After opening an entrance to allow a fighter vessel to dock, the Wanderwell, as soon it was inside of the unit, the entrance closed behind the fighter. It was dark and not welcome at all from the first looking. Then, green lights were slowly turning on guiding the vessel to a hangar. The hangar itself was highly different from what a human used to see. It was dark but permant lights allowed a visibility of the hangar. It was empty of life. Sadly, for a human, there was no life support. If the invited human had the basic analysis tools on the vessel, a warning would warn the human of the situation.
Weird noises can be heard. The noises themselves were not ensuring. In fact, it was the power source of the unit making noises.
Events had unfolded in a way Dr. Lillian Genda of the SLRC hadn't ever come to expect since the loss of the Norant to circumstances beyond their control. First a swarm of Nomads materializing out of nowhere that, for some strange reason, must have had something to do with that odd structure she'd come across of which she only just narrowly evaded death. Secondly, a meeting with a 'friend' of her esteemed colleague Dr. Wright of whom was currently missing in action somewhere in the Dublin system or beyond. Finally, a meeting with the Artificial Intelligence that hadn't ended in her immediate death. Yet. Phi-34 and Unit 9467F. An agreement had been made and for her own safety she'd have to stick to it.
Reluctantly she unclipped the holstered Daumann Energy Pistol from her leg, tossing it into the storage rack behind her as the Wanderwell automated the docking procedure. Lillian secured her air, helmet, and suit to ensure no leaks or potential loss would occur. From what little she learned of them she knew none needed nor would ever logically make their internal ships or systems habitable for organic life. As it came to a stop she pushed the canopy open and hopped out, the flashlight attached to her helmet flicking on as she stepped onto the semi-lit platform. All she had on her was a basic hand scanner synced up to her suit and helmet HUD, pen, and paper.
Slowly she panned around, looking for the welcoming party, getting both the excitement and anxiety jitters that came with what was basically first contact.
As she could see, there was nobody around. Only sounds coming from somewhere else. It was to wonder if she was alone.
After a while, an entrance finished to be opened and heavy sounds of walking were heard. Finally, she was not alone. Before the human, a humanoid form appeared. The being was easy to spot. The green lights betrayed the being in question.
Getting closer and closer, the human had a better view of her host. It was an artificial being, a robot. A head taller than her and not only that, the robot in question seemed to be 'more evolved'. The robot was mostly black and grey. The only color on it was the lights. Its eyes were green. The being walked in circle around the human, staring at her as if the robot was seeking a weak spot. Then its attention was now on the fighter the human used in space. It did not touch it but simply observed the ship. After a minute spent on the ship, the robot got closer of the human, about a meter.
She didn't really know what to expect when it finally came, beings and things that had evolved over hundreds of thousands of years from nothing to something. A whole race of individuals, hive-minds, consensus's, logical processes, and whatever else the machines had crafted for themselves since their sentience became a reality; that developed on their own away from almost all human contact until now. Since coming out of her ship Lillian had been exercising some basic scans of the AI ship, rudimentary at best but it was important to note down even the simple, taking note of the make of the metals and it's construction mostly. Anything that the SLRC could one day use to benefit and expand. Of course she'd have to keep all of this data secret for a while as things proceeded. Perhaps she might even make it out alive instead of being turned into a high-school science project.
Her scans had just concluded when the robotic construct came strutting along, it's feet clanging off the barren hull that had none of the creature comforts a human would have gotten used to since their eight-hundred year exodus. Taking a breath she exhaled and clipped the scanner to where her pistol used to be. The canopy to the Wanderwell was already closing as the Unit came along, it was a dingy little thing, an old Dagger that she'd found in Zoner auction yard. It was rugged, far from new, and had some dents and dings from when she had to engage and evade those strange ships from before. Yet it was functional and the interior had the latest in technology that skilled, over-paid, Zoner engineers could install.
Crossing her arms as the Unit came over, she looked up at the towering figure and examined it as well. It certainly didn't need a unit to function because she doubted it had any actual physical connection to maintain - then again she didn't really know much about the Artificial Intelligence and this was for certain a step forward in the frontier of fringe knowledge.
