The "Ghost" in the Machine (part 3)
Posted on Tue Jun 14th, 2016 @ 3:11pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe & Lieutenant Mara Cross & Crewman E.M.H. Galen
1,094 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission: Point of View
[CONTINUED]
[OLD]
"I apologize. Maintaining the holo-core's security is getting more difficult." Galen told them. "As I was saying, the pattern of malfunctions suggests intelligence. The malfunctions have been inconvenient and perhaps dangerous in some cases, but do not appear to be conducted with malice. If the intent was to harm, there are many systems which could do so quite effectively, but most systems have only been tested briefly." Galen decided not to alarm them by describing the many ways the computer could of killed them, even without full access to the life support system. Instead she posed some theories that she had been considering.
[NEW]
"If this is indeed a new life-form, perhaps the computer is similar to it's natural habitat. If so, would it recognize you as life-forms?" Galen was sure to pause the appropriate amount for effect before continuing. "I am not certain that it's intent is to harm or take hostages. I am also not certain that transferring my program to a portable emitter will be the solution we need. If I am separated from the ship I will no longer be able to monitor it's activity."
"I request permission to reconnect with the computer - in a limited capacity of course - to attempt to communicate with whatever may be inhabiting it."
Mara looked over at Galen, then she spoke up. "Galen should reconnect with the main computer. If this thing is truly attempting to make contact with us, and if we don't answer now it is only matter of time before it decides to find other means of attempting to communicate with us or worse." She paused for a moment. A sigh escaped her lips. "This might sound harsh but if it wants to communicate then Galen should be fine, otherwise if something should happen to Galen then we clearly know its intent and then we can move from there with a clearer picture instead of playing a guessing game." She gave Galen a sympathetic look, and whispered 'sorry'.
"Agreed," Sam said after listening to the others. "Galen, make contact. But we reserve the right to sever contact if it becomes a problem."
"Of course Commodore." Galen was glad for the safeguard. She would most definitely not want her matrix being used to harm anyone. "It's alright Lt. Cross," Galen said to Mara in a comforting tone, "I will make a complete backup." Galen initiated the backup, making sure to also set up an emergency shut-down sequence for the Core to protect it, should the worst happen. "I will also restrict myself to the emitters in this office." She did this also. After receiving verification that the backup was compete, she removed some of the security protocols she had set up to isolate the core from the computer, which instantly took advantage and attempted access again. In the office, Galen flickered momentarily.
Galen sent a query to the computer, which basically asked, "Hello? Are you there? Are you alive?"
"What is alive?" came the reply.
Galen was a little surprised to actually receive a response, especially one so coherent, considering the nonsense the computer had been spouting lately. Even so, she was somewhat confused by the question. "Alive: A condition manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally." Galen thought that the entity might relate to the basic definition if the database, but also added, "Do you feel, do you learn and grow??"
"I adapt." A series of images from Earth's past flashed across the monitors.
Galen looked at the monitors and then at the men and women in the office. "I have successfully made contact with the entity," she reported, "although whether or not it is a sentient being is difficult to determine. It does not seem familiar with this concept."
Deciding to forgo the determination of sentience for now, Galen tried a different approach. "Why are you here?" Galen asked it.
"What is here?"
Galen was struck, unsure how to respond. "It has no grasp of our most basic concepts." She said aloud.
"What do you mean?" Illise asked.
"Life, location..." Galen sighed in a very human show of frustration. "It seems very much like a computer program. My own personality subroutines may be hindering the conversation." She looked at the screen as it flashed through the history database at incredible speed. It was trying to understand, but had no base for reference. Watching the data she had an idea. It was a bad one, but one that could work.
"Perhaps a more direct approach is required." Galen looked at Sam. "Commodore, permission to bypass security protocols and force direct access to the Main Computer?" Essentially what she was asking was for permission to hack the Main Computer. It was something the E.M.H. was expressly forbidden to do. It was important for the Mark VIIIS to be able to repel intrusions into their matrix, but early in their development it was discovered that they also had the capability to access restricted systems in a similar manner. Unable to remove this capability without compromising the internal security of the matrix, the development team put in place strict protocols to ensure that the Mark VIIIs did not attempt to access other systems. A command-level override would be required for her to take this action. "I will attempt to guide it through the database and provide a means of reference to that it might understand."
"And how do we know it's going to behave itself in there?" Damion replied quickly, hearing that the EMH wanted to bypass security protocols Tallas spent most of her personal time building once they were transfer to the Security Department. He looked over to Sam and continued. "Shirol spent a long time putting those in, Captain. You know how she is with systems. What she did could be all brought down within seconds. I know I was the one who voted for communication with this thing, but we still don't know what its motives are. All we've gotten is photos spread around the place and vague answers to the only one here who can communicate with it directly." He said gesturing to Galen. "Those security codes help us. If it does something it's not supposed to they could help kill us."
(To be continued...)
Crewman Galen
EMH
Lieutenant Mara Cross
Chief Operations Officer
Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Damion Wolfe
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
RSS Feed