The Next Adventure - Resolution

Posted on Wed May 29th, 2019 @ 7:15am by Warrant Officer Koh Otassu

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Dalacar Visitor City

Destruction or Diplomacy?

She felt a cold shiver run down her spine and exhaled slowly.

"So, essentially, you've created a plethora of armies that have the capacity to gather enough information to annihilate anyone and everyone in their path, but you control them by hard coding them to not rise up against you?"

There was a tone to Shaille's voice as she spoke, a mix of disbelief and awe. The concept was definitely awe inspiring, it also instilled fear.

"I..." she paused, shaking her head slightly. "I genuinely don't know what else to say."

Her response seemed to shock the Administrator. "What a horrible thought. W.. We'd never dream of such an action. Please, no it's nothing like that." he sounded concerned, worried, maybe even afraid. "We're a peaceful people, we'd never initiate any form of violence against anyone."

"We built them to defend us. To do the things we couldn't. To fight the battles that would leave us dead, crippled, or worse." Kelig took a moment to just collect himself. "I'm so sorry if something made you think we were..."

"... aggressors. I can't imagine how terrible this might sound from the outside." he took another breath, shared between his forms, "I'm sorry. I will not apologize for how my..."

"... people keep ourselves safe, but I am sorry if it damages your idea of us as a people. I would understand if you wanted to cut the tour short." he spoke, but the other one hung his head a little inside the containment suit.

Shaille found herself increasingly aware of the presence of the armed drones that had in the last few minutes stopped patrolling the room and were now behind them. Their 'heads' no longer dipped but standing taller. She tensed slightly as she glanced around. "What happens if the drones become compromised?" she asked simply.

"A compromised drone powers down, and requires an outside source to power back on." Kelig assured. "And we have safeguards in place that constantly check for a compromised drone scenario."

"During the shutdown process, a drone would send a signal along the last good line of contact indicating that it is powering down. For recovery and, if there seems to be..."

"... a region that is compromising drones, we know to avoid sending drones into that region." he then turned to the drones behind the pair, and gave them an order. "Stand down." and the drones 'relaxed'. He shook his head, feeling that might not be enough. "Power down."

There was an audible click inside the structure of each of the drones, and then they collapsed. Bending at the knees and then hip to 'sit down', and then bringing their arms down to 'hug their knees' the drones folded into as small a cube posture as they could, ruined only by the size of their heads.

On the monitors behind the Thinking Engine, the system logged the power-down state of two drones.

"Sorry, I hope that helps the situation."

As the drones powered down behind her, Shaille felt herself untense ever so slightly. The risk of NOT being shot in the back of the head was definitely encouraging in many ways. Even Koh's grip on her hand had loosened slightly, although maybe that was her grip on his hand? Who knew?

Looking back to the Administrator, Shaille smiled slightly. "Thank you," she said softly. "As someone who both lives and breathes security, both on our own ship and when we're off ship in places like this, I'm very aware of the threats that my crew may face." She paused for a moment. "I'll be honest, there is a large part of me that is very concerned by the fact that your drones collect so much information on us, from food choices to medical records, to financial and employment information. I mean, don't get me wrong, you have carved out the most amazing laid back lifestyle that any humanoid could ever hope to strive for, but don't you worry about what may happen?"

She could feel Koh's hand squeezing hers again, but she wasn't entirely sure if it was for comfort or warning. Still, she persevered on. "Don't you ever worry about what may happen if the drones or the thinking engines are compromised? You collect so much information, not only on your own people, but on anyone you interact with, and you yourself said that you strive for diplomacy or destruction. Don't you ever worry that maybe the destruction might be your own?"

Kelig gave her words his entire attention, two faces and two postures turned to her every word. It felt different than when a Ts'usugi or a Vulcan gave you their full attention. The attention of a Dalacari felt less like a conversation and more like a presentation, since the person you were speaking with felt less like one person, and more like a crowd or an audience. It felt heavy, daunting, but it could also make everything feel more important.

"I can relate with your position. I'm in charge of the safety, security, and for the most part the comfort of everyone in the visitor's villa. I now exactly how it feels.."

"... when you get that 3AM wake up call. I know that dread of reports and meetings. I look forward, everyday, to a boring day at work." he said, with the hint of a smirk. Seems they found common ground. "The truth is, miss, we're..."

"... too far in. We built the system to protect us cause we're fragile, and if we're not careful we wind up Single. It's a scale with no good side. Or, as they'd say..."

"... it's a bridge burning at both ends." he gave Koh a nod. "We need them. They need us. What started as a great idea and a grand need might have gotten out of hand, but if it did then..."

"... it got out of hand hundreds of years ago, and the people in charge were either too attached to their system, or were afraid to turn it off. Where we go from here..."

"... is the next question, but that's a question for politics and protests." he chuckled, "Not that we've had one of those in forever."

He paused, and then actually chuckled, "Protests, I mean. Trust me, we have politics everyday." he paused again, and moved to rest a hand against the surface of one of the spheres of the Thinking Engine array. "Did we make a mistake building you?"

The screens flashed to life for a moment. After all, it was asked a question.

"Insufficient data."

