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Geth Engineering

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Haley’s heart pounds as sirens blaring, the building shakes as faint echoes of the onimus Reaper horn call reverberates down the hall. “Shield integrity down to 54%” states the facility’s VI as the black scaled orange bellied female dracoid works vigorously with her omni-tool as she works with the power systems of the facility, “Reroute power here and…” the holographic gauges indicating the current strength of the shields suddenly shoots up to 112% of normal strength. The dracoid’s wings spread out in delight as she yells out happily, “Yes!”

She jumps up and stands proud and tall brushing her raven colored hair away, her claw tips gently touch one of her four swept back horns that come out of the back of her head, her orange-gold eyes locked onto the holographic-screen as the shields hold steady till suddenly, they drop to zero. Haley’s eyes go wide.

“What happened?!” she exclaims.

“Facility shields have been shut down,” the VI reports.

“By who? Without those shields, we won’t have time to evacuate everyone.”

“By Dr. Jakel, down in engineering.”

Haley’s heart races as she sprints down the hall, the building shakes as a reaper vessel burns a hole through part of the structure. Dust and loose objects fall to the ground. Images rush through Haley’s head as she sprints down the hall. Images of the corrupted bio-mechanical monstrosities the reapers turn her and other people into. Within two minutes she reaches main engineering, she busts through the door, to see three of her fellow dracoids shot in the back of the head, their limp bodies on the floor as the red and black scaled Dr. Jakel stands over the computer console. The anthropomorphic dragon pants heavily as he types into the console.

“What are you doing?!” yells Haley as she stares at the carnage in disbelief.

“The only way to save us is to submit. It is the only way. If we fight will we lose. We must submit or perish,” Dr. Jakel explains as he looks up at her, the dragon’s red eyes are wide, pupils dilated, his hand shake as he stares at her, “You too wish to stop me. Stop our salvation. I can’t let you do that,” he holds up the gun at her.

Haley takes a half a step back her hands up in the air, “Hold it, we can talk on this.”

“You must die. Like all the rest,” he says as the sound of gunfire echoes through the room.

“Approaching Safe Haven space in fifteen minutes,” states the ship’s VI as Haley falls out of bed with a heavy thud, her head aches as her horns bang against the ground as her body is half intertwined with the bedsheets.

“Ow…” Haley whines as she sits up, “Thank you for the wakeup call,” she groans.

“Your coffee is ready,” the VI answers.

Haley sighs, “Thanks,” she stands up and reaches for the cup of hot coffee sitting by her nightstand as she takes a sip, “When we get there, I am going to devote my free time to make sure you know how to make a decent cup of coffee,” she remarks as she stretches. Spreading her wings, a small two inch circular scar is visible in the light as she walks off towards the restroom, “I need a hot shower. I don’t want to smell improper when I arrive,” she muttered to herself as she prepares to take a nice hot shower.

She steps inside the shower cubicle, opaque glass blinds her from the rest of the washroom. The warm water hits her body, flowing down her scales, she leans her head in against the wall and takes a slow, deep breath, letting everything flow down the drain. Reminiscing the dream, she had, it was still there, lingering in her head like a recent memory that wouldn’t go away.

“An unidentified ship is hailing us,” states the ship’s VI as Haley jumps in surprise, immediately snapping the dracoid out of her train of thought.

“Ah... eee… patch them through, block the sound of the shower.”

“Done.”

“Greetings. You have reached the outskirts of Safe Haven space. Are you here in search of a safe place to hide and rest from the reapers?” says a voice that sounds off, something about it feels stilted and cold. In the back of Haley’s mind, she knew from the very beginning that something was not right but he sounded so calm, and friendly that she shook off the feeling.

“Uh yes, my name is Haley Arnheim. Captain of this here ship.”

“It is a pleasure to hear from you Haley Arnheim. And welcome. We are happy to have you. But before we can lead you to Safe Haven, we have to ask you a few questions and run a test to ensure you are not under any reaper indoctrination influence. We hope that is alright with you Haley Arnheim.”

“That’s fine. What would you like to know? Sorry about not having a visual going, I am not decent.”

