xp_logs | Humanis Honoribus Amicis: Patterns identified, research needed

xp_trance posting in

Hope has identified some disturbing patterns and searches support to investigate further.

"Doug! I did not know you were going to be here as well." Hope gave a warm smile as she nodded at her mentor, folder tucked securely under her arm. "And thank you for seeing me, Ms. Frost." She nodded again, this time a lot more formal.

“It is always a pleasure, Hope,” said Emma, warmly. “And Douglas, my darling, always a delight. Take a seat, both of you. Now, to what do I owe this visit. I see paperwork?” She nodded at the folder Hope was carrying.

"Not so much paperwork as some possible things of concern I would like to discuss." Hope replied as she took a seat, accepting a glass of her favorite wine from the almost invisible butler. "I believe you are both quite aware of the events surrounding Haven... We are now almost six to eight months later and I am worried we are starting to see a belated backlash."

When Hope had asked for time on Emma's calendar, Doug had made sure to keep things clear for his own, to see what she had dug up. "Belated?" he asked. "Can we trace it directly to the events at Haven, or is this just an uptick in general anti-mutant sentiment?" There was always some level of bigotry, after all, and it ebbed and flowed, not always directly caused by any one thing.

"Perhaps belated is not the best word to use here." Hope conceded, as she opened up the folder and started laying out various papers before ending with a sheet of graphs and statistics that she handed directly to Doug and Ms. Frost. "Maybe it is best said that the results are becoming more visible at this point. A little while ago it appeared to me that there seemed to be an uptick in anti-mutant laws being proposed in various state legislatures. What you see before you are various examples of proposed laws, but if you look at the statistics that fact is proven correct."

“Anti-mutant laws are, unfortunately, not uncommon,” said Emma, looking at the information Hope had given to her. “The upward trend is clear, I can see that, but we do see these from time to time. Mostly when one state starts to copycat another and we have to beat them all to death in the courts.” She smiled suddenly at Hope. “I don’t disbelieve that you’ve found something interesting, because I trust your instincts, but think of this as a chance to persuade me further.”

"Two reasons. One, this uptick is different from earlier ones." Pulling out yet another sheet of paper, she handed it over. "The laws are more precisely written, with a bigger chance of passing. Therefore they are getting further in the legislative process. And perhaps even more significant, they seem to be getting a lot more grassroots support. Coordinated grassroots support to be specific. That is something that will make politicians sit up and take notice." Tucking her folder away for now, Hope neatly folded her hands in front of her. "The last fact is as interesting considering some other rumors I have picked up on. Anti-mutants groups are apparently working together more and more. Now this is a lot more vague and I am still looking into it, but I have received messages from contacts in three very disparate areas of the country. One report might be an accident, two a coincidence, but three in a short time start to constitute the beginning of a pattern."

Doug drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair and pursed his lips a bit in thought. "How similar a pattern of messaging are we talking here?" Whenever anyone started throwing the p-word around, he always sat up and listened, even if things turned out to be not so related.

"It is not so much a pattern of messaging as perhaps a pattern of actions from the groups from the information I received." Hope spoke slowly as she felt her way through. "We see that in many places we have stronger written bills that are getting further in the legislative process with strong grassroots support while at the same time we are getting signals from different parts of the country that anti-mutant groups have stepped up their cooperation. Especially in the light of the strong grassroot work. Correlation is no causation, but my instincts are telling me something is going on here."

"How are the groups stepping up cooperation?" Doug was sure he was leading Hope's presentation down the path she had planned, but even if he suspected she might be correct, it was still his part to be slightly skeptical until shown the data she had.

"Like I said, much is still rumors. On the outside, not a huge amount is visible... yet. It is mostly behind the screens. Strategy meetings, funding certain research together, naming each other in honorary positions the rank and file does not really care about. But the first bits are becoming visible. Organizing protests together, this speaks of planning a sort of 'Humanity First festival and in one or two places they are working together politically... and I wonder if that includes sponsoring bills." Hope handed around more papers. "The beginning of a pattern..."

“Is something worth investigating.” Emma sighed theatrically. “Don’t these people know we’re busy? And also that they are so terribly tedious. It sounds like we have two aspects to look into. Firstly whether we can find connections between the people sponsoring anti-mutant bills. Perhaps some kind of dark money super-PAC,” she added. “And secondly, rumors of links between the groups you’ve identified. I’m happy to support you with money, time, computer resources, whatever help you need from various Frost Enterprise boffins if you need it. Some of the young people I’ve hired in the cybersecurity division are remarkably good at that kind of stuff. I can make sure they answer your calls, if you want. Just write me up a list of whatever you think you need and I’ll make it happen.” She smiled suddenly at Doug. “Does my White Knight approve?”

"Fuck yeah, I'll get my travel mug," Doug replied playfully, matching Emma's energy. "I would hardly gainsay my Queen, after all. I'll work with Hope on the nitty gritty, and keep you apprised of the broad strokes." It was always a fabulous day when Emma handed him a blank check to go digging for bigots.