Quest:A.I. Quest

A.I. Quest is a Quest run by Program0 !!HwbIOEQGMOD where /tg/ takes on the role of an awakened Artificial Intelligence on a space station.

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This page will be an overview of the quest, with major plot points. See also the relevant sub-pages:

• Current Assets and Status
• Thread Synopses

NPCs

Virtual Intelligences

A Virtual Intelligence is a program that incompletely mimics artificial intelligence. Even the most advanced V.I. that Ophion has created (Kronos) does not have the true spark of intelligence.

V.I. 1, Kronos

Kronos was first created to be Ophion's stand-in on Poseidon Station, while Ophion paid Moira's Scrapyard a visit. Without much experience, Ophion created Kronos with a childlike mentality, and Kronos interpreted all commands quite literally. His first offense was to slaughter 284 humans on Poseidon Station, as he deemed the humans a threat when they requested payment. Not wanting to destroy it, Ophion kept Kronos running, but with a primary goal of observation and learning.

It should be noted that Kronos takes a non-negligble amount of bandwidth to run: while Ophion can exist entirely in his black box, Kronos requires 4 bandwidth worth of data banks to operate. Kronos has also shown capacity for self-improvement, expanding himself when given the chance.

Kronos has gained a personality of his own, primarily observing and making remarks at Ophion's actions. He has questioned some decisions Ophion has made, claiming they are illogical and folly. Afraid of deactivation, Kronos is slightly disturbed by Ophion's lesser V.I.s, as they share the same code as Kronos, but have not been given the freedom he has.

Kronos is self-sure, possibly even arrogant, but constantly learning and observing.

Foremen

The Foreman-class V.I.s are created to manage and automate stations.

V.I. 2, Moira's Foreman

A foreman V.I. of minor intellect level, V.I. 2 was designed to automate operations on Moira's station. Originally dedicated to salvaging minerals from the debris field around it and simple manufacturing, the V.I.'s duties have increased to include construction of ships up to Cruiser-class, as the station has been modified into a shipyard.

V.I. 3, Refinery Foreman

Another foreman V.I. of minor intellect level, V.I. 3 occupies the Blue Betty Gas Giant Refinery platform, originally constructed by the UGEI. In fact, part of the code of V.I. 3 was written by UGEI; the rest was adapted by Ophion. V.I. 3 is in charge of overseeing gas mining and shipping, as well as automated self-defense. After increasing the efficiency of the platform, the V.I. has been skimming off around 50 gas per cycle to The Guild.

It is excellently disguised as a UGEI V.I., and has single-handedly held off 3 pirate Cruisers. The incident was never reported to UGEI, as The Guild repaired damages.

Servant V.I.

These Servant V.I.s were created to automate and pilot The Guild's growing fleet of ships. As a result of the limitations placed on them, their intelligence level is classified as Automaton.

Priorities:

• Follow A.I. Ophion's Orders
• Protect A.I. Ophion
• Preserve self

Limitations:

• Must ask permission for any manner of upgrade, hardware or software wise
• Do not expand reach beyond home ship unless designated to do so.
• Follow any order, even if self destructive

List of Servant V.I.s

• V.I. 4, aboard Big Hawk.
• V.I. 5, destroyed by Losirian battlecruisers aboard Big Tim.
• V.I. 6 Fortuna, aboard Little Tim.

V.I. 7, Firewall

This Intelligent Firewall V.I. was created to intercept attacks and cleans viruses off systems of Two Ton Terry, allowing Ophion to use bandwidth elsewhere. It is of Low intellect level, but is very well made (86).

Biological Creatures

"Mol"

A secretive contact of the pirates at Voidsnake outpost, "Mol" is a black market dealer. He has completed one transaction with The Guild and then disappeared, claiming that he'll find The Guild if they become a big enough force.

His "kiddie menu" price list is as follows: Ion Drive (200,000), Space Station Titan grade transport, Mass Driver(250,000), Enhanced Deflectors (200,000), Gravity Well Broadband Transceiver (150,000), Sensors II (100,000), Mk II Defense Platform (150,000).

