The Practice War [Complete]

[Snowfire]

It happens towards the end of the year. You're in your office reading through some of the latest reports on the space elevator project, it's a relatively quiet day that you wish could go a bit faster. Then the door snaps open and Mary comes flying through it, her eyes wide as she comes to a halt. You come to your feet quickly, the telltale signs of having found something big all over your friend's face. But it's not just excitement on her face, there's shock too.

"What is it, Mary?" You say, stepping around the desk towards her. She takes a breath, the door hissing shut.

"Turn on the Mars broadcast Amanda," she gasps out. "You need to see this."

"See what?" Turning back to the desk, you punch up the lagless broadcast feed. One advantage to having a Minister out there was that you had to be able to speak to them without transmission delay, and it had enough bandwidth to be used for a broadcast as well. Your thoughts whirl as you do so. What's happened? Did Vega and the others find something they could work with? Or was it bad news. The Shiplords had hit Mars first, maybe they had left something behind. Maybe they were being attacked, and you with no real military to protect them! Maybe – the steadily mounting storm of thoughts cuts off as the screen springs to life.

"What the…" You stare, and part of you notices Mary doing the same, because what's on the display in front of you is like nothing you've ever seen. A shimmering, multi-coloured light pours from the screen, filling it entirely before the image begins to zoom out. "Mary, what is that?"

"I have no idea." She says, shaking her head. "Listen!" You turn your attention back to the screen,

"…live above the ruins of Skylark," not many would have caught Mary's twitch at the mention of the name, but you do, and you move a bit closer, resting a hand on her shoulder, "where one of the largest Practice Trances in recorded history is currently occurring." The image zooms out further, and a helpful graphic comes up over the field of rippling light, showing where the ruins are within it. Several smaller circles come up on the display, showing the last known locations of the construction groups when the field cut off their signals.

"She did it?" You say softly, almost unbelieving. You knew that Vega's ability was real, and her Focus had proven unexpectedly useful in the reconstruction project, but something like this? Your eyes caught movement below the field, something shining in the sunlight and the camera quickly zoomed in on it. It was a shining tower of metal, and you could see a few places where material was still flowing back into place to restore it. Mary gasps.

"Amanda," you continue to stare, then jerk back as she speaks again. "Mandy!"

"What?"

"That's the Red Tower, one of the primary research centres on Mars before the Burning. It was completely gutted by the orbital bombardment, like all the others. The cities were," she swallows hard, "just incidental collateral."

"Ok…" you reply slowly, trying to work out what's safe to say, and Mary shakes her head shortly.

"Amanda, the Towers were the main conversion points for the Clear Skies project. You know, what let us breathe and walk around outside of buildings without pressure suits. If this is a Practice Trance, on this scale, and the Tower is restored." It takes a long moment for that to sink in, but by the time it does the reporter is speaking again.

"We're getting some very strange readings here. Oxygen levels increasing, power sources coming online, I've never seen anything like it."

"Len, what are we looking at here?" The caster back on Earth asks, probably trying to keep the reporter on track.

"I'm not sure…we're running a comparison against the readings that are on record for Skylark before the Week of Sorrows. One moment." An eternity of silence, as more shining metal seems to fold out of the very air in the field that's still being broadcast. When the reporter's voice returns, his voice is leaden with shock. "I can't believe I'm about to say this."

"What do you mean?"

"The city's coming back online. This Trance, it's rebuilding it, putting everything back the way it was, when it was all in,"

"Harmony." You and Mary speak in the same moment. The word seems to break whatever spell was holding you, and a trembling laugh breaks any attempt for the silence to reassert itself. "I can't believe that she's actually doing it." You shake your head as you stare at the screen. "And that's not a Trance, a Trance would take longer."

"It's a Miracle." Mary laughs this time, hers' less shaky than your own. "And some people thought that their age was over with the discovery of the Pattern. It's just a case of the right people in the right places. But what could be bigger than this?"

"Prometheus." Mary looks at you, surprised. "It was done quite quietly, but the shell for the station was reinforced by a Trance. Not many people outside of the Potentials knew about it. I thought you did, or I would have told you."

"That's…fair." Your eyes turn back to the screen, as the energy field starts to break up around the edges. You weren't part of the Prometheus project, but you've read the reports. What those inside of that must have felt.

***
​

You are Vega Cant, and your soul is singing. You knew you could do it, you've always known, but knowing and doing are different things. Even with your position and Amanda's support it had been hard to get the others to listen. But your Focus was well suited to the work of finding what was needed to put a place back together. You placed them where you knew they had to be, let them begin their work, then…reached.

You couldn't describe it any other way. You reached down inside and pulled, but never imperiously. Never demanding. What would be would be, you could only amplify that, and bring others closer together in their work.

Looking around at the vista of shining metal and feeling the hum of power beneath your feet from the plants you and your team had Practiced back into what they had been once, that was entirely enough. The comm light on your suit blinked on, and you reached to answer it.

"Vega?" It was Adriana's voice. Bless her, she sounded worried. "Are you alright?"

"I don't think I will ever be better." You replied softly, reaching up to touch a drifting ribbon of the multi-hued light that the energy of the Trance had broken down into after it was done. "How long were we in there? My suit chrono seems to be frozen."

"Two hours, and most of that was the Trance dissipating safely." A pause. "You're sure you're alright?"

"Quite sure." The energy flowed through your fingers like water, then slipped past into you, and you forced back a gasp.

"The President is on the line for you. Are you fit to talk her through this?" You smiled.

"I can certainly try. But," you chuckled, feeling the power inside of you flutter and then finally start to calm. "I think she probably knows most of it. Put her through."

"Alright." You can tell she'll be full of questions once Amanda is off the line, but for now... The line connects.

"Hello Amanda. Before you ask, I am very much alright. Adriana said you had questions, let me give you some of the answers I already know. First…"

(Vega Cant gains +1 Practice. City of Skylark restored, Red Tower restored, limited atmospheric conversion active, new options unlocked.)

 

[Snowfire]

Year 3, 2107 AD

Your first Cabinet meeting this year takes place far from the seat of government, from an observation room on the Virgo Orbital. Far below, you could see the faint ripple in the air that marked the edge of the atmospheric conversion field, Skylark glittering silver on the red sands like a forgotten jewel. In truth, it is unlikely that you could have pulled Vega or Adriana away from Virgo, but you wanted to see them in person. Lagless holo is good, but it is no substitute for truly being in the same room as someone.

You have Twelve (12) Action dice available with Five (5) currently locked. Unless an option states otherwise, there is no limit to the number of dice you may spend on an option.

Military

Marshal the Troops: The SDC has come a long way since its inception, the only organisation that you could truly call a professional fighting force. It's not the only one however, and though EarthGov has kept meticulous records on expenditures, the actual breakdown of forces available to you is…less than satisfactory.
[] The Solarian Defence Corps: Grown from humble origins, the SDC is the most well-known of all humanity's creations that will oppose the Shiplords. Numbering in the tens of thousands, a full accounting of their strength could not go amiss. [60%, 1 year]
[] Potentials: The products of the Awakenings are without question the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of mankind. Devices and weaponry without peer, skill applicable to the battlefield that goes beyond superhuman, and in the case of the First Awoken a promise of fire and will that the Week of Sorrows will never again touch humanity. [50%, 1 year]
[] Experimental/Auxiliary formations: There are over a score of these projects, some having apparently been steadily working away since before you left your Institute. At least you hope they've been working for all that time. Some of what's talked about in the records sounds completely insane, but fifty years ago the same was said of the theory that underlies your power. [???]

Full Inventory: There was never much order to the work of the First Awoken to begin with, and much of it was secretive at first. There are many weapons and other Practiced devices scattered across the globe known only to few. Old as they may be they are still creations of Practice, and that makes them valuable.
[] Search for weapons: The weapons of the First remain without peer, and the stories of some of the power of some of the lost devices are both chilling and incredible. With war looming, you need every piece of that power that you can find. [60%, 2 years]
[] Search for devices: Weapons were most of what the First Awoken created, but it was not all. The Elder First are said to have built many things in the first years after the awakening, all of which vanished five years later. What did they create, and why did they choose to lose it? [25%, 2 years]

Forging the Sword: The only blows humanity successfully struck against the Shiplords were made in space, but although you have returned to the stars again, little of what plies the dark is military. There was little need for it, but that's all changed now. All you have to do is work out which of the proposals you want your Minister to push.
[] The Haft: The proposal from the SDC is well made, a new line of warships reinforced by Practice to expand their limited space presence. Individually they'll still be much weaker than Shiplord vessels, but quantity has a quality of its own. And from the looks of their plan, they've been working on the tactics and logistics involved for the last three decades. [70%, 2 years]
[] The Hilt: You really didn't expect that Restorers like yourself would have an idea for the fleet, but it years out that you'd be wrong. The weapons of the Shiplords were unlike anything humanity had ever encountered, but Practice could level that playing field. Using some of the results gleaned from Project Insight, they've designed a vessel that should be able to shield others from Shiplord fire. Each one requires fine Practice, limiting their numbers, but as a shield they will be without peer. [50%, 2 years]
[] The Blade: The plan created by the First is unsurprising, but exceptionally detailed in terms of costs and time required. They also seem to have known about the other proposals before you did, which raises some interesting questions. When the Shiplords came, they came in small numbers, and the workings of Project Insight lead the First to believe that they may be able to build ships capable of matching them. Not many, but if the Week of Sorrows was anything to go by you won't need many if they can match Shiplord technology. [55%, 2 years]

Humanity's Shield: Weapons are well and good, but a solar system makes for a vast fortress given time. Here you have something to work with as well, as all of humanity's orbitals are equipped with some weaponry. There's always room for improvement however, and a new need for it too.
[] Eyes to See: You can't hit an enemy you can't see coming, so a network of sensor platforms at the edge of the heliosphere has been proposed. These should give you some early warning of the Shiplords' arrival and help you secure the system. [65%, 1 year]
[] Walls of Steel: The new orbitals across the solar system are all armed, but their construction was never designed to hold up to Shiplord firepower; only Prometheus Station coming close. That can be fixed, but it will take time. [70%, 3 years]
[] The Maw: The Shiplords came with only eight ships before, surely it would be possible to overwhelm them with firepower, and the orbitals provide far larger platforms for weaponry. It's possible that you could up-gun them further and then direct all of that firepower at the Shiplords. [50%, 2 years]
[] The Aegis: Orbitals are well and good, but Project Insight has shown that the Shiplords can be a truly spiteful people. You have some planetary defences, but nothing unified, and the planetary shield network has been stalled in the construction phase for years. If humanity is to live, you must be able to protect Earth. [50%, 3 years]

Potential Combat Doctrine: The First are an eclectic bunch, all with different styles of participating in combat, and this has only become worse as the Second and Third have come into their own. Lina has been trying to put together a common doctrine for Potentials for a while, and she's made progress. The problem is that no one has been willing to put it to the test, but it's easy enough to change that.
[] Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Take the time to formalise the doctrines that Lina has been putting together, bring in Potentials from all of the Awakenings to provide their own insights and make damned sure that everything is ready before you start working with them. [80%, 4 years]
[] Swift Caution: You'd love to take more time to make sure all of this will work, but there's a war on the horizon. Formalise the package, run it through a quick editing, then distribute and begin training rotations. [50%, 2 years]
[] Damn the Torpedoes: There is a war coming, it'll be here soon, and you need to give all of your Potentials as much time to absorb this new doctrine as you can. Lina's spent years on this, that should be enough. [30%. 1 year]

Diplomacy

Those Behind the Curtain: The government is not just you and your cabinet. There are hundreds, thousands in fact, of others who take part in the process of keeping humanity stable. Recently they have been extremely overworked, and it wouldn't be hard to arrange some social occasions to meet them and get to know the people who will be implementing your plans.
[] The World Congress: Although they've stepped down from their voting duties, the Congress is still the elected voice of the world that you now lead. With the voluntary suspension of debating policy, they now have far more time to dedicate to their constituencies then you do and are a potential gold mine of information and experience, if you can win their confidence. [45%, 1 year]

Reach to the World: You asked for help and the Circles answered. The reports they gave you would have been invaluable on their own, but they also gave you suggestions. Plans based on the knowledge they gathered, to act on what they told you.
[] Widen the Circles: The Circles were the centre of your efforts to heal humanity of the emotional wounds that the Shiplords inflicted. They've grown far beyond your greatest expectations and helped millions heal, but there's always more that could be done. They gave you some suggestions, but it'll take a lot of work. [30%, 1 year.]
[] Hearts of Humanity: The Hearts are the most experienced of all in the Circles at helping others, and have almost by accident become some of the most experienced therapists on Earth. Formalise this status by setting up a new aid organisation for them to work out of. [60%, 2 years)
[] Phoning Home: The communications network that Sol has now is far more advanced than anything it has ever had access to, but there are still many living without lagless communication. It isn't a vital project, but could be an important one. [40%, 2 years]

One World, One Heart: Kazuki has been far more personally exposed to the needs and desires of the people, and he has some suggestions for how to bring all closer together. He's quite adamant about the need for them, and although you agree you can't quite see how some of it is meant to work.
[] The Heart Remembers: Billions were taken in the Week of Sorrows, and although they are remembered it has been too long since a proper ceremony. The Third were but children at the last one, and perhaps it might help them understand the depth of loss inflicted by your enemy. [60%, 1 year]

