ANALYZING…  

FILE TYPE: Text Communications  

PERIOD: Present Day 

TOPIC: Biohazard Research 

SUMMARY: Text communication between UESC Tau Ceti Unit and a Traxus OffWorld Industries representative. The message outlines a proposed agreement between the UESC and Traxus for exclusive research rights to an unknown, hazardous bioagent found on Tau Ceti IV.  

===================================================================   

From: TOI_2034  

To: UESC_0091  

Subject: RE: Work Order 135239  

After reviewing the most recent sample analysis from Cpt. Orion's team, we would like to make a bid for exclusive research rights to the bioagent going forward. Given the presence of unauthorized groups on Tau Ceti IV, accidental or malicious introduction of the bioagent to Sol seems possible. Our research could mitigate the costs of such a disaster. While the UESC may intend to conduct its own research, we believe our facilities are preferrable. You will find that Traxus is both the safest partnership in this delicate matter, and the highest bidder.  

Please refer to the attachment from Finance.   

Upon confirmation from UESC leadership, we can initiate the purchase order and transfer of ownership. Please respond promptly to our offer. Corporate would like us to proceed with all haste.   

The sooner we close, the sooner we can begin development on a patent-protected cure and counter-offensive research.  

===================================================================   

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

ANALYZING…  

FILE TYPE: Personnel File  

PERIOD: Present Day 

TOPIC: UESC Captain "Orion" 

SUMMARY: A classified personnel file on UESC Captain Orion, created by MIDA operatives and shared by _gantry. The file outlines Orion's history with the UESC. 

===================================================================    

>>>CLASSIFIED TARGET FILE: MIDA>>>  

>>>_gantry: know thine enemy, runner>>>  

CALLSIGN: "Orion"  

POSITION: Captain, 1st Tau Ceti Investigatory Unit  

CLASSIFICATION: PYROCLAST target  

BACKGROUND: Clashed with APHELION Group on Mars and Luna. Worked in high-security detention units on Luna, notorious for cruelties like "corrective isolation" and "punitive force-feeding". Publicly advocates for the use of "bio-augment manipulation" as a "persuasion tactic" (read: legalized torture). Held the company line at the Vallis Bohr Revolt, wiped up the blood at Jezero Crater Massacre, suspected ties to the Children of Mars erasure conspiracy. Suspected of deploying an unregulated and publicly undisclosed military AI, Cerberus, capable of mass violence.  

VULNERABILITIES: Two strikes for insubordination during early UESC career; purged from the record when leadership swapped over after Jezero. Personal relationship to MIDA agent "_philomena", estranged.  

===================================================================  

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: Recorded Message 

PERIOD: Present Day 

SPEAKERS: UESC Captain Orion [ID: ORION] 

TOPIC: Runners 

SUMMARY: A recorded message sent by UESC Captain Orion.  

===================================================================    

[ORION]: Runner. You know you're not supposed to be here. You know you're in violation of the law. And I sure as hell hope you know that you're making chitchat with a terrorist organization. I can't kill you… not unless I find a way to fry your neural sync. But till then, I want you to know… I'm going to make your life hell. Each time you set foot on my planet—and as far as you're concerned, it is my planet—I'm going to find new ways to take you apart. I'm going to bring the full force of the UESC down on your head. Again… and again… and again. Trust me, you're going to get tired of dying long before I get tired of killing you. 

===================================================================    

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: Recorded Message 

PERIOD: Present Day 

SPEAKERS: UESC Captain Orion [ID: ORION] 

TOPIC: Runners 

SUMMARY: A recorded message sent by UESC Captain Orion.  

=================================================================== 

[ORION]: Listen, Runner. We pay a price for order in this world, and that price is not getting everything exactly the way you want. We've got billions of civs living across Earth, Luna, and Mars. You think we can hold that together by letting everyone have an equal say? Someone needs to be in charge, making the hard decisions, or else people die. Real people. Not criminals like you, who've rigged the system, who can die a hundred times and keep coming back. When real people die, that's it. It's over.  

[ORION]: MIDA doesn't care about starving civs on Mars. They care about power. The power to spread their propaganda and start riots and turn regular people against their own families, against their own interests.  

