Ex Machina Compendium #1

In "The Pilot," Mitchell grapples with the aftermath of an assassination attempt, unraveling the past that forged him into the Great Machine and tracing the early days of his political rise. The story blends personal revelation with the weight of legacy, revealing how one man’s transformation reshaped a nation.

In "State of Emergency, Chapter One," Mitchell navigates the early days of his administration as he appoints key aides, only to face a political firestorm when a controversial portrait of Lincoln—paid for with public funds—sparks outrage. As tensions rise, a chilling pattern emerges: a serial killer begins targeting snow plow drivers, turning the city’s winter chaos into a deadly game.

In "State of Emergency, Chapter Two," Mitchell faces mounting pressure as a quiet news cycle turns attention to the public Lincoln portrait, while his appointment of Journal as Special Adviser on Youth Affairs signals a shift in his administration. With the mysterious killings of snow plow drivers escalating and Kremlin pushing him toward a fateful decision, Mitchell must navigate political intrigue and personal duty—without revealing what lies ahead.

In "State of Emergency, Chapter Three" from Ex Machina Compendium #1, Mitchell traces a pattern of deadly attacks on snow plow drivers to a shadowy conspiracy tied to Kremlin. Meanwhile, Journal confronts Trista Braving, the controversial artist behind a state-funded public artwork, as tensions rise in a city on edge.

In the final chapter of "State of Emergency," Mitchell and Bradbury face off against Kremlin, only to discover he’s been watching them all along—and now knows the truth behind the serial killer terrorizing the city. As tensions rise, Journal uncovers a shocking twist: Trista has destroyed her own painting, leaving behind only silence and unanswered questions.

In "Tag, Chapter Two," Mayor Hundred grapples with political strategy while new symbols tied to the Great Machine mysteriously appear across New York City, hinting at a deeper presence beneath the city's surface. The story unfolds with quiet tension, blending civic duty and unexplained phenomena in a world where power and identity are constantly in flux.

In "Tag, Chapter Three," Mayor Mitchell Hundred faces a chilling new threat as the FBI reveals the identity of a subway killer, while balancing personal moments that ground him in humanity—his first date with Suzanne and the solemn, historic duty of officiating New York’s first gay marriage. The story weaves tension and intimacy, spotlighting the weight of leadership amid personal milestones.