Christmas was a nice time, but event it had to pass, and then it was back to work.
Though, really, it would be a lie to say that I didn't start getting ready for my endgame until after Christmas. As soon as I received the Solar Rail schematics, I began developing my own. This one, of course, was modified to be able to shoot capital ships out of it, and also benefitted from some technology I'd found aboard my Commander. I had Melissa to thank for that - apparently her increasing the limits of what technology I could use on my commander/increasing access to some of the blocked files included stuff the Progenitors had acquired after the war they had fought. Among those was an efficiency booster for the solar rail, which allowed it to make the Tau Jump in about...five minutes. Needless to say, I was very happy with that.
That wasn't all that I had unlocked. Melissa's final gift had also provided me with access to some technology that hadn't been in the games, which proved to be a game-changer (pun intended). This included things like aircraft carriers that could fab planes pretty much instantly, cluster nukes, dark matter cannons, and god knows what else. Already, I had begun integrating them into my forces, readying myself for the inevitable battle with the Sentients. Unlike in the Old War, though, they would be the ones on the defensive.
Preparations for the battle were swift - it only took half a day to not only build up my armies, but also to contact the Tenno and ask who would support me. Many pledged their aid - they wanted their space mom back, and stopping the sentients before they could cause more havoc then was already happening was another big motivator. Some, however, refused, albeit for pragmatic reasons - how could they afford to go all in at Tau when the Origin System was already plagued by internal threats. These Tenno did not want to risk leaving their home undefended. I regretted their lack of support, but it was understandable. Someone needed to stay here to face the tyrants already present. And whilst my plans did call for destroying the Grineer, Corpus, and Infested, the Sentients needed to die first, else all of us be overwhelmed by these terrors from beyond.
It only took me half a day to finish preparations. The Tenno needed even less time, seeing how my plan also included setting up defenses at the Origin System in case we were repulsed. Having a failsafe against unforeseen consequences never hurt. Additionally, I made a point of placing my Commander on a hidden part of Sedna, so that I would have a second failsafe should my first one somehow fail.
With the last preparations set up, only one step remained before the assault could begin.
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"Hello?"
"Hello, my dear ROB."
"Oh, its you. What do you want? A massage?"
She said that in such a seductive tone that I really considered it, but I managed to compose myself before I did something stupid. "No. I want you."
"What?!"
"I'm getting ready to kick the Sentients' teeth in. Do you want to come along for the ride, maybe get in a few kills?"
"...Eh, sure, why not?"
"Good. Battle starts soon."
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Really, that was too easy.
Not like I cared, though - help was always appreciated. Plus I wanted how the Sentients would react to meeting a ROB.
Mere minutes after I called in Melissa, the Tenno started to gather around the special solar rail I'd commissioned for this battle. Joining them were a couple of volunteers they managed to wrangle up. I had no idea how, nor did I care - again, help was always appreciated. Plus I was certain some people would like to give the Sentients a piece of their mind considering how much trouble they had caused in the past.
As my allies arrived en-mass, I started pulling up the reports of the scouts I'd shot through the rail. They'd managed to sneak in under the Sentient's noses and set up three bases in the Tau system. From here, they'd built teleporter arches to send in additional reinforcements when the time came. I'd already hooked those up to bases I had across the system, all hidden in remote spots and rigged to be destroyed if discovered.
It only took half an hour for all my forces and allies to arrive. I'd have given a speech, but speeches weren't my thing. Also, if I flubbed this one, Melissa would never let me live it down. Since she was standing right next to me (almost certainly just to annoy me), I wasn't really willing to take that chance.
Thus, was everybody was ready, I simply activated the Rail and launched the first wave.
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The minute the Sentient's sensed the first ship's arrival, they opened fire. Though the Progenitors' forces had proven to be durable, the synthetics were nothing if not adaptable, and it was only a matter of moments before the ship was obliterated. Smugness
settled over their minds as they watched the ship explode, satisfaction following as its remains drifted off into space.
Then another ship appeared...and another, and another. Soon dozens began to charge at them, taking noticeable losses, sure, but being replaced faster than the losses could add up. It took only moments for hundreds to appear, and there were no signs that their numbers were getting smaller. Worse still, the greatest weapon of the Sentients, their adaptability, was useless here - after pounding their foes for a while, the enemy vessels would fire off a powerful beam of void energy, tearing away their resistances and leaving them vulnerable once more.
It was only a matter of time before the defensive fleet retreated, leaving the worlds of Tau vulnerable to their new foe.
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"What, they have already broken through?!"
"Yes, my lady. We are trying to stop them, but there are reports of enemy forces already on planet. We believe they managed to sneak in infiltrators prior to the assault. I apologize for this oversight."
