I'm inclined to agree with Tytanya the most here so far. The machines are in an undisputed position of power, they have the real world resources to do whatever they want and they can changes the rules of the Matrix as they see fit. The more interesting question is their motivation in keeping humanity, and by all appearances they are indeed interested in keeping humanity. The machines are certainly more hostile then they started out with, but all through their evolution they have demonstrated a measure of innocence and peacfulness. B1-66ER was almost certainly not the first sentient robot, he was only the first one to be pushed into a situation of violence. Likewise 01 started out as a city of commerce, not a fortress. You might argue that they have lost that ability due to years of hostility, but I think not. They have not entierly lost their interest in serving the better interests of humans as they were origionally intended to do, and so too I suspect they have not entierly lost their desire for peace. That more than anything seems like a reason to uphold the truce.
As for serving humans, after the war instead of wiping their foes off the face of the planet, they were curious about their creators and tried to find out what made them tick. Using humans as power seems like an excuse more then anything, there are pleny of alternatives to solar power and that would be the least obvious one to pick. They devised a heaven for them in the Matrix, and after that was rejected they tested to see if hell was better suited. Eventually they gave humans back their civilization and pretty much left them alone with certain restrictions in place. If they had wanted to make themselves be litteral gods to humanity in the Matrix, that could have been easily done that instead.
The Machines seem to want the truce to survive and are willing to give a great deal of leeway to how the rules are enforced. If they were looking for an excuse to simply crush Zion again they could have justified it already, but they seem to be keeping with the spirit of their agreement more then simply the rules of it. The introduction of Agent Pace as a more human friendly resource seems to be a shift in their attitudes with how to approach humanity, and she says she was implemented at humanity's request, meaning they aren't turning a blind ear to their opperatives.
I'd argue that the truce is a real truce and shouldn't be dismissed lightly by either side. Just because the humans were not capable of winning the war in the past doesn't make it any less significat that hostilities have stopped. The machines had the the upper hand then, but they still had to devote resources to weapons (sentinals) and they had to gaurd 01 against any new human weapons (EMP), so it wasn't entierly one sided. Yes the machines still hold the upper hand, and yes the truce was brokered under extreme circumstances, but in the end they have a lot to gain if it works out. They won't have to find other sources of energy for one thing, and they can stop destroying Zion and rebuilding it again every 100 years which I imagine takes a great deal of effort. Humans get a measure of freewill and choice placed back in their hands, and then have a chance to shape the destiny of the human race again. I think the most logical thing is to assume that the machines have no burning desire to be rid of humanity, and humans have no hope of getting rid of machines, so the only thing to do is to keep taking steps forward, reject fanatics on all sides, and let the truce evolve into actual peace.
~ CheshireCat
As for serving humans, after the war instead of wiping their foes off the face of the planet, they were curious about their creators and tried to find out what made them tick. Using humans as power seems like an excuse more then anything, there are pleny of alternatives to solar power and that would be the least obvious one to pick. They devised a heaven for them in the Matrix, and after that was rejected they tested to see if hell was better suited. Eventually they gave humans back their civilization and pretty much left them alone with certain restrictions in place. If they had wanted to make themselves be litteral gods to humanity in the Matrix, that could have been easily done that instead.
The Machines seem to want the truce to survive and are willing to give a great deal of leeway to how the rules are enforced. If they were looking for an excuse to simply crush Zion again they could have justified it already, but they seem to be keeping with the spirit of their agreement more then simply the rules of it. The introduction of Agent Pace as a more human friendly resource seems to be a shift in their attitudes with how to approach humanity, and she says she was implemented at humanity's request, meaning they aren't turning a blind ear to their opperatives.
I'd argue that the truce is a real truce and shouldn't be dismissed lightly by either side. Just because the humans were not capable of winning the war in the past doesn't make it any less significat that hostilities have stopped. The machines had the the upper hand then, but they still had to devote resources to weapons (sentinals) and they had to gaurd 01 against any new human weapons (EMP), so it wasn't entierly one sided. Yes the machines still hold the upper hand, and yes the truce was brokered under extreme circumstances, but in the end they have a lot to gain if it works out. They won't have to find other sources of energy for one thing, and they can stop destroying Zion and rebuilding it again every 100 years which I imagine takes a great deal of effort. Humans get a measure of freewill and choice placed back in their hands, and then have a chance to shape the destiny of the human race again. I think the most logical thing is to assume that the machines have no burning desire to be rid of humanity, and humans have no hope of getting rid of machines, so the only thing to do is to keep taking steps forward, reject fanatics on all sides, and let the truce evolve into actual peace.
~ CheshireCat
