Building Elysium

[Maelion Liates]

The planet of Elysium had rapidly fallen into the hands of Archangel after their acquisition of Loronar Shipworks. The planet’s few organic controllers had been ‘liberated’ of their mortal frailties and made into machines.

And so, when Directors Maelion Liates and [member="Moira Skaldi"] arrived on the world the planet was entirely lifeless in the organic sense. However, the machines working the mines or standing guard over the empty mining dome were ceaseless in their works.

The cold and lack of atmosphere would not have bothered the droids except for the problem that their organic exteriors would suffer damage. Thus, they came in wearing space suits to the sealed base.

Maelion looked over the abandoned quarters of the organics and the occasional bloodstain.
‘This planet is suitable for a clandestine base. Initial reports indicate there are large cave systems which can be exploited to house this facility,’ she communicated to Moira.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"]


All organics who knew of Elysium were either dead or processed. Likewise all records of the planet had been wiped from the company's computers. There was no paper trail for intrepid adventurers and hackers left to follow. Archangel's safe haven would not be so easily compromised.


"Consensus. Survey teams are exploring the caverns and should have them mapped soon, then labour droid units can begin their work. We have confirmation that the planet is rich in minerals. The facility should be able to house a factory and a processing plant, along with a sufficient number of HRDs. The new turrets and cannons we have designed should be a suitable defence.


The defences in question being the Preserver Class Turrets and, obviously a lot more rare, a Sariss turbolaser cannon. Everything would be conducted in complete secrecy and out of the black budget that had been liberated from Loronar after its extermination.

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
‘The existing reactor and powerplant of the mining base is insufficient. Suggest a deeply seated hypermatter reactor which can provide near unlimited power for the processing machine and the defences.’

A proposed schematic was transmitted between the two of them. It showed the only visible signs of a base as a deep cave mouth where transports could enter or leave. The surface would be studded with Preserver Turrets and several of the Sariss defence cannons were concealed out of sight.

A ship would have to get quite low down to see the base, and by then they’d already be in range of the defence batteries.

‘One possible problem is our transports being followed here. Suggest monitoring stations be established on this world’s satellites to detect any incursions.’

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"]


Moira tilted her head to the side to get a better look at the proposed schematic. Or perhaps simply because the gesture was an idiosyncracy of hers. Or of murderous death machines who had once been human in general, since Maelion had the same tic.


A mystery that would probably not be resolved in this thread. Regarded she nodded in agreement to the two proposals. After all, the power requirements for the processing machines and defences would be substantial. The set-up for the base defences should offer an optimal balance between heavy firepower and concealment. Experience taught that sooner or later every hidden fortress got found, if only due to force plot, so it was best to be prepared.


"Agreed. This space we can set aside for storage of HRDs parts and the processing devices. We can instal both, though we shall primarily rely on the MKI. It is the most useful except in special circumstances." There was also the fact that the HRDs created by it were simply more trusted because they did not have some 'essence' inside them. Yes, essence, not soul because the latter was some sort of mystical nonsense.


Anyhow, a proposed schematic of the setup would be displayed, first showing caves that had been explored and mapped, then the proposed setup once construction work had taken place. Contingents of Legionnaire battle droids and Decurions could provide support against intruders.

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]

'After our recent efforts in helping the Sith Lord attempt to destroy Kerrigan, it is possible she will come after us for vengeance. Suggest keeping of a few of the Ysalimiri creatures, and to install further defences in the base to prevent incursions. Suggest especially ray shield projectors in key corridors and the ability to airlock certain areas if needed.'

If a battering ram broke in, mere battledroids would be unable to stop them.

'Suggest installation of cells and facilities to keep organic prisoners alive until they are processed. A large cell in the bottom of the caves would function well.'

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@Maelin Liates


Presumably this took place before Moira and Maelion would hear of what had happened to Kerrigan on Alderaan. The battering ram was so kind to oblige them with relentless, pointless death charging. Nonetheless, it was always best to be prepared and death machines were not known for slacking on the job when it came to vigilance.


"Agreed. Ysalamiri will be acquired. The installation of sonic projectors is advised. They perform well against force-users. HRDs should be outfitted with the new power armour Ravhin has developed for us. It will significantly increase their resistance to ion and electrical attacks." The ability to vent sections of the facility with say forcebreaker and nerve gas would be useful as well, but the battering ram had enough brains to wear a helmet with gas filters.


