Day 74th, Year of 3:

The first experiments on using the rage serum on sentient beings were a partial success. Nine of the fifteen variables survived the initial shock triggered by its infusion with blood. I have drawn a few conclusions from the results extracted during the testing:

First, one must be of considerable mass to endure the effects of the serum entering the brain. Larger people can more effectively distribute the serum with relative ease compared to smaller-framed individuals. This I have derived from the results gathered from Rack Two, whose body managed a smoother transition of the serum into his system while showing the least resistance among the rest. His body showed the smallest spread of the aggravation caused by the synthetic hormone and thus it was contained to an area where it should take effect the best.

Second, the serum should be introduced gradually to the subject rather than be given everything in one dose. A volume-to-mass ratio must also be devised to fuse specific amounts to achieve desired effects. This might be contradictory to the first conclusion, although there were miscalculations on whether or not sentient beings are given amounts equal to or greater than the dosage administered on the stone giant (I must take great caution to use amounts that are a third or even a half less than what it took to control the eighteen-foot monster). The remaining variables had to be given amounts in a slow fashion to make better approximations. It is a shame that some of the subjects had deficiencies in terms of coping with the serum's introduction, and thus trickle feeding did not produce optimal results.

Third, setting subjects to a state of rage or despair before administering the serum accelerates the effect to favorable results. I have noticed this trait with all the surviving samples, especially on Rack Twelve. He was the most affected after three of his former allies deserted their ranks and was more enraged watching the other samples perish one by one. It has been proven in this test that exploiting emotional weaknesses of future samples is necessary to ensure successful applications and proper administration of the mental manipulation modules.

There are too many limits of the human form as noticed. Had they the endurance of the captured beast whose use was quickened by a warrior's sword, I would have found a means to infuse the subjects with the monster's essence to make them better suited for the rage serum. While I no longer have the creature or its remnants with me, there should be another path to perfecting the mind control device. I will find that path later, if not sooner.

On the subject of the captured commander, I had to put him on reserve and not make him the testbed for the first applications of the serum. I could not explain it properly, but there was this feeling that I would have invited more trouble had I forced the general to partake in the experiments. It seemed to be right in its way since I did not experience grave or debilitating losses with using the prisoners from the syndicate I had my men destroy not too long ago. And again, there are matters that need my immediate attention.

There was no sense of alarm: two people were not enough to shake the very foundations of the Gray Fox's group. He still felt the need to inform his weapons expert that something had to be done.

Trevalyn passed by Hollengrehn's metalworks. A piece of a Class 64's torso armor was hoisted by chains from the ceiling, which in turn secured its place on top of a pedestal-like mount. Four gun-like machines appeared and surrounded the mounting, which were slowly poised to be at level with the armor piece. Streams of blue flames were coursed at the metal, encircling the torso plate until it was given a charred appearance. The crime lord did not stand long to see the pedestal sinking to a pool of water at the bottom center of the machines.

Trevalyn entered a long hall with an arched ceiling supported by steel frames. Lines of Class 64 constructs stood at his left and right while some crewmen were spraying a layer of heavy white mist all over the automatons' frames. Those that were coated glinted under the lamps; a scent of something similar to frozen kerosene created a thin layer that hung not too far from the deactivated machines.

A familiar rotund man was present among those who were checking on the conditions of the eight returned units. His spectacles probed on the soot-marked arms, the ash and blood spots on the legs and the rose back to the heads where the glow of their eyes had long faded.

"Ah, it's you Doctor." Hollengrehn almost jumped when Trevalyn's shadow crept to his head. "These machines are well; these units have done their jobs."

"There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you, Doctor Hollengrehn." Trevalyn's neutral stare was darkened by the lamp behind him. "This is regarding the quality of the steel plating used for the Class 64s. Have you been given a copy of a recording of how four of the twelve machines were destroyed?"

Hollengrehn's spectacles were pushed up the bridge of his nose. He was not aware of any recording Dr. Faricy was mentioning. "I received none from the task force unit."

