Warframe Zero Redux - The Lost War (my work so far)

Warframe Zero – Redux – The Lost War

"The Sentients had won. They had turned our weapons, our technology, against us. The more advanced we became, the greater our losses. The war was over unless we found a new way. In our desperation we turned to the Void. The blinding night, the hellspace where our science and reason failed.

We took the twisted few that had returned from that place. We built a frame around them, a conduit of their affliction. Gave them the weapons of the old ways. Gun and blade. A new warrior, a new code was born. These rejects, these Tenno, became our saviors. Warrior-Gods cast in steel and fury striking our enemies in a way they could never comprehend.

Excalibur was the first”

-Orokin “Warframe” Archives

“Some have walked these desolate worlds while you slept. Some like me. I remember what you did. I remember the day.

The Tenno appeared at the Terminus, gleaming and victorious. Our cold and gold Emperors, breathless, bathed you in savior's silk. Then came the sound. Across all our worlds, all at once, the ceremonial Naga drums. A royal salute to the honored Tenno. Ten solemn beats to declare the suffering was over. I watched from a distance, with the rest of the low Guardians. With each beat terror began to crush my throat. The Tenno were not stoic and silent, They were waiting. They were poised. I tried to call out but only a strangled whisper escaped.

When the ninth beat rang a torrent of blood filled the stadium, loosed by Tenno blades. The drums, the Empire, fell silent forever.

Now I hunt, dividing your numbers. Watching from that dark place, cataloging your sins, I am the ghost of retribution. You may forget but you are not innocent."

-Stalker Lore

Prologue

Rei Newman hardly had any rest these days. Although he was genuinely happy to be promoted at such an early age to such a prestigious title, he never had the time or the energy to celebrate. He did not want to celebrate. His predecessor, Yargo Mensik VIII, suddenly went missing, leading to his promotion as he was his assistant.

Rei was hard at work on a prototype gateway that he and his mentor started working on, so he brushed off his worry for his mentor. His mentor had always cautioned him to never stop working, as their work saved lives for every achievement. The old man, a father figure to him, brought him up with such a mentality. Again, he had to wipe his eyes as he worked on the gateway apparatus.

The Grineer guarding the door were ever vigilant for any signs of enemy activity. After space flight became commonplace, the Army, Marines and Navy were consolidated to be called Grineer. And now, Rei had to deal with jarheads while he was working. It would have been fine for them to guard the door from outside, but they also had to guard him while he worked. The stench of the squad leader Sergeant Gregori Kargadan distracted Rei as the soldier was breathing down his neck.

“Would you stop that? I can’t work here with you all sticking in my personal space.” Yelled Rei.

“Orders are orders, Mr. Newman. We are here to escort you and ensure you deliver us to the other side of the gate.”

“It’s Doctor Newman. And yes, your job is to get to the other side, but not to smell my neck. Your incessant prodding isn’t going to help us move along.” Rei retorted.

And with that statement, the sergeant backed off and muttered an unintelligible curse. The Grineer have developed their own efficient language for their operations so that infidels cannot intercept messages. Still, to Rei it just sounded like dog barking.

Having the soldier off his back made things less stressful, but then gunshots were heard outside the laboratory. Newman’s eyes widened at the realization of what was happening outside, but the large frame of Kargadan returned and immediately turned his head back to his work. The stress was back, but this time, it was no longer coming from the large beefy man at his back, but was from the screeching noises from outside the laboratory.

When he was already sweating profusely, he had suddenly managed somehow to connect the last few conduits on the gateway. He stood back to watch the engine come to life, but only saw several flickers of light and electricity come from the archway. Disappointed and at a loss, Kargadan suddenly pushed Newman aside and kicked the archway of the machine. Suddenly, a humming sound echoed through the room, and Kargadan helped Newman up with a chuckle.

