[IP] Uncaring Stars Options

[Volker]

[ Spoiler ]

"You have a team channel?" Taurus was not at all put off by bnc, he fully intended to continue his conversation with Anna, but thatwas when Eliza made contact and he wanted to look into that data as well.

bnc has already established a channel in which Taurus is included, too: here

[Crossbow]

"Well, my dad always said 'When the fish goes bad, toss it. The dawn brings a new catch.' I guess you could say that is what I am doing, fishing for the next catch."

[Gilga]

My dad used to say, never park a Westwind in Redmond after dark.". He never said anything that seemed very deep,
always to the point. Anna realizes, and then asks No fish metaphors in my family, is your dad a fisherman or it is just a thing they say in ahm... where are you from?"

[Crossbow]

Yes, he is. I am from a little town on a little island you probably never heard of, in the Federal Republic of Hellas, which my father still calls Greece. Where is this Redmond?

[Gilga]

Anna says "Seattle, it is a UCAS enclave on the west of America. Redmond is one of the worst towns in that sprawl." she says, without lifting her head from the disguise she was working on. The young mage was very satisfied with how easy it all became, and with the way she could use detection magic to aid her health spells. Not just being smarter, being more skilled. She is proud of the art she makes of supplementing her natural talent, the closest thing to being augmented - but perhaps she begins to realize - perhaps it is more than being augmented.
She takes the Predator pistol from her heap and shows it to Alex, the purple heavily costumed gun looks almost like a toy, but it feels like the original gun.
My favorite pistol, my first time getting shot. I heavily modified it since then, but it is the same gun. RP polymer coating, so I usually just color it as I wish."

>>bnc, basically we need three disguises as Sharkboy is a distraction. I can, however, make a disguise for James as a backup. Just in case, we'll need to connect your dirty universal connector directly to their servers or something like that. You are the brainiac, what do you think?

[Volker]

"I think several things", bnc replies on the team channel.
"First, I think I never realized that if you remove from the word 'brainiac' all sounds that count as vowels in the Czech language, 'bnc' remains.
Second, I doubt that's a good idea. He's easy to spot for a trained eye

[ Spoiler ]

Anna could buy enough hits to see through the disguise

and easily detectable by basically all means: scanners, astral sight, matrix perception - with whatever you look at him, he'll be obvious as a drone. We don't want them to wonder why your team would bring a 6" sex doll with a built-in gun with you. I'd keep him closeby, in a park or shop. If we need him, I'll try to sneak up or something, though I don't think that'll be the case.
Third, I was laughing my ass off at the thought that we're going to incorporate a corp.
Fourth, I was thinking about what corp we could take. My two favorite candidates are:
AG Chemie, for no other reason that even Sternschutz would hesitate to fuck with them. Also, it has its seat in Frankfurt, which would add to our credibility. A demolition expert working for AG Chemie would also make sense. On the downside, it's a very, well, traditional German firm, and we would have to find some good explanations why they would send a Slavic cyborg, a Hellenian minotaur and an American slu- mage.
The other one I was thinking of was Ares Integrated Solutions, a daughter of Ares. It's actually a German corporation, with its seat in Hanau which is still part of the same sprawl as Worms. AIS produces industrial machines, automated mobile production slash repair devices for guns, and stuff like that. Highly specialized, highly profitable. It would be very plausible for them to want to retrieve a valueable white-collar slave at all costs. Also, it's an Ares firm, so Taurus can reasonably play the corp soldier and instruct you others how to pass."

[SquirrelDude]

"Do ya'll need a distraction when you go in, or some kind of eyes on the place before you go in? I can dress down out of my suit and into some training clothes and go into complain about pain from my recent fight or over-exercising or one of the other usual excuses." If nothing else, it would be a good chance for Sharkboy to try and grift some free dopadrine from some scrubs.

"If we're doing a routine as suits then my purple hair is probably going to be more of a problem than muscle wearing a ballistic mask. Dress codes and all that bull shit I'd see Horizon execs bitching about."

[Gilga]

AIS it is, though the basic outfit is a cheapish suit. Not quite buissness people, but more than goons. Corporate pins, and perhaps a small logo. International Corp would disguise us better, even if it is the local branch. James is probably a bad idea pitty...

