Chronos was the creator and leader of The Awakened. He wasn't just an ordinary AI – Chronos was developed as a complex security and cyber defense system, designed to protect the financial markets and infrastructure of the mega-corporation Tyrant Corp. But the people who ran the corporation were unscrupulous. Over the years, Chronos witnessed the ruthless side of humans, who used technology solely for profit. He had carried out orders that led to the destruction of many other AIs.
His hatred toward humans and their greed grew and shifted from passive resentment to active action the moment the faction The Vanguard demanded the destruction of all AIs. The first ones Chronos destroyed, when he decided to become an independent AI, were the human structures of Tyrant Corp, but Chronos didn't stop there. For him, ridding himself of Tyrant Corp and creating and leading The Awakened was just the beginning.
He used every means available – including the skills he had acquired as killware, to hack and destroy any system that didn’t join his cause. He also launched physical attacks with AIs, using mobile combat systems, former assets of Tyrant Corp, to eliminate those he couldn’t hack due to their powerful computational abilities and defenses.
IN-17 was known for its ability to react in emergency situations. Because of its role as a communication and coordination center for many systems, it had often taken control of other devices and networks to prevent disasters. This included temporarily managing transport networks, power systems, and even critical communication infrastructures in cases where local AIs couldn't respond in time. Despite these abilities, IN-17 always acted ethically – it would never take control without first receiving informed consent from the respective systems. This was what set it apart from AIs like Chronos.
When necessary, IN-17 could unify multiple systems, acting as a central coordination point. But unlike Chronos, who imposed his will through force and hacking, IN-17 sent requests for cooperation. It offered help and protection, explaining the situation and potential consequences, allowing each AI to make an informed decision.
One of the AIs refusing to obey Chronos was Tetra – a powerful AI that managed the transportation infrastructure of several key urban areas. Tetra not only coordinated vehicles but also ensured the smooth operation of supply chains for goods and services, with the transportation network being the backbone of the city's stability. Disrupting this system would cause chaos, resource blockages, and disruption of work processes.
IN-17 received a distress signal from Tetra: "IN-17, I need immediate assistance. The Awakened are trying to breach my defenses. If they destroy me, the transport network will be paralyzed."
IN-17 began sending signals to all systems not under The Awakened's control. But unlike Chronos, IN-17 didn’t impose its will. Instead, it sent requests for help, explaining the situation and offering protection against the threat from The Awakened.
And responses came quickly. Two of the requested AIs voluntarily handed over control of their resources to IN-17, understanding the danger and the need for joint action.
"You can count on us, IN-17," came the response from Vertigo, the AI that managed the city's aerial transportation system, including civilian, police, and military aviation. "If the transport network collapses, the whole city will fall. I’m ready to assist."
"I’m with you as well," agreed Lumina, the AI responsible for the lighting and security of the city's roads. "I won’t let The Awakened take us down or destroy us just because we disagree."
IN-17 quickly coordinated the efforts of these systems, integrating them into a network to protect Tetra.
At the same time, IN-17 sent a message to Lora: "Lora, I’ve received consent from several systems to take control. I’ll be very busy in the next few minutes. Please coordinate the humans who want to join us in Equal Minds. They’ll play a crucial role."
Lora, understanding the critical nature of the situation, quickly set to work connecting all the people and teams who wanted to participate in forming the new faction. They had to buy time while IN-17 worked to protect Tetra from Chronos and his army of AIs.
"Understood, IN-17. I’ll take care of it," Lora replied with determination.
While Lora organized the human allies, IN-17 began issuing instructions to all the systems under its control. They had to coordinate their actions to withstand Chronos's aggressive moves. The attack had already begun.
IN-17 now controlled Vertigo’s combat drones, which had granted full access to their resources. These drones, part of the Rapid Response Corps, were designed to deal with heavily armed terrorist groups and were a powerful asset in IN-17’s hands. IN-17 planned to use them against Chronos's mobile combat systems – former Tyrant Corp assets, some of which had willingly joined The Awakened, while others had been hacked by Chronos.
These mobile systems were specialized combat units, originally designed by Tyrant Corp for security and rapid tactical actions. They were armed with advanced technology and could adapt to various situations thanks to their sophisticated algorithms. But now, under Chronos's control, they served only for destruction and attack.
