Cold Machines
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 boys and gals. Hopefully you enjoy it. Sorry for not updating.
New London. The City. It is…not what the Geth expected. Honestly they didn't know what to expect but this. This wasn't even close to any predictions. As the elevator was going down slowly the Geth used the terminals long range ocular sensor to get a better reading on the city.
The City was built in a circular form with massive tower reaching up to the dome as the center and everything else built around it. Nearest to the tower are what the Geth assumed to be the living quarters. It was mostly building of one design each holding at most 10 heat signatures according to the infrared sensors. There were shorter building which held a lot more contacts but those were smaller, perhaps they were children placed in a special shelter, much like the Krogan do. The greatest concentration of signatures was around the tower itself. It was harder to detect due to the tower being the greatest source of heat around but the sensors were still able to break through its interference. Pulling out of their database the Geth realized the reason for the concentration. Since Ancient times most organics had them. They were called markets where organics exchanged goods.
On the outer perimeter it was different story. Massive buildings were dominant. The heat from them could almost rival that of the central tower. This was most likely the industrial sector concluded the Geth. The most interesting part of that sector was roads. While near the living quarters the roads were a simple street with pipes running on one side, the outer perimeter were big two-way street with center supporting what seemed to be primitive dual rail train system with the pipes going on each side. They could spot on the far end of the city a train had stopped in front of a massive tower like building which had a massive weight being pulled to the top and then dropped. A massive crane started moving releasing a big quantity of the black rock named by the humans as coal on one of the train's wagons.
Another unusual thing about the industrial sector was the piping. The synthetic observed chimneys on every industrial building, however all of them didn't release the associated with heavy industry smoke. They weren't releasing anything. The heat sensors however detected something in them. Out every building ran a pipe which led to the main tower and began climbing it until halfway they just merge with it.
"Man, can't this thing go faster?"-suddenly complained Guard-Leon
"You are well aware that if this thing went any faster it would probably collapse on itself."- I answered back. I always enjoyed the view from the elevator. It gave me perspective on what we are fighting for. It was a beauty to be honest. Who would have thought that nearly 8 months ago this was an empty crater with a small generator right in the middle and 80 people barely clinging to life. The alien automaton was observing the city quietly. Alien. God I still can't believe it. It feels like I am in one of them science fiction books that were all about humanity meeting alien life forms. I wonder what secrets and technology this automaton brings. Maybe they could helps us rebuild our civilization. Okay calm down. Deep breaths. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Captain will handle this.
"But it's so slow!"-again came Leon.
"If you are in such of hurry why don't you jump? You get down faster and we get some peace and quiet. It's a win-win."-came Ivan's voice.
"Jacob! Ivan is being mean to me!"- said Leon with higher pitch voice. I of course like the reasonable adult i am decided to ignore him.
"Jacob? Hello? Oh… real mature…just gonna ignore me huh?"-asked Leon. For a second a cold chill ran up my spine. Through my peripheral vision I saw a smirk forming on Leon's face. Oh no.
"Come on Jacob don't give me…the cold shoulder."- If there is one thing that the 8 months have done to me it was to give certain habits. Like how unconsciously I would always check if I have gloves on, or checking if my goggles and face mask are in proper condition. The one most important of which was in the event of weather pun. It consisted of me slamming my elbow in the source of the said pun most likely Leon. This is the reason, why, right now Leon is clutching his stomach laughing and coughing at the same time. The Geth simply watched in curiosity while Ivan, well I don't know ,he still hadn't removed his goggles and face mask but I could swear he was smirking.
"So…"- I tried to change the subject-"Geth, what do you think of the city?"
"It is unusual."-came a short reply. I was about to continue with another question when the automaton continued. "We would like to know more about the central tower. What is its purpose?"
"Tower? Oh you mean The Generator. It is humanity's most advanced technological marvel. It provides both heat and electricity for the entire city. It's the only reason why the city still stands. It runs on coal though I heard that it could technically run on anything that releases heat. Like wood. It was built by the British Empire before the Frost."- I informed the extraterrestrial.
"The Frost? We assume this world wasn't always like that."-said the Geth.
"You are right. This world was filled life several years ago. Nobody knows what exactly happened. Some say that the smoke from our factories clouded out the skies but the engineers said that that would take decades if not centuries with the current level of industry. Currently most scientists say that a large volcano erupted throwing enough ash in the air to blanket the planet and cool it off or something. Some crazy people even said that the sun is dimming. We don't actually know why it happened, just theories. "-I informed him. Did it even matter really? Why it happened, it happened and now we have to live with it.
