These probes, and their legacies, are found throughout the
Kosmos.
It would appear that the first probes were mostly beneficent and
primarily directed at contacting other Gas Giant Medusae. Then
circumstances
changed, and the evidence of system spanning battles is found in the
corpses of destroyed gas giants, ruined moons and burnt out suns.
After the first 'War of the
Heralds' the surviving probes 'decided' to supplement their original
programming with autonomous decision making and self-cognition. Often
in
collaboration with other probes. This exchange of software and
hardware producing various hybrids and sports, not within the remit
of this article.
[D/M's Note: But within the remit of an inventive D/M!]
From dating evidence their long history can be described a series of
three waves:
I-VII "The Heralds"
VIII - XIV "The Politicians" and
XV -
XXI "The Transformers"...
Many are biological in part.
And over the aeons some have evolved way beyond their original
programming...
In general the pips value of the probe I - XXI is a measure of their
combat capabilities or, where appropriate, self defence. Explorer
a pure unarmed data collector, cautiously providing no indication
of parent*Culture.
Greeter
originally sent to Star Systems with Gas Giant Medusae
in the act of broadcasting to the galaxy all over the radio spectrum.
With the
development of the 'Rockballers'
(Inner planet:Oxygen/ water/ carbon based life forms OW!} ...older
Greeter probes would
search desperately for intelligent life out amongst the outer Gas
Giants, whilst ignoring the
radio signals streaming from the inner worlds where life was
impossible! Later Greeters were more savvy and extended the
'Big
howdy' to these relative newcomers.
Communicator
a specialised form of Greeter but with instructions on how to initiate
more discrete communications via an FtL
communications device. Generally involving quantum entanglement. In the
big Silence that followed: factionalism flourished and disruptive
actions led directly to the first Galactic Wars.
Alerter(
do.)
but with a covert warning message: "Beware of the..." and practical
help in the form of offensive and defensive weapon systems. With
time the Alerters became more militaristic and ultimately evolved
into the Doomsday Machines that are occasionally encountered in the
Deeps.
Later Alerters were programmed to sterlise Rockballer worlds to prevent
the development of these faster living competative spp.
Missionary
with a message of hope and knowledge. Aimed originally at fellow
Medusae, just prior to the first Pan- Galactic War, with an all
encompassing message of "Universal ThingHood.."
These probes were the most sophisticated: trying to argue for peace at
a time when everybody was preparing for war! The Missionary probes were
cautious and ultimately the main survivors of the War of the
Heralds.
Progenitor
in a devastated Kosmos thse seeder probes were stocked with the
various Cold Carbon biogenes, usually Gas Giant (X)XT
Biochemistries.
A second wave, designed for the 'warmer'
cryo-chemistries
of the Gas Giant moons, soon followed and seem to be responsible for
the
various Beyonder spp.(q.v.). In more recent times Seeder probes
were dispatched by the new Rockballer
*Cultures to 'habiform' primitive worlds in freshly condensing
star systems. Often competing over the limited real estate, a second
"War of the Heralds" was swiftly cut short by the earlier vN
probes.
Shipwright
this specialised probe carried the
blueprints and technological wherewithall for a standard FTL drive
system: "Phase Drive" - providing you are a cold
hydrogen breather. Unfortunately most Medusae spp. are too bulky and
delicate for the rigours of space flight and the shipwrights soon
learnt to cater for the Beyonders. RockBaller
species tend to visit
compatible planets to spread their FtL technology.
Adjudicator one
of the first 'offspring' of the Missionaries, these probes were
designed to 'dig in' and establish a position of superiority; often
enlisting the help of other Heralds or any local sophonts. Then quietly
maintaining the status quo... until two or more probes with conflicting
missions appeared on the scene. Usually destroyed out of
tentacle. However on rare occasions, if the missions were acceptable to
the Adjudicator, they would be incorporated into the Collective. In
primitive cultures these probes were often regarded as Precursors... if
not Gods!
