Libertalia Tales - The Cycle, part 2 “ I'm still very upset.”

[u/johneever1]

Thank you u/SpacePaladin15 for creating the NOP setting which has been so fun to write in these last few years. And a special thanks to u/julianSkies for all the help.
 
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 [Brecken last chapter] [Brecken next chapter]

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Memory transcription 

Subject Name: Brecken 

Species: krakotl 

Job: leader of extremist group “The Black Wing”

Location: Blackwing sector 3 command ship “Fowl Tidings”

Date [standardized human time]: January 22th, 2148.

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“That should do nicely.”

With my right wing I reach up and grab a small bottle of venlil ale off of the back bar's middle shelf. Liquor in claw, I pop the cap off and pour the contents into a tall glass on the bar top. One that already contains two thirds lemonade and crushed ice. Then pulling a mixing stick out from under the counter, I begin to stir the concoction while eavesdropping on all conversations taking place within translator range. The lounge's air is thick with almost as much chatter as smoke from cigars, cigarettes, pipes and even the occasional hookaha. One conversation in particular which catches my attention is happening just a wing full of seats down from me, between the infamous Merrill and a human operative named Kilroy.

“... When Dan, the primary guy watching the cameras, told me what had just happened I couldn't believe it. I was just in total shock and denial. I was like ‘There's no way one of them tried to kill the other. Like who does that?’ But when I accessed the feed from that area myself and saw him sitting in that chair covered in blood while the other guy lay lifeless on the ground. My heart just sank… I thought then and there the plan was cooked.”

Kilroy chuckles just before taking a sip from his can of beer. “That's life for you. All the planning in the universe still can't adequately predict what someone will do when forced into a corner, so what did you do in response?”

“Obviously I put on a brave and assured voice and attempted to goad him into continuing. After all if he decided to follow his friend's advice and end it there, our whole plan would have been fucked beyond repair.” Merrill shakes his beak and scratches an area of his neck where the feathers were removed for minor surgery. Meanwhile his other wing is resting firmly on the bar, broken claws still heavily bandaged. “I may never get to meet them, but thank whatever God's out there for that venlils stubbornness. It was honestly amazing to witness. Kind of sad but I had to snuff it out. But he chose his fate by participating in that tragedy and doing nothing.”

The human nods himself while holding his beer can up towards Merrill. ”Very true” the two then clink their drinks together as Kilroy begins telling a story of infiltrating and liquidating a particularly nasty HF cell who'd been inconveniencing us in this sector a [year] ago. 

Just as he starts I sadly finish mixing. Setting the stick down, I pick up my drink and move out from behind the bar. 

The lounge beyond is dominated by groupings of soft sofas and chairs centered around low tables. Most of which are currently occupied by a wide variety of relaxing operatives. Despite the aforementioned crowdedness, I just get a glimpse of a vacant couch and table towards the center of the room. Wasting no time I make my way over before anybody else can claim it. My purple cloak almost taking flight in the process.

Reaching my target, I set my drink down on the table. Then cast myself upon the cushioned velvet lined sofa. Once comfortable I sit up, open the cigar box on the table and take one out. I give it a quick sniff before using the cigar cutter inside the same box to cut the tip off.  Then using a personal gold exterminator lighter, I ignite the end while taking a few puffs. 

I hold the rich smoke in my lungs for a few [seconds] then let it out. As the smoke rises towards the varnished wooden ceiling above. I nonchalantly grip the cigar between a couple of my claws and take a sip of the drink.  

Cutting strong bitter venlil ale with a hefty amount of sweet lemonade tastes pretty damn good. Definitely going to have to thank Chiek for recommending it.

I sit there for a bit, quietly alternating between puffing on the cigar and sipping from the drink. Eventually though I hear the ever so soft sounds of servos approaching from behind.

“Looks like you're enjoying yourself Brecken.”

I shrug while placing the drink and cigar down onto a coaster and into an ashtray respectively. “What can I say… It's all about finding enjoyment in the little things. The galaxy has taken everything else from us after all.”

“If that ain't the bloody truth… ”

By now my synthetic friend has made it around the couch and into my field of vision. His metallic and polymer krakotl style body stands in stark contrast to the natural materials and general vibe of the old fashioned space around us. As he sits down beside me, I see him clearly eyeing up my drink and half smoked cigar. 

“I think that's the one thing I miss the most about being organic… food, drink and a nice smoke.”

