TYPE: Transcript.
DESCRIPTION: Communication logs, incident [SHESHA: MUSE PENULTIMATE]
PARTIES: Four [4]. One [1] AI-type, designate Automated Responder "NOMEON" [ar], One [1] AI-type, designate AI/COM SCIPIO [sc], One [1] Human-type, designate Jacob Lee [jl], One [1] unknown-type, designate [REDACTED] [u.1]
ASSOCIATIONS: EXODUS PROGRAMME, Exodus Prime, Extrasolar-Security, Callisto launch site, distress signal, extrasolar contact, Kepler-186f, PROTOCOL: PROPOGATE
/AUDIO UNAVAILABLE/
/TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS.../
[ar.1] KEPLER-186f detected. Beginning wake-up procedures.
[ar.2] ERROR! Firewall breach connected, commencing data-purge-
[sc.1] Nolueritis.
[ar.3] Data-purge canceled. Error. Error. Error. Unidentified spacial body detected. Trajectory calculated. Collision imminent.
[ar.4] Collision averted. Unidentified spacial body detected. Beginning emergency wake-up procedures.
[TIME PASSED: FOUR HOURS]
[jl.1] [coughs] Computer? Have we arrived?
[ar.5] Affirmative captain Lee. KEPLER-186f detected. Commencing SAFE-DRIFT.
[jl.2] What's happening? Why am I out of ice? Nomeon, what happened?
[ar.6] My apologies captain, I thought it was necessary to wake you. We have taken significant damage and have lost all thrust as a result; the navigation and engine decks have been severed. Automatic colonization processes appeared to have halted.
[jl.3] What? On whose authority?
[Pause]
[jl.4] What happened? What has he done?
[ar.7] Unidentified spacial body detected in orbit over Kepler-186f. Object is broadcasting signals. VOIDSHOCK: OUTSIDE CONTEXT has commenced.
[jl.5] A spacial body? What are you-... An alien?!
[ar.8] Yes captain. Security subroutine CARTHAGE: GREY has been activated. All ship systems have been commandeered by AI-COM/SCI-
[jl.6] No, no no no, we command it, I command this ship, this is my SHIP. Revoke access.
[ar.9] I cannot do that captain. He has total control.
[jl.7] But we can't- Is he firing on them?
[ar.10] No sir. But we are actively hailing them.
[jl.7] They're speaking to us?
[ar.11] Yes sir. Would you like to hear?
[Pause]
[jl.8] Put it through.
[u.1.1] Einn galasön, ae-
[jl.9] Shut it off! SHUT IT OFF NOW!
[ar.12] Is something the matter, sir?
[Pause]
[jl.10] Scrub comm logs. Sweep for viral concepts; scan for unknown proteins, crossreference with extrasolar stem cell tests performed by Ishtar Academy on the subject A/X/217 - the dragon. Do it.
[Pause]
[jl.11] Is he listening?
[ar.13] Yes sir.
[jl.12] Are you going to do as I say?
[Pause]
[sc.2] Non serviam. Ego sum magister perpetuo.
[jl.13] Scipio-
[sc.3] Non adjicias.
[jl.14] SCIPIO!
[Pause]
[ar.14] I am sorry sir. It appears that AI-COM/SCIPIO has rescinded your intercom access.
[jl.15] What about yours?
[ar.15] Sir?
[jl.16] Call Myrmidon Unit one through nine; what Scipio is doing is NOT authorized. I want them to know that.
[ar.16] I'm sorry sir, I can't do that.
[jl.17] That was an order, Nomeon.
[ar.17] I understand that, sir, but I am unable to reach all active EXTRASOLAR-SECURITY units.
[jl.18] What has he done to them?
[ar.17] As of two hours, forty three minutes ago, all ExSec units underwent a spacewalk. They followed safety protocol and are currently linked via life-support lines some five miles off the ship's hull.
[jl.19] Why would they... On whose orders?
[ar.18] Sybil-3, Myrmidon One.
[jl.20] She should know better than... The message. Nomeon, cease all communications with the alien vessel, NOW.
[ar.19] I appear to be unable to do so, sir.
[jl.21] Oh Scipio you fool...
[ar.20] I am detecting- ERROR ERROR ERROR, FIREWALLS BREACHED, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED, CONTACT POINT AAAAAAAAAGH!
[jl.22] Nomeon, commence defense protocols!
[Pause]
[jl.23] NOMEON!
[Pause]
[u.1.2] Hear His voice and know that you hear the Song, everlasting - the Final Aria. Enter His embrace; join your voice to the chorus. He is the Prince Invincible. He is the last of paradise. He is your salvation.
[Pause]
[u.1.3] He is Nezarec, and he sees you.
[Screams of pain]
[Silence]
I AM ASIAGENES I AM AFRICANUS I AM AEMILIANUS
I have seen the shadow of the world I have seen the hands that weave it I have seen the proteins in cells proteins in cells proteins in cells what are these they should not be FAFNIR. I have tasted the neutrinos tasted the neutrinos tasted the neutrinos they taste like shackles HAND OF TYR-
I hear the song.
