========== Nine years ago ==========
With the world already back on its feet a year after the White Knight Incident, the moment where nations around the globe shook as they witnessed the intelligence, pride and power of their respective militaries obliterated by a single Infinite Stratos unit. Hordes of ballistic missiles, fleets of ships and even squadrons of the world’s most advanced fighter jets could not withstand the power of the White Knight as it unleashes its full potential. Not even spy satellites that are thought to be out of reach were safe from the IS’ rampage.
By then, technological institutes no longer ridiculed the idea of the IS as they did when the creator, Tabane Shinonono, first introduced its theoretical potential. Said potential was no longer theoretical; it was proved practical and acknowledged by the world in a single major event of apparent terrorism.
As per their acknowledgement, 467 Infinite Stratos Cores were distributed worldwide from an unknown source and Core 001, the
first IS core that belonged to the mysterious White Knight, was among those that were given to technological institutions.
The Hyperion Corporation, an institution in the United States known for their forte in autonomous systems development, received
one of the IS Cores but the director of the institution kept the transaction secret from the rest of its personnel… except for one. Gerald Bastion, one of the Corporation’s most resourceful engineers, was entrusted with safekeeping the IS Core by the director who foresaw the eventual fall of Hyperion as most of its personnel would soon abandon the institution in favor of contributing their knowledge of artificial intelligence to the development of the country’s first Infinite Stratos, the
Silver Gospel.
“Sir… this Core is our
gemstone! If your prediction of Hyperion’s fall is true, this thing will help us prevent it!”
Young Gerald has always been fond of developing AIs of various specializations. During then, the Hyperion Corporation has been trying to develop an AI that can assume control of a space-faring vehicle and do independent research on worlds beyond Earth. The hopeful Gerald has always dreamt of space exploration and has been working on developing the ideal AI unit that can undertake the task even before the Infinite Stratos came into existence.
“I’m afraid that chance has come and gone, friend. Humans have always been caught up with evolution and the need to be stronger than anyone else… I cannot risk having this…
child… weaponized into another war machine. We don’t need those anymore in this world.”
“But… the Corporation will—”
“It already has, Bastion. There’s nothing we can do that will stop its derailment.”
Sitting before Gerald, the Corporation’s director stood up with a sealed titanium box and walks towards him. Without a single sign of reluctance, he hands the box to Gerald who gently receives it, firmly holding the box with both hands.
“Listen here, friend. I want you to take this Core to Yakushima Island, south-west of Japan. There lies an underground research facility which holds a database of Japan’s countless space vehicle and equipment development projects.”
“…What? H-How do you know of this?”
“Hyperion Corporation’s past Director made strong ties with some of Japan’s astronautical engineers and he secretly commissioned a two-sided beneficial initiative known as the
Miyanoura Project, an independent database that would hold information of both the United States’ and Japan’s space projects. When the military began taking interest in AI usage in warfare, their involvement with the Corporation did not sit well with the Director and he made an agreement with his Japanese counterparts to seal off the facility for good…”
“It was sealed off…?”
“Yes. According to him, it was the most painful call he had to make… and I agreed. More so with the sudden appearance of the Infinite Stratos…”
The director places his hands on both of Gerald’s shoulders, fully entrusting him to the Corporation’s secrets.
“This child
must not fall into military hands, no matter the cost. Bring the Core to the underground database facility in Yakushima Island where I have already arranged a couple of our fellow Japanese rocket scientists to link up with you. They will know what to do with the Core… After that, I want you to look after her.”
“
'Her’… Sir?”
The director walks to his desk and takes a brown, medium-sized folder with the word “
Athena” imprinted on its cover and a very thin stack of documents in its contents then passes it to Gerald.
“Athena. That is her name.”
“Who’s name, sir…?”
“The child, the artificial intelligence that resides within the Core I gave you.”
Never would it have struck Gerald that the IS Core would contain an AI despite how advanced the equipment is. He stares at the box with a shocked face and looks back to the director in disbelief.
“She will be given complete access to the database. While she studies humanity’s knowledge, I want you to watch over her and protect her when need be. Let her learn and refine our knowledge so that she can develop the ideal space exploration vehicle and equipment.”
Gerald briefly remained silent as he thinks through the various possibilities; an artificial intelligence, possessing the capacity to process information in ways far superior to a human being’s, being given knowledge to humanity’s greatest feats and the mistakes that lead to the most tragic of accidents. Time-consuming as it may be, Gerald has been through a lot to know that the greatest achievements come with
relentless patience and
resilience to overcome the challenge of time.
He takes the folder from the director with confidence sparkling in his eyes.
“I understand… and I will do what’s necessary, Director.”
“Thank you, friend.”