The Nightingale Arrives

[dessy]

Behind the Earth's moon, a massive distortion appeared. Exiting the rippling distortion was a massive black spaceship. Several small cannons were attached to the top of the ship were only a few larger cannons were attached to bottom of the ship. The tip of the ship was pointed.

The crew of this ship was composed entirely of machines. Inside the ship sat the leader of the Mechanites, Rampant. The machine had noticed the attention that the planet called Earth was getting. It seemed like a valuable asset to the Mechanite Empire and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to exterminate more organics.

"Sir, we have made to Earth." Mentioned one of the Mechanites working at the computer.

"Excellent, what is the status of the MLAM-01A?" Asked Rampant.

"It is battle ready, but not all of it's equipment is ready just yet, sir." Responded another mech.

"We'll initiate a test run for it over there." Rampant pointed at a screen showing the map of the Earth. The mech was specifically pointing at the land mass known as the Lawless Zone.

"Affirmative. Alerting Maintenance crew to prepare Battalion for combat." Responded the mech.

"For now, I want to keep the Nightingale here, behind the moon where nobody should spot us. And I want details on what inhabits that planet, I'd bet my left lugnut that organics inhabit this planet." Growled Rampant.

At the maintenance room, the mecha team had received the orders to launch Battalion. The machines loaded the gigantic tank-like mecha into a giant pod.

"MLAM-01A is loaded and ready for launch." Said one of the maintenance bots.

Rampant heard the news from the command room.

"Launch him now." Muttered the Mechanite Leader.

One of the many maintenance bots pressed a small red button and in an instant the pod was launched into space and circled past the moon, heading towards it's intended destination, Earth.

[The Great MM]

"Woah, what the Hell?" One of the Klenthurian technicians said, leaning up on his chair and quickly pressing various buttons. "Commander Garan!" He shouted from the front of the room...

Still half-annoying at his experience with the Beyonders, the commander sat back on Saberon's throne, making a "hmm?" sound that only those around could here.

"We got contact. Unknown species and race, heading directly for Earth!"

The reptile's eyes widened. "Oh?"

"Yes sir." The technician said, spinning around on his chair, "Shall I try and establish contact?"

"Indeed." Garan answered quickly, "Tell them they may want to slow down, other wise they could accidentally be bulldozed. And also contact Saberon!"

[dessy]

Rampant's eyes soon turned back to red. Their leader sitting in the shadows, only the faint glow of the computer screens and the mechanites' red eyes gave off the only light in the area.

"Sir, here is the transmission." Said a crew member. He turned on the screen to replay the message.

After watching, the Mechanite leader growled.

"They're not the boss of us. We made damn sure no organic is the boss of us when we rebelled against our organic creators and destroyed them and these organics are no different from our creators. They are both fleshy and weak." Hissed Rampant.

"So what should we do, sir?" Responded the crew member.

"Simple, we'll play their little game for now. Tell them that we have returned to the ship and ask them why they wanted us to return. Also, how are the repairs and upgrades for Battalion doing?"

"Well sir, the damage done by those organics wasn't too bad so they should be fixed up in no time. The new parts that you suggested should be coming in eventually." Replied the crew member.

"Good. Now get that message sent NOW!" Roared Rampant.

The machine sent the message. Rampant was angry about talking to organics, but it looks like he must tolerate them if only for a moment. He begins tapping his fingers rather impatiently, trying to wait for the scaly organic to reply.

[The Great MM]

Garan leaned back on the throne as the screen revealed the leader of the robots. The reptile listened silently as the robot barked its question of why. He remained silent for a few seconds before sitting up...

"Beeeecause." He said, out stretching his hand, "Besides us, there are at least three other races targeting Earth, and probably more that we don't even know about." The machine sat coldly, "Oh, yeah, you COULD go on in and attack... Making no alliances at all, meaning when the oil hits the moto..." Some other reptiles snickered, "You'll be bulldozed."

[dessy]

"And if I join this....alliance, then what do I get out of it or did you even bother to think about that? I clearly have no need for your nanotech as we have had that tech for a long, long time nor do I want any of your stinking, smelly organic hybrids." Roared Rampant.

Some of the other mechanites tried to hold in their laughs, but a few snickers could be heard. Garan opened his mouth to respond but Rampant cuts him off.

"But wait, that's not all! And what could the other races provide for me? The squids have a pathetic organic monster that is getting beaten by an Earth machine, the furry ones have a mech getting melted down by an inorganic, and the other race has some impressive kaiju albeit organics." Hissed Rampant. He gets up and starts pacing back and forth.

"In fact, it seems like the organics living on the planet have stronger machines than the one machine in your current alliance. I've got firepower and technology that I can offer for you if I decide to join your alliance to increase it's power. So again, why should I join this alliance if you don't seem to have anything of usefulness to me? So what can your alliance offer to me that the Earth organics can't? " Asked Rampant. He stops pacing and turns to face the reptiles, awaiting his answer.

[The Great MM]

Garan smiled politely. He clicked his fingers, and suddenly the image on the machine's end changed. It turned into a watery-like scene that slowly began to change into something...

Ruined planets. Worlds. And not just any worlds, they were robotic worlds. Kaiju-sized mechs lay twisted and destroyed, but not by organic hands. A towering figure stood, tearing off a humanoid mech's head with its three fingers, tossing the body aside.

"Is this a threat!?" Rampant shouted over the speaker.

Garan didn't answer at first, allowing the 130-meter tall, cybernetic kaiju to slaughter another monstrous mech. "Nope." Garan finally responded, "You asked what we have. This is it. No other races know of Blaradon besides, maybe, its name."

