2072: Game World, IC thread for 2072: Recruitment always open! Options

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:35:21; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright (R4)

After setting the monocycle to get some extra charge, Sprogget starts gathering the gear to help Morgan get electronically clean.
@self:Better check in, and let them know I'm not staying long.
@Orenda: <<Hi Mom, I'm back in the shop, but going out again shortly.  Tribe business.  I'll try to grab a bite before I leave -S>>

@self:Ok, the packaging I use for the steampunk is here, the 'tronix detector is on the hook there, the backpack liners are on this shelf, the signal scanner should be in this ... drawer? ... Oh there it is.  Take one of the wireless adapters, to edit the tag data, the cables are in the backpack.
Digging the tag eraser and jammer out of what appears to be a pile of scrap parts, Sprogget lays the loot out on his harware workbench.  Picking up each piece of gear in turn, he uses the default skinlink interface to switch the default to short range wireless mode, and powers them down again.
@self:Morgan may not have skinlink access, so set everything to start in low signal range wireless mode.  Make sure all of the gear going in the package is in full stealth mode.  Nobody is going to detect any of this stuff before it is turned on by just noticing an RFID tag.  That signal scanner is pretty small.  Easy to misplace.  Lets stick it on ... Yes, this piece of scrap plastic.  Might be good to have Morgan on the tacnet, and

An ARO pops up showing that Jazz is calling.  Taking the call,
@self:I need to go find a ring tone for Jazz.  Something a bit pushy and in your face maybe.
@Jazz: {carefully respectful} <<Hello Jazz.  Thanks for calling me back so quick.>>

Jazz:"I wondered why you did not pick it up earlier.  Prospero said you would probably be wanting it.  Too busy thinking about your stomach"?

@self:Prospero knew did he?  Guess I deserved that shot about the food.
@Jazz: <<Last I talked to you, I did not know enough yet to know I would want it.  Then I was rushing against a timeline.  Still am.  What did Prospero line up?>>

Jazz:"Here's the profile {document ARO}, and here's the account to pay to {payment ARO}".

Sprogget quickly scans the related fluff.
@self:(Paul Brickhill, repair tech, multiple districts, reliable, has worked upper neighborhoods.
@Jazz: <<Looks like just the ticket.>>
@self:Yeah, Prospero knew what we were going to need to do, at least in outline.
Releasing the the funds to the ARO,
@Jazz: <<Could you ask Prospero, if he, or one of your group, can improve my regular ID, or do I need to create a complete new one?  What's this going to show as on the transaction?>>

Jazz:"Nice doing business with you Paul, {Paul Brickhill Fake SIN R3} you are now the happy owner of 3 limited edition, hard copy only, prints by the great dwarven artist Earthen Split.  Enjoy them in good health".

Click.

@self:Right, I'll just hang them in the gallery.  Seems to be annoyed with me.  Hope she remembers to ask Prospero.
Starting to turn back to the gathering, Sprogget has a thought.
@self:Paul Brickhill?
One {very} quick matrix search later, he finds a historical reference for Paul Brickhill
@self:{sarcastically}Right!  Just call me CJ.  Escape to Danger, The Great Escape, Escape - Or Die, even Dam Busters.  Good thing the book authors name is not as well known as the movie.

Shaking his head, he turns back to the packing.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:35:21; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright (R4)

@self:Let's see, sensors for tacnet channels, .. in a separate envelope to not lose in with the rest of this.  The adapter and cables, for editing the tag data, and just in case we need to access something directly instead of through Morgan.  Still fairly short range, but Alpha should be able to patch through from the CHN.  Oh yes,
Picking up the jammer again.
@self:this is powerful enough to block way more than really wanted.  Lock it to level 4, so it will only jam security tags and less, and then only when within 5 meters.
Taking the box of stealth tags down from the shelf.
@self:That leaves the decoy tags.  Going to have to replace these, to control the tag packages for the gear to be sold at crime mall, but glad they are ready.  Just need to load the code from the security tag, and set it to transmit continuously once activated. {thinking} Best would be to tie this to a sensor so that it automatically takes over when the original goes off air.  Takes to long.  Instead, I can hardware connect from one of the tags, to one or more others, so that sending the code key to the first tag will turn on the others.  Then we just need to manually synchronize turning the jammer on at the same time as turning the decoy on.
Grabbing a bit of mounting material from shop supplies, Sprogget tack glues down 4 stealth tags, connecting them with bits of fiberoptic cable, so that sending the stealth key code to the first tag triggers the other three, and that once triggered, the 3 continue to repeat.
@self:If we find more than 3 security tags, we'll need to abort, and have to REALLY reevaluate how much of an escape risk someone thinks Morgan is.  Test time.
@Stealh Tag 1: <<st1id:go>>

