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Humanity's Legacy
Chapter 7
"Welcome to Elysium! Please, enjoy your day and the many attractions we have to offer!"
They stared with varying looks, some with curiosity, and others with mistrust and revulsion. Majority of tourists dismissed him entirely, seeing nothing more than a greeting hologram. Others however were not so inclined to ignore him.
"What would an A.I. race like the Anculus need a V.I. for?"
Turian, male, green clan markings suggest born on Thracia, mid to late forties, military armor and weapons, soldier on leave, mid ranking officer, likely Lieutenant.
"After the discovery of the Citadel, the Anculus began the study of V.I. as they had no such programs themselves. After acquiring V.I. technology through trade with the Illuminated Primacy, the Anculus experimented with these programs, placing them in various mundane positions."
"Like a greeter for tourists."
"Correct. I also provide information to those who ask."
"Alright, do you have a name?"
"This program does not have a designation at this time."
Mandibles clench slightly, unconscious agitation. What is the cause, possible sympathy? This Unit is nothing more than a program, sympathy is unwarranted.
"Can you tell me about what Elysium has to offer?"
"Elysium was constructed to be a major Human cultural center; as such it is host to a variety of museums, restaurants, theaters, shops, and other public recreational areas."
"I best be off then if I want to see it all."
"Have a wonderful day sir."
He walks off; gait that of a confident soldier. Exchange recorded for future study, continuing to observe.
Turian Asari couple purchased German Shephard for their child. Child ecstatic. 137th purchase of Human pet made today. Observation: practice of domestication not unique to Earth but taken to extreme by Humanity. Theory of Human extremes supported by-
-I'm going to name you Ecker. Do you like that name?-
. . .
Gilbert and Sullivan popular amongst Salarians.
–'I am the very model of a scientist Salarian.' Yes, that's good, should work on that-
. . .
Works by Shakespeare popular amongst Elcor, particularly Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
-With barely constrained excitement: These works are simply incredible. It is no wonder this Human is remembered after so many centuries-
. . .
Krogan mercenary browsing gun shop wares.
-Gunpowder weapons? *Whistles* nothing like the smell of powder residue to get the blood pumping-
. . .
Asari couple enjoying the central park.
-It's beautiful here Aris-
. . .
. . . Beautiful . . . ?
. . . Observations logged for future study.
Warning! Warning! Unauthorized landings! Hostiles detected! All non-combatants retreat to emergency bunkers! Warning! Warning!
-0-
There were several reasons why Elysium was chosen as the cultural center for the Citadel races, the main one being its unique environments. It is the only Earth-class world discovered to date that rivals Earth in its Biosphere diversity. Add that to its low gravity and cool temperatures and it became the prime candidate as a tourist world. It was described as some to be a near paradise.
Hindsight is 20-20.
While it was described as paradise, it also bordered the Attican Traverse, a territory known for its pirate raids. This explains why the planet was now under attack. Obviously the Anculus didn't leave the planet completely undefended, the ASV dreadnought Truth of Worth as well as a fleet of thirty cruisers orbited around the world ready to defend it. Nevertheless, it was clear to Anculus Unit Production Number 0043 Model C1 Designation Bones, admiral of the local defense fleet, that this wasn't some simple pirate raid.
No pirate group has a fleet strength of a hundred ships.
Raise shields to full power. Target their flagships. All vessels open fire.
As a C1 pilot Unit, Unit Bones possessed the unique capability of 'merging' his consciousness directly with the Truth of Worth. 10% of his Central Core's processing data, as well as the other C1 pilots, directly interfaced with all of the ships systems, exchanging data and orders at the speed of light.
The dreadnought shook as its mass accelerator was fired upon the invading fleet. A pirate cruiser was sent ablaze as its core overloaded. In the beginning stages of the battle it was very one sided, the Anculus vessels being far superior to the pirates in all manner, but as their creators might say: shit just hit the fan.
Sir! Enemy dropships are on landing route to Elysium!
Change target vectors, dropships are priority one. Contact Unit General Hound and warn him of incoming hostiles.
Dropship after dropship was destroyed by the defense fleet. GUARDIAN lasers and swarms of fighters shot down as many as was possible, but it was not enough.
