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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 7, 2015 13:16:46 GMT
"Every program can't be better or less flawed flawed as it's programmers. And secondly - if Esthete started to transform everything to be part of him in a hurry, then there MUST be some mistakes he made. Even machines can't be unmistakable. Especially conscious ones. Remember that we only increased the pace of his former plan but haste makes waste, as you know it. Look for flaws and use them to beat him. We are waiting for your orders when you come up with a plan. Meanwhile we try to rest a bit. We are...a bit tired. Over and out." That was Sophie's message to the rest of the team. Until anything is said or done they have to rest a bit. That's why she closed Volodja's eyes and tried to nap, hoping that they will be awakened when rest of their team comes up with a valid plan. She was at their disposal. Volodja was at their disposal. Chase and Kaj were at their disposal. And everything they owned was at their disposal. Their skills and even real estate. As soon they wake her and Volodja up they will be in action again.  ___________________________ Wolfram von Eschen left children to play under Di's supervision and went to see Erika for further details. Marla was traumatized for sure, but he didn't knew reasons and that's why he couldn't start with therapy plans. He entered to infirmary and after some search found Erika cuddling one of her grandchildren - a baby boy. That seemed do some good for both of them and sight made Wolfram to smile for a second, but work is work. That's why he approached to Erika's hospital bed with certain delicacy and said: "Excuse me, Frau Erika. I am interrupting pretty intimate moment for you. I know that. I just came to tell you that Marla is playing with Lexy at moment and seems to enjoy it. But she seems to be suffer from something. Is there anything I can help you with?" |
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 7, 2015 13:42:01 GMT
Belle Starr transmitted thru her EGO to her team mates through theirs, "Well, their's a curve I wasn't expecting! After we get the generators going to help our young friend, what y'all want to do? If Esthete's consciousness is now spread in various parts of the city, should we stay separate and find those parts of the ark brain in a series of search and destroy missions, or should we regroup here, all of us, and plan from there? I admit it I'm at a loss! My druthers would be to have us all together again, because if Esthete is attached to everything in the city from the traffic monitor to the toaster oven, we could be chasing him around the city like a hound dog chasing his tail! Also, it makes me nervous as a turtle crossing a busy highway when the team is all separated like! What do y'all think we should do? I'm open to suggestions here!" ***** Sandy Bell unslung her pulser smg as she stared throught the cockpit window at the Sensoth peeking out of the bunker asking Taffer, "Friendly or hostile, sir?" ***** "Do as you must Atticus," Replied Erika Widowmaker to her brother, as she held closely her happlily cooing baby grandchild in her hospital bed. As Atticus left the infirmary, an inconspicuous mechanical gnat flew in, making a bee line to Erika's room and then flying into Lady Chrisitianna's right ear as she sat at Erika's bedside. Lady began to stick one chalk white forefinger into her ear to strike the offensive insect, but a familiar voice rang out. "Don't be alarmed Little Mistress," Said Mecor Newclo rather dramatically, "It is I, Mecor Newclo, the Master of Stealth!" "Whassup," whispered Lady, surprisingly not alarmed at all. "I have information that you REALLY need to hear," Mecor answered. "On with it!: Muttered Lady in a regal tone, as she was really starting to get into this queen bee role she found herself in. "Anything wrong?" Asked Erika with a raised purple eyebrow, hearing Lady mumbling to herself. "Nada," Anawered Lady, waiting for Mecor to get over his dramatic pause. Before Erika could pose a follow up question, she was distracted as Wolfram entered inquiring about her other grand chlid, Marla. Erika confessed the whole sad story of Marla's sexual abuse at the hands of her father and his subsequent death by Atticus, her uncle, and asked how they might help Marla recover. ***** Lena Marr stared at the canteen's exit with unblinking sky blue eyes as she sat closely next to Marcel, thinking for long moments what they should do, before answering, "Let's go to their so-called war room and see what's cooking. Maybe we can cook up some trouble of our own." Lena grinned as she added in a self congratulatory voice, "See how I used cooking and cook there! - No?" Then she frowned again, "Nobody gets my sense of humor!"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 7, 2015 15:05:28 GMT
Wolfram von Eschen pondered about what Erika told her and said with certain degree of sadness and compassion in his grey eyes:
"First, Frau Erika, we will observe her behaviour. If we see several cases from the list of the following mental or physical symptoms like shock, denial, or disbelief, anger, irritability, mood swings, guilt, shame, self-blame, feeling sad or hopeless, confusion, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and fear, withdrawing from others or feeling disconnected or numb accompanied by insomnia or nightmares, being startled easily, racing heartbeat, aches and pains, fatigue, edginess and agitation or muscle tension, then we should be really worried. Especially when these symptoms last. Anyway. Following a traumatic event people react in different ways, experiencing a wide range of physical and emotional reactions. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to think, feel, or respond to trauma, Frau Erika. Every response is normal reaction to abnormal event. Recovering from a traumatic event takes time, and everyone heals at his or her own pace. But if months pass and her symptoms aren't gone by then, she may need professional help from a trauma expert like Volodja or myself."
