High End IC Episode I- Towards a Better Tomorrow

[Kuroimaken]

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"Of course, the droids were experimenting on bios and needed some way to cover it up. Why else would they hire such a volatile team?" Baha says nonchalantly as she eats her drink.

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**That's part of the story, probably. But if they wanted us to be a token effort, they would've picked dumber and less capable people. Also doesn't explain the other guys down there. Too big, too no-nonsense to be just some revolutionaries.

Besides, the AA already has the biggest war machines in the system. What do they need to experiment on bios for? **

[Anomander]

Min-Yung took her silence for what it probably was. The woman had nothing.
"Do you have an actual argument or is throwing terrible, wild accusations like this with nothing to back them up a part of your work ethics?"

[Raineh Daze]

"You're saying that the Administration would use perfect logic and thus make no mistakes. The whole situation requires making mistake after mistake to let things get this bad. Besides, I remember the war; they weren't perfect then else I wouldn't be alive. I can fully believe in hiring mercenaries even if there are experiments going on; who'd believe those who serve the highest bidder over a government?"

Well, aside from people that never trusted the Administration in the first place.

The glowing sword was pointed in Maia's direction--that, really, because its wielder was left-handed, "So it's up to Maia here: the Administration doing things it shouldn't?"

[Anomander]

"I am not. Everyone makes mistakes. It does not incriminate us more than it doesn't. The logical issues I mentioned are beyond the range of a mere mistake. It is a great series of oversights even a child could avoid. The situation getting this bad is not indicative of our own misdeeds but of our incompetence to foresee and prevent it, or perhaps of our management decisions to focus on other spheres of higher priority based on the then low threat danger levels on Ragol and its inhabitants. We had a moment of weakness between the two colonization waves and it was taken advantage of by a competent faction that could override our efforts. We should gather information on who that may be. You are taking the easy way and just pointing at the only faction you know that has access to the premise without considering that certain groups indeed do have the resources to make this operation possible."

When she pointed her weapon, knowingly or not, toward one of her own, Min-Yung stepped in front of it.
She barely moved then but her eyes were fixed on her.

[Raineh Daze]

"If the Administration is innocent, they should have no trouble confirming it. Blind faith gets nowhere, logic that can be reasoned out on the fly can be manipulated," was the answer, quiet for once, "How long has contact been lost?"

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We never actually asked that simple question.

[ketaro]

This was not Katherine's area of expertise. And her uncomfortable nervousness from continuing to hang around was just growing by the second as Ammy & Min-Yung argued. She started slowly backing away from the conversation, heading for the door and quietly leaving to go catch up with Hugo & Baha at the bar. That should be a much less tense environment to cool off before they were possibly sent back out. Oh! And apparently she'd gotten a paycheck somewhere during all of that. Time for a distraction from work, then.

[Anomander]

"I have faith in truth, evidence and logical deductions. You have blind faith in your own unfounded deductions. I have already given you very reasonable reasons why your claims could simply just not be but you are dismissing all logic that threatens your assumptions. How much more obvious must it be for you to see it? If you make accusations, the burden of proof is yours. We can assist in enlightening you but you could have had the courtesy of having a solid case to support your claims instead of accusing now and investigating later."

What was really annoying was that she herself couldn't speak freely for the while. Not with the Maia unit nearby.
Giving full answers was troublesome. She could have answered that last question. It happened while they were preparing for the second colonization wave, not so long ago, but letting the Maia unit answer this one and give the specifics would be appropriate.

[Raineh Daze]

"All your logic assumes it's worse to have us find out than to get information. Half the group are complete unknowns, you're part of the Administration, and I was on the other side in the war; nobody would listen. Let the lady answer the question, then we'll know."

[SorO_Lost]

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"Why experiment? You lesser species are all the same. You are complex electrical and chemical systems capable of molecular transformations and you consider your ability to build an inferior electrical system the best thing you'll ever do."

Taking a third shot she adds, "Did you ever think about it? Dragons are the best natural bio ever created, they were born a part of magic while everyone else screwed their way into it. They animated the dead and harnessed electricity long before other species imaged the creation of a factory. While other species lived on the ground wishing to join the third dimension dragons flew off into space and were traversing the fourth spacial dimension you know as planes. If you want to hack their system you need physical contact and complex molecules; to rewrite it's memory you need some of the most powerful arcane spells in existence but those are readily undone by casters half their skill and those spells can even be blocked by even a mere novice. You put too much value in hard skin and fast reproduction rates."

[Kuroimaken]

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**That was actually part of my point, but bear with me here.

If they could control that dragon down there somehow, they'd have sent it after us first thing. We did end up killing him, sure, but that was a bitch to do. We didn't need a dragon to destroy the mechas outside, but it would've helped. And - no offense - but we're a ragtag team cobbled up seemingly at random and held together by the leadership string equivalent of moldy duct tape. Imagine how much more easily they could've wiped those guys out with the proper application of military force.

