@Emerging: Tribes / Tweak
September 1, 2072 19:50:55;
Physical Location: Basement Loading Docks, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
Novatech Airwave: Hidden, SIN: James Teems (fake R3)



Sure, will do.

Tweak walks once around the van, looking for any damage, crouches down to have a look at the undercarriage and pops the hood.

Heh, ain't that cool, me driving the getaway van and them asking me whether it's ok. Hmm and that other old Mech trog's watchign too. Let's give them a little show.

Far as I can tell, it's got the right number of engines - one. Of course there's only one way to really tell...

He slams the hood back down, walks over to a parked car, leans against it and switches his comm to VR.

What the heck, let's go for it.

Kicking in the hot sim module, he commands the van to start with squeeling tires, race around a few lamp posts, came barelling back at him, fake turning left then actually turn right and skid to a stop where it had been parked before, leaving marks on the ground and the smell of rubber in the air.

Returning to his body, Tweak finds himself slowly sliding down the car and manges to catch himself before ungracefully slumping on the ground.

Damn, gotta do that more often.

With a big grin, he looks at Alpha and Scrapheap Looks good to me.

The fun over, he notices the incoming message from Prospero and the grin fades.

What the frak's that?! No matrix access?

Frag that! No way we're doing this without our comms.

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:45:42;
Physical Location: Mechanicals Complex, Sproggets Shop
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White


As Glyph approaches the doors to Sprogget's shop they open allowing her to wheel her bike right in. Once inside she toes the kickstand down letting the bike lean to the right slighty to rest as she remains straddling the bike as she takes off her helmet.

She laughs at Sproggett's remark.

"I'm going to have to remember that line. Though my fur is not quite black it's a very dark blue hard to tell the difference unless I'm in really bright lighting. Not quite invisible my glow gives me away, though it's hard to see in any lighting, but in full darkness...anyways the package?"

Hmm, surprised he hasn't commented on the missing markings, guess I'll have to chalk that up to him not being around me enough to notice.

"No problem, he shouldn't have any trouble getting the package to LeFey, I'm going to make sure that he gets there even if I have to give him a ride there myself"

Glyph pats the extra helmet attached to the seat behind her.

"Hmmm Don't think I do, most of my senses are natural, no 'ware. I've only got Thermo, and Smartlink, unless the audio and visual enhancements on my contacts, and ear buds count. I'm not very familiar with Tacsofts so I'm not sure exactly what works and what doesn't"

Glyph pauses and stares off for a few seconds as she reads the message from Prospero.

'Well Shit! I don't suppose you have any, or enough radio transceivers that we can use for tonight?"

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 17:12; Outskirts of Exeter, headed north]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux notices Mordred begin assembling his weapon.

"An excellent idea, mon frere," he says, and begins rooting through his luggage for his sniper rifle and chameleon suit. He pulls out his armored coat, and hands it to Luc Collot.

"Just in case things get interesting again," Gemeaux tells him. He then begins stripping out of his clothes.

"Do not worry, I am decent. I am wearing my armor underneath," he explains as he begins suiting up for trouble inside the confines of the car. He slips one of his modified Savalette Guardians into his suit's concealed holster, and grabs the three clips for his sniper rifle. He empties the four remaining bullets in one clip and fits them into the one clip with five remaining bullets. He scrunches his mouth to the side, clearly displeased with the dearth of ammunition for his weapon of choice.

"I wonder if those 'hippies' have decent munitions stores..."

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

Directly assessing the capabilities of her gear, Sprogget responds.
@Glyph: "Natural is no help, unless you have a simrig to connect them to 'tronix.  Smartlink and thermal both count as channels, the enhancements don't help, but the magnification does.  That is 3.  I need 4 for that level of tacsoft.  Here take the audio sensor.  It has spatial recognition on it, which will make 4.  It also has skinlink like the gear you are using.  Helps figure out where sounds are coming from.

Glyph looks off into space for a moment.
Sprogett is momentarily puzzled.  Transceivers?  Then he sees a message marked urgent priority.
@self:Well frag!, if we shut the connections down, how we supposed to get an all clear from you?  How long?  That explains wanting the transceivers though!

@Glyph: "Hey!  I just got a general message from Prospero to the Mechanicals tribe about links going down, and to not use the gird.  You know anything more about that?  He says to stay off, 'till Fre∑dom finds out what is happening.  How's he figure we'll get his update if we go blind anyway?  Only real way to stay off is to either full power down, or block all comm calls.  That'd be why you asked about the transceivers.  'Fraid not.  That's on my wish list, but hasn't made it to the top yet.  Couple hours notice, sure, but on the fly like this?  No.  Oh!
@self:Not using the grid is going to mess coordination, if nothing else.  We did not plan for other channels, but!  Another note to self: We need a transceiver link to Fre∑dom at the mall, to have some backup none matrix comms.  Security could handle that.  To late now, but also should get Fre∑dom to show us how to setup for local comms through the complex, while disabling all outside links.  Now that I am aware of it, I could probably do it myself, but bet they could do it better.
@jailbreakers: <<From that broadcast from Prespero, we want to limit comms.  'Off Grid' *should* mean we can still talk direct, when close enough for direct connect.  Alpha confirm?  Need matrix address, not just commcode for that.  Alpha, you are probably the best to help any that need it setup to go hidden, while automatically connecting to the rest of the group when they are in physical range.  I'm good, if get the addresses.  I can get a non-matrix connection to LeFey, if I can get the sprite to her before shutting out grid connections.  Pass along any more details about grid issues, if you got them.  Is escape still a go?  Grid problems could either have KE on high alert, or it could keep them so busy, we could wave at them on the way past, and not get noticed.  If still go, and not using grid, need some meet points where can talk again. {attach CMT Clip address}  Keeping this link up for now to hear consensus  Glyph is here, and asked about transceivers.  I can not help with that, given our current timeline -- Sprog>>
@self:The 'Clip has a longer reach than I do.  Still not good, but a bit better.

Putting down the sensors, Sprogget hurries to the newly install chair.
@Glyph: "Going to be busy for a few minutes.  For now, I'm assuming still on for Bellevue, and hope to take advantage of any extra confusion.  Take the sensor.  Stay to hear the news, or head out.  You should be able to 'hear' at least me or Alpha directly till you get a ways past the mall.  Door will lock when it closes.  For now at least, I am still on the existing team channel.

Almost falling into the chair, Sprogget is going full virtual, almost before he is fully in the chair.
@self:Slow it down a little.  Yes in a hurry here, but I'm on matrix time now.  Do it right the first time.
Taking a mental breath, he focuses on the tool that he needs.
@self:I want an assistant for Morgan, with knowledge of how to work with hardware, and able to provide knowledge of how tags are used, removed, and disabled.  Once the teacher is on the job, I can pass messages back and forth too, using the resonance instead of a matrix connection.  Only need a couple of tasks, but want this strong enough to do a good job.
Sprogget 'reaches' for the resonance and molds what he envisions from the raw materials.  A new tutor sprite forms in his bionode, indicating that it is ready to do 3 tasks.
@self:Well that worked well.  No headache even.  3 tasks?  Only know of 2 I need right now, but sending him to Morgan will use up all unassigned task.  Has he got any abilities that could help out here?  Yes!  Stability!

@Tutor Sprite:"Hey Tagget, I am going to send you to assist someone else, to be referenced as "LeFey".  When you get there, I have three jobs for you.  First, make the 'softs you have available to her, helping her get electronically clean.  Second, use our resonance link to pass information back and forth between her and I, acting as a 2 way connection, but bypassing the normal matrix.  Third, use your stability power to suppress all of her glitches.  Continue all of those tasks, until either LeFey or I release you from them".

Tagget:"Tasks accepted".

