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

[Dakka Fiend]

@Emerging: Tribes / Tweak
September 1, 2072 19:50:55;
Physical Location: Basement Loading Docks, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
Novatech Airwave: Hidden, SIN: James Teems (fake R3)

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

Sure, will do.

Tweak walks once around the van, looking for any damage, crouches down to have a look at the undercarriage and pops the hood.

Heh, ain't that cool, me driving the getaway van and them asking me whether it's ok. Hmm and that other old Mech trog's watchign too. Let's give them a little show.

Far as I can tell, it's got the right number of engines - one. Of course there's only one way to really tell...

He slams the hood back down, walks over to a parked car, leans against it and switches his comm to VR.

What the heck, let's go for it.

Kicking in the hot sim module, he commands the van to start with squeeling tires, race around a few lamp posts, came barelling back at him, fake turning left then actually turn right and skid to a stop where it had been parked before, leaving marks on the ground and the smell of rubber in the air.

Returning to his body, Tweak finds himself slowly sliding down the car and manges to catch himself before ungracefully slumping on the ground.

Damn, gotta do that more often.

With a big grin, he looks at Alpha and Scrapheap Looks good to me.

The fun over, he notices the incoming message from Prospero and the grin fades.

What the frak's that?! No matrix access?

Frag that! No way we're doing this without our comms.

[faultline]

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:45:42;
Physical Location: Mechanicals Complex, Sproggets Shop
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White


As Glyph approaches the doors to Sprogget's shop they open allowing her to wheel her bike right in. Once inside she toes the kickstand down letting the bike lean to the right slighty to rest as she remains straddling the bike as she takes off her helmet.

She laughs at Sproggett's remark.

"I'm going to have to remember that line. Though my fur is not quite black it's a very dark blue hard to tell the difference unless I'm in really bright lighting. Not quite invisible my glow gives me away, though it's hard to see in any lighting, but in full darkness...anyways the package?"

Hmm, surprised he hasn't commented on the missing markings, guess I'll have to chalk that up to him not being around me enough to notice.

"No problem, he shouldn't have any trouble getting the package to LeFey, I'm going to make sure that he gets there even if I have to give him a ride there myself"

Glyph pats the extra helmet attached to the seat behind her.

"Hmmm Don't think I do, most of my senses are natural, no 'ware. I've only got Thermo, and Smartlink, unless the audio and visual enhancements on my contacts, and ear buds count. I'm not very familiar with Tacsofts so I'm not sure exactly what works and what doesn't"

Glyph pauses and stares off for a few seconds as she reads the message from Prospero.

'Well Shit! I don't suppose you have any, or enough radio transceivers that we can use for tonight?"

[JxJxA]

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

Gemeaux notices Mordred begin assembling his weapon.

"An excellent idea, mon frere," he says, and begins rooting through his luggage for his sniper rifle and chameleon suit. He pulls out his armored coat, and hands it to Luc Collot.

"Just in case things get interesting again," Gemeaux tells him. He then begins stripping out of his clothes.

"Do not worry, I am decent. I am wearing my armor underneath," he explains as he begins suiting up for trouble inside the confines of the car. He slips one of his modified Savalette Guardians into his suit's concealed holster, and grabs the three clips for his sniper rifle. He empties the four remaining bullets in one clip and fits them into the one clip with five remaining bullets. He scrunches his mouth to the side, clearly displeased with the dearth of ammunition for his weapon of choice.

"I wonder if those 'hippies' have decent munitions stores..."

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

"Hmmm Don't think I do, most of my senses are natural, no 'ware. I've only got Thermo, and Smartlink, unless the audio and visual enhancements on my contacts, and ear buds count. I'm not very familiar with Tacsofts so I'm not sure exactly what works and what doesn't"

Directly assessing the capabilities of her gear, Sprogget responds.
@Glyph: "Natural is no help, unless you have a simrig to connect them to 'tronix.  Smartlink and thermal both count as channels, the enhancements don't help, but the magnification does.  That is 3.  I need 4 for that level of tacsoft.  Here take the audio sensor.  It has spatial recognition on it, which will make 4.  It also has skinlink like the gear you are using.  Helps figure out where sounds are coming from.

Glyph looks off into space for a moment.

'Well Shit! I don't suppose you have any, or enough radio transceivers that we can use for tonight?"

Sprogett is momentarily puzzled.  Transceivers?  Then he sees a message marked urgent priority.

<<@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!>>

@self:Well frag!, if we shut the connections down, how we supposed to get an all clear from you?  How long?  That explains wanting the transceivers though!

