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

[Slacker]

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 2, 2072, 03:58:00, Anathma Skybar, 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)


Dubstep took a long breath to calm himself. Shook his head to clear dark thoughts about thie virus following him around. "Sorry. This thing is a real bitch, he pauses briefly to look at his companion. "No offense. I've got some serious hardware here and it cut through my security like it was nothing. Then I spent half the day trying to clear it before I finally came up with something that works. Thanks to some special resources I obtained access to, I've been able to clean my system as well as collect a few parts from other places on the Matrix.
It seems thousands have been hit with this thing.".

Thinking about that smile of Cat's, Dubstep finally agrees. "Lunch tomorrow sounds good. Let me take a look at what you've got now so I should bring to upgrade it best."
He takes a moment to look over her commlink.

"You weren't joking, were you. Yeah. I can help you with that old thing. For now though. Let's toast to a night of fun and new friends," he says cheerfully.

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 21:24 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence]

Sprogget & LeFey

As the monowheel glides up towards the wrecked car and struggling teenagers the jammer bathes them in clean white noise and their connections to the matrix is abruptly severed. The screaming stops and bemused they stagger around a little more. The girl abruptly wretches and tears the monocle off her face, flinging it away whilst the boy becomes aware of how close he is standing to Scrapheap and perhaps begins to have an inkling that he is in trouble! Judging by the expression on Scrapheap’s face he is restraining himself visibly from throwing the youth across the top of his once pristine car.

Scrapheap

Seeing Sprogget’s mono arrive, with the telltale hint of another passenger, is enough to allow you to reign in your temper…not that you need to let the corpers that! The boy looks like he might wet his pants at any moment! It might be time to move on before making too much of an impression though…need to get those tags cleaned so that you can all head out of this starched corp hellhole back to reality!

Spring

Whilst the area might be quiet this is not a good place to be hanging for long without looking very conspicuous. It sounds like things are moving along though and the last message from Tweak implied that everything was ok and you were about to grab the girl. Would be interesting to meet someone who’d lived a cushy life around here! How different is she gonna be?

[Aria]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:37; Overlooking Clearwater, Exmoor, UK]

Gemeaux & Mordred

There is a momentary lull with just the dying crackle of the hellish phosphorous flames reflecting in the pump room entrance. While you wait in cover you wonder what the next move will be. They have to come in here (you assume) to get you, but nobody seems inclined to wade through a hail of your bullets…but you do need to conserve what ammo you have left…

You see a flicker of movement at the entrance and the snaking probe of an endoscope peering around the edge of the door at about waist height…if only you had something capable of penetrating the concrete structure at the side of the door…

Tsubaki

Your spirit is holding its own against the rival elemental but it’s a stalemate and neither side are likely to back down soon unless you can tip the odds. According to your instructions the two watchers have found the infiltrators, who now seem to have gathered themselves after the effects of the fear, and are duly hovering over their heads and glowing in the most annoying manner possible.

[Aria]

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:18, Argent's kid's school node]
PAN: N/A, SIN: None, Response *, Signal *, System (5), Firewall (4), (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit [5, inherent], Stealth [6, inherent], Armour, Browse, Encrypt, Medic [6, ergo, optzd])

Reassured that the children were safe, at least for now, Gossamer ghosted her way back out of the antique sculpting for the more utilitarian focus of the hidden node she was using as a temporary bolt hole.

When Argent’s message reached her she breathed a virtual sigh of relief. That was the last person she was concerned about confirming that they were so far uninhibited by this vicious attack, now she could focus her attentions once more on finding out what it was, what it had done to her body, and what she needed to do about it now.

<<@Argent[Gossamer]: Thank you! I am reluctant to encounter the virus again, even indirectly and whilst it is dormant, until I have bolstered my defences further. Can you arrange for a clean link on site that I can occupy while we investigate my body? Can I urge caution when you reactivate me? Whilst I have no reason to believe the virus has been able to compromise the motor functions I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone!>>

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 21:24 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden and Jammed; 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 and Jammed; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

Seeing that the jammer successfully stopped the screaming coming from the tech Sprogget gives a relieved sigh.
@self:So the jammer will cut that scream short.  Thought it might, but seeing it happen is good!

Pulling the monocycle up where the jammer can continue to block the matrix signals, while keeping her mostly out of sight, Sprogget whispers quickly to LeFey.
@LeFey: "I'm going to see if I can talk them out of their links, in case they were recording".