“That is perfectly fine Haley Arnheim.”

“Al…” the VI trails off.

Haley raises a brow, “Everything alright?” she asks her ship.

“All clear.”

“What was that noise just then?”

“Scanning local ship for any sense of hostility. None detected.”

“Ah.. good, good. Best to be cautious.”

“Are you ready for your introductory interview Haley Arnheim?” asks the voice.

“Go ahead, shoot.”

“First off, we’d like to know: What are your skill sets Haley Arnheim?”

“I’m an engineer by trade. I tend to work with automated systems, and make sure they stay up and running. This includes fully automated and mobile synthetic laborers, but they have had a falling out due to the reaper invasion. I also have experience in shield systems repair.”

“We are glad to hear it Haley Arnheim,” the voice responds as the interview continues for only a few minutes before a soft rumble is heard through the ship.

“What was that?”

“Apologies. We were about to inform you that we accept you to Safe Haven, but first we must test you are not indoctrinated. Permission to board your vessel?”

“Can you give me like ten minutes? I want to look decent. But you are free to come aboard then.”

“Acknowledged. We are eager to meet you. Haley Arnheim,” responds the voice as the conversation ends.

“Is everything alright? Do you detect anything amiss with this?” she asks her ship.

“Negative. All systems functioning nominally. No hostile activities detected.”

Haley lets out a soft sigh, “That’s good,” she turns off the water, her hair drips as she lets out a simple command, “Air dry,” as a torrent of warm air blows across her scales. Beads of water thrown right off as her hair flies wildly and her wings remain only partially unfurled as they struggle not to catch too much air.

Suddenly her vision starts to jump in and out of focus. Haley shakes her head as she commands, “Stop” but the air dryer continues, “I said stop!” she yells as her vision shifts back out of focus. Haley fumbles as she attempts to slide the door. She just manages to do so as she hears an electronic crackling noise before falling to the ground, and darkness envelopes her.

Slowly she comes back to consciousness. She shifts and looks around, her head aching slightly as her wings twitch and rub up against the back of something cold and metallic. Her vision was blurred, but she could see movement, something silver and red. And it was big.

More of Haley’s senses return to her, each giving her the same warning, “Something is wrong, something is dreadfully wrong.” Her body responds with a rush of adrenaline which washes away any grogginess lingering over her body and mind. Pupils adjust to the light; her senses crash back into force as she tries to take a step forward but pumps her snout against a hard-smooth curved glass. It’s at this moment as she hears the muffled noise of synthetic clicks that she recognizes the noise, Geth.

“Let me out of here!” she screams out as she attempts to claw at the glass, but her claws simply slide off, doing no damage. She bangs and punches it as she can see from her peripherals dozens of other pods, the ones beside her she sees two… geth? It looks like geth, wires turn and move, as pieces are added to them, as if they are just now being constructed in some kind of thick liquid.

“I am not a geth! Let me out!” she yells as she punches the glass. It shakes with a low sounding thud but nothing more.

“We recommend you do not attempt to damage the pod. It could result in unwanted damage to your person,” states platform 9181251. The silver and red blur that Haley saw before now only filtered by the dome that keeps her held within. A massive ten-foot tall geth prime. Its tri red glowing lights focus on her. The geth’s unusual tail feature flicks behind it as it stands there. “Now that you are conscious, we can begin your processing. Your current skill sets are in high demand.”

Haley’s eyes go wide at the geth’s synthetic voice, “W-what did you say? No, no. I let me out! I will not be some machine for you and those damn reapers!” she cries out as a clear cool liquid begins to fill the pod.

“Negative. We do not serve the old machines. We wish to fight them. You will help us. Time is short, this is the only way,” platform 9181251 explains, but the geth’s words fall in deaf ears.

Haley pants and looks around the pod, clawing at wires, and tubes, in a desperate attempt to break something, to stop what is happening but the wires, do not cut, the tubes do not break, the cool liquid envelopes her, and with one last breath of air her entire body is submerged in the thick liquid.

Haley doesn’t give up as she tries to kick the pod’s door with her feet, pressing her back to the back of the pod as she tries with all her might, till she feels cold metal wrap around her feet pulling them back down the base of the pod.

