Confusion - Units are Manned or Unmanned?

[Zarel]

Well, so at least some intelligent entity is located inside the vehicle.
And i don't think warzone features any clever AIs. At least, even Dr.Reed is still half-human.

Where does it say Dr. Reed is half-human? Even if he was, the Nexus Intruder Virus itself is completely AI. And the assertion that vehicles don't have AI because Warzone doesn't have AI, and Warzone doesn't have AI because vehicles don't have AI, is circular reasoning.

[Rman Virgil]

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The Pumpkin canon on Nexus is rich in details, I think. (EDIT: Changed "cannon" to the proper "canon" - tanks ! Z-man. Can't have those Navel Cannons running amok. )

Like these quickie nabbed examples:

cam3abf

"The Reed Corporation was founded by Dr Allan Reed. In 2080, Dr Reed landed a contract with the US Military to develop the synaptic link technology."

"After patenting the synaptic link five years later, Dr Reed continued his researches into cybernetics."

"His goal this time was to allow transfer of human consciousness into data streams that could meld with computer technologies. While in Cyberspace the operator's bodies were kept in immersion tanks."

"Backed again by the military, Dr Reed began work on the NEXUS Intruder Program. After three years with little progress, the military abandoned the Nexus Project and cut Dr Reed's funding."

"Reports from the time claim that Dr Reed was furious and vowed to have his revenge on all who got in his way."

"It appears that Dr Reed may have succeeded in his goals and completed the Nexus Intruder Program."

"The similarity between NEXUS and Dr Reed is striking."

(the narrative is interrupted by the nexus virus at this point.)

"Such an interesting history lesson. Now allow me to bring you up to date."

"The NEXUS Intruder Program was created in order to control fools like you."

"It's very simple for me to infiltrate your systems and take them over. It's so simple, in fact, that you wouldn't even know I'm there. That is until I activate parts of myself etched into your core systems."

"Let's start by activating NEXUS in your core systems and see what happens!"

cam3ad2n

"Not long to go now, Commander. There's no where else for you to run to."

"However, if you vacate this facility, then I shall let you go free, as you are no longer a threat to me."

"You have five minutes to comply or else it's frying time!"

Gotta love that malevolent sense of humor - " or else it's frying time !"

Cam34MU1

"We are experiencing some interference from NEXUS."

"You must destroy his command center before we lose control of key systems."


Cam34MU2

"Commander, welcome to NEXUS!"

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[Corporal Punishment]

Yes, that's an interesting point RV. It seems as if Nexus was able to infest not only computer hardware but also human brains. Apparently, it exploits a back-door in the synaptic link implant to do so. This makes sense, as both the synaptic link and Nexus were created by the same individual. Plus it's the only logical explanation how Nexus got his hands on cyborgs. This thing acts so inhuman it is hard to imagine any human would swear allegiance to it voluntarily.

[Roux Le Corps]

i always figured it forced the 'weak flesh things' to do its bidding by controlling the machine parts of the cyborg ^_^

[TVR]

New Paradigm and The Collective willing follow NEXUS in return for technology, but its control over The Collective is not absolute, as it requires deception in order to convince them to attack during Beta 9.

[Corporal Punishment]

Yes, they follow Nexus, but are not part of Nexus. I should have put that more clearly: While humans may decide to cooperate with Nexus, it would be difficult to find volunteers for having the Nexus intruder program written into their synaptic link and brain to become part of a swarm entity.

[TVR]

... it would be difficult to find volunteers for having the Nexus intruder program written into their synaptic link and brain to become part of a swarm entity ...

NEXUS does not have a capabilities for brute-force mind control, as if it had the complete knowledge of how a organic brain functions, then the computer technology that it has is already far superior to whatever organic brains could provide.

This is why it tries to tempt the commander into joining him in the first place, if NEXUS had mind control technology via backdoor in Synaptic Link, it wouldn't need to even ask.

[Corporal Punishment]

Au contraire, Nexus does use the synaptic link as a means of compromising humans. RV has kindly provided the original message strings earlier:

"Ah, Commander, so good of you to join us here at Nexus base."

