Negotiations
Posted on Thu Mar 13th, 2025 @ 9:24pm by Captain Rylan Gray & Lieutenant Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Patrick Ryan M.D. & Lieutenant Ayryn Trynn M.D. & Lieutenant Stormy Knight
2,354 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
A Silence of Friends
Location: Bridge | Deck 1 | USS Thunderbird
Timeline: MD001 - 1500
Dr. Nicholas Rush, who had been working in the Conference Room, primarily so that he would have access to the Bridge and thereby, gain information on the situation stood beside the captain's chair, staring at the screen. While the away team, returned from surface, resumed their duty stations, he found himself shifting back and forth. So much was at stake, the future of the entire project now hinged on the conversation between the captain of this vessel and what was apparently some sort of artificial ... program? intelligence? His fingers all but itched with the need to dig into all of this, to find out, to document everything.
With communication established between the ship and the AI, Rylan began by identifying himself. "As I said before, I am Captain Rylan Gray, commanding officer of the USS Thunderbird, and representative of the United Federation of Planets. We came here to learn about your world and to solve the mystery of what became of its inhabitants."
"I am Striel. Security system Echo Papa 207A, Minosian in origin but adapted and improved by Tal Egrath of Guran III. This was how Tal Egrath required me to identify myself when visitors came. I am tasked with the protection of this world from threats to its safety. Analysis indicates that, while your ship is armed, you are not a threat."
"That is true," Rylan said. "We want only to learn and perhaps to help you discover what happened to your people."
"Tal Egrath made provision for students and teachers who wished to come to this world," Striel said. "This is an acceptable classification."
Stormy wanted to be on the bridge while the captain spoke with Striel. She was eager to learn more about the planet and its former inhabitants, but she recognized that, as a Starfleet officer, she would not have the opportunity. But Doctor Rush and his team could. So she took the science station and reviewed the data collected while she listened and hoped this would end with the science team returning to the planet.
Dr. Patrick Ryan stood at the edge of the bridge, arms crossed, listening intently as Captain Gray continued his conversation with Striel. His usual expression of quiet skepticism deepened as the AI spoke. A security system, programmed to defend an empty world—what did that mean for them? How did this Tal Egrath "improve" it? And more importantly, could it be trusted?
Ryan had seen too many cases where "advanced programming" led to unintended consequences. The scars of history were full of artificial intelligences that had taken their directives too far. His mind drifted back to the old lessons on the M-5 debacle, on Control, even on the original Echo Papa 607. That one had wiped out an entire world. How different was this iteration?
He exhaled sharply, pushing off the bulkhead. "I hope I'm not the only one thinking about how this could go sideways," he muttered, mostly to himself. Then, louder, "Captain, has Striel given any indication of whether it still considers itself under orders, or if it has developed independent directives? That could make all the difference."
It was a doctor’s instinct—identifying potential risks before they turned into crises. And right now, everything about this world screamed potential crisis.
“Very valid questions,” Lt. Trynn agreed. Like the good doctor, she had joined the others on the Bridge, more out of curiosity than anything else. “It could also enable you to establish a way for the mission to proceed without the risk of breaking any rules or protocols”
Tyler had taken his station as soon as they arrived back aboard the Thunderbird. This Striel as it called itself was something interesting to say the very least. The Operations officer wanted nothing more than to get a look at its programing and perhaps learn how to replicate some of it. He planned to ask the Captain if this would be allowed after the Captain finished talking with Striel. There was the question of sentience as well. In short this was an extrodinary find and Tyler knew that better than most.
Daegan listened to the exchange and the memories of one of his previous hosts surfaced. Thus farm Star Fleet's interactions with various AIs hadn't gone well. No doubt the question on everyone's mind was what had happened to the planet's population. The Captain had brought up but no one had and the question directly. His thoughts went over the possible reasons why but they kept coming back to not wanting to risk setting it off again. They had experienced a taste of Stiel's defensive capabilities but only a taste.
Rylan listened to the comments from his senior staff, some echoing his own concerns, but he had a notion and hoped that it would work out. "And what were your orders, with respect to students and teachers," he asked. "Can they work on your world in safety? Provided, of course, that they shared what they learned with you. Would they be ... protected?"
"My orders are to protect this world," Striel said, "and all who live and work on it. Your team are scientists. Looking for answers that I also want. They would be protected."
Patrick stepped forward slightly, arms still crossed, his brow furrowed. "You say you protect those who live and work here," he said, addressing Striel directly. "But what about the ones who lived and worked here before? Where are they? If they were under your protection too, what happened to them?"
"That is unknown," Striel said. "Records indicate that this unit was taken offline. Repairs and maintenance records do not exist past that point. Degradation of archives is present." There was a pause before Striel came back online. "I do not harm those under my protection."
"I'd also like to know what this protection entails," Stormy added. Protection could mean anything from helping keep them alive to preserving their bodies for later analysis.
"Access to offensive and defensive capabilities is restricted," Striel answered. "I can defend this world. And I will."
Deagan spoke to the Captain. These were his negotiations and it was not his place to interject. "Captain. We've seen first have only some of Striel's capabilities. Striel only took measures to protect himself but when given evidence that we were not a threat those action's were reversed. Perhaps a joint investigation into the planets past to figure out what happened to the population? Striel did state that there was some degradation to his systems, If we were able to help repair some of that degradation in exchange for information on his system would be possible. That is if restriction of Stirel's capabilities isn't hard coded into his programming."
