A gentle rain padded the surface of a neon-bathed London. The year is 2069, an era of great decay, where the rot was hidden beneath a veil of modernity and progress. It is a world of modern technology where all perplexity of a society was lost and diluted in the endless dulling sensations of the virtual and artificial. People walked through the streets and went on about their business as usual. Yet, no one could see the deeper pain within the layers of cybernetic modification which occupied the rightful spot of flesh. Meanwhile, those lucky enough to still feel the night's breeze against their skin couldn't spare enough empathy to look at another person aside from the one in the mirror. Such is the fate of a world where excess, either through greed or egomania, was the ultimate norm for those in power.
Freedom is a luxury many can ill afford, while most only understand it as a concept from a fantasy tale. Live in the lowest class of society, and you will wish you were born a cattle instead of a human. At least cows were still protected by activists. Live in the middle class, and you will wish you were born a machine. At least machines are allowed to speak and move without being watched or condemned. Live as a rich person, and you will become numb to the sensory stimulus offered to you by a world where your desire is law.
However, what is money, status or control in the face of a God?
As the light from the city below shot upward, it revealed a man in a dark coat which flowed in the wind like a flag. The golden shine from the diamond rune on his armour and coat contrasted with the monotony of the dark colour of his attire. He stood where no one could, feet resting where fantasy meets reality- Floating above the air beside the tallest building in the city. He was the will of the Emperor made manifest, he was a God serving a greater God, he was the queen to the king's game.
What is greed, malice and the sum of all human vices in the entropy of a God's chessboard?
As wave after wave of soldiers moved to form a line, the final formation was something beyond any army imaginable. There were millions of men, all armed and ready to fight, following the ambition of a God. From war machines as tall as the Eiffel Tower to flying carriers the size of half a city, even the formations of men below became insignificant pawns in the face of God's towers.
Lining up in their armour, decorated each with the same diamond rune as the previous man, the king's bishops and knights welcomed their masters with fear and respect. Finally, amidst all the intricate pieces, walked the king, a man in a set of armour fit for an Emperor and a God. However, while those who served him saw him as a piece walking the same board as them, the true God Emperor was the man whose hands moved the king forward. As Sniper looked up after moving the king one step forward on the board, he only saw an empty seat where his opponent should've been and an empty side where his opponent's pieces should've stood. Such is the only game fit for a God, a game where he alone played and decided the outcome.
Meanwhile, a large explosion caught the attention of the divine knight overlooking London. Turning around, he noticed from afar a group of armed men arriving before the British parliament. After storming out of their vans, armed to the teeth with weapons and armour, they immediately overwhelmed the guards in front of the building before storming in to take control. An intense gunfight ensued as the armed militants cleared the building while elements of their rear guard fought off police enforcement on the streets.
As police cars saturated the front entrance, one of the armed militants suddenly exited his hideout and uncovered his cybernetically enhanced body. In an instant, a hundred small missiles flew out of his backpack and body before decimating the policemen and their cover.
[Police chief] - "Damn it, contact the military, we need heavy-grade weapons and reinforcement! "
Yelled the police chief into his radio.
The militants soon cleared the building of opposition and raised their revolutionary flag above the parliament's top. Meanwhile, the group's hackers quickly began their operation to infiltrate the country's news and propaganda system. After giving the go-ahead to their leader, the man quickly took off his mask and began addressing the public in front of a camera.
[Rebel leader] - "People of Britain, we have suffered under the oppressive rule of the government for too long! We are the Liberation Front of Britain! We must stand together to form... "
However, in the streets, instead of being inspired by the man's speech, people looked at his live feed with confusion and apathy. During this time, the government moved quickly to put the situation under control. Inside the MI5's headquarters, government agents and hackers had already begun to shut the operation down.
[Agent] - "Shutting off media access on the London sector! "
Said the agent as he flipped a few switches on his control board.
[Agent 2] - "Executing! "
Said the second agent as she switched off the media access to the city.
In a matter of a few seconds, the militant leader's footage was no longer displayed in the country as each screen was either replaced with other media or advertisements for special government-founded discounts on everyday essentials. Left stranded without hope, the militants were quickly faced with the ominous sound of heavy equipment being rolled closer and closer toward their position. To the rebels' shock, the sight of a main battle tank quickly appeared before the parliament building.
[Militant] - "Back off, we have hostages in this building! We won't hesitate to- "
Yelled the militant before being suddenly silenced by the blast of a high-explosive shell.
