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You take a moment to fully absorb everything you see on the page. This hidden chapter in the historical record is dense with juicy and disturbing secrets. The more you read, the more you wonder how the Federation possibly defeated the Cyangels in the first place. If you had any illusions of taking personal revenge against the species, they were shattered the second you laid eyes on this information. All you can do now is absorb as much information you could before someone realized you hacked into this forbidden information.
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Chapter IV: Technology
Cyangel technology is among the most esoteric but exceptionally efficient in the universe. Their previously mentioned wings, which allow impossible aviation, are but the first example of their prowess. Their weapons, their starships, and their cities are among the most advanced in the cosmos. Albeit tuned exclusively for their own use (comfort, for example, is not among their priorities).
Among their technology, the “Variable Weapons” were among the first to catch the eyes of experts around the universe. Variable Weapons have no defined appearance or shape. They can change into whatever weapons or tools the user desires. Although they only work for their assigned Cyangel, likely linked to them on a mental level.
The wonder of the Variable Weapons is that they can be anything at any moment, shifting and changing based on the situation, morphing as quickly as a few seconds. They may start as a rifle, but transform into a sword at close range, then a massive energy shield to deflect another attack, and so on.
While melee weapons are often looked down upon as relics of ancient civilizations, Cyangels have refined them to the point that they are far more deadly than they appear. A Variable Weapon sword can saw through most energy shields or starship hulls or even deflect laser fire. It should also be noted that Variable Weapons can alter their size at will. Meaning a sword or ax could become large enough to slice an entire starship in half, physics be damned.
Outside of melee weapons, Variable Weapons can change into any form of ranged weapon as well. Rifles, cannons, explosives, and the like are well within their capabilities. Thus in combat with a Cyangel wielding a Variable Weapon, no assumptions can be made…
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You feel a pang of concern roll through your body. These weapons sound insane. Not only can they be anything, but they can also change as quickly as in the blink of an eye. To fight them unprepared or without great skill of your own would be suicide.
You decide to skim over the section on their starships and other sciences. It really is just more of the same, constantly repeating how dangerous they are. However, you begin to wonder why this chapter was censored again. The Variable Weapons sound incredible, but not so much their existence needs to be hidden. As you turn the page, your heart sinks as you find the real reason this chapter may have been locked away.
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Warning: The following information is categorized under Level-0 Classified by the Themision Federation council. Reproduction of this material is punishable by intergalactic law. This material is for the eyes of the council and maximum-security individuals only.
…Among the most horrifying of the Cyangel’s many technological achievements are their assimilators. The existence of which the Federation has taken great pains in suppressing, for the sanity of its people. To be assimilated by the Cyangels is to lose one’s individuality, body, and mind and to be forcibly included into their hive.
As mentioned in previous chapters, Cyangels capture the local inhabitants of planets they conqueror. Their use of such beings varies, but it usually comes down to a few equally horrible choices. The “lucky ones” are simply euthanized and broken down into their base components to be converted into a fuel source for the creation of new Cyangels. The not-so-lucky ones are subject to more harsh fates.
Those with desirable organs, muscles, or bones will also be euthanized and “dismantled.” These dismantled parts will be used to construct new Cyangels, using the bones as a frame and other components as additions. While Cyangels are more than capable of vat growing or even cloning their organic portions, they seem to prefer taking them from organics, usually humanoids. Especially if said humanoids have “quality” body parts.
However, some suffer worse fates. As mentioned in the previous chapters, Cyangels “collect” the prime examples of a planet’s inhabitants during their final stages of invasion. It is not to simply study them for the best qualities to put into their queen and princesses. Instead, these inhabitants are assimilated into the Cyangel hive, more often than not forcibly.
While the complete process is not documented, key elements have been discerned. Notably, unlike other methods, this process has the victim alive during its entire course. The whole assimilation is basically an extreme cybernetic modification. With the victim’s body completely stripped down and rebuilt into a Cyangels. While the original being’s organs and skeleton may remain, albeit, with changes, the rest is wholly altered.