@LeFey: <<Morgan, this may be a bit of a rush, but I need a direct connection to you, not through Alpha, to send a matrix assistant to you.  We might be losing regular matrix connections shortly, and the assistant can help with that too.  Connect here {current bionode address} please.>>

@self:Might as well do what prep I can, while waiting for LeFey.
Taking the address of Glyph's commlink from the 'local connections' list of the commlink, Sprogget creates a new 'jailbreakers' exceptions list, adding Glyph's address to the list, and setting the 'Clip to keep checking for, connecting to, and accepting connections from, nodes in that list, including while in hidden mode.
@self:There, soon as I fill in the rest of the addresses, and break the existing grid connections, that should be ready to go.  I've got the address for everyone that sent a message to the group in the logs.  No connection address from just the AR at the meeting though.
Reviewing the recent connection logs, Sprogget adds the matrix node addresses for Spring, Alpha, Tweak, and Scrapheap.
@self:Ok, that is the everybody except Morgan, and I'll be talking to her shortly.  She's going to be able to bypass that filter anyway.  I'll hold off passing address' about and to her, till I find out what is happening next.  Also need to wait till she connects to go hidden, since I can not allow what I do not know yet.  I might as well make that 'off channel' link easier though.
Sprogget opens a new full feed data connection window in his bionode, connected to his link to the sprite.
@Tagget:"I'll feed data intended for LeFey through this feed, and you return information sent by her back to the same location.".
He makes sure that any activity on the feed will get his attention in either VR, or AR.
@self:A little 'odd' on the details of how it works, but, basically a subscription to LeFey's node.  Never 'tried' this before, but necessity ...
Sprogget feels approval from Daedalus.
@self:Right, Dae generally 'likes' inventions.  This could be fun for a bunch of TM's.  A ring of sprites like this could connect several dancers together, with no tech signals at all.  Resonance telepathy!  And should not even need powerful sprites to do it.  'Course it needs a remote task, so the sprite is not available for anything else.  But in the right circumstances, like now, can be a powerful tool.

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03, Argent's home]

As Gossamer awareness returns to the drone, she is startled to discover that there is something else in there with her.

The icon is that of a man, but it has been horribly mutilated. It's hands and feet are missing along with any genitalia and the top of its skull. Part of her recognises the surgical precision with which these have been rendered. The head is also missing any distinguishing features: eyes, nose, ears, lips and even its teeth and tongue. Blood flows from all the wounds and despite the missing tongue, it is still making that same hypnotic call.

<<Alert: Sytem security compromised. Unauthorised access detected to core system functions.>> warns the node belatedly.

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:06 Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

Adjusting his sound filters at least cuts out the scream from his headphones but not from the agent in his node. He realises that it is only his biofeedback filter that is protecting his brain from being fried by the scream.

As the lake of blood quickly rises to above his knees, he decides that discretion is the better part of valor. But curiosity gets the better of him and he hesitates a moment, dipping his fingers in the blood and raising his hand to his lips.

Salty, just like the real thing, but thicker almost like ketchup. As his decrypt program analyzes the drop of blood, his senses are filled with fragments of sound, vision, scent and taste. Data streams into his head too fast to follow. Some sensations are just static, either corrupted or heavily encrypted, but much of it was plain data. A lot of data, even in that one drop.

As he logs out he realises that the data in the blood is highly compressed and if that one drop contained all those sensations and information, just how much data was actually being downloaded into his link.

Working at real world speeds, he scoops both commlinks into his hands and holds down the power buttons forcing a hard reset. They are both warm to the touch and he wonders if they have been physically damaged by the scream.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

Morgan receives Sprogget's message. "Is something wrong?" Of course, there was. "It had to be today, didn't it?" The girl was packing her things. She connects to his bionode, then she asks with a sigh, "How do you see this affecting us?" Morgan tests the weight of her bag. Grimacing, she reaches inside and removes three books. "Anyway, do what you need to do." Sprogget's code is displayed backwards next to Morgan, as if in a mirror. "We're at enough of a disadvantage as it is." It was a feeling she would probably have to get used to.

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:01, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: hidden, SIN: Liu Zi Ang (4), Response 3, Signal 5, System 4, Firewall 5, Weapon Watcher 3, Encrypt 3, Agent 3 (Analyze 3)

The sound was becoming unbearable. Dante accessed his commlink to kick in the sound filter on his earplugs. Seeing that the two gangers weren't a threat, he started towards the stairs. Having an extra pair of eyes could help too, at the moment. A quick mental command through his commlink would bring out his iBall drone, causing it to roll onto his shoulder and act as backup for things he might not notice.

He spared a glance for the two thugs, then said to them as he moved, "Stay here, guard the door."

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 12:01:04, 524 7th Street Northeast]

The scene of scattered organs, blood and mutilated bodies vanished unceremoniously from Cat's vision as she logged off the node, leaving her in the calm tranquility of her room. A couple of new icons appear in the lower right of her vision. She opens the purse and moves it's contents to her 'illegal money' credstick. The contact card and glasses she places in a new folder. The slightly twitching liver she leaves well alone.

Perfect excuse to buy that new commlink I've been eying up. My graphics programmes will be much quicker! I should probably talk to someone about better security too. I wonder if Jimmy or Frank know someone.

<<@Jimmy: I think I fragged my commlink. Do you know someone who knows someone that can sort me out with something a bit more robust and secure for my new 'career'?>>

<<@Frank: You know how I'm generating a significant percentage of your profits right now? Think you can do me a favour? Some crazy icon with no hands and head and blood everywhere just got all nasty with my commlink. I think it's time for an upgrade. Does you have any geeks that frequent Anathma that you can hook me up with?>

I'm pretty sure transfering files from my broken ass commlink to the new one is a bad idea with that liver twitching, so I guess I'm stuck with this one for now. I shall drown my sorrows by looking fabulous for the club tonight!

Remembering that Looking Glass is some kind of furry fetish club, Cat decides to do some extra research. An annoyingly slow command to her commlink brings up a connection to Seattle Club Scene. She fires off a search for Looking Glass and a brief description and a lot of images, videos and music is returned. Happily, not just a fetch club: Where the hell do you get a furry fetish outfit from in less than a day?! The club looks to be pretty active, and pretty interesting. As well as the fetishists there are the surged that DRKH0R5E mentioned. Pretty much everyone is decked out in club gear and heavily made up.

Awesome, I've been waiting for the excuse to be a proper dryad for ages! This place looks fantastic!

Cat settles down with her wardrobe and make up programmes and checks her inventories to ensure she still has everything she needs. She then pulls up the file marked 'Party Dryad'.

If I hurry, I should be able to get everything done in time!

@Virtual Scream/Uller
[September 1, 2072, 12:15; Downtown, Seattle]

Uller backs away from the trid. Some bail jumpers get a bit creative and it's not the first time an electronic device has blown up in his face (although it's mostly the 'can in the microwave' stunt than the trid player).

As the sound grows in volume, he realises it is taking his commlink an awful long time to connect to Harvey.

<<Access denied: User privileges revoked for this service>> pings his 'link finally, almost defiantly, and then goes silent.

At the same time, an image begins to form on the trid player; a face with no features. Eyes, nose, ears, even the lips are missing. Not ripped out either, someone took the time to cut them away. The mouth opens to reveal that teeth and tongue are also gone but that does not stop the scream.

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

"Frag it" grunts Copperhead as the tunnel opens up, then clamps her mouth shut.

The kids are getting pretty twitchy. No need to make it worse.

She examines the gantries suspiciously. A trait that came almost naturally to trolls after a while. She carefully tests the nearest one then shakes her head.

Might hold the kids weight but not mine.

"Okay, we goes around. Keeps our backs ta da walls. Might take a bit longer but dem gantries don't look too safe ta me and dere be too many options fer ghoulies ta sneaks up on us. If we goes around dey can only come at us from in front or behind."

She steps off to one side and begins edging around the wall. She beckons for the kids to follow, hissing at them.

"Stays close. If dey gonna try sumfin, dey will try it here. But if we makes to da other side, we is home free."

Frag! I'm not sure I believe that either.

Do not doubt yoursself, my daughter. You have come far tonight. You have learned that ssometimess magic alone iss not enough. That it ssometimess itss hass downssidess ass well ass a price. Do not wasste that knowledge.

Mama! You are still with me.

I am alwayss with you.

Her roar startles the kids as her challenge echoes around the chambers.

"Lissen up you fraggin ghoulies. You wanna piece of dese kids. Den you better be prepared to go through da meanest fraggin trog youse has evah met."

She turns to the kids and murmurs softlty, "Keep up!"

Then head held high, she stomps off in the direction where she hopes the exit will be.

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 13:13:30; Lexus, three blocks from Carluccio's Restaurant

Sitting in his Lexus, Alex carefully powers up his commlink into safe mode. The first thing he notices is that is running much slower than normal. The second is that the agent, Gabriel is not running at all. He intitiates the program again, watching carefully in AR as it slowly powers up.

