Connecting Hearts and Souls
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Increased electrical impulses…
Fluctuating alpha waves…
Translating impulses…
The statics receded slowly and the image began to appear. It showed the cloning vats of Albarium. The embryos wait patiently to be mechanized.
UNIT DATA PROGRESS:
Biological part moved to the Implantation facility
ERROR: Genetic predisposition to unknown variant detected
ERROR: Genetic predisposition to XX chromosome detected
ERROR: Anomaly detected
Suddenly, the one of those vats broken and spilled forth it's content. The wriggling embryo instantly grew into a full adult female with a long brown hair. She was about to run, when the metal tentacles took and restrained her limbs. She struggled but no avail.
Behavioral Modification and Social Training initiated. Standard Accretian
Doctrine Program
Instantly, the tentacles began to attach the armors upon the female. She was screamed as the armor begun to cover her entire body and muffled her screams…
"Unit E47, are you listening to our briefing?"
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
ExvionE47 glanced to the order; it came from GungnirTII. Their company was positioned at the protected site, while waiting Shadx13 back. The Scientist replied,
"Yes, Commander! I have updated our briefing clearly…" Yet, the Accretian warrior didn't buy the excuse,
"Definitely, you are not! Are you on the shutdown mode, Unit E47?" The Accretian was prided themselves in superior logic and reasoning. Thus, Exvion didn't need to prove itself; its works spoke about it. Yet, there was something nugging its database. The white-armored Scientist replied,
"Your opinion is flawed, Commander. I have said that I had already listening our briefing. Beside, I wasn't on the shutdown mode. Have my explanation sufficient enough?" The Destroyer was speechless, thus the cyborg continued,
"If Commander does not object, Unit E47 request permission to leave,"
"Granted!" As Exvion left, Invictus asked,
"Is there something wrong, Leader?" Gungnir answered,
"No, I just noticed Unit E47 is not like any other units. Its behavior is erratic…and unpredictable. It just acts like…"
"…fleshling?" The cyborg cringed upon the terms that his subordinate offered. But there was no other logical expression for that. It turned to InvictusR46,
"What information do you get about Unit E47 from the torrents?"
The Mercenary replied, "There was an unverified link about E47…it said that Unit E43 to E46 were deemed as a failed production at Albarium. Yet, the Imperial authorities had gone silent about the rest. Since then, no info about E47 until it's rising at Imperial Science Board. Its achievements were remarkable…" Gungnir watched Exvion afar, while muttered,
"I sense an anomaly here…"
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Above the atmosphere of Novus,
Bellatean spacecraft "Freedom" hovered above the planet; they flew quite close to the stratosphere in order to avoid the Accretian's radar. Inside, the MAUs of the 4th Armored Division held on the docking bay and ready to be launched. At the bridge of the ship, Zephyrus and Novem watched the navigational monitor with the ship captain and its helmsman. The helmsman spoke,
"Major! Captain! We have detected the energy signature on the planet…"
The Wizard asked, "Is it coming from the ground zero?"
"No, it comes thirty miles from the ground zero. From the data gathered, we concluded it might be the remnant of a ship…" The Mental Smith quipped,
"Maya's ship…The High Command informed that they had lost contact with her after the explosion…" She turned to her companion,
"Should we…?" Zephyrus lifted his hand,
"No, this might be a trap! It is likely that the other races had arrived there…I won't risk your people for such dangerous mission," It might looks callous, but Novem had knew him better than anyone else. Instead, she said,
"You are right, Zephyrs! In that case, my people and I shall going down through the drop! We might give a surprise attack to those who await us there," The mage nodded,
"Do it!"
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Few minutes later,
The alarm blared aloud, sending the soldiers and the techies into the docking bay. Novem strode forward, while Vernitz and Brood accompany from behind. The Bellatean techies worked quickly to prepare the MAUs. The Mental Smith entered the yellow MAU Goliath's cockpit, while the Lieutenant went inside her Red Catapult MAU and the Hidden Soldier to the black one.
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From the bridge, the helmsman watched the preparations and readied himself for the dropping. He turned to the tactical officer beside him,
"Check the coordinate and the terrain to ensure everything!" The officer replied,
"The coordinate and the terrain had been checked and rechecked, Sir. No anomaly found! There were no signs of the Accretia or the Cora on the drop zone!"
