Chapter 36: Major Battle 5: The Problem with Von Neumann War Machines
The afternoon inched its way across the land, and it was chased away by the evening. The sun of Kiln was becoming more and more angled as the day cycle became the night cycle. The directed energy emanating from the sun fizzled out of existence, and the zerg at the captured capitol were no longer restrained by a wall of energy. The Kiln Keepers, ever so vigilant to try and eradicate the zerg from the city, were no longer protected by the very energy that also assisted in their destruction. With the night coming into full circle for the sixth time, the zerg were free to swarm again without impedance.
The Kiln Keepers continued their march, the numbers within each formation still being produced and marching onward toward their enemies in the hopes of purging the zerg filth they were programmed to target. Their army surrounded Empire Capitol by a vast margin, as their numbers were supplied by several horseshoe shaped altars/MEM devices. The Blind Judgement machines, the floating spheres that were produced by the Borromean rings, had impressive range that could match the hydralisks in sniping combat. The procession was slow for the Kiln Keepers, and their Blind Judgement Kiln Keeper variants provided them incredible range, supporting the humanoid robots with cover fire. But they had trouble with the blinding mist and the dark swarms produced by the vipers and defilers respectively. In short, using such cloudy defenses amounted to near invincibility for the defending zerg, and the Kiln Keepers had no conventional methods at hand that could wipe away such defenses.
Further away in the distance, where the Kiln Keepers are staging their forces of robots and combat spheres, several new structures were being built. Each one resembled a large, blocky plate that was several tens of meters across, which had five sides at its edge and the lip was raised a meter up, forming a very wide bowl that had a flat surface in its center. Several wires were sticking out of it, but the robots did their best to continue their construction of the large machine. After a while, white and blue static filled its center, and a new type of Kiln Keeper variant was being made.
This structure eventually produced a wide, circular object that floated upwards. Six long spikes, with glowing tips, protruded from its sides and then articulated as though they were fingers. Underneath this new mechanical unit had a large glowing circle, which might have been its method of levitation. Several red lights blinked on and off on its body, but the circle, and the spiked tips contained many more. Once one was made, several more joined it as they flew with other flying Kiln Keepers and Blind Judgement machines. Once deployed, the Kiln Keepers reported their adaptation.
[Anomalies detected. Analyzing strategy... Analysis complete. Deficient unit formation. Deficient unit composition. Upgrades required. Unable to advance with current composition. Acquiring assets. Adjusting strategy. Kiln Keeper variant: Justice Extremity, deployed.] The Justice Extremity machines turned themselves over when they were seven hundred kilometers away from Empire Capitol. The circular red lights, or 'palm lights' as Kay might call it, started generating several dots of energy. These dots collected into a huge mass of light, and the metal fingers seemed to have kept the dots contained. After a brief pause, the fingers then flicked forward and launched several balls of light toward its targets within the captured capitol. The balls of light had a similar level of devastation comparable to Pinnacle Superior's particle cannons, except they were fired at a slightly faster rate.
The light ball projectiles collided with the zerg under the protection of the dark swarm, and the first projectile exploded into a wide area of effect. Several zerg organisms, mainly zerglings, had died to the attack. The dark swarm protecting the zerg strains prevented a direct hit, but the explosion still had a damaging area of effect that killed several zerglings in one strike. Another strike wounded several spine and spore crawlers, yet they continued to fight against the Kiln Keepers. A third strike managed to hit behind the clouds of dark swarms, killing a defiler and several more zerg strains. The dark swarms that the defilers can produce were efficient in preventing direct ranged attacks from harming zerg forces, but they are incapable of protecting against explosive artillery. That, or melee damage.
But the laser wall that Kiln's sun supplied was no longer there, and the zerg enacted their counter-offensive against the Kiln Keepers.
The blinding clouds, made from the vipers, and the dark swarms, made from the defilers, expanded outward drastically. The zerglings, roaches, and hydralisks rushed outward in a surge of activity, no longer limited by the annihilating laser wall. The brood lords and swarm hosts were deployed once more, joining the infestors and launching their spawned forces against the Kiln Keeper footmen with reckless abandon, preventing their forward approach. The guardians and bile launchers also had their range extended exponentially, attacking enemies from even further away, and with much more rapidity. The Kiln Keeper's were destroyed in quick succession as the zerg expanded exponentially, and the creep had begun expanding outward without restraint. The scourge flew forward, uncaring of the anti-air fire that the Kiln Keeper robots or the Blind Judgement ranged attackers provided, and they hunted down their flying targets with the simple-minded drive to suicide-bomb them to whatever hell that such robots belonged to. The ultralisks, usually guarded by a queen or several, and a dark swarm that sometimes surrounded them, paved a path of destruction consisting of demolished Kiln Keepers and whatever variant they used. And to make matters worse, several nydus worms erupted from the ground and unleashed several ground strains from their maws. The drones even started to morph into more hatcheries, many of which were placed and gestated outside of the capitol's destroyed wall and providing more air strains to assail the Kiln Keepers.
[Flaws detected. Analyzing strategy... Analysis complete. Deficient unit formation. Deficient unit composition. Upgrades required. Requesting additional assets. Modifying equipment. Adjusting strategy.] The Justice Extremity artillery machines moved in closer and started attacking the bio-structures and other zerg organisms that were within the zerg controlled territory, but it had only put themselves at risk of getting attacked by the hydralisks. And with more Kiln Keepers getting dismantled, either into pieces or melted molecules, the artillery robots were brought down too quickly as a result to their haste. The power of several scourge even collectively took down several of the floating machines, forcing them out of the sky and making them crash onto the Kiln Keeper footmen, grinding them into scrap and silvery dust when it landed on them.
The wrath of the zerg barreled into the amassed army of Kiln Keepers, even reaching far into the factories that produced the Kiln Keepers and their variants. Once the Justice Extremity producing machines have been targeted and taken down, the zerg became less impeded by artillery laser bombardment. The defilers and vipers being used in unison provided an unmitigated advantage that enabled the zerg incredible defenses that could not be countered in time. Had there been more Justice Extremity machines deployed against the zerg earlier in this war, the Kiln Keepers could have had a chance.
But the zerg were now without number.
