Blogette Delta Zero - A Thread of Consternation

So yeah. I'm not good at names. Have a thread though I guess. Maybe I'll keep up with posting, maybe I won't.

 

Why not. Currently (finally) getting around to watching Spiderman: Far From Home. Very early... though there are some attempts at worldbuilding which are nice. I remember a tiny bit from Homecoming that I thought was... significant, in a stupid way. It was a list of several elements given as part of a quiz, the last of which was vibranium. Funnily enough the non-fictional elements were all the same group. It may have been group 5, which would even make some sense.

Well. Anyways.

Spoiler: Speculations Re: The Blip

The in memoriam segment at the beginning is... I think the wildly appropriate music is intentional. It does subtly (re) confirm that half of all life was destroyed (though we're still dubious on plants), which I think is the first canon confirmation. Also showing actual video of the destruction is... well, we did just get the wildly inappropriate music, but I feel that's something that would never happen.
Also, minor lol at 'The Blip' being the canon name for what was called 'the snap'.

Hmm. If the blip returned people in the same place as they died, as that video and Aunt May confirms, (still dunno how I feel about her being youngened. I mean, she's plausibly old enough, but Aunt May being in her 70s-80s is kind of thing) - there'd be a second secondary holocaust of all the people in dangerous places. Which is a nasty way to rain on that parade. Literally. Unless Doctor Strange stopped that (at least for Earth) in the midst of summoning all the superheroes. Or maybe it defaulted to 'the nearest safe location', which would be plausible.

According to rapid google, there are only around 500,000 people in airplanes at any given time, so only 250,000. A small number at sea... and of course a lot more on roads or in other such situations, but that part is less certainly lethal. Actually, if you're on a vehicle, do you reappear in that vehicle, or in the place it was? Did Ant-Man's van get moved, because that'd be a way of answering that.

I guess most people don't know Spider-Man is a teenager, but why on Earth would he be assumed as the new 'leader' of the Avengers, as opposed to... almost anyone else? Black Panther being the obvious standout to me.

Also, banana, 'peter-tingle'. I think that may be the first official reference to the Spider-Sense. Doesn't confirm whether or not it works on bananas, though.


Nevermind, there's an answer in the form of an in-flight documentary, clearly showing Thanos' infinity gauntlet. And using the term 'The Snap'. Just to be confusing. Also, other titles include Finding Wakanda, a Nova episode re:wormholes (still insistently being referred to as Einstein-Rosen bridges), and... Hunting Hydra, which the Amazon X-Ray Sidebar helpfully informs us 'may be a reference to the Marvel villain group Hydra'. It is. It very, very blatantly is. Also a documentary about Tony Stark. Ned is playing a video game that, while it at least resembles a video game, is the wrong kind. (A fighting game. On laptop. That he'd previously proposed playing with Peter. You'd think someone on the team would know how video games work by now.)

X-Ray also notes that Peter's shirt is a reference to the pythagorean theorem (which is almost as obvious, and that his luggage has the tag 'BFP' on it, which it suggests is certainly not his uncle's... but then comments no one knows Ben Parker's middle name. (It is easily old enough, and I see no particular reason to believe it wasn't Ben's.

KITTY AT 0:17:15

Also, yup, that's a small Italian hotel.

"This place is stinky."
"I think you mean charming."
Yeah, it's Venice.

And at last (well like 20 minutes in) plot happens. And makes one hell of a mess. I wonder how many people know of Doctor Strange, just because Mysterio bears a strong resemblance. May certainly mentions him and points out the resemblance. Others seem to be far more speculative.

I also snickered at the one guy being all 'spiderman could take him' about the water monster, given he was, in fact, there, and mostly useless.

Also interesting that flights are going out of Venice so soon. I suppose it didn't hit the airport, but still quite a lot of damage.

And apparently the Eiffel Tower may have been made as a mind control antenna.

Also comic book logic but, holy shit, Nick Fury is quick on the trigger. He says 'another person knocks on that door and we'll be attending another funeral', and I'm not sure I don't believe him.

Peter apparently studies Thor in physics class. There are... quite a few interesting interpretations of what that could mean.

Also, everyone in Fury's group balks about Peter talking about a multiverse as though it were not extremely significant.

And, X-Ray being ever helpful by telling us that there are actually 118 elements, not 4! I don't know if this was meant to be a spoiler... or for that matter, why this fact went unremarked on.