[ORION]: Read your history books. The one time MIDA managed to get into power, they didn't feed people. They didn't eradicate poverty. They formed death squads and held public executions. And don't give me that garbage about how it was 500 years ago. If you think we've changed so much in 500 years, you're not paying attention. MIDA is the same. People are the same. Think about who your allies are… and what they really have you fighting for. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

ANALYZING…  

FILE TYPE: Reconstructed Code Fragments  

PERIOD: Present Day 

TOPIC: UESC Mission Priorities 

SUMMARY: Code fragments from a UESC unit's command module, containing orders related to target identification and containment on Tau Ceti IV. Orders originate from AI, "Cerberus." Annotated by ONI.

=================================================================== 

[AUTHORIZATION] CERBERUS  

initiating order revision…  

[IF]  

     scan: area == COMPROMISE  

     [AND]  

     query: target == HOSTILE

     [AND] 

     query: target != BIOSYNTH; UNREGISTERED 

     query: target != FAUNA; KNOWN 

     query: target != UNIT; MALFUNCTION

[THEN]  

     classify target: NUNAMNIR [1]

     revise priority direct: MANUNGAL [2]

     [LOOP]      

     target status = protocol: ASTROBLEME [3]

     [UNTIL] 

     target status == CONTAINED  

[ELSE]  

     [EXECUTE] standard patrol  

[END IF]  

[1] An unknown threat classification used by the UESC. In the event a detected hostile is not a Runner, native Tau Ceti IV wildlife, or a malfunctioning UESC unit, Cerberus orders it should be classified as "Nunamnir." 

[2] A priority directive used across UESC operations. Refers to containment procedures intended to avoid destruction of highly dangerous targets. 

[3] An unknown protocol classification. Related to above containment procedures.

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: Surveillance Recording 

PERIOD: Present Day 

SPEAKERS: UESC Officer Keleti [ID: TKEL] 

TOPIC: UESC Mission Priorities 

SUMMARY: Surveillance recorded in Outpost of UESC Officer Keleti, reporting on a search for an unknown target on Tau Ceti IV.  

=================================================================== 

[TKEL]: And, uh, yeah, Orion's put out an ATL on that unknown. The last sighting was near these coordinates. Did you hear the comms playback before it got wiped? 

[silence] 

[TKEL]: No kidding. Almost like, uh… music, right? The weirdest thing, it was sort of… familiar. I was practically humming along when I heard the playback. Then Rossi started screaming. He's still in isolation. Hasn't been right since. 

[silence] 

[TKEL]: I don't know. Something we were never supposed to hear. Way beyond us. The kind of thing that should be left alone. The kind of thing you don't want getting back to Sol. 

[silence] 

[TKEL]: All right, I gotta go patrol. Cap's got the command wing marked as high prio. Says he saw signs of the unknown there, but so far, I've got nothing. Wish me luck. Keleti, signing off. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: Personal Log 

PERIOD: Present Day 

SPEAKERS: UESC Captain Orion [ID: ORION] 

TOPIC: UESC Mission Priorities 

SUMMARY: A personal log recorded by UESC Captain Orion regarding the status of the New Cascadia colony and the UESC Marathon.  

=================================================================== 

[ORION]: Self-report 092, call sign Orion. We've completed our secondary investigation into the outpost. I've collected all colony records that I can for classification, but recordkeeping is scattered and disorganized. There's no easy way to interact with colony AI for an export or purge, so we're doing this the old-fashioned way.  

[ORION]: Accounts of the event are fairly consistent, but extremely vague. It's pretty clear our UESC forebearers were engaging in an intel lockdown. But in what we can find, we've got strong evidence of asymmetric tactics. The UESC came here with reduced military capacity, thinking they wouldn't need the firepower. Clearly, they were wrong. The casualty lists are staggering.  

[ORION]: Even if they had been prepared, I don't know it would've made much difference. Based on these reports, I believe even a fully outfitted fleet would've struggled. And that… that worries me. We can't let word of this get out until we understand the full threat and how to survive it. Save report. 

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

ANALYZING…  

FILE TYPE: UESC Internal Report  

PERIOD: Colony Era 

TOPIC: Unclear 

SUMMARY: Classified report detailing an attack during the operation of the New Cascadia colony. Heavily redacted, missing many key details. Redactions occurred not long after the document was created. 

