Editing Cauldron (section)

==''Modus operandi''==
The ultimate goal of the organization was to kill [[Scion]] - the path to completing that goal involved building an army of [[parahumans]] able to combat him. In order to do this, long-term stability needed to be maintained, which meant shutting down certain threats before they became a problem<ref>Not to mention other roles, like giving Parahumans a brand as a whole, managing public perceptions (even to the extent of media), keeping things interlinked with local & federal law enforcement, keeping politicians on the municipal and federal level in the loop, ensuring everything is on the up and up in economy and politics (watchdog being under PRT umbrella, with some team involvement), and investigating weird shit/putting down potential S-class threats before they become bigger threats. That bogeyman does tackle some of that last one, but still, sometimes the path says the most efficient way is to send a group of [[PRT|squaddies]] at the problem. - [https://redd.it/69hecp Wildbow on Reddit]</ref><ref>'''Wildbow:'''[...]In canon, the Doctor is pulling strings and seeding groups with cauldron capes, which provides a steady body of capes, and Contessa is devoting attention here and there to controlling crises and removing threats/dissent. Once you have that stable body, and you're handling all of the big problems (we see Cauldron discussing the fact that they have to stop doing just this around the time of Number Man's interlude), you have a stable organization that can survive the loss of two or three key members, and you only need to step in every couple of weeks/months to keep things more or less running smoothly. Then you've got bastions of strength for humanity and civilization.<br><br>Without Cauldron, you run into problems where all it takes for your new organization to fall apart is one incident, one bit of drama, one nutball cape crossing a line. You lose trust, your faction fragments in half, and the individuals involved in this crisis are very powerful - your government or organization or whatever has to devote horrific amounts of resources to understanding, mediating and controlling the problem. And it keeps happening. The larger your group, the higher the rate of incidents. It's a struggle to get off the ground, and once you've actually made it, you're one disaster away from crumbling and having it all be for naught.<br><br>By and large, big groups aren't so sustainable, without outside help and a strong example to show it's worth the effort. - [https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/15025011/ Conversation] on Spacebattles by Wildbow</ref> and ensuring that [[Earth Bet]] was welcoming to all parahumans and superhero culture.<ref name="R1">With the PRT, even ~more~ behind the scenes, you've got Cauldron. Cauldron doesn't want people going out and pulling this for many reasons - capes strong enough to warrant a sniper instead of a normal beatdown are capes Cauldron wants in the final confrontation. This is the sort of thing Contessa is regularly tackling - figuring out how to shut down elements like anti-parahuman hate groups and people who start using snipers.<br><br>So people try to pull this and events conspire against them and they miss the shot. The incident gets reported, the target lives, the PRT cracks down on them, and the gang leader who put the money out there gets crucified, so to speak. - [https://redd.it/5ip94x Excerpt from a comment by Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>

Cauldron was a capable organization due to the manufacture and development of the [[List of Cauldron Vials|vials]]. This made numerous superpowers available to its members of "staff", but the unpredictable process and side effects also made them highly morally questionable. These powers included interdimensional transport and memory erasure.<ref name="I21"> - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/interlude-21-donation-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 21.x]]</ref> It used this to keep its operations hidden.

===Sales===
Cauldron is constantly on the lookout for new customers, having landing/mock-up sites for those looking for power related technologies or services.<ref name="I12.5 e1">“I’d have to check my notes.  We have ways of finding interested parties.  If I remember right, you were browsing websites, researching ways to acquire tinker-made armor and weapons?”<br><br>Jamie nodded.  “I was.  So many were fakes or scams that I wasn’t willing to trust the ones that did look legit.”<br><br>“We own several of those sites.  All are fakes.  That might have been where we first noticed your activity.”<br><br>“That’s a little creepy.”<br><br>“Creepiness is an unfortunate reality when you’re forced to operate covertly, without a steady customer base.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/interlude-21-donation-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 21.x]]</ref> They favor motivated and skilled people. Strong social connections or a background in law enforcement are a plus.<ref>Calvert did not trigger from the Nilbog attack - as suggested in his interlude, he's in debt to Cauldron because he bought his power. Cauldron often reaches out to the disaffected who are connected to law enforcement or otherwise dedicated and possessed of natural talents (Battery is a detective's daughter, Triumph was an athlete, Coil is an ex-PRT squaddie). - [https://redd.it/96wmc8 Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>

