Difference between revisions of "Mission:Devil Take the Hindmost - Part One: The Old and the New"

Briefing

Ah, Character. Just the man / woman I wanted to see. I have a request for you. It is, ah... Harvan looks at his feet, shifting nervously.

After a short breath, he raises his eyes to meet your gaze.

It is of a... somewhat personal nature.

• Alright... what's your request, then?

My father, Sir Isaiah Harvan, dedicated most of his life to the search for Pandora's Box. I have taken up his quest myself, and we've arguably come much closer to finding it than my father ever did.

Harvan's brow furrows, and he pauses a moment before speaking again.

However... it is his untimely disappearance that I would like to speak with you about. My father's research has led me to many things, including the existence of the Antikythera. In his later years, he became convinced that someone within the United States government knew more about Pandora's Box than they let on, and his investigation became significantly more... political.

• Meaning he drew the attention of some dangerous people.

Harvan nods at you.

Exactly. He was pursuing this very avenue of investigation right up until the day he disappeared. Obviously, those of us close to him suspected foul play, but... well, you know how these things go. When an eccentric explorer that believes in the myths of ancient Greece disappears, it doesn't exactly make the front page.

Still, I believe my father was onto something significant, and it is my belief that you are... less susceptible to harm than my father was.

• So you want me to pick up where he left off.

I believe it would serve both our interests, Character. It could provide us with vital information on Pandora's Box... and it could also uncover my father's fate.

I won't hide the fact that I have a personal stake in this... but I also believe it's the best place to look, given our situation.

• Alright, Harvan. I'll look into it.

• Stick to your work, Harvan. You're here to help find Pandora's Box.

Well, that's just the thing, Character. What I'm about to ask of you is, in fact, quite closely related to the search for Pandora's Box.

It... it involves my father, and his work. I'm still using the Antikythera to try to pinpoint the Box's location, but it takes time to interpret the readings. I believe that this task may speed the process somewhat, depending on what you find.

• Alright, Harvan... this better be good.

My father...

This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.

Briefing

You search through the desk, looking for any documents of interest. The few papers you find are old and soiled, not to mention completely unreadable.

Upon testing the drawers, you find more of the same: extremely old office supplies and refuse. One of the drawers, however, appears to be locked...

• (Break the lock on the drawer)

Using your unique capabilities, you manage to bypass the lock on the drawer, taking care not to damage the contents in the process.

Inside, you find copious amounts of dust... but you also spot a large manila envelope that appears to have been moderately well-preserved.

Inside the envelope are a series of official-looking documents, each of which appears to be quite liberally censored.

• (Inspect the documents)

Most of these are either unintelligible or mundane, but one document in particular catches your eye:

OFFICE OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

MEMORANDUM TO: Administrator, Corrections Facility Research & Development

SUBJECT: Project REDACTED

While your concerns are understandable and noted, the primary funding partners for Project REDACTED will remain classified for the time being. Rest assured that the RIDC has strict security measures in place for the facility, and that site construction is being overseen by both public and private personnel. Continue development for the REDACTED facility as previously planned.

We are currently operating under a strict timetable, and unless REDACTED is completed on schedule, construction will need to be put on hold. As you are aware, the longer construction takes, the more involved local authorities will become. If you require more resources to complete REDACTED on schedule, speak with Comptroller REDACTED.

Enclosure
REDACTED

In the margins of the memo, in scrawled handwriting, is the following message:

Senator - this is the best that I could get. I know it's not much. I may be able to get more if you can put some pressure on the Board.

-Ron

• (Leave)

Briefing

Amongst the discarded remains of the small office, you find a file cabinet that appears to have survived mostly intact. The drawers inside are filled with dividers and documents of varying conditions.

• (Begin sifting through the documents)

While most of these documents appear to be unmarred by government censors, they also appear to be mostly useless. After sifting through some irate letters from the Brickstown Business Association and angry, error-ridden screeds about UFOs, you come to realize that you're looking at a collection of incoming mail.

Just as you're ready to give up and move on, a distinctly official-looking letter catches your eye...

• (Read the letter)

Senator James S. Neill
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
May 10, 1949

Supervisor Tornay:

I am deeply troubled by your department's reluctance to forward pertinent information on 'Project Marduk'. While I fully understand that major components of the facility are proprietary, it is not generally the practice of Congress to fund projects without knowing the recipient of those funds.

I can understand if you wish to maintain Classified status on the technology behind the project, but you must at least divulge the identity of all private partners involved in the project. Using unknown tech in a government facility is one thing, Supervisor, but receiving said tech from an unknown party without disclosing any related information is simply ludicrous.

I shall await your prompt reply. I hope that a subpoena will not be necessary in this instance.

Sincerely,

James S. Neill
United States Senator, MO

• (Leave)

Briefing

This safe stands out as one of the only highly-secured objects you've seen here. If there's anything left in this building that might be of interest to you, it's probably in here.

• (Attempt to pry open the safe)

The lock looks to be in a state of significant disrepair, and with some careful manipulation, you manage to pry the rusted door open.

