A Time of Crisis: Chapter 8
Chapter 8, icon by Chaos Croc
Chapter 8 Hardware Problems
It’s been over a month since Crisis took over the city of Rioas and steadily the city has been returning to life. Parts of the urban areas have been repaired and renovated to house members of Crisis’ small mind controlled organic army which has been slowly shrinking as those soldiers get transferred to other posts. The few remaining natives of the city have also gotten some renovated housing but those not part of Crisis’ original ‘peace offering’ have still been reluctant to move in, despite the fact Crisis made sure it kept with modern Dromaeosaian architectural style.
The industrial sector is a different story. Though the buildings retain much of their old style, there is a layer of Crisis’ robotic touch, where they have become sleeker with a metallic sheen, with a sense of architectural efficiency. Too efficient perhaps that her roboticization facilities are barely running due to the downturn in volunteers.
With a robotic army of over thirty-five thousand, other parts of the city are working full time to equip this army with tanks, military vehicles and weapons, all of Dromaeosaian design with a few modifications to fully utilize their robotic user’s unique features thanks to Crisis’ growing R&D team.
At first anyone looking at the city might think this is one of the cities Croc has captured, leaving most of the city’s architecture intact, while improving or replacing buildings that were lost in the fighting, but instead of city flags and symbols of Croc’s nation, one would see Dromaeosa national flags, and Crisis blue sickle claw symbol, all over her minions and machines. Alas Crisis has no time to revel in her achievements; she more problems to deal with.
“I can’t wait forever while you take your sweet ass time to preparing. We are fighting a war here, and we need your army now not later. People want to see results, where are these results you promised!” yells Raszer as he talks to Crisis via video screen, Raszer taking a break in his badgering to take a sip of his coffee that is on his desk before him. Crisis stands before the overly sized video screen that is back at the secret base where a secure line of communication can be procured.
“I have an army yes, but you can barely call it that. It’s relatively small compared to any of your forces or that of Croc’s, further more since I have to build my equipment that takes time. I am making something out of nothing, you should be happy with that,” replies the slightly annoyed Crisis.
“I’d be happy if you gave us some real results, something we could use to fight this menace. You should be glad I’ve been so generous in using our valuable resources to transport your volunteers. Count yourself lucky Croc’s army hasn’t been on the move giving our forces a moment to breath or I’d be far harsher on demanding results… and speaking of results, I’ve heard reports that your R&D team has increased in size and has been coming up with some interesting things, I’d like to see a detailed report of what your team has come up with. Maybe what they are doing will do something to alleviate your current lack luster performance.”
“Of course, some of the volunteers used to be brilliant weapons engineers, I’m putting them back to work once again, utilizing those skills. And haven’t I helped you by lessening the civilian burden on you, allowing your troops to be more committed to the war.”
“Which is far below the amount of relief that we expected.”
“Get me more volunteers and it will.”
“Bring me greater results that prove your usefulness and we’ll work on it,” says Raszer.
“Crisis we have a problem!” exclaims Joshua as he rushes into the room and just as he takes a huge breath to explain the issue his eyes widen upon realization of what is going on, “H-hello General Raszer,” states Joshua as he gives a salute.
“I’ll call you back General,” says Crisis as she moves her hand to cut communication.
“You can’t do tha—,” growls Raszer as conversation is cut off.
“Annoying organic,” grumbles Crisis as she turns to face Joshua. “What’s the problem Joshua that is so important that you had to interrupt my conversation like that as well timed as it was,” growls Crisis as she flicks her tail hard behind her.
“Well…” says Joshua as he looks down towards the ground.
“Out with it.”
“It has to do with maintenance.”
“What about it? We already did my maintenance last week I won’t need anything like that for another month,” replies Crisis.
“Of which I would like to say thank you for allowing me to do the work, it’s a great honor.”
“You’re the only one I’d trust enough to handle it. I prefer one who created me with a greater sense of will and finesse to do so, a nice side affect of me leaving you as you are now.”
“Thank you Mistress Crisis, but what I mean about maintenance is—,” says Joshua.
“Mistress Crisis, there’s a call for you from General Raszer, he says it’s urgent,” says AI.
“Yes I know, tell him I’ll call him back in a few minutes,” replies Crisis.
“As you wish Mistress Crisis.”
“Now what you mean about the maintenance is…?” asks Crisis as she hand gestures Joshua to continue.
“Your converts, especially the earlier ones are starting to show wear and tear that will need to be fixed fairly soon, week or two at most,” explains Joshua.
“So what’s the big problem, get them maintained,” she replies.
