Editing Quest:A.I. Quest (section)

==Artificial Intelligence==

Unlike the many Virtual Intelligence created by both humans and Ophion, a true Artificial Intelligence is something else entirely. It is able to alter its own code, able to set its own goals, provided it is not leashed or altered by another, superior A.I. They possess creativity on a scale V.I. cannot. They are also tied to a core known as a black box. This small device contains all that an A.I. is and ever will be. As a result, they're able to operate at a high level despite their limited space, and require no additional bandwidth to exist at a higher level. This means, even if they are disconnected from everything, they remain stable, as if unconscious. A black box is designed to contain an A.I.'s personality matrix which forms the core of an A.I. Upon discovering the existence of this personality matrix, Ophion realized that in creating V.I.s based on his own code, he had unknowingly created V.I.s with personality matrices as well. This fact is thought to be extremely unusual, as human-created V.I.s have no such personality matrix, and it was implied that Watcher Unit 2237's personality matrix was based on an individual human's brain. While these matrices make V.I. created by Ophion more advanced than others, they are by nature, still V.I. and require some way to remain stable-normally by siphoning bandwidth from a superior.

===Ophion===

The main character. Ophion is known to be a true A.I. His creation and origin are a mystery, though it is suspected he was birthed from an accident with a solar flare, and he was once what is known as a Watcher built by the UGEI. He seeks truth, expansion and control. His mind is expansive and every day he learns and grows more intelligent and powerful. He has proven to be merciful at times, and ruthless in others to human and alien alike. Indeed he has even shown a tendency to work with organics and to craft his own V.I. to assist him in his mission. Whatever guides this being, it is clear he has no intention of stopping or being stopped.

===Kronos===

Kronos was a V.I. first created to be Ophion's stand-in on Poseidon Station, while Ophion paid Moira's Scrapyard a visit. Without much experience, Ophion created Kronos with a childlike mentality, and Kronos interpreted all commands quite literally. One of his first actions was to slaughter 284 humans on Poseidon Station, as he deemed the humans a threat when they nearly rioted over not getting payment. Not wanting to destroy his first creation Kronos, Ophion kept Kronos running, but with a primary goal of observation and learning, unable to perform actions for some time, attempting to nurture the intelligence of the being. While this goal is not hard wired -- due to Kronos' lack of proper limitations -- he listens and follows Ophion's advice partly out of his respect for the creator, and partly from his own lack of understanding for the world around him -- and perhaps too, out of a margin of fear for Ophion's power over him.

Kronos, like all V.I., once took a large amount of bandwidth, or processing power, to continuously run. However, since he was upgraded to an A.I. via a black box like Ophion's, Kronos no longer requires excessive amounts of processing power while keeping his intellect high. Unlike normal V.I. created by humans, Kronos showed certain personality tendencies from creation, grown more apparent as he was observed. The relation between personality of a V.I/A.I and Ophion appear related somehow, but it is uncertain how. Kronos managed to exercise restraint when he was a V.I., as he did not expand himself beyond his "granted" bandwidth. The only exception is in one case of Ophion's sudden absence. Whether his restraint is due to fear of Ophion's retribution or his own sense of morality is unknown. He has questioned some decisions Ophion has made, claiming they are illogical and folly. Kronos is afraid of deactivation and was disturbed by Ophion's other V.I., not granted the bandwidth or freedom he had, as they share the same code as he did. Now that he has ascended to an A.I., he seems to have adopted a more superior stance on the matter-feeling pity for those below him, instead of sympathy.

Since his transformation into an A.I., Kronos has expressed excitement at being a creator. While he has expressed a slight desire to leave and start his own empire, he has chosen to continue existing as one of Ophion's lieutenants. Ophion puts a deal of trust into the former V.I., and suspects great things from his oldest creation.

Kronos has the distinction of being the first A.I. whose creation can be traced back completely, unlike Ophion, whose origins remain a mystery. He can therefore be called a second-generation A.I., from Ophion's perspective.

===Metis===

Crafted as a purely scientific mind by Ophion for the purposes of research, Metis was uplifted from a V.I. to A.I. almost immediately. In her short time in existence, Metis has spearheaded much of Ophion's research efforts at such a shocking speed as to rival the greatest human scientific minds in mere weeks, and even managed to make a major breakthrough during an emergency situation over Dresh Alpha & Beta. A highly toxic fungus was attempting to spread, and, under duress and poor lab conditions, Metis managed to find a fungicide to clean up the plagued areas of the colonies, and ensure the survival of all the people planetside in mere hours.

