I made it up on the spot.

The actual story is that I think she's been playing a long con; but she got burned and can't finish it without outside help. I think the subtext of the story would be enough for her to gather that, without outright accusing her of misleading us. Does that seem fair?

-DrZ

That is fair - I'm not sure where you are going with it though. Assume for arguments sake she is running a long con - are you looking for a confession? Or are you just looking to try and let her know you are on to her without saying it outright?

@Lobo: So if you hadn't caught it, Mel is doing Matrix searches on the vase and the statuette, as well as trying to glean any/all info on the Good Samaritan.

ETA: Mel is currently running the following programs:
Virtual Machine
Browse
Signal Scrub
Toolbox

@Lobo: Can we consider another house-rule? It's always bothered me that hitting the threshold and hitting the threshold+1 does nothing for you on a Matrix Search. How would you feel about counting the hit needed to reach the threshold as the first hit? That way, if you actually beat the threshold by one, it takes half as long, etc? I'm not at all hung up on changing the rule, but I think success should be rewarded.

ETA: I didn't even think about it, but the second I saw you had added a pic of the bodyguard, it was going to be Bolo Yeung. I am laughing my ass off at my desk.

ETA: I didn't even think about it, but the second I saw you had added a pic of the bodyguard, it was going to be Bolo Yeung. I am laughing my ass off at my desk.

The other thing I will need to know when using your deck is what your ASDF is. For now we'll assume you have your Data Processing fairly high.

As for the Matrix Search - I'm fine with that, if the rest of the group is.

It's a good thing I'm going post-crazy today, since this up front stuff is 75% of Grease's involvement in runs, and I'll be significantly less available next week

I mean, I'm okay with it, I think the only other person it would routinely effect is Mel. Mel, how do you feel about the change?

I definitely agree with Jack's reasoning, and I would like that House Rule.

BillionaireMailingList.com? LOL, that's awesome. That's a big ass house. Is that golf course surrounding it in our game?

Can you, when you get a chance, update the map to include Chinatown?

It is a roughly rectangular shape, bounded on the north by route 285 and the south by route 88. The western boundary is the border with the PCC zone and the eastern boundary is Route 87.

ETA - do you need that sketch before you continue the conversation, or can I upload it into the dropbox this weekend?

I can do that, I guess just do it in a different shade like we have for the Warrens?

Chinatown has been added (please double check that it matches as you described). Do you want to give me a blurb to put into the description box?

The way you phrased that last comment made me think, "Not Grease"

I definitely agree with Jack's reasoning, and I would like that House Rule.

Thanks. I'm going to try and synthesize that into something a bit less lengthy for the map if that's okay.

OK, I put something in the description. I think I got most of the gist.

I'm also done with Jingfei, I believe. Although I think we need to talk to Chapel after she leaves...

OK, I put something in the description. I think I got most of the gist.
I'm also done with Jingfei, I believe. Although I think we need to talk to Chapel after she leaves...

Vehicular Crossings
Getting through a vehicular crossing point is much more of a production than passing through a pedestrian crossing. The actual procedure varies from sector to sector, but generally everybody in a vehicle has to get out and submit to the same kind of checkpoint process as a traveler at a pedestrian crossing. At the guard’s request, all luggage and objects in the car must be unloaded for a hand inspection. Meanwhile, the car – or whatever the vehicle happens to be – gets its own going-over.
The level of attention, shall we say, varies depending on a wide range of factors – whether the driver and passenger look harmless or suspicious, whether there’s any reason to suspect something amiss, the level of suspicion prevalent between the sectors, the phase of the moon, and the way you happen to comb your hair on the morning in question can all figure into this. You can never be sure. One day the border grunts give your car a quick once over with a hand –held chem-sniffer and scope out the underside with mirrors, taking a grand total of maybe sixty seconds. The next day they fraggin near strip it down to the frame. There’s no way of predicting what treatment you’ll get.
Frequent traveler passes are available for vehicles as well, but usually only for certified delivery vehicles and the personal vehicles of corporate or government officers. Like the personal pass card, the vehicle pass contains a transponder encoded with a drekload of relevant and irrelevant data. The data – the appearance, weight, configuration, number of passengers, and so on – is compared against the data on file. If it matches, wiz, if not, you’re fragged.
All deliveries have to be logged into the system at least 24 hours ahead of time. Special transit passes are available for certified and bonded couriers who handle same-day inter-sector delivery, but most data is shifted via the Matrix, so few companies work that turn.