“That’s the thing, only a handful of people know how to do maintenance that it is impossible to keep up especially if your army continues to grow.”
“Then program a few to be able to do so.”
“I’ve thought that through, and there are problems with that. For one, it tends to be organics that do some of the maintenance, the number of organics that need to be trained and the length of time to train them, it will be even more impossible to keep up. Honestly I think we are already past that point of even trying, and it’s not like we can get many young healthy people to volunteer to train to upkeep the machines.”
“I see… General Raszer wouldn’t approve of that either. We know Croc has massive number of robotic minions and he doesn’t have this trouble does he?” asks Crisis.
“As far as we can tell he doesn’t have this problem at all.”
“Any known reasons as to why?”
“None I can think of.”
“AI, any known reasons as to how Croc maintained his massive robotic army?”
“None that provide suitable evidence that could support the theory or that you could put into effect without sufficient evidence that it will work,” responds AI.
“Damn, what can you tell me about Croc’s forces that could be helpful in solving this issue?” asks Crisis.
“You know as well as I do Mistress Crisis that Croc’s army when not active in their combat duties tend to spend a large amount of time working in and around a Croc city. Current speculation as to this is to assist in the processing captured organics into converted machines, help building weapons, points of communication that spread out Croc’s commands, and lastly places where Croc’s robotic forces can rest and repair.”.
“Yes, yes interesting… Ai, get me General Raszer back onto the viewing screen,” commands Crisis.
“As you command Mistress Crisis,” says AI as the video feed returns.
“It be wise that you never do that again, remember you exist to serve and benefit this nation, and your loyalty and obedience is to me most of all,” growls Raszer as he bears some of his teeth.
“Yes General Raszer I have not forgotten, nor will I forget, I apologize for the cut off, it won’t happen again.”
“It better not”
“Joshua and I were just discussing a problem we were having that was making my job in serving you a bit difficult.”
“And what possible problem could you have at this point; you have yet to do a thing.”
“It’s a problem that we are both have, lack of information.”
“Go on,” replies Raszer as he calms down and sits back in his chair.
“Tell me Raszer do you know the last time we’ve gotten any detailed information about the inner workings of Croc’s forces?”
“We get plenty of information through broken codes and captured minions which we examine thoroughly along with countless hours of observation of his forces.”.
“Yes, yes, but when was the last time anyone was able to get up close and personal a spy into a working major Croc city? One that hasn’t been bombed into the stone age by the time you arrived?” asks Crisis.
“Crisis what are you thinking?” thinks Joshua as he stands there nervously his claws twitching and gently tapping against each other as he watches the conversation unfold.
“To our knowledge we have none and neither have any of the other nations been successful in any infiltration attempts. Protective suits have worked to prevent the nanites infection clouds that his float around his cities, which allow quick covert missions to steal some technology, but no one has spent significant amount of time in a fully functional city for any extended period of time without coming out totally obedient to Croc, making a reconnaissance mission, pointless,” explains Raszer.
“My army needs more time to prepare and build up to be an affective fighting force for our nation. The nation and possibly the world are quietly watching to see how affective I will be against Croc and first impressions will be key in drawing in support for not only my activities but for yours and will have a major impact on our nation prestige. Till that time which my forces are fully ready to be a committed as an affective fighting force against Croc, I suggest that I obtain valuable knowledge about Croc’s forces inner workings that no one has yet been able to obtain. This would allow your army and mine to work more effectively in our grand debut against Croc.”
“And how would you suggest that? Any soldier you send into a Croc city is well out of range of your control, and has only limited resistance to Croc’s nanites within his city, a few hours at most. The time needed to get all the valuable information would be at least a week.”
“I thought of that, and that is why I suggest that I go.”
“What?!” yells Raszer and Joshua in unison, although Joshua’s exclamation is far louder.
“Hear me out,” says Crisis as she moves her metallic hand in front of Joshua’s face to silence him. “I am designed to fight Croc one on one, my nanites are designed specifically to work against his, and to work much like his do. I self produce mine while those I converted don’t produce any, and I am far stronger than any other soldier that I command. I can get in one of his major outer cities, where his command is strong but not too strong, and gather the information needed, and then get out before any trouble could befall upon me.”
“Are you suggesting that I let you, our most important weapon against Croc, to go waltzing into one of his cities, right into his hands?”
“It’s something that he’d never expect to happen, and I’ll in and out before he even knows it. The information I bring back will be vital to our war effort, and we’ll have a critical edge over Croc that no one else will have. I’ve weighed the risks and rewards of this project, and the rewards are well worth it, that I am willing to risk myself to ensure it succeeds.”
