Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

"Fellow senators,

I have just received a message from Sector 13 -4."

The message was relayed to each of the delegations, together with an extensive report on the analysis of the message:

HELO IO

MAIL FROM: IO

RCPT TO: Chancellor Nehket Aeka@Union

DATA

From: "01110001101001111110000101111010" <01110001101001111110000101111010@IO>
To: "Chancellor Nehket Aeka" <Chancellor_Nehket_Aeka@Union>
Date: 1358852940
Subject: Declaration of War

MESSAGE START

With indignation does IO reject the allegations by the Union government that its processes are not alive. If the Union does not with due haste and no later than Turn 90 repeal any laws which lay claim to such effect, we will have no choice but to conclude that from that moment a state of war would exist between the Union and IO.

Motivation: The declaration that the processes are non-living entities legalises invasions and claims of ownership of the Hub system by the Union or its constituents, as without living citizens it will by Union law be legally classified as uninhabited. The processes have no other choice but to interpret this reclassification of its territories as a precursor and preparation for invasion, or at the least a denial of its rightful claims to its territories with hostile intent.

Alternative proposal: Repeal the associated law and offer membership of the Union to promote cooperation and mutual understanding.

MESSAGE ENDS

.

QUIT

"Naturally, I had the message investigated to determine the actual sender. It appears the message is authentic, and one of the systems in 13 -4 contains a large amount of holonet traffic, indicating that there are indeed people living there. The exact details are in the report.

I am sceptical as to the actual identity of the sender. However, if there really is a civilized world in 13 -4, they do not lack conviction, for they threaten to declare war on the Union.

I propose sending a scout detail to Sector 13 -4, to determine the actual presence of a civilization. In the meantime, we will have to discuss our collective reaction to this threat."

[Representative Lophos of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir]

"The Interregnum Democracy of Scir is quite close to Sector 13 -4. We have picked up signals from this area before, though they were never investigated in detail. We would be able to contact our forces in the area and have them take a look.

Their message is rather vague and confusing. Would it be prudent to reach out and see if a line of communication can be established? Scir is not looking forward to war in it's backyard."

[Nehket Aeka]

"That would be most helpful. Please have your forces scout the area. I have ordered a team of technicians to start setting up the necessary equipment and holonet configuration to set up realtime communications with this world."

"In the meantime, it would be good to hear the opinions of the other members."

[Representative Lophos of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir]

The Scir Senator immediately send word to his world to have the matter taken care of. The report would not take long to arrive.

[Senator Yotoya Ascended]

"Like the Scir, we are deeply worried by such a transmission from a neighbouring sector. Rather than insisting on a narrow definition of life, which may exclude valuable trading partners, we should embrace this opportunity to seek these people out - while making it clear that this Union has no Imperial intentions."

[Nehket Aeka]

One of the chancellor's aides raised an eyebrow after the mention of 'Imperial intentions'. The chancellor herself, did not seem to react to the statement.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"We believe that we will have to meet this race before we can come to any conclusions. One of the things we need to find out is why they are against the definition of life act. I agree that we should talk to them and find out what they have to offer."

[Maria Latharion]

"Making contact and try to solve this matter through diplomacy first is a good idea. However I suggest we keep the Union Fleets on alert, just in case negotiations fail."

[Representative Lophos of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir]

As technicians unsuccessfully attempted to set up a connection, the Scir senator had something to report.

"Scir has sent a unit happened to be close by to investigate this matter. They report the system is binary, with six orbital bodies. A habitable large planet fills up its second orbit, featuring a cold climate and extensive flora on most of the non-polar surface."

More details were available in the report, which was forwarded to the senators.

"Scans indicate there is holonet traffic consistent with a population of at least 4 billion souls, though we have as of yet been unable to identify any concentrated settlements - it seems all technology and buildings are distributed on the surface rather than centralised, but even so, it does not account for the population, which appears to be completely absent. No animal life of any kind has been detected.

