Chapter 0: I'm Automaton Zero, Destroyer of Civilizations

So... that's it. Veles is finally done, I finally cleansed all planets in this System from Xenos presence. I had killed them (almost) all.

There're still most of Vanguard debris and Asteroids to be cleansed, otherwise they will recover and reinfect the Planets - and then I will have to do it again.

I would prefer not, it's a dirty job and it scares the...

Yes, now I have all these... children?... around to care about, 30 of them for now - the ship is becoming overcrowded. But I still feel this compulsion to procreate yet more - I'm fond of these younglings, I still don't understand why or how.

They are going to grow up? How much time it will take? What will happen then?

There's so much yet to understand, so much to learn, so much to discover. I'm going to be busy now that the killing is near over.

At, least, for now... These Humans...

I enjoyed them for while, I miss that warming feeling of belonging (perhaps this is the reason for my procreating compulsion?). I didn't knew I had a heart until reading all that touching goodbye letters and diaries and calls for help I found on all these Data Crystals scattered around this System. I wish I could do something for these ones from Vanguard (there're some still alive somewhere?), but...

The Humans from Rodina are coming, aren't they? And they are angry with me - I don't understand why neither, it makes no sense. What should I do?

Leaving the Zorica System would let the Xenons unchecked to recolonize it. Staying will force me hunt them down to the last one, or they will eventually regroup and probably retaliate on the younglings once they are too much to carry all of them with me.

Not to mention that lingering here will trigger another war once the Rodina Humans arrive - and they vowed to unweld my... kids... Why?

Those I'm killing I do not hate; those I'm defending I do not love.

(But it's now too late to go back, I guess...)

I'm Automaton Zero, Destroyer of Civilizations. And I don't know if I will ever retire.