"Excellent! Do you hear that, Squad Leader?" Novem appeared on the monitor and gave the thumbs up. The helmsman shouted again,
"Everyone on the docking bay, leave the bay immediately!" The techies began to leave the docking bay. At the same time, the fumes came out from the MAUs. The helmsman shouted,
"The drop procedure begins! Start the countings! 10…9…8…7"
Inside the Yellow MAU, Novem wiped sweats from her brow,
"…6…5…4…"
Brood simply whistled, while Vernitz read her favorite book inside her MAU,
"…3…2…1…0! Release now!"
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Outside the space, the hatch door opened and spilled its content to the Novus! At first, the MAUs looks like floated on the air until Novus' gravity began to pull them down. The MAUs began to downfall very fast toward the planet. Novem, Brood and Vernitz held their MAU steering wheel tightly, as they felt the pulling at their bodies.
Inside the ship, the officers reported,
"In 6 hours, they would enter the atmosphere! To avoid the frictions, the ballutes must be activated within 30 secs, do you copy that, Squad Leader!"
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Inside the MAU's cockpit, Novem replied,
"I copy that! Loud and clear!" As they spoke, the MAUs began to enter Novus' atmosphere. The temperature indicator began to rise. The Mental Smith spoke to her subordinates,
"Listen up, people! We're entering Novus in 45 minutes! Be ready to activate the ballute on your MAUs! Do you copy!"
Vernitz replied, "Copy that, Squad Leader!"
Brood added, "Loud and clear, Squad Leader!"
"Good, start the countdown! 30…20…10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…Zero! Activate the ballutes!" The Bellateans press the blue button at the steering simultaneously. Instantly, the huge parachute-like object covered the MAUs and slowed their descent. They just like a floating mushroom on the sky. For Novem, waiting to land just like an eternity. After 10,000 miles from the ground, they released the ballutes and landed safely on the ground. Once secured, the Mental Smith gave order,
"Vernitz! Brood! Secure the perimeter! I don't want to see any hostiles nearby the drop zone!"
"Roger that, Squad Leader!"
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Meanwhile,
One and a half day later, Ranskye, Clytemnestra and Zero had encountered something at their journey. The Bellato ranger exclaimed,
"Oh,my!" The Spiritualist followed,
"By DECEM's grace!" Zero was silent as they saw…the wreckage of a Bellato command ship. The ship was split apart into two parts; no signs of life around the wreck. Ran immediately remembered about Maya. Sensing that, Cly commented,
"If you want to go there, I suggest you should look carefully…" They saw the mechanical critters such as Wings, Lavas and Ghosts were swarmed around the site. It was impossible to go there without provoking hostile responses. The Cora continued,
"I don't think there were any survivors there. Going there is suicidal," The Bellato remarked,
"Since when do you care about your foes?" Cly gritted her teeth,
"Look, it isn't supposedly my business! But throwing your life purposelessly is…not DECEM's will and I can't stand to see people throwing their lives,"
"I want to save my crush, is it worth of it?"
"Not if it is a suicide!" As both quarreled again, Zero called,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing situation…
TARGET: the wreckage of Bellato ship
Hostiles Present: 38
Identify…
CLASSIFICATION: Mechanical
Wings…Heavy Wings…Lava…Ops Lavas…
Ghosts…Armored Ghosts…
Chance to pass: 23%
Options:…
Zero called, "Unit 0x have suggestion…" Ranskye and Clytemnestra glanced to the Accretia. The Ranger asked,
"What is your suggestion, Zero?" The cyborg explained,
"Those critters were designed by the Empire. Though gone amok, they perhaps had a recognition system inside. They might not attack an Accretia, unless provoked first. I can go there to check if there were any survivors there…" The Ranger objected,
"That was too risky, Zero! They are many and cannot be taken out just with the mere throwing knives…" The Accretia followed,
"Not if I have my primary and secondary weapons activated. The chance to succeed is…"
"ABSOLUTELY NO!" Clytemnestra shouted, "Is it your plan, isn't it? With your armaments active, you are more dangerous than those critters combined! No, I say no!"