Also either Nick Fury's tranq darts don't have an amnesiac component or Peter told Ned. Which sounds like a good way to make sure it's lead next time.
... and of course Nick had the trip redirected. That actually kind of makes sense. Well also kind of doesn't because he redirected them to where he knows a giant monster will be, but is also compelling evidence as to why Peter shouldn't be given this kind of responsibility.

Mysterio rather unsubtly shifts to using that name a day after hearing it for the first time. Your intrigue score does not impress me.

Even Fury knows that Peter is unsuited for power. Aaand about the 'tried to drone strike his own bus' incident. I mean, I suppose the driver told him, simple enough. This will not stop Fury from emphatically giving him All The Power. And he still hasn't explained why he needs Peter instead of... anyone else. The... MCU model seems to be vaguely based on the comic books themselves, with their regular issues and periodic event comics, but this... this one would be a bit of a shoehorn.

Spiderman wasn't quite as useless in the second fight, at least! Still not like... super useful, though. But it's definitely counter to his abilities.

Also '<Tony> couldn't give EDITH to Fury because he'd just keep it for himself'... well, I mean, that's a lot better than any of the other options to hand. Seriously, Quentin is (as far as Peter knows) not even from the same dimension. Or, y'know, the defense department, as Quentin helpfully points out. It's not a good idea but also isn't the worst idea.


You'd think that 'kill Nick Fury' would be literally the first thing Quentin would do with EDITH if he's that concerned. Also, he's deeply concerned about the lost projector as evidence but using drones firing guns into pillars to create his illusions, which, A: you realize those are noisy, right, and B: You realize those use bullets, right? They certainly don't look like Repulsors/lasers, and even if they're caseless (could be, it's loltech), there's still... the bullet.

 

Holy shit. Why is Tony like this. Tabling the... everything, EDITH is the worst UI for a weapons system ever, and Peter's priorities are the worst. And an open-handed slap to the cheek hard enough to knock someone unconscious should probably shatter their jaw, at least. But comic book logic so whatever.

Also, it's shit. If that had been an actual kinetic kill vehicle or a Reaper there'd be a crater where a bus full of kids was.

Drones probably wouldn't help in the second fight, though repulsor armed versions might, which at least some are. They could plausibly be helpful in a superhero fight, and not entirely useless in open battle. They mostly, however, seem to be designed for assassination. Which is the thing. EDITH seems to be designed for suppressing civilians. Which is uh. Not the problem the Marvel Cinematic Universe has. Ultron may have gone horribly wrong but at least it was addressing an actual problem. It's weird. I could write more about it, but... this is an edit and the actual end of my writing, so.

 

Mysterio rather unsubtly shifts to using that name a day after hearing it for the first time. Your intrigue score does not impress me.

Even Fury knows that Peter is unsuited for power. Aaand about the 'tried to drone strike his own bus' incident. I mean, I suppose the driver told him, simple enough. This will not stop Fury from emphatically giving him All The Power. And he still hasn't explained why he needs Peter instead of... anyone else. The... MCU model seems to be vaguely based on the comic books themselves, with their regular issues and periodic event comics, but this... this one would be a bit of a shoehorn.

Spiderman wasn't quite as useless in the second fight, at least! Still not like... super useful, though. But it's definitely counter to his abilities.

Also '<Tony> couldn't give EDITH to Fury because he'd just keep it for himself'... well, I mean, that's a lot better than any of the other options to hand. Seriously, Quentin is (as far as Peter knows) not even from the same dimension. Or, y'know, the defense department, as Quentin helpfully points out. It's not a good idea but also isn't the worst idea.


You'd think that 'kill Nick Fury' would be literally the first thing Quentin would do with EDITH if he's that concerned. Also, he's deeply concerned about the lost projector as evidence but using drones firing guns into pillars to create his illusions, which, A: you realize those are noisy, right, and B: You realize those use bullets, right? They certainly don't look like Repulsors/lasers, and even if they're caseless (could be, it's loltech), there's still... the bullet.

Also, the whole Fake Interpol Thing is... certainly a scheme. A fairly blatant one.

Spider-shaped droque chute, that's cute. At least I hope that's supposed to be a droque chute.

 

Holy shit, I'm wasting so much space.

Mysterio. Well, the thing that immediately strikes me is that there are just. So many applications of perfect holography, and 'holodecks' are only the most obvious. He also strikes me as bearing at least a passive resemblance to an actual scientist rather than... a comic book scientist.

