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Difference between revisions of "Sonic Adventure 2 - The Truth of 50 Years Ago..."

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:''(This is backstory listed in the [[Sonic Adventure 2]] Japanese strategy guide - taking the form of a report submitted by [[Rouge the Bat]] to her superiors. Translation by Windii).''
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:''(This is backstory listed in [[Sonic Adventure 2 Perfect Guide]] - taking the form of a report submitted by [[Rouge the Bat]] to her superiors. Translation by Windii).''
  
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During my latest undercover investigation, I have obtained highly classified data notes of the then federal government president through GUN's security hole that seem to be related to Project Shadow. It is a top secret research request addressed and sent to Gerald from the president of its time, 13 presidents ago. The content of the letter is concisely stated as follows:
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During my latest undercover operation, I obtained through the security hole at GUN classified jurisdictional data of the President of the Federal Government at the time, which appeared to be related to Project Shadow. A top-secret letter from thirteen presidents ago to Pr. Gerald requesting research. The letter stated succinctly as follows.
  
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"Begin research on immortality, humanity's ultimate, eternal dream."
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"Begin research on the eternal and ultimate dream of mankind: immortality."
  
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Gerald seemed to have stubbornly rejected this request at first, for it exceeded man's limits. However, the one who gave him an excuse to realize this plan that was supposed to end as it was, an influential person's nonsense, was his beloved granddaughter Maria Robotnik. Maria had contracted a difficult-to-cure illness; "NIDS: Neuro Immunodeficiency Syndrome," and while treatment continued at the ARK's medical research facility, she was not expected to recover. The irritated Gerald seemed to think that he would overcome this incurable disease by studying immortal life. The research has been documented as being named "Project Shadow" from the irony of creating a shadow (which cannot exist in this world,) and was advancing internally at the ARK behind the scenes in absolute secrecy.
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At first, Gerald stubbornly refused the request, claiming that it was beyond human capacity. However, it was Gerald's beloved granddaughter, Maria Robotnik, who (ironically) gave him the opportunity to make this project, which should have ended as mere delirious ramblings from the powers that be, a reality. Maria had been suffering from NIDS (neuro-immunodeficiency syndrome), a disease that even today is considered difficult to treat, and although she continued to receive treatment at the ARK's medical research facility, there was no hope for her recovery. Gerald, frustrated by this, decided to overcome her intractable disease by researching immortal life. The research was conducted in secret even within the ARK, and it is recorded that it was named "Project Shadow" from the irony of creating a shadow (thing that cannot exist in this world).
  
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At first, everyone thought that this far-fetched and reckless plan was undoubtedly a fabrication that couldn't have been thought up by Prof. Gerald's ingenious intellect. The Chaos Drives were based on research results of the Chaos Emeralds, and the experimental attempt to apply that infinite energy to life functions was successful. Shortly thereafter, the project lead to completion of a single prototype. Focusing on its restorative ability, the Ultimate Lifeform's prototype, which was modeled after a lizard, showed signs of phenomenal growth, as well as self-recovery and self-replication. The researchers were overjoyed.
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What everyone at first thought was a far-fetched project was not entirely a pipe dream for Pr. Gerald's genius mind. Based on the research results of the Chaos Emeralds and Chaos Drives, his attempt to apply the boundless energy to life was successful, and the project soon resulted in the completion of a prototype. Focusing on its self-healing ability, the "ultimate life form prototype," which was created using a lizard as its base body, showed signs of amazing growth, self-healing, and self-propagation, much to the delight of researchers.
  
