ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

The mathematical branch of the Void Engineers headed by Dr Hill is little known by the Traditions, but they are a vital part of the Technocracy. They develop new methods for use in the research oriented conventions, control the academic disciplines related to mathematics and constantly research the implications of Sleeper mathematics to avoid possible threats to the paradigm. They have strong ties to the Statisticians of Iteration X and the Forecasters.

The group is in fact quite old, among the oldest parts of the Technocracy. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the Pythagoreans, although the group mainly developed during the late Renaissance. Originally it mainly dealt with developing the necessary mathematics for astronomy, helped such giants as Newton, Gauss and Laplace. It later diversified as the utility of mathematics became apparent, and different subgroups split off and became their own disciplines (like the Statisticians or the logic-theorists which latter evolved into the Virtual Adepts). Today it's very respected and so taken for granted by everyone in the Technocracy that its existence is almost forgotten.

Most mathematicians spend their time studying Sleeper mathematics, writing research papers or participating in various conferences to direct mathematical development in the right direction. They are among the most anonymous technomancers possible, practically impossible to discover. Their various amalgams deal with specific areas, such as cryptography (another area where Dr. Hill fights the Virtual Adepts), topology, numerical analysis, combinatorics and all other mathematical disciplines. It's common for other Conventions to approach them with specific problems they need solved.

Their philosophy is simple: develop mathematics and mathematical models to encompass all of reality. When this has been done, everything will be essentially orderly and stable (although not necessarily computable or predictable). Mathematics is pure thought which can be given physical form. Some mathemagicians believe that reality itself follows from a mathematical basis, and try to develop a model for it.

Most technomancers of the MRG specialize in Entropy, the study of complex systems and probability, or Prime, the study of structures. Other valued spheres are Mind (to gain better control over one's mental processes), Correspondence (the study of geometry) and Time (planning and optimization). They use complex mathematical formalism to use the Spheres, often combined with extensive computer simulations if the problem involves Entropy. They don't use any direct magick, preferring to integrate it into the paradigm instead. This makes them almost immune to paradox. They also use their mathematics defensively: they can easily point out how improbable certain things are or find flaws in coincidences.

Relations to other Conventions

New World Order

They need our models and algorithms more than anyone else, and always consult us. We are swamped by requests for statistics, logistical analysis, encryption and decryption schemes, not to mention their obsession with mathematical models of societies and people.

The Syndicate

They are unfortunately not very good at mathematics, and their laughably inaccurate theories complicate things a lot. What they need is once and for all to define their axioms and then stick to them.

Iteration X

They apply our mathematics. While some Sleeper mathematicians see applied mathematics as something impure, we realize the need for it. Iteration X has realized the need for precision.

Progenitors

They rely mainly on some combinatorics and lately on knot-theory. Usually they just consult us to improve their own models.

Void Engineers

We seek to plumb and fill out the last voids of knowledge, making the universe self-consistent, logical and elegant. The other parts of our Convention deal with the material aspects of it, while we take care of the abstractions.

Quote

"Isn't it surprising how mathematical the world is?"

Rotes

The MRG develops solutions and rotes for other Conventions. In fact, many of the most common rotes (like the Time-Motion Study of Iteration X) were originally developed by the MRG. However, most of their rotes are just used as integral parts of other rotes (like the Fast Fourier Transform or the differential geometry used by Void Engineer warp drives) or incorporated into consensual reality.

Model Structure (Entropy 1, Mind 1, Prime 1)

By examining a system, the mathemagician can create a mathematical model of it. Using this model he can then simulate its behavior, often in conjunction with other rotes. He can also monitor the differences between the model and reality (using Entropy 1) to see if there are unknown factors or manipulation involved.

Catastrophe Theory (Entropy 1, Time 2)

By analyzing a system, a mathemagician can predict when it will suffer any drastic change in structure or behavior, usually called a catastrophe. This can be used to predict the exact moment something will fail, someone will change his mind or paradox strike.

Optimization (Entropy 3, Time 2)

This is so common in the Technocracy that few realize the origin of the rote. Essentially, it allows the user to optimize something by calculating the optimum way to do it, removing all random or irrelevant factors and making the system orderly and predictable.

Each success will decrease difficulty by one or add one success to any task which can be optimized, such as designing a system, running a bank or sabotaging an installation. However, in order to work the task must succeed on its own.

Complexify (Entropy 3)

Often the Technocracy do not want others to understand the inner workings of their devices or their theories. It would, for example, be disastrous if some future technology got into the hands of the Masses. Therefore the MRG has developed a general way of making theories, objects or rotes more complex and harder to understand partially based on coding-theory. By randomly mixing the parts and introducing self-organizing elements they can make the simplest structure so complicated that it will become impossible to understand, while still working as it should.

Each success adds two to the difficulty in understanding how the target works. The rote must be used when it is designed or constructed, it won't work on a finished system.

