The lancer

Accepted.

Accepted

Accepted

Accepted

BitByte Exclusive: The National Disaster Authority Bukupo Jungles, Boryeong The outbreak of the Rampancy Virus has been the cause of a range of emotions for the young Konyanger nation, with panic, hopelessness, and distrust characterizing the lives of millions of citizens all over the globe. The government of Myeong Myung-Dae has since day one rushed to fill this gap in trust, with the full cooperation of his closest ally and President, Hyun Kyung-Ho, ushering in a litany of emergency presidential decrees and passing legislation without parliamentary debate. The introduction of curfews, army tanks rolling on the streets and a ban on demonstrations are only the most visible parts of the iron-fisted policies taken in the name of safety and security, the tip of an iceberg that Konyanger society is comfortable, if not supportive of. But what lies beneath the veil of the “firm yet needed” approach? When an emergency parliamentary session was convened at 2 am Suwon Time to speedily enact measures on the treatment of infected citizens, we were astonished to discover that only three of the sixty-eight MPs present, (less than a quarter of the 300 total elected representatives) were positronics, and all of them members of the ruling New Konyang party. The so-called “Treatment Act” was thus enacted following only 15 minutes of proceedings, receiving next to zero media coverage under the shadow of the Xiangtong Warehouse takeover. Hailed as a necessary and humane solution, the act contained a hundred and thirty articles suspending constitutional rights such as habeas corpus for positronic citizens deemed “infected” or “at risk”, in order to remove bureaucratic restraints in resolving the emergency. At first glance, why shouldn’t the government detain them? After all, the infected cause damages and even death. While it may be true that special measures should be taken to deal with the ill, the National Party released a scornful announcement that warns about the status of IPCs being relegated to second class citizens. In this, they question the ambiguity of who determines if someone is “infected” or “at risk”, accusing the Prime Minister of creating a tool of suppression; Since the passing of the act, National Party sources estimate that about 2,000 positronic citizens have essentially been stripped of their rights without exhibiting any serious malfunctions related to the Rampancy, and without the consultation of medical professionals. They ask about their whereabouts, noting that the families and associates have been left in the dark. BitByte has investigated the claims, a task proving a lot harder than initially expected. Attempts at inquiries were stonewalled by unwilling officials, though with guidance from relatives and friends of the disappeared individuals, most cases led up to the National Disaster Authority. A government agency once under the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, it was interestingly moved directly under the purview of the Prime Minister in the passing of the Treatment Act. First created during colonial times for tsunami disaster relief, the NDA relapsed into irrelevance with the erection of sea walls to guard the coastal cities. Nowadays however, the NDA has taken to the airwaves, the extranet and the printing presses, spearheading the fight against the Rampancy and coordinating some KRC, Police and even KAF assets. So the question arises; how can such a prominent agency be so hard to get information from? All our inquiries on the location of infected individuals receive the same answer; the KRC rehabilitation centers, where vast amounts of affected positronics are restrained and left to run out of power naturally, without the need of invasive and dangerous deactivation. This however does not explain the arrests of the otherwise healthy 2,000 IPCs, which additionally do not exist in KRC databases. With their traces lost, BitByte continued to delve into the matter, following potential leads and rumors that spoke of large and unusual movements in the Bukupo jungles. Unmarked army trucks with supplies, building materials and personnel kept being spotted as they passed by the rural villages, all under the guise of the construction of a new KRC hospital in the area. A hospital which so far, doesn’t exist. As journalist Pak Ki-young and her crew traveled to the location of the sightings, they were speedily stopped by Navy personnel acting under the instructions of men in suits with NDA cards clipped on their breast. All footage was confiscated, and the BitByte crew was released after two hours spent in a damp, prefab jungle lodging without air conditioning. A second attempt was made two days later, with Ms. Pak approaching the site from a different position. From BitByte testimony and footage, we can confirm that at least one facility secretly exists in the Bukupo jungles. Further information provided by the National Party may bring to light a disturbing scenario: Most of the IPCs detained as “at risk” were prominent figures, or related to prominent figures in their respective societies; relatives and friends of bankers, National Party politicians, activists, lobbyists and more. BitByte has been unable to verify these claims. The New Konyang party has repeatedly been criticized for corrupt practices and ties to the underworld, with a history of allegations of cooperation with the Solarian Navy during the colonial era and the 5-Cheung in present times, to influence and remove opponents with blackmail and murder. Critics claim that this is the beginning of a worrisome democratic backsliding.