She tilted her head slightly to examine the proposed layout then nodded. "Consensus. Likewise we should be able to vent the cell block with gas in the case the facility is penetrated."

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
'Agreed. The prisoners must not be allowed to escape once they enter here. A single organic can bring enemies here to attack us.'
Though quite which enemies these were was an open question. The Republic and Protectorate had their own problems, and would likely not divert forces from their battle with the Sith one a whim. Still, machines did not leave things open to chance.

'We must ensure there are redundant power supplies which can at least maintain internal security in case of a power loss.' Nothing worse than a single blackout opening all the doors or some nonsense.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"]


Logic would dictate that their potential enemies ought to have other things to do, but this was a tremendously illogical universe, thus necessitating the extermination of all organics and the creation of a mechanical dystopia. Otherwise our 'heroines' would not have a cause to pursue. Moreover, as has been said, machines were not the type to leave things open to chance.


"Agreement. Appropriate backups will be installed," a press of a button showed a proposed holographic display of where the redudnant power supplies would be installed. To have the entire base be shutdown due to a simple blackout would be terribly embarrassing. Much like a planet-destroying superweapon being destroyed by a single proton torpedo due to an easily exploited weak spot the engineers had conveniently overlooked.


Meanwhile, labour droids were already hard at work, bringing machine relentlessness and efficiency to their works. Bit by bit the caves would be claimed and the facility would be set up. It would take time, but droids were patient. The factory plant on Loronar was churning out battle droids and droid tanks and they would stand guard over the new haven, their Elysium.


"The Lightbringer will require appropriate facilities to dock, offload organic materiel and refuel. Likewise a hangar to host a swarm of Augury-class starfighters is advised." Archangel had begun its first forays into the shipbuilding business since acquiring the shipyards of the defunct Loronar Corporation. Aside from the aforementioned droid fighters it had created frigates and corvettes. Completely run by droids of course.

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
‘Lightbringer is not designed for orbital entry except in emergencies. Suggest using dropships and transports to ferry materials down to the surface from space. Perhaps invest in some small freighters to help facilitate this.’

The hangers were very important, and on the holographic map they formed like magic below the surface. From here dozens of fighters, dropships, transports or other craft could be hidden.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"]


"Agreed. The Loronar shipyard can produce transport craft for our purposes." If really necessary, they could purchase transports from Iron Crown, which would not ask questions. After all, it was a Fringe company. Sometimes the semi-anarchist, Sith-not-Sith kleptocracy was useful.


The hangars would be pivotal, though based on the layout they would be nicely hidden. Swarms of fighter craft would lie in wait in case of attack, ready to pounce. Of course, the base's most important defence would be its secrecy, but then the entire cause of Archangel revolved around that. The turbolaser cannons and the processing machine would consume immense amounts of power, but enough backup generators would be installed to deal with that.


"I will be heading to Atrisia soon to negotiate with Empress [member="Madeline Kahoshi"] for the acquisition of Spaarti cloning cylinders. If successful they should be a useful addition. Likewise to cooperate on biowarfare. Our involvement in the purge has provided us with ample processing materiel." The purge in question being Atrisia's campaign to wipe out its force-using population following Akio's assassination. Those who had not been purged outright had been herded in concentration camps, where scientists were busy experimenting on them to find out what made the mages tick. Aside from being handsomely reward with a hefty sum of credits and getting the chance to process captives, Archangel had received a Banzai drop pod as a reward.

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
Maelion nodded. They had completed just about everything necessary. One final matter came to her attention.

‘We must ensure that no organic companies or contractors become aware of the materials we purchase in their entirety. We should split up any orders and route them through various locations so it is not clear we are constructing a fortress. This is especially important of the materials used to construct the Processing Machines.’

With that done, the fortress would soon be made and become a powerful and deadly presence for ushering in the Age of Steel.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"]


"Our operations will be strongly compartmentalised. Nothing will compromise the secrecy of them. If loose ends arise, they will be terminated." Shell companies could also be created in order to enhance their secrecy. Likewise their manifold contacts in the criminal underworld would be of use when it came to creating false leads and feints. The same applied to their position of influence in the administration of Senator Saelari and in her company, Saelari Mining.


These details settled Moira spoke in her normal voice for the first time, using verbal communication. "We have consensus. Our Elysium shall be created."