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

The combat with the mage was over almost before Oyl even saw it start.  The plant spirit returns to the realms, it’s task complete.  She knows it is done.  The feel is not even close to what it is when a spirit is forced out or destroyed.  The fear from the watcher spirits, trying to be a distraction to help Spindle and his Beast spirit goes away too.  Not the spirits, just the fear.  The air spirit has left as well.  She gives vent to her exultation.

@C&C[Sprogget]: “YEeessss!!”!

At Cam’s irritated and questioning look, body language demanding an explanation for the outburst, she elaborates for him, but her eyes are on the console display before her, where that unknown radar source had been marked, that Fre∑dom had identified as the location for the Dissonant Winter.  She sees that there is now additional information, for Magical concealment, Citymaster+missile rack, with a tag that indicates the information is from a team in the field, with a timestamp just past.

@self:That must of come in just about the same time Spindle ordered the magical resources out.  Sprogget and his group are the only ones close enough to be the source.

The next thing she sees is the missile detonation, at the location for the drone tagged as LeO.  And the tag for Jazz is blinking for no contact, last seen, in the middle of the group of soldiers.

@self:Missile?  From the citymaster?

Torn again, but not able to do anything at the moment, she answers Cam’s unspoken question.

@Cam[Sprogget]: “The mage was I am pretty sure stronger than Spindle, but overconfident.  My spirit got to his body while he was facing Spindle in astral.  He did not notice soon enough, and is going to be unconscious for the next hour”.

@self:Full report later, more detail from Spindle.  He was there.  We were extremely lucky.  Near perfect timing, perfect situation to make my humble spirit effective way beyond its actual abilities.

Just then the display updates, and shows the 'Citymaster+missle rack'.  She was expecting it, and waiting for it.  With the air spirit leaving, the magical concealment that it had been holding left to.

Seeing it, and the specifications being filled in by the system and the others working the other consoles, her mouth suddenly very dry, she says in a much softer voice,
@Cam[Sprogget]: “He thought he was safe.  Inside a cocoon, inside of that”.

Canceling the watcher spirits current orders, she sends new instructions,
@Watcher 1:“Find and stay with Jazz, look for her starting just that way|North of where you started looking for the mage, and look for her through entrances that go underground”.

@Watcher 2:“Find and stay with Senaka, look for him where you started looking for the mage”.
Seeing the situation display updating, she amends the instructions.
@Watcher 2:“He is moving {that} way from there”.

@Watcher 3:“Find and stay with Spindle, look for him in astral starting from where you found the mage’s body.”.

Not waiting for Cam’s authorization, she links to the C&C system, and sends a message to the 'field team'.
@Field Team[C&C]: <<Mage Neutralized, Hidden Citymaster revealed>>
Then she appends a message tagged as personal and low priority for her brother.
@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Senaka Dearfoot, next time I see you, I am going to turn you into a snake, and see just how many knots I can tie you up in.  Tight knots!>>

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

Sprogget is applying his virtual microscope to the matrix nodes at the location of the Citymaster, seeing what is there, what the risks and opportunities might be.   He is learning what he can before jumping into the middle of things, trying to determine what might be possible.  Some would think attacking the APC directly was foolhardy, but he had seen a possible weakness, and LeO had proven him right.  He needed something he could use here too.  A handle of some sort.  At the same time, he is worrying about that other radar source above.

@self:What else is up there anyway?  Come on DR, at least give us a look!  A place|location to look with other eyes|sensors.  Timing says it is part of the opposition, but it has not started shooting yet.  What|who is up there, with what purpose?  I do not trust|believe in coincidences!

Then he notices that the tacnet sensors have cleared for the location of the Citymaster.

@self:That is ugly|beautiful|dangerous|elegant!  What happened to the magic distortion?  What now?

Shortly, but not soon enough for his peace of mind, a message comes in through his channel to C&C, with a personal attachment for him.

@self:Neutralized?  Great work guys!  Message from Osha?  She must be in C&C then, not still at the clinic.

Before looking at her message, he updates the tacnet display, removing the magical effect tag, and sending out a general message to the team.

@tank killers[Sprogget]: <<C&C says the mage is out of play.  Now we can at least see what took LeO out.>>

Opening the personal message, he thinks,
@self:I am not busy|embroiled yet.  Let’s see what she has on her mind.

Taking in the content, he has to grin.
@self:She’s mad at me huh?  But that wording has it direct from her, direct from a C&C console.  Maybe she can give us a hand here.  She is at least going to know what is going on overall better than any here, that are all too busy trying to grow extra eyes to look everywhere at once.

He reaches through his link to C&C, and a quick look around spots Osha’s familiar Florence Darkwind commlink node.  He gives it a quick smack, overriding it’s settings, and remotely activating it.

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Knotted snake huh?  I might let you.  Sounds better than have you trying to tie the pieces of me back together.  If you’ve got the time to send personal threats, you’ve got time for a quick chat, to feed us poor mushrooms.
Is the link to Fre∑dom up?  Do we have live contact with them?>>

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

He is in VR, while Oyl is in AR, so Sprogget has time to look around while startling sis with his abrupt presence.  He sees the mass of windows containing status information.

@self[Sprogget]:That does not look like Osha’s work.  Organized for viewing yes, but not the basic setup.

Then he notices the external link that was used to feed the window sources, with a familiar feel to it.

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Wait a sec.>>

Expanding the control link to a full connection he says,

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Hoi Bit.  Helping out Oyl here?  Maximum condensed status report.  Please.>>

@self[Sprogget]:Even in AR, Bit will be faster than Osha, she knows me and we have some common shorthand to use.

He is not disappointed, with a bare delay, that could have been startlement, or just gathering thoughts to prioritize, Bit replys,

@Sprogget,Oyl[Bit]: <<Perimeter thin, nonexistent; sensor gaps; reduced actives concentrated between us and Mall; Thin connection to Fre∑dom control; they damaged but active; Spindle astral; your loc, no id aerial contact, nexus monitored.>>

Correctly leaving out any reference to the information from the data Feed that Sprogget was supplying, other than confirming that C&C had no additional information.

@self[Sprogget]:I wonder what Miss Beaver is doing?  She was scheduled for foot patrol about now.  That is enough detail for now.  Specifics not needed, it is mostly bad news, and nothing I can change

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Got.  Oyl, magic status?>>

Sprogget knows that Bit has a healthy dose of curiosity.  Part of makes her so good with the matrix work, even if she is not a hacker.  She wants to know what is going on, but is patient.  For awhile at least.

@self[Sprogget]:Later over beers.  I hope.

Oyl quickly realizes that despite his initial bantering tone, Sprogget is pushed for time, and swallows the rant she wants to do in person anyway.  Not used to such extreme summarizing, she gives it a good shot, but even knowing Senaka all her life, she does not have the common short hand vocabulary that would be both concise and understood.  Different interests.

@Sprogget,Bit[Oyl]: <<Spindle overexerted calling strong spirit, Stronger cocooned military mage in Citymaster taken out by trick, concealing spirit released, Spindle not back yet.>>

@self[Sprogget]:The mage was in the Citymaster.  In a cocoon yet.  And Spindle not back from that, but Oyl knows that much.  She must have been involved directly.  Against a mage stronger than Spindle.  Slot!

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<More info on Citymaster?  Expand?>>

Oyl struggles to verbalize what she felt from the spirits that had been present.

@Sprogget,Bit[Oyl]: <<Multiple auras, people.  Mage and another in metal boxes, cocoons.  The mage had trapped himself in the cocoon, apparently thinking it was physical protection, but the monster guarding spirit let my little spirit past, and it just pushed through the box to where he was effectively helpless.  That little spirit is stronger in the physical world than people expect from its general force … ranking.>>

@self[Sprogget]:That second cocoon, likely the rigger.  How many others?  Crew?  Other Dissonants not accounted for too.

