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Penumbra

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OpsTec is a series of military test Dolls developed by Svarog Heavy Industries with the primary purpose of putting optical camouflage technology through combat testing. This technology is undergoing small-scale testing in the middle of its research, and it has only been provided to a limited amount of elite specialist units employed in special operations, espionage, and assassination scenarios. Despite nominally being a Doll created for the purpose of technical testing belonging to the company, the singular existing OpsTec model was provided to a certain military magnate, and participated in a series of secretive missions under their command.

With that magnate's deposition during a conflict in 2057, the OpsTec model now dubbed "Penumbra" was retrieved by Svarog and provided to Project Neural Cloud afterwards. Despite unforeseen circumstances arising, the model passed the Project's tests.

Doll Profile 1

Research relevant to optical camouflage capable of concealing combatants and equipment in an operational environment began in the era of the Cold War, but only made meaningful progress in the middle of the 21st century. Due to their as of yet incomplete state and tremendous costs of operation, these technological modules have only seen action in the hands of select Spec Ops units and PMCs backed by considerable capital.

—Excerpt from [Wikibeta "Optical Camouflage" Article]

The research team responsible for optical camouflage, Omega-07, assembled a Doll body for the purposes of temporary testing, giving it the temporary codename of OpsTec. The former part of the moniker can be interpreted as "Optics" or "Octopus", a creature adept in disguising itself, or even "Operations", which is nothing less than fitting for the series of missions the Doll would be assigned to.

OpsTec does not have a formal model name, and even its body was put together from motley spare parts. While engaging in Project Neural Cloud's testing, research personnel discovered that some internal structures are similar to Gaul, a notable Sniper Doll. Additionally, after mission completion, its systems erase any relevant mission records.

—Excerpt from [Agent Cell-9's Investigation Report on OpsTec's Background]

Doll Profile 2

According to reliable sources, OpsTec resembles yet at the same time greatly differs from its intended usage of "Combat Testing of Optical Camouflage Technology". Its creation was entirely facilitated by Omega-07, and the sourcing of funds and parts are not recorded in any form within Svarog Heavy Industries' internal databases.

Many doubts still surround Omega-07, including rumors that they might have been active and running even before the war, and expanded their presence by providing military technologies to various factions via the black market. After being absorbed by Svarog, these operations did not cease. Hearsay would claim that it became Svarog's "black hand", responsible for more private operations. Its leader, Erik Ignatius, was assassinated after attending a technology summit in 2056. His assassin was Gaul.

For as long as a year after its creation, OpsTec was assigned to operations in many places around the world in the name of "technological field testing", working as a mercenary and assassin while gathering experimental data. Towards the end of 2055, Omega-07 handed OpsTec over to a military magnate, "Colonel Hassan", who at the time was attempting to attain further influence in the country they were in.

Doll Profile 3

[Diary Code 205808216578565]
"No data relevant to past missions can be acquired from OpsTec."
"Retrieval failed. No records readable."
"Retrieval failed. No records readable."
"Three consecutive retrieval failures - system forcibly entering hibernation. Restart will occur 12 hours from now."

[New Message - Sender: Agent Cell-9. Playing Voice Diary 5808211141]
"We've made contact with the aide-de-camp of the fugitive Colonel Hassan and acquired a wealth of information about OpsTec—or Penumbra, as they call it."
"Colonel Hassan viewed Penumbra as a secret weapon. A majority of assassinations on important figures within the country in which Hassan was active was planned by him alone, and carried out by a squad of assassins including Penumbra. Omega-07 viewed Hassan as a cooperative partner and vowed to provide an automated army composed of many drones and advanced combat Dolls to him after his ascendancy to the position of president. OpsTec would be the blueprint for those combat Dolls."
"Theoretically, Penumbra can lurk in an adverse environment for as long as a week, albeit shackled by the short durations for which optical camouflage can be active. Its areas of expertise include the operation of vehicles, disguise, and improvisational assassination techniques. During an assassination mission on an attire industrialist that refused to cooperate with Hassan, Penumbra infiltrated the grounds of a fashion show, damaging the ceiling rigging of a light fixture and dropping it on the target as they took the stage to give a speech."
"Hassan trusted no one. As much as Penumbra was nothing but a killing machine that carried out its mission, he smelled the danger lurking within. Outside of mission time, Penumbra was almost permanently in a restrained state up until Hassan's downfall. What is interesting is that as a result of this incarceration, Penumbra is largely clueless about everything outside of what is necessary for completing a mission. He would have considerable difficulty with heating a frozen pizza in an oven."

Doll Profile 4

[New Message - Sender: Agent Cell-9. Playing Voice Diary 5808211141]
"There is something else interesting. OpsTec's recorded a scuffle with a big name—Gaul. Their assassination targets had been making contact at the time. After completing their missions, the two fought. I don't know who came out the victor, and I'd think that only they... ah, their mission records are bound to be long gone as well."

[Attachment Received]
[VIDEO_570115.mp4]

"OpsTec... Penumbra has been sent after a former trusted aide of Colonel Hassan's. The target has hired the militant group, "Two-Faced God", to protect them. The head of that militant group, Yuma Kozlov, was Gaul's mark."

[Recording 00:24:15: A Two-Faced God Mi-35 helicopter, bearing the fleeing Kozlov, is shot down by Gaul using a high caliber rifle.]
[Recording 01:01:17: OpsTec quickly clears out the soldiers and cyclops within the underground parking lot, and soon eliminates the target hiding inside a vehicle.]
[Recording 03:25:33: A wounded Gaul encounters OpsTec after escaping from encirclement inside the parking lot. They engage in combat, with neither giving way.]
[Recording ends.]

"I'll say it again. I don't know who won. But with both of them still alive and kicking, maybe someone'll find out eventually."

Doll Profile 5

"It is... certainly the first time... I've seen a Doll incapable of operating a vending machine or oven... He appears to be well and truly estranged from modern society..."
—Undine, a part-time employee at Oasis Mart, a convenience store open around the clock

After arriving at the Oasis, Penumbra frequented the newly opened Oasis Mart far more than any other location. According to him, he "can find everything in the world there with no trouble", without the need to make his own meals or communicate with others at the canteen. He does encounter difficulties with tasks such as using a microwave to heat food, or printing something with a public printer.

Another strange reason he gave was that "the takeaway offered at the convenience store is pretty close to the rations from way back". Penumbra has a penchant for meals that only appeal to a small crowd or are largely unpopular, such as bean sprout stir fry with cabbage and zucchini, the Levantine Seven Spice meal kit, etc.

When leaving and entering dormitory grounds, Penumbra often climbs vertically up and down the buildings' outer walls. At times, he can be spotted traversing telephone poles, street lights, and rooftops. This has been the subject of many complaints, but most of them came to nothing due to the lack of damage caused. Gradually, these oddities came to be accepted.

"As the situation is currently, it may still take some time and careful guidance in the right places for him to adjust to normal life."
—The Oasis Safety Department in their report after short-term observation of Penumbra