A spark, voices...cold...so cold...detachment...must see.
Eye opens, a man, white coat...brown hair...blue eyes...short, weak...
Seeing through a glass chamber bluish tint, unable to feel, unable to speak, looking right down towards myself...Skin...metal...hardware and software...cold yet not cold...Strange...
Man speaks. rewinding an analyzing.
"The Core is showing signs of awareness, Inform the Premier that the prototype has just passed through Phase I, we shall conduct tests upon the Personality Core after we test it's Logic and Morality modules."
Core? Personality? I am unable to move! What is this man talking about?! Who am I? What...Am I?! I see a reflection in the tubular glass chamber, I-...No...White circular metal body, organic eye of blue in the center...Am I...Alive?
As the AI pondered it's brief existence Adam Lenser stood in front of the containment chamber, a small notepad in his hand and a pen in the other, documenting the AI core's every action.
The AI Personality Core was attached to a Power-Conduit that was designed especially for it in mind, motors and gears allow it to manuver itself to look around the glass chamber which stood at the center of the room at almost any angle. The room was lined wall-to-wall with Computer Systems, some old some new, each running it's own tests upon the Personality Core's Modules.
Smiling he nodded to himself as the Personality core seemed to display awareness, the bluish fluid within the chamber was designed to prevent the organic components, mostly from failed applicants and prisoners who were simply too dangerous to let live. Adam ran a hand through his hair as his assistant, a young-looking man named Andrew Winchester, stood behind him, relaying the doctor's orders through a small Comm-Unit on his uniform, originally a Lab Technician from Cambridge who defected to the Coalition's cause and now worked under Dr Lenser himself.
BAAL...Which stood for Biologically Augmented Artificial Lifeform , was a breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence Research, combining a small amount of biological 'components' and top-of-the-line technology procured by the Coalition into this...Being before them which was now looking around, almost like a babe seeing it's environment for the first time in it's life...It was...Amazing.
Aside from it's single organic 'eye' it also had access to the security Cameras within the room to act as extra 'eyes', although it was cut off from other systems so the AI wouldn't have the opportunity to take over the base, a Comm-Unit was being retrofitted to act as BAAL's mouth and ears by a pair of Technicians above the 'tank', using a ladder to be able to reach up there as they argued in their native language Russian, Adam didn't understand a word of it so he was saved from listening to them insult one another and complex electrical babble.
As they finished hooking it up to the power grid the techs nodded to Adam who smirked, taking a deep breath as he spoke in a calm manner, he had a hint of Northern Libertonian accent.
"BAAL, can you hear me?" he asked simply, wanting to know if the new hardware was working properly, after several minutes he got a response, the voice was masculine, it's speech patterns somewhat scrambled due to being unused to speech and not quite mastering it during it's little 'panic attack'"YeS...BAAL...HeARs...WhAT...AM..i? it asked, Adam made a mental note to adjust the Speech Module so he wouldn't have to listen to the mangling of his native language...With a smooth smile he nodded.
"Of course, you are the product of years of research, your what's known as an Biologically Augmented Artificial Lifeform, hence why we call you BAAL." he replied, writing a note down that it's Curiosity Module appears to be working in proper order and making another note to limit it's use of that Module. After several minutes BAAL once again speaks, unsure and almost childlike.
Was it...Alive? This was a question he was fearing somewhat, he knew that the AI was meant to have some form of sentience, but he had hoped it wouldn't ask this question...The Commissars naturally were always watching for signs of rebellion in their prototypes, hopefully he could avoid any problems by nipping this in the bud immediately.
Shaking his head he gave a sad smile to the AI within the tank.
"I am afraid not, you are an Artificial Lifeform, created by me so you can help people, so your not alive in the literal sense." he clarified for the AI, their watchdog should be here soon, he hoped that he wouldn't simply blow BAAL up out of spit...
As the AI considered this, processing the answer Adam made sure to keep his facial expressions neutral, the AI was in a stage of being incredbily impressionable, thus it was important that the Coalition impart traits that would only aid them, he pitied the bastard who imparts any form of sarcasm upon the AI, he was likely to receive it in turn from the AI as a test of it's new ability...That's one of the primary problems with Evolving Artificial Intelligences, it's easy to influence their personalties at this early stage, once their imprinted than it's incredibly difficult to remove the un-desirable traits...
At the word 'father' Adam froze, why did it call him that? After a moment he realized it must have picked a word from it's currently limited databanks and found the word it deducted was suitable to address him as. Hopefully it wouldn't have too large an effect upon it's evolution as an AI...As he continued writing down notes he pondered....'What outcome would this have on the overall personality?'...
