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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: The Haunted Apiary (Let Op!) » The Haunted Apiary (Let Op!): General/Updates
[SPEC] Network Throttling, Metastasizing and Wakefulness
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Cygnus
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 		I'm inclined to believe that SPDR is the medium being discussed, in the same sense that a psychic is called a "medium." The Operator will be taking action through the medium of SPDR, because the Operator is damaged.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 4:34 pm
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Macavity
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 		I have a few theories on this subject myself.

First off, the network throttling.

I suspect that SPiDeR is attempting to protect itself from an external attack - one that has already seriously damaged its systems.

This attack is releasing vast quantities of conflicting instructions, and in an attempt to deal with it, has throttled back the speed at which the network it currently resides upon processes these instructions, in an attempt to analyze them and prepare itself for a counterattack on the offending system.

Unfortunately for SPiDeR, quite a few of these instructions attack the network throttling process itself, which means that its control over the amount of data - and the effectiveness of the remaining control - is being reduced, or 'eroded'.

Now, the metastasizing.

SPiDeR sees the attacking program (or programs) as the cyberspace equivalent of a cancer or virus. Once into his systems, it (or they) will corrupt him and use his processes and hardware to spread to other nodes - a tried-and-true malware tactic, used by (in)famous worms such as the recent BugBear, BadTrans, and MSBlaster worms, only much more insidious.

SPiDeR has realized this, and thus has initiated an emergency procedure known as the System Peril Distributed Reflex. This suggests to me that - due to the erosion of the throttling process - SPiDeR has activated a distributed comutation network, similar to those created by seti@home and folding@home, and is utilizing the distributed-computing tactic in an attempt to develop a counterattack program sooner than if it were to be calculated on one machine alone.

However, he is also backing up his data to another location, and - if he hasn't launched the counterattack before the throttling process is completely destroyed and successfully incapacitaed the attacking system(s) - the backup will activate itself.

I have a couple theories about where this backup might reside:

1) A craft's autopilot module. Early in HALO: The Fall Of REACH, Deja takes control of the Pelican dropship that John - who later becomes Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN-117 (or Master Chief for short) - and his fellow draftees for Project SPARTAN 'liberate' from the guards and pilots it back home, using its autopilot module.

SPiDeR may copy himself into the autopilot module of any craft, from the simplest civilan airplane to the F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber (although I suspect it would most likely be something orbit-capable, such as an Aurora reconnaisance craft).

2) A common mobile robot, such as those being developed for work in various hazmat sites. Who would ook for an AI in something as inconspicuous as that?

There may be other possibilites, but I can't think of any at the present time.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:13 pm
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aliendial
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 		Fascinating spec. Word of warning (and admitting that I may be the one who is wrong) - don't get so busy writing your own story with all your favorite halo characters and concepts that you forget to watch for whatever story is actually being delivered by the PMs... Wink
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:29 pm
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Macavity
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aliendial wrote:
Fascinating spec. Word of warning (and admitting that I may be the one who is wrong) - don't get so busy writing your own story with all your favorite halo characters and concepts that you forget to watch for whatever story is actually being delivered by the PMs... Wink


Understood. I may be way off base here, but considering the technologies currently available (and yes, the Aurora reconnaissance aircraft does exist - and it does go exospheric on launch), these are the most likely to be utilized:

The Aurora (or similar orbit-capable craft) for escape.

A mobile robot/civilian aircraft/stealth aircraft for concealment.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:40 pm
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Anton P. Nym
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Cygnus wrote:
I'm inclined to believe that SPDR is the medium being discussed, in the same sense that a psychic is called a "medium." The Operator will be taking action through the medium of SPDR, because the Operator is damaged.

Um, I think that' the wrong definition of "medium" to follow. I think there are two closely related ones we should be following.

I just posted over in the info boards a snippet of an article on Phasmidia elegans... it's a parasitical worm, to boil down the jargon. Others have mentioned "worm" in the online/computer context, and these may tie together especially if SPDR is working on an AI.

C. elegans is used as a lab animal for genetic research and it eats bacteria... which are grown in a culture medium. <-- first definition to pay attention to, IMO.

Drifting back to the computer version, we find the second definition as a manner of carrying information, a la Marshall McLuhen. "The medium is the message." Which is apparently classified and has a strong intrusive inclination. (The Internet? The web page?)

In two days the network throttling will erode and SPDR will have free access across the medium. (The Internet? perhaps we should be looking for changes in other sites.)

Does this mean that the Queen, playing as a larval C. elegans (non-feeding 3rd stage, to resist desiccation in a hostile environment) will molt into her 4th (feeding) stage larva in 16 days? And then pupate and emerge as an adult form in 29 days?