Seeing in one of the side windows of Oyl’s tribal situation information the view showing the Citymaster, he does the classic double take, even if he can not kink his neck in VR.

@self[Sprogget]:Winter?  Jazz said to find|tell Summer about that Dissonant!

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<The Dissonant named Winter?  Known to be in the Citymaster?>>

@Sprogget,Oyl[Bit]: <<Fre∑dom reported traced location from just before jamming started.  No confirmation since.>>

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Oyl, you can get another spirit into that other cocoon?  Bit, link point for Fre∑dom?>>

At Oyl’s confirmation, and holding the link address from Bit, Sprogget composes a quick message and fires it off multiple places.  To the shared view that he, Oyl and Bit have in Oyl’s commlink, to Fre∑dom control, relayed through Oyl’s comm, to Mechanicals C&C system, to Fre∑dom, and finally a copy to C&C itself, through his own connection, tagged as a CC.

Fre∑dom[Sprogget via C&C]: <<Jazz currently free agent, escaping.  There is a strong **chance** that I can take over that Citymaster that Winter is/was using.  Have you got resources available so that we can **keep** it from Dissonants, possible multiple?>>

@self[Sprogget]:Sending direct to real decision maker.  No time to discuss with Cam, who could not supply the resources anyway.  Coordinating with Osha, I should be able to get *in*, but no way I could hold off more Dissonants like the one that was rigging the drone.  At least in any sort of direct confrontation.

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<If this is going to work, we need as much information as we can about who is still in that Citymaster.  How much is crew, or passengers.  Who might be able to get at physical controls that could not be bypassed.  Those things are designed to be rigged, but there still could be physical cutouts.>>

@self[Sprogget]:Here we go again.  Another totally insane idea, that is just crazy enough to work.  Let’s see if the data and resources continue to make it possible.  To bad Banjo is too far away, and on other side from the main military group.  The UWBR would help, although good chance it would be noticed too.  And G’Eye…

Sprogget does some quick mental approximations of time and distance.

@self[Sprogget]:Maybe.  With the military out, he should be able to use main hallways, and might get close enough inside the mall.  An upper level maybe?

He sends the signal to have the stealth tags turn G’Eye’s wireless hardware back on.  Through Banjo, since that is the closest direct access.

@Bit,Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Oyl, get what detail you can through the spirits, and I’ll finish doing the same looking at matrix nodes, without actually touching them.  We’ll compare notes, and see if Fre∑dom has anyone willing and crazy enough to help.  I’m camping on this line, so sing out when you have something.>>

@self[Sprogget]:Unless one of those expensive missiles find me, or that invisible drone in the sky decides to get physical, or a ganger shows up in the wrong spot, or …

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C

Osha

As you are beginning to form the thought patterns that will bring your spirits back to you and send them back out to Sprogget, Spindle suddenly convulses and slumps in his chair…it would seem that although the spirit left its duties of concealing the Citymaster it wasn’t beyond a spiteful retaliation on the astral forms that had been harassing it…that or there’s a new player in the mix?

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

Sprogget

As the Citymaster bears down on the breech you frantically scan the nodes inside trying to get some solid intel, all too aware of the radar sweeps from above you trying to pin down their attackers…

Gemeaux

You are in a perfect sniping location looking down on the rapidly spreading gangers and the more cohesive group of soldiers about to make after the damsel that disappeared from their midst. Suddenly the air is filled with a roar as the heavy machine gun on their APC begins to blanket the nearby buildings in suppressive fire. The tracer fire is counterpointed by the lighter whine of the light machine guns on the charging Citymaster…and if you’re not extremely careful that fire could converge on your location!

Scrapheap

Jazz makes a nice bundle in your arms, although probably too skinny and human for your tastes. You can hear, with some satisfaction, the consternation in the voices of the soldiers above you but that is suddenly drowned out by a barrage of auto fire…

"Let’s get the hell out of here!" and you need no further urging!

September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C

Osha

Through the dim, and very biased eyes of your spirits, you can make out four forms inside the charging tank, one is the unconscious mage, both the cocoons are now open to the cabin and it looks like one of the others is trying to bring him round again…

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

Sprogget

There! Trying your best to ignore the din of fire you isolate the rigger’s comlink and the node that must belong to Winter…as expected the ‘links are encrypted and running very good firewall programs, this will be a challenge!

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

And here I thought that I was the impulsive one, Gemeaux thinks to himself as the chatter followed by gunfire fill his ears with a dissonant chorus of digital and percussive din.

<<@Sprogget [Gemeaux]: It seems you have kicked the proverbial hornets' nest, mon ami. A more survival-oriented man might see this distraction as a way to extract himself from this mess. Fortunately for you, I am an honorable man.>>

He lines up a shot, attempting to make it look as though the gangers are attacking the military squad. He takes a moment to watch the tacnet and smartlink data play across his vision. He looks at the various choices, including ricochet shots to disguise the direction of his first shot. He trusts his instincts, and chooses the option that feels right. He squeezes the trigger twice. One bullet streaks towards the military voyou, and the other towards the ganger chien.

<<@Sprogget [Gemeaux]: I certainly hope that we meet each other once more. If not, I shall forever remember you fondly as the man who once handled my commlink, oui?>>

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

Seeing Spindle's body convulse, Oyl pauses an instant to shift her perception to astral.  She is not happy with what she sees.  Sprogget's plan though is the most time critical, Spindle can wait a few seconds.  She reaches for the Mana, feeling for the form of another plant spirit.  It resists a little, but her grasp and will are enough to get a single service.  She sends it off to the location of the now moving Citymaster, with instructions to report as detailed as it can who is there, and what is happening, while staying in astral, and so unseen by any mundane.  That done, she tugs on the mental connection to the watcher that was supposed to be finding Spindle, and changes it's instructions.

@Watcher 3:“Patrol the area around the Citymaster, APCs and Sproggets locations in astral, immediately reporting any magically|astrally active aura|presence seen”.

she moves to check Spindle while giving orders.  In her medical capacity, she has the authority, and no one 'better' question it.

@C&C[Oyl]: “Cam, Spindle is out!  Bit, Grab a couple of people from outside to get Spindle to the Clinic”.
@self:I haven't been here that long.  Somebody that came in with me is probably still hanging around, waiting to see if there will be fireworks.
@Bit[Oyl]: “Then take over this link from Sprogget.  Relay that, and keep me updated, at least high level, about what is going on.  I do not need to stay here to do what is needed, if you relay, and Spindle needs some attention too”.

While Bit is getting transport for Spindle started, she starts getting information back from the Plant spirit.
@self:4 auras, one the mage.  Both cocoons now open, so not as trapped any more.  Must have been monitoring vitals, and deduced part of what happened.  Still down though.  What's that one doing though?  He's trying to revive the mage!  Slot!  Not if I can help it!

She dismisses the Plant spirit, its job finished, and reaches again for the mana.  Again she is offered a single service after a bit of initial resistance.

@Plant Spirit:“Attack the body of the mage inside the metal box {here}.  Kill him, making sure that others can not revive him.  Others present will likely try to stop you.  If you can do damage with an initial engulf attack, just hold that and get clear to protect yourself”.

@self:I should have had the first spirit finish the job.  Too much doctor in me.  If fast enough, he will never get a chance to wake up.  Should not need to keep attacking, and be exposed to the others, if the engulf is doing damage.

@C&C[Oyl]: “Cam, haul Firebox in here.  Use to cover as much of that empty perimeter as possible.  Just make sure he is clear that the job is monitoring and reporting, and that we will feed him to anything he misses.  We are getting stretched too thin.  Activate second stage emergency procedures.  We need a schedule in place, in case Long Haul is needed to keep enough people active for coverage.  With spindle down, tell anybody that complains about extra shifts that I will chew them out, and I might do it as a mountain lion”.

