Salted Wounds [IC], a Deep Black Sea game Options

[Volker]

bnc cocks an eyebrow to Anna and says dryly: "If I need someone to cuddle, I'll buy myself a teddybear."
She turns to Nova. "There's still the second chip. The first code was something personal, so maybe the second one is, too"

[Thanee]

"Oh, I did not mean to neglect them, they might contain useful information for sure. Just do that in a safer and... I don't know... more positive... place than here," Nova explained.

[Volker]

“I can play a bit of reggae if you need good vibes. C'mon, cyborg, don't tell me you're afraid of graveyards."

[SquirrelDude]

Sharkboy sighed but spoke up, "I think she's trying to be polite and say that this place makes everyone here with a bit of mojo feel a touch nauseous and we'd all like to get the frag out of the cold and back into our mobile home."

[Luckace]

Looking slightly vacantly after bnc had checked the PDA, Wraith took the comlink after a short moment of irritation, slotted the second chip and entered "Factcheck" (changing capitalization if the firt doesn't work).
He nodded at Sharkboy's remarks: "Aye. I, too, would rather leave this place sooner than later. Let's crack this bugger open, make sure it says nothing important on the hideout, and then get the frag out, all right?"

[Volker]

Her voice and expression indicate only a slight trace of irritating or annoyance. "Sure"

[Jack_Spade]

The password worked:
The file that appeared seemed to be a full set of schematics for various buildings - complete with meticulous notes as to how to avoid cameras, and circumvent security.

The latest entry was titled "Black Site MCT Lab, Vienna".

[Luckace]

"It worked. Seems like she's been busy. Security maps, with camera spots and all shenanigans." , Wraith commented and shared the info with all his comrades.
He then asked Sharkboy to help him dump the infected corpses down the tunnel where they came from and started cleaning the bloodstains on the floor with the chemicals from the hideout, making sure they had not left any obvious traces.

Having donned his helmet again, he was ready to leave.

[Volker]

"Looks like Linz has to wait. I'll see what I can find out about these labs."
Then bnc helps, too, in cleaning up the place. She's particularly careful to clear her DNA traces in the restroom where still some traces of blood might be found.

[ Spoiler ]

Okay, let's get things going:

[ Spoiler ]

Hacking on the Fly: 19d6t5 6
I let you roll Elizas's defense rolls.
I turn on silent mode.
Matrix Perception (hot-sim): 13d6t5 2
That should do, shouldn't it?

[Thanee]

"Wouldn't that be the target of their run? I'm not sure how useful it would be for us to go there," Nova mused. "Maybe Eliza can say more about that topic? She was with them, at least virtually, when they infiltrated that lab, right?"

[Volker]

bnc opens her mouth to respond then halts.
Wait. Is she [i]the decker in our group? That feels somehow wrong. Yet, there's no denying that she is a decker and why not put her to use?[/i]

"Uhm, yes, it sure was. But since it's a lab they apparently broke in, it's very likely that they're connected with the research they were doing. And the stuff, you know. Uhh ... Wraith, when was the file created, last modified and last accessed? Also, can you find any indication about what the target of the break-in was?"

"Eliza. Can you please find out what you can about, what, Black Site MCT Lab in Vienna? Thanks."

[Luckace]

"Umm... one sec.", and Wraith scrolled through the files, looking for the requested dates and sharing everything with the team.

"By the way, does anyone know some folks in Vienna or Linz that might be helpful with our leads?"

[Jack_Spade]

Eliza replied:
<<That was the run Bean Si was nearly killed. She had worked out the approach through the sewers and how to avoid the security around the place. Her plan was good and thanks to a few well placed data taps I was able to suppress a few alerts that couldn't be avoided. The lab conducts research on how to repurpose the HMHV Virus and it's magical properties in particular.
The approach would have worked if Prof. Dr. Rosenberg, the head of this particular lab hadn't visited unexpectedly at 2:13 in the morning. When he became aware of the intrusion he sent a Spirit after the Boss and Bean Si. They managed to subdue it, but it wounded Bean Si with a broken piece of rebar, nicking the pulmonary artery. The fight happened within the high security lab where they had just managed to open the cold storage. That's when he used one of the prototypes on Bean Si to keep her alive.>>

