veilbreak | tverin 001

It's been a long day, so I'll keep this brief. Dust is clearing on the ground, and this is what we know:

1. 2 of the 3 large drones dispatched for the Sterilisation event has been shot down, along with numerous patrol drones. Instead of the total eradication of Xitang, it's only been partially leveled. This is a win.

2. There were no fatalities, although we had 90 injured. I want to commend our ground teams (Ground Forces, Espionage, volunteers) for your efficiency. The Veiled are being taken to and integrated into surrounding Pres Cities courtesy of Recruitment agents stationed in the area.

3. We have commandeered an additional freight plane which will be vital in future relocation efforts.

We still do not know what triggered this, but I want to stress how big of a win this is. We prevented a devastating loss. We've been a nuisance to the Architects, but this changes things.

Take this win. Celebrate it. And then get ready to double down. We're showing them we're a major player, and I can't imagine them taking this lying down.

LEADERSHIP.

Kudos on the rapid coordination. Expect blowback.

[...] Aldana, Payne. Present your case. I need you to get everyone on board before we go to the rest of the resistance with this.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

How is it different? It runs the same risks.

I’m not going to debate this with you right now.

Of course not.

I'm trying to do my job, de Vries. I can't do that without a certain level of risk.

I want you to go ahead with this research. I don’t think recruiting from Leadership - or even Dislinked, really - is the right way forward.

My intention wasn't to recruit from Leadership, though I can't say I'm surprised St James is volunteering. Recruiting from within feels the safest with the most controlled variables, and the more control exacted, the lower the risk of complication.

OK. I note your viewpoint.

Let's add this to the list of things we don't discuss, then.

Is that what you want?

No.

Do you want to amend the list?

There are a few things I'd prefer to amend.

I’m listening.

Are you sure you want to discuss this now?

Unless someone in medical has a tranquilliser that they’d like to waste on me, I’m going to be up for a while, though this is probably as coherent as I’m going to get.

This conversation can wait. You need to rest.

Where are you?

Not in my room.

I'm extricating myself from Az's king-pilot party and going to the gym.

Considering the number of shots you and Gueye-Grey had to dodge, I wouldn't be celebrating it.

Come to mine after. I'll kick out Niko so you can sleep.

They can't shoot at the ground when they're gunning for us, remember?

But fine. Thanks. Though maybe you can just draw the curtain and leave Niko in peace.