@Glyph: "Hey!  I just got a general message from Prospero to the Mechanicals tribe about links going down, and to not use the gird.  You know anything more about that?  He says to stay off, 'till Fre∑dom finds out what is happening.  How's he figure we'll get his update if we go blind anyway?  Only real way to stay off is to either full power down, or block all comm calls.  That'd be why you asked about the transceivers.  'Fraid not.  That's on my wish list, but hasn't made it to the top yet.  Couple hours notice, sure, but on the fly like this?  No.  Oh!
@self:Not using the grid is going to mess coordination, if nothing else.  We did not plan for other channels, but!  Another note to self: We need a transceiver link to Fre∑dom at the mall, to have some backup none matrix comms.  Security could handle that.  To late now, but also should get Fre∑dom to show us how to setup for local comms through the complex, while disabling all outside links.  Now that I am aware of it, I could probably do it myself, but bet they could do it better.
@jailbreakers: <<From that broadcast from Prespero, we want to limit comms.  'Off Grid' *should* mean we can still talk direct, when close enough for direct connect.  Alpha confirm?  Need matrix address, not just commcode for that.  Alpha, you are probably the best to help any that need it setup to go hidden, while automatically connecting to the rest of the group when they are in physical range.  I'm good, if get the addresses.  I can get a non-matrix connection to LeFey, if I can get the sprite to her before shutting out grid connections.  Pass along any more details about grid issues, if you got them.  Is escape still a go?  Grid problems could either have KE on high alert, or it could keep them so busy, we could wave at them on the way past, and not get noticed.  If still go, and not using grid, need some meet points where can talk again. {attach CMT Clip address}  Keeping this link up for now to hear consensus  Glyph is here, and asked about transceivers.  I can not help with that, given our current timeline -- Sprog>>
@self:The 'Clip has a longer reach than I do.  Still not good, but a bit better.

Putting down the sensors, Sprogget hurries to the newly install chair.
@Glyph: "Going to be busy for a few minutes.  For now, I'm assuming still on for Bellevue, and hope to take advantage of any extra confusion.  Take the sensor.  Stay to hear the news, or head out.  You should be able to 'hear' at least me or Alpha directly till you get a ways past the mall.  Door will lock when it closes.  For now at least, I am still on the existing team channel.

Almost falling into the chair, Sprogget is going full virtual, almost before he is fully in the chair.
@self:Slow it down a little.  Yes in a hurry here, but I'm on matrix time now.  Do it right the first time.
Taking a mental breath, he focuses on the tool that he needs.
@self:I want an assistant for Morgan, with knowledge of how to work with hardware, and able to provide knowledge of how tags are used, removed, and disabled.  Once the teacher is on the job, I can pass messages back and forth too, using the resonance instead of a matrix connection.  Only need a couple of tasks, but want this strong enough to do a good job.
Sprogget 'reaches' for the resonance and molds what he envisions from the raw materials.  A new tutor sprite forms in his bionode, indicating that it is ready to do 3 tasks.
@self:Well that worked well.  No headache even.  3 tasks?  Only know of 2 I need right now, but sending him to Morgan will use up all unassigned task.  Has he got any abilities that could help out here?  Yes!  Stability!

@Tutor Sprite:"Hey Tagget, I am going to send you to assist someone else, to be referenced as "LeFey".  When you get there, I have three jobs for you.  First, make the 'softs you have available to her, helping her get electronically clean.  Second, use our resonance link to pass information back and forth between her and I, acting as a 2 way connection, but bypassing the normal matrix.  Third, use your stability power to suppress all of her glitches.  Continue all of those tasks, until either LeFey or I release you from them".

Tagget:"Tasks accepted".

@LeFey: <<Morgan, this may be a bit of a rush, but I need a direct connection to you, not through Alpha, to send a matrix assistant to you.  We might be losing regular matrix connections shortly, and the assistant can help with that too.  Connect here {current bionode address} please.>>

@self:Might as well do what prep I can, while waiting for LeFey.
Taking the address of Glyph's commlink from the 'local connections' list of the commlink, Sprogget creates a new 'jailbreakers' exceptions list, adding Glyph's address to the list, and setting the 'Clip to keep checking for, connecting to, and accepting connections from, nodes in that list, including while in hidden mode.
@self:There, soon as I fill in the rest of the addresses, and break the existing grid connections, that should be ready to go.  I've got the address for everyone that sent a message to the group in the logs.  No connection address from just the AR at the meeting though.
Reviewing the recent connection logs, Sprogget adds the matrix node addresses for Spring, Alpha, Tweak, and Scrapheap.
@self:Ok, that is the everybody except Morgan, and I'll be talking to her shortly.  She's going to be able to bypass that filter anyway.  I'll hold off passing address' about and to her, till I find out what is happening next.  Also need to wait till she connects to go hidden, since I can not allow what I do not know yet.  I might as well make that 'off channel' link easier though.
Sprogget opens a new full feed data connection window in his bionode, connected to his link to the sprite.
@Tagget:"I'll feed data intended for LeFey through this feed, and you return information sent by her back to the same location.".
He makes sure that any activity on the feed will get his attention in either VR, or AR.
@self:A little 'odd' on the details of how it works, but, basically a subscription to LeFey's node.  Never 'tried' this before, but necessity ...
Sprogget feels approval from Daedalus.
@self:Right, Dae generally 'likes' inventions.  This could be fun for a bunch of TM's.  A ring of sprites like this could connect several dancers together, with no tech signals at all.  Resonance telepathy!  And should not even need powerful sprites to do it.  'Course it needs a remote task, so the sprite is not available for anything else.  But in the right circumstances, like now, can be a powerful tool.