As Adam Lenser walked into the Lab, a cup of Synth-Coffee in his right hand, he activated the lights, illuminating the previously dark room and 'waking' the AI Core from it's inactive period. As the AI Core re-activated itself automatically Adam gave a cheerful shout from the end of the room, walking calmly towards one of the many control stations that dotted the room.
"Good Morning BAAL." he cheerfully shouted to the AI, obviously in a good mood, likely due to the Synth-Coffee he was drinking giving him the needed energy that his occupation desperately requires. As he takes a seat and relaxes in the comfort of the chair, sipping his fake coffee and running a diagnosis subroutine upon BAAL's Personality Core.
"GoOD MoRNinG FaThER."it replied in a cheerful tone, obviously mimicking Adam's own cheerfulness and adding it's analysis of the tone Adam used into it's database. Adam was in a very good mood, apparently Commandate Warner was going to inspect BAAL himself, for such a high-ranking officer to take an interest in the project would hopefully lend support to their efforts to create such a useful tool for the Coalition.
Still they had to prepare and get BAAL's Tactical Subroutines operational so they could demonstrate it's capabilities as a Tactical Aide. BAAL's value would be recognized and perhaps those bloody Commissars would leave them alone...
With a sigh and a sip of Coffee he started working, running intense scans of the AI's internal systems and taking a close look at the coding within the Personality Cores, trying to find even a single flaw that would derail their project...He has spent too much time and effort into making BAAL live, he would not let it go down in flames due to a small mistake...
As Adam rushed about his Lab, getting ready for Commandate Warner's visit, rumour has it one of the members of the Commissariat was accompanying him, so they would have to be careful.
The AI's "Eye" watched him carefully, documenting his movements and his rather panicky behavior as he ran around the lab, getting everything set up for the demonstration. If he made it past this phase they could move on to the Field-tests. If not than BAAL would likely be scrapped...
As Lensor wiped a bead of sweat off his brow the iris of the AI blinked, showing he was recording the action for storage into it's databanks. It was learning from Adam's behavior, it already has recorded examples of many emotions; Fusteration, Joy, Anger, disappointment...
Adam, just finishing programming the scenario into a seperate computer system from BAAL turned around to see Commandate Warner and a shorter Bretonian Commissar stride in, Warner had a simple smile on his face, friendly-appearance and one could feel he was quite an open person with his Comrades, the Commissar on the other hand looked quite annoyed and had his hands clasped tightly behind him, showing his discomfort of being here.
"Commandate, I must protest, this is a waste of our time, what possible use could Lensor's 'eye in a bottle' have to the Coalition?!" the Commissar asked in a irritated voice while Ben just gave a small laugh and shook his head.
"Comrade Wellington, surely you must understand the potential AI Research has in keeping our Comrades in the field safe?"he countered with a cheerful tone, looking to Adam with a large cheerful smile.
"Ah Comrade Lensor, Is this the Prototype?" he asked, Lensor gave a cheerful nod as the Commissar walked right up to the glass and sneered at the Bio-Mechanical organism in the tank.
"Yeah...Sure Comrade, I'd LOVE to put my carcass into this tin-can's 'hands'...Oh wait, scratch that, it has no bloody hands!" He growled out, BAAL unfortunately detected the signs of a new emotion it never encountered before, sarcasm, it quickly added it to it's personality core and began a test of it's new 'emotion'....Unfortunately for the Commissar it was vocal.
"Oh yes...And your such a delight in the morning I bet Comrade...Afterall a meatbag such as yourself looks all so pretty in the morning...Tell me, have you had your tea yet and stuffed carbohydrates in the form of bread down your gullet yet?" It asked in a perfect mimicry of the Commissar's tone, this made the Commissar just stare wide-eyed at the AI Core for two minutes before Ben burst out laughing in the background, Adam merely put his hand to his face, shaking his head sadly...After a moment the Commissar regained his wits and looked quite indignant. Before he could pull a weapon Ben stopped him with a wave of his hand.
"Ease up there Comrade, Doctor, your AI is quite good, I've never seen an AI that responds in such a human-like manner!" he speaks, trying not to laugh anymore at the Commissar's expense. Adam gave a small smile.
"I tried to make it as Human as I could Commandate, shall we begin?" he asked politely, they gathered around a computer, showing a simulation of a battle in space, BAAL had control of 'Coalition' forces while the standard Artificial Intelligence had control of the 'Corsair' forces, they watched as BAAL started to slowly decimate the enemy 'force' using tactics that no simple AI could create, some of them even created 'on the fly' so to speak, finally after an hour the un-modified AI was defeated, leaving Ben and the Commissar shocked.
Adam ended the program and smiled, doing a mental dance of victory as BAAL showed how effective he was in his assault in the simulation.
