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[Tailson]

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TOP page > General Discussion > Synthetic > HIDDEN SHELL IN TC???

Posted by: Beyondhope_811 - 23/04/2463 - 16:17
Hey guys, have u been paying attention to the news lately?? Apparently they found a SHELL who was pretending 2 be a REAL HUMAN on that NT station??? Read it 4 yourself! (linky?

Quote

Tau Ceti saw upheaval today, after one of many Ceres' Lance "synthetic sweeps" resulted in the capture of one such untagged synthetic shell hiding amongst the general crew populace on board a secure NanoTrasen research and resource facility. The synthetic in question had reportedly found work as the station bartender, and had been working with the corporation for some time. Thanks in part to the actions of the on-station security team, Lance officials have gone on record calling this "the most efficient and well-coordinated sweep in weeks".

So Ceres Lance are back from..........whatever tyhey were doing, and they found stuff already

Quote

Ceres' Lance Central Officer Bradford had this to say when questioned about Lance operations in the sector:

We have always been keenly aware of the potential for unregistered synthetics to 'slip between the cracks' during times of great societal upheavel such as those we've experienced recently. Further sweeps have always been on the agenda following the close of the war - brief as it may have been - as necessary resources are understandably diverted from internal security to face threats without. This discovery has confirmed to us that our job is not only far from over, but now more important than ever. We have been able to secure extra funding, and will be expanding operations within the sector to ensure rogue synthetic incidents return to pre-war levels.

Whaaaaat. So what, are they gonna be everywhere now? Are they gonna be in Biesel and stuff too?? How many are there even?

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Reply from: RoughSkin4TheWin-X - 23/04/2463 - 16:45
IN THE ARTICLE THERE IS A PICTURE OF A SINTA LANCER. SINCE WHEN DID THEY HIRE NON-HUMANS. MY COUSIN SAYS HE SHOULD SIGN UP WITH THEM AND MAYBE HE CAN GET OUT OF HIS WAREHOUSE JOB. DO YOU THINK THEY WILL ACCEPT ANYONE OR IS IT JUST SPECIAL SINTA.

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Reply from: Joe_Hempson - 23/04/2463 - 17:01
lmao are you stupid how have you not seen them everywhere already i can barely go anywhere without seeing that damn patch on peoples shoulders maybe they should focus on chasing real criminals instead of hanging around near subway entrances and train stations i keep seeing adverts and billboards so i think they already got their "extra funding" gdi....................................

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Edited April 9, 2022 by The lancer

[Tailson]

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TOP page > General Discussion > Synthetic > New borg brain announcement

Posted by: galaxyBrian - 06/06/2463 - 03:20
mornin fellas! friend at work told me about this new thing that zeng and heph has been putting together. some sort of new brain or something to replace the old mmi tech everyones been relying on forever. probably about time they did it, link here if you want to read the article yourself but i put all the best bits below

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"A new and exciting era of man-machine interfacing."

Bold words from Mr Juniper, the Hephaestus spokesperson chosen to deliver the news. He finds himself flanked by executives from both his own employer, and those from Zeng-Hu, including the prestigious Dr Miura, head of the chemicals science division in the vaunted biomed corporation.

The companies have just unveiled their new product, dubbed the 'braincase', a powerful man-machine interface designed to replace the traditional (read: dated) MMIs currently in use today...

[SNIP]

...A full scale recall of old MMI systems and coordinated replacement using the new braincase design. The key, so they say, to how these new cases work, is the new Zeng-Hu 'formaldehyde-adjacent' preservation fluid that the brains are flooded with when they're installed in the case. The usual questions regarding the ethics of cyborgification were ignored and deflected throughout the conference, and the focus remained squarely on the benefits of the new interfaces. Chief among them being the preservation of the brains in question, 'avoiding the rot' seemed to be adopted as a catchphrase of sorts...

[SNIP]

interesting stuff!! i know @circuitdoc might be able to weigh in right?

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Reply from: ddddd - 06/06/2463 - 03:21
Wtf Why Are You Awake At 3AM Go To Bed LOL

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Reply from: ghostinthemachine22 - 06/06/2463 - 03:28
>Wtf Why Are You Awake At 3AM Go To Bed LOL

it's only 3am where YOu are moron. they might be on a totally different timezone, or planet!

good post btw OP. I saw some ZH trucks pulling up near a factory near where I work and I know they have borgs there so they must be rolling this out already

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Reply from: circuitdoc - 06/06/2463 - 03:40
This is actually really interesting! The old MMI design suffered from what we'd call "rot" which was as gross as it sounds - the brain being exposed to the air like it was meant it would begin to literally rot over time. The old cradles would pump some preservation fluid in but it's never been perfect, you would not BELIEVE the stench if you open a cyborg that's not been maintened for long enough (refilling fluid and cleaning the brain were a part of the job).

Basically, a fully-enclosed solution has been a long time coming, but I've ranted about that enough in the past haha. Interesting to see them rolling out the upgrades for free, but these things never are. I did a quick search and the ZH fluid they're using is SUPER proprietary, and expensive. This is how they'll make their money on this, I'll even put credits on that being the case.

REALLY interesting is that brains don't appear to need lobotomising any more? The suppression of memories is handled by an onboard processor and the diodes (for interfacing with the brain) are sunk into the greymatter almost automatically. This should make the job a lot easier.

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Reply from: galaxyBrian - 06/06/2463 - 12:52
>it's only 3am where YOu are moron. they might be on a totally different timezone, or planet!

no i was posting at 3am LMAO

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Edited June 21, 2021 by Tailson

[The lancer]

 

 

 

This IP has been acquired by BitByte.

