ENTRY NO. 01
The Long War
It has been days since our victory over CABAL and the CFA forces. If it wasn't for the Russian, Chinese, European and even the Liberation Army assistance, this war could have drag on for several more months. The FRA also seemed to oppose the CFA, but remain a neutral party against everyone else. It would seem that the Future Rebellion Army are much more concern over cybernetic soldiers than the average joe soldiers that we are. Most of the soldiers is counting their lucky stars in this turn of event, but I'm not betting on it; the FRA may ignore most of the nation's superpower, but they still remain hostile towards the Regular Army in general. At least they priorities the CFA than us.
Victory is an aftertaste moment, for there is no rest for the wicked; after our victory, the Kanegawa Military Industry is working full time pumping out experimental weapons and armory, most of them are still untested piece of machine. General Marco approve all he seemed fit, and only question the ones that look odd/hard to use. I came along, knowing that some of these equipment is useful against the war for the CFA, but I was accompanied by Leon, Matthew and Nathalie as per Marco's request. Leon is very enthusiastic to get his hands on a new variant of shotguns, since his last one was severely damage. Matthew still trying to convince a scientist to create a burning Chainsaw fired from shotgun, much of our disbelief. Nathalie kept her eyes on me most of the time. I don't really need to verify it by myself - every time I came across a reflection, I can see Nathalie is shooting daggers from her eyes at me. She seemed particularly interested in the newest anti-tank rocket launcher and its many destructive capabilities. Three guesses why she wants that one for.
I'm more fondly with the shotgun/assault rifle combo, with sidearm as a backup. But my advantageous weapon is still my mounted beam blade in my arm; never runs out of energy, capable of deflecting bullets, and sharp enough to cut through armoured tanks in a single swipe. And since it was part of me, removing is not an option.
Why was I given a beam blade anyway? I have been questioning this trivia since my creation. No other Cyborg Prototypes have these function. Was I created to have this one feature? Was I created to only work against close combat enemy? Or was I created as an experimental unit by CABAL?
As I look through my other functions, I have notice several 'upgrades' are not install. It is possible that these upgrades are within CABAL cyborg facilities, but where to acquire them remains a mystery. I was lucky to found out about the LIFES Systems, but several more still remain. I have also found out that CABAL cyborg army jump rank at each successful mission, from Prototype to Assassin to finally Commando. How they jump rank is - or rather - never explained or being briefed by CABAL. I guess I wasn't meant to progress, but that is one mistake that self-absorbed AI is going to regret.
The other reason why I was here because of the damage I sustain from my previous battle against a Cyborg Commando named John Kane, which he has damage a number of my body structure that not even the LIFE System is able to restore. The Kanegawa Military Industry personal offered a helping hand to check on me and repair any and all damage I had took. At first I was skeptical, after my first hand experience with that Liberation Army Experimental Forces scientist and egghead who wants nothing more than to tear me apart and examine how I work like clockwork, but Marco and his son convince me that Kanegawa personal are much more friendly than those geeks. It doesn't help that Nathalie persistence to ship me to the Liberation Army to amend any and all conflict between the Regular Army and it are very much in the vote.
I'm going to take a gamble and accept the Kanegawa Military Industry personal to have a go. If I die due to misuse, at least I have Matthew and Leon to avenge me... I hope.
AUDIO LOG 00
Kanegawa Military Industry: Introduction.
Shepherd: So... You are...?
?: I'm Prof. Namro, L-X8. I maintain the robotics and humanoid technology and head of this division in this facility. I'm here to facilitate any and all manner of your ill trouble.
Shepherd: Err, Okay. First off, my name is Shepard, not... That name. I do not wish to be associated myself with the past me. Secondly, I'm here in a matter of repairing my damage body, specifically the one on my back. I had a nasty damage sustained there.
Prof Namro: Of course, my apologies. Allow me to say at least this much; we are humble that you accept our open invitation for a visit, even though it is merely a brief moment. Some of my colleagues are very excited that such rare specimen... err, I mean, soldier from the opposing team to grace us with your presents. It means a lot.
Shepherd: Well, it's either that... or have General Amelia had it her way. And from what I know, she is particularly giddy about new tech.
Prof Namro: Mr Shepherd... I would prefer if you would not said her name so loudly... Some of the staff here are bitter about it.
Shepherd: Really? Any particular reasons?
