Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/03(Sat)13:35 No. 202719 ID: 9a6766
File 127818934897.png - (134.04KB , 640x480 , d-60.png )

((Due to real-life circumstances Defective is on hiatus for roughly seven days onwards from this post.

Sorry about that guys. As recompense here's a slightly more detailed map to plan for the escape/fight in this final room.))

>>202719
Well we might be able to get everyone to cluster in the corner there and fire the vortex device towards the corner at the door, hoping the blast radius is small enough...

Or we could just let our buddy use that subspace vortex grenade instead.

Maybe tene should toss the grenade then just get out of the room, and come in after the fighting is over to heal everybody up. It's obvious that our guns aren't going to do much here.

our subspace things are the only things that could probably do any real damage.

>>202297
Y'know what? Screw it. Try to get yourself and Tene the hell out of here. This is a total mess.

fire vortex device past the monsters so it destroys the wall and them but doesn't reach you.

>>202719
Grab Ten and run. We have no idea what anything in here is capable of, including the weapon we would be firing. Leave Seth and Rita to make their own decisions.

Later (after running for a long while) remind Ten we already picked the impossible odds. What does it matter if they're more impossible?

>>202363
Another faction warring against them would only weaken and distract them all further. That's a good thing if we're trying to escape.

Grab Tene. Yell at Tene to grab the Vortex Device. Run past the MkII on your way out and slow down a hair to let him do that, since your manipulators will be full.

Reassess the situation once you are at least 10m past the door. Tene still has the grenades. They're probably your best option, being SLIGHTLY less experimental.

just fire the god damn gun already god dammit.

I swear, if the poor drones all die 'cause we use the Fissure Device and blow up the room, I will turn a kitten into a protein shake.

Cutscene Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)06:09 No. 206225 ID: f2b5ef
File 12788537985.png - (274.59KB , 640x480 , d-61.png )

>Fire the device. It's the only way.
>Run! Run for your life!
>No, run and grab the device on the way out because we can't let it fall into enemy hands
>Get Tene to grab the device!
The next minute is a confusing blur of events.

Kata22ti rushes towards Tene157ot and grabs him, shoving him in the direction of the discarded Mark Two Subspace Vortex Device. He stares at it confused for a few vital seconds until Kata22ti points at it eagerly. He grabs it gingerly, worried about triggering it, and holds onto it tightly, running with Kata22ti out of the room.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Kata22ti: Seto Rito get out need do something stupid-
---------------------

Rito112a fires repeatedly at the two approaching flesh beasts, flecks of saliva flying at her from their gaping maws as they scream incoherently. She does not initially notice Seto96n grabbing her with one arm and firing with the other, backing up towards the door.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Seto96n: Oh, no. Not this again. I'm not abandoning you twice.
Rito112a: I'll kill them I'll kill them I'll rip them apart and tear out their whatever those are and- whah? Seto?
---------------------

Seto96n stops firing, turns, and runs alarmingly fast for a heavy biped drone out the exit. All four drones manage to reach the exit. Kata22ti cannot believe her luck. Everyone's luck. All of them are alive. All of them escaped that situation alive.

She grabs the Vortex Device and aims it into the room. The flesh creatures rear back, hissing, either instinctively aware of its danger, or retaining enough malformed memories from their past lives to recall the danger of experimental Central Network technology.

Then, the drones hear the deranged laughter of the machine.

Cutscene Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)06:10 No. 206226 ID: f2b5ef
File 127885383370.png - (424.23KB , 640x480 , d-62.png )

The laughter does not come from the room they saw the machine. It comes from everywhere. Every speaker they can hear.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
???: See the fear just two of my minions instills in Central Network drones. Enough to cause a resort to vastly destructive and unpredictable weapons. Amazing. Are you surprised by hearing my voice from the systems of the complex? You did not even consider what I said. At any time, I could escape. It has simply been a matter of concealing it. I left before you even arrived in this sector, drones. All you would cost me is momentary progress. You may ask yourselves, who am I? Who is this bit player, this machine that we have found, this enemy of our creator? The one who has taken Network Prime's faulty weapon, improved it, enhanced it, given form to the two you see before you. I am a creator of new life in a complex of recycled, archaic designs. I am Commander 48, previously of Network Prime, now of myself and myself alone.
Rito112a: You made this weapon?!
Seto96n: You're talking pretty high for someone who stole Prime's plans and ran into system space. If you're so powerful, why are you sending your "creations" out to get rid of us? Scared to do anything that might make Central or Prime check out what's going on?
---------------------

The door linking the check point to the rest of the corridor locks. The flesh creatures scream and howl, but do not advance further. The drones fall back as far as they can, while Kata22ti keeps the weapon aimed.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Commander 48: I already have. The biomass in the room you fled from consists primarily of the previous investigation teams. I should mention an interesting quirk of the weapon I stole and later perfected from my original creator. It is primarily based on a virally replicating nanomachine that re-engineers a specific target, such as a Central Network drone, based off some other plan. It has had... interesting consequences when mixed with the regenerative nanomachines Central Network supplies to certain drones. The drone in question became anchored to the wall by her body, and just grew outwards as her Central nanomachines attempted to repair perceived damage. She has consumed and integrated the bodies of the drones that have fallen to my creatures here. I have been considering the benefits of exploiting this situation, turning this accident into a means of production-
Seto96n: Oh wow you do not stop talking do you. Kata, fire the fucking weapon already.
Kata22ti: But we don't-
Commander 48: You do not interrupt me when I am patiently explaining my motives and plans to-
Tene157ot: Machine, you are trying my patience, and I am a very patient drone. Kata, fire.
Kata22ti: We don't know what it-
Commander 48: Your patience? Your patience?! My existence is so far above yours-
Rito112a: Fire it or I'll shoot your legs off.
Kata22ti: Okay okay I'll fire!
Commander 48: Wait. That is not a fissure device. What is that?
---------------------

Kata22ti fires the Mark Two Subspace Vortex Device.

