As Axel arrived at Fort Ord, he felt butterflies in his stomach. The base had been abandoned for quite some time, yet soldiers from various backgrounds roamed the grounds, exchanging wary glances.
He noticed a rugged-looking man with a pronounced French accent, another clad in bright clothes and adorned with tattoos approaching from the Brazilian side, and a reserved but watchful fellow who introduced himself as British. Nearby stood a cheerful and friendly man from China, while a serious-looking individual with closed eyes hailed from Japan. Lastly, he spotted a man snacking on bananas from the Philippines, adding an unexpected touch of casualness to the scene.
“Looks like a melting pot here,” Axel said, extending his hand to each one.
“I’ve seen less diversity in a country fair,” joked the Brazilian
“Looks like were a bunch of reliable folks are we now. Have each other's six, yes?” said the British soldier with a firm grip.
The encounter sparkled with cautious camaraderie as they gauged each other's intent. They settled into conversations about their experiences, sharing humorous anecdotes and establishing a flicker of trust.
The Filipino operative offered a banana with a warm smile.
“I’m Kokoy, by the way.” Axel accepted the fruit, appreciating the friendly gesture.
Axel wanted to probe the man seeing how casual he was.
“What would be our object—"
[System: Please enter the building labelled as Morgue, your seats will be indicated fourth from left to right]
Before his inquiry could be answered, the system gave him a prompt, urging him to get inside a building, specifically with seven seats and a dusty table. The other men followed him as if they all received the same summons and they sat down to their designated seats, unsure of what would happen or what to expect.
The tension in the air was palpable, the recruits forming an uneasy semicircle, their bodies poised for information that could alter their destinies. Axel sat among them, every nerve in his body tingling with anticipation, when the atmosphere shifted. The lights flickered, and from the shadows, a figure began to materialize, a silhouette cloaked in black.
The Figure emerged as if reality itself had unfurled to make space for it. Clad in a suit that absorbed light rather than reflected it, the Figure presented an air of authority that silenced the murmurs of uncertainty among the group. A visor shrouded its face, but its presence was both intimidating and magnetic.
“Welcome,” it intoned, the voice rich and resonant, reverberating against the dried-up paint of the walls on the briefing room.
“You are all here chosen by the system to serve humanity. You have been chosen to intertwine your fate with the very fabric of time and space. This is not merely a mission but a calling, one that will define the future of mankind.”
The men exchanged looks of anxiety, excitement bubbling beneath the surface as the Figure paused, allowing its words to sink in. Axel felt a mixture of dread and hope. The gravity of the moment swirled around him, urging him to focus on the task ahead.
With a sweeping gesture, the Figure summoned a projection, illuminating the darkened room with images of scientists and scholars engrossed in frantic work.
“This system,” it began, “is the culmination of humanity's collective knowledge. It was forged by scientists, engineers and doctors from across the globe into what is known as the Analogue System.”
“The Analogue System is the coalesced consciousness of all past, present, and potential futures,” the Figure continued, the images shifting to scenes they’ve seen and history books and sci-fi like images that you wouldn’t believe existed.
“Its primary goal is to realign and enhance the past, pushing humanity forward. It guarantees that our present remains constantly protected while predicting future threats from multiple perspectives on all timelines.”
Axel and his peers listened intently, their minds racing to grasp both the power and responsibility embedded within the Analogue System.
“Currently,” the Figure continued, “if you are aware of the Kardashev scale, humanity hovers at the peak of Tier Three, on the cusp of attaining Tier Four. This progression, however, faces numerous threats on multiple fronts from hostile alien species attempting to impede our growth across spacetime.”
Axel felt a stirring anger at the mention of alien interference. This was more than a simple mission, it was a war for existence, a battle against those who plan to step on humanities fate.
“Your fight is not solely for survival,” the Figure stressed, its voice resonating with passion.
“It is also for our allies, alien species that benefit from a harmonious relationship with humanity. While engaging with them, we maintain our shared values, striving towards a future where coexistence reigns supreme.”