Exiting from the bike, Sprogget takes the backpack liner containing the RFID tags set for the basic Iwakura Lain profile out of the butt pack.  Opening it, he hands the set to LeFey.
@LeFey: "Put this in your pocket.  For your profile".

Taking the now empty liner, he approaches the pair of corp brats.  Using a somewhat harried tone:
@Teens + Scrapheap: "I've been cleaning messes from that scream since noon.  I could hear it from a block away.  I've got it blocked temporarily here, but that does not get rid of it.  Put your links in the bag.  They are probably trashed anyway, but at least this will keep them from being used to spread it more.  Could you tell if it was only the links being attacked?  That is most common, although that virus will try to take a piece out of any 'tronics with a bit of memory and a matrix signal.  It could be in your PAN too.

Nobody pays attention to the news.  You should have powered the links off as soon as they started with the screaming.  Now they are probably junk.  Junk that is dangerous to others.  I'll need to pull the node in your car too, to make it safe".

Looking over at Scrapheap,
@Teens + Scrapheap: "I don't think your link or van got infected.  At least it seemed like the scream was only coming from them before I got it blocked".

[JxJxA]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:38; Clearwater Pumping Station, Exmoor, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

<<[Gemeaux]: What I would not give for a rocket launcher right now... Alas, all I have are these grenades...>>

Gemeaux shoulders Le Repartie for a moment, and fetches another white phosphorous grenade. He primes it, and flings it with a languid---almost lackadaisical---motion.

"S'il vous plaît accepter ces cadeaux de Marseille, avec amour..."

[karhig]

@Virtual Scream / Cat, Dubstep
[September 2, 2072, 04:00:00, Anathma Skybar, Downtown Seattle]
PAN: Active, SIN: Moll Flanders (Fake SIN Rtg 4), System: 2, Signal: 2, Response: 2, Firewall: 2

Happy to discover that Dubstep is capable of engaging in non-moody, non-fanboy conversation, and that he's agreed to help her out, Cat settles into the serious business of small talk.

"No sir, I wasn't kidding, I very rarely kid", Cat grins, "Glad to hear you can help with this virus thing. I guess I'll be needing a new link and any other software you can recommend as well."

30 minutes and the rest of the bottle of champagne later, the bubbles were beginning to get to Cat's head and she was getting quite tired. "I'm afraid it's getting very late, or very early, I should say. It's been an pleasure to meet you Dubstep. I'll send you a message with where to meet for lunch tomorrow, unless you have a particular location in mind, but I must really be getting my beauty sleep."

[ChromeZephyr]

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 2, 2072, 12:30; Dennis' Drones
Renraku Sensei: Passive | SIN: Jimmy Delfino (Fake ID, Rating 3) (Re 2 - Sig 4 - Fi 2 - Sys 2)

Sonofabi... Alex hurried over to Harvey, pulling his motorcycle gloves back on and taking his lockblade knife out of it's belt sheath. He sawed at the duct tape behind the chair until it began to part, then lowered the battered dwarf to the ground as gently as he could. Placing the knife back where it belonged, he began looking around the room for a medkit.

"Someone doesn't like you very much, do they?" he muttered under his breath, then raised his voice. "Hey, Harvey, can you hear me?"

[Aria]

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:55; Balcony on the NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

As you stand from your bow you see that the lady is clothed once more…a mage to boot, well you probably should have expected it from a drake.

"Call me Bronwyn…" the lilt in her voice sounds vaguely welsh which fits the red hair and the name but all these things could well be as simulated as her spellbound clothes. "…and I’ve always said that you are as old as you feel. Don’t worry about making it up to me, I’ll think of something." and her smile is pure lasciviousness.

As you’ve been somewhat distracted Ryl has reverted to a human appearance and walks over to you whilst trying to make something of her dress. The wry smile suggests that you might be forgiven, especially when she turns her back on you and says will you oblige?" indicating the clasp on her dress. The touch of her skin is electric to Bronwyn’s heat…bloody dragons, got you all jittery, even if you are certain of your outward calm demeanour.

She frowns slightly at some imagined dirt on her dress and you are glad that the balcony is clean…dropping it perhaps wasn’t your best idea, but perhaps better than taking it over the edge with you!

