#Cypher on the Range and Audio Drama, Oh My!

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opaque thicket
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Patch 5.07 suddenly brought us a new Cypher NPC on the range and a new audio drama following some agents of REALM as they move in to track down Varun Batra. What does it all mean, what's it leading to? Let's discuss.

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Here's a transcription of the audio drama from Glaceon:

"That's affirmative convoy lead, REALM truck 4 out. Veer right at 200m, we're maintaining course."
"Copy that. Once we hit the highway, how far to the staging point?"
"Not far, Capt. Greaves said our target is passing the linchpin in 72 hours. We'll be ready"
"Hard to call Varun Batra a target"
"No kidding, he's a legend. Met him when I first signed up with REALM- smuggling ring bust in Algeria."
"Really?"
"Nicest guy you'll ever meet, assuming you're on the same side. Man is an absolute terror out on the field"
"Really building confidence in the mission, sir"
"Easy now, after all this, Batra's as good as dead"
"How's this time any different from before?"
"Greaves is putting the budget to work. Regional fire support, access to their satellite network. Never seen him this wound up"
"That's one word for it. Why couldn't we run a capture op first? I mean, come on, live munitions"
"Greaves can have that conversation with REALM command"
"I don't believe it, whole thing's a shame, after all those years of service. Batra is a hero, not a traitor."
"He stole an artefact with power we've never seen before and tried to murder Greaves"
"Sure... if you believe Capt. Greaves"
"I'm choosing to ignore that juvenile and very dangerous statement. Eyes on the road, private"
"Yes, sir"

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My first question is on that 72 hour thing. Do we think those are gonna be real 72 hrs, or will we be waiting for the next patch cypherthinking

spare harbor
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I mean, if we are to assume the picture presents what the vp already found, then it probably already happened

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although the picture could be a complete different group of people to those talking

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"How's this time any different from before?" could support the idea that this is happening live but I still think it's the same people that varun already put in the washing machine

plucky iron
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Give me about 2 hours to get out of class and home, and I'll break this up.

austere flower
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CYPHER NPC????!

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OH MY GOD

west wedge
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so varun is a well known guy within his circles

REALM seems to be a very large organisation. larger than VALORANT at least.

greaves is not the head guy and isnt the one making the decisions

varun supposedly attacked greaves after stealing the artefact

REALM refuses to capture varun

He was a hero?

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we know a bit more about what REALM deals with now from the smuggling ring bust. though the context of heroics is still hard to comprehend here

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do they save people? or property

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their organisational structure seems to imply the latter tbh

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we know they have at least one captain and probably many privates. i hope we get more out of this org

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varun attacking greaves could mean a lot of things

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-greaves could easily be trying to abuse this power (or give it to his higher ups)
-varun could be more than just a REALM operative and have ulterior motives (something like an astral guardian type role, but for artefacts?)
-greaves said something super mean

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varun does slightly remind me of ulfric stormcloak specifically bc of this

opaque thicket
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I think it's odd that this private makes the comment he does about Greaves. Sounds like he might have something of a questionable history

west wedge
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and because of this transgression, REALM wants him dead, no second chances

west wedge
opaque thicket
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Idk. It sounds like he's got something personal against Batra. "I've never seen Greaves this wound up" and the fact that they seem surprised they aren't attempting a capture effort first make me think that Greaves is taking this farther than he perhaps should be

west wedge
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?