[Crossbow]

Executives are executives. Though no corporate VP would actually get their hands dirty with this kind of errand, they would send staff, which I guess moves me to the main team. I have actually done work like this, retrieving company assets from places they didn't belong. It is not unusual to send a goon to do this kind of work should things, or people, become difficult, so Nova will not seem out of place. Bonus, Anna as a mage, enjoys a certain cache in the corporate world as well. Spellcasters are rare and valuable enough in the corporate world that they are allowed a few peccadilloes as long they make an attempt to be civil.

[Volker]

"Very well then, Ares Integrated Solutions it is. I'll back out of the team channel for the moment. I need to focus on the fake order. If you need me, text me. I assume you've got a lot to discuss anyway."

While the others debate the details of their con, bnc starts forging.

[ Spoiler ]

I download the Forgery skill over Singularity.
Forgery: 12d6t5 5
That should do.

Once she's done, she presents the order to the team. "Hulloh again. I think, I'm done. That's what I'm gonna deposit in their system.
Speaking of."

bnc searches the grid for the Sternschutz host. "Unless you have a good reason to wait, I'd go rape a police host."

[Gilga]

Anna remarks as an afternote "So be civil, and not fulfill my policeman fantasy while on the clock, but I get to flirt because I am a mage. got it." she remains quiet as she skillfully finishes up their disguises. Anna would skillfully work until she is done with the disguises, and then hands each their disguise, and go change. Anna will take a few minutes there to fix her hair and makeup. Which she did not do earlier for a meeting in the woods.

Once she sees herself in a cooperate suit, she remarks "Definitely keeping this one for roleplay purposes". Satisfied, exits, and goes to see what kind of car Eliza has fixed them.

[Jack_Spade]

Finding the host was easy: It stood out in the local network as a large castle in the medival setting of Worms. The Nibelungen saga was present in the iconography at every corner. The guards in front of the host looked forbidding and deadly - inside there was likely even worse IC to be found. But then, judging by the size, the patrols would be stretched to quickly find an interloper. Maybe time enough to get things done without being noticed...

[Volker]

Nibelungen it is, then. Darn, I should have taken notes in German, I guess.
So bnc adapts her persona to resemble a medieval monk. Did they even have monks in the Nibelungensage? Wait, it was something nordic, wasn't it?
After doing a bit of research, bnc decides to stick with the monk. If the queens could have a fight about who was to enter the church first, a bit of Christianity shouldn't be that bad and was it not the monks who did all the writing? After all, she had to edit some files. Heck, I really shoulda paid attention in school.

[ Spoiler ]

Watchdog: 24d6t5 6
Opposed roll: 15d6t5 5

Once she set her mark on the host, she switches her cyberdeck to running in silent mode, and enters the host.

[ Spoiler ]

Looking for the file in which I would place our fake request: Matrix Search: 16d6t5 5

[Jack_Spade]

Inside the host, bnc was greeted by tumultous activity. Pages were running around through seemingly endless corridors, past libraries and quite a lot of forges.
bnc realized quickly, that this host not only took care of the hospital, but also coordinated dispatching of police throughout the city. Putting on her Tarnkappe she could move through the halls and corridors with ease.

[ Spoiler ]

Patrol IC schedule: 1d6+2 3
First scan already after three combat turns

Base search time is 1 Minute. 30 Seconds with your program. You need 1 Success, so you can half it 4 times to 2 Seconds
So you have 2 Combat Rounds before you have to make a stealth test

Matrix Perception: 12d6t5 4

The ledger file is encrypted with 4 successes.

Finding the right ledger is a matter of two seconds. But already she can see the Lindwurm make its rounds while she stares at the small brass lock on the file.

[Volker]

[ Spoiler ]

I am making two assumptions. Please correct me if I got something wrong:
1) The Matrix Perception was my roll of the file to determine whether there are data bombs or encryptions. I found an encryption, but no bomb.
2) Since the search took only two seconds, the matrix perception roll was my last action of my first combat round. So here comes round 2:

Matrix Initiative: 5d6+14 32
32: Crack File: 17d6t5 6
Opposed roll: 8d6t5 2
OS: 7
22: Edit File: 18d6t5 7
Opposed roll: 15d6t5 2
OS: 9

Do I have to manipulate the SIN reader separately or does it refer to the file I just "updated"?
Either way, next action is a matrix search. If I have to manipulate the SIN reader, bnc will be looking for him. If not, she'll search for the protocol file to erase the warning that bnc successfully performed an attack action against the host.
Matrix Search: 16d6t5 10
Wotcha! I assume that doesn't take more than one init pass ^^

Then my next action will be in phase 2. If it's the SIN reader's file, it would be matrix perception. For the log file, I wouldn't need one, would I? Or can it, too, be secured by data bombs or encryption?

bnc takes a sideway glance, then quickly opens the lock with a picklock and inserts a prepared sheet into the book. It neatly melts into the back, becoming part of it. Then bnc quickly shuts the book and shoves it back.

