A Real Entropian Hero

A while back, as middle aged people do, I was reminiscing about my childhood
when I remembered the first action figure I ever got. I was about eight or nine,
when my dad gave me a G.I. Joe figure. It was during one of those whole day
market and fair events, on a Pentecost Monday.

I was quite young, and action figures were not my main focus, and I must have lost
that action figure not long after getting it. I do however remember it came with a
cannon and an American flag. And a really big gun.
It took some searching but I found it belonged to the 1992 series of GI Joe action figures.
And his name was Gung-Ho, Etienne “Gung-Ho” LaFitte.

Now, as we grow older, we stop playing with toys, but I read somewhere that if one doesn’t
grow up by forty, on doesn’t have to grow up at all anymore.
Now part of me grew old around that time of that G.I. Joe figure, due to tragic life events.
Another part however never grew old. Some will call it their inner child, other’s say we never
stop playing.

In an answer to life’s important question of whatever happened to that action figure,
follows this story. Where he managed to escape my toy box an take a journey
A journey all the way to Calypso.

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[SIZE=6]Revival[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“575px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/thule-revivial-tank.346001/full

There was nothing, no sense of anything. A total absence of even awareness.
Am I alive, am I dead? The answer to this question is as murky as the fluid in this revival tank.

As Dr. Zimmer explained, they could not safe my original body. So they tied my genetic code to
the revival system, together with my consciousness.
They had to act quick, since once the consciousness leaves it is too late.

Look at this body. Pristine, no scars, no old injuries, a blank slate.
It feels like my body, but is it really? What is a body? a mere physical expression, an avatar.

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[SIZE=6]Thule

[IMG width=“573px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/thule-jpg.346009/full[/SIZE]

As the doors of the research bunker close behind me,
the crisp late summer air of the Thule highlands greets me
and I suddenly feel like I’m waking from a dream.

After given a gun and some target practice I ran some errands for the mining corporation,
and I must say I really enjoyed walking around Thule with its pristine nature.
The sun still decently strong to feel pleasant and a mild breeze blows through the canyons.

My Mood changed when I happened to come upon a crashed ship, and I was determined to
hunt down the culprits behind this. Have a feeling it might be the same reason the ship I was
on crashed.

I came upon the Ion-canon and some robots, remnants of a terra-forming experiment gone wrong,
and I managed to set off the explosives. With this matter handled and revenge served I headed of
to rendezvous with Lieutenant Smith at the extraction point at Helios Space Base.

I feel it will be a long time before I will be able to visit this place again, if it will even exists anymore.

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[SIZE=6]Half Moon Bay[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“573px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/corinth-jpg.346008/full

Upon arrival at Camp Icarus, I was met with the smell of the nearby swamp, and wad greeted by
mosquitoes, which were so big I first mistook them for Pupugi.
I gave the transport commander a look, and asked if there was any other place I could be?
With a snicker he lifted off and brought me to Half Moon Bay.

Located in the northern part of the mainland, the Corinthian Peninsula is know for its beautiful
windswept mesas. It was morning when I arrived and before noon I already fixed a turret, found
a missing scout and destroyed another robot Ion Cannon.

It was after this I met Aila. A nice Lass despite being a poacher who’s too scared to gather her own
loot. Which meant more hunting for me.
Now I must say, hunting down an Atrox, even a starving one, was a bit of a trick. Luckily I packed my
Frontier Rifle. I’m far from having the necessary skill to wield it well, but I needed the extra punch the
weapons I got in Thule couldn’t provide.

She rewarded me well with ammo, a simple healing tool and her old rifle. Now that old rifle isn’t the
best, but I’m close to being able to use it decently, so it will come in handy.
After saying goodbye, I took a siesta inside the outpost. The sun was mercilessly beating down,
and I decided to wait until late afternoon.

With the sun less intense, I set off to Aegir, where some biologist needed some help. It turned out
she was one of those paranoid types. I can’t blame her for being afraid of robots, after what I’ve seen
so far, but she was quite extreme (utterly nuts).