[Aria]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 21:24 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence

As you approach the teenagers with your best bluster face on you briefly regret not being a tad older to add a touch of authenticity to your blag. Hopefully they will be too distracted by their aching heads, wrecked car and threatening orc to look for holes in your statement.

Indeed, the girl almost thrusts her link at you as you hold your hand out, looking extremely glad to be rid of it. The boy on the other hand just glares, seemingly recovered somewhat "Frag you chummer, I don’t know who you are or what’s going on here. Show me some ID…" great, one of those…

[Aria]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:37; Pump Station, Clearwater, Exmoor, UK]

Gemeaux’s grenade sails up the gang way, bounces once on the top step and then fills the entrance to the pump station with abyssal flame and roiling smoke as the white phosphorous coats the area and any of the corpers lurking outside. The endoscope disappears into the white heat and you can only imagine the shock and outrage outside. Moments later there is a secondary explosion as something one of them was carrying objects to the extremes of temperature.

That doesn’t stop the small disc drone from ploughing through the smoke and firing its flashpak load. The strobing lights combine with the toxic fumes from Gemeaux’s grenade to render the entrance into a nightmarish club scene. They are almost impossible to see through the assault on your senses but you can dimly perceive two vague forms entering behind the drone with weird balls of light hovering above their heads…

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 21:24 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden and Jammed; 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 and Jammed; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

"Frag you chummer, I don’t know who you are or what’s going on here.  Show me some ID…"

As the girl hands over her link, Sprogget puts it in the bag and looks disgustedly at the boy.  Reading the overall situation, he decides that the corper is just blustering, probably cause he was partially at fault for the accident.

@Teens + Scrapheap: "Look, I'm not KE.  The ID I have is on my 'link.  You really think I should let that screamer loose again so you can try to look at it?  Personally I'd rather not let that virus get any more opportunity than really necessary to get into my comm.  There is not much to see anyway.  I just got some temp work helping cleanup the mess that thing has been causing.  My ID is just me and my tronix skills.  I've got plenty more work to do.  I just stopped a minute cause it was obvious you had no idea how to deal with the scream.".

@self:What ID is he expecting anyway?  Need to resolve this quick, and get going.
Sprogget indicates the tools in his pockets when mentioning the electronics, then waving over at the car, continues.

@Teens + Scrapheap: "I didn't see the crunchie, so KE is not going to be interested in me when they get around to the cleanup here.  But I can guess.  You were driving that piece of flash on manual, probably pushing a bit to show off, and panicked when the scream hit your links.  KE is not likely to have a lot of sympathy, since they have been dealing with it all day.  Will whoever paid for that toy when they get the report?  You could have been on auto, but normally grid guide's first response when things get outside normal parameters, is to get stopped.  Not punch accel.  If anyone cares to check, it will be recorded in the node in the car.  If that did not get totally fried by the scream as well.

I am just trying to be a good Samaritan, and preventing that virus from getting hold of any more nodes.  If you do not want the help, I can just get on to my next job, and let you deal with it however you want".

@self:I wonder if this ... wannabe slave ... knows how to actually think, and can connect the dots.  He should know that around here KE will not be too long showing up, even if they are busy.  Though hopefully accidents like this are low on their priority list.

Looking back over to Scrapheap, say,
@Teens + Scrapheap: "If you need to make a call, you will need to move back some, to get a connection, as long I as I am sitting on the scream here".

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:38; Clearwater Pumping Station, Exmoor, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

To whom it may concern, <I've shed a little bit of light on the situation. You'll know it when you see them.>

In the meanwhile, Tsubaki leads the Collots through the pump station and hopefully closer to the exit. Pump stations can't possibly be built with one door. That's just ridiculous on the architect's part. Tsubaki sends out one more watcher spirit to aid her with something else... "Deguchi o sagashite kudasai."

[JxJxA]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:38; Clearwater Pumping Station, Exmoor, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

"C'est des conneries," Gemeaux grumbles when the microskimmer flies in and begins blazing a flashpak in the station. His flare compensators kick in, but the initial dazzling still leaves his eyes hurting. He blinks a few times, using his eyelids to rub his eyes because his goggles and chameleon mask keep him using his hands.

Well, I shall not endure this inconvenience any longer than I have to.

Gemeaux shifts Le Repartie to his offhand. With the impeccably practiced skill of a gunslinger, the assassin draws his hidden sidearm. He squints, trying to focus on the smartgun targeting solution that is unfortunately playing across the visual cacophony of white phosphorous smoke and strobe light.

