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Description

A major design specification for Athena was that her chassis had to be capable of physically moving at least twice as fast as a human soldier; Although her AI nature inherently improves her "thinking time", this is only one factor in overall reaction speed. Being able to physically draw, aim, shoot and reload faster than a human soldier is a vast advantage, as is the ability to rapidly redeploy in response to new threats or cross firelanes more quickly.

This alacrity was largely hidden after her return to civilian life in 2014. Officially, this is because her full capabilities are classified; unofficially, most people find such turns of speed both inhuman and intimidating.

Things did become different after she broke the Veil. Surrounded by a patchwork of different species, each with their own unique traits, her abilities were less strange; still considerable, but not quite so alien. In the culture of Albion, she has been able to cut loose rather more.

Most obviously to those around, she has often been seen running with Rina Jones - although Athena derives no health benefit herself, it provides both with the opportunity to socialise. (Chicersted, the village that serves as the base for Cerberus's London division, has very few centaurs*, and thus very few running partners that can match their speed).

*As previously discussed, centaurs have become fairly isolated in the modern age. While more humanoid creature species can usually travel between veiled settlements using regular cars (although both glamours and tinted windows are often a necessity), this isn't usually viable for centaurs and they consequently seldom travel.

Officially, Athena can hit 80 kph (50 mph) in a run, although many commentators suspect that her actual top speed is actually considerably higher - either way, more than enough to keep up with a centaur.

~~~~~

Anyhow - a return to Fracturing Veil after a few interludes. And one in which I remember that it's a science-fantasy setting.

~~~~~
Fracturing Veil

It is 2018.

The United Kingdom is still arguing over Brexit, Vladimir Putin has been re-elected for his fourth term as Russian president, and a disillusioned AI super-soldier is failing to live a normal life.

After witnessing vampires attack a police officer she'd only just met, the pair are thrown into a world hidden from mortal eyes. Recruited by "Cerberus", they find themselves working alongside a sarcastic half-dragon, a distant arachne sorceress, and other paranormal denizens in order to try to maintain a 500-year ceasefire.
This is the Fracturing Veil.

Description

A major design specification for Athena was that her chassis had to be capable of physically moving at least twice as fast as a human soldier; Although her AI nature inherently improves her "thinking time", this is only one factor in overall reaction speed. Being able to physically draw, aim, shoot and reload faster than a human soldier is a vast advantage, as is the ability to rapidly redeploy in response to new threats or cross firelanes more quickly.

This alacrity was largely hidden after her return to civilian life in 2014. Officially, this is because her full capabilities are classified; unofficially, most people find such turns of speed both inhuman and intimidating.

Things did become different after she broke the Veil. Surrounded by a patchwork of different species, each with their own unique traits, her abilities were less strange; still considerable, but not quite so alien. In the culture of Albion, she has been able to cut loose rather more.

Most obviously to those around, she has often been seen running with Rina Jones - although Athena derives no health benefit herself, it provides both with the opportunity to socialise. (Chicersted, the village that serves as the base for Cerberus's London division, has very few centaurs*, and thus very few running partners that can match their speed).

*As previously discussed, centaurs have become fairly isolated in the modern age. While more humanoid creature species can usually travel between veiled settlements using regular cars (although both glamours and tinted windows are often a necessity), this isn't usually viable for centaurs and they consequently seldom travel.

Officially, Athena can hit 80 kph (50 mph) in a run, although many commentators suspect that her actual top speed is actually considerably higher - either way, more than enough to keep up with a centaur.

~~~~~

Anyhow - a return to Fracturing Veil after a few interludes. And one in which I remember that it's a science-fantasy setting.

~~~~~
Fracturing Veil

It is 2018.

The United Kingdom is still arguing over Brexit, Vladimir Putin has been re-elected for his fourth term as Russian president, and a disillusioned AI super-soldier is failing to live a normal life.

After witnessing vampires attack a police officer she'd only just met, the pair are thrown into a world hidden from mortal eyes. Recruited by "Cerberus", they find themselves working alongside a sarcastic half-dragon, a distant arachne sorceress, and other paranormal denizens in order to try to maintain a 500-year ceasefire.
This is the Fracturing Veil.