Unexpected Assistance

Posted on 03/14/2020 @ 9:42pm by Lieutenant JG Marcus Giaus Aurilieus
Edited on on 03/15/2020 @ 10:42am

Mission: S1E2: The Plomeek Soup Conundrum
Location: Crazy Horse Intelligence Office
Timeline: Day 1 at 1515

Marcus watched as the young engineer finished connecting the power supply to the Holo projector that now took up a portion of the Intelligence Office’s back floor space. The Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility or SCIF that made up Marcus’ office maintained its own direct power and data connections so when the projector, its accompanying databases and control PADD had arrived before launch it took some explaining to Engineering of what he needed to have installed.

“Anything else, Sir.” Asked the Ensign as he slid the hyper-spanner back into his tool box.

Marcus smiled and extended his hand. “No, Ensign. And thank you for getting this done. I know Engineering has been busy. I’ll make sure that Lt Logan knows how good a job you did.”

The Ensign nodded, shot a quick glance to Marcus’s prosthetic and quickly departed the office. As the door slid shut Marcus took a seat on the edge of his desk and sucked a breath through his teeth, letting it out a long sigh of anticipation as he picked up the PADD that had come with the equipment. Locked with an SFI-Eyes only lock he pressed his thumb to the flashing window and waited.

“LT Aurilieus.” answered the image of Lt Commander Tomas Bly, Chief engineer of SFI experimental projects division. “If you are watching this it is likely that you have installed the C.I.C.I. equipment and will shortly run it for its initial startup. We have included a voice interface that will modify its initial program to respond to your voice only. Any attempt by anyone without your unique biometric credentials to access the system will immediately alert SFI and local Security and lock out the system until authorized SFI personnel can be located.” The Scientist appeared to look off screen before continuing. “With that feel free to contact the experimental programs office at SFI HQ with any questions. Goodbye.”

Marcus furrowed his brow as he thought about the message. He had several cryptic messages during his career but this one was …different. While informative it was also vague on exactly what this program was or what he was supposed to do with it.

Moving around to sit behind his desk he flexed his prosthetic, relishing in the soft whirs as he often did when he was nervous. “Computer. Activate Counter-Intelligence Cultural Interface.” He ordered as he leaned back in his chair.

Quickly, the projector’s disk glowed with a faint blue light as a blueish energy simulacrum of a bipedal form appeared suspended inches above the platform itself. Marcus waited, mentally counting off the seconds before the form spoke.

“Self-Diagnostic completed. Please state base culture and gender preference” The form requested rather matter of factly.

Marcus grinned as he thought. After a moment he added “Terran. Female”

The energy form quickly blinked out and was replaced be a non-descript Terran female in standard federation civilian attire. Her brunette hair was worn loose and just past shoulder length in what Marcus would guess as a current popular style. She was pretty but not beautiful and her mouth held just the hint of a smile. The only thing that stood out about her was a set of piercing blue eyes that seemed to scream with a sort of hidden intelligence.

“What is the nature of your Counterintelligence query.” She asked in perfect Terran English with a slight tilting of her head.

Marcus leaned forward with a chuckle, and steepled his fingers. “Explain what your mission is.” He directed as he narrowed his eyes and watched the hologram’s mannerisms.

“I am a collection of anthropological subsets, such as social mores, military and civilian observations and intelligence collection efforts collected from various cultures throughout known space. The C.I.C.I. program is able to collate that information and provide an interactive, holographic interface able to act and react to queries and interrogatives based on the current subset. As an example…”

As Marcus watched the Hologram ran through several forms and change to a Romulan Male attired as a Subcommander in the Tal Shiar, what appeared to be an unknown gender Breen, and aa Andorian female with the clothing that identified her as a member of the Andorian corps of scientists.

After a moment, the original Terran female was back and she watched Marcus intently waiting for another question. When no question was forthcoming. She smiled and continued. “Based on a mix of logic, behavioral indices, past behavior and suspected goals and objectives I will be able to suggest courses of actions that will should provide beneficial results for current and ongoing mission parameters.” She stopped, again tilting her head slightly and waited.

Marcus, a little bewildered at the context of such a predictive program gently shook his head. "Are you an AI?" asked Marcus, suspiciously.

"Heavens No." answered the Hologram with a polite smile and a "You should have known better" look.

"I am a conglomeration of cultural and social mores and interactions that are indicative of certain Races. While I may portray embarrassment, sadness, anger or many other emotions; they are programmable responses. In addition, emotional indices or "tells", such as the Vulcan raised eyebrow, Klingon growl, etc. are likewise, responses based on information from my data subsets." She paused slightly as if to let that sink in and then continued. "Think of me as more of a holo-deck personality. I have the ability to learn, just like a normal computer interface does. However, I cannot make detailed extrapolations without the base data being made available. I have a base personality, just not self-actualization."

Marcus nodded in understanding. “So, what should I call you?” He asked

“I am the Counter-Intelligence Cultural Interface.” She stated matter-of-factly.

“Of course, you are.” Grinned Marcus. “And what did Starfleet Intelligence call you.”

The hologram’s eyes narrowed as she appeared to process the question. “They called me the Counterintel…”

“No,” Interrupted Marcus gently. “Did they have another name besides that.” Marcus watched as the Hologram actually seemed to blush.

“One of the programmers…” The Program seemed to hesitate before continuing as if she was unsure if she should continue “… called me CiCi. Atleast he did until he was reprimanded for violating established protocols.”

Marcus nodded, again. “Can I call you CiCi. Is that ok?”

CiCi furrowed her brow and tilted her head again, a mannerism Marcus was already accepting as a sign the program was processing information. She quickly looked up at Marcus and smiled a knowing smile. “Yes. I think it is.”

TBC

Lieutenant Marcus Aurelius
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Crazy Horse