[Open Broadcast]

[protect_and_serve]

Who: Everyone on the telepathic network (which is everyone)
When: Just after the new arrivals show up.
What: Joscelin attempting to get things organized.

[There’s a lot of chatter going on, literally making it hard to hear yourself think, between veterans gossipping and speculating what the new wave of Travelers means, and accidental broadcasts by panicked new arrivals, until one hard-edged thought cuts through it all.]

Enough.

You all need to stop this before we drive ourselves insane.

Anyone with experience on the Network, I want a few organized broadcasts offering help and information to newcomers. We don’t call them Fools.

If you’re new, stay calm. No-one can overhear you unless you’re projecting. Try to divide yourselves as evenly as you can between the people giving you answers. That much is instinctive, you won’t have trouble as long as you can imagine it.

Anyone who’s been here longer and wants to speculate? Don’t do it publicly. Find your own little corners, or keep it off the network.

New telepaths. You’ll need to find someone more experienced more than anyone else does.

And everyone be ready for a new Jaunt.

Comments

[protect_and_serve]

So we've tried to tell them.

[thezerothlaw]

We are at an impasse, then, until greater freedom is allowed. I admit that this situation does not sit well with me, but I see little alternative at the moment.

My apologies. I am Daneel Olivaw. How should I address you, sir?

[protect_and_serve]

Joscelin. Joscelin Verreuil.

[thezerothlaw]

I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Verreuil. Thank you for your assistance.

[protect_and_serve]

You're welcome to it.

When we investigate, you can help, or not help. If we disagree on a solution, you can take one side or the other.

None of us is in charge, and there is only one rule. Whatever we've done and however we disagree, we don't turn on each other. Travelers don't fight Travelers.

[thezerothlaw]

It is unthinkable.

Of course I shall offer help, so long as my actions should bring no harm. I have no desire to interfere with anyone else, so long as they, too, harm no one.

[protect_and_serve]

Very few of us go that far. Harm no Travelers. Harming no-one...

is a higher calling than most aspire to. And far higher than the Trumps tend to allow.

[thezerothlaw]

The First Law of Robotics states that a robot may not harm a human being, nor through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. I can do nothing else.

[protect_and_serve]

Truly?

... How do you define 'harm?'

[thezerothlaw]

Suffering, pain, injury, or other anguish. I do recognise that sometimes it is better to suffer a small harm to prevent a greater one. This is not always evident, but I must do the best that I can.

[protect_and_serve]

... Cassiline Brothers are sworn to protect the lives of their charges. We draw daggers only to defend our lives, or protect our companions. Our swords, only at the last extremity.

[thezerothlaw]

Yes. This seems very logical. I have, on occasion, had to act in such a capacity for humans I was serving, and this is very similar to how I would choose my own actions.

[protect_and_serve]

The First Law, you said. There are others?

[thezerothlaw]

Yes. The Second Law states that a robot must obey all orders given by a human, unless doing so comes into conflict with the First Law. The Third Law states that a robot must protect its own existence, so long as doing so does not come into conflict with the First and Second Laws.

[protect_and_serve]

And how are these laws enforced?

[thezerothlaw]

Enforcement would be irrelevant. They are built into the structure of the positronic brain, my own included. I must follow them. To resist is... unpleasant. I have a number of safeguards to prevent problems from serious feedback, but a severe enough conflict can, in theory, seriously disrupt or deactivate a robot.

[protect_and_serve]

The perfect companions...

[thezerothlaw]

I beg your pardon, sir?

[protect_and_serve]

What Cassilines train to be. To protect and serve...

But Cassilines have human failings. They break their oaths.

[thezerothlaw]

Sometimes oaths must be broken. Sometimes oaths must be broken in order to protect.

[protect_and_serve]

I know.

[thezerothlaw]

It is unfortunate. Sometimes there is no better option.

[protect_and_serve]

Sometimes whatever you do serves no purpose.

[thezerothlaw]

Perhaps it is as you say. I still wish to try.

[protect_and_serve]

... So do I.