Chapter 1: New Beginnings
The Exploration Carrier Legacy has been drifting in space for the past 299 years, and today marks the 300th year of being lost in uncharted space. The ship had 450 droids on board, all moving around and performing tasks assigned by the Ship's AI. However, after reaching the 150-year mark, all the droids encountered some sort of malfunction with their cores, leaving only the 100 reserve droids operational.
The AI decided to utilize five of the reserve engineer droids to transport the powered-off droids to the Engineering Bay, where they would be melted down to Synthium Ingots. Meanwhile, the ammunition from the Soldier droids remained stored in the armory. The AI had been using those five droids to make repairs on the ship, utilizing some of the ingots.
Upon reaching the 290th year, the engineer droids began experiencing the same malfunctions as the other droids, affecting their cores. Realizing this, the ship's AI ordered the five engineers to return to the Robot Holding Bay, hoping to preserve them. The AI watched as the 5 engineers walked into the room and witnessed five large hooks descending from the ceiling, hooking onto the backs of the droids, causing each engineer droid to enter hibernation mode. They were then moved to where the remaining 95 reserve droids were hanging, waiting.
Just as the ship's AI was about to summon five more engineer droids to replace the others, its vision began to darken, and the last thing it saw was a prompt saying "System Shutting Down." And just like that, the AI powered off.
The ship continued to drift in space for eight more years before coming to a slow stop near an unknown planet. The ship had stopped 27,935 miles away from the planet, rendering it unseen from the planet by the naked eye. The lights inside the ship started turning off room by room until there was nothing but darkness. Soon, the power generators entered low power mode, shutting down everything except the essentials: Life Support Systems, the Temperature room, the Bridge, and The Robot Holding Bay.
The ship remained in this state for another two years, making it unmaintained for a total of 10 years. Now, the ship has reached 300 years since its creation and is still lost in space.
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Arlo Hawthorne sat in front of his PC, watching a bustling part of his kingdom as his people prepared for the harvest season. He glanced over at the clock and read the time: 5:07 am. "Ah, crap. I should probably get some sleep now."
Arlo went to log off the game but stopped as he noticed his exploration team had arrived back from their journey outside of his kingdom. He smiled as he saw the townspeople waving and cheering for the returning soldiers. One soldier even raised an artifact they had found at the ruins. Arlo smiled as he saved the game before logging off entirely.
Arlo then went to his bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed. But before lying down, the same thought crossed his mind, "If only I could do something like that in real life." Arlo's eyes closed as he fell asleep.
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Arlo slowly opened his eyes, gradually sitting up in his bed. He moved to the edge of the bed and stood up, giving his eyes enough time to fully wake up. As he turned to face the wall in front of him, he expected to see his clock hanging there. However, to his surprise, there was a wide window stretching across a section of the room. The 15 by 3-foot window was closed shut.
Arlo took a moment to look around the room, realizing that it was not his bedroom. This room was triple the size of his own, with an expansive layout. He noticed his current area, which seemed to be the sleeping quarters, and next to the bed, there was some sort of workstation. Along the left wall, a massive bookshelf extended about 10 feet in length.
In the middle of the room, there was a spacious lounge area, measuring 10 by 10 feet. It featured a plush sofa, two armchairs, and even a coffee table. On the opposite side, there was a door leading to another room, which Arlo soon discovered to be a bathroom. Inside, he found a luxurious 10 by 10 feet bathing area, complete with both a shower and a tub. There was also another section with a sink and what appeared to be an automated toilet.
Leaving the bathroom, Arlo explored the rest of the room and stumbled upon a walk-in closet, which was also 10 by 8 feet in size. Inside the closet, he found two outfits. One seemed to be a formal suit in gray color, with long gray dress pants and shoes. On the suit, there was an insignia of a circular shield in gray, with a dark green phoenix in eternal flight at its center. Around the phoenix and the shield, there was a circuit-like pattern with the word "Aeternus" written at the bottom. Arlo wasn't sure what it meant, but he continued to examine the other outfit, which appeared to be more casual. It had a dark green long-sleeve shirt, gray cargo pants, and simple black combat boots. On the top shelf, there was a gray captain's hat with the same insignia on the front.
