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[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Retreat to a cellar or a more fortified position nearby.
-[X] Cobble together whatever shielding you can think of from any technology you find lying around and lay under it; esoteric protections may be useful to incorporate if the bombs are "special".
 
[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Help If there is a way to do so that won't put us in immediate danger of being captured.
 
tygerbright said:
Huh, Dragon was listed as a member of the local protectorate and Miss Milita is the local leader rather than Armsmaster. These feel like an important details to the AU.
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Huh; didn't notice that. I wonder if Dragon still tele-commuting then from somewhere in Canada? Or do they know that she's an AI?

tygerbright said:
I get the feeling that either the Stranger is Andrew Richter with Retrograde Amnesia or Armsmaster with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
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It's probably not either of them; their tinkering specialties don't seem like they would second-trigger into anything resembling security. Also, Armsmaster is the one who had a tracker on the stranger.
 
php30010 said:
It's probably not either of them; their tinkering specialties don't seem like they would second-trigger into anything resembling security. Also, Armsmaster is the one who had a tracker on the stranger.
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The theme is a bit off but second triggers are supposed to have fairly great effects on the scope of a power. Also The Stranger being Armsmaster's other personality doesn't prevent him from putting trackers on himself.
 
tygerbright said:
The theme is a bit off but second triggers are supposed to have fairly great effects on the scope of a power. Also The Stranger being Armsmaster's other personality doesn't prevent him from putting trackers on himself.
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Still, the power generally tends to be recognizably related to the original power, iirc. Also, New Wave doesn't recognize the stranger, which would be odd if he was Armsmaster. I suppose they could just not recognize him in his civilian identity, but I don't think it's likely.

UnwelcomeStorm said:
The local branch of the PRT was led by someone named Director Piggot, while the Protectorate team was led by a parahuman named Miss Militia, with another cape called Armsmaster listed as her second in command.
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UnwelcomeStorm said:
"Yeah, I know… it's weird. I asked mom and dad if they knew who the guy is, and they said they didn't. Said Miss Militia called her personally, and like, she's way too serious to do that on a whim, y'know?"
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[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Retreat to a cellar or a more fortified position nearby.
-[X] Cobble together whatever shielding you can think of from any technology you find lying around and lay under it; esoteric protections may be useful to incorporate if the bombs are "special".
 
I would just like to point out that plan 'going into the basement and hiding under a blanket' seems like the kind of thing that will fail or have negative consequences as it immediately slams into the big brick wall known as claustrophobia.
 
Mr Apollo said:
I would just like to point out that plan 'going into the basement and hiding under a blanket' seems like the kind of thing that will fail or have negative consequences as it immediately slams into the big brick wall known as claustrophobia.
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... oops; I completely forgot about that. Still, we seemed to be pretty good about things in the closed-up-shop; though I guess research was distracting enough. Maybe we can distract ourselves with tinkering while staying on the first floor? We could reinforce some exit(s) to make sure we have an escape route if the bombing collapses part of the building on us.

I guess I'll change my vote to:

[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Cobble together whatever shielding you can think of from any technology you find lying around and use it to reinforce the walls of as enclosed a space we can be comfortable in; esoteric protections may be useful to incorporate if the bombs are "special". Reinforcing the ceiling would be good if we have the time/resources.
-[X] Reinforce the closest exit so we can escape if the bombing damages the building.
 
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[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Cobble together whatever shielding you can think of from any technology you find lying around and use it to reinforce the walls of as enclosed a space we can be comfortable in; esoteric protections may be useful to incorporate if the bombs are "special". Reinforcing the ceiling would be good if we have the time/resources.
-[X] Reinforce the closest exit so we canescape if the bombing damages the building.

Is no one going to comment how there is someone trying to talk to us from narrator's text?
 
Yokmakarok said:
Is no one going to comment how there is someone trying to talk to us from narrator's text?
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I dunno what's going on there; we could just be hearing voices? Or maybe we're actually in a coma? Or a local cape has the ability to contact us telepathically. Or someone has found us and is trying to ask if we're ok. Or we could actually be a precog like Roulette and currently be trapped in a vision of being a security tinker.
 
php30010 said:
Still, the power generally tends to be recognizably related to the original power, iirc. Also, New Wave doesn't recognize the stranger, which would be odd if he was Armsmaster. I suppose they could just not recognize him in his civilian identity, but I don't think it's likely.
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I don't think anyone in canon New Wave knows Armsmaster's uncovered face except Panacea, and this ain't canon.

I strongly believe (possibly just because it'd be awesome) that the body is Armsmaster and this is some kind of alternative personality, either tinker/power created or just a thing he has to deal with, and that the reason the Stranger feels dread about Armsy is because Armsy was attempting to rid himself of the alternative personality - or perhaps is trying to *develop* a new personality.

Also, this fits with the title of the quest - the personality would be Armsmaster in 'Safe Mode' or somesuch.

Anyways, we = Armsmaster, most def.

Also, the 'can you hear me' is probably the second (primary?) personality trying to communicate with the Stranger.

Also, we're a white male between the ages of 20 and 40 who had facial hair, is a tinker, and was probably in Master/Stranger quarantine when we broke out.
 
LangyMD said:
Anyways, we = Armsmaster, most def.
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The theory's really growing on me; I like the title reference. Some things still throw me off though.

Besides the whole "different tinker specialization", I don't think Armsmaster is a Noctis cape.

UnwelcomeStorm said:
He was fatigued, feeling worn down from running and worrying, but he didn't feel sleepy at all. It was odd that it was such an easy distinction to make. Didn't he need to sleep?
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UnwelcomeStorm said:
The Stranger woke up.

