The corridor was darker than those on the other side of the building, most probably because there's little to nobody who use this part of R&D department. This is where some of the most top secret projects were first developed before they're announced to the public and mass media months later. The air too, was cool and contributed to the feeling of loneliness- and somewhat spooky.
What are they up to this time, I wonder?
Adjusting the white bandana tied around his forehead, he sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. Leo knew he'd be in serious trouble if he got caught sneeking around in the off-limit area. He'd manage to fish out one of the researcher's ID card from his pocket when he wasn't looking. Carefully taking his steps around the complex, he stayed in the shadows and peek around a corner before making his next move. And found a surveillance camera guarding the entrance to the lab, which should be deserted by now. Everyone is safe and sound in their own quarters. Or outside looking at their results. Or having intense trainings out in the fields. The R&D people are different from the rest. They sleep during the day and work in the wee hours of the night.
Now I just have to wait for the camera to move-
Getting familiar to the camera's duration to make a 180 degreed turn, Leo waited until the camera's field of vision is not focusing on the corner which he had his back on. He then made a quick and silent low dash towards the camera, and stay below it till it reversed its movement- away from the lab's door and back to the view of the corner.
Perfect!
The cold metal doors slided open with a light humming sound of electricity as he slide the stolen ID card through the card reader. The air was much warmer in the lab, with much heat being dissipated from the enormous machineries where a small scent of warm microchips lingered. Not exactly a pleasant feeling, and the place looks more like a oversized garage. Diodes of various colours blinking accompanied by the beepings from the supercomputers filled a third of the lab, with gigantic cables and wires ran across the walls and the ground.
Leo took a step into the shadow surrounding the room, and as the doors slided close behind him, he could make out the outline of the two humanoid machines in the back of the lab, suspended in the air by their arms, the cockpits placed on the elevated walkway accessible via the metal ladder located in the middle of the construct.
His footsteps echoed through the vast space as he brought himself closer towards the Orbital Frames. Both Frames were arranged to stood face-to-face, the feeling of extreme power and security enveloped the two Martian war machines. However, the Anubis frame alone was still shrouded in the aura of destruction and insanity; Leo's experiences in the past since 2172 earned him that.
His gaze traced along the brown-coloured body of the replica frame that was made by Bahram as a decoy. And he WAS the one who got tricked by that fake frame. He should have noticed that it actually lacked the three pairs of wings; but his rage and naiveness that time almost costed him his life.
He shivered at that thought, it was indeed a close call. He's probably lucky that Nohman wasn't aiming for his death.
Putting the rest of his past aside, Leo climbed up the ladder to the elevated walkway and headed towards the other Orbital Frame, which he had spent some of his time with when Bahram forces first invaded the Antillia Colony orbiting around Jupiter. Jehuty, the other twin frame of Anubis.
"ADA..."
He uttered the name, or more precisely, the codename of Jehuty's onboard battle A.I. Although 'she' goes strict by the rules, being a computer and all that, she had proven to provide companionship and guidance to him, who'd no experiences in manning any other machines larger than a lawnmower at that period of time. And she was programmed to activate the self-destruct sequence in the core of Aumann with Jehuty as a final strike against the rising power of Bahram. Jehuty's, as well as Anubis' self-destructive power was as strong as that of several atomic bombs put together. This power was one of the many features contained in the substance found on both Jupiter and Mars- Metatron. Aumann was made to be a hundred fold of that strength; it's destruction costed Mars one of their satellites, Phobos.
As Leo placed his left palm on the cockpit cover, the cold metatron warmed up and green light ran through its vein-like lines between its armour pieces in pulsation. It looked as if the Orbital Frame has a life of its own. The center on the top of the 'windshield' began to shatter, revealing the runner seat as it continue to open in its radial formation. Without further hesitation, he hopped into the cockpit and the 'windshield' closed behind him, forming the screen which provides various information as well as the vision outside the cockpit as clear as if there's no cover at all. The console is dimmed, the surrounding of the cockpit itself was dark, lit only by the regular pulse of green lines.
"Good morning, ADA."
The console blinks, and slowly regained its bright greenish glow that filled the whole cockpit.
Cancelling Idle Mode.
It is about three minutes to fifteen hundred hours now. 'Good evening' would be much more appropriate.
You are not cleared to enter this lab. Why are you here?
"Well, I kinda missed you, so, I thought I might just come and have a visit. It's been a long time."