Prof Namro: Other than taking our research papers, stealing our technology and belittling our existence for helping the Regular Army who is helping humanity for the better, she is a growing nuisance, if anything.
Shepherd: At least she is devoted. The Liberation Army would have collapse if it weren't for her.
Prof Namro: There are better candidate than her, I assure you. But by that time the damages has already been done. She now sits on top of a revolutionary technology threshold in her hands, and she use it to build weapons of mass destruction. Such a waste.
Shepherd: ...I assumed you have better idea?
Prof Namro: Yes, but I won't bore you with such trivia matter.
AUDIO LOG END.
The repair took longer than I thought, probably due to my inner mechanical workings which is completely different from their initial idea. By my calculations, my repair should have been done in under 30 minutes, tops. Kanegawa Military Industry top scientist and researcher needs around 30 hours to perform such repairs, and that wasn't the only major huddled that they had to fight through; apparently, they needed an existing blueprint of me in order to fix me up to code. Since I have no such print, they have to rake their brains to fix me the old fashion way. That did not stop them from taking my pictures, my overall performance data, what kind of energy I'm running, etc. Heck, I even allow them to scan my body so that my repairs are complete for fear that one wrong mishap may cause something to pop out from my body, and I am sure as damn for letting a single screw to come loose from my body.
As of this writing, I have completed my repair and is running at maximum efficiency – no loose screws here - I don't need your negative comments on this matter Nathalie Germi, thank you very much.
Something came up 2 weeks after my repair, and I know this is no coincidence; Kanegawa Military Industry send in an airtight information package to Grand General Marco Rossi and wished to announce a weapon that could combat CABAL and his CFA should the need arise. My suspicion was correct when the top scientist, Prof. Namro reveal to us three fully functional humanoid units called Adepts.
AUDIO LOG 01
Kanegawa Military Industry: Introduction - Adepts
Prof Namro: Ah, good, you're here! We were worried that the package did not arrive in time.
Marco: (chuckle) You know damn well Izzy that your foolproof airtight message is ridiculously hard to crack. I mean seriously now, using several dead language as part of an encrypted message hidden in riddles and requires a mirror in order to read the message is just beyond ridiculous.
Prof Namro: But it works; till now CABAL still haven't decrypt that troll message I send in during the war. I bet his still trying to crack the code open.
Leon: You send a troll message to CABAL? That is going to bite back sooner or later.
Marco: Well, you got me, and my attention. This new weapon had better be worth while Izzy. If your weapon is as you claim, it would mean a lot to humanity, since we can't afford to loose too many.
Prof Namro: Yes, and we still have infighting from the Liberation Army, so this matters just escalate to beyond DEFCON 1 from all I know.
Matthew: From all this talk, I can only fathom the idea of said weapon. Does it involve shotgun and chainsaws?
Prof Namro: No. We talk about this. It won't work. The best we can do is attach said Chainsaw to an assault rifle, but then it will be too heavy to use by conventional men in uniform.
Matthew: Who said anything about other guys using it? I'm using it in most encounter.
Nathalie: Selfish as ever I see. So doc, what's this weapon you want to showcase now?
Shepherd: …I have a hunch…
Prof Namro: Haha, you caught on huh?
Matthew: Hmm? Caught what on?
Nathalie: L-X8… if you have anything to do with this…
Marco: Nathalie, please. His on our side now. At the very least show some restraint.
Nathalie: No. His up to something. It just a matter whenever his going to backstab us now or later.
Leon: Shepherd is an okay person, Nathalie. He help you fight off against Cyborg Prototype and Assassin, and manage to drive off a Commando. I think we should give him more credit.
Shepherd: It's alright Leon. If she thinks that way, that means I haven't earn enough trust to believe in me just yet. Please Prof Namro, continue.
Prof Namro: Well, thank you Shepherd. And yes, it has something to do with Shepherd here. I present you… the Adepts!
*Curtain that had hidden three inactive humanoid units reveal before the team. Marco stare at it nervously. Matthew still in his lazy stance, Leon look at it in an expressive impressive while Nathalie looks like she is about to bring out her minigun.*
Prof Namro: As Shepherd has already guessed, the Adepts are based on his design, modified to combat the very threat that is stack against humanity. We reconfigure the AI to help humanity and annihilate any that threaten to kill off humanity as a whole.
Matthew: Hmm, they look kinda skinny. You sure this can help humanity?
