A Private Inquiry

[DISSERTATION]_SavedSources_9683-02-20.dprt

[INCOMING DATA PACKET]

[DATA DECRYPTION COMPLETE]

SECURE MESSAGE LOG:

Patch,

I am not often contacted by fellow Aegismen from our days in service. It has been my great pleasure to assist you in your research for the dissertation you are writing on the “History of Atheos: An Exploration of Humanity’s Response to the Apocalypse.” (An excellent title to be sure, though perhaps a bit wordy?). My search of the archives proved to be useful, and I have thus attached the most relevant of my findings according to your search parameters.

You’ll find that our forefathers did keep a developmental history of the citydome system that has sustained us for thousands of years; the progression of which is not often explored in standard schooling. It is here that an interesting, yet often overlooked, detail has arisen: there is no clear record of what happened to those who chose not to integrate into New Society at the dawn of our advanced technocivilization. Might this be the exact sort of topic that would set you apart in your research? I shall leave you to form your own conclusions on the matter.

Nevertheless, I have sent you what I could recover from the files. Though not complete, I daresay you – of all people – shall find it a sufficient starting point.

Corp & Custom,

Your old friend.

Attachment: Project Helios [Declassified]

[FILE OPEN]

Experiment Logs

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Log Entry: 197

Date: 3025-08-23

Lead Scientist: Nevara Vogue

Summary: We’ve made significant breakthroughs in our attempts to synthesize an alloy capable of withstanding extreme cosmic environments, in preparation for the impending solar collapse and subsequent cataclysmic events. The combination of zirconium carbide with ceramic substrate demonstrates high thermal tolerance. Reinforced carbon nanotubes and titanium aluminide were added to increase strength and durability. Further trials are needed to address degradation resulting from prolonged radiation exposure, but my team remains optimistic!

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Log Entry: 927

Date: 3032-10-04

Lead Scientist: Nevara Vogue

Summary: The discovery of a previously unknown substance at the Mars colony “Promothea” offers the final piece to the puzzle. The nanostructures of the substance now referred to as “aetheron” will be added to the current boron carbide and tungsten disulfide matrix. We anticipate that it will bind well with our previous alloy iterations. The material exhibits unique self-repairing capabilities not unlike known biomimetic self-assembly processes. Initial results from RAADS stress tests may suggest ancient microbial origins, as the material has exhibited what can only be described as an advanced photosynthetic response to cosmic energies. Full synthesis is pending board approval for the release of funding and confirmation of the proposed alloy name: Solarium-X. These new findings should additionally assuage all ethical concerns over the potential consideration of aetheron as an alien lifeform.

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Log Entry: 1347

Date: 3057-02-05

Lead Scientist: Omryn Zenyas

Summary: Recombination of homosapien embryonic stem cells with tribolium castaneum DNA has proven successful. Human trials to increase resilience to solar radiation for contingency purposes are currently pending. Construction of Solarium-X vehicles for complete planetary migration to Mars has begun. Tertiary trials for Solarium-X skin-graphing continue to achieve positive results; may soon be ready for commercial release.

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Log Entry: 3797

Date: 3115-07-06

Lead Scientist: Syntar Corell

Summary: Earth’s environmental conditions continue to destabilize. The team has decided to revise the construction plans of Solarium-X (SOL-X) trial domes for Earth application, following the unfortunate tragedy at Promothea. Experimentation on SOL-X for its potential use in enhanced body augmentations was proposed as an alternative to the failed gene therapy trials. The team expects promising results given the successful mass implementation of SOL-X skin graphs to victims of severe sun poisoning.

Addendum to Log Entry 3797: The team has filed a formal grievance over the Board’s complete shut down of the Neogenesis Program formerly run by the geneticists at NeuroGen.

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Log Entry: 10794

Date: 3175–11-13

Lead Scientist: Aurelian Vexel

Summary: Cultural integration within Dome City structures continues to be problematic. Approval for mass production of the groundbreaking SOL-X endoskeleton system has been received; it will be available to Tier 5 augmenters by 3180.

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Log Entry: 30798

Date: 3200-05-09

Lead Scientist: Aurelian Vexel

Summary: Social systems in domed cities continue to decline. For program preservation, a Neuroadaptive Systems Initiative (NSI) has been implemented to promote social harmony at the Board’s request. Selection of volunteer residents for trial participation is currently underway. The outlook is positive. At this time, the “rebrand” marketing strategy appears to have successfully fostered unity among the discontent. The domed cities will hereafter be known as the New Society.

Addendum to Log Entry 30798: First shift must contact Fallax at the Board to request more funding for the manufacturing of replacement propaganda featuring the new city name.

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Log Entry: 78385

Date: 3277-09-17

Lead Scientist: Quorren Oshirov

Summary: Final log entry for Project Helios. Refined SOL-X alloy continues to exhibit application versatility. The domed cities of New Society continue to successfully withstand the harsh conditions of an unstable surface environment, and they are projected to further improve with advancing technologies. NSI has achieved full integration. Those resistant to the program have opted for complete withdrawal; current whereabouts are unknown. They are believed to have succumbed to surface conditions. Our research focus has switched to longevity; breakthroughs in cognetic fusion and electrocognitive holo-optimization may be the key to unlocking immortality. Funding for longevity research has been approved indefinitely. For all intents and purposes, Project Helios was a success. Humanity has been saved.

– END OF RECORD –

NEW SECURE MESSAGE LOG:

My oldest friend,

You know as well as I that the public would not respond kindly to any mention of a resistant class. Their devotion to comforts and techno-modulated social harmony far exceed the boundaries of ancient human sensibilities. Perhaps that page of history is best left where its subjects likely perished: beyond the city walls. That is, of course, if I hope to present myself as a serious scholar.

These logs will, however, invariably increase the authority of my work. Primary lexiform dataprints are notoriously difficult to come by in today’s world. I insist we meet so that you can tell me how you managed to obtain them, my crafty old friend. When are you next available to transmit your hologram?

Corp & Custom,

Patch

[Encryption Complete]

[Message Sent]