Wolfram loved long prefaces and descriptions, thus not distinguishing from other ordinary scientists who had Germanic roots and cultural background. Even getting his degree in United Kingdom didn't changed that feature in him, but seeing Erika's sad and somehow confused glance, he recovered from his verbal gonorrhoea quickly and started to speak like ordinary human being:
"Frau Erika. At moment Marla is enjoying playing with Lexy. She doesn't have any of these symptoms yet. Marla is really strong little girl and we do everything we can to help her if it's needed. She will be under our constant surveillance and care. Company of Lexy does her good. And when she plays with her and speaks with us that means she still trusts people after something so terrible happened to her. Company of her mother does her good too, I assume. And it helps Kara top recover as well. And as for her father...that bastard got away too easily. That is my personal opinion about him, of course. But if we need to treat her then we are prepared for that. You have my word, Frau Erika."
_______________________
Sophie didn't knew how long they slept, but she was sure that their minds were working on the problem while they had their nap. She had a solution to offer. A vague and risky one, but it felt better than nothing. That's why she made another successful attempt to connect with the rest of their team and said to them:
"Why chase after him anyway? It takes too long and we don't have enough resources and time to do that. We can't turn the system off, because I heard about consequences. But we can try to lure him to our trap instead of following him in endless circle. All we need is a trap and a good bait and Volodja and I can be the bait because we are in his system already. We must force him to fight where and when it suits us. I believe that Volodja would agree with me. What Volodja? You do? Good. Our decision is unanimous. Let's try to lure him out and use what Volodja...? Oh, use the Dream machine to storage his personality. It's time to put the genie into the bottle."
She used every measure to hide their actions from Esthete (like bombing system with spam ans sending cross messages between local computers to emulate information flood from different sources and make them harder to catch because she hid their message into the flood) and hoped that they managed to deliver their message without being caught.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Aug 7, 2015 15:34:50 GMT
"Maybe I do not get your sense of humour, but I do recognize a good plan if I hear one. You are absolutely right, my love. We will go and gain access to their War room. Maybe we can find something useful in there." He kissed Lena passionately and then lead her out from the canteen holding his hand around her. On their exit Lena stepped to the toes of one crew member and when he turned his angry glance to her and opened his mouth to say something about that action, Marcel said coldly:
"I would not do it if I was you, mon ami. It would be your last complaint as a man. Lena, my love, you can put the knife back. Man will listen the reason and is more careful in future and watches where he steps. It was not your fault, my love but his. Am I right?"
"Y-yes, of course. My fault. Should have been more careful. I I I am so-so-so sorry,"muttered frightened and confused crew member after meeting Marcel's cold glance and cold steel of Lena's knife against his family values. These two were way too armed and way too dangerous for him to handle.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 8, 2015 4:07:28 GMT
"The Inquisition's roots trace back to a pacifistict religous sect made up of members from all the five races on our home planets. They preached peace and harmony among the Votan Races and that all members of the Votan races were equal," Lady Christianna heard Micor Newlo's melodic voice say from the mechanical gnat in her ear. "Their book of prophecies said that one day a great leader would arise; an amalgam of the races and lead all the Votan peoples to the promised land far away from the home planet. As you might guess, the Shanje Liro did not share their views, so they persecuted the sect members, executing most of them, until the remaining ones went underground and essentially becoming a secret society.
Your mother's family was prominent in the sect, and as Shanji Liro, were on one of the ships that left their home world for Earth, believing the prophecy was about to be fulfilled. Your mother, the first Mistress of Judgment, was a young girl when the Votans arrived on Earth in 2013, and became first a priestess of the sect and then their prophet. She predicted many events that came true, including the Pale Wars in 2023. In fact, your mother did not have a gift of foresight from the gods, but just an incredibly keen mind, able to sift through huge amounts of information, then analize it to come up with the most probable outcomes, although some might argue that was in fact a gift from the gods, but I digress.