=================================================================== 

UESC: [REDACTED] POST-MORTEM, PART 1  

We cannot be certain how the [REDACTED] event could have been prevented or its fallout mitigated, if it could be at all. Increased defensive and offensive resources would have helped, but during mission planning, [REDACTED] reasonably assessed the threat risk of [REDACTED] as "extremely unlikely" and identified any spending on these resources as "a logical lapse with severe quality-of-life consequences for colonists," due to reduced budget in other areas. Despite this, multiple official appeals from the Fermi Group pre-launch resulted in lower cost "just-in-case" measures, such as the development of [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] was designed to be reprogrammable, and upon arrival in Tau Ceti IV, once initial threat assessment was deemed complete, was repurposed into [REDACTED] for [REDACTED]. Unfortunately, [REDACTED] could not be reverted in time to prevent or assist with the [REDACTED] event.  

This series of events put us at great disadvantage to a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED], in addition to [REDACTED] concerns with [REDACTED] aboard the Marathon. We know that [REDACTED] initiated contact with [REDACTED], but we don't know why.  

Many colonists have [REDACTED] or been [REDACTED]. Facilities are [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. We are [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED].  

UESC and colony leadership will begin comms efforts to avoid [REDACTED] remaining colonists and new arrivals from cryo. Several groups are spreading fear and sowing doubt in the minds of civilians by debating and discussing the event, impeding the colony's ability to move forward. This cannot be allowed to continue. Trauma rehabilitation efforts will begin immediately and as well as a targeted reframing campaign.  

This, and any other record of [REDACTED], will remain classified. It exists primarily for posterity in the event contact with Sol can be re-established or reinforcements sent to Tau Ceti IV. But it is understood that both possibilities are unlikely. We know we are alone. We know there is no one coming to save us.  

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: UESC Internal Report   

PERIOD: Colony Era 

TOPIC: Unclear  

SUMMARY: Classified report detailing an attack during the operation of the New Cascadia colony. Heavily redacted, missing many key details. Redactions occurred not long after the document was created. Annotated post-facto by UESC Captain Orion. 

===================================================================  

UESC: [REDACTED] POST-MORTEM, PART 2  

[REDACTED] is extremely advanced, a combination of natural and synthetic elements. We are clearly outpaced in our [REDACTED] technology by [REDACTED]. All remnants of the [REDACTED] are being contained in UESC-secured evidence containers. [REDACTED] cannot fall into civilian hands.  

A small, intensively monitored group of scientists is being permitted to study [REDACTED], to try to reverse-engineer the [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. We are limited mostly to damage analysis, though a few intact samples are also being studied. [REDACTED] samples are highly volatile. In a recent incident, [REDACTED] was mishandled in [REDACTED] resulting in accidental contact. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] of [REDACTED] melted [REDACTED] to the [REDACTED]. The [REDACTED] became fused with [REDACTED]. There was no choice but to [REDACTED] [REDACTED] as an act of mercy.   

Strict measures are in place to prevent leaks. In the event of a leak, UESC personnel are authorized to initiate [REDACTED] protocol, begin [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] [REDACTED], and [REDACTED] any suspected source of the leak.  

Infosec has also identified a fringe group engaging in "religious worship" of [REDACTED]. They are suspected of having [REDACTED] in their possession, but not confirmed. If they possess any remnants of [REDACTED], it must be recovered and placed into the UESC-secured evidence containers immediately. Disbanding this group is a top priority in community control efforts, alongside the reframing campaign…  

>>>ANNOTATION: Finding and containing any "evidence container" referenced in this document is now a mission priority.>>>  

====================================================================   

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

ANALYZING…   

FILE TYPE: UESC Internal Report   

PERIOD: Present Day 

TOPIC: Hazardous Specimen 

SUMMARY: Classified report detailing the key attributes of a hazardous specimen unit discovered by the UESC in the ruins of the New Cascadian colony. Several key details have been redacted by the UESC.  

