AUDIO; un: strange, after group 3 and all of the existing juicy network info posts. approx 2am.

[rehandle]

I broke into the FNRR tonight.

[ Putting that out there with his whole chest so nobody has to waste time asking after circumstances. ]

I was intercepted by Dr. Kaeya Sseran, a senior researcher with the Ghost Matter Division, who as it turns out is working with Zandr. She describes him as one of the most brilliant scientists of their generation.

Kaeya and Zandr worked together in the division back when it was still headed by both Dr. Breezr and Dr. Adrih. It was created at the behest of Commander Brennon to find a way to synthesize ghost matter after they discovered twenty or so years ago that the particle as it naturally occurred was created in the atmosphere at a slower rate than they were harvesting it for their guns, meaning their supply would inevitably run out.

They had no luck creating a synthetic particle until Dr Breezr introduced the ‘conduit’, the orb. With its help Breezr and Adrih synthesized a particle in secret. It had the benefit of duplicating itself at a much faster rate than already existing ghost matter, and mutating any ghost matter particle it contacted to carry its same qualities. Including the mutation that produces the autoimmune effects this Complex is plagued with today.

Brennon wanted it introduced to the atmosphere to revitalize the supply. Dr Adrih, knowing what this would mean for the Galaxy, told Zandr, and together they planned to escape with sensitive documents and the only sample of the synthesized, mutated particle.

Zandr made it out with the documents. Brennon caught Dr Adrih, murdered him, took the sample, and Dr Breezr reversed one of the ghost matter harvesters and distributed the particle into the atmosphere.

[ There’s seething silence from him for a moment to let that sink in. Because there we have it: the orb’s involvement in the suffering of Ndiera, the undeniable fact that senior members of the Federation knowingly created the current situation in order to maintain their control, no matter the cost. ]

Zandr and Kaeya are working on an anti-matter to eradicate ghost matter entirely. Once they achieve it, they’ll need access codes for the harvesters in order to reverse them and disseminate the new particle into the atmosphere, codes that are kept on the station where senior Federation staff stay.

There’s work to do. I’ve promised her help, and the help of anyone else I know who’ll offer it. I’ll be meeting her again next week and can fill her in on any offers or suggestions then.

[ He’s about to sign off his 2am infodump there, but actually this is quite important - ]

I didn’t check, but I assume Zandr must still have the orb. It returned his powers to him a few months ago at Kaeya’s accidental request while she was holding onto it in advance of their plan to have him take it from the FNRR, which he then did.

[ Those powers returned at a cost to her, of course, but as far as he can tell what exactly that cost was doesn’t need to be everyone’s business unless she chooses for it to be. ]

He was caught on purpose, so he could escape and cast doubt on the infallibility of the Federation.

That’s about all I know. If you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer.

[ And with that he finally does end his broadcast. ]



( ooc: an infoshare from Stephen’s search request! I think he’s covered everything important but if you spot anything in there I haven’t covered that you want your character to know pls do hop in for a thread or hit me up oocly for a handwave! It’s all fair game - and please feel free to use this post to have characters discuss amongst themselves! )

Comments

Text; un: belova

[laviny]

[Wow, what excellent timing this is.]

Oh, he definitely has the orb, all right.

text

[rehandle]

You found him?

[ The stars have aligned. ]

audio | un: miller

[fungicidal]

It's two in the damn morning.

[ Some of us work, Stephen! ]

[rehandle]

Thanks. I've always wanted a talking clock.

[ Sorry Joel not sorry ]

audio; un: mccoy

[homeostatic]

( hooray for night shift. )

Those bastards. Not sure what help I can offer, but you've got it.

[rehandle]

[ Thank you, McCoy, this is the reaction he was looking for (J o e l). ]

To be honest, I don't know exactly what help any of us can offer yet. But knowing who's on board, what access they have and what skills they bring to the table is a better place to start than where they were.

[ Though actually, speaking of... help he can offer... ]

I'll be needing another suit for next week's event if that kind of help's still on offer. I promise it's relevant.

Video: Lockwood

[recklessenough]

[ He should probably be asleep, but Lockwood has lived a nocturnal life for so long back home that his bright eyed and busy tailed at this hour. ]

So 'ghost matter' is just a term these people use? It does not actually have anything to do with ghosts?

[rehandle]

[ That's a new take, though would it really be that unlikely? ]

Just the name they gave it as far as I know. Kaeya didn't mention otherwise.

text. un: knicksfan1961

[bigfootfetish]

[ Two AM, aka a completely normal time to be awake. ]

Well, that explains why I got a dressing-down for floating the idea of eradicating the ghost matter. About two months ago now - the suits at the top don't want anyone thinking about the ghost matter, let alone doing anything about it.

[rehandle]

[ That tracks. ]

Who delivered the lesson?

text ↪ un: うちは 🔒

[blackfire]

（ were you a ninja in another life, stephen?

curious. ）

Presumably, Dr. Sseran will not reveal your intrusion.

（ presumably. without having met the woman, he will not say he trusts her, necessarily, but he will defer to stephen on that point. ）

Were you able to scrub any surveillance tapes or security logs that would otherwise give you away, or do you require some manner of exfiltration from the planet proper?

🔒

[rehandle]

[ He's a man of many questionable talents, what can he say? ]

I portalled in, our conversation was apparently outside of the camera's shot, and she looped the security footage for me and showed me a safe exit route on the way out.

