They are both horrible, horrible people. There's not 'less objectionable' strictly speaking.
But from what I saw, when the previous government made the patterning process the proto-ARM started causing trouble, until proto-CORE made the process mandatory to all citizens, and then proto-ARM started doing larger scale terrorism.
You can argue which one was at fault, but the fact it's not clear cut means things went full retard at some point and they both became genocidal maniacs by the time the game rolled out.
More like "here's the process, you become a semi-immortal, magical super organism, want it in?" and letting out natural selection run its course as the Gears outperform baseline humanity in all areas. Eventually either everyone would become a Gear, or those that don't hop in would be marginalized.
In the Nasuverse, they would eventually call similar lifeforms as A-Rays and Etherliners.
The CORE thought the patterning process would assure the safety of the human race, and as a public health measure, made the process mandatory. Resistance
Although some humans agreed to go through the patterning process, many refused on the grounds that they wished to stay mortal and continue life through natural means; Instead of the CORE accepting the refusal by the humans, they decided that all who rejected the patterning process were to be slaughtered.
I'm not sure where I read my information, but basically before both CORE and ARM there was a human galactic government, and they created the patterning process. The proto-ARM started stirring shit, and at some point in this madness the government made the process mandatory. When that happened the proto-ARM started with full out terrorist action, at which point the proto-CORE became more draconian in enforcing the rule.
After some point the founders of CORE went to their homeworld and actually founded CORE, while the rebels organized themselves under ARM.
I also see the ARM as worse due to the inherent hypocrisy of their later incarnation, since they clone humans and jam the previous person knowledge into the clone brain, which is in turn basically permanently bolted to the bot they're assigned. When the bot is destroyed, that person dies but his knowledge lives on for the next soldier. In other words, they do have actual loses in human life.
On the other hand CORE soldiers are all patterned minds, who when they die are uploaded back to whenever they come from (the quantum foam term was used at some point, which I appropriated later, not sure if canon), effectively having 'infinite lives'. In essence, no one from CORE actually dies when a unit is destroyed. The problem is that if the very last CORE Commander dies, ALL of CORE civilization dies with him, likely billions to trillions of life lost.
EDIT: I will need to check this info since I realized that the source material from TA is very, very vague. My original point that both sides were terrible people still stands though.
I'm not sure where I read my information, but basically before both CORE and ARM there was a human galactic government, and they created the patterning process. The proto-ARM started stirring shit, and at some point in this madness the government made the process mandatory. When that happened the proto-ARM started with full out terrorist action, at which point the proto-CORE became more draconian in enforcing the rule.
After some point the founders of CORE went to their homeworld and actually founded CORE, while the rebels organized themselves under ARM.
I also see the ARM as worse due to the inherent hypocrisy of their later incarnation, since they clone humans and jam the previous person knowledge into the clone brain, which is in turn basically permanently bolted to the bot they're assigned. When the bot is destroyed, that person dies but his knowledge lives on for the next soldier. In other words, they do have actual loses in human life.
On the other hand CORE soldiers are all patterned minds, who when they die are uploaded back to whenever they come from (the quantum foam term was used at some point, which I appropriated later, not sure if canon), effectively having 'infinite lives'. In essence, no one from CORE actually dies when a unit is destroyed. The problem is that if the very last CORE Commander dies, ALL of CORE civilization dies with him, likely billions to trillions of life lost.
EDIT: I will need to check this info since I realized that the source material from TA is very, very vague. My original point that both sides were terrible people still stands though.
True Name: Andre Inami
Aliases: Caster, ???
Rarity: 5 Stars (MAX)
Social Link: EX
Class (Alternate Classes) (Grand): Caster (Saber, Lancer, Rider) (Grand Caster)
Alignment: True Neutral
Parameters
Strength D+ (40)
Agility C+ (60)
Endurance D+ (40)
Mana A+++ (200)
Luck A (50)
Noble Phantasm A++ (150)
Class Skills Territory Creation (B): Can create 'laboratories' where he can advance his research projects and greatly speed up development.
Item Creation (EX): Allows to create various kinds of miraculous wonders, given the right amount of time, while the right resources will simply speed up the creation process.
Personal Skills Pioneers of the Stars (EX): The man who turned science fiction into reality when he changed how individual soldiers fought in wars, how space flight would work and ascended humanity to the next stage of evolution and 'invented' magic.
Natural Born Genius (A): Sometimes called a fraud from his contemporaries due to them being unable to comprehend how talented he apparently is. While he cheated with his Noble Phantasm whenever he could, almost all of his talent is genuinely his.
Gear (Prototype) (A+): A Bio-Magical life form called Gear, naturally stronger, faster, tougher than a normal human and able to generate mana to a great degree, considered the next step in human evolution.
Magecraft (Kaleidoscope) (A+): A form of magecraft derived from the teachings of the kaleidoscope, considered a post-modern, universally applicable form of thaumaturgy.
Noble Phantasm Kaleidoscope - The Revolution Of A Genius (A++) (Support, Self): The Second Magic, the multi-dimensional refraction phenomenon. While not a natural magi, he was able to replicate all effects of the Second Magic with conventional technology. A skill more than a noble phantasm, it reflecs his general ability to wield the Second without external aid, marking him as an advanced user instead of a true master.
