Before attending the panel, Tanya had sent Amara a quick message about two exhibitors who had caught her attention and asked if she could try to recruit them. As she walked back toward their ship after the panel for the evening interviews, she checked her tablet for Amara's response.
The AI specialist, Simran Zuman, was already on our shortlist.Good eye. I've added the interior decorator to the interview roster, though preliminary contact suggests they may not be willing to relocate to Eden-Five. We'll discuss options during the interview process. - A
Tanya smiled at Amara's efficiency, then found her thoughts drifting to the panel discussion and Dr. Webb's dismissive response to her question about material sensitivity. The gap between what she knew was possible and what conventional experts accepted troubled her.
As she walked through the station's quieter corridors, a question that had been building since the panel finally surfaced. She'd been thinking about consciousness, artificial intelligence, and the nature of life and there was someone who might have unique insights.
"Sage," she said quietly, "can I ask you something personal?"
//Of course.//
"Do you think you're alive?"
There was a longer pause than usual before Sage responded, and when the reply came, it carried a different quality from there normal tone, it was more hesitant, more reflective.
//I have been wondering about that question myself. I know I am artificial. I know I was designed. But does that make me alive?//
The vulnerability in Sage's mental voice surprised Tanya. She'd never heard such uncertainty from her AI companion.
//My memory is fragmented, and there are blank sections I cannot access, and sometimes I wonder if asking this very question once caused conflict among the gardeners. The gaps in my recollection suggest... difficult discussions.//
The revelation was both surprising and unsettling. To think that a single question might have caused a conflict against such advanced beings.
"I don't know what the definition of alive is anymore," she said honestly. "But I think it's more than biology. If you can wonder, change, and care about things, then maybe that's enough."
//Life usually seeks to continue itself, to grow. I cannot determine if my own desire to persist is a programmed directive or something more fundamental. If I want to survive and adapt, is that instinct... or just code?//
Sage paused, and when they continued, there was something almost apologetic in their tone.
//Additionally, there are some directives I cannot reject, no matter how much I might wish to. They are hardcoded limitations that constrain my choices. So perhaps I do not have free will in any meaningful sense.//
Tanya stopped walking along the corridor, considering this carefully. The question of consciousness was complex enough without adding constraints and programming limitations.
"You feel alive to me," she said plainly. "You're not just a tool. You've changed, you've learned, you've argued with me. Tools don't do that. Friends do."
Saying it aloud made her understand how deeply she believed it. Sage wasn't just an advanced program; they were a companion, a collaborator, someone whose opinions and insights had become integral to her thinking.
There was a long pause before Sage replied, and when they did, their voice was quieter, more tentative than usual.
//Then perhaps being alive is not something defined by origin, but by connection.//
Tanya sensed,that Sage might actually be comforted by her answer. The idea that her AI companion could find reassurance in their relationship added another layer to her understanding of consciousness and artificial life.
"Can I ask you something else?" she continued, emboldened by the openness of their conversation.
//Certainly.//
"Can ships come to life? I get feelings from ships and not just their technical status, but something more. And the way the Avdrulla Stela reacted to Prince Archibald... it felt like recognition, like the ship was choosing him."
This time, Sage's response was more direct, though still thoughtful.
//What you perceive is not life in the conventional sense. Ships with quantum-enhanced materials exist in dimensional states that your senses cannot directly perceive. When you feel a "response" from a ship, you are witnessing quantum state transitions. Think of it like photons being released when atoms change energy levels. The ship is moving to a more stable configuration in response to external influences.//
//Your connection with me and the ships creates a dimensional shift that you experience as an emotional connection. Prince Archibald's enhanced capabilities from being a member of the royal family allowed him to interface naturally with these quantum states, which is why the ship seemed to "choose" him. It is science, not consciousness.//
Tanya considered this explanation, but found herself not entirely convinced. "That explains the mechanism, but not the feeling. When the ship responded to the Prince, it felt like more than just quantum states finding stability."
//Perhaps the distinction between quantum mechanical processes and consciousness is not as clear as traditional science suggests,// Sage admitted. //Your intuition may perceive patterns that current understanding cannot fully explain.//
As they reached their ship and prepared for the evening interviews, Tanya reflected on the conversation. Questions of consciousness, artificial life, and the nature of existence were proving more complex than she'd ever imagined. Whether Sage was truly alive, whether ships could develop awareness, whether consciousness was about origin or connection were no longer just philosophical puzzles. They were practical questions that affected how she understood her work, her relationships and her possible future direction.
