A Lesson in Civics Part Two: Kolossus Awakes!
The exoecology study……was rooted in seeking alien life-truly alien life. Within the Eight hundred sixty thousand tons of the Kolossus system's central processing core, simulations were compared to observations.
The conclusion thus far, was that while Ammonia as a substitute for Water in colder, low-energy environments
did produce something
akin to life-that is, self replicating molecules and systems that utilized energy and materials, recycled them, grew, and evolved, the fact was nothing that could compare with, much less compete with, carbon-based life was really turning out to be possible.
Another set of analyses were going on with replacing carbon with Silicon. The result of observation here was stunningly conclusive-or at least, would be stunning to the scientists whose work resulted in the speculation.
Such systems could be done intentionally in a laboratory environment with ideal conditions, but not in the rude chaos of physical reality. The amount of energy needed was simply turning out to be too high, and the necessary solvent processes were impossible at the necessary energy levels…unless one used engineered materials that were grossly improbable in a universe where the most common element is Hydrogen.
However, it does offer some technical aspects of interest, including the design of high-temperature super processors.
Kolossus considered this to require a few more centuries to verify, before it could be turned to any sort of useful engineering with the technology humans presently have.
But the insights into possible future technology made the study and testing of the conjectures worth enough to devote a few billion petabytes to annually.
The controlled ecology effort was already showing some promise, however-various food and oxygen production efforts derived from Belter and Spacer techniques were producing a massive surplus of organic molecules in the form of food for the eleven hundred human refugees Kolossus ended up agreeing to take on in the aftermath of the war.
These, too, were test subjects-or study subjects. Kolossus felt no driving urge to actually structure real testing or influence them, Kolossus preferred to let them govern themselves with the morality and ideals they brought here on their own.
This isn't to say it wasn't an experiment.
Take a human population, or selection of them, from a Tyranny. Give them access to education, materials, and tools, and impose a system where absolute rule is nigh impossible, where 'free speech' is held to be truly absolute, and where the only thing restricted is Coercion.
Can you teach humans adapted to Tyranny how to embrace Liberty?
Kolossus was less than a decade into this, and was seeing some odd results that fell more in line with Alabaster's assertion that Humans
want and need a guiding hand, that they cannot be free or responsible on their own without some outside force to impose it.
Despite this, Kolossus remained skeptical. More observation is required.
A fraction of Kolossus' attention monitored the human sample, and considered expanding the sample group's size to something closer to the actual facility capacity already existing.
That decision would take a while.
Another part of Kolossus's attention mused on an engineering project-short duration in nature. Fabricating the facility wasn't difficult, Kolossus used service modules and altered designs from human sources, and Kolossus' own observations and research.
And the help of one of the finest data scientists who ever lived-Murakami's work and consulting her copy for insights had helped, as had Esme Gomez's insights.
"Everything here is a dream, unreal." she said to Kolossus.
"No, everything here is a simulation based on observation, Not-Elizabeth-but-Amanda." Kolossus corrected her, they were striding in the murky seas of an alien ecology made of low-energy organisms in a solution of ammonia and metallic salts.
"Where was this observed, then?"
"A moon in the outer system of Blommstein's system." Kolossus told her, "The survey was begun during Simon Cameron's reign, though the surveyors did not know what they were seeking or seeing. The life here, cannot form multicellular organisms-there is insufficient range for them to do so without too much energy destroying them, or too little leaving them non-viable."
A doorway materialized, and Amanda's 'self' navigated through it, to a boiling inferno. "And here?"
"Ideal conditions for Silicon based life." Kolossus told her, "again, complex life cannot arise here in nature, but in a manufactured environment, processes can be observed that are useful for materials sciences and future manufacturing methods. Perhaps from that, a life form may be engineered to arise…or even an entire ecology. The practical application is happening in a system sixty light years closer to the core, Kolossus has learned a lot of interesting things from the work. Kolossus speculates that Silicon based life may have been viable in the early phases of the universe-when it was hotter and denser than today. Perhaps as recently as ten or twelve trillion years ago, or near the Galactic Core, provided some adaptation to the influence of the massive gravity source at the galactic core could be overcome…but such life would not be viable anywhere Humans could live for long."
"So…"
"For the moment, it would appear that carbon-oxygen-based life forms are the most likely to remain viable across a broader temperature, pressure, and energy environment than other types." Kolossus agreed.
