I'd like to invite everyone to repeat the same thing we did for the Chapter 11.3: post here the logs, summaries and/or screenshots (if necessary) of the new missions, so that we can gather the whole story. The Zion part is coming soon by me, and in the meanwhile I suggest that the Merovingian and Machine operatives do their part of the job.
Here is the first Zion mission.
Zion mission 12.1.1: Self Image
Tyndall:
As I'm sure you've learned already, Ghost was able to locate the program in Ikebukuro; he... well, it looks like he found it by checking places he'd been with Trinity when they operated together in the Matrix. And I'm not sure how this could be possible, but Ghost seems certain that the program... Well, I'd better let him explain it. He's trying to locate the program again after they were interrupted.
Mission part 1: Talk to Ghost
Operator:
Yeah, this is--
I'm not gonna say anything until I hear what Ghost has to say.
Ghost:
She was just here; I know it. The others must be closing in.
...The program is Trinity, IntegratedOne. I don't know how that's possible, but that's how it is.
Now we've got the Machines and several strangers -- who I can only guess are more of the freeborn "Oligarchs" whose override programs the Machines fear -- trying to recapture her. I don't know how you or the rest of Zion feel about this, but I'm not going to allow it to happen.
Computer:
>
I've spent a lot of time since she left, questioning what I've been doing. Now those questions are gone. That's how I know.
Mission part 2: Search the area
I trust Ghost's instinct on this... but even if I didn't, whatever Trinity or the program is now, the Council had already decided that Zion would do what it could to ensure its safety, and we're not going to give up on that now.
I've got a possible reading in Murasaki. Take a look please, IntegratedOne.
Trinity! Jeez! How could it be her -- years after we all thought she died getting Neo to the Machines to make the Truce, and now... like this? And what the hell do the Oligarchs have to do with her? Man...!
How well do you know yourself?Are you sure?I thought I knew. But this_
[Note: the message was not displayed in white, as it was before for the BIP messages, but in green, as usual]
I'm reading potential hostile signals inbound in your vicinity, IntegratedOne. I'll have a position for you momentarily.
Mission part 3: Eliminate the hostiles
The indications we've had since Ghost's encounter with Trinity are that the Machines are cooperating with the two new Oligarch arrivals; that's consistent with the "hands off" approach they've taken with Oligarchs who've entered the Matrix in the past, namely Halborn and Carlyne -- even though those two caused a great deal of damage to Machine and other programs.
We have to anticipate that we may end up facing both Machines and Oligarch override routines there.
I've got Machine signals in there, all right. No override activity showing... We can hope that the Machines are still antsy about keeping their programs near override sources.
Machine Destroyer:
You think that changes things? You haven't been paying attention.
Tactical Security:
Zionite sighted.
Final message:
This isn't going to be easy, IntegratedOne, but I think we're making the right choice, and I think she's going to try to contact us again.
When you're ready, we can use your help in Shirakaba. Our teams looking for her there have been hit hard by the Machines, and now we're getting override readings in the area as well.
Thanks for setting this up - keep up the good work.
FrozenFyre wrote:
Agreed. These postings are more important than ever before. Please continue.
Not to want to add to anyone's workload, but with the collectors and spawns being a bigger part of the story might it be a good idea to record what happens with that side of things in relationship to the storyline - e.g.
"after completing the mission the operative responded to Tyndall's call and headed to Shirakaba where he found a number of Machine programs, now accelerated by overrides. After defeating them the operative found an unusual type of Oligarch code which they brought back to Zion for analysis." -
something like that, possibly including screenshots of things like Override Functions, so we can see the progression from mission to mission and also see the differences between orgs (I think Machs or Mervs hunt accelerated exiles in S Vauxton). I'd do it myself, but I'm not high enough level to beat all the spawns.
EDIT: Oh, and what's a "Machine Destroyer" - don't think I've come across one of those, is it just a high lvl thing?
Destroyer is a load-out type, in the Hacker tree, I think, which makes that Machine a redpill.
