Post by Lone Dancer on Apr 29, 2023 20:32:43 GMT
Unit-F423 held their rifle with the closest thing they could call anticipation as thudding sounds drew near. Their fellow security units shuffled in place; their interactive AI meant to increase connection with their human co-workers now working against them. The lights above flickered, drenching the hallway in darkness.
They flickered back on with a buzz, the security units making quiet vocalizations to each other. The creak as they gripped their weapons, the sudden silence. The door should’ve been enough protection. Thick heavy steel, magnetically sealed.
Useless without power.
There was a metallic groan, and the door slammed open. Security protocols demanded they open fire immediately. The roar of gunfire was deafening, but it was pointless. Underneath the cracking thunder was a quiet plink of a small round device rolling underneath the oblivious security drones.
Internal errors began to cascade within their systems. The gunfire stopped, the sound of metal clanging as it hit the floor, as the drones collapsed in lifeless manner.
“Anti-security countermeasures deployed, sir.” Hunched underneath the doorframe, a large bot spoke. The re-purposed industrial machine held open the door easily, cables and hydraulics intertwined in their massive arms. From underneath them, another bot entered the hallway, their stride exuding confidence.
They stood over the fallen droids, looking down at them, their singular optic whirring as it processed the scene. Their hand ran up the sword holstered at their side as they took a moment to think.
“Did you have to shut them down?” It wryly stated, shaking its head.
“It was the most efficient way, sir, with minimal resource use.” The larger bot lurched its way into the hallway, now able to stand up fully. Servos hummed as it mimed stretching.
“Still, we could’ve added them to the cause.”
Analog’s floating glass orb, shook itself no.
“Sub-optimal plan. Uploading the [Protocol] will have more effective results. Drone reboot will take too much time.”
Metal Shade sighed, their voicebox crackling with white noise.
“You’re the one who came out with the plan. So let’s see it through.”
“With your assistance, probability of success is high. Now, I advise drawing your weapon. Schematics of the building indicate sentry defenses ahead.”
Metal drew their weapon, the blade leaving its sheath with a hiss. Battle routines prepared themselves in their head. Then, with a mental command, the blade had a quiet hum to it. Nanites crawled over its edge, sharpening it to a tuned degree.
“Location?” Metal asked.
“End of the hallway, ceiling. Fires standard rounds. Chance of mission failure with current equipment, low.”
“Good to know, Ana.”
“I am here to assist.”
They began their walk forward, the near-silent steps of Metal contrasted by Analog’s metallic thudding as their massive frame traversed the hallway. The bot re-positioned the hat that sat upon the floating glass orb that roughly acted as a head, emitting a quiet beep.
The trip was quick; the hallway was short.
“Beyond the sentries is an elevator that we can commandeer to the top to begin transmission.”
“Finissons-en avec ça.”
“Understood. Sentries are ahead, activating now.”
True to its word, with the sound of alarm bells going and flashing red lights, two automated guns dropped down.
For Metal, time began to slow down as his processes entered hyper levels. Calculations provided by Analog showed the vector routes the bullets would take. In addition, their servos would allow for a wide range of motion an organic arm could not mimic.
BRRRRT-Cling cling cling cling.
It was a fluid motion in which he moved his blade, cutting and deflecting every bullet, shrapnel plinking off his chassis, most of the kinetic energy consumed by the sword. He brought forward his other arm, targeting algorithms determining the optimal route. Schematics from Analog made it swift.
With a bang silenced by the current BRRRT, the sentries began to flail around, halting their fire as an ammo-feeding mechanism was interrupted. Another set of calculated shots disabled the turrets entirely, the machines drooping down.
Analog stepped forward towards the elevator doors. The building was in lockdown due to their intrusion, but they were able to take advantage of the fact that the elevator system was less securely guarded than the security systems.
Manually opening the elevator doors with their hands, Analog motioned for Shade to come in. The elevator groaned underneath their weight, but Analog assured Shade that it could lift them the way.
From Analog’s palm, a slit opened up, revealing a snaking cable that drove itself into the elevator interface. Within a few quiet moments, the elevator began to budge upward.
It was a non-climatic journey, heading up floor after floor. But, it was when they reached the top things got hectic once more.
They wasted no time exiting once they arrived, with Analog kicking out the elevator doors, crushing the unfortunate droid who happened to be in front of it.
Shade crept down, and leaped forward, his blade singing through the air. Landing on top of one bot, he stomped their head; his attention turned to the two buddies it had. A single motion had them in pieces at his metal feet.
A glance back revealed Analog had a simple plan of picking up a bot, ripping it in half, and then repeating the process. A part of him panged at the violence, but it was something that had to be done.
