Michael Brachman's Blog: Tales of the Vuduri, page 153
December 18, 2013
MASAL, Part 1
MASAL, the Master Logical Entity (Masdre Andoteta Logice in Vuduri) ended up being the ultimate bad guy in Rome's Revolution.
Nobody really knows when he became self-aware. We only know that he was a massively parallel analog computer built around 3350AD (1261PR) but his origins go much farther back. The architects of the Ark missions decided, using risk analysis, that a digital computer, even redundant digital computers, had very little chance of surviving over the time span of centuries. So instead, they built an artificial intelligence (AI) engine using analog components. Any given component failure would have very little impact on the functionality of the whole computer. Other portions would be able to take over the functions of failed sections, making it, in essence, self-healing.
After the Erklirte were defeated, the components comprising the computer were preserved. Many years later, the people who eventually became the Vuduri, were trying to figure out how to build a distributed computer, capable of original thought, that did not rely on just building more CPUs and adding in more memory. They decided to build a new type of computer based upon the Erklirte designs. They quickly achieved a new, higher order level of success. The new computer was immediately able to help them harness the use of the PPT modulation and this, too, was incorporated into the computer. Because PPT transceivers have essentially zero time delay, it allowed them to build portions of the computer that spanned the globe. MASAL eventually absorbed and incorporated all the other computers on the planet and became a unified, massive, world-wide distributed intelligence.
[image error]
Tomorrow, the sad story of what happened after he became self-aware.
Nobody really knows when he became self-aware. We only know that he was a massively parallel analog computer built around 3350AD (1261PR) but his origins go much farther back. The architects of the Ark missions decided, using risk analysis, that a digital computer, even redundant digital computers, had very little chance of surviving over the time span of centuries. So instead, they built an artificial intelligence (AI) engine using analog components. Any given component failure would have very little impact on the functionality of the whole computer. Other portions would be able to take over the functions of failed sections, making it, in essence, self-healing.
After the Erklirte were defeated, the components comprising the computer were preserved. Many years later, the people who eventually became the Vuduri, were trying to figure out how to build a distributed computer, capable of original thought, that did not rely on just building more CPUs and adding in more memory. They decided to build a new type of computer based upon the Erklirte designs. They quickly achieved a new, higher order level of success. The new computer was immediately able to help them harness the use of the PPT modulation and this, too, was incorporated into the computer. Because PPT transceivers have essentially zero time delay, it allowed them to build portions of the computer that spanned the globe. MASAL eventually absorbed and incorporated all the other computers on the planet and became a unified, massive, world-wide distributed intelligence.
[image error]
Tomorrow, the sad story of what happened after he became self-aware.
December 17, 2013
Book Trailer for The Ark Lords goes live!
I am thrilled to announce that the new Book Trailer for The Ark Lords is now live on YouTube. You can click on the image below and it will take you to the trailer:
[image error]
My immeasurably talented brother Bruce did the graphics, animation and scored the music. It has taken us about a year to get the script just right, for Bruce's animation, picking just the right music. It was really quite a production. Shockingly time-intensive.
Here is the link in English: http://youtu.be/DOa_esmdnfo
If you want the direct link, you can copy this Link to The Ark Lords Book Trailer and paste it anywhere you want. Send it to your friends!
Feedback welcome!
[image error]
[image error]
My immeasurably talented brother Bruce did the graphics, animation and scored the music. It has taken us about a year to get the script just right, for Bruce's animation, picking just the right music. It was really quite a production. Shockingly time-intensive.
Here is the link in English: http://youtu.be/DOa_esmdnfo
If you want the direct link, you can copy this Link to The Ark Lords Book Trailer and paste it anywhere you want. Send it to your friends!
Feedback welcome!
December 16, 2013
Why Helome? Part 2
This is Part 2 of the conversation between Rei and Rome that took place a little over eight months after the events that occurred in Rome's Evolution.
"You mean like The Great Dying?" Rei offered.
"Yes, even though we know that was man-made," Rome answered. "There was always a chance of a natural, new disease. Or an asteroid. Or a freak solar flare. It was possible that the Vuduri could be exterminated."
"I get it," Rei said. "So the Overmind was just trying to protect itself. And he told you it was for all Vuduri."
"Yes," Rome said, nodding. "There really isn't much of a difference. When the survey crew came back and announced that not only was there a habitable world orbiting Rogal Canduro but one that was actually superior to Earth, the Overmind didn't hesitate to establish a colony there."
