A/N: Here's what is probably the longest and most lore-informative interlude I have. I hope you guys enjoy it!
By the way, I know this isn't what hacking looks like. I wanted to simulate the feel, and it's more fun to read this way. In the end, isn't that what's most important? Here's a key to decipher what's going on.
Bold = Computer display
Regular = Manual entries
Review Responses:
MYK-ON: Don't worry your pretty little head. All in good time!
Guest: You'll find out soon enough.
I don't own anything that comes from Naruto. I own the rest.
Interlude 2
WELCOME BACK.
fileaccess/2545/10/21
ACCESSING…
ACCESSING…
WARNING! THIS DATA IS ENRYPTED VIA JERICHO ENCYRP. SYS++
override/uzumakitaicho/C:wof
ACCEPTED USER LOGIN!
ACCESSING DATA…
ACCESSING DATA…
325 FILES FOUND.
sort=babel
322 FILES FOUND.
WAITING FOR INPUT…
sort=sarutobi
1 FILE FOUND.
ACCESSING…
ACCESSING…
ERROR! ACCESS NOT AUTHORIZED. OVERRIDING…
ERROR! RECOVERY NOT COMPLETE! DATA IS FRAGMENTED!
ATTEMPTING TO SALVAGE DATA…
SALVAGING DATA…
DONE!
Restricted File Mu-Alpha-Beta, Clea[ERROR!]vel: Ginsho.
-Document #B0451
Report on the Bombardment of Babel
Compiled By: [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and $%##en Sarutobi, Rikusho.
The attack commenced at approximately 0600 hours, GST, and consisted of a full rebel fleet. The vessels we could identify include the Alliance flagship AN-Samehada, (captained by Admiral Kisame Hoshigaki), and its three accompanying battleships, AN-Raised In Righteous Fury, AN-Deference to God, and the AN-Bloodletter. These vessels were flanked by two Bradley-class carriers and eight destroyers.
Our orbital guns did not respond to their sudden arrival, due to the interference of Orochimaru [ERROR! INCORRECT CHECKSUM VALUE!], who sabotaged the guns a mere eight minutes before the fleet's arrival via warp. He has since been taken into custody, where he has remained since.
At 0642, the Rebel Fleet ignored the HS vessels that harried them, instead shelling Babel with over six thousand tons of HE magno-sabot rail rifle slugs, m&%#ly targeting the cities of Konoha, Itokan-Jo, and Willimsborough.
The total number of casualties might never be fully ascertained. Bodies continue to be discovered, and conservative es*# $&s put the death toll at around sixty-six million. This number is not accounting for those who might die in the resulting famines, or diseases that run rampant in the refugee camps. Across the planet, wild fires rage uncontrollably.
One of the first and finest of Mother Earth's colonies has been laid to utter waste. With significant investment, she might return to her former glory, but early, generous estimates place a moderate recovery at the latter half of the decade.
It is yet unclear what provoked this unprecedented attack, or why the rebels targeted civilians.
When the Hegemony's Sixth Fleet arrived, the rebels departed in haste, warping to an unknown vector. The AN-Samehada sustained minor damage, and the AN-Bloodletter was destroyed by Rear Admiral Jiraya Gōketsu and his battleship, the HSN-Gamabunta. EVA crews comb the wreckage for any information regarding the attack, but nothing has been found as of yet. Alliance survivors have been few in number. They are currently being interrogated.
Enclosed is a further encrypted, personal document regarding the subject of Mu-Nu 01-Alpha, Codename [ERROR! INCORRECT CHECKSUM VALUE!], and other classified matters.
override/ Uzumakitaicho/C:wof
ACCESS DENIED! ATTEMPT 1 OF 2
READ PROMPT VALUE MET.
DISPLAYING PROGRAMMED MESSAGE…
FUCK OFF, BRAT.
override/executive/C:wof/+Dan+/
ACCEPTED VALUE. OPENENING YOUR FILE, TSUNADE-SAMA.
DECRYPTING…
DECRYPTING…
RUNTIME COMPLETED. ACCESSING ATTACHMENT.
PREPARING FILES
DONE.
Subject Adam has been salvaged, as well as Subjects V-84 through V-90. No word on the others yet. The survivors are taking it very well, but I'm watching them closely.
The Uchiha clan has been wiped out. Only the littlest one, V-86, remains. Four other Uchiha survived, as they were on-duty and off-planet at the time of the strike.
I lost my wife and one of my sons tonight. I don't know what the purpose of this attack was, but I won't rest until I find some answers.
Or enough rebel corpses to stand in for answers.
The official channels are on fire right now, so if this message arrives a few days late, please forgive me. You were always my brightest student.
Please, respond as soon as you can.
-The Monkey King
logoff
ACCEPTED. GOOD-BYE, TSUNADE-SAMA
A/N: How's that for a trauma conga line? The Uchiha clan massacre, Orochimaru's Betrayal, millions dead, and horrid recurring nightmares for a lifetime! :D Also, to put the Bombardment into perspective, the same amount of people died in WORLD WAR 2. I just now noticed this. I guess sci-fi writers do have issues with scale...
And yes, this fic is labeled romance for a reason. Patience, friends.
Thanks for all the support thus far, by the way. You guys are awesome! Makes my day whenever I see a new review! :)
Anyway, back to Erebus tomorrow!