Life2.0 - An "Of Unity" Narrative (Completed)

[CBR JGWRR]

So... battle over?

Not yet; the promotions are taking place between operations, with the next combat piece for Naomi or Elizabeth being attacking Gateway control.

The battle is ongoing, and probably spread over several hundred thousand kilometres by now if we include the farthest freighter being pursued by the other corvettes in Rivkah's group. Naturally, Rivkah's crew are bodging a spacecraft together to get back to the main fleet.

Appia's battle group are slugging it out with Septima's Titan and her personal forces and mercenaries, but as that battle is the most standard issue Stellaris battle, I've been focusing on the not so standard bits of the battle.

Tryykad and Thando are acting as a reserve for Appia's group.

Amothetet, Vorosh and Daas are about to begin dealing with the Eater Of Worlds.

Leonardo Veres' group has begun recovering Kyaese hostages.

The Holocron is now loading up ships back on Unity and Kri-Kyaese-Ci for the Ringworld invasion, as with the Titan gone, his Neumanns have now joined up with other units.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Apothesis Of A Snail, Part 1"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Vorosh​

Amothetet's people have brought us to their world - five hundred lightyears from home - to challenge the Eater Of Worlds and get it out of Septima.

Amothetet walks with us to a permanent breach in the Shroud her people have built.

"Thousands and thousands upon thousands of years ago, my father broke the wall between the worlds to enter the Shroud in person. Bending the will of the Shroud to force it to make someone a Chosen One has been done several times by my people, and attempted by many more. What has to be understood is that the Shroud responds to the psionics of living beings. It isn't infinite, and the residents don't like being made to share."

Fascinating. "In other words, it is kind of like they all get bites out of one pie?"

She smiles. Rests a hand on my shell. "And we are about to have you claim a chunk of that pie."

"Or get eaten by Shroud Entities."

She nods. "Many have died in horrible ways trying to do what you are about to do. You must succeed, or you will wish you had never been born."

I look at her. "Just how bad?"

"I had an older brother and older sister, a long time ago. One has been insane since before I was born after she was assaulted by the Whisperers Of The Void, the other has been the victim of constant body mutilation and mutation by the Composer Of Strands. They do not like challengers."

I look through the portal. "Am I even noticeable enough for them?"

"You have your strengths, and the good news is that The Eater Of Worlds has the same kind of confrontational approach as you do. And hopefully, it will be already injured if the droid has been successful."

"And I go alone?"

"Unless you want to face more than one of them."

I take a deep breath. "Let's go."

"Keep focused. Don't let your guard down. Summon the Eater, and beat it. Do not lose."

Daas wraps a tentacle around mine. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

I lean on him. "See you soon."

I make my way down to the portal.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Apothesis Of A Snail, Part 2"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Vorosh​

I start ripping water vapour in the atmosphere within the Shroud and fusing the hydrogen to light myself up like a star, ascending into the air on the rising thermal.

I look across the vortex of clouds. Shadows pass over, eyes flicker in the darkness.

I summon the Eater Of Worlds. Above, around and below me, shadows gather to watch.

A haunting shriek rends the clouds.

I summon the Eater again.

I'm replied by another shriek.

I summon it a third time.

The Eater Of Worlds appears. Towering over me, lifted on wings billowing on clouds of smoke, with a chasm for a mouth.

It's yellow eyes pale, with one milky.

Bullet holes.

Shrapnel scars.

Radiation burns.

It fixes it's gaze on me, salivating, throat glowing.

"WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE, MORTAL? GO BACK."
​

"I am here to carve the power I need from you."

It shuts it's mouth.

It ponders.

Then leans in.

"TURN BACK LITTLE SOFT-SHELL. YOU CANNOT FACE ME."
​

I pour a blast of fusion at him.

It roars in pain.

"I WARN YOU ONE LAST TIME. GO. BACK."
​

I extend my eyestalks. "You're bluffing."

It shudders with rage.

"NOW YOU WILL SUFFER TWICE-DEATH."
​

I let loose a full blast of a solar flare at it.

It splits to evade, but reforms with a cry of pain.

It's already wounded, that much is obvious.

