Don't touch this shiny red button! Must resist....ok, I made my Willpower test.

Ok, just to review, I've been hired by someone who has been embezzeling money from a small corporation. His superior has proof of this and has also removed him from the promotion computer (what a shocker - he sounds like a very motivated employee).

So my tasks are:

1. Erase the proof of his embezzling.
2. Make a copy implicating his superior.
3. Put the copy in a place where the supervisor won't be able to erase it.
4. Add his name to the promotion computer and ensure he's the one getting the promotion.

What I know:

The entire corp is connected to the Matrix except for some backup computers. I also have the password that controls the corp's thermostat which has no specific username.

Here's what I'm thinking: finding the proof of the embezzelment, making a copy, and erasing it should be somewhat straight forward. I then can edit the file to include the superior's name (do I know his name?).

Putting in a place where he won't be able to erase I'm not too sure of yet. My first thought was the offline backup comps but why would they be there in the first place and how am I supposed to get access to the physical location (is that out of the realm of this run?).

I then need to access the employee database (or something) and put my client's name at the top of the promotion list.

I also realized I kind of ignored the fact of where I'm jacking in from. For simplicity, I wanted to jump right into the run itself.

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Question: Analyze operations are opposed by the system's security right? So if do an Analyze Security, my security tally could still be going up right?

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Ok, what are my options now? Do I have to figure out what icons are what inside? Can I do a Locate File to find records of my client in the database?

Addendum: also someplace where someone else will find it.

That's not the method I was thinking of. This little bit is intended to encourage creative problem-solving rather than to be difficult in and of itself.

I'm fine with that.

Correct.

You can do a Locate File, or you can look for icons to try to spot security deckers, other SANs, active IC, or your uncle Joe-Bob. You get the feeling that the system has noticed something, so it might be a good time to get something done quick and then leave for a while.

Now I'm away to class, I'll be back in a few hours. Feel free to mull over and post actions while I'm gone.

~J

Ok gotcha. Copy, erase original, edit, replace in a visible area.

Hmm, is it a red herring? Maybe I can put it in a place where data/files are put before they are backed up. That way, it will get on the offline servers and someone will most likely see it.

Or maybe I could post it in their public database so legal visitors will see it. Ooh, that might work.

I think I'll try to do a Locate File to find the records of my client, make a copy and upload it to my headware memory (leaving the original for now), and then split. Then I can edit the file off-line and return later and replace the original with the edited one.

Ok, I just read it. I had NO idea about the 5 successes thing but I did just find it in SR3. I'm learning already!

So I'll try again: 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 10, 11

(I didn't read the 2nd spoiler)

simple action. once he tells the deck to do it, it does it. no check needed.

And I think it really only comes into play is in combat. If you are just sitting idle in the Matrix, I think you can swap stuff to your heart's content. At least that's how I read it. If there's something that very time-dependent, then it becomes an issue.

It might require a Null Operations test, but for now we'll skip it.

~J

Ok, I don't like the sound of that. Time to get out of dodge.

Assuming no Null Op test is required, I'm going to try a Graceful Logoff.

My Deception is 6:

1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 9, 10

Assuming I get out, I'll then edit the file offline by putting the boss's name in place of my client. I'll wait an hour or so then head back in....

Umm, what does that mean...?

Ok, I know things are probably pretty bad right now. How about an Analyze Security? (Analzye 6)

1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 8, 9, 9

I think I need to look up the rules for an "Un"-Graceful Logoff too.

There’s certainly a chance for you not to notice, that’s what makes Probe so scary. IIRC it adds dice to the system’s security test rather than raising your TN, but that does indirectly make it more difficult to perform operations.

~J

Nah, I won't read them. No biggie.

Ok, so how do I edit the file offline?

How big of a file is it anyway? What is the general scope of the contents? What did my client embezzel?, How much?, How did his boss find out, etc?

Uhh, is there anything else I should be doing?

After I do that, I'll probably wait about an hour and then head back in. The first thing I'll do when I get back in is erase the original file and replace it with the one I just modified. Then I'll have to find a "public" place the file as well. Maybe I'll look for a public company message board or something. I could even hack the company's home page. We'll see.

I'll then have to find the employee database and see if it has promotion info.

Do you want to go through the Logons again?

Which ones do I actually need? Do I have to Logon to the LTG, then the RTG, then another LTG, the the PTG? Let's say I'm in the Redmond LTG. Where do I go from there? What LTG is the corp located?

Ok, I'm going to head right back to where I found the original file. Do I need to do another Locate File?

If not, I'm going to do an Edit File and delete the original and then do an Upload Data to replace it with the one I editted. My R/W is 6 and IIRC, the system's File rating is 13.

Edit File (erase original): 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 10, 10 (my guess is 2 successes)

Upload Data (with editted version): 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 9, 9 (yikes, I'm hoping 2 successes again)

Assuming these succeed, I might do an Analyze Security to see where I'm at.

I don't!! I have to make Will checks everytime I see them!!

Joe Bob better have lots of large friends or he won't hang onto that deck for long.