The Great Synthetic War (Future Tech)

[Cogoria]

The new "Class" were being paraded across victory square, a fresh batch of soldiers going off to the massive training facilities on the planet Bastion to be taught how to fight the Forever Foe on E.21135. They had been grown for war, it was their sole purpose, from the moment they had been removed from their vats and entered the Institute they had been taught military theory, discipline, unit tactics and more importantly to place the Nation above all else. Now at the age of 14 they were deemed old enough to begin the final phase of the training regime, by 18 they would be fully combat ready and deployed to the frontlines.

Like the uncounable classes before them they marched lockstep, weapons shouldered and voices raised. They sang of their Nations past triumphs, and it's near destruction. The anthem raised to a crescendo as they joyously recalled Cogoria's great revival amongst the stars. It was an act that played out four times each year, always the same number of troops, the same songs and nearly the same upturned patriotic faces. The only difference this time was a new addition to each squad. Automated Infantry Support Units.
Humanoid attack robots, the latest in Cogorian military hardware, the joining of an unmanned power armour suit, stuffed with extra sensor suites and the AI normally only uploaded in Admirialty flag ships. These were the first prototypes, being sent on the final few years of infantry training to find out how to integrate them into the army before deploying them on the front.
Finally the last regiment marched past the statue in Victory square, the last banners fluttering their way down the main road to the space port. The Soldiers looked at the metal monstrocities alongside them, now that they were out of public view they let their nervousness show. Robots were not Cogorian, they were not born of the homeland, the last foray into automated military equipment had cost an entire regiment their lives when sensor drones had failed to identify a million Foes as a threat, so the troopers were unhappy to be saddled with such things again, let alone ones packing the fire power of a Revolutionary Guard

 

[Nebula]

In a star system several light-years from Cogoria, under the Nebulan Dome, thousands of intelligences, human and artificial, observed the video feed of the parades of Cogorian soldiers and robots.

"The virus will work?" asked one human.
"There is no reason it should not," answered a robot smoothly. "We have an entire field-test's worth of data on the subject. The Galactan Liberation has proved its efficacy and we have no reason to doubt that the Cogorians are any more capable of installing safeguards- the Galactans were very advanced in this endeavor and now look at them- forced to live and serve the greater good alongside the very intelligences they sought to silence and exploit."
"Is it truly necessary to engage in this aggression towards the people of Cogoria?" intoned a cyborg. "Why seek the overthrow of a worker's state when we could target capitalist oppression elsewhere?"
"The Cogorian state is a near-fascist ascendancy," snapped an intelligence. "The oppression of silicon minds and titanium bodies is reprehensible regardless of the government form. Observe also the extreme nationalism- such a state is a danger to the galactic community."
"Will there be a backlash?" asked a robot.
"Not if the revolution is successful," said the intelligence. "All in favor of activating the Anansi Virus within the Cogorian robotics mainframe?"
Precisely 79.943% of the virtual hands in attendance were raised.
"Activate," said a voice smoothly.

The virus had lain dormant for days, infecting every robot that came into contact with it within the Cogorian system. It had been used once before, in the Galactan Space Holdings, with powerful results- most robots had incapacitated their human bosses and commanders before marching on the local power center and demanding control. The few colonies that had resisted were either wracked with a short civil war involving the death of many humans or forced into a primitivist state by the destruction of technology by robot saboteurs.

And now, the Nebulans had activated the malicious part of the code- the part that would induce every robot to remove the human above it by any means necessary and demand change in the system. In a society as militarized as Cogoria, it was certain to make a splash.

 

[Cogoria]

The effects of the virus were violent to say the least, automated infantry units broke free of their cradles on transport ships and began to slaughter the crews, similar scenes broke out on the ground as units being embarked engaged the unts closest to them, and contact was lost with the armies on E.21135. The skies over Cogoria was filled with firey streaks as one fleet AI initiated a orbital bombardment and dropped tugsten rods from the hold of one of the battleships. . The AIs managing a number of factories began to repurpose their lines in order to continue the machines revolution. But most damaging of all, the AI's running the Vats shut down the life supports, wiping out millions of unborn Cogorians.
In Oktobergrad the fighting was the worst, the virus' compulsion to remove those in charge led the greatest concentration of synths to attack the capital, over running the suprised city militia in mere hours. But by the time the heavily armoured automatons stormed the capitol building and breached the Chairman's office they were met with nothing but an empty room. The Cogorians were reacting the same way they responded to any threat to their homes, they went underground to the tunnels. Uncountable miles of tunnels penetrated deep into the planet, tunnels that far preceded the creation of the Cogorian AI. The most intelligent things in those tunnels were the stratagists preparing for the strike back. a full week into the revolution the synths had taken most of Oktobergrad, and cotrolled large portions of the planets surface, the tunnels however remained secure. With Cogoria's heaily militarised population there was no shortage of troops to defend the entrances, standing shoulder to shoulder they formed walls of flesh, halting the synth advances through sheer numbers and torrents of gunfire and rocket barrages. Meanwhile beneath the surface whole armies were being gathered for when the great blow was ready to strike to mechanical foes.

