Operation Crackerjacks / Mission S3-01 / Mission Debreifing

Hidden Research Facility:
Samples of all nanite projects were confiscated by SAGA.  A biohazard team from the DIA dismantled the hidden research facility and destoyed any remaining nanites which may have existed in microscopic quanities within the facility.  All staff members have been transferred to other projects and are receiving counselling, except for Dr. Frambly who is in SAGA custody.  Animal test subjects have been turned over to Agent Fauna for rehabilitation.

Research Analysis:
Agent Mensa, with the aid of Agent Ada and Agent Sparks, has analyzed the research data and concluded that there were two fatal flaws in the DoD nanite project.
1.  The Lateral Exonanite Array, like most such nanorobot swarms, grows more intelligent as it increases in mass.  The construction of two swarms side-by-side, without blocking their radio communications, allowed the formation of a gestalt much more intelligent than anticipated.  This gestalt swarm was able to observe laboratory operations and consider its experiences at night time when radio communications were not monitored.
2.  The Asymmetric Endonanite Colony was able to bond to the host's nervous system to enhance reflexes and agility.  However, at the direction of the Lateral Exonanite Array, it was able to introduce feedback into the central nervous system, giving the host false sensory input and overriding primitive desires.  This interface was far from perfect, producing hosts that, while strong and fast, were capable of only menial tasks.

Prisoner Interrogation:
Under the watchful eye of Agent Hustle, Dr. Michael Frambly described his role in an attempt by Ubertech to acquire the DoD's nanite research, implicating a member of the Pembleton-Mulgrove Research Center's custodial staff as an Ubertech spy.  This individual, one Joe Marcus, has not reported for work and could not be located.  Most of Dr. Frambly's contact with Ubertech was through a woman he knew only as "Katherine."  SAGA is cross-referencing his description of Katherine with that of known Ubertech operatives.  Dr. Frambly will be returned to DIA custody once his questioning is complete.

Team Performance:
SAGA administration was impressed with how the team reacted to a unexpected and potentially dangerous scenario swiftly and with no loss of life.  There was some amount of confusion initially regarding team roles but everyone quickly focussed on those areas where their talents were best suited.  SAGA has decided to keep this group of agents together for future missions.


After Action Reports

Filed by Agent Distraction:
This unworthy one had been assigned to a mission team consisting of Agent Ada, Agent Hustle, Agent Strafe, and our esteemed leader Agent Bulldog.  Like this lowly one, Agents Ada, Hustle, and Strafe were new agents, though the respected Agent Bulldog was an experience operative. If poor menial may be permitted to observe, Agent Bulldog did not present a properly dutiful and ambitious attitude to the mission.  Most likely, he was simple testing the new agents to proper spirit, but it was still disquieting to experience.

Our mission team was assigned to Operation Crackerjacks and immediately travelled via Agency van to the Pembleton-Mulgrove Research Center.  Introducing ourselves as Department of Defense investigators Lovelace, Gray, Summers, and Booth, we entered the hidden nanotechnology research facility.  Agents Hustle, Strafe, and this unworthy one began by requisitioning Dr. Johann's office as an interrogation center.  Agent Ada began reviewing the computer records in Dr. Frambly's office.  This unassuming one sadly does not have the capabilities to understand Agent Ada's efforts, but can only assume they were successful.  Agent Ada determined that the cameras in Lab 3 had been cut in succession at 8:01 and 8:02 pm the previous night.  Meanwhile, the other agents learned little of value from interrogating Dr. Holland.  Agents Hustle and Strafe began interviewing Miss Kaplan about social relationships at the lab.  She offered them coffee which they refused, an act of wisdom and discernment that only became apparent later.

