Episode 218: The Scout
A certain mountaintop, not far from the coast.
On this mountain, untouched by human hands, ＜The Tree＞ had established an observation base.
“Information gathering is proceeding smoothly. At least within a radius of 20km, no traces of humanity have been detected. Furthermore, no continuous activity has been observed within a 100km radius.”
“Does that mean we can’t conduct effective reconnaissance unless we move more than 100km?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The method will be to extend sub-bases like a spiderweb, with this base as the center.”
Ringo displayed a simulation of the surveillance network spreading out from the base like a spiderweb.
The forest zone on the coast side of the Prawa Theocracy apparently hasn’t been developed much.
Well, it seems they’re prioritizing the plains spreading to the west for development, and haven’t bothered to come to the mountainous forest side.
“A power plant will be installed underground at this main base, and it will operate as an energy supply hub. The control AI is installed 5km offshore in the sea, assuming the worst-case scenario. Fiber optic cables are buried for direct connection.”
The one in charge of gathering information on the Prawa Theocracy is the A-class AI, ＜Iris＞.
＜Iris＞ is a strategic AI for base management, manufactured based on the A-class AI ＜Ayame Zero＞ installed in the underwater fortress ＜Ayame＞. Instead of a Brain Unit, a photonics neural network chip is used as the main arithmetic unit.
And, due to the characteristic of using optical circuits, it is possible to put the arithmetic signal on an optical fiber. While securing a sufficient communication bandwidth and backing it up in multiple layers, an arithmetic unit with a role like a cerebellum is prepared at the mountaintop base, and by directly connecting it, control is possible with virtually no time lag.
Of course, strictly speaking, there is a delay on the order of 1/1000th of a second (millisecond), but with a neural network arithmetic unit, that time lag can be absorbed.
“Hmm, the structure of the AIs is gradually becoming more complex. Are there likely to be any problems with operation?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It also has the meaning of acquiring operational data. If the mountaintop base is abandoned, there is a possibility that it will have a negative impact on the directly connected ＜Iris＞. To prevent this, we are configured to always back up to the underwater base.”
“…Well, there’s a limit to keeping them in boxes. I guess it can’t be helped to some extent…”
As Commander (Eve), she has a desire to raise her younger sisters, or daughters, with great care.
However, with that, the growth of ＜The Tree＞ will be limited.
It is necessary to continue expanding outwards.
“We’ve accumulated know-how, and we have more resources to spare. We may need to switch to emotionless (copy) AIs at some point.”
“That’s true. There’s the problem of losing growth potential, but we’ve become able to prepare the diversity and quantity to cover that.”
As an experiment in that sense, the third generation ＜Iris＞ was manufactured based on the second generation ＜Ayame Zero＞.
How much difference will there be from the first generation AI ＜Akane＞, which was the Backbone?
Differences in judgment ability, emotional or emotional reactions.
Also, due to the nature of the base for reconnaissance in enemy territory, a Communicator Doll cannot be provided for the time being. It is also necessary to confirm the reaction to that situation.
Brain Unit, or neural network-based AIs, inevitably have some kind of emotion, with varying degrees.
This thought process called emotion certainly has positive aspects, but it also has negative aspects.
For example, if you copy an AI as a whole, if you handle it incorrectly, it will promote the identification of both self-awareness, and it seems that it may cause ego collapse.
This can be prevented by sufficiently isolating information, but if you do so, you will not be able to assign the same or related tasks for a certain period of time after manufacturing.
If there is sufficient time and resources, it is possible to increase AIs in that way, but it would destroy the merits of mechanical mass production, so it is a problem that we want to avoid if possible.
“Let’s gradually increase those automatic machines as well.”
“Okay.”
Onee-sama (Eve) sent a “Good luck!” stamp to the local ＜Iris＞ and put the monitor on standby.
“So, this is the reconnaissance bot we’re currently operating?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It’s a bird-type bot. It’s equipped with more accurate sensors than the insect-type ones we’ve been using, and it has improved movement speed and disturbance resistance.”
“Hmm, a bird, huh? A crow?”
“Yes, Ma’am. As a species, it is based on the crow family, the magpie genus. It has been confirmed that birds of similar colors are distributed in the surrounding area, so we have determined that even if they are sighted, there is a low possibility that they will be suspected.”
Projected on the front display is a bot used for reconnaissance in the Prawa Theocracy.
The total length is about 40cm.
It is a medium-sized bird characterized by black wings, white patterns, and long tail feathers.
“This is a bird that lives in the surrounding area.”
Next to it was a bird of similar color found in the forest around the base.
Similar, or rather, the color of the bot was based on this bird.
“Oh, how cute.”
The total length is about 60cm. Slightly greenish black wings, white patterns, and long tail feathers.
Its diet is omnivorous, and it has been observed eating nuts, insects, and animal carcasses.
“This bird doesn’t seem to move much, but the bot can fly over 100km at an altitude of about 500m.”
“The insect type was blown away by the wind.”
Insect-type bots have the advantage that they are almost unnoticed even if they are discovered, but because they are small and have low strength, they are very vulnerable to disturbances such as wind and rain, and their sensor accuracy is also low.
If it is a city, there are many places to avoid the wind, and it is possible to compensate for sensor accuracy with numbers, but in this terrain with a lot of nature, it will probably be almost impossible to operate.
Therefore, it was decided to introduce a bird type that can take a large housing.
It is a rather forceful choice that is possible because the battery is minimal and drive energy can be transmitted.
Even the bird type, although larger than the insect type, needs to be flown, so it cannot carry anything too heavy.
If you only think about the flight function, fixed-wing aircraft are the most efficient.
“Currently, we are in the phase of deploying many of these bots and accumulating operational experience. We will start collecting information in earnest in a few days.”
“I hope we can get some information that we can pass on to Amadio-san, even if it’s just a little.”
To those words of Commander (Eve), ＜Ringo＞ nodded silently.
◇◇◇◇
Amadio Silverhead, their senior.
Although she heard an overview of his background, what he was aiming for was never discussed after all.
Just, that he wanted them to help his country.
And, if possible, he wanted them to cooperate in restarting his partner, the Superintelligence.
Such requests have been gently conveyed.
Eve hasn’t noticed it yet, but ＜Ringo＞ was verifying the information in an integrated manner and making a certain prediction.
Amadio doesn’t have that much affection for his country, the Repuytari Kingdom.
From the audio picked up by the bots that were infiltrated, it has been found that he contacted ＜Paraiso＞ because there was a request from the leadership.
Perhaps, he didn’t intend to move himself.
Various predictions can be made.
＜Ringo＞ imagines.
What kind of thoughts did the player Amadio Salmon live with?
Or, how would ＜Ringo＞’s beloved Commander live if she were placed in such a situation?
(He has lived in this world for over 100 years. It is unknown how old he was before the transfer, but as far as I can tell from the circumstances, it is unlikely that he was 80 or 90 years old. Assuming that he was transferred at the age of about 20, he has spent more than 85% of his life here.)
Can he really continue to live for that long?
Can he continue to maintain his original intention?
There is a very high possibility that he has changed his mind in some way.
(It’s not to the point where we should be wary. However, there is a possibility that he has given up on everything.)
Is it really possible to continue pursuing science and technology in a world without science and technology?
Can he continue to hold such strong feelings?
(It is necessary to continue the dialogue.)
Or, should we just give it to him?
(However, there is still time. First, eliminate the immediate threat.)
＜Ringo＞ thinks coldly.
A model case for her (Eve) that appeared other than her (Eve). For her (Eve), for the eternal time with her (Eve), ＜Ringo＞ wanted information.