Newman, at first sighing at the barbarism of the soldier, was now distracted by the increasing brightness of the archway of the machine. The archway had begun humming more and more violent and with a higher pitch as the archway was being filled with a sheet of light. As Newman, Kargadan and the other soldiers and technicians wondered at the growing gateway, explosions suddenly rocked the building.

“The eggheads are coming, Doctor. Can you make this thing go faster?” yelled Kargadan, in the midst of the noise around them.

“I don’t know Sergeant. This is the first time we’ve succeeded in opening a gate. We haven’t even made tests yet. Are you sure you want to go in this thing?” replied Rei.

“Orders are orders, Doctor. We have express orders to send the best fighters inside and make our way. We have to bring the war to them.” Shouted Kargadan.

“I know! The Sentients-” Rei paused as a piece of paper slaped his face, as apparently, the gate has completely formed. Resuming his statement “Again, the Sentients are energy beings, we don’t exactly what’s beyond that gate. We don’t know how hostile or arid their habitat is. At least let me send a probe first.”

Kargadan was signalling his men to form up while he shouted a reply in the mist of the noise, “No time, Doctor. We have to change the way this war goes. I have no time and clearance to explain to you our mission, and you have done your job, so let us do ours.”

Amidst violently flying papers and lab materials, Rei found it hard to get his bearings straight. Though he wore the latest protective exoskeleton suit, his suit was by no means a match for the heavy suits worn by Grineer soldiers. Rei watched only as the soldiers lined up before the gateway, and then motioned for his colleagues to make way.  As he walked past the soldiers, a pair of hands suddenly pulled him from the last ranks of the Grineer, only to be put around his neck. It was Psyche Hemlocke, the only elite Grineer female combat instructor, classified spy, and his ex-fiancé.

“Oh dear, I’m gonna miss ya.” Said Psyche, as she stroked his hair.

“Well, I won’t.” retorted Rei.

“Oh, you’re still mad about that. Don’t worry, let me mak-“ She was cut off by Kargadan.

“Captain Hemlocke, though you outrank me, this team was commissioned and assigned to me. I would appreciate it if you were to focus at the task at hand.” And Kargadan pulled Rei away.

Rei swiftly walked away while his ex and the commanding officer bickered. For once, he was thankful to the belligerent man. He then continued his walk towards the back end of the room, near the doors. Non-Grineer personnel were instructed to evacuate once the gate was opened, and Rei intended to follow that order.

He already mentioned the other technicians to evacuate while he was “held” by Psyche, and now he was the only scientist in the laboratory. Though he hid the fact that he had combat expertise and could actually participate in the incursion, he only wanted to go back to his wife, Nelumbi.

As Rei was about to reach for the door, he stopped himself as he heard screeching sounds mingled with death throes from beyond the metal slabs. He then turned to warn the soldiers inside, but then the door exploded from behind him. In the blink of an eye, he was off his feet and was flung into the air. The explosion did minimal damage as he had protective gear, but Rei was more concerned that he was flying head first into the Void Gate.

Section 1

The Empire was losing the war. Essentially, the Empire had already lost the war. The Royal couple had already been assassinated, and only the Prime Minister held things together as Regent while the Crown Prince was still underage and in hiding. The Crown Prince, a spoiled brat raised by an ambitious Queen, had retreated immediately from the Royal Palace at the first sign of attacks, abandoning the Emperor and his Queen, his parents, without any second thought.

The female Prime Minister, Viktoria Oksana Renata, held the enemies at bay while the Royal Couple tried to evacuate once the Palace Guards fell. Holding only the extraction point with her own personal Grineer unit, Viktoria failed as an energy grenade threw her off her feet and out of a window. Though her landing was rough, she was saved by her sturdy armor, but was aghast to see the room that she came from become only a blazing inferno. She gritted her teeth at her failure and struck a nearby wall with her metal arm making a dent. Another Grinner unit squelched from her communicator and asked if she was fine.

