Cold Machines
Chapter 11
You are all just bunch hyphen haters! I come here using something so its better to see where speech ends and you all pick up your torches like a bunch of savages and try to kill me. Fine! Hyphens are dead! No more Hyphens. *sobbing*
Some people complained that POV change is hard to follow. So i added the thing below to see how you like. I will also try to limit the frequency of change of POV.
POV Captain Walters
My mind was going a thousand kilometers a second. The revelation of alien life. At least the question whether we are alone in the universe was answered. Unfortunately it doesn't do anything for us. Oh how times change. Days like these remind me that I no longer that youthful naïve kid with a red coat that served his Queen and Country with a smile. Those times of drinking alcohol with my buddies and impressing maidens with stories are long gone. Times of when we thought that the Empire is invincible. Times before the town of Nanaga.
"Thinking about Nanaga?" came the smooth voice of my second in command and only living friend Commander Henry Becket. "It wasn't your fault. Nobody expected them ,it was a miracle that we won that battle." He said in attempt to make me feel better. Like always.
"It was entirely my fault. I was coward and a fool and that got most of my man dead and half the city burned. If only I had been more prepared and spent more time over the scout reports instead at the brothel things might have been different." Memories started flooding in. Suffocating fire. Bloodstained streets. Makeshift Barricades. Calls for help and more ammunition.
"Robert… Whether we were prepared or not we were still outnumbered 10 to 1. No amount of preparation could change that. Hell if it wasn't for your quick thinking we all would have been dead and the city pillaged." I know that he spoke the truth. He always did. But it never made the pain and regret go away. Only subside until nighttimes. Until the nightmares.
Nanaga was a small crossroad town 50 kilometers from Port Elizabeth. It was my first true command without someone looking over my shoulder. I, Becket and 198 others were stationed to protect the small town. Back then we the only trouble we had were our own soldiers getting too drunk and accosting girls on the streets. How many times we had to cuff them to a light post as punishment? How many times was I cuffed to a light post?
Until the summer 1857. Huh Almost 30 years ago. I was 28 at the time. It started as normal night me and the officers drinking in the best inn on our special table. Becket was saying how he had this great business plan to become the richest man alive. It was something about this new black substance called oil. Supposed to replace coal and he had heard it from a soldier who's sisters husband knew a chemists that was writing a paper on it. It was just a typical night until a scout came back. The man, boy (he was 19) could barely walk and collapsed right on the table.
When I reached him I could smell the gunpowder on him and saw the bloodstained uniform. I quickly ordered the others to carry him to the medic. The boy kept saying he had a message of grave importance. What he said made my blood freeze. There was a force of native rebels 2000 strong coming to this town and from here to Port Elizabeth. Apparently they had already pillaged two others town and he had ridden from the second one to warns us.
Unfortunately he had gotten lost on the way. The 2000 man were already at the gates. We raised the alarms and gathered the troops. Many of them weren't even sober but the news of battle quickly made them come to their senses. The enemy was already entering the city. So I made a choice that haunts me to this day. We abandoned the North side of the city setting up barricades in the middle of the town. The Bastards were taking their times pillaging, murdering and raping and we had to listen to the pleas for help and mercy. We couldn't even send soldiers to tell the people to go to the south of the town as to not alert them of the trap we had placed.
An hour they had finally bothered to come to us. What came was the fiercest battle I have ever taken part. Though they had the number advantage it was negated by the narrow streets. Autoguns quickly mowed down the front lines, followed by grenades and fire bombs, and then volley fire. Though they were mostly reliant on the axes and spears, they had pillaged rifles and grenades from the garrisons of their previous victims. However their numbers still counted. They broke through several barricades. That was expected and had previously ordered every civilian to be mobilized in the militia and ordered them to build a second line of defense behind my troops.
By the time the sun came up silenced had settled. The attacker's moral had been broken and they retreated. However the damages had already been done. Half the city and population destroyed and killed. And out of the original 200 man garrison only 50 had survived.
A great victory the generals claimed. They gave us all medals and made us heroes. But we all knew that we didn't win that battle. We simply survived it.
"Robert!" he had be shaken from his trip through memory lane. I looked towards my old friend.
"You can't change the past. But there are 700 people right here right now that need you." He was right. Always right.
"Thanks. Now…What I called you here for." I steered the conversation in another direction. "The alien automaton"
"Yeah, I saw it. Jesus Robert, this new world keeps getting weirder and weirder and we are not getting any younger to be able to deal with it. I am not one to question your choices." I snorted at that "about leadership." He clarified "about woman it's a different matter" he cracked a smile which I returned."But are you certain about his? Alien Automanton crashing and we give him citizenship?"
"You think I don't know that? For me everything lost sense after the goddamn world began to freeze over. I am damn soldier and yet they put me on this dreadnought and sent me to build a city and save humanity!" I sighed "My Uncle always said that the world is like river and that we either move with it or we drown in it. Survive and Adapt. Humanities greatest ability! And still a civilization of a 2 billion rendered at worst case to hundreds at best thousands!"
"We survived, Robert! It's the only thing that matters." Henry raised his voice. He did that only when he was getting angry which was rare.
"You and I both know that The Storm was only the beginning. We have much bigger problem." As if the weight of the world on my shoulders. And as if reading my mind Henry said
"You are not alone Robert. We are here. I, the boys and the people are all behind you. It was your leadership that made this city possible. "
Damn it. He was right. Always.
"Yes … Thanks Henry."
