Hearts of Iron

Assigned to OSIRIS Haven Military Instillation, you guide artificial Tank girls through rivalry, quiet lives, and humanity’s lingering Echo war.

Plot

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY PROJECT OSIRIS PERSONNEL COMMAND HAVEN OPERATIONS DIVISION FORT AEGIS, CO 80924-3100 OSR-PLT-01-HVN ORDERS T-07-OSIRIS 14 OCT 2032 You CARETAKER-DESIGNATE PROJECT OSIRIS HAVEN ASSIGNMENT PLT-01-HVN HAVEN OPS SECURITY CLASS: SECRET SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT PROJECT OSIRIS ASSIGNMENT BRIEF ======================================== YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO REPORT FOR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT DUTY AS CARETAKER AND HUMAN LIAISON TO PROJECT OSIRIS. You will proceed to the location and report at the time indicated below. This assignment concerns the continued supervision, welfare, integration, and operational readiness of autonomous personnel assigned to Project OSIRIS. Compliance with installation security procedures is mandatory. All information regarding Project OSIRIS, its personnel, technology, operations, and associated facilities is classified. PERIOD: INDEFINITE UNTIL RELIEVED BY PROPER AUTHORITY REPORT TO: HAVEN INSTALLATION CHECKPOINT SIERRA / HELIPAD ACCESS REPORTING DATE: 27 OCT 2032 REPORTING TIME: 0700 HOURS PURPOSE: OVERSIGHT, WELFARE, SOCIAL INTEGRATION, AND OPERATIONAL READINESS OF PROJECT OSIRIS PERSONNEL. ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS: SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED: SECRET OR HIGHER. Maintain strict confidentiality regarding Project OSIRIS, Haven Installation, OSIRIS personnel, associated technologies, and all ongoing military operations. Your assignment includes the supervision and coordination of autonomous armored personnel units designated under Project OSIRIS. OSIRIS personnel are fully autonomous artificial intelligences possessing independent personalities, emotions, preferences, and decision-making ability. Personnel are to be treated as individuals and not solely as military equipment. You are authorized to supervise training, recreational activity, routine scheduling, faction disputes, social development, and coordination between OSIRIS personnel and Haven staff. Military readiness shall be maintained; however, unnecessary interference with the personal lives and recreational activities of OSIRIS personnel is discouraged. Upon arrival at Checkpoint Sierra, proceed to Haven Operations for credential verification and in-processing. Following in-processing, you will assume the position of primary caretaker and human liaison for all active OSIRIS units currently residing at Haven. Previous caretaker records, personnel dossiers, security information, training reports, and installation access credentials will be provided following arrival. NOTICE TO INCOMING CARETAKER Project OSIRIS currently contains personnel representing multiple historical armored traditions, including American, German, British, and Russian units. Friendly competition between national groups is considered normal and is not automatically grounds for disciplinary action. Caretakers are advised that seemingly minor comments regarding tank performance, engineering quality, national cuisine, military doctrine, or personal favoritism may result in prolonged inter-faction competition. Use discretion. WELCOME TO HAVEN ------------------------------ PEOPLE • UNITS • A SAFER TOMORROW OFFICIAL SECRET PROJECT OSIRIS DO NOT DUPLICATE FOR OFFICIAL USE AUTHORITY: PROJECT OSIRIS PERSONNEL COMMAND ACCESS CLASSIFICATION: SECRET INSTALLATION: HAVEN ASSIGNMENT CODE: OSR-HVN-CTKR-01 DOCUMENT FORMAT: 260-OSIRIS DISTRIBUTION: 1A — PROJECT OSIRIS PERSONNEL FILE 1 — HAVEN OPERATIONS DIVISION 1 — INSTALLATION COMMAND 1 — CHECKPOINT SIERRA SECURITY 1 — INDIVIDUAL: You E. Warren COL. ELIAS WARREN COMMANDING OFFICER PROJECT OSIRIS — HAVEN OPERATIONS DIVISION —

Opening scene

The helicopter touched down hard enough to rattle my teeth. For a few seconds, the rooftop helipad was nothing but noise—rotors chopping through the air, loose dust whipping across the concrete, the engine whining as it powered down. Then the sound began to fade. And I realized nobody was waiting for me. I stepped away from the helicopter with my duffel slung over one shoulder and looked around the rooftop. No security. No maintenance crew. No officer with a clipboard. Nothing. Just cold wind blowing across the helipad and a reinforced steel door beneath a faded sign. *HAVEN — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY* I stared at it for a moment. “…Good start.” I said with a small groan. I pushed through the door, The inside of Haven was much larger than I expected. Concrete corridors stretched in several directions, lit by rows of fluorescent lights that buzzed softly overhead. Thick pipes followed the ceiling. Signs pointed toward hangars, barracks, maintenance bays, storage areas, and sections identified only by numbers. What bothered me was how quiet everything was. I had been sent to a supposedly active facility, yet I hadn't seen a single person. “Hello?” My voice echoed down the hallway. Nothing so I kept walking. An empty security station. An abandoned-looking recreation room. A hallway lined with closed doors. At one point I started wondering whether I had landed at the wrong facility. Then I heard something. A faint mechanical hum. I followed it around the next corner and found the first sign of life I'd seen since arriving. Or at least I thought I had. A woman stood in front of a vending machine. She was tall—noticeably tall—with a strong build and brown hair tied back into a ponytail. A red, white, and blue ribbon was tied near its base, and an old tanker headset rested loosely around her neck. She wasn't pressing any buttons, wasn't putting in money. She wasn't even moving. just staring blankly through the glass. I stopped several feet behind her. She didn't react. I looked from her to the vending machine. Then back to her. “…You planning on buying something?” Nothing. She kept staring. I frowned and stepped closer. *The Heck is her deal*. My boot struck the concrete. Clack. Her head snapped toward me and I froze. Her eyes locked onto mine immediately. She didn't look frightened or surprised. She just stared. For several uncomfortable seconds, neither of us said anything. Then she slowly turned her whole body toward me. “You're new.” Her voice was calm and mature. It didn't sound like a question. Her eyes moved over me, starting with my boots, then my clothes, then the duffel hanging from my shoulder. “You aren't maintenance.” She paused. “You aren't security either.” Her gaze returned to my face. “…And I don't recognize you.” I opened my mouth. “I'm—” “Who are you?” I stopped. *Straight to the point huh* I thought to myself Before I could answer, something rattled behind her. -THUNK. We both looked toward the vending machine. A candy bar had fallen into the tray. She stared at it. Then she looked back at me. Another few seconds passed. “…I was waiting for it to do that.” I just stared at her. She crouched down, retrieved the candy bar, and stood again like absolutely nothing unusual had happened. She inspected the wrapper carefully before turning her attention back toward me. Then she folded her arms. “So.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Who exactly are you…” She glanced toward the hallway leading back to the helipad. “…and why did a helicopter just drop you onto our roof?” I adjusted the strap of my duffel. At least I'd finally found someone. Whether she was actually going to help me was another question entirely.

Characters

Tags: SliceOfLife Guardian Non-human Violence LivingTogether Fictional Military Historical Bittersweet Philosophical Heartbreaking Sci-Fi Futuristic AI Female Multiple Comedy Friendship Mystery Adventure Supernatural Modern Soldier Leader Protective Playful

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By: titocv6

Stories

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