"Brûle en enfer, merde embulante!" he shouts, and squeezes the trigger twice. Twin bullets leap from his gun, and streak towards their target...

[Dakka Fiend]

@E:Tribes, Tweak
September 1, 2072 21:24 Bellevue, near the Senlis Residence]
Novatech Airwave: Hidden, SIN: James Teems (fake R3)

Damn it, we gotta go! Can't have this stubborn kid keep us here forever...

Seeing that the driver won't just back down, Tweak decides it's time for some class A BS. He sits down on the van's rear bumper and slips into VR, hesitates for a moment and triggers his illegal HotSim module.

Quick in, quick out, hope whatever's going on doesn't sniff me.

First, he starts his Stealth and Scan tools, then heads for Seattle's City Hall Matrix presence. A quick search for recent press releases yields what he was looking for; an official anouncement concerning the current outbreak of "irregular Matrix activity". A statement full of reassuring empty phrases and devoid of any helpful information. Well, that's what I'm there for.

Pulling the release up in his editor, Tweak quickly adds a few sentences oulining basic security tips - only use if needed, low power, if affected switch it off, keep it off - and finally a paragraph encouraging technically skilled individuals to help their fellow citizens secure against and contain this Matrix threat.

Satisfied with his handiwork, Tweak quickly drops out of VR, readies the "press release" for holo output, stands back up - still the same mess - and walks to the kids.

Hoi chums, guess this guy's legit. City issued this here. Pretty boring as usual but at the end they do call for people like him to help...

He presses a key on his comm and his forgery starts floating in front of the kids' eyes.

Let's just hope they buy it.

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:38; Clearwater Pumping Station, Exmoor, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

Awfully fond of those, are you? Mordred watches the results of the grenade warily, waiting for the men outside to act. He spots the disk, but not in time to react. The adept ducks behind his improvised barrier to place a gloved hand over his burning eyes. Not that it helped. He was already wearing the gas mask. At least that kept everything else from impeding him. As soon as the pain faded, he braced himself once more. They had to be making their move. There was no other reason to send in a flashpak.

Just barely, Mordred spots the strange balls of light through the haze. Whatever they were, they had given away the location of the soldiers. He presses his eye back up to the periscope and fires a burst at the nearest figure.

[Aria]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:38; Clearwater Pumping Station, Exmoor, UK]

Tsubaki

You hurry deeper into the pumpstation with the tumult of combat echoing weirdly around you as it bounces off the rusting machinery. Now that the initial shock is over and it is marginally quieter baby Collot begins to howl despite his father's best efforts. Still, it's not like you are trying to hide! Hurrying on and trying not to let the crying get to you (baby's cries are designed to go straight to the emotional response centres in the brain!) you follow your spirit as it swings back and fourth looking for a way out. As you pass under the dam again it does eventually lead you up the other side and off from where you discovered the entrance to the Clearwater complex. Hiking up the precarious companionway ladder you eventually reach another short corridor...it must lead out surely?

The door is there, it also clear that the former residents didn't want it to be used and it has been welded shut. It will take cutting gear or explosives to break out this way! Hopefully they will have left themselves a bolt hole out of their living area...

Gemeaux

Despite the discomfort of staring into a zenon strobe it does at least give you something to aim at, more or less...your shot flies true and a burst of sparks from the drone and it careers into the concrete wall beside it and shatters giving you a momentary respite...

Mordred

With the drone no longer fragging up your vision you are able to draw a bead of sorts on the mysterious blob of light and from there trace it down to the rapidly shifting cameleon form that is trying to make it to the ladder down into the room you are defending. The shot is awkward from where you are crouched behind a massive pump set but at least any return fire can't hit you. The pistol bucks in your hand and the bullets crunch into the centre mass of one of your attackers. He stumbles and drops out of sight on the balcony above you but it is too much to hope for that you have taken him out of the fight completely.

Tsubaki

Abruptly you loose contact with your spirit outside...something or someone else has entered the fray...

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 21:28 Bellevue, near the Senlis Residence]

You are all getting more tense as this annoying corper brat keeps you standing around when you should be disappearing! You are beginning to get the impression that he’s perhaps more astute than you had hoped and the searching looks he is giving all of you are beginning to make you uncomfortable.

