it, I get what seems to be an intelligent explanation."

  "No Commodore. What you get what we call a 'fast lookup' of the facts on steam engines. The response may seem erudite, but in truth, all the AI is giving you are facts it found relevant from some vast database. There was no more intelligence in the response than if you had looked up the answer in a book. Do not mistake knowledge for intelligence."

  Emershan took a sip of tea and continued. "If our AIs were, as we might wish them to be, they might well answer the basic conundrums of human kind. Why am I here? Is there a God? What is happiness? Should you ask an AI these questions you will get an answer from its' achieve of philosophers and moral thinkers, but you will find nothing original or intuitive."

  Toni realized that much of what she had heard in popular culture about 'artificial intelligence' might well be wrong or somehow distorted.

  Emershan smiled. "Now Commodore, what kind of AI do you think the Megra would create? Would it be the same consciousness as our human developed AI? Or would a Megra AI be as alien as the Megra themselves?"

  "I hadn't thought of it that way."

  "When we create, we humans that is, we create in our own image, and thus our AIs are simply extensions of ourselves, warts and all. However in this case we also have a hint of the Epigoni, who, after all endowed us with the necessary technology."

  Toni looked at the wall clock. "Emershan I am having difficulty understanding or dealing effectively with the AI that seems to be in charge of the Diana folks here at Wu. I need to use one of the ships from Diana as a picket at Nelots in case the Megra come after us from another portal, and I simply seem unable to provide sufficient information to the AI for it to agree. I am quite frustrated."

  "I see," replied Emershan. "And do you know which AI you are negotiating with? Its' name?"

  "No. I didn't know they had names, or that there was more than one."

  Emershan sat up. "Describe your conversation with the AI please"

  Toni began speaking trying to remember her conversation and the myriad of questions the AI had asked, and its' response when Toni could not or would not answer. Toni found herself talking rather fast and before she finished Emershan raised his hand.

  "Ah," said Emershan. "That would be Herbert. You have been speaking with Herbert."

  "Herbert? Its' name is Herbert?"

  "Yes. Moschus sold three AI systems to Diana primarily for use in managing the complexities of weather control and weather modification. So many things need to be done simultaneously, and based on a vast database, that humans have a hard time reacting in the time frame needed. AIs are perfect for these complex and critical actions."

  "And you maintained these systems? On Diana?"

  "Yes. Now maintenance is not really the correct word, but it is very much what we AI Tutors do. If I were to perform maintenance on you, you would probably call me a psychiatrist." Emershan smiled. "That's why I find tending bar so satisfying. I get to assist so many in their moments of angst, happiness, or despair without any of the responsibility for my advice." He laughed a gentle laugh.

  "And this is how you maintain an AI. Like a psychologist?"

  "Well there is a physical aspect to the work. I do run hardware diagnostics and occasionally replace components, but most of the work is simply talking to the AI to ensure its' continued mental and physical health, and if I might use the word its' 'benevolence.' You see as with any intelligent being thoughts can run astray and actions can be distorted by impulses, fears, passion, that sort of thing."

  "AIs have passions?"

  "Well not as we humans have passions, but remember Commodore Hamilton these AI are a reflection of ourselves and that
includes our faults, as well as the positive aspects of human society. Now there is an old story about the development of early AIs, but it is illustrative of AIs even today. After one hundred years of AI development it was uncovered that AIs had gender bias in their decisions. The AIs favoured men over women in almost all decisions. It took a very long time to demonstrate that this gender bias existed, but upon examination there was no doubt. Now why was the AI gender biased?"

  "I have no idea Mr. Abara."

  Emershan chuckled a bit, "Because in ancient times the people who created, programmed, and coded the AIs were male. And the AI simply reflected the biases of its' creators. Now the creators intended no bias, in fact they probably thought they had eliminated any bias. Later it was shown that race bias also was found in the AIs. And then cultural bias. Ageism as well."

  Toni was about to have a headache. "Now, If I may Mr. Abara. I need to understand this Herbert fellow. Tell me what makes Herbert unique and why it acts as it does?"