<<Warning: Core system functionality compromised. Warning: memory LOW. Warning : unidentified program identified: >1rtu@l5cr3@m.>> drawls the agent.

The last warning highlights a new icon running on his link. At first glance it seems to some sort of fleshy bag. Alex has been down to the morgue a few times in his career and tentatively identifies it as a human stomach, a gut.

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:01, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

Dante commands his link to activate the sound filters in his earbuds but it has little effect. In fact, he realises that his commlink is actually the major source of the noise.

His iBall rolls out of it's housing and onto his shoulder. For a second, an image of most of a body, it's extremities cleanly sliced off, appears in his AR. Then the iBall does a neat pirouette and drops to the floor where it emits a sqeal and a puff of smoke.

From above, a voice calls down.

"What da frag going on? Dante what you doing here? What you do to my idiot guards?"

The voice is Xaio Hong's. He is leaning over the balcony in a short, pink, soysilk dressing gown that has been 'embroidered' with spray-stitched fakegold dragons. It is loosely belted at his waist, giving you a clear view of his wiry, tattooed chest.

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

LeFey connects back promptly,
@self:Ok, take it easy here.  She is spooked enough as it is.
@LeFey: <<Wrong?  I don't know yet.  Definitely not expected.  Something has Pr ...>>
@self:Oops.  I do not know how much she knows, or is supposed to know about the tribes yet.  Feeling like a mushroom all of a sudden.
@LeFey: <<our matrix management group nervous about something happening on the grid.  They are shutting down matrix links, and suggesting staying off the grid.  That means you are likely to lose all connection with us until we get close enough, which would not be a good surprise for you.

How soon and how long we will be offline I do not know yet, but regardless we'll be able to connect direct when close enough.  How it will affect our plans, I do not know yet either.  Depending, it could make this harder by having KE on alert, or it could make it easier, because KE is too busy with other things to notice us.  Anything messing the matrix is also likely to mean a lot of random false alarms or missed alarms, so messing up a little while cleaning the tags could go unnoticed.  I wouldn't count on it though.  I expect a quick conference call to check options, but for now, I am assuming everything is still going ahead.  For that, I have an assistant for you that knows about 'tronix and especially RFID tags.  Meet Tagget.>>
Sprogget Indicates the tutor sprite waiting off to the side in the node.  Tagget looks like a very old fashioned school desk, with a couple of hard-copy paper books sitting on it, labeled "Hardware", and "RFID tags".  The tilted desktop shows the face of a wise and kindly instructor, but both the face and the desk look somewhat strange, with all of the mechanical gears and levers that have no obvious purpose.  At the top of the tilted desk is a 'chalk board', that will act as a fairly standard matrix connection.
@LeFey: <<I can't do the next bit for you.  You need to allow Tagget into your node, so he can provide the knowledge and skills you can use to get electronically clean.  Once you have authorized that, I'll send him to you.>>
@Tagget:"This is LeFey.  As soon as she authorizes access, go to her, and help out with the defined tasks".
@LeFey: <<He'll act as a rating 4 knowsoft about how RFID tags are used, along with removing and disabling them.   He'll also be something like a rating 2 hardware activesoft, although without a skillwire system, everything will be slower as he walks you through what is needed.  He has an almost permanent connection to me, so can provide a direct connection, without needed to make a comm call.  Finally, he stabilizes things, which prevents all sorts of glitches.>>

Sprogget pauses briefly, to let Morgan allow the sprite access to her node.  Switching his connection briefly to connect through the mental link, he continues.

@LeFey: <<Most of what you need to know to use the gear is general computer stuff.  The 'tronix related assistance is just a little insurance, in case you need to connect things together a bit.  The {grin}, which looks better in VR than meatspace cake filling includes some bags intended to be liners for an ork sized backpack.  The material contains a wire mesh so, once properly closed, acts as a Faraday cage.  One will be used to hold any dangerous tags found, till that can be disposed of.  The other 2 you can use hold anything you do not have time to fully clean before leaving.  Prioritize the cleaning to yourself, and anything you will be wearing.  Once you think you are ready, the scanner will let you check that everything looks the way it supposed to, electronically. This link will be available, as long as I have any sort of matrix connection.>>

Switching back to the standard connection,
@LeFey: <<Can you shoot me a copy of the profile you intend us when you leave?  It won't be as good as a custom setup would be, but I can bring a basic set of dummy tags along, so you will not look like a hole in the matrix to standard scans.>>
Sprogget takes a mental breath.
@self:There, that takes care of the most important stuff, in case grid goes down immediately.

@LeFey: <<I have here {jammer sim file} a new improv sim, hot off the brain pan.  Me and a jammer in 4 different setups.  The jammer setting does not change.  The first is with a tutor sprite providing some knowledge skills, plus skinlink'd PAN.  Then only sprite, then only PAN, then just me.  Make sure you are at least sitting down for the last one.  Serious not fun.  Not included in the sim, is having the jammer not powerful enough to actually block me.  From previous experience though, that just means the close by lower powered nodes that do get blocked are not available any more.  Makes sort of an empty space in the matrix around the jammer, but no vertigo.  That empty space is one of the reasons I would prefer not to use the jammer while taking you someplace to get any nasty tags removed.  I have set the jammer so that it will only block nodes up to the strength of a security tag.  Anything stronger will not be bothered, even sitting right on the jammer.  That means that if you can run an ECCM CF to reduce the effect of the jammer below your own signal level, that it will not affect you, other than that empty space for the low powered nodes, and any distraction from maintaining the CF.>>

@LeFey: <<Even without the gear, you can do a bit of preparation, to make the cleanup easier and quicker.  You can do an inventory of all of the existing tags.  A standard commlink can read them, or you can do it yourself.  That will provide a base reference for the cleanup, and could also be used later to create fake tags, if it was ever appropriate to electronically look like your old self.  It might be hard to separate without the gear, but any security tag will be in that list too.  That info will be needed to create the dummy tag to leave behind, to make the monitors think you are still there.  Just takes a simple edit to set that up, then coordinate turning it on at the same time as blocking the original.
@self:You are running on here.  The knowsoft will tell her all of that, except the bit about edit and timing.  Of course mentioning it will bring it right into focus.

Sprogget thinks about what he just said.
@self:I'm probably being seen as rather pushy here.  Even if I'm somewhat the outside specialist being called in for a specific problem.  Let's see if I can soften that some.
Sprogget hesitates a moment, then starts hesitantly.
@LeFey: <<Morgan ... LeFey? ... From the little I have seen of your reactions so far, you have lived your whole life in a culture that has some significant differences from what is normal for me.  We are likely to make assumptions about things that the other does not understand, and I do not mean just tech stuff.  In a tribe, that is somewhat expected, because the {hunting for a good word} theme or focus of the tribe brings together people from many backgrounds and cultures.  I do not believe the same is true for you.  You are used to mostly one way of seeing things, even if you are resisting it and want out.  Please believe that I do not intend to insult or offend you, but I will do and say things, or not do, that will not match what you expect.  If you spend time away from what is still home to you, you will run into a lot of that.  It will be anything from amusing or mildly annoying, to disgusting or terrifying.  That goes both ways.  Some of the things you find normal might terrify me.>>
@self:That tongue lashing from sis is good for something.  Man can she sting!
@LeFey: <<Generally, I will do my best not to step on your toes, when I know there are toes to step on.  In the rush to get all the technical concerns handled, I'm probably not doing very well at that.  The problem is that the unconscious assumptions on both sides hide so much, that the first warning is usually when someone screams.  With my head usually somewhere in a drone, or some other tech, you might need to bang pretty hard before I notice.>>
He hesitates again.
@LeFey: <<This may be obvious, and I have been accused of lecturing, but I am just trying to provide information.  Telling some people about sore toes will get them to step back a bit.  Others will just stomp harder to see you jump, or figure you are weak, because you do conform to what they think is proper.  Just try to accept that things are going to be different away from Bellevue and Ares.  Probably a lot of things, a lot different.>>
@self:Maybe a bit of a confidence booster too
@LeFey: <<If you have been able to keep Ares in the dark this long, this is something you can do.  You just need to relearn some things.>>
Sprogget watches curious how LeFey will take both the added skills, and the warning about differences.

