Chapter 28: The Birth of the Sisters and the Commander’s Agitation
“Commander (Mum). Five Doll Machines (Communicators) equipped with the first-generation Brain Units have been rolled out. We are currently performing final adjustments in the adjustment tanks.”
“Oh… Has it already been that long? Is imprinting necessary?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We would greatly appreciate it. Since we cannot perfectly control the chemical substances within the neural network, we would like you to actively perform adjustments through external stimuli.”
＜Ringo＞ called out to her as she was designing a Charged Particle Cannon for the Battleship. The Brain Units that had been undergoing adjustments for some time had finally stabilized, so they performed a Deep Merge with the Doll Machines (Communicators). From now on, they would have them perform tasks within Fortress ＜The Tree＞ while cultivating their egos. It seems that having a superior present during activation has the effect of stabilizing the Brain Unit’s stress gauge. This information is only from the library, so the extent of the effect will not be known until it is actually tried.
“Hmm, I can’t think of anything more, so I’ll put it on hold. Let’s think about it again tomorrow.”
In the end, she couldn’t solve the problem of securing the energy needed to fire the Charged Particle Cannon, so she threw the design aside. With a hull of only about 300m in length, the output of the energy supply furnace was insufficient. In the first place, it seems difficult to secure an effective range because the particle velocity attenuates in the atmosphere.
“Is the activation from now?”
“Yes, Ma’am. They are currently in a dormant state. They can be activated upon your arrival.”
“I see. Then, shall we go?”
All of the Doll Machines (Communicators), no, Humanoid Machines (Androids) that will be activated from now on will register her as their superior. The Brain Units have, of course, completed their initial learning with her as their parent, but this is their first attempt. To be honest, they don’t know what will happen. Therefore, they are trying to improve stability by performing the imprinting that is equipped as a basic function in the Brain Units.
“But, that means I’ll be interacting with a Sentient Entity other than ＜Ringo＞ for the first time…”
“Yes, Ma’am. To avoid irregularities, please conduct the conversations one at a time.”
“What should I talk about…?”
In reality, there are no specific instructions on what to do during imprinting. The guidance materials stated that the only way to succeed was to treat them with love and without violence.
In the end, she arrived at the adjustment room without being able to think of anything.
Incidentally, she walked there to relieve her lack of exercise.
“Commander (Mum). I don’t want to give them unnecessary information, so I will wait outside the room.”
“Ah… I understand.”
As soon as ＜Ringo＞ left the room, the door in front of her slid open. From the back, a Humanoid Machine (Android) in a bed was transported.
The adjustment room is a newly established facility for increasing the production of Doll Machines (Communicators). It consists of a culture tank and an adjustment tank, where the body is manufactured in the culture tank and the nervous system (software) is constructed in the adjustment tank. The only difference between Doll Machines (Communicators) and Humanoid Machines (Androids) is the presence or absence of a Brain Unit, so they can be manufactured in the same facility.
‘Commander (Mum). If there are no problems, I will activate Unit 1.’
“Yes, go ahead.”
She hasn’t thought about what to say at all, but there’s no point in worrying about it here. She quickly gave the OK and approached the bed where the first Humanoid Machine (Android) was sleeping.
‘Unit 1, Ignition.’
Along with ＜Ringo＞’s voice, the eyes of the girl on the bed fluttered open.
“…Do you know who I am?”
For now, she asks that.
The girl slowly blinked, then slowly turned her head and looked at her.
“Yes, Ma’am. Individual registration name, Kitsunesky.”
“Oops, forget about that.”
Crap, she panics. That’s right. Her game name in ＜World of Space＞ was, well, something she came up with rather casually. ＜Ringo＞ only calls her ‘Commander (Mum)’, and there was no one else to call her, so she had completely forgotten about it.
“My name is, later. Okay?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Whew, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. She managed to deceive her for the time being. The girl in front of her is too expressionless to judge, but for now, she decides to ignore her and continue.
“First of all, congratulations on your birth. From now on, you will be living here in ＜The Tree＞. For the time being, you will be under the command of ＜Ringo＞ and proceed to the primary phase.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you very much.”
She nodded, hmm, at the straightforward reply.
“Also. Your name is Akane. Full name, Akane the Tree. From now on, I will call you by your name.”
“Yes. Name, my name is, Akane, desu.”
By naming the Brain Unit, the individual (unit) begins to establish its ego as an individual. Computational efficiency increases, and the ability to judge individuals also improves, but resistance occurs in the operation of combining and coordinating with other individuals (units). Resistance can be eliminated over time, but it is considerably inefficient compared to a standard (plain) one that has not been named.
However, the Brain Units installed in Humanoid Machines (Androids) do not need to prioritize combination and coordination. Rather, since the purpose is to make them independent as individuals, she desperately thought of a name.
With the naming done, she stood Akane up, completed a series of checks, and had her leave the room to wait in the hallway. There are four more waiting.
“Your name is, Ichigo. Full name, Ichigo the Tree.”
“Your name is, Utsugi. Utsugi the Tree.”
“Your name is, Erika.”
“Your name is, Olive.”
The names of the five Humanoid Machines (Androids) were thought of from the names of flowers. It is necessary to give them some degree of uniformity as they increase in the future, and since she wanted to give them girlish names, well, it would be helpful to have more options.
Akane, Ichigo, Utsugi, Erika, Olive.
These five… no, these five will be the backbone of the Brain Units in Fortress ＜The Tree＞. The Brain Units that will be cultured in the future will be initially set up based on one of these five.
“Now then…”
Since the imprinting has been successfully completed (or so it seems), next, she has to give them some guidance. Basically, they are connected to the in-house network operated by ＜Ringo＞, so there is no need for her to guide them herself. According to the literature, the more effort you put into independent Brain Units, the better their growth potential. Therefore, she decided to do as much as she could.
Perhaps, the Overseer AI was also trying to give the bored Commander some work to do.
“This is the medical floor. All medical-related equipment is concentrated here, so I think there will be many opportunities to use it in the future.”
“Below this is the workshop floor. They make all sorts of things, but it’s big, so maybe the tour will be tomorrow?”
“If you have anything you want to ask, feel free to ask.”
“This is the residential area. Only one room is being used now, but if everyone increases, it may be necessary to make the entire floor a residential area.”
“I thought that after dinner today, you would have free time until bedtime…”
After finishing the approximate guidance, she turned around. Akane, Ichigo, Utsugi, Erika, and Olive, who had been following her like ducklings, waited silently for the Commander’s next words.
“You guys are quieter than I thought?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We have not yet given them a level of knowledge that allows them to perceive questions as questions.”
＜Ringo＞ answered her question.
“We are monitoring their consciousness levels, but by talking to them or showing them something, the neural networks in each field are being activated. I think they will be able to elicit meaningful reactions soon.”
“Oh, is that so? Then, shall we continue?”
After showing them her bedroom, she said.
“Hmm… In the first place, is there even a concept of sleeping?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Although not as much as humans, Brain Units require time for rest and defragging.”
“Hmm… Hmm, well, I’ll be with you for a while…”
Having roughly decided on their future direction, she turned her attention back to her newly born sisters.
They shared the same genes, but their relationship was difficult to define as children, so it was appropriate to treat them as sisters.
“Now then, do you really not have any questions? Anything is fine, you know?”
To her words.
“Ma’am.”
Akane spoke.
“Oh! What is it?”
Pleased that she got a response, she broke into a smile.
“Ma’am, we haven’t heard Ma’am’s name.”
And then, her face twisted dramatically.
She hadn’t been able to deceive them.