++...Headquarters, this isn't cheap...You may spend your whole life unable to repay even a single tier-one weapon strike.++ ++Technological entity, are you sure something like us even possesses such a ridiculous concept as 'a whole life'?++ ++Reasonable. Loan approved. Nonstandard tier-one weapon support is being prepared... Transmitting... Transmission complete. Please rate this service. Your valuable feedback will help the Technology Association improve!++
Headquarters ignored the feedback embedded deep within the technological entity's logic. He sensed an incomprehensible string of runes appearing in his code for no reason at all. Perhaps this was the so-called nonstandard tier-one weapon support.
The runes flickered, giving off the technological entity's distinctive faint green glow. The next moment, Headquarters, immersed in the sea of data, felt a sense of reality he had never experienced before.
++This is by no means simulated perception... This is actual perception... How wondrous...++
Headquarters felt himself stand up, rather than existing as streams of data flowing through countless devices. He felt as though he possessed tangible hands. Looking at the device that housed him, he saw that it was not much different from Terra's Golden Throne, except it was riddled with damage and gaps.
The damage caused here during the rebels' last invasion had been far too severe. Even after so long, Headquarters had failed to relight this throne.
Gazing at the pile of ash upon the throne, Headquarters remained silent for a long time. Then he relinquished control over the mechanical legion, concentrating all his computational power around the throne so he could better experience the novelty brought by the tier-one weapon support.
++Headquarters... bzzz... You have violated the corporate contract... Continue your duties...++
Unit 0's data surged in. This AI, responsible for repairs across the entire ark, was