Listening to Nanaret's report, Higura ponders the various facts she speaks of, waiting for her to finish before she speaks again. "So... Mister Dashu and Mister Xurizu are working to get this 'Mockingbird's' attention, yes? Having help from the inside of the community would be quite an asset, I admit - especially one who could move things in and out." The doctor pauses, then tilts his head slightly.

"How is the Conclave as a community? How different is it from the Water district communities we have seen from before? It might be useful to know how the Dragonblooded treat the workers here..."

Nanaret answers Dena first. "Mmm... not think people on this floor know much of the truth of Water District. Most people, they believe that it has been quarantined for a deadly epidemic. Not everyone believes what they hear though. But seems to me that the Peace Force trying to control information about the state of Water District."

"Security is tighter now. That is why all the checkpoints. I do not know much more for sure," she concludes apologetically, and acknowledges Third's offer for help. "Information we would like to know? Maybe you know something of mining sector. I think freight elevators be one way to upper floors, but maybe your memory has better way. Or know something of the automaton guards, some weakness to them?"

"Also--whatever you may know of Immaculate Temples in Earth District. There is... ah... well, one of us. Collared one, held in the Conclave temple. We want to get her out. But depends on whether Mockingbird will help us. If not, more knowledge of temple layout may help."

Finally she thinks on Higura's question carefully. "Mmm... it is cleaner. More organized. Very organized, yes. If you not Dragon-blooded or employee of Coils, you are a laborer, and you get stipend for food and supplies based on work you do. They give vouchers for such things." In the blink of an eye, Nanaret pulls out one of the signed, printed vouchers from... somewhere... with her dextrous, flexible fingers. Then she crosses over to her makeshift seat, indicating the medical supplies and salt she managed to bring. "Here."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:06, Sat 28 Mar 2009.

"Do they use animals or have pets in that area?" Dena asks.  "Perhaps if humans are being inspected, Nanaret and I could infiltrate wearing new forms."

"None I have seen, Dena," Nanaret answers honestly. She'd only seen other workers, Dragon-bloods, machine sentries... even a machine man, like some sort of older, mismatched version of Tycho. "If you truly wish to try, I only recommend if you have small enough natural shape, though."

"Me, I am expected back as my cover identity. Not want to risk breaking cover while Dashu and Xurizu are still working, as our identities all related."

She turns her attention back to the former Peace Forcer, crossing her arms and folding the serpent staff close to her body. It would take more time to attune Danae's gift, but it already feels very much like hers. "These answers satisfy you, Tycho? I saw another like you in the Conclave, by the way. Name is Ironbeak. He actually had desk job. But seemed like... prototype? of your body. Not sure it matters, just thought I mention it." She shrugs and waits for other questions, if any.

"Hmm." Dena thinks this over.  "It's probably not worth the effort then.  Even as a small creature I imagine I'd be hunted as Vermin rather than be free to help.  I should probably continue to concentrate on helping Danae with the crafting, and speaking to the Prisoners sooner or later."

Tycho considers what Nanaret has reported the longest, before he finally speaks.

Ironbeak?

He scrapes a metallic thumb over the armored casing of his thigh, creating a softly unpleasant scratching sound. Knowing his own body as well as he does, he has trouble picturing someone who is actually a prototype of the same project.

"Satisfy, no, but it's better than hearing nothing at all," he offers finally, side stepping the mention of Ironbeak for now. Does little good to know it, when he cannot contact the other and speak to them. "I might be some help in contacting this Mockingbird, if Dashu and Xurizu haven't managed already when you get back. Couldn't go with you, but I know a little about how underground movements operate."


Suddenly, he holds out his palm towards the voucher in her hand. "Can I see that?"

As Nanaret asks her questions, Third closes its eyes, and begins to ponder on this. 'Third will attempt to sketch a map for you to memorize, and ruminate on what Third can about how to avoid or defeat the automaton guards more easily." it says, slowly closing its eyes as it thinks over the problem, letting what information it and Harmony can summon together wash through its mind, as the others discuss.

Talia stands back, listening to the discussion of infiltration, cover identities, and tactical plans.  She is still unsure of the situation she has found herself in, but from what she has heard, these people are working towards a goal she can certainly agree with: anything that weakens the Immaculates' hold on Five Coils gets her that much closer to freedom.  There is little she can do to aid with the current plans, but she resolves to do whatever she is able to aid the cause.

