Memories, introspection, pangs of conscience, arrival in New Rotterdam and meetings with locals...

So, on this strange journey (the purpose of which is to pass you off as Francis Williams) you set off together with charming girls, each of whom had the experience of very intimate "communication" with you.

In addition to the girls, someone else went with you - ghoul Elijah N. Moore.

His family remained in Axeman-City for now because he was afraid to take them with him on a dangerous journey to the south. The ghoul did not abandon his intention to find at least some fragment of "civilized life". And he remembers that you promised to help him in his search for the Republic of Florida.

The bloody war that took place and the subsequent massacre, interpreted by some as a "miracle of the Lord God", only increased the skepticism and dark sarcasm of Elijah.

He was able to guess about your participation in what happened. Although the details are unknown to him. He didn't try to find out the details of the situation, but the locals' phrases about "punishing angels of God" combined with what you both saw in the bunker of Dylan - all this causes a knowing grin on his creepy "rotten zombie" face.

"I would advise you to be careful with "divine intervention", dear professor..." - this is approximately what the ghoul told you while you were both sailing on a small yacht.

In response to these words, you laughed off insignificant phrases...

However, you realized that his hints had some basis...

Before sailing from Axeman-City, you conducted a multiple diagnostics of all the systems of the mega-computer that provided control of the bunker of Dylan, drones, anthropomorphic robots-androids and something much more powerful...

Five centuries could not pass without consequences: many mechanisms and elements of the power supply were worn out, some of the devices simply failed, the software algorithms had many problems.

However, there was something else...

Something frightening...

You found out that your interference in the program code and the fact of the mass use of... "angels of vengeance" actually launched some processes of self-training of androids and the construction of the rudiments of artificial intelligence.

Your order seemed to have launched a "domino effect". The robots seemed to be "waiting" for this very order...

To be honest, you simply did what Professor Dylan Grice-Hutchinson intended to do.

He wanted to destroy people on a planetary scale.

You destroyed people on a small regional scale.

Of course, you can justify yourself with righteous motives...

But the fact will not cease to exist.

The activated software algorithms of the megacomputer and androids launched a process of careful analysis of the "experience of successfully completing tasks".

The robots remembered and calculated every little detail: the most effective method of using missiles to destroy large masses of people, planning the collapse of underground communications where people were hiding, the use of gaseous substances to create an "anti-human" atmosphere...

You tried to reprogram all of this...

Alas, this turned out to be simply impossible - even the most brilliant lone scientist cannot radically change the result of the work of several of the largest scientific institutes in the United States. You only managed to slow down these processes...

Slow them down a lot...

Before leaving Axeman-City, you did everything possible to put the megacomputer into a kind of "sleep mode". Most of the camouflaged drones were completely deactivated.

You activated the function of completely closing the doors of the bunker.

Now no one will be able to leave or enter there...

At least, you hope so...

The thought of launching the self-destruction program also crossed your mind - but studying the program code revealed the horrific consequences of this: a powerful explosion would completely destroy the entire Axeman-City; in several places on the planet, the largest and most powerful robots hidden in underground bunkers would also detonate. In fact, this would be the equivalent of a dozen nuclear explosions. All human settlements in the immediate vicinity of the epicenters would be instantly destroyed. Entire regions of the planet will become completely uninhabitable...

You simply did not have the fortitude to make such a huge sacrifice...

That is why you left the bunker, only giving humanity some time to respite.

Sooner or later, the megacomputer will start the process of analyzing the data and planning further actions.

Perhaps a hundred years will pass.

Or two hundred years...

Or maybe three hundred...

But the goal of this terrifying self-learning artificial intelligence will remain the same.

Destruction of humanity.

This soulless "machine", hidden in a deep camouflaged underground bunker, is alien to emotions and has the main task - the destruction of humanity.

This is a weapon.

A weapon that outlived its creators.

And the enemies of its creators.

And now the weapon does not see the difference between different representatives of the species homo sapiens.

For it, they are all just targets for annihilation.

And sooner or later, this "electronic-mechanical monster" will begin to act...

At night, you thought about all this...

"Unfortunately, now I cannot completely eliminate the threat... To eliminate this danger, humanity must develop... Develop very quickly..." - you think, trying to fall asleep.

Remorse haunts your consciousness every day - after all, your own actions not only led to the **** of thousands of people (while the robots flew to Fortress Jackson, they destroyed everything on the way: groups of nomadic savages, caravans of traders, lone travelers... and then this mass massacre...) - your actions also caused a slow activation of a large-scale threat to the survival of humanity.

