View source for Defense Research Initiative

The '''Defense Research Initiative (DRI)''' of the [[Free Market Block]] was a blended public/private organization in the military-industrial complex of the Free Market Block, from its inception in 1993 through to its dissolution following the [[Cairo Trials]]. In practice, it could best be thought of as an analogue to the [[OEPU]] [[Special Research Force]], in the sense of being an organization for military research and development.

The DRI is best known for its own [[Project Opus]], initiated under its last director, [[Jessop Vale]]. The project was an attempt to create a next-generation [[Lorica]] command and control system by integrating human neural tissue with the electronics and computer systems used in controlling the robots. While viewed by some as a material success, the program was highly unethical, making use of captured POWs as a large part of the test subject base. For this reason, it was found at the [[Cairo Trials]] that the DRI was deeply corrupt from first principles, and part of the judgement was that the FMB would have to dissolve it.

Ironically, the Project Opus work-products lead to the creation of the [[Neural Prosthesis Paradigm]] standards and also resulted in the standardization of the (now-illegal) [[Lorica-N Cockpit]]. Project Opus survivors, like the [[Ghost Company]], have even been grandfathered in under certain legislation to allow parts for their suits to continue to be manufactured.