"Hmm? Yes," Nanaret says when Tycho asks after the voucher. She hands it to him, glancing curiously at the machine-man. "Why not satisfying? Ask more if you need more information, at least I may return and find out for you. Or is it my news that not pleases you?"

She nods gratefully to Third, though, and lets it take its time considering her queries... as much time as she can allow, given her situation.

"I will stay a few more hours. Enough so I gain back some energy--cannot allow my Essence to show where I am returning. After that, must return to my post."

Third takes several minutes to scratch a map of B25 in the dirt, much more rough than its more complete map of the Lost Corridors.

According to the crude map, the entire floor -- much like all others in the Coils -- is a circular shape. Dead center is the location of the central elevator, encased in a large structure Third recalls as "Inner Temple". The B25 Laborer's Conclave is located south of that structure, and the Lost Corridors (including the Celestials' mining settlement and the builder bug hive) are much further away, somewhere at the south-southwest edge of the floor.

Unlike the Water floors, Third remembers four elevators in B25, though it can only mark their approximate position. The northeast and southwest elevators are for resources only (the southwest one is likely the one Nanaret has passed), while the northwest and southeast are the district-wide elevators, typically used to move people. Interestingly, Third's map shows that there ought to be a stairway close to the location of the Celestials' camp, but no one who bothered exploring has ever discovered one.

This is the extent of information the earthen map shows. Third does not know for certain about any other laborer camps, or how the mining operations have shifted since it has last been allowed to memorize a map. However, it and Harmony's combined memory stores hold quite a bit more about the automaton sentries of Earth District -- so much that it takes effort to formulate how to explain it all. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: You got 10 successes for this, so here comes infodump! Also your general knowledge about these automatons will give you bonuses (I'll determine) in combat or other contested rolls against them. You might even pass on some bonuses to the others, should you explain enough details for them to take advantage of.

There are two types of Earth District automatons, the Hulking Armor Sentinel and the Spider Eye Spy. In any one quadrant there are usually 4-6 Armors and anywhere from 6-12 Spider Eyes. They all have to cover a wide area though so it's likely you'd ever only encounter a fraction of these at once (unless an alarm is tripped).

The Armors are large sized automatons programmed to regularly sweep their assigned quadrant. Their bodies are much like unmanned warstriders, basically hollow walking armors, and their perfectly spherical heads can swivel 360 degrees. The head bears their characteristic 'red eye' sensor, which 'sees' a long cone-shaped area in front of it, probably several hundred yards. Their weakness is that they can typically only be looking at one direction at any time, so moving behind or even under them makes it easier to pass by undetected. They are also large sized enough that they require a prominent Essence battery, a 'heart' if you will located in the armored shell where the pilot would otherwise be. Destroying or disabling the heart would shut it down, but that assumes one is fast enough to get close--the Armors are equipped with heavy weapons, both ranged and melee, and their hands and feet are large enough to crush any human.

The Spider Eyes are much much smaller. Unlike the Armors, which are made to deter by intimidation, these are made for spying and infiltration. They are the size of a human head, including their legs, and move with 8 legs much as arachnids do. Their sensors are not as long-range as the Armors (in tens of yards rather than hundreds), but they are more mobile, do not emit any light and cover an entire 360 radius around them. Should they find a target they consider a threat to security, they will alert all Hulking Armors and human patrols in the vicinity, while 'webbing' the target in place with sticky tendrils or delivering an essence venom bite. Otherwise they default simply to recording all they see, and may follow a suspicious person a long way to make sense of what they are doing. Their main weakness is that they're not made to be fighters -- if discovered in time, they may be crushed or evaded before they can set off an alarm.

Another possibility that may work for both automatons is basically setting up a distraction. They're not as sophisticated or intelligent as Harmony or the Gatekeepers -- they have a purpose and they stick to that purpose. So they can be drawn away by some sort of stimuli their programming cannot ignore (unidentified threats, suspicious behavior, the more obvious the better!)]

[Private to Alus Tycho: Post what you want to do with the voucher, then I'll reply about that.]

"Excuse me, Nanaret." Vice-Captain Drachma speaks up after a period of crossing his arms and listening in silence. "How difficult was it for you to infiltrate the way you did? Would it be safe for a non Exalted to assimilate into this Conclave? I do not ask for my sake, but there are some among us who are not well-suited to fight their way up, or sneak around sentries."

