I could wish that unilingual speakers wrote English as well as you have, Crusher Bob (In another life, I've been a writer/editor ... which means I wince regularly while reading what passes for fluent native English.)

Okay, that's as far as I can get, just now. There's another edit of the previous two posts and another post owing, but I'll be away from computer (and city) until later this week (maybe Friday, maybe not until Sunday); and I've got to get other things done as well. What's taking me so long is that I'm writing things only as I know you've found out about them -- don't want to give away things you don't know yet.

Since that last post (pending) is to address all the currently active questions and/or actions, if someone wants to nicely summarise them for me, I'd appreciate it

Crusher Bob

To add to that, we could probably have Diamond call on one of his elementals to use its movement power on him. A Force 4 movement power would get him running at 48 meters in a combat turn; he could be behind cover in three seconds and down the street in five seconds.

And Diamond noe to self: pick up an Invisability or Mask spell as soon as possible.

Was hoping to have more things done by now. The megaposts still aren't fully updated (sigh). So I'll fast-forward here to the questions of the moment (thanks, Crusher Bob! that helped immensely). Oh, and this picture of your target is courtesy of SuperSpy


1. Trogdor's Fate

Currently: being swept backwards along the passage, a way he doesn't want to go.

Non-available option: astral travel against the current.
Available options: travel through the earth, self-disruption, other?

No matter what, Trogdor is completely on his own at this point. Note that it is still potentially possible that if he doesn't figure out something soon, he breaks the terms of this infiltration. Anyone want to start up a Dumpshock thread about the feasibility of self-disruption, rules notwithstanding? I don't think we did before, I'd really like to see other people's opinions on this, and I've definitely used up my "quota" of new threads for the day.


2. Ghost, Juliana, Solitaire, Advent

Currently: in the elevator, bolting for the roof. Ghost is staggering, but she's probably not going to pass out, and she's still (barely) capable of moving under her own power, although she's not going to say no to Juliana's physical support (braced, arm over the shoulders kind of thing). Juliana's still got that collar on, the burns on her wrists go considerably beyond raw (she's trying to minimise skin contact, there), and otherwise she's torn and dishevelled as hell, but she's still keeping going. Maybe it's the sustained level of fury. Advent's dealing with the second Lone Star call from the other security guard, and also trying to retrieve his in-building drones. Solitaire's concentrating on control of the elevator and related security systems: either the system is gradually becoming aware of her, or else one of the guards did something to take the system from passive to active. Current tally: 8.

Options: For now, Solitaire has total control of elevators and the various motion detectors etc. She can bolt the elevator up to the 10th floor in a matter of seconds, if she wants. By the same token, she can slow down the security staff heading for the roof via elevator, to take up to six minutes (without doing something really extreme, like stalling the elevator). Solitaire guesstimates (hopes!) she'll still be okay for another minute or two ... which could be enough time to get Ghost and Juliana up to the roof and gone, if all goes perfectly. (Does Ghost know how to fly one of these things? or is it a drone?) Advent will need a minimum of 5-10 to get the drones back, hiding is an option, but if he doesn't get them out now, odds are he won't be able to retrieve them period. Anything traceable there?



3. Diamond's Escape

Currently: wishing he had an Invisibility spell. He's surrounded by gangers, about to be caught in an intergang clash, while some of the gangers he's with are taking wirecutters to the fence. Shots being fired, and a hell of a lot of different kinds of spurs and blades and shivs. If the situation was ever in control, it's not now.

Non-available option: Stealth. He's kind of been the centre of attention before, the big guy from outside who brings money. He's also been swept to near the centre of the gang, physically. You think they're just going to overlook him bolting?

Available options: Running and Movement have been brought up, pending exact description.