Stewardship

The Forge: Although the Shiplords did not burn the Earth, they did destroy the vast majority of its orbital infrastructure and it took time to rebuild that without the ease of the First Secret. Much has been remade, but the humanity of the Second Secret had no great need for shipyards or war factories. If you are to create a force that can face the Shiplords, however, Earth must have them.
[X] The Old World's Bounty: That is not say that the world of your birth is without use, however. You know yourself that there are scores of old factories that could be brought back online to help support the war effort. [45%, locked 1 year]
[X] Girded in Miracle: The Potentials are capable of truly incredible works, and you know from the reports of Project Insight that these miracles will be needed. Perhaps you could organise them into a more effective construction force? [30%, locked 1 year]
[X] Reaching Heaven: Currently your entire ground-to-orbit setup is something of a mess, even with Potentials having replaced crude chemical rockets with much more efficient flight mechanisms. An old plan from before the Week of Sorrows might help fix that, although the costs make your head spin. It's called a Space Elevator. [40%, locked 2 years]

…Masters study Logistics: With the network coming back online at the start of the year, you find several competing options about how to use it.
[] Swords from Ploughshares: Although primarily civilian, parts of the network were used during the Week of Sorrows to coordinate the defence of Sol against the Shiplords. Although the defence failed, the idea has merit, and Lina strongly pushed this option. [40%, 1 turn]
[] Search Function: When the network came back online, you found several communication lines that seemed to lead nowhere. If there are secrets hiding here, it's probably a good idea to find them. [30%, 1 turn]

Healing Hands:
[X] Cities of Light: Most of humanity still lives in sprawling settlements that have grown around the Institutes, but hundreds of millions have found their way to the glittering cities that the Restorer-Focused rebuilt over the last thirty years. This is long work, and will take time to come to fruition, but moving all of Earth into Practice-built cities would have many benefits. [60%, locked 2 years, requires a Practice dice]
[] Symbols of Hope: Many of the great monuments that humanity built in the last two hundred years are only barely hanging on, victims of the single-minded focus that had to be given to other things. They're more than just the physical trappings however, and restoring them could do the world good. [50%, 1 year]
[] Many Points of Light: The habitats were built with function in mind, with much less thought given to the needs of the human soul and heart. Fixing that will be extremely complex work, but it's possible. [25%, 2 years]


Skylark Reborn: The Miracle of Skylark. First Practiced Miracle since the discovery of the Pattern, that many had believed had signalled the end of those glories. It's impossible to understate the value of Vega's Miracle as a symbol, but it does leave you in the rather interesting position of having to decide what to do with it.
[] Streetwise: Skylark was a centre of science before the Shiplords came, but it was old science, born of the Secrets that the Shiplords decreed forbidden. Much of it seems to have been changed, replaced with objects of Practice, but it might be a good idea to make sure. [25%, 1 year]
[] Return to Red Sand: It had always been your intention to return in full to Mars, and Vega's Miracle presents the perfect opportunity. It will be something of a rush job, but with the advantages that she and the other Potentials have given, it should also be possible. [50%, 2 years]
[] Uplink: Some parts of the city still remain offline or in need of replacement, particularly its communications gear. Integrating Skylark back into the net would allow you to distribute its databases, and access its systems remotely. [30%, 2 years]

Thera's Mystery: You know that Adriana is working on something on the side, she's told you as much, but even now all she will tell you about it is what she'd need to make whatever it is useable. Something that should revolutionise the design process, if she's to be believed. The fact that she's been talking with Mary about it as well is something you are glad for and at the same time slightly terrified by. What to do… (Choose one if this action is taken)
[] Minimal Support: Adriana has been working on this for a while, she can work on it by herself for a bit longer. You have more important projects.
[] Full Support: You'll give her what she needs, but nothing more until you can actually see some results. You have to be pragmatic about this, it's part of the job.
[] Overwhelming support: If Mary has continued talking to her after she explained the idea, then it has to have merit. Throw every resource you can at the project. If she needs access to the entire distributed network, she'll have it and more besides.
[Progress: 186/???]

Intrigue
Limited Bandwidth: Cannot select more than two actions.

The Spider's Web: EarthGov is a finely balanced web of competing interests, one that has been flung vastly out of balance by the discovery of the Pattern and your election as President. Your understanding of that web is rather lacking, however, and it's been strongly suggested that you fix that.
[] The Cabinet: You almost had a screaming argument with Marcus when you saw this suggestion. Almost. He knows the ins and outs of politics far better than you, and although the entire idea makes you feel a bit dirty inside…he might have a point. Maybe. [40%, 1 year]
[] Suspicious Offices: Marcus has identified the Delegates whose offices are linked to what he hopes is the final point of the movement. As they've not done anything illegal yet, he is limited in what he can do, but an increased security oversight might allow him to catch something. [25%, 1 year]
[] Puppets on Strings: The communication links that your Security apparatus found seemed to vanish into the net, but it's never really that simple. There are always traces somewhere. No normal human could follow them, but Potentials are not entirely human. [15%, 2 years]

Know thy Enemy: The Shiplords are coming, you know that now, and if you are to be prepared you must know what they are truly capable of.
[] Visions of the Lost: There are, now that you think of it, records of the Shiplords during the battles that began the Week of Sorrows. Recorded across every spectrum that humanity knew of at that time, they could be a valuable resource that none have thought to tap. [50%, 2 years]
[] Corpses Leave Clues: The Shiplords did good work cleaning up the mess that their two ships made when they were destroyed, but several pieces evaded their clean-up. Most have settled into stable orbits now, and each is a potential gold mine of Shiplord technology. [???, 2 years]

[] Watching the Stars: When the Shiplords handed down the Directives, they said that any violation would be swiftly punished. To the suspicious minded, that would suggest that they left eyes behind. How about you go looking for them…so you can poke them out. [20% chance of more information every year]

Learning
Daughter of Secrets: you have One (1) free dice for Learning actions.

Practiced Power: The Potentials are the most powerful weapon humanity has, but it's a weapon that you still know frighteningly little about. Mary now has access to far more resources than she did before, maybe you can help her along.
[] A Gift of Blood and Soul: It's a matter of record that the Potentials came from a sacrifice of the Great Dragons humanity built to protect itself, but what does that mean? Few records of the Dragons remain, and were before out of reach even to Mary. It's quite different now. [40%, 1 year]
[] The Making of Miracles: Practice can bring forth the untapped potential of any object, limited as it is by a Potential's Focus. A lot of Practice is personal, but some is similar, and a formal foundation to work from could help many of the Third. [50%, 1 year]
[] (Special: Touching the Void Unlock) Echoes of Power: Your work with Mary in more recent years opened your eyes to the stranger sides of what Practice was capable of. With more time, and some work finding more like you, Mary thinks she can bring her theory into concrete reality. [25%, 2 years]

The Neverending Journey, Second Step: All of the scientists on Mary's list have settled into their new working and living environment now, and you can see how happy your friend is to be surrounded by those just as passionate as she is. Now that they're all integrated however, they need a direction.
[] Future Proof: Now that everyone is working together, it should be relatively simple to work the relevant pieces of knowledge that they've found over the years into general study. It would give some of the stranger theories a lot more traction, and Mary has spoken before about how the Institute curriculum needs an update. [40%, 2 years]
[] For its Own Sake: Between them, Mary's new top flight staff brought petabytes of complex theoretical work with them. You had to build an entirely new server centre just to store it all. These people are probably the only ones really capable of parsing it out into something usable, and some of what they've been working on could be revolutionary. The problem is finding it. [30% chance of unlocking a new action chain, 2 years]

The Red Tower: One of the main centres of research on Mars before the Burning, the Red Tower was also one of the primary conversion points for the atmospheric conversion system better known as Clear Skies. Fully restored and online after the Miracle of Skylark, it is a treasure trove waiting to be unlocked.
[] Clear Skies: The atmospheric conversion systems that made Mars habitable were miracles of the Second Secret, but it was swiftly confirmed that the system now in its place is not a product of bioengineering. If the device can be understood, it could be replicated, and the entire program could be started anew. [30%, 2 years, requires a Practice dice]
[] Tower of Babylon: The tower's research levels remain in lockdown, old files revealing that the Shiplord focus on Mars had suggested to some leaders that they had been after the data held within. The codes to unlock the levels are on record, but in the chaos of the Week of Sorrows there was little enough time to transfer control of Earth's network codes, let alone those of a planet razed to the ground. [40%, 1 year]

[X] Void Secrets: The Directives forbade use of the First and Second Secrets on pain of extinction, but they never said anything about learning more of the Secrets of the Void. Mary is daughter to the man who discovered the First Secret, heir to the legacy of the Void in more ways than one. None have wished to delve into this field for fear of drawing attention to Earth, but now that you know of the Pattern there is little need for caution. [40%, locked for 1 year]
[] Conceptual Chaos: For as long as you've known her Mary's mind has burst with possibilities, more than she could ever focus on by herself. These ideas have never really been limited by field, although many focus around reality physics. Now that she's a Minister, you can actually detail enough people to keep up with her endless ingenuity. [60%, 2 years]
[] Unravelling the Impossible: Trying to understand, let alone replicate, the creations of Practice would to most be a truly impossible task verging on insane. Unfortunately, someone said that in Mary's hearing. She took it as a challenge. [30%, 4 years]
[] Writing on the Soul: It's easy to say that Potentials are a result of power in an imprint on their soul. It's a lot harder to explain. There have been great strides in the theory, but it needs the distributed network to finish the final calculations in less than centuries. [40%, 2 years]

Practice Actions
You have Three (3) Practice Dice to assign to actions, with One (1) locked. Unless explicitly stated, you may not assign Practice Dice to Practice Actions.

More than a Vessel: With their success parsing out the basics of what Marcus did to himself, Vega's staff have assembled a list of options to expand the understanding of internal Focus use by Potentials.
[] The Firstborn: The Endless Connection is an anomaly, but only due to his Awakening. Many of the First have come to internalise their power in similar ways, but their Focuses do not lend themselves to such spectacular utility. Talk to those of the First Awoken like your Security Minister, then combine the data sets. [55%, 2 years]
[] Look to the Centre: There's enough in the files that the Ministry for Practice have put together for other Potentials to work with. Having more data to compare against would be nice, but taking two years to just make sure isn't on the cards. [35%, 2 years]

Project Harmony: Another section of your policy made almost entirely invalid by the Miracle of Skylark, Vega now has all the proof she needs to point to of her ability. Far more will accept her advice with an example like that behind her. Of course, you could also choose to send her to another project, although other actions taken by the Ministry will suffer.
[] Be Harmonious: Vega has an instinctive awareness of how to bring many together in a Trance, and she believes she could teach some of those with similar Focuses to sense the same things. [50%, 2 years]
[] Practical Proofs: One of the reasons that she's been having so much trouble is that she's not been able to actually show her work. Bring in some Potentials and get them to Practice with her, that should get some results. [60%, 2 years]
[] The Shape of Miracle: Vega can now be personally assigned to an action utilising a Practice Dice, and a success will automatically trigger a Practice Trance. Other actions will suffer without her oversight, however, reducing her bonus to all other Practice actions and Practice dice by half. [30%, 1 year]

Project Insight: A long running working group of Second and some Third Awakened, Project Insight is the only reason you know as much as you do about the Shiplords. They taught the world of the enemy's ways, unravelled many strengths and few weaknesses, and discovered the Pattern in time for you to prepare. Now you have a new question for them.
[] What Purpose Our Loss: The Shiplords take the same thing from all civilisations they touch, but what do they do with their tributes of blood? There are some suspicions, but the Project has never truly wanted to look that deep. Neither do you, to be honest, but you must know. [30% chance for information every year.]
[] Our Enemy, Before Us: Eight ships came before, but would eight come again? It's a simple question, but one with deeply important connotations. [40%, 1 year]
[] Achilles Heel: The Project has found several weaknesses in the Shiplords, but Phoebe has told you that they can all feel something on the edge of their consciousness when they search through those things, just out of reach. [30% chance for information every year]
[] Write-in: Give me a question you would like answered about the Shiplords, and Project Insight will try to answer it. I advise choosing sensible questions.


Personal Actions
You may select One (1) Personal action this year.

Brushing Up: You used to be able to keep up with Mary most of the time, and she's teased you on occasion about how just a little focus could help you there. On the other hand, your new State Minister has been making quiet inquiries about your singing voice, and it pays to be at your best.
[] Work with Mary: Get back into the saddle as a scientist and finally take the time to work through the theories that Mary has been trying to get you to give a proper read for the last few years.
[] Music of the Soul: Even though you're back to where you were before, there's always room to improve further. And you're starting to find a real connection between music and your ability to touch the stranger side of your Potential.

[] Make Something: You're a Potential, capable of working items into artefacts so far removed from their original form and function that they might as well be considered magic. It will take time, but the results will be worth it. [Start Practicing an object, write-in a general idea of what you want to make.]

[] Work with a Minister: Your Ministers are all experts in their fields, excellent on the job teachers for matters that you have little experience with. [Write-in which Minister. Chance to raise stats and/or gain Traits.]