Travel Passes
Any border-crossing post can issue a travel pass, but yours must be pre-authorized by sector management (oh, joy). You can apply for a pass electronically from any commlink, or by paying the sector management office a virtual visit via the Matrix. The datawork is relatively painless and short (shock!) , but don’t expect the rubber-stamp process. Applications can get bounced for the flimsiest of reasons.
As in most sectors, CAS Sector authorities record your citizenship data, landed immigrant status, work visas, or travel passes on your personal credstick. You must present your stick on request to any Knight Errant sec-guard who takes an interest in you.

Weapons
The CAS has a long standing love affair with “personal defense” weapons. Provided your credstick shows the appropriate license datawork, you can pack anything up to and including a heavy pistol. Another kind of license allows you to own, transport, and use semi-automatic longarms, and even certain kinds of autofire assault-style weapons. Of course, such weapons are licensed strictly for hunting. (Sure. Right. Uh-huh).
Everyone who’s ever tried it agrees that importing any kind of bang-bang brings more trouble than its worth. In theory, you can get the necessary import licenses, but the datawork and bureaucratic hoops and crosschecks (and on and on) make the whole experience about as pleasant as gargling cyberspurs. You might as well come in empty handed and buy what you need in-sector. (which is just what the CAS-based gun companies have in mind, I’m sure.)

Mel has all the info she needs from the woman.

I've been considering options, but hadn't thought to really post anything yet, but it might be a good idea to hash some of it out here before we start asking Chapel questions that we would know IC (but don't know OOC).

I think we have two basic options:
1) Coyote
2) Border Crossing

Coyote
PRO
- We can probably bring whatever personal gear we need.
- If done right, little interaction with security forces.
CON
- Won't be registered with the Sector government. We're foreign citizens based on our SINs and won't show any of the appropriate visas if stopped.
- Probably can't bring any vehicles and larger drones are questionable.

Border Crossing
PRO
- If we succeed, we'll legitimately be in the sector for all intents and purposes
- If we pull the job off with little fuss, we should be able to get back relatively easily.
- We may be able to get one of Grease's vehicles in, although I would imagine it is going to be searched pretty thoroughly.
CON
- Lots of interaction with security forces, including the need to acquire travel documents.
- If the run goes badly and we are either seriously injured or our covers are burned, this option probably won't be available as a return trip.
- Gear is likely to be very limited, particularly anything not firearms related.

Just a few thoughts off the cuff. The Border document is great, but I don't know if it really articulates the risks well enough to judge what would be our best choice. I figure that's what we might need to talk to Chapel about. I should probably check to see if my ZDF Border Guard buddy is working tonight, he might be able to help.

Yeah, I feel like these are some of the things that we need to get a game feel for... like anything hacking related with the borders. Remember when Overkill tried to hack that simple street camera?

I would rather go in legitimately. I think the most ideal plan is going to have us going in tonight and out either tonight or tomorrow. I think we could put together a reasonable cover relatively easily. If we went with something like Grease as a high-roller, Amy and Mel as "Lady Friends," and Jack as his bodyguard, my contact may be able to help us out since he thinks I'm a bodyguard.

A lot of it is going to depend on how we want to try to accomplish the run.

Yeah, I feel like these are some of the things that we need to get a game feel for... like anything hacking related with the borders. Remember when Overkill tried to hack that simple street camera?

I would rather go in legitimately. I think the most ideal plan is going to have us going in tonight and out either tonight or tomorrow. I think we could put together a reasonable cover relatively easily. If we went with something like Grease as a high-roller, Amy and Mel as "Lady Friends," and Jack as his bodyguard, my contact may be able to help us out since he thinks I'm a bodyguard.

A lot of it is going to depend on how we want to try to accomplish the run.

It seems to be that we have to make a decision: try to go tonight (a rush, with less prep, intel, options); or wait for tomorrow when security should be tighter.

That's no good! Hope you feel better soon.

P.S. Did you have any questions for Mrs. Johnson? I'm sure Lobo could ask the questions on your behalf.

Oh what I had in mind was to ask about magic security a bit more. Something about how one can sense magic as goose bumps sometimes, to try to get some information about wards/sec mages/spirits.

I'm feeling a little bit better today than I have for the past few days. But it's not great.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is worried that both of these items depict dragons in some way.