"What about Deucado?" Rei asked. "Surely the odds of two worlds being wiped out at the same time was infinitesimal."
"I like it here, Mommy," Aason added.
"Of course you do, baby," Rome said, "this is your home. But to your point," she addressed to Rei, "remember that the Onsiras were in the background, planting seeds. The Overmind specifically kept Helome ethnically pure, Vuduri only. So Deucado was established just in case there were any mandasurte who wanted to leave Earth, they would have a place to go."
"Hmmm," Rei said. "Very clever. I'll have to think about it some more."
With that, he finished clearing the dishes and carried them into the kitchen.
Of course, we know Rome was right. The Overmind by its very nature was not naturally curious. That was established early on in Rome's Revolution. In fact, the Overmind had never ventured out to Nu2 Lupi or Beta Hydri to even see if there were habitable worlds. At least the question regarding Nu2 Lupi will be answered in the upcoming novel The Milk Run which should be available early next year.
"You mean like The Great Dying?" Rei offered.
"Yes, even though we know that was man-made," Rome answered. "There was always a chance of a natural, new disease. Or an asteroid. Or a freak solar flare. It was possible that the Vuduri could be exterminated."
"I get it," Rei said. "So the Overmind was just trying to protect itself. And he told you it was for all Vuduri."
"Yes," Rome said, nodding. "There really isn't much of a difference. When the survey crew came back and announced that not only was there a habitable world orbiting Rogal Canduro but one that was actually superior to Earth, the Overmind didn't hesitate to establish a colony there."
"What about Deucado?" Rei asked. "Surely the odds of two worlds being wiped out at the same time was infinitesimal."
"I like it here, Mommy," Aason added.
"Of course you do, baby," Rome said, "this is your home. But to your point," she addressed to Rei, "remember that the Onsiras were in the background, planting seeds. The Overmind specifically kept Helome ethnically pure, Vuduri only. So Deucado was established just in case there were any mandasurte who wanted to leave Earth, they would have a place to go."
"Hmmm," Rei said. "Very clever. I'll have to think about it some more."
With that, he finished clearing the dishes and carried them into the kitchen.
Of course, we know Rome was right. The Overmind by its very nature was not naturally curious. That was established early on in Rome's Revolution. In fact, the Overmind had never ventured out to Nu2 Lupi or Beta Hydri to even see if there were habitable worlds. At least the question regarding Nu2 Lupi will be answered in the upcoming novel The Milk Run which should be available early next year.
December 15, 2013
Why Helome? Part 1
It was a little over eight months after the events of Rome's Evolution. Rei had made Rome and Aason a bison meat loaf. It was the first they had ever tasted one and Rei could tell by the fact that no one spoke during the meal that they loved it.
Finally, Rome put her fork down. "That was delicious!" she gushed. "I could eat that every day for the rest of my life and never grow tired of it." She stood up and started gathering up the dishes.
"Sit, please," Rei said. He grabbed her plate away from her and reached over for Aason's.
"But you cooked," she said. "It's only fair that I clean up."
"Forget it," Rei said. "You're doing your work 24/7," he said, pointing at her bloated abdomen.
Rome sat back down. "You don't need to convince me," she said. "I'm having a little trouble breathing as it is," she added.
"Should I be concerned?" Rei asked, scowling a bit. "You remember what happened with buddy boy, over there," he said, waving his hand at Aason.
"Oh, no," Rome said. "It's not nearly as bad. It's just that Lupe never gives me a break." Rome grinned.
Rei stared at her protruding belly and cocked his head to the side. Something clicked inside his head.
"Hey," he said. "You just made me think of something. You and Virga were pregnant at the same time. I love Virga and all, even though she tried to turn me into breeding stock, but..."
"But what?" Rome asked, confused.
"Why was there a colony on Helome, anyway?"
"I don't understand."
"It isn't like the Overmind to be curious. Why did the Vuduri establish an outpost there in the first place? It doesn't even make any sense."
"Oh," Rome said. "Do you want the answer we were told or what I really think?"
"What do you really think?"
"The answer is about the same. The Overmind tried to suppress the vast amount of human history from the Vuduri but there was no denying that a disaster could strike the Earth."
"You mean like The Great Dying?" Rei offered.
Tomorrow, the conversation concludes.
Finally, Rome put her fork down. "That was delicious!" she gushed. "I could eat that every day for the rest of my life and never grow tired of it." She stood up and started gathering up the dishes.
