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Modern/Delta Green - The Beginning of the End (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4771928" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Angular Gods: Part 6 – Fractal Gods</strong></p><p></p><p>The real heart of CCS was in the basement. Every door was protected by a series of computer locks and the only means of bypassing them was via a set of security cards. Fortunately, Morrow had access.</p><p></p><p>They passed a sign beyond a pair of steel doors that read: “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT.” After passing through a long tunnel, they entered the testing labs. </p><p></p><p>The testing labs could only be seen as darkness through the window, lit by the occasional flash of reddish light, flaring and dying away. There were definitely larger machines in the lab, but it was difficult to make out what they were. They appeared to be hulking metallic shapes in the darkness, and the flares of light revealed coils of heavy, twisted cables strewn over the floor.</p><p></p><p>Guppy slid Morrow’s card along the reader and the door to the lab hissed open.</p><p></p><p>The room itself was dimly lit. The machines had become warped and pitted, as if they suffered severe metal fatigue. Odd smells drifted through the air, and occasionally mist rolled over the cables. </p><p></p><p>“These are all PlayPals,” said Guppy, inspecting the machines.</p><p></p><p>“So they’re using the computing power to control the Hounds of Tindalos,” said Archive. </p><p></p><p>Just then a tall, skull-faced man with receding white hair and yellow teeth entered on the other side of the corridor, eyes blazing. He was dressed in a conservative, dark suit cut in an old style. Four security guards stood behind him with automatic weapons.</p><p></p><p>“That must be Morton,” said Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>“You!” snarled Morton. “You would dare destroy our great work? Don’t you see what we’re trying to do? These are Crystal Matrix Artificial Intelligences – they are the only tools that can truly comprehend the power of Tindalos. This is the only way humanity can survive – we’re trying to ENLIGHTEN the human race!”</p><p></p><p>Hammer didn’t bother to respond. He raised his Glock and fired. The bullet ricocheted off the glass. If it hadn’t been for the bullet-proof glass, it would have been a perfect head shot.</p><p></p><p>Morton pressed a device and security curtains slammed shut all around them.</p><p></p><p>“The Greys gave Morrow a gift, but he didn’t understand how to use it,” said Morton’s voice over the intercom. “The CMAI doesn’t just have fantastic computing power, it can access another world! With access to these beings, we would have the ultimate weapon! Our plan was to release millions of PlayPals as the platform for our invasion. Now that you’ve interfered, I’ll have to launch it to just a few hundred.” </p><p></p><p>The PlayPals in the lab whirred to life. A series of email addresses flicker along with a prompt: <span style="font-family: 'Fixedsys'">SEND FRACTAL_GODS.ZIP</span></p><p></p><p>“Oh man,” said Guppy. </p><p></p><p>“But look at me, prattling on,” said Morton, a sneer in his voice. “Why should I rant about such things when I can show you?” </p><p></p><p>On the screens, in the middle, against a black background, a mathematical equation was given form through the awesome calculating power of the PlayPal. </p><p></p><p>“Guys,” said Archive. “That’s a summoning ritual…”</p><p></p><p>A shiny silver ball emanated from the fractal in the middle of the screens. Abruptly, the ball opened slightly to give way to a single fire-red tentacle that started exploring the surroundings. It hatched, filling the screens. </p><p>“Shoot the computers!” shouted Hammer.</p><p></p><p>The bizarre creature drifted around the screens, searching for a way out. It seethed and pushed hard against the screens, which abruptly rippled and bulged. </p><p></p><p>A hailstorm of firepower raked the PlayPals, sparking and smoking. The screens flickered and died.</p><p></p><p>“Guppy, get us out of here!”</p><p></p><p>Guppy cracked open the keypad on their side of the door and hooked his cistron to it. “This would be a lot easier if we had access to Blacknet,” he mumbled.</p><p></p><p>The security curtains lifted. Morton and his guards were gone.</p><p></p><p>The whole place shuddered.</p><p></p><p>“What is going on up there?” asked Jim-Bean.</p><p></p><p>“I’m afraid to ask,” said Hammer. “Guppy, can you—“</p><p></p><p>Guppy cut him off. “This is the control room!” He kicked open the door and plugged his cistron into the small computer room. </p><p></p><p>“I’m going to…this is weird.”</p><p></p><p>“What?” asked Hammer.</p><p></p><p>“All the systems are being used. Lots of lag. Every computer is running the same program.”</p><p></p><p>“Fractal Gods is a summoning program!” said Archive. “Can you stop it?”</p><p></p><p>“I can try.” Guppy tapped a few keys. Klaxons went off. “Just turned on the fire alarm system.”</p><p></p><p>The place rumbled again. </p><p></p><p>“Can you see what’s happening upstairs?” asked Hammer.</p><p></p><p>Guppy pulled up the black-and-white security feed.</p><p></p><p>All the computer screens in the cubicles on the first floor whirred and clicked, running through complex calculations. James Morton stood in the center as multicolored strands arced from one monitor to another, forming a complex pattern. </p><p></p><p>In another window, Guppy ran a tracer program. “The good news is most of the computers can’t handle the enormous computing power that Fractal Gods requires,” said Guppy. “Not many PlayPals made it out to the public.”</p><p></p><p>“Are there any other systems that could run it?” asked Hammer.</p><p></p><p>Guppy nodded. “SINNER, for one. Any other CMAI. There was only one successful delivery…oh no.”</p><p></p><p>On screen, Morton chanted, “<span style="font-family: 'Impact'">Chu htn llo han zob kzad!</span>” and stepped through the gate formed by the complex pattern. The building shuttered again.</p><p></p><p>A gigantic fractal, rising from the wreckage of the now ruined computers. Expanding quickly to cathedral size, it smashes through the roof, gouging a great furrow in the ground. </p><p></p><p>“We’ve got to go!” said Hammer. “Move, move!”