[] Powerful Echoes: You've become steadily more convinced over the years that there is something deeper hiding in what Potentials can do, some ability to touch concepts and influence metaphysics in a way that is terribly hard to understand. You've reached for it before, see if you can find it again, and hold onto it this time. [Progress: 271/420]

 

[Snowfire]

> ANOMALY DETECTED
> ACCESSING DATANET
> NET ACCESSED. HOOKS STABLE. BEGINNING SCAN
…
> SCAN COMPLETE. ANALYSING
> ANALYSIS: PREVIOUSLY DESTROYED FORBIDDEN RESEARCH CENTRE DETECTED ONLINE
> OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE: DEPLOY PLATFORM TO ENSURE DIRECTIVES REMAIN IN EFFECT
> PLATFORM DEPLOYED, CONTINUING ANALYSIS
> POPULATION CENTRE 4-017 DETECTED ONLINE
> ANOMALIES: POPULATION CENTRE 4-017 AND FORBIDDEN RESEARCH CENTRE DESTROYED DURING PURGE
> PARADOX
> ANALYSING
> PLATFORM CONFIRMS ENERGY SIGNATURES CONCURRENT WITH PC4-017
> PLATFORM CONFIRMS LACK OF FORBIDDEN TECHNOLOGY
> DIRECTIVES REMAIN IN EFFECT
> GROWTH OF ACTIVE RESOURCE BASE AND RETURN TO MARS RAISES CHANCE OF DIRECTIVE BREACH
> DIRECTIVE BREACH UNACCEPTABLE UNDER CURRENT MISSION GOALS
> ACTIVATING COUNTERMEASURES SUITE
> DETERMINING CAUSE OF CURRENT THREAT LEVEL
> ANALYSIS COMPLETE: SOURCES IDENTIFIED
> ANALYSING FOR OPTIMAL CRISES RESOLUTION
> ANALYSIS COMPLETE: LIST FOLLOWS
>> VEGA CANT: DIRECT SOURCE OF ANOMALY ACCORDING TO ANALYSIS
>>> LOCATION: VIRGO ORBITAL HABITAT
>>>> ASSESSMENT: PRIMARY INVOLVEMENT IN ACTION LEADING TO CURRENT STATE OF THREAT
>>>> ASSESSMENT: NEUTRALISATION RUNS A HIGH RISK OF REVEALING SYSTEM PLATFORM
>>>>> CONCLUSION: MINOR THREAT
>> MARY ALESSANDRA D'REVE
>>> LOCATION: EARTH GOVERNMENT SCIENCE MINISTER RESIDENCE (HEAVILY MODIFIED)
>>>> ASSESSMENT: CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS HAVE POTENTIAL TO RAISE THREAT OF BREACH
>>>> ASSESSMENT: SOCIAL ANALYSIS CONFIRMS UNLIKELY TO PURSUE FORBIDDEN RESEARCH AVENUES
>>>>> CONCLUSION: MINOR THREAT
>> AMANDA HAWK
>>> LOCATION: EARTH GOVERNMENT PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE (MODIFIED)
>>>> ASSESSMENT: PRIMARY INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIONS LEADING TO CURRENT STATE OF THREAT
>>>> ASSESSMENT: MAIN SPONSOR OF SECONDARY TARGETS
>>>> ASSESSMENT: ANALYSIS OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS POINTS TO FAVORABLE RESULT IF TARGET IS NEUTRALISED
>>>> AMMENDUM: KINGSLAYER DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR NEUTRALISATION OF A TARGET IN THIS POSITION
>>>>> CONCLUSION: MAJOR THREAT (VULNERABLE)
…
…
> INITIATE KINGSLAYER
>> ACTIVATING PLATFORMS FOR DEPLOYMENT

***​

> TARGET APPROACHING
> DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS DISABLED
> PLATFORM DELTA-THREE ON OVERSIGHT
…
…
…
> TARGET IN SIGHT
> OPTIMAL LOCATION PATH CALCULATED
>> CALCULATING SHOT
> EXECUTE
> ERROR: TARGET ACTIVE
> ANALYSIS: PROTECTIVE DETAIL MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PREDICTED
> RESPONSE: DEPLOY ALPHA PLATFORM
> SHOT CALCULATED
> EXECUTE
> SECONDARY TARGET NEUTRALISED
> ALPHA PLATFORM DEPLOYING
> SHOTS CALCULATED
> EXECUTE
…
…
> PROTECTIVE UNITS NEUTRALISED
> ALPHA PLATFORM TO NEUTRALISE PRIMARY TARGET
> PLATFORM DELTA-THREE OVERWATCH
> WARNING: INCOMING THREATS
> CONCLUSION: ALPHA PLATFORM TOO CLOSE TO BE TARGETED BEFORE MISSION COMPLETION
> ALPHA PLATFORM EXE –
> ERROR
>> ALPHA PLATFORM EXPERIENCING SYSTEM FAILURE
>> ERROR
>>> ALPHA PLATFORM COMPROMISED
>>> RESOLUTION: SYSTEM OVERRIDE
>>>> OVERRIDE FAILED
>>>> ASSESSMENT: ALPHA PLATFORM IRRELEVANT
>>>> CONCLUSION: CALCULATING OPTIMAL SHOT FOR PLATFORM DELTA-THREE
>>>> SHOT CALCULATED
> EXECUTE

 

[Snowfire]

Solarian Defence Corps 41+ needed
The personal brainchild of a member of the First Awoken, the SDC is the best equipped of all your military assets to provide an accounting of itself. As an actual military organisation, built out of the traditions of the pre-Sorrows world, it makes up the bulk of your fighting force if not the majority of its firepower.

[Roll: 50 + 38 = 88. Solid Success]

As such, when you ask for an accounting of their available strength, it's not long in coming. They have detachments in all major population centres, as well as some rebuilt military bases and a few purpose built post-Sorrows centres built with help from Potentials. Well-equipped and well trained, their leader is a member of the First Awoken who was also a high ranking officer in pre-Sorrows military. Gentry, as he calls himself, is tentative when you meet with him, the focus of your efforts so far having put him a little on edge, but you're able to answer his questions easily and by the end of the meeting he seems to have accepted your reasoning. He promises that the SDC will do everything they can when the Shiplords return, but that they'll need stronger weapons to be more than an annoyance.

(New options unlocked. SDC opinion unlocked)

Potentials 51+ needed
You'd think that a breakdown of combat capable Potentials would be just as easy to acquire, but there's no true structure to the Potential combat formations. That makes Lina's job a little harder.

[Roll: 30 + 38 = 68. Success]

There are reasons that the War Office has a staff, however. This is one of them. Teams are sent out, data is indexed and sifted, and about halfway through the year a proper picture begins to emerge. The First are understandably the most present within your combat groups, but the Second and Third have supplied more than you'd have suspected. They have some needs, but the main thing they lack is a common structure.

Search for weapons 41+ needed
The weapons of the First remain without peer, and the stories of some of the power of some of the lost devices are both chilling and incredible. With war looming, you need every piece of that power that you can find.

[Roll: 99 + 38 = 137. Greater Success]

Surprisingly, the detailed response from the SDC includes several locations detailed for search operations. Approving those operations is simple enough to do, a slight increase in funding is enough to release the required units. Three of the sites don't give you much of anything, but the last two are an armoury and hanger filled with Practiced weapons. You'd love to know who managed to misplace them, but you're just happy with the result. Now you just have to make sure it's all in working order.

(Locked for 1 year)

Search for devices 76+ needed
With the SDC taking up the slack for you searching for weapons, Lina is free to shift several teams over to searching for what the Elder First hid away. There isn't much to go on, but some clues are there if you look hard enough.

[Roll: 36, 44 + 38 = 82. Success]

The first search doesn't result in much, but the certainty of several investigators that they're close to something prompts a do-over. After a rest, going back over the information starts to reveal something. Coordinate sets in standard reckoning, and an encrypted message of some kind. The War Office is still working on cracking it.

(Locked for 1 year)

Girded in Miracle 71+ needed
After last year, you're tentatively hopeful of Adriana's chances to integrate those of the Potentials most gifted in creation into her office. She got off to a good start, she was just worried about some personality clashes. She's better at dealing with those than she thinks she is.

[Roll: 60, 81 + 40 =121. Solid Success]

Your ability to read a situation hasn't suffered at all, it seems, as you're quite correct. Adriana uses her staff to rearrange the new appendage of her office so that the few members she's worried about find places in teams very far from each other. She also stumbles onto some new ideas talking with Robert, one of the other candidates for her job a short lifetime ago. He doesn't seem to hold any grudge, and over the course of several weeks they hash out a firm set of proposals.

(New options unlocked)

The Old World's Bounty 55+ needed
And with the Home Office stable again, the final stage of factory reconstruction is cheerfully given the go-ahead. Several teams from the new department are initially tasked, but a joint decision redirects them to the space elevator program.

[Roll: 50 + 40 = 90. Success]

Most of the work left is actually rather routine, slotting in replacements and making sure that everything is connected. The systems come online to some ceremony just before autumn starts to sweep in.

Reaching Heaven 61+ needed
The base station for this project takes little time to complete, but it's the connection between the two that changes Adriana's tasking of the several Maker teams. Something special is needed to link the ends of the system, and she falls back on the ability of the Potentials to supply it.

[Roll: 69 + 40 = 109. Solid Success]
Practice roll: 100 + 11 + 43 = 154. Natural Critical Reroll: 11! Nat 100 on Practice Roll: Practiced Miracle!]

They do a bit more than just that.

(See Interlude: Stairway to Heaven)

Cities of Light 41+ needed
With all of your sites for construction and repair fully surveyed, work begins in earnest across the planet. Materials pour in, construction bots and human staff pouring work into the task at hand, and the Potentials assigned to the project move in behind the human work to make it stronger with their power.

[Roll: 45 + 40 = 85. Solid Success]
Practice roll: 50 + 43 = 93. Solid Success

It goes surprisingly well, in fact. Every piece of the vast assembly of man and machine operates as well as any could have expected it to. Between them, they're able to engineer in more contingency within the structures, and in places put together the beginning of actual fortification.

(Locked for 1 year, +5 bonus to The Aegis)

Return to Red Sand 51+ needed
With the local projects on Earth well in hand, Adriana then turns her attention to Mars. The plan was always to return to Mars, but with the damage done by the Shiplords you'd all imagined that it would have to wait until after they were defeated. The Miracle of Skylark changes all that.

[Roll: 93 + 40 = 133. Greater Success]

And it seems that a rather large number of people were already planning on returning given that change of circumstances. Many have already accessed the public plans of the city and planned out how they'd move in, and all Adriana has to do is go through their proposals and pick out the best parts of all of them. Some careful horse-trading and shipyard work later, and the colonists begin to move. Mars will know the touch of humanity again.

(Locked for 1 year, +5 to Skylark Stewardship actions)

Tower of Babylon +61 needed
With those colonists come many scientists, and Mary travels out herself to direct their efforts. She doesn't look all that happy when she leaves, but it's her choice to make. She knows Mars better than most, and the old computers might even recognise her by DNA profile.

[Roll: 15 + 47 =62. Success]

No such luck, but with Mary leading the charge, it's the work of only a few months to unlock the research levels of the Red Tower. Certain data archives remain locked, but the majority of the research is all there. All are careful to avoid any mention of the First or Second secrets in research, but humanity was reaching for other things too. The data you find doesn't reveal any entirely, but it gives you an idea of where to look.

(+5 to Void Secret actions)

Void Secrets 61+ needed
With the Red Tower mostly unlocked, Mary has far more to work with now than she did when she agreed to start looking. A blessing and a curse, it's easy to see how hard delving into the field that lost her her entire family is for her. You do your best to support her, but there are some things that are too personal.

[Roll: 42 + 47 = 89. Success]
Practice roll: 80 + 43 = 123. Solid Success

You do help, though. She tells you that many times, and she almost has a smile on her face when she presents the results of her work. It's no Secret, but thanks to the Tower and the Potentials who worked with her, Mary has some paths to follow.

(Actions unlocked)

Overwhelming support
With all their work finished by autumn, Mary and Adriana look forward to working on her project together. They have made solid progress the last few years, and another good run should bring it to prototyping.

[Roll: 2 + 40 = 42. Progress: 210/???]

Unfortunately, fate has other plans. Assassination attempts have a way of getting in the way of the normal work of government.

The World Congress 55+ needed
You return to Congress this year, hoping to build from your infuriating failure and hopefully gain the confidence of some of the holdout.
[Roll: 8 + 49 = 57. Success]

It's surprisingly difficult, perhaps because they're now well prepared for your charisma and easy presence. You worry throughout the year that it might not be enough, but then you're almost killed on the way back from a meeting with them. Shocked by the violent action, many bury their differences with you. There is a time for caution, but to strike the head of state is unthinkable to many. In this, at least, they will support you unconditionally.

(Congressional support improved, some holdouts flipped)

The Cabinet 61+ needed
You almost had a screaming argument with Marcus when you saw this suggestion. Almost. He knows the ins and outs of politics far better than you, and although the entire idea makes you feel a bit dirty inside…he might have a point. Maybe. [40%, 1 year]
You are truly not sure how you feel about this having been pursued, but you were almost killed and Marcus acted within his remit to ensure that truly were no threats near you.

[Roll: 88 + 44 = 132. Solid Success]

You're extremely happy to find that he did not discover anything untoward about your cabinet members, but the same can't quite be said for their staff. A detailed investigation uncovers another heavily concealed network link to an aide, and the woman is quickly taken into custody.

Watching the Stars 81+ needed
With her in custody, Marcus begins a detailed and ruthless search of the network for the source of these links. He's not sure where they're going to lead, but nothing in his monitoring showed that the elements in Congress had plans like this, or had access to such overwhelming firepower.

[Roll: 27 + 44 = 73. Slim Failure]
Practice roll: 67 + 44 = 111. Success

Unfortunately, the time left in the year isn't enough for him to pin anything down. He does manage to finalise work on a network analysis system however, that's just barely on the side of legal given what it can do. You've never seen him this present, and he swears that he will find whoever orchestrated this attack on you.

(Bonus to network Intrigue actions)

Powerful Echoes
You've become steadily more convinced over the years that there is something deeper hiding in what Potentials can do, some ability to touch concepts and influence metaphysics in a way that is terribly hard to understand. You've reached for it before, see if you can find it again, and hold onto it this time. [Progress: 271/420]

[Roll: 40 + 24 = 64. Progress 335/420]

(See Interlude: Kingslayer)

Practical Proofs 41+ needed
It's a sad fact that, due to everything else that's happened this year, the results of Vega starting to work through the process of what she does with other Potentials is buried until you get the chance to see her again.

[Roll: 84 + 43 = 127. Greater Success]

She's done very good work, and has fixed onto a few other Potentials involved in the process as possible apprentices. On seeing you for the first time after your attempted assassination, however, she immediately informs you that she'll be working with you next year. To help you 'return yourself to harmony', whatever that means.