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they both seem to like varun

opaque thicket
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Both the operatives, ye

west wedge
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calls him a hero

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oh

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you meant greaves

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not the private

opaque thicket
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Neither of the speakers are Greaves

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Yeah, Greaves doesn't like Batra, I think, lol

west wedge
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well he does claim to have been attacked so who knows

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though

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another interesting thing

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it doesnt seem like they specialize in radianite artefacts as the one varun stole had "power we've never seen before"

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which makes me think even more than varun isnt just a REALM guy

opaque thicket
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Maybe

west wedge
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rn im just coping with the "terror on the battlefield" line so that maybe that means he is radiant

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just a lil bit

opaque thicket
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I personally think he's a radiant

west wedge
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no one else does 😔

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yoru steals a mask: no one bats an eye
varun steals a ball: everyone loses their minds

opaque thicket
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Everyone on Icebox was distracted by the pizza party, ofc

west wedge
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paul was a plant by yoru to get access to icebox

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ofc

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oh

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do we know where the artefact was stolen from

opaque thicket
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Not yet, no

west wedge
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wondering if this might be the first agent to join with basically no kingdom connection at all

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wait no

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we have astra

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also the only agent interested in him tho...

opaque thicket
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Also directly connected to Breeze....

west wedge
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wait

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how did he get brimstones email

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??

opaque thicket
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I grabbed the two emails from Greaves. It's weird that he doesn't want it publicized. Yet all the noise their making seems to be forcing it into the global spotlight

opaque thicket
west wedge
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yeah but thats on the VAL secure

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fades is on her own thing

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kinda weird if they exchanged emails

opaque thicket
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She also could have forwarded it to Brim

west wedge
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maybe

opaque thicket
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Anyway. This entity that's been in contact with Batra. Do they have something to do with why he stole the artifact?

west wedge
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possibly

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i think if its not VP its someone who will eventually become a VP ally

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would be strange if it wasnt

opaque thicket
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It would

west wedge
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i just hope its a person and not a whole other npc org

plucky iron
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Fuck it I'm bored. There are 2 relevant bits to this transcript:

  1. The realm operation

What we know:
The realm operations looks like it's gonna be a big show. Paramilitary group with the goal of artifact reclamation from the black-market, I suspect this won't be the last we see of them.

Assumptions from what we know:
Lets start with the resources. A convoy of at least 4 trucks, regional fire support, satellite use and 72h to stage. Sounds like there will be at least 16 (I would guess 20-24) REALM operatives, with live ammo, artillery and satellite. Whatever Batra is up to, they expect a good fight from him and whoever (if anyone) is taking the "linchpin" from him.
This looks like an escalation from REALM, how far will they go to recover the artifact? They must have an idea of the power he wields, and they might be using the satellite to aid the operation, but also gather info/evidence of it's power.
I expect this doesn't end well for REALM, and this might be where the VP takes action on there own goals. I'm not sure how they intend to contact/capture him, but the VP taking action against a group of interest (GOI - thanks SCP) will be interesting.

Questions to be answered:
What are REALMs capabilities, and are the artifacts they deal with regularly powerful in nature?
When will the VP take action, and will they react/treat Batra?
What will REALM do if the VP does take action during or after their op.
What is the power of Batra and his artifact(s)?

  1. Varun Batra backstory

What we know:
He's taken the artifact and is on the run.
Killing him seems to be the priority, with recovery of the artifact second.
He is accused of attacking a medium rank official in REALM
Well known and some questions the validity of the accusations.
Definitely combat capable.

I'll leave the theorizing to someone else.

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I'm late, sorry. You guys already went over some of that.

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Greaves emailing Brim means that the VP is known in some of the darker corners of the world, and that REALM has the intelligence capabilities to find them, or at least an email.
The VP has been tracking Batra, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were the ones in contact with him, and I don't see an alternative.

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Long shot, but could Batra be our agent 8?

grim cradle
west wedge
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shut it hater

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my boy radiant af

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shine bright like a diamond varun

chrome leaf
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this line makes me sus

unknown.png
plucky iron
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That's what makes me think he's our agent 8. Only a small possibility. Not likely, given there isn't anything other to support. Only proof is that the VP has been tracking him, and he took a radianite artifact.

lost rover
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Ok so let's look at points one by one... Greaves has claimed Varun tried to murder him.
two possibilities:

  1. If Greaves is lying. That puts him in a VERY unflattering light and makes this whole operation a very extensive plan to kill Batra, not capture him. He does not want Varun captured because that would mean Varun will talk and possibly expose him, so it is better to kill the man.
    But then, what was Greaves doing that led to the fight with Batra?

