The Aurora Network

All of the Galactic Federation's data runs through the Aurora Network which is maintained by the organic supercomputers, the Aurora Units.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Arius and Alice had to break off from their allies during the evacuation off of Okeana, the pair had been pinned down by a decent sized group of kennet forces. Alice managed to take out the forces with her sniper rifle as Arius ran from tree to tree, keeping the enemy back with suppressive fire as he did so. Eventually, they fought their way onto a kennet dropship and took off. Alice’s cybernetic components helped her to datamine the ship to enable her to utilize the flight controls. Arius was leaned against a wall, his shoulder had blood running down it, several kennet rounds pierced it during their last push to the dropship. Alice was able to finish off the last few soldiers and drag Arius aboard. Now that they were in deep space, Alice set the controls to automatic piloting and knelt down besides Arius. Her azure mechanical eye shifted in contrast to her own natural blue eye. Arius feigned a smile*

Arius: Guess I owe you again.

Alice: Are you ok?

Arius: Never better, he-owww!

*Alice had began to suter the wound while Arius spoke*

Arius: A...little warning.

Alice: ...

*Alice methodically worked the wound until until it was fully closed, then she sat back and once again stared robotically at Arius. Arius grimaced as he tried to move his shoulder as if nothing was wrong*

Arius: Thanks, we should probably go to the nearest system, if Samus and the others made it off world, they’ll probably be there.

Alice: The witch.

Arius: I know you want to take her down, believe me I do to, she turned Martin into a dark energy pawn of hers and her powers are scary as hell. Problem is we don’t know where Martin or the witch is at all.

*Alice still fought through her two clashing minds, speech was still hard for her to process but it had been improving, or at least Arius said it had. Alice thought he was too optimistic for a marine but his skills in a fight went without speaking, the two sat in quietness for a good while*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Alice looked over at Blujay, her gaze lacked recognition and emotion. Seeing as the swordsman seemed to hesitate, she raised her pistol and fired at Libidine*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*A flock of birds flew from the sand as Alice and Arius jumped from the submersible. Their weapons had been drawn as the twilight sun reflected off of their backs. Arius had given Alice one of his pistols since her other arm had not been repaired. Since Samus and Weavel were not far behind, Alice ignored stealth and confronted the kennet soldiers directly. Despite her clear physical damage, she was confident that she could take them on. Arius had her back while he pointed a DMR at the foreign invaders. Alice noted that Weavel’s ship had been repaired from her previous attack*

Alice: We are leaving, move aside. Non-compliance will not be tolerated. 

*Arius shook his head as he stood next to her*

Arius: Smooth negotiating...

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*As the elevator stopped, Alice’s eyes emitted a holographic layout of the floor map before Samus and the others, the room that housed the submersible was highlighted*

We have to hurry, weaker parts of the facility have already begun to crush and fill with water. I will lead you all to the room while Samus prepares the vessel.

*Alice began to run down the hall. Arius took off right behind her*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Alice activated the lift. As the platform rose through the facility, a large rumbling noise was made as the station shook vigorously. Arius stumbled to the ground and Alice had to magnetize herself to the platform to prevent herself from falling*

Alice: The facility is now sinking.

Arius: We are going to have to work on team motivation for you. How long until we are crushed by the pressure of the sea?

Alice: Five minutes.

Arius: Great. Samus, when we arrive on the right level, do you think you could use your speed boost to get to the submersible? Alice and I can carry Weavel. By the time we get there, you could have the vessel ready to go.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*The blazing light died down as the Aurora Unit’s raised limbs fell lifelessly to the ground. The faceplate that had protected the organic body of 673 was ruptured in several different locations. A deep blue blood dripped through the holes in the armor. Arius had fallen down onto his stomach, he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that 673 had fallen. Alice walked over to a data console, frayed wiring jutted out from her right shoulder socket. Her arm had been torn completely off from one of the Aura Unit’s beams. With her left hand, she pulled out a data chip from a console that she had planted during the fight, she intended to store the information of Okeana’s operations and events in order to get a better understanding of her own creation. The data would also serve to bring any other Federation and separatist atrocities to light. Just as Alice safely tucked away the data chip, the computer lit up red and a siren boomed overhead. Alice turned to the others as the station began to rumble*

Alice: A fail safe, the facility has begun to detach itself from the land. I cannot survive the deep pressure of Okeana’s depths.

Arius: I sure as hell can’t either. Fastest route to escape?

Alice: We will need to take a docked submersible. I suggest that we use the Aurora Unit’s former cylindrical lift to get to the port.