"Sit, please," Rei said. He grabbed her plate away from her and reached over for Aason's.
"But you cooked," she said. "It's only fair that I clean up."
"Forget it," Rei said. "You're doing your work 24/7," he said, pointing at her bloated abdomen.
Rome sat back down. "You don't need to convince me," she said. "I'm having a little trouble breathing as it is," she added.
"Should I be concerned?" Rei asked, scowling a bit. "You remember what happened with buddy boy, over there," he said, waving his hand at Aason.
"Oh, no," Rome said. "It's not nearly as bad. It's just that Lupe never gives me a break." Rome grinned.
Rei stared at her protruding belly and cocked his head to the side. Something clicked inside his head.
"Hey," he said. "You just made me think of something. You and Virga were pregnant at the same time. I love Virga and all, even though she tried to turn me into breeding stock, but..."
"But what?" Rome asked, confused.
"Why was there a colony on Helome, anyway?"
"I don't understand."
"It isn't like the Overmind to be curious. Why did the Vuduri establish an outpost there in the first place? It doesn't even make any sense."
"Oh," Rome said. "Do you want the answer we were told or what I really think?"
"What do you really think?"
"The answer is about the same. The Overmind tried to suppress the vast amount of human history from the Vuduri but there was no denying that a disaster could strike the Earth."
"You mean like The Great Dying?" Rei offered.
Tomorrow, the conversation concludes.
December 14, 2013
Estar wasn't so bad
When I first wrote the novel VIRUS 5, before it evolved into Rome's Revolution, I knew that Estar was the villain but originally, her motives weren't that terrible. Oh sure, she wanted Rei and all the other Essessoni dead but her hatred of them seemed to stem from a heightened fear of the Erklirte rather than anything deeper.
It took me a long time to learn that Estar was just an agent of MASAL and it wasn't her fear of the Erklirte that made her so murderous. In fact, it was MASAL's fear that the Erklirte could set his eugenics program back that made her so deadly. Luckily for us she was also incompetent (she was only a half-brain, after all) and Rei was able to survive each of her murder attempts. I wasn't sad to see Estar die beneath Kilauea.
She was destined to die anyway since Rei and Rome ended up detonating the volcano in order to destroy MASAL. However, it wasn't until Rome's Evolution that I found out she was only 12 years old. The Onsiras had a nasty streak because of their genetic makeup but it also made them age at least twice as fast a normal human beings. So while she was physically about Rome's equal, she was not emotionally prepared to deal with life and this led to her undoing. I sometimes wonder if she really wasn't that bad but rather just easily manipulated. Oh well.
It took me a long time to learn that Estar was just an agent of MASAL and it wasn't her fear of the Erklirte that made her so murderous. In fact, it was MASAL's fear that the Erklirte could set his eugenics program back that made her so deadly. Luckily for us she was also incompetent (she was only a half-brain, after all) and Rei was able to survive each of her murder attempts. I wasn't sad to see Estar die beneath Kilauea.
She was destined to die anyway since Rei and Rome ended up detonating the volcano in order to destroy MASAL. However, it wasn't until Rome's Evolution that I found out she was only 12 years old. The Onsiras had a nasty streak because of their genetic makeup but it also made them age at least twice as fast a normal human beings. So while she was physically about Rome's equal, she was not emotionally prepared to deal with life and this led to her undoing. I sometimes wonder if she really wasn't that bad but rather just easily manipulated. Oh well.
December 13, 2013
Opening Credits
I know I've mentioned this several times before but much of the material that was removed from the modern version of Rome's Revolution will make for a great set of opening scenes if the book is ever made into a movie.
When I wrote the original prologue to VIRUS 5, it took place 1300 years earlier, on New Earth in orbit around Alpha Centauri, and was the story about how Silas Hiram discovered that Alnilam disappeared. This is not particularly dramatic, although it is among the best stuff I've ever written and it will resurface in next year's The Vuduri Companion. But the opening scene of the book, in which one of the Vuduri space tugs nearly collides with the wildly tumbling Ark II, will make for a great backdrop to the opening credits, behind the titles scene. Of course this chapter, probably the second best thing I've written, was excised from the current version and it, too, will be in The Vuduri Companion.
