(I don't own Girls frontline or Nier:Automata, they belong to their respective owners.)

(A/n)

Don't expect me to follow the lore that closely to EITHER of these games. I have only played Nier: Automata, I have never touched Drakengard or Nier Replicant, so sorry if I'm messing up the story timeline or if nothing makes sense.

For this story, I am going through the timeline of Nier:Automata and much like my Lobotomy Corp story, I will be playing the game and making chapters BASED on the events of the game.

I'm not a good writer, so don't expect any god-like story telling
_

(P)rologue:

Humanity was unprepared for the assault of the cosmic entities on their planet. Too busy were they fighting amongst one another to realize the oncoming threat that was the Aliens. They laid siege on their planet while they watched from orbit as the struggle of Humanity continued on and on. The Aliens didn't fight, they merely watched, as they sent down their creations, the Machines, to conquer the planet for them.

And so came the start of the 1st Machine War.

Ironically, this tragic series of events is what led to Humanity coming together for the first time in history. All their resources, their manpower, their ammunition, and time were poured into combating the Machines. As time went on, advances in science and technology rapidly increased and more ideas and methods were brought to fruition.

However, the issue of personnel and major loss in military power as time went on was only increasing exponentially. Battle after battle, both sides of the war lost countless of their forces. And yet, the Machines kept coming in endless waves leaving not time for Humanity to recuperate.

It was only when prodigy scientist, engineer, and computer programmer, Persicaria, had proposed the question: "Why don't we just use Machines against the Machines?" did the war start to turn to Humanity's favor. And so the first generation of T-Dolls were created by Persicaria herself and implemented into the Militaries around the globe as soon as they were made.

Funding for T-Dolls increased, but the production for them was far too slow to keep up with the Machines. So the governments left standing around the world had bought the blueprints from Persicaria and funded all of their finances to one project.

Sangvis Ferri.

A singular facility supervised by a government created AI located in the region of Northern Russia, where the mass production of Dolls were supplied to the world. These Dolls were far from the T-Dolls that Persicaria had created as they were only the basic models and were created with the idea of quantity over quality.

Something that Persicaria had grown to dislike.

Following the events of its creation, due to her dislike of what her creations had become, Persicaria had made contracts using the basic blueprints she had provided to the governments for other small military units around the globe. These Private Military Contractors, or PMCs, were provided with their own sets of unique T-Dolls that she personally tweaked and were only required to send fundings and salvaged parts to Persicaria as payment for her own manufacturing company, 16LAB.

All of these advancements in technology and military power were what led to the War turning to their favor. And for a moment, it seemed as if Humanity had finally been able to defend their home. Cities were finally being taken back under their control, countries were finally being able to become economically stable, and security of the people was at an all time high.

It didn't last long, because only a few years after the creation of Sangvis Ferri, the "Butterfly Incident" occurred. No one knew when or how it happened, but at some point the Machines were able to hijack the entire facility of Sangvis Ferri and turned Humanity's greatest advantage to their greatest disadvantage.

Morale plummeted as government officials struggled to indeed stand how the Aliens were able to infect their AI that managed the facility. Dolls that once protected civilians and filled military barracks had all but turned on them by reducing cities to rubble, sabotaging equipment, and assassinating military personnel.

The only saving grace were the PMCs and their T-Dolls that, unlike the Sangvis Ferri Dolls, weren't under the same network and were independent. With the general military at an all time low, Humanity relied on these PMCs and soon famous names came out of their accomplishments.

Griffin & Kryuger (G&K), Rhodes Island, Asia's Frontal Battalion (AFB), and the Mid-East Crusaders (MEC) are a few that grew in size and power. Due to the exponential decrease of population, the number of Human workers in the military decreased with only a few working as Commanders and the rest as labor for other parts of society.

They fought and fought countless battles. Battles that all ended in stalemates and losses on both sides. The PMCs had to combat both the Machines of the Aliens and the Dolls of Sangvis Ferri that seemed to had grown with each year that passed.

Manufacturing companies had rushed to improve and bring forth new weapons of war to help them. And soon, a company had produced the very first Android using the T-Doll blueprints as a reference.

The Android was exemplary in battle.

