“ Mathias "Trig" Schneider. Used to be a professor and consultant for DARPA before he was recruited by the Black Tusk. He's been working on alternative energy solutions for their operations. ”
Mathias "Trig" Schneider is a Black Tusk operative and one of General Anderson's four lieutenants in the Price of Power season.
Profile[]
Mathias "Trig" Schneider was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. A mathematics prodigy, he moves to the United States at the age of twelve to study at MIT. He graduated with his Master's in Electrical Engineering at age eighteen and became the department's youngest associate professor. His theoretical work with perpetual energy turbines caught the eye of the Defense Department. He was brought in to consult with DARPA scientists on several classified projects, prior to being recruited by the Black Tusk to find solutions for powering their hovercrafts during off-grid and prolonged deployment operations.
History[]
Before the Outbreak[]
As a prodigy in mathematics, Trig's theoretical work caught the interest of the United States Department of Defense, and he was brought to consult on many classified projects in DARPA which includes projects made by Ortiz Robotics. He was consulted by Calvin McManus and Natalya Sokolova regarding the three AI systems made by the company (ISAC, ANNA, and DIAMOND). Additionally, he was consulted by Claire Ortiz to do a test with ANNA with the Warhounds. He accepted, though he was skeptical about the AI given Sokolova's dislike of ANNA.
Kevin Park/LINC[]
At one point, he had a conversation with a technician named Kevin Park about an idea he was pitching: An autonomous communications tool that can access any and all kinds of communications in the event of a solar storm, an EMP, or someone attacking the system. While Trig admitted that Park's idea was good, he was skeptical as he believed its not new or interesting. Nevertheless, he suggested Park to present his idea to interested parties (Trig slipped up by mentioning Claire earlier during the conversation, given the classified nature of DARPA's work).
Later on, Kevin Park presented Trig the upgraded version of LINC. Trig was impressed, then asked Park for full demonstration, the technical schematics, and review the code of LINC. Given that Park needed funding for his project, Trig requested him to bring the prototype and the documentation so he could bring the relevant people and get Park's project funded.
Much later, Trig was approached by Kevin Park regarding Claire Ortiz and ISAC. Park expressed concerns about ISAC and the danger it represents to privacy and security risks, but Trig warned him to keep quiet or else he'll find himself flagged a traitor to the United States and sent to Guantanamo Bay.
Recruitment into Black Tusk[]
When the Green Poison outbreak hit the country, Trig was recruited into Black Tusk, where he worked on alternative power solutions for their hovercrafts during off-grind and prolonged deployment operations.
Conversations with Theo Parnell[]
Sometime after the Division's activation, Vivian Conley told Division agent (turned Rogue) Theo Parnell about ANNA and the Combat Simulation program, prompting for Parnell to contact Trig. At first, they discussed about their favorite shapes. The conversation would change subjects when Trig was asked by Parnell about the AI ANNA and the simulation. In regards to ANNA, Trig described her as a truly autonomous AI that's constantly growing, though he mentioned Claire Ortiz built her, thus the AI's personality is a little wicked and doesn't care for the consequences or the powers that be, which would make ANNA dangerous if she decides someone is expendable.
Theo likened her to a god that demands respect. Trig remarked that as long as a person respects ANNA, she'll do anything to protect them.
When Parnell asked him about the simulation, Trig said its impressive but a missed opportunity. He clarified that the simulation felt like laser tag and airsoft had a baby where you could fight a bear with dinosaur bone armor, even mentioning the program had limitless potential. However, he mentioned that the tech behind the simulation is Classified, thus it requires rebuilding it all and scrubbing everything. On the other hand, Parnell told Trig if things don't turn around fast, Classified won't mean anything and they could do whatever they want with the tech.
Later on, Trig was called up by Theo regarding security issues with the SHD Network. Trig mentions there's too many back and side doors for access, and too much data with no way to sequester a branch from the next. Trig pins the blame on Cal for this issue, as he believes the Secretary should've chosen ANNA as ISAC leaves much to be desired.
When asked if these security issues were on purpose, Trig hoped that'd be the case as he wouldn't believe Claire Ortiz would overlook a huge oversight. And if it was her husband, Alex, who built the security issues, he would assume it's a mistake. But in Claire's case, Trig believes that Claire built these security issues on purpose, mentioning that she always has her reasons, even if they don't make sense to anyone else.
At a later point, Trig was talking with Theo about the Nemesis program and its nature. He explains the program can render anything scanned by a Division agent, though the animations may get strange. He uses a shark swimming on land as an example, remarking how it could break the realism of the simulation. When asked if it can spawn friendlies, Trig answered "In Theory". He clarifies to Theo that he'd need to find a perfect scale render as data gets weird under copyright and may be difficult, then further clarifying that anything the Scantek lenses scans could be reproduced in the Simulation.
When Theo asked if he all needs to do is render his team is by looking at them and then ask ISAC, Trig corrected him by saying he needs ANNA and a Mobile SHD Server as well as using ANNA's backdoor into the Simulation, then he could render anything he could scan with his lenses.
Demise[]
During the events of Price of Power, Trig was brought into the fold to ensure rebuilding the alliance between Black Tusk and True Sons goes smoothly. At one point, Trig asked Captain Lewis about his favorite shape for his personality test, in which Lewis found it weird. Wary and finding it difficult to work with people who were once his enemies, Lewis decided to aid the Division by feeding them intel about General Anderson and his four lieutenants in an attempt to put an end to the alliance.
Agents scoured through the Southwest to find Trig, eventually locating him at Jefferson Plaza. After fighting through Black Tusk forces, they eliminated Trig and put him off the board.
Legacy[]
After his death, Division agents would intercept comms in later adventures related to Mathias "Trig" Schneider, involving his days at DARPA and his discussions with Theo Parnell.
Abilities[]
In-game, Trig is a Black Tusk Thrower armed with an ACR Assault Rifle and M32A1 Incendiary Grenade Launcher.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Despite not using it in-game, in both his character artwork and the Season 10 CGI trailer, Trig is shown with a Military P416 instead.
- It's revealed through the Descent comms that at some point early in the Black Tusk's creation, Trig was consulted by Calvin McManus and Natalya Sokolova about the Ortiz's AI Systems (ISAC, ANNA, and DIAMOND).
- Trig had a habit of learning about people's personalities by asking them about their favorite shape.
Takeover Bounty[]
- Jefferson Plaza: Trig