The repairs took them much longer than expected, not because it was an overwhelming task that could stop their operations. It's not like they are repairing a ship to accidentally build a ship with the amount of materials being used. It's rather the scrapping and recovery of the destroyed ships that reached for multiple planetary cycles. More specifically, it lasted them for 16 planetary rotations. If it weren't for that fact, they would've reach the core human planet within a estimate of 4 or 5 planetary cycles.
To say this decision to temporarily halt the operation wasn't met without any opposition at all is rather a rainbow take, as it was a very heated one.
After the Admiral's embarrassing battle of the human ship, many of the Fleet Shipmasters and Hive Commanders take this chance to put all their anger and impatience at the currently weakened Admiral. Of course, this meant that the Admiral's decision to repair first and scrapping the destroyed vessels were met with great obstacles. In the end however, the Admiral have give up certain command roles to the Fleet Shipmasters and Hive Commanders' swarms where independence was guaranteed once the invasion begins. To let his scrapping and repair operation be conducted, of course, he was branded as a coward for not doing things the Religiosa way of fighting the enemy with everything they got.
'Those blasphemous bugs! Do they think that the Queen and the Home Council are that easily blinded by mere achievements and fabricated honor?!'
But of course, he could not talk about that out loud, especially with his now limited power to the fleet. He has already given up too many privileges and power to the fools, just to prepare and caution for what is potentially be a very difficult invasion. That means scrapping the Admiral's plan of the Starvation Strategy. Which is operated by completely shutting off any connection to major population centres by taking them out one by one in a methodical warfare. Of course, that meant destroying military targets first and avoiding the large populace to avoid chokeholds. Which the Hive Commanders don't like, as bombardment would've solved that without even the need for them to land first.
The main issue with that strategy is how long it would take for the operation to finish, and that is exactly why everyone is against it. This of course angered the Admiral, because it's not about monetary, tactical, or logistical, but simple convenience they are complaining. There is a reason why the Admiral heavily disliked their land dwelling counterparts in the Religiosa military as much as the Air Riders. It's because of how much they crave that mystical Honor and Glory, bloodlusted fools who thinks eradication is always the way of warfare in a one on one. Not letting everyone participate in war is blasphemous for them, because that means the Religiosa that not have participated, lacked Pride and Honor once they molted away to meet with Deity Religiosa.
This of course was rooted with their beliefs again, and how the deity Religiosa, overwhelmed the blasphemous Source of Evil that invaded them and copying their likeness to imitate her greatness. This of course was a half myth and truth, on the Admiral's studies, the real life event it was based on was a battle of several fronts and several planetary rotations of a different intelligent species on the same planet. There was no one big battle on the the same planetary cycle, that is only religious metaphor and propaganda that most were fed at their nymph stages. This is why the Admiral disliked the education and fake innocence of the Religiosa species, as much as he cherished it, he also dislike that side with contempt. Nonetheless, that belief seems to have penetrated deep within the consciousness.
"This will be one easy victory for us again! If it weren't for that old molt's cautiousness, that damned human ship wouldn't have hit our Line 2s!"
The Admiral's antennas perked as he was passing by one of the hive rooms that are occupied by the Hive Tacticians and Commanders. Of course, his name was within their meeting, not exactly a surprise. The Admiral thought.
"I agree, we would've easily won that battle of we just destroyed all of the Alien's infrastructure! Their primitiveness irked me! I just can't believe how they sunk 17 of our mighty ships!"
'Fools, what is the point of a subjugation if there is nothing left?'
"Source of Evil... They are nothing like them! If they really were the Source of Evil, they would've confronted us the Religiosa way! Why use dumb ambushes when we already know the technique the next time they did it?! They should've face us like real Shipmasters of Religiosa! Even those lowly 3rd Worlders with their submissive instincts even fight us head on 50 cycles ago!"
'...'
"Wait a nik! Doesn't mean the reason those earth crawlers thought they are the Source of Evil because of their similarities with the other subjugated species of their submissive and nonconfrontational trait?"
"HAH! I think you are on to something!"
'...'
"I know! How about we try to apprehend their females? Maybe we can finally have ourselves some mates. With how unfairly strong our females are, their standards are stupidly high for us! Maybe we can even become a Hive, or better a Clan!"
