Author's Note
plasma123fire here! I am back with another chapter. As always leave a review, a follow & a favorite as it gives me a lot of motivation into writing this story! As always stay safe and now to the story.
Chapter 3: Background Research I
"To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A few days later in the Special Region at Alnus Hill.
Special Region
Alnus Hill
08h00
[The sound of the Reveille Wake Up call can be heard projected throughout Alnus Hill]
It have been a month since First Contact back to Japan and with that the base has been completely restored to its former glory as it was 4 years ago with the efforts of the Japanese Diet, the JSDF Garrison and the local's. It has been improved with the latest defence systems and technologies due to the recent discovered high risk of dangerous fauna and creatures in surrounding areas and in the Special Region. The Japanese Diet insisted in these new upgrades, despite the pleas of now promoted General Hazma.
Now General Hazama despite being refreshed in the morning and drinking his longed for Japanese Sencha tea due to his 4 years of isolation from Japan is currently silently panicking due to the fact that they will have new neighbours soon and that representatives are on their way here soon to check out the base and the Special Region before sending in their forces. He needs to find the best person who is loved amongst the natives to guide these representatives around the restored Base, Alnus Hill and the surrounding areas.
Then it clicked, it clicked so hard that he spat his beloved tea out of his mouth and onto his paper work. The Otaku, the Hero of Ginza and Slayer of the Fire Dragon. Wow, of all people but him.
[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAMMMMMMMIIIIIII!]
Itami jolted up from his nap by a tree as he soon as he heard his name called out by General Hazma and ran back to base with Itami's gang following in suite. Itami and gang proceeds to go into General Hazma's Office and sits down on the couches there
[Itami speaks-]
"Morning General, what brings me here and also congratulations on your promotion. You deserved it."
Itami's gang also nods in agreement to Itami's statement
General Hazama sighs
"Thank you for coming here today Itami and his friends as well. I also thank you for your compliment. The reason for your sudden summoning is that we have a couple of visitors coming to the base today for an inspection as they are going to be our allies and neighbours soon. I want you to take them onto a tour around the base and into the surrounding areas around Alnus Hill. Show them how we helped out the locals here and our capabilities. I am sure you know about the sanction placed onto Japan by the UNSC?"
"What sanction never heard that we got one even?" replied Itami
You're sure useless at times Itami, not even knowing what's happening in your own nation?" chuckled Rory Mercury.
"I am not useless Rory! I did not have time to look at the files yet." Answered Itami back to Rory immediately.
The two proceed to argue over it and make a ruckus in the room. While General Hazma's kettle starts to steam up…
[EEEEEEEENNNNNNNNOOOOOOUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH!]
"This meeting is very important. This can screw up us here, Japan and could start a World War! These people are going to act as UN Observers here in the Special Region! So don't f*ck it up! They are going to be here any min-"
[General Hazma's phone suddenly rings.]
General Hazma answers it while looking at Itami with the eyes that say, "You're lucky that saved you.". What seems to be murmurs from the phone. General Hazma puts down the phone. He lets out a puff of air.
"Itami and his friends. The representatives are here. I want to you to do what I said and you may improvise. You may meet them in the courtyard near the entrance of the GATE. Dismissed."
Itami and suite then make their way to the courtyard outside the GATE. As expected there is already a vehicle there waiting. A RG-31 Nyla to be precise. What appears to be soldiers get out of the vehicle, in standard issue gear with a green camouflage. Then something that surprises Itami and especially the locals with him is that a robot gets out of the Nyla. The robot standing 1.93m tall donning in elegant green metal armour with distinct gold markings all over it. One can immediately tell it was built not for combat but more of the role of an officer. The robot's chassis gives an impression of full dress uniform worn by officers in the military. The robot's most distinct feature is it's 3 red glowing eyes in its head and a large snout sticking out a bit. It proceeds to walk towards to the group with bodyguards in tow.