  2. Greaves is being honest and almost got killed by Batra. He might have caught Varun doing something he should not have, maybe using the artifact when he was not authorized to touch it? Even if this is the case, then Varun must have been VERY insistent on not being held accountable for something he had done and got caught for. This, based on how the realm operatives talk about Batra, seems very out of character for him. What could cause such behavior?

Regardless of him being truthful or a liar, How has Greaves managed to convince the higher ups in REALM to put so much resources in such a mission?

west wedge
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the artefact

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if he succeeds the artefact will be theirs again and its a win win for greaves and the higher ups (speculative)

lost rover
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Well the thing is, if the operation was not so focused on killing Batra there could have been other ways to capture the man. But it seems like Greaves prefers Varun dead. That is where things get muddy.

plucky iron
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I would say he has convinced them to put the resources in by demonstrating the power of the artifact. That could be a secondary objective to the satellite, show off what it can do, and to show that destruction or recovery is a priority.

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That's how my smooth brain would do it.

lost rover
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What is obvious is that the VP is about to face off with Realm. Both groups are trying to predict where Batra is headed next and to intercept him. Both groups seem to have similar projections on where Batra is going. It may not happen but for now it seems inevitable that the two organizations will face off

plucky iron
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I'm worried this will be the VP's major showing/leak in the public eye.

lost rover
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oh

plucky iron
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Sorry, I hit send too soon.

lost rover
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Cypher is going to have a lot on his hands

plucky iron
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Realm has too much. This type of op, I'm assuming body cams, heavy intel gathering, satellite recording.

plucky iron
lost rover
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It is inevitable that VP will have to have a more public face off incoming, it is extremely difficult to be completely invisible to the public eye and at some point they will be seen. what remains to be seen is if they can cover this up or not. Greaves being a liar could potentially help VP cover things up.

plucky iron
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If the VP cover this up Cypher gets a buff.

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Now everyone wins, or I can finally go to bed in peace at night.

lost rover
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That's why he's shown up in his office... he has a loooooot of work ahead needs to be in his office full time

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one thing worries me here and it is that it seems that the whole team that is working on getting Batra is Radiant... Astra, Skye, Yoru, Omen

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If a fight breaks out, it will be between Radiants and humans and it can paint radiants as dangerous

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and I don't want to see that happening

opaque thicket
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Wait, hold up. You do point out a very concerning point on how REALM might spin the VP successfully capturing/rescuing Batra. We already know the whole thing is rather in the public eye, and they could spin the whole thing like "This dangerous water radiant and his 4 radiant friends rolled up to attack our humans who were only trying to do their jobs!"
But. VALORANT's narrative doesn't seem to be using the radiants vs humans angle for the present timeline, so idk if that will be the route they take. It's possible the VP could also be made out to be a terrorist organization

west wedge
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riot has been teasing the public reveal of valorant since like. 3. something

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like how much longer do they have really?

unknown.png
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this is from 4.01 btw

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bc right after this there was the fade thing

lost rover
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I still think Alpha VP will manage to stay hidden for a while longer... it will become an open secret in the end, but I think they still got a bit to go

west wedge
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literally the next email actually

opaque thicket
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Oh I was also thinking that both Yoru and Skye are already seen as criminals in the eyes of Kingdom, so that's gonna be a fun PR nightmare.
Good thing Cypher now had Fade and Chamber for technical track covering backup

gray charm
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Especially now that we've seen how Omega Earth's VALORANT has come out into the light, and they were received well by their public
Seems only fitting that Alpha's VP would be revealed to the world and be hated by everyone

gray charm
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Aight, I'm done backreading and with Disturbo's stream

