| D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L | |
|---|---|
| Status | Renting |
| Demand | High |
| Value | Varied |
| Availability | Established Supply Chain |
| Identifier | Carter Courier Channel |
| Description | A series of MC&D-owned warehouses connected together by a network of portals, allowing for the instantaneous transportation of non-living goods between all active instances around the world. Staffed utilizing revolutionary operational approaches, the product allows for the continued maintenance of ingress and egress of foreign material into the United States of America and of domestic goods onto the international market. This — paired with the sanitizing properties of crude portal technology — allows entrepreneurs globally to rent the product for their needs and remain active players on the US market in spite of GOC-mandated US quarantine, resulting in the prevention of the total economic collapse of the country and the world at large. |
| Marshall, Carter & Dark Ltd. | |
| Internal MC&D Report | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Robert Carter (Project Lead) | Date | March 1, 2049 |
| Interest | High | Identifier | Carter Courier Channel |
| Teleporting people is hard. You can't just dissolve someone and rebuild them from the ground up using their matter — it'd be equivalent to half-justified murder. The only actual alternative — quite literally bending the fabric of space-time to bring two places together — isn't just difficult; it's expensive, both for the client and the provider. It's dangerous, time-consuming, and unprofitable. In the long term, teleportation is a venue used only for the most extreme of journeys — those quite literally out of this world. But teleporting mere product? That's a whole story entirely. It doesn't have a soul to kill, no spirit to squeeze out of it as you unmake and remake it through the crudest of ways — all it takes to get one thing from one place to another is a well-realized setup and technology that has been known to man since the early 19th century. So, why hasn't anyone done it before, on a scale that could revolutionize world trade? The answer is nobody could afford it. Changing the entire infrastructure of an unwilling world has always been an unmanageable task, one that would be far from profitable. Until now. With the advent of the US quarantine, one thing became apparent to the world: the old means of transport are gone. What remained was to either die or adapt — and to adapt they all sought, all companies from around the world, hoping to find any way they could still participate in the market in spite of the Coalition-mandated Pizzicato. D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L is our solution to this issue. A single, unified way to save the world, under our taxable guidance. A single way to keep the money flowing to every corner of the world in spite of our circumstances, rentable to any and all companies willing to remain alive. Utilizing crude portal technology, D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L not only transports goods from one place to another — it also makes them perfectly sterile. Brute-forcing your way through the fabric of spacetime kills everything that's meaningfully alive within the packet — a property quite useful when it comes to ensuring that the Washington Virion, the sole perpetrator of this whole mess, never spreads with the spread of the goods to the global market. |
|||
| File Opened Under: | D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L | ||
| Marshall, Carter & Dark Ltd. | |||
AVIATICA
With the Wings of Freedom Rings the Bell of Progress
07/03/2049 | ISSUE 130, VOLUME 5
At What Cost?
Though it is impossible to argue that the Carter Courier Channel hasn't played an absolutely crucial role in saving the US economy since the advent of the quarantine, several issues in regards to the whole project still remain unclear at best, and very suspicious at worst. With the supposed miracle organized by Robert Carter and Skitter Marshall sweeping across the country at a pace never-before-seen, has anyone actually stopped to ask how the whole network is managed?
Marshall, Carter & Dark — the mother company behind the Channel — has been at the center of several controversies related to worker abuse in the past, so the amount of corporate redtape around the whole project is something numerous people have pointed out the second it went live. Although MC&D has never been all that open about its practises — citing the secrecy of fair trade as the reason for its confidentiality — the Channel really is a new low when it comes to MC&D's informational blackbox.
So, what the hell is going on? Though experts on the matter are yet to truly come to any conclusion… Read More
The Wandsmen
⁂thewandsmengazzete
BREAKING: Watch the Fourth Wandsman of Eurtec as he is joined by Robert Carter — "the champion of liberty" — ready to discuss how the Carter Courier Channel is saving the United States of America! "From the wealthiest to the impoverished — we are all more than beholden to the company. It is a debt we we could never dream to repay." -> WATCH NOW
- ECHOES 491
- HUMS 12,947
6:58 PM · Mar 8, 2049
To: robertcarterprivate@mcd_official.int
From: irenevesper@aviatica.int
Subject: Official inquiry in regards to D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L
Honorable Mr. Carter,
I am writing to you directly to obtain written permission from you to gain temporary journalist access into one of your facilities related to the 'Carter Courier Channel' (D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L) product. I was informed by several project overseers to directly seek approval from you, as they are incapable of authorizing any such inquiries alone.
