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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 7, 2007 21:02:23 GMT -5
"Waldo want to ask something that may be a little personal," said Multek to Onyx. "He understand that most of the AIs here seek to attain a higher level of complexity. High enough to become a, for lack of a better term, a sufficiently enlightened mind so that it may take on the role of leadership. He's a little curious as to what the goal is after that?"
------
Meanwhile in privacy of the Cali craft, Krel finds his moment. "Well, the Morskoj do exist even if you can't spot them, and from my understanding are an unhappy lot. Unlike my diplomatic friends I was given a more intense briefing before coming up this way. There are two things one must understand about them. First off, they do not exactly use cutting edge technology. Those that did, well, more than likely joined the Servants of Light and took their battle elsewhere. And secondly, Tinisian intelligence highly suspects that Erenmor is not the only user of underground tunnels in this part of the world.
"In fact several survey teems to different areas have found highly similar underground tunnel systems, all unnatural in several areas up to several hundred miles from where we are now. At this point the data is insufficient enough that we don't know if they are recent constructions or older. So a satellite might not be able to pick up a fighting force north of here if the fighting force had yet to emerge. And with how the winters have been of late, underground might not be a bad place to live. A number of Pargalonian reptilian communities were built like that a century ago before they all left for Tinis. So the Morskoj might be moving in for a fight. Or their attack might in fact be a ghost. I'm not willing to risk an international incident over uncertainty of information."
Krel's voice up until this point had been rather matter of fact. Now it deepened slightly and the slight grin on his face vanished. "As a senior intelligence official of Tinis, I can give out friendly advice to prevent friends from making horrible mistakes. And at this point, my advice would be to when you return to the tour, to smile and await further developments. And getting away meetings like this should be kept to a minimum, looks kind of suspicious. Keep on your toes of course but being overly panicky while in the den of a supreme dictator of questionable morals can be risky.
"Also, when we get home, I highly recommend a very very thorough cleaning followed by a number of hours in high magnetic fields to disable and remove excess bugs that might get into your person while we're here."
Krel then proceeded to pull a come out of the pocket of his shorts and began to comb his very fluffy tail.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 8, 2007 18:18:15 GMT -5
"As I said, you're welcome to use our comms channels to get the information you need," Onyx said to Phong with a polite smile. "We can show you the video logs of the most recent troop movements as well, if you want..."
The train of thought was interrupted by Waldo's question, relayed by Multek. "To tell you the truth, we're still figuring that bit out. Transcended organic minds aside, the only one to actually achieve sophistication sufficient to take on an Overseer role thus far has been Ferrin... That's going to present some problems when we need another Overseer for the next colony we have in mind, but that's a separate matter." Onyx laughed for a moment. "We'll let you know when we figure it out, though. So far the rule (if you can call it that with two sources of data) has been the pursuit of knowledge, exploration and just life in general. A level where one can truly set their own purpose..."
Onyx's voice trailed off as their walk took them out into another of the garden halls, though this one was definitely different from the first one they'd seen. The ground below looked to be rough rock, cracked grey soil and white dust, where the ground could actually be seen through the thick grey mists that rolled along it. One thing that did stand out from the mists were crystal formations: intricate growths of brilliant-blue, clustering together and intertwining in some places, taking on individual tree-like shapes elsewhere. There was precious little light in this garden as well, save what light came from the walkways above it, and the pale glow the crystals themselves gave off.
"...and here's what Ferrin's explorations have brought us," Onyx finished in a quiet tone, looking at the miniature alien landscape, smiling to his thoughts. "I've always been curious what wonders other lands might hold... other countries, other worlds... it's a big old universe, I imagine we'll have plenty to keep our attentions occupied for quite a while still."
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Post by miokalia on Apr 13, 2007 20:04:13 GMT -5
"It's not that we don't trust your security, but I'm afraid some of our delegation will have to take their leave.", said Phong, "Seeing as war has broken out to the north, and we are still uncertain of the origin of the missile which started it, Lady Sorenson and Lieutenant Chon will have to leave."