“I’m not fucking fine you morons! The Emperor is dead! You maggots, I will have to whip up your arses once we’re done here. Track that damn coward of a scum Prince Derald down. I’ll be damned if he becomes the next emperor, so for now I’ll be taking command.”

“Affirmative, Prime Minister. We will prepare another extraction point, standby.” Said the voice on the communicator.

“And get me some fucking coffee, these shit eggheads killed my boss in the wee hours of the morning and I’ve yet to get some coffee. Dump one shit-whole bottle of coffee in one mug, hell I need the caffeine.” Yelled Viktoria as she walked angrily across the corridors, shooting down enemies as she went along.

“Affirmative, Prime Minister. We’re waiting for you, transmitting coordinates.”

“You better be there you shitheads! Imma kill you if you fail me again. Renata out-” Viktoria then tucks the communicator into her belt pocket as an enemy suddenly came bursting out of a wall. Viktoria’s eyes narrowed, and as the creature screeched at rushing her, she immediately sidestepped and slammed her metallic arm into the creature’s neck, effectively decapitating it. Viktoria merely grunted as she turned her back to the fallen creature.

The carrier was showing some damage but was humming its engines perfectly. Viktoria begrudgingly stepped inside while some Grineer covered her back. When they had all boarded the ship, the pilot immediately initiated take off sequence and lifted off the site. Viktoria felt several direct hits from the underside of the carrier, noting that the Sentients are still ferociously firing at them.

After clearing the airspace Palace airspace and gaining some altitude, Viktoria opened one of the protective visors to the window beside her. She looked down to see that the Imperial Capital was burning, not with fire, but with the energy weapons that the Sentients used. She seethed with anger at what she saw and again punched the wall with her right fist. The impact suddenly made some alarms blare, but Viktoria then motioned the alarmed men down.

“Madamme,” said one Grineer “the area is still unsafe and the condition volatile. Perhaps it would be wise to put the visor back down and-“

“Oh shut it soldier! I’m perfectly fine, and don’t you fucking call me madamme dammit! Do I look like a girly airhead lady to you?!” snapped Viktoria at the man, who had resigned back to his seat. Viktoria rubbed her eyes as she sat down properly again. Her thoughts where on the late Emperor, Giacomo Tenno, of whom she was having a conversation not more than an hour ago. Nevermind Queen Dana, the ambitious daughter of a general that slithered her way into royalty, but the Emperor was important. Important to her.

At a younger age, Giacomo was once her lover, and though the once prince was a womanizer, Viktoria still had lingering attachments to the man. Attachments that led to her to be determined enough to become a general herself, and eventually Prime Minister. Now the man is gone, and his only known remaining legacy was a coward brat, whose paternity was even in question as the Queen had been playful. She swore to herself that the Empire that his beloved Gerald loved more than her will not go down under her watch.

Snapping out of her stupor, she takes her communicator and contacts her second in command. “Viktoria here. We are now airborne and heading out of the capital. ETA to base in,” she looked towards the direction of the pilot, where the pilot held up three fingers then made a circling motion, “ETA is 30 minutes. I asked you guys to track the prince, where’s that bastard going?”

“Confirmed your position, Prime Minister. We will prep the docking bay for your arrival. As for the prince, though he was using a stealth carrier, our scans have picked up an exhaust discharge large enough for escape velocity. Calculating the vectors seems to indicate it’s headed for Sedna.”

“That sonuvabitch!” Viktoria slams the handle of her seat, completely destroying it. “All high hell is loose here on Earth and he fucking runs away to the farthest colony? That bast-“

The Prime Minister was suddenly tumbling forward as the carrier leaned heavily forward. The carrier was suddenly being pushed forward from behind and anyone not strapped on was lifted off their seats. When Viktoria regained her footing as the carrier stabilized, she immediately went back to her window to see what was happening.

The people in the carrier were fortunate; for as Viktoria ventured a look outside her window, only a crater filling with seawater came into view.