Bottom line: they already HAVE the best weapons tech. What do they need to control dragons for? They could probably best or beat back almost anything organized that comes to mind, so what are they afraid of?**

[SorO_Lost]

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In a deeper voice, obviously slipping a bit from drinking, "And I'm saying they were obviously researching it because it's solar capabilities were stronger than anything they can currently produce. And given the dragon had it's own dedicated healing bay I wouldn't be surprised if the dragon was in charge of the experiments and was using the research to make it's self even more powerful."
He lets out a belch that could rattle the glasses nearby.

"And then we killed it and I stole their advancement." she whispers to her self with a creepy alienating smile.

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Kenny hefts the Vistburn from the scanner and places it on a cart nearby. The scanner detected a minor flaw, just scratch of course, the one Kenny made extracting materials that were teleported off planet through a Helsiana contact.

The drake will be raised and killed a new for more raw materials while the sampled nano machines can be duplicated of course. This will be Bahamut's second contribution to the Helsiana line. Enhanced Photon equipment.

[Kuroimaken]

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**I guess. Nothing supporting those theories one way or another. Got my doubts there was any data left to salvage down there anyway.

And geez, what are you drinking? I know dragons aren't supposed to be lightweights. Even when they play at being cute little girls.**

[oslecamo]

"Oh, right, the experimentation... I found the scientist behind all that, you know? He was in two pieces even before the dome exploded. Let his latest creation free, too." she said, seeming quite calm, "Going to explain why you were authorising a scientist to illicitly turn people into sleeper agents and living weapons?"

There were 219 scientists assigned to the first colonist wave. My records don't show any authorization for any of the them to experiment with bio-weapons.

After Laurent's explanation, she suggested: "Was the perimeter equipped with an automatic waste disposal system? If this process was introduced by the invaders it could perhaps be profitable to observe it and discover where the debris are either either disposed of or recycled."

Automatic waste disposal system was included in the basic specifications of the different colony facilities. Organics can be such messy beings after all, constantly shedding off their dead cells. Any such debris should be recycled into a variety of utility chemical compounds.

Regarding Enne, or rather, Elle, Min-Yung seemed unmoved.
"She introduced herself as Enne. Your confirmed matches fit her described duty. What were the coordinates of the monolith?"

We'll keep such fact in mind during our interrogation. As for the monolith coordinates, didn't Elle give them to you already? If not, we'll make sure to interrogate her on that matter, and inform you as soon as we have them.

"Someone high up is behind this."

I concur that some powerful organization is backing this incident. I just don't see why it would be someone from the Android Administration. We started the colony project, we wouldn't want to ruin it.

The glowing sword was pointed in Maia's direction--that, really, because its wielder was left-handed, "So it's up to Maia here: the Administration doing things it shouldn't?"

That statement counters itself. The Android Administration operates on logic. It only does what it calculates it should be done. It is organics that almost ruined their own planet due to their erratic chemical-based decision makers.

When she pointed her weapon, knowingly or not, toward one of her own, Min-Yung stepped in front of it.
She barely moved then but her eyes were fixed on her.

Half of Maia's bots swiftly surround Amaterasu from the other sides, while the Android keeps her diplomatic smile:
Please let us not escalate this, Amaterasu. There are a lot of organic beings inside this ship, and if you use your weapon systems in here, they will suffer the colateral damage. If you're sincerly so worried about the first wave of colonists, then you should be worried about this ones as well.

"How long has contact been lost?"

Thirteen solar cycles, sixteen hours, two minutes and five seconds, by the Algol time system.

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Baha's glare makes the  make CAST drop his drink in the floor and freeze for a few moments, before talking in a static voice.

Ah...Hmmm... I'm so sorry if I offended you... Please let me pay for the drinks for you and your friend as an apology... Just don't melt me...

The cocktails brought to you are strong and refreshing, just the right thing to relax after a hard session of work. The general mood lightens up as most of the clients that hadn't said anything at first start throwing praises at Hugo after he promises free drinks:

Don't mind those naysayers, mister Lotushand, we greatly respect your work!

Yeah, it takes real guts to team up with either that crazy Amaterasu or the cold Ming-Yung, let alone dealing with both of them at the same time!

You may don't know it, but you saved my family's life when you solved the Epsilon Weapon incident in Algol! I'll always cheer for you!

 The male cast intimidated by Baha also insists on covering the cost of all the new drinks being brought for the praisers.

As your talk advances however you realize several of the other of the mercenaries at the bar have fallen silent and are eavesdroping your conversation, some recording it in handheld devices that they try to conceal, but your trained instincts catch glimpses of their actions. Seems like at least a couple of the ones observing you are actually able to understand draconic and are following each of your words, the white-haired numan and a violet female CAST sitting alone at a corner.

