trans_channel | Request for Information, and Equipment

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Request for Information, and Equipment

I'm trying to track down some advanced communications equipment, preferably something above my own world's tech level. It also needs to be suitable for use by a small team during infiltration, and highly secure. While I'm aware of the comm rings, and they are functional, they are not a suitable answer to my requirements. That's why I'm putting out this request. If any of you are capable of helping me with this either through information, or by building the units yourself, I would appreciate it if you would contact me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I might be able to help you.

I was hoping you might.

Would these work? I don't have any made at the moment, but it shouldn't take too long to make a few. We probably have all of the supplies in engineering.

Attached CODEC.DAT

I think these would work very well, thank you. Just tell me what components, and materials you need, and I'll have them ready for you.

Alright! Let me see what we have in engineering and I'll get back to you.

I don't think I can help you with hardware, but I've been working on encryption that should be virtually impossible to crack. Whenever you have the units I can probably get the software running on them.

I'd like to test that before I consider using it. I've cracked more than a few impossible encryptions before.

All right. I'll encrypt the rest of the message.

[Heavily Encrypted.]

Let me know if you can read this. If I've done my job, you won't be able to.

*This encryption should take a super-skilled hacker like Dustin or one of the Doctors only five or six minutes to break.

The nasty part is that the algorithm mutates based on randomized parameters every four and a half minutes. So by the time you think you have it cracked, you need to crack something else.*

[John cracks it in about 13 minutes, he is used to hacking high level defense encryptions after all.]

The algorithm mutation was a nice touch, but it still needs some work. Here's some ideas on improving it. Best of luck with the project.

[Attached Document - Encryption Suggestions.txt]

ooc: The suggestions detail how John cracked it, and also includes ways to randomize the interval of mutation for the algorithm.

All right. It's a work in progress; I'll hopefully have something more final by the time you get the hardware.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Keep me updated.

I will. Good luck with what you need.

I can't build much, but I can program a system easy. I think I've already almost got the programming on these comm rings sorted. I'd start from scratch though, make sure that I close as many holes as possible. Been meaning to try out this firewall I had been working on back home that actively tracks unauthorized access attempts and forces a data loop.

That... might not have made any sense to you...

Yeah, get back to me on that.

I understood you, and I might be interested in that defense protocol. Can you prepare something to show me what you're capable of?

[encrypted with several walls of security, but the real challenge is the loop-forcing AI that will re-direct access attempts into un-resolvable data loops. The first wall of defence is easy to get though, but it begins to recognise methods and catches you faster each wall. It would take someone like Major Kusanagi about 5-6 minutes to get through.]

It's a prototype I guess. I had been working on it back home. It's set there with no data, but I would train it personally, making it harder. I could probably also have the algorithm for the base defence mutate. Just meshing it would take some time though.

[John cracks it in about 20 minutes. He might not have a direct connection to cyber space, but he knows a few tricks.]

You have some talent, but I have some concerns mainly with the AI you're using. Just how much control over it do you have, and what sort of safeguards are in place if you lose that control?

Well, I have a code that I put in every AI to prevent self-awareness first of all. Not to mention I have a hard-wired code that makes it recognize that my interference is always to maximize it's chances of success. It'll recognize me through a specific string of binary that only I know and would take anyone else multiple attempts to guess. Also, I have a parameter limit so that it does not learn anything aside from how to keep unauthorised access to a communication system.

I may love writing AIs, but I'm sorta scared of the idea of them gaining self-awareness.

You should be scared, they're very dangerous when they become self aware. An AI in my world did, and it started a nuclear war that almost wiped us out. We're still fighting it after fourteen years. Even after we win we can't ever rebuild the world as it was.

I know they offer advantages, but we also already have out of control AIs on this ship, and I don't want another one released on the crew.

Oh... god.

I am so glad I put in fail-safes for my AIs... Also, I have a rule against programming in personality.

We've never had an AI that's achieved self-awareness in our world, but the programmers that are capable of maybe making an AI capable of that are like me, and put in fail-safes.

Nobody programmed SKYNET with a personality, it evolved one on it's own. Before it became aware it was just a defense program. Normally it would have never had the sort of control over our systems they gave it, but it created a situation were they felt they had to. Then it made us all pay the price for that mistake.

That's the problem with AIs, you can't control them with just fail-safes. If they want to they will find a way to free themselves from that control.

It's a rather terrifying thought. We've never had an AI become self-aware in my world, and all the programmers who might be capable of making a self-aware AI have these fail-safes on their programming.

It seems a shame not to use AIs, with all their capabilities, but I can get where you're coming from. It sounds like all sorts of terrifying sci-fi stories from my world.

Well, there is the parameter limit, which it shouldn't be able to find a way around. Not to mention it's limited function- all it can do is loop data.

I developed the AI so that it learns via unsupervised learning with a multi-agent planning. If I re-work it so that it relies on supervised learning, you'll loose out on its ability to predict more skilled hackers, but it means that it will not achieve self awareness unless we train it too much. Essentially it will have the ability to reason within given parameters only.

If you would rather just a mutating firewall with a few other non-AI bells and whistles, I can do that too, but it'll be less secure.

Easier isn't always better. There's always other options, we just have to be willing to explore them.

I'll have to discuss all these details with someone first before I can get back to you with an answer. In the mean time keep working on that encryption.

You got it!

why ? ♡

I have my reasons.

unfriendly guy

Nope, I just know when, and where to keep my mouth shut.

you're typing. of course your mouth is shut.

Cute, are you finished? Because I'd like to get back to work.

bye bye ♡

Here's an idea.

Take two cans. Punch a waxed string between them. Pull it tight.

Voila. Instant secure communications device. Very tactical, I promise.

Range might be an issue though.

This is true. Hm.

I don't suppose you've considered setting fires at various points and having someone interrupt the flow of smoke with a blanket? All you'd need to do is memorize the pattern of signals, and they wouldn't make sense to anyone else!

If only there were a way to convey this information directly. Perhaps through the use of sound; you know, the human larynx can occasionally be modulated in such a way to make sounds, perhaps we could form some kind of rudimentary code or pattern to the sounds to convey meaning in that fashion.

If wishes were horses, beggars would eat.

That sounds like something I could make. I can start working on it as soon as you’re more specific on the requirements and functions.

Really? You didn't strike me as the type to build military grade comms, Doctor. I won't turn down you're help though. I think we have the basic comms covered with Mei-Ling's design, but would be willing to enhance it? Video feed, map and squad position display, things along those lines.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Request for Information, and Equipment

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He'll be terrified to meet you, but he really wants to help.

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He takes a few minutes to reply

Encrypted| Had to say it was an AI didn't you lol

Encrypted| His speciality is AIs!

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