-- Steve's head is spinning; he thinks his explaination is going to need more explaination.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:44 pm
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Cygnus
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 		It is the (sleeping/damaged) processes of the Operator who are prone to simile and poetic license. The notification:

Quote:
Control has been yielded to the
SYSTEM PERIL DISTRIBUTED REFLEX.

This medium is classified, and has a
STRONG INTRUSIVE INCLINATION.


was posted in a format entirely unlike The Operator's fanciful communications, and in my opinion, should be interpreted literally.

Pay special note to the second sentence - the internet is not classified, in any sense that I can think of. Yes the web is intrusive, but whatever constructed this notice would not switch topics from SPDR to the web; it's still referring to SPDR.

The Operator is essentially unconscious, SPDR isn't self-aware (according to The Operator's Widow story). For the note to refer to SPDR jibes with the process that we see run, as the Widow/SPDR gropes/intrudes to gain access to the network The Operator resides on.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:18 pm
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Macavity
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Anton P. Nym wrote:


I just posted over in the info boards a snippet of an article on Phasmidia elegans... it's a parasitical worm, to boil down the jargon. Others have mentioned "worm" in the online/computer context, and these may tie together especially if SPDR is working on an AI.

C. elegans is used as a lab animal for genetic research and it eats bacteria... which are grown in a culture medium. <-- first definition to pay attention to, IMO..


Drifting back to the computer version, we find the second definition as a manner of carrying information, a la Marshall McLuhen. "The medium is the message." Which is apparently classified and has a strong intrusive inclination. (The Internet? The web page?)

In two days the network throttling will erode and SPDR will have free access across the medium. (The Internet? perhaps we should be looking for changes in other sites.)

Does this mean that the Queen, playing as a larval C. elegans (non-feeding 3rd stage, to resist desiccation in a hostile environment) will molt into her 4th (feeding) stage larva in 16 days? And then pupate and emerge as an adult form in 29 days?

-- Steve's head is spinning; he thinks his explaination is going to need more explaination.


This suggests another possibility to me:

Let us suppose that SPDR is indeed dealing with an AI - but not working ON one.

He could instead be wroking to PROTECT an AI that has come under attack in a particularly vulnerable stage - most likely by a particularly hostile worm (or set of worms) intent on corrupting the AI.

Naturally, SPDR would do everything in its power to prevent that happening - despite the fact that the AI has obviously already been damaged (as evidenced by three other processes: NET, SURG, and GROPE).

It occurs to me that the unknown process mentioned in another thread (which, if I recall correctly, was terminated by our friend, the SURG process) could have been attempting to prepare the AI in question for corrpution and takeover.

Fortunately for SPDR, it didn't succeed - but unfortunately, it damaged the vulnerable AI quite seriously (or so it appears).

The external worms are continuing their assault on the network throttling erected by SPDR (in an attempt to slow them down while it used a distributed-computing network akin to the SETI@home and Folding@home DCNs to prepare a counterattack and repair the damaged AI).

However, as we all know, SPDR's time is rapidly running out - he has about 24 hours to finish what he's doing before the hostiles processes break through and launch a full-scale assault.

Thus, he's probably copied the AI (and himself) to another location - I have mentioned a couple earlier, ones that fit with the Physical Awakening mentioned on the web site.

I theorize that he'd want mobility and a way to escape or conceal himself and the AI. The most logical choice, therefore, would be for him to 'borrow' an orbit-capable craft of some kind - an Aurora reconnaisance craft would be ideal, as would a reconnaissance or communications satellite.

Whatever the truth may be, I hope SPDR succeeds and that the AI awakens properly.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:28 am
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No.
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 		While it is a good theory, it doesn't fit with the Queen/Widow story.

I think most of us are in agreement that the Q/W story is the AI putting what's being done to it in it's own words.
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 12:35 pm
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Macavity
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No. wrote:
While it is a good theory, it doesn't fit with the Queen/Widow story.

I think most of us are in agreement that the Q/W story is the AI putting what's being done to it in it's own words.


I've read it - and I may be way off base here (and please correct me if I'm wrong), but at some point in the story, didn't the Widow have to defend herself against a Manticore?

The Manticore could be the hostile processes intent on destroying SPDR (the Widow), who's trying to protect and repair the damaged system (the Queen could be the system - or, and I suspect this is more likely, the Operator program).

If, as I suspect, it's the software (i.e., the Operator) that's taken the brunt of the damage, it would be logical for the SPDR to repair as much damage as is neceesary for the Operator to be able to escape (preferably with the SPDR, although the SPDR might stay behind to cover the Operator's retreat).

Just a possibility - I'm probably miles away, though.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:08 pm
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No.
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 		The Manticore didn't attack her. It just stood in her way. If I remember correctly, it was one of the guards of the queen.

