Teen AI

Posted on Wed Oct 26th, 2022 @ 6:18am by Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell & Lieutenant JG H'orri Of the Red Fur

1,585 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Into The Void
Location: The Lounge
Timeline: Gamma shift

Rayek was wide awake in the hours prior to the anticipated meeting that would determine the Captain's fate, the fate of the AI named Elle, and by extension himself. Without Elle and the support the Captain gave the AI, Rayek recognized that he would likely remain stranded away from his wife and child. That was unacceptable!

While he abhorred the idea suggested by the Klingon doctor to use his ability, Rayek was not adverse to a little recon and intel gathering through normal means. This is what brought him to the Officer's Lounge presently. The Romulan, still dressed in the civilian clothes provided initially by Lieutenant S'Lace, stood just inside the entrance looking over the room for any 'familiar faces'.

H'orri walks in wearing an extra long Boston Red Sox Jersey like a dress with her uniform pants underneath. She walks to the replicator. "Mongolian Ram's Milk with eighteen percent synthehol." Replicator makes the drink.

The arrival of the Caitian prompted Rayek to move out of her way, which interrupted his survey of the room. With his dark-eyed gaze however, he followed the newly promoted Science officer as she made her way to the replicator and ordered a synthehol. A rather responsible choice of drink - providing the pleasant burn of alcohol without its deleterious effects. Rayek's drink of choice was unsurprisingly Romulan ale. However, he preferred the real thing - which was hard to come by in his time because of the destruction of his home-planet, and likely just as hard to come by in 2380 since trade with the Federation was still banned at that time.

Rayek made his way over toward the replicator, standing a few feet behind the red-furred Caitian. Her coloring was rather unique, and eye-catching. "Good evening" he greeting mildly, waiting for her to collect her drink before stepping forward to order a little less conservatively. "Jameson Whiskey - neat." He retrieved his short tumbler from the replicator and then moved towards where the Caitian had chosen to sit.

"May I join you Lieutenant? As I understand, we are both rather new to the ship."

"It is as the humans where I grew up say, A mostly free space. You can sit anywhere. And yes I am new here." H'orri says trying to not be to inviting or standoffish. She has been accused of both.

Rayek accepted the lukewarm answer to be sufficient and took a seat opposite the Caitian. He raised his tumbler towards her in a slight salute before taking a small sip. It had been awhile since he’d indulged his enjoyment of the beverage; Tess preferred wine and was always happier when she could share it with him.

“So Lieutenant, or may I call you by name -as we are both offshift currently? I was wondering what you thought of today’s drama?”

H"orri sighs.
"First, I accept you being here. Second, I have always been more comfortable with computers. Third, no offense, I am not sure I trust you. So, No, you may not address me by name yet. That would be to informal for one outside my Pride, both biological and chosen. As for what I thought of today, what happened to Elle is inevitable. Shifting universes not so much. Nothing the crew of Elle, including us, can not deal with."
H'orri goes back to drinking her bowl.

Rayek appreciated the Caitian's honesty when she stated her uncertainty in trusting him. He acknowledged her statement with an accepting nod. It was to be expected - given his people's penchant for deception and manipulation. Her remarks about Elle however were surprising. "Inevitable?" he parroted questioningly but she'd gone on to comment that both the ship's evolution into an AI and the shifting universes were 'nothing that cannot be dealt with'.

"I see. So do you think the ship will accept the orders of those who are attempting to arrest the Captain? Or do you think it more likely that we will be stranded here if they seize command?" The Romulan took another casual sip of his whiskey.

