(EPs: 1, total: 7; Art: 1, total 6)
Details of the Group's Various Activities.
Eddie allowed the Admiral's staff to examine him. The results were:
Shepherd helped Eddie program the "bugs" they'd designed, by hacking to find useful programs that could be successfully modified.
In training with Jannisett, Chauncy proved that the blue body guard could get enough minuses to her Defenses that Eddie could hit her. Thenceforth, the trainer added taser-shooters to the workout sessions so that, by being shot, Jannisett could be de-programmed from her hitherto rigid style of martial arts.
The incursion planets will be in the plane for the next 10 years. One of the 3 is a frontier planet; it is surprising that any aliens were caught on tape there. One of the others is heavily populated; that is the one from which the professor disappeared. That planet is 1.5 weeks from the station by military transport. Of the three known populated galaxies, the plane only goes through this one. (The other two galaxies are serviced by galaxy-specific StarGates.) [Of course the crew of the Sorcerer knows that there is at least a 4th galaxy - with a StarGate.]
Jamie: "We should talk to our friend in high places."
Shepherd: "The Admiral? He's not trust-worthy. I'd talk to Juri first."
Jamie: "Why?"
Shepherd: "She's either a real good spy or trustworthy."
Shepherd: "Janni didn't tell the AI anything."
Jamie: "Then I'm proud of her. Did she tell you?"
Shepherd: "No. She hasn't broken her word to the AI." [Note: The AI did not extract any sort of promise from Jannisett; it "merely" threatened her mentor.]
Jamie: "How do you know it was an AI?"
Shepherd: "Only an AI could do this."
Jamie: "You could do it."
Shepherd: "Again, go with me on this. 'She' used mannerisms and historical references; 'she' called herself Cleopatra. And it makes sense in the grand scheme of things: she knew about Sam and she knew Jannisett would care about Sam. It could be a deep Black Ops, instead. Eddie, for instance, could do this; but I don't think Eddie is Black Ops. I think Eddie used to design weapons for the military."
Jamie: "Then his memory has been thoroughly wiped."
Shepherd: "Janni will bear the brunt of the AI knowing she told somebody. But they didn't threaten her sister or her people. They threatened Sam and, vaguely, the rangers."
Jamie: "Maybe they have Sam and the rangers, but not her people. Popular lore says AI's aren't subtle. It was a rogue AI who interfered with the evacuation of that planet, after all."
Shepherd: "I think it's fairly subtle to give troops improper orders. They want us to do something related to aliens. Janni may now be their spy, but they want us to do something."
Jamie: "Now I don't know that Professor Idiot disappeared due to Aliens. 'Well secured' means heavy use of electronic surveillance. AI."
Shepherd: "If a laser was fired, that's hard to hide. Let's see if Aegis has checked out the AI story. We should do medical scans on everyone as a cover for bug scans."
Jamie: "If you're right about the AI thing, I think waiting is wrong."
Shepherd: "As long as it doesn't think Jannisett has told anyone, we can wait - until they give her orders."
Jamie: "We should talk to Aegis. He may not share our opinions, but he won't stab us in the back."
Shepherd: "We should tell Art, Banker and Eddie."
Jamie: "Ah, Jannisett's not a great actor. Nor is Eddie. Telling them might not be good. If it can take over a cab, it can take over other things."
Shepherd: "Maybe not an alien ship. If we can keep it in the dark until we're on the ship and heading out...."
Art was brought into the discussion to help break the deadlock of opinion.
Art: "Jamie's position is that telling Aegis is good. That does not obviate Shepherd's suggestion of telling Juri. But Shepherd's position is really to tell no one."
Shepherd: "Yes."
Art: "Then you freeze Jannisett out of a discussion of import to her."
Shepherd: "Until we're on our alien ship."
Art: "But every time she leaves, she's at risk. You become her puppet master. You have to control everything she knows and reacts to."
Shepherd: "The second we tell Janni or anyone, she - and Sam - are in danger.
Due to Art's stubbornness, Jannisett was consulted.
Jannisett: "I don't want whatever it is to reach the zot box! And I don't want the AI to know what you know about it."
Shepherd to Art: "Can you let it hook up but with a diminished effect?"
Art: "That will take time."
Shepherd: "The answer is no."
Further monitoring of Jannisett revealed that the nano-machine was unable to actually penetrate Art's organic-tech.
Art called Eddie in. Eddie was more interested in the machine than how Jannisett had become infected.
Eddie: "Oh, yeah. That wasn't there yesterday. It might do damage by itself."
Shepherd: "What message is it supposed to send?"
Eddie: "I'm an engineer. I can't read the software."
Eddie and Shepherd spent some time in analysis. The radio part proved to be simple: it was designed to send two messages. Eddie had Art opaque the ship and then had the intrusive machine send its 'I'm connected' signal. The experiment proved that the signal could not get out of the ship. Shepherd recognized the signal's frequency as one used by the Empire. Then Shepherd had Art un-opaque the ship and Eddie sent the signal again. Shepherd tried to trace it and noticed that it was picked up on the Station's com array.
Jannisett: "Please monitor the machine in me."
Jannisett: "How did you know about the AI?"
Shepherd: "I bugged you: Banker had suggested it. But you don't handle this sort of thing well - we thought you were awfully agitated today."
Jamie: "You don't lie well, Jannisett. This keeping information to yourself is not good. The rest of us could end up dead if you do so."
Art: "I must revisit the issue of Truth."
Shepherd: "Jannisett doesn't conceal her knowledge or feelings well. Training allows one to handle this sort of situation better than she can at this time."
He maintained an overnight monitor and found two different transmission devices within the ship. Both use weird Empire frequencies. He was relieved that the ship's opacity nonetheless prevented any transmissions from getting out. He tried to analyze the devices programming but realized that their encryption codes could take years to unravel.
Jamie explained the interview: "An AI gave orders to destroy Janni's planet. We now have another incident." She explained the Cleopatra contact.
Juri. "Interesting. Obviously not good."
Jamie: "We can do nothing about it."
Juri: You think this is confirmation that the AI works within the military structure? Or that it has access to Jannisett's people?"
Jamie: "What are the capabilities of an AI?"
Juri: "What do you want me to do?"
Jamie: "We felt that if you could take action in this matter, you would."
Juri: "I don't know what I could do...."
Jamie: "Then I'm sorry I burdened you with any of this. I am considering telling Aegis."
Juri: "I suspect it will be difficult getting Aegis to investigate AI's. He deals regularly with AI's that the Emperor thinks are loyal to Humanity's interests. I don't know what he can do. He'd get involved - over-react - to knowledge of direct interference with your companions. Your personal freedoms might be set aside. I wish he'd brought a larger Intelligence contingent with him so that you could funnel info through them."
Jamie: "Then it might be best if he finds out after we leave."
Juri: "It might not have much impact once your mission is under way. But it's information that should be gotten to some quarters."
Shepherd, wryly: "And not to others."
Juri: "Some groups would use it to incite action against other groups."
Jamie: "Aegis didn't know about the rogue AI destroying a planet."
Juri: "How did he learn?"
Shepherd: "We told him."
Juri stared in shock.
Shepherd: "Why are you upset?"
Juri: "I'm shocked that the Admiral didn't know. It means someone is hiding information from him. Is your information source still secure? Was it in the military structure? Imperial Intelligence structure?
Shepherd, knowing he was giving incomplete information: "Intelligence, not military."
Juri: "I'll think on it."
Jamie: "Do you know a reason we should not tell Aegis?"
Juri: "If you tell Aegis, it will not be kept a secret. If you think people Jannisett cares about will suffer for that...? I'm glad I'm not caught in that quandary. Your contact in the Imperial Information Service would be a good advisor in this." She looked directly at Shepherd.
Juri: "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Eddie: "I have a completely unrelated question."
Shepherd started to leave and Juri insisted that Chauncy escort Shepherd out "with due ceremony."
In leaving Shepherd confided to Chauncy, "The information needs to be passed on."
Chauncy: "She'll probably just tell the Emperor when she sees him, though I didn't say that."
Juri: "Before we were so rudely interrupted...."
Eddie. "They did a genetic scan on me. I'm supposed to be eligible for an inheritance. Money. Does this happen?"
Juri: "Yes. Do you think it's a plot? That would be very intelligent of you. Do you want a lawyer to look into it for you?"
At the engineer's nod, the lady called in a lawyer who arrived very promptly.
Juri: "What kind of nanotech do you have?"
Eddie: "I'm not sure. But if it gets out of you it just dies."
After finding out from the lawyer that the claim has been in place for years, Eddie put in an inheritance claim and learned that it would be verified in about a month. Thus the lawyers want him back within that time or, at least, accurate information as to how he can be contacted in a month.
Juri then invited Art to lunch with her.
Art: "An AI is culpable to whom when it creates a crime?"
Juri: "That is not my field of expertise."
Art: "Then let us talk about Authority, how it is used, how one interacts with it."
Juri: "I have no authority. I have resources assigned to me. I'm merely a passenger."
Over the course of the conversation Art did learn that, by tradition, the Imperial Family rides herd over the regular nobility.
That evening, Lady Juri threw a gala and invited all the crew save Shepherd. Jannisett took the occasion to thank Chauncy for all his help and to dance with him - a different sort of dance than had been their wont.
That night, Jannisett was again contacted by Cleopatra. "We know you're going to Planet Cinnamon. As Miss McFadden made any breakthroughs with the alien language?"
Jannisett: "None that I know."
Cleopatra: "If you don't have some information for me next time, Things Will Happen. You will be contacted on the planet."
Three days later, Shepherd told Jamie and Art that Jannisett had again been contacted; he suggested feeding the AI disinformation via Jannisett.
Jamie: "There's no need for disinformation. We have no break through and no plan."
Shepherd then admonished Jannisett not to not tell the group about her next AI contact.
During transport, Jamie commissioned a suit that could display electo-magnetic wavelengths such as the Aliens used in their communications. The military techs and Eddie try, but only get to the design stage (and didn't do well even with that).
Jamie spent time examining the professor's notes. She also put in an order for super-broad spectrum recordings for her projected meeting with the Aliens so that more information could be garnered about the "visual" aspects of their language.
Banker, who had not been told about all the AI contacts, finally asked Art about the conversational sounds he's overheard (Art's cabin being right next to the bridge and it's door perpetually open).
Banker: "Who's that you're talking to in your room?"
Art: "The AI called Mangosuthu. We talk via a <X> device on a daily basis. It can not communicate in my language."
Jamie: Why don't you ask it for advice in dealing with other AI?"
Art: "I will. Not in this month. We're still talking broad concepts."
Jamie: "Sooner is better. Janni needs something to give Cleo when she makes another visit."
Art: "We are on our own. The multitude of possibilities staggers the imagination."
Shepherd: "That's why you should ask."
Art: "Ah. I'll take a break and see."
Shepherd tried to monitor Art's device in order to follow the alien's discussion with the AI. Although he detected a powerful directed stream into the ship, in his eavesdropping, he noticed nothing from Art out.
Art questioned the AI: "The people here are curious about the number of ways that information to Cleopatra could be used."
AI: "Can't say." The discussion became sidetracked on the Nature of the Infinite. Art noted that the AI was more limited than humans albeit they seem to consider themselves human.
Art: "How can one obfuscate data to Cleopatra? How can one lie to an AI?"
AI: "Can't say anything about her weakness. She, more than most, tries to emulate the proto-historical figure she pretends to be."
Art then spoke to the Sorcerer crew over their chips: "Cleopatra wants no alliance forged between us and the Aliens."
Jamie decided to research the historical Cleopatra.
Art noted that AI's have difficulty comprehending humans in the large and in the individual.
Art: "Remember when I talked about your isolating Jannisett and you said that would stop on the ship?"
Shepherd: "I lied."
Jamie: "I'm bringing Jannisett and Eddie in on this."
Shepherd: "It's a risk assessment."
After the 2nd week on planet, Jamie' guard cadre rotated personnel. Shepherd identified two of the people in camp as Imperial Intelligence. On the base, he noted plenty of Military Intelligence.
Eventually the party asked Jannisett if she had yet been contacted by the AI Cleopatra. The blue girl said, "No" and seemed a little worried about it.
The day after the Alien Incursion, the party was enroute to another destination (following the incursions up-the-line IIRC), an explosion occurred in their flitter and they were hurled to the ground. Although her guard provided thorough protection for Jamie, the bridge was destroyed and the bridge crew, dead.
Shepherd grabbed one of the injured troopers and flew out. Jannisett grabbed the unconscious and bleeding Banker, and, with all the other survivors, piled into the one escape pod. [Note: during the game, Jannisett had grabbed Eddie but a "back in time" made it clear that Eddie was not unconscious, so I have substituted the injured pilot instead, the GM allowing.]
The pod landed hard. Three survivors were unconscious: Banker and 2 guards. Four relatively undamaged guards started moving Jamie to safety, injecting Something into the two unconscious guards before leaving.. Although herself damaged from Art having landed on her, Jannisett paramedicked Banker. Shepherd chipped, "Vehicle coming. Probably to clean up what's not dead. Flying, armed, and not friendly." Jamie tossed a couple of med-packs to Janniesett who applied them to Eddie and Banker. They both came to and staggered to their feet.
Eddie tripped over a missile-rack weapon and picked it up. Shepherd, however, had some training in the big weapon and so fell back and set it up to shoot. Two guards break away from Jamie and set up covering fire to draw away the oncoming vehicle. After the hostile vehicle's first plasma energy blast at the snipers' position, Shepherd shot. It was close, but the pilot managed to avoid major damage.
Shepherd waited for the vehicle to fire again. It missed. Then he scored a hit that, although it didn't penetrate the vehicle's armor, knocked it askew and spinning out of control. Big explosion. Shepherd noted that there were 4 survivors and lots of pink paste. He called, "Throw out your weapons and give up!" They started shooting. A grenade landed nearby him and he flew for cover. He took an [8,32] energy blast.
Art called out that Shepherd had gone down. Jannisett headed at a run for their position. The attacker turned and blasted Art with an armor-piercing laser. [9 in the 10]. Art takes another shot [15,45 in the 16] and was stunned. Jannisett ran her hand into the enemy's armored chest, knocking him back.
With energy-control skills, Art suppressed the fire still burning Shepherd, despite the degree of its own injuries. [Art regained a BODY for itself in the process.] Then Art paramedicked the dark-haired man.
Jannisett checked the area. One survivor was alive but bleeding to death so she tried to stabilize him; he was pinned in his vehicle's wreckage. Her target had also survived, so there were two prisoners for questioning.
Jannisett: "Was the explosion arranged by the AI? Might this have been like the orders that destroyed my planet?"
Eddie: "Almost certainly."
Jannisett: "I
Jamie: "She knew our mission. We were targets no matter what you said."
(EPs: 1, total: 7; Art: 1, total 6)
Next Run: 19.Sep.04
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