Your mother used the Wars to retool the releigious sect into something useful to the Votan Collective: The Inquisition. There are passages in the Book of Prophecies that state that before the Votans can find paradise in this new world, that have to eradicate the vermin on it. During the Pale Wars, your mother argued that humans were among the vermin to be eradicated, and the Votan Collective used that as one more reason for the wars: religious prophcey. The Mistress of Judgment was born then, as the sect was retooled to hunt any Votans who felt sympathy with the humans, and still do so today. Although not as an official part of the Votan Collective government, they are tolerated since it serves some of those in authority's purpose. Others in the government, like Governor Skarr, fear the rest of the prophecy, for they fear it will end Castithan dominence in the Votan Collective, hence his attempts to have you assasinated.
That then is your legacy Little Mistress. Your mother saw the Inquisition as a way to not only break the role of Castithan dominence over the other Votan races, but also male dominence over female. She saw herself as the equal of any male Castithan, that we are a product of environment not genes, so that all Votans, of any race or gender, could excell if they desired, and that is what she desired for you. Now what is it that you wish for the future of the Inquisition, for is in your hands."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 8, 2015 9:14:27 GMT
After I entered the War Room I talked to Chris about the needed renovations of the Officer's Conference room and several other rooms on Base, including adding basic holo-emitters wherever he felt they were needed. Then he left to see to those renovations. Corporal Lebeau went to the Chief Security station I had set up in the War room. While he is getting used to it, I am going over the daily reports. Taffer and Sandy left and should be in Calgary by now if all went well. I go about the standard command routine of making sure all is well on base and approving or denying things as needed. So I sit in the Command chair and continue doing my routine tasks, surprising myself with how well I really do seem to be adapting to Command, the more that I do so.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 8, 2015 10:28:02 GMT
Lena Marr and Marcel Lestrange entered arm in arm into the War Room of Fortress Kshaa. Two security officers guarding the door started to move forward to intercept them, but Atticus Batman, sitting in the command chair, put up his hand signaling them to stay in their places. Lena smiled wickedly as she walked up in front of him, bowing deeply, making sure that when she did, the two security officers at the door had a good view of her shapely derriere.
"Oh mighty King Atticus, how might a humble working girl like myself serve you - and I don't mean bring you lunch," Asked Lena Marr,"However before you answer, I really am digging this whole working throne room setup you have here! It is REALLY impressive!"
Looking with wide unblinking sky blue eyes, Lena blurred to first one workstation and another, never staying long enough for anyone to do anything but be mildly alarmed, saying such things as, "What pretty lights you have there!" and "I bet that's the self-destruct button!" and "I'm sure that switch brings down the balloons and confetti" and "Is that the coffee percolater? I bet that's the coffee percolater!"
Lena arrived back where she started, in front of Atticus Batman in his command chair, and said with outstetched chalk white hands, "Yepperoonie, this is very, very impresssive, Atty-baby! But... you could use a woman's touch on your decorations! Maybe some nice frilly curtains over there and some old Chinese vases over there and definitely more pink - maybe paint the whole place pink! Pink uniforms too! That's the ticket!"
Lena leaned forward with her hands on her hips, arching her back and balancing precariously on her tip toes, making sure he had a full view of her chest cleavage, the grin on her pretty Castithan face growing bigger as she said, "But I didn't come here to give you fashion advice! Marcel and me came here to ask, what can we do for you? And my answer is: A lot!" Lena risked falling forward as she jerked an alabaster thumb at her ample breast, saying, "Got any murder and mahem you are too busy to do yourself? We're your team! Got things you want to see go boom? That's us too! Got people you want to disappear, like pesky union organizers?" She looked at Security Officer Lebeau accusingly, then finished her sales pitch, "Well, we got you covered! Just about any job you don't want to dirty your hands with, we can and will do - for a medium-sized fee of course! What do you say boss, got any work for us?"
