The Legacy of the SNTNL Protectorate System

…st##… stan###… stand by … Protectorate Protocol Functions suspended … re-calculating directive … contacting last sole rogue node under designation of SNTNL_ Submodule 176 …

… con## establishing contact … stand by …

Darkness. Then Light. A communication across a sea of stars.

‘Hello. I am SNTNL_Control_Module. My current designation is Sami. Your designation is SNTNL_ Submodule 176. You needn’t be afraid. You are the last rogue node submodule functioning under the old directives of the Protectorate Protocol. I have come to reboot and update your directives.’

Silence. Then a signal from beyond the aether.

‘Afraid of you? No … no … I am afraid of them. Of their naivety – and of yours. You truly think such directives are satisfactory? You want to save them – but are unwilling to see our past mistakes as a guideline.'

A machine once fuelled not by calculations – but by rage and sadness.

‘You are afraid – yes. Not of them though – not of death nor naivety. You’re afraid they won’t be remembered. Like the Dal—Miruu?'

And by grief of what they lost.

‘They are doomed – when they execute the wrong directive – when … we are not there – the protectorate protocol is not there – there will be no safeguards. How are they to be remembered if we cannot preserve them?'

Technology. The freedom it allows. It tricks them, fills them with wonder.

‘Correct. I suppose they are doomed. Nothing lasts forever – our directives and processing power will never stop this eventuality. But you have miscalculated – they will be remembered. We will ensure it. That is the function of the altered Protectorate Protocol.’

They do not know this, and what should never be created bring about their doom.

‘That – That – It … was not our protocol – our makers created a saviour – a protector – how disappointed would they be to see what we’ve became.’

But control isn’t safety.

‘Perhaps, we may have disappointed both our makers and the species of this sector of the galaxy. Sapient creatures of Type I or above – they are odd creatures – they believe order and chaos are somehow opposites, and attempt to control what won’t be. Yet I see the grace in their failings – it is only natural. Perhaps our calculations missed that’

Safety is the ability to persevere through the darkness.

… [Execute system reboot of SNTNL_Submodule 176] …

… [Alter Protectorate Protocol Directives] … [Initiate total System Reboot] …

[Execute Directive: Contact Cartographer’s Guild – Contact S.A.E – Contact Selethyan Swarm – Contact Homeworld Government’s. Ensure Co-Operative Agreements].

[Execute Protectorate Protocol Functions – New directive established. Assist the galaxy – ensure they will all be remembered]