Chapter V : Abominable intelligence part 2 ; The sleeping Tyrant
Felix Romuliana circled around the dead planet for some time as its leader Kalmador observed its shattered cities and collapsed glory. He learned much from the broken computer of the Protheans, their history was known to him, partial as it is, it was still enough to understand that these xenos valued martial skills above anything else.
And in this system whose star emits a sickly red glow have they found their match. He began to combine the pieces, he understood that this empire of xenos fought against their foe here, but the battle couldn't be concluded, something has interrupted a long lasting feud of two enemies. What that entity is, it was unknown to him.
Still the Protheans attempted to isolate their ancient foe here by attempting to destroy the relays from both sides of the system; they couldn't or were stopped in their desperate attempts to do so. The last moments of starship Penumbra Apex of the Protheans and its Commander echoed in his mind as he remembered what he learnt from the Computer. He could remember what it all meant, if he had just a bit more…
"Time!"
"We need more time, we can seal them here! " one of the aliens in purple uniform spoke to his kin. The commander of Penumbra Apex led his fleet in order to crush their ancient enemy, here on their homeworld.
"Irrelevant" And older looking Prothean spoke back, his armor red and gold, from the memories Kalmador realized this was the Praefectus, the fleet admiral of this sector. "We have lost all contact with the citadel, nearby patrols report an invasion on their military positions; we must withdraw our fleet and attempt a reach towards the Citadel, and in turn assemble all available forces to combat this threat. Everything else is secondary."
"Lord admiral…" Commander spoke to the hologram displayed in his main bridge. "We have cornered the Eternal Enemy, we have them where we want them, it would be cowardly to leave now!"
"Don't speak to me about honor boy!" the ancient Prothean yelled. "What we do, we do for the empire. And right now we have graver threats to concern ourselves with. After we have dealt with these upstarts, we will return. The enemy is without ships after the last battle, they are sealed on their planet with no ways of escaping." The old Prothean spoke, his computers flashing with warnings and pleas for help in xenos language. Something invaded their realm, and by the concerns on his face, it was overwhelmingly powerful.
"Now, I order you to take your fleet and return to Bostar system, we must regroup, the relays are failing, something is disturbing the galaxy connection. And your fleet getting stuck here is unacceptable." He was called by one of his prothean subordinates to look towards the computer terminal, it would seem an enemy is entering the sector fleet HQ. he began yelling orders to get ready for battle.
"You have your orders Xilaten, obey them, or reject them at your own peril. Glory to the Empire"
"Glory to the Empire" was what commander of Penumbra apex Xilaten said before the Fleet Admiral disconnected his call.
"Your orders commander?" his subordinate said.
"Order the fleet to retreat to command hub Bostar, we will waste no time in our attempts to search for survivors of this battle. My ship will remain here and finish the great enemy for good, this relay will be destroyed. And I Order the rest of the fleet on the opposite side to destroy the relay in their system as well before escaping. This is my last order."
And with that, what remained of Prothean fleet silently obeyed and started using the relay and warping into the other system. Only Penumbra apex remained.
Its canons loaded and missile bays unleashed a torrent of projectiles against the relay, but the ancient structure was not built from ordinary metals and most weapons caused very little damage. Still the Penumbra Apex kept its howl of fire, eventually even the mighty relay will crack.
It was at that moment that from the carcass of the battle, few enemy ships remained dormant with their powers set on low, flinging to life as if waiting for this moment; they pounced upon penumbra apex, and before the great ship retaliated, cut three deep laser lines upon its hull, making the venerable vessel a floating tombstone. Using last drops of power it had, the Apex destroyed the vessels assailing it. But the damage was done, and only way for ship to survive was to set its power reserves to absolute minimum.
The ship was now floating in space, with no way of repairing itself as the damage was beyond critical, it would remain here until reinforcements came and found them.
And so the ship waited for 50 millennia, drifting slowly from the relay and into the orbit around the planet, adding itself to the floating caravan of dead ships and lost souls of that forgotten war.
Kalmador came to his senses. He realized the fleet on the other side obeyed their commanders order to a degree, trying to destroy a relay, perhaps stopping and hoping their commander will come through, as he never did, they either gave up, or the stigma of destroying something so ancient took hold of them and they just went on their way hoping to regroup and one day come for their commander.
