*****PRIVATE SpotOn
>>>>>[ Hey, ya really got hold of that fraggin tape did you ?  I've been trying
for ages to get hold of that, how's 300 sound ? ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

>>>>>[ I've seen something like that happen before (but not to me, of
course). The program that was being used was restructured into a different
style program that attacked it's user; specifically, a trace and locate
became a reversed trace and dump.  We hypothesized that our foe had
managed to alter and realign the program's function parameters by using
the design schematics of the program (similar to a back door, of sorts) to
reroute its main current running program.  However, this had only been
accomplished after our tnkering troublemaker had been able to analyze the
program during its execution and procedure.  How long and when did your
adversary have the possibility of analyzing the program, and where did the
program originate? [A safety lesson here, kids....never use a name brand
program.  Best to write your own....] ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <15:18:42GMT/04-20-55>

>>>>>[WHAT, any information that you could provide would be greatly
appreciated. 

{DOWNLOAD: File122.123...................}]<<<<<
        -- Talon <VITRIOL>

***** Private: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[ I want more information regarding some of the background involved.
What did 'Jac' do that landed him in confinement.  What's the nature of his
charge and how long has he been imprisoned?  What is the state of the
trial?  Does he require 'special watching' (i.e. is he a mage, adept, or
especially slippery character)?  Why the bug connection?  how much time
do we have to prepare?  I am also curious as to the heavy corp connection
on this extraction, but it is not necessary information.  My specialty is
getting the job done.  If a special skill is required for the job that I
do not possess, I bring a lieutenant whom I know does. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <15:30:49GMT/04-20-55>

*****Private TO: Dark Angel
>>>>>[Dark Angel, I would love to go and have dinner with you!!  When do you
wanna go?]<<<<<
        --  Patricia O'Connor(18:30:40/04-20-55)

*****Private to: Quickling
>>>>>[Um, pardon me, but a report on some very strange Matrix activity just
crossed my path.  Your name was involved.  Need some help?]<<<<<
       -- Dark Angel <18:10:09/04-20-55>

*****PRIVATE TO:  Dark Angel
>>>>>[I'm believe I can get an individual who is skilled in close-combat.  I
assume you mean hand-to-hand fighting.  We are both able to begin at anytime.
Where do you wish to meet?]<<<<<
        --  Thornn <16:59:28/04-20-55>

>>>>>[Kneecaps, I believe I have found a job for both us.  I am waiting to hear
back from the employer.]<<<<<
        --  Thornn <17:01:06/04-20-55>

>>>>>[About fragging time, I was beginning to run short on cash.]<<<<<
        --  Kneecaps <17:15:03/04-20-55>

>>>>>[I chanced across a few of those frames today, and I actually managed to
trash one before I automatically cut out.  ***A/V Include: System Log***  See
what I mean?]<<<<<
       -- Dark Angel <20:31:27/04-20-55>

>>>>>[Whew, everyone we just had a major battle.  We were comming back
from a club downtown when STREETWOLF and myself were attacked by a couple
of snipers. These snipers were the same two that have been following us
for a while, Well they finally decided to take action.  They both took aim
on us and shot us.  i was hit in the chest, injured seriously.  STREETWOLF
was hit in the chest as well, but he didn't feel the pain.  He decided
enough was enough and let out the wickedest flamethrower spell I have ever
seen.  Needless to say those two gangers are still burning.  The strain
must have been too much for him, cause as soon as he cast the spell and
saw them die, he collapsed.  We had to wait for DocWagon to come and take
care of us.  He is still outta it.  I think the spell took a lot out of
him as well as not getting the sleep that he needed. He is fine but he is
still asleep from the drain.  he should be back up and around in a few
days as good as new.  And yes I am fine as well, but I am not 100 percent. 
but what do you expect.]<<<<<
        --  Colice Brightstar(23:00:25/04-20-55)

>>>>>[ It's been an exasperating day.  After a week and a half of avoiding
the house for one reason or another we finally went back to it.  The mail
was atroicious, tons of junk mail, and a few hate letters.  The [REDACTED] at [ng] that
had been watching our house had left, and we called in a few favors to
have the house checked and protected a little more. 

