Giant Robots? Say no more. I’m in. Chapter 13

Giant Robots? Say no more. I’m in. Chapter 13

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Acinc

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Interlude: Ryleigh of House Remington, Aspirant Savior of Earth

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The birth of a new era, denotes the death of the present era.

No symbol or act could have been a better final nail in that coffin a Seidan Battlecruiser covered in the Empress’s colors flying above the Arcology.

“They did it.” Priscilla whispered. Awe filled her voice for the first time. Her eyes pored over the vessel. It was shaped like the tip of a spear. Every surface dedicated to war. More than half its surface battle scared and cratered, but it flew, it was pristine, and its secrets were our progenitors to take. “Those madmen boarded it.”

“Give me your abstracts and concepts.” I leaned moved to her and gave her my holo-tab. My family and many others had eyes from it in every direction. This was likely the last we will see of it. Tactical and strategic analyses will take place to try and replicate it. “My father will work with your family without question.”

Priscilla barely took note of the praise, of the unfettered faith I placed in her, and touched the surface of the holo-tab. It projected scans of the vessels. Everything we could get on it was poured over its surface and tried to unlock what was beneath. The Empress deigned to give us some charity by not occluding any of our sensors as it flew overhead jubilant crowds, between arcing fireworks, and through rapturous cheering and applause.

Priscilla opened her mouth to begin, when a massive holoscreen projected itself above the entire arcology.

The Empress gave no command nor order for us to bear witness… but none looked away.

None looked away at the absurdity of OS-549 taking flight, though only a few would know it was him. All were engrossed at his HUD, and the various readings all over his cockpit and screen, while he ravaged the enemy.

The Psionic Tower loomed in the distance, the battlecruiser in the air, and instead of running away… he looked to his right and left.

Just two other Knights.

Then, as three, they launched themselves upward towards the great vast, 7 kilometer-long vessel.

I watched as orbitals spat fire on the vessel and destroyed its shields, as missiles and coilgun rounds streaked in to kill most of the undercarriage point defenses, and as the hangers were slammed by ortillery and long-range missiles. Every single strategy and operation meticulously called in by OS-549, each one with their timers highlighted in the corner of the vision, while he flew low and then straight up.

Straight up into lances of pure plasma, condensed waves of kinetic energy, and beams of pure energy. He fired upon them, each shot that barked killing a turret before it could kill him, and all others dodged with feats of maneuverability akin to those that I had been destroyed by in the arena. A thirty second climb into devastating enemy fire, his body breaking as his piloting suit kept him alive, and breathing impossible.

Right into a wall of fire that would subside for mere seconds.

They flew straight through that gap, destroyed the assault discs that were being sent to intercept them, and reached their apex just as the fire resumed. Then, like comets, they crashed onto the deck of the battlecruiser where an army came forth to meet them.

An army that they slaughtered together.

An army led by a Seidan Psionic Titan that OS-549 slew without even being touched by.

I felt something warm in my hands when it ended, when all the creatures died with the avatar of their alien god, and when I looked down it was covered in red.

Blood.

My blood.

For the first time in my life, I felt… insufferably miniscule.

Not once did I believe that I could have been in that seat, doing anything that I just saw, in order to seize the ship that now hovered over our home.

My weakness disgusted me.

But I can rectify that.

This state of mine can change as well.

“We need to do the same. Find Seidan priority targets, then ambush them. Smaller ships are fine.” Already my wound was healing. A servant offered me a handkerchief and I accepted. Priscilla’s gaze was on my hands, but for the first time I detected sympathy. It wasn’t pity, but understanding. Nothing that I expected from my half-sister until today. She always chaffed when in the presence of those less than her and those greater than her. I suppose that she understood how I felt now. “Perhaps, we can mimic the death scream of the warbeast?”

“That would be a massive undertaking, but if we can kill the crew of a ship from afar, it would increase chances of gaining such a vessel ourselves. The Seidans are likely to think twice before sending a ship to protect a Psionic Tower, again.”

“But they will. They must. That’s why they are here.” The Seidans will not abandon their towers. They use it to take parts of our realm into theirs for their nefarious purposes. To what end, we did not know, but their hunger was more than apparent. If they concede all their Psionic Towers, then they cannot sate themselves. They will come, and we will get our chance. Until then, we needed to prepare diligently. “I will search for likely areas where Seidan Warbeasts may be located and prepare operations against them.”

“I will arrange for a laboratory to receive and study it.” Priscilla gave a curt nod, and without another word moved to leave.

I was tempted to just leave as well, but I forced myself to speak.

“Thank you, Priscilla. I cannot do this without you. In this task, we are equals and partners.” I made it clear. She was not subordinate to myself. Nor was I underneath her. Neither were we simply allies of convince. In this task, we were partners. “You have my trust. Ask me of anything, and I will get it for you to the best of my ability, so long as you explain why.”

Priscilla paused mid-step, and for the first time what seemed like a smile flickered on her face, before her usual sternness returned.

“The same goes for me as well, sister.”

She walked away, but even her attendants were shocked by her words.

They were almost warm.

…

I was strapped to a bed, IV dripping replacement blood into my veins, while machines tended to me. The mechanical arms scanned my body with a blue light, highlighting muscle and veins through skin, and produced all sorts of tools with various needles at their end to fix me up. Scalpels let loose coagulated blood, tubes extracted excess swelling fluid, and a cocktail of drugs was applied in various doses all over my body in precise increments. Instead of stitches, they used some sort of bio-gel to lather onto any cuts, and provided it with a form of light. In moments, I gained new, pinkish skin.

The medical technology of this world was the kind that could make someone in their hundreds look and feel like they’re in their late twenties. I was sure that the nobility didn’t have to worry about dying, either. Naturally, if an asset proved their worth, they’re given access to the same surgeries used by the elites.

