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Post by grinch on Jun 22, 2022 20:54:25 GMT
If Cathal has gotten to the point where he’s in contact with his future self then it’s only a matter of time before someone else clocks on and takes notice of his activities. Hopefully it’s not the Time Agency or the Time Lords as he’ll have no chance against them.
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Post by markrand on Jun 22, 2022 21:41:58 GMT
I like how this story is developing.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 22, 2022 22:06:59 GMT
If Cathal has gotten to the point where he’s in contact with his future self then it’s only a matter of time before someone else clocks on and takes notice of his activities. Hopefully it’s not the Time Agency or the Time Lords as he’ll have no chance against them. It's only a few days. Probably. Everyone does it, and hardly anyone ends up timelooped or erasing themselves from history, or an intangible temporal ghost screaming for eternity...
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 22, 2022 22:07:47 GMT
I like how this story is developing. Thank you, I'm curious where it's going myself.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 23, 2022 19:25:11 GMT
Part XV After finish both the tea (mediocre as expected) and the thinking (rather exciting) Cathal got up and left the café. He considered a taxi and then decided on the direct route. With a mental impulse he activated the comm integrated into his brain and spoke without speaking, “Taif, are you receiving me?” The voice in his head replied “Your signal is being received without problem Operator Gould”. So the system is working fine then. Good. “Taif, ensure the platform is deployed and ready for transmat”. “Compliance”. Cathal strolled down a laneway and looked around, before deciding to rely on more acute senses, “Taif am I being observed?” “No Operator, there are no humans or devices observing you at present”, With another mental impulse Cathal triggered the transmat and was no longer there.
Some infinitesimal fraction of a second later he was standing on the invisible platform attached to the equally invisible time machine. Through it’s optical camouflage he could see people walking across the bridge, and traffic on the road beyond, but thanks to science he didn’t comprehend in detail the couldn’t see him, his presence being edited from the illusion. Fascinating really. “Taif open the hatch”. He spoke aloud. “Compliance”.
Inside Cathal stripped off the suit, emptying his pockets of their cargo of gadgetry onto the desk. Time for some real food, a couple of the supplement capsules to fuel the growth of the nanomachine in his body and some serious thought. He was ravenous and his brain was churning. Sitting at the desk he edited a new meal option and sent it to the foodfab. Less than three minutes later half a roast chicken and at least three thousand calories of trimmings appeared and he blanked the screen. “Taif, play Beethoven’s Symphony number six please. Randomly select a performance”. “Compliance”. The music started and Cathal enjoyed the meal as more that mere refuelling.
Three hours later he’d scoped out his plan of campaign, based on the notes he’d received from himself but with his own touches to flesh matters out. The drone had mapped out Brunel House and he made detailed notes on the works he was going to commission after tomorrow's meeting. He selected a few new enhancement packages from the medical database; most of them would be prohibited to a citizen of Earth in the fifty-fourth century but Taif accepted ‘mission exigencies’ as justification for ignoring such rules. He shied away from easily detectable modifications, implanted weapons and such, and gross physical upgrades that would need time for him to acclimatise. At least for the moment. The database upgrade for his implanted computer would allow him to reference data without using Taif, saving time, and give him the equivalent of several books at instant recall. Or an actually reliable Wikipedia for the next few millennia. He’d located suitable sources of raw material for the fabber, and a method of getting the materials to his new base of operations. He grinned at the thought, he’d be helping reduce waste at the same time.
Anyway now that his brain was relaxed it was time for rest, a good book, and some neutrally enhanced sleep while the nanomachines made further alterations to his body. He’d be up early tomorrow to continue.
“Taif, place the nanomachies and supplies for tonight’s enhancements in a suitable container. And add something to kill the taste. Chocolate I think”. “Compliance”. A tumbler of dark brown fluid, shoe with think greyish metallic streaks, was extruded. “Taif, extend the sleeping pallet”. “Compliance”. A section of the wall melted away and Cathal sat down, tasting hid ‘medicine’. It was chocolate, mostly. He gulped it down and dropped the tumbler into the hopper for recycling. Lying down he stuck his tablet to the convenient holder pad and started reading Dickson Carr. After perhaps an hour, his brain calmed, except for the plot holes which irritated him, he tapped it off and spoke; “Taif, initiate sleep mode in sixty seconds and start the nanomachines. Wake me in six hours”. “Compliance”. A minute later he was sleeping deeply.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 24, 2022 8:11:41 GMT
Part XVI.
Cathal awoke feeling both refreshed, and for the first time in two days, actually relaxed. While he had a lot to do he had a Plan and some ideas how to put it into practice. Of course he also had a meeting with a lawyer; it would be his first significant interaction with another human since he’d acquired the time machine he realised. Besides he didn’t like lawyers. I wonder how and why I selected him, Cathal thought to himself. Did a previous iteration of me research the lawyers of the city? Or is it another information paradox with a recursive chain of cross-time messages? Cathal shook his head, there were priorities before temporal philosophy. Breakfast for a start. But first a shower.
About fifteen minutes later Cathal was starting breakfast with a large glass of freshly synthesised orange juice and browsing the news, a habit he hadn’t broken. Nothing of immediate importance seemed to be happening and he completed a leisurely and extensive repast, plus a couple of supplement capsules to provide the materials the nanomachines required that wasn’t in the usual human diet. His meeting was in six hours and he had work to do first.
Using the keyboard and screen interface he designed a suitable drone for handling the matters he’d yet to set in motion, something that could be parked in place and answer calls, relay important questions and handle routine matters to do with his property acquisition and financial affairs. Once matters were finalised today he’d drop back three years or so and begin construction of the foundations, move money from various criminal accounts into a couple he’d create, create a set of shell companies and otherwise hide the money from observers. His knowledge of financial services, at least from a technology perspective, was good and he’d install a series of alerts against detection. He was confident that matters could be arranged, at this morning’s meeting suggested he was correct. Unless it was a trap of course.
Hours of datawork and a light lunch later he prepared for departure. He’d rejected simply transmatting to the land he’d yesterday in favour of another taxi, even though this would consume perhaps an hour of time. He wasn’t quite sure why he disliked the idea but was willing to let his subconscious have it’s way. The suit was immaculate, the gadgets and pocket stuff stowed away and so he departed. “Taif, open the hatch and deploy the platform”. “Compliance”. Standing seemingly on nothing for a moment he admired the view, looking looked over at Brunel House he grinned. One concession to travel was skipping the platform over the river, he still found it a little unnerving. Selecting the destination on the transmat, and verifying no-one was nearby, he triggered the device and was instantly thirty metres away.
Fifty minutes later the taxi slowly approached the offices of Richard Harvey and company and Cathal was annoyed. Traffic was heavier than even it usually was and he hated being late for an appointment. He understood the psychology but it still grated on him. Oh well, ‘traffic’ was an all purpose excuse. Eventually the vehicle arrived and Cathal paid and exited into the cooler air and sunshine. His sunglasses tinted automatically, and now unnecessarily; his new eyes could pick out sunspots without being injured. A check of the drone orbiting overhead showed nothing obviously concerning so he walked over.
Entering the building for the second time he noted it was the same trio at the building reception and a lack of suspicious people lurking. Announcing “Cathal Gould for David Harvey” had him directed to a lift for the fourth floor. He noticed that his name was checked off a list of visitors and the lift was operated from the desk. Hmmm, he thought, once inside he’s probably have no control over it’s progress.
Repressing the surge of paranoia Cathal waited the long seconds for the lift to carry him up fifteen or so metres. The female voice announced “Fourth Floor, reception for Richard Harvey and company” and binged as the doors opened. Outside was a reception desk, waiting area and some rather plush indigo carpeting. There was a lack of people attempting to arrest him for embezzlement, fraud, theft of a time machine or anything else. Cathal felt almost disappointed. Oh well.
The receptionist was Shona from the previous day; he’d grabbed her picture from the company employee database and she greeted him almost genuine warmth. “Mister Gould, mister Harvey is ready for you. Go down the corridor and it’s the last door on the left”. “Thank you” Cathal replied and turned. He knew where David Harvey’s office was, just as he knew that there was only one occupant there now. This would be the first real test of his plans. Oh well, he could always go back earlier in time and try again.
He knocked perfunctorily at the door and walked in. “Good morning mister Harvey, I’m Cathal Gould”. The fiftyish man behind the expensive and slightly disorganised desk stood and proffered a hand. “Mister Gould, nice to finally meet you. Please have a seat, tea or coffee”. Cathal declined, he detested coffee and rarely found office tea palatable, “Thank you but no”. Harvey spoke, “Well then, down to business”. He selected the top file of a small pile to hand. “This is the details of the purchase and renovation of Brunel House, I believe you’ll find it satisfactory and to your specifications”, he passed the manila cover to Cathal, “Your agent, mister Finlet, was quite specific”. Skimming the contents Cathal was impressed. The Victorian pile had been almost gutted as part of the revamp, necessary as it had been unoccupied for nearly a decade, and the interior modernised and renovated. There was a comfortable, even luxurious, second floor apartment, plus extra rooms for most purposes. “Mister Finlet stated that it would be used as a home and office for yourself, and possibly for visitors”, Harvey spoke when he saw Cathal had finished skimming. “Yes, that’s right. I’m a consultant and will be based here for some time” Cathal replied. ‘Consultant’ covered a multitude of oddities he’d found. “Well the property is fully renovated and meets all current legal and safety requirements. Luckily it wasn’t a listed structure so there were no delays on that count. Though the facade has been preserved”. Cathal winced, he’d lived for a while in a listed Georgian building. Preservation seemed to require cold draughts and inconvenience. He replied to Harvey, “Yes I think this will do very well. All handled very nicely mister Harvey”.
