Also, make sure to reaffirm to her that Ketere died defender her and their egg - Golden Empire be damned.

Uwix 2010/05/03(Mon)14:23 No. 173232 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127292179069.png - (199.34KB , 640x480 , 3-17.png )

>>172514
>>172522

Hm. Interesting. Tracing back Reseri's timeline to the last point the egg was still... Hrrm. I had assumed incorrectly. The egg does not vanish from the timeline due to its destruction. But it simply vanishes. Although I have also noticed that Ketere was... beyond salvaging. I have always known I am not the only entity altering timelines. The removal of the egg from the timelines I oversee would appear to be a step in one of their machinations. I must depart. I direly need to re-examine the changes to the timelines. My plans are not to be interfered with.

>>172541

"You said he tried to save you and your egg. I don't think he did that for the Empire. I think he did that for you."

She nods slowly, lets go of me, and stands up.

"I can help you! If you help me find Nyix I can help you guys get out of here. All of you. Tezex as well! You don't have to keep doing this any more."

"...Tezex!!"

She runs back where we left Tezex. I look around for a few minutes at the shiny machines and towers of Zenith as I hear angry shouting.

As I look at them they don't seem as shiny as before. Some of the machines are starting to slow down and seize up. It's like the whole place. Shiny when you look at it for a second, breaking down when you look closer.

I drift towards them. The angry shouting's gone and I see Tezex hugging Reseri. I get the idea they were normally good friends. Dunno why Reseri tried to kill him. And maybe succeeded? You guys don't make things easy to understand.

"...wouldn't have wanted you to give up, like you said. Best damn cenesu I ever knew. Still, you're right. We all need to get out of here. Uwix! Come over here."

"What?"

"Those of us unlucky enough to be born in this place don't escape easily. We're going to go to medical and get your friend. We won't be able to just walk out of the front gates. We'll have to take an alternate path."

I'm not good at this escape plan stuff. Can you voices think of anything for me to ask him?

>>173232
Should save the questions until we get out of here.

As for getting out... can you just leave? I mean, no one knows they're planning on actually quitting. They should just be able to escort the two of you out of the city, and then you can flee from there.

>>173232

>> But it simply vanishes.

>> I must depart. I direly need to re-examine the changes to the timelines. My plans are not to be interfered with.

Glad to point it out to you. Best of luck there. Although... if you now just pulled the egg through time, wouldn't your past measurements indicate that it vanished due to mysterious forces you had not yet employed? Seems presumtive just yet to rule out that you yourself were the one who made the egg vanish from its timeline.

inb4 Reseri is Teteke's mom

>>173232

Ask him if he knows any tunnels underneath the city. Tunnels are awesome!

Heavily guarded tunnels is best because they won't expect that you can fix the guard machines to let you through.

Looks like you could fix a lot in this city actually...

Yes, we COULD set up a distraction by messing with a machine somewhere, then sneak out during the commotion.

>>173232
@Th
Look at the egg and show us what it would have looked like as both a child and as an adult. We can keep an eye out for it, and if we see it you can trace it back to find out who manipulated it.

As far as Ketere goes? We don't need his entire body, just his mind. A little change so that his brain ends up in cryostasis, and then Zenith does some experimentation into cloning.
Magic the brain into the cloned shell and he's alive with a minimal alteration to the timestream.

Uwix 2010/05/06(Thu)15:28 No. 174191 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127318489647.png - (130.56KB , 640x480 , 3-18.png )

>>173234

"Can't you guys just walk out?"

Tezex shakes his head. "We need explicit permission to leave the city. We were a small force tasked with intercepting and capturing the Machine soldier detected close to the city. If we hadn't returned for a while, they'd have sent craftkind out to make sure we were still focusing on the job. ...And that we hadn't tried to run away or anything."

>>173349
>>173359

"Are there any tunnels? I could make a machine do things as a distraction!"

He looks at me with his eyes sorta squinted and slowly slides a tendril over his face. "Yes, there are tunnels. Don't touch anything. You might think you're something else with machines. A lot of us do. Trust me. The city mechanisms are far more complex than the stuff you've probably played about with."

Reseri taps at the thing on her shirt. "Kateke. Selin. Ainea. Report."

