Chapter 16-1 The Path Ahead

Chapter 16-1 The Path Ahead

[Voideater Proposal]

By Wu Three-Burdens and Golgo 9

Summary: As is known to the committee from the war-sims our alliance has run regarding the Dawnfall Contingency, our non-thaumaturgic assets will last a few seconds at most if Voidwatch decides to turn their wrath upon us.

Functionally, our technological base will suffer immense damage even with the redundancies provided by joint efforts between the No-Dragons and Omnitech. Likewise, our conventional forces are completely decimated regardless of what protective measures are taken.

Voidwatch is by far our superior in technological development and theory of knowledge. There is nothing we know of the natural world that they have not mastered several times over.

Hence, the solution is simple but extreme: for us to win a lightning war against the voiders and prevent them from granting their favor to our foes in the hypothetical war game, we must layer our miracles to strike the very foundations of their technology. Doing so inflicts substantial costs on all parties, but the simulations have shown few other paths towards toward swift and decisive victories.

Combining breakthroughs in Omnitechs manipulation of signals, man-made constructions, and memetics with a specialized virus engineered using our curse, we believe that we can infect the very concept of creation itself. Unmake technology for a time, if you will.

However, the inflicted damage will be severe and beyond control. As the virus requires the use of a dragon to perpetuate itself, all areas it infests will be lost to us until a Godclad manages to engage and subdue the entity, while all things man-made will cease to function as intended. Additionally, all assets will find themselves castrated in terms of creativity and thought.

Subhuman, by all metrics.

Clothes will peel from bodies. Guns will come apart. Alloys will separate and unmix. The touch man will effectively be poison where our venom courses through reality.

As we could not risk Agnosi involvement in such a project, we were unable to focus the effects on a specific part, so all things created by humanity in terms of culture or material will fail.

During this time, our Godclads will have free reign to disable our greatest foe via a blitz offensive before securing the dragons. Thereafter, Omnitech will be granted the right to interface with voider technology to turn the higher knowledge to our advantage against our true foes.

Through these means, we stand the best chance of disabling our benefactors without devastating their culture entirely or inflicting unacceptable casualties as mandated by the High Seraph. We put forth this mem-data for peer review, and look forward to hearing a response.

-Voideater Proposal Draft 1

16-1

The Path Ahead

Half-life of Neurodeck canceled

->Unlocking full functionality

Allowing access to Noosphere - Category Green Access granted

Allowing access to the Inventory - Category Red Access granted

Scanning cognitive profile of user

->Profile generated

Recommendations: Request neuro-modification immediately

User is currently rated as [SEVERE] danger to broader public

The simulation congealed as the simulation thickened in a blurred haze, and the obfuscation settled around them. Ghoul and machine both were once again on the boat. This time, the grand castle was banished from sight, and they floated forth on placid waves toward an horizon unclear.

The island and the aqueduct were no more, but the weight of the revelations lingered still.

Ignore the neuro-modification request, Calvino said while more text strings played across Avos vision. Addition datapackets threaded into his mind and he found himself wrestling the contents like a newborn learning to control its small motor skills. The system's trying to gauge how safe it is for you to be wandering around one of our habitats. Living among the public like most people we bring up from the planet thats probably not happening anytime soon.

Avo grunted. Probably for the best.

Yes. Or you can apply for one of the many modifications now available to you and turn yourself into an omnivore.

The offer came as a surprise to Avo, but something inside him flinched at the thought of changing himself in such a way. Flesh had been the staple of his consumption for the entirety of his recollections. To abandon such a fixation might grant him more flexibility and social acclimation, but feeding without harming or killing seemed wrong to him. A breach in the pattern, if he continued down that line of thought.

There was no such thing as free flavor in Idheim, no empty meat. All nourishment came via sacrifice: flesh, imps, or deaths.

Will look at it, Avo muttered, trying to wrestle his thoughts under control. Shooting Denton a quick look, the corner of her lips twitched and he wondered if that was her rendition of a reassuring smile. Something I have to ask. In the end. Something was forgotten. Dont think either of us fully justified ourselves to the other. Just saw what we did. Saw that were were both flawed?

The EGI let the question hang for a beat before it responded. Sophonts are more than ideology, Avo. But were also less free than you think. Operative Zein will give a you whole speech about this but everyone has a shape. From a single person to a collective of cultures. The nature of who we are carved by all the things that happen to us. In the end, the paths we take are

Calvino stopped talking. Avo suspected the EGI wasnt truly at a loss for words, but wanted someone else to fill in a response so it could guide the question. There was a subtly to how it acted, less manipulation and more free-form persuasion.

Fixed, Avo offered, playing the game. So. Were trapped by fate.

