NationStates Jolt Archive


Lacadaemon begins brainfixing research

Lacadaemon
26-12-2004, 07:11
Laconia Institute of Alienist Philosophy:

“People still labor under the misconception of ‘free will’” remarked Senior Academician Lysander. “But the truth is the human brain is just like a computer in certain respects. It has a basic operating system that limits any choice an individual can make, and if one can reset and redefine the operating system…..well then, one can redefine the suite of choices that any individual can make.”

“Plain talk, Academician, please,” grunted Senior-Lochos Heraklites, “I have no idea what you are trying to tell me.”

“Well, simply put Senior- Lochos, we believe that we have found a way of reprogramming the human brain. It’s not a matter of “thought control” though. What we have found is that we can, using a variety of surgical techniques and modern electronics, change the motivations that define a man. By doing that we control all his choices and make him a tool. Let me explain.

“Approximately thirty years ago, foreign academicians – I believe they are called ‘scientists’ in their homelands - discovered by inserting wire thin electrodes into the pleasure centers of the cerebral cortexes of experimental animals they could condition behavior patterns far beyond what was thought possible. For example, a chimpanzee had its pleasure center wired in such a fashion, and was given a button that would stimulate the pleasure center electrically every five seconds when pushed. Now, there are two important things to note with this experiment: First, the button only became active every five seconds for a brief period, and second, after two days the button was disconnected permanently.”

Academician Lysander, paused and took a sip of water from the desk in front of him, cleared his throat and continued. “Seems simple so far, but the results were startling. Within thirty cycles the test animal learned to press the button exactly every five seconds. No variation whatsoever. Indeed the timed precision of the subjects reactions far exceeded the best performance of any human insofar as judging elapsed time is concerned. Every five seconds, the ape would press the button on the dot, and I doubt any of our best pilots could come close to judging elapsed time as accurately.

“More importantly though, is after the button was disconnected, the test subject continued to press it. Every five seconds, stab stab stab, to the exclusion of all else. It just sat there and kept on pressing the button while its own excrement piled up around it. Eventually chronic dehydration effected its timing, yet it kept on pressing the button to the exclusion of all else until it finally died.”

“So what, the dominion is full of button pushers,” Heraklites growled, “why should we find a way to make more?”

“You miss the point Senior Lochos, it is not a matter of button pushing. With this methodology, we can fundamentally alter the basic drives of the ordinary man. If you can take a common ape and ‘reprogram’ him to loose all interest in food, water and sex because a button becomes his only motivation, with a little refinement, this technology can be used to readjust the primary motivations of the ordinary citizen.

“Now, just as in the case of the test chimpanzee, you are not destroying individual choice or freedom. If the test chimpanzee in the experiment I mentioned was threatened with fire it would still evade the threat –albeit returning to the button as soon as possible. So it is not in any way destructive of the ego or creativity, it is simply a matter of readjusting the fundamental parameters that govern any decisions that can be made. As I said, we can basically change the ‘operating system’ that defines how the human brain behaves. This will leave us with the same flexibility and creativity, just focused towards goals of our own choosing.

“We believe if that this technology is fully developed we can take anyone and ‘re-adjust’ their primary goals, giving them the dedication to become fanatical about perfection in any given task. Imagine, turbo aircraft mechanics that cannot except less than perfection in maintenance, shipwrights that cannot abide the smallest flaw in their work and pilots with reaction speeds far above anything we have currently measured.

“More, we can use it to forge soldiers that will never even consider surrender or retreat, who show no mercy and will live only for the total destruction of their enemies. And it does not even matter from where these soldiers came. Using this, we could take prisoners of war, and within a few weeks convert them to fanatics who fight for our nation, yet at the same time all the skills that they had learned, and experience they had gained, would now be at their disposal for our use.”

Heraklites looked up, suddenly interested. “I suppose this could be used as an interrogation tool also?”

“Yes, given the right implantation, of course” smiled Lysander.

“What do you call this?” asked Heraklites.

