Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Planet Earth
Year 2238 A.D
Frankfurt, Dominion of Germania, People’s Popular Commonwealth
“One of the mysteries of this Earth, where humans originally emerged, is the origin of our existence. Some believe it could be due to a celestial plan, while others believe in unpredictable evolutionary forces. Anyway, it doesn’t matter what the reason behind human creation is; the fact is, man is quite different from other living organisms. Whereas animals may have sharp claws or fangs or the ability to maneuver in dark environments, humans are blessed with the gift of cognition. It is this extraordinary capability that allows human beings to think, reason, and create beyond the capacity of any other species.
Cognition played a huge role in the human ability for adaptation. Instead of relying on pure instinct, humans survive on intelligence, innovation, and creativity. Instead of brute force by teeth and claws, we ordained tools like stones and spears for hunting and defending ourselves. Instead of using our eyes to see in the dark, we have tamed fire, a founding stone for all human technology. Awakening our cognition was of paramount importance because, from the moment we used a simple stone to open a clam, everything became easy, and this put humanity on the road to progress and development, becoming the dominant species in our world. Cognition still dwells with us today and has continued turning many fantasies into reality up to this time.
Across the sands of time, humanity traversed lifeless deserts, icy waters, and treacherous jungles, covering each continent on Earth. We saw empires rise and fall—from the Mongols’ futile effort to conquer the land of the Pharaohs to the Romans who conquered the known world. We saw the formation of the empire in the New World by the Spanish conquistadors, hegemony at the seas by the British, the Congolese and their fight against slavery. It is well known how the French resisted Nazi aggression, and how crimes were committed in the Vietnam War by the Americans. We witnessed the rise and total dissolution of the soviet giant. Today, when we are surrounded by skyscrapers towering over a kilometer high and have developed cures for nearly all diseases, yet our dreams do not stay on earth as we wish to venture towards the stars, not as Europeans, Africans, jews, catholics, hinduists, but as one – the human species.”
At the podium, Professor Edmond Behar is met with loud clapping noises across the room as he exits the auditorium of a school in Frankfurt, once the bustling city of the former Germany and now one of the three capitals of The People’s Popular Commonwealth, where he finds a seat at one of the tables outside. He takes a small box of apple from the cafeteria and begins to sort through some papers as he sits down. He was caught in thought, focused on one particular document when Mr. Adam, a fellow teacher, took a seat beside him.
“You did a good job inside there mr. Behar,” said Adam, ” i thought the kids wouldn’t understand a word of what you said, according to the other speeches you had done in the past.”
“Well, I made it simple and short so they could catch the idea; I’ve never been good at speech anyway,” said Behar with indifference.
“Well, at least you tried,” Adam chuckled, “Oh, speaking of it, I came across some surprising news today that even caught my wife off guard. Is it really true what the council claimed about the war on the Gobi frontline?”
“it depends of” Behar answered, “which part?”
“The new line of nanodroids the council will start creating to replace every type-Kedron with no exception,” clarified Adam
“Ah” says Behar, catching the question,” that, well, it’s true.”
“We are talking of thousands, perhaps even a million Type-Kedron, on both frontlines. Is that not a bit much?” Adam asked, “I mean, where would the council get all those materials? Not to mention, the budget implications are tremendous. You’re the expert in that area, so I was hoping to get your take on it.”
“No need to worry then. Since I’m on the development team, just get me the materials and follow the instructions,” Behar explains to him. “But yeah, I do feel that it’s a bit overblown. After all, Type-Kedron just started up what, five years ago? They’re still a relatively new line. And from what I’ve heard, we’re planning to use Type-Kedron as the material for the new nanodroids.”
“Well, at least they’re recycling,” Adam said, glancing at his wristwatch. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I need to grade for my next class. Nice to meet you, Mr. Behar.”
“Pleasure is mine,” said Behar, shaking hands with Mr. Adam and returning to order his documents.
Professor Behar was born in the times of The People’s Popular Commonwealth’s expansion, during the early occupation of the balkans. The gradual expansion of The Commonwealth took more than a century and reduced most nations of the earth down to five: U.A.R: United American Republics, P.G.C:Persian Gulf Coalition, S.P.D:Sino-Pacific Dominion, and The Commonwealth itself. But how did it all started?
