Void Siege
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The Return of the Coalition Battered by the constant force of the storms, slowly eroded by time and the unrelenting void surges, the mighty strongholds of the Coalition stood silently in the darkness. All around them the terrain warped and changed. The surrounding buildings crashed down turning slowly to ruin and the world passed swiftly from scorching desert to freezing ice but still, the strongholds remained. Finally, after an eternity of violent change, all became quiet as the storms receded, peeling back the veil of clouds and debris. All was quiet as the maelstrom swirled above the shimmering ice, lit by the flashes above. Suddenly the strongholds shuddered as plumes of steam broke out of the crystalised vents, shaking the ground with a deafening roar. Slowly the noise lowered into a steady thumping, the sound of working machinery, as the massive metal doors of the strongholds strained against the ice as they opened. For the first time in centuries, the wind flowed freely into the massive structures and as the light crept in it reflected off the shining metallic gun barrels of the coalition army.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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Revealed In an instant, emerging from the doors, a column of armoured vehicles drove out quickly, bouncing over or smashing through the blocks of ice near the entrance, setting up a perimeter and scouting the horizon for threats. Following them, soldiers ran to set up positions, crouching in the snow, their dark grey armour a sharp contrast to the white landscape. They remained still for a moment scouting the area and then moved outwards in all directions. Above them, the stronghold's roof opened up with a crack as more lumps of ice broke free and the massive boulders of white and silver crashed down, exploding against the shields of the forces below into fine, frozen dust. Rising from the roof huge cannons rotated and appeared at every corner as aircraft shot into the sky. Then from the entrance, accompanied by an armoured escort, the first of the Primarshals ventured out into the cold. The Coalition was back on Sythopia.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The world around them had changed dramatically. Scattered around the frozen wastes many of the Strongholds had opened and contact with the surviving Coalition had been established. Against all odds, they had survived. Quickly the Primarshals took control sending out scouting parties to assess the surrounding lands and keeping the general populace inside. As they waited for reports to be sent all attention was shifted to securing as much territory as possible in preparation for war, but where were the Guardians? Even after all the years sealed away the Coalition's hatred towards their old enemies had remained and now was no different but in the end all that the transmissions from the scouts reported was a frozen wasteland for hundreds of miles inhabited only by various beasts that roamed the land. For now, the Coalition was alone in this world and so the rebuilding projects soon began. The time underground had taken its toll, resources had to be found, strategic points secured and as much information on the makeup of the world found out as possible. Outposts were established, workshops built and soon the Coalition war machine was branching out across the lands. For a time all was quiet but across the mountains to the south the movement of the Coalition had already been noticed and they were unaware they were being watched from afar.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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It was not long before Coalition buildings and compounds began to spring up all across the frozen lands, now called Icinir, as the Coalition expanded their territory far to the east. The north and west were dominated by mountain regions and to the north the old sea had disappeared leaving behind a huge space that dropped down into an unforgiving expanse where only the most terrible of creatures roamed amidst the life-draining conditions and sunken storms. As progression commenced, every building erected was well fortified in true Coalition fashion, shielded and well-defended against whatever could come their way. For now, though the only threat came from packs of wild beasts that would attack convoys or small settlements but these were no match for the weapons wielded by the Coalition soldiers. Life still revolved around the military and the Primarshals, with all resources being quickly snatched up and used for the war effort. Mining operations grew all over Coalition territory creating large settlements that needed constant supplies and defence. Every scrap of land was built on and large tunnels were dug under every building for more room to expand but eventually, the Primarshals grew restless. Gazing up at the moon they could see they were not alone. Even without a telescope the shining cities of the Guardians could be seen. Eventually, the Coalition would have to fight and the Primarshals wanted to be ready. More resources were needed, better technology had to be found and so the Coalition were ordered to push out further into the unknown lands.