[Flaws detected. Analyzing strategy... Analysis complete. Deficient unit formation. Deficient unit composition. Upgrades required. Requesting additional assets. Unable to continue with current composition. Unable to alter current strategy. Awaiting assets. Warning: factory assets are being destroyed. Unable to maintain foothold. Continuing with target annihilation until unknown variables prompts strategy analysis. Analyzing alternative strategies.]
The Kiln Keepers were clawed, shot, bombed and dissolved into oblivion as they tried to assault the zerg, only for the zerg to assault them back in greater forces than they had initially expected. Roiling clouds would cover the ground forces of Kiln Keepers and the zerg, only for the robotic forces to dwindle in size and become vanquished seconds later. Even the defilers' plaguing their forces suffered greatly, succumbing to the next attack that connected to them instantly. Once the outlying factories were effectively destroyed, the only Kiln Keepers that were still fighting were the ones still marching into zerg territory from the north, followed by the Blind Judgement and Justice Extremity machines that eventually hovered with them.
The zerg shifted their swarming and took to the fighting in the north, the Kiln keepers approaching from the northern direction and giving the promise of slaughter and bloodshed that the zerg craved. Technically, the robots did not have blood, but destruction was a vital part, and deconstruction was but another word that started with the letter D, which could be interchangeable to the context of this battle. In short, the zerg would seek out the Kiln Keepers and deconstruct their mechanical bodies, no matter what form they took, or how strong they became. Simply put, the Kiln Keepers were losing the battle in the war between the machines and the zerg.
"I think I would like to make a bet. What do you say, Virid?" Kay asked.
Virid turned to Kay and tilted her head. "You are willing to gamble something? I feel like this would be a drain on our resources if we took such chances."
Kay shook his head. "No no no, this bet is just something for fun. I am willing to bet that the Kiln Keepers we have been fighting is being produced, and are stationed, at Empire City. Since they are coming from the north, I think it's a safe bet to make."
Virid paused. "... So am I supposed to bet on whether or not the Kiln Keepers are being deployed somewhere else, such as outside of Empire City?"
Kay nodded. "Sounds acceptable."
"Terrans usually wager something when they make bets, if I understand this betting activity of theirs." Virid said, crossing her arms and looking thoughtful. "What would you or I win when we make this bet?"
Kay smirked. "Ooh, I see what you mean. Kay, uh... How about... ... ... How about a ride on your back?"
Virid reared her head back at Kay's suggested bet. "Excuse me?!"
Kay held up a single finger. "If the Kiln Keepers are being produced from within Empire City, then I win the bet, and you will provide one free ride. Simple, yes?"
Virid hissed and clacked her claws. "I am not some beast of burden that you can just saddle onto! What kind of bet is that anyway?!"
Kay was unfazed by Virid's aggressive posturing and hissing. "Then you can call off the bet right here and now. But then you would run the risk of being called a cowardly queen. But the real question would be: what kind of wager would you be able to settle with? Hmm? "
Virid paused for a long time before answering. "... If the Kiln Keeper facility is outside of the city, then I will have the two zerglings remind you to not impede on my duties."
A cautionary trill made Kay jump as two familiar faces appeared from behind him. Kay narrowed his eyes at the zergling twins. "... I suddenly don't find this bet to be amusing."
Virid trilled. "Then will you risk being called a coward?" She said, sounding as though a bemused smirk danced across her face, even when there was none.
Kay took his turn to pause. "... You know what? I think I can live with a gnawed leg." Kay turned toward Virid and extended a hand. "Handshake to make the bet official?"
Virid sighed, then accepted Kay's hand. "I accept the bet."
As the two zerg shook on it, they returned their focus onto the battle that was happening north of Empire Capitol.
The zerg creep grew outward, and hatcheries were being morphed and formed by the second. Erupting from the ground, next to the hatcheries, were nydus worms that transported more ground-strains of the zerg. The hatcheries, supported by a queen or two, focused on creating more flying strains, and the air was heavily polluted with several scores of mutalisks, corruptors, brood lords, overlords, overseers, vipers, guardians, and worst of all, the zerg scourge.
The Kiln Keepers couldn't account for the massive numbers that proceeded to attack their own forces. The Justice Extremity and Blind Judgement machines tried their best to assist the flying and marching Kiln Keepers, but the zerg were gaining more ground as they fought against the machine menace. But still, the ground they marched on was soon replaced by the patter of tens of millions of zerg creatures, soon to be a hundred million. The zerglings had died by droves, but the ultralisks muscled into the robot army formations and eradicated many Kiln Keepers at a time. The ultralisks were too useful to allow to die however, and many heavily wounded ultralisks burrowed into the ground, or switched places with those that were healthier to continue fighting.
The battle waged on with the Kiln Keepers receding and receding. Their army grew to lesser numbers as the zerg continued fighting, eventually bringing the clash of adapting war robots and evolving arthropodal aliens to the edge of a tropical forest, and entering it. The local fauna and pedestrian gilanians watched in awe as the robots continued on their march to take down some hated enemy that irked the ire of the Kiln Keepers. However, such fauna and pedestrian gilanians within hearing distance of the war quickly ran away from the area, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. The zerg even got to see a curious creature that could only be described as a mole, mixed with a mongoose, and mixed with a badger, which was the twice the size of a Kodiak bear. Even they were fearful of the war raging on, and they scampered away as quickly as their stocky legs could allow.
It wasn't too long that the Kiln Keepers' forces receded by an incredible distance, and the smell of coastal spray was eventually tasted. A mass of water was seen from far away, thanks to the height advantage achieved by the flying zerg strains. The fighting between them and the Kiln Keepers eventuated upon a beach that lead to shallow ocean water, but held no islands as far as the eye could see. Strangely enough, the Kiln Keepers waded through this water, and there was still no end to them as a massive army still marched on, walking through the ocean to war against the zerg swarm. The red lights that the Kiln Keepers created made it easy for the zerg to track in the night.
The water within the ocean was unusual. For some reason, the entire ocean was fresh, but a foot below the surface, another layer of water was salinated. Freshwater fish seem to favor swimming in the top layer of freshwater, which appear to travel in a clockwise fashion relative to the shoreline. Below the layer of fresh water, the salt layer of ocean water had saltwater vegetation and saltwater fish and crabs that thrived. The fish would eat the salty seaweed that grew from the salt layer, but the saltwater crabs would have a chance to snap at the fish for an easy meal. Their way of life had never been disturbed for a long time, but that was changed by the constant march of the Kiln Keepers. The zerg would add to that disturbance, only to soon have the ocean environment destroyed by the creep that was slowly approaching the coast, which would eventually enter it, and then seep into the salty and freshwater layered sea.