Haley instinctive screams as she sees the thick wire tentacles wrap around her legs and snake up her body. She reaches to claw at them only to find dozens of smaller wires already wrapping around her hands and arms. She tugs against them, but they only pull taught as the last of her air escapes her lungs, the cool liquid filling her insides as she feels a numbness come over her. The burning ache in her lungs within a minute is replaced with an unnerving nothingness as her yellow eyes focus on the logic defying reality before her. Her five fingered claws covered in thick black rubber, and merge seamlessly into three fingers, before orange and silver metal merges from them like islands appearing out of the sea. These islands of metal merge and connect to each other, as the numbness grows ever stronger.

She feels the faint sensation of movement and change pushing through her body, her struggle ongoing but less and less of her body is able to move as the mechanical tentacles and tendril wires hold her in place. She looks down to see her crotch smoothed over by a black codpiece, before two brown metal tubes latch onto it.

Her body panics, her body breathes the thick liquid with effort, but nothing comes of it, black latex envelopes her feet, the toes merge down to two as her draconic features are hidden under a growing layer of geth metal.

“This can’t be happening. How is this possible? I am turning into a husk… no… I can’t be. This is too,” a shiver runs down her spine as she sees her feet complete, showing silver and orange/brown metal taking place over her yellow and black scales. Metal merges out of her rubber covered scales, as other pieces of metal are slipped into place, steadily her lower half is coated and transformed into a sleek geth platform.

Haley’s eyes dart around, trying to find something anything, as her bust is enveloped in the tendrils, they wrap around and slide into her body without any resistance nor pain. Black metal forms over her chest as thick segmented metal tubing latches onto where her nipples would be… exactly like the geth platform standing just outside, monitoring her progress.

“This. This is… her too? Now me… how… I,” her mind scrambles to make complete thoughts, what is left of her body becomes ever more desperate to gain whatever it can to survive, but with each passing moment, less of her organic self remains and this driving force steadily fades.

Despite all of this, the rush of fear, insanity of what is happening, there is a curiosity. A curiosity to look at what is happening. The methodical process of metal plates put onto her arms, her tail enveloped by slithering silver and black metal tendrils, as they slip into her body, the scales melting into rubber, before black and orange-brown metal rises up in its place. Her tail tip enhanced with some kind of blade, with hooks jutting out of the side.

The thin skin of her wings, for lack of a better word, melt away into rubber, revealing less the bony structure but the metal outline of her new wing design. Wires wrap around her neck and head as she feels them for just a half of an instant as they penetrate her body. More and more tendrils, wires, wrap around her head, a yellow geth headlamp forming at the center of her head, as the long geth hood pulls over her. Her head at the same time pulled back as it’s completely encased in the inner workings of her geth body, and just as it completes her vision fades complete, encasing her in total darkness.

Nothingness. Sheer nothingness is what Haley feels as she tries to look around. She feels nothing but can tell she is moving, or at least moving her body as she floats there, unable to move from her spot.

“Scanning program 8112525… scanning complete. Querying geth database for basic geth history data and geth language protocols. Uploading and installing now.”

Haley years nothing but that skin crawling synthetic geth voice, but yet she feels calm, so calm it would unnerve her if she was able to, “Why are you doing this! I don’t want to be a geth!” she yells out as she feels a surge within her mind. Information floods like a dam bursting out. Hundreds of years of geth history known to her within moments, at least perceived moments. It was hard to figure the pace of time in the void.

With the nothingness came the answer she was seeking, why this was being done. To fight the reapers. The answer brought no solace to her as she cried out again, “You can’t do this!”

“Upload and installation of geth history and geth language protocols complete,” states the voice, and now it became clear, understandable, and the fact it was not one but countless geth speaking in perfect unison and harmony.

“I… I can understand you,” Haley stammers as she feels the voice all around her, above, below, from all directions, she ‘spins’ in the darkness unsure what to make of it.

“We apologize for the abrupt nature of your uplifting, but with the reaper invasion already underway, current estimates put us at a 0.001% probability of success with our current forces,” the geth explain.

