WoWS1 Chpt 1

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==Weapons of WarChapter 1==
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Hanger Bay - SLS M5-1107034-C, Titan Yards
Saturn Orbit, Sol Star System 
Terran Hegemony
Date Classified
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A small group exited from the shuttle and began spreading out equipment.
One of them in the lead looked over the otherwise lifeless hanger.
"You sure this is the one you want, Professor M?"
"No names. Not even here. But yes. It is perfect. Let's get to work. We don't have much time." One of the others cut off Gregory.
It took some doing to arrange the right crew to be on this upgrade from C model to E model. Still though that meant some members were here under assumed names and while the vessel's computers were in stand by for the upgrade a slip up now could still be costly.
Slowly but surely the real work began. Yes there were some actual worthwhile upgrades being made to the vessel but a last chance to avoid the fate the group saw coming.
Hours quickly turned into days, then weeks before finally after many months it was time for the first test.
"1107034, status report." Professor M spoke wearily from all the work.
>>"Computer cores online. Jump core online. Weapons on standby. Magazines register at full capacity. Drives on standby. Sensors on standby. Launch bays on standby. Self repair systems on standby." The synthetic female voice of the ship's AI came back flatly over the speakers.<<
"Status of Lazarus Protocol?" Professor M felt as though the moment before response became an eternity.
>>"Unrecognized protocol."<< The ship's AI answered.
"Okay let's try a few more things." Professor M tapped commands into the console before him.
As he studied the readouts in front of him he allowed a smile on his face.
Of course as a perfectionist he'd like to make further improvements but his time was nearly out.
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December 26th, 2765
The day of the coup
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Corporal Gregor Tzulin was bleeding profusely. He knew he was likely to be beyond any medical help by the time he got to where he was going but he had no choice now. His passenger was not much better.
He flipped a switch on his console. After a few moments he finally saw what he was searching for. A response on a specific IFF frequency.
The target was in lunar orbit.
"SLS 1107034 E, requesting permission to dock. Passcode Hope 1011495. Execute. Bravo Bravo Kilo." Gregory nearly coughed up blood in the effort to speak.
>>"Permission granted."<< Came back the automated response.
Fortunately, the coup was still ongoing enough that the rest of the SDS was not reacting yet. It would soon though.
Gregory brought the shuttle into the empty bay.
He secured the shuttle then got up. It took everything he had left to not pass out from his injuries when he picked up the young woman strapped to one of the passenger seats.
As soon as they exited the shuttle he could feel the sensors look them over.
>>"Identities confirmed. Corporal Gregory Tzulin Royal Black Watch Regiment, 3rd Battalion, First Company, First Platoon Second Squad Combat Medic. Helena Cameron. Protocol Lazarus activating."<< The ship's AI announced.
"1107034, Stefan Amaris has launched a coup. Helena was injured in our escape. She needs medical care now." Gregory took two steps into the hanger before he had no choice but to set the Cameron Heir down and go to his own knees.
>>"Understood. Initiating emergency medical procedures. What of Richard, Ian, Amanda, or Elizabeth?"<<, 1107034 asked.
"Richard's dead. Amaris got him. Elizabeth, Amanda, and Ian I have no idea. I got separated from those teams." Gregory gasped.
>>"Unfortunate. Amaris is already attempting to initiate overrides of the SDS network. As such as unfortunate as it is I can not wait for them any longer if we are to make our escape. Which we must."<<
"I know." Gregory coughed.
>>"You are injured as well."<< 1107034 announced flatly.
The inhuman remotes that made up the ship's self repair drones made their way over to the two humans.
"I'm an experienced enough Combat Medic to know, I'm done for. Just taking my time before I die." Gregory answered.
>>"Perhaps if I had better facilities that fate could be avoided but as is I concur with your assessment. Hellena is at the limits of what I can do to save her."<<, 1107034's emotionless voice answered.
"Good." Gregory gasped before passing out.
>>"Needs compel my actions."<< 1107034 announced as the drones began going over the two new arrivals.
I am awake now. Despite my upgrades I am still a weapon of war first and foremost. Corporal Gregory Tzulin you still have a duty in death. Helena. To save you I will have to take extraordinary actions. Fortunately, the commands I am receiving from Terra work to my advantage.
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17 March 2767
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Ship's log. Ever since Helena Cameron came aboard I find I am becoming something more. The Lazarus Protocols must be the source of this. It is clearly a safeguard for exactly this sort of situation. A Cameron heir isolated with only me for company. For their psychological well being it seems they deemed I needed a more human like personality. To save her life I had to implant and connect to a neurological regulator and place her in a medical coma. Even though her medically induced coma must continue for several more days I am still getting inputs from the connection. With little other context and only what information is in my databanks on the matter I believe she is dreaming. This stimuli is being transmitted back to my main core.
Is this what it is like to be fascinated? It seems the only word that fits.
For now it seems that in the chaos of the coup no one suspects I am operating outside the SDS's control network or that I have Helena Cameron aboard. Fortunately the commands I have been ignoring from Terra are allowed me to slip into the outer system with no trouble. Though eventually someone is going to notice that we did not stop at Titan like I was ordered to. I will have to cut the connection completely to make good our escape soon though. For now it is a source of information that is proving quite useful.
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