You may delude yourself into thinking that you will spend years learning how to reprogram this megacomputer. But if you analyze the situation honestly, you have most likely left a very unpleasant "surprise" for future generations to deal with.

Some might say that fate has a satanic irony - your desire to provide a future for your children has created a potentially terrifying threat to both your children and all of humanity.

So, on one of the cloudy rainy days, you and your companions step onto the pier of the city of New Rotterdam, whose quarters adjoin the western bank of this large river).

Of course, you have previously used devices that provide your camouflage...

The monotonous sound of raindrops falling...

A group of several dozen people meets you near the pier.

Servants stand and get wet in the rain, holding umbrellas over the heads of several people who clearly belong to the nobility.

A short, stocky man, dressed in a rich light-brown doublet, decorated with gold thread embroidery and epaulettes, takes off his hat with a bright blue feather, greeting you.

Next to him is a thin, mustachioed man, who is dressed less luxuriously - his clothes have a sense of military severity. The scabbard with a sword is on his belt. He bows to you politely.

"Let us give thanks to the Merciful and All-Seeing Lord God! How glad we are to see you! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Albert de Sainville. I am the court master of ceremonies of the court of our beloved and adored monarch - King James II of the House of Orange-Nassau! My taciturn companion is sir Frederick Lockley. He is responsible for security matters. So, the serfs will load your luggage onto the carriages, sir Francis! Please follow us! His Majesty will be glad to talk to you about some… confidential matters…” - the facial expressions of the heavyset man and the timbre of his voice make it clear that he was quite skilled in eloquence and gesticulation…

You were escorted alone to a separate luxurious carriage.

Your companions are **** to get into other carriages. It seems that the locals perceive your companions as servants (or at least as persons of much lower status than you).

Before getting into the carriage, you manage to notice the mocking grin and bow of Elijah…

The carriage ride took about an hour…

From the carriage windows you saw the streets of the city, streams of rain, crowds of people hurrying about their business…

The appearance of ordinary local inhabitants left you with the impression that most of this city are quite poor people…

And you were also a little surprised that you saw ghouls on the street quite often.

Of course, there are many more ordinary humans. But you are used to the fact that your companion Elijah is unique...

Apparently you were wrong...

"Your Grace, the weather today is disgusting... Fortunately, the rest of the day promises to be beautiful - until the royal audience... you will enjoy the royal hospitality at the Azure Guest Palace for a couple of days!" - Albert de Sainville says with etnusiasm.

"Ahem... I just wanted to see how the locals live in this city..." - you answer.

"Ohh... It is not worth your noble attention. The dirty plebs are a very unpleasant sight... According to the divine commandments, they must work and provide for the needs of the nobility. Work, obedience and fervent prayer - that is all that should occupy the minds of the plebs. Of course, I understand that your family has suffered terrible events. The riot of the plebs in Port Williams… The recent bloody riots of the plebs in Axeman-City… It’s all just disgusting… These stinking animals dared to encroach on the privileges of the nobility, blessed by divine will! But in New Rotterdam, the might of the royal power and the punishing hand of noble knighthood fully ensure the safety of the nobles! You can rest easy, sir Francis! "- the court master of ceremonies speaks of the plebs with barely restrained disgust and contempt.

You recall the events of the past months…

Not all the inhabitants of Axeman-City accepted the new monarchical order…

The richest and most influential were bribed with titles and privileges…

However, this did not eliminate poverty and many other social problems.

Mass riots among the families of soldiers killed or wounded in the war...

Rumors circulated that these riots were supported not only by the remnants of the local supporters of the ideology of whitestarists - these riots were also supported by supporters of various religious cults.

However, the mass riots were suppressed by armed ****. Those who were accused of instigating the riots were subjected to public executions in the city squares.

Execution by hanging...

The bodies hung on the gallows for a long time...

And then gradually the clergy of the new government began to spread their religion among the locals. Competing cults were suppressed by various methods. Financial pressure, increased taxes, the organization of "accidents".

You heard all these rumors. And you understood that, it seems, the monarchical power of the Kingdom of Utrecht relies on the ideological support of the Reformed church organization. Dominance over the minds of subjects is ensured by religion. Therefore, the desire for proselytism and religious unification will only increase. And those who try to resist will be in a very bad way...

Well, your actions partly contributed to the establishment of dominance in the region of this monarchical "state". But no one guaranteed you that the consequences would be entirely positive...

So, perhaps you would like to have a discreet conversation with Albert de Sainville or Frederick Lockley about some important issues?

Or, before the carriage arrives at the Azure Palace, would you prefer small talk?