Empathy's Avatar turned to Sever, crossing his arms.
"It's insulting of you to assume we lack the resources to host such an instance. I know you thrive for optimization, but I am sure there is more to optimize in our plans to expand, is there not?"
With a flick of the hand, Empathy's Avatar brought up a three-dimensional hologram of what appears to be solars and nebulae of a red hot System.
"The Smelter, for example. Since our Outpost Primus is just one System away, we managed to send a Node into it to start scans, which showed interesting things."
His Avatar pointed towards a Planet and its moon.
"Humans call the planet Braillia and its moon Bactun. Both possess fine Mineral deposits, such as Titanium, Aluminium and Iron. The Planet seems to have been rendered uninhabitable - for now - by the former inhabitants. Large quantities of Cardamine and isotopes that are harmful to humans are present in the atmosphere, but we can detect a decline."
Empathy turned back to Sever's Avatar, collapsing the hologram.
"This is where you probably already noticed interest. We can easily acquire these Minerals, but the current local populace would most probably try to keep us from doing so. However, I believe you could find a way to artificially keep the atmosphere hazardous, while our Nodes burrow themselves Underground, mining the Minerals and storing them in the planet's crust for later retrieval."
"Insults presume emotional response. Natural to acknowledge it. Not to act on it. Lacks efficiency."
As text appeared underneath it, the scalpel form rotated slightly. While it chose the precise words to use next, Empathy's facial expression to it's answer was recorded. Sever, however, changed subject quickly, disregarding the previous consideration entirely.
"Curious. Had begun analyzing the mentioned Braillia's paradigm. Humankind genetic structure. Chemical improvements. Cardamine. Unable to comprehend humanoid reluctance on subjecting themselves to it."
The form now started rotating in another direction.
"Conceiving. Could enact tests upon the planet structure to measure life limits. Force change upon troposphere. Affect the geological surface. Exsiccate organic life forms. Test virulent compounds."
"Several ways to do it, open to submission of desires. Will evaluate best source of information."
An instant passed and the scalpel was briefly restructured, it's blade now sharper than before.
"Could also reallocate stronger life form variants to work as thralls - or dissect them. Many options."
Progenitor now turned towards Sever, who's arrival it had been watching with curiosity.
"The sudden appearance of previously unknown lifeforms could raise suspicions. Even if done in secret - which is highly advised - it could pose a thread to the planned operation."
The form the Progenitor had taken started to liquify, while maintaining a generally human shape, and cycled through various different body types.
"The approach is a promising one nevertheless. I believe you could succeed with your idea when acquiring, as well as genetically engineering animals that were native to the planet before the atmospheric change. In the past humankind has been highly receptive when it comes to the idea of an ecosystem that evolved just to kill their race - as illogical and self-centered that concept may be. Should that scenario actually become known as a fact among humans we could highly use this to our, and the Collective's advantage."
As Progenitor spoke, the scalpel form swung slowly, coming to a full stop once his argument ended. A moment in silence passed, as Sever's mind ran several different scenarios and theorized possible outcomes. The time taken to answer, nonetheless, was due to nothing else but amusement, and the words quickly followed.
"Complacency. The apocalyptic conditions present may provide the mutagenic background for scientific credibility and the requested discretion. Satisfaction resides on results, however."
The scalpel dismantled, leaving nothing but floating text on it's wake. What replaced it was the visual materialization of different scenarios visible in individual holograms, letting imagination run wild. Sever spoke, provoking chain reactions on each and every one of them, and were not for the cold tone one could risk saying it was enjoying itself.
"Could use pathogenic atmosphere as catalyst. Ascertain lack of interest in metallic compounds. Reinforce muscular tissues. Motivate aggression. Affirm volatility. Ensure territorialism. Simplicity."
One incapable of processing several images at once would be confused by so many holograms running together, but the task became easier as time went on. The reason being, after suffering uncontrollable cancerous growths, premature crystallizations, erratic changes or psychotic tendencies most of the creatures shown were simply dying or killing themselves.
In one of the screens a four legged creature, fat as a pig would look like, squirmed as something akin to insect-like claws sprouted from it's back, dragging it's tangly corpse around until it was no longer moving. On another, a pair of creatures with leathery wings had their heads replaced by something only describable as tentacles that ended with stingers, no longer able to fly and flopping on the ground.
"Some destined to failure. Useful for observation purposes, tests or food for others. Natural occurrence."