[ Spoiler ]

Eliza's Agent I am the Firewall: 12d6t5 5

Defense: 20d6t5 10
(7 INT + 8 FW + 5 Agent Action)

Kill Code p. 38
I AM THE FIREWALL
(COMPLEX ACTION/INTERRUPT
[–5 INITIATIVE SCORE])
Marks required: None
Test: Computer + Intuition [Data Processing]
Instead of attacking, the hacker engages threat-highlighting software, giving allies an edge to their defenses. I Am the Firewall allows the hacker to give a
Defense test bonus to all allies with access to an AR feed from the user. The number of bonus dice is equal to the number of hits on a Computer + Intuition [Data Processing] Test. This bonus lasts until the beginning of the hacker’s next Initiative Pass. The hacker can only share their feed with a number of users equal to or less than their Data Processing attribute. When you take this action as an Interrupt Action, your Initiative Score is reduced by 5.

<<bnc, I notice you just tried to MARK my deck. Please don't do that. I'm keeping secrets for other people as well and even though I am careful not to expose them I don't hessitate to use whatever force I can muster to destroy anything with the data on it before it can be spread further.
If there is anything you need, just ask and I'll see what I can do.>>

[Volker]

bnc smiles, impressed.

<@Eliza <Don't worry, I won't. But I hope you didn't expect me to trust any sensible data to a random shadowrunner decker without checking their defenses. I wasn't even close to breaking through.
Can you provide me Nacl's commcose, please?>> she texts with her commlink while rebooting the deck.

[ Spoiler ]

Would that unstoppable agent also prevent me from erasing the mark on my persona? That's a defense test, too.

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Technically yes, but there is nothing stopping you from just rebooting your deck which is probably the better option in any case

<<I see. Well, I hope I passed muster.
Sure, please find attached his work commlink number.>> Eliza replied

Wraith checked the dates of the files: The diary entry had been last modified on 21st of December, while the map had been created on the 5th of November. According to Eliza the run had gone down on 11th November.

[Luckace]

Meanwhile, Wraith hat worked out a text file where he noted all the dates and shared on the team's channel.

[Volker]

<@Eliza <quite spectacularly so. should i again try to attack your virtual space i wont hold a grudge if you fight back with all your means>>
bnc saves Nacl's number.

"Eliza, do you know whether security measurements have been improved and/or altered after the failed intrusion? Do you estimate that the research results you were about to try could help Mr. Johnson to find a cure for ... Bean Si?"

Once everything's finished, bnc gets into the car and wraps her arms around her. Once the adrenaline surge passed, the cold began creeping in.

[Jack_Spade]

<<I have no knowledge of changes to the security environment, but thanks to the very hasty retreat it is likely that Dr. Rosenberg learned about how the intrusion happened and took measures to prevent a repeat performance.

The Boss has taken the research results stolen from the lab and sold them to another pharmaceutical company to which he has a direct contact. In exchange he hopes to receive the cure or at least a useful treatment to prevent a worsening of the condition.
In my estimation there is an even chance that the Boss will succeed in this endeavour. Provided you find your sister within the next month.>>
Eliza replied while the car started to move again through the icy Vienna February night.

[Volker]

"So-ka. Also nächste Haltestelle: Linz."

[Luckace]

Once inside the van, Wraith checked the other entries of the digital diary to see if there were any other leads or hints on the Abdecker. Anything about who he/she is and how to contact the guy.
"I got a few chummers in Linz that tend to know a lot of people. As soon as we've found all our clues on this Abdecker, I'll try to contact them and see if they got anything on him."

After scanning through the diary (either with the team or sharing everything he finds), he closed his eyes and tried to warm up and get some rest before they reached Linz.

[Thanee]

"I am out of my home zone here, no contacts whatsoever," Nova mentioned, while disassembling her rifle and putting it back into the case after cleaning it from the snow.

She also removed her armor accessories and the ballistic mask, likewise cleaning them before stashing them away.