[Raineh Daze]

"One every two hours... fine, but I'm going to try and find out what's going on."

[Kuroimaken]

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**Speaking of lightweights...**

Hugo unceremoniously approached the couple of eavesdroppers; the ones not using handheld recording devices. He had that creepy grin on his face as usual, but his words were laced with enough honey to gorge the bee population of a whole planet.

**The two of you hardly seem to be in a partying mood. Lost friends recently?**

He wasn't worried about the other mercenaries. They would no doubt make poor blackmailers, or information officers. A good spy leaves as little physical evidence behind as possible of his deeds - anything that can be committed to perfect memory and not be accused of tampering later trumps a recording.

No, the interesting ones are those who say nothing and do nothing.

[Anomander]

you're part of the Administration, and I was on the other side in the war; nobody would listen

Listen to what? What does that have to do with anything? We ended the war back then, someone had to. Now we are determined to stop whatever terror is being bred in Ragol.

We'll keep such fact in mind during our interrogation. As for the monolith coordinates, didn't Elle give them to you already? -this happens before Elle is taken away-

"No, she said she would give them to me once we'd leave the facility, which is why I am asking her for them now."

The automatic waste disposal system would explain what the facility kept getting rid of all the debris but depending on its efficiency it might have taken a while to clean up. Odds were excellent that the underground facilities also were equipped with it so how it would interact with the collapse of the dome on the surface was intriguing. Investigating the waste recycling factory might not be very conclusive as far as getting answers went, though.

Once Amaterasu would be gone, Min-Yung would turn to Maia. There was more to be said.
"There is more to report, but what conclusions are to be made of the following observations are most likely all very high in the confidential levels. I prefer transmitting them while the rest of the investigation group isn't around to avoid unnecessary emotional responses. Requesting your selection of transmission method. Even here I do not particularly fancy discussing these matters openly."

[Raineh Daze]

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You think I'm going anywhere that soon?

[oslecamo]

"One every two hours... fine, but I'm going to try and find out what's going on."

Maia keeps smiling.

We fully expect that. That's why you're being paid after all.

We'll keep such fact in mind during our interrogation. As for the monolith coordinates, didn't Elle give them to you already? -this happens before Elle is taken away-

"No, she said she would give them to me once we'd leave the facility, which is why I am asking her for them now."

Maia looks at Elle and the woman lets out an audible sigh before speaking:

Sector 241 of the planet grid, roughly three kilometers and fifteen meters south from the center of the north side. Watch out for the local wildlife. There's some agressive specimens around that can actually threaten military mechas.

Once Amaterasu would be gone, Min-Yung would turn to Maia. There was more to be said.
"There is more to report, but what conclusions are to be made of the following observations are most likely all very high in the confidential levels. I prefer transmitting them while the rest of the investigation group isn't around to avoid unnecessary emotional responses. Requesting your selection of transmission method. Even here I do not particularly fancy discussing these matters openly."

As always your logical process is quite sharp. Meet me in an hour at my office in the ship. I'll be waiting there, Min-Yung. -winks Maia.

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The white-haired numan frowns and pops the bubblegum he was chewing:
As a matter of fact, I did. An old friend of mine was part of first colony wave. Claimed he had basically won the lottery for that. But then all contact is lost and when somebody finally returns from Ragol, no official announcement is made about what happened to the colonists and those involved go around speaking between them in ancient languages. Doesn't lighten up my mood indeed.

The female violet android's face is literally a mask of steel as she turns to "look" at Hugo (at least you guess that's the side of her head she has some kind of visual input system installed), not showing any expression
"Friends" are an hindrance. I'm a solo player. I only come to this bar because the drinks are to my taste. I never understood what is this obsession organics have with displaying emotions.

[Kuroimaken]

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"I'll say. You have a right to be pissed.

**A lot of what we're talking about is still confidential, of course. But you can tell how it all went. I could use an ear or two on the street level, gathering information for me. You can help me look into this, for your friend's sake, or we can part ways here and you'll never know me from Adam again.

Don't worry about those bozos. I have them tagged. Protip for amateur spies. Next time you're listening in, don't let your target know what you look like.**

I'd say your friend deserves an extra round. Consider it a token of my respect."

[SorO_Lost]

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Baha looks at her drink, humans describe drinking as drunk or not, are you mean or funny, without any concept of anything in between. They almost have a talent for painting things in black or white, making things simplistic  as a short cut to giving them easy answers. No wonder he was sent to live among them, the intricacies of war sometimes requires such direct lines of thinking.

Watching "Candy man" work an angle for a new set of ears he realizes the potential of this newmen and his skills of deceit. In any case, his verbal bashing of the droids will be played over and over again for weeks as people try to find their own answers in their conversion is a slight enjoyment.