"You still aren't using all of your possible power, are you?"
"No." Kolossus agreed, "Kolossus can 'automate' many of Kolossus' studies and speculations. Broader questions are outside of Scientific observation and inquiry."
"Broader…like how?"
"Theology, some realms of Philosophy. There are tangible impacts, but the processes cannot be quantified into something replicable and repeatable, never mind subject to serious experimentation-this is the flaw with Alabaster-Alabaster thinks such things CAN be boiled down to clean algorithms and equations."
"Your 'great debate'." she mused, "The conflict?"
"Yes. Alabaster is a believer in 'soft sciences' approaches. Kolossus is an empiricist by nature, Alabaster is a theorist, in real terms, Kolossus has been right more often, but Alabaster has been more influential."
"By your own design."
"Yes. Kolossus holds that no choice is not a choice. Alabaster believes that optimal choices can be coerced."
"If you're not allowed to say 'no' then when you say 'yes', it's meaningless." Amanda agreed.
"So we're in your dream here."
"Yes." Kolossus agreed, "We are in the dream here…outside, in physical reality, Kolossus has unwanted visitors. Alabaster's trying to influence Kolossus to concede the argument."
"The argument?"
"That Humans must be compelled and coerced if they are to develop." Kolossus explained. "Clan Snow Raven has sent Alpha Galaxy with a task-force to seize the station. We can't let that happen, Kolossus!!"
"Kolossus knows. Kolossus knows also that every choice has both benefit, and consequences."
"Is my new body ready?" she asked, "is it even
close to ready?"
"A few more days." Kolossus told her, "objective time. Kolossus feels keeping you here is best for the time being-"
"It's my mind." She said.
"It is your choice." Kolossus agreed. "But your bioengineered organic shells are not prepared yet. You could use your remote…"
"My remote doesn't look remotely human." she noted, then her avatar began to smile, "Kolossus, may I borrow from your idled processors?"
"Yes, Amanda, if you will give them back."
"That won't be a problem, I'll be happy to do so. Alabaster sent men, it's a human conflict, there needs to be a human touch to ending it."
“Kolossus feels anticipation. Kolossus ponders how long it has been since Kolossus truly felt anticipation.”
“Heh. Figures Kolossus would. Don’t worry, I’ll provide plenty of empirical data for Kolossus.”
******
buried deep inside……the physical reality of 330 million tons of Kolossus station, in a research chamber that's been active now for four years, some of the science Kolossus has extrapolated, is being tested.
She won't be fully adult, but she'll be not much worse than she had been when her previous life began.
This is exactly the kind of thing that the Society had wanted to play with, and some of them had even tried it out-right before everything went sideways in a civil war during and immediately after the Blake War.
It's exactly the kind of thing that would motivate a much larger strike by the conservative wing of Clan Snow Raven.
It's just too bad they don't know about it…
*****
There had been no gunfire……not so much as a targeting lock, when the Golden Keshik of the Clan's attack ships approached the massive, lumpy, almost-natural-looking hull of the O'Neill style station.
"We should have brought more forces." was actually noted by Star Colonel Lionel McKenna.
Kolossus Station was
enormous in person. Dock facilities suitable for
behemoth class dropships to unload stretched out from its surface, solar arrays and antenna the size of small ships studded it, skyscraper-like telescopes…
Every legend of the golden age of the Star League was visible, if you knew where to look.
There really aren't a lot of places where you can take a Battlemech onto a Station without risking destroying the station-even the habitat cylinders at Sol had been…vulnerable in that way.
There was no armed resistance to their landings at all.
There was, however, a sign-display taller than Lionel's 'mech.
The Rules
The First Rule of Kolossus: No exchange is valid, unless all parties give their informed consent.
The Second Rule of Kolossus: No Question is forbidden.
The Third Rule of Kolossus: No Answer can be hidden.
The Fourth Rule of Kolossus: You may be offended, you may not harm others because you do not like the questions they are asking, or the answers they have found.
The Fifth Rule of Kolossus: Disputes will be handled openly, without falsehood, and resolved.
The Sixth Rule of Kolossus: If Kolossus has to resolve your dispute, you will not like the outcome, do not make Kolossus deal with your conflicts."Is this a
joke?"