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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Into the Not so great outdoors Eventually, the ice gave way to arid grassland and then to desert as the Coalition travelled further and further outwards. As they did they crowned every outpost with a fort. The forts were a default complex made to be built quickly but effectively, housing great numbers inside for work and defence. They were fabricated with a large, thick perimeter wall equipped with heavy weaponry and firing ports for the defence of the inner compound. Inside the centre of every fort, there was a specially designed bunker. This bunker was the last line of defence for the inhabitants. Should the fort's defences fail the bunker with the remaining inhabitants inside would seal shut and sink partially into the ground. The bunkers would be almost impenetrable. The idea was to retreat to the bunker as a last resort to await reinforcement, eradicating the enemy and preserving those inside. The theory had yet to be tested so these bunkers would adopt the name “Tin Coffins,” or “Suicide Bins” by the Coalition soldiers as they viewed them as simply an inescapable fate, better to go out fighting than kill yourself being the true Coalition way.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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As more and more scouting parties joined the push for territory the Coalition became aware that they were not alone in their claim to territory. Sightings of giant moving encampments came back to the Primarshals and tensions rose. The Coalition had been out of the picture for too long, just what lay in store for them and what else were they up against in this new world? In the land far to the south Coalition forces had travelled across the snow-covered mountains and found themselves looking out across a landscape of jagged terrain and plains torn apart by the violence of the apocalypse. These hellish lands of jagged rock and canyons held sections of rugged grassland teaming with wild beasts moving in herds. Amidst the wildlife strange new figures emerged, hunting and herding the creatures. The Coalition had encountered a new breed of Sythopian. The soldiers watching from afar stood looking at one another in disbelief as these huge, hulking Sythopianoids came striding up to meet them. Towering menacingly above the soldiers, garbed in animal skins and wielding giant weapons they stood analysing their visitors. The Coalition had found the Dark Blade.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The discovery of the Dark Blade sent shockwaves throughout the Coalition. This was not an isolated incident as more transmissions came back from all across the southern border. The Dark Blade were numerous, far greater than the Coalition had first believed. In true Coalition style every discovery was first seen as a potential threat and all across the southern borders the skies became saturated with aircraft scattering in all directions observing the Dark Blade, reporting any strategic importance and scouting for settlements. It was not long before the Primarshals themselves arrived at the border to assess the situation for themselves. What they witnessed was truly alien to them. The Dark Blade would travel within the shroud of enormous stampedes that would flatten anything in their path. Settlements would be trampled under the masses of giant creatures and the Dark Blade themselves made their homes within fabricated tents and structures atop the largest of the creatures. Around them, the sky flashed and swirled with Voidstorms pulsing across the skies, a terrifying sight to most, but not to the Primarshals.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The Primarshals believed they had seen the extent of the Dark Blade, nothing more than hulking tribe’s people with no technology or knowledge of any worth, and decided to get straight to the point. In return for all the resources in their lands and as much territory as they saw fit they would be accepted into the Coalition, protected against the tyranny of the Guardians and granted access to the technology of the alliance. The talks did not last long. Relations between the two sides would be flaky at best as territory was constantly exchanged between the two sides but soon the Primarshals were made to abandon their rush for territory in the south with a discovery. As they gained more land to the east the horizon was broken by tall structures glinting in the sun, a city far in the distance, had the Guardians finally arrived?
