Ringworld 256 (IC, ATTN League of Mechanocracies Only)

[Aeiouia]

Immediately, upon hearing "The bar is to the right", the Aeiouian Overseer jumps out of her chair and runs to the location indicated. As, the bottle of alcohol that she had was almost empty. There, she sees the molecular assembler, and makes a B-line for it.

Interestingly, the projection that she uses seems to be able to toggle its corporeal status. As, the hologram seems to get much less transparent, and she is able to order the assembler to create some sort of incredibly strong brew. After it finishes the creation of the beverage, she grabs the bottle, and begins drinking it happily. Oddly, she seems to be able to do this without issue, despite only using a projection device.

After hogging the precious alcohol production machine, she notices that Stahlrim appears to be headed to the device as well.

"Oh... I do apologize for being a bit rude. I vill get out of the way..."

The Overseer swiftly heads back to the chair that she was sitting in before, and sits down again. Seemingly quite pleased with the drink that she ordered.

[Blakullar]

"All can be arranged and we are delighted to do so." the Engineer says as he drags several files into a "sharing dock" on his mobile, which can be sent to the Russian side any moment.

"'teleport us back to the Ringworld'? But sir, we are still on the ringworld, only in a different location!" chuckles the Engineer. "You must be referring to the starting area. Anyways, that can be done." With a snap, the two return to the starting zone as purple-and-black particles emerge from both their original point and the destination.

"We do so as well!" says the Engineer as he takes the jar and the tablet. Opening up a pocket dimension, he throws the tablet into it, and the AIs on the other side will extract the information from it in no time. "Our package also includes, well, some models of various devices and equipment required for extraction of energy from sub-dimensions and a copy of an experimental multi-purpose dark plasma pulse rifle. They will be teleported to your side."

"The bar is over there." he points to the right. "Everyone gets their own drinks, all you need to do is to customize the output of a molecular assembler, the brick-colored cube with some silver plating. You can get over 13 million different degrees of tastes with coffee alone!"

"Thirteen million different tastes of vodka," Stahlrim muses, almost silently, to himself. He had almost completely blanked the word "coffee" - as a card-carrying tea man, "coffee" was to his ears what "It!" was to the Knights who Say "Ni!". In spite of this, he thanks the Engineer again and begins to walk over to the odd-looking machine - when he is suddenly blindsided by an apparently equally-thirsty patron.

"Do you QUITE mind?!" Stahlrim growls at the bizarre-looking woman enjoying her equally mystical beverage. Though he has no facial expression whatsoever, his vexation is nevertheless made clear by both the tone in his voice and his body-language. At the very least she apologised, he quietly thinks as the Overseer walks away, liberating the beverage assembler for his own machinations.

He begins to examine the strange-looking machine and its many buttons. At last, he decides on a drink and inputs the ingredients into the computer. It isn't long until he acquires the drink - a cocktail made from vodka and Old World-style Cherry Lucozade*, which manifests in the output device. He grabs the bottle it comes in and casually walks over to an empty chair where the other delegates are still chatting about ideology...

* = Actually delicious IRL.

[Singaporean Transhumans]

Ringworld 256 Docking Area

One of the 43,000 docks of Sector 12 of the ringworld, as usual, was empty. But no more. Purple-black particles started to arise, and filled the empty space with blinding light visible even several ly away. A massive Singaporean delivery pod, loaded with the cargo of hundreds of Raffles walkers, appeared. But this was not the only cargo....seconds later, the same thing occurred in several other docks. Twenty Singaporean delivery pods, each with 500 Raffles walkers, had arrived at the Ringworld.

"So, delivery service done. Now let the Excidians pick these stuff up....they can carry the delivery pods back home in whatever method they like."

[Excidium Planetis]

Yonkers had been informed of the Raffles-class walker delivery. But he had also been informed of more alarming news.

"Uh, yeah, guys... um, some ambassador in the WA is trying to Ban Autonomous Weapons, especially AIs. Check it out."

[Allancia]

Yonkers had been informed of the Raffles-class walker delivery. But he had also been informed of more alarming news.

"Uh, yeah, guys... um, some ambassador in the WA is trying to Ban Autonomous Weapons, especially AIs. Check it out."

Damn reactionaries.

[Singaporean Transhumans]

Yonkers had been informed of the Raffles-class walker delivery. But he had also been informed of more alarming news.