A city in the east was seen, looking like a town that had a port with several docks. If Kay remembered correctly from Ralkan's Memories, it was called Empire Sands. Gollog appeared to have a very unimaginative approach when it came to naming the settlements that are aligned to him. But inspecting the town would have to come later. The zerg were still fighting the Kiln Keepers.
The ocean became a constant tumultuous ripple of activity as the Kiln Keepers marched through it. Even more so when the zerg and robots clashed in glorious war, with the Kiln Keepers losing ground as time went on. It wasn't long until the battle reached into the dead of night, the slight darkness becoming brighter when they reached closer to the Day Circle. When the glint of light was seen, it was obvious to the zerg that they have entered that circle. A couple of hours fighting later, and the zerg became that much more numerous, eradicating the Kiln Keepers in a quicker pace than was thought possible.
And that was when the city, set on top of the only island in the ocean. came into view.
Unlike the glittering towers that Empire Capitol contained, Empire City was uniquely different. For one, it was opalescent, and had several towers that rose high. Between and in the center of these towers, a tall castle of shimmering white reached higher than the towers around itself. Several artillery installations were seen being constructed on the shores, thanks to the keen eyes of the overseers for detecting the potential migraine that Kay and Virid had to deal with.
And the migraine already started when those artillery positions started firing from long range, hitting zerg organisms from extreme distances. A few of those shots managed to damage the Kiln Keepers, but they were not fazed by the bombardment by much. However, they all did shout out in unison their disapproval for the assistance. [Anomalies detected. Analyzing strategy... Analysis complete. Assistance from non-Kiln Keeper forces detected. Requesting ceasing of assistance. If request not acknowledged, warning will be issued. If warning not acknowledged, assisting forces will be annihilated.]
After that announcement from the Kiln Keepers, the artillery fire ceased, yet a few of the artillery shells ended up hitting more of the zerg before the bombardment stopped dropping. The overseers, and by extension Kay and Virid, saw that the artillery installations were no longer firing. And since they were no longer firing, they were no longer much of a migraine anymore. But even so, the sun posed a great problem that would have made it difficult for the zerg to progress. And since Gollog's smite attack had no effect on the Kiln Keepers, ever since they had adjusted to it, it would only make the zerg's attempt to take over the city that much more difficult.
And speaking of smiting attacks, Kiln's sun had already started producing the energy directed beam onto the assembled zerg forces at the Day Circle. Again, the zerg forces were hampered by the sky laser. Yet again, Kay and Virid had to deal with yet another migraine that occurred, which happened to be an old, laser shaped enemy that had formed into their obstacle many times before. Steam billowed out of the water at incredible volumes, creating an efficient smoke screen. And the smoke screen gave Kay an idea.
Several scores of roaches and infestors burrowed into the sand beneath the water, and started circling around the steam and laser bombarded areas. Kay wasn't sure how far the Kiln Keepers could sense underground zerg, so he used several roaches to test their sensing distance. One hundred and fifty meters seem to be their maximum distance of detection, as Kay later found out. The infestors and roaches easily avoided the warpath of the Kiln Keepers, and they continued circling around the island that had the milky colored towers and castle.
The plan was simple: Use the infestors and roaches to establish a beachhead and storm the castle. Kay thought that the smiting laser would be less inclined to attack, if the castle it tried to protect was in its way. But then there was the defenses of Empire City itself. Kay and Virid had no idea what kind of countermeasure that the city had concocted for the zerg invasion, but the swarm would continue in its invasion still, regardless of the possible dangers.
After copious minutes passed after the infestors and roaches got into position, they waited for the coming of the zerg's ultimate tactic. The ground around the castle started moving with unseen purpose. The sand underneath the water shifted and grew more turbulent, increasing in size with more shifting and turbulence. Tens of nydus worms erupted around the castle and created a cacophonous roar in simultaneity, emerging at a significantly closer distance to the castle than the defenders had expected. Several queens emerged from the nydus worms and they produced several creep tumors, and the zerglings rushed forward from the nydus worms' maws, splashing through the shallow ocean and rushing toward the castle in an attempt to engage in glorious combat.
[Anomalies and flaws detected. Analyzing strategy... Analysis complete. Deficient unit formation. Deficient unit composition. Upgrades required. Unable to advance with current composition. Acquiring assets. Adjusting strategy. Kiln Keeper variant: Crime Crusher, deployed.]
A new robotic force was created and they entered into the fray. These new robots rose from the watery depths, and their appearance was quickly made known to the zerg. They had the shape of an egg that was painted with chrome, and was split down the middle in equal halves. From where these halves were cut, pure energy seem to cover the surface. Their size was slightly bigger than that of the Justice Extremity machine variants, but they also appeared to come in pairs. Once deployed, they neared the fighting zerg and started ramming into the zerg ground-strains. The melee attacks had completely bypassed the blinding clouds and dark swarms, and the zerg began to slowly recede.
Two of such Crime Crusher machine variants impacted onto an ultralisk, and they managed to make a terrible and powerful crunch sound as they pancaked the siege breaking zerg strain, and ultimately sizzle it out of existence. Even the newly emerged nydus worms were at risk of being squashed by these new combat machines. The zerg were slowly being pushed back once again.
Kay was tilting his head as his face fixated into a puzzled expression. "... Well this is odd."
Virid hissed. "The Crime Crusher variants seems like a heavy melee unit, using the energy it produces under itself to vanquish its enemies. It doesn't seem to do any crushing on its own, but the energy it makes can disintegrate our zerg in close quarters combat easily. This attack surpasses the two defensive abilities that the vipers and defilers use."
Kay looked at Virid. "Hmm? Oh uh, yeah. That. Don't worry, I have something planned for them."
Virid turned to look at Kay and cocked her head at him. "You have a plan for these new combat machine variants?"
Kay nodded and smirked. "Oh yes. Answer me this, Virid. Have you noticed that our front lines are lacking in strength with the absence of a certain group of units?"
Virid double checked the zerg forces to see what Kay meant. "... Now that you pointed this out, I have noticed."