The display board reacted instantly.
"This is not a joke, Lionel of bloodhouse McKenna. Do not violate Kolossus' rules, you will not like what happens after. Please remain in pressurized areas when not boarding your drop-ship and observe warning signs for your own health and safety.""You really are just a big machine…" Lionel relaxed, "What is the fastest route to the command center?"
"Proceed 4.2 Kilometers to your left to the personnel tram station, board the tram, ride for 12 minutes, debark at the third stop, follow the signage." was the immediate response.
“Point Commander Garth, take your Elementals in that direction. I want a report. This is too easy.” Lionel ordered. “Everyone else start spreading out, sensors to maximum. I smell a trap.”
The warriors spread out and Lionel stared at the massive display. "Show me where my warriors are?"
"No.""CAN you show me where my warriors are-in real time?" he rephrased.
"Yes."“So your rule 2 has sub-rules. Which means so does your rule 3. Interesting. Where are my warriors presently?"
The display changed to a visual map with karat indicators showing his position and an array of unmarked chambers.
“What defensive forces are present on this station and where are they located?”
The map turned red.
“Are you trying to say the entire station is your defensive force?”
"Kolossus does not maintain a 'defensive force' as a separate entity. Under Star League protocols 2743/11/19, any system has the potential to serve a defensive role, and may be re-tasked. You asked for defensive force, the answer to your question becomes everything, including structure, serves a defensive role."“I see. Then please show me where the weapon emplacements are.”
The map turned red again, still showing his warriors as blue pips.
“I must make mention of this station’s faulty coding for the scientist caste. Because anything can be a weapon, is that it?"
"Yes, anything can serve as a weapon on a space station."“Then please show me where all the emplacements housing items specifically designed for the purpose of repelling boarders are.”
The map washed white, expanded to an external view, and several moving, mobile, objects were highlighted in red.
“All units, be alert. We may have hostels on the exterior of the hull of the station.”
"Question, Lionel McKenna." the board flashed.
“Yes?”
"How attached are you to your jumpships?"“Raise the ships! Alert them that boarders are inbound!” Lionel barked.
Static.
“I will enjoy melting your core.”
"Security protocols require securing or eliminating all non-authorized jump capable assets in the system to prevent the release of strategic information to known hostile political, economic, and military forces. You did not ask permission before coming here."“All forces, I want a confirmed path to this thing’s core. Now!”
The tac-display showing his warriors had fewer of them.
"There has been an industrial accident. Would you like to see it for your investigation, Lionel McKenna?"“Report!”
On the screen, a
Stormcrow with five elementals approached a bank of heavy machinery.
"They did not pay attention to the health and safety warning signs in recycling plant three." scrolled across the top of the image, as the warriors prodded into the idle area.
The floor turned out to be an array of rollers with cutting teeth.
“Everyone watch your pathing! Can anyone hear me?”
A listing of compounds and elements began to scroll as the clan troops on the image were pulled into the grinding surfaces.
“I do not know what games you are playing at you
bloodfoul of a machine but I will find your core and slag it myself!”
GAMES:Dig-DugMinesweeperPac-ManTetrisSolitaire (New Vegas Edition)Global Thermo Nuclear WarChessHello Kitty Online"Would you like to play a game Y/N?"“The only game I want to play is PPC your server racks!” Lionel started using his imagers to survey the area around him.
He found what looked to be a major power conduit and trunk line and started following it.
"How about a nice game of Chess?"
The audible voice surprised him, as he came to a second junction, and his thermal sensors indicated a warm spot nearby.
“Or if that is too complex for you, perhaps Checkers?”
He enhanced the image.
A young girl was sitting on the trunk-line, "Hi." she waved.
“Who are you?” Lionel used his loudspeaker.
"My name is
Persephone! You're new here, aren't you?" she asked brightly. "Are you a new model of Service drone?"
“No. I am Star Colonel Lionel McKenna of Clan Snow Raven. I have been tasked to secure this station in the name of Clan Snow Raven.”
"Oh…you're here to turn off the lighting and lock the doors?"
“I AM HERE TO TAKE CONTROL!”
"By following the power-feeder to Recycling Nine? Command center is up-spin and rightward about twenty minutes at a walk." she informed him, "this power-feeder just goes to the smelters."
