Militaire Automatisé Tactique Évaluation et Réponse

MATER III (Militaire Automatisé Tactique Évaluation et Réponse) is a purpose-built supercomputer at a secret location in New Rome. It, or she as Mater is sometimes called (since its primary interface is speech-based, with a cold, vaguely female voice), is effectively the command and control mechanism through which the Imperial High Command controls Pantocratoria's military. Her specifications are top secret, as are the algorithms which power her decision matrix. Mater is the only source of the Imperial High Command's information, and the only channel through which it issues orders.

Most military men are suspicious of Mater, and have a variety of rude names for her. More serious minded military critics have concerns about the information which is put into Mater for processing to assist the Imperial High Command - some have suggested that political concerns are given an undue influence on military decisions, expressing concern that Mater may withhold information from the Imperial High Command based on political concerns, or may even deliberately mislead the High Command. Some have gone so far as to suggest that Mater disregards the Imperial High Command's decisions when she deems it necessary, and issues her own orders. These suspicions are perhaps to be expected from tradition-minded military men who don't understand advanced technology, and are exacerbated by the secretive nature of the Imperial High Command.