"You are forgiven. Now go and lead the ground defenses."
"Of course."
As the weaker sentient drifted away, the elder one turned to the only other of her kin in the room.
"What, mother?"
"Fall back into the empty void, Natah. You will be part of our counteroffensive, should we lose."
"But won't the others see this as a sign of favoritism?"
"Yes, but to the Tenno, you are a prize. If they catch you now, they will fight ferociously to save you. If you remain beyond their grasp for now, though, they may weaken themselves trying to bring you home."
"I...I understand. Very well, I shall fall back."
"Good."
As her daughter fell away into the shadows, the elder one turned her attention to a golden object in the room. A trophy from the old war, it was, for the most part, useless to her...but it most certainly had a value to the Commander. And if she played her hand carefully, it would let her win against him.
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As my forces finally began to descend on the world I'd designated Tau Prime, I smiled - they day of reckoning had come.
Still smiling, I pulled up a choice selection of music, silently glad that Melissa had given me the track just prior to this battle. It most certainly felt appropriate.
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With unprecedented grace, the fighter charged into battle, joined by a railjack and a pair of archwing wielding Tenno. Within moments, they were upon the aerial sentient.
I dream of towers in a world consumed Gold hewn into the stone
They opened fire, tearing into the strange creature's flesh. In pain, it struck out, but soon took core damage. It was not long before something critical failed.
The architecture of servitude
Collapsing upon the thrones
Even before the sentient exploded, the Tenno had moved onto the next, refusing to let up on the pressure.
Shock to the framework as the shell ignites
Binding the master and the acolyte
Soon, the small group converged in with others, until they formed a might fleet. Before them, their opposition stared out, ready to fight back.
Keep running forward at the speed of light
A universe on fire
Then, both fleets opened fire, and carnage ensued.
The coming of age
The stirring of purpose
Within the slumber
Over and over
We will ascend
The coming of age
Disturbing the surface
Connect each other
Over and over
To see the end
And dream again
It took some time, but the enemy fleet fell apart. Some lagged away, beaten but still living, but the vast majority were destroyed, their corpses collected for reverse engineering.
We dream again
To see the end
We dream again
Their foes broken, the Tenno and their allies charged to the planet's surface. Slamming through the orbital stations, they descended upon the land, choosing a barren plain as their landing sight. The fact it already had a forward base on it may have been a contributor to this decision.
Prophets of industry revel in greed
The slaves of yesterday are roaming free
Synthetic scream a violent vicious seed
A universe on fire
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As the enemy forces massed up to attack the base, Adeline readied up her spear and shield, which erupted with flames.
Her master was right: this was a battle worthy of her talents.
Then, just as they approached her, she swung out her weapon, setting them all alight.
The coming of age
The stirring of purpose
Within the slumber
Over and over
We will ascend
The coming of age
Disturbing the surface
Connect each other
Over and over
To see the end
And dream again
As her foe's corpses began to cool, the Tenno charged out, some on k-drives, some upon the wings of war, and some even using mechs...where did they get those?
We dream again
To the see the end
We dream again
An attempt by the sentients to rally was crushed by a massive orbital barrage of void energy.
We dream again
To see the end
We dream again
XXXXXXXXXX
Charging through the jungle, Hearth smiled - this was what she lived for.
Sliding under a native predator, she shot into a tree, eager to spill her foe's blood once more.
Bind the body to the opened mind
As a missile flew toward her, the CNDR darted to the side, in the process saving a native insectile creature from getting fried. A moment later, a Tenno cut down her assailant, after which she advanced.
Bind the body to the opened mind
Sighing, even though it was unnecessary for her to do so, Hearth set down the bug, before charging into battle. SO MUCH FUN!
I dream of towers in a world consumed
A void in the sentient sky
Taking a moment to load up her weapons, Hearth stood straight when she saw that Adeline had arrived. The two shared a look, before charging forward once more.
I dream of fissures across the moon
Leaves of the lotus rise
As the two charged out of the forest, they joined up with another group, amongst them Melissa herself. A horde of sentients stood in their way, but that only brought a smile from the rob, the human, and the CNDR.
The coming of age
The stirring of purpose
Within the slumber
Over and over
We will ascend
As the fighting began anew, Adeline turned rearward and held out her shield. Wasting no time, Hearth charged forward and leapt, using it to propel herself forward, letting her rain fire upon the sentients. Nearby, Melissa leapt toward a Teralyst sized foe and laid it low. And that was just the opening move. As the sentients tried to return fire, Cyreesia leapt into the fray, wielding the might form of a Rhino Prime. Slamming into it the ground, she sent a shockwave outwards, hurling the shards into the air. Determined to keep fighting, the drones opened fire, only for a volt frame to pop up a shield, bringing the assault to a halt. Moments later, Umbra charged out of the shadows, and as he tore into a Sentient with his Skiajati, Etran transferred out of the warframe, firing a void blast at an oncoming group of conculysts.
