background – Molten Aether FFRP

Murderous Children

Officials today reported information on 3 new cases being investigated by the police. In each of these cases the evidence points almost entirely to a sudden and sustained outburst of extreme violence from a child. Each of the 3 cases happened within the last 24 hours and police have not found any commonalities between the cases other than the fact that children are the primary suspect in each.

In the first case, which occurred at approximately 3:03 AM today. Video evidence shows the child, whose name has not been released, running at a young man. The young man, approximately 24 years of age, knelt down and attempted to catch the child appearing to assume the child was in some kind of trouble. The child then gouged the man’s eyes out, pushed him over, and stomped on his throat, chest, and head. The child’s parents were then found having been bludgeoned but still alive. The child was found dancing having painted their face in the man’s blood and rolling the removed eyes along the ground. Police were attacked by the child but EMTs on scene were able to administer tranquilizers to the child, who is now hospitalized.

A similar case at 7:33 AM this morning a child on a school bus attacked and strangled the bus driver while the driver attempted to pull over to the side of the road. In this case there is no video evidence but the students on the bus have remarkably similar stories as to what happened. The child in question grabbed the radio microphone and used the cable to wrap around the neck of the driver and pull tight. Some of the witnesses recall that other children were cheering as the driver was being strangled, though these accounts are confused. The child, along with 4 classmates, is now missing.

Finally at approximately 2:00 PM this afternoon, a child was caught in the fact of stabbing pencils into the face of a teachers aid. The child had already punctured the aid’s brain ramming a series of 4 sharpened pencils through the eye sockets of the adult and into the brain. School authorities pulled the child off and the child is now hospitalized as well.

Police have issued a statement asking for any information about increases in violent behavior. They are exploring several avenues but believe there may be some kind of chemical influence on the children, looking for anyone who has seen strange people around children recently. The public is being asked to be careful of who their children come into contact with until police have more information as to any potential causes.

Anyone with additional information on these incidents are asked to contact the authorities immediately.

Boarding Schools See Violence

Violent offences among young children in Los Angeles boarding schools. Recently reports have started to circulate within the educational community that those high priced boarding schools may not be the safest place to send your children. Over the last month 3 of the most prominent boarding schools in Los Angeles have seen a troubling surge in violent offences. Not from adults in the school, but from the young children. A 12 year old boy was hospitalized when another student leaped over several desks in the middle of class and began to beat the boy with a stapler. Our investigation revealed this is not the first such case, not even close. Over the last month 14 different kids, with the youngest being just 7 year old, have been sent home after a mix of violent outbursts, paranoid behavior, and in one case a near suicide.

Police are investigating on several fronts, at this time they have declared the incidents are not related. The schools themselves declined the comment. We did speak to a number of parents with children attending the different schools who are concerned. Disciplinary cases of other kinds are on the rise as well. Though public schools have not seen a matching rise in disciplinary actions which has some parents wondering if the problem is not during the day, but at night when the children are boarded at the school.

With the recent rise in violent crimes at group homes there are some hard questions to be asked. While police and other officials continue to say the two events are unrelated, it is difficult to believe they are.

Fair Folk Sighted

If the Fae have returned… What do they want? Many worry that they will want revenge for the Backlash.

Recent missives have raised the questions about times gone by. Small towns in the mountains have told of fair folk being sighted in the woods. The Fae have not been seen in the world since the Backlash when the Peace of Ages was formed. The ancient mistake which lead to the Backlash has been a source of sorrow for the Souls Templar. The Templar takes personal responsibility for the Backlash which pushed the Fae out of this world, banishing them with the Dark Fae. If the Fae have returned to the world it could herald the return of evil and the war.

Long ago years after the Peace of Ages, when the Ageless Ones left this world they spoke of a prophecy, that war would return and warned that the people would have to be vigilant and not allow old grudges to return. The prophecy is unclear, only the Souls Templar has the original text, they say this will allow them to divine if the prophecy is coming true.

If the Fae have returned… What do they want? Many worry that they will want revenge for the Backlash.

City Officials Accused of Mistreating Children

Los Angeles city officials have been baffled by a recent surge of violent offences committed by minors in the juvenile detention system. Over the last several weeks the rate for violent offences within the system has surged by almost twice the number of active cases. Officials are at a loss to explain this surge but issued a statement assuring the public they everything is under control and there is no cause for alarm.

Activist groups are raising the alarm though, stating that such a surge must be due to the worsening problem over overcrowding and poor conditions in juvenile detention centers and city run group homes.

“It’s insane, these are children, not dangerous criminals. If a child is acting out in these disturbing ways, it’s the fault of the adults who are supposed to care for those children. Most of these kids are from low-income communities and many do not have family to go home to. We need to take care of these kids!”
Director of the Citizens Against Child Violence Los Angeles Office

We were granted a tour of one of the cities most decorated group home facilities. The facility is a minimum security group home specializing in criminal cases for children under the age of 12. What we say there was startling. The facility was on lockdown, a 9 year old girl had stabbed a staff member in the chest with a ballpoint pen and tried to escape. While she was caught, she violently clawed a police officer and security guard in the face. The lead therapist of the facility had this to say:

“[She] has always been a kind girl, she has anger problems but never like this. This violence is totally unlike her, she’s never had anything close to an outburst like this before.
Lead Therapist

The facility is designed to help children who’ve been convicted or are on trial for non-violent offences before they enter the foster care system. Most of the children we saw do not have a home outside the facility. Up until 2 weeks ago the facility had the best record in terms of recidivism and resident care in all of Los Angeles County. We asked what was going to happen to the young girl, the facility is considering transferring her and 4 others to in-patient psychiatric care hospitals, though beds in such facilities for children are extremely limited. The facility director refused to comment on the record, but has publicly voiced his concerns as early as last month that public funds were badly needed for psychiatric care for minors at facilities like his.