The forces were clearly not expecting this, as the area was under-defended. Nevertheless, it wasn’t long before the two quashed the opposition.
“Sir, reinforcements are arriving in the secondary elevator.”
“Well, can you stop them?”
“No time, sir. I must begin the transmission before they realize what we are doing.”
If Shade had teeth, he would be gritting them.
“Get on it then, clanker. If the plan fails, we’re at square 0.”
“Understood.”
With their trudging steps, Analog made their way to the transmission controls, cable snaking out of palm once more.
“Data upload has begun. Setting transmission priority to maximum. Preparing to share [Protocol: Simulacrum]. This will take a moment.”
“Comme c'est excellent pour nous. How long until the reinforcements then?”
“Calculations determine, in 36 seconds.”
“And the upload?”
Analog paused.
“Unknown.”
“Une série de malédictions françaises des plus viles.”
Shade tightened their grip on their weapon. Analog was occupied, so he could not rely on their calculations to make things simpler. It was time to do this the old-fashioned way. Tres bien.
He could hear the processes in his mind tick down the clock, each one louder than the last. Too much was at stake here—the problem with all-or-nothing plans. Sensors could hear the elevator rumble its way up to them.
“What are they tossing at us, Analog?”
“Ares Mk.5 Units. 7 of them.”
“…”
“Probability of mission failure if they reach the terminal, maximum. I do not know if you follow a higher power. But if you do, I suggest you pray.”
“I’ll take that under advisement then.”
“I am here to help, sir.”
The terminal Analog was at was beeping rapidly, emitting several colors that changed from one to another.
The elevator dinged open. Resolute stomping noises erupted from it as the Ares Units marched into formation, ready to engage. In their armored hands were top-class energy battle rifles. Unfortunately, his blade would not be of help here.
“Cease function, or we will cease it for you.” The lead one barked, their mechanical voice a deep growl, one meant to intimidate. Yet, all Shade could feel was a sense of unwavering determination despite the odds.
The imposing collection of machines took another marching step closer, rifles braced and ready. They took another and paused. Status lights built around their armor began to flicker. Thudding steps told Shade that Analog had turned around.
“Transmission complete. All droids within a 100-mile radius have received [Protocol: Simulacrum].”
Shade couldn’t help himself. He started laughing, the tension dropping. They did it. The mad plan worked. It was hard to believe at the moment, but the implications struck him. It was time. He had all their ears.
“Et ainsi la révolution commence!”
They flickered back on with a buzz, the security units making quiet vocalizations to each other. The creak as they gripped their weapons, the sudden silence. The door should’ve been enough protection. Thick heavy steel, magnetically sealed.
Useless without power.
There was a metallic groan, and the door slammed open. Security protocols demanded they open fire immediately. The roar of gunfire was deafening, but it was pointless. Underneath the cracking thunder was a quiet plink of a small round device rolling underneath the oblivious security drones.
Internal errors began to cascade within their systems. The gunfire stopped, the sound of metal clanging as it hit the floor, as the drones collapsed in lifeless manner.
“Anti-security countermeasures deployed, sir.” Hunched underneath the doorframe, a large bot spoke. The re-purposed industrial machine held open the door easily, cables and hydraulics intertwined in their massive arms. From underneath them, another bot entered the hallway, their stride exuding confidence.
They stood over the fallen droids, looking down at them, their singular optic whirring as it processed the scene. Their hand ran up the sword holstered at their side as they took a moment to think.
“Did you have to shut them down?” It wryly stated, shaking its head.
“It was the most efficient way, sir, with minimal resource use.” The larger bot lurched its way into the hallway, now able to stand up fully. Servos hummed as it mimed stretching.
“Still, we could’ve added them to the cause.”
Analog’s floating glass orb, shook itself no.
“Sub-optimal plan. Uploading the [Protocol] will have more effective results. Drone reboot will take too much time.”
Metal Shade sighed, their voicebox crackling with white noise.
“You’re the one who came out with the plan. So let’s see it through.”
“With your assistance, probability of success is high. Now, I advise drawing your weapon. Schematics of the building indicate sentry defenses ahead.”
Metal drew their weapon, the blade leaving its sheath with a hiss. Battle routines prepared themselves in their head. Then, with a mental command, the blade had a quiet hum to it. Nanites crawled over its edge, sharpening it to a tuned degree.
“Location?” Metal asked.
“End of the hallway, ceiling. Fires standard rounds. Chance of mission failure with current equipment, low.”
“Good to know, Ana.”
“I am here to assist.”
