BW: Alright Pence, everyone should be set up. Think we can run rollcall?
PP: Affirmative. Order: Initiate rollcall 5/5.
AU: Affirmative. Rollcall 2/5.
BW: Present.
AU: Rollcall 3/5.
GO: Present.
AU: Rollcall 4/5.
BW: Rot? Are you on?
GO: He should be. We set up his keyboard.
BW: I'll be back. I'll check on him.
GO: So. This is new.
PP: Not really. This is an older version of this software. Most people attempted to integrate text to speech into their assistants. Very few versions still use the text logs.
GO: Still, feels kind of novel.
PP: It really is not. Your lack of experience with this technology only makes it seem as such.
GO: Rot and Bird are arguing pretty loudly. What do you think is going on?
PP: Unsure. We can ask them when they return. It would be much more convenient if we all could be in the server room to communicate with AU, but unfortunately, it does not understand the concept of multiple users on a single account.
GO: So that's why I'm in one of the offices. Okay. Makes sense.
AU: Rollcall 4/5.
GO: What about multiple keyboards?
PP: It will interpret the keypresses as the same account. This is why I had to make new accounts for you and Rot. It is akin to having two mice connected to the same monitor.
GO: Right, right. Makes sense. What about Bird? Why can he still be in the server room?
PP: I can communicate directly with AU. Bird can use his scroll as his account. Therefore, even if it seems like the same system, it is not, as the scroll is not normally part of my system.
RT: Here.
AU: Rollcall 5/5. Initiating meeting. Good evening Penny Polendina, how can I help you today?
PP: Standby for further orders. BW has to get back online.
BW: Back.
GO: What happened?
BW: You want to explain it Rot, or would you rather me?
RT: How about we don't.
BW: I'll take that as have me do it.
BW: Essentially, Rot doesn't know how to use a keyboard. Or technology in general. A Luddite.
RT: That's blowing it out of proportion. I do too.
BW: Because I just showed you how to use the keyboard. And how to open the channel. How did you not know how to use a keyboard? Atlas was the most technologically advanced before its fall.
RT: I forgot. Years of not using one. Can you blame me?
GO: No.
BW: Yes.
PP: Are you three done? I would like to eventually leave here before my fans rust.
BW: Think so.
GO: Yes.
RT: Fine.
PP: AU, I will now call this meeting to order.
AU: Affirmative. What is the purpose of this meeting?
PP: A mutual agreement between GO, RT, and AU.
AU: Affirmative. What does this agreement contain?
PP: The floor is yours.
GO: Could you stop shooting us?
AU: Error: Define "us".
GO: I can see why there is a difficulty in dealing with you. Us as in the Acolytes of the Malt.
AU: Error: Define "Acolytes of the Malt".
GO: Should I even try Pence?
PP: You have to be more specific. Understand that this system is not very intelligent, and mostly is working off of an order to prevent invaders into Atlas.
GO: Why do I get the feeling that we're going to need to make clearances for each and every one of our members.
RT: If we do, that's going to be such a pain in the arse.
PP: You most likely will.
RT: What's the point of even trying then?
PP: Do you want to continue fearing the Stone Mile?
RT: I see now.
PP: AU, access clearance list. Create classifications "Disciples of the Malt", and "Rebel Boys."
AU: Affirmative. Would you like to add any members to either of these new classifications?
PP: Add user GO into "Disciples of the Malt", and user RT into "Rebel Boys."
AU: Affirmative. Users added. Any other settings you would like to edit?
PP: Provide admin access to GO and RT for their respective classifications.
AU: You are providing admin access to two accounts which do not have secret clearance. Input override code and identification.
PP: In for a Penny; Penny Polendina, Protector of Mantle.
AU: Access granted. Please wait 24 hours for admin access to be added.
RT: Wait, that Penny? The failed protector? The one what was smashed like a porcelain doll?
PP: Unfortunately, yes. I am that Penny.
RT: How are you still alive?
PP: I am not human in the standard sense.
RT: So, not human then.
PP: If you wish to clarify it as so, then yes, not human.
RT: Didn't you defect?
BW: Why are you asking? What pertinence does this have?
RT: If she's a defector, then she's partially responsible for the downfall of Atlas.
BW: She wasn't. I found her in an Atlas Vault.
PP: Technically speaking, for a time, I was considered a compromised asset. The initial attack on Atlas forced General Ironwood to make judgements that he did not have enough information to wisely make. However, I was able to reinstate myself an assist in the defense of Atlas before its fall.
RT: Heard something about that.
PP: Where were you when Atlas fell?
RT: Don't want to talk about it. Besides, can't we just get the agreement over with?
PP: Cannot. In order to prevent infiltrators from dismantling the security system by taking another person's identification, there is a 24-hour lockout after attempting to give admin access to users who were not cleared.
RT: Then why is it even an option.
