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Sighing as the animated Copaxi doesn't fall to their joined fire, Taerem takes a moment to study their targets with their biolab, the Bronze arachnid flashing and beeping as it feeds information.
Turning to the Creature with Pike in hand they fire again, this time releasing a special inhibitor created from some of the information gathered here and previous work on the Quorlu. "Time to test this."
for
Taerem's dart connects and begins to weaken the structure of the undead body while the remaining machine fire adds to the various weapons damage already throughout the area.
With rifles in hand the pair of copaxi make no attempt to approach as they fire rounds toward Tiberius and Helios, but are blocked by both fencing and grave barely stopping a hit against Helios.
Rifle Undead Blue (10 damage, -2 AC)
Rifle Undead Black
Tiberius
Helios-4 (0 damage)
Pike Undead Red (1 damage, -5 DR)
Analog Affair-12
Floquet Zukhet
...
Taerem
Tiberius's attack barely gets a hit on on his target, but still leaves it barely held together with the remaining bits of animated husk.
At the forefront, the undead continues to drive forward with it's spear in attempt destroy Helios-4 as it pays no attention to the weapon fire coming at it.
Rifle Undead Blue (12 damage, -2 AC)
Rifle Undead Black
Tiberius
Helios-4 (8 damage)
Pike Undead Red (1 damage, -5 DR)
Analog Affair-12
Floquet Zukhet
...
Taerem
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/activate violence subroutines ...processing ...processing ...
subroutines error error error anomaly anomaly subr%%%ines over%%ri%%e error err%% er%%r zkzhhhdhdsssssskdkdkd*&#^%#% alright alright alright!
He immediately leans out from behind the statue and fires twice at the skeleton attacking Helios-4!
The machine gun tears bullets tear through the weakened shell of the forward undead and leave the unanimated scraps left on the ground.
Taerum's injection lands on the weakened undead and causes havok on the undead's physical connections. Within a few moments the animation entirely fails as it collapses to the ground only leaving one undead left.
It shows little concern or awareness of it's companions or danger as it continues to load rounds into a rifle and fire through through the fencing. This latest attack manages to connect through Helios-4's armor!
Rifle Undead Blue (13 damage, -2 AC)
Rifle Undead Black
Tiberius
Helios-4 (13 damage)
Pike Undead Red (29 damage, -5 DR)
Analog Affair-12
Floquet Zukhet
...
Taerem
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As the Copaxi holding the pike topples over, Helios grins and turns to Analog.
"Welcome back! Was missin' you here!" The android is suddenly interrupted by a shot going through his left. Stifling a cry of pain, the android lurches forward and raises his rifle.
"That's it, you pile of alien s!%*!"
His circuits glow a deep blue, and it seems like the air in front of him starts warping as on a hot day.
With a few of the attacks just getting barely through the ruined stonework and tearing through the undead it joins the rest on the ground as the area slowly returns back to silence.
Looking through the graves you find them overgrown with weeds and a scattering of tiny multicolored flowers. Most of the gravestones are unmarked and those that did have any markings are too worn away by time for the translation equipment to have any chance to parse.
On a larger nearby monument though you find a inscription that has some portions of it still readable despite graffiti and other vandalization.
The writing is shows significant weathering and will require some skill to properly translate.
The descriptions here of the Signal seems to match those found near the observation tower.
Looking at the equipment from the undead and the soldiers matches the appraisal of the equipment at the mine. While the remains of vehicles, weapons, and other equipment are technologically inferior to those in the Pact Worlds, it is far beyond what is found in most of the city. Looking the battlefield, examining the area indicates that one of the forces in the battle used this technology and fought a opposing force which used devastating magical attacks. It seems clear that both sides took significant casualties.
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Going through the battlefield, Taerem is clearly occupied in taking biological samples of the deceased Copaxi to notice much else that is going on. however upon seeing the graffiti they are able to make out most of it's meaning based on the texts seen previously.
