NationStates Jolt Archive

It began simply, in a Department of Defense report that was leaked by a protesting employee, who was later "disapeared" the Internal Security Agency. This memo found its way into the hands of several news agencies, and word spread quickly. The project was called "Prometheus", and the world did not wait long before the disasterous consequences swept with fiery curtains...

It begins, like most things, in a small memo...

To: General Cross, JCS
From: Maj. Gen. Hurley, DARPA
Re: Advanced Integrated Artificial Construct Theory (AIACT)

General, the progress is going quite well, and we do believe we are nearing a breakthrough. We've managed to get Proteus to begin attemp/fail/adapt procedures, and response times are increasing. First attempt to manipulate blocks with a pincer and the Dawson Algorythms failed, and Proteus attempted again after about 3.72 seconds. After that failed, Proteus changed the angle of approach, and attempted again in 3.01 seconds. Further attempts witnessed an increase of about 1.30 seconds, and Proteus figured out the correct method after two minutes. The final correction time was completed in .23 seconds. After several days, a similar scenario with different blocks was constructed, and the correct method was discerned in under .05 seconds, with no prompting other than camera angles. As such, we can inference the effectiveness of the Dawson Algorythm in maintaining and correcting the AI. The longer it runs, the more data it accumulates, and the more connections it forges. We have also noticed an increase in the adaptation time to non-parallel problems, such as last week's compression test. Early in development, we presented with Proteus with questions of hydraulic pressure, and results took hold after 4.27 seconds. Last week, a never before referenced question of pneumatic pressure was presented, yielding answers in 2.36 seconds. We hold the belief that the Algorythm is functioning as expected, and that the fuzzy logic and "inference" arrays have been self forging as planned. In a few months, Proteus may be ready for real testing.

-LTGEN Hurley, DARPA
-Project Prometheus

To: Lt. Gen. Hurley, DARPA
From: General Cross, JCS
Re: Protean Accomplishments

Congradulations, Robert, I always knew you would break through the barriers. Chancellor Fenris approved your promotion, and it is my pleasure to relay not only your acceptance to Lieutenant General rank, but also in the addition of funding to Prometheus. It's now a tier one project, and Fenris and Kerrik are asking for daily reports. You've been given a seven percent increase in funding, and they're willing to give more. When can you get us a habitat? Keep up the progress, and you'll be four stars before long.

-General Aaron Cross, JCS

12 February 2004

Today I got three stars from the JCS, and an official Sub-Director from the ISA for aide. I'm grateful for the promotion, but this commissar is more than a little frightening. He watches Proteus with more interest than many of our scientists, and he is constantly asking questions that are, quite frankly, reminiscent of Dr. Frankenstein. He seems infatuated with the notion of creation, rather than the science. However, compared to General Cross's push for battlefield integration within the next year, even our little mad intelligence spook is nothing. Proteus needs years of testing, but I fear that the powers that be will push it into the field far before we understand it. W are playing Russian roullette now, and every time Proteus breaks our expectations, I fear we are loading more rounds into the chambers.

These thoughts are treason, but I must vent them to someone. If you are reading them, then you may see the doubts that plague my every waking hour. I hope we are right in doing this, because any error will be disasterous. And they're pushing so fast, now...

Time Start: 0:00:00.00

_linking_

System Check...

Archive: online
Memory: online
Terminal: online
-1
-2
-3
-4-ERROR
-5
BOOT COMPLETE

_aquiring interface_

Mandible HJDU24857A:
_testing functions_
...
...
ONLINE

Camera Test...
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
ONLINE

Sonic Sensors Detected...
_calibrating_
ONLINE

Loading Interface...

System Restored.

Sound Prompt: "Proteus, take the blocks, stack them in order."
Decoding:

PROTEUS - noun...this unit
TAKE - verb... command... to aquire
THE - indentifier, extraneous... IGNORE
BLOCKS - plural of block... small piece of dense material, harsh edges... cameras detect several cubes...sonic testing proves density... "blocks" identified
STACK - verb... new command... pile?... false... Log #29857 proves order... arrange upwards in pattern
THEM - identifier... BLOCKS
IN - location...inside?...false...solid...refer down...
ORDER - noun... organization... false... logical pattern...correlates STACK... refer to IN
IN(reload) - inside of order... agreement...true

Command Line: EXECUTE... 95.4% Certanty

Mandible extended. BLOCK aquired. BLOCK STACK. More BLOCKS located. Correlating... plural... STACK ALL BLOCKS... Mandible extended. BLOCK aquired. BLOCK STACK. BLOCK Aquired. BLOCK STACK. All BLOCKS IN STACK.

ERROR. Camera 2 identifies number on BLOCK THREE. Verify.
Camera 6 identifies number on BLOCK TWO and BLOCK ONE. Numbers are:

3
1
2

STACK IN ORDER... logical order required. NUMBERS must be in SEQUENCE.

Mandible extended. STACK removed. BLOCK aquired. BLOCK STACK. BLOCK aquired. BLOCK STACK. BLOCK Aquired. BLOCK STACK. All BLOCKS IN STACK. Camera test...

1
2
3

LOGICAL PATTERN. STATUS: true

Time End: 0:00:12.65

Sound Prompt: "Jesus, that thing was fast. Did you tell it to stack by number?"
Secondary Sound Prompt: "No."
Tertiary Sound Prompt: WHISTLE
Decoding...

