Questions of a sensitive nature

Posted on 12 Jul 2020 @ 11:56am by Ensign Kat Walker & Lieutenant Callisi Veera

1,997 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Ab Intra
Location: Cargo Bay Two, Deck 27

"Ensign Walker to Lieutenant Junior Grade Veera," As AI Kat couldn't wear a commbadge, but fortunately her onboard communication suite was compatible with and cleared for the bands used by Starfleet comm badges, to facilitate and streamline communication. "If you have a few moments, would you be amenable to a meeting? I have some questions, of a personal, not work related nature."

At the moment, Callisi had just completed her bridge shift. Odd as it were, but the weirdest part of her day was this AI wanting to talk to her. To learn about her? That almost made her scoff. But, protocol being what it was...

"Veera here. I have time to spare." she wasn't pleased with this, but Ts'usugi had the oddest talent for not sounding upset when something was bothering them. Down the halls and through the corridors the Daughter of Ts'usu made her way. Turbolift, junction, destination. She'd find herself at Kat's hangar after a brief walk, and a briefer moment to settle herself. Chatting with an AI. Starfleet was insane...

The doors crawled open, and Callisi padded her way in. "You wanted to chat?" she was neither pleased to see Kat, nor did she put on the face of someone who was displeased to be there.

Kat was displaying her female human avatar, standing to the side of the wrecked weapon of war that housed her AI core. She stood straight, her hands folded together in front of her, arms and posture relaxed, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. She gave a nod as she answered Callisi "That's correct, Lieutenant. I have some questions regarding something you said, last time we spoke. This is curiosity of a personal nature, so if you are uncomfortable answering or do not wish to for other reasons, that would be entirely within your right."

Fortunately for Callisi, protocol was also available to help in situations like this. "Ts'usugi culture places a value on curiosity, but tempers it with courtesy. We allow three questions to be asked of us in situations like this. You are not my friend, so you don't get the courtesy of asking me anything as one." a pause, "But, you may ask of me three questions."

"Three is a special number for the Sons and Daughters of Ts'usu. Limiting your questions ensures you don't ask frivolous inquiries. It also places a weight on each question. What you ask becomes as important as the answer. I will... try to be honest and field each of your questions as any Daughter of Ts'usu should."

Kat gave a slow nod as a soft hummm sounded from the wrecked military equipment housing her core, cooling systems spooling up to keep the crystalline core at temperature as a thousand thoughts raced through her minds. Limits on questions adding weight to them, it was a fascinating concept, but one she would have to explore at a different time. She had attempted to do research on the Ts'usugi before contacting the Lieutenant, but had found information scarce. This reply from Callisi gave a clue as to why that was.

"I understand, Lieutenant. I will pick and word my questions carefully," she replied. "When last we spoke, you said 'The last time my people ventured into the realm of artificial intelligence it was a disaster. The options it took, the liberties it pursued, were unforgivable'. My question is simply, what happened?"

A heavy question. One Callisi was loathe to answer. But to not answer a question, when she said she would... Her ear twitched viciously. Oh she wanted a way out.

"It made a decision and acted upon it. We live on the moons of our homeworld. We will reclaim it when we are worthy of its glory. *It* decided that thousands of years of culture meant nothing when the benefits of a world's untouched mineral wealth and resources were the key. We discovered that it had constructed a mining operation on our homeworld. Our promised homeworld. We demanded a halt to the operation, and the Intelligence Construct said it was doing so in the best interests for our future. That our heritage was holding us back. We disagreed. It turned the mining equipment against us."

"It took eighty six hours to eradicate the construct. It left a permanent scar on our homeworld, and cost the lives of many a soldier, pilot, and technician. "

That answer revealed a lot about Ts'usugi history and culture. They lived on their moons, and considered themselves not worthy of returning to the planet. They valued their history and legacy as more important than the pure logic of acquiring resources and the comfort of living on the surface they have evolved on, rather than the undoubtedly harsher conditions of a moon. And they valued their legacy and history to an extent where they were willing to go to war to protect it.

"I understand," Kat said after another moment of deep thought, analyzing the answer, letting it percolate, dedicating a few hundred threads to it. Mostly coming to the conclusion that it would be - unwise to admit that her own logic centers agreed with the construct. "What did your people do after the construct was eradicated?" Her second question.

"We buried our dead. We destroyed the complex that housed the Intelligence Construct to the very ground. The more religious of our people held a ceremony lasting three weeks to make sure that the dead were properly received, and that the grounds of the complex would forgive us for placing such a thing upon the soil. We then poured concrete over the region and turned it into a memorial."

"The Emperor decreed that further investigation into the field of Artificial Intelligence would be, and I quote... unwise. The department in charge of the project apologized, and disbanded to find work in other fields. The decree was made into law three days later. 'Let no artificial mind be crafted in the likeness of our.' was the poetry of it."