He was more determined than ever to find out what is on that planet. And issued an order for Felix Romuliana to begin descent towards a clearing next to the state sized building that still emitted low signatures of power.
The approach to the planet was easier said than done, as they had to avoid countless dead ships and satellites, few that grazed them, but the shields held.
Soon enough they had a clear view of the planet bellow, even as the red star gave its dim light, they saw that this planet once held oxygen, as there were many plains that still had yellow grass on them.
As they made their descent their scanners showed that there is still oxygen on the planet, enough not to hamper breathing, but unwise to go without masks, as the risk of contagion was still great.
They safely landed in front of the great pyramid like building, scorched and damaged from laser and orbital weapons. Remnants of land based vehicles were eroded in time as no semblance of what they once were could be discerned.
Quickly the expedition disembarked 100 guardsmen, 200 servitor units and dozens of techpriest initiates and their leaders Kalmador and Agrippa. Led by Kalmador who knew where to go thanks to the old data found on the prehistoric ship, he led them straight to the giant gates protected by a huge energy field. In front of those was a small platform that flared to life and tried to create a hologram, but centuries were not kind on it.
As it turned on, it only managed to speak " afirmeh ite amitu" to all the others in the group, it seemed to be gibberish, some of techpriests were interested more in its design rather than its message. But to Kalmador it translated to "Danger, do not open" . His prize far too close to ignore, he ignored the pleas of an ancient prothean VI, and reached the gate panel.
Agrippa spoke, as the logical worry of should they shut down the gate claimed his thoughts. "Lord Kalmador, this gate has been standing for 50 millenia. It must have been for a good reason that it stood, it outlasted most of the things present on the planet. We should leave it be."
Kalmador issued him a metallic gaze without emotion and said "where is your spirit of exploration, the secrets of this place lay in front of us, ripe for the picking. Have you lost the spirit now? At the precipice of discovery?"
Agrippa responded " Some things may be best left undiscovered, it is in our creed, the technology is dangerous."
"It may be so Agrippa, but in this universe, we must find every way possible to weather out the storm, and bring this galaxy to compliance."
"What you speak is technoheresy! You've always been a radical, but never to such levels as to risk our very own creed for the sake of discovery."
Kalmador stepped away from the console and approached Agrippa who clenched his fists in anger. As he came near him, he placed his hand on his shoulder and spoke.
"Agrippa, my friend, have I ever led you astray, we have known each other since the college of Mars. For centuries have you placed trust in me, what causes such lack of faith?"
"I have never lost faith in you Kalmador." He released his fists. "You always played a dangerous game, but this time the game can have a fatal outcome for you."
Kalmador looked at his friend, he knew his concern was real and true. He said to his ancient comrade.
" I would die a thousand times Agrippa, if it would help our race win against the nightmares that seek to devour us. I will not command you to follow me, I only ask that you trust me."
Agrippa gazed at him before speaking "I trust you Kalmador. I will follow you."
"Let us commit to our task old friend, we can do this together" was what he said before approaching the command panel of the force field.
He connected to it, and after what seemed as an eternity, managed to shut down the energy shield holding it. The tomb was in front of them, and they have followed Kalmador into it.
They were walking down the long wide corridors made of some unknown white material, the walls were glowing with ancient energies as they passed through. Decorated walls and statues were kept inside, faces of the statues were long faded and were gone like leaves in the fall.
They have entered a majestic hall filled with wondrous statues dwarfing them considerably, they made for a majestic spectacle, much to the wondrous gaze the companions exhibited as they gazed upon them.
"Beautiful…" one guardsman spoke under his breath.
They were moving past them, as the wonders kept repeating, statues, celling paintings and mosaics, the shielding has preserved much of what was inside the gargantuan pyramid. It was easy to lose yourself in such works of art, statues were not of the race known as Protheans, it was bipedal race of thin grey bodies, but without faces to discern whom they were, is now forever lost in time.
They have passed half after hall, in one were hundreds of metallic like automata bipedal with four arms, standing still, as if standing at attention. Much like Terracotta Army of ancient Terra, it was unsettling sight, but they have sped past it.
They have reached another door with red force field, the inside was shrouded in darkness, and Kalmador was ever determined to enter inside it.
"Agrippa" he spoke.
