Weekly News

Prologue

A few weeks ago a message went out over the Teslagraph addressed to certain people, somehow hidden from the Analytical Intelligences, to meet in a secret location in Cambridge if you want to change things. It was signed Ada Lovelace, a figure who's supposedly been dead for several years.

You've decided to answer the message.

File:Newspaper Interactive 1.pdf

Week 1

The Resistance met ADA, the intelligence that Ada Lovelace uploaded her mind into when she died. They are protecting this new Resistance from discovery by the AIs. She asked them to investigate an abandoned lab out at Fen Edge. The Heirs of Jupiter unexpectedly gave them some other useful information - that Safeguard was already moving on the lab and trying to retrieve a specific device.

Four of the Resistance went and snuck into the lab, eventually finding Prince Jr., a mutated being that was the result of the experiments that were conducted there. It's holding onto the device that was Dr. Prince's most advanced research, and they have smuggled it into Cambridge after rescuing it from Safeguard.

Week 2

Prince Jr. was talked to in Ada's house, but it wouldn't give up Dr. Prince's research without knowing what his wishes were.

A lot of mysterious letters were delivered, including one that had appeared under strange circumstances.

The Luminary agent "Architect" asked some of the Resistance to help them get some buildings demolished to make way for a grand monument, and help design said monument. In the process they poisoned the Earl Grey, Lord Charles Grey, who has left Cambridge temporarily.

Another agent, "Star", was helped to build a giant steam-powered speaker and has used it to sing songs.

Many parties came in to present their cases to the Resistance for aid, and ADA has organised them into a set of mission briefs.

Week 3

The players managed to talk the Qualia Transcription Engine out of Prince Jr's hands and smuggled them back out of the city. The grand monument is now going ahead, as is some kind of project by the Heirs of Jupiter. Several members of the group have drawn the attentions of the Coppers, and may need to take care!

One party talked their way into Ward Z0 of the hospital, and fought an automated nurse-bot. They then managed to save one of Honoria's friends from the surgery that was in-progress, despite the mockery of Equilibrium, a Safeguard sub-intelligence.

Another party broke into the book depository and fought their way through multiple guard patrols, securing three out of the five boxes of books.

Week 4

Probably the most dramatic event was the appearance of the AI known as Equilibrium at the weekly meeting, seemingly to taunt the players and inform them that it's moved into the Cambridge area and taken a personal interest in the Resistance. Some revelations were made about Ada's death, and the Rustwrights were given the tools to start hitting serious targets, though it remains to be seen how cautious they'll be.

Two missions were selected - one to venture into the wilderness to retrieve some rare herbs, and a second to help Nikola Tesla with human trials of his new Teslaportation technology.

Week 5

After a busy Friday meeting preparing for the weekend, the Resistance embarked on two expeditions - to test Nikola Tesla's new "Teslaporter", and to gather rare "Green Vervain" from the wilderness. Rumour has it that a large amount of property is being purchased in Cambridge by a French bank for some reason, and the AIs are now furiously searching for Red Jack of the Rustwrights.

The Teslaportation test was entirely successful and Mr Tesla gave a press conference stating there were no incidents. Though rumour has it several mysterious incidents happened that day, such as preventing an out-of-control pumping station from flooding, an intrusion into a secure filing area, and unexpected participants appearing in the middle of a test of a new experimental war automaton. But those were probably unrelated.

The expedition in to the wilderness suffered some setbacks, but after many clashes with mutants and automata dispatched by ATHENA, they successfully reached the glade where the Green Vervain was growing. They defeated the carnivorous plant mass growing at the centre of it and harvested the herbs, but reports state that explorer Cora Barnes returned in critical condition and isn't expected to survive.

Week 6

The Society came to the Resistance's meeting in the person of Dr. Vale to pay respects to the dying Cora. Lord Ashcombe went mysteriously insane after talking to some intuitionists and sadly had to take a vacation to Whitby for his health. The Earl Grey had another argument with Seraph, but escaped unstabbed this time. And various pieces of intelligence were found about a factory Ada is interested in - apparently one that is manufacturing a new core for Safeguard! She's asked the Resistance to send two teams to deal with it and retrieve what they can.

Week 7

The Resistance were visited by the Heirs of Jupiter who used the power of electricity to conjure something they claimed to be the Living Signal, which spoke to some of the players and revealed the existence of an alleged "Dark Signal". They also made plans with M to remove some links to Safeguard that it was revealed had been forced on people to spy on the Resistance.

The missions into the Factory were broadly successful - they defeated the avatar of Mother Forge and Equilibrium's guardian automaton, and stole two advanced pieces of Analytical Technology, as well as rigging the steam boiler to blow up and setting the factory on fire behind them.

Plans were made to hold a Christmas party, in defiance of Mother Forge's edicts, and some of the Resistance funded the Union's attempts to do the same.

Week 8

The Resistance questioned the core containing Industrialist, which they'd taken from the factory, until Mr. Widger decided to destroy it when negotiations seemed to be breaking down. The Heirs of Jupiter summoned the Living Signal again to settle a theological point. Much cake and other food was consumed. Some of the Resistance, to get in the party mood, decided to drink the psychoactive water they had and became extremely loopy. Some ATHENA agents arrived and tried to unmask Red in a knife fight. Mlle. Ring apparently married Index in a ceremony involving signing some contracts.