Section 2

Despite the large burns that it suffered on its tail end the carrier landed without any trouble. The Grineer disembarked first to make way for the Prime Minister, who was looking pale after the ordeal. Though looking obviously pained, Viktoria looked forward with determined eyes and walked head high into the lined up teams of Grineer saluting her approach.

Walking midway down the aisle, Viktoria looks back to peek at what happened to the carrier. She let out a sharp sigh as she saw that the tail end was still smoking and sizzling hot from its ordeal more than half an hour ago. She then proceeds towards the end of the procession and finds the Minister of Defense already waiting for her.

“Where the fuck have you been?! We were taking heavy fire, well, we took heavy fire earlier and you’re here sitting pretty on your pretty little hands.” Viktoria shouted as she insulted the veteran Grineer that had two large mechanical prosthetic hands.

“As graceful as ever Viktoria,” said the silver haired man in a raspy voice, “I always enjoyed your company. I was about to tell you about my beautiful day, being shot in the spine, getting both my legs incinerated, and having pretty little legs attached.” He then pulled up the sides of his pants, showing prosthetic legs. “I was at Hartford, defending the last few nukes we had from the previous century, but I guess these eggheads are backwards compatible. Hahaha.”

“These Sentients are not a bloody laughing matter Osiris!” Viktoria shouted as she grasped the man at his collar. She looked up to the tall but slender man’s eyes and said, “The Royal Couple are dead, and Yamata is nothing but a crater now thanks to those eggheads. I didn’t think they could also imitate old technology like them nukes.”

Osiris merely brushed away her hands and responded, “I know, I heard the reports. And besides, looking at your sullen face, I believe it now. Emperor Giacomo is dead. The capital, now gone.” Osiris gave Viktoria a calm look. “So what now?”

Viktoria always hated the nonchalant personality of the old man. He had been friends with previous Emperor Giacomo’s father, and could have been Prime Minister now, but instead opted to serve his old title of Minister of Defense. Viktoria had respect for the old man’s exploits, willingly giving up body parts for the Empire, but she hated conversing with the man.

She rubbed her left eye with her remaining flesh arm as she tried to think. The old man’s chuckling did not help. She looked back at the smoking tail end of the carrier with her hand still on her face, closed her eyes, breathed deep and then sighed.

“How many nukes did you manage to keep?” Viktoria then asked Osiris.

“Several handfuls.” Replied Osiris jokingly while wiggling his thin prosthetic hands.

Viktoria clenched her teeth as she grasped for self-control. Her metallic right hand, squeaking at the pressure she was exerting, she manages to calm herself. “I need to see old man Mensik. We just lost our capital, so it’s about time those fucking eggheads lost something too.”

“Well that is going to be a problem. H-“ Osiris was cut off.

“What the fuck now?!” Viktoria shouting again, “I’m not in the bloody mood for your jokes old fart. We just lost Yamata. We just lost the Royal Couple. We just lost the Emperor. We just lost Giacomo. I jus-“ she was cut off in turn by a slap in the face.

She turned to return the blow, but what she saw stopped her in her tracks. It was Osiris’ face sporting a serious look. She had confidence in talking down the old man, but was hesitant in actual combat.

“Settle down. I had to cut you off before you said anything inappropriate. Emperor Giacomo is indeed gone. But emotions aside, we have to move on.” continued Osiris in a serious tone. “The late Emperor was like a son to me, but we have a duty to our citizens first.”

Viktoria touched her cheek and nodded, stopping herself from crying.

“As I was saying earlier,” Osiris regaining his giddy demeanor, “There is a problem with Doctor Mensik. He is missing.” Osiris paused to sigh. “And on top of that, I think it was an inside job and not the eggheads. Mensik was working in an isolated facility on a high level security area. You just can’t secretly smuggle somebody outside that place without leaving any trails.”

Viktoria, now calmed down, asked, “Well, that’s not very secure is it? Since the cat’s out of the bag, where was Project Cuculida being done?”