He is a comic book villain, though, what with telling people about plans long before he actually does them.

On the other hand, this means he's bound by mortal laws re: conspiracies and the concealing thereof. Even with SHIELD crippled, Fury has some pretty hefty sway, you'd think he'd consider like.. doing some background work.

 

Well that was a lot of posts! Now.


While we're here, let's go ahead use this to dump stuff. In this case, because I can't help myself, a technical breakdown of Jail's little 'contingency plan' in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: StrikerS. Y'know. ..
That one.

Spoiler: CYPHER

In addition to the documented alterations common to PROJECT MIDAS, all of the Combat Cyborgs in Jail Scaglietti's service were modified with an an additional, unauthorized subsytem of his own design. It is unknown when this system was designed, but at least some of the 'Numbers' were modified after their creation.
The CYPHER system, properly known as 'Contingent sYmpathetic Preservation, Hosting, and Embedded Rebirth', is Dr Jail Scaglietti's evolution of Memory Transfer Cloning technology, combined with study of the Recall/Resurrection systems exhibited by Al-Hazared Constructs, equal parts brilliant and twisted. It overcomes the metaphysical limitations of PROJECT FATE by simply sidestepping them, and linking to a living - or least recently deceased - mind that can be transferred rather than reconstructed. By interrupting death it achieves the closest thing to true resurrection as is believed feasible.
However, CYPHER does not simply transfer to a terminal or prepared inert body, but to one of its receiver systems - in this case installed in the Combat Cyborgs, using their own body to reconstruct the transfer being (in this case Jail). Furthermore, and this was most certainly not an advertised features, it also allows the transfer to control the receiver's body. With current understanding a linker core is required to establish a sympathetic link, and a conscious mind greatly enhances the connection, but it is theoretically possible to create a system where the conscious 'receiver' acts a relay (A>B>C rather than A>B) or a non-sapient linker core is used. Nevertheless, the former would amplify risk and difficulty and the latter is beyond current understanding. The current system also relies on heavy cybernetics, and a system compatible with ordinary humans is likely difficult to impossible. In any event there is a clear benefit of the system-as is, in which the potentially vulnerable receiver assembly is necessarily also a superhumanly competent combatant.

As might be expected, the CYPHER system has two parts, transmitter and receiver. Interestingly, the receiver contains most of the transmitter system, and could theoretically be modified to function as both with relatively light modification to MIDAS maintenance routines. The Transmitter mechanism is relatively simple, consisting of a network of neurocircuits woven around the subject's brain and controlled by a central processing node. It includes an array of recording equipment for maintaining up-to-date information on the subject's current physical, neurological, and magical state, which periodically updates the receiver's sympathetic pattern with fresh data. Like the receiver units, the transmitter can employ both conventional encrypted magical communications or a sympathetic entanglement link that is extremely low bandwidth (kilobits per second) but virtually distance-agnostic and uninterruptible. The transmitter contains slots for 20 such linkages, though it can only use up to four at a time, and can link to an arbitrary number of receivers through conventional transmissions. Jail's transmitter also contained a great deal of control mechanisms, including root access to all reciever systems, though this also overlapped with his general control cybernetics. These are the only aspects of the transmitter that is not included in the CYPHER reciever or easily repurposed from other Combat Cyborg systems.
CYPHER also, obviously, includes a biomonitor, activating on loss of neurosignal coherence, at which point it transmits a soft activation signal to all reciever units, communicating and resolving via the Transmitter AI, before finally sending a soft-shutdown. It also contains a deadman switch triggering if the transmitter is damaged beyond function, this immediately triggers a hard activation resolved among the receivers. A false trigger (due to signal loss, for instance) is unlikely, but possible. The result would likely be clone inception, but without any sympathetic transfer. The control suite also contains authorization to terminate such a 'misfired' clone upon reacquisition.
Perhaps the most crucial part of the Transmitter system is the AI algorithim responsible for calculating which receiver to activate, centralized within the Transmitter assembly itself. While Jail gave himself a great deal of control over all aspects of decisionmaking, for obvious reasons user control is not possible at point of activation, it is entirely dependent on AI. The Transmitter AI centralizes this decision making, making the process decidedly faster and less error-prone. All told expected time from triggering to sympathetic receiver activation is approximately 60 milliseconds, all happening without the conscious awareness of the receivers.