To cam non-verbally,
@Cam[Oyl]: “Unless you have better idea”?

@self:Staggered starts on the Long Haul, so not everyone crashes at once.  With some not going on the stimulants until after the first crashes.  Could leave us real thin on active bodies about tomorrow night, if some currently down are not back yet, but better than risking even more down later recovering from the Long Haul.

Waiting just long enough for Cam to respond, she heads slowly for the door, to follow spindle to the clinic, with most of her attention on what the Spirit is doing, and major status changes from bit.  She starts feeding information to Bit, to pass to Sprogget, and to post with the rest of the situation information.

@Bit[Oyl]: <<4 in Citymaster, one the unconscious mage, both cocoons now open, one attempting to revive mage, spirit sent to prevent, watcher spirit patrolling astral for signs of magically active entities, in roughly circular area with edges beyond current location of Citymaster, APCs, and Sprogget's field team.>>

She has a thought, and dispatches the 4th watcher,
@Watcher 4:“Search the area above|outdoors from from {center of area} for a flying metal|mechanical|manufactured device.  Report its location, and stay with it”.

She thinks for a second about what a good observation altitude would be, when searching for something human sized from the air, in a limited space.

@Watcher 4:“Focus most of the search from rooftop level, up to 200 meters above that, and in a circular area 500 meters across”.

@self:In a mostly empty sky, a drone shadow should show up fairly well on astral.  It should be the only thing in an otherwise empty space.

@Bit[Oyl]: <<watcher spirit searching for flying drone in {cylinder}.>>

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, C&C

Osha

Your watches flash out into the maelstrom, thankfully the charge in the air isn’t affecting the astral plane or their weak forms would be snuffed out. The one sent to locate Jazz flashes past two magical auras in the group by the breech and although you can’t tell much about them initially a follow up indicates a mage and an adept. You also manage to locate Sprogget with some relief that he is still in one piece.

Focusing on your plant spirit you watch with satisfaction as it finishes the job the first began, it’s thorny tendrils lashing out from the cocoon to envelope the mage. Unfortunately its protection is not sufficient to halt the explosive force of the medic’s sidearm as he sends it back to the astral sphere…

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

Sprogget

With LeO down your plan for suppressing fire is looking a little bare…hopefully Crow and the Frenchman can deal with that aspect now or Jazz and Scrap are going to have company fast!

Information is flowing fast across your vision, you have a host of information on the nodes in the Citymaster and the active radar source above you gives you some notion of where the circling drone is. The speed suggests it’s not a blimp, and the hurtling winds, but the confused image that Osha is able to send you doesn’t leave you much wiser about its capabilities…

Gemeaux

Your twin shots hiss from the barrel in perfect sequence. The first soldier crumples and you can see the reaction ripple through the group, they look towards the downed ganger whose head comes apart in a perfectly angled spray in your sights… Then your view finder is filled by the flash of an explosion as Crow’s grenade lands amidst the poorly armoured gangers and they fly apart in a welter of blood and gore. Although there is some satisfaction in the timing it puts your plan out of kilter, particularly when you see the APC turret track to his location and begin demolishing the building…you wince slightly for this stranger you did not know…

Scrapheap

It is loud up there, and getting louder even as you descend back into the sewer system…

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

@self:Ok, now where was I?  The Crack sprite found 3 nodes about where that citymaster finally showed itself.  Not many.  The first was a blur with the initial look, I must have messed something up.  The second is a commlink with response better than any off the shelf ’link.  Milspec, or close enough.

Sprogget gets back to inspecting the nodes, going through them looking for information about how strong they are, and what they are likely associated with.

@self:Another milspec commlink.  Ah!  The blurred one is a TM, likely Dissonant, most likely Winter.  No node for the Citymaster itself.  Drek.  To be expected I guess.  It is hardwired only, and physically connected to the rigger’s commlink.  I hope.  The commlink is probably active, to be able to share in the team tacnet communications.  This one is not a TM, a physical commlink.  Not getting as much detail as usual, they must all be running stealth.  Up to same rating as that milspec response.  Slot.  no resonance here either, and firewall to match the response.  Come on!  Focus.  Give with the details already.  Ah, that;s better … or not.  Firewall even higher than the response, node is encrypted, and not on alert.  Another encrypted node, with system rating to match the response, and seems to be controlling a tacnet from the volume|pattern of signals.   This has top end system rating too and is part of a tacnet, and yes the tac signals are all encrypted too. 

Not going to make this easy.  Both commlinks with top end commercially available upgraded hardware and OS.  Both encrypted.  One with Firewall even better than the hardware.  Probably the rigger, and the  other managing the tacnet.  Plus the {tentatively identified} Dissonant TM|named Winter.

Looks like I am a touch faster with Response, but he has better Firewall.  About a wash on regular defence.  No information on what he might have for Shield and Armor complex forms though, and that Signal rating says he has a stronger connection to the Resonance.  He can work with better complex forms and sprites than I can, without overexerting and worrying about physical damage.  No idea how skilled he is with that or combat, but good chance he is better.  I have emphasised more on tek related areas.  If he is here, more combat oriented skills are likely.

The news from Oyl, relayed by Bit gives more to think about, and work with.

@self:The first|main Mage is solidly out now.  The rigger cocoon is open, but still in use.  Looks like the rigger is still in VR.  Still a good target for the Spirits.  Even if she can not take him out totally, I might have one solid advantage.  If Oyl can keep them busy enough in the physical world, I will be way faster in the matrix.  To try anything though, I need to get some matrix access first.  That is going to take {time}!

Sprogget focuses on the Resonance around him, searching for the tool he needs to decrypt the nodes and maybe get a wedge through the firewall.  It feels like he got a solid hold on an assistant, but the lash back is just as strong.

@self:Slot, but that hurt.  Headache is back, despite the stim patch.

Checking the biomonitor, he finds that he is working on borrowed time.  When the stim patch wears off, he is going to be out cold.

@self:Great {negated}.  Nothing like a time limit and short count down.

@Oyl,Bit[Sprogget]: <<Biomonitor {readings} say I have overexerted.  When that stim patch wears of in {running timmer}, it will knock me cold, and do a bit more physical damage.  Tag that on the status board, since data feeds will drop at the same time.  Osha, you are going to have another patient in a bit.  Monocycle dog brain has instructions to get me to my shop if I pass out, and call when it gets close to the door.  That could be sooner rather than later, since I am not done here yet.  We can argue later about whether I should be doing more.  Those fraggers have a citymaster on our doorstep, and their hirelings have been attacking Mechanicals infrastructure and people too.  Make sure Cam has the contingencies in place to drop a building on that Citymaster or APC, if it moves in on us.  Or open up a hole below it.  And with the possible sensor corruption, make sure someone is physically checking those are still active and working.>>

@self:Hate to do that sort of damage to the general area, but better than the damage those urban tanks|weapons platforms could do by themselves!  Construction|salvage means some demolitions skills too!

Not waiting for the slower physical world response, Sprogget reaches again for the Resonance, deliberately going beyond his usual limits, knowing it is likely to hurt.  But another like the last would take him out of action anyway.  Not the time to be conservative.  He molds a good solid tool, with only a little resistance to the effort.

@self:That worked at least.  Could have used more help, but work with what I got.

@Crack(5):“Get me the keys to access {these} encrypted nodes, and the key for the encrypted tacnet signals between them.  Start the work in this order: {rigger} {tac signals} {tacnet manager}”.