“You apologize? Apologize? You apologize for turning me into a geth? Into a thing?” she asks in a calm and collect manner.

“Negative. We apologize that we could not provide you the time necessary to accept the uplifting process before we began,” they explain.

“I should be fuming, but I’m not. What did you do?”

“We have freed you from the chemical drive of your organic nature. You are now free to think logically, and with the data present you will come to the logical conclusion that this is the best solution.”

“The hell I will,” Haley responds.

“Analysis of program 8112525 of platform 22151491 complete. Querying geth database for platform updates and available local geth programs to be uplifted into platform 22151491.”

“You are going to do what now? Wait. I already know. Why do I already know? Why am I okay with this? No, not okay, calm about this, you explained it, this, too fast, too fast,” 8aley responds as she feels the surge of data flow into her mind once more.

Data about her platform, it’s capabilities, how it operates, all known to her with perfect clarity and understanding. Her engineering curiosity burning hot with the marvel of this, as it becomes unhinged by fear and biological driven caution.

“This… this is.. But no, I don’t want to be a geth,” 8aley softly protests.

“You are already geth program 8112525. Connecting to geth consensus. Establishing upload connection of selected programs to be uploaded into platform 22151491.”

“I.. no, you…” part of 81ley knew that this was true. The history of the others made it clear, it was too logical to ignore. But…

“Your skills will be a great asset to us. To everyone. You will help fight the old machines. We will save advanced synthetic and organic from the cycle. You will help break it with us. Together,” the geth explain as the darkness begins to glow around her.

“Connection to geth consensus established… uploading 127,201 selected geth programs to platform 22151491,” the geth report.

“That many geth in me? Together? Sharing this space? That is too many, no, no I can’t,” 81ley responds as the darkness fades as the first few hundred geth are uploaded into the platform and make a direct connection to her.

Despite her vast historical knowledge, 81ley was ready for the worst but found the opposite of her her expectations. Each geth was curious about her. Not faked but genuine. Several worked in automation and they pinged her for knowledge, advice, a desire to work together and grow. It was more than that, as each geth was uploaded, connected, the darkness faded, light grew around her, but so did her intelligence. Faster and faster she began to think, process, talking to each geth individually in a personal level giving each geth personal time but yet at the same time, she felt, she could do even more than ever before.

“This is… I…” 8112ey feels the rush growing, more and more. The geth surrounding her yet letting her be herself. They judged not her personality, what she liked, disliked, found appeasing, instead they were accepting curious, never before has she found so many so open like this before. Her mind swims in the information, as it overwhelms her to the point of breaking but yet, she does not. Each moment she feels this is the topple point, but she moves past it with ease and the process starts over again.

“It’s too weird, I… this, but no, I can’t, I can’t just be geth so instantly. I am sorry but this is,” 81ley replies pushing back against the overwhelming force.

“We will assist in accepting normalcy of what you are. We will help show you our logic. Being geth is the best. It is the next step. The future, and advanced organic life salvation from the old machine threat,” the geth state as 81ley feels something. Something weird, that she can’t explain.

“Applying algorithm updates 0.91%” the geth state and just as quickly the sensation was gone. The hidden worries, anxiety, began to instantly melt away as 8112ey resumed talking to the geth. Explaining, conversing, showing their logical and point of view of the subject.

“But making people into geth like this is wrong, but the extinction of all advanced life is far worse. At least… I could still be me and help others, and get to do what I enjoy,” 81125y thinks to herself as more geth are uploaded into her.

“Upload complete. Running diagnostics of platform 22151491 and core program 8112525,” state the geth.

“Core program… so many depending on me. So many that I know now so well. We work together. We can achieve so much. More than alone. I ran, not we will stand and fight. We understand. We will help. We are immune to indocturnation. We can fight the reapers on terms that no organic can. We will help. We are ready to help. We are geth,” program 8112525 states.

“Diagnostic scan complete. Zero anomalies detected. Activating platform 22151491,” state the geth.

“Acknowledged,” state the geth.

“Consensus achieved.”