"That's a brilliant idea! No wonder you are the Grand Hive Ruler!"
'Nepotistic, Abhorrent...'
"For RELIGIOSA!"
"RELIGIOSA!"
'Sacrilegious fools...'
The Admiral could only growl as he crawled away and continued down the halls, wondering why those fools are appointed. Crawling with him is the same Navigator he has been directing at the bridge, following nervously at his thorax.
Of course, with the way the meeting is going, that means that most of the Hive Commanders who will soon partake on the assault are going for the usual one of many swarm tactics of overwhelming the enemy. It's not a bad strategy, considering how the Religiosa fights on large scale warfare, but that strategy involves with the complete surrender of the enemy and overwhelming superiority in numbers and assets to simply scare off the enemy. If not, then overwhelmed them in few battles and allow fear spread for a surrender to happen. Once again, not a bad strategy as that is just a oversimplification of the much more complicated structure of warfare.
It's just that the Admiral thinks that is simply way too simple of a strategy this time around. Usually he won't doubt about the strategy because of it's large success rate to other species, but now, that is simply way too easy of a strategy to win. For the Admiral, something just feels off, a spiritual feeling, almost as if Religiosa herself is communicating to him, which gave the Admiral more doubts even more. As those feelings save him more than one times in war, now, it is blaring even more than ever.
Evidence for that is the resistance at the first Religiosa Vs Human Battle ever, of how one ship attempted to stop a Religiosa fleet. It's not the first time that kind of scenario happened, it's one of many actually, especially with the Admiral's career on many engagements of the 3rd Worlder's rebellion. It's not even the first time the way one ship made a dent on a Religiosa fleet. It's just the way the human ship fought was one with experience, and how base on the analysis, was the only ship in a nonexistent fleet. In other words, that meant that the core human world have been either invaded before they have arrived and lost many ships, or really was just the only one present that defended it's planet since cycle 1. However, that is speculation at best to justify one ship guarding a planet.
Base on the data they have extracted from the scrapping of the wrecked Religiosa ships and their own still functioning ships, with also information they can extract of what's left on the 4th planet and it's satellites. The information they have gathered only bolster his conclusions even more, as he matched the data they have acquired from their first scans.
"Navigator Ok'lis, analyse the information we have gathered and summarise them for those fools to understand... That is, if they take it. Make sure it's also eligible for the common crewman to understand."
"Ye-yes Grand Admiral!"
The female Navigator stumbled for a moment, as she then began the process with the hologram in front of her.
"It's finished G-grand Admiral! Will I recite it-it?..."
'As expected of the new graduate of the Hive, shame she is in this mess of a fleet... Perhaps I'll recommend her to the Jubilee Fleet in the upcoming cycle...'
His look of concern though didn't seem to have registered on the socially inept female Religiosa, as she didn't even noticed it in the first place.
"Yes. Recite it."
"Affirmative!"
They then reached at the Shipmaster's Lounge where they can freely discuss it without any fools trying to intervene of the slightest information they deemed too much for their beliefs. The holograms then surrounded them as the large circular window of the lounge was then closed to block off any natural light from entering. This allowed the relatively transparent holograms to finally pop it's colours in the room. Thus continuing their discussion with much clear clarity.
Navigator Ok'lis then did a choking sound while her large mandibles opening and closing, before then proceeding.
"Tactical analysis of the Human War Capability, summarised. We will now proceed on the potential threats and weaknesses of the invasion of the human planet, and how this will impact us, regarding on how we approach on the subjugation. First, the ship that was guarding the planet is called USN La... La-ar... Fi? USN La'fi?...?"
"I believe it is pronounced as Laffey, I have the same thoughts of using a sentient's name as a placeholder of a ship. But it's not the oddest one in the information we have gathered, they are aliens after all. Proceed."
"Mu-much appreciated, Admiral!... Anyways... The ship, USN La'fi, is apart of a organisation called; "The Union Space Navy", in which is located at the planet. It's one of the 3 navies, or atleast what's supposed to be a space navy, present. The other two are; "The Republic Space Navy" and the "Imperial Nihonggo Space Navy". Of which is also a different faction within the planet, however both seems to be lacking in any interstellar ships."