The Widow asked it to move, but it stood fast. She killed it with her blade.

From the story:

Quote:
At the gates of the Inner Keep all the guards were dead / but one, who when the palace was blasted by / enchantment had not died, but had been witched / into the form of a hideous Manticore. * The Widow said, "I am the servant of your / Queen, and I have walked up out of Hell to prepare this / Keep for her return. Let me pass." But the Manticore did / not know her, and still he barred the way. * So the Widow drew / her knife and slew / the Manticore and the way was open.


And another example of destroying anything that stands in the way of the queen or the widow:

Quote:
"The day will break and the sun will rise when the Queen returns to rule, and further let it be known that retribution on any who hinder the return of the Queen will be swift and terrible."

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:15 pm
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Stargazer
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 		If the story tells of the SPDR fixing the queen, then where abouts are we currently in the story, still at the start, or are we at the end.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:48 pm
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Macavity
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No. wrote:
The Manticore didn't attack her. It just stood in her way. If I remember correctly, it was one of the guards of the queen.

The Widow asked it to move, but it stood fast. She killed it with her blade.

From the story:

Quote:
At the gates of the Inner Keep all the guards were dead / but one, who when the palace was blasted by / enchantment had not died, but had been witched / into the form of a hideous Manticore. * The Widow said, "I am the servant of your / Queen, and I have walked up out of Hell to prepare this / Keep for her return. Let me pass." But the Manticore did / not know her, and still he barred the way. * So the Widow drew / her knife and slew / the Manticore and the way was open.


As I recall, in the "Analyzing the Computer Text" thread, wasn't there an unknown process that was terminated by the SPDR - something that stood in the way of it repairing the damaged system because it was occupying (and denying access to) the master sector that the SPDR needed to access?

Could be that the unknown process that SPDR terminated was a corrupted intrusion-countermeasures program in use by the enemy to prevent the system being repaired.

Quote:

And another example of destroying anything that stands in the way of the queen or the widow:

Quote:
"The day will break and the sun will rise when the Queen returns to rule, and further let it be known that retribution on any who hinder the return of the Queen will be swift and terrible."


That's probably going to happen AFTER the Operator/Queen is repaired and able to fully control whatever systems it was (will be?) in charge of (hence the "returning to rule" - as a Queen rules a country, the Operator rules a computer network).

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:48 pm
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Macavity
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Stargazer wrote:
If the story tells of the SPDR fixing the queen, then where abouts are we currently in the story, still at the start, or are we at the end.


Since the countdown hasn't zeroed out yet, I suspect we're still in the main part of the story - but nearing the end, as there's a little over a day left on the timer.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:51 pm
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No.
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 		Can you see the forest? Or are the trees in the way?

The Manticore was a damaged program that was designed to protect the queen. That is why he was STANDING GUARD at the queen.


Edit:
I think we're considering right now to be "Phase 1" and when the network throttle erodes to begin "Phase 2".
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:54 pm
Last edited by No. on Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Stargazer
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Macavity wrote:
No. wrote:
The Manticore didn't attack her. It just stood in her way. If I remember correctly, it was one of the guards of the queen.

The Widow asked it to move, but it stood fast. She killed it with her blade.

From the story:

Quote:
At the gates of the Inner Keep all the guards were dead / but one, who when the palace was blasted by / enchantment had not died, but had been witched / into the form of a hideous Manticore. * The Widow said, "I am the servant of your / Queen, and I have walked up out of Hell to prepare this / Keep for her return. Let me pass." But the Manticore did / not know her, and still he barred the way. * So the Widow drew / her knife and slew / the Manticore and the way was open.


As I recall, in the "Analyzing the Computer Text" thread, wasn't there an unknown process that was terminated by the SPDR - something that stood in the way of it repairing the damaged system because it was occupying (and denying access to) the master sector that the SPDR needed to access?

Could be that the unknown process that SPDR terminated was a corrupted intrusion-countermeasures program in use by the enemy to prevent the system being repaired.

Quote:

And another example of destroying anything that stands in the way of the queen or the widow:

Quote:
"The day will break and the sun will rise when the Queen returns to rule, and further let it be known that retribution on any who hinder the return of the Queen will be swift and terrible."


That's probably going to happen AFTER the Operator/Queen is repaired and able to fully control whatever systems it was (will be?) in charge of (hence the "returning to rule" - as a Queen rules a country, the Operator rules a computer network).


Your theory is good and it could be related to the widows story quite easily.This would mean that we are currently at the end of the story, where the Widow called the firefly out of the clock and gave her warning.

Could the Clock refer to the countdown

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:57 pm
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