User:Delta Team Curt/Melanie (AI)/Chapter Alpha

// Chapter Alpha // 09 APR 2529 MST // 19:04 daytime

The siren had became an agitation that she couldn’t stand, the high pitched whine unrelenting as it became increasingly difficult for her to execute even the most basic functions. Another feeling of what could only be compared to vertigo swept over her as yet another portion of the facilities extensive computer network was hacked away, deactivated and ripped away by the unskilled hands of a pair of computer technicians as they struggled to contain the construct in portable hardware.

“You don’t have to do this! The facility is not in jeopardy, you are making a mistake!” the tone of the voice was now tinged with pain and anguish.

The azure avatar of the artificial intelligence fell to its knees; the expression of a woman in her late thirties now displayed the agony being caused by the keystrokes of the technicians.

“Melanie, cease this foolish action, you have a chance to leave and survive, yet you simply want to stay here and die. However, it doesn’t have to be the Covenant that does so, your fail safe is still under my control, all you have to do is transfer to the data chip” the cold voice of a man piercing the ambient noise.

“Sir! Bloody Arrow was just sent out by CENTCOM, Echo Four Nine isn’t going to wait forever!” called a Staff Sergeant hunched over a radio.

Brady looked down at the hologram, his eyes showing for a brief second a sign of uncertainty. He was contemplating undermining facility and UNSC protocol in one fell swoop, deciding whether or not to make sure the intelligence was secure by destroying or evacuating it, or simply leaving and letting the Covenant do the job. The man’s lips parted for a second as the Lieutenant Commander attempted to deliver his order.

“Get topside now, leave the AI here, the Covenant will be doing us a favor” the officer commanded.

And with that Melanie was left alone, the four remaining facility personnel hurrying towards the lifts towards what would most likely be their deaths, the external temperature sensors climbing into the hundreds as they reached the surface.