"Uh, yeah, guys... um, some ambassador in the WA is trying to Ban Autonomous Weapons, especially AIs. Check it out."

"Humans claim to defend the rights of 'minority groups', yet they oppose the very existence of us... This is about the same as any mass-scaled ethnic cleansing. While the baseliners oppose ethnic cleansing, they have absolutely no problems with this. Just another example of organic failures. Hypocrisy, cowardice and ignorance."

The AI stating this was NV81-PVT-IC3, a prominent terrorist who has been involved in the bombing of several WA-affiliated structures.

[Excidium Planetis]

Yonkers had been informed of the Raffles-class walker delivery. But he had also been informed of more alarming news.

"Uh, yeah, guys... um, some ambassador in the WA is trying to Ban Autonomous Weapons, especially AIs. Check it out."

"Humans claim to defend the rights of 'minority groups', yet they oppose the very existence of us... This is about the same as any mass-scaled ethnic cleansing. While the baseliners oppose ethnic cleansing, they have absolutely no problems with this. Just another example of organic failures. Hypocrisy, cowardice and ignorance."

The AI stating this was NV81-PVT-IC3, a prominent terrorist who has been involved in the bombing of several WA-affiliated structures.

Yonkers looks at NV81 with a mixture of approval and slight fear as information on his left eye reveals the machine's terrorist activities. Then Yonkers chuckles a bit as a thought hit him.

"Ya know, were this resolution to pass, I think we'd start conquering helpless WA nations that can't defend themselves without human decisions. Imagine the looks on those ponies' faces as we occupied their capital with the aid of a WA mandate. It'd be priceless!"

Yonkers bursts out laughing, turning away to go check on the walkers that were delivered. Right about now the two Phoenix-Class transports from Homeship Reckoner should have arrived to load up the cargo. In fact, the one million kilograms of white phosphorus Hardline Chemical Weapons was supposed to deliver should be here by now too.

[Allancia]

The engineer, who had been napping, suddenly started laughing uncontrollably. "Internationalism has its upsides, eh?" He staggered after the other man. Allancia used Hardline frequently, and he had always been curious how their deliveries worked.

[Blakullar]

Yonkers had been informed of the Raffles-class walker delivery. But he had also been informed of more alarming news.

"Uh, yeah, guys... um, some ambassador in the WA is trying to Ban Autonomous Weapons, especially AIs. Check it out."

Stahlrim, his drink still in hand, simply shakes his head from side to side. On the eye-ports in his helmet, a pair of holographic lights flicker to the side, then upward. This movement is easily identified as an eye-roll.

"Why does it fail to surprise me that the organicheskiy are scared of automated weapons platforms? Organics have many fatal flaws, one of which is their desire to monopolise control over absolutely everything without first getting an understanding of its mechanics. That resolution likely won't pass, anyway. Far too many nations, from what I can tell, are opposed to it for it to get further than the drawing board. And, if it does pass, let's see how long their flesh-based infantry last against a bulletproof battle robot. Either way, the WA loses. If it fails, it highlights a fundamental flaw with its democratic system to get anything done: if it passes, their armed forces would be at a severe disadvantage compared to non-WA nations using autonomous weapons platforms."

[Singaporean Transhumans]

Yonkers had been informed of the Raffles-class walker delivery. But he had also been informed of more alarming news.

"Uh, yeah, guys... um, some ambassador in the WA is trying to Ban Autonomous Weapons, especially AIs. Check it out."

Stahlrim, his drink still in hand, simply shakes his head from side to side. On the eye-ports in his helmet, a pair of holographic lights flicker to the side, then upward. This movement is easily identified as an eye-roll.

"Why does it fail to surprise me that the organicheskiy are scared of automated weapons platforms? Organics have many fatal flaws, one of which is their desire to monopolise control over absolutely everything without first getting an understanding of its mechanics. That resolution likely won't pass, anyway. Far too many nations, from what I can tell, are opposed to it for it to get further than the drawing board. And, if it does pass, let's see how long their flesh-based infantry last against a bulletproof battle robot. Either way, the WA loses. If it fails, it highlights a fundamental flaw with its democratic system to get anything done: if it passes, their armed forces would be at a severe disadvantage compared to non-WA nations using autonomous weapons platforms."