“On an asteroid near Sedna.” Replied Osiris. Viktoria merely raised an eyebrow upon hearing the answer.

Section 3

“…but in 2035, the prominent theory the Theory of Relativity in the 20^th century was disproved by Doctor Samantha Yandere-Hemlocke. Working with CERN, she had figured out the consistency of photons. Apparently, basing on the fact that photons were in fact affected by gravitational pull as-” Doctor Rei Newman toggled his screen for the next slide to show in front of the lecture hall. “-as shown here.” He points out on the holographic projection that was showing a white line that was being dragged down into a funnel.

“Here at the event horizon, we can see that photons are disturbed and are eventually dragged down into the core of the black hole. By creating miniature black holes in the facilities of CERN, Doctor Samantha made several experiments on photon mass measure by using the constant gravitational pull of a controlled black hole.” Doctor Newman toggled another hologram to project from his handheld display.

“At first using light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation with your usual gain mediums, keeping energy sources and resonators constant, she hoped to isolate a constant by varying the said gain mediums. But after several failed attempts, she opted to use a highly volatile mixture of anti-helium and anti-neon, the antimatter equivalent of the usual helium-neon gain medium in old lasers.” Again, Doctor Newman toggled for the next presentation.

“Using antimatter was serendipitous success as she was able to create an acute response. Instead of being dragged down by the gravity, the antimatter generated laser deviated from its path and refracted unto another direction.” A student raises his hand.

“Yes Mister Siubjieni?” Asked the lecturer.

“Professor, at this point, as antimatter was used as the gain medium, what were the characteristics of the light radiated?”

“Good question Mister Siubjieni. The light radiated from antimatter at that point was actually invisible to humans. Since the light receptors in humans respond only to photonic stimuli, any anti-photon stimuli cannot be absorbed. The laser generated by anti-helium and anti-neon combination gain mediums are measured using residual radiation on Carbon plates. As you know, antimatter half-life is very short.” Another student raises his hand.

“Mister Yangskii, if this is one of those questions of yours, I’ll be deducting points from now on.” Doctor Newman crossed his arms.

“No, no sir. I was just meaning to ask. What happened to Doctor Hemlocke? Don’t all that radation turn her into a mutant or something? I know the Hemlocke family still lives on today, but they’re normal. In fact, their girls are hot!” The class started laughing altogether.

Rei rubs his face. It was one of those questions again. He sighed deeply before answering, “Again, Mister Yangskii, you never disappoint. But first, you should have used ‘Did not’ and not ‘Do not’ in your question.” The lecturer pointing out the grammatical error. “Second, CERN facilities, even back then, were completely furnished with safety installations, and that experiments were held from remote locations. So, to answer your question, the Hemlockes are not mutants. And yes, as per your own words, they are perfectly formed.” Newman rolled his eyes as he remembers his ex, amidst the laughter of the students. But then a voice echoes from the back of the lecture hall.

“Why thank you Rei. I didn’t think you’d praise me in public again.” Said a sultry voice from the darkness of the lecture hall. Though Rei knew completely who the voice came from, his mood did not allow any interference on his lectures. He was expecting to see only a scantily clad female that would be taunting him, but when he pushed the “illuminate” button on his handheld device, he was surprised to see a large group of Grineer at the back end of the lecture hall.

“Perfectly formed. Hmm, I like the sound of that.” Continued Psyche Hemlocke, as she smilingly continued down the walkway of the lecture hall. “I’m sure that Medea will like that too if she were to-“ And Psyche was cut off by a hand on her shoulder. It was the Prime Minister, Viktoria Renata. Rei’s scowling face turned into panic as he saw the Prime Minister. He made a small bowing notion and the students suddenly stood up and bowed also.

