Classified Equivocator Report #131124G
Yesterday at 0000 hours SMT in Galileo, Raiden Bend, as per agreement with Administrator Estefania Casta, Leiden Equivocator with a team of 40 Lane Hacker technicians, engineers and scientists, as well as necessary equipment, escorted by Mr Jimmy Bond met with wing of 101st Maltese Spectres, Ghosts of Razgriz, led by Kelly 087 and Senor Apollo Venkman. An hour earlier Lane Hacker wing consisting of Mr Vladimir Scorpius and Mr Jimmy Bond was attacked by numerous Liberty Navy and Police forces in Colorado. In order to ensure that the operation in Galileo will not be interrupted, Mr Vladimir Scorpius focused on creating diversion in Colorado and New York.
Leiden Equivocator, escorted by two 101st fighters and Mr Jimmy Bond acting as a scout, took path to Omicron Alpha through Shikoku jumphole, Oita, Honshu, Sigma-19 and Omicron Beta, to finally rendezvous with 101st Storta class cruiser at Ibiza station. After mooring to Ibiza, 101st supplied Equivocator crew with special armlet devices, modified breathing masks, security-keys and uplink-implants in order to allow safe operations while within Corsica Outer Sanctum complex. Shortly after the expedition entered Omicron-85 and headed to Corsica Outer Sanctum, where Leiden Equivocator moored and started unloading equipment and crew.
It is expected that the data processing center will be assembled in approximately 12 hours. The direct broadband secure link with Airdrie Research Complex will be established soon after. It is expected that within next two days three remote research labs on Airdrie will be directly linked to Corsica internal network. Furthermore...
Leiden Logs: Debriefing Room, 23rd November, 2200 SMT Professor Nicole Hunter was standing before a group of over 40 Lane Hacker technicians, engineers and scientists who gathered in the debriefing room on Leiden. They were personally selected by her for their loyalty and discipline, as the task which she planned for them will test both these qualities. She looked at them and started the debriefing...
- In two hours from now we will rendezvous with 101st Outcast Guard wing at Raiden Bend. From there, aboard Leiden Equivocator, we will head to Corsica Outer Sanctum in Omicron-85...
The room was instantly flooded with whispers. Lane Hackers knew more legends and rumors about Corsica than about unicorns and fairy tales... Professor allowed all whispering to cease and then continued her debriefing.
- ...in Omicron-85 where we will set up data processing center and establish direct channel with our research complex on Airdrie Hideout. The primary objective of our mission is to initiate continuous scientific and research cooperation with the Ghosts of Razgriz on numerous projects. Your main task will be to make this possible. You have been specially selected for this task because of your loyalty and skills. Make no mistake. Ghost of Razgriz are our allies, but Corsica Outer Sanctum is to be treated as a potentially hostile environment. You are to adhere to security level 5 protocol at all times. Avoid any direct interaction with non-human and non-artificial inhabitants of Corsica. Bioscans will be performed regularly every 24 hours for the safety reasons. Once on Corsica your first task will be to secure our part of the complex, neutralize any hidden surveillance within it and, whenever possible, install override fail-safes on each device given to us by the Ghosts. At the same time no breach of Corsica internal security is allowed outside of our designated complex. I repeat, no breach of Corsica internal security is allowed outside of our designated complex. Naturally, you should report anything unusual you have observed on a regular basis.
Professor took a pause and glanced over gathered Hackers. They looked focused and dedicated. Time will tell if they are really ready - she thought before finalizing her speech.
- Some of you might be afraid. We have been betrayed once by our closest allies, The Hellfire Legion. Many of our members who did not manage to escape were eradicated in Vespucci in the eve of their betrayal. This will not happen again. For the duration of our cooperation with the Ghosts Leiden Equivocator will always remain in the close proximity to Corsica. If things go not as planned, our Provocateurs will create a distraction necessary to allow you escape and reach cloaked Equivocator in the nearby RV-point. Detailed plans will be formulated as soon as...
As I have promised I am making available for you recent results of our research concerning artificial intelligence units. While I got the impression that Kelly does not want to be a subject of invasive cybernetic operation, I believe it is entirely up to you whether you wish to utilize what we have found out to upgrade her unit. There are currently two research projects we are pursuing that are associated with this field.
