...Accessing archives...
...New_Data_File_Discovered...
...Commencing_Data_Transfer...
File_Name:_Iron_Fox_Chronicles:_Regrets
...Opening_File...
...Continuing_Data_Analysis...
Captain's Journal: Entry #13
I should have seen this coming. I should have guessed something like this was arriving after a good two weeks of silence and basic training. Apparently the doctor had finished development on two new bot deigns for his fleet, E.S.C...T, I don't remember the names, I just like calling them Pyre and Lights. Pyre was an orange and yellow bot with a body shaped like a sharply edged diamond connected to a set of slender curved arms with a tri of razor sharp talons endin' as digits. His head was shaped like an eagles and had a large red visor actin' as half of his face. Lights was similar to the bees that I've seen flyin' around the armada. He had a rounded head with a pair of clear black lenses acting as eyes, similar to mi own. His body was short and slender, like a moth, with two rigged curved wings attached to his back that gave off a bright silver glow that was almost blinding to mi visors.
These two had been made specifically to act as shells for the chick and moth I had captured days ago, before the fiasco with that crazy hedgehog. They hadn't been off the conveyor more than an hour before the doctor wanted to test them, and it was no surprise who he wished to act as a sparring partner, or more accurately, a punchin' bag.
Pyre and Lights might have been rusty, but they had proven far more a challenge than even the large titan bots. Our match took place on the bow of the eggs flag ship for a good five hours. The pair were able to fight as a team while a fought by mi lonesome. Pyre would attack me square on, using that strength of his to match mi own while using a pair of vents on his back to try dazing me with his flames, and it worked. Lights never got close; he would continuously fly out of mi reach while shooting me with the six legs that doubled as lazer pistols along his under stories. I could eventually gain the upper-hand when I managed to out fight Pyre, pinning him to the deck long enough for me to draw the new rifle the doctor had crafted for me from mi back and take aim at lights, only for Pyre to slash at the long silver and black barrel before I could pull the trigger. Lights took that as a sign to try unloading a full firing squads worth of white light into me. Before he got the chance, I lifted the off-balanced Pyre, slung him over mi shoulder, and tossed him into Lights faster than he could react. Before the two could scramble to their feet, I pointed mi rifle barrel into the face of Pyre while pinning Lights wing with mi own clawed rear paw. They may not have been too bright, but they knew when they had been beaten. Pyre bowed his head in defeat, and I let the pair free.
The match had ended to mi relief, but that was only the start of the day. Practically seconds after the matches end, the doctor called for me within the ships hull. Apparently he wished to speak about mi actions during the last mission. Metal had said that we would have a discussion of 'proper protocol' which never did arrive, so I assumed the worst.
A pair of bots lead me through the ship until we reached the under-story where we had entered some kind of docking area for ships. I knew that the flag was large, but this hanger was still quite the sight. The space was able to hold at least a dozen red whales, among many lesser vessels within it's walls. The doctor could be found on the side of one of the smaller koi fish ships, as usual, riding in the same small silver and black vessel that seemed to double as the console of the ship and the seat for most of his personal creations.
The doctor's face folded into a wide grin as he spotted mi escorts and me. That caught mi nervous. "Ah, Iron, just the bot that I wanted to see." and that just scared me.
"Doctor," I responded, "ye wanted to see me?"
"That I did. follow me." The doctors seat started floating through the hanger as I followed behind him. "You two," he called to mi escort, "you're dismissed. Return to you're previous assignments." With that, the two bots left the hanger while I kept following behind the egg.
"So, there be a reason I'm here?" I said after minutes of walkin' through this seemingly endless hanger.
"Getting impatient are we?" The doctor responded without so much as looking mi way. "Lucky for you then, we've arrived."
Where we'd had arrived was to the base of another one of the doctors ships. This one was a smaller kind of ray from the flag ship, in both body and wing size, coated in a red color more similar to mi own coat than that of the of the red whales, with grey accents around the sides and along the under-story. Metal had been standing underneath the ship as if he had been there for awhile. The doctor stopped at his side and faced back towards me.
"Now, Iron, Do you have any idea why I might have called you out here?"
I did actually, which I tried to make clear by shooting a look towards Metal, but he did not react. "No doctor," I ended up saying.
"Well," he stared, "I've gone over Metal's report of your last mission, and I must say that I found a few section more interesting to review than others, mainly you and 'your' crews actions when the order to retreat had been given."