[Small audible clanks can be heard as he moves towards the group]
"Itami what is that? Is that the representative? Is it a golem? It looks scary" ask Tuka.
"Ummmm, how do I explain it. It's called a robot but in this sense it is a droid as well. As droids have the shapes of humanoids. It's like an intelligent golem made out of metal if that makes sense. Even better explanation, it's like Lelei's laptop but in a shape of a humanoid but it is intelligent as well. Though I never seen this model before and one advanced as this."
"I see, I think I understand." Replied Tuka not really understanding anything.
"So Japan managed to make sentient computers that move around like a person." Asks Lelei intrigued. "I would like to ask it questions, see how it functions and possible application & usage of magic and if it can review my works, since it's a walking computer."
"I am not sure about it, Lelei. It does not seem belong to Japan and it's a representative of our soon to be neighbours. Though it would not hurt to ask it. I am sure the droid will sound nice and be nice to us." Said Itami
"Sentient or not. I must destroy it. It is an abomination to the Tree of life here. There should be no artificial sentient life at all. It's not natural." Said Rory intently with a smirk.
"I don't think you should do that. They are UN Observers and by being that they are very powerful. I don't want to handle WWIII because of you."
"Ahem" said the droid
[Everyone jolted that it could speak and that it was already in front of them]
"Greetings, sorry about the ruckus and wasting your time. My name is Captain Yōji Itami. This is Lelei La Lena a Human Mage, Rory Mercury an Apostle and Tuka Luna Marceau a High Elf and you are?
[In a robotic masculine voice due to the droid's masculine programming]
"Greetings to you all as well. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances. My name is Kalani. Super Tactical Droid. I am the General of the Robotic Forces under the Resource Development Administration. I am the representative visiting you all today. I will be stationed here in the Special Region in the near future. So it is good that I know everyone here. I have read through your basic profiles provided to me by the JSDF. It is fascinating that I met a "mage", a user of this "magic" in person. As well as another sentient species besides the humans such as this "High Elf". Though your kind as an Apostle, Ms. Rory Mercury currently does not fit with the logic of science and mathematics available to me at this stage. It is insufficient data. I hope in the future, I can learn more about you."
[Rory Mercury is unfazed by it and continues to ignore him]
[General Kalani's logical processes go to "Strange, the Apostle is unfazed and ignoring my question. I shall make note of that. I will create tactics that could be used against her in case of hostile and malicious intent." As he looked at her before turning to Itami]
"That said now. I assume, that Captain Yōji Itami will be escorting me and my guards around the base and its surrounding areas for my visit." Said General Kalani robotically.
[Itami and his friends except Rory's minds just went huh with a sweat drop…this guy sounds menacing and it is a General of all people…]
"Yes, correct General. Please follow me this way and I will show you around the base."
"Itami…Do you actually know what you are doing...? Do you even have a plan? General Hazma is going to be angry if you screwed up…" whispers Tuka to Itami.
"He's a robot, he will take things literally and he seems fine with it at the moment. I am improvising. Just let me think."
2 hours later…
"Captain Itami, I appreciate your guidance in this tour. But we have circled the base exactly 56 times already. I have made a precise layout of the base at your 3rd round around the base already. I suggest that we can now leave the base and into the surrounding areas. From my analysis, the JSDF has kept the pentagon style base layout which is effective against the methods used by the locals here. I see there are also some new equipment being installed here. Is there a reason for a sudden increase in high level technology, especially in armaments and surveillance? Current weapons should be sufficient against the inhabitants & local wildlife of the Special Region."
[Itami stops and proceeds to answer General Kalani]
"A-ah Yes, sorry about that. We can head to lunch now, after that we can take you to one to the villages under JSDF control, Coda Village."
"Thank you, Captain."