Sir, 38 dropships have broken atmosphere!
Retarget the pirate fleet, cut off their escape.
-0-
As the ships above blazed in explosive light, the city below raged with emergency klaxons. Crowds screamed as they were rushed to emergency bunkers, visiting soldiers helping to protect the civilians. As quickly as possible, the cities were emptied as the pirates rolled in, gunning down the A2 Security Units that apposed them. Hundreds of pirates took anything they could get their hands on.
Captain Harek L'orn frowned as blew apart the chest of yet another of these worthless machines. This was too easy, sure they didn't find any people to sell on the slave markets yet, but they plundered some nice tech and resistance was minimal. Harek's four eyes narrowed. It was way too easy.
He and his six men stalked slowly towards a three way intersection. The sound of the other pirates could be heard a hundred meters behind them. Going further into the city away from the others may have been a risk, but there was more reward in the loot. The entire squad froze as they felt a large *thump* through the ground. They felt it again and again. They didn't know what is was, but it was getting closer.
"Form up!" Harek ordered. "Weapons up! Hold position!"
They waited as the thumping grew louder and louder. It was coming from the street on the right, around the building. They all raised their weapons and aimed at the corner of the building, waiting. There was a thunderous crash as an Anculus ground vehicle was thrown passed the building. Sweat began to poor down Harek's cheek. 'What could have done that?' He immediately regretted asking. From around the building came an Anculus like he had never seen. It stood twice as tall as the Batarian and carried in one arm a gun that looked like it belonged on a tank! It had armor covering every single inch of it with large shoulder pads and a domed helm. Its red visor stared at the group, sending chills down every one of their spines. It raised its arm to its waist and brought its weapon to bear.
"Open fire!"
They didn't get any further before rounds from the Auto canon tore through them like wet tissue paper.
-0-
"Do you think that was a little much?" Desolas asked the hulking Unit. All around the visiting Turian, Anculus B1 battle Units rushed to their comm stations, coordinating civilian evacuation and retaliation tactics. It was quite impressive for machines, but none of them compared to the Unit towering beside him
Anculus Unit Production Number 0505 Model B2 Designation Hound, general of the Anculus ground defense forces stationed on Elysium, was massive. He stood at twelve feet tall, nearly twice the size of the Lieutenant. The general's red visor gazed at his fellow B2 on the security footage, not even bothering to look at the Turian.
"No," he spoke in a voice that could cow a Krogan. "These pirates attacked our city, a place of peace and learning. They take what they do not understand merely for profit. Commander!"
"Yes sir," answered a nearby B1 Unit.
"Spring the trap. Destroy these pirates."
"Trap?" Desolas asked. Unit Hound turned to the smaller organic. He had to suppress a shudder as the hulking machine looked at him.
"We allowed them a false sense of security by offering little in the way of resistance. They will learn what happens to those that attack the Anculus."
With that, the massive general turned and walked away. Desolas looked once more at the security footage. As he watched the Batarians be gunned down by the B2, he could not help but feel sorry for them.
-0-
"Shit! Fall back!"
Things were going so well for the pirates. They came in, got past the defense fleet, and stole everything they could find. Now Mi'hiral Balak would be happy to just make it out alive. They came out of nowhere, countless machines pouring in from the buildings and roads, some even from the sewers! And damn they were tough to put down. Blowing off their heads seems to be the only thing that works, but between their kinetic barriers, speed, and tough armor, even doing that was a challenge. They gunned down his men with weapons that tore through their barriers like paper, and they were too big for him to use. The recoil on those things would shatter his collar bone!
Balak and his men were making their way back to the shuttles but it was slow progress. The Anculus hounded them at every moment, blasting away any cover they found with massive rounds. Entire squads were set ablaze by flamethrowers carried by those walking tanks! Not to mention the Auto canons and chain guns they carried, on top of the dozens of B1 soldiers that were a problem all on their own. There was no fighting those things if they got close, they were faster, stronger, and carried knives as big as his forearm. An explosive round set off a few meters from where the Batarian was taking cover.
"Damn!"
"Sir!" Balak turned to the man that called to him. "What do we do?! They've cut us off from the shuttles!" With widening eyes, the Batarian captain turned to see Anculus between him and the only way off this miserable hunk of rock.
