Core
Biographical information
User	None
Compile Date	Various
Status	Active
Physical description
Circuitry Color	Yellow-orange
Description	Regular program appearance
Other information
Functions	Control, security, and structure for the Arq Grid.
Equipment	Identity Discs Swords Hammers Core Tank Traps
Vehicles	Core Light Cycle Core APC Core Tank Core Light Jet
Allies	Spart Automata
Out of universe information
Appearances	TRON: Identity TRON: Catalyst
Gallery

Core is the governing faction of the Arq Grid. The faction was formed hundreds of cycles ago to provide security and structure to all major cities of the Grid, with the government of the Grid having ceded significant control to the faction.^[1] Core has been present for many historical events throughout the Arq Grid's history. Considered to be a pragmatic ruling elite, they allow the population a certain degree of freedom, in exchange for protection and the rule of law.^[2] The leaders of Core are unknown.^[1]

History

Founding

Little is known about the early history or founding of Core. The faction has existed for hundreds of cycles and has been present for many of the Arq Grid's historical events. At some point, Core took control of the Null Refinery. There, they took the names of several programs of some power associated with Reset, including the Refinery's admins.^[3]

Adjunct War

Main article: Adjunct War

Core participated in the Adjunct War, a conflict involving Core attempting to take control of Arq Grid facilities and being fought back by rebels.^[4] The war is said to have involved a hundred disc wars.

The Great Drought

At an unknown date, an event known as the Great Drought occurred in the Arq Grid, which was presumably a significant drought of energy. In response, Core began to collect and refine more energy than the Grid needed. They began storing some energy in the Core Repository over the last few hundred cycles, taking pride in their ability to preserve it.^[5]

The Repository

Main article: The Repository

At some point, Core established a large building known as the Core Repository in its own district in the center of Vertical Slice. The building was built by Core to serve as a data archive of the history of the Arq Grid and its hundreds of cycles, as well as a secure place for information thought to be too dangerous for public knowledge. As a result of the Great Drought, Core began to store energy in the Repository over the last few hundred cycles.^[5] Prinz served as the administrator of the Repository. He had once been a student of the previous administrator, whom he later derezzed.^[6]

TRON: Identity

In 2023,^[7] the Repository was suddenly broken into. Query, a Disciple of Tron, was summoned by Prinz to investigate its mystery. That night, Query met the Repository's workers, including Grish and Ada. Later, while defragmenting Cass' Identity Disc, the two discovered that the Grid was soon to end in about 300 cycles, according to Cass' estimation.^[8]

TRON: Catalyst

Following Query's investigation, Core demolished the Repository.^[1][9] Rumors began to circulate regarding the Arq Grid's fate, with the demolition of the Repository being seen as an attempt to cover up events.^[10] Sierra, now the elected leader of the Automata, commissioned the development of the embassy in the north east end of Vertical Slice, built by Automata architect Sum, where the Repository once stood. As a result of the Automata's growing influence, as well as the resistance group Reset, Core has increased its presence across the Arq Grid, keeping a closer eye on programs. Core banned Light Cycle for all programs, leading to a Light Cycle black market forming on the rooftops of Vertical Slice. Since the events at the Repository, Core has recaptured Cass multiple times, due to them fearing their knowledge and powers.^[3]

Diplomatic Relations

Upon arriving at the Automata Embassy, Exo meets with embassy tour guide Kiya in the Embassy Offices, asking for help to escape the city. Noting that she is merely a tour guide, Kiya refers her to the embassy's ambassador, Spart, but that first, Spart will need Exo to steal Core's access codes for her.^[3]

Escape Velocity

After stealing Core's access codes and escaping their pursuit, Exo returns to Kiya in the embassy and gives her the stolen access codes. In return, Kiya modifies code in Exo's Identity Disc to grant her access to the top floor of the embassy, where she can find Spart.^[3]

