S01E05 - Investigations and Information

General Summary

We rejoin our erstwhile team as they continue their day, coming to terms with the changes that have befallen each of them.
Brick Wall has decided that he requires assistance in moving around the city. To this end, he has gone further into Northbridge in search of the Hero known as Aperture, a Hero able to open portals, allowing people to traverse across distances. Brick Wall contacted The Designer who told him of a young hero she knew of. She passed on the details and Brick Wall set up a meeting with the young portalling hero.
The initial meeting didn't quite go as Brick Wall anticipated. Aperture, wanting to check out this new contact, stepped from a portal, up on a fire escape. Thinking himself unseen for the moment, he started to watch the new arrival. Aperture was a bit startled when Brick Wall looked straight at him, then leapt to the fire escape he was observing from. Aperture immediately portaled away and Brick Wall, realising that the person in front of him was quite young, realised his mistake. Staying where he was, he asked permission to come talk to the young hero, which Aperture agreed to. Once again on the ground, Brick Wall told the young man why he'd come to see him and an agreement was soon made, on the condition that Brick Wall helped him with something. The two of them raided a property from which a small gang were distributing drugs. They learned that the group were working for someone else when Brick Wall turned on the intimidation and questioned one of the captured gang members. Once Aperture saw how Brick Wall operated, he agreed that, as long as he was available, he'd act as taxi. Brick Wall then offered to help Aperture protect Northbridge in return.
Uskir went to work and heard rumours regarding the ordinance handed in at the precinct in Northbridge (the same ordinance used in the breakout a day or so before). On investigating, he discovered that Despatch had no knowledge of the message to call off the Millennium City Police Department from the kidnapping of Rochelle Carter. It appears that the messages were not from the usual despatch. Ghost Squad are suspected.
DJinn learns that the UnWrecking Crew have been busy, helping out with the repairs around Prescott Tower and the surrounding area, following The Catalyst Event. He also learns that there are a number of sites suffering collateral damage as a direct result of Powered on Powered action. He starts co-ordinating the responses to these as best he can.
DJinn and Úlfhéðnar decide to check out reports of disturbances in the underground tunnels and realise that the Water Salamander is back. They follow the trail out to The Lake District where it has apparently taken up residence within the lake itself. As it isn't currently causing any mischief, the heroes inform the relevant authorities to keep an eye on it so that, if it becomes a problem, it can be dealt with.
Lady Liberty starts her investigation into her mother's disappearance. With the team's assistance and help from Aperture and another hero by the name of Interface (Lady Liberty's faux pas about the house belonging to her mother as Interface hacked Rochelle's laptop, network and personal files, not withstanding), they eventually also started to turn their attention to Dr Kirby Wilson, who it appeared, also worked on the original project, though only in a more minor capacity. The information gained from this investigation is as follows:
First Email chain found:

From: Carter, Rochelle To: Prescott, Silas Subject: RE: RE: PRISM Initial Report ------------------------------ Silas, I think we’re getting somewhere. The bottomless budget helps. It means I can procure equipment that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to get our hands on. I won’t ask how your procurement people manage to get the HatsuCorp Analyser, but it’s sensitive enough that we might just get something (of course, it’s a medical scanner, not really designed for this but we’ll see what happens).
The one thing I can tell you is that this thing is putting out some serious power signatures. Not that we can use that yet, just that, whatever is powering this thing, could probably power this building. Don’t get your hopes up, however. We have a long road ahead to working out what this does. Rochelle From: Prescott, Silas To: Carter, Rochelle Subject: RE: PRISM Initial Report ----------------------------- Dr Carter, This initial report isn’t really worth the time of day to me. It tells me nothing about the device. Need I remind you that I’ve given you a nearly unlimited budget on this? Find out what it does. Then, we figure out how to utilise it, if such is appropriate, for the betterment of Prescott Industries. Silas
From: Carter, Rochelle To: Prescott, Silas Subject: PRISM Initial Report ------------------------------ Mr Prescott, I attach the initial findings report on the PRISM. To be brutally honesty, I know less about this thing now, than I did when we first found it in that cave. The readings that drew us there stopped shortly after it was brought out into the light of day and it stopped refracting light just as quickly. I can’t stress how concerned I am with all this. We’re literally playing with something that could blow up in our faces. Rochelle