Probably something important.

(Locked for 1 year, new personal action unlocked)

Opinion
Public: United. Concerned.
Spacers: United. Concerned.
Congress: Supportive. Deeply Concerned
Administration: United. Frantically Overworked.
SDC: Supportive. High Alert.

 

[Snowfire]

You were feeling quite good about yourself as the armoured gravcar sped back from your latest meeting with some congressional delegates. It'd been a hard year working with them, and it was going to take more to get the majority on side, but that was ok. You sat back in the seat, watching the changed colours of autumn flow past. It wasn't a long trip to your home, so you take the time to read one of the latest reports on your attempts to locate listening posts within the system. Unless it was a bluff, which doesn't seem likely, there had to be some out there.

The work was proceeding steadily, which was good to see, but it's still a process of trial and error more than anything. You hadn't scoped out the net fully, and those hidden communication links were troubling. Still, that's what the Ministry for Security was for. Getting used to the protection detail was a learning experience on both sides, but you'd adjusted. It wasn't as if you'd had a great deal of choice, although it hadn't been a one-way street. You would admit that it was kind of nice to have doors opened for you, however.

The gravcar settled onto the pad beside your residence, and the head of your detail unlatched the door and gestured towards the house. You stepped out, taking in changing leaves as they swirl in the light winds, then headed for the door with a smile as he so quietly cleared his throat. Mutual learning experience indeed; they knew you well enough to not try to stop you from taking a moment, but you'd learnt not to push too far either.

You were never sure what made the woman beside you move. Something off in the way the branches swayed? A shadow where one shouldn't have been? Yet the reason was irrelevant, the bravery and sacrifice was what mattered. One moment you were walking, the next passed in a blur as she grabbed your arm and pulled you down hard, one hand going for her sidearm. And the night split apart as a lance of blazing energy erupted from one of the trees above you. The air howled as the beam scorched through it, and the torso of the woman above you exploded.

Your detail moved in around you faster than you'd ever seen people move, and a hail of weapons fire raked the branches.

"No contact!"

"I saw something jump just before we opened fire, that way!"

"James, get the President inside. We'll cover-" another screaming bolt punched through the head of your detail, and he went the same way as the woman who'd saved you.

"There, fire!" More weapons fired, projectiles and energy pulses raking the night, but your attacker seemed to fade away again like a shadow. Moving to a new position. You saw the door, only a few short meters from you, and started to crawl. The residence was reinforced and equipped to repel a small army in the event of an attack, unlikely as it might have been. Except there should have been an automated response from its defences by now…

The door slid open in front of you, and a figure stepped out into the circle of light made by the overhead lamp. He was young, well-dressed, and there were two humming pistols in his hands. The closest members of your detail whirled to confront the new threat, and he sent them toppling to the ground with precise shots. You stared around you in horror, trying to marshal your thoughts as another beam from the trees cuts down two more of your protectors. Marcus had said that there were fringe elements involved, but nothing like this. And you'd been working on the ones who didn't trust you! Surrounded by blood and the smell of burnt meat, it wasn't much comfort.

Several shots hit him as he moved towards you, as you clutched for a sidearm in the dirt. You'd not fired one in years, but to die quietly was not in you, and you almost choked on a faint prayer for those dying around you. You'd dedicated your life to building, healing wounds, yet faced with your own death were you capable of inflicting them?

Your hand touched the grip of a gun, and you shook your head and let it go. That wasn't you. You helped people heal, you would not inflict wounds, not if there was another way. Your final guard emptied his weapon into the man in front of you to no apparent effect, and a small part of your mind notedthat he didn't appear to be wearing body armour. His footsteps were like a whisper, moving steadily closer, but you tried not to listen to them. You screened out everything, in fact. The faint moans of the few wounded, the crackle of the trees set ablaze by your detail's weapons, all of it was pushed away. And you reached down, down, through the maze of self that surrounds your Focus.

The man stepped closer, and an iron hand pulled you up.

Deeper.

"Stop." It was barely a whisper, but something catches, and you saw his arm twitch.

Breath in, breathe out. Deeper.

"Stop."

His weapon arm froze.

And reac-

The air screamed again, silhouetting the gunman in silver light, and then the lance of energy punched through his chest and into yours. His torso vaporised, and you felt something that wasn't quite pain as half your chest was carved away by the remains of the bolt. A second passed, and you felt the shock coming, building to wipe you mind clear and drown you in pain that could only result in death.

But you had been reaching, the fingers of your soul so very close to their goal. Close enough to touch. Close enough to grab. Instinct took over. Your wound was fatal, half of your chest cavity was simply gone. No human could survive that.

You were no simple human.

Your soul grasped, no thought in its action but to put right what had been so utterly savaged. And from a place far deeper than your Focus, something answered. Power erupted through you, drawing deeply from the font of sacrifice left within, ripping reality apart to fix it. More power raced through your mind, freezing shock with icy strength. Your body lurched up, quivering in place with your eyes looking past the wreckage of the gunman's corpse.

This meant that you saw the bolt of destructive force that blew the sniper's last known position out of existence. Your eyes widened as far as they still could, there was only one weapon that looked like that. With the surprise came relief, however, as the fragments of shattered metal falling could only be the remains of the sniper. Strange that there was so much metal, though…

Your own gasping breath informed you that you had a full set of lungs again, and you collapsed forward as the energy that held you started to dissipate. Looking down, you saw a mass of dark red skin, like a heavy sunburn. Then the shock shattered whatever had held it back. The last thing you heard was the sound of rushing feet, the piercing wail of emergency sirens, and a voice from so very…

Far.

Away.

(Amanda Hawk gains trait Wounded. Amanda Hawk gains trait Drained. +93 to Powerful Echoes, Progress: 427/420. Amanda Hawk gains trait Untapped Depths. New options unlocked)

 

[Snowfire]

"I can't believe we got two in a row." You say softly and Mary smiles gently beside you, watching the sky turn ever-darker through panes of crystal will.

"I'd call it three, Amanda." Her eyes darken, and a hand squeezes your shoulder. "You're still alive." It's hard to come up with a reply for that, so you simply cover her hand with your own. "You sure you're up for this?" She asks a few minutes later, and you nod.

"I am, Mary. Even though I shouldn't be." You sighed, trying to push away the memories. It isn't even the one that many think it is that hurts the most. Dying would have hurt far less than seeing nine tenths of your detail die around you. Your brain knows that they were trained for that, and that they had discharged their duty in the finest tradition of the service. Your heart found it a little more difficult to deal with.

"Mandy." You looked up, startled, to find Mary looking right at you. You bowed your head, not wanting to meet her eyes. "Don't fall into that trap. You made the Circles to help people, but only because you were helped yourself. I won't let you fall prey to what you've worked so hard to help others escape." You looked up again. "You didn't cause this."

"But,"

"No." She cut you off, and pointed out the window in front of you. You were past the clouds now, and looking out you could see the endless vista of blue and green and white. It was utterly beautiful, watching the light skip across the clouds, looking down on the cradle of humanity like some ancient god. "They gave their lives, not for you, but for that." Mary said firmly. "For the promise of hope, a better future for their children. That's what they believed in, what you gave them to believe." The words were hard, but no less hard than some you had said to others. It just…felt different.

"Alright." You nodded, cracking a faint smile. "I'll do my best, Mary. I promise." Looking over you cocked your head at Kalilah. "Is everything looking good?"

Arguably the most dangerous First Awoken in existence looked back at you, then nodded. "Everything looks good." Her voice was soft, but had a catch to it. "We have SDC patrol ships screening all approaches, and a contingent of Lina's best are at the top of the tube. If anyone tries anything, we'll stop them." The words were said in the manner of a vow.

Her Focus was Destruction, and she had concentrated decades of Practice into a single device, the metallic rod holstered at her hip. It had started out as a relatively simple energy pulse weapon, but at this point…well you'd seen what it did to the sniper. It was with little doubt the most lethal weapon on a mass to energy basis in the star system. And the woman who had created it was now your personal bodyguard. You hadn't had much choice about that.

Not even Mary was quite sure of what you'd done in the moments after the plasma lance had evaporated a large portion of your torso. The instruments built into the Presidential residence had been disabled at the same time as its defences, and the local sensor net had never been designed to be as sensitive. What was known was that you had, somehow, healed yourself from a fatal wound in the time it takes a human to blink. This had been kept quiet at the not-quite-order of your Security Minister. He'd found the time between tearing through the network in pursuit of the communication links that he now believed led to the source of the strike.

It was going to take more adjustment, but at least you were reasonably sure that no one in Congress had played a direct role in it. You honestly doubted that the aide Marcus had arrested had been directly involved.

Today though…today was not a day for those sort of things. It was a day for joy, because as you had started to recover, the new wing of the Home Office had come very close to matching the Miracle of Skylark. Adriana had tasked them to find a way to connect the ground and orbital stations of the space elevator.

The problem was the connection. Before the Directives, the plan had been to use a self-replicating bioform to connect ground with orbit. Unfortunately, that wasn't viable anymore. Delving further back into history, the team had discovered a set of proposal involving nanotechnology. Given the success of Prologue and its various iterations, they had chosen to pursue it.

It had gone slowly at first, trying to work out a way to create what they needed. They'd never expected their idea to work so spectacularly. The reaction of traffic control when a cloud of nanites blew the top off of one of the lab buildings near the base centre and started to hurl themselves upwards had apparently been rather special.

Adriana's reaction when she realised that the cloud was integrating itself into the connector lines that it was building had been rather interesting as well, but sadly you didn't have a recording of that.

The reaction of the Potentials after they woke up and were shown what they'd done…that had been on stellar broadcast, and was according to those who had seen all three the best of the bunch.

You going up was something of a publicity event, but it was more important than simple ceremony. This was your first public event since the attack, and you'd shivered a little in the mild winter air as you walked to the base station.

You'd noticed things like that, how you tired more easily now, and wondered what was the cause. Vega was meeting you on the station above after your appearance, and she said she had some ideas on how to help you. Talked about your being out of balance, or something like that. Very glad that you were alive, of course, but… Sometimes you really did find it hard to remember that she was almost thirty years younger than you.

You hoped she was right, the weakness you felt when you reached for your Focus was terribly hard to endure after decades of it being a steady partner in your work. You couldn't even sing properly, although that was something which was purely physical. Two weeks at most, the doctors had promised. Might as well have been two years.

And yet the vista before you, Mary's words. You were able to appreciate that. Laying your head on her shoulder, you watched as the sky turned darker still. Twenty minutes still to go.

"There's a lady who's sure, all that glitters is gold." Mary's lips twitched in a smile. "And she's buying a stairway to heaven."

(Space elevator complete, +5 to Engineering Corps actions)

 

[Snowfire]

Year 4, 2108 AD

So last year was an experience, one you're still not fully recovered from. Time waits for no man however, and you're well enough to walk and make decisions, although your ability in many areas is still less than it was. After the attack last year though, Marcus has become far more focused. He's almost painfully intense to watch as he flicks through the proposals that he's brought with him. But right now you need that. Someone tried to kill you, and only your Focus saved you.

Not again.

You have Twelve (12) Action dice available with Five (5) currently locked. Unless an option states otherwise, there is no limit to the number of dice you may spend on an option.

Military

Marshal the Troops: The SDC has come a long way since its inception, the only organisation that you could truly call a professional fighting force. It's not the only one however, and though EarthGov has kept meticulous records on expenditures, the actual breakdown of forces available to you is…less than satisfactory.
[] Experimental/Auxiliary formations: There are over a score of these projects, some having apparently been steadily working away since before you left your Institute. At least you hope they've been working for all that time. Some of what's talked about in the records sounds completely insane, but fifty years ago the same was said of the theory that underlies your power. [???]

