Mole Point Bravo

As I suspected - at least Technician Grant Naylor still had some important work for Arachnos to be done for a member of my rank.

This time I had to infiltrate and subvert a Longbow-held base in an alternate dimension - code-named Mole Point Bravo. Somewhere in a dimension called the "Shadow Shard". Regardless, the task was easily accomplished.

The suprise came when not a half hour later ARAD received an emergency call from Naylor that we were needed to go back to the newly secured facility and repel some alien invaders and destroy it to stop them breaking through to our dimension. Shades of the Rikti, methinks. But as least the Rikti are vaguely human-looking - some of these "Rularuu" were floating eyeballs!

Curiously, I encountered some of Lord Nemesis' troops in the Shadow Shard - seems like he may have interests there and I may have to end up tangling with his automatons soon. Good thing I've already dismantled several and ascertained they pose no threat to the might of Arachnos and the technology of ARAD's Scientists.

As a side-note from my jaunt to the Shadow Shard, I would like to report the Base Commander Rimsey for gross stupidity! Half the regulations he quoted at me didn't exist, and he was reckless to the point of dangerousness - charging at Rularuu Brutes leaving me and ARAD to jump after him to save his hide. Yes, he was needed to activate the self-destruct on the base portal, but really - a little respect for Arachnos Research and Development's position among Arachnos Prime was due.

Reminiscences

Now that I have reached the rank of Captain within Arachnos Core, as well as Chief Scientist of Arachnos Research and Development, I have found myself thinking of my life a mere seven months ago when I broke out of the Zig back in Paragon City.

I have infamy, the brightest colleagues the Rogue Isles has to offer, unparalleled robotics and weaponry. I have an impressive list of souvenirs granted to me by members of the Rogue Isles community I have worked with and taken from fools I have defeated.

Actually, looking at them they're quite a mismatch. Kalinda's kiss, Bletchley's goggles, a letter sealed with a black kiss, the hit list, an after action report, an old drawing of myself, a Zig guard hat, a rivet, a coral shard, a darkened crystal, a fragment of Red Coral Crystal, an ancient Mu relic, Mynx's fur, the Brawler's mask, Luminary's schematics, a Rikti embryo, Infernal's axe, Luckless' lucky chip, a silver tongue, Johnny Sonata tickets, a completed contract, a "Vote for Wenkler" button, a Johnny Sonata techno-remix, a burned out spirit trap, a signed glossy of Johnny Sonata, a citation full of commendation, snakeskin boots, Indigo's hair, Tears of the Spirit, Jezebel's Token and a Longbow pin

Yet, I still feel there must be more out there. I have barely scratched the surface and never stepped foot outside of the lab into the rest of Grandville. Alas, Black Scorpion has informed me all "Destined Ones" have their permits on back order, so it's just a waiting game.

Still, seems that Technician Naylor still has some work for me to do...

Threat Level 40

Some strange malfunction in the ZR Aegis Transponder today caused it to explode, albeit harmlessly, in a shower of sparks. Seems some incoming message from Arachnos set it off...

... ah. It would appear as my Arachnos Threat Level has reached Clearance 40. Well, that is a suprise - especially since the Black Helicopter Line still won't clear me for landing on Grandville. I must submit a formal complaint to Black Scorpion...

Wretch in Name and Nature

Former ally, yet if an Arbiter in the Rogue Isles deems you guilty then you are indeed guilty.

It was my somewhat sad duty to apprehend Wretch - Seer Marino's brother, and Ghost Widow's lieutentant for scheming that undermines the stability of Arachnos on the orders of Arbiter Leery.

I was ably assisted by Existence, Evil Thistle and Fallen Snow - esteemed colleagues who I have worked with other the past months on several ocasssions. Very skilled in their respective fields.

We also had to apprehend Ice Mistral, a confidante and ally of Scirocco on similar charges - it appears that Scirocco and Ghost Widow had been set at each others' throat over some mystical artifact called "Tears of the Spirit". Whatever they were, my Assault ZR destroyed them on the Arbiter's orders.

Binder of Beasts. Finally.

Taking a break from working with Technician Naylor (he managed to squeeze me in for a project or two) and Hardcase (he seems to have demon issues, but I occassionally get something worthwhile and technological out of him) I had popped down to Cap Au Diable to take out some Gremlins causing fluctuations to the PTS.

While there I heard a call on the Arachnos Request Channel that my erstwhile colleague Professor Vulcan was gathering some allies at the behest of Virgil Tarikoss. Having failed Tarikoss previously, I was in a mood to redeem myself so I joined up with the Professor, Dr Blitzkrieg, Mindblast, ArticusLupus and an excellent Brute whose name escapes me right now.

We made good time tracking down the information Virgil needed (he must have some form of amnesia - I'm sure I provided him with all these details previously) and we progressed through his portal to the prison of Bat'Zul - the demon that the accursed Dr Aeon is powering the PTS from.

After a minor setback, which necessitated a quick trip to the Black Heart Memorial Hospital for everyone, we organised our arrayed forces in good tactical order and lured Bat'Zul into our trap. The image to the left was capture just before his eventual defeat. Though I had to summon an entire production run of Drone ZR's and Protector ZR's to attack this monstrosity our team prevailed and Bat'Zul was bound back to his prison.

Only to get back to Virgil and find he was a thrice-damned hero and was hoping the demon would defeat me and my colleagues! I have reported him to Arachnos - no doubt they will keep their eye on this "Tarikoss the Vigilant" for interfering with Arachnos Research and Development like this.

Still, the ZR Series Teleportation Delivery System seems to perform extremely well under trans-dimensional conditions - barely any time-delay at all.

More Nemesis. My Curiosity is Piqued

A field trip to another dimension with some colleagues recently gave me the change to look at some of these Nemesis "Warhulks" in closer detail.

It appears that a pilot is seated in some form of fluid-filled tank which may or may not also be fuel for its fire-based attacks. Obviously it is simply some form of powered armour suit.

What strikes me is the complexity of these devices - despite it being entirely steam-driven they are intricately detailed and superbly crafted. I really must meet and exchange ideas with Lord Nemesis.

That, or defeat him and take what I want. Either is good.