The receiver system is considerably more complicated, as it contains the bulk of the mechanisms. Indeed, 'receiver' is something of a misnomer, its function is closer to a summoner, locating the subject’s magical signature and ‘downloading’ it. The receiver equipment is centered in and around the uterus, but is also deeply integrated in the main neural structure. The primary aspect of the receiver is the so-called ‘Umbilical Processor’, which accesses and ‘writes’ psychic residue through the sympathetic link, a miracle of miniaturization less than two centimeters across that previously required room-scale equipment. This is achieved by both it’s quantum crystal structure, and, more importantly, integrating an intelligent mind. Of course, the process is potentially traumatic even without the other caveats.
When activated, the receiver synchronizes the host’s linker core with the subject’s sympathetic resonance, a relatively simple process for all it is essentially forced spellcasting. The link is then used to imprint that resonance on the Umbilical Processor’s quantum matrix, burning their thoughts, memories, habits, even linker core into it, a process tantalizingly close to hard uploading - however, the entire process is regulated by the host’s linker core and mind, as well as their own neurocybernetics, with consciousness as much (or more) within the host’s own brain as the Processor itself. Though the subject shares the host’s mind, the process is not destructive - at least, not obviously, and the host remains conscious. For a time, two linker cores and two magical signatures exist within the host. As time passes, the subject’s linker core (and thought) migrates to the developing clone body, the result of a sympathetic attraction.
The Umbilical Processor is also closely linked to the Override system, which the subject’s consciousness may use to seize control of the host’s body, using the subject’s magical signature as an authorization code. Conversely, a secondary function can ensure the subject does not control the host’s body. While undeniably grotesque, if absent motor control would be difficult to impossible due to mutual interference. Additionally the subject can employ automated motor control in addition to or instead of direct control. Long term override use is probably unhealthy, at least mentally, and certainly had disastrous effects in the Type 1 Combat Cyborgs, but its effects on an adult are less certain. At the very least it can be expected to be extremely traumatic.
Like the transmitter, the receiver features a complex communications suite, with both conventional transmission and sympathetic entanglement links for communication with the transmitter and other receivers, as well as a dedicated AI subroutine for resolving activation, which automatically engages upon hard loss of transmitter signal or other circumstances in which the transmitter cannot handle coordination. This is done through peer-to-peer negotiation, with each receiver conducting its own assessment and sharing with information with the others, which then ‘vote’ on which is deemed best. Since all these AIs are identical, they will reach identical conclusions, but this helps in patching over errors or lack of information. In the event of entanglement-only connections, a unit can only transmit truncated assessments of its state (and that of any receivers it is connected to), which limits proper assessment. However, this minimal self-assessment can still be compared to other units. In order to perform this assessment, the receiver is deeply linked into the host’s cybernetic nervous system, allowing it to observe their surroundings using mundane, enhanced, and magical senses, as well as obtain a detailed breakdown of their condition.
The assessment system is capable of processing numerous factors, combining them in a neural algorithm to generate a quality value, which can then be compared to other receivers. Weight of different factors is variable, and a variety of factors can be integrated. As programmed, the system first prioritizes the condition of the host, with any significant injury or magical strain being a massive malus, unconsciousness even more so (the effects of transmitting to an unconscious host are potentially hazardous). Following shortly thereafter is the host’s circumstances, imminent danger or combat conditions being obvious malus, (theoretically) secure areas a positive. The receiver system is most limited in its assessment of this category, as it does not have access to the individual’s thoughts, and cannot factor in threats that are not directly obvious or indirect threats. It can, however, consider its own location relative to other receivers and the condition of those receivers - if other receivers are nearby, that is a positive… unless those receivers are judged to be in danger, in which case it is a negative. Raw distance from the transmitter is also an inverse factor - further is generally better, as CYPHER is designed to survive disaster. Signal quality is also a factor - though the sympathetic preservation system is expected to function regardless of poor communication, it aids in decision making and a poor signal is likely to lead to improper assessment. Finally, individual receivers can be given their own weight and modifiers, with Scaglietti using the following order: Scaglietti using the following order: Quattro, Otto, Due, Sein, Uno, Cinque, Dieci, Tre, Undieci, Sette, Nove, Dudieci. His reasoning is largely obscure and beyond the scope of this document in any event.

