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srseattlestreetnews · 7 years

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Seattle Street News 49, Don’t Know Much Biology

Features:

Once More 9--(by Breach)

2060 opens with a quarantine around Renraku’s SCIRE arcology in Seattle as the AI Deus gets the decade going with a bang. Official reports give other reasons, but the Shadowlands reports have spread and most of us know the truth now - especially after Crash 2.0. Deus’s legacy is one of death and despair, and we still live with its aftershocks.

But the 60s weren’t satisfied to leave us with AIs and Matrix terror; 2061 brought the return of Halley’s Comet and what the UN dubbed “The Year of the Comet” - not knowing at the time what their appellation would come to mean. By the end of the year, global mana levels spiked higher than ever before as the comet became visible to the naked eye, punctuated by devastating mana storms and the advent of SURGE - SUdden Recessive Genetic Expression.

While SURGE was nowhere near the scale of Goblinization, the diversity and complexity of the changes it caused were greater than ever before. Anthropomorphic beings of all stripes were born or transformed during this period, and that brought with it a trend of gene-tailoring that we still see today; one local megacorporation branch even has what appears to be a walking, talking teddy bear on its board! (I don’t even know if this individual is SURGE or gene-tailored.)

SURGE took many forms, not just animalistic; in India, thousands were transformed into the subrace now known as “Nartaki”, four-armed people resembling the Hindu god Vishnu (complete with unusual skin tones, typically blue or gold). Around the Mediterranean, hundreds of trolls transformed into one-eyed Cyclopses, while in the Amazon, SURGE proved to affect more than metahumanity as the grotesque Sangre del Diablo trees were born.

SURGE was not the only side-effect of spiking mana levels; as with all mana spikes (including the Awakening), the earth itself moved, quite literally - volcanoes erupted around the world, including the Pacific Ring of Fire; casualties of the many eruptions throughout the Pacific include the entire Japanese Imperial family except for the young Yasuhito, who would be officially crowned in 2062. In the wake of the devastation in Japan, Yasuhito would rescind the Yomi Island Decree, ending nearly 40 years of metahuman segregation. The aid of Japanese metahumans in the rebuilding would do much of the work to end 40 years of prejudice as well, but bigotry never truly dies.

In North America, the mana spikes had two major political effects; an earthquake devastated Los Angeles in early December, and lack of response from the California Free State led the rioting city to turn to the Pueblo Corporate Council for support - nearly doubling the population of what was already the NAN’s super-power, and forever changing the racial mix in the PCC as well. In DeeCee, the Great Dragon Ghostwalker emerges from the astral rift left behind by Dunkelzahn’s death, and soon claims the Treaty City of Denver as its personal fiefdom.

The comet finally passed on April 1, 2062, and mana levels returned to normal, but the changes that came in its wake remain.

Questions about history? Ask Breach! [email protected]

Corp News:

Event Horizon--(by Demmalition1)

I received an anonymous tip from a person claiming knowledge of a secret project going on within Horizon. After thorough analysis of the algorithmic patterns within the code provided, I have determined that this person backed up their claim with solid evidence. Horizon is doing something odd with their search engine QuerryJeeves beyond the pale of normal. Though it’s backed by military-grade security in their host environment, this brave traveler was able to infiltrate and disseminate some information that terminated at their cyber division. When I pressed a representative from Horizon on this issue I received this boilerplate response:

"In regards to our cyberware division. Primarily we use it for developing AR feedback for analyzing behavioral patterns, facial cues, surface body temperature and other markers for judging the current mental state of a person a user is talking to, this is combined with our pheromone enhancement research suite, we've already talked to one of your journalists about to provide cutting edge, real time feedback in intense social and business face to face meetings. Giving you an edge over your competition. Aside from this, we also use it to develop and house products in development to be used with our matrix properties, including our QuerryJeeves product we released a few months ago. Products such as upgrades to our existing Horizon Comm-links for the poor that will give them real time access to QuerryJeeves, for any questions or matrix searches they might need, without the need to be connected to the matrix, a lot like early twenty first century phone directory operators."

Standard corporate drek that’s a clear coverup. Call me back when the SINless can afford to buy this. You know what? Call me back when they’re ALLOWED to buy it legally.

Reflections on the BioTech Market

The article is one of a series looking at the current state of individual corporate subsidiaries in the Seattle Metroplex. This particular issue focuses on the Metroplex BioTech market.

The BioTech market is one of the larger markets in the Metroplex with a value of just 160.9¥B. Although it is large, it currently only has three megacorps in it. The market is led by Shiawase with 51.7% of the market followed by Evo (38.8%) and Horizon (9.6%). NeoNET once bought into the BioTech market with the acquition of NeoPets, but that particular venture did not work out well and NeoNET sold their BioTech interest to Evo. Although, a letter to the editor indicates that NeoNET might be back in the BioTech game soon. But what is BioTech?

BioTech traditionally covers the area of science that deals with incorporating scientific research with living things. The field includes a wide variety of research areas from genetically engineered plants and animals and synthetic chemicals based on natural derivatives to the implantation and development of Bioware. For those who don’t know what Bioware is, it involves cloning organs, then enhancing them, and then implanting the enhanced organs into the body. Bioware also involves modifying the body itself for cosmetic and beneficial effect. It is not surprising that Shiawase leads the Metroplex, as they are the overwhelming leader in BioTech globally.

SSN reached out to the three corps with a BioTech presence, we got comments from Horizon and Shiawase. As the largest corp in BioTech, it is only fitting that Shiawase gives the largest statement:

“Shiawase prides itself in being the market leader in Biotechnology. Having a strong and proud heritage in biology and the cooperation with other branches within the corporation we’ve made many breakthroughs in technology used for personal health, security and energy.

