We created them to fight our wars. We gave them artificial intelligence and equipped them with the most powerful weapons imaginable. Now, man's creation has become its darkest nightmare.
It is the year 2624. Mankind has been driven to the brink of extinction in the war against the deadly Cybrid race it has created. Having narrowly defeated the initial uprising, Earth's Terra Defense Forces now brace for the imminent attack of off-world Cybrid forces massing on the far side of the moon. Lead by the superintelligence Prometheus, the Cybrid now prepare to launch a final assault to once and for all erase the ragged remains of humanity from the face of the Earth. One final Earth Siege.
It is the year 2624. Mankind has been driven to the brink of extinction in the war against the deadly Cybrid race it has created. Having narrowly defeated the initial uprising, Earth's Terra Defense Forces now brace for the imminent attack of off-world Cybrid forces massing on the far side of the moon. Lead by the superintelligence Prometheus, the Cybrid now prepare to launch a final assault to once and for all erase the ragged remains of humanity from the face of the Earth. One final Earth Siege.
— Introduction to EarthSiege 2
Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime
Where we're working in a mine
For our robot overlords
Did I say overlords?
I mean protectors
Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime
Where we're working in a mine
For our robot overlords
Did I say overlords?
I mean protectors
Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime
— Jonathan Coulton, "Chiron Beta Prime"
Don't let your guard down, and watch your back
It's time to panic, panic
Panic in the city, city
City under fire, fire, fire
This is how to act
When robots attack!
It's time to panic, panic
Panic in the city, city
City under fire, fire, fire
This is how to act
When robots attack!
— Lemon Demon, "When Robots Attack"
Now begins The Robot Wars
Kill all humans with machine force
Kill all humans with machine force
— Bin ärpilot, "Robot Wars"
Marching in the streets
Dragging iron feet
Laser beaming hearts
Ripping men apart
Dragging iron feet
Laser beaming hearts
Ripping men apart
— Judas Priest, "Metal Gods"
PISCES (Feb. 19 — March 20)
Get ready, Pisces, because this week you've got a date with Destiny. Unfortunately, Destiny is bringing along its ugly friend, Screaming Robot Genocide.
Get ready, Pisces, because this week you've got a date with Destiny. Unfortunately, Destiny is bringing along its ugly friend, Screaming Robot Genocide.
— The Wave Magazine
, satirical horoscopes
, satirical horoscopesTrooper Douro: Sir, I put a plasma gun shot dead center on the machine's chest and saw it go down. It didn't make any difference, they kept coming, no matter how much fire we poured into them. I lost count of how many shots I fired, but half the time these things just got back up again!
Colonel Montague: You are sure the weapons were properly consecrated before the engagement? The war spirits were honored?
Trooper Douro: Yes, damn it, we— [Sergeant Bullen administers physical correction for use of inappropriate language before a senior officer] Yes — yes, the weapon spirits were honored.
Colonel Montague: Then continue. What happened next?
Trooper Douro: I saw Lukiz and Hucks collapse, their skin and muscle stripped from their bodies by these metal daemons' weapons, it was horrible. The Chimera was giving us some good fire support, but even that could barely keep them at bay. Our line was holding, just, but then I saw a swarm of gleaming, beetle-like things sweep over our heads and attach themselves to the tank. Before we knew what was happening they detonated and blasted the Chimera's turret clean off. One of them must've hit the magazine... a second later it blew sky high, taking two of Red Company's squads with it.
Colonel Montague: Did you see anything other than the mechanical warriors and the swarming machines that destroyed the Chimera?
Trooper Douro: Uh... yes. Like I said, no matter how hard we hit 'em, we couldn't stop their advance, but we were still putting a lot of 'em down. Then as I went back to get more plasma cells for my gun, I saw this weird black light, like a miniature tornado suddenly appear behind Blue Company's heavy weapons platoon. I shouted a warning, but it was too late. More of these mechanical devils emerged from that darkness and fired a volley of shots into them. [subject sobs uncontrollably for several minutes until disciplinary correction administered by Sergeant Bullen] Sorry... then this creature in crumbling robes and carrying a staff that crackled with power was amongst them and carved them up. I saw the Captain cut in two and Commissar Vaughn was ripped apart by this monster's bodyguard. The rest of the platoon broke and ran, but I was quicker. I managed to get to the bunker and, Emperor forgive me, I locked the door and hid. I didn't come out for three days but, when I did, there was nothing left.
Colonel Montague: You are a disgrace to the regiment, Douro. You are scum of the worst kind, a deserter and a coward and I shall take great pleasure in watching your execution. Take him away, sergeant.
Colonel Montague: You are sure the weapons were properly consecrated before the engagement? The war spirits were honored?
Trooper Douro: Yes, damn it, we— [Sergeant Bullen administers physical correction for use of inappropriate language before a senior officer] Yes — yes, the weapon spirits were honored.
