Deep underneath Atlas' weapons division, the Atlesian scientists and leaders are developing a fully aware, and fully adaptable AI, dubbed the Promethean Knight. A potential successor to the exalted Atlesian Knight.
After months of simulation, and years of development, the lead scientists prepare to share the updates with the project's head. James Ironwood.
James Is dispatched to the underground bunker to determine field testing candidacy of the third generation defense system. Progress is slow as this was is a skunk works operation.
Multiple simulations in the AI's combat software yielded results of automatic activation and autonomy. The solution was to go back to familiar territory, and shackle the AI with hardware - a body of its own.
To improve combat effectiveness, the platforms were given synchronized awareness. Whatever one sees or analyses, they all do. Further improving coordination and combat effectiveness.
James Is descending the elevator to the bottom of the shaft/bunker, and on a Scroll reviewing previous log updates. The elevator comes to a halt and opens. He's greeted by the project's co-developer, Roux.
Ironwood asks Roux what the latest is.
Roux somewhat reluctantly says that the biggest challenges are operational limits. He notes the Promethean Knight can only operate at nominal efficiency for one hour, thirty minutes at best, and one hour at most at 100% output.
Ironwood deflects this by saying they have options for a more viable power delivery system.
Roux skeptically inquires as to what he meant by that.
Ironwood devilishly states that he has been spending time initiating transactions with the U.N.S.C to procure a superior internal power supply.
Roux, somewhat offended, beckons the question of why develop a power system if you're going to seek a replacement.
Ironwood casually responds by saying that he thought effective run time wouldn't be viable, but is worth pursuing anyhow. He emphasizes how he had a contingency in place anyhow.
Roux mentions that the U.N.S.C has been a hermit territory for the last couple of decades and typically keep amongst themselves, and that its unusual for them to be willing to part with their highly coveted technology.
Ironwood intently says that Atlas' weapons division is committed to ever striving advancement, and has shown a great deal of political and socioeconomic support to the U.N.S.C, and has made a simple requisite order as a show of good faith.
Ironwood asks to see Cerise, the project's lead developer.
Roux mentions that Cerise is running the Ataraxia software simulations, and requires concentration in doing so.
Ironwood sharply responds in saying he doesn't recall any such thing.
Roux recites a response that it's a high-level decision that not only allows each platform to be aware of what all others within proximity are doing, but also allows them to come to different conclusions on how to handle the threat, giving them more dynamic behavior. He finishes by saying it was something implemented just today.
Ironwood acknowledges this, and heads to Cerise, who is running the software on five test-types connected to a central server.
Ironwood approaches Cerise and asks as why only five Prometheans are here.
Cerise greets Ironwood, and follows up by saying that there is an entire fleet of platforms in the deeper later storage facility.
Ironwood asks how many operational instances of the AI are ready.
Cerise notes that the AI is self replicating, thus in theory infinite. But only five have been pulled at this current time.
Ironwood asks if they're in any condition to take commands.
Cerise sheepishly affirms this.
Ironwood asks if anything is wrong, to which Cerise states that they're virtually complete outside of field testing, and that he's been withholding this information until such an appropriate time arises.
Ironwood cheerfully says that it's splendid, and he intents to take two for basic functionality and possible field testing.
Cerise agrees to this enthusiastically, and unhooks a pair of Prometheans from the hubs, and they slightly hunker down when released.
Cerise draws his scroll and links his scroll to the released Prometheans to activate them. Their crevices glow a blazing orange.
Ironwood approaches the pair of Promethean Knights and asks them who he is.
The Promethean to the left makes a stuttering sound, and says that he is Ironwood. James. Human. Atlesian General.
Ironwood focuses his attention to the one on the right, and asks it to identify his status.
The Promethean states that Ironwood is established as friendly, as is all Atlesian forces.
Ironwood tells the pair to follow him into the elevator.
The Prometheans stand fully erect and step forward. Ironwood asks Roux who is across the room as to how tall they are. Roux shouts that they're just over three meters tall.
Ironwood heads into the elevator with the Prometheans close behind, and the door closes. He sets the elevator to the bottom most level where the remaining platforms and their armory is. The elevator begins to descend.
Ironwood has either Promethean Knight at his sides, only hearing from them their mechanized whirs of their slow movement.
The elevator bottoms out, and the door opens.
Ironwood walks out into the even further underground bunker, to which an amassed fleet of empty Prometheans lay in the hundreds, connected to hubs.
Ironwood opens up a Scroll and establishes a clear connection to Roux, and asks as to how many are down there.
Roux specifies there are 250 production models.
The Promethean Knights split off and each approach a central hub with dozens of Knights connected, with a rack of rifles by each.
Ironwood states to Roux that they're investigating others.
Roux enthusiastically asks that he not interfere as to see what they'll do.
All of the housed Promethean Knights begin to light up.
Roux shouts over the Scroll passionately as to inquire what they're doing. He states the systems are lighting up like a Christmas tree.
Ironwood draws his sidearm and says they're all activating.
Roux hesitantly and almost in disbelief that isn't possible. As only five were allowed activation. He throws on at the end that their self-replication protocol cannot be self activated.
Ironwood sarcastically asks why did he include the self-replication in these five.
Roux simply says that he didn't.
The cables and wires hooked up to them systematically eject, and their blazing orange crevices slowly fade to red.
Ironwood asks if everything is normal.
Roux confirms that yes, the board is green and nothing is abnormal.
Ironwood asks if he's in any danger, to which Roux says, that they're operating within specified thresholds. But is unaware of their evolving capabilities. Roux immediately says afterwards to get out of there now.
Ironwood slowly backs into the elevator and asks what's wrong. After a pause, Cerise responds by saying that their sensors have picked up exactly 250 hostile targets in his perimeter.
Ironwood asks how many Prometheans are down here. Cerise shamefully admits there are exactly 250.
Ironwood hits the button to ascend. just as quickly, a Promethean says unidentifiable threat. Ironwood asks back to Cerise as to how are their IFF being re written and is it a long range hacking attempt.
Cerise says it's unknown. Ironwood closes the scroll and bangs on the inside of the elevator in fury.
A huge explosion is heard, and the whole facility shakes. The lighting in the shaft cuts off, and is replaced by red backup emergency lighting. The elevator reaches the main floor of
The bunker. The door opens, and Ironwood exclaims in a rage, as to what exactly happened.
Cerise says that they've breached the underground elevator they lifts them to the surface.
Ironwood staggers back, and repeats what he heard, followed by saying that they're loose.
Roux runs up and states they have to contact the council to report the incident.
Ironwood objects by saying that this is a black ops, and we would all be tipping out hand if anyone discovered them.
Cerise says that Atlas lacks a sufficient first response force to subdue them.
Ironwood states that we'll have to pay the U.N.S.C a visit...