</p><p></p><p>Hammer dragged Guppy away from the computer screen. The agents sprinted down the tunnel and out through the stairwell, through an emergency exit into the street. </p><p></p><p>Fractal tentacles reached out towards nearby structures but then, as the gate collapsed, it vanishes with at terrible thunderclap. </p><p></p><p>“Lisa,” whispered Guppy, bruised and covered in dust. “Fractal Gods was delivered to Lisa Howell.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 4771928, member: 3285"] [b]Angular Gods: Part 6 – Fractal Gods[/b] The real heart of CCS was in the basement. Every door was protected by a series of computer locks and the only means of bypassing them was via a set of security cards. Fortunately, Morrow had access. They passed a sign beyond a pair of steel doors that read: “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT.” After passing through a long tunnel, they entered the testing labs. The testing labs could only be seen as darkness through the window, lit by the occasional flash of reddish light, flaring and dying away. There were definitely larger machines in the lab, but it was difficult to make out what they were. They appeared to be hulking metallic shapes in the darkness, and the flares of light revealed coils of heavy, twisted cables strewn over the floor. Guppy slid Morrow’s card along the reader and the door to the lab hissed open. The room itself was dimly lit. The machines had become warped and pitted, as if they suffered severe metal fatigue. Odd smells drifted through the air, and occasionally mist rolled over the cables. “These are all PlayPals,” said Guppy, inspecting the machines. “So they’re using the computing power to control the Hounds of Tindalos,” said Archive. Just then a tall, skull-faced man with receding white hair and yellow teeth entered on the other side of the corridor, eyes blazing. He was dressed in a conservative, dark suit cut in an old style. Four security guards stood behind him with automatic weapons. “That must be Morton,” said Jim-Bean. “You!” snarled Morton. “You would dare destroy our great work? Don’t you see what we’re trying to do? These are Crystal Matrix Artificial Intelligences – they are the only tools that can truly comprehend the power of Tindalos. This is the only way humanity can survive – we’re trying to ENLIGHTEN the human race!” Hammer didn’t bother to respond. He raised his Glock and fired. The bullet ricocheted off the glass. If it hadn’t been for the bullet-proof glass, it would have been a perfect head shot. Morton pressed a device and security curtains slammed shut all around them. “The Greys gave Morrow a gift, but he didn’t understand how to use it,” said Morton’s voice over the intercom. “The CMAI doesn’t just have fantastic computing power, it can access another world! With access to these beings, we would have the ultimate weapon! Our plan was to release millions of PlayPals as the platform for our invasion. Now that you’ve interfered, I’ll have to launch it to just a few hundred.” The PlayPals in the lab whirred to life. A series of email addresses flicker along with a prompt: [FONT="Fixedsys"]SEND FRACTAL_GODS.ZIP[/FONT] “Oh man,” said Guppy. “But look at me, prattling on,” said Morton, a sneer in his voice. “Why should I rant about such things when I can show you?” On the screens, in the middle, against a black background, a mathematical equation was given form through the awesome calculating power of the PlayPal. “Guys,” said Archive. “That’s a summoning ritual…” A shiny silver ball emanated from the fractal in the middle of the screens. Abruptly, the ball opened slightly to give way to a single fire-red tentacle that started exploring the surroundings. It hatched, filling the screens. “Shoot the computers!” shouted Hammer. The bizarre creature drifted around the screens, searching for a way out. It seethed and pushed hard against the screens, which abruptly rippled and bulged. A hailstorm of firepower raked the PlayPals, sparking and smoking. The screens flickered and died. “Guppy, get us out of here!” Guppy cracked open the keypad on their side of the door and hooked his cistron to it. “This would be a lot easier if we had access to Blacknet,” he mumbled. The security curtains lifted. Morton and his guards were gone. The whole place shuddered. “What is going on up there?” asked Jim-Bean. “I’m afraid to ask,” said Hammer. “Guppy, can you—“ Guppy cut him off. “This is the control room!” He kicked open the door and plugged his cistron into the small computer room. “I’m going to…this is weird.” “What?” asked Hammer. “All the systems are being used. Lots of lag. Every computer is running the same program.” “Fractal Gods is a summoning program!” said Archive. “Can you stop it?” “I can try.” Guppy tapped a few keys. Klaxons went off. “Just turned on the fire alarm system.” The place rumbled again. “Can you see what’s happening upstairs?” asked Hammer. Guppy pulled up the black-and-white security feed. All the computer screens in the cubicles on the first floor whirred and clicked, running through complex calculations. James Morton stood in the center as multicolored strands arced from one monitor to another, forming a complex pattern. In another window, Guppy ran a tracer program. “The good news is most of the computers can’t handle the enormous computing power that Fractal Gods requires,” said Guppy. “Not many PlayPals made it out to the public.” “Are there any other systems that could run it?” asked Hammer. Guppy nodded. “SINNER, for one. Any other CMAI. There was only one successful delivery…oh no.” On screen, Morton chanted, “[FONT="Impact"]Chu htn llo han zob kzad![/FONT]” and stepped through the gate formed by the complex pattern. The building shuttered again. A gigantic fractal, rising from the wreckage of the now ruined computers. Expanding quickly to cathedral size, it smashes through the roof, gouging a great furrow in the ground. “We’ve got to go!” said Hammer. “Move, move!” Hammer dragged Guppy away from the computer screen. The agents sprinted down the tunnel and out through the stairwell, through an emergency exit into the street. Fractal tentacles reached out towards nearby structures but then, as the gate collapsed, it vanishes with at terrible thunderclap. “Lisa,” whispered Guppy, bruised and covered in dust. “Fractal Gods was delivered to Lisa Howell.” [/QUOTE]
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