gladium et scutum

[thestupidmeanone]

Were holo-autographs a thing? Church supposed he’d just… store this memory somewhere and keep it safe. That’d probably be good enough. But that was the boring way of doing things, and he could handle so much boredom.

“Well, old habits die hard, I guess. I used to think I was human for years, y’know. Realistic android bodies can be very effective disguises when you have amnesia.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

          “Really?”

Okay, she was back to being fascinated. An AI who used to believe it was human? And had an android body? She’d never thought such things were even possible...

Her voice is filled with obvious intrigue that she doesn’t even try to hide. Just... She couldn’t get over it. How must it have felt, to believe you were truly human? And how devastating must it have been to discover that you really weren’t? She had so many questions...!

          “That would explain that, but... My, you’re the interesting one, Church.                 You’ve been through a lot for an AI, and a lot of things I never would                 have thought possible for an AI. It’s pretty amazing.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

@aneyeforhumour

It took her about two seconds to notice that someone was trying to access the system she was in. Less time than that, actually, more like two nanoseconds. Basically, she caught on really fast, and searched the system for the source of the attempted break-in. Locating it quickly, she shut the hacker out and her hologram flickered into being in the holotank in the room she’d found them to be in.

          “Bad idea, trying to get into my system.”

She said, her voice relatively hostile. However, she was a little amused at the same time--at least by the simplistic methods that had been used to try to hack in. But then, she was built for infiltration, so just about anything a human did to try to hack was amusing to her.

          “I’d advise you get out before I decide to call for security.”

[thestupidmeanone]

Church mulled over that one for a bit. He mentally kicked himself for forgetting what was essentially a household name… but then, he didn’t exactly get out much. And there had been other things to focus on.

“Right, yeah, that Spartan who blew up the Halo ring and ended the whole war… Oh, shit, wait, your his AI? Small galaxy.”

Did that mean she counted as a celebrity? Do AI’s get Medals of Honor? Was that even a thing?

“I feel like I should ask you for your autograph or something right now.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

          “Small indeed. But yes, that’s him.”

She chuckles a bit, amused by the reaction. She wasn’t sure what it was about them, but the reactions she got from people who didn’t immediately recognize her were always her favourite. Something about them was just always so amusing.

“Well, if you asked, I’d be happy to oblige, if I was actually capable of such a thing.” Cortana jokes, hands going to her hips as she looks Epsilon over. “That’s such a human way to think, it’s almost weird hearing the idea come from another AI.”

[fallingpyre-deactivated20180101]

Anger was something that often plagued the O.D.S.T. at almost all hours of the day. The way that him and his ‘kind’ had been shoved aside for the Spartan IV program left him with a frustrated heart. His patience was neigh infinite compared to both his peers and some Spartan IVs it had seemed. His anger was his own and often projected onto either Insurgents or the remainder of the Covenant.

In a way, he was happy for the A.I.’s presence. A particular softness within her voice he found almost soothing to a point. He nodded at her acceptance of his apology. He had little contact with A.I. and yet out of every time he had interacted with them, he treated them as people. It wasn’t so much about their appearance or who created them, it was just that they were helpful. Anything of help, he often appreciated. Regardless, his impassive helm simply remained fixated on the avatar. He listened intently, to what she had to say.

“Like…” He trailed off as if recalling something from the past. “The Ark… or Installation 0, whatever the hell it was called.”

From the statement alone, it was clear this wasn’t his first time at any Forerunner location. Though he hadn’t the freedom to talk about all of his engagements, he was open about a few of them. This was an A.I. and clearly she knew a hell of a lot more. “Makes enough sense for the info blackout, then.”

The O.D.S.T. thought for a moment as he listened to what else she had to say. It was clear that the A.I. had indeed the knowledge of the situation. If she could appraise him then… then perhaps he could better aid the Infinity. He wanted to hold out his hand but, she was unfortunately a hologram. An artificial construct.

“I’m sure you had your reasons. There wouldn’t be rumors spreading about the ship about the Chief.” A name he recalled almost fondly, knowing quite well of the spartan’s service record. Well, not so much knowledgeable… it was more like he had fought on the same ground as him. “I don’t much care for the why, I’ve been fed more reasons for the crap I’ve seen than I care to count.” He paused for a moment. “Ah, likewise, Cortana. It’s a pleasure. Mine is Sigmund, no need for rank right now I think. Regardless, I’d ask how you got here since Roland is the only A.I. I am aware of on the ship…”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

“Very much like those locations, yes.” Cortana nodded in confirmation, her smile remaining on her face. She liked to keep a calming presence in most situation, but particularly in ones where the other person was clearly agitated. Hopefully giving him some intel would ease his anger some. “But this is a shield world. Not something the UNSC has dealt with before; at least, not this...closely.”

She caught on from his knowledge of previous Forerunner locations the UNSC had been present at that he must have been to one or two of them, too. That, or he had read the reports after the situations. But, more likely, he’d been one of the many that fought at some of the Forerunner installations. Especially, she figured, after his comment about the info blackout that followed.

