Blizzard launches 'Project Blackstone' site - Page 15

Welcome!

Esteemed Colleagues:

It is my profound pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to Project Blackstone. Hold your heads high, people. You are now members of a select team, a group that has been handpicked by top officials in Dominion intelligence and approved by Emperor Mengsk himself. You will be the front line in scientific research dedicated to the protection and expansion of our empire of man throughout the Koprulu sector.

I am sure that many of you have questions regarding the nature of your selection, your brisk arrival, and the expected duration of your stay. That information will be made available to you when I see fit. Until then, please familiarize yourself with the facilities and get to know your peers. The badge issued to you upon your arrival will trigger automated guidance lights running along the floors, so be sure to keep it on your person at all times. Hallways marked with green lights will indicate the path from your quarters to your designated workspaces. Hallways lined with a flashing yellow light are off limits, and represent potential danger to unauthorized personnel. Hallways lined with a red light should be avoided at all costs, and your presence there will guarantee a speedy execution. Please restrict your movements to the approved areas only.

Again, welcome to Project Blackstone. I look forward to making your acquaintance at the barbecue in the (green-lit) social lounge this evening at 1900 hours.

Dr. Helek Branamoor, PhD Chairman on Dominion Xenostudies, Imperial Science Advisor, and Chief of Research for Project Blackstone

RE: Welcome!

My Dear Dr. Branamoor,

Imagine my surprise upon finding a "Reply All" option at the bottom of your warm and informative welcome note. I am uncertain if you intended this as encouragement to me and the rest of your honored guests to engage in open discourse or if you merely forgot to remove the option. Regardless, I am certain that I am not the only member of this exciting new team with a less-than-favorable opinion of your recruitment methods. I consider myself a patriot and supporter of the current regime, and so a simple invitation from your department would have resulted in my speedy, dutiful, and voluntary acceptance of this new opportunity. It certainly would have been much more cost-effective than sending one of your uncouth ghost agents to haul me through the broken glass of my imported colonial Teredelle windows at some ungodly hour in the night. I didn't even have time to pack a toothbrush.

Please consider this a gentle reminder that you can attract more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.

Dr. Talen Ayers, PhD Xenobiologist, bestselling author of Ayers on Aliens, and frustrated invitee

RE: Welcome!

Esteemed Colleagues:

Your digital correspondence is now locked down. Please run further communication through the approved private channels, and limit your messages to topics of pertinent research and findings. Upon further consideration, I have decided to cancel this evening's soiree so that we can get right to work.

We have been able to acquire several specimens of larval zerg for our first procedure. I had hoped to present them with some surprise and fanfare at the barbecue by delivering them in a serving bowl at the center table; that is the sort of humor and friendly levity that I had wished to engender in our team. But now that opportunity has been soured by this unfortunate display of ill spirits by Dr. Ayers. I ask you all to consider how quickly one negative comment can ruin things for everybody.

Well, what's done is done. Our xenospecialists will find the larvae sterilized and prepared for dissection in Biolab 2. Previous studies have uncovered some surprising similarities between the zerg larva's pluripotent cellular structures and our own embryonic stem cells. We are interested in finding a means to both arrest the obligatory asymmetric replication (the astounding healing factor) of the zerg, and adapt it (in some measure) for our Dominion soldiers. I would invite other members of the research staff to observe the dissection and participate in any post-mortem discussions regarding analysis and possible weaponization of what we uncover.

Report to your assigned workspaces immediately.

And again, welcome!

Dr. Helek Branamoor, PhD

Seriously though, I'm thoroughly enjoying this.