Cypherite activity quickly decreases, probably due to the defeat of one of their main leaders but no doubt they are simply regaining their strength. Nevertheless,
organizational priority soon shifts back to the threat of the Assassin.
Both the Machines and the Merovingian send forces to try and obtain the insecticide code from Zion but are ultimately unsuccessful.
Zion soon realizes that without an efficient way to disperse the insecticide code it would be practically useless in a live battle situation. Operatives are sent to infiltrate machine facilities and acquire the schematics for a device called a “flit gun.” These weapons have been deemed the best way to use the insecticide against the Assassin.
After careful analysis of the schematics for the flit gun Zion discovers that it is
impossible to code it completely from scratch, so they have no choice but to make a deal with the Machines: insecticide ingredients for flit gun parts. The deal itself spans several trade offs throughout the city, with Zion sending its top operatives and the Machines sending agent programs to ensure the transitions go ahead smoothly.
Unfortunately, Merovingian forces are still able to stop some of the trades from being completed. Despite their interference the deal is deemed a success and both sides leave happy.
During the trade offs, Ghost is ordered to request additional Machine assistance in deciphering a data disk found by operatives during a raid on a Merovingian base. It turns out the disk contains a list of names under the heading “Operation Omega.” The names are those of top ranking Machine and Zion Redpills. “Morpheus” is the name first on the list…
Machine operatives discover some more information regarding Operation Omega while on a standard recon mission. It seems an exile program by the name of Fillament was the one that created the kill code hack used in the Assassin’s bullets and, more
interestingly, was under the employ of the Merovingian at the time. The hack works by using a sample of the victim's RSI to track their location in the real and remotely cancel the auto-jackout. Each bullet must be specifically designed for a single target and the only one that can use the code is a specific exile- the Assassin.
It’s apparent that the Merovingian was researching a way to permanently kill Redpills and the end result was the kill code hack and the Assassin program. It’s also apparent that Operation Omega is some sort of hit list that aims to take care of the
Merovingian’s enemies. As a side note, Niobe and Ghost are the next names on the list.
Zion coders are successful in decompiling the flit gun parts acquired in the machine trades and mass production begins immediately.
Exile forces strike the various flit gun production centers around the city in an attempt to destroy Zion’s only hope of defeating the Assassin. It seems the Merovingian doesn’t wish to help destroy the rogue program after all but rather protect him. Could they be working together once again?
Zion begins searching for the Assassin’s lair but to no avail.
A message is sent to Tyndall requesting a Redpill come to meet the anonymous sender, as apparently they know the whereabouts of the elusive Assassin. Reluctantly Tyndall sends an operative to meet this unknown informant even though it simply cries
“trap.” The informant actually turns out to be none other than the Merovingian’s wife, Persephone. She tells the Redpill of how she truly hates the Assassin program and simply wishes him to be destroyed. Unfortunately for her, her husband is determined to protect him for some reason so she decided to approach Zion for help. She reveals the Assassin has set up a base of operations on a garbage barge located in the Megacity river. However, it is impossible to access this barge by normal means. The meeting ends with Persephone giving the Redpill coordinates of a Merovingian base where further information as to the location of the barge can be found.
The operative infiltrates the base and accesses a computer containing information on a hidden network of hardlines that runs throughout the entire Megacity. This secret
network leads to several places of interest including “The Morgue” and “The Coroner’s Office,” but most importantly, the Assassin’s barge.
A Redpill is sent to the barge to test the actual effectiveness of the insecticide code against the Assassin. He does indeed find the deadly exile and armed with a prototype flit gun is able to severely weaken him. However, the Assassin is able to escape through the hardline network before the final blow can be struck and returns into deep hiding.
Chapter 2.3
Arrival of the Commandos
A new group suddenly appears throughout Megacity: mysterious camouflaged commandos. Their motives are unknown as they have yet to show any aggression towards any of the other powers, but extreme caution is being taken considering the recent events in the Matrix.
