Colossus By Design: Season 2 - Log 69

[March 8, 2166]
[Orwell P.E.M.F. Research Station]
[Capital Wasteland, District 10]
[Former American continent]

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The Capital Wasteland. Before the First Wave, the area of Washington, D.C. was the crown jewel of the United States of America, a monument to the so-called American way of life.

Everything changed when the P.E.M.F.s attacked.

The Americans resorted to detonating nuclear warheads across their country, scorching the large majority of the land and creating a single massive landscape that stretched from the West Coast to the East. Of course, life went on without Humans to influence the surroundings, resulting in a significantly different and unique biome forming the main ecosystem.

The heart of the former American pride itself, once the pinnacle of political radicalism and democracy, was converted into a holding area for some of the P.E.M.F.s that have begun to show up around the globe; other such stations have been set up sparingly across the rest of the Capital Wasteland, and even on Luna, Mars, and within the Asteroid Belt. As added security, stealth-class hover vehicles constantly patrol the interior, maintaining surveillance over the animals.

The main city ruins and the rest of the wasteland around it are surrounded by enormous Edison-Tesla Pylons that project a large refractive energy grid around the holding space, similar to that used by the Atlanteans. However, if this measure fails to dissuade the creatures being housed within, the pylons can also emit powerful bursts of arcing RE-Pulsar bolts.

Despite the creatures' resilience, a few good shocks following an escape attempt generally repels the evolved P.E.M.F.s. If that fails, then the backup security measure is set in motion. A variety of different Guardian Sentinel models will be deployed to the area of attempted breach to subdue the animals; their inner workings permit them to freely enter and exit the grid, and their presence has proven an effective method of culling the P.E.M.F.s. No creature to date has ever attempted escape again after being set upon by a squad of Guardian Sentinels.

The Edison-Tesla Pylons also serve as monitoring stations for the Global Union of Division's top researchers to survey and study the captured animals. On this particular day, a sedated male Hokmuto, a species of multi-legged reptilian/insect-like P.E.M.F.s that serve as the missing link between invertebrates and vertebrates, is being examined by the science team at one such pylon.

Due to the lingering radiation levels during the occasional radiation storm, only Synthetic personnel are permitted to step out of the pylon towers in such a circumstance; the researchers outside are currently directing the Guardian Sentinels in a routine operation involving the captive P.E.M.F.s.


(Prof. Wu-93): Alright, alright, a little slower..... slower..... too slow! We can't pierce its hide too deeply, or else we risk it prematurely burning through the tranquilizers!

(Director M. Eisenhardt): [COMMS] Goddammit, Wu-93! You're useless!

(Prof. Wu-93): I'm sorry sir! I've only been here a few weeks!

(Director M. Eisenhardt): [COMMS] *sighs* If it weren't for this blasted radiation storm, I'd just guide the Guardian Sentinels' metal tools with my own powers. Alright, hold it there!


The Guardian Sentinels, on the director's orders, begin to drain a sample of blood from the Hokmuto and fill up the syringe. As the operation nears its end, the Hokmuto begins to stir, showing signs of the sedatives wearing off.


(Prof. Wu-93): Alright, that's good! We can let him go now!


The Hokmuto now starts to groggily get back on its feet and shakes its head rapidly to shake off the lingering effects of the tranquilizers it was given. Upon seeing itself being surrounded by a full squad of Guardian Sentinels, the smaller animal spreads its wings and growls loudly at its wardens before quickly flying off toward the main city ruins.


(Prof. Wu-93): Is the sample good enough?

(Guardian Sentinel Blade-9): Affirmative, professor. The Ichor is present within the blood sample.

(Director M. Eisenhardt): [COMMS] Excellent. This catalyst has been in higher demand than ever before. We wouldn't wanna disappoint S-Death Materials. After all, they're the ones supplying our troops their standard issue suits.


After retrieving the blood sample, G.S. Blade-9 activates its RE-pulsar thrusters and flies off into the distance; the other Guardian Sentinels exit the defense grid and return to their posts around the perimeter. As everyone leaves to attend to their duties, a hooded figure steps out of the shadows in a manner that seems physically impossible.

The figure walks up to the small pool of the Hokmuto's blood leftover from its extraction and scoops up the rest of it into several sample-holding jars. As the figure finishes gathering the blood, it looks around frantically, making sure they aren't being watched. After making sure the coast is clear, the figure heads back into the shadows, disappearing as mysteriously as they appeared.