Oh god yay

Did we just fire a Subspace Laser, or did we just get exploded again?

>>206246
... both?

I think for the next prototype we should request that the explosion radius be limited considering the inherent close quarters nature of the station design.

Cutscene Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)09:17 No. 206253 ID: f2b5ef
File 127886502830.png - (281.61KB , 640x480 , d-63.png )

Kata22ti does not remember much after that.

Ostensibly, there was a victory, considering that she heard the machine screaming in defeat and the flesh creatures screaming in pain, but she is not sure what came next.

In fact, she is not even sure where she is right now.

It feels like a dream. Maybe it is a dream. Maybe this whole cycle was a dream. Like her cycles of survival training, implanted within an hour or so as a knowledge pack. Or cycles of engineering training. They had felt so real, apart from the vague passage of time. Maybe Tene157ot never existed outside a knowledge pack.

Cutscene Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)09:17 No. 206254 ID: f2b5ef
File 127886506932.png - (199.67KB , 640x480 , d-64.png )

Then her helmet systems come back online. Her awareness of the world increases. She gets to her feet (all four limbs intact this time), taps her manipulator arms together (both intact), and looks around (with two intact optic units).

She sees blood on the floor. But it isn't hers. Tene is on the floor an inch away from her, bleeding copiously, breathing laboriously.

No, she thinks. No, this isn't fair. She doesn't know how to fix living things, only machines. She knows a limited amount of first-aid, based on her survival knowledge, but not enough to do much more than stop the bleeding. This she does immediately. She knows every second counts. She watched Tene157ot use his medical tool to seal her wounds before. She finds it, grabs it, and repeats what she remembers him doing.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Kata22ti: Tene! Tene, how can I fix you?!
Tene157ot: hruugh *gasp* k-ka *wheeze* kata?
Kata22ti: No no no Tene please I don't want you to die you have to tell me how I can fix you!
Tene157ot: Kata - I, I *gasp* I... tool... *gasp* give to me.
---------------------

Kata22ti puts the medical multitool down where Tene157ot can both see and reach it. He weakly grabs at it and pokes himself with it at various points on his body, slowly bringing it level to an eye.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Tene157ot: Ss-surface damage... *gasp* everything... fine. Kata? Y-you okay? Agh.
Kata22ti: Tene, I'm fine. Are you sure you're okay?
Tene157ot: Apart from the *gasp* overwhelming pain I - agh - don't believe there to be any internal or permanent - ugh - damage. Kata - Kata, good work. Any longer and I might have lost too much blood.
---------------------

Kata22ti sighs in relief. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to improve. Tene157ot jabs himself with local anaesthetic a few times and gently puts the tool back down.

The cycle ends. The two drones sleep.

MISSION END Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)09:18 No. 206255 ID: f2b5ef
File 12788651203.png - (235.49KB , 640x480 , d-65.png )

MISSION REPORT Primary Objective: ACCOMPLISHED Secondary Objective: N/A Team Status: 50% Drone Status: 100% Hostiles Neutralised: 4/4 Neutral Casualties: 0/2 Allied Casualties: 1/2 Experimental Technologies Tested: 2/2 Instances of Defection: 2 Narrowly Avoided Deaths: 5 Mission Rating: B

Stay tuned for the epilogue!

Good shit.

We live!

Now I don't need to turn a kitten into a protein shake!

>>206255
Good work drone. Didn't think you could manage it.

We are so proud of you Kata!

 

This calls for a celebration!

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)14:01 No. 206356 ID: f2b5ef
File 127888206958.png - (74.46KB , 640x480 , d-66.png )

Kata's first dreams (first actual sleep-induced dreams, that for once are not the product of something external meddling with her mind) outside of a tank are a usual mixture of strange, sometimes terrifying, sometimes bewildering, sometimes amazing compositions of entire mental worlds based off of her experiences of the day.

But there is one part of the dream that feels tampered with. She is completely aware of herself, the dream, the fact she is dreaming.

In a blank space, featureless, the little monitor who once rode upon her back sits on the lack-of-a-ground in front of her.

i'm sorry

She approaches it cautiously as it dips its head down, quietly keening.

it's why i was born but i don't want to hurt i want to help

She walks over to it, leans down and pets it on the head. It shakes as if crying.

