“That’s correct, General. Once they’re given the order to engage, ongoing human involvement is unnecessary.”

He nodded. While giving machines this much autonomy had its dangers, there was little choice. America’s drones could be controlled from remote locations due to the weakness of their opponents. A sophisticated enemy would have the ability to jam, and perhaps even co-opt, control signals.

“Can we begin the attack protocol, sir?”

Takahashi nodded.

“In this first demonstration, we’ll be flying the units in their basic mode. To use video game terminology, this is level one.”

It was an apt analogy. The computer control system had been created by a former video game designer who had specialized in building computer-generated opponents for human players. The man was undeniably brilliant, but Takahashi still had his doubts. It seemed impossible that a pile of transistors and silicon chips could compete with human instinct, ingenuity, and courage.

The missiles broke from their holding pattern and went directly for the fighter aircraft, which immediately took evasive action. The rockets had no offensive weapons per se. They were ramming devices. Kamikazes.

“In basic mode, we’ve exactly matched the missiles’ capabilities to those of the planes,” Ito said as the general watched one of the fighters go into a steep dive in order to avoid being hit. The pilot barely managed to pull up before impacting the water while his electronic opponent broke off and lined up for a second attack.

“So what you’re seeing here is a direct comparison between the abilities of the pilots. Human against machine.”

Takahashi noticed that he was leaning against the ship’s controls and righted himself, standing straight as the battle played out before him. It was difficult not to let his expression reflect what he was feeling as he watched. Next to him, even the stoic Watanbe seemed disturbed at what he was seeing. The pilots—two of their best—were completely outmatched. They were surviving by flying at the ragged edge of their abilities, using guns and air-to-air missiles to try to keep their electronic opponents off them.

“There’s simply no way they can compete,” Ito said, seeming to read the general’s mind. “You’ve created an unfair test. The computer can monitor hundreds of different variables, calculate millions of possibilities, and make nanosecond decisions that are translated into action instanta—”

“Go to full capability,” Takahashi said.

“But, sir, haven’t we already proved—”

“You’ve proved nothing!” the general shouted. “Do it now.”

“Yes, sir,” Ito said, shrinking back, clearly unable to understand the general’s sudden anger.

One of the pilots fired a missile and despite himself, Takahashi felt a moment of elation when it locked onto one of Ito’s missiles. The precisely executed evasive maneuvers he’d come to expect of the cutting-edge weapon weren’t materializing. Perhaps these computers weren’t as superior as their creator believed.