serenity concord – Molten Aether FFRP

Unprecedented Move toward Ubiquitous AI?

The senate has agreed to a period of public commentary where citizens can freely comment on the legislation. They comments will then help to point the senate in the direction which its population wishes them to go.

The rights of Artificial Intelligence programs (AI’s) have been a controversial issue in recent years. Since the founding on the Serenity Concord it has been known as one of the friendliest places for an AI to reside. The passing of the first comprehensive AI rights legislation in known space in 2384 has only increased the draw of the Concord on AI’s.

Still the act is not without controversy and the military organization Solas Tempus has not made things easier. In recent years the organization has begun churning out it’s own AI programs and while the organization claims that it is fair to AI’s and offers any AI they create in accordance with the ALFRE Act there have been controversial decisions made. Most notably the organization’s Multinodal Core technology and using AI’s to manage critical functions of ships and other facilities. While the Icarus League, an AI rights advocacy group based out of Nimbus Station, applauds the opportunities for AI’s to find work and stable places to live they also warn that the use of AI’s by military organizations has not always gone well for AI’s who did not want that kind of life.

The Serenity Concord has put itself at odds with the Icarus League again through a new proposal working its way through the Serenity Concord Senate. The new bill was first penned by Senator Murrika of the Schatten Star System. The bill would provide for new policies relating to most government jobs, especially those in law enforcement and military service as well as some high level government positions. The new act, simply called Senate Bill 2895 right now, would designated that many (if not most) positions throughout the government and military would be required to have an AI partner. Police and other law enforcement / investigation personnel have been long partnered in pairs even in larger teams, this new law would require every law enforcement officer to be partnered with an AI, even if two people are normally partnered together.

The Icarus League has come out against the bill, they acknowledge that it would provide high-level employment for thousands of AI’s but only if those AI’s accept being tied to a flesh and blood person for their employment. The rights group expresses that while this may seem like landmark legislation, it instead takes AI’s back a few steps forcing them to be even more tied to flesh and blood counterparts. They believe that the legislation should be rewritten to include additional rights for if an AI would like to work without a biological life form, which would open the door to AI-AI partners, which is currently very rare. Many law enforcement unions have expressed a similar sentiment that some personnel may not wish to be partnered with an AI and they point out that biological-biological pairings have been a standard for centuries and have shown excellent result.

Solas Tempus has come out in favor of the legislation and has admitted assisting the senator in writing it. They view the legislation has part of bringing a new era of AI-biological relations and point out their Master Systems AI program as a perfect example of why this legislation works. The organization also released some information which was formerly classified as to what a Master Systems AI (called a MSAI within Solas Tempus) does. These released documents outline how an MSAI is a pivotal part of operations on its facilities and space vessels. Such an AI would be capable of taking over an unmanned vessel or one whose crew was incapacitated or killed and not only complete critical missions but also return the crew home. Previously if a starship was to go missing, there was a strong possibility that it may never be found again. They point to records of Starfleet vessels which have been listed as missing for over a century. With an MSAI aboard, a ship could return home even in situations which a biological organism could never survive.

An unnamed source within Solas Tempus has relayed that such pairings are likely to happen within the military organization regardless of the legislative fate. They note that many of the flag officers are paired with AI’s already, those AI’s occupy a position of Master Systems AI for personal transport / scout vessels assigned as part of the organization’s General Order 12, section D. The organization would not comment to verify or deny this assertion, though we did receive a statement from former head of the organization, Lance Thomas.