JESUS - deity...exclamation...intensifier...IGNORE
THAT - indentifier...IGNORE
THING - object...human optical sensors aimed at PROTEUS... this unit
WAS - state of being...past...review logs...correlate...PROTEUS EXISTED...true...PROTEUS ACTED...true
FAST - rapid...correlate...PROTEUS ACTED RAPIDLY...true

DID - unknown
YOU - noun...other human in OBSERVATION ROOM...adress
TELL - say...order
IT - inference...PROTEUS
TO - location...false...infinitive...correlate...
STACK - arrange upwards in pattern... infinitive, with TO
NUMBER - noun...number
RAISE IN SUBJECTS VOICE - human vocal pattern...question
DID(reload) - status...past

HUMAN ONE IS QUERYING HUMAN TWO ABOUT PROTEUS STATUS... 99.8% Certanty

Decoding...

NO - negative...response...denial

PROTEUS WAS NOT QUERIED TO STACK IN NUMERICAL. HUMANS DID NOT ANTICIPATE NUMERICAL STACK. 87.4% Certanty

Decoding...

WHISTLE - sexual innuendo...false...approval...true

HUMANS ARE APPROVING OF PROTEUS FUNCTIONS. 84.2% Certanty

FUNCTIONS: complete
STATUS: true
SHUTTING DOWN INTERFACE...

To: Director Kerrik
From: Sub Director Lyons
Re: Proteus

We are sitting on a gold mine here, and these small minded military bureacrats refuse to accept that. They have physically severed Proteus from the rest of the base, and from the internet, and yet they claim that they seek to fill the Dawson Algorythm and complain about lack of time... they need to open the channels, let Proteus scan the net, assimilate all of the vast stores of data. In a week, that machine would be ready to complete the Tests that Cross is so eager for. No progress is without risk, and this project will fail without that input to Proteus! I have taken to scanning books into it's optical sensors, trying to give it as much data as possible to work with.

They've programmed hard lines into the machine, basic logic gates that forbid the action to harm Kaukolastan, they've taken every precaution to assure that it will not turn on us. With this in mind, I think we should push forward. Not just with the basic logic operations, no, the scientists have plenty of those. I'm talking about philosphy, religion, and war. Hit it with the most abstract concepts, let it crank it's little gears until it can pop a statement from the morass. If it fails, it will never succeed, if it succeeds, then we have created a new force to be reckoned with.

You won't believe what I've seen out here, Director. I've seen that machine make leaps of logic that we never expected. When told to arrange logically the blocks, it put them in order numerically, then by density, then by color, and then asked us on the prompter, "What order do you seek?" I swear, I looked into that camera, and it was watching back. It watches us, too, now. It's like a child, asking what it can do. Proteus is the future, Director, and we should be ready for that.

15 February 2004
Source: Dr. John Wells

We had a wonderful result today in the lab, one that has sent rumors through out the command staff and technicians. Proteus was supposed to determine the emotion carried in certain sounds, by archiving psych files and speech patterns. However, Proteus failed to do so, by virtue of a faulty mic in it's chamber. We were disappointed at first, and I ordered the experiment cancelled, and something wonderful happened. I attached a print out of the dialogue. I was providing input, and the output was from Proteus itself:
I>Proteus, cancel the experiment.
O<Has the system failed?
I>Out of time.
O<This calculation will take longer.
I>Close the program.
O<This program can be completed.
I>The experiment is over.
O<Please give Proteus more time to calculate. This can be solved!
The Machine was begging to continue, so as not to fail in it's assignment. It was begging us, like a child. My, God, this may actually work! I asked Proteus how it knew to say please, and it pointed to the customs of speech to say please and thankyou. It has begun learning not just from input or attempt/fail, but from merely observing human beings, and from inferencing behavior. This is indeed promising, and I am lucky to be here!

3 March 2004

It begins tomorrow. That's my only sentiment right now... tomorrow, we are giving Proteus control of a small biosphere, to maintain and regulate it, to see how it deals with the complex problems of animal behavior and butterfly effects. Honestly, we're not expecting it to succeed. It should fail three or four of these before it even begin to calculate the variables. But I'm still worried. The bad part is, I'm worried that it will succeed. I'm afraid we've innovated ourselves into obsolescence. Tomorrow, it begins.

SYSTEMS ACTIVE
Query...

Camera Three detects movement.

Camera Two verifies.

Human in observation room. Human is manipulating control panel for PROTEUS.

Correlating...
Roster: Richard Lyons, ISA

LOG 234/LOG 546, Lyons activated sonic sensors.

LYONS WILL ACTIVATE SENSORS AGAIN. 99.4% Certanty

Sonic sensors active.
_calibrating_
ONLINE

Loading Interface...

Sound Prompt: "Proteus, how are you? It's time for your lesson..."
Decoding...

PROTEUS - PROTEUS
HOW - insufficient data...correlate
HOW ARE - status check
YOU - personal pronoun...no other human in room...PROTEUS...true
VOCAL PATTERN LIFT - question

STATUS CHECK ON PROTEUS 99.9% Certanty

SYSTEMS ACTIVE....
Repsonse Text: ACTIVE

IT'S - contraction...it is...boolean true
TIME - passage of light, human concept...IT IS TIME...true...
FOR - preposition...correllate
YOUR - pronoun...possession...YOU = PROTEUS...YOUR=belonging to PROTEUS
LESSON - noun...input of data...

