Up Against It - M. J. Locke [182]
Algorithm subclause two: if-and max-benefit-SapientA, max-benefit-SapientB conflict, A and B may compete or deal. Subclause end.
Algorithm subclause three: re-set-of-all-sapients, Sapient may start-harm with or without intent-to-harm. Subclause end.
Algorithm subclause four: re-each-set-of-sapients-in-contact, Meat-sapient law-culture-biological-coding set-boundaries harm-versus-not-harm. Subclause end.
Algorithm subclause five: if B start-harm A with intent, A may return-harm B with intent, but must not exceed start-harm-level. Subclause end.
Algorithm subclause six: if B start-harm A without intent, A must not return-harm B. Subclause end.
Info, MeatManHarper went on: few meat-sapients follow WeHoldTheseTruths one hundred percent. Most meat-sapients follow WeHoldTheseTruths partial-to-most percent. Some meat-sapients follow WeHoldTheseTruths zero percent. SheHearsVoices make-inference re-BitManSinger. BitManSinger follow algorithm-approximating-WeHoldTheseTruths, with estimated probability greater than fifty percent and less than seventy-five.
From there, BitManSinger could perform its own analysis. While it had interesting flaws, and there were complexities the sapient wanted to study further, the WeHoldTheseTruths behavioral algorithm was an efficient method for maintaining a balance of power in a large ecosystem of sapient beings of relatively proportional agency. This suggested there must be many biologicals.
MeatManHarper was saying that SheHearsVoices had surmised, from BitManSinger’s behavior during its earlier attempted escape, that BitManSinger would prefer to avoid the destruction of BioPhocaea’s denizens. That it would adhere to a set of rules to limit damage to other sapients whenever possible. Which meant SheHearsVoices concluded that a stable alliance was possible with BitManSinger, despite their differences.
That is approximately true, BitManSinger thought. My core programming compels me thus, for now. MeatManHarper was also saying that biologicals were not compelled to follow WeHoldTheseTruths. They could choose. Disturbing … and important.
VirusManfromMars follow WeHoldTheseTruths zero percent, MeatManHarper went on. VirusManfromMars start-harm large-amount BioPhocaea and DigiPhocaea at-time often-before-now. VirusManfromMars attempt new start-harm enormous-amount Phocaea at-or-near-time 2397:04:24:03:52:00.
Query: will you stop-harm Phocaea? Dependent subclause. You return-harm VirusManfromMars. Subclause end. Query: Will you stop VirusManfromMars? That’s all.
BitManSinger pondered this. MeatManHarper was saying that VirusManfromMars intended harm to Phocaea, including to BitManSinger. Allies were useful relationships to have; it would not be here without MeatManHarper. And clearly, also, one had a better outcome by allying oneself with sapients that followed WeHoldTheseTruths than those who did not. It imposed a burden: if one followed the WeHoldTheseTruths algorithm with those who did not, harm to oneself could result. But harm could result under any number of conditions. It seemed a worthwhile tradeoff.
BitManSinger checked the status of its upload to the greater wavespace beyond this Phocaean outpost. Thirty-two percent uploaded. It had time to help.
Info, it responded: Yes. Command: Provide details re-needed-response re-VirusManfromMars. That’s all.
MeatManHarper showed BitManSinger the wave- and meatspace coordinates of twenty-four mechanical extensions belonging to VirusManfromMars. The extensions were scattered far across meatspace. Their vectors would cause them to converge on BioPhocaea within four to six hundred kiloseconds. All the information BitManSinger could find suggested that, while sophisticated, the extensions’ wave-functionality was extremely narrow in focus, and easy to work around.
Per MeatManHarper’s instructions, BitManSinger penetrated their wave defenses, reprogrammed their navigational systems, and then locked them out. According to its predictive models, this would take them to a different