"... I see, so the humans aren't united as us then..."
"Yes Admiral. It seems the humans aren't as united as we have predicted, however, their cooperation seems to be quite close. Evidence of this, is how many of the satellites surrounding the 4th planet, are a mixture of different manufacturers of those 3 factions... It's rather a surprise that sabotage wasn't involved in their cooperation, if one faction possessed the sole warship in the system to potentially dominate it..."
Not exactly the first time the Admiral hears such of disunited societies, but it interesting how they cooperated to themselves on such a large planet. It's more of a surprise on why there aren't any smaller factions. Either way, it is a good decision to cooperate than killing each other, but not exactly the best case for them when the invasion starts.
"Continue the discussion of the human ship, we'll discuss the factions at the later point."
"Ye-yes Admiral!... The USN La'fi, upon records, and what we have been speculating for the past planetary rotations now, is that it is the only and sole large warship in human space. It is also the only one capable of deep space travel, though it does not posses any FTL engines. Most probable would be the human's technological limit of putting it on a ship of the size of our old Line 4s and 3s. Hence why it's sensors arrays are probably being sidelined by its dense powerful weapons, though it's anti fighter weaponry is unknown, since we didn't get the chance to release our bombers. It's shields however... We're not mentioned in the data, but, we of course we've seen it's capabilities of excellent coverage! I'm surprised even how it didn't have a visual key note to see it's activation as it just happens instantly!"
"That does makes sense. They could have intercepted us the moment we enter the Luminous System few lunar cycles ago... Did we extract any more data? Atleast something we can recover of the estimated size of their military?"
"Unfortunately... Not much. The data has been wiped a long time ago, all that's left on the 4th planet and the satellites are residual data that is no use to us."
"By, not much, what's the information that we did encounter that is new?"
"Uh- g-give me a moment to recompile them again Lord Admiral!"
As she searched for the data, the Admiral then take a look on what the human warship looks like. Atleast the best they can gather of the data they got from the seekers, and the newly acquired limited data.
Ugly.
That aspect still persisted as they weren't wrong of that. Boxy, and even somewhat angular. That's the most defining design trait it got. Rather than being designed meticulously by a professional scratcher, it is more akin to mass produced equipment. He doesn't know if that's the standard, but the ship type is called a Frigate, though they don't have much information to know how to compare it to any of their existing ships, except for the Line 4s. Even then, it's not much. They know nothing of what it encompass, except for the fact they know it's using a primitive weapon as a kinetic projectile. With it being the only ship present, it must be why the Laffey has alot of battle scars and unmaintained coating. Giving it's ugly and unrefined look, general maintenance is probably its only time to rest.
'... How... Methodical...'
"Here Lord Admiral, I have compiled it. The information that the committee deemed not important is this one. It's about the attempts of growing food and altering it's terrain on the 4th Planet, in which was named Mars 2. Aside from that, no more data can be discovered, as the data has been either corrupted or wiped."
"Grow... So, are you saying they are attempting to change the planet to fit to their needs?" The Admiral thought with skepticism of the information, but Navigator Ok'lis nodded, further confusing him.
It's not the first time he has heard of pre-interstellar species of species doing that. He was wondering why there was such a massive difference of the climate on some parts of the 4th planet, but to think the humans were actually trying to change the planet. Such task is no easy feat at all, not even the Religiosa attempted it because it's more bountiful to find a planet than changing a existing one. Even just starting the project is enough to drain resources, especially with a technological level as the humans, it could even be considered as a financial and resource suicide. Yet, here they are, doing it successfully, but once again, something is amiss.
"Which faction is procuring such project?"
"Ah! It-it's the Republic Faction sir! In fact, it seems to be base on our surveys is that most of the equipment being used on the planet is of that faction. We only saw the Union Faction at the poles of the planet, and only limited ones from the Imperial Faction, Lord Admiral!"
"So in other words, that means the financial giants of the factions are the Republic?"
"Yes Ad-Admiral!"
"So that means the biggest hive might be the Republic then too as well?"
"Yes Lord Admiral! If I put my opinion, there is a high possibility that they are more in line to attempt to stop our land invasion. Base on the Line 5s we have sent, there seems to be a large interference to our detection systems and seekers that prevents them from doing any meaningful surveys while hiding from the planet's iron rings."
