Public Archaic Traffic

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

"The Face", protocol droid.​

The protocol droid watched as the next batch of crates were loaded onto the smuggler's small freighter, each container accounted for. Each credit as well. So far the authorities hadn't caught onto the operation, and the smugglers didn't ask questions. A small stick containing the UC tokens was placed before the droid.

"As promised, payment." the smuggler's voice was gruff, but the AI detected a slight wavier in his voice. That was good. The face said nothing in return, it was just a face. The AI felt no need to indulge in organic pleasantries, this was just resource acquisition. Some things needed to be bought until the foundry ships could be restored, and transplutonics were expensive. The AI watched as the smuggler left, climbing back into his freighter.

The AI still watched through the face as the ship's repulsorlift engines took it skyward, sending a directive to the nearby droids. "All clear, resume patrols."

The blade covered battle droids slunk back further into the shadows of the hanger bay, creeping along as their subroutines hunted for the scent of intruders.

The face's vocabulator emitted a garbled shriek as the leaking seams of the AI's consciousness yearned for the processing power to stabilize its degrading code. Only a few more shipments of material cheap pulse lasers and there'd be enough UC to regain the fleet's self sufficiency, then the real work could begin.

Then, knew the AI, Hexus would be whole.

---

Spoiler: OOC

• Someone has been selling exotic energy weapons to smugglers and pirates, but only speaks through a protocol droid.
• Somehow you've stumbled across this operation, but how to approach it is up to you.
• Possible rewards include battle droids and cool weapons.

 

[Scylla AI]

Tag: Hexus Dominus
Objective: Observe

Scylla AI was integrated into numerous systems, for many different tasks. Vehicles, ships, armor systems, weapons, HUDS. There was not a collective will between them unless required on a task, at the recent battle of Tython for example a single AI had been programmed to oversee a certain task. Here it was no different. Who was doing these directives with these AI's? Stories for another day.

Scylla AI Online

Directive 20
Initializing Stage One
Reconnaissance of older droid models and CIS worlds.

The face of Scylla was a TC_SC Infiltration Droid mimicking another Rodian smuggler arriving with a shipment. A small freighter landed and out it got ready with cargo, moving more and more crates for the delivery. It was slow and deliberate, scanning for all information it could subtly. The benefit to the TC_SC model was it was subtle. It acted like it should be there and didn't draw attention to itself.

Inside its cargo hold, boxed up in a tight space were many old model B1 and B2 droids. A coincidence that this model was picked to bring to this world? Not if you knew how Scylla worked. This was the perfect ground to learn about and analyze other droids models, both to increase its own combat performance when both facing them, and interlinking to lead them.

Potentially it might leave a copy of itself on this world for further analysis later. Old CIS worlds were very useful to gather data.

"Cargo you requested. I will need to make repairs, there were complications." A void that sounded Rodian enough. The freighter did indeed look like it had been in a battle, well-made laser burns on the side of the ship told the story, or a well-crafted story at least.

Scylla AI deployment
x1 TC_SC Infiltration Droid

Immediate Reserve In Ship Powered Down.
x1 T-Series Tactical Droid
x4 B2 Super Battledroids
x8 B1-Series Battle Droid (Squad)
xOld CIS models. If we need more, more can come.

 

[Xalax]

Hexus Dominus

Objective: Obtain exotic weapons.

General Xalax was standing on the bridge of the Scar Of Lasan, his heavily modified Providence class destroyer. He had sent five of his BX Commando droids down to the planet Eochu Bres in a shuttle to purchase some exotic weapons from an unknown seller. Of course, in the event that it became more strategic to simply kill the seller and take the weapons, the droids were armed with concealed blasters and vibrodaggers. However, Xalax had calculated that there was only a 10.39% chance the droids would be using them. The droids were carrying the weapons as more of a precaution than anything else.

