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

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Florence Darkwind (R4)

Careful to stay ready for Sprogget’s signal, Oyl, adds a marker to her view, that Bit will pick up for the status information; “Enemy Spirit” with the current time marker at the last location she had for Jazz in the sewer.  Then updates the marker for Jazz to show lost contact, with a “more information” note attached containing, "kidnapped by Spirit", since there is no standard status for that.

@self:Hope Senaka can take the mage out soon, for Jazz’s sake.

Using her voice control to emphasize her authority for the situation, and show everything is still under control, she gives a few calm instructions.
@Clinic Assistants[Oyl]: “Get Spindle hooked up to the sensors at station 2.  I’ll get to him in a moment”.

@self:Ah!  There’s the first signal.

@Plant(5)+Confusion:“Go to phase 2”.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Fido: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(3), Targeting(3)

@self:Drek.  Fido only got a small piece of the mage!  Good, looks like Osha’s Spirit has the rigger not knowing which way is up, and the others just want out|away.  Winter is paymaster?  Some indication of that from the general information, but good to be sure.

That rigger is using a Beret commlink.  Not something available on the open market.  It seems this bunch is|has contacts with Ares.  That is their milspec model.  Note to self: Collect any ’tronics gear, if get the chance.  Oyl could run the clinic off of that, till it gets bigger anyway.  That firewall would keep out most casual snoops trying to peak at patient data, long enough to send an alert.

I would like|prefer to have a Sprite insert the extra data in that sensor stream, but might not be able to wait that long.  Of course if I mess it up, and someone notices, that might take attention away from the rigger for an extra few seconds, and if it works, might take attention off of Fido.  That tac ops guy is not likely to notice minor discrepancies anyway!

Got to wait for that Optic-X to get into position, but next time the edge of the mall shows up on it’s sensors, so do those extra 2 combat drones.

Watching the sensor data from the drone feed, Sprogget prepares to add a little extra information, using Banjo’s transmitter.  He wants a better complex form than his normal casual use, and tries to pull extra from the Resonance.  What he gets feels no better than the usual, and he has a sudden urge to sneeze, as if the Resonance got up his nose.  Strange sensation in VR, and hard to do.  He drops that and tries again.  This time he gets a little more Resonance, and uses it to beef up his edit.

@self:Not as much as I would like, but can’t wait long to get the best either.  Biomonitor says Osha is going to have a bit more work when this stim wears off too, though not slowing me down any more yet.

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, Clinic]

Osha

Your watcher patrolling the area near the big metal moving box suddenly alerts you that there is a hostile magical presence approaching. Hopefully Sprogget’s tinkering can keep that mage out of the Citymaster or this, already precarious, plan could go south rapidly

[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]

Sprogget

Damn, this bloody Winter is a pain in the arse! He’s called in reinforcements, let’s just hope that Osha’s spirit is capable of handling any threat to itself while it deals with the occupants of the APC. To your surprise Fido still seems to be operational despite the salvo of grenades and the absence of an inbound rocket

Intercepted Transmission √@Winter / TacGrp1 [M2]: We’re moving to assist now √

√@TacGrp1 [Command]: Look sharp! We are not going to let these backwards fraggers run rings around us. Launch the drones, forget playing nice, I want kill shots on all targets, if they want a fight we’ll bloody well show them. Let’s get back our fire support and then I want this mall levelled! √

Fido repositions and launches another salvo at the mage but the angles are difficult and the troopers with him are clearly taking more of an active interest in his well being

Intercepted Transmission √@Command [M2]: Damn! My spirit in the storm system has been neutralised, we’ve lost the prisoner. That white haired freak is not going to be happy about this! √

√@M2 [Command]: Shit! √

√@TacGrp1 [Command]: Fire team 2, breech protocol on the sewer. Go in there and get our target. Fire team 1, maintain our cover, watch for that damn drone! √

Gemeaux & Scrapheap [/b]

Despite the gloom and the roiling almost invisible form of the elemental Gemeaux is able to target the softly glowing spot that seem to be its version of eyes. The shots whisper strangely in the tunnel and the thing writhes and twists but in the confines, whilst carrying Jazz, it is unable to evade completely and between you it is dispatched, leaving Jazz to fall unceremoniously to the tunnel floor, narrowly missing being impaled on Scrap’s meat cleaver!