"Interesting... it says 'those who died of the Message of Madness are forever a part of this great city, their contributions forever a part of our memories.' and 'Your lies cannon silence the Signal! Long live the First to Listen!' they read out to the group when they have finished. "Seems there was a war over Triune's signal - matches with what Less than three mentioned."
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Medecine:
Engineering:
The Halfling is happy to see the undead... dead. So he can explore the battlefield, a cemetery indeed. Wondering around he noticed something that he tells to to others.
All the equipment we can find here seem to be 300 years old. The same for battle of which we can see traces.
Less Than Three comments over the comm units, "There was no battles logged into my databanks. While I saw little of the sky above or the world below, while I was working my sensors had never detected a significant fraction of the weapons fire or explosions in your battle now. This must come from another time, before my Mind Gift or after my sleep mode activation."
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Helios leans on the fence, feeling his injured leg and shoulder. He brushes a few debris away and walks to where his teammates are inspecting the gardens.
"Thanks for the help during the battle, Floquet."
The android is still in pain and has a hard time focusing on anything, although he does manage to translate the inscription and nods at Taerem's interpretation.
Helios advances through the ruins, running his hands along the walls and scanning the place to detect any remnant magic from the battle.
"Less Than Three, how long ago did you go into sleep mode?"
Helios-4 doesn't detect any lingering magic from the battle aside from a few faint traces among long destroyed magical gear.
Less Than Three processes the question for a few moments. "Exact period unclear, but systems show approximately a hundred years has passed since that queried time."
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The Halfling is wanting to inform Therseis of their discoveries. That's their part of the contract. He respects it.
Greetings Therseis. We had to fight some undead creatures. And there is something strange. We found things that should be dating from an epoch that Less Thank Three doesn't think possible. We should investigate this fact later.
Further he describes what they found.
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"Hmmph. So that means the battle should have taken place before you were deactivated. If you were even alive then. How long ago did you receive the Mind Gift?"
Helios sits down on a stump and begins repairing his shoulder and leg with a tool kit taken from his backpack.
"Gimme a few minutes to repair myself, will ya? Got pretty roughed up there."
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”I think we should meet Theresis before the last spot in case they have... pertinent information that will aid us piece facts together as each finding only gives more queries.” Taerem suggests as Helios rests. ”We can invite them here to see if they can find something and they can share without their allies’ intervention.”
"Less Than Three's recollection is complete in this matter," answers the robot over your comms while giving a series of beeps from it's head. "It is that I had received the Mind Gift within ten to twenty cycles. There is far less archived data from early interactions."
During your rest you also uncover a long lost cache of supplies that have survived the years under ample cover. Among them are weapons, a grenade, and several serums of healing.
...
After you have your chance to rest Theresis arrives at your call personally and taps out some commands on their datapad as they look about they ruined battlefield. "I can certainly pass the thanks of the local Yihil regional government for your efforts securing this location. May I have your report of your own discoveries here?"
After you give your initial findings, Theresis still shows wariness about the area as they stop glancing about and address the group while tapping out command onto their datapad. "I wanted to introduce you here, I've been keeping them safe for fear of them causing trouble, but those fears have been replaced with others." At their command small drone, no larger than Floquet, comes crawling out of a nearby alleyway with a series of six legs and a full set of cobbled together sensor arrays. Parts are picked and pulled from different sources and it produces an electronic warble as it approaches the area.
Therseis continues with the introduction, "this is Mil. I had created them when reviewing and experimenting with some of the initial scrap and supplies I have gathered from transports without governmental permission. The creation of it's nascent intelligence was unintentional, but I do not regret that development."
"Given the reports of how gravititional fields caused great disfunction within the robot workers we had been concerned how that would affect Mil. Given the governmental stance on any artificial intelligence development, I kept them safe with me to be able to respond in case they developed any issues." Therseis takes another look around into the alleyways and broken cover as she continues, "Given your information, we are even more concerned on the action my government would take if they were to discover Mil's existence. It is likely that they would seek to either confiscate or destroy them."