How this affects the victim’s mind is not fully understood and likely never will. It would be impossible to get an impartial observation of the process. However, it is theorized that the process is so extreme and painful it tears down the victim’s mind, leaving it vulnerable as it is linked to the Cyangel hivemind. From there, it is likely the victim is basically reprogrammed like a computer, perhaps with help from brain augments.
The end result of this assimilation is always a perfectly normal Cyangel, regardless of their original appearance, race, gender, age, etc. How much of the victim’s mind remains is debatable, but it seems important information is preserved. Especially secrets, tactics, techniques, skills, and even personal memories. However, opinions, beliefs, and the like are entirely discarded.
A handful of Cyangels created through assimilation have been observed directly. Among them, a few have actually attempted to seek out people they knew in their “previous life.” Usually, to assimilate them and rarely to settle past grievances.
During the war, Cyangels assimilated many captured Federation soldiers and generals. In fact, it is theorized almost 10% of the Cyangel’s forces were made this way. This led to many of those few instances where past grievances were settled. Famous Federation general Raiken Steelside and infamous general Martin Crown had a legendary rivalry at the time. However, Steelside fell in battle with the Cyangels during the middle of the war. Crown retreated from that same battle and lived to fight another day. A solar cycle later, a Cyangel general claiming to be an assimilated Steelside singled out Crown for two straight solar cycles, claiming “revenge for abandoning them.”
While the Cyangel general’s identity was never confirmed, so many Federation troops were assimilated during the war that it is not impossible they spoke the truth. Although, this document has made great pains to not refer to said Cyangel general as Steelside. An assimilation created Cyangel is not the same person as the one they were created from. It would be like saying a starship you gutted down to the frame and rebuilt was the same ship as before. Indeed, some parts are still there, but so much has changed it can’t be said they are the same.
The truth is that numerous accounts of Federation soldiers being declared “missing” was actually a cover for them likely being assimilated. However, experts still agree that was the right choice. In the unlikely instance the Cyangel’s assimilation technology is revealed to the universe at large, the Federation will be ready with a statement to not attempt to seek out the Cyangels created through that technology.
Survivors of the war, those cryogenically frozen during its course, and any long-lived species or cyborg will obviously be tempted to find lost friends and family members. They would be under the mistaken impression a remnant of the person they knew was still within the Cyangel. While the Cyangel would recognize them and may even welcome their presence, experts conclude this is intentional on the Cyangel’s part. They’d want those individuals to sympathize with them, making them easier to lure in and assimilate as well. Thus such acts should be prevented.
However, until that theoretical day comes, the scientists of the Federation have concluded that the assimilation technology should remain an unknown to the universe…
~--~
You stop reading right there. You’ve seen enough. At least you have an idea of where your brother and father may have gone. That is if they weren’t just killed, or ground up into fuel, or stripped for their bones and organs. You’re sick to your stomach as intrusive thoughts of such horrible things happening invade your mind. Thankfully, you dispel them just as quickly as they came.
You should get out of here. Who knows how long before someone realizes what you have done and what you have seen. Perhaps they’re right, and the universe shouldn’t know the truth. You don’t know whether that’s correct or not, but for now, you’re not interested in finding out. You only wonder how long you can keep your mouth shut.
You close down the historical record and stand up from the desk. You take a deep breath and briskly walk away. Outside that door is a long hallway between you and the exit. For all you know, guards are waiting right outside to tackle you and drag you off to God knows where. If not, then you need to figure out where you are going next.
The document said you shouldn’t seek out the Cyangels, but what have you got to lose now? Then again, dying, or worse, is not exactly at the top of your to-do list. Still, you wonder if you even have a choice. You shake your head and march towards the door, waiting to take on whatever fate has in store for you.
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When on a quest for the truth you must be ready to accept the consequences for learning as much.
...And yes, if you see any contradictions between this chapter and previous ones that's intentional.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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