230: Chapter 230 System Improvement: GDC Charter Revision
The lingering shock of the Global Defense Parade, like ripples from a boulder cast into a calm lake, echoed long in every corner of human civilization.
The roar of those steel behemoths, the heavy footsteps of the bio-mechs, the silent watch of the 'Hope', and Lin Mo's declaration that resounded across the universe were all deeply etched into the depths of everyone's memory.
But after the revelry came more sober reflection.
Three days after the parade, Lin Mo presided over an emergency expanded meeting of the GDA Supreme Council at the Ark.
In addition to the permanent members, the attendees included specially invited representatives from the major affiliated zones, legal experts, military commanders, technology elites, and core members of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.
The theme of the meeting was singular: revising the GDC Charter.
"The rebellion of Craig and McCarthy has exposed the loopholes in our system," Lin Mo began, his opening remarks direct and unembellished.
"The fact that the pluto project could remain hidden for decades, that the Freedom Day declaration could spread globally, and that even at the most critical moment of the Scavenger attack, there were people stabbing us in the back—all of this proves that our system is not yet perfect, our oversight is not yet rigorous enough, and we have not yet found the most appropriate balance between 'efficiency' and 'security.'"
He pulled up the 'In-depth Analysis Report on Systemic Loopholes in the Rebellion Incident,' a document thousands of pages long jointly submitted by "Fuxi" and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and projected it onto the holographic screen in the center of the chamber.
"This report details the entire process, from Craig's early infiltration and the disguise of the 'Underworld' platform, to the spread of the Freedom Day declaration, and finally the loss of control over the avengers. Every link, every loophole, and every opportunity exploited has been recorded."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across every solemn face present:
"Today, what we must do is conduct a thorough revision of our fundamental law—the GDC Charter—based on these lessons.
This is not to strengthen the power of any individual or group, but to ensure that no matter what internal threats or external challenges we face in the future, we have a sufficiently perfect system to protect the unity we have worked so hard to forge, and to defend the peace we have paid countless sacrifices to obtain."
The revision work lasted for three full months.
Every day, the chamber was filled with fierce debates, pointed arguments, and countless revisions that required starting over from scratch.
Every clause and every word was repeatedly scrutinized, debated, and voted upon.
The first major revision: Strengthening central command authority.
"At the most critical moment of the Scavenger attack, our command chain suffered severe delays due to internal sabotage."
Long Zhantian's successor, the new commander-in-chief of the North Heaven Gate fleet, a composed general named General Xu Rushan, argued his case at the meeting.
"We must explicitly state in the Charter that when a confirmed external threat reaches 'Red' level, the GDA Supreme Council shall have temporary, absolute command authority, unrestricted by conventional procedures.
This is not dictatorship, but the concentration required during wartime.
Just like a ship in a storm, there can only be one helmsman."
This proposal sparked fierce debate.
Representatives from Europa and the North American Affiliated Zone were extremely sensitive to the term 'absolute command authority,' fearing it would lead to an abuse of power.
Ultimately, after a two-week tug-of-war, a compromise was reached: wartime supreme command authority would be granted to the GDA Supreme Council collectively, rather than to any individual.
Any major decision would require the consent of more than two-thirds of the council members to take effect.
At the same time, a 'Wartime Oversight Committee' composed of representatives from major affiliated zones would be established to monitor council decisions throughout the process, and a 'Post-War Accountability Procedure' would automatically be initiated after the threat was lifted to conduct a comprehensive review of wartime decisions.
The second major revision: Internal loyalty review and AI oversight mechanisms.
"The fact that Craig could infiltrate the CIA for decades without being discovered, and that McCarthy could organize such a large-scale rebel network, shows that our personnel review and oversight mechanisms have serious flaws," an official responsible for internal security proposed.
"We must establish a more rigorous and normalized loyalty review system, especially for personnel in key positions."
But this proposal also sparked huge controversy.
"Isn't this just the 'thought police' that McCarthy and his ilk slandered us with?" a representative objected.
