Neo Sapien Network

[ The video opens onto the desk of one Dr. Ezekiel Annan. All things considered with regards to the NSO and what it means and what they do as an organization, his office is rather humble looking. Neatly kept, especially compared to Ms. Hosada, lacking in personal effects, and other than having the window overlooking the Middle Ward skyline behind him, there's not much visually to speak of.

Dr. Annan himself has a tea cup and saucer before him, taking a small sip before letting out a hum and thinking how best to go about this address. ]

I want to start by thanking everyone who stepped up to improve hq security over the last few weeks. The break-in was an eye-opener in a lot of ways, and I definitely feel we should stop underestimating the resources of those who have a vested interest in our destruction.

That being said... I'm sure you all have a lot of questions.

[ To say the least ]

To begin with, the cases in the sub-levels are recovered materials from a defunct corporation known as Seimei Keiretsu. Much like the Douman Zaibatsu, they specialized in communications and biotech industries. Part of my job when I worked at Douman Zaibatsu was pouring over the research Seimei had completed into the nature of Meta-humans and, well... making sense of it all.

[ Another sip. Another sigh. Just... how to put this? This was a lot of information to give out publicly, but he also couldn't well keep this information secret any longer, either, and not betray his own ethics. The NSO were his family... he had a responsibility to them. ]

Seimei Keiretsu had stumbled onto a means of artificially inducing the genetics that determine Meta-human status. Those cases contain various results of that research. The Douman Zaibatsu has been trying to replicate their results for... decades now. Before I even worked for them, and well after I left.

I don't know why they're so determined to do so. It's my idea that whatever Seimei Keiretsu came across is what destroyed them as a company. There's no one left on the grid, or alive, who knows for sure what they found in their research. Some of my former colleagues in the DZ had their theories... I have some of my own.

But whatever it is, we have to keep it safe and away from the hands of someone who'd misuse this information.

[ Well... he realized something about what he said after it had already left his lips. He takes another sip. A long one. And brushes his hand along his lips and jaw, unable to keep eye contact with the camera. ]

I say 'we', but... That's kind of a nebulous thing right now. I really mean "I", and... whoever is willing to continue helping me after all of that.

I'll leave you all to discuss your own place in this, but right now, I don't doubt things are going to get worse. If this isn't something you're willing to deal with, I... completely understand.

But whatever decision you make, I made mine a long time ago. Humanity is on the edge of a new era. And we have to see what's beyond it with our own eyes. I, for one, want to assure this new era is one all beings have a place in. The Douman Zaibatsu... disagrees.

Just keep that in mind.