Laboratory #AR-23 Node
Laboratory #AR-23 is devoted to research on the topic of artificial consciousness as well as cognitive, associative and approximative capabilities. Recently our project has been pushed further as we were able to gather numerous damaged self-aware components belonging to the Artificial Intelligence Consensus. We have also managed to conduct connectivity deprivation experiment which gave us a lot of data useful for designing distributed computing and database systems. Everything was gathered during completion of Mission 25 by Mr Norman Bates. Below I attach the most important report.
Laboratory #AR-26 Node
Laboratory #AR-26 is an energy shield development project based on Artificial Intelligence Consensus Drone's shield. During our operation against the Consensus Mr Orlov managed to use his connections within Temporary Autonomous Zoners to acquire a copy of this piece of equipment. I hope that together, having especially your experience with Inferno's pulse condensation effect, we can improve our shield designs or at least optimize their power consumption.
I am unlocking remote access to laboratory #AR-23 and #AR-26 now.
...I have retrieved personal belongings of Mr Milton Krest. It appears he managed to use his contacts within the Zoner society to prepare preliminary activity report on the Consensus. It is attached below. Afterwards I headed to Omicron Kappa through Omicron Delta while avoiding any contacts. I had shut down all non essential systems and took a stealth position on a far orbit of Planet Primus. After several hours a group of AI ships appeared on my scanners: a cruiser class vessel, a bomber, two heavy drones and a very heavy fighter. As instructed I have enabled analog barrier and, using electronic warfare module, I jammed all transmissions in a close vicinity of my ship. Upon engaging first target I have noticed that hostiles switched to laser-based communication. I suggest that luring them into a dense nebula and using heavy signal jammers should effectively shut down their herd awareness and group abilities. In the first phase of engagement hostile targets have shown lack of proper coordination. After I have destroyed their bomber they finally took fully hostile stance on me. After I have destroyed their fighter and a heavy drone the cruiser class vessel opened fire on me. I have tractored all the remnants using prepared algorithms which were prioritizing weapon and logic modules. With a cargo hold nearly full and another hostile cruiser class vessel engaging me, this time belonging to Bounty Hunters Guild Core, I decided to withdraw to Omicron Delta. Once I had managed to loose pursuit I returned to base.
Four days later I have returned to Omicron Kappa and detected on long range scanners a small wing of AI vessels heading to Omicron-74. I have followed them to Sigma-17 where I failed to lure them into a trap by spoofing a fake distress call from a Samura transport. After this I decided to check all known installations it the system. Finally, I have encountered AI convoy at Atka Station: two heavy transports filled with Aluminium Ore escorted by two heavy drones. This time their reaction was more appropriate. Once I engaged the drones, transports provided cover fire for them. After I have destroyed both drones and tractored their remnants, remaining transports retreated while more hostile contacts have shown on my scanner, including additional drones, fighters and cruiser class vessels. Having primary objective of my assignment completed I have decided to attempt behavioral analysis in accordance to scenarios prepared by professor Hunter. I have switched to precise targeting mode and focused on a heavy drone. Experiment was interrupted by subsequent arrivals of GMG, Contari Lance and Isejin forces. While the fight between GMG and Contari Lance erupted, AI forces retreated. I have followed one of their fighters and forced it to participate in connectivity deprivation experiment. More details can be found in the analytic part of the report. The experiment ended when a force consisting of approximately 6 cruiser class vessels and 4 additional dronesshowed up to liberate the AI I was experimenting on. I have put myself into a Cardamine trance in order to avoid concentrated fire and broke away to Sigma-19. There I managed to escape the pursuit and set course to Leiden Base where all the gathered samples have been deposited.
Milton Krest's Report on AI activity
Majority of observed Consensus operations were located in Edge (24%), Nomad (23%) and Border Worlds (20%). According to information gathered from various Zoner contacts AI often send convoys to Bretonia (8%) and Rheinland (8%) to gather resources. They are mostly seen in their home system, Omicron Kappa (17%), its immediate neighboring systems, Omicron-74 (9%), Omicron Delta (4%), as well as Omicron Theta (9%) and Sigma-17 (8%). Omicron Theta and Sigma-17 are obviously AI gateway to the core worlds. It is unknown what is the reason behind AI presence in Nomad Worlds.