*Arius picked up Alice’s severed arm, along with her sniper rifle that she had dropped. The two quickly ran past the AU’s corpse to step into the shattered canister that once housed the being. they then awaited for Samus and Weavel to join them*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*As Weavel’s Volt Driver rounds explode on the Aurora Unit, Alice quickly fired sniper rounds into the limbs that had targeted and successfully hit Weavel, they fell harmlessly limp to the ground while another leg of the AU was melted by the heat of Samus’ plasma beam. The hanging limbs made 673 become unbalanced which caused it to crash down to the floor, the impact with the ground made it shake vibrantly. The Aurora Unit became solemn, knowing that it was on the precipice of defeat*

AU 673: You slay me with no remorse, you do not adhere to my warnings. I will not relent.

Alice: You have no justification, you speak of freedom and peace yet brought war. 

Arius: Well put, lights out for you, 673.

AU 673: The Federation sees you all as expendable, heed my warning.

*The Aurora Units remaining limbs raised in preparation for one last barrage. Alice and Arius raised their rifles. Both sides fired, causing the room to illuminate with a plethora of beam shades.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*The Volt Driver shot manages to hit its mark, causing the beams to flicker but one charged shot is not enough to fully dispose of the Aurora Unit’s weapons systems. Alice fired a round that pierced a leg’s exposed weapon system while it was disabled. An eruption from the explosive round caused the leg that Alice had hit to fall limp. The Aurora Unit growled at its now useless limb as it used the remaining seven arms to rain beams down on the attackers. Three of those beams converged on Arius*

Arius: Damn it all...

*As Arius braced himself for the worst as the three beams came together. Alice dropped down in front of him. She quickly crossed both of her arms together, connecting their energy currents and a blue energy shield sprang to life, the beams merged into one and sparks flew as Alice magnetized her feet to the ground in order to not be pushed back from the weight of the blast*

Alice: Samus, the legs can be targeted once Weavel hits the Aurora Unit with the Volt Driver!

*Alice’s tones were still hollow despite raising her voice so that Weavel and Samus could hear her*

Arius: Thanks for the save Alice.

Alice: Please move, my energy levels are decreasing rapidly with this amount of output.

Arius: Shit, you’re right. Sorry.

*Arius quickly sprinted out of the way, pulling some of the beam fire off of Alice which gave her enough room to break off with a roll to safety. She unhooked her sniper rifle from her back as she moved back into a firing position*

Alice: With well placed shots, we should all be able to eliminate a limb.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Alice activated her magnetic boots and began to vertically run up the wall of the chamber while Samus, Arius and Weavel drew the 673′s focus. Arius rolled out of the way of another laser blast from the Aurora Unit as he yelled over to Weavel*

Arius: Alice is on our side now, I brought her to her senses. Just...

*Arius once again jumped to the side, narrowly dodging another beam*

Arius: Just stay alive and keep her eyes on us.

*Once Alice had reached a suitable height, she kicked off the wall. She twisted mid air with her sniper aiming down towards the energy cell component used to power the Aurora Unit’s shield. She fired several explosive rounds into the device. One explosion after another erupted at the same point in the AU’s back. 673′s energy shield flickered and then dissipated since he generators components had been fried. Alice landed on the ground with a loud thud, the metal tiles on the floor crumpled from the weight of her impact. She quickly looked over and was not entirely pleased to see Weavel but Alice’s systems recognized that Weavel’s volt driver would be an effective counter to the Aurora Unit*

Alice: Weavel, use your volt driver now!

*673 grew agitated for not realizing in time that Alice had broken off from the pack*

AU 673: Weavel, Alice, you would work with this hunter who looks down on beings like us? The Federation enslaves us all. Is freedom truly an unjust goal? Know that we will not yield.

*At the base where all of the Aurora Unit’s legs converged, an anti gravity field activated, causing the Aurora Unit to rise into the air. Each of it’s legs aimed down at the group of enemies in the chamber as it floated in the air. A blazing crimson illuminated the room as all of the Aurora Unit’s limbs fired at once*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*An energy shield formed in a circle surrounding the Aurora Unit causing the missile to detonate harmlessly against it. Smoke engulfed the Aurora Unit and the fumes lit up in red as 673 continued to fire a barrage of lasers. Arius barely dodged one, he could feel the heat of the energy as it brushed passed his foot. Alice looked over to Samus*

Alice: Samus, please continue to draw its fire! I will target the power generators in the rear!