The house was fine from what we can tell, we have a good security system
and it doesn't lOOk like anyone got in.  The outside of the house is
another matter. Besides ther obliogitory cross burnt into the grass, a
trashed mailbox and grafi%ti all over, there were a few dead birds
fl*ating in the pool.  A good friend of mine checked it out and said the
pool was pretty )( screwed up, way beyond fixing, we would basically have
to get a new pool.  The reason he says is that someone put fluoro$ulfonic
acid in the pool, not that much really, just enough to drop the pH to
about 1.5, with fluorosulfonic acid thats nothing. 

One thing that helped make the day better and worse was to read the
birthday greating from Doctor Doom.  It waZSZ nice to know that even while
in so much trou#ble, the good Doctor would think that far ahead to
remember my birthday. The bad part is of course the reminder of the
situation he is in and the fact that /I/ really don't know how to he!p. 

Huh?...... 

Sorry about that, I thought I saw something strange in the house system. 
NO it wasn't a [REDACTED] at [emon], they have all been purged from the sy%stem, it took
me about an hour but it worked and no k<new ones have shown up. 

Circuit Break&er, I think you and I should tRi and see what we can do
about decifuring one of thes=e Angel/Demon pair$ by doi_ng both icons at
one time. We'll lock out a!! other ones and eac+h takey an icon, i7 want
one of the demons, one of() the bloated ones, I have a large dislike for
them. 

Huh?...... 

There it w3as again.  Nothing really, it ju&*st seems like the removing of
the Demon/Angel pa&irs did some damage t$o the system when they
"explO)ded".  I keep on ge++ing ill-dEfined matrix geography, like
something got <knock>ed out of whack. NothIng a li%ttle fine tun#ing won't
fix, [REDACTED] at [ts] the probl&em of having an older ma-ster sy_stem in your hOuse,
theIr not [REDACTED] at [p] of the line *and tend to gunk up e^ery so often&. 

Hmmmm..... 


EE$EE&EEE%EEEEEEiiiii!i#ii*iiiiiiiii !!!!!!!!!!!!

*****Household System message
Intruder was detected on 4-18-55.  All notices of this intrusion are to
delayed until specified time ALPHA has been reached.  "Revenged is so much
better when served cold and slowly.  I hope that this does it job well and
causes you much pain and a premature delivery, maybe you'll even
miscarriage.  I see that you were too stupid and egotistical to have
listened to the warning "ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE" Ha ha ha ha
ha ha ha ha!!!!! Have a nice day Slitch!!!"

*****Link terminated*****]<<<<<
        -- Spirit <@f th# M^tr!%>

*****Private to: Tech
>>>>>[ Tech, I'm leaving you a message on the tortoise port of your machine.
While you were out getting groceries, your system activated.  I don't know what
happened, but I want you to know I didn't do it.  Gotta fly.  Cya.
-Jazz ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <22:07:14GMT/04-20-55>


>>>>>[ Holy.....!  Jazz, I know it wasn't you!  Somehow, someone just
borrowed a copy of some of my most powerful programs, including a sleeze
and an attack! 

###Analyzing Records### 
###Processed###

Hmm.....the connection was through an LTG node that looks like a dummy
account belonging to...Spirit?  I'm going to see if I can 'contact' her
and see if she can spread some light on why she wanted some of my programs
so badly. ]<<<<<
        --Tech <00:14:54GMT/04-21-55>

>>>>>[*Groan* Widow might not like my coming on here like this, but I feel
a need to respond to Tech's misinformed comments. 

My Hounds are almost entirely my own design. They are a variation of Trace
& Report IC. What they do is look for a particular MPCP signature, track
it down, and let me know where the signal is coming from. I've been using
them for a while now, and they are not available anywhere else (although I
am sure there are similar frames around). 

My hound was co-opted by Dante. He had an opportunity to analyze the
program the last time we "squared off". I haven't upgraded the code since
then, and he could use the info he gathered to modify it in the time he
had. Especially if he had a virus already preset to attack the hound. 