I'll see what I can do for the Merv side. Thanks for the Zion stuff! Man, their missions must be so much more interesting than ours..
ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:
...Thanks for the Zion stuff! Man, their missions must be so much more interesting than ours..
Agreed.
I'm very curious to hear about Zion 12.1.2 and 12.1.3 now!
Merovingian 12.1.1 : Hothouse
Flood: I trust you've already reviewed the latest "intel" feed, operative, so-- No, wait. I shouldn't say that I believe you've actually done your homework before coming to me, because that would be highly unusual for you. However, I like to practice positive reinforcement; i.e., I pretend you've come prepared, and thus encourage you to make this a reality.
In any case, I'm sure you're aware that there have been some interesting developments on the "interface program" front. Let's just say that it was caught "interfacing," so to speak... Ahem. And more of those so-called "Oligarchs" have cropped up, chasing the program, of course. With this much power in play, there could be profitable consequences. Get on that program's trail.
[Mission Area]
Operator: What Flood didn't quite mention is that Ookami overheard a conversation between Ghost and the interface program, where the interface program pretty much acted like Trinity, come back from the dead--in a sense. Although, if she was a program, then she wouldn't really have been "dead"; then again, maybe she's only a program now, but wasn't before... Or maybe it's all just a year's worth of pent-up frustration and wishful thinking on Ghost's part.
Anyway... Uh... Oh, right. We got a blip in there that might've been the program, so you're heading in to check it out.
[No hostiles/friendlies]
Computer: >_
[Ookami appears]
Operator: Huh. Looks like it was a false--
Hm, maybe you should ask her about it.
Ookami: Hmh. It was here. Come on; follow me.
[Outside, with Ookami]
Flood: She what?!
You're follow--
No, no. Don't mind me, operative. Follow her nose if you like; just don't go thinking you're being paid for this wasted time.
Operator: I hope she's really picked up on something, 'cause I don't show squat on my screen.
[Lead Ookami to a room with a computer in it, where Oligarch Tesarova appears]
Operator: Yahh!
What in the pink hell--
Oh. Oh, wait. That's one of the Oligarch people Ookami ran into earlier, isn't it?
Tesarova: Why, isn't this a nice surprise! Ohh, and you brough your pet program! She's a pretty one, isn't she? Hewwo, you!
I hope you don't mind my butting in like this, but I thought I'd just let you know--since the program isn't here; that is why you came, isn't it?--that there's a group of others like you not far from here who've been snooping after me--and I think they're trying to find the interface program, too!
Well, no, they're not quite like you, I suppose. I think they work for the Machines, as strange as that sounds. I'll send their location to that litlte woman you have floating out there.
Operator: Uhh...
Hey, I'm getting a data feed here.
Wait, that was me she was calling a "little floating woman," wasn't it?! ...
Ookami: Hrr... Interfering hussy...
Tesarova: Oh, she's just darling. And those nails! Marvelous!
Can I keep her?
[Outside]
Flood: It's nice to know you've caught up with the rest of us, operative. yes, and there's another one, too, and his name is "Helian," or something to that effect. Such barbaric names these people have...
Suffice it to say that she isn't exactly a trustworthy source. I see that she's neatly deflected you into going after some stalking Machinists.
Well, play her litle game. We wouldn't want to ruin her affectionate image of us just yet. And we don't need the Machines getting any closer to the program, either.
Operator: Little floating... Hmph!
Yeah, yeah, redpills. Those are probably the Machinists that...person mentioned.
[Hostile Machine Redpills]
Machine Aikido Grandmaster: %*@$&!
Machine Network Attacker: D*mn it, don't tell me we lost Pinky already...
[Bullets, blood, etc.]
Flood: I wish I could say that's the end of it, operative, but something tells me that the Merovingian isn't going to let us forget this... delicate flower of an Oligarch you've made friends with.
As if he wasn't already more interested in this whole "Trinity" development than a responsible business leader should be...
Oh, I almost forgot. We've lost contact with four groups of our programs in South Vauxton. Be a lamb and find them for me, hm?