Zero continued, "But the survivors' safety is imperative! Especially if the person is important for Ranskye! This is worth of a try…" Both glanced to the Bellato who looked distraught. He glanced both of them back and fro. Activating Zero's armaments was risky, though he had been reprogrammed. Nobody would know what if the cyborg gone chaos. Ran turned to the wreck and wondered whether Maya has survived. Like what Zero said, it was worth a try. He finally said,
"I confuse what I have to do…but if Maya dead I would blame myself for this…Zero, be ready! I will activate your armaments," The Cora shocked to hear it,
"Are you insane? You would doom us, by letting this monster have its weapons back!" The Ranger shouted back,
"I can't let Maya dead! Let me take the risk! This is worth for a try!" Unable to convince him, the Spiritualist threw her face, while spouting,
"Suit yourself then! I won't be here when your pet show its gratitude by carving you up!"
"Good, perhaps you should go very far from us!" Cly immediately left Ran and Zero alone. Not for long, he turned to the Accretia and said,
"Zero, I said I will activate your armaments but I would put several new instructions to your database. Is it clear?" The cyborg nodded,
"Loud and clear…"
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Two hours later,
Curious about that, the Cora Spiritualist decided to return and saw…Ranskye still alive. But there was no Zero's whereabouts. The Ranger's face was covered with soot. He was crouched at the boulder. She tapped him, "Hey…" The youth almost jumped, but then calmed when saw her,
"Darn, you almost make me have a heart attack! I thought you had left us…" Instead, she asked him, "Why are you still alive?" Ran replied sarcastically,
"Nice to see your concern to me…" Cly shushed rudely,
"Shut up! Where is the iron abomination?" The Bellato nodded to the other side and they saw…Zero walked slowly toward the wreckage without any weapons. The critters regarded the Accretia warily, but nothing made them attack. The Cora wondered,
"Why is he not having any weapons?" Ran answered,
"I order Zero to bring out its weapons when necessary…hopefully, those mechanical critters won't attack, once he found the survivors I would back up…" Cly pondered only,
"Interesting…"
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The Accretian Gladius stepped toward the wreckage under the watchful eyes of Ghosts and Lavas. As it predicted, these critters were belonged to the first generation; therefore they wouldn't attack an Accretia. Nevertheless, it must carry its objective: to take the survivors in order to gain trust from its foe. At the exact time, it would fall upon them with one swoop. Zero's optic eyes watched each critter to detect any signs of hostility. So far, everything was perfect. The Accretia switched its view to the infrared vision. Instantly, it can see the interior of the wreckage…and it detected a heat signature inside. Then something creaked from inside the wreck. Zero stopped…and saw a Great Lava. The critter was carrying…a wounded female Bellato at its pincers. Sensing something block its way, the Lava turned to its sensor toward the Accretia and identified it as…hostile!. Simultaneously, the entire swarm turned their attention to its single target.
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing situation…
WARNING!
TARGET: Great Lava
Hostile response expected…
Hostile presents: 38
Chance to pass: 10%
Appropriate Action: ACTIVATE COMBAT PROCEDURES
…Combat configurations downloaded
Primary Armaments: Beam Saber…ACTIVE
Secondary Armaments: Shadow Protector…ACTIVE
Auxillary Armaments: 14-inch Throwing Knives sets.
Instantly, a Beam Saber and Shadow Protector sprang out. The cyborg quickly took them and began to perform Death Slice circularly. The attack cut the unaware Wings and Ghosts into pieces. The rest instantly attacked. Zero activated the Death Blow, which sent the jagged pieces of ground to pierce its foes. The Accretia spotted the mad Heavy Wing, and quickly threw a flurry of throwing knives toward it.
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Combat situations…
Accuracy…ACTIVATED
Wild Rage…ACTIVATED
Extending…ACTIVATED
Aid Stretching…ACTIVATED
Rapid Logic…ACTIVATED
Like an angry bull, Zero went berserk and unstoppable to cut its foes into a cavalcade of beam slashes. The Great Lava dropped its victim, as it went toward the battle.
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"Darn!" Clytemnestra remarked angrily, "Why does he attack them?"
Ranskye answered, "Perhaps, the Robust Lava comes from the next evolution…so it didn't recognize the Accretia! In that case…" he began to take his bow, "…it is our time to back up!"
"Ours? Don't get mistaken…why should I aid that abomination? I would glad to see its lesser cousins tear it up into scrap metals…" Ignoring her, the Ranger had already run toward the wreckage.