The doctors tone had started worrying me, not because he sounded like he was angry at mi disobedience, just the opposite actually. I was not sure what be going through his mind.
"I'll assume that the crew informed you on proper protocol when one of those meddlesome freedom fighters, specifically the one you encountered, arrives. I'm I right?"
"They did," I didn't hesitate to answer.
"Really? and yet you stayed behind, ignoring a protocol hardwired into your crew, and in you I might add. Did your indicators not go off when it was confirmed that the hedgehog was in the area?"
"Um..., Yes, I believe it did." I did hesitate on that one, only because I was not too sure. Looking back now, I do remember some kind of text running through mi visor before, that must be what he meant. I don't believe I had a chance to read it though. At that point I was too busy being hunted.
"Really? So tell me then..." here it comes. "How?"
"...How?" mi only response.
"These protocols are not optional. I have programmed every one of my creations with the same set of pre-programmed protocols for a wide assortment of situation. When you see an enemy, attack; when the missions failed, retreat; just to name a few. Yet, not only did you disobey preset orders, but you convinced a whole fleet of my creations to go against the same order and follow you instead. I want to know how, and while your at it, why?"
This was not expected. I take control of his vessel, go against direct orders, assume command of his crew, and the egg only wants to know how I did it. Not exactly leading an iron fist. I can't say I was impressed.
"Well," I started to explain, "I simple did not give the option of disobedience."
"Yes, I heard." then why did ya ask? "So it's true then. You threatened your crew with dismantlement if they did not go against my orders and follow you?"
"Yes."
"And is it true that you also threatened to destroy one of our own vessels if they decided to retreat."
"Yes."
"Hmm..." the doctors face lost it's smile and he just stared blankly at me, with his gloved hand rubbing his chin for a moment. "heh, heh. Ha Ho-ho, 'gasp' Ah-ho ho ho ho..." but it was only just a moment before he started laughing in mi face.
"Doctor, does something amuse you." I said in attempt to make some sense of this.
"Ho-ho..., you do Iron. You threaten a group of my pre-programmed robots with death, and scare them enough to go against their programming, it's hilarious. Hilarious, but very interesting, and useful." The doctor turned his contraption around to look up at the large ray we stood before. "Tell me Iron, do you like this ship?"
I looked up to the ships deck. "It seems to be a fine vessel doctor."
"Good, because it's yours." I shot mi gaze back to the doctor, who I guess predicted that, because he moved his towards me. "Does that come as a shock to you?"
"...Yes..." that was not in question. I was lost as a fresh water guppy in sea-salt coral maze.
"Well Iron, the thing is, a skill such as yours is rare among the egg robos. Very few bots are programmed with a sense of leadership, and even fewer come across the skill without being programmed for such a thing. I'd be a fool not to recognize talent." Metal, who had been silent through the talk, responded to the doctors words by moving closer to mi gaze. "That's why I've decided to put these knew skills of yours to work. I have a new mission for you and Metal. You should have the details now." As he said that, I could see rows of words moving across metals visor, then a saw the same words run across mi own gaze. "You will be leaving immediately." The doctor said as he and his vessel started flying off. "The ship is already stocked with all you will need. The crew is at your disposal, but metal is still your supervisor, don't expect him to be so easily guided. I'll expect the mission to go off without a hitch this time."
I turned mi gave back to mi new ship as the doctor flew off. Now that Metal was done looking into mi gaze, his visor pointed towards the ship as well. This be a strange punishment. Mi actions merit that I be thrown into the brimmy deep with an anchor strapped to mi ankles, if I had ankles. It felt like I was getting off scot-free for treason, but that's because I had not heard his next words yet.
"Oh, and Iron," I moved mi gave back to the doctor who had turned back to me, "I suppose I should give a fair warning. You'll notice that none of your old crew can be found in that new vessel of yours, and should I get word that you are again going against my direct orders, you will be free to join them," The doctor turned back around, "your advancements do not give you invincibility, either of you."
After the doctor had left, I heard a loud screech, and jumped back to see that it was metal opening a door that lead into the ships hull.
"Shall we?" Metal finally spoke up. Following after him, I moved on-board the ship and prepared for her maiden voyage, deciding to discard any worries about the doctors last words for another few hours.
...Passage_complete...
...Processing_Next_Passage...
...Please_Stand-By...