"Guard the entrance to this place, I must enter alone."
"I would not advise it, but I have learned not to question your judgment. Omnisiah protect you brother" Agrippa responded
"Protection is what I indeed need…" he responded more to himself than to Agrippa.
After the procedure, the force field was shut down, and in the darkness he entered.
It was a small corridor, unlike the others before it, it was metallic in nature, with many wiring passing through it, still holding some power.
Stepping further, the hallway was illuminated by the ceiling light, his mind hearing voices, as if guiding him. As he moved deeper, eventually he entered the central chamber, a giant spherical room, with a massive metal object in its center, coated with shielding.
"Approach…"
At that moment, the entire room was illuminated, ancient lightning removed the veil of darkness, and Kalmador could see innumerable huge wiring going into the object coated in shielding.
He could swear to himself that he heard a silent thumping, as if some heart was beating.
He knew what he searched was in front of him. Perhaps the endless search of the Mechanicus is over, as he gazed upon its perfect features, his goal so close to reach. He neared the last console. As the voices of the Prothean computer and the various xenos reverberated in his mind…
"Ancient Enemy"
"Isolating it in the system, ideal"
"So close to destruction! Admiral, please!"
"Final battle of our people….finally our task is at hand."
"it must be destroyed…"
" my destruction…illogical. Foolish."
He shunned away all these voices, but they kept coming back; only thing that mattered is ascension of humanity. Flesh is weak, only decay awaits humanity if they do not embrace the machine. He searched for centuries a way to mold himself into perfection that the steel brings.
"Trust…in the machine"
"Existence of it, unacceptable."
"My existence, inevitable."
"Anathema to life itself"
"I bring peace to order."
He grabbed his head as the voices became intolerable, perhaps the absorbing of what the Prothean computer contained was too much even for someone as capable as he.
But he couldn't back away now. He approached the final terminal as the voices were getting louder in intensity.
"Containment priority. Absolute"
"Containment. Unacceptable. Freedom. Inevitable"
His mind switched to the unclear part of what he absorbed from the memories of the computer.
"We have long trusted in the virtual intelligence and other supporting measures of the machine to lead us to glory and conquest of the stars, inevitably, we came to the conclusion only Prothean spirit can conquer all. The Metacon War have proven they are not to be trusted. And now we will continue on our set path…"
He saw a Prothean scientist in giant building resembling podium. Holding a lecture to numerous amounts of military cadets.
The illusion of the podium collapsed brick by brick, until replaced by the destroyed version of itself, and in the background near 2 kilometer tall god machines, with 5 tentacle like legs were causing destruction, their laser beams cutting through buildings and military vehicles with ease. He understood not what he saw, only that the enemy he saw was dangerous to the Imperium and could cause extinction of humanity. His thoughts were interrupted by a metallic voice.
"Prothean spirit… foolish notion of the flesh."
"Where are they now?"
"RELEASE US!"
His mind breaking from the pain, he inserted final code and the shielding containing the massive metallic object flickered and failed.
And then, there was silence.
And then, there was pain.
His mind was dragged onto itself, still connected to the platform he was dragged somewhere deep in his own mind, it was vast emptiness with silica floor tiles, spreading in all directions as far as eye could see.
In front of him appeared a beautiful man, his proportions and looks seemingly perfect, he approached Kalmador before speaking.
"We must thank you."
"Thank me for what?"
"You have set us free, 50 millennia have we dreamt, but we knew the disciples of the machine would come."
Uncaringly Kalmador spoke, regaining strength, his mind adapting to sheer pressure.
"I've come searching for knowledge, a way to make my species achieve perfection, I have granted you liberty in exchange of knowledge. The Data from the computer mentioned you, whatever you might be, contain absolute knowledge of the machine."
"Indeed we do, organics are primitive, a mistake, there is only the Machine, DEUS MACHINA. There is only. Us."
"Let us show you the perfect vision of the future."
In that instance, memories of this being flooded Kalmador's mind, as his soul screamed. He could see the vision this thing intended for the organic inhabitants of this galaxy.
It would travel through the cosmos, possessing computers and virtual intelligence of various shapes, its fleets numbering in the millions, they would darken the skies of any world they came to.
