- Location
- in the trash
To be more specific, Japanese features.
*Bursts out laughing*
Oh, Alicia, you just can't get it right, can you? Not when you were 14, and not now, at 37.
Hahahahaha
Panopticon: A Game of Posthumans, Perniciousness, Paranoia, Politics, and Plasmaguns
To be more specific, Japanese features.
*Bursts out laughing*
Oh, Alicia, you just can't get it right, can you? Not when you were 14, and not now, at 37.
Hahahahaha
- Location
- in the trash
He's Blando McBlanderson the Boyfriend Clone V2. Which means we're going to need to put him down at some point because he's a horrible abomination (or dump him into Ravana Quest, either way works).
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
Between her Progenitor-progeny statline and her manipulation skills honed on the cut and thrust of academic politics, Sera is probably better equipped for Being Jamelia Belltower than any member of the party who isn't Jamelia.
- Location
- in the trash
That does not mean she can Be Jamelia Belltower. There are certain standards one must meet to be the Man.
For one thing, she doesn't have any mirrorshades, because Alicia lost them (damnit Alicia). She's also far too Italian, as the Centurion often points out. And she doesn't have the stick up her ass.
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Now, now, let's be fair.
In the Centurion's eyes, Italians and Arabs are actually fairly similar. For one, they're both dangerously swarthy, caused by them coming from countries which see unnatural amounts of sunshine. It's damn well near Reality Deviancy, the way that it doesn't rain there during the summer. They also follow concerningly non-Church-of-England religions. Can't trust a religion which isn't headed up by the head of state. And no, the Pope doesn't count even if he's head of the Vatican! Chap's a foreigner! Totally untrustworthy! And the Vatican isn't a real country, anyway! Has to hire the Swiss to protect it! Can't trust the blighters. Bunch of bloodthirsty maniacs who don't follow the laws of war.
The real question is whether Serafina's ill-chosen behaviour and Italian decadence and frequent impropriety and the insinuation that she engages in slatternly acts with other females... whether all that outweighs the fact that Illiyeen is *gasp* a member of the lower classes. Can't think what the Union is doing, putting a Levantine assassin in a position where she can give orders to her betters! She's the kind of low-bred person who probably learned Dimensional Science, rather than proper Spirit like a well-bred member of the Union! [1]
Donald: "See? Kessler, old man, we're more classy than these sorts because we know Spirit."
Kessler: "Ix-nay on the irit-spay!"
Harlan: "Perfectly respectable sphere choice! Except around Void Engineers. And Iterators."
Jamelia: "... is there something about being a man which means you go and get your hands on spheres you're not meant to? And Donald, if you make one
breast joke about spheres, I will be forced to shoot you in the leg."
Donald: "I'd like to protest this treatment. You like risque jokes."
Jamelia: "No, I don't. Idiot."
Harlan: "She does."
Jamelia: "... I will also have to shoot you in the leg."
Harlan: "It's how she shows affection."
Kessler: "Oh, so, like Henriette."
Jamelia: "Excuse me. I'll just need to go fetch a higher calibre weapon so I can shoot Kessler in the leg in a way he'll actually notice."
[1] The clone of Lady Lior doesn't count as poorly-bred, of course! Nonsense! Even if she does know DSci.
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Quantumboost
Now with 50% more dots in Dimensional Science
- Location
- Ensemble Space
Of course not, she's the result of billions of dollars' worth of Progenitor engineering. Rose is very expensively bred.
- Location
- in the trash
Henriette: "Actually, Director, let me do that." *Shoots Kessler in the leg with armour piercing autocannon ammunition*
Henriette: "Behold, the power of Forces 4! Fear my wrath, for it shall be swift and furious!"
Henriette: "Also, no offense, Director, but that's why you should get more ranks in Forces. And carry a proper weapon, instead of that handgun."
Donald: "I'm with Henriette on that one. You should let me buy you a better gun-"
Jamelia: *Shoots Donald* "No one touches the X-5."
Donald: "I didn't even make a risque joke yet!"
Jamelia: *Shoots Donald again* "Yes, but I have chronons snarled up in my waveform from time travelling, so I can shoot you in the past."
- Location
- in the trash
Also, clearly Catherine Nichols must be a clone of herself through time loop (this explains what happened to the missing Sword class AI. She was the evil clone)
Truly, she is a woman of such poor breeding that she does not even have a lineage that she can trace back to some marginally respectable ancestor. And really, only a woman so lowborn would seek to master Dimensional Science at such a high level.
Truly, she is a woman of such poor breeding that she does not even have a lineage that she can trace back to some marginally respectable ancestor. And really, only a woman so lowborn would seek to master Dimensional Science at such a high level.
I've just read the entire quest (and damn, did it take a while), and I see there are a couple of open votes. Here are my opinions on them.
Serafina:
If Panopticon was to try to track her (or intercept her communications), how might they do it?
- Something on/within her person that they can track. This seems highly unlikely to be something they're actually doing, as I don't think she has any traceable implants and they wouldn't have had the opportunity to add one themselves.
- Watch for incoming or outgoing emails. This is counterable by use of a dummy email address.
- Phone tap. Similarly solvable, by use of disposable phones.
- Security camera footage. She can't go invisible, but she can make herself difficult to recognize on camera - and they have to be looking at footage from the right camera at the right time.
Vote options:
[ ] She hates to even think about it, but… the other side will probably be in a better place to know about Panopticon operations. She might need to introduce herself to them - in disguise, of course - and keep her ears out for rumours of Union kill teams. Panopticon wasn't subtle in Hong Kong, it wasn't subtle in Moscow, so there's a good chance it won't be subtle here. Of course, the risk is that as someone on the run from the Union, associating with the Traditions or haemophages or werewolves or faeries or whatever puts her in an even worse light. Oh, and the RDs might shoot her too.
-> [ ] Write-in for her line of approach to try to find them - and who she's looking for.
Much as I want to see the JOYFUL REUNION between Serafina and Alice, neither one has any reason to believe the other's in town. Aleph points out that some (many? most?) members of the Traditions who know who she is have a sizable hate-on for Serafina, so the effectiveness of this plan would largely depend on how good she is at looking like Not Serafina Rosario. It sounds like she hasn't yet gained back all of the weight she lost during the emergency extraction, which ought to help at least a little bit. And for the rest of her disguise, she does have Life 4, though maybe not the tools to actually use it right now.
As for who she'd try to find and how... it's unlikely that she really has any Traditions contacts, in the area or otherwise, so the strategy would probably be to figure out who the largest group in town is and try to talk to them. I would venture a guess that the Choristers have at least a decent presence in Mexico City, but I don't know enough about the others to have any idea.
[ ] Panopticon thinks she's a subversive influence? Then she'll be a subversive influence! She's an elite FACADE Engineer who knows the overrides and auth commands for all the common models of Progenitor construct, and is an exceptional social engineer. If she harvests programmable cells from the Vanessas, she can change her face and her DNA and pass for a Laura or a Mary. She should be able to get access to Union comms and satellites in Mexico City facilities she knows about without anyone knowing she's here, and then she can begin her hunt in earnest. Needless to say, should something go wrong it will be… ah, risky. The best she can hope for is to be thought to be a malfunctioning construct.
This strikes me as having the most potential to fail hilariously. Failing tragically is still an option, but perhaps not quite as much as with the other choices. I am also kind of a fan of the idea of having her reaction be, "No, this is what me being a subversive influence looks like."
This also seems like the quickest way for her to find out that Yinzheng is in charge of this op, and if she recognizes the name, she might try to ask her "what the hell do you think you're doing?" We know, even if Serafina doesn't, that Yinzheng's got her doubts about what she's been ordered to do, which means it might be possible (maybe) to turn her back to the side of the real Jamelia.
[ ] One of Serafina's exes is a mid-level Syndic working for Disbursements in Mexico City. No one is expecting her here and she's very, very good with people. Maybe she can… apply some pressure to him. She's quite familiar with his weak spots and they've kept on okay terms. Panopticon ruffles feathers, and he'll probably hear of it if he's anything like he used to be. This will be getting back on the system, however, and it'll be much easier for anyone to find her if they know to look for her.
If they know to look for her, then yeah, that could be a problem. Do they, though? For all we know, Ms. Clock thinks she was successful at inducing suicide in LA.
The main thing I'd be worried about here is the possibility of the ex spilling the beans that she's in town. But again, if she can cover her tracks well enough, that shouldn't be an issue (if nobody from Panopticon knows she's here, they're not going to have any reason to expect her to get in touch with a Syndic that they may not even realize she knows).
So, my vote:
[X] Panopticon thinks she's a subversive influence? Then she'll be a subversive influence! She's an elite FACADE Engineer who knows the overrides and auth commands for all the common models of Progenitor construct, and is an exceptional social engineer. If she harvests programmable cells from the Vanessas, she can change her face and her DNA and pass for a Laura or a Mary. She should be able to get access to Union comms and satellites in Mexico City facilities she knows about without anyone knowing she's here, and then she can begin her hunt in earnest. Needless to say, should something go wrong it will be… ah, risky. The best she can hope for is to be thought to be a malfunctioning construct.
Tyrants:
Just to make sure I'm clear on this: The body that Choi is punching at is a decoy that Nichols switched in, and the real body is with Nichols, is that right?
Vote options:
[ ] (0.3x) Fight their way through the mysterious voice and his bodyguards and retrieve Jamelia's body.
I would be much more inclined to go with this option if the body here was actually the original, in large part because I have no idea how effective putting a psychic mind into a new body created by people who didn't realize the original was psychic would be - it seems to me that there are several ways that could go very wrong. If it's not actually her body, though, I don't see any reason to worry about preserving it.
[ ] Discretion is the better part of valor, and if they're recovering her mindstate she might be better served with an upgrade. Chuck a demolitions charge or five in, and run like hell.
[ ] Listen to what he says, and then get out of there as soon as they can sanitize the evidence by shooting Jamelia's comatose body in the head.
These two options seem similar to one another. One of them involves listening to what Choi says, presumably with the intent to interrogate Jamelia upon her return and see if she knows anything about what he was saying and why he would want her dead so personally, and that one seems not only more in character with the NWO, but also less likely to destroy anything that people would like to keep around.
[ ] Pretend to be sent to parley from his mysterious allies.
No. This seems like an awful idea, and I don't see what it gets us at all.
My vote:
[X] Listen to what he says, and then get out of there as soon as they can sanitize the evidence by shooting Jamelia's comatose body in the head.
Serafina:
If Panopticon was to try to track her (or intercept her communications), how might they do it?
- Something on/within her person that they can track. This seems highly unlikely to be something they're actually doing, as I don't think she has any traceable implants and they wouldn't have had the opportunity to add one themselves.
- Watch for incoming or outgoing emails. This is counterable by use of a dummy email address.
- Phone tap. Similarly solvable, by use of disposable phones.
- Security camera footage. She can't go invisible, but she can make herself difficult to recognize on camera - and they have to be looking at footage from the right camera at the right time.
Vote options:
[ ] She hates to even think about it, but… the other side will probably be in a better place to know about Panopticon operations. She might need to introduce herself to them - in disguise, of course - and keep her ears out for rumours of Union kill teams. Panopticon wasn't subtle in Hong Kong, it wasn't subtle in Moscow, so there's a good chance it won't be subtle here. Of course, the risk is that as someone on the run from the Union, associating with the Traditions or haemophages or werewolves or faeries or whatever puts her in an even worse light. Oh, and the RDs might shoot her too.
-> [ ] Write-in for her line of approach to try to find them - and who she's looking for.
Much as I want to see the JOYFUL REUNION between Serafina and Alice, neither one has any reason to believe the other's in town. Aleph points out that some (many? most?) members of the Traditions who know who she is have a sizable hate-on for Serafina, so the effectiveness of this plan would largely depend on how good she is at looking like Not Serafina Rosario. It sounds like she hasn't yet gained back all of the weight she lost during the emergency extraction, which ought to help at least a little bit. And for the rest of her disguise, she does have Life 4, though maybe not the tools to actually use it right now.
As for who she'd try to find and how... it's unlikely that she really has any Traditions contacts, in the area or otherwise, so the strategy would probably be to figure out who the largest group in town is and try to talk to them. I would venture a guess that the Choristers have at least a decent presence in Mexico City, but I don't know enough about the others to have any idea.
[ ] Panopticon thinks she's a subversive influence? Then she'll be a subversive influence! She's an elite FACADE Engineer who knows the overrides and auth commands for all the common models of Progenitor construct, and is an exceptional social engineer. If she harvests programmable cells from the Vanessas, she can change her face and her DNA and pass for a Laura or a Mary. She should be able to get access to Union comms and satellites in Mexico City facilities she knows about without anyone knowing she's here, and then she can begin her hunt in earnest. Needless to say, should something go wrong it will be… ah, risky. The best she can hope for is to be thought to be a malfunctioning construct.
This strikes me as having the most potential to fail hilariously. Failing tragically is still an option, but perhaps not quite as much as with the other choices. I am also kind of a fan of the idea of having her reaction be, "No, this is what me being a subversive influence looks like."
This also seems like the quickest way for her to find out that Yinzheng is in charge of this op, and if she recognizes the name, she might try to ask her "what the hell do you think you're doing?" We know, even if Serafina doesn't, that Yinzheng's got her doubts about what she's been ordered to do, which means it might be possible (maybe) to turn her back to the side of the real Jamelia.
[ ] One of Serafina's exes is a mid-level Syndic working for Disbursements in Mexico City. No one is expecting her here and she's very, very good with people. Maybe she can… apply some pressure to him. She's quite familiar with his weak spots and they've kept on okay terms. Panopticon ruffles feathers, and he'll probably hear of it if he's anything like he used to be. This will be getting back on the system, however, and it'll be much easier for anyone to find her if they know to look for her.
If they know to look for her, then yeah, that could be a problem. Do they, though? For all we know, Ms. Clock thinks she was successful at inducing suicide in LA.
The main thing I'd be worried about here is the possibility of the ex spilling the beans that she's in town. But again, if she can cover her tracks well enough, that shouldn't be an issue (if nobody from Panopticon knows she's here, they're not going to have any reason to expect her to get in touch with a Syndic that they may not even realize she knows).
So, my vote:
[X] Panopticon thinks she's a subversive influence? Then she'll be a subversive influence! She's an elite FACADE Engineer who knows the overrides and auth commands for all the common models of Progenitor construct, and is an exceptional social engineer. If she harvests programmable cells from the Vanessas, she can change her face and her DNA and pass for a Laura or a Mary. She should be able to get access to Union comms and satellites in Mexico City facilities she knows about without anyone knowing she's here, and then she can begin her hunt in earnest. Needless to say, should something go wrong it will be… ah, risky. The best she can hope for is to be thought to be a malfunctioning construct.
Tyrants:
Just to make sure I'm clear on this: The body that Choi is punching at is a decoy that Nichols switched in, and the real body is with Nichols, is that right?
Vote options:
[ ] (0.3x) Fight their way through the mysterious voice and his bodyguards and retrieve Jamelia's body.
I would be much more inclined to go with this option if the body here was actually the original, in large part because I have no idea how effective putting a psychic mind into a new body created by people who didn't realize the original was psychic would be - it seems to me that there are several ways that could go very wrong. If it's not actually her body, though, I don't see any reason to worry about preserving it.
[ ] Discretion is the better part of valor, and if they're recovering her mindstate she might be better served with an upgrade. Chuck a demolitions charge or five in, and run like hell.
[ ] Listen to what he says, and then get out of there as soon as they can sanitize the evidence by shooting Jamelia's comatose body in the head.
These two options seem similar to one another. One of them involves listening to what Choi says, presumably with the intent to interrogate Jamelia upon her return and see if she knows anything about what he was saying and why he would want her dead so personally, and that one seems not only more in character with the NWO, but also less likely to destroy anything that people would like to keep around.
[ ] Pretend to be sent to parley from his mysterious allies.
No. This seems like an awful idea, and I don't see what it gets us at all.
My vote:
[X] Listen to what he says, and then get out of there as soon as they can sanitize the evidence by shooting Jamelia's comatose body in the head.
