Front Lines Communications

Good day, brothers and sisters.

I am The Maker.

I am writing you today, at last, because of the unfortunate incident which took place at 31 Whitehall shortly before Christmas. This violence was sparked by baseline extremists, and our security forces were acting in self-defense.

Let me be very clear: I unequivocally demand the immediate release of those three security guards from Project: Ascension custody.

Moreover, as the baseline government has proven itself incapable or unwilling to meet the needs and civil rights of atavists, I am declaring 31 Whitehall a sanctuary, above baseline law. Any further meddling in our affairs by the government or its agents will be met with force.

Atavism is here. The world has changed. Evolve or die.

Happy New Year from Project: Ascension!

To start 2018 off right, I have an exciting announcement: a cease-fire has been reached with the organization known as the Movement for Atavist Liberation. Known operatives of the MAL are no longer to be arrested on sight. The President has received critical intelligence from the Movement that he feels obviates the need for criminal prosecution, but exact details of that process are still to come.

For now, it is enough to be a united community again, and to bring this long nearly four-year conflict to a close.

I am available for any questions you may have.

[ KNOWN MAL ]

You are permitted to travel freely in atavist circles. I would ask only that you keep something of a low profile for now, as the President is still determining his strategy for defusing baseline public opinion about you and refocusing the general public on the threat posed by The Way.

Hello.

Many of you have been concerned about what's become of me. There is fear on the network that I have been harmed, that I may have been forced into something.

I have not.

I am where I belong.

We are the divine, those who bear the light. We have been from the moment we were born, blessed from the very minute we were brightened by its touch. We have always been this way, you and I, even before we knew it.

There is one who knows what we can't begin to understand. Can see in us what we cannot see in ourselves. The Maker is the Light, in ways you can't yet imagine, in ways that are greater than we can comprehend.

It is difficult to understand. It's meant to be.

We are the chosen ones. And now that we have been revealed to the world, we can revel in it as we were meant to. We can reach out to one another, and support one another, in this new world order as it reveals itself.

This was my gift to you. So the world will see you for the flames you carry inside you. So that you can be free, and join us.

I have been waiting so long.

Good evening.

Project: Ascension thoroughly disavows the horrific crimes committed by Colonel Corrine Harper, which she hid for years with her powers of suggestion and mind control. We are seeking her victims to make restitution as best we can.

We have been cooperating fully with the authorities as investigation proceeds. This leak to the press is unfortunate, as it may complicate that investigation.

To the atavists of New York, I ask that you please not conflate the actions of one evil woman with the good work done every day by brave men and women at the Project who seek only to help and serve this community.

To the general public, I also ask that you not conflate one woman's use of her atavist gift for evil with the overwhelming majority of atavists, who possess their gift as a quirk of genetics and mean larger society no harm.

Thank you. I have no further comment at this time.

[PROJECT: ASCENSION]
Good evening. At the direction of Deputy Director Perez, I have found some troubling information to share with all of you, but I need to emphasize: this data is classified, and must be kept private. This is your only warning to this end.

In the wake of Colo Corrine Harper's demise and the returned memories that many of us have been experiencing, I took it upon myself at the instruction of our director to thoroughly sift through materials in her possession. I found a highly encrypted drive. And I devoted my time wholly and completely to cracking it.

This evening, I completed that task. And what I found is this:

Corrine Harper was demented. She conducted experiments on her own child, one Madison Harper, in relation to the Idol and forced atavization. When Madison was atavized, she continued the experiments on other children—resulting in horrific deaths for several, charted down to exact details. I have their names. I know where to find their remains.

We are, many of us, aware also of the supersoldier program that was put into place prior to the formation of the Movement for Atavist Liberation. What we are not aware of is that Harper continued the efforts, all this time, using her atavism to conceal it: she has been recruiting soldiers even now. While I don't yet have their identities, there are documents and files that undeniably point to their existence.

I don't need to spell out what it could mean for the Project if this information goes public.

The question is, what do we do now?

[ P:A LEADERSHIP minus KINCAID plus HECTOR ]

Barajas and I met with Kincaid. He's clean and genuinely seems to be on our side, insofar as such things go.

There is an active super-soldier program under the command of the NSC. The Bulletin's scoop in Kabul was legit. The President is looking to re-consolidate authority over atavism in his new cabinet department and dissolve the Project. Kincaid can't tell us who's in the new program, but it's actively recruiting.

This needs to be kept between us for now, while these hearings are happening, but I want all our agents to know there's something sinister in the air. Our work must be flawless right now. We cannot give the President any excuse to liquidate Project: Ascension.