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However, that joy was brief, as the prototype's abilities eventually far exceeded the researchers' expectations, to the point where it was difficult to control. Voices of doubt begin to rise internally from the researchers, questioning the duration, significance and safety of the research. It is likely that the staff who witnessed the prototype going out of control leaked information of the project to GUN first, but the truth is uncertain. However, the upper branches of GUN that were looking upon the research institution's unique qualities as hostile arrived at the decision to close the ARK itself, taking advantage of this opportunity; an informal operation, "ARK Sealing & Destruction."
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However, their joy was short-lived, as the prototype's capabilities soon exceeded their expectations to such an extent that they began to have trouble controlling it, and even within the research community, there began to be doubts about the continuation, significance, and safety of the research. Perhaps it was an insider who saw the prototype run amok who first leaked information about the project to GUN, but the truth is not clear. However, the danger of the project was somehow brought to GUN's attention, and GUN's top brass, which at the time was hostile to the uniqueness of the ARK research institute, took this as an opportunity to plan the closure of the ARK itself. This was an unofficial operation called "Operation ARK Shutdown."
  
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A biological hazard suddenly occurred at the ARK research facility, and all colony residents were to be rescued and the colony sealed from the disaster. This was the ostensible purpose of this operation. Of course, the real goal was none other than to shut down the ARK, erase Project Shadow, and detain Prof. Gerald as the person responsible for the disaster. The operation was carried out on an unprecedented scale, the likes of which had not been seen since the founding of GUN. In only seven days since the start of the operation, all inhabitants of the ARK were transferred to the surface. Its facilities were frozen by GUN and all of Project Shadow's staff, with the exception of Gerald, were declared victims of this disaster. The operation was completed by sealing the Ultimate Lifeform's prototype at the deepest part of the colony.
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A biohazard suddenly broke out at the ARK research facility, and all colony residents were to be rescued from the disaster, and the colony was to be sealed off. This was the ostensible objective of the operation. The real objective, of course, was to shut down the ARK research facility, erase Project Shadow, and hold Pr. Gerald responsible for the disaster. The operation was carried out on a scale never seen since the founding of GUN, and within seven days of the start of the operation, all ARK residents were moved to the surface, all ARK facilities were frozen by GUN, and all Project Shadow personnel except Pr. Gerald were declared victims of this disaster. The operation was completed with the sealing of the "ultimate life form prototype" found in the deepest part of the colony.
  
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However, there was just one miscalculation in this operation. At the time action was taken, Prof. Gerald seemed to have already nearly completed the Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow, using a different model. When GUN special forces entered the laboratory, the fleeing Gerald entrusted Shadow to his granddaughter Maria, and made sure that one escape capsule was ejected towards the surface. (The whereabouts of said capsule remain unknown.)
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However, there was only one miscalculation in this operation: when this operation was carried out, Pr. Gerald had already almost completed the ultimate life form "Shadow" using another base body. When the GUN Special Forces raided the research institute, the fleeing Gerald entrusted it to his granddaughter Maria, and it is confirmed that an escape capsule was ejected toward the surface at that time. (The whereabouts of the capsule at that time are still unknown to this day.)
  
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In the end, Gerald was apparently captured by special forces afterwards and imprisoned at Prison Island. Now, without Shadow the Hedgehog, there is no longer a way to confirm anywhere if the Shadow that was sealed at Prison Island was a replica created by Gerald, or the original Shadow that was ejected towards the surface and recovered...
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As a result, Gerald was subsequently captured by Special Forces and imprisoned on Prison Island, where he was eventually forced to continue his research on the ultimate life form, "Shadow," apparently under orders from GUN. Now that Shadow the Hedgehog is no more, there is no way to know whether the Shadow sealed on Prison Island was a replica created by Gerald or the real Shadow that was ejected toward the surface and recovered...
  
