“I can hardly report upon what I’m hearing. I just can’t believe it.” The reporter was informing the people of Golden Hyperion.
“What’s going on up there?” The reporter asked her friend.
“As hard as it is to believe… and I don’t say this lightly… but I sincerely believe that we are free. It appears that Dark Phoenix have, despite overwhelming odds, have won the day. We are free. We are free! I can’t believe it! But there is no other way to explain it. The tyranny of our masters is no more! God bless those beautiful boys and girls who gave their lives so that we may be free! The tyranny of the EOD is no more! We are free! Forever more! What a beautiful day it is!” The reporter responded. His so-called friend could only regurgitate the line that is approve of by the EOD censors.
At that moment in time people wanted to believe that it was all over, boy did they ever wanted to believe it, but they were just too cynical about their situation. All of their hopes rested upon Task Force ZH-3C contacting someone on the outside. They just wanted to hear the good news that it was all over and they could go about living their lives in peace. But as each hour passed by and no one heard not one single word from Task Force ZH-3C the people of Golden Hyperion started to fear the worst. It didn’t take long for their hopes to be dashed.
(13)
“You know that we are taking a huge risk by being here.” Lieutenant General Byrne mentioned to the rest of Lenkov’s contacts. All of them secretly found their way to Andromeda and they couldn’t have done it at a worst time. They all knew that it would be perceived as highly suspicious if anybody were to find out that all of them went there. Especially knowing full well that the possibility of a civil war looms on the horizon.
“You’re right. But the Founder has more important things to worry about.” Colonel “Brown Dust” Durante responded.
“I thought that you were getting married. To your mistress if I’m not mistaken. And now you are here with us instead of her. How charming.” Commodore Bonfacio said with a smile.
“How long do you think that it will take for them, the Founder’s forces that is, to figure out that we are here?” Major General Labrune asked someone.
“Normally it won’t take them that long. But as for now… who can guess. Everybody will be under the ever watchful eye of the EOD security auspices. We are all suspects.” Vice Admiral Kennett said. They all knew that he was right.
“Before we get too far in this particular discussion we should also take into account the fact that it appears that the EOD has something special for the people of Golden Hyperion.” Central Command Officer: District Commander D’Esporito mentioned.
“Why do you say that for?” Commodore Bonfacio asked him.
“For a long time we the CCO was kept in the dark about the true significance of the so-call factory there. A certain conversation with the Logistical Art Commander told us that a huge amount of state’s resources, and I mean enough to build a city that could theoretically hold at least a million people, was sent to that world. The secrecy involved is the sole reason why there are no cities and/or small villages near the site. All small towns are fifty miles from the site whereas medium size cities are at a minimum of seventy-five miles. The only large scale city is one hundred and fifteen miles from the site. As each of you already knows, as hyper efficient that the EOD is, their behavior upon that world is extremely, I don’t use that word lightly, it is extremely bizarre.” D’Esporito responded.
“No fleet was sent there to quell any possible rebellion. I have served under three commanders as we were preparing for the remote possibility of, not a rebellion, but rather the remote chance that the EOD would lose the fight. In those three cases I gave my services to the defeat of the locals. However, more often than not, the EOD won the day. So I find it highly unusual for the EOD to act as if though they have already won. Consistently, despite overwhelming odds, those who chooses to rebel against the EOD have always lost the day. And still the EOD acts like it has already won. They, the EOD that is, have always acted as if nothing is certain. Not even their victory.” Colonel “Brown Dust” Durante responded. They all started to think about what he’d said.
They all realized that something must be at the factory for there was no other explanation as to the strange behavior on the part of the EOD. But neither one of them had any idea as to what could be there. All they knew was that something massive was being hidden there. They had to figure out what it could possibly be.
“We are all that is left of the Skotadi (Greek for darkness). We were founded on January 1, 1930 after the stock market crash. That created, not only the Great Depression, but also led to World War 2. Our purpose for existing was simply put: to be the guardians of western civilization. We thought, tragically is a much better word to use, that the so-call Founder would assist us in our mission. The EOD was our era not or his or that of his wife. For we are the reminder that goodness comes from darkness. Hence the dark ages bought about the Renaissance and then the Modern Ages. We have lived under this tyrant for almost three hundred years and now… And now we stand here talking about what? The tactics of this monster? Make no mistake that like all monsters before, the only way to understand the tactics is one of that of the most bestial part of human nature. We must be firm within our mission! Or did we forget what is was? Or suppose to be? It is within my opinion that we may make a horrendous mistake if we don’t as a collective force realize that this civil war is our greatest opportunity to achieve a long held dream of ours: Europa ad infinitum. That the greatest civilization of them all can only come from a western one! And we must be that! For we are here and they are not! We call this world Andromeda but I call it Skotadi! Let us build our civilization here. Upon this world! For that is how we honor our beloved ancestors! No more darkness! Only light. And the only light that I see is one that permit our beloved western civilization to grow! The thoughts! The honor! The glory! Of who we are shall not, no never, shall be infringed upon! We are the defenders of western civilization! We must stand firm or we will never stand at all! Let’s us…, I beg of you... let us build our civilization here! Upon this world! For we must defend our honor! What say you!? Can we not… achieve our dream?” Major General Labrune mentioned.
