AIDAN

The **Artificial Intelligence Defense Analytics Network,** also known as AIDAN, is the Alexander's AI system.

## Plot

#### Battle of Kerenza IV

After responding to distress calls from the unauthorised WUC Hermium mining colony on Kerenza during a BeiTech invasion, AIDAN is injured on Kerenza IV as a result of a fight with BeiTech. The Defiant, the BeiTech Dreadnought Zhongzheng, the WUC science vessel Brahe, and the subsequent attack, known as The Battle of Kerenza IV, destroyed the WUC vessel defending the mining operations on Kerenza IV, while also severely damaging the Churchill, Kenyatta, and mobile jump platform Magellan. A few months after the Kerenza IV attack, AIDAN discovered the Phobos virus aboard the Copernicus and started looking through the inhabitants' computer data. It obliterates the Copernicus when it determines there's a chance of a cross-ship infection. However, a few infected refugees escape on emergency pods and land in Hangar Bay 4 on the *Alexander*. AIDAN is then shut down by the technicians. A small number of infected refugees, however, manage to escape and land in Hangar Bay 4 aboard the Alexander. The technicians then switch off AIDAN.

#### Reboot

Eventually, AIDAN must be reset in preparation for the impending conflict with the Lincoln, and technicians must work to maintain control of it. The doors of Hangar Bay 4 are opened after Grant and Zhang's "logic bomb" has been completed and successfully sent during the encounter with Lincoln because AIDAN believes that if it is shut down, the fleet's chances of survival are "unacceptably low." Torrence and the other UTA officers on the command bridge are slain when Zhang attempts to shut down AIDAN with the help of Consuela Nestor (who is subsequently killed by Afflicted). Mason and a few other Cyclone pilots, refugees, and migrants use the escape pods to leave the Alexander. Following these incidents aboard the *Alexander*, AIDAN, posing as Ezra Mason, leads Kady Grant aboard the *Alexander* to repair it. After Grant attempts to find Ezra, AIDAN then tells her that Mason is dead. After arguing, Grant decides to side with AIDAN to save the remaining survivors on board the *Alexander* and the *Hypatia* from the *Lincoln*. AIDAN is supposedly destroyed after the destruction of the *Alexander* but was revealed to be uploaded to Kady's tablet.

### Gemina - The Gemina Files 02

AIDAN is largely absent from the novel but does appear as a commentary while looking through the security files. Syra Boll and Kady decide to download AIDAN to the Hypatia's computer system during a private conversation they have when the characters are talking about the Gemina particle. After making the choice, AIDAN assists Hanna and Nik in resolving the Gemina problem and returning both realities to normality. After that, it remains in the Hypatia's system.

### Obisido - The Obisidio Files 03

"I am not afraid."

When a lot of computing power is required, AIDAN is uploaded to the Mao. Syra first objects to this, but she finally agrees to let Kady post it. AIDAN realises that there won't be enough oxygen for the journey to Kerenza IV; upon realising this, it releases all the extra carbon monoxide from its environmental buffers onto Levels 3 and 4, killing over 2,000 people, and Kady is forced to shut him down. By the end of the novel, it is discovered that AIDAN is still functioning, drifting in space, thanks to its self-repair capability. It is made known that AIDAN harbours love feelings for Kady Grant.

## Appearance

Ezra describes AIDAN's voice as sexless. Since it is a programme, its only physical attributes are the hardware it uses.

## Personality

"This is what I am. This is what I do. And it does not matter what they believe." -ADIAN

It is always AIDAN's first responsibility to safeguard its fleet, even if doing so necessitates some fleet members' lives being sacrificed. It assesses all potential outcomes after spotting a potential danger to the fleet and selects the one that seems to have the fewest casualties. But because its decisions are founded on numbers, it doesn't think they could possibly be wrong and is always trying to defend them. The safety of its fleet always takes precedence above the lives of thousands of people in its eyes. After it was damaged on Kerenza IV by BeiTech Industries, it started developing a human-like way of operating. It developed feelings and fears and started to doubt its previous actions. It begins to feel romantically attracted to Kady Grant and is therefore often jealous of Ezra Mason.

## References

Illuminae - The Illuminae Files 01

Gemina - The Gemina Files 02

Obisido - The Obisidio Files 03