CONCORDIA DAY :018 - :022

[onemind]

CURRENT EVENTS

     CONCORDIA, DAY :018 - :022

Despite the severity of the recent bombing, a week after the bombing it seems that most Concordian news outlets have backburned the story in favor of other current events - including the recent Zero Ball victory for Concordia. The story of the bombing, the aftermath, and the investigation tends to get little more than occasional mention, and most reputable sources of news have moved on from the bombing itself to speculate more deeply on H+H1 and the possible role of EXTRAAA. There's at least one sensationalist idea that's gaining some traction and popularity which is that hacker group EXTRAAA, supposedly at odds with the mysterious H+H1, is really just machinating the conflict themselves and posing as H+H1 to win more support for synthetic rights. The popular line seems to attribute the bombings - both those minor acts of vandalism that were occurring prior to the Hosts's arrival in Concordia and this newer, bigger attack on the VEN DIAGRAMS factory - to nothing more than hacker "scare tactics", designed to sway public opinion in their favor. Additionally, there's been at least one major news network who talked to a professional in the memory bank industry that pointed out that the Ven Diagrams technology - not the androids, but the mental augment chips that were also scrambled in the attack - is analogous to the tech used to store human memory and experience in places like Memory Bank.

Despite the abundant rumors and conjecture about the bombing, both in the physical and digital realm, no one seems to have any concrete facts-- or rather, the people who most likely do are keeping it to themselves. Remember how Ven Diagrams was offering a hefty reward for anyone with information regarding the bombing? In all the hubbub, no one seems to notice that the offer's been quietly tabled. The company's statements regarding the bombing are similar to what they were before, but there's significantly more buzzwords involved and a lot less impassioned determination to dig up information. The implication? They know something. However, it seems like they're not in a sharing mood given that they're publicly still playing at being unable to track down a perpetrator.

The good news: If H+H1 was responsible, and Ven Diagrams has something on them, that probably means they're traceable. The data's out there, you just have to get it. The bad news? It's all stored on Ven's local databanks, completely off the grid. which means they'll have to somehow infiltrate the company, access their local network and acquire the information from them personally if anyone wants to get a good look at it. Given the current political climate, not to mention Ven's clear interest in keeping the matter private and personal, that could be very - very - dangerous.

Meanwhile, it seems there is one notable point of fallout that's come as a result of the Ven Diagrams factory bombing. With no concrete H+H1 leads in the media and an increased visibility of anti-EXTRAAA and anti-synthetic rhetoric, the tenor surrounding the upcoming BOUT IT OUT championships has become significantly more heated. Since his vaguely pro-synthetic comments during a press conference last week, Kun Adetokunbo - the once fan favorite in the competition - has been singled out by reporters and news outlets as a visible pro-synthetic voice. In counterpoint, Adetokunbo's largest rival Florence Kelcey has made some heartfelt posts on her public extraspace board that have some not-so-subtle organic support leanings. Kelcey doesn't seem to be malicious (in fact looking at the history of her board, this is fairly in keeping with her usual digital content stream), but given the local climate it's a spark for a public following that's rapidly becoming hungry to burn something. Florence's popularity has surged in many sectors, particularly wealthy ones. Meanwhile though Adetkunbo's betting odds have plummeted and his face is a lot less visible on hologram billboards, he's become even more popular among certain individuals.

The heated competition seems to be something a lot of people are channeling their anxiety, fear and passion into. On DAY :020, a reporter presses Adetokunbo on whether he's the next Sheena Fry and he whips back with a clearly frustrated "Would there be something wrong with that if I was?" that causes an uproar in Extraspace and likely triggers a string of hooligan violence in Beta and Gamma Block. In the hours that follow, REPRESENTATIVE GORAM SAFFIT OF LARANN speaks out against the violence and reminds everyone that the real concern should be the safety of people in relation to synthetics. He pushes the idea that the only way to ensure human safety is to verify android security and poses the question: "If we live with androids, what's to stop us from being subject to their vulnerabilities as well? What stops them from being subject to ours?" He reminds the public to sign a petition requesting Concordian government officials to consider creating designated areas for humans only and areas for androids and official workforce only to 'ensure that humans and androids can both live and operate safely according to their own needs and programming.'