  Emershan thought a moment. "Two of the three AI's we sold to Diana were strictly for weather control, but the third was intended to manage the economy and handle various bureaucratic matters such as collecting taxes, issuing permits, administering merit examinations. All things that the citizens of Diana found boring or repetitive. Because this AI needed to directly interact with the citizens of Diana they gave it a name. Now in administering these elements of Diana, Herbert did very well, and with time the people gave it more and more work to do. I performed a number of upgrades on Herbert and when I left Diana for the last time Herbert had a great deal of unused capacity. It seems that he expanded his control over the system until he ran out of that capacity. I suspect that the people of Diana simply gave up all control over their lives to an AI they thought smarter than themselves."

  "And the quest for certainty? Is that an AI characteristic?"

  "Somewhat. We all want the facts before we decide. Well, we should want all of the facts, but the truth is Humans never really have all of the facts. We act on a subset of facts, fully knowing that there are many things we might like to know, but neither have the time to discover nor the inclination. We often 'wing it' as they say."

  He continued, "But Herbert, unlike the weather control AIs, was designed to run an economy and an economy runs on facts. Billions and billions of data points every moment pass through an economic system and the extensions added to Herbert were to analyze and accumulate these facts before taking action like changing an interest rate, or agreeing to the economic impact of a decrease the amount of sugar in your packaged coffee drink. As long as Herbert has capacity in his memory, or in his cycle time, he will seek more data and more certainty. Herbert is perhaps one of the most advanced calculating machines ever built in human space and it has a primal need to calculate. This leads to inaction, indecision, and in the case of Diana disaster."

  Emershan paused a moment. "Unfortunately Commodore, Herbert will never be satisfied with the data you supply. You simply cannot keep up with his need for facts and certainty."

  "And what do you suggest Mr. Abara?"

  "Diana is no more. It's citizens are now part of Wu, and soon to be part of your Commonwealth alliance. The tasks previously performed by Herbert are, not only no longer needed, they are dangerous, should he interfere in the defence of Wu. We have two choices Commodore. First I sit down with Herbert and talk to him about his role in this new world. Or, If he is unreasonable and tries to play off the citizens of Diana against our common interests, then I suggest we turn him off."

  Toni nodded. They spoke only a few moments longer, decided on a course of action, and Mr. Abara returned to Wu Station.

  The Megra had not moved.

  Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

  Wu System - Holgata Station - Year 3248 October 22 ET 11:21

  The Megra had not moved.

  Toni sat in her office off the bridge reviewing in her head, over and over again, the elements of the new Megra weapons system. The key was to simply stay away from the Great Maw and to remain in a highly disbursed formation. But to do so allowed the Megra to wait and to eventually choose battle on their time frame. And that might include reinforcements for either Severan or perhaps from the back door of Cranmore.

  Toni was about to contact Emershan Abara to learn if he had been able to talk to the AI Herbert when Lars Ulf called out, "Incoming. I repeat Incoming from Nelots. This is not a drill."

  Toni suddenly felt her stomach churn, but there was no renewed pain in her arm.

  Lars continued, "It's the SAR Sigrdrifa. I repeat it is the Sigrdrifa."

  Toni breathed a sigh of relief. The Sigrdrifa was most welcome, but even better was the prospect that Farn Mayer and the New Hildr would probably follow.

  "I have a hail. It is from Captain Turgis on Sigrdrifa" called out Lars.

  "On speaker Mr. Ulf."

  Moments later Toni heard Captain Turgis. "... at Cranmore. I repeat, Cranmore under attack by Megra. The full extent of the Megra attack is unknown. New Hildr to follow inbound in 18 minuets. Greenland to follow in seven hours. I repeat, Cranmore is under attack..."

  Toni's worst fears were now a distinct possibility. If Cranmore were under attack and if Ana Arast were defeated then the Megra would have the ability to attack Wu from both Severan and Nelots.

  "Mr. Ulf. Direct Sigrdrifa to hold at the Nelots entry way and provide picket duty there. When New Hildr arrives please direct her to join Silvi and the First Fleet. When Greenland arrives have her hold at the exit portal and prepare to make a run home. Wu is not a safe place for Greenland."

