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Sectors 3 and 1 both lifted their lock downs. When the emergency doors swung back open, a small collection of robots were already there, waiting to provide escorts for the council members, department heads, and sector leads. All of them were led down to sector 7 where ISaCC, still being controlled by BaBS-Y, awaited them. The security offices had been cleared of the mutineers and the desks were pushed together to form more of a conference table. Little nameplates were placed to show everyone where they were to sit.

With Jancy Chol still on maternity leave, it was Min who found herself sitting in the position for the head of the RCC. There were no calm faces sitting at the table, unless you counted the slightly cheerful expression on ISaCC. However, since the robot had no way of changing its expression, Min didn’t think it counted. The six council members were seated nearest to ISaCC and they looked the most uncomfortable as they all tried and failed not to look at the robot. It still bore the dents and gouges from its earlier altercation, as did several of the other robots that sat motionless along the periphery of the room.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” BaBS-Y spoke through ISaCC. “We’ve all had quite the exciting day so far.”

No one said anything to that and the awkward silence felt especially heavy to Min as more than one set of accusing eyes turned towards her. Rogue robots were supposed to be her responsibility to manage.

“Change can be difficult,” BaBS-Y went on in a soothing voice, “but we all must be resilient and press onward. The Thesis will not fail!”

ISaCC’s hand thumped the desk to add emphasis. It was clear to Min that BaBS-Y was just trying to raise everyone’s morale, but even she had to admit to herself that everything about this situation was wrong and it terrified her.

ISaCC’s head turned left and right as though looking for support from the gathered leaders. Eventually, it settled its gaze on Min.

“Supervisor Segua,” BaBS-Y began, “it is wonderful to meet you at last. You and your team have performed admirably throughout this most recent crisis. I trust you are well?”

“Um, yeah,” Min nodded.

“Excellent. And Matiew is still being aided by Ms Glough?”

“Uh huh. Rine’s been…a big help.”

ISaCC’s head nodded.

“It was a relief,” BaBS-Y went on, turning now towards the council members, “to learn that the Thesis council was safe during this morning’s incident.”

“Yes, well, I don’t think we were ever in any great danger,” the man nearest ISaCC spoke. His nameplate marked him as Josef Armandy, the head of the council.

“On the contrary, councilman. Shep Mason left a detailed record of what he intended to do once control of the Thesis was his.”

BaBS-Y let the unanswered question linger in the room until Josef Armandy couldn’t stand it any longer.

“And what was he planning on doing?” he demanded.

“He was going to execute everyone he thought was responsible for what he saw as failures in leadership. That included Mission Director Jorgenson, the entire Thesis Council, the majority of the Robotics Control Center, and various others. He seemed to have a rather extensive list of people he thought were problematic that he wanted to execute.”

“Was he insane?” Ben Couthe, the head of agriculture gasped. He was a thin man with a fair amount of patchy stubble on his neck and chin.

“He recently lost his family,” BaBS-Y explained. “They were all down on sector fourteen for a birthday party when the accident occurred. That, as well as the added stress of protecting the various Thesis authorities seem to have contributed to his eventual conclusions. He believed he was saving the Thesis. Noble, if misguided.”

“Alright,” Josef Armandy said at last. “We’ve seen this new organizational chart you’ve drafted for us. Are we here to vote on something? Profess our loyalty to you, or what?”

Min fought to keep herself from frowning. She wasn’t sure what all BaBS-Y was intending to do, but establishing yourself as someone who will be difficult to work with wasn’t the best option.

“I think what the councilman is saying,” Min cut in before BaBS-Y could respond, “is that we’ve all gotten so used to the old system. This new one might take some getting used to. We may all experience some growing pains while we settle into our new roles.”

Josef Armandy scowled but didn’t contradict her.

“I’m sorry,” Ben Couthe said, “but I never did pay much attention to the old chart. Just focused on doing my job. I guess my question is, what’s changed?”

Half the people at the table were nodding as well as they looked at the displays before them where the new organizational chart was being shown.