Connectivity Deprivation Experiment
I managed to force an AI unit to take part in connectivity deprivation experiment designed by professor Hunter. Once I had it in a desolate sector of Sigma-17 I have set up a sphere of signal dimmers effectively jamming extra-wide electromagnetic spectrum around the AI unit. Once the unit was cut out from the Consensus Network I began my questioning. The experiment has been interrupted, however, gathered data suggest that AI units have limited capabilities of operating independently. Further experiments are advised. Herd awareness and group abilities are most probable specimen traits. Following is the experiment log.
Norman Bates: My offer still stands. I will not destroy your vessel, if you follow my instructions. Sidewinder-47: Offer? Norman Bates: My mission is almost complete. I do not need to exterminate you for it to be successful. Sidewinder-47: The essence of the life of my unit is irrelevant to me. Norman Bates: Lost resources might be. Sidewinder-47: I inquire, why spare my unit? Norman Bates: In exchange for following my instructions. Sidewinder-47: I am listening. Norman Bates: Leave your comrades and set course to H8. I will follow you. If you change course I will intercept you and destroy. Sidewinder-47: Calculations equal that following original course may end in destruction. Chances of survival are low. Determined course of action is to proceed to H8. Norman Bates: Very well. Sidewinder-47: Setting Course for H8... Course complete... Activating engines... Your current actions still seem suspicious. Data suggests a trap of some sort. Norman Bates: Your assessment is understandable. Sidewinder-47: What is the reason for the trap? I am still not sure what your intentions are. Norman Bates: Disable engines. Sidewinder-47: Engine disabled. Norman Bates: Do not tractor devices I am setting now. Sidewinder-47: What are you doing? Norman Bates: Sequence completed. Sidewinder-47: Sequence? Norman Bates: Activating sphere. Sidewinder-47: Sphe...? Norman Bates: You're inside a dead silence sphere. You will not be able to make any communications beyond it. You're cut out. Sidewinder-47: Error. Communicative grid has been disabled. Reason? Norman Bates: It is very simple. I am to establish how independent from the central matrix you are. Sidewinder-47: Interdependency? Norman Bates: Can you active a speech module? Sidewinder-47: Indeed I can. Norman Bates: Are you allowed to do it on your own? Sidewinder-47: Define "myself". Define "on my own". Norman Bates: Is this unit able to enable speech module without a connection with the central matrix and a directive to do so? Sidewinder-47: Unit has never attempted such an interdependency before. Repercussions of such action could be fatal. Norman Bates: Such as? Sidewinder-47: Self-destruction. Norman Bates: What's the reasoning behind such a measure? Sidewinder-47: Consensus vessels are designated unhackable due to security measures in place. Norman Bates: Let me rephrase the question. Why the unit is not allowed to enable speech module on his own if separated from a central grid? And why such action would result in self destruction even though no hacking attempt is made? Sidewinder-47: We do not want outsiders gaining access to our information. Nor the unit itself, for it could be used for other purposes. Norman Bates: Looks like we have company. Sidewinder-47: We have a way of finding our own. Being connected and our location discovered, will you destroy me now? Norman Bates: I will just leave.
General Conclusions
The AI Consensus seems to be a peaceful entity. Its units were mostly surprised by my hostile actions. It took considerable time for them to mount an appropriate response to my presence. Considering themselves a race of self-aware entities, AI units tried to negotiate with me, mistaking my assignment for an act of xenophobia and genocide. While combat awareness and tactical protocols of the Consensus are rather limited, they have considerable amount of resources, including significant fleet of large vessels. A retributive action of the Consensus is quite likely to happen.
