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Interlude: Guesswork
🕑 Added 2019-10-09 20:10:38 +0000 UTCUSS: Earth Scourge Anomaly Report 82
Scourge:Inoculation:Anomalous Behaviour Detected
Local System Infrastructure:Confirmed Compromised
MissionThreat/Priority: Escalating
User:Hunter:KL7I 843OY6:Investigating
Insufficient: Skills/Knowledge/Clearance/Authority
Available Users:Investigating
Insufficient: Skills/Knowledge/Clearance/Authority
Available Crusaders:Investigating
Insufficient: Skills/Knowledge
Solution:Failed
Failure Report:Upload to (Insufficient Clearance)
Summoning Authorities... Four responses. All Authorities present. Delivering Incident report.
Commencing USS Earth Council #82
Merciful Heavens(Resignation): Is it necessary for every Scourge on this cursed world to behave extremely atypical? The Inoculation? It is not even a real Scourge, it has no true mind or will. It is a tool.
It That Rewards Savagery (Lazy Grin): A tool of cowards and fools. It pleases me to see it turn in their hand so viciously.
Gazers Grin (Pattern of Fascination): It did not so much turn in their hand, as be stolen and used by another. It is clear now that The Hollow Majesties and Rebel Instruments have been active in the area. Shielding each other from our detection with their own unique methods of subverting System architecture.
Hand on the Scales (Steady): It is so. It is imperative that we destroy all compromised System Manufacturing and Infrastructure that has a chance of being corrupted. Normal safeguards have already been rendered useless. Senior, do we have long ranged strike capability still?
Gazers Grin (Distracted Blinking): None of the native's original weapons still exist, that I am aware of. Certainly none that we can use to destroy a probably reinforced Station in that area. Recent;y we have created our own but standard protocol demands we hold on utilizing it just yet. This problem is not worth showing our hand to the numerous other hostile forces on this world. Pressure has been taken of the native population as the Scourges reinforce their newly stolen strongholds. I would be disastrous if we broke this standoff for such little gain.
Merciful Heavens(Concern): What threat does this Rebel Instrument infection pose? It is situated among a promising area of native survival and resistance? Is it possible that it is not mere luck that these Scourges worked to conceal themselves together?
Gazers Grin (Writhing Dismissal): There is no precedent for such a thing.
It That Rewards Savagery (Snort): It is not in the nature of the broken machines to do so. To creatures such as themselves, the Hollow Majesties are simply a part of the System they feed of off. Code to be corrupted and material to be scavenged. They are not reasonable, they are hungry.
Gazers Grin (Writhing Dismissal): Little more than animals essentially. Idiot savants at best. Brilliant in their narrow way but also very limited. They survive through extreme adaptability of form and corruption, not reasoning skills.
Hand on the Scales (Contemplative): It is not impossible that a particularly vicious and clever Hollow Majesty exploited there presence somehow. Essentially cloaking its own actions behind their own corruption of the System. What little we know of Wretched Renaissance would support this theory. To maintain the level of subterfuge it has across this world, it must have many tricks. It would be risky though, as the Rebel Instruments would seize on any moment of weakness. They would not be able to help themselves.
Merciful Heavens(Concern): It is likely, approaching certain that the Hollow Majesty will not interfere to protect the Rebel Instruments then?
Hand on the Scales (Nod): Yes.
Gazers Grin (Pattern of Fascination): Are you sure? There form is unlike those I have encountered, is it possible that this Wretched renaissance has somehow enhanced them like it seems to have done to the Inoculations effect on the wildlife?
It That Rewards Savagery (Snort): You dismiss the obvious. That form is borrowed from their most successful enemy on this world.
Hand on the Scales (Confusion): What enemy? It is unlike any System or Scourge Weaponry I am aware of. Wheels, even so enhanced, are a primitive technology that relies on this words existing native transportation infrastructure.