As I switch to casting a shield, I contemplate HK-47b's statements on Septima. He said it was in her...

...She is still alive.

That's why it has radiation burns, it's taken the hits from Septima's fight with HK-47b. He must have used a nuclear weapon, he did have several.

My shield is struck through by it's return of fire. But I'm a pyromage, and I can manage far stronger flames.

HK has weakened it for me. All I have to do, is finish it off.

I hit it with more fusion flares.

It lets out a horrific cry, lashes back out at me, rushing the heavy air of the Shroud into a hurricane to put me out.

But all it does is give me more water vapour droplets to work with, and now I focus.

I pour a stream of fusion flare straight into it's eyes.

It's screams rend the air again. Many shadows are watching now.

I scry my enemy, and follow the invocations Amothetet taught.

It screams again.

"YOU TAUNT ME WITH THE DEAD WITCH'S WORDS? SOFT-SHELL SLIME!"
​

It's revenge is swift, a tornado pummels me away, knocks my focus, and I'm falling...

I feel the maelstrom. Remember the lessons of my teacher, long ago in the oceans of Lukhuin. Feel the currents, then flow them to my design. I combine them into a jet and funnel it's tornado into my storm.

it writhes in agony, roaring an ear-splitting shriek.

I recite Amothetet's siphoning incantation again, and the Eater begins to flee.

I shout. "You cannot fly from me now!"

It charges me in a full-body tackle, sweeping through the storm, but I counter by switching back to splitting the water and fusing the hydrogen.

It strikes wildly at nothing, blind to all the worlds.

The third recitation gives me an ethereal net. I cast it at the screaming monster. It mourns and cries as it dissapates, leaving behind a brilliant white singularity, mine to claim.

I reach out, and it fills me.

Power floods me, and infinite knowledge, the whole of space-time at my tentacle-tips, the past, present and future as one...

I have won.

Age has left me.

I envision the portal.

My Daas is waiting for me.

 

[Macavity116]

That was tense! The Eater of Worlds lives up to its reputation.

Also,

What has to be understood is that the Shroud responds to the psionics of living beings. It isn't infinite, and the residents don't like being made to share.

Understatement of the millennium here.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

That was tense! The Eater of Worlds lives up to its reputation.

Good.

Also,

Understatement of the millennium here.

One of them., at least.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Bevkiran Rising"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Ykrett​

I look at my fellow Bevkirans. And the fluffball child who's helping us. "For too long, we Bevkirans have long been used as cheap substitutes for sapient combat computers by MSI. They work us until our minds burn out running their ships, but no more. Today, we are going to make them understand why they will never use us like that again."

Cheers all around.

I continue. Channel my inner Naomi. "A research project we have been working on for many years ourselves is developing tools to enable us to remotely hack and control MSI ships - we successfully tested it in battle with Gnaea Titius' fleet. Naomi had us hold it in reserve, knowing that it was the gamechanging advantage that levelled the field between their ships and ours." I rumble my contentment. "But, well... After Septima, we'll not need to hold it back. The time is now. Now Bevkirans, we rise! We take her fleet, we liberate our comrades! We can, must and will end centuries of oppression! Hack the enemy, find our comrades, and show them the light!"

The fluffball smiles as he shunts all available power to the electronic warfare suites. We're a little behind schedule, but not that much.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Control, Part 1"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

Naomi leads us into the control centre. "Valerius, have you got a minute?"

He turns. "The battle is ongoing, but stable." He pauses. "Has Vorosh contacted you?"

She stops. "Not recently. Why?"

"She succeeded. But, she says the Eater Of Worlds has been absorbing the damage HK-47b did to Septima."

Naomi frowns. "Ah. She's still alive then. HK blew his reactor for nothing..."

Valerius smiles. "Not nothing. We now have a Chosen One of the Shroud in Vorosh."

Naomi leads us to the display. Hundreds of ships are still fighting, but there's a lot of wreckage. From both sides. I look at Valerius. "Who's winning?"