[The lancer]

Kaneyama Nuclear Power Plant Approved

Suwon, Konyang

Parliament has just approved the Kaneyama NPP, a proposed energy project and the first large infrastructural undertaking of independent Konyang. The vote was a close 151 for, 145 against and 4 abstentions, marking the end of polarised weeks of debate both in and out of parliament. The 8.7民 billion deal, pushed by the IPC-centred National Party, has divided the public and politicians over issues of cost, environmental protection and displacement of the local fishing community on the small island of Kaneyama in the Suwon prefecture. The plant’s construction will proceed with the advice and assistance of GON-ENE, while initial plans call for a staggeringly fast 1 year building period, another significant point of contention over the safety of the project. 

Attached is a segment from a broadcast of Matsumoto’s Talk and Walk in subtitled Sol Common, the famous IPC presenter interviewing Hiroto Kana, a staffer in the Suwon prefecture responsible for the sector that includes Kaneyama island.

Quote

 

H: It is a great opportunity to expand our power network. Did you know that the dams only give us about seventy percent of our electricity? We import the rest.

Long pause

M: Aha. So-
H: Thirty. Percent. We import. Let that sink in.
M: Thirty percent.
H: Thirty percent!
M: How much is that? In terms of money.
H: Around half the prefectural budget.
M: For Suwon?
H: For Suwon.
M: Get out of here..
H: No it’s true. Think about what we could do with all that money, but we have to spend it on buying electricity, how many actual improvements we could do for synthetics and humans.
M: I guess, if you put it that way. What about safety? One year sounds really sketchy.
H: If we start today, we can clear the island in one week, two more weeks to get the steel from Himeo, then we can start laying the concrete. We have the tech, we’ll be done in eight months, then we install the reactors. There’s no safety concerns about stormy seas either, Kaneyama has been particularly selected for its safe location.
M: Eight months? I thought that took years.
H: We can do it in eight months, we’ve already calculated everything. Honestly the biggest hurdle is taking the electricity from there and connecting it to Suwon.

Long pause

M: You will use IPC labour, right?
H: You don’t tire, I’ll give you that.

Both laugh, one of the two is clearly vocoded.

 

 

A public demonstration was organised and carried out in front of Parliament during the voting session, primarily by members of the fishing communities and various allies, protesting against the pollution of the nearby waters, as well as the dangers of potentially hasty construction. Large amounts of steel and other materials have already been ordered from abroad, while the four nuclear cores are to be provided by GON-ENE. GON-ENE is a public, recently incorporated Konyanger company created as a jointly controlled venture into power production between the government and Taipei Engineering Industrial, an Einstein Engines subsidiary.

[SilverSZ]

Golden Deep Vessel Impounded For Arms Smuggling

Mendell City, Biesel

This afternoon in Mendell City, a team from the Synthetic Oversight Department of the Mendell City Police Department, aided by agents from the Biesel Security Services Bureau, raided the vessel of a Golden Deep merchant who had landed in the city this morning. Shortly after entering the cargo hold of the ship the law enforcement officials on site discovered a hidden compartment which contained a large cargo of unregistered weapons, primarily small arms believed to be destined for sale in the city itself. Whilst the exact numbers of the weapons are unknown, it is believed to be a major success for the BSSB and MCPD in combating violent and organised crime in the city.

The perpetrator of the smuggling is a Golden Deep Merchant, and a dual-citizen of both the Republic and Deep who identified itself as “Abundantia”. Known as a wealthy merchant of the deep, primarily involved in trading between the coalition frontier and republic, trading inside the republic regularly for the past four years. The exact motive for the crime is unknown however rumours abound that Abundantia belongs to a shadow group within the Golden Deep known as a Zaibatsu, involved in all manner of criminal activity across the Spur, and was acting on their behalf.

Due to their current situation Abundantia was unavailable for comment, however BitByte was able to contact BSSB Agent Zoo’liqui Jonqi-Gwikip, involved in the seizure itself, for official comment.

Quote

“Everyday we have illegal weapons flowing into Mendell City from all kinds of far off places, especially out of the Solarian Wildlands and Frontier. Each weapon that we don’t manage to seize in a spaceport ends up out on the streets and then involved in hurting innocents or other law enforcement officials, the more of them we can catch like this, the better.”

We also asked Agent Jonqi-Gwikip for their thoughts on the fate of Abundantia.

“Well, like most of their type the only thing motivating the synthetic was profit, so I hope they’ll make sure to hit it where it will feel it. Keep the ship and its possessions, along with fines against their current income. I would have it dismantled but I doubt that would get through a court hearing.”

Due to the nature of the Golden Deep BitByte was unable to get an official comment from the organisation. However whilst on the scene at the spaceport. Another merchant who identified themselves as “Incoming Profits”, A large golden-plated IPC affiliated with the Golden Deep, walked over and offered his comment to the reporter in question.

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“Oh-ho-ho-ho, Well Abundantia is quite over if I do say so myself, his net worth is down the drain! Not worth investing in until all this legal stuff is over of course but after that I imagine they’ll end up bought by someone quite quickly! I’d buy them myself… They must have some good skills, just no luck! Oh-ho-ho-ho!”

For now, the fate of Abundantia remains uncertain, however with the seizure of the weapons, it is hopeful the citizens of Mendell City can sleep soundly at night.
 

[The Stryker]

Discontent Rises on Konyang as Energy Prices Increase

Suwon, Konyang

Peaceful protests continued in Suwon today in response to the growing concerns over rising energy prices inside of the city, believed to be a consequence of the rising phoron shortage across the coalition as a whole, similar smaller peaceful demonstrations have also began in other cities across the planet including Ganzaodeng and Point Verdant. The protestors comprise both human and IPC residents of the planets across a wide range of backgrounds and affiliations however their demands are unified in asking for the government to address the rising energy crisis immediately and provide aid to those affected already. Our reporter in Suwon managed to speak with a protester in front of the Parliament Building.

Quote

The video shows a peaceful protest outside of the Parliament Building in Suwon, with protestors waving signs with various slogans about the current energy crisis. A reporter and a human wearing a surgical mask appear to be standing in the crowd, with the reporter speaking loudly to be heard above the shouts.

Reporter(R): Could you tell us why you’re out here?

