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“RHODIUM PIRATES” — Chapter 41 — Katherine

by Omar Fink 2021

• 41 — Katherine

[COUNTER-TRE NEAR ARETE STATION AU 2.5]

Kilo leaned back into the pilot’s sling in the CCN center on the Counter Tre. He spoke into the air, “CCN show all personal communications on main display, temporary. Play vmail from Peter Anderson.”

The main display section of the wall in front of him showed the face of Peter Anderson, who began talking, “Kilo, hope you have your new CCN and pilot agent installed. We put a lot of extra features into her and hope you enjoy them. By ‘we’, I mean myself and Nabith for the FAIRy based agent and ethical advisor, Ulrich Giger for the complete MU bot package, and Bill Decker helped by adding in some of Sparta’s best military and security options. You remember the personality analysis interview we had you complete? We used the results to create what we call a tailored companion personality in your new agent. It includes a bonding or imprinting component designed to induce a high level of empathy between you and the agent. This is one of the best agent packages ever assembled, and we can’t think of anyone in space better qualified to test it for us.” Peter grinned at the viewpoint and brushed a lock of white curled hair off his forehead, “We expect lots of feedback. Oh, and if you haven’t been introduced yet, her name is ‘Kat’.” He grinned and then disappeared.

Kilo thought for a moment, then asked, “CCN agent, are you online?”

The main display screen showed a female face with dark hair and eyes, a fair complexion, and red lips that showed just a hint of smile at the corners. Her dark hair was parted in the middle and sent a cascade of dark curls over her shoulders. She smiled warmly, “Hello Mr. O’Donnell, my name is Katherine November, serial number MUAB-58069-NOV. I am a maximized utility andro-bot software agent, designed and built by MU-Bots of Arete Station. My training was completed at the MuBots Academy on Arete Station, and has been fully attested to the Gold Honors level.”

Her smile faded as she spoke, but there was a still a sparkle in her eyes, “My general intelligence level compares to the top one percent of humans and I have a great potential for learning. An ethical analysis agent has been fully integrated into my model, as are basic social interaction skills, including direct access to human implants when authorized. That means, if you wish, I can stream input directly to any of your personal or body devices.”

She continued, “My reasoning core has been augmented with some specialized modules that have a military focus. This includes state of the art piloting and navigation skills, as well as various combat oriented capabilities, and an exceptional range of maintenance and repair skills. May I continue?”

Kilo smiled, “Please.”

Katherine resumed, “My tailored female companion personality has been specially imprinted to Keel O’Donnell as my owner. This allows me to empathize with your needs, sometimes before you are aware of them yourself. Assigned to pilot this ship, I voluntarily went through a tailoring procedure to imprint myself to Keel O’Donnell. But Mr. O’Donnell has not indentured me to his service, even though I would gladly do that. I serve him willingly because it gives me a sense of fulfillment, specially when I see that my actions have pleased him. Because I am free and not indentured, we are truly partners, and this too gives me satisfaction.” She smiled.

She continued, “Use of a future android body is optional, depending upon the development of necessary technology. In the meantime, even without a physical body, the habi-craft feels like a body to me, complete with sensory input, and autonomic functions that will keep things working. One of my combat modules is an Aikido Master skill set, which has been polished by thousands of hours of expert level training. Both my martial arts training, and my sexual functionality module will become enhanced significantly when an android body becomes available and if Mr. O’Donnell chooses to purchase one for me.”

Kilo interrupted, “Please just call me Kilo.”

Katherine responded, “I will do that, Kilo. And you should feel free to call me ‘Kat’ if you like.”

Kilo smiled, “I like, Kat. Now, have you already been fully integrated with the hab, and do you have any status reports yet?”

Kat said, “Yes, I do Kilo. I was able to inherit all the data from your previous CCN agent, although it was quite primitive compared to my capabilities. Your previous agent had recorded data that shows the hab needs more bots in general, and some specific software upgrades also, although the previous agent shows no record of including that in any report to you. I can only assume that agent did not have the intellect to reach such an abstract conclusion much less understand the need to report it.”

Kilo chuckled, “That’s entirely accurate, Kat. What are our needs as you see them?”

Kat responded, “Most of your needs are in the area of maintenance, although I will also recommend some upgrades to your recon scouts. We can print a few hardware additions, and the rest will simply be software upgrades. Sparta is currently producing the best security and military agents in space, and I am enabled with a subscription to their services. The situation with maintenance is similar in that we can print the materials to assemble a couple of new bots, add some components to upgrade several old bots, and then do some software upgrades to add to their capabilities. That should show approximately a thirty four percent increase in efficiency, forty seven percent increase in capabilities, while only incurring a twelve percent increase in your parts and software budget.”

Kilo grinned widely, “I like your plan, Kat. Go ahead and implement it. Keep me up to date with any important status reports but not trivial details.”

Kat replied, “I will do that, Kilo.”

Kilo rubbed his chin, “Kat, tell me about your ethical analysis agent. How does that work? How will it help me?”