In a chaos of indiscriminate fire, the row of tanks brought their shells down upon militants and hostages without a care in the world. Soon after vaporizing the entrance of any lifeform, the British Military stormed into the building, executing anyone they saw.
[Commander] - "Are you sure none of this will get to the public? "
Said the military commander as he approached an MI5 agent.
[MI5 agent] - "The public will be none the wiser. A hostage situation may take days, thus raising public suspicion. A narrative where the terrorists killed the hostages would allow us not to waste time and sweep the attack under the rug. After all, who can question us or our methods? "
Said the MI5 agent as she took a puff on her cigarette.
As his men below were being cut down by heavily armed soldiers, the leader retreated alone onto the roof of the building while limping from a wounded leg. To his surprise, he unexpectedly came across the mysterious knight dressed in black standing by the edge of the roof. It was almost like meeting destiny itself as the knight seemed to be waiting for him.
[Mike] - "That wasn't a true revolution, mate, that was just terrorism. "
Said Mike mockingly without turning to face the leader.
Panicked, the leader looked behind himself before slowly approaching the man with caution.
[Leader] - "Are you a special operative? What do you want from me? "
Yelled the leader as he raised his rifle at Mike.
[Mike] - "I'm a true revolutionary, unlike you. You sent your message by spilling innocent blood and caused enough chaos to slander your movement to the ground. Impact is the difference between revolution and terrorism. Your message only angered your enemy, while its impact missed the people. Your perception of a revolution is both naive and foolish. "
[Leader] - "What the fuck are ya saying, mate! I'm not about to get lectured by some bloody government prick! "
Just as the leader was about to fire, he was abruptly gunned down by British soldiers behind him. As the soldiers noticed Mike, they immediately ordered him to drop to his knees. However, seeing that the man was not yet dead, Mike continued with the last part of his speech.
[Mike] - " This world is like a building, rotting and with vines growing between its cracks. A revolution must be the nutrient required by those vines to break the concrete apart. The idea of a revolution is beyond simple ideas of virtue; It must be savage enough to break monotony and shocking enough to reshape society. Not a mindless slaughter, a lack-cluster message followed by meaningless martyrdom. "
Said Mike as he finally turned to stare the leader in the eyes.
In a flash of blue from the knight's arm, the soldiers' rifles melted in their hands, and their feet suddenly sank into the cement below them. As the last drop of life was beginning to leave the man's eyes, he seemed to have suddenly realized something about Mike. That single flash felt as if the sight of the universe was condensed into a single moment and showed to him for him to understand. The power he had just witnessed was so potent that it gave him the urge to fight death just so he could grasp the enormity of it.
Mike's speech suddenly made much more sense, as it embodied something that deeply resonated with him: Hope. That inhumane ability was a key to a future he always dreamed of. While the leader himself couldn't make a difference, he knew from the depths of his soul that the mysterious knight could, and he will.
[Leader] - "A true revolution is what you speak of, then where is it? I wish to see it before my death. I want to know that we are capable of breaking free of our fate as humans! "
Said the leader with emotion, tears streaming down his face.
[Mike] - "Then offer me your hand, and I will show it to you. "
Said Mike as he reached his hand toward the man.
Suddenly, the grip of death left the leader's body, as he found himself able to sit up and reach for the knight's hand. Finally, as he made contact, he abruptly heard the sound of bullets falling from his back, before turning to see none of them was coated with his blood.
With a step off the ledge, Mike dove onto the street below, surrounded by soldiers and tanks. As everyone aimed their weapons at Mike, he raised his arm in the air, and a blue glow shone through his sleeve. Before anyone could fire, an invisible force tore each piece of equipment to shreds, leaving everyone defenceless.
[Mike] - "Well, looks like you bloody idiots won't be able to sweep your actions under the rug this time. The military turning hostages into meatpaste- won't this be such a sensational news article for your propaganda machine? "
Said Mike as he looked over his shoulder at the parliament's ravaged entrance.
The soldiers quickly tried to move, but their vehicles and feet immediately sank into the ground, trapping them where they stood.
[Mike] - "Now, let us begin our real revolution. "
For ages, the world has slowly sunk into stagnation, trapped between corporate greed and the poison fed to the populace to make them obedient. The lack of critical thinking, the loss of individuality, and the indoctrination of minds. Be happy, be obedient and be decadent, a dictum told by the men in the tallest skyscrapers above you and repeated by the men in the most decrepit slum below you. You, who live, knowing you are powerless to change the system that enslaved you, with your only option being to either become a part of it or be subjected to it.
