Shadows and Confusion - Liana's Journal.

[Lukas]

Note - This will be updated periodically. Entries regarding "Operation Reflection" are set before the current setting and threads, and lead directly on from Absence Ma(a)kes the heart grow fonder.

Others will be added as I get the urge, and after threads in which Liana features end.

 

[Lukas]

Note - This one is set during the previously mentioned thread.

Day 18 post Typhon. Day 0 of operation Reflection. 15:05.

Final day on Trilobite. Prometheus called on me for a special operation with the other Elaima. Can't quite put my finger on her. Not gifted, but still feels... abnormal somehow. Thinks she knows me and slightly arrogant, but otherwise agreeable - More interesting than most agents. Will put in a request for her old C.O's opinion before I leave.

Prometheus trusts me to convert her, and I trust his judgement in the matter. Predicting three months - will update this entry depending on success or failure. Primary operation should proceed without issue - I've been trained well, and if Reflection is anywhere near as competent as they were claimed to be, Laura should be more than capable. Worst case I can provide on site advice.

Plus, I get to handle funding and sleeping. No more sharing a bunk ever again.

End log.

P.S: I should stop going by day counts. We're not jumping again.
Next entry will use local date and time.

Hopefully this slate can be synced up with local software. Need fresh books.

 

[Lukas]

The following three are set during her first year in L'Isola.

Day 90 of operation Reflection.

Failure. Not total failure, but three months have been and gone. And if it wasn’t for Prometheus’s orders I’d have strangled her after two. Took me a month to get her to call me by my real name rather than ‘sacrificial lamb’ and there’s still no respect for my authority.

She’ll draw during briefings, ignore orders at random, and generally just do whatever she thinks is best rather than even consider listening to me. And yet we’ve succeeded every mission so far. I don’t get it! I just.. Don’t get it.

At least the last place we stopped for repairs at had good snacks. I’ve missed having real sweets. They were a privilege early on, but after society fell apart I stopped being able to get any. Would’ve stabbed someone for a pack of gummy bears back then - it’s nice to just be able to buy them.

End log.

Reminder to self - get the logs from my old handler concerning my resocialization. Some might be useful.

---

March 7th. Date is more important than time since mission commencement for once.

Apparently it’s my birthday today in the old calendar. I didn’t actually know that - but guess who did. There was a goddamn poster of my Aion dangling from the wall in front of me, looking like it was supposed to be in some sort of pornographic magazine.

I just.. Don’t have the words. Why?

I’m not sure whether to be more worried about where she got the materials, or how she managed to paint and set this up without me getting any sniff of it. She claimed it was a present, which is the only reason I haven’t burned it. Don’t know how attached she is to her artwork.

Closing note - at this point, I just wish she’d put the same amount of energy into our work as she does into messing with me. I dread what she’ll try to top this with next year.

End log.

Reminder to self - keep better track of food supplies and storage. Found a bag of gummy bears under my pillow. Must have forgotten about them. Nice surprise, but also a wake-up call.

---

Day 365 of operation Reflection. One year Anniversary.

It’s not been a very pleasant year. But the bad times are slowly coming to end. While she still definitely doesn’t respect me.. We’ve at least reached an agreement of sorts. She’ll be providing more input on future targets, and is apparently going to tone down her constant harassment.

Unofficially classifying secondary objective as a failure. She doesn’t respect me and I doubt she ever will. While I’m sure she’ll cooperate come the end of the world… it’s unlikely she’ll ever accept Prometheus’s ideals. But honestly, does she need to? I’m unsure if every Shadow-mirror operative thinks the way I do, and I’d really prefer not to ask.

As long as her cooperation is ensured, we will be successful. And regardless… I can probably learn a thing or two from her. Next anniversary should be a much brighter entry.

End log.

 

[Lukas]

February 10th, OE 102.

Operation Typhon status.. unknown. Prometheus is missing. Laura was apparently arrested. Not many details are coming out yet.

Some monster from the colonies tried to threaten me into providing him information. Transmitted some legitimate data to ward him off, but.. something's fishy there. May have to look into later. Threatened Laura as well, but... he doesn't know her like I do.
Part of me hopes he'll try to torture her. It'd solve a lot of problems.

Already submitted proposal for a breakout operation. We've fought a lot, but I owe it to her to help her out.

The world looks the same down there, even with everything going on. Governments collapsing, fragmenting.. an attempted coup on the moon.. it's a shame he's not here to see it. Having trouble keeping up with all the broadcasts, but it's a safe way to pass the time. Feel a little bad about the current lunar mess, but as far as I'm aware none of it leads back to us.

Not even my own involvement. James seemed grateful enough to keep the specifics to himself. Could force the issue, but waving my tail at him would be undignified. And probably provoke his partner.

Closing notes: proposal for new machine rejected. Apparently they don't appreciate the old Elaima engineering principles. Wonder what they'll send.

March 8th, OE 102.

False alarm on Laura. She's.. apparently fine. Shouldn't have worried about her. Not going to visit yet. There's too many security concerns. Did send a card with a file inside just in case.

Too many everything concerns. Current shadow mirror leadership is squabbling over specifics and preparing for a war. It's pathetic. Wasteful. Not planning on leaving, but I don't trust them to fulfill Prometheus's ideals. Going to need to look into an alternative.. or possible removal. Of myself or dissenting elements.

But not until they've gone through with their end. My machine request was finally accepted, I'm getting something.. 'special'. Their words, not mine. I don't have a good feeling about this.

They could have at least had it arrive on my birthday. Kept expecting some sort of surprise or present today, but nothing happened for once.
Kind of miss it, but I'd never tell her that.

Closing notes: Ensure this journal isn't being monitored. Keep feeling like I'm being watched.

August 8th. OE 102.

Shadow-mirror is no longer fit for purpose.

Okay.. that's an overreaction. I don't like where they're going, but they'll still absolutely function for half of their planned role. A shadow war is still a conflict in and of itself, but it cannot be the sole conflict. They're making a mistake.

But that's a tangent. Operation reflection has ended. Officially a success. Personally? A failure. Laura is gone. Somewhere, I don't know the specifics - but I extended a contact link to her beforehand. Got a 'present' through it that I haven't looked at since. And the machine I was given is barely fit for purpose. The artillery capabilities are... acceptable, but the lack of mobility is awful. I'd send it back if I could, but currently in the process of quietly removing tracking methods from my equipment. We may still be on the same side, but I am unsure how long that will remain.

Before I break, I need to be stronger. To have more materiel than the few pieces I can skim off the top.

We'll see how that goes.

Closing notes:
Something's wrong with the machine. There's a missing part, but it's not impeding function. Needs more investigation.