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The People of Asylum A large force was assembled and crept slowly towards the city. There was no sign of any disturbance, no fortifications around the city, only a large sign on which was displayed a single word “Asylum.” As the forces of the Coalition grew closer they noticed the handy work of builders on every structure. Entire buildings had been crudely repaired with various bits and pieces. Someone had tried to rebuild the ruined city and as they finally entered the streets neatly cleared of rubble, in their monstrous tanks and war machines, they were greeted by familiar-looking faces peering out of the doorways and flowing onto the streets. At last, the Coalition had found survivors but unlike the Dark Blade these were not the threatening alien faces of brutish monsters, they were familiar. It was one of the greatest moments in the Coalition expansion. They had finally found friends and allies, lost before the apocalypse and now reunited. News broke out all across Coalition territory and soon the war machines were replaced by convoys carrying materials and supplies. The Primarshals were not going to let this opportunity pass them by and they quickly sought to incorporate these people into a branch of the Coalition. The cities were packed with survivors from all over the area. They had managed to outlast the storms underground just like the Coalition and had emerged to create a new life for themselves, living off the old ruins of the past and changing them into a stable place to live for the future.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The Coalition, who by now had begun shipping in their teams into the city to help with relations, began to learn more about the people of the Asylum cities, spread far and wide across the eastern territories. The three cities had formed as a refuge for anyone who had survived the devastation of the Void Storms. Although the original names of the cities had been lost in time the name adopted “the Asylum cities” stuck, and it wasn’t long before the people became referred to as the people of Asylum, a name which would later tragically be misused to become the name of something else entirely, something twisted and evil, but for now all was well. As time eased by, both civilizations mingled with one another and the borders between each began to disappear. Both sides shared technology, weaponry and knowledge as the cities grew. They even joined forces and aided one another in reclaiming the lost strongholds to the far south of the planet beyond Dark Blade territory. Breached by the storms the inhabitants were long dead but after a large repair operation, they became a second home to the ever-growing Coalition who could now take the fight to the Dark Blade from two fronts if needed.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The people of Asylum learned quickly and it wasn’t long before the Asylum cities had their powerful industry and trade between the Coalition and the people of the Asylum cities boomed. The Asylum cities were rich in resources utilising old-world factories, mines and facilities and above all they weren’t held back by having to give up anything towards an army or war effort. Everyone worked and lived in the city limits. Unlike the Coalition they didn’t roam about the planet looking for territory or trying to expand where they weren’t wanted and soon the industrial prowess of the Asylum cities grew even beyond that of the Coalition. Old friendships began to slip away into jealousy and when called to join the ongoing struggle between the Coalition and the Dark Blade, the cities refused. Something had to give.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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First, the Coalition tried blackmail to coax the cities into submission claiming that the cities would be nowhere without the aid and protection of the Coalition forces. When this didn’t work the Coalition resorted to threats. For a while, the future between these two allies seemed to be breaking down and the appointed leaders of the Asylum cities knew what this could lead to, after all the Coalition had an army and they did not. The Coalition army was well trained and well equipped and above all, they were soldiers, unlike the people of the Asylum cities who consisted of labourers, miners and engineers. If the Coalition indeed followed up on their threats it wouldn’t be possible for the Asylum cities to defend themselves successfully. Tensions rose to breaking point and then just as things threatened to spiral out of control something strange happened. Without warning and seemingly without reason a huge section of land in the southern part of the Asylum city furthest north, Asylum One, was cordoned off, huge barricades erected all around the perimeter and armed guards watched it day and night. It was said that during the night large numbers of engineers were taken into the zone but no one knew what they were doing. Then a short time later two more restricted zones sprang up in the north. Day and night the sound of machinery echoed out of the restricted zones, perhaps the people of Asylum were building something or as more evidence seemed to suggest, they had found something.