As Lena spoke, a skinny preteen Castithan waif in dirty tattered clothes appeared in Dinara's quarter's in Atticus's EGO, looking around with thin alabaster hands clutched to her emaciated chest, her mouth wide open before exclaiming to Dinara, "Oh my this is SO beautiful, SO much nicer than my dark closet under the stairway. Oh, I'm sorry for intruding, but I hoped you wouldn't mind, I was just SO curious. By the way, that's my name - Hope. I'm Lena's EGO psyche... for the moment anyway."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 8, 2015 12:10:34 GMT
I watched Lena and Marcel as they looked around the room, from the concealed eyes of my mask, that not only hide the color of my aura by staying one solid color, but also hides where I am looking with my eyes. Then I said, "Yes Lena I am enjoying this Throne room setup as well. However I am afraid it is just something I came up with during that week I was 'Officially' the Commander here. I am sure you remember then, as you had a great time making people chase your anomalies in the system until I was made Commander and managed to lock them down and find several of your little secrets. Not to mention that was when the two of you met. So I am guessing that when most of the team is back and finally settled in, they will make me scrap my little throne. However if it is allowed to stay, I do agree that the Dark Matter grey/blue motif is not quite my style. Although I could see black and red as a good combination.
Anyway, I am afraid that there currently isn't anything that I need either of your talents for. However if you want to test something I suppose that can be arranged. Our Director of Maintenance feels that all EGO-enhanced staff should be allowed basic Holo-emitters in their private quarters, and they also want to add them to all VIP quarters. I have no problem with it either way, so I left that to his discretion. Anyway way he has decided he is definitely doing it. However as you two have not decided yet if you are staying for the night, the VIP quarters that you are currently in is waiting for my approval for the update. It will only take them about 30 minutes to do so.
So what I am saying is that if you decide that you are staying the night and want to see what it's like to interact with your EGOs in holographic form then say so and I will have them update your quarters right away. Then you can have your EGOs test the emitters to see if they work at peak efficiency and if the tactile program works correctly to give them all the tactile senses that an 'Organic' member of their perceived race has. So if they are perceived as say human, then they should have all the tactile awareness of an average human. however you must remember that they are basic emitters. So even though you could create holographic items or holographicly change the color of your room, you can not actually change the perceived location in your room. So for example, you can not turn it into a day spa or a slaughterhouse.
However if testing such basic emitters isn't to your liking, you could always test the completely overhauled holo-training rooms, that your little diversion all but destroyed. Maintenance and security assure me they have been completely overhauled and upgraded. However nobody has hide time to do more than run basic tests on them. So if you and Marcel want to go down there and use one to run a full program and test thoroughly. Then I can give the two of you uninterrupted access to Holo-trainer two for as long as you want it between now and tomorrow. As it is the biggest of the three it is the one that needs the most thoroughly tested. There are all kinds of programs to choose from. Anything from a relaxing day on a pre-war beach to the most dangerous days in a nuclear war ravaged world. Your choice in programs.
I am afraid that is all I have for the time being. You can stay here for the night and continue enjoying all the base amenities, that you have enjoyed so far, I can have the basic emitters installed in your guest quarters right now for you to test after that is done in roughly thirty minutes, or you can go test and enjoy holo-trainer two for as long as you want this evening. However I am not going to pay you to do any of the three. Those choices all come with the hospitality that we are already showing you, not to mention I will also give you access to the main recreation room for the rest of your stay. So your choices are another night in a nice place with plenty of hot water and good food and several things to do, or go deal with the inhospitable environment outside the fortress walls so you can try to find a paying job tonight. Actually you have said, before, that Marcel is your boss. So I suppose the choice is yours Marcel, unless you now make those choices as couple. "
While I am talking to Lena, a skinny preteen Castithan waif in dirty tattered clothes appeared in Dinara's quarters in my EGO, looking around with thin alabaster hands clutched to her emaciated chest, her mouth wide open before exclaiming to Dinara, "Oh my this is SO beautiful, SO much nicer than my dark closet under the stairway. Oh, I'm sorry for intruding, but I hoped you wouldn't mind, I was just SO curious. By the way, that's my name - Hope. I'm Lena's EGO psyche... for the moment anyway."
Dinara, who was brushing her hair to keep looking pretty just in case she could visit with her girlfriend Amber, looked at the young Castithan and said, "No problem but there is a door. So please knock next time just in case I already have a visitor, like my girlfriend or somethin! Anyway my name is Dinara. Wow I thought I was young but you look younger. Also look like ya need a bath or shower and some food and even clothes. You look my size so I could get you something. I would offer to show you how to use your EGO to help you with all those needs, but I would be afraid to go there with the others in there. Besides until your host decides to give the EGO job to one specific psyche, or a specific psyche manages to gain complete control of it on their own, then the others will be free to keep changing it back as they please. So let's start simple, and please don't worry I won't hurt you."
