Session 36 [Prep]

Just a few notes. - Harry: What's up with Silver Streak's mental landscape. - Charlotte: The energy of the Spirits seems to have some countering effect on the Wounds of the World, when properly channeled. Effect on the spirits from this is unknown. - Alycia/Leo: AEGIS accounting & moving forward - Team: (related) Damage at the Two-Rivers Plant was severe, Concord drew some attention. - Rook: Taking one on the chin for their bots going AWOL. - From Vyortovia with Love

Just one on the chin? I was hoping for a location somewhat lower.

I feel like Leo understands where Streak's coming from right now, and I'd love for him to be involved if we do another dive into that mindscape, if he's able to lend that empathy to a recovery effort. We still owe Harry a ton of comfort-and-support, things were just kind of busy last time.

The Rook situation (calibrating off real world stuff) isn't going to sort out quickly. Rook can, in the short term, claim all kinds of "we're just as much a victim as everyone else (if not more so)", until and unless the proceeds of a ponderous formal inquiry make it clear what was and wasn't done and known by them beforehand. Come down to it, there's nothing illegal about the bots (reverse engineered hypertech is basically their brand, after all), and lack of liability for having bots taken over and act weird is practically written into any Halcyon City EULA (especially since pretty much no members of the public were harmed), but the bots' provenance (via a clone of a known international criminal) is both a PR and legal problem. None of which will be sorted out quickly, because the supers-level-intelligence community (represented here by AEGIS, mostly) is going to have to have many many talks about whether or not to publicly reveal Rossum's involvement. Put another way: admitting Rossum was on the loose and isn't anymore is admitting you've now GOT him, which means submitting him to due process, which AEGIS has been able to dodge ever since Operation SNOWMAN... and that (basically illegal) dodging is ALSO likely to come to light in the midst of an international tribunal, so... Any millstone they hang around Rook's neck is going to likewise hang around their own, immediately or eventually. They're definitely considering if it's worth it and, until then, everything is officially 'under investigation.'

Now, Rosa herself might have to fall on a symbolic sword if Rook stock takes a dive, but I'm not even sure there IS Rook stock - is Luthorcorp publicly traded? Doesn't seem especially likely, any more than Quill Industries.

Doyce T. said: Now, Rosa herself might have to fall on a symbolic sword if Rook stock takes a dive, but I'm not even sure there IS Rook stock - is Luthorcorp publicly traded? Doesn't seem especially likely, any more than Quill Industries. Rook might take a dive indirectly, even if Rook Industries is privately held now . And it's certainly possible they are -  some very big names , including Samsung and Koch, are privately held. The short version: Organized boycott of Rook Industries products (backed by competitors such as Quill Industries, and made authentic as bloggers like My Little Power Rangers go viral with videos talking about it) Rook's profits fall, too bad they still have outstanding expenses and debts to pay The only way out is to issue stock, kick off an IPO, and try to lure in new investors - and maybe agreeing to do this is part of their PR attempt to look more "open" and "transparent" Rosa has to scramble to liquidate assets, get in serious debt with her private allies, etc. to try and retain majority control over the stock. That gives you pretty much whatever outcome you like: "nothing happens" (Rosa continues to hold 51%), "Rook becomes unstable" (Rosa now owes big debts to criminals, the Russians, whoever), "Rook undergoes big changes" (someone else holds majority control of voting stock, anyone's guess what happens), or "Rook goes down big" (SEC investigation uncovers irregularities that will implicate her regardless of whether AEGIS cops to having Rossum). She might be pressured to step down for the PR benefit, but a panicky IPO can keep her in the game (ours as well as hers) while still making a substantial impact on her power, and optionally bringing in some of these Reformed criminal contacts on Charade's sheet.

Doyce T. said: Now, Rosa herself might have to fall on a symbolic sword if Rook stock takes a dive, but I'm not even sure there IS Rook stock - is Luthorcorp publicly traded? Doesn't seem especially likely, any more than Quill Industries. The main reason for public trading is to raise capital for company investment (in lieu of borrowing) -- in this case, buying hypertech or hypertech companies, building huge secure labs and manufacturing facilities to roll or back-engineer their own, etc.  Quill Industries is actually fairly small, and most of the IP is licensed out.  Lexcorp is probably not publicly traded, either. It all depends on how overwhelming a force (and how capital-intensive) Rook's activities are. That said, even private firms have boards of directors and ways to keep a dangerous person-in-charge from tanking the company. Or lenders who can call in notes, etc. And if Rook stock isn't something that can fall, their sales  (and contract renewals) may be hurt sufficiently that someone has to fall on their sword. Whether or not it's Rosa is yet another question. No, I don't expect this to resolve quickly (even if somehow favorably), but some lurid headlines and Investigative Reports and congressional hearings might be some nice short-term amusement.

Bill G. said: I feel like Leo understands where Streak's coming from right now, and I'd love for him to be involved if we do another dive into that mindscape, if he's able to lend that empathy to a recovery effort. We still owe Harry a ton of comfort-and-support, things were just kind of busy last time. Unfortunately, Alycia's probably the least helpful in this situation on a variety of levels. Unless there's a need to have someone in the room watching for intruders while everyone's psychically projected into Streak's head.

*** Dave H. said: Unfortunately, Alycia's probably the least helpful in this situation on a variety of levels. Unless there's a need to have someone in the room watching for intruders while everyone's psychically projected into Streak's head. "Charade, you're actually most important. We're building an emotional machine, a sort of affective Jaws of Life to lever Streak out of his own subconscious. What we need is the feelings of someone who felt guilty, someone who did bad things - and is being forgiven anyway. We need his mind to empathize with that feeling, latch onto it through recognition. We're building the fishing line. Your life story is the hook."

If you've ever wanted to see Alycia with a dolly zoom deer-in-the-headlights look -- at least for the few moments before she dives out the window -- that would probably do it. :-)

*** Dave H. said: at least for the few moments before she dives out the window -- that would probably do it. :-) Leo:

LLOL EDIT: Okay, that made my day.

Bill:  That gives you pretty much whatever outcome you like: "nothing happens" (Rosa continues to hold 51%), "Rook becomes unstable" (Rosa now owes big debts to criminals, the Russians, whoever), "Rook undergoes big changes" (someone else holds majority control of voting stock, anyone's guess what happens), or "Rook goes down big" (SEC investigation uncovers irregularities that will implicate her regardless of whether AEGIS cops to having Rossum). She might be pressured to step down for the PR benefit, but a panicky IPO can keep her in the game (ours as well as hers) while still making a substantial impact on her power, and optionally bringing in some of these Reformed criminal contacts on Charade's sheet. If we use Lex Luthor as a model, or even Tony Stark, any of these scenarios are completely possible. And even if Rook goes down as a company, Rosa might well abscond with funds and tech and go into (in many but not all scenarios, criminal) covert business for herself. Which can then end with "Rook helps fight off the invading Concordance Fleet, is forgiven for her sins, is redeemed in the public eye, and becomes more of a menace than ever."