The solicitor smiled appreciatively, of the compliment or the commission he’d be getting for the work and spoke ”Thank you, do you want to take a run out there after we’ve finished? To see matters for yourself?” Cathal smiled and replied, “Thank you. I think that would be an excellent idea”.
The next thirty minutes was finance and legal technicalities. Harvey, or rather one of his associates who specialised in company law, had set up a company for Gould to use while in the country and engaged a firm of accounts to manage matters. The fund transfers, ten million Cathal noted, had been carried out and vetted satisfactorily by the authorities so the money was accessible. Cathal signed the cheque specimen signature form and Harvey notarised it. It was indeed pleasant to have competent minions to do the work for him. He now had an identity, ready funds and a base of operations. He’d better make the arrangements soon for it all to have happened.
After matters were concluded Harvey led Cathal back to reception, informed Shona he’s be out of the office for a couple of hours, and used an access fob to take the lift down to the basement car park. Cathal surreptitiously scanned the device, just in case, under cover of checking his phone. You never knew when such things might be useful.
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Post by grinch on Jun 24, 2022 15:14:51 GMT
Reading back over this thread, it does make me wonder what exactly caused the erasure of the timeline in which Central Command existed. I know the theory is that it was due to the actions of another TAIF craft but it does make me wonder whether someone else is responsible. Maybe it was due to the actions of the Time Agency? Not much is admittedly know about them aside from the fact that in the EU they can be rather ruthless. In fact if Cathal’s journey is meant to take place in a post-Time War universe, they’d probably be the dominant force when it comes to tracking down errant time travellers.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 24, 2022 18:55:27 GMT
Reading back over this thread, it does make me wonder what exactly caused the erasure of the timeline in which Central Command existed. I know the theory is that it was due to the actions of another TAIF craft but it does make me wonder whether someone else is responsible. Maybe it was due to the actions of the Time Agency? Not much is admittedly know about them aside from the fact that in the EU they can be rather ruthless. In fact if Cathal’s journey is meant to take place in a post-Time War universe, they’d probably be the dominant force when it comes to tracking down errant time travellers. Are you suggesting that the Time Agency would do something like that? Removing another potential player? Shocking.....
Actually in our current campaign they're actively meddling in the various time travel projects of the C50 Earth powers, to ensure the Agency is created.
Then again the Agency has its own enemies and a complicated history after it was shut down.
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Post by grinch on Jun 24, 2022 20:54:25 GMT
Reading back over this thread, it does make me wonder what exactly caused the erasure of the timeline in which Central Command existed. I know the theory is that it was due to the actions of another TAIF craft but it does make me wonder whether someone else is responsible. Maybe it was due to the actions of the Time Agency? Not much is admittedly know about them aside from the fact that in the EU they can be rather ruthless. In fact if Cathal’s journey is meant to take place in a post-Time War universe, they’d probably be the dominant force when it comes to tracking down errant time travellers. Are you suggesting that the Time Agency would do something like that? Removing another potential player? Shocking.....
Actually in our current campaign they're actively meddling in the various time travel projects of the C50 Earth powers, to ensure the Agency is created.
Then again the Agency has its own enemies and a complicated history after it was shut down.Matches quite nicely with my own personal interpretation of the Time Agency. I.E. They are the post-Time War equivalent to the Time Lords. Morally unscrupulous b******s who claim to police the Time Vortex for the betterment of the universe but really it’s to serve their own ends. After all, they seem to make it a habit of hiring psychopaths and wiping their own agents memories whenever they feel it most convenient. Of course, there are a few good eggs such as Mono - Monoid Time Agent (hopefully to be fully written up very soon...) but people like him are sadly few and far between. And of course, they’re more than happy as I suggested to wipe out any potential competition or anyone they feel may threaten their own existence. (Although I imagine the likes of Faction Paradox are too powerful even for them) It’s why I reckon Cathal may soon draw their attention if he oversteps himself. Actually, I have yet to incorporate this into my campaign but when it does come into play I intend to show that despite erasing other temporal organisations from existence certain individuals for whatever reason seem to avoid being wiped. To prevent them posing a threat or worse reestablishing their own timeline to usurp the Agency, they are captured and placed in a special facility located between two seconds nicknamed ‘Mean Time’ Would mainly serve for the purpose of a few cameos or Easter Eggs but it could prove useful should anyone try to bust them out. Such prisoners would include various recognisable characters as Gary Seven and his mysterious feline companion ‘Isis’, a Chronosapien, Renet and finally Nicholas Prentice from the fairly average nineties revival of The Outer Limits.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 25, 2022 13:18:09 GMT
Are you suggesting that the Time Agency would do something like that? Removing another potential player? Shocking.....
Actually in our current campaign they're actively meddling in the various time travel projects of the C50 Earth powers, to ensure the Agency is created.
Then again the Agency has its own enemies and a complicated history after it was shut down. Matches quite nicely with my own personal interpretation of the Time Agency. I.E. They are the post-Time War equivalent to the Time Lords. Morally unscrupulous b******s who claim to police the Time Vortex for the betterment of the universe but really it’s to serve their own ends. After all, they seem to make it a habit of hiring psychopaths and wiping their own agents memories whenever they feel it most convenient. Of course, there are a few good eggs such as Mono - Monoid Time Agent (hopefully to be fully written up very soon...) but people like him are sadly few and far between. And of course, they’re more than happy as I suggested to wipe out any potential competition or anyone they feel may threaten their own existence. (Although I imagine the likes of Faction Paradox are too powerful even for them) It’s why I reckon Cathal may soon draw their attention if he oversteps himself. Actually, I have yet to incorporate this into my campaign but when it does come into play I intend to show that despite erasing other temporal organisations from existence certain individuals for whatever reason seem to avoid being wiped. To prevent them posing a threat or worse reestablishing their own timeline to usurp the Agency, they are captured and placed in a special facility located between two seconds nicknamed ‘Mean Time’ Would mainly serve for the purpose of a few cameos or Easter Eggs but it could prove useful should anyone try to bust them out. Such prisoners would include various recognisable characters as Gary Seven and his mysterious feline companion ‘Isis’, a Chronosapien, Renet and finally Nicholas Prentice from the fairly average nineties revival of The Outer Limits. Personally I hadn't envisaged teh Agency as being that powerful, while they might aspire to the powers of the Time Lords, they simply aren't that powerful. They, and similar organisations, are one of the reasons that Freetimers band together.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 25, 2022 14:14:49 GMT
Part XVII. The lift carrying the two men took mere seconds to arrive in the underground car park and Hervey led the way to his car, a Mercedes saloon, naturally. Though Cathal knew this already, as indeed he knew the fuel, water and oil levels and the state of the car’s ECU, brakes and more. He really wasn’t planning on taking any silly risks with his life any more. Ironic really.
Harvey beeped the car doors and waved Cathal into the plush interior and they set off. Harvey was a good driver Cathal estimated, with no history of accidents or legal problems connected to his driving. In passing he noted that the lane into which he’d considered transmatting was now blocked by a skip, already half-full of building rubble, and other construction material.
Harvey was a good navigator too, zig-zagging down a range of minor roads with impressive skill and acuity. Once Cathal, warned by the covering drone, pretended to be notified of a traffic blockage on his phone and informed him, Harvey factored the problem into his drive with hardly a moments delay. It took them barely twenty-five minutes to reach Brunel House.
Opening the side gates with a remote control Harvey drove the car up the drive into the large rear courtyard and stopped. The two men exited the Merc and Cathal looked around at his new home and base. The courtyard alone was over a thousand square metres, with a two-storey stable and coach-house converted into a four vehicle garage on one side, various sheds around another and the main house itself on one of the longer sides. The gardens were rather bare; the renovation had included relaying the lawn but not a lot else. Also visible were the gazebo, glasshouse and guest cottage. Cathal nodded appreciatively and spoke to the solicitor; “A nice job, and a nice site too”.
Harvey grinned for the first time since Cathal had met him, “It should be nice, for the amount it cost. Shall we go in? Cathal nodded agreement and the pair walked to the main rear door which Harvey unlocked with a key from a rather small bunch be produced. Inside he rested his briefcase on a small table and drew out another set of keys which he handed to Cathal. “You’ll need these. As specified there are only eight keys, of the Abloy type, used in the house to simplify matters. The exterior doors are fitted with chipped locks also”. Cathal noticed the keys were fitted into colour coded holders and nodded to Hervey. “OK”. The solicitor continued, “The ground floor is the reception rooms, plus kitchen and storage. The first floor is four en-suite double bedrooms, two rooms set up as offices and a kitchenette. The master suite takes up the second floor, with two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a large lounge, a study, two offices and kitchenette. The upper basement level is fitted as an open plan office space but not furnished. The lower basement level has been lowered, fixed and sealed, and a new concrete floor but is empty at present. As per your instructions the furnishings have been installed.” Cathal nodded and spoke, “Excellent. Let’s take a look, shall we?” He had no idea why he’d specified the layout, if there was any reason beyond establishing a suitable cover story. It did seem rather excessive for his immediate needs.
