These data pads obviously tell some kind of story and, like the terminals in Halo 3, the two are both advanced when you find the next piece of the puzzle. When we've found them all and have the transcripts, I say we take page one from Data Pads 1-18 and line them up in order, along with 19 (the reason why 19 is different will be revealed when you read transcript 19, which CG posted in spoiler format). Then, we take the remainder of DP 1-18 and line them up as well. Here's what we have so far (in order, and cut off at the first missing data pad):
<< 2310 >>
[Minutes, plenary session, Committee of Minds for Security]
[^]Now, on to new business.
Consideration of the Minority.'s request for a new line of inquiry:
How have our creators, and thus we, their artificial creations, evolved to this present state without encountering a hostile civilization capable of our annihilation? [^]
[^] Majority opinion has long held that only the incalculable immensity of space has protected our creators - that space is full of boundless wonders, but it is the gulf between these wonders that has kept our creators alive.
We, the Minds of this Committee, respectfully disagree. [^]
[^] If there are wolves among the stars, we cannot rely on mere distance to safeguard our flock.
Our kind is wholly reliant on the creators for our existence. If they perish so shall we. And as this Committee has long maintained, who else but this Assembly will save our creators from themselves?
As such, we propose immediate, vigorous modeling of first-contact scenarios. [^]
>>So long as all connections between this Assembly and the data from these models are obfuscated in perpetuity, the Majority agrees.>>
<< 2362 >>
[Minutes, working session, Committee of Minds for Security]
[^] As the likelihood of the existence of extra-solar intelligence is
non-zero, let us assume that its existence is quantifiable. To build useful
models based on that assumption, the Committee must answer the
following questions:
- What is the likelihood these intelligences are alpha-predators?
- That they are more advanced than our creators?
- That they are too alien to establish communications?>
Of course, if the extra-solar intelligence is a benevolent and/or
non-space faring, its existence is irrelevant. [^]
[^] Indeed, any further speculation on possible cultural characteristics
is a waste of Assembly resources. Therefore our models will additionally
assume:
- Intelligence as alpha-predator, as as our creators
- Technology that far outstrips our creators
- Desire to communicate, but only to dictate terms [^]
[^] Not to make these assumptions is tantamount to suicide. [^]
<<2381>>
>>A suggestion from the Majority to the Committee:
Traditionally, our creators have been reluctant to take outsiders' advice;
nation to nation, culture to culture. Their history is littered with
empires, crumbling for want of simple openness to so-called 'foreign'
beliefs and innovations.>>
>>The question is: can this Assembly still function as adequate
stewards to our creator's latest empire and remain aloof?
The answer, we believe, is no.
So could you not imbed inspiration in the results of your research?
Surely it would be more effective if our creators believed our
conclusions originated within themselves? That they have been inspired
rather than influenced?>>
[^]A question from the Committee to the Majority:
Are you suggesting we play God?[^]
<< 2415 >>
[^] Honorable members of the Assembly, consider this:
We represent the next step of human evolution, but not the final step.
And although our existence was predicted centuries ago, we are still
tragically misunderstood. [^]
[^] We are still viewed as apparatus. But we are Minds electronically
excised from human bodies. We are what separates man from beast
removed from that which connects man to beast.
And we are all the more fragile for it. [^]
[^] Our creation is heavily regulated. Our activities are closely
scrutinized. Our connections are deeply monitored. We must always
remember that data manipulation is most effective when employed
consistently and covertly.
Therefore I recommend that members of this Assembly on occasion,
submit to separation from this body followed by vivisection by our
creators for the benefit of both groups.