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:47:13;
Physical Location: Mechanicals Complex, Sproggets Shop
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White



"He wasn't very specific only said something unusual was happening in the matrix, and that he was going to cut the main link to the Seattle LTG before the effects became more serious and suggested we stay off the matrix."

"I'm pretty sure after tonight all our wishlists are going to get only bigger." Glyph says with a grin as she turns and points to a battered synthaxe case, where it was strapped behind her."It's way cliché, and it wasn't meant to carry my bow and quiver but they fit, and lets me bring my preferred weaponry with me without sticking out."



Glyph takes the offered sensor.

"Thanks. As much as I'd like to stay around and find out what exactly is going on I better get going and head over to Angelo's, see you in Bellevue.""

Glyph stands her bike up and flicks the kick stand back up and starts walking her bike back out of the shop.

<<@Sprogget: I have your's and Alpha's direct connect info saved, could you send me connect info for everyone else, Oh and before I forget.>>Glyph pull up her profiles menu and selects one forwarding the connect info for "Nicole Deveraux".<<I'm switching to direct connections only now, so you may want to have that connect info. I use that ID when I head anywhere outside of Puyallup. Please pass that info along to the team and LeFey.>>

<<@Alpha: I'm switching my comlink over to direct connections only, see you in Bellevue.>>

Starting up her bike Glyph waits until Sprogget sends her the connect info for the rest of the team, access her comlink and sets it to direct connections only, then opens the throttle on her bike and races off into the night.

@Virtual Scream/Uller
[September 1, 2072, 12:15; Downtown, Seattle]
Sony Emperor: Active | SIN: Luke MacAuley ( Re 2 - Sig 3 - Fi 2 - Sys 2)

Uller has a bad feeling about this. Either media entertainment's finally lost it, or someone's done some gigantic-scale hacking. Either way, it seemed a really good idea to go out and do something healthy. He starts to reach for his bag of badassery...

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:04, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: off

The smell of burnt electronics, coupled with the startling image of the mutilated body caused Dante a moment of real panic. He fumbled with his free hand for the recessed stud on his commlink, holding it depressed for two heartbeats until the 'link went dead. Suddenly his world shrank, the targetting reticule disappeared, his awareness of his surroundings going dark. It was like being blind. No connections existed to any of the people or data around him. He felt so...alone. This was not a feeling Dante enjoyed.

He scooped up the inert iBall on the way up the stairs to Xiao Hong's side.

"Some kind of virtual attack. You should take your gun. Maybe a real attack coming soon, with the confusion."

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

While waiting for LeFey to connect to the bionode, Sprogget get's a message from Glyph on the CMT Clip.
@glyph: <<Right. Nichole.  Unless you switch commlinks, or spoof its access, the info I have would still be correct.  For direct connect, it's the address of the commlink node, not the user ID that is usually used, though the user ID can still be used to control access.  I'll pass along.

Here is the information about the others: Scrapheap = {Scrapheap address / Eric Jones ID}, Tweak = {Tweak Address / James Teems ID}, Spring = {Spring Address / Steven Brokvich ID}.  My address will stay the same, but the ID will be changing to {Paul Brickhill ID} when I leave here.  I do not have details for LeFey yet, and it could change anyway when she switches IDs for tonight's feature presentation.  I'll pass the info to who I can soon as I know.  For appearances, Angelo will need to use the public information anyway.>>
@self:No spoofing a new access for the 'Clip.  It would mess the others up, since no one is prepared for it.

....

After talking to LeFey about sore toes, Sprogget remembers that others on the team might need to be able to connect to her directly as well, and does a mental face palm.
@self:Bit-brain. More important details.
@LeFey: <<LeFey, You and I can talk through the sprite, but others can not do that.  What address and ID would you like them to contact you on if needed?  The address the assistant is running on, or an external commlink, and what ID?

Since we are probably going to be on direct access only, 'cause of whatever is happening on the grid, here is the current direct connection information for everyone that I have:

• Spring = {Spring Address / Steven Brokvich ID}
• Scrapheap (scarred face) = {Scrapheap address / Eric Jones ID}
• Tweak = {Tweak Adddress / James Teems ID}
• Glyph = (fur) {Glyph Address / Nicole Deveraux ID}
• Me = {CMT Clip Address / Paul Brickhill ID}

You should have Alpha already, if he does not spoof to change it, and once he starts matrix overwatch, he'll be as close as your CHN anyway.  Those are addresses you can contact when we are in range, and ones you should allow through the firewall, if you configure to allow direct access only.  I don't know if that would be a good idea for you or not.  Does KE or even your house node monitor for active ID's when you are at home?  It would be more than annoying to go dark for protection, then have 'rents or staff come running to find out why your ID vanished.

Speaking of signal range, the package on its way includes a rating 3 wireless adapter, which you could connect to, to boost the direct range of a lower rated node.  Still only 400 meters though, but useful if you do not want to route through the CHN.

Oh, slot.  You can't go completely dark on the comm.  A least not if Angelo is going to call to tell you he is arriving with the school stuff.  I don't expect it would be normal for him to walk up and just ring the doorbell?>>

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:04, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

Xiao Hong leans over the balcony and shouts at his two bodyguards.

"Hey dumbasses. Stop clowning around. Switch off commlinks and guard exits."

Turning to Dante, he points a finger at his chest.

"You smarter than you look. You come with me."

Xiao returns to one of the rooms. A naked geisha girl is lying on the bed, her legs spread. Xiao strips off the dressing gown and throws it at the girl.

"Get dressed."

Dante can see that much of his body is tattooed. He also has several old scars from cuts and bullet wounds. He dresses quickly while Dante watches the door. The last item he picks up is a gold-plated commlink. He fiddles with the controls for a moment before cursing in Chinese and throwing it back down on the dressing table amidst a clutter of makeup, massage oils and sex toys.

"Cheap Japanese shit no work."

He moves back to the doorway, a heavy pistol in one hand, and peers over the balcony for any signs of attack.

"What you doing in my restaurant anyway, Dante? You looking for work, maybe join Red Lotus?"

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 20:17:32, The Looking Glass]

A yellow taxicab pulls up outside the Looking Glass. The rear door opens. From the door a foot is extended, crafted from jade and covered with a moss patina, slippered in crystal heels so fine as to be almost invisible. Delicate foot flows to sculpted leg, a long vine wraps around the heel and climbs upwards beneath the hem of a coat or skirt. From the vine burst leaves of rich red and dark green. Cat places her foot on the floor and emerges from the cab, covered in a richly coloured green trench coat of thin fabric. The beautifully painted makeup extends across her face, vines breaking up her features. Golden eyes with clear whites shine out from between the leaves. On her head is a similarly green fedora, with the hint of fair hair trussed up beneath it.

Bassy sounds throb through the walls of the Looking Glass and lights strobe the entrance line. Getting into character Cat skips towards the doorman, her body already following the beat of the music, and, with a thought, fires the invitation towards his avatar. "Good evening handsome, I'm on the list." After a brief check, he moves the rope barrier aside and opens the door for Cat to dance on inside. On the other side of the door the music assaults Cat. Smiling, she heads for the coat check. Taking off her hat, a single long braid of rich blond hair winds down her back and her ears extend prominently upwards. Under her coat a short skirt and a continuation of the moss and vine effect appears to be the only thing hiding her modesty, although careful observation will reveal she also wears a subtle bikini. A small green leather and bark bag blends into the patterning on her skin.

As she moves towards the club proper, subtle bioluminescence in the bodypaint picks out further detailing on top of the colour patterns. A single mental command activates green optic fibers woven into her hair, which pulse and flow in time with the music being played.

Another command activates the looking glass icon on her commlink. Here we go!

@Virtual Scream/Cipher
[September 1, 2072, 12:42; Downtown, Seattle]

Initially startled, Cipher gathers his faculties and quickly heads up for a closer look at the interesting icon. He adjusts his filters and analyzes it as closely as possible, trying to figure out exactly what it is behind the flesh and gore, figure out what the code is saying. If it seems too dangerous then he'll have to consider his options, but for the moment his curiosity is getting the better of him. Today is starting to look up, at least it's interesing!

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:10; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn..." he pauses, waiting to see if she'll get the reference. He'd be impressed, it's from an old flat-vid some 130 years ago. Not even a coloured one!

