Omissions and Errors
© 2023 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  baroncoon, color by  marmelmm



After meeting the Colonial Foreign Minister and talking with her for less than half an hour, Anulka-Mei Balakrishnan decided that she didn’t much like the tigress.

Laohu Antonya was younger than the Dhole-Akita and had the unfortunate habit of rolling her ‘Rs’ as if she were trying to get in touch with her feral side by trying to purr. It was an irritating habit, and the canine had made no effort to hide that irritation from her opposite number.

“My sources tell me that you are here to be briefed by the Kashlanin ambassador,” Balakrishnan interjected , breaking into Laohu’s complaint that her trip to Lalande was delaying her vacation.

“Trrue,” the tigress said, her long tail giving a twitch of irritation at being interrupted. “And I find you herre. What’s brrought this on?”

The canine smirked. “I asked her about AIs.”

“AIs? What about them?”

“Specifically, why the Kashlani don’t like them.”

Laohu looked a trifle nonplussed. “I always thought they had a rreligious objection.”

“They do,” Balakrishnan said, ignoring the usual riposte that Kashlani had ‘outgrown’ their faith, “but it goes beyond that. It has to.” The canine looked up as the door to the conference room opened and Navot k’Ven entered. “Looks like we’ll finally get some answers. Fair day, Ambassador.”

K’Ven said, “Fair day, Balakrishnan-jih, Laohu-jih.” She sat down and huffed a sigh through her nose. “I have been authorized to discuss with you why the Empire forbids artificial intelligence systems. I know, Balakrishnan-jih, that you have studied our history, and we have allowed Terrans access to our cultural databases in the past.”

“But,” the Dhole-Akita said.

“We deliberately kept information from you.”

“Militarry secrret?” Laohu asked. Balakrishnan glanced at the tigress; so, there was a brain between those ears.

“No.”

“Then why?” Laohu asked.

K’Ven’s ears dipped.

“Because we are ashamed.”

The two Terrans exchanged glances. “I don’t understand,” Laohu said.

“We of the Race know it,” k’Ven said. “It’s taught in schools, but we do not - aka, have not – spoken of it to aliens.”

“Until now,” Balakrishnan said.

“Ulnt, until now. My instructions are from the Sovereign himself.” The Race’s envoy sat back, her feline pupils narrowing. “We have designed what you refer to as ‘artificially intelligent systems’ four times in our history.”

Balakrishnan frowned. Kashlanin history was more than eighty times longer than Terran. “Tell us,” the Dhole-Akita said.

“The first was a century after the Unification War,” k’Ven said. “We had mechanical and electronic computers, of course; the calculations required for the primitive weapons used on Malchaktan needed mechanical assistance. But one group of computer designers felt that they could advance computer science further.” Her tail thumped softly against the floor. “They succeeded in developing an electronic computer that could mimic a shlan. Crudely, at first, but as it was refined it became harder to tell it apart from a living brain.

“Proud of their accomplishment, they brought it before the Savior.”

Both Terrans felt their ears go back. The Savior was Zrand, son of Kazid, the first Sovereign. “I take it that it wasn’t received favorably?” Laohu ventured.

“He had them killed, along with their assistants, and all records were destroyed,” k’Ven said. “The second attempt occurred during the reign of Terzhin the Glorious, with the same result. The Sovereign quoted his ancestor: ‘No one shall create a mechanism that duplicates a living mind.’” The vir tapped her extended fingerclaws against the tabletop. “Do you . . . recall . . . the Hearth Crisis from your study of our history, Balakrishnan-jih?”

Laohu was nodding. Balakrishnan replied, “Yes; a terrorist group that tried to manipulate the Imperial Government behind the scenes. Tarval XVIII had them tracked down to their base and destroyed them.”

“That’s true,” the vir said. “It is believed, after ka Klarchagth was destroyed, that the leading intelligence behind the plot was a computer.”

The canine and the tigress exchanged glances as they recalled similar events in Terra’s history. Laohu spoke up. “You said therre werre fourr instances.”

“Yes, I did. The fourth was twenty of your years ago. One of our computer scientists began to study your logic systems, particularly the AI that was acting as planetary administrator.”

Balakrishnan blinked. “One of the expat colonies?” she asked, referring to the several Terran settlements that had been established before it was discovered that they were within Imperial space.

“Yes. The scientist cloned his own brain cells to create the system’s central processor.”

Laohu’s tail swished. “He was killed, then?”

“Yes. By the system he created. From the investigation, it was clear that the scientist tried to shut the system down, and the computer explosively decompressed the orbiting lab that was being used. The lab was destroyed, and the planetary AI was also destroyed.” K’Ven sighed. “We have learned many things, and we should have been more open in sharing some of them with you.”

“We’ve had problems with rogue AIs in the past as well,” Laohu said. “Not proud of it, I imagine.”

“Narpa’.” K’Ven spread her hands out flat on the table. “I have been authorized to speak with the Sovereign’s voice in this matter, and the matter of your request to post AI-equipped or AI-guided patrol vessels along our border.” Balakrishnan bared her teeth at that, ignoring Laohu’s startled glance in her direction. How dare the vir - ?

“It is the Sovereign’s will,” Navot k’Ven said, “that the accessible cultural database will be updated to include these shameful incidents in our history, in the hope that Terrans will learn the lesson. Further, it is the Sovereign’s will that the Race will tolerate those AIs already extant on various Terran worlds, in the hope that they will learn by precept rather than by experience.

“However, this is the extent of the Sovereign’s indulgence toward Terra and its artificial intelligences. Any attempt to equip AIs aboard ships, or guide ships by AI, will be met by a military response. This applies to both the Terran Empire and the Terran Colonies.” K’Ven blinked her feline eyes and added, “They are your problem. See to it that it does not become our problem.”

Balakrishnan bit back a growl and said in a brittle tone, “I will inform the Admiral-General, and the Emperor.”

Laohu swallowed nervously. “I’ll tell the Firrst Ministerr,” the tigress said.

“Very well. Our business is concluded,” and k’Ven stood up and left the room.

“You werre rreally going to put an AI on a ship?” Laohu asked Balakrishnan.

“Not my idea,” the Dhole-Akita replied.

“It won’t be welcome news. We haven’t forrgotten New Horrizons.”

“I didn’t think you would,” Balakrishnan said to the tigress. “Deus, I could use a drink. You?”

“Morre than one.”

“Fine.”