Chapter 559

Chapter 559: Lion Star 4

The resources allocated by the supercomputer center at Laboratory 41 seemed to infuse a powerful catalyst into the "Adam" intelligent core. In an instant, Adam quietly took control of the main program platform of the entire computer center, leaving behind a simplified avatar on Larry Johnson’s computer.

The stealth mode of the fighter jet was transformed into a self-protection ambush mode, making the Adam system an experienced veteran, silently operating among the enemies.

Everyone at Laboratory 41 was unaware that their computer center had been infiltrated by a highly advanced intelligent program.

Lockheed, lacking an assessment of the security of the intelligent system, had once again opened Pandora’s Box for itself.

"Humanoid combat robots ready, beginning weapon installation!"

"Oh? What’s that noise?"

On a certain underground floor of Laboratory 41, near the robotics project department, a few staff members heard strange sounds coming from a nearby small storage room.

"The humanoid robot ‘Lion Star 4’ has been activated. That’s strange. Laura, check what’s going on. How can it start automatically without anyone operating it?"

Several researchers, who had been focused on a set of electronic joints and mechanical parts, were startled by the unusual noise and showed surprise on their faces. They quickly used the nearest computer to look it up, even without needing to check, as the sensors throughout all the rooms informed them of the situation.

Lion Star 4 was a humanoid combat robot developed by the robotics project department at Laboratory 41 this year, standing about two meters tall and weighing 200 kilograms. It resembled a tall, sturdy man, with a metallic armor surface and exposed structural components, much like a soldier in combat armor, featuring an impressively human-like appearance.

The purpose of developing Lion Star 4 was originally to replace soldiers on the battlefield or perform some special high-risk missions, but it had always suffered from a lack of suitable control cores. In its test version, Lion Star 4 seemed like a zombie.

"Anthony, this is the latest task from above, top secret level. It might be some covert mission. It’s similar to the last deployment of the ‘Poseidon’ combat-powered armor, and a batch of configured weapons is about to be delivered."

Laura glanced at the recent office automation management program and discovered a task notification.

"I see, thank you."

The researchers exchanged glances, not worrying about the noise in the storage room, and continued to focus on their work.

They dealt with all kinds of robots daily and were already bored with them, just a remote start; it wasn’t the first time and was nothing to be surprised about.

The laboratory was under high automation management, with a well-established human-machine management system. The supercomputer center’s program was responsible for the research projects and managing various tasks.

In all of this, the resources of Laboratory 41 had been completely taken over by the Adam intelligent core system residing in the supercomputer center, all of which the people at Laboratory 41 and even Lockheed were completely unaware of.

"There’s a batch of weapons, who will sign for them?"

Two armed personnel with guns pushed a flatbed cart and shouted at the intercom outside the bulletproof glass door of the isolation area.

With the office automation management program, workflows operated very efficiently. As the Lion Star 4 combat mechanical robot updated its system firmware, the electronically modified project documents, tampered with by Adam, were directly sent to the weapons warehouse management staff.

The heads of various departments that were supposed to review the process had no idea that they were being usurped by an intelligent core program.

A technician near the isolation door of the robotics project department casually completed the receiving process, familiar with these procedures. He pulled the weapons and ammunition cart aside and didn’t pay any more attention.

Click-click! With a series of faint sounds, six Lion Star 4 robots lined up and walked out of the automatically opening storage room door, heading straight for the cart loaded with weapons.

“Look, those robots are out! How come no one is responsible for them? No one is even taking a look?”

"Who knows who’s in charge? Their movements are much more agile than during the last test; they’re just like real people. Who developed this control system? Is it Larry Johnson from the software project department? Finally he produced something decent; he didn’t waste our resources. I’ve always said our robotics project group develops premium products. It’s the software project team that lacks the skills to handle our robots."

"Maybe it is him. Did you hear? The software project team got the Boeing ‘Adam’ intelligent core system. I think they are probably testing our Lion Star 4 robots, sending them out for combat missions so quickly seems a bit premature."