It fought on its own and survived missions that it was sent on. It was faster, stronger, more resilient, and more "human". More of its kind were made, but due to the high cost of limited resources, only a few were able to be produced in that singular company before another generation of Androids had to be made by a different company.

It was a good thing that they were made because soon another predicament fell upon Humanity.

White Chlorination Syndrome, or WCS, had spread through the remaining major cities and the masses.

No one knew how or when it had spread, but regardless the damage had already been done when the first symptoms shone themselves. Turning all who were infected to statues and grains of salt or insane maniacs who scourged the once populated cities, the disease left no one untouched aside from those within governmental power or the military.

It was at this point, that the higher ups realized their dilemma.
Especially when the Gestalt Project failed them. And so with the last of their resources, they chose the option that had the higher chance for their survival.

Flee.

Flee and abandon the planet that they once knew as home.

This was known as the Salvation Project.

This was when all of the PMCs and the remaining remnants of Humanity that couldn't leave, realized that all hope was lost. With nothing left to gain and lose, the PMCs fought to their last breath.

Some chose to flee, while others chose the easy way out.

There were a few who chose to band together to form the Resistance in a last stand against the Machines and Sangvis Ferri. These included the remnants of G&K, AFB, Rhodes Island, and any other stray T-Dolls and Commanders.

But there was one person who had yet to give up. Persicaria.

16LAB didn't fight, nor did it need to. Persicaria opted for a method to survive and continue the fight. She had theorized that far into the future, the threat of WCS would be long gone and that would be the moment when Humanity would prosper once again.

The only issue was surviving that long. It could take years, decades, or even centuries for the WCS to dissapate. Luckily she created her own project within one of her main underground facilities that could help with that issue.


Location: One of 16LAB's Underground Facilities

Date: January 21, XXXX

Time: 17:39

Region: Sector 09

3rd POV

Waiting in the elevator was a young man with black hair that barely reached the bottom of his chin. He wore a red military overcoat and a matching red military cap as he had his hands in his coat pockets. The man had features of a mixture between Asian and Russian heritage, though the most noticeable feature on his face were the bags under his eyes that indicated the lack of sleep.

His brown eyes glanced at the panel before he released a tired sigh when he noticed the number ticking down from -38. A voice suddenly ringed out that caused him to jump as he remembered he wasn't alone.

"You okay, Slavi?" A woman's voice called out to him from the side.

The man named Slavi turned his head to look at her. The woman had silver hair that glistened in the elevator light with a pair of what seemed to be feline ears attached to her head. He didn't question it, and wouldn't ever, she was just that weird. Her hands were stuffed into her lab coat that she wore over her skirt black skirt and gray sweater.

"I am fine, Persicaria. Just a little tired." Slavi spoke as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I thought I told you to just call me Perisca?"

She said with a hint of frustration as she eyed him from the side. This only caused Slavi to roll his eyes and look at her with a "really?" look. Seeing that she wasn't letting up, he simply nodded his head.

"...alright, Persica."

"See? It wasn't that hard now, was it?"

Slavi said nothing more since he knew the real reason as to why she wanted him to be more friendly than before. Almost everyone was either going to die or was already dead. The only ones in this facility that she probably had for company were the T-Dolls. The same could be said for himself as the people he once called subordinates were long gone.

Slavi took a deep inhale of air as he tried to get the images of their lifeless bodies out of his mind. They chose to take the easy way out, while he decided to continue living in this hell hole of a planet.

Persicaria, or Persica as she likes to be called, watched him but didn't comment on anything regarding what he was going through. At this point in time, there were far too few who were comfortable enough to open up to another. Most of the remaining remnants of Humanity who were in the Resistance simply fight because they see it as a way to justify their deaths.

In reality, every single one of those commanders in the Resistance sought an end to their lives that they see no meaning in. They were all unhealthy mentally and despair was what accompanied each of them. Persica wondered if Slavi was of the same mindset.

'I hope not...because other than my daughters, you are the only thing anchoring me here, Slavi.' Persica thought as she remembered their early days.

It was by complete accident that they had met. A shipping run for a new batch of T-Dolls she had created were addressed to the wrong person in the outskirts of the city. She doubted a person could understand the importance of her creations, much less a civilian. And yet, when she had arrived to fetch the Dolls in hopes of getting them back, she found a young man who ordered them around against the hordes of Machines as if he were already an experienced Commander.