When selling powers to people they go out of their way to up the price of the vial, partially to weed out those who do not have sufficient commitment to a parahuman lifestyle and partially to get people into Cauldron's debt by agreeing to favors in exchange for a more powerful vial.<ref name="R2">'''bramflakes:'''<br>They don't need the money. The price they charge is an idiot filter, to weed out the ones who aren't serious about being a cape and keeping to Cauldron's terms. If a multi-millionaire applies, they'll ask for a billion.<br><br>There's also likely a psychological element - in Battery's interlude, Doctor Mother starts out with a figure that she knows Battery can't pay, and then lets Battery haggle it down to something she can afford, in exchange for more favors. I suspect that Cauldron does this to nearly every applicant, in order to make them feel indebted to Cauldron before they even take the vial.<br>edit:<br>
*As for why they don't hand out all the powerful formulas, several reasons:
*Powerful formulas are more likely to result in Case 53s<br>There's likely a limited supply of the very best vials, so they'll only make them available to people that meet the most stringent psychological requirements (to avoid repeats of Grey Boy)
*Fighting Scion is the main goal, but to accomplish that they need to utilize natural triggers too. This means creating and/or maintaining large organizations that natural triggers can join, and coexist with first-world institutions without everything descending into parahuman feudalism. That way, when the final battle comes, they have a few dozen organizations to rely on (both hero and villain), rather than thousands of independent cape micro-states. That means they need weak and medium-strength capes to fill out the ranks of the Protectorate, the Elite, the Guild, the Suits, and so on. Number Man's interlude shows him shoring up these organizations when they're facing financial difficulties, and Accord seems to be able to get vials to boost his ranks pretty easily too.
<br>'''Wildbow:''' Nice post. Right on the mark.<br>On the subject of why they don't always hand out powerful vials - they don't always know the power level of a given vial. They've got this landscape of Eden, they take pieces of it, make it into concoctions and feed them to people. One vial might have fantastic results in one situation and peter out or end up horrific in another.<br>So they've spent the last 30 years figuring it out, trying to get as many vials to people as they can in the most constructive way they can. When they do get a set of powerful vials, they try to hold on to them and give them to the people they can make the most use out of. Often those are people in power (ie. the mayor of a town with a lot of capes, who then gives it to his son), people with access (an ex-PRT captain with the potential to be Director), or people with money.<br><br>'''eSPiaLx:''' But why would doctor Mother have those special vials locked away in Cauldron's basement? Weren't those supposed to be really powerful? If Cauldron had given them out earlier, wouldn't there be a decent (or heck, crappy is fine too) chance there would be anothe Legend/Alexandria/Eidolon?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Just as much of a chance of there being a Grey Boy. Of the person taking the vial and losing their mind.<br>It's a last ditch measure. - [https://redd.it/3lowq1 Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>
<!--
That's actually a really good question. I think a lot of it would depend on the client.

If they're not recognizable as their old self or if they couldn't pass as normal (while being simultaneously okay with disconnecting from their old lives), Cauldron might make the decision o their own.
More abstractly, if the client is going to cause a fuss or get upset, Cauldron just takes them out of the picture & removes Cauldron itself from their memories.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/88ybhx/question_re_deviation_outcomes/dwp2wj3/

Ameliorate the impact of the entities on the human species across the entire multiverse.
/
is in the business of human survival as such capes are likely to become the heads of society given innate power they were planning for this to happen and wanted certain characters who did not go outside their bonds 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Weaverdice/comments/6c3bk5/weaverdice_italy/dhs8fq2/ -->

