I went through by threadmarks, so I dont know if anyone mentioned this, but the singer/Harmony relationship really does seem like a mirror of the fdderation/us relationship.
Like, a peaceful polity whose leaders are periodically mind controlled by mysterious intelligences obsessed with expasion.
The difference is that we mostly leave them alone and basically don't care what 'Maefuoabebhfrkgc Erfle Derubfreivfn' or whoever does as long as he isn't enslaving people, murdering people, or creating gray-goo.
Purely speculation, but I'm going to guess that 1 Disruption is probably roughly equal to removing 1% of Harmony subversion or influence from a nation.
We took all four Mapping Missions last quarter. It was a plan made by Briefvoice, our resident deployment guru, and our garrison has not changed since.
And I recall snippy comments (more than usual <ducks>) between the deployment guru and his primary understudy about the HBZ garrison size, and perhaps subsequent muttering about how the garrison was then being whittled away by all the patrols. I dunno.
Purely speculation, but I'm going to guess that 1 Disruption is probably roughly equal to removing 1% of Harmony subversion or influence from a nation.
[X][OFF] Enerael Off + Waterfall
-[X] Trigger a Mapping Event that the HBZ fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[X] Trigger a Mapping Event that the Paddah Sector fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. Chance of Harmony confrontation. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[X] Trigger a Mapping Event that the LBZ fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[X] Trigger a Mapping Event that the HBZ fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. Chance of Harmony confrontation. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[X] Task Group Wave (Kinetic 7, Subdue 8, Computer 6, Analysis 2, Sophint 5, Investigate 4, Infiltrate 3) (Escape: 9, Avg: 4*)
--[X] Expand Agent Cell Blueberry on Bolarus
---[X] Mission: Develop Agent Cell Blueberry into an operational mission team. (Req: SophInt 1). Reward: Blueberry becomes an operational mission team that can be attached to any task group operating in Bolian space. Skills are determined based on the skills of the Task Group assigned to this mission.
-[X] Task Group Season (Kinetic 2, Subdue 8, Computer 9, Analysis 7, SophInt 11, Investigation 9, Infiltration 6) (Escape 9, Avg: 3*)
--[X] Harmony Health Clinic on Puriurairaru
---[X] Mission: Bureaucratic Harassment (Req.: SophInt 3, Investigation 3). Disruption 3. Gain two new missions against the clinic.
-[X] Task Group Sunglass (Kinetic 5, Subdue 7, Computers 2, Analysis 2, SophInt 5, Investigation 2, Infiltration 5) (Escape 6, Avg 4*)
--[X] Expand Agent Cell Yellowbrick on Morshadd
---[X] Mission: Develop Agent Cell Yellowbrick into an operational mission team. (Req: SophInt 1). Reward: Yellowbrick becomes an operational mission team that can be attached to any task group operating in Licori space. Skills are determined based on the skills of the Task Group assigned to this mission.
-[X] Task Group Fastener (Kinetic 8, Subdue 8, Computer 6, Analysis 2, SophInt 5, Investigation 3, Infiltration 8) (Escape 8, Avg. 3*)
--[X] A stealthed Listening Post has been identified at Alpha Apris III-2.
---[X] Mission: Raid the post, shutting down its operations. (Req: Infiltration 2, Kinetic 3, Escape 1). Disruption 4. On a clean success, test Computer, and if you get at least 2 successes, identify one new target and add +1 on the lowest HBZ Policework roll this quarter.
-[X] Task Group Guardrail (Kinetic 8, Subdue 8, Computer 4, Analysis 6, SophInt 4, Investigation 6, Infiltration 7) (Escape 9, Avg 4*)
--[X] Known Singer Hub on Narravonn (Gammon's moon)
---[X] Mission: Information Hack (Req.: Computer + Infiltration 3, Escape 2). Disruption 2; d3 new targets.
-[X] Task Group Waterfall (Kinetic 13, Subdue 10, Infiltration 6) (Escape 5, Avg: 4*)
--[X] A Harmony Forward Supply Depot has been identified in the Luraperou System.
