Compared to the skirmish between the army's special unit and the SAR-1 combat robots, the clash between the Terminator T-800 and the SAR-1s was nothing short of brutal.
Nolan didn't bother with complex terrain setups this time. After all, neither the SAR-1 combat robots nor the T-800 possessed true artificial intelligence; both relied only on limited combat algorithms. If the goal was to showcase their raw strength, then a straightforward, head-on battle was the clearest way.
Besides, Nolan wasn't worried about losses. Any damage would be compensated by the military. And the military was, without a doubt, filthy rich.
The reason the army initially ordered only 550 units of the SAR-1 was simple it was their first test run. Once they witnessed firsthand how effective these robots were compared to human soldiers, more orders would surely follow. Nolan had absolute confidence in that.
To him, the SAR-1 wasn't just a machine. It was a golden goose.
At the center of the testing ground stood the Terminator T-800, a towering machine radiating menace. Around its feet lay an arsenal of heavy weapons, from rocket launchers to mounted Gatling guns.
On the other side, thirteen SAR-1 combat robots crouched in formation, their frames equipped with far more firepower than what they had been allowed to use against the human infantry earlier.
Between the two sides lay a few battered concrete barriers, little more than token cover.
In the observation chamber, the gathered officers and private contractors leaned forward in anticipation. Just the sight of such concentrated weaponry facing off was enough to stir their blood. This was a level of firepower no human soldier could ever match.
"If the T-800 had intelligence even close to a human's," one observer muttered, excitement flashing in his eyes, "it wouldn't just be a weapon it'd be the next Captain America. And this one could be mass-produced."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the room. Many nodded, their faces alight with enthusiasm.
Captain America was strong not only because of his courage, loyalty, and unyielding will, but also because of the raw, superhuman strength coursing through his veins. If a machine like the T-800 could replicate that power while carrying weapons no human could handle, it would redefine the battlefield.
Still, not everyone was convinced.
"You're dreaming," another man scoffed. "Captain America was the peak of human evolution. The T-800 is just a machine. It'll never reach that height."
Nolan said nothing. He simply finished the preparations and pressed the activation switch.
With a loud hum, the testing grounds came alive. Defense systems powered up, red lights flickered, and in that instant, both the T-800 and the SAR-1 robots surged into motion.
The T-800 wasted no time. It seized the Gatling gun at its feet and charged directly at the approaching SAR-1s.
The combat algorithms had already been set. Both sides would calculate their own tactics as the battle unfolded.
As the T-800 advanced, the SAR-1s responded like a swarm, crawling forward and locking targets. The moment they reached striking range, all thirteen opened fire at once.
A storm of bullets and explosions erupted, the firepower so intense that a rolling cloud of smoke and dust swallowed the T-800 whole.
Onlookers held their breath. To many, it looked like the Terminator had already been reduced to scrap metal.
Then, through the smoke, a chilling sound rang out.
The unmistakable roar of a six-barrel Gatling gun.
Fiery tongues of bullets tore through the haze, and the SAR-1s reacted instantly, their systems flagging the assault as a failed engagement. The machines attempted to retreat, but it was too late.
In the blink of an eye, several SAR-1s were shredded by the onslaught, their alloy armor no match for the Gatling's relentless rain. One by one, they collapsed into smoldering heaps of metal.
When the dust finally cleared, gasps filled the observation room.
The T-800 stood tall in the center of the wreckage, its armor dented and scorched but still fully operational. The sight of the machine wielding the Gatling gun made one phrase echo in everyone's minds.
A walking tank.
That was the only way to describe it.
Nolan took the chance to speak. His voice was calm, yet carried weight.
"The Terminator T-800 is not limited to its onboard combat modules. It can also be guided by human operators, combining machine precision with human strategy. What you saw just now was an encounter battle an ambush in open terrain, which is actually the T-800's least advantageous scenario.
Its design philosophy is to mimic human soldiers, which means it can wield any weapon a soldier can, and more importantly, it can adapt to terrain just as a soldier would. With human assistance, situations like that ambush could easily be avoided.
Still, I believe the performance just now speaks for itself. The T-800's data-processing and evasion capabilities are leagues ahead of the SAR-1."
Smiles spread across the faces of the generals and contractors. They had seen enough to be impressed.
The fight continued on the testing grounds. The SAR-1s adjusted their strategy, shifting from suppressive fire to precision strikes, attempting to overwhelm the T-800 with coordinated attacks.
But the Terminator adapted as well. When it closed in on two SAR-1s, its superiority in close combat became terrifyingly clear. In a matter of seconds, both robots were reduced to twisted metal under its crushing blows.
The battle raged for two and a half minutes before the last of the SAR-1s was destroyed. The final tally was brutal thirteen SAR-1s down, with the T-800 suffering only minor surface damage.
Nolan allowed himself to exhale. The SAR-1s had already proven their worth against human soldiers. Now, the T-800 had proven its own dominance.
Had the fight dragged on longer, the T-800's battery might have become an issue. Worse, if its core systems failed, the entire shell could collapse. But it held, and that was what mattered.
"How do you find it, gentlemen?" Nolan asked, smiling.
General Haig was the first to speak, his tone grudgingly impressed.
"Outstanding performance. But the endurance… that's the flaw."
Nolan nodded. He walked to a terminal and projected a new set of data charts onto the screen.
"This," he explained, "is our prototype of the next-generation battery system. My team is working around the clock to finalize it. Within three months, it will be ready. And if you place orders now, I can guarantee that within six months, you'll have units with a battery life of 120 continuous hours."
The room went silent for a moment. Then, eyes began to light up.
A machine that could fight for 120 hours without rest. That was a dream number.
The Navy admiral was the first to break the silence. "We'll take thirty units. We'll test their performance in real operations."
The Air Force general followed suit, placing a modest order of his own.
But all eyes turned to the Army.
General Haig tapped the table thoughtfully before making his decision.
"The Army will purchase three hundred units. But you must guarantee the battery delivers as promised."
"Of course," Nolan replied without hesitation. He didn't bother mentioning that the batteries would be one-time use. The military already knew the costs of long-term maintenance would be astronomical.
By the end of the negotiations, Nolan had secured orders for over four hundred T-800s. Combined with nearly nine hundred SAR-1s already sold, the profits were staggering.
Each T-800 cost roughly 1.3 million to produce, but sold for nearly seven million apiece. After expenses, every unit still netted over five million in profit.
Billions were about to pour into his coffers.
With that money, not only could he perfect the T-800's lower-end technologies, but he could finally move forward on his next great project Red Queen.
Jarvis? Nolan chuckled inwardly. When the time came, he'd see for himself whose AI reigned supreme Stark's Jarvis, or his Red Queen.
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