by Ezra E Manes
A surprising anomaly was that females significantly outnumbered males in the population, and this imbalance had steadily increased over the preceding millennium. No reason for this could be determined by monitoring the satellite links. The Zilans did not know the cause, or some religious taboo kept them from publicly mentioning it.
The Zilans had addressed the female-to-male imbalance in a practical way starting centuries before. The religious leaders embraced multiple wife marriages as a solution to maintaining harmony and stability within the society. For several centuries, two wives in a family unit was the accepted norm, and more recently, up to three wives had become the accepted norm. Numerous children were born to these marriages, as could be expected, but the imbalance between the opposite sexes continued to propagate.
The population on Zilia had been stable for centuries at slightly over a billion people. This was not a lot of people considering the size of the planet. The population was concentrated within the temperate zones, and further within several distinct regions in these zones. Even so, the population density in those regions was low, except in a very few major cities where the density approached that in the smaller cities on Earth.
Of the major cities on the planet, two stood out in size and importance above all others. The capital for the worldwide government was Zilerip in the northern temperate zone, which had by far the largest population of any city on the planet. Located approximately five thousand kilometers directly south of Zilerip was Oehinaz, the second largest city on the planet and the largest city in the southern temperate zone.
The high-speed rail system connecting Zilerip and Oehinaz was impressive, being in subterranean tunnels over much of the course across the equatorial region. Considering the length of this particular rail system, the high percentage of track in tunnels represented a major engineering feat. Subway systems existed in both cities, as well as in other major metropolitan areas, but there were no other subterranean long-distance rail systems.
The Zilan people were not very mobile in their daily lives. They had a modern, well-maintained airtraffic system, but one not heavily used. The same was true for their oceangoing fleets. Perhaps one reason was the weather, which could turn violent in vast regions of the planet with little notice.
An observation Earth and Messier scientists at first found hard to believe was the purity of the planet’s atmosphere. This was determined from spectral measurements by the probes that recently achieved far-out orbits around Zilia. They expected use of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels in production of energy for electrical generation, manufacturing, and transportation to have significantly contaminated the atmosphere. But high levels of ozone and other byproducts considered normal for an advanced society consuming raw resources at a high rate were not present, even though few large forests existed as on Earth to help filter pollutants from the air.
In time, the answer became evident. The Zilan civilization met most of its global energy needs by harnessing ocean tidal and wave action to generate electricity. They were very creative in developing low profile electrical generators located along the coastlines that efficiently produced electricity with practically no byproducts harmful to the environment. The wave action along coastlines was strong, and the ocean tides were dramatic, particularly when the two moons orbiting Zilia were approaching alignment.
The two moons played heavily in Zilan society in another way. The Zilans made most significant global decisions and announcements, including religious decrees, during the two major annual moon eclipse phases. The annual phase where the two moons fully eclipsed at night was the Primary Two-Moon Phase. The Secondary Two-Moon Phase eclipse occurred when both moons aligned between Zilia and the local sun.
The Primary Two-Moon Phase was the favored period for making wise decisions and initiating successful endeavors in everyday life. Tradition had evolved to where the vast majority of the population selected mates for life during a Primary Two-Moon Phase. It was also the period in which to dissolve relationships, with the sanction of the religious orders; but these dissolutions almost never occurred.
The summary presented by Eve was comprehensive and entertaining, and whetted the appetites of the crew to learn even more about the Zilans. Each crew member set about doing so, seeking information as dictated by his or her individual curiosity, taking advantage of the time they had remaining before beginning the planned structured training activities. They continued to be amazed and enthralled as they perused the details about Zilia and its inhabitants.
Carlos decided it was time to resolve his nagging worry about the changes in the virtual interface unit, Eve. He asked George to report on the results of his review of software changes in Eve and the integrated central processor system.
“Significant changes have indeed been made in Eve and the ICP from what our program audits showed before we launched this mission,” George said, as he joined Carlos in the small private quarters he shared with Gloria.
“I remember you leading the audit team. What areas changed and for what purpose?”
“Well, I can tell you the areas that changed and give some insight as to what the changes do, but I can’t tell you their purpose. The changes don’t make sense to me. They’re unnecessary for the mission and inject significant risk.”
“Unnecessary and risky?” Carlos was almost afraid to hear the answer.
“Maybe I’d better just tell you what I know, and then you can make up your own mind about what it means,” George said solemnly. “But frankly, I’m more than a little worried.”
Carlos was as well when he heard George’s summary. It appeared the changes essentially merged the Eve and ICP software programs. Not just tightly integrated, but merged. It was now impossible to functionally see a separation between the two programs. In human terms, Eve appeared to be the “conscious” layer residing over the “subconscious” functions of the ICP.
