Juno's Gambit
30 May 2024Krabs
Upon Entering Bara II I am attacked by a few Ecliptic Ships - there is a mysterious ship amongst the midst. Long and less of a battle ship and more of a... well I wasn't sure, thus I decided to dock and investigate it.As I boarded, I heard several people arguing about 'not wanting to go near that thing'. With future Knowledge, I should of turned around and left, but the idea of being paid. More Credits to fund my expedition into the Unknown regions was appealing.
As I walked through the open door I met 2 Ryujin Operatives. I was also an (unwilling) Ryujin operative. One thanked me for the assist, the other was grumpy, asking if I was going to be 'another problem'. I informed them of who I was, they had heard of me from staffing reports - these things tend to happen when you upend an entire corporate hierarchy.
They tell me their mission went bad, an AI onboard this ship killed their technician. The 2 Operatives believe it is dangerous, the AI calling itself Juno believes they are dangerous, and by extension I am too. The 2 operatives had to capture the AI and return it to Ryujin for analysis, the AI believes they are going to change it. It appears I'd stumbled upon a Ryujin project.
They request I put the control board on the AI, it goes next to where their dead technician is. They seem to think Ill be fine because, and I quote 'What are the chances It'll happen twice'. I tell him to do it, they then tell me I'm not leaving unless I put the board on the probe. At the time I was unsure if I wanted to help a potentially rogue AI or help a corporate company that I did despise, despite my employment.
I decided to talk to the AI, it calls itself Juno. It keeps asking If I am going to change it, and keeps asking me to not change it. I asked Juno who programmed it, they claimed that NASA, the old Earth Space agency, programmed it, and that while it travelled, it became Juno.
Juno seems dangerous, though a fascinating relic of History, I decide it is for the best of humanity if I put it to rest and put in the board. Before leaving, the 2 operatives invite me out for 'happy hour' back at work. I'll probably never go or see them again, but the offer was nice of them.
I'd enter and then undock my ship, I could hear Juno over the comms. He was going through changes and detecting 'malicious change'. I watched him turn off life support and vent out the oxygen, before Jumping away - leaving the 2 operatives most likely dead...
I wonder if I'll ever see Juno again.