Two hours later an anonymous hacker leaks information tying Adetkunbo to a false identity 'Desta Vaska' who has a history of cutting big checks for Mind Life. Minutes later there's a flurry of people calling for Adetkunbo to have sponsorships revoked as well as a significant increase in threats of violence from anonymous users should he not be ejected from the championship. As a desperate means of extending an olive branch and in the spirit of fair play (as well as hoping to divert some of that competitive heat back in on itself), Adetkunbo's reps organize a hasty publicly accessible miniature competition. There are 40 slots available and any current members of a local bout it out ring can enter the bracket and duke it out to get the chance to fight Adetkunbo himself! This might be a great opportunity to get into contact with Adetkunbo and the upper echelons of Mind Life. --It might also be a great opportunity for someone (host or otherwise) to do something drastic to the man who, whether he wanted to or not, has now become the face of pro-synthetic discourse.



     IN OTHER NEWS...

A reminder that on day :016, Aoba Seragaki went into a medical coma. It's probably fine.... (no it's not).

There have been extra- and real-space protesters outside a number of Mind Life local chapters in every block. Most of the protests are relegated to people holding signs and being rude to androids who operate in the chapters, but there's been a handful of vandalism reports that include broken windows and extraspace profile scrambling.

Mind Life has assumed a largely hands off approach to what they've deemed 'ridiculous rhetoric' aimed at targeting those most affected by the rise in tension. Rather than battling the media outlets, they've opted to double down on their android assistance programs and have emphasized reaching out to local government officials and Concordia block councils to encourage reformation and new legislation. They've taken a very public anti-violence stance and encourage any pro-synthetic demonstrations to be peaceful. Then again, that's no different from what REPRESENTATIVE GORAM SAFFIT OF LARANN is encouraging either...

Security outside of major tech centers has increased.

Security sweeps in Subspace have increased.

Concordian Public Security has issued a statement encouraging civilians to consider leaving their BOUT IT OUT memorabilia at home and to remove their related extraspace profile tags as it seems to elevate a risk of being targeted by criminal activity.

Speaking of symbols, individuals sympathetic to REPRESENTATIVE GORAM SAFFIT OF LARANN's rhetoric have started to tag their extraspace profiles with a symbol of two hands forming a circle. The gesture has some real life applications as well, having been seen flashed at the occasional pro-organic meeting.

In a misguided effort to drum up good press, the city sets up a suggestion poll on Extraspace for re-naming one of Alpha Block's oldest man-made lakes/gardens prior to restoration work starting (toxic levels of bacteria, likely from bird feces, were a main cause for the lake being shut down multiple times over the past decade). Within the first day the poll was flooded, with the highest amount of votes going to Bird-a-potty, followed by Vec8734 Memorial Lake. Within an hour the second place spot was overtaken by SYNTHS CAN'T SWIM. Two hours later the poll was shut down.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

DAY :018 (Jun 21-22) - VEN DIAGRAMS quietly removes their reward offer for information about the factor bombing. They continue to welcome the submission of information, but are no longer offering monetary compensation for it. Time to think up a way to access their local networks!

DAY :020 (Jun 25-26) - The BOUT IT OUT-related tensions reach a high point when Adetkunbo's android sympathies are revealed. Mind Life and REPRESENTATIVE GORAM SAFFIT OF LARANN quietly duke it out in the public politics sector while Adetkunbo's reps scramble to organize a friendly competition to ease tensions and make their man lovable again.

DAY :022 (Jun 29-30) - Covert work and punch 'em ups! The team splits up: half the hosts pursue getting into contact with Adetkunbo through the competition and the other half enacts the plan to infiltrate Ven Diagrams and obtain their H+H1 related data.

There WILL be a log posted for the events of Day :022. All other IC logs for previous days (including any IC plotting and planning) may be player organized/initiated.

OOC NOTES

POLITICS! INTRIGUE! PUNCHING! Over the next few days we'll work together to formulate a plan of approach for both investigating Ven Diagrams and using the Bout It Out minicompetition to get in with Kun Adetkunbo (affectionately, 'Kun Kun'). We'll provide key information for each operation in the appropriate thread below and encourage everyone to help formulate a plan for both regardless of which your character will be ICly involved with. We're looking for everyone to be involved with crafting the story, so if you have an idea that you think might work but your character wouldn't necessarily think of - throw it in the ring anyway! Someone else might be able to utilize their character to ICly introduce the idea.

Ideally, this planning stage should be a blend of OOC brainstorming and handwaving plotting (though, of course, you're welcome to and encouraged to discuss these plans in character as well). The most important part is that we must have reached a consensus for how to approach these plots by no later than JUNE 27th 11:59PM PST so the event log can be structured according to IC intent. Be aware, this doesn't mean that there won't potentially be wrenches thrown into the mix during the actual event - there's always the possibility for the unexpected as a result of IC action (like, oh, LIGHTSABERING PEOPLE) within the operations themselves, but that should at least give everyone a framework to operate within.

