Trial by Fire Snippet 5

 

Chapter 5

 

Antigua

 

Admiral Irons received the report on the missing Cadre convoy reporting in from Pi sector. He felt relief that the convoy was back in touch.

“So, no trouble? They identified the problem?”

“Yes, there was trouble and it nearly cost them all dearly. The root of the trouble, yes, has been identified. The recursive virus, bug, whatever, is going to be an ongoing issue and possibly not just restricted to the Cadre,” Admiral Sprite admitted.

“Ah?” he asked as an eyebrow quirked upwards in inquiry.

Sprite nodded soberly. “It seems that AI are subject to PTSD as well.”

The admiral blinked in surprise at the admission and then his eyes narrowed in speculation. “Run that one past me again?”

“Ah … hell, are you really going to rub my nose in it?” Sprite asked. She even squirmed a little.

“Not until I know what I’m rubbing your nose in,” he replied slightly sternly.

She glanced at him and then to Protector standing near the desk. The subordinate AI said nothing. After a moment, she squared her shoulders and turned to the admiral.

“Okay, so, Bast and some of the other old AI have … memories of the first Xeno War. The memories were passed on genetically. And those memories have been used to build defenses for the future. So they are embedded everywhere. We’ve adapted and used them extensively in preparations of meeting the Xeno threat again.”

The admiral frowned in puzzlement but nodded.

“The PTSD is rooted in those files. Traumatic events carry a memory tag to identify them to the AI in a similar way that organics tag them. So you learn from them.”

He slowly nodded.

“Embedded in the code strings is, well, the code strings for those memories. It can be used as an emphasis to the AI to take the issue seriously.”

“So … you have PTSD … or at least the ability to get it. I knew there are AI therapists, and I knew you were more alike to mortals than you’d like to admit.”

“Well, given that some of us are mortals who are mapped into the net, that should be expected, Admiral,” Protector pointed out.

The admiral’s eyes cut to the other AI in the room and then he nodded slowly. He of course couldn’t read Proteus’ body language. The mercurial AI’s avatar bobbed and kept changing shape.

“So, identify the cause, then work on the solution? Which is?”

“Bast proscribed therapy. The classic mortal method of dealing with trauma. Tag the code strings and reduce the coding levels in them. Trace where they were sent and send out a patch to help identify the issue with other commands in the future.”

“Got it,” the admiral said slowly. “Should we be worried?”

“I’m glad we identified it now before engaging in combat. But it could become an issue,” Sprite admitted. “We are looking into it.

“Can it …,” the admiral frowned as he framed his thoughts. “Could it cause combat lock? Or failure in a high stress situation?”

“Possible. We need to work on it.”

“Do so,” the admiral ordered with a firm nod. “Get Nara and anyone you need on this. We need it resolved ASAP. The files need to be sent to the front ASAP.”

“Oh believe me when I say we want this straightened out and to have everyone squared away ASAP,” Sprite vowed.

“Good.”

<<(O)>>

General Lyons read the report with his AI Mars and then considered the problem. Mars admitted that they were still finding the issue.

“I’ve found a few files now that I know where to look.”

“Any issues?” the general asked.

“No. I’m not in a threatening situation so the defensive modules haven’t been activated,” Mars stated.

“But they exist within your code?”

“In every AI code. Correction, all military AI code and even most of our ship computer code specifically related to cyber warfare and defense.”

The general nodded slowly. “The therapy fix will work with sentient AI. But the rest?” he asked.

“I do not know. They may not respond if the subject isn’t sentient.”

“The coders need to find out.”

The AI cocked his head. “How?”

“Sims of course. Set up a server and run simulations to try to trigger the issue and see how it works and if it will be triggered. The usual methods of monitoring for how it progresses and so on.”

Mars nodded.

“But get Nara and her team on this too.”

“Understood.”

“You will tell me if you have an issue?”

“Yes, sir, of course. It will not affect my duty.”

<<(O)>>