Underground Wars: Criminal Activity on the Rise Yeongseong, Haesbich, Suwon Today, in the courtyard of the elaborate and luxurious Rokkaku Consulting office complex and estate in the outskirts of the port-city of Yeongseong, a rare meeting of all 5-Cheung clans took place. As reporters huddled together to take a glimpse of the near endless motorcade arriving at the complex, it became clear that the massive meeting was a planet-wide assembly, with the number of high ranking participants reaching into the low hundreds and creating a traffic jam, despite the area’s quarantine measures. A video is attached, ostensibly taken by the BitByte crew: It is speculated that the openly broadcast arrival was a message of confidence on behalf of the 5-Cheung criminal underworld, who have recently been embroiled in a renewed conflict with the New Hong Kong Konyanger criminal syndicates. The full-blown war adds one more hurdle for the stretched resources of the National Police to overcome, spilling over into the streets of major cities across Konyang and sparking a loop of violence and revenge hits between the 5-Cheung clans and the Benevolent Guild, an assortment of triads who are now on the offensive. The cause of the conflict appears to be the weakened state of many 5-Cheung turfs in Suwon and Boryeong, due to the Rampancy outbreak and its effects on the clans’ positronic members, many of which had leading roles in local and regional hierarchy, leaving much of the biker gangs’ apparatus paralyzed. The power vacuum has also exacerbated the infighting between many clans, with ambitious bosses looking to usurp the territory of their weakened neighbors, a hot topic for which today’s gathering is speculated to have been called. 5-Cheung's "Chairman", Jeong Yo-Hoon, has been at the organization's helm for over a decade now, having ties to many of the country's millionaires and top faces in the former Solarian government system and today's administration. Godfather to the son of the previous Commissioner General of Police, Yo-Hoon is speculated to have aided the authorities time and time again in the suppression of dissent, espionage against political opponents, bribery and involvement in the recent Kaneyama protests, all of which are rarely if ever reported on national TV. Ostensibly the owner of a B-tier commercial shuttle airline, his business has been the recepient of several government grants despite the clear neglect of its fleet, even leading to a widely publicized crash in 2458, claiming the lives of 154 people; the incident was swiftly settled with compensations to the family members and a public apology from one of the firm's directors, who kowtowed infront of journalists and cameras before being taken away. Yo-Hoon's high-profile ventures and personal elite ties make him reluctant to administrate the day-to-day affairs of the 5-Cheung, leaving his second in command, Rokkaku Ichiro, to shoulder the burden. The Benevolent Guild started as an assortment of street neighborhood triads offering aid to each other and the needy communities of the less affluent New Hong Kong area. Today, they rank amongst the most dangerous and deeply entrenched criminal organizations, enjoying the support and tolerance of the poorer parts of New Hong Kong prefecture, from which recruits and resources are drawn. Operating through infiltrated unions, restaurant fronts and even from inside temples, the triads engage in all manner of illegal activities, from narcotics to money laundering and cybercrime. While 5-Cheung executives may flaunt their wealth and operate with impunity due to their political connections, the triads’ central leadership is a polar opposite. Despite their high-profile presence and machismo of their soldiers, the heads of the Benevolent Guild, also called “Dragons”, are completely nameless and unknown to anyone but the organization’s elites, their roles and orders are enshrouded in quasi-religious mysticism. It remains uncertain whether or not the Benevolent Guild will manage to dislodge the biker gangs however, as much of their strength relies on local networks and hooks inside local society, both of which they do not possess outside their home territories in New Hong Kong. Their determination though is evident; 28 dead were reported in the last two days, all murders related to “altercations between criminal elements” as reported by police, whose policy is to publicly deny the existence of any organized crime.

denied

The following is for dissemination to Horizon Crew Point Verdant has been designated for usage by the SCC and the Horizon Crew as an operational base for their time in the system. The area designated to be used has been installed with powerful radio jammers that prevent the viral signal from affecting positronics within their range. IPCs can move around freely both in the sector and around the planet as the virus seems to require them being exposed for extended periods of time that go beyond most SCC Away Mission durations. While on the planet, Horizon Crew are fully expected to obey the laws of Konyang and cooperate fully with its law enforcement and military personnel. While all IPCs are considered free on Konyang, they are still employees and must adhere to commands from Command Staff. IPCs that attempt to flee will be considered illegal aliens, arrested and returned to the SCC. No Horizon Crew, including Consulars, are permitted to bear weapons inside the city. If you come into conflict with an infected IPC, you are not to kill them unless you absolutely must in self-defense. The following is for dissemination to Horizon Command and Security Crew Konyang Military and Police forces are preparing an assault against the infected warehouse in Xingtian. Details will be shared with corporate staff when the details are finalized. The Horizon Crew is expected to aid Konyang Forces due to their expertise and training with corporate technology. The Warehouse in question is believed to be hosting the hivebot beacon transmitter that is pushing the virus across Konyang. It must be destroyed when the time comes. Purpose has requested all salvage from the destroyed beacon be handed over to them.

Accepted

Accepted

Prime Minister Confirms “Electronic Countermeasures Device” as Cure Suwon, Konyang Prime Minister Myeong Myung-Dae has confirmed the existence of a cure, manufactured by the megacorporation and SCC member Hephaestus Industries. The announcement came in a televised address, promising relief for millions of affected individuals worldwide, alongside a brief explanation of how it would actually work. A video is embedded, showing an all-human scientific team dressed in lab coats sitting on a panel right beside the Prime Minister, who has just finished their speech. One of the older men takes the lead, speaking into the microphone from his seat. Early information indicates that the SCCV Horizon, an exploration flagship belonging to the combined corporate fleet, will be carrying the device and arriving on Konyang soon.

CLASSIFIED FOR SCCV HORIZON CREW ONLY Submit any information regarding contact with positronic organization "PURPOSE" below. Media files attachable. Sharing the contents of this thread is in violation of Non-Disclosure Agreements and punishable. FORMAT: Employee Name: Employee Rank: Date of Interaction: Details of Interaction: Information Acquired: FILES:

Accepted.