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The Analog Affair's violence subroutines having ceased since the last combat, he is curious about Mil. "Less Than Three, please introduce yourself to Mil."
The android continues pondering. Stating the obvious, he says, [b]"If your government is responsible for the destruction of artificial intelligences, this will hinder their petition to join the Pact Worlds."[b]
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The Halfling tells Therseis what they found on the site. He has already spoken about the material coming from an epoch impossible as Less Than Three told them . Then he says that there is an inscription on a monument which they could translate: ...those who died of the Message of Madness are forever a part of this great city, their contributions forever a part of our memories." The equipment also continues by translating the graffiti as stating, "Your lies cannon silence the Signal! Long live the First to Listen!
What do you think about that?
Diplomacy:
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Seeing the reveal of the Mechanic Taerem is less apprehensive about the Copaxi regarding their intentions, but still their guard remains up. "Hmm, all this occurred Hundreds of years ago - whilst we cannot lie to the Pact Worlds committee, as Analog mentions it may hinder you based on the complicity of your Government."
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Helios studies Mil with attention, listening to the discussion between the party and Therseis an nodding in agreement, visibly upset about the subject of AI killing. He lets Floquet describe their findings and adds some of his own observations.
"And we've already told you about the journal we found, stating that the Signal was probably source of conflict between Copaxi. Or Copaxi and artifical intelligences. We've also deciphered the writings in the mine, which said that the robots were gifted with "the Mind Gift of the Three That Are One" - Triune's Signal."
Mil and Less Than Three communicate in a series of beep and tones to one another. Therseis listens to the electronic dialogue and lets it complete before responding to the party.
"It is the request through your Pact Worlds that our team don't discuss the petition with the goal of prohibiting inappropriate pleas. I will state that each of the research team, including myself, would desire to join the Pact Worlds, I will not making any pleading to try sway your own report. I merely ask you consider all factors and be fair in your judgement whatever that may be."
Directing themselves toward Helios first Thereis adds, "Based upon the information you sent on the document, that is the oldest recording we have on record even among from your own findings. If one were to take it at base value, it would state that there were copaxi that deciphered the Signal among the city. The city's magical aristocracy, fearing the change that would come from that and the damage it would mean for the world, had those who heard the message were executed."
"I have seen records referencing the 'Message of Madness' and I know that their rediscovery was was drove our recent ventures into space. The versions I were told claimed that that those who initially heard the message suffered irreparable mental trauma and took their own lives. This, as with much information I have been taught, conflicts with the record you found."
Turning to Floquet they continue, "that monument seems to have been constructed following that event and seems to mourn those who had heard the message. The graffiti, and the battle around, suggest an uprising against the rulers of the city. We had told you before that the cities and those who ruled were destroyed by divine retribution, but this does not seem to be matched the signs of urban warfare and unrest here." Thereis pauses for a long moment as they look toward a ruined, bullet-ridden wall with ancient faded stains.
"Less Than Three is from a more recent era though, but still many cycles before my own time. The lifespan of a copaxi is shorter than your own races; a life cycle is approximately 40 cycles with my own age is about half of that. I find what happened to them to be horrific, as with much of the information you have found, and I wish this to be much different. I do not wish you to lie on your report, but none who preside on the government now, or even their predecessors, would have been alive during those events. It is likely though they are at least aware of the cleansing of history to remove much of our dark history."
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"Hmm."
His injuries repaired for the moment, Helios gets up. "Yeah, does seem like the government wants to put a lid on it. But as you said, none of the current government even witnessed those events, much less had part in it. If they're ready to face what happened, be honest about it and move on..." The android shrugs. "But there's no point in taking a decision right now when we still have a location to visit."
Helios pops a gum out of a packet and puts it in his mouth.
"Ready to move out when y'all are."
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The Halfling approves Helios-4's words.