[Jack_Spade]

The wyrm is getting closer, but the work is already done - now only the SIN-Reader at the entrance remains.
It's representation is a large guard dog tethered at the hosts entrance.

[Volker]

[ Spoiler ]

Since the SIN reader is a device (of course, now that you say it), I won't have to find it as I already have a direct connection and can thus see it. I can immediately start hacking it:
But then, I forgot to place a mark on the file before cracking it (Watchdog: 24d6t5 16 - Opposed roll: 15d6t5 5
I just wasted a roll with 16 hits xD

So, CR 2 is going:
32: place mark
22: crack file
12: edit file
2: place mark on SIN reader: Watchdog: 24d6t5 8 - Opposed roll: 15d6t5 6

OS is at 20.

CR 3: Matrix Initiative: 5d6+14 29
29 and 19: place 2 more marks on SIN reader
Watchdog: 2#24d6t5 10 10
Opposed roll: 2#15d6t5 4 2
9: Format Device: 18d6t5 7 - Opposed roll: 15d6t5 8
Dammit. I can't have Sternschutz get an auto mark on me. I use edge:
reroll: 11d6t5 5

OS is at 30.
It's time for the patrol IC now.

Patrol IC: 12d6t5 2
Opposed roll: 17d6t5 5
evaded

CR 3:
Reboot device: 18d6t5 8
Opposed roll: 15d6t5 6

OS is at 36. The deed is done. I turn off my deck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

bnc quickly moves over to the watchdog, coaxing it with some meaty bones. "Swallow that, young pup", she mumbles as she feeds fake data into the dog. At first, it seems as it would refuse it but then bnc finds a digital bypass. She quickly changes her approach, and the canine representation swallows the bone. bnc casts a worried look at the little alb on her shoulder who urgently whispers "GOD's wrath is drawing near", while the wyrm's eye hovers over her. Heart beating, bnc fumbles for another goodie for the dog, draws it out of her robe and - more easily this time - feeds it to the SIN reader's icon, who vanishes with a painful yelp, only to reappear exactly where it had stood before only seconds later.
Seconds later, however, bnc has already returned to the meat world, panting, but also grinning.

"Chummers. This was my first time to hack a fragging police host!"

[Gilga]

Anna seems impressed "That's hot bnc". After a short pause she adds "Let's go fetch a corpse then"

[Thanee]

"Just to be sure, we do not actually know whether he is deceased or not, or do we?" Nova asked.

[Crossbow]

"If we assume it is, we can only be pleasantly surprised."

[Volker]

"Let's not assume. It could be both, and we have to be ready for both.
So, we have the forged order and it is in their system. The SIN reader has been manipulated. We have the car and the disguise. Do you have your story? I assume you have fitting SINs and licences? We have the Valkyrie module and I assume, Nova, you're gonna take your medkit with you.
Shark, are you ready for your part? Is there anything anyone needs before we move out?"

[Gilga]

He could also not be there, let's just do it. The plan is pretty straightforward, and it is not like we need to explain it to the police. We were sent to retrieve him, have forged documentation and we will pass a SIN check verifying that we are who we claim to be.
Before leaving, she drops her spells, and instead augments her charisma, figuring that having people a bit nicer to her may aid. Also noting that she is posing as a mage, so there is no reason to hide it.

[SquirrelDude]

”As the guy staying in the car, I have some questions:

“How are you planning to stay in contact?
“What happens if we lose contact?” How long until I should move in after you?”

[Crossbow]

"I would like to suggest that gunfire or sirens of any kind might be a good indication that we need help, but I don't really think there is a good way to stay in touch outside of calling us occasionally."

[Gilga]

Anna says "Perhaps I'll summon a minor spirit to stay with you? I'll be mind linked to the spirit so she can relay messages."