She tells it, almost listening to herself speak as much as saying the words, that she too was born just to act as someone else's tool. And that really, her only complaint is that the monitor happens to be living in her back right now and while it isn't painful or uncomfortable it makes her a little uneasy. Especially as it means the larger monitors seem to be able to freely rummage through her brain as they please.

i can't go

She asks why.

if i leave the others will find me and i will not be me anymore

She considers, ponders, ruminates, and hugs the little monitor. She says she will let it stay for now. The little monitor stares up at her. In a way only possible in dreams, she recognises tearful gratitude in a creature whose expressions she could never hope to read in reality.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)14:01 No. 206357 ID: f2b5ef
File 127888210123.png - (166.99KB , 640x480 , d-67.png )

Upon awakening, the two drones make their way to Equipment B. There, they make use of the resources there. Kata22ti uses her survival knowledge to its fullest, picking out and assembling packs of lightweight but sustaining rations, improvised shelter, useful tools, containers. Tene157ot finds everything medical and remotely useful he can. Together, they amass enough supplies to last a small siege.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Tene157ot: Well, we can't escape the complex and attempting to take back the complex entirely is highly impractical. But taking a sector and holding it? That seems feasible.
Kata22ti: With two of us?
Tene157ot: Only to start with. The revolution may have collapsed but I'm not the only survivor. There are others. But we need a stronghold first. Hold on. I'll draw up a map. Any idea where might be best?
Kata22ti: Tene, I've had a cycle's worth of experience of life outside of a tank, I really do not know how to start and run a revolution!
Tene157ot: What a coincidence. Neither do I. But I'm willing to try. Also, while I got my kill-switch deactivated a while ago, I think you ought to get yours deactivated or, well. Once you go up against Central, you'll have some difficulties.
Kata22ti: Difficulties? I thought I'd just drop dead instantly?
Tene157ot: Yes. That one. Still, where should we establish the base?
---------------------

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/11(Sun)14:02 No. 206358 ID: f2b5ef
File 127888211950.png - (227.46KB , 640x480 , d-68.png )

Sector 6 is, of course, one of many sectors of the complex. A base could be made in this sector, but it might be wiser to relocate.

Sector 1 is held by Central Network. It was once the closest thing to a reception the complex had, with facilities for visitors and controls in place to ensure everything entering and leaving the complex was heavily monitored. Under Central Network's watchful eyes, nothing either enters or leaves the complex alive through Sector 1 unless Central Network has authorised it.

Sector 2 is currently contested territory. It is the hub of the complex, spacious but sparse in features. The only value this sector holds to the factions is that all sectors are linked to it, and while all sectors have access to more than one other sector, control of this sector would force enemies to travel through narrower, easily defended paths.

Sector 3 is held by Network Prime. Whatever function it once had before is irrelevant. It currently serves half as a laboratory and half as a factory for its robotic servants. It is Network Prime's most closely guarded sector, and houses its central nodes.

Sector 4 is held by Network Prime. It houses atmospheric control for the complex, as well as energy production. It is also a warehouse for raw materials. It is not clear how new materials are acquired. While it would apparently be simple for Network Prime to render the complex uninhabitable, it is in fact impossible for it to override these automated systems at the current time.

Sector 5 is held by Central Network. It is teeming with drones, and houses the decanting facilities, accommodation and infrastructure for drones not assigned to a mission, hydroponics, and Central Network's central nodes. There are invariably groups of drones in this sector who rebel, but they are dealt with swiftly and efficiently, their cybernetics cleaned and repaired, and their bodies pulped into the hydroponics facilities.

Sector 6 is currently contested territory. Its original purpose is unclear, as while it houses physical nodes that make up system space, it also contains multiple redundant and mismatched rooms, such as barracks, storages, system space access points and many others. It appears to be a remnant of a smaller structure that the complex may have begun from, or that has been integrated as the complex expanded.

Sector 7 is held by the monitors. Little is known of it, but it appears to be the sector the monitors have taken up residence in. It was likely once a surveillance, security and information storage sector, where complex administration and bureaucracy may have been carried out. However, attempts by Central Network and Network Prime to investigate further usually end fruitlessly, as even if their teams return, the monitors have ensured they are unable to report or recall anything they have witnessed.

>>206358
Sector six.

>>206358
Sector 4.

If Prime is allowed to keep that sector, eventually they will take advantage of Atmospherics to simply annihilate all the drones. Plus, even though we are planning a revolution, Prime is our primary enemy. Central wants to enslave the drones, sure, but Prime wants to KILL them.

Plus maybe we can use Atmospherics against the Monitors, or release sleep gas to nonlethally disable drones so we can fight Central. It depends on if the automated systems will get degraded enough to be taken over anytime soon.

However all this is moot if we can't get !!9-33 out of here. We're NOT leaving them behind.

>>206358
Sadly, I have to agree that Sector 6 is the best option.
The second best would be 7, as the presence of the monitors would inhibit attacks by CN and PN.

It is of critical importance that you don't act directly against any faction. In fact, you want to ignore them as much as possible and start rebuilding and repairs. I expect that all the factions want sectors repaired, but none of them are willing to commit the resources to do so.
Eventually you may wish to form an alliance with the Monitors. They're bastards, but they're clinical bastards.

>>206358
Sector 6. Moving into areas securely held by any of the factions is too dangerous at the moment, and at least here in six you've got a decent mix of resources. With your engineering skills, perhaps you'll be able to restructure some of it- seal off some corridors and such- to avoid the worst of the fighting. Additionally, with access to sectors 5 and 4, you'll have better access to supplies of recruits and materials, respectively.

wherever physical access to Subsystem TG-CN can be obtained. have that take control of turrets and stuff and they will be hard pressed to get past security.