“What here on this world?” Vice Admiral Kennett asked him.
“He sounded like he’s trying to be our leader.” Commodore Bonfacio said with a smile.
“That’s not what I’m trying to become.” Major General Labrune responded.
“Great speech nevertheless.” Rear Admiral Mizuguchi mentioned.
“Really. We would need a good leader to run things.” Lieutenant General Byrne added.
“What do you think sir?” Colonel “Brown Dust” Durante asked D’Esporito.
“We do need a leader, but only after we win. There are no guarantees with this world especially not knowing how big this civil war will be. In all likelihood the Founder will win. His paranoia will drive the Council into starting the second civil war. Yes I do believe that he will win that war too. Even if we waited to the end of that war and both plan and strategize it still will not be enough. We need to strike in such a way that the Founder will stay focused upon something of extreme value that he will defend by any means necessary.” D’Esporito responded.
“Does anybody have any ideas as to what it could be, that could possibly have that sort of value?” Rear Admiral Mizuguchi asked someone.
“I don’t think any one of us does.” Commodore Bonfacio responded.
“The factory on Golden Hyperion. If Task Force ZH-3C had truly achieve all of their objectives than we should have already have heard from them. The activity that has been reported there suggested that something big is going on there. It almost appears to be a major battle. Between what or whom is not yet known. I studied both the video and the high resolution photographs and both strongly suggest that the cloning vats are destroyed. So we know that it is no longer producing monsters. Now we know, or so we think, that not even t
he EOD is crazy enough to be manufacturing the Flip Jumpers. But what if we are wrong? What if Medusa Pandora let them out? Regardless, the people of that world is dealing, or will deal with, mindless machines that can’t be reprogrammed.” Durante mentioned.
“Is there any possibility that she is controlling them? They are designed for that.” Mizuguchi asked Durante.
“No. She is not a nanomorph. Only a nanomorph can control them.” Durante responded.
“You know it might make sense that they are there. There was a very strange rumor within my staff that suggested that the EOD is using resources to build a starship on Golden Hyperion’s surface. I just took it as idle gossip and dismissed it. If it is true, than it would be truly apocalyptic that they should even exist. For that would be their impact upon their enemy. It is their Golem attribute that guarantees that a war of biblical proportions is what it would take to destroy them. They would need a enemy and they will need Kronos.” D’Esporito responded.
“Why Kronos?” Commodore Bonfacio asked him.
“As you already know, Kronos was created near the beginning of the new Millennium. Ever since then nobody was ever capable of breaking it. How many lives were lost to get the little data that was collected so far? And what does everybody knows about it? It is our most ultra sensitive code? They figured that part out very quickly. No, what they learned was that it has multiple code groups. Twenty six to be exact. Everything is randomized. It has a keystone that has to be known and to know what correct code group to use. And the most deadly part of them all for code breakers, Kronos also uses junk. Worthless useless bogus things! All there to drive them nuts! And the kicker? A phrase could be place in there multiple times but what is it? Junk perhaps? A substitution for a certain code group? Or maybe it’s both. Oh wait… It is both. Imagine that. If that’s not beautiful enough, Kronos also has the quote-ability-end quote to tell someone all substitutions within itself that it itself, has made. The catch? You got to know the base substitution that was selected for the entire code groups. And the greatest insult to injury of them all? It’s also a virus! And the only way to turn off the virus? What’s the base code group, substitution for each code group again? Human ingenuity at it’s finest. It broke them all. Lieutenant Commander Ramirez is there at that factory. He would recognize Kronos. If he is smart enough to download it into the Golem, or at least to trick it into doing that, there would come a point in time that the Golem would see Kronos as a threat. The threat is great enough to defeat the Golem. Or so the Golem might quote-think-end quote. So who would it then go after?” D’Esporito responded.
“Should we inform the people of Golden Hyperion that the Golem exist?” Kennett asked.
“No. We should only give Ramirez Kronos because it would convince, not only the Founder, but also Medusa Pandora and the Council that the civil war is all about their destruction at the hands of one of the other one. We could also feign support for the Founder and that combine with how hard it would be for him to take down the Golems, will give us a strong legitimate reason to take up a defensive position to protect valuable assets. The only way that it would work is to send Kronos only.” Colonel “Brown Dust” Durante responded.
“Agreed. Let’s send Kronos. And announce our support for the Founder.” D’Esporito mentioned.
Their plan worked a little too well for it only increased the Founder’s paranoia. But by the time that they decided to openly betray the Founder he was too weak to do anything about it. Andromeda will get a capital named Skotadi. And the Founder would let them go and do nothing against them. His problems was too much to take on this small group of separatists. And it is also the reason why the EOD will let go of the people of Golden Hyperion.