The exact situation:

Okay, so Diamond had let himself get swept along with the rest of the gang until they started getting up close to the front of the building (outside the fence), and then he was actively trying to hold them back a little until the other gang could get there, but "his" gang was already out of control by that point, and now the other gang's arrived and thirsting for blood. It's a given that Diamond didn't want to be in the centre of this situation. It's just that he was trying to maintain control of the gang while trying for a "staged" fight, and the more it was slipping away, the harder it got. So now he's caught near the centre of "his" gang, which is surging toward the other gang and carrying him along with it. I think even Movement requires a way to get clear first?

The street is a two-(unmarked) lane "truck" road (though not yet zoned for trucks), about 7 metres wide. (You'd determined the exact dimensions, somewhere back on p.3 of the original thread.) During the day there is very occasional traffic, but Diamond hasn't even seen headlights since the gang swarmed here. Who knows? maybe there's a media traffic report drone up there or something; or it could be complete coincidence, it's not a highly used area. Just as well: the gang's pretty much filling it. Just before the "near" fence corner belonging to "your" building ("near" being defined as relative to the direction from which the gang approached) is one of those stripped cars, once a blue Ford Americar. There's also a streetlight pole just past the "far" fence corner -- no light from it though, it's been shot out. A couple of gangers from the other group have climbed it. There's some interior light seeping from the "funky burnt rubber smell" building beside "yours", and a bit more from what might be a couple of portable caged torches in the gutted building. There's no light coming from the glass and steel building, but the panels reflect and occasionally diffuse what little light there is. This area doesn't have street cameras in it yet; and if it had (say it with me ) they would have been shot out.

The gang Diamond's with has spread out over the width of this street, and roughly along the first half of "your" fence, right up to the gate and a little past it. A relatively small space on the other side of the gate marks an effective "no man's land"; it's being eaten up quickly as Diamond's gang surges ahead to clash with the other.

To the best of Diamond's knowledge, the gang he's with had about 25 or 30 members (I think? I didn't find this anywhere, but I could have missed it). That number seems to have swelled a bit: there's probably about 40 or 50 people this side of "no man's land", and about the same on the other side.

Okay -- was that enough to start going on? I'll keep working on the megapost summaries -- useful for me as well! And please, if anyone notices any contradictions, let me know?

Either I'm an idiot, or your search-fu is better than mine; or both. I'd completely forgotten about that.

And now I'm really kicking myself -- looks like all I had to do was just hold it together another page or so, and we would have wound it down. I knew we were close! I am so sorry about that.

Hmm ... then, if everyone who's still involved is agreed (is everyone?), we can wrap it up here. You (pl.) decide on wrap-up plans taken by every member of the team; I'll let you know if they live through this (Diamond really doesn't have good odds, but he does have a chance that still legitimately qualifies as being real -- so maybe for that one I'll choose actual TNs for you to roll against; ditto any Magic loss, as appropriate); I summarise who lives, who dies, and the fallout from all this -- and then we go straight to post-mortem analysis? Because there, I can at least say the "what would have happened if ..." 's.

Or am I now getting too far ahead of where I should be at?

I got the impression we were being paid all the cute puppies we could eat

Going uup into the air with levitation will probably result in too many bullet holes, 'drifting' towards some of the cover (is the car or lamppost available?) and then heading into one of the buildings is probably a more covered route. In the first set of cover, Diamon can call the elemental, and cast levitate hopefully without being gunned down. Then it'll be prefft fast to get into one of the buildings through a window or doorframe. Then an exit via a different side of the building will make for a cleaner getaway.

I think we're pretty much ready to hear the wrap-up. It sounds like Trogdor's only option is self-disruption.

I was hoping Diamond could use some of that Charisma and leadership type stuff to say, "You guys go get 'em, I'll cover your rear." How'd the poor guy let himself get between the gangs with no options? No armor on the command van for a smush into the middle of the crowd type rescue?

Edit: The warwagon has 5 pts of armor. I doubt even a hundred angry gangers can stop it. Would it be breaking the terms of the run if the warwagon crashed the ganger party? How far away is the warwagon? Do we want to consider it? Is the Star on the way? That would discourage the warwagon, but would provide chaos to possibly allow escape for Diamond. I just don't want to lose him.

