"Check." A wooden chess piece clapped onto the board.
"Your signature piece." the woman on the opposing side note, her eyes darting across the board before moving her knight in the way, effectively securing the king.
"And yours!" the man laughed, readjusting his seat to view the board for his recovery.
The two sat in the room of a complex, bare except for the tables and chairs that served as decoration. Everything was sterile and orderly. The prime example of military cleanliness. The man was clean-shaven, and slim. He had an intelligent air about him, and was someone who enjoyed his job.
The woman, however, looked to be more muscular, if simply more pronounced. And despite looking like she could arm wrestle any man on base, she could pull off being a model if she were to try, and even let down her hair from its ponytail state. Both of them wore their green shirts and tan camou pants.
"Say, Bishop." the woman looked from the board to his face while he made a move to slide a pawn into place. "Have you ever thought about leaving the military to join the private sector?"
His hand wavered on its return, as he gave the blond a confused look. "Where's this coming from, Karen?"
"Your skill sets are valuable, and the military puts you at risk by sending you in as a combat hacker. And you expressed concerns during our last op." She spirited away his pawn with a rook and sat back in her chair.
"I like being in the military. I don't mind being in the field. Really. Despite everything that has happened to us, and with as many close calls as we've had, I wouldn't ever dream of leaving the team. Now I wouldn't openly admit this to Rook, but I care for you guys. Who else would watch your backs the next time you dive headlong into a military complex?"
"Touche." Karen kept her gaze on him as he made his counter move. "But look at your sister. She has an ordinary life. Friends, family, a safe job without risk of injury -"
"Relief corps. She heads into disaster zones." He grumbled.
"Exactly! You aren't being shot at there! No one is trying to blow you up, or torture you!"
"But there is no hacking involved. The military is one of the few jobs were I can legally hack. If I worked for the CIA, FBI, or even the DI, - that's the Department of Intelligence, Karen - I'd be stuck in a room all day. Only in the military do I truly get to travel, and push my skills to their limit."
"By having bullets fly past your head."
"In a word, yes. But I enjoy this job, this team. I enjoy your company."
Karen Knight leaned forward, seemingly surprised by the ending of his dialogue. She reached out and laid her hand on his. She opened her mouth as if to say something. Bishop raised an eyebrow in anticipation of what she was going to say.
"Checkmate." She fell back, laughing as he looked down at the board, only to be bewildered at what he saw. During their chat, she had managed to slip her units through his defenses, and checkmate him. His own pieces provided a impenetrable wall, preventing his king's escape. Nothing could intercept the knight that leaned smugly against his leading pawn.
He fell back, and covered his face as he looked away with mock shame. "You sly vixen." He joined in with her hysterical laughter. She had played him well.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Memo to the Director of Project TALON
Dear Director,
I request an update in the development of Project TALON for the Board of Directors by the beginning of next week. I understand that you and your engineers have spent a few years on this project, but the Board has seen little advancement from it. If this pattern continues, the Board is proposing to reallocate funding to other company projects.
I know your division has been working hard on the development of military AI, and you have plans for suit-integrated AI up on the drawing board. But the military is also prompting me for details on the Project's progress. I hope you will have something ready for me to present to the Board by next Monday.
Sincerely,
Victor Hill
CEO of the IRIS Division
I request an update in the development of Project TALON for the Board of Directors by the beginning of next week. I understand that you and your engineers have spent a few years on this project, but the Board has seen little advancement from it. If this pattern continues, the Board is proposing to reallocate funding to other company projects.
I know your division has been working hard on the development of military AI, and you have plans for suit-integrated AI up on the drawing board. But the military is also prompting me for details on the Project's progress. I hope you will have something ready for me to present to the Board by next Monday.
Sincerely,
Victor Hill
CEO of the IRIS Division
Thursday, May 5, 2011
TALON
TALON. Tactical Analysis and Large Ordinance Node. That was the name of the AI that gazed upon Agent Richard Washington as he looked up at the metalic disk containing the machine's eye. He looked back to his datapad, scrolling through a list of documents until he found the one he sought.
He paced around the room, "Talon," He began, making his way around the circular room as the mechanical eye traced him with it's blue light, "What is your programmed mission?"
The light kept upon him as it answered in a deep, monotone voice, "This unit's designated mission: Lead Directorate forces to combat Confederate rebels."
Washington scrolled down a bit on the tablet, "Yes, that's what it says. Good. Do you have any secret orders? An agenda?"
"Material classified under Security Level Rho, Mars Convention 2145"
"I have clearance. What is your agenda?" He stopped as he leaned against the railing keeping the two out of physical contact. The machine stared at him with it's wide, blue eye.
"This unit's designated agenda: To safeguard the entity known as the Directorate from its enemies. Ensure survival against it's termination."
"And what do you have clearance to control?" He asked.
"Directorate units includeAntares 2nd Battlegroup, 3rd Battlegroup, and 5th Battlegroup."
Agent Washington cocked his head, "What happened to Battlegroups one and four?"
"Subject battlegroups terminated by Confederate forces on March 5th, 2227, and 2231. Antares 1st Battleground overwhelmed over the planet Newart by large Confederate force led by Confederate General John S. Bolte. Termination prior to unit activation."
