PROCESO LECTOR
3.2 ORIGEN DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN
Posted by: Winterhawk
Given the current interest in everything draconic, I think the drake scene bears discussing. For a decade now, drakes have been appearing and disappearing in the shadows. Some have become active players while others are in hiding, given that the great dragons consider drakes to be their chattel and vassals by right of some ancient decree. Th ere are a few dozen truly “free” drakes that are known to the Draco Foundation, which has welcomed many of those drakes not already snatched up by the great dragons. In truth, though, no one is truly free. Being taken in and protected by the foundation comes with strings. As it happens, the puppet master lording over the two dozen or so drakes in Lake Louise and elsewhere is an old friend of mine named Ryan Mercury, also known by his runner handle Quicksilver.
>
What’s the deal with Lake Louise, anyway? Holly Brighton was given full control of the lair and Dunkelzahn Enterprises, and she still hates Daviar. So what is Daviar’s former fl ame doing there? Why didn’t they just stay at the Assets, Inc. compound in Devil’s Canyon?>
Turbo Bunny>
First, the key word is former. Daviar has not been to Lake Louise in over a decade. Second, whether they have buried the hatchet or not, word is that when Mercury laid claim to “his” area of the lair it was after a chat with Brighton that ended with them keeping out of each other’s sight and mind. Mercury has much of the underground lair that remains closed to the public, and Brighton controls the public areas and much of the above-ground lair: the amusement park, VisionQuest, the Mountain Dragons practice arena, etc.>
Glitch>
The drakes use the lair because it’s still considered the most secure of Dunkelzahn’s known properties. However, shortly after Daviar returned some of drakes were forcefully extracted, presumably back to Denver.>
Mika>
Another reason is that they also have the benefi t of Dunkelzahn’s extensive electronics and signals- intelligence network. Dunk worked on a distributed model so that it’s no Ft. Meade or the Sanctus Isidorus, but it’s still impressive. Jane-in-the-Box and her “kids” have themselves a sweet setup.>
The Smiling BanditTh e drakes are being trained for war. It is that simple. No matter what the background when they were “rescued” by the Draco Foundation, that’s what they’ve been doing; secretly being slipped into Desert Wars skirmishes, tagging along in the shadows, practicing Simsense-based training within VisionQuest’s UV node, studying magic with some of the top talents of the world, and rescuing their fellow brethren.
Th ey now have a new purpose, though: Peacekeeping. Let me begin with the lifestyle of Quicksilver’s Drakes. Th ere are approximately thirty of them who now reside within the lair, mostly “common” drakes with a dozen comprising the
ECHOING
THE
ROAR
. . .
Dunkelzahn’s legacy and Ghostwalker’s respect (or lack of respect) for it, Ghostwalker can destroy or enslave him with a thought.
This has come on the heels of recent events, as far as dragons go, when fi ve dragons reappeared in the Caucasus or Ural Mountains over the course of a year, from 2068-69. Th is is supposedly what brought Mercury back to Lake Louise because those dragons wanted to know what happened to Dunkelzahn. Following the meeting, their allegiances were divided. Two apparently have sworn fealty to Ghostwalker, one to Mercury himself, and two refused to ally with any man, dragon, or other being. Cloudbreaker was one of the independents, but he seems at best aloof towards metahumanity, and would be firmly in Lofwyr’s or even Alamais’ camp otherwise.
>
There is a dragon serving Quicksilver? Well, at least we know who or what is dictating strategy for those drakes because it sure as Hell wasn’t going to be him. He’s a great asset, a razor-edged tip of the spear. However, I have never witnessed a capacity in him for wielding the spear.>
Hard Exit>
The dragon is Rainwalker, a female western dragon who was the last to visit Lake Louise. She had some stops to make at Tehran, Mt. Ararat, and Baku after Awakening in Armenia. It should also come as no surprise that she favors Azadeh.>
Goat Foot>
Ah. That’s why Aden never claimed Azadeh. Quid pro quo.>
Frosty>
Here’s something interesting. Remember when I was eavesdropping on Azadeh in DeeCee? It piqued my curiosity that she was so insistent on tracking down something that Dr. al-Masri had apparently lost. I uncovered information about how the Kharijites were smuggling a drake out of the Iraq from under Lofwyr’s snout when the drake and the crew disappeared in the Atlas Mountains. I arranged to have our crew brought on for the recovery job because it piqued our collective interests. It turned out, though, that the whole thing was a test. She was trying to recruit me.>
/dev/grrl>
What did you tell her?>
Beaker>
I don’t want to be tied down, and I’ve already made plans for this summer.>
/dev/grrl>
So that’s that.>
Icarus>
You a snitch bitch?>
FastJack>
Where did that come from?>
Icarus>
I don’t even remember writing that.>
FastJack>
There are rumors that an escaped Azzie drake of considerable power is running around Central America. I suspect it may be one of those true drakes, but there aren’t any Azzie great dragons.>
Glasswalker>
That you know.>
Man-of-Many-NamesIn addition to supporting foundation eff orts to recruit or rescue drakes, Quicksilver has been exploiting his background as a shadowrunner to put drakes into simulated and actual combat and other off ensive actions that would benefi t the foundation’s (and his own) long-term agendas. However, given the rarity of drakes they hire runners and other freelance contractors to perform close protection, intelligence gathering, battlefi eld preparation, overwatch, or other support.
>
That reminds me of a merc I came across in Tripoli last season. “So you’re former specops?” “No.” “Conventional military?” “No.” “Corpsec?” “No.” I looked at him blankly, and then I just walked away. Two days later I was watching Joie Alshafee’s squad take on his squad, and that merc took apart Joie’s whole crew almost single-handedly. Fucker cost me three thousand nuyen, but I was sold. When I tried to fi nd out more so that I could bring him on once his current contract ended, I couldn’t fi nd a damn thing. It was like he never existed, but I know he does and I’d love to have him in my unit.>
Black MambaTh at is all just a sideshow, however, now that the dragons are in confl ict. Ryan wasn’t only a high-class shadowrunner—he was Dunkelzahn’s most valuable expediter and the fi rst drake. Aft er returning from his failed search for Daviar, he assumed an identity as Dunkelzahn’s heir. He was the closest person alive to Dunkelzahn as far as anyone knew, and so he took it as a matter of upholding the legacy to become involved in draconic aff airs outside of the realm of the Draco Foundation’s activities. I began to hear stories upon my visits that he and Azadeh would meet with Harlequin and/or Aina Dupree for hours, sometimes devolving into shouting matches. Aft er Dupree passed and Daviar returned, those confl icts continued. I am still not quite sure what Daviar wants, but Mercury seems to desire a role as an intermediary, since drakes straddle both dragonkind and metahumanity. Th at means they are a potential force to intervene in confl icts between dragons and metahumans. Th is could be potentially lucrative for the shadows if not for the fact that it means directly interfering in the dragons’ most intimate actions and decisions.
Mercury is concerned about Lofwyr’s decisions as Loremaster, a role Dunkelzahn bequeathed to him that was subsequently reiterated aft er the last dragon confl ict. He believed this confl ict is something Lofwyr should be working to prevent rather than taking any side. His biggest concern is Ghostwalker, with whom Mercury met shortly after the great white dragon returned to Denver. The meeting is rumored to have been mediated by an adult dragon named Cloudbreaker, who is almost as mature as Masaru, but not a great dragon … yet. Th e reason it was brokered is something that I doubt he will ever admit, but I think is simply a matter of fear. Mercury knows that whatever he thinks of his role in