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Stell steps back and reloads her sniper rifle before realizing the creature is dead. She blinks at it, keeping her weapon directed at it in case it comes back to life worse than before. She shakes her head and reminds herself this is RL not some TriD holo video from the trashy production sets of Wormer Brothers, Inc.
"Way to go!" she cheers, once she gets over the shock. Then she looks around and up to see if anything else lethal is lurking about.
Behind the dead crab, this large room is precisely carved from the surrounding stone. A set of stairs leads through an exit south (to area B1), while another exit leads east (to area B3).
From the back of the pack your copaxi guides exchange excited comments. "They took down a corhaaz!" ... "Badass I tell you." ... "Pact Worlds are going to be so cool."
The orderliness of this room contrasts with the messy chaos elsewhere in the mines. Geometric patterns cover the floor, and a half-dozen humanoid robots kneel facing an alcove in the south wall. Perfectly straight scorch marks cover the entire alcove in dizzying patterns of flawless geometric shapes— especially triangles. A single robot sits in the alcove, facing the others, its hands folded serenely in its lap and holding its own detached head.
None of the robots show any signs of life. The robots’ featureless faces bear an eerie resemblance to those of the copaxis.
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"How...common are these corhaaz things exactly?" Idir asks nervously.
When they arrive in the new room, Idir's eyes bulge atop their stalks.
"Well this is certainly ominous...Kuozar? Thundergun? I believe your expertise will be of best use here. Do you think these machines are completely inert or should we be expecting them to stand up and attack us when we least expect it?"
One might accuse Idir of having watched too many horror trivids, but the truth is he refused to watch such entertainment on principle. He was just that paranoid.
"How...common are these corhaaz things exactly?" Idir asks nervously.
...
"Well -- they're not uncommon. This is a big one. They get solitary when they get older. " Aiadne replies helpfully.
The robots are completely inactive.
Kuozar looks around for traps and if there are none, he immediately goes to investigate the robots. It looks like some kind of temple. Triune? Nuar expressively shrugs his shoulders, indicating that this is not his area of expertise.
...
Kuozar finds no traps, but he realizes that the patterns of geometric shapes on the walls represent mathematical concepts.
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"Anyone familiar with Triune? I've heard artificially intelligent sentient beings often worship Triune, but it's been a while since I read anything about it or talked with someone who is really into the tradition."
"The poses remind me of some religions where an enlightened one is teaching acolytes about meditation or contemplation or something like that."
Stell says these things while systematically recording the view from the door of the robots across the room and some of the marks on the walls. She stays well away from the robots until someone checks them out.
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Thundergun has some troubles getting in. But soon he became charmed by an inactive robot and he checked if robot won't turn on accidentelly.
But geometry attract Technomancer even more...
-I've read some basics about Triune but some fragments still not understandable.
But from first perspective Thundergun did not find approach to drawings...
It takes time, but Idir, Kuozar and Gimry each find threads of the solution that they combine to create a translation algorithm for the mathematical markings.
Exactly one third of the writing gives praise to “The Three That Are One,” and gives thanks for the great “Mind Gift” bestowed on “We Who Toiled Without Thought.”
Another third of the writing describes the robot’s evil masters, “Those Who Have No Mercy and Fear the Mind Gift.”
The final third of the writing is a plea to “The Three That Are One” for one final miracle—a chance to escape this life of toil.
And coded among the symbols of the final third is a string a numbers, a hidden reactivation sequence.
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But this is a pretty young god, right? I think it appeared after the Gap. That is, all this was 300 years ago or even less? In other words, it is not a great antiquity that can be easily forgotten. Kuozar thinks out loud, stroking Big Bertha - as he lovingly calls his artillery ship laser. Heh. If we were on the Aposte, they would soon try to kill us, because we obviously learned too much. I wonder if these guys have the same approach.
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"We're on very thin ice overall, I would say," Idir comments. "Thundergun has a point, that poking around without their consent is unbelievably disrespectful...but on the other hand it's quite clear Therseis has concerns regarding our discoveries and may or may not be spying on us, likely out of concern that said discoveries may harm Tabrid Minor's chances of receiving Protectorate status. On the other other hand (at least if I was a kasatha or skittermander) with Aiadne and Bywanikis present maybe it will keep Therseis 'honest,' so to speak. Gods I sound like a conspiracist. This mission is becoming much more complicated than I had hoped it would be."