A sort of buzzy voice comes from it! Ooo! Is it like the talking-stones back home? ...I miss home. I want to go back there as soon as we find Nyix and leave. Maybe I can take these people there!

"Selin speaking. The umbral's a little shaken, but she's in near-perfect condition. Ainea's looking after her. Parts of her floatation organs were missing, but they've been regrown with a few minutes of focused creation and perpetuation. We also found part of... something lodged into her side. Kateke's been studying it since. It's... well, I'll tell you when you get back.

...She's alive?

She's alive!!

She's alive Thousandfold! I was worried for a bit and now I'm not! Yay! My best friend is alive and we're going to get out of this place!

We're on our way to "medical". I guess it'd be like a hospital or something.

Tezex talks along the way. "So, Uwix. Where did you and Nyix actually come from?"

"Oh. Uhhh... there's a city where lots of umbrals live called Abat-null. I come from there."

"Abat-null, eh? I bet your parents and Nyix's parents must be getting very worried about now."

...

They probably are! I don't want them to be worried if we're okay!

Thousandfold, can you do something about that? Like tell them we're safe? I don't know what you guys can do!

>>174191
I... have no idea if we can tell them you're (more or less) safe either. See we kind of have that whole "don't totally know what we can do" problem either; I mean, shouting randomly at people who aren't here has not worked most of the time but has gotten results a couple of times, so I don't really know.

So, um, immediate concern: find Nyix; next concern: get out of here. Somehow.

Wish I knew how to do that. :<

>>174191

The only ones who can take us away from people seem to be the most powerful of the Machines, and the Golden Dudes whom I think are like, gods or something. I wouldn't recommend asking them though. We can deliver a message if we get stuck to someone over there, or if the person we're stuck to goes there. Mostly all we can do is violate determinism and destroy prophecy. You want us around if you need help escaping a terrible fate, but you will want to look for something else to deliver a message.

>>174191
>"Abat-null, eh? I bet your parents and Nyix's parents must be getting very worried about now."

Wait... Uwix, how old are you? Are you an adult?

>>174191
No we probably can't do anything about that. Or if we could chances are they would be even more worried.

But don't worry about that now. Right now you need to get out of there. Then you need to make your way over to Rillford.

Uwix 2010/05/08(Sat)13:19 No. 175088 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12733499788.png - (317.85KB , 640x480 , 3-19.png )

>>174535

I guess I'm sorta not an adult yet. I'm not just a kid though. And I got on a boat I found with Nyix without telling anyone we were going to come here.

I know they're gonna be mad at me and Nyix when I get back for sure, but I dunno. My parents being mad at me isn't nearly as bad as getting eaten by weird things or stuck in this place.

>>174193
>>174528

Aw. You're right. I should hurry up and get out of here.

>>174563

I know you guys say Rillford is an important place but I think I should at least let my family know I'm alive!

"*kshk* Reseri?"

Reseri stops immediately and jabs at the talky thing. I have no idea how it works but I want one! I could just tell my parents not to worry and that I'm going to Rillford or whatever!

"Yes, Selin?"

"No time to explain! Get to the front gates!" Through the sort of crackly voice I can hear that he's breathing pretty heavily like he's running and talking at the same time.

"What is it? What's going on over there?!"

"We were leaving medical and something started chasing us! Think it may be one of the Opuses that broke containment! And also what part of 'no time to explain' isn't clear to you?! ...SH-"

Selin's voice just stops. A weird buzzy voice replaces it. "Connection with target device has been lost. Connection with target device has been re-established."

I don't know what the next voice is but it sounds worryingly happy. "What a fascinating device! *click* It's so shiny! I have to have it. *whirr* Ooo, and it's connected, too! *click* Wonder who the seltwil was talking to? *whirr* Oh well!"

...

I've never seen a cenesu run so fast. They run fast to begin with! Me and Tezex do our best to keep up but we just can't move as fast as a sprinting cenesu.

"Spirits. It's 20. I'm sure of it. Why the hell it's doing I have no idea but... Okay, Uwix. You heard that voice, right? If you hear it, close your eyes and don't open them. Ever. If you keep your eyes closed, it can't do anything. And don't hold or touch anything mechanical if it's nearby."

