Exercise pg. 69
- Who is the main antagonist against Keper? Conrad Kullen, his pseudo father figure (for many mutants); Working with EIN, but also as a mediator (spy for Canaan), not sure when he was born, seems like 2050ish making him in late 70’s but has taken anti aging drugs as well as had mutant manipulations to his body. Looks like he is about 40 and quite fit. Is Conrad German, Austrian, Swiss – did something happen to his family with Herbert Engle? He knows George Engle – what is the link?
- Conrad’s defining quality. Manipulator very physical, strong opinions on politics, Liar Being a manipulator means that he wants power or prestige or something else for himself; being on top of the pyramid of power, pulling the strings and dictating events and the whats, whens, wheres, whys and whos of the current situation. He is power hungry and has to have a reason for this. There is a weakness involved – what happened in his life that made him become so willing at wanting more and more power and so good at it? Something happened before and during the Exodus for sure. He is constantly thinking and plotting, working with any means necessary – subterfuge, terrorism, violence or any other various spy techniques. He has worked with mutants for years, becoming their father-figure for many of them. What is a father figure? It is someone that inspires trust and allegiance, through the careful semblance of upholding rules, being fair and understanding his children. Basically, Conrad uses the mutants to gain his own agenda, which is basically to move as many pieces on the chessboard as possible. Thus, he needs to know many things happening around him – information is his power – and he needs to be able to carry out many things without attracting people to his influence. This means bribes, secret organizations and a large spy ring is needed. He basically rules Moscovia and won the war for EIN for certain concessions.
- The opposite of this is cooperation. He yearns to trust others and to work with them instead of dictating their actions. He also desires to find another like him that can do more than he – so that he can rest – but he would never admit that. He assumes Keper is that one, but Keper senses something later and in Conrad’s mind – betrays him and his rightful place – but it is a sad attempt at trying to get what he wants.
Richter sighed. He knew it was coming. The ultimatum and the price. He shook his head and looked up at the imposing face of Conrad Kullen, whose face had etched a thin smile upon it. Calm emanated from Conrad, but Richter was tense. “So, please continue. What do you want for this?” “Ah, Richter, you think you know me well. Of course I want something: I want your trust.”
- What would Conrad never say or do or think? Where would he say these things?
He would never admit to weakness or to his ultimate goal of being the overseeing power: decider in the solar system currently. He might admit this to one of his secondary helpers, and possibly to the mutants he is having taken to the gates, but this would be rare.
- What are his personal stakes? What is his main problem conflict or goal? What would make this problem matter more? More than life itself?
His main goal is to be the power monger for the entire Sol System; the hidden manipulator behind the scenes, with fingers in every pie. Has ties with the defunct Bilderberg Group (but don’t say that in novel) and continues his own goal of trying to unite a world group into a Solar group, since they are scattered. His contacts are as follows:
Ankor Phett - very little contact since they are beneath him
E.I.N - masterminded the breakaway from Canaan, since he considered Canaan too focused on the spiritual aspect of mutant tech rather than the practical applications; hopes to turn EIN into the main power in the system
Latania Confederacy – has agents and spies there since they are closest to PIC without being PIC, but they are low on the totem pole
Mohammedan Arabica – Has tenable links, but since most are insular, does not care too much. Seeks to divert some of their money into other projects, but since he is working for EIN – their intrinsic enemy, it is difficult to get them to agree.
Moscovia – Has strong ties with Moscovia and uses them for many of his clandestine activities. The Midsummer Wars was his failure to contain the Moscovians but he later reached an agreement with them and gave them support in other ways while banishing them to Triton. Basically they are mercs that he enjoys using, but there are some in Moscovia who do not like this puppeteering. Roman is one and basically he is playing with fire.
Nippon – Has worked hard to finagle his way into their insular culture and lives, as well as their Arcs. Has a few possible contacts but information and leverage is low with them. This is one group that he wants to be more in contact with and may use Keper’s recent situation with them to leverage that.
Oceanus – sees them as a waste of time, but since there is interest from RTA, is curious as to the future. Is watching them.
The Blane Constituency – Basically, his only main enemy and foe, because he cannot access them easily and they are against everything he stand for since they are basically anarchists. He sees them as subversives and would love to do away with them. This is basically what current Anonymous is probably wanting to aspire to.
The Canaan Foundation – Basically the split between Canaan and EIN is for business only and there are no real hard feelings. Conrad basically manipulates both and encouraged George Engle to depart from Canaan, and also mentioned how and when to acquire the mutants that would help jumpstart the newly formed company.
The Federated States of America – There is still a lot of weapon tech that was used and basically he used Moscovia as a means to get at the down-n-out FSA while they were struggling to survive and regain footing amidst of all the embargoes and such (of which he helped continue well beyond they should have). He has little trust or like of the FSA members and continues to use Moscovia as a means to keep them down.
The Indus Corporation – Has a grudging respect for this company/state, mainly since they were instrumental in developing enough grav tech items based in eco-habitats (ecohabs) to be able to live on such worlds. Basically there was money here and where money flowed, power and prestige does and did as well so Conrad is heavy into this pie as well.
The People's Incorporated of China – Conrad sees PIC as an elderly grandfather; one that has earned respect, but that is soon to be eclipsed by other, younger more vigorous siblings. There is no doubt that PIC basically saved the remaining humans after the exodus and maintained control, although it had a sense of draconian at that time (for about 9 years after – til 2093). However, he believes the Chinese mentality is and will always be one of passiveness and acceptance, and thus he senses this as weakness, right for exploiting. He may not directly harm PIC’s interests, but has used PIC against others as well as vice versa.
The Republican Territories of Africa – Similar to Indus, he respects the RTA basically for the potential of the bioengineering being done. But he basically wants to steal the tech and use it himself.
The United European Colonies – While the UEC’s territories on Terra were not too badly damaged (but still drastic changes happened but they were better off than most) the current power of the UEC is weak and unsure of its next step. Having only recently jumped off to Europa (a fitting place in theory, but hard to live there). Currently Conrad is not that interested in the UEC, until they can get their act together. He is considering helping them siphon some of Arabia’s money into their accounts….
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