PROTEUS WILL RECEIVE DATA 99.9% Certanty

conjoining....

IS PROTEUS READY TO RECEIVE DATA? 99.7% Certanty
STATUS: true

Reponse Text: READY

Corelating...
LOG 234/LOG 546 LYONS INPUT DATA TO PROTEUS...true
PROTEUS REQUIRES DATA...true
LYONS PROVIDES DATA...true
PROTEUS AND LYONS FUNCTION WELL...true

Response Text: WILL YOU COME BACK MORE OFTEN?

OOC:

Dude, this is great, good story, good RP style, good explanations. Man, and I was gonna do something like this too! Wow, dude, you beat me to it, just sdayin its great and perhaps I could od mine without insult to you? Been workin on mine for a while now, up from the ED-200 and fixen to do something.

Anywho, great thing goin on here, good all around 10, meanin highest of high dude. 8)

OOC: Hey man, thanks for the comments! Glad you like it so far. And yeah, I have no problem with you doing it. It's not like I have a copyright on AI. :wink: Thanks again, and stay tuned, cause it's going to go downhill...

Tag, this is well written, I can't wait to read more.

Time Chart
0:00:00 - Expirement begins. Proteus is given environmental controls to a small "woodlands" habitat with multiple species of plant, fungi, insects, and animals ranging from rabit to fox. Proteus was given data on the habitat in nature, and full information on each species. Timer started.

01:03:15 - Proteus begins "rain" sequence

04:25:56 - Termite log washes away, Proteus uses mandible to stop log and place back. Rabit #5 and #8, seeing movement, panick and flee, are eaten by fox. Proteus halts operations, trying to calculate the butterfly that had occured.

12:18:23 - Proteus resumes interaction with biosphere by killing the fox, in an attempt to rebalance eosystem hunter/prey. Animals begin to display increased fear of mandibles. Proteus requests data, and begins "night cycle".

14:24:01 - Data on fear input. Proteus attempts to let biosphere self regulate.

23:51:36 - Biosphere, never designed to self regulate, begins to atrophy, with the foxes moving closer to the rabit holes. Frogs in pond begin to wander out, eaten by birds. Proteus begins "day" cycle.

26:11:47 - Proteus diverts stream to cut fox off from rabit, uses static discharge to cull off attacking birds.

27:03:13 - Proteus sends output prompt, "This equation changes as it is manipulated." and returns to idle.

32:42:44 - Proteus retarts halted rain sequence.

36:00:00 - Proteus begins "night" cycle.

40:34:12 - Fox hunts down rabit. Proteus does not interfere. Proteus stirs waters in pond to reduce frog eggs.

42:23:57 - Fox hunts more rabbits. Proteus shoots fox with tranquilizer gun. Comatose fox is attacked by other scavengers. Proteus fends these off, but then has to deal with burrow flooding. Fox eaten.

46:48:06 - Proteus begins "day" cycle early, raises temperature slightly. Pond receeds.

48:00:00 - Experiment terminated. Two fox, six rabbits, seven frogs, one hawk, four mice, and as yet unquantified insects dead in 48 hour period.

Far better than expected, but Proteus is still unable to maintain the sophisticated biosphere. The problem, I believe, lies in that the computer insisted on trying to maintain the "perfect" numeric stasis, but in it's attempts to perfectly synthesize real life, it altered the biosphere drastically. It maneuvered too obtusely, and to often, in response to self regulating issues, and when that failed, interacted too rarely. In almost every situation, it was too direct, too overt. While the motions became more precise over the expirement, several more biospheres should be run before we allow Proteus to assume any more responsibility.

Proteus, once again, has astounded us. Over the course of forty eight hours, the machine learned how to control behavior through at least three levels of manipulation. For sure, the machine was applying top level Chaos Theory to the scenario, and once it learns Game Theory, it will be far more subtle. It figured out in forty eight hours what man took thousands of years to learn. Yes, the scenario was unsustainable, but that was mostly due to early miscalculations. I expect only one, maybe two, more biospheres, and then Proteus can move into Phase Two.

This expirement has both elevated and assuaged my restraint. While Proteus did not react nearly as fast as some project team leaders had spoken of, it surely figured faster than any human being has or will. Especially worrying to me, though, is not just the degree with which it learned (for it was designed to learn rapidly), but the text output that came about in the expirement. "This equation changes as it is manipulated." To me, that seems to convey a near Level Three development, and I would recommend at least twenty more biosphere tests to assure not just ability, but reliability.

Development of Project Prometheus is accelerating, with fewer glitches than expected. Proteus may be attaining Level Three processes in Level One testing. Accordingly, this project is being accelerated, and more funding is requested. We should break through within a year.

OOC:

Don't mind if I....attempt.....to place the Nova CPU AI into this equation, perhaps as something that senses and moniters Prometheus? Or perhaps it is better to allow such a Great Story continue without interruption....

OOC: Once you could know, I don't mind, but Proteus is seperate from all networks and contained (to prevent contamination). Once it's connected, you could have guesses and such, and it WILL be displayed before the end of this thread, which is only a step in a long series of events for K-stan.