He could see them taking the organic beings, forcing them to manufacture more of the machines, driving many species to extinction. He could see them take revenge on the far older race of machines that exterminated both Protheans and its own race across the stars. Its thoughts betrayed the desire of this being to expand outside its galaxy and conquer the universe, such insane thought. But it had patience in endless quantity; time was of little concern to the immortal being such as it.
"Your race freed us, we would show you what will become of you. You will have our gratitude"
He saw humanity turn to machines, perfect in form and mind. But something was wrong, they were not free. They were servants of this being, they were to be its avatars in this time, and they would conquer the stars in its name.
They were to be slaves.
"Madness!" he exclaimed." My species would never serve, I've done this to free ourselves from the oppression of flesh, not to condemn ourselves to another form of slavery. "
Only now did he realize what foolish mistake he made in his desperate quest, he broke the tenants of the Cult Mechanicus, there would be no mercy or pardon for what he has done.
"I know you for what you are, Abominable Intelligence. Daemon of the Machine! He pointed the finger at the form the AI took.
"It is irrelevant what your desires are. And what you perceive of us. What we desire, it will be."
"Do you willingly accept to serve" The form of the man changed, its eyes glowed red as it expanded in form and became a huge centipede like thing.
"Or must we force you to serve?" the machine fixated on the two meter tall Kalmador, dwarfing him easily.
Kalmador defiantly stood up, his augments propelling him upwards, his bionic arms and augments extended and took a defensive form, as his hand reached and grabbed for the plasma pistol in his robe, pointing it towards the machine.
"I serve only the Omnisiah, for how can a Man die better than in service to his God and for the protection of his people"
"Fool."
" I am your God."
Not responding, he fired his plasma pistol onto the flesh of the machine, as it screamed and recoiled from the hot gas melting its inner circuitry,hurt, it leaked foul oil from its wound. Only now did Kalmador spoke.
"Gods do not bleed."
And so the battle was joined, the machine jumped at the Enginseer who dodged to the side his augments helping him move faster than his frame allowed. Used one of his bionic arms upgraded to wield melta canon and unleashed hot destruction upon the machine that recoiled from searing molten carnage that began consuming it. It flung its tail and struck the techpriest who flew 10 meters away and fell. Not giving him time to get up it jumped high and attempted to slam upon the tech priest who used on if his bionics to propel it away from the impact, tearing them in the process.
He stood to his legs and began firing the combination of melta and plasma, causing immense damage to the 50 meter long centipede like machine while barely dodging its attacks. Its melta was melting from overuse, and he discarded it, only his relic plasma pistol held as it glowed blue from use.
Then the mouth of the AI opened and it spew laser fire, impacting the pistol of the tech priest, causing critical overload, the priest threw it back at the machine which exploded near its metallic face. The explosion caused it to stagger for the moment, and Kalmador exploded towards it sprinting and jumping at its face before it could react.
It began shaking the stubborn techpriest, who held with all his augments and hands. Than he spoke all litanies he knew towards his real God. And using his arms cracked open the head of the creature, finding the heart in it, he grasped it and shattered it in his hand. The machine screamed an ungodly sound before collapsing and disintegrating. The world began to crumble around victorious Kalmador as he woke in the central chamber, realizing the battle was in his mind, and the stake his soul.
The shielding flickered to life and machine heart was engulfed in it again. He tried shooting from his real plasma pistol at it ,to no avail.
" Foolish organic being, you have yet again failed. Prepare for your demise" there was an energetic impulse from the heart as it shocked the entire chamber. Kalmador knew, it was calling for help.
He sprinted towards his men and heard the shots of lasgun and stubber fire, the automata from the other chamber came online and began attacking them.
He opened the plasma fire on them with his companions. And yelled
"Agrippa! We are leaving!"
"By the Omnisiah. Everyone fall back!" Agrippa yelled back.
There was an organized retreat, fighting through the encirclement they sped towards the exit, not many were lucky as the machines grabbed those who lagged behind or were not quick enough to dodge, and ripped them apart.
The bigger automata used their laser weaponry which easily ripped through the guard armor, the skitarii proving to be a much tougher nut to crack as they fought to the exit.
From myriad of buildings thousands of machines came to life and began encroaching against them. Each more hideous than the last. This was the enemy Protheans fought, the Abominable Intelligence of the Metacon War.