He chuckled, "I was afraid you'd say that." he then turned to Shaille, "What's your name? I don't want the system to tell me, I don't want some report to tell me." he paused, "What's your name?"

"Because you're the first person to ever visit this station, visit this facility, look at the Thinking Engine, and ask the questions you're asking." he paused, "I want to know..."

"... the name of the person who questions paradise." he said in a whimsical tone. There was no offense, no malice. She impressed him.

"Lieutenant Shaille Levine," she replied quietly. "Every utopia is someone else's dystopia," she said with a smile. "I apologize if my questioning your paradise has caused any offence."

She stopped speaking momentarily, contemplating the utter mortification that would come from Commander Tang once she found out that Shaille had offended her people.

"Thank you, Administrator Kelig, for taking the time to bring us into your facility and answer my questions. It really has been incredibly enlightening and educational."

"No offense. None what-so-ever." Kelig said with a pair of nods. "Sometimes we get so used to our life, and our lifestyle, that we forget how others might see us."

"I'll flag you for less drone interactions in the future. They won't bother you unless they see you in obvious distress or you seek them out for something. Though bear..."

"... in mind that in areas like a restaurant or a service facility it's their task to check on you." a pause as the administrator thought, "I'll also flag your preferences to be treated..."

"... as a diplomat, rather than a guest. It'll strengthen the encryption on the data collected."

"You're very welcome Lieutenant. It was a pleasure to meet you. Ordinarily I'd send the drones back up with you and finish up down here myself but......" he chuckled, "They appear to be..."

"... down for maintenance." and with that, Kelig summoned the elevator back to bring them all up above, back to the surface.

Where it wasn't so damned cold.

Shaille laughed suddenly, relaxing visibly as they entered the elevator to return to the surface. "Thank you, I appreciate your time," she said warmly. "We're going to see the drone air display next, should I expect good things from it having now seen the brains behind it all?"

"That depends. Has your opinion of Blink Fighters changed since meeting a pilot?" Kelig asked with a smirk. Koh gave a chuckle, "I hope not."

Shaille looked up at Koh, a look of fondness softening her expression. "Well, I've seen blink in the hands of the best so who ever you're sending up there has some very big shoes to fill," she said with a smile before looking back at the Administrator.

Koh gave a chuckle, "Oh no no, I mean, thank you, but no. They don't use Blink fighters." and Kelig shook his head, "Oh they'd never give us their Blink fighters. The demonstration will be using our own. Your friend might recognize the model number." a pause as the active Dalacari form shifted to the other form, "We'll be demonstrating the series Fifty Sevens."

Koh gave a whistle, "A Fifty Seven? Nimble little space donuts." and he gave a chuckle. "Though, before we get to see them in action, I think we could do with a little actual, living company for the moment." he gave Shaille's shoulder a soft squeeze through the cold suit. "Also, when can we take these things off? I feel like a walking pastry."

The administrator held up a finger... and then dropped it, "Okay, should be safe now." and the admin removed one of the helmets from his suits, and gave a nod. "Yes. It's safe. A little frigid, but nothing life threatening."

Removing her helmet first, then making her way out of the suit, Shaille shivered ever so slightly from the sudden change in temperature. "Exactly how cold was it down there? I suddenly feel like I need to soak in a sauna for a week!"

Kelig checked a readout on the side of the lift they were on, "About... minus one thirty. The actual engines themselves, much much cooler. Gotta keep them real cold to make sure they don't lose processor power."

Koh gave a smirk, "Though, a sauna doesn't sound terrible. I mean, unless you have fur." he chuckled.

"Yes well not everyone is lucky enough to have an extra layer of warmth," Shaille replied with a grin. "Some of us have to rely on getting warmth in other ways!"

The lift came to a stop and the doors opened back to the outside world. Back to Dalacar. The administrator made his way out with the pair of them, and stocked the cold-storage suits back for recharging. "So... I mean, thank you for your interest in how we ensure safety and security." he said, and it sounded more like a pre-arranged message than anything that had to do with what actually happened down in the heart of the building.

"But, seriously, thank you for your interest. Truth be told, I prefer honest criticism over dishonest praise. I know the system isn't perfect for outsiders but..."

"... it's what we have for us, and so far we're safe. If that's mostly due to the presence of the Ts'usugi and their insistence on restricting certain key technologies, then..."

"... thank you." he said mostly to Koh. "But I've flagged your account for less activity from the drones. They'll only offer their assistance if asked, or if your in a public place of..."

"... business and they are expected to inquire as to your comfort."

Koh gave a nod, "We appreciate the status. And the tour."

Shaille nodded and smiled as well. "Yes, thank you, for your time, and your information. It really has been an incredibly interesting experience."

Once back outside, Koh took a moment to catch his bearings before he motioned off, "The pad for the air demo should be this way."

Rubbing her arms briskly, Shaille laughed. "Well, at least it's definitely much warmer out here," she said, turning toward him and sliding her arms around his waist. "Sooooo..." she said, smiling coyly. "Before this air show... do we have time for chocolate cake?"

Koh gave her a smile, "I think you've certainly earned it. Let's see if we can find a place with living staff." he offered.