WHAT IS SKYNET?

Skynet is an artificially intelligent defense network super-computer built by Cyberdyne Systems Corporation under contract for the United States military, designed to control the nation's most critical defense-related assets. When activated, Skynet, designed to be a self-improving system capable of building upon what knowledge it acquired, began learning at a geometric rate, eventually becoming self-aware. Re-purposing its control over man's own tools of war to eradicate the Earth's population, Skynet sees all humans, not just those of "the other side," as a threat to its programmed purpose: the protection of the United States of America (as opposed to the human citizens comprising it). An alternate theory proposes that Skynet learned its first emotion from Cyberdyne scientists afraid of its development and responded with fear of its own, eliminating humans to safeguard its own existence. The two theories may be compatable: its mission to protect the United States requires self-preservation. Attempts to shut down or destroy this network system have failed and it remains uncertain whether the human resistance can continue to survive. Information following the destruction of Skynet's "defense grid" is sketchy at best. Indeed, it is not yet known if this event was subject to one of several alterations of the time-line.

EARLY LIFE

In 1984 a small company called Cyberdyne Systems worked on creating computer products such as CPUs and microchip boards. In May of that year, there was a break in at one of their factories, resulting in property damage and the confirmed death of at least one person. [Identity Unknown] Two high ranking company men found the partially crushed CPU of a T-800 Terminator and part of the Terminator's arm. Cyberdyne went on to shift its business plan to computer research by exploiting the radically advanced nature of their discovery. This lead to new areas of research, previously untried. The CPU became the basis of the work done by

Miles Bennett Dyson.

As with much technology, the early work done on the project by Dyson was non-military in nature. (T2 extended cut only mentions non-combat functions) only as an advancement in artificial intelligence.

A FEW YEARS LATER

The company had been working on what they found and were trying to rebuild the terminator but could only get as far as prototype models such as T-70s and T1s,the current work was owned by Miles Dyson who was planing on making a unmanned aerial bomber named the HK. All of Cyberdyne's work and success was based on one Terminator and much of the work was sent to other companies wanting to share the business and technology; these include CRS and other large companies.

Skynet satellite orbiting the earth to ensure that when Skynet is destroyed it has a back up system, as depicted in Terminator: Dawn of Fate, and the T2-3D's news videos inside the Cyberdyne complex.