Y:14 D:23


    Argos


    Anais had returned from Alpha City after the sighting of the Pars drone and had


    begun surveying Argos. She had spent a considerable amount of time setting drones


    in strategic locations to observe the species that approach the city during night hours.


    The past few days, she was paying special attention to the north, where the drone


    had come from. At the Gathering of the Leaders, she was called to explain the


    findings she had previously spoken about with Bara.


    Anais was a bit anxious about talking to all the leaders, but she composed


    herself and began. “I have some strange things to report. As some of you know, last


    night from the north of the city, the cameras we have set to monitor the area went


    offline before they could detect anything. We have a failsafe mechanism where if the


    cameras turn off, then two drones turn on and fly around the area immediately so that


    we still have feed. Those too turned off as soon as they turned on, also before any


    feed could come through. At that point, I went out at night and tried to make an


    ambush. What I saw was a yet another type of humanoid. One we have not seen


    before. Shaped more like a human. I could only see the outline and only briefly, since


    it was like it was expecting me. I think it came to see me just in the same way as I


    was trying to see it.”


    “So, our next enemy is here,” said Alex. “The Pars, as the Naga call them,


    have access to at least some technology.”


    Juuda was almost angry. “Why do you say that our next enemy is here? Why


    don’t we give them a chance to be friends?”


    “I take that back, Juuda. You are right. They might be friendly.”


    “So, what is the strange thing about it? I feel you have more to report, Anais,”


    said Jain.


    “Yes, I do. This device is a camera. It is very old school, with terrible night


    vision and no signal output. You cannot see what this camera sees, change its


    spectrum, or control where it points.”


    “Sounds like a great tool,” interrupted Gakuto.


    “Well, It does have its advantages. Especially in the military,” said Anais


    confidently. “Without trying to bore you, I will say that it was used at the end of the


    human wars because it was undetectable by an EM detector and could not be


    jammed by an EMP. Downside is that you have to retrieve it to get the information it


    has recorded and recharge it. I had placed it far outside the city along with three


    more, mainly out of curiosity and as a checkpoint of my excursions.”


    “What did it record?” asked Alex excitedly.


    “It’s better if I just show you.” She played the recording on a monitor. “As you


    can see, it’s a human. Or at least a species extremely close to humans. His speed,


    however, is many times that of ours, even at our nano’s maximum capacity. I think


    we found what the statue represented.”


    “With a quick view, I would be pretty sure it is using nanotechnology, like


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    everything else in this world. These legs could not support that speed. It nearly broke


    the rocks under his feet by accelerating on them.”


    “We can also deduct from the recording,” continued Anais, “that it’s about 190


    cm in height and resembles a male. We do not know what he will use to try and take


    us out, nor when he will attack. From now on, we are on alert.”


    “Again!” said Juuda. “Again, we are sure he is hostile and prepare to shoot


    and then talk. Am I the only one here who sees the madness in this?”


    “Here I will side a bit with Juuda,” said Jain. “We can’t kill him.”


    “We can’t or we shouldn’t?” asked Bara.


    “Well, think about it,” said Jain, trying to explain her thoughts. “He is probably


    alone. Prana also told us that according to their legends, only one comes to take


    them out. Also, there were very few of them to begin with. This could be a species


    that multiplies very slowly. We can’t be the ones to bring them to extinction. We need


    to capture him and talk with him.”


    “It’s hard to argue with both of you,” said Alex, looking around to see what the


    rest thought. “We will do our best not to harm him then. But this might not be


    possible. Time to set a plan. Any ideas?”


    “We need to set a trap for him and physically restrain him. Perhaps we can go


    old school and put an underground trap which will activate once he is on top?” asked


    Bara.


    “Let’s try to think here,” said Jain. “He has a long history of primitive


    civilization conflicts. Traps are probably what he expects. We need something more


    sophisticated.”


    “I think I might actually have a solution for it,” said Juuda, to everyone’s


    surprise. “But we will need to move fast. Call Jabir. We have had a discussion about


    something, and it might come in handy now.”


    Jabir joined the conversation and was explained the whole situation.


    “Now that you see the problem,” said Juuda, “don’t you think we can use the


    projectiles we were discussing before?”


    “To make everything clear to everyone,” said Jabir, “we had spoken of some


    chemicals that, once mixed, become like plaster. We can create bullets with those


    two components, and once they strike, they will combine, and in a matter of


    milliseconds, they will expand into a foam that hardens almost instantly. This way we


    can immobilize anything without killing it. That is if it has the same tough skin as


    everything else. The bullet itself will be very hard and fast. If his skin is unaided by


    technology, he will be injured from the shot.”


    “I think this is perfect,” said Alex. “Get busy and provide a large number of


    those bullets. Bara, arm a couple of fast drones with those and get them ready. Set


    them at a distance, and once the time is right, start shooting them before he can


    disable them. Anais, Giuli, get your snipers and some of these foam bullets and go to


    the hill near the west to make camp. Be in constant preparation and alert. Make sure


    you have a clear view of the west side of the city. Guys, keep lights facing all


    directions during the night and place extra cameras. We can only hope his weapons


    are not as advanced as ours.”


    “I really hope we will not be met with a missile. Is our anti-air system able of


    defending against missiles?” asked Jain.


    “If it’s only a couple missiles, then yes,” said Bara, trying to calm everyone


    down. “We have a high-energy laser with an automated targeting system to shoot


    missiles. This will only be good for a couple of shots, though. It tends to get very hot


    and also recharges slowly.”


    “It’s the first time that I realize that our military technology is not in par with


    everything else. We could be better equipped,” said Alex.


    “Well, military research stopped with the Osiris impact before we were all


    born,” said Bara. “What we have are weapons that were made with past


    technologies. We never expected an advanced civilization, though.”


    “I am not so optimistic suddenly, but we can also hope that his weapons are


    just as outdated,” said Jain.


    “When it comes to combat,” said Bara, “weapons are half the story. It’s


    strategy, precision, timing, and more that determine the winner. I also want to let you


    know that even though our weapons are not as advanced as everything else we have


    here, they have been thoroughly tested. These are the same technologies that fought


    countless wars before the Osiris.”