opnet [OpNet] Questions for Violette D'Aronique

[Fortune's Son]

V; you've never met me before, that I'm aware of anyway, but I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. A little background might be useful for you on this.

I was working for private firm that was bought out by Devries about three months ago. Fortunately, my original contract is still in effect and includes a couple of nice conditions that keep me from doing a lot of the ethically challenged garbage that passes through Devries. It also included a nice play or pay option that kept me solvent even when the coordinators were getting annoyed with me turning down merc work.

I'm three months out from contract completion, have the option of buying back my own contract at fair market value and wanted to get some info.

Why am I coming to you? Well, I've read the public release materials from the PR department at PU and it lacks a certain clarity. The HRO stuff is pretty vague as well. OpNet searchs turn up all kind of info but most of it is without any real context. PU is good / PU is bad, that kind of stuff. Not to mention every other site is claiming some vast comspiracy to turn the world into a coporate hegemony run by Utopia. I need some help sorting out the fluff and paranoia from the reality.

You're available here and seem pretty straight forward so... Want to talk about what it's like working for PU and T2M?

And yeah, it occured to me that phone call would get me a recruiter delivered to my door by express mail but I've dealt with too many recruiters in the last year to want to tolerate another one. Besides, after awhile they all start to sound the same Their job is to sell the organization and offer the best package. At the moment I'm less interested in 'the deal' than in getting some hard intel on the job.

The coffee is on me if you have the free time.

[Violette 'V' D'Aronique]

Um..okay. But I'd much rather do it privately than here. You cannot talk about Project Utopia or T2M here without having anti-propaganda shoved down your throat so fast it wasn't worth the time to open your mouth. Or I get a whole bunch of reasons why I shouldn't be doing it and why it would be so much better for me to leave them.

I'd rather not have to suffer the humiliation the other Utopians who were here before me suffered, thank you very much.

[Fortune's Son]

Your concerns are very understandable given what I've seen the last couple of months while ghosting this place. If there is a particular place you would feel more comfortable speaking, please let me know by private message and I'll make the travel arrangements to meet you there.

I'll even throw in dinner if you make the location a nice one.

Jack

[Vile Bill]

Well hey baby, don't be so shy!! I ain't got nothin' personal against 'Topes. Y'all are awful cute, ya clean up the air and water and you keep enough people pissed off so I have plenty to do. That, and hey, y'all ain't got enough sack to take me on when we and the boys are bustin ass in the jungle either. No sweat off my balls. So, speak up and tell Chancypants all about the guys in white. I'd love the hear it.

[Dr. Arcturus]

Yes, tell us about how Utopia is making a better world when they hunt down elites who wont dance to their tune. Probably would've gotten me too....but they just arent that fast.

[ 03-06-2002: Message edited by: Strobe ]

[Violette 'V' D'Aronique]

Quote:

Originally posted by Strobe:
Yes, tell us about how Utopia is making a better world when they hunt down elites who wont dance to their tune. Probably would've gotten me too....but they just arent that fast.

[ 03-06-2002: Message edited by: Strobe ]

I rest my case...*sigh*

[Fortune's Son]

Sorry, V. In retrospect I should have contacted you privately rather than publicly. I apologize and, if it helps, I still look forward to meeting with you. Hope to hear from you soon.

And Strobe? Give it a rest. Privately contracted and combat capable novas out number Utopia novas five or six to one. That means they out number T2M by an even higher number.

T2M doesn't hunt down elites. That's what you do for a living.

[Vile Bill]

Hey Strobe ya smartmouth little bastard, leave the lady alone. Yeah, I ain't a huge fan of Utopia but she don't deserve all the crap that people been blowin her way.

Fine, Utopia don't like what you and me do. Most politicians don't either. Don't think that everytime I go through some airport that I ain't given a real good once over by every friggin law enforcment agency they got. Big fucking deal. I don't bitch about it, it's part of the cost of the job.

Now you know that those T2M buggers don't mess with the likes of you and me unless we been doing jobs that ain't A) Real nasty or More nasty than they had to be. They don't chase us down unless they outnumber us by a hell of a bunch and that don't happen too friggin often. So quit yer bitchin and moanin.