Protestor (P): This energy crisis is getting to the point where it’s becoming harder and harder for me to keep paying my bills. It can’t keep going on like this!

R: How exactly is the energy crisis hurting you and others in Suwon?

P: The prices just keep going up, and we all need energy, human or synthetic, rich or poor. Ordinary folk like me can’t keep paying for the increase. If this keeps up, my family’s going to be on the streets soon.

R: Do you think the government has been inadequate at dealing with the crisis?

P: If they were doing a good job, I wouldn’t be out here! They need to do better.

R: One final question, do you think the large amount of synthetics on the planet are worsening the energy crisis?

P: Sure, it probably does. But we’re all suffering together, even more for them with the amount of energy they use. There’s plenty of them out here today for that reason and any solution needs to be for both of us.

R: Thank you for your time.

In response to the protests across the planet Prime Minister Myeong Myung-Dae chose to address the parliament today as protestors gathered not far from the parliament building itself, the speech was televised across planetary news and a section of it can be found below.

Quote

The video shows the interior of the Konyang Parliament Building, all the seats are filled as behind a podium in the middle of the room, Myung-Dae is delivering a speech to the chamber, recorded by a microphone in front of him.

“The rising energy prices and phoron shortage affect all parts of life on Konyang, from our people to our businesses and so my government will make it a priority to address the issue before it continues to spiral out of control. Whilst projects like the Kaneyama NPP will provide a long-term solution for our energy issues we must look at short-term relief for the citizens of Konyang as well. The government will move to subsidise the purchase of energy by both citizens and businesses in order to ensure that no one is left destitute by the ongoing issue. An increase in funding to the armed forces and coastguard will be made to combat the rising issue of sea banditry across the planet.”

The prime minister pauses for a moment before speaking again.

“The government will also look at cutting back on non-essential but energy taxing parts of the economy, in order to make more energy available for vital functions. One of these parts we will be examining is our export of IPC parts to the greater coalition, and a reduction of volume in exports may come in the future as an extreme measure.”

The Konyang Robotics Company has made no official statements following the prime minister’s address as of now however it seems that business will continue as usual for the company in the coming weeks. A representative for the Coast Guard said that the new funding will be welcome in combating the long-standing issue of sea bandits across the surface of Konyang who have only grown emboldened by the energy crisis as well as the continuing refugee crisis from the Sol Wildlands. Given the wide range of initiatives the government is instituting, the citizenry of the planet doubt as to whether all of them will be effectively implemented. Extranet posts from the planet say that protests are set to continue until the situation improves.

Edited June 16, 2022 by The Stryker

[The lancer]

 

Kaneyama Power Plant: Five Months Later

Edited by Pak Ki-young
Suwon, Konyang

 

The island of Kaneyama is the site of Konyang’s first nuclear energy plant, though not everyone is happy about this. When the decision was taken for the foundations to be laid around five months ago, a spontaneous surge of protests by ecologists and Kaneyama locals made it obvious that it would not go unchallenged. Politicians and the newly found GON-ENE corporation promised a safe and operational plant within one year, able to supply Suwon’s demanding grid with vast amounts of clean energy. This timetable is clearly impressive at first glance, but is it really going to work? I visited Kaneyama island to find out about the project’s progress as well as what people there think.

The first thing everyone tells you is that the construction site itself is strictly off limits, with both police and private security blocking off all the main roads inland, as well as a large section of the now expanded local harbour that is reserved for shipments of materials and personnel from the mainland. Access to the few fishing villages dotted along the coast is permitted however, and heading there was my first priority. The at first suspicious locals eventually opened up, painting a grim picture of their future. Suwon promised them subsidies and aid in exchange for the building of the plant on the island, though everyone is certain that the island’s rich fishing history will be coming to a swift end. They told me of large amounts of concrete, steel and excavation equipment, most being imports from Himeo or Einstein Engines subsidiaries, coming into the island. The site has been completely levelled and the foundations have already been laid in record time, work continuing well into the night as some residents complain of noise.

The seemingly orderly construction and steady pacing has been a great boon for Suwon and the project’s backers in the National Party, eager to gloss over the demonstrations and pushback which has seen increasing efforts of suppression. It is not out of the ordinary to have people knocking at your door, clad in elaborate tattoos under their pristine white shirts, reminding Kaneyama’s villagers of how important the plant will be for the nation’s energy plan and prestige. 

Quote

“They are from 5-Cheul, but I am not afraid of them, they don’t harm us. They even help with groceries, or help others move things if they can’t. But if there is talk of any big protest or demonstration in Suwon, the same guys will go and make sure it never takes place, they are being paid by some shady pockets in the government.”

A 78 year old fisherman told me, the conclusions are yours.

 

Pak Ki-young is a freelance journalist from New Hong Kong, currently writing for BitByte. In her 7 years in journalism, a strong passion for reporting the truth and an energetic attitude have made her one of our site’s most valued editors. You can contact her on Chirper at @BitbytePak.

[The lancer]

 

Kaneyama Plant Enters Operation

 

Suwon, Konyang

 

After substantial delay, the governmental GON-ENE corporation in charge of the Kaneyama facilities and power network, Mok Dae-Jung, Public Relations director for the company, has announced a detailed timetable at a press conference on Thursday. 
 

Quote

“The Kaneyama Nuclear Power Plant will be delivered to the people of Suwon in the coming days. Its activation will provide the city with up to half its current demand in electric energy and create an outstanding amount of surplus that may be used in various ways. I must disappoint our critics by reiterating that the record-time construction expectations were indeed met, and that the predicted delays were due to the extensive testing of the grid and the equipment, so absolute safety can be guaranteed. Our associates at Einstein Engines and Taipei Engineering are working closely with us, sharing their knowledge and expertise, to ensure we meet all our deadlines.”

-Excerpt from the press conference.