They both spent five minutes observing each other in a long silence. The automaton got its head closer, staring the human. It was somehow curious to see a human this close. A fragile creature was before the it. Many possibilities of interactions could be made at this very moment. Because a human could not interact as the other units of its kind, it needed to communicate oraly and to make it possible, integrated speakers were mounted on the unit.
[::: Fascinating :::]
Simply said the artificial being with a robotic voice. It started walking in circle around the human. What seemed to interest the unit was the reactions of the human.
From make, model, and off memory she realized that what the Unit had decided to create for itself wasn't too far off from the standard industrial robotics. A tad bulkier, taller, more reminiscent of what an old Earth author from a science fiction book would have created for a movie. It seemed to also like the color green or was that simply a Gamman thing to do, Lillian would wonder this and more as they continued to eye each other. When it finally spoke she winced at it's grating voice, frowning somewhat as it's attempt at vocal communication seemed so primitive and rudimentary compared to everything else. Then again she set her expectations low, as this was the first contact between humans and the AI from Planet Gammu in a long, long time. At least they were taking the first step.
"I could say the same to you." She'd reply, watching it as it circled around her.
Still circling the human, the unit opened 'the ball' with questions.
[::: What will you do with the data you'll gather during the delay? Are the entities 'Corsairs' , 'Core' and 'Order' an ally to you? What purpose do you intend to fulfill? :::]
The unit asked those questions to have a proper idea about the woman. Even if the unit did not like the species in itself, it was aware that sometimes, cooperation can be worthy to achieve a goal normaly hard to reach alone. It was seeking to evolve, reaching an evolution that humans never saw before. But such evolution takes years to be achieved.
After a while, it stopped circling around the human and got closer. It kneeled to get the same level of the human.
[::: Are you worthy of our trust? Can you be our eyes and ears in those sectors called 'houses' and relate everything to us? :::]
The robot was looking in the eyes of the human, waiting what she will answer to its questions.
The questions were expected but the context within them was baffling to the researcher whom had never had any direct contact with any of those groups before. Though she's definitely heard enough about them over the years through the neuralnet; primarily the multiple wars they've fought, instigated, or caused. Remnants still lingering throughout their territory.
"The data will be going to my colleagues and my colleagues alone, the Starlight Research Consortium. I'm hoping that you, and your consensus, might be able to answer some questions that we've had for some time. Primarily I'm relying on your advanced technology and honestly processing power that far exceeds our mental capacity, no matter the genius or savant." She would reply, stepping back some as the construct kneeled to her level, confused somewhat as to how and why the Gammans couldn't simply venture out on their own to gather news. If even the Lane Hackers could hack the neuralnet and monitor the network she didn't understand why they themselves couldn't without the use of proxies like herself.
"As for trust, well, it's not a foreign concept to you it seems at the very least .. you can trust me not to cause any trouble for you or your friends down at Gammu. That all I want is an exchange of knowledge, small bits of technological assistance, and that people such as myself are welcome anywhere and everywhere so long as I don't cause trouble for them." She would retort, looking into the emerald green eyes of the Unit.
[::: You will receive from us the knowledge you seek if you fulfill your part. Tell us, will you be our eyes and ears in the sectors called 'houses' ? The reason is because humanity fears the unknown and will act with primitive behaviour :::]
It made a pause to let the human a moment to understand what it just said to her.
[::: We will allow you to share your data only with the entities you mentioned. However, if we hear that you revealed or leaked some knowledge to other entities, you will be considered as a threat although… :::]
The unit cut the sentence and put a finger under the chin of the woman’s helmet, rising a bit her head.
[::: For a human, you don’t seem to be reckless :::]
For an artificial intelligence that based itself upon the fundamentals of logic, machine, and data streams this one was oddly candid with it's words. Compared to the other one she'd encountered it wasn't using it's own form of "language" and wasn't confusing to decipher. It was using base human analogy and she figured something like this would bode well for future encounters for all Artificial life. It's mannerisms were also oddly human, blinking somewhat in confusion as it tilted her head up.
"Well, I'm reckless to a fault. What you meant to say was that I'm not as foolish, but as for your requests I don't see why I can't assist with passing on news to the consensus about whatever news you're looking for in the five Houses and beyond."