Chapter Text
Chapter 001: Pearl Harbor Ascent Mission
AXSTRP Chapter 001 20230101e1
Different communication, thought patterns, and sounds:
Present scenarios
"Speaking"
Prologue
In Automata Era, the Earth no longer belonged to Humanity. The last of humanity (Gestalts) went extinct in 4198. Only human creations - androids stayed active in that timeline. After the sudden invasion of the Earth by aliens in 5012, androids found themselves on the verge of extinction due to the living machines that the aliens produced. Some androids who managed to escape established satellite bases over their Earth. They developed new androids to fight the machines and take back Earth. Unfortunately, they never succeeded. In 11,937, most androids lost their will to fight and retreated from the front lines. Zinnia, the chief of technical development for the human forces believed androids had lost the will to fight because they had lost the one thing they believed in: Humanity, so that android scientist created Project YoRHa: A ruse telling all android humans were still alive on the moon, just to give androids the will to fight.
In Cyberpunk Era, the twin otherworlders – Estella and Elizabeth successfully abducted Devola and Popola from the Automata Era: 11,936 based on the intel provided by Rory Mercury. With the magic and knowledge recovered from the twin android models, Estella and Elizabeth mobilized their MegaCrops assets to build the new Project Gestalt and Replicant System. After completing the Secure Your Soul Program with game-changing technologies from the Automata Era, the otherworlders created Project AhRoy with assets they collected from different timelines to influence the Automata Era as they had promised to Rory before she let them use her Gate…
LOADING – BOOTING SYSTEM…
Commencing System Check
Relic Biochip: Green
Initializing Digital Neural Engram
Dataset Received. Analysis Attempted. 50% Of Data Currently Unavailable
Loading Geographic Data
Vitals: Green
Remaining Energy: 100%
Core Box Temperature: Normal
Core Box Internal Pressure: Normal
Activating IFF
Activating FCS
Initializing Mikoshi Connection
Launching DBU Setup
Activating Inertia Control System
Activating Environmental Sensors
Cyberware Diagnostics: Green
Security Systems: Green
Network Framework: Green
Equipment Authentication: Complete
Equipment Status: Green
All System Green
Combat Preparations Complete_
[Cyberpunk Era: 2082]
(5 years after the assault on Arasaka Tower)
Johnny Silverhand woke up on her bed. Alt was smoking on the sofa next to her. Since the otherworlders invited both of them into their AhRoy Project. They lived like a couple again. Repeating what they did before Alt’s kidnapping. However, today was different…
“God. I feel sick. Don’t like this at all. Do you really go through the deal Arasaka made with you?” Johnny asked her girlfriend again. She knew she couldn’t change her mind, but she still need to do it. There was no time left now.
“I told you before. Estella is not Arasaka. We can trust her,” Alt responded impatiently. They repeated the same argument they had in the last few months.
“That blackened bitch betrayed her boss…” Johnny said. She hated repeating what she said before, but her mind was unchanged.
“I know, but that’s her way to save Yorinobu Arasaka from himself. Can’t argue with that,” Alt responded. Yorinobu Arasaka still lived today despite he murdered his father – Saburo Arasaka. The punishment the rebellious son received was far lighter than he deserved. That proved Estella successfully bargained with Hanako Arasaka for the well-being of her former boss.
“She’s still Arasaka Executive. A corpo-rat. No different from Toshiro Harada,” Johnny argued. She just hated everything relating to Arasaka, especially after V, an ex-corpo sold her out to save her own skin.
“The Arasaka Relic Project Director people know isn’t the real Estella. I saw her code. She should be a nurse rather than a corpo, but she played her role too well. No one realizes she is rogue AI like me. While I built my own army outside the MegaCorps’ grasp, she built hers inside Arasaka. Right under her boss’ nose. We aren’t that different,” Alt said. She sometimes wondered why she didn’t pay more attention to the real world and help people in need. If she started doing that decades ago, she may have a loyal army under her thumb like Estella did rather than relying on hired gun who had no loyalty and made her disappointed every damn time.
“She lusts for power. Got into bed with Yorinobu then betrayed him for her own good. She will do that to us, too,” Johnny warned. She worked with MegaCrops before. Never ended well.
“Estella is a better person than she looks. She wants to be friends with us. Used her power in Arasaka to help people. Gave new bodies to all Soulkilled Pseudo Intellects for free. Compensated us when we stop hostile. Tried to give back our lives. You should accept that,” Alt ignored Johnny and got in her clothes. Thanks to the otherworlders. Alt gained many resources inaccessible to her before. Besides living in a new body, her Ghost Town greatly developed. Now, she can confront all MegaCrops directly. NetWatch wasn’t a threat to her anymore. For old times’ sake, Alt wore a form-fitting white tank top under her black leather jacket and a pair of worn-out blue jeans. She dressed like a rocker girl with black fingerless bike gloves and knee-high long boots. The biggest change was her body. It wasn’t just a baseline human body with a doll-chip like most AI used. In short, it came from the Automata Era.