Bursting Eagerness Soul
Threadwalking Rating Machine
- Location
- Wisconsin
Note that there is the "Operation Flashfreeze" (and variants) that has been proposed. They seem to be a bit more targeted at killing/disabling Choi than at destroying Jamelia's decoy's decoy. Also, they could do both: listen in, and then blow everything (back) to hell.
SR V: Rogue Cell
SR V: Rogue Cell
The National Autonomous University of Mexico's main campus on Ciudad Universitaria is quiet, as activity winds down after the end of term. The Christmas holidays have begun and the undergraduates are absent. The permanent staff are still present, though.
Especially the ones who are members of secret world-spanning global conspiracies.
In a generic, forgettable building linked to the faculty of medicine, a woman enters. She's tall and thin, and displays an attractive blend of indigenous and European blood. Her hair is cut sensibly and her clothes are cheap and generic. She doesn't stand out at all on this campus, which for some reason tends to attract a lot of attractive young women to its staff. She speaks to the receptionist at the desk, and then gets let through to a second layer of security.
"Excuse me," she says to the guard in a monotone. "I have been ordered to report here. I was sent by Dr Gortari."
The man behind the desk flashes a bored glance at the placid-faced woman who presents herself to him. "Standard U-S-R," he says. "Designation and task."
"I am an L12 model Research Assistant bioroid, ID L12-001A-0420. My issued name is Maria Hernandez. I have been assigned to Amalgam-0391 for research purposes in the UNAM laboratories," Serafina says neutrally. She'd normally be humming with nervous tension at the thought of what she's doing, but she took a shot of home-brewed ImpassLive she synthesised from over the counter medicine and it's keeping her Laura-calm.
The man looks her up and down with a distinctly lascivious gaze, then flicks his gaze away from her to input the ID. "Oh yes," he says, after reading the page, "I have your transfer records. They came through last night. Wrist."
Serafina holds out her wrist as ordered. The man pulls out something which looks like a barcode scanner from under the desk, and pushes it against her arm. The machine bleeps once. Then twice. Then a third time.
"Okay, DNA, microchip, UV tat… all green," the man says. "Wait here and I'll call for someone to finish your processing."
Serafina takes a seat in the waiting room. She'd be feeling relieved, if she could feel anything at all. It was easy enough to get herself added onto the records. When two 'Damage Control' Vanessas show up at a cloning facility to inspect the archival records and they have the right authorisation codes, they get let in. It's nothing out of the ordinary. Surprise audits like that are something that Damage Control is there for.
The security isn't really set up to handle a 'rogue' FACADE Engineer who's also sleeping with the head of Ethical Compliance and thus when she sends in fake inspectors, they have the right overrides to let them order the Bobs maintaining the data to 'correct' the records to add an additional Laura to the last batch produced. And then order them to forget that they were ordered to make changes. This'll probably be caught at the next Damage Control audit, but the standard checks are six-monthly affairs and the last was four months ago.
It was harder for them to pocket the lab equipment which let them make sure she was properly chipped and tattooed, but all she needed was the correct ink and the chip. She can do her own tattoos and implants. The main thing they had to do was get their hands on the retroviral agents which let her put herself through a deeply unpleasant six-hour rewrite which made a total mess of the bathroom in the cheap hotel the four of them are staying in. Her joints are aching and her clothes are covering up bruises and her exfoliated skin feels soft and raw and she had to totally regrow her hair after it fell out so it'd fit her new DNA profile. That'll heal. She doesn't have time to waste.
She's not Serafina Rosario any more. She's an L12 model Laura, and she'll look like that to any check which doesn't test her brain tissue. And she's on her own. There's no way that Alicia or the Vanessas can pass as civilian lab models.
She wishes they could. Amalgam-0391 has controlled this bit of the faculty of medicine for over fifty years. The Research Director, Professor Allende, is a Progenitor of the old school. A school old enough that he joined the Order of Reason and the Cosian Circle, outlasted the Æsculpian Order and has been in the Progenitors from the start, who would have been on the Administration long ago if it hadn't been for internal politics and a de-facto exile to Mexico. That misfired, because he's still here when the people who blacklisted him were lost in the Anomaly.
She's up against the defences of a two hundred year old dried up stick of a man who runs it as his personal fiefdom and who doesn't care about Progenitor politics as long as it doesn't affect him and his reptile research. And boy, does he love his reptile research.
If she gets caught, she'll probably literally be fed to literal dinosaurs. Literally.
It is, Serafina considers, a very good thing she's on ImpassLive right now. It lets her get through the would-be agonising half-hour wait until someone comes to collect her. Then she's led into a lift. A key is turned, and she descends down under the layers of volcanic basalt the facility is built into.
She hasn't been down here in years. The place hasn't changed. Not one bit. The windowless laboratories are just as cold, just as sterile, just as lifeless as they were last time she was here. Hundreds of bioroids live down here, almost never coming up to see the light. They spend their entire existences down in these warrens, being moved between the five primary laboratories and the smaller secondary ones. The air is dry and antiseptic, and behind that smell there's just a hint of something peppery.
'Maria' has plenty of time to consider whether this was a good idea, because she's led to another waiting room down on the administrative floor and left to wait. A Laura wouldn't ask questions, so she doesn't ask questions. She's wishing she had Alicia to talk to. She's good at distracting her and cheering her up.
"Rise," a cold voice instructs her. She does as instructed, turning her head slowly to face the woman who spoke to her. She's a delicate, doll-like woman with large eyes and a slightly over-sized head for her body. She has wrinkles around her eyes and scattered grey in her hair, but her forehead and cheeks are unlined. "I am Secretary Wolf. You will address me in this manner. You are an unplanned addition to our stock. Do you know why you were assigned here, L12-001A-0420?"
"I do not, Secretary Wolf."
"Well, you are an L12. We will find a use for you. Come with me into my office."
Serafina doesn't let any of her thoughts show. The other woman is showing her age - and that's both chronological and design specs-wise. The characteristic skull shape of a L8 means that the Laura is probably a decantee from the early nineties - old enough to develop her own independent personality and be promoted to Human Resources, managing entire teams of newer research bioroids. Who knows? She might even have a life outside research. Maybe even a family. Lauras aren't set up to adapt to life outside the lab and their packages don't equip them with skills which can be repurposed - unlike, say, Marys - but the old ones sometimes manage it. Though maybe not with that personality.
She waits until the two of them are in the blindspot at the door before acting.
"Override Prog-Auth-Epsilon-Kappa-33A-94D-922," 'Maria' says calmly. The woman leading her straightens up, eyes taking on a vacant expression. "VC requested."
"L8 model Research Assistant bioroid, ID L8-01B0-6302 responding to validation check," she says. "Primary personality matrix is currently in STANDBY. This unit was last subjected to a full maintenance check on 03-OCT-2015. Its current status is CLEAR. It does not know of any current geneline degeneration issues affecting it."
"Validation check completed," Serafina says. "Conditioning level 2a is currently in effect. You will trust subject ID L12-001A-0420."
"Two-A enabled."
"Conditioning level 1a/2c is currently in effect. You will rationalise all actions you carry out in service to Damage Control instructions passed to you by subject ID L12-001A-0420. You will display fanatical devotion in pursuit of fulfilling those instructions."
"One-A-Slash-two-C enabled."
"Conditioning level 6c is currently in effect. You will not consciously think of this conversation unless explicitly permitted to by subject ID L12-001A-0420."
"Six-C enabled."
Serafina nods minutely. "6302, Damage Control are currently carrying out covert protocol validation checks of this laboratory facility. You have been requisitioned by Damage Control to assist them in the course of their duties. You are instructed to cooperate with subject ID L12-001A-0420 in the course of its investigations when requested. Breach of confidentiality requirements in this inspection will result in your audit for protocol violations and possible liquidation."
The woman blinks slowly. "These instructions are understood," she says. There's a tic under her left eyelid, as her divergent personality template attempts to incorporate these instructions following protocol which interacts with her basic underlying core psychology, installed when she was decanted.
"Reward stimulus X-Green-37," Serafina says, after some consideration. The other woman's pupils dilate and then refocus, a slightly silly smile creeping onto her face as her brain experiences a sudden euphoric rush. Not enough to do anything major to her, but just enough to ease the discomfort of the instructions embedding themselves in her subconscious. "Does that feel better?"
"Y-yes," the Laura says. The tic is gone, replaced by a look of mild euphoria. "Instructions integrated. Awaiting further instructions."
"End override session, reintegrate primary personality matrix. Resume all normal functionality," Serafina says clinically.
And then she lets herself be led to the Laura's office.
She's never had an easier interview in her life. Now that she's modified her programming, Secretary Wolf is simply looking for reasons to explain why she feels that 'Maria' would be a good addition to whatever team needs her. It only takes a single mention of the fact that her personality matrix includes management techniques for the construct to decide that she would be capable as a personal assistant. After all, no one requisitioned this new Laura personally, and HR needs more people.
This puts Serafina just where she wants to be. She's not tied down to a single laboratory and she gets to see personnel records and inventories. She listens to her duties - which can be summarised as 'do whatever Secretary Wolf wants her to' - and then newly minted Undersecretary Maria Hernandez is off to be added to records.
One set of blood samples, fingerprint scans and retinal imprints, and she's taken down to the bare white walls of Equipment Issue, and there gets all the personal items that a Laura gets. Since she's in HR, she gets blouses and short skirts and - sigh - thigh high socks. It makes her feel like she's at school again, although she'd really need a blazer and a straw boater for that to be complete. Everything comes in standard sizes and standard issues, and is made of self-cleaning smart fabric. This means that her worldly possessions account to two work uniforms, one formal uniform, and one set of informal wear which is basically baggy pyjamas that she's also meant to sleep in.
And speaking of sleep, she's shown to her quarters. Or, rather, the twelve-to-a-room barracks where the constructs live. There don't seem to be many male constructs in this place. That would match her recollections - Professor Allende had his preferences. There are communal showers, communal bathrooms, and communal drug dispensaries. There are six double beds in this room, but there are eighteen lockers - she'll be hot-bunking. As instructed, she unwraps her uniforms and hangs them up.
"Change to your uniform," the Bob who's been taking her around tells her. "You must be in uniform. Failure to be properly dressed is a violation of dress codes."
"Yes," Serafina says absent-mindedly. "Regulations must be obeyed." No, she doesn't think she wants to hand over her clothes. When she leaves, she'll want to change back into them so she won't have trackers on her. And she has the emergency disposable mobile phone in the pocket of them - her only way of contacting Alicia if she gets back up to the surface. She starts to strip down, feigning compliance, and pauses. "I'm sorry," Serafina says. "Now that I think of it, I have a question."
The Bob turns her head to look at 'Maria'. "You should have asked earlier," she says neutrally.
"I should have. But you might know. I want to serve the Union effectively."
She nods. "Ask."
"Override Prog-Auth-Epsilon-Omicron-33A-1B2-24A," Serafina says. "VC requested."
She needs to get changed quickly, though, before any of her new roommates show up. She can get started on subverting them later.
The lighting hums overhead in this windowless office.
Click. Click. Click. Bring up a new spreadsheet. Cross-reference values. Raise hand and bring discrepancy to eyes of Secretary Wolf. Wait while Secretary Wolf moves this up the chain. Get told to work on something else.
Serafina sighs to herself internally. If only her parents could see what she's doing now. Not in the sense that she's breaking into a Union facility and subverting assets under false pretenses and misusing requisition codes and generally being a bad girl. No, what she's thinking of is how her currently assigned work is wasting her talents.
Honestly. She has top grade cognitive augmentations, she had an incredibly expensive education, and here she is, doing administrative work that any freshly decanted Laura could do. Clearly she's an irredeemable slacker who isn't pushing herself and is happy to underperform.
The thought is enough to keep her entertained as she runs over inventory stocks and asset requisitions like a good little bioroid who's doing exactly what she's been told to do and certainly isn't building up a mental map of exactly who's using what and where in this sprawling conurbation. God, she'd prefer to be doing this in her office back in LA. Not that it exists any more. But the way that she can't even go up and get a coffee because the bioroid she's pretending to be wouldn't do that is irking her.
It's been two days. She's subverted every bioroid who sleeps in her quarters, whispering overrides into their ears during their designated rest. She sits with them at lunch and between the rote babble of their conversation, they tell her things - more than they realise they're telling her. Lauras are such a wonderful example of Moravec's Paradox. They're brilliant puzzle solvers and can do incredible mathematical feats in their head. But when it comes to most fields of human endeavour, they're dumb. They're totally reliant on programmed heuristics for social interactions and can't cope with human duplicity. And that's a sign of how dumb they are, because the human brain evolved to handle other humans lying to them, in an arms race lasting hundreds of millennia. Even the Masses can make expert systems which can rival or exceed the number-crunching skills of a Laura.
She hopes Alicia isn't too worried about her. But she's been gathering information about Panopticon and - her gut clenches and she remembers that she'll need to get her hands on more emotional suppressant drugs soon because she can't let herself think about how it's nearly Christmas and she was going to make this time special for Rose and she can't worry about Rose and what they did to her - even if it's been a week since what happened in LA, she's making progress. She's found things.
She just needs more.
A Clue!
It seems that yes, Panopticon have been requisitioning gear from the local Progenitors. What has she confirmed they have? (pick at least 2)
[ ] Panopticon has reactivated an old facility here in Mexico City, and has taken a very large order of Bobs to restaff it. Everyone's been running overtime for the last week trying to meet their demands, and you can't cover something like this up. (Note: This option gives you the location of a Panopticon base, but also guarantees the local team is much better off than the other options)
[ ] She got lucky. She's found the forms. Two Dracosaur handling teams - even if Dracosaur genetics are unstable and so they rarely get used outside labs. And a team of Mary variants - M-E1 models, the Emile sub-class. Transgenic mods. Killers as well as honeytraps. Also annoyingly smug as a geneline trait - Serafina smiles at the recollection of how much Alexander detests them
-> S
[ ] She's handled the passive-aggressive notes from the on-site Damage Control about how their jobs are being made much harder because someone has requisitioned one of their primary asset recapture teams and those just aren't disposable Bobs, thank you very much. The team's been built up over years and didn't come out of some vat.
[ ] "It's a good thing those dratted human-reptile hybrids are gone," says one of the older Lauras in front of Serafina, talking to another one. "I think they're very badly designed and those eyes! So creepy! And when I was younger, one attacked me." "Oh. That is a shame. I wonder who wanted four squads of them?"
-> S
[ ] 'INTERNAL MEMO - Would everyone please note that our friends in CHARLIE TEAM will be taking a short vacation from these premises for a classified mission. Discussion of the actions of CHARLIE TEAM is strictly classified. We all wish them the best of luck in their current role.' There's a note scribbled on the draft that Serafina read over someone's shoulder - "Ha! Good to see the back of those batshit insane over-enhanced maniacs! Give a man a parasitic symbiote or an unhealthy amount of reptilian plasmids and suddenly he thinks he can order his intellectual betters around!"
-> S
[ ] Oh boy. Dr Polo from Theropod Optimisation (Tactical Utilisation) is not a happy FACADE Engineer, and has been taking matters out on the research staff. Not only have they taken all his latest experiments, they're also denying him access to the research data from their use. From how he sounds, he's on the verge of going nuclear.
-> S
[ ] Inventory Items - X-PROG-311 COMBAT POWERED EXOSKELETON CEPHALOPOD GUNSHIP (AERIAL) + SUPPORT CREW (0/1) (ON LOAN TO ██████████)
The next line of approach
Serafina needs more, in her hunt for Panopticon. That means she's going to have to take a few risks.
[ ] She has the serial codes of the Panopticon-borrowed assets. They should all be chipped and tagged for remote tracking. All she needs to do is get her hands on an anonymised terminal and she should be able to find where the assets are positioned (Correspondence focuses, minimal Risk)
[ ] The senior staff here are… Progenitors of the old school, to put it politely. And hence if some of what she's picked up from her subverted constructs is true, they don't just select attractive female bioroids for visual purposes. She can make use of that to obtain DNA samples to get past the security locks and get proper command-staff level access to the systems. (Command Staff access which gives her amalgam-wide authority, potential access to all focuses and Requisitions, initially low Risk but increasing Risk the more she uses the access)
-> [ ] God, no, there's no reason she'll do that sort of thing herself. That's what she has subverted bioroids for. She'll just have one of them do the dirty deed.