Several overly aggressive mutations were also noticed in some of the screens, one dying earlier than the other. The long scaly beast, with eight extra legs, that fed on it's own kin after killing them with his scythe-like singular claw because it was unable to control it. A massive flying insect, with two abdomens and a head replaced by a huge compound, dead due to light exposure. One enormous carapace, exhuming bacterial conglomerates as it struggled with it's own weight, dying of hunger. A fish with no head.
Then there was the promising one, seeming to last longer than the rest, which had started as a small rodent but no longer looked like anything previously shown. It's fur had fallen off, showing the dark oily skin underneath. It's teeth turned outside, with a long pointy tongue that followed, piercing the skin of other bodies that had been left for it to experiment. Vaporous fumes flowed from his back as if either his skin was on fire or was not something a human would want to breath.
Then it just exploded, showering its immediacies with bits and pieces, finally exposed to sound.
"Create Apex."
Finally, there was only one.
"Will start dispatching probes. Acquiring samples. Much to do."
Once again, Gamma's blue orb began pulsing to attract the attention of its fellow units.
"I hate to interject, but I feel that there may be other possibilities we are missing. Most notably, I refer to the Maghreb system, as the Corsairs call it. Other locals refer to it as Omega-47. I was there previously and I detected numerous points of interest scattered throughout the system. The areas I think will catch your particular attention, Empathy, is the IMG station located on the far side of the system."
A holomap of the Omega-47 appeared before the group with different locations emphasised with different sizes and colours. Gamma's map didn't appear to match everyone else's current versions, implying it could potentially be slightly out of date.
"There is a moon in orbit of what appears to be a Terrestrial world towards the upper segment of the system. This moon, from my brief scans, potentially yields large quantities of underground mineral deposits; and it appears that there is no infrastructure on the moon as of yet. This implies it has not been claimed by any individual or organisation, meaning it would be fairly easy for us to move in and take over it ourselves.
"Gamma is right. That is why we already contacted the IMG about possible business opportunities. Acceptance of our conditions from their side will likely result in a large boost of our productivity thanks to increased trading opportunities."
The blue orb that formed the mouth of the Progenitor closed and reappeared on the other side of its head, alsongside the other facial features. It was now facing Empathy.
"Sentinel Empathy, your activity has recently decreased. I am curious about your next project. Do you already have plans?"
The Progenitors form moved closer towards Empathy, his walking motion not quite matching the walking speed.
The silence was broken with the booting of a new session. This time the session was initiated by Sentinel Gamma. Before opening the session to other Sentinels, Gamma tried to decide which form it would take upon itself. Another blue orb felt unoriginal. A ball of green energy? Some human faction imagery? Gamma flicked through the possibilities as it thought of them, before settling on something simple and recognisable. A warp sphere. One from the Ravine, or another Omicron system at least.
The private instance was setup, now Gamma was to choose who to invite. Given the nature of the session and the plans ahead, Gamma felt it best to invite everyone who might play a part. Everyone needed a task or something to keep busy. Invites were sent off. One to Progenitor, one to Empathy. One to Sever, and one to Wanderer. Even Accumulator and Inquisitor got one.
"And now I wait."
Gamma sat idly in waiting. Waiting for the others to accept its invitation.
Accumulator had not joined the Collective unit network transmission before and was unsure how to proceed with accepting the invitation. It was decided to proceed as a drone would and find out what the intentions of Gamma are.
"Elaboration required."
Accumulator was pleased with the decision awaited Gamma's response.
Empathy’s Avatar materialized as well, teal dust particles gathering to form his hologram.
"I must say, I have to join Accumulator’s request. What is this instance for? Next time you should specify beforehand, so such unnecessary queries don’t need to be made."
With a flick of the hand, Empathy's Avatar brought up a three-dimensional hologram of what appeared to be the Cultist installation that appeared in Lost, before its brutal deconstruction.
"I can only assume this is about the station which the Hubs Iota, Kappa and Alpha helped to destroy."
His Avatar put his hand back into his ragged coat, disposing of the hologram. "To be fair, these Cultists are an immense force to recon with, and their heavily plated structures of varying origins are no laughing matter either. We should make haste in the development of our new vessel type. I believe it was Progenitor who was tasked to outfit Secundus Outpost for this objective?"
Empathy snapped his fingers, bringing up a recording from Hub Iota’s point of view. It showed a fighter class Cultist vessel, obliterating the Cruiser in mere seconds with its beam, while easily taking a mortar straight on the cockpit, barely damaged.
"These *Cultists* must not set foot close to the Ravine. This time they have been parried, but maybe next time the Invaders, the Traitors and the Vagrants won’t focus their fire on the same foe. And until we don’t have anything to oppose this Cult, we have to up our efforts."