And that's another option ... although it might bend the no-traces part of the run. To the best of your knowledge, the Star isn't on the way yet. (Calls were intercepted by Advent.)

I'll follow up on what decisions are made here in 12 hours.

Okay, 36 ...

And I was also tossing in the warwagon as a viable option. That, really more than the levitation, is the one that has the potential to bend the non-observation rule more than slightly.

I'll give it about another 10-12 hours in case anyone wants to add anything -- at least, that's how long before I have any real time -- and then I'll get back to this. Two requested points of clarification:

1) Solitaire is delaying the elevator long enough not only to get Ghost and Juliana out, but also to retrieve the ferret?

2) Are either Diamond or Trogdor having their spirits on-call do anything?

The only quick reference I can find is on the first page of this thread, in the re-posted plan:

I was playing fast and loose, focusing on effective of use of equipment and planning over detailed cost breakdowns. Thank you for digging that up, Eyeless Blond. (Sunday. Looking forward to a day when I'm not posting in two rapid 10-minute intervals daily.) Does the ferret's job alter what you've proposed, re plan for Advent/Solitaire?

Fyi -- it seems to be just you, Eyeless Blond, posting actively now? I'm trying not to cut anyone else active out (Crusher Bob, Da9iel): but I also don't want to hold this up, waiting for people who aren't going to post. If anyone else wants to jump in, it's an open thread; but if no one else has added anything by mid-tomorrow (when I get back on-line), I'll just go ahead and resolve whatever you've posted, Eyeless Blond.

Hm. You know, this is a thornier problem than I realized too. Here's the crux of the dilemma: we have Solitaire guarding the elevator to keep the guards from getting to the roof quickly. If she's piggybacking off the laser that's guiding the ferret, we can't have them disengage the ferret without losing control of the elevator. If she's not, then she's using a radio link or similar and there's no need to be so radio-stealthed with the ferret, is there? Honestly, even if everything's moving through that laser there still should be a radio backup, just in case of fog or rain (y'know, being Seattle and two or three encrypted burst transmissions shouldn't be caught that easily.

Either way, what we need to do first is forget the ferret and the whole electronics setup for the moment and concentrate on getting Package and Ghost off that roof. Once they're away (or close enough that the guards won't catch them), what I propose is having the ferret hole up in the air duct, sealing it up behind him is possible, and idle until we come back for it (when the guards get off of that roof). It would only take a few burst transmissions (only the few needed to get it to come back out of the ductwork, and maybe one or two for sealing/unsealing the vent), which should just be dismissed as noise. Meanwhile with the low-light and distractions elsewhere, the guards should never notice the holed-up ferret, and when they get off the roof we can come back for our stuff. Solitaire would of course logoff a couple of seconds before the "hide" command to keep from getting dumped.

To see how this should all go down, what we really need are maps of where the relevant pieces are. The ferret is of course currently parked near the ductwork entrance furthest away from the gang war distraction, and nowhere between the elevators and the distraction, but where is the dataline tap? Where is the elevator iin relation to the distraction staging area, the electronic infiltration staging area, and the ducts the drones are in? Where can we put the ferret to get it the most cover?

*Whew* This is quite a brain-teaser.

Oh, and call me Eyeless, or Blondie (my nickname in college, ugh ) "Eyeless Blond" somehow reads too formally, like someone using your full name all the time.

I'm back! Yes, I had a nice "weekend." Apologies to Talia and company.

I agree that the war wagon isn't the best option. I just was throwing out other desperate ideas. The guards are paying too much attention to the gang war. A veritable tank crashing through would make their little minds think too much. A coward mage making tracks isn't as obvious. I agree that Diamond should be able to stay cool, look cool, and GTF out of there. The elemental would be expeditious when he's got a second of cover, but until then, levitate and hope the other gang doesn't have an astrally perceiving spellcaster that thinks he's worth it. It's dark. God be with him.