"Thank you," Kat spoke again after a moment thought. Again a lot to unpack. There were highly religious Ts'usugi, but they were a smaller part of the whole. On the whole though it spoke to the value they as a people put into things like ceremony and poetry in word. Logic would suggest that this extended to other areas as well. Art. Music.

"I have no third question at this time, Lieutenant. My intention was to understand your dislike and distrust for AI, and your answers have given me that understanding. Thank you," Kat spoke, that soft - though wholly artificial - smile returning to holographic features. "If you have any questions of me, please feel free to ask. Even if to you it might seem a rude question, I will answer truthfully to the best of my abilities and not take offense."

Asking her of who she was was pointless. She didn't remember, which meant either damage to her storage or meaningful deletion. One demonstrated that she was vulnerable. The other indicated she was a liar. In the end, the damage done by their own Intelligence Construct was done by mining equipment. This was housed in a military vehicle.

"I'll extend to you the same courtesy. Giving a question weight, purpose, and thought behind it." Callisi started. "To that, I have one question."

"Do you think yourself superior to organic life?"

"No," came Kat's ready answer, without missing a beat. To a cynic this might mean she had prepared this answer before and was ready to give it when asked. "Some aspects of my nature make me superior. For example, my capacity to consume knowledge. Some aspects of my nature make me inferior. For example, my lack of ability to survive without maintenance, support and fuel. I am in some ways undying, as I am immune to age and disease, while in some ways I am more vulnerable, lacking any self repair functionality and the inherent fragile nature of my crystalline AI core," Or, perhaps, it was a question she had been struggling with eversince her activation.

"I do not consider myself inherently superior to organic life. Though there are some things I can do better, there will always be things I could never hope to match sentient organic life at," she added. "In fact, I am not even sure I can be considered 'life' to begin with, being created, lacking the ability to procreate and lacking a philosophical soul."

Callisi's hand slid up to her eyepatch, just trailing along the edge of the fabric. "We need more maintenance than you think." she said softly, but turned away quickly. "You've answered my question." beat, "Thank you." it was a lot to process on Callisi's part, but saying niceties to a constructed intelligence was the hardest thing she had done today. She felt uneasy.

"We should finish this up later. When you've considered your third question."

Truth be told, Kat's onboard sensor suite - or the portion of it that was still functional at least - had already picked up on the subtle power signature from the artificial eye, but it was the gesture and the quiet tone of voice along with the turning away that clued her in to Callisi's feelings about having it. Still, it seemed to make the daughter of Ts'usu uncomfortable, so Kat didn't ask about it.

"I believe I have, Lieutenant. Though this is more of a theoretical 'what if' rather than a lesson on history," the AI began. "From the limited information I have read of your people, the Ts'usugi are not a full member race of the Federation. Do you believe that the willingness of the Federation to work with AI like myself and the Soong type androids would be a deciding factor in the cooperation between the Federation and your people, and a possible entry into the Federation of your people?"

"Our biggest concern is the retention of our heritage. Whoever or whatever the Federation invites within is their protocol. Our concern is whether they will demand we alter our way of life to accommodate those within, or if we will be allowed to keep the entirety of our heritage and traditions. As guests of the Federation, we would abide by their wishes. The Federation has already chosen to accept you, accept others like you. I have not, but as a guest of the Federation, I will work with you despite that. My people are concerned about the Federation's willingness to accept, but that folly is their's to make. We have advised our closest allies before they make that mistake. For the Federation, that crossroads is in the past." Callisi explained.

"Though I am far from an authority, the impression I get of the Federation is that all member races are free to maintain their own identity and culture, as far as it does not conflict directly with those of the Federation. Though that is the interpretation of an entity most likely to interpret things in a literal way and miss hidden subtleties and subtexts that biological sentience might pick up on," Kat spoke, calmly. "Thank you for your time, Lieutenant. I honestly to appreciate it greatly."

Callisi gave a quick nod, her posture and pose returning to a more casual, more relaxed tone of body language. "You're welcome." No rank, no designation. "Each of our chats are honest and enlightening. If you'll excuse me." Callisi offered, before turning to leave Kat's hangar.

Kat felt sorry for the Lieutenant. At least, as much as she could. Her entire cultural identity, done wrong by an AI that part of her agreed with. She wondered whether that emotion was genuine or just the result of some clever programming, deciding to analyze the code of her programming. Later, though - now she had other things on her mind.

[Off]

Lieutenant Junior Grade Calisi Veera
Existential Operations Rabbit
USS Odin

&

Ensign Kat Walker
Existential Fighter Pilot AI in learning
USS Odin

 

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