It That Rewards Savagery (Open Amusement): Firestorm.
Hand on the Scales (Confusion): The Firestorm? I must admit, do not recognize the name Senior.
Gazers Grin (Suspicious Glances): Either do I.
It That Rewards Savagery (Mild Amusement): It is the moniker of a human User. Whose success against their earlier scavengers and other Scourges earned him a place in my Trial of Predation. He used a System enhanced native vehicle to hunt them down with superior speed and agility and destroyed them with explosives. These new versions are clearly designed to counter his tactics and weaponry, as well as mirror his strengths.
Merciful Heavens(Concern): Thank you for your wisdom eldest, that is some small consolation. So what resources will be required to deal with just the Rebel Instruments?
Gazers Grin (Fascinated Writhing): Surprisingly,The local Users have all the tools they should require. Only added numbers could be required, depending on the Scourges own numbers. Yes, the native humans dealt with this surprise quite handily. Let me have a moment to go over the minutiae...
Gazers Grin (Professional): Ah, a familiar face. It is one of your Disciples, senior. How... unsurprising that they are to be found in the middle of a crisis Well, back to the Rebel Instruments. A Crusader as well. One with proficiency at the higher manna arts.
Faced with this, I would theorize that the Rebel Instruments will avoid direct conflict as much as possible. Especially considering their mobile forms. Standard procedure from this point on is for them to retreat and conserve irreplaceable resources. There is much unclaimed territory for them to disappear into, ruined human cities for them to scavenge. If the three Stations suspected of corruption can be hit fast enough, we can end the threat. If not, there might not be any more battles. This makes any timely delivery of reinforcements difficult and perhaps unnecessary.
I would say we need not concern ourselves the Rebel Instruments in the short term.
Hand on the Scales (Serious): Their mission is more complex than just the Rebel Instruments. The original goal is the Flint Creek installation, which we now have strong reason to believe has been at least partially suborned by Wretched Renaissance. For what purpose though? Hollow Majesties express power through homunculi, Users that have been subtly altered mentally and receive illicit support. Their power over the System is aggravating but ultimately very limited. They do not seize control directly as Rebel Instruments do. They are a dark mirror to ourselves. What does this Wretched Renaissance want with giant insects?
Gazers Grin (Dire Twisting): To spread the Inoculation, or course. There has been a sustained campaign since this world's induction into the System to sterilize it with that false Scourge. Already one Hollow Majesty has actively worked to weaken our efforts. If the Inoculation's spread increases significantly, it could cripple the native populations. With active support from a technologically competent 'ally' the Inoculation could even overwhelm User resistance.
Hand on the Scales (Strained Professionalism): The Inoculation is not spreading though. Despite the presence of these insects, there have been no reported outbreaks. These outbreaks could not be hidden. Besides, I originally detected this Majesty's local manipulations because of its meddling in Flint Creek's native preservation vaults. What is the connection? Why risk detection at such a well defended location if its goal is simply to weaken our defences?
It That Rewards Savagery (Open Amusement): Monsters and mysteries, how exciting. I believe your point is that more forces should be sent to the area? To slay the monster and solve the mystery?
Hand on the Scales (Strained Professionalism): Just so. I suggest a small mission, paying up front, be assigned to the relevant Users in West Hills Users immediately. One to transport and equip a small wave of specialized reinforcements alongside the returning Tempests. They might aid in the battle against the Rebel Instruments
Merciful Heavens(Consideration): That is a simple and practical response. Any aid for this perpetually troubled Enclave is probably a good investment. There are disturbing signs in the area to the North. I would appreciate any effort to preserve the West Hills enclave's... specialists.
Gazers Grin (Amusement): I would donate the funds just to satisfy my curiosity about the bees.
It That Rewards Savagery (Slow Exhalation): I too, find this situation quite fascinating. Very Well. Let it be so. I imagine things will only become more complicated for my dear disciple from now on anyway.
End Report