The sun was already setting by the time I made it to the Genesis tower. I was told to talk to the official
but I didn’t see him. I guess he left for the day. I can’t blame him, it was already dark, and the sky was
filled with stars. After sorting my loot and having some small talk with the auctioneer, I decided to call
it a day and go stargazing.

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[SIZE=6]Half Moon Cove[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“560px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/half-moon-cove-jpg.346012/full

I woke up early, just before sunrise and was going to watch the sun rise on the teleporter platform outside when I ran into a teleporter technician.
She updated my teleport list and told me about some mining operation in the cove that ran into some nasty trouble.
I decided to check it out, my trigger finger itchy for some action.

Upon reaching foreman Sanders, I learned that their team mined straight into a Sabakuma spawn.
Those desert devils are of the ankle biting variety, but in large enough numbers they can swarm you and pose a real danger.
Especially in the tight confinements of a mine. I couldn’t use explosives and risk the mining operation,
so I set off to dispatch of the broodmother close and personal.

With the mine secured and only a couple hatchlings sprawling about I headed back on the road.
Up west there was some trouble with a Maffoid investation at a fuel depot.
I took some of their heads as a trophy to Captain Spears who looked somewhat bewildered at them,
before tossing them aside and giving me an armor voucher.

On my way to claim the voucher, I ran into some electrician who had some trouble with small pests and
I quickly dispatched of those and got him his readouts, before the sun would start scorching again.

I arrived at Corinth again, where I started this morning and delivered the voucher. It got me a worn out
piece of CDF Scout armor, which while looking nice, is completely inferior to my Frontier armor set.
Not knowing what to do with it, I just stored it in storage for now. I will probably break it down into
nanocubes or sell it.

I spend the rest of the day perusing the stalls at the local market and thinking about what my long-term
plan will be. I ordered a set of Atlas Armor, which I will have to pick up all the way on Next Island, once it
is ready. I also checked out the daily mission board. I need to start collecting those tokens so I can buy
some nice hardware, which I’ll need to further explore this world.
And finally, I got myself one of those Vertical Take of and Landing crafts. My buggy is nice and very fuel
efficient, but sometimes you need to quickly haul yourself out of danger.

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[SIZE=6]CDF Outposts[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“560px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/corinth-space-base-jpg.346013/full

The armorer who have exchanged my voucher the day before told me about the Calypso Defend Outposts
around here and told me to check them out if I was in need of work. So with nothing better to do I unloaded
my buggy and head out. I must say I really enjoyed the drive through the mesas and canyons.

Outpost Alpha, which was just a parked armored vehicle, only needed some help with surveying the surrounding
land for minerals. I told them I’ll look into it and headed further. I didn’t feel for digging up minerals in the sand
and was enjoying cruising the land too much.

Outpost Beta was a bit bigger, and they needed help with collecting some Cornundos smelly goo. As well as dealing
with a large Maffoid spawn next to the space Hangers.
Tracking those Cornundos down took me the better half of the day and led me all around the Corinthian Space
Hangars, a now derelict piece of history. In the old day, they where the only ways to get on and off this planet.

I investigated them a bit after I dispatched with the Maffoid spawn, and found myself overcome by the feel of
history. Old abandoned industrial buildings hit a weak spot in my heart.
To my delight I found that there where also two still working teleporters there, so I could teleport back to Corinth.
I didn’t feel for spending the night out here, so after I claimed some ammo as reward for my services, I packed up
my loot and headed straight back to Corinth. It was already long past dark, and would have to resume
exploring the next day.

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[SIZE=6]MegaVolt[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“560px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/megavolt-jpg.346014/full

Hitting the road the next day, I started from the space base where I left off and ventured further Southwest
towards outpost Gamma which is on the Northwestern side of the mainland. The mesas made room for flatter
land and air feels a bit cooler.