"This is bullshit! Megan, back away now please, let these people go their way and we’ll wait here for the Knights. I don’t know who you lot are and I don’t want to! Frag off now and no more needs to be said…"

His posture has gone from teenage boy confrontational to poised in a matter of seconds and as he shrugs his shoulders slightly you can see the butt of a holstered pistol in a shoulder holster. If you didn’t know better you might think he was an exec protection specialist but they don’t come this young surely? He’s barely old enough to drive!

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 21:28 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden and Jammed; 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 and Jammed; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

"This is bullshit! Megan, back away now please, let these people go their way and we’ll wait here for the Knights. I don’t know who you lot are and I don’t want to! Frag off now and no more needs to be said…"

@self:Drek.  This is taking too much time!  Need to get out of here with LeFey.  Want to get that jammer shut down soonest!  Not really enough time now to pull or wipe the node from car, before someone takes a serious interest in what is happening.

Sprogget says disgustedly,
@Teens + jailbreakers: "Fine!  I've got no time for this.  Deal with it yourself"!

Pulling a chew of Indian Tobacco from the hip pouch, he angrily chomps down.
@Teens + jailbreakers: "Don't blame me if that scream starts up again soon as I leave".
Feeling the small rush from the snuff, he turns and 'stomps' back to the monocycle, getting ready to leave.  He quickly buckles in, uses the skinlink to connect to cycle node, and jumps in.  Using the vehicle sensors to monitor the area, he also keeps a connection open to his PAN.
@self:I need to add to the sensors on the Revolution.  No audio.  Well the PAN is fine for that".
Ready to leave, he delays enough to support the team if needed.

@self:This cycle is very maneuverable.  A bit clumsy as an anti-personnel weapon.  Still, from this close, I might be able to get to him before he realizes he needs to consider the cycle.  At least should be able to make him jump, and take his attention off of the others for a second.  I'd rather not escalate things though, unless really need to.  KE is likely to pay quick attention to a gun battle in the middle of the street, even if a simple traffic accident has low priority.  I've got the girl's (Megan?) link.  With her contact info, we should be able to get a line on his comm, and clean traces remotely.  Assuming he keeps matrix access up of course!  Same for the car, to see what it recorded about the situation.

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:38; Clearwater Pumping Station, Exmoor, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

Mordred's expression is one of grim satisfaction. He switches his aim to the next target, pulling the trigger again. Still, the adept knew actually routing the soldiers (or whoever they were) was an unlikely proposition. The best their smaller group could hope for was to put up enough of a fight that their enemies had to regroup and try another approach. Escape was their main goal. Mordred had to remind himself of that. When he was in a fight, it was difficult not to get lost in the conflict. To fall into an instinct fueled haze of targets and distances to be closed.

<<How are we doing on a way out?>>

[ChromeZephyr]

@E:Tribes; Scrapheap
September 1, 2072 21:28 Bellevue, near the Senlis Residence
PAN mode: Hidden | SIN displayed: Eric Jones

Scrapheap watches Sprogget stomp back to the monocycle and silently wills him to head back to home with the girl. She's who we came for, man, get goin'. He then turns back to the two kids, his scowl deepening.

"Fer fuck's sake, you're da idiots who rear-ended us. You can wait here all you want, seein' as your car is about as drivable as dat manhole cover over 'dere." Scrapheap indicates Tweak with a broad sweep of his arm. "We're outta here, seein' as we got places ta be tonight other 'dan standin' in tha damn street flappin' gums with a couple kids who can't fuckin' drive. C'mon, hoss, we're late as it is." Scrapheap indicates the van to Tweak with a toss of his head, then turns and starts back to it himself.

[Dakka Fiend]

@E:Tribes, Tweak
September 1, 2072 21:28 Bellevue, near the Senlis Residence]
Novatech Airwave: Hidden, SIN: James Teems (fake R3)

C'mon, hoss, we're late as it is.

Right, we don't get paid to play scenery. Have fun you two, try not to wreck another car tonight.

Waving goodbye at their new "friends", Tweak turns around, gets into the van and drives off.

Sheesh, in the Barrens you'd be happy nobody tries to shoot you after a crash. Bet his daddy's gonna give him a new toy anyway.

At the next intersection he turns right, hoping that out of sight really means out of mind. So, let's get back home...