If a client is having minor issues when trying to fulfill their part of the deal (e.g., having bad luck when trying to meet debts), Cauldron might approach the client and offer to adjust the contract (e.g., them doing a favor instead).<ref>At the outset, offering a bit of leeway to the player who isn’t engaging with the RP aspects at hand, or who has simply had bad luck with the risk-reward of trying to meet debts, the GM may have Cauldron approach the player, offering an adjustment of the contract.  Did the player pick ‘Connections’, but isn’t enjoying the politics of trying to steer their family’s media empire to lean on local activists?  Maybe Cauldron says they can do a favor instead, let that slide a bit.  If the character is struggling with the debt, Cauldron might tell them they’ll consider the debts paid if the character can befriend certain individuals. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8y2aVXfuk35S-54ycdoaz0qQeFHHIBMoJbQGOBYG90 WD CAULDRON]</ref>

====Nemesis Program====
For the goal of putting Cauldron-affiliated people into needed areas with high standing, Cauldron offers an incentive where a client can pay a good sum to have a [[Case 53]] or Cauldron subject help improve their position and reputation. This Nemesis, a potentially powerful enemy, would be brainwashed with an auto-lose trigger (e.g., keyword or some other trick) to give the client easy wins.<ref>“There’s the Nemesis program, but you already have an opponent in mind, and I expect you’re more interested in a fair fight than having an opponent you’re guaranteed to succeed against when it counts.”<br><br>“Yeah.”  This Nemesis program… how many prominent heroes or villains were out there that had faked or staged confrontations like that?  - [[Interlude 12.5]]</ref><ref name="SB2">Cauldron's habit was to take all of the human experiments that turned out well, brainwash them, and then place them in larger organizations to support said organizations, fighting the natural tendency for parahumans to seek conflict (and thus making forming large committed groups hard). Shamrock could well have been slated for the Protectorate, Red Gauntlet, the Suits, or even the Nemesis program (being brainwashed with an auto-lose trigger against one client who paid a good sum, so that client could get a better position and climb faster in rep). - [https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/15078112/ Comment] by Wildbow on Spacebattles</ref><ref>It would have gone somewhere if I'd gone more into depth with Faultline's Crew, giving them more of a spotlight. It was only an incentive to give people to get them formulas and push them to a higher standing when Cauldron needed people with good reputation in key areas (ie. to promote through the ranks of the PRT without too much interference). If you signed up, they'd release a case 53 or Cauldron subject with a bit of brainwashing, an implanted trigger that would cause them to lose. A keyword or other trick so the person who bought into the program could get easy wins against a potentially powerful enemy. - Comment by Wildbow [https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/15027118 on Spacebattles]</ref>

[[The Slug]] was primarily responsible for setting up these Nemesis weakpoints.<ref name="discord eBrains">'''Wildbow:''' Reneging on Cauldron favors - probably a firm reminder.  Very firm if it's ~that~ against the spirit of the deal.   "What we gave you we can take away.  There's a new cape in this city with a key word or phrase that will temporarily take away your connection to your power.  They now have license to use it if they run into you, and they'll retain that license until you make it up to us.  If you don't shape up and follow through on your commitments, you will lose those powers permanently, and we'll tell your enemies where you are, should you try to run."<br><br>'''Jicker:''' harsh, but fair<br><br>'''Forgery:''' Huh, I didn't expect their first response being an empty threat like "We can say a word and your power disappears".<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Empty?<br><br>'''Forgery:''' Wait, can Cauldron powers be removed with a single word?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' If the person has been slugged.<br>[...]<br>'''Forgery:''' I thought Slug was just the amnesia maker?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Slug edits brains.  Took away memories, set in blocks, set up the Nemesis weakpoints... - Conversation with Wildbow on Parahumans Discord</ref>

====Punishments====
If clients willfully renege on their deal with Cauldron, although they could get a decisive visit from members such as [[Contessa]] or [[the Number Man]], the organization would prefer more subtle countermeasures to heavily pressure these clients to stick to their deal.<ref>When characters start willfully disengaging from the commitments made to Cauldron, then Cauldron is liable to start applying heavier pressure.  They maintain the ability to drop the hammer on the player - a visit from Contessa or Number Man, but they would always prefer to get people back on course, instead. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8y2aVXfuk35S-54ycdoaz0qQeFHHIBMoJbQGOBYG90 WD CAULDRON]</ref>

