| Item: | Quaesitor |
| Size: | Unknown |
| Living: | N/A; Artificial Intelligence Construct |
| Sentient: | Yes |
| Usage Precautions: | Data requested must be sent to Montgomery observatories for transmitting, all data received likewise and be sent to respective data stations. |
| Handling Precautions: | Sentient and friendly — Exercise friendliness when communicating with Bert |
| Orbital Patterns: | Varies. Observed: all orbits are closed — circular, elliptical, erratic. Object known to move independently, choosing not to orbit. |
QUAESITOR, as taken by Montgomery-1
Usage
QUAESITOR is a primary satellite used by The Insurgency for observation and intelligence gathering. Considered a High-Value Asset satellite with zero to limited restrictions per Cooperative Sapient Anomaly Treatment-12761 conditions (Non-Humanoid).
Data picked up by the satellite is condensed into a heavily encrypted and compressed form and broadcasted. Only special reception points built and attached to the Montgomery stations can receive them — standard signal reception points cannot detect the broadcasts. Research and development staff assigned to QUAESITOR's field are branded as THIRDEYE for official use. THIRDEYE clearance is specifically assigned to members of the Montgomery stations.
One DreamSAT TV Communications Satellite, refitted with concealed, high-grade surveillance lens suited to monitoring QUAESITOR has been deployed as of 21 June 2003. The information collected by the drone will be sent to a separate Montgomery station (Montgomery-5) for processing on the behavior and condition of the Item. QUAESITOR is not aware of this adjunct — it believes it is a non-descript commercial satellite.
Refer to "List of Observed QUAESITOR Behaviors and Habits (re: permitted-clearance-B-133878119-c)".
Report
QUAESITOR is a sentient spacecraft of alien origin, orbiting Earth. The satellite's composite outer plating extends to a range of 100mm, made out of silver-plated aluminum alloy and an unidentified material similar in composition to tungsten. QUAESITOR is resistant to extreme heat, radiation and other hazards.
Examination of the object's structure yields that it functions as a satellite equipped with specialized sensors that detect a wide range of signatures. Data that is acquired by the object is saved into a highly efficient and comprehensive memory archive inside the object. The Insurgency has not yet conducted an internal examination, per its demands, and thus, only external features are known. A circular sensor roughly 5 m x 5 m in dimensions is visible at the head of the satellite, dimly illuminated by a light source from inside the object's core. This is believed to be the "eye" of QUAESITOR, as it has expressed itself, conducting the bulk of data gathering and observation. The sensor is protected by a fiberglass-like transparent material that has proven effectively resilient to damage.
Although it can gather information precisely, it has been theorized that the observations taken are not yet fully understood by the object itself, as there is an occasional corruption in quality and content.
Solar energy is believed to be the energy source of the satellite. However, unidentified power sources are also theorized after deep thermal scanning. The object can move independently from its orbit, but prefers to remain in orbit when not needed. Movement is achieved through an unidentified electromagnetic propulsion system. The satellite can ascend or descend altitude as needed, even reaching the troposphere in one incident, for research. An average speed of 105 km/h when moving is observed. The object may stop moving and hold position for an extended period of time.
QUAESITOR is a sapient inorganic being that is innately curious of mostly everything that comes to its attention. It is observant of detail and inquisitive in research. The Insurgency has not yet approved of research for scanning its system for the source of its sapience, and is not doing so as of late. Psychological evaluations conducted suggest QUAESITOR is amiable, intelligent, and generally very welcoming when communicating with personnel.
It has been observed that QUAESITOR can "feel" its environment, to a certain degree. QUAESITOR has experienced the sensation of vision and perception at a human level, touch from passing-by meteors and dust, heat from the Sun's rays, and even nausea from rapidly descending into the atmosphere.
