In the wake of the catastrophe of Olympus, the ZDG is once again suffering shortage and set backs, with patrolling missions sent to civilian outposts spreading the fleet thin, although there have been no other machine strikes since.

Various ships were grounded in the aftermath for extensive repairs, most notable being the Nidhoggr, the extent of the damage putting it on the market for private interest. Tony Stark has since capitalised on this opportunity and word has it is looking for a civilian crew to outfit it for research purposes. (An OOC organisational comment here will go up for the interested.) The Phoenix is also currently grounded for reparation and eventual reassignment.

The Atalanta were last reported to be attending to some kind of retrieval and interrogation mission, targeting an important AI presence. Information will be disseminated upon mission completion and wrap up.

Systemwide's first Item Drop is now live, and will remain open until midnight September 1. This is an opportunity for characters to receive an item through mysterious means taken directly from their home world, or the chance to enter a lottery for something more unusual.

Characters will receive their items on September 7.

With the appearance of the Architect last month delivering his own cryptic warning, questions about nature of the enemy simmer amongst those who care to speculate about such things. Many do not, but some do. If the agenda of the Machines is more mysterious than once assumed, what else is there to be discovered about what they want? And what of the Machines could possibly be older than the Oracle, or the Architect himself?

But maybe you shouldn't be listening to even very handsome artificial intelligences anyway.

We have adjusted our activity requirements, beginning this round (August 24-31) and continuing. This means we will require lighter activity check proofs that we hope will encourage posting especially. We will continue to monitor these kinds of processes to ensure they match our game environment and pace.

The current activity check is now open, so remember to submit your proofs before midnight August 31!

We have posted an informal Enable Me Meme that you are welcome to share and of course, post to! You can find it on the admin Plurk for replurking purposes as well.

Activity Check: August 24-31
Test Drive: September 15 (Current Post)
Reserves: Currently Open
Applications: Currently Open

In mid-June, the Oracle provided a cryptic warning of Machine-initiated violence, including some peculiarly specific clues. Approximately one week later, a merchant envoy from Zion discovered that one of the newer human settlements was under massive attack by a heretofore unknown Machine faction, the REAPERS. They were immediately beset by unusual sensor and comms problems, revealing the REAPERS’ unique jamming technology. However, they discovered the Matrix pirate signal remained clear, and sent a distress call to the Zion Defense Grid by way of a single messenger, Kitty Jones. However, the call for help revealed yet more of the REAPERS’ technology: the girl fell into a coma shortly before her extraction.

The Zion Defense Grid arrived in Olympus two days later and engaged the enemy in combat, as well as performing rescue and relief operations for the human civilization. One day after that, the REAPERS’ anticipated central attack arrived: a truly massive robot designed to resemble a centipede, marked Harbinger. The combined efforts of the Zion Defense Grid and unexpected allies from other human settlements-- perhaps even undeclared Irkallan ships-- were able to stop Harbinger. The final battle took place on two fronts: first, the physical assault on the centipede body itself; second, the hacking of the complex reactive Matrix-simulation software bridge that functioned as Harbinger’s comms and controls.

The details of the battle’s conclusion remain fogged in chaos, thanks to the fact we’re still RPing it widespread jamming problems with shipboard electronics. What we do know, is that many lives were lost. The REAPERS not only destroyed much property and killed numerous humans, but also engaged in abductions. The ZDG craft, the Nidhoggr, was shot down among others. The battle ended on roughly June 25th, when the drones became extremely disorganized and the Harbinger itself experienced some type of catastrophic malfunction.

Debrief has been slow, and complicated by the number of injuries suffered by human personnel. All of those who attempted the hack of the Harbinger have been sliding in and out of episodes of massive exhaustion. Some have been able to wake up periodically to eat and use facilities, whereas others may have been hooked up to IVs to prevent dehydration and malnourishment. Fortunately, however, none are exhibiting the long-term neurological problems experienced by Kitty Jones. The exhaustion may last up until July 7th.

The July continuation of the plot will involve a relatively straightforward task: the control apparatus, effectively the “brain” of the Harbinger, was apparently motorized and ejected toward the end of combat, scuttling off into the tunnels of the sewer. Though there is no guarantee the REAPERS have not already retrieved it, chances seem slim, given the number of human vessels in the area. The Zion Defense Grid is tasked to search and retrieve it.

This plot will consist of:

• A network post/s, representing comms chatter during the search. This may provide a space for discussing and exploring the events of the recent plot
  
• A log for the ship in the Real that locates the runaway control apparatus

We'll let you know more details on who will be doing what nearer to the time.

Applications will next open July 26. Going forward from there, we will keep applications open indefinitely rather than rotate through application periods. Due to our relatively low-traffic membership and lack of application period closure events to usher in new players, we feel this new format will work best for Systemwide.