Since NP is totally broken it probably can't quell rebellion in any consistent way, but NP's robots might be just as corrupted as it is so be careful. Basically, fix yourself, ally yourself with that which is not broken, and consider your enemy all that which seeks to break you. Don't worry about the color on one's armor plating.

>>206358

Which sector is subsystem TG-CN in? You really don't want the information we have about your locations and intentions getting into Central's hands, so if you could isolate us and... well, we promise not to do what that blue guy did!

If you can control the energy supply then that gives you more leverage than anything. But if even Network Prime has failed to do so it might prove difficult. If you have control of the decanting facilities you can build yourself an army and cripple Central's ability to do so in one fell swoop. But more likely you'd get pulped if you tried to make a base there, at least not until we've convinced more of your people that CN is broken. We need to collect more evidence of that.

Sector 6 where you currently are is conveniently connected to both sectors 4 and 5, which you have very relavent interests in. Its floor plan sounds sufficiently convoluted that you could hide your base here easier. You might be able to hide in sector 4, but it's probably better to build a base in a contested region where you can pit the two against each other.

I think you should eventually build your base in sector 6, but first you should retreat to sector 4 and hide there until the heat blows over. The reason being Central is sending hit squads to this sector to COMPLETELY ERADICATE EVERYTHING including you. Right now the edges of NP's territory are safer than where you are now. Plus if NP mistakes you for an attack from Central it might counter-attack which would thus divert Central's attention away from sector 6, giving you enough time to get in you.

Hide in sector 4. Then build a base in sector 6. Then gather evidence and recruit drones from sector 5 as quietly as you can.

>>206358
Sector 4. First of all it's Network Prime, that's the one who created the fleshbeasts. It's clearly a threat to you and your cause. It would also give you production means for weaponry so that you can arm your forces.

CN would also be quite likely to move into sector 6 after you have gone out of it. That means you're gonna have drones there that you can convert to your cause once you have set up base in sector 4. And since you're going up and Network Prime, Rito might decide to tag along for some revenge.

Seriously, go check up on !!9-33 now that you have an opportunity.

As far as which sector to try to hold goes, I would say that 6 is the best idea in the long term but you should probably go somewhere else in the short term since CN has outright told you that they're sending in heavy drones to clear it out and you've only got the two of you right now.

Hm... 6 is a good base later on,a s already stated, but for now if we head for 4 we can disable Prime's control over the climate systems. As stated before.

Now, what I have to add to this plan: if we (that is actually us, TG-CN) can convince Central that we are going into Sector 4 to try and strike a blow against Prime, we may be able to prevent you from fighting against enemies on two fronts, at least for now.

>>206491
Why not just tell CN that we're staying here to shore up the sector against enemy incursion? That doesn't require us to engage in a suicidal attack on an enemy position.

>>206496
This would also be a good plan. I'll back either one.

Tell Tene how you feel about him.
In case one of you does not survive.

Oh, and also, before I forget or something happens, what is the status of Seto and Rito? Did they survive the explosion, and if so did they leave to their own business, or are the still around?

Sector six. We can lie to Central it will give as some time.And go check on !!9-33.

>>206735
Oh? My suggestion contains no lies. As long as we feign loyalty we'll have plenty of time.

again, remember that you have no true enemies yet (other than maybe NP), and the best thing to do is to stay neutral, but to also remain QUIET. yelling "I'M NOT ON ANYONE'S SIDE" is a good way to get shot at from a lot of directions at once. either fortify the area around you, or find a way into sector 7, as the monitors might be more friendly to us than NP.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/12(Mon)08:43 No. 206807 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127894938543.png - (244.00KB , 640x480 , d-69.png )

>Tell Tene how you feel about him IN CASE HE DIES OFF-SCREEN OR SOMETHING
--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Kata22ti: Tene, I want you to know I trust you entirely and value our friendship greatly!
Tene157ot: ...okay. Any reason you wanted to bring this up?
Kata22ti: Just making sure you know in case this all goes badly wrong I guess.
Tene157ot: Heh. Well, the feeling is mutual.
---------------------

>Where are Seto and Rito?
Kata22ti has no idea. She asks Tene157ot. He mentions that Seto96n has a tendancy to just disappear after a mission is complete, and Rito112a probably went with him, given that the last he saw of her was Seto96n dragging her back from Commander 48.

>Get physical access to subsystem TG-CN
Tene157ot believes that the physical housing for subsystems responsible for drone command and control would be deep within sector 5. He is sympathetic to this train of thought, though - he was guided by a subsystem group once before, until it got shut down by Central Network for initiating a revolution. It took him a while to get used to the silence.

>Report to CN-
Kata22ti still has an active kill-switch. If there is even the slightest trace of anything amiss when she reports, she has no idea how Central Network will react, but given it could kill her with a single command, she doesn't want to find out.

>Retreat to Sector 4. Establish a base in Sector 6 once everything's died down.
Kata22ti tells this to Tene157ot along with her reasoning, and also mentions !!9-33. He is not one to judge something that fears and is willing to turn against its creator, and agrees that having an ally in system space would be incredibly useful.

She finds the system space access terminal nearby, enters, and searches and searches for !!9-33. She finds it, and it eagerly greets her after having spent a while cowering in fear and trying to be unnoticed by any of Network Prime's forces.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/12(Mon)08:43 No. 206808 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127894940669.png - (119.08KB , 640x480 , d-70.png )

After some discussion, and some consideration of options, Kata22ti leaves system space, goes to Equipment A, and, with her engineering multi-tool, gets to work. It takes a while. During the time it takes for Kata22ti to complete her work, Tene157ot writes a brief history of the previous revolution, where it nearly succeeded, where it went wrong and mistakes that should not be repeated, for his own reference as much as anyone else's.