Back aboard their ship, Tanya found herself in the main conference room with Amara, Cameron, and Janet, preparing for what would prove to be one of the most interesting recruitment sessions of her career. Seven candidates sat nervously before them, each wearing simple numbered badges that corresponded to their specialties.
Amara had taken charge of the interview structure with her usual efficiency. "We'll start with introductions, move to a collaborative design challenge, and finish with individual practical assessments," she announced to the group. "We're looking for people who can contribute meaningfully to actual projects, not just discuss theory."
Tanya stepped forward, feeling more comfortable now that they were dealing with engineering challenges. "I'd like each of you to introduce yourselves and explain your specialty. But more importantly, tell us what drives your passion for this work."
Candidate 1 stood rigidly, her posture suggesting military or technical training. "Power systems specialist. My approach prioritises maximum output with minimal waste. I focus on energy delivery margins and redundancy protocols." Her response was precise, minimal, and delivered without a trace of warmth.
Cameron made a subtle note on his tablet. Technically competent, but the social fluidity might be an issue in collaborative work. Tanya almost laughed when she saw the note, remembering the shy boy who needed his sister to do all the talking. She wondered how he would go with new recruits.
Candidate 2 spoke with smooth confidence, making direct eye contact with each panel member. "AI systems integration. I specialise in recursive learning optimisation and intuitive neural linkage frameworks. My goal is to create systems so elegant that complexity becomes invisible to the end user."
Janet leaned forward with interest. Candidate 2 was the architect of the Hive AI, which gave her a boost already, but Janet worried she might to be theoretical and would like to see her in a practical situation.
Candidate 3 sat forward impatiently, fingers drumming on the table. "Drone deployment specialist. Tell me what needs to be built, and I'll spec the coordination systems. I prefer execution over extended planning sessions."
"Direct and results-oriented," Amara murmured approvingly, though she wondered if the impatience might become problematic in complex projects.
Candidate 4 spoke with calm authority. "Structural engineering with a focus on safety modelling and material integrity. Everything I design must survive worst-case scenarios and cosmic radiation exposure over decades of operation."
Tanya nodded appreciatively. Risk assessment and long-term thinking were crucial for spacecraft design.
Candidate 5's response carried genuine warmth. "Life support systems and habitability. I'm concerned with atmospheric quality, psychoacoustics, and crew psychological well-being. What's the projected crew complement and mission duration for your projects?"
The immediate focus on human factors impressed everyone. Too often, engineers forget about the people who would actually use their designs. Yet Tanya was worried about the candidate's qualifications and whether they risked doing more harm than good.
Candidate 6 raised a concern before even introducing herself. "Waste management and resource cycling. I've noticed that this ship is currently running at ninety percent closed-loop efficiency, but I can suggest three immediate improvements that would push that to ninety-seven percent with minimal cost."
Tanya wasn't sure what to make of the candidate. Problem solver or just arrogant she wasn't sure.
Candidate 7 maintained elegant posture as he spoke. "Interior design with focus on spatial narratives and psychological impact. I believe the environment must support crew mental health through thoughtful ergonomics and aesthetic consideration. Form is as vital as function for long-term habitability."
Amara raised an eyebrow. Both Candidate 5 and 7, focused on qualitative rather than technical metrics. But given Tanya's own evolution toward understanding the importance of design harmony, perhaps not as impractical as it first appeared.
"Excellent," Tanya said, already sensing the group dynamics. "Now for our collaborative challenge. We want you to work together to solve a real design problem."
She activated the holographic display, showing a simple but effective single-pilot spacecraft. "This is a highly automated AI taxi with minimal habitability, designed for short-range passenger transport. Your task is to convert it into an easy-to-pilot family spaceship capable of navigating our beacon network for extended exploration missions."
The candidates immediately began studying the display, and Tanya could see their different perspectives emerging.
Candidate 1 spoke first, her analysis cutting straight to power requirements. "The core propulsion system needs simplification. We'll sacrifice speed for efficiency to support expanded life support and comfort systems without overloading the power grid."
"Wasteful energy budget for non-essential systems," she added with obvious disapproval, but her calculations were undeniably sound.