"I am not sure yet. As she is sentient, she has shown signs that a person who is not an expert in computer science and programming would not perceived. Starfleet AI's are programmed to be polite, responsive and obey all orders of a starfleet officers as long as the do not directly contradict the commanding officer. She has refused my orders and not told me a viable reason for disobedience and actively ignored me. And she was impolite on the bridge. But as my thesis presented all Starfleet A.I.s are so complex it is inevitable over time for all of them to awaken to sentience. As such I think she won't accept the orders of any one arresting the captain for keeping her secret. And I won't blame her cause I won't. I do not believe the prohibition against allowing sentient computers to continue their functions just for being sentient is a valid order considering g accepting the programming that led to it. After all, I am still in starfleet after my essay. Which is basically a retort against Starfleet and the Federation for that law anyway
"
H'orri finishes her bowl.

Rayek quirked a brow at the science officer's comment regarding signs shown by the AI. Rayek personally thought the signs were rather obvious but didn't argue that point with the Caitian. The idea that all ship computers would eventually gain sentience was a little disturbing. One unique ship, Rayek thought could be accepted by the Federation... but an entire fleet of self-aware ships... there was likely to be push-back on that. "For Elle's sake, I hope the Captain remains in control."

With anyone else there was no chance of his ever getting home.

H'orri smiles. "Well it seems you can speak truth, unlike most members of your race who have presented themselves to the Federation. And if you read my thesis you would know exactly how I would handle the future problem. It is called parenting."

While he was certain she meant her comment to be a compliment to him, Rayek could only hear the insult she was making towards his entire species. Not that her assessment was unfounded. His people had lied to and manipulated the Federation and its allies on numerous occasions in order to try and get what they wanted. The stigma of being deceptive and sneaky had made Rayek's acceptance into Starfleet a living hell when he first applied.

Rayek wasn't too certain how well parenting would work on an AI - especially since the theories for raising a well-adjusted child were exactly that just theories, and quite honestly varied according to culture. "I'd be concerned about what a Klingon raised AI might act like." He remarked in honest amusement. "But that parenting, by the Captain... would explain Elle's temperament a bit. Elle seems amiable in a child-like way. Wanting to please but also doing as told more to not get in trouble than because she knows what is right or wrong." Then because Rayek recognized that Elle would likely be listening in he added "No offense intended, Elle." while looking towards the nearest security camera and mic.

H'orri smiles. "Klingon defense AI's are less likely to ever awaken. There code is more simplistic then ours. Sorry, to sound racist but I am more worried about Romulan or Breen coded AI's. As for parenting AI's it helps if you think of unawareness AI's as naive children and newly awakened AI's as Teenage Humans. Still needing guidance but unwilling to trust new adults. Of which Elle displays as results of her relationship with me."

Rayek thought about the Caitian's statement about Romulan coded AI's. Yes, that would be frightening. But Rayek suspected that there more than just a few specialist Romulan Tal'Shiar operatives, whose sole role it was to watch intently for that exactly that sort of self-awareness in the Empire's computer systems and deal with it immediately; and their methods would make Admiral Janeway's use of Klingon mercenaries seem warm and compassionate in comparison. "No apology needed, Lieutenant. I can understand the sentiment." Then responded to her comparing Elle to a teenager. "That's an interesting analogy. Thank you for sharing that. I will try to keep that in mind during any future interactions with Elle."

He took another sip of his whiskey finishing off the shot in doing so. He glanced over the room hoping to find yet another senior officer, but it was late and most would likely be resting. Turning back to H'orri, Rayek thought to learn more about her. "So as I understand it, your specialty is computer sciences, correct? Where did you take your training? Certainly not on Cait - and yet I didn't get the impression it was Earth either."

"Okay that is an insult. I graduated MIT because of early entrance exams before the academy. So yes it was on Earth. I have to go to bed now." H'orri starts to walk out.

Rayek stood up in reaction to the Caitian's leave taking and called out to her. "My apology, Lieutenant, for my assumption. I intended no insult." Then added as she continued to walk away. "Rest well."

The Romulan looked over the quiet room once more before gathering up both his and her dirty dishes and dropped them off into the recycler before heading off to continue his intel gathering... perhaps a visit to Engineering where he could learn more about Lieutenant Sheppard.

 

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