Once the ‘Sympathetic Preservation’ and ‘Hosting’ functions have taken place, the CYPHER system also facilitates rebirth, quite literally, for which it is deeply integrated into the reproductive system. Upon activation the CYPHER receiver initiates the growth of a embryonic clone of the subject, the eventual recipient of the transfered psyche. The system is deeply integrated into the ovaries, capable of producing embryos of a specified genetic pattern, achieved by taking the host’s natural egg cells and replacing their DNA through tailored nanorobotics, then inducing clonal parthenogenesis, at which point the embryos can be further modified. Both ovaries produce embryos when triggered, with the second being reabsorbed unless the first fails to implant for some reason.
The uterus is woven through with CYPHER augmentations which greatly assist the process and generally make it feasible for a Combat Cyborg to carry a pregnancy to term. These include temperature and hormone regulation, as well as complex augmented placental system to prevent the transfer of unwanted nanites. Development is controlled by an AI similar to that used in incubation life-pods, synchronized with the general cybernetic control system. The amniotic environment can be altered to compensate for external events, or even accelerate or delay development. The placenta can also produce and program wanted nanites, allowing for the integration of cybernetics in the fetus. Scaglietti’s programmed plan involved massive integration, far greater than he was ever able to actually install in his own body, which would make his renewed self largely identical to a Type 3 Combat Cyborg, distinguished only by the lack of an override, and, again, having only a CYPHER transmitter.
By default, Scaglietti’s CYPHER system maintained a pair of embryos ‘on standby’, held in stasis until needed. This reinforces the sympathetic link and allows for additional ‘perfection checking’. Whenever a sympathy data update is recieved, these embryos are reabsorbed and new ones developed. It also terminates any pregnancy it did not initiate, vanishingly unlikely as this is.
The process is expected to last 200-500 days, with 250 being expected. During development the fetus is magically active to an unprecedented degree, which is expected to lead to advanced neural development. Additionally, technology and a Combat Cyborg’s more robust physiology allows for the fetus to become more physically mature before birth, somewhat more similar to a (smaller) toddler than an infant. Together, this means that the ‘newborn’ is capable of doing at least a passable job of holding a sapient mind and not entirely helpless. Nevertheless this is by far the most vulnerable period for the subject. To this end, a Delivery Automation Override is present, able to take direct control of the host if they exhibit… feelings… about being bodyjacked, or other dangerous behavior.
Following delivery, the override system is activated in with specialized routines for protecting and supporting the reborn subject, automatically initiated for safety reasons, and the override system can be controlled via telepathic command from the subject. The subject’s maturation is controlled by their cybernetics using hormonal/epigenetic triggers, which allows for growth to physical maturity in at most five years under ideal conditions, with most growth being front-loaded, though this will require regular tuning of cybernetic systems. An actual life pod could further accelerate the process, and is likely the intended method.

Despite his efforts, Jail Scaglietti survived his arrest and CYPHER was never actually triggered, let alone ‘completed’, leaving its actual efficacy something of a mystery, but there is significant reason to believe that it could have at least theoretically succeeded, although it may only result in ‘ordinary’ memory transfer cloning. Though intrusive and frankly grotesque, the potential of CYPHER also proves tantalizing. The Jail Scaglietti incident itself is ample proof of just how dangerous industrialized artificial life/biomodification technologies can be in the wrong hands, which may well include those associated with the Bureau. Details of the system have been declared A-Level secret, the concept added to the growing list of illegal technologies, and only limited research focusing on the prospect of an A > B > C relay is ongoing.
The CYPHER receivers installed in the Numbers, like many of the most objectionable cybernetics, were deemed too risky to be physically removed due to deep integration into the overall body, particularly, the chance of unfortunate hormonal interactions and the physical location of the processor near the spine were problematic. Additionally, there are significant, unresolved but quite clear legal and ethical problems with involuntarily (or dubiously) and permanently excising portions of someone’s body on the grounds that one does not approve of their involuntary body modifications. Instead, the system was disabled via firmware update preventing the receiver from communicating and flushing the database, thus ensuring that it would not recognize any transmitter signals, let alone activate. Though in itself invasive, this was at least non-destructive, theoretically consensual, and legally similar to the use of limiters. Scaglietti’s transmitter was less amenable to modification and similarly built into the brain such that it could not be physically removed, but could have its sympathetic data purged and prevented from re-updating, which was done with considerably less ethical concern.