"Suffer no more! Reject the virtual world and the artificial sensations only fit for cattle. You are a person, someone deserving of equal chance in a world where neither money nor power can elevate another above your own mortality. Fight for your worth, fight for your own place in this world! Rise when the bell of my fleet rocks your city, claim your dignity when my soldiers wipe the slate clean, and hope knowing you no longer need to kneel for food or shelter. I'm the Messiah, the Emperor of the human race, and I will fight for you just as you will fight for me! "
Announced the footage as it appeared on every screen in the world without fault. No government, nor organization, could shut the broadcast down until Sniper's every last word was heard loud and clear by the concerned audience. This is a real revolution, one capable of not only dethroning the rotting building but also creating a newer and better city. The world was shaken by the seed of a revolution, and its growth will not be stopped.
All around the world, Sniper's fleets began to awaken from their slumber. With thundering roars, the engines of the massive aerial battleships and carriers came to life, propelling massive, kilometres-long crafts into the heavens. From the desert sands of the Sahara, the Imperial's first fleet [The First Risen], second fleet [The Ashen Storm], and sixth fleet [The Ice Kraken] rose up from their sandy tomb and cast nightfall upon the sand with their massive size, like three giant palaces.
From the depths of the Indian Ocean, the third fleet [The World Bearers], the fifth fleet [Blitz Marines], and the seventh fleet [Sons of the Crescent Moon] emerged from their watery prison and pushed their way to the surface like a rebirth of the city of Atlantis. From the ice of the Antarctic continent, the fourth fleet [The Martyrs of Dunes], the eighth fleet [Pillar of the Eastern Skies], the ninth fleet [Falling Spartans] and the tenth fleet [Rising Leaves] fleets rose up, pushing the ice around their massive bodies like paper as their shiny iron bodies contrasted the monotone sight of white snow.
Aboard each ship, tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers and marines were lined up perfectly and listened as their respective commanders gave them orders and a final speech before the conquest. Each army/fleet had its own insignia and origins, but each man or woman had only one goal: The liberation of humanity from the rule of the old world and the bringing about of a new age of peace through war in the upcoming Cleansing Crusade.
[General] - "Men, women, fighters for the justice upheld by the National Empire's vision, today, we reclaim this world for the people! We tried peace once, and it didn't work. War is the only language spoken by those leading this old, corrupt society, and if this is the only way to communicate, then let them bleed by the tip of our spears. From the skies of our world to the far reaches of the abyss, let them know that Earth is the home of the people and not the cattle farm of a few select individuals! "
Yelled the general to his soldiers.
In a unified cheer, the men saluted the general before moving into squad formations. Amidst the sea of faces, stood the man who once walked a misled path. He smiled harder than the others in the crowd, as hope filled his heart. The Grand Knight had shown him the revolution he had to promise to let him witness, and he will forever be grateful for it. He will fight hard just as comrades will for a tomorrow he was given a chance to claim.
Starting with the Southern hemisphere, the 9th fleet, the Falling Spartans, moved over the skies of Australia. Like meteor showers, the drop pods full of Spartan marines fell from the skies like a rain of star dust. Once landed, the imperial troops ran out of their pods and massacred any military resistance with ease and impunity. Meanwhile, in the sky, the Australian air force attempted to engage the imperial fleet, only to be easily dealt with by the more advanced imperial fighters.
From the skies, the imperial mothership carrier overlooked the city and, with deadly precision, the 50-meter-wide barrels of the Ragnarok-class siege plasma cannons rained down ginormous plasma blasts, which instantly vaporized the military bases around the city of Sydney. Within hours, the government building was raided by Spartan marines, their graphene-tungsten molecular armour shrugging off even rockets like toys. Soon, all parties and politicians were arrested and promptly transferred to the mothership's prison facilities. As the dust settled, there were no screams of terror or panic in the city, but the welcoming cheer of the people.
Soon after capturing Australia, banners of the Nation Empire were raised all around the cities. Though people didn't resist the presence of the Empire, they were also initially skeptical of their supposed liberators. However, doubts were soon quenched as the Empire proved more busy with solving the problems plaguing society than dealing with the remains of the Australian military. Engineers promptly repaired damaged buildings while volunteers began to help people stuck in poverty. Surprisingly, even the scary-looking Spartan marines began to offer their help to the civilian population.