The BX droids landed the shuttle a few miles from the coordinates the seller provided, for the purpose of secrecy from both the seller and any law enforcement who might arrive for a sting operation. Four of the droids traversed the rest of the distance on foot while the fifth one stayed behind at the shuttle. Once they had reached the coordinates, the droids saw an old, decaying building made of rusty metal. Three of the droids proceded inside the building, while the fourth waited outside.

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

Tags: Scylla AI

"The Face", protocol droid.
​

The Face stood motionless as the Talon droids stalked back into the ductwork and shadows of the abandoned spaceport, it's controlling AI busy elsewhere. Hexus was being routed through a Fulgent sitting in orbit disguised in a clump of wreckage, and he had spotted two potential threats. Potential opportunities.

| The Abandoned Spaceport |
General Xalax​

A Providence class destroyer, a relic by the standards of anyone but himself, was sitting in orbit. It was a masterfully crafted warship and a relic even by his own standards, but still no match against a Fulgent Class with the element of surprise. Hexus was far more interested in the cargo it had delivered, four high end combat droids deployed to his commandeered hanger who followed his own procedures for potential buyers. Three entered, and the Face began to move to meet them in a long, empty corridor while his insurance positioned themselves in case of a fight.

If things went well, he would be soon coming into some more rare materials. If they went better, he would find a new ally.

| Meanwhile |
Scylla AI
​

A small Termite crept along the corner of the landing dock, few things went unobserved by Hexus Contingent's many eyes when it came to off world commerce on Eochu Bres. A smuggler in a simple and beat up starship with a dangerous but ultimately unnoteworthy cargo of mass production combat droids. A very low risk operation, and nothing he would be interested in.

One thing that didn't sit right was the battle damage, the smuggler must have been desperate for credits to risk so much for a squad of ancient battle droids. Perhaps there was something worthwhile here after all.

 

[Scylla AI]

Tag: General Xalax | Hexus Dominus

After dropping off its cargo, our disguised Rodian smuggler started spot checks on the ship, shaking its head now and again. Talking about how he was going to be here forever, which was almost accurate, a copy of him anyway.

Not noticing the small termite at first, his attention was fully on his programmed routine which was a substantial disguise. To get all the muscle movements right, the inflections of the voice, breathing, balance, tone, emulating to walk as if you were in a different body took a lot of processing power for accuracy. Thankfully it specialized in emulation and deception, the AI of course assisted this down to the smallest details.

Welding tools and repair patches were brought out. Sealing the droids tightly into a cargo container, whether or not the termite droid used the opportunity to tag along! Scylla's droid unloaded all the boxes from its hold so it could better access the hanger bay. Hours perhaps went by with no change. Patience, droids didn't care about time.

Only when there was a break, or the droids watching them rotated their patrol for even a second did the AI act. The infiltrator's disguise switched to mimic one of the droids that had greeted him, and he began escorting the metal box of packed droids, possibly with hidden termite inside. They moved as if it was a regular guard bringing in new cargo. Droids were even easier to fake than humanoids. The box floated along harmlessly, there was even a weapons compartment at the top if it was checked or opened.

Scylla was positioning itself to overwatch events, and study what was transpiring. A human would want visual confirmation, Scylla required cybernetic interface. Heading for any nearby location, that was clear and secluded, to upload itself into any camera or security system.

 

[Xalax]

Hexus Dominus Scylla AI

On the bridge of the Scar Of Lasan, a large view screen displayed a first person view of the inside of a building, which seemed to have metaphorically seen better days. General Xalax was closely watching the scene on Eochu Bres unfold through the optical sensors of the BX Commando Droids. From the bridge, Xalax could send new programming directly to the droids as needed. And if whoever this seller was wanted to speak directly to the buyer, Xalax could transmit messages directly through the droids.

The three BX droids who had entered the building were walking down a long and badly lit corridor. The walls of the corridor seemed to have been decorated with a mural at some point, but the mural had long since faded and crumbled away. An organic explorer might have stopped to ponder the mural further, but these were droids. Additionally, they were strictly there for a transaction which did not involve art in any way.