You can always choose to change. But change is an action. Change is a practice. Change is repetition. And thats all born of want. The drone descended and set itself on the prow of the boat, its glowing core directed toward the gleam of the waters carrying the suns light. Its not about being a saint or even being good sometimes. Its about being able to see yourself and being able to inflict change through active decision because theres no guarantee that someone else can do it for you.

The artificial intellect laughed. One lives alone, even in the presence of others.

The small boat sailed on, and a somber silence commanded the party to keep to their peace. For a while, Avo just gazed out across the waters, thinking of how he viewed himself.

Ah. Utter incoherence. Looking at how much thoughtstuff was oozing from their accretions, perhaps more than a few of them had gone insane during the process. Vator placed his hands on his hips and frowned. Oh, but the ordeal could not be that bad, could it? It was painless, my dearspainless. I give your nerves only pleasure for this process. So, why is it

SESSION INCOMING: [FATHER-DEAREST]

Oh, Vator said as his excitement dipped. Excuse me. I must take this.

This was going to be about official matters. How droll. Accepting with a thought, Vator turned away from his composition to spare himself another lecture.

+Good afternoon, father. I trust that sisters-dear has finally been+



+Vator. Not now. Not today. I need you to not be yourself, and just listen.+

And father meant those words. Usually, he was more annoyed and accepting. This was rage, genuine and heavy.

Poor, poor father indeed.

Vator cooed. +Speak to me, father. Tell me what you need from me, and I will make everything better for you. What is it you want? Do you want me to hurt that terrible, dreadful Chief Naeko? Or to bring Abrel home? Tell me. Tell me and lets be done with this sadness.+

A storm of emotions hissed from between the cracks of Uthred Greatlings ironclad will. All strength had its limits, and all hearts could be broken in the end. Vator waited patiently as his father mustered his control once more.

Turning to face the single soul he didnt touch using his Heaven, Vator smiled sweetly as he willed the biomass around his chest to part, and allowed the Syndicate lieutenant to draw in a ragged inhale of air.

+An assembly is going to be called. By the High Seraph. We have been summoned. By name.+

A tingle of excitement fluttered through Vators stomach. Oh? The High Seraph? Veylis Avandaer herself? He remembered seeing her oncewhat beauty, what form! For months he tried molding various subjects in an imitation of her righteous presence but destroyed each in the process.

None of them had that something she possessed. That singular quality above all others. He had drawn from a broad spectrum of stockflats, squires, Necros, leaders, mods-slaveseven a Fallwalker.

None came close. His skills were too lacking, his grasp of her limited.

This time, perhaps if he could get her to speak to him directly, to spend some time alone

+I will represent our house. I alone. I need you to handle matters of the homefrontto manage our operations and estates and retrieve your sister from the Paladins.+ There was a pause that followed. Vator smirked. There was something else father wanted to ask. Something he was reluctant to ask.

Those requests were Vators favorite. +Just speak, and I will make it happen.+



+There is a name: Aedon Chambers. He was involved in the incident thatI need you to do this discretely. Our nameour very position is threatened. We cannot risk another blow, and I cannot risk you descending into another one of your episodes where are you right now?+

Vator didnt answer immediately. +In an apartment. At Lights End. I was investigating a potential operation on one of our subsidiaries.+



A pause followed. +I see.+ Father wisely left the questioning at that, and Vator couldnt help but grin as the man ignored the moaning in the backdrop. +I need you to find this Chambers. Find him quietly and discover exactly what happened. Afterward, bring him to me+ A radiant smile spread across Vators features. +Alive and untwisted.+

The radiance died. Vator sighed. +Your words, my will father. I will see this done. I will see our family protected.+

A weary sigh followed thereafter. +Good. Get Alritch to help you handle accounting and logistical matters.+

+Alritch?+ Vator frowned. +Are you certain?+

+Hes not that useless,+ Uthred muttered.

Self-comfort was truly one of fathers worst traits.

+Very well,+ Vator said. +I will be returning home shortly. I just need to finish with things here.+



Another pause. Father knew. Father knew but he didnt want to ask. +Vator. Quietly.+



+Of course, father.+

The session disconnected, and Vator spun on his heels to finish with his word.

Not that much time left today, consangs, not much time at all. He clicked his tongue and placed a palm on the flesh. Desperate sobs and muffled choking followed as he linked ribs together and pushed them through the skin on the back of his creation. Thereafter, he drew upon what his Heaven remembered of ghoul-flesh and a thin membrane of palest white began to develop between each arcing rib.

Im going to give you wings, Vator said, smiling. Im going to give you wings for you to go home later. Your families would love to see the angel Ive made, wouldnt they? Ah. That will take too long. I think I will just leave you all in the foundry you were planning to bomb. They will find you later in the evening. Dont worry though, you wont be dying. Not anytime soon. Not for years unless I will it.

He placed his cheek against his art and enjoyed the warmth. I think I will call you, Community.