The tour started in the basement, which was as blandly ‘office’ in look as any Cathal had worked in. You could easily pack twenty office drones in, though with the large rear windows thanks to the stepping it was more pleasant than most. The lower basement would be an ideal workspace for installing the time machine and other equipment, over a hundred and fifty square metres to work with. The builders had installed a look of structural steel to open up the spaces.
The ground floor was, as Harvey had said, a mix of business reception and living areas, though the kitchen was huge and the formal dining room could seat sixteen. The first floor’s guest rooms were plush, large, well laid-out and well-furnished but the master suite was positively luxurious. The attics had been cleared and floored, but were empty.
When they returned to the ground floor Cathal felt congratulations were in order, mister Harvey seemed so proud of the job. In fact, he either had a lot of skill, or had hired someone with that skill. The house was beautifully renovated. “An truly excellent job mister Harvey, ready for immediate occupation too”, Cathal complimented the solicitor. Harvey grinned again, “Enough money can get the job done, and this on wasn’t cheap”. “I think it was worth it”, Cathal replied, grinning himself.
The solicitor opened his briefcase and took out a file folder before speaking again, “Now if you’d be so good as to look over the documentation and, if it’s acceptable, sign where needed”. Cathal took the papers and looked over them. As far as he could tell all were in order. There were the title deeds, the purchase agreement, the approvals and sign-off for the renovations and more. Cathal sighed. If there were problems he’d have them fixed. Even if that meant using uncommon methods.
“Thank you very much mister Harvey, that all seems in order. If there are any snags I’ll either be in touch or contact the builders directly, as needed”, Cathal was eager for the privacy to explore his new domain, and wanted him gone. Politely of course. The solicitor took the gentle hint and said his goodbyes, handing over the gate remote and the second set of keys. Cathal accompanied him to the back door and they shook hands amicably.
Cathal spoke out loud “Alone at last”. Then he walked down the steps to the lower basement where he spoke again, this time inside his head. “Taif, prepare to jump the capsule to my current location”. “Compliance”.
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Post by grinch on Jun 27, 2022 11:35:43 GMT
Matches quite nicely with my own personal interpretation of the Time Agency. I.E. They are the post-Time War equivalent to the Time Lords. Morally unscrupulous b******s who claim to police the Time Vortex for the betterment of the universe but really it’s to serve their own ends. After all, they seem to make it a habit of hiring psychopaths and wiping their own agents memories whenever they feel it most convenient. Of course, there are a few good eggs such as Mono - Monoid Time Agent (hopefully to be fully written up very soon...) but people like him are sadly few and far between. And of course, they’re more than happy as I suggested to wipe out any potential competition or anyone they feel may threaten their own existence. (Although I imagine the likes of Faction Paradox are too powerful even for them) It’s why I reckon Cathal may soon draw their attention if he oversteps himself. Actually, I have yet to incorporate this into my campaign but when it does come into play I intend to show that despite erasing other temporal organisations from existence certain individuals for whatever reason seem to avoid being wiped. To prevent them posing a threat or worse reestablishing their own timeline to usurp the Agency, they are captured and placed in a special facility located between two seconds nicknamed ‘Mean Time’ Would mainly serve for the purpose of a few cameos or Easter Eggs but it could prove useful should anyone try to bust them out. Such prisoners would include various recognisable characters as Gary Seven and his mysterious feline companion ‘Isis’, a Chronosapien, Renet and finally Nicholas Prentice from the fairly average nineties revival of The Outer Limits. Personally I hadn't envisaged teh Agency as being that powerful, while they might aspire to the powers of the Time Lords, they simply aren't that powerful. They, and similar organisations, are one of the reasons that Freetimers band together.
Admittedly, that’s just my personal interpretation of the Agency. As you say, a lot of their so called power could merely be imaged based. Hence why they go to great effort to wipe out any other temporal organisation which could threaten their existence. Such an organisation could only exist within a post-Time War universe where the Higher Temporal Powers have been severely crippled or wiped out. Should the Time Lords ever return, they’d probably be hopelessly outmatched.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 28, 2022 9:58:53 GMT
Personally I hadn't envisaged teh Agency as being that powerful, while they might aspire to the powers of the Time Lords, they simply aren't that powerful. They, and similar organisations, are one of the reasons that Freetimers band together.
Admittedly, that’s just my personal interpretation of the Agency. As you say, a lot of their so called power could merely be imaged based. Hence why they go to great effort to wipe out any other temporal organisation which could threaten their existence. Such an organisation could only exist within a post-Time War universe where the Higher Temporal Powers have been severely crippled or wiped out. Should the Time Lords ever return, they’d probably be hopelessly outmatched. Absolutely. Their technology base alone would seem grossly inferior to the Daleks or Time Lords.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 28, 2022 10:45:01 GMT
XVIII.
The capsule appeared with no more impact than the rush of displaced air. Or rather didn’t appear since it was still invisible. “Taif discontinue visual stealth for the moment please”. “Compliance”. For the first time Cathal saw the exterior of the craft he’d so recently acquired and walked around it for the first time. It was indeed a polished two metre tall hemisphere atop a cylindrical base. The exterior was a dull, silvery-grey material with a surface that was extremely smooth to the touch. Was there some reason for the shape? It clearly wasn’t streamlined for, say, atmospheric flight. Some technical necessity? So much research to do.
Right, time for immediate priorities Cathal thought to himself. First gather raw materials for the fabricator. Second construct some useful robotic minions. Third ensure the house was properly secured. Fourth plan his trip back in time to close the paradox that he was tangled in. All the while there was a vast amount of information to absorb.
He exhaled and spoke aloud; “Taif, a list of tasks. First examine your datastore for any events in the near future that would threaten the safety and security of the base. Develop suitable measures to alleviate such threats and pass them to me for approval. Redeploy the first drone to provide additional security for this base. Design a suitable mobile avatar for yourself, I’d prefer to talk to something rather than the air. Prepare the designs I have approved for scavenger robots for manufacture and fabricate a prototype; determine how much impact making such robots will have on your current feedstock reserves. Map out suitable sites for acquiring raw materials, use the other two free drones if needed, and prepare a plan of operations for retrieving such materials. Examine the house and it’s surroundings for threats to security and privacy and report back to me on such”. “Compliance. How far into the future do you consider ‘near’?” Cathal sighed. “In this case take it to be one year”. “Compliance. The prototype will be ready in one kilosecond. The plans and other information are being sent to the display”. Hmm, he’d really prefer to start using the office upstairs. “Taif, also determine how much feedstock would be used by creating a duplicate workstation setup here”. “Compliance”.
OK, time for a ramble around his new home, followed by tea and biscuits. He’d noticed that Harvey, or one of his minions, had arranged a supply of basic necessities. Like tea, milk and custard creams.
Twenty minutes later Cathal had explored the house, running the scanner around as well, and was satisfied. The interior was workable and quite comfortable, and he had everything needed for immediate occupancy, at least once he’d had Taif fabricate some toiletries. Or he could always go an buy some, the thought stuck him. Why not, there were several large stores in easy walking distance and some fresh air and movement might help settle his still racing brain.
Looking over Taif’s information it seemed that there was no sign of imminent danger, some effects from global factors would be annoying but not serious. Taif had recommended a range of security enhancements using advanced technology, and had thoroughly scanned the area for entry routes, eavesdroppers, sight-lines and external cameras. Cathal approved the suggestions, but implementation would wait for Taif to have suitable manipulator robots at his disposal. The prototype scavenger robot resembled an elongated rat, with twelve legs, but could alter it’s shape and size to encompass several litres of material. Cathal dispatched it to one of the sheds into which a range of junk had been placed, mostly metals and wood but also other stuff that wasn't needed. The robot, the avatar drone for Taif, a couple of extra general purpose drones and a few manipulator robots that resembled large, twelve-legged arachnids, would consume around six percent of the available feedstocks. He approved them all. “Taif, can the fabricator use feedstocks located outside the capsule, if there was a pipe or similar”. “Multiple tanks and connections would be needed, unless a managed reservoir system was constructed”. “Would the construction of such a reservoir consume more than five percent of current feedstock? Or any difficult to replace materials?” “Negative”. “Then when they are operational have you utility spiders construct such a system here and connect it to the capsule. Ensure the links can be disconnected immediate if the capsule is to be moved and maintain the internal tanks as full as possible.” “Compliance”.
While he was speaking Cathal noticed the return of the first scavenger robot, now resembling not so much a metallic rat but more of a stubby python, engorged after a massive meal. It entered the capsule and Taif opened a portal for it to disgorge it’s contents into. Interesting.