[Mission End]
[Post-mission objective: Find and destroy four groups of Accelerated Exiles in South Vauxton. Each group drops a group-specific Override Particle, forcing one to find all four groups in order to access the next mission]
[Mission typos: Operator: ...Or maybe it's all just (a) year's worth of pent-up frustration...]
[Feedback: Nothing special or interesting here, save the new model type of the Oligarch. Why these people get shiny gum wrappers as opposed to the wireframed previous ones is beyond me, but I think it's an improvement. The last thing Flood says sounds exactly like he (Rarebit) almost forgot to point us toward the requirement for the next mission.]
Garu wrote:
ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:...Thanks for the Zion stuff! Man, their missions must be so much more interesting than ours..Agreed.I'm very curious to hear about Zion 12.1.2 and 12.1.3 now!
It's coming, it's coming!
Following the Tyndall's lead, Zion operatibes fought Accelerated Machines in Shirakaba, and found some "override traces" on them. The Zion contact in Ikebukuro exchanged it for a 12.1.2 ticket.
The 12.1.2 mission could be ran only in Dowtown.
Zion mission 12.1.2: Angel
IntegratedOne, we've received data we think may have been from the interface program -- from Trinity -- in Downtown.
We know that the Machines and the reprsentatives of the Oligarchs -- who our sources within the Machines identify as two individuals, "Helian" and "Tesarova" -- have been working to locate her. We're going to have to move quickly if we want to stay ahead of them.
Mission part 1: Search the area
Got some electronics readings in there, but nothing fittinf the profile of a sentient program.
>Yes._
[Trinity appears, with the following text in Details: "This "biological interface program," said to have been written by the Oracle, appears to some to be a manifestation of the woman once known as Zion's top hacker, who perished while transporting Neo to the Machine city."]
It's... That's... her?
Trinity:
I don't have much time. I don't know what... this means.
Before... I thought I died. I was with him... I said goodbye. I don't remember... until--
I don't know how to make it make sense.
... They're getting close. I have to go.
Mission part 2: Eliminate the hostiles
We're reading programs approaching that location, operative. It looks like the Machines have already tracked her to Downtown. We need to try to buy her some time.
All right. Give 'em hell.
Blood Drunk:
Hi there.
Exiles? Does that mean the Merv's getting in on this, too?
Uh-oh, they've managed to get you surrounded. Watch it.
Elite Guard:
Leave programs to programs, human.
Mission succesfully completed.
Tyndall (final message):
It was only a matter of time before the Frenchman made his play. One thing at least that we can count in our favor is that his relations with the Machines have been very tense lately due to his attempted manipulation of Oligarchs and their resources in the simulation.
IntegratedOne, I'm getting a report of an unusual signal in Baldwin Heights. Override use has also been picked up in the area. Look into it, and report unusual findings to our contact in Ikebukuro.
Zion operatives found and fought multiple "Override Functions" in Bladwin Heights. The enemies dropped some "function fragments", that were to be traded for the 12.1.3 mission ticket.
The 12.1.3 Zion mission runs in International.
Zion mission 12.1.3: Impersonal
Operative, we've received a coded alert from Ghost, who's been looking for Trinity across the International District.
I'm sending you to his position now. I don't know what caused him to send the alert, so please be careful.
That's the spot. I'm getting some override readings, but it looks like Ghost's still holding steady.
Helian:
You've been in contact with it. What is your interest here? It can be of no use to you.
Tesarova:
Hmm... I'll bet *I* know.
I've seen this before... Usually it doesn't last very long.
Your organization's belligent attitude in this matter will not serve you well.
Perhaps it will help you understand what you are dealing with if I tell you that we have disposed of Carlyne. His irresponsible handling of the program and his sharing of restricted information with your group had made him a liability. When we stopped at his compound to question him on our way here, Tesarova and I found him recovering from the loss of his android host at the hands of the woman called Wright; it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him.
Forget about me. Just make sure she's safe. Have Tyndall check with Sparks for the information you'll need.
Go on!
Yes, I'm checking with his operator now.