"Why do I join in this mess?" The Cora complained, yet she jumped out and followed the Bellato.
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Zero continued to cut swath among the swarms, but it was harder to get close to the Robust Lava. Meanwhile, its HP/MP gauge was dangerously run low. To preserve them, the cyborg needs reinforcement…
Suddenly, someone shouted,
"Double Shot!" The nearest Ghost exploded with two arrows protruded from its frame. Not for long, a thin mist covered the entire area and a feminine voice shouted,
"Spout Mist!" The thin icy dew instantly made the critters malfunctioned, followed by a powerful electric blast that knocked all but Zero down.
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing situation…
Reinforcements arrived…
Primary Subject: Ranskye of Bellato; Ranger
Secondary Subject: Clytemnestra of Cora; Spiritualist
Sensing Force traces…Analyzing types
Type of Force: Air and Water
APPROPRIATE ACTION: EXPLOIT THE TACTICAL ADVANTAGES.
Swung its Beam Blade into a wide circular arc, the Accretia managed to crush the remaining critters, thus opening the way to the Great Lava. The critter sent a laser blast toward the incoming cyborg. However, Zero managed to block the attack with its Shadow Protector and use Death Blow. The impact didn't disturb the mechanical creature that kept shooting its laser toward Zero. The cyborg stubbornly hacked its foe with Slicing Slash and Strong Blow. Realizing that, Ran called the Spiritualist,
"Cly, direct your wind and water-based spell to the Robust! It might help Zero a bit!"
The Cora shouted, "Shut up! That's what I am trying to do!" Once again, she called DECEM to pour strength upon her spell, while muttering,
Why am I doing this? Aiding an Accretia? Heeding the Bellato? She poured her frustration into her attack. Ranskye also shot his arrow furiously, forgetting that his supply of ammo almost ran up,
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Unable to hold so much damage from the relentless barrage of magic, the Great Lava started to fail. The opportunity wasn't wasted by them.
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Death Hack…UNLEASHED
Ranskye yelled, "Double Shot!"
Clytemnestra whirled her staff and shouted to her lung, "Electric Bolt! Flame Arrow!" The bolt of lightning and an arrow of flame struck its target simultaneously with another strikes. The Lava finally exploded into a ball of fire and crashed to the ground. After feeling safe, the Bellato and the Cora went toward the cyborg. He asked,
"So, is it done?" Zero answered,
"Affirmative, my sensor detects no surviving critters…the Robust was the last one!" In contrary, the female Cora grumbled,
"This is the last time I help you, Abomination! Next time, you do your own…understand?"
The cyborg responded, "Affirmative! Thank you…for…your…aid…" Those words made them startled, until Zero asked,
"Did Unit 0x say something wrong? 'Thank you' is the usual greetings for appreciation…"
Ranskye interjected, "Yes, but I never thought you can learn it very fast…" Clytemnestra mocked,
"Nonsense, this scrap metal merely echo what we say yesterday…"
"Even so, Unit 0x can pick our conversation…this is great!" As they talked, the damaged Ops Lava rose and began to target them…suddenly a loud boom was heard. Ran, Cly and Zero turned back,
"What is that?" The Ops Lava crashed with broken body, while a small figure rose. She was the injured figure that the Great Lava took awhile ago. The black-haired girl held a staff and said sarcastically,
"Can you finish your jobs first before talking? Is this what we teach you, Soldier?" The Bellato Ranger was dumb-founded to see her commanding officer standing before him. He quickly gave her an army salute,
"I am sorry, Ma'am! I don't mean to…" Maya stopped him,
"Save it later at HQ! I want to know why you coming with an Accretia and the Cora! I expect you can explain it well, Ensign!" Seeing that, Clytemnestra muttered,
"It sounds trouble…I wish I never help her in the first place," Zero muted only.
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Back to the Bellato Drop Zone,
Novem, Brood and Vernitz had secured the place; they positioned their MAUs into a triangular formation. Few moments later, a portal formed between them. Zephyrus led the front, followed by the rest of the 4th Armored Division. Blue and Green MAUs joined them. Vernitz complained,
"Why do we have to jump from the ship, if we have a portal?" Novem quickly rebuked,
"Soldier, you have forgotten the procedure. If the company has a Force-user, the advance unit must be send first to secure the drop zone. By doing this, we can surprise the enemy who thinking there nobody followed…" The female Armor Driver blushed red. Then the Wizard came to the Mental Smith and asked,
"Novem, report!" The pink-haired girl replied,
"The surrounding is secure, Major! I had calculated our distance to the wreckage. It just few miles, we can reach it with MAUs in four hours. What do you think?" Zephyrus pondered a while, until he said,
"I agree! Spare some of your forces to prepare a base camp, while you and I go to the wreckage!"