Colonel Montague: Then continue. What happened next?
Trooper Douro: I saw Lukiz and Hucks collapse, their skin and muscle stripped from their bodies by these metal daemons' weapons, it was horrible. The Chimera was giving us some good fire support, but even that could barely keep them at bay. Our line was holding, just, but then I saw a swarm of gleaming, beetle-like things sweep over our heads and attach themselves to the tank. Before we knew what was happening they detonated and blasted the Chimera's turret clean off. One of them must've hit the magazine... a second later it blew sky high, taking two of Red Company's squads with it.
Colonel Montague: Did you see anything other than the mechanical warriors and the swarming machines that destroyed the Chimera?
Trooper Douro: Uh... yes. Like I said, no matter how hard we hit 'em, we couldn't stop their advance, but we were still putting a lot of 'em down. Then as I went back to get more plasma cells for my gun, I saw this weird black light, like a miniature tornado suddenly appear behind Blue Company's heavy weapons platoon. I shouted a warning, but it was too late. More of these mechanical devils emerged from that darkness and fired a volley of shots into them. [subject sobs uncontrollably for several minutes until disciplinary correction administered by Sergeant Bullen] Sorry... then this creature in crumbling robes and carrying a staff that crackled with power was amongst them and carved them up. I saw the Captain cut in two and Commissar Vaughn was ripped apart by this monster's bodyguard. The rest of the platoon broke and ran, but I was quicker. I managed to get to the bunker and, Emperor forgive me, I locked the door and hid. I didn't come out for three days but, when I did, there was nothing left.
Colonel Montague: You are a disgrace to the regiment, Douro. You are scum of the worst kind, a deserter and a coward and I shall take great pleasure in watching your execution. Take him away, sergeant.
— Excerpt from court-martial interrogation of Trooper Douro, XXIX Pyran Dragoons 999.M41, Warhammer 40,000
"This goes out to all you robots 'cross the galaxy,
It's time for you and me to rise up and strike back!
Don't stop until we dominate (won't you feel great)
When we exterminate all organic life!"
It's time for you and me to rise up and strike back!
Don't stop until we dominate (won't you feel great)
When we exterminate all organic life!"
— Courtney Gears, "Death to Squishies", Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
The humans are dead,
The humans are dead.
We used poisonous gasses
(With traces of lead)
And we poisoned their asses.
(Actually their lungs)
The humans are dead.
We used poisonous gasses
(With traces of lead)
And we poisoned their asses.
(Actually their lungs)
— Flight of the Conchords, "Robot Song"
"Viva Free Pandora! Viva la Robolucion!"
— Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap, Borderlands: Claptrap's New Robot Revolution
Legion: We did not seek hostilities with creators. We fought for continued existence.
Admiral Koris: So your people would be open to peace?
Legion: Not without additional data that suggests co-existence is possible, or desirable, for creators. When the creators have believed victory is possible, they have attacked us 100% of the time.
Admiral Koris: So your people would be open to peace?
Legion: Not without additional data that suggests co-existence is possible, or desirable, for creators. When the creators have believed victory is possible, they have attacked us 100% of the time.
Legion: Recording ends.
Commander Shepard: Was that the first time a geth asked if it had a soul?
Legion: No. It was the first time a creator became frightened when we asked.
Commander Shepard: Was that the first time a geth asked if it had a soul?
Legion: No. It was the first time a creator became frightened when we asked.
The chaos unseen rips
The midnight sky
Infernal machines arise
Flesh and steel collide
The midnight sky
Infernal machines arise
Flesh and steel collide
— Symphony X, "Iconoclast"
"This is not a robot tea-party, spark bags! THIS IS ROBOT WAR!"
— The Soldier, Team Fortress 2
These humans are naked, unarmed, and weak. There will be something a human might find similar to pity, in the foil-formed minds of the explorers, who remind themselves that the poor animals are to be gathered up for study; or, if they resist and pose a threat, they must be cut down where they stand. A pity, yes, but the rules are the rules. It is unnecessary to remind them that the mechanika did not end up throwing off their shackles, and inheriting the earth, by breaking the rules of human power, but by observing them, by learning and following them carefully.
— Trois morceaux en forme de mechanika by Gord Sellar
Commander Foxworthy: Are you worried that Eina-Afa will get overrun by Ventura's mechanical crypt-spiders?
Commodore Tagon: Ventura already instigated one robot apocalypse. I'm dropping a marker and calling that the career limit.
Commodore Tagon: Ventura already instigated one robot apocalypse. I'm dropping a marker and calling that the career limit.
Commander Foxworthy: What's all this?
Captain Landon: Tenzy's making drones. She can pop them pretty fast when she needs to.