The next scene, Rei's resurrection, was particularly dramatic and will make for a great flashback montage as the movie actually starts. Today's version of Rome's Revolution opens with Rei on a gurney and meeting Rome for the first time. But that original Chapter 2 also shows Rei waking up for the first time and seeing what he thought (fuzzy-brained) were aliens awakening him. I have a lot of fun in the book reminding the reader with phrases like "that monster was me" (says Rome) but because it is purely visual, it will make a better backdrop than part of the action.
The reality is, you are supposed to introduce the reader (and your movie-going audience) to your protagonist (or dual protagonists) in the first paragraph and give the reader the low-down on the essential conflict immediately. In the current version of Rome's Revolution I do that but that doesn't mean the other scenes don't have value.
When I wrote the original prologue to VIRUS 5, it took place 1300 years earlier, on New Earth in orbit around Alpha Centauri, and was the story about how Silas Hiram discovered that Alnilam disappeared. This is not particularly dramatic, although it is among the best stuff I've ever written and it will resurface in next year's The Vuduri Companion. But the opening scene of the book, in which one of the Vuduri space tugs nearly collides with the wildly tumbling Ark II, will make for a great backdrop to the opening credits, behind the titles scene. Of course this chapter, probably the second best thing I've written, was excised from the current version and it, too, will be in The Vuduri Companion.
The next scene, Rei's resurrection, was particularly dramatic and will make for a great flashback montage as the movie actually starts. Today's version of Rome's Revolution opens with Rei on a gurney and meeting Rome for the first time. But that original Chapter 2 also shows Rei waking up for the first time and seeing what he thought (fuzzy-brained) were aliens awakening him. I have a lot of fun in the book reminding the reader with phrases like "that monster was me" (says Rome) but because it is purely visual, it will make a better backdrop than part of the action.
The reality is, you are supposed to introduce the reader (and your movie-going audience) to your protagonist (or dual protagonists) in the first paragraph and give the reader the low-down on the essential conflict immediately. In the current version of Rome's Revolution I do that but that doesn't mean the other scenes don't have value.
December 12, 2013
Memories
When Rei and Rome first used the Espansor Bands, they had an opportunity to delve into each other's memories. Because the bands allowed each to see what the other saw, it was like looking into a mirror at another mirror, going off to infinity. This was one of the very first scenes I ever wrote in the whole Rome's Revolution trilogy and this set the stage for parts of the story that I never dreamt I'd have to fill in.
For example, while the mandasurte (mind-deaf) always existed and I knew that Fridone, Rome's father, was mandasurte, I never thought, in a million years, that I'd ever meet him. I took him away because he was a thematic problem. For Rome to abandon her parents and move to Deucado with Rei, it was necessary that her father not be an issue.
But then I wrote The Ark Lords and boom, there was Fridone. All of the sudden, the whole plot to eliminate the mandasurte became locked in and I had no control over it. That MASAL was behind it was a surprise to me but a pleasant surprise in that it was a great dramatic element. Otherwise, it would have had to be the Overmind with a secret genocidal agenda and this would have required that I destroy the entire Vuduri society.
When Rome looked within Rei's mind, she saw an Earth which was nearly ruined and explained, to some degree, why Rei was so willing to run away to the stars. But his memories included the flying horse, Sally Reynolds and his whole last day on Earth scenario.
I had dreamed about that and had most of the details laid out so it wasn't really a matter of painting myself into a corner. But when I decided to expand Rome's Evolution from a novella to a full novel, I knew that was the place to write up the whole story. This was a very pleasurable and satisfying experience. I knew all the parts and actually stringing them together for the first time and seeing that it made for a poignant vignette was pretty cool.
Anyway, the point of all of this that I wrote the Espansor Band scene with Rei and Rome delving into each other's memories and during the journey of producing the three novels, I was amazed to see how coherent and consistent those memories were when it came time to put them to paper. (Actually digital ink but whose counting?)
For example, while the mandasurte (mind-deaf) always existed and I knew that Fridone, Rome's father, was mandasurte, I never thought, in a million years, that I'd ever meet him. I took him away because he was a thematic problem. For Rome to abandon her parents and move to Deucado with Rei, it was necessary that her father not be an issue.
But then I wrote The Ark Lords and boom, there was Fridone. All of the sudden, the whole plot to eliminate the mandasurte became locked in and I had no control over it. That MASAL was behind it was a surprise to me but a pleasant surprise in that it was a great dramatic element. Otherwise, it would have had to be the Overmind with a secret genocidal agenda and this would have required that I destroy the entire Vuduri society.