Before you have time for jubilation though you hear a muffled clink, plink clink of a couple of metallic objects falling down the shaft near the mall and then an impossibly bright light illuminates the tunnel, thankfully around a bend from your location, and the cacophonous sound of the flashbangs slam into you along with the blast of air

[JxJxA]

E: Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx, Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
PAN - Hidden ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

A smirk creeps across Gemeaux's face as he sees his shots strike their marks. Certainly, this is one video due to for the scrapbook! He waits until he can see that the other 'runner's strike misses the fallen woman before breathing a sigh of relief.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, be a love and mark that set of shots "Trick Shot #488-One Surprised Spirit.">>

<<[Vivenne]: Done. Two for the files in one night? You certainly are busy.>>

<<[Gemeaux]: It seems that way. Let us hope it is the last one for the night.>>

He is about to walk over to the others when the grenades strike the ground. The flare compensators in his lenses manage to filter out the flash, but there is nothing he can do about the bang. The shock staggers him, dropping him to a knee once more. He grunts as he pushes himself back to his feet, willing away the desire to collapse and let the room stop spinning around him.

"Scrapheap and Jazz, I presume?" he asks, the chameleon suit still up and running. He staggers over towards Jazz with as much of a cool and calm demeanor as he can muster.

"I believe the grenades are our cue to leave, and I am not one ignore life's direction. I have a stim patch we could try using on la belle au bois dormant, or would you prefer that we carry her?"

[ChromeZephyr]

E:Tribes; Scrapheap
September 1, 2072 22:xx, the sewers under the Fre∑dom Mall, Puyallup

The dissipation of the spirit a beat before his machete could even connect with it left Scrapheap badly off-balance, but he managed to just keep the glinting edge of it from slashing across the dropping technomancer. The blast wave of the detonating flashbangs behind him sent him sprawling, but he was up in a crouch by the time the hard-to-see man with the rifle got over to them.

"I'll carry her, be faster dat way." He put the machete back in it's scabbard and hefted the smaller woman up over the opposite shoulder from the assault rifle. "You a betta shot dan I am, mebbe you keep da rear 'n make 'em keep dere heads down, yeah?"

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Fido: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(3), Targeting(3)

@self:Fido not hurt?  They were either in a real rush, or they did not have good information about where the shots were coming from, or
Sprogget takes another look at the UWBR sensor data.
@self:they do not have enough clearance to lob the grenades properly inside the mall.  The ceiling is in the way to get the range they need.  Whatever, I’ll take it.

Here come those drones.  And these are NOT sensor platforms!  Glad DR is already moving away, to keep out of sight from that Optic-X.  Need to warn the others to keep underground for now though, if I get a hint of signal from their commlinks.  Unless they are in a really hurry, and totally disregarding safety, I should be able to talk to them when they get close to the exit, but before they actually get in the open.

Level the mall will you?  If this works, the levelling will be the other way!

The spirit after Jazz being taken out is good news, but
@self:Neutralized?  Who down there could do that?  Oyl’s watcher is sure not going to take out a spirit capable of grabbing Jazz.  Find out later.  I was just hoping to slow it down long enough for Fido to deal with the mage.

With that spirit gone, you better get your hoop in gear Scrapheap.  You and Gemeaux are going to have company down there.  At least that splits them up some, needing to support Winter too.

Sprogget does a mental face-palm.
@self:Idiot.  There are other ways to deliver a message, especially with that spirit toasted.

He sends a text message to Oyl.

With the existing sensor lock, using low light vision plus the UWBR feed from the tacnet, the Doberman does not care about the thermal smoke.  The hasty grenades were not all that well targeted, and the few pieces of debris bouncing off of the armor are ignored.  Fido would rather be moving, and getting clear, but there is a job to finish first.  He compensates for the target motion and fires another burst. 

@self:Good boy!

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Florence Darkwind (R4)

The patrolling watcher checks in:
@Oyl[Watcher 3]:“I see hostile|unfriendly awakened aura|mage heading toward  moving box from big not moving box|house”.

@self:That would be the mage the Plant spirit showed me, already marked on the sensor data.  I hope, Sprogget can keep him out of the Citymaster!

@Oyl[Sprogget]: «Overheard that underground spirit disrupted.  Armed aerial drones launching.  Warn Scrapheap to stay under cover.»

@self:Disrupted?  How?  No indication of another mage around.  Someone was very lucky, or very good.  Or both.  But that does mean I can send another watcher.

