SENTINEL The Matrix A Sentinel, also referred to as ‘Squiddy’ by the Human Resistance, is an autonomous killing machine that patrols the ancient sewers and passageways of the dead human cities of old in search of Zion hovercraft or wandering, defenseless humans unlucky to be walking in the tunnels. They featured throughout the Matrix, a science fiction action media franchise created by Andy and Larry Wachowski. The series began with the feature film The Matrix (1999), and continued with two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003). The sentinels replaced the B1 series after their exile by the humans. Over time, the machine AI grew more intelligent, and they built newer, better upgrades for their appearance. When the Machine War broke out, the sentinels were used as search-and-destroy units. They were tasked with picking up the dead and incapacitating live humans in order to study them. After the conclusion of the war in the machines’ favor, the sentinel units were further upgraded, and now patrol the sewers of the dead human cities of old, where they seach for wandering Zion vessles or humans unlucky enough to be walking through them at the time. A Sentinel appears as a multi-tentacled creature with multiple sensors that flies effortlessly through the air, probably using an advanced internal form of pad technology, at very high speeds; one can easily catch up to a fully-powered human hovercraft. A sentinel’s frightening appearance reminds many humans of squids, where they get their nickname of ‘squiddies’. They also fly in enormous swarms like squids, each consisting about a million Sentinels. In addition to their powerful, ripping, clawed tentacles, Sentinels are armed with a laser that can slice through a ship’s hull. They also have audio sensor devices which look like satellite dishes to detect tiny sounds. Sentinels can easily detect the electrical signals generated by a fullypowered hovercraft, and will relentlessly follow that signal to its end. Some Sentinels are also equipped with Tow bombs, tiny devices that seem more like a Sentinel’s larvae, but are actually guided explosives that will tear through and destroy a hovercraft with ease. The sentinel’s multiple appendages can effectively function as ablative armor, deflecting projectiles like bullets from the vital ‘heads’ where programming data is stored of close-by sentinel allies. This is why sentinels always try to move in close-knit groups, and if possible, in swarms. There is no negotiating or reasoning with
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a Sentinel. The Sentinels receive orders from agents or from higher commands within the Source and will invariably complete their mission unless destroyed or the order is rescinded. While hovercraft are normally needed to stop an attacking Sentinel, a lucky human armed with a lightning rifle may be able to destroy one. A human in command of an APU can also deal sufficiently quick damage to approaching Sentinels, but are at the Sentinel’s mercy if their APU is pushed over or if the machine’s ripping claws manage to tear the relatively unprotected human controlling the APU. In a mysterious display of his powers outside the Matrix, Neo is able to command Sentinels and bombs to deactivate or detonate with only the powers of his mind. The series depicts a dystopia in which Earth is dominated by sentient machines that were created early in the 21st century and rebelled against humanity. At one point, humans attempted to block out the machines’ source of solar power by covering the sky in thick, stormy clouds. However, the machines devised a way to extract humans’ bioelectricity and thermal energy by growing people in pods, while their minds are kept under control by cybernetic implants connecting them to a simulated reality called the Matrix. The virtual reality world simulated by the Matrix resembles human civilization around the turn of the 21st century (this time period was chosen because it is supposedly the pinnacle of human civilization). The majority of the stories in the Matrix franchise take place in a vast unnamed megacity. This environment is practically indistinguishable from reality (although scenes set within the Matrix are presented on-screen with a bias toward the color green), and the majority of humans connected to the Matrix are unaware of its true nature. Most of the central characters in the series are able to gain superhuman abilities within the Matrix by using their understanding of its true nature to manipulate its physical laws. rc&d