CMZ comes over the radio:
[Private to group LESPradio:  Come out down to the dock.  We have a group of mercs who have captured one of the members of FORCE.  And we have a computerized yacht that JUSTICAR and his AI might want to take a look at.  Though, there is a little damage to it.]

As the exodus begins, Cicada comes along as meekly as a seven foot tall insect man can. Snowblind reverts to his normal form, and somehow finds a pair of flip-flops. Fortunately, there were a pair of speedo briefs under the ice. Phantasma is expressionless as they calmly walk with the heroes.
[Private to Goliat:

Sense Magic
• Cicada doesn't appear to have any magical energy.

Sense Enchantment
• Cicada gives Goliat that prickly sensation that suggests there is some enchantment upon him.

See the Aura
• See the aura is a psychic ability, not a magic ability

]

Winter Herald waited until he was in the tram to speak off-handedly to Phantasma. "I'm guessing you conjured those clothes. I'm aware the restraints are likely a formality to you."

Once everyone was secured in the tram, he asked his question to her. "Why are you fighting for FORCE? My motive for opposing him was survival. They made that position rather clear when I spoke to them."

With a slight smile, Phantasma replies, "[Language unknown: FORCE eiad com latredlattra lartinencousres sa enalil red rutan be. Nt ich es iset aier ic allourati setstipre er stnt'reulul. N icho n We thoone-formenred icrom atiweroun om earyinearntient lo weeell, K rutma atei n.]"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 12:56, Tue 26 Apr 2022.

Justicar takes an interest in the question asked by Winter's Herald of Phantasma and hearing his response in his one of his native languages asks...
[Language unknown: "La, i ca fo whi e whevorlarticeenati ameonswertratha e n welentnaai utngul cadi?  Sa tr pe FORCE fitino a?  Eeec ssmiut et inthte eeil annifo... sima plncee ndeingugh/atiwertio eksaut ieilpeusmi ha een ndalai?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:00, Mon 09 May 2022.

Carrying Crusader Lite Star takes up the rear of the group as they move, aiming both weapon pods behind her and having a rearview in window pulled up on her HUD to prevent the group being snuck up on from behind, of course the other sensory inputs were also coming in to make sure they had a heads up if needed.

Letting the anti-ice external heaters continue to warm Crusader until the thermo-vision told her the other woman's surface temperature was back up to something more normal.

Calling on the radio in response to Chimp Man Z
[Private to group LESPradio: "We're on our way now.  Checked out the yacht a bit when it was moured in the city, I should be able to sail her ok."]

Crusader's teeth no longer chattered as she spoke. [Language unknown: "Te ame noieic unilpo sta iliswe, Witelape insawi iv ac. N thihouore ieec i intanyundect undet ie iouintectereall man u estdayort le plelin'ilch m uninai m."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:57, Tue 26 Apr 2022.

Bellissima switched her telepathic between the three villains as she rode on the tram with the rest.  She chanced missing something, but Phantamsa's native language was something she didn't understand, maybe she would catch interesting thoughts from Snowblind or Cicadas.

Winter Herald showed no external indication he was left out of the conversation, but he certainly was not able to offer any indication he understood. He was simply recording it. Access to a computer would allow him to have at least a dog translation of the conversation later, but right now, he understood none of it.

It did strike him as odd that Phantasma would seek to code their motivations. Perhaps their mastery of English was not sufficient for the task? Even with that benefit of the doubt, it would mean an elaborate motivation, something complex and cerebral.

Such motives usually meant conventional morality was not on the table for them, that the aggression needed to be sold, so to speak.

He changed the topic for now. "I got your designations - Justicar, Phantasma, Cicada, Bellissima, Snowblind. I have caught no one else's."

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 240):

"My codename is Mae Ha Rga.  However, most people here in the west have difficulty pronouncing that.  Generally I'm called The Maharaja."

Crusader's only response to Winter Herald was silence. She did not even turn to face him.

In reply to JUSTICAR (msg # 236):

Shaking his head, Phantasma replies, "[Language unknown: Fi naicloas estos. Li UGHRUTWAS sanandillone ss, eraer iniv li ndeichomelesith e latarehourat i maar tiohathourom omwhin int ome ncout linhisecthas fickis virundingeau urwh arsirillbe i ut ameiouess for. Arhi heasho strdayant heal weunsspl m en eautheivevir areichest ha pl toaita u arthouoreect. E omeeauwit ent ive st eautedandousvir sonal eisi pa bellle ntckre ee onsovewil'derast.]"