---[X] Mission: Raid the depot (Kinetic 5, Escape 1). Disruption 5.
[X][Access] Plan Mostly Briefvoice's Old Plan -[X] HBZ Policework - Assign Task Group Greensleeves -[X] SBZ Policework - Assign Task Group Yoke -[X] Old Core Policework - Assign Task Group Gopher -[X] Okatha-Earth Data Backbone - Assign Task Group Necklace -[X] Apinae-Earth Data Backbone - Assign Task Group Yardarm
[X][Research] Daystrom Institute, Skill 6: Backup core purge routine, develop a system to allow compromised Ambassadors to reassert control via the backup cores. [25pt]
[X][Audit] Integrity Office: Staff operating the Point 20 supercomputer centre at Ke'luur, the central hub of the HBZ, have started reporting data anomalies. Perhaps it is nothing, but it could represent a problem. (It is a problem, +1 to Harmony Access for any failed or marginal event within the HBZ or Okatha)
the winning votes:
[][Research] Plan Derpmind Research
-[] Starfleet Science Academy, Skill 6: Assess Harmony Influence on Isolinear Tech, Remove potential Isolinear research penalty. [21/49]
-[] Andorian Academy, Skill 6: Rudimentary Starfleet computer core rootkit scan, on completion will identify all compromised ships on Type-III duotronics. [21/40]
-[] Starfleet Medical Command R&D, Skill 6: Rudimentary Harmony Agent Brain Scans, +1 to SophInt for defenders. [20/50]
-[] Daystrom Institute, Skill 6: Backup core purge routine, develop a system to allow compromised Ambassadors to reassert control via the backup cores. [25pt]
[][Audit] Plan Derpmind Audit
-[] Office 15: Amash Hagan, 1 Qtr, makes team available again
-[] Integrity Office: Theatre Threat Assessment, 1 Qtr, identify penalties that apply within sectors in this theater: Coreward Theater
[][Access] Plan Mostly Briefvoice's Old Plan
-[] HBZ Policework - Assign Task Group Greensleeves
-[] SBZ Policework - Assign Task Group Yoke
-[] Old Core Policework - Assign Task Group Gopher
-[] Okatha-Earth Data Backbone - Assign Task Group Necklace
-[] Apinae-Earth Data Backbone - Assign Task Group Yardarm
[][OFF] Enerael Off + Waterfall
-[] Trigger a Mapping Event that the HBZ fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[] Trigger a Mapping Event that the Paddah Sector fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. Chance of Harmony confrontation. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[] Trigger a Mapping Event that the LBZ fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[] Trigger a Mapping Event that the HBZ fleet will handle, with a reward of target identification. Chance of Harmony confrontation. (You do not need to assign a Task Group to select this mission)
-[] Task Group Wave (Kinetic 7, Subdue 8, Computer 6, Analysis 2, Sophint 5, Investigate 4, Infiltrate 3) (Escape: 9, Avg: 4*)
--[] Expand Agent Cell Blueberry on Bolarus
---[] Mission: Develop Agent Cell Blueberry into an operational mission team. (Req: SophInt 1). Reward: Blueberry becomes an operational mission team that can be attached to any task group operating in Bolian space. Skills are determined based on the skills of the Task Group assigned to this mission.
-[] Task Group Season (Kinetic 2, Subdue 8, Computer 9, Analysis 7, SophInt 11, Investigation 9, Infiltration 6) (Escape 9, Avg: 3*)
--[] Harmony Health Clinic on Puriurairaru
---[] Mission: Bureaucratic Harassment (Req.: SophInt 3, Investigation 3). Disruption 3. Gain two new missions against the clinic.
-[] Task Group Sunglass (Kinetic 5, Subdue 7, Computers 2, Analysis 2, SophInt 5, Investigation 2, Infiltration 5) (Escape 6, Avg 4*)
--[] Expand Agent Cell Yellowbrick on Morshadd
---[] Mission: Develop Agent Cell Yellowbrick into an operational mission team. (Req: SophInt 1). Reward: Yellowbrick becomes an operational mission team that can be attached to any task group operating in Licori space. Skills are determined based on the skills of the Task Group assigned to this mission.
