Dot Bot

The monarch's steps two female forms uphold,
That moved and breathed in animated gold;
To whom was voice, and sense, and science given
Of works divine (such wonders are in heaven!)

Iliad, Book XVIII

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April 9 [2013] - Al Raqis City, Araxes

There was a sharp crack as fist struck the jaw of the combat droid.  Its head snapped back.

The crowd roared.

White canvas sheltering the audience hanged limp in the oppressive heat of the day.  The marble surface of the circular arena offered no relief.



In the pit below, two combatants stalked one another.

An Orion commander, her hair pulled back, her body sheathed in protective leather.  She moved with the lithesome grace of a dancer and the intensity of a jungle cat.

Facing her, a UAP battle drone fashioned in the shape of a woman.  By contrast, its movements were cold and precise, almost geometric.  Its golden skin gleamed in the light of the two Mu Draco suns hanging low in the sky.



The machine attacked, leading with a forward kick to the abdomen. The Orion deftly avoided the kick but was clipped on the shoulder as a metal arm shot out.

The Orion woman struck, feigning a foot sweep, and following it with a vicious jab punch combination.

The drone’s AI was busy at work, measuring the Orion’s rate of respiration, recording and classifying technique, and calibrating small variations in the Orion’s movement. The program compared the force of the latest punch to all previous strikes and projected the woman’s endurance level.

The machine circled and delivered three rapid strikes to the Orion’s upper back. The woman stumbled forward, turned swiftly and dodged a fourth blow. 



The woman pressed forward engaging the machine. With a fluid motion, she turned a block into a grip and delivered an elbow strike to the droid’s center mass.

The droid shook under the force of the blow.

---

It was the first day of May, Dakini Island, Paquin

The Red Sun had reached its zenith and began its slow descent to the horizon. A cool breeze blew in from the water. My hammock provided no shelter.  If the wind got much stronger, I might just have to get up and find my sweater.



I flipped through the contents of the file: still images, video captures, transcripts and statistics. It was an entertaining read. 

Though Magistrate Joan al Jofar had built the first arena on Araxes soil, it was her successor, the Legate Calina Tereshchenko who introduced the first arena games. Competition was a mixture of hand-to-hand martial arts.  Weapons were forbidden except in matters of honour.  Ranged weapons were prohibited at all times.

UAP Monitor had fielded a combat AI housed in a golden humanoid form, and entered it into the arena competition.  It was a novel way to assess the hand-to-hand combat capabilities of a diverse population sample. Given the competitive nature of the arena, we had the opportunity to evaluate some of the best fighters from all factions active in the Mu Draco system.

Preliminary results had been informative, if not surprising,

After a number of weeks, it had become apparent that Federationist officers were remarkably well trained, with one ship’s Captain in particular, remaining undefeated after seven matches.  UNSC veterans also outperformed their opponents.  This did not surprise me. I had seen some of their soldiers in the field.

Eluvians and Orions were evenly matched.  The Desertborn champion delivered a consistent and powerful showing.  It would be interesting to see if climate variations would affect her performance. 

In time we would introduce our own athletes and field test our techniques, but not before our bot had finished gathering data.

Between arena engagements the drone was released into the general population to wander about as an autonomous probe.  This led to an interesting encounter with the Arena Champion of the desertborn, Captain Ivana of the Trusted Transport Line, who began to ask the droid some very un-arena like questions.

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The file was dated April 27 [2013]. Location: Araxes South

"Scanning..." declared the bot.

Captain Ivana had transported our drone to a private location, a ringed structure high above the southern desert.  "Status is hostile?" asked the Captain. Up until now she had only had dealings with Dot in the arena.  No doubt she was being cautious.

"Identification made," declared the bot, "Captain Ivy of Trusted Transport Line. Registered privateer."

Ivy operated a systems comm.  “System identify please," she began.

The bot complied.  “Unit identification - UAP Battle Drone # 393672 designated 'Dot Matrix'.”

“Dot Matrix a set related to Don Matrix the android unit?” asked Ivy.

“This unit is unique,” declared the machine. “Scanning Captain Ivy - species unrecognized. Explain."

Captain Ivy had no interest in revealing her origins. She restated her question.  “Are you a set related to Dot Matrix the android?”

“This unit is unique,” repeated the bot.