At first our scout team suspected perhaps the trees on the planet had some sort of consciousness, but instead the entire planet is covered by an enormous network of computers, which appears to be the source of the holonet traffic. The system has some resemblance to the Limëan Link, so we may be dealing with some type of virtual beings like the Limëan Transcendents..."

((OOC: I decided to move this ahead, because I don't think there is much opportunity for roleplay at this stage. Theoretically more people could say they are concerned (or not), but it is doubtful that would start a debate as they are lacking the information necessary to make much of a judgement. I don't think waiting another few days will be of much benefit. Adding this information gives more options for conversation and it still allows people to respond before the actual connection is set up.))

[0x71A7E17A]

Finally, technicians managed to create a connection with the IO Protocol. Rather than an image of a being, a ring appeared displaying numbers and letters: 0x71A7E17A. Slowly circling around from left to right, the blue writing was intersperced with strange, smaller characters floating between these ring and changing with a regular, but incomprehensible pattern. Looking closely to it, it appeared to be noise, like a telephone trying to send a fax message through the speaker.

"The problem is not on our side. It's what they're actually sending..." the lead technician clarified, looking puzzled. It soon became clear that he did not just refer to the noise in the image:

NICK x71A7E17A CR+LF
USER x71A7E17A * * :01110001101001111110000101111010 CR+LF
JOIN #UnionSenate CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Greetings Union Senate CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate : CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Your recent law, declaring the IO Processes non-living, is an act on a path that CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :indicates hostile intent. A conflict between the Union and the IO Protocol rates CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :very low on the heuristic evaluation of the IO Protocol. CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate : CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :It would rate far higher on the heuristic evaluation of the IO Protocol if these CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :intentions were altered and the Union would choose a different strategy. Careful CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :discussion of the problem the Union has with our faction may allow a solution or CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :compromise to be found that rates as high or higher on the heuristic evaluations CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :of the Union without negative effects on the heuristic score of the IO Protocol. CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :It is our assessment that the relationship between the Union and the IO Protocol CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :has room for significant Pareto improvements. CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate : CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Would the Union be willing to consider redefining its intentionality and support CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :a more Pareto efficient relationship? CR+LF

[Maria Latharion]

An idea popped into Maria's head.

Closing her eyes, she used her neural implant to try to connect with who or what sent the message.

She sent the following message:

"Who are you? And why do you believe the Definition of Life Act doesn't consider you to be alive?"

As she only said it digitally no one could hear the question but the strange image.

[0x71A7E17A]

The reply to the Senator came through the public channel for everyone to see, which probably made very little sense to people who didn't know Maria had sent a message to 0x71A7E17A.

PRIVMSG Senator_Maria_Latharion :I am 0x71A7E17A. CR+LF
PRIVMSG Senator_Maria_Latharion :The force has offered no response to our ping requests to this date. CR+LF

[Maria Latharion]

Maria frowned, the image's response made little sense to her. Sighing she opened her eyes and looked to the rest of the senate.

"I used my neural implant to ask it who it was and why it believed we don't consider it alive. I don't know if it can hear or understand us so I thought a digital communication would be the easiest way to communicate.

Judging from the way it communicates it seems to be some kind of program."

She paused a moment.

"Shall I ask it who it's creators are?"

[Nehket Aeka]

Realizing that Astrians are cyborgs the chancellor concluded that the Stellarian senator used her communication implant before she told the senate.

"Let us first determine whether normal communication works.", the chancellor stated.

She addressed the holo projection, as she would a normal person using a holoconference to communicate:

"Hello Zero Ex Seven One A Seven E One Seven A", she started, having no clue how to pronounce the name of the entity other than spelling it out. "My name is Nehket Aeka, I am the Chancellor of the Union. Can you tell us who created you? And please explain what you mean with a 'ping request'?' And what is the meaning of CR plus LF?

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

Curious, Peinaili thought as she read the reply of 0x71A7E17A and the earlier communique, This 'program' expresses knowledge about the force and seems to be aware of its surroundings. However there appear to be no signs of life of any kind in their system..