"We cannot become what they described just because of the enemy's smears!"
At the critical moment, Lin Mo stepped forward.
"Loyalty review does not equal thought control," he explained.
"What we are reviewing is not a person's thoughts, but a person's actions.
Have they been in contact with suspicious organizations?
Have there been unauthorized external communications?
Have there been 'reasonable' delays or 'accidental' mistakes at critical moments?
These can all be verified through objective data.
The monitoring capabilities of the system, combined with the independent review of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee we have established, can fully achieve rigorous oversight while avoiding abuse."
He added, "At the same time, we must establish an 'AI overseeing AI' mechanism.
'Nuwa' will supervise parts of the system's authority, and the system will in turn supervise 'Nuwa's' decision-making logic.
With the two AIs checking and balancing each other, plus the final arbitration of the human committee, we can ensure that technology will not be abused or maliciously utilized."
After repeated debates, this proposal was finally passed by a narrow margin.
The new clause in the Charter explicitly stipulates: the establishment of a 'Normalized Behavioral Pattern Review Mechanism for Key Personnel,' which is AI-assisted and human-led; and the establishment of an independent 'AI Ethics and Oversight Committee' to conduct regular reviews and random spot-checks of all core decisions made by the two AIs.
The third major revision: Special action protocols during crises.
"The success of the Broken Blade operation proves that in times of crisis, special forces and intelligence departments need greater flexibility and discretionary power," Night Owl said as a specially invited representative.
"But the loss of control over the avengers also reminds us that flexibility without constraints is a disaster.
We must clearly define in the Charter under what circumstances and at what level actions can be taken without prior approval through conventional procedures; at the same time, it must be clear that any action exceeding authorization, regardless of the outcome, must be subject to the strictest review afterward."
This clause had the least controversy.
Because everyone had seen from the madness of the avengers how terrifying 'unconstrained power' could be.
The final clause stipulates: the establishment of a four-level crisis response mechanism—'Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue'—with each level corresponding to different special action permissions.
Any action exceeding conventional procedures must be reported in detail to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee within seventy-two hours after the operation ends and be subject to a comprehensive review.
The fourth major revision: Final disposal rights for the sower project.
"The 'Hope' has already departed.
But who controls the remaining sower prototype ships and future construction plans?
Under what circumstances can they be activated?
If they lose contact with the parent civilization after activation, what principles should they follow?"
This question touches upon the core ethics of the continuation of civilization.
After a month-long debate, a historic clause known as the 'Seed Ethics' was finally reached:
"The sower project shall be jointly managed by the GDA Supreme Council and the 'Special Committee for the Continuation of Civilization.'
The remaining sowers can only be activated if it is confirmed that human civilization in the Solar System can no longer survive, and with the consent of more than three-quarters of the council members.
After activation, the AI core carried by each sower is granted 'autonomous decision-making power,' allowing it to choose between 'hibernation and waiting,' 'establishing an outpost,' 'awakening colonists,' or 'continuing to sail to find a more suitable target' based on the actual conditions of the arrived galaxy.
However, all decisions must follow one supreme principle: under no circumstances may they actively interfere with, destroy, or assimilate other native civilizations that may exist.
"We sow to continue, not to conquer," Lin Mo said when the clause was passed.
"If our descendants, on the other side of the distant galaxy, forget this, then they will not be worthy of the words 'human civilization.'"
Three months later, the revised GDC Charter was officially passed with an 87.3% approval rate in a global referendum.
That day, in the chamber of the Ark, there was thunderous, prolonged applause.
Everyone who participated in the revision, regardless of how many fierce debates they had had before, stood together at this moment, witnessing this historic moment.
Lin Mo stood on the podium, looking at the thick new Charter, filled with the wisdom and hard work of countless people, and complex emotions welled up in his heart.
"This is not the end," he said.
"This is just a new beginning.
systems will be perfected, Charters will be revised, but what truly supports this civilization will always be those who are willing to contribute to it, sacrifice for it, and hold the line for it."
He looked up at the eternal starry sky outside the window.