At first, the Commonwealth started as an international coalition of small, second and third world nations for mutual protection and support, independent to most superpowers and other entities, such as the United Nations. With the time, followed by government overthrowns, civil wars, and a total bloodshed, the People’s Popular Commonwealth became it’s own nation, posing as a transcontinental, progressive, sovereign nation, holding strongholds in europe, northern africa, and oceania. It’s interventions ranged from anti-terrorism to fight against cartels and insurgencies in South American nations not yet proclaimed by the United Amerian States, a major superpower that sprouted across North America and the Caribbean, it’s expansion halted by the commonwealth’s own expansion.
Following several uprisings and coups, post-Russian estates joined the Commonwealth in order to hold against russian invasions as these were, at the same time, defending against the Sino-Pacific dominion’s expansionism, losing Siberia to the sinos. At the start of the 23rd century, Russia, along with other smaller nations, join the Commonwealth, along with the U.A.R., and African nations who stripped themselves from the decaying African Union.
Over the years, the Commonwealth’s enemies have piled up, forcing the Commonwealth to invest heavily in an advanced military arsenal. For several decades, robots have been pitted against each other in combat, but by the 23rd century, artificial intelligences govern entire missile defense systems, encrypted communication networks, and even the exoskeletons and prosthetics used by their soldiers. These soldiers now serve alongside combat robots and nanodroids, famous for their adaptability and resilience due to their advanced nanotechnology. It is the newest initiative by the Commonwealth: a clandestine program to refurbish Type-Kedron, the most advanced nanodroid on the front lines. The details are known to the council and the Department of Robotics alone, though this raises questions concerning what the implications of fielding these new nanodroids might be and just how high a cost in blood they might demand of an already bloody conflict.
[[Initiating N.A.N.O.W.A.R.R.I.O.R-characteristics report.]
- Nano-Size: Length: About 5,000 nanometers per nanite
- Operating System: NanoOS v047.7
- Processing Unit: Quantum Nano-Processor (QNP)
- Memory: NanoRAM, 1 Terabyte per square centimeter capacity.
- Power Source: Micro-Fusion Reactor, continuous energy supply using Biomass as fuel.
- Communication: Nano-Communication Array for fast data transfer.
- Sensors: Multi-spectral nano-sensors for detailed analysis of the environment.
- Mobility: Nano-Actuators for agile movement in any terrain.
- Protection—Physical and Cyber Threats: Nano-Shielding System.
- Adaptability: Real-time adjusting to the changing conditions via its Nano-Adaptive Algorithm.
- Stealth—Covert Operations: Nano-Cloaking Technology.
- Integration: Fully interoperable with current robotic systems for ease of integration into a multitude of platforms.
- Scalability: Modular design allows for easy expansion and personalization
End of Report.]]
N.A.N.O.W.A.R.R.I.O.R. V.047.7-Nano Autonomous and Offensive Weaponized Artificial Reintegrated Robotic Intelligence Operation and Reconaissance- is a stand-farther endeavor of nanotechnology, being the collaborative effort of the commonwealth’s most esteemed engineers, informatics, and renowned scientists coerced into service either by will or threat against them or their families. Such were the reasons why Behar and other experts were concerned by the potential danger of the new nanodroids, especially because of their usage of biomass as their primary energy source. Many nanodroids either use nuclear fission or biomass consumption, but in the event of mass deployment, N.A.N.O.W.A.R.R.I.O.R. nanodroids constitute a threat, capable of consuming such amounts of organic matter that would be beyond control. This famished consuming capacity can lay waste to whole ecosystems, thereby increasing their already dangerous potential for destruction by their already installed heavy armament.
Despite the possibility of being able to improve the nanodroids’ power source to reduce biomass consumption, the commonwealth has declared the nanodroids complete, despite the loud protests by those involved with the project. It was a coercive move: Behar had to choose between keeping his family alive and life imprisonment. He has faced a serious blow to his life, but he is better off than many others who have lost the means of making a living as a result of their involvement.
Not all Type-Kedron nanodroids have been returned to the factories as of now, for they are still pretty expensive. When a test of the new nanodroids’ weapons ability is conducted, Behar sabotages one, and it malfunctions while trying to regenerate an arm. Seizing the opportunity, Behar asks to have the ruined nanodroid returned to him so that he might study what went wrong with its operating system—no doubt, he says, to prevent similar mishaps in the future—a claim credible enough, coming from one of the creators. A truck delivers the malfunctioning nanodroid to his studio nestled in the Balkan Mountains, where Behar is about to tinker with it to get to the bottom of the malfunction.
While in his studio, Behar analyzes what he damaged:
[[Operative System Analysis ...]