“You’re right, Alexander. They seem too eager to show off. I think they are preparing for a drill. I heard that a piece of alloy was stolen from the materials department a couple of days ago. Perhaps the laboratory wants to practice its internal rapid response capability. In comparison to external security, our available combat weapons are handier."

"Mort, are these robots going to take up weapons and kill us? Maybe they are aiming at our backs right now."

Several researchers were startled and quickly turned around, only to see six Lion Star 4 robots surrounding the cart, arming themselves bit by bit, without even glancing in their direction.

Even if the robots dared to fire at them, there was still a transparent bulletproof glass wall between them. Even a 12.7 millimeter caliber tungsten core armor-piercing round might not penetrate such a glass wall, and materials of that strength were everywhere in the laboratory.

When Laboratory 41 was established, the planning experts had already considered factors to deal with internal rebellion.

"Haha, how could that be? No matter how smart the intelligent program is, it still has to follow human commands. You think they are acting on their own? Someone is watching them. Have you watched too many sci-fi movies? Oh, The Terminator, I’m back! Hahaha!"

While working, the researchers joked with each other, paying no attention to the autonomously acting robots; their purpose for developing combat robots had been to enable them to operate independently.

The six Lion Star 4 robots quickly completed their armament and walked up to the isolation zone’s door, without needing to input any codes. The door opened automatically, and they swiftly left through another passage.

The researchers in the laboratory didn’t even take a second glance at them. If it weren’t for an official approval, these automatic doors would never have opened for the robots.

…

"‘Flower Face Raccoon’, have you confirmed those guys’ positions? And what about the ‘Dragon Knight’? Where is he?"

On a street corner, a well-dressed white man, holding a newspaper and a briefcase, was quietly speaking as he ate his burger.

A Bluetooth earpiece was in his ear, and his life was just like any busy city professional, with no boundaries between life and work for the sake of a living.

"Listen, ‘Zorro’, we’re in big trouble. My team and ‘Captain Jack’ are intercepting a group of fifteen people. They have automatic weapons, and our sniper is finding a position. We’ll probably only delay them for half an hour. Their firepower is too strong; they’re Russians. A minute ago, the ‘Frog Eye’ team retreated; they lost three men, and the others are injured. One doesn’t seem to be doing well either, but they took out eleven and scared off three. Thank God, at least we dealt with one group. However, there are still at least four more groups watching the ‘Dragon Knight’. He has a locator from us and the CIA on him. He is three thousand five hundred meters away, due south, in a taxi. One group is already getting close to you. You and ‘Taro’ must intercept them and prevent them from getting near the ‘Dragon Knight’."

The voice from the special communicator, which seemed just like a Bluetooth device, sounded out with labored breathing, punctuated by various muffled noises and clanging, clearly indicating that both sides were using silenced weapons.

“Zorro understands, this is truly an unprecedented spy war. There’s no other way; us old divers must come up to assert our presence. ‘Flower Face Raccoon’, can you tell which factions are involved? ‘Taro’ and I are ready. I’ll make the first move and stop them.”

The white man cleverly masked his speech with chewing, and those nearby had no idea he was on a call as he reached into his briefcase.

“I’m currently dealing with a group of mercenaries from Russia. ‘Frog Eye’ was taken out by some from South America. Damn, what use do these drug traffickers have for those things? They need to spend more money to see any benefits. Be careful; there’s a professional mercenary group from Northern Europe. They’re tough, tied to the dark side of Japan’s Mitsubishi Group. A few days ago, the ‘Skunk Works’ of Lockheed was intercepted by our people; they might be hiding somewhere now, preparing to take advantage of the chaos. They won’t give up easily. Watch out for the CIA; they will be the last to strike. As for Lockheed, we’ve seen them long ago; they aren’t worth worrying about. Any faction can easily deal with them. I need to stop these Russians first, ‘White Powder Butterfly’! Give me two magazines and then charge with me!”

Clearly, the battle on the other end of the communicator had entered a critical stage, as both sides were determined to fight to the end without alarming the local police, engaging in a life-and-death showdown in a remote corner.