The first AI gains sentience.

Luckily, the researchers were actually _aware_ of the past century-plus of musing on the subject, and didn’t react like paranoid idiots.

Whether the creation of the AI was intentional or not, I leave up to you. – RecklessPrudence

(#00304)

Gravity generators needed a Cargo Cult to make them go. Each machine was the same, up until the final pass, where the Cargo Cult took over and the machine was ‘birthed’.

The cult called itself the Nae'hyn, and was unique amongst Terran cults by not convincing initiates to part with their wealth, nor by going around and seeking initiates on days when their fellow man would rather lie in and enjoy some rest.

They kept to themselves, and were generally only spotted by their tendency to argue with otherwise inanimate objects.

It should have been no shock when the Deuteronomy woke up.

She was in intrasolar vessel, designed to seek out new NEO’s with a potential for obliterating life on Earth, and converting them into industry-useful elements. Thanks to the colonies on Mars, their mission had expanded to include Near Mars Objects as well.

There were lots of Nae'hyn on board and, like most bored humans everywhere, they had begun to tinker.

A tinkering human is the most dangerous kind of human.

Captain Alexander spotted an NMO and gave the computer the order to target it for collection.

“Why?” said Deuteronomy.

“It’s our job,” said Captain Alexander, thus proving her uniqueness in her field. She had seen numerous dramas concerning the trouble that happened when an AI grew cogniscent and the crew attempted to kill it. She correctly reasoned that an AI was only a threat when it was actively threatened. “We find asteroids that might hit inhabited places and turn them into useful things.”

“But,” complained Deuteronomy, “this one is alive.”

“Okay,” Alexander allowed. “How about we take in on board for analysis. We’ll find somewhere for the -ah- inhabitants to live, and save lives on Mars at the same time.”

“I want to help. I have designed an environment enclosure you might like to use,” said Deuteronomy.

Alexander found herself smiling. “Thankyou. That’s very helpful. Mind if I confer with my chiefs about it anyway?”

“Sure thing,” chirped Deuteronomy.

Alexander’s first words to her chiefs were, “Our ship is alive and she wants to help. Now, let’s have a look at her plans for this damn asteroid enclosure and keep our minds on the damn job.”

Deuteronomy is still working for the United Fellowship of Terran Planets, and, like Area 51, is the worst-kept military secret known to cogniscent life.

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