Chapter 558: 4th & 10 (2/2)
She tapped another icon and data popped up. ”It spread out from there, until every Terran Descent Human no longer had access to the SUDS system. Local copy only. It was on Hesstla the next problem was discovered, although part of the problem was kept under Confederate Security Statutes by MEDCOM.”
Two brain scans popped up.
”The Atrekna had performed some type of attack that reverted Terran Descent Human brains, and the DNA associated with it within the chromosome system, to Pre-Glassing state,” she said.
Pictures of Terran in adaptive camouflage appeared, all of them listed as having been recorded on Hesstla.
They all had red or amber eyes. Many had expressions of barely restrained fury.
Many of the officers and NCO's drew back instinctively.
”At the time, we believed that this was the only problem,” Exquisite said. ”However, there was a lockout on the SUDS system, preventing any Technological Resurrection System from being used. Without the TRS, we expected the Terrans to withdraw from the fight.”
The mantids in the audience chuckled at her next statement.
”Of anyone, I, as a Mantid, should have realized that they would never withdraw,” she said.
She paused.
”Due to time dilation effects, it has been three years since that incident where Staff Sergeant Nimbly was Killed In Action. Locally, on Hesstla, it has been almost ten years. Normally, this would be the end of the data and this lecture would not be necessary,” Exquisite said. ”However, before we break, I will close this section with this image.”
It was of the same Terran, on his knees, hands behind his head, fingers interlaced, staring up. His grin was wild, his eyes wide and half-crazed, with an amber glow in the back of them.
”This was taken less than ninety six hours ago on this very ship,” she said. ”Let's take a break.”
General NoDra'ak wished the briefing would continue, but knew a lot of his fellow officers were feeling fatigue already. He took a quick power nap, woke up to accept the pack of cigarettes from his aide, and had just lit one when Major Exquisite returned.
”No questions at this time, please,” she started. She brought back up the image. ”This was recorded eighty-three hours ago on this very ship.”
The clip ran, showing the cloning tube breaking the seal, the cover moving. Through the steam and mist NoDra'ak saw that someone or something inside was pushing on the cover. As soon as it opened far enough a figure fell out, landing on the ground. It was dressed in adaptive camouflage battle dress uniform. It pushed itself up, coughing, stating 'you can't kill me' as it got up.
”Who are you?” one of the shipboard MP's asked.
With a crazed look the Terran replied. ”I'm the Ordnance Man.”
Exquisite paused. ”The exact same thing he was repeating before his death. He was subvocalizing it, but we were able to pick it up with enhancement.”
She looked around. ”In the eight thousand years since the Glassing, every rebirth, every resurrection, required a request for the SUDS and chromosome record that had to be granted by the SUDS system. In the case of non-military, there appears to be some kind of limit between six and ten. For military, there appears to be no limit.”
Everyone nodded. That was standard knowledge.
”However, nobody requested Staff Sergeant Roger Regina Nimbly's SUDS profile or genetic profile. He appeared in one of the cloning banks that was used in the attempt to append a 'tag' to V Corps profiles in order to fool the system.”
”That attempt failed,” the russet mantid said softly.
”However, it did proved that system was still communicating despite the lockouts,” she said. She pointed at the image of SSG Nimbly looking up. ”He was not requested. The system kept trying to lock him out but would throw an error code.”
She tapped an icon and the error code popped up.
”This is what is called 'hexidecimal encoding' and is an older Terran Descent numbering and lettering system. When translated, it read simply this,” she said.
”YOU CAN'T KILL ME!” appeared on the screen below the hexidecimal code.
”Somehow, Staff Sergeant Nimbly was able to override the system from inside the system!” Exquisite said. ”That, however, is not the biggest revelation.”
She paused and sipped at a droplet of water.
”It is commonly known that once a Terran dies and enters the system, they have no memory of anything that transpired. There is virtually no time elapsed between death and rebirth,” she said. She shook her head. ”Despite the fact that Staff Sergeant Nimbly was repeating the same words, he did not have that experience.”
General NoDra'ak was looking at Colonel Crawford and saw the look of shock on all five Terrans.
”He was able to describe the entire experience. From death, to what went on inside of death, to his rebirth,” Exquisite said softly. ”At first we thought this was trauma induced false memories.”
She shook her head.
”Neural mapping replay showed us exactly what he saw,” Exquisite said softly.
She tapped an icon and an image appeared.
There were Rigellian females with their ducks and ducklings in a park. A group of Treana'ad were playing frisbee nearby. Some Pubvians were walking down a path. Nearly a dozen species were moving about, including two digital sentiences, one of which was obviously Treana'ad.
The colors were weird, streaked, the sky looked weird, and the proportions looked off slightly.
”That image is taking from neural mapping replay of Sergeant Nimbly's memories,” she said softly.
General NoDra'ak blinked, staring at the image. Eight thousand years of subtle evolution had changed things slightly, but without a doubt, those were treana'ad.
”According to Staff Sergeant Nimbly, these beings were all killed in the Great Glassing and the opening attacks of the First Human/Mantid War,” the russet mantid said.
She paused for a moment.
”Recently, according to them, someone, or something, has been processing the 'records' of these people,” she said. ”According to Staff Sergeant Nimbly, and deep level neural scans of his long term and intermediate term memories support, there is someone, and I quote, working to get the system back online.”
”Who?” someone blurted out.
Exquisite shook her head. ”That we do not know. What we do know is that there are apparently three processing areas,” she tapped the icon and a hospital appeared. ”Initial intake.”
She tapped another icon and the park reappeared. ”One of the standby areas.”
She paused and looked at General NoDra'ak, who nodded, then at a pair of Confederate Intelligence Services Officers, both of whom slowly nodded with grave looks on their faces.
She tapped an icon.
An image of a blasted plain of lava, sand, ash, and cinders on hard clay appeared. Gouts of fire were spewing lava and rubble onto the plain in great pillars. Engines of bone and sinew, of black iron and red bloody bronze moved in strange purposes. Figures were tied to stakes, screaming. Stars fell from the sky, screaming, to impact on the ground to reveal a naked person curled up and shuddering.
In the middle of the image was a large, bestial face. Brown skin, yellow eyes with a goat's pupil, large tusks from a massive jaw, large nose, and horns on the head. It was a massive figure, covered in muscle and bloody black iron chains.
”And Hell.”