Ghost in the Machine
For the second run of this event, see Ghost in the Machine 2
Doctor Noonian Soong is creating a new form of artificial life: android-hologram hybrids. But not everyone agrees with the ethics of his research. Whose side are you on?
Details
Ghost in the Machine is a Faction Event beginning 12:00 PM (EDT) Friday, October 28, 2016 and ending 12:00 PM (EDT) Tuesday, November 1, 2016. Players can complete shuttle missions for the Augments, the Bajorans, or Romulans. These missions will drop Victory Points, which unlock Threshold Rewards.
This event offers a Special Pack that has a guaranteed drop of event featured crew if you spend 650 on the 10-pack pull.
FEATURED Crew
Featured crew give the largest bonuses to faction missions.
BONUS Crew
All characters below give a bonus to faction missions.
Event Rewards
There are 3 sets of rewards given in the event.
- Solo Ranked Rewards which are given at the end of the event based on your rank in the overall event. These are the top-tier prizes.
- Squadron (Ranked) Rewards which are given at the end of the event based on your squadron's rank in the overall event.
- Solo Threshold Rewards which are acquired at each level of displayed Victory Points .
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Faction Missions
Ghost in the Machine: Augments Faction Missions
Ghost in the Machine: Bajorans Faction Missions
Ghost in the Machine: Romulans Faction Missions
Storyline
Doctor Noonian Soong ran out of time to perfect his androids; the temporal anomaly crisis has given him a second chance. With the benefit of being able to study Data, Lore, and B4's development since his death, Doctor Soong has come to a startling conclusion: the physicality of an android is actually a hindrance to the development of an artificial lifeform. The true artificial lifeform isn't bound by the limitations of a physical body, but moves at the speed of thought, more like a hologram. To that end, with the help of the Augments, Doctor Soong has begun experiments in creating a new artificial lifeform, a fusion of hologram and android. This has attracted attention from his "son," Lore, who objects to the notion that androids like himself are flawed and has recruited the Romulans to his cause. Holograms and Androids alike who object to this research but do not trust Lore have found a champion in Winn Adami and the Bajorans, who argues that these new lifeforms are given sentience by the Prophets, not men.
Conclusion
The following was sent via in-game mail on December 6, 2016.
Ultimately, the strength and influence of the Romulan Star Empire—and the persuasiveness of Lore—prevailed. Funding and resources were dedicated to advancements in android construction and programming, overseen by Romulan authorities. Lore was naturally tickled by these developments, and foresaw a bright future for his people with the Romulans. He even let on that the Romulans planned to showcase the advancements in android design by creating an android version of a famous historical figure. They desired an unofficial opinion from Starfleet on which would be the more politically apropo choice: Vulcan father of logic Surak, or the Klingon mythic figure of Kahless?
On the advice of some of Starfleet's top squadrons, the Romulans created an android version of Kahless, the Klingons' most legendary hero. Though many Klingons swore no Romulan abomination could ever match the genuine article, when put to the test against the Kahless clone—also found to be in this timeline—the stunned Klingons could not tell the difference.
However, shortly after the breakthrough, tragedy struck. The organic clone of Kahless was stricken with a physically degenerative disease. Watching a legendary hero grow to weak to hold a bat'leth wreaked havoc on the national psyche of this already hot-blooded race. Lore, who claimed to be sympathetic, suggested that the Romulans offer to treat the organic Kahless, but secretly replace him with the android version and claim he was cured.
The decision was made to allow the ailing organic Kahless to die publicly, and prevent any switch being made with an android version. Seeing a mythic figure revealed to be only a man after all proved deeply affecting to the Klingons, who began to question their values. If the strongest warrior in Klingon history can fall so dishonorably, is his path still the one they should follow? Others argue that the Kahless who died was only a clone, not the real Klingon, who would never succumb to disease. This ideological turmoil suits the Romulans fine, who have a long-held enmity with the Klingons. Some wonder if it would have been better to give the Klingons back their hero in android form, one who would never falter and remain an enduring symbol for centuries. Only time will tell.