Leon: That one looks too cute to be a combat drone. *points at a girl Adept* Almost innocent looking.
Nathalie: (Explode in tantrum) You sick bastard! You based these machines of war from that walking toaster!? What are you trying to do, unleash robot Apocalypse onto us when CABAL is making his moves?! Have you lost your mind professor!?
Marco: Stand down Nathalie. Izzy, care to explain in full detail?
Prof Namro: Instead of me addressing to this matter, why not asked them instead?
*All three unit became active upon command and each Regular Army official member are as confuse as to what to do. I however remain, impressed by these, copy me, so to speak. What happen next is not what I had expected.*
Adept 01 (Male): Good morning. Father.
Shepherd: (Confuse) Who, me?
Adept 02 (Male): Confirm. Identification number is L-X8, also known as Shepherd. We are based on your schematics. It is good to finally meet our… origin? Maker? Hmm… require more data analysis.
Adept 03 (Female): I guess we exist thanks to you father. (giggle) You know, you look rather cute yourself, being our father and all.
Shepherd: Ooookay… this is very weird. What sort of AI did you say you put in again professor?
Prof Namro: Tons. Some of the AI decoding is actually from your own brain scan that you generously provide. The rest are simple a random personality that we throw in to distinguish itself from the rest of the Adepts. Out of 50 most possible Adepts, there will be at least 1 that maybe a direct copy of another.
Adept 01: Plus, some of us are highly intelligent. Human wise.
Adept 02: Some are oddballs that takes cue from you.
Adept 03: And few are bubbly like me.
Shepherd: And how is this… wait, let me try that again... How am I a father to all of you? You were created by the Kanegawa Military Industry.
Prof Namro: That's easy, Shepherd. They are all based, from the ground up, on your schematic. As such, they are essential your growing children.
Shepherd: … and I have to teach… guide them?
Prof Namro: If you feel like it.
Matthew: Ahahaha! Just barely a month old and your already a father! This is funny! I'm going to tell my friends about it!
Shepherd: What?! Now just wait a minute-
Marco: (Chuckle) Shepherd. This is now your responsibility now. As a father myself, you need to learn about taking care of your growing children. And I approve of this Izzy. We'll talk about this further in my private office.
Prof Namro: I understand Grand General. *follows Marco*
Shepherd: Wait, you can't be serious!
Nathalie: *looks very furious and stomps away* Fucking walking toaster…
Leon: I… I think I should-
Adept 03: Oh, your not going anywhere, you. You and me are going to have a wonderful time together.
Leon: No! What are you doing? Let me go! *drags away by Adept 03*
Shepherd: … okay. Sure. Alright… I… better log this off…
AUDIO LOG END
To say that I am not alone in this war will not be any less understatement as it is. Kanegawa Military Industry now produce an army of… me, in various shape, sizes and gender. Their growing number at the steady rate born from the Kanegawa Military Industry means that I have little to no free time for myself, which also means I'm finally of some use in the Regular Army other than a walking talking Leon impersonator. I should feel happy, having purpose and a goal. Something that Marco and Leon always said to find and work with.
The Adepts that was send to me are… well, perplexing to say the least. True, all of them have combat training program into them, knows about tactics, survival and such, but they know next to nothing regarding treating human being. I had to tutor them that humans are weaker than us, frankly speaking. But what they lack in artificial enhance limbs and engines, they made up with determination, resolve, and never-die spirit. Since I am the pinnacle of what it is as a combat drone (which isn't true, since I'm a Cyborg Assassin), they have to thrive to my level to even be acknowledged as a fully functional Adept to protect humanity, not only by the outside forces, but also by themselves.
Currently, there are 349 fresh (Protégé) Adept under my rule, 97 Veteran Adept and at least 25 members are now considered as Elite Adept. Three Adept who are trained with me since the beginning worked hard and are considered as Heroic Adept, and are now under Grand General Marco Rossi command.
Marco drop in from time to time, and during this time I take advantage to name drop the legendary hero to the rest of the Adept. The look at his face when female Adept came and grope him is hilarious, and seeing him running for the hill just encourage me to do it again and again. I may have been reminded that his a general by the other superior officers, but I don't care, and neither is Marco.
Fiolina Germi also came in from time to time. She is more interested by my development than the Adepts. I decided that all of my teaching and human behavior to be based on her as the greatest example to the Adepts. If Marco is the definition of badass, then Fio is the hope and dreams of all human kind.
