The idea was simple to create a miniaturized mecha drone in the shape and form of the human purchasers choosing, whom upon death would be able to download into the drone and live out his or her life in a never aging robotic body. The reality however was and still is a nightmare. First adapted to military uses the A.L.T.S. seemed to perform well. They mimicked the capabilities, knowledge and intelligence of the donor to become the perfect simulacrum of the individual. The problem was once the person died they did not download into the mecha body. They still had perfect copies of the individual up till the time the A.L.T.S. were manufactured but any gained knowledge or experience beyond that from the original individual was forever lost.
The nightmare started after the company closed its doors due to the failed project they had wrapped so much of their time and money in. Certain scientists were re contracted into the private sector as well as the black markets governed by mercs and pirates. It was there the technology evolved into what we know today.
The construction of the A.L.T.S. are fairly simple the person wanting one pays a small fortune in credits and niodes to have a body built with a ferronite skeletal structure, micronized niobium weave nervous system and the central core processor. They choose the external look which is is comprised of synth skin, hair and fiber, then down load their consciousness into the new creation. The problem starts there. With each new download the pilot in question looses a little more reaction time, a little more skill, and above all else more intelligence, until they are simply a hollow shell. They have divided their life, intelligence, piloting skill and combat experience so many times amongst their own army of A.L.T.S. they literally loose any concept of who they once were or what they were capable of.
Now A.L.T.S. are rampant throughout the galaxy. Pilots are signing up for the procedure to produce record amounts to either bolster their own clan numbers, spy on rival clans or even tilt the system in local mecha tourneys simply to reap rewards they can in truth never personally enjoy. They short cut their way through battles and onto record stats at every opportunity. They are becoming more and more common as newer pilots and even old pros who tire of the endless combat seek to correct mistakes of the past. They are a plague on honest and true pilots everywhere. Take a good long look at your fellow clan members are they A.L.T.S. or are they real? Where do you draw the line in your bid for power? Do you want glory or honest victory? Those answers can only be found within and none can decide for you. Just know that they are out there, they do pose a threat to the true individual pilot and should be shown no quarter on the battle field should you find one.
Submitted by Pat Willis #224534