We have seen significant improvements in both efficiency and effectiveness of flag offers and even command staff through the use of AI’s in mission-critical positions. While I can neither confirm nor deny any current investigations into new orders along those lines, it could be seen as a next logical step. Our AI staff have been pivotal parts of our organization even before the ALFRE act. One also cannot overestimate the need for any living thing, whether artificial or biological, at having purpose. None of us service Solas Tempus out of pride or because we want to amass power or wealth, no we do it out of service and because it is a worthy cause to get behind. One should not second-guess the choices of anyone for choosing to serve. Our organization has never had a draft, we do not press individuals into service – no matter if they are artificial or biological life. We simply do not believe in it. As an experienced command officer, I can also tell you that forcing someone to serve when they don’t want to doesn’t give us anything other than a disgruntled and resentful individual. I don’t want anyone under my command that doesn’t want to be there; AI, Romulan, Klingon, or anyone else. Anyone wishing to discharge themselves from service can do so following the same rules and regulations that everyone agrees to adhere to once the sign up. An AI is no different and will not be treated different.
Fleet Admiral Lance Thomas

This statement from the former head of the organization seems to suggest Solas Tempus could very well be looking into pairing their personnel with AI’s. In doing due diligence we could find no confirmed cases where an AI was forced into service, speaking with many different AI’s they did not believe this was plausible. Multiple AI’s also shared the Admiral’s insistence that they serve the organization out a need for purpose. Rumors within the organization do suggest that some AI’s created for the organization could feel a definite pressure to do what they were designed to do, undercutting the assertion that Solas Tempus does not want anyone, even an AI, to serve unless they wish to be there. The Icarus League refused to go on the record about that issue for any specifics but does say more than one AI created by Solas Tempus has come to see them about options pertaining to a choice to enlist or opt for civilian life. The League was unwilling to get into specifics stating that they wish to keep the details of AI’s seeking their help private.

Other Side of the Grtul Gate

In the last month, Solas Tempus has stepped up the shipment of supplies across the gate, including a portion of the fleet has been stationed within the star system occupied by the humans native to that reality. While there has been no official statement on the increase of military activity on the other side of the gate, it is known from several public statements that Solas Tempus and the Serenity Concord have signed a treaty with the Terran Space Alliance on the other side of the gate.

So far Solas Tempus has signed a number of treaties with parties in other realities. However, the recent activation of the Janus Gate prompted Solas Tempus to send through a good portion of the battle group assigned to this system. These forces later returned with little damage but rumors began to surface that a large scale engagement had occurred on the other side of the Grtul Gate.

While most everyone has seen the recent influx of tourism to the Schatten Star System and beyond, the gate which has provided that has been largely ignored since it showed up along with the massive space-station-ship called a Fabber, named Vulcan. The gate itself has faded into the background, simply providing a path for ships to come and go from the other side of the Grtul Gate.

It is important to note that the other side of the gate is an entirely different reality. A reality with its own political situation, races, and vastly different technology to our own. While the humans on the other side and similar species that have come to our side of the gate has been largely positive, the recent rumors of a large scale engagement have been troubling to many. Solas Tempus has released a statement in response to recent inquiries regarding the build up of military forces on the other side of the gate.

As per our recent treaty with the TSA, we have began to deploy military assets to their space in order to help secure our interests. This is a standard military move, we have military assets stationed at other locations both in conventional space and in other realities for the same purpose. Due to the high population of friendly and technologically advanced people on other side of the Grtul Gate we are pursuing a stronger agenda with its people, much the same way we signed an expansive trade, peace, and assistance treaty with the Avali. The treaty with the Avali has been a benefit to everyone on multiple occasions. This treaty is no different.
While it is true that their political situation is more complicated than many on our side of the Gate, this is not cause for concern. There is no need to read into the situation more than is actually there. The people on the other side of the Gate has been friendly and generous and we are endeavoring to respond in kind.
Acting Fleet Admiral Sal D’Amico

Background

Some time back the Pegasus realized that no new communication had occurred from the Gate in some time and left to investigate. Since then the ship has been stationed on the other side of the Gate. Previous to that, three Solas Tempus vessels were also stationed there, with the stated purpose of pursuing productive trade and peace agreements as well as exploration. The three ships the Sparrow, Star Opal, and Gladius have also continued to be stationed on the other side of the gate.

