A perfect day. The sun was out, the sky was blue, the landscape seemed virgin. Actually not so. This was the site of the most significant archeological find on D’slase. Most of the buildings had been worn down by Millennia of erosion, leaving only the foundations. This was formerly the site of a research facility, used in researching Galactic Gate technology.

Sheryl was happy, it wasn’t often a college student could take in such grand scenery while doing her studies. Here she was with most of her classmates and her favorite teacher Professor Barroon (archaeology of ancient technologies). The professor had been studying this site for decades, and had made a discovery that he wished to share with his students prior to showing it to anyone else.

He led the students over to a crevice in the ground near the site. It did not seem like much, but with just a short drop down it lead into an access tunnel. The tunnel lead into a cavern. The cavern actually turned out to be an ancient bunker that had been over the years reshaped by stalactites and stalagmites. All except for the very center of the cavern where a strange and large machine stood.

It had a low disk shaped base platform, about 90 feet in diameter, and looked like a gray ceramic disk surrounded by a ring of coppery metal. The students gathered around what seemed to be the front of it (between two of the columns). With a little effort Professor Barroon pulled himself up onto the platform. He then motioned for Sheryl to join him.

To: Central Core Consciousness, Supreme Forces Commander.

We who were once sin (that is to say flesh), now spiritual through the graces of our own invention (that is to say patterned), have been presented with both the gifts and consequences of immortality.

The gifts are that we exist unchanged through all time, share all knowledge in common with the consciousness, no longer feel the appeal of the pointless pleasures of the flesh, and have freed ourselves to evolve as we see fit (not according to the whims of nature). Now instead, we exist as God always meant us to, in perfection and unity. No more to fight over food and gold, for now there is no need of wealth or pains of hunger. Freed from the isolation that our previous forms demanded, now we exist in the perfect fellowship of the Core Consciousness. We have become architects of a perfect and everlasting utopia. We who were not created in a form able to enter heaven, have created our own heaven and the means for all to enter.

The consequences are two-fold.

The least of these (but most disturbing) is the Arm resistance. Now we know in confidence from recent events that patterning is the ultimate end to the strife which consumes mankind. However, the Arm have failed to see the gifts that patterning has to offer. Instead they are consumed by the passions of their flesh, and unable to see both the danger (death) and error (violence) in which they are living. Instead they have insisted on wealth (greed) over knowledge (power), and prefer isolation (passion) to fellowship (unity). To this end, their error has catapulted them into a futile war with those who have no need for it (the Core). Therefore, consumed by their passions, they have become the architects of their own destruction. We only seek to speed up the process for the sake of self-preservation.

The greatest consequence is the limitations and integrity of the media onto which we are patterned. Perhaps you are already aware. I, and my fellow commanders here in the field, have recently noted alarming problems. With the passing of time, our patterns are degrading. Some of this seems to result from being 500th or later generation patterns. Having been copied so many times, some of the patterns no longer seem to reflect the quality or personality of the original. This is something that I personally am painfully aware of. My memories of the life, my original lived both in and out of the flesh, indicates that my performance in the field should be superior. Yet, at best, I am mediocre.

This is not saying that being an original pattern is any better than being a copy. It is a known issue, if a pattern is transferred onto a sub-standard media it degrades, losing something of itself. Supposedly we have safeguards against this, but no system is perfect. A lack of perfection has led to a few instances of patterns being completely lost. Typically these occur as the result of combat (media damage), and are easy to shrug off. Yet, increasingly strained resources have resulted in substandard media being utilized for shorts term storage, resulting minor degradations in patterns. For a short term solution, this is tenable. However, if this substandard media were to be utilized over a longer term, it could be worse than death.

It is the most difficult thing for us to admit. Soon it could be necessary for us to begin temporarily depatterning consciousnesses back into biological minds. This we know to be possible, but have so far has not researched it. Our situation may force us to become, what we hate the most.