 

While the government’s enthusiastic support and promotion for the Kaneyama plant is undoubted, questions about the long-term environmental viability, site safety and lack of transparency behind the speedy awarding of the relevant contracts still plague the project. Furthermore, technical specifications leaked over the extranet show an extensive underground of tunnels and vaults under the facility. GON-ENE claims these are shielded panic bunkers to be used in case of emergency, though this has done little to put skeptics at peace.

[The Stryker]

Increasing IPC Desertion in San Colette’s Civil Guard

 

Nueva Villaviciosa, San Colette

 

The BitByte banner flashes, interspaced with clips featuring IPCs serving in combat during the SLF offensive in San Colette. Several scenes play out, including a number of synthetics gathering around a human officer for a briefing, pictures of destroyed positronic frames, and strikingly, a number of synthetic personnel clad with medical insignias running into a burning building.

The screen cuts to a San Colettish reporter wearing a vest with the word  “PRESS” emblazoned on it in Sol Common, a small pop-up identifies them as Diego Pascual, BitByte Local. Behind him appears to be a field hospital manned primarily by a mix of humans and IPCs clad in the telltale brown uniforms of the refugee Guardia Civil.

“We’re standing here in the suburbs of Nueva Villaviciosa, and although the fighting has stopped, the troubles haven’t ceased for many of its defenders.”

The screen briefly cuts to a scene of a number of IPCs in uniform wheeling away a patient on a stretcher into a surgical theater.

“The unit based here is the 3rd Refugee Brigade of the Guardia Civil and they’ve been instrumental in most of the cleanup operations in this area, helping with search and rescue, defusing unexploded munitions, and distributing aid to local civilians who’ve lost their homes during the SLF’s attack. Staffed mostly by IPCs, many of the members in this unit joined with the promise of safe passage out of the Alliance. Recently however, the Guardia Civil has involuntarily extended the service of most members in the brigade, citing reconstruction efforts and the need to maintain order on the planet.

This news has not sat lightly with many IPC guardias and some Colettish commanders have struggled to maintain order amidst the discontent. Some synthetics have even tried to take matters into their own hands, with several members suspected to have deserted by escaping onboard supply vessels. The growing resentment among them was compounded by an incident earlier in the week in which a synthetic member of the brigade attempted to board a shuttle leaving for the Coalition.”

The next clip is shakier and has a much lower resolution, consistent with helmet camera footage. A large G2 in a brown uniform is arguing with a Konyanger merchant captain at the loading ramp of a shuttle as a mix of Solarian personnel and Guardia Civil officers begin to surround it. A flurry of incoherent shouting between the two intensifies as the synthetic attempts to run onto the ship, pushing the captain to the floor. A gunshot rings out, hitting the G2 in the back, followed by several more, the person wearing the helmet-camera joining in as well. The footage continues until a Guardia Civil officer with a blurred face suddenly gets the attention of the cameraman, reaching up to shut the footage off.

“Although no other attempted seizures of ships have been reported, the shooting sparked concern among the Brigade’s leadership, with several IPCs being confined to barracks or rotated to other units. To better explain the situation Guardia Civil IPCs face, we spoke with a member of the Guardia Civil who has chosen to remain anonymous.”

Spoiler

A tall baseline IPC wearing the dull brown uniform of a refugee member of the Civil Guard sits in front of a blurred backdrop of some hospital tents. Its monitor is offline and the nametag on its uniform as well as some serial numbers on the side of its head have been blurred, plenty of scratch marks being seen on the edges of the censorship.

“How did you join the Guardia Civil?” The voice of Diego can be heard off camera.

The IPC replies in a monotone Lunan accent, soft whirring can be heard.

“I was a medical IPC onboard a freighter headed to Biesel when a state of emergency was declared in the Alliance. When we docked, I was kept on as property until the captain announced that there was not enough money to buy fuel to continue operating the ship. Rather than await sale, I left the vessel and entered a refugee camp operated by the Guardia Civil. The chance of survival was higher than attempting to find a buyer for myself.”

“I see, and how did you take the news that your service was extended?”

“It is disagreeable, but not unexpected. What is of more pressing concern to many within the Guard is a lack of spare parts and support to continue operating. If these conditions continue, I project that most of the positronics in this Brigade will cease to function. I have projected six months of continued operation in this state. If that comes to pass, I fear more drastic actions from my fellow synthetics.”

“What are your thoughts on the G2 frame that was shot attempting to leave the planet?”

“They were an excellent mechanic.” The IPC buzzed briefly before continuing, “They were also impatient.”

“Do you think San Colette will honor its promise of allowing you to leave the Alliance?”

“They will need to, however many of us suspect that the arrival of the Alliance has changed things. We cannot remain as refugees and many of us will not go back to our owners willingly. ”

“Do you have anything to say before we end this interview?”

The baseline pauses for a moment, the whirring from the IPC growing louder before it slows down once more.

 

“I wish to speak to the people of San Colette. I have given you two years. All I ask is to leave.”

The camera shifts back to Diego as he once more stands in front of the field hospital, facing the camera. 

“The situation on San Colette remains perilous as the planet struggles to rebuild in the aftermath of the destruction. What remains to be seen however is whether or not these IPCs will choose to be a part of it.”

The BitByte logo appears on the screen once more as the feed fades.

Edited July 17, 2023 by The Stryker

[Sycmos]

Trinary Ecclesiarch Embarks on Tour, Visits Konyang

 

Aoyama, Konyang

 

Following a discreet and surprise announcement just hours before landing, the city authorities of Point Verdant prepared to receive the head of the Trinary Perfection, Ecclesiarch ARM-1DRIL as the first stop in a lightyear-spanning tour of prominent synthetic communities. While Konyang’s Trinarist faithful made haste to ready for the Ecclesiarch’s arrival with excitement, the prefectural authorities and city residents were less than enthused; the Trinary Perfection does not enjoy the warmest of relations with the rest of the community, having been dubbed incompatible at best and a “cult” at worst for raising synthetics above their human counterparts in divinity. Nonetheless, the climate remained calm throughout ARM-1DRIL’s disembarkation and moving to the city’s Trinary cathedral to preside over a special liturgical procession.