Stealth Tag 1:<<done>>
Stealth Tag 2:<<here ... here ... here ...>>
Stealth Tag 3:<<here ... here ... here ...>>
Stealth Tag 4:<<here ... here ... here ...>>

@self:Aces.
Manually resetting the tags, so they can be triggered again later,
[/indent]@self:That just leaves being able to load the decoys with the right value when we have it.  Better test that too.  No workbench, minimal tools, and minimal experience when that has to work.  Worst case is the tag signal is encrypted, and we, well probably Alpha, will have to break that before loading to the decoys.

Orenda arrives unannounced from upstairs carrying a 'meal to go' package.  Her eyes scan across the work spread out on the workbench, then jump back to the jammer, then to Sprogget.
@self:Oh oh.

Orenda: {sternly}"Knowing you, you would be in too much of a rush to get that food.  Take this, and make time to eat it".

@Orenda: {sheepishly}"Yes, mom".
Setting the food down on the workbench, away from the work in progress, Orenda stalks out without another word.

Glaring at the jammer,
@self:Why did I have to leave that out?  She knows enough tech to recognize what it is, and knows it is not used for casual business.  Now she is going to worry.  Telling her we intend to spring a TM from Bellevue would NOT help.  I better ping her soon as we are clear, and again when I get back home.  She'll tell me tomorrow that she slept fine, and did not get the texts until morning, but I bet she will not sleep until am actually back in the house.  Slot.  I'll have to think of something trivial to send, so everyone can pretend.

Connecting the wireless adapter to the first stealth tag using a larger piece of cable, and another connector, he checks that he can change the 'here' message on each of the 3 connected tags.
@self:Only need to hook in one place, since they are already hardwired together.
Putting 2 of the folded liners and the smaller pieces into a third liner for a bit of extra protection, Sprogget starts packaging the whole collection up, then hesitates, glancing at the time.
@self:Should be a couple of minutes before Jazz gets here yet.  I want to know.  Roadrunnner is still here, giving me access to the discrete travel skills, since I never canceled that.
Taking just the jammer, and moving away from things he might knock over, Sprogget sits on the floor, starts his simrig recording to a data chip.  Carefully setting the jammer so that it will turn off if he lets go of it, he gingerly activates it.

Feeling a little lighted headed, and off balance, like the floor is further away than it is supposed to be,
@self:Well, this is not exactly a FUN time, but nowhere's near what I remember.
@Tutor Sprite:"RoadRunner, you doing something to block the effects?".

RoadRunner: Soundly vaguely puzzled, "I do not believe so.  That blocked my direct view of the local nodes, but resonance is still there.  The resonance is always there".

@self:OK, what else is different this time?  Oh, I am still connected to the PAN!  How come? ... The Skinlink!  Need another test.
First turning off jammer, he removes and sets aside all of the skinlink gear he currently has connected.  CMT Clip, Goggles, Earbuds, Subvocal microphone, and AR Gloves.
@self:Play safe here.  Temporarily disable the skinlink on the jammer too.
Sprogget again gingerly activates the jammer.  The floor gets further away, and now it is precessing a little too.

Waiting just long enough to get a few seconds recording, Sprogget releases the jammer to turn it off.
@self:OK, less fun.  Seems I want to have connections.  Still not as bad, having Roadrunner sitting there helps by itself.

Putting the gear back where it belongs, Sprogget considers briefly.
@Tutor Sprite:"OK Roadrunner, I release all of your tasks.".
Sprogget watches as the sprite does an animation of the road runner cartoon fast exit as it derezzes.
@self:Great, a piece of the resonance with a sense of humor.
Activating the jammer again, he records a few more seconds of simsense.
@self:About the same.  Maybe a little worse than sprite without PAN.  Now to repeat the original test for completeness.  I really don't want to do this.
Sprogget sets the PAN gear aside again, then gritting his teeth, activates the jammer.