The application page will detail out the specifics as to how this will work, but in short, we will attempt to get back to applications as they come within 5 days from their submission point. Revisions will also have a more relaxed deadline.

By extension, we will also be changing how reserves work. Reserves will also be open indefinitely, and will entitle a person to three weeks of time during which they can apply without competition. Once those three weeks expire and if they have not applied, their reserved character will be up for grabs once more.

Check back later during the month for the relevant pages being revised with these new practices.

Effective immediately, we will be allowing new characters a free AC round.

What this means in relation to our new application system is that the new character is exempt from the first full week of AC they have coming up. If they apped during an AC period, they will be exempt from that one, and the next, in the interests of being fair.

As the Sacking of Olympus plot continues to be backtagged, we want to encourage people to continue doing this and finishing their plans without feeling pressure. Therefore, we will be allowing people to submit threads that featured in mod plot posts for July's activity check. These threads cannot have been your AC for June's activity check.

The posts containing threads that can be used for July's AC are:

• Sacking of Olympus: Merchants' Voyage
  
• Sacking of Olympus: Harbinger Descends
  
• Sacking of Olympus: 3x3

Activity Check: July 24-31
Test Drive: Currently Open
Reserves: Currently Open
Applications: Opens July 26 (11:59 PM, EST). As mentioned above, applications will remain open indefinitely.

On Tuesday, May 12th, William Tsang will be throwing a festival inspired by the Dragon Boat races. These will take place in the vast reservoirs of water on the Engineering level, the ‘course’ running one thousand yards long. Before and after the race, food, libations, and good sportsmanship serve to inaugurate the new agricultural rotation! Spiritual and social functions aside, the race is also incidentally timed to end with scheduled maintenance and cleanup of the reservoir.

Hovercrew team-building has repurposed the competitive team spirit! One of the races is slated to pit the ship crews against each other, give or take those who opt out and volunteers. As an OOC note, winners and rankings will be decided based on a dice roll and the number of years each team member has been unplugged.

Businesses within Zion have made friendly alliances to sponsor the crafting of these boats, as well as donating resources for prizes. It is certainly regarded as an economic opportunity for advertisement. All types of entrepreneurs, from noodle shops to mechanical repairpersons, are planning to make a showing.

At the root of the Dragon Boat tradition, a legend speaks of protest against corruption, which is certainly a theme that pervades Zion as of late. Although some citizens may regard it as an expression of discontentment, the Council evidently knows better than to try to end dissent by shutting down the party. Instead, a few representatives are slated to appear and partake in the festivities, paying respects, and perhaps mixing work with a little play.

Please don’t forget to check our CR meme. More players have added characters and comments over the past few days, including new applicants and freshly accepted characters. Be sure to revisit over the course of the next few days and build CR with fresh participants.

Following Commander Gwisin’s announcement, the Zion Defense Grid held a recruitment drive to replenish the ranks of hovercrews. The citizens of Zion (i.e., the players of Systemwide) rallied to the call, leading to the officiation (and re-officiation) of three new crews, serving: the Nidhoggr, the Phoenix and the Atalanta. Please find the new rosters in those links. Characters who were not recruited may still rotate through or sign onto the Shangrila to participate in missions.

Our latest major page addition can be found at Mission Control, which we invite you to check out. This page will be devoted to all plotting, big and small, that is ongoing. We encourage you to track elements of this page or check in frequently for updates, as we continue to add hooks to it. All major metaplot events will continue to be posted properly to the OOC community and announced on our modplurk, but smaller missions that may or may not have metaplot ties in them too will also feature here. We will also point to items in these monthly State of the Game posts.

This page also describes the sim stations, a plot device used for characters who wish to write cross-canon simulations that do not necessitate real Matrix entry or boarding a ship. These can be training exercises and skills uploads for upcoming missions or just in general, socialisation and experimentation, or simply finding a way to pass the time.

If you have any questions, let us know, but please, go nuts!

The mods would like to announce an incentive for player-run plots (i.e., Low Clearance Missions). If the mission meets certain qualifications, the player responsible for running (or starting) the thread will receive 1 Activity Check exemption. Players may store multiple exemptions indefinitely. To qualify, the thread must meet the following criteria:

• The thread must have at least 5 tags from the plot-runner (may include the top-level post)
  
• The tags were posted within a 30-day period
  
• Remain consistent with the Low Clearance Mission parameters (i.e., risk level, little impact on the Matrix), although the specific objective of the mission is flexible

Should future problems arise (i.e., character squatting), this policy is subject to more limitations.

One of the mods, China, will be on vacation from May 21-31 and may be completely unavailable to fulfill her related duties. Afterward, her availability may become slightly spotty for a few weeks due to moving between states. Please be aware that aspects of game-running may become slightly delayed (e.g., FAQ responses), although all of our calendar dates remain as originally scheduled. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Activity Check will begin properly in the last week of May.