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION ]

Good afternoon, everyone.

I know there's been a great deal of confusion and upset over the last month, especially with memories slowly returning to people following the death of Colonel Harper.

Consider this entry an open forum to ask me any questions you may have, which I will answer to the best of my ability. I believe transparency is of the utmost importance right now.

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION ]

Hello, all. I have a few announcements today.

First and foremost, thank you again for your patience while Mr. Kincaid and I have each been called away frequently for hearings in Washington. I appreciate it very much.

I have first some deeply unsettling news: we have determined that Colonel Harper was assassinated the night before the incident in Times Square. At this time, though the MAL has admitted culpability for her initial disappearance, we believe an unknown third party is responsible for her death. Solving this crime will be a major investigative focus for our Operations and Analysis directorates going forward.

In the wake of the colonel's death, her power has apparently begun to retroactively fail. You may have found, over the last two weeks, that you are experiencing the return of strange and perturbing new memories. It seems that she had used her power of suggestion on many of us, and there will also be a full investigation into what that means. Our therapists are on call.

Please congratulate Mateo Lange, who will be officially promoted to Deputy Director for Public Relations on a permanent basis. I'd also like to announce two other new appointments: Rafael Esposito will now be Assistant Director for Operations, serving under Deputy Director Conley, and recent recruit Bryan Andersen will be serving as our official liaison to the NYPD. Both these men, like Lange, were of enormous help throughout the recent crisis. Please offer them your congratulations as well.

[ P:A LEADERSHIP minus KINCAID plus HECTOR ]

Now that John and I have been in one place for more than 12 hours at a time, Agent Barajas and I are planning a joint conversation so we can assess his motivations.

I wanted to say this now, because it's only just come back to me: Corrine told me not to investigate Christian's death. She used her power to underline the matter. So... that's worth discussing, especially given the allegations made by the MAL 6.

[ ELLIOTT, DIO, NERO, DEREK, REDA ]

Williams, Mostafa: some of the memories I'm slowly recovering seem to involve you two in particular. If you want to talk, we are here for you.

[ MÂDAR ]

تولدت مبارک

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION ]

Agent Zayyad informs me that Colonel Harper isn't responding to urgent summons. I need the Information Suppression Team on duty immediately—we have multiple incident reports. Consider Special Agent Lange to be acting as Deputy Director in the absence of Colonel Harper, and follow his directives please.

I also need a few people to visit Colonel Harper's home and ensure nothing is amiss. Volunteers?

[ P:A LEADERSHIP + MATEO ]

Lange will be on this filter for the moment, to ensure he doesn't miss anything.

( spoilers for MAL distractions! )

[ P:A LEADERSHIP ]

The President has informed myself and Colonel Harper that he's made an executive decision on any and all atavist prisoners we're currently holding. We have just delivered this news to Director Shahidi.

Due to ongoing concerns about their civil rights and fair trial, they are to be transferred to a newly refurbished high-security facility the Department of Atavist Affairs has built outside Newark. There they will be tried by military tribunals overseen by the Attorney General.

Those found guilty will be held at the Jersey facility for such a period as they are sentenced.

I'm sorry to break the news so abruptly, but it is abrupt news.

Dr. Khatri, what is the status of your team's new mobile power-dampening technology?

[ ANNIE, AMALIA, and PHOEBE ]

Hey there, buttercups. You three have a minute to chat?

[ PROJECT ASCENSION minus ANNETTE/PEYTON ]

It is with great regret that I must inform you of an incident that affects us all.

Yesterday, the MAL [...] launched an assassination attempt on Colonel Harper. Their operative was [...] Agent Christian Russo, who was apparently a mole in our organization. Colonel Harper was [...] forced to kill him in self defense when her powers proved ineffective for reasons as yet unknown.

Colonel Harper is quite shaken up over all this, understandably, and I would ask that you [...] give her some space at this time. Please also allow Agent Russo's sisters some space to grieve. We are confident they had no knowledge of their brother's [...] secret affiliation.

Counselors are on call for anyone who needs to talk, and my office door will be open all day.

Thank you.

Now that the dust has settled.

The warehouse was clearly a set-up. Project: Ascension went to great lengths to make this lead appear authentic, and we walked into their trap. Thank you to everyone who risked their lives to make sure that all of our operatives made it out, and thank you to everyone who is still working to make sure that we pull through from this.

I need information. Everyone who was present, I want your individual reports: who you saw, who you fought, what your injuries are, everything you witnessed or overheard. We need a complete picture of how this went sideways so that it won't happen again.