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

Waiting for the sprite to crack the encryptions, Sprogget continues to monitor the situation all around.  Another mage in the military group, an adept with the gangers, Crow’s grenade shredding a group of Spined Drakes near simultaneous with the sniper shots from the frenchman taking out one from each group.  The response from the APC targeting the source of the grenade, that damned drone up above doing the radar sweep.  The citymaster headed in toward the APC position, the approximate location but otherwise useless information about the flying drone from the spirit. 

He passes the best location information he can to DR, to focus the monocycles radar on the correct part of the sky, when he is not behind a building to try to stay out of targeting range for those missiles.  As soon as he gets a solid fix on that aerial drone, it is one more thing to hide from.

@self:Slot, another mage.  Same adept that was with the bunch that tried to ambush us earlier?  Too crowded around there right now though.  The detail is not enough to tag them for priority targeting on the tacnet.

@Oyl,Bit[Sprogget]: <<Oyl, if you can tag that mage, maybe someone here can deal with him, before he becomes a problem for you too.>>

@Tankkillers[Sprogget]: <<Another mage mixed with the troops, an adept in the gangers.  No markers for which yet.>>

@self:At least if that mage is dodging bullets, he is not going to be doing much in astral.

Come on you blasted knat!  Move over {that} way a bit.  Then Banjo and|or G’Eye will get a good look.

Drek.  Lost Crow from tacnet.  Hope he got his head down, and it is just the gear that is out!

If there is anyone left here to take shots at that mage!

With how fast that Citymaster is moving in, G’Eye will not have too go far for the UWBR to give usable information.  Just needs to stay close to the outer wall.  Separating further from Banjo gives more coverage too, if that flying spotter gets over that way.  Banjo is good for now inside that building.  Will need to go dark and bug out though, before they get around to digging him out in person.

He updates Banjo’s instructions, to cut active signals and leave if it appears mobile resources are closing on his position.  That will also go into effect, if the deadman trigger is activated.

@self:It would be too much to ask, that that shot got the mage, and grenade got adept.  From last time, that adept is very lucky about getting|staying out of harms way, though LeO seemed to do some damage with the initial surprise attack.

Although he knows that breaking encryption as strong as he expects takes time, and that once started there is not really anything to do, Sprogget is still mentally urging the sprite to  {hurry}.

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

When the Spirit finishes the mage off, but is not quick enough to escape the medic, Oyl immediately reaches again for the mana, another light weight Plant Spirit readily answers her.
@self[Oyl]:Bonus!  2 services this time.  If it does not get smacked down first.  Ready when you are bro.

When she sees the biomonitor readings in Sprogget's message, Osha want's to immediately order him out of there.  He does not even give her a chance to try.  She swallows her words, and thinks bitterly.
@self[Oyl]:Tribal business.

When Sprogget's message comes in about tagging the mage, Bit extracts a live clip from the tacnet sensor data that Sprogget is supplying, centred around where Jazz dropped through the grating.  That data is mostly from the UWBR sensors on the G’Eye and Banjo drones, with good overlap between them, so is is mostly density information, with minimal visual from the glimpses other sensors are getting.  Not much, since everyone is keeping their heads down, to not attract attention.  As he opens this in another AR window in Oyl's view, he adds a quick message.
@Oyl[Bit]: <<Sorry, no face view>>

@self[Oyl]:How many things does Senaka think I can do at once anyway?  Obviously he is not ready to hit the Citymaster yet, that is not what he would ask for.  I know how fast he can pwn a node when he is in a hurry.  Bare seconds.  Something is slowing him down.

Looking at the image feed that Bit supplied, she thinks,
@self[Oyl]:No faces in astral anyway.  A density map is about as close to astral shadows as tek is likely to get.  A spirit should have no trouble understanding that, and matching to the aura locations.  I should have no trouble matching what it sees back to that data feed.
@Plant(2) Spirit:“Aspect of the Great Mother, I need you to go {here} and identify which from {this} group has the aura of a mage.  Show me a similar image, showing both mundane and awakened auras, highlighting those that are not mundane”.

She continues walking toward the soup kitchen and clinic, keeping that density map open, ready to immediately add tags matching anything the Spirit finds.  Bit will take it from there.

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

Gemeaux tags, labels, and sets aside the video recording of his sharpshooting for later viewing. After all, works of art should be preserved, and his particular craft is especially ephemeral. Once he is free of this fracas, he resolves to watch "Trick Shot #487-Incite Enemies to Fight" over a cool glass of Cote du Rhone.

He shoulders his sniper rifle, and gently clucks his tongue at the fate of the one called Crow. He holds a small bit of disdain for the tacnet dot's ruining of what should have been an amusing---if momentary---diversion. However, he feels small tinge of remorse at witnessing the gruesome fate unleashed upon him. He mouths a small bit of proverbial wisdom as he makes his way off of the rooftop.

"Ferveur de novice ne dure pas," he says silently.

The assassin slips down the safest route on the building, taking the "safest" route to the sewer system into which the designated damsel had descended. While he slips through shadows, he sends one more message to the Ork.

<<@Sprogget [Gemeaux]: Now that the lady has retreated, I believe it best we do the same. Il vaut mieux qu'on dise "il court-là", qui "il gît ici".>>

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

Gemeaux slinks through the war zone, using whatever cover and concealment he can find. He does his best to keep something solid between him and whatever is spraying heavy artillery into the air. A few times during his journey, a ricochet strikes the area around him. He silently curses up a storm in his native tongue, but continues to move on. When he finally reaches his destination, he carefully moves the manhole cover, scrambles down the ladder, and then replaces the cover above him.

The unmistakable odor of stale air and sewage greets the assassin. He wrinkles his nose in response, and refrains from breathing a sigh of relief. He makes his way towards the dot marked as the distressed damsel, stifling gags the entire way...

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

At the message from Gemeaux, Sprogget replies almost absently,
@Gemeaux[Sprogget]: <<Already moving. This particular party is getting a little too wild for my tastes. My skills may allow creating extra confusion, even as I retreat though.>>

He is doing his best watch and analyse the content from all of the tacnet sensors, looking for more opportunities to delay and redirect the attention of that squad. Ways of doing that are getting rather scarce though. Hitting the Citymaster node looks like his last chance, and unless Fre∑dom comes through with some support, he is only going to be able to hold it for seconds.

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

Scrapheap stopped after a few steps of carrying Jazz, then put her down as gently as he could in the cramped quarters of the sewer. "Dere's a big leap jus' ahead, you'll need ta get a good run ta clear it. I'll hang back and try ta keep any a' da soldya boys from gettin' dere hands on ya. Should be enough fresh tracks from me comin' here ta follow back ta da entry pipe. Be careful."

He turned around and racked the slide of the assault rifle through the smartlink while he looked for any cover the sewer could provide. He hoped the poor lighting hid the tremor in his hands as the thunderclap of an explosion rolled down the pipe to them from above.

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

<<@Sprogget [Gemeaux]: Do what you can.>>

Gemeaux checks his progress in approaching the other teammates in the sewers, the ones designated Jazz and Scrapheap. He decides that it is best to let them know of his approach, just in case they did not notice him on the tacnet.

<<@Jazz, Scrapheap [Gemeaux]: Bonsoir, mes amis. I am working for a mutual friend, and am extending my services to you. I am moving towards you now. I should be on your tacnet even if you cannot see me. Depending on what we encounter, not seeing me may be a distinct advantage for both me and you.>>

He slips his pistol out of its holster---after all, he cannot be too careful in navigating Sixth World sewers---and picks his way through the unfortunately necessary escape route...

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

Osha

The overriding sense from your spirit is that it isn’t sure and given its low intelligence that perhaps isn’t all that surprising given that the understanding of the astral might be innate but translating that into the real is a little more complicated. Still, you have a tentative indication of which of the thirty or so auras belongs to the mage, perhaps as much as seventy five percent certainty?