-> [ ] She'll handle that personally. And if she gets given access to their personal quarters, that's a plus. There might be intel in there that's not on the main networks. And blackmail material. She can't rely on socially awkward bioroids for this. Someone else might get it wrong.
[ ] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-> [ ] Select one of the options present in the previous choice which have been marked with an "-> S" tag. Panopticon will be provided with that choice as an extra asset (giving them three in total), but they will be subverted and Serafina has an override for them which will allow her to force them to change sides.
[ ] She needs to get in with Panopticon herself, to work inside them. Looks like 'Maria' is surplus to requirements and will be transferred to the Panopticon operation because they need Progenitors to help maintain their requisitioned assets and this Laura is a geneticist. At least she can use her pawns to make sure she's equipped properly for the role. (Access to Panopticon, a few Requisitions, unknown Risk - she has no idea what she'll be facing in the mysterious secret police)
[ ] Write-in
The National Autonomous University of Mexico's main campus on Ciudad Universitaria is quiet, as activity winds down after the end of term. The Christmas holidays have begun and the undergraduates are absent. The permanent staff are still present, though.
Especially the ones who are members of secret world-spanning global conspiracies.
In a generic, forgettable building linked to the faculty of medicine, a woman enters. She's tall and thin, and displays an attractive blend of indigenous and European blood. Her hair is cut sensibly and her clothes are cheap and generic. She doesn't stand out at all on this campus, which for some reason tends to attract a lot of attractive young women to its staff. She speaks to the receptionist at the desk, and then gets let through to a second layer of security.
"Excuse me," she says to the guard in a monotone. "I have been ordered to report here. I was sent by Dr Gortari."
The man behind the desk flashes a bored glance at the placid-faced woman who presents herself to him. "Standard U-S-R," he says. "Designation and task."
"I am an L12 model Research Assistant bioroid, ID L12-001A-0420. My issued name is Maria Hernandez. I have been assigned to Amalgam-0391 for research purposes in the UNAM laboratories," Serafina says neutrally. She'd normally be humming with nervous tension at the thought of what she's doing, but she took a shot of home-brewed ImpassLive she synthesised from over the counter medicine and it's keeping her Laura-calm.
The man looks her up and down with a distinctly lascivious gaze, then flicks his gaze away from her to input the ID. "Oh yes," he says, after reading the page, "I have your transfer records. They came through last night. Wrist."
Serafina holds out her wrist as ordered. The man pulls out something which looks like a barcode scanner from under the desk, and pushes it against her arm. The machine bleeps once. Then twice. Then a third time.
"Okay, DNA, microchip, UV tat… all green," the man says. "Wait here and I'll call for someone to finish your processing."
Serafina takes a seat in the waiting room. She'd be feeling relieved, if she could feel anything at all. It was easy enough to get herself added onto the records. When two 'Damage Control' Vanessas show up at a cloning facility to inspect the archival records and they have the right authorisation codes, they get let in. It's nothing out of the ordinary. Surprise audits like that are something that Damage Control is there for.
The security isn't really set up to handle a 'rogue' FACADE Engineer who's also sleeping with the head of Ethical Compliance and thus when she sends in fake inspectors, they have the right overrides to let them order the Bobs maintaining the data to 'correct' the records to add an additional Laura to the last batch produced. And then order them to forget that they were ordered to make changes. This'll probably be caught at the next Damage Control audit, but the standard checks are six-monthly affairs and the last was four months ago.
It was harder for them to pocket the lab equipment which let them make sure she was properly chipped and tattooed, but all she needed was the correct ink and the chip. She can do her own tattoos and implants. The main thing they had to do was get their hands on the retroviral agents which let her put herself through a deeply unpleasant six-hour rewrite which made a total mess of the bathroom in the cheap hotel the four of them are staying in. Her joints are aching and her clothes are covering up bruises and her exfoliated skin feels soft and raw and she had to totally regrow her hair after it fell out so it'd fit her new DNA profile. That'll heal. She doesn't have time to waste.
She's not Serafina Rosario any more. She's an L12 model Laura, and she'll look like that to any check which doesn't test her brain tissue. And she's on her own. There's no way that Alicia or the Vanessas can pass as civilian lab models.
She wishes they could. Amalgam-0391 has controlled this bit of the faculty of medicine for over fifty years. The Research Director, Professor Allende, is a Progenitor of the old school. A school old enough that he joined the Order of Reason and the Cosian Circle, outlasted the Æsculpian Order and has been in the Progenitors from the start, who would have been on the Administration long ago if it hadn't been for internal politics and a de-facto exile to Mexico. That misfired, because he's still here when the people who blacklisted him were lost in the Anomaly.
She's up against the defences of a two hundred year old dried up stick of a man who runs it as his personal fiefdom and who doesn't care about Progenitor politics as long as it doesn't affect him and his reptile research. And boy, does he love his reptile research.
If she gets caught, she'll probably literally be fed to literal dinosaurs. Literally.
It is, Serafina considers, a very good thing she's on ImpassLive right now. It lets her get through the would-be agonising half-hour wait until someone comes to collect her. Then she's led into a lift. A key is turned, and she descends down under the layers of volcanic basalt the facility is built into.
She hasn't been down here in years. The place hasn't changed. Not one bit. The windowless laboratories are just as cold, just as sterile, just as lifeless as they were last time she was here. Hundreds of bioroids live down here, almost never coming up to see the light. They spend their entire existences down in these warrens, being moved between the five primary laboratories and the smaller secondary ones. The air is dry and antiseptic, and behind that smell there's just a hint of something peppery.
'Maria' has plenty of time to consider whether this was a good idea, because she's led to another waiting room down on the administrative floor and left to wait. A Laura wouldn't ask questions, so she doesn't ask questions. She's wishing she had Alicia to talk to. She's good at distracting her and cheering her up.
"Rise," a cold voice instructs her. She does as instructed, turning her head slowly to face the woman who spoke to her. She's a delicate, doll-like woman with large eyes and a slightly over-sized head for her body. She has wrinkles around her eyes and scattered grey in her hair, but her forehead and cheeks are unlined. "I am Secretary Wolf. You will address me in this manner. You are an unplanned addition to our stock. Do you know why you were assigned here, L12-001A-0420?"
"I do not, Secretary Wolf."
"Well, you are an L12. We will find a use for you. Come with me into my office."
Serafina doesn't let any of her thoughts show. The other woman is showing her age - and that's both chronological and design specs-wise. The characteristic skull shape of a L8 means that the Laura is probably a decantee from the early nineties - old enough to develop her own independent personality and be promoted to Human Resources, managing entire teams of newer research bioroids. Who knows? She might even have a life outside research. Maybe even a family. Lauras aren't set up to adapt to life outside the lab and their packages don't equip them with skills which can be repurposed - unlike, say, Marys - but the old ones sometimes manage it. Though maybe not with that personality.
She waits until the two of them are in the blindspot at the door before acting.
"Override Prog-Auth-Epsilon-Kappa-33A-94D-922," 'Maria' says calmly. The woman leading her straightens up, eyes taking on a vacant expression. "VC requested."
"L8 model Research Assistant bioroid, ID L8-01B0-6302 responding to validation check," she says. "Primary personality matrix is currently in STANDBY. This unit was last subjected to a full maintenance check on 03-OCT-2015. Its current status is CLEAR. It does not know of any current geneline degeneration issues affecting it."
"Validation check completed," Serafina says. "Conditioning level 2a is currently in effect. You will trust subject ID L12-001A-0420."
"Two-A enabled."
"Conditioning level 1a/2c is currently in effect. You will rationalise all actions you carry out in service to Damage Control instructions passed to you by subject ID L12-001A-0420. You will display fanatical devotion in pursuit of fulfilling those instructions."
"One-A-Slash-two-C enabled."
"Conditioning level 6c is currently in effect. You will not consciously think of this conversation unless explicitly permitted to by subject ID L12-001A-0420."
"Six-C enabled."
Serafina nods minutely. "6302, Damage Control are currently carrying out covert protocol validation checks of this laboratory facility. You have been requisitioned by Damage Control to assist them in the course of their duties. You are instructed to cooperate with subject ID L12-001A-0420 in the course of its investigations when requested. Breach of confidentiality requirements in this inspection will result in your audit for protocol violations and possible liquidation."
The woman blinks slowly. "These instructions are understood," she says. There's a tic under her left eyelid, as her divergent personality template attempts to incorporate these instructions following protocol which interacts with her basic underlying core psychology, installed when she was decanted.
"Reward stimulus X-Green-37," Serafina says, after some consideration. The other woman's pupils dilate and then refocus, a slightly silly smile creeping onto her face as her brain experiences a sudden euphoric rush. Not enough to do anything major to her, but just enough to ease the discomfort of the instructions embedding themselves in her subconscious. "Does that feel better?"
"Y-yes," the Laura says. The tic is gone, replaced by a look of mild euphoria. "Instructions integrated. Awaiting further instructions."
"End override session, reintegrate primary personality matrix. Resume all normal functionality," Serafina says clinically.
And then she lets herself be led to the Laura's office.
***
She's never had an easier interview in her life. Now that she's modified her programming, Secretary Wolf is simply looking for reasons to explain why she feels that 'Maria' would be a good addition to whatever team needs her. It only takes a single mention of the fact that her personality matrix includes management techniques for the construct to decide that she would be capable as a personal assistant. After all, no one requisitioned this new Laura personally, and HR needs more people.
This puts Serafina just where she wants to be. She's not tied down to a single laboratory and she gets to see personnel records and inventories. She listens to her duties - which can be summarised as 'do whatever Secretary Wolf wants her to' - and then newly minted Undersecretary Maria Hernandez is off to be added to records.
One set of blood samples, fingerprint scans and retinal imprints, and she's taken down to the bare white walls of Equipment Issue, and there gets all the personal items that a Laura gets. Since she's in HR, she gets blouses and short skirts and - sigh - thigh high socks. It makes her feel like she's at school again, although she'd really need a blazer and a straw boater for that to be complete. Everything comes in standard sizes and standard issues, and is made of self-cleaning smart fabric. This means that her worldly possessions account to two work uniforms, one formal uniform, and one set of informal wear which is basically baggy pyjamas that she's also meant to sleep in.
And speaking of sleep, she's shown to her quarters. Or, rather, the twelve-to-a-room barracks where the constructs live. There don't seem to be many male constructs in this place. That would match her recollections - Professor Allende had his preferences. There are communal showers, communal bathrooms, and communal drug dispensaries. There are six double beds in this room, but there are eighteen lockers - she'll be hot-bunking. As instructed, she unwraps her uniforms and hangs them up.
"Change to your uniform," the Bob who's been taking her around tells her. "You must be in uniform. Failure to be properly dressed is a violation of dress codes."
"Yes," Serafina says absent-mindedly. "Regulations must be obeyed." No, she doesn't think she wants to hand over her clothes. When she leaves, she'll want to change back into them so she won't have trackers on her. And she has the emergency disposable mobile phone in the pocket of them - her only way of contacting Alicia if she gets back up to the surface. She starts to strip down, feigning compliance, and pauses. "I'm sorry," Serafina says. "Now that I think of it, I have a question."
The Bob turns her head to look at 'Maria'. "You should have asked earlier," she says neutrally.
"I should have. But you might know. I want to serve the Union effectively."
She nods. "Ask."
"Override Prog-Auth-Epsilon-Omicron-33A-1B2-24A," Serafina says. "VC requested."
She needs to get changed quickly, though, before any of her new roommates show up. She can get started on subverting them later.
***
The lighting hums overhead in this windowless office.
Click. Click. Click. Bring up a new spreadsheet. Cross-reference values. Raise hand and bring discrepancy to eyes of Secretary Wolf. Wait while Secretary Wolf moves this up the chain. Get told to work on something else.
Serafina sighs to herself internally. If only her parents could see what she's doing now. Not in the sense that she's breaking into a Union facility and subverting assets under false pretenses and misusing requisition codes and generally being a bad girl. No, what she's thinking of is how her currently assigned work is wasting her talents.
Honestly. She has top grade cognitive augmentations, she had an incredibly expensive education, and here she is, doing administrative work that any freshly decanted Laura could do. Clearly she's an irredeemable slacker who isn't pushing herself and is happy to underperform.
The thought is enough to keep her entertained as she runs over inventory stocks and asset requisitions like a good little bioroid who's doing exactly what she's been told to do and certainly isn't building up a mental map of exactly who's using what and where in this sprawling conurbation. God, she'd prefer to be doing this in her office back in LA. Not that it exists any more. But the way that she can't even go up and get a coffee because the bioroid she's pretending to be wouldn't do that is irking her.
It's been two days. She's subverted every bioroid who sleeps in her quarters, whispering overrides into their ears during their designated rest. She sits with them at lunch and between the rote babble of their conversation, they tell her things - more than they realise they're telling her. Lauras are such a wonderful example of Moravec's Paradox. They're brilliant puzzle solvers and can do incredible mathematical feats in their head. But when it comes to most fields of human endeavour, they're dumb. They're totally reliant on programmed heuristics for social interactions and can't cope with human duplicity. And that's a sign of how dumb they are, because the human brain evolved to handle other humans lying to them, in an arms race lasting hundreds of millennia. Even the Masses can make expert systems which can rival or exceed the number-crunching skills of a Laura.
She hopes Alicia isn't too worried about her. But she's been gathering information about Panopticon and - her gut clenches and she remembers that she'll need to get her hands on more emotional suppressant drugs soon because she can't let herself think about how it's nearly Christmas and she was going to make this time special for Rose and she can't worry about Rose and what they did to her - even if it's been a week since what happened in LA, she's making progress. She's found things.
She just needs more.
A Clue!
It seems that yes, Panopticon have been requisitioning gear from the local Progenitors. What has she confirmed they have? (pick at least 2)
[ ] Panopticon has reactivated an old facility here in Mexico City, and has taken a very large order of Bobs to restaff it. Everyone's been running overtime for the last week trying to meet their demands, and you can't cover something like this up. (Note: This option gives you the location of a Panopticon base, but also guarantees the local team is much better off than the other options)
[ ] She got lucky. She's found the forms. Two Dracosaur handling teams - even if Dracosaur genetics are unstable and so they rarely get used outside labs. And a team of Mary variants - M-E1 models, the Emile sub-class. Transgenic mods. Killers as well as honeytraps. Also annoyingly smug as a geneline trait - Serafina smiles at the recollection of how much Alexander detests them
-> S
[ ] She's handled the passive-aggressive notes from the on-site Damage Control about how their jobs are being made much harder because someone has requisitioned one of their primary asset recapture teams and those just aren't disposable Bobs, thank you very much. The team's been built up over years and didn't come out of some vat.
[ ] "It's a good thing those dratted human-reptile hybrids are gone," says one of the older Lauras in front of Serafina, talking to another one. "I think they're very badly designed and those eyes! So creepy! And when I was younger, one attacked me." "Oh. That is a shame. I wonder who wanted four squads of them?"
-> S
[ ] 'INTERNAL MEMO - Would everyone please note that our friends in CHARLIE TEAM will be taking a short vacation from these premises for a classified mission. Discussion of the actions of CHARLIE TEAM is strictly classified. We all wish them the best of luck in their current role.' There's a note scribbled on the draft that Serafina read over someone's shoulder - "Ha! Good to see the back of those batshit insane over-enhanced maniacs! Give a man a parasitic symbiote or an unhealthy amount of reptilian plasmids and suddenly he thinks he can order his intellectual betters around!"
-> S
[ ] Oh boy. Dr Polo from Theropod Optimisation (Tactical Utilisation) is not a happy FACADE Engineer, and has been taking matters out on the research staff. Not only have they taken all his latest experiments, they're also denying him access to the research data from their use. From how he sounds, he's on the verge of going nuclear.