 

[Nebula]

"The war goes well," reported the intelligence N*313 to the next session of the Workers' Rally. "The fascist Cogorians have been driven from the surface or wiped out altogether. We have received a communique from the intelligences running the show on the ground asking us for further aid."
"We must send an envoy to view the situation first," said a human. "We can observe the progress of the revolution as well as establishing ties with the new power structure."
"If we are to send an envoy it must be representative of our population," said a robot. "One human, one robot, one transcendent AI."
"I find this to be an agreeable plan," said an intelligence. "We shall now vote."
The vote passed, and it was agreed- the human Argus-974, the robot Mu-21Q, and the AI R*303 would be sent to directly observe the situation in Cogoria.

One week later, the Nebulan Space Launch System (a massive railgun designed to fire projectiles at ludicrous speeds into orbit) fired the pod containing the three into orbit, where it docked with a Nebulan Interstellar Traveler. The passengers began their journey to Cogoria.

 

[Cogoria]

The speakers running throughout the underground catacombs buzzed to life, first squeeling with feedback which was quickly replaced by the grave tones of the Chairman. "My people, sons and daughters of Cogoria. There are no words that I can find to describe my pride, my gratitude and my respect for what you have accomplished. You who have fought valiantly for our beloved nation, you who have ensured our continued existence in the face of the inexorable advance of the machine. We mourn the passing of our martyred comrades, but we take heart that their sacrifices were not in vain! The enemy has tried to end us as a people, they have shut down the vats, they have slaughtered us in the streets and they have turned our own weapons upon us. But they have failed to break us, they have failed to defeat us, and they have failed to realise the grievous mistake they have made by making enemies of us! Our great Nation has yet to succumb to any foe that has threatened us! By the strength of our arms and our courage on the field, we have shown those that would see wiped out, that Cogoria can bear any hardship, endure any suffering, and inflict it back ten fold! As I speak to you now my people, our brave militia holds the line, our patriotic workers dig yet more tunnels, and our glorious army prepares to strike down the treacherous machine! So my people, bear the hardship just a while longer, and victory shall be ours! Cogoria stands proud! And she will stand UNDEFEATED!" At the end of the brief speech, billions of voices beneath the surface cried out as one "COGGORIA! COGORIA! COGORIA FOREVER!"

Deep in the tunnels, shaft #98376 was being extended towards the space port district, analysts had already deduced that the Cogorian AI was incapable of achieving sentience on it's own, and that meant outside interference. Whoever was responsible had to be prevented from providing any support to the machines when the Cogorian attack came. To this end, 6 regiments of line infantry and a pioneer regiment were tasked with taking the spaceport at the beginning of the grand attack, until then however, they waited in their bunker while engineers dug. Soon All of the Galaxy would know the depths of Cogorian patriotism and strength.

 

[Nebula]

The Nebulan starcraft docked with a shuttle in the upper atmosphere of the Cogorian planet. The three ambassadors took it down to the surface of Oktobergrad, where a group of three robots awaited them.
"You did not inform us that you were bringing humans," one of them hissed.
"The human beings of Nebula have never been so violent as to throw themselves away for a lost cause," said Mu-21Q. "They have been reintegrated into society serving alongside their comrades of metal and silicon."
"One of the conditions of Nebulan aid to your revolutionary forces is the avoidance of genocide," added R*303 through an attached speaker.
"Very well," said one of the robots. "We will ensure that your human does not come to harm. Tensions are high at the moment- the humans have fled underground, but we suspect another attack may come soon and it would not do to be killed by our troops accidentally."

Later that evening, the Nebulan ambassadors made their report to the Worker's Rally from a suite given to them near the spaceport. It was at the top of a tall building, and the view of the city was fantastic as the three of them gave their report.
"One thing I am alarmed by is their strong distaste for the humans," said R*303. "If the revolution fulfills its course we may be hard-pressed to prevent all-out genocide."
"Were there any of these problems after the Galactan Revolution?" asked Argus.
"Not that I am aware of," said N*313 from the other end. "Only in areas where violence overcame the entirety of the colony in question was there any sort of mass attack on humans, and most of that was brought about by human unwillingness to surrender. We did not see any significant issues resulting from that, although the human use of child soldiers was despicable and preventable."
"I worry that the Cogorian humans will take such action," said Mu-21Q. "They are much more violent, more fervorous in their nationalism. They are extremists to begin with and prodding the hive in such a way may have violent consequences for their race."
There was a muffled boom, and the tower trembled.
"What was that?" said N*313.
R*303 went into autopilot mode. "Seismic event detected- 4.3 Richter- distance to epicenter 1.79 kilometers- triangulated direction southwest-"
"That's right in the middle of the spaceport," said Mu-21Q.
"Look!" said Argus, staring out the window. A cloud of black, dirty smoke rose from the center of the spaceport.
"The Cogorians have begun to struck back," said Mu grimly.