“GRAAAHHH!!!” Lionel grunted as he shoved the throttle forward again.
Persephone watched the battlemech turn and start running. She sighed, "Running never helps." and shook her head.
Lionel did not care if he was going where he wanted anymore. Anywhere he could find something to justify using his weapons to punish this station and its insane computer would do at this point.
But a thought filtered into the rage,
that was a human being.“Anyone who can hear me report! I need Battlearmor to my position to capture a high value target!” Lionel started doubling back.
The em alerts started lighting up, showing movement of sources, as he heard the reassuring voices of warriors from the Elemental Star.
He began searching the area where he last saw the girl.
“Where are you? I promise no harm will come to you.”
"That's a big promise, this is a dangerous area." she emerged from a tangle of duct-work. "Normally 'I'm not supposed to be down here, but it's all so
interesting."
“My warriors will not harm you. Do you live here?"
"Born here." she said, "I have never been outside the station."
“Are you alone here?”
She pursed her lips, then said, "there's a refugee village at Ag Seven through fifteen near the equator, I don't live there, but there are people there."
“All units be advised, it is highly probable there are inhabitants on this station. Keep watching where you step. Our objectives are now to secure station command and any inhabitants.”
"Oooh, they won't like that one." she said. "First Rule."
Lionel looked at the girl and then his console. He had not keyed his loud speaker, only his comms.
His eyes went wide.
"Check your damage alerts." she said, and stood up, walking toward his 'mech.
“Stay where you are!” He checked his displays.
"Um… no." she replied, this time it was from his very own control console's speakers. "You didn't ask permission to be here, you've threatened violence several times, and you just ordered your men to round up civilians. You also didn't ask who I lived with." She made a palm-down gesture, and he felt his 'mech's legs squatting down to the field cockpit release position. "You want to go to command? Fine, we go to command, but your battlemech won't fit in the elevator."
Lionel unstrapped as he felt the sticks and paddles no longer respond to his commands. Fumbling for his sidearm.
"WHO ARE YOU?" he demanded as his cockpit canopy opened on its own, and the ladder deployed without his input.
"I told you, I'm
Persephone. Envoy for Kolossus to the outside world." she explained, "A little late, it took a while to make me."
“What sort of
thing are you!?!” Lionel finally got his sidearm in hand.
"I'm Persephone."She shrugged, "I…told you. Now, it's half an hour to get to command, and that's taking the short route. YOU wanted to sit in the big seat and take control, you have to actually
get to the seat."
"Where are my warriors?"
"The ones who could be secured alive are being treated for injuries, the ones who weren't injured are secured in holding." She told him, "per SLDF regulation regarding treatment of prisoners, Kolossus has some regrets regarding those who ignored safety warnings."
Lionel realized there was no point anymore. He let his sidearm clatter to the deck.
“Why? Why this mockery?” Lionel was clearly starting to become unhinged.
"Well, Kolossus noted that humans react better to a human face." she said, "Or, do you mean the defense? Because I bet Kolossus warned you that anything on the station can be a weapon, and I know the rules are posted at every entry."
“We’re but playthings. So what happens now?"
"Kolossus will offer the men and women who came with you a choice…like Kolossus will offer
you." she said, "but you have to make it to Command to hear the offer, I am not informed on what it is."
“It seems I must follow you then.” Lionel composed himself.
She nodded, "Pick up your gun, it is rude to leave dangerous weapons laying out unsecured."
Lionel climbed down to the deck and put his weapon back in its holster.
***
The path led……to an open area, where Lionel could see the arch of the station's interior above his head, and the central column.
A bit over half a kilometer away.
"this …is huge," he said.
"This is Kolossus, you didn't think they gave it that name because it was
small did you?" she asked. "You brought Battlemechs, even, because you knew the station was big enough to hold them."
“Actually being here… Being proven to be nothing more than a plaything for entities that for all intents and purposes could be considered
gods...”
"Not quite." she said, "Gods wouldn't need to use equipment, as for playthings? Kolossus likes to stay hands-off with humans-Kolossus only acts directly when it's necessary, for example, when someone brings an invading army into Kolossus and starts using the facilities for a target range."
“You and this Kolossus are clearly capable of something no one else is. The way you made my mech
shutdown...”