“Should you perish in the line of duty, you will not simply be lost to time,” the Figure warned, a note of gravity creeping into its tone.
“Death means you will forget your participation in our cause. You will return to a time before your service, typically a time in your childhood or early teens, and what remains will be merely the echoes of an inspirational nightmare tale to guide you toward resilience. Should you conform towards a normal life, no one will stop you or try to persuade you to come to any military force. Men, this is not a simulation, a game or a military exercise that you’ve had so far, the fate of not just a billion but all of humanity itself is on the line, all of the time past, present and future will rest in your hands.”
The men had shudders on their backs, the implications painfully clear. Failure may lead them to regressing humanity, even worse coming to an age where humanity may not even exist. He envisioned waking up in a world stripped of purpose, free of his recent memories, a return to naivety, robbed of the experiences that brought him here, or even, not existing at all.
“What you may experience here,” the Figure maintained, “will test your will to serve and protect humanity. You may see monsters that are only to be seen in your nightmares, creatures utterly grotesque you may not even see meat as food anymore, beings that you may even call gods, however, we have slain, destroyed and conquered all of this, we killed our way to we are today because, you, I and all of us worked in a united front to face the enemies. We must be inhumane to face these non-human threats.”
As the Figure spoke, the room’s digital interface expanded, detailing the capabilities of the Analogue System and its role in their missions.
"This system functions as a comprehensive storage space, designed similarly to popular MMORPGs. If you're familiar with such frameworks, navigating the interface will be intuitive. The display can manifest in your field of vision if you consciously think of the Analogue System - it will appear on your retina, which is part of your eye. If you're blind or the function of your eye is hindered, the information can still be accessed mentally. For those unfamiliar with the system, a manual is available in the lower left corner of your visual display, represented by a booklet icon."
An icon in their system started blinking, indicating what the figure in black was referring to.
“Within this interface, you will have gear slots for your current equipment, displaying damage levels and durability. Your inventory will categorize items, providing easy access to weapons, armor, mission items, rations, personal storage, and Evolutionary Specimen.”
Axel’s heart raced as the possibilities unfolded before him. Weapons and powerful tools lay at his fingertips, yet he was anxious if these things were enough for them to execute the missions.
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“The first essential firearm in your arsenal is the Pision,” the Figure continued, now showcasing a sleek, futuristic firearm resembling a sniper rifle that had a two-meter barrel. The information passed by the figure in black, now displaying on their visual displays.
[System: Weapon Information]
[Weapon Name: Pision]
[Weapon Brand: Humanity]
[Weapon Type: Mobile Long Range Ballistic Artillery]
[Weapon Operation: Analogue System Connected, Manual Physical Operation]
[Weapon Effective Range: 50 kilometers]
[Weapon Weight: 10 kilograms (22 pounds)]
[Weapon Length: 2 meters (5.56 feet)]
[Weapon Magazine: Clip type – 7 rounds capacity]
[Weapon Scope: System compatible built-in up to 500x – Can be operated through consciousness via system or via manual knob with the binocular icon.]
[Weapon Compatible Ammunition: 30mm Atomic Disintegration Controlled Plasma Ballistic Rounds, 30mm Tungsten Alloy Ballistic Rounds]
[Weapon Provisional Rounds: 1000 x 105mm Tungsten Alloy Ballistic Rounds]
[Weapon Ammunition Description: The 30mm Atomic Disintegration Controlled Plasma Ballistic Round is a self-correcting smart bullet that contains antimatter capable of perfectly obliterating any matter within its surrounding radius while maintaining its temperature within a 20-meter blast radius. This results in no debris or shrapnel that could cause friendly fire.]
