Fate

Arm Data Collection Agency and Military Intelligence Internal Memo
From: Agent Nck-0245962
To: Supervisor Bth-0245961
Subject:Check this out.

  I'd managed to get further into Core Central Consiousness' data files than anyone else on record, and discovered this file. The implications are staggering, for both sides. If CCC knew about this before the War began, it means they were willing to risk the Total Annihilation scenarios our best AI sims always run into. Perhaps this bears consideration, perhaps even a change in tactics. My recommendation is that we immediatly start work on a SuperSeedship to insure that the Arm could survive a Total Annihilation scenario, either in another Galaxy or another Universe. Read the attached file and draw your own conclusions.

//Attachment Begins\\
[Core Central Datafiles]
[File 1029847-42K]
[Encryption Level: Ultraviolet]
[Security Clearance Level: You do not have clearance to access this data.]
\\Warning! Hostile decrpytion progreo52sklvrgshrlbtz....//
[File Decrypted. Access Granted for User: Neo]
[File is of data type: image/holo_mk1. Activating display plug-in...]

  The image is a remarably clear holocamera recording fr a Mk1. Judging from the timestamp in one corner, this is almost one thousand years before the invention of patterning and the onset of the Great War. Further data appears, indicating that this is a world known as Paradise, a lush world, full of life. Which will become, in a thousand years, the world known as Core Prime. A voice begins narrating, and the camera focuses in on a shimmering patch of space.

  "For the past week, energy readings in this area of Paradise have increased to levels that our scientists previously thought impossible. From studying this anomaly, they have found out much about the way energy twists space. They believe they can fashion a system of "galactic gates," using an energy concentrator and a singularity to create an effect very similar to this. This will allow us to link the far-flung colony worlds of Humanity and form a truely galactic government.

  "However, some elements within the Paradise Colonial Council have expressed concern over this anomaly. They are worried that it could create some kind of tear in space, and let something through. As such, our small defensive force of tanks and infantry have gathered here."

  The camera swings around, showing what looks like a platoon of Flash tanks and some exoskeleton infantry. Upon closer examination, the tanks are not Flashes at all, but perhaps distant ancestors of that tank. The camera swings around to cover the distortion and the narration begins again.

  "After two local days of hard calculations, our best physicists have determined that the energy levels will peak... five minutes from now."

  The image fast-forwards, then stops. The timestamp reads a time five minutes in the future. And sure enough, there is a tear in space there. It begins with a bright flash of light, then a void that seems to suck at the eye and has no shape or form that should exist in this Universe. And in truth, it doesn't exist.

  A huge form can be half-seen in the tear, three times the size of any human. It is strangely familiar, but not enough details can be seen against the background of the tear to truely identify it. Then the tear vanishes, and left sitting on the green grass of Paradise is an Arm Commander.

  It is badly damaged. One leg is missing, probably blown off if the half-melted stump is any indicator. One of the arms is gone too, the left one. The other arm still glows with a fearsome power. The chest plating is badly mauled, and looks like it has had one too many poor repair jobs. Both radar antennae are torn of the head, and half the sensor visor is damaged and without its characteristic green glow. But the being inside is still obviously alive. The head turns and survays the forces arrayed around it. A hollow laugh comes from the suit.

  "I come in peace. Or pieces," It raises its arm in a mock salute. "This is Core Prime? Or should I say, Paradise." The hollow laugh resounded again. "I come from the future. And I bring a dire warning.

  "A horrible war has decimated the galaxy. Technology behind your wildest dreams has been discovered, and perverted to destroy fellow humans. Billions upon billions have died and worlds been consumed by weapons you could barely understand. This suit you see is one of the most powerful weapons ever created," the huge head turned to survay the assembly of vehicles and another hollow laugh rings out, without any humour whatsoever. "I could even destroy this small army without even blinking. But I will not, because I want you to hear my story.

  "The War I speak of waged on for millenia. Each side slowly wore down the other. Both sides were wiped from entire star systems, and neither bothered to re-establish themselves there because they didn't want to spend the resources. One of the most heavily populated sectors, the Sterus Sector, vanished without a trace. And still the War raged. Both sides consumed their civilian populations to revitalize their war machines, until most of humanity was involved in the fighting in one way or another. Finally, both sides were reduced to a score of units on no more than ten worlds.

