ONN: ARES And Armitech Report Intrusions On 0041Z
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Originally Published on February 1st, 2491
Orbital News Network/Grant Jones Reporting
When we hear the expression "The most secure location in all of the Sol System", most people immediately think of Luna Colony, where Governor Bancroft has secured a very lucrative contract with Matsumoto-Zaibatsu, one of the most effective, and at times ruthless megacorporations dealing with security and weapons manufacturing, some others may bring up Mars, with the leftover Orbital Security Network from the days of ARES that is now under the control of the Five Clans, or even Megas Areios, ARES current headquarters, a multi layered massive space station where the bulk of their forces are and that counts with multiple fleets on permanent security duty. But only a select crowd will bring an obscure reference that can easily compete with the locations mentioned prior: Earth Site 0041Z.
Earth Site 0041Z was a breakthrough for Earth exploration after the Transcendence War, as long range scans found life activity on the surface of a planet long though to be a lifeless rock, it would also become the prime location for scavenging, as the entire region (Located on what was left of a region once known as North Sahara) was largely scarce when it came to wildlife or nomadic tribes with counted exceptions. As several independent scavengers made their fortune with the raw materials trade, the increase in traffic to Earth brought the corporate eyes to humanity's ancestral home, but it wasn't only corporations that were looking at 0041Z.
The Transcendence War, a multiple decade long war that rendered the planet asunder left over many war machines from the time that were never deactivated or decommissioned, with their objectives still active and unfulfilled, these machines roam the planet in different states of disrepair but still as dangerous as they were then the war raged on. That is not to mention both desert chimera as well as tribes that would make the nearby ruins their temporary home.
The emergence of General Koros, a massive Transcendence War AI, 0041Z soon became unstable. Hundreds of scavengers would be mercilessly slaughtered by this AI after taking control of all the machines in the area. After an unclear event that took place in 0041Z, a massive explosion wiped out everything on a multi kilometer radius, crystallizing the ground and elevating the radiation levels.
ARES and Armitech presented a joint proposal to New Geneva which boarded the immediate quarantine and eventual sealing off the area. The proposal was approved on January 12th 2489, and by January 16th ARES and Armitech deployed full companies and for the next several weeks they received multiple shipments for materials that were needed for the construction of a massive dome that keeps 0041Z sealed off the rest of the planet, and a massive military installation ran by both megacorporations, a permanent no fly zone that reaches beyond the Earth's atmosphere was enacted too. For the longest time there were rumors of several individuals on site engaging General Koros before the massive explosion was registered, some even claimed to have seen a shuttle making their way out of the area moments before the complete destruction, but all that is speculation at best as both ARES and Armitech have been very blunt when someone asks questions about The Dome, an apt name for 0041Z "No comment due Corporate Security".
The hottest talk turned to common talk, then it turned to rumors, and then it turned into forgotten information. Since January 16th 2489, The Dome has remained undisturbed with ARES and Armitech keeping an eye on it, with over fifty thousand operatives plus vehicles, drones, and mechs, turning Earth Site 0041Z into one of the most secure locations on the Sol System. That is until recently. Both ARES and Armitech have reported that a series of illegal transmissions have been made attempting to disrupt the operations being carried out at The Dome, with even a bold attempt to fly in a drone into the most restricted no fly zone in the Sol System, but instead of going for a witch hunt, a representative for both Advanced Research and Experimental Systems and Armitech Corporation, Colonel Janus Aegeus has issued a statement.
| “For the past few days, we have registered an increase in attempts to infiltrate 0041Z both digitally and physically. This is both a warning and request to all of the Netrunners attempting to do so: Please stop, you have no idea what you're tampering with.
Ever since both ARES and Armitech saw the rising threat from General Koros in the area that took the place, we ran our own scans and determined that it was something that needed to be taken care of, contrary to popular belief the Omega AI known as General Koros was not destroyed during the cataclysmic events of January 2489 but merely slowed down. Our joint efforts have been focused to contain threats like the Omega AI's such as General Koros as well as other more varied threats that, in spite of our continuous efforts and tests, haven't been able to be destroyed completely, the structure known as The Dome is designed to contain them and keep them from leaving Earth and bring destruction elsewhere in the Sol System, infiltration attempts and attacks only take away our focus from the task at hand and puts the entire Sol System at risk, so to all the Netrunners who no doubt are being moved by curiosity, instead of taking aggressive action against you we are choosing to appeal to your common sense and ask that you stop your actions. As the task becomes more and more volatile, we are now reaching to both Matsumoto-Zaibatsu and Network Systems Incorporated with an offer to join the ongoing effort on 0041Z to keep these AI's and different threats contained until an effective way to destroy them is found. As far as the rumors of Blackwall are concerned, we find them unfounded. We are aware of the ShadowNET handle ‘HelpUs’ and we're investigating thoroughly, we are aware of their tactics and how they are posing as an AI, if any Netrunner falls for their tricks, you may unleash something that can bring about the end of the Sol System as you know it. If our appeal to your common sense fails, then we will appeal to New Geneva so we can take further actions on our own. Thank you.” |
NSI and Matsumoto-Zaibatsu were contacted as of the edition of this article and we're told that representatives of both ARES and Armitech are in talks with them, an insider whose name shall remain anonymous estimates a very high chance of both NSI and Matsumoto-Zaibatsu moving assets to Earth and reinforce the security of 0041Z in the coming days.
What is your opinion on this statement? Have you been following the chatter on the ShadowNET Concerning Earth and The Dome? Do you believe that 'HelpUs' is a legitimate AI? Could it be that they are just a Netrunner trying to trick people while everyone is vulnerable due to the impact of Black Tenet? Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.