The reason why the zerg were receding in their foothold in the war was because some of the slower zerg strains had difficulty keeping up with the rest of the zerg swarm. Namely, the guardians and the defilers. The use of the bile launchers could also assist the zerg, but the creep had not extended far enough from the constantly shifting battle lines to help support the immobile strains. "Lets get the drones to make some more hatcheries near the battle." Kay suggested.
Virid trilled happily. "The nydus worms made in that area will provide an excellent means of transportation for them."
Kay nodded. "We should also consider infesting areas outside of the Day Circle. Get the zerglings to make a giant circle and have nydus worms and nydus networks deployed there. After that, we can get some hatcheries deployed and add more flying zerg strains to the war."
Virid nodded. "Your vision as a leader is great, I see. I must learn from your examples."
Kay smiled and carefully rubbed the back of his head, as though gushing from the compliment. "Well... Thanks I guess! I kind of perceive war as kind of a form of art, so... yeah."
Virid cocked her head again. "... You think of war as art? How would you describe something as pointless as art to be likened to war?"
Kay shook his head. "You and I are like painters, Virid. The canvas is the battlefield, and we are the commanders of many paintbrushes. It is through the skills of commanding our forces that we could paint the landscape to our liking. Like an artist envisioning what he would create with his tools and skills, we have to envision our tactics and strategies as we command our forces to victory."
Virid paused. "... I fail to see how painting and warring are similar to one another. However, I think I understand what vision means a little better. It is simply imagining possible scenarios that could provide victory, and imagining possible weaknesses that could hinder the enemy."
Kay nodded and smiled. "Well... I guess that's one way to put it! Like an artist at the easel, or a commander overseeing the theater of war, you have to use your vision to see the possibilities before you act. Vision gives the artists the ability to see the picture before he paints it, and vision gives the commander the ability to see the objectives before he sends his orders."
Virid paused. "... Would this mean that the commanders we have been fighting have vision as well?"
Kay looked up and thought about it. "... I suppose so. I mean... War between two commanders might as well be similar to two painters working on the same canvas. Although, I'd imagine it would be more like the painters trying to paint over each others works, hindering each other by breaking their paint brushes or stealing their paints. Or even one painter killing the other painter. ... I think I may have complicated the metaphor with this train of thought."
Virid sighed. "Metaphorical similes aside, attacking the Kiln Keeper production facility, and the home of Gollog, should be our primary focus."
Kay blinked, shook his head, and turned away. "Right."
The good thing about the zerg is that they constantly evolve to counter many different kinds of strategies used against them. But another advantage they have was the ability to adapt within dangerous conditions. The zerglings went to work speeding through the waters in a frantic sprint. Kiln's sun was only eight degrees above the horizon line, which enabled the sun's smiting ability to strike at the zerg forces, its laser coasting over the castle dangerously. Many zerg organisms that were transported from the nydus worms didn't make it far, which were either killed by the smite attack, or the Crime Crusher machine variants. But those that did survive chased after the crew of the artillery cannons on the island.
However, many of the zerglings were cut down by a flying knife, which granted a familiarity with its opalescence and sting. Gollog sneered as he gazed upon the zerg once again, slaying those that fell under his condescending gaze. "Fucking muck bringers. How dare they sully these waters with their filth! How dare they. Damn them. Damn them all. Damn them all for an eternity." He muttered to himself.
One of the towers created a rectangular door that was level with the ground, and a copper and green robot walked out from this tower's entrance. This robot, sporting six new arms and tougher looking armor on his person, was actually the robotic Commander Faddoh. He looked up at his emperor and tsked. "On his angry autopilot again. He must be mad if he is starting to realize that he is losing control over this war."
"Commander Faddoh, sir! Over here!" One of the operators of one of the installed artillery installations shouted. He wore the garb of yellow and iron and was calling over to the copper commander, waving his hands around frantically. "We need you! The blade hounds are tearing us apart!"
Faddoh rolled his eyes. "Patience, gunnery. I simply came out here to acquire samples."
The operator lowered his hands slowly, unsure of the information he processed. "... S-sir?"
Faddoh walked past the soldier. "Your lives are inconsequential to me. Continue as you would, Torus Chain guard." He said indifferently.
The artillery operator looked like he panicked for a second. "Uh... How... How about I help you get a sample!? Could you pull me out of the battle if I captured something for you?!"
Commander Faddoh turned to the operator and raised an LED eyebrow. "You would do that? That is a tall task that you offered."
The artillery operator sighed. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that we are completely useless and could get in your way. I'd much rather prove my worth than die without dignity, like any unaligned gilanian. Besides, those robots look too intimidating, and I'd rather not be on their hit list."
Commander Faddoh paused for a couple seconds, but then nodded. "I suppose you have a point." He turned around and started shouting loudly. "ANY SOLDIER OUTSIDE OF THE EMPEROR'S CASTLE, HEAR THIS! IF YOU CAN CAPTURE A LIVE SPECIMEN OF THE ZERG, BRING IT TO ME, AND I SHALL REWARD YOU WITH SANCTUARY FROM THE APPROACHING WAR! YOU HAVE TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND!"
The artillery crew members paused and stared at one another in surprise, though some were using makeshift weapons to hold back the zerg attackers. However, three zerglings saw the commander and tried to attack the robot. The commander nonchalantly raised three hands up and used manipulation fields to contain the three zerglings. The artillery crew stared in awe. "... Uh..."
Faddoh smiled cheerfully and shook his head. "I have changed my mind. None of you have captured these zerg creatures, so I cannot grant you my promised safety. Good day." He said, turning and entering the same tower he emerged from.
The operator waved his hands again. "Wait wait wait! I suggested the idea to capture one of the zerg jags!"
Faddoh paused, contemplated on the explanation, and then sighed. "Well, you got me there. Come in." Faddoh replied.
The artillery operator smiled and ran into the tower, joining up with Faddoh. "Thank you, sir!"
"Don't thank me yet." Faddoh warned. "We might not be able to live past today if the zerg keep pestering us." Once they were centered onto a strange white platform, the entire floor lowered downward. It seemed to be some sort of mechanical platform that acted as elevator access that has been installed in the tower. Faddoh brought one of his arms up to his face. "Is the VIP located? ... Not yet? Damn. Keep me posted please."
"... Uh... Shouldn't we evacuate to another city? I mean... It feels obvious to me that Empire City will be overrun with zerg soon." The artillery operator asked.