That is an irrational behaviour which I do not comprehend, but I supposed that is inevitable, given that you've been behaving such a way during the Antillia raid.
"Ha ha... You really will never change a bit over time will you, ADA?" Leo smiled.
I do not comprehend the dialogue or question.
"Nevermind. Anyway, I do have a question for you."
Do ask.
"Why was the order given to retrieve both Jehuty and the replica Anubis back to this lab? What was the purpose, knowing that Aumann was already destroyed?"
Checking files, please wait...
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Excerpts from the UNSF R&D Sector-7 logbook: 2174.4.21 Professor Morris .
The two orbital frames were safely retrieved by our men, thanks to your helpful LEVs. Although they suffered from the impact of explosion that completely irradicated Phobos, their main structure remained intact, eventhough they lose some of the surface metatron armours due to debris. They will be sent back to base as soon as the repairs are done.
Excerpts from the UNSF R&D Sector-7 logbook: 2174.4.23 Professor Morris .
The Jehuty frame is incredible! I've never seen anything like it. It's been two days now and it already look as if it was brand new! The thing is, no repairs were needed! It regenerates it's missing limbs like a lizard- This gotta be another one of those unique feature that these mysterious substance 'Metatron' holds.I'm not entirely sure how it works, but if I could study it, this could be a remarkable discovery for us UNSF.
Excerpts from the UNSF R&D Sector-7 logbook: 2174.8.04 Professor Morris .
After months of studies on the Metatron, I believe I had finally came up with some satisfying results. I'll send you the reports after I'd run some tests on them.
Excerpts from the UNSF R&D Sector-7 logbook: 2174.9.15 Professor Morris .
With the successful results and your approval, I'm now ready to begin the "Children of Anubis" project scheduled earlier. The objectives, requirements and probably some early results will be handed over to you in a few weeks time.
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These are the logs I'd gathered that mentioned the purpose of Jehuty and the replica being here. The rest are kept in Security Level-1, which is inaccessable by anyone other than the President, the Secretary of Defense and the General in Command.
"Children Of Anubis?" The name of the project brought up the uneasiness in him. "Is there any other additional information regarding this project?"
There are a few, but I have no permission to access the files.
"Ah... I see..." Leo sighed in disappointment.
There are a few unwritten information though, which could well be not classified as Security Level-1. Perhaps this could help a bit.
checking files, please wait.
Loading audio data file 08-15-74.rec
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Playing audio data file.
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"My COA will surpass these two OFs thousand of times. I'll merge the traits found in both these Anubis and Jehuty frames into one."
"Well, do your best, or else I'll cut your funding, understand?"
"Y-Yes sir."
"Can you tell me what these COA can do, or at least what they're expected to do?"
"Well, they're like a combination of both these Anubis and Jehuty frames, so they'll be able to maximize the potential of Vector Trap weaponries, possibly a built-in Urenbeck Catapult, regenerative capabilities, so on so forth. And once I've all these technologies studied, we might as well built them with our own material and supplies from earth, which would not be as expensive as imported Metatron. Then they would see mass production."
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear. Those ugly Martians wanted independence, now I'll give them MY definition of indepedence!"
Audio data file end.
"Mass production!? That's insane!!"
Given the odds of human behaviour, I believe that it was inevitable. History had shown that mankind had sought after absolute power ever since they start to exist.
"But this is just not right! I have to tell Celvice. And Elena, too."
I strongly recommend that you do not. Humans had shown that under certain circumstances, they might kill to keep something important a secret. It'll be much safer for both of them if they do not know this.
"They will kill more people if I don't! What should I do? I've got to stop them somehow."
I'm unable to generate an answer to that question due to the lack of data needed to compute certain results.
I detect motion reactions inside the lab. I suggest that you get out of this area, given the situation that are not in your favour. There's a backdoor located behind this frame.
"Thanks, ADA. I'll be back for you next time."
I do not comprehend the objective for that action, and I strongly recommend that you should not come back. Be careful.
Leo climbed out of the comfortable seat of Jehuty's cockpit, and headed towards the exit ADA had mentioned earlier in a haste, as voices began to emanate from behind the metal doors where he first entered the lab. As he leave the complex, questions after questions started to swarm into his mind.
Mass-production OFs? What the hell? Is Earth planning to wage a war with Mars?
He didn't like the sound of it.
I've to ask Elena. Maybe she knew something about this.