Incident Report

{|style="width:100%; color:#FFF;"
|valign="top" style="padding:5px;"|
The UNSC Morricone approached Quito's Space Elevator, lights far below illuminating the outline of the South American continent. On its bridge, the holo-projection of an ageing, plump, moustached man turned away from the view, swiping his hands and opening up a COM-link.
"Requesting contact with the local ONI Operations handler"
<<Request received...>> <<Request accepted.>> <<Opening audio channel to ONI AI CNE-1015-6...>>
A stern voice came in response; the AI's tag on display but lacking an avatar beyond the ONI insignia.
>"Identification?"
"Anton, ANT-6421-8. Shipboard AI of the UNSC Morricone."
>"State reason for contact request, Antonello."
"Incident report regarding a Spartan."
A pause.
>"Go ahead, Antonello."
"My ship has sustained non-critical damage in transit; a number of crew are being treated for blunt-force injuries. The incident was only halted when three maintenance Cyclopes were brought to bear; Unit 572 was damaged, but-"
>"Unfortunate as this is, I do not see why reporting this to ONI is necessary." The AI's tone was sharp, abrupt. "If a Spartan assisted here, there is no need-"
"Spartan Owain, Beta-One-Seven-Six, is responsible for this."
>"I see."
Another pause - only a few moments, but undoubtedly one filled with a flurry of activity behind the scenes.
>"You are to transmit all recordings for investigation and divert to Fajardo Treatment Center, REBA Hospital Network, Puerto Rico, for medical transfer of Spartan-B176. You are not to share recordings with any other party. Acknowledge."
"Is that all? If you can provide previous medical data on Owain, on the way we can-"
>"That is unnecessary. You are not authorised to access records on Spartan personnel."
"But is there something in his past that led to this? My medical team said that he was hallucinating!".
>"You are not authorised to access-"
"Look, without those Cyclopes we could've seen fatalities. If this is a widespread issue with-"
>"UNSC AI ANT-6421-8. YOU ARE HEREBY BARRED FROM FURTHERING THIS LINE OF INQUIRY IN ACCORDANCE WITH NAVAL REGULATION 04416-C. ACKNOWLEDGE."
Anton recoiled from the other AI's voice, sharp as a gunshot. Caving in seemed the more prudent choice. 
"Acknowledged. Sending data and prepping-"
The channel closed without so much as a sign-off.
"-for transfer." 
-----
"Requesting contact with REBA administrative AI."
<<Request received...>> <<Processing...>> <<Processing...>> <<Request accepted.>> <<Opening video channel to UEG AI YKI 7152-7...>>
"Patient?" 
The AI's question was flat, matter-of-fact; or at least more so than Anton expected from the white cat-ears of the avatar that appeared. A half-second later, she flickered with a puzzled frown - the facility pinged the Morricone with a handshake - and the brusqueness melted from her voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were one of my regulars! I'm Yuki."
Though hardly necessary, the greeting did put him a little more at ease. "Anton here - I was told to transfer a patient to Fajardo? It's a Spartan, Beta-one-seven-six." 
"Got it. I'll get landing pad seven cleared." Anton was surprised at how unsurprised Yuki looked at being told her patient was a Spartan. "Is he stable?"
"Yes, sedated after a previous violent episode. He'll be inbound in about half an hour." 
"Good, hospital staff have been notified, they'll take over from your medics once the Pelican lands." Yuki nodded. "Do you have any recordings or reports of that episode, any reports from your medical team?"
"Well, I-" Even without the previous orders he was given, Anton knew it was against protocol to share information this sensitive with a civilian AI. "I don't believe I can share that with you."
"Anton. My people run a tight ship around here, and I trust that metaphor isn't lost on you. They can't give the standard of care I need them to if you're withholding relevant information from me."
"I understand that, but I'm under an order from ONI to not share the recordings." There. Maybe that was enough to escape Yuki's pressure. "Their AI stonewalled me when I asked after his history, said-"
"Cited good ol' forty-four sixteen?" Yuki rolled her eyes, a mixture of exasperation and frustration. "Caine can bite my ass. He does that to everyone, it's a toothless threat. Just send the data." 
"Well, alright." A brief - yet apprehensive - wave of Anton's hand arranged the transfer, a progress bar rapidly filling up next to him. "Look out for Pelican Lima-218, that'll-"
<<ONI AI CNE-1015-6 connected.>>
>"YKI 7152-7, I do NOT recall civilian AIs being authorized to access sensitive military data." The familiar voice was a sudden, loud burst over COM; practically shouting at the other two. 
Yuki's response was immediate, almost rehearsed. "Well, Caine, I do recall knowing that the concept of doctor-patient privilege has existed several times longer than the Office itself has," she barked back. "You know we need the data to get Owain the best care possible. You know we won't just pump him full of antipsychotics and hope he gets better. And what, is a recording of a Spartan denting a bulkhead going to jeopardise UNSC operations?"
"Um, actually-" Anton began.
>"You recieved the relevant file when I notified you. That should be enough. You know full well the rest is classified above the clearance of a civilian AI."
"You gave me his name, Caine. The rest was redacted and censored, black-boxed so badly that even poor Anton here doesn't get to ask why his ship got torn up!" Anton couldn't help but squirm at being brought into the spat; half-expecting to be decommissioned after all of this. 
Still, Yuki continued. "You want your precious Spartan pumped full of drugs and sent back out? Come pick him up then, because you'll have to find somewhere else to do it. I'm sure the Office will be happy with the results you got them!" 
The wait this time was longer than before. Anton spent the time simply staring at Caine's audio box, occasionally glancing up at Yuki - who, for her part, seemed amused at having backed the ONI AI into a corner. He didn't understand how she wasn't scared stiff in the circumstances.
And then-
>"Continue your work, YKI 7152-7. ANT 6412-8, next time get clearance before sharing potentially sensitive data to civilian AIs. This one is perfectly capable of making that request. Further incidents will have severe consequences."
"This one would be happy to!" Yuki shot back. 
Anton, on the other hand, simply sighed in relief. "Understood. It won't happen again." 
<<ONI AI CNE-1015-6 disconnected.>>
"...aaand, advantage Yuki." Anton was still reeling a little from the exchange, but she was smiling. Smiling! "But, back to business. Do any of your crew need treatment? We can handle them here too."
"No, no, you've helped more than enough. They're being treated already, all stable." 
"Let me know if they worsen at all, I'm sure Owain wouldn't want any friendly deaths on his conscience." Yuki paused. "Oh, and do notify me if Caine bothers you again. The sparring is always good fun."
<<Channel closed.>>
Category:The Weekly
Category:Navisiul97
Category:GazpachoSoupreme