Recovered voice log 20-AB-10
Classification: Level 5 – Declassified / Public Archive
Source: Recorded voice log
Codename: Heroes
Recovery Site: Old capital of Viasea.
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[Audio Transcript Begins]
[Heavy breathing. Sustained automatic fire in the background. Explosions audible at a distance.]
Lieutenant: Hey! John, how many rounds do we have left?!
John: Not goddamn enough! These bastards are soaking up lead like sponges! Maybe forty minutes of fire left, if we're lucky.
Lieutenant: And evac? Any alternate route? Or reinforcement?
Taka: Negative. We're surrounded. Air Command just announced we've lost the airspace. Any evac now from here would be suicide. If needed, we better just go on foot or wait for armor division to get here.
John: Well, isn't that some "good news." Mommy's boy, so any news about the armor divisions? We requested reinforcement four hours ago. Are they still not here?
Taka: [frustrated] Can you drop that nickname already? That was three years ago, and it was you who forced me to drink that many bottles in the first place.
John: Hahaha, it sure indeed was fun that night, you hugging that flagpole wearing only underwear while crying mommy, and insisting on not fighting in the frontline.
[audible laughing can be heard around]
…That sure was embarrassing, I was in the dining room and ran outside to see…
…Taka! Are you sure you still don't want a baby bottle? My wife bought so many for the kid I can send you a few!…
Lieutenant: [chuckles] Sorry, brother, but you're not shaking that name. Not while John and the rest of the squad are still alive. As for armor, I just confirmed with 17th squad that the armor division has retreated and is now digging in and helping evacuate civilians in preparation for the last stand at the capital. So, no support coming our way.
Taka: Damn. So, they already pushed that far on the northern frontline. I thought the ASU would help push back and regain some ground…
John: [bitter laugh] Those "cans" don't roll off the line fast enough. And training pilots? Takes too damn long. Five years ago, maybe. Now, too late. Our industry zone is pushed in way too much that we have to choose between bullets or food.
Captain: Squad! Sitrep!
Lieutenant: Aside from being outnumbered, outgunned, and out of supplies, we're holding, Captain!
Captain: [laughs grimly] That's the spirit Lieutenant. I'd pin you First Class right here if it wasn't useless now. So rather than a promotion what would you like.
Lieutenant: No need for anything fancy sir. What we would love now is immediate evac so we can regroup with the main force. And blast these damn bastards back to the factory. But it seems like it is impossible now.
Captain: I'd share the sentiment Lieutenant, but Command's final orders are clear. All frontline units are to hold position. Last stand, until civilian evac is complete. They have also approved the use of nuclear armament so this place will be a nuclear playground in about six more hours.
[Background voices, faint, overlapping murmurs]
"…so we've lost…"
"…God, I hope my family made it out…"
"…please, someone tell me this ain't the end…"
"…Are they abandoning us?..."
Captain: Squad attention! Keep firing, but listen up!
[silence, surrounded]
Captain: I know the situation looking shitty right now! And you and I are possibly going to die here in this shithole without family or friends to carry our body back. But still remember what we're fighting for! What our comrades are fighting for! And people who have left before us died for! All of this struggling, all of these sacrifices are all for one thing and that is to ensure our future! So, we may all die here but we are gonna die knowing that our family and our children are going to be safe and that they in the future will continue on carrying the torch of knowledge and spirits and light the path for Humanity! Over the dawn of time, we have fought against this shitty life in this shitty universe and we're still kicking! And these tin can that were made by us think that they can replace us? And that they're better than humanity?! I call bullshit on that.
Lieutenant: Haha, Captain you don't have to deliver a grand speech like that! You only need to say fuck the clanker! We gonna die swinging back and that will do the work.
[soft laughs can be heard around]
'…That's true, we are a simple creature…'
'…I'm gonna die for my family if it means they gonna live for another day…'
'…Captain! Are you sure your rank is not General Commander? That speech sounded awful like the one we heard when joining the army!…'
Captain: Hahaha, now that's the spirit! And here is some good news for once! We're not abandoning our capital because we're losing. Both Frasica and Agnade have already retreated to Noafaca continent and already set up bases and industry zones there. Our country is to join forces with them. That was why these past nine months you haven't seen reinforcements from both of these countries. So, I ask of you, will you give your life for humanity so it can continue its fight?!
[Unanimous, roars can be heard]
"…I'm ready to die sir!…"
John: Haha that's my captain, you losers already heard what he said, these damn clankers are not beating humanity any time soon, especially people from Viasea. We used to fight a three-front war and come out winning. What are these pieces of toaster gonna do against our might?!
Captain: Alright squad! Here is the last command! Fight to the end and show the machine the strength of the indomitable human spirit! And also, whoever dies first will have to foot the bill in the afterlife! Remember that our squad drinks a lot, so you'd better live! Ruina Mistyfa Viasea!
[Laugh can be heard around]
"Sir, yes sir! For Viasea! Ruina Mistyfa Viasea!"
Captain: Ok! Other squads will re-group with us soon and armor division are not totally abandoned us, they're sending 2 ASU and 2 trucks of bullets and supplies for us so keep fighting!
[End of record]
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Archivist's Note
The recorded voice log was identified as belonging to the 3rd Squad of Mika Platoon. All soldiers in the squad were posthumously awarded the title "Knight of the Star" and had their names inscribed on the Round Table.
The sacrifice of approximately 3 million frontline soldiers provided sufficient time for General Command to evacuate the capital of Viasea to the central Noafaca continent. The evacuation lasted three weeks and involved more than 100 million civilians, supported by 500,000 transport vehicles and 2 million active combat vehicles.
The evacuation was completed on 21 March 2062. It remains the largest recorded evacuation in history and marked the first step in halting the Machine advance. Following completion, 200 nuclear warheads were launched against Machine nodes and command centers, delaying their operational capacity.
Ruina Mistyfa Viasea