VersaLife Data Entry Facility computers

Weekly Memo
From: RHundley/VersaLife.238.36.47 To: ALL SHIFTS Subject: Weekly Memo

I've recently heard some negative discussion in the halls of VersaLife that I'd like to address; we here at VersaLife are doing a difficult job, the kind of job that few people ever have the opportunity to pursue -- because here at VersaLife we're changing the world. A job such as this demands the commitment and dedication of those few, special individuals  with the talent and determination to actually make that happen. A family, your family. By working together, there is nothing we can't achieve, but if we back off the throttle now it could result in a loss of momentum that would be disasterous.

This is a war. A war against disease and poverty, and if we're not willing to reach out and support out neighbor in the cubicle across form us, to get in that foxhole with them and jump on that grenade, to make the sacrifices necessary to create truly revolutionary products, then we've already lost.

Negative attitudes will only poison the work environment of all those around you, but by trusting in the VersaLife family you can be sure that your best efforts will be rewarded. We're already making changes, exciting changes, and I hope to tell you about them in future memos.

R. Hundley

New Orders
From: Operation Central//UpNet.64534.453423 To: Internal Security//VeraLife.1432156245 Subject: New Orders

Recent disturbances among employees require all covert security personnel to be on alert. Carry your concealed sidearm at all times while maintaining cover. If employees engage in unauthorized or suspicious activities, you are encouraged to debrief them and pursue appropriate remedies.

Employee Evaluations
From: RHundley//VersaLife.238.36.47 To: DSavannah//VersaLife.734.74.84 Subject: Employee Evaluations

I'd like to have your employee evaluations by COB today, with special attention paid to those who've been engaging in non-contributory behavior or who've spread information counter to the ideological well-being of the company. We'll shortly be rotating you out of the "receptionist" position here and posting you to another branch to continue your observations. With the continued assistance of you and other trained EACs, we'll be sure to keep VersaLife a sustained, focused company for years to come.

R. Hundley

Slower Than Pynchon
From: UnderlitPub//NYCNET.372.437.45 To: WGibson//VersaLife.980.73.01 Subject: Slower Than Pynchon

Underlit Publishing is pleased to announce the release of Sheldon Pacotti's previously unpublished first short story collection, "Slow than Pynchon,"

Pacotti's work -- including such modern classics as "Demiurge," "Blue Time in B-Minor,"  and the award-winning short-story "Calculated Regrets" -- has ofter been compared to that  of a later day Paul Auster or Thomas Pynchon (after whom the short story collection was titled), but with a modern, technological sensibility. Pacotti was also an integral part of the fabulist revival that has popularized in the last decade.

The publication

Finally Beat It
From: AGrossman//UnderNet.7823.37.908 To: WGibson//VersaLife.980.73.01 Subject: Finally Beat It

I managed to nail Nethack v54.3.1 just a few minutes ago. Made it past the Astral Plane, and _then_ back in time to work through all of history up to Nethack v3.2.3 (this, of course, has been in every version since 48.2), but after that the game jumped a thousand years into the future and I had to build an entire interstellar trading alliance (with only the Amulet of Yendor) before the aliens from the other side of the black holes showed up...took me six months to solve this part of the game, and then I finally won.

check it out:  www.nethack.org

I hear v54.3.3 should be out next week

Austin

Entertainment Update
From: IsntItGrand//UnderNet.003.347.945 To: WGibson//VersaLife.980.73.01 Subject: Entertainment Update

Miracle Pictures today announced that Chris Todd's new picture "Pact of Shadows" was greenlit with a budget of c450 million. The plot -- which has been one of the best kept secrets in the biz -- supposedly concerns an ongoing war between ancient secret societies and their struggle to wrest control from an infinitely older and more dangerous foe simply called "leviathon,"  "It's an action-adventure-philosophy fil" said Todd. "And hopefully you'll see things -- experience things -- you've never had an opportunity to experience before.  With this movie, I'm really hoping to build an intricate, engrossing tapestry of story and character -- before everything goes horribly awry, of course, and the real fun begins."

The film, to be produced under the 7 Crows (www.7crows.com) banner, should begin shooting this fall for a Christmas of next year release.

Report
From: MaxChen//HKNET.123.9009 To: MChow//HKNET.974.8723 Subject: Report

We have observed suspicious activity near the Luminous Path compound; a black helicopter and a foreigner asking a number of questions about the Path and their leader. I suggest caution until we can ascertain his motives. I will order some of our brothers to maintain a watchful eye on him. You should likewise be on your guard.

Max

Alert
From: Operations Central//UpNet.64534.453423 To: Everyone Subject: Alert

FOR ALL OPERATIVES, CLEARENCE ARCHANGEL/IB AND ABOVE

NOTE THAT THE PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED VEIWING OF MATERIAL WITHOUT PROPER CLEARENCE ARE DETAILED IN THE UNATCO CHARTER, SECTION 3.1 PARAGRAPHS D THRU E

A rogue operative, codenamed "J.C. Denton," has fled the United States and is believed to be en route to Hong Kong. All agents and other operatives are warned that he is dangerous and is to be treated with extreme prejudice. Do not attempt to engage; report all sightings to Agent Gunther Hermann at GHermann//UNATCO.15431.76513

Triad Control
From: WS//UpNet.78543.98231 To: MChow//HKNET.974.12.8723 Subject: Triad Control

I have reviewed your latest report concerning the theft of the prototype sword and subsequently recovery effort; you are to be commended for your swift response and exploitation of the theft to escalate tensions between the major Triads. The resulting stuggle will obviously weaken  the native power structure, and I have already ordered and increased MJ12 presence to be placed under your command for loacl operations. Solidifiying our control over Hong Kong is a necessary first step in bringing the realcitrant Chinese authorities to heel.