Vertigo.  Nausea.

Sweating, he releases the jammer, and turns off the recording.
@self:Drek! Yeah, that is what I remember.
Recovering quickly, he gathers the PAN gear together, and resets the jammer so skinlink works again, but defaults to wireless on power up.
@self:I better warn Morgan, that if she is using the jammer herself, you can turn the jammer ON wirelessly, but not off again, if you are jammed.  Unless she has skinlink.
Glancing at the time ARO, Sprogget quickly gets up, grabs a pair of gloves, and some standard industrial cleaner.  Cleaning the pieces individually, most carefully the stealth tag setup, he finishes packing the gear that needs to be taken to Angelo.
@self:Would not be good to leave prints or DNA samples at the scene.  Only the tags should be staying behind, but best to be safe.  Glyph should be here any sec now.

[September 1, 2072 19:45:03; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]

[ Spoiler ]

Package for Angelo

• Tag Eraser
• Handheld sensor containing 3 Non-Linear Junction Detectors(6)
• RFID Radio Signal Scanner(6)
• Wireless Adapter(3)
• 1 x Faraday Cage backpack liner, 1 m^3 capacity containing
  • 2 x empty Faraday Cage backpack liner, 1 m^3 capacity.
  • Envelope containing
    • RFID Camera (low light, magnification, thermographic)
    • RFID microphone(Spatial Recognizer)
  • board holding the stealth tags
• 3 x Fiberoptic cable 1m

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:45:03; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright (R4)

@self:Ok, everything ready to go, let's see what that text message was.

<< @s^3: I'll meet up back with you guys at home, need to grab a couple of things for tonight.  Probably best if I play free safety on this job, handle any "problems" outside the 'trix, neh?  I'll ride along in the van, don't want the KE's to scrap this whole thing early 'cause I'm "driving while trog."

@self:Huh?  Eric Jones?  ...  Oh, must be Scrapheap's new link and ID.
Adding the calling commcode to the existing profile information.

@self:Trog or no, new id or no, we really do not need to be seen as our selves in Bellevue.
@Scrapheap: <<Hey 'Eric'.  I was busy packing the 'surprise cake', so just got to your message.  Even if that trog face does not get you hassled, it **is** sort of distinctive.  I have a few cans of nanopaste that could do something about both.  Depending on your timing, you could stop by the shop, or I can take with and meet later.  My bigger concern, once change the face, is to make sure that the papers on that room sweeper of yours are good.  I'm taking the cycle, which is more recognizable than I like, but it's going to be 'Paul' driving it, with a new face. -- Sprogget>>

Thinking as he works, Sprogget does a bit more preparations while waiting for Glyph to come collect the package.
@self:Load that new ID on the 'Clip, transfer some 'walking about' funds to it, make it active.  For safety, move the Hugo Wright information off to a data chip.  That profile looks good.  Prospero, or whoever, did a good job.  I'll memorize details in a bit.

Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

Not quite ready to add the disguise, and change clothes, or pull the sprite from resonance, till the package is on its way, Sprogget spends a bit of time gathering the bits he want to carry along.
@self:I could reasably take a lot more in the Peng You, when it is ready, but for now, need to limit to what I can take with a pack, on the bike.  Let's see, extra sensors, nanopaste, medkit, stim and trauma patches, hardware and industrial toolkits, some extra 'tronics tools and fluff.  I need a check list.  Of maybe Paul does.

[RdMarquis]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:35:21; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

"It's a little after 7:30. Yeah, I should be able to get it to you around 8." Angelo's expression changes to a more serious one. "I know you've probably heard this before, and it goes without saying, but watch your back out there. I've been to the Barrens. Once, which was more than enough." He swallows hard. "Pollution, desperation, and violence as far as the eye can see. Your best bet is to stay with the tribe and in a safe place as often as possible. I'm not trying to be insulting..."

Morgan smiles sadly. "But I couldn't fight my way through wet paper. At least in meatspace." Even on the matrix, she usually depended on Paladin sprites to defend her.

"You said it, not me." The teenager reaches for a jacket. "I'll see you soon. And on the other side."