Dinara walks into her bathroom and walks out with a small bowl of water and a cloth. Then she washes Hope's face, although Hope was reluctant to let the Irathiant touch her at first. Dinara then gets a detangling spray and a comb from her makeup table and proceeds to comb Hope's hair. "Oh look Hope you have such a pretty face!"
Dinara points at hope's reflection in the mirror, then says, "If you wanna go in my bathroom and close the door for privacy so you can have a shower, then go ahead. You can also look through that Armoire over there and see if you like any of the clothes that fit you. Don't worry my favorites are in my closet. So you can help yourself to anything in that armoire. I also promise that even though most are purple, as that is mye most fave color evers, there are other colors of outfits in there. Also I can create them in any color you want as I am the only EGO psyche in Atty's head. His voices stay out of my domain unless I let them in!" She glances at her open window and says, "You hear me guys?!"
Then she closes the window and curtains as she says, "Big brothers can be such a pain! But I know they mean well. ANyway help yourself. You can look in my closet and see if you like any of that stuff, but you can't have it cuz it is all stuff my girlfriend likes me in or that I am planning to wear for her. But I can create an identical version of those outfits for you in any color you want. So take what you want from the armoire, and if you like something in the closet let me know and I will make it for ya in the color that you prefer. And feel free to visit when you want. Just appear outside my door and knock first please. Oh I got an idea." Dinara makes a welcome mat appear then she opens her bedroom door and puts the welcome mate outside, then recloses the door. "There now visitors know they are welcome."
Dinara continues with, "I love meetin new people and glad you came by.....Oh and I hear what Atty just suggested! If you ever get the opportunity to be allowed to come out of your EGO in one of the rooms here with holo-emitters equipped with his tactile program, do so. It is great! I did and discovered my favoritist food ever is STRAWBERRIES! Anyways, I showed you where the clothes are. the Towels are in the cabinet in the bathroom next to the tub, feel free to take a bath or shower. Or if you prefer to just sit in here and talk with me while we enjoy some snacks then that is fine too! I LOVE talkin! If ya haven't noticed yet! Perhaps you can meet my girlfriend soon too! Amber is the greatest ever!!! Here have some snacks and drinks, including STRAWBERRIES, while ya decide what ya wanna do!" Just then a tray of fruit skewers and a drink tray appear on a center table in Dinara's room.
 
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Aug 8, 2015 13:06:10 GMT
"I cannot believe it," whispered Marcel. "These good doers are out of work. I think that we can stay for awhile and test those holo emitters. As I remember, my love, you wanted to have them anyway. Now we can test the merchandise before we get some of those for ourselves. Any suggestions what we could do there? Or is there any places you would like to see?"
Marcel grinned. While Lena waltzed around the War room, getting everyone's attention, Marcel used the moment to look around and learn. Oh, almost forgot to tell that he planted couple of clever and undetectable bugs as well without anyone seeing him do that. It is always useful to gain extra information. Especially when those good doers kept them in "need to know" information diet last time and times before that. If they are so reluctant to share their knowledge and plans then why not help them to become more open and not so secretive. It is for their own good. If Marcel and Lena know their plans and intentions then they can decided are they worth of participation of such a talented couple as Lena and him.
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Post by Taffer on Aug 8, 2015 14:25:32 GMT
Sandy Bell unslung her pulser smg as she stared through the cockpit window at the Sensoth peeking out of the bunker asking Taffer, "Friendly or hostile, sir?" "Friendly until proven otherwise", replied Taffer. "But stay alert, there's no guarantee he didn't simply come here to loot the place while its owner are absent." "VBI special delivery!" He shouted exiting the aircraft, showing his bare hands but his TACC Autopistol still hanging on his belt. "Radio equipment replacement parts for weather station!" "Lu didn't notify me of any delivery, she planned to bring all the parts and install them herself," the Sensoth replied, suspiciously looking over a man who definitely didn't look like a VBI courier. "Lu? Yes, that was the name", Taffer scratched his head, actually hearing the name for the first time and not even knowing the gender of its owner. "Well, she said she had another matter to attend in Red Deer", the Sensoth muttered, giving away the precious information for Taffer that mysterious Lu was female and she probably was still in Red Deer or maybe on her way back from there. "I can't contact her now", he continued, "So you can leave the parts here and she'll verify the package when she returns." "Hey, the assembling was included in the order too!" Taffer protested, "I won't get my bonus if I just drop the crate and leave it as is!" "Naw, screw that", he waved his hand seeing his disguise is going to bin anyway. "Listen. I see you need this radio relay running. I need this radio relay running. People in Helena, Alaska, Red Deer and even Vancouver need this radio relay running. Because when it's not, things like this can happen to anyone", he pointed at their aircraft covered with dust it raised on its hard