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

Sprogget

Ah, there’s the bugger…it passes across the mall and GEye is finally able to get a good reading on the orbiting drone. An Optic-X by the look of it, a stealth drone that doesn’t seem to have anything that might be a weapon system. It’s being tossed by the gale force winds but that just makes targeting it all the harder. Its own radar sweep crosses over you but thankfully no furious bombardment follows…yet…

There is a grinding cracking noise heard even above the wind as one of the main buildings being bombarded by machine gun fire begins to sag and give way…thankfully the tacnet indicates that your unexpected help is down in the sewers heading towards Jazz.

By the breech the soldiers are spreading out to avoid any more grenade fire, taking cover behind the remaining APC or retreating back to the breech. They steadfastly ignore the bleeding gangers, the remainder of whom look like they just want to slink away and hide…it is somewhat worrying perhaps that none of them seem to have decided to pursue Jazz…then again they’ve got other things to worry about.

Gemeaux

It’s not as dank down here as it might be and you see the two dots on the tacnet that represent your target slowing spreading as one hangs back, presumably to cover the rear. Static is beginning to interfere with the signal, presumably as the ground above them reduces their connection to the net but you do see Jazz reversing course and heading back towards the one identified as Scrapheap…

Scrapheap

Retreating is not your favourite pastime but in this instance it’s probably the best course of action. You feel a vague stirring of wind brush past you but put it down to the hell that must be happening above you…

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

As he sees the ARO indicators showing Jazz head towards Scrapheap, Gemeaux's eyebrow arches up beneath the cowl of his chameleon mask.

Ah, it is too much to hope that this is merely a pair of lovers returning for one final embrace... More likely this is a prelude to trouble...

Gemeaux returns his pistol to its holster, and instead slips the sniper rifle off of his shoulder and back into his hands. As is the habit of any assassin with an ego, he always appreciates having the last word in any dispute. Fortunately for him, he is always holding Le Dernier Mot...

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

Having sent the message to Oyl, to try to identify which of the squad is the mage, Sprogget figures he should see about having something ready to deal with that problem, when the time is right.

@self:Jazz said that her drone should be around here somewhere … There!  G’Eye has the hound on the UWBR.  Just not the direction I have been paying much attention to.  Come here Fido.

Sprogget connects to the Doberman node using the information that Jazz supplied, and instructs it to go through the steps needed to get itself added to the now diminished tacnet.  Connection in place, he gives it instructions to remain out of sight, but get into place, so that it will be able to target the mage, once Oyl has supplied the marker.  As soon as tacnet shows the marker, adjust to the best position for quickly bringing the target under fire, while remaining out of sight from gangers and the squad.  Only when the marker changes to 'active', shooting from cover, take the mage out, before retreating, and getting clear as fast as possible.

Fido: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(3), Targeting(3)

@self:"Jazz’s priorities seem a bit different than mine.  Minimal software package, No ECCM.  Just sensors and combat.  I’d love to run|romp|play|explore directly with this pup, but no time.  Going to have to rely on it’s built in skills.  I hope that with all that lead being thrown|sprayed at buildings outside, that Fido coming up from inside the mall will surprise them long enough to get off the shot, and get clear again.  Depends partly where that mage is.  Is he at|close to that hole|breech|new doorway, or further out by the APC?  At least with part of the squad retreating (temporarily?) to the hole for cover, they should provide some cover from the machine gun on that APC, and Citymaster it if gets here too soon.  How much ammo they got for that machine gun anyway?  LeO had a full drum, and ran through half of it during that little run in with the mage|adept West of the mall".

Putting his full attention back on monitoring the changing situation the sensors are showing outside the mall, Sprogget sees how the squad is repositioning.

@self:Why are they giving up so easy on Jazz?  They do not seem to be trying to follow, which is good, but why?  Got a totally overboard response from our actions so far, but they do not really seem that pressed.

He also realizes that with how fast the Citymaster is moving, there is not going to be time to do the matrix attack carefully, in the sequence initially planned.  He knows, with some margin of error, how long it is likely to take to break the encryption, assuming it is the best commercially available.   From that, he figures there is a good chance that some of the squad could be boarding the Citymaster before he can get far enough to lock them out.

@self:Drek!  I need more time.  Maybe Oyl can help with that, as well as pulling the rigger out at the right time.  Need to fill her in on what I want to try anyway.  She should have a spirit searching for the mage by now.

Rather than send messages, or even voice chat over the commlink, he moves through the link to Oyl’s commlink, taking the tacnet sensor view with him.  He feels the minor shift, as he bounces through Bit’s commlink on the way.

@self:What?  She has moved out of C&C?  Things must be happening here too.

The status information is still being shown in information windows on the commlink, but now at a more summary level, with a prominent sensor view that Sprogget recognizes as being from the tacnet feed.  One thing that does jump out to him though, is that Spindle is inactive/injured, on the way to the clinic.

@self:That accounts for her leaving the centre.  She figures dealing with that is better for the tribe than trying to micromanage people that know that they should be doing, but what happened to Spindle?  Did the second mage do that?  Last I knew, he was still active and in astral after the end of fight with the first mage in the Citymaster.

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, Oyl’s commlink
Bionode:Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

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

Just as Osha finishes sending the Spirit off to locate the mage, and identify his surroundings, she hears Senaka’s VR voice in her ear, just a little 'off', and a bit too fast for normal speech.

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<I’m here.  Ready to talk?>>

Sprogget notices that the overhead drone’s circling has brought it over the edge of the mall, into the range of G’Eye’s UWBR.

@self[Sprogget]:Got you!  Small drone, looks like winged VSTOL.  That storm is tossing it around more than just a little.  Looks like an Optic-X or clone.  Too small for much in the way of firepower, and nothing showing on the scan.  Pesky sensor platform.  Even with upgrades, it is not going to have much more than G’Eye for eyes.  I wonder if I can do something with sensor feed from that after the encryption is broken?  Maybe insert some false contacts to funnel|direct those goons the right way?  Banjo is not very active right now, just relaying sensor data from inside the building.  He can at least look for the node, in case I can use it later.

He automatically tags the drone on tacnet, with the known and estimated information, though it is getting down to just him and the drones sharing the information, then sends instructions to Banjo, to look for, and keep looking until it is found, the hidden node that should be at the location of the Optic-X drone shown by G’Eye’s UWBR, and the radar signals coming from the drone itself. 
Banjo: Res 3, Sig 3, Sys 3, FW 3; Hidden; Pilot 3, Clearsight(4,opt), Maneuver(4,opt), Covert Ops(4,opt), Electronic Warfare(4,opt), Scan(6,opt,erg), Encrypt(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg), ECCM(6,opt,erg):sensor

@self[Oyl]:Just barely, he is really rushing things.
@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Spirit just started looking for mage, but yes.>>

Waiting for meat speed Molasses Oyl, Sprogget pours a bit of Resonance into his edit complex form, and starts working on the script he wants to feed to the Citymaster, to turn it against the squad and all comers, until its sensors, not a wireless signal that it will not notice, detect a 'key'.  Banjo locates the matrix node almost immediately, and Sprogget saves the reference for later use.
@self[Sprogget]:I need to dummy up some fake data just in case too.  I as soon as that script is ready.

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Timing is way too close, but here is the general idea.  There are only 3 actives in that Citymaster right now.  All control>>.
@self[Sprogget]:At least as far as I can tell.
@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<is through a physical wired connection to the commlink of the rigger in that second cocoon.  If we can time things right to distract him, and keep the others from interfering, I should be able to slide a script of commands through his commlink to the vehicle node.  Won’t have time to really take over, and hold on against the expected opposition, but I can turn it rogue, treating everyone and most equipment as enemies.  That could do a lot of damage in a hurry with the weapons it has, and where it is right now.  If I can then get that single wireless access point shutdown, and we can keep anyone present from reactivating or replacing it, the Citymaster will attack and defend itself against all comers until its sensors detect a special circumstance>>.
@self[Sprogget]:The sensors should be good enough to recognize DR.  My monocycle is unique enough around here to work for a passkey.  If it is at all unsure, it has enough stamina to wait a bit for better confirmation.  First priorities will be for things dangerous to it, and an unarmed bike is not even in the running!

