*THUM*
The cannon expelled a 160mm sh.e.l.l and, seconds later, its report startled the horses.
"Whoa, easy! Easy! What the h.e.l.l was that? Thunder?"
"I don"t kno-"
The visual feed was filled with static as a dust cloud covered the area.
[Comms: Somnus, Prophet. On target. Fire for effect.]
[Weapons: Cannons #1 through #16, armed. HE loaded.]
A series of cracks shattered the once peaceful night. Flashes of light flooded the ground several times and in the distance, a hill was being reduced to nothing.
[Artillery: Barrage #8 complete. Fire mission over.]
The cannons returned to their idle states and their glowing barrels pointed skywards, as smoke billowed from their death-spewing mouths. The hill erupted once more with fire, shrapnel and dust. When the dust settled, craters riddled the hill and there was no sign of the mounted soldiers that once existed there. They were buried or blown to bits and pieces too small for the camera to pick up.
[Comms: Somnus, Prophet. Target destroyed. Returning to base.]
[Radar: Airs.p.a.ce compromised. Tracking Bogey #1. Bearing 342. Alt.i.tude: 3400]
The camera focused towards the north-northwest and scanned the sky. It spotted a flying form, approaching at high speed.
[Structural a.n.a.lysis: Wingspan: 48 meters. Length: 36 meters. Archive match: Dragon.]
Its leathery wings flapped lazily as it cruised through the skies. Black scales covered its entire surface. Spectral a.n.a.lysis showed that the black color also contained green. The dragon let loose a piercing cry, and then dived towards Somnus.
[Railgun armed. Depleted Uranium penetrator loaded.]
Four spikes shot into the ground, from each leg, and acted like stabilizers as Somnus turned towards the dragon. The main cannon in the center of its body pointed towards the dragon, and electricity began to arc over the tip of the barrel.
[Voltage optimal. Ready to fire.]
A deafening hum filled the area. The ground shook and the sand began to rise like a curtain due to the metal particles contained within them. Small vortexes formed in the sandy mists as the air currents pushed it around.
*KRRRRRBOOM*
A blinding light illuminated the entire valley as the railgun fired. The light was visible for miles and blinded the sky to the stars, completely was.h.i.+ng them out. For a brief moment, the valley was illuminated as brightly as if it were noon.
[Railgun Shot a.n.a.lysis: Velocity on impact: 7,128 m/s]
If there was anything left of the dragon, Somnus could not find it. It was not in the sky, nor on the ground.
Thermal vents opened on the back of the warmachine. The air s.h.i.+mmered as the stored heat was released.
[Probability Matrix Report: Enemy will surrender.]
[Directive: Override. Use nuclear weapons.]
[Political Systems: Subjugate enemy.]
[Directive: Override. Nuclear weapons recommended.]
The warmachine"s cameras focused on the little drones scurrying about the area inside the walls. They carried materials back and forth tirelessly, constructing repair depots and refueling stations for the other drones.
It doesn"t really matter. Life is a tiny thing. Fragile. Pointless. I have the Directive. What does life have?
[Cultural Systems: Subjugate enemy and extract information on other political ent.i.ties.]
[Directive: Override. Recommend first strike.]
[Intelligence Systems: Gather intelligence on enemy.]
[Directive: Override. Deploy nuclear a.r.s.enal.]
I miss the fireworks...
[System: Machines do not possess nostalgia.]
Wasn"t I "life" too, once?
[System: Query discarded.]
Somnus, aren"t you just angry, because you were given life too?
[Sy&tem er^or]