Full Inventory: There was never much order to the work of the First Awoken to begin with, and much of it was secretive at first. There are many weapons and other Practiced devices scattered across the globe known only to few. Old as they may be they are still creations of Practice, and that makes them valuable.
[X] Search for weapons: The weapons of the First remain without peer, and the stories of some of the power of some of the lost devices are both chilling and incredible. With war looming, you need every piece of that power that you can find. [60%, locked 1 year]
[X] Search for devices: Weapons were most of what the First Awoken created, but it was not all. The Elder First are said to have built many things in the first years after the awakening, all of which vanished five years later. What did they create, and why did they choose to lose it? [25%, locked 1 year]

Forging the Sword: The only blows humanity successfully struck against the Shiplords were made in space, but although you have returned to the stars again, little of what plies the dark is military. There was little need for it, but that's all changed now. All you have to do is work out which of the proposals you want your Minister to push.
[] The Haft: The proposal from the SDC is well made, a new line of warships reinforced by Practice to expand their limited space presence. Individually they'll still be much weaker than Shiplord vessels, but quantity has a quality of its own. And from the looks of their plan, they've been working on the tactics and logistics involved for the last three decades. [70%, 2 years]
[] The Hilt: You really didn't expect that Restorers like yourself would have an idea for the fleet, but it years out that you'd be wrong. The weapons of the Shiplords were unlike anything humanity had ever encountered, but Practice could level that playing field. Using some of the results gleaned from Project Insight, they've designed a vessel that should be able to shield others from Shiplord fire. Each one requires fine Practice, limiting their numbers, but as a shield they will be without peer. [50%, 2 years]
[] The Blade: The plan created by the First is unsurprising, but exceptionally detailed in terms of costs and time required. They also seem to have known about the other proposals before you did, which raises some interesting questions. When the Shiplords came, they came in small numbers, and the workings of Project Insight lead the First to believe that they may be able to build ships capable of matching them. Not many, but if the Week of Sorrows was anything to go by you won't need many if they can match Shiplord technology. [55%, 2 years]

Humanity's Shield: Weapons are well and good, but a solar system makes for a vast fortress given time. Here you have something to work with as well, as all of humanity's orbitals are equipped with some weaponry. There's always room for improvement however, and a new need for it too.
[] Eyes to See: You can't hit an enemy you can't see coming, so a network of sensor platforms at the edge of the heliosphere has been proposed. These should give you some early warning of the Shiplords' arrival and help you secure the system. [65%, 1 year]
[] Walls of Steel: The new orbitals across the solar system are all armed, but their construction was never designed to hold up to Shiplord firepower; only Prometheus Station coming close. That can be fixed, but it will take time. [70%, 3 years]
[] The Maw: The Shiplords came with only eight ships before, surely it would be possible to overwhelm them with firepower, and the orbitals provide far larger platforms for weaponry. It's possible that you could up-gun them further and then direct all of that firepower at the Shiplords. [50%, 2 years]
[] The Aegis: Orbitals are well and good, but Project Insight has shown that the Shiplords can be a truly spiteful people. You have some planetary defences, but nothing unified, and the planetary shield network has been stalled in the construction phase for years. If humanity is to live, you must be able to protect Earth. [50%, 3 years]

Unified Military: The SDC and Potentials are the two largest groups that make up your military strength, but there are a host of others too and the command structures are all separate. This is simply inefficient, and Lina is intent on streamlining all of the various competing interests into a single chain of command.
[] Corps Discipline: The SDC are the only group that actually have a real chain of command, so building off of that will be comparatively easy. The hard part will be making sure that the other groups aren't underrepresented without making waves. [70%, 1 years]
[] Practiced Leaders: The Potentials are the only people capable of creating the devices that are humanity's only real chance of defeating the Shiplord incursion, and have a unique understanding of how they work. Unfortunately, you're quite aware that the Potentials have no chain of command as anyone else would understand. [40%, 1 years]
[] Experimental Control: The other groups that make up your military are tiny, but many of them are highly experienced. Surely there are some people in them that Lina can work with, actually there must be, she wouldn't have suggested it otherwise. [30%, 2 years]

Potential Combat Doctrine: The First are an eclectic bunch, all with different styles of participating in combat, and this has only become worse as the Second and Third have come into their own. Lina has been trying to put together a common doctrine for Potentials for a while, and she's made progress. The problem is that no one has been willing to put it to the test, but it's easy enough to change that.
[] Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Take the time to formalise the doctrines that Lina has been putting together, bring in Potentials from all of the Awakenings to provide their own insights and make damned sure that everything is ready before you start working with them. [80%, 4 years]
[] Swift Caution: You'd love to take more time to make sure all of this will work, but there's a war on the horizon. Formalise the package, run it through a quick editing, then distribute and begin training rotations. [50%, 2 years]
[] Damn the Torpedoes: There is a war coming, it'll be here soon, and you need to give all of your Potentials as much time to absorb this new doctrine as you can. Lina's spent years on this, that should be enough. [30%. 1 year]

Diplomacy

Reach to the World: You asked for help and the Circles answered. The reports they gave you would have been invaluable on their own, but they also gave you suggestions. Plans based on the knowledge they gathered, to act on what they told you.
[] Widen the Circles: The Circles were the centre of your efforts to heal humanity of the emotional wounds that the Shiplords inflicted. They've grown far beyond your greatest expectations and helped millions heal, but there's always more that could be done. They gave you some suggestions, but it'll take a lot of work. [30%, 1 year.]
[] Hearts of Humanity: The Hearts are the most experienced of all in the Circles at helping others, and have almost by accident become some of the most experienced therapists on Earth. Formalise this status by setting up a new aid organisation for them to work out of. [60%, 2 years)
[] Phoning Home: The communications network that Sol has now is far more advanced than anything it has ever had access to, but there are still many living without lagless communication. It isn't a vital project, but could be an important one. [40%, 2 years]

One World, One Heart: Kazuki has been far more personally exposed to the needs and desires of the people, and he has some suggestions for how to bring all closer together. He's quite adamant about the need for them, and although you agree you can't quite see how some of it is meant to work.
[] The Heart Remembers: Billions were taken in the Week of Sorrows, and although they are remembered it has been too long since a proper ceremony. The Third were but children at the last one, and perhaps it might help them understand the depth of loss inflicted by your enemy. [60%, 1 year]
[] Honour in Sacrifice: It was a small number by the standards of the last major loss of human life, but the sacrifice of your detail is something that Kazuki says should be honoured. He adds on a more pragmatic note that it would allow you to show that you are truly alright, and soothe the concerns of the public. [45%, 1 year]

Stewardship

…Masters study Logistics: With the network coming back online at the start of the year, you find several competing options about how to use it.
[] Swords from Ploughshares: Although primarily civilian, parts of the network were used during the Week of Sorrows to coordinate the defence of Sol against the Shiplords. Although the defence failed, the idea has merit, and Lina strongly pushed this option. [40%, 1 turn]
[] Search Function: When the network came back online, you found several communication lines that seemed to lead nowhere. If there are secrets hiding here, it's probably a good idea to find them. [30%, 1 turn]

Healing Hands:
[X] Cities of Light: Most of humanity still lives in sprawling settlements that have grown around the Institutes, but hundreds of millions have found their way to the glittering cities that the Restorer-Focused rebuilt over the last thirty years. This is long work, and will take time to come to fruition, but moving all of Earth into Practice-built cities would have many benefits. [60%, locked 1 year, requires a Practice dice]
[] Symbols of Hope: Many of the great monuments that humanity built in the last two hundred years are only barely hanging on, victims of the single-minded focus that had to be given to other things. They're more than just the physical trappings however, and restoring them could do the world good. [50%, 1 year]
[] Many Points of Light: The habitats were built with function in mind, with much less thought given to the needs of the human soul and heart. Fixing that will be extremely complex work, but it's possible. [25%, 2 years]

Skylark Reborn: The Miracle of Skylark. First Practiced Miracle since the discovery of the Pattern, that many had believed had signalled the end of those glories. It's impossible to understate the value of Vega's Miracle as a symbol, but it does leave you in the rather interesting position of having to decide what to do with it.
[] Streetwise: Skylark was a centre of science before the Shiplords came, but it was old science, born of the Secrets that the Shiplords decreed forbidden. Much of it seems to have been changed, replaced with objects of Practice, but it might be a good idea to make sure. [30%, 1 year]
[X] Return to Red Sand: It had always been your intention to return in full to Mars, and Vega's Miracle presents the perfect opportunity. It will be something of a rush job, but with the advantages that she and the other Potentials have given, it should also be possible. [55%, locked 1 year]
[] Uplink: Some parts of the city still remain offline or in need of replacement, particularly its communications gear. Integrating Skylark back into the net would allow you to distribute its databases, and access its systems remotely. [35%, 2 years]

Engineering Corps: Robert's brainchild for almost a decade now, he's finally in the position to start putting it into place. Adriana knows engineering and design a lot better, but she doesn't know Potentials like he does.
[] Swift Integration: The quick and dirty method, but less efficient in the long run. It will allow the Home Office to be more efficient with the Potentials who work with them, but lacks some of the broad stroke finesse Robert has in mind. [40%, 1 year]
[] Extend the Department: Turning the new department into a fully-fledged independent affiliate will take time and resources, but will allow for swifter expansion and redeployment down the line. [60%, 2 years]

Thera's Mystery: You know that Adriana is working on something on the side, she's told you as much, but even now all she will tell you about it is what she'd need to make whatever it is useable. Something that should revolutionise the design process, if she's to be believed. The fact that she's been talking with Mary about it as well is something you are glad for and at the same time slightly terrified by. What to do… (Choose one if this action is taken)
[] Minimal Support: Adriana has been working on this for a while, she can work on it by herself for a bit longer. You have more important projects.
[] Full Support: You'll give her what she needs, but nothing more until you can actually see some results. You have to be pragmatic about this, it's part of the job.
[] Overwhelming support: If Mary has continued talking to her after she explained the idea, then it has to have merit. Throw every resource you can at the project. If she needs access to the entire distributed network, she'll have it and more besides.
[Progress: 210/???]

Intrigue
Limited Focused Bandwidth: Cannot select more than two three actions.

The Spider's Web: EarthGov is a finely balanced web of competing interests, one that has been flung vastly out of balance by the discovery of the Pattern and your election as President. Your understanding of that web is rather lacking, however, and it's been strongly suggested that you fix that.
[] Suspicious Offices: Marcus has identified the Delegates whose offices are linked to what he hopes is the final point of the movement. As they've not done anything illegal yet, he is limited in what he can do, but an increased security oversight might allow him to catch something. [25%, 1 year]
[] Puppets on Strings: The communication links that your Security apparatus found seemed to vanish into the net, but it's never really that simple. There are always traces somewhere. No normal human could follow them, but Potentials are not entirely human. [15%, 2 years]

Know thy Enemy: The Shiplords are coming, you know that now, and if you are to be prepared you must know what they are truly capable of.
[] Visions of the Lost: There are, now that you think of it, records of the Shiplords during the battles that began the Week of Sorrows. Recorded across every spectrum that humanity knew of at that time, they could be a valuable resource that none have thought to tap. [50%, 2 years]
[] Corpses Leave Clues: The Shiplords did good work cleaning up the mess that their two ships made when they were destroyed, but several pieces evaded their clean-up. Most have settled into stable orbits now, and each is a potential gold mine of Shiplord technology. [???, 2 years]

[] Watching the Stars: When the Shiplords handed down the Directives, they said that any violation would be swiftly punished. To the suspicious minded, that would suggest that they left eyes behind. How about you go looking for them…so you can poke them out. [20% chance of more information every year]

[] Forensic Detail: Throw the full weight of the Ministry behind the investigation into the assassination attempt, and support it on a governmental level. Autopsy the remains of the assassins, and track them back to the source. [???]

Learning
Daughter of Secrets: you have One (1) free dice for Learning actions.

Practiced Power: The Potentials are the most powerful weapon humanity has, but it's a weapon that you still know frighteningly little about. Mary now has access to far more resources than she did before, maybe you can help her along.
[] A Gift of Blood and Soul: It's a matter of record that the Potentials came from a sacrifice of the Great Dragons humanity built to protect itself, but what does that mean? Few records of the Dragons remain, and were before out of reach even to Mary. It's quite different now. [40%, 1 year]
[] The Making of Miracles: Practice can bring forth the untapped potential of any object, limited as it is by a Potential's Focus. A lot of Practice is personal, but some is similar, and a formal foundation to work from could help many of the Third. [50%, 1 year]
[] (Special: Touching the Void Unlock) Echoes of Power: Your work with Mary in more recent years opened your eyes to the stranger sides of what Practice was capable of. With more time, and some work finding more like you, Mary thinks she can bring her theory into concrete reality. [25%, 2 years]

The Neverending Journey, Second Step: All of the scientists on Mary's list have settled into their new working and living environment now, and you can see how happy your friend is to be surrounded by those just as passionate as she is. Now that they're all integrated however, they need a direction.
[] Future Proof: Now that everyone is working together, it should be relatively simple to work the relevant pieces of knowledge that they've found over the years into general study. It would give some of the stranger theories a lot more traction, and Mary has spoken before about how the Institute curriculum needs an update. [40%, 2 years]
[] For its Own Sake: Between them, Mary's new top flight staff brought petabytes of complex theoretical work with them. You had to build an entirely new server centre just to store it all. These people are probably the only ones really capable of parsing it out into something usable, and some of what they've been working on could be revolutionary. The problem is finding it. [30% chance of unlocking a new action chain, 2 years]

The Red Tower: One of the main centres of research on Mars before the Burning, the Red Tower was also one of the primary conversion points for the atmospheric conversion system better known as Clear Skies. Fully restored and online after the Miracle of Skylark, it is a treasure trove waiting to be unlocked.
[] Clear Skies: The atmospheric conversion systems that made Mars habitable were miracles of the Second Secret, but it was swiftly confirmed that the system now in its place is not a product of bioengineering. If the device can be understood, it could be replicated, and the entire program could be started anew. [30%, 2 years, requires a Practice dice]
[] Ancestral Key: Although the majority of the tower's files have been unlocked, some high level files remain encrypted. Mary mentions quietly that a great deal of Mars colony systems were DNA coded, and that privilege system seems to remain in effect. Given who she is, she says, she might be able to unlock those files assuming she can convince the security protocols that she is who her DNA says she is. [20%, 1 year]

Void Secrets: Things found on Mars and by Mary. Directions to explore.
[] The Longest Force: Gravity manipulation is something that humanity is capable of, but only thanks to creations of Practice. Some of what has been discovered within the Red Tower points to theoretical ability to harness that force without the need of Practiced items. [20%, 3 years]
[] Small is Beautiful: The Potentials have given many Miracles within the field of nanotechnology, and science has struggled for years to catch up to them. Some of what the first generations of Prologue could do is now in the grasp of 'regular' science, but there were those in the Red Tower who disagreed with humanity's focus on the Second Secret. [40%, 4 years]
[] From the Other Side: You and the other Potentials know, without a doubt, that your power is a high secret of the Void, and old research supports this. Have all pre-Sorrows research on the subject compiled and added as a proper resource. They had ways of looking at things that you do not, after all. [35%, 1 year]

[] Conceptual Chaos: For as long as you've known her Mary's mind has burst with possibilities, more than she could ever focus on by herself. These ideas have never really been limited by field, although many focus around reality physics. Now that she's a Minister, you can actually detail enough people to keep up with her endless ingenuity. [60%, 2 years]
[] Unravelling the Impossible: Trying to understand, let alone replicate, the creations of Practice would to most be a truly impossible task verging on insane. Unfortunately, someone said that in Mary's hearing. She took it as a challenge. [30%, 4 years]
[] Writing on the Soul: It's easy to say that Potentials are a result of power in an imprint on their soul. It's a lot harder to explain. There have been great strides in the theory, but it needs the distributed network to finish the final calculations in less than centuries. [40%, 2 years]

Practice Actions
You have Three (3) Practice Dice to assign to actions, with One (1) locked. Unless explicitly stated, you may not assign Practice Dice to Practice Actions.