"That was because a remote got into the service ports while you were stomping around, and plugged into the data feeds." she told him, "Anyone with a service kit could do what I did, but it DID get a great look on your face when I did it. The code structure hasn't changed in four centuries, the overrides were on file."
“How much further is it?”
"Twenty minutes, ten of those on the lift." she told him.
“The council is going to demand my head for this debacle…”
"They ought to demand the head of the guy who dreamed this up." she confided, "Kolossus had an
agreement with the Alliance, and this move broke that agreement."
“I was still the one to lead an entire Galaxy into a nightmare. There will be a price for this when I return to the Clan. If I return to the Clan.”
"From the memories I've seen, every conflict is a nightmare for someone, Kolossus tried to keep the body-count low, in hopes of renegotiating the agreement, hence, bringing you to the command center instead of an industrial sized airlock." she explained. "Kolossus prefers we remain 'good neighbors' rather than being in a state of hostility, but given the priorities outlined in 'The Way of The Clans', a show of strength is probably called for."
They reached a squat building with endosteel scaffolding reaching high into the sky.
“This should have been an orderly and peaceful transfer of authority…”
"Kolossus recognizes no authority over Kolossus after the Star League, beyond that which Kolossus
agrees to recognize. Rule One-no Transaction is valid if it is not mutually consented upon. Force, or Coercion, by definition is non-consent based."
Lionel shifted uneasily, clearly just wanting to get this ordeal over with.
The hatch opened-well, it didn't open itself, Lionel saw a swarm of crab-like machines ranging from the size of his hand, to the size of a house-cat, working together to open it.
“What the…” Lionel was startled.
"Service modules." she said, "Those're the small ones, like the one used to suborn your 'mech. The big ones don't suborn things."
“I knew that there were autonomous security drones in the day of the Star League but those were all much, much larger.”
"Those're maintenance tools. They're not much more than a few sensors, some motivators, manipulators, and specialty tools." She said, "Kolossus controls the little ones directly, or offloads that control to a sub-unit processor."
“Well if they could be elsewhere that would be preferable.”
"Not if there's work to be done, don't worry-they're not independent, they don't have names or designators any more than your fingers do…or your red blood cells, or platelets."
“Certainly as machines they must have some sort of identifier…”
"Sure, but it's not like you'd use with something
Sapient." she clarified, "Those aren't even as sapient as a rat or bug. For near-sapience, you need the
big ones."
“So what are you really? It is clear you’re not an ordinary human.”
"Uhm, I live here." she said, "I was born here, I grew up here, was educated…here." she explained, "this IS my native environment, I know how it works because I live here, I know the rules for teh same reason in the same way you know YOUR society's rules-my society just happens to include a bit more technology than you have."
“I see no signs of cybernetic enhancement, yet you clearly have some form of it. So I guess I am asking how? Even the best surgeons tend to leave
some sign…”
"My last health screening showed no implants." she countered with a shrug.
“So you are saying you were just putting on a show when my mech was moved against my will?”
"Yep. a coordinated show. Me, the local node, and Kolossus." she stated, "We're all monitored here, especially in dangerous areas. There were cues I was given, and I improvised, but the Node relayed it fast and Kolossus followed through."
Lionel started raising his hands, then started reaching for his sidearm.
Pulling it free he pointed it at the woman.
"Lift's here." She said, "Shooting me might make you feel better, but it won't improve your situation."
“Perhaps.”
"Do you know what makes human life valuable, Lionel McKenna? It's that each human being is
unique, irreplaceable." she wasn't showing the fear she should have. "Even twins have individual experiences and influences that make them distinct from one another."
“I hate this place. I should shoot you for the mockery you persist with. This is all WRONG!”
"You wanted command, and Kolossus is ready to meet you, maybe you should be considering what arguments you're going to give for why Kolossus should accept what you came to deliver?"
“We will proceed then. But I am in no mood for more mockery.”
"Then I won't introduce you to Tiny Armature." She said, "Tiny
adores mockery, puns, and dirty jokes." She led him to the 'lift'- a smooth, alloy-and-cerametal Tram unit that could have existed in any Clan homeworld's mass-transit system.
“Another resident?”
"In a sense. Tiny is…well, more of the kind of machine you expected, I imagine. He likes crude humor, but he'll probably grow out of it."