In the Automata Era, after androids being beaten by the machine lifeforms repeatedly for millenniums, an android scientist called Zinnia created a new type of android known as “YoRHa” upon the sixth orbital satellite base, the “Lab”. Unlike normal androids, YoRHa units’ bodies lied a powerful energy source made from the cores of the machine lifeforms. They were rare resources that could not be replicated by Cyberpunk Era technologies. With multiple high-quality cores from machine lifeforms, YoRHa units were exceptionally powerful than almost everything. No Arasaka unit’s output could compete with them.
With Rory Mercury’s assistance, the otherworlders recovered both the technologies and materials of Project YoRHa when the sixth orbital satellite base, the “Lab” fell into Earth’s atmosphere because of a large fire. Combining them with assets and technologies of different eras, the otherworlders created their alternative form of Project YoRHa. They named it “Project AhRoy” - the reversal of Project YoRHa. A private corporation created for armed interventions to influence the Automata Era. To achieve that goal, the otherworlders recruited many digital neural engrams including Alt Cunningham and Johnny Silverhand. All of them were given cutting-edge prototypes of the new “AhRoy” units.
Same as YoRHa units, AhRoy units were mainly powered by the cores from machine lifeforms in the Automata Era. Both shared many similarities, including materials and structures, but their design philosophies differed. While YoRHa was created as the disposable unit for the perpetual war, AhRoy was created to live a better future. For example, Alt Cunningham’s AhRoy unit was developed from the blueprint of the experimental YoRHa unit Scanner No. 21. While No. 21 was unknowingly rigged to blow in certain circumstances such as receiving superiors’ command or meeting specific conditions like killed in action. Alt Cunningham’s new body was designed for her survival in netrunning. Baseline humans were just too fragile in the Net of both the Cyberpunk Era and Automata Era. However, all AhRoy units were basically immune to all threats in the Net of Cyberpunk Era. With Alt’s perfection, they may be able to survive a direct encounter with the Terminal of the Machine Network…
“We oughta leave. Right now,” Johnny never liked Project AhRoy. She had already fought too many times in the Cyberpunk Era for her liking. If Alt didn’t show up. She wouldn’t step into this mess at all. She was only here for Alt. That was why she agreed to switch to a female AhRoy body and trained with other people for a war unrelated to her.
“If Project AhRoy works, I’ll have almost unlimited resources at my disposal. Gaining more than I ever imagined. I can’t miss this chance,” Alt said to her ex. Then, she walked out of the bedroom without turning back and left Johnny behind. She got into the lift but Johnny rushed in before she closed the lift doors.
“We could use some air. Right now,” Johnny pushed the button to the top. She dragged Alt with her outside.
“You always be such a bastard, Johnny,” Alt crossed her hands.
“I wanna save your life,” Johnny got close, but Alt didn’t let her touch her.
“You tried, and you killed me,” Alt still remembered how stupid her ex could be. If Johnny didn’t pull her plug recklessly in 2013, she might still have a normal life unlike now.
A flight unit descended from the sky and landed before them. The Arasaka Relic Project Director jumped out of the front seat from its cockpit. She looked between them. It seemed Alt had called Estella in case of Johnny stopped her at the last minute.
“Johnny, I never wanted you to come with me. That’s the twins’ idea. They asked me to invite you. Now, I want you to stay out of this. Estella is ready to transfer your Engram back to a human body. You should return to V. Not come with us,” Alt spoke to Johnny. She had no intention to give up her journey to the Automata Era. To her, Johnny was just a past. She won’t refuse this golden opportunity for her.
“I’m not forcing anyone to go with me. If you don’t want to join, you should leave now. That includes you, too. Alt. You have already done more than I hoped for. I won’t have any opinion if you choose to stay here with Johnny,” Estella said to them. Most volunteers already boarded the submarine. They were ready to go through the widened Gate and entered the Automata Era. Then, Rory Mercury would close her dimensional portal once they passed through. Preventing anything entering from the Automata Era. She won’t open her Gate unless Project AhRoy succeeded. That turned their trip into a suicidal mission.
“Soon as it starts, there’ll be no backing down, no chance at extraction, no chance of survival if anyone noticed what we’re going to do. Got one shot and one shot only. But if Project AhRoy works, we’ll gain more than we ever imagined. I already made up my mind. Johnny. What about you?” Alt asked her ex one last time.