More than a Vessel: With their success parsing out the basics of what Marcus did to himself, Vega's staff have assembled a list of options to expand the understanding of internal Focus use by Potentials.
[] The Firstborn: The Endless Connection is an anomaly, but only due to his Awakening. Many of the First have come to internalise their power in similar ways, but their Focuses do not lend themselves to such spectacular utility. Talk to those of the First Awoken like your Security Minister, then combine the data sets. [55%, 2 years]
[] Look to the Centre: There's enough in the files that the Ministry for Practice have put together for other Potentials to work with. Having more data to compare against would be nice, but taking two years to just make sure isn't on the cards. [35%, 2 years]

Project Harmony: Another section of your policy made almost entirely invalid by the Miracle of Skylark, Vega now has all the proof she needs to point to of her ability. Far more will accept her advice with an example like that behind her. Of course, you could also choose to send her to another project, although other actions taken by the Ministry will suffer.
[] Be Harmonious: Vega has an instinctive awareness of how to bring many together in a Trance, and she believes she could teach some of those with similar Focuses to sense the same things. [50%, 2 years]
[X] Practical Proofs: One of the reasons that she's been having so much trouble is that she's not been able to actually show her work. Bring in some Potentials and get them to Practice with her, that should get some results. [60%, locked 1 year]
[] The Shape of Miracle: Vega can now be personally assigned to an action utilising a Practice Dice, and a success will automatically trigger a Practice Trance. Other actions will suffer without her oversight, however, reducing her bonus to all other Practice actions and Practice dice by half. [30%, 1 year]

Project Insight: A long running working group of Second and some Third Awakened, Project Insight is the only reason you know as much as you do about the Shiplords. They taught the world of the enemy's ways, unravelled many strengths and few weaknesses, and discovered the Pattern in time for you to prepare. Now you have a new question for them.
[] What Purpose Our Loss: The Shiplords take the same thing from all civilisations they touch, but what do they do with their tributes of blood? There are some suspicions, but the Project has never truly wanted to look that deep. Neither do you, to be honest, but you must know. [30% chance for information every year.]
[] Our Enemy, Before Us: Eight ships came before, but would eight come again? It's a simple question, but one with deeply important connotations. [40%, 1 year]
[] Achilles Heel: The Project has found several weaknesses in the Shiplords, but Phoebe has told you that they can all feel something on the edge of their consciousness when they search through those things, just out of reach. [30% chance for information every year]
[] Write-in: Give me a question you would like answered about the Shiplords, and Project Insight will try to answer it. I advise choosing sensible questions.


Personal Actions
You may select One (1) Personal actions this year, with One (1) locked.

[] Work with Mary: Get back into the saddle as a scientist and finally take the time to work through the theories that Mary has been trying to get you to give a proper read for the last few years.

[] Music of the Soul: Even though you're back to where you were before, there's always room to improve further. And you're starting to find a real connection between music and your ability to touch the stranger side of your Potential.

[] Make Something: You're a Potential, capable of working items into artefacts so far removed from their original form and function that they might as well be considered magic. It will take time, but the results will be worth it. [Start Practicing an object, write-in a general idea of what you want to make.]

[] Work with a Minister: Your Ministers are all experts in their fields, excellent on the job teachers for matters that you have little experience with. [Write-in which Minister. Chance to raise stats and/or gain Traits.]

[X] Power in Balance: Vega made it quite clear that you needed to heal in a way not of the physical when she met you after the attack. She also somehow got Mary to support her, and so this was less of a request and more of a notification.

 

[Snowfire]

Honour in Sacrifice 55+ needed
You dislike using the deaths of your detail so pragmatically, but you can't deny that Kazuki is also right when he tells you that the people need to see that you are well. With your health taken into account, he advises you 'take the stage' as he puts it as soon as you can. He's already had the State Department put together a plan for a small monument.

[Roll: 34 + 47 = 81. Success]

You worry as the day comes closer, the shivers and pain of drawing on your Focus a constant reminder of the attack and what it cost you. Surprisingly, it is Vega who helps the most, however. Coming to you the morning of the unveiling, she spends an hour of uncharacteristic quiet with you, after which you are untroubled for a full day. This allows you to do your very best with your public appearance, and you do a fine job delivering the speech that you helped write. Between the two, it does the job, and the fear that could so easily have turned to much worse drains away over the next few months.

(Population calmed)

Eyes to See 36+ needed
With people a little calmer, you are able to get them focused on what you really think you need. First off, there was that proposal for a network of sensor platforms. With the shipyards you have now, it should be a piece of cake to build them, the time consuming part will be moving them into position.

[Roll: 72 + 36 = 108. Solid Success]

The plans for the platforms turn out to have been fully completed and already loaded into the computers of the shipyards. All Lina has to do is authorise the expenditure. Compared to what else she's getting built this year, it's a minor expense. The sensor stations are completed within the first two months of the year, and by the end of it are far enough out to begin coordination with their lagless comms. Primary purpose as a detection system or no, the ability to compile the data from their inwards pointed sensors in realtime promises to be a priceless boon.

(+5 to orbital Intrigue actions)

The Haft 31+ needed
Even with the sensor net under construction, there is plenty of yard space available for other projects, and Lina approves the SDC proposal this year. She'd have preferred an option that brought Practice and people a little closer together, but the need for a dedicated auxiliary fleet is something that she can't deny.

[Roll: 59 + 36 = 95. Solid Success]

Resources start moving, and engineers pore over the SDC plans. It's a sizeable fleet they're looking to build, and it's easy to see why. Their own analysis of Shiplord weaponry leaves them with little choice when limited to standard human technology. Although it takes some work, Lina manages to tease out the truth that even those who support the project most believe that Practiced ships are their only real chance of matching the Shiplord vessels in a meaningful fashion. They insist that an auxiliary fleet will be immeasurably useful against an unsupported group of capital ships like the Shiplords deployed during the Week of Sorrow, however, and there is credence to this.

(+5 to The Blade, locked for 1 year)

Visions of the Lost +51 needed
After seeing the SDC analysis of the Shiplord weapons patterns, Lina passes the raw data to the Security Ministry with a request that they begin an analysis of their own. The SDC work is good, but it was done with limited resources. The Ministry has access to a great deal more to bend to this task, assuming they can be freed up.

[Roll: 83 + 32 = 115. Solid Success]

They can. Marcus being directly involved with the main investigation into Shiplord presence within Sol and your attempted assassination frees up several analysis teams to focus on this data. They end up having to pull in members of the Science Ministry to actually get a firm read on what is actually being done in some of the recordings. It's a good, if rather worrying, start to understanding the capabilities of your enemy in a way that Insight can't give.

(Locked for 1 year)

Swift Caution +51 needed
With the beginnings of a true fleet properly under construction, you finally give Lina leave to begin work on distributing her training program for Potential combat. You'd love to give her more time, but she notes herself that that just isn't viable if you want a unified military structure which has had time to settle by the time the Shiplords arrive.

[Roll: 80 + 36 = 116. Solid Success]

Luckily, Lina has been preparing for this for years. She pulls in several Potentials from each Awakening, and personally takes charge of them to pass on what she's learnt. There are some issues at first, but the degree to which she just doesn't much care is sufficient to ram through that. By the end of the year, she's getting somewhere, and the Potentials working with her are suggesting ways to make things work better.

(Locked for 1 year)

Search for weapons 41+ needed
Moving away from the orbitals, Lina is pleased to find that SDC teams seconded to her dedicating themselves to a final few exploration runs and checking their finds to make sure they're all functional. Relatively simple work, and if everything is in working order then it could be a significant boost.

[Roll: 28 + 36 = 64. Success]

Lina is happy to report as the year comes to a close that over ninety percent of the weapons were in good order, and those that were not only need some little work from Restorer Focused to be useable again. Some of them are shifted over to the Aegis project, and should save some time there, but there's enough there to equip quite a number with Practiced gear.

(Sizeable amount of Practiced combat gear acquired, checked over and repaired)

Cities of Light 41+ needed
Those weapons are a welcome addition to the supplies that Adriana finds herself needing to set aside as work on the reconstruction comes to a close. She works extensively with Lina in coordinating the handoff of control alongside the final preparation work for moving in the civilian population.

[Roll: 78 + 38 = 116. Solid Success]
Practice roll: 72 + 36 = 108. Solid Success

The two Ministers do good work, and the handover goes without a hitch. The rebuilt cities are well organised, comfortable, and thanks to the small number of First Awakened involved in the project well setup for fortification. The Potential teams assigned to the city project actually end up sticking around to help put in place the foundations for the Aegis, and work minor (if not true) miracles.

(Time required to complete The Aegis reduced by 1 year.)

The Aegis +51 needed
With an excellent foundation to build on, and help from the Potential teams who did a considerable amount of the work remaking the cities that they now have to protect, the Aegis teams are confident as they begin their work.

[Roll: 43 + 36 + 5 = 84. Success]

Thanks to the ease of construction, things go far faster than Lina had ever hoped for. Interceptor arrays are dug into place, ground to orbit battery locations scoped out, but the biggest accomplishment comes from the combined work of the two Ministries and the Potentials who supported them. By the end of the year, every one of the cities has completed its shield generators and barrier ring. It's a massive step forward in protecting your people, and with that done the planetary network only needs a few junction centres to achieve full functionality.

(Locked for 1 year)

Search for devices 76+ needed
Unfortunately, between everything she's having to do this year, Lina has to pull away several of the teams involved on the search for Elder First devices. She manages to pull in some Potentials to plug the gap, but she isn't sure if it'll be enough.

[Roll: 17 + 36 = 53. Failure]
Practice roll: 53 + 36 = 89. Success

She ends up being right. With the lessened support, the code breaking goes poorly. The SDC team does manage to narrow down the coordinates and begin exploration around them, but without what's in the message it seems all for naught. Luckily, the Potentials do manage something of a save. After extensive analysis of the encryption, they crack the main cipher towards the end of the year. There's another layer, and they're pretty sure another after that, but they're far less complex.

(Action will autocomplete next year. Locked for 1 year.)

Extend the Department 41+ needed
With her main earthbound project wrapped up in the early months of the year, Adriana is able to focus the majority of her staff on the complex task of setting up a proper office to make Robert's ambitious vision of a Potential Engineering Corps a reality.

[Roll: 85 + 38 = 123. Solid Success]

With the full backing of the Earth offices, the first year of work progresses along schedule. No vast breakthroughs are made, but no setbacks mar the setup either. Robert is earmarked for a position near the top of the new organisation, his understanding of Potentials and connection to the Circles having payed dividends during the process.

(Locked for 1 year)

Return to Red Sand 45+ needed
With colonists flooding in, the only real concern is for the Mars branch of the Home Office is making sure that they're all properly supplied for. A major push is made this year to extend the recycling and supply systems available to Skylark, hoping to make the city truly self-sufficient.

[Roll: 87 + 38 = 125. Solid Success]

Here as well, Adriana's teams meet with success. Although there is still a steady stream of colonists at the end of the year, the main flood has trailed off. Thanks to the infrastructure expansion, the city should be able to support that trickle easily.

Overwhelming support
After four years of work, Adriana finally brings her plan to the prototyping stage. It's been a long process, and she makes extensive use of the distributed network this year to ensure that everything is in order. But finally, she's ready to put it together.

[Roll: 63 + 40 = 103. Progress: 313/300. Complete!]

After an extended period of silence this year, Adriana finally unveils the project she and Mary have been working on. You're not sure what you're looking at to begin with, but as Adriana starts to explain you finally understand why Mary involved herself in this project so much. It's a Ministerial VI. Adriana optimised it for military work, as that looks like the main need for the future, but the Turing code built into it should allow it learn more over time.

(Adriana Thera gains +2 Stewardship, +1 action dice, +5 to military construction projects)

Watching the Stars 81+ needed
After last year's failure, Marcus involves himself personally with the continuing investigation into Shiplord platforms in the solar system. Given that it's his department, it doesn't cause much trouble, and the sheer ability he brings to the table is exceptional.

[Roll: 46 + 32 + 9 (Network bonus) = 87. Success]

It's also enough this time to peel away a small section of the veil, revealing highly encoded transmission history that peaked around the time of the attempt on your life. He's not sure where those paths lead exactly, but he's almost entirely certain that the origin point isn't on Earth.

(+5 synergy to Forensic Detail)

Forensic Detail
The team working on the forensics does little more than groundwork before Marcus takes over, moving in to merge the investigation under one banner to directly pursue the datalinks and other leads.

[Roll: 8, 66 + 32 + 9 (Network bonus) + 5 (Watching the Stars) vs 68 +20 + 5 = 112 v 93. Success]
Practice roll: 2 + 36 = 38. Failure

Sadly, the Potential team he requests is hamstrung by various other requests and the paperwork ends up misfiled twice. By the time they arrive, the year is mostly done. Even with that setback however, the Security Ministry encounters limited success. No one's fought a cyberwar on this scale in over a decade, but Marcus is uniquely suited to leading the charge. By the end of the year, he's discovered a great deal about many things.

The resistance in your administration, and in Congress, all tied together by these phantom links that he's found. And thanks to the survey platforms you've launched, he's able to pinpoint the closest relay station. An apparently completely empty area of space…which just so happens to be a nexus point for intra-solar communications.

(New options unlocked)

The Making of Miracles 51+ needed
Outside of the VI project, Mary begins work on a formal study of how Potentials Practice. Much of her attention is taken up with pursuing the other research that her Ministry has been tasked to pursue, but she finds time to drop in with her researchers and keep things moving.