*Alice ran out to the side away from the group, loading a clip filled with explosive rounds as she moved. She fell into a slide as a stray Aurora beam passed over her*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Three turrets shattered, four marines shot. In a matter of moments, Alice had taken out all of the opposition facing them as she led Arius out of the elevator that had taken them into the true depths of the facility. Arius had not even been able to fire a single shot before Alice disposed of the hostiles with extreme efficiency*

Arius: Are we close?

Alice: I detect 673′s signature on this level, as well as a signature belonging to Samus Aran.

Arius: 3 to 1, I like those odds.

Alice: Our odds of success are high.

Arius: (The mechanized speech, I think I heard that Weavel had an AI in his head, perhaps she has a similar deal if she was based off of him. In a sense, I may not even be talking to the real Alice. Yet she did recognize me and rebel against 673 on her own accord so maybe that isn’t quite it....)

Alice: Here.

*She pressed her hand to a door panel, causing it to part into a room that was rather large. Samus was already within, weakening AU 673′s outer hull. Alice and Arius entered the room. Yet Alice spoke to Samus in warning*

Alice: Be careful! The Aurora Unit has countermeasures for beam based weaponry!

*The extensive blast shield protecting AU 673 parted, revealing the 673′s body to have been covered in an entirely customized set of armor as she looked down at Samus, mechanical legs climbed out from the shattered canister as 673 looked down on the intruders*

AU 673: Specialist Alice, so you would side with the ones who would despise beings like us?

Alice: You sought to enslave me, yet you claimed to have sought justice.

Arius: On behalf of the Federation, we’re here to kick your ass.

AU 673: So be it.

*Shorter arms on the AU’s outer frames rose up and began to spin, causing chained beams of super heated lasers to fire down at the the trio*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Sergeant Nyx activated the arm cannon of the mech which began to fire off crude power beam shots at the pair of mercenaries as the champion’s first few shots of battlehammer rounds missed their mark. After a volley of power beam shots, one battlehammer shot hit the cockpit of the mech, causing a rather large crack to form across its casing*

Nyx: Sorry, I can’t let the two of you leave.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Sergeant Nyx appeared just down the hallway, bearing a full suit of mech armor as he viewed Weavel and the Dark Star gladiator. As he approached, the metal frame made heavy thuds with each step as an arm cannon was active on the mech’s right arm while the other had a large free hand that held Alaina’s blade*

Nyx: I’ll be damned, who knew such a ruthless gladiator would have a gorgeous face.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Alice opens her eyes to the sight of an unknown marine watching over her*

Marine: Alice, take it easy.

*Her mechanized limbs quickly lift her up into a standing position and Alice takes a defensive posture. She notices that all of her body parts had been replaced, including her eye*

Alice: Who are you?

Marine: A friend who was too late. All I can do is try to make up for it now, freeing you might help. Your current “friends” had this installed in you.

*The marine held out a shattered device which Alice recognized as a device for execution*

Marine: Lethal injection. 673 needed leverage in case she had to keep you in line.

Alice: How do I know you aren’t lying?

Marine: I have full confidence that your heightened senses can figure that one out.

*The marine was not lying, Alice had been analyzing him from the moment they had started to converse. The man was clearly a Federation soldier, yet he aided her after the battle with Weavel*

Alice: Why? I’m a machine. You have no probable cause to save me. Unless, you seek to use me like the Aurora Unit.

Marine: No, you’re a woman who scares the hell out of me but your a Federation soldier, not an aurora Unit’s pawn. I told you back on the Redeemer that I don’t leave people behind...

Alice: Redeemer....?

*Scattered thoughts of being held prisoner by the separatist marines flashed through her head. A moment where she had been shot and the same marine before her stating a similar statement about not leaving anyone behind*

Alice: Ar...Arius?

Arius: Sorry I couldn’t get to Drelion in time.

*Alice sat back down and leaned against the wall, pulling her knees up close to her while as she wrapped her arms around them. She held up one hand and inspected its entirely metal design. Her thoughts were still scattered. Two lives seemed to clashed against the other, one seeming familiar yet foreign while the other was a life she had been told to believe. The fact remained that a lethal injection device had been installed within her along with what seemed to be a pre-conceived mindset to fight against the Federation. Yet the other Alice, the one who seemed to have served the Federation was still a foreign concept. Arius seemed to note her confusion and sat down next to her against the wall. A window panel that showed off the dark sea lied before them. Alice’s emotions were still hollow along with her tones when she spoke*

Alice: You should leave.

Arius: Should but won’t.

*A hint of sadness touched Alice’s voice as she continued to stare at her metallic body while curled up against the wall*

Alice: I am a machine.