[Weapon Modes: Artillery Mode, Gunlance Mode, Carry Mode]
[Weapon Mode Switching: For Analogue System switching, simply think of the mode you wish to switch to. For manual physical operation, tap for five quick, firm times with your fingers on the handle of your current weapon mode, then, it will automatically switch to the desired mode. Use your index and middle fingers for Artillery Mode, your ring and pink fingers for Gunlance Mode, and lastly, use your four fingers from the index to the pinky except the thumb for the Carry Mode. Once you've tapped, you'll hear a click that signifies your action was successful, with each click producing a distinct tone related to the chosen mode.]
[Weapon Modes General Use: Artillery mode – A mode specifically designed to target enemy positions with atomic accuracy.]
[Weapon Modes General Use: Gunlance – A melee combat mode that consumes ammunition by supercharging the tip of your lance for a piercing effect. It also has an additional function to release the charged ammunition, blasting a cone-shaped area of 20 meters in length.]
[Weapon Modes General Use: Carry mode – A mode designed for easy maneuverability, allowing the weapon to be carried like a backpack. It can even allow you to store small items inside. Be mindful not to forget your belongings inside before using for other modes!]
[Weapon Safety and Warning: This gun has recoil comparable to that of a 21st-century standard Kar-98. Each device is equipped with a smart sensor powered by AI to prevent accidental mode switching from manual or through the system. The Analogue System Connected will allow you to switch modes automatically. However, be advised that the system is not omnipresent, so practicing with this gear is paramount.]
[Weapon Description: It was specifically created to combat enormous insect creatures that could withstand molecular disintegration and had rapid regeneration properties. Made from a synthetic neutron-like substance called Celestial Alloy guaranteeing it would last a billion years.]
[Weapon History: Developed by the Earth Federation in the 2530s and inspired by the howitzers and lances of medieval knights, this firearm was designed to be light, compact, and durable for early space exploration on Proxima Centauri B. Humanity, not wanting to destroy the environment of the first habitable planet it conquered with nuclear weapons, opted for a weapon that could create small pockets of highly accurate explosions without any harmful radiation that could make the environment uninhabitable. After millennia of constant improvement, it is still commissioned by our spacetime operatives on multiple scenarios and battlefronts.]
[Weapon Attachment: (Currently Unavailable)]
“The next weapon is designated as the Winston, a compact railgun that offers versatility for a range of combat scenarios,” the Figure continued to explain, now displaying the weapon resembling a high-tech sub machine gun with a barrel of about half a meter on their screen displays.
[System: Weapon Information]
[Weapon Name: Winston]
[Weapon Brand: Humanity]
[Weapon Type: Versatile Firearm]
[Weapon Operation: Analogue System Connected, Manual Physical Operation]
[Weapon Effective Range: 15 kilometers]
[Weapon Weight: 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds)]
[Weapon Length: 0.5 meters (5.56 feet)]
[Weapon Magazine: Drum type – 150 rounds capacity]
[Weapon Scope: System compatible built-in up to 250x – Can be operated through consciousness via system or via manual knob with the binocular icon.]
[Weapon Compatible Ammunition: 5.56x45mm Molecular Disintegration Controlled Plasma Rounds, 5.56x45mm Tungsten Alloy Rounds, 5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington]
[Weapon Provisional Rounds: 100,000 x 5.56x45mm Tungsten Alloy Rounds]
[Weapon Ammunition Description: The 5.56x45mm Molecular Disintegration Controlled Plasma Round is a self-correcting smart bullet that contains a minuscule amount of antimatter, capable of perfectly obliterating any molecule and leaving only its basic atoms behind within the surrounding radius. Moreover, it maintains its temperature within a one-meter blast radius, resulting in no debris or shrapnel that could cause friendly fire.]
[Weapon Modes: Rapid-fire Mode, Knife mode, Sword Mode, Space Propulsion Mode]
[Weapon Mode Switching: For Analogue System switching, simply think of the mode you wish to switch to. For manual physical operation, tap for five quick, firm times with your fingers on the handle of your current weapon mode, then, it will automatically switch to the desired mode. Use your index finger for Gun Mode, your middle finger for Knife Mode, your ring finger for Sword Mode, and your pinky finger for Space Propulsion Mode. Once you've tapped, you'll hear a click that signifies your action was successful, with each click producing a distinct tone related to the chosen mode.]
