"Ture Darkness." Conn began. Blue light spilled across the room as the holoprojector was flipped on suspending an image in the air before the assembled crowd.

"This was a picture taken by Glados Vir in the upper tunnels three days ago. The graffiti was placed there by a suspected True Darkness recruit, though this vandalism was perpetrated by only one lone actor, we have reason to believe that there might well be more."

Bathed in the projected blue light, a room of intel analysts and Arcadian military commanders looked on grimmly. Martha Vir manned the projector, King James jotted rapid notes in a small, pocket sized notebook, General Kimball sat up straight in his seat with Admiral Simon sitting next to him, her long, dark hair pulled back in a sharp bun.

Lunging across a set of two seats at the back of the room, Celex had made himself comfortable, and at the front of the room Adam and Sunny sat together exchanging soft commentary in Drev on occasion as Conn's presentation continued.

"The presence of void related groups has only been growing." Images flashed on screen before them, pictures taken of flyers and invitations to strange events, was seals, and rubber stamps engraved with the TD symbol, but the most disturbing part.... Some of the activities were clearly marketed towards children and younger adults, family nights, mommy and me sessions, dances, and other activities.

Conn's ribbons flared "As far as we understand, the void has chosen to present themselves as a religious group holding what basically amounts to church services where they listen to sermons and participate in something they call a sacrament. As far as we understand this isn't simple wine or water, but may include the void tincture that has been cropping up so commonly in the last few months. As of yet none of our operatives has been able to get a sample, but we are working on it."

Conn flipped through some more pictures, "As you may understand, Arcadia, the GA, and many other planets have policies on the free practice of religion, some more strict than others, but this fact makes it difficult to combat them only. There is nothing wrong in worshiping the void, no matter your personal opinion on the subject. We cannot, in good conscious, stop their church services, or silence their voices as that would make us no better than the void itself, but there are some troubling aspects of this new religion that may work to our advantage. Admiral Vir...."

Adam stood, body accented in his sharp, black uniform, "Maverick, Celex, and I were briefly able to infiltrate the meeting of a void cult. We can't be sure that the cells are comparable, but it is clear that the one out of New Athens has managed to radicalize itself. While we were there, the Oracle at the old temple of Apollo called for our destruction, specifically the leaders of arcadia..... They also threatened my son."

A murmur went up around the room.

"Obviously threatening Sunny and I, as military actors and political leaders would make that an act of war, however, we know that they have been attempting to spread the void infection, through pesticides and crops, and now they are threatening civilian noncombatants, which in my mind moves them from cult to extremists, and now to terrorists. This is not a word I use lightly, and not simply because they have threatened my son. But they have actively worked to harm civilian populations through the distribution of the void virus, and additional void entities. Celex... if you."

Eyes turned towards the back of the room as Celex paused in his lounging long enough to stand. He went as if to walk around the seats, before deciding better of it and simply floating into the air, over the heads of the crowd to joint them at the front of the room, his technicolor hair waving in a lazy undulations around his shoulders.

He landed next to Conn, "As Adam was saying, while there we witnessed the existence of a familiar void structure, or a bone growth that had taken over a good half of the temple. Those in attendance were encouraged to touch the growth while under the influence of some sort of mind altering drug being pumped into the temple by way of their ritual incense burners. Upon touching the void growth it became clear to me that the void is using those structures as a conduit for void energy."

A murmuring rose up around the room, no one was really sure what that meant, but no one liked the sound of it either.

Celex felt the thoughts of the room and nodded, "I believe some of you R&D folks are well aware that the void cannot produce its own energy. The void is a thing of stagnation, absolute zero, by itself it does not produce much beyond conscious thought, but the Void light is another matter. While they cannot produce energy, they can consume and alter it. I have spoken with some of our experts, talked this over with our research departments, and I believe that void energy is simply corrupted Anima energy."

The room shifted nervously at his words.

They didn't need to know the full extent to know that that didn't sound good.

"There is only one way to get Anima energy....."

The room grew even more uncomfortable as Celex placed his hands behind his back and began to pace. He almost looked nervous, and that fact had the rest of the room reeling with discomfort. Celex was rarely nervous, and if he was nervous, the rest of them should be terrified.

Eventually Celex looked up inhuman eyes glittering in the blue holo light, "You need Anima to obtain Anima energy, but as you know void energy is still something different. When I touched that conduit, I felt the energy... and it was.... Evil, I know we shouldn't place moral words on things of this nature, it is imprecise and unhelpful, but that is the truth. I believe that Void energy is made up of Stripped Anima., like someone's soul had been pulled apart but kept conscious.... Like pain made into energy."

