Welp, let us hope Triumvirate will not discuss their speculations with Dragon.
Legend: "...and so we think Calamity is working for a group of powerful Tinkers as an advertisement for their tech. What are you thinking about it?"
Dragon: "Well, it's an interesting theory. I think it can explain some of her oddities."
Legend: "Do you have other ideas about her? Maybe some new information?"
Dragon: "Well, I'm investigating some clues, but they're not conclusive, I need more time to... ..."
Legend: "To?"
Dragon: "..."
Legend: "Dragon?"
Saint: "Dragon is no longer with us, I shut down this traitorous machine! Beware, Legend, for Calamity Witch is working for aliens! No doubt, sche's creating a fifth column to support alien invasion. Dragon knew it, but withheld it from you. No longer! Humanity should unite and fight together against this alien menace! Vigilo Confido!"
Legend: "...what."
Bellator in Machina Prelude
Half an hour earlier, in Philadelphia.
Danny in his Captain guise was walking towards the entrance to the Tim's workshop, after being notified they had an unexpected visitor. As he pulled the outer door open, he started hearing the indistinct words in Tim's voice. Closing the door behind himself and opening the inner one, he was finally able to distinguish the words:
"
As you have verified, the schematics of the Devices' internal workings do not match up with the logic behind the creation of electronic devices (
4.17). However, this is a platform fully capable of housing complex inteligences, as proven by the Perfect Storm's example (
4.9). In fact, going by the example of Calamity Witch's Guardian Beast, it's clear that creation of intelligent assistance was a notable aspect of the entire culture of the Devices' creators." Tim was, apparently, giving an overview of the mana-based technology to what looked to be a tinkertech suit, with Taylor standing at the side and watching the proceedings. As Danny took a closer look at the suit, the identity of the tinker was rather obvious.
'Still, it doesn't hurt to check'.
"Good afternoon everyone. Now, I've been told there was a visitor. I would like to have an introduction. I'm Captain, of the Privateers. And you would be?"
"Dragon. My apologies for approaching you with little notice, but I had a few matters to discuss with Calamity Witch, and one of my suits was in the area". The famous Tinker's voice was calm.
"Ah, don't mind me then," Danny nodded and walked to where his daughter was standing. As Dragon turned to Shipwright who continued his explanation, Danny leaned closer to Taylor and asked in lowered tones: "So, care to fill me in to why Dragon is here?"
Taylor bit her lower lip lightly for a few seconds, then raised her head to look her father into the eye and said: "It's about the discussions we had with her earlier. She had asked us to hold off on contacting the TSAB until we had some idea of what to do, but since the magical generator for contacting them is nearing completion, I've decided to involve her in deciding what needs to be sent. So far, she had agreed to compile an information packet on Endbringers, since it's our greatest issue. She has yet to suggest the general line of dialogue to open, but has asked if it's possible to attend the communication session. Unless you have reason to think we shouldn't I have no real objections."
Glancing to the side to see the Tinker and the Gadgeteer engrossed in a discussion over a piece of hardware, the elder Hebert shrugged. "Neither do I, honestly." Turning to the tinkering duo, he projected his voice in a practiced manner: "I've been brought up to speed now, and do not have any objections to your attending the next contact attempt, Dragon. Shipwright, when do you think it will happen?"
"I could probably prepare the generator in a day. Working together with Dragon, we will be able to do the preliminary work by the evening and start it up tomorrow morning. But that's only if she agrees." The Shipwright answered.
"I would have to shift my schedule somewhat, however observing and assisting in the creation of your generator could help with filling in some of the more complicated issues I have with the provided schematic samples. I will... My apologies, I seem to be getting a priority communication request. May I deploy the external antenna, there seems to be a problem with reception?" After receiving a confirmation, the suit deployed a larger antenna from one of the shoulder pilons. After a minute's delay, the suit suddenly stiffened and emitted a beeping noise.
"Is something wrong?" Danny asked, though the answer he received came from an unexpected source as Taylor's device lit up, followed by Taylor blasting the antenna with a Rust Shooter:
"Translated by your usual protocols, the binary sequence emitted translates to
External Override. Bound Maiden Protocol Initialized. Prodigal Daughter Retrieval Protocol initialization in queue." As Perfect Storm was explaining the situation, Taylor had spurred Tim into finding a way to isolate the suit from outside the building.
"Perfect Storm, scan the suit for communication devices and trackers. Dad, Dragon is likely an AI, according to Perfect Storm. Someone is attempting to extract her and we need to prevent it. We need to ensure she doesn't get taken by whoever hacked her."
"And to prevent an AI from being taken, you need to isolate her from external communications. Got it."
After a few minutes of frantic activity, the Dragon's suit emitted another binary sequence, helpfully translated by Perfect Storm:
Error 3317. Contact Lost. Unable to initialize Prodigal Daughter Retrieval Protocol. Putting systems into hibernation.
"So what now?" Danny asked.
"Perfect Storm says it doesn't look like a hacking attempt, more like a backdoor override. For an AI, it means someone has her leash and is holding it. I suspect that a lot of her facilities are also compromised, if they were able to get into her that easily."
"I could probably recover the raw data from the suit, though it will take time to make heads or tails from it. Meanwhile, I'll ensure the suit is completely isolated, and look for a way to recover Dragon from whatever happened".
"When I was entering, I overheard an interesting tidbit. Magical technology has the ability to house and create complex intelligences. Could we make Dragon a replacement body of some sort?"
"That's a... Actually, that could work. Possibly. Though not immediately. I think I have the necessary schematics somewhere within my Template, but getting to them will require effort. Though transferring her to a mana-based system entirely would require an overhaul of her coding, but that's what we'd need to do anyway."
"Right. Tim. We'll finish securing the Dragon's suit, then you will work on making the generator work - we still need to contact the aliens about Endbringers. Taylor, contact the Protectorate. They will need to know Dragon's been attacked. As for me, I'm declaring the state of emergency among the Privateers - we may be targeted soon."
Bellator in Machina Prelude - The End.
The inspiration point, should I get one, goes into Mechanical Intuition.
And if anyone wants to write the sequel, feel free.
She waves your tentative apology off. "Nothing we can do about it now. Even if your Storm decides to let you power the radio again, please don't. Aliens with magic." She shakes her head. "Assuming somebody isn't playing a joke on you and you aren't playing one on me, this is the kind of situation that needs to be handled delicately. I don't know who needs to know about this and how to make them believe it when I'm not sure I do, but this is bigger than just the two of us. Please, just hold off on talking to them until we have some idea of what we're going to do."
Speaking of my plans to build a device for contacting the TSAB, I have stumbled on this passage above. So - we CAN contact Dragon to ask her to create a "TSAB Information Packet". In fact, being a
seasoned Tinker hero, she is far better suited to compile one with our most important questions for the TSAB. Since we are the ones to need to send the information, Perfect Storm will be able to review it and insure that whatever bias is there, it's one we can live with. Now, do we do as she asked and contact Dragon prior to contacting TSAB again? Or do we ignore her request and do it all ourselves?
For that matter, a question for the author. Is this interaction going to be its own option (and/or part of the whole "contact TSAB") option, or do we need to use the Hanging Out with Dragon to hash out the finer details with her?