I write all of my own programs. Nothing brand name for this... 
*****Signal Terminated*****

>>>>>[Sorry guys, he wasn't gonna shut up unless I shut him off. Don't get
him started on a Matrix discussion. He'll talk your ear off.]<<<<<
        -- Widow <02:44:10/04-21-55>

>>>>>[Chance & Co, I have received a request for your services from a
Johnson. It looks to be a datasteal/extraction of some sort. They asked
specifically for you, and they would like to meet you to discuss the run.
Please get in touch with me and I will tell you the place and time. I
await your response.]<<<<<
        -- Warehouse <03:09:21/04-21-55>

>>>>>[ Well, I'm not Freddy, but I haven't found any takers to harass the
bozo who ripped me off. He has a wonderful wooden desk with lots of space
under it; why don't you go there and split it with some Kung Fu? I might
even pay some, even though the fun of it should be enough :-) ]<<<<<
        --  Pet <10.27.20/55-04-21>

>>>>>[Talon, this may sound a bit funny but I was involved in a 'bit of
biz' in Germany and France with this girl, or her twin sister. I could be
wrong, but .... I'm ....erm,oh frag it ! Try the handle Crystal. I hope to
God *oops*, sorry Father, er bugger, that it ain't, or drek could hit the
fan. 

If she's your girl, then meet me at the Blue Ax in the P. Barrens for more
data.]<<<<<
        -WHAT(13:46:23/21-04-55)

>>>>>[ Hey WHAT isn't Crystal the girl you had a thing with back in France or
was that Lucy the secret service agent from hell ?  Funny how some people come
back like a bad smell eh ?  Mind I'm talking about Dante when I say this.
Catch yer later, I fancy a few bevies before I start work for the day. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (14:24:34/21.4.55)

***** Private: Maddoc
>>>>>[Basically, my employee got in a fight with one of his neighbors. 
This old codger beat the holy bejeezus outta him and he got a chip loose. 
This chip started firing off impulses into parts of his brain and he
started getting really paranoid. 

He told me that some guy named Vilya told him he's being hunted by a
Mantis shaman and her brood.  Whatta fraggin' joke.  If I ever get ahold
of that sick fragger I'm going to rip him a new sphincter. I've got
expense vouchers down here along the order of 15K =Y= to this Vilya kook
for assorted magical servies!  Takin' over Jac's head is more like it! 

Anyway, so Jac starts loosing it fast and arms himself to the teeth. He
took an advance on the rest of the years salary, as well as draining his
budget this year, to do it.  On the fourteenth, his landlord came up to
ask him a few questions about something.  (All of this is from the
datafaxes that have been floating around for the last few days.) So his
landlord hits one of Jac's traps and gets blown up.  His wife calls in the
cops and they stormed the place. After a few hours of exchanging rounds
they finally rushed him and took him down.  The way I read the datafaxes,
he's in Fort Lewis Intensive Care right now.  I don't really understand
Seattle law too well, but I imagine he needs to be present at his trial in
the City- State Courthouse.  As far as I know he hasn't even been
arraigned, yet, which might get him off.  Of course, the grenades they
used to bring him in, screwed him up even worse and he isn't quite all
there right now. 

As for special conditions, well, he's pretty well brain-fried right now,
but nothing really special.  Oh, yeah, he's been dead, officialy, for
about seven years or so, and they really aren't sure who he is. 

I don't know how long we have.  I imagine we could do it anytime, if the
courts are as slow in Seattle as I hear we've got a few weeks anyway.  The
only corp connections are that he works for Frypp Security (namely, me)
and Lone Star was involved in his arrest (natch). 

If you're wondering why I want him out, I want my fraggin' loans paid off. 
The dumbass wasted a whole drek load of my assests.  He's gonna be working
at minimum wage to pay off his debt with the rest of his salary for about
the next fourteen years. 

I think that's everything.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:59:59 / 04-21-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

***** Private: Pet
>>>>>[What in Jackal's name are you babbling about??  Of course, yer
not Freddy, I'm Freddy!

Waitaminnit.........<evil grin>

I may need your particular services sometime soon (hell, I need your
particular services about constantly...) on this little op I'm putting
together.  Is there any chance you could be available for <heh, heh> a
little distraction (Not me, our targets.  All you might need to do is walk
across a street and talk to some security.)??? 