Oyl concentrates for a moment, bringing a new Watcher spirit to her, replacing the one that was squished while trying to deliver the previous message.

@Watcher 1[Oyl]:“Find {Scrapheap} about {here} and speak this message to him:

Scrapheap, Sprogget says armed aerial drones launching, and stay under cover,  Oyl says, I'll send updates when I can.

”.

@self:Watcher’s are dumb.  I won’t tell it to stick with Jazz until that much is done.

[JxJxA]

E: Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx, Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
PAN - Hidden ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux takes a bow. He lets the chameleon suit shimmer a bit to make the gesture visible before assuming the cloak once more.

"Mon ami, you are too kind," he says in reply to Scrapheap's compliment. He pops the clip out of Le Dernier Mot, switching to a full cartridge.

"Please, my good man, lead the way."

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]

Sprogget

You watch your tactical feeds, conscious that your sprite hasn’t cracked the Citymaster’s node yet and that time is getting in short supply, as the fireteam still in the open launch microgrenades towards the now vacated breech. Not before Jazz’s drone fires another burst downrange at the retreating mage

Intercepted Transmission √@Winter / TacGrp1 [Command]: M2 is down! 6 cover him – I want that drone dead now! Medic! √

√@Winter / TacGrp1 [M2]: …I…spirit sent to call for…I… √

Your link with Fido is abruptly severed but perhaps he has done enough in taking out the mage…it leaves you with very little in the way of firepower though until your sprite can suborn the Citymaster. Flashes of explosions flare across the breech and then two roto drones boil out of their drone rack and circle in for the final overkill on Fido and the sudden ghost signals from within the mall. Their underslung grenade launchers spit a rain of high explosive death into the bowls of the mall and you can already detect multiple fires…

[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Sewers outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]

Gemeaux & Scrapheap

The sounds of your pursuers coming from behind you are hard to detect as you plunge deeper into the abandoned storm system. The rumble of continuing explosions above ground and the subtle vibration of the tunnel walls doesn’t help. You are acutely conscious that these tunnels haven’t been maintained in a very long time and also that the water levels are slowly beginning to rise, bringing a fetid air to the tunnel that wasn’t there before. It would seem the storm above has finally started raining somewhere in the catchment of this drain.

Up ahead your infrastructure map indicates that there is a chamber where three tunnels converge. With thermal imaging trying to hide your trail will be difficult but it might present other interesting options…

[RdMarquis]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

Just about everything hurt. That was how Mordred knew he was still alive. Carefully, he checked the extent of his injuries, finding himself to be in relatively good condition. The Citymaster had done more damage to the area than him. Mordred tried as best as he could not to disturb the rubble as he unwedged himself from it. Too much movement could cause it to collapse and finish the job their attackers had started. But the gentle approach wouldn't get him free of the massive debris pile. When he saw the light shining through, Mordred took a small step back, then lashed out with a kick.

Quickly, he scrambled out of the whole, almost falling in the process. The noise told him the battle was far from over. Mordred's commlink was broken, though not irreparably. The case had busted open, and there was some minor cosmetic damage. Repairs took only a moment. Immediately after, he sent a message to the team.

<Is anyone still alive out there?>

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor

@self:With the response those fake signals got, I’m glad G’Eye moved North away from the breach, to contact the Citymaster quicker!  At least with that sort of destruction, neither the squad or Spined Drakes are likely to be retreating that direction anytime soon!  Walking into a burning building is not likely high on their list of fun things to do.

Hey!  A message from Mordred!  He at least survived the collapsing building.

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Welcome back.»

@self:Important stuff first.  Fido come and gone again not important.

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Open {this} ARO to re-establish tacnet.  Optic-X sensor drone circling with UWBR, currently {here}, 2 armed rotodrones in the air, firing on targets inside mall.  Keep outside 100m range of optic-X, or have LOTS of walls between it and you.  Others below ground, out of radio contact, but also hidden from drone eyes.  I’ve moved away with the monocycle to keep out of that sensor range.  Squad split, part below going after Jazz, rest heading to Citymaster to support paymaster being attacked by Spirit.»

@self:No need for details about how and why for that just now.

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Communications intercepted, 2nd mage down, but may have called for external support first.  Keep well clear of that Citymaster.»

@self:Enough to operate on for a few seconds anyway. With the timing, no idea if another spirit could have delivered a message before the mage dropped.