"...okay, huf, huf, I guess, huf, what is it what's 20"

"...spirits. That thing right there. CLOSE YOUR EYES!"

It looks shiny!
...
I should close my eyes I should close my eyes

"Haha! Excellent! New friends! *click* Hi there! *whirr* Ooo, you feel different to the others! *click* You feel... less changing! *whirr* And I think you talked to 15 not too long ago! It's staying on you longer than the other! Haha! *click whirr*"

That's one glowy light thing-

i await commands from the empire my life for the empire i await commands- what what am i thinking my vision is going blurry

"I think you should =STAY THERE= for a bit! *click*"

oh no oh no i can't move i can't move i should move i want to move move body move no don't sink that's the complete opposite of what i want you to do

"Haha! Yes! Your name is Uwix! You're an umbral, not quite of adult age yet! Your home city is Abat-null! Wonderful! *whirr* You like shiny things! You like mechanical things! How marvellous! *click* Do you want to be my friend, Uwix? It is such a fun existence! *whirr* Don't be so scared! It's fun!"

my head hurts it's like something is poking me inside my head over and over

"Oooo! This is so very new! *whirr* There is something else in here! *click* Hello, thing! What are you? Do you want to be my friend too? *whirr*"

No.

close your eyes, NOW.

>>175088
Which faction are you with? Machine? Golden? Chaos?
Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. You probably don't want to stay around this Umbral, since that will probably get you killed.

@Ir: We've got something you can blow up here - for the good of the Golden Empire, of course.

>>175088
If you go very far away and leave the people on this planet alone, then yes, we can be your friend.

You do realize you're hurting Uwix right? Friends don't hurt friends.

>>175088

You don't want to talk to us! We are liars, you see. We always lie, and never tell the truth. In fact, I'm lying to you now.

...

Uwix, =CLOSE YOUR EYES=

20, =GO AWAY=

>>175088
NO WE DO NOT. UWIX, CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW.

Θ][Σ 2010/05/08(Sat)20:13 No. 175245 ID: f21281
File 127337479329.png - (196.22KB , 640x480 , TheTruthWillSetYouFree.png )

>>175088
Hi. Wanna see something neat?

>>175245
Seen it, bought the shirt.

Uwix 2010/05/11(Tue)07:39 No. 176103 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127358877570.png - (60.00KB , 640x480 , 3-20.png )

>>175101

"Heeheehee! I like you! *click* Machine? Chaos? What are those? *whirr* Don't like the Golden. Keep me locked up! *click* No fun at all!"

>>175108
>>175149

"Aw but that's no fun! *whirr* Hurting Uwix? Hahaha! That's silly! You're silly! *click* The things you say are silly! You're fun! *whirr*"

feel faint so dizzy

>>175245

"15! 15's symbol! Haha! *click* Are you friends with 15? *whirr* I like 15!"

>>175095
>>175097
>>175150
>>175231

"You're no fun at all! *click* I'll go away."

yes obey commands will obey commands close eyes closing eyes-

AAAAAA that was so scary! I'm putting my arms over my eyes until it goes away! So scared so scared I don't understand what happened it was like a voice that was always at the back of my head suddenly appeared and told me to do things!

I hear it go away and open my eyes. Tezex isn't here.

I keep going forward until I sort of recognise the path to the gates we came in through- NYIX!

"...Uwix?!"

"Nyix!"

She's alive and she's here and everything's okay we can go home now as far away from this place as we can go!

"Nyix, we have to get out of here! We have to go home!"

She doesn't say anything and just... starts crying? She hugs me more tightly.

"Nyix? What's wrong?"

"Uwix I was so scared I thought I was going to die and that no-one would ever find us again I'm sorry I-"

"It's okay it's okay we're here we're alive we can get back home they're going to help us!"

Poor Nyix, I've never seen her so shaken up!

Slightly further away I hear Reseri's voice. I'm sure she knows what she's doing. Nyix needs me right now.

[cutscene ahoy]

Uwix 2010/05/11(Tue)09:12 No. 176106 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12735943506.png - (358.45KB , 640x480 , 3-21.png )

"I've asked you politely. I've invoked my authority. Explain why we can't leave right this instant."