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Small wall of text incoming

gray charm
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So, first of all, the Audio Log itself
To me, it seems like this is Cypher hacking into REALM's communications in order to spy on them/get a better idea of that they are up to
From the fact that Cypher seems to have it as a playable file on his laptop, I think the audio was something he intercepted in the recent past (like, a few hours ago at most), and recorded - probably to show to Brimstone and the others during a meeting

That, or the Audio is a REALM audio log, pre-recorded, that Cypher somehow got access to
But why? Why would REALM record that? Was the superior going to make a case against the Private for the comment against Greaves?
Seems unlikely

Either way, in 72 hours from when that discussion was had, REALM is going to ambush Varun at 'the Linchpin'
Is the Linchpin a place? An entity?
According to Wikipedia, "The word 'linchpin' is also used figuratively to mean 'something [or someone] that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together'.
So maybe it's something that REALM expects Varun to head to, perhaps where he would feel safe enough to let his guard down, allowing them to ambush and capture kill him?

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Next off, Varun's history in REALM

Varun has an incredible and long-winded history of exemplary service for REALM, and has many of the lower-ranked members in REALM (including both the unnamed Private and the 'Supervisor') looking up to him in awe and respect
And while the Supervisor is going forwards with his orders (good soldiers always follow orders!), the Private is genuinely skeptical of what he is being asked to do... to the point of claiming that Greaves is faking his claim of being attacked
The Supervisor seems to have a middle/highish rank, and he claims that Varun was already a member of REALM when he signed up... and even the Private says "whole thing's a shame... after all those years of service... Batra's a hero, not a traitor!"
This man has clearly earned a very good name for himself, both as a good person and a legend on the battlefield

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About his performance in combat

Nicest guy you’ll ever meet - assuming you’re on the same side. And an absolute terror on the field.
Varun was exceptional as a fighter even long before he had the artifact - which now really pushes me into believing that Varun was a Radiant, and a pretty powerful one at that. How the Artifact boosts this, I am not fully sure of, but he definitely had above-average capabilities even before he could use it

A note: In Fade's Email to Brim when she first discovered Varun, she called him an 'Antiquities Expert'
That would imply that she was unfamiliar with his powers and abilities when she sent that... which makes me question how thorough her investigation was
Going off-topic here, though

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Next
Greaves and Varun seem to have a vendetta against each other
Varun tried to kill Greaves before he fled, and Greaves is going out of his way to make sure that Varun ends up dead and not just captured alive

Oop, I have to go afk for a bit
I'll continue this when I get back

void saffron
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Okay breakfast and i'll add my two cents

gray charm
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I return BIMSTO
More text coming

void saffron
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Aight I don't have much to add but here goes.

Not only is REALM mobilizing at least 4 convoys, it also seems that either they have been able to contact regional governments (Regional fire support, access to their satellite network.) to get them to help capturing Batra, or they have presence in a vast section of Asia, which is nothing sort of insane, as it would mean that REALM not only is much larger than the PROTOCOL, but that there is a chance they have come into contact with KCorp already.

On the topic if his radiance, I was more inclined towards him being Radiant and using the artifact in a similar manner to Yoru's mask as we've been speculating for a while, but unfortunately I don't think this gives us any hints towards that actually being the case. Sure, he could be an excelent soldier (Man is an absolute terror on the field.) before stealing the artifact, but looking at Brim, Sova and Raze it doesn't necessarily mean anything. He could very well be an incredible marksman, or have great strategic abilities, and have just gained his water abilities after taking the artifact. I still believe he is Radiant though.

