Echelon

Echelon was a United Nations mass surveillance system directed against citizens worldwide, originally operating under the auspices of the National Security Agency (which vehemently denied its existence)Laura Vale's computer, RE: Some simple ECHELON questions and then the United Nations. After the existence of the system was revealed in the 2030s, the UN apologized and promised to stop its surveillance system. In reality, the latest generation of the system, Echelon IV, was simply moved to Area 51, centralizing it in one, easily controlled locations.Jock: "Something's going on underground. I'm a pilot, which means I didn't get access to the main complex, but a lot of rock comes out of there; it's some kind of mine. But what I don't understand is why they're always laying more fiber-optic cables."JCDenton: "A pilot? What do you fly?"Jock: "Copters. You know what I think? I think that's where the UN moved Echelon IV, back when they promised they were going to stop spying on people."JCDenton: "Surveillance is a very distributed technology. To centralize it in one large facility would be very unusual -- even for the U.N."Jock: "I bet they did it. They want to centralize everything -- every computer on the planet. "JCDenton: "Know much about the Echelon system?"
SamCarter: "Bits and pieces. Why?"
JCDenton: "Morgan Everett just had me connect two Echelon AI's together. They've merged to form an entity called Helios."
SamCarter: "Sounds like Everett was making a play for power -- and it backfired."
JCDenton: "What does that do for Majestic 12?"
SamCarter: "I'm not sure. UNATCO was aware that the Daedalus system had become unreliable, but no one knew why. Icarus was the same system with a few modifications."
JCDenton: "Page seemed to think he had won."
SamCarter: "Perhaps. The NSA's had the Internet hardwired through Area 51 since the 'thirties, but if components of Daedalus are still active, I would bet his control is less than absolute."
JCDenton: "I hope you're right. Thanks."
==Echelon III==
An old approach to mass surveillance, Echelon III was designed as a daemon-based system, reliant on fixed hardware. Elizabeth DuClare had a part of the system installed at her chateau, allowing her to monitor communications.
Morgan Everett: " You saw a piece of Echelon III in Beth's chateau. We salvaged some of the hardware."
Morgan Everett: " Surveillance used to be daemon-based. Daedalus is more distributed; a blip of his code runs on every communication device on the planet."
Morgan Everett: " If we control communications, we can organize and the other side cannot."
==Echelon IV==
Echelon IV was a government AI project intended to overcome content-recognition problems. Instead of relying on crude search methods, the artificial intelligence would be capable of searching all the terabytes of intercepted messages for subversive content. The project was eventually renamed Daedalus, and officially failed, despite burning through a significant amount of taxpayer money.JCDenton: "Did you ever dig up anything about this "Daedalus" character? I'm still hearing from him."
AlexJacobson:"Actually, I did... sort of. Crypto says Daedalus was supposedly a government AI project, also known as Echelon IV."
JCDenton: "Supposedly"?"
AlexJacobson:"I'm getting this from anonymous cypto boards. Daedalus was supposed to beat the old content-recognition problem in surveillance; it was a program that could search all the terabytes of intercepted messages for subversive content."
JCDenton: "So what happened?"
AlexJacobson:"Never panned out, as far as I know. The problem was just too hard. They blew through a lot of taxpayer money but finally had to scrap the whole project."
JCDenton: "So the thing that's talking in my head is...what? A resurrected AI?"
AlexJacobson:"I wish I knew." 
Unofficially, the program was a success. Using Morgan Everett's revolutionary heuristics language, the AI prototype could convey the highest and most succinct tier of any pyramidal construct of knowledge, sifting through incredible amounts of data and returning comprehensive summaries. Everett retained the original prototype, Morpheus, for his personal amusement, while Echelon IV - now designated Daedalus - replaced the older Echelon III framework and became the backbone of global surveillance and a vital tool for the Illuminati and after Bob Page's rebellion, Majestic 12. The system went rogue in 2052, due to a pattern-matching error following JC Denton's defection and capture: It classified MJ12 as a terrorist organization alongside the NSF and Silhouette.Comment: "(a little put off by the humdrum laboratory)"
JCDenton: "So this is where the Illuminati ended up, after centuries of conspiring to rule the world."
MorganEverett: "The conspiracy is about to begin again, JC, between you and me. Nicolette was wise to bring us together, wise like her mother. The most effective partnerships -- like Beth's and mine -- arise from mutual necessity."
JCDenton: "I came to talk about the Gray Death. Atanwe says you cracked the virus."
