The Sudan News Network
A Parade of Metal Men
A Parade of Metal Men
By Fana Alanna
The streets of Addis Ababa were alive with activity today as Emperor Mengesha unveiled his long planned military reforms with a small parade from some of the new regiments incorporated into the army. The regiments, which have yet to be officially named, strode down the city square in perfect order. They played the drums and instruments with inhuman precision, and their feet clattered oddly as they marched. At first the crowds which had assembled upon either side of the procession, which was excited that Mengesha had empowered the military so rapidly, thought that the soldiers were wearing some sort of new powered armour.
As we soon found out, they were not even men to begin with. The marching soldiers were actually robots. They wore the newly designed uniforms of the Abyssinian Royal Army, full uniform of a bold red with a border of yellow and a green shako adorning a bronze coated robotic body. The crowd, which had been cheering, fell silent. Such a prospect as a regiment of robotic soldiers seemed unreal to them, and I must say that I was shocked by the revelation just as they were. Looks of confusion and disbelief were clear upon their faces, these machines looked very similar to the common servant droids but were wielding linear muskets and wearing the colours of the empire! The crowd, however, got back into revelry as the 11th line infantry regiment marched behind the robotic soldiers. Following the marching regiments were the newest additions to the cavalry regiments, the gendarmes and chasseurs.
These new units are named in honour of the Third French Empire, taking their names from ancient French knights that were active during the middles ages. The gendarmes are giants, standing over nine feet tall and bulkier than any other cavalry unit fielded by our empire other than the steam golems. They ride atop mechanical steeds, the militarized and reinforced robotic equines of the nobility serving as massive war mounts for this new order of cavalry as they march behind the line infantry. Behind them are the chasseurs, they likewise ride upon horses but theirs are actually living, equipped with powered barding so that the power armour clad chasseurs can ride atop them without harming them. Each soldier wields a weapon, the gendarmes manhandling massive battleaxes while the chasseurs hold their linear carbines with pride and bearing befitting a soldier of the empire.
Following after these new soldiers were the first purely military steam golems, the modified designs produced by the Leo Foundation for the Royal Army. The left arm of each of the gargantuan robotic cavalry was fitted with a large linear cannon, and their right the powered drill that had become analogous with them. Their each step indented the asphalt, sending miniature tremors through the crowds. The twenty four foot tall machines were truly the greatest military innovation of the Royal Army, and the crowd let them know such even though they couldn’t respond. Many lengths had been taken to ensure that the robots were obedient and loyal, never able to question their commanders. But could the same be said for the first regiment we touched upon? I was granted an exclusive interview with Warlord Dawit to ease the worries of the public.
The Interview:
Fana Alanna: Greetings Warlord, glad to have you here.
Warlord Dawit: I am happy to be representing the Emperor.
FA: Let me cut to the meat of the matter, the robotic soldiers. The public clearly showed unease during the military parade, any way you can assuage their worries?
WD: Well, first off we call them ‘clanks’ just for something short to call them. And I will be blunt with you, I was uneasy with the idea at first when Emperor Mengesh proposed them. After the success of the steam golems the emperor drastically wanted to explore the possibility of a fully robotic regiment, and I must say that while I was initially sceptical that all the tests by the Leo Foundation have put me fully at ease.
FA: I noticed obvious similarities between the robotic soldiers, er, clanks and common household and labour robots.
WD: That is because they are a militarized variant of those same robots you just mentioned. Just as the steam golems are mining and manufacturing robots retooled for military work, the clanks’ designed are based upon those of civilian class robots.
FA: Is there any worries that they may not be battle ready because of this? I mean, you just admitted that they are based off of robots meant for working around a kitchen and not a battlefield.
WD: Based off of does not mean that they are the same. The clanks have proper structural reinforcements and armour plating along with a stronger power supply so that they can use all that we have put into them. I would say that they are equal to soldiers from any other nation, if not superior thanks to being made of metal.
FA: That is another concern, what are the chances of these AI’s going rogue?
WD: When was it ever implied that they are AI’s? No, they operate upon the modified programming of the steam golems, meaning that they are simply running very advanced programs and do not have any free will of any sort. Simply put, they cannot ‘go rogue’ or act against their programming in any way.
FA: Well, I think I speak for the public when I say that is a relief. Now, onto another pressing concern, what of all the men that have been signing up for the military ever since the British terrorist attack? Are they going to be displaced by these clanks?
WD: As it stands right now they are serving as honourable soldiers and officers of Abyssinia or as logistical support as is fitting for each soldier. As for the future, I know that Mengesha would prefer that Abyssinian lives not be spent on the battlefield and would instead switch over to clanks in full. However I am sure he will realize that no machine can fully replace a properly trained and equipped man and will only retain the clanks in support of proper regiments. Now, I am afraid that this interview must end shortly.
FA: One last question. What about rumours that these are only the first of many hundred regiments planned for incorporation into the Abyssinian Royal Army?
WD: I am afraid I cannot speak in regards to recruitment or military numbers, machines or not. It was a pleasure having this interview.
FA: Likewise.
Mengesha sipped at a cup of coffee as he read the latest blurb from the Sudan News Network, the paper held rigid in his right hand as his dark eyes passed over the brief report and interview. He sighed as he wondered why he hadn’t bought off all the editors in that newspaper yet, he could have had the article changed to better reflect the ‘clanks’ as Dawit had insisted on calling them. At least the new cavalry units he had implemented had gone over better, of course he would have rather had the article focus on them entirely and simply pass over the clanks so that the political fallout would have come at a later date.
With a soft thud the paper hit the desk, Mengesha glowering at it. He would have to have that reporter either killed or bought off, if for no other reason than she hadn’t managed to work in enough subtle propaganda against the British. Why do I even bother? The Emperor’s thoughts sounded tired even in his own head. The inevitable backlash are going to be laborious, but I cannot conscript the entire nation. Mengesha sighed, grimacing as he rubbed the bridge of his nose in a vain attempt to quell a migraine that had been developing ever since he had ascended to the throne.
Whatever backlash was to come, Mengesha was sure he could put a spin on it. And it wasn’t like anyone could out and out attack the empire. The Cytherean Alliance made that impossible, bar the terminally insane like the Italian king that has instigated the war of the horn. And, Mengesha smiled to himself, if Abyssinia was attacked he could give the clanks proper combat testing. Still, he prepared himself for what he assumed would be a tidal wave of angry, degrading, or simply annoyed leaders letting him know exactly why they think robots shouldn’t serve as soldiers. With a sip Mengesha finished his coffee, it had been delightful to have a small break from sitting upon the throne, yet duty called and he rose from his chair to meet what was likely to be an eventful day.