And for Greaves and upper command, it's nice to know that Greaves isn't the leader of REALM, but it's also a scary thought. The only contact VP has had with REALM is a man that we do not know we can trust judging by how sketchy he has been throughout the emails, and especially now with the voice comm. To me, this is definitely Greaves trying to frame our boy Varun. We just have to find out why.

gray charm
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As I was saying, before I was pulled away

Greaves and Varun seem to have a vendetta against each other
Varun tried to kill Greaves before he fled, and Greaves is going out of his way to make sure that Varun ends up dead and not just captured alive
For Greaves, this mission is personal, and I don't think that he will be willing to stop at any ends to ensure that Batra dies
This has gotten to the point that safely retrieving the stolen artifact, the reason for which REALM is (officially) chasing him in the first place, has been bumped down to second priority
The fact that Greaves called in regional fire support implies that there might be heavy artillery brought in from the local authorities/military, the label 'REALM Truck Four' implies at least 3 other trucks full of soldiers, they are using live ammo, shooting to kill, and we even heard what I can only assume to be an attack helicopter in the background during the audio (between "Batra's as good as dead" and How's this any different from before?")
REALM's strategy seems to be to just try and obliterate him through the virtue of vastly superior firepower
However, in the chaos and haphazard destruction that will ensue, the ancient relic has a very real chance of being destroyed

Honestly, I don't think that upper REALM command would approve of Greaves going on such a chase across a country after just one man, especially because of how much publicity it attracts, and intentionally making decisions that stand to put the artifact at risk seems like a terrible deviation from the REALM's Protocols. I see this as just another mark of how far Greaves is willing to go just to kill Batra

void saffron
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Oh shit good catch on the helicopter bit

gray charm
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Finally, the exposition is done
Now for what I think went down

Of course, all of this began with Varun attempting to murder Greaves, the act which sprung this entire mess
From what we know of Varun, he is a reasonable and good-natured guy, who had a legacy of good conduct and great performance. In the 'Supervisor's' (we really need a better name for this guy) own words, he was the "Nicest guy you'll ever meet"
Even Skye's digging on Varun reveals him to have a spotless record.
I don't think that he would try to attack Greaves for an idle reason

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So... what could be the reason?
Going back to Skye's Email, she mentions how it doesn't make sense for Varun and REALM to be at such odds with each other. Somebody with as good a character as Varun wouldn't assault an innocent man, and an Organization as good as REALM wouldn't go to such lengths to kill him (even when spurred by Greave's rage). One of the two isn't who they pretend to be.
Well, this Audio Log seems to imply that the 'liar' would be REALM... certainly, it should be, otherwise it wouldn't go to such pains to sketch the image of Batra as such a chad.
And, well, it's already a pretty prevalent theory that REALM is up to some sus stuff. Variations I can recall of the top of my head include pocketing Radianite-related artifacts for themselves, and only returning 'standard' relics; using their good reputation to get access to secretive information that they use for malicious purposes; stuff like that
However, I want to point out that many of the lower-ranked members such as the Private and the 'Supervisor' seem to be unaware of this - this gives me (as Strawberry so often words it) Manhattan Project vibes. The REALM soldiers don't know the true sinister purpose that their efforts are contributing towards.

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What I think happened to cause all of this:
Batra, by chance, discovered whatever it was that REALM is secretly up to at some point.
Since none of his peers had any idea about it, he conferred with a higher-ranking official that he knew: Greaves.
Greaves was, apparently, in on the secret - and then confronted, he spilled the beans to Varun too.
Varun, horrified at the terrible goal which he had unintentionally been supporting for so long, stole the artifact and escaped from REALM (the reason for the theft could either be because he felt like he needed it to escape safely, or because it was somehow related to REALM's plans that Varun took upon himself to derail)
Either way, Varun ended up with the artifact, as a wanted criminal on the run from REALM
Greaves, understandably pissed at the fact that Varun was fleeing, wanted to make sure that he would be dead and buried before he got to tell his secrets to anyone (or worse, telling the news media).
So, Greaves fashioned up a story about Varun attempting to murder him, and used that to fuel a chase that would end up spanning the entire northern half of a country.

