DAY 1 (PRE-INTERNATIONAL DATELINE). NOVEMBER 15TH, 2059: EVENING
DAY 2 (POST-INTERNATIONAL DATELINE). NOVEMBER 16TH, 2059: DAWN
With little fanfare, Andrew and Kate crossed the international dateline in the Jetstar. The dateline created in the mid-Pacific, roughly around the 180-degree longitude, stretches East around some islands that prefer the new day. Traveling East to West adds a day. Although very early November sixteenth in the morning, it was still evening back home. Andrew messaged Sally who was preparing a meal and expected Ray soon.
o o o
Nano and Ray stared intently at a hex on the gameboard. The board showed ripples around Nano's previous placement as if a pebble were dropped in water. However, within the hex square was a holographic fire rising around the piece and a voice from the board, "a natural gas explosion has occurred," a random event.
Battlegon, the strategy game, is played using a simple piece placement mechanism that exerts a type of territorial control based on the piece's health as calculated by the board and various modifiers. It is played on a dynamic hexagonal board that projects features and status based on player's actions. Players use tokens, similar to Go or Checkers. The board incorporates these to display the player's zone of control while assigning resources within the zone to the owner. The game is played with 2-6 players, each at a leg of a star projecting around the large circular center. Almost similar to the Chinese Checkers starboard, which was invented in Germany using the name to elicit additional excitement. Additional pieces are earned by players through the economic and resource system.
Nano's commander was badly wounded but would survive. However, its zone of control was significantly diminished allowing Ray an opening for a play against the southwest province.
"Hah! Wow, now that is unlucky," Ray said looking up at Nano. Nano was wriggling, slightly. Ray first noticed the wriggle during his post-upgrade training with Wrimo. It appeared to originate when Nano hit processor limits. Ray postulated that some of Nano's stability processing was being used for his analysis engine until the instability hit some sort of correction criteria. Overall performance metrics of Nano's grid was reduced during the wriggle. Ray wondered when Nano might discover the inefficiency. He also wondered if he should attempt to intervene.
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In this game, Nano's logistic processing capacity was significantly restricted. Ray, even in his youth, had consistently defeated computer players. Nano and all of the lab's AIEs (artificial intelligence entities) were enabled with free learning privilege. Outside of the lab, such privilege was atypical and widely discouraged. At certain levels of demonstrated capability, AIEs became heavily regulated by the Planetary Intelligence Bureau (PIB). For each AIE, its intelligence level was required to be measured and published at regular intervals. Only a few research facilities could enable free learning in standalone entities, and these were limited to basic research enhancing a narrow list of planetary initiatives.
Ray helped Nano improve his game by playing with him, answering questions, and describing the rationale behind some tactics and strategy. Nano's processor was artificially limited to an approved level and his gameplay continued improving, often beating non-physical computer players running within the facility's mainframe at nearly twice the intelligence level.
"Well Nano, you overreached I think. You really have to account for random events especially in the early game or your defenses will be weak and you fall into a survival mode," Ray said blandly while playing his commander in the area, greatly expanding his influence.
Nano tilted his oval, orb-like head looking up from the board. His translucent head color changed from a cerulean blue to a slightly golden yellow and back.
Ray suppressed a laugh behind a stiff grin. His grin faded quickly on Nano's next move. "Whoa, not bad," said Ray as he took in the board's new position. The single moved swayed the balance of power significantly as Nano pushed forward instead of protecting his flank. "Where’d ya learn to do that?"
Nano glowed a deep blue but did not respond.
"Well, not bad at all and surprising. I think you are playing a wild hunch, eh? You know that can be very reckless." Nano briefly lit yellow again as he looked at Ray intently, waiting for the next move. "Okay, fine. You win... this time." Ray said after analyzing the move's full context. There were several ways Ray might still win, but the position and clever play impressed Ray, especially given the advantage of the recent random event. He was also a little ashamed that he didn't see the weakness in his center position. Also, perhaps most important, Ray was hungry.
"Race you to the kitchen!" Ray said and was off in a flash into a full run laughing heartily.
Nano re-oriented upright leaning back in reverse to get around the table before quickly turning. Tilting forward nearly thirty degrees forward, he accelerated quickly towards the running boy.
"Wait for Meeeeeeeeee!" whirled Wrimo as he followed Nano out the door of the game room.