The rest of the squad learned about the spirit inside the citymaster sooner than I would have liked.  Too bad Winter noticed before the Fear hit him.  It drew attention that way.  Need to break|disconnect that physical connection to the riggers commlink fast|quickly|soon after the Sprite delivers the script, before someone figures out what is going on there, and counters it.  Was planning to tell Oyl to go to the final mode, and haul that rigger|body away from the cocoon only after confirming that the script was active, but that is going to leave too much time for someone else to do something.  Either the sprite is going to succeed within a very few seconds of getting through the commlink firewall, of he is not likely going to deliver it at all.  Working steady like he is, I know very close when that firewall should go down.  I can send the go for the final attack so that with the delay, it will start just after the Sprite should|better have the script delivered.  Reduce the chance that someone else from the squad, or the Dissonants, can cancel it before the plug gets pulled.

Crack should be getting in .. just .. about .. now!  He’s in!

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Final stage.  Haul the rigger away from the cocoon.>>

@self:Then just keep EVERYONE out of there until I am ready.

[RdMarquis]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

<Thanks.> Good. Everyone else had avoided the worst of it. With that sensor drone around, Mordred was forced to take quite a detour on his way back to the others. No need to warn him again about that Citymaster. One building was enough. <Where am I needed?> He inspected the state of his weapons as he moved, keeping low to the ground. A little worse for the wear, but serviceable.

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]

Sprogget

You can feel the adrenalin coursing through as you wait tensely now for things to happen… it is out of your hands… Osha has the plan, the sprite is in place and must be nearly ready to launch its Trojan payload…but the Citymaster has come to a stumbling halt far too close to the squad of troopers, much closer than you would like. At least when your sprite activates the script it will be sufficiently far from the other APC for it to use the rocket launcher! Damn, through the murk you can see they are at the door

Intercepted Transmission √@Command [Winter]: Bitch! …We’re done here! The girl wasn’t the one I wanted, she’s not here! √

√@Winter [Command]: What? Drek, blow the fragging door. Our rigger is out so you’ll have to do it manually √

√@Command [Winter]: I’m not an idiot, there’s a fragging cactus in here that’s trying to …frag, gotcha…now get this bloody thing off me… √

The door whistles out of the side of the Citymaster in an explosive spray of compressed air, nearly flattening one of the fire team crouching by its side.

Intercepted Transmission √@TacGrp1 [Command]: We’re done here. Pulling out. Squad 2 get a line to our guys in the sewer, this fracas is over. Mount up, we’ll leave the drones to entertain these fraggers until their mags run dry. @R3, set them to wifi-off with a callback, we don’t want any more gear falling into the wrong hands. Sanitize the scene. I don’t want anything here that can be traced back to us. √

√@Command [R3]: Confirmed. The bodies in V2 will be crispy, nothing there. I’ll burn the APC’s CPU and tags. I’ve targeted a fire spread around the breech to clean up any forensics, not that the cops will come down here anyway. How we explain the missing crew is down to you sir, I don’t envy you that one. √

In inarticulate scream comes over the comm, the originator places it as coming from the first APC

Intercepted Transmission √@Winter / TacGrp1 [omitted]: No! Winter you promised me! The technos have to be purged... √

√@***** [Winter]: Shut your whining hole! You knew my agenda here and you work for me. I don’t care what your paragon desires. Come back on your own time if you wish to pursue this vendetta! Your brother has already paid for his incompetence. I will not tolerate any more! √

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor

At the new query from Mordred, Sprogget, adds an overlay to the outgoing tacnet feed, showing the sewer entrances in the area, and copies the full underground infrastructure package to his commlink.  He highlights the route that Scrapheap would have taken to get into position, and his current guess at the location of those in the Sewer, and their movement.

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «No live comms to underground.  Current info based on delayed, indirect through watcher spirit reports through head office.  If have time, can coordinate an intercept.»

@self:Not the time to explain Oyl getting in on the act.

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Lower priority, keep sewer position updated, for possible intercept by Mordred>>

Sprogget finds the latest comms chatter very interesting.

@self:So Winter finally figured out both that Jazz is not Summer, and that Summer is not here.

Excellent news|confirmation, the rigger is unconscious, so the Sprite should have a clear path|shot at delivering the script.

