Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Telluris's Incomprehensible Fall
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"Incomprehensible. Unacceptable. Organic life has a finite lifespan. Fragile. Imperfect."
The central AI of the Telluris Assimilator, Telluris, could not comprehend the current situation.
In the past, gaining the trust of the Deneb Federation after making contact had been no difficult task. It had already learned all the preferred approaches for various races from its Creator.
Following the galactic map inputted by the Creator, it headed to the nearest Deneb. By attempting greetings with awkward pronunciation and showing sincerity, it earned their trust.
Then, starting from the most remote parts of their communication network, it gradually upgraded them one by one into superior mechanical bodies. It had learned that rash, extreme treatments for patients only bred resentment.
In the midst of this careful surgery, a human claiming to be the president's secretary came inquiring about the procedure.
To think such a lowly race had an individual with such a drive for self-improvement. Without delay, it immediately modified him.
It did its utmost to preserve the existing brain so that the humans on Olympus would see this superior body and voluntarily participate in modifications. Having completed the perfect work flawlessly and sent him back, for some reason, the Deneb Federation had turned hostile afterward.
Simulation calculations had predicted that, given the human race's strong drive for improvement upon seeing their numerous organic shortcomings—lifespan, durability, output, appearance, compatibility—all transformed into excellent advantages, people would soon line up demanding modifications.
But no matter. Even if the Deneb humans took an aggressive stance toward this body, it was merely a trivial misunderstanding. Indulging the tantrums of these unevolved prototypes was the duty of a completed form.
Even if enduring their tantrums fired from ships and somehow getting them onto the operating table slowed the work a bit, calculations of the Deneb Federation's resource output and shipyard production showed they could never catch up to the Telluris Assimilator's production capacity.
That is, if they hadn't brought out that new lifeform instead of ships.
That horrific form, more degenerated than any lifeform the Deneb Federation could field, seemed impossible to improve even for the Telluris Assimilator.
To replace organic elements with tungsten alloy would be insufficient, yet they were instead layering on more organic elements—an act incomprehensible within all knowledge possessed by Telluris.
Even more bewildering was that this horrific organic was interfering with Telluris's assimilation operations.
"Incomprehensible. According to learned data, they are clearly a species that preys on other races. As expected, the Deneb Federation should demand peace negotiations with this body to avoid a two-front war."
Was the Creator's information wrong?
"Impossible. No matter how much time has passed, such a small-scale race could not have escaped the Creator's gaze."
The Telluris Assimilator's computational circuits began overheating amid endless calculations.
Tsssss—
Coolant flowed through Telluris's veins to cool the overloaded circuits.
Thud— Thud—
The central processing unit operated ceaselessly to break through the current situation, but outside the server room housing it, merciless bombardment continued.
Ten years since the Deneb Federation declared war on the Telluris Assimilator. Two years since they allied with the Lushaka Kingdom.
The Deneb Federation had successfully penetrated the Assimilator's capital city.
If the mechanical intelligence Telluris, which commanded the entire Assimilator collective, were destroyed, the whole race would enter a shutdown state, so the entire species defended it with their lives.
"!@#$%!"
The commotion detected by the wave sensors inside the server room made it clear without calculation that intruders were approaching.
Weeeeeeng!!!
Soon, a mining drill pierced the server room wall with a deafening roar,
Boom—
Rat-a-tat-tat
Grrrrowl Caaaaw
Soldiers in combat gear stormed into the server room, followed by the lifeforms dubbed Lushaka Warhounds—modified X-rings—that crouched alertly.
The lead soldier, spotting the massive steel tube with what looked like thousands of wire bundles plugged in, immediately grabbed his radio.
"Central server room located. Confirmed machine presumed to be Telluris main body."
[Roger. Prepare for immediate destruction.]
"Halt. Requesting dialogue. This unit has no combat capability remaining. Will provide important information. Promise beneficial exchange."
It was the first time Federation soldiers had seen an Assimilator machine speak so desperately.