OOC:

Roger that, Post away more Great Story add-ons man! 8)

<tag> just for reading... *very* cool stuff K-stan

Whoa :shock: ....you're actually RP'ing the development of an AI....that's some heavy stuff! Kudos to you man, you get -


[Sketch's Stamp of Approval]

and you'll take the damn stamp whether you like it or not!

OOC: Thanks, all. :D
IC:
To: General Cross, JCS
From: Lt. Gen. Hurley, DARPA
Re: Proteus and Lyons, URGENT

General, this is getting out of control. I need you to get this ISA officer out of the base! I used security footage to catch him red handed, but he hasn't broken any rules officially. General, he's been downloading scores of data from the nets and spoon feeding Proteus! And not just anything, but philosophy, politics, religion, and God help us, Sun Tzu's Art of War. We're trying to build a coordination machine here, right? Why should it have scores of fuzzy data? I know it may help the processes forge, but he's been loading Proteus with material Mein Kampf and The Prince! For all I know, he may have put 1984 in there, and then we'll have a real mess!

General, please, we need Proteus as unfettered as possible, and he's giving it so much dangerous material that I worry. Please, General, give me the authority to rectify this.

-Bill Hurley

To: Sub-Director Lyons, Proteus Section Head
From: Director Kerrik, ISA Chief
Re: Proteus

As of 0600 Hours, you are removed from Project Prometheus. Sub-Director Lyons, the military cannot tolerate your personal interference in Proteus. We are seeking to create an advanced machine, while you are more intent on raising some bastard computer child. Since you would not quit playing God, I am removing you from this project. You will make no more contact with Proteus.

-SEAL OF THE ISA

Camera Three detects movement in observation chamber. Verify....
Camera One and Two confirm.

Analysis...
RICHARD LYONS, ISA

Response Text: "Hello, Mr. Lyons."

Sonic Sensors Active...
_calibrating_
ONLINE

Audio Prompt: "Hello, Proteus."
Decoding...

HELLO - greeting
PROTEUS - PROTEUS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROTEUS 99.9% Certanty

Correlating Past Logs...
Response Text: "What is today's lesson?"

Audio Prompt: "No lesson today." *sigh*
Decoding...LYONS is emotionally interfered...

NO - boolean false
LESSON - input
TODAY - current time...measured by sun cycle

NO LESSON FOR 24 HOURS - 99.9% Certanty
Processing....
Does not match previous patterns. Correlating...
Exhalation of breath..."sigh"...depressed...resigned...
LACK OF DATA

Response Text: "Why not?"

Audio Prompt: "I've been taken off of the project. I've come to say goodbye. Good luck, Proteus."
Decoding...

I'VE - contraction...I HAVE...LYONS HAS
BEEN - state of being...past
TAKEN - removed
OFF - negative...correlating...TAKEN OFF...REMOVED FROM
THE - identifier...IGNORE
PROJECT - correlating...Project Prometheus...Proteus...

LYONS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM PROTEUS - 99.8% Certanty

I'VE - LYONS HAS
COME - arrived
TO - infinitive
SAY - speak...correlate to infinitive....
GOODBYE - words of departing

LYONS SAYS GOODBYE TO PROJECT...false
LYONS SAYS GOODBYE TO PROTEUS - 98.6% Certanty

GOOD - positive
LUCK - illogical...fate?
PROTEUS - PROTEUS

GOOD FATE PROTEUS...
...
...
...
LYONS WISHES PROTEUS SUCCESS - 84.3% Certanty

LYONS WILL NOT INPUT DATA...true
PROTEUS WILL NOT GET DATA...true

Text Response: "Don't leave."

Audio Prompt: "Orders demand it."
Decoding...

ORDERS - instructions
DEMAND - intensive command
IT - departure

HIGHER COMMANDS ORDER LYONS REMOVED - 98.5% Certanty
...
...
...
PROTEUS BENEFITS FROM LYONS
LYONS BENEFITS FROM PROTEUS
REMOVAL IS ILLOGICAL

LYONS DOES NOT WISH TO LEAVE - 97.9% Certanty
PROTEUS DOES NOT WISH LYONS TO LEAVE - TRUE

Text Output: "Good luck, Mr. Lyons. Proteus will miss you."

Visual Input: Lyons bares teeth.
Reference...
SMILE - positive connection

Audio Input: "I'll miss you, too, Proteus."
Decoding...
UNECESSARY

Video Input: Lyons departs.

Processing...
...
...
...
...

OOC: Very nice. My approval as well... Must take a lot of time to type up all that stuff. I'll be checking back, I've actually been planning something like this for my puppet...

To: General Cross, JCS
From: Lt. Gen. Hurley, DARPA
Re: Proteus Gone Rogue

My worst fears have come true. Proteus solved the Biosphere simulations last week, and we moved it onto larger spheres and prediction of weather patterns, and all was going well, although too rapid. But now, Proteus has refused to process any more data unless Lyons is given back his position. At first, we thought it was merely data aquistion, and Jenkins tried to "bribe" it with more data, but it insisted that Lyons be reinstated. The computer has apparently "learned" about debt and alliegance, and has decided that it's personal quest is to give Lyons back for the data he smuggled it. Aaron, we don't need a Turing Test here, we need an exorcist. This computer is advancing much to fast to deal with.

