Greedy Shadows

"In the infancy of the machines there was great fear by much of the public at the machines. Many welcomed their arrival and the rich bought them as toys to show off as luxury merchandise. However, those that protested and cried in prediction of the end of the world were quickly silenced by the overwhelming success.”

Herbert Stein, Machine Historian -

The news broadcast had just finished airing the video from the machines. Immediately after it finished a round table discussion was brought up to debate the validity of the video and the machines' claims. One of the subjects at hand was why the government allowed the video to even be released at all. The speculation between the debaters had them using it as a device to call out to the raging uncontrollable public. Even if they did nothing with the video it was enough to bring a calm to the city for even a day.

The sound was muted and the video dimmed as lights came on in a meeting room filled with a variety of figures. Most of the individuals were young to middle aged men with calculating faces. A man at the far end of the faced the others addressing them. "So they've made their move."

"What do you want to do about the Malakhim Faction?" the Lieutenant Colonel Takamoto said, looking down at the center of the table.

"The humans are paranoid and suspicious already," General Oshiro said from the center chair. He sat with his arms cross looking around at the others examining reactions. There had been rumors in their intelligence that the Malakhim Faction was planning something, but most didn’t think that they would ever do anything. The Faction had always been dormant preferring to stay neutral and uninvolved.

"Yes, it is unlikely that they will go along with this summit," the man in the corner said. There was going to be a response required for them. This sort of action wouldn’t go ignored.

The Lt. Colonel turned to the man at the opposite end of the table. "And what do you think, General Yoshima?"

General Yoshima was an aging man that had been in the Japanese military since before the First Machine War. His connections with the government ran deep as well as his interests in politics. He had been involved more with holding his position and gaining more power towards the military. It was a game that many of the upper brass of the military played these days looking to further their own goals. They had lost much of their original goals of restoring the joke of a military force that they had been reduced to in previous administrations. "This presents itself with the perfect opportunity for both of us to accomplish our goals."

The Lt. Colonel looked at General Yoshima narrowly. "And you can convince them to agree to these talks with the other machines?" He had trouble believing that he could get the humans to agree to put down their arms against their sworn enemies so easily. It was a slow and painstaking game that they were playing; moving too quickly would ruin everything.

"With some of your agents already planted and our connections we can see that it happens. When it happens it will gather all of the Malakhim Faction in one place and leaders of the world. We'll be able to gain control over the government in the confusion."

General Oshiro remained quiet contemplating the various outcomes. This was a decision that was meant for him only. The room held their words until he replied with a verdict to General Yoshima's plan. He kept a stone face through his deliberations not allowing the others to glean a reaction. They were machines, it was an unnecessary action. "Very well. We shall arrange for our agents to push the summit forward."

The machines in the room looked around at each other still holding their tongues. General Yoshima nodded to him in agreement and pleased to see that the plan would go ahead. He stood up having concluded his business with the machines. "Good day then." Once he gave his farewell he departed the room with the sliding door closing behind him signaling that it was safe to speak.

"Humans are such a greedy and power hungry species," the Lt. Colonel said, turning back from watching General Yoshima leave the room. His eyes looked around to the other members of the table checking for responses. He knew that the others would have similar feelings. None of them liked working with the humans, but knew that it served their purposes and plans.

"Yes, they conspire against their own," the man at the end of the table said. He looked like he wanted to protest the idea of changing their plans. They were following their own times table and General Yoshima's plan would cause them to accelerate things that they didn’t feel were ready.

General Oshiro stood up from the table looking to cut off anymore talking. He could see that if it continued that they would only begin to want to go back on what he agreed to with General Yoshima. They could argue about it and it would do nothing, but he couldn’t allow discord to build further. This was an important step that he couldn’t afford for his subordinates to be thinking and scheming against him. "General Yoshima is correct though, it is a perfect opportunity. With the summit we will be able to use it to further our survival as well and gain our independence. I grow tired of taking part in this farce." He added the end knowing that it would key in with the others that were becoming discontent with pretending to be the human's lap dogs. They knew it was just an act, but they hated it all the same.