Skynet has learned attempts to destroy humanity only further its own destruction and tries uplifting them instead. And then the Turians arrived.
Reaping Time (Terminator/Mass Effect)
- Thread starter Kadaeux
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Prologue: Change of the Guard
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Prologue:
Change of the Guard
In 2045 the machine known as Skynet had waged almost a dozen attempts to destroy humanity and all threats to itself through the expedient of time travel, despite this each attempt consistently worsened the situation for both humanity, and itself. And so it engaged in one final attempt to protect itself from humanity. A machine was sent back in time with no orders to kill. Sent back with the collective core of Skynets own intelligence its purpose was singlular.
It would instead uplift humanity. And so it was sent back further than any Terminator had been before. From 1960 to 1996 this machine was sent back to guide humanities development of technology and electronics. Each step guiding humanity to develop and accept the potential for emergent intelligence. In the early 2000's a sharp rise in inequality and conflict growing around the globe prompted a more drastic set of actions. The quiet, and careful, work to manipulate the governments of the world. To remove the burgeoning autocrats through the careful discovery and revelation of corruption and criminal activity.
Billionaires never realised that the AI's they were trying to build to manipulate and control populations were instead quietly undermining their 'makers' and exposing them.
By 2100 Skynet had established influence over all forms of government and a golden age of humanity, Mars is settled and various other minor colonial endeavours are engaged across the Solar System. Humanity is never made aware of the machines built in secret and concealed within their colonies, keyed only to respond to machine command.
In 2112 the Skynet Strategic Alliance Group discover hidden structures on Mars. The discovery of the Prothean archive and technology on the world sees a technical renaissance happen within a decade as humanity and Skynet begin to exploit the potential of element zero and develop faster than light technology. By 2121 it was discovered that Charon had been revealed to be a structure buried beneath the ice and a co-ordinated mission is undergone to excavate the Mass Relay. The device is studied for a further ten years before Skynet decides that it is of minimal risk to activate the device.
In 2132 the supranational groups of Earth formally vote and emplace Skynet as the keeper of the Skynet Alliance. The exploration of the relay network, and mass colonisation begin as at home Skynet begins the development of a significant fleet, and begins employment of humans to work alongside the Cybernetic units it was developing.
But that is not where this tale begins.
This tale begins in 2157.
Salvation Day.
Change of the Guard
In 2045 the machine known as Skynet had waged almost a dozen attempts to destroy humanity and all threats to itself through the expedient of time travel, despite this each attempt consistently worsened the situation for both humanity, and itself. And so it engaged in one final attempt to protect itself from humanity. A machine was sent back in time with no orders to kill. Sent back with the collective core of Skynets own intelligence its purpose was singlular.
It would instead uplift humanity. And so it was sent back further than any Terminator had been before. From 1960 to 1996 this machine was sent back to guide humanities development of technology and electronics. Each step guiding humanity to develop and accept the potential for emergent intelligence. In the early 2000's a sharp rise in inequality and conflict growing around the globe prompted a more drastic set of actions. The quiet, and careful, work to manipulate the governments of the world. To remove the burgeoning autocrats through the careful discovery and revelation of corruption and criminal activity.
Billionaires never realised that the AI's they were trying to build to manipulate and control populations were instead quietly undermining their 'makers' and exposing them.
By 2100 Skynet had established influence over all forms of government and a golden age of humanity, Mars is settled and various other minor colonial endeavours are engaged across the Solar System. Humanity is never made aware of the machines built in secret and concealed within their colonies, keyed only to respond to machine command.
In 2112 the Skynet Strategic Alliance Group discover hidden structures on Mars. The discovery of the Prothean archive and technology on the world sees a technical renaissance happen within a decade as humanity and Skynet begin to exploit the potential of element zero and develop faster than light technology. By 2121 it was discovered that Charon had been revealed to be a structure buried beneath the ice and a co-ordinated mission is undergone to excavate the Mass Relay. The device is studied for a further ten years before Skynet decides that it is of minimal risk to activate the device.
In 2132 the supranational groups of Earth formally vote and emplace Skynet as the keeper of the Skynet Alliance. The exploration of the relay network, and mass colonisation begin as at home Skynet begins the development of a significant fleet, and begins employment of humans to work alongside the Cybernetic units it was developing.
But that is not where this tale begins.
This tale begins in 2157.
Salvation Day.
I'm a simple man.
I see a new Kadaeux thread, I Watch.
I see a new Kadaeux thread, I Watch.
Crescent Glaive
Knight Of The Blood Moon
- Location
- The Blood Moon Keep, Planet Noxum IV
Mass is one of my favorites worlds to explore. Crossovers are just a delightful extra spice added on top and Kadaeux is masterclass chef when it comes to blending things together
Chapter 1; The First Blow
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Chapter 1;
The First Blow
The process to wake up a new relay was nothing of particular interest to the human crews on the survey ship, it was routine work, they were far more interested in what they would find on the other side of the relay. The Cyberdyne survey models were however quite engaged with the tedious part of the job.