[Dakka Fiend]

@Emerging: Tribe; Spring
September 1, 2072 19:40:23;
Physical Location: Mechanicals, Bus Barn, Puyallup, Seattle
Renraku Sensei: Hidden, SIN: Steven Brokvich (fake R3)

Letting the big rig roll into the bus barn, Spring breathes out audibly and kills the engine.

Hope not too many people saw that near miss. Sounds strange, shouldn't it be near hit?

He logs on to the barn's node and adds a note to the vehicle log.
<<Truck returned, cargo's gonna stay on it for a while, though; don't like that - ping Sprogget
<timestamp> Spring>>

Next, a message to send. @Tweak, Alpha: <<Scrapheap's changed comms <commcode>, wanted to ride with you.>>

Finally he takes his clothes and takes them to his sleeping corner, drops them onto a heap, fishes his gun out, reconsiders, tosses it back, heads out, comes back, picks up his harp, pockets it and finally heads for his scooter.

Nobody says you need a license for your good luck charm. Not yet, at least.

He sits down on his scooter, brings up a map of Seattle and starts charting his route.

Damn, I knew Bellevue was almost on another planet, but that's ridiculous. Better get it over with.

Accelerating as hard as his scooter can to make up for lost face, he heads north.

[karhig]

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 12:01, 524 7th Street Northeast / Anonymous Matrix Node]

Gesturing at the blood and guts everywhere with a vague hand wave, Cat begins her log off sequence.

"DRKHOR5E, this is hardly appropriate, even for the Matrix. I'll be in touch."

[ChromeZephyr]

@Emerging:Tribes; Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 19:45:38; Mechanical's turf
PAN mode: Passive | SIN displayed: Eric Jones

Scrapheap backed the bike into it's spot and let it land a little rougher on it's kickstand than he probably should have, but time was becoming more and more of the essence. Grabbing the shotgun from it's holster on the bike, he bolted up the stairs towards his little corner. The new text indicator made him slow for a second, as he was still getting the hang of the new OS visuals compared to his older 'link. He grunted, then ignored it for the moment as he reached his "room". Gonna need the expensive toys tonight...hope they don't get fragged, those were hard to get that hob to part with.

The footlocker at the foot of his cot squealed loudly as he opened it, and he carefully picked his goggles out of it. The new commlink synced to it quicker than he was used to, and it almost seemed like the visual quality was better. Nahhhh...still, this new 'link is something else. Wonder what else I can get it to do that the older one would choke on...older one. Right, don't bring that. He placed the MetaLink where the goggles had been.

Scrapheap grabbed the second stimpatch out of the locker and dropped it into the pocket with the other one he had brought on the field trip. He ejected all of the rounds from the shotgun and reboxed the shot shells. Those won't do shit if we get into it, no way the heat isn't tanked up. He reloaded the Remington with the slug rounds and dropped the remaining two shells from the box into the pocket with the flashlight.

He locked the trunk and stood up, checking that the knife in the thigh scabbard and the machete on his waist were still secure, then grabbed the wire clippers as an afterthought. Might come in handy, hope the van ain't left without me.

<< @jailbreakers: This is Scrap, on my way back to Fre∑edom. Think I'll ride in the back 'o the van, so the heat don't start askin' questions. >>

<< @Sprogget: My ID's got a bounty hunter license, so the ugly, the boomstick, and the pigstickers all sync up with that. Besides, if I'm doin' somethin' other than babysittin' the new tribal on the way back somethin's gone bad already. I'll see you when we hook back up with the rest o' them. >>

Satisfied that everything was in order, Scrapheap got back onto his Triumph and hauled ass back towards Fre∑dom turf.

[faultline]

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:27:42;
Physical Location: White Residence
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White


Glyph opened the door to the apartment and locked the door behind her. Hanging her helmet in the usual spot she headed to the bathroom, and started digging through the bag of gear searching for the hair dye Natasha had gotten for her.

Good thing the meet was in the mall, would have sucked having to play around with this dye in a public bathroom. I just hope this dye does the job.

Glyph pulls out a couple of bottles of a shimmering dark opalescent liquid, and a spay can all with the same logo, a tombstone with the epitaph "2 dye 4", and begins reading the directions on the spray can.


September 1, 2072 19:45:42;
Physical Location: Mechanicals Complex
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White


Glyph slows her Rapier to a manageable crawl as she nears the Mechanicals Complex.