When Rome looked within Rei's mind, she saw an Earth which was nearly ruined and explained, to some degree, why Rei was so willing to run away to the stars. But his memories included the flying horse, Sally Reynolds and his whole last day on Earth scenario.
I had dreamed about that and had most of the details laid out so it wasn't really a matter of painting myself into a corner. But when I decided to expand Rome's Evolution from a novella to a full novel, I knew that was the place to write up the whole story. This was a very pleasurable and satisfying experience. I knew all the parts and actually stringing them together for the first time and seeing that it made for a poignant vignette was pretty cool.
Anyway, the point of all of this that I wrote the Espansor Band scene with Rei and Rome delving into each other's memories and during the journey of producing the three novels, I was amazed to see how coherent and consistent those memories were when it came time to put them to paper. (Actually digital ink but whose counting?)
December 11, 2013
T-suppressors
T-suppressors have been mentioned many times in Rome's Revolution and the other two novels in the series. Our first introduction to them was when Rei and Rome went to use the Espansor Bands and Rome knew enough to not allow the Overmind to listen in. In the end, it didn't matter because OMCOM ratted her out but that is neither here nor there.
When Rei inquired as to why the T-suppressors even existed, Rome did not put it in context of the Espansor Bands. Instead, she explained that when Vuduri traveled through the static PPT tunnel between Earth and Helome, they experienced great discomfort and the T-suppressor was the only device known to eliminate that discomfort. This was just a set-up so that I could produce the necessary visual when the Stareater appeared in the Solar System. This was during Rome's "People of Earth" speech and half the Vuduri passed out, including Rome. I'm not sure how he did it but OMCOM's livetar drew his finger across Rome's brow and somehow created a temporary T-suppressor so that Rome could regain consciousness and react to the situation. I think that might have just been dramatic license since OMCOM never did it before and he never did it again.
As Rei and Rome settled in on Deucado, they kept the T-suppressor so that they could enjoy using the bands while keeping their sessions private from the Overmind who lived there. It wasn't that important but Rome had developed a strong sense of self and desired the privacy the T-suppressor provided.
Of course, the T-suppressor became an integral element during the climax of Rome's Evolution when Rei and Rome captured Reema. It was necessary to cut her off from MASAL's Sipre until the Queen of the Onsiras understood the total situation.
After that crisis passed, I think maybe the T-suppressor fell out of favor. I think Rome's Revolution saw to that. However, with the upcoming novel The Milk Run, it is possible it might make a reappearance. I'll let you know.
When Rei inquired as to why the T-suppressors even existed, Rome did not put it in context of the Espansor Bands. Instead, she explained that when Vuduri traveled through the static PPT tunnel between Earth and Helome, they experienced great discomfort and the T-suppressor was the only device known to eliminate that discomfort. This was just a set-up so that I could produce the necessary visual when the Stareater appeared in the Solar System. This was during Rome's "People of Earth" speech and half the Vuduri passed out, including Rome. I'm not sure how he did it but OMCOM's livetar drew his finger across Rome's brow and somehow created a temporary T-suppressor so that Rome could regain consciousness and react to the situation. I think that might have just been dramatic license since OMCOM never did it before and he never did it again.
As Rei and Rome settled in on Deucado, they kept the T-suppressor so that they could enjoy using the bands while keeping their sessions private from the Overmind who lived there. It wasn't that important but Rome had developed a strong sense of self and desired the privacy the T-suppressor provided.
Of course, the T-suppressor became an integral element during the climax of Rome's Evolution when Rei and Rome captured Reema. It was necessary to cut her off from MASAL's Sipre until the Queen of the Onsiras understood the total situation.
After that crisis passed, I think maybe the T-suppressor fell out of favor. I think Rome's Revolution saw to that. However, with the upcoming novel The Milk Run, it is possible it might make a reappearance. I'll let you know.
December 10, 2013
The Atmosphere of Dara
Dara is the largest moon orbiting Skyler's World and is the setting for the first part of Rome's Revolution. It is one of nine natural satellites but because of its size and atmosphere, it was the only logical choice to build the Vuduri stellar observatory.
As mentioned previously, the Vuduri prefer a world where they can land using aero-braking and they are fond of gravity as well.