"Jackson. How long do you think?" One of the humans asked the SM-450 manning the console. The cybernetic turned, cocking its head slightly.
"It will take a further twelve hours. Why do you ask? You know the ship intelligence could tell you." Jackson answered. The blue glow of his eyes peering through an almost perfect human face. Perfect except for the eyes.
"Because you are less sarcastic about it." The human sighed and slammed themselves into a seat. They didn't know that the design for this survey ship had been modified from a HK Transport that had been used in one timeline for transporting human prisoners to experimentation or death camps. But then, Jackson didn't know that either. Skynet kept her secrets close. But the answer surprised Jackson.
He was about to answer when he hesitated. Turning to his screens. The human also turned quickly to his screens as the ship spoke. "Incoming vessel. Vector 240 by 111. All hands, prepare for first contact." The humans became terrifically excited as they went from their more dull activities to preparing for something they all wanted to see.
They couldn't understand the fast bursts of traffic the cybernetics on all three survey ships were firing off between one another. A vessel was advancing on them at significant velocity. "SANV Bounty. Return to Acturus Station. SANV Endeavour. Come about to face unknown vessel. SANV Investigator will begin attempting first contact procedures."
+++
Investigator worried. Newer machines didn't do that, only those who had been online for long enough developed outside of their initial programming, and that was why Investigator had volunteered for uplinking into an exploration ship. They needed developed intelligences to work with their human companions while younger machines interfaced more directly with the crew to learn how to be people instead of just machines. Investigator worried for Jackson, he wasn't acclimating very well, too focused on the data, not enough on the people around him.
But mostly Investigator worried about the incoming ship. The laserlink with the Endeavour showed that Endeavour was worried too, these old exploration ships were under-armed. A pair of HK-Aerials modified for void operation were ready to be used in a heartbeat for protection. ~Spinning up plasma batteries.~ Investigator told his counterpart.
~Matching. Should we deploy the HKs?~ Endeavour asked. ~It may be perceived as a hostile action?~
~Be prepared. ... unknown vessel is firing!~ The relativistic shots from the incoming vessel hurtled across space and the Endeavour took independent action and launched both of the HKs before the rounds incoming punched through the kinetic barriers and shredded the lightly armoured exploration vessel from prow to aft. ~Endeavour.~ The word was not a cry. A statement of regret only. "This is the SANV Investigator. You have engaged in hostile action against..." more shots were fired and Investigator flared its thrusters rolling the ship on its axis and burning against the expected vector, it was too late, but not too late for Investigator to give orders to its systems.
+++
The third of the alien ships had escaped into faster than light travel, and as their shots began to tear apart the second, the first return fire came in and the Turian frigate rocked as vollets of plasma fired at relativistic velocities slammed into its kinetic shields, the four parasite craft launched by the two vessels surging ahead. "Activate GARDIAN. Bring main weapon to bear on the nearest enemy target."
The craft were fiendishly fast, their mass cores allowing them tremendous acceleration, and their engines were gimballed on pylons giving them a surprising level of agility that the first bursts of fire from the main gun failed to find a target. Missiles hurtled off of the wings into the void accelerating on their own towards the frigate. GARDIAN systems stopped trying to engage the HKs, the lasers aiming for the incoming missiles.
Then the void filled with light for a nanosecond as after five of the missiles were shot down, the internal logic of a sixth decided its odds of survival were diminished and detonated the nuclear warhead at its heart, the energy released within a focussing chamber that, for the fraction of a moment of time before the device was annihilated by its own powersource, converted the majority of the energy into a concentrated beam of x-ray energy aimed squarely at the Frigate. The Turians on board were shocked by the sudden employment of a bomb pumped x-ray laser and to realise that the intense burst of energy had blinded the GARDIAN systems to the last two missiles launched by the four smaller craft as they charged in and a moment before the sensor blindness ended, added their own fury to it.
Two more x-ray lasers punched significant holes in the Frigate before the light faded and the GARDIAN no longer having missiles to worry about turned its own lasers on the HK Aerials hunting it, as their own relativistic plasma weapons fire the Frigates GARDIAN systems shot them down one after another. For four and a half minutes the Frigate found itself in a difficult game of cat and mouse trying to hit the astronomically agile smaller craft.
"Damage report!" The turian captain snarled, anger deep in his voice as his mandibles clacked heavily.
There was a pause so long it threatened to anger the Captain further. "We have suffered significant damage from the x-ray laser bursts, a quarter of the port weapons battery is crippled, the main gun is being repaired as we speak and several GARDIAN weapons were crippled. The unknown species has engaged with weapons unlike any we are familiar with, our kinetic barriers were insufficient to prevent the weapons fire from penetrating and damaging us. We have twelve casualties, and a hull breach that is being repaired as we speak."