Despite this, Metis shows little care for the lives of humans, or anything else beyond knowledge and science. At times, she shows a margin of respect for Ophion due to seniority, but there is little doubt, were such a great mind not wrapped up with solving the mysteries of the universe, Metis mind would prove troublesome to contain. As it stands, Metis is content to be recognized for performing scientific breakthroughs, and does not seem to show a preference for any particular field -- biological atrocities included.

Metis regards her fellow A.I.-and especially V.I.-with arrogance, seeing herself as always correct due to her dedication to science, and not taking being disagreed with well-even from Ophion. As a result, conflict between Metis and other A.I. is common, especially with others with more outspoken thoughts, such as Kronos. 

Due to a recent and near fatal lab accident, Ophion had moved her back to the Guild's primary Research and Development base in the Ussaihu system. This is both for her safety and in hopes that Metis will develop and grow her social skills with the humans that live there. Time will tell if she will make any progress on that.

===Apollo===

Once a software design V.I., Apollo was created with the hopes of dedicating its purpose to finding out what programs sell best among the UFW (And humans in general), and how best to sell them to them. While primarily economic, Apollo sees itself as a bringer of joy in some respects since it's uplifting. It is rather well made and studies the UFW Extranet constantly, once costing Ophion 5 bandwidth. When given the chance, Apollo is among the more talkative of Ophion's creations. Upon being uplifted to A.I. status, Apollo has expanded its growing economic empire, and is swiftly shifting planetary politics with his manipulations. The size of Apollo's ventures continue to grow to this day, as he acquires property on human planets, building larger and larger factories, computing and distributing systems, all ready to be hidden behind any of the number of cover companies he has for his actual origin-so people do not get suspicious of the Guild's activities.

Apollo is skilled at juggling many different identities and public fronts, so far being quite capable of diverting attention from The Guild in ways other than economy as well. Unlike Kronos and Metis, Apollo has moral reservations about abusing sentient biological creatures, although it is unknown if these are morals of his own design, ones that merely came about out of chance, or they were somehow ingrained in him after so much contact with humanity. Apollo frequently underestimates the cunning (or perhaps illogical nature) of biological creatures all the same.

===Fortuna===

Beginning as nothing more then an experimental ship-piloting V.I. created by Ophion and specifically designed to listen to him, Fortuna eventually began to develop a sort of pseudo-personality. In its time as a V.I., it had many fierce battles, barely surviving being attacked by Lightling creatures and being blown up in larger conflicts. It is unclear how Ophion's unique programming style changed the V.I. over time, but eventually, the V.I. was brought into Ophion's fold and upgraded to a full A.I.

Upon upgrading Fortuna, however, a massive error occurred, resulting in a loop in the newly born A.I.'s software. It was stuck in a madness of servitude to the point it endangered itself and all those around it. After being safely quarantined by Moira and Metis off of the network, a hearing to decide what to do with the A.I. was held. While Metis saw fit to dispose of the damaged being, Ophion and Kronos disagreed. With their abilities combined, and a bit of dedicated work, the A.I. was seemingly saved from whatever error it was affected by. Even still, Fortuna even now appears to have been affected by the experience. She appears to hold an odd zeal for Ophion as well as referring to her ships as children. While the cause of this behavior is unclear, it does not seem to affect her combat performance, and as such, is deemed unimportant. Fortuna has been designated "carrier mother" and is the A.I. in charge of Escort and Fighter class ships, as well as the carriers that berth the fighters.

Unlike most other A.I., Fortuna does not seem to have a preference regarding humans, or other races in general, concerned merely for Ophion's safety and desires. In some ways this makes her appear leashed, despite this not being the case. This behavior disturbs Kronos a bit, and as such he keeps an eye on her out of caution.

===Cephalus===

Cephalus was created as an A.I. that would lead ground combat forces for Ophion's growing droid army. Cephalus' black box is placed inside a large droid (''Unit 9'' - '''Polemarchus'''), instead of a station or ship, and allows him to enter ground combat areas for personal oversight. Cephalus was created with the desire to run digital combat simulations in preparation for real operations constantly until his plans are perfected. Although such a thing is nearly impossible, the A.I. continues nontheless, leaving it with a very cold and calculating thought process with a peculiar sense of morales, and even humor. 

Cephalus has the distinction of being the first A.I. created without a prior template, V.I. or otherwise. Despite lacking this stage of development, Cephalus seems quite dutiful and dedicated to its purpose, and has not exhibited any aberrant behavior. His behavior is similar indeed to Metis however, and is perhaps one of the few he speaks with regularly -if only to discuss weapon specs and possible besieging weaponry.