As an official representative of Aviatica, I am interested in covering the story of your warehouses in one of my upcoming articles. I believe it would be a fantastic opportunity to not only spread word of your great work, but also to inform the average American about how exactly they are being saved from economical collapse — a transaction that would be more than beneficial to both my organization and yourself.
Therefore I must ask: what do you say? I attached all of my relevant documentation below in case of any further inquiries.
Yours sincerelty,
Irene Vesper
🔗 One (1) file attached: carter-courier-channel-coverage.pdf
To: irenevesper@aviatica.int,
From: customersupport@mcd_official.int
Subject: Re: Official inquiry in regards to D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L
Ms. Vesper,
Refer to article 15 of the Marshall, Carter & Dark Internal Operational Codex:
- […] As an active asset of Marshall, Carter & Dark Ltd., product D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L (hereafter referred to as 'Carter Courier Channel') remains protected within the confines of the United States of America under the Trade Secrets Protection Act approved by President Crenshaw in 2045; any and all inquiries into protected and confidential MC&D goods have therefore been declared as off-limits to any and all visitors (barring state and federal commissioners) to ensure the fairness of its operation within the US market. […]
As such, your request has been denied.
In case of any further inquiries, please contact other assistants directly.
Note: this message is an automated response. At the moment, due to limitations caused by the Washington Virion pandemic, we cannot guarantee a human assistant be available to handle your case. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Economy » Washington Virion
The Price of a Miracle — A Down-To-Earth Perspective on the Carter Courier Channel
by Jakub Świtoń, 2049
Published by the unVeiled magazine on behalf of the Three Portlands University of Economics
A visual representation of the total weight of groceries and associated goods carried by Carter Courier Channel onto the US market, as compared to the pre-pandemic import statistics.
So, Where's the Coffee?
Saying that the Carter Courier Channel isn't quite literally saving most of America from total economic collapse wouldn't just be intellectually and scientifically dishonest — it would also be an active insult to the fact that, in spite of its circumstances, this country is somehow still standing. Because of the Channel — and recent reforms in China, paired with the ongoing purge of "technocratic-corporatist elements" inside CCP structures — the global economy has remained relatively undisturbed. But among all of those applauses and congratulations to both Mr. Marshall and Mr. Carter that we are seeing more and more of, many have failed to consider a second angle to the whole situation — one far less optimistic.
For all of its many advantages, data yielded by the Carter Courier Channel seems to show a very worrying trend in its operations: that, in spite of its capabilities, the network isn't used only for essential goods, as it was advertised when it went live. In spite of Mr. Carter's claims that the Channel would be primarily a tool of bringing food and other goods needed for survival to the people of America, statistics compiled together by the Global Occult Coalition's Electorate of Demomancers show that more than 40% of its trade capacity is currently being used for unrelated business expenses of entrepreneurs worldwide — expenses that are not required for the survival of America.
During peacetime, this should of course be of no concern to anyone — but to a nation living under a looming Procedure Pizzicato, wholly cut off from the rest of the world, it does seem quite weird that there remain several thousands Americans suffering from hunger and lacking basic necessities. It's hard not to notice the staggering shortages of coffee and fruits and vegetables all across the country — especially when the network that was meant to provide America with said material mainly seems to concern itself with the interests of the wealthiest.
Recording of a 911 call made by one Irene Vesper on 12/03/2049
Operator: 911. What's your emergency?
Vesper: I'd like to talk to a representative of the Unusual Incidents Unit, please.
Operator: Reason stated?
Short pause.
Vesper: Suspicion of a federal crime by public party.
Keyboard sounds in the background.
Operator: Understood. Connecting through…
Few seconds of static.
Agent Miles: Agent Jacob Miles on the line. How can I help you?
Vesper: Um, hello, this is Irene Vesper speaking. Though…
Short pause.
Vesper: I'd prefer to stay anonymous for the duration of the report, please.
Agent Miles: Of course. What's your report, miss?
Vesper: I, ah, am calling in regards to the Carter Courier Channel.
Few seconds of silence.
Vesper: I'm a reporter for Aviatica, and I've enough material to—
Vesper clears her throat.
Vesper: Well, suffice to say, I believe that Marshall, Carter & Dark is conducting illegal operations on American soil under the pretense of running the Channel. In particular, I'm referring to the abuse of workers' rights, and—
She takes a breath.