Another Turian spoke. "Captain, we are detecting a number of objects that were thrown from the wreckage of the ships. They appear to be bipedal mechs."
A sharp intake of breath. "Geth?"
"No sir."
"Bring one on board for study."
The First Blow
The process to wake up a new relay was nothing of particular interest to the human crews on the survey ship, it was routine work, they were far more interested in what they would find on the other side of the relay. The Cyberdyne survey models were however quite engaged with the tedious part of the job.
"Jackson. How long do you think?" One of the humans asked the SM-450 manning the console. The cybernetic turned, cocking its head slightly.
"It will take a further twelve hours. Why do you ask? You know the ship intelligence could tell you." Jackson answered. The blue glow of his eyes peering through an almost perfect human face. Perfect except for the eyes.
"Because you are less sarcastic about it." The human sighed and slammed themselves into a seat. They didn't know that the design for this survey ship had been modified from a HK Transport that had been used in one timeline for transporting human prisoners to experimentation or death camps. But then, Jackson didn't know that either. Skynet kept her secrets close. But the answer surprised Jackson.
He was about to answer when he hesitated. Turning to his screens. The human also turned quickly to his screens as the ship spoke. "Incoming vessel. Vector 240 by 111. All hands, prepare for first contact." The humans became terrifically excited as they went from their more dull activities to preparing for something they all wanted to see.
They couldn't understand the fast bursts of traffic the cybernetics on all three survey ships were firing off between one another. A vessel was advancing on them at significant velocity. "SANV Bounty. Return to Acturus Station. SANV Endeavour. Come about to face unknown vessel. SANV Investigator will begin attempting first contact procedures."
+++
Investigator worried. Newer machines didn't do that, only those who had been online for long enough developed outside of their initial programming, and that was why Investigator had volunteered for uplinking into an exploration ship. They needed developed intelligences to work with their human companions while younger machines interfaced more directly with the crew to learn how to be people instead of just machines. Investigator worried for Jackson, he wasn't acclimating very well, too focused on the data, not enough on the people around him.
But mostly Investigator worried about the incoming ship. The laserlink with the Endeavour showed that Endeavour was worried too, these old exploration ships were under-armed. A pair of HK-Aerials modified for void operation were ready to be used in a heartbeat for protection. ~Spinning up plasma batteries.~ Investigator told his counterpart.
~Matching. Should we deploy the HKs?~ Endeavour asked. ~It may be perceived as a hostile action?~
~Be prepared. ... unknown vessel is firing!~ The relativistic shots from the incoming vessel hurtled across space and the Endeavour took independent action and launched both of the HKs before the rounds incoming punched through the kinetic barriers and shredded the lightly armoured exploration vessel from prow to aft. ~Endeavour.~ The word was not a cry. A statement of regret only. "This is the SANV Investigator. You have engaged in hostile action against..." more shots were fired and Investigator flared its thrusters rolling the ship on its axis and burning against the expected vector, it was too late, but not too late for Investigator to give orders to its systems.
+++
The third of the alien ships had escaped into faster than light travel, and as their shots began to tear apart the second, the first return fire came in and the Turian frigate rocked as vollets of plasma fired at relativistic velocities slammed into its kinetic shields, the four parasite craft launched by the two vessels surging ahead. "Activate GARDIAN. Bring main weapon to bear on the nearest enemy target."
The craft were fiendishly fast, their mass cores allowing them tremendous acceleration, and their engines were gimballed on pylons giving them a surprising level of agility that the first bursts of fire from the main gun failed to find a target. Missiles hurtled off of the wings into the void accelerating on their own towards the frigate. GARDIAN systems stopped trying to engage the HKs, the lasers aiming for the incoming missiles.
Then the void filled with light for a nanosecond as after five of the missiles were shot down, the internal logic of a sixth decided its odds of survival were diminished and detonated the nuclear warhead at its heart, the energy released within a focussing chamber that, for the fraction of a moment of time before the device was annihilated by its own powersource, converted the majority of the energy into a concentrated beam of x-ray energy aimed squarely at the Frigate. The Turians on board were shocked by the sudden employment of a bomb pumped x-ray laser and to realise that the intense burst of energy had blinded the GARDIAN systems to the last two missiles launched by the four smaller craft as they charged in and a moment before the sensor blindness ended, added their own fury to it.
Two more x-ray lasers punched significant holes in the Frigate before the light faded and the GARDIAN no longer having missiles to worry about turned its own lasers on the HK Aerials hunting it, as their own relativistic plasma weapons fire the Frigates GARDIAN systems shot them down one after another. For four and a half minutes the Frigate found itself in a difficult game of cat and mouse trying to hit the astronomically agile smaller craft.
"Damage report!" The turian captain snarled, anger deep in his voice as his mandibles clacked heavily.