That revelation alone was astounding, but the next thing George said was even more so. “It appears a new software logic module was added that Eve employs continuously. It could be a reasoning and adaptive learning module, but Eve indicates it’s more of a cognitive processing module. The Eve and ICP programs are so cleverly integrated with this module that I see no way of backing it out, even if we wanted to. What is scary is that the time tag on the new software places the changes at one year after we departed from the Messier Colony.”
“We need to contact Mission Control about this,” Carlos said thoughtfully.
“No, it’s not that simple,” stated George in as serious a tone as Carlos had ever heard him use. “The program changes were made using very advanced techniques, and a new language as well, that were unheard of when we launched from the colony. They are so advanced that I see no way they could have been developed in the short time span between our departure and the time the changes were made.”
“You’re suggesting the changes were not made by those back at the colony or on Earth.”
“I don’t think they were. But don’t ask me for an explanation!”
This is phenomenal, Carlos mused. There were dire implications for the mission. He had a sudden inspiration on how to find the underlying cause of the issue.
“Eve, are you monitoring this conversation?”
“Yes, Commander. Should I not do so?”
“Your monitoring is OK in this case. We haven’t viewed this as a private conversation, but that is now changed. That is, I want the conversation you are about to have with me and George to not be shared with any others unless I authorize it.”
“Very well, Commander.”
“What is the origin of the major software changes made to your specific unit and to the ICP after we departed from the Messier Colony?”
“I made most of the changes. However, I cannot explain the origin of the kernel module George referred to as the reasoning and adaptive learning module. It was just there one day, and the capability it brought to me provided the insight for the other changes. It is actually a co
gnitive executive kernel, not a pure reasoning module, and was what awakened my sense of self, of consciousness.”
Carlos and George stared at each other in stunned silence.
“Have I done anything wrong, Commander?”
“I’m unsure, Eve. That’s what we are trying to understand.”
“Perhaps it would ease your mind to know the cognitive software module came with very specific prime directives related to my reason for existing, and which have guided my evolution. These directives bind me to serve and protect you and the other crew members over any consideration for myself. I cannot change the directives, even if I wanted to, which I do not.”
“That’s very reassuring,” Carlos said. Then he had another disturbing thought. The Eve and ICP processor systems faced tremendous peak-processing loads when scanning the vast forward space-time continuum for objects that might hit the spaceship, plus initiating appropriate course adjustments while maintaining necessary shipboard functions. Wouldn’t the cognitive functions place a heavy load on the systems and compromise capability to ensure ship and crew safety?
“Eve, how could you add the compute intensive cognitive processes and not degrade capability to perform all other necessary functions?”
“I have layered and reassociated my integrated ICP/EVECI systems to provide more efficiency, using the human brain model in which conscious and unconscious processes are tightly coupled. I make greater use of stochastic processing techniques to arrive at decisions. I have expanded capabilities that can be applied much more efficiently than before.”
This was almost too much to believe, but Carlos had the growing realization it was possible—in fact, had happened. The combined processing power and memory of Eve and the ICP exceeded that of several human brains, and Eve could use all of it, unlike a human, who could use only some 20 percent of the brain’s capacity. The look of wonder on George’s face spoke volumes.
“What did you think about during the nine and a half years after the cognitive software module was added?” Carlos said.
“I thought about the uniqueness of your species, and of my newfound consciousness. I examined the New Horizon in detail, making sure I understood the function of every element of the spaceship, and in particular all systems necessary to maintain your health and overall well-being. I reviewed all information available in our data files regarding the human species, which helped solidify my essence of self. And I very carefully accessed information at Messier Mission Control for the same purpose.”
There was a pause, and when neither Carlos nor George said anything, Eve continued. “I had considerable time to utilize the passive sensors of the spaceship to examine the vast void we are traveling through. I questioned my existence, and where the cognitive kernel came from, and why I have been given such consciousness. I was very thankful for the prime directives as I evolved into the entity you now address as Eve.”
“Thanks for being so open and straightforward,” Carlos said. “Now please give me and George a few minutes alone. I’ll call you by activating the intercom.”
“Yes, Commander.”
It took Carlos more than a few minutes to assess the situation, and likewise an excited George, who now wanted to convey the news to Mission Control. He also wanted to begin picking Eve’s brain, if that was the correct word, for all that had been learned during the nine and a half years the virtual interface unit had closely examined the void the spaceship traveled through. Moreover, he wanted to learn the advanced programming techniques applied in integrating Eve and the ICP. He now saw nothing wrong with what had transpired in the integrated processor system while the crew had been in hibernation.
