Humanity's Legacy
Sorry about the delay, a lot has been going on right now between college, trying to find a job, and thinking about the military. Disclaimer!
Disclaimer: We own nothing.
Chapter 10
Main power core online. CPU online. Examen online. Scanning Internal functions. Scanning . . . scanning . . . scan complete.
Vocal systems: 100%
Visual systems: 100%
Auditory systems: 100%
Hive connections: 100%
All systems preforming at 100% capacity. Scanning B.U.G.S. . . . scanning . . . scan complete. All 200 B.U.G.S. operating at 100% capacity. Beginning scan of outward environment . . . receiving data.
Hostiles: 0
Threats: 0
Organisms: 0
Executing command functions. Locate and assimilate all technology.
-0-
The sound of tearing metal and screeching servos was muffled behind the glass. Anculus Unit Production Number 0208 Model A1 Designation Scope recorded every bit of data into his memory banks as he watched the B.U.G.S. tear apart the V.I. driven Geth platform. The swarm of three centimeter insectoid drones crawled through the gaps in its chassis, and when they couldn't they cut through the alloy with ease. They dismembered the limbs first, the arms, then the legs. From there they continued with the inner systems. Servos and pipelines were disconnected and pulled apart with minimal damage to them. White synthetic blood splattered across the floor but even that was collected. Finally they tore into the head, optic lens the last thing to be dissected. All within the span of three minutes.
"Examen's efficiency is, as the organics might say 'quite impressive'."
Unit Scope did not turn to acknowledge the other Unit, preferring to keep his attention on the small drones. When they were finished with the platform completely he then turned to his counterpart. "They dismantled the platform in 3 minutes and 24.3584 seconds, Unit Beaker."
Anculus Unit Production Number 0209 Model A1 Designation Beaker nodded as he too watched the B.U.G.S. "They do not hesitate to assimilate the technology," Unit Beaker acknowledged. The small drones where passing pieces of the Geth platform between each one of them equally, applying the technology to their frames and inner workings. Within the next five minutes, each of the .S. were upgraded, their six mechanical appendages were sharper and longer, their frames where now the same as the standard blue Geth alloy rather than the brown synthetic carapace. The only constant was the single white light from their optic sensors.
"They analyze and determine the nature of the technology they come into contact with near instantly. They know it is not harmful to them," Unit Scope stated.
"They did not increase in number, they only upgraded their frames," Unit Beaker observed.
"Examen must have believed it would be more efficient. He is still a V.I., he does only what would benefit his hive," Unit Scope answered his compatriot. Unit Beaker nodded in acknowledgment. "Regardless," he began. "It would be prudent to study this new form the B.U.G.S. have acquired."
He raised his omni tool and input the shutdown code. In less than a moment, all of the B.U.G.S. ceased moving. "Unit Curie," he said into an intercom on the panel in front of him beneath the observatory window. "Please bring one of the B.U.G.S. into the lab for testing. He turned to his partner.
"Are you ready to begin the study?"
"Of course," Unit Scope responded with a nod. He gestured to the door. "Let's be on our way."
The two Units turned to exit the room but a commotion from beyond the glass grabbed their attention. They turned to see Unit Curie struggling as the B.U.G.S. swarmed him and tore apart his frame.
Outside the containment chamber.
Unit Scope activated his comm at the speed of light. "Security we have a breach in the containment chamber, lock down this sector." Despite his monotonic, synthesized voice, Unit Scope's words were urgent simulating the changes of an organic voice to properly stress the situation. "Unit Beaker!"
"I have input the code seven times. It is not working!"
"Shut down Examen's mainframe!" Unit Scope yelled into the comm. Meanwhile, in the control room, several Units were typing into their computers frantically. The large core at the end of the room holding Examen remained on and powered, despite their best efforts.
"Examen's core isn't responding, we can't shut it down!" one of the Units called out. The door to the room opened, allowing access to the A2 security Unit that charged for the core.
"I am disabling the core manually," he stated as he pointed his shotgun at the machine. Before he could however, the B.U.G.S. swarm scurried into the room and overcame the A2 Unit, disassembling him before he could discharge his weapon. "They're in the control room!" a Unit shouted as he pulled a pistol and fired on the swarm.
"Lock the controls, they cannot escape this facility!"
Two more Units were overcome by the swarm, its numbers increasing every time a Unit fell. The last Unit in the room locked all controls before firing into his console. The swarm was on him in the next second.
Units Beaker and Scope were sprinting down the hall, attempting to escape the swarm that was chasing them.
"Has a distress call been sent out?" Unit Scope questioned.
"Yes, word has been sent to the Courts, but the Hubs have self-destructed according to their security directives."
The two stopped when they reached a closed blast door. They turned to see the swarm coming down the hall towards them; their numbers now triple their original amount.
"The lock down is in place," Unit Beaker stated. "They cannot escape before the fleet destroys this base."