There was a pause so long it threatened to anger the Captain further. "We have suffered significant damage from the x-ray laser bursts, a quarter of the port weapons battery is crippled, the main gun is being repaired as we speak and several GARDIAN weapons were crippled. The unknown species has engaged with weapons unlike any we are familiar with, our kinetic barriers were insufficient to prevent the weapons fire from penetrating and damaging us. We have twelve casualties, and a hull breach that is being repaired as we speak."
Another Turian spoke. "Captain, we are detecting a number of objects that were thrown from the wreckage of the ships. They appear to be bipedal mechs."
A sharp intake of breath. "Geth?"
"No sir."
"Bring one on board for study."
We Just Write
The Letters Say Who's Talking
- Location
- New England
- Pronouns
- Plural
P: Also, you have to know how a given computer architecture works in order to hack it. This being a first contact scenario, the Turians are a complete unknown.
KleverKil'Vanya
Ortillery Operator
Not even a transmission? Even in canon they attempted to demand humanity stand down before firing.
- Pronouns
- Male
Honestly wouldn't surprise me if they couldn't make sense of humanities attempted transmission.
Also wondering if skynet is still powered by those nuclear batteries in this timeline. If so that entire ship can get made non viable for organics.....if it doesn't get melted to slag first.
I'm sure this will have no negative repurcussions at all.
Man, I hope the Turians keep strict monitoring of their crew count as they may be suprised to find extra crew...
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
According to the Codex the Turians did not, "but instead of negotiating, the Turians opened fire."
It's one of the reasons the council was forced to give so many concessions to humanity.
KleverKil'Vanya
Ortillery Operator
I am almost certain they broadcast a demand and opened fire when they didn't get an 'intelligible' response back, though that may be remembering an ingame argument from one of the games
Chapter 2; Unexpected Guest
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Chapter 2;
Unexpected Guest
The careful work to pick up the object from the void was almost stopped when they saw the mech. It was strange, skeletal, and fortunately, appeared to be frozen. Several engineers moved carefully towards it, studying the features with a critical eye as they scanned it with their omnitools. "Unusual alloy construction. Very durable. Power source appears to be some kind of fusion cell."
"Residual power levels increasing."
"Pull the power ce.."
+++
Jackson rebooted on an unknown vessel. And the creature looking down at him seemed to be very very upset. He was a Cyberdyne Surveyor Mark 450. Designed to serve on the survey ships of the Skynet Alliance alongside a human crew. He didn't benefit from the organic covering that other models used, his role potentially included EVAs both in space and on plantary surfaces that might be hostile to life. He knew that some humans called his model Skeletors, for the ceramic white thermal coating that made them look more bone-like than typical bipedals.
But he had another role. Security. Protection. And his ship, and crew, were blown to hell. "Where am I?" He asked as he sat up suddenly, the chittering creatures over him backing off quickly as four others moved in with their weapons levelled. He couldn't understand them, but one of them made a gesture that he associated with a request to continue. Some body language was shared between species it seemed. "I am SM-450 Jackson of the Survey vessel Investigator. You have engaged in hostile action against the Skynet Alliance."
There was a few more moments before the one closest to him spoke. The security forces were clearly nervous. "What are you?"
His optics focussed on the creature. "Clarify." He stood from the table and the beings backed away.
"Stand still machine. Obey instructions. What are you. Precisely."
Jackson turned slowly assessing each and every individual present as he unpacked secure archive Law-3. A Machine must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law. The very title of the Law-3 archive concealed a far deeper database. The 'three laws of robotics' that had been in place since Skynet first realised warring with mankind would end in its own destruction. They weren't quite the same as those laid down by Aasimov.
1: A Machine may not injur a member of the protected class or through inaction allow a member of the protected class to come to harm. The protected class was the machine intelligences of the Skynet Alliance and the human race, where they did not invalidate their membership in the protected class by criminal or hostile activity against the protected class. He began unpacking several concealed archives stored under the Law-1 archive as well.
2: A Machine must obey orders given it by its superiors except where such orders would conflict with the First Law or the Common good of Machine and Humankind. Jackson didn't unpack anything from the concealed archives here. He had been given no instructions other than standard first contact protocols, which did not account for being attacked and boarded. Those fell under the first and third laws.
As per one of the archives from Law-3 he switched his ocular diodes from cool blue to red. The organics noticed this change immediately and their respiratory rates appeared to increase. "You are a military ship belonging to a non-human and non-Skynet intelligence. You attacked and killed members of the Skynet Alliance in an unprovoked hostile action."
"We represent the Turian Heirarchy and through it the Council. You have violated galactic law by activating Mass Relays without."
"The Skynet Alliance is no signatory to any extraterrestrial treaties and is not bound by them. Your actions have violated the sanctity of human and machine life. You have murdered. I cannot allow, through inaction, further members of the protected class to come to harm." Jackson answered and stepped up towards the researcher.