Is standing and fighting for the closest gang an option? No, "geek the mage first" will get him dead too soon. I can't help but think this place's aura is screwing with people. Was it Ghost or Trogdor that was getting "angry?" Cleansing metamagics anyone? [edit]Ah, Ghost, but not Trogdor. Either Trogdor made his save, or it only affects physically present people. Ishy![/edit]

The rest of the plan as summarized by Eyeless (Blondie - hehe) sounds good to me too.

Eh, most of the faster posters say what I would have said anyway. I'll usually come up with a bit more detail, but all the brute work has usually been done by the time I get here.

Leaving the ferret is probably the best bet... Are the ducts big enough for it to get it? It's bigger than the spider drones are.

Hmm, having an elemental provide portable cover might work, is there anything that an elemental could pick up and move around handy?

It takes only (I think) a Simple Action to call up an already-summoned spirit. Diamond's distracted as hell, but he's not indisposed ... yet

Hmm, getting an air elemental to make a dust storm might do the job. How big an area could two force four elementals cover? (This is assuming that one is not used for it's movement power).

Some relative of the engulf power, I guess.

Hi guys, I haven't posted here before, but over the last week or so I have been reading through the whole thing. I thought of a couple possibilities to get Diamond out. Both have risks, but I thought I would at least share them.

One is to cause a distraction for your distraction, meaning cause something that will distract the two gangs for a few seconds so that Diamond can run away. An explosion in a nearby empty building or abandoned car could do it. I think I read somewhere that the other buildings aren't occupied. If large enough, an explosion would distract everybody for a few seconds, even the security guards. Also, since there isn't much light at all in the area it could temporarily blind people. Depending on how far Diamond is from cover, he might be able to escape without too much trouble and it doesn't point directly to any shadowrunners in the area, it could be explained as one of the gangs getting serious about taking out the other.

Another option is to go ahead and get Lone Star to come. This would give everbody, including the members of both gangs, a good reason to flee. If everybody else runs, Diamond would be able to do so also. He would be at risk of being captured by the Star, but at least he wouldn't be dead and he would have a chance to escape. I don't think Lone Star would notice the extraction of the package since all of their attention should be on the ground with the gangers. Also, the lack of lighting would help with that.

Okay, who didn't burst out laughing when they read

(Note that I use the word script interchangably with Command Set below. It actually sounds simpler that way.)

Command Sets are all on page 87 of Matrix. Basically for on-the-fly command set generation you spend a Complex Action for each command you want to string together, up to a maximum of half your Programming skill, rounded down (so in this case you can get up to three). Not that this part isn't opposed by the system; you're basically writing a batch file on your own deck.

Then you activate it: for the decker this requires nothing more than a single Null Operation (see p. 218 SR3; the host's Security value is modified based on the time between when you upload the command set and when the last operation is completed). Count the number of net successes for this test; if the command set raises the security tally by more than this number then the command set is discovered and shut down.

Once a command set is activated, each of the System Tests are rolled right then and there (by the GM, of course; the player doesn't get to know whether or not his script will fail or when). The decker makes his System Tests, modified by whatever utilities he had loaded when the script was activated, with an additional +1 for not actually being there, and no hacking pool applied. Again, keep in mind if the Tally raises by more than the number of net successes on the Null Op during this time the script is discovered.

It doesn't seem like IC can do anything to command sets, but a decker can spot them with an Analyze Subsystem test and crash them with a Crash Application test. Scripts are also lost if a host shuts down.


That's about it. Hm. Did that violate a copyright law?

I wouldn't worry too much about copyright law with that little paragraph.

a) I've seen much worse here at dumpshock and much, much, much worse directly linked to from dumpshock.

b) If command sets were the only think keeping me from buying Matrix, I'd go to the book store, peruse, and jot down. You didn't just save me $15. (Not that it won't change when Matrix 4th ed comes out.)

edit: Technically, I think that intellectual property was just illegally reprinted, yes.