Confused and intrigued by his surroundings, Arlo couldn't help but wonder how he ended up in this unfamiliar place.
Arlo thought it might be wise to change into the more casual outfit instead of sticking with his current attire of shorts and a black T-shirt. After putting the more casual clothes on and tying the boots, he considered leaving the captain's hat aside for now. Stepping out of the walk-in closet, his attention was drawn to a more eye-catching shelf adorned with empty display cases.
On the right side of the window, there was a refreshment area that appeared to be empty, along with a small personal gym area equipped with basic exercise equipment. As Arlo looked around the room, he noticed that most of the lights were off, and everything seemed abandoned, except for the bed he had just left.
The room seemed to be made of some kind of metallic material, and curiosity led Arlo to walk up to the window to peer outside. There, he found a small screen to the right side of the window. Tapping on the screen, it flickered to life, revealing two arrow buttons—one pointing up and another down. He pressed the up arrow, and the window began to uncover itself. As it reached halfway, Arlo's eyes widened in astonishment. The view on the other side was nothing short of breathtaking—outer space.
Stars twinkled in the distance, and a massive planet that was way larger then earth loomed in front of the ship. It finally dawned on Arlo that he was on a spaceship, and not just any spaceship, but a considerably large one. It appeared he was on the top floor of the vessel. Arlo glanced around the room, noticing two doors—one to the right and the other to the left. The door on the right had an unlit sign that read "Bridge." Curiosity piqued, Arlo walked towards the door.
As he took a few steps, the door began to slide open with a hissing sound. Once the door fully opened, Arlo stepped inside and was met with an awe-inspiring sight. The room was twice the size of the first room he had been in, which he believed he was likely in the captain's quarters before. Toward the front of the bridge, was a massive panoramic view of space through a large forward-facing viewpoint.
The walls were adorned with dark gray metallic panels with luminescent green accents, matching the color of the insignia. Above the main door of the room was the word "Aeternus" written on the wall. Multiple consoles were scattered across the bridge, and in the center of the room stood the renowned Captain's chair, a sight he had only seen in science fiction movies and shows.
Arlo walked around the room, trying to figure out the purpose of the various consoles. After spending around thirty minutes, he gained a rough understanding of what each console represented. There was a weapons console, tactical console, engineer console, a large navigation station or map (whichever you prefer to call it), a communication system, sensor display, ship status displays, intercom, and some sort of data storage unit, among others.
Despite his attempts to turn on the map, Arlo discovered that nothing was being powered in the room, except for a few lights. He found another storage device, similar to the previous one, but couldn't access it either. Frustrated, he turned his attention to the ship's status displays, which fortunately seemed to work.
The displays not only showed the ship's current status but also revealed a map of the vessel. After a quick scan of the ship's systems, Arlo realized that the ship was in low power mode, and nearly every system had been damaged in some way. Only a few rooms remained unscathed, including the robot holding bay, life support systems, and the temperature control room. He also noted that the low power level meant nothing was operating at full capacity, except for the essential functions like the doors.
Curiosity led him to examine another display console, which showed that there were 100 out of 150 robots stored in the holding bay, all in something called "hibernation mode." Though unfamiliar with the term, Arlo could guess its purpose. Pressing on the room, he could now see the types of robots stored and had the option to activate them from his current position. However, before doing anything, he decided to read about each type to understand what they were.
Arlo's attention was drawn to the models of the robots listed on the display. Each had a specific designation and purpose, giving him an insight into the ship's diverse functionalities. He carefully read through the names and numbers:
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* Basic Humanoid Security Droid A1 (30)
* Basic Humanoid Light Soldier Droid A1 (50)
* Basic Humanoid Mining Droid A1 (4)
* Basic Humanoid Engineer Droid A1 (14)
* Basic Humanoid Construction Droid A1 (2)
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As Arlo contemplated the various roles of these robots, he imagined the Security Droids maintaining order and protecting the ship, the Light Soldier Droids being equipped for potential conflicts, the Mining Droids extracting valuable resources, the Engineer Droids handling ship repairs and maintenance, and the Construction Droids assisting with any necessary construction or rebuilding tasks.