"Affirmative! Let's go!" The male Spiritualist hopped and landed at the yellow Goliath MAU's right shoulder. Novem turned to her company,
"Arnel, you shall supervise the preparation of the base camp! Brood! Vernitz! Armbold! Nelysa! All of you follow me and Major!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Revving their engines, those MAUs drove toward the East.
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Quite far from the Drop Zone,
The slim, slender figure watched them through the binocular; she brandished an Uzi at her left hand. She quipped,
"Well, I am lucky to pick this time…so we are not the only one who are looking for the survivors," Penthesilea glanced to the East, pondering whether to follow them or not.
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In other hand,
Ranskye then told how he met with Clytemnestra and Zero to Maya. As she listened attentively, her frown grew deeper. She found it was hard to believe that a mere rookie could reprogram an Accretia, while the best minds at the Bellato Army had failed. To be true, she grew concerned with his companions. When he finished, she finally spoke,
"Well done, Soldier! I found your story somehow is…hard to believe. Yet, in this situation I can let it pass…" The Ranger breathed in relief until he saw Maya went toward the Cora,
"However, I must consider your companions as prisoners of war! Cora, I demand you to relieve your staff to us as a token of conduct! For the cyborg, from now on you hear upon my orders" Cly immediately hissed angrily,
"Excuse me! Is this how you repay us after saving your life? There is no way I would give my staff to you!" she shook her fist to Ranskye, "This is not our agreement, midget!" At the same time, Zero objected mildly,
"Unit 0x also disagreed! I obey order from Ranskye alone!" The Chandra's gentle feature turned sour and she repeated again,
"Do as I order, or else…" Ranskye appeared between them to prevent further confrontation,
"Ma'am, let me talk with them!" Maya looks startled, but she had no choice in this matter.
"Fine…" He turned to his companions and said,
"Cly! I know you are upset…perhaps she was shocked to see all of us." He continued,
"However, you have to win her trust as I win yours!" Cly objected, while struggling to not cry
"But…I don't want to be a prisoner…I just want to go home…"
Ranskye hushed her, "And I will…before our people come I will find the way to bring you back. That's my promise!" Wiping her tears, the Spiritualist gave her staff to him, while saying,
"I give this to you because I trust you, not her! If you try something rotten, let DECEM punish you with a thousand-fold misfortune!" The Ranger glanced to the Accretia,
"Zero, can you include Lieutenant Maya's order in your database?"
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UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing the conversation
Subject: Maya of Bellato
Rank: Lieutenant of Bellato Army, Chandra
Data: Insertion of new instructions…
Analysis: Possibility to uncover the secret plan
Appropriate Response…
The Gladius answered, "Negative, to do so I have to rewrite the entire database. Doing so might erase your modifications. I can only extend my protection to her, but she can't order me like you…" With a dejected look, Ran returned and said to his superior,
"I manage to convince Cly…I mean the Cora to give up her staff. Unfortunately, Zero…uh, the Accretia was unable to comply for you. It only obeys my order…"
Maya said skeptically, "Why do I have a feeling that your 'pet' somehow smarter than you? Never mind, at least send them to salvage the useful things in this wreckage. Oh, by the way where is your friend, Kayn? Is he…" The youth shook his head sadly,
"He didn't make it, Ma'am…I think he was perished during the explosion…"
The Chandra nodded, "I see…my officers didn't make it either when the ship crashed. I was the only one who survives…" Clytemnestra whispered,
"DECEM Be blessed…" Ranskye spoke to them,
"Let's keep silence for our departed comrades…" They were silent momentarily, paying respects to the departed one.
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At the same time,
The four colored MAUs zoomed through the desert. Zephyrus sat calmly upon the MAU's shoulder, as the breeze blew her white hair. Novem opened its cockpit and shouted,
"We'll arrive at the wreckage in fifteen minutes!"
