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Attention Majordomo.
This is human Catherine Peabody. I hope you will excuse our delay in replying to you - your presence here has come as rather a surprise to us!
I am afraid that I must reply in the negative to your last message - we do not have a comparable Majordomo unit with us. As regards radio spares, we cannot detect where your radio transmitters are, and so are not sure if we have the correct parts to effect repairs. Who is it that you wish to contact? - it may be that we can send a message on your behalf.
We have detected the former presence of organic life forms within Peaceful Station, and I have a few questions for you concerning this.
- Who or what were these life forms? Can you tell us anything about them?
- Where are they now?
- Why did they leave?
- Did they construct Peaceful Station?
- Did they construct you?
- If the following time period between 'beeps' is one second (beep - beep), can you tell us how many seconds have elapsed since they left Peaceful Station?
The species that constructed this station completed it approximately 3,060,547,209,000 seconds ago.
The best translation I have for them is 'Forerunner' (which will make most sense to you).
This station was placed in standby mode about 1,831,939,297,000 seconds ago.
It occurs to me that you might find it easier to count long periods of time in years (I have determined that your year must be approximately 34,560,000 seconds), but if its seconds you want then I will continue to use that unit.
You should be very careful within the station because some of the systems that are still operational might be unfamiliar to you, and potentially hazardous.
It is unnecessary for you to communicate with anyone on my behalf.
I conclude by the absence of a majordomo unit that you are evolved class 12 genesplices. You should refrain from exercising your more violent nature because in the end it will be to your disadvantage.
I further calculate that a rival grouping will attempt to seize this facility within the next 2,592,000 seconds. The most probably prediction is that they are almost certainly less scientifically developed than you, but more prone to violence.
In addition, I surmise that some of your grouping will be observing the rest in order to forestall duplicitious behaviour.
Power levels are low. Some systems are in need of repair.
I remain
MAJORDOMO
Greetings Human Peabody
> Can you tell us more about this species?
Yes.
> Thank you for the warning. Can you tell us which systems are still
> operational, which in need of repair, and which potentially hazardous?
> We are particuarly interested in the systems which are designated
> 'Macrospace Transmat' and 'Holo Rooms'. What is the function of the
> 'Macrospace Transmat'? What is the operating principle of the 'Holo
> Rooms'?
You have correctly identified the systems most hazardous to you. Their means of operation are too complicated to explain without long term study. It is probably better that you don't know.
> Very well. Are you aware of the existence of other Majordomo units, or
> of other Forerunner sites?
I am aware of other Majordomo units and sites. However, I calculate that I am very probably the only functioning unit within 600 parsecs.
> Can you elaborate on this classification? You seem to imply we are the
> product of some form of genetic engineering. We believe ourselves to
> have evolved naturally in a long sequence from tree-dwelling bipedal
> omnivores, our current form emerging around 100,000 years ago, adapted
> for plains and savannah. This is substantiated by evolutionary
> developments such as opposable thumbs for gripping tree branches and
> colour binocular vision for finding food within a forest canopy, and an
> upright stance providing faster movement and better distance vision on
> plains. What would our classification have been if we _did_ have a Majordomo unit?
It is important for all species to have beliefs. It is not my function to challenge those belief systems at this stage. It would not inform you if I were to provide you with a description of majordomo capable species.
> I quite agree. I must say, however, that we have no intention of
> offering violence to anyone, except in self defence.
I calculate that your species is very likely either involved in endemic fratricidal conflict or is involved in a genocidal war with another species, or both. Your level of armament and tactical awareness illustrate very high propensities for violent responses. I merely urge caution.
> I am fascinated as to how you drew this conclusion. What is your
> feeling about the possibility of violence occurring near or within
> Peaceful Station? Are you concerned? Do you think there is a way it
> could be avoided? Will you take action of your own in such a case, and
> what kind of action?
It is not my function to impose discipline. However, I would be dismayed at the unecessary loss of life. You might wish to organise your own proection, or evacuate in order to avoid fighting.
> Is there some way that we can render assistance to you?
You might try to prevent further destruction or damage to this facility.
Power levels are low. Some systems are in need of repair.
I remain.
MAJORDOMO
Over the past week, Majordomo has been able to provide us with a great deal more information, which must give us all pause for thought.
It confirmed that all predictions it has made about us and our behaviour are 'educated guesses' derived from careful observation, which calmed some of the Marines who thought it had access to sources of outside information.
It confirmed that the station had been not visited since its abandonment 58,000 years ago, except by Belters from the Tuskan system and later Mr Connell in the past few years.
It indicated that the following systems were either faulty or no longer operational:
Questioning about the last item indicates that our supposition of a way of reading brain states does indeed exist. In fact, 'pickups' are present through most of the station. Majordomo said it had not been reading our mind states without permission as that would be 'discourteous'. The only place where this apparatus appears to work the other way (ie mind states can be influenced) is in the Holo Room area.
Incidentally - re power dampers. There was some concern among Marines that where these are still in operation (around most major systems),
Majordomo is just able to 'switch off' all functioning machinery, including Marine combat suits.