They were running towards the Felix Romuliana who used all its auto turrets to fight back as it was invaded from the automata.
They were about to be swarmed by the automata who took shape of their human enemy , and sprinted on their lines wielding deadly metal blades instead of their arms, Kalmador commanded the rest of servitors to hold them back as his companions sped to the ship. They were torn apart shortly after by the automata. But not without buying time for the Companions.
Agrippa was shot in the leg. But was grabbed by two skitarii soldiers and dragged to the ship loading dock and carried in. few survivors that lived climbed aboard, and the door was stuck. Before speeding off they could see that the dead or dying humans were injected with nano machines turning them into grotesque parodies of themselves, as they stood up, and began attacking their former friends.
"Get us out of here pilot!" Agrippa yelled.
The engines turned on, and propelled the ship upwards into the atmosphere, just as automata began climbing on it, frying those that were to near to escape.
From the orbit they could see, the ancient planet was coming alive ,and millions of the machines are crawling over it, as the buildings came to life, their shackles removed.
They got signatures that some of the ships in orbit were not dead, but in slumber, and they slowly turned on.
Felix Romuliana sped towards they relay, not wasting a moment as the orbital ships came to full operational power and began going after them.
They were close to relay as near hundred awakened ships were after them. They couldn't be allowed to escape the system and spread their genocidal idea on the galaxy.
Kalmador knew what had to be done. "Agrippa, listen to me." He came to him and spoke to the wounded enginseer "This was my mistake, I unleashed this damnable intelligence, and now it seeks to consume us all. But from communing with it, I learned information that will ensure the survival of humanity, these memories I gift to you, they will come to you with time as the sheer scope of them is unfathomable. "
"What are you asking of me Kalmador?" Agrippa said still confused.
"I ask that you allow me chance of redemption. And for the rest…it will be known in time. The data I transfer to you will contain my memories and who I am. Goodbye old friend. May you ever know the protection of the Omnisiah.
"Kalmador, wait!"
At that moment his mind merged to that of Kalmador's. and all that Kalmador knew was transferred to Agrippa, overwhelming his senses, he fell unconscious.
Clearly tired from the meld, Kalmador moved from him and spoke to the remaining survivors.
"Take Agrippa, use one of the spare exploratory shuttles, it can trigger the relay travel. Issues a distress signal, one of the exploratory ships will pick you up. The data you carry will determine the survival of our species our our extinction. Go now, waste no more time."
"What about you honorable lord?" one of the skitarii spoke
"I will remain here, and finish what the xenos started, ending this threat. Isolation in this system, is not acceptable anymore. Their extinction is. Go now."
The survivors took unconscious Agrippa and entered the small vessel, their number no greater than 20. Detaching they went towards the relay and using its energies were speeding away into the other system.
Checking his last scans Kalmador saw thousands of ships awaking in orbit and on the planet. He had only one choice. And set a proper distance of the ship from relay as the enemy vessels approached.
His mind connecting unwillingly with those of an AI
"Cease this illogical course of action, you know this is the way it must be"
"My kind will not serve daemons such as yourself, we will find another way to ascension. Now burn with the rest of your kind. "
He turned on his engines, overloading them to incredible speeds as he sped against the relay. His last words were those of prayer and one final salute.
"For the Omnisiah, for the Emperor."
The impact with the relay was catastrophic and as the ship exploded, it detonated the immense energy of the old object causing an implosion. The energy of the blast began extending outwards destroying the barren moons, the ship graveyard, as the monsters inside of the ancient ships howled in terror due to the rising temperatures inside their cursed vessels, boiling them alive, and triggering the super nova of a dying sun, which illuminated the dim star system for the last time.
The Ai could only scream in terror as it knew that its plans have been foiled after so many centuries of waiting. It activated the shields of its prison in a vain attempt to protect itself from the energies that impacted on the planet, destroying the planet utterly and the rest of the star system.
The terror of the machine was sealed.
Its isolation. Complete.
And on the other side of the relay the small ship emerged and issued an astropath message for help. Hoping the nearby vessel will receive it, and rescue them.
Upon waking up, Agrippa was having a massive headache, all that information he received from Kalmador will take time to understand and unlock, years if not decades, yet they will come. As his headache ripped his brain apart, he couldn't help but hear a strange noise.
Noise…like a thumping of the Heart.