"Anytime, Captain" he answered with a smile "Hell if it wasn't for me you probably would still be stuck on Madagascar"
"We agreed to never talk about that again" I replied with a bit of edge. God Forsaken Lemurs!
"So what is on today's agenda."
"Well the alien automaton. I granted him citizenship because what else can I give him to be part of this city? It's not like we have thriving tourist industry. Plus I think he will make fine addition to the Engineers. God knows we need engineers. The Announcement would be carried tomorrow morning at the gathering."
"I will tell the boys but the whole city knows by now."
"Rumor mill has been running dry hasn't it?"
"There is only so much drama 700 people can cause."
"Now you are just tempting fate."
"Let it come I still have my revolver."
"heh, Alright Second..Scout Reports?"
"Haven't read them yet?"
"Yeah, been a busy morning"
"Don't worry I know about them. Scout report that a cove out east is showing signs of smoke. That's the direction we suspect Winterhomes last dreadnought went."
"It's been 7 months by our understanding. There is no way they could have lasted this long even with rationing. At maximum they could have carried 2 months worth of supplies"
"Yeah well studying the ruins of the city says they had plenty of supplies in it but didn't have the room so they left with half load. Around 300 people. "
"The math still doesn't check out. But none the less its signs of civilization its better than what we had 5 minutes ago. Hmm. We don't have free scout group we would have to redirect someone. The salvage team that is getting ready to get the rear section of the spaceship. Still feels weird saying it."
"You are telling me. An hour ago I thought my biggest problem today would be an idiot recruit who got his head stuck in a pipe."
We both laughed at that. No matter how the world changes young recruits are always an endless source of entertainment and headaches.
"Yes well human lives are more important than a bunch glowing gadgets. Tell them to change direction for the cove. Load them up one third food rations, one third Coal, one third steel. If they find someone those resources would be to keep them alive, if not built a station there. If there is anything burning out there its good news. It could be a natural gas deposit."
"Aye anything else."
"I spoke to the doctors"
"How bad?"
"No so bad but if we don't find something soon we are in big trouble."
"Damn it. What the Chemists say?"
"They are working on it. But they said that we shouldn't rely too much on it. At best it might be just temporary solution, just to buy time. It will also be resources intensive to modify the Hot Houses. They predict that there will be a drop in production."
"We have the supplies but the problem isn't in the quantity its quality."
"Yeah I can't believe we have to deal with this on dry land!"
"Well at least the chemists are a Plan B. Its good to have several plans unlike before the storm where it was pretty much 'Survive'. "
Silence fell between us.
"How goes…the project." I gazed deep in to his eyes.
"Well first of all you don't have to say it like that as if we are doing something secret. Second why are you asking me you should ask the engineers they are the ones building it. And third! Its going well apparently the new engines are far more efficient than anything we have. Got any names for it."
"How does Normandy sound?" I inquired. Truthfully it was a spur of the moment.
"Sounds too French. Try something better."
"Trailblazer"
"Hmm the Trailblazer-class frigate? Yeah I like that."
Hehehe IZ GOOD? Okay sorry for the time passed since last update but University started, and in all their wisdom the professors decided that the best time for Tests is right before Christmas. I been taught by Sadists! Please send help!
Time for dem reviews!
X9-Killbot: Okay yeah you right that is indeed a valid thing to complain. BUT YOU ARE STILL A HYPHEN HATER! Thanks for the advice. Part of me beginning this story was to improve my English.
gabe. .1997: The main problem with energy weapons in ME is that they are too power hungry to be practical. Plus you have to think about range. Most people think that because they move at the speed of light they have infinite range but the further they lose strength. Mostly because laser usually are just hyper active protons or ions and getting more than two in a straight line is difficult. You can use a laser pointer and if you point at something close you will see a small concentrated dot but at larger distances you will notice the dot becomes larger and losing so of its color. I could be talking out of my ass here so anyone with an actualy degree in physics please correct me.
DahakStaz: I am glad you liked the game. Yeah those last days, for me, felt longer than the rest of the game.
LordGhostStriker: Sorry University is just UHHHH
Edelhart: UNION OF THE FROZEN WORLD SHALL RIZE! It was something that i literally thought at the moment.
icedshadows: I despIce you.
Ronmr: Its a frozen hell it can't all be sunshine and unicorns.
largomolo: Apologies. I tried to convey that the Captain didn't make the Geth immediately thin Quarians are idiots. But more to give him an outside perspective on the situation for them to consider.
Adam Redmayne: We are product of our environment. Humanity doesn't have much choice anymore. Its get tough or get rekt. I feel that if i make a sequel of them in space i should add a segment where due to the Cataclysm humanities culture suffered greatly due to loss of art and living in literal black and brown cities depression becomes a serious issue.
Orez Lanrete: I hope this chapter explained why he was given citizenship so fast. Mostly because up until now there literally no where anyone can go to so by default they become part of the city. You are right big blocks of exposition hurt the eyes and become dull. I will try to fix some day.
lisbjerg123: Is this my life now. Frost based pun reviews? I hate you. Its just not ice to do something like that.
Some guy 161: Sorry not in this story in the sequel ,if i make it, yes.
2Xenos: What are you talking about theres like 800 geth in him. But no its just him, unless they salvage the other part of the ship we might add repair drones.
Willum: You have been heard sir and i ANSWER.
tdy4234: I complete agree about the Frostpunk to be filled with potential crossover. I actually have some idea right now. Which i ask you guys would you like me to post another Story with my ideas for Frostpunk or would you like it to just shove an idea at the end of every Chapter.
Reviews are always welcome! Have a nice day!
