Post by Sheng on May 27, 2023 21:40:04 GMT
Bulwark #1015 "Zagoria"
Executive Protection Agency Installation | Alteria-9
72:11 Alteris Colonial Standard Time
There was a- different expectation to how the Executive Protection Agency operated. The Agencies operations were primarily centred around a sort of rule list of conduct; sarcastically referred to as the "Pillars of Indemnity." They defined the Executive Protection Agency as an independent entity, separating it from the Republic Legions that preceded it. They never really had a set definition, anytime someone had tried to install one it always failed miserably but they could be described as concepts or unspoken rules that every agent had to adhere too- and oftentimes were used as a pseudo cover to terminate the employment of poorly performing personnel. Archon-1 understood them perfectly, so much so that in basic training a common saying that conduct instructors would give to new recruits would be "Don't know what to do? What would he do then?" And they followed it, followed it to the letter even. It was part of the reason the Council feared Archon-1 so much, he was a born leader and it terrified them because he could rally a crowd like no other, knowing exactly what to say to manipulate their attention craving minds, that incessant hunger that each Reborn had to be loved and to fit in, to contribute. He had the EPA all but wrapped around his finger, they'd follow him to the ends of Arkehold and beyond without question. It was an achievement he was very proud of, after all it had taken more then a century to build that kind of trust and reputation and it was all. his. Archon-1 let out a sigh as he reminisced about the past, watching the columns of EPAFGF personnel march in perfect cadence past the central command tower to the quiet tune of their- no... of his national anthem, in the direction of the docked EPACRF transport ships. Every time a new column would appear the lead officer would turn his head a perfect 90 degrees and give him a wonderfully disciplined salute, and he returned every single one. As the march continued a Reborn took one of the empty seats next to him at the observation deck of the CCT, taking his simple peaked cap off and laying it on a glass table to his left and inclining his head towards Archon-1 as a show of respect. Archon-1 quite liked the one who had just appeared, Fleet Admiral... shame, he couldn't even remember his name. Ah well, not like the name mattered. Archon-1 turned to look at him as the infantry columns slowly transformed into tank columns with a curious attitude, asking the Reborn "And to what pleasure does your visit bring me, Admiral?"
The Admiral subtly lifted a file up to show him before placing it onto the table next to his cap, Archon-1 reached over and picked it up before seeing the title and going still. After a second he flipped it open and started gazing through it before saying "Is the project compromised?" The Admiral responded "No, the Selenicans have only gotten as far as the first level. However we cannot initiate a data-wipe remotely and our forces in the area have already withdrawn after the orbital bombardment. In addition we don't have any options nearby that will be able to respond in time before they have already found what they can find and retreated." Archon-1 cursed quietly as he placed the file back down onto the table, watching the tank column slowly rumble across before he spoke up "We will have to accelerate our time table whilst also beginning to form some sort of denial and cover story as no doubt they will try and publicize the information, even if we tried to stop them our attempt would only incriminate us further in the eyes of the public." The Admiral nodded as he leaned back into his chair and let out a frustrated sigh, after a moment the Admiral commented "It get's worse, before they arrived there, when our terrestrial sensors were still up, we detected a drive signature entering the system. I pulled some strings and had the security department run it's type and... well the results speak for themselves; the drive signature had trace amounts of sinarium leaking into the plume likely from some form of damaged gravity engine." The AI swore as he banged his fist onto the table, shaking his head as he responded "It has to be the Etherians.. if they discover what we're planning... No, we cannot permit that to happen. Have you traced the craft's origin?" The Admiral nodded and handed him his holo-comms, displaying a document filled with various forms of data, Archon nodded before handing back and saying to him "Begin scouring the system, but hold off on investigating Ravine III, there are too many civilians present and it could bring unwanted questions am I understood?"
