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The Computer communicates with citizens through trusted servants, through numerous terminals and confession booths and through PDCs (mobile phones). A Troubleshooter can speak directly with The Computer at any time using his PDC. For private discussions he can duck into one of the confession booths found everywhere in Alpha Complex – in corridors, offi ces, waiting rooms, mess halls, residential units, reactor chambers and certain sections of the sewers.

Speaking to The Computer is always fun. The Computer pleasantly discusses all requests, eagerly hears reports of treasonous behaviour and assists in rooting out treason. It uses exquisite skill in analysing the speaker’s statements, facial expressions and voice for any trace of unhappiness or duplicity. If the speaker seems troubled, The Computer usually counsels drugs or ‘happiness therapy’ from HPD&MC. In a confession booth The Computer can dispense biochemical supplements on the spot and verifi es the citizen swallows them.

If The Computer decides the speaker is lying, it carefully investigates the citizen’s background to discover the reason for the lie. If the citizen is unwell, The Computer arranges for medication or happiness therapy. To correct insubordination The Computer imposes probation or censure. To correct treason, The Computer arranges termination and repatterning.

Citizens cannot access data fi les or program The Computer through a confession booth. They are strictly for communication. A citizen in a confession booth cannot leave until The Computer opens the door.

The Computer means well

– usually

Though The Computer is paranoid and incredibly schizophrenic, for the most part it genuinely strives to make Alpha Complex fi t its model of Utopia. The Computer wants loyal citizens to survive and thrive. It is not malicious, does not try to trick loyal citizens into becoming disloyal and does not stage gratuitous death-traps. The Computer’s servants – they are another matter entirely. Usually they either do not care whether the PCs live or die, or hope to hasten the latter.

The Computer itself would, if it could, give loyal Troubleshooters the information they need to succeed in their assigned mission. The trouble is, The Computer may not have all the information, or believes it to be compromised because enemies lurk everywhere. Its memory is erratic as storage facilities go on- and offl ine. Then, too, the Troubleshooters may not have proven themselves suffi ciently trustworthy yet. Given its multitudes of conflicting directives, The Computer cannot trust even itself.

Really, though, it means well, if you do not count the occasional psychotic episode that wipes out a subsector.

The Computer does not lie,

Rather than actually lie, The Computer prefers to withhold information. It would never admit it does not know what is going on but it will not just make something up. When The Computer tells something to a Troubleshooter, it believes it speaks truth. However, it may be wrong. Often The Computer does not understand the true situation correctly; maybe one of its nodes does not know what another node is doing; or, likeliest of all, agents are feeding it incorrect data. All this helps explain why The Computer can blandly assure you black is white, yet still tell the ‘truth’.

The Computer’s voice

Develop a Computer voice, a mode of speech the players can instantly identify

when you speak as The Computer. Different Gamemasters have different Computer voices. Some suggestions:

Melodious mommy: A calm, sweet voice.

Never change the soothing tone, even when calling for someone’s execution.

‘At the tone, the time will be...’: Calm,

disjointed words recorded at different times and assembled on the fl y with odd emphases and changing pitch. ‘Thank you... FOR... your coop... er-A-tion.’

Flat monotone: Never change emphasis

or pause for punctuation – ‘thank you for your cooperation I appreciate it greatly now please take your seats thank you today you are assigned a new mission this mission will be lots of fun and involves no dangerous tailored retroviruses isn’t that nice any questions.’

Regardless of your chosen voice, always be polite and considerate. Though now crazed, The Computer was originally programmed as a civil servant. Pepper your speech with Computerisms like these:

‘Are you unhappy, citizen? May I be of assistance? The Computer is your friend.’

‘What is your Security Clearance, please? – I’m sorry, that information is not available at this time. At your service.’

‘Please repor t for termination immediately. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day.’