Of course, there was no public information regarding modern medical procedures in this world.

Thus, I was pretty sure that orphans are probably chopped up into a slurry and somehow used to make up the healing and revitalizing medicines involved in the procedures.

I wouldn’t put it past this fucked up world to do something like that.

Anyway, within a few hours at the medical station, I was patched up and ambulatory, despite breaking multiple ribs, losing a lot of blood, and bruising every muscle and organ that I had.

Ready for a meal and to get ready to go to school the next day.

Honestly, I kinda wanted to be stuck in a hospital room for a bit.

Cina-140 was waiting for me right outside the medical room.

With a suit.

Dammit.

“Didn’t we talk enough on the transport?” I grumbled. The Empress had been there with Lady Hariss when I handed over the ship. While in my cockpit, getting moved carefully and not being let out as to not let me condition worsen, I’d debriefed. “Can I get something to eat?”

“Sir, Lady Hariss has requested your presence at dinner this evening in the main house. The Empress will be present, as well.” I lived in an attached structure to Gray Corpse’s hangar. We were on Hariss territory in the Arcology, but not connected to the main mansion. The main mansion was the size of several city blocks and its hallways used hover-cars to transport people to various locations. With over a thousand servants, the Hariss Family numbered just three people, but they had a whole village catering to their every whim. They considered themselves frugal… and they were right. Most other noble families of their rank had homes the size of towns with servants nearing ten thousand. “The transport is ready and dinner will be within thirty minutes.”

“A small snack then, please? I don’t want to look ravenously hungry for dinner.” My request got a nod, and for a moment the suit was forgotten. In my fresh patient gown, after getting disinfected from my healing, I took a seat while Cina-140 handed me a small bulb of nutrient jelly. I broke it up in the pouch and sipped on it. Since it was a small bulb, barely bigger than a gold ball, it was just around a two hundred calories. A high-protein snack with just enough carbs and fat in it to make the stomach feel full longer. Normally, Cina would just stand aside and think while I ate, but this time she kept looking at me. “What’s up? You look like you’re thinking pretty hard.”

“…How do you do it, sir?” I’m not a sir. I’m a dude. Maybe, bro. How about fella? “How do you stare at death, come up with ludicrous plans, and then commit yourself to doing the unimaginable?”

Well, that was a pretty simple question to answer.

“Probably cause I’m a freak who likes fighting in giant robots. Really, that’s all there is to it. I love what I do, and doing crazy stuff to put my skills and builds to the test.” This world is cruel, petty, and fucked up. The vast majority of people are debt-slaves in all but name, while the corporate-aristocracy rules over everything. The only cool parts of this humanity and this reality were its tech and how it used that tech for military purposes. Everything else was fucked, so I just focused on those two. “You should just think of me as an outlier. Think for yourself and find your own wants and limits.”

In short, I’m a fucking freak in this world.

Everything I want to do here, on this Earth, is centered around piloting a mechanized assault unit. Looking to me like some sort of inspiration is just asking for trouble.

“I… I see. Thank you, sir.” Cina didn’t look satisfied with the answer. Why would she? It’s practically a non-answer. Looking my way, I was sure that she could see that I wasn’t lying. She was disappointed that was all there was to it, in fact. “Are you done eating, sir?”

“Yep, let’s get this show on the road.”

I got up, stretched, and moved to get this unskippable cutscene over with.

Then, it’s school, and a few more days until I can sortie again.

…

I thought that I’d be eating a fancy dinner with Harris and Empress.

It was a bit different than expected.

I was meant to eat dinner while two other OS’s were standing by in piloting suits, obviously as malnourished as I was.

Or, rather, previously was.

I was in recovery, technically.

“Lady Hariss. Principal.” I gave formal bows to the two of them, before officially acknowledging the presence of the two other OS’s present. Both were wiry, thin, and twelve years young. I gave them the usual acknowledgement I gave other OS’s. “Yo.”

Both blinked away rapidly at my statement, while I took the only other seat at the circular table that dinner was to be eaten at. Not even a spot for them to eat at. There was barely room for three people, in fact. I’d call it intimate, but both Harris and Empress were dressed in suits with military long coats over their shoulders. Hariss had a few shiny, new medals on her left lapel. Empress, meanwhile, had a stupid amount on both sides of the jacket that went all the way to the jacket’s waist.

Ma’am, you’ve got enough metal through medals to stop pistol calibers.

“OS-549, you may be seated.” Lady Hariss gave me the go ahead, I bowed, and took a seat at an even pace. The two gazes of the other OS’s were drinking in my movements. Obviously, they wanted to take my spot. “These two are OS-216 and OS-143. They will be your new squires and you will train them.”

I took in that info, looked at the two feral children, and gave both a nod.

“I’m going to give you two a loadout. You’ll work to get it, use it until you have no debt, and then we’ll take missions together. Call ins are only the three cheapest of the day. Scout and plan before engaging the enemy, focus on dodging, and get your accuracy up past 95%.” The two’s eyes widened at my initial words, then they got serious, and started nodding along. I was surprised. These two looked like they were committed to doing it. “I’ll send you recordings of my fights and how I do things. Watch them and learn.”

OS-216 and OS-143 gave small, sharp nods after I finished speaking, which was satisfying enough.

Harris seemed to think so as well.

“The two of you are dismissed. Report to your new dorms and be ready for recovery procedures.” Lady Hariss stated, before going silent and bowing her head. “Empress, the floor is yours.”

The principal of my school gave a nod and looked my way.

“OS-549, how do you feel about capturing a 1st Class Edict AI?”

“Tell me when and I’ll be ready, ma’am.”

Looks like this dinner was a mission preview!

Amazing!