Fall of the Warminds

"They were the greatest defense systems ever devised, a massive network of satellites and doomsday weapons built to protect humanity."

- Eris Morn, centuries after the Collapse

Prologue
"Status?" shouted Doctor Fare.

"They're complete!" a female voice responded.

"Then what is the delay?" questioned the Doctor.

"I don't know. All systems are running at optimal efficiency. Yet... there is no response," stated the voice as the tap of keys near a computer could be heard.

"We cannot fail The City, Doctor Kennedy." exclaimed Doctor Fare. "It is imperative that we complete this machine to ensure the survival of humanity!"

A moment of vocal silence falls, as Doctor Kennedy continues typing on her keyboard.

"Doctor Fare, Tolex is not equipped with an AI core cell." stated Doctor Kennedy.

"If these machines are equipped with an AI core cell, they will become sentient. We cannot risk that, especially in this time of pure devastation." murmured Doctor Fare with a nervous tone.

Doctor Kennedy stops typing and looks directly at Doctor Fare.

"Unless an AI core cell is inserted into Tolex, we may never activate him as an automated system," replied Doctor Kennedy to Fare's concern.

Doctor Fare takes a deep breath, his jaw shaking with fear.

"Insert the core... and watch this machine tear us apart from the inside," commanded Doctor Fare.

''Doctor Kennedy stepped away from her chrome computer fitted with a blue screen. She walked towards a secure vault within the lab, every step producing an echo from her heels. Every echo drove into Fare's skin like a knife. He could not contemplate the destruction this machine could cause if its sentience superseded its programming. When Kennedy arrived at the vault, she pressed her hand against a scanner. A green flash ensued the screen of the scanner.''

"Access Granted."

''A steel door beside the scanner openned, a gust of air escaped the vault. The air lifted Kennedy's solid white lab coat slightly as it bristled through her long brunette hair. Kennedy stepped inside the vault, as Doctor Fare rested his shoulders on an iron rail beside him. His hands clasped on his face, as he tried to contain himself. Kennedy then exitted the vault, the steel door closing behind her as she approached the CPU of Tolex. The CPU itself being a large room so that it may provide enough space for the massive processing power Tolex demanded. Kennedy entered a 50-digit code into a keypad containing more than thirty numbers.''

"Identification Process 1, Complete."

Kennedy inserted several key cards into numerous readers, all cards identical, in a pattern lasting several steps.

"Identification Process 2, Complete."

''Kennedy then removed a bag from her coat containing her and Doctor Fare's DNA samples. She left them on a scanning board. Then she scanned her eye as the final step.''

"Final Identification Process Complete, Welcome Doctor Kennedy."

''The massive twenty foot door creaked open at a moderate pace. Inside lied the massive 20-ton CPU unit of Tolex. ''