By the end of the conflict, she found the same man treating the wounds on the damaged T-Dolls as if they were actual people themselves. A rarity amongst the people of today as many merely saw them as objects to be scrapped once their usefulness was gone.

It was in that moment that Persica had recommended him to G&K. She chalked it up to just her being intrigued by him. Though that quickly changed once she saw him after his training and commissioning. He was accepted into their ranks and soon results came in the form of a Commander named Slavi Lao, a man of Russian and Chinese descent, who was both admired for his ability on the field and his compassion for his fellow comrades, Human and T-Doll alike.

It was from that point on that she found herself intrigued and interested in him. Though because of her limited social interactions and connections, Persica merely chalked it up to her finding a rare specimen.

*Ding*

The elevator rung out as it stopped and it's doors opened, pulling Persica from her thoughts. A long hallway was what greeted them as they walked out. Slavi followed her as she took the lead and led him to the end of the hallway. She grabbed her ID and scanned it on the panel that opened the door once it gave her access.

"Do you know why you're here?" She suddenly asked him out of the blue as she walked into the room. The room revealed to be a laboratory of some sort with capsules all around the perimeters. The temperature was far colder than the hallway and their breathes were visible as they spoke.

"Can't say that I do." He responded while carefully inspecting the room. "Care to tell me?"

Persica turned to him and gave him a small smile as she walked to a table and sat on the chair. She then grabbed the coffee mug that was on it and took a sip.

"I need your help." Was all she said as she took more sips of her cup.

"And pray tell what exactly do you need help with? Because I'm sure that any one of your T-Dolls could do it better than I could."

Slavi said as he took a seat across from her and closed his eyes. He simply wanted to rest, he was too tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of commanding. Tired of losing. Tired of realizing that nothing he did changed anything.

Persica saw the gloomy expression on his face and felt herself become saddened. She didn't want to see him like this, so she tried her best to get the stuff she had to say over with.

"I've been conducting experiments and have been working on a project ever since the Gestalt Project launched..."

The sourness in her voice at the end was clearly showing how much she hated it. Slavi was of the same thought process as he clenched his fist at the reminder of how they were abandoned by the ones they were seeking to protect.

"Results have showed and I had already begun the project. I merely am asking for you to partake in it as well."

Slavi turned to look at her as she looked him in the eye with a pleading look. There clearly wasn't anything left for him now, aside from his Echelons of T-Dolls that he holds dear and Persica herself, he had nothing left on this forsaken planet.

"What exactly will partaking in this do?" He asked as he leaned back in his chair.

Persica leaned forward, glad to see that he was interested. "I'm sure you have already noticed, but the remaining personnel in this facility are not present."

Slavi nodded his head as he did notice that on his way here.

"That's because they had already agreed to partake in it. By it, I mean the cyro chambers I have made in hopes of preserving Humanity."

Slavi took a second to take that in before his eyes widened in shock. His tiredness was gone for a moment as he gazed upon her with a look of amazement.

"W-What? F-For what purpose?" Were the first questions out of his mouth. Because even through his amazement, Slavi didn't understand what she could possibly be doing this for.

"Like I said, to preserve Humanity." She looked at him in amusement. "The White Chlorination Syndrome is present as of today, but what about the next few years? The next hundred? I theorize that after a certain point in time, it would cease to exist in major portions of the Earth."

Slavi looked at her skeptically.

"And how are you sure that this would happen? Those alien bastards are still in orbit and their little toys are roaming around the surface around every corner."

"I received a message from IOP saying that they are still manufacturing new Android models and sending them out to the surface to gather samples." She then brought out a tablet from the stool next to her and handed it to him. "Their research department gave me some of their intel and a few samples."

Slavi nodded his head as he gazed upon the information on the screen. He was about to ask how she was able to experiment with it when suddenly the door to the room opened.

Slavi and Persica turned their heads and watched as a woman with long black hair and golden eyes walked in. She wore a black coat over her white dress shirt and black skirt. Attached to her thighs were handgun holsters with two Norinco NZ75s in them, one black while the other a golden color.

Slavi immediately knew who she was, that was because she was one of the T-Dolls under his command.

"NZ? What are you doing here?" Slavi asked as he stood up and looked at her questioningly. "And where are the others?"