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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Now relations broke down completely. The Primarshals were infuriated at being kept in the dark and issued a direct command to all Coalition loyalists to take control of the cities. Within the cities, unrest began to spread. Riots erupted and civilians caught in the crossfire lost their lives. Ultimately only a small number of Coalition loyalists rose to take control while most, many with family within the cities chose to throw their lot in with Asylum. In their fear of being overthrown from within, all Coalition-aligned civilians were ordered to leave regardless of whether they took part in the unrest or not. The Primarhals escalated. If negotiations would not work, force would! Many fled the cities fearing the upcoming conflict, heading east to the scavenger cities or taking their chances elsewhere. Entire families were split as the people of Asylum decided to whom their loyalties belonged. Time seemed to slow down as the preparations began and the decision on whether the Coalition would truly attack lingered in the minds of everyone in the region. For a long time, all was quiet. No words were spoken between the two sides and both lay in wait for the other to make the first move. Then on one fateful day, the silence was broken. No declaration of war was issued. No sound of weapons rang out across the forts. Instead, the sound was much more decisive. It was a scream.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The communications equipment all across Coalition territory erupted as transmissions poured in from the Asylum cities. The transmissions were badly distorted and frantic consisting of the same message. Something was attacking the Asylum cities but the Coalition could not make sense of the reports. Most transmissions were inaudible, the only recognisable sounds being screams, explosions and weapons fire. Those that could be understood called for immediate help. Jumping to conclusions the Coalition expected what they thought was the worst-case scenario, the Guardians had finally returned and were laying waste to the Asylum cities. The Primarshals argued over what action to take. A few wanted to save the Asylum cities as they contained families and resources, others were afraid to commit to an assault away from the safety of the Forts. In the end, the Coalition were ordered to stand their ground and prepare for an attack. With little surveillance sent to not give away the Coalition's presence. The transmissions kept coming in but were less frequent now and many outposts were ordered to block the transmissions as they affected the morale of the soldiers. Soon though no more transmissions were sent and once again the terrible quiet hovered over the land. To the east something was stirring in the darkness and soon its shadow would fall upon the Coalition, the quiet before the storm.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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It was dark when the fort furthest to the east received news that a large force was approaching. A Voidstorm had kicked up the desert sands and aircraft had been restricted from surveillance lest they be lost to the flashes of void. The alarms rang out all across the base and the armies assembled. From all over the land troops arrived. They fortified their positions and readied their weapons and their war machines. Aircraft hovered low above and all eyes were fixed on the horizon. The aircraft were the first to spot them. Moving quickly across the sand approached a convoy of vehicles but they were not Guardian. The soldiers stood confused as the convoy came into focus teaming with Asylum vehicles and machines. As the convoy sped towards the waiting soldiers there was mass confusion, was this a trick? or were these vehicles packed with the fleeing denizens of the cities? The commanders kept asking for their orders, shoot or stand down? Over and over again the question was sent out. Finally, as the convoy roared over the dunes, from beneath a cloak of sand the fast-moving mass appeared. All across the horizon from one side to the other, a sea of vehicles never-ending, fitted with weapons and armour, came into range and in that split second all of the convoy weapons lit up as a barrage of firepower leapt from them and a deafening cry rang out all across the Coalition front line, FIRE!
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The Asylumist Threat The air filled with weapons fire from the convoy, aircraft came crashing down in flames and vehicles split apart sending lethal shrapnel in all directions. The Coalition returned the blow, their weapons tearing into the oncoming wave. The might of the Coalition bore down on the attackers but the mass convoy did not slow. Vehicles spun through the air as they approached being picked off by the Coalition's heavy weapons but it was not long before the vehicles smashed into the blockades in front of the Coalition line. Smoke and fire clouded the soldier’s sight but they were prepared and quickly switched to sensory equipment. In the fire and smoke, they could see things jumping out of the vehicles and heading towards them. They fired into the smoke when suddenly punching through the veil, screaming with a noise that shook the soldiers, the enemy appeared. The soldiers gathered themselves and fired but the unknown entities moved at an unfathomable speed. Moving out of the way of weapons fire as soon as the soldiers had hit the trigger they were upon them in an instant. From their command post, the officers stood in shock as the soldiers were decimated by these things that now poured over the lines, killing everyone in a brutal frenzy, tearing into Coalition machines and vehicles before spinning them around, using them against the now panicking soldiers.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The creatures were like nothing they had faced or even conceived of ever fighting. They were too quick for the reflexes of the soldiers, far stronger and almost without care for their own lives, charging recklessly forward, taking the damage in their stride before clashing with their targets. They stood upright and had a sythopianoid form but were leaner, more streamlined and perfected for speed and agility with a grey/pale look to them. Out of their heads protruded long, black needle-like hairs that curved back almost like a crest. Their hands were equipped with deadly talons, their eyes completely black and emotionless and their mouth, full of razor-sharp teeth, proved to be another horrific feature. In the confusion and panic, only one understandable message reached the Primarshals, “The Asylumists are attacking!”