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phew

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I really need to find a better way to explain my theories

void saffron
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There's one thing that doesn't fit in that sequence

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How could Greaves be the highest ranking official Batra knows if he's been at REALM for years and he's deemed a legend and a hero

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If anything Batra should rank above Greaves

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Another thing just popped to mind but i just left the hosue, so reminder: logo and listening station

gray charm
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From what I can tell, Batra's more of a soldier than an officer
Greaves isn't a boot-on-the-ground kind of guy, he's the person who sits in an office and calls the shots

gray charm
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Hmm cypherthinking

void saffron
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Charging into battle with his loyal soldiers

gray charm
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Gigachad indeed

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Can't wait to play him

lost rover
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Oki, finally got time to go in range

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gimme 15 mins to rotate around Cypher and I will come back with something that popped up in my mind

void saffron
west wedge
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Oh so that was a mistake?

lost rover
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Ok here's what I think now. I am going to call the older guy in the call Sergeant and the younger one Soldier.

I don't think this is a recorded message that Cypher found I think this is Cypher hacking into their communications live as it happens. He is inside their walls if you may.

Sergeant says "Capt. Greaves said our target is passing the linchpin in 72 hours." This makes me think the new marker on the map is not VP's projection of Batra's movement, but where they now know REALM is going to intercept him. This is also why this trail is marked with blue rather than red like the rest of Batra's trail.

Soldier has a clear Indian accent, this probably plays a role in him looking up to Varun even more than typical Realm newbie. Not that Varun does not deserve it, we now have more than enough evidence to show Varun Batra is a chad.

I now think the higher up in REALM MAY not really know that Greaves is planning on killing Batra rather than capturing him. these lines: "Why couldn't we run a capture op first? I mean, come on, live munitions"
"Greaves can have that conversation with REALM command"
makes me think Batra being killed may be presented by Greaves as a side effect rather than the whole goal of the mission. Sergeant is telling Soldier, Batra dying is not our problem. Greaves will have to explain that to the higher ups. Meaning the leadership of REALM may still want Batra alive for questioning, but Greaves has other plans.

Varun has stolen the artifact but on the part that "he tried to kill Greaves" we are taking word of Captain Greaves, we don't know if that is actually true. The Sergeant then says Soldier's suggestion about Greaves possible lying is "dangerous"... it seems like an overreaction to me. why use the word dangerous here?

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apologies for wall of text

void saffron
lost rover
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Oh another thing, Batra seems to be one of the older Agents, so 30+

gray charm
void saffron
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I feel like Private is better tbh

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He's actually referred to as such

lost rover
gray charm
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If the map is tracking REALM and not Varun (which I do think they are), that would mean that the logo on the map is REALM

lost rover
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Sergeant and Private

lost rover
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The map's update however is looking to Realm's next destination because that is where they plan to kill Batra

plucky iron
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Someone mentioned REALM being up to something sinister. A group of their size dealing in artifacts is bound to come across something powered or utilizing radianite, if there was some around before the set of events that takes place as the VP begins.
I personally like the idea that they are, and it would make Batra's theft enough of a transgression to warrant killing him, if the higher ups are in on it. Perhaps it is just the corruption of Greaves instead. Not really relevant.
Sadly, I don't have much evidence of this from just the base facts, but some of the things that can be assumed/derived from what we could support this. Anyone got anything? I don't want to use theories as evidence for theories.

lost rover
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Right now, I think only Greaves is corrupted

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not all of Realm

gray charm
plucky iron
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It still leaves the question of how much does REALM know of radianite as well.

gray charm
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It does make me wonder just how far he will go to ensure that Batra dies, though

plucky iron
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They must know something, given there resources and size they must have been around for a bit.

lost rover
plucky iron
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And does REALM stand for something?

void saffron
# lost rover Ok here's what I think now. I am going to call the older guy in the call Sergean...

I agree that it's not a recorded message, and it's why I was raising questions about the logo not being Batra's but rather REALM's. Let's see if I can structure what I want to say correctly.