-[] Task Group Fastener (Kinetic 8, Subdue 8, Computer 6, Analysis 2, SophInt 5, Investigation 3, Infiltration 8) (Escape 8, Avg. 3*)
--[] A stealthed Listening Post has been identified at Alpha Apris III-2.
---[] Mission: Raid the post, shutting down its operations. (Req: Infiltration 2, Kinetic 3, Escape 1). Disruption 4. On a clean success, test Computer, and if you get at least 2 successes, identify one new target and add +1 on the lowest HBZ Policework roll this quarter.
-[] Task Group Guardrail (Kinetic 8, Subdue 8, Computer 4, Analysis 6, SophInt 4, Investigation 6, Infiltration 7) (Escape 9, Avg 4*)
--[] Known Singer Hub on Narravonn (Gammon's moon)
---[] Mission: Information Hack (Req.: Computer + Infiltration 3, Escape 2). Disruption 2; d3 new targets.
-[] Task Group Waterfall (Kinetic 13, Subdue 10, Infiltration 6) (Escape 5, Avg: 4*)
--[] A Harmony Forward Supply Depot has been identified in the Luraperou System.
---[] Mission: Raid the depot (Kinetic 5, Escape 1). Disruption 5.
[][OFF] Enerael Off + Waterfall Number of voters: 9
[][OFF] Shhh Keep it Quiet! Number of voters: 6
[][OFF] Alliterate multiplies riskXreward Number of voters: 5
Yep, That Off + Waterfall plan won. Such low vote turnout!
Still, the road to winning probably required me not to:
A. Campaign against myself or
B. Split my vote by offering the thread two (identical except for Waterfall activation) plans.
The really low turnout still has me concerned people didn't really understand what they were being asked to vote for in the plans. I mean, I sincerely doubt that about deployment and research too, but bandwagon turnout is higher at least.
Where we focused our defensive teams (most plans similar), our relevant research teams (most plans similar) and what we pointed our offensive intel teams and allies at (where most of the differences and trying to calculate the most likely to succeed vs payoff).
Edit:
I believe the winning vote has us spending some PP and unleashing our YanRos smashing team on some poor little listening post. Glad I'm not working at that location.
Edit 2: apparently I misremembered who is getting personal attention from our smash team.
Where we focused our defensive teams (most plans similar), our relevant research teams (most plans similar) and what we pointed our offensive intel teams and allies at (where most of the differences and trying to calculate the most likely to succeed vs payoff).
Edit:
I believe the winning vote has us spending some PP and unleashing our YanRos smashing team on some poor little listening post. Glad I'm not working at that location.
Huuuuhhhh, no. The winning plan raids a listening post with Fastener.
RWBY raids a Harmony forward depot. Going loud is the theme.
I don't really like Wave and Sunglasses training Yellowbrick and Blueberry either. Based on the success-chances from this vote, those are by far our most limited mission groups, we don't need more like them.
...
Disruption better be very valuable.
Galan entered the cafe, taking in the pleasant light browns and creams that made every shop on Paddah comfortable and homely. The sunset glinted off the windows and painted the comfortable decor in reds and oranges. He caught the eye of the Vulcan in the corner, seated facing the window, and made his way over.
"Good evening, Commander S'kuul. As you can see, I got your message. What brings you to Paddah?"
The Vulcan leaned back against the back of his seat, waving Galan to take a seat.
"Is Paddah a strange place to be on leave, Commander? But you are right, this is not merely a social call. I ordered the usual. I hope you have not acquired some strange local taste. I have not."
As Galan sat, S'kuul examined his cup carefully, instead choosing to push it to the side and taking a drink from a bottle he was carrying.
"Depends on if I'm at work or not," Galan says. "But you said this isn't a social call, so the usual is fine."