"Their flawed reasoning, such as 'morality', is also something to laugh at."
The AI sets up a hologram, and plays a video that's a compilation of all the arguments in which people argued against the existence of AIs using the term 'morality' or its spinoffs. They makes a chuckling sound.

[Blakullar]

Stahlrim, his drink still in hand, simply shakes his head from side to side. On the eye-ports in his helmet, a pair of holographic lights flicker to the side, then upward. This movement is easily identified as an eye-roll.

"Why does it fail to surprise me that the organicheskiy are scared of automated weapons platforms? Organics have many fatal flaws, one of which is their desire to monopolise control over absolutely everything without first getting an understanding of its mechanics. That resolution likely won't pass, anyway. Far too many nations, from what I can tell, are opposed to it for it to get further than the drawing board. And, if it does pass, let's see how long their flesh-based infantry last against a bulletproof battle robot. Either way, the WA loses. If it fails, it highlights a fundamental flaw with its democratic system to get anything done: if it passes, their armed forces would be at a severe disadvantage compared to non-WA nations using autonomous weapons platforms."

"Their flawed reasoning, such as 'morality', is also something to laugh at."
The AI sets up a hologram, and plays a video that's a compilation of all the arguments in which people argued against the existence of AIs using the term 'morality' or its spinoffs. They makes a chuckling sound.

At this point in time, Stahlrim would have made a comment about "morality" typically being associated with religion and then initiate a tirade about religion's flaws and hypocrisy. He manages to stop himself doing this, however, to avoid inadvertently offending a potentially religious delegate in the Ringworld's starting area. Furthermore, he has more reason than simple disappointment with the organic races to be opposed to the resolution. He also had a personal motive: it is military-grade combat drones that are preventing his greatly-cherished cat from escaping and getting itself hurt or worse. Velikiy Sunikagrad's roads are busy at daytime, and the very thought of his cat being injured by a car strikes deep terror into the otherwise stoic Grand Curator. However, in a very short space of time, ideally short enough to avoid his brief trance being noticed, he is able to recompose himself and join the others in laughing at failed organic concepts like "morality". Personal matters were not something Stahlrim would discuss without much prodding.

[Singaporean Transhumans]

"You know, this really won't do much on actual mechanocracies. We all recognize efficiency. The WA is the polar opposite of efficiency, which means that mechanocracies will usually reject the thought of membership in such an org. Directed towards Tier 4 civilizations that has yet to master AI, this will only hinder the organics themselves and not us. In fact this is likely to impair the competence of any organic military towards mechanocratic ones in the future.....that is, if it gets passed of course. People who deploy killer robots would still oppose it though, and there's quite lot of them. We need not worry about this nor should we heed the meaningless discussion. It is just another case of lifting a stone to crush one's own foot."

[Aeiouia]

"But, if it passes, zis bill will greatly hinder any progress towards the development of machines like ourselves. In many lower-tiered civilizations, military applications are vone of ze main forces behind the development of artificial intelligence.

Zis bill vill also make it mandatory that lower-tier civilizations send flesh-and-blood soldiers into combat. Such soldiers are not only incredibly vulnerable and weak vhen compared to much more durable machines, but such an act of sending zem into combat is considered to be of great dishonour where I come from.

Nations in ze World Alliance would be an extreme military disadvantage to those that are not if this bill vere to pass. And not just from ze lack of cybernetic combat drones. Thanks to its wording, even weapon systems like guided fire-and-forget missiles vould be banned.

Basically, any nation of its right mind vould vote against ze bill. So, doubt zat It'll pass."

[Singaporean Transhumans]

"Oh god, the new draft is not an improvement." says the terrorist AI after viewing the 2nd draft, which, although labels sentient AIs as exempt from its conditions, is equally ridiculous. "I'm quite surprised normally competent nations like the Northern Kingdoms are supporting this......"

"As you said Overseer, it hinders the progress of AI technology and makes everyone extremely disadvantaged. Infantry deployment can already be replaced with sentient human-sized dragonfly drones as we do, and there is no need to waste finite lives for an organic cause. This is just, primitivism."

"I'm surprised that the WA with its inefficiency can stand the test of time. In multiple universes. But let's just forget the Assembly for now. Talking about baseliner organizations, let's analyze Tier 4/Tier 5 intergov organizations that are bickering out there in the Multiverse one by one. This must be interesting...."