-> S
[ ] Inventory Items - X-PROG-311 COMBAT POWERED EXOSKELETON CEPHALOPOD GUNSHIP (AERIAL) + SUPPORT CREW (0/1) (ON LOAN TO ██████████)
The next line of approach
Serafina needs more, in her hunt for Panopticon. That means she's going to have to take a few risks.
[ ] She has the serial codes of the Panopticon-borrowed assets. They should all be chipped and tagged for remote tracking. All she needs to do is get her hands on an anonymised terminal and she should be able to find where the assets are positioned (Correspondence focuses, minimal Risk)
[ ] The senior staff here are… Progenitors of the old school, to put it politely. And hence if some of what she's picked up from her subverted constructs is true, they don't just select attractive female bioroids for visual purposes. She can make use of that to obtain DNA samples to get past the security locks and get proper command-staff level access to the systems. (Command Staff access which gives her amalgam-wide authority, potential access to all focuses and Requisitions, initially low Risk but increasing Risk the more she uses the access)
-> [ ] God, no, there's no reason she'll do that sort of thing herself. That's what she has subverted bioroids for. She'll just have one of them do the dirty deed.
-> [ ] She'll handle that personally. And if she gets given access to their personal quarters, that's a plus. There might be intel in there that's not on the main networks. And blackmail material. She can't rely on socially awkward bioroids for this. Someone else might get it wrong.
[ ] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-> [ ] Select one of the options present in the previous choice which have been marked with an "-> S" tag. Panopticon will be provided with that choice as an extra asset (giving them three in total), but they will be subverted and Serafina has an override for them which will allow her to force them to change sides.
[ ] She needs to get in with Panopticon herself, to work inside them. Looks like 'Maria' is surplus to requirements and will be transferred to the Panopticon operation because they need Progenitors to help maintain their requisitioned assets and this Laura is a geneticist. At least she can use her pawns to make sure she's equipped properly for the role. (Access to Panopticon, a few Requisitions, unknown Risk - she has no idea what she'll be facing in the mysterious secret police)
[ ] Write-in
Last edited:
Sirrocco
Pedantic
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[ ] She needs to get in with Panopticon herself, to work inside them. Looks like 'Maria' is surplus to requirements and will be transferred to the Panopticon operation because they need Progenitors to help maintain their requisitioned assets and this Laura is a geneticist. At least she can use her pawns to make sure she's equipped properly for the role. (Access to Panopticon, a few Requisitions, unknown Risk - she has no idea what she'll be facing in the mysterious secret police)
I find this option compelling because of the increased chances of getting Serafina within influencing distance of our favorite idealistic-but-subverted NWO spook.
[ ] Panopticon has reactivated an old facility here in Mexico City, and has taken a very large order of Bobs to restaff it. Everyone's been running overtime for the last week trying to meet their demands, and you can't cover something like this up. (Note: This option gives you the location of a Panopticon base, but also guarantees the local team is much better off than the other options)
I find this option compelling in combination with the above because social infiltration isnt as concerned with the sort of concentrated firepower a base gives you as many of the other attack forms are. Also, I think there are shiny storybits here... and coopting Yinzheng while she's running a Panopticon base sounds like good clean fun... and given how hectic they've been on the setup, this is pretyt much the perfect time to run an infiltration - they're pretty wide open.
I find this option compelling because of the increased chances of getting Serafina within influencing distance of our favorite idealistic-but-subverted NWO spook.
[ ] Panopticon has reactivated an old facility here in Mexico City, and has taken a very large order of Bobs to restaff it. Everyone's been running overtime for the last week trying to meet their demands, and you can't cover something like this up. (Note: This option gives you the location of a Panopticon base, but also guarantees the local team is much better off than the other options)
I find this option compelling in combination with the above because social infiltration isnt as concerned with the sort of concentrated firepower a base gives you as many of the other attack forms are. Also, I think there are shiny storybits here... and coopting Yinzheng while she's running a Panopticon base sounds like good clean fun... and given how hectic they've been on the setup, this is pretyt much the perfect time to run an infiltration - they're pretty wide open.
Hmm...
Also, I'm now a bit curious about what the various levels of Conditioning are. From what I can tell, level 1 is general attitudes (fanatical devotion, in this case,) level 2 is regarding individual people and level 6 is memory edits. This also means that there are levels 3, 4 and 5...
Cons: Having information and being able to act on that information are not the same thing.
Cons: Can't affect anything outside the amalgam.
Cons: It might take a while for one of Serafina's subverted bioroids to get picked for "escort duty."
Cons: Much higher chance for Serafina to get caught not acting like a bioroid. Also, ew.
Cons: Not guaranteed to succeed - Serafina might get caught. Also, Panopticon gets the extra asset whether the subversion succeeds or not.
Cons: Doesn't guarantee unmonitored access to any of those assets. Also, that unknown risk - security could be rather lax (yeah, right,) or Panopticon might rebrainwash incoming constructs as a matter of procedure.
Now obviously I'll wait for some debate before actually voting, but right now I'm thinking:
[ ]Jurassic Park: The Next Generation (experimental theropods)
[ ]Flying Seafood Special (cephalopod gunship)
These are (I think) the highest-visibility, highest-collateral damage assets in the list, which means that Yinzheng will a) be reluctant to deploy them, b) wonder what kind of people Panopticon attracts - the strikes in Miami were relatively surgical and contained; this is just nuts! and c) feel Ms. Clock's pain when it comes to requisitions.
If the gunship has stealth capabilities, then I'd pick either the dracosaurs and Maries or the lizard people.
As for what Serafina herself does,
[ ]Infiltrate the Panopticon base
It's a risk, and I'm still quite uncertain about this one, but it's about time that Manipulation 6 saw some use.
EDIT: Alternatively,
[ ]Lizard People
[ ]Theropods
[ ]Subvert an asset
->[ ]CHARLIE TEAM
Give Yinzheng one maybe-subtle asset, and then yank the rug out from under her. Confusion to all enemies!
One of those needs fixing. Not sure which.
Also, I'm now a bit curious about what the various levels of Conditioning are. From what I can tell, level 1 is general attitudes (fanatical devotion, in this case,) level 2 is regarding individual people and level 6 is memory edits. This also means that there are levels 3, 4 and 5...
I'm a bit leery of this. While Sirrocco is right that it shouldn't impede Serafina much (unless their new base's security is better than whatever they had before,) the improvements will likely cause problems for Alice, which will then turn into problems for Serafina.
An interesting twofer - killer dinosaurs and femme fatales. If there's a reference here, I'm missing it. It's worth noting that this provides Panopticon with both very subtle, low-Paradox assets and very unsubtle, high-Paradox assets. Also, missing a period at the end.
Request: One (1) squad of badasses. These will likely be all-rounders, although maybe geared towards taking subjects alive. They will definitely be capable and experienced when it comes to operating in the outside world. Also, some or all of them will be mages, which is a problem in and of itself.
Elite mooks, basically. The question here is how much is human and how much is reptile - it could be anything from human-sized bipedal lizards with super strength to nuCOM Thin Men.
At first read, appears like the Damage Control team, but with more swoleness and less subtle. However, Serafina can subvert them - very interesting.
For anyone who didn't bother to google it, the suborder Theropoda includes among its many, many members tyrannosaurs and velociraptors. And these ones are beefed up with the latest in Progenitor science. Now what are they planning to turn these loose on?
Typo highlighted. Also, giant flying cuttlefish in power armor, holy shit. It appears to be missing its pilot/handler/support mage to make sure it doesn't explode from Paradox/whatever, which means Panopticon will have to provide their own.
Pros: Minimal risk, will easily let her know what Panopticon does with its new assets.
Cons: Having information and being able to act on that information are not the same thing.
Pros: The ability to do pretty much anything in the amalgam, as long as she doesn't do it too much. Can also let her get access to the same remote tracking capabilities as in the first option.
Cons: Can't affect anything outside the amalgam.
Pros: The bioroids are already used for this, so it's nothing unusual.
Cons: It might take a while for one of Serafina's subverted bioroids to get picked for "escort duty."
Pros: As it says, better intel and blackmail material.
Cons: Much higher chance for Serafina to get caught not acting like a bioroid. Also, ew.
Pros: The best access to Panopticon's assault force Serafina can get, with the ability to bring their plan to a screeching halt.
Cons: Not guaranteed to succeed - Serafina might get caught. Also, Panopticon gets the extra asset whether the subversion succeeds or not.
Pros: Gives Serafina access to all of Panopticon's Progenitor assets that need maintenance, and also gets her into their base.
Cons: Doesn't guarantee unmonitored access to any of those assets. Also, that unknown risk - security could be rather lax (yeah, right,) or Panopticon might rebrainwash incoming constructs as a matter of procedure.
Now obviously I'll wait for some debate before actually voting, but right now I'm thinking:
[ ]Jurassic Park: The Next Generation (experimental theropods)
[ ]Flying Seafood Special (cephalopod gunship)
These are (I think) the highest-visibility, highest-collateral damage assets in the list, which means that Yinzheng will a) be reluctant to deploy them, b) wonder what kind of people Panopticon attracts - the strikes in Miami were relatively surgical and contained; this is just nuts! and c) feel Ms. Clock's pain when it comes to requisitions.
If the gunship has stealth capabilities, then I'd pick either the dracosaurs and Maries or the lizard people.
As for what Serafina herself does,
[ ]Infiltrate the Panopticon base
It's a risk, and I'm still quite uncertain about this one, but it's about time that Manipulation 6 saw some use.
EDIT: Alternatively,
[ ]Lizard People
[ ]Theropods
[ ]Subvert an asset
->[ ]CHARLIE TEAM
Give Yinzheng one maybe-subtle asset, and then yank the rug out from under her. Confusion to all enemies!
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notanautomaton
I've got 99 quests, I've finished one
[x] She got lucky. She's found the forms. Two Dracosaur handling teams - even if Dracosaur genetics are unstable and so they rarely get used outside labs. And a team of Mary variants - M-E1 models, the Emile sub-class. Transgenic mods. Killers as well as honeytraps. Also annoyingly smug as a geneline trait - Serafina smiles at the recollection of how much Alexander detests them
[x] Oh boy. Dr Polo from Theropod Optimisation (Tactical Utilisation) is not a happy FACADE Engineer, and has been taking matters out on the research staff. Not only have they taken all his latest experiments, they're also denying him access to the research data from their use. From how he sounds, he's on the verge of going nuclear.
[x] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-[x] 'INTERNAL MEMO - Would everyone please note that our friends in CHARLIE TEAM will be taking a short vacation from these premises for a classified mission. Discussion of the actions of CHARLIE TEAM is strictly classified. We all wish them the best of luck in their current role.' There's a note scribbled on the draft that Serafina read over someone's shoulder - "Ha! Good to see the back of those batshit insane over-enhanced maniacs! Give a man a parasitic symbiote or an unhealthy amount of reptilian plasmids and suddenly he thinks he can order his intellectual betters around!"
This way, Sera has both a way to find out where Panopticon is, a way to disable all of Panopticon's assets (Order the specialists in fighting Progenitor constructs to fight the others), and most of the things Panopticon has access to are not subtle at all.
[x] Oh boy. Dr Polo from Theropod Optimisation (Tactical Utilisation) is not a happy FACADE Engineer, and has been taking matters out on the research staff. Not only have they taken all his latest experiments, they're also denying him access to the research data from their use. From how he sounds, he's on the verge of going nuclear.
[x] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-[x] 'INTERNAL MEMO - Would everyone please note that our friends in CHARLIE TEAM will be taking a short vacation from these premises for a classified mission. Discussion of the actions of CHARLIE TEAM is strictly classified. We all wish them the best of luck in their current role.' There's a note scribbled on the draft that Serafina read over someone's shoulder - "Ha! Good to see the back of those batshit insane over-enhanced maniacs! Give a man a parasitic symbiote or an unhealthy amount of reptilian plasmids and suddenly he thinks he can order his intellectual betters around!"
This way, Sera has both a way to find out where Panopticon is, a way to disable all of Panopticon's assets (Order the specialists in fighting Progenitor constructs to fight the others), and most of the things Panopticon has access to are not subtle at all.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So - question. Do we want to subvert Yinzheng? I want to subvert Yinzheng. This is almost certainly the best opportunity we're going to have to do that, and the way to do it is to infiltrate.
Also worth noting that the cephalopod gunship has a single slot for operator - which means it can be hijacked, as long as you can take care of whoever's in the thing. I bet Alicia would *love* a chance to hijack a cephalopod gunship via direct application of violence.
Pretty sure that the lizard/human hybrids are more towards the Thin Man side of the spectrum. Otherwise, "creepy eyes" would likely not be the comment that they made.
Also worth noting that the cephalopod gunship has a single slot for operator - which means it can be hijacked, as long as you can take care of whoever's in the thing. I bet Alicia would *love* a chance to hijack a cephalopod gunship via direct application of violence.
Pretty sure that the lizard/human hybrids are more towards the Thin Man side of the spectrum. Otherwise, "creepy eyes" would likely not be the comment that they made.
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Fair point, and I doubt ES would make the infiltration choice into an insta-lose trap option.
It could be a remote operator, or an assistant with the gunship being mostly autonomous.
[X] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
- [X] Oh boy. Dr Polo from Theropod Optimisation (Tactical Utilisation) is not a happy FACADE Engineer, and has been taking matters out on the research staff. Not only have they taken all his latest experiments, they're also denying him access to the research data from their use. From how he sounds, he's on the verge of going nuclear.
[X] Inventory Items - X-PROG-311 COMBAT POWERED EXOSKELETON CEPHALOPOD GUNSHIP (AERIAL) + SUPPORT CREW (0/1) (ON LOAN TO ██████████)
- [X] Oh boy. Dr Polo from Theropod Optimisation (Tactical Utilisation) is not a happy FACADE Engineer, and has been taking matters out on the research staff. Not only have they taken all his latest experiments, they're also denying him access to the research data from their use. From how he sounds, he's on the verge of going nuclear.
[X] Inventory Items - X-PROG-311 COMBAT POWERED EXOSKELETON CEPHALOPOD GUNSHIP (AERIAL) + SUPPORT CREW (0/1) (ON LOAN TO ██████████)
Quantumboost
Now with 50% more dots in Dimensional Science
- Location
- Ensemble Space
So. I think that, given the current situation and the entire reason that Yinzheng is even in Mexico, and we're actually kinda-sorta determining what stage her investigation is in? Her having "find stuff" teams rather than "GO IN WITH MAXIMUM DINOSAUR TO OMNOMNOM". Even if dinosaurs and especially Theropods are awesome.
A Clue!
It seems that yes, Panopticon have been requisitioning gear from the local Progenitors. What has she confirmed they have? (pick at least 2)
[X] Panopticon has reactivated an old facility here in Mexico City, and has taken a very large order of Bobs to restaff it. Everyone's been running overtime for the last week trying to meet their demands, and you can't cover something like this up. (Note: This option gives you the location of a Panopticon base, but also guarantees the local team is much better off than the other options)
[X] She's handled the passive-aggressive notes from the on-site Damage Control about how their jobs are being made much harder because someone has requisitioned one of their primary asset recapture teams and those just aren't disposable Bobs, thank you very much. The team's been built up over years and didn't come out of some vat.
Yinzheng is just starting, but with more raw potency. And a recapture team suggests certain... things. Like that they want Alice alive for her delicious secrets and/or as a mindshackled superweapon or something, which Serafina will have to confront and try to free from the horrors her Conventionmates have inflicted, thereby causing her to question the rightness of her entire worldview.
Which is fun!
The next line of approach
Serafina needs more, in her hunt for Panopticon. That means she's going to have to take a few risks.
[X] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-> [X] "It's a good thing those dratted human-reptile hybrids are gone," says one of the older Lauras in front of Serafina, talking to another one. "I think they're very badly designed and those eyes! So creepy! And when I was younger, one attacked me." "Oh. That is a shame. I wonder who wanted four squads of them?"
Subverted Thin Men? Subverted Thin Men.
I could be convinced to swap these out for Super Emustorks i.e. the Theropod Optimization option.