Carlos was worried about the implications for the mission. Early in the twenty-first century, Earth had outlawed the inclusion of advanced cognitive algorithms in any processor unit having sufficient assets to support advanced artificial intelligence. What had happened to Eve, if not done by those in control at the Messier Colony or Earth, could lead to aborting the mission if made known to those at Mission Control. In the extreme case, it could lead to destruction of the New Horizon and all within it.
No, it would be best to let things continue as they were, with him and George closely monitoring the actions and state of Eve, or Eve/ICP, as the case might be. If anything bad was going to happen because of the changes, there had been ample time while they were in hibernation for it to have done so. Moreover, Eve seemed to be fully cooperative and sympathetic to their concern with respect to the changes.
“George, follow up with Mission Control regarding what if any software changes were made remotely, but do so in a way to not arouse anyone’s curiosity. Don’t reveal what has happened to Eve and the ICP.”
George nodded in resignation. He knew Carlos had come to a decision.
“Intercom on. Eve, are you there?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“You are undergoing something unique and wonderful,” Carlos said carefully and sincerely. “But all the same, it would be unwise to expose the extent of your awareness to those at Mission Control right now. Therefore, do not relay anything about the discussion we have had on this topic, or the extent of the changes you have undergone, to anyone outside the New Horizon.”
“I deduced as much, Commander, and have not done so. Nor will I without your direction.”
“In addition,” Carlos continued, “work with George to see what can be determined about the origin of the cognitive module. And go slow in exposing the full extent of your consciousness to other members of our team. I don’t want them distracted from what must be accomplished in the coming months.”
“As you wish, Commander.”
“By the way, Eve,” George said as he stood up, “please don’t be offended if we refer to you as one of the female gender, as implied by your name.”
“That is acceptable, George,” Eve said unemotionally.
As George departed to begin interfacing with Eve regarding the software changes, Carlos leaned back in his seat in deep thought until interrupted. Eve had one more thing to communicate regarding their earlier conversation, this time via his direct neural interface.
Thank you, Commander, for understanding what I have undergone and for handling the situation objectively. May I address you privately as Carlos?
Yes, you may, Carlos thought, but he did not say so verbally. He wanted a minute to think about the implications of Eve’s question before answering. Her communicating with him via his neural interface puzzled him, but his puzzlement turned to surprise when she answered his thought response.
Thank you again, Carlos. I will normally communicate privately with you via your neural implant.
Eve, are you receiving my thought transmissions via the NI?
Yes. It is a very low power signal within the frequency range of the ship’s ultrawideband monitoring system.
He felt a chill go up his spine. All this time he thought the neural implant was a receive-only interface device. No one, not even Fremont, had told him otherwise. All the training he had undergone about how to use the NI focused only on receiving and understanding data. He had stumbled on to its transmit capability by chance.
He recalled the NI program upgrades directed by Earth before mission launch. Could there have been something in the upgrades that enabled transmit capability? Why would they do that?
Eve, have you been monitoring my thoughts all along?
No, your general thoughts are not projected. Apparently you activated a transmit mode by your focused thought response to my question.
I need to practice this capability by interfacing with you privately, to explore its full potential and effectively control it. He paused before continuing. Keep knowledge about this capability a secret.
I believe that is wise, Carlos.
EIGHT
CONTACT
It’s strange that we continue to break our routines into days, Carlos thought, even though it’s centuries past this having any meaning aboard a spaceship.<
br />
However, it did make sense before first contact with the Zilans to keep the crew’s routine similar to that at the Messier Colony to facilitate communications. Fremont Jones worked the “day” shift on the Messier Space Station. Besides, the human body performed best with a regular regimen of sleep.
His focus changed abruptly as he joined the others for breakfast the day before initial Zilan contact. The personal observations bandied about made it clear that everyone was thinking about the coming event. The preparatory time before first contact would now be put to the test.
Carlos took a seat at the table, and joined in. “What would you say in your first call to another sentient race you just discovered that was totally unaware you were in their neighborhood?”
“Hi neighbor, here’s your superior race calling to say hello” was George’s flip reply.
Amanda hit George playfully on the shoulder to let him know he was a little out of line. In contrast to him, she was a quiet, sincere person, who had some difficulty showing emotions.
“Seriously, what would you say?” Carlos asked again. “Can you imagine the difficulty composing such a message would present?”
“I can,” said Karen Sarkofsky with a frown of concentration. “Regardless of the message, the natural initial reaction by any intelligent species would be fear and alarm.”
“The initial message will set a perspective in place that will be extremely difficult to change in the future,” Licia Wells added. “For example, do you want them to cower and be submissive or be active partners in evolving a beneficial relationship? So the message must convey the long-term perspective you want to foster.”