Faddoh turned to the artillery operator and stared at him. "... Your statement is true, but this is hardly the time for semantics. Try and keep your tongue from creating stupid questions like that again."
The artillery operator looked down and sighed. "Sir, yes sir. I will be more mindful in the future, sir."
Faddoh sighed. "What is your name, anyway?"
The artillery operator saluted. "Rickey, sir!"
Faddoh nodded and huffed. "Odd name, but I don't care." He said, turning away. "Have you been transferred here, by chance?"
Rickey nodded. "Yes sir, very recently. This place is a lot more different from Empire Capitol."
"Then you should adjust very well here. First off, however, we must pass you through the checkpoint."
"Uh... Where was the checkpoint again?" Rickey asked.
Faddoh rolled his eyes. "You passed through it on your way out, remember?"
"I sort of remember. I know that me and my artillery crew were ordered to quickly set up the artillery installations, and that was when I got here, sir." Rickey said, shrugging.
Faddoh leaned forward and scratched his glass LED face, staring at Rickey. "Interesting."
"Um... Interesting in what way, sir?" Rickey asked, staring back at Faddoh with slight concern.
"That a zerg doppelganger would go so far as to assume the guise of a Torus Chain guard to infiltrate this city. I must say, I have to congratulate you on your efforts on getting this far!" Faddoh said, congratulating the disguised gilanian.
Rickey paused for a long time, and then slumped in his posture. "Fuck. How did I give it away?"
"Simple." Faddoh answered. "You ask too many questions. But more importantly... I have a few of my own that I want to ask." Faddoh leaned toward the changelisk and gazed at him intently. "I am rather curious about your nature. Could you change into different forms willingly?"
Rickey tilted his head. "Uh... I can, yes."
Faddoh tilted his head and clasped his hands. "Could you disguise yourself as me, please?"
Rickey reared his head back and furrowed his scaly brows. "Why would you want me to do that?"
"Well, I am a scientist. To test the potential is the way of scientific exploration and discovery. Now please, could you grant my request?" Faddoh asked, slightly excited.
Rickey sighed and mulled it over. "Well... I guess it couldn't hurt. But there is a stipulation."
"Stipulation? What is it?" Faddoh asked, curious.
Rickey explained. "You see, I need to draw enough nutrients from the ground in order to change to a different form. I need energy in order to assume a different appearance."
"I see, I see. Well, I suppose we can do that later. Right now, I have to cage these blade hounds first. After that, we can then perform some tests right after. You wouldn't mind that, right?"
Rickey paused. "Uh... No, not at all. Why are you being so, uh... cavalier about this?"
"Well it is simple, Rickey! Eh, may I call you Rickey, or do you go by another name?" Faddoh said.
"Rickey will do fine." Rickey answered.
"Very well then. You see, Rickey, you happen to be the only zerg organism I have met that has a stable means of communication, and has not acted violently against me!" Faddoh said excitedly.
Rickey nodded. "True true. To be honest, the zerglings were only going to attack you enough to disable you."
Faddoh narrowed his gaze. "Zerg... lings? Is that what your kin calls these small creatures?" He mused aloud, pointing at the floating zerglings. "Hmm. A rather unusual piece of information to learn. Would this also mean that each of the other zerg breeds have an established specie name?"
Rickey nodded again. "They do, but I would like to remain quiet on that topic for now. I think we are nearing the floor with the checkpoint."
"Very well. Lets see if you can go through the checkpoint on your own. This will be a wonderful test!" Faddoh said excitedly.
Rickey paused, but nodded once more. Commander Faddoh surely does act like one of those eccentric scientists!
Once the elevator finally stopped, the tower opened up again to reveal one of the many rooms that laid underneath the island. The first room that Rickey entered was a sterile white room, filled with bored security guards milling around a copper and green tube. After stepping forward, one of such guards gave Rickey a glazed stare before droning his greeting. "Hello, and welcome to Empire City. As per the newly instated Golden Star Empire sanitation regulations, we must conduct several tests before permitting you entry to our wonderful city. If you do not consent to these tests, then we have to contain you for questioning, deport you to a different location for processing, or execute you on the spot. If your Empire citizenship ID is not valid, or has entered the extreme expiration period, then we will update it here, provided that you pay for the nominal fees. If you do not have-"
"Can we skip this introduction? I have somewhere to be with this individual, and these blade hounds." Faddoh interrupted, juggling the zerglings around.
One of the security guards held up his hand. "I'm sorry, commander. This part of the job is mandatory." After Commander Faddoh gave the guard a defeated look, the guard continued. "If you do not have an Empire Citizenship ID, a temporary one can be provided for you, which is only applicable to visitors, vacationers, and diplomatic dignitaries. If you are planning to live in this city, then acquiring a permanent ID can be achieved in the Hall of Registry, which can be found further past this checkpoint. Do you consent to the tests that we will be performing today?"
Rickey paused before he answered. "Uh... Yeah, sure. Go ahead with the tests."
Faddoh walked up. "Oh, and before I forget, I want you to know that this eh... individual is under my care and is not to be killed, by the command of Commander Faddoh."
The security guard looked up at Faddoh, his face turning into a confused stare. "... Uh... Would uh... would this mean he's free to pass through?"
Faddoh shook his head. "I didn't mean that. Simply continue as you were with Rickey here. Now go on and do your job! Pretend that I'm not here."
The security guard paused for a few seconds. "... Uh. ... Alrighty then!" The guard turned to Rickey again. "Since you have vocally agreed to the sanitation test, will you please come up to the terminal? Put your arm through one of the slots and relax your hand." The security guard said, gesturing to a nearby terminal.
Rickey walked up to the terminal, which looked like a tall copper and green rectangle, which also had a similar design to the cylinder in the center of the room. Rickey gingerly moved his arm into one of the slots, only to feel a pinch of pain which prompted him to immediately pull his arm back out. A few seconds later, the machine emitted a red light and started making a high pitched klaxon. One it did, everybody aimed their weapons at Rickey. Rickey slowly turned and raised his hands up. "Uh... Did I do something?"
The security guard frowned. "Yeah. It means you rolled around in something the machine doesn't agree with. Could you enter the scanner in the center of the room, please?"
