Chapter 161

　　After an exhaustive review of the Dyson Sphere`s capability and functions, Argyle was informed that the Emperor was correct. There was no way to interrupt its programming or stop it from travelling to its destination.

　　Worse, until it did so, they could not use the Jump to transport themselves to another location.

　　Everyone had expected Argyle to rant and rave in a fit of anger, but they were surprised when he merely nodded, his aged face accepting the fact that they were trapped. Aurelius was helpful to the Imperial Engineers, explaining the functions of the A.I. Collective`s technology, but even he couldn`t halt what had been set in motion.

　　For Kal and the other Titan Pilots, the information gathered on the Vore was extensive, and they spent days pouring over an encyclopedia of data on the mysterious alien race. As they studied, they sank further into the realization that they could not allow the Vore to reach the Empire.

　　They were like locusts, spreading across a galaxy, consuming all life, and converting it into the black liquid that pooled beneath the Envoys. It was a form of fuel for their biology, a combination of sustenance and matter to be used to `craft` more of the creatures.

　　The Vore themselves were easier to understand, and the A.I. Collective had images and dossiers on every subset of their race.

　　After nearly three days of research, Kal stood in front of Argyle, the other Titan Pilots, and the commanders of the soldiers they had brought. He had collected the information into an easy-to-read record that could be disseminated to everyone quickly.

　　"Duke Caledon, what have you found out about our enemy?" Argyle asked. He preferred having Kal investigate the Vore rather than depend on his father or Alexander, as he still didn`t trust them. A third party reviewing the gathered information would give him an impartial understanding of the Vore.

　　"The A.I. Collective had a vast array of information on the Vore, and provided they have not significantly changed in the millennia since it was collected, I believe we have an opportunity to slow their progress, if not stop them outright." Kal replied. Placing a datapad on the table in front of him, he pressed a few buttons on the screen.

　　An image appeared to hover above the datapad, showing everyone gathered in the room an orblike structure. Its surface was filled with craters and markings, and in the trail of this object, sparkling suns and glittering shards of ice and debris followed behind.

　　Kal had superimposed an image of Terra next to the Orb to contrast its size. It was tens of thousands of times smaller, a pebble compared to a mountain.

　　"This is the Vore`s primary means of transport between galaxies. The A.I. Collective likened it to a hive, hallowed by countless warrens and tunnels and filled with creatures. The information we have on its interior is limited. The sensors the A.I. used couldn`t penetrate all the way to the center. But we know that there is a dense cluster of life protecting the core." Kal explained, and the image shifted to show the orb riddled with tunnels.

　　"Did the Vore convert an asteroid or planet? Or was this Hive` constructed?" Argyle asked, leaning forward to study the display. Despite the threat, it was fascinating to imagine a biological lifeform travelling between the galaxies on nothing but its own power without the aid of technology.

　　"From the A.I. Collectives conjecture, it was formed by the Vore using waste and byproducts of their evolutionary process over generations. Their hypothesis is that the black liquid fuels it, building upon the existing structure layer by layer, a sort of Keratin` similar to a fingernail or possibly skin." Kal replied.

　　"So the entire thing is alive?" One of the Imperial Guard Captains asked.

　　"Possibly." Aurelius added from the rear of the room.

　　"Continue, Caledon." Argyle interrupted, urging Kal to keep the briefing moving. The image shifted, this time showing a faint blurring distortion around the entire Orb.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

　　"The primary means of attack during the A.I. Collective`s conflict with the Vore came in the form of an energy distortion field, or a psychic virus.` Capable of disrupting their communications and the entire Collective`s Neural Link between their physical and digital selves,` it was this distortion field that caused the majority of the A.I. deaths." Kal explained.

　　"Once infected, it quickly swept through all of their systems. By the time they responded, only a few of their remote units were unaffected. By isolating them, they created the Envoys,` a group of beings separate from all of their technology. But even they were not spared." Aurelius added, interrupting again.

　　Argyle cleared his throat loudly, frowning at his father, who had promised to be a silent observer.