The Admiral nodded again before saying "And the project goes smoothly, the Delta collider is reporting that they will be operational shortly which will increase our capabilities in reaction volatility. Now, the Chief Researcher still has yet to compose a theorem to adequately contain the produced anti-matter but we can produce microscopic amounts in a controlled setting." Archon made to say 'when will' but was promptly cut off by the Admiral who said "No we don't know when we'll be able to produce a meaningful amount, it could take a month or a year or it could have happened a minute ago. The technology is too complex to be readily experimented with, and our scientists too new to the material. Now in other news; our contacts within S-L-N have responded well to our proposal and we are beginning to receive the necessary construction materials and components at our designated location. But it will be some time before we can assemble the full roster of necessary components, there are just too many moving parts to this machine Archon, it will take some time and a lot of it." Archon-1 nodded as he stood up and dusted his armour off, the Admiral quickly standing up to join him as he collected his cap from the table and donned it. He gave a salute to Archon-1 as he approached the edge of the balcony whilst Archon-1 turned around and entered the CCT once again, another Reborn leaning against the wall who gave Archon-1 a greeting nod as the AI entered. Archon-1 motioned for him to walk with him as they started quietly walking down the empty hallway, after a minute Archon-1 said to the other Reborn "I need you to do a favour for me, one more under the wraps then what I typically ask of you." Archon-1 turned to see the Reborn's response; which was to quietly nod an affirmative. Archon-1 responded with "I need you to pay a visit to Cross, Codex's little errand boy on the Board of Directors, and make an arrangement for the Corporation's surplus material to begin transit to link up with the Coronan Response Fleet. No one can know of your conversation, take public transport to and from and you have no ties should anyone probe. And listen when I say; the intelligence I need must be obtained unknowingly, the Selenican's discovering the Pillbox is a mistake that I'm sure will cost me dearly already and I cannot permit any more. Is this clear?" The Reborn nodded again before vanishing into one of the rooms in the hallway.
Meanwhile, Archon-1 kept walking before he arrived at a featureless black metal door which slid open after a moment's hesitation. Inside was an unadorned, black round table with 6 other Reborn sat around it but alas they were holographic projections. Archon-1 sat down at the empty seat and cleared his non-existent throat before he spoke "I apologize for the wait, I was in a meeting with the Admiral of the Coronan Response Fleet and overseeing the boarding of the deploying personnel. Let us commence this session of dialogue." Archon-5 was the first to speak, in a rather irritated voice too "Yes, lets. Now, Archon-1, may I inquire as to the status of the Antimatter power programme we have oh-so-generously funded?" Archon-1 tensed up slightly at the question. Why would she start with that, and so suddenly... He made to speak before she interrupted "Oh are you under the impression that was a serious question? My apologies, what I meant to say is where the three billion credits we loaned to you for this project going?" Archon-1 hissed in irritation before he responded in an equally scathing tone "Such research is costly, Five, I had to procure an immense amount of scientific material from the S-L-N Corporation as well as paying for security services to ensure safe transport." She hissed back at him before raising her own voice "Three BILLION?! And you say it was for a delivery?! Do you take us for fools?!" She had stood up by the end of her little outpost, the holographic projection facing Archon-1 with balled fists as Archon-1's anger grew. He himself stood up slowly and said in a much quieter yet twice as hostile tone "Mind. Your. Place, Councilor. Need I remind you all of your situation? You remain in power, because of my generosity! Please, you think I need to explain myself to you?! Fool! I could dissolve this pathetic board and none of you would be able to stop me! I permit your rule only to maintain public support, you are nothing but a PR stunt! And a pathetic one at that!" The other Councilors seemed take aback at his outburst, as he finally gave voice to what they all non-verbally knew. Five just glared at him before sitting back down, hands shaking in quiet rage. Meanwhile, Archon-1 continued "I had thought that when I elevated you to your positions you would see my vision for the future of the Second Dawn, but with each passing day I am reminded that you all were a mistake- no... What you are? Is a poorly crafted joke. you. are. jokes. All of you, where I was created for a purpose and in pursuing that purpose my victory is assured. Can any of you say the same? Do not answer me, I tire of your voices." And with that he pressed a button on their desks which promptly ended the meeting.
Archon-1 growled in irritation at their sheer gall. To even assume that they had the right to demand such answers from him. It- it was perverse! He forcibly calmed himself down as he pinched the front of his metal face and let out an exasperated sigh before turning around and exiting the room, thinking about how many headaches the Council was giving him and how foolish it had been to blow up at them. Although he had installed them, he did not control them and loathe it may, they had their uses. He sighed again as he spitefully thought "And they wonder why I rarely tell them everything..."