Cauldron can leverage other on-track clients to help pressure a wayward client into shaping up. This can range from a new recruit threatening their boss about being a potential Cauldron-endorsed replacement,<ref>An NPC joins the character’s team, and they seem to fit in well.  They might even engage with the character, appearing friendly.  Until they’re alone with the character, and they lean in close, whispering, “Cauldron would like you to keep in mind that you can be replaced.  Step it up.” - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8y2aVXfuk35S-54ycdoaz0qQeFHHIBMoJbQGOBYG90 WD CAULDRON]</ref> to Cauldron warning the client about some opposing out-of-town capes being Cauldron-affiliated and the possibility of more showing up.<ref>Three capes come into town and immediately join up with the group the player is trying to deal with.  Cauldron, in the midst of reminders about responsibilities, insinuates the capes are theirs and there may be more coming. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8y2aVXfuk35S-54ycdoaz0qQeFHHIBMoJbQGOBYG90 WD CAULDRON]</ref>

[[Doctor Mother]] claims to [[Battery]] that for moral reasons and to limit unwanted attention, Cauldron tries to avoid murder in their punishments. Instead, she states they have an in-house cape that can enact the worst case scenario of [[Corona Pollentia#Power Removal|removing the client's powers]] should they try to expose Cauldron or fail to fulfill their part of the deal.<ref name="12.5 eCountermeasures">“What kind of countermeasures?  Would you kill me?”<br><br>“We try to avoid murder in the course of doing business, not just because of the moral issues, but because it draws attention.  For leaks, our usual procedure is to discredit the individual in question and deploy our in-house division of parahumans to drive them into hiding, remove their powers or both.”<br>[...]<br>“We’ll see.  In terms of cost, Cauldron requires that the client pay two-thirds of the total amount in advance, and pay the rest over a six year period or ''default''.”<br><br>“Meaning you employ those countermeasures you talked about.”<br><br>“Revoking your powers in the worst case scenario, yes.”<br><br>“Is that revoking of powers a part of the process of however you give people the powers, or is it something that one of your in-house capes does?”<br><br>The Doctor was typing on the computer.  Without taking her eyes from the screen, she said, “The latter.  You don’t need to worry about someone using a loophole or flaw in the process to take away your abilities.” - [[Interlude 12.5]]</ref><ref>“I couldn’t tell you,” he said.  “It’s one of the rules.  If we say anything, they come after us, and take away what they gave.”<br><br>I searched his expression, and I saw the regret, the hurt.  How very hard it had been. - [[Last 20.11]]</ref> [[Wildbow]] speculates this countermeasure is very real because of [[The Slug#Power_Removal|the Slug]].<ref name="discord eBrains">'''Wildbow:''' Reneging on Cauldron favors - probably a firm reminder.  Very firm if it's ~that~ against the spirit of the deal.   "What we gave you we can take away.  There's a new cape in this city with a key word or phrase that will temporarily take away your connection to your power.  They now have license to use it if they run into you, and they'll retain that license until you make it up to us.  If you don't shape up and follow through on your commitments, you will lose those powers permanently, and we'll tell your enemies where you are, should you try to run."<br><br>'''Jicker:''' harsh, but fair<br><br>'''Forgery:''' Huh, I didn't expect their first response being an empty threat like "We can say a word and your power disappears".<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Empty?<br><br>'''Forgery:''' Wait, can Cauldron powers be removed with a single word?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' If the person has been slugged.<br>[...]<br>'''Forgery:''' I thought Slug was just the amnesia maker?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Slug edits brains.  Took away memories, set in blocks, set up the Nemesis weakpoints... - Conversation with Wildbow on Parahumans Discord</ref><ref>'''Jicker:''' if Cauldron is investing in these capes, it's better to get them back on track if possible<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' It's better<br><br>'''Jicker:''' at least, that was my line of thinking<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' But if they're being total asshats with no sign of redemption, or if there's risk they blab, remove. - Conversation with Wildbow on Parahumans Discord</ref> For example, if a potential client is untrustworthy and/or did not have enough pre-existing strings to pull, Cauldron might use the Slug to implant a key phrase into them as a precautionary measure that permanently removes their power.<ref>'''Forgery:''' So is there a word that can shut down c53s, given they were slugged? Are all cauldron capes slugged?<br>Sorry about the questions, its just that this information feels like a huge revelation on how Cauldron capes work, if they can be shut down at Cauldron's digression.<br>[...]<br>'''Wildbow:''' I think it'd be specific to certain capes they weren't sure they could trust, Forg<br><br>'''Inky || Hellraiser:''' Probably a lot of the more villainous leaning cauldron capes<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Probably ones where there weren't enough blatant, pre-existing strings to pull. If a player ended up going down that road, it might be that Cauldron predicted it as a possibility. - Conversation with Wildbow on Parahumans Discord</ref> Cauldron can then use this as leverage when firmly reminding the wayward client to follow through with their commitments.<ref>“We always knew you would be hard to manage, so we took precautions,” the voice says on the phone. “While you were unconscious after getting your powers, we implanted a key phrase in your head. One of our agents in the city now has that phrase, and they can use it to turn off your power at an inopportune time. What we gave you we can take away.” The threat becomes one of the powers being turned off for good. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8y2aVXfuk35S-54ycdoaz0qQeFHHIBMoJbQGOBYG90 WD CAULDRON]</ref>

