Background Information
The so-called 'Project A' began in early YE 25, mostly as an academic exercise, started by a group of independent hardware specialists, AI programmers, and bioengineering specialists. The initial idea was to create a ship AI control system with an ego (that is, a sense of self), rather than simply replicating one. Inspired by such military-grade endeavors as the newly-introduced IES-based systems and the late AvaNet, it eventually became a project to create a computer that was also a human being.
After many failed prototypes, they were finally successful - in YE 27, 'Aria' was activated. The system became known as the Advanced Responsive Intelligence Assembly Starship Control System (ARIA-SCS - first half being a backronym) and was installed in a Vampire-class patrol craft.
The project did everything it was meant to do. Aria was obedient to the orders of the Project A personnel, was able to control and monitor the entire ship easily, was visibly indistinguishable from any other human, and was fully capable of interpersonal relations.
However, not all was well.
Despite Aria doing everything she was meant to do, she was belligerent, snarky, impersonal, violent, and easily angered. Those companies that Project A showed the ARIA-equipped Vampire to were impressed until they actually spoke to her. Expecting a computer to have a cheerful personality (or at least ambievalent), they refused to licence the fruits of Project A's work.
Desperately trying to develop a second prototype, with a more agreeable personality, the funding pool for Project A soon dried up. To recoup some of their costs, Aria was reinstalled into a derelict Sojourner-class cargo vessel and put into stasis, and all other assets of Project A were liquidated.
And as a quirk of fate, that old vessel eventually landed into the hands of one Fusegu Mora - better known as Stalwart Defender. Needless to say, the existance of the ARIA prototype within this vessel was a pleasant surprise to him.
Despite Aria's belligerence, she was obligated to obey and protect her owner, which she did (however begrudgingly). Stalwart very much liked her company, and even gave her a pet name, "Grey Seraphim", which she herself adopted.
However, even with full schematics provided, Stalwart couldn't hope to copy and improve the ARIA system for his own purposes. It was far too complex for him to understand. He shelved the idea for now, waiting for proper resources to develop it further.
Later, Stalwart Defense Industries (Stalwart's dummy corporation) found itself under the employ of the Lorath government, in order to jump-start its technology. Where Stalwart was infamous for cultural faux-pas and a rather unnerving obliviousness, Aria quickly aquainted herself with the language and culture, impressing all those around her.
This did not escape the notice of Muse Lazarus.
Already having his eye on the neglected Stalwart, he made a deal with him to share resources and information - including the ARIA schematics. Lazarus Precision Technologies, in tandem with SDI, began developing a more refined version of the ARIA, sutible for mass-production.
General Overview/Parts Tree
Forthcoming.
A-Type Production Overview
As you might suspect, this submission is not complete. However, it is being actively worked on, in tandem with Osaka and Tomoe, for use with the Lorath plotship and any civilian ships who wish to use it.
Muse Lazarus and his company are incomplete but are expected to be complete very soon. If they are not approved, this submission will be modified to reflect that.
The so-called 'Project A' began in early YE 25, mostly as an academic exercise, started by a group of independent hardware specialists, AI programmers, and bioengineering specialists. The initial idea was to create a ship AI control system with an ego (that is, a sense of self), rather than simply replicating one. Inspired by such military-grade endeavors as the newly-introduced IES-based systems and the late AvaNet, it eventually became a project to create a computer that was also a human being.
After many failed prototypes, they were finally successful - in YE 27, 'Aria' was activated. The system became known as the Advanced Responsive Intelligence Assembly Starship Control System (ARIA-SCS - first half being a backronym) and was installed in a Vampire-class patrol craft.
The project did everything it was meant to do. Aria was obedient to the orders of the Project A personnel, was able to control and monitor the entire ship easily, was visibly indistinguishable from any other human, and was fully capable of interpersonal relations.
However, not all was well.
Despite Aria doing everything she was meant to do, she was belligerent, snarky, impersonal, violent, and easily angered. Those companies that Project A showed the ARIA-equipped Vampire to were impressed until they actually spoke to her. Expecting a computer to have a cheerful personality (or at least ambievalent), they refused to licence the fruits of Project A's work.
Desperately trying to develop a second prototype, with a more agreeable personality, the funding pool for Project A soon dried up. To recoup some of their costs, Aria was reinstalled into a derelict Sojourner-class cargo vessel and put into stasis, and all other assets of Project A were liquidated.
And as a quirk of fate, that old vessel eventually landed into the hands of one Fusegu Mora - better known as Stalwart Defender. Needless to say, the existance of the ARIA prototype within this vessel was a pleasant surprise to him.
Despite Aria's belligerence, she was obligated to obey and protect her owner, which she did (however begrudgingly). Stalwart very much liked her company, and even gave her a pet name, "Grey Seraphim", which she herself adopted.
However, even with full schematics provided, Stalwart couldn't hope to copy and improve the ARIA system for his own purposes. It was far too complex for him to understand. He shelved the idea for now, waiting for proper resources to develop it further.
Later, Stalwart Defense Industries (Stalwart's dummy corporation) found itself under the employ of the Lorath government, in order to jump-start its technology. Where Stalwart was infamous for cultural faux-pas and a rather unnerving obliviousness, Aria quickly aquainted herself with the language and culture, impressing all those around her.
This did not escape the notice of Muse Lazarus.