Hey everybody. I'm checking in... Just posting to say I'm here now. I'll edit this post if I have anything useful to say once I've caught up on what I missed.

I hope I'll still have something to contribute.


<3 for Talia, good to have you back.

Edit:


I don't feel like digging, but did we try to see if J could do anything about Ghosts' wounds? I'm sure I asked before, but I don't remember the response.

Okay, so final verdicts everyone?

Oops, sorry, were you waiting on me? I'd thought I was staying out of the way of active discussion. Let's see:

I'm currently in the bundoks of the Philippines, so my net access is esentailly non-existent. Sorry for not mentioning it before I left, but if kinda slipped my mind. Ill be back to HK in arond a week.

For decontam precedures, we'll need to isolate the people exposed (Ghost, Trogdor, Juliana) and watch them for a while... Especially any changes in their astral signatures, emotinal states, etc.

We'll probably want to get rid of the clothes etc, in case there is some physical danger (along with an improvised surgial scrub...) With an ataul skill in cleaning (at 3?) Diamond can improvise something (if he survives, anyway).

The getwaway plan was to assemble at the medicine lodge, get Galina to look at everyone, and maybe get a night rest (removing stun damage, finish decontam) before even thinking about dropping off the package... I'm not sure about the time pressure for the dropoff though, was there any? Since it looks like we'll get her away without 'notice'. There's also the quickened spell, or whatever it is, on Juliana.

Lets get everyone who is still alive back to the medicine lodge, get at least marginally put back together, and worry about all that outher stuff once we get there.

Good idea. I think we have a plan of action set for (so far):

Ghost/Julia
Trogdor (such as it is)
Diamond

and all we need now is Advert/Solitaire. First, Solitaire. Since her connection is all linked up with the drones, she needs to get out before we do anything with them. So what we do is have her toss together a command set to keep the elevators moving at the necessary speeds, and whatever other commands are necessary to keep the cameras from spotting Ghost and Julia for the duration. Then she can jack out, and place a call to Lone Star to come by and break up the brewing gang war.

Now for Advert. Personally I think we need to simply abandon the walker drones, if not down the ventilation shaft for the moment, then in a corner somewhere that noone will see them, if that's possible. We can always come back later to retrieve them. Even if the drone has to take a tumble down the shaft we can retrieve it later with an air elemental supplied by Diamond, or even some sort of grapple-thing from the carrier blimp. Either way, keep them out of sight, as spotting them could blow this whole thing wide open.

Okay, looks like you're all fairly agreed on Ghost/Julia / Trogdor (such as it is) / Diamond; and on the "Lets get everyone who is still alive back to the medicine lodge" recuperation and detox detail ...?

So I'll just wait for finalising Advent / Solitaire, then: since it's relevant to the success of your escape.

Re Angel:

Which would you see as the "one mistake" Angel made, Shanshu Freeman?

Hmm, I'm not the biggest Angel fan, but does this mean his tragic flaw was being 'human' when the world needed a hero that wasn't?

Anyone else, or do I go with what's been said?

Re Angel:

I'm also reminded that Angel had misinterpreted Cordelia's vision at least once before, thereby killing another demon who'd also chosen the path of redemption. (Remember the medieval court?) What's coming out, often, is that (from Angel's pov) if he can't deal with something, no one possibly could -- but is this necessarily true? In his personality, Angel also comes across as intensely jealous, possessive, territorial, and a stalker: any or all of which might cast suspicion on the validity of his judgement as to what he personally "has" to do.

Run with it (pun intended).

Angel: part of the reason he exhibits those traits is possibly do to his status. He is, afterall, a vampire. Soul or not those are all traits of the vampires in the series. Look at Spike's behavior regarding Buffy (or Drusilla, or even Harmony). Look at Drusilla's behavior for that matter. Yeah, she was pretty much a crack head but still...It was pretty much the same--albeit "darker"--as Angel's.

If you're extracting somebody, how do you leave no trace of your being there? Eventually they are going to notice that person is missing?