Post by John Darnacan on Feb 7, 2006 1:45:13 GMT
Part 8 – Army of the Future
====================================================================
After the meal was over. They all returned to the door where the Doctor and Deiter had their first encounter. Krueger unlocked and opened the door.
“Ladies first” he said.
Faye entered, and turned around immediately. “Doctor, I think it’s a Dalek!”
“I apologise” said Krueger. “I did not turn the light on” When the room was lit there was a strange array of objects. The closest one did bear a some resemblance to a Dalek, more like a very crude parody. It was a large sheet-metal cylinder with a manipulator arm, sitting on small tank tread.
“This was our first attempt” commented Sir Avery. “Admittedly a failure, but we persevered.”
What followed was a crude mechanical human-shaped figure.
“It looks a retro-styled robot from the fifties” laughed Faye.
“This IS the fifties” whispered the Doctor, who turned back to the scientists. “So you’re making robots.” The Doctor did not seem overly impressed. Although the recycling tubes on the robot’s head vaguely reminded him of a cyberman.
“I have to admit this particular attempt was foolishly influenced by a science-fiction film. And bipedal locomotion proved quite difficult to programme, and was quite impractical. Figuring how to get a robot to travel over rugged terrain has been one of our biggest challenges,” explained Krueger.
“But then, Richard and Johann had a leap of inspiration and genius. They asked why do our robots have to walk or roll. They developed an anti-gravity suspension system.” This got the Doctor’s attention.
“Anti-gravity?”
“Yes, quite. Not powerful enough to make it fly like an airplane, but sufficient to get it over rough terrain” said Lochley trying to contain his excitement as he pressed some control. The three stepped aside to allow a floating black sphere to pass. It had a cylindrical extension underneath with a glowing hemi-sphere. It also had two crude manipulator arms, but more advanced than the first prototype.
“We’d like to introduce Firefly Six, our most advanced model to date. Although Richard likes to call it a ‘Hoveron’, but I think Firefly is more poetic. ”
The Doctor’s expression was grim. The three scientists looked at him.
“May I have a closer look?” he asked, as he surveyed the floating machine.
“Certainly.” Lockley opened the top section, exposing the internal circuits. The Doctor inspected the internal mechanisms closely, as well as the manipulator arms and the anti-gravity projector.
“I see you’re using transistors” observed the Doctor.
“Ah, you’re familiar with Doctor Shockley’s new invention; much more efficient than the vacuum tubes we used on the ENIAC,” said Sir Avery enthusiastically.
“So what do you think, Doctor?” asked Krueger.
“Very advanced work indeed,” said the Doctor grimly. “Impressive.” The three scientists beamed at one another. It was probably the first time they had been able to show off their work.. The Doctor gave a small sigh.
“Interesting. So you want create global peace with robots. Well, I can only think of two ways to do that. The first way is you believe you can use robots to relieve everyone of their labours and create a utopia. It is a flawed logic, but often believed. The second way is to create an army of robots to enforce your peace. If you’re concerned about rugged terrain, I assume it’s the latter. Apparently, the war scientists can’t stop themselves. Preparing for the next war?”
“You don’t understand. We want peace.”
“Hitler wanted peace. A piece of Poland. A piece of France.”
“No, no, Doctor, we have no territorial aspirations. And we would never hand our work over to any government. Not again. Or even use it ourselves.”
“Then, what’s the point?”
“Next year, the United Nations will move into its permanent home in New York. Then, we want to present the Hoverons to the U.N. as a gift.”
“Why do that?” asked Faye.
“One of the reasons the League of Nations failed, is that it had to depend on its member nations for troops. Governments are loath to send their troops into battles that do not directly benefit them, even if there are just causes.”
“We plan to arm the Hoverons with non-lethal weapons, dart guns, nets, perhaps electric prods. Deiter was been working on that,” explained Lochley.
“And what if the U.N. decides to equip your Hoverons with lethal weapons?”
“We have a safeguard built in. Believe us Doctor; we did not create this plan impulsively.”
“I’m sorry, but I find it disingenuous that say that you want peace, yet you want to build an invincible army.”
The three scientists didn’t look happy at the Doctor’s disapproval. Faye was keenly aware of Deiter and the lump under his jumper shaped like a lugar. There was a palpable tension in the air.
“So you disapprove of our work,” surmised Sir Avery.
“I believe you are honourable men, sincere in your intentions, but your work is misguided. I mean no disrespect. ” There was a grim silence.
“So what do you intend to do?” asked Krueger.
“More to the point, what authority will you report us to?” demanded Lockley.
“None,” replied the Doctor.
“My good fellow, how can you expect us to believe that?” Smythe asked skeptically.
“I will not report you to anyone, because nothing will come of your work. The U.N. will not accept your ‘gift’. All the member countries will instead compete to obtain your creations for themselves.”
“And which of those countries will you be warning of our creation?”
“As I said before, none. I expect you will see the folly of your efforts before you ever get to the U.N. In that hope, I will remain silent. I have no desire for any country to ever obtain your work.”
Deiter stood taller, signaling he was ready to act if called upon. Krueger subtly nodded that no action would be needed.
“Well as scientists, we must be open to listening to alternate hypotheses,” concluded Krueger. “I regret you will not be joining us. However, I thank you for your candid views, Doctor.”
“Thank you for sharing your confidence, and you delicious schnitzel.”
After a round of uncomfortable good-byes, Faye and the Doctor headed back to the car.
“So, are all your worries put to rest?” asked Faye.
“To the contrary, I’m more concerned than ever,” replied the Doctor.