Agent Miles: Please, take all the time you need. I will need to file in an official report, and—
A third voice in the background can be heard clearing its voice. For a few seconds, Miles doesn't speak.
When he begins again, his tone is slightly different.
Agent Miles: Miss, is there any evidence you can point towards with your claims?
Vesper: I… No, but—
Agent Miles: Well, then. We implore you to call again when you do. This office does not concern itself with wild claims of hysteria.
Agent Miles: Especially not in times such as these, with our forces stretched thin and paranoia rampant.
Vesper: But—
Agent Miles: Thank you.
The call disconnects.
Taken From: Objectively Objectivist #187 | Skitter Marshall
Melinda O'Connor stops laughing and takes a deep breath. Marshall smiles, and crosses his legs. O'Connor leans closer towards her microphone.
O'Connor: While we're in the laughing mood, here's a quick one, Skitter: what do you think of all them leftie activists shouting about how the Channel's staffed? Been hearing quite a lot of related stories from news outlets owned by…
O'Connor looks directly into the camera for a few seconds, silent.
O'Connor: Well. I do not think I can say that on camera.
Pause.
O'Connor: But you get me — there's a rising voice protesting your actions among the American public. Any thoughts on it you'd care to share?
Marshall pretends to ponder the question for a few seconds, fiddling with the hellhound-sculpted end of his cane.
Marshall: You know, it's a good thing you used the word leftie, Mel. That's exactly what I think about those activists you speak of.
Marshall scoffs.
Marshall: It seems that the American public truly does never change, eh? Even back during the Reagan era we've heard the bad faith communist voice shouting murder; it's the same thing now.
He shrugs.
Marshall: You know our staffing standards — they're up to every single requirement you could possibly think of. And if anti-American actors claim otherwise? Well.
Pause.
Marshall: Let's just say I'm not at all surprised that liberal media make their words heard.
INTELLIGENCE REPORT No. 14/2049
Target: Marshall, Carter & Dark
Miss Vesper,
We will keep our communication brief, both to ensure the swiftness of its delivery and to honor the partial benefits package you have chosen to purchase: your suspicions are correct. Although our agents were unable to fully penetrate into the D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L facilities you have outlined — and, as mentioned above, will attempt to do no such thing unless you decide to change the modus of your chosen service — we are absolutely positive that the actions undertaken therein are against the American and international law. Footage received but not transcribed tells us you were right in your claims.
Should you wish to act upon this information in any way, we would like to remind you of several aspects of your contract:
- 1. You are still bound by the anonymity agreement, on both sides of the exchange, and any attempt to break or circumvent it will be interpreted as a hostile action and acted upon appropriately;
- 2. You may do as you please with the received information within the confines of your own personal actions, in courts both private and public;
- 3. Agents of this organization are willing to continue on this thread of investigation ourselves should you wish to upgrade your purchased service, potentially resulting in more desirable results and outcomes.
As a free bonus and sidenote — consider this a sign of good faith, should you seek further business — do know that the words that Mr. Robert Carter will unveil before the world tomorrow are, indeed, not true. All of his so-called "donations" are nothing but attempts at circumventing the federal taxation upon the D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L asset through a non-involved Manna Charitable Foundation and a fully-aware PENTAGRAM. Carter's company has, and will continue to, add all profits earned from D24CF/S54CX/4MR8L towards its own capital only.
We hope to hear again from you soon; no matter what the future holds, however, we wish you luck in your future endeavors.
CLASSIFIED
Disclosure of this document to unauthorized individuals is a breach of contract and is subject to applicable action.
Taken From: Late Nights With Ned Davis: Robert Carter!
The live audience stops clapping; Carter stops smiling, and turns to look at Davis. He puts his hands together.
Davis: With that out of the way, here's a really big one: where is Iris, Robert? With a presence like hers, its really strange we've seldom seen her since the dawn of the quarantine. You'd think someone of her caliber would boast about the Channel being open. So, what's up with that? Our viewers are dying to find out.
Carter: Well, Ned—
Davis makes a theatrically over-the-top gesture, almost as if he was sharing a secret with Carter. When he speaks, his words are very quiet.
Davis: Is she afraid?
Carter lets out a belly laugh. He shakes his head, and smiles widely.
Carter: Oh, Ned, man. Are you hearing yourself?
He chuckles.
Carter: No, Iris isn't afraid — not of the virus, not of… anything, really.
He corrects his tie.