The group proceeds to the mess hall. Upon arriving, General Kalani was getting many stares at him from the JSDF and especially the Alnus Mercenary Corps that was there. Though he ignored it as it was a typical situation he calculated that would happen as the natives and some fellow JSDF members would have never seen such an advanced robot and AI as himself. As respect for the organics, he sits at the table with Itami and his Special Region friends while his guards at another table. He observes the group and patiently waits as he cannot eat or drink as the organic meat bags do. Until…
"Kalani, who created you and why are you so advanced compared to the other robots I have seen in Japan. What is your purpose?" asks Itami as he bites into a steak roll. The others and soon the whole cafeteria looks at Kalani with curiosity.
Kalani thinks for a bit and proceeds to answer, "According to my programming, I was created by the Resource Development Administration and my creator is the late CEO and founder Mr. Van Lu Minh. I am advanced due to the level of technology the RDA has and is currently acquiring through immense research and development. I am currently the RDA's most successful and intelligent artificial intelligence known to man. I have had a hand in the defence against the invasion of the Arachnids in Japan, 4 years ago. According to my programming as well, my purpose is to fight against the corruption that was bestowed onto the world and against the tyranny of those who use corruption and greed for their own benefit."
"Dang, that's a big purpose in life. You said you were a Super Tactical Droid. Does that mean there were others before you? Other models? Asked Itami further intrigued and trying to figure out if he is talking to the real life version of SkyNet in the Terminator movies.
General Kalani pauses for a moment to process the question. "There were other models before me, but I am there successor in the T-Series of droids made by the RDA.
"General Kalani, is it possible for me to learn more about you and how you function. I would like to know the process on how you are created." Asks Lelei intrigued with eyes of intent that would make anyone sweat vigorously.
General Kalani looks at Lelei La Lena and processes the question. He remembers from his memory banks that Lelei is an extremely intelligent human being and has used science and technology to boost her magic and the magic applications in the Special Region. Her knowing the specifications of a Super Tactical Droid and its programming, could prove disastrous to both worlds. He then answers her carefully.
"You can learn more about me, but in a means of not knowing my specifications, how I function and how I was created as I am prohibited by my programming to leak information to potential adversaries. I am though happy to help you analyse your magic as I can to benefit from it as well." Replied Kalani monotonously.
[Lelei nods her head to accept the answer]
Time skip
Special Region
On the way to Coda Village
15h00
[BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT]
[BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT]
An RDA soldier was manning the mounted GAU-17/A minigun on the RG-31 Nyla mowing down all the hordes of monsters that suddenly assaulted the convoy on their way to Coda Village. He suddenly sees another horned tiger, a species of tiger native to the wildlands of the Special Region with the body of a large tiger but with the head of a rhinoceros, charge at the armoured car from his flank. He turns his gun towards it.
[Wirrrrrrrrrrr… Click..]
[Mroooow]
[BBBRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT BBBRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT BBBRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT]
The soldier lets 3 short bursts from the minigun, instantly shredding the horned tiger into minced meat as its guts and brain matter exploded everywhere, covering the landscape in blood. He is trying to provide cover fire for his squad to evacuate the General from the wrecked Toyota High Mobility Vehicle up ahead from the convoy. Earlier, an ogre wielding a large wooden club with spikes did a suicide head charge into the vehicle and knocking it over. Before the ogre was blown to pieces by a rocket launcher, it slammed its spiked club onto a Komatsu LAV, instantly killing the gunner that was on there. The group was surprised by the sudden monster as the UAV above the area did not report any in the near vicinity. The group of cars were then suddenly surrounded by hordes of monsters ranging from goblins, trolls, ogres and horned tigers charging.
Doing his best in keeping the monsters at bay, efficiently killing monsters without wasting a bullet. His ammo was running out fast just like his luck while his squad-mates were running out to the wrecked car. A large armoured troll appeared out of the thicket, and armed with a spiked war hammer charged towards the RG-31 Nyla.
"Shit!"
[Wirrrrrrrrrrr… Click..]
[BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT] [BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT]
The soldier shoots rounds and rounds of hot armour piercing bullets at the armoured troll but the bullets merely bounced of his armour, leaving a small shimmering blue reflection.
"Shit! Shit shit!" shouted the terrified RDA soldier.
The beast was getting closer at 50m to the vehicle, just as the RDA soldier moved up the minigun towards the defenceless face of the troll and fired. The troll threw his was hammer Thor style towards the vehicle, blocking the bullets before hitting the gunner and the car.
As the troll threw the hammer towards the RDA soldier. The soldier muttered his final words before his mind went into complete darkness.
"Motherfuc-"
Meanwhile at the rest of the convoy, the remaining vehicles and JSDF soldiers were forming a defensive position while the squad of RDA soldiers make their way through the fray and towards the wrecked car to rescue the General, Captain Itami and his gang. Before suddenly the door of the car shot out, Rory Mercury immediately jumped out into the air, doing a back flip before slamming into a group of goblins. Following out of the car, was Lelei, Tuka and General Kalani who was mostly unscathed, doing a fireman's carry to the injured and unconscious Captain Itami, he was wielding his personal APC9 Pro submachine gun like a pistol due to his immense strength as a robot. He observes and records the battle for processing and future analysis.
His men move towards him and secure both Itami and himself as Lelei and Tuka were providing cover fire by their magic incantations and Rory Mercury was decimating the enemy ranks in pure blood lust. The JSDF convoy was assisting as well, destroying the stragglers who did not get killed by Rory's halberd or Lelei & Tuka's magic. As just in time, a nearby JSDF AH-1 Cobra Helicopter that was radioed in, flown into the fray and proceeded to decimate the remaining monster forces before they treated back into the thicket and escaped into the unknown.
As they were escaping, Kalani spotted through his optics a small hooded figure wielding a staff and seems to incantating something. He proceeds to fire his gun at the figure killing it on the spot or so he seems. As the JSDF secure the area and attend to wounded. He slowly walked towards the supposed corpse but to find nothing but a robe with the bullet holes in them. As he inspects the robe, he discovers a gold medallion with large red crystal inside of it. The crystal was as large as a human eye. The medallion was in a shape of a reptilian eye. Besides the strange medallion, Kalani discovers a small bag that seems to be hastily dropped in an attempt to escape a few meters away from the robe. Now inspecting the leather bag, he discovered a small locked book. Deeming it to be some sort of intelligence. He takes the robe and all the things that were lying around it, that includes the strange gold medallion and the locked book. He then proceeds to walk back just as a squadron of JSDF Helicopters land.
Earth
Japan
Unknown Location
18h00
In a pitch black room, one can see General Kalani kneeling as suddenly the hologram table, a product of the RDA's immense research and investment lights up. It reveals the CEO of the Resource Development Administration, Mr. Van Lu Minh. In his blueish holographic form, he speaks-
"Ah, General Kalani. It is time for your report from the Special Region. I heard there was a small skirmish between your convoy and the native wildlife of the Special Region. You may arise."
Kalani proceeds to stand up and one can hear the distinctive articulation of his joints as he did. He answers the CEO, in his monotonous robotic voice-
"My lord, the observation and trip to the Special Region was successful….. I have learned a lot of things about the Special Region from the JSDF's arsenal and equipment to the local inhabitants of the Special Region and the extent of their abilities… Yes, we were attacked during the convoy to Coda Village….. We sadly lost one member of the squad of soldiers meant to protect me….. The gunner was killed in the action…. Though what concerns me, despite the JSDF saying that these monster attacks have been more frequent after the Arachnid War in the Special Region 4 years ago,…..is that this peculiar attack seems to be well organised….. As if it is a form of guerrilla warfare.
[The CEO's face grew concerned as he looked at Kalani and another hologram, that Kalani is about to show him.]
[Kalani then shows the CEO, a hologram of the battle.]
"As you can see here, the ogre precisely knew which armoured car had the VIPs and how to quickly immobilise the LAV behind it… These creatures would not have known this, though they do have some level of intelligence as a human."