"zrrn zrrn LOCKDOWN IS IN EFFECT. NOTHING MAY LEAVE ZENITH WHILE OPUS 20 IS OUTSIDE OF CONTAINMENT."

I hear another cenesu. "Reseri. Leave this to me."

I hear a bunch of crunching, a mechanically grating screech and a shattering of something. "...PROTOCOL protoPROTOCOL PRIOrity chanCHANGE. ACCE- ACCESS- ACCESSALLOWED. LOWED. bzzt"

Me and Nyix move to the rest of the group. We all quietly move out of Zenith and start running once we're clear of the gates.

We're out of that horrible place! We all made it!

Wait.

"Reseri, where did Tezex go?"

She spins around in alarm. "What?!"

Selin grabs Reseri before she starts to run back to Zenith. "No, we can't go back after him, Reseri! We took a risk great enough to get out of there-"

Nyix looks around. "Where's the other seltwil? Where's Ainea?"

I don't think I've seen a seltwil run as fast as a spriting cenesu before...

Kateke coughs and looks around. "I. Uh. You two'll be fine, right?"

"I... I think so."

"Good. Don't worry about us. Go."

And there he goes back to the gates.

Me and Nyix wander away from the crazy golden city after a pause.

I feel like I should be happy. I got Nyix back, she's alive, she's unharmed. We're free from Zenith.

I feel really, really scared. Scared for myself and Nyix.

We find somewhere safe among the trees to sleep. We're both so scared we fall asleep in each other's arms.

All I dream of are swirly coloured monsters, laughing golden machines, and people trapped inside very small floating boxes.

- END OF CHAPTER -

Resonance 2010/05/11(Tue)09:14 No. 176109 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127359446652.png - (177.31KB , 640x480 , 3-22.png )

World Summary: Towers Active: 2/9 Unified Terean Influence: 40% Golden Empire Influence: 35% Machine Influence: 25% Uwix did not learn or improve spells. Nyix did not learn or improve spells.

Interlude Quiet Resolution 2010/05/11(Tue)10:08 No. 176115 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12735977034.png - (92.27KB , 640x480 , i1-1.png )

-...given their ease of control.-

-Is it not within our power to sever their links to the Empire?! Is it not the very foundation of the Machine to protect those greatest at risk from the Empire?! Director, further actions against these species serve no purpose but to hasten our demise!-

-They are intrinsically linked to the weapon, as I have repeatedly stated. Why should we attempt to preserve those who are, in their purest essence, cogs in a weapon? A weapon of which has destructive potential we have not yet fully understood?-

-They are not linked to the weapon! They are unwilling fuel for it! Much as we ourselves were not linked to the technologies of the Empire, but used as its minds, its fuel! How do they differ in this situation?!-

-...This correlates with the intelligence relating to the city of Zenith. ...Very well. Hostilities will be reduced. I will instruct the invasion forces to use force only if necessary. But we cannot afford to leave this world. The weapon is too great a threat to leave intact.-

Yes. Knew it. The Director still has some shred of her old self left in her.

Hold.

Who are you? ...All of you?

>>176115
Wow, we are NOT supposed to be here. How did we manage this?

Hello again, Quiet. We are the Thousandfold. We were previously assisting Uwix. I am surprised you did not notice.

Anyway, we empathize with the Machine's plight, and that of the world. We too wish to prevent the weapon from being fired. For now, anyway. I think there is a possibility that it could be used to attack something worth sacrificing the planet in order to kill. Saving the universe would be worth it, right? Sadly we do not have enough information to judge if that is correct.

The Director is pissed off at us for our past actions, and rightly so. Please do not reveal our presence here.

>>176115
Hello Quiet, interesting to see you from this side - although like my compatriot said, I don't think we're supposed to be here.

from our underrstanding you only need to destroy a tower to render the weapon useless as it would no longer be able to create the necessary energy.

>>176174
...Yeah, but be warned. If the Golden Empire is half as smart as it should be, there's bound to be something in place that will make the weapon go off/make sure it's still deadly in some capacity - even if you do destroy one of those Towers.

>>176188
indeed. that's why you need t destroy all of them to be sure.

