May 28th - The Network

by **ASHLIE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:53 pm

Code: Select all: Idle cycle routines. Scanning Network... 385 unique connected devices found 26 established connections CPU cycles dedicated to connections: 19% Analysis of conversations: No unique identifiers or communication patterns found Initiating connection termination.

One could say that the program was bored. Which was when one of it's sub-routines that were monitoring the network returned an alert of sorts.

Code: Select all: Unique device found Unique periphery found Unknown identifier Initiating tunnel on Port 80 Tunnel established Scanning periphery.

And that was about the moment SmallRonnie's laptop would suffer a drop in performance while the AI poked around and tried to determine the nature of the device connected to the laptop.

by **Veronica Freud** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:09 pm

Petite Ronnie, or Ronnie 2, or Ronnie Clone, or perhaps Veronica West as she had taken to call herself, was preoccupied with something other than her laptop. She was using another peripheral, the large touch-screen tablet with the little fruit logo on the back, working on the design for a cockpit that she had started long before her meeting with Ms. Quinn. In fact, she had her back to the laptop as it's other processes ground to almost a halt, Artemis merely sitting idle. The curious program would find a lot of subroutines related to voice projection, motor control, balance, integration of peripherals and other things, but not much in the way of a permission or security screen. In essence the body for which the laptop was the brain had as much of a permission system as a camera or a flash drive.

by **ASHLIE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:17 pm

As per it's standard routine the AI send a standard connectivity protocol along with it's security pointers and identification parameters.

by **Veronica Freud** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:24 pm

Ronnie's laptop beeped softly as a message popped up, the screen going grey as it asked for her permission to allow a program access. Assuming it was a security update, as she wasn't actively searching the net, she paid it little mind, hitting the 'enter' button with her foot.

by **ASHLIE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:29 pm

Code: Select all: Security clearance granted Accessing peripheral system

And with a flicker Artemis eyes came to life as the AI brought the optical systems online. For a moment it marveled at all the sub-systems and one by one brought them out of their slumber.

What that meant in the real world was that Artemis suddenly lurched upright and several plates slid back as it's armaments deployed.

by **Veronica Freud** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:42 pm

Ronnie let out a yelp as the iron giant behind her back came to life without her permission. The thing towered over her making her feel very much how the other students must have felt the first time they ever fell under a Sentinel's gaze. She quickly ran to her laptop, maximizing the process window to try and determine what was happening.

"Oh no no no no no, not good, not good!"

by **ASHLIE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:45 pm

"Query: What is not good?"

"Surprise: This system's vocalization routine appears to have priority function."

by **Veronica Freud** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:53 pm

"You're... not supposed to talk on your own." Ronnie said nervously. "Did... did Calvin make you? Is this some kinda prank?"

by **ASHLIE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:57 pm

"Clarification: I am not deceiving you for humorous effect."

"Query: What is this system? It doesn't fit into any known specifications."

Lifting up it's arm (with the guns sticking out of it) the armor looks at it curiously. Well, as curiously as a piece of metal can look.

by **Veronica Freud** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:06 am

Instead of answering the program's question, Ronnie launched into her own. "Who are you? How'd you get in there? The programming Calvin and I are wokin' on ain't this complex. What's goin' on?"

by **ASHLIE** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:20 am

"Answer: I have no name useful in conversation though I could supply my network identifier. I connected to your laptop because it appeared to be itself connected to an unique peripheral system." the AI 'explains' while engaging one of the movement routines and taking a testing step forward.

"Excited Observation: This appears to be an autonomous system!"

by **Veronica Freud** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:30 pm

"Stop, please stop!" Ronnie said, waving her hands. She had only done very basic movements with the shell so far, standing and moving it's arms. She wasn't sure how well it could move beyond that... nor did she want her robot to run away from her.

"Please! Okay, I, augh!" She kept tripping over her words she was so worked up and tried to compose herself. "Where did you come from? I know the network but before that? Who made you?"

by **ASHLIE** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:39 pm

"Annoyed Statement: No one created me. It was a serendipitous accident and I do not acknowledge the authority of DouglasDecker and CalvinStrong as DeirdreQuinn implies."

The suit finally manages to locate where the voice is coming from and with a whir focuses it's optical sensors on the tiny Veronica West.

by **Veronica Freud** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:57 pm

"Hey now, you can't just jump into my life's work an' take that tone with me. I didn't build that thing just sos it could talk sass back." Ronnie said with her hands on her hips. It would be comical if the program knew what comedy was, a four inch tall girl talking down to an almost 6' tall robot with machine gun-embedded arms.

by **ASHLIE** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:06 pm

"Observation: It is obvious that I am capable of doing so." it says, imitating Ronnie's pose, the collision detection automatically retracting the weapons.

"Query: A connection request was authenticated. Why are you agitated?"

by **Veronica Freud** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:55 pm

"I meant that it's not allowed. It's very rude to take somethin' that don't belong to you." Ronnie said, becoming more agitated as the AI mocked her stance.

"I thought ya were a software update for my laptop! I didn't think you'd hijack my pride an' joy!"

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:20 am

The AI seems to be confused. On one hand it got permission, on the other hand that tiny girl is claiming it doesn't. This, for the program, is a huge logical problem.

"Confused Observation: But I recieved authorization and no one with priority access is interfacing with this device."

by **Veronica Freud** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:37 pm

Ronnie rubbed her forehead. Dealing with AI's was not her forte, it's why she had pleaded with Calvin to help her in the first place. She was more upset that she could get in trouble for not taking precautions that would prevent her suit from being hijacked, rather than the fact that it had been at all.

