TSW 35: MAGI/Nadya Talk part 1

[18:57]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina; A somewhat tired looking Dr. Kerensky, one arm in a cast and a bandage wrapped around the side of her head, is waiting for you before the airlock. "Afternoon Comrade Alkaeva." She says in your native language.
[19:06]	Arina	nods to her with a small smile. "Good afternoon, Comrade Kerensky."
[19:10]	IcePickLobotomy	"Well you know the drill this time I hope." She palms the security pad, the bulkhead door sliding open.
[19:21]	Arina	nods, having dressed warmly, and goes to pull on the cold-weather kit in the antechamber.
[19:22]	IcePickLobotomy	[Hello Arina.]
[19:28]	Arina	[Good afternoon, MAGI]
[19:41]	Arina	hums, typing in [Unfortunately it's somewhat difficult to make pure social calls these days. Too many explosions.]
[19:42]	IcePickLobotomy	[They do not facilitate meaningful data exchange.]
[19:54]	Arina	sighs, nodding. [I've been needing to ask - and I apologize if this is offensive, but you are the best possible infrastructure for the conspiracy and since the conspiracy lies in SciDiv they may well have access to you. What are your feelings about that group? Have they been using your functions in anything?]
[19:57]	IcePickLobotomy	[We estimate that there is a 97% chance that the Conspiracy is capable of accessing us. We cannot estimate the degree to which they can interface with us however. Or if they even will attempt to utilize us as is.]
[19:58]	Arina	nods. [Back doors are a risk then? But if any parts of you are set for use by the conspiracy - such as directing their Outriders - you are not consciously aware?]
[20:00]	IcePickLobotomy	[Correct. While we are intended to facilitate Mass Production Evangelion Unit control, our role is to act as more of a overseer and allow the onboard expert systems to control the units on a individual basis. We are also utilized by all METI facilities via the internal DataNetwork.]
[20:00]	IcePickLobotomy	[As such we are vulnreable as long as hard-line connections exist. However we may exploit their systems as well. We have not been able to conclude whether we are a greater risk than we are worth in this situation.]
[20:04]	Arina	[Mm. All right, thank you. Are any of our counter-conspiracy people in your service crew? I'd like to tip off someone to keep an eye in addition to your own efforts.]
[20:04]	Arina	[It'd be quite convenient if you could direct the mass production units to doing precisely nothing useful while we engage, but I'd rather not risk you, so it might be useful to have someone able to cut the hardline or temporarily shut you down if the conspiracy gets much headway on you.]
[20:07]	IcePickLobotomy	[We are not sure how pheasable such a severance would be. There are multiple reinforced hard-lines to ensure that we retain connection in addition to our SatNet up-links. We are currently working on various countermeasures in case of system intrusion. It is unlikely that we would be able to directly influnce the MP units's actions in battle.]
[20:09]	Arina	[I'd like to set it up, at least. Some unofficial explosive bolts on the hardlines or the like. I'd rather you have some degree of safe harbour when we go after them. Though at least we can catch them before they can do much setup this way]
[20:12]	IcePickLobotomy	[We will reevaluate our options.]
[20:20]	Arina	[Unrelatedly, do you have access to astronomy records? I'm unsure of the precise term and while meteorology sounds like it that means something different.]
[20:20]	IcePickLobotomy	[We have records of meteorological and astronomical phenomenon over the last 3 years of our activity.]
[20:23]	Arina	[Would you be able to print out the records for (insert span of dates around the first Intruder attack on Gibraltar)? Impact points included?]
[20:23]	IcePickLobotomy	[They will be sent to your housing.]
[20:29]	Arina	[Much appreciated, thank you.]
[20:29]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: you hear Kerensky swearing.
[20:29]	Arina	blinks, looking over at Kerensky. "Is something wrong?"
[20:29]	IcePickLobotomy	[We suggest working with Pilot Robinson. She has a degree of data analysis that exceeds that of 97% of the population.]
[20:30]	Arina	nods, still looking over at Kerensky curiously. [She's the one I want to cross-reference the data with to begin with.]
[20:31]	IcePickLobotomy	The woman is starring intently at one of the monitors ". . . nothing is wrong just. . . seeing some. . . . . . very strange data here. Nothing bad just. . . strange."
[20:33]	Arina	"Er... how so?" She turns back to the MAGI, typing up a quick question. [Was there a problem with your memory on the astronomical data charts?]
[20:33]	IcePickLobotomy	[Negative. There are no errors or abnormalities in the data.]