Dr. Patrick Ryan shifted his weight slightly, his arms still crossed as he listened to Striel’s responses. The AI’s insistence that it did not harm those under its protection was reassuring on the surface, but the gaps in its memory and the fact that it had been taken offline at some point only raised more questions.
His gaze flicked to Captain Gray. “That’s the problem with artificial intelligence,” he said, his voice level but laced with caution. “It follows its programming—until it doesn’t. If Striel was taken offline and brought back without maintenance records, we have no idea what state its systems are in. Corrupt files, altered directives… even an unintentional error could have had catastrophic consequences.”
He turned back toward the interface. “Striel, do you have any data on who shut you down? Or when?” He knew better than to ask why—the AI would only be able to relay what it had been told. But if they could track down a timeframe, it might give them something to work with. A clue to what had really happened here.
And, just as importantly, a hint at whether they could trust Striel’s version of events.
"We need to see if there are any written accounts somewhere," Stormy suggested softly. "Something that would indicate where the humanoid inhabitants went--or if there ever were any." There were so many questions and so few answers.
"Searching archived records," Striel said. As he worked data began to display on screen, written in Gulani with a real-time translation into Federation Standard on one side; everything scrolled by until a particular entry appeared on screen.
"Who or what is Agata?" Stormy asked. At least now they knew why Striel was offline. But was it disease, a malfunction by Striel, the drones, or something else that caused the inhabitants to die out. "We may need to check the hospital records."
Tyler simply sat and worked quietly he listened and absorbed all the information. It was Stormy's suggestion that caused him to voice up. "If it was a malfunction by Striel or dare I say it Striel did this of its own accord. Accessing any records remotely would be too dangerous to the ship and crew. An artificial intelligence could invade our system. We may have to send a team down to the planet to see the records."
"Striel, we will need time to confer about this," Rylan said. "Am I correct in my assumption that you would guarantee the safety of the archeological team if it were to return to the surface?"
"You are correct," Striel answered. "Ending communication."
"For now, no one is to leave the ship. Continue monitoring, Mr. Baas. We'll meet in the Conference Room in one half hour," Rylan said. "Notify the department heads, Mr. Malbrooke." Orders given, Rylan retreated to his Ready Room to have a good think before conferring with his senior staff.
Stormy wasn't so quick to think Striel could be at fault for the humanoid inhabitants dying out. It did report power had been converted elsewhere, which was likely to stop some problem or plague. She wished she could go down to the planet and look through those files herself, but she'd be happy to let the science team do that as it was part of what they came for.
"Aye sir." Tyler responded to the Captain's order. As he sent the message to all the department heads he could not help but think that this Striel could be at fault. History was littered with stories of artificial intelligence rising up against those that created it. It could be a malfunction in the AI one that may have killed a whole race of people.
Daegan moved to his console, as instructed, to keep an eye on the city below. He also pulled up the data from why he was being held to see where the probes in orbit had been launched from. As he reviewed the sensor data from the launch against the ship and the current status of the city and the probes sharing orbit with the thunderbird he considered the situation. He could understand the general distrust of an AI, as is symbiont's previous host had lived during those events. Even though he had been held captive by Striel, he had not been harmed or even threatened. Though it had technically attacked the ship it had been, as far as it was concerned, was a defensive measure. Something told him there was nothing to fear, and that they could even benefit if they helped it...he just hoped he wasn't wrong.
Stormy still wanted more information. Since they had half an hour, she decided to use that time to review the files they had on the planet and the former inhabitants. She knew she could just ask Dr. Rush, but sometimes looking over the information could help her see anomalies and help her up with additional questions.
Patrick leaned forward, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against the table. "If the power was diverted to the hospital complex, that suggests they were fighting something—an outbreak, a medical emergency, or maybe even some kind of biological attack," he mused, his medical instincts kicking in.
He turned to Stormy. "Checking the hospital records is a solid step. If we can access patient logs, treatment records, or even autopsy reports, we might be able to determine what happened to the inhabitants. If it was a disease, we need to know if it’s still present or if it mutated into something that could pose a risk to us."
His gaze shifted to Tyler. "I understand the concern about an AI taking control, but we also can’t rule out that Striel was trying to help and simply failed. If there’s medical data on the planet, we should send a team down—under strict biohazard protocols. Until we know more, I’d advise against bringing anything back to the ship without a full quarantine procedure in place."
Leaning back slightly, he exhaled. "I’ll review what medical data we have and see if there’s any indication of a prior contagion or biological factor at play. If this was a pandemic scenario, we need to be ready for the worst-case scenario before anyone sets foot on that planet."
Tyler nodded in agreement with the Doctor. "I will begin to calibrate a number of field generators for bio hazard protocol. In the event that they are needed."
"I'll have a closer look at soil samples for signs of any bio-hazards or mutations in the flora and fauna. If there was a mass extinction of the humanoids, there might still be trace elements there." Stormy wasn't sure if there were any samples to compare with, but she could at least do some testing--and she was curious.
"Alright, everybody," Zhaan said. "Let's get organized, Captain will want our best efforts."
Captain Rylan Gray
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
Commander Zhaan D'Sai
First Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Tyler Malbrooke
Chief Operations Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Stormy Knight
Chief Science Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Thunderbird
Dr Patrick Ryan
Chief Medical Officer
USS Thunderbird
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