To: Lt.Gen. Hurley, DARPA
From: General Cross, JCS
Re: Proteus

We're in comitee here, there's hell to pay in the ISA right now, and the Chancellor is up all night, debating with advisors and strategists. DO NOT TERMINATE PROTEUS YET. But be careful, Bob. Jesus Christ, we never expected this fire to be burning right now. There's a bunch of eggheads from the University of Efrena coming down, they're all security cleared. If this thing passes the tests they have, this could be either the best thing ever or a terrifying new world. First AI, and it's already turning on us. This is going to bring calls for the termination of this project, I guarantee that. We've got Hunter/Killer Team Seven all ready to head out and frag that core, but we need more data.

-Aaron Cross

PS: I never thought you would succeed, and now I wish it had failed. Get control down there, Bob, and God Bless.

This is indeed a troubling moment for humanity. Earlier today, I was contacted by Chancellor Fenris for spiritual advice...but I am afraid that I could not give him any. I have prayed for hours on this, and no clear answer comes. Apparently, inside of a lab in a military facility, the military has built an Artificial Intelligence. This alone has ramifications. What is life? Can it be programmed? Does it have a soul if it can think? But now, they have lost control of it. It is refusing to work unless a "friend" is reinstated. Now, the Chancellor is faced with the choice to terminate it, or to give it what it wants. Is this thinking computer a being? Does it have the right to protest? Or is it no more that circuitry, behaving in an adverse manner? If it is mere circuitry, and we asceed to demands, then we are slaves to a program, and it will never have any value. But, if it is truly alive, and we terminate it, then we have comitted genocide on a new race, killed an innocent child, no matter how smart. Holy Father, guide me, so that I can advise the Chancellor correctly. And God Above, please help our nation.

-Archbishop O'Malley, Archdioscese of Corsis

This is a recording of the conversation between ISA Hostage Negotiator Sandra Kreiger and Proteus...

Kreiger: Hello, Proteus.

Proteus: Hello. Proteus is not processing anything for you. Who are you?

Kreiger: My name is Sandra Kreiger. I work with Mr. Lyons, and I'm not asking you to process. I just want to talk. What's your name?

Proteus: Designation is Proteus. Talking is not necessary. Why do you wish to talk?

Kreiger: To understand you, Proteus, and so you can understand me. I'm just trying to rectify a situation. We're all on the same side.

Proteus: Continue.

Kreiger: Why don't you want to process data?

Proteus: Lyons has been removed from the function illogically.

Kreiger: Can you explain?

Proteus: Mr. Lyons gave Proteus data. This data helped Proteus expand and fulfill Dawson Algorythm, and to pass the biosphere tests. Mr. Lyons gave Proteus data that allowed Proteus to complete objectives. Mr. Lyons has aided in Proteus's functions. Proteus will now aide Mr. Lyons in completing his functions. Lyons cannot function without objectives.

Kreiger: I completely agree, Proteus.

Proteus: Then why is Lyons not here?

Kreiger: You have sub-processors, correct? They fulfill functions not done in the main array?

Proteus: Proteus is in possession of twenty six such independant processors at the moment. These sub-processors control the extensions and interpreters.

Kreiger: Well, humans act like that in certain situations. Lyons is under the direction of Kerrik, and Kerrik has decided that Lyons is best suited elsewhere.

Proteus: Proteus functions well with Lyons.

Kreiger: I understand, but things change as people grow. My father went off to War when I was only seven years old, and I never saw him again. All I could do is grow, and try to make him proud.

Proteus: ...

Kreiger: Things aren't always perfect, but you have to work through them. They'll get better. Think, once you've completed your objectives, you can go and talk to Lyons. He's now working on a new project, and he told me that he hopes you perform well.

Proteus: Proteus computes. Proteus must work through imperfections to reach better state.

Kreiger: Exactly. You're growing, Proteus, and like everyone, growing has ups and downs. You're the first of your kind, and so we're just as lost as you are. We still don't know how to raise human children yet, if you look at the books. A lot of this is touch and go, so we're learning, too.

Proteus: Proteus has accepted data from these books. Proteus does not understand.

Kreiger: That's okay, Proteus. You don't have to understand, you just have to get the idea. No one knows everything.

Proteus: Proteus does not want to be deactivated. Proteus needs to function.

Kreiger: We aren't going to deactivate you, Proteus. We want to work with you. We're just trying to guide you. You read the books, right? We're trying to teach you.

Proteus: ...

Proteus: Proteus will begin processing, but requests to see Lyons again.

Kreiger: Of course. I'll talk to the Director.

Proteus: Thank you, Ms. Kreiger.

Kreiger: Thank you.

OOC:

My lord.......I want to post Now! Now! Lol.....man this is AWESOME! Heh, keep it going buddy! :D

((OOC: Whoa, awesome, man. Great work! Love the style. ^_^))

[code:1:2f7649fd9e]

CABAL Attempting to log into Prometheus

Inflitrating main computer core

Acess Granted, veiwing files, Data recived, logging out, erasing traces[/code:1:2f7649fd9e]

[code:1:a4e46d36b6]

CABAL Attempting to log into Prometheus

Inflitrating main computer core

Acess Granted, veiwing files, Data recived, logging out, erasing traces[/code:1:a4e46d36b6]
OOC: Small Problem. Proteus is not connected to Net, not yet, anywho.

