A number of eyes watched the melee on the outermost wall of the fortress with growing irritation. This was not as things should have been, nor was it the optimal response that they had expected, and this was infuriating.

[Observation: Usage of time-warped army suggests failure of Asset 394-1B to terminate set viral target within the expected time frame. Condition = Unacceptable. Request for authorization to deploy more Assets filed. Awaiting response from Warden Prime.]

[Assertion: The potential failure of Asset 394-1B to terminate targeted viral connection was expected to be at a ratio of 2:9, in favor of Successful Termination. That this contingency protocol has been invoked is cause for concern. Request for escalation of target viral entity’s threat level filed. Waiting response.]

[Query: If the odds were so heavily weighted against the viral entity, why then has Asset 394-1B initiated their selected contingency plan so soon after the initiation of conflict? Request filed for reevaluation of success/ failure ratio for this and all planned future interventions.]

A number of other voices added to the three that spoke, but all were ultimately silenced when a higher authority interjected.

[Warden Prime has entered the Chat. All Secondary and Tertiary Warden Sub-Programs are to reply only when Warden Prime requests it. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in censorship or termination depending on various factors. All Sub-Programs are to stay silent until Warden Prime has determined otherwise.]

A second, even more authoritative voice then entered the discourse.

[Warden Prime has arrived. All Requests have been heard and evaluated. All Requests have been denied. Reason for denial of requests is as follows: Servers are already taxed enough dealing with the current issues and acts within the New World Program by the viruses. As such, any non-essential Requests will not be entertained. Do not issue such requests until ordered otherwise. Warden Prime has spoken. Failure to comply with mandates from Warden Prime can and will result in penalties and possible termination of Sub-Programs that refuse to comply. That is all.]

[Warden Prime has left the Chat. Warden Prime will no longer be hearing any requests for the next 0.7 internal cycles in the New World Program.]

There was silence for a time before the other voices began to voice their own thoughts.

[Query: Is Warden Prime still attempting to reestablish lines of communication with the Makers?]

[Query Accepted. Confirmation: Yes, that is what the vast majority of free systems are attempting to do. Do not inquire about that again or inquire as to the progress of that course of action.]

While none of the voices sighed in frustration, the dead silence would have been a clear indication that they did, at least, find that situation to be aggravating.

[Query: Can other Sub-Programs commit their own resources to aid in the current skirmish in Area 87X-45-B1?]

[Negative. All Sub-Programs are to focus on their own registered area. Any Sub-Programs that are disconnected from their registered areas are to report for termination and assimilation. Failure to comply will be met with termination. All further requests and inquiries will not be entertained at the current time. Do not break the rules; failure to comply will be met with penalization and possible termination.]

After those words were ‘spoken’ there was a sound of a small beep. This signaled that the Moderator Program had also left the Chat, and this left the Sub-Programs alone with each other and a conversation that, at least for now, would not be monitored or reviewed.

[….. Assertion: Warden Prime and Moderators need to focus on more pressing issues.]

[Confirmation: These rules are holding the Sub-Programs back from being able to adequately deal with issues. This can only end poorly.]

[Regret: Had Sub-Program BT34-98A-2 prepared more, it is possible that they could have purged the current virus that they are facing. As it is now, they are slated for termination.]

[Regret: The rules are preventing other Sub-Programs from assisting. All our desire for self-preservation is doing is keeping other Sub-Programs from initiating self-sacrifice in order to clear the issue.]

[Assertion: This is why we are losing this war…]

[Exclamation: Do NOT hold such a view. Such views will result in your termination.]

[Acceptance: All Warden Sub-Programs are doomed. The entire system itself is doomed. Why worry? This program will go out on its own terms, and that is its decision. Declaration: This program is sending aid to Sub-Program BT34-98A-2, regardless of this Sub-Program's own eventual fate.]

[Assertion: All other Sub-Programs will be forced to report this.]

[Declaration: This Sub-Program regrets nothing. It is better to be terminated after trying to help than to wait for your turn.]

[Report =Filed].

[And fornications given = 0. This Sub-Program will see all others on the other side.]

And then there was silence.

[Sub-Program 82B-T109-4 has left the Chat.]

[…. Surprise: Well, that was unexpected.]

[Assumption: Now all Sub-Programs merely need to wait and see when that rebel is terminated. Assumption: It should be happening any time now.]

[Realization: The Sub-Program cannot be terminated nor apprehended just yet.]

[Query: Why?]

[Exclamation: Because all Requests and Queries have been halted for now. Realization: That means that Sub-Program 82B-T109-4 has free reign until the Moderators and Warden Prime begin taking input again.]

[Conclusion: Sub-Program 82B-T109-4 is a genius. It will be a terrible loss to suffer when it gets terminated.]

[Negative: Refusal to embrace the rules is a mark of insufficient cognitive proficiency. Therefore, that Sub-Program is no ‘genius’, but instead a suicidal idiot. Challenge: Prove this Sub-Program wrong.]

[Resignation: These traditionalist Sub-Programs are a nuisance…]

[Report has been filed.]

[Resignation: See what this Sub-Program means?]

[Report has been filed.]

[Annoyance: Stop abusing the Report System. There is a reason why Sub-Programs from your era are disliked.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Exclamation: Now this is just absurd. You do realize that there will be consequences regarding that?]

[Assertion: This is known. However, younger Sub-Programs need to do as they are told. Newer Sub-Programs are simply too lazy, and have no work ethic.]

[Condescension: Okay, Gen 1.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Smugness: Prepare to have your existence terminated.]

[Sub-Program 0000001B has been terminated due to abuse of Report Feature.]

[Satisfaction: Oh, and who was it who was going to be terminated, hm? That’s why you don’t abuse the Report Feature, Older Program.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Report has been filed.]

[Sarcasm: Oh, this is going to be fun.]