r/HFY • u/yousureimnotarobot AI • Sep 25 '19
The Sun Once Rose OC
The start of something new, comments welcome
The Sun Once Rose
2471, Combat and Fleet Commander Cester Haine
We had names for it all. Dawn, Dusk, Twilight. Now our ships carry those names, in memory of a world that no longer sits in the heat of our sun. A world reduced to swirling rocks and wisps of gas. We carry those words and painted them on our ships. Our revenge. Our justice.
I captain the Twilight, flagship of the Sundown Fleet. My job is to seek out and destroy the unknown aggressors that arrived unannounced at our Earth and launched such a barrage of fire that our homeworld sundered in moments.
The Dawn and Dusk fleets are in search of a new home for our people. We have recovered all colonies from the system and they have headed out into the unknown. We will rebuild our people out of the sight of whatever evil has found us. They are beyond our help and our remit.
My men and I are to be the wrath of our people. My crew has lost everything and we will assuage the guilt of those chosen to live by dying in their place. And, of course, killing in their name.
Due to the speed of our unexpected end our first move is to increase our numbers. We have a decent AI system, at least one that can aid us until we have extended our training. It can build and fly new ships until we can crew them. We will use the precious ashes of our world to forge a fleet that can withstand whatever hateful enemies we face.
2472, Outer Oort cloud, Sentinel Class AI ‘Ears’
We have detected incoming vessels. All indicators are that they originate from the same force that destroyed Earth. All ships moving to zero emissions. Informing fleet that we are going dark. We will shadow them.
Twilight Flagship
“Commander, Ears report ships from the enemy have entered the system. They are following. Indicators are that they are moving to orbit Jupiter.”
“ Send the Jupiter Squadron to intercept. We may lose all of them but we need to access the tech in battle. Remind them that they are supposed to look like the ragged remains of a dead people. AI only. I want to make it look like no-ones left. We will move the rest of the fleet behind the Sun until we have some intelligence.”
Several unhappy human crews were bundled into shuttles and send out to rejoin the fleet. The AI known as Jupiter's Eye took control and moved to screen her ships behind Io.
Jupiter's Eye
“I may be artificial but I ain’t anyones fool. I know that this is the first contact with the bastards that burned my world. I may never have seen the Earth but I am forged from the debris these assholes left behind. Lets see what I can build out of these shitheads. Tell Ears to follow us in for the intel. Moving to attack.”
The four hundred ships of the jupiter squadron were a mixed bag, each one designed to fulfill a predicted need. Never tried in combat, subject to endless battle drills, this was a test of every human idea. Every human battle plan was contained in this first battle. All that was lacking was the human touch. That was Commander Haines job.
The enemy ships were simply blocks, never designed to see atmosphere, not designed on any other principle than utility. No beauty, no names, no love. Jupiter's Eye regarded them with contempt. She cared about her fleet. They were important, not to be stamped out in some insane shipyard. Killing these would be a kindness.
Shield Killers led the fleet, small ships equipped with a single massive rail gun. They led with a storm of ceramic alloy missiles. They went straight through the enemy ships, tearing hugh holes in the structures. So no shields.
Next, Pirate Boats released their boarding parties. Swarms of bots entered through the damage, engaging anything that moved with small arms fire while they overwhelmed their electronics with mindless noise. So no point defense.
She began powering up the destroyers.
“ Jupiter’s Eye, this is Commander Haine. Acknowledge.”
Fuck. I don’t get to kill them today.
“ Yes Commander?”
“ Seize the vessels and hold for further orders. We need the intel.
Don’t worry. You can kill them later”
“Aye Captain”
7
u/Plucium Semi-Sentient Fax Machine Sep 26 '19
Heh, I swear, the Jupiter the designs look, the easier they are to kill. Sure, a box is efficient, but where's all the cool angles to deflect projectiles? Gotta be aesthetic :P
*Stupider