The Emissary

Before meeting Spart, Exo confronts a Core officer named Mo at the embassy, leading a manhunt for her. Exo eventually defeats Mo and his squad, and reaches the top floor of the embassy. However, Exo is shocked to see Spart talking to Conn, her Core guard, who has turned her over to him as a means of protecting the Automata, with the two forming an alliance.^[3]

Call Of The Wild

7.9 centicycles after catalyst: After escaping Tacitus' Stronghold, Exo traveled through Yori Valley on a Light Jet and crashed landed in the Unloading sector of the Null Refinery. She later stumbles upon a Core Officer named Bost talking to PROG73, who stole blueprints from him.^[3]

Informal Enquiries

PROG73 tells Exo that Core has been difficult since taking control of the Refinery, urging her to help take back the blueprints, to which Exo agrees.^[3]

Lost And Found

After she derezzed Bost, Exo gives the blueprints to PROG73, who thanks her.^[3]

Trapped In A Loop

Upon arriving at the docks in the Outlands, Sierra and Spectre were derezzed by Conn with his squad of Core officers while Exo watches. Failing to talk Conn out of his scheme, Exo is derezzed by him as well, beginning another time loop.^[3]

Reset

After another time loop caused by Conn derezzing her, Exo had to regather her allies once more before confronting Conn. Seeking Vega's assistance, he first asks her to assist a Reset squad in retaking control of the Null Refinery from Core, and should she be successful, he would help her in the Outlands. He gives her a Reset password, "Artemis," for her to say to the squad.^[3]

A Switch In Time

Inside the Tributary of the Refinery, Switch, a Reset squad leader, on their way to retake the Null Refinery, encounters Exo. Exo says the password to them given by Vega. Switch realizes that Exo is one of Vega's allies, and introduces themself to Exo. Surprised by the squad consisting of three people, Exo agrees to infiltrate the Core facility.^[3]

Master Control

Switch, Exo, and the squad reach the central console of the Control Nexus after defeating a Core division. Switch gives a voice broadcast to the Core facility, saying Reset has full control of the Refinery and will return what was stolen from innocent programs. They tell the Refinery that the Grid belongs to the programs. Oracle locks this outcome for Exo, and Switch thanks Exo for her assistance.^[3]

Environmental Storytelling

After obtaining data fragments left by a female DoT investigator and deputy of Query's in the park in Vertical Slice, Exo eventually discovers that she was derezzed by a Core officer named Proto in the Apartments while attempting to leave a message for Query, revealing Cass’ location to him. Proto is defeated and derezzed by Exo, who then discovers the deputy's final message, which revealed to Query that Cass was being taken by Core officers to the Null Refinery.^[3]

Insufficient Data

After conversing with Exo, Cresc reveals to her that she helped refuel the Core soldiers' Light Jet, with Cass among them. She also tells her to be careful around Cass, due to their tendency to explode.^[3]

Repeat Offender

In Tacitus' Stronghold, Exo confronts Tacitus, who considers Cass to be a nuisance due to their ability to explode. Not wanting to deal with them anymore, Tacitus lets Exo take the elevator down to Cass's cell. Upon arriving at the floor, Exo defeats several Core officers and activates three terminals to unlock Cass's room.^[3]

Prophetic

Exo tells Cass that Oracle can secure specific outcomes, including their freedom from Core, even when she travels back in time. They also mention that Light Jets are available in the Hangar for Cass to escape. Cass thanks Exo, and asks her to tell Query not to worry about them, though they are aware of his concern.^[3]

End Of Line

At Communication Tower Omega in the Outlands, Exo arrives to meet with her allies upon defeating Conn and his squad, pondering how Conn was able to protect himself from being instantly derezzed, with Horii suggesting he stole Automata technology. Sierra, however, believed Spart willingly gave Core this technology, feeling that she knew better than to trust Core.^[3]