Logical Loop (Mind 3, Prime 2)

This is essentially a computer virus developed by the logic research team and the psychologists of the NWO. It is a small set of postulates, which will quickly overload any logical system capable of understanding them (mainly computers, but human mathematicians or programmers are vulnerable) by constantly expanding itself and increasing in complexity without ever repeating. It has proven very efficient against Virtual Adepts, who often tend to think in slightly computerlike ways.

The Loop will quickly expand and fill out all available processor power and memory of a computer which starts to interpret it correctly. Humans must understand the Loop (requires Computer 3, Enigmas 4 or Mathematics 3) and will then be partially infected. Usually it will only lead to a minor obsession of thinking through its implications (which never end), but in severe cases the victim becomes catatonic. If it successfully infects the mind of a victim, it will drain as many Willpower points as its successes as the victim can't resist thinking about it. After a while, the victim will get a new Willpower test, and if he fails the loop drains more Willpower. If Willpower reaches zero the victim goes into catatonia until somehow freed from the Loop.

Coordinator Structure (Entropy 4, Spirit 4 + other Sphere)

This is one of the most advanced results of the complexity research team. They found that under very general circumstances physical (or other) systems of sufficient complexity could be subtly manipulated to contain a self-organizing mathematical structure called a Coordinator Structure. These structures are essentially a built-in control system, which can be designed to perform various actions depending on circumstances. For example, the semi-random behavior of an ecosystem can be kept within certain bounds by adding a Coordinator Structure, or the fluctuations of the Market could in principle be controlled using self-sustaining Coordinator Structures (the Syndicate has vetoed this). The New World Order has expressed great interest in Coordinator Structures, and are studying if they could be integrated within the human mind.

The system has to be complex enough to exhibit self-organization. The mathemagician carefully analyzes it, develops a mathematical model and creates the Coordinator Structure using subtle manipulations. It is necessary for the responsible research team to know the necessary system well enough to control it in some aspects (Forces 2/4, Matter 3, Life 2-4, Mind 2/3, etc.). The structure can fulfill simple commands within the system, like keeping it orderly, minimize certain factors or optimize others. Any sufficiently strong fluctuation will destroy it.

Daleth Deciphering (Entropy 5)

The coding experts of the Technocracy and the Virtual Adepts fight each other by creating ever more secure ciphers and by cracking the others codes. The MRG has develop a series of codes based upon curves in Teichmüller spaces called epsilon-codes while the Virtual Adepts have perfected public-key codes. Both sides, however, realize that any code can be broken by using sufficient amounts of brute force and ingenuity. In fact, the MRG has developed a very general deciphering scheme named daleth deciphering, based on huge amounts of computing power and their most ingenious algorithms. It can be shown that it can decode all possible codes in a finite time, but the process usually takes a long time and requires the most acute minds of the Technocracy to work well. The Virtual Adepts fight this by trying to make Sleepers use encryption too, so that their own messages are hidden by a torrent of other encrypted messages. The NWO and Iteration X are jointly developing an expert system using Daleth Deciphering to meet this threat.

Gödel Openings (Entropy 5, Prime 4)

Kurt Gödel demonstrated that any sufficiently complex mathematical system contained theorems whose truth couldn't be proved. This was at once a blow to the Technocracy, and an opportunity to expand its reach. The mathemagicians have found that by judiciously exploiting known holes in accepted theories, technomancers can use magickal effects normally not allowed while still not contradicting the theory (and incurring paradox). To find these "Gödel Openings" extensive computer simulations and tweaking of the model is needed, which usually requires the help of the sharpest minds of the MRG. In exchange, it is possible to find situations or methods which make certain operations permissible even if they are not part of the paradigm. This makes it possible to do some work normally done in Horizon Realms on Earth instead, which is much more economical.

The desired effect must not be directly vulgar (against the laws of consensual reality), but doesn't have to be coincidental. A typical example would be the use of nanotechnology. It's currently not in the paradigm, and its capabilities are as yet undefined. By modelling the paradigm and modifying the effect slightly, the mathemagicians can find circumstances where the nanotechnology would work even if it's not part of the paradigm. A necessary part of this is to make sure the effect will not leave unambiguous traces if the paradigm should change so that the effect was never possible. In the example, the nanotechnology have to be possible to explain away as biotechnology or something similar if it later turns out that the Symposium decides it should be scrapped.

If the rote succeeds, a set of related vulgar without witnesses effects can be made coincidental.

Talisman

Provably Safe Operating System (4)

Dr. Hill has managed to construct, together with the NWO, an operating system which is totally safe. It is mathematically proven (and verified) that this system cannot be broken from the outside; it is a mathematical impossibility. The NWO uses it as a defence against the Virtual Adepts, despite its drawbacks. It's very slow and unwieldy, and writing applications for it taxes the skills of the best programmers in the Technocracy. But safety before economics, as the NWO says.

The operating system is based upon a complex web of interlocking codes, consistency checks and an ingenious use of zero-knowledge proofs. The only way to crack it is either by subverting its system operator or by using vulgar magick. The NWO has linked it to paradox detectors.