Outpost Gamma needed help clearing out a large Maffoid infestation on the beach and my Bukin rifle worked
overtime slaughtering them all. Whilst hunting, I could see the MegaVolt Camp in the distance.
I planned to go there next, but since the day was still plenty young, I decided to visit Outpost Delta First.

While passing by, I saw the most peculier geological formation I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. Floating Islands of
rocks, high up in the sky. There is some scientific explanation for it, for sure. I will need to enquire some
scientist at some point.

Outpost Delta needed help clearing out a dig site, overrun by small Berycled. It took way longer than I first though
and the sun was beating down. With services rendered and payment collected, I headed over to the MegaVolt
encampment. I watched the sunset hit the floating rocks in the distance, making them glow a golden
color, and went back to Corinth afterwards. There was something eerie about MegaVolt after dark, and I didn’t
want to linger for too long after.

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[SIZE=6]Camp Phoenix[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“552px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/phoenix-jpg.346016/full
Setting out to camp Epsilon I took my VTOL for a ride, or flight rather. Partly because I wanted to see the
floating Rocks more closely. I have not yet found a satisfying answer behind this phenomenon.
And if that was not strange enough, the poor sob at CDF Epsilon didn’t even know what he signed up for.
He asked me to inspect some buildings, which were all tightly shut, like something mysterious had happened
Inside of them.

After that weird encounter, I drove my buggy all the way to camp phoenix, realizing I had been driving in half
a circle around the ruins of what once was Hadesheim, a huge city, now reduced to a robot infested crater.
It is strange how places like that create their own mythology and superstition. I am sure I will visit this place
one day.

Upon arrival at Camp Phoenix, I got assigned a job to clear the teleporter from some Berycled. The normal
variety and not the punies I’ve dealt with until now. Afterwards I hunted down a fair amount of both male
and female snablesnot. It took me hours afterwards to shrub my armor.

I’ve reached an endpoint here, and as I retired to Corinth for the day, I thought about where to go next.
After all this dry heat, the swamps around Icarus don’t sound that bad. I’ve heard musquito season is
mostly over too.

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[SIZE=6]CDF Atlantis[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“556px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/underwater-robo-camp-jpg.346030/full

Icarus was bustling with newcomers, and I quickly found myself partnered up and doing the Gauntlet,
which is a combat simulation. The second stage features a beautiful cave system where you battle
Calamusoid and Marcimex. The first time completion rewards were a healing tool and a bunch of ammo.

After way too much socializing, I headed off Northwest, towards CDF camp Alpha. I heard repots of distress
and a crashed air vehicle. After recovering the flight manifests, which I had to pry away from Argonauts
who infested the area, I leaned the problem had to with robots again.

After some searching I found the cave entrance. The cave itself was quite extensive and lead under the ocean.
Too bad I had destroy most of it to get rid off the robot installation.

After mopping up some Argonauts who were loitering the way to the swamps, I crossed the bridge and
was officially in the heart of the swamps.
In the distance I could already see the skyline of Port Atlantis, but that will have to wait. I promised some
scientist here to run a couple of errands. She looks more sane that the last one I encountered. And friendly
too, as she offered me some fruit and a place to rest for the night.

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Really nice, lovely made

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South Swamp Camp

[IMG width=“573px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/south-swamp-camp-jpg.346078/full

The swamp in the morning, with the rising sun peering to the greenery and reflecting long on the water was very
atmospheric. I was holding a cloth and started wiping of a camera lens. Not the most glorious work,
but it had to be done.

Afterwards I collected some mud fruit and learned about their Bromelain content. Upon trying some, I discovered
they tasted a bit like blue berries and pineapple combined. No wonder those swampland Allophyls love them.

Port Atlantis skyline was beaconing me from the horizon, so I set of, leaving the swamps behind.

I spend the rest of the day at Port Atlantis, which I now prefer above Corinth. It is amazing to see the sun set from
the marina. Port Atlantis has all the amenities one could need, even a shopping mall I didn’t check out yet.
That I’ll save that for a dreary winter day.