"This city is one of the many built by the British Empire before the fall."
"What happened to the others?"-inquired the synthetic.
"Two of them. Winterhome and Tesla City which were the closest to us had already fallen by the time we came here. The rest? We have no idea. Without a beacon we couldn't even find our own city. We send out radio signals and zeppelins but…nobody has answered. We might truly be the last city on Earth."-I finished with a somber tone.
"Bullshit if we survived other's have too. The Empire sent out more than a hundred generators north. My people have survived the Siberian frontier for centuries. A little cold won't stop us now. And the last news from the Americas was that the Colonials were building something in Yellowstone. And if rumors are to be believed the Chinese had hollowed out an entire mountain in the Himalayas. We humans are crafty SOB's if Death wants us all it better get ready for a hard fight."- exclaimed Ivan. Probably was fedup with my pessimism.
"What about Africa and South America? How were they fairing?"-asked Leon who had finally caught his breath from my reflex attack.
"Gone. Last reports were from Colonial administration in Africa that they were abandoning the cities with the Colonial Army and whatever refugees they could get in the ships. Not even sure if those ships made it anywhere. South America had descended into a civil war. The Ottomans were holding out but food riots were plaguing them. Basically the equator fell real fast. Nobody expected it to get this cold."
"Damn."- Leon and I said.
"Our Condolences."-suddenly said the Geth.
"Thanks. Hey how come you refer to yourself as "We"."-I asked hoping to change the subject to something less depressing.
"We are Geth programs. This unit holds 874 programs. Each program represents a separate entity. Though none alone can be considered intelligent we construct networks with each other. With each program we can process more information faster. Each decision is made through a consensus where each program voices its opinion and the majority takes precedent"-explained the automaton.
"I think I understand."-said Leon-"Like France. Well not exactly but France is a Republic where certain members have voting rights. They can cast their vote when a problem is presented towards a solution. In your case each program cast a vote and the action with highest votes is takes. Right?"
"Correct."-answered the Geth.
Leon turned to us seeing the shock in ou
r eyes. "What? I am not only a handsome face with lots of love to give to the ladies."- he said with cheeky grin." I am the son of a merchant after all."
"Here we are!"-exclaimed Leon as the elevator reached the bottom.
For the Geth moving in crowded streets was a new experience. It was borrowing organic terms weird. Reading the humans through their heavy clothing was hard.
A lot of people walked in groups wielding tools such as pickaxes and axes. They learned from Ivan those were probably first shift coming home. Apparently the city had three shifts. First was from 6 to 14 o'clock. Second from 14 to 22. And Third or Night Shift was from 22 to 6. This allowed the factories and mines to work nonstop. The workers though tired looked at the Geth with suspicion but also a hint of curiosity. Several children that passed by had shown what the synthetics would assume was awe. Some of them even approached the terminal asking a great amount of question that even with their advanced electronics the Geth had a problem with following. Their apparent caretaker had quickly interfered telling them to go to the shelter. She apologized for the inconvenience however it could easily be seen she was uncomfortable with the entity in front of her.
The City Guard showed a more recognizable emotion to the Geth. Suspicion and Fear. Even through their clothing the Geth saw their bodies tense up and reach towards their belts to a wooden baton. But upon laying eyes in the automatons escorts they calmed down but they still rested their hand on top of the baton following the unknown with their eyes.
"See those towers? Those are Guard towers. The City guard uses them to keep watch over the city."- said Jacob.
"Damn it."-suddenly muttered Ivan.
"What?- asked Leon?
"Agitator. I hate those things. I hate propaganda. Seen too many young kids with a bright future go off to war because of it."-said Ivan in a low voice
"The City will survive only through your hard work!"-boomed the loudspeakers."
"Not to mention it hurts my ears."-he added while rubbing his ears.
After some time they reached the residential area. It was tightly packed with little space between the buildings. The streets were filled with people each going mostly in the same direction they were.
Upon reaching the center the Geth saw the markets. But it wasn't just a market. There were large tables where people sat, talked, ate and played games. A massive canteen of sorts. A man on stage played a musical instrument. Children were gathered to the side while they watched a man playing with dolls? A puppet show they called it.
The group continued to a slightly larger building than the other. On the door a sign was put up "Administration".
