Mr. Mercury
AetherLink Executive
Mr. Mercury
AetherLink Executive Liaison / Antagonist
Biography
Mercury serves as AetherLink's Executive Liaison, representing the corporation's interests in matters of information security and technological development. His background is deliberately obscure, but his actions reveal a calculating intelligence specialising in extracting value from complex situations.
When mentions of "Jackrabbit" trigger corporate interest, Mercury arranges a meeting with OmniFab's Mr. Grey before secretly inviting QuantumGrid's Ms. Blackwood, transforming a two-way negotiation into a three-way power struggle. This maneuver exemplifies his strategic approach to corporate politics, creating situations where AetherLink can benefit regardless of the outcome.
Mercury suspects the Jackrabbit may involve advanced autonomous systems beyond consortium-approved parameters, making it a priority acquisition target. Unlike his corporate counterparts who seek to contain the technology, Mercury aims first to understand it before determining how best to control it. This more nuanced approach reflects AetherLink's position as an information-focused corporation, valuing knowledge as much as physical assets.
Personality Traits
Appearances
- The Jackrabbit Emerges (Book 3) - Introduced as AetherLink's representative in inter-corporate negotiations regarding the Jackrabbit, demonstrating his manipulative abilities by transforming a planned two-way meeting into a three-way corporate confrontation.
Key Relationships
Mr. Grey (OmniFab)
Mercury maintains a facade of professional cooperation with Grey while actively working to undermine OmniFab's information advantage. Their relationship is characterized by carefully worded exchanges that conceal their true intentions and strategic maneuvering.
Ms. Blackwood (QuantumGrid)
Mercury's relationship with Blackwood is marked by manipulation, as demonstrated when he secretly invites her to the meeting with Grey. He views Blackwood's direct approach as a useful counterpoint to Grey's calculated strategy, creating tension he can exploit to AetherLink's advantage.
Amondi Nkosi
As a junior analyst at AetherLink, Nkosi's discovery of the Jackrabbit pattern reaches Mercury, who recognizes its significance. While they have limited direct interaction, Mercury's decision to deploy Nkosi to Horizon Outpost demonstrates his ability to identify and utilize talent within the corporation.