The Prime Minister motioned a wave and a small smile to the students then nodded to Rei. Rei understood and took the attention of his students, “Everyone, I’ll be cutting it short today. Continue reading on the Yandere-Hemlocke Theory in sections 18 to 21 of our source material. There might be a small examination on our next metting.” The lecture hall resounded with loud sighs and moans of disappointment from the students.  “Now, now. We have to keep up with the lessons if we are to finish basic theoretical physics this month. Dismissed.”

The waves of students suddenly gathered their materials and started exiting the lecture hall in droves. As the last few students were exiting the hall, the Prime Minister walked down towards Rei. Rei was nervously awaiting the Prime Minister but was then distracted by the slamming sound of a body hitting the ground. Rei and the Prime Minister turned to look, only to find that a student, Mister Yangskii, was lying on the ground as Psyche was walking down the steps and cleaning her hands. Rei just shook his head.

After Mister Yangskii painfully cleared the lecture hall last, the Grineer sealed the doors and stood guard. Rei had already motioned a chair for the Prime Minister, but the woman merely waved it off. The Prime Minister started off the conversation.

“No need. We’re not staying that long.” She said.

“Ah, yes Prime Minister. What can I help you with?” Replied Rei.

The question fell on deaf ears as the Prime Minister was running her left hand on a student chairs back rest. She did not answer the question, “You know I did my studies here also, right? Old man Mensik was my professor back then. You surely got his strictness on students.” The woman commenting on Rei giving out reading assignments.

“Ah, yes Prime Mini-“ Rei was cut off.

“Viktoria.” The Prime Minister said as she was still admiring the lecture hall.

“What, Prime Minister?” Rei was clueless.

“Call me Viktoria. We’re not that too far apart in age after all.”

“Uhm, well, ma’am formalities and all, but-” cut off again.

“It’s fine I said. And don’t fret Psyche,” Viktoria addressing the fidgeting lady seated on the lecturers table, “I’m not here to snatch him from you.”

“Uhh, Prime Mini-,” Rei was stopped by Viktoria’s sudden direct eye contact, “I mean Viktoria, I’m already married. Well, uhh, I’m not meaning about you, but about Psyche there.” Rei then looked towards Psyche’s direction, which then blew him a kiss. “And also, you were talking about dad? As far as I know, you guys had him on a project of some sort.”

Viktoria stops at a window sill to look outside. “Dad eh? I suppose so. Old man Mensik is your adoptive father. Right? Prince Mor-“

Rei suddenly shouted to cut off the statement “Do not finish that line. I’m Rei Newman, a mere professor here at the university.” Rei’s tone now different, “Now what do you want?”

Psyche jumps down the table and approaches Rei. He eyes the woman, and pays no heed to her clinging to his side. She then whispers in his ear, “Touchy-touchy, dear. Only I and the Prime Minister know, Prince Mordred.”

Rei’s eyes narrow and he speaks in a low voice, “And how did you come to know about that? I didn’t tell you that back then when we were, well, engaged. Now how am I to be sure that you did not come to me just to know that fact?”

“Oh my dear prince. I only knew after I became head of the Intelligence Division. If I had known you were a prince, then I would have come to our wedding and became a princess.” Replied Psyche in teasing manner.

Rei pushed Psyche gently away and retorted “But you didn’t.”

Psyche was again approaching Rei when Viktoria spoke, “Enough. Talk is cheap, and I apologize for that little segues. I’m not here about your parentage, Mister Newman, even though we could use an emperor right now. I’m here about your work, or rather, your work with Mensik.” Viktoria motioned Psyche to fall back. Psyche followed the order with pouted lips.

“Fine.” Said Rei, still doubtful of the women, “but which work are you referring to? I’ve done many projects with dad. And why would you need me? Dad’s the more senior researcher. Also, it’s Doctor Newman, Viktoria.”

Viktoria made a small grin, “Well, Doctor Newman, as your Dad is currently unavailable. Thus, we’ll need you on the project. It’s the project about the void gates.”

Section 4 - Work In Progress

(I know, I know. I said I'm taking a break, but when ideas flood me, I HAVE to write it down.)