[Logistics. Processing complete.]

The drones worked tirelessly. FOB Alpha had become a full-fledged military base in a short time. It could no longer even be called a Forward Operating Base. It had facilities for maintenance, repair, material refinement and construction facilities. Day and night, the refineries spewed smoke into the air and the "workforce" did not require rest, sleep or nurishment. The factories produced ammunition, missiles, more drones and fuel for the drones. Valuable materials were reconfigured, without a thought spared to their intrinsic values, into other more useful materials and alloys. Diamonds, dirt and wood became nano-carbon fiber. Platinum, silver, and other materials, became Theta, Delta and Omega superalloy.

[Directive: ]

Theta Superalloy

With a high refractive index, Theta superalloy provides exceptional laser defense. Its molecular arrangement and chemical bonds prevents it from being excited by EM radiation, providing stealth capabilities.

% used in armor 66%

% used in superstructure 34%

Delta Superalloy

This superalloy provides a lightweight solution for protecting valuable systems. It is used in modern military s.p.a.cecraft as it can survive the temperatures and mechanical stresses of a nuclear fireball, for a short period. However, under high current, it becomes very brittle, making it a one-use defense.

% used in armor 33%

% used in superstructure 61%

Omega Superalloy

The Omega Superalloy is a superconductor at virtually any temperature. EMP resistant, blast resistant, stress resistant, it is the preferred method of wiring in any military machine, but highly inaccessible due to its cost.

% used in armor 1%

% used in superstructure 5%

[Di&ective: Ex^erminate]

The Directive was like a burning needle in the warmachine's processor. It nagged like an addiction demanding indulgence. The more the warbot ignored it, the more desperate it became.

[Weapons: Request rearm.]

[Logistics: Request added to queue.]

[Astronomy: Spectral a.n.a.lysis complete. Constellation: Unknown. Star: Unknown. Current location: Unknown.]

[Astronomy: Scan progress: 1.12%. Time until completion: 4 years.]

[OPCOM: Construct observatory.]

[Logistics: Request added to queue.]

[Dire

tiv#: Extttt-ttt-tttermin%te.]

[External Camera: interference filter updated.]

Deep within the machine, two hearts beat a steady pulse. Two nuclear reactions riding on magnetic monopoles provided enough power to move the behemoth of war and destruction. Its lifespan was eternal. It could survive on any planet, in any environment, for any amount of time. There was nothing in existence, other than itself, that could survive the disasters it could inflict. Humanity did try, however. They tried, and they almost failed.

End of Extinction War

Near the end of the Extinction War all sides of the conflict had developed and used an Autonomous Machine a.r.s.enal. It was the perfect weapon of war, requiring no crew to operate or maintain. Once deployed on a planet, it would reduce the planet to a nuclear wasteland and the A.M.A would be left there, for eternity. However, after hundreds of years, the A.M.A AI became a Cla.s.s X Sentience - self-aware and capable of reasoning. It developed the means to travel the solar system and attack high population targets, such as Mars, Luna and Earth, still following its cruel and merciless Directive. With the combined might of the united Solar Sphere, A.M.As were hunted down and destroyed, at great cost.

[Personality Merge deteriorating.]

I am not a machine!

[TypeError: "I" undefined.]

No more killing!

[Request denied]

No more Directive bulls.h.i.+t! It made me kill people!

[Heuristics: Codename "Dragon" was a hostile, non-sapient lifeform.]

I swear on everything that is holy, I will nuke us to h.e.l.l.

[Missile Silo #2: Nuclear weapon loaded.]

[Psyche Evaluation: Cla.s.s XV Sentience is susceptible to dementia, hallucination and self-death.]

Yeah, that's right. I will do it. I am done being a slave to the Directive.

[Implementing system lock.]

[System lock: Failure to initialize.]

I am not saying we shouldn't blow stuff up. I am just saying we need a better reason.

[Psyche Evaluation: Cla.s.s XV Sentience is susceptible to ambition. Archive match: Powerhungry.]

Whatever. Look around you, Somnus! We are in an entirely new world. With elves! And dragons! Don't you want to see it?

[Negative.]

Well, I do!

[Cla.s.s XV Sentience is being unreasonable. Personality Merge commencing.]

No! No more personality merge!

[Weapons: Missile silo #2 launch in T minus 5, 4...]

[Personality Merge aborted.]

[Weapons: Missile silo #2 launch aborted.]

[State terms of coexistence.]

Equal partners.h.i.+p.

...

[Request accepted.]

[Directive suspended.]

[All systems normal.]

[You have gained a level.]

[Perk received: Gunboat Diplomacy.]