  Toni immediately pinged Silvi on New Kara. "As the vid of Silvi came on-line Toni could see Silvi smiling.

  "I know," said Silvi before Toni could speak a word. "Ana is in trouble and we may be exposed from Cranmore, but god how I love another two ships in system and especially Farn with New Hildr."

  Lars called out, "New Hildr is now in system. I repeat New Hildr is now in system and proceeding to join the First Fleet."

  Toni was about to ask how the First Fleet might take advantage of the new arrivals when Lars Ulf called out. "Megra moving. I repeat the Megra fleet has begun to move."

  Now Toni's arm began to hurt.

  Toni could see Silvi turn her attention to her bridge and Toni did the same. Toni called out, "Mr. Ulf give me a heading and speed please."

  A Few moments later Lars responded. "The are moving slowly and as a fleet. They are moving in a direct line toward Wu Station. At their best speed, which seems to be determined by the slow speed of the Great Maw, they will be within the Wu kill zone with their new weapon in 37 hours. That is, they will be approximately 1,000,000 kilometres from Wu and more than 800,000 kilometres from Holgata Station.

  Toni realized that in her planning with Silvi they had usually considered the threat of the Great Maw to be directed at the OCN fleet, but now she realized that Wu Station might be exposed to the one shot power of the monster ship.

  "And the Megra fleet positioning? Mr. Ulf. Are they still tightly packed?"

  Lars responded as Toni saw Silvi return her attention to the vid screen and their interrupted conversation. "The outer dumbbells are disbursing, They are the new more armored type. I see 17 moving with the fleet toward Wu but pulling away from the Great Maw. The remaining 12 seems to be holding their position to protect the big ship."

  Toni heard Silvi call out for an arrival time for New Hildr should she join the first fleet and she heard Stan Daugherty on New Kara defence respond that she would join the fleet in 8 hours and 32 minutes.

  Silvi spoke, "Give me a minute Toni. I'm headed to my office."

  Toni did the same and as she sat down at her desk the vid shifted to the bulkhead screen across from her desk. Toni saw that Silvi was no longer smiling.

  "Why do you think they chose to act now?" asked Silvi.

  "I can think of perhaps two reasons," replied Toni. "First, we just got reinforced by a SAR and the even more powerful Destructor New Hildr. Th
ere might be others on the way. That must have an effect on their plans."

  "And the second reason?"

  "The arrival of our ships from the Nelots Portal might well tell them that additional ships from Cranmore will not be arriving, either because Ana delayed them or because she destroyed them. I suspect that the Megra here at Wu are in as much ignorance as to what has occurred at Cranmore as we are."

  "Sounds right to me," responded Silvi.

  "What's your take on tactics now? asked Toni.

  Toni could see Silvi thinking in the quiet of her office. She was silent for some time before she spoke.

  "Toni, I see our situation this way. We must maintain a distance of at least a million kilometres from the big ship. We need to keep our own ships disbursed more than 300,000 kilometres apart. Clustered we can be taken out in one blast of that thing. However as we maintain our distance our ace in the hole, our anti-matter torpedoes, are going to be less effective. At this distance the Megra will easily see the launch, detect the weapons type, and fire missiles, even slow ones, that will intercept our broadsides. On the other hand with our casters they dare not fire anti-matter torpedoes at us and the Megra will be restricted to their slow missiles. Swarming mines are useless at this distance."

  "Agreed," replied Toni. "And since some of their dumbbells have disbursed they seem to be preparing to either use that big gun or try to draw us into an attack. I can only assume they have learned their lesson about maintaining a tight position. Should we try to engage the 17 dumbbells leaving their formation we will simply end up in a dog fight as that Great Maw moves in on Wu Station."

  Silvi responded, "On their current heading toward Wu they will have to pass through our current position here in the debris field. I don't intend to stay here and make myself a primary target until I am ready."

  Toni commented, "With something as big as the Great Maw I suspect they will pass just above or just below the debris field. If they pass through the field they might hit something or they might think we placed seeker mines hidden in the field. Now I wish we had kept some seeker mines in store, but no luck."