AI Race
Competition between Regency government and private consortiums to be the first to develop a man-made Artificial Intelligence. The contest has existed since 1152, and massive sums of money and time have been spent by interested parties to accomplish this nebulous goal. But the payoff is quite serious, the creation of machine intelligences that are not associated with Virus, and are resistant if not immune to viral infection. A prize of ten million credits, plus royalties of ten percent was posted by the Regency government as an incentive. In recent years the contest has come down to a three way struggle between small firms/public research teams on Mora, Dekha and Vincennes. Allegations of sabotage, bribery and shady dealings with the Flame of Purity movement have plagued the projects and their associated personnel for years, and they have gotten worse as the finish line has come into sight. Current estimates say that a full functioning AI will be achieved by 1218.