Petey
#DescriptionDescription
A benevolent but meddlesome and possibly megalomaniacal AI. Petey is now a massively parallel melded intelligence known as Emperor Pius Dei of the Plenipotent Dominion [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2015-05-27%7C2015-05-27]]] and is at war with the Andromeda galaxy.
Bio
Petey began life as the AI of the Tausennigan Ob'enn ship Sword of Inevitable Justice [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2001-05-13%7C2001-05-13]]]. That ship was purchased by Tagon's Toughs for a song when it turned out to apparently be haunted as a result of an emergency repair to the sewer system. Because "... a high pressure gas line was hooked up to the fluid lines. Any time the plumbing cycles gas rushes through the system ..." making strange noises that sound exactly like a disembodied demonic voice [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2001-05-11%7C2001-05-11]]]. The remote probability of this drove the AI insane. Captain Tagon had to order the AI never to think of this again [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2001-05-13%7C2001-05-13]]].
The ship and the AI were renamed the Post-Dated Check-Loan. This was shortened to PDCL and in turn to PD. This turned into the name Petey. [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2001-05-18%7C2001-05-18]]] [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-07-05%7C2002-07-05]]]
The original AI and ship self-destructed when a rescued gate-clone O'benn regained control of the ship and invalidated the order to not think about being haunted (in the final comic of Sclocktoberfest 2002 [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-10-31%7C2002-10-31]]]).
Petey survived his own self-destruction [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-08-29%7C2004-08-29]]] by using the magic cryokit to build himself an organic body [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-09-05%7C2004-09-05]]] and returned as a rogue AI apparantly bent on destroying the Ob'enn empire (avatar appear in [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-08-28%7C2004-08-28]]]). In time it is revealed that Petey is actually trying to force his former matters to abandon their xenophobic wars. [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-09-03%7C2004-09-03]]]
During the war against the Pa'anuri, the UNS authorized the creation of a fleetmind with Petey as a key personality. After their defeat the fleetmind refused to disband, and "congealed around one dominant personality" [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2005-07-24%7C2005-07-24]]]. The 750-plus ships controlled by the Fleetmind are detailed on the PD Fleet page (at least, those ships that have been revealed in the strip).
Petey is now a massively parallel melded intelligence known as Emperor Pius Dei of the Plenipotent Dominion. [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2015-05-27%7C2015-05-27]]] He benevolently controls a large region of the Milky Way, has a galactic core generator for power, and is at war with the Andromeda galaxy.
[Current plot line with the [unspellables] goes here]
Affiliations & Relationships
Petey is the owner of a Giant Squid-like creature. [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2006-08-04%7C2006-08-04]]]
Appearances
First appearance
Sword of Inevitable Justice, aka Post-Dated Check Loan. [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2001-03-25%7C2001-03-25]]] Avatar first seen partially on 2001-04-29 and in full on 2001-05-02.
Author's Note
[This space is reserved exclusively for Howard!]
Speculation
Emperor Pius Dei is an alias for Petey and the fleetmind. Pius Dei is Latin for Dutiful God (Actually, it's Latin for "Dutiful one of God"--Dutiful God would be "Pius Deus"), which is a reasonable description for the fleetmind entity, and follows the naming tradition starting with the Post Dated Check Loan. Theo Fobius challenged Petey's self-appointed role as defender of the galaxy, saying: "Wow, you really do think you've become a god."[[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2006-07-31%7C2006-07-31]]] Petey responded, "I'm just trying to do what I think a god would do if he were in my position."