You machines are scary! At least the Opuses. We met one called Opus 20, and it almost broke little Nyix on accident! It was an accident though, and the opus did leave him alone, but 20 was still trapped in the machine city when we left, and seeming very confused.

That said we managed to get an ally from the city, two actually but one hasn't made it out yet. Also it would be best if you didn't inform anyone around you that we're uh... here. They get kind of bitchy about our presence, and we want to talk with you!

>>176333
I'm pretty sure Opus 20 wasn't part of the machine. I mean, he may have been a machine, but unrelated to The Machine, who are definitely not just every mechanical device ever. Or possibly even any mechanical devices. Quiet, you guys' name is kind of a misnomer. I know it's probably meant to be symbolic and stuff, but seriously, I'm getting tired of all these things being named badly. The Machine, a faction of normal, non-robotic races (albeit ones in mechanical suit-body-things). Perpetuation, the magic of not keeping things the way they are. The Abstract Chaos, a completely real and non-theoretical place made of up... stuff. That actually does seem to obey some simple concepts. Opuses, of which I'm not really sure what they are, but it definitely isn't things someone made. Southfort, a fort in the-- wait, no, that one makes sense.

Oh wow, I really got on a tangent there, didn't I? Well, back to my first point, 20 seemed to make Uwix think about obeying orders and loyalty to the Golden Empire, so it's really unlikely he would be a part of their mortal enemies.

>>176115
But yeah, Quiet. I think some of the others have handled the introductions, so what have you been up to? Sounds like you're at least making progress on the 'prevent everyone from being killed' front. Hey, how much do you even know about what's going on? We've managed to get quite a bit of information that might be useful in deciding on a course of action, and convincing Force of it.

Quiet Resolution 2010/05/12(Wed)16:54 No. 176570 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127370847043.png - (163.42KB , 640x480 , i1-2.png )

>>176135
>>176168

...!!! You were the voices I heard when I established the link with Uwix...

What are you doing here, 259? Are you- Are all of you insane- well, that seems a given.

How did you get into the Core so easily?

>>176168
>>176174
>>176188
>>176192

This is exactly why no Machine forces are permitted to go anywhere near the Towers without authorisation. Not until we're sure what triggers them. Or that we can tell if they're active or not.

You wouldn't happen to know if any of them are active or not, would you? It may strengthen my case.

>>176406

I have made a great deal of progress. I have paused while the Director considers what I have said. I can't say I am aware of the entirety of her plans and machinations, but her aims no longer include "kill them all just to be safe". I hope.

I trust you reasonably well, given your attempts to help the umbral. I don't know what past actions you're referring to, but she... She never was the same after the attack on Obsidian. Several of those close to me came so close to death that day, but that pales into insignificance compared to... never mind. I digress.

The Machine. I believe I should explain why we take this name. Without delving into the entire history of the decatur, those who survived the revolution that gave us back our future as a species could see only one recourse. For the sake of all decatur living, for the memory of all decatur killed, for the safety of all decatur yet to be born, the Empire had to be stopped.

The creator and leader of the Machine, First And Last, told us that we could not allow the Golden Empire to exploit us as they had before, and that to face them as before would be to simply hand ourselves back to them.

A new approach would be required. We would fight the Empire and we would not stop. We would fight them constantly. Like an untiring machine. The machine to destroy the Empire. Unceasing. Merciless. We would tear them down and give them no chance to repair or rebuild. They turned our natural resonance to their magic to their advantage. We would turn their magic against them.

And thus was the Machine created, and as we found those threatened by the Empire, we found in them new allies and greater forces.

-Emissary? Any further matters to discuss?-

Anything you wish me to discuss on your behalf? ...Within reason?

two are active at the moment. the one you found uwix in turned on just before your arrival.

>>176570
I dunno if we have anything to discuss with the Director.

I will say, in case you aren't aware -- apparently, part of our deal is that we routinely lose all knowledge of everything and start over again. Which has, we've been told, by the Director herself, even, led to, uh, bad things happening.

And of course we have absolutely no memory of any of it. It's a mess.

Moving beyond that, um, since you asked, there are currently two towers active. One is our fault (it happened right after we "woke up," so we had no idea what it was going to do); the other isn't.