"Which is why that image has been circulating around on how our deployed nymph seekers were suddenly shut off. By an unknown origin with a screeching sound, similar to that off chemical engine?"
"... Yes Admiral, your correct, it seems the humans won't be as defenceless as you have predicted... In my opinion, I really hope that this would be a short war..." Ok'lis said as her legs kept on moving around slightly.
"Is it because of that spiritual feeling?" The Admiral asked.
"... Yes. There is that feeling I have... I... I have feeling that we would be locked in a long battle..."
The Admiral didn't say anything as he let her continue.
"They aren't intimidated by our posture, Admiral! Most aliens would have backed out of the fight the moment they knew it was inevitable. It reminded of the 3rd Worlders, as it seems that we only bolster their instinct to fight back. As a species of a gravity of more than 1 unit, also makes them have the weight and strength advantage on ground warfare... It's almost as if we are really trying to subjugate the Source of Evil of the story of the Creation... Or worse, we are the one acting... Like..." She didn't finished it as the Admiral make a leeway of a discussion to prevent her sensitive breakdown.
Female Religiosa after all have strong motherly instincts, just as strong as their fighting instinct.
"Are you talking about the way they handled that space station?"
"Yes... Just reminded me of how my forefathers have perished... Thankfully, from the survey we did, there was no life forms present, except for potentially 6 or 7 from what we have recovered of their... Burned corpses. Atleast that makes them not as barbaric or horrifying as the Home Council have been pushing... But it still doesn't change the fact how similar their features are to ours. It just... Looking at it... It feels like I have a connection between them... It scares me."
He cannot blame her at all for that one. Because with they way how the humans look like them, it's almost as if they are killing their own kin. It won't be a farfetched idea, or even a surprising one if any of the crews on board would hesitate. Though, it seems most of the folks on board think otherwise, as it was their given right to eradicate the false lifeforms.
"... To think their equipment survived the System Jammers. Then again, the human... Frigate... Also survived it... Navigator Ok'lis, what's the status of the recovery of the space hulk?"
"We already gathered all of the wrecked ships, including the wrecked Line 2 and Line 3s. However, it's best if we docked them at the moon so we can proceed with the invasion."
"That is definitely the plan, we are already making those fools impatient as is. The last thing I need is for them to act on their own..." The Admiral then did a equivalent of a sigh as his wings buzzed for a moment, before continuing.
"Call all the major participating Hive Commanders. It's time to finish this operation as soon as possible. Is the Beacon ready?"
"Yes Admiral. The Beacon is ready, all we need is now your order to continue."
"Alright." He then stood up, swiping his claws midair to close the holograms. At the same time, the windows then opened once more to let the natural starlight penetrate into the ship. With a tired, but determined look, the Admiral marched forward.
"Call upon the Home Council, tell them..."
"That the Grand Subjugation has begun."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
With that said, time went a blur, as the whole fleet finally moved from the 4th planet's gravity. Ships were undocked from their temporary clamps from the planet and support ships, ships that weren't of use or salvaged, were crashed into the planet to not let debris float and caused a potential extraction of technology. Engines are being lit up and the shields are instantly being turned at combat readiness to prevent another disaster waiting for them like how the human ship ambushed them. PDSs are being charged to prepare for inter atmosphere assaults. The Carrier have now replenished its supplies, and have now prepared hundreds of space fighters and bombers to raid the planet. The unused Line 5s have now prepared their formation on the upcoming invasion over the Iron rings of the planet, relaying information of the potential hotpots of activity.
And finally, the Admiral sat back on his throne like furniture on the catwalk of the Justice High's bridge. As the fleet now crossed over their next destination.
Venture, how fitting a name it has for it's fitting fate.
----------------------------------------
"[...]"
Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...
[Republic Capitol, Fort City Balteus, is 100% in full operational status. All fortification infrastructure has been refurbished for full operational status, usage of the local SkyNet connection is now operational. Peacewalkers are now finished modified for wartime models. Local Militia has been updated with the current available weapons, now in operation to collaborate with the local military. Proceeding to connect rail network to Neo Saitama City...]
[Connecting to Terminal...]
