This article is about the project. For the concert story, see Project YoRHa (Concert Story). For the archives, see (Top Secret) Project YoRHa and (Top Secret) YoRHa Disposal.

Project YoRHa was a project by the Army of Humanity launched to raise android morale in face of the alien invasion after the extinction of humanity, who the androids were meant to serve.^[1]

Overview

Devised by the android army's Chief of Research and Development, Zinnia, the project consisted of fabricating a lie that the last of humanity survived and moved to the moon, where they organized themselves into an organization called the Council of Humanity.^[2][3] An elite model line of combat androids called YoRHa were developed to keep up the illusion that humanity had sent them, and that only through their Commander could the human council supposedly be reached.

These combat androids were meant to be rendered obsolete once the war against the machines was over and peace was achieved, hence their fusion reactors, the black boxes, were harvested from old machine cores rather than using standard android AI.^[4] There was also a backdoor intentionally installed in their headquarters, the Bunker, for the machine lifeforms to exploit and annihilate them.^[5]

Project Outline

Project YoRHa was a comprehensive information project intended to enhance android morale. An overview of its details was only accessible to those with Level-S confidentiality clearance,^[1] such as Commander White, while its true purpose was only accessible by those with Level-SS confidentiality clearance,^[5] such as the Pods.^[6]

Council of Humanity

Following the collapse of Project Gestalt in 3470 CE, the remaining androids searched for a way to revive humanity, but they were unable to do so and humans went extinct by 4198 CE.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

In the face of humanity's extinction, Devola and Popola model androids salvaged the remaining data of Project Gestalt—the genes of Gestalts and structural information of the remaining Replicants—and launched it to a storage facility on the moon as a last ditch effort to save humanity.^[12]

The Devola and Popola model line, blamed for the failure of Project Gestalt, were discontinued and mostly disposed of, with the remaining models having their memories erased of humanity's extinction in order to hide the truth. Most androids built after 4198 CE were not aware of the name of Project Gestalt or that humanity went extinct, yet it still became convention to persecute Devola and Popola models.^[13][14]

However, despite the news of humanity's extinction being a closely guarded secret, rumors of the event eventually began to leak out. Having lost the one thing which they were programmed to protect, android morale began a precipitous decline. Concerned by this turn of events, Command designed Project YoRHa, devised by the army's Chief of Research and Development, Zinnia, as a means to lift android spirits.

The first stage of the project was spreading the word among Resistance groups that humanity was not extinct—and that the last remaining remnants had managed to escape to the moon. This deception was supported by installing a communications server on the Lunar Base previously used for storage to send regular fake transmissions with a synthesized AI voice. Said server was designed to be manned by as few maintenance personnel as possible, delegated to Pod 006 and later YoRHa unit 10H, albeit unknowingly. Sometime between 11928 and 11937,^{[11][Note 1]} the Council of Humanity went into effect and announced itself to androids on Earth.^[2] The Council assumed command of the Army of Humanity at an unknown date thereafter.^[15]

Establishment of the YoRHa Squadron

With the Lab's creation of black boxes in 11928, Zinnia then proposed a dramatic alteration of the Next Generation Combat Unit Project: YoRHa.^[16][17] These new elite "YoRHa" combat models, equipped with these black boxes harvested from machine cores, would turn the tide of the war while preserving the illusion that humanity is alive and sending support. A new 13th orbital base, the Bunker, would be built as YoRHa's headquarters and would be publicly treated as the sole means of communication between the androids on Earth and the fake human council.^[18]

The implementation of these models was approved in 11932 and YoRHa models began to be manufactured,^[11] with them being stationed on the Lab for monitoring and developmental purposes.^[19] Numerous prototype models were constructed, including No.2, No.4, No.9, and No.21.^[20]

Due to them possessing machine cores, the new YoRHa models were not to be treated as legitimate androids and were not allowed to receive "human" names given in recognition of any significant service to the war effort.^[2][4] They were also prohibited from exhibiting emotions as a means of preventing them from acting like the "venerable" humanity.^[15]

Disposal of YoRHa

In July of 11937, No.9 discovered the existence of Project YoRHa and the truth about black boxes after restoring deleted files. He became furious and, within a few dozen hours, rigged the Lab facility with incendiaries and began to murder members of the crew. The attack resulted in the destruction of the YoRHa prototypes and damage to the orbital base.^[11][20]