He smirks. "I don't take a lot of interest in personal crusades."

Pausing for a drink, he scans the room just so he's aware of what's happening.

"...it's censorship at the end of the day." he begins again, looking thoughtful. "I've never been a fan of internet censorship. China tried it back when I was a lad...." He pauses briefly realising how old that makes him sound, before continuing "..but it never worked." He looks at her again before finally answering her question "For what it's worth I think she'll fail, all censorship fails eventually. People don't like to be told what they can and cannot do."

Johnny mentally activates his 'link while never letting hit attention fade from the conversation.
<<P2.0 Friend Search: Ryl deBathayre>>

"So" he starts again, looking back into her eyes "how come I've never seen you here before?

@Emerging:Tribes; Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 19:54:30; Fre∑dom's turf
PAN mode: Passive | SIN displayed: Eric Jones

Scrapheap jumps as the driverless stepvan suddenly squeals it's tires and races around the shop, cringing as it swerves dangerously close to clipping his Triumph as it screeches to a halt. He fires a glare at the teenage techno-tribal, then just shakes his head and grins. "Nice, kid. Woulda hated ta have to beat ya stupid if ya wrecked my bike, though. Maybe next time let me move it before ya play Stunt Race 2073, yeah?"

Smiley woulda done the same thing, if his brain worked with the tech like this kid's. Fuckin' Smiley... The grin slowly faded from his face as the memory of his dead older brother squashed the aggravated amusement at Tweak's stunt-driving. Scrapheap turned away from his two companions and triggered the commlink's file menu in AR to look at the BTL folder and see what was loaded, then blinked when a <No such folder> alert pinged in his vision.

What the...fuck, new 'link. Dammit. Focus. Focus. Just quit thinkin' about them until we get home tonight... His shoulders slumped a bit and he went and sat back on the chopper, glad the goggles over the top part of his face kept anyone from seeing his eyes.

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:07, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]


The silence of Dubstep's apartment filled his ears as he took a second to just stare at his commlinks. "Son of a bitch. What the hell was that? I've never seen even a Nuke program overload a system like that. And that seemed like it was an Agent bringing the flow of data."

After a minute of holding the still warm 'links, his mind couldn't come up with anything that could possibly had this kind of effect. He shook his head before starting to move once more. He took a moment to search for the remote to his trid God, I feel like I've gone frakking native having use a damn remote instead of just controlling the trid from my 'link. He flipped through until he found a station that does 24hour news broadcasts with a slant toward the tech side of things checking to see if there was another Crash or new AI assault across the Matrix.

Meanwhile, he broke out his tools to see if there was any damage to his commlinks. He was going to be overly cautious and wait until he gets done with a full diagnostic before trying to boot up first the dummy link and then his prized possession. Hope Cindy is ok, or I'm going to be really pissed! he thinks as he absently flicks on the house stereo to have something music in addition to the newscasts. It at least gave him an illusion of Cindy being ok until he knew better.

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 13:13:30; 3 blocks from Carluccio's
Hermes Ikon: Passive | SIN: Alexander Bianchi ( Re 4 - Sig 3 - Fi 5 - Sys 4 - Agent 4 [running Analyze 4] )

Alex had chatted with the dorks down in Matrix Crimes quite a bit, and even taken a couple weekend classes when his caseload wasn't stupidly high, so he knew from looking at the new file that his 'link had been the victim of a hack. He tapped a finger against his bottom lip as he contemplated the rather macabre icon pulsing in his vision, then muttered a few imprecations under his breath and shifted the Ikon to refuse unknown connections and started the Lexus. Don't like using "Jimmy" unless I gotta blend in better in the harder parts of town, but I don't think I'd better maker any calls with this until I get it fixed. Really hope I don't gotta get another Agent, those things are pricey. He put the car in gear, then headed for Everett.

September 1, 2072, 14:42:59; Alex's Everett apartment
Renraku Sensei: Hidden | SIN: Jimmy Delfino (Fake ID, Rating 3) (Re 2 - Sig 4 - Fi 2 - Sys 2)

Alex had powered down the Ikon as soon as he pulled into his assigned parking spot, then made himself another martini upon getting into the apartment. Two drinks before 5, and you're not even on the force anymore. What a fuckin' day. He sipped at the drink while he unlocked the footlocker buried in his bedroom closet that contained his "Jimmy" gear and pulled out a battered Sensei and powered it up. Man, compared to the norm this thing is spartan...fuck, no browse utility to thresh out the chaff, either. This is gonna be a long afternoon. Alex took the drink and the 'link back to the living room and began looking for people who could fix his commlink without cleaning out his bank account.

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:07, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: off

<<Mandarin>>

"Japanese stuff's always been low quality shit, they're just sneaky bastards with hella branding and advertisement. Yeah, some work would be great. It's been awhile since I've had anything to do but work my food cart. Kinda killing my reflexes, so to speak. You have anything going on that could use some muscle?"

Dante pauses, trying to appraise the situation, trying to read between the lines.

"Red Lotus taking applications these days?"

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

She only nods silently, unable to shake the feeling that something far bigger was at work.

The Tutor sprite momentarily distracts Morgan from her thoughts. "Fascinating. I can't summon your kind, Tagget." She extends her fingers, and an angular line appears, leading from her hand to the desk. The girl falls silent until asked for her profile. Sprogget's information was going to come into play very shortly, and she had to remember it. Morgan gives him a file that looks like a student ID card. The photo was of her alter ego, a girl with vibrant red eyes and purple hair, and one of her few contributions to the false identity. Much everything else was information from a SIN crafted by one of Mordred's more dubious acquaintances.

The profile identified her as Iwakura Lain, a citizen of the UCAS. "I can't say it's normal for Angelo to show up at my door, but it isn't so unusual that people would start getting suspicious. The company I keep is well known. More so than I would like. I doubt there's a way to avoid anyone knowing that he stopped by. Which reminds me." She holds up a black, oval shaped commlink. "Call me on this one. It's keyed to my fake SIN."

Morgan becomes more talkative once the subjects of the tribe and culture comes up. "What you must understand above all is that the culture I grew up in was designed in a boardroom. A gross oversimplification, yes, but I believe it illustrates my point well enough. Whatever else it may be, our emphasis on loyalty and duty is a tool, recognized and employed appropriately." Her parents had explained as much, though she couldn't fathom the reason. "It comes down to conformity. To creating a banner for the people to rally under. There is little you can't accomplish with the loyalty of millions. What's more, conformity is self policing, in a way. At best, anyone who goes against the established way of things is shunned."

"You have been paying attention." Her paragon places a hand on her shoulder. "I had been concerned you spent all your time daydreaming."

Morgan smiles self consciously. "I thought I should return the favor. I really do appreciate that you want to help me get ready for the days ahead." She pauses. "You know why I call myself LeFey? Besides my obsession with Arthurian lore, I mean. The old stories describe the Fair Folk as inhuman in their way of thinking. So it is with sprites and AI. What I'm trying to say is, these past years, I've had my share of interactions with people far removed from my norm. By choice and chance, I now associate myself with them. I have an idea of what very different is. So I won't take it personally if you do something I find strange. And when you see me start to flounder, please step in." She clears her throat.

"I think we're getting off course. What else did you ask? Right. Though we have the best security programs possible, we lack a dedicated security spider. Aside from occasional checks from someone the company sends, the home node is not subject to monitoring by a person."

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 20:17:32, The Looking Glass]

The club is busy but seems somewhat subdued. Her autotaxi had been late, fobbing her off with the default excuse that GridGuide was playing up, so she had expected it to be busier.

Still there are plenty of people here. And by people, it is definitely the weirder sort of people. Fur, feathers and scales are commonplace and in every color of the rainbow. There are cyclopses and people with third eyes. Tails of various sorts are also common and several people have more than a single pair of arms. She definitely fits in and her commlink flashes with several messages of appreciation and invitations for drinks, and more. There is also a message from Frank.

<<@Cat: Sounds like you got hit by the >1rtu@l5cr3@m. Couple of my regulars were talking about it. Drop by sometime and pay your tab and maybe I can put you in touch with someone who can help. By the way, did it leave anything on your link, like an eyeball or something?>>

As she activates the opera glasses icon, it flashes slowly in her vision. For a long, worrying moment she wonders if it is even going to load on her struggling commlink. Finally, a small target appears in her AR and a short tutorial leads her through the basics, stuttering occasionally as it loads the next section. It seems that all she needs to do is occasionally look in a specific direction or at a specific object indicated by the target and the program will do the rest.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she sashays over to the bar where a four armed young man is serving drinks.

