>>Fine. I will leave making the arrangements up to you, then. By the way, I want to tell you that I think you are a good addition to the team.<<

You certainly get your mark on the host.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #421

>>The team? What team? Never heard of a team... What's its name? Does it have a mascot?<<

The Host marked, Cynthia looks into its protocol, to know which of the two processes it follows: individual packets, or generic ones.

OOC: Sorry. Was out trick or treating with the granddaughter.


>>Very funny. I will be talking to you later about that. Stay safe out there.<<

The news service would be easier to understand if you spoke or read Japanese. As it is, trying to make sense of the operation is pretty hard.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #422

>>Sure.<<

When she gets the files, Cynthia copies them to her 'link to get translations. It's a bit bothersome, but better than nothing.


Don't worry about it ^^
For the Japanese it shouldn't be a problem in the matrix, translations programs are really good, good enough that they can translate pretty much anything into anything else. In a much better quality than we do now...

You can transfer a number of files that seem to be pretty much unprotected, but without the translation, you do not know what you have. Software to do that should be available, but no one gives that drek away for free, at least no one reputable.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #423

Swearing profusely, already hating this Tanaka guy, Cynthia looks into translations programs: she'll buy one and have it run on her 'link, where it will translate files or audio. She would probably have needed it at some point, but it still pisses her off.

Yeah, that Tanaka is one guy it is easy to hate. An OK Japanese language translation program will cost you about 300Y and a good one about 1000Y. Once you have either downloaded, you can turn it loose on the files you have.

OOC: Which one did you buy?

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #424

Grumbling about the cost, Cynthia buys the good one, and feeds it the files.

It is like the stars are aligned against you today. Once you get the program loaded and running, you feed the data you have and find that most of it is useless drivel and has nothing to do with what you are trying to accomplish. But wait! Something. The data gods have finally tossed you a bone. You do have a link to the files for Tanaka's subscription list and find out that he gets a general packet of news each day, but he also has two specific packets delivered to him daily. One is a listing of advertisements for high class call girls and the other is news specific to gardening, with an emphasis on bonsai trees.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #425

Now Cynthia doesn't want anything less than shoot the guy. Or if not possible, to hit something. Well, she could manage by just eating something. Shell treat herself to something good when she's done.

Anyway... She looks at the data she found, trying to determine if Tanaka already received his packages for the day, or if there is at least one he has yet to receive.

Sadly, he has already received both packets today. Certainly this guy is worthy of the death penalty. Hmmmm, on a side note, most of the call girls in the adds he took this morning seem to be other than Japanese, with a large percentage equally split between girls of Russian extraction and those who are from Greater Europe by heritage.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #426

Cynthia grumbles some more. Still, foreign call girls means they would have to come from outside. Something she can probably monitor. If she can hack the 'link of the girl, it could allow her to get to identify Tanaka's link. Kind of a long shot, but she doesn't seem to have anything better at the moment.

Unless she manages to identify the exact call girl... To do that, she will try to hack the callgirls service, to find which girl is tasked to go to Tanaka's and when.

Some pretty good reasoning, but you are probably going to hate the guy even more when you realize that the ads in the packet come from three different escort agencies.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #422

With a sigh and some more grumbles, Cynthia leaves to her car. There's no use staying where she is for now, and at least in her car she can get into VR, which would make things quite easier. And a lot faster. There, she starts to hack the callgirls Hosts, to find which girl was asked for. With her luck, none of them, but... Well, she still has to try...



Hack on the fly (+2VR): 3#17d6t5 6 6 7 (limit is 5)

As you hack into the hosts of the three escort services, you realize that all of the adds seem to have certain physical traits in common; bust size, hair color, eye color, etc. Apparently, Tanaka has an account at each agency and usually places an order for one girl a week from all the ads submitted to him. His routine seems to be to select a girl on Wednesday to be delivered to his house on Thursday evening.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #423

With a resigned sigh, Cynthia accepts that things won't go her way this afternoon. She probably used up all the luck she had for the day in the morning... She notes she will have to hack those services the next day, checks Sherlock's work, then asks Eugene >>Hey, are you at your place or near it? Tanya suggested I spent the night there again in case Roger and his guys want to check on me, but I'd like to ask Sophie if that's alright...<<

After that, she starts to think about what she could do for the remainder of the day, nothing really appealing to her. Maybe she'll just go play something to change her mind, after she has spent a bit more time reviewing what she finds about the tactics used by small unit anyway.

There is a plethora of articles, manuals, and doctrinal guides that covers small unit tactics. You can pick some up and download them for free and others are cheap, at about 10Y each. Eugene gets back to you. >>Hey, glad to hear it. I am sure that Sophie will not mind, but I can talk to her about it and let her know you are coming back. The boarding house is still mostly empty, so there should be no trouble getting a room there. Why don't you come on back and maybe we can talk about our next steps?<<

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #425

>>I suppose I can. I have nothing better to do at the moment anyway so...<<

Before she goes back there, Cynthia picks up a few changes of clothes (jeans, t-shirt and one or two sweatshirts), a few panties and a toothbrush and toothpaste, then has her car take her back to the Cajun town. She makes sure she's not being followed, while she reads her findings.