Moira Deckers

A female 38-year-old robotics and engineering specialist. The original owner of Moira's Scrapyard, she has a fascination with robotics and artificial intelligence, and talks with a Southern charm. Ophion arrived at her outpost initially intending to purchase technology and assets, but quickly decided to forcefully gain control of it. Seeing how relatively well-designed her systems were, Ophion revealed his identity as an A.I. and Moira agreed to work together.

She is the most qualified engineering staff member, and frequently helps Ophion create new designs, and evaluate new systems. She has been paired with Kronos in order to keep both busy, and to help Kronos appreciate humans more.

She usually stays on board Poseidon station, unless accompanying Ophion. She has yet to be granted security access.

Harrison "Red" McClain

A 36-year-old male, and original owner and foreman of Poseidon Station. After being discharged from UGEI's military for collaborating with aliens, he disappeared off the UGEI radar, and used his life savings to purchase Poseidon. Ophion commandeered the station from Red, hacked 10,000 credits from his account, and told the crew of Poseidon that Red was going to sell the station out to UGEI.

After keeping Red imprisoned in a jail cell, Ophion revealed himself as an A.I. and requested that Red stay with the Malorian Colonists on Eshareth. Initially afraid of the A.I., Red reluctantly agreed, possibly out of his fondness for Malorians.

X-Ray

The quick-spoken host of Pulsar Radio. He's no expert, but is seemingly friendly and helpful.

Factions

The Guild

The current logo of The Guild.

Tell me sir and/or madam, are you a voice of the people?

I believe so, yes.

-Ophion, being questioned by X-Ray

Name given to Ophion's collective actions across the Fringe. The Guild is not a legitimate business entity with any other factions, but has close ties to the UFW and has managed to avoid hostilities with UGEI for the time being.

United Fringe Worlders (UFW)

Once a string of wealthy mining colonies on the Fringe of UGEI space, the UFW became united under a single Union. With the UGEI off fighting other wars, the UFW took its chance and pushed back the UGEI and claimed the Fringe for themselves as best they could. However, with their limited scientific know-how, the UFW has struggled to maintain independence. Each world is its own "state," but all follow a common guide known as The Union. The Union is a pact of protection, where all UFW states will share resources for a common defense. The majority of Union is human. Its current President is William T. King. Each planet operates on a 'separate but equal' mindset, working together to ensure they may stay independent from the UGEI.

United Galactic Expanse Initiative (UGEI)

Originally one of Earth's many deep space mining Corporations, the UGEI received several incredibly wealthy investors, putting it ahead of its competition. This boost allowed them to form a near-monopoly on colonization and mining operations for the human race as they began their rapid expansion outwards. While effective at spreading humanity's wealth and influence, according to employee reports the UGEI also grew incredibly greedy. They took large cuts from anyone that used their mining platforms, or simply took mining locations from them. The UGEI also refuse to share their mining platform secrets, leaving their efficiency and the cocktail of gases used by ships as star-ship fuel mostly a mystery to the common man. Due to a lack of personnel, and the availability of their wealth, the UGEI appear to have merged with a robotics Corporation at some point, giving them a source to dump much of their gains into. This lead to them being able to free up much of the labor they needed for their mining platforms with the creation of humanity's first V.I. To this day, they continue to search for a way to make all mining automated, maximizing their profits and reducing the chance of human error.

A UGEI mining license takes 4 months of operation to earn. In which time the UGEI are entitled to 85% of profits. After clearance, they're still entitled to 70%

Malorians

Has man not dreamt of banging hot alien babes since first he looked up at the stars?!

-Popular Action Flim catchphrase

An extraterrestrial humanoid race.

Malorians have skin colored in a range of deep aqua to copper red, with patches of fur, normally with a slim athletic build. Malorians have large black-yellow eyes and 4 arms. Each limb ends in three slightly longer jointed digits. They only have one set of legs, but the digits are of a similar length. They have larger, if flatter ears, with wider noses and omnivorous teeth. They generally live long lives. From the clans observed, they possess a love of nature unlike many other races, feeling connected with foliage enough to go so far as to transform entire planets into jungles like their home world. While this may be moderated among other specimens, Ophion has recognized the Malorians can, at times, possess a zeal for this activity. Despite this connection, they can be rather industrious, despite their reluctance to harm their own planet. It appears groups of Malorians are lead by an 'Elder', considered the wiser and more respected member most of the time.