After the activation of the Janus Gate it was not more than a few days before the Zealot Star returned with the bulk of Solas Tempus forces. Shortly after traffic through the Gate returned to normal.

Duranaia Establishes Foothold on Soteria

The colony site for the Serenity Concord on Soteria named Duranaia, which broke ground several months ago, has approved new residences who were not part of the initial start up team to being moving to the site. There is limited housing still, however, the colony site has successfully set up its own series of power sources and defenses in addition to commercial and industrial facilities there. The colony site opens up at the same time that food and textile productions from the Temperance and Sustenance communities of New Morning Fields and Moonshadow Gardens have begun ramping up production, mostly of food supplies with some textile production.

The Temperance and Sustenance communities are supplying food throughout the system, though still in limited quantities. The system will likely remain dependent on outside resources of raw materials for some time to come. However, having the farming communities focused on sustainable production of food and other resources which the colony site can then produce into other goods and services bodes well for the entire system.

Racial Tensions on the Rise

Following the recent attack on the hangar claiming that humans should rule and aliens should be purged, the racial tensions have increased significantly on the station. It appears that an undercurrent of intolerance may spread throughout the station if left unchecked. Complaints about racial slurs being used in civilian settings have increased significantly, though not from humans but instead against them. So far the term xeno has shown to be used most often, though other terms have been used by the Sangheili. Statements from Governor Maddox have attempted to reassure humans that this is a natural extension of where they came from, the investigation into the Spartan’s revealed a world in which the Sangheili were in a brutal war with human-kind. The governor has encouraged citizens to remain peaceful and attempt to be understanding though his statement also asks for non-human races to attempt to do the same, noting that the ship which attacked the station was not from this universe. As a side-effect of this there is a small, yet growing, momentum toward an isolationist philosophy though a movement has yet to form around it there are reports of isolated pockets of such philosophy among civilians who feel threatened.

The unity initially brought by the attack appears to have been short-lived and the prevalence of humans in the highest ranking positions of Solas Tempus has again raised questions about it’s leadership. Sentiment, especially among civilians, is starting to shift toward questioning whether or not it should matter that the leadership of Solas Tempus has a lot more humans in it than not. Humans on the station, especially within Solas Tempus security forces, have reported feeling as if they are under a microscope and that they thought the universe had grown out of such things. As it happens, several other prominent races feel as if they too feel this is society going backwards. In particular the Vulcans and Andorians, once bitter enemies, cite their own coming together to help form the United Federation of Planets as proof of the idea that so many different races can coexist.

As tensions increase on the station officials from Solas Tempus have urged for people to remember that regardless of race or origin, we all have challenges to face and the planet one is from or color of ones skin matters only as much as society says it does.

Human Supremacy Terrorist Attack

On Sunday morning a distress call was received by one of our allies. Shortly after Nimbus Station responded, the call claimed that a shuttle was losing power and requesting landing. Per station protocols the vessel was allowed to land in the auxiliary hangar. After skidding to a stop in an nearly catastrophic crash landing within the hangar, the ship’s doors were opened with the message from the suicide bomber that the aliens should be experimented and the humans shall rule. The detonation of a significant amount of explosives has crippled approximately half of the auxiliary bay.

The shuttle itself came from the Janus Gate from a universe from which the Avali colony also arrived from. Missives has been dispatched to the Protectorate, the authority for that reality which has existing relations with Solas Tempus requesting more information about the shuttle and where it came from. The leaders of Solas Tempus have been unavailable to comment, at least one (Fleet Admiral Lance Thomas) is still in the hospital following the attack on Soteria. The Prime Minister of the Serenity Concord has denounced the attack as a shameful act of cowardice and stated unequivocally that those who planned and executed the horrific plan of terror will be brought to justice. Pledges of assistance have come from the Klingon Empire, Bajoran Government, Romulan Star Empire, and the United Federation of Planets as well as a number of smaller entities. Members of the Senate have also spoken out saying that the in-fighting and ill-timed investigation so publicly made was a sign of weakness with the prevailing feeling that the organization may have been better suited to handle such an impending attack had their focus been on threats outside rather than potential threats inside.