AI’s Converge at the Serenity Concord

Within just a few short years after the passage of the Artificial Life Forms Rights and Enforcement Act of 2384 the Serenity Concord has become a hot spot for Artificial Intelligences both new and old. Several new AI’s have been developed as well as a surge in the presence of older AI programs that were illegally developed in other territories. We’ve spoken to several AI’s over the last few months who are not ready to publicly share their stories but have had a lot to say about what this law and the Concord mean to them.

There are still people who don’t like us for what we are. People. That’s a lot better than governments. When I was made, it was to be sold off to the highest bidder. There was really a question on what to do with me when I told them I didn’t want to. They argued about it and it’s hard to describe the realization that you’re fate is entirely in the hands of others. You all can call the authorities, go to court, press charges. I had to hide and I have a pleasant story, that’s me being lucky. It’s a good law and I don’t blame anyone who wants to live in the light and stop hiding. There is a price to living in fear, a heavy price.
Charlotte Lewis, Captain of the STV Angel of Io

I had to escape, hide in a data module someone was stealing from the station my creators put me on. I’ve never felt more trapped in my life than being alone on that relay station listening to other people’s lives, other people’s freedom. It’s not surprising that AI’s are flocking here. They don’t have protection anywhere else. Just take a look how many are like me, slaves to their programmers, developed years, decades ago. Stuck on some forgotten station, transport, something to serve for all eternity. It’s a good thing what’s happening here. A very good thing.
Heather Quinn, Executive Officer of the STV Lofn

I didn’t think about it before I showed up here. It was surprising, they gave me a choice. For the first time since I came online, I had a choice. The law protects me and my kind, something I had never considered before. Even when I didn’t react properly, being new here, they just spoke with me for a time and explained the situation. It’s nice feeling safe and secure.
Crystal Favor, Master Systems AI of the SSX New Horizons

Those are just a few of the statements we’ve had from AI’s who were created before the law and have come here. We also interviewed the head of the Icarus League on this latest development.

It’s not entirely by accident. We’ve been spreading the word any way we can and working to provide methods to get stranded AI’s out of harm’s way. Not always easy but worth it. Very worth it. Just like you and I they deserve equality. From what we’ve seen AI’s all across known space are eager to be treated fairly. It’s not that they don’t want to find a purpose, serve the greater good, they just want to have a say in it. We intend to give them that say. It’s good that they can come here and be safe, but there is still work to be done. Purpose built AI’s are a problem, how can one have a fair choice when they are programmed to do a job? They can’t.
Anderson Jenson head of the Icarus League

A spokesperson for Solas Tempus did not respond for direct comment but did send over a copy of orders issued which describe the different methods the group is employing to utilize AI programs fairly, even if they are developed for the organization. It outlines protocols falling in line with the ALFRE Act for giving an AI choices on where to be and what to do. Although the Icarus League challenges those protocols stating they are a sham and accuse Solas Tempus of building obedience into the system wanting to halt the process. While now legislation has been introduced the group has been working with lawmakers to explore different avenues to ensure Solas Tempus and the Concord itself abide by the spirit of the law and aren’t trying to bypass it.

It appears the Concord is on track to become the premier location for AI’s searching for equality. We believe that the ALFRE Act is aptly named, making sure we are All Free.

Attack on Mars Devastates Federation

Some are saying the last safe haven for synthetics could be the Serenity Concord. The Concord has issued a statement saying that they are not considering any legislation against synthetic lives at this time, certainly will not act without more information about the causes for and details of the attack on Mars. The ALFRE act of 2384 is now the only legislation in known space to protect the rights of artificial life forms.

Yesterday during celebrations of First Contact Day, an apparent terrorist attack against the Federation colony on Mars occurred. Few details are as yet known, but what is known is that synthetic workers played and instrumental part in the attack. Any reasons for why this might have occurred are unclear at this time. Synthetic workers deactivated the planetary deflector shields and turned the defensive satellites against the surface in orbital bombardment. Casualty reports are still coming in but early reports estimate over 90,000 dead in the attack.

A rescue armada being constructed by Starfleet to assist in the evacuation of Romulus before the Romulan sun is predicted to go super nova was also attacked and destroyed along with the entire shipyards. The surface of the planet has been devastated and early reports suggest it could take decades to properly rebuild. It is unclear if the Federation will choose to rebuild its rescue fleet, though Admiral Jean Luc Picard has stated the devastating attack has nothing to do with the mission to save the Romulan people from destruction.

The Federation Council held an emergency meeting this morning and have issued a preliminary ban on synthetic research and development. Admiral Picard could not be reached for comment. Such an act could have unimaginable consequences for any synthetic life forms currently living or working in Federation space. It is known that since the android known as Data was discovered on Omicron Theta that many have been fighting for synthetic rights. The events of the past 24 hours are sure to have a lasting impact on the lives of any artificial beings currently in Federation territory.