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[SIZE=6]Argonaut Island

[IMG width=“551px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/argo-island-cave-jpg.346086/full[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]After a good night rest with the sound of waves crashing onto shore in the background,
I talked to the trail guide this morning. He advised a couple places I might want to visit Northeast. [/SIZE]

I got out my buggy and headed to North Swamp camp.
[SIZE=3]Upon arrival I talked to a guy named George, who told me all about vibrant sweat extraction. After some experimentation
and checking the local prices I made up my mind and that VSE tool in storage,[/SIZE]

I headed out to thin the local herd of exaroxenosaurs, colloquially referred to as plow cows. Note, they are
not as docile as they look and they have front teeth they will try to plow into you, if provoked.

Some scientist tasked me to run some enmatter mining experiment, but I had to disappoint him.
The swamp does not contain exceptional or exotic energy matters.

I heard about a nearby mysterious island. Upon arrival I learned it was overrun by a tribe of Argonaut,
who abducted some scientists.
After dispatching a fair number of them and subduing their three clan leaders, I learned about their cave.
The cave network, which functioned as their main lair was large and it took me a while to reach the back
where I found the scientists, alive and well.
I ended the day by a stroll on the beach and learning about the fascination of Argonauts with iron ore.

After that I swam over the river and took the road Southeast towards Icarus, where I retired for the day.

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[SIZE=6]Ber’zilla

[IMG width=“565px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/berzilla.346107/full[/SIZE]

I was casually chatting with some of the locals around Camp Icarus, when suddenly one of the newcomers
came running back to camp, bleeding all over and in shock. He rambled something about finding some eggs
and a big monster appearing out of nowhere.

I had to investigate, so I followed the trail of dried up blood east until I found some kind of nest.
I knew they must have been Berycled eggs, and I started destroying them. I had to manually shoot them since
I didn’t bring any explosives.

I was barely finished when the first wave of angry Berycled showed up. Another wave soon followed.
I though I was finished when all went quiet, but then I saw her. An enormous Berycled.
There is a tale among the locals about this creature. They call her Ber’zilla.

Her hide was thick and hard, but her claws were less sharp then I feared.
It took a while but the towering beast was eventually reduced to a carcass in the dirt below my feet.
The fight was epic, alas, the loot was meager. Sometimes the hunt is better than the catch.

I returned to Icarus to tell the newcomer the story, but according to some, he already left for Port Atlantis and
it is unlikely he is returning to these parts any time soon.

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[SIZE=6]Orthos Oil Rig

[IMG width=“570px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/oil-rig-jpg.346114/full[/SIZE]

Today, while talking to some veterans around Icarus I learned about an oil rig Northeast of here.
It is said to be overrun by drones and drokas, but looking at my dwindling fuel supply,
I decided to check it out.
Some hammer obsessed lady gave me a job to hunt some of those tin cans anyway.

It was easy to spot the smoke and destroyed trees from a distance, and when I got closer I could smell
the chemical fumes in the air. The earth was scorched and there where robots everywhere.
I took me a while to clear a path through the opposing force but I finally made it to the heart.
Sadly no oil to be found at the drill rig, but the robot looted some barrels. Enough to fuel my buggy for a while.

I will need the fuel if I am to trek deeper inland. I heard about a teleporter not far north of the oil rig,
which will be my next stop.

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[SIZE=6]Orthos West Mound

[IMG width=“571px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/orthos.346125/full[/SIZE]

After a spending some days at Icarus, running chores and talking to mostly new players, I was ready to set out North.
While moving past the Oil rig, I saw the Orthos hills looming over the horizon. From what I’ve been gathering,
the Orthos camp and teleporter are located just north of those hills, next to the river.

I knew what to expect. The hills are home to roaming packs of Merps, bipedal herbivores who act extremely aggressive.
It took me a while to get over the hills, leaving behind pile upon pile of Merp corpses in my trail. But finally, I reached this
little outpost.