Carter: You haven't seen her as much because of work. She's just like the rest of us, folks — she's working hard to make the world a better place. And it so happens that her current work necessitates that she's alone with her thoughts for a few moments: with how important what she's doing is to the whole planet, she really does need the isolation to properly focus.
Carter: I can't quite tell you what it is she's doing just now, but you gotta trust me: it's going well. So well, in fact, that all three of us have decided we can make sure the rest of the world feels it, too!
Pause.
Carter: Going forward, we will be donating a part of our profits from the Channel directly to organizations helping save America, beginning our campaign by donating fifty million dollars to our friends over at the Manna Charitable Foundation and PENTAGRAM.
The audience begins to loudly cheer; Davis starts to clap.
He turns to face the audience.
Carter: But, if that's not enough to satisfy you curious folk and you really do need to visit Iris, make sure to stop by her PYRAMID in Eurtec. Do buy the entry tickets first, though!
The cheers of the audience turn into laughter.
Taken From: The personal belongings of Irene Vesper, "Videos" Album, ccc_1.mp4
The footage begins as the characteristic swirl of a closing Way can be heard. The visuals are shaky; the person recording is clearly breathing quickly and is covering the primary camera, engulfing the video in darkness until they suddenly take their hand off of it.
The recorder is standing in a large facility, hidden behind large crates of cargo. They themselves can observe the hall, but those marching around in it cannot see the person recording. Most of the gigantic hall is taken by the aforementioned cargo and small vehicles and automated infrastructure transporting it into storage rooms and next to teleporting technology infrastructure. Several teams of armed guards patrol the area.
On the floors of the building, several tents, bags, and sleeping bags lay. Most of them are unoccupied, save for a few, upon which malnourished figures are trying their best to sleep.
All around the hall, several more stooped figures walk around, all sorting various goods by hand and operating various automated machines. They all have visibly slowed down reaction times and have trouble navigating through the hall; still, they persist in their work in spite of this.
In the far corner of the hall, one of the figures suddenly stops and falls to the ground. Several coworkers urge them to get back up to no avail. After a few minutes, one of the guards comes to the figure and starts to shout at them, similarly with no consequences. They then begin kicking the figure until they first cover their head, and then stand back up. For a few moments, they absently stare at the guard. After a minute, they once more and continue their work, albeit at a significantly slower pace.
Somewhere else, a screen comes to life; upon it, a smiling figure with a "Human Resources" pin upon their suit can be seen.
Recording: Remember: a happy supervisor is a happy worker. Don't slack off, and earn your 8 hour rest today!
Elsewhere, cargo gets teleported utilizing the hall's infrastructure.
Recording: Fill your quota and meet your family this weekend! Contact your nearest visitations office for more information.
The footage goes uninterrupted for several more minutes.
Recording: God bless you, and God bless America!
Marshall, Carter & Dark Advertising
⁂mc&dadvertising
I want YOU for the Carter Courier Channel! If you're looking to gain hands-on work experience, participate in a one-of-a-kind self-growth experience, and help save America by working under a President Crenshaw-approved & recommended business, report to the nearest MC&D recruiter in your town! #ad #quarantine #saveamerica 🦠 🗽 🦅 ⚖️
- ECHOES 134
- HUMS 15,613
4:18 AM · Mar 17, 2049
Janine Miller (boss)
3:04
Apologies for the late hour, Miss Miller, but I *really* implore you to check your mail.
I've got material that'll get us to the first pages everywhere.
And, well, a 15 gb video does not send well over the phone.
?
Give me a second.
3:26
Christ, Irene
Was this taken by you? Are you aware of what trouble this could get us into?
I'm sorry?
Yes, you definitely will be the second this surfaces and Katz sets his eyes on it.
or anyone else from Dark's legal department, for that matter
Look, I am going to assume good faith because you've never been anything but faithful and hardworking
so I'm not going to report you to the police for trespassing and *several* other things Carter could make us pay for
but this video has to go, alright?
I don't even want to *risk* our public face getting damaged because of this
are you actually serious with me right now
Miss, I quite literally handed you a video showing MC&D commit crimes that'd land any other business owner in prison within a month.
You can't mean it.
God.
Grow the hell up, Irene.
I am well aware of what the video depicts; and what does that change?
Do you think it'll actually make any impact upon MC&D, or even Carter for that matter?
That's not how it works.
So get your head together and get that video off my company hosting service.
Or I swear I'll delete it myself alongside your position.
Excerpt from a recording of a speech performed before the American nation by General Thomas Bowe on 25/03/2049
The audience's cheers slowly come to a stop as Bowe clears his throat.
