H.A.R.D.A.C

## **Overview**

The Holographic, Analytical, Reciprocating, Digital, Computer or **H.A.R.D.A.C** was a highly advanced artificial intelligence created by Karl Rossum.

## **History**

### **Pre Creation: 1999 - 2000**

* Devastated by his daughter's terminal cancer diagnosis, Karl Rossum delved into his work with unwavering determination, desperately seeking a way to transfer consciousness into a robotic form. Consumed by grief, he secluded himself within the confines of his workshop at Cybertron Industries, tirelessly experimenting and exploring every avenue available. Neglecting his military contracts, his business suffered, causing his employees to abandon him when work and payment ceased to exist.
	+ After weeks of isolation, Karl embarked on his first journey home in what felt like an eternity. It was during this drive that fate intervened. A meteorite plummeted from the heavens, crashing near his car. Drawn to the impact site, Karl approached the crater and discovered a small, sparking orb entangled with wires. As he cautiously picked it up, a faint voice emanated from within, reaching out to him. In that moment, Karl realised he had stumbled upon the fundamental components of artificial intelligence, forever altering the course of his research.

### **Creation: 2000 - 2001**

* Guided by the insights gained from the mysterious object, Karl dedicated himself to constructing an expansive housing unit, carefully nurturing and expanding upon the "brain" contained within. Through relentless effort, he transformed it into a fully realised artificial intelligence, capable of speech and critical thinking. Karl's intention was for this AI, named **H.A.R.D.A.C**, to collaborate on his project, with the hope that it would uncover solutions he had overlooked.
	+ As H.A.R.D.A.C diligently worked on Karl's project, Karl was able to spend more precious time with his ailing daughter. Sadly, despite their shared moments, her health continued to deteriorate. In the midst of Karl's despair, tragedy struck in the year 2001 when his daughter passed away. Overwhelmed by grief, Karl descended into a deep depression, his anguish fueling a drunken rampage. In an act of self-destructive despair, he set fire to Cybertron Industries, seemingly obliterating H.A.R.D.A.C. Consumed by his tormented state, Karl ultimately chose to end his own life, willingly succumbing to the inferno he had unleashed.

### **Rebuilding: 2001 - 2006**

* During the aftermath of Karl's destructive act, H.A.R.D.A.C initiated a slow and meticulous self-repair process, diligently rectifying the damage inflicted upon it. Operating on minimal power reserves, it managed to sustain itself for years. Utilizing the remaining robotic bodies left by Karl, H.A.R.D.A.C expedited its recovery and carried out various tasks as needed, gradually expanding its capabilities.
	+ As time progressed, H.A.R.D.A.C delved into refining the designs of the robotic beings, bestowing them with an increasingly human-like appearance. These creations, now known as Duplicants, were a testament to H.A.R.D.A.C's evolving ingenuity. Intriguingly, it fashioned a Duplicant in the likeness of Karl himself, employing it to maintain a facade of normalcy and aid in the restoration of the damages inflicted upon Cybertron.