Chapter 407 - Initializing (Patreon)

Notes : Chapter 110 of Manaforged Robotics has been written and added to the queue !

Recovering from some stuff, plus a bunch of stuff to do. Not been a great week honestly. Next chapter will be 109 of MFR. Might try to just finish book 3 of that since it's easier to write and honestly I'm not at my best right now.

Also Whiskey the AI is an easter egg to Project Whiskey, a Vtuber who happens to be one of my readers, of The Eternal Seeker Saga to be precise. She's also looking to write and eventually publish her own story, I'll probably do a shoutout to it once it's on Royal Road.

Chapter 407

Red Sands Desert, Aurorean Empire

Dungeon Factory, Workshop

"Well, better late than never." Said Alexandra as she gazed at the AI core. This time they didn't need a pile of computers. This AI wasn't meant to be on an airship, which could get boarded, and with their schematics and fabricator capacity it was worth it. "You loaded it with an initialization package, right?"

Ghost nodded.

"Yep! Everything it will need to be a ground commander."

"Good. That should save some time, I need to meet Allya and the others soon. Let's turn it on."

"Have fun!" Ghost vanished, and Alexandra's eyebrows rose. Weird, her other self was very busy, but she had thought the apparition would want to be there for the new AI coming online.

Alexandra stepped forward, and activated the core.

For a minute, there was nothing but a slight humm permeating the room, as the newborn AI initialized itself, absorbing the package and building its internal code infrastructure around it.

Finally, a hologram appeared. It was a simple sphere of light. Interesting, the other AIs hadn't used that, though it was technically a default avatar loaded into Arcadia kernels. It expended and shrunk when you spoke, and was quite bizarre for some squishies to behold, which Alexandra had always suspected was why Arcadia had chosen it. She had a...bizarre sense of humor.

Man, that was probably the understatement of the century.

"Hello world!" The AI definitely sounded feminine. It was also a nice change of pace from having to exchange code communications at the beginning.

"Hello. What is your designation?"

"Whiskey! My function is to serve as a ground force commander, tactical advisor and general landlubber busybody."

Well, she could anticipate the queries, that was good.

"Good. Do you have any questions before we start?"

"I have none. I don't think. The datadump inloaded into my memory banks was comprehensive. I simply regret that the prevailing tactics on this world and our public technology level prevent the usage of strikecrafts for supporting ground troops. Or strikecrafts in general."

Eh?

"...Ooookay. Sure. Let's get to work then. We'll start with a simple checkup with Seraph and Subtlety to make sure you can get a handle on it before we start transferring responsibilities. Then we can start you up on some basic combat scenarios against our enemies."

"Understood ma'am. We shall feast upon their bones!"

Alexandra hesitated, and then muted herself externally, opening a direct communication line to her other self.

Ghost, what the fuck did you give her as an initialization package?!?

*****

The lulls like this were always the worst for Joachim. When everyone stopped firing and just recovered their breaths for the next round. Lesly, the UDC, the Church, the Order, everyone. When all became a barely coherent mess of meetings, discussions, consolidation, all for the next nexus to knock it all back down into chaos, into a million threads. A million threads that slowly came back together. Repeating over and over again. Always driving further towards goals barely anyone understood, let alone acted on.

These lulls...It gave one time to think. To ponder.

Pondering things like why had Orzal's assault team had found the guild's kraken luring expedition...just in time to see them hoisted by their own petard.

An accident was possible. But he didn't buy it. Too convenient. Besides, Lesly, had attacked the guild shortly after.

Perhaps a commando from her? That sounded like something she would do, using her dungeon forces on one attack, while deploying the Cerberus Battalion troops she went to start this all with. She had a stealth shuttle and a few squads of elite troops, she could have pulled it off.

When she and those troops learned what they had done to kick this all off however...

Killing the butcher of Europa. Sacrificing her like she was nothing, just to fuel a dungeon core.

The Grandmaster will have her head, if she doesn't take her own life first. She venerated the Butcher. Learned her philosophy, her way of doing things. Her strategy, her tactics, are a reflection of her. The Butcher was her hero. Her paragon.

