Reader · Proposed Roadmap

MicroArc 3: Predation

Point of View: Sergei Ivanovich · Location: Eurasian Concord (DOMINION) & AXIOM Facility · Chapters 13–18

Overview

MicroArc 3 runs parallel in time to MicroArcs 1 and 2, showing the military resistance of the Eurasian Concord against the AXIOM selection. Sergei’s perspective explores the futility of physical weapons and the psychological transformation of a soldier into an AXIOM system warden.

Proposed Chapters
013 Permanent Readiness Sergei’s squad performs a civilian sweep in the Outer Market District of Barracks Complex 7. The red/green identification checkpoints. A brief memory of his youth before the uniform. The alert sounds: radar systems detect unknown airborne particle formations crossing the Siberian border.
014 Iron and Dust The battle for Complex 7. The DOMINION forces deploy air defense and heavy weapons. Sergei and his squad take defensive positions on the concrete walls. The black swarm arrives, completely ignoring gunfire and electromagnetic fields, selectively neutralizing combatants. Sergei fires his rifle until surrounded, then collapses.
015 Command Structure Sergei wakes in AXIOM Cell 03. He immediately searches for structural weaknesses, wiring, or seams, trying to force an exit. The message `[Initialization complete. Subject stable.]` appears. He demands status and commander details. The cell wall disappears with `[Proceed.]`.
016 Sector Search Sergei treats the corridor as a hostile combat zone, moving from cover to cover. He meets a panicked sergeant from his regiment. The system displays: `[Assembly point: forward.]`. Sergei maps the corridor turns in his head, tracking directions like a soldier.
017 The Defensive Line Sergei enters the assembly chamber. He immediately takes position at the corridor entrance, cataloguing all other subjects as potential hostiles. When the `[Oblivion Protocol]` message arrives, Sergei’s adrenaline spikes; his heart rate elevates dangerously under the strain of confinement, and he collapses in the center of the room.
018 Warden Status Sergei wakes in the recovery position, with David kneeling over him offering water. As he regains his posture, the system presents a personal prompt: `[First reaction recorded. Classification: Predation. Continue? [Yes] / [No]]`. Realizing his combat training is now AXIOM’s security variable, he selects `[Yes]`.