A burly woman with an axe and hammer at her belt -- one of the fighting laborers -- voices her own concern. "What about the workers in Conclave? They look happy? I mean, they content with their lot in life, with their superiors?" Several of the refugees look alertly at Nanaret, waiting for the answer.

Nodding towards Drachma and the other refugees, Higura folds his arms loosely across his chest, reflecting upon the matter. "There might be an opportunity there, a crack to exploit that might help us find a weakness in the Earth district's stability." The doctor ponders for a moment, then tilts his head to the side. "Stability usually comes at a price, and this fact is even more true with the time of regime we have in the Coils - where stability comes at the cost of everything else."

"If there is a shard of discontent among the workers and the inhabitants of this district, that is because they are unhappy, somewhere along the line... Which means they are likely to wish to change their fate if given the chance."

"This also means that with the right support, we might be able to help them on this endeavor... And change our small struggle for change into a district-wide one."

"Was pretty difficult, Drachma..." Nanaret sighs. "Involved a great deal of improvisation, and even so I not even sure all suspicion cleared from us. That is why I do not expect to keep that identity for more than few days."

"Maybe if not for checkpoint it would not be so bad. Right now is not good idea to enter without paperwork though. Though, I not think they kill other laborers, they would use you to find us Exalted though." The Lunar shrugs at this. If the refugees really wanted to uncover them, they could. She isn't about to force them into secrecy, rather hopes that they will want to keep this secret by their own free will.

"Discontent..." Nanaret thinks back to the attitude of the workers when she, Dashu and Xurizu first entered the Conclave. "Not all of them happy. Most, I think, wish not for trouble, stay within the laws to get by. Just want enough to eat and roof over heads. But there were some unhappy about extra guards on duty, interrogations... One say he lost his brother, guards took him away one day, never came back. Another woman, Hilde, she talk to me about feeling taken for granted."

"Not sure that what you mean for 'discontent.'" She pauses that train of thought and looks at Talia. "Maybe you can tell everyone what you are able to do? If you stay with us you will help, some way."

(OOC: Hope the last part isn't too meta, thought I could give Talia something to reply to since I've been all wordy :P)

Third closes its eyes, and thinks of how to properly compress the information for a moment, before beginning. " There are two production-model Automatons in regular use in the Earth District. One is surveillance-based, the spider-drones you have mentioned. The other is a large warrior-automaton. They are wide-spread, and there should be something on the order of sixteen to twenty four warrior-automatons on a floor, split up by quadrants classification HAS-3, Hulking Armor Sentinels, and anywhere from twenty four to fourty-eight SES-2, the Spider Eye Spies, split in the same way. They tend to be relatively divided across their quadrants, so as long as you do not trip any alarms, they should not pose too deep a threat. They are both relatively unsophisticated. If you can create a distraction that caters to their programming, such as having a mortal behave suspiciously, but innocently, then it will prove an effective distraction to them."

It continues. "HAS-3 class automatons are patrol automatons, with limited degree vision on a 360 degree swivelling head, in an elongated cone. Their field of view is long, but limited, if you can outmaneuver their single eye, it will help you to be safe. They are hollow, containing an essence battery, which can be sabotaged if you are able to infiltrate the shell. They are heavily armed, so Third and Harmony would recommend showing great caution in approaching. A blow from them could prove fatal, even for an Exalt. They also have heavy ranged equipment."

"Finally, the SES-2 drones are much shorter-vision, but it's 360 degree, so coming within a dozen yards of them can get you spotted. They are equipped with webbing projectors and an essence venom bite, but their primary purpose is alerting the heavy response forces on the floor. If you destroy them quickly, it will prevent alarms. Their programming would make them especially vulnerable to distractions, as they're programmed to prioritize suspicious behavior and have a high degree of tenacity in their job." It bows its head deeply. 'Third hopes this shall aid you.'

It inspects the map quietly. 'Dena, Danae, Talia, it may be worth our time to inspect this other stairway. It may make a convenient escape route if we must leave suddenly.'

"If I may briefly change the subject, I'm still concerned about the attack by the Immaculates.  If another party follows their trail here we may be in a lot more trouble.  We need to find a way to either misdirect a search party, or close off that tunnel entirely and open another way so they can't be tracked."