Another countermeasure is the threat of discrediting the wayward client and driving them into hiding, especially if they try to expose Cauldron.<ref name="12.5 eCountermeasures" /> For example, the organization could secretly leak sensitive information such as where the client's operations are located, the client's large payment to an unknown source, or even witness reports about occasions where the client crossed the line.<ref>A steady trickle of information about the character starts getting leaked.  Among that trickle might be the vast sums paid to Cauldron, who have covered their tracks enough to not have to worry.  For those who haven’t tended to their secret identity or their out-of-costume relationships, this could be a final stroke of doubt that makes relationships implode.  Authorities start finding the player’s headquarters, stashes of drugs, or getting witness reports about times heroes crossed the line in secret. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8y2aVXfuk35S-54ycdoaz0qQeFHHIBMoJbQGOBYG90 WD CAULDRON]</ref>

===Social Engineering===
They went out of their way to set up several powerful parahuman groups around the world,<ref name="SB3">
:'''DoctorNobody:''' Absent Cauldron's meddling...<br>
:'''Wildbow:'''Think bigger-scale.<br><br>
Absent Cauldron's meddling, there's no [[PRT]] for one thing. There's no [[Suits]], no [[Red Gauntlet]], no [[Elite Sentai]] group or whatever I called them, no [[Elite]]; all groups that Cauldron set up or supported.<br><br>Non-parahumans in the West end up taking a more aggressive stance against parahumans, as certain voices aren't silenced, and without the Protectorate as an example, things are just more anti-parahuman around the world as a whole. Heroes are fewer and farther between than in conventional Worm - you've got an awful lot of shades of grey and people doing their damndest just to get by. The [[Chevalier]]s and [[Miss Militia]]s of the world are staying right where they are, in small town X or Turkey-occupied Kurdistan, and they're helping their town/country and only their town/country. For the most part, parahumans are taking over where they can take over, and because the population is so hostile, they're forced to be a little ugly or harsh to quell dissent, or they're nice and constantly watching their back/focusing far too much on just keeping things functioning.<br><br>Assuming that Cauldron's operatives maybe killed Eden but then just sat on their hands/died, the Endbringers don't exist, the cauldron vials aren't spread out, and there's less of the really powerful parahumans here and there who're capable of acting decisively. Gates to other worlds are left open, feeding into Cote D'Ivorie, spitting out more than a fair share of Case-53 like monsters, only in a very tightly occupied space. If West Africa survives, it's either as a world power or as a mutant-occupied area. If they find Eden's corpse, well, you've got a whole other mess, because they're going to be less careful and organized about it. Assuming they don't accidentally revive Eden, there's going to be a lot of failed doses.<br><br>Further, the major threats that Contessa and Number Man deemed too dangerous to leave alone weren't necessarily eliminated (either because Contessa herself didn't pay a visit, or because Cauldron didn't contrive to have said parahuman put down), so there's more Ash Beasts, Blasphemies, Sleepers and the equivalent roaming around.<br><br>There's no Parahuman Containment Center, so there's no place to put the really dangerous villains. What do you do with the villains who can't be killed, like Gavel? You maybe try to wrangle some giant-killers like Flechette/Foil, but how many of those guys are there, really?<br><br>You're talking about infrastructure, but quite honestly, infrastructure wouldn't survive the 90's. By the mid-2000's, getting food from the agricultural states to the areas with the highest population density (ie. New york) is a struggle, because of bandits, threats, organized crime, disorganized crime and more. - [https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/15024820 Wildbow on Spacebattles]</ref> to keep make sure there were united fronts.<!--Alexandria's and eidolons interludes -->