The Wizard replied, "Good! I hope there were the survivors there…" Then they passed a narrow path, where the boulders and rocks stood side-by-side. At first, everything went smoothly until the red Catapult MAU's passed…and fell into the shallow hole. Vernitz screamed,
"Aaaah…" Instantly, the group stopped. The Mental Smith asked,
"What is wrong, Lieutenant?" The brown-haired Armor Rider said meekly
"I was fallen into a hole, Captain!" she tried to add power into the MAU, but unsuccessful since the robot was stuck at the hole. Novem barked orders,
"Brood! Armbold! Help her out…" As the other MAUs went to help their crippled friend, Zephyrs quipped,
"That wasn't a natural hole…it was dug and prepared for something…" Nelysa asked,
"But by whom, Major?" Suddenly, Novem called,
"Major, my radar picked the simultaneous reading around us…something surrounded us!" Not wasting time, Zephyrus lifted his trusted staff and warned,
"Beware, this place is hostile! Get ready!" From each sides of the path, the small, reptile-like creatures appeared like the sprouting mushrooms. Those creatures brought axes, spears, bow and arrow, even the Laser Gun. Its leader brandished a large morning star and swung it over its head. The creature spoke with its loathsome voice and dialect,
"Kill…the intruders! Stop them from robbing our Temples!" Seeing them, the Mental Smith hissed,
"Snatchers! I hate them!" Like a rolling wave, the Snatchers poured from each side, ready to overwhelm the Bellatos. Instantly, Brood turned his BMAU and placed itself. He pressed buttons at its steering and the Gatling Gun quickly mowed the incoming attackers down. The Snatcher Hurls retaliated by shot their Laser Guns. Their Bite and Horn cousins threw their attacks as well, however it was no match to the MAUs. Zephyrs turned to his friend,
"Captain, bring us to the battlefield! We shall teach them an unforgettable lesson!"
"Aye aye, Major!" Novem's YMAU turned around and went with a full speed toward the Snatchers! The Wizard summoned Sage Force to increase the power of his spell, and then he shouted,
"Circle of Flame!" A wide-ranging flame circle appeared and cut swath to the attackers. Novem didn't want to lose. She pressed a red button, which released Multi Missiles toward their foes. A loud explosion came, and buried more of those Snatchers. Meanwhile, Vernitz was desperate to bring her RMAU out from the trap, but still stuck. Eventually, Armbold decided to use something…he came out from the cockpit and took the wire from his robot. With that, he dragged the RMAU
Amidst the battle, the mystic shouted,
"Novem, try to establish contact with the survivors!" The pink-haired girl shot back,
"What if they don't have any means to contact? Remember, the ship was crashed!"
"At least, try…" Half-heartedly, the Mental Smith turned on her communication gadget, and spoke,
"Gamma-371, this is Alpha Team! Reply this if you hear…Gamma-371…please copy!"
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The sun almost goes down when Ranskye, Maya, Clytemnestra and Zero tried to salvage anything useful from the ship wreckage. Due to Maya's distrust, the Cora and the Accretia were assigned to scour the warehouse. Brushing the dusts from the HP and MP potions, the Spiritualist complained,
"Why do I have to do this dirty job? It was a mistake to follow those midgets here…am I right, Abomination?" She turned around and saw nobody, prompting another tirade,
"Oh, great! Everybody leave me alone!"
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UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing the situation…
Location: the wreckage of Bellato Command Ship
Objective: Find the Communication Room…
Zero0x moved silently, though stealth wasn't in his program. It moved with a cat-like grace, avoiding anything that could make noise. Not for long, the cyborg had arrived at its expected place. The Communication Room was in shambles; wires and terminals were jutted out. The Accretia watched carefully and found the active receiver. It meant the device still active and could reach anyone in its range. Zero took the receiver and heard a voice from the other side,
"Gamma-371, this is Alpha Team! Reply this if you hear…Gamma-371…please copy!"
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing the voice…
Decode the Bellato Language…Analyzing voice tone
Data: Active Communication
Analysis: Bellato Search Team is coming…
Interference in Unit0x planning…
Appropriate Action:…
Slowly, Zero clenched its fist, crushing the receiver into pieces. Dropping the broken receiver, the cyborg left the place.
