The God Conscience (Bartholomew Silva)

[Grognardsw]

"We should try to procure the right colored clothes for the RTC," said Cyxeria, referring to the color-coded garb system used in the compound. "I can adjust my nano-gel exterior to that, but ideally Bartholomew should be in the same."

"RTC personnel wear purple," commented Randall. "I've seen where the laundry facility is. You may be able to blend in there tomorrow and lift a suit."

"Tomorrow then."

Cyxeria looked over their equipment as the three settled down for the night.

[BackworldTraveller]

Bartholomew is up, bright and early and prepares for the day with a meditation. His usual morning run is skipped on the grounds that runners generally have a limited number of interactions and adding a new one will make people curious as to who has joined their select band.

Instead, he concentrates on ensuring that their host's neighbours will not notice the presence of extras in the block.

Finally, once the other residents are awake (OK Cyxeria isn't the last to rise), he gets to ask So what is your plan to find clothing?

[Grognardsw]

Bartholomew woke that morning. He looked out the window to a sunny, pleasant day. It seemed very peaceful.

From Randall's corner apartment, the Shepherd did not hear any unusual sounds from neighboring units. He observed people leaving the building for work. He and Cyxeria had been quiet and unseen on their entrance in, so the Syncretic agent felt good that no one knew they had spent the night.

In response to Bartholomew's question, Cyxeria morphed her nano-gel exterior to appear as a tan-clad man. "I plan on entering the laundry facility and absconding for you the tan clothing of the night janitorial staff. That may help cover our night incursion into RTC."

[BackworldTraveller]

OK - Sounds a plan...I'll watch to see if you are watched.

[Grognardsw]

Cyxeria and Bartholomew walked separately to the services building in which compound laundry facilities were kept. The synthezoid, in appropriately colored tan clothes, walked in by a back loading dock entrance.

Bartholomew casually circled the building, then loitered for a little bit on a bench in front of a building opposite. Cyxeria was gone for about five minutes, during which time there seemed to be nothing amiss from Bartholomew’s perspective. Cyxeria, carrying a full purse, walked by the Shepherd on his bench without acknowledging him.

Later, at Randall’s apartment, Bartholomew tried on the clothes.

“They fit,” said Cyxeria as she looked at Bartholomew in the uniform. “That should help if we’re stopped tonight in the building.”

If there are any other activities you’d like to do in the day, go ahead, otherwise we’ll move to the night.

[BackworldTraveller]

If there are any other activities you’d like to do in the day, go ahead, otherwise we’ll move to the night.

Night's good. 30 posts on Coffee Making could be tedious

[Grognardsw]

Under cover of night Cyxeria and Bartholomew approached the back of the RTC building. They moved with confidence as if they belonged there. A moment before Cyxeria had sent a mini-drone to the camera at the roof corner and sent a EMP pulse to momentarily disrupt it.

The service door had a keypad. Cyxeria’s finger protruded a screwdriver and she opened the keypad, then attempted to bypass the security code.

I’ll have you roll for Cyxeria, to make things more interesting. So please roll a percentile. Thanks.

[BackworldTraveller]

[Grognardsw]

Cyxeria’s finger circuit tapped into the lock and with a click the door opened. The synthezoid and Bartholomew were in a small warehouse area approximately 30’ x 50’, with boxes, pallets, shelving, auto-muscle clampers, hover-lifters, a loading dock door, and two regular doors at the opposite south side and one in the west wall.

[BackworldTraveller]

Cyxeria’s finger circuit tapped into the lock and with a click the door opened. The synthezoid and Bartholomew were in a small warehouse area approximately 30’ x 50’, with boxes, pallets, shelving, auto-muscle clampers, hover-lifters, a loading dock door, and two regular doors at the opposite east side and one in the south wall.

Bartholomew considers how this fits with the external geometry of the building. This covers about 1/10th of the floor area. So - the doors opposite must open onto another warehouse or access-way. The south door would be the way into the majority of the building.

A quick check will show IR, Fire and motion sensors (if any). The door itself has an electronically controlled lock. Electronic or magnetic can be simply determined. Do we need a code/hack to exit or will it allow egress on a simple latch? Which doors are marked as fire-exits?

The room has storage? Are the shelves tagged for human use or electronically coded only? What do the shelves seem to hold?

Bartholomew points south and signals a query about heading that way

[Grognardsw]

Bartholomew mentally mapped the building to gain a sense of direction (see map.) A look at the door lock showed Bartholomew that it could be opened from the inside, so it wouldn't need to be cracked on the way out. The door and the nearby loading dock garage door were both marked as fire-exits.

The Shepherd and Cyxeria adjusted their sensor goggles as they peered about the room. They saw no motion sensors in the corners, or beams from hidden sources.

The shelves of the warehouse were labeled by keywords such as bathroom supplies, office supplies, furniture, computers, etc. for common items. There was also a section for one-time or infrequent deliveries meant for specific departments, and this section was labeled by department. Bartholomew saw labels for Executive, IT, R&D, AI, and Creative.

All shelves were accessed by hand, with assistance from auto-muscle clampers for heavy items. Hover-lifters were used to reach the higher shelves.

Cyxeria nodded in agreement to Bartholomew's suggestion to go to the south door.

Building Map

[BackworldTraveller]

The "One-off items" for AI and Creative are of some interest. Bartholomew will have a quick look to see if there is any indication of supplier IDs! (Images will be taken)

And will then follow Cyxeria to the south door.

[Grognardsw]

Bartholomew investigated the origin shipping addresses of the boxes stored in the AI and Creative department shelves. He noted and took pictures of several vendors: TeslaSpace, Blue Origin, Weyland-Yutani, and Tyrell Corp.

Cyxeria and Bartholomew went through the south door into an east-west hallway.

[BackworldTraveller]

OK - Now where?

Bartholomew looks for the fire-fighting station to see if there is an evacuation floorplan.

[Grognardsw]

There is no fire-fighting station in sight. The decision of left or right is yours.

[BackworldTraveller]

Well, if nothing else, we have proof that they aren't adhering to fire regs! No fire control. Heck - Lets go left.

[Grognardsw]

Bartholomew and Cyxeria turned left and padded down the 40' hallway. Pictures lined the wall of people; kult luminaries they assumed. The hallway opened into a cafeteria with tables, chairs, and open doorways into an adjacent kitchen. There was a door in the south wall, and east wall.

[BackworldTraveller]

Bartholomew and Cyxeria turned left and padded down the 40' hallway. Pictures lined the wall of people; kult luminaries they assumed. The hallway opened into a cafeteria with tables, chairs, and open doorways into an adjacent kitchen. There was a door in the south wall, and east wall.

Onwards and southwards

[Grognardsw]

Bartholomew and Cyxeria went through the south door into a large 30’x40’ rectangular lounge and rec room. There was a space billiards table, zing pong, an array of video monitor games, two Knowvision sets, a table with a half-dozen Shift headset players, several couches, tables and chairs. There were doors in the middle of the east, west and south walls.

I’ll have a map in my next post. Of course, you’re welcome to map if that is enjoyable to you.

[Grognardsw]

Updated Map