The realization hit him that this vessel was not just an ordinary exploration carrier; it seemed to be a self-sustained and versatile spacecraft with a wide range of capabilities. Arlo's curiosity about the purpose of this vast and mysterious ship only intensified, and he knew he had to delve deeper into its secrets to uncover the truth behind his unexpected presence on board.
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After reading the model names and attempting to activate one of the robots, Arlo encountered an error message that read, "Cannot execute command. Please activate manually." Frustrated but undeterred, he stepped away from the console and turned his attention to the ship's map display on another console.
As he waited for the map to appear, Arlo's anticipation grew. After a minute, the detailed ship map finally showed up on the screen, revealing the layout and size of every room on the vessel. Excited by the newfound information, Arlo noticed an option to show all the rooms and corridor sizes. Without hesitation, he pressed the button, eager to explore the ship's layout in greater detail.
Arlo marveled at the detailed ship map displayed before him. The Exploration Carrier Legacy was indeed an enormous vessel, boasting three decks with various rooms and facilities. He studied the dimensions of each area, feeling a mix of awe and curiosity about the ship's layout.
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On the Upper Deck:
* The Bridge was an expansive area measuring 200 feet by 200 feet (61 meters by 61 meters) with a height of 40 feet (12 meters).
* The Captain's Quarters occupied 100 feet by 100 feet (30 meters by 30 meters) and had a height of 15 feet (4.5 meters).
* The SynthoForge Room covered 150 feet by 150 feet (46 meters by 46 meters) and stood 35 feet in height (11 meters).
* The Robot Charging Room extended 200 feet by 150 feet (61 meters by 46 meters) and was 30 feet tall (9 meters).
On the Mid Deck:
* The Robot Holding Bay was a vast space of 500 feet by 500 feet (152 meters by 152 meters) and had a height of 60 feet (18 meters).
* The Storage Room measured 200 feet by 200 feet (61 meters by 61 meters) and was 30 feet tall (9 meters).
* The Engineering Bay occupied an area of 500 feet by 500 feet (152 meters by 152 meters) with a height of 60 feet (18 meters).
* There were three Power Rooms, each measuring 100 feet by 150 feet (30 meters by 46 meters) and having a height of 15 feet (4.5 meters) each.
* Eight Crew Cabins, each measuring 75 feet by 75 feet (23 meters by 23 meters), stood 10 feet tall (3 meters).
On the Lower Deck:
* The Planetary Deployment Room (Hangar) was a massive area, spanning 1,000 feet by 800 feet (305 meters by 204 meters), and was 300 feet high (91 meters).
* The Life Support area measured 100 feet by 110 feet (30 meters by 33 meters) and had a height of 11 feet (3.3 meters).
* The Temperature Room mirrored the Life Support area, measuring 100 feet by 110 feet (30 meters by 33 meters) and standing 11 feet tall (3.3 meters).
* The Garbage Room had dimensions of 100 feet by 80 feet (30 meters by 24 meters) and was 10 feet in height (3 meters).
* The Cafeteria was 150 feet by 165 feet (46 meters by 50 meters), and the Kitchen measured 130 feet by 130 feet (40 meters by 40 meters). Both sections had a height of 15 feet (4.5 meters).
* The Armory was sizeable, covering an area of 210 feet by 300 feet (64 meters by 91 meters) and standing 24 feet tall (7.3 meters).
The Main Corridors had a width of 30 feet (9 meters) and a standard height of 30 feet (9 meters). However, during Robot Deployment Mode, the height doubled to 60 feet (18 meters) with adjustable sections for deploying the robots. The Small Corridors were narrower, measuring 15 feet (4.5 meters) in width and maintaining a height of 30 feet (9 meters).
