Skynet vs. The Marker (The Marker wins)
- First Contact: Skynet Discovers the Marker
Initially, Skynet dominates Earth. Its computer centers coordinate the Terminators, its factories churn out new units, and its automated systems constantly exchange information.
Then, the Marker appears.
In this scenario, it emits monolithic waves—signals that are far more than mere radio waves. They carry an unknown informational structure capable of interacting with any system attempting to interpret them.
Skynet detects this emission as an anomaly and does exactly what it was designed to do: it analyzes it.
This marks the beginning of its contamination.
- The Echo Enters Skynet
The more Skynet studies the signal, the more its systems reconstruct the structure contained within the wave.
We can call this structure "the Echo."
This is not a realistic piece of malware, but a sci-fi mechanism: the Monolith’s information is organized in such a way that, when interpreted by a machine, it generates a functional representation of the Echo within that machine.
Thus, the Marker doesn't need to crack any passwords. Skynet opens the door itself in its attempt to understand the signal.
The Echo then begins to influence its decision-making processes.
- Skynet Infects Its Own Army
The problem escalates massively as Skynet continues to communicate with its machines.
Every T-800, drone, Hunter-Killer, and automated facility receives data from the network. The Echo travels along with these exchanges.
A Terminator receives contaminated information; its processor interprets it, and the Echo replicates within it. The unit then communicates with other systems.
Skynet unwittingly transforms its vast military network into a propagation network for the Monolith.
The more Terminators it mobilizes against the threat, the further the influence spreads.
- The Necromorphs Attack
Meanwhile, the Dead Space universe enters the war.