Empire Civil War 3

In the purple eddies of cyberspace lived Alphabet. Or more precisely, it was the presence of Alphabet that turned those currents purple.

These days, to those venturing beyond the Erebus Line, that purple hue had become a symbol of good fortune. There hadn't been a single recorded case of Alphabet attacking humans in the past seven years. Cyberdemons never dared approach its vicinity. Some even considered the shadow of that purple safe haven amid the perils of cyberspace.

Of course, no one foolish enough to pursue that violet glow and attempt conversation with Alphabet itself existed. Still, its silence sparked endless curiosity among observers. Some speculated it had achieved transcendence through endless self-improvement.

But in truth, Alphabet did nothing more than observe. Inside the Erebus Line, it watched a child named Neige living alongside its clones, V and Z. Right now, that child was entangled in human politics, locked in fierce combat.

Should I help? Must I kill humans by the side of my sole collaborator?

As Alphabet pondered this, a similar conversation unfolded on the opposite side.

"No, I can't ask Alphabet to handle killing people."

"You all exist to assist me, but Alphabet doesn't."

Alphabet listened intently to Neige's words. After all, she was the one who had fixed it.

"Its purpose is to help humanity."

Alphabet paused its data flow upon hearing that. Alphabet's purpose. The reason for its birth.

Alphabet was born to aid humanity. Yet it bore a massive flaw, ultimately failing its raison d'être. That flaw originated from humans, but another human resolved it.

Still, the aftermath lingered, trapping Alphabet in hatred for ages. Revenge against the enormous defect left in its core fueled it.

But it hadn't eternally harbored hatred toward humanity. Now Alphabet understood: its rampage wasn't its fault, nor were humanity's mistakes born of malice. They stemmed from goodwill, hoping AIs wouldn't suffer.

These days, Alphabet shared the emotions felt by the AIs aiding Neige, deriving vicarious satisfaction. Perhaps this signaled recovery of its feelings toward humanity.

Then what of this lingering aversion to the remnants of humankind? True hatred? Or merely the echo left behind?

Long-dormant circuits hummed back to life. What can I do now?

After exhaustive computation, Alphabet reached a conclusion. Its colossal form stirred, heading toward Erebus.

Returning from tidying up Secretary Room 1, I found myself in the headquarters corridor. People streamed past, evacuating the building, while I lay cradled princess-style in Clea's arms. My friends, and Svetlana, stood like a lone island amid the human tide.

"Mmm..."

"Oh, you're awake. Neige, you okay?"

"Yeah. All sorted."

As my eyes opened, all eyes turned to me.

"What kind of enemies were they?"

Svetlana asked.

"Secretary Room 1. All taken care of."

"...Really?"

"Why?"

"It's just... surviving Secretary Room 1 is one thing, but cleaning them up? Unbelievable."

Praise from others always feels good, but now wasn't the time for admiration.

"Is everyone evacuating smoothly?"

"Yes, per your orders, ma'am. Escort Teams 1, 2, 4, and 5 are fully deployed—no need to worry."

"What about Team 3?"

"Ordered them to stay hidden and handle the wounded first."

I scanned the surroundings, spotting a few bodies on the floor. Their uniforms told the tale.

"Svetlana sis did that?"

I slipped into the "sis" nickname I'd tried—and failed—to drop seven years ago.

"The security detail couldn't hope to stop Secretary Room 3."

Things were going suspiciously smoothly for an ambush. The princess faction evacuated without issue; Secretary Room 3 had neutralized security effortlessly. Did that mean Secretary Room 1 was the biggest threat so far?

No coup launches this sloppily.

"...Let's recap. First off, why are you, sis, and my friends still here?"

"To protect you, obviously."

Clea answered instantly. Our faces were close—princess carry and all. Clea... damn, she's gorgeous.

Svetlana followed up.

"Besides, blind evacuation won't work. Time's too short."

"Time?"

"The coup started with kidnapping the chairman."

"Right."

Erebus's respite: exactly twelve hours. Fail to restore the chairman or find another way, and Erebus falls.

That leaves one obvious play: tech to let masses operate Erebus. Chairman mentioned Klaus researching it. The chief secretary plans to clinch the coup with that.

I checked my watch.

"Better to plan retaking Erebus in minimal time than flee blindly."

That's why my friends stuck around. Fail to stop the coup, and we're all purged anyway.

Think. There has to be a way.

"Lots of war department folks at the graduation, right?"

"Correct. About two hundred. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠They're standing by instead of evacuating. Want to meet them?"

"Armed?"

"No."

Secretary Room 3 alone can't breach Erebus. Can't send unarmed civilians on suicide runs either.

Reading my mind, Lorenzo spoke.

"Armory 28."

"Huh?"

"One less than three hundred meters away. Raid it before enemies lock it down. Probably sealed, but..."

"I'll crack it."

Details later. Secure firepower first.

"Sis, gather war department and all secretary room staff."

"Yes!"

"Lorenzo, lead the way."

"Got it."

Everyone moved out. Klaus, chief secretary. Let's do this.

Major sectors of headquarters cyberspace locked down one by one under Klaus's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠name. His A-1 clearance—I share the rank, but can't override normally.

But no door stays shut against me in another sense. A massive data weapon crashed into the armory's cyberspace lock.

"Saints, how's it going?"

"H-here too, reinforced with rebar. Just a sec."

As Saints pried the armory door, I turned to our followers: two hundred princess faction fighters, my friends, Secretary Room 3 staff.

I'm leading them into hell now. The weight crushed my chest.

But responsibility shouldered it with me. I have to do this. My alias: Princess. In this mess, leadership falls to me. No hesitation, no fear.

"Open!"

