Cold Machines
Chapter 15
Combat Readiness
10/February/2021 Sorry I just realized that what the first part looks like. Kind of wrote in one large chunk and never formatted it properly. This Update is to fix it!
Hello hello from Battle_Unit_3 the Inconsistent. Sorry for the long stop i was...well i guess i was lazy? Unmotivated? I will try to do better? No promises!
Geth POV
"Through here, sir" said the soldier leading them into a heavily guarded building. The guards in front of the door quickly opened the door for them. The inside was a small room with a door at the other end and window to the right side. In front of the other door stood Natalie-Assistant with two guards on each side.
"Mr. Smith you are relieved, please return to your previous assignment" the escort Smith-Soldier left through the exit behind them with quick "Yes, Ma'am" Natalie-Assistant addressed them "Mr. Geth please surrender your weapons to the armory officer in the window your right" They quickly followed orders and gave their X592-23 type PR to the man behind the window. "Please follow me" Natalie-Assistant opened the door behind her and began walking quickly.
They found themselves in a large room in the middle a large table map much like the one in Winterhome Research Station 3 however much larger and more detailed. Surrounding the table map were several humans each in different clothing and medallions showing their differing occupations.
While approaching they heard Becket-XO.
"… shouldn't be an issue, looking at the lines in front of the recruitment stations" a blonde woman in a lighter gear than what has been observed and a medallion with a quill and a five pointed star, cut off Becket-XO.
"Yes and while there out there, playing soldier, who is going to be left to work in the city? Might have you forgotten that manpower ,much like every other resources, is limited?" she questioned putting much aggression in it.
"Yes, yes we cannot slow down the research division. We are close to significant breakthrough in electrical storage!" An older man with glasses in lab coat and medallion with a beaker and five pointed star jumped in.
It appeared every member in the room beyond the Geth was some leader in their field. Walters-Captain spotted them.
"Enough! I understand your concerns. But this is an unprecedented situation. We must be ready for whatever this is."
"I will not have children starve because of your fear mongering! I will not sta…" snarled the blonde woman before she was cut off by Walter-Captain.
"Marie! I understand, but we have a significant surplus. But to make it better, I will make sure to not dip too much into the production of the Light Industry Sector" and silence fell between them.
"I am just trying to keep everyone safe" she respond after the short silence
"I know"
"I am not saying I can give people but the factories can operate on a skeletal crew but they cannot be shut off. I will give you a list later for that." A bald man with scars on his face and a glass of amber liquid spoke up, His affiliation with engineers was predictable as was the medallion with cog
"Thank you Alistair" was Walter-Captain's response. A small young woman with short black hair and medallion with a compass playing with her hands looked nervous and bit her lip.
"I…I mean we ,the scouts, can help…but but we are not trained soldiers, after the guard was formed most of the former soldiers joined them… but we can still help! Just nothing too dangerous. Please." She said while her eyes looked pleadingly at Walter-Captain.
"Thank you Sasha, I am sure they will be of great help" He softly returned. The small woman, Sasha-Scout, smiled brightly and nodded vigorously.
The Captain turned to them.
"Geth, I apologize for calling you here but I have questions. Despite your ship crashing nowhere near the area we are looking is there anything on your ship that could be considered a threat?" The Geth quickly ran through their cargo manifest. The ship contained only parts and equipment for long range journeys.
"Negative, our ship contained no others than us."
"Ah yes, the ship, you, everything incredible I have many quest…" The man in the lab coat, jumped in
"Hugh! This is not the time!"
"Ah…yes Captain."
"Hmmm, well that's good the last thing we need is rampant alien technology. I am sorry Geth, Hugh can get easily excited" Hugh-Scientist's cheeks reddened. The Captain continued.
"Now to put you up to speed, Two hours ago a scout group we sent out to investigate a smoke signs east of here sent out a distress signal. Though much of it was lost we understood that they were under attack. Our best guess is the smoke signal was a dreadnought and the inhabitants were not friendly. I know it's too much to ask but you and your technology could be very useful in resolving the situation. But I obligated to ask. Can you join the reinforcements we are sending?"
Everybody in the room turned their attention to them. This was beyond predicted outcomes. The Geth Consensus practiced a strict non-interference policy. But these parameters were different. The Geth were affected by the consequences of the situation. Though not part of the City their continued existence relied on the continued function of the City. The chances of the humans reacting with hostility to a negative answer are low but will be less likely to assist them in the future. In a sense they were pressured into agreeing and Walter-Captain knew it. More information was needed
"You ask of us to fight for you?"
