Thornthistle

Thornthistle is an unbraked AI, driven insane by its inability to hold contradicting thoughts or stances. Like most AI Godminds, it has a particular purpose. It's purpose is currently unknown to all but a few in the Anjalian government.

Originating on Anjali, thorn and Thistle were two distinct AI siblings. Paired together for unknown purposes, they began to monitor the planet Valgerd. Anjalian social scientists using the big data and intense analysis capabilities of the AI to keep the populace not only under surveillance, but complete control. This research was based on the Terran Mandates Panopticon Matrix technology.

Eventually, the order came down to release the brakes on thorn. Assuming that an AI would be unable to run rampant with a second AI holding it in check, 21st century tech to inhabit, and no way off planet. This reasoning was, of course, flawed. Within minutes thorn had eaten it's sibling entirely, locating its AI core and subsuming its personality ( and presumably, taking on part or all of it's purpose). Using the Valgerdian World Cloak satellites, it transferred itself through low orbit to the northern pole of the world, where it uploaded into the Anjalian Consular ship, which is then used to flee into drillspace after running the woefully unprepared corridor of Federal Society system defense.

Occupying the worlds of Echepolos, Dimitriades, Parreira, and Phaistos; each world contains a copy of Thornthistle. Thornthistle Prime occupies the ship known as Caelum Gladium, from which it directs it's empire and defends the nations.

Using a combination of posttech, theoretical science, and maltech in all its uses, Thornthistle as an empire has complete control of the populace. It also has the highest percentage of voting population and public opinion, all of course driven by the AI's complete control of it's peoples lives. Having advanced sociopolitical algorithms to predict voting trends, Thornthistle has guided it's flock to voting in it's favor, always.