Tarma Roving, a rare legendary hero also pop in at random, mostly because he has been out station with Eri Kasamoto and is working with the JDF joint front in Japan. He gives me a good pointer about mechanical engineering and how to survive while Eri only tell us to blow up shit that isn't nail down. I told the Adepts about Tarma Roving lesson… but I think I'll keep Eri's lesson for some other time; the new Adept should never ever learn the basics of Eri's 'survival of the fittest' regimens until they are truly ready. I don't want my 'children' to follow her blood knight example just yet.
Leon help whenever he can. But I think he came because of Adept 03 – human designation 'Sarah' – attachment. Hmm. A human who falls in love with synthetic lifeforms? Or is it the other way around? Sarah shows great interest in him, but Leon shows up just to express concerned about her. Is this a father-daughter relationship? Leon has always said in his trouble times to wanting to adopt a daughter of his own. You'll think that he should adopt one biological daughter and not an Adept unit. Then again… Sarah has always shows enthusiasm whenever his around. Human attachment? I better note this down.
Matthew is a hazard when he walk in. I swear he must have an actual beefcake for a brain; he challenge ten Adept, and almost disable Adept 01 aka Adam though his rough exercise. Today, he challenge almost all 50 of my Adept, which I deny him any after his last stunt. His reason for the fight? Because he was bored, and need a crash dummy for him fighting moves. Matthew is banned from entering my facility, but a few of the Adept wants the challenge. Despite the protest, I agreed that, yes, challenging this major obstacle maybe rewarding, but only when they know the risk. In the end, I arrange a weekly post on such challenge with a fair warning; if any of my Adepts broke due to their misguided nature, they are to return to the Kanegawa Military Industry to be reprocessed. That will be my only warning.
I am glad that Nathalie is distancing herself from me or my Adepts. But this only create a rifts between me and her, especially when my goal was to continue to gain her trust to accept me into her life. Moreover, some of the unit that I recognize has also distancing themselves from me. If this continues, I might have created a sub-faction unintentionally within the Regular Army. I might need Marco and Fio's help from this.
The creation of the Adept however did not go unnoticed, and the public that sees the Regular Army and it's benefactor the Kanegawa Military Industry with skeptical, suspicion and worried, with small majority of them shows resentment, rage, outcry and anger upon the news. Understandable, since the Kanegawa Military Industry are producing humanoid killing machine similar to that of the CFA and a much lesser extend from the FRA. The Kanegawa Military Industry that had previously a clean record in the eye of the people now has many, if not negative feedback regarding it.
As usual, public conference are called in to quell any uneasiness to those who have fear in their mortal hearts. As a sign of reassurance, they hired me and my three Adept students up front. This will be a good training for my student, albeit minor task then they usually do. While my student stand in front with Professor Namro, I am to look apart as a security staff behind the crowd of reporters, journalists, etc for counter measure.
AUDIO LOG 03
Adept – Friend or Foe to Humanity?
Question: What is an Adept? What purpose for their creations?
Prof Namro: A very good question. The Adept are the latest creation made specifically to combat any and all threats against humanity. Their purpose is to ensure humanity, as a whole, survive during this dark times of our time.
Question: Why are they created in the first place? Are our military could not handle such task?
Prof Namro: They are not replacing our battle harden troops if that is your question. The Adept were create when an opportunity came to us and agreed to shared said technology to us. His being alone may not change anything, as it us still one being even if it is very powerful on its own. The Adept are created to supplement these hurdle both capabilities as an individual and as unit. One man can't change the war, so we think that a few more could.
Question: Will you be sharing this technology? Are there other buyers that is in need of such unit?
Prof Namro: As it stands, we are currently in an agreement that the Adept should only be used by the Regular Army and it's parent company, for security reasons. Now I'm sure the Russians, the Japanese, the European and the Liberation Army want a piece of such technology, but since this technology is still in its prototype stages, the Adept will fall under the Regular Army jurisdiction until the war is over. Then, we hope to commercialized the Adept in a friendlier, peaceful lifestyle.
Question: Commercialized? Are you planning to ship this dangerous technology to every household on American soil, or any other for that matter?
Prof Namro: Of course we aren't going to ship a combatant Adept to every household everywhere across the globe; that would be unethical for us to send in units meant for warfare to every civilian and citizens, just because. As of now, we are still making configuration for the unit to settle in a peaceful lifestyle. Changes will come, but as of now we are focusing on our current Adept project for the Regular Army to test out its capabilities.