Second Email Chain Found:

From: Wilson, Kirby To: Carter, Rochelle Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Fascinating That’s more like it. Bring it on!
From: Carter, Rochelle To: Wilson, Kirby Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Fascinating I did. Now, shall we get to work before we both need new jobs? I’ve found something that might be right up your alley, if you’re up to the challenge of some leg-work?
From: Wilson, Kirby To: Carter, Rochelle Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Fascinating I did not expect that…
From: Prescott, Silas To: Carter, Rochelle CC: Wilson, Kirby Subject: RE: RE: RE: Fascinating What I find fascinating about this email chain is how two of the top scientists in the country, both under my employ, both working on the same damned project are both acting like children. Dr Carter, get your act together and start managing your team member. He’s hired to help you as you seem incapable of getting me results. Dr Wilson, if I get included in one more of these whinging emails calling for attention and backup from me, without it being life-threatening, you’re gone! Do you understand me? Learn to fight your own battles man! Silas
From: Wilson, Kirby, To: Carter, Rochelle, CC: Prescott, Silas Subject: RE: RE: Fascinating Dr Carter (since you insist on formality), I appreciate that this situation is not ideal for you. I also must insist that you start taking me, and my credentials and expertise seriously. I am here to assist and, from what I’ve read in the archive (at least the records I have access to that aren’t redacted to the point of redundancy), the project in question is something I am perfectly suited to assist you with. After all, Mr Prescott did hire me to assist you. Dr (Yes, I have a PhD too) Wilson
From: Carter, Rochelle, To: Wilson, Kirby Subject: RE: Fascinating Dr Wilson, Silas may have hired you, but I did not. I did not get a say in this, nor did I get to vet you for clearance on this project and, until I’m certain that you can be trusted with this, I’m keeping you on the periphery. This is important and extremely delicate work. Please, be patient and, once I’m certain you’re the right fit, I’ll let you in. Dr Rochelle Carter
From: Wilson, Kirby To: Carter, Rochelle Subject: Fascinating Rochelle, I must say, this project that Mr Prescott has hired me to look at is fascinating. This device is clearly not of this Earth. Where and how did you find it? Curious minds will want to know! You can’t keep shutting me out, sending me to the archives and not letting me near your precious project. Two heads are better than one! Let me help! Kirby

Third Email Chain Found:

From: Prescott, Silas To: Mathis, Kristoff Subject: RE: RE: Dr Carter Security Level: Ultra-Violet Kristoff, Under no circumstances are you to approach, detain or otherwise hinder Dr Carter. Observe her and her child. I want weekly reports on what they’re doing, where they go and who they meet. Something doesn’t add up here. Dr Kirby informs me that, from the data he’s recovered, there was a huge energy spike from the PRISM the day before Dr Carter left Prescott Industries. It’s possible that something like that scared her off but she doesn’t strike me as someone to be scared off easily. I’m very curious to see what happens next. Silas
From: Mathis, Kristoff, To: Prescott, Silas Subject: RE: Dr Carter Security Level: Ultra-Violet Silas, It took me a month, but I’ve managed to track her down. She’s living in Fairview; now that is pure genius. I assumed she’d bug out of Millennium City and be as far away as she could manage, but no! Apparently, she’s adopted a little girl and settling down for the quiet life. With the corporate espionage she’s done, do you want me to bring in the police, or bring her in for questioning? Kristoff
From: Prescott, Silas To: Mathis, Kristoff Subject: Dr Carter Security Level: Ultra-Violet Kristoff, You were right. Something has happened to our esteemed Dr Carter. She’s gone AWOL and destroyed the data in the lab. This isn’t like her, she’s usually more level-headed; often reminding me, much as I might not like to admit, that I need to reign in my more aggressive impulses. Find her. Find out what’s happened and then keep an eye on her. I have a feeling we’ll need her if Dr Kirby isn’t as clued up as he thinks he is. Silas