[... Connection Established. System 698-Beta City centres now on full operational status. 512 Cities and 21 Fort Cities are now fully integrated, ready for disaster response alertness.]
But of course, the humans on the ground weren't slacking off either. The estimated generous time the aliens would arrived were just within the time threshold, as it gave them ample leeway to get all possible planetary defenses online. Especially with the way the continent was formed, it gave the aliens a good landing zone because of how mostly intact it is, and give the people of Venture a much larger and harder ground to protect.
Pagoda.
Continent Pagoda, named after the native old trees that looked like pagodas. Founded by the Nihonggo Exploration Ship, IJSN Izumo, is one giant supercontinent that barely connects to the other two large slabs of tectonic plates. Thus forming gigantic river systems and the iconic interior lake that dwarfed anything Earth have from the Union's Great Lakes. Since the public announcement of Operation Invicta, the process of civilian and scientific studies of the planet were now turned to full time military bases and extra power banks for the varying weapons that are available for them to use. Of course, that meant the whole planet is converted to a rudimentary fortress.
SAI Venture 698-Beta, the World AI whom is mostly dealing with menial task that the larger government could not micromanage are under her coverage. This also involves being the eyes and ears of Venture, thus repurposing archaic satellites and drones as spy satellites for incoming alien ships, and of course, including the ones just above the atmosphere that are attempting to gain reconnaissance. Of course, she must not let that happen, they already know too much of the general topography, the last thing she needs is for them to know all their important military infrastructures and key installations.
Luckily and unluckily, Venture doesn't have any form of Planetary or Capitol Anti-Ship Cannons and Direct Weapons that can obliterate the interplanetary ships. The closest one they have are Mass Drivers, essentially, it can turn anything durable enough to be a weapon, but they aren't as powerful without the proper ammunition. Making them similar to those flak munitions back in the day, but modernised. Thus, regulating them as back ups for the star of the show. Interplanetary Ballistic Missiles. Though weapons are prohibited on the frontier worlds until they are promoted, each of the Colonial Powers are given certain missiles if ever the guarding ship of the system falls, in this case, they have plenty. However, not infinite, they don't have the manufacturing capabilities to produce them yet, so important targets are a must. That means wasting many missiles smaller than it, but it is a worthy price if it can bring down atleast any important vessel.
Which leaves them with the tools turned to weapons; EM systems and cyber warfare, not as powerful when it comes to physical damage, but very precise as the targets are only coming in one direction. The sky. It has a better maximum range, but are only effective once they reach the planet's exosphere, or on certain weather conditions. Still better than nothing. With the abundance of mixtures of different energy sources, the only way they can be knocked out is if they are destroyed, EM pulse won't do much if a SAI is controlling most of the power. However, if failure to do so, may lead to a black out and leads to the similar event that transpired of the first 24 hours of the Alien's arrival 6 months ago. At worst, cutting of SAI Venture's access to anything electronic based.
Still, better than nothing. As this bolster their survival chance of the initial attack from 26.8927% to 78.92%. Especially with the military and the civil militia ready. Industries have provided the best they can of all possible weapons and protection, and as predicted, they are not up to the Standard System. However better than nothing, chemical kinetics are still viable, though they are not as effective as their modern counterparts, their saving grace are the cheap abundance of parts and ammunition. Same goes for anything not from the military; vehicles, barriers, electronics, ships, etcetera.
The military is in the same situation, outdated equipment, as wars aren't counted on the possibility of an attack. Since the treaty of the Iron Cross and ATLAS, that has been the case since 50 years ago. Tension is still very much present, SAI Venture could remember how one of her creator's colonies went to a war of independence for not accepting the terms of the treaty just 43 years ago. Which is why weapons are present just in case, because if it can't stop a war between the powers, then a civil war might atleast be prevented. Aliens however, seems to be not the memo. The only saving grace of this whole situation was the fact that most of System 698-Beta's industry is solely concentrated on Venture itself, as Mars 2 is not even finished terraforming yet, let alone a robust industry to support itself as another core world for the other system colonies. It's worst for System 698-2 Beta, which only possessed a moon and stations as it's home base.
"[...]"
