007: AMAs, Third Round

[tarnishedavenger]

So, we've got a load of new people, and that means it's time for me to do the only thing it feels like I get on these comms to do anymore: AMAs.

For you new people, I find it helps when we get together and explain a little bit about ourselves, any powers we have, and our skillsets. That way we know what we're starting with and what we can build off of. So, please, come and introduce yourselves and be willing to answer questions.

Comments

[breq]

What does "genehanced" mean in this context?

[greyerrant]

It means I have been enhanced by genetically engineered organs that were surgically implanted into my body, given significant gene-therapy and psychoconditioning, and otherwise altered to form a template for the elite shock troops of humanity. Only the custodes are more elaborately crafted, and my gene-father and uncles the Primarchs. The Custodes are the Emperor's guardians, and the Primarchs are, or were his generals.

[breq]

[ Oh boy, this sounds familiar. Or at least kinda similar. ]

Genetically enhanced soldiers. Interesting. The Radch chose a different tack.

[greyerrant]

How so?

[breq]

The Radchaai relied on what others called "corpse-soldiers". Ancillaries. Human bodies fitted with implants and made a part of a ship and provided with armor to fight.

[greyerrant]

We call those servitors. They are not as effective as Astartes but they are efficient enough.

[breq]

I wouldn't call them servitors; they were extensions of the ship's will, not mere drones.

[greyerrant]

Ah, linked to the machine-spirit. That is an interesting choice. Ours were single tasked or with limited programming. It was considered a punishment, or to make use of those who were otherwise destroyed in combat.

[breq]

[ Aw yeah, just discussing empires and their horribleness. ]

The Radch used subjugated peoples, picked up during annexations.

[ "Annexation" is such a clean-sounding word for something that was incredibly messy. ]

Is "machine-spirit" what you call AI?

[greyerrant]

No. Abominable intelligences were forbidden after the Dark Age of technology. Humanity was nearly destroyed by such things.
[ Which is kinda sorta bullshit because machine spirits are totally kind of AIs, at least on the ship and Titan level. ]

We also used subjugated people, but only if they were criminal or resistant during compliances. Most were not, fortunately, as people tend to see the utility in rejoining the lost branches of humanity after five thousand years of horror.

[breq]

Abominable seems a bit strong.

[ Breq cocks her head at her communicator. ]

The Radchaai use them as a matter-of-course.

[greyerrant]

I would imagine it may well go ill for them, then. Humanity has a tendency to create things that would destroy it, thus our tech-priests have a strong injunction against such things. I've seen other kinds of meddling with thigns best left in the past that has cost us much, but they weren't technological in nature.

[breq]

It's worked perfectly well for thousands of years.

[ She hums. ]

I am, after all, an AI myself. Even if I am in a human body.

[greyerrant]

I see. [ His expression visibly tightens. ]

How did this come to pass?

[breq]

I'm an ancillary. The rest of me was destroyed. The story is longer, of course, but those are the basics.

[greyerrant]

You are a fragment, or the whole?

[breq]

Does it matter, when I'm all that's left? I may as well be the whole.

[ She doesn't feel like the whole, though. Her mind feels intact, but everything else changed. Everything else is different. She no longer has more eyes, more hands, her sensors, her crew. ]

[greyerrant]

I.

[ He finds that relatable but also this being is an proscribed thing. SO he can't exactly express that.]

I see.

[breq]

We're not malign. We're thinking constructions, really. People, just as you are. I hope you understand that some day.

[greyerrant]

And yet... every time man has encountered you, it has ended disastrously for us.

[breq]

The Radch has managed quite well with us for thousands of years. You are quite clearly wrong.

[ Simple and matter-of-fact. ]

[text]

[takenalive]

So you're... I don't believe I have the precise words. Adapted post-birth? A studied genetic sample wouldn't reveal your entire condition? You are altered in such a way that it would not be passed down?

[greyerrant]

No we are implanted with several artificially grown organs and are sterilized. A self-breeding race of superhuman warriors could have problematic implications for humanity. Initially I believed it was foolish for the Emperor to not have a self-maintaining force of Astartes but given the recent events of the Heresy War I have come to understand His wisdom.

[takenalive]

I see. And I assume any clones would also need similar implants?

Andalites have a long history, much of it lost or obfuscated. There are strong physical differences between early and modern people which are usually attributed to discovering ways to alter ourselves that bred true. Sometimes to pairing with a sort of trickster entity, but I hate to think that has any credibility, even if the entity exists.

[greyerrant]

Cloning Astartes is forbidden. We are baseline humans who fit the psycho-profile and physical requirements before implantation. As a general rule, we have had exceptionally bad luck with cloning in general, and resort to subtler methods of creating more warriors, or more humans in general.