Burton Dome

Origins/Major Influence: Little Lost Scoutbot (a PARANOIA mission in the mission pack "Treason in Word and Deed")

Description: Hotchkis Burton is an right-wing American nationalist who was the self-proclaimed "King of Talk Radio" and leader of critically-acclaimed RADIO FREEDOM. He is a strident anti-communist who stands opposed to "Big Government" and gun control. However, Burton's political influence waned with the rise of the Polity world government. In a last-ditch effort to stay relevant in a changing world, Burton and his fans built an underground complex, where Burton would be able to eternally spread his propaganda to the outside world. Included are prototype cloning machines, a "killer robot" ("Abe-2") who would protect Burton, various other radio personalities who share the same beliefs as Burton, and lots of staff who actually control what Burton says on the airwaves. Even after the fall of the Polity, Burton was still able to deliver news to the survivors, providing the only sort of semi-reliable information (however biased) to the techno-savages and traitors in other Complexes.

Due to "replicative fading" (a euphemism for "genetic drift"), Hotchkins Burton-137 is now a "semi-gelatinous, once-human thing". If he was not insane before the global die-off, he certainly is now. But that just means he's not beholden to any special interest groups. He is certainly a very persuasive figure on the airwaves, allowing for him to spread his propaganda, and he boasts a network of informants and spies to tempt people to actually listen to his show to learn some useful rumor. Long-time listeners quickly learn to tune out his rants about "sociofascism" though.

Though Burton is the "symbol" and "CEO" of RADIO FREEDOM, everyone else in the Complex is a celebrity of some sort who contribute to the Radio's success, whether they were a "guest", a "host of their own radio talk show", or an "producer of a skit". Competition over who would get the most airtime can become very fierce, even if there is no guarantee if anyone is really tuning in.

Spy From Another Alpha Complex: Burton is not interested in overthrowing governments, creating utopias, or even doing anything subversive at all. At the end of the day, he is a talk show host, not a leader. Most of his spies search for information and data to feed into RADIO FREEDOM to keep listeners interested and tuned in. Burton, in particular, wants information that would reinforce his anti-communist message and make his propaganda more convincing and entertaining.

• The Anti-Mutants and the Humanists are planning an alliance in your sector. Leak any information of this meeting over to us, and spin it in a positive light: any coalition against mutant deviants must be good.
• Alpha Complex is considering new CPU regulations. An ever-encroaching bureaucracy will lead to slavery by Big Government, so this has to be stopped. Find documents of these CPU regulations and send them over to us so that we get the big exclusive.
• We have to demonstrate the dangers of socialism once and for all. Infiltrate and record a communist meeting in progress, live!
• Our radio transmitter is failing, and without that transmitter, RADIO FREEDOM will go off the air. Contact a HPD&MC technician and ask them to repair the transmitter for us. In return, promise them some free advertising space.