The Introduction - Now On the Blog!

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• Okay, this should give you the skinny on Evo Corporation and what the hell is going on with the Mars project/colony. It took me a little bit of work to get this to you, but I'm hoping you can do an hour-long special about it on the evening news. Don't you dare reveal your sources. [attached file: EvoMars.xdf]

• Caela

• That should cover me nicely! Already transmitting the nuyen. Enjoy.

• Blake

[Transcript from the hour-long special Mars Missives]

Blake: Hi! Welcome to this very special broadcast straight from Global News Network. I'm special reporter and investigative journalist Blake Harris and I'm here to report on a subject that's burning at the edge of our minds tonight. Mars. We've all seen it in the skies for the longest of times, wondering at its majesties. Of course, there are some people that have already plundered the bounty of its majesties. One group that we all know and love: Evo.

[Image of Evo logo]

Blake: Now, when we look at the Gregarin colony upon Mars, we have to ask ourselves: what are they exactly doing there? We don't exactly have a way to mount a telescope to look exactly at what they are doing in there but I have it on good authority that they have achieved a few things that are ridiculously impossible by all normal standards, perhaps on the level of urban myths. I will start with magic, one of the simplest to understand.

Gary: Are you going to ever switch over to me?

Blake: No. This is my moment. You'll have your segment when you're ready for it. Now, magic. Magic cannot be practiced in the dark void of space, magic cannot be used in an astral dead zone. Magic exists upon Mars. It isn't because they brought their own astrally resonant biomass and grew it. Magic exists upon Mars because it always has existed and will continue to exist, a pretty large departure from what we knew of lifeless planets. Well, space bodies. We haven't found mana naturally occurring on any asteroids, Luna, Deimos, or Phobos. Considering the time it takes just to get to Mars and back, getting this information was very difficult.

Gary: Ahem. Yes, Blake! You do have an exceptional source. Now, I warn everyone viewing, I didn't prepare this next bit myself. I was literally just handed this and told to say it!

Blake: Yes, and you'd better say all of it.

Gary: [laughing] Did you just threaten me? Anyway. Biotechnology in Evo might be cutting-edge, but they have their fingers in a lot of pies! Why, they even have their fingers into arch-. . . archaeology? Apparently, the Smithsonian Institute was contacted for purposes of legitimacy, and I have in my hot little hand proof that they have failed to authenticate ruins upon the surface of mars. Is this for real?

Blake: Yes, every word of it.

Gary: Well, all right. If you said it, it must be true and news! The exact nature of the archaeological site is up to debate, but current theories suggest that it involves architecture, evidence of habitation, and possible natives that once had a flourishing civilization. Really, flourishing? Ha! You can't pay me enough to believe this drek.

Blake: Maybe this will change your mind.

[Image of dragon's skeleton, missing the skull]

Gary: Now, we didn't come here to look at gross pictures.

Blake: That is the biggest archaeological find of the Sixth World, Gary. That is an intact dragon's skeleton, save for the head.

Gary: Where did the head go?

Blake: It's on Earth. It was in the Great Western Dragon Dunkelzahn's will. Two million nuyen to the person that can find the skeleton that matches the skull. Evo found the skeleton, soon they will certainly have to claim their bounty. This is proof that dragons have been on mars. What will they find next? Evidence of metahuman life? I certainly hope so.

Gary: You're completely making assumptions. That dragon's skeleton looks nothing like the dragons we have on record. It looks like a cheap fake.

Blake: Oh really? You don't think that mars dragons are different from earth dragons?

Gary: Well, you might have a point there, but there is insufficient evidence to prove anything.

Blake: What if I told you that they found artifacts that match artifacts found on earth?

Gary: What the hell do you mean?

Blake: They found a pyramid on mars.

Editor-in-Chief: Okay, I am shutting this farce down immediately! We will not broadcast speculative journalism live! Global News Network has more integrity than th-

[static]

NEWS BULLETIN

Investigative reporter Blake Harris was murdered in cold blood in the streets of her hometown of Seattle today. Sources indicate that this was merely a gang hit from the ork pride gang Skraacha. They are known for their scare tactics and their tendency to do appropriately terrible things to those that they view as enemies to orkish culture. She was the victim of a tire branding, something more traditionally associated with african and south american violent dissidents. The tire was placed around her and a stake driven into the ground to keep her from running away, then she was doused in corn ethanol and lit on fire. There are no specific leads beyond the gang involvement of Skraacha. For tips and other potential leads, please contact your local Knight Errant office to provide this information. Global News Network has put out a bounty of ten thousand nuyen on the perpetrator of this crime against Knight Errant's warnings of a witchhunt.

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• You've got to make some new friends you stupid bitch. Giving away shadow information to someone who isn't a client is bad for business, for all of us.

• HTML

• I made my play the way I wanted to make it. You can hide behind your mumbo and your jumbo, but in the end she paid me for what she wanted and that was that.

• Caela

• Wait, seriously? You're going to pull that card on me? Global News Network is just a puppet of the state, whatever state they're broadcasting from. Another member of the fucking World Corporate Court by virtue of strings attached.

• HTML

• I'm not pulling any cards. GNN ordered a hit, I took it. They were willing to offer me a lot of money and get their star reporter killed in the process. I'm sure this means that I'm going to have a bit of notoriety, but now everyone knows I have balls and is willing to hire me. Well, those that have a look inside the Shadowland.

• Caela

• Heh. I always knew you had balls you dyke piece of shit.

• Mongoose

• Indeed. I have a job proposition for you. Check your e-mail.

• Horace

• Hey, no soliciting.

• HTML

• Okay.  I get it.  Now, what I want to know is very, very simple.  Is it true?  Did they find the dragon's body?  Did they bring in the Smithsonian?  I just want to know the truth that's how there.
• Moulder

• This is someone that's straight with everyone.  Fucking Russian code of honor.

• Mongoose

• Holy shit.  Maybe they were there, in person. A real live russkie!

• Moulder

• >Can your theatrics.  I'm closing down this topic immediately to make sure Fastjack doesn't ban me from Jackpoint for letting this go on as long as it has.  Y'know, my co-sysop privileges come and go like panties.

• HTML