|3rd POV|
White stares at the video feed in front of her, her expression one of shock and fear. The pod has already provided them with the data GAIA—the AI—uncovered within their system. What makes matters worse is that, after performing a deeper scan using the data provided by GAIA, she discovers that all YoRHa androids are infected.
The only reason she is not infected is that she is not a YoRHa model and does not go planetside. For now, that keeps her safe from being infected.
Fortunately, the virus requires a specific activation signal, and GAIA is willing to provide a firewall to prevent that signal from triggering the infection. She immediately installed one for herself and barks an order.
"Install the firewall. Spread it through the main network. We cannot let the Machine Lifeforms activate the virus. Prioritize the frontline androids."
"Yes, ma'am!"
White barks order one after another as the operator-type androids work as quickly as possible to deploy the firewall. She even instructs the mechanic-type androids on the other Orbital Station to do the same. They cannot allow the machine lifeforms to take over the Bunker or any Orbital Station of the Army of Humanity.
She ensures nothing goes wrong. A real human has arrived, and she refuses to die simply because the Machine Lifeforms manage to infect them with a virus.
For the first time in a long while, White tastes hope—fragile, fragile hope—and she will not let anything take it away from her. Not the Machine Lifeforms. Not the virus.
She glances at the monitor once more, remembering every detail of the first human she has ever seen. She blushes at the gentle smile he gives the other androids, and for some reason, her lower body starts to get warm, and she notices something leaking out from her Nether Region. She mentally notes to visit the medical room later to check for abnormalities or damaged components.
She looks back at the monitor, and jealousy takes root. Ryan pats one of the androids on the head and praises their efforts. She wants praise as well. She wants a head pat. She wants him to tell her she is working hard.
She has been working hard. She ensures that all androids retain their will to live and continue fighting. She ensures they continue to strive to bring humanity back to Earth.
But she understands why Ryan might not praise her. The sins she carries. The androids she sacrificed. She is not worthy of praise. She does not deserve a head pat, not with the weight of everything she has done.
It is a nice dream—to be praised by her creator, to receive a head pat, to be given a warm smile. A nice dream. But all dreams must come to an end, and she must face reality. She takes a deep breath and looks at 21O.
"21O."
"Yes, ma'am?"
21O looks at Commander White with curiosity, and White notices a faint glimmer behind her optical sensors. She knows 21O is recording the video feed from the pod. She does not blame her; she would do the same if maintaining her commander's image were not so important.
"Tell 41G, 33G, 67G, 21G, 12H, 21H, 51A, 40A, 92A, 70A, 42B, and 51B to prepare for deployment. They will accompany me to visit Sir Ryan."
"You will go planetside, ma'am?!"
21O looks at her in shock, and White cannot blame her. She always remains in the Bunker; no YoRHa unit has ever seen her land on the surface.
"Yes. The Council authorized me to handle this matter personally. It requires delicate handling."
"Understood. Contacting them now…"
White glances at the monitor one more time and allows herself a small smile. Even with the possibility that her creator may kill her for her sins, she cannot help but feel excited to meet him—for the first and perhaps the last time.
Dying at the hands of a human does not seem like a terrible fate.
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I chuckle a little as Anemone shies away from the camera. She may be a great leader for the Resistance, but she is a bit camera-shy and prefers not to be in front of one.
Jackass, on the other hand…
"Look at this! This is my personal creation! A modified dynamite! It is more powerful than a regular dynamite, but created with the same amount of material, just with a slight amount of special concoction I made!"
She loves showing off her inventions. I suppose that is why the others keep their distance. They like her, but they don't want to get caught up in her shenanigans. I know someone just like her—kind, easy-going, but constantly getting into ridiculous situations. We eventually learned to keep our distance whenever he began acting strangely.
"Ah! Ah!"
I snap out of my thoughts and quickly walk toward her when I see her trying to light the explosive.
"No explosions in here."
Jackass looks at me with a sheepish expression and sets the device aside. I shake my head with a smile and turn back to the camera.
"Anyway, that concludes the tour of this facility. Chaldea exists to preserve humanity, and it contains everything necessary to ensure that happens if we fail. If humanity does not make it, we ensure our legacy survives."
…Oops. My words make the androids around me turn pale. In their minds, losing even one human is the greatest sin they could ever commit. Losing hundreds? They would rather die than exist in a world where they watch as hundreds of humans die in front of them.
Whoever programmed them did an excellent job of preventing rebellion. Well—no, that is not entirely true. I recall a group of androids declaring independence, choosing to live for themselves rather than serve humanity.
I can respect that. As long as they do not harm humans without a good reason, I am more than willing to acknowledge their independence.
"Anyway!"
I clap my hands, snapping them out of their spiraling thoughts.
"Let me show you the weaponry."
I lead them toward the wall-mounted displays showing the sentry systems. Although the main facility lies beneath a massive sand dune, there is a proper fortress above it—complete with walls and automated defenses.
The entire area is protected by a Bounded Field, making it difficult to detect and capable of blocking various attacks.
As for the sentry weapons… I do not fully understand the technical aspects, so I let GAIA explain them to the androids. It is outside my expertise, and GAIA is far better at presenting the details. After another thirty minutes of explanations and demonstrations, we finally finished. I turn to Anemone.
"With that done, I need your help, Captain."
"Sir!"
She salutes, and I wave a hand dismissively.
"Relax, Captain. This is a request, not an order."
"There is no request we would refuse from you, sir. We are more than happy to fulfill it."
I resist the urge to sigh and simply nod.
"Right. The request is for your people to patrol the area. Chaldea is a masterpiece, but many of its systems have ceased functioning. Among them is the scanner that detects enemy movement. Because of that, I need your team to patrol the area and check for roaming machines. So far, I've been hunting the ones that get too close, but I cannot be certain there aren't more nearby."
Anemone nods in understanding.
"I will do that immediately. We can establish a patrol perimeter and assign personnel for regular rotations. However, to maintain effectiveness, we will need more manpower."
"Do you still have a team back at your base?"
"We still have fifty-seven androids at the base, sir."
"Then send someone to bring them back here. Take this."
I hand her a device that Zelretch gave me.
"This creates an invisible bubble with a ten-meter radius. It renders you invisible and muffles all sounds from within. If your base is still critical to the war effort, you may leave most of your people there. I will prepare better weaponry for them in exchange for their support here."
She accepts the device with a firm nod.
"I shall send someone immediately. As for the base, do not worry, sir. We chose its location because it is well hidden from the machines. We can evacuate if needed… We simply need time to bring back all necessary supplies. But we will return and ensure this facility is secure."
I nod, hoping for more reinforcements. Zelretch is planning something, and his plan involves a massive battle against the machines. I can take on many at once, but Zelretch forbids me from using my full power—only Sage Mode, not Draconic Sage Mode.
At least I can still use my Class Card.
We will need every android we can gather to defend this place.
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