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03, Argent's home]

As Gossamer awareness returns to the drone, she is startled to discover that there is something else in there with her.

The icon is that of a man, but it has been horribly mutilated. It's hands and feet are missing along with any genitalia and the top of its skull. Part of her recognises the surgical precision with which these have been rendered. The head is also missing any distinguishing features: eyes, nose, ears, lips and even its teeth and tongue. Blood flows from all the wounds and despite the missing tongue, it is still making that same hypnotic call.

<<Alert: Sytem security compromised. Unauthorised access detected to core system functions.>> warns the node belatedly.

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:06 Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

Adjusting his sound filters at least cuts out the scream from his headphones but not from the agent in his node. He realises that it is only his biofeedback filter that is protecting his brain from being fried by the scream.

As the lake of blood quickly rises to above his knees, he decides that discretion is the better part of valor. But curiosity gets the better of him and he hesitates a moment, dipping his fingers in the blood and raising his hand to his lips.

Salty, just like the real thing, but thicker almost like ketchup. As his decrypt program analyzes the drop of blood, his senses are filled with fragments of sound, vision, scent and taste. Data streams into his head too fast to follow. Some sensations are just static, either corrupted or heavily encrypted, but much of it was plain data. A lot of data, even in that one drop.

As he logs out he realises that the data in the blood is highly compressed and if that one drop contained all those sensations and information, just how much data was actually being downloaded into his link.

Working at real world speeds, he scoops both commlinks into his hands and holds down the power buttons forcing a hard reset. They are both warm to the touch and he wonders if they have been physically damaged by the scream.

[RdMarquis]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

Morgan receives Sprogget's message. "Is something wrong?" Of course, there was. "It had to be today, didn't it?" The girl was packing her things. She connects to his bionode, then she asks with a sigh, "How do you see this affecting us?" Morgan tests the weight of her bag. Grimacing, she reaches inside and removes three books. "Anyway, do what you need to do." Sprogget's code is displayed backwards next to Morgan, as if in a mirror. "We're at enough of a disadvantage as it is." It was a feeling she would probably have to get used to.

[phlapjack77]

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:01, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: hidden, SIN: Liu Zi Ang (4), Response 3, Signal 5, System 4, Firewall 5, Weapon Watcher 3, Encrypt 3, Agent 3 (Analyze 3)

The sound was becoming unbearable. Dante accessed his commlink to kick in the sound filter on his earplugs. Seeing that the two gangers weren't a threat, he started towards the stairs. Having an extra pair of eyes could help too, at the moment. A quick mental command through his commlink would bring out his iBall drone, causing it to roll onto his shoulder and act as backup for things he might not notice.

He spared a glance for the two thugs, then said to them as he moved, "Stay here, guard the door."

[karhig]

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 12:01:04, 524 7th Street Northeast]

The scene of scattered organs, blood and mutilated bodies vanished unceremoniously from Cat's vision as she logged off the node, leaving her in the calm tranquility of her room. A couple of new icons appear in the lower right of her vision. She opens the purse and moves it's contents to her 'illegal money' credstick. The contact card and glasses she places in a new folder. The slightly twitching liver she leaves well alone.

Perfect excuse to buy that new commlink I've been eying up. My graphics programmes will be much quicker! I should probably talk to someone about better security too. I wonder if Jimmy or Frank know someone.

<<@Jimmy: I think I fragged my commlink. Do you know someone who knows someone that can sort me out with something a bit more robust and secure for my new 'career'?>>

<<@Frank: You know how I'm generating a significant percentage of your profits right now? Think you can do me a favour? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Some crazy icon with no hands and head and blood everywhere just got all nasty with my commlink. I think it's time for an upgrade. Does you have any geeks that frequent Anathma that you can hook me up with?>

I'm pretty sure transfering files from my broken ass commlink to the new one is a bad idea with that liver twitching, so I guess I'm stuck with this one for now. I shall drown my sorrows by looking fabulous for the club tonight!

Remembering that Looking Glass is some kind of furry fetish club, Cat decides to do some extra research. An annoyingly slow command to her commlink brings up a connection to Seattle Club Scene. She fires off a search for Looking Glass and a brief description and a lot of images, videos and music is returned. Happily, not just a fetch club: Where the hell do you get a furry fetish outfit from in less than a day?! The club looks to be pretty active, and pretty interesting. As well as the fetishists there are the surged that DRKH0R5E mentioned. Pretty much everyone is decked out in club gear and heavily made up.

Awesome, I've been waiting for the excuse to be a proper dryad for ages! This place looks fantastic!

Cat settles down with her wardrobe and make up programmes and checks her inventories to ensure she still has everything she needs. She then pulls up the file marked 'Party Dryad'.