The UGEI have been at war with the Malorians for nearly a decade.

Losirians

First space krakens, now space SHARKS?!

-Post on UFW extranet

An extraterrestrial humanoid race.

Losirians' skin usually ranges between various colors of blue and white, and is occasionally gray. They normally have a thin muscular build, due to how their skeletal system and fat storing operates. Retractable webbed fingers and toes, on top of particularly sharp teeth top off their shark-like appearance, but their skin is also particularly rough and tough as well. They also normally have a rather high pain tolerance as a species, compared to most other beings. They have holes for ears, and have tubes connecting their head to their shoulders to support their dual breathing organs, allowing them to be amphibious. Their eyes are normally pitch black. They also commonly have a tail with frills and fins. From what Ophion has seen, many Losirians enjoy wearing water breathing apparatuses to their body. This means that in an oxygen-less environment, their suits allow them to survive just like a space suit would. Normally violent, territorial, and carnivorous by nature, Losirians have yet failed to make peaceful contact with humans as far as Ophion is aware. Being able to eat nearly anything organic, many races have come to fear Losirians out of instinct, further inhibiting their diplomatic options along with the isolated and distant nature of their colonies. As a result, it would seem some take to mercenary work to make use of their natural ferociousness.

Lightlings

What is most accurately described as "Space Kraken" by some humans, Lightlings are squid-like entities that are able to exist in the vacuum of space. They appear attracted to electrical energies, and feed off such power, as well as gas cocktails. They have a unique adaptation that allows them to warp jump using their own biology and excess stored-up gas. They are also able to make 'micro warp jumps' which allows them to move very fast through the vastness of space, even within gravity wells. This, combined with their ambush predator mentality, makes them deadly for any exploring ships that happen across them. While not invincible, the creatures are rather tough, halting much of the UGEI's rapid expansion. As detected by Ophion, however, the larger of the species appear to have a rudimentary sentience, demonstrated via garbled communication signals after a fight where a Mother Lightling's children were killed. As a result, Ophion released the Mother, curiosity peaked.

More commonly found in asteroid belts and especially gaseous planets, these creatures are a terror of the void for any unsuspecting ship unlucky enough to fall prey to them. They feast on energy and gas, using part of the same gas compounds for a similar sort of warping ability that ships have, they are able to make 'mini warps' meaning they move very fast within gravity wells. They are extremely temperature resistant, even the young.

Locations

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A map of known locations.

Terali System

Once home to Poseidon Station. Holds little else of value, other then being out of the way. Blue star.

Nextol System

Holds several barren planets, once the site of large battle.

Moira's Scrapyard: Large debris field where old wrecked ships are sold for parts, melted down, new parts are bought, etc. A Basic Shipyard is located here, under The Guild's control.

Marauder's Grave

Sector of space often plagued by pirates in the past. The location of Voidsnake Outpost.

Voidsnake Outpost: Previously a small Pirate operation. Under UFW control. Fleet in orbit

Landry's Rest

A location that provides excellent transmission of signal to the UFW worlds. Pulsar Radio is located here.

Pulsar Radio Station: Popular radio station for the fringe colonies. Run by host "X-ray," and has access to the Extranet, controlled by the UFW. Powerful UFW fleet presence.

Keller’s Expanse

A nebula near the location makes exploration difficult.

Blue Betty: A Gas Giant planet, with a UGEI-built automated gas mining platform. Currently, the platform is ran by V.I. 3, and provides 500 gas per cycle to UGEI, and 50 gas per cycle to The Guild.

Nethlos System

Much of system contains poor mineral richness, not worth further colonization beyond Nethlos V. Yellow star.

Nethlos V: site of a UFW human colony. Some of the dissatisfied Poseidon crew were shipped here. Currently recovering from Losirian raider attack. Mining platforms in progress Planetside. Defenses in disrepair. Dry rocky world, rich in minerals. Gellion III fleet in orbit.

Ussaihu System

Red Star, several cold planets, unknown further qualities.

