"This is a Pragmatist server," Tremor pointed out when Lucy noted that she was an async.  "We use whatever tools we have on hand to deal with x-threats.  You're not the only async to come aboard, and you won't be the only one in the cell, either."  Dio raised a tentacle in the air.  Ah.  Apparently the octomorph had also been exposed at some point in his life to the Watts-McLeod strain.  "Normally, you would have been subjected to a solo test of your abilities - a scenario we refer to as Million Year Echo - but given that you and Vercile were both initially thought to be coming aboard, before a prompt about-face by a couple of Conservative proxies changed her destination, it would not have worked out as well."<br/><br/>Tremor stood up off the table she had been leaning against.  "So, we were forced to make our decision based on the more typical vetting procedures you would have seen in Firewall - references from current proxies, mission log infodumps, as well as heuristic analysis of your profile and skills.  That said,<em>everyone</em>aboard this ship is aware of<em>what</em>you are.  What is more, this server is strictly voluntary.  We recruit, but we do not force anyone to stay here.  Anyone who would have issue with your particular abilities is already gone."  Tremor started to walk, a slow, widening circle around Lucy, critically evaluating her with a dispassionate eye.  "You will find no Jovians, no biocons, no ideology here that conflicts with our mission."<br/><br/>"Now, as to your other questions.  I should be clear about something.  Of the three cells of Triarch Sun, only two commence in operations - mine being one, and yours being the other.  Our third cell consists entirely of bodhisattvas."  Lucy would know the term.  Borrowed from the Buddhist concept of those that delayed their own transcendence to Nirvana in order to help others along the way, in Firewall a bodhisattva worked a bit differently.  The idea was that after you had demonstrated a certain amount of ability, or the psychosurgeons determined that your mind could no longer handle field work, you would be promoted from Sentinel to Proxy.  However, some of those offered the promotion refused it, staying in the field, but stepping back from active work and working behind the scenes.  "They constitute our largest cell - almost as big as the two others put together.  They handle OpSec, plausible denial, acquisition of resources - the<em>Hacienda</em>herself takes a third of their effort - nearly everything that our co-server needs.  So, yes.  Despite there being other cells aboard, OpSec won't be compromised."<br/><br/>She paused, for just a half-moment.  "Now, as to the particulars of your cover life - when you get a moment, you can stop in and check with our head bodhisattva, they'll be willing to share with you the details of what you've asked.  I will just say, for the time being, that your departure from Gerlach aboard this ship has been handled, there is a plausible reason set out there for it.  As for the members of your cell," she gestured to Dio, Rayearth, and Stoker, "that, I think I can leave to them.  Do you have any other questions for<em>me</em>before I take leave and let you get introduced, and then settled in?  I will assume you'll want whatever possessions you have currently aboard before we leave."