If I hurry, I should be able to get everything done in time!

[Notsoevildm]

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

Uller backs away from the trid. Some bail jumpers get a bit creative and it's not the first time an electronic device has blown up in his face (although it's mostly the 'can in the microwave' stunt than the trid player).

As the sound grows in volume, he realises it is taking his commlink an awful long time to connect to Harvey.

<<Access denied: User privileges revoked for this service>> pings his 'link finally, almost defiantly, and then goes silent.

At the same time, an image begins to form on the trid player; a face with no features. Eyes, nose, ears, even the lips are missing. Not ripped out either, someone took the time to cut them away. The mouth opens to reveal that teeth and tongue are also gone but that does not stop the scream.

[Notsoevildm]

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

"Frag it" grunts Copperhead as the tunnel opens up, then clamps her mouth shut.

The kids are getting pretty twitchy. No need to make it worse.

She examines the gantries suspiciously. A trait that came almost naturally to trolls after a while. She carefully tests the nearest one then shakes her head.

Might hold the kids weight but not mine.

"Okay, we goes around. Keeps our backs ta da walls. Might take a bit longer but dem gantries don't look too safe ta me and dere be too many options fer ghoulies ta sneaks up on us. If we goes around dey can only come at us from in front or behind."

She steps off to one side and begins edging around the wall. She beckons for the kids to follow, hissing at them.

"Stays close. If dey gonna try sumfin, dey will try it here. But if we makes to da other side, we is home free."

Frag! I'm not sure I believe that either.

Do not doubt yoursself, my daughter. You have come far tonight. You have learned that ssometimess magic alone iss not enough. That it ssometimess itss hass downssidess ass well ass a price. Do not wasste that knowledge.

Mama! You are still with me.

I am alwayss with you.

Her roar startles the kids as her challenge echoes around the chambers.

"Lissen up you fraggin ghoulies. You wanna piece of dese kids. Den you better be prepared to go through da meanest fraggin trog youse has evah met."

She turns to the kids and murmurs softlty, "Keep up!"

Then head held high, she stomps off in the direction where she hopes the exit will be.

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 13:13:30; Lexus, three blocks from Carluccio's Restaurant

Sitting in his Lexus, Alex carefully powers up his commlink into safe mode. The first thing he notices is that is running much slower than normal. The second is that the agent, Gabriel is not running at all. He intitiates the program again, watching carefully in AR as it slowly powers up.

<<Warning: Core system functionality compromised. Warning: memory LOW. Warning : unidentified program identified: >1rtu@l5cr3@m.>> drawls the agent.

The last warning highlights a new icon running on his link. At first glance it seems to some sort of fleshy bag. Alex has been down to the morgue a few times in his career and tentatively identifies it as a human stomach, a gut.

[Notsoevildm]

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

Dante commands his link to activate the sound filters in his earbuds but it has little effect. In fact, he realises that his commlink is actually the major source of the noise.

His iBall rolls out of it's housing and onto his shoulder. For a second, an image of most of a body, it's extremities cleanly sliced off, appears in his AR. Then the iBall does a neat pirouette and drops to the floor where it emits a sqeal and a puff of smoke.

From above, a voice calls down.

"What da frag going on? Dante what you doing here? What you do to my idiot guards?"

The voice is Xaio Hong's. He is leaning over the balcony in a short, pink, soysilk dressing gown that has been 'embroidered' with spray-stitched fakegold dragons. It is loosely belted at his waist, giving you a clear view of his wiry, tattooed chest.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

LeFey connects back promptly,

"Is something wrong?  It had to be today, didn't it?  How do you see this affecting us?  Anyway, do what you need to do.  We're at enough of a disadvantage as it is."

@self:Ok, take it easy here.  She is spooked enough as it is.
@LeFey: <<Wrong?  I don't know yet.  Definitely not expected.  Something has Pr ...>>
@self:Oops.  I do not know how much she knows, or is supposed to know about the tribes yet.  Feeling like a mushroom all of a sudden.
@LeFey: <<our matrix management group nervous about something happening on the grid.  They are shutting down matrix links, and suggesting staying off the grid.  That means you are likely to lose all connection with us until we get close enough, which would not be a good surprise for you.