Hmmmmmm.......... Oh, the possibilities........]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (10:05:34 / 04-21-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150 

>>>>>[It seems I've missed someone's birthday. Although I do not know you,
I wish you a happy birthday, Wendy Morgan.]<<<<<
        --  Aardvark (17:29:13/21-4-55)

***** Encrypt: DES.v0.13.alpha Personal to: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Got your message, Freddy, but I've got some questions. First, who is
Jacamus? Why is he locked up anyway? Secondly, any info on the route? Any
connections that might come in handy? If this is to be a brute-force
operation, we might need some artillery. Somebody can handle an assault
gun? It might, however, be more easy to "replace" the drivers of the
armored car with our people, and the rest of the group could take care of
the escort. 

Is the group already complete? If I know how many men (or woman) we have,
I might come up with something useful. 

Anyway, with the right contacts we should have Jacamus out of there in no
time. Keep me informed.]<<<<<
        --  Aardvark (17:55:13/21-4-55)

*****Private To: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[ So...this is the 'St. Jean Doe' or something I've been hearing about.
Send any information you have to Tech about the state of his current condition
for confirmation.  If he seems stable enough, and the situation merits it,
an extraction from a known location in the hospital may have more guarantee
of success than striking a moving and potentially shrouded extradition.  It
may or may not have any bearing if you or your employers have any qualms about
whether or not we kill soldiers or surgeons in the extraction. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <08:58:59GMT/04-21-55>

>>>>>[Yeah, just my luck *shrug*. A few pints before starting work PH ? You've
been hanging around I.B.A. too long *grin*.

Anyway are you folks ok ? I hear off the street that one of your safehouse got
hit. Give us a shout if you need a hand, 'cos I know the Punisher is slowing
down in his old age *Grin*. Later Term.]<<<<<
        -WHAT(17:12:02/21-04-55)

***** PRIVATE TO:  DeDannan
>>>>>[ Many thanks for the kibbles and bits.  I've gathered a bit more of the
"official" story in the past day or so.  I can understand your uneasiness at
having me involved.  Good, that's a real good sign that you're professional.
Having someone out of the blue volunteer to sign on to a sensitive op is usual-
ly a bad omen.  Of course, I'm probably not doing much to increase your opinion
of me but...     Anyway.  I am still available for whatever op you may have in
mind  (but don't worry, we all know *there is no op planned* <heh.>), but in
the least, if you don't want my direct assistance, I can always run a diversion
ary action in the area.  I currently have no active ops in the works, so I am
readily available and heavily connected.  Therefore, you need not even give me
a time and place, approximations would suffice.  Trust me, though, when I tell
you I can generate a big enough distraction to make those in power to turn the
other way, and no ties between us will be found.]<<<<<
        -- Orion Antilles <Colleague/Doom>

>>>>>[ Ah well, to each their own opinion, eh?   I just hope no one of said
organizations decides to teach you firsthand who's best! ]<<<<<
        -- Orion Antilles <SPECWAR/OPS>

>>>>>[ Sorry, Jack, I meant our dear Doc.  The Doomsday liner is an old joke be
tween us from a long time back.  No harm intended, just figured that the mis-
communication could concievably draw out Doom if he was merely hiding (obvious-
ly, I've found that is not the case).]<<<<<
        -- Orion Antilles <Misconcieved/notions>

***** PRIVATE TO: Couch, Brick
>>>>>[ Sorry about the miscom, guys.  I realized that I left a pretty ambiguous
message the other day.  My debts with TK are merely of the gambling type, and a
rather lighthearted one at that.  My real reason for seeking him out is deeper.
@14 years ago, a close mortal friend of mine was gunned down in what seemed to
be a senseless street shooting.  In the past year or two, though, I've come
across info that suggests that there was much more at stake than a mugging.
I've been searching worldwide for clues, and my last lead informed me that TK
could be of assisstance in the matter.  I tried contacting him with no avail at
prearranged sites and channels, but then I discovered the more recent turn of
events.  Again, my resources are plentiful and my desire to help infinite.
please contact me at >>ENCRYPT.THX1138<< for further discussion]<<<<<
        -- Orion Antilles <SPECWAR/OPS>

***** Private: Aardvark, Avatar, Jasmine, Maddoc, Tech
>>>>>[Sorry, I just sent all of the same information you wanted out
to Maddoc.  I'll just abridge it and send it to everybody.

