(no subject)

[mrngstr]

Talk about a mess.

Since you're all probably wondering what the hell just happened, a huge EMP hit the entire city of New Amsterdam. It's not going to be widely reported until power and systems can come back online, but unlike some of you, the citizens of this city are not prepared for this. A lot of the neural implant interfacing is going to be down, too. The safehouse will still be accessible (I know what I'm doing), but some of you might not even be able to get into your apartments.

I got the message from this mysterious DAWN, too. Don't know what that's about, but if it really is an AI, then we could be in some serious trouble. They're supposed to be extinct, if you weren't in the know about that. I know some of you are still new to this.

One other big thing to note: Soon the heat's going to start to rise. The pyramid outside the city has also powered down, which means that the ozone layer is completely exposed. If that pyramid isn't put back into operation soon, this entire city is going to basically melt. Not fun, so if any of you are up the task, well, we'd all owe you one.

Okay, this is the last thing, for real: while any messages sent on the Morningstar network will be fine, the city-wide network is probably going to be a little spotty until this is fixed. That means any private messages you send to each other might not go to the right place. Try to keep any coordination on here, if you can. I'll do what I can to facilitate communication, but like I said: this is a mess.

Comments

@markus.manfred

[saviorexe]

Maybe you can help me with something. Assuming that this DAWN has both a date and timestamp after their name, are you aware of any significance behind it?

[With everything on the fritz, looking it up is impossible.]

[mrngstr]

A lot of information about the AIs has been completely scrubbed from any public access network, but here's what I know offhand.

The DAWN program was introduced in the 2060s, so my guess is that this one is a later version that was introduced in the 2080s. The DAWN program was created to assist with space exploration and ran a series exploration algorithms for rovers and other exploratory vessels sent out into the solar system.

[saviorexe]

Was DAWN installed onboard any of these exploratory vessels? Do you know?

[mrngstr]

I would assume so? Since that was its purpose.

[saviorexe]

And even the AIs that made it out to space were deleted after the end of the war?

I know that’s a very specific question. We’re all trying to suss out if this is a real AI or someone posing as one — so I’m trying to understand how one might still be alive after all this time. If it’s even feasible.

[mrngstr]

I think that's the question this entire world is wrestling with right now.

Your suggestion is that the AI survived on one of those vessels and then found its way back to Earth? The only issue with that theory is that none of those vessels were designed to return. They were all one way trips, I'm pretty sure.

@jon.snow

[998]

Perhaps it learned to navigate on its own. Perhaps that's why it wants us to learn, too.

We'd need to see the stars for that.

[mrngstr]

There's not really any concept of "north" in space.

[998]

To find north without a compass, you follow the North Star. To get back here without directions, you could follow Earth in the same way. Or the sun, if you were far enough.

[mrngstr]

So what do you think the mysterious message was trying to tell us?

[998]

It could be telling us to go north. It could be telling us any number of things.

[mrngstr]

I'm guessing it's not as straight-forward as that.

[saviorexe]

A sentient AI can be surprising in its adaptability. And one that no longer feels shackled to its original directives might not have felt the need to make the trip all the way in the first place.

It’s something to be considered, even if we can’t confirm it just yet.

[mrngstr]

I guess you would be the person to ask when it comes to AI behaviors. I'll keep it in mind.

[saviorexe]

Right. Though I do realize we have more immediate problems than discerning whether or not DAWN is legitimate. I think it would be prudent to attempt to contact them.

[mrngstr]

Don't worry, I'll be working on it on my end too.

@angel.fortran

[girlcorrupted]

Given that DAWN is all capitalized, is it fair to assume it's an acronym? And if that's the case, would you happen to know what it stands for?

[mrngstr]

No acronym that I know of, or have seen mentioned.

Should we try to come up with one? How about Deep Atmospheric Wayfinding Nexus?

Your turn.

[girlcorrupted]

[ A joke? Angel can't tell, but she'll play along. ]

Hmm. How about Digital Algorithmic Waypoint Navigator?

[mrngstr]

Nice one! I think you have me beat.

[girlcorrupted]

Haha, I think we both did well! :)

[mrngstr]

🤙