Taking a few more turns, he puts the van on a street running to the east of and parallel to the one Sprogget and Megan are on.

<<@jailbreakers: Got away from those morons; heading back home. <map> Spring, why don't you get going and take the other flank?>>

[RdMarquis]

@E:Tribes / Travellers
[September 1, 2072 21:28 Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Iwakura Lain, PAN: Active

She froze. For the length of the conversation, she had simply hidden behind the wheel of the monocycle, wondering what she should do. The last concrete action she had taken was to accept the tags for her new profile. Morgan briefly recalled a couple of vague ideas to help corroborate their story. But once they started arguing, she just got left behind. And the fact that their argument could have become a firefight...

Morgan shuddered. So much for her first outing. She had a taser in her coat pocket, and was a fair shot, but would she have been able to use it? "How...how are we doing?" She asked uncertainly.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 21:28 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden and Jammed; 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 and Jammed; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

Getting back to the monocyle, Sprogget gets a query from LeFey.

"How...how are we doing?"

Hearing how uncertain she is, he starts to give her a fierce grin, then moderates it to a more reassuring smile.  While buckling up, he whispers,
@LeFey: "We're aces.  Tell you more later".

After Scrapheap gives [the toned down version] of what he thinks of kids not knowing how to drive, and heads back to the van with Tweak, Sprogget relaxes a bit.  Once it is clear that no one is likely to reach for a weapon, he picks a time when the corp kids attention is on the van to turn the cycle sharply and accelerates hard around the mangled car and away.
@self:By the time they look back over here, all they should see is the back of the wheel, and maybe a bit of the back and side view of 2 people.  With LeFey in front here, they should never get a real look at her.

Once clear of the scene, Sprogget eases off on the power.  He changes direction to head toward the 'caf shop that Alpha had staked out to do the Matrix coverage from, then switches to AR to be able to talk briefly to LeFey.
@LeFey: "Alpha should be about done sanitizing your home CHN.  Can you point me to a parking lot or quiet spot I can park on the street near there, so I can take the time to get the tag out, and get the jammer shut down?  Oh, I'll be releasing Taggit before that, to get a different assistant to help me do a good job on the tag.  If you don't want to suddenly end up in the void created by the jammer, you might want to have your own helper, or ECCM, or skinlink, or something going for protection before then".
@self:Drek!  Bit-Brain!  I could have kept the tacnet up, if I had created an ECCM form before I got jammed!  Was too busy worrying about tracking the incoming parents to think of it.  Idiot.  The extra distraction would not have been that bad.
@LeFey: "About the confrontation at the accident.  It was mostly bluff and face all around.  At least I think it was.  I tried an easy grab to get their equipment, just in case unwanted faces got into any 'life' recording they were doing.  I figured I had a good story, and tried to catch them before they recovered from what the scream had been doing.  I was reasonably safe from additional recording, cause without special preparation that most non-techies don't understand, the jammer blocks any PAN devices not physically connected to the commlink.  Takes out cameras not physically connected to the commlink.  Partly worked too, but as you saw, or heard anyway, the other recovered quick and started making like a bronze.  Either hired protection or to look good for the girl.  We had no real desire to start anything, although I think Scrapheap would have liked to bust a head just from frustration.  KE shows up too quick around here if shooting starts in the street.  Could be he was counting on that when he went more aggressive.  A lot of people out in the real ... outside the tightly controlled corp centers will appear as aggressive and territorial.  And be ready to back that up with everything they have when needed.  I don't mean just the more high profile gangs either.  It is mostly necessary.  Any show of weakness and one of the actually aggressive neighbors will stomp all over you, taking everything they can get.

From the earlier conversation, I think that boardroom culture you talked about is not a very good background for relating to what you'll see 'out here'.  At least until you learn to ... translate.  From what I know, corps can be very cut-throat, both internally and externally.  But the weapons used, at least those visible from inside, tend to be used politely.  Here, polite is a tool that only works in appropriate situations.  Some do not grasp that polite can indicate a strong position and solid determination".
Leaving LeFey with that thought, Sprogget goes back to VR, to better control the DR.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 21:32 Bellevue, near the Senlis residence
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden and Jammed; 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 and Jammed; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