How soon and how long we will be offline I do not know yet, but regardless we'll be able to connect direct when close enough.  How it will affect our plans, I do not know yet either.  Depending, it could make this harder by having KE on alert, or it could make it easier, because KE is too busy with other things to notice us.  Anything messing the matrix is also likely to mean a lot of random false alarms or missed alarms, so messing up a little while cleaning the tags could go unnoticed.  I wouldn't count on it though.  I expect a quick conference call to check options, but for now, I am assuming everything is still going ahead.  For that, I have an assistant for you that knows about 'tronix and especially RFID tags.  Meet Tagget.>>
Sprogget Indicates the tutor sprite waiting off to the side in the node.  Tagget looks like a very old fashioned school desk, with a couple of hard-copy paper books sitting on it, labeled "Hardware", and "RFID tags".  The tilted desktop shows the face of a wise and kindly instructor, but both the face and the desk look somewhat strange, with all of the mechanical gears and levers that have no obvious purpose.  At the top of the tilted desk is a 'chalk board', that will act as a fairly standard matrix connection.
@LeFey: <<I can't do the next bit for you.  You need to allow Tagget into your node, so he can provide the knowledge and skills you can use to get electronically clean.  Once you have authorized that, I'll send him to you.>>
@Tagget:"This is LeFey.  As soon as she authorizes access, go to her, and help out with the defined tasks".
@LeFey: <<He'll act as a rating 4 knowsoft about how RFID tags are used, along with removing and disabling them.   He'll also be something like a rating 2 hardware activesoft, although without a skillwire system, everything will be slower as he walks you through what is needed.  He has an almost permanent connection to me, so can provide a direct connection, without needed to make a comm call.  Finally, he stabilizes things, which prevents all sorts of glitches.>>

Sprogget pauses briefly, to let Morgan allow the sprite access to her node.  Switching his connection briefly to connect through the mental link, he continues.

@LeFey: <<Most of what you need to know to use the gear is general computer stuff.  The 'tronix related assistance is just a little insurance, in case you need to connect things together a bit.  The {grin}, which looks better in VR than meatspace cake filling includes some bags intended to be liners for an ork sized backpack.  The material contains a wire mesh so, once properly closed, acts as a Faraday cage.  One will be used to hold any dangerous tags found, till that can be disposed of.  The other 2 you can use hold anything you do not have time to fully clean before leaving.  Prioritize the cleaning to yourself, and anything you will be wearing.  Once you think you are ready, the scanner will let you check that everything looks the way it supposed to, electronically. This link will be available, as long as I have any sort of matrix connection.>>

Switching back to the standard connection,
@LeFey: <<Can you shoot me a copy of the profile you intend us when you leave?  It won't be as good as a custom setup would be, but I can bring a basic set of dummy tags along, so you will not look like a hole in the matrix to standard scans.>>
Sprogget takes a mental breath.
@self:There, that takes care of the most important stuff, in case grid goes down immediately.

@LeFey: <<I have here {jammer sim file} a new improv sim, hot off the brain pan.  Me and a jammer in 4 different setups.  The jammer setting does not change.  The first is with a tutor sprite providing some knowledge skills, plus skinlink'd PAN.  Then only sprite, then only PAN, then just me.  Make sure you are at least sitting down for the last one.  Serious not fun.  Not included in the sim, is having the jammer not powerful enough to actually block me.  From previous experience though, that just means the close by lower powered nodes that do get blocked are not available any more.  Makes sort of an empty space in the matrix around the jammer, but no vertigo.  That empty space is one of the reasons I would prefer not to use the jammer while taking you someplace to get any nasty tags removed.  I have set the jammer so that it will only block nodes up to the strength of a security tag.  Anything stronger will not be bothered, even sitting right on the jammer.  That means that if you can run an ECCM CF to reduce the effect of the jammer below your own signal level, that it will not affect you, other than that empty space for the low powered nodes, and any distraction from maintaining the CF.>>

@LeFey: <<Even without the gear, you can do a bit of preparation, to make the cleanup easier and quicker.  You can do an inventory of all of the existing tags.  A standard commlink can read them, or you can do it yourself.  That will provide a base reference for the cleanup, and could also be used later to create fake tags, if it was ever appropriate to electronically look like your old self.  It might be hard to separate without the gear, but any security tag will be in that list too.  That info will be needed to create the dummy tag to leave behind, to make the monitors think you are still there.  Just takes a simple edit to set that up, then coordinate turning it on at the same time as blocking the original.
@self:You are running on here.  The knowsoft will tell her all of that, except the bit about edit and timing.  Of course mentioning it will bring it right into focus.

Sprogget thinks about what he just said.
@self:I'm probably being seen as rather pushy here.  Even if I'm somewhat the outside specialist being called in for a specific problem.  Let's see if I can soften that some.
Sprogget hesitates a moment, then starts hesitantly.
@LeFey: <<Morgan ... LeFey? ... From the little I have seen of your reactions so far, you have lived your whole life in a culture that has some significant differences from what is normal for me.  We are likely to make assumptions about things that the other does not understand, and I do not mean just tech stuff.  In a tribe, that is somewhat expected, because the {hunting for a good word} theme or focus of the tribe brings together people from many backgrounds and cultures.  I do not believe the same is true for you.  You are used to mostly one way of seeing things, even if you are resisting it and want out.  Please believe that I do not intend to insult or offend you, but I will do and say things, or not do, that will not match what you expect.  If you spend time away from what is still home to you, you will run into a lot of that.  It will be anything from amusing or mildly annoying, to disgusting or terrifying.  That goes both ways.  Some of the things you find normal might terrify me.>>
@self:That tongue lashing from sis is good for something.  Man can she sting!
@LeFey: <<Generally, I will do my best not to step on your toes, when I know there are toes to step on.  In the rush to get all the technical concerns handled, I'm probably not doing very well at that.  The problem is that the unconscious assumptions on both sides hide so much, that the first warning is usually when someone screams.  With my head usually somewhere in a drone, or some other tech, you might need to bang pretty hard before I notice.>>
He hesitates again.
@LeFey: <<This may be obvious, and I have been accused of lecturing, but I am just trying to provide information.  Telling some people about sore toes will get them to step back a bit.  Others will just stomp harder to see you jump, or figure you are weak, because you do conform to what they think is proper.  Just try to accept that things are going to be different away from Bellevue and Ares.  Probably a lot of things, a lot different.>>
@self:Maybe a bit of a confidence booster too
@LeFey: <<If you have been able to keep Ares in the dark this long, this is something you can do.  You just need to relearn some things.>>
Sprogget watches curious how LeFey will take both the added skills, and the warning about differences.