First Messanger Conversation Found:

Chat log, Rochelle Carter, Silas Prescott, Kirby Wilson 09:51 RC: Silas, we have a breakthrough 09.52 SP: Go on 09:52 RC: It’s able to produce HUGE amounts of power. 09:52 SP: That’s good! Well done, Dr Carter 09:53 RC: There’s a problem though. 09:53 SP: How did I know there was a ‘but…’ coming along with the good news. Out with it, Rochelle, you know I hate it when you prance around things like this. 09:54 RC: We could probably blow up the city with this thing, if it were some form of bomb. 09:54 KW: Which it isn’t! 09:54 SP: Ahh, Dr Wilson’s awake, I see. So glad you could join us. 09:54 KW: Apologies, Mr Prescott. I needed to confirm a couple of things before we gave our findings 09:54 SP: I see. Go on then, Dr Wilson. As you seem so keen, you can continue 09:55 KW: Thank you sir. Alright. As Dr Carter has already stated, the device is capable of producing massive amounts of power. We’ve had serious problems getting this thing to interface with the measuring apparatus, which, as you know is completely proprietary and designed by me for that sole purpose.. 09:57 SP: Yes, Dr Wilson, we’re all suitably impressed. Now, will you get to the point? 10:00 KW: That’s… all I have, really. I can see that it has immense power within it, but I can’t figure out how to harness it, or what it’s doing. 10:01 SP: I see. I’m beginning to ask myself why I’m paying you so much money to give me nothing 10.02 KW: With all due respect, Mr Prescott. Building a proprietary measuring tool, based off the medical scanner from HatsuCorp alone has taken years off your research. 10.02 SP: Yes, yes. Carry on. I’m late for my next meeting. We’ll talk more tomorrow

Second Messanger Chain Found:

21:28 KW: Mr Prescott. We have a problem. 21:35 SP: What is it now, Dr Wilson? 21:37 KW: She’s gone, sir. Dr Carter. She’s disappeared. 21:37 SP: I see. Any reason you’re telling me and not calling the police? 21:37 KW: She’s trashed the research. Everything is gone. All the records, the archives, everything 21:40 SP: Really, Dr Wilson. Will you calm down. Do a full check and let me know what you can recover from backups and the infrastructure 21:41 KW: IT. IS. ALL. GONE 21:41 SP: Do I need to find a new head scientist to replace Dr Carter? 21:41 KW: No sir, I’ll see what I can find. 07:19 KW: We have the initial data again, but it puts us back more-or-less to square one 08:01 SP: Good job you’ve been monitoring her all this time then. You should get us back to where we were in no time. 08:05 KW: Yes sir. It’s going to take years, though. She had insights into this thing none of the rest of us had. 08:06 SP: She had a way with the device, that is for sure. Do your best, Dr Wilson. I expect results. 08:09 KW: Of course, sir.