"Of course, I could try some of my contacts in munich. It's not too far, and maybe someone knows that 'Der Abdecker' guy."

[Jack_Spade]

Chapter 2

"Value" has no meaning other than in relationship to living beings.

R. Heinlein

February 2nd, 2077, Linz

The drive to Linz took the better part of three hours - partly due to the bad weather and partly because keeping a low profile seemed to be a good idea.
That time allowed the team to comb through the diary and question their contacts.
When the Danube city's light pollution became visible through the snow, they had gathered the following information:

- Abdecker was a rather infamous hacker. Some sources said he was an elven ghoul, some said he was even a Harvester - an infected HMHVV II sufferer rather than a chip head. His claim to fame was having a very good connection to the Blue Danube Airport Linz, making him not only a successful infobroker but also a sought after smuggler.
- The ship "Dandelion" formerly a river cruise ship, now a night club had been mentioned as the best place to get into contact with him. The warning was however, that the Abdecker was quite paranoid about his safety.
- Linz was dominated in the Eastern part by a massive AG Chemie presence and this corps influence permeated the city, giving other corps like MCT a lot less leeway.
- Less welcome was the fact that Linz also was a booming blackmarket for BTL and Drugs of Czech manufacture.
- The Vory also played a major role in Linz only recently challenged again by a resurgent Omerta, making Linz both a hot tin roof and a place where the Sternschutz was slow to react but then came in with overwhelming force.
- Finally, Linz had also a small community of infected in a closed Ghetto in the Hafenviertel, where they received a modest diet of hospital waste while being under permanent threat of eliminiation, should they leave the assigned place. A lot of citizens had protested the creation and funding of this place and the continued existence of the project would be a hot topic in the coming majoral elections this year.

[Volker]

bnc tries to catch a bit of sleep but is too restless for a multitude of reasons. Once more, she curses herself for having spent the money she intended to use for a sleep regulator on James instead. Thus, she roams the forums once more, wrestling with the decision whether to keep on laying false leads, then eventually decides to postpone the decision. After that, does some research on HMHVV and the various attempts to find cures or remedies. After that, she tries to regain a feel for Linz, its current politics and nightlife. Also, in between, she engages the team in a discussion about what to do next.

"I think, from here we have several options. One, we could try to reach out for factcheck, the ... the group we worked in together."
She exchanges a look with Wraith. In it, he can read a lot of pain.
"Or else, we could go to the place Kerstin and we lived at in the end. I don't know whether she moved after I left, but it's a lead.
"Third, we could try to find her in the Hafenviertel, or talk to the infected there.
"Fourth, the Abdecker.
By the way, for the foreigners: An "Abdecker" was, in historical times, a person who's it job was to dispose of animal cadavres. A quite macabre nickname for a possible ghoul.
From what I know, Harvesters - I mean the elfen variant of Gnawers, which the Abdecker is supposed to be - are no more intelligent than the creatures we've met - so they're not supposed to be deckers. Still, in the Sixth World, you never know.
What strikes me is that the groups call themselves Crusaders and Harvesters, while Harvesters are a name for people, that is, elves, who suffer from the very disease the shadowrunners tried to find a cure for."

[Luckace]

"We gotta keep in mind that the Hafenviertel will most likely be watched by our foes. It's the only true lead one has without a personal connection to Kerstin, so I assume they've already been there and probably keep an eye on it.

Not sure if she would have returned to her own place after this, she sounded rather paranoid. But it might still be worth a try, we might find clues about whom she trusts and who might know anything about her whereabouts.

I'd say her former home and then the Abdecker sound like our top priorities."

[Gilga]

Anna spent the hours quietly, given her lack of relevant contacts or matrix skills she listened to music and studied a bit. Giving appreciative glances to bnc from time to time. Matrix seemed like an endless well of information... something she missed out on, due to her history. Perhaps she'll fix it in some time, perhaps she'll just buy an agent software to do it for her, just like they had at the university.

She chipped in the conversation "there is this ship Dandelion, given that it is already late... I'd like to go dancing there, would give us an opportunity to look for this AB-decker guy." She finds it funny that a decker names himself decker, and grins as she says the name.