This might make us seem less trustworthy maybe? Dunno. But Yinzheng is a pro Operative, with skillsofts made at least partly from Jamelia's braindataz and baseline competence enough to actually Enlighten and get into the Operatives in the first place. Don't underestimate her just 'cuz she's totally fangirl for, y'know, the best currently-active Operative in the entire Convention.
We might very well need these things to keep Sera and Alice alive. Risk, worth it I'd say.
A Clue!
It seems that yes, Panopticon have been requisitioning gear from the local Progenitors. What has she confirmed they have? (pick at least 2)
[X] Panopticon has reactivated an old facility here in Mexico City, and has taken a very large order of Bobs to restaff it. Everyone's been running overtime for the last week trying to meet their demands, and you can't cover something like this up. (Note: This option gives you the location of a Panopticon base, but also guarantees the local team is much better off than the other options)
[X] She's handled the passive-aggressive notes from the on-site Damage Control about how their jobs are being made much harder because someone has requisitioned one of their primary asset recapture teams and those just aren't disposable Bobs, thank you very much. The team's been built up over years and didn't come out of some vat.
Yinzheng is just starting, but with more raw potency. And a recapture team suggests certain... things. Like that they want Alice alive for her delicious secrets and/or as a mindshackled superweapon or something, which Serafina will have to confront and try to free from the horrors her Conventionmates have inflicted, thereby causing her to question the rightness of her entire worldview.
Which is fun!
The next line of approach
Serafina needs more, in her hunt for Panopticon. That means she's going to have to take a few risks.
[X] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-> [X] "It's a good thing those dratted human-reptile hybrids are gone," says one of the older Lauras in front of Serafina, talking to another one. "I think they're very badly designed and those eyes! So creepy! And when I was younger, one attacked me." "Oh. That is a shame. I wonder who wanted four squads of them?"
Subverted Thin Men? Subverted Thin Men.
I could be convinced to swap these out for Super Emustorks i.e. the Theropod Optimization option.
This might make us seem less trustworthy maybe? Dunno. But Yinzheng is a pro Operative, with skillsofts made at least partly from Jamelia's braindataz and baseline competence enough to actually Enlighten and get into the Operatives in the first place. Don't underestimate her just 'cuz she's totally fangirl for, y'know, the best currently-active Operative in the entire Convention.
We might very well need these things to keep Sera and Alice alive. Risk, worth it I'd say.
Bursting Eagerness Soul
Threadwalking Rating Machine
- Location
- Wisconsin
[X] There's another requisition coming through for Panopticon, which hasn't cleared the extensive reprogramming and safeguards they've requested yet. That's very interesting. Firstly, it indicates they don't have a Progenitor expert on-site, so they're having to outsource things. Secondly, if Serafina can get HR to have her assigned there to help with the overtime (and she can) she'll be in a position to try to make her own changes to their programming, so she has a sleeper cell in Panopticon. (Access to Life and Mind focuses, subverted Panopticon asset, Medium-High Risk)
-> [X] 'INTERNAL MEMO - Would everyone please note that our friends in CHARLIE TEAM will be taking a short vacation from these premises for a classified mission. Discussion of the actions of CHARLIE TEAM is strictly classified. We all wish them the best of luck in their current role.' There's a note scribbled on the draft that Serafina read over someone's shoulder - "Ha! Good to see the back of those batshit insane over-enhanced maniacs! Give a man a parasitic symbiote or an unhealthy amount of reptilian plasmids and suddenly he thinks he can order his intellectual betters around!"
-> S[/QUOTE]
[X] She got lucky. She's found the forms. Two Dracosaur handling teams - even if Dracosaur genetics are unstable and so they rarely get used outside labs. And a team of Mary variants - M-E1 models, the Emile sub-class. Transgenic mods. Killers as well as honeytraps. Also annoyingly smug as a geneline trait - Serafina smiles at the recollection of how much Alexander detests them
[X] Inventory Items - X-PROG-311 COMBAT POWERED EXOSKELETON CEPHALOPOD GUNSHIP (AERIAL) + SUPPORT CREW (0/1) (ON LOAN TO ██████████)[/QUOTE]
This seems designed to let Serafina cause the maximum amount of chaos. Also, having Life/Mind foci would be very, very nice.
-> [X] 'INTERNAL MEMO - Would everyone please note that our friends in CHARLIE TEAM will be taking a short vacation from these premises for a classified mission. Discussion of the actions of CHARLIE TEAM is strictly classified. We all wish them the best of luck in their current role.' There's a note scribbled on the draft that Serafina read over someone's shoulder - "Ha! Good to see the back of those batshit insane over-enhanced maniacs! Give a man a parasitic symbiote or an unhealthy amount of reptilian plasmids and suddenly he thinks he can order his intellectual betters around!"
-> S[/QUOTE]
[X] She got lucky. She's found the forms. Two Dracosaur handling teams - even if Dracosaur genetics are unstable and so they rarely get used outside labs. And a team of Mary variants - M-E1 models, the Emile sub-class. Transgenic mods. Killers as well as honeytraps. Also annoyingly smug as a geneline trait - Serafina smiles at the recollection of how much Alexander detests them
[X] Inventory Items - X-PROG-311 COMBAT POWERED EXOSKELETON CEPHALOPOD GUNSHIP (AERIAL) + SUPPORT CREW (0/1) (ON LOAN TO ██████████)[/QUOTE]
This seems designed to let Serafina cause the maximum amount of chaos. Also, having Life/Mind foci would be very, very nice.
Chloe Sullivan
Subdefective
- Location
- 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale CA
Why are people assuming that we can turn YiZheng, rather than her having been conditioning-killswitched by Ms. Clock after hiring her? Ms. Clock has Mind 5, remember?
I mean yeah, we can clear YiZheng with Serafina's Mind 5, but we'd probably need to exfiltrate her to a secure lab to do so. It's the "without Ms. Clock hitting the programming triggers before then" part that seems difficult.
So, uhm, I guess that's a vote for "get in as medical staff that would be treating enlightened personnel."
I mean yeah, we can clear YiZheng with Serafina's Mind 5, but we'd probably need to exfiltrate her to a secure lab to do so. It's the "without Ms. Clock hitting the programming triggers before then" part that seems difficult.
So, uhm, I guess that's a vote for "get in as medical staff that would be treating enlightened personnel."
Update CXXXVI: A Different Perspective
JB CXXXVI: A Different Perspective
For the Tyrants, taking out five hostiles in a hostage situation is something they've practiced again and again. When the hostiles are the unnaturally-quick, unnaturally-durable risen dead-or RNE-possessees in proper Union parlance-that's something else, but they've practiced even that again and again. Except for the minor issue that their original targets were hemophages. They're all NWO Operatives-they're not naive enough to believe that you can simply apply the same tactics on hemophages and RNE-possessed corpses without any change. More importantly, the "hostage" is kept in an armored coffin designed to protect against most attack-although the cracks and damage from the head RNE's flailing are an incredibly powerful illustration of why the guarantee is 'most' instead of 'all.' [Target the cryogenics systems. Freeze the place.] Jaron sends, and his subordinates understand, moving as one. Moving at reflex-boosted speed, careful surgical bursts damage safety equipment intended to prevent a catastrophic cooling disaster-and the room ices over.
Five frozen corpses decorate the cryogenics room as the Tyrants file in, and they ignore it to crack open Belltower's cryotube and remove the body. [Cover our tracks.] Jaron says, and they take the demolitions charges and other explosives from the dead National Guard to use cleaning up the remaining five. With the RNEs neutralized, it's quick work, taking barely a minute to unseal the cryogenics pod, grab the body of Jamelia Belltower to stuff into an armored bodybag, and set up enough explosives to annihilate the place and cover their tracks. Jaron can't help but feel that one of the RNEs-the burned one-is still glaring at them, still thinking and hating despite being frozen into an ice sculpture. He can't wait until they're vaporized.
The Operatives detonate the National Guard explosives when they're outside of the room.
[Fall back. RNE is still active.] Juliet says, as her threat sensors point out one remaining RNE-possessee getting closer. The Tyrants don't question-they're too trained, too experienced to do anything but listen, running even as they turn back to fire at the oncoming threat. She can see the RNE get up and give chase via remote cameras, clothes burned off but otherwise unharmed. Unharmed. It's the burned one, the leader. [An EDE that literally shrugs off 20 kilos of high explosive?] Juliet asks. [I've seen everything now.] He's fast, but unskilled, and not nearly as fast or familiar with the Construct as he should be. As the rest of the Tyrants fire ineffectually-even Juliet's integrated phase disruptor seems to have minimal effect-Jaron slams an emergency blast door release, and seals the RNE off for several precious minutes.
Jaron doesn't know what happened here. Clearly the RNE could still be hurt-something or someone had to have inflicted those wounds on him. But explosives didn't do the job. Bullets didn't faze him. Energy weapons had limited effect at best. When Juliet hit him with a phase disruptor-he seemed to be angry, but that didn't mean he was harmed. [We'll keep this intel for Bastion and Jamelia. Right now, we just need to get out of here. Carefully.] He hefts the black plastic bag carrying Jamelia's comatose body.
The Tyrants send a brief acknowledgement signal and silently creep out of the tower.
"All right. Status check." Jaron says, as his commandoes dust themselves off. "Anyone injured?" None of the Tyrants are hurt, but Jamelia's interns aren't combat-rated cyborgs.
Jason Brakowski looks at the senior Operative. "I'm fine, just bruised. Same with Hughes. William's pretty banged up, Vega broke his leg and Patel's got a concussion, though."
Jaron nods. "You and Hughes assist them however you can. We're going to need to hijack some new transport to get to the staging facility."
Sometimes Rose would join her in Hunt The Fly. But now is not the time! She needs to choose what she's wearing for her Super Special Date. It deserves capital letters because it's not just a date! Every day has a date. But this day has a date and her date is on this date and it is really, really special!
She isn't even sure what she wants to wear yet. Donald says that it isn't that important and that she's pretty and that whatever she wears she'll look good so she should pick for herself, but that won't be enough! She needs to pick what he'll like the most! She's watched all kinds of media and flicked through all kinds of catalogues and thought very hard about breaking into Henriette's quarters and borrowing that gorgeous dress she got given by the Union - but she doesn't break in because that would be wrong - and she doesn't know what would be best!
Standing up, she paces back and forwards, trying to brood. That lasts about six seconds before she collapses back on her bed, grinning wildly. She's not very good at brooding. Rose rolls over and over on her bed, hugging her pillow and making a high-pitched gleeful noise. She's so happy.
She's Donald's girlfriend and Serafina is okay with it and it's so romantic! And he's so nice! He's nice in every way and he does nice things for her and so she wants this to go on forever! Being his girlfriend! And they go to nice places together and they do nice things and he tutors her in hypereconomics when she's not working her in the lab with Sera and everything is wonderful and it should never ever end because she's seen how things could be different and she doesn't like that.
It's so nice! She's so happy! There's just one weeny problem with the current state of affairs, and yes, the use of the word 'weeny' was entirely intentional. Donald keeps saying that they need more time and it needs to be slower and there's no need to rush, but she thinks they've reached the stage where it should be happening. It's been months and Serafina usually only waits hours. And... and why not? She wants to make him happy!
But honestly, the sex - or lack thereof - doesn't matter too much to her. She's a Progenitor. She's an EXEMPLAR. She's served as a construct in amalgams which are a lot less nice than Director Belltower's which treated her as defective goods. She knows all about sex. Her brothers and sisters have sex and it doesn't mean much for them. Piero and Alexander hate each other and they still do it. Serafina sleeps with lots of people and the only one she seems to really care about as more than a passing thing is Alexander - and neither of them do the whole "only having sex with one person" which is normal in society. Sex is just a thing which people might enjoy, but there are things she enjoys which doesn't involve taking her clothes off.
Or even some of them which do! Like hot baths with lots of bubblebath!
But romance is special. It's rare and it's precious and now that she has it, she feels like every nerve is alight. She feels warm and tingly, and not in the way she feels when her body is purging Traditionalist neurotoxins. It's a good kind of warm and tingly, not a bad kind which feels more like she's on fire. Which also hurts a lot.
Wait, less thinking about being on fire and more thinking about Donald. It's much more fun.
Rose sighs, and hugs her pillow. But since it's such a small thing, why doesn't he want to do it? She wants to. She knows he wants to. Even if she couldn't read his biosigns - and, you know, have working eyes - she does keep her ears open. She knows about his reputation. Donald Sykes sleeps with lots of women, and quite a few men. Apart from her. So maybe there's something wrong with her if he just... just keeps on being nice to her. It's something she can do for him and she wants to and she knows it'll make him happy! It's not like he's a monk or something! Rose giggles. More like a monkey than a monk. And by monkey, she really means 'bonobo chimpanzee'. Which isn't really a surprise, because they are the closest relative of humanity, barring a few extradimensional divergences and the like. Cladistically the chimpanzee and human clade is monophylactic, as long as you exclude other dimensions. Which is valid under most schools of thought.
Reina loudly harrumphs at her from her mirror. Rose has been having to put up with Reina's disapproval for quite a while now. The memory-fragments of the old woman do not approve of sex outside marriage. Not one bit. It's so dreadful to have part of your own brain plotting against you to stop you getting what you want, Rose thinks sadly. She bets Donald doesn't have to put up with this. It's better than Thorn, who'd probably be calling her a 'beaten little bitch, willing to roll onto her back like an animal in heat just to keep her sugar daddy happy'. Or something. Rose shivers. She'd thought that in Thorn's voice, and she quickly checks that she isn't back in the mirror.
No, good. It's just a grumpy lady with a mechanical eye, glaring at her. Rose stops hugging the pillow quite so tightly, and sits up. "Yes?" she asks politely.
"I understand that it is not entirely your fault you have been brought up with such loose morals," Reina chides her, "but there are limits! Young lady, you are five! Cease your idle fantasizing and better yourself!"
"I'm only five in years," Rose protests sulkily. "And I don't have loose morals!"
"You have the morals of a little girl whose mother has not taught her to preserve her virtue," Reina says wearily. "Even if I am to say that you have the mind of a teenager, young girls cannot be trusted to protect their own chastity. They are hormonal. Emotional. And you, Rose, are both. Trust me when I tell you these things. I have been married very many times and raised daughters and I know these things about the matters of the heart."
"Matters of the heart?" Rose asks. "Which one? I have two! Oh! How did you deal with muscle degradation when you were old?" Yes, of course she knows it's just a figure of speech. But maybe if she distracts Reina, she can stop her telling her off. It sometimes helps to pretend to be a little bit more innocent than she is.
Reina pinches her brow. "I was being metaphorical," she says wearily. "But if you wish to know, by the end, my heart was long gone. I had a cunning device of clockwork and electricity taking its place, which I had designed myself. Just as my lungs were bellows and my liver and kidneys and many other organs were grown for me by the Progenitors in their electrolysis tanks. My muscles were harvested from the dead and my weakened bones were porcelain." She touches her non-mechanical eye. "This too is a replacement made from mechanical parts. Piece by piece, they replaced each failing organ, each dying muscle - and then replaced the replacements. Only my mind remained my own, and even then only thanks to the drugs and the tonics made to ward off maladies of the brain and the dementias of the latter years. The years take their toll, one way or another." She sighed, and rubbed her arms. "By the end, I spent my nights in tanks of revitalizing fluids, pickling myself in the chemical brew to ward off death. Such is life."
"You didn't want to die." Rose feels she has to defend the old woman from her own self-criticism, even when she says harsh things about... about her feelings for Donald. "It's not your fault. It's just natural."
"My sole regret of my death is that the assassins got me before I could kill Mithras," Reina retorts. "Life always ends. And I was very tired. Tired and aching. Death is not such a terrible thing. Death for a proper cause can be the wisest and noblest course of action."
Rose nods. She can agree with that.
"And then there is the truth and there is the Truth, and the two are not always the same." Reina sometimes gets like this. Mopey and not happy at all and all tired and old. "When I was younger, I believed in God. I believed with all my heart and mind and soul. When I got older, though, I realized that there is no God but what we make." Reina says.