Rickey sighed, then turned to the coppery cylinder that happened to be this 'scanner' device that the guard gestured to. It opened when a security officer that was stationed next to it operated the buttoned terminal that was on its side. Once the scanner has been fully opened, Rickey walked up to it and stepped inside. After stepping in, the cylinder shaped scanner slowly closed itself shut. "Now stretch your arms outward and make them even with the top part of your chest." Rickey sighed, doing what they wanted. After a humming sound had came and gone, there was a pause.
"Uh... Can someone come over and see this?" "What the hell?" "I have never seen anything like this before!" "Is the scanner malfunctioning?" "No, I think it works fine." "Where are his bones?" "That's strange. This machine is supposed to pick up metal. Is the knives on his person made of wood?" "What's that in his right hand?" "Uh... I think that is in his arm." "Doesn't look like any kind of knife I ever saw." "The scanner is not picking metal from it though." "Would that mean... that... that shard in his arm is the only bone in his body?" "Don't be stupid. How is he holding himself up if he doesn't have any bones in his body?" "Cartilage?" "The scanner would have picked up on that." "Then what is he?"
"Allow him to pass, security." Commander Faddoh ordered, walking past the inspection line, and accidentally knocking down a guard as he carefully balanced the levitating zerglings above his head.
The lead security guard turned to the robot commander. "Sir, do you really think we should do that? We don't even know what he is!"
"He is a zerg doppelganger, and he is not to be harmed, gentlemen. This is the first ever case of a zerg organism to be detected at a security checkpoint. Be glad that you are making history here today! Get some armed guards in here to assist in transferring this perfect visual copy of a gilanian, and transporting him to my research facility. Now then, allow us through, please." Faddoh answered.
"But isn't this dangerous? Shouldn't we at least have an armed guard follow him around?" One of the guards suggested.
Faddoh paused. "... That is actually a good idea. I'll have to credit you on that suggestion."
After a short while, the scanner finally opened up and Rickey was greeted by several pistols pointed at him. After a pause, Rickey sighed. "Just to let you know, my master is not going to be a forgiving person to everyone here."
The Cube Research commander smiled widely, tossing a zergling in the air and catching it with a manipulation field. "Oh fret not! You will be treated like a valued guest! ... Well, a valued guest that is dangerous to our livelihood, that is. We may have a gun pointed at you, but that is only in the possible scenario where we have the sudden need to defend ourselves. Once we get you inside Research Cube S-01, the tests will immediately be underway. Now come along. The future awaits!"
Rickey was then forced to be prisoner to Commander Faddoh, and the armed guards that came into the white sanitation room provide an escort to the gilanian that was not what he appeared to be. He rolled his eyes as he joined them. "First time for everything then. But know that hospitality will not grant you mercy from my master."
As Rickey was lead through the underground of Empire City, he noted that it was not as spacious as Empire Capitol. But the population within this city was slowly decreasing as time went on, as gilanian citizens would use MEM devices to evacuate to safer locations. But the gilanians that stayed behind were soldiers that were ordered to defend the city, and those that were too poor to purchase a MEM shift transfer to deliver themselves to another location. The stark white and gold coloration and decorations within the city gave it a gaudy design. Almost everything looked like it was crafted by an expert craftsman, as even each individual stone tiles making up the streets had intricate inlays had a golden star with Gollog in its center, colored a metallic white.
After traveling several minutes, Rickey looked up and saw a large copper and green structure. It looked insanely huge, much more so that a type B or type A research facility. Rickey didn't have time to analyze the structure for long as he was led into the massive structure. It appeared as though several shacks had been built next to the walls of the structure, but he didn't know what their purposes were. The doors that led to the inside of the place was guarded by a gated quarantine. After passing through yet another checkpoint, the entrance revealed a completely different landscape when it opened up to Rickey. The light copper walls were lit up by bright green, or plain white lights, and scientists in orange lab coats that had green accents filtered from one room to the next. Their faces seemed to be filled with concern and worry.
After traveling up several floors and down a few corridors, Rickey, and the zerglings being carried by Commander Faddoh's manipulation fields, were eventually guided into an empty chamber that was filled with several cages. One was opened, which had the zerglings placed within it, while Rickey was given his own cage to stand in. Rickey turned around and crossed his arms, admiring the cage he was in and the facility he was inside of. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. This city is pretty big. Not as big as Empire Capitol, but it is still impressive. How far are we from the surface?"
"We should be about, oh, roughly seven hundred feet below ground." Faddoh said, inputting several commands on Rickey's cage. "I would have loved to give you a tour, but alas, Gollog would never approve. Nor would I, due to your nature."
Rickey nodded. "Well, my master has been quite the antagonist to your empire lately. But the same could be said with your emperor."
Faddoh chuckled, and waggled a finger at the gilanian disguised changelisk. "You tread a fine line, my zerg friend. Speaking that freely around these parts would put you under the punishment of having your tongue cut out. Though, with your zerg uniqueness, I doubt that your tongue would remain stumped for very long."
Rickey tilted his head. "So how come you are so calm and collected? Everyone I had seen up till now looked like they were shitting in their pants."
Faddoh chuckled again. "Well, mortals of flesh and bone will always be worried about themselves. They are known to be selfish like that."
Rickey cocked an eyebrow. "And you would consider yourself as unselfish?"
Faddoh chuckled more, turning to Rickey with a wide grin. "Actually, I might be even more selfish than any mortal born on this world! Others would normally wish for immortality, but I had granted my own wish using my own two hands."
Rickey paused for a couple seconds before he began to understand Faddoh's answer. "Ohhhhh... You somehow achieved immortality?"
Faddoh shook his head. "Not exactly. I actually managed to transfer my consciousness into a computer mainframe, which was then downloaded onto a robotic avatar. It's the next best step to immortality, although not exactly in the same feat that Emperor Gollog achieved."
"Oh. So if all of your robot avatars were destroyed, then you would finally die." Rickey exclaimed.
"Not really. I would still have the machine mainframe within research facility S-01 to fall back on." Faddoh turned away and went to a nearby workshop desk, using his many arms to construct something.
"I see. ... So then... I guess you have some questions for me?" Rickey asked, sighing.
Faddoh nodded as he worked. "Indeed I do. I would like to know the names of the zerg breeds that you refer to from your own perspective. What were their names before their gilanian reclassification?"
Rickey shook his head. "My master would like me to refrain from giving you too much information regarding that topic."