There is quite a bit on social media to sift through and even Sherlock is having a tough grind, but the gate of the community is very stylized to appear almost as a work of art and is a popular picture spot for tourists to Little Japan. The gate and guards there have given the entrance the complete misnomer of "Forbidden City" on tourist blogs, but it does mean that you are able to see a lot of photos taken of people up next to the wall at the gate. A number of those photos do include the occasional car coming from or going to the compound inside the wall.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #426

As she buys the small stuff she'll need, Cynthia reviews Sherlock's finding and sighs a bit {Thanks Sherlock, I think you can stop here. It'll be quite useful later on, but right now I don't have enough data for all of this to be useful. I simply don't know enough to be able to use all of that...}

Sherlock nods and gives you his best stiff upper lip look before vanishing.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #427

Once she has all she wants (jeans, t-shirt and one or two sweatshirts, a few panties and a toothbrush and toothpaste) to once again spent the night away from home, Cynthia has her car take her to the Cajun Town. On the way, she plays in VR, hoping to unwind a bit.

Unwinding in the game seems to be a good idea because you feel refreshed by the time the car arrives in the lot outside Cajun Town. The deputy at the entry arch tips his hat to you and wishes you a pleasant experience as you pass by. Few tourists are walking the dirt road at this time of day, and those that do seem to be in a hurry to find the next souvenir or photo opportunity. Several kids run barefoot past you, chasing some sort of large rolling metal hoop and laughing. The mugginess has dropped a bit and a slight breeze from off the river seems to be cooling things off just a bit. The aroma of food cooking accompanies the breeze and you see what has to be the same three old men on the porch of the restaurant.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #428

As she gets out of her car, Cynthia takes her bundle of clothes in her harms, and walks in the direction of Sophie's restaurant. She nods to the deputy, greeting him with a simple "Hi.", and trying to do the same to all permanent residents. Good point is, they aren't too difficult to identify...

The men tip their hats to you without breaking their rhythm as you climb the stairs to the porch, the closest one giving you a gap=toothed smile. Inside, you see that two of the tables are occupied with tourists while Eugene is sitting at the table that gives the best view out the side window. Jeanette smiles at you but goes back to taking a customer's order. Eugene rises as you enter and walks towards you, his deep blue eyes reinforcing the smile on his lips. "May I help you carry some of that?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #429

Cynthia nods at Jeanette, but looking at Eugene seems surprised "You want to take my panties from me?" She looks at Eugene with big round eyes. After a couple of seconds Eugene spent struggling to answer to that, she laughs "I'll just put that besides the table, it's not heavy you know."

She frowns, pensive "Maybe I should have drily said I have a boyfriend instead. Or girlfriend maybe? What do you think?"

Eugene does splutter a bit and certainly turns red as he backs off and pulls your chair out for you. "Sorry. I was just....... Well, it's not like you have them hanging on the outside of what you are carrying." He helps you sit then goes back to his chair. "So, are you hungry?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #430

Cynthia seems shocked "So now you want to see my panties!?" She laughs as she sits at the table "Not that much to be honest, it's still early after all, and I had the breads for lunch not long ago."

She pauses, looking outside, then asks "Did you explain things to Sophie?"


I supposed it's still early, but I don't have any idea about the time it is, so don't hesitate to fix that of.course.

Tuesday June 12 2075 1817 Cajun Town Seattle


Eugene blushes a bit and turns away then looks back at you. "That is not what I meant, but if you want to show them to me.........."

Still blushing a bit, he sits down opposite you at the table. "You must keep odd hours. But I have not ordered yet and can wait. I have talked with both Sophie and Mama Lini and they are aware of the danger. Both of them as much as said frag this Roger. I think that you will be safe here."

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #431

Cynthia smirks, but lets the panties subject drop "Odd hours? Not really, but it's still a bit early to eat I think." She pauses, pensive, then shrugs "If they say so... I'm nit sure I would be that sure myself but... Oh yeah, I didn't send you the file right? Here."

Cynthia sends the recording of Roger and the two other men.

Tuesday June 12 2075 1825 Cajun Town Seattle


Eugene scans the file and his face gets serious. "Yesssss, I see what you mean. We should probably warn them and see if this changes things. Just knowing a little of those two, my guess is that it will not."

Jeanette comes to the table and hands both of you a paper menu. A quick glance shows you that it is the same as the one you say last night. "Good evening, Miss Cynthia, Mister Eugene, it is nice to see you again. Our special tonight is not on the menu. It is fresh salmon prepared with savory cajun spices to give it a truly lip smacking taste."

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #432

Cynthia shrugs "It may not, but they have to know. It's only fair since.it would involve them in something that is not their battle."

Answering to Jeanette, she says "Fish? Can't say I've eaten fish - real fish anyway - in a while... So I'll take the fish. And I'd say you can call me Cynthia since I'm not that older than you, but I suppose you'd tell me your mom would insist right?"

Jeanette licks her pencil and begins writing your orders down after Eugene says that he will have the fish as well. When done, she looks up and smiles as she nods. "Yes, Miss Cynthia. Iced tea?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #432

Cynthia smiles "Thanks, that'll be great."