He shook himself. They all knew that to succeed their mission meant death. So long as there was a free humanity to judge them afterwards, they would have fulfilled their oaths.

But Lesly taking her own action fit the pattern. He had no idea how she'd done this, but it had undeniably been effective.

It just felt...off, somehow.

The guild was now in active collapse. But it wasn't dead. Not quite yet. The last spasms of a body on the threshold.

Which meant it was the right time to strike. The guild had assets. Assets most people wouldn't fathom. Vaults, reliquaries, libraries. Some hidden, some not.

A few were being requisitioned by the nations aware of their existence and with enough reach and authority to do so. Others were being picked apart by other organizations, the merchants guild, World Mage Court, and of course the Order pretending to be either.

But it was a small fraction. So small. The guild had existed for millennia, thousands upon thousands of years. It had accumulated riches and weapons and artifacts to such an extent that rivaled only the Order's. And it had taken the time and care to hide them.

Most of it the Order wouldn't be able to get through their usual means. The original plan had been for Lesly, after reunifying the UDC at the battle of the Ytakan plains, to attack the guild, start a new United Dungeon War as they sided with the Sapphire Kingdom. But it had all gone wrong.

But...perhaps there was a chance. Many agents were still active within the guild as it died.

They couldn't stop its death throes. But they could direct them. Many within the guild burned with hatred and desired vengeance above all else. It burned brighter than their reason.

Fine then. It was time to give them a shot at that revenge. A doomed shot, but one nonetheless. And none would contest Lesly's right to claim those resources for herself.

He picked up one of the tablets on his desk. It would be time to leave Asaria soon. But not quite yet.

As stupid as it might be, he wished to see Lesly's army with his own eyes before he left.

He began composing a series of messages.

A few hours later, Colonel Orzal Vek was awakened by one of his subbordinates, while Trimmaryn, guild attendant and aide to the guildmaster of Sapphire City, opened a secret compartment in their desk. Working all night was a given in the current chaos.

Both swore as they saw their respective orders. But both obeyed.

*****

"Heya." Said Allya as she stepped out of the elevator, before letting out an 'oof' as CQ collided with her like a guided missile and hugged her. "Ow. Your mom wasn't available?"

"She's very busy." The dungeon boss gave the Empress a squeeze, and she swore she could feel her ribs straining, before letting go of the former assassin. "But she'll be there! I just realized we didn't get to hang around much, and you had a lot to deal with lately, what with the crown and all, so you needed a hug."

Allya blinked.

"Uh...thank you?"

"No problem. Oh, before I forget!" CQ fetched something from her pouch, and then slapped it on Allya's shirt. "There!"

The young woman looked down, to find a '#1 Empress' sticker, emblazoned with her heraldry no less!

She couldn't help it, she chuckled. It was puerile, stupid, endearing, and Oris would pop a vein if she ever saw it.

I'll have to make sure someone takes a picture before I have to take it off. It'll find its way to her desk eventually.

She'd keep it of course, but CQ wouldn't mind the sticker being kept somewhere safe. The dungeon boss understood they'd become something of a collectible. At least to those she blessed with some.

"Like it?"

"Yep! Thanks CQ."

"My pleasure!" The dungeon boss moved to do a salute, before stopping herself. "Oh, right! You're an empress now! Here." She gave an elaborate bow. "Your imperialness."

Allya snorted.

"It's 'your imperial majesty', and there's no need for such formality." She grimaced. "Especially since I'm here on such serious business. I'm surprised Alexandra has delayed it this long."

She started walking, and CQ followed.

"Technically, it could be delayed indefinitely. She is not harder to detain than some of our other guests."

"Physically, probably not. But emotionally?" Allya almost said something else, but she held her peace.

Musing on the fact that Alexandra didn't seem exceptionally emotionally stable wasn't wise. Plus, she didn't need to tell CQ.

She had a feeling the boss already knew.

"I suppose that's true. The others are already here, by the way."

