[Download rate: 433 mb/s]

[Commence operation.]

A barrage of sounds filled the clearing as multiple drones launched from its two electromagnetic linear driver launchpads. Its vision focused on one of them.

Type 07 Firefly

Height 2.4 m

Width 9.1 m

Length 16.8 m

Weight 1.1 t

Propulsion 2x VTOL Aerospike Jet Turbine

Purpose Long Range Reconnaissance

It hovered before the giant machine that launched it, and then blasted off into the sky. There was a swarm of sixteen of them in the sky, and they all went in different directions.

[Uptime: 13 days, 14 hours, 22 minutes, 55 seconds.]

It hadn't seen another sentient being in almost two weeks. Its strong desire to find a home for itself had sent its body walking over mountains and fields. It crossed rivers and circled lakes. Then it came to this place, nestled in the loving arms of two mountains. The valley extended for kilometers in all directions, and tiny, ground-hogging, hover drones swarmed the area. They were cutting down the treeline in the distance and excavating rocks from the mountains. With their haul, they returned to the large warmachine and delivered the plunder.

[Logistics: Material added.]

[Logistics: Filtering.]

Gold +29 kg

Silver +78 kg

Uranium +11 kg

Carbon +982 kg

Silicon +515 kg

Trace +185 kg

What am I even doing? What do I need gold for?

[System: Offensive Operations Directive: Construct FOB.]

Out of gold!? And Uranium?

[System: Materials will be stored for matter degeneration and reconfiguration.]

[Logistics: 1400 kg of Theta Superalloy will be added.]

[Foundry: Operation scheduled at 1800UT.]

[System: Would you like to watch a movie?]

What?

[System: Would you like to reschedule operation?]

I must be losing my mind. Just... do whatever. But no guns!

[Weapons: Conventional Weapons Locked.]

Or lasers! No missiles, nukes or lasers! No weapons at all!

[Weapons: Standing down. Idle mode.]

[Anti-Air Radar: Pa.s.sive mode.]

[Ground Target Radar: Pa.s.sive mode.]

[Shot Detection Radar: Offline.]

[Comms: Callsign, Firefly #12. Natives detected. East: 112. North: 22. Countervalue Rating: 57. Counterforce Rating: 4. Affiliation: Unknown. Acknowledge.]

"Acknowledged," a rumbling, mechanical voice spilled into the area. It was so loud that the soundwaves became shockwaves that flattened the gra.s.s against the ground.

I can speak! If I figure out how to do it, maybe I can speak to the people. What would I even tell them? We are already enemies.

"Deliver terms of surrender," the mechanical voice boomed, louder than before. Birds in the distance flew out of the canopy of the trees, and fled the area.

[Comms: Callsign, Firefly #12, copy all. Delivering terms of surrender.]

Great. Amazing. Exactly what I wanted.

[Cla.s.s XII sentience detected. System Error.]

Sarcasm is Cla.s.s XII, eh? I am done. I've had enough. Can I have that movie please?

[System: No such function found.]

Just build the d.a.m.ned FOB.

[Comms: Callsign, Firefly #4. Natives detected. West: 155. North: 87. Countervalue Rating: 22. Counterforce Rating: 1. Affiliation: Unknown. Acknowledge.]

As the moments pa.s.sed, there was no reply.

[Comms: Callsign, Firefly #4. Say again. Natives detected. West: 155. North: 87. Countervalue Rating: 22. Counterforce Rating: 1. Affiliation: Unknown. Acknowledge.]

Why are you not answering?

[System: Waiting for input.]

You want me to say it?

[Comms: Callsign, Firefly #4. Do you read? Natives detected. West: 155. North: 87. Countervalue Rating: 22. Counterforce Rating: 1. Affiliation: Unknown. Acknowledge.]

There was a strange sensation. What was this?

[Powerplant: Thermal output rising.]

"*HRRRRK* Ack- *WHIZZ* Acknowledge."

I spoke!

[Powerplant: Heat vent active.]

A blast of s.h.i.+mmering air erupted from the top of the warmachine.

[Comms: Callsign, Firefly #4. Standing by for instructions.]

[System: Waiting for input.]

[Powerplant: Thermal output rising.]

The sensation returned. It was deep and it enveloped all of its metaphysical body. It was excitement.

"Deliver terms of surrender."

[Cla.s.s XV sentience detected. All systems normal.]

Terms

VTOL Vertical Take-off and Landing

FOB Forward Operating Base

Countervalue Nuclear strategy: a.s.sets without military value. Cities and population centers.

Counterforce Nuclear strategy: a.s.sets of strategic military value. Military bases, missile silos, etc