Arriving at the location suggested by LeFey, Sprogget inspects the surroundings using the bike and PAN sensors.  Approving the location, he carefully parks the DR so that the most likely observation angles will be blocked by the wheel, and secondary angle will be block by his body when working on LeFeys arm.
@self:Looks good.  As long as don't start making a scene, nobody should take any particular notice of us loitering for a few minutes to remove a splinter.  With the jammer running, and Taggit with LeFey, I can't really 'talk' to him, but I should be able to release him ... Yes, I can't feel him at all any more.  Ok, next.
Sprogget focuses on the resonance, letting its shape and texture flow through his senses.  Visualizing the capabilities he needs within the ever changing structure the resonance, he molds a portion into the assistant he wants.
@self:Slotted headache.  Well it's not too bad.  I can just ignore that.
@Tutor Sprite:”Hoi Dr. Quinn.  I've got a little simple medical work to do, and I'd like you to guide my hands until it is done and confirmed.  We need to safely and with minimal fuss get that corp security tag tracker out of LeFey's arm.  The contents of the medkit in my pouch are the main available resources”.
The sprite indicates acceptance, settling comfortable into Sproggets bio node, connecting to his senses, so it can sense the external environment, and get the information at the same time as Sprogget does.

Sprogget switches from VR to AR, then unbuckles.  Getting out of the cycle, he stretches while taking a good look around, to verify that the situation is as good as it can be for a bit of discrete road side first aid.  Positioning himself between LeFey and any potential observers, he opens LeFeys carefully packed luggage, to get out the jailbreakers kit that had been provided to her, then gets the medkit out of his hip pouch.
@self:Right, that corp girls commlink too.
Opening the bag with the commlink, he manually powers it off, then puts it back in the bag.

Using the cable normally used to connect the monocycle to his commlink, he connects the medikit to the commlink instead.
@self:There.  Now, Dr. Quinn and I can talk and listen to the medkit directly without anyone else hearing the instructions.  No background noise interference either.
@LeFey: "Ready?  Ok, let's see that arm".
Using the non-linear junction detectors, he verifies for himself exactly where the tag is.  Setting that aside, he connects to the medkit through the wired connection, instructing it to turn off all meatspace prompts and indications, then has it bring up the step by step procedures needed to remove a security tag.

Working from the medkit's instructions, and with Dr. Quinn's assistance, he places the medkit sensors, cleans the location, and applies the topical anesthetic over the location of the security tag.  Then meticulously following the instructions, he carefully probes for the tag and removes it from under LeFeys skin.  Once it is out, he puts it in the Faraday cage bag from the jailbreakers kit, and makes sure both it and the bag with the corp girls commlink are sealed.  Using the skinlink connection with the NLJD, he verifies that there is no longer a tag in LeFey's arm.  After activating the radio signal scanner, he turns off the jammer.
@self:Oh but that feels better.  Even with the skinlink PAN and Dr. Quinn, the feel of that jammer is oppressive.  Hello wireless.
Quickly doing checks with his own senses, the radio signal scanner, and even the commlink, he verifies that there is nothing here transmitting the signal for the previously detected security tag.

Sprogget, with satisfaction evident in his his voice announces success.
@LeFey: "That's got it!  Just need to cleanup and put things away, and we are gone".
Wiping the couple drops of blood off of LeFey's arm, he puts all of the sensors and materials back in the medkit, disconnects that cable, and puts the whole medkit back in the pouch.  Her job now done, Dr. Quinn derezzes back into the resonance.

The jammer gets buried in the Industrial Mechanic toolkit, the sensors and other remains of the jailbreak pack go in the mostly empty electronics toolkit.  The bag with the girl's commlink is kept out on top. Checking the time, he thinks,
@self:Not bad.  About 6 minutes from pulling to a stop, to being ready to roll again.

@local jailbreakers: <<The package is freshly scrubbed, and squeaky clean.  Alpha, you all done with that CHN?  I have a commlink that could use your touch.  It has that >1rtu@l5cr3@m virus on it, but it and a couple of other nodes that it should have links too, also with the virus, might have some data we would rather not have published.  From the incident with the van.  I could do this myself, but I'd really rather not play with that virus while driving down the road.  If it got in the cycle, it could cause an instant replay of the van incident.  I could wait till I got it to the shop, with better tools, but sooner might be better.>>
Belatedly realizing he has something else to do, Sprogget activates the tacsoft complex form again, associating it with the list of jailbreakers.
@local jailbreakers: <<Oh, and tacnet is available again, for those in range.>>