If it could be called waking up, even. He didn't rouse from sleep or anything, just all of a sudden his eyes were open and he was there.
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Then again, I wouldn't put it past Armsmaster to modify himself to function well on little to no sleep. That, or his fear/paranoia is letting him continue to run on adrenaline.

Also, why is Alexandria involved and legitimately concerned? While I could see the chief director needing to know if the second-in-command of Brockton Bay's Protectorate and a powerful cape is missing on an episode, I dunno why she's worried enough to nearly crush her phone and act on autopilot?

UnwelcomeStorm said:
What she said caught Costa-Brown's full attention, and put the phone in danger of being reduced to slivers in her grip. She leaned forward over her desk on autopilot and replied in a tight voice, "What do you mean, you lost him?"
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I guess Armsmaster being discovered on one of his episodes would be a blow to the Protectorate's reputation. Hmm.
 
[X] Check on the fire. See if there's anything you can do to help.
-[X] If the puts your hiding spot in danger, move to somewhere else. Preferably someplace with power and wifi.
-[X] Learn what you can about what's going on.
-[X] Watch out for more bombs.

Missed the first view votes, but can at least try to influence the stranger's personality a bit more in this direction.
 
Crack-ish theory: the Stranger is an experimental AI in a semi-organic android-esque body, created by Dragon (or even Richter).

If he was created by Richter, he could be in Brockton Bay so that his "sister" can look after him and try to treat whatever's wrong with him. Alternatively, he's Dragon and Armsmaster's android-child suffering from some bugs/mental ailment.

He was booted into "safe mode" when the quest started to work out some bugs in his programming, with his memory cleared and only essential programs retained in an attempt to fix his problems.

Alexandria's interested because the development of AIs could potentially be useful against Scion (or just as easily-produced soldiers to bulk up cape numbers/prevent other cape deaths).

The project is classified because AI research and the creation of artificial life is controversial, and they don't want to risk villains from stealing their prototype.
 
EDIT: Changing my vote, putting it in a new post.

EDIT: That's a good theory, PHP. It's basically what I think, except with the addition that I think the body is Armsmaster. Basically, the Stranger is like 'Mayhem' from the fanfic 'H+ Mayhem' - an AI using its creator's body as a puppet, and who uses the body's brain to run its operating system.

I also don't think an alternate personality would necessitate having the same Tinker specialty, and the AI thing would explain the lack of need for sleep.

I also doubt that his face has been sent to everyone around - probably just trusted, local associates. Coil might still wind up with the pic, but it's not guaranteed. I don't even know if rank-and-file PRT troopers would be given it.
 
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[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Help If there is a way to do so that won't put us in immediate danger of being captured.

In light of these various theories, I really like the idea that The Stranger would still stop and help people even while trying to escape the PRT.
 
I like the idea of breaking into dispatch, but I think he needs to pay attention to his immediate surroundings a bit, too.

[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Check the immediate vicinity for danger first, and if there is any, find a new place to shelter
-[X] Help If there is a way to do so that won't put us in immediate danger of being captured.
 
Vote Results
The Stranger wants to help if possible.
The Stranger is too claustrophobic to seek better shelter.
The Stranger hasn't noticed the voice.




Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by UnwelcomeStorm on May 24, 2018 at 2:53 PM, finished with 92 posts and 13 votes.
  • [X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
    -[X] Help If there is a way to do so that won't put us in immediate danger of being captured.
    [X] Check on the fire. See if there's anything you can do to help.
    -[X] If the puts your hiding spot in danger, move to somewhere else. Preferably someplace with power and wifi.
    -[X] Learn what you can about what's going on.
    -[X] Watch out for more bombs.
    [X] Check on the fire. If it's far enough away that you don't have to worry about it spreading to your abandoned store. If it puts you in danger, flee to somewhere else. Preferably someplace with power and wifi.
    -[X] Learn what you can about what's going on.
    -[X] Watch out for more bombs.
    [X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
    -[X] Retreat to a cellar or a more fortified position nearby.
    -[X] Cobble together whatever shielding you can think of from any technology you find lying around and lay under it; esoteric protections may be useful to incorporate if the bombs are "special".
    [X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
    -[X] Cobble together whatever shielding you can think of from any technology you find lying around and use it to reinforce the walls of as enclosed a space we can be comfortable in; esoteric protections may be useful to incorporate if the bombs are "special". Reinforcing the ceiling would be good if we have the time/resources.
    -[X] Reinforce the closest exit so we can escape if the bombing damages the building.
    [X] Pick up as much of your gear as you can and run. Once you're safe(ish), start working on a way to shut down the bombs. Maybe a virus that stops them from receiving detonation commands from any source, internal and external?
    -[X] Find out if any of the local gangs have their money managed electronically. They certainly don't deserve it...
    [X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
    -[X] Check the immediate vicinity for danger first, and if there is any, find a new place to shelter
    -[X] Help If there is a way to do so that won't put us in immediate danger of being captured.
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[X] Try to break into emergency dispatch to figure out what is going on.
-[X] Help If there is a way to do so that won't put us in immediate danger of being captured.
 
UnwelcomeStorm, can it be that we didn't notice it rather than that we're not acknowledging it? Those can mean some quite different things when it comes to defining a character.
 
Anaja said:
, can it be that we didn't notice it rather than that we're not acknowledging it? Those can mean some quite different things when it comes to defining a character.
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That is fair, and probably closer to my original meaning, though the Stranger has responded to the voice before; I used acknowledged because he's heard but bit not really cottoned on to it not being his own inner monologue.
 
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