Lastly, two (relatively) non-plotting related notes: you may have noticed there's a gap between this calendar and the last of a few IC days (the prior calender having ended on :013 and this one beginning on :018). Similar gaps will likely be a regular occurance in an effort to give ourselves time to pull IC information and incorporate it into these roughly bi-monthly calendars. Feel free to assume business as usual in the interim betwen calendars; if anything big happens on the tail end of one calendar, we'll be sure to make you aware. That said, we always encourage player feedback! If you've found yourself at loose ends during these intervals or that the pacing is clunky, please let us know and we'll see if we can tighten the mechanics a little.

We're also working to implement a quick reference sheet for IC to OOC dates. Thanks to Jen for being the unsung hero of keeping track of numbers while we've been slacking!

If you have any general questions related to this calendar overall, please direct them to the appropriate thread below. If you have questions specfically about details regarding either the infiltration operation or the BOUT IT OUT competition, please ask them in the operation subthreads! Further, we're all a team here! If you have any world building elements you'd like to suggest, there's an appropriate subthread for that below too. As always, if you have questions that are braoder in scope, don't hesitate to drop them either on the FAQ or the MOD CONTACT posts!

-Abby and Donna

CONCORDIA MISSION: OVERVIEW • DAY :008 - :013
NAVIGATION • PREMISE • FAQ • RULES • GLOSSARY • SYMBIOTIC SKILLS • ABILITY POINTS

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[onemind]

Yup! That should be doable. Just give us a shout when/where/if you need us.

[erbier]

I think we're going to work on it once Infiltration and Bout stuff is done just to not linger in the depths of backtags foreeeever, so I will return here with a link for you when we are ready!!!

[onemind]

Thumbs up!!

[erbier]

I RETURN. Gee that bombing thing sure did get Ilde riled up to go... investigate the underground.... huh.... Anywho, here is like a 'formal' write up of what we see our goals as and what tact the pair will try to take.

http://station72.dreamwidth.org/10252.html?thread=1351436#cmt1351436

We have two informational goals: synth supporters, and also who was behind the bombing.

Ilde will be focused on talking to Y, who she feels like would have a good chance of knowing something about the bombing, what with her cyber fingers in so many pies. She’s pretty willing to flutter her eyelashes or whatever if that’s like… what needs to be done to get what she wants. She’s also pretty willing to threaten as well, but she will absolutely try the softer route first because that’s what got her this far in the first place.

Sam’s target is the droid, mostly aiming to be robo-buddies, and communicate. The intention is friendliness over forcibly interfacing with him, although Sam would like to see if that friendly conversation could happen privately, just in case that makes a difference in their information gathering.

Overall, Ilde is kind of… frighteningly determined to come back with something of use. She is willing to go off site or leave her chaperone, although not exactly the preference.

Some of it would definitely be fun to thread out, I know Sam was particularly interested in talking to synth supporters to find out about them. It would *also* be preferable to possibly decide ahead of time what information they can/will get so that we can pass it along to other people who want to investigate without holding them up while we fuck around with NPCs. Cuz we wanna fuck around a little………. For funsies.

Also, here is their text convo with my fake forwarded message in case anyone cares: http://frakkincylons.dreamwidth.org/3389.html?thread=27709#cmt27709

[onemind]

First! So sorry for the delay! Second! These are definitely, in a sense, achievable goals and thank you guys so much for putting so much effort into this. We've hammered out some possibilities on our end and agree that pre-determining a few things would probably be most useful to you guys/the game at large/etc, but we're also more than happy to thread things out with y'all if you'd like!

In general, Ilde's meetup will be attended by her usual group of friends/hanger ons/etc. Y and Kellix will join them later and suggest hitting up one of the Subspace clubs as a distraction from the bombing/other depressing topics/etc. Once at the club, it'd definitely be possible to separate Y and Kellix - not to the point of privacy (it's a crowded place), but they'd at least be outside of earshot of one another. Y's demeanor is typically too cool for school, aloof and ridiculously magnetic. Meanwhile, Kellix is easy going and polite in what is clearly typical android fashion. He'll be happy enough to talk casually, though that might change (for better? worse?) if Sam reveals his robonature to him.

What kind of questions will Ilde and Sam be posing to Y and Kellix, if any? Basically, how do they plan to approach them? That should give us a better idea of what information they'll get out of them.