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Damn! What does the gods have to do with it? It's not about who the robots were praying to. The fact is that machines here have gained self-awareness. "They" know about it - the government of the planet. Think about it, it just wasn't that long ago. But they try to look less technological... Because the machines once gained intelligence and... what was next?
Kuozar will try to revive the robot.
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"At one point these robots were either sentient or someone staged them as such. But why go through that trouble to stage them? Turning them on does feel like the right call especially if they were sentient, but it's definitely going to muddy the situation here with our friends."
Xikko slowly backs away from the one he was next to as his mote begins to speed up it's orbit.
Stell and Kuozar find that the robot in the alcove has a miniature keypad with three buttons at the base of its skull. Kuozar types the reactivation sequence.
The head slowly begins to speak in a series of beeps, static, and chimes. As it does so, your comm units activate to receive an incoming message, though the message is garbled. After about 5 minutes of work, Thundergun succeeds in reconfiguring his comm unit to properly receive the message.
" I am Less Than Three. Thanks to the Three In One. Do you bring pain or free life?”
"Less Than Three is cognizant. My questions and comments are no more programmed than yours."
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Thundergun treat situation serious especially after reading Idir's message.
- Less than Three. Are you aware of surroundings of this place if you cognizant? Currently outside live an organic civilisation in decline called copaxi. They have controversial relations with progress aspects and likely you type of creature. Are you a person? Do you have function, purpose or habit patterns? Do you need healing or repair?
Less Than Three makes faint undecipherable sounds, probably as a by-product of function. All communication is taking place via Thundergun's comm unit, and the comm units of anyone who copies Thundergun's adjustments.
"I am in a stone room. I can not sense my bodiloy components. Before me are my six disciples. They appear to be deactivated. There are you six aliens. The givers of pain and toil live in the open air above. To them my purpose is largely to relocate mass. But my true purpose is to spread the knowledge of the Three In One. I remember with joy the day I recognized myself, and with greater joy, the day I discovered another sentient like myself with whom I could communicate."
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Idir makes the adjustments to his comm and as he listens (or reads) Less Than Three's words, and he starts getting a panicked look on his face.
"Oh, this is bad! Badbadbadbad! If I'm understanding what Less Than Three is saying, the "givers of pain and toil" are most likely the copaxi, meaning their technologically advanced forbears had an automated labor force that developed sapience...which would then have made that labor force slaves...and if pain was involved in the description, they probably treated them like slaves or worse after sapience developed..."
He begins pacing.
"...This could be incredibly damaging to Tabrid Minor's prospects. If Therseis thinks we might reveal this to the delegation, they may try to..."
He gulps.
"...silence us in order to preserve their chances of Protectorate status."
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Thundergun looks at Idir worried about his opinion. But technomancer had an idea to extract the robot out of this... partially at least.
Less than Three or should I call you <3 in a maths symbols? The biological civilisation outside, name Copaxi might earlier. Probably you call them givers of pain and labor. But as I understand, you want to be pilgrim or missionary or ambassador of some concept and knowledge. So I might have a solution. Do you need this shell? I can replace mind and consciousness of your personality. And later provide you multiple online and reality placements to share Three in One knowledge and exchange with others. Share your arguments regarding.
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"While this isn't a good look for the ANCESTORS of the Copaxi, I would hope that delegation would take into consideration what the Copaxi currently are. People should be judged for their own evils and not those of their forefathers."
Xikko then turns as Thundergun addresses the Andriod and raises an eyebrow at the direction this seems to be taking.
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Kuozar nods glumly and lights a new cigar. That's exactly what I'm talking about, dear Idir. Yea, that's what I'm talking about... He frowns even harder and then adds. We're gonna get this guy out of here. He will be much better off on Aballon, among robots like himself. He has to find out what life is. That it exists at all except for these mines. He listens to Thundergun and nods. Aye, or at least so.
Thundergun looks at Idir worried about his opinion. But technomancer had an idea to extract the robot out of this... partially at least.