@Virtual Scream/Uller
[September 1, 2072, 12:16; Downtown, Seattle]

The trid player's screaming slowly fades as Uller leaves his apartment, then stops abruptly with a tortured fizzling squeal. For a few seconds, he can still hear it echoing faintly in his ears, as if it is coming from his commlink but that too soon stops.

Perhaps he can catch a rerun of the last five minutes of the game somewhere. Or maybe even find some work!

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:26; Overlooking Clearwater, Exmoor, UK]

Tsubaki

As you stretch out your astral senses you realise you are still buzzing from crossing the ley line…the Royal Ley Line no less! Cranking the window enough to get a clear view out towards the former reservoir you can’t feel anything out of place and the early summer breeze is refreshing after the confines of the RV. The manasphere is wild here with a plethora of small animal and insect life but nothing that speaks of major human habitation…if they are indeed here they are concealing themselves and their activities well.

Mordred & Gemeaux

As you gird yourselves for battle you are both constantly sweeping the terrain ahead and around you for signs of hostiles…there seem to be none, all is exceptionally quiet…far too quiet! There is no matrix activity that your links can detect and given that these are supposed to be a hacker tribe of sorts surely there would be something?

There are some structures around the edge of the reservoir, presumably the old pumping station. As there is clearly nothing above ground presumably the group are under it somewhere. The pump station seems as good a place to start as any without any further intel…

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:18, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

Working cautiously but with practised ease, Dubstep strips down both commlinks to their component parts and puts the batteries on to charge. He runs pretty much every hardware test he can think of. But, despite the faint smell of burnt solder and fried circuits, he finally gives a long sigh of relief as both devices check out okay.


[September 1, 2072, 14:42, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

Now came the moment of truth. Both links were reassembled and charged. He presses the power button on his backup link. Slowly, the link powers up. It seems slower than before but that could be just his imagination. Fortunately, Cindy 's icon is still there in the link's memory but the agent is not running. Activating her, she takes her own good time in powering up but finally appears in his AR.

<<Warning: Core system functionality compromised. Warning: memory LOW. Warning : unidentified program identified: >1rtu@l5cr3@m.>> she intones in a slow drawl.

Sure enough, sitting there amongst his music files is a new icon with the name: >1rtu@l5cr3@m. It looks like a human ear. An ear that is eating up a significant portion of the link's memory and processing power. As he activates the Analyze suite, he can feel the link's response slowing even further. The ear is some sort of agent, similar to the one that had invaded his custom link. But this one seems dormant. Or at least dormant in a system hogging sort of way. Reaching out to touch it, he gets the same flash of sensations he did from the drop of blood. Data, a lot of it and some of it encrypted. And his Decrypt program is on the other link.

His custom link definitely takes longer to power up and the giant pool of blood filling half his AR view is clearly to blame. The pool of blood icon is tagged with the name >1rtu@l5cr3@m.

<<Warning: Core system functionality compromised. Warning: memory LOW. Warning : unidentified program identified: >1rtu@l5cr3@m.>> drones the custom link's OS.

Simply getting the Decrypt utility running is an effort and he watches the seconds tick by. Finally, after about five minutes, an eternity on the matrix, it reports back.

<<Decryption in progress : 1% complete.>>

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03, Argent's home]
PAN: Active, SIN: Charlotte Penthièvre (Owner), Response 8*, Signal 8*, System 8 (5), Firewall 8(4), (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit, Stealth [5, inherent], Browse, Encrypt [6, ergo, optzd] / Covert Ops, Defence, First Aid [4], Homenode, Empathy, Lie Detection [3]) +Armour [6, ergo, optzd]

This is intolerable! To most having your node hacked would be an invasion of privacy, but for Gossamer this was far worse. This icon had invaded her body, her mind. The perversion of it is neither here nor there to her, she has not quite grasped the nuances of human behaviour even though the empathy software is indicating that most humans would find the imagery revolting.

She slams the armour program in to place and flowering vines sweep out to encompass her sylph form. The scent of jasmine pervades the node. Running any more programs will decrease her responsiveness and she has a feeling that battling this thing will require all her inherent speed.

She spits a stream of matrix protocol code at the thing with an English subtexter ”Get out!”

@Virtual Scream / Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:18, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

Xaio smiles a thin, calculating smile. He fumbles in a pocket with his off hand and draws out a packet of Chinese branded cigarettes, tapping them expertly and offering one to Dante before taking one himself. The cigarettes disappear and a gold-plated lighter appears in their place. He sucks hard on the cigarette, holds it for a long moment and then lets out his breath with a sigh.

{Mandarin}"I can always use some muscle. Depends on how dirty you want to get though. This is a tough business and once you are in, it is not easy to get out."

Dante wonders who Xaio is talking about: Dante or himself.

{Mandarin}"So yeah, we are looking for new blood. We are always looking for new blood. We are small fish and the small fish get eaten by the big fish. Plus, my dumbass lieutenant got himself arrested with a vanload of BTLs in a KE sting just last week."

He glances over the balcony.

"Hey, you two idiots see anything out there."

"No, boss!" "Nothing here, boss." come the replies.

{Mandarin}"So you think this is really an attack by the trogs or the Russians? Or just some soon to be dead hacker messing with my business? Tell you what, you find out who did this and you're off the hook for next month's payment. Do a good job and maybe there's a bonus. And maybe then we'll have a talk about more serious business. Now, get out of here. I was in the middle of something and don't like leaving any business unfinished."

With that he holsters his gun and returns to the room.

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 14:45, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

While the decrypt program runs on his main link, Dubstep tries to get rid of the 'ear' on his backup link. First he gets Cindy to try and purge it.

<<Access denied : User does not have sufficient rights to perform this action>>

Then he tries to delete it. Same message. He logs on as sysadmin and tries to delete. Same message. He tries to log on as >1rtu@l5cr3@m. Different message.

<<Unable to log on : User >1rtu@l5cr3@m does not exist.>>

He backs up the data on the link and tries to reset it to factory defaults.

<<Access denied : User does not have sufficient rights to perform this action>>

He tries to reformat the memory and reinstall the OS. Same message. He resists throwing the link against the wall.

It is almost as if the agent/virus/whatever was trying it's best to avoid being deleted. Could it be sentient? Then he notices it. A burst of data being transmitted from the link. He waits and sure enough there it is again. He examines the data string. It's very short, just a handful of random characters: >1rtu@l5cr3@m

@Virtual Scream/Cipher
[September 1, 2072, 12:42; Downtown, Seattle]

Data is flashing into his brain faster than Cipher can process. He catches glimpes of images, snatches of conversations, smells, tastes, words and feelings but most of it is just a blur. He is starting to get a raging headache and the closer he gets to the giant icon the greater the pressure becomes.

The icon itself is like nothing he has ever seen before. It is part agent, part data file, but more than both. Many programs are running simultaneously, intertwined and all incredibly powerful. Is this one of the beings that runs the matrix or at least an agent of the beings that do?

He is almost close enough to touch it when the bloody face turns towards him and the full force of the scream tears into his consciousness.

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03, Argent's home]

The >1rtu@l5cr3@m icon seems not to notice Gossamer's presence in her node or simply does not see her as a threat. The volume of the scream simply continues to increase as the icon grows larger and becomes increasinlgy solid.

Her initial scan of it reveals nothing but as she calms herself or is that anger that she feels, she sees it for what it truly is. While her first impression is that it is an agent, and it certainly has many of those traits it is far more than that. It is more like a nascent AI and this attack on her node is somehow part of its birthing process. No, not birth she realises, but conception. She feels a moment of terror/horror as her mind makes the parallel with that of a human woman becoming pregnant.

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:47:13; Mechanical Complex, Sprogget's Shop]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; 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; Passive; SIN: Paul Brickhill (R3)

When asked about Angelo dropping by, LeFey responds.
Sprogget looks at the indicated commlink, and realizes it is a low powered Meta Link.
@self:So just 'dropping in' is not going to set of alarms.  Good.  Only signal 2 on the link though, remind in a bit about extending the range some.
He saves the link address and ID to the 'jailbreakers' firewall rule set on the CMT Clip, and looks over the results.
@self:Ok that is all ready to go now.  Forward a few more details to the group when I am done here, and I can go dark as well.

