The Found Arcana - Chapter 13 [OOC], Urban Exploration - 13 is the luckiest number... Options

[Gilga]

So I think AM doing it is the safest thing at least I think she is better than an agent. Jack what rolls do I need?

[Beta]

Rolls may depend on what we want to do?
1) download the data (see what else, besides us, they picked up) -- presumably a) get a mark, b) matrix perception to check for encryption/data bomb, then c) edit file (I think do this for sure)

2) delete the data of SIS searching the house (especially the part where we found things) -- just another edit file roll, assuming that 1 was done first. (I think also do this for sure)

3) Put a tracer program in that alerts us when the repository is accessed (could it also tell us by who? I'm not sure). To insert it would once again be edit file (operating program instead of the memory), but up to Jack if something like a software+logic roll is needed to create the tracer in the first place. (I think this is worthwhile, as we probably don't want to wait around to see who else accesses it, but if Tamarind puts up some aerial drones in the area and the tracer sends them an alert, then they could start looking for signs of who might be doing it. (I think this is a good plan, but not a 'must do')

[Jack_Spade]

As posted in the IP:

If you want to mark the files you can try your hand on a Software+Logic [Sleaze] 20 (10 Minutes) test to create a program that sends a message to you from the device they are copied to, identifying the device/persona
This is a modified Data Bomb, so all rules and programs pertaining to the Set Data Bomb action are available.

Otherwise, yes, what Beta wrote.

[Gilga]

I hope I am getting it right:

1. Buying 4 hits for F4 magic finger,
https://orokos.com/roll/1045729: 11d6t5 3
no drain connect the cable.
She stops sustaining after cable is connected.
2. logic intuition augmented Trouble sustains one of them - buying 4 hits for the spell rolling just drain.
https://orokos.com/roll/1045731: 2#11d6t5 2 7

Trouble sustains one spell, AM the other - (logic)

Hacking:
she has 20 dice so buy 5 hits. (22 dice)
Matrix perception: buy 5 hits (20 dice total)(hot sim)
if no protection edit file: buy 5 hits (22 dice total). copy the data,
if there is protection buy 5 hits on cracking the file.
-- if there is a data bomb let me know I'll roll because its an important roll.
databomb + magic + hot sim: 17d6t5 8 not entirely sure about the limit it is at least 6.

buy 5 hits for edit file to delete our own data from the apartment.
Trouble stop sustaining AM sustain her logic spell while coding.

Then put a tracer program.
making the software takes 50 minutes.
1. extended coding: 17d6t5 4
2. extended coding 2: 16d6t5 5
3. extended coding 2: 15d6t5 5
4. extended coding 2: 14d6t5 3
5. Buy 3 hits - to reach 20 successes.

I didn't have time to go look for what programs I want to use, if there is anyone making is shorter feel free to smack me with the rule book.

[Gilga]

AM's astral perception: astral perception: 13d6t5 4
not good enough sadly.

[Jack_Spade]

AM is busy programming anyway - though you could roll for trouble

[Thanee]

In case that becomes relevant at some point...

I just realized that I missed 2 dice on the spellcasting test for Manascape (just rolled those 2 dice and added it to the original post here in OOC, which added one more hit to the total).

Bye
Thanee

[Gilga]

OH! Trouble saves the day!
https://orokos.com/roll/1045763: 10d6t5 6

[Beta]

Nice job Trouble!

But that aura description is certainly sounds like (lower case 't') trouble. (or possibly something in the monad range? Hopefully time will tell!)

[Thanee]

Maybe something like those Spirit-Sprite amalgamations, that were mentioned?

Bye
Thanee

[Gilga]

A cooperate recruiter impressed by AM's coding skills (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ?

[Jack_Spade]

So, anything you want to do, otherwise I'll continue with their action

[Tecumseh]

Maybe a spirit-sprite amalgamations, but I don't know if Trouble would interpret that as cyberware. Although the rolling pattern of the lights changing would either indicate a strong connection to the Matrix and/or remote Matrix overwatch support.

I wonder if a strong concentration of nanites would have that sort of effect on an aura, as they constantly move through the bloodstream. Yes, like a Monad, now that Beta mentions it.

Edit: we could see if they respond to Trouble on the astral, or Rachel's friends.

[Beta]

Miss a day and miss a lot of posts sometimes! Tamarind's actions finally posted (out of sequence with the conversation)

[Jack_Spade]

The billboard is completely dead - not just matrix damage dead, but cut wires dead

[Beta]

The billboard is completely dead - not just matrix damage dead, but cut wires dead

@Jack: AM presumably grabbed the data and did the edits before spending time on the tracker? So I'd expect that we have whatever data was stored there. (maybe doesn't show much besides SIS searching the apartment, but we'll certainly check if there is anything else interesting) Let us know if that isn't how you see the timing.

@Everyone else: What is your vote on trying to be stealthy and lose any monitoring, vs just going fast? (or some third option?)