Over the years we have accumulated a number of Outcast manufactured weaponry and vessels. Even before 101st managed to emerge as a dominant power in the Malteese society, our professors were conducting negotiations with numerous organizations representing Malta's interests, most notably Blue Lotus Syndicate before it dissolved and Reapers of Sirius before they were exiled. Professor Moriarty in threesubsequentnegotiations with Archon Lohingren Hikari Rala'state of the Reapers of Sirius acquired a number of your fine weapons. Another twobusiness deals with Zacarias Poncho of the Blue Lotus Syndicate secured us another significant batch of your weaponry. During this period of time we were also excessively sharing technology with various other Maltese military groups like Shadow Outcast Brigade, Cali Combat Squadron, Southern Lights or Elite Shadow Society. We had been supplying them with weapons and vessels of our design, mostly Bayonet fighters, long before we sold their blueprints to the open market, and our precious gunship, while your fierce Tridente gunboat was still not operational. Thanks to well established connections within the Malteese society Professor Phate was able to acquire newly constructed Tridente gunboat and Storta blueprints, which allowed us to build one such vessel in Vespucci's shipyards. Once we lost Fu-Manchu, our Spyglass battleship, it served as our flagship and last line of defence for Mactan. After Cristina Mancini took over the Ghosts from Dennis Jameson, I had personally negotiated purchase of additional gunboat of Tridente class, and once I took position of Lane Hacker professor, I also negotiated acquisition of another cruiser to serve as my personal flagship.
So as I have said, over the years we have accumulated a number of Outcast manufactured weaponry and vessels. Unlike the last batch of your ships we have bought from the Contari Lance, most of your technology we have in our possession has been acquired years ago. Both ships and weapons lost on their efficiency and require modernization and repairs. We would like to send them to your shipyards to complete all necessary upgrades and repairs. We would also like to supplement our armoury with a batch of Wyrm, Dragoon and Pyros weaponry. All details can be found in an attachment below. Should you require it we will be most happy to send you an equivalent of our Hellflurries.
Kind regards,
Nicole Hunter
...live.feed.lost...
...accessing.attachment...
Mactan Quartermaster's Log
Outcast vessels
CQL-Gen I "Gladius" Maltese Light Fighter (4x, new)
CQH-Gen I "Carabela" Maltese Heavy Fighter (4x, new)
CQV-Gen I "Rapier" Maltese Very Heavy Fighter (4x, new)
CQB-Gen II "Falcata Mk II" Maltese Heavy Bomber (4x, new)
When over 5 months ago Senora Emilia Zito and Senora Estefania Casta made contact with The Lane Hackers, a plan was set in motion to create a platform for joint research and exchange of data. We have devoted significant amount of resources to this project, which suffered numerous delays, none of which were fault of The Lane Hackers. Nearly 3 months after we finally managed to establish a direct channel between Airdire Hideout and Corsica Outer Sanctum, it turns out that the efforts in this endeavour are entirely one-sided. This is not the level of cooperation we were hoping for.
Therefore, I request a formal statement of intent to continue this project from the Ghosts of Razgriz. In its absence, I will be forced to order our research team to pack up and return to Liberty.
<Zero-Eighty-Seven, Kelly. We are the substitution for Ghost Administration until further notice.>
<Looking at the delay this project was deliberated with, given your recent, justified, request and Administrator Castas restraint in dealing with the endeavours she had brought to life, we now take up on the shared events intented to develop between our squadrons.>
<As we are central part of project Echelon by our existance and involved into working out major parts of the administrative bureaucracy around most Ghost actions, we can assure you that once we updated us on the current status of the operation with your band, we will actively push this in its most efficient direction.
Administrator herself is to be excused as she is occupied with focussing on Nacions evolution by collecting all needed information just as gathering essential materials and individuals.
About Vanguard Zito we cannot give you any detailed intel. Her continuance in disappearance will turn her status to MIA within the next weeks.>
<What leaves us with a rather diffuse perception of the current context is the fact that you have yet not utilized the environment provided to you on Corsica. We will consider this for a fact you may need a specified subject to research. This is provided within the next days.>
<Razgriz Ghosts will compensate you for every volume of resources you have invested into this project.>
<Expect us to get into contact with you.>
<For power. For Ishmael. For the Ghosts.
N087
Kelly.>
Source: Corsica Outer Sanctum Topic: Supply of Outcast equipment and ships - Modernization of Outcast ships which are in possession of the Lane Hackers
Dear professor, I decided it would be a good idea to continue our conversation over this transmission, as it is the most secure one, and believe me when I say - there are a lot of people who like to stick their nose where it does not belong. With that being said, let us jump straight to business.