It makes a lot of sense for this to be a live conversation and Cypher's office is actually considered a "Listening Station" according to the game files, the physical representation of Cypher's network. The issue is, if the symbols is Batra's, how come he got hold of REALM's comms? It seems more likely that Cypher was able to hack into REALM's network (or perhaps it's REALM that is coincidentally using one of Cypher's networks nodes, either way, Cypher lore nerf is reverted lesgo) and is listening to them.

However, it is also possible that this is a recording of a past conversation and the image is actually the results of the confrontation they are talking about. Unclear.

plucky iron
gray charm
void saffron
lost rover
gray charm
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It would make more sense for it to be REALM's logo
Especially since that's what they place on the map, which we think is tracking the path of REALM and not Batra

void saffron
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Agreed, I'm fully on the side of it being REALM's and not Batra's

void saffron
lost rover
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It does seem that REALM has had a pretty decent and clean/nobel mission for years and has not deviated from that in a long time. I don't think an organization like that suddenly changes course, which makes me more leaning towards Greaves being a bad apple rather than REALM as a whole being sus

void saffron
lost rover
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Yes, it also makes more sense for an organization having a logo rather than an antiquities expert

void saffron
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Yeah

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If the logo is REALM's, it would likely mean that their base of operations was in mumbai

unknown.png
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Which would in turn mean that REALM is likely an India-based org

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Which is pretty hecking cool

lost rover
gray charm
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Well, it could also be that that's just where REALM's convoy was when the Protocol first started chasing after them

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Since we also know that Varun was hanging out in Mumbai for some time

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You know, given that REALM's goal is mostly trying to murder him, staying in the public would have actually been a pretty good idea

void saffron
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Very fair point

gray charm
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He may have been a wanted criminal, but it's still a pretty bad look for REALM if they murder him right there on the streets in a crowded city
The REALM higher-ups may be fine with Batra 'accidentally' dying in a shootout, but when you're in a public environment with people strolling about and possible civilian casualties, it's a completely different story

void saffron
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Seems they have given up on that

lost rover
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That could be showing Batra could guess Greaves will try to kill him

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which somehow makes him even more of a chad

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Also... Mumbai could be a place Batra met someone... I still want to know why Taj Hotel was important to him

plucky iron
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The VP's first opposition force, Greaves! duh duh duhhhh

lost rover
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on top of that, what is up with the communication device Greaves has found?

plucky iron
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REALM would throw Greaves under the bus if he is the only corrupt one, which, given that he seems fairly vengeful, he might begin to blame the VP.

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Especially if there is collateral.

lost rover
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if VP could strike a deal with REALM, and throw Greaves under the bus, it is actually not impossible to create a decent cover up for the whole thing

plucky iron
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True. Still leaves a lot of work and a loose end.

void saffron
plucky iron
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He did get pretty aggressive other the idea that Batra could have help.
Does REALM have the resources to take on the VP (ignoring individual power level of people).

lost rover
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would REALM have reason to take on VP?

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because, you see VP can contact REALM higher ups covertly if needed

void saffron
plucky iron
void saffron
plucky iron
#

They would be, but limiting bad PR and giving heads up of a corrupt member would take precedent, no?

void saffron
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That's a fair compromise

lost rover
lost rover
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Also offering a deal they can't refuse could be a good way to get them to listen

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||inb4 Reyna hides a horse head in REALM CEO's bed||

plucky iron
gray charm
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Fuck, I just remembered
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikram_Batra

Vikram Batra

Vikram Batra (9 September 1974 – 7 July 1999) was an officer of the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian military decoration, for his actions during the Kargil War; on 7 July 1999, Batra was killed while fighting Pakistani troops around Area Ledge, Point 4875, in the Kargil district of erstwhile Jamm...