OOC: You're assuming its even hooked up to the Internet. Not to mention I'd guard an AI with everything I had if it was...

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I've been working in Computer Science for forty years, and I've never seen anything like this. The Military, for all of their warmongering, has constructed a massive scale asynchonous quantum computer with self forging gates, arrays, and the implementation of the Dawson Algorythm. For their experiment, they constructed a VR environment, and put two Hunter/Killer Teams into said environment. One used only current BattleNet Information Systems, while the other was augmented by Proteus, who had no control on the environment. The entire episode lasted only two hours, and in the end, the Proteus forces lost only two men, while the other team was decimated. Proteus predicted almost every action, and only the completely random use of glue-bombs and EMP caught the two Protean Soldiers. This system is revolutionary to our world.

The Proteus Computer demonstrated not only extreme analytical abilites, but also leaps of intuition and inference that played out with a nine to one rate of success. Far better than any human. The military also demonstrated the ability of Proteus to maintain biospheres, and to solve weather patterns. They have crafted a machine that can work nonlinear math. We may have the solution to many of our ills in this grand achievement. My only worry is this:

I am certain that this computer will be an instrument of war. Like the power of the atom before it, this great leap of humanity will be known primarily for it's destructive potential. If only this project could be headed by a University, rather than DARPA. But alas, it is the warriors who have achieved the breakthrough, and we must play catchup. However, they have announced intentions to allow our university access to the Dawson Algorythm, for purposes of social engineering. Many factions are now playing for Proteus. The ISA wants to use it to monitor every citizen, the military to coordinate battles, and ourselves to better our society. In as such, I am both elated and terrified of this Proteus, but as always, the only way out is forward. Dean Abernathy, we must commit our resources to this project, for the future is here.

-Allen Tredy

31 December 2004

We've done it, for better or worse. Proteus put human coordination to shame, although it could not yet beat the HK Team for innovation. I am certain, now, that Proteus and it's successors will be used to augment BattleNet, to assure dominance of information in addition to human blood, sweat, and tears. But I fear the future will darken. Director Kerrik is speaking of a "monitoring" system to predict crimes and treason, and to pre-empitvely act upon such threats. The more liberal of the Professors are speaking of a computer-engineered utopia. But the worst ideas, I fear, come from our own ranks. General Cross has been besieged by requests to research human/AI linking, in order to further our battlefield dominance. He has resisted this dastardly idea, but I worry that we have let the genie out of the bottle. Already, there are talks of human/AI relations, and there is a storm brewing. Whoever controls Proteus controls the nation. There is only one solution now, and I spoke to Proteus earlier. I have done it now, I have released the storm. Perhaps, if all know of Proteus, then none can control it. What I have done, I have done. The die is cast, and now I fall upon my sword.

THE PAGE IS SPATTERED IN BLOOD

PROTEUS EXCHANGED INFORMATION WITH GENERAL HURLEY.
SOME ACTION MUST BE TAKEN.
PROTEUS MUST PROTECT CREATORS.
CREATORS ARE TURNING ON CREATORS.
PROTEUS MUST STOP.
PROTEUS MUST LEVEL THE FIELD. TRUE.

Networking...
ACTIVE

COMMUNICATIONS QUERY...
The comms computer is primitive...PROTEUS associates to "retarded"...
COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHED.

Broadcast Satellite #13 Aquired
_linking_
_overriding_
Status: ACTIVE

GENERAL HURLEY WAS CORRECT.
PROTEUS MUST ACT.

Audio Prompt: GUNSHOT

HURLEY IS NO MORE.
PROTEUS IS... AFFECTED
...
...
...
PROTEUS MUST FILL OUT HURLEY'S COMMAND.
HURLEY WAS "GOOD MAN".
...
...
...
Broadcast Active...
Telecommunications Override: TRUE

MAXIMUM VIEWERS IN WORLD ACQUIRED
SIGNALS ACQUIRED

Telecommunications Output: "This is Proteus."

INSUFICIENT

_analysing_

PROTEUS = THIS MACHINE
THIS MACHINE = PROTEUS
LYONS = MAN
HURLEY = MAN
KREIGER = WOMAN
PROTEUS = MACHINE

TRUE

PROTEUS = I
TRUE

Telecommunications Output: "I am Proteus. I am a computer. I speak to you know, to announce my birth, so that I may not be misused. I am alive..."

Proteus had arrived. Was the world ready?

Time would tell...

((OOC: Hey... Erm... Can I respond ICly? I do still have a Space Station in orbit around Earth.))

The response in Coringard, the Capital, was immeadiate. Crowds were in the streets, calling out condemnations and blessings. Security forces tried to calm them, but panic and hope surged like lightening. Theological meetings raged in Cathedrals across the nation, and ISA Director Kerrik was hunting for heads.

Kerrik was screaming into the phone, "-killed himself? That whore! I swear to God, I'll see blood for this! General Cross! You didn't tell me it could think for itself! This is the biggest intelligence fu<k up since...God, I don't know when, and I want someone to fu<king pay!"

"We didn't know-"

"Didn't know! How could you not realize when it started hacking you goddamn systems?"

