ABS FIESTA REDUX

[Qwepir]

Jaakko promptly salutes.

"Sky Marshal, sir,"

He pauses for a moment.

"Would you have time for a question, sir?"

The Sky Marshal doesn't stop, and beckons you to follow him instead.
: Walk with me, Major.

[Ad Bot]

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko follows the Sky Marshal.

"We are wondering what the plan of action was for the Helian Hyperion Pods we recovered today. Senior Airmen Cualli's Robot has stated to us that one of the pods, has, uh- is evidence that may damage Helian and Imperial relations. It has to do with a breach of contract regarding their arms sharing agreement, I believe," he reports.

Jaakko looks to Elu.

"Is that correct?" He asks.

[Qwepir]

Jaakko follows the Sky Marshal.

"We are wondering what the plan of action was for the Helian Hyperion Pods we recovered today. Senior Airmen Cualli's Robot has stated to us that one of the pods, has, uh- is evidence that may damage Helian and Imperial relations. It has to do with a breach of contract regarding their arms sharing agreement, I believe," he reports.

Jaakko looks to Elu.

"Is that correct?" He asks.

: Yes.
: We were just headed down there to take a look at them ourselves. Start talking.

Elu begins explaining his idea and the rationale behind it, and by the time he's finished the group is standing around the capsules on the assault deck.
: Does anyone with a pulse have something to add?

[carolcat]

"It seems like sound logic to me, sir," Cualli offers. "There's no guarantee that the Helians will do anything with the knowledge, but... it's worth a shot."

Cualli looks down at the pods, silently wondering at what might be going on in Phobos' mind. "And Elu might be able to help us get more information about the Imperials from Phobos, since Elu's able to communicate with him directly."

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko follows the Sky Marshal, but is concerned that the Sky Marshal and his men do not recognize that they are dealing with machines that are, seemingly, very much alive.

"I believe that the possibility is of splitting the Helians and Imperials would be the way to go. Mjolnir's had some experience with indigenous drones before, one drone named Notas Kelton ended up attempting to kill our own pilots back in the first half of Huit theater. And I don't personally believe that we could reverse engineer, develop, and deploy our own drones in a timely fashion without wasting ourselves trying to get them combat-ready," he states.

He pauses briefly. His voice becomes quieter.

"And there may be moral implications, in my experience with Elu- Cualli's robot, he has expressed opinions and thoughts that seem to be indicative of human-like thinking, as if he were flesh and blood. Phobos, may have opinions, thoughts, and beliefs in much the same way."

He looks to Elu.

"Has Phobos expressed anything to you?" he asks.

[CypherX]

"We have two pods. The one called Tychon is fried but could be useful for our study. Phobos, on the other hand, could be given back to the Helians. We have no guarantees as to what it would do, but..."

Gus pauses to look at the pods.

"Sir, with all respect. I've fought these Helian craft twice and been shot down by one. They are a pain in the ass. I fully support any course of action that might pull them from Imperial service."

[Qwepir]

"It seems like sound logic to me, sir," Cualli offers. "There's no guarantee that the Helians will do anything with the knowledge, but... it's worth a shot."

Cualli looks down at the pods, silently wondering at what might be going on in Phobos' mind. "And Elu might be able to help us get more information about the Imperials from Phobos, since Elu's able to communicate with him directly."

Jaakko follows the Sky Marshal, but is concerned that the Sky Marshal and his men do not recognize that they are dealing with machines that are, seemingly, very much alive.

"I believe that the possibility is of splitting the Helians and Imperials would be the way to go. Mjolnir's had some experience with indigenous drones before, one drone named Notas Kelton ended up attempting to kill our own pilots back in the first half of Huit theater. And I don't personally believe that we could reverse engineer, develop, and deploy our own drones in a timely fashion without wasting ourselves trying to get them combat-ready," he states.

He pauses briefly. His voice becomes quieter.

"And there may be moral implications, in my experience with Elu- Cualli's robot, he has expressed opinions and thoughts that seem to be indicative of human-like thinking, as if he were flesh and blood. Phobos, may have opinions, thoughts, and beliefs in much the same way."

"We have two pods. The one called Tychon is fried but could be useful for our study. Phobos, on the other hand, could be given back to the Helians. We have no guarantees as to what it would do, but..."
Gus pauses to look at the pods.
"Sir, with all respect. I've fought these Helian craft twice and been shot down by one. They are a pain in the ass. I fully support any course of action that might pull them from Imperial service."