Faddoh stopped in his work and gazed over to Rickey. "Why is that?"
"As my master puts it, he enjoys the fan fiction that you developed for his forces."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. In fact, he would like to know of the new names you have designated for the new zerg strains that appeared."
Faddoh contemplated for a few seconds before he slammed the table. "OH HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN! I WAS SO BUSY WITH MY WORK THAT I HADN'T JUMPED TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO NAME THEM!" He picked up a plastic sheet and straightened it out. After going through several images, he held up the sheet to look at them in more depth than before. "Hmm."
Rickey neared the bars on his cage and tilted his head. "So uh... Would you like to share with me what your reclassified names for them are?"
After several more seconds, Faddoh nodded and went to Rickey's cage. "Fine. I'll give you my roughly drafted name renditions for them." He held up the plastic sheet and pointed at the image of a defiler. "I think I shall call this breed of zerg 'coughers'. They are named so because of their tendency to spew out clouds of insects and sickness. They also have the strange habit of eating blade hounds, or 'zerglings', if I recalled you correctly."
Faddoh switched to a different image. "I believe I shall call this one 'burst launchers'." The copper colored commander said, pointing to a guardian. "The green blobs that is their ammunition react similarly to the attack that the suicidal bursters use, which happen to evolve from the blade hounds. How the evolution of a burst launcher incorporates acid into its arsenal is unknown to me, but they can strike from incredible range!"
Faddoh switched to yet another image. "This new creature is unusual, since it has suicidal tendencies that are similar to the bursters. They are, however, very efficient anti-air units, which acts similarly to an air-to-air missile. For a lack of a better name to name these creatures, I think calling them 'sun bursts' is acceptable." The image of a scourge colliding with a flying Kiln Keeper was seen on the image, followed by five others.
"And then there is this curious creature." Faddoh said, switching to the last image that happened to be the bile launcher. "There have been reports that there are stationary zerg structures that appear in zerg established territories. The whipper and barnacle sentries may act as semi-stationary base defenses, but this organism is completely stationary. All we know is that the zerg floaters has the ability to enter a quick metamorphosis stage that enables them to achieve this form. But as for their name... I suppose calling them 'burst lobbers' might seem too redundant and predictable... Eh. It will have to do."
Once Faddoh was done showing pictures of the documented zerg organisms to Rickey, he went back to his desk and continued fiddling with the tools there. Rickey took the chance to sigh. "I uh... I would like to have some fresh soil sometime in the future, however."
Faddoh didn't look up from his work. "Is that so? I take it that you are low in your energy reserves?"
Rickey nodded. "Hell, I am very close to losing cohesion of my disguise."
"Hmm! How long will you have until you lose your current form?" Faddoh asked, perplexed.
Rickey craned his neck. "I dunno. I say about... thirty more seconds or so? The shape-shifting power I possess wasn't supposed to be used for this long."
"Then allow me to witness this cohesion reversal. I have time." Faddoh said, leaving his desk once again and coming to a stop in front of Rickey's cage. After several seconds had passed, roughly thirty three, Rickey started grunting as his body's appearance slowly changed. What used to be armor that belonged to the iron and yellow colored Torus Chain Division became that of darkened, shifting flesh. Scales became a smooth surface, both slick and shiny. Much of the central part of the body drooped to the cage floor and became a mass of flesh, besides that of a torso that was barely recognizable and spines poking out from every pulsing gland on the surface of its skin. The changelisk shifted itself around before it looked up at Faddoh. Commander Faddoh, on the other hand, simply stared in surprise. "Oh! So this is what you really look like? My gods, I think I actually prefer your gilanian form!"
Rickey the changelisk sighed. "Take a picture. It'll last longer."
Faddoh paused a little before nodding. "I think I would." He raised his plastic sheet up and pressed onto it. After a blip sound resonated from the plastic sheet, he pocketed it back onto his person. After that, he went back to his desk and finished putting together an unusual device he was working on, which he brought to the changelisk. "Now to see if my new invention works."
After clicking it on, it had an immediate reaction to Rickey and the nearby zerglings. Rickey felt drawn to the device for some unknown reason, and the zerglings tried to push their way pass the bars of the cage that contained them. It was an irresistible force, like... an enticing light being shown to a moth's face. After waving this device around, Rickey and the zerglings tracked it around with an undivided willpower. After clicking this device off, Rickey blinked a few times and shook his head. "Gh... What the hell did you do?"
Faddoh smiled widely as he held up his invention. "Do you like it? I call it my 'neural oscillator'. It seems as though my theory about the neural oscillations being produced externally, and being used for communication by the zerg, was correct. It is now obvious to me that you zerg are sensitive to external neural oscillations, based on the reaction you have given just now. Very interesting! I'll have to patent this item and find out how it can be used to exterminate the zerg!"
Rickey growled. "You have no idea how much danger you have put yourself into, Commander Faddoh. Kay himself is going to arrive here and bring the wrath of the swarm on EVERYONE here."
Faddoh tilted his head. "I don't think you are one to be in the position of threatening someone. Especially one who can electrocute you as punishment. T'gai! Activate cage two's stun burst!"
Rickey's world was now lightning, which forced him to crawl backwards and away from the copper commander. He snarled a few times before retreating to a corner. "This changes nothing. You will die. Golden Star will die. All of your loyalists will die. Gollog will die. Once the emperor is defeated and slain, there will be nothing but the swarm, and we will celebrate by pulling all of your marrow out from your bones."
"Ah-ah-ah! Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Activate cage two's stun burst again!" Faddoh warned.
Rickey's cage electrified him again, and he screeched in pain. After that burst of electricity, Rickey finally decided to keep himself quiet. Several seconds had passed, but the sound of shallow breathing was heard from the changelisk, followed by the curious trills of the zerglings that watched the electrocuted changelisk.
Faddoh smiled at the silent changelisk. "Learned your lesson? Good. This test means you CAN be tamed. Now be a good doppelganger and keep yourself like this from here on out. If your behavior is good, I will reward you with treats and snacks! But for now, I have to tell my general and emperor of the good news. Stay here and be good, Rickey." Faddoh said with a broad smile. He turned away and headed for the door that left the room. "See you again soon."