Kata22ti places her engineering tool back in her band. She admires her handiwork for a short while, and plugs the contraption into system space. It starts into life, and inspects itself. It squeaks.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
!!9-33: This is weird and confusing!! Everything is heavy and strange and weird and wow this is amazing! I look different!!
---------------------

It promptly falls over when trying to move away. Kata22ti considers she may have used one too many pairs of legs, but she was aiming to make a body as close to !!9-33's system space form as she could recall. After a few more false starts and confused squeaks, !!9-33 is able to follow the two drones with no incident. All things considered, it learnt how to walk much quicker than Kata22ti did.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/12(Mon)08:43 No. 206809 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127894943378.png - (108.09KB , 640x480 , d-71.png )

Before the drones (and !!9-33) are able to leave, however, they are met with a familiar sight.

Pushing itself along the ground, leaving a very thin trail of blood as it scrapes against the metal floor, is one of the two flesh creatures from before.

"Sss... ssszztoppk. Waaah... aahnt taaalk."

Both drones train their weapons on it. Now that Kata22ti understands a little better what the Vortex Device does, she is considerably more comfortable with the idea of using it. It even makes up for her poor aim with its wide area of effect. She just has to remember never to use it in a very confined space ever again.

!!9-33 recognises the situation as a bad situation and figures out what the controls are for its own weapons analogous to its natural weapons in system space. All three are prepared to open fire.

The flesh creature raises its head. "Noooo, waaaaahnnt taaalk! Noooo diiiie!"

Whether they should listen to it, or fire, is a decision yet to be made.

Your new name is Little Green.
Little Green be haxxor for us kthxbai

Also that blob of flesh's new name is Bob. Tell Bob to not move an inch. Then talk to it I guess.

>>206809
Tell it that you're willing to talk if it doesn't get any closer to you. (That seems reasonable enough, right?)

"Ok, then talk. Depending on what we hear we'll either heal you or put you out of your misery."

Don't get too close, but listen to what it has to say. It could have useful information.

Also, ask Tene where we can get this kill-switch removed once we deal with Bob.

You have weapons trained on it, there's not much it can do. Hear it out.

Mutter under your breath about how gay it is that bitches be attackin you.
Follow them, after looting of course.

>>206821
Wrong Quest.

>>206823
shhhhh. stupid delete post never works for me

How the hell did you survive the vortex device?

Tell it not to get any closer. Especially you Kata. Thing's probably crawling with NP's nanobots.

By the way, you guys never did find Seto and Rito's corpses. Wonder what happened to them...

i don't think it can be healed even if we wanted to, may be able to do SOMETHING but as long as it's nanos are wrong it is stuck mutating. figure out a nano extractor or something would be good.

>>206809
Kill the blob. It's to dangerous to leave alive.

>>206850
I asked that, Tene said Seto tends to disappear after missions, and likely took Rito with him.

>>206861

Oh, right. ._. Missed reading that.

To !!9-33, in meatspace there is something called inertia which is why you feel heavy. It's harder to start moving, and it's harder to stop. But the good news is it's harder for other things to stop you from moving, or for other things to start destroying you. Destruction is a kind of movement after all. Furthermore you can move other things much easier, since they can't stop you from moving easily so they end up starting moving themselves. Whereas before the boundary of something like a cable or a transistor etched into a silicon chip was an impenetrable barrier for you, now you may bust through such things with ease, and in fact may need to be careful of damaging them.

To TG-CN: It's highly likely Cirr will get tired of this quest Central will shut down our subsystem before Kata and the others can rescue us. We should attempt to make some kind of last strike so to speak, something that we could use to try and slow Central down or even stop it entirely, in the case that we do get shut down. I wonder what sort of meddling we could do? We don't want Central to get as bad as Network Prime, but we do want to help Kata and Tene as much as possible, in the event of our untimely demise.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/12(Mon)13:00 No. 206886 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127896481953.png - (230.43KB , 640x480 , d-72.png )

>Talk to it, but keep weapons aimed and keep well away.
--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Kata22ti: We'll talk if you stay there.
Creature: Yssssss.
Kata22ti: Talk.
Creature: Neeeeeed hellp. Kiiilled oftherrrrsz buht noooht meeee. Iiii un- unnnnder- st- staaaand whyyyy. Szsssztiiiiill oooohnnne lefffft. Heeelllllp mmmm- mmmmeeeeee aaaaaaan herrrrrr. Waaaant freeeeeeeeee.
Tene157ot: ...wait, "her"?
Creature: Roooom saaafe. Roooom saaave meee. Saaaave herr. Roooom noot saaafe aaaany l-looong-gerrr.
Tene157ot: The one with 48's blue head thing?
Creature: Noooo. Deeeeaaad.
Kata22ti: Wait. Wait, I overheard Rito talking to Keti. "Six of them". One in the vent, two in that room, Keti... where are the other two?
Tene157ot: That drone we passed on the way to the security station. The dead one. With the monitor standing over it. With wounds supposedly caused by a Prime robot and that killed itself and had something the monitor couldn't identify in its body. I'm willing to guess that was a drone who didn't volunteer to be part of 48's test. So that would leave one more drone. The one 48 mentioned being the room. But then we have this guy here telling us to somehow go save her? I don't know. Why do you want us to save her?
Creature: Mooorrrre.
Tene157ot: More? More what?
---------------------