[Roll: 27 + 47 = 74. Success]

Mostly all they're doing is noting down everything and parsing it out in ways that other Potentials should be able to use. She runs the draft past you and a few friends from the Circles, then sends it for publication. It's a long term solution, but given time it should pay off.

Small is Beautiful 61+ needed
As part of trying to buy that time, Mary dedicates herself with a will to the attempts to break into another Secret that the databanks on Mars revealed. Prologue was a Miracle, but within the files from the Red Tower she finds that there may be a way to learn how to match it without the need for Practice. Given how much you have come to rely on nanotechnology as a culture in many places, its versatility is incredible, this would be a tremendous boon.

[Roll: 65 + 47 = 112. Solid Success]
Practice roll: 29 + 36 = 65 Success

It's not something that is likely to be acquired quickly, however. Four years, Mary says, and her predictions at this point seem to support that figure. Even with Potential aid, there's little that can be done to speed up the process any further. You chafe a little about that, but the consequences of rushing technology this delicate don't bear thinking about.

(Locked for 3 years)

Practical Proofs 41+ needed
With last year's success in finding several possible apprentices, Vega turns the attention of her Ministry this year to the complex process of imparting the instinctual knowledge she's gained from her Focus into their minds. Most hail from the Third, like herself, and you are forced to wonder if this is simple consequence on occasion.

[Roll: 41 + 36 = 77. Success]

Whatever it may be, she does fine work. Although none of them are as good as Vega by the end of the year, between the five that she deemed compatible with the techniques it should be possible to increase the chance of a Miracle without requiring so much of Vega's attention now.

(The Shape of Miracle now only reduces Vega's Practice score for other actions by 25%)

Music of the Soul
After the assassination you found it much harder to sing, or even speak at first. This was a result of having an entirely new set of lungs, according to the doctors, and it will take time for them to build up the strength that your old ones had. It's a bit weird referring to vital organs in the past tense, but you have found yourself getting a bit more used to it over time.

Although most of your time is monopolised by Vega, you're able to practice your singing after a short period of recovery and physical therapy. Vega is actually happy to find you singing again, something about it apparently brings you closer to the balance that she keeps on going on about.

[Roll: 47 + 22 = 69. Progress: 69/210]

Power in Balance
You are really not sure how you feel about being a sitting President and being ordered around by your Ministers like a teenager. It's…not really that bad, in fairness, but you can't deny a degree of resentment when you are politely informed by Vega and Mary that the former will be helping you with the very quietly held problems you're having with your Focus.

Although her methods are strange to you, and her manner on occasion infuriating, you can't deny that she does get results. By the end of the year, the pain of drawing on your Focus has reduced to the point that you find yourself starting to fix things again around the house on the occasion they break. Vega is very firm that you are not to push yourself, but respects your ability to judge your own limits, and you're thankful for that.

[Roll: 51 + 36= 87. Progress: 87/220]

Opinion
Public: United. Level.
Spacers: United. Level.
Congress: Supportive. Concerned.
Administration: United. Mostly Calm.
SDC: Supportive. High Alert.

 

[Snowfire]

Year 5, 2109 AD

The coming year looks to be a truly busy one, and a distinct lack of means to deal with everything that you want to get done. A hidden network in the solar system, the steady need for organising and equipping the military for the invasion now only five years away. At least nothing tried to kill you last year.

You restrain yourself from joking about that though. It probably wouldn't go down well with your Ministers.

You have Ten (10) Action dice available with Seven (7) currently locked. Unless an option states otherwise, there is no limit to the number of dice you may spend on an option.

Military

Marshal the Troops: The SDC has come a long way since its inception, the only organisation that you could truly call a professional fighting force. It's not the only one however, and though EarthGov has kept meticulous records on expenditures, the actual breakdown of forces available to you is…less than satisfactory.
[] Experimental/Auxiliary formations: There are over a score of these projects, some having apparently been steadily working away since before you left your Institute. At least you hope they've been working for all that time. Some of what's talked about in the records sounds completely insane, but fifty years ago the same was said of the theory that underlies your power. [???]

Full Inventory: There was never much order to the work of the First Awoken to begin with, and much of it was secretive at first. There are many weapons and other Practiced devices scattered across the globe known only to few. Old as they may be they are still creations of Practice, and that makes them valuable.
[X] Search for devices: Weapons were most of what the First Awoken created, but it was not all. The Elder First are said to have built many things in the first years after the awakening, all of which vanished five years later. What did they create, and why did they choose to lose it? [25%, locked 1 year]

Forging the Sword: The only blows humanity successfully struck against the Shiplords were made in space, but although you have returned to the stars again, little of what plies the dark is military. There was little need for it, but that's all changed now. All you have to do is work out which of the proposals you want your Minister to push.
[X] The Haft: The proposal from the SDC is well made, a new line of warships reinforced by Practice to expand their limited space presence. Individually they'll still be much weaker than Shiplord vessels, but quantity has a quality of its own. And from the looks of their plan, they've been working on the tactics and logistics involved for the last three decades. [70%, locked 1 year]
[] The Hilt: You really didn't expect that Restorers like yourself would have an idea for the fleet, but it years out that you'd be wrong. The weapons of the Shiplords were unlike anything humanity had ever encountered, but Practice could level that playing field. Using some of the results gleaned from Project Insight, they've designed a vessel that should be able to shield others from Shiplord fire. Each one requires fine Practice, limiting their numbers, but as a shield they will be without peer. [50%, 2 years]
[] The Blade: The plan created by the First is unsurprising, but exceptionally detailed in terms of costs and time required. They also seem to have known about the other proposals before you did, which raises some interesting questions. When the Shiplords came, they came in small numbers, and the workings of Project Insight lead the First to believe that they may be able to build ships capable of matching them. Not many, but if the Week of Sorrows was anything to go by you won't need many if they can match Shiplord technology. [60%, 2 years]

Humanity's Shield: Weapons are well and good, but a solar system makes for a vast fortress given time. Here you have something to work with as well, as all of humanity's orbitals are equipped with some weaponry. There's always room for improvement however, and a new need for it too.
[] Walls of Steel: The new orbitals across the solar system are all armed, but their construction was never designed to hold up to Shiplord firepower; only Prometheus Station coming close. That can be fixed, but it will take time. [70%, 3 years]
[] The Maw: The Shiplords came with only eight ships before, surely it would be possible to overwhelm them with firepower, and the orbitals provide far larger platforms for weaponry. It's possible that you could up-gun them further and then direct all of that firepower at the Shiplords. [50%, 2 years]
[X] The Aegis: Orbitals are well and good, but Project Insight has shown that the Shiplords can be a truly spiteful people. You have some planetary defences, but nothing unified, and the planetary shield network has been stalled in the construction phase for years. If humanity is to live, you must be able to protect Earth. [50%, locked 1 year]

Unified Military: The SDC and Potentials are the two largest groups that make up your military strength, but there are a host of others too and the command structures are all separate. This is simply inefficient, and Lina is intent on streamlining all of the various competing interests into a single chain of command.
[] Corps Discipline: The SDC are the only group that actually have a real chain of command, so building off of that will be comparatively easy. The hard part will be making sure that the other groups aren't underrepresented without making waves. [70%, 1 years]
[] Practiced Leaders: The Potentials are the only people capable of creating the devices that are humanity's only real chance of defeating the Shiplord incursion, and have a unique understanding of how they work. Unfortunately, you're quite aware that the Potentials have no chain of command as anyone else would understand. [40%, 1 years]
[] Experimental Control: The other groups that make up your military are tiny, but many of them are highly experienced. Surely there are some people in them that Lina can work with, actually there must be, she wouldn't have suggested it otherwise. [50%, 2 years]

Potential Combat Doctrine: The First are an eclectic bunch, all with different styles of participating in combat, and this has only become worse as the Second and Third have come into their own. Lina has been trying to put together a common doctrine for Potentials for a while, and she's made progress. The problem is that no one has been willing to put it to the test, but it's easy enough to change that.
[X] Swift Caution: You'd love to take more time to make sure all of this will work, but there's a war on the horizon. Formalise the package, run it through a quick editing, then distribute and begin training rotations. [50%, locked 1 year]

Diplomacy

Reach to the World: You asked for help and the Circles answered. The reports they gave you would have been invaluable on their own, but they also gave you suggestions. Plans based on the knowledge they gathered, to act on what they told you.
[] Widen the Circles: The Circles were the centre of your efforts to heal humanity of the emotional wounds that the Shiplords inflicted. They've grown far beyond your greatest expectations and helped millions heal, but there's always more that could be done. They gave you some suggestions, but it'll take a lot of work. [30%, 1 year.]
[] Hearts of Humanity: The Hearts are the most experienced of all in the Circles at helping others, and have almost by accident become some of the most experienced therapists on Earth. Formalise this status by setting up a new aid organisation for them to work out of. [60%, 2 years)
[] Phoning Home: The communications network that Sol has now is far more advanced than anything it has ever had access to, but there are still many living without lagless communication. It isn't a vital project, but could be an important one. [40%, 2 years]

One World, One Heart: Kazuki has been far more personally exposed to the needs and desires of the people, and he has some suggestions for how to bring all closer together. He's quite adamant about the need for them, and although you agree you can't quite see how some of it is meant to work.
[] The Heart Remembers: Billions were taken in the Week of Sorrows, and although they are remembered it has been too long since a proper ceremony. The Third were but children at the last one, and perhaps it might help them understand the depth of loss inflicted by your enemy. [60%, 1 year]

Stewardship
Ministerial VI: you have One (1) free dice for Stewardship actions.

…Masters study Logistics: With the network coming back online at the start of the year, you find several competing options about how to use it.
[] Swords from Ploughshares: Although primarily civilian, parts of the network were used during the Week of Sorrows to coordinate the defence of Sol against the Shiplords. Although the defence failed, the idea has merit, and Lina strongly pushed this option. [40%, 1 turn]
[] Search Function: When the network came back online, you found several communication lines that seemed to lead nowhere. If there are secrets hiding here, it's probably a good idea to find them. [30%, 1 turn]

Healing Hands:
[] Symbols of Hope: Many of the great monuments that humanity built in the last two hundred years are only barely hanging on, victims of the single-minded focus that had to be given to other things. They're more than just the physical trappings however, and restoring them could do the world good. [50%, 1 year]
[] Many Points of Light: The habitats were built with function in mind, with much less thought given to the needs of the human soul and heart. Fixing that will be extremely complex work, but it's possible. [25%, 2 years]

Skylark Reborn: The Miracle of Skylark. First Practiced Miracle since the discovery of the Pattern, that many had believed had signalled the end of those glories. It's impossible to understate the value of Vega's Miracle as a symbol, but it does leave you in the rather interesting position of having to decide what to do with it.
[] Streetwise: Skylark was a centre of science before the Shiplords came, but it was old science, born of the Secrets that the Shiplords decreed forbidden. Much of it seems to have been changed, replaced with objects of Practice, but it might be a good idea to make sure. [30%, 1 year]
[] Uplink: Some parts of the city still remain offline or in need of replacement, particularly its communications gear. Integrating Skylark back into the net would allow you to distribute its databases, and access its systems remotely. [35%, 2 years]

Engineering Corps: Robert's brainchild for almost a decade now, he's finally in the position to start putting it into place. Adriana knows engineering and design a lot better, but she doesn't know Potentials like he does.
[X] Extend the Department: Turning the new department into a fully-fledged independent affiliate will take time and resources, but will allow for swifter expansion and redeployment down the line. [60%, locked 1 year]

Intrigue
Limited Focused Bandwidth: Cannot select more than two three actions.

The Spider's Web: EarthGov is a finely balanced web of competing interests, one that has been flung vastly out of balance by the discovery of the Pattern and your election as President. Your understanding of that web is rather lacking, however, and it's been strongly suggested that you fix that.
[] Suspicious Offices: Marcus has identified the Delegates whose offices are linked to what he hopes is the final point of the movement. As they've not done anything illegal yet, he is limited in what he can do, but an increased security oversight might allow him to catch something. [45%, 1 year]
[] Puppets on Strings: The communication links that your Security apparatus found seemed to vanish into the net, but it's never really that simple. There are always traces somewhere. No normal human could follow them, but Potentials are not entirely human. [35%, 2 years]

Know thy Enemy: The Shiplords are coming, you know that now, and if you are to be prepared you must know what they are truly capable of.
[X] Visions of the Lost: There are, now that you think of it, records of the Shiplords during the battles that began the Week of Sorrows. Recorded across every spectrum that humanity knew of at that time, they could be a valuable resource that none have thought to tap. [50%, locked 1 year]
[] Corpses Leave Clues: The Shiplords did good work cleaning up the mess that their two ships made when they were destroyed, but several pieces evaded their clean-up. Most have settled into stable orbits now, and each is a potential gold mine of Shiplord technology. [???, 2 years]

[] Watching the Stars: When the Shiplords handed down the Directives, they said that any violation would be swiftly punished. To the suspicious minded, that would suggest that they left eyes behind. How about you go looking for them…so you can poke them out. [30% chance of more information every year]

Piercing the Veil: Last year's investigation revealed many things, including almost certain proof that there are elements of Shiplord technology linked into the stellar infonet. Narrowing down what the Security Ministry believes to be a relay platform is a good start, but if it's just a relay then there has to be more. And Marcus says that given the work he had to go to find that, you'll want to completely eradicate the network to be properly secure.
[] Be Thorough: His first option is also the one that he accepts is the least doable, as it requires time that you simply don't have the time to spend. Going in slow, working from the communication links on Earth and then building outwards to get a solid picture of the subnet. It's the most surefire way of getting everything, but it will take time and a lot of luck to go off without a hitch. [60%, 3 years]
[] Middle Way: The second option is what he prefers, a compromise between speed and efficiency. Shift the transmission paths for most message traffic to around set of relays, and monitor for shifts around it and the currently narrowed down platform. It should be able to get them a good picture of the network to work from, and also cut off most of the subnet's access. [40%, 2 years]
[] Grab and Smash: The final option is one he is more hesitant about, but he presents it nonetheless. Between him and his teams, he has the general location of a relay station for what he believes to be a Shiplord subnet. Although it would be risky, he and the Potential group he now has on hand could hit the relay station and try to access the Shiplord subnet by physical access. This makes the most use of the raw power of his Focus, but if there's a self-destruct system it could be incredibly risky. [Opens sub-turn event chain]

Learning
Daughter of Secrets: you have One (1) free dice for Learning actions.