Here's the short of it: Jac's one of my employees that flipped out,
killed some cops in a paranoid fit and is stuck in the Fort Lewis
hospital.  I want him back because I advanced him a lot of money to
buy the weapons to kill the cops.  Fortunately, none of it has been
traced back to me.

Basically, all I know is what I've got from the datafaxes
from the last few days.  I'm in SanFran, right now, and don't have
any viable contacts in Seattle with that have any access to anything
useful.  That's why I'm recruiting local runners.  I hope someone has
better contacts in that area than I do.

The group certainly is not complete.  I'm almost certain we need more
people.  As of right now, the people listed in the encrypt sequence
are it.

As for collatoral damage (hell, killing innocent bystanders) I really
don't give a frag, I'm gonna spend the rest of the summer at the
corporate safehouse in the Carib League, with occaissional trips to
SF to make sure Kabuki Man keeps the fort held down.

I just want to know who's in so far, and what they can bring to the
outfit along the lines of skills and ideas. I have a potentially
interesting idea - if drivers need to be swapped, even though I don't
think that would work (but it would save time and trouble), but as I
said, I have a malformed subtlety gland.]<<<<<
      -- Freddy Frypp (12:49:34 / 04-21-55)
         California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

>>>>>[Oh DAMN.(*& <Link Terminated>]<<<<<
        - Harlequin <02:19:21/04-20-55>

>>>>>[Freddy, Unfortunately, I do not want to be involved in any more
"wetwork" than I need to be.  If there is alot of bloodshed planned, then
it is against my very nature to be involved.  You may need to find
another runner.  Sorry.]<<<<<
       -- Jasmine (11:00:12/3-23-55)

*****Private To: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[ Now, before I continue negotiations, I want to know: are you just
collecting local talent, or are you looking to hire a team?  I can guarantee
you that a seasoned team operates much more effectively than a bunch of
eclectics.  I can provide you a team, and I can guarantee that it will contain
all the skills necessary to do the job.  If it's important to have a group
composed of various individuals, fine, I'll see what I can do about turning
them into a unit, but otherwise, I propose that you consider hiring a team
under my command. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <12:14:32GMT/04-21-55>

>>>>>[ Hey, WHAT there's nothing slow about me, I've cyber straight from
Chiba and bioware from some of the best labs in Europe, and I'm still only
32 :) ]<<<<<
        -The Punisher (19:24:59/4.21.55)

>>>>>[ Hey I.B.A, I hear that you have been pretty busy while I was on
holiday. Especially the pelvic area I hear. What!!.Have I lost my charms
or what?! I am pretty offended! Meet me at the usual place without your
excess baggage called 'Circuit-Breaker'. Or else I will have to just
rearrange her circuits. Know what I mean man..]<<<<<
        --  Taliana Seyliene <19:35:40/22-04-55>

>>>>>[ Thou wilt find me an experienced in every field save thaumaturgy
be it decking, rigging or feeding APDS to mine enemies. ]<<<<<
        --  Avatar <20:28:49/22-04-55>

>>>>>[Currently H is in a coma.  We need a healer.  STAT, please.
T.C., Styx, and Lucinda aren't able to help.  In fact, they are
almost passing out from trying.]<<<<<
        - Cyberpunk <16:40:09/04-21-55>

***** PRIVATE TO: Orion Antilles
>>>>>[ Well, it's been just under five years since I was last in Seattle...
Since then, the shadows have changed - new faces, new players, etc. - and as
far as I can see, it might be best to leave the decisions in this matter up
to the people who know best - ie. Doom's friends - Hangtime & Co. and I
believe Powerhouse is conducting some investigations as well.. As for an op,
I'm not sure whether tht is a good idea, bearing in mind the place he is being
held. I'll tell you what - I'll talk a little more to the others, and see
what's going down... 'Zat ok? ]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (20:52:22GMT/04-21-55)