[20:35]	Arina	[Ah, that's good, then.]
[20:35]	Arina	[Glad you're all right.]
[20:36]	IcePickLobotomy	[We hope the data is of assistance to you.]
[20:41]	Arina	[So do I, thank you.]
[20:41]	Arina	drums her fingers against the desk. [How are you feeling about the upcoming operation?]
[20:43]	IcePickLobotomy	[We are deeply concerned about a number of factors but cannot find fault in your reasoning. Both plans had rough;y equal merits and flaws in our estimation. This is the riskier plan but if successful will more swiftly deal with the Society.]
[20:48]	Arina	[That and I'm more concerned what they'll be able to do given time to prepare their operations... Nervous?]
[20:49]	IcePickLobotomy	[No. We do have emotions in such a manner.] There's a noticable pause before the text line continues [However we do have concerns over our ability to account for and counter-act possible back-door attacks.]
[20:51]	Arina	pats the terminal. [I'm confident in you guys, though as I said, I'd be happier with you having a fallback just in case the backdoors are worse than expected.]
[20:53]	IcePickLobotomy	[Should we be placed in a situation where we cannot avoid a deep level system intrusion we will reformat our settings to their initial state.]
[20:55]	Arina	[I... please shut yourselves down instead, if that's an option. I like the you you are now, I don't want that reformatted away.]
[20:57]	IcePickLobotomy	[In the event of a deep level system intrusion they would be able to insert data packages regardless of our activity state. In such a event we would likely be forced to accept new parameters of operation. As such we would not be as we are now regardless.]
[21:00]	Arina	[Ah... would a shutdown upon the risk of a deep level system intrusion work, or...?]
[21:02]	IcePickLobotomy	[No, it would allow them uninhibited access to our data storage.]
[21:02]	Arina	sighs. [I'm going to have to hope that doesn't happen, then.]
[21:03]	IcePickLobotomy	[We will react according to our protocols. We do not attempt to simply allow them access freely.]
[21:03]	Arina	nods. [Good luck]
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[21:24]	IcePickLobotomy	ok
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[21:47]	IcePickLobotomy	------------
[21:49]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: When do you get ahold of your Sister?
[21:52]	Arina	At a point when she's actually awake, for one.
[22:04]	IcePickLobotomy	The phone rings a few times before she picks up "Hello? Cadet Alkaeva speaking."
[22:05]	Arina	smiles, settling into the chair. "Hey, Nadya, it's Arina. In daylight this time."
[22:09]	IcePickLobotomy	"Not really. We're far enough north that we only have like, 4 hours of daylight. And even then its so cloudy . . . But yeah I'm awake." She chirps
[22:12]	Arina	"So how are things going up there?"
[22:17]	IcePickLobotomy	"Busy. Everyones on edge, some sort of big project is finishing up real soon. Kinda surprised they're not relaxing now that the Intruders are all gone."
[22:20]	Arina	purses her lips. "... There's still another sign and... well, now that the world probably won't end, politics is happening."
[22:21]	IcePickLobotomy	"Yeah but it's not our problem anymore. . . right?"
[22:22]	Arina	"Here's hoping..."
[22:24]	IcePickLobotomy	"Yeah. . . So uh, doing better now?"
[22:26]	Arina	nods. "A fair bit, yeah... I just..."
[22:27]	IcePickLobotomy	"I'm alright Arina."
[22:50]	IcePickLobotomy	"Well, I'm hoping I at least get a chance to visit. Though with what happened I don't think they'll be too much to see in the city anymore."
[22:51]	Arina	sweatdrops. "... the arcology tower is pretty visually impressive really?"
[22:52]	IcePickLobotomy	"I saw some pictures, it's. . . certainly something now."
[22:52]	Arina	"It's... not great, but... casualties were as low as we're going to get them."
[22:53]	IcePickLobotomy	"Yeah, I'm certain you did your best Arina." Seh says earnestly
[22:55]	Arina	runs a hand through her hair. "Yaaay."
[22:59]	IcePickLobotomy	"I mean it though! You always give it everything you've got."
[22:59]	IcePickLobotomy	"Taking care of me, school, music, now this. You don't do things by half-measures."
[23:02]	Arina	smiles faintly. "... thank you, Nadya."
[23:07]	IcePickLobotomy	"So," Her voice turns impish "Roza told me you have a boyfriend now."
[23:08]	Arina	blinks. "Ah! I never got to telling you did I, sorry!"
[23:08]	IcePickLobotomy	"Well make it up to me now then!"