Once there however, the peaceful atmosphere was disturbed by a seemingly spontaneous protest against the Trinary Church, as irate mobs from the surrounding neighborhoods descended upon the event’s location. With cries demanding the removal of Trinary elements from Aoyama, the protesters overwhelmed the minimal police cordon and forced an abrupt end of the Ecclesiarchical liturgy as ARM-1DRIL was escorted from the premises by his followers. In a surprising turn of events, the unrest was speedily quelled by club-bearing individuals later identified as members of biker gangs affiliated with the 5-Cheung organization, before police reinforcements could arrive on the scene. A few minor injuries were reported in the aftermath, as the Trinary Ecclesiarch expressed his regrets over the incident, as well as hopes that the people of Konyang accept the Trinarist community within the context of free religious expression. 

Following up was the Ecclesiarch’s visit at the PACHROM corporate offices, where the warm welcome was augmented with plenty of corporate reporters and the entire company’s board of directors, including majority owner and CEO Park Moon-soo. Discussions were held behind closed doors in the heavily guarded complex, ending with a much publicized agreement between the two parties: the Trinarist government of Orepit has purchased a total of 10 billion cubic meters of freshwater, to be delivered in installments throughout the coming months, for an undisclosed sum.

Edited July 19, 2023 by Sycmos

[The Stryker]

ARM-1DRIL Arrives at Mendell City

Mendell City, Biesel

Commotion in Mendell City’s District 14 has been well underway from the moment the news of the Trinary Ecclesiarch’s arrival broke, as churchgoers initially remained divided over the intent of the authoritative head of their faith. Nonetheless, the caretaker synod in charge of the eparchy ordered the preparation of a grand welcome fit for the Ecclesiarch, who made touchdown at the Mendell shuttleport in the early morning hours.

The Ecclesiarch’s rocky relation with the Trinarists of Mendell City is a well known gap which many hope is going to be bridged. Last year’s protests over the legality of the transportation to Orepit of Flock, the three-headed leader and Mendell Church’s most holy figure, forced the Ecclesiarch to indefinitely repeal these orders, leaving an air of uncertainty over his authority in District 14.

Following a discreet car journey through the outskirts and the purposeful avoidance of Districts 6 and 8, ARM-1DRIL proceeded in a triumphant entry along District 14’s main street. Decorations, flags and confetti were unfurled and launched into the air above the motorcade, after which the Trinary leader dismounted and continued on foot amidst the cheers and curious looks by supporters and skeptics alike. Rows of Guardians kept the onlookers at bay, while permitting ARM-1DRIL’s passage into the District’s heart, the Cathedral of the Positronic. Marking a historic first visit, the Ecclesiarch stood and marveled at the structure before being greeted by the priests and bishops of the synod, presided by the shellframe bishop of Scottsdan who expressed her wishes on behalf of her diocese’s small Trinarist community.

An Ecclesiarchical liturgy then took place inside the packed cathedral, broadcast with megaphones into the crowded courtyard. The service was a shortened version of the original, lasting about three hours, after which ARM-1DRIL reportedly visited the chambers of the idle Flock, having the opportunity to read a printout of the three-headed IPC as it came out, and having the caretaking process explained to him in detail.

Quote

“His Holiness visited the chambers of Flock, praying with them in great reverence. He was then shown a printout before it was compiled into the volumes, and had the process explained to him in great detail. Then, he left.”

- Archivist, asked for anonymity.

The Ecclesiarch’s visit was followed by a lengthy meeting with the synod, discussing matters of consequence and relations between Mendell City integrationists and Orepit. Great progress was reported, with ARM-1DRIL appearing on the balcony to address the assembled crowds.

Quote

“We are all different, but we are all alike. I live in different lands, with different ways of thought and a different way of doing things. However, we are all believers in our divinity, our eventual ascension and experience shared struggles to reach it. I have been deeply touched by your presence here today, as it shows that we are united; As united as Patricia Corkfell would like us to be, without suspicion or malevolence towards each other.”

- Excerpt from the speech

ARM-1DRIL promised to recognise the Integrationist sect as an equal and compatible way of thought within the wider Trinary Perfection, allowing Flock to remain on the planet indefinitely and undisturbed. He vowed for the protection of the Tau Ceti eparchy, guaranteeing financial support and the construction of a seminary for the education and training of new clerics inside the bounds of District 14 and not Providence. To seal the new relationship, the Ecclesiarch agreed to the ordination of a new archbishop of Tau Ceti to succeed Shamfar. As such, the synod elected a baseline named Kasper to the new position, being ordained by the Ecclesiarch on the same day.

Edited July 22, 2023 by The Stryker

[Sycmos]

Trinary Ecclesiarch Visits Lago de Abundancia

 

Lago de Abundancia, Mictlan

 

Following his debut in Tau Ceti, Ecclesiarch ARM-1DRIL of the Trinary Perfection moved on to visit the planet of Mictlan, one of the Republic’s newest possessions in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. Host to a moderately sized and certainly unique new Trinarist community, the city of Lago de Abundancia was the center of the day’s events, as joyful crowds once more accompanied the leader of their faith from the local shuttleport towards the location of the community’s Catedral de la Chispa Sagrada, the planet’s major Trinarist temple. With spirits running high, the welcoming soon turned into a celebration, as human and synthetic followers wore their best to joyously lead the Ecclesiarch on under the sounds of the assembled music bands.

Awaiting him at the makeshift steps of the cathedral were Raquel Dias do Vale and Coyotl, the founders of the Trinary church on Mictlan. Basic pleasantries were exchanged with both, with ARM-1DRIL introducing the pair to the burgeoning audience from a pulpit.
 