Talia looks to Nanaret when she is questioned.  "Hm?  Oh, I'm a crafter, mostly.  Before I used to specialize in delicate metalwork and such, but They put me to work on weapons.  I managed to pick up a little bit magitech crafting, too.  I know a bit of medicine, too, and some bits and pieces of various things.  I'm actually not a bad fighter, usually."

She listens as Third describes the District's defenses, and suggests evaluating the staircase as an escape route.  "Sounds like a good idea.  I'm in."

When Dena airs her concerns over a coming attack, Talia's expression grows grave.  She thinks, trying to consider all options, which is difficult without further knowledge of the settlement.  She still feels a certain resposibility for the arrival of the Immaculates.  "Can we close the tunnel?  If the party doesn't return, they'll be presumed dead, right?  So what we need is a plausible explanation for what killed them, and a good reason not to go poking around any deeper.  Like a cave-in."  She looks up sharply.  "Did any of them escape?"

Tycho takes the slip of paper in his hand, laying it out across his metal palm and smoothing the edges with mortal fingers. His eyes stare deep at it, examining in detail the flow ink across the page. Hunting for flaws, irregularities, elaborate symbols; anything that might normally be used to identify authenticity. Bureaucrats loved to test the ingenuity of the hard-working terrorist by making it hard to forge documents. They'd slip meaning into the tiniest flaws, even the texture of the paper could be a code.

Forging documents was one of the first rebellious acts Tycho had ever committed against the Dragon-Blooded. It was the whole reason he even knew how to read and write, when almost no one else around him had. Drawing up food vouchers not all that dissimilar to these for his family. Nights spent in a cramped closet with little more than a candle and a pot of ink, mornings spent desperately scrubbing the blue-black stains off his fingers, plotting out which repository to visit and when so there wouldn't be an obvious pattern, making sure to always go to get rations after a day in the factory so that he had already built up a heavy sweat and they wouldn't think twice about the nervous beads running down his face.

"Satisfaction would have been hearing that there is open rebellion on this floor. Smugglers and small-time terrorists are probably what we need if we're going to endure here, but nothing makes moving easier than chaos on the streets," the mechanical Solar answered only at great length. "If they're controlling the movements of their population so intensely, it means they're worried about something. Maybe us or what happened in the Water District. Or maybe they just flex some uniformed authority regularly to remind people who rules here."

He holds up the voucher, waving it slightly. "How unusual would it be for someone to bring in a stack of these?"

[Private to GM: He's basically trying to access how difficult it would be to make copies of the vouchers, provided he can even find the supplies to try]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Thu 02 Apr 2009.

Nanaret listens closely to Third's explanation about the automatons and absorbs all she can, every advantage she can use against the machines she has so far managed to avoid the notice of. "Amazing. You know this much? Must have Dragon-bloods in a panic now that you are free. Thank you, Third Beneficiary. It will help you too, I think, should you wish to look for stairway, or go elsewhere on the floor. I sneaked by without knowing such things but was difficult, even for me."

The wiry Lunar nods to Talia. "You be much help for Danae, she is always looking for others with craft skill. Hrmm, but I do not know if Immaculates escape. I think not. My memory of the battle... it is..." Nanaret tenses suddenly, her head twitching slightly to the left. Then she grimaces as if experiencing a brief twinge of pain, backing into the rock she was using as a chair. Sighing, she sits down and rests her new weapon atop her knees. "N-nothing. Never mind. But I do think may be good to close off outer tunnel before searching elsewhere."

Disturbed by the strange block in her memory that the conversation reminds her of, Nanaret decides to let the others discuss among themselves about the Immaculates, tunnels and exploration. The topic of the voucher seems safer.

"Tycho, I not think vouchers would be the problem so much as entering the area without identification. Maybe too many at once be a problem too. How quickly can you make copies? I may be able bring them back in myself. As for open rebellion, mmm, who knows... maybe miners just need the right push. But I not very good at speeches."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Thu 02 Apr 2009.

"Yeah, I could use a little time out--and my primary job isn't something I can get a whole lot of help with either" Danae agreed with a nod.  "I can probably finish it off on the way--I've got the Charms to take care of that--and if... Talia, right?" She says, turning to the other Craftsperson.  "If you're up to doing a little extra work, we can probably finish up on that soon...  What's your primary weapon by the way?"