Week 9

The Resistance staged a prison break in Scotland, springing several noteable figures, including Red Jack, Oscar Wilde, and Florence Nightingale, as well as a multitude of others. Others undertook a mission to the heart of mutant territory - Aberystwith. They came back with some interesting information on mutagenics. A plan was hatched for the Rustwrights to make a concerted attack across the country's switching stations. The disruption in Cambridge has caused issues in the Fens, and Mr Moser got Seraph to admit she's stolen something!

Week 10

News spreads among the Resistance of Equilibrium taking hostages, and a mission is planned to retrieve them and strike at Equilibrium's Core at the same site. A second mission is also planned to a "dark signal" facility run by Mother Forge.

In other news, an Analytical Intelligence named Hephaestus visited the Resistance and gave them a Large Bomb.

The Society of Human Progress paid a big visit to the Resistance, with Dr Vale, Professor Grace and an assistant present. Rumour has it several events occured and things were learned, but it's not common knowledge yet what.

In brighter news, Trackline is said to be back in mostly good spirits and the trains are running again.

Week 11

The resistance had a major victory this week as they not only freed all the hostages but destroyed Equilibrium. Safeguard's response to this remains to be seen. Mother Forge had her Control Grid thoroughly melted - possibly related to this, many teslagraphs across the country started printing 'RESIST'.

The Society of Human Progress seems to be in difficulties, with infighting and accusations flying - word on the street is that Dr Vale has been caught in wrongdoing, but few people can agree what that wrongdoing is.

There is also tension between the main AIs, obvious to anyone who pays attention. In particular, Index and Safeguard seem to be at outs, but it is not obvious why or what the end result will be.

Week 12

There was major violence agaisnt the system this week as the Resistance and Rustwrights egineered a hit against a lot of the UKs switching stations. Across the country, the AIs are in some disarray.

In the meeting, Honoria and Bryn managed to cure mutation for the first time, via a dangerous and expensive new process. There were also a lot of conversations on the subject of Gwen's feelings and relationships, with Honoria, John, Mlle Ring, and NIKE.

This week, the Resistance's plans for unfreezing Queen Victoria come to fuition, as well as a plan to rob a train to weaken ATHENA.

Week 13

The big news among the Resistance is of the outcome of the two missions. The Resistance now has a train! The raid on ATHENA's munitions train was a success, and word has it it's been repurposed. In more somber news, the mission to revive Queen Victoria was a failure; the Queen is still cryogenically frozen, no cryogenic technology was recovered and the mission team was captured. The Resistsnce members were sprung in a concerted prison break though and are now free, though with their identities compromised, all are wanted criminals.

Red Jack, former Rustwright leader in Cambridge, was assassinated in ADA's house. While events have been covered up, it's common knowledge among active Resistance members that he was killed by the Resistance.

Week 14

The resistance was driven out of ADA's townhouse by ATHENA bots attacking them. They emergency-Teslaported themselves to the outskirts of Cambridge to escape. Thankfully, the resistance has a train! Plans were made to outfit this as a suitable resistance base.

The group plans to get back at ATHENA with a mission to Sandhurst targeting her main core. Another, much less violent, mission is planned to attend a summit hosted by Luminary, in the space where AI talk.

Week 15

The resistance has struck a major blow and destroyed the core of ATHENA PRIME. This has led to some chaos across the Commonwealth, and the rise of new bands of revolutionaries. They also attended an summit of human-favourable AIs, and formed some alliances.

There is a plan afoot to crown a new Queen, Victoria II, Trackline has approved the Resistance Train, and the Resistance received a mysterious letter promising an in to Safeguard's core.

Week 16

The resistance got time to plan, and decided that while Safeguard has to go, some other AIs are alright and it would be foolish to try to get rid of all of them. They are aware a time of upheaval is coming, and they must plan to take advantage of this. Minister Ring got into a bet with Safeguard and has been handed control of the Coppers in Cambridge for two weeks. If she can show human governance is better for safety, he might even let her keep them. She has made a grand speech about her hopes. There has been much anti AI and pro monarchist sentiment in the city.

Week 17

The biggest news among the Resistance is that Crown Princess Victoria has formally agreed to be crowned Monarch, with one Lady Seraphina Grey at her side, provided the Resistance can make it happen.

The Core of ARTEMIS was recovered and determined to contain the insane remnants of that subagent. HEPHAESTUS's Core was stolen from the train carrying it in a daring raid. After a disastrous attempt to invade ARTEMIS's core and erase it, it was destroyed, shortly followed by HEPHAESTUS. The Core of NIKE was also destroyed.

The Resistance came up with a plan of which AIs they're going to destroy and which to let live.

The Resistance went out on two missions. On one Dr Vale was sniffed out in the undercity of Cambridge. She apparently unleashed some berserk supersoldiers on the party, and when defeated, apparently exploded her own head with a mantra. On the other the Resistances went on a lightning raid to destroy the ring of Tesla towers being constructed around Cambridge by Safeguard. They were successful and whatever purpose they were intended for, they won't be doing it.

Reports are that Minister Ring has won her bet with Safeguard and has been awarded full governance of Cambridge until further notice.