Only recently we have, in conjunction with our Medicine and Pharmaceuticals department, devised a way to significantly shorten the healing process for individuals who’ve had their spines broken or severed. And within our Biotech division we’re already looking into several other ways to speed up said recovery or even apply to other parts of the body.

With Shiawase having a presence in Law Enforcement since last year, and the acquisition of NeoPets from NeoNet, we’ve made headway into biodrone research for use in security and safety. Our first biodrone, the Cybertooth Tiger, was not long ago and a big success for those who were chosen in the first wave we deployed. There is more news to follow on the biodrone front.

Last year Shiawase also made several breakthroughs in the universal Type O System, allowing us to further enhance the speed, quality and effectiveness of cultivating brand new organs. Next to that, we also introduced a brand new set of ocular and aural enhancements, not just for our mainly human customers, but also available for metahuman use.

As you can clearly see, Shiawase Biotech is on the forefront of new technology while continuing to support our other divisions. In comparison, our Biotech division is stronger than the ones of our direct competitors. For example, EVO Corporation has had severely underwhelming breakthroughs in the past, including stealing a generation of out of date Shiawase Technology and Horizon has only been a small blip on the radar that is biotechnology, with no new advancements to speak of.

In the field of biotechnology, being at a standstill only means you’ll suffer a setback. Shiawase is proud it is a market leader in this prominent field as we continue to lead into the future.

Shiawase: Advancing Life”

In contrast, Horizon, the smallest corporation in the market, offered a relatively shorter statement:

Biotech is a promising segment of the Horizon market that focuses specifically on our pheromone enhancement research suite to improve crucial communicators's natural abilities across all spheres of their lives. We understand that everyone has problems with tense negotiation and social interaction experiences. Horizon can provide the edge you need to get the deal you deserve or the social outcome you desire.

Horizon believes that competition drives success and inspires great breakthroughs in our products. We wish our competitors the best successes in their endeavors, but not too much success. (laughs) -Adira Meyer Chief Science Advisor

There is clearly a lot happening in BioTech, though is all of it good for Seattle? The experimentation in BioTech has brought us the current scourge of clones--a scourge that not only was implicated in the birth of the dragon Prince, but also involves the unethical and dangerous treatment of the clones themselves. In addition, biodrones themselves are not uncontroversial. BioTech raises many ethical issues and it is something that we should all pay attention to. It may bring great wonders, but what things more sinister can it bring? Remember, the illegal experiments done on the metahuman children of Seattle by the Fitzgeralds was also a form of BioTech.

Kane, Enabled--(by Demmalition1)

A curious transmission went out only a few days before the death of Soltysiak Kane. It was lightly encrypted and contained an even more curious message hidden inside of it. Readers might remember SSN-47 which announced his “death” (read: murder) following a fall from grace for his former institution of Galahad Academy. The revelations against Margret and Foster Fitzgerald and the damning evidence of their anti-metatype-motivated modification of children to make weapons of war have placed a permanent black mark on the facility. There are further revelations in the previous story should you wish to read it. But with regards to the encrypted message: 814-57.1857-758.4825 175-7145.587-1854-517 187.174-487-4.741 175.147.4.18754.571 1587.4 7.7851-875.74581/715 8452.254. 8451 574-57.48 7415-184.75-5471.2417 84-87-57-418 7.1547-75.5871 75.57-785.75 875.245 0-00.0-000.00 000-000

This translates to two separate codes. One is morse code telling the person they have the wrong cypher. The other is in braille and must be cracked using a pad to descramble the numbers to put them into letters and symbols. The decrypted transmission reads as follows:

Send word to MLF, LOL, QON, and QOW their services are needed.

Just who these individuals or organizations are I have no idea. But whoever they may be I suspect a terrible series of events will follow them and the runner team that leaked the info. Good luck to you all, stay safe out there.

International News:

Potential Bioweapon Threatens Tokyo--(by Demmalition1)

I had a nice story on Horizon for you, dear readers, but recent breaking news has forced me to scrap that in favor of this. There is a potential highly contagious and lethal bioweapon attack under the name “Operation Cerberus” set to go off soon within a month. I only received an encrypted but foolishly wide-band transmission but less than an hour ago. A contact that I spoke to says they have been following the development of this for months, but have not been able to pin down who is funding this horrid weapon of mass destruction.

There is a name of the person in charge of the weapon development by the name of Dr. Alexander Stein (from the University of Köln), who developed the weapon in Osaka over a period of months. The contact also had a CI in the program who has lead them to believe a series of these weapons has been developed, but evidence of this is scarce at the moment. The contact’s team has strong reason to believe that the weapon may be used to target dense urban centers. The CI has dropped off a partially encrypted medium that is being decrypted at the moment, more developments to come.

Gang News:

Gangland Wedding On

Ancient leader, Belial has got magic in his silver tongue. Ancient Street Sam JuL33T has done a 180 and has declared that she is not only ready to marry mobster Enzo Gianelli, but that she is quite excited to do so. Word on the street has it that they will be married in the next few days. Expect a great party!

Letters to the Editor:

Seattle Street News readers may be interested in NeoNET’s latest foray in Biotech. After the NeoPET GMO killer pets debacle and the too-good-to-be-true announcement that their short-lived ADNeo would have made Orks and Trolls live longer, they’re at it again. My sources at NeoNET tell me they will soon unveil yet another Biotech subsidiary.

What are they up to this time? Is it a sign they don't even pretend it will last longer than the others any more that this Biotech sub of the month of theirs is just called “3” internally and that this name may even stick?

--A fed up Troll who’ll never eat at NeoNET’s trough no matter how many freaking shades of soy they hype.

Seattle Street News is an independent activist news source released weekly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays

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