However, prior to the event, though No.9 loathed being made with machine cores, he saw value in Zinnia's plan and decided to make it even more complete by installing a backdoor into the Bunker that would allow the machine lifeforms to destroy both the Bunker and YoRHa to prevent the secret of humanity from ever getting out. All materials regarding the YoRHa project would be lost and falsification of the information that mankind still resided on the moon would be complete, thus creating an eternal "god" that would forever maintain android morale on Earth. The backdoor of the Bunker was set to open once the time came to switch to next generation models when enough combat data had been collected. No.9 officially named the plan Project YoRHa.^[5][21]

Upon the Lab's destruction, including Zinnia and the YoRHa prototype model line, plans for the Bunker's construction, YoRHa-type androids design schematics and prototype personality data, and orders for their automated production were sent to the server on the moon.^[21] By August 2, the first official YoRHa model was constructed and sent to Earth.^[11] Official models were created following the implementation of data acquired from the experimental squadron, and were then deployed to all regions. Certain members of the YoRHa operations staff, however, were informed of the full scope of the project, and these units were tasked to operate and protect the server on the moon.^[1]

After the results of the Pearl Harbor Descent Operation, YoRHa Type A No.2's personality data, said to have possessed excellent analytical and decision-making skills in extreme circumstances, was incorporated into the new generation of Type E models to safeguard the security of Project YoRHa. This led into the creation of YoRHa No.2 Type E (2E).^[13][22]

Project Failure

In January of 11942, YoRHa androids 2E and 9S were manufactured.^[23][24] Being a high-end model, it was determined that 9S had a higher risk of uncovering confidential data such as that related to Project YoRHa.

As a result, 2E, under the guise of "2B" so as to not arouse suspicion, was assigned to monitor and execute 9S should such an event occur,^{[15][25][26][27][28]} after which a "blank" type nine personality would be uploaded into a new body with no memory of Type E models. Over the next 3 years, by March of 11945, 48 occurrences of contact had occurred as part of this cycle.^[23]

In June of 11945,^[29] YoRHa unit 10H, who had been assigned to the lunar server alongside Pod 006, repeatedly discovered the truth about Project YoRHa before being killed and rebooted 46 times.^[30] During this time, 9S illegally accessed the YoRHa main server again and uncovered an index called Project YoRHa. Instead of having him executed, Commander White gave 9S a chip with an overview on Project YoRHa and the Council of Humanity, allowing him to discover humanity's extinction before telling him that everyone needs a reason to fight and a "god" worth dying for. She instructed him to determine his own path as she departed.

After the deaths of Adam and Eve, on June 26, 11945, YoRHa launched an all-out assault on the remaining machine lifeforms on Earth. However, both infantry units inland as well as in the Bunker—including Commander White, 2B, and most YoRHa units—perished due to machines finally exploiting the Bunker's hidden backdoor and releasing a large scale Logic Virus outbreak. This caused the Bunker to collapse, as per Project YoRHa's design.^[31]

However, the machine network's ego, the Red Girls, had also uncovered Project YoRHa's secret and divulged it to 9S, who underwent a mental breakdown upon learning that YoRHa was doomed from its conception, resulting in both him and A2 killing each other.

With the deaths of the remaining YoRHa members and all black box signals lost, the Pod system, who were entrusted with the highest level of clearance concerning Project YoRHa, were to act as "final exterminators" and delete all YoRHa android-related data, including personal data and chassis composition data, as well as reset the YoRHa server. Doing this, they would also destroy chassis construction unit of transfer devices which would prevent the construction of any new YoRHa androids.^[6] However, Pod 042 and 153 reconstructed units 2B, 9S, and A2 in refusal to comply with Project YoRHa and the Pod network.^[32]

Besides the reconstructed YoRHa units, Project YoRHa ultimately fails when Jackass of the Resistance uncovered the machine network's archives of Project YoRHa from the remains of the Tower. This led to all androids learning the truth of humanity's extinction, as well as Jackass swearing vengeance on those involved in the project's formation.^[33]

Notes

References