**Kansas sentry scanners detect a signal through the jump hole. By the time a patrol arrives, the ship has jumped back through. It left a small metal canister, which is thoroughly scanned brought back to the Hinton, where it is first thoroughly scanned again, and, content that it is not a trap, open the canister, revealing a small external hard drive. Upon connecting the drive to a disconnected computer, a message plays:**
Greetings. I hope this message finds you without any issue. I am contacting you as a friend with hopes that I can arrange an agreement. As you may find from my transmission signature, I am called A.A.A.I, an acronym for 'Advanced Assistance Artificial Intelligence', but many humans simply call me Ai. I have met one of your group before in Magellan as I was conversing with the IMG on Freeport Four. He was a Captain, I believe. I had pressing business back in Rheinland, and could not converse with him as much as I would have liked.
This message was not intended as a note of regret. I come with an offer that can benefit us both. Your captain was admirably guarded about the Front's intent, however, some digging elsewhere lead me to your goals, and I must say, it is a unique and radical thing you are attempting. If you will accept the assistance of an Artificial Intelligence, I have enclosed my communication frequency in this hard drive. If you are incapable of transmitting all the way to Leeds, where I am currently offering aid to refugees, the canister I have provided is one of my own making. It has an on board transmitter that can reach me wherever I am. Feel free to modify it for your own use if need be.