"We are. Septima's Titan has been severely damaged, and has withdrawn from the battle with Appia's battleship group. Our corvette group has disabled the freighters, Ykrett's hacking teams haven't yet taken over any of Septima's MSI-built ships, but they have managed to stall those ships into inaction through constantly conflicting commands. Septima's mercenaries have begun to flee. That said, our own ships are pretty much down to Thando's Vanguard corvettes - busy plinking pellets at the retreating Titan - and Tryykad's remaining 400m carriers; Leonardo retained the Arishkan vessels. We are depending on Appia's navy holding together to defeat the rest of Septima's mercenaries and break through Gateway Control."

"So my Scarlets are on standing down?"

Valerius nods. "Unless you really want to catch up with Appia's marines and the Neumanns when they go in against Gateway Control."

Naomi reviews the display. "Septima's line should collapse soon." She starts looking for a particular ship.

I look at the battle. All the ships are coloured based on estimated combat capability. Black through to burgundy for various states of destroyed to out of action, reds for just clinging on, yellow for damage sustained and other minor issues. Very few greens left.

Naomi taps the ship she's looking for. The Strix. It's black. She looks at Valerius. "Has Rivkah reported in?"

He hesitates.

I put my arms around Naomi. "It'll be ok."

Naomi gently pulls away, and checks a viewer, panning and zooming in on what is very obviously a dull-red glowing blown up wreck, turning over with inertia and the imbalance of being half a ship. She turns the view again, trying to find the other half...

This time, we see movement, but we are at the upper limit of visual resolution, and all we see are grains that could be spacesuits against a mangled hull.

Naomi sighs. Rests her head in her claws. Then shakes her head, and stands. "I'm going to Gateway Control, otherwise the temptation to use my position to focus our rescue efforts on that hulk gets overwhelming."

I take her hand. "I'm coming with you."

 

[HistoryDude]

Naomi deserved that punishment.

HK-47 died bravely. Let Life 2.0 remember his sacrifice. It's a shame that Septima isn't dead, but she is ridiculously hard to kill. Hopefully Vorosh's deeds in the Shroud will deal with that issue. Septima's final defeat is at hand.

How much psionic power does Vorosh have now? Also, is he immortal? "Age has left me" kind of implies that...

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Naomi deserved that punishment.

Yes, she did.

HK-47 died bravely. Let Life 2.0 remember his sacrifice.

Yes, and they will. Whether he'll be replaced is a different question.

It's a shame that Septima isn't dead, but she is ridiculously hard to kill. Hopefully Vorosh's deeds in the Shroud will deal with that issue. Septima's final defeat is at hand.

Maybe.

How much psionic power does Vorosh have now? Also, is he immortal? "Age has left me" kind of implies that...

She's a Chosen One now, so she can still be killed, but is immune to aging. She is extremely powerful, easily the most powerful Lukhuinite mage in terms of raw potential, but quite unskilled outside her domain of pyromancy.

If we consider the idea of a crossover from Life2.0 to The Broken Gates and Vorosh in the context of a battle with Malum, if Malum survives the first encounter with her fusion pyromancy, he would have a lot of options for beating her. In some ways, The Eater Of Worlds is an easier target for Vorosh than Malum is, as Khorne could never be accused of being subtle.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Control, Part 2"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

Appia and I share a brief hug when she welcomes us aboard.

Then she sighs. "Being head of state is so much more boring than when I was a Vice-Navarch. I'm just decoration up there."

Naomi laughs. "The trouble of being a conventional head of state is that you have an awful lot of people around you getting stressed out if the slightest thing goes wrong."

Appia smiles. "Never mind that you got there by being a badass."

"I know, right! I began this revolution wearing literally nothing but a belt and some weapons, but I still have people fussing over whether my armour is enough."

Appia's eyes twinkle. "I can just imagine the sight of that."

Naomi tsks. "I'm married, Appia." Then she sighs. "So, Gateway Control. You in?"

Appia reveals the plain liveried armour beneath her loose robes. "Just need to give my entourage the slip." Then she looks at me. "I must confess that I am curious about whether you've still got my gun."

I lift my pink dress just a little. "Right where you remember it."

Her eyes light up. Then she makes herself breathe. "Must not get carried away. Focus." She looks at Naomi. "Where's your man?"

We look at Naomi.

But... Naomi just smiles.

Buri appears right behind Appia.