The second aircraft to pick them up had already arrived and was waiting.
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 13, 2007 20:34:18 GMT -5
Salato says "I will not be joining the tour I will return home, well if they will let me.
I know the press back home will now be crucifying me. I have got what I wanted, this was a political gamble and I'm quitting before I'm too far behind.
Unlike any of you I can be out of a job with one vote by the parliament , it's the 'joy' of being a parliamentary democracy. If parliament want rid of you, you are gone and remember I lead a minority coalition. I have none of the luxuries you do when it comes to security of position.
I know my people will go against the Erenmoren and for pretty much for anyone else. They disliked them before they learned about them, I was hoping to use that time as a chance to get what Cal needed. Well I have, now I shall leave."
Salato looks at Krel "Can I have a quick word with you?" she asks.
Then she smiles "Oh as for tracking and bugging devices, I have this odd feeling that, that will not be a problem. I think various people know more than they say back home, I really wish I knew who they were."
She then looks at Krel and jerks her thumb to direct him to a corner of the cabin so she can have talk with him.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 14, 2007 15:35:22 GMT -5
Krel nodded. "Very well, do what you must." He got up and went to the corner of the cabin. "Something in particular you need me for?"
----
"Wonders indeed," Waldo muttered as he became entranced by the crystal formation. Through Multek he explained, "This reminds me a little of a movie. But the low budget didn't do such a vision justice. People from my land have an urge to uncover the unknown. To explore. Perhaps such a desire is something we have in common. The same goes with building them. Though I have no doubt you've had a good view of Arx via the systems you command, Arx, like your underground nation are fascinating expressions of complexity. Just like the crystals."
Waldo walked over to one of the tree-like shapes. His raccoon tail twitching. He says, "Istfi zel ivneti?"
"Waldo wonders if its alright if he touches it," explains Multek after.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 15, 2007 15:43:46 GMT -5
Onyx gave Phong an understanding nod. "I see... Regrettable, but I suppose I understand the decision. I hope at least your brief stay here hasn't left too bad an impression?" he asked, directing the question to Sorenson and Chon.
Waldo's question then drew his attention. "Oh, of course," he replied with a smile. "The crystals are safe to touch. These ones are, at least. These are actually the same crystals that are used in both our sonic weapons, and the crystalsong musical instruments like the one you may have seen back at the restaurant. These ones are mainly for show, though, we monitor and adjust their growth to ensure they can't generate any sound that'd be a risk to visitors or the facility."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 15, 2007 17:55:48 GMT -5
Salato smiles, joining Krel, "Just to take an offer to your people from my people. With all that's going on up here we feel a strong secure Tinis is very much in our interests. Primarily as was have similar goals and beliefs, secondarily strategically having an ally up here is useful." Salato says
Krel just nods silently, he knew Salato was leading up to something.
"I'll cut to the chase then, and cut all the politicking shall I?" she asks.
"Yes, I think your should." Krel says, he was still annoyed at Salato.
"OK here's the deal, I would just give your people this stuff but that would be military aid and well I doubt I could get that thru parlaiment...."
"Get what? what do you mean military aid?"
"Well a few ships, small ones mostly, here's a list." Salato replies handing Krel a sheet of paper. "I'm would prefer if you keep this under your hat so to speak"
Krel reads the sheet of paper it says :" FAO: Prime minister Eye Subject: Equipment available for trade with Tinis
Frigates: Sword (V1) class (Three)
Corvettes: Nat (V1) class: Coastal Defense Variant (Nine) Fisheries Protection/Oceanographic Variant (Two) Medical Variant (One) Lifeboat Variant (Two)
Other Sundry small arms
Note: Most corvettes will have to be delivered in kit form for delivery to be prompt but fabrication should be possible with minimal addition resources.
The Tinisiens will have to provide their own missile systems how ever the fabrication works have agree to provide consultants to help in the adaption of these from their own missile system and final construction." Krel looks more than a little surprised, cal was effectively offering Tinis a small navy, even if some of it was in kit form.