"I try not to go around obviously armed; I find it can limit my options.  I tend to...improvise."

"The design isn't that ambitious. Not as bad as the ones in the Earth District, at least. I could draw up several in a few hours, but I couldn't guarantee they'd hold up under close inspection. Leave this with me, for now?" he asks, waving the scrap of paper once more. "Give me some time to come up with something closer to the paper texture and ink coloration and I should be able to churn out something that will pass anything short of Celestial examination."

"We can worry about how to smuggle them into circulation later. Maybe when those refugees who aren't going to stay are smuggled in as well. Having something in hand would help them start out."

Talks of some of refugees parting ways to settle into the communities do little to improve Tychos already darkened mood. Of course it made sense for those who weren't willing or able to fight to leave, but it could also pose dangers. Those refugees knew them and where they were. If they weren't strong enough to fight, he doubts they'd last long under an interrogators care.

Tycho glances askew at Danae as the crafter mentions exploring the area with the others. "Could I get one last go over, before you leave? There is no telling when you'll be back and it's a bastard to do on my own."

Nanaret nods to Tycho, knowing very little of texture and coloration or whatever else Tycho needs to be doing with the voucher. "Is fine. I do not need it, have saved most the ones I have earned thus far. And if I eat a bit here before I leave, saves me needing to pay a meal."

"Well... that is all information I have," the Lunar concludes abruptly, rubbing her head, then stopping as she realizes what she is doing. "I will rest, eat, and return swiftly as I can. Good luck to all of you."

Unless someone stops her, Nanaret returns to the main settlement, intending to bring the supplies she brought to the refugees there before taking a couple hours rest.

[Private to Yaishin Higura: if you want you can insinuate you go to talk to Nana while she rests, maybe? though we probably won't have time to play it out, maybe we could do it in a private thread :o]

Meanwhile the refugees are talking animatedly among one another about the discovery of the Conclave, the possibility of returning to civilization as well as the dangers of doing so. None of them seem deeply interested in going back, though, as these are mostly the fighting men, and they've already put enough of their time, effort and faith into what Tycho and the other Exalted are doing.

Drachma stays near Tycho's side, awaiting any further orders. "If we are to move on soon," he comments, "I think we should concentrate some effort to searching out somewhere to move, just in case closing the tunnel does not work. As much as I would have liked there to be more time to train, well..." The vice-captain shrugs his broad shoulders helplessly.

---

OOC: This is the tail end of the meeting. May be a good time to bring up any other topics the refugees and Exalts need to know and plan collectively. Otherwise return to Mining Settlement thread, I'll narrate a time skip soon.

"Well then, that does give us some things to prepare for and work towards in the immediate." The doctor says, looking decisively pensive for a moment. "I will strive to speak with Mister Dashu and Mister Xurizu once they make it back - perhaps with the information they bring I can fashion a way to gain the support of the populace and encourage the desire for rebellion further, if that solution is viable. In any case, that is a thought for another day - it seems most of you have many things laid out ahead of you already." He nods, then turns towards Tycho.

"At some point, when things permit it, I would like to have a talk with you, Captain. Nothing serious or overly crucial, I assure you - but do seek me if you have the time and find it acceptable." He nods to the mechanical man, choosing to let him decide whether he will take the offer or not on his own. No sense in pressuring him, after all. "If you will excuse me."

The doctor turns away, no doubt heading to take care of his various routine works, but he does pause when he is close to Nanaret, stopping beside her momentarily and gazing at her.

"Miss Nanaret... I would appreciate if you could visit me once before you leave. I know your schedule is already quite filled... But I would like to speak with you at least once before you are to head back. This would be a great relief, if you can find the time."

He regards her for a moment more, a faint smile on his lips, before turning away and heading towards his usual duties, appearing quiet and contemplative.

Nanaret's initial reply to Higura is a tense nod. She seems nervous when he comes close, but he understands from experience that it is partially guilt left over from letting Ranavalona take control, and partially Rana's own instinctive dislike for him. He has, at numerous times, attempted to erode her control over Nanaret -- and in some ways, succeeded. But not quite enough for it to last.

Finally she says, "We meet in my room later," and hurries away from Higura with her bags and new weapon in hand.