"Shit! Through the buildings, we got to find a way around!"
Twelve men followed him into the nearby shops, the rest cut off by the machines. Fuck 'em. If they couldn't keep up that was their problem, he's not going to die to save their sorry asses. Balak growled as he kicked down another door into the back pathways. This entire operation was a complete disaster! They lost all the tech they had scavenged and they didn't capture a single slave! He tightened the grip on his gun. If anything got in his way, gods save them from what he would do to them.
-0-
Warning! Warning! Hostiles bearing on civilians' location. Position 990-2! Send reinforcements to secure their safety!
The girl clutched at her dog tightly, the shepherd licking the side of her face to comfort her. Her parents, along with other civilians knelt inside the storeroom, unaware of the incoming danger.
Acknowledged, reinforcements sent. ETA ten minutes!
Negative, hostiles will reach civilians by that time!
The girl was crying. A Salarian was in hysterics, his bondmate attempted to calm him down. His noise is alerting the pirates of their position. They are converging on them.
Downloading processor into nearby Unit.
Program you do not have the clearance to-
The comms were cut. The pirates broke down the door. The dog charged but was knocked away by a kick. The girl screamed. The pirate raised his weapon.
-0-
"Sir, what do we do with them?"
Balak growled. The damn Anculus Varren nearly tore his throat out, now it was whimpering in the corner like the vermin it was. A group of tourists cowered at the end of the room. Vermin, all of them. He raised his gun.
"No captives."
A shot rang out. Searing pain erupted from the hole in his right hand. He turned around to see two of his men put down in a second. Another one of those damned machines! They opened fire, tearing apart the racks of goods in the store, the thing dashing to the side into cover. Something was thrown at the three men on the right.
"Grenade!"
They dove for cover only for the synthetic to pop out of cover and shoot them while they were distracted.
"Idiots! Just kill that damned thing!"
They continued to rain fire on what little cover the thing had. They kept firing over and over until their rifles overheated. At the infamous beeping, the machine jumped out and charged them, shooting them all the while. Once he got close enough he reached out and snapped the neck of a pirate before driving its metallic fist into another's face. Balak, still clutching his bleeding hand, ran for the side door. He could hear the cries of his men from behind him as they were slaughtered. H swore to himself he would destroy these damned machines! He didn't care if it took years. He didn't care if it took centuries. He didn't care if his children's children where the ones who melted them down for scrap. The Anculus will burn.
He swore it.
-0-
"Fall back! Fall back!"
How did this happen? The plan was working perfectly, there wasn't supposed to be so much resistance! Now the last of the pirate bands were attempting a desperate charge to the shuttles, trying to get off this planet. All around the frantic pirates the ground exploded from tank fire. Those tanks weren't like anything they had ever seen. It rolled around on treads! And it was absolutely covered in weapons. By the time anyone counted how many guns the thing had they were already blown to bits. Bullets rained down on their retreating backs until finally they could see the shuttles.
Taking off without them.
"Son of a bitch!" a Turian cried out. Before anyone could agree with their own swears and profanity, the shuttle erupted in a massive ball of fire and crashed to the ground. They turned to see yet another tank roll down the street, this one a dark grey with sharp angles on its no doubt thick armor. Its barrel charged with some form of electricity before firing, incinerating the poor group of bastards it managed to hit before they even got a chance to scream.
With their last chance to escape gone, they turned to make their final stand. Some attempted to surrender but were gunned down. More of those walking tanks closed on their position firing auto canons and grenade launchers on the pirates. Any biotics left threw everything they had at them but the gargantuan machines shrugged off the blows like they were nothing. Someone brought out a rocket launcher and fired, managing to catch one of the bastards in the helmet. The machine fell to one knee, then got back up and kept firing.
The sound of fired rounds and explosions echoed through the city streets. Abruptly they stopped, a dead silence taking their place. The pirates were dead.
-0-
Anculus Court, five hours after the battle of Elysium
All invaders destroyed, no survivors, no prisoners, and no civilian casualties.
Good, this will serve as an example to those who pose a threat to the Anculus.
Was such force necessary? Many attempted surrender, should we have not accepted?