“Continue identification and allegiance,” ordered Captain Ivy, the voice of authority.

The machine responded, “Unit identification - UAP Battle Drone # 393672 designated 'Dot Matrix'.”

“UAP is recognized and acknowledged,” said Ivy.

“Understood,” replied the bot.  It resumed its scan. “Captain Ivy - species unrecognized. Explain.”

Ivy ignored the question again and continued her interrogation. “Is the system owned by Zenobia?”

 Dot replied, “Zenobia is a nation state, located on the planet Albion orbiting 34 Tauri A”

“Is the system owned by Zenobia?” repeated the Captain.

Keying off the words ‘system’ and ‘Zenobia’, the droid continued its geography recital. “House Zenobia is the governing entity of the planet Albion and its moon Avalon. Albion orbits 34 Tauri A. The UAP governs all 34 Tauri systems as a federated government.”

Ivy tried a different question. “Is the system owned by Morningstar Corp?”

“Information on the Morning Star Corp is not in this database,” replied the bot.

“What is the system's task?”

“Explain.”

“Is the system tasked at this time?” added Ivy.

“The 34 Tauri system consists of five stars and their planets and moons.  The task of planetary objects is to orbit their suns,” the machine replied.

Captain Ivy realized her mistake. "Unit Dot Matrix is referred to as the system," she said. "Questions now resubmitted."

Dot replied, "Processing."

Ivy rephrased her question, “Is Dot Matrix owned by Zenobia?”

“Unit identification - UAP Battle Drone # 393672 designated 'Dot Matrix' assigned to UAP Monitor, Araxes, Mu Draco system. It is this unit's task to learn.”

“Is Dot Matrix owned by Morningstar Corporation?”

“Information on the Morningstar Corporation is not in this database,” said Dot.

“Is Dot Matrix learning the invasion probabilities of Al Raqis?”

It was a good question. It showed that Captain Ivy was more than just a pit fighter.

Dot replied, “Invasion probabilities of Al Raqis - these probabilities were calculated three point five solar standard years ago. File sealed..."

Ivy interrupted, "Is Dot Matrix re-examining the invasion probabilities of Al Raqis?"

"It is this unit's task to learn," restated the machine. "Invasion probabilities of Al Raqis - these probabilities were calculated three point five solar standard years ago. File sealed under orders of UAP Special Investigations Unit."

There was a pause as Ivy clearly made some calculations of her own.  "Is Dot Matrix presently housed in a schedule of housing with other Battle Drones?" she asked.

You could see Ivy’s logic.  How many more Dots, combat programmed, stood waiting high overhead beyond the fringe of atmosphere? 

The droid was not sophisticated enough to imagine such an image. It keyed off the word ‘housing’, and revealed more of its own design specifications, “This unit can be rehoused in a number of battle chassis,” it replied.

Dot returned to the data missing from her earlier scan. “Captain Ivy - species unrecognized. Explain.”

Again Ivy ignored the request and asked another question of her own. “Is Dot Matrix presently scheduled to station on the UAP Cruiser?”

This time the machine did not reply to the voice of authority.  It elaborated on its own probing statement.  “Captain Ivy - auditory attachments non-standard. Explain. It is this unit's task to learn."

Non-standard was a good term for them. The Captain's ears were long and pointed.

“Is Dot Matrix under sole control of Major Muircastle?” asked Captain Ivy.

It was too late. Captain Ivy had had her chance. The machine had learned the rules of this new game, of this verbal arena, and had locked on to target. "Captain Ivy - auditory attachments non-standard. Species unrecognized. Explain. It is this unit's task to learn."

"Species is not registered in database," said Ivy, brushing the matter aside.

The answer was good enough for Dot. She had learned something very important today. She had learned that her own questions can be answered. "Understood," she declared in her hollow mechanical voice.  She classified Ivy according, "Species designation unknown."

Ivy resubmitted her question. "Is Dot Matrix under sole control of Major Muircastle?"

"Major Muircastle is the UAP Monitor assigned to Araxes, Mu Draco system…" The machine stopped suddenly. "Incoming message," announced Dot. "Recall order received."

Captain Ivana pressed on, "Supply list of goals which Captain Ivana may provide assistance."

The interview however was over.

"Unit required to relocate. Captain Ivana, species unknown. We are here to help."

And with that the bot departed.