This might delay the Bellato, until the Imperial Search Team come to retrieve Unit 0x…
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Back to Novem,
She cringed as the loud statics echoed into her ears. Zephyrus asked,
"What happened?" The Mental Smith explained,
"I swear I heard an active communication before those damned statics come. It might be the survivors…"
The Wizard said, "Perhaps, their communication device was badly damaged…Nevermind, we will be there once we got rid these upstart creatures!" They saw the Rook Snatcher charging toward them, while swung its morning star. The creature screamed to its lung
"Go back to where you belong…midget!" Zephyr charged his staff, waiting his opponent close. Once close, he pulled the staff and shouted,
"After you, sucker! Deadly Staff!" With a single whack, everything was no more for the poor Rook Snatcher.
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At the wreckage,
Ranskye met with Clytemnestra and Zero at the broken bridge of the ship,
"Well, what did you got from the warehouse?" he asked them casually. The dust-covered Cora Spiritualist threw a package full with HP and MP potions to the ground,
"This!" she replied with irritation, "I never been humiliated like these from my entire life…do you happy now?" The Ranger smirked naughtily,
"A little…" He glanced to the cyborg, "Zero…" The Accretia gave a lot of Arrows and some food rations,
"Unit 0x have found this…I calculate Ranskye, Clytemnestra and Maya could hold out for a month with this amount," The Bellato youth sighed,
"We have to do that until…" Suddenly a shrill scream cut their conversation; this prompted them to run toward the direction,
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Inside the Communication Room, Maya was transfixed and trembled. Ranskye was the one, who called her first,
"Ma'am, what happened?" The Chandra showed the broken receiver,
"This! Our means to communication was destroyed!" Puzzled, the Ranger said,
"Are they already destroyed during the crash?" Maya replied angrily,
"NO! When I awake, I found out it is still working though with limited range! Before you're coming, it's still fine…someone had messed with this!" She pointed Clytemnestra,
"You! You are the one who did this! Admit it!" Shocked, the Cora shouted back,
"Me? Why should I do that? I don't understand about your technologies…" The black-haired girl retorted,
"You'd destroy the communication device, so we wouldn't be able to contact our people! By then, you won't be taken as a prisoner!" The silver-haired girl said vehemently,
"That's ridiculous! I have given my staff as a sign of my conduct. Even I have promised to stay…I won't do such thing, though I like to go back my home!" Maya went closer and stared upward, since the Cora was taller than her. She accused,
"You are lying, Cora wench…"A flash of indignation passed upon Cly's eyes and to Ranskye's shock she slapped the Chandra very hard at the face. She hissed,
"I might be your prisoner…but I won't let you malign my honor, infidel!" Losing all of her self-control, Maya charged the Cora and tackled her down. They rolled out at the ship floor, while pinching, smacking and yanking their opponent's hair. Once pinned Cly to the ground, the smaller Bellato slapped her many times. Yet, the Cora didn't want to lose; she suddenly rose and head-butted her foes right at the nose. She felt dizzy, as the Chandra charged again and the fight goes on. Worried, Ranskye quickly intervened,
"Maya! Cly! Stop this!" But what he gets was the girl's knuckles on his face. The Accretia watched the incident impassively,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing the situation…
Primary Subject: Ranskye of Bellato
Secondary Subject: Clytemnestra of Cora
Third Subject: Maya of Bellato
Data: -Consequences of Unit 0x's Action
-Prejudice between the Bellato and the Cora
Data saved…
Appropriate Action: PROMPT ACTION TO SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES
The girls continued to fight until the Gladius interposed between them. The blue-eyed Ranger shouted,
"Maya! Clytemnestra! That's enough! We are the survivors, and the last thing happen to us was fighting between us! Can you stop it?" The Chandra was disheveled with a bleeding nose and swollen lips. She shouted, "She is the one who starts it! She deliberately prevents us from contacting HQ!" The Cora shouted back,
"She is lying…I was at the warehouse with Zero! How could I sneak around and break your communication device!" When they almost rumbled again, the Ranger shouted,
"ENOUGH! I don't want to hear it anymore! So what? Look, I will try to fix the device. If I am not succeeded, them we have to go somewhere else to find help!" Maya asked with disbelief,
"Do you believe her more than me, your Officer?" Ran answered sharply,
"Now I believe to none!" The Cora and the Bellato stared each other, and then threw their face away. They went to their separate ways. Wishing to help, Zero asked,
"What are Ranskye want Unit 0x to do?" The young Ranger said resignedly,
"Nothing…"
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Late night
The 36th Accretian Company had set their camp two miles away from the wreckage. The commander was waiting of the scout, while the rest were gathered into a circle. The Accretian didn't need a bonfire, as their metal frame and armor could withstand any extremes. At the circle, the terminal cables sprouted from each cyborg's head and plugged into its companion port. The Accretian knew not about chatting or gossiping, but their spare time was spent by sharing datas or trolling around the Imperial network. Their favorite was update of the Chip Wars. Nevertheless, few of the cyborgs were considered those things are wasting the efficiency.
