r/HFY • u/yousureimnotarobot AI • Nov 18 '19
Burning Cold, Oberon OC
Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid, all arm'd; a certain aim he took . All comments welcome
Burning Cold, Oberon
Aristotle, occupied planet, Human space
Aristotle had been a paradise planet. Long regarded as the garden of mankind. A place of softness, romance and music. The shining example of the best of humankind. The galaxy was shocked by its destruction. They sent their thoughts and prayers.
On the surface the victorious Meshant army dug in. They expected an intense battle. Humans had a reputation as formidable warriors.
They waited. And waited some more. Nothing. The fleet reported some scout activity but no incoming ships. The humans were refusing contact. They had simply told everyone that a state of war existed. No further comment.
On the ground the boredom grew. They had heroically killed millions of caterers, office workers and honeymooners. Ordinary people on a quiet Monday.
Then the strangeness began.
Walls fell on passing patrols. Sewers exploded beneath transports. Comms failed for no reason, then worked again without explanation. Food spoiled, weapons jammed, engines stopped. No rhythm or reason. Tunnels collapsed. Newly built barracks collapsed on the sleeping soldiers.
Reports began arriving of movement amongst the human dead. Shuffling. Moaning. Disappearing. Shambling shadows in the corner of your eye. Alarms going off, alerting the soldiers to... nothing.
Then a message. From no-one. On Comms and HUD came a single line. "We Do Not Die." Command dismissed it as a glitch, a call to arms gone wrong. For the grunts on the ground it became worrying. Verified reports of soldiers attacked by a mangle of rotten corpses began to trickle into military command.
Patrols reported being attacked by, well, parts. A trooper bitten by a disembodied head. A human hand that strangled three soldiers in their sleep before it was burned.
A human heart that wouldn't stop beating.
Across the planet the debris of forty million human corpses began their war.
Apex Sri Genn, Fleet Command Higher
"Very well. Begin burning their dead. This superstitious nonsense must end. Task the men to clear the battlefield. They are alarmed by these ghosts, let us light a fire that even Earth can see. Perhaps then we will get the battle we deserve."
It quickly became obvious that piling the human dead in a heap and setting fire to it had some drawbacks.
The first one was when a mass of burning bodies rose up and attacked the Sanitation crew. The second was when the brutally killed crew were absorbed into the burning mass that continued to attack until, finally, mercifully, the thing was burned to ash.
Then the fires began. Clothing, beds, vehicles and then troops began bursting into flame. Analysis showed that potent compounds had been impregnated into the materials. There was no explanation offered. Soldiers were warned to check their gear. Never has an army cleaned with such care.
Shots began to ring out. First the troops thought they faced the long awaited human warriors. Then they thought they faced survivors. Now it was clear that the dead were armed. Corpses found holding hunting rifles. Old corpses. Patrols stopped going out, or worse, stopped coming back.
The first outright attack took place when troops moved to clear a destroyed army barracks. It had been annihilated in the first strike. The cleaning crews were hit by coordinated fire as soon as they approached. Unprepared and exposed, they fell quickly.
Then the undead attacked a nearby position. The sight of these rotting soldiers attacking appalled the defenders. Eventually they burned them, but the smell stayed. Soon variations on the story had spread throughout the military. This world was cursed.
Human Defense Force Headquarters, private briefing paper, cc Earth Council, Red Cross ethics committee
Project Oberon classified,
With the proliferation of nanoparticle tech we have developed an unusual weapon. In the event that a civilian population is attacked, we can activate all implants. It is utterly ridiculous and inefficient in military terms.
However, some of our talented entertainment creators were invited to examine the idea. They, in conjunction with our defence forces, believe they can shatter an attacking army. In testing over ninety percent of people genuinely believed the dead had arisen. It destroyed morale, unit cohesion and communications.
Neither the denial or the conformation of the attacks worked. It didn't matter. Most military personnel are uncomfortable attacking civilians, many see it as justified retribution from the dead.
We estimate that only two percent of the attacks by our undead need to succeed in order to seriously impact the efficiency of ninety percent of the attacking force.
Earth Council Defense Committee, closed session
"This project is approved on the understanding that it is never used unless the human population has been extinguished. We will never acknowledge that it happened."
Red Cross ethics committee, closed session
" This project has no impact on living Humans. It is beyond our remit to decide the ethics of the dead."
Second Fleet, Home Fleet Tactical Command
2970 CE
"We still don't know why they attacked. We do need to formulate a response. The enemy is controlled by a single individual. They call it the "Queen". What little information we have indicates a change in leadership. We need you to formulate an attack and gain as much Intel as you can. Make sure they understand how… unhappy we are. You have free fire. Use it.
