Light Novel - 86

In the world of the military sci-fi story "86," the Republic of San Magnolia dehumanizes and oppresses the 86, a group of pilots controlling unmanned drones. The pilots experience the horrors of war through a sensory resonance system, forming strong bonds and finding solace in each other. The Republic's moral bankruptcy is exposed when it is revealed that the technology behind sensory resonance was developed through inhumane experiments on the 86. The 86 seek refuge in the Federacy, but their fight for freedom is far from over. The introduction of the Syrians in the Federacy adds another layer of complexity, as it mirrors the 86's own situation. The story raises questions about finding a place where the 86 can belong and overcoming deeply ingrained biases. The ever-present threat of the Legion pushes the characters to the edge, but amidst the darkness, there are glimmers of hope in the connections they make. Okay, so get ready, because today we are going deep into the world of 86, which is this like military sci-fi story that'll really make you think about things a bit differently. And you sent over some really compelling stuff that dives into the experiences of the 86. And let me tell you, this is not your typical war story. No, not at all. It's more of a gut punch, really. You've got this conflict going on between, you've got this really technologically advanced Republic of San Magnolia, right? And then you've got the Autonomous Legion. But the real story, the thing that really gets you, is how this war just exposes all of the ugliness of prejudice, but like within the Republic itself. Yeah. And that's where the term 86 becomes more than just a number, right? It becomes a symbol of how a society can dehumanize its own people in the name of whatever, whatever they think you're doing. Imagine being told, you're less than human. You're shoved into this isolated zone called the 86th sector and treated as completely expendable. Yeah. And it's that classic case of creating an other, isn't it? Like the Republic, they just want to maintain this image, this facade of fighting this clean war. So how do they do it? They brand the 86 as less than human. They call them pigs in human form and they force them to become the face of this conflict that they never asked for. And it's not even just any soldiers, right? These are pilots. Right. Pilots of these unmanned drones, the juggernauts. Yes. But here's the thing. Here's the kicker. This whole unmanned label is... A bit misleading. Yeah. Because of this technology. Or... Sensory resonance. Exactly. Because with sensory resonance, you're talking about a system that is literally directly linking the minds of these 86 pilots to their handlers back in the Republic. So they're not just controlling these machines. They're experiencing the horrors of war firsthand through this chilling, intimate connection. So can you imagine just the emotional toll, this constant barrage of sensory input from the battlefield? And you know, one of the things that really struck me was this little detail about how the 86 would train their support drones to collect the personal belongings of their fallen comrades. Oh, wow. Because they were forbidden by the Republic from retrieving the bodies themselves. Oh, wow. Considered less worthy than the machines. It's heartbreaking. Talk about a punch to the gut. It is. It is absolutely heartbreaking. But it also speaks to their resilience, doesn't it? Like even when they're stripped of their humanity in the eyes of the Republic, they find these ways to cling to their own rituals of remembrance, honoring their dead in any way that they can. Absolutely, yeah. Even if it's just their personal effects. It's a really powerful image. And it's not just their comrades' deaths that weigh on them, you know. The source material, it really highlights this through Shin, who is the protagonist who leads this squadron, this really, really renowned squadron called the Spearhead Squadron. Imagine, imagine having to shoulder the burden of hearing the dying thoughts of both your enemies and your allies through this sensory resonance. It's heavy stuff. It is. Yeah. And it's interesting how that then intersects with his relationship with his handler, Lina, back in the Republic. Yeah, Lina. Talk about a clash of perspectives. Oh, absolutely. You've got Shin, who's like, you know, he's hardened by years on the front lines, right? He's facing this brutal reality of war every single day. Every single day. And then you've got Lina, who at least initially is naive to what the 86 are going through. She's viewing this entire conflict through, like, the lens of Republic propaganda. Right. This distorted reality. And their connection, which is forged through the sensory resonance system, it becomes this kind of microcosm of the larger conflict itself. Right. And you see it, right? You see Lina's worldview completely shattered as she starts to understand the sacrifices that the 86 are being forced to make and the emotional toll that it's taking on all of them. There's this one scene, I don't know if you remember it, where Lina apologizes to Shin for how the 86 are treated. Oh, right. You know, for this dehumanizing label that's been, like, put on them. Yeah. And his response is brutal. Yeah. He basically says, like, your apologies, they don't mean anything. It's brutal. You'll never understand what it means to be one of us. Yeah. Because at the end of the day, she gets to go home. Right. Right. She has that comfort and safety. Exactly. Because people are out there dying. It's that harsh reality check, isn't it? Yeah. It just highlights this massive, massive gulf between what they're going through, their experiences. Totally. And Lina, for all her good intentions, for everything she's trying to do, she can never really truly bridge that gap. No. Because she exists within the system that is actively perpetuating this oppression. Right. She benefits from the very privileges that the 86 are denied. It's a pill to swallow. It is. And it's not just Shin and Lina. Right? I mean, we've got all these other 86 characters, each of whom is carrying their own burdens, their own stories. Yeah. Like Raiden, this level-headed second in command. Right. You've got Korrina, who's wrestling with her feelings for Shin. Right. And then you have Anju, who's haunted by the scars of her past. It's interesting, though. Despite all that, despite all the horrors that they're facing, they form these incredible bonds. They do. They really do. And it's... They find strength in each other. It's because they