The coming of age
Disturbing the surface
Connect each other
Over and over
To see the end
And dream again
The fight soon turned into a route. The sheer value of firepower, combined with its ability to pierce through the Sentient's adaptability, proved to much for the synthetics to take. Even the mighty one who lead them was forced to retreat, despite carving a line through the center of the invading army. Soon, the battlefield was theirs.
We dream again
To see the end
We dream again
XXXXXXXXX
Wow, only five hours, and we'd kicked them off the planet the Orokin had designated as tau prime. that must be some kind of record. Granted, the Stlaker and his acolytes hadn't shown up (oddly), so that had helped, but still...
…..Okay, we hadn't really kicked them off the planet. What I had done was taken all of their bases/cities on ninety percent of its surface and the entirety of the planet's orbital area, which effectively made it mine. Surprisingly, a large amount of Sentients had surrendered. I thought they would all fight to the death, but apparently honor did not outweigh reason. More surprising still was that the Tenno actually accepted said surrender - I really thought they might be too interested in vengeance for those lost during the old war, but I guess they could be reasonable in this case as well.
...Maybe I was being paranoid.
"Maybe you are."
Ugh. "What do you want?"
"Caught a trophy off the big sentient who led the defense," responded my ROB. "You're the one who coordinated the battle against it, might as well take the trophy as your own."
"...Okay."
"Catch."
With that, she threw me a strange little object. A strange piece of sculpting was the best way to describe it, and even that was generous, for it had no visible features on it that could be described in words. Just a simple, golden shape, unlike any I had ever seen. Nothing notable about it at all...
...I take it back, there was something notable on it: A glowing blue symbol, exactly like the one on the Vitruvian.
...Huh. It seemed I had found what I was looking for, at least in regards to the machine.
After making sure that my forces had firmly secured what they now held, and asking Melissa for some reinforcements to further keep the area under my command, I opened up the Vitruvian and selected the final symbol: "Rebirth."
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The golden beast watched as the Tenno affixed more pods into place, never once betraying an emotion, until at last he spoke. "Will these be all of the ones you will save here?"
"No," replied Cyreesia. "We will also protect those who cannot return to their homes do to how the war ended."
As she said that, more pods were moved into the room, containing...no way. Those did not contain Forerunner Warrior-Servants...or Slaan….or Esh-Kha...was that an Adeptus Custodes?
"How kind of you."
"Your flattery is appreciated, though I am afraid we cannot talk much longer - we must be at the ceremony soon."
"I understand."
A moment later, and a pinging noise filled the air. Turning toward it, the duo found themselves staring at a set of...teleporter arches?
"These will be gateways to a set of...true...promised lands. One uninhabited by natives, unspoiled by industry, and ripe for the taking. Consider it our...compensation..for your assistance."
"...Thank you."
"You are welcome. Know this, however - only after your society has undergone a rebirth will these be yours. Do not let evils defile these worlds as the Orokin did the Origin System."
"We won't," intoned a familiar voice. Turning, the Progenitor and female Tenno watched as Etran appeared, pushing a skink filled pod into place. "Though I must ask, how will we open them when the time comes?"
"They will open when this vault opens." Then the Progenitor's eyes glowed, and the Tenno's suits suddenly became rigid. "And now, you know how to open it."
"...That is really complex."
"But it will work."
"...Probably."
"Touché...farewell, my companions."
With that, the Progentior disappeared...and the vision, at last, came to an end.
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…..Wait, so there are races from other universes inside the Repository?
….Neat! Gimme gimme!
….But how do I get in there?
"Um, New One?" intoned Ordis.
"What?"
"Your Vitruvian is starting to power up for some reason..."
Before I could ask for clarification, a transmission left my ship. Moments later, it...entered the void?
Examining the various towers I had accessed and bugged, I tried to pinpoint the location the signal was headed to...and found it to be the entrance of the Repository. Confused, I watched as the signal reached its target. For a moment, nothing happened, but then the wall suddenly began to split apart, with the pieces forming a bridge to where the wall had been, where a more traditional doorway now existed.
Suddenly, a proximity alarm went off. Examining it, I found the corrupted...being slaughtered by the Stalker and his acolytes...who were now headed toward the Repository.
...FUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK!
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AN: Read and Review!
This is Flameal15k, signing off!