HADES / the "extinction failsafe protocol," aka the last resort for GAIA. it’s based on the greek god of the underworld of the same name. programmed by travis tate, HADES’ primary function is to be a factory reset button. so, should GAIA’s terraforming efforts prove unsuccessful with regard to producing an environment suitable for sustaining life, HADES’ duty was to reverse the work done, reverting the planet to its previous lifeless, sterile state so that GAIA could engage in another attempt. during this process, any life that was introduced during the attempt would be exterminated. as such, HADES was never a true AI, but could instead be considered an extension of GAIA.
HADES’ failsafe function intrinsically meant that it only acted if required, and since GAIA’s first attempt at reforming life on earth was successful, HADES was never required, and thus remained inactive.
the signal / nearly 1,000 years after GAIA went online, a signal of unknown origin was transmitted to GAIA prime, the facility in which GAIA was located. the signal broke off GAIA’s nine subordinate functions, including HADES, turning them into true AIs and thus into independent and self-aware entities.
HADES went rogue. it sought to destroy all life on the planet, even though their efforts had been successful, and to do this, it attempted to take control of the entire terraforming system. unable to fight off HADES, GAIA resorted to self-destructing in hopes of destroying HADES as well.
GAIA was ultimately unsuccessful, as HADES, as the last moment, released a virus that broke its bindings to the facility, allowing it to escape before it was destroyed.
capabilities / HADES has the ability to reactivate ancient machines, such as corruptors and deathbringers, without the help of MINERVA. however, it was unable to restore their biomass conversion systems on its own, so they’re not necessarily as destructive as the faro plague was, but they’re still incredibly dangerous.
status / following its defeat, HADES broke free from its core and fled to [ REDACTED ], where it remains their prisoner. it is currently unknown what [ REDACTED ] intentions are regarding the information they mean to receive from the captured AI. ( source; contains major spoilers not mentioned in this post. )