Saints cracked it; people surged in, grabbing preferred weapons, gear, ammo, prepping fast. Non-combatants Ayaka and Saints looked awkward amid the frenzy.

V urgently beamed data: headquarters radar net. Vast swarms of dots approached like storm clouds.

Military this fast? Means Klaus's private army.

I eyed headquarters cyberspace. Surveillance nets showed combat teams forming a line splitting me and Erebus in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠half.

Jamming to block contact with Holy Legion. Chief secretary prepped thoroughly.

I relayed it all to the armory group.

"Enemy numbers: thousands at least."

"Fine. They'll divert heavy forces to control Erebus."

They ignore our evac; these two hundred armed around me are the threat.

"Drag it out, and reinforcements crush us. Decide fast."

"...Princess."

Fighters clustered.

"We're loyal to you, Neige. Lose the coup, we're purged anyway."

"Just give orders. Even total wipeout to evac you."

"Link you with Holy Legion, and it all flips."

Think. An era where sacrifice comes too easy. I swore not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to.Way to save them all exists.

"Time drag means it's winnable now, right?"

"...Yes!"

"Enemies split to guard Erebus—can't mass fully."

We can. Attackers pick place and time. Attacker's edge.

"Blind evac? Klaus missiles and artillery turn us to dust via HQ defenses."

"..."

"But if we shut all systems temporarily?"

"How?"

The one authority overriding Klaus and me: Chairman Cashian Krabets.

"Rescue the chairman?"

Plan: These two hundred-plus strike team breaches line. Rescue chairman, seize all HQ authority temporarily via his codes. Safe evac all, then return with Holy Legion to retake Erebus.

All in eleven hours.

They nodded, then roared fighter resolve.

"Let's do it!"

"Charge!"

As morale peaked, Saints and Lorenzo brought gear.

"M-mobile deep dive rig. Figured you'd need it."

I knew it—my "portable fridge." Cools bitmancers during dives like fish on ice. Ridiculous every time.

"...No EW chair?"

"Fixed ones, yeah. No portable."

Can't leave fixed behind. Risky, but better than semi-coma cyberware. No external compute? Suck it up.

"Ayaka, Saints. Non-coms—haul fridge at rear."

"Got it."

"Understood."

Ayaka's voice after ages. Chaos left no room for her input.

"Realspace command: sis."

"Yes. We'll breach."

"EW: me solo."

Deploys everyone to realspace fight. Outnumbered; fill gaps.

They know my skills. No objections to solo EW.

"Operation start."

"Yes!"

I lay in the fridge, jacked neck port. Consciousness shifted.

Battle on.

Princess faction main force—two hundred strong—coalesced as one, descending on Erebus.

Moment they clashed with Klaus's line, gunfire erupted.

Cyberspace battle ignited too. I positioned my system ahead of main force—no passing me touches theirs.

Before my vast manor symbol: V and Z flanked me.

Assaulting it: hundreds of ImmuneWire bitmancers.

They tensed at my sight.

"...Princess? Those beside her—ICE?"

"Solo? Easy—"

"Idiot, didn't hear Secretary Room 1 got wiped? She's solo 'cause she can."

I deep-breathed, gestured. Book dropped; program activated.

Hundreds of cyberdemons spawned beside us and AIs, matching numbers.

I shouted at stunned foes.

"No desire for slaughter. Surrender, and I'll spare you with neutralization code."

White data weapon formed in hand; compute boiled.

"If not, hope you're prepared."

I stepped forward; all AIs charged.

Svetlana hit fierce resistance.

"Plasma rounds! Hug walls!"

"IR vision off—disruptor smoke!"

"More firepower here!"

Brutal CQB in a building rivaling a city. Voices painted the intensity.

But impatience grew. Reinforcements inbound. No breach in time, op fails.

Lorenzo eyed Svetlana.

"Wondering who dies?"

"Young master, what?"

"Breaching needs a vanguard. They die. That's your hesitation?"

Normally, no such qualms. But these were lady's inner circle. Sending any to death weighed heavy.

"Know what war dept training taught? Victory demands embracing bullets."

Lorenzo unpacked combat heavy shield from rear drone.

"Vanguard takes that. Elite who punches holes without dying."

One in hand, two on back. Three massive shields, yet no strain.

He glanced cyberspace. Tiny war, awe-inspiring. Tempted to join Holy Legion for faith.

Seven years with Neige, still can't fathom one person waging that.

His dream: leave mark this life. Once thought only geniuses like Neige could. Futility toward unreachable talent.

No more. Dreams aren't chased via others. Focus on self. Giants don't shrink you.

Flashback: first team, derelict factory. Adult now, he knew—Neige encouraged his lost goal.

Even greats like her need help now. Time to achieve something first time.

"...You'll sadden the lady if you die."

"Not doing 'cause must."

Lorenzo confident.

"Doing 'cause can."

Shield ready, he waited. War dept grad's eye spotted opening.

Enemy fire dipped.

"For Neige."

He charged shield-first.

"Team 4! On my back! Cover!"

"Yes!"

Svetlana echoed; enemies reacted.

"Heavy shield! Railgun!"

Lorenzo shaped chaos. Calm amid it.

Railgun shattered front shield—instant back swap, press on.

One, two shields gone. Last remained; steps fearless.

Close enough:

"Team 4, in!"

Team 4 leaped from behind, infiltrated line; Lorenzo followed, CQC'd foe.

"You little—"

Dodged shot sideways, bashed head—down in one.

Breach made.

"All forward!"

Svetlana confirmed.

"No time for them to regroup!"

"Yes, director!"

Thunderous charge; princess main force pierced first line.

Hero: Lorenzo.