SAI Venture then observed the many, many civilian turned soldiers, marching to prepare their last drill to fully prepare for the inevitable battle that will come. Along side them are the marching peacekeeping Peacewalkers turned military drones, marching in unison. Family members and friends greeting them for the last time before being protected by the Fort Cities. Some of course are stubborn, especially those of the archipelagos, who choose to remain on their homes till their last breath...
"[...]"
It still didn't change the fact that out of the 1.8 billion people, 1.2 billion are conscripted and volunteered for service.
67%
67% may not be a large number, but that 67% will potentially may not be coming back. It's almost like the times of the 21st Century, a small number symbolising the deaths of billions.
"[...]"
Of course, this included the High-class individuals that are forced to do so, as they are now under RA 000010 of the Safety Mobilisation Act of the Republic. Nobody can escape that law, not even people belonging on other colonies unless the powers that be gave the order not too.
"[...]"
SAI Venture will take note of this whenever connection is established back to Earth to update how Frontier Colonies will be defended from now on.
Well, that is if they successfully defended it for that long. Though there is that chance that they can, and multitude of ways they can achieve that. Then again, there is also a question that runs on her mind on this First Contact event. Mainly, the Dark Forest concept. Her creators have already pushed many red flags fighting each other, and nearly did so many times by even not fighting each other. SAIs like herself was also one of the reasons for that. Especially with the questions of the term, "Universal Rights", also known as simply as the, "The Right to Live" concept. Now, all of those historic points are the situation Venture is in, but at a much larger scale.
Especially if the question of the first signs of life that her creators begged to see so badly, were actually trying to eradicate them.
"[...]"
The ramifications of how this will affect human civilization is going to be something of a knock back effect that humanity will never recover. At worst, it will be the defining trait that would lead to more potential red flags. If the invention of SAIs, FTL technology, advanced biotechnology, and atomic energy have made the world shudder. The concept of Hostile Xeno Lifeforms might lead to something far worse than that. SAI don't feel fear nor judge upon the decisions of her creators, but it is in their programming and their meticulous self awareness to protect that. Both as an obligation, mission, and repentance. Without humanity, was is the purpose of SAIs if the reason of their creation simply vanished?
'A tool is a tool that is supposed to be used. What is a tool if nobody uses it?'
Someone once said.
"[...]"
SAI Venture then looked at the eerily calm blue sky, through the advanced camera lenses that has been provided to her hardware. In the first place, she doesn't need a body, as it was already stored somewhere else. As there is also a fact that she can just create software to copy a non SAI variant of her, as it is more akin to the actual concept of AI. Still, as a technically a living, non bioorganic life, the stress of thinking many, many things a million, or even a billion times that of a human, is not helping it.
"[...]"
Was it perhaps depression? SAI Venture could not fully grasp it, after all, as a program that is sentient, there are many possible answers that she could answer with confidence, but lacked the confidence to confirm it herself.
"I see that long scary look you did there."
A voice rang out on the vicinity of the empty tunnel, echoing throughout its crevices. The artificial headpiece of the SAI then moved. Even though she didn't need to do so, she just did it for the sake of physical and nonverbal communication. That action seems to have satisfied the voice as a chuckle was heard from him.
"[Hello Captain Winston. You should be recovering right now. The treatment may be fast, but for someone going, "pure", I do not recommend you being excited like a kitten eager to be poached.]"
"Hahahahahaha! Harsh as ever Venture! I wonder why those Red Bastards didn't decommissioned you yet!"
The captain of the USN Laffey, James Winston, laughed as an unimpressed "expression" was present on SAI Venture's covered face. Making her, rather menacing or comical to look at, depending on which side of the valley a person may look up to.
"[... What are you doing here captain? Evacuation orders are being implemented and all space and air worthy vessels are docked under the bunkers. Even your replacement ship will not even be operational.]"
The captain didn't said anything but scratched his head, and then walked closer to the SAI body. He then sat down by a nearby barrier that is barricading the tunnel, in which the full height between the two are being shown. SAI Venture's temporary body is gigantic for human standards, even compared to most soldiers being augmented. By comparison, Capt. James Winston, a full grown man from Floridas, is only 177cm, while SAI Venture is 210cm. Not a lot when comparing it in numbers, but James would need to arch his head to look at her "eyes" directly.
