NEURAL LINK XM-T4UDS7 report

Status neutral systems nominal

Record

Begin report

Opening predicted in patrols at the following location at the following time:

19549541.195494 129787231.19573873 275111201752

Solution not found

Recommended damage control: break everything

Understood non-viability of recommendation.

Tactical assessment: intensify siege. Wait for the moment to come. They will starve or they will die fighting.

Secondary assessment: patience is not a virtue

Conclusion not reached

End report

245 YT, First day of Spring: Kivv

Avishag lay on her stomach in the shell of the old container where she and Melik and Badem had spent so many days in the past seasons. She held the old headphones up to her ears, fingers fiddling half-idly with the dials and wires. Half her focus was on the machine, and half elsewhere entirely. It felt right, being here. Like, when she was inside the old container, things weren’t so bad anymore. Yeah, a lot of the other containers around her were bombed out or ripped to shreds – but she didn’t have to look at those. If she closed her eyes and ignored the sounds beyond the wall to the south and listened to her own heart instead, she could imagine that in a few minutes Melik would come back, open the door, and step inside. Badem would probably be right behind him, telling some old joke they’d all heard a hundred times before.

They’d laugh anyway.

And they would never, never leave Avishag.

Her focus shifted when she heard something on the radio, though. That wasn’t unusual in itself – there was always someone talking on the radio, no matter which channel she tuned it to. The little thing was weak, couldn’t send signals, could barely pick them up – but it had certain advantages all the same. It’s like this, she thought – everyone is always watching the big guys – or the big radio machines – and trying to make sure they aren’t spotted by them. But there’s always a little fish that slips through the net. It’s just that nobody pays that little fish any mind, because what can it do? Stir up currents to change the mood of the ocean?

The little fish gets to live, but only because it’s too insignificant for anybody to care about killing it.

But the little fish sees things, hears things, that no one else does.

“The siege is going to be over soon, or so I heard.”

“Don’t be stupid. Things might get easier from here on out. Maybe. Or they might get a hell of a lot harder.”

“But we have the Emperor with us! God is on our side!”

“He’s not here yet. Besides, it’s not like he can just rip the walls down without effort.”

“But I thought –“

“That’s the problem, you think too much but you don’t pay enough attention. It makes you gullible. Look, the Emperor carries with him the memories of every past host, and that’s an asset, but –“

“Uh, captain, isn’t that…”

“Don’t worry about it, soldier. I’m just saying not to get cocky. We’ve been here long enough – how many failed attempts to get past that wall have you seen?”

“…”

“Exactly.”

“But the Emperor’s almost here – he’ll change all that!”

“…”

“…”

“Maybe. I hope so. Kill ‘em all, then we can all finally go home.”

Avishag stood up and walked to the door of the container. There was someone who needed to hear this.