[faultline]

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:47:13;
Physical Location: Mechanicals Complex, Sproggets Shop
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White

@Glyph: "Hey! I just got a general message from Prospero to the Mechanicals tribe about links going down, and to not use the gird. You know anything more about that? He says to stay off, 'till Fre∑dom finds out what is happening. How's he figure we'll get his update if we go blind anyway? Only real way to stay off is to either full power down, or block all comm calls. That'd be why you asked about the transceivers. 'Fraid not. That's on my wish list, but hasn't made it to the top yet. Couple hours notice, sure, but on the fly like this? No. Oh!

"He wasn't very specific only said something unusual was happening in the matrix, and that he was going to cut the main link to the Seattle LTG before the effects became more serious and suggested we stay off the matrix."

"I'm pretty sure after tonight all our wishlists are going to get only bigger." Glyph says with a grin as she turns and points to a battered synthaxe case, where it was strapped behind her."It's way cliché, and it wasn't meant to carry my bow and quiver but they fit, and lets me bring my preferred weaponry with me without sticking out."

Putting down the sensors, Sprogget hurries to the newly install chair.
@Glyph: "Going to be busy for a few minutes. For now, I'm assuming still on for Bellevue, and hope to take advantage of any extra confusion. Take the sensor. Stay to hear the news, or head out. You should be able to 'hear' at least me or Alpha directly till you get a ways past the mall. Door will lock when it closes. For now at least, I am still on the existing team channel.

Glyph takes the offered sensor.

"Thanks. As much as I'd like to stay around and find out what exactly is going on I better get going and head over to Angelo's, see you in Bellevue.""

Glyph stands her bike up and flicks the kick stand back up and starts walking her bike back out of the shop.

<<@Sprogget: I have your's and Alpha's direct connect info saved, could you send me connect info for everyone else, Oh and before I forget.>>Glyph pull up her profiles menu and selects one forwarding the connect info for "Nicole Deveraux".<<I'm switching to direct connections only now, so you may want to have that connect info. I use that ID when I head anywhere outside of Puyallup. Please pass that info along to the team and LeFey.>>

<<@Alpha: I'm switching my comlink over to direct connections only, see you in Bellevue.>>

Starting up her bike Glyph waits until Sprogget sends her the connect info for the rest of the team, access her comlink and sets it to direct connections only, then opens the throttle on her bike and races off into the night.

[The Big Peat]

@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 has a bad feeling about this. Either media entertainment's finally lost it, or someone's done some gigantic-scale hacking. Either way, it seemed a really good idea to go out and do something healthy. He starts to reach for his bag of badassery...

[phlapjack77]

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:04, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: off

The smell of burnt electronics, coupled with the startling image of the mutilated body caused Dante a moment of real panic. He fumbled with his free hand for the recessed stud on his commlink, holding it depressed for two heartbeats until the 'link went dead. Suddenly his world shrank, the targetting reticule disappeared, his awareness of his surroundings going dark. It was like being blind. No connections existed to any of the people or data around him. He felt so...alone. This was not a feeling Dante enjoyed.

He scooped up the inert iBall on the way up the stairs to Xiao Hong's side.

"Some kind of virtual attack. You should take your gun. Maybe a real attack coming soon, with the confusion."

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

While waiting for LeFey to connect to the bionode, Sprogget get's a message from Glyph on the CMT Clip.

<<@Sprogget: I have your's and Alpha's direct connect info saved, could you send me connect info for everyone else, Oh and before I forget. {Nicole Deveraux ID} I'm switching to direct connections only now, so you may want to have that connect info. I use that ID when I head anywhere outside of Puyallup. Please pass that info along to the team and LeFey.>>

@glyph: <<Right. Nichole.  Unless you switch commlinks, or spoof its access, the info I have would still be correct.  For direct connect, it's the address of the commlink node, not the user ID that is usually used, though the user ID can still be used to control access.  I'll pass along.