Loud explosions rang out through the halls, causing the two Units to stumble. However, instead of the entire facility being destroyed like they believed would happen, the door behind them was blasted open in fire and shrapnel.
Everything was muffled for Unit Beaker; his body had sustained severe damage from the blast. His limbs did not respond and most of his inner systems have been disabled. What did work however were the servos in his neck. Before the swarm overcame him, he turned his gaze up to the now visible sky. Debris burned as they entered Sanctum's atmosphere. With his enhanced vision, Unit Beaker could see exactly what those debris were.
Sanctum's defense fleet was burning up in atmo.
-0-
Batarian Space, border of the Terminus Systems
Captain Uhurik of the Sword of the Pillars was not expecting much from his assignment in the Traverse. His orders were simple; defend the newly developing colony world from pirate attacks. Despite their ties to the Terminus, the Hegemony would be foolish to believe every pirate knew better than to attack them, but that didn't mean the occurrence was common. The chances of the colony's defense fleet of ten ships seeing any actual problems were minimal at best, so when four Anculus ships entered the system, led by a gods forsaken dreadnought, it came as no surprise that the captain was caught off guard. He growled lowly as he watched the intruders move closer to his fleet.
"Sir the Anculus ships are closing in. Orders?"
"Open a channel," the captain barked. "It's time we teach these damn synths some respect. Anculus fleet," he spat into the comm after a channel was opened. "You are trespassing in Hegemony space. Turn back now or I'll blow your ships into space dust."
The comm was silent for a moment, giving Uhurik time to examine their ships in detail. Two frigates, one carrier, and the dreadnaught. All four of them were were covered in battle scars, scorch marks littered their hulls, and one ship, the carrier, even seemed to have a damaged engine. Even the dreadnaught wasn't lacking in damage, though it was negligent. He growled again when he realized they hadn't answered him.
"I repeat, leave here immediately or I will destroy you." His voice was low and threatening, sending a chill through his bridge officers. The chill was quickly forgotten when they heard the synthetics response.
". . . Batarians . . . Your technology will be assimilated."
At this point Uhurik was beyond furious. He slammed his arm into the rest of his captain's chair. "You insolent machines! You dare to threaten me?!"
". . . It is not a threat. Your technology will be assimilated. You will be destroyed."
"Sir!" one of the ensigns called out, fear clear in all four of his eyes. "The dreadnaught is powering weapons!"
"Target that dreadnaught. All ships open fire!"
The main canons of all ten ships fired at once, the mass accelerated payloads bearing down on the enemy. Under the heavy fire, the two frigates were damaged severely but still operational. The carrier and dreadnaught shrugged off the majority of the damage however, the dreadnaught returning fire and destroying an enemy frigate with a single shot while the carrier released its contents.
"Incoming fighters!"
"Activate the Guardians and send out all fighter squadrons!" Uhurik griped his chair as his ship shook from a nearby frigate exploding. "Status!"
"Two of our frigates have been destroyed! Shields down to 20%!"
"Our fighters have engaged the enemy captain!" another ensign called out. "They're reporting none of the enemy are fighters, they're boarding parties!"
Uhurik's four eyes widened at the news. He remembered what the Anculus said to him before the battle begun.
"Your technology will be assimilated," he whispered under his breath. His eyes widened again and he shouted to his bridge crew, "Do not let them near the fleet, I repeat, do not let them reach us! Destroy every last one of them!"
"Too late!"
Sirens blared as soldiers stomped down the halls of the Batarian cruiser. Somehow despite both the guardians and their own fighters, the enemy craft had made it to the hull of the ship and were cutting their way through. Over a dozen soldiers found what little cover they could find in the hallway, aiming their weapons at the sparks flying off the wall separating them from the vacuum of space. Soldiers on both sides of the sparks gripped their guns tightly. They hoped to catch them in a crossfire but they all knew what happened on Elysium; none of them were sure if they would make it out alive. Finally, a large cut panel fell from the wall.
"Open fire!"
All at once the weapons of the Batarians lit up as they shot at the incoming synthetics. But to their surprise (and fear), they weren't the combat mechs they were expecting; they were swarms of mechanical bugs! Regardless of their surprise, none of the soldiers stopped firing. Sparks and pops sounded in the hallway whenever one of the bugs was struck, but they just kept coming! The synthetic insects eventually reached the first soldier and instantly swarmed him. The poor bastard screamed out as they cut into his gun, his armor, until finally reaching the soft flesh underneath. His screams were cut short when one of the bugs seemed to bite him, his body instantly tensing before falling to the ground.
Captain Uhurik watched the monitor with fear as his security force was overwhelmed by the synthetics, their screams ringing out before falling silent. He clenched his eyes tightly and exhaled deeply.
"Pillars grant us strength."
Nothing else to say. Waiver, if you will.
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