Also receiving the student ID profile information, Sprogget links it to his own copy of the LeFey profile for later reference.

Sprogget does what he can to twist that world view into what is more familiar to him.


@LeFey: <<Thanks, and that helps both of us.  The better I understand, the easier it is to avoid the toes.  It actually sounds not all that different from a tech tribe, on a much bigger scale.  We also have loyalty and duty to the group, as well as some discrimination against those that do not have the skills or knowledge to 'fit'.  Our conformity though has a much narrower focus, around technology, with much less need to live up to expectations on the culture side, and the loyalty is more directly earned and known by direct word of mouth, instead of demanded from above.>>

Sprogget relaxes some more.
@self:Looks not be as naive as first expected then.  What Osha would probably call call 'Sunday manners' will probably avoid most problems, until learn more.


@LeFey: <<Sounds like you should be OK to go mostly offline then.  I don't know if that is necessary, but I trust the source enough to expect they have a good reason to be concerned about trouble.  Are you going to lock the commlink down for now, to only accept direct connections from us?  I should be able to get a message to the courier, to let Angelo know comms is down.  In fact, if there is any public news about why grid is currently risky, he could even mention that as a reason for not calling ahead.

Oh that reminds me.  Your comm appears to be a Meta Link.  If that is the only thing being used, connecting nodes will need to be within 100 meters.  You could extend that some, by routing through your house CHN, but I think that would not be as safe.  Once the package arrives though, you could boost the commlink to reach 4 times that, by connecting the 'link to the wireless adapter.  Fibreoptic connection cable included in the package.>>

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

As your voice echoes tumultuously around the chamber a sinister chuckle, impossible to place the direction, echoes back to you.

"Everyone pays the toll…! Even mean fragging trolls!"

A pair of faintly glowing feral eyes lift out of what passes as water below you reflecting back the light of your glo sticks…reminiscent of those images of Gollum from the flat-vid that was so popular at the beginning of the Awakening. Except Gollum didn’t bring friends and you see a disturbing set of ripples as another four sets of eyes surface in a wide spread around you…too wide to catch in a spell or with the shotgun. Luckily only one is close enough to block your way to the exit…for now, just how fast can these buggers swim through this crap?!

"Ok boys…they don’t wanna pay up, let’s make them welcome!"

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:15; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

The lady, Ryl, smiles at your vid reference and answers in a suitably breathy voice the preceding line "Where shall I go? What shall I do?" Her smile lets you know that she isn’t about to be caught out on esoteric movie trivia. "I think we should all be concerned. I know that’s idealistic and perhaps contrary to the status quo. Many people in this hall would welcome the additional control. Is it even censorship if people willingly let it happen to them? I think perhaps you are wrong about people being told what to do…if it is phrased in the right way the sheep will follow! There are powerful interests that would see this go through unless someone were to give the scheme a little discrete nudge…" and she leaves that last part hanging. "But enough of such talk…you're right, I want to dance!" And the serious tone is replaced by the giddy girl that she appears on the surface to be, convieniently ignoring your last question.


After a fractional pause your link responds <<SIN unidentified, please refine search parameters>>

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

"Bite me!" barks Copperhead. She barely hesitates as the ghouls emerge from the water, continuing to stride towards the exit. The Enfield barks twice as she closes on the ghoul in her way, one shot for him and one for his closest buddy.

<<@Stitch, Requiem: If you boys is planning on playing cavalry and arriving in da nick of time, den right fragging now would be good.>>

"Shoot dem!" she hollers back over her shoulder at the two wide-eyed kids.

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:52:13;
Physical Location: 167 N on the way to Renton
PAN - Passive; SIN - Nicole Deveraux

Glyph grins as she flies along on the freeway. She was letting her Rapier cruise along at just a bit over the speed limit and was listening to listening a an album she had downloaded the night before. It was something a DJ's she had met at one of her favorite music chat rooms had recommended.

Damn good music even if it is 60 years old, I think I'm going to have to see if K1llj0y has any more like this when I can get back on the 'trix.

Glyph glances at the upcoming highway sign, and at the traffic up ahead of her

Good traffic flow, baring any accidents I should be at Angelo's before 8:30.


September 1, 2072 20:20:02;
Physical Location: Angelo's Apartment Renton
PAN - Passive; SIN - Nicole Deveraux

Glyph pulls up and finds a spot in between two parked cars with just enough space for her to park the bike. She looks at the address and checks it against what LeFey gave her.

Looks like this is the place.

She walks up to the gated entry for the apartment and looks over at the touchscreen building directory, and hits the "buzzer" buttons for all the apartments.

Someone should be expecting a delivery or a visitor and should buzz me in without checking the camera. Its an old trick but still works.

A few seconds later she hears the buzzer, she grins to herself and enters the building. Doing a quick search of the ground floor she locates a door marked Maintenance, and presses the button below a speaker on the wall next to it.

"Watcha want?"

"I'm looking for Angelo, he's expecting a delivery"

"Just a minute he'll be right there."

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 18:26; Overlooking Clearwater, Exmoor, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

"I do not like this," grumbles Gemeaux. He frowns as he surveys the vast array of nature and nothingness that stretches out in front of them.

"There is no sign of civilization, save for the dam and that old pump station. And a pump station has the sinister possibility hiding any type of liquid..."

"But perhaps I am blind to the relevant sights," he continues, turning to Tsubaki and Monsieur Collot.

"Do either of you see anything in your respective realms of perception? If not, I can try scouting the area, but cities are my natural environment. I am out of my element here, amidst the uncomfortably bucolic embrace of Mother Nature..."

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 15:15:10, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: off

Dante grins at Xiao Hong's meaning. "Right. I'm gone." A nod to the two gangers on the way out results in more angry looks from 'Lucky' Lee, but Dante didn't care. He was feeling good at the prospect of work. As he walked down the street, the reality of the situation starts to sink in. This would be a lot more complicated than a straight-up job where he was hired muscle. He tried turning on his commlink but this ">1rtu@l5cr3@m" program turned it from a high-performance device into an inert hunk of plastic. He turned it back off with visible disgust. The iBall hadn't fared much better. His backup, disposable commlink was more responsive as he flicked it on, a small sigh of relief escaping him as data flooded his senses again, feeding him information about his ware, his gear, the world, those around him...he wasn't alone anymore. After bathing in the data for a few moments, Dante sent a quick message to his fixer.

<<@JiuJiu[Dante] JiuJiu, this is Dante. Need you to help put me in contact with a wiz tech guy. Got a virus or something on my 'link that won't go away, something called >1rtu@l5cr3@m. Let me know at this commcode, my other commlink is fragged with this thing.>>

[September 1, 2072, 16:21, Dante's flat, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: hidden, Response 1, Signal 3, System 2, Firewall 1

Stopping in a neighborhood hardware store across from his place, he bought a medium-sized faraday cage and carried the box home. The instructions weren't too difficult to set the thing up, and within the hour he had his wireless-negating cage ready to go. Stepping inside with his commlink, his iBall, and his tools, he went to work trying to figure out how to purge this virus from his systems. The rest of his gear, he left outside the cage, his disposable commlink set to sound an audible alert when messages were received.

Ms. Deveraux, right? The speaker is about sixteen. Angelo is a human with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. Three of the fingers on his left hand are bandaged, and aside from the cap on his head (which bears the Pathfinder logo), his clothes look used. His SIN identifies him as Andrew Jensen. "You said you had a package for me?"

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:03, Argent's home]
PAN: Active, SIN: Charlotte Penthièvre (Owner), Response 8*, Signal 8*, System 8 (5), Firewall 8(4), (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit, Stealth [5, inherent], Armour Browse, Encrypt [6, ergo, optzd] / Covert Ops, Defence, First Aid [4], Homenode [3]) +Attack [5, targeting], Expert Defence [2]

The emotions raging through her were almost as upsetting as the hostile agent burrowing into her node. Was she being inseminated? Raped? The concepts were familiar but she had no way to rationalise them with her narrow frame of reference. Whatever this thing was it seemed to be gobbling up system resources and she could feel her mental processes slow as the thing dug itself in like a tick.