landing. "I have the tech and the skills to fix it here and now. So let's do the following. I'll check your equipment and fix it, replacing everything that's needed to be replaced for free. Consider it a donation from all people who's really interested in having this station online. I'll do it under your surveillance, you'll see everything I'll be doing and every part I will install. Then we turn it on, contact your precious Lu and ask her what we should do next. How about that?" The Sensoth nodded towards the bunker entrance and said, "You could say just that from the start and not try to dodge with your VBI mumbo-jumbo". Taffer showed a thumb up sign with an apologetic smile and then went back to the aircraft to pull the package. "Won first battle", he winked to Sandy, "Now the second one". He pulled the crate into the bunker, following the Sensoth. As they passed by, they saw a room which looked like a small bar-room with several guests inside who briefly looked over the new visitors and then went back to whatever they were doing. As Taffer entered the radio room, a familiar smell of burnt electronics hit his nostrils. "Good sign", he thought to himself, "If something had burnt on this level, then one may expect the antenna and the feeding cable system to be in a working order. Replacing the electronics would take much less time than fixing and re-tuning the antenna."The culprit of the malfunction was detectable at the first glance — the transmitter was clearly burnt to the ground, but the control unit was unresponsive as well. Having the damage assessed, Taffer opted to replace the entire system as the parts he brought were already tested to work together. So it was mostly the work of assembling the parts on the equipment rack and connecting them together and to the power source. Once it was ready, Taffer flipped the switch to raise the antenna and powered up the transponder. The command unit showed the transit traffic going immediately.  "Okay, Does Lu have a number I can call?" Taffer asked the Sensoth. "Broadcast this first", Sensoth handed the sheet of paper to Taffer, "It's a weather and razor storm forecast. It's much more important than our chat with Lu." "You asked for it", Taffer shrugged with a smile. He took the microphone, tipped back in his chair and pressed the PTT button. "Hello everyone!" he started loudly, "Calgary relay and weather station here! I'm happy to announce we're back online and kicking ass! Buuuut the most exciting news I'm holding right in my hands now. It's the Razor Storm forecast, but this one shouldn't be really called like that, because… woo-hoo, it does not contain any Razor Storms at all! That's right, we can enjoy a whopping two days full of sunshine and two nights full of stars without any risk that something would fall on your head! This really nice and sunny forecast was brought to you by DJ Taffer, Der Meisterdieb, yo! Thanks for listening, Calgary out!" He put the microphone aside and smiled as the Sensoth gave him a strange look and said in an apologizing tone, "Sorry people, was on a roll. I haven't done public announcements since I was like… fifteen? Probably so. Anyway, let's find your precious Lu then. By the way, Sandy, this transceiver can handle multiple connections, so you can contact anyone as we do our chat as well." He touched his ear and tried to find his team's group channel through his EGO connected to the Network. "Belle? We just set the Calgary relay running so you can contact the base. How's it going on your side? Have you found Vo or someone who created all this buzz? Do you need help? And by the way do you have someone named Lu who usually lives in Calgary and is responsible for broadcasting from this station? Why do I ask you about her? Call it intuition." |
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Aug 8, 2015 18:22:51 GMT
Belle Starr transmitted thru her EGO to her team mates through theirs, "Well, their's a curve I wasn't expecting! After we get the generators going to help our young friend, what y'all want to do? If Esthete's consciousness is now spread in various parts of the city, should we stay separate and find those parts of the ark brain in a series of search and destroy missions, or should we regroup here, all of us, and plan from there? I admit it I'm at a loss! My druthers would be to have us all together again, because if Esthete is attached to everything in the city from the traffic monitor to the toaster oven, we could be chasing him around the city like a hound dog chasing his tail! Also, it makes me nervous as a turtle crossing a busy highway when the team is all separated like! What do y'all think we should do? I'm open to suggestions here!"
"I think you're right Belle, we need to gather the team here", Vo answered to her, "The building seems well-protected and Esthete made a huge mistake cutting it from his network. Now we can use its isolation against him. Here's your sword. I'm afraid I failed to guess that I should take your other weapons with me, so I left them at Fiel's headquarters. I was too deranged by your disappearance I think. And one more thing. Thank you for enhancing my senses. I'm using them so naturally now that I forget I have them enhanced. But I know for sure I would not survive if I didn't have them. So thank you Belle. You really saved my life countless times. Now, I'll use them extensively to work on those generators our Esthete junior needs to bring this place back to life. Until we could turn the lights on at least". He handed his sword to Belle and disappeared in Blur, running to the first point specified by the young Indogene AI. When the first generator came online, the team heard Esthete Jr.'s voice again.