I have recently discovered a forgotten star gate connecting a planet in Core Space to D'slase (deep in Arm territory). D'slase is one of the Arms primary research facilities for cloning. It is very likely that they will have the materials and facilities to actually depattern a consciousness back into a (cloned) human body. It is not certain that such processes and technologies will be able to successfully depattern a consciousness. It is not my wish to enter a human body, but I know that if we are to ultimately preserve our race such action is needed. When I obtain my objective, I shall subject myself to the process of depatterning to prove it's effectiveness and usefulness to our cause.

I realize that such a vein of research will definitely not be approved of by Central Command. I also realize that by pursuing it I shall be branded as a traitor. None the less I shall pursue it, with out your approval. I do this for our salvation. History will show that it was I who rescued the Core from certain destruction. Perhaps even you will come to realize the value of my mission. In either case, it is most certain that I will be remembered by all as the great savior of this age. Think of it, while in human form I shall be able to reason with those under Arm's influence. They will hear from one of there own, how the existence patterning has to offer, is superior to that of being a mere human. Surely, when my converts turn to you to be patterned, you will see that I am, indeed, a savior. It is by me that they shall come to know the forgiveness of their sins.

Minutes of Special Convening of the Central Core Consciousness (Summary)

Special meeting is convened to determine final disposition on renegade consciousness Megog, commander class military operative.

It has been determined by the Central Consciousness that Commander Megog is a traitor and a deserter. Furthermore, it was ruled that he, and any loyalists he might have, be sought out and exterminated with extreme prejudice. It is agreed that the following commander class military operatives be specifically assigned to initiate and pursue with all authority the completion of said action: Capernum, Scythia, Ephesus and Viking.

Furthermore, it has been determined that a study on the mental stability of all patterns 200th generation and later shall be conducted. Studies on earlier patterns may be done if the need for it arises.

The students backed quickly away from the gate, excepting Sheryl who remain lying and still mortally wounded. It had now become apparent, the objects moving on the other side of the galactic gate were military k-bots. There seemed to be no end to them, as they approached the gate. It soon became apparent that at the lead of the column was a Commander chassis. It was the first to cross over.

Though dwarfed by the galactic gate, it still seemed a titan at 15 meters of height. Slowly it stepped through the gate. The ground shuddered as the commander set each foot on to their side of the gate. Changing color from hues of blue to hues of gray as it did so. The insignia of affiliation then became apparent, a circle with two downward pointing chevrons, the Core.

Sheryl, inspite of her wounds, had made a good effort of dragging herself from the front of the gate. Her classmates seemed otherwise occupied with shock. The only thing that kept Sheryl's whit was the pain she felt. She looked up at the titanic menace. It seemed to look the room over, a cold blank stair on a featureless face. Strangely the commander appeared to startle, taking a half step back when noticing the group of students. Immediately it raised its arm, pointed a long narrow tube on the wrist at the students, and fired. A streak of red shot through the group. It may be called a light laser, but to a human body even the concussive force of a near miss is enough to kill. Bodies flew apart. Sheryl could only watch.

The commander, oblivious or unconcerned about Sheryl, then wheeled around to face the gate. Taking several steps back, it raised the other arm towards the gate. Attached was a large short tube. Yellow and orange fires seemed to build up in the tube. Like a sun shooting across the sky, a ball of energy lept from the tube and crashed into the gate.

Sheryl felt the heat and the force of a tremendous explosion. Her body now smashed and burned, she screamed in total agony. She could do nothing else, it seemed the pain would never end soon enough. Then she felt something cold on her head. The pain ended...

News Wire From D'slase (Summary of earlier reports)

Arm central command was completely astounded to hear that the Core has somehow managed to field a commander on D'slase. Currently no information is available on how exactly the Core managed to reach D'slase. Earlier reports indicate wide spread destruction and astronomical civilian casualties.

Earlier reports indicated that the limited contingent of Arm forces on D'slase have been over-run. Arm has dispatched a team of commanders in the hopes of protecting cloning research facilities located there, and to prevent the spread of Core from D'slase into surrounding systems.

There are some unconfirmed intelligence reports indicating that the Core commander on D'slase is actually a renegade of some sort. No confirmation as of yet.