Pertinent entries from teh diary of Rochelle Carter

Entry 1 There’s been some strange seismic activity in Mozambique. We’re able to detect it, so I’m sure other can as well. I’ve given my findings to Silas. He’s keen to go. This is the most excited I’ve seen him in a while. I wonder how long it will last
Entry 2 It’s taken us nearly a week to pinpoint this damned thing. It was in a cave that had collapsed near a small village. The people there were very nice and really helpful to us. I would like to think that they are just nice people, but I’m sure the huge amounts of money Silas was throwing around had something to do with it. Time to start digging, I suppose
Entry 3 What the actual @%$£? It’s a pyramid? Roughly 1.5 metres across. It’s made of a weird metal that I’m not familiar with and it’s warm to the touch. We took it outside and it refracted light, like a crystal PRISM for about five seconds, then it stopped and the heat we were feeling dissipated. Why do I feel like we just ‘Called Home’? Entry 4 Silas is pressuring me for results on the PRISM. I can understand his frustration, but these things take time. I can’t get any readings off this thing; it seems to have gone completely inert, like a turtle, retreating into its shell. Hmm. That gives me an idea. Entry 5 Who the hell does Silas think he is, bringing on another member to my team, without my say-so or approval? I don’t get to vet my own staff now? It doesn’t help that he’s an unsufferable jackass that thinks he knows more than me. For now, I’ll keep him in the archives. Maybe he can spot something I missed. Entry 6 What is this, Kindergarten again? He went to Silas about me putting him on legwork; getting him to re-check my findings to see if I missed anything! What a &£%#! Silas responded in the way that only Silas can. I found myself grinning as I read the email response, despite the fact he lambasted me too. Good old Silas. He’s an ass, but, if you need someone strong in your corner, he’s a good one to have, as long as you’re in the right. Entry 7 Well, I wasn’t expecting that. Dr Kirby came through. He’s managed to work out something with the HatsuCorp medical Imager and increased its sensitivity even more. To me, it looks like he found a redundant system that he’s jury rigged to be part of the initial array. We’ve definitely voided the warranty and, if it breaks, we’re @5£#*!. He has, however, confirmed what I thought, more or less at the beginning; this thing has its own power source. Now I’m quite concerned as, when we originally took it out the cave, it lit up like the cover to a Pink Floyd album before going utterly inert. I suddenly have a very bad feeling about this. Entry 8 The more I learn about this device, the less I want to know. It has a power source that we can tap, which, thank God is what Silas is focusing on, but it has other functions. It’s designed to do something; I just can’t figure out what. Entry 9 And now I know what it does. Her name will be Catherine Alexandra. Catherine from the daughter I lost, Alexandria from my sister, may she look down upon this and smile and know she’s still loved. This baby; the daughter I never had. The one I lost all those years ago. The one that nearly destroyed me, that destroyed my marriage when I got depressed and suicidal. When Daniel left me too, Silas was my Rock. He held me up and pushed me on, made me focus on the work. I remembered all he did for me as I stood there today, looking into the calm, peaceful eyes of a tiny baby that had just been handed to me by her own mother. I knew the look on her mother’s face, once hopeful, but also heartbroken; it was the look of a mother losing that which was the most precious to her; what she would die for, if needs must. The baby was placed into my arms, with the words, “she came too late to save our world, maybe she can save yours;”. With that done, she stepped back and was gone; the PRISM went back to being inert. Holy @#%&! I’m a mother now. Entry 10 I’ve done it. I’ve destroyed everything I can find. I’m sure that Silas an Dr Kirby will be able to rebuild, but short of trying to wrest the PRISM out of the vault and out the building, that’s all I can do. I’ll not leave Millennium City. I need to try to keep an eye on things and, if what I was told is true, Catherine will need to be here when he does something monumentally stupid. We have a house in Fairview. I’m laying low and I’ve taken a teaching job to ‘disappear’. If Silas is looking for me, the last thing he will expect is for me to be in the city. I’ll cover my tracks as best I can but one day, he’ll realise where I am. On that day, all hell will likely break loose.

URL to Project PRISM Initial Report During the investigation at Dr Kirby Wilson's home, the group were attacked by a four man team who seemed to materialise at the rear of their vehicle. Although the group were soundly routed, Brick Wall informed the rest of the group that the skirmish was likely a fact-finding mission; determining who the opposition were and what they could, or could not, do.
Brick Wall also contacted his old CO from when he was stationed at Fort Graystone who informed him that Ghost Squad were bad news. They recruit from only the best special forces and spies. They will take almost any job, if the price is right and they operate in utter secrecy of their members. They will be a force to be reckoned with.

Report Date

08 Nov 2020