There is a lonely harbor dock, and a bridge in the distance.
The place looked somewhat somber and forlorn that afternoon. Most people only visit Orthos to hunt Snarksnot and Merp,
two abundant species in this area. Many a hunter come here to fulfill the CDF daily missions on those.

I will need to start concentrating of those missions.
I almost have the skills to use the MarCorp Kallous-2 rifle efficiently. All I need is 40 CDF daily tokens. I have 17 at the moment.
I’ve heard rumors about bonus missions rewarding 20 tokens but every day I checked so far none have come up.
I will slowly grind my way through the missions I can do, which now include Snarksnot and Merp.
I will also have to visit the Gauntlet again for an easy two tokens each day.

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[SIZE=6]Reinforce Fort Sisyphus

[IMG width=“570px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/fort-sisyphus.346131/full[/SIZE]

A CDF scout was trying to get my attention yesterday morning. Major trouble at Fort Sisyphus
I grabbed my rifle, put on the biggest amp that would fit it and was ready to be deployed.

We landed at a small makeshift outpost, outside of the fort. There had been a number of raids,
so the fort was not clear for landing. I had to approach on foot

Upon arrival at the fort I ran into Captain Atreida who briefed me about the current situation.
A quick recon mission in my VTOL made it clear that the South and West sides of the Sisyphus
is where the problems arose from.

We set up a number of excursions to thin their numbers in some strategic locations.
During my second excursion I learned the bots had launched a frontal assault on the South wall.
I hurried back and cut off their reinforcements. The battle raged into the night, but finally we
downed the last defender unit.

I barely slept, with one eye open and ears pierced, on the lookout for any mechanical sound.
This morning I rooted out the last Droka Spawns. The Hadesheim crater looming in the distance.

By midday our offense was finished, and we temporarily beat back the threat.
I got awarded all the parts I needed to finish my CDF Scout armor set. Still not sure to do with it.

I also looted a weapon oscillator from a Droka. It is incompatible with my Frontier rifle sadly.
But it worked on that Bukin rifle. I had to travel to Half Moon Cove to find an engineer with the
right tools and skills to upgrade it.

I swam in the ocean to clean myself of the desert dust and robot oil and afterwards fell asleep
under a palm tree . I’ll take a couple days of R&R. I think I deserved it.

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[SIZE=6]New Oxford

[IMG width=“562px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/new-oxford-jpg.346143/full[/SIZE]

War is not gentle on art and culture. While New Oxford was far away of the epicenter of the robot attack
which destroyed Hadesheim, the aftermath of the war wrecked havoc of New Oxford’s bustling boulevard
and art center.

I stood there the other day, dirt beneath my feet, looking up at the deer mall. A precious landmark,
once surrounded by banks and imposing government buildings, now stands solemn in the Amathera wind.

While reminiscing what must have been there before, some representative came up to me.
He was looking for hunters that could share some pictures of Calypso Apparently there is renewed interest
in investing and they needed some marketing shots to share in an investor portfolio.

I helped the lad out with some of the cool scenes I snapped on my journeys, after which I checked out the
Billton towers. I might want to own an apartment someday. I heard there is a place way south called Sakura City
and the pictures I’ve seen look stunning.

This morning, a package came in the mail to me. Apparently I had won a competition with one of the pictures I’ve
send. There was a thank you card, and a whole Frontier kit. The same kit I brought with me from Earth.
Now, unless I figure out how to modify my rifle with some of the extra parts, that second rifle will end up in storage.
But the ammo will go to good use, there are mobs to kill and robots to destroy.

I just wonder, if one day New Oxford will again be a place of art. We cannot let those robots rob us from our
culture and dignity. It is one of the main things that set us apart from these cold machines.