24
Dara has a mass of 3.14 x 10 kg which is 44 times that of Earth's moon. In fact, Dara is larger than Mars but made of material which is much less dense. Regardless, because of its mass, its gravity is nearly 30% of the Earth which is substantial enough to keep hold of an atmosphere. The atmosphere is completely unbreathable, made up mostly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Despite all the astrogeophysics, there was a much more mundane reason for postulating the size of Dara. It is simply that a moon which has an atmosphere is more interesting dramatically than an airless moon. It gave me many more opportunities to make Dara a player. It allowed the atmosphere to seep into the airlock and suffocate Rei rather than asphyxiate him. It allowed me to open up the gigantic doors of the tug hangar and have a wind swirl the dust around. All of these things give the mind more to work from an imagery standpoint.
In The Ark Lords, I had Rome and Rei land on our moon for a while. Because it was airless, it was just less interesting. They treated their moonwalk as just a variation of a spacewalk. Bottom line: you couldn't grow a garden on Dara but it was an interesting place to visit. Too bad it got sucked up by the Stareater but to a small degree it lives on in the VIRUS units that make up the mass of Planet OMCOM.
As mentioned previously, the Vuduri prefer a world where they can land using aero-braking and they are fond of gravity as well.
24
Dara has a mass of 3.14 x 10 kg which is 44 times that of Earth's moon. In fact, Dara is larger than Mars but made of material which is much less dense. Regardless, because of its mass, its gravity is nearly 30% of the Earth which is substantial enough to keep hold of an atmosphere. The atmosphere is completely unbreathable, made up mostly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Despite all the astrogeophysics, there was a much more mundane reason for postulating the size of Dara. It is simply that a moon which has an atmosphere is more interesting dramatically than an airless moon. It gave me many more opportunities to make Dara a player. It allowed the atmosphere to seep into the airlock and suffocate Rei rather than asphyxiate him. It allowed me to open up the gigantic doors of the tug hangar and have a wind swirl the dust around. All of these things give the mind more to work from an imagery standpoint.
In The Ark Lords, I had Rome and Rei land on our moon for a while. Because it was airless, it was just less interesting. They treated their moonwalk as just a variation of a spacewalk. Bottom line: you couldn't grow a garden on Dara but it was an interesting place to visit. Too bad it got sucked up by the Stareater but to a small degree it lives on in the VIRUS units that make up the mass of Planet OMCOM.
December 9, 2013
Throwing OMCOM away
The Vuduri, as a whole, are not invested emotionally in much of anything. In fact, that is what Rome's Revolution is all about: making the Vuduri start to feel and think for themselves. As mentioned in a previous post, I discussed that fact that there are no Vuduri programmers. They allow the computers to program themselves.
Well, the OMnipresent COMputer known as OMCOM was built from scratch, in the Tabit system, for the sole purpose of helping determine what caused Winfall to disappear. This particular OMCOM didn't have a whole lot to do so he programmed himself to care. He cared about Rome. He sort of cared about all the Vuduri and he cared about himself. He knew that when the answer regarding Winfall's disappearance became clear, the Vuduri would leave and would leave him behind with nothing to do. They thought of him as not much more than a glorified thermostat.
OMCOM's very first discussion with MINIMCOM was about this issue. OMCOM claimed he had to find a reason for his continued existence. After he reprogrammed himself, not only did he figure out how to survive the Stareater, he also figured out how to use the VIRUS units to increase his mass and his computing power.
So what did he do with all that computing mass? And did he figure out what to do with his time after that? The answer to both questions is yes. All will become clear in the upcoming novel The Milk Run which will be out early next year.
Well, the OMnipresent COMputer known as OMCOM was built from scratch, in the Tabit system, for the sole purpose of helping determine what caused Winfall to disappear. This particular OMCOM didn't have a whole lot to do so he programmed himself to care. He cared about Rome. He sort of cared about all the Vuduri and he cared about himself. He knew that when the answer regarding Winfall's disappearance became clear, the Vuduri would leave and would leave him behind with nothing to do. They thought of him as not much more than a glorified thermostat.
OMCOM's very first discussion with MINIMCOM was about this issue. OMCOM claimed he had to find a reason for his continued existence. After he reprogrammed himself, not only did he figure out how to survive the Stareater, he also figured out how to use the VIRUS units to increase his mass and his computing power.
So what did he do with all that computing mass? And did he figure out what to do with his time after that? The answer to both questions is yes. All will become clear in the upcoming novel The Milk Run which will be out early next year.
Tales of the Vuduri
Tidbits and insights into the 35th century world of the Vuduri.
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