The Kesslinger Intelligent Operating System, or KIOS for short, is Abwehr's answer to an Artificially created intelligence to be used in certain vessels and facilities. Designed around the concept an insect on Abwehr known as Kanks, the KIOS has varying levels of intelligence in the form of two tiers.

Though each tier can be networked into a together heirarchy, the KIOS is essentially a stand alone operating system. The networking option just allows a group of facilities and vessels to concentrate their processing abilities to increase speed and power. Further more, if the KIOS is used on a space vessel, each system can be cut off from the system when needed. This is specifically needed for times when the system is hostily invaded by hackers or viri.

Artificial Intelligence Models, or AIMs, are the highest tier of the KIOS command chain. Able to think more for themselves than the lower tier, they can normally be found in majority government facilities and starships.

But even AIMs are divided into two groups.

Smart AIMS (SAIMs) are consider 'smart' because of one simple factor. They are self-learning artificially created intelligences that are able to program responses based on their surrounding environment. Considered the most powerful of the AIMs, Smart AIMs are the smallest group in the upper tier because of this.

Because of their abilities, SAIMs are also placed into highly-guarded and important facilities. The first two SAIMs in existance were designed in 259 AF. The first is the prototype design, Helga, that is located in Nachrichtendienst Headquarters under tight security and is relatively unknown to the public at large. The second SAIM and the one actually unveiled to the public recently is called Brunhilde and is located in the Abwehran Armed Forces (AAF) Headquarters. Brunhilde is set to become the Armed Forces operating system for their main computer.

The lowest group of the AIM tier, Program AIMs (PAIMs) are artificially created intelligences that are fully programmed by experienced coders and designers rather than by a self-learning function. Because of this, they are more trusted to be used on warship rather than SAIMs.

Captains of vessels may chose whatever customizations they want on a PAIM within certain restrictions placed by their superiors. One of the more common customizations available is a PAIM's personality program. This allows a vessels captain to chose a personality which complements their command style.

Virtual Intelligence Models (VIMs) are only different from their upper tier counterparts in one factor, computing potential. In every respect, VIMs are less powerful PAIMs and are normally specialized in their duties.

A VIM specifically designed to work with a Heavy Weapons Specialist Marine when using Power Armor, an AVIM is personally assigned to and customized to individual Marines so that both OS and Operator work as one in order to execute orders and survive.

A Virtual Intelligence Model dedicated to the control of individual robotic creations ranging from construction drones to recon drones to even combat drones, the DVIM is normally tied to a vessel's PAIM rather than an independent VIM that sometimes networks with an upper tier KIOS. Because of this, they are often limited in intelligence to that of hive-mind workers.

A Missile VIM (MVIM) is a guidance control operating system responsible for piloting a missile directly towards a target indicated by its mothership's PAIM. Many think giving a missile a virtual intelligence is not cost effective, but the military believes doing this will increase accuracy even under Electronic Warfare conditions.

The main operating system of strike craft, this basically gives pilots an intelligent partner to aid them in combat. It can also be seen as giving pilots and extra set of eyes in dangerous combat situations.

A SCVIM is a dedicated support program that is responsible for inventory of supplies, reading data from both fighter sensors and mothership sensors to identify threats, and the health and well-being of their pilot. If a pilot's life is in any form of danger, their priority is to save it in anyway possible. This can range from simply warning a pilot of danger to even ejecting the pilot of a vessel in times of extreme peril.