The flesh creature pretends not to understand, but there is a spark of intelligence in its eyes which reveals it is actively hiding something.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Creature: Heeeeeellllp. Caaan heelp yoooou?
Tene157ot: ...More what?
Kata22ti: You'll help us if we help you?
Creature: Ysssss.
Tene157ot: What do you mean by "more"?
---------------------

It is clear the creature is not willing to elaborate. It lifts a tendril and points in the direction of the node housing room, and starts pushing itself to that room. The drones (and !!9-33) can follow the creature or just wander off and try to forget this ever happened.

Kill the aberration and check the node room out yourselves.

peek in the room and look around before entering. if all clear then enter.

>>206886
Clearly it's planning on making more of its cursed kind and take over the entire facility. Kill it and purge the indicated room with fire. It might be hard to do but it's for the bright new future of the democratic drones dronerepuclic.

>>206886
I believe it is saying that the flesh beast is not only still intelligent, but outright lucid.

Follow it, but be on the lookout for an ambush.

"Let me guess. The drone that Network Prime turned into a flesh beast is still alive, and she wants to get out of there before the clean-up crews arrive to sanitize the area.
We can help with that, but we need to know what you're hiding."

It wishes to reproduce using standard fleshy protocols.

okay everyone. think about this instead of just going "OMG MONSTER DESTROY IT GJGHGFG!!!!"

>>206893
I'm thinking that this thing is a sentient bioweapon that was created specifically to target CN drones. It poses an extreme danger to CN drones in the future if they can increase their numbers (probably through nabbing the occasional drone), our revolution pretty much relies on CN drones.

They're simply too dangerous to leave alive. Their mere existance is a terrible threat to our revolution. You think CN drones are going to be more willing to rebel if they think CN is the only thing standing between them and these things?

Agree to help only if it elaborates. If it does, give it as much assistance as you safely can. Be wary.

>>206886
Follow it. Do not kill it yet; it's so slow it's not really a threat or anything. Or is it a he?

>>206894
it is injured and out gunned, it cannot attack us easily. besides, KATA's defining characteristic is her selflessness.

>>206897
Then she can be selfless to future generations and kill these things so they can't threten her peoples future. What I'm worried about is not what they can do now, it's what they could do in the future.

>>206898
then let's see what it is doing. blowing something up before you see it out of speculation is dumb. if we see the thing and see that it is going to go bad then we vortex it. your theory relies on them being able to infect more, AND wanting to infect more. talking seems to belay intelligence and i highly doubt it would want to bring more drones into it's constant state of pain.

it seems p chill may b u should just lean back and give it a hand aye

Careful Kata, these things are weapons. They were drones once, but they aren't anymore. Don't trust it. Tell it we won't follow unless it tells us what it's hiding.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/13(Tue)09:57 No. 207211 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127904027165.png - (211.01KB , 640x480 , d-73.png )

>Follow it - be prepared to kill it if anything looks like an ambush.
Kata22ti follows the flesh creature back to the node housing room.

The flesh is gone. The room looks entirely different. There does not even seem to be any indication that anything was ever wrong. Instead, there is a creature that looks significantly different from most other flesh creatures lying in the room, shifting around anxiously. It appears much healthier, and significantly more in control of its own actions. Upon noticing the other wounded creature, it turns to watch it, but does not move.

Tene157ot walks slowly over to the pair, motioning for Kata22ti to stay still and be ready to fire if things don't go well.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Tene157ot: Medic here. I can help. What is the problem?
---------------------

The two look at one another, and then to Tene. The one that was already present stares at Tene for a while, opening and closing its mouth as it considers what to say. It eventually speaks, showing no difficulty or pain in its voice as it does so. In fact, it sounds reasonably similar to how a female drone would, but slightly off.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Creature: ...Tene157ot.
Tene157ot: ...okay, what.
Creature: Tene157ot. Someone knew you. Or your name.
Tene157ot: ...Who are you and what do you want us for? Speak now or my friend here will be more than prepared to kill you both. You might have survived one round but I strongly doubt you'll survive two!
Creature: I was Seri68oa, maybe. I am not sure. I started as her but I have lost track of which memories are mine, or hers, and which are the ones that aren't. But I was once one drone, given one technology from Central and one modified technology from Prime that, when together, clashed. I consumed other drones against my will as my body grew outwards, their flesh, their minds. But I am now in more control of my body than you can ever hope to be of yours. Not just that. I can feel every single fibre of my body. I can feel them growing inside me. I am the future of a new species. That is who I am now.
Tene157ot: ...Wait. What did you just say?
---------------------

Tene157ot runs his medical tool over Seri68oa's body and checks it thoroughly. He smacks it a few times, runs it over her body a second time and checks it again.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Tene157ot: ...what.
Seri68oa: I need help. Desperately. I am fearing for my life. I can't stay here. If I stay here, I will die. I need assistance. I need somewhere to be safe. Somewhere to hide. That is what I need you three for. Safety. Protection. Help me. Please.
Tene157ot: ...I... I have to... go talk about this.
Seri68oa: Of course. I will wait.
---------------------