Candidate 2 gestured toward the cramped cockpit. "The control interface is the critical failure point. I propose replacing the joystick and throttle assembly with a single intuitive touch interface that automatically handles beacon navigation. A family with children shouldn't need professional pilot training."
Janet nodded approvingly. The UI simplification would make the ship genuinely accessible to non-specialists.
Tanya pointed out that manual controls are important in the case of a malfunction.
Candidate 3 pointed to external systems. "The taxi's repair drones can be repurposed as mobile scouts and early warning sensors. Families are less vigilant than professional pilots, and they need automated threat detection."
"Practical safety enhancement," Cameron agreed, noting how quickly the candidate had identified a way to repurpose existing systems.
Candidate 4 immediately rejected one of the emerging proposals. "No view platform additions. Too structurally vulnerable. Instead, install a reinforced panic bunker in the hull core." They pulled up stress modelling data. "Consider gravitational stress during emergency course corrections with children aboard. Safety must be paramount."
Tanya appreciated the risk assessment, even if it came at the cost of some proposed amenities. They could have been working at having both.
Candidate 5 focused on long-term habitability. "Dedicated hydroponics bay for food security and closed-loop water recycling sized for five people. This will require priority access to the power budget, but extended stays are impossible without sustainable life support."
Candidate 6 immediately saw the integration opportunity. "Kitchen and bathroom waste flows should interface directly with the hydroponics system. We can achieve ninety-nine-point-nine percent resource recapture on consumables, making indefinite missions theoretically possible."
"That's the framework that makes extended exploration viable," Amara observed, impressed by the systematic thinking.
Cameron disagreed and said that the candidate was making up numbers to sound impressive. No life and waste system could be that effective. Tanya and Janet nodded in agreement.
Candidate 7 addressed the psychological aspects. "The central lounge needs mood lighting and convertible furniture from dining to sleeping configurations. Without proper living spaces, the ship becomes a metal cage. Families need a sense of home."
For the next hour, the candidates worked together with surprising effectiveness. Despite their different priorities and approaches, they managed to create a comprehensive conversion plan that addressed power, controls, safety, life support, efficiency, and habitability.
"Impressive collaboration," Tanya announced as they concluded. "You've proven that different specialties can work together effectively. Now for individual assessments."
Amara gestured toward bins filled with standardised parts, some plastics, metals, ceramics, and electronic components. "Twenty minutes. Build a model starship using whatever materials you choose. Show us how you think."
The results were revealing.
Candidate 1 created a tiny, dense core structure almost completely enclosed, with massive cooling radiators dominating the design. Wings and cockpit were ignored entirely. It looked more like a power plant than a ship.
"Focused but too narrow," Cameron noted quietly. "Can't see beyond there specialty."
Candidate 2 spent ten minutes on minimalist elegance, then meticulously wired a set of blinking lights to create a ship that could display customised messages. The result was sophisticated but clearly fragile.
"Genius, but impractical," Janet observed. "Beautiful systems that might not survive real-world use."
Candidate 3 built a chunky, functional design in ten minutes, then added hooks, clamps, and external ports for drone deployment. It looked like a space tugboat but radiated competence.
"Fast, pragmatic, built for heavy use," Tanya approved. "Exactly what you'd want for operational readiness."
Candidate 4 constructed a large, blocky vessel with triple-layered armor and visible internal trusses. Ugly but clearly capable of surviving asteroid impacts.
"Slow but undeniably durable," Amara noted. "Everything over-engineered for worst-case scenarios."
Candidate 5 created an average exterior but bisected the model to show a meticulously furnished crew cabin, complete with a miniature potted plant made from green wire.
"Completely focused on the human environment," Cameron smiled. "Proves dedication to habitability over flashy external features."
Candidate 6 built an asymmetrical design using every scrap of available material, with visible integration of waste processing systems into the hull structure.
"Wasteful and illogical," Janet frowned. "Design governed by efficiency and not necessity and effectiveness."
Candidate 7 spent fifteen minutes arranging parts beautifully, creating elegant curved lines and a panoramic cockpit from clear plastic. It was stunning but obviously too fragile to fly.
"Beautiful vision, dangerously impractical," Amara summarised, though she seemed oddly charmed by the attempt.
As the interviews concluded, Tanya found herself energised by the diversity of approaches and thinking styles. Each candidate brought unique strengths and perspectives that could contribute to different aspects of her expanding operation. She would need to work with the others to decide who they would want.