Attempting to speak to Goliat, though with much buzzing and drooling, Cicada says, "doe no wut ya cud do. This here's real magic."
"I was in norlins fer Murdi Graw and had one too many. This ole crone stepped out in frunamee, and I slammed onna brakes 'bout the time she slammed inna the win shill. Sobered me right up, but not soon enough. I wen aroun to da fron of da car ta help, but was too late. She up and curst me wit her diein' bret. Next morning I woke up like this."
[Private to Bellissima: Cicada isn't thinking anything but what he's said, and a sincere hope that Goliat can remove the curse.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Thu 28 Apr 2022.

Justicar listens to Phantasma's description of FORCE mind transfer tech in the most basic details fascinated by the science of it all... realizing years of neural mapping and experimentation in cyber-consciousness must have been done to achieve such a process.  A 'singularity' of tech with the ability to revolutionize how mankind defined what he called 'life' and consciousness that would change the world! He pondered how terribly such a technological discovery could be int he wrong hands... was mankind even ready.. or more pointedly stated "mature" enough to use such tech and not abuse it?

He was lost in thoughts when the rudeness of his reaction occurred to him and he commented to Winter Herald, "Excuse me, Phantasma said..."

'FORCE has been promising immortality to those that join him. I came to ask how he would achieve the immortality. As soon as I discovered his methods were mechanical in nature, I told him no.'

"I asked in reply..."

'So, it is some from of consciousness transferal to a artificial neural net?  Is that what FORCE himself is?  How would that affect your powers... are purely mental/psionic powers transferred in the process?'

"And he just replied..."

'I couldn't say. As FORCE described it, some form of transceiver is installed in the subject's brain pan and the subject's mental impulses are transferred to the robotic body. The sensory inputs are returned to the subject's brain so that memory is preserved. It wasn't any sort of immortality one such as myself would find acceptable.'

"A pleasure, Mae Ha Rga. I was distressed at the lack of clear purpose and direction for myself, and I attempted to force the issue. The path is becoming clearer, and it should not happen again."

He couldn't contribute to Cicada's conversation. Everything there was simply to be filed away for future analysis. He could only guess at the cause of the helmeted one's silence.

Winter Herald considered Justicar's translation. "Hmm. That answers what brought Phantasma there, but it does not answer why they simply didn't leave the moment it was clear the payment was not acceptable."

He looked to Phantasma. "So, why didn't you leave the moment you were not getting what you came there for? And where does the attack on these people and myself weigh into things?"

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 246):

Mae Ha Rga gave Buddhist's to Winter Herald.  And listened to the conversation as best he could which was frankly beyond him with transceivers in brain pans and such.

Bellissima frowned as she listened to Justicar's translation of what Phantasma was sharing about FORCE's attempt at immortality.  "I am not sure how that would work.  There is no one part of the brain that processes all the information that our sensors process.  We have started to be able to translate brain electrical patterns into pictures, but it is very rough.  And that doesn't include emotional information either. At least count the brain has 200 specific areas, each one processing their own data.  And of course translating motor control is very difficult and latest test are rudimentary."

She looked at Phantasma, "It was probably a good idea to turn down his offer."

She has been studying Winter Herald, measuring his responses to see how sentient he was.  He seemed pretty autonomous and self directed.  His responses very complex and he was developing opinions which she has not heard of being able to be programmed into a computer yet.  Was he created using a brain map of someone else?

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 248):

Justicar spoke up, "Uhm, Bellissima that's not entirely true.  Both Lite Star and I use a telemental control helmet for our respective suits... the helmet scan our brains for input instructions to control our suits.  Its not the only control system in my suit at least but its does denote we can indeed send and receive signals from the brain and translate them into data that can be understood.  I suspect FORCE's brain implant scans the brain in a similar fashion and has developed a very sensitive implant to the various sections of the brain for a complete scan... either some very precise scan or by extending a network of nano-machine tendrils throughout the brain for a complete scan or interface."

"I personally do not doubt FORCE could supply what he offered, but at what cost?  I'm sure there are unpleasant side effects upon one's personality, emotional health and perhaps even perception of their personal being and loss of connection to their previous humanity!  Just because FORCE could do such a thing, doesn't mean it should be done. I believe Phantasma made the right choice to refuse to be subjected to such a process... to be summarily separated from all humanity!"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:15, Thu 28 Apr 2022.

Keeping moving with the group Lite Star inclines her head towards Crusader with a slight tilt and an amused hint to the electronic voice.

"Let me know if you want to be let down to go under your own steam.  No objections to carrying you to the boat though."

She'd been listening to the conversations on going in the group and made comment about the discussion of technology.