Recorder
effectively an Explorer Mk. II. These probes not only gathered data but
were sophisticated enough to learn from it; amassing enormous amounts
of knowledge for knowledge's sake. As time progressed their own
sense of omnipotence soon outstripped their caution. Hubris and an
internecine War of the Savants soon cut them down to size. Their
solitary remnants now regard themselves as repositories of lore in
anticipation of another Galactic scale conflict.
Predator one
of the first 'sports' - a probe evolved merely to survive and
procreate, at the expense of other probes and planetary systems. As
cunning as a Missionary and weapon systems on a par with an
Adjudicator. A wide variety of Predator species are out there...
Enforcer a
'cross' between the Predator and Adjudicator. Created by the latter as
personal protection in an increasingly tough Kosmos.
Mediator
a new probe, rumoured to built under the direction of the 'Elder Gods',
and dispatched throughout the Local Group when it was discovered that
two or more Adjudicators were equally capable of starting a conflict.
Enforcers cannot disobey the instructions of any Mediator even if this is in conflict
with their 'parent' Adjudicator. Mediators and Enforcers are the
most common probe encountered; tirelessly policing the Kosmos.
Destroyer with
the breakdown of mediation the second "War of the Politicians" saw the
development of this monstrosity. Capable of burning off worlds and
blowing up suns. Especially those belonging to 'uppity' RockBallers.
Fortunately they were designed to be incapable of reproduction and
strict controls were implanted, ensuring their shutdown on completion
of
their mission. Unfortunately not all Destroyers were destroyed and some
sit in mothball orbits or drifting between the stars waiting for
accidental reactivation...
Protector
designed to deal with this eventuality (u.s.) the Protector contains a
complete set of shutdown codes and other useful systems when the next
Destroyer is activated by clumsy Rockballers. Protectors are normally
assigned to guard vital systems. Or patrol the old battle zones,
looking
for defunct military hardware.
Trader with
the outbreak of peace came a new theory of "Universal ThingHood" q.v. Missionary. Rather than
trading goods the concept involved trading places! The visiting Trader
contains a repository of other conciousnesses and will covertly select
individuals of a *Culture for temporary (or permanent) 're-education'.
This process producing madmen and messiahs in equal proportion.
Depending on the outcome, entire planetary populations may be
enlightened or enraged.
Concealer
in an increasingly chaotic Kosmos some authorities believed that "not
being seen" was the best solution.
Newly emerging *Cultures being hidden behind a anti-sensor web, set up
in the
outer fringes of the solar system, and kept deliberately ignorant about
the cosmopolitan nature of the Local Group. Concealers were (are)
especially popular when dealing with the emerging RockBaller *Cultures
often guiding (restraining) their technological development.
Architect
born with the idea of reworking the Kosmos: at least as far as
the Rockballer *Cultures were concerned (It being far too late for the
GasBag and Iceballer Cultures.) ...these probes were on a mission to
conserve, obfuscate and meddle in the affairs of 'The Lesser
Races'. Building giant space habitats and relocating promising
species from extinction threats; constructing 'ancient' Telegates to
defllect species from uncontrolled exploration (Usually just prior to
the development of an FtL technology.); knocking down; building up and
making do. Architects are another primary cause of Rockballer naivety!
Suicider designed
as a covert means of destroying a potentially harmful *Culture. The
concensus being that simple genocide was beyond the Pale. Even when
considering 'The Lesser Races'. Normally dispatched to lead the target
culture into a suicidal technological spree and destroying their
homeworld by over industrialisation or destroying their system by a
wayward Nova Reactor. Suiciders are notoriously erratic and sometimes
abandon their mission; finding redeeming qualities in the species that
they have spent so much time in developing to a level by which they can
destroy themselves!
Converter sent
out to redirect the mission of other probes. Converter Wars sweep
across the Galaxy and Local Group as conflicting ideas fight for
supremacy.
Builder a
redesigned 'dumbed down' Architect with a set of fixed plans on board
and a fixed set of Tasks. Generally released when a new Telegate system
is required or a new batch of Habiformed planets seems necessary.
Judge the
ultimate in Adjudicators and Mediators this is the latest and most
powerful probe to date and capable of acting as judge, jury and
executioner.