Ilde Questions

[erbier]

Ilde's main focus is the bombing itself. She would be expressing herself as more grieved for the local kids who died in her quest for answers. So it would be a little more focused than 'just who would do such a thing', in that she really expects an answer, but that would be the general sentiment.

I think based on that she'd see what else she could worm her way towards, as in whether it's thought to just be a fringe group acting on their own or if there's more organization to it/who's the head of the snake. Rumor level is okay if that's where Y is at.

If she can get some of those answers, she'd ask about who's doing what about these horrible things!! If some of the EXTRAA stuff comes up in that conversation, which IDEK what time this is happening anymore halp, she'd probably hand it over to Sam because Ilde doesn't like. Do tech. That's what robodad is for.

Those are about all the levels of If-Then-Else I can really think of, some of it may obviously also depend on how much Sam stirs the hornet's nest as well.

[onemind]

Strangely, Y will be perfectly happy to entertain Ilde's questions - and direct in the sense that she isn't talking about idle speculation. As much as Ilde's not interested in 'who would do such a thing's, neither is Y. She seems confident the bombing was by an extremist group and there's a definite sense that she knows more than she's saying in terms of the bomber's identity. Further, despite Y's typically cool demeanor, it's clear she has some emotional investment in this. There aren't any tears, but there's a simmering sense of vitriol and excitement about how she talks about the bombing - angry that it happened or delighted by the upheavel it's caused? If pressed about what she's not saying, Y will ask why Ilde cares - and more importantly, what Ilde would even do about it if she had all the information: "After all, you're just an idol - aren't you?" There's something incriminating in the tone of the question, a piercing quality to Y's attention that might mean she knows more about Ilde than what she's saying too.

[erbier]

She's not quite ready to drop the whole pretense of being an aspiring idol yet, and certainly not in public, but she's willing to concede that while she may sing now, she is not completely helpless.

As for what she would even do if she had all the information: She has a chance to lend her voice to an important cause, if only she were given the opportunity. Help me help you. That's what people like to hear, right?

[onemind]

Y's initial reaction is a little dismissive - but then she seems to reconsider. There's something electric in the way she straightens then narrows her attention on Ilde. A chance to lend her voice, huh? Y will suggest maybe Ilde should consider organizing a concert. If one big popularized event drew an attack, why not try a second one to bait those responsible?

[erbier]

You guys slay me.

I mean that does kind of feel like that's Y trying to call her bluff. So rather than yes or no immediately, she'd probably ask a few questions.

Does she have a venue in mind? Does she have any high profile attendees in mind? Would she as a super awesome hacker be willing to help spread the word about this concert, maybe with a little extra anon gossip. And maybe finally, what happens if they do bait out someone, but they just succeed in killing more people. What is the plan to protect the innocents in crowd? Maybe some blahblahblah about how they've already lost some of their friends, just to not show any particular sympathy either direction.

[onemind]

Y will happily answer all questions posed. She can name a few different venue options off the top of her head and might be able to use a few of her connections to get some people to come. "You're a friend of Adetkunbo, right? Maybe you could invite him." She'd be happy to spread the word and get the anons rolling. As for what-ifs... she shrugs. "That'll depend on the venue. But we can figure something out if you and your people are game."

[erbier]

I feel like she would probably be like 'Hey let me go talk to my manager about this' so that she could actually just go... Mental Link everyone else and find out what they think....

What is the timeline here in relationship to Adetkunbo contacting the group?

[onemind]

Adetkunbo will be contacting the Nest as soon as I have time to write that so like uuuuh tomorrow on Day 32, the day after the vigil. So whenever you want to place this meeting in conjunction to that works for us!

[erbier]

She got some relevant advice!

Ilde would return to say that they are interested in this idea and would like to meet again somewhere a bit less.... distracting to go over some of the particulars. Not trying to promise to do it, just wants to follow up.

Cause senpai wants to show her how some goddamn espionage is done.

Is Miss Y in to that?

[onemind]

Miss Y is amenable to the idea, but won't give Ilde a chance to set a meeting place. She'd like to meet in the VIP room of one of the clubs they've occasionally crossed paths in. Don't worry, I'll make sure it's private, says Y and sets a date and time herself with the clear expectation that Ilde agree with the appointment. If Ilde wants to meet elsewhere instead, Y will hem and haw and say she isn't sure she has the time.

[erbier]

Acceptable! I will hit you guys up on the newer OOC post when I get together the interested parties.

Thanks for all your moderating.