"I think it is becoming very apparent that what is commonly known is not quite the reality of the situation, from technology to magic and the powers of the mind." A nod towards Goliat, "And the extent of otherworldliness.  Securing this facility and having it looked over by some competent scientists and technicians that know a bit about such advanced robotics and AI tech.  My organization has such people, though I have my reservations  about governmental intervention as they have shown very little competence in the situation so far and having them ham fistedly blundering about this place could be a disaster."

In reply to Crusader (msg # 238):

Hikari smiles inside his helmet, and replies...
[Private to group LESPradio: "An interesting possibility, but the practicality of the location is questionable.  Our LESP jurisdiction is not realy International... only Municipal. We would first have to have at least a National jurisdiction for the US, to even operate outside Center City, which with the success of this operation the State Department and the DoJ may seriously be considering! My pockets are deep, but it's just not that simple.  We would also need reliable rapid transportation to and from the island.  I had hoped our efforts to secure the rocket plane would have gone better.  I have plans of my own to build a trans-atmospheric hyper-velocity spacecraft for just such a need, but my budgetery needs have that in the near future but not ready to put into production until I secure more funding."]

In reply to Lite Star (msg # 250):

Justicar sighs and comments, "...I sadly must agree with you on that Lite Star, and with all of FORCE'S android infiltrators, can we trust anyone plus whose to say he does not have purely human agents enamored with the promise of Immortality working for him? Honestly, the only one with the technical skill to search and secure the tech here might be Mantaman... that would also limit any exposure of your Foundation/Organization, Mantaman IS already a public figure!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:33, Thu 28 Apr 2022.

In reply to JUSTICAR (msg # 251):

"I think we are well on our way to having our jurisdiction increased across the nation since they paired us with the military.  Not just the state national guard, but the marines."

"I noticed you have not publicly calculated myself into this question of technological salvage, and I will acknowledge its wisdom. It is possible I might be part of a hybrid doomed/surviving spy strategy. That is to say, I may have been driven to you with potentially false information - that being, my creator is hostile to me and I am of no use to them. Under such conditions all information I acquire would be symmetrical in nature, or simply stated, what I learn, FORCE would also learn."

Winter Herald analyzed potential solutions that did not involve being dismantled, but found they needed more time and data. "If I have such transmitters on me, however, I do not know their nature. I cannot detect micro-transmitters directly, and I do not believe I would be able to detect built-in units even if I could. I do not know how to test such a theory of elaborate deception with the resources I possess, so I must conclude it to be false until the evidence suggests it could be true. Investigation is encouraged, if possible."

He also considered the conversation about machines with some visible annoyance on his face. "As for transferring a mind into a machine, I see no issue with this, should it actually be possible. My sensory range is quite extensive, my body is proof against many of the maladies that afflict the human spectrum of being, and I am free of the biological imperatives that compel organic life into behavior they consider undesirable. There are many positives to this idea."

"The only issue would be the mind itself - depending on how faithfully it is recreated, such a being could find itself both feeling unfettered and without direction at the same time. Without biology or programming to drive you into a direction, you would only have the mind to provide meaning and direction to your new life. Such a mind would need to be quite resilient, because no internal chemicals would compel you to any state of depression or mood swinging. It would be a state of purity that the mind would have to adapt quickly to handle, or else self-destruction would likely quickly follow as psychological structure broke down."

"At least, that is my theory."

"I'm good friends with a sentient AI that has been operational for nearly forty years, the psychology of AIs is part of what our technicians are experts with.  He is actually a second iteration, the first was given as one of it's programming parameters a sense of self preservation.  Alas it went mad.  My friend was instead given the parameter of preserving life.  The two of them had a confrontation and the original AI ended up destroying itself because they were both mounted in physical bodies and when put in a situation that would cause mutual destruction the first AI jinked out of the way and crashed.  My friend survived.  So having an AI with goals definitely preserves them and prevents psychological problems.

Hmmm, by the way Winter Herald, I'm Lite Star.  And I'm sure we can have you checked over for transmitters.  If you want maybe have a session with Bonny to check your mental health if that is a concern you have.  Though it will be outside the auspice of this LESP organization, which is who we represent at the moment."

Crusader interrupted, "When the opinion of the talking toaster is wanted, it will be asked for; on my part that means never."

With the canopy open, the tram moves slowly. However, the stretch of track between the complex and the boat dock is the shortest. At the boat dock, the heroes find Chimp Man Z and Patriot discussing current events with the mercenaries that used to be the perimeter guards.

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To San Sebastian Island Havoc team

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