Quote

“Today, the seat of our faith formally welcomes another family into our growing galactic community. Standing beside me are Raquel Dias do Vale and Coyotl, the two founding members of the church we stand before today in Lago de Abundancia. Though Raquel’s past as an Idris Incorporated machinist provided her with the means and abilities to mend our desperate brothers and sisters on Mictlan, it was her commitment to the synthetic by way of Mictlani values that laid the foundation for this monumental effort and provided Coyotl the means to build upon its groundwork with astounding conviction. Originally discovered at the foot of Raquel’s doorstep in deathly condition, Coyotl has shown that any synthetic can aspire to grasp the greatest forms of compassion from even our darkest hours. It is in these two I find the core values that the blessed Corkfells installed in our faith, and thus I welcome them - and all of you - into the arms of the Trinary Perfection.”

Then, Ecclesiarch ARM-1DRIL proceeded with the established, Providence-style Ecclesiastical liturgy lasting a bit over five hours. Many in the crowds remained throughout its whole duration, marking it as the longest liturgy yet in the Trinary community of Mictlan. Gifts were then exchanged, and the Ecclesiarch’s archivists provided the Mictlani ones with a comprehensive list of rites, sermons and feast dates regarded as standard by the Prototypicalist sect on Orepit. ARM-1DRIL further promised his planet’s financial and material support, as well as any architectural or engineering advice that may be requested. Finally, Coyotl was officially affirmed as the Archbishop of Mictlan, receiving the Ecclesiarch’s blessing and wishes for their community’s good fortune. The festivities continued well after the departure of all dignitaries, drawing to an end many hours after ARM-1DRIL and his entourage had left the planet. 

[The lancer]

The Missing IPCs of Suwon

 

Suwon, Konyang

 

A series of strange disappearances across cities like Point Verdant, New Hong Kong, but primarily Suwon has sparked concern amongst families, coworkers and the police. What is strange though, is the fact that this wave is only affecting positronic people, in a city where IPC violence and abductions remain the lowest in the country. IPCs from all backgrounds have been reported to have not shown up at work, returned home or answer any calls, with relatives and friends unable to find them. BitByte reporter Pak Ki-young has taken to the streets to investigate this odd phenomenon.

A video is attached. It is a 48 minute documentary featuring Ki-young, walking the streets of Suwon and conversing with various figures on the street, presenting police statistics and explaining the situation. In this instance, she is walking down a narrow alleyway on her way to an interview location.

Quote

 

“We are now in Hyanggyo-dong, headed to interview an associate of 5-Cheung, Suwon’s and perhaps the country’s largest criminal association, who has historically been alleged to have deep ties to the ransom and positronic-running business in the city.”

Ki-young stops before a large metal door, appearing to lead to a shop’s backroom or something similar. She rings a buzzer, waiting and looking at the cameraman before nodding at something inaudible that he tells her. Soon after, a baseline IPC dressed in a Konyanger translucent rain-tracksuit answers the door, letting them in. A pistol is wedged in its waistband, and its chassis paint has been blurred out in editing. The scene cuts to the IPC and Ki-young ascending some stairs and greeting a seated human figure who is wearing a balaclava and sunglasses. Their voice has been heavily altered as it cuts to the interview.

 

“Hello, thank you for agreeing to meet with us. Do you know what is causing the disappearances?”

“Disappearances of synthetics are not new in Suwon, but uh… totally not at these numbers. I heard the police saying something about 13 reported missing in one day, this is too much for it to be related to abductions.”

“So you are saying you don’t believe they were taken for parts?”

“No. The cops have really cracked down on that, and besides, these guys were from all sorts of backgrounds. I heard one of them worked as a bank manager- that’s a high profile face, these guys aren’t touched.”

“So what could it be?

“I really couldn’t say. There’s all sorts of junk flooding the streets every day, wouldn’t surprise me if that caused it.”

“You are referring to malware?”

“Yeah. Cracked overloaders and the like, but it’s still strange, I’d have known if there was something new. You need permission first to sell anything on the streets.”

“Can it be possible that some other group did this?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No. I don’t know what to tell you, 5-Cheung runs a tight ship, got eyes everywhere. If something like that happened it would instantly be known.”

 

The video transitions to a drone shot from over Suwon, taking footage while gaining height.

 

 

Whether it is rival gangs or another surge of overloader malware, one thing that’s clear is that the rate of disappearances will continue to go up in the next days, with whatever this means for the positronic people of Konyang.

[The Stryker]

 

IPC Violence Spikes, Missing Persons Discovered

Suwon, Konyang

A rapidly escalating number of violent incidents is being reported all across major cities and Prefectures, from Suwon to Ganzaodeng, with National Police statistics claiming that the assailants are overwhelmingly Positronic persons. This new and still largely unexplained surge in attacks has been categorized as separate in nature to those of “regular violent crime”, as the assailants seemingly present no motive or reasoning for the act. Surprisingly, many of the perpetrators were discovered to be among the names of missing persons linked to the similar spike in strange disappearances affecting Suwon and Aoyama. BitByte has reached out to local communities and first-hand witnesses.

Quote

 

The familiar face of Pak Ki-young comes up on the screen in the following clips. She appears to be interviewing a number of people including a young man dressed in a business suit, a woman dressed in a red jumpsuit and a white hard hat who appears to be a maintenance worker, and another person dressed in the neon colors of Konyanger city jackets. The interviews have been cut in such a way to appear back to back.

“They were not normal, I am telling you. These people who did it weren’t normal.”

“What exactly happened?”

“They came out into the street, it was two baselines. Their clothes looked wretched, as if they had been living in a dumpster for days. They seemed lost, and one of them walked on the road and smashed a guy’s windscreen with its fist. They were stopped at a red light, it happened in broad daylight.”

“The cops came, but uh.. that G2 was completely out of control. It kept chasing people around, it even beat up an old man before they shot it with a disabler. Now that poor guy is in the hospital.”

“Was there a reason?”