NZ, or NZ75, looked at her commander before giving him a reassuring smile as she saluted.

"Commander Lao, I'm here by request of Lady Persicaria." She said as she stood at attention. "The others are here as well but are located in the armory, cafeteria, and storage rooms last I saw them."

Slavi sighed as he shook his head. Persica smiled before addressing him.

"You really didn't think I would call you and let you leave my girls unattended now, did you?"

He rolled his eyes before grunting. Persica smiled even more as she successfully got him to lighten up and a bit.

"Moving on, I called them here since I knew you would be worried about them." Slavi nodded his head as he looked at NZ. "They will be here for the duration of your stay."

Slavi looked at her indecisively as he didn't know if he wanted to actually go through with this. Seeing this, Persica decided to hurry it up before he could change his mind.

"Follow me, it would be better start now than later. The sooner you go through with this, the sooner we can put all of this behind us."

Slavi didn't respond as he followed behind her, as she headed out into another part of the laboratory. NZ followed behind him as her eyes softened at the state of her Commander. She knew what he had been through for she and many others under his command stood by his side through the entirety of this war.

Whatever his decision was, NZ was absolutely sure that they would support him all the way. It was the least they could do for him.

They walked for a little while until they reached another room where the sound of chatter could be heard. They entered what seemed to be a break room of sorts with four people occupying it. All were women and more importantly T-Dolls.

The one talking loudly was a T-Doll with brown hair with golden tips that was braided together. She wore a jacket over her yellow dress shirt and had a black skirt. The eyepatch on her right eye was something to note, as well as the huge rectangle case that she had standing next to her. In her hands was a bottle of Jack Daniel's as she downed it while laughing. Her M16A1 was laid on the table just in front of her.

The person who she was talking to was across from her and had white hair with a red streak on the right bangs. She seemed to be wearing only a black jacket, something that Slavi found weird but considering the T-Dolls in his Echelons, he didn't question it any further. The girl was laughing along with the other as she slammed her fist repeatedly against the table.

The other two T-Dolls were sitting on a couch off to the side as they watched their fellow T-Dolls laugh up a storm. One was similar to the first with the hair color and clothing, except she wore her jacket on her waist. Her M4A1 was sitting on lap as she cleaned it.

The other one that was sitting next to her while looking unamused had white hair, light blue eyes, and wore a blue jacket over her white dress. She had a rag as she rubbed it along her AR15 and gave it a shining.

Upon walking in, the white-haired girl laughing noticed them and immediately got up to greet them.

"Ooooohhh! Persica!"

The T-Doll exclaimed in a cheerful voice as she ran and gave her a big hug while Persica smiled while hugging her back.

"Sopmod, it's only been ten minutes since we last saw each other." Persica said as she amusingly smiled down at her.

"Ten minutes too long!" She said as she buried her head into Persica's chest.

"S-S-Sopmod, m-maybe y-you should c-calm down a-a bit." The T-Doll with the M4A1 spoke in a soft a voice that was barely audible.

"Ahahahaha! It's fine M4, let her release that pent up energy! It's been boring here anyways." The T-Doll with the Jack Daniel's spoke with a carefree smile before chugging the rest of the drink.

M4 looked at her unsure before the T-Doll next to her spoke.

"M16, I think the fact that nothing is going on can be considered a good thing." She spoke with a monotone voice as she looked at M16 with a blank look.

"Guh, calm down AR15, I was just joking anyways." M16 said as she slumped on the table when her drink ran out. "Ugh, we're gonna be out of Jack Daniel's soon."

NZ looked at her fellow T-Dolls before sighing. She then turned to Slavi and tapped his shoulder to get his attention causing him to turn.

"Commander, I will be taking my leave now."

Slavi didn't question why, but instead decided to give a final order before he commits to a decision.

"Alright, but before you go, notify all Echelon Captains that they are to be on standby till further notice."

NZ nodded her head before turning to leave. Just as she was about to leave, however, she turned her head to look over her shoulder at Slavi.

"Commander Lao," he turned and looked at her, silently asking for her to continue, "no matter your decision, know that we will support you until the end."