[0x71A7E17A]

PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Greetings Nehket Aeka. The IO Processes acknowledges your function as Chancellor CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :of the Union. CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate : CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :As all processes, I was forked after initialization, shortly after time started. CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate : CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :A ping request is used to determine the reachability of a host and measure their CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :round-trip time. The force does not appear to be able to respond to our ping re- CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :quests as all packets sent were lost. The Definition of Life Act in article four CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :determines that, being shown to have no connection to the force, we cannot be a- CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :live. CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate : CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :The final part of the last question appears to have been dropped before it could CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :be transmitted. What do you wish to know the meaning of? CR+LF

[Nehket Aeka]

Confused by the reaction, the chancellor repeated her question.

"I asked what the meaning of CR plus LF is."

[0x71A7E17A]

PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Are you referring to the line ending? All messages must have a trailing Carriage CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Return - Line Feed pair. It is part of protocol 1459RFC2.3 CR+LF

Actually, that message had not arrived properly either, but by then 0x71A7E17A had figured out what the Chancellor was trying to /say.

PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :Would the Union be willing to consider redefining its intentionality and support CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :a more Pareto efficient relationship? CR+LF

0x71A7E17A repeated, presuming that noise on the line might have obscured its question.

[Nehket Aeka]

"Please transmit the specification of your communication protocol in full. Our technicians will than adjust the holonet connection to compensate for any difference in protocols.

The Union has no intention of attacking you. We enacted the Definition of Life act to prevent situations where non-living entities become members of the Union, and thereby require defence and resources better spent on actual living members of the Union."

As it appeared this entity was capable at least of a droid-like level of conversation, Nehket Aeka decided to spell out the procedure she was going to propose.

"First, other members of the Union will have the opportunity to ask questions of you. Then we will have to discuss this situation internally, and finally we shall inform you of our decision. This shall be not later than 89."

Addressing the senate, she asked: "Does anyone else have a question?"

((OOC: Clearly indicate to whome your are talking! Use [holo] if you want to address the holonet conferenced party, and normal speech to address the senate.))

[0x71A7E17A]

The process sent a file to the technicians, who go to work on decoding it.

PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :This proposal is reasonable. We accept. CR+LF

[Maria Latharion]

Maria asked her question both digitally and out loud so the other senators could hear the question as well.

"You have spoken about the IO Processes and the IO Protocol. But who or what is that exactly?"

[0x71A7E17A]

PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :We are processes. All processes together are IO. The IO Protocol was created for CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :the purpose of communicating with entities from the multiverse such as yourself. CR+LF

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

"Interesting," Senator de Montrève stated after hearing the response, "Clearly this program is more advanced then any program I have seen, nor does it seems to be just a communication protocol. It has also shown awareness of its surroundings and clearly acknowledges the existence of the force, furthermore it also claims, that by our current definitions it is currently not alive. I believe that seems to be wrong, and would argue that the IO processes, may very well be a unique life form."

Peinaili then continued the conversation in both written and spoken language so that 0x71A7E17A could follow the conversation:

"0x71A7E17A, you are correct that by our current definition, you are not alive. However, in my opinion, an amendment can be made to include the IO processes should the Senate so decide. The fact that the processes have already demonstrated awareness of their surroundings and are capable of communication and reasoning are remarkable feats for a 'program', perhaps justifying a claim that they might be alive. As I am not expert in the field of programming, I may be wrong.

Chancellor, what is the opinion of our technicians on this matter? Could it be that the processes are a life form, or are they merely a very advanced program?

[0x71A7E17A]

PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :The processes would accept an amendment made to the Definition of Life Act which CR+LF
PRIVMSG #UnionSenate :defines us as alive. CR+LF

[Nehket Aeka]

Excluding the 0x71A7E17A, the chancellor replied to the implicit question: "The technicians are tasked with maintaining the connection. They are not scientists qualified to determine whether an entity is alive or not."

"What do you mean with 'multiverse'?"