Alphacology

Origins/Major Influence: the Alphacology campaign, created by Stephen Whitehead and Laurence Dodds, inspired by the Shadowrun supplement Renraku Arcology Shutdown

Description: Alphacology is an underground complex ruled by Citizen Konputa, a sadistic and curious Computer who believes that the best way to care for society is to conduct tests and experiments on that society, and then use these results to make public policy. For example, previous tests indicated that a society that is happy is a weak society, so Citizen Konputa declares that sadness is now mandatory (and drugs are not used to enforce this sadness). These experiments are always done on traitors to the Complex, and tend to be very cruel (dripping acid in the eyes of traitors to create the perfect fabric softener), but the end result always benefits loyal citizens. The complex's most hated traitors are the Trade Unionists, though no one really knows who or what they are.

Traitors who have conducted numerous horrible crimes against the complex gets instead sent to a torture chamber, where their brains are modified by "strings of semi-intelligent molecule formations, data-pregnant RNA clusters and custom infections". Traitors here get turned into "drones", mobile Computer terminals that enforces the will of Citizen Konputa, "through force if necessary".

The complex is surrounded by "perimeter fences" and citizens are allowed to leave into the Outdoors. Citizen Konputa does not believe emigration to be a threat because Alphacology maintain political power through advanced subliminal messaging (they'll always return back home).

Spy From Another Alpha Complex: Alphacology is very interested in learning more about the world (and finding out new hypotheses to test). It however does not want to risk the lives of loyal citizens, and instead send "drones" off to gather this information.

• R&D keeps detailed records of the results of previous experiments. Copy them and transmit it back to Alphacology.
• Intel suggests that the trade union known as the "International Workers of the World" (the Wobblies) is active in this complex. Capture their leader and interrogate him to find Wobblies' activities in Alphacology.
• If we are to conq-er...liberate this Complex, we must first wean the citizens off their dependence on happiness drugs so that their society can become strong and productive. "Cold turkey" is the most effective way of kicking the habit, so get to it.
• Good news, our Complex is 100% traitor-free. The bad news is that we now lack test subjects to do experiments on. Here's a list of planned experiments: conduct these experiments on people in your Complex.