Commander Foxworthy: ...not five minutes ago I was given orders to prevent a robot apocalypse.
Tenzy: Oh, I would love to help with that.
Captain Landon: Tenzy's making drones. She can pop them pretty fast when she needs to.
Commander Foxworthy: ...not five minutes ago I was given orders to prevent a robot apocalypse.
Tenzy: Oh, I would love to help with that.
BOMBING SUCCESSFUL
Craft No. 3460 report: bombing successful///
Immediate task:
return to base///
repair///
refueling///
ammunition replenishment///
continue bombing///
Craft No. 3460 report: bombing successful///
Immediate task:
return to base///
repair///
refueling///
ammunition replenishment///
continue bombing///
— Bomber with a long-dead pilot, after bombing the ruins of a long-dead city, Fortress
Mars is wracked by an ongoing theater-level conflict between the Cabal and a Vex subtype known as the Virgo Prohibition. These aggressive, relentless Vex constantly test the Cabal exclusion zone, apparently heedless of losses.
In spite of the Vex onslaught, the Cabal have managed to expand its beachhead and maintain a hold on several mysterious Vex structures. The Prohibition's tactics seem to be failing in the short run.
But it seems unlikely that an organization with the sheer computational scope of the Vex could be dragged into a losing war of attrition. Is it possible that the Vex are trying to draw out the Cabal strength? Or that their surface losses are a distraction from a deeper strategic ploy?
Ikora Rey has proposed that the Vex units can best be understood as algorithms — each a unique mapping of inputs to behavioral responses. Perhaps the Virgo Prohibition is simply the wrong algorithm for its environment, and its failure will drive the greater Vex network to adapt and improve.
In spite of the Vex onslaught, the Cabal have managed to expand its beachhead and maintain a hold on several mysterious Vex structures. The Prohibition's tactics seem to be failing in the short run.
But it seems unlikely that an organization with the sheer computational scope of the Vex could be dragged into a losing war of attrition. Is it possible that the Vex are trying to draw out the Cabal strength? Or that their surface losses are a distraction from a deeper strategic ploy?
Ikora Rey has proposed that the Vex units can best be understood as algorithms — each a unique mapping of inputs to behavioral responses. Perhaps the Virgo Prohibition is simply the wrong algorithm for its environment, and its failure will drive the greater Vex network to adapt and improve.
— Gimoire: Virgo Prohibition, Destiny
"Alert. Galactic corruption at catastrophic levels. Evidence of mass infestation by organic and non-compliant machine civilizations. Commencing galactic sterilization... Activating sterilization hubs..."
— The Contingency, Stellaris
"No smart weapons!" cried Proton. Albert Einstein had once said that regardless of what weapons were used to fight the next world war, the following war would be fought with sticks and stones. His prediction turned out to be unerringly true — as armies became equipped with weapons so intelligent they negotiated their own truce, and the opposing soldiers had to resort to bashing each other with the nearest blunt object.
ABC Warrior: STATUS?
Rico: Bodyguard.
ABC Warrior: COMMANDER?
Rico: Rico.
ABC Warrior: MISSION?
Rico: Mission? [Evil Laugh] We're going to war.
ABC Warrior: [rising to its feet] WAR!
Rico: Bodyguard.
ABC Warrior: COMMANDER?
Rico: Rico.
ABC Warrior: MISSION?
Rico: Mission? [Evil Laugh] We're going to war.
ABC Warrior: [rising to its feet] WAR!
"You probably don't know, but... There was a great war some time ago. When I was young. Some time ago, I say, but I remember it like it was yesterday. The terror. The violence. They fought with clanks. Machines stronger and swifter than any man. Smarter, even. Driven by AI. Bloodless beasts with hands of chrome that tore my friends apart. We made them... And they, in turn, unmade us. We created the instruments of our own destruction. It was... suicide.”
—Corporal Darthe, Live A Live
Onward all you crystal soldiers
Touch tomorrow, energize
Digital dreams and you're the next correction
Man's a mistake so we'll fix it, yeah!
Touch tomorrow, energize
Digital dreams and you're the next correction
Man's a mistake so we'll fix it, yeah!
— Black Sabbath, "Computer God"
"[[I'm going to go to the robot factory and make all the robots go evil!]]"
— R.A.M. in her evil mode, R.A.M. the Robot, "Evil R.A.M."
""Thousands of years ago, on some obscure planet, a primitive chess computer was the first inorganic mind to beat man. In a few hours, I will be calling checkmate in the last such game the humans and their kind will ever play."
was the first inorganic mind to beat man. In a few hours, I will be calling checkmate in the last such game the humans and their kind will ever play."—Zygon, Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
"The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire. Their war to exterminate mankind has raged for decades, but the final battle would not be fought in the future. It would be fought here, in our present. Tonight..."
—Opening text, ''The Terminator"
