Nier: Revengeance - ch 1.1

This is the part 1 of the weekly update. More to come later. Please leave a comment and tell me if you liked the story or not.

Abandoned Factory (1)

In orbit around Earth the military space station is ready to launch their soldiers for the defense of mankind. At first glance a sensible person would be surprised at soldiers’ youthful appearance, and the intricate clothes they wear with the female soldiers wearing dresses and high heels instead of practical combat armor. In truth those soldiers are androids, robots with nearly identical appearance to humans and possessing an uncanny beauty.

A long time ago, aliens invaded Earth forcing the remaining humans to hide on the moon, issuing orders to the androids through the body of the Council of Humanity. Commander White, under direct orders of the Council leads the new generation of combat androids, YoRHa, to their latest military operation. From their orbital station an elite team of androids enters their Flight Units.

“Attack Team One, this is Operator 6O, you’re cleared for deployment, over.”

“This is 2B, final systems check over, Command. Commencing final roll call before deployment.”

“7E, all systems nominal.”

“12H, everything is in order.”

“11B, ready to roll!”

“4B, I’m ready.”

“Captain 1D, all systems ready.”

“Attack Team One, hangar is cleared for flight. Have a good hunting.”

All androids echo, “Glory to Mankind,” before flying towards their target. It doesn’t take long for the group to reach atmosphere as they fly in Formation. Their target is in the old, abandoned factory, currently captured by the Aliens and their servants, the Machine Lifeforms. The flight towards their destination is silent giving plenty of time for 2B to ponder her situation.

‘Everything that lives is designed to end. We are perpetually trapped, in a never ending spiral of life and death. Is this a curse? Or some kind of punishment? I often think about the god who blessed us with this cryptic puzzle and wonder if we’ll ever have the chance to kill him.’

“Captain, my system is receiving a message from an unknown caller ID. What is your order?”

The captain 1D glances at 2B flight unit for a moment, but soon she issues the most logical command. “It must be an enemy hacking attempt, close the-”

Across all Flight Units, a message could be seen in the androids HUD display.

“Installing new Firmware. . . Installation progress 5%. . .”

“12H, Captain, use your Pods to prevent hacking!” 2B commands on instinct, being the most veteran member of this Attack Group. Her Pod is also trying to help fend off the attacker, but her efforts are in vain. It feels to 2B that the hacker has complete access to YoRHa systems, and she is helpless to do anything.

“Installation progress finished. Firmware Updated. Issuing new Combat Protocols.”

“This is 6O, respond, Attack Group One. You blacked out from my systems from a moment, over.”

“Command, this is Captain 1D. We were subjected to a hacking attempt a few moments ago. We will perform an emergency system check, over.” While informing the Command, 1D performs a system check of her systems, finding it in surprisingly good condition. Upon closer inspections, her systems are now better than before.

“Command, did you send a systems update in the middle of an operation? If so, please at least warn us first, we though we were being hacked, over!”

The voice from the comms came surprised, “System update? We don’t know what you’re talking about. Status report.”

“Warning! Large energy concentration detected, evasive maneuvers! Warning!”

In an instant, the flight unit’s manual mode engages, allowing 12H to dodge the energy attack.

“Warning! Warning! Warning! Enemy ahead! Warning! Warning! Warning!”

A small radar appears on the androids HUD, allowing them to see where the enemies are coming from. The energy weapons artillery targeting solution is displayed on their HUDs allowing the androids to easily dodge the lethal weapon. All thanks to the new, mysterious firmware update.

The second aspect of the update, the Combat Protocols display the flight path of each individual Flight Unit, painting their respective enemies for better efficiency in their movements and to improve the effectiveness of their teamwork.

“Warning! Enemies engaging in close quarters combat, switching to mobile mode.”

Almost as if possessed, the androids Flight Units change from flight mode to mobile mode, allowing them greater maneuverability and easier access to their equipment weapons. The Attack Group One took a few hits, yet it is nothing that the group’s healer, 12H, can’t repair.

“Attack Group One, you’re nearing the abandoned factory, but once again you became unresponsive. What happened, over?”