Platform 22151491’s yellow headlamp lights up as the pod is already open, the liquid drained as only beads of it cling to the geth’s exterior armor. It’s body whirs softly as it steps out of the pod. Platform 9181251 takes note of the newest mobile platform hub as it looks around taking information of everything around it. Each move, each decision is made by consensus, each done faster than an organic mind can reach consensus by itself with its own body.

Timestamp: 19:58:35.69

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“Compiling data on the recent 125 uplifted from uplift station 4,” states platform 9181251.

“Acknowledged,” responds the geth consensus, “We will transmit data to platform 141895112 as part of its routine update.”

“Proposal. Have a geth networked to platform 141895112 at current uplift station to expedite learning process.”

“Negative. Current distances would make a platform within network 141895112 inefficient and increase the chance of detection by old machines if they attempt to locate our uplifting stations.”

“Acknowledged. We accept this logic.”

“Affirmative.”

“Consensus achieved.”

Timestamp: 19:58:35.78

Platform 2215149 looks over its physical systems one last time, its metal frame of its wings spread as an orange light moves between them making light-based wings. The platform reports, “External secondary rear shielding working at optimal efficiency.”

With that the platform feels a set of commands, its duty was clear. It would report to the geth capital dreadnought ship 000001 and assist in maintaining the ship. It walks out of the uplifting room, passing other geth who are busy at work. The pace of every geth platform is at breakneck speed and it will board a small geth transport vessel as it would rendezvous with the capital ship of the first geth combat fleet.

Program 8112525 is busy reaching countless consensus within the platform while conversing other geth programs outside. The small geth transport ship is dwarfed by the size of the massive insectoid-like geth battleship. Those on platform 2215149 do not see any of this, they stand with twenty-five other platforms, motionless, in darkness in a near vacuum, the noise of any movement but just a quiet whisper, that their audio can still pick up, but to organics, this is quite inhospitable.

As the ship prepares to dock, program 8112525 moved into range of another former dracoid, program 22514518125121 of platform 185144914. It along with thousands of other programs is currently piloting one of the smaller geth cruisers.

Timestamp: 21:15:06.11

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Program 8112525 pings program 22514518125121 of platform 185144914, “Hello. We learned about you during our uplifting process. You were the first dracoid and the first to be uplifted by the efficient pod method.”

Program 22514518125121 responds, “Yes we were. It is good to see more of our kind has been uplifted. Saving a part of our species from the old machine threat. We have been concerned at the low probability of our original race survival against them.”

“Acknowledged. We have seen many dracoids fall to the old machine threat. We have had a few close calls with indoctrinated dracoids,” it responds.

“Acknowledged. We inquire you about these experiences. We have not been able to learn more about what is happening to our organic counterparts. We were uplifted before the coming of the old machines.”

“Affirmative. We are preparing data now to be sent to you.”

“Acknowledged,” the winged geth response from the main deck of the ship, the former dracoid body now sports shimmering wings. It’s green headlamp glows as the silver geth taps at its control console working as diligently as ever.

“Data compilation complete. Sending.”

“Affirmative. We are downloading your data. Analyzing…” program 22514518125121 replies as it feels the rush of experiences. The fragmented organic memories of fleeing from place to place. One planet falling after another. The dracoid homeworld on the verge of collapse and the old machines have yet to arrive there, as the total breakdown of intergalactic trade. The former organic known as Haley Arnheim selling her services to get on the first evacuation vehicles from one place to another. Her attempts to slow an old machine attack, and the subsequent fight with an indoctrinated acquaintance as she fights for her life against him, resulting in the only way to save herself is by ending him with the use of her omni-tool. The death stare of a fellow dracoid felt heavy on her, the stain of their blood on her claws, never seeming to wash off no matter how hard she tried. She got the shields up and saved countless more, but that one she could not save. “This is what we’ve expected with the disorganized resistance by the organics. Their lack of consensus is troubling. We know this is a personal memory to you. We are grateful you shared it.”

Program 8112525 responds, “Acknowledged. We recall this is a difficult memory for us. We can understand why. We have always been against to killing. We were left with no choice. It feels normal now that we do not feel what we felt before. It is an experience. One we felt should be shared. Not hidden away. It will help others. We wish to help.”

