User Guide

Certain bases contain a second line of defense-an AI, which stands for “Artificial Intelligence.”

Beginning with primitive 20th century attempts to model human intelligence in computer

programs, modern day AIs have developed into individual entities capable of being granted

citizenship by certain countries.

Specially programmed for the military and for corporations that can afford them, modern AIs

have personalities and mental capabilities far beyond the humans that originally created them.

Among other tasks, AIs run large corporations and design the ICE that protects bases in

cyberspace.

Because of the potential threat of such an intellectual power, a government agency was formed to

keep the AIs under control. The Turing Registry has the responsibility of watching for signs that

any AI might be developing into a dangerous, ultra-intelligent program. While this is impossible

with the limited computing facilities available to a single AI, the Turing Registry makes certain

that the AIs are unable to communicate as a group. As soon as an AI is created, the manufac-

turer is legally bound to register its name, number, and citizenship with Turing. Turing also

keeps track of humans suspected of illegally helping AIs. So far, this has been sufficient to

restrain the AIs.

AIs are fully capable of defending themselves. Sane cowboys avoid combat with these formidable

entities, because icebreaking softwarez can’t harm them. An AI attack is a unique experience.

Cowboys refer to this type of battle, which is aimed directly at the brain, as “flatlining.” The Al

feeds a neural shock into the victim’s brain, keeping the cowboy braindead long enough for his

physical body to stop functioning.

While it’s rumored that there are skill chips available which allow mental combat with AI’s, no

one has lived long enough to talk about the details. The late McCoy Pauley, a.k.a. “Dixie

Flatline”, is said to have run into AIs in three different bases, and supposedly only survived

because he found a weakness in each AI. His “joeboy” assistant managed to jack Pauley out of

cyberspace during three flatlining attacks before his body died. The fourth time, Pauley’s heart

just gave out, and he went to cyberheaven. But he was paid handsomely for his liver.