Special Delivery

(2) Kaori telepaths back, <<time is defined differently by some than others - and paranoia about security often backfires on itself." Her face remains smooth. She doesn't know if A'Dab will be able to catch the telepathic comment, but suspects A'Dab will be able to read it in her face.

The Sister of St. Beatrice looks at the Myeong Gai acolyte, arches an eyebrow and looks back to the table "Well, I imagine the outsiders on pligrimage will cover most of this. But shall we not get to this briefing then?"

Kaori looks at Kahn. "I would be grateful if you could transmit to the Admiral that we are eagerly awaiting her insights, as quickly as possible now that we are so close to departure."

Captain Kahn: looks over at Kaori and does her best to look straight into her eyes, intentionally opening her mind to her to read.

Kaori looks back at Kahn and nods, waiting for the message. Before anything specific forms, Alice Illios asks, "What means of signalling an emergency will you have if you become compromised?"

Kahn says aloud, "Maybe I can explain something that may help."

Kaori replies, "Any explanations you can provide in the Admiral's absence will be appreciated, Captain."

Kahn folds her hands on the table. "The current mysteries we have are the Night Serpent ships and to find out if some outside force is affecting the Naeya society and Culture. The spreading of a message much like Chaos Unity's is part of the mystery. It seems to have spread very quickly for such a spread out and sparse population. That is the main mystery to resolve by the expedition. Find one called the Unity Monk and determine what is going on"

Ester looks over sunglasses and glances between Jo and Kahn. "What is Chaos Unity?"

Kaori smiles faintly, a little surprised that A'Dab hasn't asked this question before. "Chaos Unity is the spiritual path that was one of the main generators of the settlement of Cyhnon. It posits that sentient life in the universe is inherently chaotic - and that the chaos must be accepted for what it is, so that sentients can live harmoniously together. Unity cannot be achieved unless Chaos is first accepted."

"And what is the traditional belief of the Naeyans?"

Kaori sighs. "We don't yet know what Naeyans believe, or at least what they believed before the peace epidemic started. They were founded by anti-technology pacifists, who would have had access to Myeong Mai's teachings, but those teachings were mostly abandoned, as far as we know, during centuries of competition for resources. Then, some time after Hae Ri's visit fifty cycles ago, something changed. Wars stopped. We don't know just when, and we don't know why. This is part of what we are to find out."

"Interesting"

Kaori leans forward. "The other thing I know we are to investigate...is a suspicion, as noted in the material I shared with you two weeks ago, is the possibility that the change may be connected to unsanctioned manufacture of advanced Nari synths. This is why we cannot risk electronic communication." She looks again at Kahn. "Captain, is there anything you can add?"

"I don't have anything else to add but that it is important you use the two Guides you will meet on the planet. That is very important." Kahn stands and walks away, coffee cup in hand.

"Speaking of these synths, how are they detected?" the doctor asks.

Kaori hefts the cylinder that Ikki's left with her. "That answer should be in here. Telepathically, I can identify them as synths, but only if they're in line of sight. The NARI detection equipment that should be in here will record electronic traces, though, which don't have my limitation. We'll download every time we're back in the village, or on the island." She looks at A'Dab. "Doctor, I expect your own skills will also allow you to identify them, if they are close enough for you to read their faces and postures."

"So they would fail a Turing Test then?"

Kaori shakes her head. "The most advanced NARI models are self-aware enough to pass a Turing Test."

"Did Cyhnon intelligence ever discover who was behind the secret NARI plant?" A'Dab asks.

"Now that I don't know. There are more gaps in what I've been told than there is information." Kaori opens the container and removes the crystals it contains, examining each in turn. The last item she removes from its bracket is a data crystal; she palms that eagerly.

"Well, perhaps that is the clue that's needed to what's going on," A'Dab says.

"I think it's key information," Kaori agrees. "And I think the roots track back to old Shylzan - or would track back, if more people were sharing more of what they know."

"So what you are saying is that Old Shylzan is a toxic wasteland? As in, something only a machine could live in?"

Kaori starts packing the NARI detection crystals back into the container. "At last report. The critical mass of old Shylzan, at least." She pauses to look at A'Dab and smiles. "I like your questions."

Alice Illios stands. "I'd better find a place to flop. I'll be around. Take care, both of you." She bows respectfully.

"Hand of the Maker go with you, Alice," A'Dab responds. Alice vanishes down the ramp, tail flicking lightly.

Kaori finishes repacking the NARI detection crystals and seals the container's top - not only with her thumbprint, but with the telepathy-activated Myeong Gai secure lock, then looks at A'Dab again. "Officially, the self-aware version of NARI have only existed for a couple of decades," she says. "But what's official and what's actual...often diverge."