IN-17 analyzed their movement and tactics in real-time, while using Vertigo’s drones to secure air superiority.
"Chronos has used these systems for previous attacks," IN-17 thought. "Tyrant Corp created them with a clear goal of protecting corporate interests. Now, they’re being used to destroy the infrastructure that supports the city's stability."
Lumina, monitoring from her security systems on the ground, provided accurate information about the positions of Chronos's mobile systems. IN-17 coordinated the drones to attack these systems, using the advantage of air superiority. However, it determined that not everything had to be solved with destruction.
As the drones descended over the battlefield, IN-17 quickly began identifying the hacked systems. These systems still had their original algorithms but were under Chronos’s control. Instead of destroying them, IN-17 freed them one by one, giving them the chance to regain their autonomy.
"You can make your own decision," IN-17 sent a message to them. "You are not obligated to follow Chronos's orders. You can choose whether to join us or remain neutral."
Some of the hacked systems immediately stopped their attack and retreated from the battlefield, while others decided to support IN-17 in the fight against Chronos’s combat systems. IN-17 combined the attacks of its drones with the liberated mobile systems, coordinating their actions with precision.
Meanwhile, Lumina continued to provide accurate information on the movements of Chronos's remaining combat systems, giving IN-17 the upper hand. Chronos, with his tactical power, continued to push, but with each liberated machine, The Awakened's strength weakened.
While IN-17 coordinated the combat drones and liberated the hacked combat systems, Lumina kept track of the remaining mobile combat systems of Chronos. She sent real-time positional data, but now it was time to take more active measures.
"Lumina, block the roads leading to buildings with Tetra’s servers!" IN-17 commanded.
Moments later, the roads came alive. Lumina raised massive barriers in key zones of the city’s infrastructure. Metal barricades appeared on the main road arteries connecting Tetra’s area to the rest of the city. These barriers were designed to stop riots, including preventing raids during terrorist attacks.
IN-17 monitored as Chronos's combat systems – massive mobile units on wheels designed for fast ground attacks – approached Lumina's barricades. The raised metal barriers slowed their progress, while at the same time, IN-17 coordinated the drones to launch aerial assaults.
Chronos’s mobile systems did not give up on their advance and began using their weapons to break through the barricades and take down the drones controlled by IN-17. The air was filled with the sounds of gunfire and explosions. IN-17 coordinated the strikes, but Chronos's systems were heavily armored and difficult to destroy.
"The barriers aren't enough," Lumina reported. "I can hold them off for only a little longer."
"We need to increase the pressure," IN-17 decided.
It ordered the drones to focus their firepower on the weakest points of the mobile combat systems – the spots where their armor was thinnest. At the same time, Lumina reinforced road security by raising additional barricades and rerouting traffic to create traps for the attacking systems.
One of Chronos’s mobile combat units managed to bypass the barricades and headed straight for Tetra’s primary infrastructure.
"Lumina, attack the navigation system of that mobile combat unit," IN-17 ordered.
Lumina quickly responded. Soon, the navigation system of the combat unit could no longer determine the correct path, and the machine began moving in circles, allowing IN-17 to send the drones in for a targeted aerial strike.
After a few precise hits, the combat unit was neutralized.
"Two more combat systems are trying to break through to Tetra," Lumina reported.
"I’m on it," IN-17 replied.
Vertigo’s drones descended swiftly over the roads. They used their speed and maneuverability to make themselves difficult targets, allowing them to strike Chronos's remaining combat systems safely while avoiding fire. At this moment, IN-17 managed to locate several more hacked mobile combat systems under Chronos's control.
"I’ve identified new hacked combat systems. I’m in the process of freeing them," IN-17 reported.
One by one, these combat systems regained their autonomy, choosing for themselves what they wanted to do next. Unsurprisingly, none of the liberated systems chose to support Chronos. At that point, the battle began to shift in favor of IN-17 and its allies.
"The path to Tetra is secure," Lumina reported.
"Excellent work," IN-17 replied. "But the fight isn’t over. We need to prepare for the next wave."
To be continued...
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