I'm not sure if there's anything left on the system from when I was rooting around in one of the labs, but I was covered as much as I could be and she seems fairly confident she'll be able to meet me at an upcoming fundraiser. I don't think I'm at risk of impending arrest.

[ He has confidence Kaeya will have wiped whatever's left of him from the system if she has the authority to do so. ]

But thank you for your concern.

[ And what he's sure would have become an offer of help. And... well, now that Itachi's here and they're already adjacent to the topic - ]

Have you made use of your free power pass with the ghost matter yet?

Voice | un: Newt | (Newton's Findings)

[groupiedrifter]

I knew it. I knew that stupid orb had caused this atmospherical mess...

[It was mostly to himself, but not terribly quiet. After a moment, he addresses Stephen properly:]

I'm in with the FNRR as a scientist currently — working under Kaeya, actually, since she's the one who got me the job. I've got the introductory meeting with her recorded for anyone who wants it, and I'll be keeping track of progress from here in the labs.

[Attached is a voice recording of Newton's initial conversation with Kaeya, as he's brought in to work with the FNRR.]

... On my end, I think my best place to be is here in the labs, working on this anti-matter. I can probably meet with Kaeya in private — let her know what I know about the situation, if the crew thinks being a little more transparent will be beneficial.

She's good people, from what I can tell, being around her.

[rehandle]

Not on its own.

[ Too close to and angry with the situation not to add his own little nod that it was people, really, who did the worst of the work. Brennon didn't have to murder Adrih for power. Breezr didn't have to run the harvester for Brennon.

But he's not hung up enough on it to make it a full blown conversation. What Newt says next is much more interesting than his own simmering fury. ]

Do let her know you're on side if you're confident you can do it safely. Nobody else in the FNRR knows she has any idea about any of this beyond the public line the Federation sold, so don't take any risks, but more points of contact can't hurt. I'm only able to meet with her at public events.

voice; un: finn

[hatejakku]

I knew the Federation had their hand in the ghost matter somehow.

[ Less intuition and way more paranoia, but, sure, yeah, totally called it, right. ]

I'm working in Security now, but they're not letting me near the ghost weapons at all. Still, I can cause some sabotage or even a distraction if the situation calls for it.

The Federation is trying to claim that they still have the orb, though. More clearly, they're not not saying that whatever Zandr stole was retaken. When I tried to find out where the item was now, the information was just classified. It's possible some senior officials think they still have it.

[ Yes, he saw Yelena's texts. ]

[rehandle]

[ It's so nice to see somebody else has been wearing their tinfoil hat this whole time... thanks Finn. ]

They've already been publicly undermined by Zandr's escape, and placing any significance on a missing object is only going to layer on humiliation and generate questions. Better to keep the focus on their scapegoat than draw any unnecessary attention to what that secrecy's covering up, or why the item might be valuable to the Federation.

[ It's good to know. That these actions aren't a reflection on the whole - maybe there will be people left to step in and take the reins to keep the Galaxy moving if they're successful in exposing this whole mess. ]

Kaeya implied that the Federation hadn't really known what the orb was capable of, and that the only people who officially knew about the successful creation of the new particle at the time were Brennon, Breezr and - previous to his death - Adrih. Brennon's probably tried to keep it as close to locked down as possible now they understand the orb has a wider field of utility than just synthesising particles.

surprise 2/2 bc I forgot about a whole section of what finn said

[rehandle]

And thank you. I'll let Kaeya know we have someone in Security ready to cause some problems if we need them.

[ There's a little humour in his tone here, but it's all gratitude. ]

text | un: lion cub (1/2)

[heyciri]

Why is it not surprising it comes down to motivating wealth and power? Finally answers the why for it though. Thank you.

2/2 - private, voice

[heyciri]

I know you're aware of some of what I can do. If that's useful, let me be. I haven't touched magic since I got here.

video; un: geraniums

[rootlessly]

[Wow, he hates all this.]

...If you need any help getting the access codes for the harvesters, I could make a pretty decent distraction.

[Aka give them an unrelated target to chase while people break into the systems. He may not be anyone of relevance to the Federation, but he is Vash the Stampede. Running from those who'd like to catch him is what he does.]

[rehandle]

Thank you. Mind elaborating?

[ How do you usually make a nuisance of yourself, enquiring minds who may end up helping try to wrangle everyone's skills into something vaguely approximating a plan wish to know. ]

voice; un: toxicodendron

[greenpower]

Do you know what kind of help they're looking for? That might make it easier to know what we have to offer.

text; un: felix

[swordandshield]

Zandr mentioned wanting help from scientists or anyone that "knows their way around particle alteration" could help him figure out eliminating the ghost matter.

audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

I've got an internship on Deumia- I should be able to get access to the Harvesters if needed, and I haven't used my powers yet.

[rehandle]

[ The power part is good news, he adds her to his mental checklist of people who can still be called on for power use without immediate ghost matter shaped consequences, but more pressingly - ]

You think they'll let you in?

[ To the harvesters. Wouldn't it be nice if it could just be that easy. ]

text; un: felix (1/2)

[swordandshield]

[Consider this reply almost in tandem with Yelena's.]

This matches up with what Zandr's told us so far about working on a solution to what the orb did here.

text; un: felix (2/2)

[swordandshield]

And, yeah, he has the orb. And an ongoing deal with it.