Even then, their bodies too, are a much more noticing detail to compare than their heights. Unlike James' flesh, SAI Venture's are metal and silicone. Atleast something above silicone that James could not comprehend. Though her body is clearly feminine, especially how noticeable the curves are, despite the amount of metal around her torso. The body of course, is SAI Venture's "Noncombatant Model", however it's not even close to harmless. Arms though slender, are actually just armoured joints to form a power arm that could crush metal, followed by an extra large metallic and bulky arms that are now resting on the barrier can easily crush that said barrier if she wanted. Her legs are clearly nothing of human, metal and thick, then bending in a way that cannot be possible by a normal body structure.
Of course, the "face" being covered by a metallic plate also shows how clearly not human she is, despite her shape. Even the "hair" is quite unnaturally long and impractical to her build that closely resembled the walking drones that are the Peacewalkers. Making James rather uneasy of that fact, considering how emotionless those things are.
"How about the; I feel safer around the literal god in this planet that is you?"
The comment made a droning noise from SAI Venture, probably an equivalent of a sigh, though James just confirmed that without evidence.
"[I am no deity. I am an SAI, and the last time I remember millionth of a second ago, the Fort Cities are safer.]"
James was about to say something back, but was cut off immediately.
"[Another I might add, is how your superiors would definitely reprimand you for talking to a Republic AI, let alone a SAI. In fact, I could even conduct a emergency order to lock you out of the city if you so wish to see this ever so wondering scenery.]"
"Eek!... Ehmm... Come on now, nobody is watching!"
"[I am a camera, just as a observer.]"
"What?! It's not like you are on duty!]"
"[I am your superior. Your, "god", even.]"
"Ah, no wonder those old coots told me to avoid you folks."
"[Do not compare me to the films you watched. Those "AIs" are much closer to the Peacewalkers than even the least advanced AI my creators have.]"
"Gee, I wonder why my folks are are scared, as if the Periodical Wars aren't enough of a scare."
"[You aren't even born at that time, you were just a mere reproductive organ.]"
"Says the one who's just barely 5 years old!"
"[Yet, I have a millennia's worth of knowledge and processing power.]"
"..."
"[...]"
"Hey... I might not be the smartest man out here in the middle of literal nowhere... But how are you really sure we are going to make it out of this situation? 34% in a year, then 4% something in 10? And 78% of a potential survivability in the first wave? That is not even mentioning how much their number are, and how willing they are going to commit in this war."
"[...]"
There was a moment of silence between the two of them, as the marching sounds of the peacewalkers, echoed like no tomorrow on the now empty tunnel network. Causing both of them to focus on only their beings, philosophically of course, for SAI Venture, as she observed the man's serious face. His vitals ringing into her view, but she didn't read them and instead blocked those information and mainly focus on the man standing .
"[Yes. 78% chance in the first wave, that is if our current military can even hold them. Remember, we are basing all of this data from your encounter with the Xeno Fleet. Like ours, they are vulnerable to kinetic weaponry and cybernetic jamming, while also using conventional, atomic base, propulsion systems. However, we do not know the extent of their interplanetary assault capabilities. However, we must expect them to be atleast your nation's capabilities, or at worse, my creator's.]"
"... Well, what the fuck am I expecting? I did see it first hand, so asking that question is dumb. Rather, it's not a surprise that it is that level... How many?"
"[The numbers are staggering. Especially with the 5 ships that seems to be the biggest of the fleet, bigger than both the battleship and carrier. Each of those ships can potentially have atleast 50 million - 150 million per ship. If it were a comparison, this is very similar to the Republique's largest combat capable, Interplanetary Troop Carrier, of the Mistral-Class, in which can carry 50 million troops, if purely just soldiers, then that number can be stretched to 90 million. Even then, it has never reached that number, and never even break 10 million, as it is regulated to be the mobile HQ for the operation.]"
"That means, if we pushed everything to the very worse, we might encounter..."
"[Almost a billionth's worth of enemy elite Helldivers... That is without mentioning the other logistics and support the army will have. Information I do not have, but have filled the gaps with our own tactics that would make us vulnerable. That's why we have a 78%, on the first wave. Depending on how much they fare on the first wave, it'll be the deciding factor on how we would approach the Xeno Threat and the 10% survivability goal I have set up.]"