Entering they were met with a giant room with several desk, machines and mountains of paper. Moving along the Geth could hear the workers.
"There is no way we have 270 tons of wood, check these numbers again!"
"Send someone to take inventory of our steam cores. We need three with at least seven in reserve."
"Request from wall drill two. Steam core was damaged during an overdrive test. They request another one."
"Do they even know how much one cost? Fine, approve the request."
"Hunter hangar five sent a message. They won't be able to fly tonight Zeppelin was damaged yesterday due to heavy winds."
"What the? The calculation machine is broken again! Call an engineer."
"You sure?"
"There is no way 125 times 5 equals a question mark! Why is there even a question mark on mathematics calculation machine?"
None of the people paid attention to the Geth or their escort as they moved toward the other side of the room. A door led them towards a small waiting room. A woman sat at a desk and was typing on a typewriter. She had short jet black hair and green eyes behind a pair of glasses. She wore formal suit reinforced by thick leather. She raised her head from the machine and looked at the new arrivals. She studied them closely like a scholar. Her emotionless face unnerved even the Geth. She went back to the typewriter.
"The Captain is expecting you. Mr. Geth , would you kindly wait here while the guards are debriefed?"-though posed as question it was obvious there was no point in arguing.
"Understood"-answered the foreign automaton.
"And Ivan…remove the face mask and goggles it's rude to talk to someone without showing your face."-she scolded the old man.
We are in the City! Also don't hit on the Captain's secretary, I hear people get their hand stabbed with a shiv :D. Did you enjoy it. This is the biggest chapter until now. Do you guys prefer more dialog or more description. Or you want the golden area of both? Most likely the golden area.
REVIEWS! We have a lot so lets begin, shall we?
MrMorris: Most likely cannon the Sol System is really poor on eezo. So they will most likely follow their own tech path but will have integrate eezo eventually. OF course it wont be pure eezo. Sturdiness will be the focus of human tech of course. Ain't point of a gun if you cant beat someone to death with it and still shoot his friend.
Sigma-del-Prisium: Could happen. Maybe another country built something like that. Or a generator never reached its position on time so they decided to build it on the dreadnought instead going around gathering any survivors.
SaddyFics: Sorry.
Somebodynobody10: Yeah i kind of rushed it there. It was supposed to be done in later chapter when they rea...nnononono Spoiler alert Bad BattleUnit3 Bad. Sorry It wasn't supposed to be like that but i got carried away Thank for the review i will try to make it better in the things i have been thinking. And the future thing won't be GOD SUCCS but more like PEOPLE SUCCS but they use god to justify themselves.
Rebelo: I can try making them larger. this the largest yet. I think 2k words. But the way i write chapters is horrible. I just think of everything all day and dump it on Microsoft word. Its a habit i have to unlearn. Lets hope i Captain to Geth dailog good.
Hunter Redflame: I will try to improve my grammar. English isn't my first language and i haven't written anything since i got my certificate. In time i will do better i hope. Beta Readers you say? I will have to think about. I was hoping people like the characters. Ivan is supposed to be the old man laying on some experience and logic. Leon is obviously the young comic relief(tell me if i am overdoing it with the comedy, I will dial back) and Jacob is not exactly experienced but he knows not everything is sunshine and roses. Though that could be said for everyone in New London. Thank you for the extensive review. I will try my best to improve.
Glaziola: You are absolutely right. Surprised is not the proper term. Unexpected is. I have attempted to correct this in this chapter. Also guess i haven't explained it properly. The system found by the Turians is not Sol. The Geth fell mid transit so technically Sol is somewhere between two mass Relays. I could have made them be the same system but that would require several story arcs and this is my first time so i trying to keep it small. Sorry for not explaining better.
Hitler's Moustache: Thank you for defending my honor. By the way love the name!
Flying Dragoon: I did not know that. I have rectified this in this chapter. Thank you for this valuable information!
Guest: Hairy Varren that dont try to kill you. Also i want to put dogs in this fic what do people say ?I don't care! I am putting puppers in this baby!
Septon: Maybe they will find another city? Maybe they will wish they never found that city? Who knows? Well I but you know Spoilers! Also the Great Frost will most likely act as a catalyst for mankind. Technology is advancing fast to keep up with cold.
Well this is it! All feedback is appreciated. Should i be putting that i don't own ME and Frostpunk in every chapter or just the first one is ok?