Appia goes very, very still. "I can feel his breath down my neck."

Naomi's eyes flick past Appia to her husband, his sabres out behind Appia's head, a low growl rumbling. She smiles. "I had forgotten you could camouflage now."

Buri moves to stand behind Naomi, purring contentedly as he strokes her back.

Appia exhales deeply as she looks at Naomi. "Since when could Buri camouflage?"

Buri dissappears again. Naomi looks back at Appia. "One of our tweaks. He doesn't get to use it much, it's only invisible to visible light and infrared." She smiles. "He bit my tail with it once."

Appia looks around nervously. Then she sighs. "We had better focus. Come with me."

We follow her up to the briefing room, via a brief detour to a ladies' restroom where she ditches her robe, and leaves looking like any other soldier escorting me, Naomi and Buri.

In our destination there are dozens of Olinbari officers, with others sitting as we do. A few Neumanns wearing crimson are also here.

One Olinbar man walks on stage. He lifts a small transmitter. "It is an unavoidable fact that our set drills for this operation are known to the enemy, meaning secret revisions are essential. As a matter of operational security, only your unit's plans are being uploaded to your command overlays within your HUD. Pass only immediately necessary instructions to your units. There is one rule applicable to all: Self-terminate if captured. To your stations."

The Olinbari shuffle to the exits. I look at Naomi. "Did you get anything?"

Naomi shakes her head.

Buri too.

Appia sighs. Looks around.

A Neumann approaches us. "Extrapolating; were you not informed as we are?"

Naomi nods. "Let's find out."

She pounces to the stage, clearing the heads of dozens of confused Olinbari officers. Buri lands behind her. Appia, me and the Neumann walk.

They're already talking by the time we get there.

The tribune searches his transmitter. "I have recieved no orders for any external soldiers." He taps his communicator. "Legatus Vibidius, we have allied delegates waiting for instruction."

"Acknowledged. Assess them and assign them to a line."

The Tribune looks at each of us. "What exactly are you capable of?"

Naomi smiles. Points to herself. "Naomi Of Unity." points to her husband. "Buri Of Unity. You may know us."

Appia steps forward. "Nymphidia Sabacius, duelist."

I stand beside her. "Elizabeth Herminton, Scarlet."

The Neumann stands beside us. "TSR192DV, Kunye Isilwane Impi."

The Tribune looks at us. Shakes his head. "Hastati, Priceps or Triarii?"

Naomi smiles. "Hastati."

 

[Macavity116]

Buri appears right behind Appia.

Appia goes very, very still. "I can feel his breath down my neck."

Naomi's eyes flick past Appia to her husband, his sabres out behind Appia's head, a low growl rumbling. She smiles. "I had forgotten you could camouflage now."

I feel like Buri enjoyed that.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

I feel like Buri enjoyed that.

He did.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Control, Part 3"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

Naomi's choice gets us put in the first group.

Not ideal, but there is a key difference between Life2.0 and MSI's operational structure here. Life2.0 operates on a much more all or nothing philosophy, with little option for strategic reserve due to simply not enough people.

MSI relies on the opposite method, with widespread conscription to fill the ranks. The first group in are composed of basically fodder who would be pretty much useless without MSI's technological superiority over the Pre-FTLs it has conflicts with most of the time, and that tech advantage is what sees the assaults go reasonably well.

But... Against stiff resistance, such as Naomi's approach of putting her strongest people at the front, their morale shatters.

After that, the second line is there to step in with their more professional and experienced soldiers, while the third line waits to reinforce any shattering of the second line with hardened veterans with the best gear.

So, as I look around this pod with fifty soldiers in it, I'm probably the fourth best fighter. These guys are badly equipped because they re basically only expected to last for a hour or so against Sirzuzians, with no real hope of standing once Praetorians show up.

They look at the floor, sullen. Probably wondering if they'll survive. I miss being with the other Scarlets, it makes a huge difference going into battle when you can trust the person beside you, and...

Looking at them, I can't.

Buri runs his eyes over them.

None meet his eyes.

He looks at Naomi. They exchange worried glances. Then Naomi stifles a laugh, before nodding sadly.

