The QuAT Demonstration Arena is used for both tutoring large numbers of
staff on the latest innovations (accompanied by practical demonstrations) and
for testing any newly developed hardware that requires more space than the
labs provide. It's also used for the staging the Beta Latex Races but that's
another story.
Before we drop by the Arena a little background about the Demonstration
we are about to witness seems in order and since we still have a few minutes
to kill it'll help pass the time.
First of all do you remember the humane restraint devices known as the
Tape Buddies?
That's right, the automatic mummifying machines. Good, you remember
them which saves me some explaining.
The next thing you need to see is this report which the Board received
recently.
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Subject: Tape Buddy Upgrade.
Authors: Tasha C. Polecat & Suichiro Tanaka
It has come to our attentions that the introduction of Delta Latex has been
hampered primarily from the sticking point that Beta Latex serves the same
purpose, in some cases it is more effective. While the remote activation
capabilities of Delta Latex makes it beneficial in some circumstances this
is proving to be more of an anomaly then the status quo. A China Ball/China
Doll Mask and a coating of Beta Latex seems to have nearly identical
properties and are often easier to apply for the staff.
BUT Mr. Tanaka suggested, and with the help of Ms. Polecat tested, a variant
of Delta Latex that is both more practical and designed for easy application
via the medium of the upgraded Tape Buddy. As the pictures included with this
report will show Ms. Polecat tested the prototype personally and with the
assistance of members of QUaT's Testing and Teaching Divisions. Mr. Tanaka can
attest to the benefits of the changes made from the standpoint of security
personnel and of the practicality and utility of this upgraded model in both
internal and external capture and restraint situations.
The Tape Buddy has always been limited from more widespread use because of the
properties of the Tape. Despite its usefulness it takes a solution to remove
its adhesive properties and unwrap its target. This can sometimes take long
periods of time. Previous research on this problem has attempted to emulate
the utility of Beta Latex and, while it did achieve some level of success, it
was not to the levels hoped for by the security staff. It was our hope (Mr.
Tanaka and Ms. Polecat) that the revision of the Tape Buddies to act as a
applicator of Delta Latex based tape would prove to be both easily accomplished
and achieve a level of success previously unrealised by the old Tape Buddies.
We are happy to report that testing of the experimental redesign has achieved
these goals.
The change from the adhesive formula that the Tape Buddy used prior to the
redesign is very beneficial. The nanite system takes up much less room
than the previous model's reservoir of chemical compounds or even those used
in the production of Beta Latex based tape. This enables it to carry much more
"ammo", if you will. Also the nanites' self replicating systems physically
could (theoretically) give the Delta Tape Buddy a nigh endless supply of tape.
Practically it does take time for the nanites to regenerate and refill the
unit if all its existing payload is used, so this IS still a factor. However
a Delta based Tape Buddy the same size as the current model can produce four
times as much tape before exhausting its payload. More importantly it only
takes the new design 30 minutes to go from an empty Delta Tape Buddy to being
completely refilled. Unlike previous versions, where an exhausted Tape Buddy
would need to be returned to the lab to be refilled this design would mean the
capture teams would not need to worry about refilling them. Merely to take a
pause, equivalent to a normal lunch break, to allow the Tape Buddies to
recharge and be prepared for use in the next capture.
As mentioned earlier, both versions of the earlier Tape Buddies had trouble
with cleaning up afterwards. The Delta Latex simplifies this matter, as all it
would take to remove the material is the proper remote signal. The speed of
this deactivation is easily usable to take physical control of the patient and
apply another form of restraint if needed. All Delta Latex's properties from
its basic form are also present. With the exception of its "self growth"
feature. This has been disabled in the Delta Tape Buddy design allowing for
the production and application of uniform width strips of the "tape". Any area
covered will be cleansed by the tape. More importantly the Latex will repair
and strengthen itself against any damage. In fact this narrower application
has made the Delta's adaptions and repairs VERY fast. Much more so than a
spray covering of Delta while giving it tensile properties greater than Beta
Latex's while possessing a regeneration capability that Beta Latex does not
possess. Making it very useful against patients possessing super strength and
other physically damaging capabilities when they struggle against the Delta
Tape.
Generation and application of the tape is also much faster than in the earlier
models making it much harder for the target to mount effective resistance once
the wrapping program begins.
As with the prior Tape Buddies the membrane the Delta Latex tape forms is
completely oxygen permeable so there are no concerns regarding asphyxiation.
In fact it has the added benefit that it removes contaminants from the air as
well. In an emergency, this can act as a make-shift gas mask. However this is
not recommended if an alternative is available. This is because one must
cover their own nose and mouth and maintaining control of the occasionally
over-eager Delta Tape Buddies is much more difficult then it sounds. During
testing QuAT volunteers Quistis Trepe and Anice Farm managed to successfully
demonstrate this emergency procedure while Catty Nebulart demonstrated the
consequences of losing control.
However, this property is useful for extracting patients from dangerous
situations where such contaminants may come into play, or a fire is present
(it will filter out smoke as well even if non toxic ). This will assist in
some of the more discreet captures where targets have to be acquired in the
presence of smoke bombs or gas grenades.
It should be noted the Delta Latex variant used in the Delta Tape Buddies has
been reprogrammed to simulate the current tape's appearance. However the Delta
Latex Tape will not, unlike previous models, stick to anyone or anything
except the designated target no matter what gets in it's way. Also unlike
standard Delta Latex it will not break down the targets clothing unless
specifically commanded to from a remote terminal.
Concerning the Delta Tape Buddy's remote terminal it should be referenced that
it requires the unique encoded signals of its designated remote terminal to
free or otherwise affect the individual wrapped in the tape it has dispensed.
This is primarily to prevent accidental (or intentional) releases from
external broadcasts similar to or mimicing its signal. With the terminal it
is both a simple and speedy process to command the Delta Tape to strip or to
release the wrapped individual. Or, as Ms. Polecat demonstrated on Ms. Tifa
Lockheart during testing, to do both leaving a patient ready for institutional
processing.
Overall, it has been attested to from Mr. Tanaka that the new version of the
Tape Buddy is easier to work with, and exceeds the speed and efficiency of
the current versions, while adding the benefits inherent in Delta Latex. This
is a case where two ideas worked better together, despite their success
separately. Particularly from a security and acquisition standpoint.
Mr. Tanaka attests that "The new configurations of the Delta Latex is
superior to the [Beta Latex] Launchers and Tape Buddies. It is much simpler
and easier to use, and time is saved by not having to clean up stray Beta
Latex, as in the past." He also added that field trials had confirmed the
safety aspects of Delta Tape so that he had every confidence it could be used
in the field without risk to the targets allowing Gold Team to focus on the
situation at hand rather than be hampered with vital tasks such as ensuring
the target's respiration.
The QuAT volunteers attested that they had no difficulty with breathing after
being captured since despite the snug fit the Delta Wrap permitted sufficent
flexibility for normal chest expansion and compression. They were also unable
to evade or escape this experimental model and reported that the new Tape
Buddies were efficient and quick. Ms. Trepe took care to mention that they
moved quickly enough to prevent most attempts at magical offense or defence
or resistance. It is recommended by Head of Acquisitions Suichiro Tanaka and
QUaT Head Ms. Tasha Polecat that this variant be put into immediate production
and that the older Tape Buddies be phased out in favor of the new design.
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