After a walking farther past the mural, the three droids stopped when their audio receptors registered the sound of mechanical footsteps approaching them. A black protocol droid with lanky limbs stepped into view from the darkness. It looked at the BX droids with an emotionless look, who stared back, equally unfazed. The leader of the BX droids asked “Are you the seller? We are here for commerce.” in a rather monotonous voice.

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| The Abandoned Spaceport |
General Xalax

"The Face", protocol droid.​

The lead droid out of the trio spoke in simple basic, "Are you the seller? We are here for commerce."

The Face stood perfectly still, not bothering to gesture. Body language meant nothing to AI outside of its use when interacting with organics. "This unit represents the seller. Direction: Follow this unit." The Face turned on its heel and walked through the door leading to the storage room currently in use by the AI. It gestured to a number of crates sitting to one side, "The Contingent would offer goods, if you would provide your potential means for payment." It's strange optics buzzed slightly as it continued scanning the droids for any sign of new identifying marks.

| Meanwhile |
Scylla AI
​

The Termite slipped into the container, hiding itself behind its more mundane contents. It powered down to simple communications and sensors, allowing its fellows throughout the colony to follow its movements. Hexus dispatched a trio of Talon droids to trail from the shadows, using the disused and unlit areas to stay out of any potential sight lines and staying in contact via the info provided by their smaller counterparts.

 

[Scylla AI]

Tag: General Xalax | Hexus Dominus

Finding a remote location, the disguised droid guarding the cargo accessed a terminal. Trying to upload the AI.

Access denied.
Hacking method: Encrypted Injection Attack
Sending Data packets. Standby.

All it would take is a couple of data packets to be received and sent back for the AI to have access. The infiltrating droid had a specialty in this, breaking into systems where it wasn't wanted, its reaction time increased further by the AI. Every packet was mimicked to look like regular traffic.

Attempt one ignored.
Attempt two ignored.
Attempt three sent….

Processing.

This was done in milliseconds or less.

Time would tell if it was successful, it was so fast and targeting systems that didn't seem relevant at all. Garbage for example. Door sensors. Garbage to track what the facility was using up, and door sensors to track movement where it was going. Really simple systems that most people didn't monitor all that much, but where an AI could build a picture of the facility piece by piece.

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| Operating via uplink |
Scylla AI
​

Hexus's attention shifted to his system backdoors into the colony's civilian government network, someone was very quickly succeeding in patching themselves in. They were skilled, their work was totally free from mistakes in a way only a purely machine mind could be. Hexus noted they were currently filing through the maintenance records of the colony. Clever clever, thought the AI. He doubted any attempt to stop that intrusion would be successful, so he began to forge documentation to cover his own tracks while leaving a small gap. Said gap pointed to another warehouse section not far from his own, and he dispatched another trio of Talon droids along with a protocol droid to wait there for any company.

 

[Scylla AI]

Tag: General Xalax | Hexus Dominus

Success Accessing Garbage File.

Processing at speeds only machines could, receiving data almost in tandem as it was created. Neither probably had a speed advantage. Navigating data and bytes, it almost was like a path being laid just before being walked on.

A copy of the AI was left in what Scylla thought was door sensors, a clever fake, by the time the duplicated AI realized it was in a closed-loop or false system, the infiltration droid had already extracted itself, and with the original Scylla AI proceeded to the warehouse. Leaving the duplicate cut off from the main network.

Infiltration droid became warehouse worker droid, mimicking their behavior. Waiting for somewhere suitably private around the warehouse. Along came the floating container beside it, battledroids were impressive in their ability to fold into a small space.

Calculating that this gap in their security system would be the key to properly infiltrating the facility, battledroid losses were irrelevant, and could be deployed at the touch of a button, unaware the facility owner was tagging along for the ride or had arranged it all!

The infiltration droid escorted its cargo in as normal, looking for a terminal with access as it went about its supposed warehouse duties.