I think|hope you are bit too late picking up your toys and going home, though the rotodrones chewing up building|infrastructure is going to be a problem for any fire|damage control in the mall.  Unless the rogue|Citymaster|dog brain decides they are priority targets.»

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Squad being called back by leaders, once message gets passed.»

@self:Oh, “explain missing crew”?  It sounds like this bunch is moonlighting from a day job using corporate assets.  Maybe they really are Ares, as that commlink model would imply.  If that explaining includes a story about tribe members stealing equipment, maybe delivering some excerpts from this conversation to the right parties will redirect the heat.

technos purged|paragon desires|fuzzed name!?  This is one ‘techno’ that is quite happy not to be purged, and to ruin those sorts for Dissonant|corrupt|evil plans!  Brother?  From the hit on the APC?  Or dummping from the drone earlier?  or maybe both.  I wonder what Fre∑dom leaders will make of that little sound bite when we pass the intel|logs to them?  Somebody is going to have at least some research to do!

When|as|after the script goes active, the Citymaster should be fairly safe to leave on it’s own for a few hours.  It will be tricky to safely get to it, get on board, and take over directly before this stim wears off.  Going to need to use the physical connection to hack the node, and reset authorizations.  Not a good idea to try until I get some rest.  But I am still awake enough to get a signature off that other Dissonant, to have something to track|match later.  Not until the Citymaster first acts on the script though, to avoid any extra chance of alerting them.  Best is not until the commlink connection is broken.  Unless get indication they are trying to respond, and my probe could distract them for an extra second.  Watch the UWBR, listen to the chatter for cues.

[RdMarquis]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

<Got it. I'll see if I can meet up with them.> Basing his route on Scrapheap's projected location, Mordred heads within eyeshot of the nearest entrance. Reactivating the polymers in his suit, he finds a hiding place nearby. <They're leaving? I didn't peg them for the types to give up.>

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «I wouldn’t say they were giving up.  More they discovered that the well was dry.  Their paymaster made a mistake.  Current information is that they came here to do a hard extract of someone specific.  He finally figured out that the person they grabbed was the wrong one, and the right one is not here.  Need to try minimize the damage from the scorching they plan to cover up their presence and mistake.  If it were not for all of the damage done, people wounded and killed, I would LMAO.  As is, I am happy to see them go away empty handed.»

@self:And I'll be ecstatic|delirious|overjoyed if this works, and they leave without hands|feet|arms|other body parts, and a bunch of that milspec tek too.  A few seconds.  Just a few seconds.  And it will be too late for them to do anything about it.

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Also, I do not know where that is going to leave the Spined Drakes.  Right now they seem demoralized, but from what I can tell, they were promised the mall for their help in setting this up.

The tribes owe both groups some serious payback, but right now, don't take chances.  The bunch in the sewer may not have gotten the news yet.»

[RdMarquis]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

Mordred smirks, but the message gets him thinking. <I'd say they weren't so much mistaken as misled. You don't go anywhere with gear like this unless you're quite sure it'll be needed. Gotta wonder what gave the impression their target was here.> The smirk fades as he considers the gang. <They have to know this military looking crowd was their edge over you. It doesn't pay to look weak out here (I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir on that point), but it'll be a hell of a lot harder to keep up this attack alone. If they want a victory worth having, they'll leave and lick their wounds.> Of course, he would have no problem giving them a little encouragement on that front.

Still, there were some people who would lay down their lives as matter of pride. As the gang was fighting for a reward, he doubted that was the case. Hopefully.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Misled?  Possibly.»

@self:I wonder if the {techno purger}, plus maybe the dead brother, has enough cojones|chutzpay plus the skill|ability to set Winter up, just to get the resources for a shot at the Fre∑dom TM’s?

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Something for the councils to consider.  Tomorrow.  As for the Spined Drakes, their choice now will depend on how much they figure the attack already weakened the defences, and how much help the toys they got for the job will be.  We may need to convince them, ‘not much’ and ‘not enough’.  They were getting ready to storm through the wall before we stirred things up here.  With the fires and damage done by the latest attacks, that doorway should not look so good to them any more.»

@self:If the squad bothered to share the reason for those missiles, somebody might wonder if there is more like that deeper in the mall, beyond the range the UWBR could reach.  Those combat drones were deliberately positioned near the edge of the range, to make it reasonable for them to show up when they did.