And we will write a report. We won't make the decision. Of course our explanations will have their weight. That's why we are here by the way. But we haven't decided anything right now and we will move on the last destination to explore in the city. Then we will come back to meet you and your companions again. We probably make our decision then. But no pressure, Therseis. We collaborate. We are not enemies. The the most important thing.
You take your leave toward the Transport Station and find a sprawl of checkpoints, landing platforms, and a variety of non-functional transport vessels lined in copi.
There is another mounted telescope on this near the edge of the city. It gives another view of other floating cities in varying states of destruction and instability. From the view there are no other cities in nearly as a functional state as the one you are on.
Turning the view downward gives a view of the planet surface. There is little wilderness and most is covered in sprawling industrialized landscapes.
Within them you can see various multi-tiered farms within the urban landscape.
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Helios shrugs in response to Tiberius' comment.
"Price to pay for progress, I say."
Helios observes the decaying vehicles, moving in circles around them as if searching for something.
"Huh. No propulsion systems whatsoever. No piloting systems either." He continues examining them for a while before scoffing. "Poor craftmanship, too. Look at those edges." He runs a hand along the vehicle, then wipes off the dust and moss on his pants. "It's hard to believe they had any knowledge in aerodynamics. Whatever it was, it was surely propelled by magic."
Having finished his tour of the facility, the android rejoins Tiberius looking down at the planet.
"Hmm. Maybe you were right, Tibs. Nothing could save those ecosystems now, they'll be lucky if they don't collapse."
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”I agree with Helios’ assessment - these transport engines surely used the Copi to travel, perhaps using gravitational forces not unlike those harnessed by a Solarion?” Taerem muses as they too examine the remnants, taking scrapings of Copi for further experimentation.
”Hmm, it would seem like we have seen all there is to see. What say you Captain?”
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"Yeah seems like we've seen all there is to see here. Time to make up our minds on how we want to handle the petition and then head back. I'm having trouble making up my mind. On the one hand, it's obvious the Copaxi government has been lying to us to cover up the atrocities committed by their ancestors, but on the other hand it was their ancestors who made those mistakes. Then there's the matter of those scavengers we encountered. According to them, the people are being oppressed by the government right now which is another strike against them but at the same time granting the petition might provide the citizens who are currently suffering new opportunities to improve their situations. Then there's the matter of their stance on sentient machines. If the Copaxi have any hope of fitting into Pact Worlds society they will have to get over their misgivings and prejudices. Once again I am discouraged by the stance of the government but encouraged by the common people since Therseis and his team seem willing to foster and protect Mil.
Either way, I think we need to provide the Stewards with a complete report so they understand exactly what has been going on here, but as for my own vote or recommendation, I think it's a matter of do we vote no to condemn the government's actions or vote yes in the hope that the common people can make things better. Personally I'm leaning towards yes. I don't know if I can turn my back on the benefits protectorate status would provide the people just to condemn the current elite. Especially knowing that their lifespans are so short. A new generation of Copaxi will spring up in no time who will grow up with androids and SRO's and drift travel as part of every day life."
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"Agree with you there, Tibs." begins Helios as he crosses his arms.
"Everybody deserves an opportunity to make his own life better. Sure, the government may have done some pretty awful stuff, but it's plain ol' regular citizens that'll be punished. If they get protectorate status, they'll have a much better shot at getting a better life." The android chews gum pensively before continuing. "And it's not even the current generation that's responsible for the atrocities we've witnessed. As you say, Therseis and their team didn't seem so bad after all, they even seemed ready to move on. Why hold a grudge for something that happened generations ago?"
"And we've gotta think about the rest of the Pact Worlds, too; do you realize how invaluable that copi substance might be? Maybe in a few years we could hone our control of gravity using the knowledge we might find here."
"All in all, I say give the guys a chance."
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The Halfling remains as usual.
I agree. These people can change their world. It's a proof of trust in them to vote yes. Perhaps they didn't know what occurred. Perhaps did they have had fear of our reaction. Perhaps did they find the situation normal. It doesn't matter in the final. The Pact Worlds must be strong enough to explain what is the good and to make it learnt by an other people. And it seems that Therseis and his companions are willing to learn. I think we must write all this in our report but still purpose the protectorate.