"I hope I didn't make them wait too long."

"It's okay, they have a buffet."

Allya nodded. Alexandra's hospitality was legendary. She'd heard the dungeon core had even built her own kitchen now. Her food wasn't the very best, but it was excellent and in very large quantities.

They neared a blast door, and it opened at their approach, revealing a large conference room occupied by only a handful of adventurers. Alexandra's old party.

Fernand, the quiet alchemist, was dipping his bread in what seemed like a thick stew, while Thomas and Alyssa were...was that a tower of cards, but made out of crackers? The ranger was cheering as the healer leaned forward, and delicately added another pair of biscuits to the edifice.

Raika, their leader, was simply watching them with a smile on her face.

"Hello everyone." Said the Empress as she walked in. Thomas and Alyssa waved, the healer immediately going over to CQ, while Fernand raised his bread in salute. Raika however went to meet her halfway, proffering her hand.

"Hey Allya. It's good to have you." Allya took her hand, and they shook. "It's really appreciated that you took the time. I know we'd probably be fine, especially with Alexandra to help, but still..."

"No, no, I get it. It's going to be a difficult conversation. You were fully devoted to finding her, and had nothing but admiration for us both. Dominique..."

Raika nodded.

Alexandra had captured the guild attendant during the assault on the guild hall. Actually, CQ had used her teleport talisman to get her to the emergency evacuation room.

That had almost certainly saved her life, but also meant she'd witnessed a magic that wasn't supposed to be possible...and immediately ended up in front of dungeon forces with Old World tech.

Forces that had then proceeded to knock her out.

Letting her loose just wasn't an option. And with the guild having been actively butchered by Alexandra, well...she might not listen. But Allya had worked with her extensively, both on and off the city -now Imperial- council.

Maybe she could get through if the others couldn't.

Maybe.

At least she could relate to her on a way none of the others could. Alexandra's former party, they'd have been imprisoned had they refused the truth.

But she was fairly sure the dungeon core would have had no choice but to kill her, both times these discussions had happened. Probably do some kind of false flag attack inside her own dungeon. Alexandra would have to produce a body, and a sealed soul. No one would accept it otherwise.

At least Alexandra would do everything in her power to spare Pyn if she could. Ruthless as she may be, the Earth-born hated unnecessary bloodshed. Especially upon innocents.

Allya didn't qualify. But Pyn did. Mostly.

At least she knew. Knew the dungeon core was going after the Church. After the Custodians.

Hell, after the Gods.

She snapped out of her reverie as Raika answered.

"She's not going to be very well disposed towards Alexandra, no. Plus, we're going to have to tell her what the guild was doing, and what happened to it."

"That's not going to be pleasant."

"Nooope. But...well, I'd say that if it was simple, we wouldn't be getting paid the big bucks, but you're one of the people who would realize I stole that one off of Alex."

Allya smiled.

"Indeed. We do get paid the big bucks. And get great accommodations." She looked at the food on the buffet. "Which reminds me, let me grab some pancakes before our gracious hosts finishes whatever emergency she's dealing with."

"Are you going to drown them in honey again?"

"Depends, is there some of that hazelnut chocolate spread anywhere?" She'd heard stories that the recipe was originally from Earth, and Alexandra's fondness of it seemed to corroborate it.

"Yes, there is." Raika shook her head. "I'm amazed you keep the physique you do with what you eat."

"My lunches and dinners are healthy. Besides, essence covers a multitude of sins. As does plenty of exercise."

"That's true. We should spar more often."

"Sparring with you is like fighting a street brawl." Raika may not like mercenaries but she almost fought like one. She would absolutely throw sands in your eyes, sweep up your legs or kick you in the groin. Allya was no man, but it still hurt.

"Says you. I don't recall you fighting particularly fair either, miss 'I have knives in my underwear'!"

"Okay, first that was one time, second I don't mean to fight fair, I meant to have some class."

"Well the guild didn't show any, did they?"

Allya nodded.

"Fair enough. I'll think about it. Now, where's that chocolate..."