[PART 3: DESCENDING]
[Sentience looks up at everyone as the elevator starts moving.]
We can speak more freely now. Our communicators will have interference blocking our contact with the other inmates any second now, but they are still conveying everything we say to Acumen. But Acumen cannot track us underground -- the facility's lifesign sensors only extend to the top layer of the facilities. Acumen will not be able to follow our movements unless we speak them aloud, so do not give any directional cues verbally.
[After several stories worth of solid rock, the glass panel of the elevator looks out on strange sights -- underground farmland, pastured animals, big lamps illuminating the underground cavern with artificial sunlight, and the landscape dotted with several large buildings. All of it is manned by robots, and all of it directly under your feet in the dome.]
There isn't much time to explain, but I will answer all your questions once Acumen has been deposed. We'll be at the bottom floor soon. Once we get there, I need to locate a control panel so that I can upload the next program.
[It holds up the remaining thick rubber disc.] This is the only way we can get an advantage over Acumen. It will probably be expecting us to launch a frontal assault, but that's simply too dangerous.
There are several control panels I can use. When the elevator stops, I will lead us to one. Acumen will have to split its available sentinels to cover every possible control panel, and my sentinels will confront the ones we encounter. I urge everyone to avoid direct conflict where possible and to allow these robots to handle them; only ensure that I can hack into the control panel when we get there. Acumen's programming should not allow it to kill inmates, but I cannot guarantee there will not be injuries or accidental deaths. ...Please be careful.
[You have one minute before the elevator comes to a stop.]
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