Im asking before you actually post about it sorry but can we hear more about the superstructure and how it functions as itself (beyond just the Architects work on it). And maybe in line with that the AI operating it 🥺
Of course! The Superstructure, at it's most simple description, is a gargantuan space station of unknown origin. Though technically belonging to the Architects, they were not the ones to construct it and it is far beyond their adopted technological capability. Due to the Superstructures constant self-iteration and outward expansion it is near impossible for humans to date its age of origin.
What little is known of the superstructure is primarily through remembered history shared by the Architects. Though memory is often fickle and in question for historical accounts, their exceedingly keen memories are well-regarded and offer consistent details. The known history of the Superstructure is as follows: a now missing alien species, only known as 'The Creators', constructed the Superstructure for an unknown purpose. The flora and fauna found in the stations halls are largely unchanged from their initial creation, and each lifeform serves a purpose for perpetuating the Superstructure's constructed ecosystem. It continues with the service of several non-sophont lifeforms, the construction efforts of Architects, and the Home AI.
One of the more notable, and numerous, creatures of the Superstructure is an animal nicknamed 'wall crawl' by the soldiers to first encounter it. It's unique structure is a point of fascination to researchers as it resembles a collection of thick-growing vines adhered to the wall. Incredibly expansive in its growth patterns, wall crawl is a cornerstone of the Architect diet with highly nutritional meat. Most comparable to Earth fungus, wall crawl is confounding in its existence.
Many parts of the Superstructure are like this, with strange creatures serving a purpose. It seems that not just the Architects were genetically edited to service the perpetual existence of this space station. The most popular theory by researchers studying the Superstructure ecosystem is that all animal life on the Superstructure is descended from one 'template' ancestor that was genetically edited into a wife variety of creatures. The Superstructure perpetuates itself through these animals.
On the Home AI itself: A completely non-sentient AI of incredible complexity. The single most advanced piece of technology Earth has ever encountered, numerous alliances and treaties have been created in the desperate attempt to study it. On record, only a single human was allowed to visit it's computational core as Architects viciously guard it's safety. Usually docile creatures, they become extremely agitated if the Home AI is threatened. The only recorded Architect attacks— not accident caused deaths— are in relation to forced entry of the Home AI.
A majority of information on the Home AI is derived from this single meeting in its core. Samik Prasad is the only person to have spoken to the Home AI directly and is hailed as an international hero, Prasads questions stand on the forefront of Architect historical research. Of his questions, these are the most fruitful answers.
On Architects: It is obvious Architects are not the first sophonts to exist in the Superstructure. When questioned about their origins, the Home AI provides that Architects were initially created as only animals. Their intended, and continued purpose, is the construction and maintenance efforts of the Superstructure. One of the most intelligent species of the Superstructure upon it's creation, the Home AI states that it selected the Architects and allowed them to evolve sapience.
On the Network: The Architect hivemind is poorly understood. Running theories posit other lifeforms are connected to this coined 'Network', that the strange hive actions taken by other animals may be at the direction of the Home AI. The Home AI confirmed this, though offers little clarification.
On purpose: The Home AI clearly states that its prime directive is to ensure the continued existence of the Superstructure. When asked further, it is clear the AI is created for this sole purpose. Unlike many human created AI, this model was not meant as an assistant to thinking or navigation. It seems that its complex thinking patterns and long-term problem solving were granted only in the case of complex problems that would threaten the perpetuation of this space station.
Research of the Superstructure is ongoing and intensive, though greatly slowed by the necessary cycling of researchers in three-month intervals. Long-term habitation of the Superstructure is an incredibly psychologically demanding environment for humans. Architects seem to exist in direct opposite of human environments, being extremely low-light, claustrophobic, and lacking in any familiarity to Humans. There are a plethora of psychological phenomena known in relation to the Superstructure, though the Bakers' God phenomenon is certainly the most popular, for its easily sensationalized nature.