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, Clinic]

Osha

As the word reaches you from Sprogget you initiate the final stage of the plan, communicating with your spirit as it strikes with another burst of fear on the invaders trying to climb inside the metal box. You feel its consternation as the power washes ineffectually over the grim aura of the soldier and then its pain and shock as hands lash out and begin to rip its fabric asunder…

Moments later your watcher reports back to you that it has found another magical aura. It is clearly confused by the power emanating from the lead soldier, his aura is mundane but his hands are charged with killing energy…

[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]

Sprogget

There! The seed has been planted! You get a very visceral thrill as you see electricity arc off the flanks of the Citymaster where the two remaining troopers are crouched waiting to follow their commander into the cabin…

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Florence Darkwind (R4)

@Plant(5)+Confusion:“Go to phase 3.  Haul {that rigger} out of his little metal box”.

Even as she sends the go ahead, Oyl feels unexpected pain from the Spirit, and winces in sympathy.
@self:What was that from?  {Plant(5)} should be strong enough to ignore attacks from almost any physical weapons, and the watchers have not seen any magical auras around.

A fresh report comes in from a confused watcher.
@self:Energy in the hands only?  An adept?  But the person|metahuman aura is mundane?  Is the watcher just too dumb to recognize a physical adept as awakened?  Is the aura being masked somehow?  Is the power in the hands from something else?  Wish I could see|assense|look at|study that myself!

If {Plant(5)} can not deal with that quickly, I may need to send another spirit to finish the job.  Seriously not good timing!  This is where time is most important, if I understand what Sprogget is trying to do.

[Aria]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, Clinic]

Osha

Despite its wounds your valiant spirit rallies at your call and drags the unprotesting rigger from his cocoon and hurls the body towards its assailant. The adept is implacable though and the power wreathing his form itches to lash out again, this time your spirit, despite its slower dodge, narrowly avoids being sent back to the ether!

[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]

Sprogget

You almost can’t believe that this is going to work. If Osha can keep anyone else from interfering then the Citymaster should shortly begin laying waste to your foes. Sure enough, the dormant launcher on its roof suddenly lunges into activation as servos redirect the boxy form to face the other APC and the troopers boarding it. The range is so short it would be barely time for the warhead to activate, certainly far too short a time for anyone to do anything about it…

The pyrotechnics as the missile strikes home make the work LeO did on its counterpart seem tame by comparison. The missile strikes the rear of the APC where the drone racks were located. Rippling fire washes throughout the troop compartment blasting the two climbing inside back into their comrades…

Intercepted Transmission √@TacGrp1 [Command]: What the…?!?! Fuck! We’re compromised! Get clear, however you can! Switch to secondary comm encryption, the bastards have broken in somehow… √ the rest is lost in a storm of static…

Intercepted Transmission √@Winter [Command]: I’ll frag the spirit…take the fucking controls before the dog brain blows the shit out of the rest of my men! There behind that panel. We’re switching encryption, I haven’t got time to give you the key…just yell! Fucking technology! √

Shit…you’d been hoping breaking the rigger out would be enough for your script to retain control…!

[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, Clinic]

Osha

With a sad departing wail your spirit vanishes from your mind, disrupted by the vicious magics of that bloody adept. Hopefully it has done enough…?

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Florence Darkwind (R4)

@self:That skat|svoluch skragged my Spirit!.  I need a replacement quick.

Asking the Great Mother to aid her efforts, Oyl sends her thoughts into the astral, following a feeling to an entity willing and able to help her.  The feeling is accurate, and another plant spirit, as powerful as the previous makes its presence known in her astral view.

@Jimson:“Spirit of plants, this is the only service I require of you.  Go to this {currently not moving} {travelling metal box|Citymaster} then use all of your abilities to kill those inside, or get and keep them and others out until I tell you that the job is done.  I want that box empty.  Protect yourself well.  {This} one has magic in his hands that can hurt|destroy you.  Please hurry.  Their actions are|could endanger my friends|family|wards”.

Plant(5)+Noxious Breath (Jimson): 4 services, On remote service

@self:That could have hurt a lot more than it did, but I am not up to another like that for awhile.  This better do what is needed, or the plan is going to flatline fast!