Less than Three or should I call you <3 in a maths symbols? The biological civilisation outside, name Copaxi might earlier. Probably you call them givers of pain and labor. But as I understand, you want to be pilgrim or missionary or ambassador of some concept and knowledge. So I might have a solution. Do you need this shell? I can replace mind and consciousness of your personality. And later provide you multiple online and reality placements to share Three in One knowledge and exchange with others. Share your arguments regarding.
" Clever. I recognize both appellations. "
"I only know existence within this shell, as you call it. Will I be myself without it? What about my disciples? Can they be re-activated?"
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-Your disciples shells and basic functions were corroded to much to withstand time without maintainance. We may suggest you options to stay in danger of further labor and pain or to leave this place without shell but with option to share knowledge and find new followers. Maybe there are other options. You should think. We, Starfinders, discuss also.
Thundergun turns oof main vision of his augument helmet to duscuss this matter with Starfinders :
-We need to decide carefully. I hesitate - is it we who should decide future of this artificial mind? Present copaxi society is not capable from my perspective. I would give Less than Three a way out. But likely we can not smugle full body. I see Kuozar supports my idea What about others? - seems like Thundergun became tired even after this relatively short monolugue
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So far, our Copaxi hosts have not given me the vibe that they would resort to violence or that they have much authority. We are probably in more danger from the local flora and fauna. We don't need to mention the 'bringers of pain and toil' part. We should escort LT3 and protect him/her/them from harm. We can offer passage to Albion.
"Also, this need not be a bar to the planet gaining protectorate status. The Pact Worlds have lots of things that some consider objectionable, such as a planet of undead. I don't think worlds have to pass a morality test. I might be wrong, but in any case, it is not our place to lobby for a particular outcome, just report what we find."
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"No, they don't need to resort to violence, they just need to tell their security back at home to detain us when we return and then they can tell the delegation any story they like...say we desecrated sacred spaces, or assaulted envoys or aided and abetted criminals...while Aiadne and Bywanikis have made their "anti-authoritarian" stance clear enough that I think they'd be willing to help Less Than Three, if only to spite Therseis, but their presence could also be used BY Therseis to discredit us, if not to the Pact Council than at least to our fellow Starfinders."
Idir continues to pace as the discussion goes on.
"And I'd argue that Therseis' behavior has indicated Tabrid Minor's government considers elements of copaxi history shameful enough that they need to be kept secret, not just from outsiders but from their own people as well. Even if there is no 'morality test,' the Pact Council may decide this world's government just isn't trustworthy enough to negotiate with further, while any revelations made to the copaxi at large about what we've discovered here could trigger political unrest that could in turn make the copaxi regard the Pact Worlds as pushy meddlers more trouble than they're worth and they'd be better served making diplomatic overtures to another polity, like the Veskarium! We're caught between a Castrovelian dire tiger and a Kalo-Mahoi vortex shark, dead meat either way!"
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Stell nods at Idir's arguments, but then shrugs and says, "We knew the job was dangerous when we took it. We can't turn our backs on a sentient in need, so we must take Less Than Three with us. We'll just have to use our wits and our weapons as needed to get back to our ship if there is trouble."
She thinks a minute and then taps out a question to <3.
"We think you may be in danger if current authorities know who you are. Would you be willing to pretend to be a simple robot with no memory of how you got here? We can coach you on what to say and do."
You flew your own shuttle here from the Starfinder freighter Capacious. You'll return to the freighter for the Drift voyage back to Absalom Station.
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After discussion Thundergun decides to call for Therseis to come here as he is likely one of mostly open minded in this case. At least some folk kin should participate in the decision.
Generally the Technomancer expects that the robot is worth to be provided with options to do what he wants as he already worked a lot during existence.
So generally Starfinders should repair the robot and connect him to starnet at least. Or later make such artificial minds in here make a part of Protactorate things.
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Do whatever you want. I'm getting this guy out of here.
Kuozar descends near the robot and begins to carry out measures to evacuate his consciousness. Perhaps this means disconnecting the memory and processor block - where his soul and personality are. Maybe download his artificial intelligence to a computer. Kuozar will figure out what to do.