A Zion scout team witnesses one of the helicopters that have been distributing leaflets around Megacity land on a building rooftop. It appears that the commando group are behind the choppers as a general disembarks, meets with a squad of other soldiers then takes off again, leaflets in hand.
Zion decides to use this opportunity to make first official contact. Scouts track the soldiers to a nearby vacant building and an operative is sent in to meet with them.
The commandos say they wish to make friendly connections with all the major powers in the city and agree to follow the operative. Tyndall orders that the operative let the commandos be “accidentally” killed by exile gang members so that documents they received from their general earlier can be acquired. She believes the documents may shed light on the group’s motives.
The soldiers were carrying a list of coordinates referring to several helipads around the city. It seems that these areas are meeting places for the commando group.
Surveillance is increased.
Through the increased surveillance on the landing zones, Zion is able to learn of a meeting between the commandos and Merovingian forces. Anome is put in charge of the mission to spy on this meeting, and he sends in an operative to bug the room where the meeting is to take place. Despite Anome’s confidence, security measures pick up on the operative and the meeting moves to another location. The Redpill arrives at the second location just as the meeting is beginning. After hearing the Commandos and Exiles speak of peace Anome orders the elimination of all exile
forces. Fighting ensues but direct orders from Commander Lock requests the operative stand down and pull out immediately. Tyndall is put back in charge of commando-related missions.
Commander Lock orders that any further dealings with the commandos are to be peaceful; Zion cannot risk getting off on the wrong foot with this possible new threat.
However, this sentiment doesn’t extend to the exile forces that have meeting with the commandos. A Zion operative is sent to hunt down the leader of the local exile gang that has been having meetings with the commandos. After several dead ends the operative finally comes face to face with their leader and with a little gentle persuasion manages to learn that the commandos are actually ex-military programs from the machine world and that in their meetings they had offered the Merovingian forces a
“non-interference agreement.”
The commandos re-approach Zion with the prospect of a peaceful meeting.
Unfortunately, Merovingian forces somehow get wind of the meeting and proceed to occupy the surrounding areas around the meeting place. The operative representing Zion is sent to dispose of the exiles. After the area is cleared the meeting goes ahead but before any real progress can be made the building is compromised. Luckily the
operative is able to take the attackers down and the meeting is postponed until a more secure area can be found.
Zion and the commandos do eventually meet securely and the commandos propose an alliance. They reveal they are indeed exile programs but that they too wish to break free of the machine’s oppression. They say their single wish is to make the Matrix a safe haven for any and all life forms that have a living consciousness. Tyndall agrees;
an alliance with such a well-organized group would indeed benefit the cause of Zion.
She forwards the request to the council for careful deliberation.
To better relations between Zion and the commandos, Commander Lock orders that an operative be sent on a mission teamed up with a squad of commando soldiers. The mission selected is a clean up of the Camon Heights area. Slasher gang activity has been on the increase and with the Bluepill police being unable to solve the problem it falls upon Zion to make the area safe again. The mission is a success.
Redpills are horrified to see that thousands of fly swarms have infected the sky over Megacity. The clouds are no more and all that is left is the Assassin’s foul pets.
Corrupted once again begin to spawn around the city; they again attack anyone regardless of organization. Even worse, they once again begin the spread of the fly virus. Code fragments dropped by the Corrupted are found to be part of the Assassin’s ongoing memoir but unfortunately they are unstable with only a couple of words per fragment and with no clear order.
Zion and the Machines decide it is mutually beneficial to work together in a temporally alliance against the Assassin’s foul Corrupted in an attempt to solve the code fragment puzzle. Less cooperative, however, are those under the employ of the Merovingian;
after all, the Assassin was once considered their ally and most are confused to his intentions. Despite this, the hard-headed Lupine leader Ookami takes up arms without
her master’s consent and joins the fight against the Corrupted.