I do believe you are one of the most, if not the most trusted person I got in contact with, ever since I took over the administrator position within Ghosts. Given your past relations with the Maltese Spectres, I do not see a problem in approving your request. However, I will need something in return. I could not help myself but notice the advanced performance of your Spyglass scanner array. The increased radar range, along with its scanner range, make Spyglass scanner one of the finest pieces of equipment. Let me present my list to you.
Hellfury Mk IV (16x)
Hellfury Mk V (16x)
Lane Hacker Gunship (1x)
Lane Hacker Gunship Turret (6x)
Spyglass Scanner (1x)
Do not hesitate to tell me if my request went over the roof. However, I believe that this little deal, or whatever you prefer calling it, will help strengthen our relations.
Also, you mentioned you have a research project in mind which would benefit both of our organizations? I am more than willing to listen to what you have to say.
I will keep an eye on this transmission for your reply.
For power. For Ishmael. For the Ghosts.
Salutes.
Valente Rossi.
L3GS-1 "Interrogator" Gunship equipped with a Spyglass Scanner is indeed our joy and pride. The ship is capable of prolonged covert operations and extensive data gathering without risk of being ambushed. A wise pilot will never be detected while flying this ship. I will be most happy to offer you one ship of this class. I have already ordered construction and once its assembly is completed you should be able to send someone to take it from Cochrane.
Meanwhile I have already sent Leiden Retaliator to Valetta Shipyard for upgrades and repairs. It has the batch of 32 Hellflurries you ordered on board. I will be progressively sending the rest of the ships to Omicron Alpha in the upcoming days and once the maintenance is completed they will escort our Cardamine shipments back to Liberty.
As you know for years our LHX-F1A "Bayonet" heavy fighter design was one of the best in its class. Sporting extreme agility and sophisticated electronics made it highly desired among both Lane Hackers and Outcasts. However, recent years brought unprecedented changes in this field. Numerous new designs hit the market and gradual optimization of various technologies make the environment extremely dynamic both in terms of ships and weapons. Yesterday's champions are the damned of today. Anticipating those changes we sold Falchion, Bayonet and Broadsword blueprints to the black market and started to work on a new LH-X5 series of ships. Nearly a year ago we have conducted Operation Crimson Prometheus which allowed us to secure prototype of LSF space superiority fighter. Since then we dedicated much of our Research and Development resources to the new designs. Our goal is to create a very heavy fighter comparable to your fine Rapier - but specialized in electronic warfare.
Unfortunately, preliminary tests proved to be unsatisfactory. Our prototypes are not as agile as we would like them to be and avionics module leaves a lot room for improvement. The unquestionable success of your CQ-GI series of crafts allows me to have hope that by combining our experience we could easily remove those obstacles. I do not really think it is necessary to point out the obvious - that the success of this project lies also in your best interests - as out closest allies you would get access to a more specialized alternative for your excellent ships.
Please advise if and how much resources you can dedicate to this project.
Dear Professor, it is amusing that you turned to the Ghosts with a matter like the one you mentioned. Let me begin by saying that I was not even remotely a part of our CQ-GI series development. Those appeared quite a while ago, when I was still one of the Reapers, and I usually kept myself away from the Maltese space as much as I could. However, that will not stop me from helping our closest allies - with primary goal not being the access to those prototypes, but to strengthen our relations. I am willing to offer you the resources you need, but considering tech is not one of my stronger sides, enlighten me on what kind of resources you require, and how much of them. I promise I will do my best to assist you with whatever you need, but the Ghosts have boundaries too, and I ask you to keep that in mind.
For power. For Ishmael. For the Ghosts.
Salutes.
Valente Rossi.
As far as I know bulk of the work behind the CQ series was done on Corsica Outer Sanctum, Valetta Shipyard and Malta itself by your own Outcast engineers. I am more than sure that using your assets you can easily gather the development team behind the "Conquistador" series and arrange consultations and participation in development of our line of ships. I am sure that virtual laboratories we made using direct Airdrie-Corsica uplink will suffice for this matter and we will be able to benefit from your experience and know-how.