Finishing his tea Cathal went upstairs to change. Time for some retail therapy.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 30, 2022 15:45:06 GMT
XIX. Cathal emerged from the nearby branch of Aldi actually feeling refreshed. The exercise and time away from the time machine and its seemingly endless potential actually made him feel better. And he’d picked up a few bits and pieces from the store’s extensive selection, some for convenience (they’d be scanned at the molecular level and added to the fabber’s repertoire) and others for actual use. Though, as he thought of it, the machine would be able to convert all the surplus wood into toilet paper with ease. Unfortunately it was an Aldi so their custard creams were inedible.
Part of Cathal’s mind, the bit that had intervened previously when he’d comtemplated suicide, noted that he was experiencing a somewhat strange sensation of detachment, feeling distant from the throng around him. He supposed that this was normal, they did not share in his knowledge.
He returned to the, or rather his, new house and stowed the shopping. In terms of durables and 'household goods' the house was well stocked, from Ikea mainly. There were no immediate problems that he foresaw, and the fabber downstairs would take care of almost anything he needed.
Cathal walked down to the sub-basement, feeling slightly wary despite the security cordon he’s created around the house. Down there all was well, the fabrication reservoir was completed and connected by flexible pipes to the capsule. The four sections appeared to have about fifteen cubic metres of capacity. A nearby desk now had a duplicate of the control console from the capsule; it looked identical. He started when something scurried from the time machine, one of Taif’s new utility spiders, though it resembled more one of those giant Japanese lobsters, made from matt grey metal. “Report please Taif” he said.
“Your instructions have been carried out Operator Gould. Six utility robots, four general-purpose drones and five additional scavengers have been constructed. The location you specified is being emptied of useful materials and this process is 43 percent complete. The feedstock reservoirs and connections have been completed and are 11 percent filled, though there is a lack of heavy and transition elements. Iron, Carbon and other light elements are plentiful”.
“Good. Will the construction of the planned counter-gravity flyer adversely impact feedstocks?” “No, Operator”. “Then have it, and suitable feedstock carriers constructed. How much darkness will there be tonight?” “Sunset is at 10:03PM and sunrise will be at 05:20 tomorrow morning, giving approximately seven hours of full darkness”. “Good. Add six more scavengers to the list. We’ll deploy them tonight in three teams. Have the drones reconnoitre the listed targets for maximal gain in the time available”. “Compliance”.
Right, that gave him almost eight hours to scan the datastore and Finlet’s logs. Cathal looked at the chair beside the table and smiled morphic materials made very comfortable furniture he thought. But first, a pot of tea and some biscuits.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jun 30, 2022 21:33:46 GMT
XX. Cathal spent the next eight hours absorbing data, minus toilet breaks and dinner. There was an utterly fascinating range of information available to him; the history of the next thirty three centuries, the human expansion into space, the innovation and brilliance, the discoveries and bravery, the wars and stupidity Plus a vast amount of science and technology, from gravity and the strong force manipulated as easily as electromagnetism, to the ability to manipulate the structure of space and time. Cathal knew he simply could not absorb it all in any reasonable amount of time. He’s have to investigate the brain enhancement Taif has mentioned and the education implant for it. He really needed a better grounding before he started travelling himself.
Then there were the logs of Operation Danice Finlet, they made interesting reading. He’d been trained for a decade for the TX mission, and returned to see his world altered, his own timeline extinguished. Yet, despite the cultural programming he’d survived the despair and tried his damnedest to find the cause and fix it, while being in over his head. Along the way, the three months of travelling in the hope of finding the divergence point and changing it, he’d met two other time travellers, in fact he’d been on his way to meet one of those ‘Freetimers’ when he’d had his nervous system burned out by a Scouser. Despite his upgrades he’d been mortally wounded and died before Taif’s medical marvels could fix him. Which it could have done, easily. Yes, a little preparation seemed very much in order.
A little general upgrading of his strength and reflexes, improved senses, protection for his nervous system against the varied and ubiquitous stun guns of the future, and their nastier, and not-at-all non-lethal, derivatives, a comprehensive package of medical nanomachines to fix him if, or rather when, needed. Something to deal with chemical agents, lethal or not, be they inhaled, absorbed, injected or ingested. So many possible upgrades, and no character point cost….
He’d try and make the late Operator Finlet’s rendezvous with Reilly Cydnie1 too. He was very curious about them, and also wanted to pick their brain rather a lot. They could well be useful to one another, Finlet’s notes indicated they didn’t have access to a full function fabricator and wanted to acquire one.
Finally at 9:40PM Cathal blanked the screens, stood and stretched. He was a little tired, but it was the pleasant fatigue of achievement. He looked over at his assembled minions and equipment.
There were a round dozen of the scavenger robots, now (thanks to a suggestion of Taif, was he developing some initiative?) disguised as a pack of urban foxes. It’d help with blending in, if they were seen. There were four of the small, spherical, drones, better equipped than the first ones (now themselves upgraded) with stunners, radio jammers and a range of intrusion and counter-measures tools. They’d provide over-watch for the scavengers, suppressing security systems, ensuring humans didn’t interfere and generally keeping matters on the down-low. Two of the utility spiders were hard at work but the other four were also squatting on the floor, awaiting orders.
Finally there was the ‘scooter’; at rest a hexagonal platform a metre across. When commanded it could extrude a control column which the standing operator used to fly the craft. Or it could equally well operate autonomously or controlled remotely by him or Taif. The morphic material could extrude extend additional sections for cargo, in this case basically fifty five gallon drums, though made of that same highly useful material. Empty they were a few centimetres thick, they expanded to a metre tall and around two hundred litres capacity. Assuming the contents averaged the density of iron, that’d be almost one-and-a-half tonnes but most materials would be far lighter. The scooter could carry forty eight such drums, to a maximum load of twelve tonnes.
Then there was his own gear. An whole-body ‘intrusion suit’ made of morphic fabric, with reinforcements. It could render him invisible, allow him to levitate and fly (though he’d need more practice) and protect for heavy machine gun fire. And it was comfortable and had pockets for other gear. His newly fabbed backpack was composed of similar material and had the gear too large to fit in his pockets, such as the counter-gravity lifters And, just in case, the backpack also contained two bottles of the cheapest spirit around, stuff so terrible it couldn’t legally be described as rum.
“Right”, Cathal spoke aloud, “time to be off, darkness is a-wasting”. He’d performed all the checks, had Taif second guess him and all seemed well. In his head he ordered the spiders to lift the scooter and, followed by the robots, he walked up the stairs.
1. A Freetimer who's appeared as an NPC in both my ongoing campaigns, and has become a PC in one of them. They're a second generation Freetimer, sometime traveller, sometime rogue who's always ready with a plan, a useful gadget and a snarky remark. Has a Vortun, an extra-dimensional Hideaway with integrated Portal, a time pod and other devices, like many independents they're a bit of a pack-rat.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 1, 2022 20:16:05 GMT
This was actually meant to be posted earlier today but I was busy. Gaming night tonight.
XXI. In the courtyard it was mostly dark, at least once Cathal had deactivated the extremely bright LED floodlights that had been installed. Of course the stars, the crescent moon and the inevitable light pollution provided some illumination, but not much. But to Cathal’s enhanced eyes there was quite enough light to see by. Ordering the drones into the air above, he checked their feeds as well as that from the three that provided general over-watch. There was nothing concerning to be detected, including by the thermal and neural sensors. He sent the four new built drones off to the primary targets.
“Taif, can you detect any threats to the mission plan, anyone who can see us, any cameras?”, Cathal formed the words in his mind, something that he was still getting used to. “Negative Operator Gould. The area is secure and free from observers”
Cathal nodded to himself and stepped over to the hexagonal platform. At a mental command the control column extruded and the platform expanded, becoming a larger hexagon around three metres across. He ordered the scavengers to board and lifted the collapsed storage drums onto the sides where they secured themselves. He grinned at the oddity of watching what seemed to be a pack of foxes distributing themselves around the platform. Idly he wondered if the grounds of Brunel House ever saw the real thing, he was rather fond of the urban adapted vulpines he’s seen around the city.
Stepping onto the platform Cathal activated the invisibility cape and the world outside darkened somewhat; the system wasn’t as smart as the one in the capsule, and was less efficient at managing photons. He shrugged, with his enhancements it was fine. He grasped the column, feeling his boots lock to the deck and again thought to Taif, “Taif, is everything ready?” “Yes Operator Gould”. Taking a deep breath Cathal guided the platform into the night sky.
Flying was often boring, involving as it generally did airports and other passengers. However flying a small, open, agile, craft though a city at night, at low altitude, was exhilarating and Cathal suddenly laughed at the oddity of it all. Here he was, flying around the city with a group of robot foxes, about to steal from recycling depots. His life had become odd recently.
The first target was about ten minutes away, even keeping his speed down to one-fifth of maximum. Cathal hovered around two hundred metres overhead and checked the drone’s feed. There was no human presence, just a few traces indicative of vermin and a single cat. The security system was trivial, intended to deter or detect teenagers and Taif had neutralised it via the drone in mere seconds. Cathal landed the platform in a darkened area, not even needing to take out lights as they weren’t kept on at night after work. He looked around and had the drone superimpose its scan of materials onto his vision. Lots of defunct electrical and electronic systems, whole sheds of them, full of rare-earths and other useful materials. Lots of aluminium too, ready for recycling.