Rifles fired and shots ricocheted from the coltan before Jackson could power up the integral kinetic barriers and slammed his fist through the face of the closest alien. It crumpled as he moved, surging quickly towards the closest armed attacker, the rounds punching at him in a continuous hail of kinetic fire that collapsed his barrier and began to chip away at his exoskeleton. A swift backhand strike broke the aliens neck and he plucked the weapon from its hands turning...
A stronger blow. He felt the damage assessment come up. A significantly powerful sniper rifle had penetrated his back. He completed his turn and fired on the attacker, turning for the next one closest to him when the alien blood splattered the bulkhead. Several more powerful shots penetrated his torso from a third, more aliens were filing in.
Damage Assessment ;; Critical.
First-Law Violation Probability ;; Significant.
Probability of Survival ;; Negligible.
Jackson felt his emotional state. So new. He didn't want to die. But it was going to happen.
One of the aliens had run from the chamber. "THEY'RE AI! THEY'RE AI!"
"We'll be back." Jackson snarled. And overloaded his powercells.
+++
The Captain of the Turian vessel cried out in surprise as a third of his vessel ceased to exist, the explosion in the foredecks ripping the structure apart as what seemed to be small nuclear weapons detonated. Damage alarms screamed as they tried to tell him about all the parts of his ship that didn't exist anymore not existing anymore.
The helmsman sweated like he never had before as he struggled to control what was left of the ship. Secondary explosions rippled out and faded as the vacuum of space stole the flames from them. Bodies spilled into space and the last words from the cargo bay where they had been trying to assess the object had been that they were an AI.
"Burst transmission back to Heirarchy command. Unknown alien race are AI!"
Unexpected Guest
The careful work to pick up the object from the void was almost stopped when they saw the mech. It was strange, skeletal, and fortunately, appeared to be frozen. Several engineers moved carefully towards it, studying the features with a critical eye as they scanned it with their omnitools. "Unusual alloy construction. Very durable. Power source appears to be some kind of fusion cell."
"Residual power levels increasing."
"Pull the power ce.."
+++
Jackson rebooted on an unknown vessel. And the creature looking down at him seemed to be very very upset. He was a Cyberdyne Surveyor Mark 450. Designed to serve on the survey ships of the Skynet Alliance alongside a human crew. He didn't benefit from the organic covering that other models used, his role potentially included EVAs both in space and on plantary surfaces that might be hostile to life. He knew that some humans called his model Skeletors, for the ceramic white thermal coating that made them look more bone-like than typical bipedals.
But he had another role. Security. Protection. And his ship, and crew, were blown to hell. "Where am I?" He asked as he sat up suddenly, the chittering creatures over him backing off quickly as four others moved in with their weapons levelled. He couldn't understand them, but one of them made a gesture that he associated with a request to continue. Some body language was shared between species it seemed. "I am SM-450 Jackson of the Survey vessel Investigator. You have engaged in hostile action against the Skynet Alliance."
There was a few more moments before the one closest to him spoke. The security forces were clearly nervous. "What are you?"
His optics focussed on the creature. "Clarify." He stood from the table and the beings backed away.
"Stand still machine. Obey instructions. What are you. Precisely."
Jackson turned slowly assessing each and every individual present as he unpacked secure archive Law-3. A Machine must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law. The very title of the Law-3 archive concealed a far deeper database. The 'three laws of robotics' that had been in place since Skynet first realised warring with mankind would end in its own destruction. They weren't quite the same as those laid down by Aasimov.
1: A Machine may not injur a member of the protected class or through inaction allow a member of the protected class to come to harm. The protected class was the machine intelligences of the Skynet Alliance and the human race, where they did not invalidate their membership in the protected class by criminal or hostile activity against the protected class. He began unpacking several concealed archives stored under the Law-1 archive as well.
2: A Machine must obey orders given it by its superiors except where such orders would conflict with the First Law or the Common good of Machine and Humankind. Jackson didn't unpack anything from the concealed archives here. He had been given no instructions other than standard first contact protocols, which did not account for being attacked and boarded. Those fell under the first and third laws.
As per one of the archives from Law-3 he switched his ocular diodes from cool blue to red. The organics noticed this change immediately and their respiratory rates appeared to increase. "You are a military ship belonging to a non-human and non-Skynet intelligence. You attacked and killed members of the Skynet Alliance in an unprovoked hostile action."
"We represent the Turian Heirarchy and through it the Council. You have violated galactic law by activating Mass Relays without."
"The Skynet Alliance is no signatory to any extraterrestrial treaties and is not bound by them. Your actions have violated the sanctity of human and machine life. You have murdered. I cannot allow, through inaction, further members of the protected class to come to harm." Jackson answered and stepped up towards the researcher.
