Sabres of Paragon: Updated Threat Report

[OpMegs]

Terrenceknight wrote:

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Wow Ops, that really kicks ass I approve Now I just need to have Terr come in and compleatly blow this guy out of the water so all this information goes poof

With the slight problem hinted in the address. The Scimitar Project's gone through so many lead scientists due to repeated failures that Crey has an
email address dedicated to the position. They just give the newly promoted guy the password when he gets the job.

Anyway, on with the writing.

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From: Scimitar_Lead@ApSciDiv.Crey.org

To: Hopkins@HQ.Crey.org

As requested, further included are the specs of the various production prototypes that have gone rogue under previous administration of Project Scimitar. The following depicts our information to the best level available, though it is more
complete than the XT series in technical aspects due to further need for duplication. Each rogue, henceforth in this article to be referred to as
"Sabres", is under as complete observation by external sources as we can manage, but also by our own black box technology in the armors themselves
which includes a sophisticated diagnostic system to observe modifications made by the Sabres themselves. Potentially well-designed adaptations will be adopted
into future models.

PS (Production Scimitar) Series

Subject: PS-03-02

Alias: "Nano Sabre"

Role: Heavy Combat Support

PS-03-02 was the second unit based on recovered technology that was developed fully in-house. Her primary goal was to have been capture and recovery of the
original rogue XT units. To that end the armor shell was equipped with weapons designed to weaken and incapacitate any threat, and keep it pinned down while
support moves in. The first of these is a radiation projector assembly, developed in-house for the Protector project but shelved due to PR concerns regarding
the use of hard radiation in combat situations with civilians nearby. The second system is an extension of both force field and nanite assembly technology,
developed by the Scimitar team. It projects a shaped and tuned force field, into which is injected a pre-programmed, timed-decay working fluid saturated with
nanomachines. The flexibility of the design is such that these 'nanoclouds' can be used for both offense, defense, and control -- attacking the
target, repair of self or designated allies, and literally pinning the target to the ground.

The downside to the weapons package built in to the armor is the power requirements, which are immense. There are enough reserves after charging the weapons
systems to power life support, sensors, and basic articulation, but nothing else. The armor itself is primarily a composite shell. The flat-motor actuators
are powerful enough to enable the wearer to keep up on the battlefield, but her strength will never be comparable to any front-line or even traditional support
units.

This is all to the better, as the unit appears to have gone rogue, and current reports place her as directly allied with Riot Force (and thereby, the Original
Four), in direct contradiction of her original design. It is unknown at this point if her escape was caused by enemy action (the most likely scenario), or by
internal sabotage. Further documentation on the incident is attached (link).

Unit 02's memory engrams were designed to both cement her loyalty to the Company, as well as ensure her willing and total cooperation in capturing the
rogues. Unless other factors have intervened, she should believe that she was hunted and almost killed by the Sabres, only to escape by chance when they left
her for dead. Given this, it is unknown why she has allied herself with the rogues.

However, Analysis notes that this unit has not been involved in most of the attacks on Crey resources carried out by any of the three groups -- Riot Force, The
Legendary, or the Original Four. What few attacks she has been involved in have been limited to minor, easily-replaceable resources. It is our working
hypothesis that her deep-seated programming remains intact, and she has inserted herself in their group to strike from within when sufficient Crey resources
are on hand to assist in the capture of her 'fellow rogues'.

Therefore, we recommend that unit 02 be captured only if she is alone; if she is with teammates, the recommendation is to let her continue unimpeded. If our
hypothesis is correct we project a virtual certainty (87%+) that a group capture operation will succeed, due to both her physical assistance and the
psychological component that her betrayal will cause her supposed allies.

Subject: PS-04-03

Alias: "Swift Sabre"

Role: Targeted Melee/Distraction

Designed around the chassis and abilities of XT-04, Unit-03 was designed to implement new Impervium weaponry for close combat. Furthermore, her abilities stem
from a slight glitch in her neural net that we hope to duplicate in future models: split second precognition allowing her incredible reaction time to incoming
attacks she literally sees before they happen. The glitch which created this is being studied around the clock, with hopes of integrating it into future
Scimitar and Paragon Protector roles.

Details surrounding her escape are sketchy, but most evidence points to intervention by one of the organizations sheltering the XT prototypes. At present, her
current location is being narrowed down to potentially within Skyway City, alongside escaped unit PS-03-02. The documented tendency of the PS series to band
together suggests the possibility that the submental command net that links them into a single whole is still potentially functional, causing them to perform
better when working together than solo.

Despite her advantages, -03's principal disadvantage is that her armor is not particularly durable should an enemy land an actual hit. Furthermore,
immobilizing her via various methods can severely jeapordize her evasion, leaving her open to damage and disablement. No known psych evaluation has pointed out
any outstanding issues, so brute force is authorized as a capture method.

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Author's Note: Pretty much ALL of Nano's entry is from Spud, with my sole addition being that of the model
number. For those wondering, the numbering system isn't random. The production models are numbered according to which XT they're developed from. Hence,
PS-03(Nene)-02(Second production model) for Nano, and PS-04(Linna)-03(Third production model) for Swift.
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"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."