Cathal climbed down, the platform having extended short landing legs to compensate for slight irregularities in the ground. “OK boys, time to go to work”, he commanded his scavengers and four of the foxes jumped off the platform and started exploring the depot. Cathal unloaded twelve of the storage drums and left them to be filled. After a last look around, he got back on the platform and set off for the second of the night’s targets.
Half-an-hour later all twelve fox-bots were busily engaged in a more productive programme of recycling that the local authority had ever managed. Cathal estimated that there would be no chance to ‘service’ the fourth of his primary targets before dawn, but was well pleased by the amount and variety of materials retrieved. He’d be picking up the first batch of drums full of metal and plastic powders in a couple of hours, to drop off back home. Which reminded him, “Taif, begin construction of the two larger utility robots please. And is there any news, or occurrences, that might concern me?” The AI responded inside Cathal’s head, “Compliance Operator Gould, Construction of the robots has been started. Monitoring of local communications, drone feeds and other sources show no detectable threats to security or other matters to report, at this time”.
That was good, but by no means perfect. Taif lacked initiative and especially intuition, deliberately, due to the cultural beliefs of his creators. He was a useful servant, but not really capable as more than an assistant, Cathal mused. He’d need to look into a more functional AI when he got the opportunity, unless it was possible to modify Taif. In a few weeks, once he’d gotten his base equipped, constructed a second fabber and improved his own knowledge, he’d head off. Perhaps Reilly Cydnie should be his first stop? According to Finslet’s notes she was a moderately experienced time traveller, and technologist. Certainly Finslet seemed to have trusted her; of course that was a guarantee of nothing really.
Anyway, they were matters for later. For now there was rubbish to steal.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 2, 2022 21:26:40 GMT
XXII. Around 3AM Cathal was returning from his second drop off of newly acquired feedstock and perusing the analysis of the contents of the drums, from niobium to neodymium, indium to iodine, germanium to gallium, the range of elements used in modern technology was fascinating. Well, fascinating to him anyway. Taif had completed the two large utility ‘bots, each with eight limbs, counter-gravity mobility, and the ability to move multi-tonne objects with ease. Which helped with the unloading and stowing of the night’s booty. That’d been when Taif’s silent voice in his head interrupted his thoughts. “Alert Operator Gould. There is an attempted intrusion in progress at location two”. Bugger, Cathal thought.
The platform took less than ninety seconds to reach the recycling depot in question, time in which Cathal considered his options. Who’d be coming into such a place at this time? Police responding to a report of suspicious activity? There had been no alarm, he’d taken care of them. Thieves, looking for something valuable to sell? Possible. The homeless, looking for shelter? Unlikely at this hour. Or teenagers engaged in petty theft and vandalism? Most likely. He was wrong.
Hovering over the depot he realised instantly that he’d been wrong. The intruders had an open bed truck and were not teenagers but adults. And they had keys and the alarm codes, not that the latter would be needed. So, some sort of theft. He collapsed the platform into it’s smallest configuration and moved lower, focussing the sensors in his suit and the drones what seemed to be a trio of masked adult males.
“I don’t like it, Terry said the alarms would be on”, number one said complainingly to his comrades. “Never mind, there must be a fault”, replied the second. The third, and largest, said nothing.
Cathal decided quickly and said to himself, screw this. Drawing the stunner from a suit pocket he beam the men down and landed the platform beside their unconscious bodies. A quick scan indicated they were physically fine but would be out for perhaps half-an-hour. From another suit pocket he drew the injector loaded with amnesiac/sedative mix and discharged a shot into each man’s carotid. Make that six hours at least, he thought, by which time he;d be long gone and the workers would have arrived.
He walked to the truck and examined it; relatively new, but battered, dinged and dirty, and without name or logo. The bed held a mess of scrap metal and tools. Hmm, what were they after? Copper he presumed. A useful metal but not as important to him, given his ability to fabricate superconductive composites. Anyway, he had the time to look around.
Bringing the drone down to ten metres altitude he had it carry out a high intensity scan. Bingo. In barely three minutes it found a small shed containing copper and brass scrap, plus a large mass of silver. Cathal opened the lock with a soft-metal key and examined the contents, almost a tonne of copper scrap of various types, a quarter tonne of brass, which wasn’t as useful to him as to a normal scrapper, and almost a hundred kilos of silver, a badly tarnished and crushed together mess of tableware. Around sixty grands worth he estimated. Well worth a little nocturnal robbery.
Cathal considered for a moment and then issued orders; “Taif, how long until target three has been scavenged fully? And how long to fabricate another batch of scavengers?” The response was, as usual, instant; “The clearance of target three will be complete in approximately one hour. Two scavenger robots can be fabricated in fifteen minutes". “Taif, construct another four scavengers and prepare them to deploy to this site. Oh, and another six drums and a second platform. Then have the scavengers at this site empty their contents into the drums here and converge on my location”. “Compliance”.
Given the darkness remaining it wasn’t worth re-deploying the foxes from another site, but the extras would help clear this site. And the truck… He looked down at the quartet of foxes sitting near him and grinned. “Right boys”, Cathal spoke aloud, “I want you to empty the contents of this shed as a priority and then process the vehicle over there”.
While the foxes started eating copper piping and wire Cathal searched the bodies, dumping identification into the truck’s bed, scanning their mobile phones before deactivation, and adding them to the pile. From their call history the leader of the group worked for a scrap metal merchant. Perhaps his site would be worth a visit? But first the truck. From his backpack Cathal drew a device resembling a cordless drill.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 3, 2022 11:54:00 GMT
XXIV. After they’d finished processing the contents of the shed Cathal set the foxes to work on the truck. It was fascinating to watch them biting and chewing the roughly chunks of metal and plastic into pieces small enough for digestion by the nanomachines inside them. As they ate, their bodies became less and less vulpine, bulging out into something vaguely Lovecraftian and then heading off to the storage barrels to regurgitate their meals. Fascinating and somewhat disturbing.
The other four foxes were carrying on the scavenging of the rest of the site and the work was going well with there being now six drums full of feedstock ready to go back, with more to collect from the other sites. Cathal used the counter-gravity lifters to move the drums onto the platform and them remembered a detail. Walking over to the unconscious bodies of the would-be metal thieves he took one of the bottles of not-quite-rum from his backpack and pushed it into the hand of the men. Opening it he sloshed the liquor into their moths and over their clothes, before dropping the empty, unlabelled, bottle onto the ground. That should satisfy a cursory investigation
Returning to the first platform Cathal accessed Taif’s status updates as he guided the platform though the night sky to make his collections. Site three was now complete and he headed there first, loading the twelve drums of assorted metals and plastic easily with the assistance of the lifters. The foxes climbed on and Cathal took off for site one. This was a dedicated recycling depot for electronics, full of junk rich in the rare-earths and odder metals, and he dropped off the four foxes there to speed up work while he loaded the drums and headed for home.
Landing in the courtyard the larger ‘bots went to work off-loading the drums and carrying the material down to the sub-basement. Cathal stood there, enjoying the quite and solitude while scanning the updated inventory. A good night’s work, the thought, there was plenty of basic metals, literally tonnes of iron, copper and zinc, plus ample chromium, cobalt, nickel and aluminium for immediate needs. Less of the rare-earths but they wouldn't be needed in such quantities. Vast amounts of CHON, mainly as plastics. Not much gold, platinum and the precious metals, but there were of little practical use to him. Tomorrow he could have Taif start a new round of construction. More robots, including a couple that could pass as human, some updates to the house, better security. Perhaps it was time to develop a suitable bolthole, in case of emergency?
In the meantime he’d prepare for the finding of the unconscious thieves, the incident was slightly odd and might be a useful test to see just who monitored such events. There were references in the datastore to organisations who handled alien contacts and weird events in this time period, but they were fragmented and questionable. Despite the vast amount of records produced, it seemed that historical investigation was still a chore, even in three thousand years. Cathal thought for a moment; the only event that he could remember unaided that had happened as far in the past as 5329 was in his future was the Merneptah Stele that Petrie had discovered. A long time indeed.
Going into the kitchen Cathal spoke aloud, “Taif, intensify monitoring of communications and information channels, specifically for happenings at the three sites targeted tonight and for these three men”. He added the names of the three metal thieves. Cathal added, “Tap into police and emergency service comms and look for any references to the sites, inform me immediately”. “Compliance”. “How is the processing of the feedstock going?” “All the drums filled tonight have been emptied and their contents transferred to the reservoir system. The material is being processed into standard forms for easier use. Cathal nodded to himself. While a nano-fabrication system could reprocess almost any material on the fly it was easier to store large amounts of feedstock in a limited number of standard, low hazard, forms and build from them as needed, even if this was less efficient. “Good. When the last pickup is done, I will be resting, unless there is anything I need to look at”? “Negative Operator”. “Then, while I’m asleep, construct two more large utility ‘bots and whatever other robots you consider necessary. Design a human-form android that would pass in current society and have the design ready for my approval. Ensure the house and grounds are secure”. Cathal thought of something, “And monitor the next six targets for scavenging, there may be attention after tonight’s visits”. “Compliance”.