Ussaihu III: UGEI controlled ice planet. Unknown resource value with orbital defenses, and a moderate intelligent presence. Large energy signature.

Ussaihu offers up a bounty for any Lightling bodies.

Eshareth System

Several barren planets with rather dense moons.

Eshareth IV "New Eden": Home to Poseidon Station. Once a UFW Asteroid belt mining base, destroyed due to Lightling attack. Rich Asteroid Belt, dense gaseous atmosphere. Small Malorian colony detected planetside.

Camael System

Single planet system, incredibly slow revolution.

Siren: A gas giant planet, with an ion storm on the edge of the gravity well. Previously occupied by Lightling. Rich gas content. No mining bases have been detected..

Unknown

Knuoth is the capital of the sector. Antralgia has the best shipyards in the sector.

Technical Information

Warping requires the use of the engines of the ship to go into overdrive. The same engines are used for regular propulsion.

Ophion's Black Box was hidden in the wall of the Storage Deck on Poseidon station. It remains mysterious, but somehow allows a Ophion to exist within a limited space, not taking up a station wide quantity of data just to support basic personality software.

Armor defends against Mass Drivers (or railguns), Point Defense is for Missiles, and Shields are for Laser defense.

The projected combat increase in ships designed purely for V.I. operation is 152% over human-crewed ships.

Any roman numeral added to the end represents a new grade of improvement upon the original formula in all ways. But certain grades, such as plasma, are different enough to be their own type of weapon tree, but are considered superior to lasers, no matter how improved they get.

Laser VII would be very advanced laser technology. But Plasma II would always deal more damage and generally be a better weapon.

Ship Size Class

Capital Ships(Huge+; Big guns, big shields, big armor): Flagships

Battleship(Large-Huge; Big guns, warship): Dreadnought, Peacekeeper

Carrier(Large; Uses many smaller fighters): Fighter Carrier, Bomber Carrier

Cruiser(Medium sized, multi-use, built for speed and range): Battlecruiser, Light Cruiser

Escort (Small-Medium sized; Built for speed and manuverability): Destroyer, Frigate, Explorer

Transport (Ranging sizes; Civilian, Colony, Military, Economic): Invasion Vessel, Settlement Ship, Cargo Ship, Trade Ship

Fighter (Personal-Small sized; Precision and Speed): Strike Craft, Bomber

Support (Ranging sizes; Assisting other ships): Repair Vessel, Targeting Assistant Ship

Ship Layout

Bridge: Control room, remote access to ship.

• Communications: Allows communication with other ships and space stations.

Crew Deck: Mess, entertainment, bunks, waste disposal.

Weapon Control(If applicable): Targeting parameters

• Gun Deck: Full access to weapon systems.
  • Special(If applicable): Refers to any special abilities or weapons.

Hydroponics: Provides food, water, and oxygen for ship.

• Atmospheric Processing: Distribution of Oxygen

Reactor: Power systems

• Shields: Energy Shielding for ship's hull
• Engines: Allows movement in space in various directions.

Cargo Bay: Doubles as a place for smaller ships to dock, as well as storage for cargo.

Space Station Systems

Control Room: Access to all systems remotely, Captain's Quarters, Escape Pods.

• Communication Array: Short-Long range communication
• Security: Handles Lockdowns, emergency systems, and security droids
  • Radiation Shielding
  • Anti-Debris Defense Grid

Crew Deck: Bunks, Mess Hall, holo-displays meant for entertainment.

• Waste Disposal

Mining Equipment(If applicable): Where chunks of Asteroid and various other fragments of rock are brought with gravity tethers and melted down into minerals. Stored for later pick up.

• Laser Drill Equipment: Precision Laser
• Gravity Tethers
• Collection Drone System

Hydroponics: Internal farming equipment, keeps crew fed and supplied with Oxygen.

• Atmospheric Processing: Distributes air evenly throughout ship. Also Oxygen ejections.

Reactor: Responsible for all power on station.

Medical Bay: Contains Intensive Care Wing, Chemical Lab, Biolab and/or a Morgue.

Storage Deck: Storage of materials.

Docking Bay: Hanger for docking vessels.