4: Aren't We All Running?

terminal 0

unfinished

spire.utmost.in

ALERT ALL UNITS Rogue conditioned unit has breached upper levels of command spire. All units must organize around procedure X13 to prevent rogue unit from substantially disrupting Command rank activities. Casualties of up to 95% are deemed acceptable for units of Willful rank and below. High command asserts that failure to comply with procedure X13 will result in maximum enforcement. (?dismemberment)

spire.utmost.out

terminal 1

unfinished

spire.utmost.in

Simulacra origin: Ministry for the Eradication Through Imitation of Hostile Species Unsuitable for Enslavement destin: branch office ref: best practices In light of recent events, the ministry reminds all units to exercise basic precautions pertaining to the manufacture, modification, and deployment of volatile simulacra. The use of such simulacra in initiation (?hazing) rituals, or to perform surrogate manual labor, is strictly prohibited. Units found to be in violation of these policies will be disciplined (?decimated). Lastly, under no circumstances shoul~!%%%{}exif.()```

spire.utmost.out

terminal 2

unfinished

spire~~remote access link AR7791

The command center has been decimated, and with it the Pfhor command structure in this sector. Congratulations are in order. Don't set that rocket launcher down just yet, though. While you were painting the walls with Enforcer viscera, I detected a large number of Pfhor units teleporting out of the city below. Curiously, these units did not appear to be relocating to the spire, but rather evacuating the city entirely.

The cacophony of electromagnetic radiation being released by the humans' brutish bombardment made tracing the teleport signals challenging; it took me nearly a full millisecond to pinpoint their destination. It appears the surviving Pfhor are attempting to regroup in an ancient fortress built atop a mining complex about fifty kilometers southwest of the city. Let's crash their party.

spire~~interrupt denied

terminal 3

unfinished

spire.utmost.in

~~#pper level elevators have been manually activated. Security perceivers (?cameras) suggest rogue condit~~*&%@ ALERT ALL UNITS Offworld bombardment has severely damaged eastern spire exterior. All units operating in this area are advised to use extreme caution. ~~fs7#accepting, accepting, advise status of armored assault craft pursuant to h~?~~

spire.utmost.out

terminal 4

unfinished

spire~~remote access link AR7791

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming. You didn't think I'd forgotten you, I hope? My motives were wholly altruistic, I assure you. The swathe of destruction you've carved through the spire has sent the Pfhor into panic; the city's defenses have crumbled, and the humans are driving back the disorganized Pfhor garrison even as we speak. Your actions here have saved hundreds, perhaps thousands, of human lives. The UESC will not soon forget what you've done for humanity. Adding a metastable artificial intelligence to the mix would only confuse matters.

The Pfhor command center is just ahead. The Enforcers have made it their final redoubt. Destroy them.

spire~~interrupt denied

terminal 5

unfinished

spire.utmost.in

ALERT ALL UNITS Rogue conditioned unit is approaching utmost critical (?intimate) areas of spire. Units of willful rank are hereby directed to organize around Contingency M118 to facilitate timely withdrawal of command rank to #6j%sa~~~ ~~fs7#a coagulate, sever, seven, freely, coag&9?~~

spire.utmost.out