It was now less than half-an-hour ‘til dawn so Cathal boarded the platform and set off to collect his vulpine minions and the last of their booty.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 4, 2022 20:29:42 GMT
XXV. The following morning Cathal awoke early, momentarily disorientated. It took a few seconds for his brain to realise that he was in his new house, in a large and extremely comfortable bed, his third change of sleeping arrangements in four days. He yawned, stretched an luxuriated for a moment, oddly reminded of Smoke the cat, who enjoyed few things more than a good stretch in the sun. Despite just six hours sleep Cathal felt fully refreshed, and his biomonitor indicated that he was adjusted to the new sleep patterns well. Time to get up.
After donning a dressing gown, he considered the kitchenette in his suite for a moment, but alas the cupboard (and fridge) was bare. But downstairs in the main kitchen were the groceries he’d bought the previous day. He was hungry, his modified body required some extra calorific input, plus, he suddenly remembered, the supplements.
Cathal consumed strong tea with pastries and fruit while preparing the main course on the grill and pan. After matters were completed to his satisfaction he sat down to eat and read, as was his wont. He treasured quite mornings alone to equilibrate himself and prepare for the day by absorbing the news. For a moment he considered getting his tablet but the neural link and optic nerve implant was more efficient, and he needed the practice.
Taif had flagged a few items, including the arrest of the three would-be metal thieves, found unconscious and suspected of having been severely intoxicated, they are in hospital. Cathal directed Taif to infiltrate hospital and police systems and monitor matters. The three had worked for McGregor Metals and Salvage and Cathal directed a drone to scan the company's main site in detail to see if it was a worthwhile target. If not there were several others for that night.
The previous night had yielded large stockpiles of useful feedstock materials but Cathal wanted to continue acquisitions; the daytime wasn’t a great time for raiding but the grounds of Brunel House were littered with dead wood, tree stumps and assorted detritus from the work on the land. Plus the bank of the river was also rich in suitable material. “Taif, dispatch the scavengers to harvest dead organic material on site and in the adjoining paths. However they are to remain unobserved, by humans or cameras, while doing so”. “Compliance. The robots can use the old drainage tunnels and culverts for covert movement”. Cathal was surprised, he was unaware of such tunnels, though given the age of the property they made sense. Also Taif seemed to be displaying initiative. “Taif transmit a map to me please, overlay on the general site map”. In his field of vision he saw the network of old pipes, some metal and some brick lined. Some connected to the newer water and sewer lines and others left the property, including two than reached the river and one that once reached the house. Interesting.
“Taif, use any otherwise unoccupied maintenance or utility robots to repair these tunnels and reconnect the tunnel to the house. Ensure there is no risk of ingress of water, gas, vermin or anything else undesirable”. “Compliance”. That would simplify movement for the ‘bots. And possibly him eventually if he had them enlarged.
Cathal finished his breakfast and went upstairs for an old-fashioned shower and to dress for the day.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 6, 2022 11:08:53 GMT
XXVI. About 10:30AM, engrossed in Taif’s android designs, Cathal was surprised by the ringing of his phone. He’d been so caught up by the last few days that he’d been ignoring the occasional call and text message. But this time it was right there on the desk beside him (force of habit while working) and he recognised the number, it was David Harvey the solicitor. What did he want?
“Good morning mister Harvey, what can I do for you?”, Cathal said. “Good morning mister Gould, I was just checking if everything was working out for you, and if the house renovation was to your satisfaction”, the lawyer replied. Touting for more work, the cynical part of Cathal’s brain translated. “Yes, it’s fine. I’m actually heading there soon to begin setting up. We moved in some equipment last night but I was on video links conferences most of the night, time differences you know” Cathal lied with the fluency of the consultant he’d once been. “Ah good, well let me know if there’s anything my firm or I can do for you”. “I will indeed mister Harvey, you handled the renovation and company setup excellently”, Cathal replied. “Thank you. Well I’ll leave you to it”, the lawyer rang off.
Cathal sat and thought for a few minutes. It really was time to create a few minions suitable for dealing with the outside world. Robot foxes were useful, but weren’t really suited for talking to people face-to-face.
The android design he finally settled on was quite sophisticated, by fifty-fourth century standards, and had a brain and personality matrix derived from ‘companion’ ‘bots. So hopefully it was better at human interactions than Taif. Six, he decided, with their ability, albeit limited, to change form they could simulate a larger range of identities if needed. And, while on identities, he’d need to have Taif establish suitable background for his ‘staff’, just in case of enquiries. The androids would also need to pass close inspection and basic security checks, realistic finger and retinal prints, human thermal signatures, counters to x-ray scanners and metal detectors and, most basically, weight.
Cathal left Taif to handle the construction while he went back to absorbing information from the datastore’s vast contents. It was while he was examining the logs of the late Danice Finlet that he found an interesting reference he’d missed previously, due to only skimming them. Finlet referred to a ‘box’ that he’d obtained after a meeting with another time traveller in 4967 had been interrupted by a fight; he’d traded a quantity of technology for it but was unspecific as to it’s contents.
The box was apparently too awkwardly sized to keep in the capsule, so Finlet had dropped it off in a safe location; he'd chosen an uninhabited island in the Carribean, one of the Antilles group between Florida and Cuba, in the autumn of 1716. He'd found the small island when he’d investigated the area, after the capsule's sensors had detected a temporal trace that suggested a time traveller was active there. There had been no sign of the time traveller but, according to Taif, Finlet has remained there a few days and stored some equipment there.
Hmm, perhaps it was time for a field trip?
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 6, 2022 13:30:38 GMT
XXVII. Around lunchtime, after a busy morning, Cathal returned to considering his first field trip. It seemed the ideal location, quiet and uninhabited, no dangerous fauna, and Taif had the coordinates stored in his database. The more he thought on it, the more the idea appealed to him; it was time for him to actually use the time machine. But first there was the matter of Taif’s sextet of androids.
The first of these had been decanted and was standing motionless and nude in the sub-basement; a human standard figure, female, taller than average height, tanned skin. Overall she looked very realistic, but it was their programming that concerned Cathal. And some clothes would be useful too. One generic-but-smart business suit and accessories later and Cynthia was sitting in a chair being interviewed by Cathal.
Taif had done a surprisingly good job, Cathal decided, the ‘droid (gynoid?, femdroid?) answered questions about her fabricated background well and seemed quite human. Though maybe he wasn’t the best of arbiters for social skills. The next five brought the group to six, two apparently male and four female, all in business wear. Taif had fabricated more than just identities, the six had bank accounts, identification and the presence in all the official databases that was unavoidable these days. Cathal decided that Cynthia, Stevie, Andreas, Amara, Emil and Erin needed some field testing. A coffee run.
Cynthia passed the test with flying colours. She crossed the busy road safely, made small talk with the barista and another customer without attracting attention, hefted seven large cups of hot beverages and a bag of assorted pastries without trouble. Better than many interns, Cathal thought. He’d been watching through one of the drones, as well as a feed from Cynthia’s ‘eyes’, ready to guide her or intervene, if needed. But it hadn’t been.
A few more routine tasks for the others, including Emil visiting a busy Aldi to do the shopping, showed they were equally as skilled at navigating twenty-first century urban society. Cathal was impressed and relieved. In addition to fitting in the ‘droids were superhumanly fast and strong, able to alter their appearance and has a variety of storage compartments for useful accessories. The best co-workers Cathal had ever known. And they needed neither sleep, nor sustenance nor payment.
The new additions brought Cathal’s minions up to fifty; sixteen foxes, twelve utility spiders, four larger utility ‘bots and twelve drones.
“Taif, how long will the second fabricator take to construct?” “Approximately two hours for a unit of current size”. Cathal considered. Given he now had the space perhaps a larger unit. “How long for a larger unit, say three by five by eight metres?” “Approximately sixty hours for a unit of such size”. Hmm, Cathal didn’t want to use that much time. A smaller unit for the interim. He could always recycle it later. “And for unit of two by three by three metres” “Approximately fifteen hours for a unit of such size”. “OK Taif, begin construction of such a unit down here and expand the feedstock reservoirs as well “Compliance”.
Cathal considered his plans. More ‘salvage’ work this night, to build up the reserves. He’s use the androids to handle retrieval duties. With that in mind he gave another order to Taif. “Taif, construct an additional eight scavengers and eight more drones, plus a third platform. Prioritise these tasks over the fabber and have them ready for nightfall”. “Compliance”.
Cathal was still curious about the mysterious box. “Taif what do you know about the base that Operator Finlet established in the Caribbean?” “He had acquired a large box from another time traveller and brought it back to the capsule. I was not present for his dealings with the other time traveller from whom he obtained it, nor do I know if it’s contents. It’s interior was impervious to my scanning”. That was odd. The box must be something special if Taif couldn’t scan it down to the molecular level. “What size was the box Taif?” “One point three five metres by sixty centimetres by forty centimetres”. Cathal nodded to himself, that’s be rather awkward to keep in the capsule.
A thought struck him. “Taif is your time jump capability functional? And can you return to the same spot a short period after your previous departure”. “The time-jump unit is functional within normal parameters and such navigation can be performed. Do you intend to make such a jump?” Cathal was surprised, Taif didn’t usually ask such questions. “Yes Taif, I do, within a day or two probably”. “I will run the appropriate tests on all systems”.