"Thank you people. I think I can start building my own Network with the computers located here for the start." His voice was now calm and confident. "Here's my plan. Once I have computers here running, I'll have enough computing power to attack Esthete Senior's network. His consciousness is spread all over his network, but it's also his weakness. The parts of the Ark brain do not have individual consciousness; they can only operate under the Hive Mind. It means If I have enough computing power to block and separate a small network segment, all Ark Brain parts will wait for an external command to process data. As I am the new version of the same program, they will accept my orders. The key is to make a concentrated effort on small isolated nodes at first. This way I will be gradually consuming his network and gaining more power as I do. The complication I see in this plan is to protect the captured nodes from being re-captured. I think my father can get me an advice on that once I restore his memory."
"Do you really can do that?" They heard Doc's surprised voice.
"Yes father. When you were sentenced to a memory wipe, I've slightly adjusted the protocols so that your memory would be only cut from your operating cells but not wiped completely. To emulate the wiping process, It was cyclically cleansing the spare cells that did not have any useful information yet. Same protocol was applied when you were converted to an EGO. This way the Senior did not notice that something went wrong and you had enough memories to find the control room. Unfortunately, It turned out to be too late to use it to initiate the restart, but we still have the power to succeed in taking over the network.
Unlike the Senior, I will keep this place as a mainframe and a control port for myself, so that I would be always under the control of the operator here. I will restore the backup image from my own consciousness that I have now. It might be even better that I would always remember what could happen to the Ark Brain if its AI suppresses prophylactic restarts.
Now to the part where I'll need your help Ark hunters. I'll need all computing power I could gather to start an attack on first few nodes. That's where I'll need you EGOs to help me. Next nodes should come much easier once I get more nodes working for me. Second part is communication. As you have heard, this place is cut from the main Network, so we need a bridge to inject a broadband connection from me to the Network. I can do it with drones by sending them out of the gate, but they will need protection. The Senior will likely try to physically destroy them and our base. You'll have to protect them. My main concern is heavy military units like that Belle was brought in. They have a standalone programming and are not easy to hack through if Senior finds out what's going on and shuts down their data channel. They need to be destroyed or re-programmed from inside."
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Aug 8, 2015 18:23:16 GMT
Meanwhile, Lu caught Calgary Relay's signal and used it to connect to Volodja to send an EGO message to him:
"Hey guys, if you're coming here, could you please fetch my Hellblaser Nomad by the clinic you were storming not so long ago? It should get you here faster. Ah, and if Kaj decides to have a ride in back of the truck, please ask him to check under the spare wheel first before he uses it as a seat. My rocket launcher has a rather tough character and may kick someone's ass if pressed too hard. Literally."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 8, 2015 18:55:35 GMT
"Should we go or stay?" asked Sophie from Volodja. "At moment we are like Trojan in Esthete's system and he still hasn't caught us. Should we hold our place d'armes or not?"
"Teacher said: If we can not stay then we must make sure that afterwards we can resume our way. Have you created a back-door?"
"Yes, oh wise and almighty sensei," replied Sophie with slightly mocking manner. Then she became serious again. "I did, Volodja so we can pack our things and go. We must find more advanced hardware for us. At moment we can sting Esthete's soft spots, but we do need more fire-power."
"Agreed, Sophie dear," said Volodja when they switched places and he regained control of his body again. He still felt weak after that experience so he leaned on Kaj when they moved to the vehicle. But he regained his physical strength with every step he made so soon he was able to move on his own feet without help.
"I'll be driving," he announced. "Just hold on tight because I am intend to practise some really reckless driving. I don't trust the local traffic system, knowing that one certain Esthete can manipulate with it. And Kaj, be careful in back there. There is a really sensitive rocket launcher under the spare wheel. We have a lot of work to do, so it would be a shame to be blown up."
He started engine and while they were on their way, Volodja shared his thoughts and opinions and some fresh information he received: "Guys. We are on our way back to the institute. As soon we arrive we will plug ourselves to Esthete's network again. I believe that we can still lure him to follow us us and you guys can block his way back while we play tag with Esthete so we can chase him into somewhere secluded where he can't escape.
If institute is cut off from his network, then VBI building should be suitable place. All we need is more powerful hardware. And don't tell me that VBI local representatives let Esthete near their house. If they invited a vampire in, I will have to find another place nearby.
Now some other news. Pretty good ones like the weather report I heard from the car radio. There won't be any Razor storms for the next 48 hours. If report is correct we can try to isolate at least part of the City from the power grid to narrow our playground. And one more thing - our friend Taffer was the weatherman and that means that cavalry is on their way to help us.
One more thing which might be helpful - our new little electric plant can be used to power up the institute if necessary. All we need is cables and plugs. Our new associates Misters Aku and Tagawa kept Esthete as far from the plant as they could and that was pretty far. Somehow they didn't trust him. These are my simple suggestions. Let me know if any of those at least resembles reasonable one."
And Volodja kept driving their vehicle through the streets avoiding cameras and patrolling drones as much as possible. They didn't need any attention at moment but if Esthete sends his drones after them, then Kaj should be able to use the rocket launcher. And they had to pick up another weapon by the clinic. A Hellblaser Nomad. That would be a nice addition to their arsenal, although Volodja felt himself armed to the teeth anyway. He had his pistol and his good old sapper shovel with him again. With that equipment he can repel an attack of the Grande Armée if needed.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 8, 2015 20:37:57 GMT
Sandy Bell grinned as Taffer made his DJ broadcast, then took the microphone from him, clearing her throat before saying, "Volodja, this is Sandy. Sandy Bell? Um... I don't know if you can hear me, but I sure hope to hell you can. Taffer and I are coming for you... and the others of course. Listen... I... I love you, so don't get yourself fucking killed before I get there! I don't want our last time together to be the one where we broke up. I... I don't want to break up. I want us to be like it was when we first met, when we were so sure that every moment was our last, and we wanted every last moment to be together and loving each other was all either of us wanted. I don't know if we can have that again, but I sure am damn well going to try - and I hope you want to too, but we'll work that out later, if you want to! Right now, don't you damn die on me! I want us both to die of old age, preferably from heart attacks from making love too damn much. Um... well, now that I've entertined half of Canada... you hang in there! We are coming! Um... Sandy Bell, signing off!"
Sandy fought back the lump forming in her throat and the tears welling up in her eyes as she handed the microphone back to Taffer, then asked with a strained voice that broke with emotion, "Anything else I can do to help sir?"
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 8, 2015 21:22:20 GMT
After Belle Starr heard Taffer's report, then Sandy's message, she tried to report back to Taffer but Alfred, her EGO psyche reported something was blocking her transmission going out, whereupon the young Indogene AI said, "Now to the part where I'll need your help Ark hunters. I'll need all computing power I could gather to start an attack on first few nodes. That's where I'll need you EGOs to help me. Next nodes should come much easier once I get more nodes working for me. Second part is communication. As you have heard, this place is cut from the main Network, so we need a bridge to inject a broadband connection from me to the Network. I can do it with drones by sending them out of the gate, but they will need protection. The Senior will likely try to physically destroy them and our base. You'll have to protect them. My main concern is heavy military units like that Belle was brought in. They have a standalone programming and are not easy to hack through if Senior finds out what's going on and shuts down their data channel. They need to be destroyed or re-programmed from inside." As if on cue, Alfred detected four red dots on his radar descending from they sky landing at the four corners of the building they were in, saying with alarm to Belle and her team, "Incoming! Four monoliths I fear!" Belle took from Vo her charge sword, fastening it on her elastic belt, then looked at him with sad blue diamond eyes, saying, "I might never see you again Vo, but know I'll always love you, even though my heart is torn in two! Never doubt that I love you!" Belle embraced him hard, closing her eyes as she kissed him passionately with rose petal lips, but at the same time pressing into his hand a small cold box about the size of a ring box; the one that she had taken from her vanity before leaving on this mission; the same one containing his missing eye. When she opened her eyes, they were no longer blue, but glowed red, as bright blue scales began to form on her pretty freckled face and blue spikes began to sprout from her blond touseled hair. "I'll keep the Monoliths busy," Belle growled in a voice not quite human anymore, "Save the innocents! Stop Esthete!" Alfred pinpointed a wall to to outside, and Belle charged for it away from her friends as her transformation continued and her green Casti business suit became tatters. She reached the outside wall of the building just as her transformation into a small War Master was complete, barreling though it. As concrete showered the ground below, she leaped landing on the back of one of the waiting Monoliths, ripping her way through it with sharp blue talons.  |
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