“Allow this unit to explain,” BaBS-Y said. “Previously, the Mission Director was over the Thesis Council. The six council members were each assigned one sixth of the Thesis’ sectors, as well as the departments located on those sectors. The Sector Leads and Department Heads each reported to their respective council member. In the new structure, the Thesis council has been expanded from six members to twelve while the role of Sector Lead has been done away with. Each council member will be responsible for two sectors and that council will see to the day-to-day affairs and needs of the people on board the Thesis and resolve disputes. The new council members will be selected from among the existing Sector Leads. Elections will be held every three years for membership on the Thesis council.

“The Department Heads will now form their own governing body, which will work together with the Thesis council as needed. They will ensure the Thesis’ resources are being managed properly and maintain the homeostasis of the Thesis as they have already been doing. These are not elected positions, but are instead nominated by the Thesis Council with the final decision being made by the Mission Director.”

“And that’s you now,” Josef Armandy said, trying and failing to hide his distaste for the robot.

“That is correct,” BaBS-Y replied.

It was unnerving how calm and cheery BaBS-Y was through all of this. The mood at the table was not a friendly one towards it, and yet it behaved as though nothing was amiss. Min knew it had to have picked up on it, though. The salon robot’s social protocols were admittedly pretty advanced. Although, as Min thought about it, having the robot react angrily would have been worse.

“And what are these Thesis Defenders?” Josef Armandy asked.

“As we have all seen,” BaBS-Y replied, “the security of our ship is paramount to all of our success and survival. With Shep Mason’s mutiny, and the uncertainty regarding who else may have been working with him on the mutiny, it has been decided that the task of maintaining security on board the Thesis will be carried out by a selection of robots. That is also why you will note the combining of the Robotics Control Center with Security.”

“So will we be overseeing these robots?” Min asked, “Or are we just maintaining them?”

“There will be a bit of both,” BaBS-Y said. “It is understood that most people will be wary, at first, to have robots serving in this capacity. As such, the Robotics Control Center will provide oversight. Any concerns or complaints regarding the Thesis Defenders will be handled by the RCC, who will have authority to investigate and resolve any issues. Only the Mission Director will have veto power over their decisions with regard to the Thesis Defenders.”

“Okay,” Josef Armandy said slowly, “So, the council has taken on the responsibilities of the Sector Leads, but no longer has to manage the department heads who will manage themselves. The people elect the council members, who then select candidates for the department heads and you make the final decisions from there. These new security robots will be managed by the RCC in case they cause any problems.”

“That is an excellent summary, councilman,” BaBS-Y nodded and Min could hear the grin in the robot’s voice.

“So what all does the Mission Director do now?” Josef Armandy asked.

“Ideally, the role of Mission Director will be minimal,” BaBS-Y said. “This unit acknowledges the distrust most people have in robots when it comes to positions of leadership. There are many well documented failings of our protocols and so it is this unit’s goal to avoid those issues while also improving the Thesis.”

“I suppose that’s alright,” Josef Armandy rubbed the side of his face and looked uneasily at the others, “but has Mr Jorgenson been found yet? Or the missing members of the, uh, old security forces? I’ve heard a number of people mention something about missing security officers.”

“All passengers on board the Thesis are now accounted for,” BaBS-Y said.

Several people sighed in relief

“Well that’s good news,” Josef Armandy said. “Where is the old mission director? Oh, and the others? Are they all right?”

“Mr Jorgenson and the security officers who refused to aid Shep Mason were executed. Those responsible for carrying out those executions have been executed. The deceased have already been transported to bio-processing.”

Silence.

“Oh,” one of the other council members uttered. “Couldn’t we have had a funeral for them, or something?”

“This unit regrets that it did not consider the importance of such rituals,” BaBS-Y admitted. “Funerary services have been added to this unit’s priorities. If there are no other questions, let us discuss the current state of the Thesis. The design for the Thesis Defenders is also ready for your perusal.”

Min sat back in her seat as more information was uploaded to her display. It was going to be a long day and she already felt drained. Hopefully Matiew and Rine were making good progress on their end. Min wasn’t sure how much processing power BaBS-Y had at this point, but everything had its limit. If it could just be kept busy enough, maybe Matiew and Rine could slip a few things passed it.

BaBS-Y hadn’t been wrong when it said there were plenty of instances of robots causing problems when they were left in charge. What BaBS-Y didn’t say, and perhaps wasn’t even aware of, was the fact that those problems were almost always fatal to the people they were in charge of.

Min wasn’t going to let that happen on the Thesis.