Under-spire Laboratory Experiments
May 4, 2015 3:50:08 GMT
Sethulkra Hive and D'Kali Hegemony like this
Post by The Kortl Rheus on May 4, 2015 3:50:08 GMT
Volith Greyforge pushed the door closed, locking out the dozen mindslaved mechanized guardians. He was several kilometers beneath the surface of Jorvik now, inside a long laboratory with dozens of windows peering down into cells filled by various species. Various projects in bio-weapons projects were arrayed on displays spread across the room. A group of scientists ambled nearby, waiting to greet the High Speaker.
Volith stalked towards them, cold annoyed confidence in his pace. The scientists and various diplomats remained sentient, which always presented a certain amount of danger, but the High Speaker couldn't project his will across space without consequences. Binding others to his will reduced creativity and adaptation to almost zero. It was effective for simple tasks, but higher functions required freedom. "Where are we with the D'kali?" He asked.
The taller green Kortl scientist-speaker brought up a holographic video sequence depicting various states of vivisection of a number of D'kali subjects. "We have a group of three new potential subjects. If, you could, uhm, please proceed to the chamber..." he gestured to an angular window revealing a shielded set of cells in which resided three of the D'kali subjects.
In turn, Volith faced down each of the D'kali. The first one was unresponsive, and upon realizing it was being observed, stood up somewhat defiantly. After a few moments Volith raised his left arm. For a moment the muscles on the creature bucked slightly before it collapsed against a wall. The second stood up as well, but remained unresponsive to Volith's attempted binding. The Third was aggressive, thrashing out and cursing. Then it became calm. Volith raised his left arm and the creature imitated the action. The High Speaker spoke, "Tear off your left leg." The creature, calmly began to saw into it's leg with it's teeth, ambivalent to the pain it was doubtless feeling as sinew and bone gave way. It tore through the flesh and tossed the limb in front of it.
One scientist threw up. The tall green one, remaining composed, said, "That one was a trader, we injected a genetic modification strain into it to give it about a five percent Kortl hybrid. The transition only took a few days, but.. it was painful, we think."
Volith narrowed his eyes, "So, I have to inject this and wait a few days before I can control one of these beasts? Impractical." He paused, pacing. "Even if we could program a virus to distribute the DNA chains, they would notice it. Keep working. Perhaps even a few D'kali thralls would serve well for intimidation purposes if they ever are willing to return to a diplomatic table." He chuckled. "Although, that would probably just enrage them further. Hmm. That could be useful too."
The scientists, still recovering from the gruesome sight, were not certain how to react.
"Never-mind. Keep focusing on the D'kali. Pathogens, genetic manipulation, whatever. Kill them, make them fight for us, give them really bad diarrhea, I want whatever we can use against them. They're the key in all this, for now."
He walked out, back into the care of the thralled escort mechs for the transit back to surface and then space where the new fleet was awaiting his inspection.
It would be a long war if the Kortl couldn't disrupt the current alliances still arranged against them. Perhaps there was another way...
Volith stalked towards them, cold annoyed confidence in his pace. The scientists and various diplomats remained sentient, which always presented a certain amount of danger, but the High Speaker couldn't project his will across space without consequences. Binding others to his will reduced creativity and adaptation to almost zero. It was effective for simple tasks, but higher functions required freedom. "Where are we with the D'kali?" He asked.
The taller green Kortl scientist-speaker brought up a holographic video sequence depicting various states of vivisection of a number of D'kali subjects. "We have a group of three new potential subjects. If, you could, uhm, please proceed to the chamber..." he gestured to an angular window revealing a shielded set of cells in which resided three of the D'kali subjects.
In turn, Volith faced down each of the D'kali. The first one was unresponsive, and upon realizing it was being observed, stood up somewhat defiantly. After a few moments Volith raised his left arm. For a moment the muscles on the creature bucked slightly before it collapsed against a wall. The second stood up as well, but remained unresponsive to Volith's attempted binding. The Third was aggressive, thrashing out and cursing. Then it became calm. Volith raised his left arm and the creature imitated the action. The High Speaker spoke, "Tear off your left leg." The creature, calmly began to saw into it's leg with it's teeth, ambivalent to the pain it was doubtless feeling as sinew and bone gave way. It tore through the flesh and tossed the limb in front of it.
One scientist threw up. The tall green one, remaining composed, said, "That one was a trader, we injected a genetic modification strain into it to give it about a five percent Kortl hybrid. The transition only took a few days, but.. it was painful, we think."
Volith narrowed his eyes, "So, I have to inject this and wait a few days before I can control one of these beasts? Impractical." He paused, pacing. "Even if we could program a virus to distribute the DNA chains, they would notice it. Keep working. Perhaps even a few D'kali thralls would serve well for intimidation purposes if they ever are willing to return to a diplomatic table." He chuckled. "Although, that would probably just enrage them further. Hmm. That could be useful too."
The scientists, still recovering from the gruesome sight, were not certain how to react.
"Never-mind. Keep focusing on the D'kali. Pathogens, genetic manipulation, whatever. Kill them, make them fight for us, give them really bad diarrhea, I want whatever we can use against them. They're the key in all this, for now."
He walked out, back into the care of the thralled escort mechs for the transit back to surface and then space where the new fleet was awaiting his inspection.
It would be a long war if the Kortl couldn't disrupt the current alliances still arranged against them. Perhaps there was another way...