Last time I checked Violet wasn't huntin you and me down. She's probably one of those nice science types. You know, the ones that cured all those nasty diseases so that when I hire me some ladies o' the evenin I don't gotta wrap the weasel. Me, I appreciate that whole bunches. I know I got a little cousin, she'd a been dead before she hit puberty if Utopia didn't come up with some fancy treatment for her. So, lets give the little lady some slack and not act a fool

[Guest]

Violet,

You don't know me and I don't know you, but, we share a mutual employer....Utopia.

I don't bother posting here much anymore due to all the hostility, but I do lurk and you are not alone here.

Chance, I have worked in several different departments of Utopia, including T2M. Anything Violet can't answer, I'd be happy to accomodate you, or at least try.

-Matrix

[Dr. Arcturus]

Ok, I can buy that.

Sorry Violet, but that little "Utopia-trying-to-capture-me-that-seems-didnt-happen-because-Bill-said-so"

thing left me with more than a grain of salt as far as Utopia's concerned. Bill says your on the up and up. Lets hope so.

[Fortune's Son]

Looks like I'm hijacking my own thread.

Strobe, I'm not calling you a liar. I don't know you and I have no idea what you're talking about. I will say that your remark is not indicative of Utopian policy in general, or even T2M policy, and that I think there is more to the situation you're describing than what has been mentioned.

Just because you get hassled by a cop in the sticks doesn't mean every cop is on the take, the FBI is utterly corrupt and the CIA is putting mind control satellites into orbit to make the world safe for democracy. And if you want to insult every Utopian that sticks their head out then get your own damn thread

And yeah, V is forthright and honest. If she wasn't, I wouldn't have asked her the question.

Matrix;

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it after I speak with V. I would point out that the name 'Matrix' does not seem to be listed on the rolls of novas that have worked for T2M.

[Guest]

Your looking in the wrong place Chance. For the longest time I went by the name "Powerhouse" but changed it recently when I came back to active duty. If you can't learn anything about me that way, try looking for a Utopia researcher and test subject named Cameron Foster (Thats me! )

Hope that helps,

-Matrix

[Guest]

Strobe: did you do something really extreme? Utopia have never caused me problems. Well no major ones.

Violette and Matrix: Are people round here really that bad? True, I don't work for Utopia but that doesn't mean I hate it.

Twist

[Guest]

Go throught the archives Twist, you'll see what I mean. True, I have spewed my share of stereotypical propaganda about other groups but in most cases what starts out to be reasonable discussions about the organization rapidly digress into paranoia-filled mud slinging contests. It seems that the only people welcome on this board are Terats, Elites, and Indipendent Black Ops Specialists.

Thats the way we Utopiates who do post here are made to feel at any rate.

-Matrix

[Guest]

Really? Good god. That obviously means I'd better go

I do agree with you here though. This board is remarkably anti-Utopian. I'll admit they've had their fair share of cock-ups, but then again so has the US Government (not to mention mine!). As with the US Government, it would be stupid to judge it by it's failings, when the good they've done can clearly be seen. Most of the good stuff is lost on me, of course (I don't breathe, and a day at the beach just isn't what it used to be).

Of course, a good deal of the alleged bad stuff is lost on me as well (I was effectively sterile from the moment I erupted. Holograms can't really have sex with flesh/bloods, can they?)

I've had good relations with Utopia, hell, I've been using the Chicago Rashoud facility while I've been there. Now, if only the recruiters would leave me alone!

[Fortune's Son]

Oh, I don't know.

Looking over the archives it seems that any group someone belongs to, or at least tolerates, got slandered at some point. Ashnod talked about the Terats and Rossi bitched. Childe talked about elites and Avenger bitched. I asked about Utopia and Strobe bitched. I'm not going to get into the morality issues and debate the relative merits of the discussions between Avenger and Ranger or Jager and 'Rod. That's a suckers game.

I don't have the answers and I'm not one of those that claim to. I am going to ask questions though and people seem to respect that in general.

My two cents.

V:

Can we schedule that talk for next month? I have some things that will keep me on the move for two weeks or so.

Holland:

Whatever happened with the tech toys Childe was working on for you? She talked about a prototype, you disappeared and then nothing was ever said again. Did it not work out or what?

I ask because there's a sometime partner of mine that has a similar problem.

[ 03-09-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Guest]

Tuesday did help with a few small devices, but nothing really huge. The floating chalk prototype worked, but we mutually agreed that for the most part the peripherals I had were doing the job quite well. I do still use some of the old toys. Last time I heard from Ms Childe she was "assisting an old friend". I haven't heard much of her since then, unfortunately.

