@loki.odinson

[selfimage]

[ usually there's a bit more of an easy tone to him, but the mood the last few days has been exhausting. it's a win for them on some levels, but also a loss—it certainly feels more like a loss. ]

Well, it's certainly been a week. While it's still fresh in our minds, I'd like to pose a few questions as we collectively recover from the last mission, directly from experience. Some of us, if not most, came in head-to-head with the United Nations Army. I'd like to know what everyone picked up from their close encounters.

Thus:
Were there any details noticed that stuck out? Oddities in behavior? Perhaps abilities used and tidbits returned in certain unexpected results? Fill in your own question here, etc. etc.

There were enough hints put together that their methods of organization weren't exactly "normal." While I've got a few of my own theories, but I'd quite like to hear everyone else's thoughts on this whole dealy. This may lead elsewhere, depending on just how far the rabbit hole takes us. There are still some Morningstar agents out there, taken from their homes and families, as well as a disgruntled and unsure UN.

To make things clear: I've decided to pose these questions to compile our experiences. We'd be best to have an idea of what we're dealing with in the future and where they can dealt with as the situation calls. As our circumstances currently sit, I doubt this will be our first and last run-in with the UN authorities, by nature of our own existences. I refuse to give them satisfaction of anything close to winning.

Comments

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

Do you think there's some kind of ... cease order when it comes to us?

[Time to put it out there. As in, right away.]

[selfimage]

It's highly likely.
Which means that someone who has involvement in this knows who- and what- we are.

[strove]

They assume we know the ropes to come back, too.

Revivals, anyway.

@prom.argentum

[mercurio]

i already shared with you what i think about them but to tl;dr for the sake of info sharing

it seemed like they had very specific orders and they wouldn't take action against those orders
collect the agents, sedate any kids present, kill the non-agent in the unit
like a well-oiled machine
you'd think that one of them would slip by accident or something

might be nothing but i was caught in between two groups while on the stairs and they didn't really react to me until i pulled out guns to shoot at them

if they are human they were acting really oddly

[he has feelings about this]

[selfimage]

It's good to share with the rest of the class.
Though I do have a feeling that you're correct, moreso than you think.

There's no way that such a thing would get accomplished with more a semblance of individuality. Their unquestioning loyalty to a dubious cause was troubling.

[mercurio]

not sure i'd call it loyalty tbh

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

They're human.

Biologically, anyway.

[mercurio]

yeah i know, one of them bled

@leo.fitz

[retravel]

They wouldn't be the first instance of manufactured "human bodies" in our midst.

[ glances at the androids. always time for a conspiracy, eh. ]

@john.jaqobis

[stabilis]

Did you grab some samples while nobody else was looking?

@margaret.carter

[revlon]

They're adaptive. Whether that's due to the way they think, their tech, a combination of both, or something different entirely — I can't say. I haven't been here long enough.

But what worked on them once never worked a second time. More than seeing the shape of any plan, it felt like they could anticipate our next moves down to how someone would retaliate in close combat.

[selfimage]

When you say "worked once and not a second time," do you mean on the same group of UNA soldiers, or through the whole lot of them, like some sort of nefarious ripple of experience?

[ before he gets into the rest of it, he has to make that distinction. ]

[revlon]

The same group against my own team. The encounter I had later in the day was brief and with someone else so naturally our own approach had to change.

[ And she'd discovered her ability by then, which meant throwing caution to the wind when she could spare it. ]

@katelin.philips

[covertness]

my powers didn't work on them the way they work normally

[selfimage]

That's a little vague.
Care to specify a bit more? This does sound a tad bit important.

@kate.bishop

[fledges]

i want to hear your theories

[selfimage]

I'm thinking hivemind.

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

One day, Loki will share his theories from the start.

@leo.fitz

[retravel]

[ he has thoughts on the leaks and the displaced's seemingly omitted status, but tables them in favour of tackling the UNA first. ]

I agree with you, Prompto and Carter.
I'd wager the soldiers have a kind of combat diagnostics software, either in their wetware or hardware. If it was possible in 2017, 2511's sure to have it on the defence market. As Carter said, tricks never worked twice on the same group, and the longer they fought with someone, the better they became at predicting movements and preemptive counters.

We faced them four on five, gaining the advantage for a stretch before they adapted — and countered with near fatal results.

[ he marked three pinch points where Cain, himself, and Carter were nearly lost. ]

[selfimage]

And the defense against the emotional manipulation? That happens to be a manifestation of our current abilities.

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

Have we done enough independent research into what could be accomplished with the implants?

I don't think it was done on us. Otherwise, we'd be more likely to fall in line.

But that's not to say they wouldn't for soldiers. Especially if they can employ a mixture of chemical conditioning, as well.

[mercurio]

something i know is that you can't control self-aware beings as easily as you can those that aren't

[he had a programming class once and he's also into technology... he's not all the way up to fitz's level but hey]

obviously it wasn't hollow inside their armor
even with a software in them it's gotta be a hell of a code running in them to have them be so compliant
but i don't think we know the kind of implants that could be created in this place to make that a reality

@connor.resnik

[cyberlife]

Fighting UNA soldiers felt like I was fighting myself. Very literally, I'm afraid, and not at all an attempt at self-adulation.

They seemed programmed - I know this has been beaten to death, I know I don't stop pressing the point, and I know the last of the AI were wiped after the war hundreds of years ago, but we must consider their implants. There is a strong possibility that your theory is correct, Loki, even if it's... currently being used to mock you.

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

We're mocking his inability to share an opinion.

That said, what if we had a look at the weapons that got brought back? It might give us a better idea of the kind of technology that the government is working with. If it is advanced beyond what the public has available to them.

[selfimage]

I know, they're being completey and utterly unfair.

[ THANK YOU CONNOR, he's vindicated. ]

Their implants would be a good way of getting into their head.
Though I'd rather use something that would be of benefit in breaking their ranks, if the need arises.