====Terminus Project====
<!-- Based on projections everyone will eventually end up with powers.{{Cite}} To preempt this Cauldron tried to set up precedents of good parahuman leadership to serve as an example for others. -->
Sometime before September 16, 2000, [[Doctor Mother]] proposed the Terminus project.<ref name="15.z eFindCandidate">'''September 16th, 2000'''<br>[...]<br>“No, this means we simply need to step up our plans.  If we’re going to go forward with the  Terminus project, we need to advance the overall efforts with Cauldron.  And we need the Protectorate effort to succeed on every count.”<br><br>“Or we need your project to work out,” Alexandria replied.<br><br>The Doctor frowned.  “Or that.  We still have to find the right individual.  Or ''make'' him.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/11/08 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 15.z]]</ref> Believing that [[parahumans]] would eventually take charge in the long run, Cauldron wanted to see if a vetted candidate (i.e., either found or made<ref name="15.z eFindCandidate" />) could naturally take charge in a location and set up a stable society without their direct interference.<ref>“How does this turn out?” I asked.  “Cauldron ruling the world?”<br><br>“''Honestly?  I don’t think so.  Cauldron’s primary interest seems to be humanity.  Keeping us going, minimizing chances of war and conflict.  All of this seems to be geared around that.  Setting things up so we aren’t fucked, however things go down.''”<br><br>“Right,” I said.  “Where do the powers come in?”<br><br>“''I think… well, I don’t have enough to say anything for sure.  But the underlying assumption seems to be that parahumans are going to take charge, one way or the other, so they wanted to set things up so that happened naturally.  They’ve been vetting clients, finding the ones who’d work best.  They don’t identify them by anything except number, but… I think Coil was a test case.''”<br><br>I nodded.<br><br>“''So were we.''”<br><br>“We had an idea,” I said. - [[Venom 29.4]]</ref> One of their clients, [[Coil]],<ref name="R2" /> had a craving for power and authority, so Cauldron wanted him as this candidate.<ref name="R4">You talk about the kind of science Coil could do elsewhere on this page. But if Coil was going to be a scientist, he wouldn't have had powers in the first place. Cauldron wanted him for Terminus and used the financial leverage of him being in debt to them to position him. If he hadn't had the craving for power & authority they would have looked elsewhere. - Comment by Wildbow on Reddit</ref><!-- https://redd.it/55dgky --> Thus, they leveraged Coil's debt to position him as a test case:<ref name="R4" /> he was their test run in [[Brockton Bay]].<ref name="discord eTestRun" />

While the test run was ongoing, Cauldron did not interfere or intervene as much in [[Brockton Bay]]. Thus, everyone in the city could get away with a bit more than might be expected. For example, [[Coil]] had hired snipers in [[Coil's Organization|his organization]]. However, Cauldron being more hands-off meant they would not save Coil from dying.<ref name="reddit eHandsOff" /><ref name="discord eTestRun" />

