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

[seestheworld]

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.

Comments

[seestheworld]

[Liara can't see it, but Minako is grimacing.]

Yeah, I can think of a couple of possibilities that would be worse, and even they probably aren't the worst.

[brokers]

The worst has a very good chance of wiping out both humanity and the Aurigans.

[seestheworld]

So we're going to need to figure out just what Takumi is doing, and quickly.

[Easier said than done, probably.]

[brokers]

And what Dara was originally attempting to do. It's possible that they had to change their plans once she vanished.

[And goddess, does she hope so. A highly advanced war machine is much better than...any of the possibilities this brings to mind.]

[seestheworld]

That or they found someone willing to do what she refused to. Or both of those.

[brokers]

If we can access the personnel records, it should be simple enough to determine if they brought another highly-acclaimed biologist who specializes in S-Tech research on board, at least...

[seestheworld]

Yeah... Fortunately, I think we've got several people who can hack into their systems by now.

[Plus there's Interface, although that might get you more than you bargained for.]

[brokers]

Myself included, if need be.

[seestheworld]

That's good... All I've got to work with is Interface and Sift.

[brokers]

Would you be willing to teach the latter? The more people who know how to do that, the more ground we can cover.

[seestheworld]

I would, actually. I'm not sure we have very many people here who can use it and are themselves right now.

[brokers]

That seems to be a common problem with any specialized skill. I'll meet you in Liminal Space.

[seestheworld]

Sure - I'm actually in my room there now. Uh, you're okay with spectral hounds, right?

[brokers]

I don't think I have ever met one.

[seestheworld]

She's generally pretty friendly as long as you're not a literal ghost or zombie - herding souls down to the afterlife is one of her purposes. But she got waylaid into Purgatory and ended up in their exotic pet trade...

....And that's probably way too much information. Anyway. We should be here in Liminal Space for a little while yet, since I'm not expected anywhere right now.

[brokers]

Ah. I will return to my normal form before I come to see you, then, in case she mistakes the one I learned in Sarmatia for something to herd.

[seestheworld]

Is that going to screw things up for you back on the Jaunt? We don't have to do this in my room.

[brokers]

It should not be a problem. And to be perfectly honest, I've missed my own shape. It will be nice to be myself again for a few hours.

switch to action or take this to the Jaunt mingle?

[seestheworld]

Okay. Whenever you're ready, then.

I'll hit your mingle top level

[brokers]

I will be there in a few minutes.

[seestheworld]

We'll be waiting.