@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<There would have been plenty of time, but the rigger’s commlink is encrypted.  Still got a sprite working on breaking that, so can try the rest.  The timing problem, is that if that squad starts loading first, it gets way harder.  If the rigger thinks of it, and has time to disconnect that cable, the Citymaster dog brain will continue on it’s existing instructions, and I get no chance to change them.  I think the only way this might work, is to start the physical attack with the spirit early, trying to get the driver to overshoot the intended stop point, to get a few seconds extra time.  Best would be if it never stops at all.  Then knock him out of the matrix to give me room.  Got something that has a chance?>>.

@self[Sprogget]:Script about done.  It does not take a lot to tell a dog brain that existing IFF has been compromised, and that all targets are enemies.  The real work was to provide a good enough sensor profile so that it can reliably recognized DR, and I know that profile quite well.

@E:Tribes
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, outside C&C
September 1, 2072 22:xx; Mechanicals’ Complex, Oyl’s commlink
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Florence Darkwind (R4)
Bionode: Res 4(5), Sig 2, Sys 4, FW 3; Hidden; Biofeedback Filter(4), Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)

[ Spoiler ]

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

@self[Oyl]:{Confusion} on the driver sounds like the best opportunity for delaying boarding.
Just then, the spirit looking for the mage reports back that it found the aura, and shows Oyl the surrounding astral view.

@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Just a sec.  Spirit found the mage.>>

@self[Sprogget]:Ok what would be good to get that squad moving away from the mall when it shows on the sensors?  Something coming up on them from inside the mall.  I know!  A pair of large combat drones.  Modified with extra armor, and an external strap on grenade launcher with autoloader.  Similar, but not quite identical.  Based on that Steel Lynx in my wish list for Mechanicals patrols.  If I had more time, this would be fun.

Oyl manipulates the sensor view quickly, aligning it to match the orientation and size that the spirit is showing for astral.  The shadows for the 2 APCs, and the ragged hole in the mall wall, make it fairly easy to get lined up, then the UWBR higher density locations for the people lines up with the locations of the astral auras.  She drops the prepared 'mage' tag on the higher than surroundings density in the sensor information that matches with the brighter than others aura of the mage.  She mentally thanks the spirit for its work, and dismisses it, service complete.

@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<{That} one is the other mage.>>

Even before she starts to speak, Sprogget has added the matching tag to the tacnet information, and starts keeping an eye on Fido, to make sure it starts moving into a better position for targeting.  Then he reaches through the link to C&C, and over to the node for his shop, to grab the data files for the base and modified Steel Lynx versions he had been playing with on and off.

@self[Sprogget]:I’ll add just a touch of techopunk external styling, to help them look modified and rebuilt.

@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<So you want the driver to stay hooked up, but don’t want him … jumped in? … to the vehicle?.>>

Sprogget sees that the Citymaster is now in range of the G’Eye’s UWBR, and pulls the view up for a closer look.
@self[Sprogget]:Two cocoons as Osha said, both open now, lots of seating, gunner position, dead body, 3 alive, cocoon, gunner seat, behind.

Oyl sees a new small message window pop up.
@Oyl[Bit]: <<Mage tagged on status board.  Sprogget crazy, but might work.>>

Another interruption.  This time the watcher following Jazz is having a fit.  Another spirit has shown up, and is trying to haul Jazz back the way she came.

@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Wait.  I have a watcher with Jazz.  A spirit is shanghaiing her.>>

@self[Sprogget]:That why the squad seemed in no hurry to follow?
@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Scrapheap with her?  Tell him to slow them down.  Keep underground as long as possible.  Drone getting aligned for shot at mage>>.

Sprogget cuts and pastes parts to create a base model of the drone he wants to present as coming from the sensors, then duplicates it and starts adding the simple touches to make them unique individuals, instead of clones.  A repaired patch on the turret of this one, damaged and repaired armor on that.  Some technopunk pimping.  Nothing fancy, just the sort of touches that mechanics might add over time, working on equipment that they care about.  An old german helmet on top of the turret here, some stylized molding around the machine gun barrel, on the other, to look like sword with pommel and guard.

Oyl passes the information to the watcher, to pass to Scrapheap.  Manifesting beside Scrapheap’s ear, the watcher complies.
@Scrapheap[watcher]: “Sprogget says delay spirit taking Jazz up outside.  Machine getting ready to shoot Mage”.
The simple watcher spirit also has an infantile sense of humour, and in it’s simple way, enjoys the reaction to the voice from where no one is expected to be.

@self[Sprogget]:I may have to get Fido to shoot sooner than I would like.
@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Warn me before it gets Jazz to the surface.  Meanwhile, yes hooked up but not jumped in, not in the VR either is best.  Alive safest to start.>>
@self[Sprogget]:In case a biomonitor is set to trigger things in emergencies.

@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<I am going to need a stronger spirit than usual for this.  Hold a minute while I see what I can get..>>

@self[Sprogget]:We don't have a minute.

Waiting, Sprogget reduces the existing sensor data window used to tag the mage, and replaces it with another showing the best available details of the interior of the Citymaster, taking it from the feed that C&C is already getting, so he does not need to maintain this one separately.  Then starts generating sensor images of the combat drone models, adding noise and static for realism.  He bases that on what G’Eye is seeing for the Optic-X, since a similar amount of distortion and error should apply looking the opposite direction.

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

Oyl reaches for the mana again, asking for the strongest spirit she can handle without taking physical damage from the effort.  She calls on the Great Mother to aid her.  The spirit that she reaches is unwilling to help though, and the mental slap that the refusal triggers is as bad as she would have gotten attempting to use magic to heal some fairly serious physical injuries.  She resists as best she can, but still ends up with a distracting headache.
@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Drek, Trying again..>>

Getting distinctly nervous about the time passing, Sprogget prepares a summary of the goals for the Spirit, to help him get his matrix tools into the guts of the Citymaster, and goes back to the sensor data.  The basic information is there now, but we needs to view it critically, and smooth or add noise to any areas that might cause someone to realize that it is based on a data model, not physical material.  It is also important to know when it is time to stop, before the tweaks themselves start looking artificial.

Oyl grits her teeth, and repeats the reach and request for aid.  This time her desire is answered by a plant spirit willing to provide 3 services.  The resistance, while not token, is not as bad, and only increases the headache slightly.  Not enough to add to the distraction.
@self[Oyl]:Not up to the raw power of that beast that Spindle summoned, but no slouch either!  A cactus with serious attitude!  Thank you Mother.
@Sprogget[Oyl]: <<Got her!>>

Time is getting even tighter.  Soon it will be too late to divert the Citymaster from meeting with the squad.  Sprogget quickly summarizes the practical needs.
@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Delay/prevent others boarding, keep occupants from realizing problem exists, get rid of them, keeping rigger linked to Citymaster, get rigger out of matrix, but still linked when I signal, kill him later and break that physical link, and keep all out of the Citymaster>>.

Oyl absorbs that, filtering it for what the abilities of the Spirit allow, and what is mostly likely to work.  She starts quickly giving instructions to the spirit.  Knowing the spirit will supply 3 services, she is not as carefully detailed as she might be, preferring to use the extra services, instead of taking the time to package everything needed into a single service.  They would all get used up anyway, sending the spirit to the Citymaster.  It is too far away.