  "Only two Commanders were left out of the hundreds that had been built. My enemy and I. My enemy drove me back to one world. I managed to somehow rally my forces and counterstrike, driving him back again and again. Finally, the battle came to this world. Core Prime, they called it. So different from the Paradise it once was.

  "I battled him across the metal surface of that world. Regiments of units annihilated each other, and still we fought. Nuclear weapons were brought into play, and many died. I was on the brink of loosing when a crack strike team penetrated my enemy's defences and destroyed his fusion power sources. The resulting explosion consumed much of his base and his retalitory strike consumed much of mine. In a final, last-ditch attack I sent the last of my forces against him. They destroyed his Commander suit, but the resulting antimatter blast destroyed them as well. I was possibly the last sentient being in the galaxy, possibly the only organic organism still alive...

  "We... no, I had murdered a race. I was left on a dead world in almost the state you see me now. Without even the resources to repair myself or reconstruct my army. I was as good as dead."

  He paused and swept his gaze over the assembled men again, "Miraculously, the device your scientists are even now inventing survived. The Galactic Gate. And it had enough energy to activate once. Using the computer and science skills I aquired in my days as an academic before the War, I reprogrammed it into a simple time machine. For almost a week, I agonized over where to send myself. Finally, I chose here. I knew that I would not live much longer, having lived too long already and taken a near-terminal dose of radiation. Soon, this suit's supplies will give out completely and I will die. But before I do, I must give you a warning.

  "A thousand years from now, a technology will be developed that will promise you immortality. But to gain this immortality, you will be forced to relinquish your bodies for soulless shells of metal. Some government beaurocrat with more ideals than brains will force this technology on humanity. Many will accept, and many will refuse. Those who refuse will flee to the edge of the galaxy and form a resistance movement. They will fight to preserve their bodies."

  A cough rings from the Commander's loudspeakers, sounding like a clap of thunder, "I bring you this warning. The gift of immortality will bring about the death of all sentient life in this galaxy. I warn you to not let the science of patterning progress! You have the power to change the future, to redeem my sins, to save a race. Please, I beg you, make the right choice! Destroy this abomination before it begins, before we are corrupted and consumed."

  Another fit of coughing siezes the Commander. It slowly trails off into a wheeze. A faint "please" can be heard from the loudspeakers, then nothing. The visor dims and the aura of destructive power around the remaining arm fades. A strange, dull, lifeless voice comes from the loudspeakers.

  "Commander Hrine has died. Standing orders are to reclaim the body for energy and clone a new one, writing the mind recording of Commander Hrine into it. However, damage to internal nanolathes prevents this. This suit is also unable to contact an Arm Officer of sufficient rank to gain new orders. As per standing operational doctrine, this suit will now self-destruct to prevent Core capture and to protect the data stored within. All objects within one kilometer will be destroyed by the resulting anti-matter explosion. Recommend immediate evacuation. Self-destruct sequence will commence in five minutes."

  The holocamera clicks off. Static fills the image for a second, then a feed comes in from another holocam. The text in the corner of this one identifies it as a flying drone camera, watching the Commander suit closely. The suit itself seems unchanged, but its backpack begins to softly glow. The glow quickly increases in inensity. After a minute, it is almost unbearable. Then the backpack explodes. A storm of antimatter and gamma radiation consumes the Commander suit. Fueled further by the mass of the suit, the explosion expands, consuming trees, grass, and ground. A rush of hot gasses, anti-matter, and radiation hollow out a spherical area of complete vacuum one kilometre in radius. Everything within that sphere, be it dirt, grass, or air has been utterly annihilated. Just barely at the edge of the explosion, the column of tanks and infantry can be seen. With them is what looks like a primitive version of the Zipper Kbot. The image degrades, eventually degenrating to complete darkness...

[End of file]
\\Attachment Ends//
{Close file? (Y/N}:} Y

Memo to Arm High Command
From: Supervisor Bth-0245961
To: All Members of Arm High Command
Subject: Startling Intelligence Data

  I highly recommend that all Arm Commanders read the attached file. It sheds an interesting light on the swiftness with which the Core instituted its patterning program, and adds an extra air of reality to our Total Annihilation scenarios. The Agent who discovered this file has recieved a promotion to Supervisor, and I highly recommend his suggested course of action, outlined in his message, also included. It may be the only way to assure the survival of sentient life as we know it. I pray that you will make the right choice.

{Alert! File attached to Memo. Warning! Attached files can contain hostile programs that could prove a risk to you, the operator. Download attached file? (Y/N)}: _