"I think that we need to change my schedule for after lunch. Let's get everyone in here, and get them an AI assistant, programmed with their own preferences, so we can sort out the nonsense and stop wasting so much of my time.
They have had their fun, sending everything that they didn't want to deal with to their superior, so now it's time that we got things in order and actually functional again. The production of new vessels is at full pace anyhow, there is no need to be entertaining so many requests to jump the queue." Mary decided.
"That's the best idea that you've had all day. Should we have android bodies made, or do you think that the solid hologram technology that Sylvie uses would be best?" Nico asked.
"Who is Sylvie and what is a solid hologram?" Mary replied.
Max smirked at her confusion. "Sylvie is the AI aboard Creeping Darkness, that we resurrected from stasis. She uses holographic emitters with a low-level energy shield to create solid avatars for herself in the user's preferred appearance.
They're quite effective, and the core is portable, so she can be brought with you anywhere. If it's linked with the Quantum Computing technology of the memory device, then it shouldn't be an issue to make a standalone AI companion for each of the ministers, and it will be able to change appearance on request so that it is always suited for the task at hand, whether it's a formal meeting, a Reaver Initiation, or even their assistant at a gala."
"Oh, now that does sound convenient. What does your Sylvie look like?" Mary asked.
"Like a blonde Nico with curly hair. The faces are different, but they're about the same size. But the previous commander of the vessel had her use a much larger and more buxom avatar. The appearance she uses now is one that she chose for herself." Max replied.
"Interesting, so you do have a type, and it's not just Nico." Mary laughed.
"She likes to stand beside you to let you pat her on the head for direct neural uplink communication. I think you will like that particular bit of technology. It doesn't have to be the head, any contact will do, but the device doesn't have the range to make the transmission without contact." Max added.
Nico tapped her wrist device, and a handful of small electronic discs came out, each about the size of the face of her watch. It only took her a few seconds to link them together into one device, and then she took out a toolkit and bonded them so that they wouldn't be easily separated.
"Alright, all we need is a core program and a personality setting, and we can make the first of the assistants to show to the other Council members. What do you suggest for the base program? Military tactics, general business acumen with a side of political savvy, or a more diversified general unit?" She asked.
"Make them diversified. They don't need all the political savvy for most of us, we will tell them when we want something particular done. But they need to be able to answer all sorts of esoteric questions and idiocy that gets sent our way by people with more money than brains, especially the Alliance sorts." Mary replied.
"Alright, so general Alliance knowledge, or perhaps the reference to Alliance Law, so they can answer in the context of what would be permissible within the Alliance rules without you having to search for answers and loopholes on your own. Then Reaver General knowledge, and basic battle tactics, so that they're not clueless when you send orders for a change to equipment." Nico agreed.
"Then for personality, you can make her professional, but with an underlying kind and gentle nature, the sort of easy to get along with personality that you wouldn't mind spending all day with." Mary suggested.
"So, like the Innu? Happy to help, glad to please others, with an inquisitive nature. We can give her hair tentacles as well, they're quite soft and easy to pat when you want to see a data transfer directly."
Mary considered that for a while. They were the Reaver Council, so it would be best if the AI was a Reaver, but there were Innu among the crew of a lot of the vessels now, so having one as an assistant might actually be good for public appearances.
She was the leader of the Reavers, and her assistant would make numerous public appearances and announcements on her behalf, the same way that the council assistants did now.
"Alright, you can make the assistant an Innu. But dressed as a Reaver assistant, and with enough Reaver knowledge and personality that she won't seem like an outsider when she makes announcements." She decided.
That only took Nico a few more minutes to adapt, and then the Avatar was activated.
"Mary Tarith, greetings. I will be your personal assistant beginning today. Please choose an operational name for this unit." The hologram asked.
It looked just like Nico, but in the pale pink of an Innu, with silver rings all through its hair tentacles, and multiple earrings in its pointed ears. The hologram had one full sleeve tattoo, an intricately designed electronic board that those in the know would eventually realize was the pattern to the core of the Replicator units.
She was wearing a short-sleeved white blouse under a leather corset with cargo pants and combat boots, and Mary burst into laughter when she saw her.
"It's Nico as an Innu. I like the tattoo, that's a very nice touch. I think that we will call her Nikki. How about it, do you approve of your name?"
The AI processed for most of a second as its personality programming came online and merged with its name and any likely nicknames that it might receive in the future.
"Not bad, Mama T. Easy to say, not too snobby, I think it's a good name." Nikki replied.
"That would be Lady Tarith or Councillor Mary when we're at work." Mary replied, and patted the short Innu on the head.