"It was very useful having Gamma Team set up here in the mountains."

"Their absorption was such a pleasure."

"Thank you for all those useful technologies you've recovered."

"You and not those fools in the New Paradigm and the Collective."

"I'm now activating all your synaptic links so that your forces can meld with Nexus."

"Your forces are now mine! Welcome to Nexus."

[Roux Le Corps]

like i said, control of the machine is easier if the flesh is willing ^_^

[TVR]

"I'm now activating all your synaptic links so that your forces can meld with Nexus."

This is possibly the most relevant phrase that NEXUS says, 'your forces' being anyone still alive who has a Synaptic Link in Gamma Team.

But it is very interesting that NEXUS is now activating the link, which is not a mind control device, but merely the link between a standard human brain and computer.

This implies that each individual in Gamma Team that is still alive now supports NEXUS, voluntarily.

If it were literal mind control, then NEXUS, and by extension, computer systems in Warzone 2100 possess enough processing power to understand how an organic neural network functions. Which would beg the question of why NEXUS doesn't control each unit directly, instead of relying on remotely hacking 'weak-flesh things' to do its bidding.

One of the themes explored in Warzone 2100 is power, and the temptation of it. The New Paradigm desire to create a military dictatorship in the Western Sector, and exert a great influence over resident scavengers. The Collective are somewhat less subtle in exterminating or conscripting the locals. Both of these groups were also offered power in return for allegiance; the commander is also offered a share of this power many times.

"Such a pity that you refused to join me earlier."

However, the commander declines out of free will, and it is likely that Gamma Team was offered a variation of this.

"Join me, or I execute you immediately."

Which is very probable, as Gamma Base is completely surrounded by NEXUS. Given first-hand demonstration of its military might, I'm certain that the majority of the personnel would choose to defect for the better prospect of survival.

It's a catch-22, either NEXUS relies on conventional divide-and-conquer tactics, or the computer technology it's run on is sufficiently advanced to control even minds, therefore obsoleting the benefits of Synaptic Link.

On a side note, the result of any struggle with brute-force mind control, that can happen at any moment, is boredom, as there is no conflict, it's just which order they're mind controlled in.

[Giani]

They are manned.
NEXUS program hacks the tanks, as it say in campaing, but i have no idea of what happens whit the person inside . Maybe the tanks are unmanned...
The cyborgs are like an armor, so there are humans inside.

[Emdek]

The cyborgs are like an armor, so there are humans inside.

Campaign videos make that confusing, as they say about immersion tanks and cyborg factory has structures resembling them...
Is there clear canonic explanation?

[Rman Virgil]

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The canon can support both positions - deliberately ambiguous was the consensus. Not a bad thing actually. Imagine whichever one rocks your world when playing.
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[Emdek]

Rman Virgil, personally I think that this should be decided once for all.
As in case of only one type of units being controlled remotely (exclusively tanks / VTOLs or exclusively cyborgs) then separate experience preserving rules could be applied (why destroyed units should loose all experience if their operators are still alive?), at least in theory (as there could be complications, like what to do when cyborg factory gets destroyed?).

[Rman Virgil]

Rman Virgil, personally I think that this should be decided once for all.
As in case of only one type of units being controlled remotely (exclusively tanks / VTOLs or exclusively cyborgs) then separate experience preserving rules could be applied (why destroyed units should loose all experience if their operators are still alive?), at least in theory (as there could be complications, like what to do when cyborg factory gets destroyed?).

I agree with your interpretation because it is consistent with "Ender's Game" - but I don't know how that can be decided once and for all...

Plus....here's a fly in the ointment.

Where are the bodies that are remotely controlling armor & Vtols?

Logically HQ fits the bill (Commander bodies in the CC). But if that is the case then the GPM that follows would be that if your HQ is destroyed your army (except for Borg, possibly) is dead in the water, kinda like killing the King in Chess. Can you imagine the uproar over that GPM by MPers?

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