synopsychic | [jaunt] [mid-to late week 1] A deepening mystery

So about Dara...

I wanted to see if I could find out what she was doing before her disappearance on the off chance that could point towards her current whereabouts, so I did a Sift on all the relevant data I could find. Which probably means I'm on a list somewhere now, but... anyway.

We already know she was working on the Phileon project - specifically, she was working on advanced biology and S. Tech research and development, in particular S. Tech containment and countermeasures. It looks like she left voluntarily and very suddenly, and went to great lengths to hide from AEGISCorp when she did so, even calling in a bunch of favors from friends working for AEGISCORP's biggest rival, Munghungwa Dynamics - who, incidentally, still have offices on Mars.

AEGISCorp is unsurprisingly looking for her, as are the ESDF, who were also pretty surprised to see her go. There's a phrase the ESDF using in reference to that operation: "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously."

This is a field Dara has loved since high school. In theory, this should have been her dream job. And she didn't just walk away: she ran.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I really, really hope not.

God, if he's doing something illegal with, like, harvested brains or something...

[There's a lovely image.]

At the very least, we need to find a way into his notes, if not what he's actually working on.

[She really, really hopes it's not actual brains, or worse.]

The fucker encrypts them. Like they're literally written as he goes in a cipher only he has a key to.

Can Sift do anything for that?

I don't know, but it's probably worth a try.

Thanks and good luck?

Same to you.

[Because Thorne has to work with this guy still.]

I can take a crack at it if you'd like.

... that would be nice of you.

If it is brains, or anything comparable, then depending on their state I might be able to read them.

I mean, I was sort of speaking hyperbolically when I said brains.

... you can't run a computer with just a disembodied brain-slash-head. You need the whole entire person to be alive in there.

...Is that the sort of thing you'd put past this guy?

At this point, I would put nothing past Takumi fucking Katsuragi.

...Great.

[She's quiet for a moment. Then:]

You know, if that mech's got any sort of perspective at all, I should be able to read it.

If you want to do that, that would be nice and possibly helpful.

I'll see what I can do. Might need to get closer to the Phileon itself, though.

I'm happy to let you in the hanger.

(no subject)

razorblade_empress - 2019-10-01 15:49 (UTC) - Expand

How advanced is Earth's cloning technology in this reality?

Good for organs, not so great for actual functioning brains. You can make neurons, but neurons alone won't run your AI.

... actually. Disembodied brains-slash-heads aren't going to run it for you either.

You need an actual whole person in there.

...I'm almost impressed. These assholes are probably managing to be worse than Ikutsuki was.

The Phileon has just recently been assigned a pilot, hasn't it?

Yeahhhhh. I can think of a lot of places where this could be going... and none of them are good.

It is entirely possible that the reason they originally employed a biologist is less horrific - or at least a different shade of horrific. But those of us who are well-placed to do so should keep an eye on the pilot over the next few weeks.

I know if I were completely morally bankrupt and wished to incorporate a person into a military AI platform, I would select someone with the knowledge and tactical capabilities to augment the programming.

... oh my fucking god, he turns Jailey into an AI over my dead body. Or Dusty or any of my pilots!

If that is what he intends, you will have no shortage of assistance stopping it.

thornsofmalkav - 2019-10-01 15:47 (UTC) - Expand