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Vikram Batra

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Famous war hero, died in the Kargil War

void saffron
#

oh shit

gray charm
#

Can't believe I forgot about this

plucky iron
#

Would Riot use that as source/inspiration though? It seems a tad disrespectful.

lost rover
lost rover
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Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like Batra is not a very uncommon name

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I am looking it up and there are many well known people with that surname

void saffron
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It indeed seems to be the case

gray charm
lost rover
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My train of thought for his name is, his first name is chosen because he is designed to be a water agent, and I am not sure I need to look it up again but Batra seems to be related to Punjab and Punjab happens to be facing a water crisis... I'll look it up and see again

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"The rate of water extraction in Punjab is 1.66 times against the rate of replenishment."

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found it

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I maybe totally off the mark but this was how I saw it from when we first got his name

plucky iron
#

Water crisis you say?

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Sounds familiar.

lost rover
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"Committee Chairman and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh told the media that the state will turn into a desert in 25 years if the practice of drawing water from underground aquifers continues. He said that the state requires 64 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water, but had a shortfall of 14 BCM."

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So a water agent from that region, is inspirational when you look at it from a climate stand point

gray charm
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will turn into a desert in 25 years
That seems to be the course for the entire planet rn, ngl

void saffron
gray charm
#

One last topic I want to discuss here
Just how big of a budget does REALM have? I mean, I knew it is reputable and it's claimed mission statement is really good, but you can't just call in the local military or gain access to governmental satellites like that, not without some serious budget
Honestly just the fact that they have and can sustain such a large military force for an organization that primarily works against black market dealings is astounding in itself

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Come to think of it, where does REALM get it's money from?

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I mean, I would assume that it has some program for charitable donations to its cause, but donations aren't going to cover stuff like this

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They've gotta have some serious investors backing them up

opaque thicket
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They probably also have backing from several world governments if they're helping them to get their artifacts back

plucky iron
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This screams SCP to me.

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International paramilitary group specializing in the recover of artifacts. Backing by local governments, access to a large budget, and dealings with supernatural/extraordinary artifacts.

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They must have access to some Radianite shit, or are at least aware of it.

opaque thicket
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They very much seem to be aware of radianite artifacts based on the way the Sargent and private talk about Varun's artifact

void saffron
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Inb4 realm is a kng subsidiary

gray charm
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I don't think they would be seen in anywhere near as good a light if they were related to Kingdom

lost rover
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makes me think do you think REALM knew about Yoru's mask?

opaque thicket
#

Maybe. Though that research seems to be rather confined to the Icebox facility

west wedge
lost rover
# void saffron For real like what?????

Oh Besturbo I think that communication device Greaves is talking about could be the proof we needed that Varun's artifact is what is behind the reality storm in Omega!
I listened to KJ's voicemail again. KJ's plan for finding Raze was to run a scan on their communication devices. we didn't get a follow up message from KJ so one possibility would be that she could not find Raze's communication device.
We know Raze was teleported in what she only remembers as a blur to Breeze. It seems her communication device was teleported to one of the locations that Varun used his artifact to fight off REALM operatives.
That would be how Captain Greaves has found the device he is talking about AND how he has managed to contact Brimstone directly as well.

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The use of the artifact has caused reality distortions on Alpha which Raze happened to get in, and she lost her comms in the mini storm

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I am assuming the more you use the artifact the more you are going to cause reality distortions. Varun has used the artifact in a quite limited capacity on Alpha so we have not seen anything major, But on Omega not only that device could have been used to save Lisbon, it seems like it is being used as a power source. Both of those things would require the artifact to be in active use for extended periods of time, so we see the side effect more pronounced as a reality storm.

void saffron
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This is gonna be a good bus ride

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That's a wild theory right there

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Also, the email being directed to brim is a mistake on my side

gray charm
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jettOooo this is a nice theory

lost rover
chrome leaf
plucky iron
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And R for Reclamation

chrome leaf
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Reclamation E Artifact L M