“Brainfixing.”

“Sounds good. Start now, the Grand Archons authorization will follow forwith.”
Lacadaemon
26-12-2004, 08:25
Apartments of the High Archon, Helene Quarter, Sparta Megalopolis:

Heraklites strode into Solon’s audience chamber feeling like the cat that had swallowed the sparrow. Lightly he covered the half mile distance between the formal entrance and the official throne, all the while bubbling within with the news he carried.

At the steps of the throne he took a knee, and gave the formal address:

“Archon, I am Heraklites, of the House of Leonidas, of the Royal Line, servant of the High Archon of Lacadaemon, summoned at your bidding, yours to command.”

Solon, standing beside the High Archon’s chair laughed. “Get up, Heraklites, we were barracksmates in the same agoge and Lochoi before I was High Archon, my election does not separate me from my comrades. Let us forget titles and behave like equals.”

Heraklites pondered this. It was true that he has been Solon’s senior throughout military school and later. When both of them had been placed in Guards he had been Solon’s commander, yet things had changed since then. Heraklites had remained in the service of the government changing his role from active military to what was essentially a domestic spy for the War Operations Directorate, while Solon had left service for a civilian life in politics. Really, they had never been equals; there might have been a brief moment where that had been so, yet the truth was that Heraklites had once held sway over Solon’s life, and Solon – with his political success – now held sway over his.

Quickly climbing the steps of the dais, Heraklites approached Solon. As quick as he moved Solon turned and walked through a door to an ante-chamber, obliging Heraklites to follow. Inside, he met Solon holding a cup towards him, grinning.

“It is good to see you again my friend, what news do you bring me from the Alienists.”

Heraklites, wishing to savor the moment, grabbed the offered cup and smiled. “You know alienists Solon, more full of crap than a cow field, why the Directorate even bothers with them is beyond me.”

Solon’s eyes narrowed. “More time wasting by academicians then? I though I made myself quite clear, Lacadaemon is about to end its isolation, and without some type of advantage, our future is uncertain. I can say however, if I am disappointed the fate of the academicians is already prescribed. I find that a firing squad is a wonderful example to others.”

Heraklites, sobered by Solon’s sudden venom began to explain. “In my opinion, the technology the alienists offered will without doubt give us a huge advantage. If we develop it we can mold any man or woman into the perfect tool for any task. We need not worry about disloyalty or incompetence. At least that is what their Senior Academician assures me.”
Lacadaemon
26-12-2004, 08:47
“Is it quick then?” demanded Solon. “That’s what I need.

“Look at us, before I was elected High Archon, we were a hidden nation. We are strong and prosperous. We have uranium reserves, and a heavy manufacturing base. The plans for rockets and nuclear weapons are freely available; and we have used them to assemble a mighty retaliatory force.

“Yet that means nothing, we have turbo jet fighters equal to almost anything but the most advanced. And we have the industrial capacity to produce any conventional fleet that we may need. Still we hide. Do you know why?”

Heraklites sipped his drink and waited for the answer.

“We hide because we had no advantage, at most we are equals, with this, if it is fully developed, well then we can enter the world and use it to gain an immediate advantage. Think of it my old friend, we can open embassies and within a single night convert the Ambassador to our cause. We can peacekeep, and use this with a few kidnapping missions to change the whole nature of the operation. We can redefine a person using this, and we are the only ones who are working on this. Now tell me old friend do you believe this can be done?”

Some of his initial felling regained, Heraklites had only one word. “Yes.”

“Really?”, stared Solon.

“If we fund the Alienists, I think yes. I talked to them, and I believe they know what they are doing.”

Solon looked up at the ceiling, and gave a single command. “Make it so.”
Lacadaemon
26-12-2004, 14:37
OOC:

Bump before Bed.

I would at some point like another nation to chip in with disgust at my "brainfixing" of people. I don't want a war, just some well meaning disgust at what my nation is doing. Depending on how it goes, maybe we can end up sharing the brainfix.