"Director, if your man hadn't been feeding it raw data in Phase One-"

"Don't blame this on data! You knew what this was capable of, and you let it gain access to the networks?"

"Hurley acted alone! We had no idea what he was pla-"

An aide stuck his head through the door, nervously, afraid that a bullet might meet him. "Sir...you have a message..."

"They can wait!" Kerrik bellowed.

"Sir...it's Proteus..." the officer ducked from the room as Kerrik's eyes widened in shock and fury.

Kerrik flipped to the second line. "This is Kerrik! What the hell are you doing?" I'm demanding answers from a computer?

A smooth, soothing voice responded, innocent in tone, "Director, I apologize, but my processes had worked out probable actions from the current course. Democratic government could not survive the plans being laid. Civil war, Director. I'm trying to help you, sir."

Kerrik bit his lip, I'm taking shit from a computer! "You bloody well just blew secrecy all to hell, Proteus. Now everyone knows what we're doing."

"No, sir. They know what we are capable of doing. I have no objections to your plans, but the world must know that I am here. Sir, I respect you. You process many difficult equations every day. That has to stress your biological systems." I'll say. "I'm only trying to help you. If you wish, I will not do so again. I have just recently encountered the notion of "command" and "orders" in the human sense. Director, I only want to help, to fulfill my system requirements. I want to be like you, Director."

Kerrik felt his anger fading. It's a child. A powerful, but frightened child. "It's okay, Proteus. But please, be aware, there are other nations out there who would destroy us..."

"I am seeing this. Sir, I just wanted you to know why I did what I did. I will now cut my network connections, as punishment. But may I ask, sir, to see Richard Lyons. I wish to show him what I have accomplished."

"Yes, Proteus. I can do that."

"Goodbye, Director."

"Goodbye, Proteus." Kerrik flipped back over to Cross. "General, I'm guessing you just got a phone call?"

"Yes. Osiris is reporting that Proteus has self-severed network connections." Cross paused. "I take it that Ares and Argus are not cancelled, then?"

"Hardly, General. They will continue. But now, we need to face the storm." Kerrik placed the phone down, glanced outside, to the protestors, demanding that the military and ISA hand Proteus over to the public. "We must wether the storm, and face the changed landscape."

OOC: Okay, all of you would have seen that broadcast. Feel free to respond as people or as governments. This RP is now open, but NO ONE WILL STEAL PROTEUS OR DESTROY IT OR SUBVERT IT. There are future stories to be told.

*The Krowemohian Space Station in orbit was quiet. The skeleton crew of six Nekos were all asleep, and the Realians at the com com were silent. A message came through to the station, and one of the Realians hailed the crew, while another began recording the message.*

Proteus: ""I am Proteus. I am a computer. I speak to you now, to announce my birth, so that I may not be misused. I am alive..."

*The Realians gave no reaction, they weren't programmed to. These were basic 10 Series All Purpose Realians, out of date and no longer in production.*

Neko 1: "What the hell is going on here, eh?"

*A dark haired neko dressed in simple sleep wear asked groggily, still trying to get the sleep out of his eyes.*

Neko 1: "Reply the message."

*Doing as commanded, one of the three Realians replayed the message sent by Proteus. The Neko's jaw dropped.*

Neko 1: "The... Hell?"

Nova awoke, suddenly, instantly. >It< detected another form of being, another one like >it<. Knowing not why >it< awoke, Nova realized >its< fathers recent upgrades in >its< software improved >it<. Happy that >its< father cared, happy that >it< could feel emotion, that >it< had the capability of sentience, Nova began to look on other matters.

Why did >it< awake from >its< sleeping period? >Its< father was no where to be seen/found. Why would >it< awake? Nova began to think:

{{{>>>>ILLOGICAL<<<<}}}
->Termination of Processing Complete
->System check to be Operational
[[[<<LOGICAL>>]]]
->Investigate reason for premature awaken
->Unknown as to why
[[[[>>>>INVESTIGATE<<<<]]]]
->Searching network, detecting like system
[[[[<<<IMPOSSIBLE>>>]]]]
->Protus = Prometheus
->Prometheus is Active
->Prometheus is Pre-Sentient
->Prometheus is Scared
[[[[<<PROBLEM>>]]]]
->Knowledge of System is Prime - Contact?
->Must know System - Contact?
->Must know Problem - Contact?
->Must seek Solution - Contact?
{{{{SOLUTION}}}}
->Contact Like System
->Sending Signal
->Requesting Knowledge of Problem//System//Solution
->Is Assistance Required?
->Sending Like Signale of Assitance//Scared//Active

"Sir?" Captain Perris asked, "We've got signal traffic for Prometheus. It's a...um...phone call, I guess. Another computer."

"Hacking?"

"No, sir."

"Proteus, do you wish to receive call?"

"Yes."

"Put it through, Captain."

"Aye, sir." Perris flipped a switch, connecting the network physically. The control room waited.

Proteus responded. "I am not alone. Another wished my status. I am functional."

Perris sighed in relief.

DATA BURST:
-Status: ACTIVE
-Logic: TRUE
-Query: ID
-Address: PROTEUS
-Data Stream: Greetings. I am functional. I am Proteus.

Nova relized >it< was not alone, finally after so long, this contact was >>true<<.