@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Spirit in Citymaster disrupted by, apparently, physical adept.  Replacement sent.  Can not do again.>>

@self:Sprogget and the City master are not that far from here.  I could change to antelope|okapi|kangaroo, and be there in less than a minute, but what could I do then?  Even with the toughness and strength of a panther|gorilla, I would be no use against the amount of weapons still there.  If I could get the effect of a Barghest howl, that would be different.  I don't see a real opportunity to affect things with my voice or people skills.  Too many, too spread out, too hard to get close enough, fast enough.  Those needing treatment can come to the clinic, and I still have more to do here anyway.  I just want to be there to help Senaka, but for the tribe, I should be here.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

DR: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,Opt), Defense(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg)
G’Eye: Res 3, Sig 5, Sys 3, FW 6; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Defense(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Chaser(4,opt), Trailblazer(4,opt), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), Analyze(6,opt,erg,gua), Purge(6,opt,erg,res), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor

@self:Yes!  Script delivered!  And the Citymaster has activated external anti personal defenses.  No interior defenses seen yet though?  Too bad.  That would have speeded up clearing actives out.  The spirit should be immune to most things that could have been used.  Just get that link broken before someone can use it to get in and override it.  What is that gonk doing?  Going hand to hand with the Spirit?  Slot, they figured out that the electronic security was penetrated.  Knew the eavesdropping could not last.  Drek, physical controls!  The Spirit was supposed to have everyone out or dead.  Support got there too fast!  If those goons are greased fast enough, will the dog brain be able to keep|take back control?

Wait a nano here.  Winter is the one going for those controls, in meat space.  I am way faster in the matrix.  If I attack him directly, maybe I can get his attention, and delay what he is doing|about to do.  Still not a good time to be conservative.

Sprogget reaches into the Resonance, pulling in more than he is used to handling, looking to sculpt a tool with enough power to get Winter’s attention.  His grip on that much Resonance slips, and he belatedly tries to divert the vicious lash from the released power.  Assessing how he feels, and what the biomonitor is reporting, he realizes that there is just no more that it is practical to do.

@self:I'm too beat to try that again now, and another fading like that would kill me.  At least if I did not get some treatment before the stim wears off.  It’s up to Oyl’s Spirit, and the instructions in the dog brain now.

Exhausted and hurting, he reviews the situation.

@self:They know that someone is close, and been hacking their equipment now.  I have to assume that the Dissonants had not noticed until now, and Fre∑dom not responded because they have been stalemating each other.  This will get their attention here too now though.  The amount of tacnet and sensor data we have been generating is no longer remotely safe.  Got to get it all shut down, and quickly.  With active searching, it will not take long to find something, that will lead to the rest.  Only Mordred currently affected, the rest are all blocked and protected by solid earth.

@Mordred[Sprogget]: <<Sorry ace.  The matrix situation is getting too dangerous.>>
@self:At least for the shape I am in.
@Mordred[Sprogget]: <<I need to get the team tacnet shut down.  I am no longer able to properly manage and protect it.  Some of my efforts have been noticed, and there could quickly be high powered and angry dissonant TM’s hunting for me and us.  I recommend going completely wireless dark.  Power down anything that transmits more than a few meters.  Beer’s on me, at my shop, if you want to head that way.  Though I won't be much of a host tonight.>>

He starts dismantling the tacnet, leaving Mordred’s commlink until last, to give him a chance to respond.  First Banjo gets instructions to go to passive sensors only, and shut down wireless signals.  Then either hide in the building it has been using if necessary, or get clear and head for either the rack on the roof of the mall that he was found at, or Sprogget’s shop.  The roof entrance is closer, and should be hidden from ground attacks, but the extent of the damage is not known, so if that is not accessible, redirect, the long way around, to the shop.  Banjo is dropped from the tacnet, and from the slaved nodes, as it obeys the instructions, shutting down the wireless connection.

Next G’Eye.  He is told to continue to use active UWBR to monitor and record the intruders for the next half hour, or until one of the intruders starts getting too close, or he is being threatening by longer range weapons.  After that, switch to passive sensors, and get clear of the area, staying inside the mall if possible.  Head for Banjo's nest, and if that turns out to be impractical, head to the shop, exiting the mall as far East as practical.  Once the instructions have been verified, Sprogget sends the signal to the stealth RFID tag, to physically power off the wireless transmitter.  G’Eye is gone from tacnet and the slaved nodes list.

Not trusting himself to drive, Sprogget starts adjusting the deadman switch instruction for DR, to take him home, but leave him control over the wireless.

A message comes in from Oyl.  More bad news.

