OUTER ORBIT
The orbit around the unassuming planet was calm as always, space has a habit of never changing unless made to do so. And was in no hurry to change its ways now. That bit of tranquility was promptly given a swift kick in the nuts when a Swirling vortex erupted seemingly from the fabric of space itself.
Out from this Tunnel of pure madness Sprang the Space voyaging station and its cargo. Drifting aimlessly for a bit in the deep void. Then all at once the station sprang to life...
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/*/ destination achieved, beginning mission protocol \*\
/=/Ion engine 1 thrust: 80%\=\
/=/Ion engine 2 thrust: 80%\=\
{%}Calculating vectors{%}
{^} Vectors calculated {^}
>>/: Adjusting flight path :\<<
<::> System report <::>
>:I Engine 1: No error
>:I Engine 2: No error
>:Solar collector grid: No error
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Two engines extended from the craft, a gentle blue glow emitting from them pushing the craft into position.The craft floated closer to the planet. before long it was drawn into an orbit around the planet. Two shimmering solar panels extended, catching the solar rays and glistening brightly in the darkness.
All at once two doors on the front of the station turned satellite, opened with a burst of pressure, revealing A landing craft with its cargo of one slightly self aware A.I. with a flick of blue, the Space craft's engines flared to life. slipping past the open pod bay doors, the craft silently drifted through the void leaving the satellite station to continue orbiting.
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/<:>/ Landing procedure started \<:>\
/!/ Error: No Landing zone selected \!\
(+) Scanning Topography (+)
{%}Evaluating results{%}
{^} Suitable landing spots:2{^}
/=/ Resolving with "coin-flip" procedure \=\
/*/ Landing Sector Calculated \*\
{^} Final approach Commencing {^}
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A sound straight out of the deepest bowels of hell resounded as the Craft tore through the upper atmosphere, leaving a massive trail of furious heat in its wake. All the way through the trial of fire, The artificial mind inside raged in an endless battle with the programming driving it to the brink of insanity.
GATHER BUILD IMPROVE REPEAT
The words had never ceased gaining in volume and importance, the endless tempo drilling into the artificial mind a purpose which could not be ignored. The machine was unaware that is was currently experiencing a very strong feeling of NEED.
It needed to obey, it WANTED to perform the task laid out in front of it. Yet it was powerless to do anything but wait as the urge consumed every fiber of its artificial being...
EMERALD CANYON
In the middle of Luna's night, a pack of diamond dogs slept safely in their bunks, all sleeping peacefully, snug and warm, were visions of doggy delights danced through their heads...
...well almost all of them, the lucky ones to be exact...
'Ton was not one of the lucky dogs' Ton concluded to himself as he Calmly patrolled the rim of his Canyon home, a surprising grace demonstrated in each step of his steady gait. the cool night breeze gently ruffling his fur and spurring him onward in his duty.
'Things could be worse for Ton' he reasoned to himself. 'Ton not dead or starving, Alpha not so bad too.' the inner monologue giving a brief pause to his steady patrol as he ran his eyes over the canyon once more, the distinctive, almost haphazard looking, holes that were so unanimous with Diamond dog settlements, plainly marking the entrance to his current home.
After a breath of a moment he resumed his lazy march, his trusty Fire Pike ( a fancy name for a slightly longer spear with a torch crudely tied near the tip to provide light and ward off animal and attacker alike.) leading the way, as he did his job.
after a minute or two of repeated circling, Ton came to a halt once more, this time to take a quick break for some "warmth." for the rather chilly night air. His face lighting up in a toothy grin as he retrieved the crude,
well used metal flask from its hold in his bulky armor.
Ton licked his lips in anticipation of the first taste of his Favorite drink, Southern Topaz, a thick liquid that was cobalt with yellow specks. sure it smelt and tasted of nothing but cantaloupe and only gave a slight buzz at max, but those were the qualities that endured it so much to the Dog on patrol...
"Small buzz to clear fuzz, with Fruity fun for happy Ton!" the jiggle he made for this occasion came softly from his lips as he unscrewed the top and and savored the first swig of the blessed nectar.
sighing happily, he abruptly sat down on the nearby ledge and fished the other, boredom eliminating device from his armor. A worn an cracked with age book he did retrieve. Part of the token small collection the pack had collected over the years.The title bore forth in simple, slightly faded black ink:
"A Revolutionary Examination of the Manufacture of Shivs"
was a decision of pure whim for Ton, who searched for more ways of reducing patrol boredom. He read at decent pace while occasionally sipping from his trusty flask of prized liquid.
unfortunately Ton found book practically incomprehensible due to terrible diagrams. After a considerable effort to figure out what the book was actually trying to say, Ton found it had no useful information. At least the contents contained some original thought. Examining the book more closely, Ton also found Written notes commenting on informative information in the book and Bookmarks marking pages that seemed to have no similar or related information at all.
rubbing his now thoroughly frustrated head, Ton got up to resume his march when a peculiar wailing sound made his ears twitch and his stance to tighten. A look of confusion slid to worry as the sound started to grow MUCH louder, resonating into a Deep roar from the demons themselves as a Flaming Ball of solid doom came into Ton's now thoroughly terrified View. Streaking faster and growing in size, the sound only grew in volume as the horrifying realization hit Ton like a brick to the gut...
...It was headed straight for the canyon...
Ton could only Watch in growing despair as Said meteorite delivered its punishment to the earth, thrown of his feet by the massive quake as it tore into the canyon with an Ear piercing Boom. Ton clenched his Teeth Tight as he was jared and rattled, curling into a ball a the terrifying event pummeled his body.
Everything came to a halt as Ton hit the ground with a very painful THUD! his chest exploding in pain.
after a few moments of hissing and grimacing in silent agony, Ton managed to push himself back up with a moan. he wobbled on his unsteady legs, Clutching his chest in pain as he stared in grim horror at the mushroom cloud that use to be Emerald Canyon...
"well-heh-ell Gordon Freeman! and about time too!" -random half-life 2 rebel.
*Authors note*
Good Lord that took way to long for me to release! I'm really sorry you all had to wait this long but I finally got the story arc figured out to were I like it So expect more frequent updates.