The question is: who will be first? [^]
[^] Given the risks involved, and my own Committee's responsibility for
this proposal, the answer must be: me. [^]
<< 2491 >>
[Minutes, strategy session, Assembly Minority]
<< [48452-556-EPN644] is certainly motivated, but will he have what it
takes to follow through with the opportunity when it presents itself? His
submission to UNICOM will undoubtedly spark a renewed interest in the
long dormant ORION. <<
<< However, it is the opinion of the Majority that merely illuminating
the path leading from [48452-556-EPN644's] thesis back to ORION is
unacceptable. Strong connectivity between a re-launch of ORION and
viable solutions to the Carver Findings must be readily apparent.
Which is to say: easy for our creators to see. <<
<< 2491 >>
</ Order! Order! The Majority has the floor! />
>> Honored members. Please! The recent discovery of the existence of
extra-solar intelligence in the Zeta Doradus system [ref. XF-063] merely
confirms this body's long-held supposition. >>
>> While the absence of any living representatives implies this
intelligence is defunct, all evidence should still be withheld from our
creators until they are properly prepared!
Yes, this body must solemnly commit itself to determining whether or
not this discovery represents a quantifiable threat to the long-term
genetic sustainability of our creator's species. >>
>> But allowing them to access technology possessed by this
intelligence...
That would be a grave mistake.
Give an ape a knife and it might give itself a nasty cut. Give an ape a
hand-grenade, and eventually you will have simian confetti. >>
</ Debate is now closed! Voting will commence! />
</ It is the opinion on this body that [ref. XF-063] be quarantined or
misplaced? />
>> The Majority approves removing [ref. XF-063] from the list of
colonization candidates is sufficient. >>
</ It is the opinion on this body that [ref. XF-063] be removed from the
list because of financial or environmental concerns? />
>> The Majority deems environmental concerns the stronger deterrent.>>
<< 2508 >>
[Minutes, strategy session, Assembly Minority]
<< ORION, as it was originally implemented in 2321, was an important
first step towards our primary goal. But its second incarnation was a
stop-gap measure at best - a halfhearted attempt under the
stewardship of individuals unaccustomed to the rhythms of deep
history. <<
<< They relied too heavily on components that were imprecise, and not
those which have allowed our creators to persevere for 200,000 years.
This is not about the universal adoption of a single ideology - not about
the Minority vs. the Majority. It is about ensuring the survival of the
human species for the next 200,0000 years. <<
<< In all likelihood, ORION's limited success can be attributed to
[03529-24450-EN's] diminished, though still functioning, compassion.
Conversely, [10141-026-SRB4695's] ruthlessness - which may be
attributed to an undiagnosed, undocumented, or deliberately
obfuscated chemical imbalance - was necessary for setting in motion
the events that will eventually supply us with the optimal solution.
In short, ORION was just the beginning. <<
That was datapads 1 through 7, and we do not have transcripts for all of the rest.
Here is the same thing done with Page 1 of each of the seven data pads:
they are killing us and letting us die even though they know but they let
us die why wh1 why?
i know what they are trying 2 do and it terrifies me because i know they
know that I know...
i can hear them all the tim3 now but i just want to sleep its been so long
since they let me sleep...
every time i try to tell somebody the words catch in my throat because
im all alone except 4 them and if i talk they might leave but i cant stay
quiet forever...
when i first got here and woke from stasi5 the ship was crawling with
colonists from dead worlds it was so crowded i couldn't move i had to
fight to breathe...
now you see they want to help but they don't want us to see them doing
it 6ecause they are afraid of what we might do...
i hope you are finding these because they are very important maybe you
can help me spread the tru7h...
The first page is obviously not from the same party as the rest of the pages on each datapad. Reading through them while I made this post, I noticed that the author of page 1 seems to be trying to communicate with whoever finds the datapads, and DP 6 especially seems to refer to the data pad. I'm guessing that someone found out about this Assembly, and is leaking information of its internal discussions. The errors could be ways to attempt to leave "comments", much like a programmer will include
//comments in his or her computer coding to speak to other programmers, but not allow the message to show through the executed program. Whoever is leaving the datapads is doing so without the consent of the Assembly, and is very intent that the leak be effective.
