Star Control Mainframe

The Star Control mainframe, also known as the Systemized Telemetry for Automated Robot Control (S.T.A.R. Control) was a computer control system designed by RobCo Industries.

Background[]

The system was advertised as a complete solution for corporate clients needing to administer a large number of robots and defensive systems, chosen by the Nuka-Cola Corporation due to the General Atomics International's Director Management System being seen as an easily breakable system with a single point of failure.^[1]

The actual technology utilized a series of highly redundant, interchangeable telemetry modules, known as "star cores." At runtime, the cores would establish a radio communications interlink between the mainframe and the linked robotic systems, allowing the mainframe to coordinate their actions and issue commands irrespective of their underlying operating protocols.

Individual star cores could be safely replaced during normal operation. In the event of a major failure, the system could still boot into a limited-functionality emergency mode if at least one star core is present. While the system is in emergency mode, all robots and defenses would continue to act on their prior operating instructions. As cores are replaced, a series of emergency protocols would be progressively unlocked as computing resources permit, allowing the user to react to urgent problems until full functionality could be restored.^[2]

Installed in Nuka-World's Galactic Zone on August 31st, 2077,^[3] the mainframe was initially successful, however the mainframe quickly became yet another expendable resource in the development of Project Cobalt, due to the sheer age of many of the zone's robots, and the strain to operate all their control modules.^[4][5] In spite of this, the mainframe was eventually made into a tour exhibit,^[6] and was held in high regard by Nuka-World employees who worked with it. Mark Reisman in particular was saved by the mainframe, after a child attacked a Nukatron with a Thirst Zapper, causing it to short circuit and revert to its military programming, and the mainframe detected the error and remotely shut down the robot before it could do any harm.^[7]

After the Great War, the Star Control mainframe remained active, and while the robots themselves were offline, it still controlled Starport Nuka's various systems. However, when Nuka-World was settled by traders based out of Nuka-Town USA, scavengers began venturing into Starport Nuka and found the mainframe. One of the scavengers, Kendell Alston, took all the Star Cores from the mainframe after interpreting his daughter Tiana's discovery that the cores were redundant to mean that they could be removed without consequence.^[8][9]

When the gangs that would become the Nuka-World raiders attacked Nuka-Town, several of the trader's fled to Starport Nuka with the Alston's hoping to use the robots to defend themselves. However, while Tiana and several other traders rushed to gather enough Star Cores to safely activate the mainframe, Kendell assumed that his daughter was overstating the importance of the cores and activated the robots without any installed, resulting in the deaths of himself, his daughter and all the traders.^[10]

Appearances[]

The Star Control mainframe appears only in the Fallout 4 add-on Nuka-World.

References[]