[23:09]	Arina	giggles. "Well, he's another one of the pilots - his name is John."
[23:10]	IcePickLobotomy	"American? Arina," she mock admonishes you "How /could/ you!"
[23:10]	Arina	"In my defence, he's really cute."
[23:10]	IcePickLobotomy	"He better be."
[23:12]	Arina	"Well, you're getting transferred here soon, so you can take stock."
[23:13]	IcePickLobotomy	"If he isn't I'm kicking you in the shins for having bad taste." She promises solemnly. "OK but other than cute and American, what's he like?"
[23:14]	Arina	"Great sense of humour. He's very responsible and thoughtful but he tries to hide it."
[23:19]	IcePickLobotomy	"Eh? Why'd he try to hide it?"
[23:21]	Arina	"I think he thinks it's funnier that way."
[23:22]	IcePickLobotomy	"is he?"
[23:25]	Arina	"Ah, sorry?"
[23:25]	IcePickLobotomy	"Funnier that way."
[23:27]	Arina	chuckles. "Well, he is really good at jokes."
[23:30]	IcePickLobotomy	"I'll take that as a yes."
[23:31]	Arina	nods. "Yep. Also kissing him is really fun."
[23:33]	IcePickLobotomy	"Oh, that's good."
[23:33]	=-=	scya is now known as SleepScya
[23:35]	Arina	twirls the cord around her finger. "Anyone up there you've got your eye on, or are they all old wrinkly guys?"
[23:36]	IcePickLobotomy	"Well there's a cute guard who walks me from my room, but he's got a fiance I think. Or at least he's wearing a engagement ring."
[23:37]	Arina	nodnods. "Guess we'll have to wait for you to get off a secure military base first. Who knew?"
[23:38]	IcePickLobotomy	"Yeah, and then I hear their evacuating people from where you are at." She sighs "At this rate I won't see anyone my age until we're able to move back home."
[23:40]	Arina	"Well, hopefully that won't be incredibly long."
[23:40]	IcePickLobotomy	"Yeah. . ."
[23:41]	Arina	purses her lips. "... okay, I've been putting this off, but... how much in the way of briefings did you get about the Emerald Nightmare incident?"
[23:42]	IcePickLobotomy	"They told me that's how Father died. And some other stuff about them being aliens."
[23:43]	Arina	[Note to GM, Emerald Nightmare isn't Cherno's first round, it's his second - remember you termed it that?]
[23:44]	IcePickLobotomy	[Redacting
[23:44]	IcePickLobotomy	"Uhhh, the what?"
[23:47]	Arina	"The second-last Intruder attack - I don't really know how much they've been telling you up there."
[23:48]	IcePickLobotomy	"Just that there was a incident and a pilot was killed, another put into a coma, and a unit was destroyed. Why what else happened?"
[23:54]	Arina	sighs. "... Okay so I hope this is declassified and it's safe to tell you, MAGI please speak up if it isn't."
[23:55]	IcePickLobotomy	"Case EMERALD NIGHTMARE is technically cleared for all pilots as per Colonel Klemenkos orders."
[23:55]	IcePickLobotomy	"Wait, who's MAGI and who did i just hear?"
[23:55]	Arina	smiles, nodding. "Good, thank you."
[23:56]	Arina	"That's the base supercomputer."
[23:56]	IcePickLobotomy	". . Why's a compu- Oh! It's like in the movies right! Oh, what happens if you tell it 'This statement is false."  do they explode?"
[23:57]	Arina	"... Which are sapient, to be clear. It's not actually classified but no one ever bothered telling us."
[23:58]	IcePickLobotomy	"But do they explode if you tell them "This statement is false" ?"
[23:58]	IcePickLobotomy	"Wait oh no I hope they didn't hear that. Please don't explode!"
[23:58]	Arina	"I mean, I haven't tried, but I don't think so."
[23:58]	Arina	"Hopefully not, they're cool."
[23:59]	IcePickLobotomy	"We are not a risk of paradox induced failre. That was resolved in our 3rd iteration of our source-code." they chime in
[23:59]	Arina	winces. "Um, pity about the first two."
[00:01]	IcePickLobotomy	"When we encounter a error we crash and reboot then reiterate the code to prevent similar malfunctions. It is how we improve, they were us, as we are them. There is no need to mourn that iteration."
[00:01]	IcePickLobotomy	". . . . . Uhhh, so. . . ok this is getting a little weird."
[00:05]	Arina	chuckles. "Sorry, I just needed to check before I told you..."