Bowe: Which is why it's important, in these trying times, to remember who the real heroes of America are. Who the real soldiers, fighting a war so that our great country may keep on standing, are!
He pauses, and points towards Robert Carter and Skitter Marshall, both standing behind him. A single member of PENTAGRAM personnel comes forward to join Bowe; he is holding a small open chest laid with the American flag, atop which two medals lay.
Bowe: In honor of their extraordinary actions in helping America remain on her feet, on behalf of President Crenshaw, I would like to officially thank misters Carter and Marshall in the name of all Americans, by awarding them with these two humble gifts.
Bowe nods to the PENTAGRAM member.
Bowe: Gentlemen, please, come forward.
The audience starts to cheer once more as Bowe personally takes the medals from the box and gives them to the two MC&D CEOs. The general shows Carter to come closer to the microphone, himself joining Marshall in the background.
Carter waves to the audience as he approaches.
Carter: Thank you, all! Thank you. It is truly an honor to be standing here before you all — to be standing before the true America. The one that remains unbent in spite of the attack on its borders. The one that survives, unchanged by the evil of its villains. The one that stays with god and nation, no matter how dark the day!
The cheers grow louder.
Carter: I could not possibly ask for a higher privilege than to be in my position, to help those who truly care and stay to defend their motherland, until the end of time! But—
He turns towards Marshall. The lanky man slowly comes forward. Carter puts his hand theatrically on Marshall's shoulder.
Carter: —I cannot possibly take all the credit here. Though it is my name that's attached to the Channel, Skitter is just as much of a hero as you and me. He too has worked days and nights to make sure that his great country gets what it deserves. He even agreed to axe his own name from the Channel's title as to make it fit with our standards — could you ever imagine a sacrifice greater than his?
He pauses, and takes his hand away from Marshall.
Carter: So thank you all, for giving us and President Crenshaw your trust. I promise you — you chose well. History will vindicate us!
The crowd starts to clap again.
Carter: God bless America!
To: robertcarterprivate@mcd_official.int
From: ltl35380@ilebi.com
Subject: Fuck you.
Carter,
I think you actually might be the worst person I can think of. Go fuck yourself with a metal rod, you piece of shit. I struggle to imagine how you can live with yourself. How does it feel, to look in the mirror every single day, only to see your face? How does it feel, being aware of what you've done — of what you're doing! — every waking moment? I wonder if you'd be just as charismatic as you were last night on TV if you had to look in the eyes of your workers' families and tell them the same things you tried to push onto the whole nation.
I'd tell you to go to hell, but knowing you, they'd welcome you with open arms. Go fuck yourself.
To: ltl35380@ilebi.com
From: robertcarterprivate@mcd_official.int,
Subject: An invitation
Ms. Vesper,
Though I truly doubt you are still using that throwaway email — come now, don't be surprised I know it's you — I appreciate the compliment. I really do; I've reached top ten lists before, but to take the crowning spot? Now that's a first.
As for your actual message: I sleep quite well, really. I sleep just as well as the rest of the world, aware or not — it's truly hard to care about anything, in a world in which everybody knows everything about everything. The world's a bitch, and the sooner you'll accept that, the sooner you'll learn how to play at a game you can never lose. That's just how it goes, really, whether you like it or not — and whiny rants won't change that, no matter how much you try to shout your truths.
Having said all of that: I am quite impressed by your dedication to the art, if I'm being honest. I've had many political opponents in my life, but very few of them went as far as you did to try and bring me down. They don't make journalists like that anymore. Which is a shame, really; in our job, dedication to giving the public what it wants to hear is paramount, is it not? It's a skillset I think my team could greatly benefit from — and, having heard about your recent self-brewed troubles at Aviatica, I'm sure that you could use a new paycheck as well.
So, whenever you're free — and willing to change your life — I'd suggest you give me a call. I'm sure your recent shady friends are more than aware of how to reach me, if you just ask them for a number.
Cheers,
Carter
To: robertcarterprivate@mcd_internal.int, skittermarshallprivate@mcd_internal.int
From: irisdarkprivate@mcd_internal.int
Subject: Further plans
I truly cannot believe I am saying this, but excellent job, boys. I would not have done it better myself, had my work not required my isolation inside the tomb. You will be greately rewarded for this.
But, if as I hope, splendor and capital are not enough for you: meet me at the PYRAMID. There are great things brewing — things that will soon change the whole world.
Come change it with me.