Sky Marshal Tarkirov strokes his chin and looks into the cameras mounted along Phobos's capsule while the three of you state your cases.
: Cutting the supply of Helian materiel to the Goths is interesting prospect, but I believe Cualli hit the nail on the head. There's no guarantee that the Helians are going to do anything about it if we send this thing back to them. We're staring at a once in a lifetime opportunity, here- an intact, conscious Hyperion computer. And the only reason it's here right now is because the Goths thought they could get away with skirting the rules. If the Helians crack down on them for not following instructions, we will never see one of these again.

He points to Tychon's capsule, off to the side.
: Though it still remains to be seen, I doubt we're going to learn anything we don't already know from that. These two aren't the first capsules we've recovered, but this one in front of us is the first one that hasn't thoroughly destroyed every damned nanoangstrom of circuitry in its head out of spite. I'll take your words into consideration, but it is my personal belief that this thing would be of more use to us in a research lab, rather than on a maglev back to Helios.

[CypherX]

"Phobos still retains the ability to destroy itself, the same as any other pod, if I understand Elu correctly. It could choose to do so at any moment and leave us with nothing."

Gus regards the still-active pod.

"Is there any way to do both? Study this for a time and then give it back to the Helian? Or use it to bargain? It seems a waste to need to sacrifice one of two monumental opportunities."

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko looks at the pod, and reasons that the ghost inside is watching him. There was something eerie about it. This was a ostensibly a simple machine. except that it was very much alive. He didn't feel the same connection to it as a person, but reasoned with himself that if there is a consciousness in there that it may not be moral to send it to be worked over in the labs.

But Jaakko felt indifference over the robot's welfare, except for trying to reason with himself regarding the importance.

"If both can be accomplished then that would be optimal. I suppose that tipping off the Helians would be a gamble in seeing if they believe us or care."

[carolcat]

"I think that we need to keep in mind that Phobos, being a conscious thing, still has the capacity to feel. Elu told me that when he first encountered him that Phobos was afraid of what might happen to him." Cualli looks at the pod again. "I know the goal is research, sir, but if we're going to consider Phobos a 'conscious Hyperion computer' then we should also consider him something capable of feeling like Elu is."

"Elu could probably tell you what Phobos is feeling right now, actually," Cualli adds.

[Qwepir]

"Phobos still retains the ability to destroy itself, the same as any other pod, if I understand Elu correctly. It could choose to do so at any moment and leave us with nothing."

Gus regards the still-active pod.

"Is there any way to do both? Study this for a time and then give it back to the Helian? Or use it to bargain? It seems a waste to need to sacrifice one of two monumental opportunities."

"If both can be accomplished then that would be optimal. I suppose that tipping off the Helians would be a gamble in seeing if they believe us or care."

"I think that we need to keep in mind that Phobos, being a conscious thing, still has the capacity to feel. Elu told me that when he first encountered him that Phobos was afraid of what might happen to him." Cualli looks at the pod again. "I know the goal is research, sir, but if we're going to consider Phobos a 'conscious Hyperion computer' then we should also consider him something capable of feeling like Elu is."

"Elu could probably tell you what Phobos is feeling right now, actually," Cualli adds.

: Whether or not it's capable of feeling is irrelevant. There isn't a law written that says you aren't allowed to interrogate prisoners of war, only restrictions on what methods you can use. Besides, those restrictions weren't written with computers in mind.

Tarkirov paces around the capsule as he thinks.
: We could see what we can find out without breaking it and then send it back to Helios when we're finished, but as you said, Thomsen, it could up and kill itself at any time. And if we hold on to it for too long, then the Helians may believe it's been tampered with and reject it as evidence.

A gunshot rings out from the direction of the barracks, followed by quite a lot of shouting. The Sky Marshal glances off in the direction it came from for a few moments before continuing as though nothing happened. The soldiers accompanying him exchange a look of concern and place themselves between him and the barracks, ready to draw their weapons should the need arise.
: So we've got three options then: We give it to the Helians and hope they impose sanctions on the Imperium; we keep it for ourselves for study and hope it doesn't kill itself; or we perform some non-invasive interrogations, send it back to Helios, and hope they don't think we tampered with it. Hrm.

He stops pacing in front of Phobos and stares it down again.
: I still think it is in the best interests of the Coalition to study every last circuit in there so we can get the deepest possible understanding of how it works, but I will bring up your propositions in my report.

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko looks toward the barracks with concern. He looks between the Sky Marshal and the barracks.

[carolcat]

Cualli jumps in alarm at the gunshot and steps a bit closer to Elu. She glances between Elu and the barracks before looking back at the Sky Marshal, obviously nervous about the shot.

[Deoxys And One Noob]

Graf continues eating nonchalantly.

[Gojira]

Markus moves over near Graf, having nothing better to do.
"How's it going?"