opnet [OpNet] Novas in Baseline Organizations

[kestrel404]

Hello, I've been reading these forums for a short time and I have a question that others here might be able to answer for me.

I've been working for the Triton Corporation for most of my career and I thought I had a good grasp of the company. However, with my eruption last year, I began to notice some changes, not in the corporation itself, but in how they treated me. I no longer have access to certain resources and files which I'm quite sure I could access before erupting. I am not allowed to visit several of Triton's less known research labs, including one that I worked at previously (which is how I noticed trend to begin with). I have also been bypassed by my boss on several occasions when nova-sensitive research was sent to my Lab, and only found out after the fact.

I know that this behavior is new, but I am not sure if it has been a gradual change or if it began immediately after my eruption. Is this a form of discrimination, or am I being paranoid? I still respect Triton for what it has done for Baselines and Novas alike, but I am beginning to feel like they are hiding things from me now.

[Hugin]

You are not being paranoid, you were naive. That is all. Of course you are being treated differently. Much of Triton's work involves Novas, and not always in a warm and fuzzy way. They very likely fear you undergoing a change in self-identification and simply wish to keep certain things out of your view that may be less than appreciated should you take on a more 'Nova-centric' worldview.

Think back to your work pre-eruption. Those reports you saw discussing 'Nova subjects'? The ones discussing investigation into quantum poisoning? "Subject A" could easily read "Glen Roberts" now. They simply want to avoid you becoming emotionally overwrought.

[Jager]

Emotionally overwrought ... that's a good one, James.

Glenn, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that your cognative abilities have improved somewhat with your eruption, right?

Triton's secrecy has always been there, but you weren't aware of it. They protect themselves from nosy novas, so you can just imagine who byzantine their security would look to a baseline.

Glenn, they are hiding things from you. They always have been. You are just bright enough to notice it, now.

And, yes, they are now hiding different stuff from you as well. Ask them about it. If the guy goes into full-denial mode, he/she is a smuck. Keep going up the ladder until you find someone who will give you an answer to think on.

[Ghostwriter]

Why does everyone make Utopia out to be such a collection of monsters?

I will concede that many of our baseline colleagues don't quite understand how intelligent we are, and I am the first to admit that Utopia keeps secrets from its own people at times. So does the American government.

Glenn, ask around. I know that when I was stationed at Talaud Island, I didn't see everything.

Everyone else, I respect your point of view. But since I've started working with T2M, I've realised how much we can do for the world. If you respect me as a person, please lay off on the anti-Utopia crap. I've tried to be polite with most of the Terats here, so please respect that.

Except for Charr. I don't expect respect from him, and I don't respect him, period.

Sorry for hijacking the thread, Glenn. PM me if you want to talk. It's good to have another Utopian around here.

[Matryoshka]

Codex, you are witnessing one the most human traits we all have.Fear. We lash out, in rage,hate, and disregard reason.You see, Utopia is in a place of power that makes it the second golbel super power, or maybe even the only one.It depends on who you ask.So, as they are in a place of power, and that they use that power, those who wish to settle their inner fears use urban legends,and half truth to settle their nerves.

I couldn't work for Utopia, but it is because I am not as moral as they are.I live by rules where the world is more grey than they want it to be.But I will tell you this, I am very proud of my daughter.Codex,I wish that one day you could meet her.But I fear she rarely leaves England, much less Europe, these days.

[Hugin]

Quote:

Originally posted by Regan 'Codex' McLachlan:
If you respect me as a person, please lay off on the anti-Utopia crap. I've tried to be polite with most of the Terats here, so please respect that.

I do respect you as a Nova. I appreciate that you have been civil. I will also be civil. However, I will not 'lay off the anti-Utopia crap'. I will express my opinion, as I always have.

At no point did I tell the Alchemist to beware the boogie man and search out the hidden abattoir in the depths of Triton's basements. I merely said that they see him differently now and will treat him differently.

[Jager]

collection of monsters?

Maybe they are collecting monsters.

Maybe I'm a monster.

If so, I don't want to be collected. I'm no beenie baby.

Codex, I trust people, not organizations. Its a habit I have developed over the years.

[kestrel404]

Actually, I took Jager's advice and I asked around about what I had been noticing. They played the departmental shuffle with me. Everyone was very nice, and quite respectful of my years of service, and politely pointed me at another department that could help me with my problem. After going around the mulberry bush twice, I gave up.

Ms. McLachlan, I'm not really in Utopia, since Triton is a privately owned Corporation, but I appreciate your sentiment. I have a great deal of respect for both Triton and Utopia for their accomplishments and the individuals they contain. However, I have to agree with Jager that organizations, by their very nature, should not be trusted. Both Triton and Utopia are corporations and regardless of the PR, neither of them are inherently good. But I choose to work with them, because they are better than the alternatives.