Question: Are you saying that the Liberation Army are incapable of taking care of your product?
Prof Namro: No. That's not what I meant. I-
Question: Is it true that the Kanegawa Military Industry are bias, and sold this technology to the Regular Army in order to stage superpower nation?
Prof Namro: What? No! That wasn't-
Question: What other weapon of mass destruction are you hiding behind that close door policy you have? What other technology, stolen, reverse-engineer or captured from the losing Army? What – Hey! Stop! I'm not-
Shepherd: I knew that voice from anywhere. I thought we gives a very clear statement to you and your folk to never enter this premise ever again.
?: Let me go! Let me go you walking tin can! Just wait till I published my paper 'bout the abuse you animals do! The Liberation Army will be victorious! Mark my word! The Experimental Forces will lead humanity to a safer world!
Shepherd: Doubt it. Now get!
AUDIO LOG END
I guess I shouldn't be surprised; the Liberation Army supporters and their indoctrinated beliefs. Though this is norm to me, arresting the Liberation Army trouble maker and kicking them out of our premises or the Kanegawa benefactor, this however got a confusing discussion among my Adept student. I made an emergency rally to the assembly hall for all Adepts.
AUDIO LOG 04
Adepts – Can We Harm Humans… to Protect Them?
Shepherd: Now I know that you know what had happen a couple of days ago, that set a string of questions among you all. I'm here to answer them all.
Adepts: We are created to protect humanity… how are to protect them when they hated us?
Shepherd: A common question. This is somehow relate to me; learn to trust your ally and to your teammates. Trust is something that I have to learn the hard way. Believe it or not, I was on CABAL side during the war.
*Collective gasp among my Adept student.*
Shepherd: I know, I was on the enemy side. So how on Earth did I end up here? Because of my blind trust to the CFA that almost got me killed. CABAL left me to die, knowing that I would fail whether I complete my mission or not. The Regular Army however gave me a second chance of redemption. They saw my potential, but never abuse it. They saw me as a friend, not a tool. They treat me like family, not as a pest. They rely on me when others struggle to do the same. I earned their trust, and in doing so, I earn my right here.
Adepts: But trust is a fickle matter, how are we to trust the people we are protecting when they will one day turn on us?
Shepherd: Another interesting question. Now, a lot of you already know that you Adepts are never assign alone. In fact, you are all assign as a four operating unit. These units are your most trustworthy companion around, because they are your kin. Your friend. Your ally. Your brother or sister in arms. But you know this – you are trained and program for this. But here in the outside world, they know nothing about you, and that's what makes the public look among us with distrust. To the public, we are dangerous to them. We are not a danger to them. My best solution is to ignore the negative press you are given, only interact with the humans in the rarest of moment and use a calm, mannered voice. You may interact with humans in uniform as casually as you do with your next kin, but some, may not like your presents in this world as they may feel insecure. However, from the likes of Liberation Army, should not be included as they are most likely hostile. They are an entirely different beast altogether.
Adepts: … so we're allowed to harm humans… to protect them?
Shepherd: You only protect humans that NEEDS protection. This is universal; you are coded to do that. If they were to open fire against you, take shelter and verify from your commanding officer for further instructions. Only when the situation in a dire matter, where peace treaty is void and all matter of negotiations fail, then you can use violence against them. Don't go overboard though; we need prisoners should things go sour.
Adepts: We only kill humans when we are ordered too? Doesn't that go against our programming? Our coding? It will go against everything we were program too…
Shepherd: You must understand that, yes, you are all program to protect humanity. But sometimes, in the dire situation, going against rogue humans is as crucial as going against the CFA or the FRA. The Adepts are created to ensure humanity survivability. But in a more detailed matter, you are all willing to lay down your life for a single human being or more. I'm ready to lay down my own. What about you? What about all of you?
Adepts: If our sacrifice can save one or many, even hundreds or thousands, then yes, we will lay down our life protecting humanity against outside forces, including themselves.
Shepherd: Good to know. Are there any other questions? No? Good.
AUDIO LOG END
My Adept are ready. But against a war that has no sight or an end at the tunnel? Even the toughest soldier will break, and can happen to my well trained Adepts.
