The Ministers and associates file out quietly, still silent. William and Emma take great pains to leave at very different times. You remain seated, rubbing at your face. That is until Cephie gets up to leave.
"You stay."
She swivels on a heel, looking back to you with a raised eyebrow. Her face shifts and melts and twists until the real Cephie is looking at you, standing in loose Crusader armor. She gives the most exaggerated of bows to you, before, "What can I do for you, oh Queen of Ash and Dust?"
"Can it. I'm already annoyed enough."
"Aye, aye, Captain."
"Could you help with producing Carbon-fiber in a more mundane way? Like, teaching the principles?"
"If you're willing to wait a few months to build the forges, vacuum chambers and gather the chemicals and compounds needed -- yes, sure. To be honest, its a lot easier to just do it myself than have to teach these primitives. Two or three weeks of work versus twelve. They'll get to it eventually, though, and then they'll be one step closer to superalloys. It's a process, y'know?"
"Ah. Okay...then. I would...also like to apologize for those two's outbursts. I know you're the only one who--"
"Understood them, yes. Piece of advice, Pheonix? Your kindred are months old. They are two siblings. They have what--ten, twelve voices in their head? All telling them different things. The only person who might be able to understand them keeps getting the shit kicked out of her." Cephie lifts a hand, "And you, dear gods in all the heavens, you're a mess yourself. I can see the resemblance. Something to think about, yeah? Might help to keep them on the leash in the future. They might not try to kill each other to impress you."
As Cephie walks out the door -- she pauses again, "And in that fight, I put my money on Emma. She's...she's deep in that mind of hers. We can all use processing powers -- but Oracles are scary. Probability...is a scary thing to control."
You sit quietly until Nicole returns with a bag slung over her shoulder. With a curt nod, she questions, "You ready? It's a bit of a trip -- if you need weapons, we can get them on the way out. I've got plenty of food already. If you want to bring anybody, call them up. We leave in thirty minutes."
You are Pheobe Gainer and Pheonix
Local Time: [1435] 12/29/2011
Personal Time: 6 months
Empyreal Time: NO NETWORK CONNECTION.
You are missing your left arm.
Laterally, across your chest, is an ugly scar.
Cohesion: 70%
You are satiated.
You are annoyed.
On Body: Mark 15 Battle Armor (Active, Incompatible:Override)
On Body, Beneath Armor:A black and gold armored gambeson.
Max Willpower Linear Distance: [20 meters]
Max Willpower Diameter: [20 meters]Overload: Trained
Bird of Sol's Reign: Great
Conquerer's Aura: Initiated
-
Voice of the Queen: Initiated
Inferno : Great
-
Slayer's Blade : Initiated
-
Controlled Fusion Reaction : Initiated
-
Uncontrolled Fusion Reaction : Initiated
Healing Factor: Initiated
-
Endurance Boost: Amateur.
-
Strength Boost: Amateur.
Matter Manipulation: Silicon:: Experienced
-
Silicon Sunder: Novice
Skill:
Charisma: Apprentice
Skill:
Attrition Warfare: Apprentice
Skill:
Marksmanship: Proficient
Cephie Lavoisier's Verbal Oath Grandmother(adopted): Mother Nicole Gainer
--Contactable in Person
--High Influence with Scholars, Crusaders, the Thornton Family
Ruled Nation: Pheonix's Holy Fortress-State
A dominant power on McCreary's Planet, despite its recent foundation. Currently pursuing a policy of aggressive reclamation.
-Ruled by a council, headed by yourself.
-Theocratic Dictatorship
-The citizens revere you as their new God.
Organization: The Children of SEED
Ten individuals, with the minds of automata and the bodies of men and women. Their very presence grates on your nerves.
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
Organization: The Thornton Family
--Contactable through Emma, radio.
--High Influence within Steelworks 9 Region
--Subservient to you
Organization: Thornton Warmachine
--A complement of hulking Thornton soldiers turned into cybernetically augmented heavy-duty infantry. Equipped with fusion reactor based las-gun assault rifles, Inferno Shotguns, super thick armor, and technicians standing by. They are also equipped with inter and intra-squad radio communicators.
--Lead by William Thornton
Servant, Friend?: Cephie Laviosier.
--An Ascended under contract to you for the next twelve years. She manipulates carbon and carbon-based structures.
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
Ally, Subservient: William Thornton
Leader of the Thornton Family of Businessmen.
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
--High influence within the Thornton Mercenaries
--High influence within The Thornton Family
--Feared within Steelworks 9 Region
Personal Scientist, Ally: Silas Thornton
--High influence within The Thornton Family
Consort, Annoying Oracle: Emma Thornton
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
--High influence within The Thornton Family
Pet, Threat: Mitch, the Barker
A bristly furred, stubby faced hellion of a canine that will possibly mutate in the future. His fur is a rusty red, mixed with brownish gray. His eyes are starting to be tinged with bright, electric blue.
-10/50 Obedience
-?/50 Affection
-5/50 Respect
Pheonix's Fortress-State (McCreary's Planet)
Theocractic Dictactorship
Capital: Fortress City of Stormmont
Population: 4*10^6
Military: One (1) Corps of Active Duty Hover Craft Deployed Crusaders (Baseline, Mark 1, Hardened){Stationed in Stormmont, Fortified}
Three (3) Corps of Active Duty Defense Militias (Baseline, Mark .5){Stationed in SEED Holy Land, Fortified}
One (1) Corps of Active Duty Hover Craft Deployed Crusaders (Baseline, Mark 1, Hardened){Stationed in SEED Holy Land, Fortified}
One (1) Corps Reserve Crusaders (Baseline, Mark 1, Underequipped){Stationed in Stormmont, Fortified}
One (1) Company of Thornton Warmachines (Baseline, Mark ~1, Hardened Veterans){Currently Fighting in Steelworks Number Nine}
Commodities of Note: Nutrient Bar Rations [Food Stuffs] (equilibrium), Hydrogen Fuel Supplies (deficit), Medical Supplies (equilibrium), Consumer Goods (deficit), Electronics (deficit), Steel (equilibrium), Bioplastics (deficit), Chemicals (surplus), Luxury goods (low deficit), Alchoholic Beverages (surplus), Slug Weapons (deficit), Beetle Products (glut)
Quality of life: Food, clean water, lighting, sanitation, universal literacy, universal healthcare, universal higher education, lack of culture, lack of luxury, religious restrictions, and lack of universal rights
Population Morale: Medium
Government Legitimacy: Moderate.
Economy: Non-existant, survival focus
Territories: SEED Holy Land
Ethnic Groups of Note: Thornton Family Group (Unified, Loyal, Criminal), Sandsper Family Group (Unified, ? ? ?), Hoganson Family Group (Unified, Remnants), Sandsper Family, (Unified, Crimina, ? ? ?), Twenty Minor Families(Unified, Criminal), Western Outlanders (Remnants, ? ? ?), Eastern Outlanders (Twenty Clans, ? ? ?)