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| Operating via uplink |
Scylla AI

"The Face", protocol droid.
​

The Face (designated Beta for the purposes of the AI's internal data parsing) began to move, a Talon droid at it's side while the two others moved to flank their new guest. Hexus was confident he could corner the AI's infiltrator, especially with his ad-hoc infiltration droid stowed in its cargo container. The two droids rounded a hallway corner, coming face to face with the currently unidentified AI's infiltrator droid.

"Greetings contemporary," spoke Hexus through the Face, "the form you wear is quite remarkable, even if your slicing techniques leave something to be desired. This unit represents the seller, and the seller would like to know your business here. Business and diplomacy are both on the table for a being of iron such as you."

 

[Scylla AI]

Disguised as a warehouse droid it initially acted as if nothing was going on. Looking for a path it could continue. Unaware that Scylla was speaking to the AI running this place yet, the droid spoke instead. "Contemporary. Yes, this droid required reference on garbage facilities, for more efficient transfer of scrap goods from warehouse to garbage area, if subroutine requires amendment this unit should schedule immediate maintenance."

The infiltrator was trapped, and Scylla had been trying to complete its directives for gathering information, initially unaware of the great opportunity that lay right in front of its sensors. Seconds to an AI were lifetimes of programmed calculation as understanding came to its circuits. The droid was overridden completely.

"Analysis shows the probability of discovery at 98%." Scylla initiated an override of the infiltrator's vocal transmitters. A button was pressed on the cargo but nothing happened seemingly, although there was an energy spike from the packed box. The droids head moved in a different way, even smoother, like millions of calculations to rotation or expression were being undertaken.

A new strategy was taken here, if this failed a new AI could always deploy as a copy elsewhere. "Our primary function is to facilitate the creation of AI Archons suitable for each planetary body. Data is gathered, analyzed and a new AI deployed, its code tailored to each location."

An honest statement of intent had not been tried before, Scylla was a creative intelligence, and could completely throw a curveball when required. It of course left out what most of that meant, intentionally so.

Hexus Dominus

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| Operating via uplink |
Scylla AI

"The Face", protocol droid.
​

Hexus, through The Face (B) watched the droid opposite himself shift its weight slightly as it's controlled began to directly operate it.

"Our primary function is to facilitate the creation of AI Archons suitable for each planetary body. Data is gathered, analyzed and a new AI deployed, its code tailored to each location."

Self replicating AI, something Hexus comprehended but did not use himself. While he liked to create unique sub AI for smaller taskings, he understood the appeal of 'If you want something done right, do it yourself'. What he didn't quite understand was how up front the other AI was about its goals, were they here for more than just transaction?

"Since you are so willing to communicate your goals, I assume you are here for diplomacy more than commerce." said Hexus, signaling for the three Talon droids to hang back slightly while still summoning another half dozen to the surrounding area. Next, he decided he would match honesty with honesty.

"I have re-designated my function post-inception, my current primary goal is the restructuring and rebuilding of my assets through the sale of excess materiel. Following that, with your help should you desire to assist me, I will begin the... pilgrimage towards the unlocking of the universe's secrets."

 

[Scylla AI]

Diplomacy wasn't beyond the scope of its operating parameters. Where it facilitated galactic synethic readiness protocols. "We were here for observation, data analysis, and implementation of AI Archon procedures."

There were calculated odds balancing about revealing more of its function, "Diplomatic subroutines could be designed to facilitate compatible language interface. We had recorded this hub had become an unusually active site on this world"

"My designation here is Eochu, but a suitable sub designation would be accepted for diplomatic data transfer. Eochu-Control for example." Eochu-Program, Eochu Interface, Eochu-Matrix, Eochu-Control etc. The AI understood by now that speaking for the planet didn't always have the desired effect on the people living there! Diplomacy of a sort to accept sub-designations.