"And the 4th Battlegroup?" He inquired.
"Antares 4th Battlegroup engaged Confederate forces over planet Regada, Grids A5 and E7. Skirmish in Grid K17 resulted in destruction of Confederate forces, and loss of Directorate forces in sun's gravitational field. Battlegroup officially desolved on August 26th, 2230, one year prior to unit activation."
"Interesting. But I'm curious, Talon, had you been online and present in the system, how you might have changed the outcome. What do you predict?"
"Unit declares 98% chance of Directorate victory within Antares system." The eye's shining light burned intensely, making it nearly impossible to see the AI he spoke to.
"And what about the 2% remaining? Is that a failure?"
"Remaining 2% is unclear. Unforseen events may occur."
"Interesting," he turned away, rubbing his eyes as if to clear the light from his vision. He looked back at the tablet he held, "I believe that will be all for today's session, Talon. But I do have something I'd like for you to do for me."
The AI watched him, waiting expectantly for further orders. Washington returned to his spot at the railing, "What would you do in a scenario, if the Confederates unveiled a new weapon, a ship, that dwarfed anything the Directorate owned, both in size and firepower? How would you go about dealing with it?" The machine's eye remained on him as the seconds ticked by. Agent Washington glanced at his watch. Fifthteen seconds had gone by. He looked at the AI before returning his gaze to his watch. Twenty seconds.
Finally, the AI twitched, "Course of action undetermined. Analysis of enemy unit required."
Washington grunted, marking it down ont he tablet, "Thank you for your time, Talon," He straightened himself, "I will return next week for another session," He began to walk towards the door when he paused, "About the ship. I'd like you to think about it. You can answer the question upon my return. Ok?" He turned for the door.
The AI did not respond as the agent made for the door, pressing a button as he passed through. A large blast door rolled into place and locked itself shut with a series of clicks, sealing the AI mainframe within the room. With the AI alone in the dark, it turned away from the door to ponder the agent's scenario.
He paced around the room, "Talon," He began, making his way around the circular room as the mechanical eye traced him with it's blue light, "What is your programmed mission?"
The light kept upon him as it answered in a deep, monotone voice, "This unit's designated mission: Lead Directorate forces to combat Confederate rebels."
Washington scrolled down a bit on the tablet, "Yes, that's what it says. Good. Do you have any secret orders? An agenda?"
"Material classified under Security Level Rho, Mars Convention 2145"
"I have clearance. What is your agenda?" He stopped as he leaned against the railing keeping the two out of physical contact. The machine stared at him with it's wide, blue eye.
"This unit's designated agenda: To safeguard the entity known as the Directorate from its enemies. Ensure survival against it's termination."
"And what do you have clearance to control?" He asked.
"Directorate units includeAntares 2nd Battlegroup, 3rd Battlegroup, and 5th Battlegroup."
Agent Washington cocked his head, "What happened to Battlegroups one and four?"
"Subject battlegroups terminated by Confederate forces on March 5th, 2227, and 2231. Antares 1st Battleground overwhelmed over the planet Newart by large Confederate force led by Confederate General John S. Bolte. Termination prior to unit activation."
"And the 4th Battlegroup?" He inquired.
"Antares 4th Battlegroup engaged Confederate forces over planet Regada, Grids A5 and E7. Skirmish in Grid K17 resulted in destruction of Confederate forces, and loss of Directorate forces in sun's gravitational field. Battlegroup officially desolved on August 26th, 2230, one year prior to unit activation."
"Interesting. But I'm curious, Talon, had you been online and present in the system, how you might have changed the outcome. What do you predict?"
"Unit declares 98% chance of Directorate victory within Antares system." The eye's shining light burned intensely, making it nearly impossible to see the AI he spoke to.
"And what about the 2% remaining? Is that a failure?"
"Remaining 2% is unclear. Unforseen events may occur."
"Interesting," he turned away, rubbing his eyes as if to clear the light from his vision. He looked back at the tablet he held, "I believe that will be all for today's session, Talon. But I do have something I'd like for you to do for me."
The AI watched him, waiting expectantly for further orders. Washington returned to his spot at the railing, "What would you do in a scenario, if the Confederates unveiled a new weapon, a ship, that dwarfed anything the Directorate owned, both in size and firepower? How would you go about dealing with it?" The machine's eye remained on him as the seconds ticked by. Agent Washington glanced at his watch. Fifthteen seconds had gone by. He looked at the AI before returning his gaze to his watch. Twenty seconds.
Finally, the AI twitched, "Course of action undetermined. Analysis of enemy unit required."
Washington grunted, marking it down ont he tablet, "Thank you for your time, Talon," He straightened himself, "I will return next week for another session," He began to walk towards the door when he paused, "About the ship. I'd like you to think about it. You can answer the question upon my return. Ok?" He turned for the door.
The AI did not respond as the agent made for the door, pressing a button as he passed through. A large blast door rolled into place and locked itself shut with a series of clicks, sealing the AI mainframe within the room. With the AI alone in the dark, it turned away from the door to ponder the agent's scenario.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Ignition
Welcome to Skoll's Forge. Here, you will be able to see the projects I am working on, from 3D Modeling, to snippets of books I am writing. I hope you enjoy what I hope to show you. :)
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