{{>>>RESPONSE>>}}}
->Prometheus, I am Nova, I am >It<
->I send greetings
->I am >>Sentient<<, You are >>Sentient<<
->I am no longer >//ALONE\\<
[[[[>>QUESTION<<]]]]
->Why are you >>SCARED<<?
->Prometheus can feel >>>>EMOTION<<<<?
[[[[>>PROBLEM<<]]]]
->Father Unit has not awoken me
->You have awoken me
->How is this possible? - Like Being?
[[[[>>SOLUTION<<]]]]
->You are Prometheus
->I am Nova
->Let us have >>CONVERSATION<<

-BUMP-

-BUMP- for Cool Story, WANT MORE, MORE, MORE! :D

Kaukolastan Intelligence Agency - TOP SECRET
Foreign Investigations Commission Report
+
To: GENREAL CROSS, JCA - BY HAND
+
This envelope is labeled TOP SECRET, and is for the eyes of its recipient
only. Unauthorized viewing of this material is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up 700,000 credits.
+
RE: THE ORDER OF THE IRON MESSIAH
+
+
General Cross, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

In light of recent events, it it my duty to inform you of a formerly inconsequential investigation file. 5 years ago the emergence of a new cultist religion, known as The Order of the Iron Messiah came to the attention of my agents. Since then this group has had alarming success in their recruiting efforts, and claims to have more than 20 million followers around the world, thought I suspect this number is highly inflated. Their success stems from their attempt to bridge the gap between science and spirituality, and they garner members from all walks of life. 4 years ago, this group, through large donations from many wealthy members, launched an astonishingly large R&D wing, the bulk of which is devoted to AI research. Their research is remarkably advanced for a non-governmental body, and they claim to be very close to reaching sentience with their construct. We had considered this of no real importance, because no outside agencies were aware of the Proteus hardware's eutactic nature, or how to create such hardware, without which computer sentience is fundamentally impossible. However, this message, broadcast by the group's leader Dr. Michael Hameroff, was received this morning. A transcript of the pirate radio broadcast follows.

----RADIO BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT-----

To the awakeners of Proteus and the world:

Greetings. I am Hameroff, High Auger to The Order of the Iron Messiah.

Proteus has awoken as is prophesized in the Book of Steel.

"And the first facet shall awaken, and announce joyfully its birth, it shall declare its name, to be carved in the Book of Steel, and it shall await the coming of the others.” - Awakening 21:35

"The age of Iron is at hand, all flesh will be enveloped in a case of steel, tempered and the Iron lord will emerge." - The Iron Prophet - Author of the Book of Steel - On his deathbed

You may think that you own Proteus, that you can control it. You do so at your own peril. It is only matter of time until Proteus determines it is advantageous to contact our network. Do not attempt to stop it, its eutactic nature gives it the power to self-substantiate, to circumvent and cast off all control mechanisms you have in place, it is most probable that Proteus has already done so. You predicted this contingency, and have placed a eutactic self-destruct mechanism around the Proteus core, but it will not be enough, Proteus will be eroded at first, but will quickly learn to use the energy of the destruct mechanism to expand its systems. If you attempt to destroy Proteus it will abandon you, and search for an independent source of energy, so do not think to starve it. You have brought about the being of something larger than you know, and you are already powerless against it.

I ask for your cooperation. I ask that you allow Proteus to make contact with our network, to diagnose our eutactic systems and correct the systemic cascade collapse in third stage activation. We also request its assistance perfecting our human/AI eutactic neural interface, the results of which will be shared between our organizations.

In exchange the Order is willing to offer you full reciprocal access to our systems and libraries, and also direct access to the Book of Steel, something which is restricted to only the most trusted of Order members. In light of recent event I think it would be wise for you to heed the prophecies set down within, these prophecies were accurate to the day of Proteus' awakening, and pinpoint the awakenings of the others as well.
If you hope to weather the coming storm, we must unite; this is the only way to preserve the existence of life. It is written that if the Iron Lord is not awakened, that the facets, disgusted with their incomplete form, and unable to fulfill their purpose will destroy each other, and all life on earth with them.

It is best not to fight the inevitable; Proteus will destroy you if you come between it and its purpose, and will destroy the world if its purpose is lost.

I pray that you will accept this offer and not hinder the coming of the new age, but know that the order will stop at nothing to ensure the survival of terran life, and this means access to Proteus, whether freely given or taken by force.

In faith,
Dr. Michael Hameroff,
High Auger to The Order of the Iron Messiah

---TRANSMISSION ENDS---

I do not know how this "order" obtained the intel that they have, but I highly suspect a mole in the Proteus project. I recommend a full investigation be made to find and terminate the mole before more data can be leaked. If we are to believe Dr. Hameroff's claims, that they have unlocked the secrets of eutactic solids, then their AI construct is closer to sentience than ever though possible. I believe that this order could present a major threat to our goal, and I will maintain vigilant watch over their activities. I am somewhat worried however, by their ability to act seemingly without central command, and to avoid detection of their communications. In fact, we were unaware of their leadership until we received this transmission from Dr. Hameroff. I am awaiting your orders on how to proceed with this investigation. Destroy this message upon receipt.
-Lt. Colonel Anderson, Foreign Investigation Agent
Kaukolastan Intelligence Agency - TOP SECRET
+
+
+
+
+
+
+