Here is the information about the others: Scrapheap = {Scrapheap address / Eric Jones ID}, Tweak = {Tweak Address / James Teems ID}, Spring = {Spring Address / Steven Brokvich ID}.  My address will stay the same, but the ID will be changing to {Paul Brickhill ID} when I leave here.  I do not have details for LeFey yet, and it could change anyway when she switches IDs for tonight's feature presentation.  I'll pass the info to who I can soon as I know.  For appearances, Angelo will need to use the public information anyway.>>
@self:No spoofing a new access for the 'Clip.  It would mess the others up, since no one is prepared for it.

....

After talking to LeFey about sore toes, Sprogget remembers that others on the team might need to be able to connect to her directly as well, and does a mental face palm.
@self:Bit-brain. More important details.
@LeFey: <<LeFey, You and I can talk through the sprite, but others can not do that.  What address and ID would you like them to contact you on if needed?  The address the assistant is running on, or an external commlink, and what ID?

Since we are probably going to be on direct access only, 'cause of whatever is happening on the grid, here is the current direct connection information for everyone that I have:

• Spring = {Spring Address / Steven Brokvich ID}
• Scrapheap (scarred face) = {Scrapheap address / Eric Jones ID}
• Tweak = {Tweak Adddress / James Teems ID}
• Glyph = (fur) {Glyph Address / Nicole Deveraux ID}
• Me = {CMT Clip Address / Paul Brickhill ID}

You should have Alpha already, if he does not spoof to change it, and once he starts matrix overwatch, he'll be as close as your CHN anyway.  Those are addresses you can contact when we are in range, and ones you should allow through the firewall, if you configure to allow direct access only.  I don't know if that would be a good idea for you or not.  Does KE or even your house node monitor for active ID's when you are at home?  It would be more than annoying to go dark for protection, then have 'rents or staff come running to find out why your ID vanished.

Speaking of signal range, the package on its way includes a rating 3 wireless adapter, which you could connect to, to boost the direct range of a lower rated node.  Still only 400 meters though, but useful if you do not want to route through the CHN.

Oh, slot.  You can't go completely dark on the comm.  A least not if Angelo is going to call to tell you he is arriving with the school stuff.  I don't expect it would be normal for him to walk up and just ring the doorbell?>>

[Notsoevildm]

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:04, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

Xiao Hong leans over the balcony and shouts at his two bodyguards.

"Hey dumbasses. Stop clowning around. Switch off commlinks and guard exits."

Turning to Dante, he points a finger at his chest.

"You smarter than you look. You come with me."

Xiao returns to one of the rooms. A naked geisha girl is lying on the bed, her legs spread. Xiao strips off the dressing gown and throws it at the girl.

"Get dressed."

Dante can see that much of his body is tattooed. He also has several old scars from cuts and bullet wounds. He dresses quickly while Dante watches the door. The last item he picks up is a gold-plated commlink. He fiddles with the controls for a moment before cursing in Chinese and throwing it back down on the dressing table amidst a clutter of makeup, massage oils and sex toys.

"Cheap Japanese shit no work."

He moves back to the doorway, a heavy pistol in one hand, and peers over the balcony for any signs of attack.

"What you doing in my restaurant anyway, Dante? You looking for work, maybe join Red Lotus?"

[karhig]

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 20:17:32, The Looking Glass]

A yellow taxicab pulls up outside the Looking Glass. The rear door opens. From the door a foot is extended, crafted from jade and covered with a moss patina, slippered in crystal heels so fine as to be almost invisible. Delicate foot flows to sculpted leg, a long vine wraps around the heel and climbs upwards beneath the hem of a coat or skirt. From the vine burst leaves of rich red and dark green. Cat places her foot on the floor and emerges from the cab, covered in a richly coloured green trench coat of thin fabric. The beautifully painted makeup extends across her face, vines breaking up her features. Golden eyes with clear whites shine out from between the leaves. On her head is a similarly green fedora, with the hint of fair hair trussed up beneath it.

Bassy sounds throb through the walls of the Looking Glass and lights strobe the entrance line. Getting into character Cat skips towards the doorman, her body already following the beat of the music, and, with a thought, fires the invitation towards his avatar. "Good evening handsome, I'm on the list." After a brief check, he moves the rope barrier aside and opens the door for Cat to dance on inside. On the other side of the door the music assaults Cat. Smiling, she heads for the coat check. Taking off her hat, a single long braid of rich blond hair winds down her back and her ears extend prominently upwards. Under her coat a short skirt and a continuation of the moss and vine effect appears to be the only thing hiding her modesty, although careful observation will reveal she also wears a subtle bikini. A small green leather and bark bag blends into the patterning on her skin.

As she moves towards the club proper, subtle bioluminescence in the bodypaint picks out further detailing on top of the colour patterns. A single mental command activates green optic fibers woven into her hair, which pulse and flow in time with the music being played.

Another command activates the looking glass icon on her commlink. Here we go!