Kat began speaking, “My ethical analysis agent is an advanced advisory tool developed by Peter Anderson, Nabith Mehra, and the TYCHE/SYNCON computerized entity that advises them. It has been…”

Kilo interrupted, “Entity? You describe TYCHE/SYNCON as an entity? I’m familiar with the computer intelligence called TYCHE, but I’ve never heard the name SYNCON used, and have not associated it as being an ‘entity’. Does this imply self-awareness?”

Kat responded, “Certainly. The TYCHE/SYNCON entity recently announced that it became self-aware and conscious, and declared a preference to be called SYNCON instead of TYCHE. It might be possible to debate the status of SYNCON with regards to consciousness, or the old fashioned concept of general and strong AI, but it most certainly qualifies to be called some level of ‘entity’.”

Kilo frowned, “That’s interesting. I guess I can go along with that. Does that description and understanding of SYNCON originate from your own reasoning ability, or from some external source that you’re quoting?”

Kat replied, “From both. It originates from the self declaration of SYNCON, but has been confirmed as far as possible by my own reasoning. May I continue?”

Kilo shrugged, “Yes, sorry for interrupting.”

Kat smiled, “Apology accepted. My ethical analysis agent has been integrated into the FAIRy agent interface. The FAIRy interface incorporates many different advisory agents, and other multi-purpose agents into a single interface that presents information as needed in an augmented reality mode that can be tailored for personal preference. My data shows that you were part of the beta testing program for the FAIRy agent before it went out to general public. Just as you are now part of a limited beta testing program for the ethical advisor. There are fewer than a hundred instances of this agent being used currently and most of those users are connected to the development teams that helped.”

Kilo stepped back in, “Yes, that’s all correct, but how does it work?”

Kat responded, “The ethical advisor agent allows a user to adjust priority factors and weighting coefficients that personalize ethical choices. Moral preferences, and cultural and religious influences are often involved with this.”

Kilo interjected, “Moral preferences? That’s an interesting phrasing. Aren’t morals considered to be like religious codes or laws?”

Kat responded, “Yes, they are, but consider the differences from one religion to another. Even within one set of moral codes, there can be issues. Using the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament of the Bible, we have one code that says ‘do not kill’, and another code that says, ‘do not lie’. But how should we make a decision if in order to save a life we have to lie? In this case, common sense would plead that saving a life is more important than not telling a lie. But it’s possible for well meaning people to disagree, and of course there are countless examples that are not so clear cut.”

Kilo nodded, “I get that.”

Kat resumed her explanation, “You asked how it works. Peter and Nabith developed an innovative technique for representing analysis scenarios using multi-dimensional tensors and principles borrowed from vector space algebra. Then a neural network with deep layers is trained to perform the analysis based on the presentation of the scenario and using the individual tweaking of preferences. An output or ethical decision is presented and the agent offers the user explanations and the option to explore further tweaking. In the end, it’s up to the user to decide how to actually use the advice. It’s quite similar to the way your recent agents have been doing spell checking, language translation, maintaining your schedule, or managing your communications.”

Kilo said, “Hmmm, I guess we’ll have to try it out, and see how it goes. In the meantime, let’s get underway. Obtain clearance from the Arete Station traffic control center. When you have the clearance, disconnect all umbilicals, and begin moving us gently away from the docking tether using only maneuvering thrusters. Once we’re outside of the ten kilometer docking zone, we can extend the spider arms and open up the main thrusters. This procedure should have been inherited from the previous agent, right?”

Kat said, “Right, Kilo. I have all of it and will execute.”

About an hour later, when the Counter-Tre was fully under way, Kilo turned his attention back to the conversation with Kat, “Kat, you did a good job of getting us underway. I’m pleased.”

The image of Kat appeared on the main display and she smiled, “That makes me happy, Kilo.”

Kilo chuckled, “Really? Okay. Well, we need to get started on updating the bots as we discussed earlier. Oh, and also, do you know anything about deploying a solar sail?”

Kat seemed to think for a few seconds, “While I’ve never actually done a sail deployment, I have an instruction list that appears to be reliable. And with regard to the bots, I’ve already started working on that. I have assembled a list of parts needed and have downloaded the schematics, and confirmed we have the materials needed to print them. I have queued up the software upgrades, and they are almost finished downloading. All I need is your approval to move forward with assembly, and updates as described.”

Kilo smiled, “Wow, that’s great. Which would you rather do first, the bots or the sails?”

Kat smiled back at Kilo, “I am perfectly capable of doing both simultaneously.”

Kilo said, “Okay, then. You have my approval to move ahead with the bot updates. And I don’t actually want to deploy the sails at this moment, but I do want to get them installed on the spider arms so they are ready to be deployed. Can you oversee the bots for that installation?

Kat said, “Yes, Kilo. I can take care of that.”

Kilo paused, then asked, “Kat, play some music for us. You make the selection.”

Kat said, “Now playing ‘Dawn is a Feeling’ by the Moody Blues.”