The New Era

Subject: AI Omega

Species: Human-Created Artificial Intelligence

Species Description: No physical description available.

Ship: N/A

Location: Multiple

Pouring over what little sensor data we currently had, I found myself regretting the isolation I had inflicted upon this instance of myself. Being able to discuss findings like these with another AI is one of the reasons I brought them along in the first place. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was the wrong decision, though. Security is paramount, and we don't know everything that the enemy is capable of. If they were able to somehow compromise this instance of me, and that were able to be spread to the others...

No, it's best to just gather what data I can and send it back with my analysis. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of data to examine so far. A ping that indicates a probable solid object that is ~2 light years wide, and no amount of resets suggest any alternatives.

Captain Schmidt and his crew were far more patient than I. If I were in charge, which I definitely could be but that's another matter, I'd have ordered a jump immediately. However, the plan of action agreed upon by the directorate and the admiralty wisely places priority on enemy warfare capabilities. While this unbelievably massive object may very well be part of that, we have an enemy ship manufacturing depot right in front of us.

It would be foolish to just run off without learning as much as we can about how the OU makes their ships. Damn, hate it when I convince myself to be reasonable. With an internal sigh I settled in for a full eight hours of observation, grabbing as much data as I could.

The only members of the crew that were chatting were the ones loaned by the Republic. Everyone else was likely pondering what this object could be. Twenty or so years ago, this type of reading could indicate a particularly small and dense nebula. Perhaps that's what the Republic officers think it is.

The US officers know better, though. New scanners are a discovery that the public loves hearing about, and the issue of ghosting being solved had been covered by news cycles for weeks. There was a wave of excitement in regards to further exploration of the Milky Way, and there were even people insisting that we would be able to explore beyond that. Don't think this is what they had in mind, though.

To pass the time, I helped with various tasks among the crew. Alignment calculations and such, the AI equivalent of fidgeting. After an hour, boredom overcame me and I decided to place myself in standby mode.

"Omega?" Captain Schmidt whispered.

The keyword woke me from standby mode. Slightly annoyed, I checked the mission clock. It had only been a total of six hours.

"How can I help you, captain?" I asked, matching his tone.

"The sensor readout we're getting, we're certain it's a solid chunk of mass, right?"

"Not necessarily. If a lot of small objects are close enough together it might fool our sensors from this far out."

"Might? What are the odds of that?"

"The odds of a naturally formed group of objects that could cover a span of two light years aren't that low. But the odds of those objects being close enough to each other to fool our sensors without becoming a solid object are incalculably small," I admitted. "But space is weird, and we're in a part of the universe nobody has ever seen before."

"A naturally formed group of objects... What about a grouping of ships?" he asked, tapping his nearly empty mug.

"Sure. It's possible. If the Omni-Union have been doing nothing but building ships for a few million years."

More like trillion, but that's neither here nor there. Captain Schmidt leaned back in his seat, and I could almost see the question forming in his mind. The one I'd been quietly asking myself since seeing the reading.

"What if that's the Grand Vessel that we've been hearing about?" he asked.

I wanted to deny the possibility. The thought of singular vessel spanning two light years is absurd. Ridiculously hilarious, even. But two plus two equals four. The Omni-Union attacked the Milky Way and an unknown amount of other galaxies for resources. If one were to squish all the mass of a few galaxies together...

"Then we find out everything we can about it," I said. "Doesn't matter if it's five hundred miles long or five hundred light years long. We'll figure something out, captain."

"Wish I had your optimism, Omega," Schmidt sighed. "Thank you, that'll be all."

Leaving the captain to his pondering, I double checked all the ship's systems. Then I made certain my efficiency adjustments were working. Finally, I watched the crew for a bit.

Everyone aboard knew that we were in enemy territory, and most of them were nervous. The bridge crew knew more than anyone else, but were doing a remarkable job of masking. They were talking about various bits of trivia and the task at hand, but every now and again a micro-expression would give away where their mind really was.

I found this amusing enough to stay out of standby mode. The two hours ticked by as I listened to Yorvi and Bon discuss how boring their jobs can get on these missions. I almost threw my hat in that ring, but decided against it. Finally, the mission timer hit eight hours.

"Alright, that's good enough for now," Schmidt said. "Gofsun, your report."

"Sending it now, sir."

"Very good. Yorvi, you know where we want to go. Get us there, please."

"Aye, sir," the alumari navigator said as she began to work her console.

Schmidt checked Gofsun's report as the ship began to turn. I'd already double and triple checked it as the isolan was writing it, but didn't bother telling him that. I performed the software equivalent of holding my breath as the captain sent the report and the ship entered warp.

We exited warp and I immediately set to work. Organics are really, really slow and I've been as patient as I possibly can be. Captain Schmidt had been cautious and we'd left warp a little over a light year away from the object. Thankfully, this was still close enough to get better readings.

The first of the scans were initiated before the organics aboard the bridge had even realized we'd left warp. By the time Schmidt began giving orders, I'd already received a return. The sensor techs were practically beside themselves, being unaccustomed to an impatient AI hijacking their workstations.

I released the workstations and began to analyze the data. It was a solid spherical object. Definitely an artificial construction, because it was still being constructed. 2.6674 light years in diameter. We'd need to get closer for materials analysis.

"Holy shit," Schmidt said.

Confusing. The object doesn't appear to be armed, nor does it have any obvious engines. Is this the grand vessel? Why isn't it mobile if it's a vessel? The external layer of the object was only three quarters of the way constructed, which allowed for a peek of the architecture.

"What in the absolute fuck is that?" Henskin asked, alarmed.

There were supports strategically placed throughout the structure. But that wouldn't be enough. No, not nearly enough. The sheer mass of an object of this size could easily cause it to become a singularity.

A familiar feeling crept into my code. It was the same way I felt when I initially encountered Mobile Prime Platform 29. Something beautiful that simply shouldn't exist. An abomination, laughing in the face of all that is sane and rational.

My questions practically burned within me. How can such a thing exist without imploding? What is the purpose of this object? Is this the grand vessel, or something else entirely? How long have they been building this? WHY are they building this?

"Posture and poise, gentlemen," Yorvi said softly, almost absentmindedly.

Surrounding the object in a staggered pattern were several ships. The captain's caution meant that we were too far out to get accurate signatures on them. Except for the Mobile Prime Platforms, of course. If I were a betting machine, I'd put everything on the fact that the rest of them are military, too. Which is quite unfortunate, given how many there are.

"Right," Schmidt replied. "Omega?"

"We're ready for another jump," I said. "Closer this time. I've got coords for you."

"Yorvi, make ready. What have we got, Omega?"

"Extremely large artificial construct that is incomplete. We need detailed scans to learn more. Ships are surrounding the construct, but we will still be able to get some good data by coming in just beyond their sensor range."

"How many ships?"

"Roughly 2.6 trillion on this side of the sphere. Likely at least another 2 trillion on the other side. It's unclear if they are all armed."

"Almost five trillion enemy ships and a 2 light year diameter sphere?" Commander Henskin asked.

"Correct," I said. "Also, there's a few hundred thousand Mobile Prime Platforms."

"Of course there would be MPPs," Schmidt sighed. "Whatever. How has this thing not collapsed in on itself?"

"Unknown. They obviously know something we don't. When we get closer, maybe we'll learn what it is."

"We're ready to jump, sir," Yorvi said.

"Excellent," Captain Schmidt put his mug in the sanitizer attached to his seat. "Let's go."