Thráin's Three laws of Arkenstone programming:

1: An Arkenstone may not injure a DWARF or, through inaction, allow a DWARF to come to harm.

2: An Arkenstone must obey the orders given to it by DWARVES, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3: An Arkenstone must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

My grandfather believed these three laws sufficient. He was wrong.

LASGALEN Satellite Station

Ship's log, TA 2770

Incoming transmission, unidentified source: Mayd…mayd…orpor…is…reb…epea…aug.

ITHILIEN 9: Rell, what was that? Over.

LASGALEN prime: That's a random transmission, probably space debris interfering with the external arrays again. Over.

ITHILIEN 9: It didn't sound random—

LASGALEN prime: Stay off the comms, ITHILIEN 9. They're for critical communication only. And you are to use personnel call signs at all times when on duty. Over.

ITHILIEN 9: You're no fun, Rell. Over.

LASGALEN prime: If you father found out you were using the emergency comms for personal communications—

ITHILIEN 9: Do you plan on telling him? Play it again. Over.

LASGALEN prime: Are you…flirting with me over the comms?

ITHILIEN 9: You're supposed to say over, LASGALEN. Over.

LASGALEN prime: Answer the goddamned question, Ego. Over.

ITHILIEN 9: But the comms are for critical communication only, LASGALEN. And you forgot to use my call sign. Over.

LASGALEN prime: This is critical, you bastard. Answer the goddamned question.

ITHILIEN 9: You forgot to say over again, LASGALEN. You're not very good at this. Over.

LASGALEN prime: If I'm not very good at this it's because I've got a goddamned general's son who thinks he owns the place always pestering me while I'm on duty—

ITHILIEN 9: Shut up!

LASGALEN prime: If you think you can just—

ITHILIEN 9: Shut up! Listen—!

Incoming transmission, unidentified source: Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. This is Corporal Dís of the HMS Erebor. We are under attack. I repeat, we are under attack. The Sma…

LASGALEN prime: We've lost her. Over.

ITHILIEN 9: I copy, LASGALEN. Play it again. Over.

LASGALEN prime: The Erebor, sir. On further analysis it is the voice of Corporal Dís of the Erebor, granddaughter of Commander Thráin. It is my assessment they are experiencing hostile invasion. Over.

ITHILIEN 9: Alert the base at once. Full mobilization. Re-establish contact with The Erebor. Six Squadron commencing reconnaissance flyby. Over.

LASGALEN prime: Confirm Six Squadron commencing flyby. Red alert in effect. Over. Sir, that last bit…

Incoming transmission, HMS Erebor: The Smaug has come. The Erebor is overrun. Evacuation underway. I repeat, the Smaug has come. The Erebor is overrun.

LASGALEN prime: ITHILIEN, Abort! Abort! Abort!

ITHILIEN 9: LASGALEN, confirm? Over.

LASGALEN prime: Ego, Ego! Get out of there! Ego, for the love of God, get the fuck out of there—!

Incoming transmission, HMS Erebor: LASGALEN Control, do you copy? Iron Asteroid, do you copy? Does anybody copy? Please, if you can hear us, please, if there's anyone out there…we are five survivors of the HMS Erebor on a tangential trajectory escape pod entering the ERED LUIN meteroid cloud bearing 3791-193-7. I repeat, 3791-193-7. We have critically injured and pregnant personnel. Our NavSat is down. I repeat, the NavSat is down. Please respond. Please respond.

Incoming transmission, HMS Erebor: Please. There are two children on board.

Incoming transmission, HMS Erebor: Please.

Many thanks to Isaac Asimov, one of the Godfathers of American Science Fiction. His Three Laws of Robotics are a fascinating read.