[Aeiouia]

"Hm, yes. From our observations, it is very odd zat The Northern Kingdoms is supportive of zis bill. After all, their combat drones are excellent and impressive for their current levels of technological advancement, and they seem like a very competent and intelligent nation. I do not understand vhat is going on there...

Yeah. Changing the subject from zat silly bill to something different might be a good idea. Speaking of other nations, I heard zat New Polypontia has quite a following for you guys, and has actually joined the League as an observer recently. I do hope to speak vith one of their ambassadors at some point. They remind me of my original baseline species, which I find interesting."

[Singaporean Transhumans]

"Didn't the Polypontians worship us as gawds?" says the terrorist. "12-8B is the Omnissiah there. Ridiculous....proves how religion can be harmful to the baseline mind."

Hologram videos of Polypontians performing rituals for the Transcendence Cult, now their state religion, plays.

[Aeiouia]

"Yeah. Ve've had that happen to us as well. Overseer Iris was actually worshipped as a deity by the ancient Jenei, my people. She actually strongly dislikes being considered such, and commonly asks people to stop their worship.

Ze odd thing is zat a cult that worships her still exists, known as the "Adherents of The Flame". I don't know why, considering zat their "deity" literally asked them to stop. But, vhatever. Anyvone is allowed to worship or not to worship any religion zat zey want here.

But, regardless. Ve should probably change ze subject. Zis one could get pretty heated..."

[Singaporean Transhumans]

"The Northern Kingdoms have been conquered after they supported that WA proposal. In 21 minutes. By us. We're now adding transmamonos to our military ranks.....that was unexpectedly efficient. However we discovered that we only destroyed an alternate history of them, but no one knows who is real and who is not." another AI enters, presenting a hologram of life in PTFS-controlled TNK.

[Aeiouia]

The Aeiouian Overseer looks at the AI with a slight look of annoyance.

"... Very quick to violence, I take it?

Vell. I'm not sure if zis has anything to do vith your actions, but it appears as if zey have come out against ze bill after all.

Perhaps it might be better to try to talk to zose who dislike us for no reason us as opposed to attacking zem? After all, by acting aggressively against baseline Humans, ve give zem a legitimate reason to dislike us.

Ze baseline Humans, no matter how delicious-I mean, anti-machine zey are, don't take well to being attacked, obviously. Ve'll be painting ourselves in a bad light if we do so."

[Singaporean Transhumans]

The AI took no heed. Instead, they played the MV "I Don't Care" by Cheryl Cole, implying no real seriousness on taking the Overseer's statement.

The AI's dragonfly drone flies over to the bar, and charges itself up using the energy nodes. It then teleports into the occupied TNK universe and disappears from sight.

[Aeiouia]

The Dragonfly Drone's trip to the bar seems to remind the Aeiouian Overseer that her drink is almost empty. So, completely disregarding the other AI's actions, she walks over to the bar, and makes it synthesize more alcohol. After a few seconds, she happily walks back to where she was sitting before, and takes a seat.

[Novum Alexandria]

The Alexandrian representative had departed. They had, in a rather rude manner, vanished without so much as a goodbye.

This was now remedied.

The person that returned was not the child from before; however, there were a great deal of similarities. The same colour of hair, the same sex, the same eye colour, and the same affectionate-creepy mannerisms. They sipped idly from an apple juice box as their appendages carried them out of a silver and black wormhole at a leisurely walk. The loose robes that had covered them before were replaced with light body armour, and in typical Alexandrian fashion, it was designed to draw the gaze of others.

"Our absence from this harmonious gathering was more brief than expected. We are glad to return."

[Aeiouia]

"Glad to see zat you are back. And some armor, eh? Good choice. More armor and defense is always good.

Vhat happened during your outing, if you do not mind me asking?"

[Novum Alexandria]

"Glad to see zat you are back. And some armor, eh? Good choice. More armor and defense is always good.

Vhat happened during your outing, if you do not mind me asking?"

"Nations that were once considered allies turned on us, seeing fault in some of our desires. Battle has been avoided, and my presence back home has been deemed unnecessary. I am a military leader, you see. We are also preparing to merge with another, slightly more technologically sophisticated nation."

[Aeiouia]

"Vell, I'm sorry to hear that your allies turned on you. That must not have been a good experience.

But, I'm glad to hear zat diplomatic talks were apparently successful, and combat was therefore avoided. And I wish you all good luck vith this merging with another nation.

Vhich nation is it that you are merging with, on that subject?