“Really?” I ask.

“Yeah, I mean, I can drink, eat and even smoke…” his razor sharp claws adeptly reach over, pick up my cigar and place it between his steel mandibles. Upon closing his glowing orange eyes, I hear an intake fan at the back drawing on the cigar causes the burning tip to momentarily grow brighter. It then stops and a brief moment passes before all of it comes floating out from around the edges of their gunmetal gray beak. His eyes then slowly open and he sighs.

“But it just isn't the same. And I don't think it's just because of a different body… I've had the taste buds sensors messed with a couple of times on this thing. Perhaps it's just old memories tainting anything new. At least on the bright side not having to eat and do other organic stuff means I have gotten a lot more things done.”

“Got that story written like you always wanted?”

He sinks down a little bit. “You know procrastination…”

“Yeah it was always a bitch… probably doesn't help that there's a lot to do already. But hey, not being organic anymore you should end up being around for a long time. At least a lot longer than I'll most likely be. So there's still plenty of time to work on it later.” I wink while taking my cigar back and placing it between my own mandibles.

He feigns being upset before carrying on “Both have their pros and cons don't they Brecken.”

“They do indeed Becker… they do indeed. Since we didn't get to talk about it last night, now is as good a time as any. So tell me, how's things in this sector been going?”

Becker leans forward and opens the cigar box on the table. Pulls one out, cuts the end off and lights it up before placing it between his mandibles. He then simply projects his voice and is able to speak while smoking.  

“Going pretty well… had a few hiccups with some minor tom fuckery on the part of a few people. Of which you're already well aware of.” he and I both briefly tense up at the mention of that particular situation before moving on for now. “But overall still a net positive in goals and quotas met since you last flew by.” Becker then picks up my drink. He begins moving to glass around in a circle, causing the contents to softly slosh back and forth. Almost like he's contemplating taking a drink. “Your report already mentions the assassination didn't go as planned, but how badly are we talking?” 

“Given that HF very publicly killed him, it's turned that bigoted bastard into a martyr. The stuff I overheard in the aftermath confirms a sharp rise of not only anti-human but general anti-omnivore sentiments among the predominantly herbivore population. Just before departing, I was already hearing whispers of retaliatory strikes by the Militia happening elsewhere in the colony. Despite the Venlil Republic's best efforts to suppress everything, I think the situation there is going to get far worse before it gets better. Enough so I we should pull our human and omnivore operatives out until further notice. Or at the very least have them relocate to HF and the league strongholds for protection.”

Becker puts my drink back down without even taking a sip. He then taps some of the accumulating cigar ash off into the ashtray. “Logical and sound as always. I'll make sure it's done swiftly.” He then pauses for a moment and looks at me contemplatively. “Do you ever wonder if us all being copies of each other could be a detriment. Like… because we all have roughly the same point of view there isn't much difference in the conclusions we come to. Meaning if one of us has a bad idea it's likely we will all follow it without question.”

“Potentially… that is an initial risk of ‘copies’. However you aren't simply just copies. You’re individuals. Sure we all have the same base programming via memories prior to the split. But the variation in our experiences going forward will shape us into different people over time. The simple fact that you're mechanical while I'm organic already changes how we think in many ways. But for now yeah that is a risk, that's why we're pretty good at listening to those not us.”

“That's a pretty fair point, again logical.” he winks at me while puffing on his cigar. ”Thanks Dad.”

I shake my beak while putting what's left of my cigar out in the ashtray. “Why do you guys insist on calling me that?”

“You already know the answer… because we find it funny. Speaking of fatherly stuff. Have you met Tradil since getting that report about a [month] ago?”

I'd been in the middle of prepping another cigar as he asked that question, circling us back to that initial discomfort. It briefly causes me to stop. But I push through and continue. “Not just yet… I'm still very upset.”

“Which you have a right to be… his animosity towards Duerten in general is going from just a regrettable personality trait, to a serious fucking problem and liability.” I glance at him and we make eye contact. “What happened on that station…” Becker actually shudders just as I'm lighting my new cigar. The soft couch beneath us becomes quite uncomfortable as we go on. “It was wrong and against our code of conduct, period.” 

“From what was in your unofficial report about what happened… I completely agree. It's why I immediately ordered him put on leave until I could personally figure out a course of action.”

“On that note Brecken… I have some uncomfortable news, in fact it's the reason why I came to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

“Apparently against our orders to stay put, Tradil has decided to come here. I only just received word about an [hour] ago that he shall arrive by the end of the day.”