“This is gonna be a disaster…” Johnny spoke. She never changed her mind about fighting in another world.
Alt just shrugged. She was about to leave with Estella. Going to the other side of the Gate…
“I’ll get you to that fucking server. Alt,” Johnny surrounded to her girlfriend.
“Are you Sure?”
“After all, we know a thing or two about ops like this. We’ll blast our way into Mt. Ka'ala just like we did back in ‘Saka Tower. Then find the way inside machine server. Alt. I’ll do this for you.”
[Automata Era: 11,941 December 8]
(4 years after No.9 rewrite Project YoRHa) (2 years after the 14th Machine War started)
45 minutes from the commencement of the Pearl Harbor Descent Mission
Number of YoRHa units participating: 16
“So that’s the ocean. It’s so beautiful…” No.2 said. The experimental YoRHa squadron was descending to Earth.
“No. 2, why are you pointing out the obvious?” No. 16 interrupted. Her Flight Unit flew beside No. 2.
“No.16…” NO. 2 said sheepishly.
“Hey, what kind of place do you think the Earth is?” No. 4 asked her teammates.
“Won’t it be just like the simulations?” No. 21 responded emotionlessly.
“C’mon, that’s not what I meant!” No. 4 argued.
“The ocean, the earth, who cares what it’s like?” No. 16 stated annoyedly.
“We’re in the midst of the descent mission, you guys. Cut the unnecessary chatter,” No. 3 interrupted.
“Yeah, yeah…”
“No. 3 is always so serious…”
“Haha. We’re ahead of schedule, so the mission should go smoothly.” The YoRHa squadron captain – No. 1 laughed.
“No.1… As expected from our captain…” No. 2 said nervously.
“Transmission to bunker: This is YoRHa Squadron captain No. 1. Conditions are favorable. 40 minutes until arriving at our destination point. No signs of enemies have been confirmed. This’ll be a breeze!” No. 1 eagerly reported to Commander White.
“This is bunker command. Confirming restoration of communication functions to the 16 YoRHa units,” Commander of the “Bunker” base – White replied in her orbiting satellite base. Staying far away from the battlefield.
“All units have passed the maximum heating point,” Operator Futaba reported.
“Now initiating the cooling program,” Operator Yotsuba reported.
“Don’t let your guard down, No. 1,” Commander White spoke.
“You’re such a worrier, commander,” No. 1 replied.
Suddenly, a new voice cut into the communication between the “Bunker” and the YoRHa squadron. Surprising all YoRHa personnel...
“Commander White. Call off your suicidal bomber, or I will purge your forces. This is your only warning.” The glitching female voice spoke to White hostilely.
“Who are you? How do you get into our channel?” White immediately requested an answer, ‘This’s impossible. We’re the most elite unit in the Army of Humanity. How did she crack our encryption?’
“If you put Pearl Harbor Descent Mission on hold, I may tell you.”
“You have no authority here. Reveal yourself or I will…” White spoke in reflex like the perfect commander she always pretended. Before her sentence finished, an abnormally high current passed through the command center. Almost all equipment was set ablaze instantly. Severing the communication between the Bunker and the YoRHa Squadron.
The monitors on the wall went dark. Emergency lighting was turned on because the command center normal lighting failed. Smoke was slowly spreading from multiple fire sources. Disabling the command center.
“What happened?” Commander White never expected the Bunker could be compromised so easily. The electrical fires destroyed the consoles. Stopping the commander and the operators from doing their jobs.
“What should we do?” Operator Futaba asked immediately. This was the first time she faced an electrical fire. Her training never told her how to handle this circumstance.
“We can’t support the YoRHa Squadron without the command center,” Operator Yotsuba stated obvious. There was no backup plan for them, so both operators could only ask White for further instruction.
“Put down the fire first. We can’t let it spread to other sections. We will repair the communication system and root out the sabotages later. The high command must know what happens here!”
Author’s Note
[20221227]
When I wrote this chapter, I could only compare the Cyberpunk couple - Johnny Silvehand and Alt Cunningham with the StarCraft couple – Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan. There were too many differences between them. I hoped I had done a good job in writing their post-Cyberpunk 2077 love live…
[20221230]
The most important reason for severing the communication between the Bunker and the YoRHa Squadron is to stop White from blowing up No. 2 and her friends immediately. This is also a kind of plot device, and I don’t want to get into the same argument about android technology’s superiority again. There is one thing for sure. It’s better to force No. 2 to think rather than follow commands blindly till she loses everything in real. This is the main reason this crossover exists.