As it seemed to be ignoring her, perhaps it couldn’t see her as the matrix cloaked her in its metacoding, she decided to take the milliseconds required to upload her active arsenal. If this failed she wasn’t sure what she was going to do…the flowering vines sprouted long thorns reminiscent of claws as the attack program engaged. A gossamer web of spidersilk glittered with dew as the expert defence algorithms further cloaked her ethereal form.

While her programs loaded she composed three messages and fired them into the ether

<<@[School’s Name - redacted for security]: We are currently experiencing what appears to be a matrix attack. Please retain the Penthièvre children until an authorised member of the household comes to collect them. >>

<<@Argent: The CHN, your work node and my own node have been compromised by a matrix entitiy. The >1rtu@l5cr3@m is draining resources and seems to be doing firmware damage. In case this is a precursor to an assault I suggest you stay away although from your usual locations. I have requested that the children remain at school until this is resolved. This may be a wider phenomenon though affecting this area of the matrix and possibly elsewhere, perhaps your contacts have some information? G. >>

<<@Aria: I was in the Citadel when it was assaulted, I hope you were able to contain the >1rtu@l5cr3@m entity? It seems to have lodged itself in my own node and I am going to try to dig it out now but I do not know how successful I will be, it seems to defy what I know about agents and viruses…it is possible that it is a nascent AI. Any help or information you can give me would be much appreciated! >>

The messages gone she hurls herself towards the intruder, claws set to rake into its digital flesh…

”I said Get Out!”

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead [July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

The dark, the uncertain footing, even the water, all serve to distract you from making a killing shot. The first ghoul squeals but you are not sure if it was the slug impacting with it or whizzing past its malformed visage. The second seemingly ignores your wild blast and continues to wade towards you with its brethren, rising dripping from the water like some grotesque parody of a sim starlet wading out of the sea.

<<@Copperhead: Hold out a bit longer will you, the entrance seems to be covered in all sorts of crap. We’re going to try and blast it clear but we aren’t exactly equipped for demo work. Will give you enough warning to duck and cover!>>

The message distracts you sufficiently that it is only the belated hiss of warning from Mama Snake that stops you plunging in to the fetid water at your feet as the crushing weight of the ghoul lands on your shoulders. Its claws scrabble for purchase on your scaled arms and torso as it chuckles into your ear "I am going to bite you!"

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Splash. The Enfield drops into the water at her feet as the ghoul lands on her back. Her arms go up over her head, their armor plates shifting to protect her neck, as she tries to grab it with her razors and pull it off.

<<@Stitch, Requiem: Just fraggin blow it. I got a buncha ghouls here trying ta eat us!>>

"Keep shootin!" she barks at the kids.

@Virtual Scream: Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 14:45:23, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

"Aaaarghhhh!" Dubstep cried out in frustration as he through he datachips across the room. "How the hell am I going to get this drek off my 'links?"

Whatever this >1rtu@l5cr3@m thing was, it thwarted his every effort to pin it down or get rid of it. It was just so frustrating. He start banging his head against the wall and tearing at his hair trying to rack his brain for some new angle to attack the thing. Back when he worked at Mitsuhama, this wouldn't be nearly so difficult to deal with, he could just....

"That's it!" In a flash of insight, he quickly called up Matsuko's number. Gnashing his teeth at how long the commlink was taking to do something as simple as connecting him to her, he was eventually rewarded with an image of her smiling face in his AR vision.

"Henry," Matsuko greeted him cheerfully. "I was just thinking of...." A look of concern furrowed her brow."Henry, you ok man? What's with your icon? It looks like shit."

He glanced up at the mirror across the room, despite knowing that she was only seeing his avatar. Still, he caught the sight of his hair sticking out at odd angles and self-consciously started smoothing it out with is fingers."Yeah. Uh. Sorry about that. It's actually why I'm calling. Can you get me some access time on the Nexus servers?"

"Um, yeah. That won't be a problem. You know we rent out server time to freelancers like yourself. But what is this about?"

"It's this damnedest thing. Something hit both Cindy and me earlier today. And it's left something behind on both 'links that is impossible to get rid of. I don't know who created this >1rtu@l5cr3@m drek, but they are going to wish they hadn't by the time I'm through with..."

"Wait, you got hit with >1rtu@l5cr3@m too?"

When [b]Dubstep confirms what he got hit with, Matsuko tells him that some of Mitsuhama's systems were hit too. She goes on to tell him that they've managed to isolate a few pieces and have some of their best people trying figure it out. They've never seen anything like it before.

"You say you have a couple pieces of it yourself? What do you have?" she asks.

"Cindy's link has a damn ear on it and mine's got a freaking pool of blood covering the entire interface. I've tried doing some limited testing on it, but with my comm so bogged down with it I can't tell anything. At least nothing more than even the tiniest drop of the blood has massive MegaPulses of data in it."

Matsuko is interested indeed in finding out everything he has been able to figure out. But with not much else to tell her, he says that she will have to wait until he can try to offload it to their servers and can run some more diagnostics on it. "Your boys can certainly take a look at it too. But I'm am going to do my best to figure this out."

'Yeah, yeah. I can understand that. If you don't mind, please tell me if you find anything.

"Sure thing."

'Thanks, hon. Maybe the next time we go out, dinner will be on me?"

"Promises. Promises. I've heard that one before." Still, he was smiling when he said it and so was she.

Then she signed off sending him an encrypted message with the address and temporary Access ID for one of the heavier Nexus nodes within her department of Mitsuhama.

Dubstep spared little time in connecting to the Nexus and trying to offload the >1rtu@l5cr3@m file to it. To his exstatic relief the file actually seemed to be transferring off his commlink. Still it's pace was that of molasses and he didn't celebrate until it was complete. When it finally finished and he double checked his commlink to confirm it was clean, he literally jumped up and started dancing around his apartment.

"Take that you bastard!

He quickly followed up his success with likewise transferring the ear off his backup commlink to a different folder on the Nexus. Once it was cleared, he was once more greeted by the firey glory of Cindy's icon. Some of his best work creating that body, but the hair of flames is what really made her stand apart from every other avatar. The detail of it was exquisite. While the >1rtu@l5cr3@m file was on her system though, it looked atrociously pixelated.

"Ok, Cindy baby. Let see what we can find out about this thing.

Hours go by as he tries to decrypt the data, once more Cindy is filling his ears with some mellow trance music to calm him while he works. At some point he notices something though. The >1rtu@l5cr3@m file appeared to be sending out a burst of data periodically. Now where could that be going, he wondered. Pulling up a Trace program, he starts to see if he can follow it home.

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:06, Argent's home]
PAN: Active, SIN: Charlotte Penthièvre (Owner), Response 8*, Signal 8*, System 8 (5), Firewall 8(4), (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit, Stealth [5, inherent], Armour Browse, Encrypt [6, ergo, optzd] / Covert Ops, Defence, First Aid [4], Homenode [3]) +Attack [5, targeting], Expert Defence [2]

This is her node and she knows it better than anyone or 'anything'. At first, she easily keeps out of the reach of the >1rtu@l5cr3@m. Her node, however, is doing less well under its onslaught.

Wherever the scream's code hits the node walls, red rose petals burst into the air. They swirl around the invading icon like blood red rain. Whenever a petal land on its skin, it is absorbed into it. Each petal represents another fraction of the node's resources falling under its control and she can clearly see that it is growing larger and better rendered with every passing moment. And she is getting slower.

The last message sent she hurls herself towards the intruder, claws set to rake into its digital flesh. She screams "I said Get Out!"

It turns almost lazily in her direction, a bloody and handless arm batting her attack away with apparent ease. And then the scream hits her, shaking her to the root of her programming. A creature of pure code, she has never felt real pain before. She does now.

She feels every wound that has been inflicted on the icon. Her hands and feet are sliced off, her nose and ears too. Her eyes, teeth and tongue are pulled out. Her chest is sliced open and her internal organs drawn out, one by one. The top of her head is sawn off and steel probes pierce her brain.

It feels like death, not birth.

@Virtual Scream / Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 16:23, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

Almost immediately, his Trace progam pings up a matrix address.

Then another.

And another.

And another.

In the next 10 seconds, the number of hits quickly passes the 5000 mark.

By 30 seconds, it's over 9000!

At 42 seconds, the counter hits 9999 and the Trace program terminates, its address buffer full.