epidemiology | EVENT ▸ ELECTRIC SHEEP

ELECTRIC SHEEP

After Ophelia spends some time getting the lay of the land and settling into Drakstadish life, Rost informs them that one of their secret sympathizers has gained access to information that has the potential to bring the Prime Minister down. One of his maids has found security footage of him talking to other governmental officials in his home about incriminating plans.

There is no time to explain what's in the recording, Rost member Froken explains, only that it has something to do with taxes: citizens of Drakstaden have had to pay an increase in taxes with the understanding that it will be used for revitalizing the lower levels -- including the promised Vakdir presence that has yet to come to fruition.

Ophelia will need to infiltrate the City-State Broadcasting Station in the upper levels, where another secret sympathizer is ready to get them into the the master control room and disseminate the incriminating recording for the entire city to see. Rost will be accompanying them, ready to act as distractions or sacrifice themselves to the Vakdir who patrol the station; Ophelia has a better chance of completing the mission, and that is the most important thing to the rebels.

▸ BROADCASTING STATION

The upper levels of Drakstaden are cleaner and brighter than the ones below; the pale blue sky of Heimland is visible here, peeking between gaps in the buildings. There are plazas here, promenades and courtyards and gardens built on the roofs of buildings that end before the topmost, giving the upper class places to walk and take in the fresh air that is foreign to the lower levels. But everything is colder here -- fewer people in the upper classes means less body heat, and although the taller buildings buffet the wind from blowing too harshly against the plazas, it's still present, along with the seemingly endless rain.

The Vakdir presence here is noticeably heavier than in the middle levels, though the upper class citizens' reaction to them is markedly different: whereas the middle class tends to cringe away from the Vakdir and avert their gaze, the upper class either ignores the Vakdir entirely or engages them in friendly conversation. It seems as though the oppressive force of the Vakdir is not so oppressive for the wealthy. You may want to take the time to explore.

The City-State Broadcasting Station is on the uppermost floors of one of the taller buildings, meaning that Ophelia and Rost will need to climb several flights of stairs to reach the doors. Once there, the "secret sympathizer" -- Petyr Larson, the janitor -- is there to let them in. It's the middle of the broadcast day, so everyone else will be busy in the broadcasting and control rooms, giving characters plenty of time to explore the station, though they'll still have to be on the lookout for the Vakdir patrolling the halls.

Larson's iris scan allows him to enter any room in the Broadcasting Station, including offices, and he has made copies of his iris scan on credit card-sized discs: the infiltrators only need hold the disc up to the scanners in front of any locked room for access. This allows for the team to split up into smaller groups or head out solo, and it keeps Larson out of immediate danger; though he's sympathetic to the rebel cause, he's a very nervous sort and is not exactly equipped to explain to the Vakdir why he's accompanying roughly 80 people around the station.

While exploring the whole station can potentially turn up useful information for Rost to use against the oppressive government, they'll insist that everyone's sights are set on the control booth so they can upload the Prime Minister's secret meeting. It'll have to be timed carefully -- there is a fifteen minute break between broadcast shifts where the majority of the staff breaks for lunch, and the control booth should be abandoned. Once inside, it's a small matter of plugging the drive into the console and hitting the button marked BROADCAST:

The recording is grainy-looking and from a high angle. It's a spacious, many-windowed room where the Prime Minister is seated at a desk. Seated across from the desk are three men, all dressed impeccably; their high-end cybernetics gleam even in the low-quality recording.

Prime Minister Ivarson speaks, his voice clear even though the visuals are muddy:

"So we're agreed, gentlemen. I assure you, your constituents won't mind the "repurposing" of their hard-earned funds once they realize they will earn it back thricefold once we clear out the... riff raff plaguing our fair city.

With our new involuntary labor force, we'll finally be living like we were meant to. And they'll be doing the same."

As this recorded "off the record" meeting continues, it seems to indicate that Prime Minister Ivarson does intend to stay true to his promise to fix the lower levels -- by jailing the majority of the lower class, thereby clearing the lower levels of crime and undesirables once and for all. The prisoners would then be used as a cheap labor force, driving the middle class into poverty as they try to compete with the unpaid workers, thereby establishing a new lower class and ridding the upper class of all competition.