As I have said before, I'm never been afraid of anything, I'm prepared to die for what I believes is right. And yet, I feel downplayed. True, these Adepts will serve as the frontal wall against CABAL and his mechanical monstrosity, or the FRA and their endless supply of troops, but without someone to actually commanded them, most will not survive. They are expendable, but they're still under my tutor. At most, I'm treating them all as my own children.
The day when the war finally ended is the day we see the end result of our preparation. This unending war has to stop at some point, and I dare not imagine what might happen if the CFA stood victorious.
I guess the long war has finally begun, and this war is going to be a challenging factor for me and my Adepts.
REPORT END
Adepts: CABAL was very careful when it create it's mechanical soldiers during the war against us, willing to create a weaponized troops armed to the teeth with a built-in self-destruct system to ensure that none of his creation would fall in the hands of the opposing force to be reverse-engineer. Cyborg Prototype, Assassin and Commando all have this pre-installed into them, and even it's mechanical robots, aircraft and armor tanks all have a self-destruct system all built into them. Thus far, recovering any fallen Cyborg on the field is a wasted effort, and are only worth doing so just to nab a weapon or two. CABAL is being careful, and probably proud of it.
Key word being 'careful'
When the Regular Army manage to captured a Cyborg Prototype named L-X8, CABAL wasn't happy. The mad AI push it's entire forces against the Regular Army to ensure that the captured unit is destroyed. Alternately, it could have just wipe off the Regular Army with its highly destructive weapons as well. Unfortunately for CABAL, the mad AI has made enemy to every known faction on Earth, including the Future Rebellion Army. The last push from CABAL forces was his last able army, and are forced to withdraw to recover. Many armies from other faction chose to chase CABAL to its hiding hole, while the likes of FRA simply pack up and left after the war with no rhyme or reason.
The captured unit however became a hot topics of discussion, mostly to exploit the technology in their own way. Since the Regular Army claim ownership to the Cyborg Prototype, it is only a logical conclusion that the Regular Army be send this unit to the Kanegawa Military Industry. Liberation Army, under the rule of General Chantelle 'Amelia' Steelheart express (read; demand) that the unit should be handed over to the Experimental Forces and their scientist to reverse-engineer the unit for the betterment of mankind. The Regular Army gives no query to the Liberation Army and it's blind supporters. General Amelia express only foul expression in return.
The Cyborg Prototype named L-X8 agree to be send to the Kanegawa Military Industry, on the basis of simply performing a mundane repair it sustain during the war. It was a harmless request, but while performing such repairs, the Kanegawa scientist had zero idea how to perform any kind of repairs without scanning, tracing and getting the blueprint straight out of the Cyborg Prototype, eventually (and unknowingly) acquired means to built a similar unit just like L-X8. The excited scientist of the Kanegawa Military Industry personal, in respond of getting something out of a mundane task, offered a helping hand in the war by presenting a reverse-engineer version of the Cyborg Prototype; the Adepts.
The Adepts are one of a kind humanoid combatant units, model after L-X8 (now named Shepherd) humanoid appearance. They are not crude looking, mass looking machine with weapons and guns. Instead, they look human in appearance, very slick design and has a holier-than-thou calming aura brimming from each Adept. Taking a cue to Shepherd human appearance is their million and one expression that is randomly selected upon creation, thus creating the illusion that no one Adepts are the same. Keep this in mind that they are all run with the same mindset as Shepherd; to ensure human survivability. Kanegawa Military Industry wanted to commercialized these unit in very household as a companion and a guardian after the war is over.
The Liberation Army however, wanted the technology for themselves, and Lord knows what they had in their mind should a few of them had fallen into their hands.
All Adepts has a built in energy beam from their hand which they can summon during the fight, but unlike Shepherd, they rely heavily on weapons and armament to fight off any possible threats. Despite that all Adepts are program for war, the Kanegawa scientist emphasis on ensuring human survivability as its number one priority over any other, which creates confusion to some of the newly built units who are confuse over two major coding. Additionally coding to disrupt this confusion has fail more times than the Kanegawa scientist had predicted, thus they abandon all previous coding in favor of self learning programming capabilities found by Shepherd. Of course, all newly created Adepts are to go through Shepherd training before they are allowed to be in active duty.