The room was filled with the sound of agitated voices now.

Conn waved a hand for silence, which turned out to be difficult to obtain.

"We are looking into this, as of now that is the only report we have on what Void energy is, but if that is the case we have reason to believe that the Void cults are using the souls of innocent people to power themselves. I understand that this type of warfare has not been perpetuated before. We have had nuclear, chemical, biological, psychological, but now our analysis department has been calling it supernatural warfare."

He turned off the holoprojector and turned to look at the crowd, "Either way, I tend to agree with Adam. They have perpetuated supernatural warfare on civilian non combatants, and have threatened others, which is clearly the act of a terrorist cell. And like a terrorist cell we believe that they are recruited similarly. They are going to look for vulnerable people, people who feel isolated or who are lacking some sort of sense of community or purpose." he motioned around the room, "Arcadia is not safe, there are people here, especially young people who might feel isolated, who may be the perfect target for the void's recruitment."

He motioned to Martha, who stood.

"As of now the arcadia court has issued a surveillance warrant against the original vandal after finding there was probably cause to expect them of invovlvement in a terrorist organisation. Their implant has been tapped and is now being monitored for further updates, though.... Glados may have managed to warn this particular actor off their course of action. We have no reason to believe that their family members or parents are involved, and they will not be monitored."

Martha brushed her hair back from her face and stepped a little further into the room, "Security on Arcadia customs and screening has increased, and will now focus on repelling any void shipments being smuggled onto this planet, but we do realize that one of the best ways to protect people from the void it to keep people from joining them in the first place. As conn said earlier, groups like the Void cults and other terrorist organizations often work by recruiting those weho feel wronged, isolate,d or without a purpose. These groups offer a sense of pride and community to people who have never had one before."

Everyone's implants buzzed, "What you have just received is the new amended policy for school and workplace mental health. We will be doing training with teachers, mental health screenings for high school and young adults, as well as putting together a variety of programs designed to foster cooperation and friendship. Our research has shown that even a single friend can decrease the likelihood of joining one of these organizations by up to eighty percent."

A few of those around the room scrolled quickly through the first few pages of the report.

"Additionally, you know that Arcadia is a mandatory reporter for abuse and domestic violence. We are a no tolerance government for such behavior, policies we will continue to implement to their full extent. Any life circumstance that might lead to isolations, anger or victimization has a higher likelihood of producing people who will join a void organization. If any of you are wondering about the original vandal, we are looking into their specific case to see what might be done. As of now they have committed no violent acts, and we believe rehabilitation is still possible."

She stepped back to her seat and Conn gave a nod but the moment the nod was over, he graced the room with a sinister grin, "Now all you beautiful bastards get back to work before I have to go into your mind and tell everyone your most embarrassing moment..... I doubt the whole department needs to know who shat their pants at work." The analysts laughed, but no one hung back in their seats.

Conn blew a kiss to them as they all left before wiggling his fingers playfully at Adam who proceeded to give him the middle finger without even looking. He and sunny clustered together with Krill, their voices low.

"Have we had anyone take us up on our offer."

Krill nodded, 'Yes a few. It will take a few weeks of course. There are several preop discussions to be made, and they all needs to understand the seriousness of the choice that they are making before them make it, not to mention all the potential risks."

Adam nodded.

His extended offer for other members of the Anti-Void alliance to join steel eye, and undergo an Animectomy had been met with modest, but cautious interest.

King James had already undergone a SE operation, and felt that letting Krill do surgery on his soul was only one step further than that. To their surprise maverick had offered as well, though Krill warned there might be extra consequences for her considering her unique situation. They ahd no idea how the void creature was going to respond to them cutting into her brain.

The debate was still going as of that moment

General Kimball had offered up his own brain as well.

They had one or two offers from Earth, offers given specifically from kelly's own security detail, which was not surprising

Some others were still on the fence.

Krill had dismissed himself from the conversation to head back to work when Sunny caught Adam's arm.

"Adam, we need to talk."

He turned to look at her a frown cutting across his face, "Can we not use that phrase, nothing ever good comes after it."

She tapped her spera against the floor, "Maybe not.... I want to elect to do the surgery."

Adam stared at her, "Not while pregnant..."

Sunny shook her head, "No, right after, as soon as possible."

Adam shifted uncomfortably, she was the first non human that had offered.

He thought about protesting, telling her no, but before he opened his mouth he was smart enough to realize he didn't control her.

\saying no was not an option

"I wish you would consider this carefully."

She looked him in the eye, expression cold and hard.

"I have."