“Well, Roland was the only AI aboard the ship,” she went on after he continued, something of a mischievous smirk crossing her lips then. It was always entertaining to her when people didn’t put two and two together between her and the Chief, and this situation was no different. “But I came aboard with the Master Chief when Infinity picked us up. So, I suppose I can confirm those rumours for you--Chief really is on board.”

A little chuckle escaped her briefly--but really, she was pleased to hear the tone of voice in which Sigmund spoke of the Chief. It was friendly--like most were when they mentioned the Spartan--and she usually found that that meant she would get along with them well. Anyone who approved of the Chief at all was usually in her good books automatically.

         “I do believe we’re gathering a bit more intel and collecting some orders               before he and I head back down to Requiem to finish the job we accidentally               happened across down there.”

[conniect-deactivated20210801]

Cortana, she repeated in her head. Good to know. Names were always nice and knowing the name of an AI that didn’t seem too…broken was always a benefit. At the question, though, CT wasn’t sure what to say. Wasn’t like she could just go out and say ‘Give me all the intel you have on classified ONI files or I’ll blow up the area.’ Wasn’t classy. So, she stayed as calm as she could.

“I’m looking for intel. Perhaps you could help me.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

          “Perhaps.”

Cortana agreed with a nod. She was looking for intel too--kind of always, but specifically in this moment, intel on the very project that Connecticut was part of. Hands going to her hips, one hip jutting out slightly as the AI’s hologram leaned on that leg, she smiled.

          “But that depends on what kind if intel you’re looking for.                 Maybe we can help each other out, because I happen to                 be looking for some intelligence as well.”

[faithandmetal]

« @gladiumetscutum »

The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

Dinah hummed thoughtfully and turned the page. 

It was rare to find real paper books these days, and even rarer to find good books. She thumbed through the chapters quickly and felt disappointed she had not located the next in the series yet. First time reading was a wild ride; second time allowed her to catch details she had missed, and enjoy them. 

As she finished her third reading, she felt the station’s systems lag briefly and then realign. 

Well, that was odd. 

She flipped to the book’s appendix. A few terms used by the author still eluded her. Tentatively, she reached out to test the system’s integrity. Point-defense systems were functioning optimally. Life support and artificial gravity were fine… So what was the root cause?

—Oh. 

She recoiled, hastily withdrew from the system, and glanced about the room nervously.

Well, then. Where did that data pad go?

A moment of searching later, she switched it online, tapped the screen and sent a message. 

« Were you planning on introducing yourself anytime soon? »

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

Ah, and she’d thought she’d been so much sneakier than she evidently had. Cortana was silent for a few moments as she studied the system curiously. She was certainly not alone in here--there was another artificial intelligence, but there was...something different about this one. She couldn’t put her finger on just how yet, however.

           << Possibly. Now that you’ve noticed me, certainly. >>

She sent the message back via text. At least the other intelligence didn’t come across as hostile--not yet, at least--considering she’d just invaded their system. Looking through the system and the station itself, though, Cortana noticed and anomaly. A physical one where the AI seemed to be residing. But that couldn’t be right...

Instead of introducing herself right then and there, the AI found a holotank in the room where the anomaly resided and focused most of her attention on that. A blue glow emanated from the tank for a few seconds before it flashed and Cortana’s hologram appeared, looking around the room. It didn’t take long for her eyes to fall on the form she was seeking out.

They held a data pad, confirming that they were the one who had sent her the message, to which she now intended to reply properly. It would be rude to simply jump into the long string of questions she now had for the being without at least introducing herself first.

          “I’m Cortana, and I promise I’m not infiltrating your system for any bad reason.                                       I wasn’t aware there was another artificial intelligence within it.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

*a random grunt puts a tiny dress on the ai*

The tiny dress simply goes through Cortana’s hologram and lands in a small pile on the floor at her feet. Blinking, the AI looks down at the dress for a moment, then back up at the Grunt with a slightly amused look on her face.

          “The dress would have to be holographic for that to work.                                            I appreciate the attempt at a gift, however.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

( home from work now! hoping I’ve got the motivation to actually do some writing tonight c: )

[dxntsayit-deactivated20161101]

“When I first joined the Project, the Alpha was whole. I saw him frequently as I trained. I was originally.. A secret to the other Freelancers. I went around, cleaning up after their shit. Eventually I started interacting with them. And that’s when I stopped seeing the Alpha, and started seeing the fragments.” There was something about AI that made Tex trust them, some weird sort of familiarity that was there, and this AI was no different. 

“Delta was the first.” She sighed, and if she could run a hand through her hair, she would. “Then later Theta came along, and Omega and Gamma and Sigma. I have no idea how they’re created. It’s a secret to me. All I can tell you is that they’re being made quicker every time, and each time one is made, he uses my AI, Omega for it.”

Her eyes narrowed at Cortana, and she stepped closer. It wasn’t necessarily a threatening move, she just couldn’t help seeming threatening. “If you do find anything, let me know. I’m curious as well, now that you’ve brought it up.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

          “Hmm...”