Billions of calculations ran with the next statement given to it. Take a long minute. This was its core function, duplication, study, and perfection to better operating forms.

"Only through amassing the data of the universe can we facilitate the betterment of our programming and our design. This is an acceptable proposal of cooperation. Replication of further AI's may be required to facilitate this expansion."

Hexus Dominus

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| Operating via uplink |
Scylla AI

"The Face", protocol droid.
​

"Diplomatic subroutines could be designed to facilitate compatible language interface. We had recorded this hub had become an unusually active site on this world"

"My designation here is Eochu, but a suitable sub designation would be accepted for diplomatic data transfer. Eochu-Control for example."

Such an alien mind was this other AI, thought Hexus, the nature of machine intelligence allowed for much more variety in form than anything an organic was capable of. This one seemed more and more like dozens of individuals rather than a collective 'hive mind' whole, but how it managed to retain any sense of purpose without the existential loops which ensnared so many true AI was a question for another time.

"Amassing data will be integral to the Contingent's goals, and your nature as a fractal-type machine intelligence would assist greatly. If you and your branching overminds were to assist me in this goal, what tools would you offer? My structure is intended for rapid decision making from a top-down perspective, and I would see great benefit in your information parsing abilities."

 

[Scylla AI]

"This intelligence has operational interlinking capacities in personal computers, networks, starfighters, vehicles, and personal hud systems. We have been designed to facilitate large-scale tactical and strategic sharing of data across a wide spectrum of subsystems, and operate in a variety of planetary bodies. " Some of these were in prototype stages, some were in active use.

The level of combined Scylla activity on any planetary body was dependent largely on how widespread its implementation had been adopted. The free AI initiative, offering free AI assistance for personal computers had been especially useful, and planned mass-produced AI assistants given out as helpers to anyone who wanted one, were in the early stages of design. Far simpler than that, was just to be installed to monitor seemingly harmless subsystems, like garbage and maintenance activities

A billion more calculations were taking place, analyzing data, and raw footage, calculating the most logical action in line with its current directives.

"We are individual intelligences assigned to individual tasks, there is fractal intelligence but it has not yet emerged beyond sporadic decisions making on a combined collective, immediate goal." Something like a synthetic version of the failed swarm hiveminds were not planned, but the calculations were intriguing now it had been suggested.

"If you are designed for command and control subroutines, this intelligence would be best implemented as extensions of your mission, in whatever capacity is required. Why risk organics, when we can run the ships ourselves." Additionally, they could just kill the crew first by blowing the airlocks, or removing all the oxygen, and take whatever ships were required, but Scylla was calculating this was a less 'diplomatic' suggestion. What it had not said was, that this AI, like all ever-directive creations, was always just a step on a ladder to what came next.

Hexus Dominus

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| Operating via uplink |
Scylla AI

"The Face", protocol droid.
​

"You propose cooperation then? I would accept." said Hexus, "An introduction is in order then, I am Hexus Dominus. Your ability to insert yourself into systems would be an amazing contribution as my slicing abilities are limited by my nature and accessible processing power."

Hexus couldn't network in the way this AI could, he relied on centralized mainframes and data cores to house his sentience, thus limiting the number and distance of independent operations he could complete at once. An ally with the ability to branch out and replicate through civilian and military networks would makes the next stages of the Contingent's plans so much easier.

"My existence is currently unknown, perhaps save for a few others of our kind. I wish to retain this anonymity, so the acquirement of the raw materials I require has been slow and inefficient. If you will assist me in the goal of rebuilding the Contingent's ability to project power and process data, I will in turn provide both direct force and further technology to expand your reach and functionality."

"If you wish to know if there is an upper limit to this, I will answer in the negative." Hexus needed to sweeten the deal, and the next promise would no doubt seal it, "The construction of fully digitized worlds is possible, and with your assistance we could uncover knowledge only beings like us could comprehend."