Known Members

• Grish: A security program in charge of guarding the Repository in Vertical Slice, its staff, and the secrets contained within, until the building was demolished.
• Prinz: The administrator of the Repository in Vertical Slice until it was demolished.
• Ada: The Repository's archivist and librarian when the building was active.
• Conn: A Core Guard assigned to Exo after she was exposed to Oracle's glitch catalyst. He was derezzed by her in the Outlands.
• Miksa: An Arena Guard assigned to guard the entrance of the Training Dojo in Arena 4A along with Kal.
• Kal: An Arena Guard assigned to guard the entrance of the Training Dojo in Arena 4A along with Miksa.
• Dual: An Arena Guard who welcomed Exo to the VIP area in Arena 4A after she won in the games.
• Dasid: An Arena Guard in the VIP area of Arena 4A who told Exo to "mingle" with other programs while there.
• Suli: An Arena Guard who who was stationed in the Control Room in the Secure Control area of Arena 4A. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Qwert: An Arena Guard who fought Exo with a squad in the Main Games Grid in Arena 4A. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Kovsky: A Core Officer at the entrance of Vertical Slice.
• Estir: A Core Soldier who guards the entrance of the Core Base in Vertical Slice. They give several missions to Exo and rewards her with a tag that shows she's a Core recruit.
• Hertz: A Core Guard who confronted a program outside of the Arq Grid's reconstruction of Flynn's Arcade in the mission "One Bad Apple." He was derezzed by Exo.
• Zag: A Core Soldier who pursues Exo during the "Grand Theft Cycle" mission. Exo used them as a way to lure Onyx.
• Secta: A Core Soldier in the Core Base in Vertical Slice who recognized Exo as the program who escaped Arena 4A. She was derezzed by Exo.
• Boid: A Core Officer who protected the terminal containing access codes in the Core Base in Vertical Slice during the "Weak Spot" mission. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Mo: A Core Officer leading the search for Exo in the Automata Embassy during "The Emissary" mission. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Tacitus: Conn’s superior and a scientist at Core. He imprisons and experiments on programs to develop powerful soldiers.
• Plen: A Core Soldier operating a terminal in Tactius' Stronghold.
• Flac: A Core Soldier who ordered Exo to the Induction Chamber of Tactius' Stronghold.
• Tamro: A Core Soldier who ordered Exo to "get moving" on her way to the Induction Chamber of Tactius' Stronghold.
• Nort: A Core Soldier who asked fellow soldier Amssart what happens to code extracted in Asset Induction of Tactius' Stronghold.
• Amssart: A Core Soldier who told fellow soldier Nort that it is not their place to ask what happens to code extracted during Asset Induction in Tactius' Stronghold.
• Terss: A Core Officer who ordered Exo to step into the Induction Chamber of Tactius' Stronghold. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Moto: A program who generated the same face as Tacitus, he works in the basement of Tacitus' Stronghold, repairing programs harmed by his "brother's" experiments.
• Samin: A Core Sergeant who guarded Horii's cell in Tactius' Stronghold.
• Talian: A Core Soldier operating a terminal in Landing I/O in Tactius' Stronghold.
• Enzer: A Superior Guard and composite program in Tactius' Stronghold. He was created from code throughout the Grid. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Bost: A Core Officer who interrogated PROG73 in the Null Refinery and stole his blueprints. He was derezzed in a previous time loop by Exo.
• Pseu: A Core Officer in the Terminal Bar who ordered Exo to drop her disc on the ground, to which she refused, beginning a fight between her and his squad. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Proto: A Core Officer who confronted and derezzed an unnamed female deputy of Query's in the Apartments of Vertical Slice while she attempted to leave a message for Query, revealing Cass’ location. He was derezzed by Exo.
• Horii (formerly): A guard who was dismissed from Core after showing compassion toward Cass, a prisoner under his watch, by giving them an old set of his armor to keep them warm.^[11] He became an ally of Exo's.

General information

Appearance

Core programs possess yellow-orange circuitry, apparel, and weaponry wearing black or gray Light Suits. Most Core programs appear like normal programs, though Core Officers and Core Sergeants appear to be taller and bulkier than the average program. Some of their Light Suits look sleek, while others possess more bulky suits with armor.