<<@Sprogget: Do you have a vehicle entrance to your workshop or am I going to have to park my bike?>>

[Notsoevildm]

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

<<Copperhead? You there slitch? We picked up your signal, guess we’re somewhere above you from the distortion.>>

<<@Stitch, Requiem: Well I sure am glad ta hear ya ain't dead. I is down in storm drains wid da kids and we is up ta our hoops in ghouls. See if youse can find an exit and secure it fer us and we'll be right there wid you.>>

She can't maintain her mask and mentally work the commlink at the same time, so she lets her magic fade for now. She adds the runners' comm signal to her AR with and arrow and distance marker and moves off towards it. As 'up' is not a possible choice of direction for the moment, she moves to the junction from where the ghoul was taunting her.

She keeps the big gun ready, held up at eye level for easier aiming, and hisses at the kids.

"Da cavalry is upstairs. Stick close and we might still gets outta here before we gets eaten."

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:01, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

As Dante backs away from the two gangers, the sound becomes an ear-piercing screech. The gangers can obviously now hear it too, as they both seem more intent on covering their ears with their hands than trying to shoot him. Dante realises that at least some of the sound is coming from his own commlink although its agent has as yet given no warning or alert.

Then, he hears the geisha girl waitress give a shriek of pain/fear. And despite the distracting noise, he also hears footsteps on the balcony above his head.

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 13:13:16; Carluccio's Restaurant

Alex quickly realises that at least some of the sound is coming from his own commlink even though Gabriel has not raised an alert or made any attempt to shut it down. However, that element of the noise is a mere whisper compared to the howling scream coming from the ancient music system behind the counter. As his eyes fall on the retro device, the wine glasses stacked above it start to shatter, one by one by one.

The other restaurant goers are starting to panic, some pushing passed him to get to the exit. Over the noise, He can hear Selene shouting.

"Stay calm people. Move in an orderly fashion to the exits."

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 12:01:03, 524 7th Street Northeast / Anonymous Matrix Node]

As Cat's fingers run through the motions to log off from the node, DRKH0R5E pushes back his chair and rises smoothly to his feet. He makes a small gesture with his hands like shaking off water and his icon snaps back to its original spotlessly clean form. He turns to where his butler was standing and watches for a moment as something begins to resolve in the air.

As the true horror of the new icon slowly resolves into stunning detail, Cat wills her commlink to respond. The bloody torso is missing its hands, feet, genitals and head and blood spurts from the clinically straight wounds. Its torso has been cut neatly down and across the center, the skin and bones pulled back to reveal an empty carcass. Her eyes are drawn back to the twitching liver(?) sitting in her lap.

Over the howling shriek that fills the node, she hears DRKH0R5E's voice, as calm as her own was just a moment before.

"Miss Flanders, this node has been breached by this entity, which also took out my agent with no apparent effort. While I do apologise for the mess, I strongly recommend you log off before it does to you, what it did to Geoffrey. I look forward to our next meeting and hope it ends less distastefully than this one."

And with that, he snaps his fingers and disappears, leaving you alone with the bloody corpse.

<<Connection terminated>>

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:45:42; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Hidden; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

Just as Sprogget is about to start gathering the gear he wants to take, a message ARO opens in his view.

<<@Sprogget: Do you have a vehicle entrance to your workshop or am I going to have to park my bike?>>

@self:Right, she has not been here before.
@Glyph: <<Big door, east side, I've tagged an ARO to your ID, so you should see it, and the door will open when you get close.>>
Hastily doing what he said, rolling out the AR welcome mat.

As he is checking one last time that the package is ready for shipping, a couple of text message ARO's pop up one after the other, at the edge of his view.