As one imperial transport ship landed before a mine with people working to their bare bones, the guards immediately took position to open fire. However, instead of the expected soldiers, a single woman clad in the Empire's officer uniform stepped out with the cyberknight rune on her collar. As the men fired, none of the shots seemed to reach her as she approached them fearlessly. With a snap of her fingers, she conjured small needles made of electricity in her hand. In an instant, the needles shot each guard, stunning them like a taser and paralyzing them.
[Imperial Medic] - "Admiral Athena, General Pantheon awaits your next command. "
Said a medic as he ran up to the woman.
[Athena] - "Tell him to wait a few minutes. I need to see this operation through. "
As time went on, the guards were taken prisoner while the imperial volunteers and medics helped the sick and malnourished prisoners. As Athena watched the humanitarian actions around her, she bent down and saluted a sick teenager covered in coal dust.
[Athena] - "Hey, do you need anything, friend? "
Said Athena as she handed him a bag with food and drink.
[teenager] - "They forcefully signed us into slavery by exploiting our communities. Whoever you are, thank you for freeing us. "
Said the teenager in tears as he reached for Athena's hand instead of the supply bag.
[Athena] - "Hey, it's ok. We are here. Under the Empire, you and everyone else would never again live a single day under the fear of exploitation by the slavers. Today is the only day in your life when you can be certain that the future will be bright. "
Said Athena as she shook the teenager's hand.
After spending the day helping the sick and miserable in the camp, Athena finally returned to her ships and men. Though most she helped won't see her again, they will certainly remember the symbol of the cyberknights on her shoulders. The large golden diamond represented their power as it broke through the clouds, supported by a smaller diamond, which represents the knight. The cyberknights might be Gods, but they have the duty of lighting up the sky for those who lived in darkness.
Meanwhile, back in Britain, on top of a skyscraper, a lone beautiful blonde girl stood and admired the distant meteor shower of drop pods and smoke, which were currently landing in France from the imperial 2nd fleet. The beautiful lines of orange and white reflected off her shiny green eyes as she stared at the sky with her mouth agape. As Mike landed a short distance away from her, the girl immediately rushed toward him and took him in her arms.
[Mike] - "Look at that, isn't that mesmerizing? "
Said Mike as he pointed toward the sky.
Kadyn nodded her head and turned to face the meteor shower with Mike's arm around her waist.
[Mike] - "We have been working toward this for so long. "
Said Mike as he looked at the sky with a proud face.
[Kadyn] - "What comes next? "
[Mike] - "War! Freedom cannot be enforced upon others; they must fight for freedom to appreciate and treasure it. Even with Sniper and us, his cyberknights' godly power, the human mind is the one thing we can't control. War is a necessary lesson so people can learn to appreciate peace. "
[Kadyn] - "Then what after? More war? The conquest of the solar system? Sniper's gonna become the God Emperor of mankind, and you'll be his primarch for his cyberknights? "
Said Kadyn mockingly.
[Mike] - "You consume too much fictional content. "
Said Mike as he shook his head and poked at Kadyn's nose.
[Kadyn] - "Yet you know what I'm talking about, so you are not so innocent after all. "
Said Kadyn as she casually poked Mike's cheek.
Finally, Kadyn smiled in victory as she noticed a smirk on the face of the stoic knight.
[Kadyn] - "How long before you must go back? "
Said Kadyn as she turned toward Mike.
[Mike] - "I have to watch over London for now while the 2nd fleet finishes off France and the Low Countries. I have 2 more days to go. "
Kadyn's face suddenly shone with joy.
[Kadyn] - "Hey, quit sporting that serious face. We've two days to ourselves. "
Said Kadyn with a smile as she poked Mike's cheek.
[Mike] - "I'm just worried about the repercussions of the upcoming war. "
Said Mike in an anxious voice.
[Kadyn] - "The war, the war... Mike, why don't we make some good memories for now? I want something positive to remember when we both gain that 1,000-yard stare after the war. "
Said Kadyn as she began to pull on Mike's hand.
Mike smiled, as he knew Kadyn treasured every moment she could spend with him. After all, respites like these are a rare treat for both of them.
[Mike] - "Alright, let's make the best out of our time then. "
The revolution has begun.
To be continued...
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