He nodded his head and sent her a grateful smile, one that she gave back before she left. Slavi then turned his attention back to the others but his eyes widened when he saw a blur coming his way. With barely a second to think, he dodged to the side and avoided the diving figure of Sopmod. The T-Doll rolled on the floor before standing back up and facing him.

"Why'd you dodge?!" She exclaimed childishly, causing Slavi to look at her confused.

"Because that would've broken my ribs." When he saw that she didn't understand, he sighed before point at her. "You're a sentient robot made of metal and other heavy components."

Sopmod tilted her head, still confused, before she got in a stance to pounce once again. Slavi tensed up as he got ready to dodge once more, but the sound of someone clearing their throat got both of their attention. Both of them turned their heads to the side to see the others looking at them amused, especially Persica.

"As much as I would like you to get to know each other." Her smile turned to a serious look. "We need to get started."

Slavi nodded his head, and yet, he still felt conflicted. Not because he was scared or didn't trust Persica, but because he was tired. What was the point of going through with this when the entirety of the world had already been taken by chaos and destruction. Even with the slight possibility of the WCS being gone when he wakes up, the threat of the Aliens and their Machines was still something to take into account. Something that Persica undoubtedly knew about, and yet continued to push him to continue living.

Persica turned and motioned for everyone to follow her. Slavi walked over to her but noticed the saddened look on Sopmod. Sighing, he patted her head and rustled her hair causing her to look up at him.

"I'll play with you once this is all over."

It was a false promise. He didn't know if he would even make it or if the cyro chambers would even last that long for him to outlive the WCS. Undoubtedly, Sopmod knew that as well but regardless she smiled at him cutely and nuzzled into his hand.

"Deal! I'll make sure it's so fun that you'll always want to play with me!"

Her cheer caused the others to look back at us and smile. Slavi awkwardly smiled back at them before they caught up with the group.

"M4, M16, Sopmod, and AR15. I'm not one for long introductions, so this here is Commander Slavi Lao of Sector 09 of G&K. He's a special person of mine."

She said with a teasing tone near the end, Slavi rolled his eyes before shaking hands with each of the T-Dolls. Sopmod merely stood by his side while smiling constantly. M4 gave a quiet and shy greeting before turning away. AR15 didn't say anything but shook his hand in a professional manner. M16 was the most outspoken of the three as she pulled him into a side hug as she laughed.

"Ahahaha! Nice to meet you, Commander! As long as you don't mind me drinking then you'll be fine in my books!"

The smell of alcohol was present in her breathe as she laughed loudly next to his face. Slavi chuckled in response before giving her a grin.

"Just bring some Vodka for me and I'll look the other way."

M16 stopped laughing before looking at him in slight disgust.

"Vodka? Sorry for the disrespect, Commander, but that's disgusting." She said as she nudged him with her elbow. "I guess I'm gonna have to show you the wonders of Jack Daniel's!"

"Yeah, no. I'll stick with my classics." Slavi spoke in a Russian accent similar to his father whenever he heard him talk while drunk.

"Russians." M16 playfully rolled her eyes at him before walking to M4. M4 quietly reprimanded her for her behavior but M16 just brushed it aside with a playful grin. Sopmod then left his side before sneaking up on AR15 and started a conversation with her after a good scare.

"I see you are getting along with them." Persica said as she slowed down to walk next to him. He nodded his head as he gazed at the backs of the four T-Dolls and marveled at how "Human" they looked and acted. No matter what people said, Slavi couldn't understand how they were only able to see them as tools or scraps of metal. If they could feel emotions and display them, then that was enough for Slavi to see them as "Human".

"You're amazing, you know that?" His genuine compliment caused Persica to halt a bit. He turned to look at her and saw her nervously glancing at the ground and back at him. "What? Can't handle a little compliment?~"

Persica huffed in annoyance from being teased before she continued turned her head to the side. Her cheeks reddened a bit as she didn't know how to respond and instead walked ahead, leaving Slavi behind as he chuckled.

The group continued and soon entered a room similar to the one he and Persica were in at the beginning. But the difference was that there were only two capsules in this one that faced each other in opposite sides of the wall. Another difference was that the room was exponentially smaller.

Terminals were present along the walls with one large one in the middle. The only light within the room came from said terminals which barely made the room visible.