Monitoring QUAESITOR, in coordination with its adjunct satellite, are four observatories, which are designated Montgomery -1 to -4. Any and all authorized communication and data transfers are to be solely conducted in these facilities, and relayed to other facilities at the discretion of their respective Directors. Heads of Security, Communications, and Research for QUAESITOR are under Class Four protection and are assigned to high-security positions for the purposes of maintaining a stable structure in Item Management.
Notes: It should be clarified that knowledge of the existence of QUAESITOR and the Montgomery stations is not to be common knowledge within the ranks of The Insurgency. It is exclusive to the staff assigned to the satellite and the stations.
While it may be considered true that QUAESITOR has the ability to probe and observe anything that it comes across, I must stress that it is not omniscient. The satellite's observations are limited by most concealment and jamming techniques. The idea that QUAESITOR has access to the database is also false — it possesses no ability to probe databases unless it is given permission, which it has very little of. — Dr. Cavor, QUAESITOR's Director of Research
Addenda (Origination)
Research on the origins of QUAESITOR and its arrival to Earth has been inconclusive. Interviews conducted with the satellite have yielded little useful information our way, politely turning down probing questions asked. For the purposes of maintaining a stable, cooperative and friendly relationship with the satellite, The Insurgency has stopped all attempts to conduct Origination Interviews. As in such, Dr. ███████ has been retracted from THIRDEYE Staff for the foreseeable future.
The earliest documentation The Insurgency has on QUAESITOR is dated on 16 May 1908, by a researcher affiliated with a predecessor organization, who was a head operator in charge of the Montgolfier Far Skies Experiment.
The Montgolfier Far Skies Experiment was an experiment to breach the then-unknown threshold to space using an unmanned probe balloon designed by an occult scientist to reveal images of space and the atmosphere. Montgolfier was designed to have real-time radio capability, allowing it to pick up any signal directed its way. Among the images was one that featured QUAESITOR mid-flight, seemingly noticing the balloon. Subsequent images show the satellite moving towards it, until it was about 100m away from the balloon. At this point, Dr. ███, the lead scientist, received a radio transmission coming from the satellite1. Contact was suppressed, and Montgolfier was deactivated for new directives and to process the new update.
Dr. ███ soon became Head of Space Sciences of another predecessor organization during the 1917 Turmoil War. One other breakthrough he had a hand in was the concept for constructing a special radio that would become the basis for the Montgomery stations' communication systems with QUAESITOR. He died later in that year from unknown causes.
The next incident with the satellite was in 17 September 1934, when The Insurgency recovered Site 118 and found a working Level 4 communications array with plans to establish an uplink with multiple extra-terrestrial space entities in the Solar system, one of which was QUAESITOR. For the purpose of concealing and preparing humanity for a better opportunity for contact, all other plans for communication were discarded and archived. First communication with QUAESITOR was established on 2 April 1935 by Dr. N. T. with the fully operational array.2
QUAESITOR was a forgotten asset during World War II, as Dr. Rosenrot, who had been placed as the object's Security Adviser, was assassinated during the assault on Fort Noscliff. Site 118 was subsequently tightened down, but not before saboteurs infiltrated the array and destroyed it. However, prior to the attacks, the satellite had been key in retrieving Potential Items in the battlefield, notably the Iron Cross of Gallipoli, and the Helm of Genghis Khan. An upgraded array, known as Montgolfier 1, went online in 13 December 1945. Montgolfier 1 was renamed Montgomery 1 in 1950, following complications arising from the Montgolfier Program, an unrelated space exploration operation.
With Montgomery -2 to -4 online by the end of the 1970s, plans were made by a lone Head Director to affiliate QUAESITOR to The Insurgency in a cooperative project, which went into serious planning within the next decade. In 1990, the first proposal was made to QUAESITOR, which was negatively received. The satellite voiced its apparent displeasure, citing that it was nothing more than an entity of research. However, after more negotiations, and the incentive of being given anomalous objects for free observation, the satellite agreed. QUAESITOR was made an official Asset by the end of the year.
For a list of Observed Quaesitor Behavior and Habits, consult page:behavior-quaesitor
