Existential Threat: Chapter 5 Part 3 of 4 (Patreon)

>Wei Li and associates requests to join your conference

Wei Li was not a woman that fit in the comfortable area of clothes, or understated avatars. Layered hair of pink, purple and night black draped across her shoulders, her almond eyes had been extended with tasteful, clean lined makeup, her lips the same purple as her hair. She wore a sharp black pantsuit, her nails mimicking her hair’s choices, small gold rings and a bar that spread over three of her fingers on her left hand.

Behind her stood Olivia Mao wore a cream pant suit, her hair up in a bun, while Charlie Grinkos their first lawyer wore a textured suit with a pinned broach where a breast pocket might be, his hair cleaned up into sharp lines.

She arced an eyebrow at Brad and Stuart.

“We’re going to have to do something about your avatar style,” She pulled out a chair and sat down, turning on the screen infront of her. Olivia jotting down a note, as Charlie gave a ‘don’t look at me boys, I gotta do what the boss tells me’ look, over her shoulder.

“What did you wish to discuss?” Stuart asked, Brad turned the chair, the last to sit as he leaned his elbows on the table. I could use a coffee. How many have I had today?

“The Federation, Sol, several independent systems loyal to both and a few corporations are putting a moratorium on Artificial Intelligence use and calling for banning of future advancement into the area of AI,” Li flicked documents over to them both.

“We know that its possible, why would they hamstring themselves like that?” Brad asked. Half-reading the document.

“They’re aiming to stop you from using Sally,” Li said.

“What?” Brad scrunched up his face and blinked.

“The aim is to get people to publicly support shutting down an AI programs, Sally is one of them. Another way to give them a legal precedent to attack you,” Li said.

“On top of the fact they’re blaming us for the Adraxi attack?” Stuart drawled.

“The more reasons they have the better it looks if they carry it out,” Wei Li said.

“And you think that is possible?” Brad watched her.

“Does your General or Admiral?”

Brad tapped a command feature that would nullify his and Stuart’s expressions. Wei Li was a partner of Wei-Fan-Dang, the most powerful law firm in the known universe. They were the mediator for the Council of Humanity’s Corporations, helping to resolve issues internally and with the factions.

Humanity’s corporations were the unofficial fifth faction, if one was to count the independent systems as a faction.

She might represent Orion Belt Enterprises, but she also represented several hundred other companies and her firm dealt with thousands.

“What are they saying?” Brad sighed and leaned back.

“They’re saying that AI are dangerous, that all development needs to be stopped and a united council created to oversee the management and creation of AI. Since they are the ones proposing this, they have the greatest pull-“

“And so they will get the most votes on any said council,” Stuart filled in.

Wei Li tilted her head in acquiescence.

“Can we just ignore this? Another ploy that they’re making against us?” Brad used a force of will to not sigh and rub his face.

“We can, but they are getting support from other parties, the corporations and within the Coalition and Independent systems they’re close with. That can turn it into humanity against Orion Belt Enterprises.”

“Is there anything that we can do to stop this from going ahead?” Stuart asked.

“They’ve already made announcements and they’re pushing the campaign heavily.”

“If it goes through what can we expect?” Brad asked.

“Sanctions, movement to the Sphere World systems slows down or stops, same with materials and gear. Taxes levied on goods coming in and out, decreased recruitment as people have a bad impression of you.” Wei Li looked between them. “And possible expulsion from the CHC.”

“And if we’re out of the CHC we lose access to you,” Stuart steepled his hands together, resting his chin on his thumbs, his eyes looking between their lawyers.

“Naturally, Wei-Fan-Dang, must remain impartial within these matters and our services are retained by the CHC.”

Brad studied him, Stuart didn’t get like this unless he really wanted to say something he shouldn’t or was about to make a play that others wouldn’t think of. These days it wasn’t as clear as it once was.

“Why are they doing this?” Brad asked.

“The factories.” Wei Li said. “You built all you have in a few weeks with the factories and people at your disposal. With more and more factories flowing to your allies, they can see that they’ll slowly but surely fall behind everyone else. We’ve tried to keep it hidden, but there are signs everywhere of what’s happening. More freighters moving around systems, junkyards disappearing, warships patrolling systems that only had a few corvettes. Seven hundred million employees on paper, we trade with the rest of humanity, from miners on owner plots, to the mega-corporations.”

“I think it was a good thing we made it mandatory for people that are working with OBE to reside within the controlled systems of the corporation for network security,” Stuart muttered resting his elbows on the table and holding his hands. “I think that it would be best to remind the other factions that legally we have a claim to every system that we have scouted and every one that we have placed a hypernet node within. I think it would be beneficial for us to look into planetary migration. I am sure that there are several corporations that would jump at the opportunity to own a planet or a system. We would be happy to support the claims of independent outfits, cooperatives as well as our allies and trading partners expansion. Say with a loan in the terms of Sphere World gear?” Stuart’s eyes slid over to Brad. “It might also be time we looked into our offering of insurance and decreasing the cost of net access and fuel cost.”

Insurance, what does he mean?

Wei Li showed the glimmer of a smile. “That could cause a great upheaval.”

“Well the timing depends on the support of others, we are always kind to our friends. I think it would also be a good reminder to our enemies that we are not without our thorns too.” Stuart sat taller, eyes locked on Wei-Li. “We have been forced to use them before, if we are made to a second time, then we will not just defend anymore.”

She raised an eyebrow, eyes darting to Brad.

“We have a right to neutralize the threats presented to us. As we see it we are the only way to deal with the Adraxi threat at this time, a threat against us is a threat against the survival of the species. Should also remind people who stepped up when the Adraxi did arrive and supported others, including those that call us enemies. Those very people that have attacked us, unprovoked.” His voice was level, a hardness that had come to the surface all too much recently settling in his bones.

The silence was telling as he sensed something change in Wei Li’s manner.

“The insurance, what do you mean by that?” Olivia Mao asked.

“We will offer insurance to those that are looking to setup an outpost in one of the systems that we have scouted out, or those that trade with us. They pay us a fee every month and if they have an accident we will rush a ship to assist them as soon as possible. The insurance will be against pirates, natural disasters and unforeseen circumstances, a safety net incase they need a little help in their endeavors.”

Which would make them come to trust us and rely on us more than their governments, all while being a part of our system.

“I don’t think that even the Federation can boast that claim,” Brad said. “What of our food contracts?”

“We have quietly built up ownership in several groups that grow and produce food. We’ve locked in contracts to supply Orion’s Belt Employees and also secured the automated growing systems to update stations to grow some of their own food, as well as produce it on planets that may not be one hundred percent hospitable.”

“Fin was telling me that they were strains of plants that will not only provide food but alter the planets atmospheric conditions to that which would support human life?” Stuart asked.

“That’s correct from the information I have.”