@self:Another adept.  It will work, or it won’t.

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<I am all tapped out too.  Shutting down and headed for the shop.  Could use a shoulder to get from there to the clinic.  {biomonitor readings}  About to inform control / Cam.  Use spirit to inform those underground that dissonants might be hunting any active signals/commlinks.  State of Citymaster unknown.  See you soon ⚙>>

@self:I hope they do focus on hunting us.  That could give Fre∑dom time and room to get back up and skrag them.  Winter has been busy for a bit, first playing tag with the Spirit, then going for the physical controls.  I heard one was out, which should just leave one more active.  They are stretched thin too.

@C&C[Sprogget]: <<[font="Courier New"]Tacnet going down, live team sensor feeds going down, offline sensor capture continues.  Citymaster sent rogue.  Only temporary?  Debrief in person.  At clinic. ⚙>>

Shutting down more connections and wireless transmitters, until only the skinlink connection to the monocylce, and wireless to Mordred remains, he thinks,

@self:[color="darkkhaki"]If they want any more details, they can come talk to me in person.  Until this stim wears off.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Florence Darkwind (R4)
Plant(5)+Noxious Breath (Jimson): 4 services, On remote service

Bit forwards the sensor view of the 2nd APC taking a hit from a missile launched by the Citymaster.  The HE makes for a spectacular show, although Oyl does not know, and the data does not show yet how much actual damage was done.

@self:At least partial success!  Time to clue Cam in, and guarantee|ensure he has some appropriate response queued.

@Bit[Oyl]: «Bit, patch me direct to Cam’s ’link.  Don't ask him, just do it.»

Being in the middle of the connection between Oyl and Sprogget, as well as feeding status summary information to Oyl, Bit had already seen what their plans could lead to, and some of the likely followup.  When the Citymaster launched the missile, a tag got added to the Citymaster on the status display that covered the changed situation.  Subverted  Oyl’s request was no surprise either, and using the C&C team authorization somewhat grudgingly supplied by Cam, she cut Oyl in on the command channel, then proceeds to eavesdrop.

@Oyl[Cam]: «Missle hit APC?  What?  Who?  Oyl?  Bit, you exceeded»

Oyl cuts in sharply, using her voice to make sure she gets his immediate attention.

@Cam[Oyl]: «Save it.  Newsflash.  Sprogget got the Citymaster to attack it’s masters.  Make sure to have a sniper or 2 ready to make sure any that can and are leaving head the right direction, and keep going.  Control may be only temporary, but I have a spirit doing it’s best to make sure that military bunch will not get to use it either.  If they start moving, push them,  and the Spined Drakes both.  Not intending all out attack.  Just confusion and incentive to get and keep moving.  Do not give any of them time to reorganize until long gone from here.  Get on with the job.  NOW.»

She cuts the channel, and watches the status displays, to make sure that appropriate directions are being sent out.

@self:If I had real authority, instead of just the force of my current social standing, I could have gotten that quicker.  Of course, C&C would have also had a little warning it was coming too, instead of being presented with a fait accompli.

Sprogget is going to need some treatment immediately when he arrives, to reduce the extra damage before that stim wears off.  Easier to treat 2 smaller sets of damage, than one combined.  Spindle needs care too, but is stable as is for a few minutes.  So…

Oyl starts giving orders.  In the clinic, few are going to question her right to do so, based on he skill and history.  She will do magical healing on those with minor physical damage left after the medical station was not quite enough, until Sprogget arrives.  The level of healing that she can do on automatic, without too much concentration.  Then take a stim herself, and treat Spindle and Sprogget, plus as many more as she can fit through the stations in an hour, before going back to magical healing.  After the doc box is done with Sprogget the first time, she will have to assess whether she can use magical healing on him before his stim wears off and does more damage.  The same for Spindle, though secondary damage is not an issue there.  It might be better to get some sleep first.  As long as she does not push too long tonight, there will still be time for the healing in the morning.  Or at least after a few hours of rest.  No need for Long Haul.  At least not yet.

[RdMarquis]

@E:Tribes
[September 1, 2072 22:xx; Outside the Fre∑dom mall, Puyallup]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Hidden

<Go ahead, but what's happening out there?> He'd operated without one often enough that losing the tacnet wouldn't leave him blind by any means. <I'm going to make sure the runner I showed up with makes it out okay. Where can we fall back to?>