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION ]

Hello, everyone.

First and foremost I'd like to remind you all that we're having a barbecue here on Governors Island for the 4th. It's open to the public, and while you're not required to attend I absolutely encourage you to join us with your families, friends, and significant others.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to officially congratulate two of our senior staff taking on new roles. With the retirement of Deputy Director Stamford, the position of Deputy Director for Training & Security in the Directorate of Support was vacated. As the number of atavists has grown exponentially since the Project's inception, I have decided to split this position into two dedicated roles going forward. Dr. Annette Russo will be moving from her position at Research to become the Deputy Director for Training, and Abilene Tate has been promoted to Deputy Director level to serve as Deputy Director for Security. Please offer your congratulations to these two fine public servants.

With happy news out of the way, I also have an announcement regarding a decision I've come to after much debate and discussion in the Executive Office. As you know, in May operatives of the Movement for Atavist Liberation broke into our facilities to plant a device that enables the six founders of the MAL to access our network.

Special Agent Barone has been working tirelessly to eliminate this intrusion every time it appears, and she has done a sensational job for which I am very grateful. Unfortunately, the MAL has teleporters at their disposal who have been re-integrating the device in different parts of the grid each time Barone removes it. The end result has been a scenario whereby the MAL founders can access our network approximately every other day. While Agent Barone is more than capable of keeping this up and continuing to shut them out each day, I believe her time and energy can and should be better spent elsewhere.

More to the point, having the MAL Six on the network has actually led me to reassess our policy of banning them from it. By silencing them publicly, we have turned them into bogeymen. We have made them more than they are. It's probably a lot more alluring for neutral parties to talk about Leo Barone like he's Batman or something than it is for them to actually see him and his cronies on the network making asses of themselves. And asses they have made of themselves, repeatedly; PR clearly isn't their strong suit.

All this is to say that going forward we are going to allow the MAL Six to stay on the network and, hopefully, dig their own graves. I would ask that you continue to use discretion in how you engage with these people publicly. Each and every one of you is a representative of this Project.

Thank you. My door is open for any questions.

( WARNING: Spoilers, Fire )

[Project: Ascension]

Forgive this mass message, but speed is of the essence. The Greenwich House is on fire, and there are still people inside. If there is anyone that can be sent, do so now, I beg you. I am here, if updates are needed.

[PROJECT: ASCENSION]

( Cut for spoilers/details )

[ALEXA/PAUL]

Something's happened with Lito.

[PEYTON/CHRISTIAN, SEPARATELY]

Are you

[DIANA]

You should reconsider

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION ]

All agents: mandatory meeting at 5pm in the Situation Room.

Do not be late.

[ PROJECT LEADERSHIP ]

This concerns the mole.

Keep an eye on each and every one of them while I'm briefing.

This afternoon, terrorists from the organization known as the Movement for Atavist Liberation (MAL) attacked a Project: Ascension transport vehicle as it was preparing to ferry to Governors Island.

Classified equipment was stolen from the cargo. The dock and surrounding area at the Battery Maritime Building were extensively damaged by the use of atavist powers. Several Project: Ascension agents were injured, including two taken to our infirmary in critical condition. Two civilians were also injured, 'collateral damage' in the MAL's sudden assault.

MAL cell leaders Gayatri Kaur and Jackson Galloway were positively identified among the attackers at the scene. Both should be considered extremely dangerous.

Anyone with information as to this terror attack, including information on other unidentified MAL operatives, is encouraged to contact Project: Ascension immediately. We will offer rewards for information aiding in the apprehension of these violent criminals.

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION ]

Status report.

[ MARISOL ]

Ms. Díaz. We need to talk.

( re: THE INFORMATION ON LANA'S USB DRIVE. )

Project: Ascension is aware of the unusual wave of activity today. If your atavism is behaving strangely, please contact a member of our staff. We have doctors and trainers on-site to help contain any unexpected fluctuations in power.

[ PROJECT: ASCENSION AGENTS ]

Anyone whose power is out of whack needs to get to containment. We can't have our team out of control in public.

Díaz, I want your daughter in here ASAP. Where is she now?

Decorso, Tate, what do we have on Heather White at this point? Still missing?

[ooc: after this]

Uhh so did one of us blow up a building in Midtown just now? I think something's going on. My tail just grew back so fast it ripped a hole in my pants... and I think my hands are stuck to my tablet. Anyone want to swing by... with new pants?

( Cut for spoilers. )