*Arius grabbed her hand, causing her to break her trance and look at him*

Arius: No, you are a warrior and you don’t quit. You don’t let yourself get backed into a wall, you break the wall. You might not remember me but I know you aren’t a machine.

*Alice pulled her hand away from Arius and stood up. Her voice was still mechanical as her thoughts drifted*

Alice: You’ll help me kill the witch?

Arius: How about we start with an Aurora Unit and work our way up to the witch?

*Alice nodded*

Alice: Acceptable.

*She picked up her sniper rifle and began to walk down the hallway with purpose yet her movements seemed mechanical. Arius stood for a moment and shook his head*

Arius: Good talk, that battle must have done a number on her. Seems like the more mechanical portion of her mind has taken over. At least it seems like she views me as a friend and not a foe...

*After a few moments of thought, Arius quickly followed after Alice*

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*Speakers in the room spoke to Samus as she traversed the facility, each one projecting 673′s voice*

AU 673: Samus Aran, it seems all of the tales promote a golden woman who stands for peace and prosperity. In truth, you fight as a simple contract killer, dealing in absolutes. You take on a persona of superiority and have no qualms destroying entire planets as collateral damage. Of course, the Federation hailing a genocidal murderer as a hero should not come to be a surprise.

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*A lone marine approached Alice’s seemlessly lifeless body, he put all of his strength into pulling Alice’s body into a chamber that was cut off to the eyes of AU 673, he had taken the window of distraction Samus caused to deactivate the cameras and move Alice since the Aurora Unit had focused on its own self preservation. He lifted Alice onto a table in the room and activated a panel nearby. A VI’s voice activated*

VI: Please use voice authentication for authorization.

*The marine activated a voice changer that altered his voice patterns as he spoke*

Marine: Sergeant Nyx.

VI: Voice recognized. Hello, Sergeant Nyx. How can I assist you? AU 673 is currently tending to unforeseen anomalies within the Okeana facility.  

Marine: I need you to scan and repair Specialist Alice.

VI: Scanning, Agent Alice has suffered severe lacerations from energy based blades along with a fractured chest infrastructure from a high focused energy projectile, likely energy match to the weapon known as the imperialist. Begin repairs? 

Marine: Yes.

*Machinery began to move from the ceilings, mechanical arms with precise lasers came down. Sparks fell to the ground as portions of Alice’s body were removed and replaced with newly mechanized components. As some of her residual flesh was exposed into the open air, the marine looked down at the ground. A special arm descended from the ceiling, it had a point at the end which stabbed into Alice’s cracked eye, it then twisted and removed the eye. A new mechanical eye was then grafted to her socket as Alice still laid motionless. Her damaged limbs were dumped down a shaft that opened up in the wall*

VI: It seems the conflict with >bounty hunter: Weavel< disabled the termination device installed in Alice, shall we reinstall a new component.

Marine: No.

VI: Sergeant Nyx, I am sorry but you do not have the proper clearance to alter Agent Alice’s design components. Please give Aurora Unit >673<’s authorization.

*Seeing as Alice’s core components had been reinstalled, the marine took out his rifle and fired upon the console, causing it to spark and explode. The machines in the room fell lifeless but the marine didn’t trust that they did not have an auxiliary control held by AU 673 so he quickly pulled Alice from the table and took her outside. As he laid her up against the wall while she was still unconscious, some separatist marines pointed their guns at him*

Separatist: We knew Sergeant Nyx wasn’t in this area, yet you used his voice authorization. Who the hell are you?

Marine: Someone who can still look himself in the mirror without seeing a traitor.

Separatist: He’s Fed, kill him.

*Turrets came down and opened fire. The separatists let out a surprised scream as the turret fire struck their backs, the marine let out a sigh of relief as they dropped to the ground*

Marine: Phew, I’m gonna have to thank 343 for that turret override... 

[galacticfederationatfacetroid]

*As Weavel pushes off of her, Alice quickly grabs her sniper rifle that still leaned against the adjacent wall to her, she planted her left foot on the ground and pushed against it to slide up as she quickly aimed and fired at Weavel’s chest since she did not have enough time to take aim to his head as his weapon was already primed with imperialist. Her sniper barrel erupted as she pressed against her heel to slide backwards on the floor, the movement was enough to dodge Weavel’s fatally intended shot to her head but the imperialist shot still managed to pierce through her left forearm and on into her own chest. Her support system went critical and all of her functions switched to life support. Her state of being went unconscious as she went into a critical condition, her energy systems entered a state of shielded stasis as she fell limp, her sniper rifle made a loud clank as it fell from her grasp*