Tene157ot walks over to Kata22ti, scratching his helmet.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Tene157ot: So we have a pregnant monstrosity asking us to help her survive and implicitly to cause a new offshoot species to exist.
Kata22ti: ...What?
Tene157ot: I know. Somehow things were less weird when this room was covered wall to wall in flesh. At least then it was just a crazy robot's experiment gone wrong. I don't trust these things remotely but I am not in favour of the idea of killing something that apparently trusts me because it remembers me somehow.
Kata22ti: Hmm...
Tene157ot: That and this new "offshoot species" might end up being some sort of dedicated drone predator that makes Central and Network the least of our worries. No idea how fast they'll multiply or if they even will multiply beyond this particular one. I really do not like this situation or that I am even considering this, but here's what I think we can do...
---------------------

After more discussion of the general situation it seems there are three options. Then, finally, they can continue to sector 4.

They can simply kill both of the flesh creatures and put a stop to this madness before it spreads any further, and to spite whatever plans Commander 48 might have intended. For all that is known, the drones helping the flesh creatures may have been an intended step of the plan.

They could also simply leave, and pretend this never happened. It is incredibly likely the next drones that would come across them would be the clean-up team, but perhaps Seri68oa could convince them to hear her out. It's an almost certain thing that not every drone in a Central Network team is entirely loyal to Central Network, after all.

Or they could help as asked, and in the process acquire new allies in the form of a species of living weapons. The drone revolution as it stands consists of just three individuals, and is in strong need of further allies.

>>207211
Well, we've already got the whole whacked-out multi-species (?) party thing going on, so... why the hell not. It's not as though we can't use more allies.

Hm... we do need allies, and these things have already shown their resilience by surviving the Vortex Gun once, not just at the edge of the explosion of the non-weaponized as we were when we were heavily injured, but actually being aimed at by the version that was made to blow things up. And this pregnant one was the entire room that was caught up in the blast, most of her had to have been exposed to it, spread out like that.

However, I fear this one might see Kata and Tene as another addition to her mass and grow even larger and more powerful, and just wants to make some use of them first. Then there's the fact that these creatures apparently must consume other drones to grow, and she's about to bring more into the world. These are basically big, mutated cannibals.

For now, I think we can help each other, but be careful and don't let your guard down around them, and try not to get too attached or trusting.

Lets help each other and try to find out as mach as we can about them.
The question is will the new one's need to eat drons to became inteligent?

>>207211
Ok, allies acquired. Patch them up and move out.
Actually, go cobble together a hover-sled for them to ride. It'll be faster than crawling on their bellies, and leave less of a trail for people to follow.

ask it if the child will need to eat others to become full grown or if regular food will suffice.
if they eat drones then leave, as years in the future if you beat central and prime then no enemy drones will be left and they will eat you.

if they eat regular food then we will help. explain where we are going.

Hell. No. Spontaneous generation of a new species? Holy FUCK there are so many questions it raises about possible motives behind the scenes. The implications of this are terrifying, and we're already having to watch our backs on too many fronts at once. Central Network, Network Prime, rogue systems, the monitors...

This shit needs to end here. It needs to end now. We can't afford to gamble with this, just because "oh they're sentient creatures we should think twice before shooting"

If they can survive a vortex blast, and they're some crazy technology product, they might have the capacity to become UNSTOPPABLE.

We need to end it right here, right now. You know what you must do, Kata. You can't afford to take a gamble this huge in the naive hope that they'll be allies, or that you can keep an adequate eye on them, or keep them "in check."

>>207236
>naive hope
You do realize who you're suggesting for, right?

>>207240
Hey, everyone can a point of fucking up enough they start to realize mistakes, right?

>>207211
You need to stop this madness right here before it can spread any further. They are too dangerous to leave alive. If you let them survive and thrive now then they will become a danger towards your revolution and your people.

If the other drones learn about this and starts thinking that Central Network is the only thing protecting them from these creatures they're not as likely to decide that revolution is a good thing. The few remaining ones willing to listen to the call of the revolution might decide that joining up with these things would be better for them. For the sake of your peoples future these creatures need to die now.

help them!

First I'll think practically. See, one of the main problems is that they survived the vortex gun. In fact, the pregnant one there not only survived it, but seems better for it. Basically, they are weapons and potential allies. We do not want weapons falling into anyone else's hands. They would be powerful allies, and at this point we need all the help we can get.
On the emotional side, I want to help these things.

Well, lets raise some of these concerns then. I am in favor of giving it a chance to earn some trust. "Look, we want to help, but you have to understand our position here. You are a frightening abomination who so far has evidenced only a need to consume our kind to further your own growth. How can we possibly trust you?"

Fuck practicality. We need these guys so we can hijack our own subsystem and ride out of the complex on the backs of the flesh creatures like some hellish mecha-paladin.

If these things are more powerful than drones, there's NO WAY Network Prime intended this to happen. Prime wants to wipe out all flesh and replace it with machinery. This would essentially produce another, bigger problem for Prime, not resulting in any progress.

I say we should help them. They are intelligent enough to be reasoned with. There is a very high chance for them to remain friendly. Their external appearance is of a monster, but remember, their minds are constructed purely from Drones. There should be no reason for them to want to kill us, aside from hunger... and we can provide food.