"Very well, I have a copy of the incident. Let us go to your study and watch everything with me." Trevalyn went near the weapons designer. "I'd like you to watch the recording retrieved from the Third Team."

"Then let's head to my office, Doctor."

Hollengrehn's projector saw more use than Trevalyn's. It was propped at the ceiling in the near-center of the room with its seeing sphere hatch opened and ready to accept the next recording. Trevalyn handed the sphere to a fat, greasy palm, which in turn placed it inside the device

The crime lord approached the table with the weaponeer. A glow on the wall marked the start of the recording; blurry eyes gazed at a burning structure in front. Minutes of firing and killing armed aggressors felt too long; Hollengrehn opted to stare away and fiddled on a clockwork bird atop his desk, but his superior did not seem to mind the carnage.

Minutes more into the recording led to what Hollengrehn deduced to be the point of concern. There was a battle that raged between a lone attacker and a team of Class 64s. A lithe form wearing clothes of a probably foreign nature with agility, unlike any gunman the constructs put down along the way. The constructs struggled with taking a proper aim and returning fire at the attacker. Fire was seen on the right side of the recorder's vision – the first of the four machines now laid a burning wreck. More minutes into the incident depicted was a one-sided battle, with the rest of the battle machines reduced to blazing hulks in a matter of minutes. The recording ended with the last construct having difficulty in dislodging its claws from the ground right before flames started to flush its eyes in red and yellow.

"That, man... took down all four using two pistols?"

"I was wondering if Imperial-made rounds could deliver such blows to your steel."

"It is impossible, Doctor." Hollengrehn stepped back and returned with a sample of the steel plating. "I was sure that the carbon was properly distributed to the metal. You are aware of it, since you supervised the whole process with me. It's technically impossible for conventional bullets to pierce the surface too easily."

"Even at point-blank ranges?"

Hollengrehn pulled out a pistol from his laboratory coat, took aim at a deactivated construct, and fired. The bullet bounced off the armor and lodged on the ceiling. No scratch or dent was found on the automaton when he drew closer to inspect the impact.

"I see your point, Doctor Hollengrehn." Trevalyn stared at the screen, which was now an empty white box on the wall. "This man might have possessed a gun of foreign make."

"Most likely so, with a technology none of Kriemreich is aware of." Hollengrehn withdrew his weapon to his coat. "Are you concerned that our rivals may already have a few of such weapons in their hands?"

"I am not too concerned regarding that. They should have started destroying each other the moment these arms were free in the markets." Trevalyn stood up and retrieved the sphere from the projector's casing. "You should not be too concerned with that, as they still have to look for us should they decide to hunt us down. I'd rather that you focus on how to reinforce the armor's weak points."

"Unless if the attacker has piercing rounds or explosive-packed ammunition... it is impossible to carry either in pistols."

"An amusing concept, but bullets infused with magical energy may deliver such power to a gun." Doctor Faricy smirked, but he shook the thought off his head.

"Then do you imply that this man is an agent of Luminberg?"

"A far possibility, knowing that the lord of Luminberg is more into studying the old arts than assisting the empire militarily," Trevalyn answered. "You made a good point still. I should not discount that possibility."

"The best I could do is to try and create this unknown bullet."

"Better not delve too much in that, Doctor Hollengrehn. It will consume too much time for us to develop a proper countermeasure. We can only be aware of our constructs' weaknesses and address them using our resources."

"Much is true."

"I should leave you to your work now." He stared at Hollengrehn; his smile somewhat made the subordinate uneasy. "I expect that you'll immediately address the issues you have seen during the footage. I wouldn't want to direct my resources to failures."

Trevalyn walked to the door out of Hollengrehn's study. The Dragon's Claw was dead, and its prominent remnants now sitting firmly under his control. He had a feeling that this would not be the last time that man and the unidentified magician were to cross paths with him.