They attacked without provocation. They plundered and killed all in their way. They would have sold innocents into a life of slavery. They did not deserve mercy.
But if we do not show mercy, how are we any different from them?
. . .
Regardless, another problem has arisen. The V.I. program assigned to study the organics has gone missing. It is rogue.
It downloaded itself into a combat Unit to rescue a group of civilians in peril. Is this not what we desired? We did not program it do act the way it did.
But now it is gone. We have no way of tracking it, more than likely it has already left Elysium in the chaos. If it were to be discovered by any of the other races . . .
It could end in disaster for us. The progress we have made in establishing good relations with the Citadel will be for naught. I move we cease research into the E Model project, until we can reacquire our lost V.I.
The vote shall now be taken. For or against?
. . .
. . .
. . .
For: 53%
Against: 47%
Then it is decided. Research into the E Model project will be halted until further notice. Now we must address other business: the morality of the Lazarus project.
What is the problem? We have the capability to clone Humanity and the necessary bio material and DNA samples.
Humans believed cloning to be immoral. For someone to be brought into the world an exact copy of someone else . . .
But the original is dead, and the clone would be released from the tanks as a newborn, not a full adult. They would not be raised the same and therefore not the same person.
Ay, there's the rub. They would not be raised the same, so are they truly Human? Who would raise them to be? We are not Human, we would raise them as Anculus, not Human.
Is that what it truly means to be Human? By who raised you?
We are emotionless machines, we cannot provide the nurture Human infants require.
Then the question is: nature or nurture? Are we willing to risk that on infants?
I move we terminate the Lazarus project.
The vote shall now be taken. For or against?
. . .
. . .
. . .
For: 83%
Against: 17%
Then it is decided. The Lazarus project is terminated. Our focus will remain on the other projects.
Court is adjourned.
Authorizing clearance . . . accepted. Accessing Archives please wait . . . data received. Opening timeline.
2130-The Battle of Elysium is met with mixed results. Some are impressed with the skill of the Anculus soldiers. Many are grateful that they were either saved by the Anculus, or their relatives and friends were kept safe. Others are fearful of the Anculus' capabilities in war. Protests of Anculus being allowed to carry weapons aboard the Citadel increase. Unit Ambassador Knights compromises: A1 Units are no longer able to carry firearms without a permit. A2 Security Units will keep their firearms as safety of civilians is there primary directive.
2134-Blueprints of future projects from before Humanities extinction are shared with Salarian scientists. Joint efforts of the Salarian Union and Anculus Courts produce medi-gel, a highly advanced 'quick fix' medical omni gel for minor wounds or wounds on the field. Medi-gel is quickly established as standard for all medical personnel.
2137-Anculus begin colonization efforts into the Attican Traverse. The Batarian Ambassador protests, stating the Traverse as a zone of 'Batarian interest.' Unit Ambassador Knights offers that the Anculus will not colonize any system with Earth-class planets or Garden Worlds. He also offers a trade agreement with any Element Zero deposits they might find. The Batarian Ambassador declines at first, but as the Hegemony has no official claim to the Traverse, he accepts the offer soon after. Pirate raids on remote Anculus outposts still remain frequent.
2142-With progress in the Traverse slowed, Anculus begin colonizing worlds in the Terminus. Attacks on these colonies are more frequent then in the Traverse but these worlds are also more heavily protected with at least one of their military outposts being defended by the dreadnought Followed Dawn. Rumors of 'experiments' being held on these worlds spread.
2143-In the wake of the ten year anniversary of the Anculus introduction into the Citadel, military officer Units under the command of Unit General Hound are invited to Palaven. The Units are given a tour of the Turian Homeworld's capitol. The Units respond with "It is impressive."
2145-Rogue V.I. program is tracked to the station of Omega. B3 infiltration Units are sent to apprehend the program.
Closing Timeline. Warning! You are attempting to access restricted files, present authorization . . . accepted. Opening restricted files.
Project Howl: 100% complete. Prototype untested.
Project E Model Series: Halted until further notice.
Project Cosmic Serpent: 43% complete
Project Fortress: 0.95% complete
Project Lazarus: Terminated
Hope you enjoyed. In all honesty, I am not that good at fighting scenes so sorry about the bad quality. Waiver, if you will.
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