Mr. Meehan, you are most likely correct that I am being naive. That does not mean I will stop looking into the matter. I may be too curious for my own good, but I won't simply accept this indirect secrecy.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn 'Alchemist' Roberts:
I am not allowed to visit several of Triton's less known research labs, including one that I worked at previously (which is how I noticed trend to begin with). I have also been bypassed by my boss on several occasions when nova-sensitive research was sent to my Lab, and only found out after the fact.

Why would having previously worked in the lab merit continued access not required by your work? I ask not to criticise, merely to point out that maybe you have changed in ways you hadn't noticed. It is an unusual experience to be a nova in a baseline world and perhaps your unconscious expectations have changed as well. Do you have the same contract and work conditions now after your eruption that you had prior to it? Can your 'boss' really terminate your (a nova) employment without internal repercussions?

This is not meant to invalidate your observations. Triton quite probably has both unofficial and unpublicised policies regarding the handling of sensitive materials. However examining the answers to these simple questions may offer explanations without resorting to "anti-Utopian crap" or ridiculing the work of others.

[Jager]

Please not Triton is not Utopia, and vice-versa. Triton is a private corporation, with an emphasis on the private.

Project Utopia, while also a multi-national corporation, is alot more in the public eye, with all that comes with it.

Triton has a special relationship with the Project, but plays by its own rules. It is out to make money, after all.

[kestrel404]

Jager: Didn't I just say that?

Mr. Mann: Well, to answer a few of your questions:

I believed I could access that lab because I was going there on business. I do not presume to have complete access to all of Triton's facilities, but I had legitimate reasons for being there (specifically, I was attempting to recruit a former co-worker into my department). I was flatly denied access by the Central Office, which peaked my curiosity.

As for contracts, I am a regular employee of Triton, I have signed no contracts except for NDAs, and I do not forsee signing one in the future. I did not feel the need to re-negotiate my salary or terms of employment after erupting. And yes, my 'boss', a middle manager at the Central Office, could have me fired if he found a legitimate reason, without repercussion, the same as any other employee. Of course, that reason would have to be very legitimate indeed since I have been working for Triton longer than he has.

And to keep everyone who cares updated: I skipped a couple of rungs in the corporate ladder and spoke with a vice president. He explained that there are very few corporate policies directly dealing with Novas employed by the Triton Foundation, and they all have to do with incentive programs. Any other policy decisions are in the best judgement of the Management. He justified the decisions to keep me out of some facilities by pointing out my enhanced senses and pointing out that those facilities all deal with classified material. I really can't fault him on that. He also agreed that the manager who bypassed me within my own facility was in the wrong, and steps will be taken.

So, either I am being placated or it really was a misunderstanding. But now I am hearing whispers from around the office (literally) about my 'holy crusade' for fair treatment. I guess I have all the subtlety of a sledgehammer as far as office politics go.

[Jager]

Glenn, if you haven't had a pay raise with your eruption (and your eruption has somehow impacted on your ability as a researcher), you are being robbed.

Oh, yeah ... screw office politics. Shit happens. If you become unhappy at Triton, there are dozens of other companies that will pick you up. If your worried about legal entanglements, go to DeVries, or Novalty. Or, you could work directly for Utopia, who atleast have PR reasons to treat their novas well.

Or, you could just go independent. I think some invenstors could be found to provide you with start-up capital.

[kestrel404]

I'm not being robbed, I simply didn't renegotiate. I have no problem with my salary (mid 6 figures as lead researcher for a lab) and I now have even fewer expenses as a Nova. I also enjoy my work and respect the company I work for.

Since I stand to lose (in my own eyes) by walking away from Triton, I still worry about office politics.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn 'Alchemist'

I believed I could access that lab because I was going there on business.
Fair enough.

I was flatly denied access by the Central Office, which peaked my curiosity.
Are you certain that nothing changed within the lab, i.e. the problem for entrance wasn't targeted at you specifically? Quantum experiments perhaps? I understand quantum experiments to be somewhat temperamental in nature and the mere presence of a nova might skew the results.

From a legal standpoint your VP has made an excellent point and they were acting prudently.

As for contracts, I am a regular employee of Triton, I have signed no contracts except for NDAs, and I do not foresee signing one in the future.
This is... odd.

Not on your part. I'm sure this appears perfectly ordinary to you but to an outsider it appears no less than astounding. Think on it; you have within your company a singularly amazing individual, the emphasis being on singular, and take no action to ensure that individual remains in your employ? A single nova can literally replace between hundreds and tens of thousands of baselines depending on the nova's gifts and the baselines occupation.This makes it worthwhile to ensure their continued employment. Now consider the attractiveness of denying a competitor that nova's gifts by continuing to employ them rather than allowing the nova to enter the employ of a competitor. Lastly consider the nova with abilities that no amount of baseline employees could replace because the nova can do things otherwised believed to be impossible.

