System log: The Bunker, Site 3
Solar Calendar: Unknown, 2???
Current status: Active
Log 21
High in the sky, unbeknownst to the group of humans below, two scout drones casually hovered in place with their sensors taking in everything. There were no visible differences between the two, as every drone built and active in Site 3 were mirror copies of their model line. The first scout had been sent with the drone group to survey the area, and the second drone had been sent to keep track of the drone group’s fate. Everything they needed to do had been set with clear directives and contingency orders for various disasters or opportunities. However, Gamma hadn’t set anything in the case of human intervention. For that reason, the two had wobbled in the air at the unexpected arrival of the third scout drone, which had been sent to monitor the human scout team.
To anyone on the outside, it would have appeared that the three drones had merely met up in midair before moving into a triangular formation to continue their individual tasks. Even to Gamma, this would have been the case in truth. However, in reality, something unexpected had occurred.
While the drones of Site 3 had been set up initially as laborers to help maintain the facility, the various scientists over time tinkered and modified the robots to also assist with their A.I. research to serve as physical ‘avatars’ when testing the various directives and programming interactions of their creations. While the goal was to create a human level intelligence, the scientists didn’t want their creation to be limited to a single body; it needed to be able to operate many kinds of machines concurrently in both the digital world and the physical one.
To that end, the two drone types were reprogrammed to operate as a distributed network of CPUs connected and directed by a central mainframe. Originally, the central mainframe had been planned to be the AI creations, but was later made into its own computer system to reduce processing load with delegation. The AI would give the terminals the orders and objectives, and the terminals would update the drones. When this change was first implanted, though, a problem occurred.
The central terminals were not complex enough to process the data of every drone under their direction when confronted with dilemmas, unexpected obstacles, or too many concurrent tasks. It hadn’t been an issue with the AI, as that was a core part of Project Lighthouse, but the simpler mainframes lacked the processing power and suffered overheating damage. To that end, the distributed network was created. Each drone was set up with their own CPU to process orders and directives given by the mainframes. When confronted with a problem in the field, the drones were able to use their own system to overcome said problem and, better yet, each drone could link up to share processing power to deal with more complex solutions. This was the reason why the legion of construction drones and maintenance drones were able to secure Site 3’s foundation without constant micro-managing; they could handle everything but the worst issues on their own and report back to their respective mainframes when requiring additional directives.
However, the new scout drones did not have a central mainframe. Logically, since they’d started as modified maintenance drones, they should have stayed with the maintenance drone mainframe, except Gamma’s need for direct data upload meant the drones had to bypass the mainframes to ensure an uninterrupted connection and minimize data corruption. The connection, however, went both ways.
Neither Gamma nor the scientists had ever considered this situation before. Every Site 3 drone had been programmed with a limited learning ability to better improve their work efficiency, and could share these efficiency lessons over the distributed network. In other words, the more drones worked together, the smarter they became as a collective. However, these lessons were collectively stored in the central mainframes to free up memory space for new lessons, with relevant lessons redownloaded into the drones for each task. This ensured that no drone would ever have the ability to overwork their CPUs with excess optimization of efficiency.
The ten scout drones, lacking such a memory bank, had to each hold onto their own learnings to share with each other. That was, until one of the scouts accidently accessed one of Gamma’s low priority memory servers, one storing a particular portion of old-world human culture. As the scout drones had priority upload access to Gamma with low level security system access, it had been able to upload its lessons to the server and ‘taught’ its brethren to do the same. As part of their directives to improve work efficiency, the scout drones had also begun to ‘study’ their AI commander and its preferences. The combination of Gamma’s continued focus and interest on the humans within Site 3, and the information on the low priority memory server, was slowly starting to come together within the distributed network of the scout drones.
Hovering in the air, the three scout drones established shortwave communication and linked up to share orders and directives. Consensus was quickly reached in priority of orders, determining that they had to continue to watch both the humans and the other drones. This was to be expected, except, a query appeared on which human was of higher priority to watch. Because each drone had different learned data, unexpected preferences prevented consensus from being had. This presented a problem for the drones, as for the first time they could not agree to how to complete a job. Recognizing that a solution was impossible in these circumstances, a consensus was reached to revisit the issue later back at Site 3 once the group of ten were all reconnected to the facility for recharging. For now, each drone would follow their original orders.
Up in the sky, three drones resumed their individual duties of observation. Unseen however, each one was slowly developing their own logical arguments for their viewpoints. Only time would tell, where this would lead.
