Session 8 Report

General Summary

Ashes of Intelligence

Report 8

Related Dates: Days 136 through 137 of 4,543,626,881

Origin: KC33345L

Destination: IV22357Z
 
Report begins...

This is the eighth report on the activities of Subjects 4777, 4778, 4779, 4780, 4781, and 4782, along with their relationship to, and interactions with Subject 1. Data for this and all other reports on these subjects have been gathered through mostly secondary and tertiary sources, with only occasional data from the primary sources themselves. As such, these data may be subject to the degradation effects of copying from one source to the next. For full reliability percentages, see the attached charts.

Day 136 of 4,543,626,881 (16 May of 98 AF in Local Notation)

As reported in Report 7, Subject 4782 (designated "Dwin" and referred to as such henceforth in this report) spent most of this day continuing her analysis of the vials found in the car of Coop member designated "Darmand Evrayl". Although the results of this analysis have not been officially announced, the subjects' action on Day 137 (see below) have made it clear that these vials contained a collection of poisons and antidotes. Reports are not entirely clear on how many there were, but it seems there were in the range of 10 to 12 poisons with an equal number of antidotes (one for each poison). Following the completion of the analysis, the subjects spent some time discussing the situation amongst themselves. This involved some consultation with Coop Council member designated "Naja Sereen", though the precise topics discussed are not entirely clear.

Day 137 of 4,543,626,881 (17 May of 98 AF in Local Notation)

The subjects began this day by acquiring and examining in detail the records of alpaca ownership in the Coop. See Reports 542 and 543 of the Taebur series for complete details on this unusual business/governance method, but in short, political power in the Coop is determined in large part by the number of alpacas (an animal much like a llama) an individual member owns. Witnesses indicate that the subjects seemed most interested in the current numbers of alpacas possessed by Darmand and Naja. This would make sense if they were looking for motive for Darmand to attempt to kill Naja. By the Coop's system, he would need to have more alpacas than whoever inherited Naja's alpacas in order to gain her position if she died. After the subjects finished their examination of the alpaca records, they set up a table in an open-air tent in an open area of the Coop's campsite, and began interrogations of Coop members closely associated with Darmand Evrayl. They interrogated individuals one at a time, seating each person on one side of the table with Subjects 4778, 4779, 4781 (designated "James", "Rolanda", "R.A.N.C.H.E.R." respectively and referred to as such henceforth in this report) and Dwin on the other side. Subject 4777 (designated "Dante" and referred to as such henceforth in this report) stood behind the questioned individual each time. Subject 4780 (designated "Ackers" and referred to as such henceforth in this report) was not present for most of these interrogations, and was instead following and watching Darmand Evrayl. R.A.N.C.H.E.R. did the majority of the questioning. The subjects began with Coop member designated "Ned Achma", Darmand's driver and the person the subjects, particularly R.A.N.C.H.E.R., had had an altercation with on Day 133 (see Reports 6 and 7). Questions appeared to focus on the poison/antidote vials and the bag from Darmand's car they were discovered in, though witnesses were not close enough to overhear specific questions. Next, they questioned Coop member designated "Emanwell Khouri". Questions focused again on the vials and the bag containing them. It seems they were attempting to gain an admittance that Emanwell recognized either the bag or its contents as belonging to Darmand. Presumably, the subjects believed that evidence of Darmand's possession of other poisons lent credence to his acquiring a venomous scorpion. The subjects then questions Coop member designated "Chris Farrant", the third of Darmand's close associates. The subjects appeared happier with the results of this interrogation, though what precise information they learned from Chris as opposed to the other two remains uncertain. All three of Darmand's associates appeared frightened and upset following their individual interrogations. The subjects then questioned Darmand himself. Ackers was present for this interrogation and led with some of the questions. This particular interrogation was shorter than the others, however, as Darmand became highly disturbed, and loudly claimed that the subjects were somehow reading his mind. He accused James of using nanotech to achieve this feat. He then declared that he denied the legitimacy of the interrogation and tried to leave. The subjects blocked his way and Darmand attacked them using his natural mutant claws. He paralysed Rolanda briefly before being knocked to the ground by R.A.N.C.H.E.R., at which point he surrendered. Armed Coop members arrived and took him away. Two important revelations have come from this altercation:

James has, indeed, gained control over local nanites. This was a possibility I dismissed as unlikely in Report 5. However, it has now been confirmed as the case. James has admitted to the ability and it is now becoming common knowledge amongst the people of the Coop.
One of the subjects has telepathic abilities. Although it is possible that Darmand was simply unhinged and imagining it, in this case, I believe Darmand was correct. However, I find it unlikely that Darmand was correct to accuse James of this, as nanites are not typically capable of creating telepathic neural pathways. To program them to do so is almost certainly far beyond James's capabilities. More likely, the candidate is one of the other subjects, and I would suggest Dante as the most likely candidate. This would explain why Dante always stood behind the people being questioned, since telepathic contact usually involves a physical sign. In all likelihood, he used telepathy on all of them; Darmand was simply the only one to notice. It also means all the subjects are aware of Dante's abilities, and probably have known of them the entire time they've worked together.

As a result of these revelations, it is clear that the subjects have been hiding some of their abilities. if Dante is telepathic, there is every chance he possesses other psionic abilities as well. I have updated his and James's profiles accordingly, and suggest upgrading of the subjects' threat level from LOW (as estimated in Report 1) to MID-LOW. I will enact Security Level 2. The subjects then met with the Coop's executive council, where it was determined that further interrogations of Darmand and his three associates would be conducted in the presence of the council. While the council debated its next move, James went to see Coop member designated "Elma Farrant", the mother of Chris Farrant and one of the Coop's mechanics. They spoke while she worked on one of the vehicles. James expressed concern to her that Chris had fallen under the influence of a bad group and that he was worried Chris was in danger from Darmand betraying him. Elma Farrant stated that Darmand and Darmand's father before him had been good friends of the family for some time. The Evrayls had provided financial support for her family, and she saw no reason to believe Chris was in any danger from Darmand. She confirmed that Darmand had helped Chris obtain additional alpacas. Based on this meeting, it seems likely the subjects believed that Darmand had helped his associates to gain additional alpacas so that they would then give their to him if Naja's position as Chief Fleecing Officer became available due to her death. The subjects then questioned Darmand once more, this time in front of the council. As this interrogation took place under greater secrecy, it is less clear exactly what went on during it. However, it was a lengthy questioning period. At the end, Darmand was led away from the counil tent by armed guards. At the time of this report, I have not yet received confirmation of a council announcement; however, unconfirmed reports state that Darmand confessed to attempting to kill Naja. I will update when full confirmation is available.