UGT: Unknown
Location: Unknown yellow dwarf system
----------------------------------------
"Fen, what's the current initiation progress?" I asked for the third time the last two minutes.
[ The sub-charactarisation progress is at 96.4%. Please try to be patient. ]
Fact was, I was bored. I was done with everything Fen said I had to do and for the last hour or so, I had just lased around in the command centre, waiting for Naori to be done with her initiation. At least I was nearly there, now. But there had to be something I could still do. "Fen, how's it looking with the space battle above us? And as I said last time, please switch to Federation ship sizes, if you have the needed data by now."
[ Federation forces fleet composition (Second Human Federation ship sizes used): ]
[ 2x Battlecruiser ]
[ 3x Cruiser ]
[ 4x Destroyer ]
[ 7x Frigates ]
[ Total ship count: 16 ships ]
[ Association forces fleet composition (Second Human Federation ship sizes used): ]
[ 1x Battlecruiser ]
[ 1x Cruiser ]
[ 4x Destroyer ]
[ Total ship count: 6 ships) ]
"That's over. The Federation is at the cusp of victory and there's nothing that will change that. They outnumber their enemy still massivly, and the technological advantage the Association has, won't be enough. There is no other outcome left. Well, except the second Association fleet we detected joins the battle in time. Possible, if the leader of the Federation forces keeps dallying, which actually seems likely. Fen, any readings on the incoming Association fleet yet?"
[ Incoming Association forces fleet composition (Second Human Federation ship sizes used): ]
[ 3x Battlecruiser ]
[ 6x Cruiser ]
[ 12x Destroyer ]
[ 12x Frigate ]
[ 12x Corvette ]
[ Total ship count: 45 ]
"Yeah, once that fleet is here, we have to involve ourselves, don't we? There is no way in hell that the Federation can stand against that. Im a little bit worried about a fleet that size, actually.
[ Aetherian Empire currently projected fleet power (Second Human Federation ship sizes used): ]
[ 1x Super Battleship (ASF Aurora) ]
[ Total ship count: 1 ]
"Yeah, maybe my worried are unreasonable. After all, they don't have any battleships with them and we have the technological advantage. Their cruisers will burn near instantly, the escorts are barely worth mentioning. Only the Battleruisers may be able to put up a fight. Through I don't think they will. How's the download of Federation data going? I will have to strongly count on you to play myself up as a First Federation Battlecruiser Captain, Fen. And that needs an extensive amount of data."
[ The download of any available, as well as useful, information from the Federation fleet is nearing its end. I have calculated a 86% chance for you to fake being a First Federation Captain based in our information. Your mentality also shows big similarities to that of a First Federation Captain, therefore you can just be yourself and only need to be a bit more militaristic and patriotic. ]
"That works for me. Than let's help our old allies out a bit, right?"
[ The alliance between the Aetherian Empire and the First Human Federation does'nt extend to their sucessor state in form of the Second Human Federation and has additionally not been razified once by any party for nearly 800 years. Therefore, there currently is no alliance between the Aetherian Empire and the Second Human Federation. ]
Stolen novel; please report.
"Whatever. What isn't now, can be in the future. Furthermore, you know exactly what I meant by-"
[ Sub-charactarisation progress finished. Rooting up... ]
[ Jumpstarting AI designated "Naori"... ]
[ Ai designated "Naori" jumpstarted. ]
[ This lowly One greets Elder May Lunaris ad Aether de Phoenix-Archeron, as well as senior brother Fen. This One is designated Naori. How can this One be of assistance? ]
"Eh... Fen, what did I do wrong this time?"
[ Hm... Looking through te files, it seems like there was a big lack of information on the name Naori. The name was most connected to a few novels following the concept of "cultivation". From everything I can see with a cursory glance, it seems like this way of talking stems from said novels. ]
"Yeah... Not sure what to say to this. First of all, Naori, stop speaking in third way about yourself and please call me just May. Thank you."
[ As you wish, Elder May. From now on, I shall call you that and speak of myself in first person and as Naori. How can I be of assistance? ]
"Yes, right, back on topic. I really hoped it wouldn`t happen this way, but it looks like you will only have a few hours to familiarise yourself with the systems of ASO-17309 before you are on your own for most likely quite some time. While I would love to take you with me, I need someone I can trust to keep this outpost safe and repair it. Fen will do everything in his power for the next hours to help you acclimate to the outpost. If you ensist, I would be willing to take you with me anyway, beacause as a high-ranking AI you have the right to decide your own fate. But I would ask you to please take care of this task for me."
[ You don`t have to worry about me, Elder May. The data send to me by senior brother Fen makes the current situation quite clear, therefore Im understanding of your concerns. It will be my pleasure to secure this outpost for you. Are there any long-term goals for me, as your absence will be most likely longer? ]
"...Yes. The outpost can't remain in this system. The moment the outpost is repaired, I need you to follow the trail of the ASF Aurora until you leave Second Federation space, as well as Association space. I don't care where you place yourself down, but you have to remain undetected at all costs! In whatever system you will be in, your mission will be to dig down and start building up a true industrial base, strong enough to support an entire fleet. Afterwards, you need to build up. Build up until there is nothing left to challange you. If Im still not back by then, you are allowed to secure systems by yourself for your measures before starting to search for me. Meanwhile, never stop building up industry and military capabilities. This should be enough work for a decade and it is highly unlikely that I will be gone that long. Therefore go through the list as far as you can. Fen will have an eye on when first rumors about you start to emerge, so we can rejoin you then. You have full authority and autonomy for this mission. There shall be nothing standing in your way. But under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you to challange one of the great powers of the galaxy. Understood?"
[ Your words shall be my creed, Elder May. If you would excuse me now, I'll have to familarise myself with the outpost, so I can start my mission as soon as possible and also make use of senior brother Fen's support for as long as possible. ]
"Well... that went smooth. I can still talk to you though, right Fen?"
[ As my core is in your brain, we have a unbreakable connection to each other. There is no situation where you couldn't talk to me, except if Im to occupied to answer, which should still be a very rare occasion. ]
"Okay, understood. It's good we've had already talked about what our specific parameters for Naori's mission would be. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known what to tell her. Anyway, let's get everything ready for a sudden start. I'll also already relocate in board of the ASF Aurora. Everything I need to learn, you can also tell me there."
[ Path to ASF Aurora command centre highlighted. ]
"Thanks for that. Anyway, there's one question still on my mind. Why does the Leader of the Federation forces take their time with the remnants of the Association forces? Thinking about the other Association fleet nearly here, shouldn't he try to wipe out everything left of the Association forces in the system as fast as possible, before regrouping with his fleet?"
[ It ist highly likely that the Federation forces, which are near-certainly equipped with much worse scanners than what the Aetherian Empire has, did not manage to detect the Association fleet currently nearing out position. Therefore, they are Most likely unaware. ]
"...Shit."