Quoted By:
You’re still waiting when Bloodhound begins broadcasting in the clear.
“I am Captain Elliot Martel. On the behalf of all true Patriots of the Empire, I request any defenders of Camp Naginata to surrender or withdraw in the next 10 minutes, or face prompt and utter destruction. A corridor will be left open to the north for the purpose of evacuating.”
Thea hisses.
“Beta. Progress.”
“Waiting for a response, pilot.”
“Aren’t we all.”
Meanwhile, your erstwhile commander continues pontificating.
“There is no reason this needs to end in death. Do not resist, and we will be in and out by the end of the day. Your oaths to the state do not demand suicide.”
A minute later, there is a response.
Another unfamiliar voice crackles back.
“You offer a poisoned chalice, traitor. We purged the doubters from the ranks before, and only the loyal remain.”
“The escape corridor will remain open for another 8 minutes. But I can see that you are determined to be unreasonable.”
The ground shakes, your seismics picking up explosions. You did spend your whole time marching here escorting artillery, after all.
Finally! A trawler returns with access. You eagerly try to connect with the login, waving through the permissions, letting you into the network proper. Slowly. It’s like pouring water through a very tiny hole, except the hole is the amount of commands you’re able to give, and the trickle of water is the information you can receive.
Data. Data. Base defenses….Turret grid, offline. Well, that’s convenient.
Come on. Come on. Come on. Firewalls you’d normally shred in seconds instead take multiple, and the whole network is split into different sections. It’s….exactly what you’d do to minimize an AI intrusion. Waste time and split off the compromised sections, until you can muster strength to return the favor.