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[SIZE=6]Billy’s Spaceship Afterworld

[IMG width=“567px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/billys-spaceship-afterworld.346195/full[/SIZE]

This morning after hunting some Combibo to the far North of Port Atlantis I saw the Orthos river in the distance.
There is said to be a spaceship scrapyard in those distant hills.
One would think that a scrapyard would be easy to find, but it is located within a depression on the rockface,
most likely part of an ancient riverbed. It took me hours to locate it, and I had to both deal with Merp and avoid
big Warrior robots while searching

Upon arrival however, I felt like I was walking into a history museum and a mechanic shop at the same time.
The smell of engine oil, metal, and barbeque hit me all at once. The place was bustling with life.
I soon learned this had something to do with crafters trying to find a Combobulator blueprint.
I helped looking but I soon ran out of materials to craft with. To be honest, I’ve never been much of a craftsperson.

I went in the direction of the smell of BBQ, and I found the Billy’s Space Taco food truck on the outskirts.
I got myself a Carne Exaro burrito. I know its Tuesday, but I’ve never been fan of tacos.
Looking for a place to sit and eat it I came across a dude named Stevie who was loudly slurping his coffee and
exclaiming he already crafted through 60k items and still didn’t find any Combobulator Blueprint.

I walked over to the mountain ridge, and ate in peace while watching the sun set in the West.
There is something charming about this place and its mech nerds. I’ll sleep well tonight and tomorrow I’ll set off,
further east, deeper into the main land of Calypso.

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[SIZE=6]The road to Fort Fury

[IMG width=“567px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/orthos-mountains-jpg.346205/full[/SIZE]

I got up early this morning and was on my way out, towards the mountain ridges east, when a peddler of sorts
stopped me. He had a quad for sale. It had some cosmetic damage but the price was a steal so I bought it.
I also got myself one of those thrusters, so I can fly out to Next Island when the time comes.

Once on the road, I found myself mountain climbing. A real workout for my legs. I was admiring the vistas when
suddenly I spotted smoke in the distance, another wreck. I’ve come across some robots left and right, so I feared
that they downed another spaceship.
When I got closer however, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a robot beacon ship smoldering.
I rummaged a bit through the wreckage but didn’t find anything salvable.

Next, I climbed really high up a ridge and I noticed I was walking around a crater. Curious to see if it was
a volcanic or a meteorite crater, I was starting to descend the inner ridge when I heard a distant hissing.
And then I saw them, and let me tell you, once you see one you instantly know what they are.
Araneatrox, the most terrific thing to have ever walked the face of Calypso.

Needles to say, I bolted up that ridge at record speed and quickly made my way to the East.
The high hill gave way for flatter land, and the mobs here were much less menacing. I shot a couple
Faucervixenonoid, which resembles a crossover between a bear and a reptile.

When I got closer to Fort Fury, I got surrounded by Feffoid, so I bolted it to the fort, keeping a train of them
in my wake. Luckily there was nobody nearby who could get hurt, and the forts turrets quickly did their work.
Covered in sweat, I headed over to the Junkyard bar, for a cold drink.
That’s the biggest workout I’ve had in years. I’ll sleep well tonight.

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[SIZE=6]Zychion Citadel[/SIZE]

[IMG width=“563px”]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forum/index.php?media/zychion-jpg.346207/full

I was warned before leaving this morning not to go on foot to the old Citadel of Zychion.
I left for Fort Fury in my VTOL after having a hefty breakfast at the junkyard bar.

As I flew closer, I could spot the ruins of a highway, making it easier to see where to land.
I landed high up, on one of the secure areas, next to the teleporter and was instantly overcome with
revery. Zychion Citadel is one of the few original settlements dating back to before the first robot war.

I headed down Block B, passing through antique looking hallways, and I almost feel the ghosts of
previous times dwell these hallways. For an instant I imagined I saw a mutant trader.

I walked out to the central square and looked up at the statue, as a tears emerged in my eye.
So much history, so much aspiration, so much war. Here it was Omegatron original headquarters,
a testament to human endeavor, a bold testament of our ingenuity and the last stronghold to fall
during the first robot war.

I walked around for a while in a trance. Hours seem to pass by in mere moments.
Finally I took the Teleporter to Port Atlantis. I needed to be somewhere new and and pristine.

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