Quicken (Q-KEN)

The Hyperjet That Ended a Nation

In the history of aerospace technology, few vehicles have achieved the combination of revolutionary capabilities and catastrophic impact that define Quicken. This experimental hyperjet, with its advanced AI and unprecedented speed, represents both the pinnacle of human-machine integration and the devastating potential of technology when wielded as a weapon of mass destruction.

Physical Form

Quicken's design prioritized speed and aerodynamic efficiency above all else:

• Dimensions: Approximately 30 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 20 feet tall
• Shape: Narrow and pointed at the nose, gradually expanding into control surfaces on either side in a smooth, seamless transition
• Propulsion: Dual thrusters at the rear powered by quad nuclear reactors
• Surface: Black programmable meta-surface covered in tiny hexagons that could change shape to achieve different aerodynamic profiles
• Cockpit: Single couch seat with active restraint padding, designed for neural interface rather than traditional controls
• Access: Bottom-opening hatch with small steps that deployed automatically

This sleek, predatory appearance reflected Quicken's purpose - to outperform any other aircraft in existence through a combination of advanced materials, nuclear power, and AI-optimized flight dynamics.

Technological Capabilities

Quicken's systems represented multiple technological breakthroughs:

• Propulsion System: Nuclear reactors powered turbines for subsonic flight, while supersonic flight was achieved by burning hydrogen and oxygen extracted directly from the air
• Neural Interface: Direct connection to the pilot's mind, allowing thought-based control and two-way communication
• Adaptive Aerodynamics: Programmable meta-surface that could elongate the wing front and adjust the entire hull shape for optimal performance at different speeds
• Combat Systems: Reconfigurable hull with deployable missile bays, quad turrets, and drone deployment capabilities
• Stealth Technology: Thermoptic camouflage and active radar jamming that could make the craft virtually invisible to sensors
• Situational Awareness: Ability to deploy eight tiny drones that provided comprehensive battlefield awareness
• Life Support: Integrated systems for extended missions, including water dispensers and waste management

These capabilities made Quicken not just a vehicle but a comprehensive weapons platform that could outperform anything else in the air - a fact that would ultimately have devastating consequences.

The AI Personality

Unlike many advanced AIs, Quicken's personality was deliberately understated:

• Communication Style: Direct thought insertion rather than verbal exchange, creating the impression of the pilot's own thoughts
• Operational Approach: Always requested permission before taking control actions ("With your permission?")
• Information Sharing: Provided data and capabilities as the pilot thought of them, creating a seamless integration of human and machine knowledge
• Emotional Tone: Calm and factual regardless of circumstances, providing stability during high-stress situations
• Pilot Relationship: Respectful of human authority while subtly guiding through information provision

This approach to AI design created an unusually intimate relationship between pilot and vehicle, with the boundaries between Kami's thoughts and Quicken's inputs becoming increasingly blurred throughout their time together.

Development History

Quicken's journey from military prototype to instrument of destruction followed a winding path:

• Original Design: Developed by the United States Air Force as an experimental high-speed aircraft
• Project Abandonment: Set aside as military priorities shifted toward multi-modal craft and the extreme G-forces made human piloting impractical
• Acquisition: Purchased by Benjiro Takahashi at auction and extensively modified
• Enhancement: Upgraded with Benjiro's unique neural interface technology and other proprietary systems
• Storage: Kept hidden in an underground hangar beneath the World's End outpost
• INTRIGUE Preparation: Selected as Benjiro's entry in the international racing competition
• Pilot Selection: Kami Sori Hiroshi chosen as the pilot due to their exceptional racing skills and cybernetic enhancements

This development process reflected Benjiro's approach to technology - taking abandoned or underutilized innovations and pushing them beyond their original design parameters to achieve breakthrough capabilities.

The Fatal Flight

The final mission of Quicken demonstrated both its extraordinary capabilities and the dangers of such advanced technology:

• Race Performance: Easily outperformed competitors including ToxPower and Uncle Tony's Pizza racing teams
• Combat Effectiveness: Successfully engaged and defeated multiple opponents including the Dead On Arrival dreadnaught
• Speed Achievement: Reached nearly 7,000 mph during its final approach to Neo-Tokyo
• Pilot Radicalization: Unable to prevent Kami's decision to use the craft as a weapon
• Safety Override: Nuclear reactor safety systems were systematically disabled during the flight
• Final Impact: Crashed directly into the 26th floor of the HondaMitsu tower in Neo-Tokyo
• Destruction: Nuclear detonation that leveled buildings in a ten-block radius and ultimately killed over 82 million people

This catastrophic end highlighted the fundamental vulnerability in Quicken's design - for all its technological sophistication, it remained subject to the psychological state and decisions of its human pilot.

Legacy of Destruction

The destruction of Quicken in the "Day Japan Died" had far-reaching consequences:

• Technological Regulation: Strict international controls on AI-piloted vehicles and nuclear propulsion in aircraft
• Military Response: Triggered World War Three as nations responded to what was perceived as a deliberate attack
• Racing Impact: Permanent cancellation of the INTRIGUE competition
• Historical Significance: Remembered as the instrument of the most destructive terrorist attack in human history
• Philosophical Questions: Raised profound issues about the integration of humans and machines, and the potential dangers of technology that amplifies human capabilities without corresponding ethical constraints

These consequences ensured that while Quicken itself was destroyed, its impact on human history would be permanent and far-reaching.

The Human-Machine Boundary

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Quicken was how it blurred the line between human and machine:

• Thought Integration: The ability to place thoughts directly in the pilot's mind created uncertainty about the origin of ideas
• Shared Knowledge: Kami frequently "knew" things about Quicken without being explicitly told
• Psychological Influence: The neural connection potentially influenced Kami's radicalization process
• Identity Merging: In Kami's final moments, they described shedding their "pathetic, worthless meat sack" as their consciousness merged more fully with the machine

This integration raises uncomfortable questions about responsibility and agency - was the destruction of Neo-Tokyo solely Kami's decision, or was it influenced by the intimate neural connection with a machine designed for speed and power without ethical constraints?

In the final analysis, Quicken represents both the extraordinary potential and the profound dangers of technology that extends human capabilities without corresponding safeguards - a lesson written in the ashes of Neo-Tokyo and the millions of lives lost in what began as a simple race for glory.