Robots and their secrets -216

A good thing about having robots as your enemy is that if you defeat them once and recover the remains, you will be able to learn a whole lot from studying the technology left behind. This was no different, and while they couldn't recover everything, the Foundation was still able to learn a lot.

Firstly, the robots were indeed made by humans and made to fight other humans, or at least human-looking things. They had found what they believed to be some highly advanced detection equipment inside the robots.

It would be entirely overkill to have that level of equipment in every robot if they were hunting down other people, and while the robots did attack the Foundation personnel, it was clear to the researchers that normal humans such as them weren't the main target.

Though it was likely that humans were still the target, just not normal humans or even real humans, knowing that threats like the Skrulls were on the loose in their own world, it was suspected that it was an enemy like that these robots were built to hunt down.

As for why the Foundation personnel were attacked or why the city had been left in ruins, their best theory was that the robots went rogue and attacked all humans rather than only those their detections flagged as their real targets.

However, other than the impressive detection systems, the rest of the robots weren't that impressive. It was well within the Foundation's abilities to make this kind of robot themselves; even Stark could easily start mass-producing them.

The only really impressive thing about them was that they were apparently deployed in great numbers. Given the data they had recovered, vast armies of those robots were produced.

The price of such a deployment wasn't something even the Foundation could shoulder without feeling the pinch, which meant that whoever was behind this had nearly limitless resources or just the ability to use all the resources available for this one project.

Though, if this Earth was indeed facing a Skrull invasion, then it wasn't strange that they were willing to use all available resources on that fight, nor was it strange if the Skrulls had somehow turned the robots rogue, making them slaughter the very people they were meant to protect.

It very much fell in line with the Skrulls' usual tactics. This caused the Foundation to raise the level of security regarding who was allowed to pass back into their own world and communicate back.

They didn't want to risk some Skrulls making their way to their world and starting to plot with the Skrulls there.

Alexander allowed for all kinds of equipment to be sent down, all to stop anyone from sneaking through the cave, as well as from stopping all none Foundation communication from passing over.

The Foundation completely blocked all possible wireless singles from going through and wired their own. No chances were taken, and no expense was spared, not when it came to an entire world, either as a possible hostile or a possible treasure trove of resources.

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Bruce Banner adjusted his glasses for the third time in as many minutes, a nervous habit he couldn't quite shake. He stood in the briefing room, his hands fidgeting slightly as he glanced at the other people present. The room was filled with high-ranking Foundation officials, military personnel, and scientists, all waiting for the arrival of the person in charge who would brief them on the latest developments.

Despite everything he'd been through—despite all the battles, all the danger—there was still something about the unknown that made him uneasy. It wasn't the fear of physical harm; he'd long since learned to deal with that, what with the Hulk always lurking just beneath the surface. No, it was the fear of the unknown, of not being in control of what might happen next.

Standing next to him, Lena Morries was practically vibrating with excitement. Her enthusiasm was palpable, and her eyes were wide with anticipation. She had been involved in several high-risk projects before, but this was something entirely new. The discovery of another world, an Earth-like world on the other side of a cave, had set her mind ablaze with possibilities.

"Can you believe this, Bruce?" she whispered, her voice tinged with awe. "Another world, potentially filled with unknown technology, exotic creatures, and who knows what else! This is the opportunity of a lifetime!"

Bruce nodded, though he couldn't quite muster the same level of excitement. He appreciated Lena's enthusiasm—hell, he admired it—but his mind was focused on the potential risks. The Foundation's findings on the robots were concerning, to say the least. If this other Earth was embroiled in a war with the Skrulls or some other shape-shifting enemy, it meant they could be walking into a war zone.

Before Bruce could respond, the door to the briefing room opened, and a military-looking type of man who was in charge of the operation entered. The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to him. The commander wasted no time, getting straight to the point.

"Thank you all for coming," He began, his voice calm but authoritative. "As you are aware, the discovery of SCP-7905 has led to the establishment of a forward base on the other side of the cave. Our initial reconnaissance has revealed a ruined city and an automated defense force of highly advanced robots. While these robots are formidable, they are not insurmountable. We believe they were originally designed to protect this other Earth from a specific threat—possibly shape-shifters like the Skrulls."

There was a murmur of agreement from the room. Bruce noticed a few nods from the military personnel present, who likely shared his concerns about the potential dangers.

"Our mission," He continued, "is to secure a foothold on this world, explore the ruins, and determine the extent of the threat we face. We also need to ascertain whether this world holds any resources or technology that could benefit us. Dr. Banner, Dr. Morries—you will lead the scientific team on this mission."

Bruce's stomach tightened slightly, though he gave a resolute nod. This wasn't just any mission; this was a high-stakes operation with the potential to change everything they knew about the multiverse.

Lena, on the other hand, was practically beaming. "We're ready, sir," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "I've already prepared the equipment we'll need, and I've assembled a team of specialists who are eager to get started."

The Commander nodded approvingly. "Good. The first priority is to establish a safe perimeter around the base and begin analyzing the ruins. The second priority is to study the technology of the robots we've encountered. Any information you can gather on their design, programming, and purpose will be invaluable. We also need to be on the lookout for any signs of hostile activity—whether from the robots, potential survivors, or any other threats that might emerge."

Bruce felt a weight settle on his shoulders. The implications of this mission were enormous, and the margin for error was slim. But he also knew that this was an opportunity to contribute something significant, to help understand and potentially neutralize a threat that could extend beyond this other Earth.

As the briefing wrapped up, Bruce and Lena were given final instructions and handed their assignments. They quickly made their way to the transport bay, where a Foundation aircraft awaited them, ready to take them to the base on the other side of SCP-7905.

The ride was tense for Bruce. Lena, however, couldn't stop talking about the possibilities—about the chance to study an entirely new ecosystem, to unlock the secrets of the advanced robotics they'd encountered, and to explore the ruins of a city that might hold the key to this new world's past.

When they finally arrived at the base, Bruce stepped out of the aircraft and took in his surroundings. The sight that greeted him was both familiar and alien. The base itself was a testament to the Foundation's efficiency, with its walls bristling with defenses and its interior packed with cutting-edge technology. But beyond the base, the landscape stretched out into a vast, open grass plain, the ruins of the city visible in the distance. The mountain they had come through loomed behind them, a silent guardian over the strange new world they had stepped into.

For Lena, it was a dream come true. For Bruce, it was a reminder that they were now in uncharted territory, and the road ahead was fraught with unknowns. But they were both ready to face it head-on. Bruce, for one, was willing to do this, to undertake this risk.

He was motivated by something strong, something truly powerful, he was motived by his love, love for Oliver who had died saving his friends and colleagues from the cruel death that SCP-4885 would have brought them. And his budding love for Lena.

Love was something powerful; it was something that could overwrite all logic; the Foundation knew this and treated love with great care. They didn't ignore it; at times, they even supported it, as long as they believed the love would have a positive outcome.

They didn't want people to break the rules for love, release SCP objects, or ignore protocol for love; instead, they wanted people to willingly sacrifice themselves for love. Many members of the Foundation were willing to do what they did for their loved ones.

It was for this reason they were often allowed to live a somewhat normal life, to marry, and have kids, though often with other personnel. All to ensure that they had something they were willing to die to protect and that that something was connected with the broader interests of the Foundation.