And yes, my 'boss', a middle manager at the Central Office, could have me fired if he found a legitimate reason, without repercussion, the same as any other employee.
Of course.

Now assuming you bring a greater value to the company than any problems you might cause, would firing a nova, especially one they are getting for "free", show good judgment on the part of your boss in the eyes of his superiors? That was what I meant by repercussions. It would be not unlike Utopia sacking Caestus Pax for failing to conform to grooming standards.

But now I am hearing whispers from around the office (literally) about my 'holy crusade' for fair treatment.
Would you have done all that you have done recently before your eruption? If not then they have a point, you have changed. If yes, then there is something amiss.

[kestrel404]

Originally posted by H. 'Machine' Mann:

Are you certain that nothing changed within the lab, i.e. the problem for entrance wasn't targeted at you specifically? Quantum experiments perhaps? I understand quantum experiments to be somewhat temperamental in nature and the mere presence of a nova might skew the results.

Actually, it hasn't changed much, but there was classified research at that lab while I was working there before. It hadn't occurred to me at the time.

you have within your company a singularly amazing individual, the emphasis being on singular, and take no action to ensure that individual remains in your employ? A single nova can literally replace between hundreds and tens of thousands of baselines depending on the nova's gifts and the baselines occupation.This makes it worthwhile to ensure their continued employment. Now consider the attractiveness of denying a competitor that nova's gifts by continuing to employ them rather than allowing the nova to enter the employ of a competitor. Lastly consider the nova with abilities that no amount of baseline employees could replace because the nova can do things otherwised believed to be impossible.

It wasn't their decision, it was mine. I was offered several different contracts, but they all had 'minimum service periods' and 'early termination conditions' which I found annoying and overreaching. I also wasn't particularly tempted by the gobs of cash they offered. That was one of the reasons my wife filed for divorce.

Now assuming you bring a greater value to the company than any problems you might cause, would firing a nova, especially one they are getting for "free", show good judgment on the part of your boss in the eyes of his superiors? That was what I meant by repercussions. It would be not unlike Utopia sacking Caestus Pax for failing to conform to grooming standards.

As I said, it would have to be a very good reason. You should never fire someone lightly, and a Nova gets a lot of leeway for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

Would you have done all that you have done recently before your eruption? If not then they have a point, you have changed. If yes, then there is something amiss.

You've got me there. I've gotten quite a bit more stubborn and vocal since my eruption.

[Jager]

Mr. Mann, think about his origonal contract. Anything he develops at Triton is Triton property, free and clear. Most novas get residuals and certain development right dealing with their contributions. Glenn doesn't seem to be getting those. Baseline researchers don't normally get to keep their work, or to take it with them.

Sure, Glenn can walk, but I am betting Triton and Utopia would be keeping an eye on him to make sure he kept to that NDA ... and TechRegs can go were they pretty much like.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn 'Alchemist' Roberts:
It wasn't their decision, it was mine.

This brings an intrigue to the circumstances you describe. It is strange Triton would take a chance on alienating a gifted and perhaps irreplaceable employee.

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:
Mr. Mann, think about his original contract.

Truly I am but consider this; would you prefer to own the rights for Artifex's synthetic eufiber derivative or to all of Artifex's services?

[Jager]

Me? I would chose Artifex and the future, but I'm not Triton.

Besides, he said "no" to the new contract which would have been binding in other ways. Still, it makes you think about Triton's overall agenda, doesn't it?

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

It makes me think managerial stupidity.

Of course I'm an outsider and not familiar with the inner workings of Triton.

[kestrel404]

Mr Mann, I must protest on Triton's behalf. As I said before: I chose not to renegotiate. I made myself quite clear in that I would continue working for Triton so long as I was not forced to sign new contracts with them. What were they supposed to do, fire me because I would not indenture myself to them? I assure you, they are quite happy to have me here.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn 'Alchemist' Roberts:
Mr Mann, I must protest on Triton's behalf.

Excuse me? Someone alludes to an agenda but that doesn't elicit a twinge of concern from you. I have a poor opinion of management based on their bungling in your case and you protest?

Your protest is noted Mr Roberts. I'll not insult your company again.

[kestrel404]

I wasn't being nearly that serious, simply pointing out that I didn't really give them a choice in the matter. If you took my remark as grave because I call you Mr. Mann, that is simply because I choose to speak formally with strangers.

I do not call Jager 'Mr. Jager' because that is not his surname (in previous posts he has mentioned that it is not even his given name), and thus it would be rather silly.

[Neil Preston]

Hello, Mr. Roberts.

Addressing the origonal questions:

Triton is a really great company, and they've done alot of good stuff, from the medical professional's point of view, anyway.

My only advice to you is to go were you can do the most good, for yourself and for what you think you can do for the world.

If you aren't happy, your not doing your best work.

[Jager]

Mr. Jager? That's a good one.