[onemind]

THUMBS UP!! (Also gosh you're so welcome)

Sam Questions

[frakkincylons]

YOYOYO SLAMS IN HERE LATE, SUP

Firstly, Kellix can't actually talk, right? Or just doesn't? Sam will try to normal talk to him at first, just a couple casual things to see if he gets responses from him - when did you meet Y, does she own you or do you choose to hang around, what do you help her with, do you like it, etc etc.

If he gets verbal answers (or text?), he'll keep the conversation verbal. He won't start asking anything until he's alone with Kellix, though. If Kellix can't or doesn't answer him at all, he'll put a hand on the droid and pull a Hybrid thing, somewhere away from people, but it'll be purely for the sake of communication, no digging around in his memory.

What he'll be telling him first is that he wants to help the AIs and synthetics like Kellix reach a point where they can be free and self-governed in peace, without the oppression that comes with being property, and without the war that H+H1 would like to have. He believes it's possible and he believes he and his friends can help, but they don't know enough about this world or what's going on to get to that point.

He'll ask Kellix if he knows anything about EXTRAAA, about the bombings, and about who's been slipping funding to H+H1.

[onemind]

Good (??) news! Kellix is completely capable of speech and seems willing enough to answer Sam's questions. His routine silence in Y's presence seems to be due to something other than necessity. Kellix is a little cool and aloof, but not mute - he met Y six years ago; she doesn't own him; with whatever she asks him to; of course he likes what he's doing. They seem to be fairly routine answers.

Once removed from familiar company and the (verbal) questions turn probing, Kellix's answers will become progressively more brief. That's a nice goal you have there, if a bit starry eyed. Perhaps a reform of public policy. He'll give Sam a brief, sterile rundown of EXTRAAA (nothing more than what anyone in Concordia could say), express his condolences for the bombings and the hope that Public Security roots out those responsible soon, and an expression of surprise that anyone's slipping funding to H+H1. All in all: very surface level, noncommittal answers as is typical for an android.


If Sam is still simply conversational at this point, Kellix will mildly ask "I'm sorry, who did you say you and your friends were again?"

If at any point during the above Sam instead chooses to go hybrid with him, Kellix's reaction is undeniably startled. The shock is enough to rattle him into relaying (verbally or otherwise) that he has information, but that it isn't safe to share somewhere like this-- and then he snaps out of his shock long enough to get angry and clearly paranoid about what Sam 'is': "What are you trying to do? Are you Public Security? What implant are you using? If you've compromised my systems, my owner will file a report."

[frakkincylons]

At this point, after Anakin's death and the failed mission, Sam's gotten desperate enough and stupid enough to be honest about it. When Kellix asks who did you say you and your friends were, he'll go ahead and do his hybrid thing, as he feels like it'll be a dead end if he doesn't. so, to answer the questions:

What are you trying to do: Talk to you privately
Are you public security: No
What implant are you using: it's not an implant, I'm a biological AI. Dig around if you want proof.
If you've compromised my systems, my owner will file a report: Nothing's compromised and I thought you said she doesn't own you.

And lastly, he'll want to chase that information, and try to plead with Kellix to help him out.

and also, to not tell anyone, because being sliced up on a lab table for science doesn't sound like fun to him.

[onemind]

Kellix will be clearly mortified by the concept of a biological AI and refuse to do any kind of digging to verify it. In fact, he'll staunchly attempt to refuse any kind of deepening of the hybrid connection whatsoever - not that he strictly has a choice, given the scope of Sam's abilities, but the resistance and fear is palpable until it-- isn't. Kellix's systems regulate like any android in Concordia and given a certain amount of emotional overload, he resets to an even keel and answers Sam in terse short form: "I don't want to speak to you here and I'm under no obligation to do so. What I told you about Y is correct - she doesn't own me. Release me and I won't report you."

He'll refuse to speak any further on the matter unless forced to do so.

[frakkincylons]

Sam won't force it once the fear and resistance crops up, and lets go of him fairly immediately when asked, but he will be watching him sort of confused, thinking it's telling of something that the idea of a biological AI freaked him out so much, and what that means as far as what he fears about this human and synth thing.

Instead of commenting on that, he'll focused on the emotional overload switch and ask him if he honestly wants to live with that forever, more out of curiosity than trying to get information. he'll tell him that the people he came from waged war against humans over restrictions like that, which is the worry he has for things in Concordia. he'll apologize for scaring him and tell him he just wants to understand.

[onemind]

If there's an emotional response natural to any of those questions, the hard reset negates them in the moment. The kill switch is a requirement of his continued existence. There are worse things. Kellix will forgive Sam, and then make an effort to return to Y's side.