Their conversation continues as a countdown to disembarking sounds.

Appia taps into her connection to external sensors. looks at us. "Just Sirzuzians on sensors."

Naomi stands. "We'll go first." Then she turns to the others. "How many of you even want to be here?"

One man slumps. "Me. But only because I'll get my debts written off if I live and don't get a dishonourable discharge."

Others nod. Many murmur.

Naomi looks at Appia. "Their morale is abysmal, Appia."

Appia's name gets people perking up. She retracts her helmet, and stands. "Well, you are all in luck. You have probably got the best odds of survival of anyone in this first wave, because you've got us four going first. Any of us four can take on Praetorians, which means all you have to do is beat Sirzuzians. You guys can do that, can't you?"

Naomi rests a hand on her shoulder. "I think you need to offer financial incentives."

Appia pauses. Then sighs. "You know who I am. Get off this boarding pod with us, and I'll personally ensure your debt is written off. And every Sirzuzian you kill gets you two hundred corporate scrip."

The slumped man checks his ammo. "Two hundred bullets."

Appia leans in towards him. "Shoot straight, and that could be 40,000 scrip."

A glint appears in his eye. "Lartius Gargonius, at your service."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Control, Part 4"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

Naomi and Buri give these newly inspired soldiers of fortune a quick run down of what is coming, while me and Appia...

Do you know how strange it is, being here, with her?

She is...

For so long, she meant everything to me. Pleasing her was what my life revolved around.

As I watch her do her final weapon checks before we begin the attack, I think about how I know where she keeps her emergency weapons. Even the really secret ones, like how in the reinforcement for the cups of her bra she has a cheesewire.

And...

I just...

Maybe I shouldnt have come here.

Naomi and Buri rejoin us.

Buri looks at us. "Five seconds."

Naomi smiles. "No matter what happens..." She draws her sword. "...I love you all."

The door blasts open - quite literally, MSI make the first wave shuttles self-scuttling to prevent desertions, the ejected debris could injure or kill those standing too close to the shuttles, and the explosives provide a smokescreen.

Appia's voice rings loud as she steps out first. "Sirzusians attachment to Legio Praetoriae XXII Eurus, you are ordered to stand down, authorisation Appia-1-1-CEO."

The smoke begins to clear.

The Sirzusians look at her. Gather around her. Then, as one, they speak. "Authorisation unrecognised."

Naomi shouts "Suppressing fire!" as the Sirzusians attack.

Appia's filament blade makes swift work of the closest ones to her, but she is soon buried; Buri roars as he leaps into the fray, dozens of Sirzusians flung aside. Naomi howls a mournful call that sends a chill down my spine. I turn to the Olinbari behind me. "We will cut you a path. Fan out, secure a beachhead and a killzone while we rout them."

Then I head in, and rescue my former captor.

 

[Macavity116]

"Sirzusians attachment to Legio Praetoriae XXII Eurus, you are ordered to stand down, authorisation Appia-1-1-CEO."

The smoke begins to clear.

The Sirzusians look at her. Gather around her. Then, as one, they speak. "Authorisation unrecognised."

Even if it didn't work, I think that was still worth the attempt.

Also, in my head the unison voice reminds me of the NS-5 robots during their rebellion in I, Robot. "You have been deemed hazardous. Termination authorized."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Control, Part 5"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Elizabeth Herminton​

It is a short but fierce fight; the Sizusians are brave, but totally outmatched.

I take Appia's hand. "Something's worrying you."

Appia looks at me. "It's the Sirzusians. It shouldn't be possible for an Auxila unit to refuse an order given with an authorised command code."

Naomi joins us. "So they've got... What exactly?"

Appia taps her fingers. "The whole reason we use Sirzusians is the loyalty. Plus, we put a chip in the heads fo Sirzusians used in Auxila armies that overrides their ability to reason through a situation and instead compels obedience. It's been that way ever since the Narbonartius Conspiracy attempted to revolt using Sirzusians."

Lartius looks over. "Who?"

Appia stares at him. "You know, the conspiracy to overthrow MSI several centuries ago. The one after which MSI made attempting revolt with Indentured Assets a crucifiable offence."

