Machine Army

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   <default>Machine Army</default>
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<image source="Image"></image> <image source="image"></image> <header>Information</header> <label>Alignment</label> <label>Leader(s)</label> <label>Leader(s)</label> <label>Allies</label> <label>Allies</label> <label>Status</label> <label>Location</label> <label>First Appearance</label> <header>First Appearance</header> <label>Worm Debut</label> <label>Ward Debut</label> </infobox> The Machine Army took over the Town of Eagleton, Tennessee. As such it is designated as Site Q3.<ref name="PRTM"/>

Modus operandi

Multiple approaches are known but all are inexplicably hostile to humans.<ref name="II.I3"> - Excerpt from Interlude 3 II</ref> However, they only have a limited number of tricks in their arsenal.

Their 'breeding' cycle involves infecting metalic objects or ores to spawn new machines.<ref name="II.I3 e4">Here and there, deep in the craters and crevices, the ‘trick’ missiles had delivered payloads that weren’t explosive. They looked like veins of metal in rock. In weeks and months, they would ‘hatch’, revealing the machinery that had built itself within. For now, they were paved over.
[...]
The machines weren’t too challenging to destroy. Dot’s groups had sometimes destroyed them. The trick was that they set in roots wherever they went. Each time they reached a new place, they would keep emerging from that place, from walls and floor and rock and tree. It took care and attention to get the machine out of each of those things, and while that care was being taken, machines elsewhere would emerge, march, and make inroads along the flanks. - Excerpt from Interlude 3 II</ref> They can infect a building and slowly, but steadily, replace the entire structure with murderous facsimiles.<ref name="II.I3 e1"/>

Trap Buildings

The Machine Army lays traps for people by becoming buildings, or more accurately, becoming facsimiles of buildings, in attempt to lure people inside. Until a target enters, the machines remain dormant, but when individuals wander into the trap they will activate and kill the intruders.<ref name="II.I3 e1">She could see the green lights appearing in the background of the display, flicking on one by one, apparently at random.
[...]
Dot moved closer to the ground to get a look. It was important to know just how far gone this building was.

The entire area behind the fridges was gone. Green flashing lights, wires, computers and metal twisted into shapes that helped it to provide a framework. Machines were working slowly and steadily to refine and develop things.
[...]
Green lights here and there went dark, the machines hibernating. Dot deemed herself safe to move. - Excerpt from Interlude 3 II</ref>

In one known example, they replaced a functioning supermarket left devastated by Gold Morning. Repairs were made to the inside, such that it would be more attractive to scavengers and other people who might happen upon it.

Structure

Multitudinous decentralized cell structure, all marching to a common purpose while still independent.

PRT Response

The PRT had locked down Eagleton and patrols regularly, putting some of their more difficult members there.<ref name="R1">Get stationed in a place that's 'safe' from a PR perspective. Murderbeam isn't able to do much against the Machine Army, but might get stationed near Pueblo or the Pastor's area. - comment on Reddit by Wildbow</ref> They preferred putting capes there who would blast anything at the first sign of trouble.<ref name="R1.5">The second possibility is somewhat tricky, and becomes a balancing act. There are areas the PRT desperately wants to keep secure, and securing these areas becomes a punishment duty:
[...]
Eagleton, TN was evacuated, quarantined and is regularly patrolled after the Machine Army incident.
[...]
Naturally, the PRT doesn't want to put the wrong person on the wrong detail. Too violent a person in, say, Gallup or Gary would be a recipe for disaster, a spark to a powder keg. A mentally imbalanced or vulnerable person in Madison would be similarly disastrous. But find the right combination, like a trigger happy lunatic in Eagleton, and things are mostly fine, because they'll happily patrol and gun down the machines on the regular. Someone unambitious and lazy might let something slip through or grow out of control in Eagleton, but would be fine with the sleepy task of maintaining a watch on the periphery of Freedom. - comment on Reddit by Wildbow</ref> The organization explored several options on how to deal with the threat, such as nuclear weapons,<ref name="R3">You gotta figure that the PRT has thinkers that have analyzed whether it's worth doing that.

What you're liable to do with a nuke (because nukes don't really vaporize everything) is just spread out the machine 'seed' fragments and then you've got Machine Army everywhere. - comment by Wildbow on Reddit.</ref> much like they did with Nilbog.<ref name="MA1">arandomperson1234:The Wardens have Valkyrie, Dragon (not a member, but probably available), and numerous thinkers. Wouldn't it be easy for them to just squish the machine army before it spreads out of control? Have them clear everything inch by inch, and have thinkers scour the land for anything they might have missed.

Wildbow:Because there's more to it. - reddit comment by Wildbow.</ref>

With Gold Morning heroic response has shifted, due to the mass exodus of refugees from Earth Bet.

History

Background

The machine's emergence in Eagleton necessitated their containment.<ref name="PRTM">Cities that break from this convention but nonetheless have departments are named with special designations.
[...]
Quarantine Sites:
[...]
Eagleton - Q3 - Site evacuated after Machine Army event, specialized patrols - PRT Master Reference</ref>

Post-Gold Morning

With the evacuation from the event, The Machine Army was able to escape containment.<ref name="P.1 e1">► Nutty
Replied on August 17th, Y1
@ Boosher – This article, search for Nancy Y’s statement. People traveling across the US to get to portals are being warned about multiple threats. Word on the capevine is that with everyone having pulled out, all former quarantine zones are breached. In the US and elsewhere. Nilbog is the one everyone knows about. He’s in custody, his children aren’t. If you’re paying attention to hero groups and their movements, they’re making lots of trips out. They’re tired and people say they’re aloof.
I say they’re fighting a hard fight and they’re keeping their distance from public and media because they don’t want us to know it. - Excerpt from Glow-worm P.1</ref>

Roughly two years later, they had expanded past the Raleigh Chasm.<ref name="II.I3 e11">“I don’t- this isn’t about me. Can you- can you let them know the Machine Army is this far north? They shouldn’t be on this side of the Raleigh chasm.” - Excerpt from Interlude 3 II</ref>

Dealing with Machine Army was stated as one of the main priorities of The Wardens.<ref>Beacon 8.2</ref>

References

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