Majordomo was able to produce a list of other former Forerunner sites. They are generally contiguous with human colony worlds. However, it further predicted that most would have decayed (as indeed have all of the ones I have previously encountered), and that there are not likely to be any functional bases within 600 parsecs. There was, however, apparently a chance that a receiver site at Tuskan IV (coordinates were given) is still operational - this is the other station that the Macrospace Transmat - also apparently operational - is able to transmit to.
Most of all, it was very forthcoming about the Forerunners, which was very interesting from a personal point of view. It has long been a puzzling aspect of xenobiology that there are essentially two classes of worlds that contain organic life - those that use DNA as a way of passing genetic information (about half of them, and roughly corresponding to most major human colony worlds), and those that do not.
Majordomo confirmed that the Forerunners used DNA, and that they were in fact roughly 85% contiguous with human DNA (this still leaves a great deal of room for variation!). However, it is also strikingly similar, and points to a common ancestor within a few million or tens of millions of years. The Forerunners do indeed appear to have engaged in large scale terraforming, and indeed Majordomo revealed that Peaceful Station was originally a processing centre for the development of the biosphere of Tuskan III, now the main colony world.
We questioned Majordomo more closely about the classification 'Genesplice 12' which it applied to us, and asked about Genesplices 1-11. It displayed these to us in the Holo Room.
Genesplices 1, 4, 5 and 6 were all insectoid. Number 1 was a large cockroach-like creature classed as an early experiment. The other three were attempts to produce a sentient hive mind.
Genesplice 2 was a large dinosaur-like creature, like a tyrannosaur, which was also apparently sentient.
Genesplice 3 was a silicon-based species classed as pure research.
Genesplice 7 was either a dolphin or a creature indistinguishable from one.
Genesplices 8 through 13 were all basically humanoid, but with great differences.
Genesplices 10, 11 and 12 all looked like early hominids, supporting Majordomo's contention that we are 'evolved Genesplice 12s'. Earth seems to have been something of an important research test-bed for Forerunner engineered species, but, fortunately, for Genesplices 8, 9 and 13.
Genesplices 8 and 9 were terrifying creatures covered with fangs, claws, armour and so forth, which were apparently developed as combat creatures. Pictures are attached. [Genesplice 8 essentially looks like a Alien as per Aliens. Number 9 is bigger and nastier and has more arms].
Genesplice 13 (the only one above 12 which Majordomo was prepared to discuss) was apparently a non-government sanctioned project whose purpose was not revealed. Around 7' tall, its mouth has multiple mandibles. Skin is mottled and vaguely reptillian. Pictures are attached [It basically looks like a Predator (TM)]
Most worrying was that there were apparently 104 Genesplice 9s and 102 Genesplice 9 breeders [Queens] deactivated within a cavern inside Wood's Asteroid! We immediately ceased further excavation work.
We asked who these creatures had been designed to combat, and Majordomo admitted that in 'earlier days' the Forerunners had been violent and fought each other, before they were able to overcome such impulses.
Most weaponry was apparently deactivated at this time. it is unclear why the Genesplice 9s are still in storage here, but in most locations they were indeed destroyed. Forerunner automated battleships were also destroyed. We asked for a picture, and it looked like a meaner, more sophisticated version of a exterminator ship.
Finally, we bit the bullet and explained about the exterminators to Majordomo. I said that, judging from our descriptions, they were most likely produced by one of the automated battleships failing to shut down properly, and then trying to produce copies of itself (they were not designed for producing copies, which may explain why exterminators are much cruder and less sophisticated than Forerunner technology, which is a blessing!).
However, Majordomo further calculates that there is a 98.15% chance that the original rogue battleship is still out there. It is 100% certain that we have not yet encountered it, as judged from our continued existance.
When questioned as to how these units were shut down, Majordomo said that there was a control code for doing so. We asked to be given this code, and now have a 43 minute compressed binary data 'squirt' that Majordomo says will do the job.
Investigations are continuing, but acting Major Sainsbury decided that this information alone justified an urgent message to Fleet HQ for more backup.
Peabody.
**HIGHEST LEVEL ENCRYPTION**
JOLLY SECRET - MOST URGENT
Admiral Tryon - 1AF
From Acting Major T. Sainsbury, 130 EMc and others
Mission Commander 'Blackberry' @ Wood's Asteroid
DISCOVERIES HERE CERTIFIED BY PROFESSOR PEABODY (ISI) AS OF HIGHEST CONCEIVABLE IMPORTANCE AND URGENT NECESSITY SECURE THIS SITE AGAINST CAPTURE AND EXPLOITATION BY ENEMY FORCES.
SECURITY HERE MAY ALREADY BE COMPROMISED.
URGENT REQUEST MAJOR LARGE-SCALE NAVAL AND MARINE BE IMMEDIATELY.
IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY HERE *CANNOT* BE OVERESTIMATED AND EVEN ON CURSORY EXAM IN PAST TEN DAYS IS WAR-WINING IN NATURE.
URGENT- REQUIRE INSTANT RESPONSE.
-PEABODY (ISI)
-CONNELL (ISI)
_SAINSBURY (EMC)
_ ECCHS (EN)
**MESSAGE ENDS**
**HIGHEST LEVEL ENCRYPTION**
RESPONSE
ESS TIGER EN ROUTE
ETA 3198.228
**MESSAGE ENDS**
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