　　"Correct. Everything we`ve learned suggests that this distortion field rendered the A.I. vulnerable to attack. They retreated before the Vore could respond, but the damage was already done." Kal finished, and the image shifted again to show various creatures.

　　Each was grotesque and hideous. The Vore valued function for their evolution over beauty or aesthetics. Some had many arms, each seeming to grow at random while having human-like hands, claws, pincers, and even rudimentary tools like picks or blades for cutting and digging.

　　"The Drones` will be the most common variant we will encounter. Although they are designed for manual labour and construction, they are still dangerous in close combat. Mostly, they are used for carrying the dead and dying back to their hive for processing.`"

　　Kal flicked through a few more images of the drones,` halting on one where the drones were dragging a large, and clearly dead, creature back to a large pile of others like it.

　　"Don`t underestimate them. They may seem defenceless and are less threatening when compared to an Exosuited human, but they do not care for the losses a frontal assault on the enemy would bring. The reports describe observing waves of millions of these creatures drowning planets beneath their numbers." Kal finished.

　　Switching to the next picture, the image displayed spiderlike creatures, their size ranging from that of a human to as large as a medium-class Mech. Some were heavily armoured, with giant cannon-like protrusions on their backs, while others were multi-limbed and nimble monsters with razor-sharp claws. Some even had wings.

　　There seemed to be no end of the variants, and Kal let a slide show play out while he began his explanation.

　　"These are the Soldiers.` The main warrior caste designed and bred to eliminate hostile races. The A.I. Collective had not observed them fighting races with advanced technology, but their assessment makes it clear that the Vore must have incorporated tactics and evolved in a way to battle both on the ground and in the air. They can operate in the vacuum of space, and their claws are capable of shredding a Mobile Suits armour."

　　"What kind of tactics are we expecting? Will it be a straight-on rush, like wild beasts charging at us?" The same captain as before asked.

　　"Unknown. The records state they are adaptable to the situation, but we don`t have anything to demonstrate how they will fight. Assume the worst, waves of close-quarters soldiers supported by artillery and air support." Kal had worked with Yanis and the other veterans of the Rebellion to come up with an assessment, and this was the solution they had settled on.

　　"We`ll have a plan to counter their attacks." Yanis added, reassuring everyone that he had been a part of the research with Kal and had studied the material. They would be ready.

　　"With the Titans in the lead, we shouldn`t have any problems." Another soldier spoke up, and the room was filled with agreement. They stopped when they saw the grim expression on Kal`s face. Stopping the slideshow, he tapped the screen to change the display.

　　This time, the room fell completely silent.

　　"The final caste is one that was only observed once by the AI. Collective, and only when their systems were already being invaded by the virus that ultimately killed them. They managed to get this single image." Kal clarified.

　　It was the Vore Hive, abuzz with activity. Countless hordes of flying creatures were emerging from the tunnels and cracks of the massive hollow Orb. The A.I. must have disturbed the Vore in some way, and Kal likened it to kicking a bee`s hive.

　　Through the masses, deep within the dim tunnels, the image zoomed in on a figure cloaked in shadows.

　　It appeared to be humanoid, and unlike repulsive monsters around it, this variant could be described as beautiful if it wasn`t for the baleful expression and crimson eyes filled with endless hunger and hatred. It seemed to stare into the very souls of those gathered in the room, even from an image taken thousands of years before.

　　It was difficult to tell its size from the scale of things around it, but Kal estimated it to be over two hundred feet tall, with large, leather wings like a back producing from its back. Its face lacked a mouth, and its skull was elongated, curving slowly backwards.

　　Black liquid clung to its body like clothing as it drifted out of the tunnel.

　　"We don`t know much about it or how many could be waiting for us inside the Hive. But we do know that the Titans were created to counter them. The Collective termed this variant Monarchs.`" Aurelius spoke up once more, and no one told him to stay quiet.

　　"How powerful are they?" Argyle asked.

　　"Strong enough that if one is spotted, all the Titans are to converge on it immediately."