Haring your comments, Thereis does correct one specific element of Tiberius's evaluation. "It is critical for you to know though that the remainder of my team is unaware of Mils and we would prefer to keep it that way. While I don't cast any malicious intent on them, their loyalty is to the government and would certainly wish to report, and potentially return Mils to the government laboratories for study. I do not trust them on this matter and I would suggest the same is for Less Than Three as well."
"It clearly shows a failure on my own part to, as a governmental representative, to suggest such wariness of my own fellow team members and those I serve, but it is still the case. If you wish to them to return with you, I would first recommend stealth and deception. Much like the relics you have recovered, they will certainly expect Less Than Three to remain here."
Looking toward Mils, and with the drone's encouragement Thereis also adds, "I do have another request. Seeing the actions you have taken, the revelations you have found without any intent to obscure the evidence, I want to return with you to the Pact Worlds and act as an emissary. No matter how this decision on the petition goes, it will be imperative that someone take on the role of keeping a conversation open."
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Taerem listens to the group deciding what to do next and shrugs their four arms as they check out the initial sample readings of the Copi. "You are correct, I feel this Copi will greatly benefit the Pact Worlds. Most civilisations have atrocities in their past and Wars have happened between most of the Pact's members at one time or another. We are not friends but allies and so the Copaxi too can become allies." they surmise, pausing again before continuing."There are always fringe elements such as the stragglers who claim heavy handedness by their government - we should take their words with a pinch of ash."
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I'm greeting your position to want to come with us to the Pact Worlds and act as an emissary. I think also that all the stuff about the petition will need more discussion than simply a report after an exploration. We cooperate and that should be the beginning of more intensified cooperation between you and the Pact Worlds instead of a transitional phase.
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"I could attempt to distract Bryanisis by discussin some of my finds here, they are a biologist and would undoubtedly allow me to gain a better insight into the genetic samples i've taken." Taerem suggests, their emphasis on the Copaxi's profession an indication of their feelings on the field. "Once aboard the Captain merely needs to radio me back and I can disengage with them. They seemed most cautious of our Android companions."
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Tiberius nods in agreement. "I think it's a fine idea for you to come along as an emissary Therseis and I'm sorry I misunderstood the situation with Mil. We certainly don't want to put them at risk so we'll keep our lips shut when we get back to the camp."
He pauses for a moment as he turns to look at Less Than Three. "Your skills'll definitely come in handy if we have to sneak Less Than Three on board the ship Floquet. A little misdirection to draw their attention might help as well. How about a few of us distract the members of Therseis' team while the rest smuggle our new friend onto the ship?"
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He pauses for a moment as he turns to look at Less Than Three. "Your skills'll definitely come in handy if we have to sneak Less Than Three on board the ship Floquet. A little misdirection to draw their attention might help as well. How about a few of us distract the members of Therseis' team while the rest smuggle our new friend onto the ship?"
”I will accompany Floquet. The chances of danger are high, should the ruse be revealed. And perhaps my non-biological nature will distract them,” says the Analog Affair, hefting his weapon.
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Helios agrees with the plan with a curt nod.
"Sounds like a plan. I can use my spells to disguise and camouflage Less Than Three the best I can, though it will only last for an hour."
He turns to Taerem and adds:
"While you distract the scientists, I'll stay back and watch for any of them that might wander in our extraction team's direction. If they do, I'll try to redirect them to you." A sly grin appears on his face. "Shouldn't be too hard to make them flee me."
Bryanisis is still nervous and reserved as Taerem moves to speak with them, but is distracted by the conversation as they share insights with Taerem on the copi samples. "The, the samples seem to vary based on when they were grown and raised. However our tools show that the genetic code is virtually identical. Do your tools show the same? What do you think could be the cause of the different in the quality, or growth pattern, of copi from the different eras?"