<< @jailbreakers: This is Scrap, on my way back to Fre∑edom. Think I'll ride in the back 'o the van, so the heat don't start askin' questions. >>

<< @Sprogget: My ID's got a bounty hunter license, so the ugly, the boomstick, and the pigstickers all sync up with that.  Besides, if I'm doin' somethin' other than babysittin' the new tribal on the way back somethin's gone bad already.  I'll see you when we hook back up with the rest o' them. >>

@self:'gone bad' is actually the best reason to not want your own face on any monitors, but ... {shrug}
@Scrapheap: <<Your choice -- Sprogget>>

As the door opens, and Glyph wheels her Rapier in, Sprogget is just walking up with the package.  He notices the bike first.
@self:Hey!, those wheels are near antique.  That would look good punked up.  I do like the art to be functional, not just for show.
Sprogget makes a mental note to do a design plan around the rapier, just for fun, then does a double take at Glyph.
@self:OK, that black fur is going to blend in at night WAY better than her natural coloring.  It also hides that glow.  Spring said she glowed faintly, but I think that is just his, or maybe Tweaks eyes.  There was too much light at the meeting to be sure, but I thought that in low light conditions, she could be used for a flashlight.
@Glyph: "Right, black furry ninja in the dark of night.  If not for thermal, you would be nearly invisible out of the light".
Remembering what is important just now, he hands over the package.
@Glyph: "Try to make sure we have a way of getting the package back from Angelo, if he can not deliver it.  We'll need the contents if going in directly, and I would like to get most of it back eventually.  I don't have spares right now".
@self:Right, important things.  I wonder how doc is doing with Anna?  I did not even verify that doc made it here yet.  If she didn't, Jazz is going to get more than attitude!
Offering a couple of RFID sensors,
@Glyph: "You got enough electronic compatible sensor channels to support level 2 tacsoft"?

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 21st, 2072, 17:12; Outskirts of Exeter, headed north]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

As the Cat vehicle trudges along the roadless terrain, Tsubaki glances over the woodsy scenery outside her passenger window, and then the peculiar stillness of the waters in the reservoir, and the vacant sky above. The level of mana in the area tickles her interest... She makes note of their location on the GPS in her commlink. Back inside the Cat, the Collot pair look to be in their own little world right now. Then, the silver-haired woman turns around, leisurely curls her body up into a ball into the small, back corner of her seat, and like some kind of elegant feline appearing, slowly lifts, stretches, and rests her legs and feet upon the conveniently placed knee of whomever happens to be sitting closest to her. Tsubaki chooses that brunette male with the stern, blue eyes—Mordred. The toes of her short-cut boots wriggle at him friendly-like. To her fellow runners, she asks, "So, what's on the agenda~?" Then, glancing at Gemeaux and in regards to his predicament with his compromised commlink, Tsubaki has be certain of, "You didn't have anything worth the trouble, did you?"

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 17:12; Outskirts of Exeter, headed north]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Active

"Ahem." Mordred apparently doesn't know what to make of Tsubaki's gesture. He simply decides to let her remain as she is while he talks. "If we are still on the right track, we should continue on. That said..." With some awkwardness, the adept reaches underneath his seat for his duffel bag. Producing a collapseable stock and a scope for his gun, he continues, "An abandoned road is a good place for something bad to happen. Let's keep an eye out." He checks his commlink for a matrix signal. The area couldn't have been uninhabited as it looked, could it?

[Nightfalke]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 19:50:55;
Physical Location: Basement Loading Docks, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
BioNode: Hidden | Meta Link: Active, SIN: Alan Shepard

<<@Scrapheap: Tweak and I are in the basement loading docks of the mall checking out the van, location here.>> Pings a spot on an overlaid map. <<Glad to have some muscle along for the ride, although personally I hope are so bored you get to take a nap back there...>>

Walking around the van, Alpha occasionally bends over to take a close look at random parts of the van...not really knowing what to look for when inspecting it, but not wanting to just stand around while Tweak gives it the real once over.

You know...speaking of muscle, I might need a little extra muscle in that node in case some spider comes crawling onto my web.

"Hey Tweak, let me know when you give the van a clean bill of health. I'll be over here..."

Alpha moves to a quiet corner of the docks, sits crosslegged on the grimy floor, and pulls his perception inward to the resonance...

Oh, denizens of the Deep Resonance, heed my call for aid. Oh, denizens of the Deep Resonance, heed my call for aid. Oh, denizens of the Deep Resonance, heed my call for aid.

A large sprite, looking like a Cylon wearing the garb of a Knight Templar appears in Alpha's matrix view, and kneels with the point of its cruciform sword in the ground.

"Thank you for your aid. Zero One thanks you. Wait for my call in the Deep Resonance, and prepare yourself for battle."

The sprite salutes, and pixellates out of view.