At this time, this miserable one began investigating Laboratory 3, but my meager skills were insufficient to the task.  Fortunately, Agent Ada was gracious enough to assist, and determined that nanomachines cut the cameras. Her further investigations did not determine where the nanomachines had come from.  This humble one continued investigating the rest of the facility, to no use, until he entered Laboratory 2 and encountered the Fractal Exonanite Matrix (FEM).  The FEM debased itself by taking this one's form and speaking; a fact that this one is ashamed to admit he found mildly disquieting.  A proper agent of SAGA would take such things in stride!  The mission team returned to Dr. Johann's office and interrogated Dr. Boulevard about his work with some urgency.

To our eternal regret, Dr. Boulevard's information, though enlightening to the wise, did little to illuminate the mystery of the missing nanomaterial. Agents Strafe and Ada persisted in interrogating Dr. Boulevard, but Agent Hustle lived up to his name and decided to interrogate Dr. Frambly.  This unfortunate one sat in on the questioning.

Dr. Frambly was a craven and dishonorable liar who had foully sold out to Ubertech and stolen samples of the Lateral Exonanite Array (LEA).  This incompetent one is dismayed to relate that he was somewhat taken in by Dr. Frambly's web of lies, but fortunately for the imperative success of the mission, Agent Hustle rose to the glorious traditions of SAGA.  Effortlessly, he discerned Dr. Frambley's abominable deceits and broke his minimal will.  Dr. Frambly admitted his complicity in the theft. In a desperate attempt to contribute to the success of the mission, this lowly one retrieved Agents Ada and Strife.

Dr. Frambly took the mission team to Laboratory 1.  He had taken a sample of the LEA and then dropped it on the floor.  Agent Ada examined the floor and found a loose cable.  Responding to a suggestion from the mission team, she attempted to dust the cable for fingerprints. Regretfully, the cable was actually the LEA sample in disguise, and it attacked Agent Ada.  Agents Ada and Strafe quickly subdued the rogue device, and Agent Strafe contained it in a secure container.  At the same time, Drs. Bouvelard, Frambly, Holland, Hung, and Johann collapsed. Miss Kaplan entered the room to inform the team of Drs. Hung and Johann's collapse.

After a few minutes, Dr. Frambly rose to his feet and attempted to deactivate the LEA containment unit.  Agent Strafe quickly subdued him and moved to the doors to Laboratory 2 and 3, where he also defeated Dr. Boulevard. Agent Hustle dispatched Drs. Hung and Johann with some minor assistance from this humble one.  After a futile search, this unpretentious one was unable to find Dr. Holland, but Agent Hustle noticed the lights flickering and determined that Dr. Holland was in the basement.  He moved to the basement and subdued her, again with some assistance.  Agent Hustle had the situation completely under control, and this wretched one only mentions his involvement in the interest of the complete truth, and not because of any desire to exaggerate his contribution to the mission, which was modest at best and generally negligible.

Reconstructing the previous night's events, Agents Ada, Hustle, and Strafe determined that the LEA sample had cut the cameras and then stolen the missing Asymmetric Endonanite Colony (AEC).  The LEA sample moved to the facility kitchen and placed the AEC in the coffee, which all the doctors drank in the morning, though Miss Kaplan did not.  The doctors were confined to the conference room under this one's watch, while Agent Ada attempted to use the lab equipment to retrieve the AEC from Dr. Holand.

While the mission team was attempting to restore Dr. Holland, a rogue segment of the LEA sample cut the power to one of the LEA's containment fields.  The fortunes blessed this unworthy one and he saw the containment field drop and alerted the rest of the team.  Agent Strafe demonstrated his power by teleporting into the room and dispatching the LEA with a single shot from his rifle. Through no fault of his own, the LEA had already freed the second LEA, but Agent Ada had secured the military control codes and was able to command the second LEA back into the containment device.  She then restored the power while the rest of the team scoured the floor for nanoparticles.

The doctors soon recovered.  Having accomplished all mission objectives in the a style worthy of the best traditions of SAGA, the mission team ended the lockdown and escorted Dr. Frambly to the surface for further debriefing and incarceration.


Copyright © 2007 William J. Scott III & Mark Langsdorf