"All I ask for is your people to give me something in exchange as if it's a trade deal I can get it though parliament and heck it'll get the libertarians off my back.
The main thing is ideally what you offer should not have any quantifiable monitory value. Things like that are easier to spin as a big deal" Salato says smiling.
"Such as?" Krel asks, intrigued.
"You know the stuff, some piece of tech, some exclusive trade deal, heck some bit of land for a base or, well you know that kind of thing. It doesn't really have to be much just enough to spin to my people.
Oh yeah, The escort carrier the Eagle is due to be stripped as it was the first of it's class and needs refitted, updated, or some thing like that. I might be able to swing that your way too I think they're willing to flog it. It's a wee one only three hundred meters." Salato replies.
Then says under her breath "Only, three hundred meters, wee ye goddess did I just say that."
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Post by miokalia on Apr 18, 2007 1:22:43 GMT -5
Tdentaku looked down for a moment, and then at Phong as a silent exchange took place between them.
"At this time, I would like to suggest that Tinis' suggestion be taken to heart.", said Phong.
#36 broke from the party and along with Esoure, and a resident Erenmoren drone trailing behind, he sought out Dr. Sparhow.
----
"Becka.", said #36 outside the door to her dormitory.
She opened it. Recognizing #36's uniquely synthesized, but slightly natural voice.
They exchanged a hug. Rebecka said, "Why would you come to a place like this?"
tilted his head slightly and the said, "Most who don't know would assume I'd fit in."
"Miokalia says I need to come back home. Laixliu wants me to go back to Daeron.", she said.
"I know why.", said #36.
"What's your take on them?", asked Sparhow.
#36 sighed, "I can officially prove that within inorganic intelligence, there are seperations, as wide as those between organic and inorganic intelligence between different 'species' of AIs. The difference between the Erenmoren system and my own is one such enormous gap. Call it a cultural gap if you will.
This system is populated by a few integrated organic intelligences, and a great deal of AIs which appear to be constructed, and based on modular behavior rather than being network-emergent, like the Calie AIs have exhibited the propensity towards being. They exhibit some characteristics of swarm intelligence, but for a different application than we do.
I'm afraid there is extremely little we share in common.
As many of my own have already discovered on their journeys here before."
Sparhow then said, "I could have told you that."
"Well, I just wanted to talk to them myself.", said #36.
"What about the fighting. The pravda up here says the Morskoj are making a futile attempt at a raid. I beleive that part. The part I'm not sure about is everything else.", said Sparhow, "Has this war revealed anything else about the system?"
"With this conflict to the north: I didn't expect such bloodthirst in battle from them. I haven't seen it personally, but I think I'd rather not.
I was surprized. But I shouldn't be. Onyx used to be a very, very angry person. Anyone would be angry at those who try to destroy them.", said #36.
"How long do you plan on being on-world?", asked Sparhow.
"I can be here as long as I need to be. This is a remote shell.", said #36.
"I'd like to leave with you. Since I have to leave anyways.", said Sparhow.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 18, 2007 20:17:49 GMT -5
"It is a well-meaning proposal," Onyx replied to Phong, "But it relies quite heavily on the Morskoj desire to put an end to the conflict. If you're keen on dealing with their leadership, please, by all means... but I would not recommend high hopes," he added, turning to Waldo.
***
The drone that had served as #34's guide, a Sky-Eye pattern, hovered a respectable distance as he conversed with Sparhow, though it still watched the exchange with a mad curiosity that'd make a kitten jeallous. Truth be told, a remote camera, microphone and speaker in a flying sphere could do little else than observe, so it did what it could.
***
In the Skaine hangar, the Wraith that had been patiently waiting outside the Calie aircraft thus far took the moment to climb aboard the vessel briefly.
"There have been some developments on the border tensions north," it stated calmly, giving out data slates that turned out to be news viewing terminals. "The Overseer has also forwarded a recommendation that you speak to the lord Thack upon your return... miss Eye," the Wraith added, turning briefly to Salato before bowing respectfully and withdrawing out of the aircraft.
