Cambridge Stellar Research, Surveillance Mission #4

[Tenseiken]

When the drone reached the facility the software modifications were complete. X-ATM092 deactivated the installed VI and took direct control
of the floating robot.
A visual transmission was sent to the control room of the Equinox and showed everything the drone saw.
The closer it got to the facility the more detection signals it picked up.
More and more defense units activated themselves deep within the planet.
Once the drone reached the entrance to the building it started transmitting the signal that kept the drones from attacking each other.
It passed through the room with the corpses and flew through the hatch where it entered a long tube, leading downwards.
Security units entered and exited it through little holes in the wall, their communication signals created a continuous humming sound.
When it finally reached the ground it stopped above a platform which must have been an elevator long ago.
Leading away from the platform there were 6 different corridors, leading into different directions.
The drone turned 120 degree and moved onwards.

The walls were of a brownish tone and most edges were rounded. The light was dimm and flickered, as if it wasn't created by electricity.
Security drones patroled the entire area but they ignored the small little robot flying amongst them.
After about fiveteen minutes of travelling through the underground facility a strange sound could be heard, comming from the lamps.
Even though it sounded awefully strange it had some kind of melody in it, like in music or language.

Video Transmission

Suddenly everything became quiet. More quiet than before. The security drones stopped where they were. They didn't emmit a signal anymore.
The silence lasted for half a second, then the drones started to move again.
The signals could be heard once more, however, they were different from before.
The drone near the robot suddenly faced it and started firing.
X-ATM092 calculated the new situation and moved the robot upwards.
The diamond drill started to dig into the ceiling and opened a path to the vent system.
Once it passed through the hole it started to emmit heat, melting and sealing the entrance behind it.
The damage dealt to the robot was insignificant, however the claw tool would have to be repaired.
Also the security units would now search for it. The time window was closing.

The ventilation system was filled with furious winds, pushing the drone's stabilizers to the maximum.
X-ATM092 carefully moved the machine through the whirling air currents and went on.

Video Transmission

From time to time the robot passed huge ventilators which blew the fresh air into the corridors.
After about half an hour it came close to the control room. In the meantime more and more signals had popped up.
The ventilator which led into the control room didn't move. The closer the robot came the more details could be seen.
A human skelleton blocked it, it's chest ripped apart by the vent blades.
X-ATM092 ordered the drone to take a few scans and moved on, downwards into the control room of the facility.
The main control interface of the facility was about 35 meters away from the entrance to the vent system and the room was swarming with drones.
Inside the large room there were different kinds of defense units. Lots of small drones, some smaller defense mechs and a large, spider-like metallic unit.
There was only one chance. X-ATm092 activated the overclock function. The hardware started to heat up really quick and the drone dropped into the room.

It took 1/16 of a second for the defense drones to react.

30 meters.

The smaller drones truned towards the robot and the mechs started moving.

20 meters.

The defense units opened fire and the mechs rushed towards the control interface.

10 meters.

The bullets penetrated multiple parts of the hull and destroyed the internal systems. The hardware started to overheat at an amazing rate.

0 meters.

The drone reached the interface and managed to touch a single button with the drill.

At that moment the spider mech reached the robot and the last thing to be seen was a gigantic scythe, rushing towards the small drone.

Video Transmission

Down on the planet a gigantic hatch started to open on the surface, reveiling a partially destroyed docking hangar.

One second later all the screens on the equinox went black except for the main screen. Neither was there an alert, nor did the power cut off.
A green sign appeared on the main screen. Surprised shouts and screams could be heard as the light went off.

The doors of the docking bay opened and closed again and the controls became normal once more, except for the main screen.
It now showed what the AICD saw through it's main camera.

The Xaror had left the Equinox and initiated the orbital dive.

Down on the planet a hatch slowly opened and the AICD rushed towards it. Unlike normal the AICD didn't slow down as it came closer the the surface.
The Xaror reactivated the main systems and powered the weapon system.
It would take the planetary defense system 15.6 seconds to aim and fire.
The AICD would reach its destination in 14.9 seconds. Everything went as planned.

It fell right into the docking bay and emitted a cloud of ion particles from the engine.
Time seemed to freeze on the screen for about three seconds and the Xaror stopped falling.
It overclocked it's systems and the screen on the Equinox went black.

Down on the planet a gigantic ion shockwave rushed over the surface, leaving the facility and the surroundings untouched.
However all the signals of the defense drones were wiped out in an instant.

After some seconds the main screen in the control room of the Equinox showed the green sign again.

~This is a recorded message from the AICD OS X-ATM092~
~The AICD will enter the facility and release a shockwave that will deactivate all the security drones permanently~
~Please do not land on the planet for 72 hours. The area will be contaminated with ion particles for three days~
~The AICD will remain operational, yet unable to move as it will release 45% of the ion particles from it's powercore~
~According to my calculations the drone should remain undamaged~
~However it will be necessary to move it to open space and direct it into an ion storm in order to recharge the powercore~
~X-ATM092 out~

After that the screen again showed what the Xaror saw.
An inactive, heavily damaged mech could be seen.

Video Transmission

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<span style="font-family:Lucida Console"><span style="color:#33CC00">*personality core activated*</span>
Science consists of stating the obvious and linking the facts. </span>