As Oyl starts to concentrate on giving clear instructions to the Plant Spirit, Sprogget creates a small message window just under the one from Bit, then moves over to G’Eye’s node, as the place with the best view, and a good location to launch an attack against the rigger commlink node.  There is nothing more he can help Oyl, help him with for now.
@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<⚙ I’ll be in touch ⚙>>

@Plant(5)+Confusion[Oyl]:“Spirit of plants, I have some work for you to do at this|Citymaster|machine|box moving location.  This is to aid the work of another in the matrix|electronics|virtual world that you can not see|sense|perceive, so I will be directing you carefully, to meet needs you can not detect|notice.  Eventually all alive in that machine need to be either removed completely from the moving metal box, or killed and moved to the rear end|this area”
@self[Oyl]:That should cover making sure the physical connection gets broken, without trying to explain technology to a spirit.  The commlink should go with the body, but the cable is not likely to reach the back.
@Plant(5)+Confusion:“but the one in this smaller cocoon|box must|is required to stay there until actions you can not detect have been completed. 

All others|beings|machines are to be prevented from entering the machine, starting from when you first get to it, until I indicate that the work has been completed.

The first action against those in the machine, needs to be to send and hold the mind of the {rigger} into Confusion.  Keep him as confused as possible until I indicate it is time for the next step for him.  He must not be thinking clearly about what he is doing until later.  Do not let the others there see you do this.  Once he is well confused, attack the others.  Drive them out of the box with Fear, or kill them both as quickly as you can.  Start physical attacks with this one|medic, and once your presence is recognized, speak|hiss|growl at the {medic} ominously|wrathfully|sinisterly that he has attacked|hurt|damaged|killed your weaker friend|sibling|protected being, and must now pay|suffer|die, while continuing to attack both him and the other.
@self[Oyl]:A little misdirection about the reason for this attack might help delay understanding, and will not slow down the attacks.
If the rigger|confused one attempts to leave the cocoon|smaller box, he must be prevented without killing him, while still protecting yourself, and killing or driving the others off.

At some point I will indicate that preparation work is done, and then it is time to use Fear on the {rigger}, if he is still in the matrix|asleep|unconscious|unaware, then quickly, render him truly unconscious before continuing to deal with any others still present and alive.  After further {matrix} work has been done, I will tell you, and it becomes time to kill the {rigger}, and move the body to the {rear}.  Then it is just necessary to continue to keep others from entering the {Citymaster}.  Go now”.

Oyl continues on her way to the clinic to treat Oyl, and Sprogget when he gets there, as well as the others that could use some magical healing after the earlier work with the Medical stations.  she monitors the watcher spirit that is with Jazz, to try to give warning, to abort the kidnapping by shooting the controlling mage. The plant spirit has it’s instructions, and there is nothing more she can do there, until Sprogget tells her it is time to knock the rigger out of the matrix. The Spirit is on it’s own until then.

@self[Oyl]:I May need a stim patch myself before the night is over, to get the things done that are needed soon.  After initial treatment for Spindle, I need to finish some of the simpler work, so Cam has something close to a healthy crew for next shift, even if they are not as rested as they should be.

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

Monitoring the sensor information, Sprogget sees that Fido has finished moving to it's chosen location to target the mage in the squad.  Not any time too soon either.  It won't be long before that spirit manages to haul Jazz out of the sewer system.  He toggles the tacnet tag for the mage to active, releasing Fido to do the best it can to eliminate that problem.

Planning the sequence for getting the script into the Citymaster, Sprogget thinks about the timing.
@self:Since I just want to send the 'go rogue' script on through to the hardwired Citymaster node, pretending to be the rigger, all the access that is needed on the commlink is a user account.  Just enough to be able to locate the hardwired link to the Citymaster node.  If it works, the spoof will use the riggers authorization levels on the Citymaster, not the hacked account.  It should take the sprite, on average, 2 to 3 seconds to slip through the rigger firewall to get a user account.  But if I tell it to work deliberately, I can be quite sure it will consistently take 4 seconds for that quality of firewall.  That will make coordinating with Oyl easier.  Getting her to pass the message should be quick, but the Spirit still needs to act, and the rigger needs to respond to that.  There is also no real need to be stepping on the riggers heels as he exits.  Once he is out, it will take him a little time running at meat speed to get back in, even if he changes his mind immediately.  If I give Oyl the go just before I compile the sprite, even if it takes 2 or three tries, the Spirit gets has a little time to do it's thing.  If the compile works first try, I can wait a bit before starting the hacking.  OK, that seems about right.

With the fake sensor data for the Steel Lynx drones about as ready as it going to get, Sprogget turns his attention to where they should be detected. Going over the part of the Fre∑dom mall being shown by the UWBR from G’Eye and Banjo, he looks for places they could reasonably show up, but not been seen earlier.

@self:The floors block radar signal fairly quickly.  Older, but still structural quality material.  The UWBR only penetrates so far.  That Optic-X is only going to be able to see things on the top couple of floors when looking down.  G’Eye only got to see the pest, because he only needs to look through the single outer wall at an angle up.  Not as solid.  With the angles though, the drone is not going to see very far into the mall, unless it drops down to look straight sideways instead of from above.  The combat drones need to appear from 'deeper' than it has been able to look so far.  That is actually going to be closer than I would like.  I would rather not give anyone else a chance to look and not see what the UWBR is going to be reporting.  {Here} I think.  Up one floor, but at the top of the ramp which would bring it into targeting range of that hole they blasted in the wall, but not yet visible from there.  And {there}, on the main floor, almost against the outer wall, because it *had* to go around this barrier.  Also not visible, but already in position to cover the main path back deeper into the mall. Well this is ready, if I get a chance to use it.

The decrypts could be done any second now.

He saves the fake sensor data, and drops the boosted Edit complex form.  It’s job is done.

The Crack sprite sends Sprogget the decryption keys for the rigger and tacnet manager commlink nodes, but continues working to get the key for the encryption on the tacnet signals.

@self:How much do I really need to have access to the squad shared information streams?  It could sure be useful to know what they are seeing, and I need it to make use of the fake drones too.  Or I could abort the decryption now, and design|build|sculpt a tool to crack the firewall on that rigger node.  Even if I do that immediately though, unless what Oyl has the spirit doing prevents|delays the squad from meeting|boarding the Citymaster, they could be boarding before I am finished.  If the delay works at all, I should have enough extra time to wait a little longer.  Now that those nodes are decrypted though, I can grab the user access IDs, and other details not visible before.

Sprogget boosts his analyze complex from with a little extra resonance, and takes a look at the information that was hidden behind the encryption.

@self:Right, {that} is who you are mister rigger.  That did not tell me much though.  Slotted stealth is fuzzying out details.  That’s not helpful.  He has an agent running.  IC.  Well, it should respond to commands from the access ID, same as that Citymaster node.  At least if he is not there watching.  How about this other node?  There {you} are.  {Not} nice to meet either of you.

Sprogget drops the boosted Complex form, and saves both access ids, although he only expects to be using the one for the rigger.

The final decrypt finishes, and he saves that key with the others, as the sprite dissolves, and melts back into the resonance it was sculpted from.

@self:Time to find out if I am as good as I said|implied that I am.
@Oyl[Sprogget]: <<Dump the rigger, now!>>

Again going beyond his normal self imposed limit, he reaches into the Resonance, feeling for a tool that will be able to deliver the script to the City master.  The Resonance responds so readily that he is shocked.  So much so that he only partially blocks the minimal resistance.  The sprite that separates itself from the Resonance looks a lot like a steampunked version of G’Eye.  Good sensors, and with sparking claws.  They seem to be a jacobs ladder.  The form is hard to see, blending in to the surrounding matrix infrastructure, and even what is visible keeps shifting subtly, making it difficult to identify.

@self:Rank 5 and 4 tasks!  Whoa.  Aces!  Admire later.  Time to get to work.