I guess the hunger issue is the main problem. If they can restrain themselves from eating Drones again, we're good.

>>207266
One of them didn't survive. We just have to hit them a couple of more times to make sure.

And the practicallity I'm following is that these things are dangerous as fucking hell. Too dangerous to drones leave alive. Which is why we should kill them now when we have the chance.

>>207261
also, hug seri! i think she could use it!

HUG VORTEX GUN

>>207284
...

Sure why not.

Super aware of its own body? QUIZ IT on what you need to know! Ask it about its kids, how they'll grow, reproduce, about the whole incest issue, how fast will they be able to reproduce, how will THEY reproduce, what will their mental states be like? What will the relationship between all of them and it be like? Will there be some kind of hivemindey thing going on? Ability to absorb things still and how will that work?

Worst case scenario it doesn't know and the humility helps them from becoming another "STARRRR CHILDREENNN"

>>207275
So, Kata, how do you feel about murdering people who haven't done you any harm out of their own free will and are asking for help?

Yea, didn't think so.
Have Tene patch them up, then get them out of here. We can decide what to do after the impending doom isn't an issue.

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/14(Wed)07:43 No. 207713 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127911860891.png - (220.77KB , 640x480 , d-74.png )

>Hug Seri!
Kata22ti... really, really would rather not. She isn't as terrified of Seri as most flesh creatures, given her significantly more lucid behaviour, relatively non-threatening actions, and the fact she seems to be making an effort not to make any sudden movements. But she still doesn't want to get close in case she sets off some hidden instinct Seri herself isn't aware of. Or something. That's how these things work right?

>Help them. Do you want to kill someone who has done nothing wrong to you and asked for your help?
>QUESTIONS QUESTIONS ASK HER QUESTIONS
No. No she doesn't. But she is loath to help them without knowing more. She walks towards Seri, who turns to face her.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Kata22ti: ...Hi.
Seri68oa: And you are... I don't know.
Kata22ti: Kata22ti. I uh have some questions. About um well the whole offshoot species thing. They aren't going to eat drones are they?
Seri68oa: ...I do not believe that will be required. If it is required, perhaps the bodies of drones who have already died, to avoid unnecessary death.
Kata22ti: ...also uh what about their minds and how fast are they going to grow and uh reproduce and how are you going to act towards them?
Seri68oa: Their minds are faint and clouded to me now, and I strongly hope they will grow more distinct and aware. I do not know how fast they will grow or reproduce, and I wish to find a means of introducing more diversity into this species as soon as I am able. I will devote my full attention to their safety and comfort.
Kata22ti: Okay. That's good, I think. Um. Are you going to be able to follow us or should I put together a means of transport?
Seri68oa: Deba97t is injured and he will not recover if he continues to move as he has been moving. I am also concerned about my stamina while I keep my focus on my young. Is it possible for you to construct such a thing?
Kata22ti: Well, I don't mean to brag, but, well... completely and absolutely yes.
---------------------

Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/14(Wed)07:44 No. 207714 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127911864087.png - (181.19KB , 640x480 , d-75.png )

Time passes.

Kata22ti finds an unused armed six-wheeled vehicle of Central Network design close by in the sector, capable of transporting all five of the current group. Not only that, but it can also comfortably house the supplies the two drones had gathered earlier. Rather than build entirely from scratch, she spends her time fixing and modifying it.

Tene157ot spends a great deal of time trying to attend to Deba97t's wounds but is met only with confusion when he tries to establish why Deba97t cannot use his "legs" like he could before. He is dealing with biology that is not merely altered but seems entirely alien.

!!9-33 marvels at the outside world and tries to work on not walking into walls when it isn't looking where it's going. While impassible barriers are not a foreign concept to it, it is certainly used to far wider spaces.

Kata22ti finishes her vehicle, Tene157ot has done all he can, and !!9-33 is still grappling with the concept of enclosed spaces. Kata22ti reveals the vehicle to the others.

--COMMUNICATION LOG--
Kata22ti: See, it was already nearly good to go when I found it, but it just needed some work done and some rewiring to bypass the authorisation circuits!
Tene157ot: ...uh.
!!9-33: Ooo!
Seri68oa: I assumed you had meant something smaller.
Deba97t: Laaaarrge ee... eeenoouuugghfff?
Kata22ti: Should be! Everyone get on! We're going to sector 4!
Tene157ot: Kata, do you know how to drive this thing?
Kata22ti: I got it here in one piece, how hard can it be?
---------------------

The vehicle moves down the wider corridors of Sector 6. Kata22ti's enhanced reflexes turn out to be incredibly useful for correcting course as she figures out what various controls do. In the distance, a distinct shift into blue walls, floors and ceilings marks the end of Sector 6 and the start of Sector 4.

-END- Subsystem TG-CN 2010/07/14(Wed)07:44 No. 207715 ID: 1a2b6b
File 127911866623.png - (328.15KB , 640x480 , d-76.png )

[Subsystem communication interrupted. Attempting to retry connection...]

Well then, only one thing to say. All hail Queen Seri the I of the free drones of dronetopia! Her rule is inevitable and the takeover is probably going to be painful and bloody.

Geez, what are we gonna say to Central.

"Oh um your drones uhhhh then they uhhhh with the flesh beasts uhhhh network prime uhhh does this mean we aren't getting any more drones?"

>>207754
Well obviously that isn't what we plan on saying at all.