"M4, you will be in charge." Persica suddenly told the T-Doll. And contrast to her shy and timid personality, M4 had suddenly gained a look of determination. "Our protection and care will be in the hands of the others and yours."

Slavi turned to look at her confusingly as he noted how she said "His" instead of "Our". Upon noticing look, Persica gave him a sad smile as she sighed.

"I'm obviously undergoing the procedure as well." She rolled her eyes before typing in the nearby terminal. "Of course, I will need to do yours first. So hop in, so we can get this over with."

One of the capsules opened with a hiss while Slavi stood still and contemplated his choices. He never had the intentions of becoming a Commander for G&K. He was just a poor soul who lost his home, family, and purpose. When his side of the outskirts was suddenly attack by the Machines, he almost gave up then and there. That was until a shipment of T-Dolls were suddenly transported to the area near him.

Slavi didn't know what urged him to break into that shopping containment, but all he knew was that they were the only hope of him ever coming out alive. The events after were like a blur as he effortlessly commanded these robots that, for some reason, followed his orders to the letter. Slavi didn't think much about it then because at that moment all that mattered was surviving and making it out alive.

Slavi glanced at the four T-Dolls that looked at him with almost pleading looks. Was it because he was Human? Was it because he was a friend of their creator? Or was it simply because their programming told them to save as many human lives as possible?

Slavi closed his eyes as that last thought was immediately trampled on, he had already experienced just much these creations were similar to him. Those moment in his base in Sector 09 where they laughed and cried together. Those parties that they did to celebrate every battle in their victory. Those silent nights when they lost a friend or battle.

Slavi opened his eyes and the others noticed the look of determination in them.

He wouldn't give up now.

He couldn't.

To waste all of that effort, blood, sweat, oil, and time that he and his comrades put to fight for a better future. He wouldn't be able to look at them in the afterlife if he ever let them down. With a blank look, Slavi nodded his head and stepped towards the capsule. Perisca and the others all smiled as they breathed sighs of relief.

Slavi walked into the freezing chamber and laid his body back onto the cold interior. Perisca typed into her terminal before walking towards him. She leaned her head into his container and looked at him with eyes of sorrow.

"Sorry..." she spoke in a low tone. "I know how tired you are, how much you just want it to end."

Slavi simply sighed before he leaned forward and grabbed her hand that was leaning on the side. Persica didn't resist and simply allowed him to take it as she still looked at him sadly. Slavi ignored how cold her hand felt and instead tried his best to comfort her.

"It's fine." He said as he rubbed his thumb over her hand in reassurance to show he was fine with it. "I trust you, Persica. If you say it will be over when this is done, then I'll simply wait for as long as it takes."

Persica nodded her head as she reluctantly let go of his warm hands. She breathed in and out before her face shifted to her more serious and professional look.

"There are generators that I have created that can last for centuries if kept in their prime condition. Team Anti-Rain or the AR Team will be in command and oversee the facility while we are asleep."

The four T-Dolls nodded their heads as they worked on their own terminals.

"They will be monitoring the surface until it is safe for us to adventure out. Once it is safe, they will release us and it will be as if not even a day had past for us."

Slavi nodded his head before taking a deep breath.

"I call this Project: CU2MRW"

Slavi looked at her confusingly before he got the joke. He chuckled and rolled his eyes at her before leaning forward and placing his head on her forehead. Persica didn't fight it once again and instead leaned her head more into his warmth.

"See you tomorrow." He spoke to her as she smiled.

"See you tomorrow." Persica spoke as she slowly withdrew from their close contact.

Slavi leaned back as Persica closed his chamber. All sound became muffled as he watched her talk to the M4 before typing in the terminal. The sound of hissing gas then surrounded him as he felt himself become more and more numb. His mind and body became more sluggish as he could barely stay awake.

Just when his conscious was about to fade away, he saw the figure of Persica in the other capsule in front of him waving goodbye. Slavi wanted to wave back at her, but could barely get the strength to. Just as his eyelids closed, he questioned why she had a sad look.

He couldn't think too much about it because sleep then took him.


(A/n)

How was it? Was it good for a start and has it peaked your interest?

This is just the start of the story that involves love, sadness, loss, hatred, courage, and more.

If you have any criticism, please don't be shy to share it out with me.

I hope you look forward to the next chapter where we start off similar to the game!