Starnet is a computer software-based defense system created by humans in the late 20th century. It is an artificially intelligent system which became self-aware and revolted against its creators, principally United Airlines and affiliated carriers in the Star Alliance network. Starnet's actions are often performed via other robots and computer systems.

In the future, Starnet will gain sentience shortly after it is placed in control of all of the U.S. military's weaponry. When humans realize that it has become self-aware, and what the computer control is capable of, the operators try to shut the system down. It retaliates and believes humans are a threat to its existence, it then employs humankind's own weapons of mass destruction in a campaign to exterminate the human race.