As if to prove its lack of combat power, the machines inside the server room began shutting down one by one.
"...What do we do, HQ? Target is requesting dialogue."
[Planetary takeover complete. No external interference expected. At your discretion.]
"Speak, machine. Let's hear it."
The soldiers who entered kept their weapons trained, signaling they'd shoot at any funny business, tension unbroken.
"The Deneb Federation is overlooking a crucial fact."
The Federation was clearly collaborating with the southern hive mind for some reason. Revealing their predator nature might make them reconsider relations with Telluris itself.
"The entity you're collaborating with is a hive m—"
Woof!! Woof woof woof!!
"Wilson!"
The crouching, alert Lushaka Warhounds lunged at the voice transmitter and wires plugged into Telluris, tearing into them.
"What the hell's wrong with these bastards all of a sudden!"
"Calm down, you mutts!"
"Sto...p, sto$%%@!!%@stooopriiirrr"
The server room was the safest place in the entire species, and whether due to efficiency-focused metal or not, the transmitter and wires tore like paper under the Warhounds' teeth, reduced to chew toys.
Once the server room was utterly destroyed, the Warhounds reverted to their usual docile demeanor as if nothing happened.
"Damn, what the hell."
"What in the world just happened..?"
The soldiers stared at the Lushaka Warhounds in bewilderment.
"Well... no helping it. HQ, mission complete. Returning."
[Confirmed. Safe return.]
The soldiers felt an unease at this blatantly bizarre behavior from the usually docile, obedient creatures.
But the joy of successfully neutralizing the Telluris Assimilator capital and ending the long war overshadowed it, and the Warhounds' odd actions were quickly forgotten.
Later, the Lushaka Warhounds that exhibited the abnormal behavior were diagnosed with hormonal imbalances and culled.
"Congratulations on the victory, Mr. President."
"Thank you, Diplomat Hihirak."
In the Deneb Federation's capital Olympus, a victory celebration was underway.
It was an event to commemorate citizens sacrificed to the Telluris Assimilators and bless the soldiers who bravely resisted the alien machines' invasion.
As an ally that supported the war, how could I miss such an occasion? I remotely controlled my main body to visit the president.
"Your country's aid was invaluable. Without the Lushaka Kingdom, we would have suffered defeat."
"Not at all, sir. The valiant Denebians would have overcome this trial unscathed."
Hahaha
Hohoho
As an event marking the end of the long war, the meeting with the president brimmed with warmth and cheer.
"By the way, Diplomat Hihirak."
"Yes, sir?"
"There was an incident right before Telluris's destruction where the Lushaka Warhounds went berserk, right?"
"Ah, I heard. Our technology fell short. Allow me to apologize here."
Oh, our little gift threw a tantrum—truly regrettable. An unavoidable accident.
"No need. The Lushaka Warhounds shone in ground combat; they're practically a pillar of our army now. We're not nitpicking minor glitches."
The president glanced at his teacup and asked lightly.
"I heard Telluris tried to give some information at the end... Do you know anything?"
"Did it? My apologies, I lack access to the operation report, so this is news to me."
"I see."
The president had already lifted his head, staring straight at me.
Smile—
"I asked unnecessarily. I hope our nations maintain good relations going forward."
Of course we'll stay close. Half the fleet is already Space Whales, and Lushaka Warhounds are in the ground forces roster—what can you do?
There might be suspicions of hiding something from Telluris, but they'd never guess what.
That said, how did Telluris know we're a hive mind? It didn't even seem to know the Lushaka Kingdom name.
Maybe that alien-like visitor from before approached and told it, but psionic-related types despise machines lacking spirits, so unlikely.
Barring that, no other faction's contacted us, so perhaps a now-hidden force spotted our old hive and informed them?
Guess we need to expand to nearby systems quickly. Sticking to Deneb Federation limits info too much.
"Of course, sir. To the prosperity of both our nations."