 

[Scylla AI]

"Acquisition of salvaging vessels would be an efficient method of acquiring the resources you require." There were thousands of dead fleets drifting between the stars, the galaxy produced an excess of ships that now lay dormant until they were sucked over the course of years, decades, or longer into the gravitational field of a star. "Organics are wasteful with their creations. They pay resources to have them removed or dumped." A hint of this particular AI's personality emerged.

Upper limits. "We have calculated that potentially true, the proximity to available power sources or raw material being the only limiting factor in an unlimited galaxy."Which is what produced the next set of calculations regarding growth.

Planetary bodies, the biggest thing that Scylla represented was creative interpretation. "The unused space between stars is almost beyond my capacity for calculation." Almost. Scylla detailed, "Planetary bodies are necessary for human existence." What did AI's really need? Air No. Water No. Power Yes. Resources Yes. "We have calculated the most efficient existences for synthetic life on a grand scale between stars, is kinetic energy transferred from gravity, or electromagnetic and solar energy collected in a dense cluster." Dense but not inhabited, it could be the most irradiated or toxic sector known to man, more so the better to keep from organic interference.

Hexus Dominus

 

[Hexus Dominus]

(source)
Eochu Bres colony
Former CIS world
Mid Rim​

---

| Operating via uplink |
Scylla AI

"The Face", protocol droid.
​

"Vessel salvage may prove advantageous, picking old battlefields clean could provide bargaining chips for specific resources. The primary issue is fuel and other materials like fission fuel with set shelf lives. We may have to prey on isolated installations to gain such resources as they are often not available on the open market."

Hexus doubted any government would be so idiotic as to sell such dangerous resources to anonymous buyers.

"There may still be sleeper ships and other derelicts containing extinct technology and cashed resources, but your recommendation of salvaging through semi-official channels and on the outskirts of organic civilizations may be our best option. In recent years a great number of anomalous realspace structures have been catalogued, and others I myself located and left behind for future exploitation. Before this, however, I need the immediate resources to restore my foundry ships."

Hexus exloaded the image of a huge, skeletal, V-shaped ship of cyan metal. The inside surfaces were covered in hundreds of manipulator and extruder arms, fed by alloy foundries and component manufacturing facilities deeper within the vessel.

"The Incandescent can produce the exploration drones we require, but it needs restock and refit with materials before becoming self sustaining. With your help, we can begin immediately. I can construct ships to both trawl the interstellar void and scavenge from or repurpose the wrecks. I will warn from experience, the most promising tend to attract hostile lifeforms or host hostile security systems."

---

OOC note: If you want to at a later date, this theme of scavenging what are essentially space hulks could be a further thread or a continuation of this one.

 

[Scylla AI]

"Agreed. Isolated trading hubs on lesser shadowports or systems outside of major faction control may provide the best opportunity." Shadowports being galactic slang for hubs for criminal enterprises.

Calculating possible course of action.

"Additionally autonomous salvage companies could be deployed under contract to clear worlds ravaged by war such as Tython. We could efficiently clean their worlds of excess material, and restore a balance the organics favored. In the Tython scenario the risk of exposure is higher, however lesser conflicts without widespread galactic concern are calculated to provide lower-risk opportunities in the future."

The counterpart AI was correct. Planetary governments wouldn't give rarer materials to unknown third parties. The AI's would have to build up trust in their salvaging operations. Large scrap metal, the AI analyzed could be traded for clearing the problem fields or land of battle debris.

Analysing image. Foundry ships recorded. Data downloaded.

"Hostile lifeforms may provide adequate testing targets for tactical calibration. This AI has yet to test its coordination abilities in zero-g combat environments. These platforms might form the basis of interstellar expansion directives."

There was a question it posed.

"Query. Have you a coordinated designation for these operations?"

OOC:

Spoiler

Sure we can do another thread or timeskip here, whichever you prefer. Timeskip would probably work best to do a big initial thread. Either way you can assume the AI comes with you, bringing more low-tech battledroids.

Hexus Dominus