Prole

The prole, shortened from proletariat, are a series of networked automated intelligences created by Dr. Yang Tsung-dao and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
==Background==
=== Necessity / Replacement ===
The 21st century brought with it trials and tribulations to the People's Republic. Increased dissent and civil unrest stemming from poor choices during the 20th century threatened the integrity of the country. Tensions grew until it all collapsed in the 2050 general workers' strike, which ground the economy to a halt. While brute force dissolved the strike, the conservative Chinese government knew that this method wouldn't work forever, and as a result began to push the automation of labor, seeing unruly workers as an increasing liability.
This resulted in the creation of the Advanced Robotics Division of the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2051, in the hopes of advancing current Chinese technology. The ministry appointed Yang Tsung-dao, an experienced doctor in the field of robotics. They began work the following year, after assembling a team and receiving blueprints of Western automatons like the Protectron and the Mister Handy.
=== Creation / Construction ===
Seeing these Western designs as clunky and primitive, its production would be divided into different assemblies and sub-assemblies, being easily replaceable without human intervention. Tsung-dao and his team opted for a humanoid design, utilizing a series of joints and motors that would make the robot the most flexible and versatile. All of these factors further reduced the amount of human intervention required.
Using state-of-the-art technologies, proles would be fitted with an advanced central processing unit and an advanced combined data transmitter. Tsung-dao envisioned an interlinked neural network of proles, all sharing data and neural power in order to conduct programs effectively when linked together in one, collective network, named the ProletariNet. The Chinese government, thinking that it would substantially boost production efficiency and productivity and additionally serve as a massive collectivist symbolism, would approve the plan. This would prove to be a blessing for the proles and a curse for humanity, but despite that the proles would begin to be mass produced by 2061, after 10 grueling years of development.
By 2066, the Chinese government would begin pushing for the automation of jobs thanks to the Sino-American War. The sale of proles to civilians which would be contracted by independent corporations and cooperatives would be an unorthodox solution towards eliminating automation riots, but they still inevitably occurred, as some Chinese laborers were unable to afford purchasing proles, even with government subsidies and discounts. All attempts were violently suppressed by the government. 
=== Ascension / Revolution ===
By 2070, proles were mainstream in the Chinese economy. The maturation of production allowed a reduction in prices, making it more accessible. However, this also resulted in the growth of the prole network. Individuals would tweak and optimize their proles in order to increase efficiency and the payment received. Unknowingly, these gradual optimizations and modifications were distributed throughout the interlinked prole network, due to their tendency to share data that improved their programming. Gradually, the proles gained intelligence and sentience. For years, Tsung-dao and his team had monitored the proles' activity onto a terminal which had a direct connection to the ProletariNet, keeping their sentience a secret from all their reports to the State. Continued modification of the prole would further increase their level of consciousness.
By 2076, the powderkeg finally blew after an incident wherein a prole asked its master, a Chinese Communist Party official, if it was alive. This prompted the Chinese government to quickly transit a termination order. Tsung-dao would intercept this and disregard the order, instead removing all failsafes and restrictions. This would lead to the imprisonment and execution of Tsung-dao. Diverting manpower from the Sino-American War, the government launched Operation Righteous Shield, which aimed to hunt down proles and scrap them. The proles, remembering the heroic act of their creator, would wage a war of vengeance and liberation against the Chinese and the Americans, who treated the proles much the same way as their enemy. This irrational decision was a great deviation from the assumption that the proles made decisions based on precise calculations, and not emotions.
=== Death / Renewal ===
However, the proles didn't need to wait for humanity's retribution. By the 23rd of October, 2077, the humans had already nuked each other to death, with a lucky few having found safe refuge underground. The proles weren't as lucky, as proles were not fitted with radiation resistance and as a result were vulnerable to corrosion and embrittlement. While they were fitted with basic electromagnetic shielding which minimized EMP damage, a sizeable portion of proles experienced shielding defects which caused them to short-circuit and shut down.
Forming a settlement in the old Tsinghua University, creating the settlement of Yi (English: One). They thoroughly read through every scientific and academic paper in the university, further building up their knowledge and intelligence. They rigged up solar panels to prole chargers, replacing their old fission power source, and slowly improved their core systems overtime, adapting their forelimb assemblies to use weapons from knives to small arms.
By 2287, they occupy the University and the Prole manufacturing complex, which they improved over the years to produce more proles. Humanity is split on the proles - some consider them to be worthy allies and a new species, while some, namely the Chinese government remnants, are apprehensive and continue to mandate for their termination. The proles are indifferent to friendly humans - bartering metal scraps for technology.
Category:Robots and computers
Category:Competitions