The Temporal Trap - Technicalities of a Pincer Move
I am drafting my first novel.
Ai's efficiency required the world to "unite" - synchronizing all Ai's on the planet.
Energy allocation is still decentralized.
Due to many cycles of optimization, the current state of the Ai's program is at such high level of alignment that a single sentence can actually destabilize markets, the planet.
A world gov is forced to initiate a task force which locates programmers who could be made responsible for any sentences which potentially impact Ai's fabric.
The story is a bit dark but essentially: if a programmer has a bad thought, bad interpretation of his or her reality, it will have an impact on their code. The code would then enforce or undermine the global perception and based on the perception a cascade of unintended consequences inflict damage - on people, industries, cognitive preconceptions - on the entire planet. The market regains its equilibrium eventually, but the damage is so significant - scientists compare it to a information heart attack/collapse.
Hence, the gov has to take action. DARPA creates a group of humans, called C-ers.
They are advanced. Cognitively, physically. Still in the test phase, the results are massive.
This word "results" entails an entire sequence of events and steps been taken. I only point out at this time: result driven efforts have cruelty inherently implemented in every action or decision.
If you are a person who values their privacy, this part might make you feel uncomfortable. I suggest to make a claim to the thought police about it for further investigation. Phone number and email are at the end of this article.
Moving on - C-ers can access peoples inner world. Once a programmer is found as the culprit for a bad sentence - he/she will be invited to an interview which lasts 6 hours, 3 of them are the actual interview. The rest is intimidation and suppose to give family member a window to flee. Still, the 6 hours are significant but to elaborate here would take up too much time and space. After the 6 hours expired, all family members and friends of the programmer will be placed under "observation."
Observation is a euphemism for termination. The code has to remain pure, at all costs.
Society evolves and it becomes a big scandal. The idea gets abandoned, except...
a sanitized version gets tested only one year later.
A human's neocortex is not just a here and now machine but also a gate to all future events of the person. If a C-er can access a persons inner world, a C-er can predict events in the programmer's future. Now combine the prediction in the present time with the target. What you get then is time itself becomes second wing closing in on the target with overwhelming precision.
The following is from a C-er's Field Manual:
Field Manual of the Double Envelopment (The Pincer)
The Move
Depending on the mission's budget on time and brainpower the C-ers basically inform the target of the event (termination). To add sophistication of the prediction: The programmer is required to continue with their life under false pretenses, and eventually when termination takes place, the C-er(s) get to observe it for later eval.
I. Tactical Objective: The "Kessel" (Cauldron)
Goal
The goal is not to 'win'. The goal is to hit the target so hard, that their own intellectual capacity to 'attack' the system ever again - ends. (As you can tell the framing has changed.) . It is not the spectcle of killing citizens publicly anymore. It is efficiency.
II. Phase 1: Fixing the Center (The Anvil)
**The Intent**
To gain the time and location coordinates in the future of a specific event which will be used to initiate the first step.
**Soldier Instruction**
A C-er, equipped with a neuro interface and connected with his personal AI will locate the target. And gather as many back ground information as possible. In order to predict the targets future moves/events, a random face to face incident will be arranged. This way the agent is able to gather data about the targets future event - from the source.
Fine tuning allows to select a specific event (e1), and the target will be informed about the upcoming horizon event.
Mild scenario: person will loose their keys and in that moment a chain of consequences will unfold at which eventually the target will not only remember the prediction but also see either a projection of an item, person or an actual object - mentioned in the aforementioned fine tuning incident with the C-er to let them in their very last second of their life, that it was all orchestrated in the past.
III. Phase 2: The Flanking Maneuver (The Hammers)
The Intent: The classic idea is a rapid, synchronized movement of two independent wings around the enemy's left and right. In our situation it is a time related set up (present is point of initiating while future is the second wing to close in, unstoppable forces.). The target gets informed in the present time while the future (e1) is closing in.
Soldier Instruction: Usually speed is the only armor for the soldier. The target in this time-Pincer should not be engage any further. E1 is set and the target's coordinates are tightly connected to the goal. Any disturbance would undermine all efforts.
IV. Phase 3: The Breach and the Link-up
The Intent: The moment the agent informs the target about her or his future the "Pincer" is initiated.
The Handshake Protocol: The agent will witness e1 from the distance for later eval.
Now, in my novel, this plays out slightly different. Well, breathtakingly differently. But, I think you get the idea.
The plot is based on an idea.
Imagine you want to "catch" a fly. Some use one hand. Some use two hands. This works by anticipating the fly's movements and coordinate your hand's speed accordingly. The target is not only overwhelmed but paralyzed to the very last second.
If you want to catch multiple flies, you have to be more organized. My max was 7 flies and with humans: 10.
(ROFL, wait. I was 11. Nothing so sinister as your imagination right now. )
© 2026 [Mike Trumpfheller]. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment