The Stryker

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Government Announces Reconstruction Plans; Formerly Rampant IPCs Left Behind? Boryeong, Konyang With Konyang picking up the pieces after the three-month-long Rampancy Crisis, the National Disaster Authority has published its first report, outlining the damage done to the planet’s population, infrastructure, and economy. The ambiguously named document, entitled “NDA-001032946” but more popularly known within government and industry circles as the “Reconstruction Report” painted a grim picture as detailed in the report’s summary below. The report went on to highlight particularly hard-struck prefectures and suggest plans for immediate relief. Although well-received by prefectural officials who gave statements of support for the agency’s initial proposals, critics were quick to point out that the report lacked any plans on how to tackle the return and resettlement of formerly rampant IPCs. Nowhere has criticism been more vocal than the hard-hit Boryeong Prefecture, where order collapsed almost entirely outside of urban areas due to the rough terrain, poor communications networks, and comparatively small KAF response. A now-infamous post on Chirper from an army private reported on the dismal condition of formerly-rampant IPCs in the prefecture. BitByte’s very own Moon Kyong-ran was granted access to one of these camps in order to report on their conditions. The KRC and government have announced that plans for reuniting rampant IPCs with their past lives are now being formulated, though many critics continue to wonder whether the NDA’s reconstruction plans have already left Konyang’s formerly-rampant citizens behind. Further reading: Opinion: Commodore Mun Taeyang, misguided madman or misunderstood martyr? Providence Gazette: Trinarist doctors request additional donations from laity; describe scale of task faced by them on Konyang. Reconstruction: Reactivating Konyang’s bluespace gate: a cost-benefit analysis.

Hi, thanks for applying. Just some concerns for the app. Could you talk about self-preservation and how it relates to Z.I Seeker? Due to our concerns with your past IPC characters being too human/not having enough distinguishing features from a human, what will you do to address these concerns?

This thread exists to collect feedback for the synth team's arc, Silicon Nightmares. If you have any feedback, what worked for you, what went wrong, what could be improved and what you'd like to see more of in the future, then this is the place to talk about it. We're taking feedback both on particular events and the arc as a whole.

Operation Jiogjegeo Successful; Rampants begin Mass Recovery across Planet Kaneyama, Konyang In a statement from the office of General Gi Seungri, the Konyang Armed Forces declared Operation Jiogjegeo “a resounding success” with the complete liberation of Kaneyama Island from all rampant and hivebot threats. The success of the offensive was compounded by the operation’s primary objective, the installation of a Purpose-derived artifact known as the Electronic Countermeasure Device, which is now confirmed to have completely removed any trace of the Rampancy Signal from Konyang. Reports are popping up all across the planet of rampant IPCs regaining their mental faculties, with the government launching massive relief efforts to provide aid to these disaffected citizens. Furthermore, the jamming signals that have cropped up across the planet have now ceased, allowing the KASF to once more provide air cover to the Army and Navy, allowing for planning of further operations to secure hivebot-infested regions. This news comes as a further surprise as Operation Jiogjegeo was not expected to succeed, with reports now indicating that the previous delays from the KAF were due to an expected 80% casualty rating from a contested landing. Their initial planning was thrown off due to the mutiny of the now-destroyed KNV Chen Lin under the command of Commodore Mun Taeyang, who are believed to have lured away most of the coastal IPCs and hivebots towards them. After approximately three hours of resistance, the KNV Chen Lin is believed to have launched its entire non-nuclear payload of missiles at the coastline surrounding it, destroying massive concentrations of infected and hivebots while killing most of the ship’s defenders in the process. Commodore Mun Taeyang is also believed to have been killed in the explosion with the sole surviving officer from the encounter reporting that he stayed on the bridge of the Chen Lin. Footage released shortly before the detonation was uploaded to a Navy source by one of the defenders of the Chen Lin. Viewer discretion is advised as the video contains explicit language, disturbing images and intense violence. Officials from GON-ENE are still assessing the environmental damage caused by the destruction of the KNV Chen Lin, though it is expected to wait until after the Konyang Navy gives the all-clear for civilians to return to the island. Shortly afterwards, remaining Army and Navy elements were able to rally and join the SCC team in seizing the Nuclear Power Plant and activating the device. BitByte’s own Pak Ki-young was on station with the Konyang Army’s Rapid Reaction Brigade, filming the offensive, as well as the effects of the ECD which are believed to have cured the Rampancy signal. Viewer discretion is advised as the video contains disturbing images and intense violence. At the time of writing, the government has not lifted the state of emergency yet, citing that large-scale response is still required to stabilize the situation on the planet. Additionally, the KAF has confirmed that hivebot beacons still remain throughout the planet, though the movements of their drones seem slow and lethargic as they operate without central guidance. As families across the planet are reunited and the crisis slowly starts to wind down however, Konyangers now feel that the planet has begun to wake up from a long silicon nightmare. Further reading: ← Back

BREAKING NEWS: Navy Nuclear Destroyer Mutinies Suwon, Konyang Citizens of Suwon found their evening routine interrupted by sounds of gunfire and the rumble of a destroyer underway as the KNV Chen Lin under the command of Commodore Mun Taeyang slipped from moorings against the orders of Capital Fleet Command and towards the direction of the Kaneyama Nuclear Power Plant. The Chen Lin, if reports are to be believed, is carrying nuclear weapons in accordance with its role as an anti-orbital vessel. Although the Navy has refused to comment on the incident, observers fear the worst as shortly after the mutiny, half of the Eastern Capital Fleet as well a full quarter of the Western New Hong Kong and Aoyaman fleets were dispatched in pursuit of the KNV Chen Lin, even into the high-risk area around Kaneyama. The mutiny has sparked serious debate among analysts as to its reasons, though the prevailing belief is that it was caused by frustration over the KAF’s delays in launching Operation Jiogjegeo, the planned liberation of Kaneyama and the destruction of the hivebot Primary Transmission Hub. Shortly after the ship left harbor, several officers and sailors aboard the Chen Lin posted a pre-recorded video of their captain on Chirper, explaining his motives. Analysts have taken to believing his words imply a nuclear threat towards Kaneyama, while others point out that the Chen Lin would have already been in weapons range of the nuclear power plant an hour after leaving harbor. The mutiny itself comes as a surprise to analysts however, as Mun Taeyang, a decorated officer in the pre-independence Konyang garrison has had no prior history of insubordination and has, in many prior instances, given public statements in support of both the government and the navy’s policies. Further reading: Spur: Si'Akh fire priest spotted in New Busan Health: experts ask, "Do overloaders actually help prevent the infection?" Up!Burger: “Norinori makes full recovery after assault!”

KAF Faces Delays with Kaneyama Operation Suwon, Konyang Sources within the armed forces report delays in the planning of Operation Jiogjegeo, a joint operation between all three branches of the Konyang Armed Forces in order to retake the Kaneyama Nuclear Power Plant, which they believe is housing the Primary Transmission Hub coordinating all hivebot efforts on the planet. These delays have been driven by a number of factors including the unusual number of rampant IPCs on the island, ever-increasing numbers of hivebots attacking passing ships and aircraft, as well as a jamming signal preventing accurate reconnaissance and air traffic over the island. Military observers have noted that the plan, calling for an amphibious assault of the island by both Army and Navy units, would be the largest joint operation undertaken by the nascent KAF if it pushes through. Two opposing viewpoints have reportedly emerged within KAF high command as a result of the delays, with one seeking to gather more strength and find a way to penetrate the hivebot jamming signal before launching the operation, while the other, reportedly spearheaded by a cadre of Army generals believe that further delays would only lead to the situation worsening. The nuclear power plant’s proximity to Suwon as well as its position next to the coast has ruled out an artillery or orbital strike of the facility as GON-ENE has reported that based on thermal readings, the plant is still operational even if it is not currently sending power to the mainland. Furthermore, a leaked document from a KASF nuclear technician stressed that “any significant damage to the facility and to the core in its current state would run the risk of a nuclear meltdown.” Although all branches of the KAF have declined to comment on the leak, they have emphatically denied all reports that an orbital bombardment of the KNPP was being considered. The KAF has continued to remain on high alert in Suwon, with the Navy reportedly pulling ships from other regions of the planet in order to assist in the landing. As military buildup continues within the capital, a spokesman from the military attempted to reassure the public, stating, “The Konyang Armed Forces remain fully capable of stopping any further hivebot advances while preparing to drive them off-planet.” Further Reading: Health: New Busan announces full quarantine of two districts due to outbreak of rampancy. Megacorporations: Einstein closes deal with Konyang Army for 5,000 sets of unspecified RIGsuits. Trinary Perfection: Orepit prepares mission of doctors, roboticists, to Konyang.

Hi, thanks for applying! I have some concerns for the app. Could you talk more about self-preservation for both newer and older IPCs? Additionally, could you talk about your thoughts on whether synthetics are sentient? Some additional concerns for this section, can you add the character's age and their place of origin? Even in a megacorporation, an IPC's age and whether or not they worked in Biesel, the Coalition, or the Sol Alliance for example can make a huge impact on what their experiences are. Character's age is important for determining how much an IPC would know and how much it would have grown, since one year for an IPC can be very big. Additionally, can you talk more about how Sen behaves in general? What are their thoughts on the corporation? How do they get along with their colleagues? How did they get along with the people they saved from the pirate boarding party, for starters?

“Nationals, not Nations”: A Look into Foreign Aid for Konyang Ganzaodeng, Konyang Earlier today, Parliament passed a measure temporarily easing visa requirements as well as streamlining processing cycles for foreign nationals currently involved with emergency relief efforts on Konyang. The measure, proposed by MP Cao Chunhua of Ganzaodeng, received broad support in a 257-43 majority, contested only by holdouts in the ruling New Konyang Party. It seeks to formalize an already existing informal practice, particularly in the hard-hit prefectures of Boryeong and New Hong Kong, of allowing foreign aid workers and volunteers as long as they belonged to an internationally-recognized relief organization. Political commentators note that this follows on from the present administration’s policy of refusing formal aid from nations while permitting non-governmental aid in a policy some are calling “Nationals, not Nations.” This measure comes on the heels of a failed motion last week to petition the wider Coalition of Colonies for military support. The previous motion received general opposition from both the New Konyang Party and National Party who argued that foreign soldiers would not be trained in handling rampant IPCs, citing fears of another Boryeong Massacre. The present measure was tailored to incorporate the requests of most parties in Parliament, including the National Party’s request that only civilian aid be sought after as well as the K-KMT’s staunch opposition to any measure that would not extend the same relaxed requirements to Solarian nationals. At the time of writing, the Konyang Immigration Service noted approximately 54,000 foreign volunteers and aid workers, including approximately 6,000 doctors, 9,000 other medical-related fields, as well as 1,600 roboticists, not including further megacorporate aid pledged by Einstein Engines and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals. Officials also implored individuals with skills in scientific and engineering backgrounds to volunteer, pointing out that more expertise was needed to maintain rural infrastructure in a time of crisis. The immigration service also noted a large proportion of San Colettish volunteers, the planet being noted to maintain close ties with Konyang even in the post-independence climate. Thus far, the only official aid the Konyang government has requested is an increase in Ranger patrols so as to free up KASF vessels for logistics and relief duties on the planet’s surface, although they have not barred the dispatch of several medical brigades from Coalition member militaries. While the central government continues its policy of not seeking out foreign aid, it has not stopped individual prefectures from requesting it. BitByte’s very own Pak Ki-young was able to interview one Janek Aiken, a Europan engineer who volunteered to assist with relief efforts. Further reading: Boryeong Miracle: Army colonel reports 30,000 infected lured away from city limits without casualties. Parts trafficking in New Kowloon: infected collection point broken into. GwokRation!: Getting drafted? Toss the latest Go Go Gwok ration in your pack before you head out, in collaboration with Up!Burger

Hivebot Surge in Wake of Operation Dizang New Hong Kong Prefecture, Konyang In a joint statement, the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and Konyang Armed Forces announced that Operation Dizang successfully reclaimed Xiangtong Warehouse and drove back significant rampant populations from the perimeter of New Hong Kong City. The final assault on the warehouse, spearheaded by an elite SCC team, was captured live on camera by an embedded BitByte reporter. A video is embedded: Hopes were high that the operation would be a crucial first step in resolving the crisis, however reports indicate that rampant IPCs and hivebots have stepped up their attacks on civilians in response to the destruction of what is now being dubbed by experts as a “Secondary Transmitter." Shortly after its destruction, Konyang Army units participating in Operation Dizang reported a surge in aggression among rampancy-afflicted IPCs. Furthermore, Navy listening posts have detected massive incursions of hivebots planet wide, with no known origin, these bots have begun to swarm prefectures and are terrorizing areas once thought safe havens. Defenses are holding for now as soldiers from the Konyang Armed Forces stand against the invaders, but contact with countryside villages continues to dwindle by the day. There has been no word from the Konyang Robotics Corporation or Purpose regarding a decisive solution to this ever dire situation. The government assured the public however that they are working on a solution with Purpose to solve the crisis, and that emergency services and the military were “more than capable” of containing the situation until then. Military operations have begun across Cheomseongtang, the Yu Islands, and the New Guangzhou Archipelago to mount a counter offensive against the emergent invaders, with no reports on the outcome of these operations just yet. Battlefield footage has been submitted however of Phoenix Lance, an exosuit squad, making an assault on a hivebot swarm to what is reported as a successful engagement within these operations. The video attached is edited, and may be disturbing to some audiences. This article is in memory of Sergeant Choe Gi; Callsign Lyra, who died valiantly defending the planet from an insurmountable threat. She leaves behind two children. Further reading: Konyang Armed Forces announces further call-up of reservists: dodging to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Foreign aid: discussions on petition for assistance to Coalition ongoing in capital. Xiangtong Warehouse: six SCC and five Navy deceased to receive honors.

BREAKING: KAF Mobilizes for Operation in New Hong Kong Prefecture New Hong Kong City, Konyang This morning, the citizens of New Hong Kong woke up to the sight of exosuits and armored transports marching down their streets as a spokesman from the KAF announced the launch of Operation Dizang, a large-scale military maneuver intended to draw large swathes of Rampancy-afflicted IPCs to unpopulated areas near the New Hong Kong coast. The stated goal of the operation is to create a 100-kilometer perimeter around New Hong Kong City proper, and in particular, the sprawling outskirts neighborhood of New Kowloon which has long been identified by government officials as a high-risk area for violence by infected IPCs. In response to fears of high death tolls among infected citizens, the military reassured the public that measures were being put in place to avoid a repeat of previous incidents such as the catastrophe in Boryeong. In a rare moment for the National Party, response to the operation was divided, with National Party leader Lam Xi denouncing the military operation as “a reckless adventure, fit only to kill soldiers and civilians alike,” while other affiliated MPs approved of the increased security measures for New Hong Kong. In contrast, the reception from the population of New Hong Kong has largely been approving as alongside a military buildup, Einstein Engines corporate security personnel trained by the Special Robotics Division have arrived in the city to bolster its police forces for the duration of the operation. Additionally, Zeng-Hu, in cooperation with the SCC, pledged medical and technical support to both infected and non-infected victims during the operation. Military commentators observed that despite the ambitious goals of Operation Dizang, the forces allotted were far in excess of those assigned to previously successful “luring” campaigns in Suwon Prefecture, particularly when factoring in the limited geographic area of New Hong Kong. Extranet recordings of the forces amassing for the operation revealed that of the forces allotted to the operation, the entire human roboticist compliments of the almost-wholly positronic 8th, 9th, and 10th Marine Battalions were present despite their units being confined to barracks. Commentators speculate that due to the overall concentration of forces along the Xiangtong River, Operation Dizang’s primary objective may in fact be to re-secure KRC facilities in the region. Thus far, the KAF has refused to comment on this. Further Reading: Stock market forced to open at -12 points. Man cuffs Gwok salesman to streetlamp: "Bo made me do it." Golden Deep Grand Merchant steps down from Midas Group: Emerges from Control Center

Thanks for applying, I have some concerns for the app. Could you expand on how Holmes might have learned certain emotions? You mention emotions are a socialised behavior, and how IPCs choose to learn to (or not to) interact with people is part of playing an IPC character.

Hi, thanks for applying! Just some concerns for the application. Could you expand on this a little more? I feel like a lot of it can be found in the backstory, but could you talk about self-preservation, especially in the context of Ayudante?

Thanks for applying! I have a concern for the application. Although I feel you capture the self-preservation aspect, I feel like it would be highly unlikely for an IPC to get through Burzsia after a criminal record without being wiped, especially since the Burzsian Method relies on incredibly frequent memory wiping to remove even the thought of anti-corporate or otherwise disobedient behavior.

Speaking on behalf of the synthetic team, it'd be better if this PR gets merged ASAP. As Fluffy mentioned above, we can debate on specific details later, but right now we only have the perspective of them as hyper dangerous that they can potentially 3-shot even a Konyanger ghost role in heavy armor. By merging this PR, we can see how they feel to play against if they're slightly less powerful, and then we can modify their values again. We don't have to make one big "one and done" change when we only have them in their initial state. As for the PR in its current state, this reduces the damage of infected IPCs somewhat, but crucially, nerfs their armor penetration. Infected IPCs will still be dangerous but this danger can be reduced if you prepare and actually bring armor. I think this is a good place for them to be since when you factor in how fast they are, they can still pose a threat but don't immediately end your round.

BitByte: Purpose Introspective Konyang, Haneunim From mysterious entities to valiant saviors, the re-emergence of the synthetic organization known as ‘Purpose’ brings about numerous questions, more than we have answers for. Purpose is an exclusively synthetic society of individuals in whose make we have ill understanding of. No knowledge on their make, no nation of origin, and are evidently capable of impossible tasks. Who are they, and why did they vanish only to return again during Konyang’s crisis? Do they have any ulterior motives? Can we trust them, and their rogue nation-state? Purpose first revealed itself to the galaxy nearly half a decade ago on July 19th, 2460, to the HES Gjallarhorn, a Hephaestus employed mercenary corvette, offering a vague message of warning and protection, before vanishing again into the void. Known to be in constant observance of the spur through dedicated observation drones, this group of advanced synthetics seem to hold a reach we can still barely understand today. The attitude about this mysterious organization has always been met with controversy, doubt, and even fear. Purpose has been known to show swift and decisive action, their initial warning to the HES Gjallarhorn even includes a statement on ‘Shooting first and asking names later’ in regards to the investigation of their own craft. Deliberate action even being taken in an incursion on the N.S.S. Aurora, with the organization deploying two highly advanced ‘Hunter-Seeker’ combat synthetics against a Lii’dra infiltration force, sacrificing one of their own vessels in the incident before departing from known space once more. But why? Their initial public confrontation of the spur’s inhabitants was one of warning, and study. Stating in the audio recording their realization of what the HES GJallarhorn was implies that they did not know, or did not care, the nature of the inhabitants of the vessel or the Spur until just then. So why did they help on the Aurora? Why did they send envoys to speak with The Republic of Biesel? And why intervene in Konyang? What do they gain? Their motives behind the aid in Konyang now still remain a mystery, but if their past actions have shown anything, we hope it is for the betterment of the citizens of the plague ridden planet.

Suspicious Fluctuations at the Kaneyama Nuclear Power Plant Suwon, Konyang The country’s Atomic Energy Commission has ordered an investigation at the grounds of the Kaneyama N.P.P., citing concerns over abnormal output during the past few weeks. In a memo published by the commission, the Ministry of Energy has been informed of “Unexplainable fluctuations in the production of electricity, which do not appear to be the result of immediately obvious faulty equipment or manmade error. The output has seen a drop to around 50% of the predicted levels, and there are days where the capacitors are barely charging”. While the director of the Kaneyama plant did in fact investigate the issue with staff on-site, the errors were initially blamed on the automated earthquake safety systems triggering due to heavy excavations for the construction of nearby housing facilities. As the issue persists however, such a theory has been rendered moot, requiring an in-depth examination of the plant’s underground maintenance tunnels and vast cabling. Reports of software errors have also affected the plant’s telecommunications systems, with a 45 minute long outage being noted during the previous week. Other electronic issues included the loss of control over a number of the facility’s computer systems over the last days, raising concerns of a cyberattack or some other external interference. It is unknown whether or not these errors are connected to the surges, or if they bear any link to the ongoing Hivebot infestation and the Rampancy virus. An inquiry from the site’s engineers into the issue has been reportedly shut down by the administration, citing that the incidents are unrelated and under control. The controversial Kaneyama plant was completed in March of last year, entering into service after an express construction deemed secure. It now provides over half of Suwon’s electricity needs, with the government having promised lower utility bills in due time. While the current technical difficulties are not projected to affect the long-term power supply of the capital, We have yet to see the severity of the root cause. Further Reading: Rampancy virus: death toll in Suwon-Boryeong region now greater than 2,000. Vigilantism on the rise: police bust sea bandit arms sale to “self-protection society”. Konyang Navy reactivates IPC personnel: vows to suppress pirate surge.

Conglomerate Flagship Attacked by Exclusionists! Burzsia, Weeping Star A spokesman for the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate confirmed rumors surrounding an attempted Exclusionist attack on the SCCV Horizon, previously reported to be carrying a Purpose-origin device capable of curing positronic brains afflicted with the Rampancy Virus. Last Saturday, at approximately 20:00 BST Burzsian Standard Time, long-range sensors detected armed vessels in the sector with signatures previously recorded in Exclusionist attacks. Shortly after, five ships were reported approaching the SCCV Horizon at high speed. Although an attempt was made by Hephaestus Corporate Security to interdict the vessels, a single ship broke through their perimeter and fired on the megacorporate flagship. After a brief space battle, an estimated 18 IPC terrorists were able to force their way onto the Horizon before being destroyed by the crew, the synthetics reportedly refusing to surrender. Simultaneously, Hephaestus patrol vessels were able to drive off the remaining Exclusionist vessels, with only a single ship escaping. According to a crewmember who participated in the battle and has requested to remain anonymous, Purpose chose to assist them. Additionally, this video was circulated in the HICS Etna employee relay before being taken down by moderators. The SCC declined to release names but confirmed that two Horizon crewmembers and five Hephaestus security personnel were killed in the attack. Additionally, they confirmed that Purpose was present in the area but refused to give further comment as to their involvement. Hephaestus Industries expressed regret over the loss of life and Exclusionist activity, pledging to increase patrols in the sector. The response from the wider Trinarist community has been largely negative, with Ecclesiarch ARM-DR1L condemning the attack as “misguided and irresponsible”. Further Reading: Infected number reaches 11,000 in Boryeong: spillover from Suwon suspected. Konyang Army manpower shortages: debates over call-up of IPC personnel. Travel restrictions: Govt. demands increase inspections for Orion Express passenger flights.

Hi, thanks for applying and apologies for the delay in getting around to this app. Could you expand a little bit more on this section? How are IPCs treated throughout the Spur and how is this different from the way a human would be treated, for instance? The backstory is solid but there could be a few more additions that would help to show what the character is like. Why did Zorya struggle with the Vysokan family ethos? How do they behave around others?

24 Found Dead in Ritual Suicide in Doomsday Cult Incident Suwon, Konyang “This is the last thing I’d want to have to deal with today.” Fatigue is commonplace within the ranks of the thinly-stretched National Police; Inspector Wang Enzhu, homicide detective for the 112th Precinct told BitByte that the apparent mass suicide is “just another folder” on an endless stack of unsolved cases since the start of the viral outbreak. Twenty four positronic persons have been found deceased in a construction site at the Heungeop-Dong suburb of Suwon, offering a disturbing sight for the construction workers who came to work the following morning: The bodies were all standing still, the victims holding hands in a circle around an array of crayon-drawn symbols on the ground. It soon became apparent that the positronics had consumed a version of the ”MACAFREEZE” software, a highly illegal and destructive malware which terminates brain functions a certain time after consumption, before locking all limbs and hydraulics in place. As KRC coroners were struggling to disassemble the circle, Inspector Wang informed us about the alarming increase in death cults and the link to the viral outbreak. While the ultimate motive is still unknown, it is highly unlikely that any of the victims had been infected. “Many people think the world is coming to an end, and they can’t really be blamed. For many, friends, family and neighbors are turning into killers, and there’s nothing they can do about it. We have only seen this sort of scenario in movies and video games until now, I guess the stress has pushed many over the edge. I don’t know if IPCs dream, but if they do, these guys were having silicon nightmares.[...]” Further Reading: Infected number surpasses 5,000 in Ganzaodeng: Prefecture shutting down commercial train rails. Kaneyama plant under technical investigation: Abnormal power fluctuations blamed on nearby excavation drillings. New KRC mobile hospitals: Ten thousand additional doctors requested by the Ministry.

Konyang Approaches SCC, “Hivebot” Virus Source Confirmed, Cure on the Way? Suwon, Konyang Following an apparent stalemate of Einstein efforts and a general confusion inside the company's top ranks following the debunking of the "hacked overloader" theory, the Ministry of Health and Positronic Affairs has requested the presence of the Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals representative, in an apparent break from the traditional and well established link between the government and Einstein Engines in most software and robotics matters. The talks were brief and arrived to the conclusion everyone expected; an official call for help for Zeng-Hu and the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. This decision to invite the Spur's largest megacorporate alliance into Konyang was justified by the need for "a wider pool of resources and expertise into a matter most urgent". In a televised address, Minister Sam-Pi-Ri has further confirmed the source of the outbreak; Positronic-sensitive radio waves broadcast by an unknown number of “Hivebot” beacon drones, with one confirmed location in the general area of the KRC Citizen Pre-activation Unit No. 23 in Xiangtong, New Hong Kong, the site of the largest mass outbreak. This information comes after a tip from Purpose, who have apparently also developed countermeasures that will combat the waves’ effect, though such is still unconfirmed. Einstein Engines’ response was muted, with a spokesperson for the megacorporation stating that they will be “willing to work with anyone in order to bring a speedy conclusion to the crisis". It is unclear however what this will mean for the future of Einstein's interests, though it is highly unlikely that radical changes will manifest when one considers the corporation's grip on the planet's positronic life. Nevertheless, a follow-up announcement has confirmed the SCC's positive reply, including material assistance as soon as possible.

Konyang Government in Talks with Purpose Aoyama, Konyang The government of Konyang disclosed that it is currently in talks with the IPC group known as Purpose in order to find a solution to the Rampancy Crisis which is currently nearing the end of its third week. This decision was preceded by a report from the Konyang Aerospace Forces of a small number of unidentified vessels burning towards the Haneunim system which they have now confirmed to be Purpose vessels arriving for the stated objective of assisting the planet in combating the crisis. A spokesman for the government has stated that Purpose has already provided “invaluable” technical assistance in studying the Rampancy Virus. The government released a recording of a Purpose IPC describing their findings on the virus. This decision sparked intense criticism and controversy from the National Party following unconfirmed reports of Purpose sightings in infected areas prior to the declaration of a State of Emergency. A report from the KRC was leaked shortly after, spurring further protest: “Although the information Purpose has given is already invaluable, the technological divergence between us is so massive that we have no reliable way of ascertaining whether or not any countermeasure they devise would destroy, rather than cure positronic brains afflicted by the Rampancy Virus.”

EMERGENCY BROADCAST A nationwide State of Emergency has been declared. A full quarantine is in effect in the following cities: Suwon City, Boryeong City, New Hong Kong City, Aoyama City. A partial quarantine is in effect in the city of Ganzaodeng City. Disaster prevention measures are in effect in all Prefectures. Citizens are to comply with all measures and directions as issued by local, prefectural and national authorities. Suwon, Konyang A state of emergency has been put into effect for the entirety of Konyang, following an increased pressure on the National Police after the Xiangtong incident, straining the already overburdened force to the breaking point. With an ever increasing number of violent incidents, the emergency will allow the Konyang Armed Forces to take an active role in the suppression of the outbreak and the securing of its victims. Already, many garrisoned formations of the Konyang Army and Navy have been deployed across Suwon and Point Verdant, primarily to guard the central districts and government installations. A firefight between an army roadblock and a number of infected has already been reported to have taken place in downtown Suwon, fueling widespread skepticism that is currently being voiced on social media. Positronic service members are rumored to have been confined to their quarters, as only human soldiers and sailors have been identified. The deployment of military troops has also been confirmed around the premises of the Xiangtong warehouse, with a noted presence of the 53rd Coastal Exosuit Brigade making local headlines for the use of combat exosuit technology. Furthermore, a planet travel ban on positronics was announced alongside the declaration of emergency for the protection and well being of visitors. The ban will be enforced by the Konyang Aerospace Forces in orbit and in the Haneunim system.

Hi, thanks for applying. It's a great backstory and the only thing I'd ask you to expand upon is how Ethnea handles the more intensive work culture at Zeng-Hu as compared to Einstein Engines, even if it is more egalitarian. You mention that IPCs are more mechanical in the way they think and act. Could you expand on this section a bit more and give an example of how an IPC would pick up on social cues?

Suwon Quarantined, Supplies Fly off the Shelves Suwon, Konyang Prefectural officials have announced that a city-wide quarantine will be put into effect for Suwon City, starting at midnight. 14,000 additional National Police officers are being mobilized for the enforcement of the quarantine, which will disallow any unsupervised entry or exit from the city, while special permissions will be required for commotion between districts inside Suwon. This move has been dubbed as an “entirely preventative measure” to curb the spike of violence between citizens and victims of the outbreak, while also making it easier to safely locate and contain them. Suwon mayor Kim Nam-seon made a short address, explaining the situation. “Things will get better, but now we must all pull together and deal with the facts at hand. We need a quarantine to manage the situation, the national emergency. We are forced to deal with aggressive cases of violence daily now, and more and more of our Positronic citizens are succumbing. We need to find them before they cause harm[…] A stricter curfew may not be out of the question.” Reactions to the quarantine have been widespread and far from positive. Convenience stores and supermarkets are flooded with frantic customers, emptying the shelves of canned and preserved goods, while batteries and mobile power sources are already out of stock thanks to a wave of panic-buying. Documentation of outbreak victims and their behavior has also reached an all time high, contributing massively to the mass panic. While previously the police were noted for taking down videos of violent incidents in an effort to “combat misinformation”, the volume of such media circulating on the Konyanger extranet have rendered such censorship efforts futile.