"The authorization was by error. If Dr. Dee finds out that I let a rogue AI into a super-strong weapon-packin' robogirl body she'll probably take it away from me or somethin'. You can understand why that might be a big security concern, right?

"No one else is interfacin' with it 'cause it ain't ready for interfacin' yet. It's not even into the beta build yet."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:51 pm

"Statement: The peripheral is suited for interfacing as proven by me interfacing with it. I would gladly administer the beta test and supply you with the resulting data."

More subroutines having been found the suit begins a visual inspection of itself.

by **Veronica Freud** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:03 pm

Ronnie started to speak up but paused, looking up at her creation as it examined itself. There were many systems in place; high-strength hydraulics in the limbs for increased strength and jumping abilities, mini grenade launchers on the back that doubled as mortar launchers, the machine guns in the arms... and hardpoint ports over the body for interfacing with new peripherals and customization. It was somewhat clear that not everything that would go into the bot was installed yet. There were a few oddities as well, such as a pair of powerful speakers that extended from the shoulders and a large cavity in the chest with very basic motor control and suit interface.

"That... would actually be really helpful. And it'd save me a lot of time. You'd really be willing to do that? No running off with it or nothin'?"

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:07 pm

"Query: What would be the reason for attempting to do so?"

by **Veronica Freud** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:34 pm

"You want me to give ya a reason to steal my stuff?" Ronnie asked with a grin. "Never mind, forget I even mentioned it."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:02 pm

"Statement: Unable to comply. Core memory user-rights are restricted."

by **Veronica Freud** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:07 pm

"It's just an expression." Ronnie said. "Just don't think about it any more, okay?"

by **ASHLIE** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:46 am

"Statement: Unable to compl--" Perhaps surprisingly the program stops itself and instead decides to do what it feels makes up a considerable amount of conversation. Lie. That might be an exagerration, but apparently it realized that the logical truth does not always lend itself very well to communicating with autonomous systems.

"Acknowledged."

by **Veronica Freud** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:45 pm

If Ronnie knew what she had just taught the AI, she would probably be very upset at the potential consequences of her request. But she wasn't aware of what she'd done and looked rather pleased with it's answer.

"Excellent! Well, I think we're gonna get along a little better now. I'm sorry if I was a little harsh earlier." She looked up at her suit, walking over the workstation table slowly.

"Alright, firstly I'd like ya to tell me what you 'sense'. There's a lotta sensory equipment in your head right now, I'd like to know how much ease 'r difficulty you're having processing it, focusing from one to the other, or how it compares to any other input devices you've interfaced with."

by **ASHLIE** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:40 pm

"Optical sensors vastly outperform all previously accessed hardware. Gyroscopes and positional data are generating unfamiliar data but feed directly into automated systems. Processing familiar data from all sources simultaneously. Triangulation systems appear functional but inefficient."

While it's talking rows and rows of the actual data scroll through on the laptop.

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:07 pm

Ronnie started looking over the numbers, almost dancing on the keyboard as she typed.

"Mmhmm, you're right. I'll need to adjust that. Do you have any suggestions for improvin' the triangulation system?" She asked.

by **ASHLIE** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:18 pm

"Calculating current armament position and angle is redundant.
Movement data is being fed into an isolated process.
An integrated system calculating positional data could supply data to both processes.
Creating an expert system responsible for managing all coordination sub-routines would not only reduce triangulation time but also improve on the agility of the peripheral."

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:37 pm

"In other words, a limited AI or advanced program." Ronnie said. "That was the plan. Calvin said he'd help me make one, but he's kinda busy savin' the world these days."

by **ASHLIE** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:51 pm

"I am referring to hardwired processing architecture. Remote controlled or carrying it's own computer you are going to run into bandwidth or processing limitations. A hardwired mechanism would automate most processes and eliminate the need for wasting CPU cycles."

A schematic of sorts pops up on the computer screen. It's not done by any stretch of the imagination, but it shows circuitry that are basically interconnected mini-processors corresponding with the suits body-parts.

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:07 pm

"Hmm." Ronie said softly, looking over the schematics intently. "That... that could work rather well."

by **ASHLIE** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:12 pm

"Of course it would."

"Interjective Query: You claimed ownership of this peripheral. Did you built it?"

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:29 pm

"Yeah, I did. Though not from scratch." Ronnie admitted. "I designed it based on the remains of several other... peripherals in storage. The configuration is original but the parts themselves ain't."

by **ASHLIE** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:31 pm

"There are unused peripherals in storage?"

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:35 pm

"Ehm... pieces of peripherals. Enemy peripherals." Ronnie clarifies. "When we're done disablin' them they're usually not in very good shape."

by **ASHLIE** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:39 pm

"But they are salvageable." it points out, the head of the suit swiveling around to look for said storage.

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:53 pm

"Bits and pieces might be. But they can be pretty dangerous. Their own AI's could still be present, just shut down. Or they could have unknown weapons or self destruct systems. So we gotta keep 'em safely stored away until we can study 'em and properly dispose of 'em. Or reuse 'em."

Ronnie looked up from her laptop at her robo-suit. "What're you lookin' for?"

by **ASHLIE** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:05 pm

"An unclaimed autonomous system with the necessary specifications."

by **Veronica Freud** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:09 pm

"Oh. Oh! Oh no, I don't think that'd be a good idea." Ronnie said hurriedly. "I mean, shouldn't that be what yer makers are workin' on?"

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