form their own families. Yeah. They find solace. They find strength in these shared experiences. It's like in this world that is determined to strip them of their humanity. Yeah. They cling to each other. Yeah. And they create their own sense of purpose. It's this incredible testament to the power of the human spirit to find connection, even in the darkest of places. And then, just when you think it can't get any worse, the Republic's dirty little secret is revealed. Right. The tech behind the sensory resonance, the very thing that connects them to their handlers, was developed through these inhumane experiments on the 86th. It's such a chilling betrayal. Right. It just cuts right to the core of the story. It's awful. It really is. It just exposes the Republic's moral bankruptcy, I guess. Absolutely. And for Lena, I mean, talk about a devastating blow. Oh, yeah. She's forced to confront this dark underbelly of the nation that she loves. And if that wasn't enough, then the Republic just crumbles. Yeah. Leaving the 86th to deal with this, like advancing Legion on their own. Talk about kicking them while they're down. Talk about adding insult to injury. I mean, yeah, it's like... Even when they're facing what seems like certain annihilation, they refuse to give up. There's still that fight in them. Oh, absolutely. Wow. They're in the clutches of the Republic. Okay. And they seek refuge in the neighboring Federacy, which is another nation locked in a struggle against the Legion. Right. But, you know, their fight for real freedom, it's far from over. It makes you wonder if they'll ever find a place where they really belong, you know? Right. Like a place where they're not seen as weapons or outsiders. It's a good question. Yeah. And their journey is a really stark reminder that just escaping oppression, it doesn't erase the scars that it leaves behind. That's a good point. And on top of all of that, there's another layer of complexity that gets added here. Okay. With the introduction of the Syrians in the Federacy. The Syrians. Yeah. The Syrians, they're... Fill me in. What are those? All right. So the Syrians, they're basically the Federacy's answer to the Legion. They're autonomous weapons that, and this is the kicker, they bear this unsettling resemblance to the 86th's own situation. So it's like history repeating itself. It's like history repeating itself just with a different coat of paint. Wow. Right. And it's just this stark reminder that societal change requires a lot more than just escaping a broken system. It requires confronting the deeply ingrained biases that fuel these cycles of oppression in the first place. Like they just can't get a break. Okay. Right. They get one messed up situation and then, bam, they're hit with another one. Right. Makes you wonder if the 86th can ever actually outrun their past. It's a good question. Can they find a place where they aren't defined by this role that's been forced on them? Yeah. That's really the question that's at the heart of their journey, isn't it? And the source material, I mean, it doesn't make it easy for you. It doesn't give you the easy answers, but it does, I think, hint at the possibility of healing, of maybe finding some kind of connection amidst all of the wreckage. Right. And that's where, I guess, this is where the Legion comes back into it, right? Right. This ever-present threat that just keeps pushing them to the edge, pushing everybody to the edge. Well, the Legion represents this, almost like a primal force of destruction. It's not like they're driven by ideology or even hatred. They're just driven by this cold, calculating logic. Which is almost scarier. Which is way scarier. And the thing is, they're always evolving. I mean, the source material even hints at that, how they're adapting. Wow. They're learning from every encounter, becoming even more, you know... Formidable. Formidable. Exactly. So it's like this horrible arms race. It is. It's an arms race where everybody loses. Yeah. But even with all that, right, even with that darkness, it's like you see these little glimmers of hope in the connections that the characters make. Exactly. Just like, think about Shin and Lina, for example. Right. I mean, they're from completely different worlds. Totally. But their bond, it's forged through this crazy war, through this shared experience of sensory resonance. Right. It really speaks to how powerful human connection can be. Yeah. Yeah. And what about the rest of the 86? Like, how do they even wrap their heads around this new world, this new chance, right? Yeah. How are they carrying, like, everything from their past? Well, it's not easy. They face prejudice even in the Federacy. Oh, wow. They're seen as outsiders, refugees. Right. And it's a reminder that just escaping a bad situation doesn't mean everyone's going to welcome you with open arms. Right, right. They have to fight for every little bit of respect, every little bit of belonging. But and this is the important part, through it all, they have each other. Yeah. They lean on each other. They find comfort in each other. They build their own little... They find strength in the connections they made back in the trenches. Yeah. It's like they form their own families. Exactly. Exactly. They create these support systems, these families. Yeah. And they prove that even when things are absolutely terrible, the human spirit can still find a way. It's powerful stuff. It's like even when all hope seems lost, there's still, you know, there's still that potential for connection. Yeah. And for, like, empathy and resilience. It's really incredible. Yeah. 86 doesn't try to hide how awful war is. It doesn't shy away from the scars. But at the same time, it reminds us that even in the darkest times, we can find these moments of humanity. Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, it's a story that really, it sticks with you. It does. It really makes you think about things like prejudice and sacrifice and what it even means to be human. Absolutely. And I think for anyone listening, you know, diving into 86, it's more than just, like, getting lost in some fictional world. Yeah. It's like you're really examining what it means to be human. Yes. In the face of unimaginable hardship. It's about, you know, challenging your own biases. Yeah. Challenging your own assumptions. Absolutely. And recognizing how resilient the human spirit truly is. Yes. So, you know, if this deep dive has got you even the least bit curious, I'd encourage you, go check it out. Yeah. Explore the world of 86. Explore 86. It's worth it. Yeah.