We've also received reports that Agent Denton (" ") may be heading to Hong Kong for a possible rendevous with "Tracer Tong" in a stolen SH-187, If possible, attempt to use your local connections to learn the wherabouts of Tong, then terminate them both.

Virus Shipment
From: WS//UpNet.78543.98231 To: MLundquist//VersaLife.783.48.90 Subject: Virus Shipment

The initial virus shipment has been loaded aboard the superfreighter and is currently in transit; preliminary data from its airborne dissemination over New York, Washington D.C., and other urban targets will be forwarded to you within forty-eight hours. We would like to see at least a 92% effectiveness of the weaponized particles in all future shipments, with a target of 95% effectiveness within eight weeks. We will also need to insure that sufficient reserves of Ambrosia are on hand to meet projected requirments -- verify that the current calculations remain accurate and reflect the most recent casualty/infection estimates.

Series P Agents
From: ADonovan//VersaLife.839.56.00 To: MLundquist//VersaLife.783.48.90 Subject: Series P Agents (Overview)

The Series P trials bave so far produced exellent results, and I continue to believe that our pohysionpharmaceutical approach to agent augmentation to be superior to mechanical augmentation -- at a fraction of the cost and effort. The Series P agents show a marked lack of pain response with a corresopnding increase in endurance and strength, while psychological conditioning has resulted in a Loyalty Estimate of 9.66 on the Yitzhak Scale.

The modified explosive self-termination switch added in Series N also proven highly effective in eliminating all traces of the Series P in the event that they are mortally wounded or otherwise unable to complete their mission objectives.

We're continuing in our attemps to isolate the source of the albino traits, but so far the simple addition of sunglasses and dark clothing appear to have resolved the problem in a practical fashion.

NEB Trials
From: MLundquist//VersaLife.783.48.90 To: MBates//VersaLife.563.93.07 Subject NEB Trials

Simons has requested that we equip some of the Series P agents with prototype Non-Eutactic Blades, prior to their mass production, so that additional functional data can be generated. I've also been assured by Ms. Chow that the stolen NEB has been recovered from the Triads and our security procedures updated accordingly. Please let me know ASAP when prototype NEB's can be distributed.

Let's grab some drinks tomorrow night. Anne's been bugging me to get out more aftern and with the kid on the way I might as take advantage of it before I'm up all night with the newborn.

Thanks, Dr. Lundquist

RE: NEB Trials
From: MBates//VersaLife.563.93.07 To: MLundquist//VersaLife.783.48.90 Sunject: RE: NEB Trials

MLundquist wrote:

>>Simons has requested that we equip some of the Series P agents with prototype Non-Eutactic Blades, prior >>to their mass production, so that additional functional data can be generated. I've also been

I've distributed several to the Series P we've already got in the building -- I know that project is Arthur's baby, but those suits and sunglasses give me the creeps. Our second prototype run of NEBs was shipped to Simons for distribution this morning

I still can't believe those gangsters managed to intercept the original one-off...I saw in the papers that they're going to use it to resolve some kind of gang war -- they've taken to calling it the "Dragon's Tooth,"  Can't wait to rotate out of this place and back to the States.

Drinks sound good. See ya tommorow.

Mark

Gray Project Schedule
From: MLundquist//VersaLife.783.48.90 To: MBates; ADonovan Subject: Gray Project Schedule

I've attatched a preliminary schedule for the Gray Project and want to get your input before we meet next week. Couple of issues I want to whiteboard are their ability to spontaneously generate radiation as a form of "attack," and their apparent resistance to a numbr of environmental conditions.

We're still trying to resurrect all the information from the old Dreamland data wells, but we have managed to extract a complete genetic sequence from the old bovine experiments that have given us viable test subjects. They've been isolated in a radioactive field down stairs for observation if you want to work up your informal impressions prior to the meeting.

BTW, we wtill haven't heard from Feng about the karkian eggs -- we've got the Hong Kong police out looking for him now, but we'll need to push back our planned infant karkian studies until we hear something.

Thanks, Dr. Lundquist

Upgraded Commando Specs
From: MBates//VersaLife.563.93.07 To: ADonovan//VersaLife.839.56.00 Subject: Upgraded Commando Specs

You were asking for the specs of our new commando units this morning, so I've attached the relevant files. The short version is that most of the improvment in combat effectiveness comes from enhancements to their power armor developed here and in our labs at Zurich.

The new armor (we've) nicknamed it "Obsidian") has greatly expanded possibilities as a light weapons platform, while a layer of microcore foam insulation disperses heat from flame and plasma attacks.  It's obviously invulnerable to any kind of gas or toxicological attack, as well.  Makes it perfect for riot control and NBC battlefield.  Beauty of it is the whole thing's powered by standard bioelectric cells.  I love it when you can just pull this stuff off the self.

Anyways, let me know if you've got any more questions.

Mark