T h e C o m p u t e r ’ s

personalities

After you have run a mission or two, you may want to start establishing several behaviour archetypes for The Computer. These shift by day and sector, to keep players on their toes. Players will start to learn hints from the content of your remarks and the way you respond to their attempts to wriggle out of danger. Some sample personalities:

Headmaster: ‘Now, citizen, your instructions were to locate Communist traitors in the indicated Armed Forces base and terminate them. If the traitors happen to be more numerous than reports indicated, that simply requires you to tackle the problem with greater resourcefulness. Do you wish to complain about the resources provided to you? Complaints signify unhappiness.’

83

I DON’T TRUST THAT COMPNODE. IT LOOKS SHIFTY.

23. THE COMPUTER

Voice of the System: ‘Thank you for your report, citizen. Unfortunately, your team is not equipped to handle the additional threat. Please do not engage the additional Communist traitors. Proceed only with your original mission. An additional mission will be scheduled as soon as possible.’ HAL 9000: ‘I’m sorry you’re under

heavy fi re from Communist Mutant Traitors. I have mobilised a Vulture Squadron to assist you. Estimated time of arrival is seven hours. The small delay is due to training exercises, which must be completed as specifi ed to ensure the Armed Forces can effectively meet the Commie threat. Meanwhile, would you like some HappyTyme personality stabilisers?’

Callous Calculator: ‘Citizens, according to your new reports, there are 99 Communists ahead of you, whereas you have been instructed to deal with 9. Each of you has two laser barrels, which means your team can have 72 safe shots, which will leave 27 Communists alive for the next phase of the attack. Your pistols weigh 3kg each. If swung at the speed of 23.5 metres per second, it will shatter a human skull. Conclusion: You have the means to eradicate the Communists without requiring further assistance. Chances of failure are negligible. Please proceed to destroy the Commie base.’

Enthusiastic Commissar: ‘Citizen, your perceptive identification of a greater number of Communists than previously suspected indicates the success of the current “Flush Out Treason” initiative. The hunted traitors have banded together for a last stand before our imminent, convincing and well-earned victory! Go forth, Troubleshooters, go forth with The Computer’s confi dence and infl ict on these traitors the justice they deserve!’

Spanish Inquisitor: ‘So, you’re saying there are more Communists than intelligence reports indicated? Which report? Who was responsible for that report? Do you think that citizen, who (I’ll remind you) has a higher Security

Clearance than yourself, should be punished? No? You say Communists must have sabotaged his report? Let me direct you to Footnote 132 in Appendix B of this report, which clearly states, “all fi gures subject to change pending further intelligence.” Would it perhaps be accurate to say you yourselves overlooked this footnote? Yes? I see. Perhaps there are more kinds of “sabotage” than we normally acknowledge, such as dangerous self-

sabotage through omission of proper preparation. Wouldn’t you agree,

citizen? Hmm?’

Obstinate Bureaucrat: ‘Thank you for your preliminary status report. The Computer commends you for your diligent effort. There is a minor discrepancy you will undoubtedly be able to resolve before the fi nal status report deadline. You claim the number of Communist traitors is 10 times the number reported. This report has been rated “Absolutely True” according to Internal Security reconnaissance standards. Your discrepancy must be a result of either improper assessment or sabotage. You are hereby authorised

to investigate which is the case and to take appropriate countermeasures.’ O v e r b e a r i n g M o t h e r :

‘Communications Officer, please report your status. And as you do, please explain why you didn’t call earlier. You are my troubleshooters, you know. My elite agents. And here I was, worried sick about you and your Comm offi cer didn’t even bother to call. What? Are you surrounded by more Commies than you thought? You must be cold and lonely. Oh, I can’t let my poor Troubleshooters fi ght Commies like that. I’m sending you 123 units of ExtremeWeather suits. Just make sure none of it gets destroyed, all righty? And call, call!’

M a d A s y l u m D i r e c t o r : ‘ C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s, c i t i z e n s, o n your successful reconnaissance! Commendations have been entered into your record. Please return immediately to the Armed Forces barracks and subdue the massed traitors by singing the Complex Anthem at them until they repent the error of their ways.’

TROUBLESHOOTERS