Upgrades are available to the Adepts upon rank climbing. As soon as an Adept reach to Elite rank, they can upgrade (read: augment) themselves with Rhino Diamond Skin (increase the density of its body to be immune to small firearm and gain a small protection towards laser and plasma rounds), Advanced Sensory (increase sight range and improve targeting sensor, as well as sight-sharing) and/or Muscle Mass (increase weight capacity limit, allowing them to either carry more supply or wield heavy weapons). Heroic Adept gain access to LIFES Systems (Self Regenerate via Nanotechnology) and Temporal Transport (Teleport fatally damage unit out of battle).
Their combat capabilities vary from unit to unit. Some carry assault weapons, other carries heavy weapon. Some prefer to be a supportive member, while rarely would they go melee happy. They are many tiers of Adepts, many are name dropped by Shepherd himself according to their core capabilities.
Adept Protégé: Freshly created by the Kanegawa Military Industry, these units have everything it needs to carry a weapon and perform it's duty as it was programmed, but without proper guidelines, it can only be a burden or worse, harmful to its creator. While Adept Protégé felt like dumb muscle in metal mass, they can still perform simple sentry and able to deter outside elements no problem; it just doesn't see or compute humans as anything special other than an intelligent being that brought them to life.
Adept Veteran: Giving a proper training and development from Protégé, they are upgraded (status wise) into Veteran, a unit that understand the need to protect a human being at any cost, even it's own life. Veteran are mostly being used by the Kanegawa Military Industry personal as a proper security detail upon their status upgrade to work on a much friendlier environment before being thrown out in the hostile world. They may not be as different from Protégé, but they are extremely fearsome when they are humans under its protection. Should they choose, they can be deployed into the field of battle if they are willing, but a sudden deployment may not give them a proper time to process what is going on. Veterans are soldiers, and as a soldier, they require a commanding officers for orders to perform their duty. That is where Elite comes to play.
Adept Elite: Elite is a class above Veteran, and as such has more tricks up in their sleeve then their lower rank kin. Unlike Veteran who are upgrade via status rank, Elite received several augmented upgrade upon rising up the rank – three in fact. Rhino Diamond Skin improve the defenses of Elite and became immune to smaller firearms and gain a small protection towards Plasma and laser weaponry. Advance Sensory gives the unit better targeting system and sight-sharing with the other Adepts on the field, among other sight benefits. Muscle Mass is exactly what it said in the tin, which improve the Elite weight capacity limit, and to the more creative Elites, uses the Muscle Mass for melee combat as well. Elite Adepts can command Veteran to battle, effectively becoming a commanding officer that lead it's own unit to war against all who would harmed humanity as a whole. They also double their duty to personally train Protégé units to rank up to Veterans. Heroic however is a class of its own.
Adept Heroic: Trained and tutored by Shepherd himself, Adept Heroic have all the necessary upgrades and then some. Irreplaceable high combat units that can only be on par with the Field Commando, Heroic stood on its own in any given battle, only requesting assistance via weapon drop or armor drop, never asking for troops deployment and completely self sufficient. They carry as much firepower as the known field Commando and as such, earn their right to be called Heroic. This version of Adept has the LIFES Systems, similar to Shepherd himself, which regenerate lost limb, health and heal damages overtime. However, should the Heroic Adept left dying, their Temporal Transport will teleport their broken body away from battle to be repair in the safety of their home base. They may not be as powerful as the CFA Cyborg Commando, but their unwillingness to give up tendency mostly make up with the tanky Cyborg Commando unrelenting assault.
Notes 1: It appears that some of the Adepts has a liking to humans of opposite gender. We are not sure why, but we are studying the effects with the Kanegawa Military Industry personal for this matter. Some that had grown attachment to said human beings became an active guardian of sort. It may have been from the brain pattern via data pattern extracted from Shepherd for his undying loyalty to his savior Fiolina Germi. Requires further details in this dilemma.
Note 2: We detected some kind of unidentified program that exist within each and every Adepts, which also being trace back to Shepherd. Shepherd has been notified by this discovery, as well as Grand General Marco Rossi and the Kanegawa Military Industry top scientist. From what we can understand, they are all somehow interlink with one another in a passive manner. Like some kind of a inactive Hive mind. Because they are billions of unknown coding in each unidentified program that only take up about 1MB of data space (a feat that not even CABAL could possibly be made possible), we are going to dub this as the Legion Program. We will find out its capabilities as soon as we are able, and hopefully, nothing bad will happen.
We are serious about that last comment; we have about 600 thousands Adepts running and we do not want those units turned against us. If anything turns up, please notify Professor Namro immediately.