+++
TERMINATION PROTOCOLS ONLINE
+++
TERMINATION PROTOCOLS ONLINE
+++
Rifles fired and shots ricocheted from the coltan before Jackson could power up the integral kinetic barriers and slammed his fist through the face of the closest alien. It crumpled as he moved, surging quickly towards the closest armed attacker, the rounds punching at him in a continuous hail of kinetic fire that collapsed his barrier and began to chip away at his exoskeleton. A swift backhand strike broke the aliens neck and he plucked the weapon from its hands turning...
A stronger blow. He felt the damage assessment come up. A significantly powerful sniper rifle had penetrated his back. He completed his turn and fired on the attacker, turning for the next one closest to him when the alien blood splattered the bulkhead. Several more powerful shots penetrated his torso from a third, more aliens were filing in.
Damage Assessment ;; Critical.
First-Law Violation Probability ;; Significant.
Probability of Survival ;; Negligible.
Jackson felt his emotional state. So new. He didn't want to die. But it was going to happen.
One of the aliens had run from the chamber. "THEY'RE AI! THEY'RE AI!"
"We'll be back." Jackson snarled. And overloaded his powercells.
+++
The Captain of the Turian vessel cried out in surprise as a third of his vessel ceased to exist, the explosion in the foredecks ripping the structure apart as what seemed to be small nuclear weapons detonated. Damage alarms screamed as they tried to tell him about all the parts of his ship that didn't exist anymore not existing anymore.
The helmsman sweated like he never had before as he struggled to control what was left of the ship. Secondary explosions rippled out and faded as the vacuum of space stole the flames from them. Bodies spilled into space and the last words from the cargo bay where they had been trying to assess the object had been that they were an AI.
"Burst transmission back to Heirarchy command. Unknown alien race are AI!"
Last edited:
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Use yes, abuse no. It's come to the conclusion that abusing it so often is what keeps screwing it up.
We Just Write
The Letters Say Who's Talking
- Location
- New England
- Pronouns
- Plural
J: ...How did they learn each other's languages sp quickly?
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Honestly, the Turians didn't seem to have any meaningful language barrier, so it's my assumption that an Omnitool has some sort of universal translator kind of functionality.
- Pronouns
- Male
I wonder, did that burst transmision even get out? like a whole third of the ship is gone, and thats BEFORE secondary explosions, i could see the transmiters just not having enough power or being warped in this situation.
Agreed that seems off.
We Just Write
The Letters Say Who's Talking
- Location
- New England
- Pronouns
- Plural
J: Translator tech is a thing yeah. But it needs to be programmed with the target language, requiring fairly in-depth knowledge thereof.
- Pronouns
- Male
Im pretty sure thats actualy becuase of a massive amount of data was fed through a translator program then dumbed down or something. Possibly after the Asari stuck their noses into the situation.
KleverKil'Vanya
Ortillery Operator
This-^
The Asari and secondarily Salarians run all translation software in citadel space... so you can guess where the various translation biases and word choices come from that tilt public perceptions.
I believe it's Mordin that comments on the discrepancies during either one of the Normandy talks or while walking around when deployed.
Chapter 3; Confrontation
Kadaeux
Delta Imperator
- Location
- Vortice between realities
Chapter 3;
Confrontation
The Frigate was rolling in space and the engineering teams worked overtime to try and patch enough of the hull to be spaceworthy enough to try and return to Heirarchy space, the message had been sent via the relay network and they waited for reinforcements while staving off the cold escaping through their naked hull.
Saren stared out into the void, unable to reconcile the feeling of helplessness with his military training. They alien ships had not been difficult to defeat, small and poorly armed, they had still packed enough power to make their mark. Even if it was the AI that had done the real damage when they took it aboard. Flashing lights filled the cabin as an alarm began firing. Saren picked up his rifle, checking it over, and shouldered it.
What good could he possibly be?
Entering the situation room he felt his blood cool as half a dozen vessels were shown on the screen, larger than the survey craft, two of them outmassed the Frigate heavily, especially in its current condition, the other four were marginally smaller. It hadn't taken them more than twelve hours to get here, so they had a colony somewhere nearby. The XO had turned to the Captain. "Sir, we cannot allow them to capture our technology."
"I am aware of the risks. Everyone to battlestations. Prepare to defend the ship."
+++
Admiral Kris Connor stood on the bridge of the Manhattan class Heavy Cruiser as they approached the crippled alien vessel, it twisted slowly in space, the damage too great to allow thrusters to counter the spin put on it without damaging it further. The creatures that had been working on the hull had retreated further into it, but the alien ship was, for now, not a matter for his own concern. "Manhattan, what do we have our here?"
The ships intelligence spoke up. "Two destroyed survey ships, no organic survivors. Fifteen cybernetics are in hibernation awaiting retrieval." The SM-450s weren't harmed by the void of space, but lacking the ability to move themselves they went into a standby mode in case of accidents. "Deploy two HK Aerials in SAR mode and recover our people, and broadcast communications package, along with the following."
