This article researched/written by Erica (erica@netcon.net.au)

Zen responds to spoken commands so long as the person's voice pattern has been recorded.

"Harvest of Kairos"

SERVALAN: ... And you must be Zen.     ZEN: Affirmative.SERVALAN: So tell me, Zen, how does one operate this craft?     ZEN: One manipulates the controls, and the craft functions          accordingly.SERVALAN: Yes, and I've heard of your impudence. Now perhaps you          will tell me how to manipulate the controls.     ZEN: Manual operation is not possible without full pilot          training.          Automatic navigation and control computers will respond          to certain voice patterns.
    AVON: Let's get on with it, shall we? Introduce yourself to          Zen.SERVALAN: I am Servalan, President and Supreme Commander of the          Terran Federation.    AVON: Record her voice pattern, Zen. From now on you will          respond to her commands--on this one condition.SERVALAN: No conditions.    AVON: Sorry, too late. That instruction has to be completed by          me. Unless, of course, you care to dismantle Zen and          reorganize the program. I should warn you, I'm the only          person in the galaxy who can put it back together again.     ZEN: Please complete the instruction.SERVALAN: Wait. I'll make the condition.    AVON: You won't cut much ice with Zen.

Zen generally requires quite specific commands:

"Star One"

ZEN:  Liberator is approaching sector nine. Navigation      computers now require further instructions.

"Orac"

    ORAC:  Demonstrate as a command is insufficient.     GAN:  What does he mean?    AVON:  He means, like Zen, that he requires specific instructions.

"Volcano"

     AVON:  Yes, he's very efficient., but then so is the whole               ship. [Begins walk toward Zen.] The greatest single               factor is our armament, together with our main                    computer, Zen, as targets bear, main blasters will                fire.  Nine zero, full thrust.      ZEN:  Confirmed.

"Harvest of Kairos"

SERVALAN: Zen, is the Liberator equipped for planetary assault?     ZEN: Affirmative.SERVALAN: Good. The zone immediately below us, in a square of          fifty surface spacials.     ZEN: Clarify your instructions.

"The Web"

BLAKE:    Navigation computer to evasive action strategy.  Key          course and speed to optimum escape probability.            Basically, lose them, Zen.ZEN:      Confirmed.

Presumably Blake gets away with this one because he has been specific in theprevious sentence. However, on occasion, Zen will accept less specific orders:

"Pressure Point"

     ZEN:  State course and speed.   BLAKE:  Standard by Ten. Get us out of the solar system.     ZEN:  The instruction is imprecise.   BLAKE:  Just do it.     ZEN:  Confirmed.

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