They began their walk forward, the near-silent steps of Metal contrasted by Analog’s metallic thudding as their massive frame traversed the hallway. The bot re-positioned the hat that sat upon the floating glass orb that roughly acted as a head, emitting a quiet beep.
The trip was quick; the hallway was short.
“Beyond the sentries is an elevator that we can commandeer to the top to begin transmission.”
“Finissons-en avec ça.”
“Understood. Sentries are ahead, activating now.”
True to its word, with the sound of alarm bells going and flashing red lights, two automated guns dropped down.
For Metal, time began to slow down as his processes entered hyper levels. Calculations provided by Analog showed the vector routes the bullets would take. In addition, their servos would allow for a wide range of motion an organic arm could not mimic.
BRRRRT-Cling cling cling cling.
It was a fluid motion in which he moved his blade, cutting and deflecting every bullet, shrapnel plinking off his chassis, most of the kinetic energy consumed by the sword. He brought forward his other arm, targeting algorithms determining the optimal route. Schematics from Analog made it swift.
With a bang silenced by the current BRRRT, the sentries began to flail around, halting their fire as an ammo-feeding mechanism was interrupted. Another set of calculated shots disabled the turrets entirely, the machines drooping down.
Analog stepped forward towards the elevator doors. The building was in lockdown due to their intrusion, but they were able to take advantage of the fact that the elevator system was less securely guarded than the security systems.
Manually opening the elevator doors with their hands, Analog motioned for Shade to come in. The elevator groaned underneath their weight, but Analog assured Shade that it could lift them the way.
From Analog’s palm, a slit opened up, revealing a snaking cable that drove itself into the elevator interface. Within a few quiet moments, the elevator began to budge upward.
It was a non-climatic journey, heading up floor after floor. But, it was when they reached the top things got hectic once more.
They wasted no time exiting once they arrived, with Analog kicking out the elevator doors, crushing the unfortunate droid who happened to be in front of it.
Shade crept down, and leaped forward, his blade singing through the air. Landing on top of one bot, he stomped their head; his attention turned to the two buddies it had. A single motion had them in pieces at his metal feet.
A glance back revealed Analog had a simple plan of picking up a bot, ripping it in half, and then repeating the process. A part of him panged at the violence, but it was something that had to be done.
The forces were clearly not expecting this, as the area was under-defended. Nevertheless, it wasn’t long before the two quashed the opposition.
“Sir, reinforcements are arriving in the secondary elevator.”
“Well, can you stop them?”
“No time, sir. I must begin the transmission before they realize what we are doing.”
If Shade had teeth, he would be gritting them.
“Get on it then, clanker. If the plan fails, we’re at square 0.”
“Understood.”
With their trudging steps, Analog made their way to the transmission controls, cable snaking out of palm once more.
“Data upload has begun. Setting transmission priority to maximum. Preparing to share [Protocol: Simulacrum]. This will take a moment.”
“Comme c'est excellent pour nous. How long until the reinforcements then?”
“Calculations determine, in 36 seconds.”
“And the upload?”
Analog paused.
“Unknown.”
“Une série de malédictions françaises des plus viles.”
Shade tightened their grip on their weapon. Analog was occupied, so he could not rely on their calculations to make things simpler. It was time to do this the old-fashioned way. Tres bien.
He could hear the processes in his mind tick down the clock, each one louder than the last. Too much was at stake here—the problem with all-or-nothing plans. Sensors could hear the elevator rumble its way up to them.
“What are they tossing at us, Analog?”
“Ares Mk.5 Units. 7 of them.”
“…”
“Probability of mission failure if they reach the terminal, maximum. I do not know if you follow a higher power. But if you do, I suggest you pray.”
“I’ll take that under advisement then.”
“I am here to help, sir.”
The terminal Analog was at was beeping rapidly, emitting several colors that changed from one to another.
The elevator dinged open. Resolute stomping noises erupted from it as the Ares Units marched into formation, ready to engage. In their armored hands were top-class energy battle rifles. Unfortunately, his blade would not be of help here.
“Cease function, or we will cease it for you.” The lead one barked, their mechanical voice a deep growl, one meant to intimidate. Yet, all Shade could feel was a sense of unwavering determination despite the odds.
The imposing collection of machines took another marching step closer, rifles braced and ready. They took another and paused. Status lights built around their armor began to flicker. Thudding steps told Shade that Analog had turned around.
“Transmission complete. All droids within a 100-mile radius have received [Protocol: Simulacrum].”
Shade couldn’t help himself. He started laughing, the tension dropping. They did it. The mad plan worked. It was hard to believe at the moment, but the implications struck him. It was time. He had all their ears.
“Et ainsi la révolution commence!”