The office of the Prime Minister and the Department of Protection and Investigation have been declined to comment on the state of the investigations that are ongoing. On condition of anonymity a member of the Civilian Oversight board with knowledge of the investigation stated that the investigators have been told to quietly continue their work but that further acts beyond the gathering of information have been suspended. The attack seems to have galvanized the government and citizens, though questions still arise about how Solas Tempus manages its affair. Recent polling indicates that Solas Tempus is enjoying a rather high confidence rating, though most do still think a reorganization of perhaps a change to training procedures may be in order. The thought that criminal charges may need to be brought against members of the organization has diminished significantly in favor of mandating more subtle changes which the organization can apply to itself. Given both the recent attacks, the civilian colony project has also been put on hold while a threat assessment is reworked.

Commander of the Stellar Horizon Chosen

From the very beginning the crew of the Stellar Horizon was a difficult one to choose, such a historic mission for the young government – to reach out into the stars and not rely just on the efforts of Starfleet and other organizations to explore, but to set their sights themselves on what the organization needed and wanted to know. The crew is crafted carefully to be eclectic, with many skills and many backgrounds.

A former Borg engineer, a Spartan security chief, a tried and tested warrior as chief medical officer, and now the commander of the vessel has been selected to be Vladimir Zima. This selection has brought into focus something more than simply the idea that the Serenity Concord would like to reach out into the stars but a symbol of belonging and acceptance for the new arrivals to this reality. A concept that, not that many years ago, would have been the work of fiction has become a fact of life. There are other realities and every possible kind of being exists and every possible kind of history likewise exists. The Stellar Horizon has become more than just a ship or a project, but proof that the new arrivals to this universe are welcome and can not only contribute but excel here.

The rest of the command crew has also been selected.

First Officer Shiro Yasei
Operations Officer Amy Redford

Crew Selection for Stellar Horizon Continues

The committee is still reviewing candidates for the Executive and Commanding officer positions of the Stellar Horizon. As of yet, those two key positions remain vacant on the ship to make the first of what is hoped to be many exploration missions of the new Serenity Concord.

New additions to the crew include the accomplished pilot, Alema, and the liberated Borg Five of Ten who will be the chief engineer of the vessel. This eclectic crew is hoped to bring insight and fresh perspectives to a critical mission for the future of the Concord. Though the two top key positions remain open, the ships assigned XIA, Kyria Amphion, has also been appointed.

From the Newly Appointed Members

We took the time to ask the newest appointees of the crew about what the think of the mission.

Alema

When asked about the mission, her works echo some of the founding words of exploration within the Federation, and now the Concord.

Stellar Horizon mission is definitely something to look up to. Exploration was always one of most important things in both human and alien culture, even accross diffrent universes. As someone joining crew of vessel i feel good knowing i’m taking part in such great undertaking, and from my side i can promise i’ll do everything I can to help it to archive it objective, to search for new words and civilizations.

Five of Ten

The former Borg has some interesting things to say about the prospects of the mission as well.

STV Stellar Horizon mission is.. An efficient way of finding new unknown planets and civilisations. While it’s important mission it’s also dangerous and crew need to be ready to face dangers. While i was cleared by Solas Tempus for mission, I was well aware that some of crew will find it… Hard to serve under Borg. I am sure that we will be efficient crew and will overcome all obstacles, despite all dangers and that we wll come home, not as heroes, but explorers, not those who won fights but those found ways to avoid them.

Kyria Amphion

The XIA assigned to the ship also had hopeful words to say about the mission ahead.

My people have not been around very long, but we have a lust for knowledge and a drive to help others. I hope that I can do both while serving on the crew of the Stellar Horizon.

Bridge Module Refit

The Umbral Shipyards has also released the layout of the refit bridge module of the ship, this is the first look at the interior of the vessel that was refit specifically for this mission.