[Aria]

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:00, The Citadel]

With the matrix seemingly coming around about her ears and simultaneous attacks on four different nodes Gossamer's first thought was simply to disconnect her home node from the matrix and sever any connection through which an attack could come. She baulked at the idea of losing her connection though...being trapped, or worse still true death was not a prospect she would countenance without more evidence of the threat.

Instead she proceeded to log off, first the Citadel with its crumbling architecture, then Shadowland and finally the CHN leaving her to bolster her defences in her natural place inside Bee. As she left each node, her icon slowly fading away, she cast out her senses to try and determine what the hypnotic whine was...

[Aria]

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Plunging ahead into the side tunnel you can almost feel Jon and Katie begin to quail. Their grip on things is starting to unravel and it’s only your presence that has stopped them falling apart already.

Your options become worse as the tunnel opens up into a series of huge chambers filled with rushing water, rusting gantries and a million hiding places for a bunch of hungry ghouls. You are just glad that even though their body temps aren’t human standard they will still show up against this fetid mess to your enhanced sight.

Gauging a route is difficult but you suspect that at the far end there is an inspection ladder that leads up…the best chance of it heading towards Req and Stitch…and the best place for the shit to hit the fan!

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Various Locations]

<<@Fre∑dom [Prospero]: There is something unusual happening in the matrix today and before it impacts on us I am going to sever our main connection to the Seattle LTG before the effects become more serious. It may be nothing but until we have more information matrix access will be restricted to within the mall. Please do not use your ‘links outside the mall until we know more. I know that various people will be pissed at us for disrupting their matrix connection but direct any flak to me or Arial and we will handle it. I will keep up a dedicated link and some of us will be investigating what’s going on. I will let you know as soon as it looks like things are going back to normal.>>

<<@Mechanicals [Prospero, Fre∑dom]: I’m sorry but we are going to have to suspend the matrix links for a while. If you have any connections to the Seattle grid I suggest you do the same until we have had time to verify what the hell is going on in Seattle today!>>

[Nightfalke]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 19:50:55;
Physical Location: Basement Loading Docks, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
BioNode: Hidden | Meta Link: Active, SIN: Alan Shepard

<<@Fre∑dom [Prospero]: There is something unusual happening in the matrix today and before it impacts on us I am going to sever our main connection to the Seattle LTG before the effects become more serious. It may be nothing but until we have more information matrix access will be restricted to within the mall. Please do not use your ‘links outside the mall until we know more. I know that various people will be pissed at us for disrupting their matrix connection but direct any flak to me or Arial and we will handle it. I will keep up a dedicated link and some of us will be investigating what’s going on. I will let you know as soon as it looks like things are going back to normal.>>

Alpha's temper flares quickly and obviously at the news. He quickly swipes his view over to the internal mall node and stomps over to Prospero's avatar.

@Prospero: "WHAT THE HELL?!? Are you fragging kidding me, Prospero? How long do we have before shutdown? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Gimmie a timeframe! Hard to get the job THAT YOU SET ME UP WITH done without a 'trix feed!"

Alpha opens up a second window and fires off a quick text: <<@Phobos: Phobos! What the heck is going on tonight? Prospero is shutting down the mall access because of "something unusual." Been a little busy planning lately to hop on the hacker news network...>>

Back in the basement loading docks, Alpha seethes a little, and tries to cool off... "Frag it." he says to noone in particular, and kicks a stray piece of scrap that was lying around, and promptly stubs his toe. Grimacing a little bit, he turns to Tweak. "Glad we're headed out for coffee in Bellevue tonight, eh Tweak? Maybe some of my buddies will have some info...but first we need to get me a matrix signal."

[ChromeZephyr]

@Emerging:Tribes; Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 19:53:38; Fre∑dom's turf
PAN mode: Passive | SIN displayed: Eric Jones

The Triumph's throaty rumble announces Scrapheap's arrival into the loading bays of the converted mall, and he drops the kickstand next to the step-van the "team" is planning on using for the night's activities. He slides the shotgun out of it's holster as he gets off the bike and lays it casually back across his right shoulder, watching Tweak inspect the vehicle. He raises an eyebrow at Alpha's thundercloud expression.

"Thought I was supposed to be the bad cop tonight.", he says with a sardonic grin.

