Story [Issue 31] The Titancore - Part 1

[Kevred 1,586]

Read the previous chapter

 

 

 

 

 

Secrets of the Titancore

 

 

“This beauty is equipped with Mark III Cannons for close-range dog fighting, and a long-range MOAV Ion Repulsor for sniping. Plus, you also have a pair of Thetacron missiles! Isn’t that just amazing?”

Nergos, always excited when it comes to new spaceships, continued to boast about the Perseus while my thoughts wandered off towards the events that happened on Genetara. After a bit of fiddling around, I concluded that the best place to go if I wanted information would be the Rogue Science League, a bunch of no-gooders expelling at cyber attacks and strategy. The battle of the Flaming Ranges, a two-week firefight between RSL and Terrans cruisers, was a massive lost for the latter due to the RSL's unrivaled strategists. So, naturally, I wasn't too excited to go and see them. But I didn’t let my emotions show, as I saw how happy Nergos was, and didn’t want to, like they say, poop the party. So I listened absentmindedly throughout the day as Nergos introduced me to my new Battlecruiser.

 

While the crew was making last-minute preparations on the Perseus VI, I messaged the link I found on a classified website. Surprisingly, I got a hologram chat request immediately. Do these guys d anything else but stare at their computers the whole day? It wouldn't surprise me. Most of them wear eye-sight correctors, or ESO. I wonder how the people living in the 21th century managed to live with those huge hideous things they called "glasses". Anyways, I accepted the request, and a dark veiled figure immediately popped out of my holo-projector.

 

“Hi, I would like to speak with your leader, would that be possible?”, I asked, trying my best to sound poilte.

“No.”

“Is he busy? Can I see him later?”

“No.”

“In that case, I’ll leave you my comm link so he can message me when he has the time, alright?”

“No.”

“Are you smart?”

“No.”

“Seriously, I really need to see him, tell him I have questions concerning the Titancore.”

  

After a long pause, the figure finally replied:

“Come to Aquila Trime in 2 hours sharp. Be late and we’ll...consider you an intruder.”

“Wait, doesn't Aquila Trime belong to the Terrans?”

“Not anymore.”

 

That last line filled me with dread. I immediately began the lauch sequence of the Perseus. This was going to be a long day.

 

After seven hours of flight, the Perseus finally neared Aquila Trime.  Through the panoramic windows of the Captain's quarters, I stared in disbelief at the carnage. Space debris, corpses floating around, nuclear waste, battered ships, it was hell in space. I ordered all crew to stay on board while I "investigated" what happened to the base. I didn't like lying, I never did, but sometimes you just have to. After all, those years of experience lying to teachers must come in handy sometime, so why not now? If my superiors found out that I was communicating with public enemy no.1, it'd surprise me if I was even allowed a proper burial.

 

As I walked down the corpse-filled hallways of Aquila Trime, I suddenly heard a loud voice booming over the speakers: “Welcome to the RSL, Arshton Callidus.” The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I never told anyone my last name. Cautiously, I reached for the door from which the voice came from, but before I could open it the voice said: “Don't touch to door. We to parliate over the speakers. No strangers to allowed to see me. Say what you have to say, and to leave.”

Judging from the abundant 'to's in his talking, I predicted that I was listening to a Cerulean. The fact that they believed in peace was a bonus, but they are known to be cruel and devious if it helped keep their race away from danger. For example, during the Battle of the Flaming Ranges, they assassinated their own Governor, who was intent on having the Cerulean participate in the war at the sides of the Terrans.

 

"You have three questions to ask.", the voice announced. So I shouted,

“How do you know my last name?”

There was laughter at the other end of the speakers.

"That's your first question? Very well. We've hacked into every computer in to the world, so yes, we know quite a few things.”

“What is the Titancore?”

“I believe your leaders have already told you that. It’s a massive A.I. the size of a star base, with information to almost every thing in the world. It is located to Sector C, which is why the Terrans have sent you there. They wanted to detonate the bomb in your ship, which would have eradicated everything to that Sector, including the Titancore.”

“Why are they so intent on getting rid of the Titancore?”

”It knows the location to the most powerful thing ever to have existed in the universe, created by the an ancient species called the Forgotten."

"What thin-"

"That is all to be said. Now to our payment, you obviously will not be able to afford it. Thus, you must be cleared. Have a good day" The speakers retracted.