It's certainly damning to the Prime Minister and will likely disturb the lower and middle classes, but it begs the question -- is it enough to drive the upper class against him too?

▸ THE VAKDIR

The Vakdir are immediately alerted when Rost’s counter-propaganda is broadcasted; the handful of Rost members who stayed behind at the hideout let the infiltrators know that, and that it can only mean one thing: the broadcasting station has been compromised. For Ophelia, this means it’s time to get out, and quick. Vakdir backup is quickly descending upon the broadcasting station, and anyone caught nearby is being taken in and questioned.

Any safeguards against entering the broadcasting station don’t keep all of the Vakdir out; there are already several inside, searching the large building for anyone who doesn't belong there. You’ll need to be stealthy if you want to get out without being apprehended and arrested, which will obviously happen if you're found there. The Broadcasting Station has quite a lot of tech one might be able to hide behind, as well as rooms -- offices, closets, dressing rooms -- to duck into if the Vakdir are patrolling the halls.

If caught, characters can struggle to break free -- although they will still be known as a fugitive if they escape, and their likeness will be broadcast frequently as a wanted person. The Vakdir are equipped with powerful stun guns that will disable the average person almost instantly, as well as body armor that protects them from most attacks. Characters who do not escape will be brought to the prison, a high-tech complex adjacent to the Vakdir Headquarters, where they will be required to relinquish their possessions (it's your choice if your character's jewelcomm and/or specialization magitek is included!) and change into the grey prisoner uniform provided.

The prisoners are informed by a particularly slimy Vakdir officer that there will be no trial, and that their punishment will be severe; the Prime Minister is very displeased with their malicious attempts to destabilize a peaceful nation, and evil acts deserve justice. “Sleep well,” he tells them, locking the door to the cell.

On the bright side, due to severe overpopulation in the prison, all the prisoners from the broadcasting station have been thrown into one -- cramped, uncomfortable -- cell. In addition to whatever guildmates have been imprisoned, there are a few Rost members in the cell as well, as well as some innocent bystanders -- and Petyr Larson, the Broadcast Station's inside man. It looks like it's sleepover time!

But don't worry -- the Rost take care of their own, and rescue is surely on its way.

▸ OOC NOTES

This log takes place over several hours, with the next log -- featuring a jailbreak! -- beginning a few days later. In other words, there will be time dilation in place, meaning that only two IC days will pass between this log and the next.

Please note because this log has been posted so late in the month, you may use threads begun in April for May AC. You may not use the same thread for AC in both months.

If you have questions about this log or the mission, please direct them to the dossier. Questions about the game in general can be directed to the FAQ.

▸ Up now:

Optional. The Great Escape II player plot!
The Free Bird and My Fair Lady bounties are now unlocked, along with the upper level locations.
May calendar is live!
Plotting post for this log is up.

▸ Coming next (Futurology runs on timezone UTC):

30 Apr: Optional. Player plot sign-ups.
01 May: April AC begins at 00:01 UTC, ending on 5 May 23:59 UTC.
All characters accepted in April must provide one proof. Failure will result in an idle.
Reminder: bounty threads do not count toward !plot proofs. Please review the AC requirements to prepare!
01 May: Hiatus trimester turns over. Review what this means on the hiatus page!
05 May: Optional. Player plot log.
12 May: Next !plot log goes up.

▸ CR/Welcome Meme ▸ Drakstaden Dossier ▸ Drakstaden Locations ▸ Drakstaden Bounty Board ▸ May Calendar

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes. But it is unreliable.

[As proven by the fact that the Force still connected them at the most inopportune times, rather than moments where it might be useful. There was no guarantee she'd get a warning at all.

He might have been srtong in the Force, and even had a demonstrative mastery over portions of it...but this was beyond him.]

You opened it on purpose once before. In Hanabira.

[ She sounds surly, pointing this out. And maybe just a little childish. But she's never been in this position before. When Finn got hurt, she was right there to do something about it — and she did. Imprisoned is harder. ]

I'm trying to cover everything. I'm going to tell Hayame-san too. And I'm going to be working on getting us to you sooner rather than later. But ... [ Just in case. ]

[She's obviously worried, and it makes sense -- at least three people she cares about are locked in a prison and have potential executions scheduled. So:]

It is not that bad.