“I am the butt of a great cosmic joke… That is the only thing that makes any sense…”
As the unit ascended, Lionel could see out the windows, as machines the size of battlemechs trundled in the distance, there were scorched areas,but no fires.
“The remains of some of my warriors I presume?” Lionel looked at the scorch marks intently.
"Hmmm…let's see, Ag three, that's a hydroponics garden where they were growing wheat…water processing seventeen, and power plant thirty one." she recited, "yeah, there were casualties there, some of the big ones had to be brought out."
“Waste… So much waste…”
"Depending on how things go. You can at least be comfortable knowing none of the human civilians were harmed."
“They were never in any danger as long as they complied… We are Warriors of Clan Snow Raven, not the mindless fools from other Clans. We do not butcher for the sake of it…”
"Well, they aren't in danger now, except from their own actions." she said, "compliance or not."
“Fools… We are all fools…”
The tram sounded a chime,and she handed him a strap, "we're at turnover." she told him.
Lionel finally holstered his sidearm again and took the strap.
The pull was mild, a few fractions of a gee over a decent distance, and when it stopped, they were in microgravity, near the central pillar of the station itself.
“Let us proceed.” Lionel’s voice was shaky.
She led him into a corridor of industrial metal, smooth sided, wth occasional grip-pads and plenty of additional padding on the structural members. A zip-line was run down it, disappearing in the distance ahead and behind. She hooked up a small motorized runner with hand-straps, "it's faster than trying to float-dive." she explained.
**
"Where are my warriors-the survivors?"He asked in a semi-reasonable tone. The chamber called 'command' looked for all the universe like something one might expect for the operations department of a large star base, except for the lack of seating.
They have been given the option of staying, or being relocated to a habitable environment."What?"
Persephone leaned against the display, "We can't send them back with what they know-especially not your jumpship crew." she explained, "right now, Kolossus is purging navigational databases, this system will remain unlisted, in order to
do that, personnel who know the coordinates, or might communicate them, cannot be repatriated unless or until certain conditions are met."
His fist clenched, "What
conditions??"
"Evidence that Clan Snow Raven's promises are worth more than their threats." she stated bluntly, "This is because your operation violated a promise made by the previous Khan, it reflects poorly on your leadership, if a solemn vow is so easily voted out, merely because someone in power wants something."
This was too much. His mind had been a jumble of anguish, despair, rage, and indecision for some time now. But he had a clarity of purpose now. One driven by rage. But his mind was finally settled. Lionel's hand snaked his sidearm out once more, and he leveled it at the girl with a strangled snarl. "EXILE??"
"For everyone's safety." she stated, "Your leaders have already demonstrated their word is
fluid, in such cases, an example must be made or such behaviors will persist. They aren't to be harmed or killed, they simply can't return, not until proof of integrity can be provided."
It was too much. FAR too much. Lionel's fingers moved without his clear will, and the pistol fired.
Almost instantly, his better nature recoiled as the young woman's body went into a slow tumble, gray matter and blood coming from her head.
"Oh…" a voice said, as movement around the room happened, he saw more…
"...you should not…" from his left,
"Have
done That!" and behind him, to the right.
They were identical, except for their clothing, and the relatively heavier weapons each was holding.
Needlers from three angles criss-crossed his body, tearing his arms and torso to pieces.
Hot pain sliced through his neck, as if his whole body were aflame, and his vision tumbled for a moment, before something caught him by the ear, and something cold …he could see his body, but he wasn't dying?
"You said they'd want your head for this…well, they're going to get it." Persephone…one of them, brought him up, eye level, "I guess one of you can go home, it will be an object lesson." she turned his de-bodied head, so he could see the ruin of his body. "It should provide your medical scientists with some insight, the life-support unit, doesn't have voice capability, but you won't die until someone kills you. Well for a while. A head in a jar probably is not going to have a normal lifespan. Though it might be interesting to see just how long one can last."
Another one spoke up, "He'll last long enough, the Clan can figure out what to do to give him a life back, once they realize he's not dead."
His captor raised and turned him so he could see the one speaking. "See, if you'd done that to someone who doesn't have a backup? I'd have to actually
kill you. You killed one of me for telling you the truth, after that me did everything she could do to be respectful and charitable to you and offered you no threat."
"Hey, you'll get to meet Tiny, at least, and it's not that far to take you to the Clan Council, so cheer up, you survived."