(14)
“Sir I think you need to see this.” Ellis was informing Ramirez. Ramirez started to say something when he noticed the look upon Ellis face.
“What’s wrong?” Wexler asked Ellis.
“Look at this and tell me what you see?” Ellis mentioned to Wexler.
“Kronos in it’s neutral state.” Wexler mentioned looking perplexed.
“What!?” Ramirez almost shouted. When Kronos is in it’s neutral state the virus within it is not functioning and the code is not consisting randomizing itself. Although it’s not pure randomization but because it is multiple code groups that can randomize any text, and each code group is thus different, and combine with the fact that it also uses junk (that can be randomize as well) it is near impossible to break it. In it’s neutral state it is there to teach people how it functions all in an effort to improve any technology, or test any technology, to the EOD likening.
“Do you have any ideas as to why it is here sir?” Ellis asked Ramirez.
“One of Lenkov’s contacts wanted me to use it for something. I have no idea as to what they want me to use it for. I know it must be very important for it to have been sent. But they gave me no details. I don’t know what to do with it.” Ramirez responded.
“So what do you want to do sir?” Ellis asked.
“I’ll download it and then figure something out later.” Ramirez responded.
It’s not surprising why Ramirez, although he did give it much thought (off and on), wanted to worry about other things. He did ponder rather or not they knew about the Golems, but he didn’t, or couldn’t, understand what he could do with Kronos. There is no way he could download it into the Golems. He had no way to trick them into downloading it. Nor did he fully understand how the neutral version of the code could be used effectually. He was stumped and it was made all the more difficult by him not understanding their tactics. Is he missing something? Is there something that he is overlooking? Is it a unique form of disinformation? Too many questions and not enough answers. If only he could figure out what they want him to do with it.
(15)
“How bad is the damage to your ship?” Maxwell asked Iverson.
“Near death. It’s surprising that we were able to pull it all off. I’m having a hard time in accepting that we did it.” Iverson responded.
“You know I couldn’t have done it without drinking. Lenkov was different and I never could figure that out. What’s more, he would have done it better.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how much better?”
“Five ships destroyed and two ships crippled. And don’t ask me how he could have pulled that off. Now you know why he has several VIP’s as his contacts.”
“That’s incredible. Were they all the same type of ship? What type of ships were they?”
“Same as this one. After that, nobody wanted to take him on.”
“I reckon so. So what’s now? Do you think that we should leave this system?”
“Like you said, your ship is near death. The people of this world will understand if we leave. We have no other choice. The closest place that I can think of that is friendly enough is the large Chinese colony Zheng He. Any torpedoes that you have left you can trade them for the cost of the repairs to the ship. It is the only way that they will do business with the EOD.”
“Why that way? Everybody, including the EOD, use the same type of currency.”
“Culture, history, general feelings of mistrust given how Europe treated them before the 20th century. I’m no insider on China, or should I say the CCP, so I cannot specially say why they do that. However, how often do the EOD, or anyone else for that matter, find torpedoes that haven’t detonated? It does happen so no, I really don’t see a problem with what they would be asking for.” Maxwell responded. Iverson didn’t care he just wanted an explanation.
On the way there they learned the truth about the factory and both of them realized that there is not one single thing that they could do. They were out of the fight and there will not be a single ship that could provide any assistance. The closest will take almost two months. The people were left on their own on Golden Hyperion. And nobody was truly prepare for what will come next.
(16)
“Ma’am…” Coté was
saying to her captain.
“Dear god, please don’t tell me.”
“I’m sorry ma’am but one of the Golems are heading off somewhere.”
“Your orders ma’am?” Nakada asked her.
“I want you three to follow it. If you get the opportunity to contact Maxwell do it. Even if you have to break off pursuit of the Golem. I have to pursue the last one. We need to collect all the Intel upon them so that we can ascertain what they are up to.” Vaistll responded. Nobody said anything as they split up, their captain going one way, and them (Taylor, Nakada and Coté) going another way.
Vaistll was almost heartbroken when she saw them leave. When she got far enough away she pulled out a bottle of liquor and started to drink. This tough hard as nails warrior is now showing signs that it is all getting to her. She can finally go home and be with her family but, she needs to survive this one single mission. And it is starting to appear that she may lose her friends, the rest of her team, a dragon who became the reincarnation of Jaguar 42R, and the very real possibility that her species, in the form of the Hau’rino people, will live once more. But that world will be baptized in blood.
(17)
“We are standing here waiting for the heroic team that saved us all from each and every one of the monsters that came from this, now destroyed factory.” The reporter was saying.
“Have you noticed any activity at the factory? Did you hear anything from Task Force ZH-3C?” The news caster asked from their headquarters at Apollo News. (Apollo News is Golden Hyperion version of either CNN or Fox News.)
“I’m sorry but we haven’t heard anything, nor is there any activity at the factory.” The reporter said as she was moving towards Captain Wilcox. Nothing looked right since Wilcox gave the impression that he was busy but clearly he wasn’t. It all looked staged.
The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell Page 112