Mason, E, LT 2nd: you should leave it alone. You could get in real trouble.

ByteMe: We’re already in real trouble. I want us to at least be in it together.

ByteMe: Ezra? You there?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Yeah, I’m here.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: though I’m kinda wishing I was on Hypatia right about now

ByteMe: I am fearsome, but I’m not quite that good. I’ll try and get a line up tomorrow. You’ll be here?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: As you wish

ByteMe: If only THAT were true. Keep your head down. Don’t do anything too noble.

——-CONNECTION TERMINATED——-

CitB: sooooo u talking to ur boyfriend again?

ByteMe: not my bf

CitB: u talking to him?

ByteMe: 7 min burst no sign of detection so far

CitB: he know what going on over there?

ByteMe: not spilling

CitB: he know about the AI?

ByteMe: it’s down, not spilling more than that

CitB: so work some magic

ByteMe: not as simple as that. u don’t just jump into law breaking with a guy like Ezra. don’t even know if i want to involve him yet.

CitB: then why do it?

ByteMe: to see if i can. now have to decide what to ask him to do. not safe for him.

CitB: not safe for anybody. get it done

General,

As of 11:00 hrs, an assessment of the Alexander Artificial Intelligence Defence Analytics Network (AIDAN) has been completed by myself and Senior TechEng Specialists Major Nico Lassinger and Major Lisa Barker. Junior staff were excluded to preserve confidentiality of our findings. Status report and recommendations follow:

Current Status

During the battle at Kerenza, AIDAN suffered significant physical damage. Due to losses of key personnel in the TechEng department, we have been unable to carry out a full diagnostic, but most obviously, we cannot generate a jump gate, and AIDAN’s computational speed is reduced. However, damage to AIDAN’s neural network may also be worse than first realized.

As per your orders after the destruction of the Copernicus, AIDAN remains in shutdown mode, carrying out only essential functions, including recyc, climate moderation, and artificial gravity control. AIDAN is essentially the equivalent of a human in a coma; breathing and heartbeat continue, but no conscious thought or decision-making is possible. As a result, the AI has been unavailable for active questioning. However, in the opinion of my team, it is likely that AIDAN’s decision to destroy the Copernicus was resultant of its directive to prioritize the safety of fleet members.

Our review indicates that, over the last month, AIDAN has accessed Copernicus medical records with increasing frequency. As a matter of routine, all data the AI accesses is backed up to the Alexander’s servers, however, AIDAN seems to have taken steps to ensure we cannot locate these particular reports.

We believe AIDAN formed a view that the illness aboard Copernicus had reached a tipping point and posed a danger to the fleet. Nevertheless, we are concerned at AIDAN’s decision to (a) take such drastic action without consulting senior command and (b) shut down comms between senior command and the Alexander’s Cyclone squadrons, despite your direct orders. AIDAN’s design parameters prioritize the preservation of human life but allow the fleet commander almost unlimited override. We believe the damage to AIDAN may have impacted its willingness to factor in your commands and preferences.

Proposal

The halt at Kerenza VII(a) for water will have eroded our lead on the Lincoln. Without AIDAN online, main drives are inoperative, and we are left to reaccelerate on slower secondaries. It is increasingly likely we will need to engage the Alexander’s weapons systems, which cannot be done with AIDAN offline. Therefore, we propose increasing AIDAN’s operational level without restoring full independence. If you will permit me to continue the analogy, we propose bringing our coma patient back to consciousness, but under considerable restraint.

Potential Hazards

The Copernicus incident demonstrates we are not fully aware of AIDAN’s current operational capacity. On revival, AIDAN may not respond to restraints as anticipated, or the restraints may not function as expected. Danger exists for both Alexander and Hypatia personnel. This must, however, be weighed against the danger of doing nothing.

Revival scenarios will be run over the next 24—48 hours. We will aim to establish a scenario with a better than 90 percent chance of full control, and recommend AIDAN be revived if this is achieved.

If you have any further questions or wish to discuss options, we are available at your convenience.

Sanchez, E, Col: Nico, I’ve done the memo, can you proof it for me?

Lassinger, N, Maj: Printing it, hold on.

Lassinger, N, Maj: …

Lassinger, N, Maj: So basically what you’re saying is we’ll do our best to wake it up without it going loco, but our best promise is a 9 out of 10 chance it won’t kill us all?

Sanchez, E, Col: You know what the chance is if the Lincoln catches us?

Lassinger, N, Maj: Point. Okay, send. And pray.

Sanchez, E, Col: Sent. Praying.

Lassinger, N, Maj: I think I’m going to go see if Lisa needs any help getting the grease off. Climbing around the quantum core like fucking spanner monkeys is below our paygrade and our dignity, I say.

Sanchez, E, Col: Are you dusted? You ask her if she wants her back washed, you won’t NEED to worry about the AI blasting us into the next system.

Lassinger, N, Maj: It’s the end of the world, Eva. Nothing left to lose.

ByteMe: 7 mins starts now. u there?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Always :)