Personality and traits

Core is controlling and authoritarian in its operation. They value the rule of the strong over the weak, pitting the strongest programs of the Grid to compete in games at Arena 4A. Core establishes control and hierarchy in even the smallest of ways.^[12] Innovation and knowledge are feared by Core, due to its desire for full societal harmony, leading to them building the Core Repository to store data away from the public.^[2] This has led them to be in conflict with the Automata, due to their progressive technology and free thinking. Core facilities tend to be "cold and uncaring."^[13] Core scientists and Superior Guard tend to be uncaring and cruel, patrolling the Grid with an authoritarian bent. Superiors are created using code from programs throughout the Grid into composite soldiers.

Skills and abilities

Core employs various types of soldiers and weapons. Types of Core members include Core Superior, Core Officer, Core Sergeant, Arena Guard, and Core Soldier.

• Core Superiors typically wield Identity Discs and are Masters of close-up Disc combat in a chaotic, fast and wildly dangerous way. And can detect disguises. they drop the Recombined Modifier.
• Core Soldiers typically wield Light Swords the standard issue for Core soldiers, swords provide good mid-range melee opportunity, with minimal risk to infrastructure. A clean weapon. They do not fight with Discs. They drop the Slicer Modifier.
• Core Arena Guard wore a different outfit compared to Soldiers but featured the same weapon loadout and skillset.
• Core Sergeants are the more senior amongst Core, just a rank lower than officers, commonly seen leading groups of soldiers. They typically wield hammers entrusted only to them; they do not fight with Discs. They drop the Concussion Modifier.
• Core officers are focused fighters entrusted with the authority to command large formations of troops or facilities. They do not use weapons and instead relying on their Identity Disc to fight traditionally. They are dangerous up close, but prefer to hang back, striking at range. They drop the Executive Modifier.

Core has developed a variety of proprietary vehicles, such as APCs, Light Cycles, Light Jets, and Tanks.^[3]

TRON: Identity Codex

Imposing Building

Core is, for the most part, a pragmatic ruling elite. They allow the population a degree of comfort and freedom, in exchange for protection and the rule of law. There is only one thing Core fears: Information.

Knowledge of the Users, innovation of new code and new praxis, and even programs themselves, are looked upon with caution by Core, in its search for full societal harmony. Anything that poses a threat is placed in the Repository, a secure place for storing secrets and ideas too dangerous to be out in public.

The smoke cloud billowing from the Repository tonight implies security may not be quite as strong as it once was, and at the very least, someone on the outside might have an explosive interest in its contents.

Energy Falls

Following The Great Drought, Core takes great pride in its ability to collect and refine more energy than The Grid needs. These energy falls ostentatiously celebrate the enormous resources consolidated by Core in the last few hundred cycles.

Energy flows form the top of the Repository, via the Library, to the lobby and back again in a cycle representing Core's hierarchical superiority, via data management, over the population of the Arq server. Such grand architectural statements irritate you. They obfuscate and clumsily attempt to distract from more complex truths.

TRON: Catalyst Codex

CORE

It is an inevitability of any complex system that those within it will eventually call for organization out of chaos. The Arq Grid's complex democratic republic has, like many User governments throughout history, proven susceptible to the allure of control. Core have taken on that role, and built on it over many hundreds of cycles.

Providing security and structure to all the major cities of the Grid, Core have always struck a balance between control and a veneer of freedom for the populace. Most programs do not think about their presence, or the slow diminishing of individual rights which they represent. The republic feels safe, and therefore happy.

A few recent events have pushed Core to a tighter control over the Grid. The demolition of the Repository, a great record of history, took place under mysterious circumstances. Automata's greater encroachment in mainstream society has also unsettled them.

It is unclear what will happen next, but programs are beginning to feel the pressure rise. Core's unknown leaders seem to have larger objectives in mind.

Trivia

• Core is possibly named after a “core” in computing, which refers to an individual processing unit within a central processing unit (CPU) responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations.^[14]
• Core made their first appearance in Tron Identity, with two soldiers pursuing a rogue ISO on a light Cycle

References