Jeanette nods and walks away. Eugene lets her get away then turns to you. "Alright, so I was right and wrong about Roger. I had uncovered a couple of things that led me to think he might be with Renraku, but this use of a military rank is................well, odd. Any ideas?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #433

Cynthia shakes her head "Not really no. Don't they have ranks in their security services?"

"That is a good point. I do not know for sure. Hmmmm. I do know a guy that might be able to get that information. Should I contact him?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #434

Cynthia shrugs "You're the one who knows the guy in question not me you know... But would it change anything at this point? I mean, either he's Renraku and we don't learn much more than that - unless the guy happens to know a lot about matrix security in Renraku anyway - or he's not and we don't learn anything about that." She taps the table with her fingers, then adds "It probably can't hurt to be sure, but for now at least it won't help much I think, not without other information."

Eugene gives you an odd look. "I think that you are a very clever woman. And, of course, you are right, we would not necessarily learn more than we already know and why use up a debt chip for that. So, what is our next step, besides getting you settled in a room?"

Jeanette returns to the table with a tray of food, placing plates of steaming salmon adorned with cracked pepper and some sort of whipped potato and cheese concoction off to the side. Two tall glasses of iced tea follow then your tiny server smiles and turns back to the kitchen. Eugene watches the entire show then digs in, making appreciative noises as he takes the first bite.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #435

Cynthia smiles "Next step? Easy, it's food. Thanks Jeanette." For a while, Cynthia enjoys her meal in silence. Then, she picks the conversation up "For tonight, I'll just play. It's been a few days, and I'm tired. Tomorrow..." She shrugs "The people the mercenaries are looking for didn't ask for help, so there's nothing urgent. I suppose I'll continue looking into the Yakuza." She takes a sip of her iced tea, then adds "Of course, I'm supposed to meet Roger tomorrow..."

Eugene seems content to let you eat and consider your options and does not interrupt your thoughts. "Yes, Roger. He contacted me and told me that you had tentatively agreed to meet at the club tomorrow and asked if I wanted to join the two of you. By his words, he apparently has a much different opinion of my abilities when talking to me as when talking to others. I agreed to the meeting."

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #436

Cynthia shrugs "It's not your talents that have him unconvinced, he just things you're too... I don't know, principled maybe? Unlikely to accept whatever he has to offer?" she shakes her head "Anyway, I do hope we won't have to meet him in the end, I'm pretty sure I'd be completely unable to hide I know more than he thinks..."

After that, Cynthia cleans her plate but seems pensive, lost in her thoughts while looking outside.

The view out the window is one of quiet calm. The slight breeze ruffles through the huge trees near the river, making the hanging moss seem almost ghost-like. Candles and lanterns are on inside several of the rickety buildings you can see from here and several people are moving about indoors or sitting on wooden porches. From somewhere, you can hear the laughter of kids playing and at least two fiddles doing a duet from several buildings apart. Almost as an afterthought, you hear the soft tunes of a harmonica from near you, sort of punctuating that this is a nice place. Maybe too nice and out of the norm for Seattle in 2075.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #437

Only half seeing what's happening outside, Cynthia doesn't move for a couple of minutes. After that, blinking, she shifts on her chair. And starts to make some research about Margot Freed, the head of the Matrix Science Department of the University of Washington. When Tanya had introduced her, she hadn't wanted to have anything to do with her but... Well, it costs nothing just to look at the kind of researches she's doing.



Data Search: 14d6t5 3 good thing I'm not looking at anything hidden this time...

Margot Freed is very well known in her field and has been published a number of times in various journals as well as having written three books on the subject. She is young for her position, but was selected by the university board in a unanimous decision to fill the seat left vacant when the former chair had suddenly retired. There is quite a bit that you can access and download and it seems that her life is very public and very open.

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #438

Cynthia doesn't really care about Freed's life itself. What she's most interested in, is the kind of researches she's doing. As she's quickly reading some of them, she abruptly asks Eugène "Did you go to college?"

Freed is well known for her writings on the use of the resonance, but of late she has branched out to write about the theoretical applications of the resonance in non-standard means. Unfortunately, her theories seem to be past cutting edge and most of the experts in the field seem to be ridiculing her new ideas.

The question seems to catch Eugene off guard. "Uh.........no, not really. Tried it once, but there were incidents that caused me to drop. Why?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #439

Cynthia seems uncomfortable. She only answers after a few seconds "I'm not sure... I mean..." She looks outside, as if looking for inspiration there "I could. Well, there's the tuition problem, but I've finished high-school last year so..." She shrugs "I don't know. I'm looking at what I want to do, you know. I mean, what I'm doing now is fun and all, but..."

Eugene carefully puts his hands flat on the table. "So what do you want to do, Cynthia? What would your dream life be like?"

[Cynthia Rawson - Tuesday June 11th, 2075 - Downtown, Seattle] #440

Cynthia laughs curtly "If only I knew..." She looks at the ceiling, then adds "Maybe doing research could be fun... I don't know, but... Finding new things, developing stuff... That could be cool... I don't know if I'd be able to though..."