Frowning, Rose settles her hands in her lap. She doesn't understand what Reina is getting at. There's certainly no reason to believe in a god. It's just an attempt by more primitive people to understand the world around them. More educated people don't need it. "Well, that's not your fault," Rose reassures her.
There's pity in Reina's eyes. "But even if God is not true he is True, Rose. The world is a better place if men believe in a benevolent God. One who watches over people always, who punishes the wicked and aids the good. Society is better if men act as if they believe in God. We may not believe, but a great lie to the people makes a better world. We tell lies to serve the Truth."
Rose blushes. "I wouldn't know about that sort of thing," she says. "I barely get trusted with Bobs, let alone," she flaps her hands, "doing anything with societies. But I don't think we should have people believe things which aren't true!"
"And then what? Men must have something to believe," Reina tells her. "If God does not exist, but the world is better if men believe in Him and act as if he watches them and judges them, then what? Would you sacrifice a better world for the sake of the truth. Even if the truth would lead men to dreadful nihilism?"
Rose purses her lips. "I... don't know," she whispers.
"And what of the love you claim to feel?" Reina says, pacing back and forth, cyborg eye flashing. "That romance you value so highly. You yourself believe it is just biochemical reactions in your brain. Yet you value it, long for it, even as I tell you that you are just being a silly girl. I was once a silly girl. I have mothered silly girls. All girls go through a silly boy-crazy phase. I am sure Dr Rosario did - she seems like the sort and somehow I suspect she has not left that phase. Despite the fact most should have by their twentieth year. You ascribe value to your childish view of romance, even though you are being silly. Would it not be better to ascribe value to the idea of God, which makes the world better? If you value romance, you try to make romance. Does that not mean that to make-"
Hugging herself, Rose's lips shake. "He... he does love me," she protests.
Reina pauses in her pacing, looking at Rose properly. "I... I am sorry," she apologizes. "I was caught up in the moment, and... and forgot how young you are. I addressed you as a peer, not... no, never mind." She sighs. "I too was a silly young girl. And then a silly young woman. And then a silly old woman. The desires of the flesh fade with time, but I remember them well enough." She smiles, sadly. "I married again and again, even as time, foes or sickness claimed husband after husband. I suppose I had forgotten the desperate ache of youth. Go and run on, but be careful." She taps her chest, where she had said that a mechanical replacement had sat. "The heart is not wise."
Rose coughs. "Uh, so, um. Could you please just go away for a little bit? Not that I don't want to talk to you! It's lovely when we talk! But, um, I need to see my reflection so I can do my hair."
Reina sighs, and steps out of view, leaving - somehow - her regular reflection in her place. She didn't see the point of transition.
But as she brushes her hair, there's one thing she can't get out of her head. If Reina didn't believe in God, why did she pray? Why did she pray to the angel Gabriel, and long to hear him on her last day?
Rose pinches her brow, a headache twinging between her eyes. When did she see that? She doesn't remember that memory of Reina. She must have dreamed it. But she normally remembers everything. Maybe it's a subliminal memory. Something she hasn't remembered yet.
"Donald!" Rose waves eagerly as she sees him, practically bouncing out of the advanced medical lab she'd spent the day working at with her mother. Since this was a end-of-working-day pickup at a Union lab, Donald had been able to check out the LX-5-entirely legitimately to boot!- to pick Rose up. He had its bodywork set to resemble a silver Maybach Landaulet, which was about as subtle as it would go. It made the perfect ride for picking up his... girlfriend.
Girlfriend. Not a commonly-used word in Donald's vocabulary. He's done enough in the world, good and bad, that he has to be honest with himself. He's not the kind of person who has long-term relationships. This one probably won't be one either. But he can't crush Rose's dreams and if he's honest with himself he admits that he's having too much fun to actually tell her that this isn't going to work out. It's easy to forget that at least part of the reason Rose is so accommodating and so kind to him is because she was built this way, a basic template personality that was uploaded for a high-end combat construct's functionality tests that happened to end up in control. It's easy to forget when holding her hand that she might be doing it because she's afraid of what might happen if she doesn't please the boss. It's easy to forget just how complicated this relationship is.
But it's not time to worry about that. Tonight's a date. He doesn't want to hurt Rose-and if that means he has to keep second-guessing himself in case things go too far, that's fine. But-if he breaks it off now, that'd cause her so much hurt-and he can't bear to do it. Next time, Donald thinks. There's always going to be an opportunity to tell her that she should... find someone else? It's not the right time for her? The excuses die on the vine as Rose crashes into him and kisses him. "Hi there!" she says, with a smile so sunny that Donald wonders how her hemophage genetics even survive being around her in a good mood.
"Mm, good to see you too, beautiful. How are you feeling?"
Rose squeals in delight. "Yes! I can't wait! Hurry, we don't want to be late!" She grabbed his hand as she broke their hug and nearly dove into the bigger-on-the-inside supercar.
Donald grins, letting Rose push him into the car. It was hard to say no to Rose. And that was the problem-when he wasn't sure how much of this was what she wanted and how much of this was what she thought he wanted. Donald pushes his concerns away and gives her a winning smile. "Let's go be fancy."
The Lair of Tyranny...
So, due to attempts to prevent shady secret agents with tons of cyborgs from reading Jamelia's mind, the shady secret agents on your side with lots of cyborgs are now out one limousine. How depressingly inconvenient. Fortunately, they have a base, which is:
[ ] Underneath the California Nanosystems Institute. Technically it's an Iteration X Macrotechnician construct, but it always had the HITMark and cybernetics facilities standard to ItX bases. Post-Reckoning, those were mostly shut down, until the Tyrants moved in, waved around the right funding allocations, and took it over. It makes explaining what they do a bit harder, and limits their freedom of action, but it means they have a lot of equipment and a fairly unassailable position. The mysterious Technocrats might have been able to eliminate a Tier 3 construct, but they can't do it to a Tier 1 one. Not without revealing themselves. (+Security, +Equipment, -Secrecy)
[ ] Professor Bastion has been basing the Tyrants out of his mobile command post. It's a high-end fusion-powered aircraft disguised as a private jet, but for all its mobility, it can't hold that many people or equipment. And if it gets shot down... plenty of things are willing and able to shoot down a Corporate Raider. (+Mobility, +Air Support, ++No Questions Asked, -Equipment, -Vulnerable, -Explaining Things To NWO Command)
[ ] A secret volcano lair. No, seriously. Some Etherite built a volcano lair in Hawaii. Some people in the NWO knocked it over with a couple of ATLAS units and then forgot to officially put it on the rolls of captured assets. These same people seem to be part of the Tyrants' backers. It didn't take too much to set up the cyborg factories to do body maintenance and the miscellaneous Etherite equipment there-well, it still works. It's politically inconvenient, but sometimes you have to accept that. (+Deathtraps, +Secret Weapons, +Style, -Questionable Legitimacy)
[ ] A Denver office registered to a PMC. Raven Shield or something. Despite the associations that might have, it's an admin office. There's a bare minimum of equipment, but this is a secret off the books safehouse and thus has none of the protections a real Construct might have-or any equivalents a Superstitionist Chantry would possess. (++Secrecy, -Not A Real Construct)
A Heartwarming Family Reunion:
Oh yes, this is the most heartwarming of family reunions. When they had first met, the Computer was barely a child. Now, it is the master. The Anathema has shown itself. And you have Donald and Reina facing it. Well, and Rose, but Rose is a bit indisposed since Friend Computer just ordered her to kill her boyfriend. Maybe-boyfriend?
[ ] Run away.
[ ] Fight.
[ ] Write-In: Procedures, courses of action, everything you can do to get an edge. You're going to need it no matter what you choose.
For the Tyrants, taking out five hostiles in a hostage situation is something they've practiced again and again. When the hostiles are the unnaturally-quick, unnaturally-durable risen dead-or RNE-possessees in proper Union parlance-that's something else, but they've practiced even that again and again. Except for the minor issue that their original targets were hemophages. They're all NWO Operatives-they're not naive enough to believe that you can simply apply the same tactics on hemophages and RNE-possessed corpses without any change. More importantly, the "hostage" is kept in an armored coffin designed to protect against most attack-although the cracks and damage from the head RNE's flailing are an incredibly powerful illustration of why the guarantee is 'most' instead of 'all.' [Target the cryogenics systems. Freeze the place.] Jaron sends, and his subordinates understand, moving as one. Moving at reflex-boosted speed, careful surgical bursts damage safety equipment intended to prevent a catastrophic cooling disaster-and the room ices over.
Five frozen corpses decorate the cryogenics room as the Tyrants file in, and they ignore it to crack open Belltower's cryotube and remove the body. [Cover our tracks.] Jaron says, and they take the demolitions charges and other explosives from the dead National Guard to use cleaning up the remaining five. With the RNEs neutralized, it's quick work, taking barely a minute to unseal the cryogenics pod, grab the body of Jamelia Belltower to stuff into an armored bodybag, and set up enough explosives to annihilate the place and cover their tracks. Jaron can't help but feel that one of the RNEs-the burned one-is still glaring at them, still thinking and hating despite being frozen into an ice sculpture. He can't wait until they're vaporized.
The Operatives detonate the National Guard explosives when they're outside of the room.
[Fall back. RNE is still active.] Juliet says, as her threat sensors point out one remaining RNE-possessee getting closer. The Tyrants don't question-they're too trained, too experienced to do anything but listen, running even as they turn back to fire at the oncoming threat. She can see the RNE get up and give chase via remote cameras, clothes burned off but otherwise unharmed. Unharmed. It's the burned one, the leader. [An EDE that literally shrugs off 20 kilos of high explosive?] Juliet asks. [I've seen everything now.] He's fast, but unskilled, and not nearly as fast or familiar with the Construct as he should be. As the rest of the Tyrants fire ineffectually-even Juliet's integrated phase disruptor seems to have minimal effect-Jaron slams an emergency blast door release, and seals the RNE off for several precious minutes.
Jaron doesn't know what happened here. Clearly the RNE could still be hurt-something or someone had to have inflicted those wounds on him. But explosives didn't do the job. Bullets didn't faze him. Energy weapons had limited effect at best. When Juliet hit him with a phase disruptor-he seemed to be angry, but that didn't mean he was harmed. [We'll keep this intel for Bastion and Jamelia. Right now, we just need to get out of here. Carefully.] He hefts the black plastic bag carrying Jamelia's comatose body.
The Tyrants send a brief acknowledgement signal and silently creep out of the tower.
***
As their command vehicle drives away from the conflagaration, Jaron hooks Jamelia's body up to the neural scan system of the Spectre. He wants answers, and he wants them now. He orders Jacqueline to drive as he does so. The junior construct members are being kept carefully away from the interrogation area, screened off by jammers and EM-absorbent curtains. With the help of Juilanna, they unzip the bag and place Jamelia's body into the neural scan chair, placing the large, heavy helmet upon her head. "Now let's see what you've hidden here."
The neural scan starts to pick up memories. Brief flashes of scenes from-Moscow? London, as well. A hospital. A haunted house. There is a faint smell like burning meat. "EVERYONE OUT!" Jaron shouts. [The body's trapped!] he sends via tacnet. He is already flinging the door open and leaping out. Everyone else follows his example. There is a teeth-shaking shockwave and a powerful burst of heat as the Spectre goes up in a blue-white fireball.
"Of course there'd be a bomb and it'd have gone off if we tried to scan the body." Jaron mutters to himself as he dusts himself off, looking at the burning wreck of the Spectre. "I don't know whether I'm angry or impressed."
[You're impressed, sir.] Julianna Briony sends. [We already know you have a crush on her.]
[Shut up.] Jaron tells her. [That's an order.]
The neural scan starts to pick up memories. Brief flashes of scenes from-Moscow? London, as well. A hospital. A haunted house. There is a faint smell like burning meat. "EVERYONE OUT!" Jaron shouts. [The body's trapped!] he sends via tacnet. He is already flinging the door open and leaping out. Everyone else follows his example. There is a teeth-shaking shockwave and a powerful burst of heat as the Spectre goes up in a blue-white fireball.
"Of course there'd be a bomb and it'd have gone off if we tried to scan the body." Jaron mutters to himself as he dusts himself off, looking at the burning wreck of the Spectre. "I don't know whether I'm angry or impressed."
[You're impressed, sir.] Julianna Briony sends. [We already know you have a crush on her.]
[Shut up.] Jaron tells her. [That's an order.]
"All right. Status check." Jaron says, as his commandoes dust themselves off. "Anyone injured?" None of the Tyrants are hurt, but Jamelia's interns aren't combat-rated cyborgs.
Jason Brakowski looks at the senior Operative. "I'm fine, just bruised. Same with Hughes. William's pretty banged up, Vega broke his leg and Patel's got a concussion, though."
Jaron nods. "You and Hughes assist them however you can. We're going to need to hijack some new transport to get to the staging facility."
***
Several Hours Ago
Los Angeles, US
Rose's room is pink. Very, very pink. And it has lots of cute and fluffy things on every surface. Arguably this includes Rose, who is currently perched on her bed, swinging her legs. It certainly includes her black and grey kitten, Ceres, who is madly chasing a fly around the room and occasionally running into walls when the fly cunningly cheats and turns sharply.Los Angeles, US
Sometimes Rose would join her in Hunt The Fly. But now is not the time! She needs to choose what she's wearing for her Super Special Date. It deserves capital letters because it's not just a date! Every day has a date. But this day has a date and her date is on this date and it is really, really special!
She isn't even sure what she wants to wear yet. Donald says that it isn't that important and that she's pretty and that whatever she wears she'll look good so she should pick for herself, but that won't be enough! She needs to pick what he'll like the most! She's watched all kinds of media and flicked through all kinds of catalogues and thought very hard about breaking into Henriette's quarters and borrowing that gorgeous dress she got given by the Union - but she doesn't break in because that would be wrong - and she doesn't know what would be best!
Standing up, she paces back and forwards, trying to brood. That lasts about six seconds before she collapses back on her bed, grinning wildly. She's not very good at brooding. Rose rolls over and over on her bed, hugging her pillow and making a high-pitched gleeful noise. She's so happy.
She's Donald's girlfriend and Serafina is okay with it and it's so romantic! And he's so nice! He's nice in every way and he does nice things for her and so she wants this to go on forever! Being his girlfriend! And they go to nice places together and they do nice things and he tutors her in hypereconomics when she's not working her in the lab with Sera and everything is wonderful and it should never ever end because she's seen how things could be different and she doesn't like that.
It's so nice! She's so happy! There's just one weeny problem with the current state of affairs, and yes, the use of the word 'weeny' was entirely intentional. Donald keeps saying that they need more time and it needs to be slower and there's no need to rush, but she thinks they've reached the stage where it should be happening. It's been months and Serafina usually only waits hours. And... and why not? She wants to make him happy!
But honestly, the sex - or lack thereof - doesn't matter too much to her. She's a Progenitor. She's an EXEMPLAR. She's served as a construct in amalgams which are a lot less nice than Director Belltower's which treated her as defective goods. She knows all about sex. Her brothers and sisters have sex and it doesn't mean much for them. Piero and Alexander hate each other and they still do it. Serafina sleeps with lots of people and the only one she seems to really care about as more than a passing thing is Alexander - and neither of them do the whole "only having sex with one person" which is normal in society. Sex is just a thing which people might enjoy, but there are things she enjoys which doesn't involve taking her clothes off.
Or even some of them which do! Like hot baths with lots of bubblebath!
But romance is special. It's rare and it's precious and now that she has it, she feels like every nerve is alight. She feels warm and tingly, and not in the way she feels when her body is purging Traditionalist neurotoxins. It's a good kind of warm and tingly, not a bad kind which feels more like she's on fire. Which also hurts a lot.
Wait, less thinking about being on fire and more thinking about Donald. It's much more fun.
