Nanomei Subroutine – Picketers
Most folk believe that daily life is only about suffocating misery and drudgery and death, which must not be disregarded. But what they forget is the pleasure this life offers. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it. After all, we’re not all ignorant. At least, we’re not all that specifically ignorant. Without the routine, we can’t have that other world to find ourselves, our true selves. Take your best memory and multiply it by a thousand – you’re still nowhere near it. When you’re in the Aetherium you have only one worry: staying there. When you’re out of the Aetherium, you have only once concern: getting back. In the material world, you are suddenly obliged to worry about all sorts of other nonsense. The Aetherium is insane and intense, but it’s pure. The Aetherium is honest. You can be yourself there.” Holden Fex
Life for the everyday citizen in material world consists primarily of grinding routine and drudgery. One day bleeds into the next as the general populace goes about its business: wake up, work, return, repeat. There are few pleasures offered outside of the Aetherium so, after another drab day, nearly all return home to submerge themselves in the digital reality, where risk, thrill, pleasure, and vibrancy about. They typical mundane users have little skills or equipment for manipulating the virtual world. Much like in their material lives, their virtual life is a series of petty thrills and quotidian processes; link up, browse, run a Sim, palpitate, log off, return. Though many of these users desire more, most simply do not know how, or do not have the talents necessary to further The Cause, any cause, within the Aetherium.
As such, the Nanomei makes use of a very simple Subroutine, the Picketer program. These base programs nearly run themselves with little guidance from the material user. Sometimes though, the need for a material mind is needed to allow Picketers to carry out more complex commands. during these occasions, the Nanomei will recruit drones. Drones are the typical user with little affinity for traversing the Aetherium beyond its most basic parameters. Drones often ache for something more than their petty lives, but lack the wherewithal to grab it. At times, drones are manipulated in a manner that they do not even realize that they are actively helping the Nanomei.
Unlike the Rabble, the Picketers do not cause mayhem and destruction. Instead, they obfuscate, blocking enemies, disrupting formations, and creating a non-threating diversion while their allies maneuver into position. Against civilians with no visible weapons, most user find themselves unable to bring the full force of their weapons to bear on a gatehring of Picketers. Even if engaged, the distraction caused by a Picketer program is enough to put an enemy off balance, making easy picking for other Nanomei forces.