[Weapon Modes General Use: Firing Mode – A mode specifically made for shooting, sniping or doing an offensive barrage, an option of single fire to multiple fire is available for customization. To adjust these options, you can use your consciousness if the system is present, or you can turn a gear the safety gear on the left for one to 150 depending on your preference.]
[Weapon Modes General Use: Blade Mode – This mode converts your weapon into a knife with arm support. An internal mechanism secures the arm support to your forearm and torso. The barrel acts as the handle, while a hidden blade deploys from the stock, with the barrel magazine serving as a guard. Your gun's ammunition charges the blade's molecular disintegration feature, which lasts one minute per round. By shaking it for three seconds you can activate the blade charge, making the blade emits a blue hue. The blade charge feature can also be activated using Analogue System for instant activation.
[Weapon Modes General Use: Sword Mode – This melee mode is for situations where modern weapons are restricted due to spacetime constraint. The whole gun mechanism can fluidly assimilate all its components to the blade. The blade's curvature can be adjusted to your preference by turning gear near the handle under the rain guard. Turn the pummel left for a shorter blade and right for a longer one, this can become three meters long or up to half a meter in length. Using Analogue System to make more accurate adjustments is also available.]
[Weapon Modes General Use: Space Propulsion Mode – This feature provides powerful thrust for rapid space maneuvering. Only manual operation is available in this mode. Using one to nine rounds, it can propel a 20-ton mass to 100 kilometers per second and execute tactical turns of up to 15 degrees. It adjusts descent and enables quick ascents from 150 meters to 10 kilometers under Earth's gravity. In this mode, the barrel will widen, igniting the round for thrust. Do not use this mode as a shotgun!]
[Weapon Caution: Professional training is recommended before using Space Propulsion mode in gravitational environments. It is highly advisable to enable your All Cloak capabilities while using this feature if you are unaccustomed to extreme G-forces.]
[Weapon Safety and Warning: This gun has recoil comparable to that of a 21st-century mobile phone. Each device is equipped with a smart sensor powered by AI to prevent accidental mode switching from manual or through the system. The smart sensor AI also ensures that your manual operations remain consistent with your selected mode by preventing the knobs from twisting or turning under any circumstances. The Analogue System Connected will allow you to switch modes automatically. However, be advised that the system is not omnipresent, so practicing with this gear is paramount. The disassembly feature is currently unavailable.]
[Weapon Description: Originally inspired by the design principles of various firearms, including the low recoil of the AR-15, the high fire rate of the M134 Minigun, the compact design of the Uzi, and the magazine capacity of the Thompson, this weapon boasts exceptional versatility, accuracy, and portability. The firearm's exterior is made up of Celestial Alloy while inside it is comprised of Carbon Nanomachines to support its almost negligible recoil and perfect assimilation to any shape. Your millionth-generation descendant could potentially inherit this versatile firearm without with a big smile.]
[Weapon History: Developed by the Earth Federation in the 2210s for use during the Europa Lunar Exploration, this firearm was created in response to the discovery of extraterrestrial life at the time. These extraterrestrial creatures ranged from highly intelligent nomadic tribes to primitive life forms with primal instincts. Awarded the Humanity Best Weapon Award in the 2520s to up to the distant future as voted by the spacetime operatives, this firearm has undergone significant improvements over the years, evolving into its current form.]
[Weapon Attachment: (Currently Unavailable)]
A collective gasp reverberated through the briefing hall. The soldiers were so captivated by the weapon’s capabilities that one of the men, Kokoy, stood up and gave a standing ovation.
‘Who would have thought that guns could make flight into space possible?’ all the men present thought.
"For now, all of you have sufficient paratrooping skills for Space Propulsion as deemed by the system. You are not required to use Gravity Propulsion in your current mission, so you don’t need to use it." Said, while letting them have a moment of revelry.