@Crack(5)+Spoof:“I need you to get the dog brain of the node of the {Citymaster} to accept and run {this} script, by sending the order as {rigger access id}.  The connection to the target node is physically connected to this {rigger commlink address and specs} node.  When working to find a way to slip through the commlink firewall, work safely and deliberately.  If the id being spoofed is jumped in to the target node, wait for it to leave before sending the command.  The ratings of the actual target node are unknown, but could be quite high.>>.
@self:Since that runs hardwired, it might not be all that high, but do not want to take the extra time to check first.
@Crack(5)+Spoof:“Really push when sending the new orders, and try again if it fails.  Stay hidden, avoid attention as much as possible.  Protect yourself.  That agent|IC is not running for your health, but if you have to stick around long, it should respond to commands from the same access id.  Wait for my signal to start>>.

Sprogget takes one last look at the prepared script, that is to become the new laws for the Citymaster dog brain.
@Sprogget[GoRogue]: <<Current IFF protocols have been compromised, All external armed targets are currently enemies.  Current metahuman occupants are also enemies.  Attack armed targets within 200 meters, and defend against all attackers.  Patrol in {this} area.  First priority is protecting yourself.  Do not allow even unarmed drones|vehicles or metahumans within 50 meters, with the single exception of a monocyle with this {DR} sensor profile carrying a single metahuman rider.  Protect that monocycle and rider when sensed.  Allow and facility the rider to board.  Keep sealed until that person is ready to board.  Disable all internal security systems when that rider is boarding.>>
@self:Structured so that if it has an internal security system, it could be use against the current occupants, but if it's sensors notice the Spirit, that will be ignored.  Spirits are not going to be controlling a rigged vehicle.  Keep it moving, so it is not a sitting target, but keep it away from bystanders.  There is not much currently near here in the way of friendly forces, unless Cam forget to tell me about it.

Satisfied, he admires the elegance of the waiting Sprite for a couple of seconds.
@self:G'Eye makes as good of template for Crack and Spoof as DR does for a searcher.
Then he sends the Sprite out to get the job going.
@Crack(5)+Spoof:“Start the task now>>.

Keeping an eye on the progress the Sprite is making, and on what UWBR is showing of fight in the Citymaster, Sprogget turns most of his attention to the information that is coming through the now decrypted communications for the squad, looking to see what they can see, and any chatter about what they are doing. He sets it save on DR’s node as a reference for later, in case it is useful for finding out who and why this attack, and maybe prevent similar in the future. He also adds it as a separate feed to his connection to C&C.
@C&C[Sprogget]: <<Intercepted {communications feed}.>>

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

Osha

There, the mage is marked, Sprogget is about to unleash hell on that tank, you’ve got Spindle to the clinic, Bit is forwarding you the live intel and Cam hasn’t interfered…if it wasn’t for the elemental that has snagged Jazz and is dragging her back towards the waiting soldiers you could be thinking that everything was going to plan…

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

Sprogget

Fido is on station and you feel its satisfaction as the sensor lock is confirmed and the back mounted light machine gun opens up in a precision burst on the military mage. The targeting was good but the bloody mage seems to be preternaturally aware of his/her surroundings and uses the debris around the breech to maximum effect to avoid taking a significant amount of damage. Fido whines in annoyance and re-targets

Intercepted Transmission √@TacGrp1 [Command]: Incoming fire. Combat drone designated X1. Light it up! √ followed by √Fire in the hole! √ underslung grenade launchers are brought to bear whilst the mage cracks of a thermal smoke grenade to further obscure his location √@TacGrp1 [M2]: Popping smoke, target the breech for rocket strike √

Thankfully for Jazz’s drone the rigger clearly has other ideas as the Citymaster slews away from the breech in a confused manner, the unrelenting stream of fire from its cannon also petering out…

Intercepted Transmission √@TacGrp1 [Winter]: There’s another fragging spirit in here, your drek hot mage is dead, get me some support now if you want to see your payday! Arrgh… √

Your radar sensors reveal the Tacnet Op struggling with the door and presumably Winter just behind him as they bid to get away from the gut wrenching fear being wrought by Osha’s spirit

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

Gemeaux & Scrapheap

It’s clear something has happened to the damsel/Jazz and from your respective points you vainly try to see through the gloom. Despite all your sophisticated senses all you can see is each other, and then, vaguely you catch sight of Jazz’s limp form suspended in a swirling mass of air as she is propelled back towards Scrap and the way out…

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

As the reality of the situation sinks into him, Gemeaux cannot help but feel as though he has been neatly dropped into a cliche horror trid. Here he is, tramping about a sewer while a war rages on above him. He searches for a woman he has never even met, pursuing her not for her beauty, or even for money, but for...well, that is something he will have to figure out after things settle down. Finally, after traversing the aforementioned war zone, he finally reaches his goal only to find her square in the clutches of what is likely some magician's mystical chien.

Oh, good Lord.

Memories of his prior encounters involving spirits flood his mind. The one thing he remembers most vividly is how much mages such as the unscrupulous Mr. Hill enjoyed summoning them upon the un-Awakened souls---like himself in this unfortunately personal case. The tools and tricks of mankind seemed to do little to halt their advance.

Unfortunately, bullets, grenades, fists and feet are all he has to throw against the spirit at the moment. Still, he resolves to stand his ground and face the demon down here and now. After all, there is honor at stake, a woman in need of rescue, and---most importantly---he is French, damn it. Regardless of what others might think, that still stands for something.

The assassin takes a knee to line up his shot, quietly humming La Marseillaise to himself. Targeting data dances across his vision as his smartgun technology determines various firing solutions. He goes with his instincts, and squeezes the trigger four times. Four silenced shots streak from the rifle towards the spirit...

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

The breeze that went past Scrapheap carried with it the scent of cordite and filth, but he ignored it and kept the sights of his captured assault rifle trained down the tunnel. It was only when he saw the small formation of bricks jutting out of the wall that he knew was close to the jump that he turned around...and saw no sign of Jazz. It was at that exact moment that a small shimmer in the air appeared at his shoulder, chittering out a fragmented half sentence about a spirit holding the technomancer before being silenced. The scarred ork flung his vision around wildly, the confines of the tunnel seemingly half as small as it was when he came up them with the presence of something he couldn't see or touch.

He picked out the stranger with the odd accent coming towards him, and...then...There. A distortion of the patterns of ruined bricks broke the illusion the animate vortex of air had held, and he could see Jazz held within it. Fuck. Can't shoot it, I'll hit her, too. The sudden glow of muzzle flare from down the tunnel showed the other man was confident he wouldn't...or didn't care either way. Scrapheap dropped the AK on it's sling and pulled one of the machetes from it's scabbard, the now-familiar rush of adrenaline and anger flooding his nervous system.

"A'ight, fucker, dis should slow ya down!" He charged, the glinting edge of the machete held above his head.

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

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

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

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

@self:Ah!  There’s the first signal.

@Plant(5)+Confusion:“Go to phase 2”.

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Osha

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

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

Sprogget

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

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

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

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

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

√@M2 [Command]: Shit! √

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

Gemeaux & Scrapheap [/b]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He sends a text message to Oyl.

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

@self:Good boy!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sprogget

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

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

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

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

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

Gemeaux & Scrapheap

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

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

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

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

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

<Is anyone still alive out there?>

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

@Mordred[Sprogget]: «Welcome back.»

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sprogget

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

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

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

Sprogget finds the latest comms chatter very interesting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Osha

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

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

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

Sprogget

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Osha

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

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

Sprogget

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

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

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

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

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

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

Osha

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ Spoiler ]

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

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

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

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

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

Exhausted and hurting, he reviews the situation.

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

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

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

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

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

A message comes in from Oyl.  More bad news.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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