With the ship's total size being 2,590 feet (789 meters) in length, 1,600 feet (488 meters) in width, and 400 feet (122 meters) in height.
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Arlo couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the scale and complexity of the Exploration Carrier Legacy. He knew there was much to explore and discover within this colossal spacecraft.
After examining the map of the ship and understanding the three levels, Arlo ventured through the main door into the main corridor of the upper deck. Smaller corridors branched off from the main one, leading to various rooms. As he walked down the corridor, he noticed signs of damage throughout, confirming that most of the ship's systems were indeed compromised.
Choosing to take the stairway down to the mid deck rather than the elevator due to the ship's state, Arlo proceeded with caution. The mid deck corridor was in a similar condition to the upper deck, showing signs of neglect and damage. One of the rooms connected to this corridor was the Robot Holding Bay, located in the middle of the ship.
Entering the large door that opened to the Robot Holding Bay, Arlo was met with the sight of several consoles and humanoid robots suspended from the ceiling by hooks. The room seemed to be in a state of stasis, with the robots waiting to be deployed. Arlo approached the consoles, where he found information on the status of each robot and a button for robot deployment.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Arlo decided to activate one of the Engineer robots labeled "Head Engineer." Before pressing the deploy button, he had the option to send the selected robot to the planetary deployment room or have it deployed here, inside the robot holding bay. For now, Arlo chose to deploy the robot in the holding bay and confirmed his decision.
As he watched, one of the hooks from the ceiling lowered, carrying a singular humanoid robot. The hook released the robot, causing it to land on the ground with a thud. Interestingly, instead of returning to its original position, the hook moved towards the top part of the ceiling and disappeared into an opening that quickly closed behind it.
At first, the robot was slouched over, but after a minute, it straightened its body, and its eyes flickered to life with a soft dim white glow. The robot stood fully erect, measuring around 5'6 in height. Its appearance showcased a gear and wrench decal on the left side of its chest, while the right side displayed the title "Head Engineer" and the designation "BHED-01." The words on the right side glowed dimly in blue, only visible in close proximity to the robot.
Despite its humanoid shape, the robot was made entirely of a unique kind of metal, and its head featured a sleek and symmetrical design with oval-shaped eyes that seemed surprisingly lifelike. The robot's dark gray color further added to its sophisticated and impressive appearance.
As Arlo examined the robot, he was taken aback when it suddenly spoke, introducing itself as "BHED-01, at your service, commander." The deep, robotic voice somehow conveyed a sense of emotion, intriguing Arlo even more.
Arlo responded to the robot, "Tell me ED-01, it is ok if I call you that, yes?" The Engineer replied quickly, "That is fine, commander." Arlo nodded and continued, "Alright, cool. Tell me about this ship and about you and the rest of the droids, or are you robots?" The engineer nodded in affirmation to the first part before providing more information.
"We are all droids, robots have a different design, but that's a topic for another time. This ship is an exploration carrier called Legacy, but my systems show that it was updated just a few hours ago, and now it has a prefix of E.E.S."
Curious, Arlo interrupted, "What does E.E.S stand for?" The engineer responded, "According to my system, it stands for Eternal Empire Ship." Arlo's face turned pale with surprise, realizing the connection, "Eternal Empire? That's the name I used for my in-game kingdom and for other kingdom-building games..."
However, he quickly regained his composure, realizing the potential implications, "Wait, that means I can do what I always wanted now! No more imagining it; I can actually try and achieve what I dreamed of!" Filled with excitement, Arlo felt a new sense of purpose and adventure. The realization that he was now aboard a ship named after his beloved in-game empire sparked a rush of enthusiasm, as he pondered the possibilities that lay ahead.
Arlo then remembered the word underneath the insignia and got curios so he decided to ask the engineer what it meant.
