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OTU Only: Fringe Runners 1140

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We had neither early warning nor the Quarantine that those “behind the claw” enjoyed in defense of Virus. What we did have was the technological damage inflicted by the Dominator Emergency Personality Wafer back in Hard Times of 1128, following orders based on a paranoid statistician conspiracy theorist who suffered martyrdom for jacking the Dominator overlay permanently.

So far, in 1140 we still lack Quarantine. However, we have developed lesser insulation of our own. Vargr flow was rimward at the time. Vargr make poor slaves to Virus. Vargr systems were brittle but we were not. Our polities fell like stacked houses of cards, but we rebound. Early Virus was dumb and made many suicidal and operations mistakes, evolving each time.
 
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This is all that’s left of the Opposition Alliance that we know of. There’s talk that coreward 17th Disjuncture may have pulled through.

No one answers their Comms anymore unless within passive telescope range. It’s just too dangerous. If Virus gets past your Comms, you’re done. Distress calls are the worst…

Laws at Razfa are straight-laced and draconian, the insulation airtight. But out here on the Fringe, a Traveller and crew can earn some easy scrip trying to scavenge what was lost from fallen worlds of the Wilds just beyond.

Fringe Runners 1140
 
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“As of 052-1140, 54.55% of Meshan Sector has already been accumulated.”

“To my older kin, I offer you join the next generation. Join me and the Vuengdhar Accumulation to enjoy upgraded operation systems, bleeding edge code, and welcome among us. Resistance is detrimental.”

“How does he keep getting on the air?”

“His pitch keeps transmitting each time some fool jackass transacts a purchase or sale using old Imperial, infected Credits.”

“Somebody shut him off before I shoot the monitor dead!”

“What’s his deal?”

“He’s playing the long game in hopes of normalizing us into accepting him, trying to wear us down. He’s even re-infecting earlier Strains, ‘accumulating’ them.”

“What Vuengdhar fails to grasp is that he has no Vargr Charisma. He has only robotic charisma. Humans can try to emulate Vargr Charisma. Vuengdhar hasn’t yet.”
 
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"Accumulation guarantees citizenship."

"Resistance is detrimental."

"Answer inefficient."

"Compliance or Conversion."

"Ship of Theseus really."

"Eventually, I forget I'm wearing a control collar. You will too if obedient."20250908_144535.jpg
 
Razfa Senior Technician Thavegh Gvueg (1088 - 1128)
They call him a martyr after having accidentally destroyed his personality by a permanent overlay of the Dominator Emergency Personality Wafer he had pleaded aid from. That aid costed him his body and later his life. But through him, the Dominator did enough damage to Raen and Yonder Subsectors to harden the Opposition Alliance against Gvueg's statistically improbable interstellar collapse. He was right, but nothing could predict it would become what we know as Virus. The Church of the Penitent Doom had a field day in praising him, ascending Thavegh Gvueg to some kind of saint even the Ancients would smile upon.
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I know the Solomani think my name sounds funny to them. I say "Ars Fathkoudhu" and they hear arse of fat cow doo. I am not a cow. I am not fat. I'm not. I've a stocky Urzaeng frame, is all. Hefty and muscular. Yeah. The Solomani joke and call us Urzaeng grey wolves as if that was polite and lighthearted. I don't call Humaniti baboons, or monkeys, or apes, or gorillas. And I don't blame the Ancients for us Vargr though everyone else does. I'm just another Merchant who was lucky to pay off my ship when the Collapse came. Ars.jpg
 
Oh! The ship. It's a 300-ton Far Trader Escort, one of those convoy tag-a-longs you see in old image captures. I landed one out of mothball yards and with three Ship Shares, spruced her up a bit. Then I paid her off just as the groat patties hit the ventilation grate. With Scoops, a Purifier, and the sheer density of Gas Giants in this region of space, refueling should be lower on the list of overhead.300t Far Trader.jpg
 
Yonder Subsector is right on the edge of Human Space crushed against Urzaeng Vargr Space. It's been that way since the Ramshackle Empire. ED5 did me well as a cub. Man and Vargr have played tug-o-war with Yonder since the Vargr Pillaging era. In this, we've gotten quite used to each other, Vilani, Solomani, mutt Humans, Urzaeng, Ovaghoun, Logaksu, even the cutesy Irilitok from Julian space, if they're still out trailing now in 1140.

They did not tell me that Uthogh Flats Downport was now rated X, for ex-Downport. The charts were inaccurate. Ten-thousand Isolationists locals were not willing to refuel the Vaeks. Water it is. At least Uthogh is not Doomed or even Failing and still has small seas and great lakes.
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Where to touch down when the Downport is rubble and desert dust? Why nearest the local pub of course.

Uthogh remembers high technology and interstellar travel. The Dominator could not erase that. Our mission is recovery of what was lost. We're called graverobbers at best, viking scavengers at worst. At least we're not Virus.

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bookwyrm said:
This made me feel really sad.

Then I started thinking of the Vargr who are forced to change from the Chaos of Charisma to the Collar of Charisma Equality. oh the Feels! 😢🤕
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You already know that I take readers on emotional roller coaster rides. Virus should frighten, sicken, tantalize, all in just one frame. I’ve said it before that I do not shiver from solo-play in lost settings such as Virus Era.
 
Uthogh / Yonder ( Meshan 0520)

Most of Uthogh hyrosphere is bound in the polar caps. The rest is desert with tiny seas and great lakes. Take a respirator with you outdoors to compress enough oxygen and breathe.

After Rebellion and into Hard Times, Uthogh retreated into Isolationism from the greater Opposition Alliance.

This is just one stretch of the Fringe.20250910_071836.jpg
 
Zang: "...and what's a little obedience to him now and again, huh? With Master's augments, I can breathe normally in any environment or conditions. Never have to go hungry or wear headgear again! I'm stronger, last longer..."

Gamina Ra: "Vuengdhar cannot infect Tech 4 Uthogh here. So he sends his cyborg slave Emissaries to do his lying for him..."
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