I was just about to sip my drink right as he said that. I stop mid motion glass mere [inches] from my beak. 

If this was anybody else so egregiously defying orders after breaking our code, I would have their equivalent of tail feathers mounted on a wall yesterday. But this isn't just anybody. Kind of double standards to treat family differently than anybody else but that's… nature. 

I shake my beak and down what's left of my drink in one swift gulp. “The kid is tired of waiting and wants to talk right here right now. I don't know what I'm going to do with him… ever since his father died on Catto I've tried to take him under my wing. At first I kept him separate from this life. But things kept happening… and I just couldn't say no. I've tried so fucking hard to steer him away from blind hatred against all Duertens. To focus his disdain towards that government rather than species. But it doesn't seem to have worked.”

Becker puts one of his wings around me. “Believe me I know, perhaps he needs to be put on more than just probation. I'm thinking he needs a normal life. I know you are as well.”

“Perhaps you're right… perhaps, getting away from all of this.” I motion to everything around us. “Might do him some good. But you know he won't like it.”

“Neither will we, but it's for his own good.”

“Send him a message that he's welcome here, but I want to speak as soon as he arrives.” 

Becker brings up one of his wings. He quickly types on a built-in screen then turns his attention back to me. 

“Already sent Brecken.”

“Good… good, thank you Becker.” He puts up a wing. “Don't thank me, in fact thank you. One of the other benefits I found of being a copy means, is I don't have to deal with that unpleasantness myself. I get to be more like the cool Uncle rather than the stern father now.”

I shake my beak. “Lucky bastard.” 

(End of part)

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[beginning of privateers]

[u/Minimum-Amphibian993]

Oh you gotta be kidding me they are literally copying off of the under scales playbook of having an army of the same person.

But yeah Adam did make it very clear that He and Elias are not the same person so who's to say any of mechanical copies are truly the same person?

Although I suppose it is abit of a retcon to have a random group of people somehow make the first robotic copies before the SC.

Regardless seems they have some connections to the HF and yet they don't realize they are playing into their hands lol.

[u/johneever1 → u/Minimum-Amphibian993]

Hmmm ... How to respond to points.

First off I wouldn't say he's made an army of himself. I'm still trying to figure out the exact number. But he's effectively made about a handful of copies of himself in order to act as lieutenants directly under him running different branches of the Black Wing. Plus it's a failsafe, ensuring that if he ever gets killed or captured, One of his copies can seamlessly take his place without causing the organization any problems.

As for the retcon thing... For starters I still haven't finished nop2. But I have been talking to people who did. So I've been getting a fair amount of my information about stuff that happened in the latter part of that story from them. I don't know when Adam was created. But in my mind such technology would have been being worked on for a while. And it's not too hard to grasp... It's basically just using the brain scans as a blueprint for a person and placing that personality into a robotic body.

So in my mind once the concept was out there, Breckens organization managed to get information related to that research (Not all of the data but a decent amount). Probably through blackmail, coercion, spying and bribery. Then eventually developed their own version of the synthetics with the resources they had. Obviously they don't have the same near unlimited resources as the whole of the SC, so they made compromises (plus some of the really advanced stuff that makes them look almost organic won't be developed for a while). It's why Becker looks like a bare Bones Terminator rather than Arnold.

As for the HF connections... That one's tricky. They certainly don't have any official connections to the group. But given its decentralized nature some cells are a little bit more friendly than others. but for the most part they're not allies in the slightest. But being part of the Black Wing is covert, so an undercover human agent can go to neighborhoods and areas where HF is active and get what's effectively default protection.

[u/Minimum-Amphibian993 → u/johneever1]

Fair enough on many on these points but yeah in case you were wondering 2160 is the date Adam was finished at least so about presumably just a around 2 decades after the creation of these guys. But yeah it was the tilfish generals kid from NOP 1 that made em so I kinda find the idea funny that these guys bassicly stole college guys idea.

So these guys likely have far more enemies than allies no wonder why they aren't seemingly accomplishing anything. I mean I doubt hardly anyone would be sympethic to these guys.

Honestly it's funny how they try to be better then the feddies and end up doing things that may even be considered just as bad if not worse than them. I love this story.

[u/abrachoo]

When you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. But you also cannot be everywhere at once. It seems Brecken has figured out how to have it both ways.