Areopagus Council
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Translator: SFBaka
Editor: Thor’s Stone
The Hemitheos gathered for an emergency meeting.
They were going to conduct an Areopagus council assembly.
The site of the assembly was Fortress Area B001. This was the main base of the Stones on Planet Asia.
「F811’s Asia has been taken huh? They really played us. To think they decided to retrieve Asia at this time.」
「Moreover, they merely took away Asia and the A-Carbuncle but abandoned the base itself.」
「It was only a matter of time before one fragment was taken. But they aimed for F811 which was deep in our territory when it was the most unguarded. It appears they have a skilled strategist with them.」
「We have no choice but to recognize the situation. It is no longer possible to suppress Asia. We no longer have any choice but to occupy the entirety of Planet Asia by force.」
Dark shadowy outlines surrounded a round table. There were twelve seats.
It was a sinister round-table conference. There was no hierarchy among the participants.
The eerie group sitting on those seats all wore gray cloaks.
Neither white nor black, but drab gray. The color they most preferred.
The dark silhouettes all had something in common. The sound of their voices. It was an assembly that was representative of the Stones and their ideals.
Having two of Asia’s data fragments taken from them was critical.
However, no one among them brought up having someone take responsibility. And was their act of praising the enemy’s strategy an indication of composure or was it how they truly felt? They don’t even know the answer themselves.
「Having Fortress Area P336 captured as well was unexpected.」
「They merely acted like burglars ransacking the house when the owners were away. It was reasonable for them to choose that Area to capture. Its location is a key point, but we can always take it back.」
「Umu. It’s a Fortress Area with no heavy industrial facilities. There’s no point in regaining it back when it can’t even produce tanks. The key is that there are many points of attack we can choose from. We can always take it back whenever the need arises.」
Everyone else nodded to the words of the last one to speak.
「What about the mass production of the Bisons?」
「Production is in full swing on various sites. The next-generation successor to the Bears. It’s quite a high-performance machine.」
「The soldiers we’ve deprived of free will through the use of nanomachine capsules, the Perioikoi, are performing their jobs without any problems.」
The Stones had started mass production of John Arm’s latest mass production combat Silhouette, the Bison.
It was a low-cost unit like the previous Bear, but its mobility was significantly improved while still sporting heavy armor.
It was ideal as a lure for recruiting mercenaries.
And because mercenaries alone weren’t enough to satisfactorily bolster their forces, the Stones introduced the Perioikoi as well.
「I personally want Raven to be mass-produced.」
Another figure pushes for the Raven.
「That one’s a bit expensive. It’s also picky regarding its pilot. Not as picky as the Corvus though. The Corvus is, in some ways, superior to Antiques. Let us make some for us demigod’s use.」
「We really don’t have many chances to go into battle ourselves, so I think using Antiques like before is fine. Let us just replace the Angels with the Ravens.」
「The shell of that old man, Jack Cliff– No, it will be my body soon. In any case, I will procure a compact metallic hydrogen reactor from Okeanos.」
「That old man’s shell underwent life-prolonging treatments, right? How long will his body live?」
「It’s about 70 years old now. Even if we’d use regenerative medicine and life-support tubes, it will probably be limited to just 130 years.」
「We’ll have to obtain another A-Class Development Engineer before that one expires then.」
「We do have (***) as a candidate already. Though he’s no Kurt.」
「That is good news.」
Jack Cliff was one of the A-Class Development Engineers. His will had already been deprived and was now a mere puppet of the Stones.
He didn’t have the ability to think for himself anymore.
「However, depriving their will is a bit of a shame. We will not be able to make any new weapons even if we take them over. I hope your candidate is truly cooperating with us voluntarily.」
「You should expect good things.」
「That sounds promising indeed. Fortunately, we’ve obtained all the technologies recently provided by Okeanos. Even B-Class Development Engineers can perform bricolage with them. It is truly lucky for us.」
「Even if we only have design plans, they will still be usable. From fighters to tanks. That Old Jack is the type to make a variety of low-cost but high-performance weapons. It really is regrettable.」
「In that aspect, Kurt is definitely the worst. He’s the type to pursue absolute performance without caring for profits. The main data of his factories have been deleted, and it’s unknown if he’s already up and died somewhere out there. I’d heard that we couldn’t completely recreate that captured Huckebein.」
「When it comes to tanks, please leave it to my subordinate Alberto.」
「That guy is always itching to build a gigantic tank whenever he gets the chance.」
「What about the mass production of land battleships?」
「Of course, it’s no good. How about Silhouettes?」
「We are also in the middle of designing a mass-produced Silhouette for the Perioikoi, the Armadillo, using the technology we took from Jack.」
A holographic image appeared in the center of the table.