[Regeneration Mechanism ....]
[Subsystem nano-regeneration: malfunction in repair subsystem]
[Impact Evaluation: Capability in self-repair loss can affect asset operational effectiveness and longevity.
Risk Factors: Without good regeneration, the nano-particles are exposed to degradation over time and eventually cause the nano-system to fail.
Operational Constraints: The System needs quick repair to avoid extra damage.
Proposed Patch: Perform a repair protocol, several hours required.
Action: Area separation of damaged parts to prevent the spread of damage. Retrieve the affected area through its maintenance port using the nano-regeneration module. Scan for diagnostics for damage assessment. Replace all the damaged nano-regeneration units with good ones. Perform a system-wide reset to accept the replaced parts. Observe for irregularities during reset operations.
Desired Outcome: The nano-system will be restored to its full regeneration mechanism, thereby maintaining the operational level of the equipment.
Temp Solution: Set up temporary solutions to minimise the immediate impact on operations for which it was designed.
Timeline: Repair is likely to take forty to fifty hours, depending on the nature of the damage and the availability of spare parts.]
[End of analysis]]
30 days after
Behar wakes up dizzy and hungry.
After a month of continuous work standing alongside a no longer empty room, over a cluttered workspace full of coffee mugs, remains of fast food, and monitors containing endless lines of code. His mailbox is flooded with messages from his friends, and one particularly disturbing notice from the Department of Development and Technology of the Commonwealth.
Still asleep, he stood at the mirror in the bathroom, facing a reflection of a man in his 60s: disheveled beard and eyes racked with pressure and tumult. It had been so long since he had last attended to his well-being, since far before his family had been taken hostage by the council, the highest authority of the Commonwealth, to coerce him into the nanodroid program. There, where he looked deeply into his own eyes, he did not see the fatigue of neglect; instead, he saw a fierce anger—at the council, at his creator, at The Commonwealth itself. A beep takes him out of his trance, a maid nanodroid makes him a coffee to wake him up.
The Nanomaid stepped carefully toward Mr. Behar, bearing a cup of coffee, steaming hot.
“Mr. Behar, I made you some coffee,” she announced in a soft tone.
With his tense expression, Behar sighed. “I told you not to come in here,” he murmured as he took a sip from the cup.
“Behar, part of my duty is to look out for your comfort and well-being,” the Nanomaid said, her voice soft but firm. “But you’ve locked yourself in here surrounded by all this...” Her gaze wandered around the piles of food containers that filled the room. ” All this trash. Many of your friends have come to see you, even a representative of the Council of the Commonwealth-”
Behar choked off his coffee upon hearing the notice, “The Commonwealth, council?” he stuttered, shaking. He bent nearer, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Oh no, they know, they know.”
Then, suddenly grabbed Nanomaid by the arm. “What did you tell them?” Behar deliberately asked.
The nanomaid seemed confused; “Do not worry,” she assured him, “I told everyone that you caught a cold and locked yourself in your room. Even Ms. Nineta made some chicken soup for you.”
Behar’s tense shoulder visibly relaxed. “Oh, thank you, seriously, thank you,” Behar answered kindly.
The nanomaid thought for a moment before she ventured, “If you don’t mind, Mr. Behar, why have you locked yourself inside here?”
Behar gestured to Nanomaid to bring the soup and led her into the hidden room deep inside his studio. A stolen nanodroid of the N.A.N.O.W.A.R.R.I.O.R. line was attached to a repairing station, countless lines of cables attached to its main system, extending through the floor towards several monitors in the room. A pipe with plants, fruits, and blended meat was attached to its head, fueling it.
The nanomaid’s eyes grew wide as she took in the scene. “What is all this?” she asked, flicking her eyes towards the nanodroid. “Is this one of the military’s new nanodroids?”
“Eh, yes,” Behar admitted, “It had a system malfunction, and I had them bring it here to solve the problem.”
The Nanomaid scowled upon hearing Behar’s answer, “But if it’s only a system malfunction, you didn’t need to carry it all the way here to your studio, unless…” Her voice trailed off as she surveyed the wall-mounted monitors. Countless lines of code were being written at the same time, all the information being directed towards the damaged nanodroid, “Do not tell me you are really doing this, Mr. Behar. An artificial intelligence like this, how?”
Behar was too engrossed in his thoughts to have heard her concern. He continued to upload the Artificial Intelligence he had been working on all this time in secret into the nanodroid.