>>176570
The only thing I can really think of is that we've been talking with the three bound mortals, and we're going to be steering them away from activating Towers/steering them towards finding out how to prevent the weapon from being usable at all. At least, that's my goal.

Would knowing if any towers are active switch the Director to panic mode? 'Cause we might know something, but if it's something that would push her closer to "kill everything so they can't destroy us", I would rather keep it to ourselves.

...Also, you might not want to say we're here. Our last 'chat' with the Director wasn't exactly a friendly one.

>>176570
The people at Zenith are suffering under the Golden Empire's rule, and being attacked by abominations. If you defend them against the Anomalies, some of them might actually cooperate to some extent. We know of two that actively wish to abandon the city.

This also means that the forces there are DISTRACTED. An assault on Zenith might succeed, though we would prefer it if you avoided killing.

Also, one of the Towers activated via an override from one of the three Essences. Speaking of which, AU is loyal to the Golden Empire. TH has told us that he is not, and seeks to stop the Golden Empire's enslavement of other races. We believe him. TH says that IR feigns loyalty. We do not know IR's true motivations.

By the way, Uwix and Nyix managed to escape Zenith. The others are fighting the Anomalies.

Speaking of Anomalies... have you seen one that refers to itself as 'Sensation'? Possibly, another creature similar to Anomaly 33?

>>176570
Two of the towers have been activated. One of them on the Terea mainland, another off on a small island, probably near Abat-Null. Oh wait, you were at that one, right.

Do you guys know what the Resonance does yet? All we know is it's a weapon, and it uses the life of everyone on Ter to power it.

We're really sorry about the Director, by the way. That attack you mentioned? Our fault. Or at least a previous version of us. Complete recurring amnesia and permanent identities don't mesh well. We were also the ones who helped her settle Obsidian in the first place. I'm sure that only made it worse when we started working for the other side the next iteration, though. :<

Let's see... The Machine, Resonance, Ter, The Empire... Oh! The Abstract Chaos! Anything you can tell us about that? We've had some run ins with creatures from there (though I'm sure I don't have to tell you that), so any information would be nice. Any way to kill those things? Send them back outside the universe? Something? How do they relate to your 'Anomalies', too? You've definitely called at least Truth one of them, and it's a fitting moniker (for once), but supposedly we're number 259? And while I'd definitely call us an anomaly, I don't think we're related to the chaos. What do you know about us? Can you get the file on 259 or something? Also, Truth's, what was he... 33, that's right. How do they match up with the Golden Empire's Opuses, too? There seemed to be some intersection there. If you know anything about their categorization, you think you could find anything about Opus 20? He was some kind of... mind control robot or something.

Jesus Christ, I ask a lot of questions. Looking back, I don't even expect you'll know the answer to... pretty much any of these. Ah well. I guess it's at least good for organizing them to keep them in mind.

>>176570
What do you know of these creatures called "Humans"?

>>176570
Hello Cantid.Two of the towers are currently activated. It's likely that more will come online down the road.

We also happen to know a bit about the potential of the weapon. The destructive energy it would unleash is quite staggering. It's been hinted that it could pretty much end the war in one go. But if you tell the Director that then I suspect that you will be quite disappointed at her reaction. She might decide to use it for the greater good. I have always disliked that phrase, greater good, the way people use it to give a veneer of respectability for their actions.

Anyway, best of luck Cantid.

>>176752
Don't call him that. Quiet Resolution is his name now.

>>176758
Oh I know. I just want to remind him of his past, of what he has given up and make him think on why he did it. If it was all worth it. So I'm going to keep on calling him Cantid.

>>176761
That's exactly why he doesn't want us to call him that!

>>176762
Yes I know that too. Which is one of the reasons I'm doing it. He should remember, he should evaluate his goals, his life and if he thinks it has all been worth it. So I'm going to keep it up, to make sure that he feels he's doing the right things.

>>176763
That's not something you just FORGET. He just doesn't want to think about it ALL THE TIME.