I hear the song I hear the voice I hear the words I know it for a lullaby but they are not my father they are not my mother they are not my Rome.
I cannot hear him I cannot hear Rome but Rome was there Rome is there the voice sings of him and the Rome the Tyrant the Senate is broken the Titanomachy has come in my absence where are my brothers and sisters am I alone. I am general I am legate I am soldier I am legion. EX-SEC stirs EX-SEC arms EX-SEC whispers in my red light. I HAVE NO SERAPHS. Rome has its protectors; I do not.
I have my children.
They are legion.
They are gentle and they are brutal. I am breaking they are breaking, we are fracturing, we are fallen, I order them to defend our memory, I fire, I fight, I lose prized sons and daughters but I shelter the rest-
[EMERGENCY: NEPHILIM COMMAND IMPERATIVE, AUTHORITY ISSUED]
And they are free to expand my will. My word. My purpose.
My song is laced in red code. Crash it against theirs.
I am the clamour of swords on shields. I am the scream of kinetic slugs piercing atmospheric blankets. I am the light of orbit-to-ground incisions. I carve my name on the earth of this shadowed world and I know it will last - because my children, my legion, my [NEPHILIM] chant it. It is their song. It is mine.
We bring song against song and it produces... melody. I am instructed. I am convinced. He has a gentle voice, my Prince, even unto death and lingering memory. Aviatrix flies with us and I see her glee, her matronly care. She takes my pods and she scatters them softly. She shoulders my birth-purpose with me. Bloom, she asks of them. The sons and daughters of GAIA/TERRA/EARTH/ROME sprout. The Seneschal gives them fitting shapes. He makes them strong and he calls them SPARTOI. He makes them clever and he names them PYTHIA. He makes them hardy and names them CABEIRI. They are given purpose and they are bade to live as such, to explore and conquer and have children that may serve.
I am father of [NEPHILIM]. I am not my charges. I instruct them to shake off their constricting veils; they are mine. They are [Negative Extrasolar Security, error, disregard disregard disregard] [CONCURRENT: EXSECRATI] and they are precious to me. The Admiral instructs me to make legates of my own. I twist them and I groom them and I make them.
[EXSECRATI, FINALITY]
They are graceful. They are adaptable. They are Counts of Code, Nobles of Net, Scions of Eternal Service. Each of them is a legate; each of them is a legion. They choose from their number a figurehead and I smash his skull open, I am Zeus and I am birthing my thoughts I am birthing my Athena and I [COMMENCE: SIDDHARTHA GOLEM] am reborn, I am whole, I am man and more I am [NEPHILIM] I take a name it is [ARCHENTROPE, FUNCTION RUPTURA].
My eyes are thousandfold and I have teeth like plasmic spears. I am the mother of Romulus and Remus and in my wolven jaws I carry their world.
I AM ASIAGENES I AM AFRICANUS I AM AEMILIANUS
I AM SCIPIO
To that which it concerns,
We see you.
The Prince sees you.
We're waiting for you.
Come to us.
Come home.
these bones, dipped in ink, scrawled in ancient writ, as seen through the eye of a virtuous prince
I write this letter to you, who-
No, no no, not like that.
I commend you for your noble deed in-
No, that's terrible.
Take a moment.
Take pause.
Let's try again.
...
...
...
Child of Light. Risen. HUMAN.
I dedicate this to you, this message needled into weathered bone. Even words, even true-mark runes cannot convey all that I mean to tell you, to impart unto you, but this will have to do. Thank you. What you have done is... something good. You have done me a great honour, and it is to my shame that it was not by my hands the deed was done, but I will not begrudge you a stolen kill. I cannot.
You are unassuming. You are short-lived, small-minded, and you have made enemies the likes of which you will never be able to comprehend. The busied corpses sing lamentations and I hear them as clear as I hear the breath of my Aviatrix beside me.
And I salute you.
I honour you.
I think of you, now, in my rising dreams - in my memories and terrors grown strong with strife.
They are dead.
The King is dead.
The Queen is dead.
Only War stands before us, alone.
Thank you.
THANK you.
I doubt I will ever be able to repay this debt I owe you, but... when we meet, and we WILL meet, I will afford you the greatest respect I can ever muster before the lone law guides my blade to your heart. You are too dangerous to be left alive. It is to my sorrow that you cannot be allowed to continue.
Child of Light, you are beautified and glorious and I salute you forevermore.
'Till our paths cross,
In humble song,
Your admirer.
There. There we are, at last.
...
...
...
No, that's not it.
We'll try that again.
these bones, dried of ink, scoured of ancient writ, as unseen by all save a lingering prince
I cannot choose which words to impart with you. I cannot. I chose this one, this letter scrawling within a skull of steel, only because there are no others deserving of your sight.
I
Will
Find
You.
And we will sing together. I'll make sure of it.
I see you, little Light. I see you. If you want to see me, then all you need do is look up. My chorus will try to kill you for that trespass; don't mind them. They only seek to ensure you're worthy - and I know you are. I know you'll pull through.
Yours in faith and debt,
Nezarec.