===================================================================  

File: UNKNOWN SPECIMEN UNIT #325  

Description: A Class-L specimen containment unit, standard among colony supplies. Unit is damaged, deformed along its seal and with visible external wear. The container appears to be leaking, though there is no discernable puncture. The substance within is of an unknown composition. It is suspected to be [REDACTED] in origin, contained by UESC officials during the colony's operation after the [REDACTED] event. The unit occasionally emits sound.  

Additional Details: The substance inside the unit distorts the area around it visually. The substance fluctuates in size and appearance but follows no clear rules in its fluctuations. The auditory experience of the unit differs depending on the observer. It has been described variously as "like music," "like a wasp's nest," "like a familiar voice," and "like a migraine." One officer has been medically quarantined after contact and several others detained for psychological observation.  

Protocol: Use extreme caution. Unit must be contained if it can be approached safely.  

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [  ]

ANALYZING…  

FILE TYPE: UESC Comms 

PERIOD: Present Day 

SPEAKERS: Officer Keleti [ID: TKEL], Captain Orion [ID: ORION], _gantry [ID: GANT] 

TOPIC: Runner Interference 

SUMMARY: A recorded conversation between UESC Officer Keleti and UESC Captain Orion regarding ongoing Runner interference on Tau Ceti IV.  

===================================================================

[TKEL]: The unit's struggling. 

[ORION]: You're using some of our most advanced tech. 

[TKEL]: Well, we're still iterating. These things weren't built with emergent Runner behaviors in mind. Runners try anything, no regard for whether it'll get them killed, because they just come back. 

[TKEL]: Going to lose this one. 

[ORION]: Just hold them off until I can get to the old crash site. I need them out of my way. 

[TKEL]: Doing my best, Cap. 

[ORION]: Your orders are clear. Hold them off. I don't care how. 

[interference] 

[GANT]: Resist. Disrupt. Destroy. Resist. Disrupt. Destroy. 

[TKEL]: Damn it! 

[GANT]: Resist. Disrupt. Destroy. 

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Radio Comms 

PERIOD: Present Day  

SPEAKERS: UESC Captain Orion [ID: ORION]  

TOPIC: UESC Mission Priorities  

SUMMARY: A recording of one-sided radio communications sent by UESC Captain Orion while investigating a crash site in Outpost. 

===================================================================  

[ORION]: Titan, I've arrived at the site. It's worse than I thought. The carrier unit's damaged and clearly volatile. Switching focus to containment by any means. 

[footsteps] 

[ORION]: Preparing to approach. Do you read me, Titan? Titan! Ugh, damn it. All right, respond when able. I'm approaching with intent to detain. Noticing increased auditory response. Helmet mods aren't helping, it's… God, it's like it's inside my head! Ugh— 

[gunfire]

[shout] 

[thump]    

===================================================================

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]

ANALYZING…    

FILE TYPE: Broadcast Message 

PERIOD: Present Day 

SPEAKERS: _gantry [ID: GANT]  

TOPIC: MIDA Manifesto 

SUMMARY: A recording provided by _gantry as a message to the UESC. 

===================================================================

[GANT]: Attention, all UESC. MIDA is memory. Earth. Luna. Mars. Now Tau Ceti. MIDA is scar tissue. Revival. Renewal. Rebirth. MIDA is vengeance. Resistance. Defiance. Riot. UESC controls the narrative, revisionist patch notes written by tyrants. Ask yourself: If 30,000 people die in a distant star system and no one's there to hear it, did they make a sound? 

[interference] 

[GANT]: MIDA is memory. Children of extinction events and corpo-authoritarian coups. MIDA is scar tissue. Mended bone. Gouged-out eye. MIDA is vengeance. The fire that can't stop burning. The fist that will never break. UESC controls the narrative. Watch the birdie. History written by tyrants. Corporate thought-rot. If mass tragedy becomes a glossy corporate holiday… is there anything to mourn? 

[interference] 

[GANT]: MIDA is memory! We are Earth, Luna, Mars, Tau Ceti! MIDA is scar tissue! A weed with roots so deep we can't be killed. We can't be killed! MIDA is vengeance! Screaming truth, ripped through your datajacks! Who controls the narrative? Who owns your thoughts? Who will kill the tyrants? Ask yourself! If the truth never gets told, is it still true? Is it true? Is it true? Is it true?   

=================================================================== 

TYPE: TEXT [X]; AUDIO [X]