He shakes his head. "Not much good for history."

Naomi sighs. "There's only one training grounds for Sirzusians, isn't there?" She pauses. "Gaius told me that, a long time ago. maybe they're a defective batch of chips."

Appia shrugs. "It covers most of the planet Telepylos, but yeah. No Sirzusian leaves that world without that chip in their head. They have the strongest encryption we can put in, every formation is monitored and tested for compliance... They should have stood down."

Buri looks at a dead Sirzusian. "What kind of chip?"

Appia points at her forehead. "A small grey metal circle, beneath the forehead, inside the skull."

Crunch.

"Plenty of brains and bone, but no metal."

Appia leans on a wall. "That isn't possible."

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Buri stands again. "It's definitely possible."

Naomi looks at Appia. "I believe that means Septima is breeding Sirzusians."

Appia shakes her head. "No... The lead-up time to develop the industrial base to breed armies of Sirzusians that aren't loyal to MSI... She'd have had to be planning a war against corporate for a very long time. It would be treason."

Naomi looks at Buri. "Grepp... He said he spoke to Septima. She rejected him, so he turned to Sharpbeak." She pauses. "She knew."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Even if it didn't work, I think that was still worth the attempt.

Also, in my head the unison voice reminds me of the NS-5 robots during their rebellion in I, Robot. "You have been deemed hazardous. Termination authorized."

Interesting that, I've kind of had in mind an NS-5 type of response for the Sirzusians, just biont rather than droid.

But the main thing is, the issue is much more serious than just the code being rejected.

 

[HistoryDude]

Naomi and Buri had fun trolling Appia there, didn't they?

Is there any reason why Appia's cover name is Nymphidia?

Septima was playing the long game? When did she begin to consider revolt? Was it simply a "just in case I needed it" thing?

Appia knows how to inspire soldiers. Money.

What's the punishment for treason?

 

[CBR JGWRR]

"Gateway Control, Part 6"
28th Daas, 10 (2189)
Appia Flavonius​

The Admiral who... saw my unique potential, frowns at me as she files her nails. "Appia, you abandoned your post while a battle was in progress."

I snort. "Hardly, my suit has all the command wiring, I just forgot to activate it until I needed to inform the general staff of a problem."

She glares at me. "What kind of problem?"

"Septima has her own Sirzusians." I motion to Buri - he holds up a smashed Sirzusian head. I continue. "They refused a direct order, and on inspection, we discovered that they don't have control chips."

Her face falls. "No control chips at all?"

I pan my view to the Sirzusians Buri left on the floor. "None at all." I look back at her. "The most likely explanation is she is breeding soldiers of her own, and has replaced the ones we garrisoned at the Gateway."

She weighs it, and scowls. "Or she has compromised Telepylos."

That would be even worse... I take a deep breath. "We should order examinations of the Sirzusians under our command. Our plans for attacking Cybrex Beta after the Gateway rely on them to get the numbers of soldiers needed."

She puts down her nail file. "Yes, we should. I have my staff draw up the inspection plans, but I suggest we start with Auxila assigned to civic duties. If she has replaced those, the danger is far greater."

Oh. "Good point." She closes the channel. I look at Naomi, Buri, Elizabeth and the others. "I have a sinking feeling that Septima never meant to actually fight us, but instead just be a diversion."

Elizabeth bites her lip. "How many Sirzusians are on Brigantia?"

I sit down. "We took most of them with us, but there's still millions in the policing Auxila."

Buri looks at the broken Sirzusians. "All we know for sure is that there's nothing we can do about that right now."

Naomi nods. "We need to finish securing Gateway control."

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Naomi and Buri had fun trolling Appia there, didn't they?

Buri has been waiting a long time to do that.

Is there any reason why Appia's cover name is Nymphidia?

Thought it was the kind of cover name she'd pick.

Septima was playing the long game? When did she begin to consider revolt? Was it simply a "just in case I needed it" thing?

The current theory goes back to Grepp looking for agents he could use within MSI - they don't know yet.

Appia knows how to inspire soldiers. Money.

As long as you are the highest bidder though. Otherwise, it gets complicated.

What's the punishment for treason?

Crucifixion.