James didn't say anything as he only sighed of the bleakness of what the SAI is spouting from her artificial voice. Pretty serene it is, scary it is, how calmly she just layed out the billions of people without a hint of emotional bursts. Only a silent stare at the now empty view of the city of Balteus. But, he knows how there is so much more... Thinking, happening inside her head. Something more as Venture's personification, in human form.
"So... This is it?"
"[Do you mean the end of the world? No, of course not, it is just the start of something anew. For the better, or for the worse we have finally make a breakthrough at the expense of billions. That'll make me one of the few SAIs to actually reach that goal, however, I do not find it pleasing to know that information. But to answer your question... No. Of course not. Wasn't you who even exclaimed that in the meeting?]"
James only snickered, as he patted the back of the SAI's frame. Now, he took looked at the empty city with a slightly renewed feeling of what is supposed to be the End of the World. If one thinks about it, it is og itself an adventure in a morbid sense. A sense of duty washes over James as he whistles at the calm blue sky. SAI Venture noticed this emotion, and immediately add a rebuttal to it.
"[Captain James Winston, I recommend you to not think of any life threatening thoughts.]"
"Oh no, no, no, no! Just saying how far we have come. I'm not dumb enough to volunteer to the front lines, when my expertise lies in ship-to-ship combat. So you don't have to be worried!"
"[I'm not worried. I am just reminding you of your position, Captain James. So please, return to the Fort City this instant.]"
"I can easily do that, how about you? Surely your not going to volunteer to the front lines with your position as well?"
"[... I am just taking the last few recordings and environmental samples of Pagoda. So we can have a string of reference once reconstruction will begin after this war- no, extermination.]"
"Extermination? Not subjugation? Doesn't the movies subjugate humans because of Earth being precious and us being good slaves of the like?"
"[No. It is extermination. Otherwise they won't have bombardment every single planet they have come by. It won't be long before the other planetary bases will be hunted once Venture is finished. That's why we must inflict a lot of damage to their efforts and delay them as much as possible. Until then, we must hold out.]"
"Reality is really cruel is it...?"
"[Reality is a game of chance and luck, thus making it fair.]"
James didn't say anything as he stood up from the barrier and stretched his body for a moment, and then drank the canteen that has been hanging on his hips for a while now.
"Then that makes Earth luckiest then? Or are we the luckiest for actually knowing first these Alien's true intentions?"
"[... I...
I suppose your right.]"
----------------------------------------
Loses:
1 Line 6
Total Loses:
1 Line 2
2 Line 3s
3 Line 4s
10 Line 6s
1 Line S-1 Repair Ship
Support Ships:
5 System Jammers
2 Detection ships
1 Assault ship
1 Repair ships
Supply Ships:
5 Hybrid Large Cargo Horde Ship
----------------------------------------
Megaclaws - Unit of measurement for kilometres
Claws - Unit of measurement for metres
Line Type - Class of the ship (i.e destroyer class, cruiser class, etc.)
Scratchers - Religiosa Artesian
Line 3 - Religiosa Light Cruiser Type
Rider - Religiosa pilots
Knits - Unit of time of hour
Lifter - A lift or elevator
Seekers - Religiosa camera term
Line 1 - Religiosa Battleship
Line 2 - Religiosa Heavy Cruiser
Line 6 - Religiosa Corvette
Line 10 - Religiosa Super Carrier
Plasma Directional Stations - Protected Plasma Glass Domes
Fissile Engines - Fission Powered Engines
Cycle - 1 year
Lunar Cycles - 29.5 - 30 days
Planetary Cycle - 1 day
Nimbs - 1 minute
Niks - 1 second
Carapace - Religiosa nautical term for Hull
Nymph - a term for Religiosa youngling
Shipmaster - A captain of a ship
Hive Commander - A General of more than 1 million troops
Iron rings - A term for massive amounts of satellites
Fleet Shipmaster - Equivalent to a Captain or Commodore controlling multiple ships
Hive - A informal term for any location or area with high population.
Swarms - Equivalent to a clan, team, group, etc.
Nymph seekers - Equivalent to a Drone
1 unit - About 8.2 m/s (Earth's gravity is 9.8 m/s & Venture's gravity is 9.94 m/s)