Venturia
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"General, we noticed something abnormal on Terraluna," the chief security secretary said as he placed thick stacks of paper in front of General Stenz.
"Hmm, after the last system breach, I ordered financial institutes to be managed manually on Terraluna. I also disconnected central network connections and added 50 layers of firewalls to prevent Earthlings from accessing our AI. So, what's new, and what have you found out?" General Stenz inquired.
"Sir, your foresight was correct. The breach originated from Terraluna. We had kept one channel open from Terraluna, which hadn't been used by anyone for the last 50 years since Solar War IV. We found that the channel's firewalls were compromised easily. Additionally, we discovered malware installed in the channel, which our tech team is still investigating. Professor Gill even brought the best talents to examine the matter himself. From his tone, it seems that this malware is a new type of code that could revolutionize the tech world. Anyway, following your orders, we checked all the satellite footage of Earth and noticed abnormalities in a town called Anachronistic Town, which falls under the 3rd Federation command."
The general's expression darkened. "What abnormalities did you find?"
"Sir, you might want to look at these pictures," the secretary said, showing him a few images. In one, a piece of land appeared to be completely flattened and empty. In another, there was a dark metallic fortress with its top flattened, resembling a nuclear bunker made of steel, surrounded by thick cement walls, almost like a medieval castle. Both pictures depicted vast lands devoid of any human presence.
General Stenz became increasingly puzzled. "What is happening here?"
The secretary then presented two more pictures. In one, a scrapyard was evident, along with some native inhabitants living nearby. In the other, there was a densely populated area with various types of buildings.
The secretary continued, "Sir, these two places are Lost Enclave and Outlaw Heaven. These pictures were taken two months ago. However, the two pictures I showed you earlier are very recent. A total of 22,642 people have gone missing from these two places. Additionally, this metallic fortress is a significant anomaly, as no other satellites can approach this area. All satellites begin to malfunction when they cross this region. The local government deployed multiple police forces, and all of them went missing mysteriously. The mayor of Anachronistic Town has declared a red alert in this area, sealing all the paths leading to it, and has requested backup from the Third Federation."
General Stenz's expression shifted from confusion to deep concern as he processed the gravity of the situation.
The general requested his AI to connect him with the leader of the Third Federation, Herbert Farnsworth. After a brief pause, Herbert answered the call, appearing to be in the midst of a meeting. He greeted the general, "General Stenz, long time no see. I apologize for not being able to attend your wedding." The general swiftly transitioned to the matter at hand, avoiding the topic of the wedding. "Herbert, what are your thoughts on Anachronistic Town?"
Herbert's face darkened, and the commotion in the background of his call grew louder. He tapped the table, visibly troubled. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and began to speak, "So, the word has reached your ears, I see. Yes, we are having a meeting regarding this matter. We do have some intelligence on the situation." General Stenz straightened his posture, locking eyes with Herbert through the projection call. Having severed the connection between Terraluna and the Solar System, not much information was available. Venturia had taken over the responsibility of protecting Terraluna, resulting in the need for the five Terraluna Federations to respond to Venturia's government. As the highest-ranking commander, Stenz held the authority to intervene in this matter. However, he was concerned because his field agents had failed to provide sufficient data, leaving him reliant on the federations for updates on the current situation. Stenz felt a growing sense of unease.
"Leader Herbert, please share the latest intelligence with me," Stenz requested. Herbert sighed once more and began recounting recent events.
"A month ago, one of the gang leaders in Outlaw Heaven declared a gang war. Initially, the authorities didn't pay much attention to it. However, over time, a figure named Rex took control of the entire Outlaw Heaven with his gang. Many smaller gangs joined him during his conquest. The officials attempted to contact Rex multiple times, but all they received were negative responses. In response, the mayor deployed his strongest SWAT team to handle the situation. However, all team members were killed by a mysterious robot, and all the bodies, as well as their belongings, were taken away, leaving no trace at the scene.
"As Rex conquered the entire Outlaw Heaven, a more perplexing situation unfolded. He began trafficking people to a place within Lost Enclave, drawing attention to that area. The place where Rex transported people was enigmatic, with a living wall that would consume the nearest buildings. This wall possessed a suction force that gradually absorbed the surrounding structures. The locals evacuated Lost Enclave as the situation worsened, and the area turned into a steel fortress, devouring everything in its path. One day, 500 robots in various forms emerged from that fortress, kidnapping people from Outlaw Heaven in broad daylight. A spaceship also emerged and transported people away.
"As soon as the Third Federation learned of this, we dispatched three armies and 20 space ships. However, the results were shocking. Once the ships approached Outlaw Heaven, their directions were forcibly altered toward Lost Enclave, where all 20 space ships were absorbed by that fortress. In the span of a single day, all life in Outlaw Heaven vanished. The following day, all the buildings and belongings of Outlaw Heaven disappeared as well. Even the coal mine located in Outlaw Heaven was cleaned out. Currently, we are sending Major Xaden to investigate this matter. We are debating how many space ships and personnel should accompany him to ensure his safety." Herbert concluded his report, looking at General Stenz for his response.
General Stenz's face shifted through various shades, reflecting the unusual and mysterious nature of the situation. He found himself at a loss for words. The unfolding events seemed like a script from a science fiction movie, but this was the harsh reality. Herbert's tone had been serious, indicating that he wasn't joking or attempting to deceive Stenz. Furthermore, Stenz's own system had been breached not long ago, making the situation even more unsettling.
General Stenz rose from his chair, pacing in the middle of the room, lost in thought. Herbert and the others remained in a tense silence, waiting for Stenz's response. The room grew eerily quiet as Stenz contemplated the gravity of the situation.
Finally, Stenz returned to stand in front of the projection call. He addressed Herbert with a sense of urgency, "Herbert, mobilize all AI-related machines and vehicles, including your old military helicopters and vans. Use them to transport Major Xaden to Anachronistic Town and begin evacuating people from the area. I have a very bad feeling about this matter. Exercise the utmost caution and declare this mission as SSS level. I believe it's time to ban all AI-related technology. We may be facing something serious that can control AIs. Keep me updated on Major Xaden's progress and any information on this Rex character. Send all relevant news through the space terminal using the highest-level encryption. We're in this together, Herbert."
Herbert nodded solemnly and responded, "General Stenz, I understand the gravity of the situation. We'll proceed as instructed, and I'll ensure that Major Xaden is well-prepared for the mission. We'll keep you updated promptly and maintain the highest level of security and confidentiality."