[mister__joshua]

@Virtual Scream/Cipher
[September 1, 2072, 12:42; Downtown, Seattle]

Initially startled, Cipher gathers his faculties and quickly heads up for a closer look at the interesting icon. He adjusts his filters and analyzes it as closely as possible, trying to figure out exactly what it is behind the flesh and gore, figure out what the code is saying. If it seems too dangerous then he'll have to consider his options, but for the moment his curiosity is getting the better of him. Today is starting to look up, at least it's interesing!

[mister__joshua]

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:10; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn..." he pauses, waiting to see if she'll get the reference. He'd be impressed, it's from an old flat-vid some 130 years ago. Not even a coloured one!

He smirks. "I don't take a lot of interest in personal crusades."

Pausing for a drink, he scans the room just so he's aware of what's happening.

"...it's censorship at the end of the day." he begins again, looking thoughtful. "I've never been a fan of internet censorship. China tried it back when I was a lad...." He pauses briefly realising how old that makes him sound, before continuing "..but it never worked." He looks at her again before finally answering her question "For what it's worth I think she'll fail, all censorship fails eventually. People don't like to be told what they can and cannot do."

Johnny mentally activates his 'link while never letting hit attention fade from the conversation.
<<P2.0 Friend Search: Ryl deBathayre>>

"So" he starts again, looking back into her eyes "how come I've never seen you here before?

[ChromeZephyr]

@Emerging:Tribes; Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 19:54:30; Fre∑dom's turf
PAN mode: Passive | SIN displayed: Eric Jones

Scrapheap jumps as the driverless stepvan suddenly squeals it's tires and races around the shop, cringing as it swerves dangerously close to clipping his Triumph as it screeches to a halt. He fires a glare at the teenage techno-tribal, then just shakes his head and grins. "Nice, kid. Woulda hated ta have to beat ya stupid if ya wrecked my bike, though. Maybe next time let me move it before ya play Stunt Race 2073, yeah?"

Smiley woulda done the same thing, if his brain worked with the tech like this kid's. Fuckin' Smiley... The grin slowly faded from his face as the memory of his dead older brother squashed the aggravated amusement at Tweak's stunt-driving. Scrapheap turned away from his two companions and triggered the commlink's file menu in AR to look at the BTL folder and see what was loaded, then blinked when a <No such folder> alert pinged in his vision.

What the...fuck, new 'link. Dammit. Focus. Focus. Just quit thinkin' about them until we get home tonight... His shoulders slumped a bit and he went and sat back on the chopper, glad the goggles over the top part of his face kept anyone from seeing his eyes.

[Slacker]

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:07, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]


The silence of Dubstep's apartment filled his ears as he took a second to just stare at his commlinks. "Son of a bitch. What the hell was that? I've never seen even a Nuke program overload a system like that. And that seemed like it was an Agent bringing the flow of data."

After a minute of holding the still warm 'links, his mind couldn't come up with anything that could possibly had this kind of effect. He shook his head before starting to move once more. He took a moment to search for the remote to his trid God, I feel like I've gone frakking native having use a damn remote instead of just controlling the trid from my 'link. He flipped through until he found a station that does 24hour news broadcasts with a slant toward the tech side of things checking to see if there was another Crash or new AI assault across the Matrix.

Meanwhile, he broke out his tools to see if there was any damage to his commlinks. He was going to be overly cautious and wait until he gets done with a full diagnostic before trying to boot up first the dummy link and then his prized possession. Hope Cindy is ok, or I'm going to be really pissed! he thinks as he absently flicks on the house stereo to have something music in addition to the newscasts. It at least gave him an illusion of Cindy being ok until he knew better.

[ChromeZephyr]

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

Alex had chatted with the dorks down in Matrix Crimes quite a bit, and even taken a couple weekend classes when his caseload wasn't stupidly high, so he knew from looking at the new file that his 'link had been the victim of a hack. He tapped a finger against his bottom lip as he contemplated the rather macabre icon pulsing in his vision, then muttered a few imprecations under his breath and shifted the Ikon to refuse unknown connections and started the Lexus. Don't like using "Jimmy" unless I gotta blend in better in the harder parts of town, but I don't think I'd better maker any calls with this until I get it fixed. Really hope I don't gotta get another Agent, those things are pricey. He put the car in gear, then headed for Everett.

September 1, 2072, 14:42:59; Alex's Everett apartment
Renraku Sensei: Hidden | SIN: Jimmy Delfino (Fake ID, Rating 3) (Re 2 - Sig 4 - Fi 2 - Sys 2)

Alex had powered down the Ikon as soon as he pulled into his assigned parking spot, then made himself another martini upon getting into the apartment. Two drinks before 5, and you're not even on the force anymore. What a fuckin' day. He sipped at the drink while he unlocked the footlocker buried in his bedroom closet that contained his "Jimmy" gear and pulled out a battered Sensei and powered it up. Man, compared to the norm this thing is spartan...fuck, no browse utility to thresh out the chaff, either. This is gonna be a long afternoon. Alex took the drink and the 'link back to the living room and began looking for people who could fix his commlink without cleaning out his bank account.