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To Be Continued...
====================================================================
After the meal was over. They all returned to the door where the Doctor and Deiter had their first encounter. Krueger unlocked and opened the door.
“Ladies first” he said.
Faye entered, and turned around immediately. “Doctor, I think it’s a Dalek!”
“I apologise” said Krueger. “I did not turn the light on” When the room was lit there was a strange array of objects. The closest one did bear a some resemblance to a Dalek, more like a very crude parody. It was a large sheet-metal cylinder with a manipulator arm, sitting on small tank tread.
“This was our first attempt” commented Sir Avery. “Admittedly a failure, but we persevered.”
What followed was a crude mechanical human-shaped figure.
“It looks a retro-styled robot from the fifties” laughed Faye.
“This IS the fifties” whispered the Doctor, who turned back to the scientists. “So you’re making robots.” The Doctor did not seem overly impressed. Although the recycling tubes on the robot’s head vaguely reminded him of a cyberman.
“I have to admit this particular attempt was foolishly influenced by a science-fiction film. And bipedal locomotion proved quite difficult to programme, and was quite impractical. Figuring how to get a robot to travel over rugged terrain has been one of our biggest challenges,” explained Krueger.
“But then, Richard and Johann had a leap of inspiration and genius. They asked why do our robots have to walk or roll. They developed an anti-gravity suspension system.” This got the Doctor’s attention.
“Anti-gravity?”
“Yes, quite. Not powerful enough to make it fly like an airplane, but sufficient to get it over rough terrain” said Lochley trying to contain his excitement as he pressed some control. The three stepped aside to allow a floating black sphere to pass. It had a cylindrical extension underneath with a glowing hemi-sphere. It also had two crude manipulator arms, but more advanced than the first prototype.
“We’d like to introduce Firefly Six, our most advanced model to date. Although Richard likes to call it a ‘Hoveron’, but I think Firefly is more poetic. ”
The Doctor’s expression was grim. The three scientists looked at him.
“May I have a closer look?” he asked, as he surveyed the floating machine.
“Certainly.” Lockley opened the top section, exposing the internal circuits. The Doctor inspected the internal mechanisms closely, as well as the manipulator arms and the anti-gravity projector.
“I see you’re using transistors” observed the Doctor.
“Ah, you’re familiar with Doctor Shockley’s new invention; much more efficient than the vacuum tubes we used on the ENIAC,” said Sir Avery enthusiastically.
“So what do you think, Doctor?” asked Krueger.
“Very advanced work indeed,” said the Doctor grimly. “Impressive.” The three scientists beamed at one another. It was probably the first time they had been able to show off their work.. The Doctor gave a small sigh.
“Interesting. So you want create global peace with robots. Well, I can only think of two ways to do that. The first way is you believe you can use robots to relieve everyone of their labours and create a utopia. It is a flawed logic, but often believed. The second way is to create an army of robots to enforce your peace. If you’re concerned about rugged terrain, I assume it’s the latter. Apparently, the war scientists can’t stop themselves. Preparing for the next war?”
“You don’t understand. We want peace.”
“Hitler wanted peace. A piece of Poland. A piece of France.”
“No, no, Doctor, we have no territorial aspirations. And we would never hand our work over to any government. Not again. Or even use it ourselves.”
“Then, what’s the point?”
“Next year, the United Nations will move into its permanent home in New York. Then, we want to present the Hoverons to the U.N. as a gift.”
“Why do that?” asked Faye.
“One of the reasons the League of Nations failed, is that it had to depend on its member nations for troops. Governments are loath to send their troops into battles that do not directly benefit them, even if there are just causes.”
“We plan to arm the Hoverons with non-lethal weapons, dart guns, nets, perhaps electric prods. Deiter was been working on that,” explained Lochley.
“And what if the U.N. decides to equip your Hoverons with lethal weapons?”
“We have a safeguard built in. Believe us Doctor; we did not create this plan impulsively.”
“I’m sorry, but I find it disingenuous that say that you want peace, yet you want to build an invincible army.”
The three scientists didn’t look happy at the Doctor’s disapproval. Faye was keenly aware of Deiter and the lump under his jumper shaped like a lugar. There was a palpable tension in the air.
“So you disapprove of our work,” surmised Sir Avery.
“I believe you are honourable men, sincere in your intentions, but your work is misguided. I mean no disrespect. ” There was a grim silence.
“So what do you intend to do?” asked Krueger.
“More to the point, what authority will you report us to?” demanded Lockley.
“None,” replied the Doctor.
“My good fellow, how can you expect us to believe that?” Smythe asked skeptically.
“I will not report you to anyone, because nothing will come of your work. The U.N. will not accept your ‘gift’. All the member countries will instead compete to obtain your creations for themselves.”
“And which of those countries will you be warning of our creation?”
“As I said before, none. I expect you will see the folly of your efforts before you ever get to the U.N. In that hope, I will remain silent. I have no desire for any country to ever obtain your work.”
Deiter stood taller, signaling he was ready to act if called upon. Krueger subtly nodded that no action would be needed.
“Well as scientists, we must be open to listening to alternate hypotheses,” concluded Krueger. “I regret you will not be joining us. However, I thank you for your candid views, Doctor.”
“Thank you for sharing your confidence, and you delicious schnitzel.”
After a round of uncomfortable good-byes, Faye and the Doctor headed back to the car.
“So, are all your worries put to rest?” asked Faye.
“To the contrary, I’m more concerned than ever,” replied the Doctor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued...
;D
;D