[Jack_Spade]

Yeah, you managed to edit yourself out of the data before it was collected - not that they need it now since they face IDd you directly.

[Beta]

The data didn't show anything else of interest? (we expect that the crew we just met were the ones who were in there earlier, but multiple groups is not impossible -- so just checking that it didn't catch the period that was edited out of the camera at the house)

[Thanee]

@Everyone else: What is your vote on trying to be stealthy and lose any monitoring, vs just going fast? (or some third option?)

I think, stealthy is good. We would need fake IDs and different appearance, though, otherwise there is no point.

Bye
Thanee

[Tecumseh]

I'm a bit lost. Stealth for what? Fake IDs for what?

The Arcology seems to require stealth. Trying to race through seems like sure-fire recipe for failure.

What are the fake IDs for? Shopping?

Rachel and AM both have Physical Mask, and AM has Vehicle Mask. Granted they couldn't be sustained forever, but they'd probably get us through a shopping montage. They could also be useful if we need to sneak past security at some point.

[Thanee]

I'm a bit lost. Stealth for what? Fake IDs for what?

What are the fake IDs for? Shopping?

Yes. Tamarind suggested, that we leave the car in a camera-dead zone somewhere close to the Mall, and then have it drive around on auto-pilot, while we head to the Mall on foot.

Rachel commented, that this would only be successful, if they cannot spot our regular commlinks/SINs or faces on any cameras.

And, yes, Physical Mask would be my idea of changing our appearance for the shopping trip, potentially matching any Fake IDs we got (assuming, everyone got one).

We also shouldn't go in one group, probably. Maybe two can go together, and the other two should go there alone, once we leave the car.

Bye
Thanee

[Beta]

Just spelling out my thinking behind the stealth vs speed question

Why stealth instead of a direct approach?

• We were just warned off by the Synchronized Bikers, and they have the matrix resources to likely track what we do next if we do it openly.
• Presumably they will not be happy if we drive to the Archology and start following the path we have found, and may either interfere directly or inflict other consequences on us (note that they headed off towards Bellevue, for all we know they are getting ready to trash our house)
• If we evade their surveillance, they may not be certain if we have heeded their warning, and if they don't know about the route that we'll be following they may not notice us following it. They may not be able to interfere (or not as quickly and effectively), and depending on what happens in the Arcology they may or may not know that we ignored their warning.
• Note that stealth can take many forms, from sneaking around to disguise to misdirection

Why speed instead of stealth?

• We were just warned off by the Synchronized Bikers and we don't know how good their surveillance abilities are. Trying to sneak around and getting tracked anyway is a good tip off that we are ignoring the warning, but also slows us down enough for them to potentially set up interference effectively
• Just moving fast may allow us to get ahead of them, or at least make them scramble to interfere.
• Given the PbP format, it may be easier and more interesting

Of course there are a lot of ways we can approach either or even combine to some degree. I gave two poles just to get a feel for what people preferred, so we were not pulling in different directions. (FWIW, Tamarind's professional experience is mostly about not being noticed, so she leans that way but is open to other approaches)

[Thanee]

On second thought, when using the stealth approach to get to the Mall, we might actually want to do that a bit farther out and then just take a taxi or probably rather two there.

If they see four people "appear" on cameras that have not been there before, they might also get suspicious. And this is a whole lot more likely around the ex-Arcology.

Bye
Thanee

[Jack_Spade]

Just to add some information your characters have:

The elf in the trenchcoat was not among the bikers. So he is likely a different part of the operation

You hung out for nearly three quarters of an hour at the billboard - and the riders apparently didn't expect to meet you there. They only identified those of you they could see outside the car. You have no indication that they were aware of Tamarind at all.

Getting unnoticed to the Arcology is likely as simple as switching to a different car while staying offline. Once you are inside is a different story, but since they obviously used facial recognition a physical illusion would likely be enough

[Thanee]

My thoughts about this...

The elf in the trenchcoat was not among the bikers. So he is likely a different part of the operation

Yeah, was already wondering how he figures into that. There might very well be multiple parties involved even.

You hung out for nearly three quarters of an hour at the billboard - and the riders apparently didn't expect to meet you there.

I got that impression, actually. I think there were going there to retrieve the data, not because they spotted us.

What I am wondering mostly is why the break from online there. Maybe they just want to seperate the trail there, just in case.

And the billboard going dark was likely a precaution that was in place, already, and triggered, once they realized that they cannot get to the data anymore.

Getting unnoticed to the Arcology is likely as simple as switching to a different car while staying offline. Once you are inside is a different story, but since they obviously used facial recognition a physical illusion would likely be enough.

I mean, that is more or less what I was proposing. Maybe a little more paranoid. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

We have to assume at this point, that they can follow us (the car) as long as there is any online camera nearby.

There is probably some Otaku or even an AI behind this, so some very serious Matrix power. At least, that is my current assumption. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Bye
Thanee