Rickey sighed as he was left alone. It was at this moment that he did a double take of the room he was in. It appeared to be a room that was purposed for slave containment, likely used for gilanian slaves to experiment their different drugs on, or use criminals for ongoing testing procedures. The gilanians never truly believed in animal testing, preferring to use their medical practice on gilanians that had an unforgivable criminal history. Rickey noticed that there were three security cameras in the room, and that each were placed on different sides of the room that overlooked the cages. No matter how far one would turn, one camera would always be looking at Rickey's direction.
But the plan was put into motion. Infiltration was the main purpose of the changelings, but the changelisks had the advantage of long-term espionage and covert tactics over greater time periods. And at the moment, there could not be a more perfect opportunity for the changelisk to escape from his confinement!
Rickey unsheathed a bone blade from his right arm, twisted the blade around at an impossible angle using his left arm, and started cutting his right arm off. After several slices of his own regenerating flesh, the bone blade was removed from his own arm. Rickey felt pain as he amputated himself, but he concentrated on the task and nothing else. He set his bone blade to his left hand and waited. He would allow his regeneration to help restore his body, enabling him to produce another bone blade. He might reduce his own mass doing this, but there was no other alternative. Patience is key in this game of waiting, and Kay wanted Rickey to play it.
Slowly, another bone knife had formed within Rickey's arm. This time, Rickey used the bone knife that he had generated from his body to amputate yet another bone knife from his arm again. Now with two bone blades, Rickey placed the extra blade on the ground of the cage carefully. Patience was a terrible virtue in this version of the waiting game, and it would be at the cost of his own flesh. Still, he could cut regenerated bone blades from his arm several times, and all he really needed was bio-matter to draw from. However, he was quickly running out of essential minerals within his own body to draw from, and the new bone blade forming in his arm was now mostly cartilage. However, after the ninth bone blade, he had very little minerals to draw from. What Rickey needed then was to renew his flesh with fresh nutrients. Sadly, there was no creep for Rickey to draw nutrients from.
One of the three zerglings attacked its brother besides itself and tore a forelimb off. There was horrendous screeches of pain, but the noise died down somewhat after the limb was procured. The attacking zergling took the limb removed from its wounded cellmate and decided to begin flinging the limb in the air. After a few experimental tosses, the zergling took the forelimb in its mouth and readied itself, aiming for the changelisk that was in the cage beside its own. After a forceful swing of its head, the limb went sailing into the air and went through the cage's bars. It successfully went into the cage that Rickey was contained in.
With the limb secured in his own cage, Rickey approached the limb and started rasping onto the exposed flesh. The biomass found in the limb would provide minerals that could strengthen Rickey the changelisk, providing enough materials to help him generate another bone blade. However, even with the severed zerg limb to feed on, the changelisk would have to work fast in order to enact his next plan of action.
Kay sighed. "So who do you think the VIP is?" Kay asked Virid, turning to her again.
Virid shook her head. "I have no idea. I think it could either be Pallax or one of the remaining commanders."
"A good guess." Kay said, nodding. "But more importantly, did you notice any structures that might have looked like any Kiln Keeper construction factories in the city?"
"I have not noticed." Virid replied.
"Hmm... Well, I wonder if the factory is somewhere inside the town? You do know that I will win the bet if we do find the factory in the city limits." Kay reminded.
Virid rolled her eyes. "It is obvious that the factory is outside. The Kiln Keepers and their machine variants are emerging from the very water itself! How would you explain that?"
"Um..." Kay had no answer, so he made up something. "... Smoke and mirrors?" He answered, shrugging.
Virid trilled. "We will see the result of this bet soon, Kay. The end is nearing." She said with a vicious amount of amusement to her voice.
Kay sighed. "It's not over just yet, so don't send the zerg to nip at my ankles prematurely."
[What are you two betting on?]
Kay looked up and at the tower. "Kragnon? Are you awake already?"
[I am. I had set my alarm for the early morning. I see that your zerg are trying to take over Empire City. How long ago have the zerg started attacking the island?]
"A few hours ago, close to midnight on our time. Hard to imagine seeing light in that area when everything else here is still dark." Kay answered, smirking.
[So uh... What are you two betting on? You kind of missed my question.]
Kay chuckled. "Oh right! Well, you see Kragnon, I made a bet that the factory producing the Kiln Keepers were inside of the city, whereas Virid had made the bet that they are being produced outside of it. I think she might have won the bet here."
[Can I get in on this?]
Kay paused for two seconds before answering. "... Sure, I guess? Virid, you don't mind, right?" He said, turning to Virid.
"What are the stakes?" Virid asked.
Kay nodded and turned to look at the tower again. "Virid is asking what you would be gambling on. Just so you know, if I win, then Virid gets to provide a free ride on her back. If she wins, then a pair of zerglings will... um... let's not get into that, actually."
[Alright. I bet that the Kiln Keeper factory is annexed into the city. And if I win... You repair the hole you made on my tower's perimeter walls.]
Kay turned to Virid. "Do you accept this bet, Virid?" Kay asked.
Virid nodded. "I will accept."
Kay turned back to the tower. "She accepts the bet too."
[Fantastic. Wake me up later when you find out where the Kiln Keeper factory is located.] And with that, Kragnon canceled the communication channel between himself and Kay.
Kay furrowed his eyebrows for a few seconds. "... Kay?"
Virid paused before she trilled uncertainly. "Did our exchange with Kragnon seemed strange to you?"
Kay shrugged. "Even so, we still have an empire to destroy. Once Empire City is rubble, we can debate about the bet afterwards."
Virid sighed and focused her attention on the battle within the day circle. Kay, on the other hand, focused on the changelisks and zerglings that had infiltrated the city.
Elsewhere, on the southern pole of the planet, the gilanians at the research facility responsible for bringing the zerg into the world got wind of the zerg's shenanigans. They were greatly worried of the organisms they had unleashed into their world. They noticed that the zerg have created multiple hatcheries around the era agency, and setting up their defenses in case a threat attacked them. Worst yet, they detected a massive organism that had dive-bombed at the agency, only to pull up at the last second. After that, it then harmlessly floated away after dropping a thousand or so zerg organisms on the ground. The research facility had no idea what the zerg's full capabilities were before, but they feared that they would learn of their full potential soon.
A/N: Zerg renames by Faddoh!
bile launcher = burst lobber
defiler = cougher
guardian = burst launcher
scourge = sun burst