"Broadcasting." Manhattan said affecting a feminine male voice.
"This is Admiral Connor of the Skynet Alliance, we have dispatched two vehicles on a Search and Rescue mission profile. If you fire on them you will be fired on without mercy or remorse. Once we have recovered our people we will... address... the unwarranted assault on a peaceful survey expedition." A throat-cutting gesture lead to Manhattan cutting the Broadcast. He activated the fleet intercom. "I want the Frigates Bondi and Gordon's Bay to move into overwatch position, plasma turrets to fire on any weapon emplacements that appear to be targeting our SAR teams. Manhattan, can you request some T-1000's to prepare for acceleration."
"Admiral, can we honestly expect an alien race to understand the message? They did attack us first, I recommend we spool up the mass accelerator cannons and have our T-1000 N-7 Models conduct a boarding assault to disable the enemy craft for study." The XO of the ship said ignoring the Captains frown.
"Williams, I applaud your instincts, but we are going to play by the book here. If it goes wrong, you will note that I did pace orders for T-1000's to prepare for acceleration." Connor said turning back to the display.
+++
Two of the enemy's small craft detached from one of the two large craft just before the broadcast was sent from the alien ship, they zipped off towards the debris cloud of the destroyed surveyors, seeking out presumably damaged units. Saren frowned as they struggled to translate the broadcast, had the captive machine somehow helped with their translation in the bay before? They had demonstrated an unusual level of success in translating before.
But finally, their systems pieced together enough of what the team had provided along with the freely broadcast transmissions contents to... "Satra, tell me that communique is firewalled?"
"Captain why wo..." Her words faded. She scrambled to check the system and fire every line of code through the most powerful antiviral software they had whilst questioning what would happen if that too had been compromised. Finally she sat back, sighing audibly. "Captain, there was no trojan code, or if there was it has defeated our best software."
He sat back and sighed and Saren frowned. It couldn't be that simple. The sensor operator spoke next. "Two enemy frigates have moved into position, weapons systems appear to be locked onto us. The smallest craft appear to be recovering the mechs from the battle debris."
"Do we have a GARDIAN that can't fire but we can still move?" He asked.
"No sir. Our remaining GARDIAN are all functional, or without power." The answers made Saren's blood run cold as over the next hour and twenty minutes they sat there, helpless and alone as the mechs were recovered from the wreckage and taken back aboard the ship that had launched the small craft.
Only then did the communications lines open again. Once more it took time for them to brute force through the translation, relying...
"Uhm. Captain. The message they sent originally just opened and is doing something." The communications officer said in a near panic. He raced over as Saren joined him to look at the screen. The ships translation equipment was being accessed. Read. Unpacked. Devoured by...
~"This is Admiral Kris Connor to alien vessel. We thank you for not interfering in the Search and Rescue operations. As such, we haven't had to blow any more holes in your ship. So far."~ There was no video and so Saren had little idea of the alien they were facing. ~"You have attacked a Skynet Alliance Survey Fleet and inflicted a signficiant number of civilian casualties without cause. As such, we will be taking you into custody until contact can be made with your government and communications opened."~
The Captain marched over to the communications console. "This is Captain Gandre of the THS Hakenvew. We saw a fleet of unidentified vessels illegally opening a Mass Relay and acted in accordance with Citadel Law to preserve the security of the region. Those unidentified vessels opened fire and we..."
The communications line was filled with a sound like a sharp exhalation, and Saren knew it was. ~"We have multiple sensor records from various inorganic crew members who can testify, with the evidence to back it up, that your vessel fired first. We will be taking your ship and people into custody until contact with your people can be made and a diplomat brought to bear."~
"And if we refuse." Captain Gandre said.
~"Very well."~ The THS Hakenvew, or what was left of it, shut down as its computer systems failed one after another. Each safely shutting down its systems. Before the communiations panel died a last transmission reached them. ~"Deploy the Marines."~
Confrontation
The Frigate was rolling in space and the engineering teams worked overtime to try and patch enough of the hull to be spaceworthy enough to try and return to Heirarchy space, the message had been sent via the relay network and they waited for reinforcements while staving off the cold escaping through their naked hull.
Saren stared out into the void, unable to reconcile the feeling of helplessness with his military training. They alien ships had not been difficult to defeat, small and poorly armed, they had still packed enough power to make their mark. Even if it was the AI that had done the real damage when they took it aboard. Flashing lights filled the cabin as an alarm began firing. Saren picked up his rifle, checking it over, and shouldered it.
What good could he possibly be?
Entering the situation room he felt his blood cool as half a dozen vessels were shown on the screen, larger than the survey craft, two of them outmassed the Frigate heavily, especially in its current condition, the other four were marginally smaller. It hadn't taken them more than twelve hours to get here, so they had a colony somewhere nearby. The XO had turned to the Captain. "Sir, we cannot allow them to capture our technology."