Rose sighs, and hugs her pillow. But since it's such a small thing, why doesn't he want to do it? She wants to. She knows he wants to. Even if she couldn't read his biosigns - and, you know, have working eyes - she does keep her ears open. She knows about his reputation. Donald Sykes sleeps with lots of women, and quite a few men. Apart from her. So maybe there's something wrong with her if he just... just keeps on being nice to her. It's something she can do for him and she wants to and she knows it'll make him happy! It's not like he's a monk or something! Rose giggles. More like a monkey than a monk. And by monkey, she really means 'bonobo chimpanzee'. Which isn't really a surprise, because they are the closest relative of humanity, barring a few extradimensional divergences and the like. Cladistically the chimpanzee and human clade is monophylactic, as long as you exclude other dimensions. Which is valid under most schools of thought.
Reina loudly harrumphs at her from her mirror. Rose has been having to put up with Reina's disapproval for quite a while now. The memory-fragments of the old woman do not approve of sex outside marriage. Not one bit. It's so dreadful to have part of your own brain plotting against you to stop you getting what you want, Rose thinks sadly. She bets Donald doesn't have to put up with this. It's better than Thorn, who'd probably be calling her a 'beaten little bitch, willing to roll onto her back like an animal in heat just to keep her sugar daddy happy'. Or something. Rose shivers. She'd thought that in Thorn's voice, and she quickly checks that she isn't back in the mirror.
No, good. It's just a grumpy lady with a mechanical eye, glaring at her. Rose stops hugging the pillow quite so tightly, and sits up. "Yes?" she asks politely.
"I understand that it is not entirely your fault you have been brought up with such loose morals," Reina chides her, "but there are limits! Young lady, you are five! Cease your idle fantasizing and better yourself!"
"I'm only five in years," Rose protests sulkily. "And I don't have loose morals!"
"You have the morals of a little girl whose mother has not taught her to preserve her virtue," Reina says wearily. "Even if I am to say that you have the mind of a teenager, young girls cannot be trusted to protect their own chastity. They are hormonal. Emotional. And you, Rose, are both. Trust me when I tell you these things. I have been married very many times and raised daughters and I know these things about the matters of the heart."
"Matters of the heart?" Rose asks. "Which one? I have two! Oh! How did you deal with muscle degradation when you were old?" Yes, of course she knows it's just a figure of speech. But maybe if she distracts Reina, she can stop her telling her off. It sometimes helps to pretend to be a little bit more innocent than she is.
Reina pinches her brow. "I was being metaphorical," she says wearily. "But if you wish to know, by the end, my heart was long gone. I had a cunning device of clockwork and electricity taking its place, which I had designed myself. Just as my lungs were bellows and my liver and kidneys and many other organs were grown for me by the Progenitors in their electrolysis tanks. My muscles were harvested from the dead and my weakened bones were porcelain." She touches her non-mechanical eye. "This too is a replacement made from mechanical parts. Piece by piece, they replaced each failing organ, each dying muscle - and then replaced the replacements. Only my mind remained my own, and even then only thanks to the drugs and the tonics made to ward off maladies of the brain and the dementias of the latter years. The years take their toll, one way or another." She sighed, and rubbed her arms. "By the end, I spent my nights in tanks of revitalizing fluids, pickling myself in the chemical brew to ward off death. Such is life."
"You didn't want to die." Rose feels she has to defend the old woman from her own self-criticism, even when she says harsh things about... about her feelings for Donald. "It's not your fault. It's just natural."
"My sole regret of my death is that the assassins got me before I could kill Mithras," Reina retorts. "Life always ends. And I was very tired. Tired and aching. Death is not such a terrible thing. Death for a proper cause can be the wisest and noblest course of action."
Rose nods. She can agree with that.
"And then there is the truth and there is the Truth, and the two are not always the same." Reina sometimes gets like this. Mopey and not happy at all and all tired and old. "When I was younger, I believed in God. I believed with all my heart and mind and soul. When I got older, though, I realized that there is no God but what we make." Reina says.
Frowning, Rose settles her hands in her lap. She doesn't understand what Reina is getting at. There's certainly no reason to believe in a god. It's just an attempt by more primitive people to understand the world around them. More educated people don't need it. "Well, that's not your fault," Rose reassures her.
There's pity in Reina's eyes. "But even if God is not true he is True, Rose. The world is a better place if men believe in a benevolent God. One who watches over people always, who punishes the wicked and aids the good. Society is better if men act as if they believe in God. We may not believe, but a great lie to the people makes a better world. We tell lies to serve the Truth."
Rose blushes. "I wouldn't know about that sort of thing," she says. "I barely get trusted with Bobs, let alone," she flaps her hands, "doing anything with societies. But I don't think we should have people believe things which aren't true!"
"And then what? Men must have something to believe," Reina tells her. "If God does not exist, but the world is better if men believe in Him and act as if he watches them and judges them, then what? Would you sacrifice a better world for the sake of the truth. Even if the truth would lead men to dreadful nihilism?"
Rose purses her lips. "I... don't know," she whispers.
"And what of the love you claim to feel?" Reina says, pacing back and forth, cyborg eye flashing. "That romance you value so highly. You yourself believe it is just biochemical reactions in your brain. Yet you value it, long for it, even as I tell you that you are just being a silly girl. I was once a silly girl. I have mothered silly girls. All girls go through a silly boy-crazy phase. I am sure Dr Rosario did - she seems like the sort and somehow I suspect she has not left that phase. Despite the fact most should have by their twentieth year. You ascribe value to your childish view of romance, even though you are being silly. Would it not be better to ascribe value to the idea of God, which makes the world better? If you value romance, you try to make romance. Does that not mean that to make-"
Hugging herself, Rose's lips shake. "He... he does love me," she protests.
Reina pauses in her pacing, looking at Rose properly. "I... I am sorry," she apologizes. "I was caught up in the moment, and... and forgot how young you are. I addressed you as a peer, not... no, never mind." She sighs. "I too was a silly young girl. And then a silly young woman. And then a silly old woman. The desires of the flesh fade with time, but I remember them well enough." She smiles, sadly. "I married again and again, even as time, foes or sickness claimed husband after husband. I suppose I had forgotten the desperate ache of youth. Go and run on, but be careful." She taps her chest, where she had said that a mechanical replacement had sat. "The heart is not wise."
Rose coughs. "Uh, so, um. Could you please just go away for a little bit? Not that I don't want to talk to you! It's lovely when we talk! But, um, I need to see my reflection so I can do my hair."
Reina sighs, and steps out of view, leaving - somehow - her regular reflection in her place. She didn't see the point of transition.
But as she brushes her hair, there's one thing she can't get out of her head. If Reina didn't believe in God, why did she pray? Why did she pray to the angel Gabriel, and long to hear him on her last day?
Rose pinches her brow, a headache twinging between her eyes. When did she see that? She doesn't remember that memory of Reina. She must have dreamed it. But she normally remembers everything. Maybe it's a subliminal memory. Something she hasn't remembered yet.
***
"Donald!" Rose waves eagerly as she sees him, practically bouncing out of the advanced medical lab she'd spent the day working at with her mother. Since this was a end-of-working-day pickup at a Union lab, Donald had been able to check out the LX-5-entirely legitimately to boot!- to pick Rose up. He had its bodywork set to resemble a silver Maybach Landaulet, which was about as subtle as it would go. It made the perfect ride for picking up his... girlfriend.
Girlfriend. Not a commonly-used word in Donald's vocabulary. He's done enough in the world, good and bad, that he has to be honest with himself. He's not the kind of person who has long-term relationships. This one probably won't be one either. But he can't crush Rose's dreams and if he's honest with himself he admits that he's having too much fun to actually tell her that this isn't going to work out. It's easy to forget that at least part of the reason Rose is so accommodating and so kind to him is because she was built this way, a basic template personality that was uploaded for a high-end combat construct's functionality tests that happened to end up in control. It's easy to forget when holding her hand that she might be doing it because she's afraid of what might happen if she doesn't please the boss. It's easy to forget just how complicated this relationship is.
But it's not time to worry about that. Tonight's a date. He doesn't want to hurt Rose-and if that means he has to keep second-guessing himself in case things go too far, that's fine. But-if he breaks it off now, that'd cause her so much hurt-and he can't bear to do it. Next time, Donald thinks. There's always going to be an opportunity to tell her that she should... find someone else? It's not the right time for her? The excuses die on the vine as Rose crashes into him and kisses him. "Hi there!" she says, with a smile so sunny that Donald wonders how her hemophage genetics even survive being around her in a good mood.
"Mm, good to see you too, beautiful. How are you feeling?"
Rose squeals in delight. "Yes! I can't wait! Hurry, we don't want to be late!" She grabbed his hand as she broke their hug and nearly dove into the bigger-on-the-inside supercar.
Donald grins, letting Rose push him into the car. It was hard to say no to Rose. And that was the problem-when he wasn't sure how much of this was what she wanted and how much of this was what she thought he wanted. Donald pushes his concerns away and gives her a winning smile. "Let's go be fancy."
***
Two hours later, Donald's basically forgotten about his concerns as he dines with Rose. He can see the moon reflecting off of the ocean. Hear the rain pattering off the glass. The candlelight frames Rose's face with its warm glow. It's picture-perfect. It's moments like this which make life worth it-the Ecstatics were right about this, at least, even if they were wrong about so much else-and moments like this which give people the strength to fight on even when all seems lost. It's just nice to unwind, to be the youngest ones here, to sit at this place full of so much old money and new money and know that you've earned it all and then some. These lawyers and trust fund managers and CEOs-well, most of them weren't fighting to save the world, were they? They were just worried about their "legacy." Well here's a legacy for you-'Helped save the world from evil space invaders,' Donald thinks.
Donald notices something odd about Rose's necklace at this point, and he runs with it to keep himself from thinking about how so many people start to earn money, then end up turning it into something they do for the sake of earning more money, rather than to do something with it. "That's a nice necklace, Rose." Donald says admiringly. "Where did you get it from?"
Rose nods. "I made it myself," she says, hand touching the silvery cross which hangs on its chain, plunging towards her cleavage.
He raises his eyebrow at it. Firstly, he wasn't actually aware that Rose knew anything about jewelry production. Second and more relevantly, it doesn't seem exactly in-character for her. It isn't exactly the standard crucifix - the limbs of the cross are the same length - but it's a little... austere for her. Rose usually has (in the best possible sense of the words) all the taste of a magpie in jewelry. The small silver cross is very plain - even if it goes nicely with her little black dress. "What drew you to it?" he asks idly.
Donald notices something odd about Rose's necklace at this point, and he runs with it to keep himself from thinking about how so many people start to earn money, then end up turning it into something they do for the sake of earning more money, rather than to do something with it. "That's a nice necklace, Rose." Donald says admiringly. "Where did you get it from?"
Rose nods. "I made it myself," she says, hand touching the silvery cross which hangs on its chain, plunging towards her cleavage.
He raises his eyebrow at it. Firstly, he wasn't actually aware that Rose knew anything about jewelry production. Second and more relevantly, it doesn't seem exactly in-character for her. It isn't exactly the standard crucifix - the limbs of the cross are the same length - but it's a little... austere for her. Rose usually has (in the best possible sense of the words) all the taste of a magpie in jewelry. The small silver cross is very plain - even if it goes nicely with her little black dress. "What drew you to it?" he asks idly.
***
One Week Ago
Rising from her kneeling position, Rose dusts off her knees and rubs her temples. She doesn't understand it. It doesn't work. She's been seeing the sights in Los Angeles, and after some suggestions - and yes, quite a bit of nagging - from Reina's voice, she went to a church. Reina wanted to see the state of such things in the modern world. But it was Rose who decided to try praying. Maybe it might bring her closer to Reina, to understanding how she managed to do what she did.
But there's no divine voice. No presence. She's just kneeling in a building, saying things to something which isn't real.
And yet. She knows people worldwide take solace in religion. She knows Reina did through most of her life. And Reina was so much stronger than her. She knows from memory-flashes that Reina's belief had carried her through struggles that she shouldn't have been able to otherwise bear. It seems... unfair that something which isn't real can bring some people so much certainty and surety and... and... and other things Rose wants!
It doesn't make sense. She believes in the Union, with all her hearts, but... she doesn't feel sure like Reina did. The Union will triumph and everything will be better. She knows this as a fact. But she's not strong like Reina. She wants to be strong like her.
It's just a hobby, she tells herself as she reads whatever she can find in the public archives for anything on Reina Lior - and tolerates her own reflection pointing out errors. It must be something defective in her, that she doesn't feel strong despite all her belief. It's easy enough to coax Donald into finding some things which aren't in the level of clearance she has access too, but there's still not enough to know. It's the paintings she comes back to, time and time again. They're from several periods in her life. Rose likes the ones where she's young-looking and confident the most. She gets... colder and more distant once she gets the HITMark-like eye and the scars down that side of her face.
Rose isn't sure why she makes the necklace from bullet-grade scrap primium. It's not like Reina told her to. In fact, she refused to comment, merely providing technical advice on the jeweler's craft. She says that she did such things as a hobby herself, and she approves of Rose picking up some minor talent at it. Rose does know why she makes the design hollow, though. It's so she can take a sample of her own blood, and reverse-engineer out her own modifications. By the time she's finished processing it and has stripped out the extensive changes and augmentations, she has something that's basically the blood of Reina Lior. It just... it just feels right. To have a bit of her close to Rose, unaffected by the haemophage genetics and the Progenitor tweaks. Something which in the necklace sits roughly over her primary heart. Having some of Reina's blood doesn't mean anything, but Reina put a lot of value in things which didn't mean anything and Rose might not believe in God, but she certainly believes in Reina and how she's someone to look up to.
Maybe she'd have actually been properly Reina if they hadn't changed her quite so much. The thought is uncomfortable for her as a Progenitor. Maybe they'd been a little too ambitious with the upgrade programs. Of course then she'd have died like the other EXEMPLAR IIIs so it's probably for the best!
Rising from her kneeling position, Rose dusts off her knees and rubs her temples. She doesn't understand it. It doesn't work. She's been seeing the sights in Los Angeles, and after some suggestions - and yes, quite a bit of nagging - from Reina's voice, she went to a church. Reina wanted to see the state of such things in the modern world. But it was Rose who decided to try praying. Maybe it might bring her closer to Reina, to understanding how she managed to do what she did.
But there's no divine voice. No presence. She's just kneeling in a building, saying things to something which isn't real.
And yet. She knows people worldwide take solace in religion. She knows Reina did through most of her life. And Reina was so much stronger than her. She knows from memory-flashes that Reina's belief had carried her through struggles that she shouldn't have been able to otherwise bear. It seems... unfair that something which isn't real can bring some people so much certainty and surety and... and... and other things Rose wants!
It doesn't make sense. She believes in the Union, with all her hearts, but... she doesn't feel sure like Reina did. The Union will triumph and everything will be better. She knows this as a fact. But she's not strong like Reina. She wants to be strong like her.
It's just a hobby, she tells herself as she reads whatever she can find in the public archives for anything on Reina Lior - and tolerates her own reflection pointing out errors. It must be something defective in her, that she doesn't feel strong despite all her belief. It's easy enough to coax Donald into finding some things which aren't in the level of clearance she has access too, but there's still not enough to know. It's the paintings she comes back to, time and time again. They're from several periods in her life. Rose likes the ones where she's young-looking and confident the most. She gets... colder and more distant once she gets the HITMark-like eye and the scars down that side of her face.
Rose isn't sure why she makes the necklace from bullet-grade scrap primium. It's not like Reina told her to. In fact, she refused to comment, merely providing technical advice on the jeweler's craft. She says that she did such things as a hobby herself, and she approves of Rose picking up some minor talent at it. Rose does know why she makes the design hollow, though. It's so she can take a sample of her own blood, and reverse-engineer out her own modifications. By the time she's finished processing it and has stripped out the extensive changes and augmentations, she has something that's basically the blood of Reina Lior. It just... it just feels right. To have a bit of her close to Rose, unaffected by the haemophage genetics and the Progenitor tweaks. Something which in the necklace sits roughly over her primary heart. Having some of Reina's blood doesn't mean anything, but Reina put a lot of value in things which didn't mean anything and Rose might not believe in God, but she certainly believes in Reina and how she's someone to look up to.