A'Dab shifts into philosophic mode. "Humanity been debating what is sentience since the Gold Age of technology of Earth over 30,000 years ago, and the question still is unanswered."

Kaori grins. "Probably longer."

"But more to the point, the reason a thinking machine ends up a mockery of a human mind is that those who create the thinking machines want slaves, not other free thinking minds."

"That certainly seems to be how the NARI began," Kaori says softly. "They were given sentience at the start, but no self-awareness. Then they were sent to shape planets that would support Shylzani-human life. Their whole purpose was to serve - to be slaves, their intelligence notwithstanding."

"Oh, was this one of the worlds the used the NARI to terraform?"

Kaori shrugs. "The settlers were anti-tech," she says, "but somehow they let themselves compromise during initial settlement. No matter how Shylzan-like the planet was at the start, I don't think they could have survived without some agriculture-focused terraforming - and on the other worlds the Shylzani settled, the work of terraforming was done mostly by NARI." She stands and stretches. "But I need to start figuring out how to use the NARI scanner, and see what additional information the Palace has been able to provide. I'll see you at eveningmeal." She raises a meaningful eyebrow, and heads to her bunk.

The data crystal contains the planetary survey! Engrossed in its details, she misses the eveningmeal bell.

"Clear all channels. The Fire Jackets Carrier Group is en route," Kahn is saying as Commander Aria Merci teleports directly onto the operations deck of Shadow Fox Station. Merci walks directly over to Kahn, ignoring all others around her.

Kaori, who's been spending her morning checking current solar data and coordinating it with the planetary survey information, allows herself a small amused smile. Apparently the Commander has been honing her approach to communication in imitation of Verne. Come to think of it, there's a passing resemblance to Verne physically, too...Curious, Kaori prods gently at the Commander's mind - but backs off hastily. The Commander seems to be protected by much the same kind of shielding as that used by Crisha Ra... Her face reflecting no, she bows politely and says, "Myeong Mai be with you, Commander Merci."

Isabella Ingram comes down the ramp with a blithe air. She's been listening from the top and naturally has questions. "Good morning!" She looks curiously at the tall, pale, blonde young woman. "Isabella Ingram, Central Planets News," she says, offering her hand. "Here with the approval of the Empress." She watches for a reaction, knowing that anyone in Verne's command has only a loose affiliation to Yun-Hee - if any. "Now what are the Fire Jackets Carrier Group?"

Captain Kahn: "That is highly classified. I suggest all non navy leave the CCC."

Cmdr Aria Merci: turns for a moment gives a very unimpressed look at Bella and Kaori, then motions to the journalist to back off. "Should I call security?"

Kaori has managed to maintain her calm face despite the shock of Merci's shielding and its implications. "As you are the Admiral's aide, Commander, before I leave this deck, I must ask when the Admiral will be providing the briefing I was promised on her particular reasons for and perspective on the Naeya expedition, which I am to lead. I have a specific reason to be privy to anything that may affect the Expedition, in other words." She bows slightly.

Cmdr Merci picks up the comms unit. "Security to Command Center."

Doctor Ester A'Dab strolls down the ramp in Bella's wake, a cup of coffee in her hand.

Bella hears A'Dab on the ramp and turns with a grin. "Doctor! I think this functionary is trying to get us kicked out. Good of her to add interest to our day."

Kaori stands quietly, hands folded, calm, as she gives a slightly deeper bow to A'Dab than she's given to the Commander. "Myeong Mai be with you." Kaori's sure that the others in view haven't perceive her startlement at Merci's anti-telepath protection, but A'Dab, she has no doubt, will have caught some hint that something's off.

Ester blinks and responds to Bella. "Pardon, someone is doing what?"

Kaori says, "Let me introduce Admiral Verne's aide - Cmdr Aria Merci - Commander, this is Dr. Ester A'Dab of the Order of St. Beatrice and counsellor to the Gama IV refugee community.."

Ester A'Dab smiles with far toomany teeth and bows. "Pleased to meet you, Commander Merci."

Two security droids and one Shylzani Officer arrive in CCC from the deck below. "What is the emergency, Cmdr Merci?"

Merci turns and waves her right hand in the direction of Kaori, Bella and Dr A'Dab. "Security, escort these unwanted bugs out of the CCC."

Kaori stays in place. "Captain Kahn - I believe this is your decision, being higher in rank than the Commander, and being in command of this station, in the Admiral's continued absence."

Kahn replies slowly. "Cmdr Merci is the Aide to the Admiral so I think it is who you know here for now." Her voice isn't so calm; she appears somewhat shaken with the change of situation on the Shadow Fox, and her empathic trace confirms it.