Cathal returned to his browsing of the datastore and log, while thinking about Taif’s new initiative and his plans for that night.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 7, 2022 19:24:23 GMT
XXVIII. After a busy day absorbing information, and getting diverted down various rabbit holes, Cathal was now determined to find another option. The neural education implant seemed the most logical one, though the most psychologically intrusive; with an AI and a few trillion queccabytes of data storage. It would gradually modify the structures of his brain to artificially introduce memories of new data. The more radical option involved replacing his brain cell by cell with artificial nanotech substrate. This still squicked him and he pushed the idea away, for the moment. Though he could probably have Taif and the chrysalis machine fix that reluctance. Cathal sighed and scheduled the neural education implant for that night, along with a few other upgrades.
He’d decided not to venture out that night himself. Instead he’d use his new androids as the support team for the scavengers, deploying and retrieving them, and their booty, while monitoring events via the drones and android’s sensor feeds, ready to assist if needed. He’d keep a counter-grav platform and four of the androids in reserve, just in case. After a couple of low-level drone scans of the yard of McGregor Metals and Salvage he’d had Taif fab up another batch of foxes. It was a big site and full of interesting junk, especially old electronics that were full of rare earths. A group of twelve foxes could loot a lot of stuff in seven hours of darkness.
Unfortunately the site also had a night watchman, so he’d have to be dealt with as well. Taif had scanned his phone records and he seemed to make a few “all is well” calls during the night, luckily they could probably be faked. Initially Cathal had planned on arming one of the utility spiders and having it take the watchman out, before drugging him and dosing him with cheap booze. However it seemed a good test of the androids’ abilities.
As the day turned to twilight Cathal and his minions prepared for the night’s work. The drones were dispatched to monitor the targets, platforms were moved upstairs, drums prepared for the recovered feedstock, foxes marshalled and the androids equipped for action. They wore the same type of whole-body ‘intrusion suit’ that Cathal had used and carried stunners, drug injectors and other tools There were three backpacks with additional gear, including bottles of the cheapest booze around Team one was Stevie and Cynthia, and would strike at McGregor, removing the night watchman from the equation, while Andreas (Team two) would deploy the dozen foxes and the containers for their material. Meanwhile Team three, Emil, would deploy a group of four foxes to target two along with drums.
Cathal was wary about the McGregor site and had decided to leave Cynthia there to monitor matters, just in case. The others would return to the house and deploy the foxes to the other four targets. He’d keep two androids back as an emergency reserve, in case of serious trouble, with one of the platforms and it’s operator. The other two platforms and their operators would ferry back the booty.
As the world outside became dark the teams left for their targets, while Cathal, along with Amara and Erin, remained in the basement monitoring matters.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 11, 2022 10:09:02 GMT
XXIX. Initially it all went according to plan.
The McGregor site, being the most potentially lucrative as well as the largest, needed the most attention. Plus there was the matter of the human guard and the more than usually comprehensive, even suspiciously good, alarm system. The drones hung over the scrapyard, one of them as overwatch while the second was Taif’s gateway into the various computer and sensor systems around the site. It took the AI mere seconds to ensure the cameras recorded nothing suspicious and no alerts sounded. While the stealthy platform, operated by Stevie, hovered overhead
Cynthia dropped lithely down and simply knocked on the door of his hut. With his landline and cellular phones and radio inoperative, there was little risk, and the surprised man opened the door, shining a flashlight. Before he even saw her, the android had dropped him with a stunner shot.
A moment later Erin landed the platform and a dozen robot foxes scampered away to begin feasting, while Erin unloaded and expanded the storage drums for their meals. Cynthia injected the watchman with a dose of the amnesiac mixture and placed him on the floor of the hut. When he was safely out of the way, she gathered anything electronic inside and piled it up for the foxes to digest. Erin returned to the platform and returned to base for the next drop-off. Simultaneously, more or less, Andreas and Emil had dropped off their foxes and containers to sites two and three and moved on to the remainder of their targets.
Cathal relaxed in his chair, with the displays showing the feeds from the drones on overwatch at the targets and the implants connected to his eyes deactivated for the moment, and thought to himself; there is something to be said for a good cadre of minions. Once he was satisfied that the androids could handle operations he’d prepare for another session in the chrysalis machine and the next round of upgrades. Meanwhile he set Taif to monitor operations, closed his eyes and resumed studying.
It was ninety minutes later when Cathal heard the AI’s synthetic voice in his head; “Alert Operator. There is a situation developing at site one. Cathal immediately killed the data feed and set all six desktop displays to show views of the McGregor site while ordering the reserve androids to stage outside by the platform and deploying four additional drones to the site. Outside the McGregor yard two vehicles, a saloon car and a Transit style van had stopped at the main gate without lights, two men standing near them.
The drone was tapped into the cellular networks and showed three phones active; one was the watchman’s, the others unregistered and were being used just outside the gate, presumably by the two, now visible annoyed, men. Bugger, Cathal thought, damn, I should have had the watchman interrogated about possible visitors before drugging him for the night. He spoke aloud; “Cynthia, switch your appearance to mimic the watchman”. No, that wouldn’t work. “Cynthia, cancel that, switch your appearance to a human male similar to the watchman, about ten years younger and with family resemblance. Alter your clothes to something similar to what the watchman wore”. She acknowledged the order.
“Taif, answer the watchman’s phone and connect it to me here. Alter my outgoing voice to mimic that used by Cynthia in her new appearance”. “Compliance. The connection is made and your voice will match the android’s”. Cathal spoke, “Yeah, Terry here, what’s up?” “Who the fuck is this? Where’s Billy? And who the fuck are you?”. The voice was rough, inner-city. “I’m Terry. Bill’s me uncle, he’s sick and told me to sub for him tonight”. “What?” the voice as loud and angry.
Cathal mentally commanded the second platform and Emil to return immediately and dispatched the second, with Amara and Erin, to head to the McGregor yard in case reinforcements were needed. He spoke aloud; “Yeah, he’s sick, in hospital. Appendix I think. Anyway, he couldn’t make it and sent me along. I’ve been with him before and know this place”. “What the fucking fuck?”. The voice was still angry. On the monitor Cathal saw the phone passed to the other man and eavesdropped on their conversation.
The first man spoke, “He says he’s Bill’s nephew, and that the stupid bastard is sick”. The second man took a deep breath and spoke calmly, “Well we need the gates open and this stuff inside, quick, before someone notices”. The voice was older, less rough, with the hard edges of the inner-city rubbed smooth. The first man nodded and returned to the phone. “Did Bill tell you to expect us?” Cathal replied, “No, he said nothing about visitors”. “Well get out here and open the fucking gates. And no lights”. “OK”
Cathal dispatched Cynthia, now resembling a younger version of the watchman, in perhaps his late teens. She waved to the men outside and opened the gates, before stepping aside. After the car and van were inside and the gates closed, the two men on foot came over and the first grabbed her by the throat. Less than a quarter-second later, he and his companion were unconscious and the four others in the van followed suit within a couple of seconds.
Cathal spoke, “Well done. Now, remove the bodies, open the van and search it and the car”. Even before the van was opened, the sensors on the drones revealed the contents several crates inside. Five crates of Russian assault rifles, three of sub-machine guns, two boxes of assorted pistols, two RPG launchers, six sniper rifles and around a hundred and twenty hand grenades. And lots of ammunition and magazines.
Bugger indeed.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 13, 2022 13:29:35 GMT
XXX. Cathal considered his options. He had six unconscious bodies, a van load of highly illegal weapons and five hours of darkness. Plus a small army of robotic minions and a time machine. OK, he could handle this.
Option one: stuff them all into the fabber and recycle the lot, weapons, bodies, vehicles. Cathal decided he wasn’t really ready for mass murder, yet,. even if they were a bunch of (presumably) dangerous criminals.
Option two: call the police and dump things on them. Hmm, not bad really. He could keep the six unconscious for a few hours while the foxes looted the place., and anonomously call the authorities. But it lacked a certain something. Cathal grinned. He had a plan……
“Taif, how are the operations going at the other targets”, he thought the words silently, still looking at the men and vehicles he’s captured. “Operations at Target Two are almost complete. Operations at Target Three will be complete in one hour and Target Four in approximately two hours. Unless you alter plans Target One will require four hours to complete Thirty four barrels of assorted feedstock have been retrieved”. “Good”. Cathal turned to Cynthia and gave her her orders; “Remove the five men here from their vehicles, fit them with sleep inducers and keep them out of the way”. He turned away as she acknowledged the instruction and added, “Ensure their fingerprints and skin or blood are on the weapons in the van”.
Suddenly something struck him, “Taif, has there been any further activity on the mens’ phones”. “There have been a number of text messages, including one to the leader of the group. It consisted of a single interrogative”. Cathal ‘saw’ the displays of the phones in front of him and composed suitable replies. The goons were unimportant and their replies were generic, of the “delayed by work” type. The two leaders needed more subtlety, especially the one that was just ‘?’. He ordered Taif to trace the call, caller and location and was unsurprised when he recognised the name, a notorious criminal who’d been engaged in a small war for a few years. A war, Cathal remembered, that he was to start. Must attend to that. The to-do list of a time travellers is never empty.
He send a simple ‘Job done’ replay and had a drone monitor the gang-leader, just in case.