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~From Rouge's final research report on Project Shadow - Partial Excerpt~
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~Excerpt from Rouge's final investigation report on Project Shadow~
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===Original Japanese Text===
 
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今回の潜入捜査中、私はＧＵＮのセキュリティーホールから、プロジェクト・シャドウに関すると思わしき当時の連邦政府大統領の機密書簡データを入手した。１３代前の大統領からＰｒ．ジェラルドに宛てて送られた極秘の研究依頼要請の書状。その文面は簡潔に以下の様に述べていた。
 
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「人類のにして究極永遠の夢、不老不死の研究に着手せよ。」と。
 
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当初人間の分を超えるとして、ジェラルドはこの要請を頑なに拒否していたようである。ところが、権力者のうわ言で終わるはずだったこの計画に現実化のキッカケを与えたのは（皮肉なことだが）、ジェラルドの最愛の孫娘「マリア・ロボトニック」だった。現在でも治療が困難とされる病「ＮＩＤＳ：先天性免疫不全症候群」に罹患していたマリアは、アークの医療研究施設で治療を続けていたのだが回復が見込めず、これに業を煮やしたジェラルドは、不老不死の生命を研究する事でその難病を克服しようと考えたようである。研究はアークの内部でも極秘裏に進められ、シャドウ（この世に存在栄し得ないもの）を作り出すという皮肉から『プロジェクト・シャドウ』と命名されたと記録されている。
 
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最初、誰もが遠大無謀と考えていたこの計画も、Ｐｒ．ジェラルドの天才的頭脳にとっては決して絵空事とはならなかった。カオスエメラルド、カオスドライブの研究成果を踏まえ、その無限エネルギーを生命活動に応用しようとした試みは結果成功し、プロジェクトは程なくして一体のプロトタイプを完成させるに至る。その自己修復能力に着目し、トカゲを素体として作りだされた「究極生命体プロトタイプ」は、驚異的な成長と自己修復、自己増殖の兆候を示して研究者達を歓喜させた。
 
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だが、その喜びもつかの間、やがてプロトタイプの能力が、研究者達の予想をはるかに上回り、コントロールに支障をきたすほどになると、研究者内部からもその研究の存続と意義、安全性に疑問を抱く声があがり始めるようになる。おそらくプロトタイプの暴走を目の当たりにした内部関係者が、最初にＧＵＮへプロジェクトの情報をリークしたものと思われるが、真相は定かではない。だが研究機関の独自性を内敵視していたＧＵＮ上層部は、これを機会にＡＲＫそのものを閉鎖する計画を立てるに至る。非公式作戦「ＡＲＫ封滅作戦」である。
 
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ＡＲＫ研究所施設で突如発生したバイオハザード、その災厄からコロニー居住者全員を救出し、コロニーを封鎖する。これがこの作戦の表向きの目的だった。もちろん真の目的は、ＡＲＫ研究施設を閉鎖してプロジェクトシャドウを抹消し、そしてＰｒ．ジェラルドを災害の責任者として拘束することに他ならない。作戦はＧＵＮ創設以来かつてない規模で実施され、作戦開始後わずか７日間のうちに、ＡＲＫの居住者は全員地上へと移された。ＡＲＫの全施設はＧＵＮによって凍結され、そしてＰｒ．ジェラルドを除くプロジェクト・シャドウの関係者は全てこの災厄の犠牲者として発表されたのである。作戦はコロニーの最深部で発見された「究極生命体プロトタイプ」を封印して完了した。
 
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だが、この作戦にもたった一つ誤算があった。この作戦が実施されたとき既にＰｒ．ジェラルドは別の素体を使って究極生命体「シャドウ」をほぼ完成させていたらしいのである。ＧＵＮ特殊部隊が研究所に突入した際、逃げるジェラルドが孫娘のマリアにそれを託し、そしてその時一つの脱出カプセルが、地上へ向けて発射されたのが確認されている。（その時のカプセルの行方は現在もなお分かっていない。）
 
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結果ジェラルドはその後の特殊部隊に捕らわれ、プリズンアイランドへと収監させられたようである。かのハリネズミ「シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ」なき今、プリズンアイランドに封印されていた「シャドウ」がジェラルドの手によるレプリカなのか、それとも地上へ向けて射出され、回収された「シャドウ」本体であるのか、もはや確かめる術はどこにもない・・・
 
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～プロジェクト・シャドウに関するルージュの最終調査報告より－一部抜粋～
 
  
 
[[Category:Stories]]
 
[[Category:Stories]]

Latest revision as of 22:03, 8 October 2023

(This is backstory listed in Sonic Adventure 2 Perfect Guide - taking the form of a report submitted by Rouge the Bat to her superiors. Translation by Windii).