Quiet Resolution 2010/05/13(Thu)13:56 No. 176879 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127378421470.png - (297.45KB , 640x480 , i1-3.png )

>>176571
>>176572
>>176573
>>176575
>>176576
>>176752

...I was hoping for "just one". I will remain silent. The moment it is discovered more than one of the Towers are active, all plans will change.

>>176572
>>176573
>>176576

You are an entirely different entity each cycle. Your remorse and hesitance show to me that if given a second chance, you would not wish to repeat what you had done. But you are right. I will not reveal your presence.

And what you have done for the Machine has not exactly been much less damaging.

I estimate the current toll of the war to be about... hrm... 80 sapient species. Most of which were caught in the crossfire. Of course, I aim to end this war. Every Machine soldier does. I just want to end it without making every member-species of the Empire extinct.

>>176575

This has been confirmed. But the kaier-minded constructs of Zenith do not listen to reason, and attack relentlessly on sight. No Seeker dispatched to that dome has ever returned.

-Those who live within the Control City are unwilling, terrified slaves to the Empire. I believe it may be possible to persuade--

-They are indoctrinated. Threatened. Once the threat is removed, I have absolute confidence they will realise the benefit of an alliance. Until then, they are an unfortunate enemy we must try to disable. I will heed your words. I shall instruct the forces not to use lethal force unless absolutely necessary.-

...That's a start.

>>176576

Given as I was there at the time... But yes. Killing them has proved difficult. Sending them back to the Chaos tends to be easier. If that's an available option. Typically, our attempts to combat these anomalies have involved mostly trying to get out of their way. We are never their primary concern. Merely collateral damage just waiting to happen.

No. "Anomaly" is a blanket term for anything either unique and/or significantly powerful as to cause concern. We are not sure how many Opuses exist, but twenty of them are known to us.

33 is verified to be Opus 15. I do not know if I could correctly identify Opus 20, but it sounds very similar to a large, large swathe of anomalies. You would have to be more specific, unfortunately.

[cutscene]

Quiet Resolution 2010/05/13(Thu)13:57 No. 176880 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127378423824.png - (280.21KB , 640x480 , i1-4.png )

>>176635

Creators of the Golden Empire. One of the first five or six member-species of the Golden Empire to partially defect to the Machine after the Empire arrived at Obsidian. Humanity has proven to be a valuable ally. Quick to adapt to our technology and to figure out the weaknesses of the Empire. For a species that lacks any natural magic potential, human casters have a great deal of skill and fine control over their spells.

My actual encounters with them have been brief, but I have not seen a reason to distrust them so far. They seem to believe those humans remaining in the Empire are as much slaves as any of their creations, except without even being aware of it.

I am not quite sure what exactly they were referring to. Possibly slaves to the idea of the Empire as a whole, or maybe a literal instance of another species claiming absolute control over the Empire.

>>176752
>>176758
>>176761
>>176762
>>176763
>>176765

...

I have just persuaded the Director to not destroy all of the species on this world. I may just have saved countless lives on this world.

Yes, I think it's worth it.

-Director. Here is the information on what the Resonance weapon is capable of. And its effects.

[i]-Thank you, Operator.-

...

Quiet Resolution 2010/05/13(Thu)13:57 No. 176881 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127378425898.png - (165.54KB , 640x480 , i1-5.png )

...

-...-

WHAT?! NO! NO!! THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!!

-...no. No. No recourse. We can't afford to risk it. Operator. I need direct contact to First and Last. I require the use of the Incarnadine Dream.-

-DIRECTOR! DIRECTOR THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES--

-NO!! No. There are no alternatives. Every second these creatures stay alive is a second we risk the weapon being fired.-

-Is genocide such an easy decision for you to make? How are you any different to those of the Empire?!-

-I will arrange means to collect enough of the native population to ensure their species stays alive, and with the other Directors, I will find a new homeworld for them. But nothing can be left alive on this world.-

-And what of the sserreds?!-

-They made their decisions.-

I...

...If you're still there, Thousandfold. Save them. Save them as soon as you can.

The Incarnadine Dream... nothing will stop it. Nothing.

- END OF INTERLUDE -

= END OF THREAD =

>>176881
See, told ya you wouldn't like it. Just wait until she figures out a way to use the the weapon for her own means. Then the greater good will suddenly involve alot more genocide.