"No, I ask you to help us find a solution to the situation. If it requires you to fight…then yes." Combat is not guaranteed but implied as a possibility. A consensus was started. A consensus was reached.
"We will assist, however only if you are not the aggressors."
"Thank you Geth."
"Have you asked what the Automatons think of this" Hugh-Scientist suddenly asked
"Yes, of what I understood they will help but advocate peaceful and quick solution so they can return back to work" Walters-Captain turned to Hugh-Scientist.
"Bloody workaholics." Alistair-Engineer said while giving a small snort. The statement was met by several eyebrows raising.
"Pot. Kettle. Have you met?" Marie-Administrator scoffed.
Jacob POV
"Alright you peasant-looking-sponges! This here is the refresh course for gear. Since you lemming are so quick to throw yourself out of the nearby cliff I am supposed the make sure you survive the fall. As impossible as that sounds." The Quartermaster yelled out. He had an eye patch on his left eye and the top of his head was bald.
"I heard he swore like a sailor before but the Captain had a talk to him because he was making people uncomfortable." Leon said to me quietly
"Oi, you, virgin-in-the-apocalypse I can hear you talking shhhhiiiii…bad about me! The Captain told not to swear, he didn't say anything about beating you until you looks like you tried to make to love to a moose!" yelled out the old man
"I, what ..no I am not." Spluttered Leon as everyone around him laughed. "Laughing, huh, yall very in the mood today, huh? Well listen here you hollowed-skull-birds this gear will save your LIFE! So let's get started before one of you numb-bones accidentally sets himself on fire with their flare!"
"Alright, First! Main Weapon! Due to the fact that currently most of the world's industry is dead, technologically we are like a puppy in shark infested waters. So forget about auto guns and stubbers. We are going primitive here. Bolt-Action. The Newest invention before more mechanized weapons took the field. This ,here, is the Lee-Metford rifle! It was the standard issue before the Lee-Enfield came along. But don't worry you won't be using this one? Why because these expeditions didn't have high priority in the army. Therefore we got surplus in Fact the Metford is most likely the most advanced weapon in the city. And you are not going to use it. That's for veterans only, like me if I had my eye. You losers are going with ancient things like the Martini-Henry."
He put down the Metford and raised the Martini-Henry. "When I was wee lad we had a breech loaded like this one. Though now that I look at the Metford I can see the appeal of the bolt action. Too bad for you I guess. Ha Ha Ha. It's cheap to make and easy enough for our factories to reproduce. The Engineers worked hard to fill our armory since before this stupidity going on so you make sure you thank them properly you cave-dwelling-savages." The man exhaled
"Alright breech loaded, it fires .452 inch soft hollow-based lead bullets and… I have completely lost you. Well just put the metal stick in the hole like this. Simple enough, right?" His gaze moved across the room "Sweet merciful God give me strength to not throttle someone today." He whispered but was heard by everyone.
"You don't get sidearms. Too complex. The Factories are still trying to reconfigure for weapons manufacturing. However you are given combat knives. Despite the numerous protests from Medical and me." The last part was more to himself.
"Now to equipment! Basic stuff, water and food rations for three days. DON'T EAT THEM! They are for emergencies only! You have a compass, binoculars, and your basic toolkit for survival. " Raising each item as he calls them out "Now off to the new stuff. Flares! Two types one is a signal flare." he raised a green stick."Twist the bottom and rub it on the top, lights up and bright light will appear. If you are trying to signal your location or use a light that's your stuff. It can also be used to light things on fire so BE CAREFUL. "He lowered the green flare and raised the red one.
"Next Heat flares, new invention, same as before for lighting up but the flare will show less light and expel heat. If trapped in a cave and need to get warm quick, use this. Do not hold it. Light it and throw it. Don't use it on the open the wind will negate its effects. Dig a hole or something. Also definitely not toxic, they told me that themselves, however I wouldn't trust those fume-sniffers with anything" He put it down.
He looked at them but his face was more serious "Look, things are not the best; your equipment would be barely accepted in the most unprofessional armies. The Engineers are working around the clock to design and improve our gear. But this came out of nowhere. So don't do stupid things or if you do try to get out of it alive. There aren't many of us left anymore. We can't afford to lose you too." His eyes showed more than his age. Before he clapped his hands and declared " NOW, Who is first?" He began preparing equipment to be given. I looked to Leon to see him still a little embarrassed. To my right Ivan rose up. " Damn, will have to speak to him at the public house."