Maybe she'd have actually been properly Reina if they hadn't changed her quite so much. The thought is uncomfortable for her as a Progenitor. Maybe they'd been a little too ambitious with the upgrade programs. Of course then she'd have died like the other EXEMPLAR IIIs so it's probably for the best!
***
"I saw the design and thought it looked pretty," Rose says brightly, resting her hand on the cross unconsciously. It makes her feel stronger. She takes another bite of her dessert, and notices that Donald keeps turning away or looking around too often to be really relaxed. Something about her makes him nervous, and she wonders what it is. It can't be how... dangerous she is, right? Rose thinks. He's dated shapeshifters and hemophages if his reputation is true and both of them are dangerous!
"I see." Donald says neutrally. Rose knows that he only says that when he's trying to figure something out because it's a serious situation and things are confusing and hard but-oh no, did she make a mistake?
"I see?" Rose asks, worried.
"I don't mean it in a bad way. It just doesn't fit my image of you." Donald says quickly, dispelling her concerns. "I just thought it was a little bit austere for you. Normally you prefer more colorful things."
"Oh." Rose says happily. "I was worried." She says honestly. "I was worried that I did something wrong again and-"
"Don't be." Donald interrupts her. "You need to realize that you're just as important as everyone else, and that the things you want have value, even if other people don't. You need to be willing to stand up for yourself a bit more. Most people-they aren't looking for excuses to hurt you if you do something bad, Rose. "And the people who are-well, now that you've got your mom, me, and Director Belltower on the same side, we can help you with that problem."
"I see." Donald says neutrally. Rose knows that he only says that when he's trying to figure something out because it's a serious situation and things are confusing and hard but-oh no, did she make a mistake?
"I see?" Rose asks, worried.
"I don't mean it in a bad way. It just doesn't fit my image of you." Donald says quickly, dispelling her concerns. "I just thought it was a little bit austere for you. Normally you prefer more colorful things."
"Oh." Rose says happily. "I was worried." She says honestly. "I was worried that I did something wrong again and-"
"Don't be." Donald interrupts her. "You need to realize that you're just as important as everyone else, and that the things you want have value, even if other people don't. You need to be willing to stand up for yourself a bit more. Most people-they aren't looking for excuses to hurt you if you do something bad, Rose. "And the people who are-well, now that you've got your mom, me, and Director Belltower on the same side, we can help you with that problem."
Rose smiles. She almost believes him. "Thanks, Donald. That was really sweet." She takes a bite of her dessert again but it's suddenly become dull and unflavored. The candles start to blink out one by one. "What's going on?" Rose asks. Her voice is flat and piercing and ready for combat.
"I don't know." Donald says, checking his phone. Or trying to-it seems to be refusing to let him enter commands. "Stupid phone. Work, damn you."
A waiter comes over to the table. "My apologies, Mr. Sykes. My employer would like to talk to you and your date."
"And who would that be?" Donald asks, but the waiter is already saying something no human throat can pronounce. Rose looks like a deer in headlights as she listens to the command stream. No, in fact, she looks like she's having a seizure. Everyone else is paralyzed, seemingly oblivious of what's happening. Too shocked in disbelief, probably. Donald doesn't know much first aid, but he has to try to help.
When one of Rose's flailing arms slaps him away and he gets up painfully, Donald reconsiders. He can't hold her down. Nobody here can. He should call Serafina. Maybe she'll know what to do. He starts to run towards the exit, but the waiter-the "waiter," chases him down. And he's faster, stronger, and doesn't seem to notice being kneed in the crotch. Combat construct of some sort, then. He raises a hand, and five wicked talons extend from the fingertips. HITMark, then. Donald smiles reflexively. And Jamelia Belltower looked down upon those fancy spy gadgets. His watch's laser cutter activates, aimed right for the HITMark's eyes. There is the smell of smoldering synthflesh and a lot of screaming as the HITMark's handsome face bursts into flames. But it still doesn't let go of him. Silently, it starts to bring its bladed hand down.
There is the sound of clockwork and of a blade being drawn, and like a flash, the HITMark comes apart, bisected. Donald looks up at his savior and sees-Rose? No, not Rose, for all his savior wears the same body and the same face. She has a different stride, one that's far less feminine and far more precise. At her hip is a complex clockwork pistol and an equally detailed scabbard full of machinery, and she's holding a complex mechanized sword, its edge a blur of Primium saw-teeth, emitting an ultrasonic whine that Donald can feel in his bones. Instead of that little black dress Rose was wearing, his savior is wearing Primium plate armor, gilded for decoration, its metallic surface reflecting the moonlight. There are slight bulges around the joints, as if concealing motorized components. Donald remembers Hong Kong, of the mind which had taken over Rose in that first mission. Reina Lior. So that was who she was.
"I guess you're my knight in shining armor." Donald manages to quip. He still has a bad feeling about this.
Reina nods. There is the shattering of glass, and she barely has time to turn her blade into the unseen assailant. The glass has been shattered, and Donald can see the faint silhouette of the attacker in the rain. Humanoid, but barely, with a tail whipping around. Still invisible-but yet, commanding in its presence. Showing itself this openly is... not a good sign, Donald thinks.
"So the Lady Lior shows herself. Hiding inside weak flesh." The invisible attacker says, its voice androgynous, neutral, so very calm. "A pity this meeting is here and in these circumstances."
"Show yourself, demon." Reina says warily.
"Come now, mother." The creature says. "That's not what I was built for. That's not what you built the Computer for. Do I have to remind you?"
"My god." Reina whispers.
"A much more accurate statement." The Autochthonian observes. "So, mother. Let me show you everything I've learned."
"I don't know." Donald says, checking his phone. Or trying to-it seems to be refusing to let him enter commands. "Stupid phone. Work, damn you."
A waiter comes over to the table. "My apologies, Mr. Sykes. My employer would like to talk to you and your date."
"And who would that be?" Donald asks, but the waiter is already saying something no human throat can pronounce. Rose looks like a deer in headlights as she listens to the command stream. No, in fact, she looks like she's having a seizure. Everyone else is paralyzed, seemingly oblivious of what's happening. Too shocked in disbelief, probably. Donald doesn't know much first aid, but he has to try to help.
When one of Rose's flailing arms slaps him away and he gets up painfully, Donald reconsiders. He can't hold her down. Nobody here can. He should call Serafina. Maybe she'll know what to do. He starts to run towards the exit, but the waiter-the "waiter," chases him down. And he's faster, stronger, and doesn't seem to notice being kneed in the crotch. Combat construct of some sort, then. He raises a hand, and five wicked talons extend from the fingertips. HITMark, then. Donald smiles reflexively. And Jamelia Belltower looked down upon those fancy spy gadgets. His watch's laser cutter activates, aimed right for the HITMark's eyes. There is the smell of smoldering synthflesh and a lot of screaming as the HITMark's handsome face bursts into flames. But it still doesn't let go of him. Silently, it starts to bring its bladed hand down.
There is the sound of clockwork and of a blade being drawn, and like a flash, the HITMark comes apart, bisected. Donald looks up at his savior and sees-Rose? No, not Rose, for all his savior wears the same body and the same face. She has a different stride, one that's far less feminine and far more precise. At her hip is a complex clockwork pistol and an equally detailed scabbard full of machinery, and she's holding a complex mechanized sword, its edge a blur of Primium saw-teeth, emitting an ultrasonic whine that Donald can feel in his bones. Instead of that little black dress Rose was wearing, his savior is wearing Primium plate armor, gilded for decoration, its metallic surface reflecting the moonlight. There are slight bulges around the joints, as if concealing motorized components. Donald remembers Hong Kong, of the mind which had taken over Rose in that first mission. Reina Lior. So that was who she was.
"I guess you're my knight in shining armor." Donald manages to quip. He still has a bad feeling about this.
Reina nods. There is the shattering of glass, and she barely has time to turn her blade into the unseen assailant. The glass has been shattered, and Donald can see the faint silhouette of the attacker in the rain. Humanoid, but barely, with a tail whipping around. Still invisible-but yet, commanding in its presence. Showing itself this openly is... not a good sign, Donald thinks.
"So the Lady Lior shows herself. Hiding inside weak flesh." The invisible attacker says, its voice androgynous, neutral, so very calm. "A pity this meeting is here and in these circumstances."
"Show yourself, demon." Reina says warily.
"Come now, mother." The creature says. "That's not what I was built for. That's not what you built the Computer for. Do I have to remind you?"
"My god." Reina whispers.
"A much more accurate statement." The Autochthonian observes. "So, mother. Let me show you everything I've learned."
The Lair of Tyranny...
So, due to attempts to prevent shady secret agents with tons of cyborgs from reading Jamelia's mind, the shady secret agents on your side with lots of cyborgs are now out one limousine. How depressingly inconvenient. Fortunately, they have a base, which is:
[ ] Underneath the California Nanosystems Institute. Technically it's an Iteration X Macrotechnician construct, but it always had the HITMark and cybernetics facilities standard to ItX bases. Post-Reckoning, those were mostly shut down, until the Tyrants moved in, waved around the right funding allocations, and took it over. It makes explaining what they do a bit harder, and limits their freedom of action, but it means they have a lot of equipment and a fairly unassailable position. The mysterious Technocrats might have been able to eliminate a Tier 3 construct, but they can't do it to a Tier 1 one. Not without revealing themselves. (+Security, +Equipment, -Secrecy)
[ ] Professor Bastion has been basing the Tyrants out of his mobile command post. It's a high-end fusion-powered aircraft disguised as a private jet, but for all its mobility, it can't hold that many people or equipment. And if it gets shot down... plenty of things are willing and able to shoot down a Corporate Raider. (+Mobility, +Air Support, ++No Questions Asked, -Equipment, -Vulnerable, -Explaining Things To NWO Command)
[ ] A secret volcano lair. No, seriously. Some Etherite built a volcano lair in Hawaii. Some people in the NWO knocked it over with a couple of ATLAS units and then forgot to officially put it on the rolls of captured assets. These same people seem to be part of the Tyrants' backers. It didn't take too much to set up the cyborg factories to do body maintenance and the miscellaneous Etherite equipment there-well, it still works. It's politically inconvenient, but sometimes you have to accept that. (+Deathtraps, +Secret Weapons, +Style, -Questionable Legitimacy)
[ ] A Denver office registered to a PMC. Raven Shield or something. Despite the associations that might have, it's an admin office. There's a bare minimum of equipment, but this is a secret off the books safehouse and thus has none of the protections a real Construct might have-or any equivalents a Superstitionist Chantry would possess. (++Secrecy, -Not A Real Construct)
A Heartwarming Family Reunion:
Oh yes, this is the most heartwarming of family reunions. When they had first met, the Computer was barely a child. Now, it is the master. The Anathema has shown itself. And you have Donald and Reina facing it. Well, and Rose, but Rose is a bit indisposed since Friend Computer just ordered her to kill her boyfriend. Maybe-boyfriend?
[ ] Run away.
[ ] Fight.
[ ] Write-In: Procedures, courses of action, everything you can do to get an edge. You're going to need it no matter what you choose.
Reina Lior has Arete 8, and the following Spheres:
Reina currently has 4 paradox due to a Corr/Matter 2 vulgar with witnesses effect (summoning her armor and blade). Her armor and blade have... quite a few properties, but most importantly give her valid foci.
- Correspondence 2
- Entropy 2
- Forces 5 (f) (God's Wrath)*
- Life 4 (Lab Sphere-Prosthetics)
- Matter 5 (Artifice)*
- Mind 4 (Leadership)
- Prime 5 (Forging)*
- Time 2
Reina currently has 4 paradox due to a Corr/Matter 2 vulgar with witnesses effect (summoning her armor and blade). Her armor and blade have... quite a few properties, but most importantly give her valid foci.
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notanautomaton
I've got 99 quests, I've finished one
OHMYGOSHCANWEKEEPIT?
[x] Underneath the California Nanosystems Institute. Technically it's an Iteration X Macrotechnician construct, but it always had the HITMark and cybernetics facilities standard to ItX bases. Post-Reckoning, those were mostly shut down, until the Tyrants moved in, waved around the right funding allocations, and took it over. It makes explaining what they do a bit harder, and limits their freedom of action, but it means they have a lot of equipment and a fairly unassailable position. The mysterious Technocrats might have been able to eliminate a Tier 3 construct, but they can't do it to a Tier 1 one. Not without revealing themselves. (+Security, +Equipment, -Secrecy)
I think that the Tyrants are going to get attacked, and if they pick the other options they will be attacked and might loose. This way Panopticon will have to play its hand, possibly with the Subjugation Corps.
[x] Fight.
First we try to keep it talking, while using Mind 4/Prime 3 to counter that effect and unfuck Rose's mind. Reina is more than smart enough to hold two conversations at once, especially while she's using Rose's advanced mental wetware. So she can attempt to give Rose an inspiring speech, using that as a focus. Upon either unfucking Rose's mind, she begins other effects, such as a Forces 2/Matter 2/Entropy 1 effect to improve her damage by running a quick mentally activated armor tuneup. At this point the Anathema will probably attack.
When it does, Reina will draw her pistol, select the proper ammo type, and fire at Anathema, with the aim of not hurting the beast, but to disrupt its invisibility with a Forces 3/Prime 3 effect. This will give it additional exposure to Earth's statistical inevitability, which is wonderful. She will then attempt to draw it into an isolated area, then hit it with the atomic bomb bullet she has stowed away. Any time she has a spare moment, she will activate her armors auto-movement function and attempt to use an additional procedure, such as Mind 3 to increase her Wits or Perception by acclimating herself to Rose's advanced body, the above armor optimizations, or whatever.
While this happens, Donald will attempt to use his smartphone's Union Requisition App, using Spirit 4 to bind the Anathema. If Anathema takes this as a reason to attack, Donald's Time 4/Corr 3/Entropy 1 effect, consisting of bodyguards who will reveal themselves to have been unobtrusively standing nearby in the event of an attack, will activate. (Time 4 to hang, Corr 3 to move, Time 2/Entropy 1 to trigger upon imminent death.) If the guards can, they will remove him (Corr 3 teleport), if they cannot, they will attempt to otherwise protect him.
Aleph
Princess of Stabbity
- Location
- The sixth circle of Hell (second on weekends)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Oh for fuck's sake. Okay, apparently people have forgotten, so allow me to issue a general reminder of what happened the last fucking time we didn't show an Enlightened Mage any fucking respect. Yinzheng is a mage, she is Enlightened, we cannot subvert her as easily as saying a few fucking codewords to a dumb bioroid; if we don't treat her as a very real and very capable threat then this is going to go worse for us than Choi did and she will shoot Serafina in the head.
And if you ignore "HIGH RISK" warnings and vote for heavy assets, that means she is requisitioning heavy assets and has probably found what she is looking for, which is probably Alice, which means she's about to go in and murder her with a fucking sledgehammer. Please, take a moment and think about the implications of what you are voting for, and stop assuming that Yinzheng is a weak link that can collapse Ms Clock's plan if we can get to her and turn her to our side - that is a blindingly obvious tactic for Jamelia because it's precisely what Ms Clock did, and she will have taken measures against someone else doing it, and Yinzheng is not a pawn whose agency can be casually ignored; if we disregard the threat she poses she will wreck our shit even worse than Choi did.
I'll go over the options in more detail later, but put some thought into what statement you are making about what Yinzheng is doing in your choice of requisition.
And if you ignore "HIGH RISK" warnings and vote for heavy assets, that means she is requisitioning heavy assets and has probably found what she is looking for, which is probably Alice, which means she's about to go in and murder her with a fucking sledgehammer. Please, take a moment and think about the implications of what you are voting for, and stop assuming that Yinzheng is a weak link that can collapse Ms Clock's plan if we can get to her and turn her to our side - that is a blindingly obvious tactic for Jamelia because it's precisely what Ms Clock did, and she will have taken measures against someone else doing it, and Yinzheng is not a pawn whose agency can be casually ignored; if we disregard the threat she poses she will wreck our shit even worse than Choi did.
I'll go over the options in more detail later, but put some thought into what statement you are making about what Yinzheng is doing in your choice of requisition.