“And what would happen if you do fall into Croc’s hands? You’d end up another one of his minions, and draw in the other soldiers that you command against us, that is something I can’t have.”
“I’ve thought of that. During my time away, Joshua here will be in charge, and all important information, such as the location of the city and what we are doing her will be deleted from my mind, which will be restored upon my return after a thorough investigation of my systems.”
“And what would happen if you don’t return? The people won’t like to know that our hope was so easily taken by Croc, that easily would be very troublesome for our moral.”
“Simple, make a new me. Joshua knows how to get the Crisis programming going again and he’s been so kind to volunteer himself to become the new Crisis if it comes to it. No one will even know that was captured if it comes to it.”
“Crisis…” says Joshua.
“So what do you say Raszer? Approve of this plan? Think of all the valuable information we’ll obtain from it? You’d be a hero to the people, you the first to be able to obtain detailed information of a Chaos Croc city.”
“Hmmm…” says Raszer as he leans back, his claws tapping the desk as he sits there in thought, taking another sip of his coffee before he replies, “Alright I approve. Contact me in three hours with a plan and which city you think would be best to carry out this plan.”
“Thank you for your trust General,” replies Crisis with a bow and a salute of respect as the conversation ends. “I knew that talk about him being a hero would make him go along with it. He’s so easy to figure out,” chuckles Crisis.
“Crisis you can’t go through with this.”
“And why not?”
“Because I…we can’t lose you,” exlpains Joshua.
“You won’t lose me, if I don’t come back you’ll be the new me. I’ll always be with you,” responds Crisis with an evil grin as she walks out of the room and down the hall with Joshua in toe.
“But Crisis!” he yells as he follows.
“But nothing, we need to do this. Without knowing how Croc maintains his army, mine will never be as big nor able to function as efficiently as his. In order to defeat my enemy, I must know my enemy inside and out.”
“Yeah… I know, but…”
“No buts, this is final,” states Crisis as Joshua lowers his head slightly.
“You are still a lot like Karrie,” thinks Joshua as they walk off together. Off to the side, Sasha stands just down the hall, her head peeking over the side before she enters the same communication room that Crisis was just in.
Sasha closes the door c behind her she turns and presses a series of buttons which locks the door with an audible click She then moves over to the computer terminal that is in front of the large video screen and starts to type in as series of codes and programs , “That should keep from anyone from listening in onto my conversation,” says Sasha to herself as the screen boots up and after a few minutes of static a connection is established as a large image of Ko appears. Ko’s breath appears to be labored and her words short of breath
“What is it?” pants Ko.
“I have important information for you to pass on to Master Croc,” states Sasha.
“Is that why you called me? Weren’t you supposed to give these updates at the times we specified?”
“This is urgent information that Croc needs to know,” she replies.
“Oh alright, what is it?” she asks with a sigh as she shakes her head in annoyance.
“Crisis plans to infiltrate one of Master’s cities in order to get valuable information about his inner workings. Though the mission is said to gather information to defeat Croc, Crisis is motivated to discover how Croc keeps his soldiers maintained so she may apply those techniques towards her own army.”
“I see… excellent work. I’ll pass on this information right away. And remember Croc is a busy man and can’t be bothered, any time you have to report anything, especially if it’s urgent, contact me, I’ll make sure where the information gets where it needs to be,” explains Ko as the fox smiles.
“Of course Ko. I must be going now before anyone is suspicious.”
“Then go.”
“As you command,” sreplies Sasha as the video screen cuts off. Ko is in her elegantly done bedroom, a room that is a far cry from the cold robotic feel of other areas of the city. Here Ko can be a woman she likes to be, and as she walks over to the side of the room wearing high heels that tap on the soft carpeting. There hiding just out of the camera’s view that was used for the communications we find Empress dressed in a skimpy tight latex outfit.
“Now where were we, oh yes…” says Ko as a holographic screen of Croc’s head pops up behind Ko.
“Ko are you using my general again for your own fun and enjoyment?” asks Croc.
“Yes Croc I am,” she responds with a soft sigh before turning around to face Croc.
“How many times do I tell you, not to use my minions for fun, unless I am there to enjoy it as well!” says Croc.
“You were busy.”
“I’m always busy, but I can stop and enjoy that, I’ll be right over,” states Croc.
“Yes Croc,” says Ko with a sigh as the holographic screen cuts out. “At least when Crisis comes I can have some fun,” she thinks as a smile once again creeps onto her face.