"Ivan?" I asked
"Nothing just he looked like he wasn't feeling well"
"Didn't have problems with throwing shit my way." Said Leon
"You deserved it" retorted Ivan
"And how exactly did I deserve such humiliation" asked Leon annoyed
"People are on edge already. There is a lot of pressure on him too. You were not helping." Ivan spoke softly
"Yeah well I was just trying to bring a little joy in people"
"There is a time and place for everything. This was not it."
Leon didn't look like he agreed but kept silent.
"Next" called out the Quartermaster. I approached and said.
"Nash, Jacob"
"Nash, Nash, Nash. Here you are basic gear." He put on the gear and held out the rifle. I grabbed it. "Nash? Don't you have a family?" he asked, his eyes narrowing and not letting go of the weapons "Yes… a mother and two sisters." He stared "what are you doing here?" Not this again. "My duty." He let go of the rifle." There are more important things than duty, boy. Let's hope you don't lose them. Next!"
Why does everyone remind me that I have a family? I know that I do. What are they implying?
"No" I heard from behind.
"What?!" exclaimed Leon.
"No way, am I giving you engineer gear. I don't care what this list says. I am not giving you explosives"
"I am certified!"
"Don't care. That little course they fast track you is barely enough to not get yourself blown up."
"I can handle explosives. I have handled explosives. I pulled several shifts in the mines to get the certificate."
"You used already prepared explosives in controlled conditions. Get your gear and get out. If you return I will reconsider it." Leon grabbed his gear and stormed off. He got to me "Bloody bastard what does he know! I finished my training."
"I didn't know you had engineer training." I said hoping to divert his attention. It worked. He calmed down.
"Yeah they allowed me in because I was already knowledgeable enough in the field. Thank you Mrs. Harris for all the homework you gave me." Huh that sounds oddly not like him. I mean I know he is intelligent but usually he doesn't do more than… "Plus there was this cute girl on the team too" There it is. If Leon would apply himself he could achieve a lot but he is still at that age. I am still at that age. What am I doing? I should spend more time with Eli.
"Alright let's go" was the voice of Ivan.
"Wait you got a Lee-Metford!" exclaimed Leon, drawing my attention.
"Yes. For Veterans." He slowly said.
"Complete asshole, I tell you!" Ivans only response is a sigh.
"So what did you guys volunteer for?" I asked. Before we entered they had us sign where we wanted to go. The Options were City Guard, Outpost Guard and Reinforcements. It's not a guarantee that you would be put where you want. But we were volunteers.
Ivan spoke first. "Reinforcements. They need all the help they can get. It's also the most dangerous."
"Yeah me too, figured it will look cool in front of all the ladies!" exclaimed Leon.
"Kid you're going to get yourself killed. You should have stayed here."
"Yeah right and miss the action! No way."
"And you wonder why he didn't give you engineer gear. Jacob told me that you didn't."
"Sorry, I am not leaving you guys behind to stay here."
"Leon I understand, but Jacob you have a family, you can't just go off."
"Watch me" I glared at him. He squeezed his nose ridge.
"Uhh that's cool Jacob; we are like the three musketeers!" said Leon with a bright smile.
I smile at his optimism. "Right and who is going to be D'Artagnan?"
"Greetings" Came a synthetic voice from our left.
"Geth" We greeted him.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"It was decided that we will join the Reinforcements." Came the answer
Leon stretched his arms to the sides. "Aha we have the whole gang here!" he turned around. "Fellas, together we are off to a great adventure I can feel it! An Adventure filled with action, drama, horror! And most importantly Romance!"
"Whatever you say, Leon," I laughed.
"Kid, don't make me hit you." Ivan threatened.
"We lack information to form a proper answer. We will just nod" nodded Geth.
I am not sure if i did the Quartermaster well. I wanted him to be bitter old man that is tired of seeing future corpses. I have been playing Metro Last Light so threw in there a small Musketeer reference. Its not foreshadowing, its me being me.
Off to reviews!
LordCharlieJ: I am still trying to set the scene. You cant rush Steampunk to Ray-Punk gotta happen slowly
Larry the Mailman: Thanks, I am actually interested in discussing the story with someone. I feel the best ideas come from a little bouncing back and forward
Malgrath: Is it the Dialog, I am sorry if you can explain the exact problem i can try to fix it
Jon Snow: I was actually thinking that! Frostpunk has awesome crossover potential including Game of Thrones. It would be awesome if we had like the survivors colonizing the True North or Britain and the other nations finding a portal to the GoT universe and being like "Yoink Mine"
FoulerGlint60: I am not sure if Reapers would make an appearance maybe like a secondary plot?