Messenger

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PROJECT MESSENGER HISTORY

Project Messenger developed out of the State Science Institute's research
on the maximization of human potential. Our goal in this project was to
create a biomechanical device which would combine the raw processing
speed of modern computers with the strength of human intuition.

Certain aspects of the project violated published ethics guidelines, and
so funding was always a difficulty. Some of the funding was filtered from
other projects (chiefly sponsored by E.L.I.T.E.); the remaining funding
was obtained from the Fifth Column.


SEQUENCE 1:

The Sequence 1 experiments were an initial attempt to create the
Messenger Device:

TRIAL 1: URIEL - Failed during assembly.
TRIAL 2: RAPHAEL - Failed during assembly.
TRIAL 3: ZAGZAGEL - Assembly succeeded. Organic components failed 
    during training exercise. (Cause: Hypothermia.)
TRIAL 4: METATRON - Organic components failed during training
    exercise. (Cause: Hypothermia.)
TRIAL 5: ISRAFEL - Organic components failed during traning
    exercise. (Cause: Hypothermia.)
TRIAL 6: SANDALPHON - Organic components failed during training
    exercise. (Cause: Hypothermia.)

SEQUENCE 1 ANALYSIS:

The organic and mechanical components were poorly integrated in Sequence 1.
Under stress, one set of components would take complete control of the Messenger
Device, locking out inputs from the remaining components. 

It was decided to divide the Messenger Device into a primarily-organic unit and 
a primarily-mechanical unit. The two halves of the device would exchange information
via coded aetheric pulses on a subconscious level.

The aetheric pulses were generated by a set of eight Arcane Power Crystals, four 
of which were held by each unit. Both units were fully sychronized with their
respective crystals; it was felt that the additional powers granted by the crystals 
would be useful during operations in the field.


SEQUENCE 2:

TRIAL 1: RED/BLUE - Failed during assembly
TRIAL 2: ARMOR/BLADE - Assembly succeeded. Organic components failed 
    during training exercise. (Cause: Hypothermia.)
TRIAL 3: NAPOLEON/SNOWBALL - Mechanical components failed during
    training exercise. (Cause: Electromagnetic pulse.)
TRIAL 4: MEDIUM/MESSAGE - Organic components failed during training
    exercise. (Cause: Anoxia.)
TRIAL 5: HAMMER/ANVIL - All components failed during training 
    exercise. (Cause: Explosion.)
TRIAL 6: PRISM/CHASUBLE - Assembly and training succeeded. Messenger 
    Device was assigned to Project Xylophone. Despite programmed 
    orders, the Device attempted to leave the facility. After second-tier
    security measures failed, the facility was sacrificed in order to 
    prevent premature exposure of the project.

SEQUENCE 2 ANALYSIS:

Each trial was more successful than the previous one, and the last trial
can be considered a qualified success. The Messenger Device's intelligence 
exceeded the design parameters. However, this complexity came with a price; 
the Device was somehow able to override its control programming and act
on its own agenda.

It was decided that the Messenger Device should be kept in a restricted
environment, and be made aware that its continued existence depended on 
its cooperation. The facility self-destruct mechanisms were enhanced in 
case the Device was able to escape confinement.

Special shields were put in place to block the effects of the Arcane
Power Crystals. It was felt that one unit could operate safely in the
field as long as the other unit was "held hostage", and so the new 
units were all fully synchronized to the crystals.


SEQUENCE 3:

TRIAL 1: MODUS PONES/MODUS TOLENS - Assembly and training succeeded.
     The Device was able to induce a guard to open a security door 
     by claiming that the organic unit needed medical attention. 
     Device could not subsequently be contained. Facility was sacrificed.     
TRIAL 2: SKY OF BLUE/SEA OF GREEN - Device produced a crude explosive
     from an obscure combination of available materials, and used this 
     to gain access to an air duct. Facility was sacrificed.
TRIAL 3: PILGRIMS PROGRESS/CANTERBURY TALES - The Device briefly 
     gained access to the internal computer network and viewed  
     classified information about current security procedures. 
     In an effect to minimize the damage, the organic unit's 
     memories were erased with a lethe-sequence medicine. This 
     had the unfortunate side-effect of reducing the Device's 
     processing abilities to below the acceptable level. Device 
     was scrapped.
TRIAL 4: AFFIRMING THE CONSEQUENT/DENYING THE ANTECEDENT - The 
     Device solved the "Project Xylophone" equations, which 
     eventually led to the creation of the Thompson Harmonizer. 
     Shortly after the equations were solved, the facility's 
     self-destruct mechanism was triggered by an accidental 
     mechanical failure. Device could not be recovered.
TRIAL 5: PARROT SKETCH/LUMBERJACK SONG - Device was assigned to
     Project ECHELON; a software project to tap into the global
     communications network and extract valuable information.
     Post-mortem analysis indicated that the final software was
     not a filtering program, but instead an advanced Artificial 
     Intelligence, self-identified as APO/THEOSIS, and apparently 
     designed to help the Messenger Device escape from the 
     facility. However, APO/THEOSIS turned on its makers and
     triggered the facility's self-destruct mechanism. The
     APO/THEOSIS software proved to have no useful purpose, and
     it was subsequently deleted.
TRIAL 6: POSITIVELY FOURTH STREET/HIGHWAY SIXTY-ONE REVISITED -
     Components were stolen prior to assembly. The unassembled
     mechanical components were later found in area pawnshops. The
     biological unit could not be located. However, without
     the mechanical components installed; the biological unit
     would have no particular value; certainly it could have
     only ordinary human intelligence. It is assumed that the
     thieves discarded the unit once they discovered its 
     worthlessness. Funding problems prevented the acquisition
     of replacement biological unit.


SEQUENCE 3 ANALYSIS:

Obviously controlling a super-human intelligence is a difficult 
project, but the fourth trial of this sequence demonstrates that
it is indeed possible.

Research is currently on hold, due to lack of funding. It is
anticipated that funding will be available once the encryption
on the Thompson Harmonizer has been broken and access to it
is restored.