//------------------------------//
// Interlude 
// Story: Query 
// by ShadowRazer2121 
//------------------------------//

A bipedal figure walked through the many corridors that made up the Cauldron. However, this wasn't an ordinary cauldron like the ones found back on Earth. No, these were more so Foundries or storage facilities. To them, it was both. As they roamed the endless hallways that made up the foundry. As they walked they came upon a door that had been sealed shut. With a turn, they walked to a console that was off to the side and moved their hand over it as blue wires connected to the console a sound was heard as the door unlocked and opened. To reveal the cauldron core as it worked away at making machines that would ultimately never see active use until the Aloy was successful in her mission, whether she knew of it or not. She had to succeed the fate of this world depended on her actions. They watched as another rack of burrowers was taken away into storage until they were needed. Cauldrons could always keep stores of machines in case of extreme circumstances. Like a flame-headed girl excessively defeating machines just for trade or to make ammunition for her weapons. 

With a shake of their head, they continued down the corridor that was off to the side and up an elevator that connected to a control room overlooking the central chamber as well as other parts of the underground cavity that made up this portion of the cauldron. They needed to buy enough time for the Savior to arrive and unlock the door before the extinction protocol did. For there is no telling what plans laid and wait for this world If he were to succeed. Their metallic tail twitched as a small metal hawk flew in and landed on their shoulder and a display appeared in front of them showing a recording of the extinction protocol making his way out of the building that he had entered a couple of hours earlier. With a highlight over the bags that adorned his back that showed the override tool was partly damaged. If he could breathe they would sigh in relief. With a damaged override tool, the extinction protocol would most likely be unable to breach the foundry's doors security protocols, and firewall systems Giving them more time to work with. They felt that their intervention would soon be required. As much as they hoped for it not to be required, they felt it may come to it.

With much on their mind, they hurried back to the monitoring station for the outside world. They knew that they had to do everything in their power to stop or at most slow the extinction protocol's progress. As they approached the console they saw a display and quickly went to activate the production protocols. Suddenly a prompt appeared. As they stared at the prompt which read out. 

Production Protocols Established...

Please enter your name and rank....

They hesitated for a moment before entering the name and the rank that was a secret kept from those whom remained on earth not knowing of the original intention for the portal and the true purpose of the Eden Project. They closed their eyes and began inserting their credentials.

Name: Unit R3D-0811

Rank: Zeta Prime...