*THUD*

[System: Sustained no damage.]

A hollow sound spread through the darkness. It was so faint and far away, it may have just been imagination.

*THUD*

[System: Sustained no damage.]

There it was again.

*CLANK*

[System: Sustained no damage.]

[Armor System: Activating ERA armor.]

Thoughts popped into its consciousness. There was a sense of comprehension, but it was detached. It lacked ident.i.ty.

*CLANK*

*BANG*

[System: Sustained no damage.]

[Armor System: Section F, Subsection 9, ERA armor depleted.]

[System: You gained a level.]

Level? What? What is going on? What is that noise? Was that an explosion?

An image flickered into its consciousness. A vast gra.s.sland stretched before it. A charred body was on the ground and a warped sword lay next to it. In the distance, a pair of long-eared women stood with ghastly expressions, shakily holding their bows.

[System: Targets identified. Race: Elf. Threat level: 0. a.s.sessment: Ignore.]

The image zoomed to one of the two elves. She had pretty blonde hair, and gentle green eyes. She was terrified, however. As if she was looking at a monster. She lifted up her bow, and nocked an arrow with her trembling hands.

[System: Hostile activity detected. Arming Point Defense Weapon Systems.]

[Weapons System: CIWS #14 armed.]

Don't do it, pretty girl. Put the bow down. You are making a huge mistake.

The girl released the arrow, and it curved majestically in the air, catching the sunlight in such a way that the bronze arrowhead gleamed like liquid gold. Then it caught a hail of bullets. Like a long, flaming tongue, the tracers swiped downwards until they rained upon the two elves.

When the dust settled, the image stabilized and focused on the grotesque remains of the elves riddled with b.l.o.o.d.y bullet holes.

[System: You gained a level. x4]

[Achievement earned: Shoot a projectile with another projectile]

A moment later, a shot up tree fell over and covered the bodies with its canopy.

[Achievement earned: Getting wood]

What did you do that for? They were so pretty! And harmless! What's wrong with you?

It tried to move the viewpoint, but nothing happened. It tried to just move, but that also seemed to not be within its capabilities.

What is going on? Am I a rock or something? A rock with guns? Rocks can't see. What am I?

[Status]

Race Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enal

Cla.s.s XJ-117 Takemikazuchi

Level 6

Name [System Error]

[System Error] [System Error]

[System Error] [System Error]

[System Error] [System Error]

It mentally focused on the information.

[System: XJ-117 Takemikazuchi was a prototype developed by the Imperial j.a.panese Navy in the year 2751. Cla.s.sed as an Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enal, it saw its first deployment on t.i.tan against the United Mars Federation. It was the first recorded use of the Annihilation Protocol.]

Like a mindless animal that saw something s.h.i.+ny, it focused on "Annihilation Protocol".

[System: Commencing Annihilation Protocol. Arming missile batteries.]

[Weapon System: Scanning for targets. Criteria: Countervalue]

A fuzzy feeling spread through it, gaining a vague awareness of its surroundings.

[Radar System: Countervalue target detected 78 kilometers south. Population: 239,000. Target lock.]

[Weapon System: Loading nukes.]

Whoa! Wait! Don't do it! Abort! Abort Annihilation Protocol! Quit! Exit! CTRL-D! Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Ri-

[System: Aborting Annihilation Protocol.]

Don't. Think. About. Anything.

[System: Would you like to fix internal System Errors?]

Yes. Please. Before I nuke something. Do it.

[System: Entering sleep mode. Perimeter defenses disarmed.]