 

Several doors opened all at once, spilling out hordes of robotic soldiers. I did bring a pistol in case things took an unexpected turn, but I wasn't expecting an army of fighter drones armed with flesh-tearing rifles. Shooting a few useless shots towards the enemy, I backed off, trying to come back the way I came, but a panel slid shut and cut off my escape route. Then I realized I only brought one cartridge of ammunition. Great, 6 bullets against a dozen titanium-reinforced robots. This is going to be so easy.

 

Hiding behind some debris, I emptied out both my pistol and my grenades, while causing little to no damage to the AI's. The grey army advanced, guns charged, not bothered by the bullets ricocheting on their metal skulls. Strangely, none of them shot. Even more peculiar, they didn't shoot when I popped out of cover, trying to grab a metal knife lying on the floor. Noticing it, I slowly approached them, to the extent of grabbing them, but they didn't react. I waved his hand in front of their sensors.

 

Bad idea.

 

The walls exploded, sending an intense wave of heat, knocking me to the ground. My ears ringed and my head throbbed, but through the midst of chaos I heard a familiar voice.

 

"Grab him!", the voice said.

 

 

The voice...the voice...half-conscious, I remembered why it sounded so familiar. It was the voice associated to the only memory I had of my parents. I mumbled: "Mom?"

 

"Yes, I have returned.", the voice replied in a soft, but cold voice.

 

"It's nice to see you again, brother.", another voice said.

 

The last thing I saw was Andros' boots kicking my gun away.

 

 

Edited July 30, 2017 by Hexed

[fluctuation123 3,435]

interesting!

[Mithrandir1 17]

This story was fun to read, but it needs more editing.

 

"a bunch of no-gooders expelling" should be excelling.

"was a massive lost for the latter"  - massive loss

"Then I realized I only brought one cartridge of ammunition" - 1 cartridge equals one bullet.

And so on.

 

P.S. Gandalf has returned from retirement just to say this.

[CombatCat2 248]

I suppose I should compliment you kev. It was good, and the next part better come out soon or I'll be forced to make a bunch of empty-threats.

[Kevred 1,586]

This story was fun to read, but it needs more editing.

 

"a bunch of no-gooders expelling" should be excelling.

"was a massive lost for the latter"  - massive loss

"Then I realized I only brought one cartridge of ammunition" - 1 cartridge equals one bullet.

And so on.

 

P.S. Gandalf has returned from retirement just to say this.

"a bunch of no-gooders expelling"

 

Yeah, curse that auto-correct. Mankind's worst enemy after soya milk.

 

"was a massive lost for the latter" 

 

My bad there.

 

"Then I realized I only brought one cartridge of ammunition"

 

I was thinking in the future, there'll be laser guns. So one cartridge would equal one charge, or one battery, which will give him multiple shots.

[pokemonjoe70 4]

out of all the books I have read in my 5 years (5 years being how long I have been in love with books not how old I am) of love for books this has the most plot twists, but hey, who does not like plot twists. keep up the good work Kevred :).  with spell check

[Kevred 1,586]

out of all the books I have read in my 5 years (5 years being how long I have been in love with books not how old I am) of love for books this has the most plot twists, but hey, who does not like plot twists. keep up the good work Kevred :).  with spell check

Hmm I guess Arshton from the future and huge temporal distortion and mom from the past isn't such a good idea then.

[Kevred 1,586]

I suppose I should compliment you kev. It was good, and the next part better come out soon or I'll be forced to make a bunch of empty-threats.

It's about time  <_<

 

Hmm I guess Arshton from the future and huge temporal distortion and mom from the past isn't such a good idea then.

Jokes jokes

[TriNitroToIuene 4,765]

Epic, Kev. You deserve to be up there with HG Wells, Isaac Asimov and the rest of them awesome sci-fi writers!

 

 

Do these guys d anything else but stare at their computers the whole day?

You forgot to put an 'o', my friend ^_^ 

 

Btw I'm sending you a story I authored soon. Better take a good look at it!

Edited February 10, 2015 by TriNitroToIuene

[sudeeprauta 150]

Nice Man ^_^ ^_^

[pokemonjoe70 4]

why did that last part remind me of the first part of insurgent by Veronica Roth?

[Kevred 1,586]

why did that last part remind me of the first part of insurgent by Veronica Roth?

I've no idea. It's been years since I read the book.