[[ Failure analysis in loading Artificial Intelligence “Aurora” into N.A.N.O.W.A.R.R.I.O.R. NanoOS-system.]
[Error Code: AI_LOAD_FAILURE_001]
Description: The tried execution for loading of AI “Aurora” into the nano-system has failed.
Diagnostic Analysis: Compatibility Check: Nano-system architecture does not feature the capability of integrating AI in the form of “Aurora”.
Memory Allocation: Thinly spread memory resources do not allow for proper incorporation of the AI. Up to Par: Failures: The nano-processing units are unable to cope with the intense intricacies of the AI algorithms.
Interface Protocol: The nano-system and the AI module have an incompatibility in the communication protocols and their workings.
Risk Assessment: Operational Disruption: Incorrect integration of AI “Aurora” would lead to hampering the superior cognitive functions of the nano-system.
System Instability: In the event of incompatibility, it can create instability within the system, or the system can fail.
[Recommended Actions:]
These compatibility requirements have to be closely analyzed for the nano-system and AI “Aurora.” Make available memory resources and processing power if needed. An increase in memory has to be provided if needed, and processing power has to be increased if needed. There will be specific interface protocols between the nano-system and the AI. Let there be some other methods through the systems of AI integration, or it can be some other model of AI, which can be suitable based on the architecture of the nano-system.
Contingency Plan: Provide temporary measures to maintain the operational functionality of the nano-system while correcting the AI integration failure. On exploration of alternative solutions—manual control or simple cognitive algorithms—until AI integration problems are successfully solved.
Timeline: Isolation and resolution of AI integration failure could take more troubleshooting and development time; the timeline will vary depending on the identification and mitigation of underlying compatibility issues.
[End of Report.]]
Behard inhaled deeply as he spoke to his nanomaid. “The truth is, I am going to install an altered code onto that nanodroid there. After that, it will act as a carrier for a computer worm; it will propagate the AI into any other nanodroids of the same line connected through their central network. The firewalls might be kinda tricky to deal with, but it’s not something that the worm can’t overcome.”
At that point, when a loud series of clanks began to resonate throughout the room, the nanomaid paid attention to what was going on. The security cameras were capturing the image of a group of dark-dressed individuals, wearing military outfits, broke into Behar’s house, all of them wearing the sigil of the Commonwealth on their shoulders. The cameras were shut off, one after another, leaving the security systems blind.
“Mr. Behar, look at this!” the nanomaid exclaimed, pointing at the camera system.
Behar’s eyes widened as he watched the havoc on the monitors. “How do they know-” he said, his words cut off as realization dawned on him. “They’ve been watching me.”
“DT-44 planted, get cover!” one of the soldiers screamed, getting the rest moving. A second later, the studio wall exploded, leaving a thick cloud of dust.
In the chaos, Behar scrubbed at the code error and rapidly reloaded it onto the nanodroid, his hands shaking due to the desperation.
[[Reinstall AI code “Aurora”.]
[Error description: compatibility error of weapon system 002.]
Description: The weapon system compatibility problems the AI code “Aurora” faced during execution.
Diagnostic analysis: Weapon interface protocol: This incompatibility of the weapons system interface protocol and AI code “Aurora” for the nano system.
Weapon Configuration: Parameter mismatch—AI code versus those set on the weapons system.
Communication Failure: Unable to establish communication between the AI code and the weapons subsystem.
Recommended Actions: Verify Compatibility: Analyze in detail to ensure that the AI code “Aurora” is compatible with the weapons system.
Update interface protocol: Build and update the interface protocols for seamless communication between the AI code and the weapons subsystem.
Configure Parameters: Change the configuration settings in the AI code to meet the parameters of the weapons system.
Integration Test: Run the integration test to verify if the AI code is operational with the weapons system.
Execution Plan: Abort Running Operation: This action must abort the running operation instance of AI code “Aurora” and discontinue it from making further errors.
Interface to Weapons System: Enter the weapon system interface to start testing it for compatibility.
Update Interface Protocols: Develop new interface protocols and apply them in connecting to the AI code.
Adjust Parameters: Change the configuration parameters of the AI code in a form that interacts correctly with the weapons system, then restart AI “Aurora” to make sure all links with the weapons system are valid.
Contingency Plan: Temporarily provide for the continued operation of the weapons system while compatibility issues are being attended to. This shall be done via manual control or backup systems to ensure continued effectiveness in combat scenarios.
[End of Resolution Plan.]]