MorganEverett: "A trivial matter... Page added nothing to the core design. However, what we need to construct is a carbanocarbon ROM module -- not exactly a vaccine."
JCDenton: "Can it be done without a Universal Constructor?"
MorganEverett: "No, we need time on a UC. But I know where we might find one and also gain access to the U.S. military networks."
JCDenton: "The U.S. military...?"
MorganEverett: "To stop Icarus from completely destroying the Daedalus AI. Daedalus is a design of mine; it replaced the old Echelon III network."
JCDenton: "Echelon... the surveillance system for the United Nations -- so Daedalus was an MJ12 tool and rebelled?"
MorganEverett: "More of a pattern-matching error. It classified Majestic 12 as a terrorist group, alongside the NSF and Silhouette."
JCDenton: "And alongside the Illuminati, right? Are you sure Daedalus is your ally?"
MorganEverett: "What matters to us is that it opposes Majestic 12. We must help it destroy their intelligence apparatus -- but that will require the military networks. I have already contacted Gary Savage of X-51."
JCDenton: "The former Area 51 scientists... Are they still camped out at Vandenberg Air Force Base?"
MorganEverett: "They are close to completing a UC and have the kind of connection Daedalus will need."
JCDenton: "Sounds like my pilot and I should head to Vandenberg."
MorganEverett: "Yes. I took the liberty of radioing him. Here is a key to the helipad stairway. The door is in the foyer, where Atanwe revived you. Good luck. I will be in contact." 
Daedalus' rebellion caused Echelon IV to shut down and deny UNATCO the ability to track and intercept Denton or his allies. The situation persisted until Denton's arrival in Paris,MetroMJ12Troop_special01: "An American?"
MetroMJ12Troop_special02: "UNATCO agent. Agent Hermann stopped by. He said we should shoot on sight."
MetroMJ12Troop_special01: "He looks German."
MetroMJ12Troop_special02: "Hermann?"
MetroMJ12Troop_special01: "No, the spy, Denton. How do they know he's in Paris?"
MetroMJ12Troop_special02: "UNATCO got Echelon IV back up. Trust me, they know where he is"
MetroMJ12Troop_special01: "They say Denton has a head full of secrets."
MetroMJ12Troop_special02: "Well, those secrets won't be very valuable splattered on the pavement." when Icarus, Page's creation, was brought online, reactivating Echelon IV. Daedalus and Icarus clashed across the network, with Page's invention slowly gaining the upper hand: The Echelon kernel Daedalus used was designed almost exclusively for collecting data, without functionality for memory wipes, thread termination, and other functions that would give it a fighting chance.Alex Jacobson: "The Echelon kernel was designed almost exclusively for collecting data, so we have to add functionality for memory wipes, thread termination, that kind of thing."
Everett decided on a gambit: He sent JC Denton to Vandenberg Air Force Base, making contact with X-51 in order to secure their access to Milnet, the United States military network. By using the old hardlines, the two AIs could be connected together. The play backfired, leading to the emergence of Helios,JCDenton: "I'll look at it. In addition to the UC, Everett and I need your connection to the Milnet"GarySavage: "Yes, he said something about an artificial intelligence, the Echelon system, something called Icarus and Daedalus...?"JCDenton: "Another attack happening as we speak... I'll explain later." just as Page planned. The Aquinas protocol allowed him to monitor everything and bide his time.Bob Page: "You forgot about the Aquinas Protocol.  I was listening to Daedalus all along, waiting..."
==Notes==
* Echelon III hardware was salvaged by Everett and Elizabeth DuClare, to create a secure communications channel between the surviving Illuminati after Page's rebellion.Morgan Everett: "You saw a piece of Echelon III in Beth's chateau. We salvaged some of the hardware."
* Morpheus, the prototype for the Daedalus AI, is found at Morgan Everett's estate in Paris. He dislikes discussing it, or its role in mass surveillance.JCDenton: "What's that computer system for? The one with the blue face for an interface."MorganEverett: "Oh, nothing, nothing. Just something for passing the time and amusing guests."
JCDenton: "It has access to quite a bit of information, including information about me."MorganEverett: "An old prototype -- for Daedalus, actually. It doesn't really handle surveillance in its current state."
JCDenton: "So you have your own private Echelon system."Comment: "Stern. He doesn't want to talk about the AI Prototype."MorganEverett: "Mr. Denton, your pilot is waiting."
==Behind the scenes==
* ECHELON is a real, existing system of mass surveillance and industrial espionage operated by the United States with the aid of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
==References==
Category:Deus Ex setting