[ChromeZephyr]

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 13:13:30; Carluccio's Restaurant
Hermes Ikon: Active | SIN: Alexander Bianchi ( Re 4 - Sig 3 - Fi 5 - Sys 4 - Agent 4 [running Analyze 4] )

Alex starts to head back towards the kitchen area to check on the staff of Carluccio's, but is stopped by Selene's hand on his shoulder. "That means you, too, Alex." The sting of the order is softened by the sad look in the ork detective's eyes, and Alex just nods while angry responses bounce off the back of his gritted teeth.

"Old habits die hard don't they, part– Selene." He sighs, and heads for the exit at the back of the throng of patrons. "I'll drop you a line later, right?"

The screech emanating from his commlink grates on his nerves as he walks back to his Lexus, and he fishes it out of his jacket pocket as he drops into the driver's seat. It's about as responsive as a brick, but after about a minute and a half of AR commands and button pushing he gets it to shut down and reboot into "Safe" mode to see if there was anything obviously wrong with it and why Gabriel hadn't responded.

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream / Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

With no music to discract him, Dubstep listens to the tone, trying to work out what it is and where it is coming from. He realises that it is not coming from any external source but from the headphones themselves, meaning his backup commlink.

More worrying is that the sound is now also coming from inside his own commlink's node and the sudden increase in volume is almost painfully distracting. Worse, something is slowly beginning to resolve inside his node. It appears to be some sort of agent, although it is like nothing he has ever seen before. It resolves into the head and torso of a man. Its hands, feet and genitals have been cleanly removed along with the top of its head. It has no eyes, ears, nose, lips or even teeth in its screeching mouth. Blood drips from the surgically precise wounds, staining the digital floor.

The blood is clearly some sort of data transfer although it appears to be encrypted and he can almost feel his response times slowing as gigapulses of data rapidly fill up his link's available memory. He also realises that the scream is not a single tone, but a complex harmony that conceals several programs including an exploit, spoof, attack and a black IC program. If he is reading their capabilities right, both the agent and its programs are operating at a level that is way above the recommended load ratings for his commlink. It that melting solder he can smell?

As he prepares to engage the agent, he gets a brief message from Cindy.

<<Unathorised agent detected. Starting shutdown proceEEEEEEEEEEE...>>

[The Big Peat]

@Virtual Scream/Uller
[September 1, 2072, 12:15; Downtown, Seattle]

Shouting at sports on the trid has long been a tradition and with such a close and exciting game, Uller can forgive himself for joining in. His chair creaks under him as he cajoles and curses the figures on the screen. The game has been close throughout and could still go either way in these final minutes.

And then the power goes out.

Thumping the trid player to restore power is also a long-standing tradition. As he pounds on the top of the box, Uller realises it is still actually working. He can hear a high-pitched tone coming from it, one that is getting disturbinlgy louder.

@Virtual Scream/Uller
[September 1, 2072, 12:15; Downtown, Seattle]
Sony Emperor: Active | SIN: Luke MacAuley ( Re 2 - Sig 3 - Fi 2 - Sys 2)

Uller stares at the screen. He's no technical expert - in fact, he's virtually illiterate by the standards of the age - but he knows the trid player isn't supposed to do that. And the noise is beginning to get on his nerves. Which means there's only one thing to do.

The elf starts to dial in Harvey's number, hoping that the ex-rigger is picking up.

[Slacker]

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03 Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]
PAN: Hidden, SIN: Jo Datsik (Fake SIN Rtg4), Response 6, Signal 5, System 6, Firewall 6, (Analyze 6, Armor 3-Ergonomic, Attack 4-Ergo, Biofeedback Filter 6, Browse 6-Ergo, Command 6-Ergo, Disarm 3, ECCM 3-Ergo, Edit 6-Ergo, Exploit 6, Scan 6, Spoof 3-Ergo, Stealth 6)

Secondary PAN: Active, SIN: Jo Datsik(Fake SIN Rtg4), Response 3, Signal 4, System 4, Firewall 4, (Agent 3, Analyze 4, Browse 4, Edit 4, Tacsoft 2)

Great Ghostwalker, what is that thing? Dubstep quickly sets his sound filters to edit out the scream though he doubts it will have any effect on this mysterious intruder. Making note of the Access ID link to the Agent for future research, he takes a moment to try decrypting some of the massive amounts of data pouring onto his commlink.