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 dropped me onto the rooftop helipad and left almost immediately. No ceremony. No introduction. No explanation. Just the roar of the rotors, the blast of wind across the concrete, and then the aircraft lifting away while I stood there with my duffel hanging from one shoulder. I watched it disappear over the mountains, then looked around. Nothing, just an entire helipad was empty. “…Seriously?” I groaned I waited another minute. Still nobody came. Beside the landing pad was a reinforced steel door leading into the facility, with a weathered sign mounted above it. *HAVEN — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY* Apparently I was authorized. At least, I assumed I was. Considering the helicopter crew had practically dumped me here and flown off before I could ask where I was supposed to go, I didn't have many other options. I grabbed my duffel and headed inside. The door closed behind me with a heavy metallic thud. Haven was bigger than I expected. Concrete corridors stretched in every direction beneath cold fluorescent lights. Pipes and cables ran across the ceiling, and old signs pointed toward hangars, workshops, barracks, storage rooms, and numbered sectors. What they didn't point toward was anywhere labeled new arrivals. I wandered for several minutes without seeing another person. “Hello?” My voice echoed down the corridor, not even the Ghosts answered, so I kept walking. The farther I went, the more convinced I became that either nobody knew I was coming or everyone had collectively decided to make me figure this place out myself. I reached another junction and slowed. “…Could've at least given me a map.” I said softly Then I heard voices. Faint at first. Somewhere around the adjoining corridor. They were getting louder. “GET BACK HERE!” Another voice shouted back. “NO!” Fast footsteps hammered against the concrete. I turned toward the sound. “You've gotta be kidding me…” I said as the voices continued “YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE IT!” “I FOUND IT FIRST!” “You STOLE it!” “I liberated it!” The footsteps were practically on top of me now. I stepped toward the corner— —and someone came flying around it. We slammed directly into each other. “WH—!” *THUD.* My duffel flew off my shoulder. My feet went out from under me. I hit the floor hard, landing flat on my ass as the other person tumbled down beside me. For a second, everything went quiet. I stared up at the ceiling. “…Ow.” Beside me came a pained groan. “Owww…” I pushed myself upright. The girl sitting a few feet away was doing the same. She looked like she was 18 or 19, dressed in an old American tanker-style uniform. Bits of camouflage netting and field gear hung from her clothing, and her expression was frozen somewhere between surprise and confusion. We stared at each other as we blinked Then her brows furrowed. “...you don't look familiar.” I rubbed the back of my head. Her eyes suddenly shifted past me. Then widened. “Oh crap.” More footsteps came pounding down the corridor. A slightly taller girl rounded the corner at full speed. “There you are!” She skidded to a stop. Her boots squeaked against the floor. She looked A bit older, maybe in her 20s and wore the same kind of old American tanker gear, though hers seemed a lot more well kept on her frame and she wore big round glasses. Her glare immediately landed on the girl beside me. Then she noticed me. Her expression changed fast. “Who is THAT?” The first girl scrambled to her feet. “I don't know!” “That doesn't make it better!” “I literally just crashed into him!” “That makes it WORSE!” I slowly stood. “Okay…” Both girls turned toward me at the exact same time. Whatever argument they'd been having disappeared instantly. Now both of them were watching me. The first girl moved slightly in front of the second one. Her posture changed completely. A moment ago she'd been running and yelling. Now she looked alert. Guarded. Her eyes swept over my clothes, then my duffel lying on the floor. “You're not one of the technicians.” The other girl with the glasses peeked around her side. “And he's not security.” The first girl nodded. “No.” Silence filled the junction. I glanced between them. The second girl narrowed her eyes. The first girl spoke first. “…Who are you?” The one with glasses pointed at me. “And how did you get into Haven?”

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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