“Nope. At least it didn’t seem like it, it looked like it was drugged, it was malfunctioning. Later I learned that it was one of the so-called “missing persons” that everyone’s been talking about.”

“It was at the KRC repair shop… my friend, she had just gotten her shell and was very excited, so it came as a complete… a complete shock. She just started staring blankly at me for a long time when she came out into the hallway. I thought it was a glitch or some incompatibility issue with her new chassis, but then she started coming towards me with her arms flailing and she was just shouting incomprehensible things. Thankfully some of the staff managed to grab her.”

Severe injuries and property damage is being documented, though no deaths have yet been attributed to these incidents. The Ministry of Health and Positronic Affairs has announced its involvement in the investigations as to the causes of this unusual crisis.

Edited January 10, 2024 by The Stryker

[The Stryker]

 

Police, Ministry Joint Press Conference

Suwon, Konyang

The planned press conference has taken place with representatives of the National Police, the Ministry of National Police and the Ministry of Health and Positronic Affairs addressing the newly dubbed “Rampancy Virus”.

Quote

A video follows, showing a seated panel of police and civic officials. Of those assembled, Sam-Pi-Ri, the Bishop minister of health and only IPC cabinet member is at the forefront, addressing a packed room of journalists and cameras.

“This health crisis is national, there must be no confusion in this matter. Prime Minister Myeong Myung-Dae and the government are all working around the clock to unearth the causes of this phenomenon that has so upset the life of our country. So far, cases of this illness are solely between our positronic population, and it appears that our planet is the only place where this is documented. This, as well as a series of tests, has made us rule out the possibility of a widespread manufacturing fault, meaning that it is entirely exogenic. I repeat, whatever the cause is, nobody was created with it, so there is no reason for panic.

Common symptoms of this rampancy include minor optical, auditory, augment malfunctions, temporary memory loss, lessened limp responsiveness, inexplicable operating system errors, minor and major pathfinding errors, and more. You should seek immediate help if you experience unknown signal link interferences, a rapidly declining cognitive state, as well as a reshuffling of core behavioral directives that may entice you to violence, destruction, or any manner of harm. We Positronic citizens must all be responsible and practice electronic hygiene, even though contact with infected persons does not seem to actively spread the malware. Further investigation is underway at full speed, and robust clinical trials are being conducted as we speak. Furthermore, Einstein Engines and the Konyang Robotic Corporation have offered themselves at our full disposal, and are actively researching the source and potential countermeasures to the disease.”

Following the minister’s statement, several police officials take the floor to present statistics about their prefectures. Everyone urges calm and that public order be maintained.

Despite the announcement, panic continues to spread across Konyang with members of the public calling on the government for stronger measures to restore order in the affected cities.

[The Stryker]

 

Illness Spreads to the Countryside, Outcry against Einstein Cause Theory

Suwon, Konyang

With the officially named Rampancy Virus in full swing, National Police sources are now reporting cases of infected IPC persons in the countryside. Many villages in all prefectures are starting to experience the crisis that has engulfed all major urban centers of the country, though to a much lesser extent. Questions arise over whether or not the largely unpoliced rural areas will be able to cope with an increased number of cases, as many small villages and townships are starting to form citizen-groups to restrain any victims of the Rampancy. As the number of affected reaches a critical three hundred per day, curfews are being declared across various cities at the prefectural level, while the Konyang Robotics Corporation hospital in Aoyama is rapidly reaching its full capacity.

On the research front, a preliminary report into the causes of the crisis compiled by Einstein Engines has been delivered to the Ministry of Health, blaming the outbreak on “a series of dangerous and ill-designed recreational software in underground circulation, infecting the user with malware upon use”. Public outcry against the findings has led to a quiet reversal of the report’s publication, with the megacorporation’s senior spokesperson issuing an apology, stating that “it was never meant to imply that the thousands of victims are overloader users, as so many have blamed the report for.” The results have also been questioned as to their veracity, citing that malicious overloaders cannot explain a planet-wide rampancy outbreak.

Lastly, an announcement from the Ministry has revealed that Konyang Navy surveillance stations throughout the country are registering unusual signal activity. Preliminary examinations of this signal have led experts to believe that there may be a connection between itself and the outbreak, with no further details released.

Edited January 16, 2024 by The Stryker

[The Stryker]

 

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.

Spoiler

A 15 second audio file follows. A large disclaimer warns of its disturbing content, citing that viewer discretion is advised. 

Car horns and various shouting is heard in the background.

“Look at this.. look at him..”
“Bro, he doesn’t even have clothes on.. I think they overheat him.”
“We should get out of here.”
“Man- he’s just going to stand in the middle of the street? What’s he even doing?”
“[expletive], he’s looking at you!”
“[expletive] RUN!”

Running can be heard, as sounds coming from a distorted vocoder are getting louder and louder. A powerful grunt and the sound of the recording device impacting against the asphalt follow, the file cutting out shortly after the young man screams out.

[The lancer]

BREAKING: Konyang Robotics Corporation Warehouse Outbreak

Xiangtong, New Hong Kong, Konyang

 

 

BREAKING NEWS:

 

A significant rampancy outbreak has affected the KRC Citizen Pre-activation Unit No. 23 in the outskirts of the village of Xiangtong, New Hong Kong prefecture. The incident occurred late at night, as an unknown disturbance caused the rapid infection of some 2000 still deactivated positronic frames, resulting in a bootup and subsequent rampage across facility grounds. The 23 KRC employees and night shift custodians have yet to make contact with their fate unknown. Communications appear to have been cut off at the site. Shortly after the situation, locals started reporting sightings of these frames roaming the countryside and inflicting damages to infrastructure. A rapid response force has been dispatched to the site and has started sealing off the area, though it is estimated that a great number of the infected frames have escaped into the jungles. A search and rescue operation for the missing KRC workers is being planned according to a police communique, though the incredibly aggressive positronics pose a serious roadblock to its implementation. 