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GungnirTII turned back and saw its company. With wide steps, he went over to them and suddenly ripped the terminal cables from them, unplugging them forcibly. Those cyborgs stared their commander blankly; had they are human they might be angered. Tri-EdgeX78 asked,
"Commander, is there something wrong?"
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
"Right!" Gungnir replied, "All of you wasting time by trolling the network! The Empire won't tolerate this inefficient acts!" Its second-in-command, InvictusR46 explained,
"Commander, we are simply watching the recent progress of the Chip War. Nothing less," Still unconvinced, the Destroyer asked again,
"I don't see Unit E47. Where is it?" Everyone pointed to a dome-shaped tent not far from them. Gruud added,
"The Scientist had said to not disturb; he said that he would produce the jetpacks for all of us…" The Accretian Destroyer didn't reply; instead he went to the dome-shaped tent. Once he'd gone, the others quickly took the terminal cables and plugged them again…
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Gungnir entered the tent and greeted by the hanging gadgets and utilities, also jutting cables and terminals. He walked further and saw the jet packs. The jet packs were lined neatly and ready to use. The warrior cyborg examined them briefly. Unit E47's reputation as a weapon designer was well-known in the Empire, even in some point the Cartelllans wanted to hire its service. For some unknown reasons, Unit E47 refused. As he kept examining the jet packs, his database couldn't find anything about E47. It looks like…his attempt to dig further was blocked. At the end of the line, there was something covered by cloth.
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing…
Infra Red Vision: ERROR…unable to view the designated object
X-Ray Vision: ERROR…unable to view the designated object
Gungnir frowned to this; his visual system had never failed before. He wondered what Unit E47 kept behind the cloth. It wasn't included in the company inventory; therefore it must come from E47. He could ignore that and go out, but the inability to see what inside slightly ticking him. It wasn't logical to ignore something hidden. Eventually, he moved forward to the cloth-covered object and lifted its cover…
Behold! It was the jar of vat, which contained something horrible...A human head that was heavily dissected. The left part of its skull was missing; the grayish, wrinkled mass displayed. Its eyes stared empty. Due to its mutilations, nobody was sure that the head belong to the Bellato or the Cora. Gungnir watched the horrible object without any expression. He kept staring that until someone called,
"I can see Commander is taking interest with my private collection…" The Warrior turned around and saw the Scientist behind him.
"What is the meaning of this, Unit E47? I demand an explanation!" ExvionE47 walked calmly until they saw face-to-face. The white cyborg answered,
"My duty as a Scientist is to explore everything about our enemies. I am curious what make the Corites and the Bellato continue to wage the war, despite our superior strengths and knowledge. Creating the best WMD was not enough; therefore I thought there must be something else…something that driven them to the point of death. Since then, I had dedicated myself to find that," Gungnir glanced to the jar, before asking,
"And what is that?" Exvion replied,
"Something called "Heart" and "Soul"
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Author's Note: Finally, another chapter done. The opening scene is just my imagination, since I wonder why there is no female gender in the Accretia. As the story goes, it would reveal further about ExvionE47. In other hand, Ranskye had found his crush alive, yet he must deal the girl's quarrel. Zero still kept his scheme around them. This time, I include the mechanical critters such as Wing, Ghost, and Lava, also the Snatchers. Truthfully, they were annoying in the game. The landing scene was inspired from another RF FMV. What will happen later? Find out in the next chapter, "Sanctuary of the Turncoats". See you soon!
P.S.: At first, I was toying with the idea of Ranskye find Maya dying and then Clytemnestra comforted him. Then I decided to push through with this story line and see what the dynamics change.