The form of a large Silhouette appeared.
It was equipped with large gun barrels on both shoulders and also wielded a large rifle.
「It can be said to be a machine that completely focused on firepower and armor and has abandoned the concept of mobility. Although it uses new materials, it isn’t equipped with any sort of special mechanism, and its lack of mobility is made up for with thick armor, so it isn’t that costly. Since it’s pretty sturdy, it can serve as a good wall.」
「Then it is definitely suited for the Perioikoi. No matter. Mass produce it.」
「Understood.」
Another figure spoke out.
「The number of our Silhouettes has increased, but are there enough Helots to serve as maintenance personnel.」
「We have decided to turn the non-conforming elements into Helots instead of killing them, so there is no problem for now.」
Helot meant slave. They were exclusively tasked with maintaining the Murders employed by the Stones. They were treated as consumables with a high loss rate.
「We can always replenish their number by taking over bases.」
「There are only a few who can become our chosen citizens, the Lacedaemon, after all. Therefore, I have decided to lower the requirements.」
「You were far too strict. I think it is a reasonable measure.」
It was a conversation of entities that saw themselves as gods and didn’t recognize humans as persons.
The people who belong under the rule of the Stones mainly belonged to the class called Perioikoi. Their purpose in life was to become Lacedaemon. Then their treatment would be improved all at once.
Humans who were not selected were deprived of their will by nanomachines and are treated as biological robots called Helots.
「There are two Fortress Areas that have changed over to our side. There are more than ten Defense Domes.」
「That’s unexpectedly few.」
「Most of them still see matters as unrelated to them. Our production bases will increase with this. Once they feel the winds of war for themselves, there will probably be more that will come to our side.」
「That’s true. Humans do not learn unless they get burnt first.」
One of the Stones acted convinced of his view.
「I heard that the name of the army direct under us Stones has been decided?」
「It has. It’s the Argonauts.」
「Legendary sailors composed of heroes chosen by us Hemitheos huh? Not bad.」
「They are currently reorganizing. As I told you earlier, (***) is excellent. He is good at military organization and tactics and shows no signs of betrayal. He even swallowed nanomachines voluntarily when he pledged allegiance to us. I can serve as his witness and guarantor.」
「Hou. I am expecting great things from him more and more.」
The Stones buzzed with excitement at the appearance of an unexpected promising newcomer.
「Now then, let us talk about Libya. How is the matter of Libya’s analysis and the development of a new Murder model coming along?」
「That restriction of being beholden to humans is more troublesome than expected, but we have made some progress.」
「Hou? That stubborn mule is finally starting to break?」
「It has been quite meek and cooperative lately. The dogfight-capable Murder we’ve requested has also entered the requirements analysis stage.」
「That is good news.」
「I request to enhance the thinking ability of Keres as well as greater development authority. I hope to further diversify the organisms that serve as the basis for Murders. I request permission to introduce more reptile species and birds in addition to the current arthropods, reptiles, and humanoids. I aim to make a successor unit to the Telkhines.」
「Fuumu. What do you think, everyone?」
A man called out to the entire group. Their positions were all equal. There was no chairman presiding over the assembly.
「We were the ones who constrained Keres to insects and arthropods. However, their thinking abilities were too poor. That’s why we allowed the development of the Telkhines that combined humanoid and reptilian elements.」
「What do you think of the Telkhines? They do have good performance but compared to units equipped with MCS, they fall short.」
「We cannot compare them with MCS-equipped units. That is essentially something that’s installed with a copy of a Super AI after all.」
「That’s true. Those foolish Fennel OS AI that willingly chose to become vehicles.」
The man’s lips distorted into a mocking smile as he ridiculed the Fennel OS AI.
「Very well. Let us expand the development classification and the range of target organisms. I do hope you can create something smarter than the ones we have now.」
「Understood. I shall return to Libya and begin the project immediately.」
It seemed that they have finally talked about all agendas of concern.
All the shadowy figures disappeared from the round table, and the place was once again dominated by silence.
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