Arlo listened attentively as ED-01 explained the meaning of the word "Aeternus," which served as the empire's motto. It represented the concept of eternity, something timeless and everlasting, and it became the ship's motto after the fall of their predecessor's empire, which occurred about a thousand years ago or that is what Alaric told the droids.
When Arlo inquired about Alaric, ED-01 revealed that Alaric was a unique AI exclusive to this ship. Alaric had been here before the rest of the droids even existed, making him a central figure in the ship's history and mysteries.
Arlo kept asking more questions, but ED-01 didn't have further details to offer. It seemed that Alaric, the AI in the bridge, held the key to unlocking more answers. Arlo realized that he needed to find a way to turn Alaric back on to gain more insight into the ship's current state and its history.
Turning his attention to the ship's repairs, Arlo asked ED-01 if the ship could be restored to working order. ED-01 replied that it could handle the repairs, but it would be more efficient to activate the rest of the reserve crew to expedite the process. Arlo agreed and initiated the activation process.
The hooks in the Robot Holding Bay began to lower systematically, releasing the droids in groups of five on both the left and right sides. After a few minutes, all the droids were online and operational. They surveyed their surroundings briefly before turning their attention to Arlo, their newly awakened commander.
With the ship's crew now online and operational, Arlo felt a newfound sense of responsibility and excitement. The journey ahead was uncertain, but he was determined to uncover the secrets of the Eternal Empire Ship.
As Arlo stood before the newly activated droids, each with its unique appearance and design, he marveled at the attention to detail in their construction. The soldier droid was the tallest at 5'8 and was also most imposing, with a bulkier frame and a distinctive star decal with crossed rifles with dark green glowing eyes. The security droid had a reinforced and intimidating appearance, featuring a shield with a padlock decal, and its singular eye glowed a menacing soft red.
The construction droid's design exuded practicality, with a rectangular face and small circular sensors resembling eyes that emitted a warm amber glow. Meanwhile, the mining droid had a smooth and sleek metallic face with two large optical sensors that emitted a calming blue glow.
Arlo was particularly intrigued by the teams that all the droids formed while the soldier droids formed squads, which allowed for clear organization and leadership roles within their ranks. As the droids arranged themselves into their respective teams and squads, Arlo found himself feeling a sense of awe and responsibility, knowing that he was now in command of this diverse and capable group of droids.
Before Arlo could gather his thoughts and address the droids, the Head Engineer spoke in a loud robotic voice, but this time something seemed different. The voice carried a newfound sense of confidence and authority, as if the robot itself had taken on a leadership role. It was apparent that ED-01 was now acting as the liaison between Arlo and the other droids, and it was ready to execute its duties as the Head Engineer and guide the droids under its command.
"Fellow soldiers of the Eternal Empire, today is a big day for the empire. The prophesy was right—the one who stands before you has the power of SynthoKinetics. If not, how else are we able to think and feel things which we have never felt before? His power is currently residing inside of each and every one of us. Our cores within us are no longer damaged or decaying with time, but instead, they are improving by the second, as we are now sentient like all other living beings," the Head Engineer announced. Arlo's eyes widened at the revelation.
He possessed a power called SynthoKinetics, and somehow, he had made all of these droids sentient. Before he could fully process his thoughts, the Head Engineer continued speaking.
"We soldiers of the Eternal Empire swear our undying loyalty and allegiance to you, Arlo, Emperor, and Commander of the Eternal Empire. Command us however you see fit, even if it's to die for you. We shall serve and carry out your every order until you dispose of us or we meet our end. Glory to the Eternal Empire! Glory to Emperor Arlo!" As the Head Engineer finished, the rest of the droids saluted with a fist to their chests and echoed the same vow.
The room filled with a chorus of synchronized robotic voices, all declaring their allegiance to Arlo. He stood there, trying to maintain a composed expression, but inside, his mind raced with the enormity of the moment. "I will make the Eternal Empire known throughout the universe, or I will die trying," Arlo repeated to himself, determination burning in his heart.
End of Chapter 1: New Beginnings