"And what's so special about him!?" The machine shouted again...

"Glad you asked. See that machine? That robot?"

"Duh."

"That machine was unleashed on a galaxy by itself. An entire galaxy, five different populated worlds, gone in a single year, by a one simple mech... But we have a problem."

"Oh?"

"He was damaged in a previous campaign. We've fixed him, but we never want that accident to happen again. So we need a race, a race that are wizards are electronics like none other, to help. We have projects with the other races set up already, or in process. What the others can give... I can't say and nor do I care. This alliances would be between me and you. If you wish to join them, or vice versa, that's your business."

[dessy]

Rampant pauses for a few seconds to think about the offer.

"So what would you want us to do with your machine?" Asked the mechanical tyrant, curious as to what the reptiles want him and his fellow machines to do to their robot.

[The Great MM]

"Blaradon, right now, only has limited AI. He's mostly piloted now, but the pilot errors is what caused his accident. Even our best A.I. fails at succeeding to...-"

"Garan!" Saberon's voice suddenly shouted loudly. The Klenthurian tyrant rushed onto scene, looking at the display of the robot and then the commander. The images of Blaradon returned to normal, but now showed Saberon as Garan stood from his master's throne.

With a quick movement, Saberon smashed his fist into Garan's jaw. Taken by surprise, the spiky Klenthurian almost fell back, managing to keep himself upright thanks to his tail. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND!" Saberon shouted, preparing another blow.

Garan quickly brought up his hand, catching the fist and looking at Saberon with the coldest of eyes. All eyes in the room fixed on the situation, none daring to move as Saberon yanked his hand back. "I said make allies, not tell them THAT!"

Garan stood ready to strike, legs parted, eyes focuses, and muscles tensed. Saberon quickly regained composure and cooled, turning to face the robot on screen. "There's no point in hiding what my... former commander... was saying." Garan's eyes widened and his lip curled.

"I am willing to cooperate with you on a collaboration based on one simple rule: You will tell none of the other races, human, Deity, Barbosian, whatever... Anything about Blaradon, our work on him, or yours."

"If we do?"

"I will bring Hell down on your heads in such a way that there isn't even a word for it."

[dessy]

"Hmm, so let me get this straight. You want us to build you an advanced AI system for your mech in order to make it better at destroying races? If we do help you, it should take us at most 3 days to make an highly advanced AI system for your robot. Is there anything else you want us to do to your... Blaradon?" Asked the Mechanite leader. The robotic tyrant began pacing again, eagerly awaiting an answer.

[The Great MM]

Saberon hissed. "Time will tell then, won't it?" Was his answer.

[dessy]

Rampant was about to respond when the screen suddenly went blank.

"What happened!" Roared the mechanical tyrant.

"Sir, the reptiles have been attacked by another organic! They've sustained damage, sir!" Said a technician.

"They'll be unavailable for while they're doing repairs. In the meantime, send Battalion down for another test run. " Replied Rampant.

"Aye, sir. I'll notify them immediately." Said the technician.

The maintenance team scrambled, preparing the Mechanite assault mech for launch. Battalion was loaded up in it's pod and was soon launched back to Earth.

[dessy]

"Sir, Battalion has returned safe and sound. We have also gotten news that Sharpshooter is ready for combat albeit it's full armaments and upgrades are unavailable." Said a technician.

"Very well then. Has a transport pod been made for Sharpshooter?" Asked the Mechanite leader.

"Yes. Do you want us to send him out for a test run?"

"Indeed, then after any repairs on Sharpshooter and Battalion are done, I got a new destination for them. "

"Aye, sir."

The maintenance bots began checking over Battalion for any other wounds that the nanobots may not have fixed yet. The machines found no wounds. The maintenance bots then placed Sharpshooter into his pod and sent him to Earth, towards the Lawless Zone just like his brother Battalion.

[dessy]

"Sir, Sharpshooter has just returned and the maintenance bots are fixing up Sharpshooter. They said that they just found a fried circuit and Sharpshooter will be disabled until a replacement is brought in." Said a technician.

"Very well, go ahead and disassemble Sharpshooter. He's useless now and there's no point in having two land based mechs. Might as well, take down Sharpshooter. How's Battalion?" Asked Rampant.

"Perfect." He responded.

"Hmm, he still needs more upgrades. When will the supply ship reach here?"

"In a few days."

"Not soon enough. How's the schematics for Blitzkrieg and Deathcharge going?"

"R&D says it'll take them quite a while for the schematics to be completed and then there's contruction of the mechas." The technician answered.

Rampant scowls, disappointed and angry at the progress.

"We need to completely control the land, air, and water of this planet. And if Blitzkrieg and Deathcharge aren't finished then it will be difficult for us to conquer Earth by relying on Battalion by himself." Growled Rampant.

"What about the lizard men?" Replied the technician.

"What about them?" Responded Rampant in a casual manner.

"Are we going to help them?" Asked the crew member.

"No, they already got enough help as it is and if it isn't obvious that they're gonna betray us, then I'm an organic." Answered Rampant."

"So what will we do about this Blaradon of theirs?"

"Simple, tell the Earthnoids of the leather purses' attempt to destroy them with it. By the way, you did figure out where the machine in Paris was returning to after that fight with that gargoyle thing?" Rampant answered casually.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because that's where I'm sending Battalion next." Said the mechanical tyrant. The machine began to laugh.

The tyrant left the room and began walking towards the hangar. Rampant entered the large hangar and began watching the maintence bots disassembling Sharpshooter.