Activity Check: May 24-31
Test Drive: Currently Open
Reserves: Close on 31 May (4 PM, EST).
Applications: Next round opens 26 May (4 PM, EST).

On the second day of the Neo's Truce festivities, a ship called the Erebus, back from a standard extraction mission just beyond Machine Controlled Territory, crashed outside the gates of Zion. It brought with it news of four ZDG ships on their radar, two distress signals, and one friendly fire EMP blast as they were swarmed by sentinels and were forced to turn back.

After political deadlock that seemed to last longer than it should have, the Council scrambled together a rescue team in the form of temporary crews onboard the Nidhoggr, the Durga, and the Vindemiatrix. Their objective was simple: to locate the ZDG ship radar blips, determine what transpired, and bring home survivors.

Instead, they brought home bodies, and bad tidings. Three of four ships were unable to be recovered (the Himalia was piloted home), and only one survivor was found.

On behalf of the Council, a statement was issued, honouring the fallen ships and their crews (Himalia, Medea, Horus, Memphis) and addressing the public after a lengthy silence. But more than just news, a warning, and a moment of silence came with this transmission: an audio recording was publically released as well, further and publically vilifying Councilor Brutus, while Councilor Aries commissioned the expertise of software specialists to pursue this leak. Whatever the truth, it’s clear that politics are uneasy in Zion.

But funeral plans do not wait for politics. There will be one day of observance in early April, which will go up in the form of a mingle log to highlight specific events throughout the day.

This can be used for general socialisation, developing and highlighting Zion culture, and light discussion/interaction with the metaplot.

Many questions have been left unanswered, notably by the Council, but there are some conclusions available as public opinion forms around the actions their leaders have taken.

• The recent audio links directly implicate the Council in having set the ships to their disastrous task. Although it is well known that some friction exists between those that believe in the Oracle and those that do not, it appears that this division has run deep enough that important and dangerous decisions are being made without the full authority of twelve voices.
  
• Rumour starts to circulate that Himalia and the Horus were sent to investigate a known a piece of marked territory that the Oracle had warned against accessing for the last several months. It is rare that even with anti-Oracle sentiment in the Council, they would undermine her word so openly. And now, many people are dead.
  
• As a reminder, you can view our NPC page where pro- and anti-Alliances stances are marked amongst the Council.

The rumour mill churns even faster when it comes to the one ship that sported a remaining survivor. Not many people personally know the operator and operative, Fletcher "Proxy" Cruikshank, but his name is certainly being passed around as the one man who made it out of this ordeal alive. He's been receiving medical care in a Zion clinic, and has yet to be released due to needing some mental health checks before he can enter back into the public, let alone resume service in the ZDG.

He is described, politely, as "delirious and traumatised".

Meanwhile, it has also entered into public knowledge that something happened on board the Medea before it went down. Rumours of mutiny against the young Captain Naero are starting to simmer quicker than the Council can respond, with stories ranging from wild conjectures that his First Officer used the chaos to kill him herself, through to the crew decided he was incompetent and usurped his leadership, through to more dangerous implications that he followed secret Council orders that went wrong.

But the only ones who bear witness to real evidence of the destruction are Proxy, and the crew of the Durga that found them.

Our latest major page addition can be found at Mission Control, which we invite you to check out. This page will be devoted to all plotting, big and small, that is ongoing. We encourage you to track elements of this page or check in frequently for updates, as we continue to add hooks to it. All major metaplot events will continue to be posted properly to the OOC community and announced on our modplurk, but smaller missions that may or may not have metaplot ties in them too will also feature here. As the game continues to pick up pace, we will also point to items in these monthly State of the Game posts.

This page also describes the sim stations, a plot device used for characters who wish to write cross-canon simulations that do not necessitate real Matrix entry or boarding a ship. These can be training exercises and skills uploads for upcoming missions or just in general, socialisation and experimentation, or simply finding a way to pass the time.

If you have any questions, let us know, but please, go nuts!

There is one more day-ish left to check in (replacing the March Activity Check) and register your interest in continuing with Systemwide. This will ensure you are not swept from our playerbase as idle, and also gives you the opportunity to let us know any feedback you have for our game that we can take into account.

Already we have received some invaluable suggestions that will help us narrow our focus in where to put our effort. In the coming weeks, we will be specifically looking to provide more details about the Real world, including locations and cultural norms, as well as easy access to interaction with our NPCs.

In the meantime, we ask that you check out the existing setting information we have (and the recent addition of a gallery linked from the Reality page may help) and ask us questions about either thing if you're stuck. Otherwise, watch this space!

Activity Check will begin properly in the last week of April.

Check In: Ending 31 March.
Test Drive: Opening 4 April.
Reserves: Next round opens 1 April (4 PM, EST).
Applications: Next round opens 25 April (4 PM, EST).