S'kuul stares for a long moment at Galan, scrutinizing him. Then he speaks.
"You are probably wondering why I visited personally. I am sorry to impose, but some things can't be discussed except in person."
It is Galan's turn to stare. S'kuul shrugs his shoulders, the concealing Vulcan robe strangely out of place on this particular Vulcan. Galan had never seen the man out of uniform before.
"Sir, you're acting strange," Galan says. "Is something wrong?"
"Wrong? Several things, but not my acting. I am considering how to proceed. You may need some context. May I?"
"I, uh, go ahead," Galan says, gesturing to S'kuul to start.
"I am a Lecarre. But more importantly, I am retiring from Starfleet. I was afraid that I would never-"
"Wait, go back," Galan interrupts. "You're what?"
"I am retiring, Galan. Did you get that?"
"No, before that."
"I am a Lecarre?" S'kuul repeats. "I suppose it must come as a surprise. But I noted earlier, I have been acting as a Vulcan for most of my life. Can we continue now?"
"That's... not a very funny joke, S'kuul," Galan says in disbelief.
"Yes, it must seem like a joke. But I assure you I am not joking. Now, I called you here to transfer some important personal files. Notably-"
"Wait, no, I can't just let that go," Galan says, reaching for his comm badge. S'kuul's eyes track Galan as he taps his badge, and... nothing happens.
"A small-scale jammer," S'kuul says. "Do not worry, it is for my safety only. I am only here to talk."
At Galan's wide eyes and panicked expression, S'kuul sighs and slouches, a very un-Vulcan posture.
"Very well, if it will let us get to the main point faster, I suppose I must explain. I was born on Gervanis, year 2286 of this Federation's Earth, and volunteered for a deep cover assignment when I came of age. I believe I was not the first of my clan to depart under such circumstances. My class was to be surgically altered and entered into Starfleet's Academy under various guises, testing Starfleet screening processes. Once we were separated, the only contact I had was my handler. I managed to make it into Federation space, fake an identity well enough to enter the Academy, and eventually ghost-direct half the ONA's projects. Does that explain things?"
"But..." Galan managed to say. "Why? Why reveal yourself now? Why tell anyone anything?"
"It is these new security measures," S'kuul says with gravitas. "I have passed the first checks, with tradecraft and trickery. They simply were not looking for what I am. I will not pass more thorough checks in the coming months. Doubtless Intelligence is going over the backgrounds of every officer with mainframe access, to see where they could have been turned. Mine will not stand up to careful scrutiny."
S'kuul shakes his head, pursing his mouth in thought, as if remembering something very distant.
"If you access my personnel files - you would have to hack them - but if you did, you would find S'kuul was born in an isolationist monastery. An archaic place, where records are stored on physical media and filed in a library, maintained by an archivist. The original documents recording my birth were placed there by another agent, which formed the basis of my Vulcan citizenship. I believe our theory was that placing an agent in a Vulcan ascetic order would be so impossible that Starfleet might not look too closely. Nonetheless it was a great surprise, both to myself and my handler, when I was accepted into the Academy. Perhaps this hole no longer exists, and I merely slipped through the cracks. Perhaps Intelligence always knew, and I am drifting on someone else's current."
"That still doesn't explain," Galan says. "You're a spy? If you know you'll be exposed, why are you here?"
S'kuul cocks his head in thought, and Galan sees the beginnings of a faint smile.
"When I entered the Academy," S'kuul says after a long pause, "I discovered a talent not taught on Gervanis. The weave of the EPS, the lines of nacelles, the clever overlap of scan bandwidths, the ever-marching deluge of R&D. I was enthralled. My handler was ecstatic, as you can't fake the talent necessary to be a ship designer. When I graduated the Academy, and my friends went to space, I remained behind and started work as a junior on the 40E team.