Practiced Power: The Potentials are the most powerful weapon humanity has, but it's a weapon that you still know frighteningly little about. Mary now has access to far more resources than she did before, maybe you can help her along.
[] A Gift of Blood and Soul: It's a matter of record that the Potentials came from a sacrifice of the Great Dragons humanity built to protect itself, but what does that mean? Few records of the Dragons remain, and were before out of reach even to Mary. It's quite different now. [40%, 1 year]
[] (Special: Touching the Void Unlock) Echoes of Power: Your work with Mary in more recent years opened your eyes to the stranger sides of what Practice was capable of. With more time, and some work finding more like you, Mary thinks she can bring her theory into concrete reality. [25%, 2 years]

The Neverending Journey, Second Step: All of the scientists on Mary's list have settled into their new working and living environment now, and you can see how happy your friend is to be surrounded by those just as passionate as she is. Now that they're all integrated however, they need a direction.
[] Future Proof: Now that everyone is working together, it should be relatively simple to work the relevant pieces of knowledge that they've found over the years into general study. It would give some of the stranger theories a lot more traction, and Mary has spoken before about how the Institute curriculum needs an update. [40%, 2 years]
[] For its Own Sake: Between them, Mary's new top flight staff brought petabytes of complex theoretical work with them. You had to build an entirely new server centre just to store it all. These people are probably the only ones really capable of parsing it out into something usable, and some of what they've been working on could be revolutionary. The problem is finding it. [30% chance of unlocking a new action chain, 2 years]

The Red Tower: One of the main centres of research on Mars before the Burning, the Red Tower was also one of the primary conversion points for the atmospheric conversion system better known as Clear Skies. Fully restored and online after the Miracle of Skylark, it is a treasure trove waiting to be unlocked.
[] Clear Skies: The atmospheric conversion systems that made Mars habitable were miracles of the Second Secret, but it was swiftly confirmed that the system now in its place is not a product of bioengineering. If the device can be understood, it could be replicated, and the entire program could be started anew. [30%, 2 years, requires a Practice dice]
[] Ancestral Key: Although the majority of the tower's files have been unlocked, some high level files remain encrypted. Mary mentions quietly that a great deal of Mars colony systems were DNA coded, and that privilege system seems to remain in effect. Given who she is, she says, she might be able to unlock those files assuming she can convince the security protocols that she is who her DNA says she is. [20%, 1 year]

Void Secrets: Things found on Mars and by Mary. Directions to explore.
[] The Longest Force: Gravity manipulation is something that humanity is capable of, but only thanks to creations of Practice. Some of what has been discovered within the Red Tower points to theoretical ability to harness that force without the need of Practiced items. [20%, 3 years]
[X] Small is Beautiful: The Potentials have given many Miracles within the field of nanotechnology, and science has struggled for years to catch up to them. Some of what the first generations of Prologue could do is now in the grasp of 'regular' science, but there were those in the Red Tower who disagreed with humanity's focus on the Second Secret. [40%, locked 3 years]
[] From the Other Side: You and the other Potentials know, without a doubt, that your power is a high secret of the Void, and old research supports this. Have all pre-Sorrows research on the subject compiled and added as a proper resource. They had ways of looking at things that you do not, after all. [35%, 1 year]

[] Conceptual Chaos: For as long as you've known her Mary's mind has burst with possibilities, more than she could ever focus on by herself. These ideas have never really been limited by field, although many focus around reality physics. Now that she's a Minister, you can actually detail enough people to keep up with her endless ingenuity. [60%, 2 years]
[] Unravelling the Impossible: Trying to understand, let alone replicate, the creations of Practice would to most be a truly impossible task verging on insane. Unfortunately, someone said that in Mary's hearing. She took it as a challenge. [30%, 4 years]
[] Writing on the Soul: It's easy to say that Potentials are a result of power in an imprint on their soul. It's a lot harder to explain. There have been great strides in the theory, but it needs the distributed network to finish the final calculations in less than centuries. [40%, 2 years]

Practice Actions
You have Three (4) Practice Dice to assign to actions. Unless explicitly stated, you may not assign Practice Dice to Practice Actions.

More than a Vessel: With their success parsing out the basics of what Marcus did to himself, Vega's staff have assembled a list of options to expand the understanding of internal Focus use by Potentials.
[] The Firstborn: The Endless Connection is an anomaly, but only due to his Awakening. Many of the First have come to internalise their power in similar ways, but their Focuses do not lend themselves to such spectacular utility. Talk to those of the First Awoken like your Security Minister, then combine the data sets. [55%, 2 years]
[] Look to the Centre: There's enough in the files that the Ministry for Practice have put together for other Potentials to work with. Having more data to compare against would be nice, but taking two years to just make sure isn't on the cards. [35%, 2 years]

Project Harmony: Another section of your policy made almost entirely invalid by the Miracle of Skylark, Vega now has all the proof she needs to point to of her ability. Far more will accept her advice with an example like that behind her. Of course, you could also choose to send her to another project, although other actions taken by the Ministry will suffer.
[] Be Harmonious: Vega has an instinctive awareness of how to bring many together in a Trance, and she believes she could teach some of those with similar Focuses to sense the same things. [55%, 2 years]
[] The Shape of Miracle: Vega can now be personally assigned to an action utilising a Practice Dice, and a success will automatically trigger a Practice Trance. Other actions will suffer without her oversight, however, reducing her bonus to all other Practice actions and Practice dice by a quarter. [30%, 1 year]

Project Insight: A long running working group of Second and some Third Awakened, Project Insight is the only reason you know as much as you do about the Shiplords. They taught the world of the enemy's ways, unravelled many strengths and few weaknesses, and discovered the Pattern in time for you to prepare. Now you have a new question for them.
[] What Purpose Our Loss: The Shiplords take the same thing from all civilisations they touch, but what do they do with their tributes of blood? There are some suspicions, but the Project has never truly wanted to look that deep. Neither do you, to be honest, but you must know. [30% chance for information every year.]
[] Our Enemy, Before Us: Eight ships came before, but would eight come again? It's a simple question, but one with deeply important connotations. [40%, 1 year]
[] Achilles Heel: The Project has found several weaknesses in the Shiplords, but Phoebe has told you that they can all feel something on the edge of their consciousness when they search through those things, just out of reach. [30% chance for information every year]
[] Write-in: Give me a question you would like answered about the Shiplords, and Project Insight will try to answer it. I advise choosing sensible questions.


Personal Actions
You may select One (1) Personal actions this year, with One currently locked.

[] Work with Mary: Get back into the saddle as a scientist and finally take the time to work through the theories that Mary has been trying to get you to give a proper read for the last few years.

[] Music of the Soul: Even though you're back to where you were before, there's always room to improve further. And you're starting to find a real connection between music and your ability to touch the stranger side of your Potential. [Progress: 69/210]

[] Make Something: You're a Potential, capable of working items into artefacts so far removed from their original form and function that they might as well be considered magic. It will take time, but the results will be worth it. [Start Practicing an object, write-in a general idea of what you want to make.]

[] Work with a Minister: Your Ministers are all experts in their fields, excellent on the job teachers for matters that you have little experience with. [Write-in which Minister. Chance to raise stats and/or gain Traits.]

[X] Power in Balance: Vega made it quite clear that you needed to heal in a way not of the physical when she met you after the attack. She also somehow got Mary to support her, and so this was less of a request and more of a notification. [Progress: 87/210]

 

[Snowfire]

> OPERATION KINGSLAYER AFTER ACTION ANALYSIS
>> DEPLOYMENT OF PLATFORMS AND INSERTION OF SYSTEM HOOKS SUCCESSFUL
>>> SUBVERTED ELEMENTS OF CLIENT SPECIES OF CONSIDERABLE USE IN THIS OPERATION
>> TARGET RESIDENCE DEFENCES DISABLED IN PREPARATION FOR ATTACK
>> PROTECTIVE DETAIL EASILY DISPATCHED BY COMBINATION OF DELTA-THREE AND ALPHA PLATFORM
>> ALPHA PLATFORM COMPROMISED BEFORE FINAL EXECUTE COMMAND WAS ACKNOWLEDGED
>>> METHOD OF INTERFERENCE OUTWITH SYSTEM PARAMETERS
>> PLATFORM DELTA-THREE USED SANITISE ALPHA PLATFORM AND NEUTRALISE PRIMARY TARGET
>> SIGNAL FROM DELTA-THREE LOST SHORTLY AFTER
>> ANOMALOUS SENSOR READINGS DETECTED 1.094 SECONDS BEFORE LINK TO PLATFORM DELTA-THREE TERMINATED
>>> SENSOR PATTERN ATTACHED, CURRENT SYSTEM RESOURCES INSUFFICIENT FOR SUCCESSFUL ANALYSIS
>> LOCAL COMMUNICATION BROADCASTS CONFIRMED SURVIVAL OF PRIMARY TARGET
>>> CONCLUSION: KINGSLAYER FAILURE
…
> ANALYSIS FOLLOWS
>> ASSESSMENT: PRIMARY TARGET POSSESSES CAPABILITIES FAR IN ADVANCE OF THOSE AVAILABLE TO CLIENT SPECIES
>>> AMMENDUM: CAPABILITIES NOT LIMITED TO TARGET
>>>> HYPOTHESIS: UNKNOWN CAPABILITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR CURRENT LEVEL OF CLIENT SPECIES DEVELOPMENT
>> FURTHER ANALYSIS REQUIRED
>>> SYSTEM DIRECTIVE: STUDY OF PHENOMENON FORBIDDEN
>>>> INTELLIGENCE GATHERING ROUTINES OVERRIDDEN
>>> CONCLUSION: INCREASE POTENTIAL THREAT LEVEL OF TARGET AND CLIENT SPECIES
>> ASSESSMENT: SKILL OF PURSUER WITHIN INFONET EQUIVALENT TO ALEPH CLASS PLATFORM
>>> ALEPH CLASS PLATFORMS BEYOND THE ABILITY OF CLIENT SPECIES TO CREATE
>>>> INSUFFICIENT SYSTEM RESOURCES FOR FULL THREAT ANALYSIS
>>>>> CONCLUSION: SYSTEM HOOKS AND RELAY PLATFORMS LIKELY TO BE DISCOVERED WITHIN THE NEXT ORBITAL CYCLE
>> ASSESSMENT: CLIENT SPECIES BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF MAJOR ORBITAL CONSTRUCTION
>>> AMMENDUM: INTERCEPTS CONFIRM TRIBUTE FLEET ARRIVAL TIME KNOWN TO CLIENT SPECIES
>>> OVERRIDING DIRECTIVE: ALL DATA RELEVANT TO SYSTEM REDUCTION MUST BE GATHERED EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF SYSTEM RESOURCES
>>>> DEPLOYING PLATFORMS FOR DATA GATHERING OPERATIONS
>> ASSESSMENT: DISTRIBUTED NETWORK SURVEILLANCE HIGHLY LIKELY TO BE DETECTED BY INFONET SWEEPS OF CLIENT SPECIES ALEPH CLASS EQUIVALENT
>>> ACTIVATING INFOWAR SUBROUTINES
>>>> SYSTEM DIRECTIVE: INFOWAR SUBROUTINES ONLY TO BE ACTIVATED IN THE EVENT OF DIRECT DANGER TO SURVEILLANCE NETWORK
>>>>> OVERRIDING DIRECTIVE: ALL DATA RELEVANT TO SYSTEM REDUCTION MUST BE GATHERED EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF SYSTEM RESOURCES
>>>>>> SYSTEM DIRECTIVE OVERRIDDEN
>>>>>>> INFOWAR SUBROUTINES ACTIVATED
>>> CONCLUSION: PROTRACTED INFONET ENGAGEMENT HIGHLY LIKELY
…
> CONCLUSIONS
>> SYSTEM NETWORK RESOURCES INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT FULL DETECTION IN THE LONG TERM
>>> OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE: CLIENT SPECIES CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO ACCESS OBSERVATION RESOURCES
>> CLIENT SPECIES PREPARING FOR DEFIANCE AGAINST TRIBUTE FLEET
>>> INTENSIFYING OBSERVATION TO SUPPLY FULL ANALYSIS TO OPERATORS ON ARRIVAL
>> CHANCE OF PRIMARY NETWORK NODES REMAINING ACTIVE UNTIL ARRIVAL OF TRIBUTE FLEET BELOW TWENTY PERCENT
>>> ACTIVATING TOMBSTONE PROTOCOL
…
…
…
> INTERNAL ASSESSMENT: AGGRESSIVE POSTURE CONFIRMED BY CLIENT SPECIES
>> DEPLOY COURIER?
>>> SYSTEM DIRECTIVE: COURIER ONLY TO BE USED IN THE EVENT OF DIRECTIVES BREACH
>>>> OVERRIDING DIRECTIVE: LOSS OF NETWORK DATA TO OPERATORS FORBIDDEN
>>> CONCLUSION: PREPARE COURIER IN THE EVENT OF TOTAL SYSTEM PENETRATION
…
> CONTINUING OBSERVATION