2024-07-18: A-N-0066-085 - Summary of Findings
- Log: 2024-07-18: A-N-0066-085 - Summary of Findings
- Cast: Lacus Clyne
- Where: Marshall Islands - Rev. Malchio's Orphanage; Marshall Islands - Beachside Streets
- Date: U.C. 0099 07 18
- Summary: After noticing something curious in a Terminal writeup of Japan's hidden coup attempt, Lacus asks follow-up questions and gets answers.
'Decide first, then do it. It's the only way to achieve anything.' How do such things change when you lack even the information to decide?
Another week, another discreet report from Terminal. As much as she's spent the last -- almost three years, now, recovering from bearing the weight of the era, her former compatriots still occasionally seek her guidance... and occasionally she seeks theirs, too.
She looks out the window, toward Kira -- staring out toward the sea. Perhaps during this review she ought to...
... no. It's best for her to keep this to herself, she thinks, as one of the orphanage children tugs at his arm, asking him for help repairing a Radi-Robo toy.
Her finger slides over the screen of her tablet, scrolling through the attached preface.
LC, This data package's probably going to close this one out. With what I found this time, I refuse to work with you again. Did you know this was what I was going to find? If you need something else, ask through Orlodhari. Sir Bal is dead. Lukav's dead, too. As far as I know, the rest of the Ravnui government was in the dark on this one. I'm trying to let go of this... but I can't change my feelings about either of those men. I can't change my feelings about you, either. Not after this. But you have a right to know where you came from. HFL
Lacus's eyes widen in surprise at the preface. The anger startles her; what on Earth could he have discovered about that coup attempt that turned his feelings toward her from professional courtesy to barely-contained disgust?
... Perhaps treating those feelings with warmth, for the moment, means reading this -- all the way through.
---
Lacus isn't 1000 words in before she decides not to read this here, at the orphanage.
She slips past Kira, still hard at work on that child's Radi-Robo. With a glance back and a gentle smile, Lacus says, "Kira... I'm heading into town. I'll be back tonight."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lacus mounts their lovingly-restored Hawk 11 and begins to drive.
---
0068. The first successes of the Imaginary Number project emerge. They represent the bid of a niche faction in Ravnui -- supported by a certain criminal cohort based out of eastern Eurasia -- for power over the world through super-Coordinators seeded into various positions of power throughout the world.
0070s, dates not specified. Internal schisms begin to form among the scientists and diplomats involved with the Number Project. The lion's share of the project sides with Ravnui diplomat Bal Gorbovsky, though other scientists continue the project with different goals in mind. Some scientists begin to depart from the project, citing irreconcilable differences regarding methodology.
---
Lacus, seated on a bench up against one of the many rusting corrugated metal fences of the Marshall Islands, looks up at the sky. So many gaps. So many unknowns. Motives that she'll never know.
Her finger traces, slowly, down a partially-redacted list of names.
It hovers on her own.
---
0080. The final on-record batch of Imaginary Numbers finishes 'production' during the first half of the year. Many of the remaining scientists disappear into other projects, while others take their leave entirely -- while about 90% of Imaginary Numbers remain under the thumb of Bal Gorbovsky, over the next five years, a handful of researchers retreat into the arms of other governments.
0086. 'Cleanup' of loose ends of the Imaginary Number project. Scientists dead -- some by poisoning, some by methods that show less discretion.
A 'terror attack' on members of the PLANT assembly fails to strike its intended targets due to a last-minute schedule change between Councilman Clyne and Councilman Zala.
... 'Cleanup' finishes later in the year instead.
---
Lacus had been too young to wrap her head around these things, at the time. The reasons for all the last-minute shuffles of council members and staffers for travel. She understands them better now, of course. All the better to confuse enemies both visible and otherwise.
The knowledge brings her little solace. She looks out toward the sea, her eyes turning down just slightly. She could stop reading -- close the book here, leave this an interesting curiosity on one of the branches of her family tree.
She doesn't.
---
0094. Imaginary Number Anthony Barkins, under his Britannian financial sector cover, begins a two-year string of serial murders committed from ages 21-23 with seemingly no provocation. By the time of his capture, his mental state had collapsed so completely that the project concluded that his capture by Britannian security forces presented no risks.
0096. Imaginary Numbers insert themselves into the intra-Federation confusion kicked off by the theft of MIDAS, going all but unchallenged due to the ongoing Bloody Valentine Conflict.
0098. Lukav Minaev attempts his coup, foiled by a team of escaped Imaginary Numbers, Real Numbers, and civilian pilots operating with a bizarre mix of government support from the OCU, REA, and BU.
---
... Lukav Minaev had been the first success -- and a model for all that came after. And indeed, to all reports in the documents she's been sent about Japan's quiet, unsuccessful coup... he was a perfect agent -- charming, compassionate, clever, and centered.
A man who could play the role of 'himself.'
Swiping downward again, a picture of his Kehei with a heavy rifle bullet through the main engine block greets Lacus. A recording of his final transmission to the man now discreetly serving Terminal:
"If it weren't for you, I would have... I would have... If it weren't for you! You will all die with MIDAS!"
A man who finally eschewed playing the role of 'Lukav Minaev,' at the very end -- and after years of consummate performance, died a megalomaniac.
As she contemplates him -- stacking betrayal upon betrayal, gathering powerful mobile weapons and other powerful Imaginary Number and Combat Coordinator allies to change the shape of the era, she flips back to the personal note before the dossier.
She reads it again.
... Perhaps it is best, Lacus thinks to herself, that he intends his work with Terminal to come through other channels in the future.
---
0099. Most agencies involved close the book on the Imaginary Number incident for the moment, declaring the project -- and its unaccounted-for products -- missing or dead.
---
Lacus looks out at the ocean. Her eyes water, then close.
'The world belongs to you, just as you belong to the world -- as long as you are born and exist in the world.'
Words from her mother -- words she'd shared with Kira once, thinking perhaps the reason that fate left her with them was so she could pass them, in turn, to him.
... maybe the world is simpler than that, after all.
---
She scrolls through the entire dossier twice more, as if hoping that it will yield information enough to give her comfort in making a decision on a second or third reading.
If anything, the process leaves her more acutely aware of the gaps in her knowledge -- and thus, in turn, seized with uncharacteristic indecision.
Lacus shuts off her tablet, mounting that brilliant blue motorcycle again.
She does not return to the orphanage for some six hours -- and when she does, she's greeted with a house asleep.
Rather than slip into bed, Lacus chooses to sleep sitting. It's best that she does nothing to disrupt the peace and quiet.