Perhaps angered by the fact that one of his supposed “allies” is now working against him, the Assassin leads an attack against the proud Ookami. Unfortunately she is defeated in her fight against the man of flies himself, and barely escapes with her life.
But the fact that she wasn’t destroyed raises the question: could the Assassin be weakening?
It seems the Assassin’s actions against Ookami didn’t go without consequence as Flood makes an announcement on behalf of the Merovingian: all Merovingian Redpills are to assist the forces of Zion and the Machines for a common goal- the complete destruction of the rogue exile.
In a surprise appearance, Seraph himself approaches Redpills at Mara Central. He spreads the word that the Oracle wishes to address them all concerning the current situation. All those present follow him to the nearby “Debir Court;” ironically, this is the same place the Oracle met with Neo during the Smith incident. She speaks of how the fly swarms spread a disease into the system and unless something is done soon, the Matrix will be stressed beyond its ability to self-repair. She again speaks of unity to the Redpills, and of how all must work together, like they had done to defeat the complete Corrupted, to defeat the Assassin once and for all.
Realizing the threat to his existence, the Assassin comes out of hiding and actually joins the front lines of battle alongside his Corrupted. He moves swiftly through the city, killing any who stand against him. Unfortunately, there is nothing the Redpills can do to defend themselves as the flit guns and insecticide have yet to be distributed.
It seems the Assassin’s direct involvement with the ongoing conflict has begun the spread of an even stronger strain of the fly virus. This new threat actually corrupts the RSIs of the Redpills themselves, turning them into a mass of flies only kept stable by a mask much like the assassin’s.
Niobe, Agent Pace, and Flood each hold meetings to their respective organization's operatives. In these meetings they encourage the Redpills to continue working towards unlocking the secrets within the Corrupted fragments, but more importantly tell of how the flit guns and insecticide codes are almost ready to be distributed. It is almost time…
The flit guns are finally ready for mass distribution. All Redpills are urged to collect one of the weapons from any of the distribution centers throughout the city. At last, all have the power to defeat the Assassin.
Now that they stand a chance against him, the Redpills of the city begin a widespread hunt for the Assassin. Despite his fast movements he is no match for the mass
combined forces of Zion, Machines and Merovingian. He is brought to near death several times but somehow still manages to escape.
In a last ditch attempt for survival the Assassin somehow splits himself into four
separate beings. He takes refuge at the places hinted at in the Corrupted codes: Club Avalon, the Uriah wharfs, the Abandoned Subway and the Church of the Disciples.
Redpills finally decipher the Corrupted codes and the final showdowns begin at all four locations. The Assassin is severely weakened from his previous encounters with the insecticide code and fights a losing battle. He eventually falls to the might of the united
Redpills, and he fades out of existence once and for all. Those that landed the killing blows are awarded copies of his mask from Seraph himself, a gift from the Oracle it seems.
The Assassin was apparently killed yet the Corrupted still spawn and the skies are yet to clear; something is amiss. Niobe decides to search the Assassin’s barge just in case some aspect of him managed to survive. Unfortunately, her suspicions prove correct as the final aspect of the Assassin lies in wait. Taking Niobe by surprise, he is able to bring a gun to her head but just in time a Redpill arrives and strikes the crucial finishing blow against the last Assassin. It is finally over, as the remains of the Assassin sink into the river below.
Despite his eventual destruction, the Assassin’s corruption still lingers within the
Matrix’s code. Some is even strong enough to take the physical form of dead flies. As a result, Redpills are sent on code clean up missions and as a reward are given a
memento, a fly in amber.
After rigorous clearing of the Corrupt code the skies are made clear again. It appears the Assassin’s foul grip on the matrix has finally ended and in celebration of their victory each organization holds a party. Niobe, Agent Pace and the Merovingian personally congratulate the operatives on their hard work and tell all to enjoy this moment while it lasts.
Chapter 3.1