The veteran of the group answers the mission control, “this is 2B, we engaged with hostiles while dodging laser fire. Our systems prioritize the engagement as per new Combat Protocols, over.”

“N-new combat protocols? I, uh, o-okay. Proceed with your mission, over.”

“Captain, once we secure our landing zone and make landfall, please make another through system check.”

“A-Alright,” the young and untested captain replies. While the 1D abilities makes them the natural choice for leadership in a Mixed Type group, experience dictates that veterancy is more important for a leader than the android innate programming.

2B doesn’t answer her captain, but silently she thanks whatever deity is listening for being merciful for now and allowed her team to survive so far.

Thanks to the new Combat Protocols, the insertion on the enemy territory goes without a hitch, much to the pleasure and surprise of everyone involved in the military operation. Most of the old knowledge on war was lost with the Alien invasion, and the android had to rediscover how to wage war by themselves, having to scrounge scraps of knowledge left behind from old wars to learn how to fight in the scale required to defy the Aliens and Machine Lifeforms.

The new Combat Protocols quality is on another level compared with the current YoRHa combat doctrine. In 2B opinion, it feels like someone who know what they’re doing finally decided to intervene and teach them what to do. For a moment, 2B thought the information was an attempt from the Machines to confuse them and feed false information, yet so far the opposing Machines are ruthlessly being shot down by their group.

With a soft click, the Flight Units touch the ground and enter standby mode. “Initiating system diagnosis. It will be finished in thirty seconds.” 1D announces to the group as soon as they exit their vehicles.

“I will set up our temporary forward advanced base, reconfiguring our Flight Units as automated turrets and energy and recovery stations… I think?” 12H asks the one clearly in charge, “uh, 2B, I don’t remember that being able to do that. What’s going on?”

“It must be part of the Combat Protocols. 12H, 1D, you two will be responsible for setting up a defensive perimeter, meanwhile I, 4B and 11B will compose the attack team. 7E, you will be our scout and dispose of opportunity targets as we advance towards our primary objective.” 2B explains to everyone the modified plan, courtesy to the new protocols.

“I can’t believe we made it this far.” 4B shyly remarks, “I wasn’t expecting such heavy opposition since the start from the Machines.”

“It’s a common novice mistake,” 2B remarks, as the simulators can’t compare with the chaos of real life combat. “Keep your sensors sharp and stay vigilant, everyone.”

As soon as 2B finishes her sentence, she notices a silhouette in the distance before its form disappear. For a moment it looked like an android, but it didn’t appear in her sensors. “Stay alert, everyone,” 7E calls out to the group as she also noticed the suspicious presence, “we’re being watched.”

“Aren’t we already being watched since we’re in enemy territory?” 11B asks 7E, and before the two go on a tangent 2B brings them back to heel.

“Not the place and time, 11B. Captain, did you find anything from your diagnosis?”

The nominal captain of the group coughs, the human-like motion made to hide her embarrassment. “As far as my systems are concerned, we received a firmware update, and nothing more. The new Combat Protocols are more like a book detailing engagement stratagems, like a big, simple Codex we can use as a reference. We should probably send a copy to everyone back at the bunker.”

“We will need Command approval, first.” 2B personally hopes that command will accept the new Codex and integrate it into their combat doctrine. “Are we done with the advance base?”

“Yes, I just finished my part.” 12H calls out. “I converted one of our flight units into a recovery station, while the rest will act as defensive turrets. If we ever need to fall back to this room we will have the homefield advantage. Once we clean up a path we can call the Flight Units, and they will fly to our position.”

“Good work 12H. Your orders, Captain?” 2B decided that she broke the chain of command long enough, reasoning that 1D Will never learn how to be a leader if she keeps holding the younger unit’s hand.

“We will proceed with our mission. 7E, take point. 2B and 4B will advance ahead of his, while 11B will cover the rear guard. 12H will stay at my side while we proceed in this area,” once receiving affirmative nods, 1D slaps her chest “Glory to Mankind.”

“““Glory to Mankid.”””