...
IntegratedOne, I have a location for you: this is where Ghost's information indicates Trinity may have been attempting to escape from the Oligarch scans.
I'm getting override interference from that position. If their programs have trapped her in there...
What the heck is that thing?
[The operative eliminates the "Override Executable"]
Yikes.
Well, I don't see any sign of Trinity in there, so hopefully that means she got away from those goons.
Mission succesfully completed
I think we managed to stop their programs in time, IntegratedOne.
Keeping Helian and Tesarova from reaching Trinity is going to be very difficult. It might be worth looking into reports that the Merovingian has obtained some sort of access into an area they've been using inside the simulation, cut off from normal means of entry. We're not sure what the Merovingian's found, but we're seeing an unusual amount of activity by his operatives around rooftop areas at the extreme northeast end of Downtown.
Wow, so it really is Trinity..
Merovingian 12.1.2: Deep Cover
[Locations of Accelerated Exile gangs:
]
Flood: The Merovingian feels that exploiting the Oligarch Tesarova's softer side may lead to us scoring information on their override programs, and whatever else it is that makes the Machines bow and scrape to them.
We went to no small expense to place a contact of ours, Azuna, in a place where she could pick up intimate details on the activities of Tesarova here in the Matrix; suffice it to say that the Machines and others have useful resources in this area with whom we have some sway.
Azuna should have her information collected and ready to hand over. What I'm trying to say is: don't screw this up.
Operator: I'm pretty sure that "Don't screw this up" is going to be Flood's epitaph--or ours.
Looks quiet in there--real quiet.
[Machine corpses found]
Operator: Uh-oh. Machines, and no Azuna: definitely not according to plan.
Flood: ...
Operative, I'm going to try, very calmly, to direct you to what was, to the best of my knowledge, our contact's source location. I'm sure this is all some sort of commonplace mistake on your part, and she'll be there, with the very valuable information well in hand.
Operator: I don't know about this. I'm not showing anyone at home.
[No friendlies/hostiles; that is, until you explore the location enough, where multiple Override Functions appear]
Operator: What--?
I don't know what those are, but they don't look like they're on our side!
[Some panicked shotgun shells, three or four Logic Cannon 2.0s, and one reconstruction later, all fall to a very irate sniper.]
Operator: Those must have been Oligarch programs. So Azuna could have been on to something--but where is she now?
Oops, I'm getting an alert from Flood. Maybe this is where he gives us our walking papers.
Flood: When I saw from your readout that you were making the expected negative progress, I did some checking, and found that Azuna has taken cover in an old hiding place on the second sublevel of the Creston Heights Musem. We've got programs on the way, but I'm seeing readings similar to what you've got there, as well as buzzing from Machines in the area, so maybe you'd better get to Creston ASAP, hmm?
[Post-mission objective: Rescue Azuna from assaulting Override Functions (ten Override Function frags required). Once complete, she will supply you with her Surveillance, required for the next mission.]
[Mission typos: Flood: ...very calmly, (to) direct you to...]
[Feedback: Very short, very uninteresting, obviously a setup for the farming required for the next mission.]
deimoslvov wrote:
Helian:Your organization's belligent attitude in this matter will not serve you well.Perhaps it will help you understand what you are dealing with if I tell you that we have disposed of Carlyne. His irresponsible handling of the program and his sharing of restricted information with your group had made him a liability. When we stopped at his compound to question him on our way here, Tesarova and I found him recovering from the loss of his android host at the hands of the woman called Wright; it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him.
Woah! That's the best exposition we've had in ages. Further interesting insight into Oligarch politics and society. Carlyne had a compound? Do all Oligarchs have their own compounds, or was Carlyne sort of on the fringes of their society, like Halborn?
Pretty hypocritical of Helian, though, saying they'd killed Carlyne 'cos he shared restricted information. Helion just confirmed that they use android hosts! We'd only been able to speculate that until now.
Procurator wrote:
Good point indeed.
Thanks for the recaps everyone. Zion definitely provided a most interesting read.