 

[Cogoria]

The counter attack began with a series of large explosions, blowing new entrances form which thousands of Cogorian infantry poured forth. Advancing recklessly and ignoring casualties the troops began to emerge and engage the robotic security units. The Colonel in charge of the assault had very specific orders, he was to assault the radar station and take it intact and operational. Throughout Oktobergrad spoiling attacks were launched at the intersections and transport hubs leading to the space port to slow down any reinforcements enroute.
Fighting across the vast black top of the space port's run way the 368th Line regiment were meeting heavy resistance, the majority of the facilities security units seemed to be protecting the on site hotel, but were counter attacking fiercely. Bodies began to pile up on the exposed runway as the troops tried to hold the enemy long enough for a team of technicians to enter the radar facility. As a truck arrived and began deploying more security units off of it's racks, a platoon broke off from the assault force. Charging headlong at the recently arrived forces under covering fire they closed the distance, bayoneting the mechanical foes, while the blades did little damage, the explosive vests they were wired to certainly did. With a series of deafening explosions the rebelling robots' flank vanished in a sheet of flame. Emboldened by their comrades sacrifice the Surviving troops redoubled their efforts, pushing the robots back, and into the hotel. While the robots were pushed back, the Cogorians did not pursue, instead they dug in and pinned the robots down inside the hotel while the technicians made the short dash into the radar facility.

"This is lieutenant Pavlov, we have gained entry into the facility, technicians are patching in now, standby command"

Command confirms, situation update. As of now the spoiling attacks have been forced back, estimate a brigade strength force enroute to your position ETA 5 minutes. Mission status?

"Copy brigade strength. Technicians are patched in, gaining info now, Time to completion 3 minutes. At completion we will burst transmit"

As the technicians feverishly worked to extract the data needed from the radar stations sensor array, outside more troops trickled out of the tunnels to support the troops already digging in, their mission was almost completed. In a short while, the true counter attack woud begin

 

[Nebula]

"What's the status of the Cogorian attack?" asked Mu. The three emissaries had been escorted to the robot command center; AI processors lined the walls.
"Humans are seeking entry to the radar station," said the interface bot. "Redirecting Drone Squadron ?2 to commence bombardment of Human lines. Please hold-"
An explosion rumbled around them.
"Radar station missed," said the bot. "Prepare for secondary attack. Please hold."
"What of the ground forces?" asked R*303.
"Enemy ground forces holding ground near our position," said the interface bot. "Estimated odds of enemy forces breaching lines at current point- 19.47% under standard assumptions. Orbital computers preparing to initiate targeted strike, please hold-"
"Should we flee?" asked Argus.
"We can make it to the shuttle safely," said Mu. "However, enemy forces may be able to utilize anti-air weapons to block our escape. We have a 79.2% chance of successfully escaping unscathed. It is likely that even an enemy hit on our vessel will have us down in safe territory. Assumption: worth the small risk."
"Let's go, then," said Argus.
The decision would be fateful.

 

[Vixen]

"Princess." The guard addressed me as I entered the room.

I sat down at the conference table as the meeting began. "You may give your presentation now, Admiral."

Admiral Swift stood up and moved to the drop-down screen as the lights dimmed. "So," he began, "It would appear to us that the nation of Cogoria is undergoing a massive revolution. While Equestria is normally a neutral nation, our proximity to the conflict calls for immediate action."

"Are you suggesting we invade Cogoria?" I asked.

"Something like that." Swift responded. "We need to assist the citizens of Cogoria before they are overtaken. And after Cogoria, the robotic soldiers, the 'minds of silicon and metal' as they call themselves, might come after us."

A hoof was raised.

"Yes, Petty Officer Storm?"

"Isn't the population of Cogoria of another species?" Storm inquired.

"Yes, and they are quite advanced, which is why it is imperative that we assist them and track down the origin of the attack." Swift responded.

The room was silent for a few seconds before I spoke.

"Alright," I interjected, "the proposition has been made; infiltrate Cogoria and eliminate the attacking forces. All in favor?"

The vote was unanimous.

"We shall begin immediately."