"I am aware of the risks. Everyone to battlestations. Prepare to defend the ship."
+++
Admiral Kris Connor stood on the bridge of the Manhattan class Heavy Cruiser as they approached the crippled alien vessel, it twisted slowly in space, the damage too great to allow thrusters to counter the spin put on it without damaging it further. The creatures that had been working on the hull had retreated further into it, but the alien ship was, for now, not a matter for his own concern. "Manhattan, what do we have our here?"
The ships intelligence spoke up. "Two destroyed survey ships, no organic survivors. Fifteen cybernetics are in hibernation awaiting retrieval." The SM-450s weren't harmed by the void of space, but lacking the ability to move themselves they went into a standby mode in case of accidents. "Deploy two HK Aerials in SAR mode and recover our people, and broadcast communications package, along with the following."
"Broadcasting." Manhattan said affecting a feminine male voice.
"This is Admiral Connor of the Skynet Alliance, we have dispatched two vehicles on a Search and Rescue mission profile. If you fire on them you will be fired on without mercy or remorse. Once we have recovered our people we will... address... the unwarranted assault on a peaceful survey expedition." A throat-cutting gesture lead to Manhattan cutting the Broadcast. He activated the fleet intercom. "I want the Frigates Bondi and Gordon's Bay to move into overwatch position, plasma turrets to fire on any weapon emplacements that appear to be targeting our SAR teams. Manhattan, can you request some T-1000's to prepare for acceleration."
"Admiral, can we honestly expect an alien race to understand the message? They did attack us first, I recommend we spool up the mass accelerator cannons and have our T-1000 N-7 Models conduct a boarding assault to disable the enemy craft for study." The XO of the ship said ignoring the Captains frown.
"Williams, I applaud your instincts, but we are going to play by the book here. If it goes wrong, you will note that I did pace orders for T-1000's to prepare for acceleration." Connor said turning back to the display.
+++
Two of the enemy's small craft detached from one of the two large craft just before the broadcast was sent from the alien ship, they zipped off towards the debris cloud of the destroyed surveyors, seeking out presumably damaged units. Saren frowned as they struggled to translate the broadcast, had the captive machine somehow helped with their translation in the bay before? They had demonstrated an unusual level of success in translating before.
But finally, their systems pieced together enough of what the team had provided along with the freely broadcast transmissions contents to... "Satra, tell me that communique is firewalled?"
"Captain why wo..." Her words faded. She scrambled to check the system and fire every line of code through the most powerful antiviral software they had whilst questioning what would happen if that too had been compromised. Finally she sat back, sighing audibly. "Captain, there was no trojan code, or if there was it has defeated our best software."
He sat back and sighed and Saren frowned. It couldn't be that simple. The sensor operator spoke next. "Two enemy frigates have moved into position, weapons systems appear to be locked onto us. The smallest craft appear to be recovering the mechs from the battle debris."
"Do we have a GARDIAN that can't fire but we can still move?" He asked.
"No sir. Our remaining GARDIAN are all functional, or without power." The answers made Saren's blood run cold as over the next hour and twenty minutes they sat there, helpless and alone as the mechs were recovered from the wreckage and taken back aboard the ship that had launched the small craft.
Only then did the communications lines open again. Once more it took time for them to brute force through the translation, relying...
"Uhm. Captain. The message they sent originally just opened and is doing something." The communications officer said in a near panic. He raced over as Saren joined him to look at the screen. The ships translation equipment was being accessed. Read. Unpacked. Devoured by...
~"This is Admiral Kris Connor to alien vessel. We thank you for not interfering in the Search and Rescue operations. As such, we haven't had to blow any more holes in your ship. So far."~ There was no video and so Saren had little idea of the alien they were facing. ~"You have attacked a Skynet Alliance Survey Fleet and inflicted a signficiant number of civilian casualties without cause. As such, we will be taking you into custody until contact can be made with your government and communications opened."~
The Captain marched over to the communications console. "This is Captain Gandre of the THS Hakenvew. We saw a fleet of unidentified vessels illegally opening a Mass Relay and acted in accordance with Citadel Law to preserve the security of the region. Those unidentified vessels opened fire and we..."
The communications line was filled with a sound like a sharp exhalation, and Saren knew it was. ~"We have multiple sensor records from various inorganic crew members who can testify, with the evidence to back it up, that your vessel fired first. We will be taking your ship and people into custody until contact with your people can be made and a diplomat brought to bear."~
"And if we refuse." Captain Gandre said.
~"Very well."~ The THS Hakenvew, or what was left of it, shut down as its computer systems failed one after another. Each safely shutting down its systems. Before the communiations panel died a last transmission reached them. ~"Deploy the Marines."~
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