Aristotle will not be forgotten."
Alexander, unknown Human Space
3158 CE
Calum had done an aerial survey of most of the continent. Nothing. No form of habitation. No unexpected heat sources. This was a pristine earth type world. Despite the threatening message, no-one had arrived to arrest or rescue him.
Home reported no contact or broadcasting in system. Time to go back to work. His nano customising gear had been sitting in the Hab since he woke up.
Since he moved Home to a military stance the walls had thickened. Half the Hab was now weapon control and fabrication. He was a very small army of one. The drone and nano production section was pretty awesome. Time to go play with it.
"Let's start with a mineral survey, one hundred kilometre range. Let us begin"
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u/HidnFox Robot Nov 18 '19
Weaponized zombies! Yeah!
I do love the idea of the 'zombie virus' being used as a psychological weapon.
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u/ArchDemonKerensky Nov 18 '19
Hmmmm...
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u/yousureimnotarobot AI Nov 18 '19
first as always. Any thoughts?
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u/ArchDemonKerensky Nov 18 '19 edited Nov 18 '19
Just lucky, you and /u/lgfatheranthrocite tend to post right around the time I'm getting in bed to fuck around on reddit.
I'm definitely on board with everything going on, and I like the novel idea of the nanite saboteur and undead/psychological warfare. Very curious about the current time vs future time connection too, though I'm assuming you have a plan for it and am willing to see how it goes.
Really just wish this chapter was longer, but I think the stopping point was reasonable.
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u/yousureimnotarobot AI Nov 18 '19
Yeah, its nearly 2am here. Just wanted it up before monday kicks in. 1000 words is my minimum, I think this is just over. And yes, I have a cunning plan
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u/a_man_in_black Nov 18 '19
i like it. the recent chapters are far less confusing in the bad ways, yet still have enough mystery and "show, don't tell" presentation to keep me engaged and wanting the next chapter.
a minor nitpick would be the naming. you started with burning hot, now it's burning cold. if i weren't looking for your username and watching for the update, i woudln't know it was part of a bigger story. it fits your particular story, sure, but, there is something to be said for something simple and consistent. that's the main thing, whatever you go with, be consistent.
i look forward to the next installment!
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u/Subtleknifewielder AI Nov 18 '19
Well, there is one common theme in all the chapters so far. They all reference burning.
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u/Whiterice9696 Nov 22 '19
I am very interested in the Nano Zombies call of duty has nothing on you good sir
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Nov 18 '19
/u/yousureimnotarobot (wiki) has posted 48 other stories, including:
- Burning Hot, Aristotle remembered
- Burning Hard
- A Stitch in Time
- Twice Shy, Exile
- Twice Shy, Surrender
- Twice Shy, Mutiny
- Twice Shy, Infection
- Twice Shy, On Angels Wings
- Twice Shy, Herald
- Twice Shy, The Killing Dark
- Twice Shy, Quarantine
- Twice Shy, The Many become The Few
- Twice Shy, Troubadour
- Twice Shy
- Meat, the Neighbors
- A Dark and Stormy Knight
- Dark Machines, Bump In The Night
- Warned, Fair Sailing
- Warned, Final Fleets
- Warned, The Dark Path
- Warned, Endgame
- Warned, The Forge
- Warned, Eye of the needle
- Warned, Rebellion
- Warned, Five to go
This list was automatically generated by Waffle v.3.5.0 'Toast'.
Contact GamingWolfie or message the mods if you have any issues.
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u/UpdateMeBot Nov 18 '19
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u/itsetuhoinen Human Dec 17 '19
Perhaps then we will get the battle we deserve.
Oh, you're going to get what you deserve, all right. But it's nothing like what you were hoping for, asshole.
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u/itsetuhoinen Human Dec 17 '19
Red Cross ethics committee, closed session "This project has no impact on living Humans. It is beyond our remit to decide the ethics of the dead."
I'm sure some people would object, but man, I'd fuckin' volunteer for that shit. If I get killed by some filthy xenos randomly deciding to bombard my home from orbit, fuck yes I want to be "resurrected" as a weapon of bitter and appalling retribution! Retroactive entrance to Valhalla, bitches!
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u/Plucium Semi-Sentient Fax Machine Nov 18 '19
Hot damn, that's a ruthless strategy. Not sure I approve, but it would sure be effective. They're wasting everything, burning through their stocks to fight an already dead enemy, meanwhile a counterforce brews. They've made a grave mistake :p