[Hologram changes to the camera recording of the armoured troll attacking the RG-31 Nyla. The bullets of the GAU-17/A minigun seems to miraculously bounce off the chest plate of the troll leaving a blue shimmers as it did. As the bullet spray went up the face of the troll, the troll threw its war hammer deflecting the bullets and into the camera, where the feed was went black.]
"The level of intelligence of this peculiar troll is quite high as it is trained and knew how to handle firearms… There seems to be an application of some form of "barrier magic" on the armour of the troll….. hence the deflection of the armour-piercing rounds leaving a blue shimmer… Thus I believe this was an organised attack on the JSDF similar to how Prince Zorzal did as those years ago….. but it seems improved against the JSDF….. Though it still failed when Rory Mercury and a nearby AH-1 Cobra Helicopter intervened."
[The hologram changes to the feed from Kalani's memory banks of a robed figure near the treeline, incantating something before being shot be Kalani.]
"This peculiar figure peek my interest…. as I deemed, this person could be the one who orchestrated the attack like a field commander.…..It also seems that the figure is responsible to the magic barriers on the armour of the monsters or is related to it."
"Where you able to kill or apprehend the robed figure as I see you shot the person down to the ground." Asks Mr. Minh curiously.
[Kalani pauses for a bit, then answers the CEO swiftly.]
"Yes, I thought I killed the person, but the person seems to have escape by unknown means. What remains where bullet ridden robes and these peculiar items."
[The hologram changes to a gold medallion in a shape of a dragon's eye with a red jewel acting as the eye. Then another one appeared, showing a small locked leather book a bit bigger than an A5 piece of paper.]
"These items are currently in my possession, in time I will send them to the laboratories for analysis….. As I would like to properly look at it myself for intelligence gathering."
"Mmmm, this situation is strange indeed. Do you think there is going to be another war or an uprising of sorts that is against the JSDF, Kalani? What is your perspective, would it cause a hinderance in our operations in the Special Region in beyond."
"It is unknown at this stage, but the probability of an organised uprising by an organisation in the Special Region is 756 to 1.….More data is needed for an efficient calculation….For the hinderance to the RDA, it is 10000 to 1, my lord."
"Good, what would happen if an uprising or an attack occurs and it causes a hinderance to the RDA in the Special Region. You are going to be one of the people responsible for this expedition in the Special Region soon, Kalani. What will you do?"
"Then they will suffer…"
Now time for the reviews!
navyfield90
I hope so too! Thanks so much for your support in the stories!
Arms Dealer
Hi there! Thanks for the review. That's true, but we don't know yet of what they are truly capable of yet till their attack and when they reveal themselves. It's not only on gun they stole but numerous others and an unknown amount. They also have allies that we may not have seen before and their technological level. Though, the RDA will take them seriously if they disrupt their operations, and they will be eliminated swiftly by the RDA. As you don't want to mess with a mega corporation that has every big gun that money can buy.
daggercloak000
Thanks!
Coment9
The SCOUTs are the type of infantry droid that will make their debut in the next chapter or two. The technological level of this modern world is the same as this modern world but a little bit higher due to investments and research made by the RDA. It's not entirely futuristic but logical in a certain way. As always, thanks for your review, it helps me a lot.
Little Liar
Yes, if I interpret your review correctly, it is better the story overall. Thanks!
Guest101
Thanks! I am glad that you like it!
JaphetSkie
Hi there, thanks for your review! I am so sorry that had happened and I did not intent to make people uncomfortable. I have had that character's name since 2018, in the original of the "The Scientific Method", it's still on my profile. I also did not intend to steal your character's first name and etc. It was a mere coincidence that it is the same first name, as I was busy looking for a Latin/Roman name I could use, back in 2018 on some site, I can't remember now. I hope this clears up the misunderstanding, and I thank you for your interest in the story.