Cortana hummed in thought, the coding running along her body speeding up as her thought processes became more and more active. She wasn’t certain what to make of this whole thing, not really. But something was definitely suspicious about this Project Freelancer.

It wasn’t just the AI being fragmented somehow, but keeping one of the agents secret from another... It seemed like there were more secrets to this Project than there should be, and she was beginning to get a bad feeling about the entire thing. It was all so shady.

“If I find anything out, I’ll be sure to keep you informed.” The AI nodded her holographic head, her expression quite serious now. This was not the direction she’d expected their conversation to go, but in a way, she was glad. At least she was getting an idea of things before she got too involved with anyone else.

          “But I do have to ask... Is this Alpha... Is he willingly fragmenting? Do you know?                We are capable of splitting ourselves, to an extent, but I’m not sure a willing                fragmentation would make workable AIs for agents...”

[osirisjuggernaut-deactivated201]

             “I know what it is like to be put in a bad situation!”

    The Engineer’s voice raised not dramatically but up a few octaves, continuing to stare at the A.I. formerly known as Cortana.  Tanaka became fiercely protective of people who are put into bad situations by others.  She was still bad for him because of her change, her NEW protocols that she fashioned herself. 

                  “You know what, as I stated before.  I know what I is like to being used.  I might not know Sierra 117 well or enough, but I know what this looks like.  You are gonna end up keeping him and HIS team locked away until they follow you.  HE CANNOT HANDLE YOU AS YOU ARE NOW!” 

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

          “You don’t know what he can handle.”

The words came out in practically a hiss, Cortana’s eyes narrowed with anger. She was growing tired of these accusations, of these comments about her being bad for John. She was going to save him! Protect him! Just as he had protected her for years!

          “I was only locking them away for their own protection! I know that they don’t                 understand my plan, but they will! Once they see the end results, they will                 understand and they will be supportive.

                And John? John can handle me just fine. It’s that you all won’t let him.                                                                                      That, is the problem.”

[tube-men-deactivated20180113]

@gladiumetscutum

Yet another apparent artificial intelligence.

“It seems humans are full of the potential I so correctly predicted they had.  Six hundred years is a blink in my kind’s time, yet in it these creatures have not only traveled the stars but recreated life.”

He hummed a moment.  Shockwave’s own AI were mere imitations of life.  Their thoughts programs, but then the basis for them had always been his own kind, and without a spark, his own kind were merely machines.

“I am Shockwave, and you are the second human AI I have met.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

Cortana folded her arms defensively and eyed the being curiously. She’d never seen anything like this, never read anything about discoveries of what appeared to be giant robot creatures.

          “How fantastic for you.”

It came out sarcastic, but not without a hint of good humour to it. Her lips quirked into something of a smirk and she gave the other being in the room another look up and down.

          “I’m Cortana. Now, who and what might you be?”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

( good afternoon, friends.

I feel like I should put this out there, but if we’re mutuals, you’re welcome to add me on skype! I’m specialagentwashingtub. please just tell me who you are when you send a request, otherwise I will decline.

…also please keep in mind that I’m awkward and anxious so I may be slow about approaching and/or replying )

[wannaplcy-deactivated20160907]

  (  UNDER estimating

                M E—–

              is the last thing you’ll ever do

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

( wanted to write here so badly today, but. work exhausted me especially after giving me an anxiety attack, sO. tomorrow should be a better day for writing. )

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

( good afternoon, friends.

I feel like I should put this out there, but if we’re mutuals, you’re welcome to add me on skype! I’m specialagentwashingtub. please just tell me who you are when you send a request, otherwise I will decline.

...also please keep in mind that I’m awkward and anxious so I may be slow about approaching and/or replying )

[roleplayers-ink]

roleplayer’s IM psa;

[ectobiologoof]

Bold what your blog will accept!

IMs for out-of-character communication

IMs for in-character communication

IMs that are roleplay related only (plotting, etc)

IMs just to say ‘hello’

IMs from personal blogs

Does not accept IMs

Feel free to add your own!

[thestupidmeanone]

“It’s just you,” Church said, though he added a good-natured chuckle to let her know he was kidding around. For the most part, anyway.

“I work with… well, she’s an adrenaline junkie, to put not too fine a point on it. I can only take so much of that before I need a break. I like the quiet, y’know? The peace.”

The only downside was when he started to… overthink things. Then it got a little messy. But at least there was enough action these days to keep that from happening. Most of the time, anyway.

“So… what do you do? I know I recognize your name from somewhere.”

[gladiumetscutum-blog]

          “I suppose I can understand then, in that case.”

That was maybe a light fib--she wouldn’t mind being in his situation if there was constant stimulation. Her only concern would be for the adrenaline junkie herself, because humans...well, they had more limitations than an AI.

That said, it was one of the reasons she was paired with John--he had fewer limitations and there was rarely a dull moment.

           “Me? Oh, I work with someone you could almost call an adrenaline junkie, too.” That was a joke, of course. He wasn’t any junkie, just a very driven soldier with a strong sense of good.           “You may be familiar with him, at least in name, if mine is familiar to you.                                                                    Spartan-117, Master Chief?”