"That was the beginning of the end. One night I realized I had let my cover become my job. I had finally gotten to work on the Centaur-class blueprints, and I was filing a report to my handler. I remember looking at the design, the intricate web of systems, and the upgrades that I had planned myself, and I thought to myself: 'what was the point?'. If I sent this message, what would happen to these beautiful ships? Why build something just to let someone else destroy it? As I thought, I realized I had invested more into life in the Federation than I had planned. My art, most of my education, people I could even call friends. If I sent these files, my life as a ship designer would hollow out until it was nothing more than a constant betrayal of self.
"I deleted the message, and sent the code for 'going dark to preserve asset' instead. I never sent another. Then I requested a transfer to San Fran, and you know the rest. Am I still a spy? Even I cannot answer that question succinctly."
"I... you know I will report this, right?" Galan asks weakly.
"I am sure my sudden departure will gain attention," S'kuul says. "You do not have to worry about betraying any confidences. I will be long gone before your report reaches Starbase 22."
"If... if Intel will know anyway, why tell me?" Galan asks. "And what about, the projects? We were going to work on the Excelsior's phaser array couplings next week!" He trails off uncertainly as he realizes how that sounds.
"Ah. As I tried to say at the start, I regret leaving so much work unfinished. But would regret more if you did not exist. Galan, have you realized how the Bureau is structured? There are administrators, the flag ranks, the coordinators. Then there are contributors, the engineers, the simulations specialists, the technicians. And there are the talents, the visionaries, the people who can see how everything connects. Rank matters little, compared to the space-fleet, because the people at the top know better than to suppress talent, and talent pushes through projects that no one else could imagine. I had always wondered when I would have to drop everything and leave, but I worried most that there would be no talent worthy of continuing my work. And then there was, and I worried a little less."
"These are my personal files, the projects I never really got around to finishing, and my drafts of much of the work we have ongoing. Many are worthless, outdated, unviable. And I'm sure Intelligence will comb them over, but there may be something of use in them. The Bureau has many designers, but few visionaries. While I am leaving, I'm confident that you can continue the work that has merit. You may be the only one who can, for now."
"You don't have to leave!" Galan exclaims. "Just tell them what you told me. Sure, you'll spend some time being vetted, and you'll lose much of your access. But you could continue our work. They forgave me for working for the Empire."
S'kuul gives a small smile, and flops his hands down at his sides in what might have been an aborted shrug.
"Yes, that would work. You have no idea how rare it is that one of my kind could admit so. I could spill everything to Intelligence and stay with Starfleet. But I don't believe such an arrangement could last longer than a year.
"You see, someone on Gervanis almost certainly knows that I am under deep cover. Were I to go public as a Lecarre, or even if Intelligence kept quiet and I stayed a Vulcan... it would leak. No organization is airtight, and if there is one thing I am certain of, it is that there are low-level agents in Intelligence and the Bureau both. Perhaps Lecarre, perhaps not. But it would leak. And when it does, I would die. To my kind, I would be an unacceptable loose end."
Galan stares in horror at S'kuul's smiling face, proclaiming his own death in a paranoid conspiracy. But S'kuul continues to speak.
"So you see, the Harmony has burned me as thoroughly as my own handler could. Goodbye, Galan, and good luck."
There is a hiss of nadions as S'kuul stuns Galan under the table, then stands and slips out of the empty restaurant.
S'kuul wasn't always a Lecarre gone native, but someone suggested it years ago, and it fit so well I adopted it immediately. So I've had a version of this omake written for literal years. Originally it was S'kuul coming clean to SFI. But with recent developments, I thought it's time to "retire" this character, and it just made sense.
Huuuuhhhh, no. The winning plan raids a listening post with Fastener.
RWBY raids a Harmony forward depot. Going loud is the theme.
I don't really like Wave and Sunglasses training Yellowbrick and Blueberry either. Based on the success-chances from this vote, those are by far our most limited mission groups, we don't need more like them.
...
Disruption better be very valuable.
So, after that omake released, it's time to make an announcement! @SynchronizedWritersBlock will be joining as a co-QM! And not a victim, I swear. A perfectly safe QM.
Remember, if anything goes wrong, he hasn't been a QM long enough to be at fault, so don't blame him