Inside, you find a set of blueprints for a high-security prison. As you flip through the blueprints, you note that they appear to be incomplete - many of the connections to the lower levels of the prison seem to link elsewhere, but are simply labeled 'subcontract'.

At the back of the pile, you find a one-page summary of interaction with an organization called Milestone Labs, SPC.

• (Read through the summary)

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES METAHUMAN INTELLIGENCE PROTOCOL

MEMORANDUM TO: Supervisor, Corrections Facility Administration & Construction

SUBJECT: Project Marduk

The contract with Milestone Labs, SPC has been written up. We're still working on the fine details, but your department can begin construction plans immediately.

Unfortunately, negotiations regarding patent rights and proprietary transparency have not been successful. The boys at Milestone are insistent that they maintain total control over their tech, even as it's applied to Project Marduk. I don't like it, but frankly, this project doesn't get off the ground unless we use them.

Research into alternative methods of containing powered entities is still underway, but this project has stalled long enough. Run up some new plans, under the assumption that inmates will be able to generate no more than 100kN. That should bring the project well within budget.

Enclosure
Roger S. Vrabel
Senior Director, Metahuman Intelligence Protocol

• (Leave)

Briefing

After the beating you gave him, Mako appears to be having some trouble breathing. His gills are opening and closing violently, and his every breath comes out as a loud rasp.

In his current state, he seems to be unable to communicate... it looks like you'll need to do the talking, here.

• Mako. Can you hear me?

Mako continues to focus almost entirely on continuing to breathe, but he takes the effort to look up at you. Your eyes lock with his, and you can see defiance and anger in the stare he gives you.

• Don't give me that look, Mako. I haven't killed you... yet.

or

• Arachnos sent you to follow me, right? How's that going?

Mako flinches at your words. With some effort, he manages to get out a ragged attempt at communication.

What... *hrrrrkkkk*...

What do you... want... *hrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkk*...

• I'm recruiting, Mako. I'm sure word has gotten out.

Mako manages a grin at you, filled with rows of jagged teeth. He closes his eyes, and shakes his head.

Not... *hrrrkkkk*... switching sides...

• Why play just one? I need someone on the inside.

Mako's breathing has steadied now. He looks thoughtful... for a shark.

What do you have to offer... *hrrkk*... that Recluse can't? Arachnos rules the Isles, Character... and when we get Pandora's Box, it's all over. No one will be able to stop us.

• Arachnos is in decline, and you know it. What's your exit strategy?

or

• But I'm always a step ahead, Mako. What happens when I get the Box?

Mako ponders this for a moment.

I'll... consider it, Character. I don't take Recluse lightly, but...

Mako looks up at you again. This time, the anger and defiance appear to be mingled with... at least some level of respect.

But I don't think I can take you lightly, either.

• Think it over, then. I have places to be.

Briefing

Character! I think I've made a breakthrough. By comparing readings from the Antikythera at different locations, I was able to triangulate a pattern in the energy flows in this area. Based on the trajectories I've witnessed, I'd surmise that-

• Harvan...

Harvan seems not to hear you.

...but the patterns were all wrong, you see. If they moved elliptically, their origin point would have been somewhere in Michigan, which I knew to be false. But then, it hit me. The streams don't act like particles of light, but like jets of air. They're limited by geographical constraints! Factoring this data, I managed to-

• Harvan!

...almost like magnets! They're drawn to large populations, specifically of humans! After applying this modification to my equations, I was able to calculate their trajectories with significantly greater precision! I'm now confident that-

• DOCTOR HARVAN!

Raising your voice seems to have gotten his attention. Harvan trails off, staring at you vacantly for a moment. He shakes his head roughly, as if waking from a trance.

I'm... sorry, Character. I suppose I got a little too excited there. Did you... find something of interest?

• As a matter of fact, I did.

You relate the events of your investigation to Harvan, and hand him the documents you found. As he pores over them, he grows increasingly confused.

What...

What is this? I recognize this design. I've seen it before...

Harvan's brows furrow.

This is... this is the design for Zigursky Penitentiary.

• It appears so.

But this doesn't make any sense. Why would my father be interested in this? He never took any interest in modern structures, and he certainly wasn't interested in the political machinations of the United States...

Besides, these designs are deeply flawed. This structure might be suitable for common criminals, or perhaps minor villains, but... there's no way these designs could contain metahumans of any significant scale.

Harvan's eyes widen, and he looks up at you.

Unless...

• Unless something was limiting their powers.

Harvan's hands begin to tremble with excitement.

Something... something that could limit the powers of any metahuman. Something that unified the concepts of science and magic, of technological progress and natural prowess.

Something that commanded the very essence of power itself.

• You mean, something like Pandora's Box.

This fits with all of my findings, Character. If our theory is correct, then... someone has been utilizing Pandora's Box as a sort of safeguard against metahuman criminals. It's a crude use of such a powerful artifact, but...

Harvan trails off.

We need to inform the others of your findings. If we're correct, we'll need to set up an expedition right away.

• Agreed. I'll set up a meeting.