[She must know that they won't be taken without a fight. He's still trying to convince the others to rise and fight together but so far, it hasn't taken.]

Don't do that.

[ She says it like she's scolding him, but there's something … chastised and apologetic in her tone too. The shake of her head sends some water droplets flying off the tips of her hair. ]

I'm trying to make you feel better. Not the other way around.

[He's not trying to make you feel better Rey, don't give him that much credit. (Ok, subconsciously, maybe he is a little)]

I am only speaking the truth. Odinson and I have twice the power of even a handful of these vakdir.

[Not that...Odinson will let him act...]

Not all of them at once.

[ Wait. is he— ]

... Don't do anything stupid.

Yes we do.

[??? Don't be rude??? He is actually so offended by the implication that he forgets to mention the fact that Odinson won't actually let him do anything stupid(tm).]

Edited 2018-05-06 20:24 (UTC)

Please.

[ She skips straight past his injured pride to reach for his hand, squeezing it tightly. The fact of the matter is that she doesn't think it's a good idea to test that theory unless it becomes absolutely necessary to do so. There's nothing she can do from out here if he does something stupid and gets himself hurt. ]

[There she goes again, all of that compassion and concern that he doesn’t know what to do with. His pride, if possible, is somehow further bruised.]

Odinson and Hayame refuse to act until a rescue party arrives.

[And judging by his face and his tone, he isn’t very happy about it. He isn’t stupid enough to take them all on — that was what had gotten him in the cell in the first place.]

[ Obvious as it is to her that he's chafing against that, Rey still lets out a sigh of relief. She loosens her grip on his hand, but doesn't pull away entirely. Even if he won't take the comfort now, he might be glad of it when she's gone. ]

We'll come soon.

[ She searches his face and clarifies — ]

I'll come for you. I promise.

[ He means too much to her now for her to do anything else. Even if the rest of the team can't agree on when they should and wants to prioritize the mission. Rey's willing to promise that she'll either raid the prison or get arrested trying. She doesn't have it in her to just leave them there.

He just has to hold on until she does. ]

[Two people sitting in the Force two feet apart because they don't know what moderation is.

He doesn't doubt her word this time. Its been two years of bullshit -- lying and forced truths, conflict and reconciliation. And here, in the Force, there can be no lies or half-truths between them.

She'd just sat there and told him not to do anything stupid. He should say something similar, but he doesn't really want to.]

Don't rush it.

[Pot, meet kettle.]

[ When he puts it like that, she doesn't really have a choice but to nod and accept those terms. After all, they're terms that she's glad Hayame and Odinson are holding him to. Still, she huffs out a heavy breath through her nose.

That's it, that's her resigned agreement.

In the wake of it, she feels a little silly for fussing as much as she is, but she knows that's only because it feels like he's here right now. He's still beat up and in prison. She's not overreacting at all. She has enough faith to know that it's going to be alright, and enough gumption to know that that's only true because she's going to do something about it. But he's never been good at the hope thing. She wants to stay here with him for that, but …

She needs to get inside. And she needs to get down there, on the ground, and figure out how the hell they're going to break into the Vakdir prison and free the prisoners without it backfiring on everyone. So she lingers for some time in silence, then pulls out of a sitting position and back to a crouch.

Getting ready to move. ]

I'd better get moving. [ She looks at him more fully, feeling a sudden awareness of how unprepared she is to cut this off. How does she ... say bye ... in this situation ... ] Keep an eye on Hayame-san for me, will you? [ Because everyone knows that Kylo and Hayame are the most likely to get themselves killed by doing something stupid. ]

If you insist.

[He's discovered that he and Hayame are similar in some ways. She would not appreciate a babysitter anymore than he would, but he imagines Rey knows that. She just wants insurance, and can't get it -- so this is her way of dealing with that.

That's probably a normal, human reaction. So Kylo Ren leaves it alone, watching the curtain of water that is Rey retreat from him. He isn't going to say goodbye -- instead he is going to close his eyes until she retreats from that spot and the Force returns them to a normal state of being.]

EVENT ▸ ELECTRIC SHEEP

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