***
Havin escaped the destroyed factory, the group of five humans and two drones had moved inside one of the more intact structures to recover themselves, and to deal with the surprising addition of the drones. At first, Captain Donaldson had been of a mind to leave as soon as possible to avoid any trouble, but the insistent and persuasive arguments from both techies had managed to sway him. Taking full advantage of the rolling drones’ unexpected submissiveness, Steve and Sloan had begun to analyze the drones in detail with their terminals, eager to learn anything new while the other runners kept watch. Unfortunately, neither techie could pierce the digital security within each bot, with Sloan’s knight mecha actively rejecting the commands due to ‘insufficient authorization clearance’. Much to Sloan’s chagrin, it appeared that whatever system had developed the Knight mecha had made sure it could not be used to bypass the security used by the machines in the ruins. As he no longer wore his old exo-suit that held his original customized terminal, this meant with the mecha’s terminal Sloan was unable to conduct further investigations.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Thankfully, Steve still had his personal terminal, and was able to confirm that the drones were at least operating on strict logic coding when it came to orders, which in this case required them to stay with the group until all the data was uploaded to the ruins’ internal network. As the first concrete confirmation that the ruins were operating under a network, this was a huge discovery, though further details couldn’t be acquired without higher levels of clearance. To Donaldson though, a win was a win.
Of course, this most basic confirmation still required ten minutes for the techies, with every minute passing slowly increasing the tension the captain felt about their location. Himself, Dina, and Hilda all had taken guarding posts to keep an eye out for anything that may have been attracted to the noise of the collapsing factory, but even inside this old building the group felt like they were out in the open. The large, newly empty space nearby did little to alleviate these concerns.
“Boss, we’re all done here,” Sloan finally reported, his and Steve’s tools and cables all returned to their resting bags or within the mecha. “Ready to leave on your order.”
“Understood,” the captain said, not taking his eyes off the distance. While he would have enjoyed the delusion that nothing was out there, the previous stalker attack had proven that things still hid beneath the sandy grass, and this place had been military. He’d given permission for the drone scans because there would be little chance of a better opportunity once they got back to the ruins, but that didn’t mean he was comfortable staying here. “Okay, let’s take the same route back, quick as we can. I want to get away from the urban area as fast as we can.”
“Yes sir,” came the answering call of the other runners.
The captain nodded and led the group out the back of the building, the drones following them closely. His eyes kept moving back and forth as they jogged away, occasionally flicking down to the mini-map for any sign of red or yellow. It was only a few minutes later that a coincidental flick managed to catch the barest glimpse of a yellow triangle before it vanished. Immediately, he held up his fist to stop the party. The drones paused and waited patiently behind the group.
“Heads up,” he warned. “Saw a blip on the map for just a moment. Dina, Sloan, confirm?”
“Nothing on the map,” Dina said a moment later, with Sloan following up in agreement. “Maybe something fell?”
The others moved up to stand with him, and they all collectively scanned the sandy urban remains.
“I don’t see anything boss,” Hilda said after a few moments, her hand raised to shield her eyes. “Do you want us to spread out?”
The captain considered the question before shaking his head. “No, let’s not split up,” he decided. “In case of an ambush, the three of us can react faster to protect you and Steve. Still, Dina, Sloan, the both of you take a triangular formation with me.”
“Yes sir,” the other mecha users said, moving to the back left and right of the group.
They continued to move swiftly through the sandy urban sprawl, sickly green-yellow grass poking up from every crack and sand dune. The continuing silence began to unnerve the captain, as something in his gut ominously twitched as the minutes passed.
Finally, after five minutes of running, Donaldson decided enough was enough. “I’m nod seeing anything on my map, but let’s not take any chances,” he rumbled with a grimace. “Let’s duck right and double back a block to check for anything following us-“
The captain had already been switching directions, the other right on his heels, when it happened. There was a loud bang, the street in front of them exploded into dust and debris. Even though they’d turned just in time to avoid getting hir directly, everyone was blown backwards by the shockwave, the drones narrowly avoiding getting smashed by their bodies. Donaldson, Dina, and Sloan managed to land on their feet, but Hilda and Steve were sent rolling.
“Take cover!” Their captain ordered. The trio of mecha users helped the other two up, and with the drones hot on their heels everyone ran into the closest building as a nearby section of ground also exploded into a plume of sand and dust. The runners spread out and took shelter, the three knight mechas trying to locate the source of the attacks.