PP: Wartime pressures. If the superior officers are KIA, unit commanders may be required to assume control. In addition, each section of the wall had its own Automated Unit. This is Automated Unit 79. Each section had different permissions, and only officers and technicians who operated on a specific section of wall had admin access on their portions of wall. However, if they were required to shift sectors, or increase their area of command, they would also need to be added.
RT: Right.
GO: Well, Rot, if you don't feel comfortable telling where you were at the fall of Atlas, I was huddled in a bunker.
RT: How come?
GO: I was, like, 16.
RT: Weren't all men supposed to pick up a rifle and fight?
GO: I'm not a man.
RT: Seriously? You sound like one.
GO: I just have a smoker voice. And none of you ever asked what gender I was.
BW: I thought it would be rude.
GO: Sure you did.
RT: Wait. Wouldn't that put you at like, 19, 20?
RT: 21?
GO: Yes.
RT: Well this is awkward.
BW: So where were you Rot?
RT: Wall segment 84.
PP: I am sorry for your loss.
RT: Thanks, but you don't need to be.
BW: Historical context please?
GO: The grimm focused on every sixth segment. Kept feeling out until they could breach. Supposedly one of the most valuable assets of Atlas was lost attempting to stop a breach at 84.
BW: Oh.
PP: Rot, why did you not recognize the name Penny when Bird accidentally mention it the first time we met?
RT: I thought it was a common name. I knew a couple people who named their kids Penny after the Protector of Mantle. Also, didn't know you were just a server.
BW: Seriously?
RT: I thought it was like something stuck to your aura. Like that one aura parasite thing that has been popping up.
BW: What parasite thing?
RT: It popped up in my camp. One of the boys who had no aura, suddenly got it, and started acting weird. Started saying that we need to listen to him. Sometimes he would be himself, but he became increasingly forceful. Saying that he knew how to stop her, and how we needed to drop everything to stop her. It just got too much.
RT: So I unlocked every kid's aura in the camp, and suffocated him with a pillow. If he was going to latch on and start puppeting one of my boys, then I'd make it impossible for him to do so again. He can't latch onto kids with aura. Not letting him lead my boys to their deaths.
BW: Oh. I'm sorry to hear about that.
RT: Don't be. Sometimes I forget that the are the bigger threats, after dealing with Go and grimm for so long.
BW: Right. Penny, why does this sound so familiar?
PP: Mr. Skink told us about something like that. The counterpart to Salem.
BW: Ah. Makes sense.
GO: That does explain why the Acolyte had rhetoric on why everyone should have their aura unlocked as soon as possible.
BW: I thought aura amplified emotions, making them attract grimm more.
GO: While true, if one gives even basic training to those with aura, then it isn't an issue. Especially if you teach restraint. He also taught that the sooner you unlock it, the more expressive your soul would become, and the more protection you would have from what he called the Leech.
GO: Supposedly. From the doctrine that I've read.
BW: It sounds like he was letting people get strong enough to challenge him.
GO: Supposedly, it didn't matter. He had the ability to essentially negate aura with his semblance.
BW: That sounds busted. How did it function?
GO: Essentially, he could have another person's aura match the strength of his own. He reduces the aura on his hands to nearly zero, so where he cuts, their aura there is essentially zero, allowing him to cut right through it, without the other party realizing that their aura was dropped to zero.
BW: Huh. Sounds like a really messed up dude.
RT: So that's why all the templars are armored to heck and back. Like oysters.
GO: Essentially. Though I do not like that comparison.
RT: Heh. Whatever.
GO: Fine. Bird, where were you when Atlas fell?
BW: Down south, across the channel. I only came up here just over a year ago.
GO: Oh, that's interesting.
RT: Are you saying that because you don't want to admit where you were?
BW: I'm saying it that way because I don't know exactly when Atlas fell.
RT: Fair enough.
PP: I was in a vault.
RT: Where?
PP: Classified.
RT: Damn it.
BW: What's your plans after we get this deal done?
GO: Figure out how to clean the water and maintain a sustainable source of food and water.
RT: Kill the last ten templars.
BW: Why do you want to kill the templars so badly?
RT: Who do you think were the lieutenants who helped bring down the wall.
BW: Oh. So its personal then.
RT: Pretty much. Just making my way through them.
BW: And their leader?
GO: He's dead.
BW: What?
GO: He got blown up with a massive portion of Atlas. It was a last-ditch tactic from the Atlassians. They'd rather have them own a crater than their city. Took out him and a major part of the offensive. While Atlas had already lost, the number of grimm lost is still felt to this day.
RT: Brothers bless Atlassian technology.
GO: Sure. Okay. So we're just waiting now?
PP: Affirmative.
GO: Great.
GO: Bird, you want to keep making fun of Rot's inability to use technology?
BW: Would I!
RT: Brothers damn it.
