Interlude: Network- ( S:) Service Drive- Communications Archive- Date 26 August 2121

The pod lay in ruin. Stepping over the broken glass and pools of unknown liquids, Colonel Garshack inspected the site with a glower on his face.

“This little experiment went about as I expected,” he murmured, a from under his heavy eyebrows his attention turned to the systems tech, who stood mortified at the damage.

“Things are fine, this is something we can deal with, Mr. Gordon doesn't know,” he stammered, but he was clearly unsettled.

“We have spent years training our AI enhanced soldiers with the new augmentations. They are some of the best soldiers in the world, and now I am down a platoon of them?” Garshack said with an ice hard glare.

The tech whipped around eyes glancing slightly in the Coronel’s direction. “No, really its just one, the others are still intact, they are just under AI control."

“You don’t have control, and you don't have have containment. This whole concept was FUBAR before it even took off, I’ll have to train up a whole new platoon if we don't get them back,” Colonel Garshack said, his low rumbling voice like distant thunder, and holding just as much of a threat.

“The Nanites are still in control, and they are carrying on with the mission we gave them. Don’t make more out of this than it is Colonel, with any experiment there are always some setbacks,” the tech countered.

“Is that how you’ll explain it to the board? The AI has control but we don't?" Garshack said with an intimidating glare that made the tech shrink back.

"They bucked their riders, but is it really a bad thing? The riders were mucking up the mission, the AIs are far better trained and focused. They will do what they need to do, then return for service checks, like always," the tech assured him.

Garshack knew that had his people not been on hand the results would have been much worse. The riders were wealthy Corpo's and politicians and while they were disappointed and making squawking sounds, they were all safe and alive.

My and my men can deal with the Outsiders. You just lock up your robots and keep them the fuck out of my way,” the Coronel stated, and turned to leave, then glanced down at the body of Doctor Howe.

“What a fucking waste,” he grumbled and marched toward the door.

"The board won't like it if we pull them out. They'll see it as a waste of resources, Colonel, they them complete their mission. What is the worst thing that can happen?" The tech known as Jason Raskin pleaded as he turned to face the old soldier.

“The Marine Corporation can patrol the Outsider settlements, but the team is ready, we just need to let them do what we programed them to do," Raskin said with a serious look on his weasel like face.

"We need to find that Amber and Vision Dynamics will do what they need to do. The city depends on us.” Garshack straightened his tie, seemingly done with the whole conversation, then added, “Vision Dynamics made your company the most successful nanite developer out there, but I can recommend that they withdraw their support. You said you could produce nanites that could make them the best in the world and better yet, Soldiers any commander could ride into battle, now they are kicking them out?"

"They weren't designed to be ridden by urban spouses who think they know how to fight because they played Country Strike on their home gaming system," Jason complained.

"If I wanted my orders second guessed, I could go to the liberty scouts, I need them to do what they are told, when they are told!"

"The AI rejected them, and selected the better war fighter, their original hosts, but we still control the AI. We tell the AI what to do and it directs the soldier. In the end we have a better product, one without fear, without second guessing the orders of a properly trained commander," Raskin said.

Garshack turned his cold grey eyes on Raskin, "If you think that worthless rich people and politicians haven't been messing up wars for centuries you're sadly mistaken," he said his voice low and rumbling.

"Like I said before, let them ride the team members, but leave the command to the professionals, that will fix the problem," Raskin said with irritation in his voice.

"Figure it out Raskin, or we will find someone who can," the Colonel turned to leave.

"Then give me access to the alpha batch! Doctor Howe refused to work with them, but he didn't understand them. My people can reverse engineer it, we can give you what you want, but we need a real chance," Raskin pleaded.

"That's not going to happen, Raskin. Now shut up and figure it out."