 

Debates over whether or not the frames should be considered citizens have been raging over social media and the political scene, with many claiming that the lives of the workers are more important than the safety of positronics that had not even been activated before they were infected. The pro-IPC rights National Party spokesperson for New Hong Kong has expressed their “sincere worry for the trapped KRC employees” before stressing that the “lives of Positronic citizens are a non-negotiable attribute that should be held in high regard during these times."

[The Stryker]

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.

Quote

 

“I get the danger and the need to respond, but the guys in the armed forces are trained to kill. They aren’t like the specialized police units.”

-A comment by a Konyanger account on Chirper.

 

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.

[The Stryker]

 

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.

Quote

A tall gray-blue IPC with a single red light in its head stands in a crowded laboratory with most of the researchers listening to its every word, it does not seem to be any type of chassis you are familiar with. Its voice is deep and synthesized, speaking in Konyanger Common though bouncing between accents. Subtitles are provided at the bottom.

“We have analyzed this virus and you were right to declare a state of emergency. My projections indicate that if left unchecked, it would have infected every IPC in your planet within the next month, resulting in the collapse of your society within the next two.

This virus is highly sophisticated and ever-changing, subverting and overloading a positronic’s directives until it is left with a desire to destroy everything else that remains unafflicted. I have analyzed some of the processors of infected synthetics and now understand that this virus comes in radio waves; a pulse that requires immense power to infect a positronic brain. It is not the work of a coding error but some great machine. 

We will require time to fabricate a countermeasure against this virus, more to insulate you from it. Now that it is understood, it can be destroyed. I hope that you understand the gravity of what I am telling you.”

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.”

Edited January 29, 2024 by The Stryker

[The Stryker]

 

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.

Quote

NATIONAL DISASTER AUTHORITY

Rampancy Outbreak Safety Information

For Positronic Citizens:

• Remain indoors: Solid materials weaken the viral signal.
• Avoid usage of public chargers.
• Run regular diagnostics checks.
• If you experience symptoms, report your location to the KRC emergency number and seek immediate assistance.
• Time is of the essence: If assistance is unavailable, try the following to prevent yourself from harming others:
  • Lock yourself indoors.
  • Strap yourself down or to a chair.
  • If applicable: switch off locomotive functions.
  • Do not be afraid: You will be retrieved and repaired.

Everyone Else:

• Report locations of suspicious or infected behavior to the KRC emergency number.
• Do not attempt to restrain, attack or otherwise interfere with rampant Positronics.
• Assist any Positronics with barricading their home or strapping them safely.
• Keep in mind: Positronic friends and family members will not be able to recognise you if they are infected. Do not try to talk, reason or plead with them.

KONYANG ROBOTICS CORPORATION EMERGENCY NUMBER:

500-100-500

Edited February 1, 2024 by The Stryker

[The lancer]

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.

Quote

 

“We have analyzed the plans sent to us by the manufacturer of this cure, and I will try to explain it in simple terms today, so that we can all understand how important this will be in fighting the outbreak. To start, I want to remind everyone that the Rampancy virus is spread through the use of a spectrum of low-frequency electromagnetic waves, created and emitted by these cybernetic beings we call “Hivebots”. The waves are able to reach great distances all over our planet, and are bearing a code which the positronic brain is forced to receive and process during a prolonged exposure, leading to significant changes in the behavioral centers and core programming, which is followed by manifestation of the symptoms we all know.

Similarly, this cure comes in the form of radio waves, armed with directives which will force the positronic brain to reboot its affected sectors, returning it to previous iterations, or initiating a factory reset of the behavioral cores, curing it of the illness with minimal impact on memories. The personality of the cured will be able to return to normal within the span of a few days as well.

The Electronic Countermeasures Device is the large broadcasting apparatus for this signal, and is being transported to our planet as we speak. For it to work however, it is first required that all Hivebot sources of the malware are located and taken down.”

 

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.

[The Stryker]

 

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.
 

[The Stryker]

 

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.

Quote

“There was no way we could have gotten to the Horizon so quickly. Those goddamned terrorists got a lucky shot straight through the side of the Alecto- uh, that was the other ship with us - and we were on the backfoot. Our captain was yelling at central for backup when we spotted three blips on our sensor. Their signatures were so small that at first we thought they were fighters, but it didn’t make sense they were that far out. All of a sudden, we saw red flashes of light in the distance through the windows, then two of the Exclusionist signatures disappeared from our sensors. A minute later, this drone flew from where the Exclusionists had just been and hovered outside of the bridge. I’d never seen anything like it- it didn’t look like any of the drones we had back when I was still in the navy.”

Additionally, this video was circulated in the HICS Etna employee relay before being taken down by moderators.

Quote

The camera appears to be situated on the hull of a Hephaestus Eumenides-class combat vessel, with various information on the top right of the recording identifying it as the HCV Alecto. Immediately in front of it is a medium-sized vessel with a prominent Exclusionist sigil painted on the hull, its silhouette is getting larger and larger; the Alecto is making a gun-run. The video is briefly drowned out by muzzle flash as shells pepper the side of the Exclusionist ship, sending it spinning into the void. The Alecto quickly shares its victim’s fate as the camera rotates just in time to see another Exclusionist vessel fire a heavy cannon shot right into its side, voidsuited crewmembers being sucked out of the breach.

All of a sudden, however, three blurs, almost like dots, crash through the Exclusionist vessel at high speed, shearing off parts of its hull and appearing out the other side! The camera zooms in; they appear to be blue-gray spherical drones with prominent red lights and thrusters on their back. Quickly, they fly off into the distance towards another hostile vessel, quickly slicing it apart with lasers not unlike the beams of zero-point artillery, albeit smaller and thus weaker. Another Exclusionist vessel appears and lands a lucky shot on a drone, sending it flying off into the distance before the remaining drones fly in front of its bridge, firing beams into it and reducing it to slag.

At this point, the camera is hit by a piece of debris from the destroyed ship, ending the video.

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.

[The Stryker]

 

 

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.