Cauldron did not help [[Coil]] nor did they help those against him. He did not know about this project.<ref>I leaned forward, resting my hands on the railing in front of me.  Grue’s odd departure only fueled an anger that had been simmering, “I had a hell of a lot of time to think, in prison, in my downtime and during stakeouts.  There’s only one thing that really makes sense, as far as your motivations go.  It’s not the clues or what you’re doing, it’s what you ''weren’t'' doing.  Only Legend helped against the Slaughterhouse Nine, but he wasn’t in the know, from the looks of it.  You didn’t help Coil, and you didn’t help ''against'' Coil.  You only helped against Echidna when it looked like everything might go down the toilet.  But Alexandria steps in when I leave, confronts me after I’d surrendered to the PRT.  So I had to ask myself ''why''.”<br><br>“I can imagine,” Doctor Mother said.<br><br>“We were guinea pigs,” I said.  “For what?  So you could be in charge?”<br><br>“Not us.  Never us,” the Doctor said.  “There’s a lot you don’t understand.”<br><br>“''Try us'',” Tattletale said, almost snarling the words.<br><br>“All of this?  It’s small scale,” the Doctor said.  “Important?  Yes.  But it’s nothing in the grand scheme of things.” - [[Scarab 25.5]]</ref><ref name="15.z eImportance" />

On June 18, 2011, [[Doctor Mother]] told [[Alexandria]] and [[Eidolon]] that she believed the [[end of the world]] would not be a concern if this project was a success. Alexandria believed this project was of extreme importance; she actually said ''everything'' rested on [[Coil]]'s shoulders. Note that [[Legend]] did not know about this project at the time.<ref name="15.z eImportance">'''June 18th, 2011'''<br>[...]<br>“But he’ll understand,” the Doctor said.  “If the Terminus project is a success, the end of the world isn’t a concern.  And I believe we ''will'' succeed.”<br><br>“Provided we come up with a solution to the bigger, more basic problems we’re facing,” Eidolon said.  “Or we’ll simply find ourselves in the same circumstances after we’ve gone to all this trouble.”<br><br>Alexandria nodded.  “The Protectorate is proving to be a failure on that front.  Recent events haven’t given me much hope in that regard.”<br><br>“So that leaves only my end of things,” the Doctor said.<br><br>“Coil,” Eidolon said.  “And if ''he'' fails?”<br><br>“Ever the pessimist,” Alexandria said.<br><br>“This revelation about the possible end of the world has decimated our projected timeline.  We don’t have time to prepare or pursue anything further,” the Doctor said.<br><br>“If we assist him-”<br><br>“No,” the Doctor spoke.  “If we assist him, there’s no point.”<br><br>“In short?” Alexandria leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.  “He doesn’t even know it, but ''everything'' rests on his shoulders.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/11/08 Excerpt] from [[Interlude 15.z]]</ref>

Cauldron made backup plans for directly brainwashing capes into being cooperative leaders in case of a scenario where parahumans being leaders in the long run did not work out.<ref>“''Yeah.  But there’s more… I don’t know how much more.  Yet.  Can you flip ahead?  Maybe about three quarters of the way through, there should be a bit about the Overseers and the Terminus.  Flip through… slower… show more of the pages… I’ll go back through the video feed to view each page on my own and figure the rest out myself.''”<br>[...]<br>“''There are backup plans if the whole parahumans-as-leaders thing didn’t work out.  Brainwashing leaders like they brainwashed the case fifty-threes.  So the leaders were absolute and could be trusted.  Um.  Distribution and organization for getting things going again, depending on how many threats remain after we make it through this.  They didn’t know what the end would be like, what we’d be up against, so they could only ballpark here.  The reason for these offices?  Cauldron’s going to staff this place.  It’s going to be a hub, police, a whole lot more, up until humanity’s got the ball rolling again.''” - [[Venom 29.4]]</ref><ref>If the Accord/Taylor/Coil types didn’t work out as leaders, they intended to brainwash -capes-. Probably capes in captivity. Thus ensuring they had cooperative leaders who would stay in bounds. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/venom-29-4/#comment-43598 Comment] by Wildbow on [[Venom 29.4]]</ref>