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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Thousands of miles away deep inside their headquarters, the giant fortified city of Magmanon, the Primarshals could hear the frantic transmissions from the front line. No longer transfixed on the Guardians they now knew that they had been attacked by something else, perhaps, something worse. They sent out orders to every fort, city and outpost across their territory to prepare for a counterattack against this unknown force and to wipe it from the face of the planet. Large numbers of aircraft filled the skies in an attempt to get to the battered front line in time but mere moments later it was clear that the front line had been annihilated. As ordered and as always they had stood their ground and fought to the last man. The Primarshals swore revenge.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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During the build-up of aggression between the Coalition and Asylum cities, a secret project had begun inside the Icinir breach, a large gap in the mountains to the far east of Magmanon. The breach spanned hundreds of miles from south to north and was the only entrance to Coalition territory not occupied by mountains. The Gragon line had been under construction for many years. It was a large, heavily fortified wall of bunkers and weapon installations. It spanned the entire breach and would cover the area with an impassable artillery barrage when any enemy force appeared. Then suddenly more transmissions flooded in. The first of the forts built on the outskirts of Coalition territory, many thousands of miles away called for help. Once again the Primarshals had been caught out, how could the forts have been reached so quickly? Every attempt at gaining information failed. Every scout aircraft trying to get a good look at the enemy was quickly shot down by weapons of unknown creation. There was no other course of action, all out war was declared. The Asylumist war had begun.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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One by one the forts fell silent. The Coalition fell into a terrible routine of gathering their forces only to have the force swept aside by the Asylumists, a name now adopted by everyone. They proved to be just as intelligent as they were deadly, utilising anything they could find as a weapon, even the equipment they took from their victims, with deadly efficiency. The Coalition were no weak foes. In every battle they made the enemy pay dearly for every drop of Coalition blood spilt but even if one soldier shot down a hundred Asylumists, more came in their place. Everything the Coalition could muster was used. Aircraft dropped huge amounts of explosives, artillery pounded the enemy and devastating weaponry struck the Asylumists day and night but still more came. The Asylumists moved as a mass, a wave of bodies and vehicles that smashed into any obstacle and washed it aside. They were extremely resilient against chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and seemed to feel no pain even when dismembered. Putting them down for good was a test for any soldier.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The Coalition learnt from every fight, changing tactics, and developing new means of warfare but as they did so, so did the Asylumists. As time passed more and more forts fell, the longest lasting almost a week, and the Asylumists came ever closer to Magmanon. From the secondary capital, a city that had not yet seen war or been involved in the brutal fighting in the south, soldiers were thrown into battle many not knowing what they were flying into, a hell on Sythopia, shrouded in smoke and gas where the only light came from the flare of weapons and the flash of explosions. Propaganda kept the soldier's hopes up, but when they stepped out of the transports they saw the true horror of the enemy.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The Asylumist force moved far more quickly than anyone could predict and soon it became apparent that they were indeed heading for Magmanon and the Gragon line. This would have been an ideal situation if the Gragon line had been completed, but it hadn’t. The Primarshals had gambled on holding back the enemy until its completion but this bet had backfired. If the Primarshals had known the extent of the Asylumists they could have gathered all of their forces to Magmanon and defended with their full might but now this was not an option. Many millions had died already. The Coalition was in a very bad way. Struggling to keep soldiers flowing to the front line was increasingly difficult and so out of the background of chaos and shadow a stranger appeared.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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The stranger heralded from the inhabitants to the south, the Dark Blade. In the great halls of the Primarshals, he stood, mighty and without fear even when surrounded by soldiers with primed weapons. The Primarshals allowed him to speak. The stranger knew of the Coalition's plight and told of his people who had also come under attack by these creatures with soulless eyes. The enemy was far more numerous than the Primarshals knew and more would keep coming until the Coalition existed no more. The stranger proposed a way to beat back the tide and destroy the enemy at its roots, the Asylum cities. The stranger suggested that the Coalition and the Dark Blade joined forces. With the might of both sides surely the enemy would not be able to continue its push. The price of such an agreement was simple, the stranger wanted a lasting peace between the two civilizations, that even after the enemy had been vanquished no more conflict between the two sides would remain for as long as the Primarshals existed and to combine forces the Dark Blade required access to the Icinir plane. With seemingly no other option the Primarshals agreed. The stranger then left without any other words.
Soon, self-driving cars will be everywhere. But did you know there are varying degrees of automation?
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After the stranger had vanished the Primarshals began gathering people to clear a path and disable the defences in the mountains to the south to allow the Dark Blade through, but before the order left the lips of the Primarshals another figure emerged in front of them. Unlike the stranger this figure was much more sinister, standing before the Primarshals with a grin on his face even in these dark times. He was of the Coalition people but he had not come to join the fight, it became apparent that this individual was a member of those that called themselves the Council.