OK, five hours to go
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 15, 2022 22:40:20 GMT
XXXI. Cathal had long known that his issues with focus and distraction were his major psychological problems. Well some of them. He tended to focus on the task at hand rather than split problems up into manageable chunks. This time he’d need to delegate much of the work to be done tonight while he supervised the largest task, dealing with a bunch of gun-runners.
Therefore, he dispatched Andreas and Emil with the two platforms to collect the accumulated loot and manage the deployment and collection of the foxes from the rest of tonight’s targets, while he remained at McGregor’s to manage his plan. Not that Cathal really needed to stay but he felt the need to be there. Maybe it was time to start having Taif fix some of his psychological issues.
By 3AM all twenty of the barrels were full and he summoned Emil to return them to base; he wanted a platform ready for emergency use, just in case. In extremis he could teleport back to the house, and take a couple of the androids with him each time but that was an emergency measure only.
Cathal spent the next two hours in a state of forced relaxation, studying, while the robots continued their efficient and methodical looting of the site. They’d unearthed a treasure trove of stolen property, money (much of it counterfeit), weapons and drugs, all of which was left for the authorities to collect, when the time was right. He considered all the equipment on site and his plan; it seemed like he had everything to hand, but if he hadn’t then someone would need to return, the surveillance drones had no carrying capacity. Larger flying drones, he thought, for deliveries or dropping things. Or just as a better modular sensor and weapons platform. And maybe a few squirrel model ‘bots to help secure the house and base. He dropped the ideas into his mental ‘to-do’ list while instructing Taif to develop some suitable designs.
At 4:45AM he ordered all the foxes to finalise their looting and summoned Emil to collect them and their scavange. While Erin and Cynthia remained with him all the rest of the ‘bots returned safely home by the time dawn was breaking. Erin used some rope found in a shed to tie up the watchman while Cynthia injected the two leaders of the gang, who were named Gary Lyons and Eddie Hutchings, not that Cathal cared, with a mix of cocaine and amphetamines. Even under the effects of the sleep inducer their bodies twitched at the potent dose of stimulants. Good, all was nearly ready.
Six minutes later Cathal used the watchman’s phone to call the emergency services and, using a carefully filtered voice with just a note of panic, tell them that an armed gang, “with machine guns and bombs”, were robbing McGregor’s yard. Evidently the place was, as they say, “known to the police” because one of Taif’s drones detected an immediate and heavy police response. Hmmm, Cathal thought.
That’s when he instructed Cynthia to remove and collect the sleep inducers. The three goons she left on the ground by the van but their two leaders got dumped into a small pit flooded with dank, dirty and rather cold water. While they were regaining consciousness, their bodies screaming from the earlier medication, Cynthia jumped onto the waiting platform with Cathal and Erin. Enclosed in its stealth field they departed the scene, though Cathal watched events with some amusement.
The first police cars screamed to a halt, lights and sirens going, just under two minutes after they left. Armed units arrived barely a minute later and they found three men obviously under the influence of narcotics and two more raging irrationally. At least until they were tasered to the ground… Piles of cash and valuables, and a stash of highly illegal weapons were guarded until groups of detectives, under a senior officer gradually increasing in rank, had secured the site. By 7AM the events were across the internet and the faster news sites, though without much in the way of details. An hour later, while things were still confused and the police weren’t giving details, the television news were present in force and the area was cordoned off.
Cathal was somewhat sorry about the traffic disruption, he’d suffered himself in the past.
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Post by grinch on Jul 16, 2022 10:32:20 GMT
You know, I actually have a Xeno-psychologist NPC in the works at the moment. Would you mind if I included a passing reference to Cathal within his write up? I’m imagining he’d make for the perfect case study for a dissertation on the effect of time travel on a subject’s mental health.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 16, 2022 17:52:44 GMT
You know, I actually have a Xeno-psychologist NPC in the works at the moment. Would you mind if I included a passing reference to Cathal within his write up? I’m imagining he’d make for the perfect case study for a dissertation on the effect of time travel on a subject’s mental health. Be me guest.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 16, 2022 22:33:57 GMT
XXXII. By 6AM Cathal’s various robotic minions had stowed away the night’s booty and the fabricators had over a hundred tonnes of material to work with. Plenty of carbon for materials, electronics and general applications, iron, aluminium, silicon, rare earths, copper, silver and many more. Plus of course plenty of CHON for food. While all this activity continued Cathal immersed himself in pattern analysis, monitoring and supervising Taif’s network of drones at work. Every conversation, phone call and data transfer at the McGregor site was passively monitored and logged, and their connections mapped.
The interviews with the six men found at the site were initially fairly routine but as more experienced investigators arrived, and more technical analysis was carried out, the oddities in the ‘obvious’ version of events began to be noticed. There was no actual evidence of course, Cathal had ensured that, but detailed analysis would perhaps it at things, at least to a mind open to such hints. The data in the time machine’s memory was maddeningly incomplete but there were organisations operating in the present day who managed matters like aliens, time travellers and similar….oddities. Cathal wanted to know more.
Meanwhile his analysis had created an interesting map of the relationships between members of the criminal gang and at least three police officers. Cathal had details of contacts, including call recordings, that could be useful to the police, or perhaps to him.
By 8AM it was clear that the police were moving along predictable lines, feuds within criminal gangs, rather than anything more outré. Anyway it was time for breakfast.
Over a multi-course meal Cathal asked Taif some of the questions that had been lingering on his to-do list for a while. “Taif, are your systems and resources as they currently exist able to construct a second time machine?” “Such an operation is forbidden by primary mission dictates”. Was the curt reply. Hmm, evidently some of Taif’s rules still applied. “Taif I believe that the current mission emergency requires the creation of a second craft to handle certain operations”. “In that case, with an emergency exemption, construction could be started. However certain necessary resources are not available. “Such as?” “Specifically Chronon Crystals, used to generate, stabilise and shield the time-jump effect. This craft has no ability to produce such objects.”
Hmm, Cathal thought. There had been references to these crystals in the datastore, natural or artificial crystalline structures that had absorbed chronon particles and developed a chronal ‘charge’. Somewhat analogous to developing a permanent electric or magnetic field. Or radio-activation by absorption of neutrons, Natural crystals tended to dissipate such a charge fairly quickly; however some crystalline structures can permanently capture the chronons and form a quasi-stable matrix. More research was needed. But that was a medium term plan.
“Taif, I intend to time-jump to the Caribbean location used by Operator Finlet to cache the box mentioned in his log. I also intend to establish a secondary base there so please create a list of necessary survival and security supplies, including two AI systems similar to yourself. One to remain on this site and one to maintain the secondary site”. “Compliance. What form of base to you intend to establish at the secondary site?” “Initially some pre-fab accommodation, medical and fabrication units, a suitable number of robots for maintenance and appropriate security systems”. “Compliance”.
Cathal stretched in the remarkably comfortable chair and decided it was time for some rest.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
It's complicated....
Posts: 3,753
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Eleven, Twelve, One, Nine...
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Jul 27, 2022 11:17:22 GMT
I Ate'nt Dead.....
XXXIII. Cathal awoke six hours later in the chrysalis machine, having been kept in an optimised sleep state while the nanomachines carried out his latest round of updates and enhancements. He wasn’t sure if he dreamed, he remembered nothing but then he usually didn’t. That would change if he activated the sleep teaching option, which realistically he’d need to use to improve his skills and knowledge in any useful time frame. Anyway, time for work. And lunch, he was hungry again.
Over a light meal, Cathal examined the logs of the police activities, still no obvious signs of other agencies becoming involved. Which might be good or bad really. Were they uninvolved? Or just very discreet?
Taif had produced most of the supplies for the planned excursion, and had also fabricated the matrices for the two new AIs. These were not-quite clones of his own personality, but similar. They’d be named Shamira and Ansel.
Cathal ran down his mental list for the trip. Some survival supplies, just in case, and the first elements of the emergency base he wanted to establish on the island. Some ‘bots to do the work and provide protection and surveillance, and maintain a security perimeter for when he was away. As he thought about it Cathal decided that the jump would be as much symbolic as practical; his first actual trip through time. A safe, as far as he was aware, destination would be useful for a first try. Besides, a holiday would be nice, even if it was really only a day trip.
Then there was the matter of the box or trunk that Finlet referred to in his log. He’d been rather guarded in what he noted, was the effect of his cultural conditioning wearing off even then, Cathal wondered. Certainly he seemed to value it greatly but there was no list of its contents.
One matter of some concern was the trace of the other time traveller that Finlet had detected on ‘his’ island even before landing there. Might the islet already have been ‘claimed’ by someone? The period was during the ‘Golden Age’ of piracy, maybe someone was interested, either in treasure or knowledge. Cathal shrugged. He was pretty sure he’d be equipped well enough to handle any other traveller he encountered, and had a couple of escape plans anyway. That said, a detailed reconnaissance by drone before taking the ‘small step’ would be advisable.
Cathal realised he’d decided on matters. Fab up anything that might be needed, or useful, to the limits of the capsule’s capacity today; get the house AI running and ensure the situation would work without him for a few days, if necessary, and jump tomorrow afternoon. He contemplated the plan and nodded to himself. Good enough, as his Aussie co-worker would say.
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