“No, no, not now, damn it!” Behar shouted desperately.
The soldiers arrive at one of the laboratory’s doors, and start cutting its joints with a laser cutter, due to the slow time, Behar can fix the code in the process.
[[Reinstallation of AI code “Aurora” after weapon system compatibility assurance and system 34 and 35 error fixing.]
Error Code: SYSTEM_ERROR_34 Description: Error detected in system 34, operational efficiency affected.
Diagnostic Analysis: System 34 Integration: Missing compatibility protocols between System 34 and the nano-system architecture.
Data Processing Error: Incoming data streams not successfully processed within system 34, has led to further disruption in operations.
Corrective steps: Compatibility Check: The requirements in compatibility between system 34 and the nano-system should be checked.
Protocol Integration Update: Create fresh integration protocols and install them to interact properly with the nano-system. Data Processing Optimizations: Roll out changes that optimize the processing of data from incoming data streams in system 34.
Integration Test: Perform the integration testing to verify that updates were functioning properly and were in a compatible condition.
Error Code: SYSTEM_ERROR_35
Description: System error has been detected; 35- not so good stability with the systems.
Diagnostic Analysis: Integration Interface: Incompatibility Detected between System 35 and NanoOS-system interface protocols.
Problem of the Resource allocation: Resources required by System 35 workings are not properly allocated in the nano-system environment.
Problem resolving steps: Interface Protocol Update: New interface protocol designs and implementations that would have seamless integration with the nano-system.
Re-planning of Resource Allocation: Allocate more resources in the nano-system to support system 35 operations.
Compatibility Testing: Ensure that the system can perform its functionalities without failure and crashing after every update.
Integration Confirmation: Weapon-AI Code “Aurora” System Compatibility: Make sure the weapon is integrated and works with the AI code “Aurora” in an automated way.
System 34 and System 35 Compatibility: Compact the errors in both systems 34 and 35 with fine-tuning, thus making it compatible with the nano-system.
Upload Sequence: Upload AI code “Aurora” to the nano-system. Monitor uploading to transfer and integrate all files together successfully.
System Reboot: A system reboot is to be done for updating with all configurations to be run for proper functioning and compatibility.
[Plan Resolution Complete.]
[System Restart.]]
N.A.N.O.W.A.R.R.I.O.R had been successfully executed with “Aurora,” but Behar was aware this would not go unavenged. He braced himself as the door was cut down, soldiers and Type-Kedron nanodroids stormed into the room, their presence ominous and threatening.
With lightning speed, the nanodroid in Behar’s laboratory stretched its arm, turning it into a blade and striking a commonwealth soldier with lethal precision. But the attackers were determined and started shooting at Behar and the nanomaid. Immediately, Nano turned arm into a shield and positioned in frot of them. However, due to an error in the programming, the shield was unable to let the shield retract out of its own accord, thus leaving Nano open to the deluge.
It was then that the bullets snatched the attention of the soldiers below. Just as Nano decided that this was the best time to act, a chunk of Nano broke off and crawled through the ceiling, assaulting the commonwealth soldiers from behind, destroying the type-kedron nanodroids. This secondary attack had them disoriented just long enough for the primary mass of Nano to face their attackers, turning his arms into semi-automatic Laser Induced Plasma Channel guns, and firing at them without rest, until none of them were able to get up.
With the soldiers taken out of the picture, Nano quickly got to ushering Behar and the nanomaid around the house as the two wobbled in desperation to leave the place. His plans were soon dashed, however, as another group of type-kedron nanodroids attacked them, with Nano directing EMP waves towards the nanodroids, burning their nanobot internal circuits.
However, before reaching the main entrance, a Tiltrotor aircraft appears from a balcony, and uses a Direct Energy Weapon over nano, disrupting his systems momentarily, using this opening to fire air to surface missiles towards the building, the continual strings of firepower blewing the house to total debris, and the shockwave sending Nano and Behar flying through the balcony, falling off into the void.
The nanomaid feared the worst. She waited for the trirotor to leave the area and reached the cliff where the balcony used to be, finding Behar’s remains in the wreckage, charcoaled, nothing remained of the blaze, but no sign of the nanodroid either. She was crazy with anxiety, and there was no means by which she could tell what had befallen either of them.
“Objective terminated,” said the trirotor pilot, “No signs of the nanodroid, sending ground team to the area,” with several individuals rappelling from the trirotor to the cliff to search for the missing nanodroid.