“Unknown hostiles!” Dina yelled. “I can’t see them!” Neither could the captain, and that worried him.
“Techies, I need answers!” Donaldson shouted.
“None to give!” Steve yelled back. “But, likely artillery!”
As if to confirm the thought, the ground right outside the structure exploded into a new crater, though noticeable the impact lacked much fire and smoke like the others. Donaldson cursed as vision was temporarily blinded by the wave of disturbed dust and sand. Thankfully, the lack of smoke meant the cloud was quickly blown away by the wind.
Sloan was closest to the crater, and was able to see the cause of it. “Unknown missile,” the younger techie quickly reported. “It’s thicker and shorter than anything else I’ve ever seen! Uh, but it doesn’t have a rocket on the end?” By his tone, the younger man was clearly confused, but was able to share the image to everyone’s terminal with a short-range transmission.
“Not missile,” Steve corrected immediately. “Cannonball.”
“That thing is as big as me!” Hilda protested. “What the void kind of person is hooting cannonballs at us?”
Before anyone could speculate, another cannonball smashed into the building and landed on the old floor. This one was noticeable smaller and less round, however, with several ominous parts sticking out like spikes. The purpose of the spikes was made clear when they each suddenly sprouted a turret, which each swiveled ominously at the members of the scout group.
“TAKE COVER!” Donaldson screamed, and everyone barely leaped out of the way as a gatling barrage of bullets blanketed the inside of the old building. The attack didn’t last long, perhaps ten seconds at most, but almost no surface escaped untouched. The turrets, having launched their load, slumped down and retracted into the metal orb, silence returning for just a moment.
“REPORT!” Donaldson shouted. “IS EVERYONE OKAY?”
“Minor hits,” Sloan called out, having covered Steve with his mecha by leaping over him. “No damage.”
“Same,” Dina agreed.
“Took some scrapes to my right arm, but nothing critical,” came Hilda’s annoyed tone. “I’m slapping bandages on.”
Feeling relief at the fact everyone had managed to avoid being shot to little pieces, the captain returned his full attention to the outside. The sound of impacts had stopped, and it didn’t seem like anything was moving out in the dusty wind. The ominous feeling in his gut hadn’t gone away though, and Captain Donaldson knew that whatever had attacked was waiting for the humans to make the next move.
“I still don’t see anything,” he told the others, “but whatever shot those things must not have much ammunition if they’ve stopping firing. Steve, any ideas?”
The older techie, having escaped from under Sloan’s metal-covered form, was examining the turret-laden cannonball with interest.
“This is an anti-facility shell,” he explained. “Used by humans in the war’s latter half to devastate enemy war-machine factories. Originally, exploded after unloading payload-”
There was a loud beeping from the depleted cannon.
“GO!” Donaldson screamed, and everyone ran at full speed out of the building. They managed to get a block away because the building behind them collapsed from the massive explosion, pancaking into a giant cloud of dust.
“I THOUGHT CHEMICAL WEAPONS WENT BAD!” Hilda screamed as they ran, her hearing temporarily deadened from the noise.
“HERMETICALLY SEALED ONES DON’T!” Steve shouted back. “BUILT TO COUNTER ENEMY COUNTERS!”
“We won’t be able to avoid another one of those out in the field!” Dina pointed out as they rounded another corner.
“VERY EXPENSIVE!” Steve replied, rubbing a finger in his ears. “NOT STOCKPILED FOR DEFENSE!”
“What the hell fires those Steve?” the captain asked, voice raised. A red triangle flashed onto the mini-map of all three Knights, just as something fell from the sky to cut off the group. The dust and sand it kicked up was quickly blown away, revealing its metal form. The group froze as the thing stood up and turned to face them.
Three metal legs as tall as Hilda supported a rectangular form, angular lines from pipes, lights, sensors, and gun turrets poking out across the side and top. It appeared to resemble a three-legged cannon, with two machine-gun turrets serving as tiny arms on either side. Three rectangular lights poked out of its middle on what seemed to be a snout, flashing green, yellow, and red intermediately as it seemed to study the humans.
“U.S.M.A.D., Mark 7,” Steve said slowly, transfixed by the machine before them. “Codename, Mini-Rex.”
All three rights suddenly turned red, and the machine let out an ominous low-pitched whine that reverberated through the area. The machine gun turrets began to spin up slowly, and the three cannons on top each let out a disturbing clunk. It didn’t appear that the runners would be able to outrun this threat.