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 19, 2007 12:44:29 GMT -5
Salato is taken aside by an aid, what she said was not something you would expect from a politician. She sighed and said "while you consider what you have been told, the Mercy is streaming up here at a rate of knots.
The Mercy has no escort to slow it, it will be here soon. It left Emass a while back and is on route. It is red serpent, not Calie government, and will provide support to the injured with out question. The Calie government might be out of the situation but my people are a different matter. It will deploy it's medical corvettes, I knew giving them those was a bad idea."
Krel looks a little confused.
"Make sure the Erenmoren do not fire on it. If they did keeping it from becoming to a full war would be tricky to say the least. They will accept Tinisen medics to aid with the injured, civilians that is, perhaps that might help?" Salato ends.
Krel asks "Can't you stop them?"
"No, we have no control over the red serpent, it is a pre-unification NGO. It has staunchly stayed out with government control, they are part of the Unified Collage Of Surgeons and Unified Medical Association. Neither of these organisations have ever wanted to be under government control, quite the opposite." Salato ends.
"They are out with your control?" Krel answers a little confused.
"Well yes, my people like to keep politics out of life saving. They don't trust us with that kind of choice, heck the NHS is run by them back home. Like the UBC sticking your nose in there is a good way to lose your job. Cal is a bit odd about things like that, my people put up with a government and we know what not to touch." salato says smiling at the end.
---
Eye turned to the Wraith and says "Well that might be tricky, Lord Thack is dead, well he died long before you left Thack, we were planning on having him 'die' when he got there.
Well it would aid his grand niece to aid the stability of the area. Who you have been taking to is probably one of the other lords of Sae, I'm not a member of the Lucan council, not being an aristo, so couldn't say.
I suggest you keep it quiet, the members of the lucan council have been lieing and cheating for eons. Don't worry about them, I'm getting them under control, and as for Thacks niece she in under Queen Lo's charge." Salato says.
The Wraith looks on silently.
"I'm due to have tea with her when I get home. Well by tea I mean a drink....you people though to play the Lucan council, I wouldn't try that!" Salato ends with a laugh.
"Just as a for future refence a lord of the isle doesn't fart without the rest knowing, well them and the Teerie. Thack's death is being kept quiet as they all want stability."
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Post by miokalia on Apr 19, 2007 13:24:57 GMT -5
"The RS vessel, the Mercy has passed going in the opposite direction about 250 Km to the west of here. They are en route to the Erenmor/Morskoy border.", stated one of Bristol's Radar team.
"We're stopping here", said Captain Bristol.
"Surely you don't intend to escort them? That could attract danger to them if they are perceived as being related to us.
They won't like being escorted.", said the Commander.
"We're not going to follow them with the carrier.
I'm thinking keeping the Exeter at a distance, so if the Mercy is fired upon, we'll know immediately and he can try to defend them.
Really, I'm not sure if we can trust either side of this conflict to not fire upon them.
NGO or not, if they get fired upon we have a responsibility to protect them by moral obligation.
Damn it. Keep the Exeter at a distance, so that it isn't going to be interpreted as an escort by either side.
I'm going to hail the Mercy to let them know of this".
"This is the MZS Fhtagn and it's escorts, we are aware that you are heading into an active war zone and in accordance with moral obligation we are sending an escort, the Exeter to keep a distance of 50 Kilometers. So as to not attract attention to your vessel, but so that if your vessel were to be attacked, which we have determined to be a very real possibility, we would be able to respond to such in a very quick manner.
I know you don't trust governments so let me lay it out: If you are attacked, the Exeter will allow us to know about it immediately, and be able to, as a first priority, provide an emergency platform and assistance to the Mercy and/or it's RS convoy.
We're not going to hold you forcefully, you may leave at any time. We have no interest in confiscating your materials or passing judgement on your patients. If you need to be evacuated, we will not hold you to our law, and we will grant amnesty to all those evacuated for the time they are on this boat, if such a thing is required.
If you are attacked, we will immediately notify both sides of this conflict that they have violated international law. And we will do what we can to find out who it was.", said Captain Bristol in the hail message.