Slide Drive - A Hero's Passion (A++) (Support, Self): An advanced power armor system, able to allow normal humans to fight against Servants due to overwhelming offensive potential. Posses several integrated systems for superior offense, defense and mobility with a limitless power source.
Name: Andre Inami (Living)
Class: None (Caster, Saber, Rider, Grand Caster)
HP: 5000/5000
MP: 3000/3000 (+100/turn)
Attribute: Star (+25% vs non star)
Strength C+ (60)
Agility C (30)
Endurance A (50)
Mana C (30)
Luck A (50)
Systems Eye of the Mind (False) B: Combat prediction algorithm enhance combat skills. +20% Defense rolls.
Mana Burst B: Energy coating on fists and legs enhance striking damage and provide protection. STR or AGI rank up, 300 MP/turn while active, 600 MP/turn if both STR and AGI rank up.
Magic Resistance C: Special energy shields protects against reality interference. Cancels up to three lines chant magecraft, can't defend against high thaumaturgy.
ERROR ERROR ERROR: Further systems sealed while transformed.
Advanced Systems Slide Dodge, Support, A: ERROR ERROR ERROR, this system has been partially sealed. Special automatic dodge feature that allows to escape certain death no matter the source. If target luck is lower than yours activate freely, otherwise perform a Luck check. Can be used only three times per 48 hours cycle. 500 MP
Final Form Rider, Support, A+: Special boost that further enhances the user. All parameters rank up, all attacks trigger critical hit. Can be used only once per engagement, lasts for ten turns. 1000 MP
Final Attack Rider, Anti-Unit/Fortress, A++: ERROR ERROR ERROR, this system has been partially sealed. A special finisher attack that deal x3 base damage, if target have only 1/4 HP can trigger an instant death attack with an opposed Luck check. If Final Form Rider is active final damage is x24 times base damage and Luck check is performed at a bonus. 2000 MP
"... and that's the situation." I finished to the Vice Director Lorelei.
She was glaring at the room, with all department heads, self important people and me and my small retinue.
Caster was unceremoniously picking his nose, mostly because I know how fucking annoying those things can be that scratch your nose on the inside that just won't go away, and in a lesser part to fuck with her. It didn't help that he was basically an airbrushed version of me.
We never got along well, mostly because personally she's a massive bitch. There's also the whole 'wants to risk the end of the world so she can gloat to her arch nemesis' thing.
But mostly she's an unrepentant bitch.
"Why didn't you informed us of those developments earlier?" She demanded with her eyes sparking with energy, ready to unleash her mystic eyes. I wasn't all that concerned since Caster was at my side, if anything preventing her from acting up on her murder boner will prove to be a good entertainment for him.
"Think about all those questions you would ask, then imagine the answers that Zelretch would give back to you. It's basically the same."
Which can range from the incredibly detailed technobabble, the polite dumbed down version for kids, and the blunt approach, which all basically said "the world is non-deterministic, deal with it". Barthomeloi must had heard that phrase a lot of times whenever Zelretch comes in to check on the Clock Tower and his potential apprentices. It irks even more because technically it contradicts a lot of evidence from predictive powers and spells know on the world.
Of course, the crazy bitch didn't take that well, though she managed to hide it better than expected. "Then what do you propose?"
Caster stepped in. "Typically there's a focal point summoned somewhere during this time of crisis. Find him or her, and you will probably figure out what the clusterfuck is all about. What makes the situation complicated is that technically this year shouldn't have a grail war of this magnitude scheduled, specially not one on London itself."
Lorelei ground her teeth, before her gaze fell back to me. "Fine, go find out what is happening. We will be doing damage control and deal with Lev Lainur Flauros." She said before taking a deep breath, "and we will destroy the crest completely and without fail. Now go."
I bowed, before motioning for my small retinue to exit the room.
"What now?" Asked Rin as we exited the room, the tension of the meeting fading away a little bit. "What do we do?"
"Hmm, I could fight by myself", said Caster to us, "but that would tax my prana reserves since the grail crippled some of my capabilities. I could work around the restrictions placed on me by the grail, but that would take time we don't have. I could still defeat pretty much anyone on my path that's not a Grand Servant, but we don't know the current situation to go all guns blazing."
"Or, I can wipe up a few things so you all can pull your weight. It's more risky on the immediate term, but if there's something big hiding outside I'd like to have access to more than a small tickle of prana to do my job."
Choose any amount of options
[ ]I will fight.
[ ]Rin wants to fight.
[ ]Luvia wants to fight.
[ ]Shirou will want a crack at this. (Reinforcement, can be taken on it's own)
[ ]Rider might be up for this. (Reinforcement, can be taken only if Shirou is chosen)
[ ]Sakura might be up to it. (Reinforcement, can be taken only if Shirou is chosen)
[ ]Didn't Bazzet own a favor to Emiya for some reason? (Reinforcement, can be taken only if Shirou is chosen)
[ ]It's better if you go on your own.
[X] PLAN THERE IS NO KILL LIKE OVERKILL
[X]I will fight.
[X]Rin wants to fight.
[X]Luvia wants to fight.
[X]Shirou will want a crack at this. (Reinforcement, can be taken on it's own)
[X]Rider might be up for this. (Reinforcement, can be taken only if Shirou is chosen)
[X]Sakura might be up to it. (Reinforcement, can be taken only if Shirou is chosen)
[X]Didn't Bazzet own a favor to Emiya for some reason? (Reinforcement, can be taken only if Shirou is chosen)