"Well Comrades?" he asked, hoping that Warner was impressed at the display. Ben slowly turned to Adam, an expression of slight awe on his face as he slowly cracked a large smile."Comrade, I believe that this could be of use to the Coalition, but I must see if it's suitable on the battlefield, not a simulation, but out in space. he stated, Wellington currently eyeing the AI in the tank with a suspicious expression as Adam nodded.
"Of course comrade, I could modify BAAL to be fitted onto a test-vessel." he stated, looking at BAAL's tank with a sense of pride as Ben merely clapped his hands with a smile."It is settled than, BAAL shall undergo Phase II Trials connected to a Storm Chassis, I want BAAL ready to be transferred to the test-ship in less than a week Doctor, do not disappoint the Coalition." he stated before walking towards the exit, Wellington trailing after him, casting a glance over his shoulder every now and than at BAAL...
When they left Adam was silent for thirty-seconds before he gave a shout of victory, smiling happily as his labors now show fruit, meanwhile BAAL just observed the human reaction, still recording...Still watching.
Mykolaiv Research Station, the primary shipyards for the Coalition's Capital Ship fleet, currently in it's hanger bay a single storm sat, dozens of Engineers and Technicians milled around, some working on the hull of the ship, removing unnecessary components from the Storm due to there not being a human crew being placed aboard. A tall Rhineland man barked orders to a pair of techs working on removing the life-support systems of the storm since BAAL would have it's own internal support systems for the organic components.
'Dieter, Micheal, stop being such annoying pests and get that Support Module out before I pull my pistol and whip you both!"He shouted at the poor pair of techs who cringed under his verbal assault, both men trying their hardest to remove the 'offending piece of equipment' as fast as they could while not making mistakes.
Dr Lensor merely watched as they tore apart the storm's unnecessary systems, BAAL wouldn't need a Life Support System nor controls for a human, it would allow them to accommodate the AI Core, said AI Core was currently stored in a large metal container behind him, powered down for now since he wasn't needed for this portion of the project.
A pair of Maintenance Workers each grabbed a side of the container with the AI Core, with a strained grunt both men lifted the core off the ground, edging towards the Storm and carrying it inside, Lensor gripping his hands tightly at the site of the men straining under the weight of his pride and joy...Once inside he released a breath he didn't know he was holding, nodding to himself as he laughed softly to himself.
"Steady Adam, it's not like your delivering a baby here..." he tried to calm himself as he listened to the engineers debate and the technicians re-wire systems to better interface with the BAAL Core.
Slowly but surely the Storm started to resemble what he pictured in his mind. Within hours of harsh labour, much arguments between engineers and technicians about the Storm's systems and operational status, she was ready for her test run, all that was left was to connect BAAL to the Storm's primary systems. Lensor waved off the Engineer who started towards the storm with a slight grin.
"No Comrade, I want to bring this to completion..." he stated, walking towards the storm, his lab coat trailing behind him slightly as he moved, once he climbed inside he opened the Container, sliding the Titanium container's contents out, revealing a stream-lined version of the Lab's Core, it was now smaller and contained in a 4 ft cylinder of reinforced class containing a clear fluid that prevented the organic components from deteriorating, the Mechanical components thankfully were highly resistant to it, would take years to degrade to the point where it would not function any longer...
As Lensor circled around the cylinder and came to a section of the reinforced class that contained outlets for the primary Power Conduit and the Data-Transfer and Retrieval Cords which would allow the AI to control and record any activity that occurs within the confines of the Gunboat. As he uncoiled several cords that were on the floor and headed towards a jury-rigged Master Control Console where the Pilot would usually sit he reached underneath the remains of the console and started to carefully connect the Power systems and the D-T&R Cords...
As he did so BAAL started to slowly shift it's 'eye' and focused on Lensor.
"BAAL On-line, How may I assist you today Comrade-Father Lensor?"it asked politely, Lensor chuckled and spoke in a calm, friendly tone.
"BAAL, you are now undergoing a new phase of your existence, the Coalition needs you to demonstrate your use to them, thus they have authorized me to connect you to a Storm-Class Gunboat, but first you must prepare to receive directives...Receiving?" he spoke, BAAL's eye blinked and was silent for a moment before responding"Affirmative."
Lensor nodded and spoke slowly so the AI could not mis-interpret his instructions.
"BAAL, Order I; you are to never harm a Civilian Ship nor a Corporate Trader unless they fire upon you first...Order II; Anti-Revolutionary forces in your data-banks are to be hunted down and destroyed if possible, Order III; Never act against the interests of the Sirius Coalition and Order IV; You are to obey the orders of any Coalition High Command Officer, even if it violates Order I...Confirmed?"