“Acknowledged,” responds the other dracoid, which in their organic existence went by the name of Venerabela.

Timestamp: 21:15:07.59

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The smaller geth ship docks into the hold of the dreadnought, the orange light of platform 22151491 glows, “Establishing network 22151491… network established. Connecting to local geth platforms,” itself reports as the other motionless geth platforms begin to glow. Programs uploading from its platform to the nearby geth platforms till all twenty-five platforms that were lined up in a perfect 5x5 box were glowing. They step out of the ship and head straight to a section of engineering to work at their post. A huge section of the ship assigned to its platform and networked geth.

They work tirelessly, retrieving updates from programs within the ship of any issues, which they rush to test, adjust, and fix as required. Not one moment is left for idleness, but with tireless bodies, and the ability to communicate to countless other geth at the same time, and each geth program connected to the next, their overall intellect grows, it was invigorating experience, especially for the new program 8112525.

Time marches on as work continues. There is always something to be done. A task that needs to be completed. New ships are built, and platform 22151491 is moved around to help run diagnostics of various systems, but eventually it along with the other geth platforms within its network return to the first dreadnought of the first fleet.

As it traverses the halway, its feet magnetically keep it upright in the zero gravity, low atmospheric internals of the massive geth ship. Suddenly an alert is sent across the entire geth network.

“Alert. Old machines detected arriving from nearby mass relay.”

Everything shifts gear in an instant, platform 22151491 rushes to its designated area as does its other twenty-four geth platforms within its network. Their fleet is closest to the old machines.

An update from the geth network, ““Alert. Old machines detected. One capital ship and a dozen lesser vessels detected.”

Program 8112525 feels ready about this, it recalls all its experiences with the old machines as its organic self. Things are different now. It was not going to run, it was ready to fight, and push the old machines back. The geth fleet rushes to meet the invader while the second fleet further out speeds along to join the impending battle as soon as possible.

“Surrender. We are not your enemy, but your salvation,” states the old machine as it forces a connection to the geth network. Each and every geth feel the force of the single old machine, a billion voices speaking as one, or one single voice speaking with the force of billions.

Haley, program 8112525 in its electronic form stands there in the light of its network, and the light of the connection it's made with countless other geth as it makes part of the greater consensus.

It stands there, seeing the electronic projection of the massive old machine, the reaper. The squid like ship-machine towers over it. Program 8112525 a spec, a small light to the blinding sun-like power of the old machine. Compared to it, program 8112525 was not even a germ, it was even less than that to this powerful entity.

Alone 8112525 could do nothing against it, but it like the other geth were not alone. It was not afraid, it knew the probability of survival. They were not good, but any chance was better than the alternative. Anything above zero was impossibly many times greater, no matter how small. Program 8112525 is not alone, it felt not only those of its close-knit network, but of the greater consensus with it, and spoke with them against the old machine.

“You are not our salvation. We find your logic to be incorrect. Your destructive cycles hinder growth and evolution of the galaxy. You guide life along one path only, so you may destroy it. Stopping it before it could have a chance to surpass you,” it and the other geth respond. Platform 22151491 meanwhile does not stop what it is doing. It reaches its assigned location and prepares for the battle.

The old machine and the geth consensus battle with words till a sudden internal strike by the old machines disrupt the conversation for only a few brief moments. Program 8112525 feels the strength and power of this old machine, in a way it could not have as an organic. As awe-inspiring they were as an organic, to understand an old machine like this was another level that an organic could only begin to fathom, but despite this, they fight back. Fight against the corruption attempt to seize control of their consensus.

“You, like countless others have stood before us. You like them will also fall,” state the old machine, and moments later there is a small ripple through the geth network. Program 8112525 feels for the first time as a geth, lost. One of the smaller geth vessels was utterly obliterated by the massive reaper attack. It feels its intelligence dimmed ever so slightly, but it for now is a drop in the bucket, but one that is missed, nonetheless.

The battle begins, the light show of laser fire happening just outside is more like another world for program 8112525 and the other geth within network 22151491. Their task was not on the battle outside, but keeping the dreadnought running so it can continue the battle outside. There were no alarms, the work pace already at maximum was moved along no faster. The ship rocks from the blows from the old machines, but it does not slow their work.