Admittedly, Alex's friend Teknokat produces the vast majority of the devices I use in day-to-day life. Try contacting her company, Teknokat Innovations, They mostly specialise in high-quality computer peripherals, but they do rake in a bit from the "Alternative computer hardware" market. For example, my keyboard is designed to accept light instead of pressure, my Monitor is a Very High Quality LCD Monitor, and the Computer itself is not only Tempest Hardened but uses a high capacity Optical Hard Drive.

She actually lurks on this board, so just place a message, she'll be able to give you the information you want.

[Guest]

Quote:

Originally posted by <Matrix>:
Go throught the archives Twist, you'll see what I mean. True, I have spewed my share of stereotypical propaganda about other groups but in most cases what starts out to be reasonable discussions about the organization rapidly digress into paranoia-filled mud slinging contests. It seems that the only people welcome on this board are Terats, Elites, and Indipendent Black Ops Specialists.

Thats the way we Utopiates who do post here are made to feel at any rate.

-Matrix

Yikes, the can be a bit harsh can't they?
I can understand why you keep your heads down.

Twist

[Stheno]

Discussions here do tend to get a little...vehement.

Part of the problem is that people tend to approach everything only from their own point of view, and often fail to acknowledge that the opinions of others have just as much claim to "truth".

PU has been implicated in a number of scandals, that is true. The agenda backing PU seems to be as much about PR and controlling novas as anything else. On the other hand, PU has cleaned up the environment, and generally succeeded at making many aspects of the world more pleasant.

Elites do a dirty, messy, murderous job, which is more than morally questionable. Still, it is a job which will be done anyway.

The Teragen has members who are irresponsible, cryptofascist, racist psychopaths, who use the ideas of the Null Manifesto as an excuse to act like anarchic (not anarchist) fools and murderers. The Teragen also has members such as Ashnod, who are responsible, reasonable advocates of a code of personal responsibility which has much to reccommend it - for baselines as well as humans.

I'm not going near any of the others...

Given that each of the organisations or factions has at its core a number of contradictions, it's hardly surprising that discussion becomes so "frank", is it ?

It is a pity, however, that the representatives of Project Utopia are the ones most vilified.

I personally think PU is misguided and dangerous. But I also realise that the only way to change that is to ensure that those novas working for PU work that out for themselves. Others...are less patient.

[Sakurako Hino]

Well, people don't like those on the top. That's just how things work. P.U. Is held in high regard by a good number of people, and all the rabble like to knock down the top dog a cople of notches. Damn... We got this big ol' node in our brain, yet we still act like we don't have anything.

[Babylon]

You're learning, young Padawan.

People will be people no matter how much they try otherwise.

Babylon

[Sakurako Hino]

I try!

Anyways, I try not to take life so seriously. Like one time, Cestus Pax was staring down a elite, and I had to think to myself; "Man, those are some cute fatigues, honey bunny." "And you're bodysuit is smashing, girlfriend."

Yeah, I know, I'm a bored nerd. Not to insult Pax, I bet he's a great guy. It's all in good fun.

[Babylon]

He is a great man. And he works diligently for the benefit of a entire world composed of people whose beliefs and desires conflict. There's a lot of critcal observation out there concerning him but few of them are willing to step up to the plate and try it.

[Sakurako Hino]

O_O; I'd like to meet him sometime.

I bet I'd get some weird looks looking all anime. Ever since I've erupted, I always look like this when the juice is on. But everyone seems to like it, so I don't complain.

Pax has nothing to worry about from me!

[Babylon]

Careful what you wish for...

Ask again after your trip to San Fransisco. And be patient for a couple of weeks.

Babylon

[Prof. Sydney 'Photon' Holland]

Wo viel Licht ist, ist starker Schatten - The shadow is deeper where the light is strong.

-Goethe

When all you can see is good and right, the slightest wrong is that much visible.

Just something to think about...

[ 06-22-2002: Message edited by: Prof. Sydney 'Photon' Holland ]

[Sakurako Hino]

Is it just me, or do you like speaking in riddles, Babylon?

Thanks for the vote of confidence though. *giggle*

[Babylon]

That wasn't a riddle. You asked, it can happen. Just wait until after your trip and give me a couple of weeks to set it up. The man is busier than you would believe.

[Sakurako Hino]

O_O;

Um... whoa...

[Babylon]

Hence the comment that you should be careful of what you wish for...