During my latest undercover operation, I obtained through the security hole at GUN classified jurisdictional data of the President of the Federal Government at the time, which appeared to be related to Project Shadow. A top-secret letter from thirteen presidents ago to Pr. Gerald requesting research. The letter stated succinctly as follows.

"Begin research on the eternal and ultimate dream of mankind: immortality."

At first, Gerald stubbornly refused the request, claiming that it was beyond human capacity. However, it was Gerald's beloved granddaughter, Maria Robotnik, who (ironically) gave him the opportunity to make this project, which should have ended as mere delirious ramblings from the powers that be, a reality. Maria had been suffering from NIDS (neuro-immunodeficiency syndrome), a disease that even today is considered difficult to treat, and although she continued to receive treatment at the ARK's medical research facility, there was no hope for her recovery. Gerald, frustrated by this, decided to overcome her intractable disease by researching immortal life. The research was conducted in secret even within the ARK, and it is recorded that it was named "Project Shadow" from the irony of creating a shadow (thing that cannot exist in this world).

What everyone at first thought was a far-fetched project was not entirely a pipe dream for Pr. Gerald's genius mind. Based on the research results of the Chaos Emeralds and Chaos Drives, his attempt to apply the boundless energy to life was successful, and the project soon resulted in the completion of a prototype. Focusing on its self-healing ability, the "ultimate life form prototype," which was created using a lizard as its base body, showed signs of amazing growth, self-healing, and self-propagation, much to the delight of researchers.

However, their joy was short-lived, as the prototype's capabilities soon exceeded their expectations to such an extent that they began to have trouble controlling it, and even within the research community, there began to be doubts about the continuation, significance, and safety of the research. Perhaps it was an insider who saw the prototype run amok who first leaked information about the project to GUN, but the truth is not clear. However, the danger of the project was somehow brought to GUN's attention, and GUN's top brass, which at the time was hostile to the uniqueness of the ARK research institute, took this as an opportunity to plan the closure of the ARK itself. This was an unofficial operation called "Operation ARK Shutdown."

A biohazard suddenly broke out at the ARK research facility, and all colony residents were to be rescued from the disaster, and the colony was to be sealed off. This was the ostensible objective of the operation. The real objective, of course, was to shut down the ARK research facility, erase Project Shadow, and hold Pr. Gerald responsible for the disaster. The operation was carried out on a scale never seen since the founding of GUN, and within seven days of the start of the operation, all ARK residents were moved to the surface, all ARK facilities were frozen by GUN, and all Project Shadow personnel except Pr. Gerald were declared victims of this disaster. The operation was completed with the sealing of the "ultimate life form prototype" found in the deepest part of the colony.

However, there was only one miscalculation in this operation: when this operation was carried out, Pr. Gerald had already almost completed the ultimate life form "Shadow" using another base body. When the GUN Special Forces raided the research institute, the fleeing Gerald entrusted it to his granddaughter Maria, and it is confirmed that an escape capsule was ejected toward the surface at that time. (The whereabouts of the capsule at that time are still unknown to this day.)

As a result, Gerald was subsequently captured by Special Forces and imprisoned on Prison Island, where he was eventually forced to continue his research on the ultimate life form, "Shadow," apparently under orders from GUN. Now that Shadow the Hedgehog is no more, there is no way to know whether the Shadow sealed on Prison Island was a replica created by Gerald or the real Shadow that was ejected toward the surface and recovered...

~Excerpt from Rouge's final investigation report on Project Shadow~

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