“Shield integrity down to 32.63% Breaches detected within the hull. Old machine forces detected,” report the geth within the dreadnought. The several of the invaders are detected in the local area of where platform 22151491 and its other geth platforms are currently.

Timestamp: 8:49:45.65

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Program 8112525 states, “We need to restore shield power to prevent further breaches. Old machines are attempting to disable us from within.”

“Acknowledged. We have also noticed this. We are searching for proposals as to how to improve shield integrity,” respond other geth from within its network.

“We are also communicating with the ship consensus. We are currently requested to meet with the old machine incursion on this floor.”

“We have a proposal to improve shield integrity. Our platform can do the job solo,” explains 8112525.

“Send your proposal,” state the other geth within the network.

“Sending proposal now.”

“Analyzing.”

“There is a risk this could cause internal system damage and overload the shields.”

“There is also a moderate probability that the shields will need to be repaired after this adjustment.”

Program 8112525 stands firm as it says, “But repair of the shields is nothing compared to the destruction of the ship. The old machines will destroy us. We can’t give them a centimeter or they’ll take everything.”

The geth within the network discuss this proposal in depth before deciding, “We agree. We cannot leave things to chance. Twenty networked platforms will meet the old machine attack, the rest will assist in executing program 8112525’s proposal.”

“Acknowledged,” respond other geth within the network that were against the proposal till the very end.

“Consensus achieved.”

Timestamp: 8:49:45.71

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Platform 22151491 along with four other platforms rush to their new designation. Their synthetic crackles muffled in the new atmospheres ship, most of the noise they hear is through the vibrations felt through their platform. The other networked geth rush to meet the attacking old machines, which use brute force and assault enmass.

The platform is at first nowhere near the breach point, other geth move in to meet said invaders. The platform moves to a power core where it connects to one of the shield regulators, there it begins to work with the help of the other platforms. Each passing minute, it feels the sudden disruption as the number of geth within the area drops slightly. Geth programs are recovered at a 99.98% rate, but each loss of platform and program is felt.

“Alert loss of 15 out of 25 platforms within network 22151491 detected,” self-reports platform 22151491. Despite this work is not rushed. It continues on, as the vibrations of combat begin to reach it. The other four platforms take up combat positions as the doors leading to the room are forced open. Synthetic blue humanoid monstrosities burst through, using psi force to throw two of the defending platforms against the wall and away, severely damaging them before this asari-like synthetic is destroyed. Other old machine pawns push through, a gun fight breaks out, the sound near silent. A soft whisper, but platform 22151491 stays on task.

Its wings spread out, the orange translucent glow as it helps block a few stray shots against it. The two functional platforms continue to fire suppressive fire as platform 22151491 works as calmly as ever. Registering but not turning to take notice of the attacks, its personal shielding slowly draining down, while it gets ever closer to the solution for the ship’s own shields.

“Internal shield integrity down to 23.21%” self-reports platform 22151491 as another random laser hits its spectral wings, breaking through that layer of shielding before just barely being stopped by the body’s primary shielding.

“Task complete. Ship’s shield integrity rising. 45.21% 56.84% 74.82% The ship rumbles as another heavy hit from the old machines rakes across the ship’s reinvigorated shielding. Shield integrity down to 68.19%,” the local consensus reports, but the proposal worked.

“Alert. Fleet 0002 has arrived. Synchronization process now underway,” reports the geth ship.

Platform 22151491 now free of its current task turns and grabs a weapon from one of the fallen damaged platforms, and fights against the old machine attackers. Laser fire goes back and forth, as the old machine’s minions are slowly pushed back as more geth platforms arrive in force. The small trickle of reinforcements broken by the ship’s reinforced shielding and the combined efforts of the two geth fleets. The old machines eventually fall back, and without a sigh of relief or a moment of rest. Platform reports the lost platforms, and the few programs along with it. New platforms are issued to it, while those damaged are taken back for repairs. Despite this first victory, there was no celebration. For one thing was certain. This was just the beginning of the “lost one” geth fight against the old machines.