Already having his eye on the neglected Stalwart, he made a deal with him to share resources and information - including the ARIA schematics. Lazarus Precision Technologies, in tandem with SDI, began developing a more refined version of the ARIA, sutible for mass-production.
General Overview/Parts Tree
- ARIA-SCS - just ARIA for short, the name that refers to the system as a whole.
- A-Type - short for ARIA Type, this bioengineered creature is the heart of the ARIA system. An A-Type can, in theory, take any form that can accept the simulated central nervous system. Usually an A-Type is in a form very similar to a human, though it can appear as other humanoids as well. The A-Type is usually female, for psychological reasons, but can be male as well. Most are designed to be biologically functional (food consumption, sexual relations, reproduction). An A-Type can be identified as such by the several plugs it has along its spinal column, other plugs covered by simulated skin, and a standard scan will reveal its nature. An A-Type has a single name, and as tradition, that name usually starts with 'A' (or its local phonetic equivalent).
- A-Type CNS - A simulated brain, it is covered in neuron tissue in order to emulate the proper interactions in the body. The CNS has three levels of processing (neural-net, digital, and quantum) and two levels of data storage (neural-net and digital). As a result, it thinks like a sentient but has the speed and reliability of a computer. The CNS is actually very durable - an A-Type can be revived so long as the main portion of its CNS is intact, the actual parts that make up most non-redundant portions a sphere the size of a marble or so at the middle of the device.
- Dataplexer - even with the CNS, the amount of data that an A-Type must process at once is immense. Really just an optical multiplexer near the brainstem (multiplexers being simple digital devices), the so-called 'dataplexer' helps keep the amount of data the A-type must process managable.
- Control Core - a fluid-filled cavity filled with cables extending to every part of the ship, the A-Type resides in here when she is running the ship's systems. This will have a connection to every system, external terminal, and independant computer device on the ship.
- Datacore - The immense memory of the CNS is not unlimited. To assist with its memory storage, biological memory packs collectively referred to as the 'Datacore' are stored within the Control Core. In addition to a backup of the A-Type's computer memory, it stores a repository of information (encycleopedias and the like).
- Life Support System - Supplied by one of the many plugs upon the A-Type's body, this is an IV that provides air, water, and sustenance to the biological portions of the A-Type, as well as power to the electronic portions. The A-Type can, however, usually eat and drink normally when not within the Control Core.
- Sensor System - To properly operate a ship, the A-type must have the ability to see what goes on within its corridors. In fightercraft, the sensor systems are usually limited to aural sensors and biosensors, in addition to the external sensory data. In larger ships, it is installed in 2 ways - internal sensors with ocassional 'eyes' (so that the sensor locations are known) for ships that are designed for use with the ARIA, or retrofitted sensor strips along the walls and ceilings of the ship. These devices glow faintly with a color of the A-Type's choice when it is within the Control Core, and flicker when the A-Type speaks.
- Xtal Interface - The interface that connects the Core-ridden A-Type to the outside world. When one communicates with the A-Type, whether by keyboard or voice, they are actually going through the Xtal, and when the A-Type responds, the Xtal is the voice or text that appears. It also serves a secondary function - that of replacing the A-Type when it is unavailable. It is unintelligent, and does not respond to voice commands well. Its responses are rudimentary.
- A-Type - short for ARIA Type, this bioengineered creature is the heart of the ARIA system. An A-Type can, in theory, take any form that can accept the simulated central nervous system. Usually an A-Type is in a form very similar to a human, though it can appear as other humanoids as well. The A-Type is usually female, for psychological reasons, but can be male as well. Most are designed to be biologically functional (food consumption, sexual relations, reproduction). An A-Type can be identified as such by the several plugs it has along its spinal column, other plugs covered by simulated skin, and a standard scan will reveal its nature. An A-Type has a single name, and as tradition, that name usually starts with 'A' (or its local phonetic equivalent).
- - from the ARIA Operation Manual
Forthcoming.
A-Type Production Overview
- ARIA Reishiki (Type 0)
Refers to Aria herself, the template for all future A-Types. She lacks a persogenic keybond and simply operates on hardcoded directives about obeying the end user and self-preservation. Currently, her body is a mishmash of elements from the Geshrin, Nepleslian, and ID-SOL genomes. She is about twice as strong as an average Yamataian. However, she is expecting an upgrade to the Ichishiki model.
- ARIA Ichishiki (Type 1)
Refers to the pre-production run, currently being tested by the Lorath military and other chosen parties, at various persogenic settings. Though no problems are expected, the government ordered this run to make sure that the A-Type is 'safe' before mass-production begins. The genetic template used for the Ichishiki run is based on the members of the Fynneun House; however, they have been modified to have human physical forms, on Stalwart's request.
- ARIA Nishiki (Type 2)
The production run of the ARIA system, basically identical to the Ichishiki model. Expected to be released very soon, after the government is happy with the results of Ichishiki.
- ARIA Sanshiki (Type 3)
Lazarus has announced this model to be available in YE 30. It is expected to be a completely artificial model, and yet retain all the features of the Nishiki model; how this will be done is currently unknown.
As you might suspect, this submission is not complete. However, it is being actively worked on, in tandem with Osaka and Tomoe, for use with the Lorath plotship and any civilian ships who wish to use it.
Muse Lazarus and his company are incomplete but are expected to be complete very soon. If they are not approved, this submission will be modified to reflect that.