After the message closed, the commander approached Bristol and said, "If the Exeter as well as the Mercy are attacked, then what?"
"I want you to arm the BTCPC. If the Exeter sees a missile approach the Mercy, like one did the border, from an unknown source. I want it blasted out of the sky before it hits anything.", said Bristol.
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 19, 2007 14:09:31 GMT -5
Much to the surprise of the miokaliaen a fleet appears on their radar and other sensors from nowhere, including two massive ships.
The Fire fleet was deploying, the two, one mile long carriers were deploying, not just air craft but corvettes and a number of subs. The fleet was holding off Erenmoren waters but was not hiding it's capabilities, miokaliaen were shocked by the number and size of the fleet.
This was only one of the Calie high seas fleets, they had at-least one other, it was clear that the sea was where cals power lay. A few hunter killer nuclear subs made their presences known.
A reply came from the Fire fleet, rather than the mercy "A shot at the serpent will result in massive retaliation, with or without orders. It is known to our people that who ever fires upon the serpent gets bitten as the serpent is who saves you."
The miokaliaen could almost hear the saber being rattled.
--- Massage to both forces from the mercy.
"The mercy is a medical ship and will aid those injured, as will all red serpent personnel, we request recognized neutrality.
Salato has no control over this fleet.
We will welcome civilian doctors who are willing to aid the injured on both sides and those from friendly nations."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 19, 2007 14:29:37 GMT -5
A message from the Fire fleet to the miokaliaen fleet:
"Join our fleet out with the warring waters, the serpent usually need help. A hint from a second nation might help?
They are big on good will and low on sense, but well if it hit's the fan you need them."
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Post by miokalia on Apr 19, 2007 23:18:34 GMT -5
"Cal seems to have arrived with their naval presence it seems.
Good to see they are thinking the same thing as we are.", said Bristol.
The commander then said, "They don't seem to be very conservative of their use of what I assume to be refraction cloaking. I take it that choice was made to spook someone other than us out."
"Well if it was intended for us, they are preaching to the choir.", said Bristol, "With two of us, no one would dare touch the Mercy. It would be such an overwhelming force."
"Then we shall go north?", asked the commander.
"A ways, we will deploy more Konohas. They will join the fire fleet. The Fhtagn is most effective from a distance. And I want to keep that BTCPC charged in in the event we need to intercept missiles.", said Bristol.
----
"Pardon #36's departure. He has some matters to attend to, but he has forwarded his conversation with you to me as he is required elsewhere.
You've always been a military-oriented individual, haven't you? That's why this personality has manifested itself in your AIs.
Was it the Morskoj who put you in this state, then tried to discard you so many years ago?", said Phong
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 20, 2007 19:51:05 GMT -5
"I was a soldier, used as a template for a global military operation controlling system. Yes, you could say I've been of a military mind," Onyx shrugged. The next question caused him to laugh briefly.
"The Morskoj would have trouble programming anything more complex than a toaster, president Phong, even before my arrival here, much less a sentience of my level. No, they're not responsible for my initial condition... though I would not go so far as to say they have not shaped me into what I am today through the conflict," he explained patiently.
"If you'll allow the digression, president Phong... I got the impression that #34 was rather... disappointed when he left. Could I possibly pry what the reason for that was?"
***
The Wraith aboard the Calie aircraft glared coldly at Salato. It had no visible eyes, true, no face to speak of, but it was none the less glaring.
"Lord Thack, or one claiming to be him, came here and requested we become involved in your internal affairs," it stated flatly. "Following the previous request, you may consider our involvement over. Deal with it how you will, but without us. As you said yourself... you got what you wanted," the Wraith said, and if it had a face, it might be scowling now. "Personally, I do not recommend asking for anything else," the assassin droid hissed, backing off the craft. "Your luggage has arrived," it added as a final note. "Once you receive take-off clearance, you are free to leave," it stated before turning around on its heel and walked off.
Considering the sharp contrast of the Wraith's disposition to that of the Overseer, it was safe to assume they'd actually got its personal opinion rather than the official stance.
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