*****Private to: Patricia
>>>>>[Hmmmmmmm.  Where to go, where to go -- how about I just pick you up
around 2000 next Monday, and we can go from there?]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel <16:14:25/04-21-55>

>>>>>[ Attention all TYR staff.  The TL is now level two.  Bewarned,
beware, and always call for back up. Cyberpunk, get over here, we need
some Matrix work done STAT.]<<<<<
        - Sabre <13:10:12/04-21-55>

>>>>>[Whats up?  Why can't Harlequin do it?  I got
a few problems of my own.  Namely these Double D's.]<<<<<
        - Cyberpunk <13:30:01/o4-21-55>

*****Private to: Cyberpunk
>>>>>[Didn't you see last nights message?  Something got to him.  And to
Gossymer.  She's in real bad shape. If I didn't know better, I'd almost
say she's sulking. She is refusing to answer commands.  I'm sending T.C.
and Styx over in Hammer One.  That ought to deter any DD's. *nasty
grin*]<<<<<
        -Sabre <13:50:30/04-21-55>

>>>>>[Holy mother of the spirits of my ancestors!  I haven't
*ever* seen something that BIG! Ok, gotta get a grip here.

Damn!  Nasty piece of work.
*****Begin Deck.Log download*****

The indigo blue of Matrix space appears before your eyes. Everything looks
like the standard normal iconography that most deckers are used to.  A
backward glance shows a hammer with a circle encompassing it floating in
place.  Almost looks like an ancient smithing hammer.  Also standing there
is a overly large man.  A case of an over active thyroid gland and steriod
abuse for sure.  Oddly, its hands and feet seem to have been manacled at
one time, but now the chains dangle loosely, a link must have broken at
one point but it must have required almost Hurculean effort to do so.  But
this muscle mountain looks to make a child of Hercules. 

"Now what the <deleted> is going on?" The voice is Harlequin's. Mutely the
Titan just stands there, red eyes fixed on the icon of a robotic jet. 
Those of you who are into japanimation of the previous century recognize
it as an Alpha figher in grey and white tones.  The colors shift to red
and white as the rifle is aimed at the collossal figure. 

"Aw, hell with it.  More will come anyway." The arm lowers the rifle and
the colors change back to grey and white.  The Alpha starts off across
Matrixspace at a teeth jarring sprint.  It stays in the darker areas of
the Matrix.  Very few structures around.  Almost as if this were a bad
part of the Matrix.  A house of cards shows up in the distance, and the
Alpha changes course directly for it.  It stops in front of the seemingly
fragile structure and searches around for a bit.  Finally it wanders to
another side of the building and confronts the Ace of Spade card.  The
head swivels around, giving you a chance to see a wildly colored man
inside the view plate.  And you can see in the distance, still closing, a
familiar Titan.  A shudder seems to pass through the metal body before it
presses upon the card face.  The card pivots inward allowing the Alpha
inside, but the house of cards doesn't even shift. Inside, Harlequin
strides down a brightly lit antiseptic corridor that any Corp would be
proud of.  Ahead is a room with a desk and a repceptionist.  The
receptionist looks up and smiles at the Alpha. 

"Good time of day to you Laughing Elf."

"Hello Metro.  Please call me Harlequin.  I realise that G.G. thinks its
funny, but the joke has long worn thin.  Is Spade or G.G. around?"

"No sir," Metro replies.  "Sly was in earlier and left them a message.
They left latter.  I must remark it was strange to see him in here.  And I
cannot help but call you what G.G. tells me to call you."

"Yeah.  I know.  Can't do anything but what G.G. says.  Sly hates this
place. Not many mages do like it here.  Do you know if Condrum is about?"

"About what?"

"I mean is Condrum here."

"No sir."

"Is anyone here?"

"No, anyone is not here."

"I mean, are there any other human/metahuman presences here?"

"No sir.  Just you, me, and these here electrons."

Harlequin sighs.  "G.G. really aught to increase that repitoire.  One joke
really bites.  No, no.  Don't ask.  Forget I said it.  I'll go down the
hall and leave a message for G.G."

A door appears on the right hand wall.  It opens at Harlequins touch and
gives you a view of another antiseptic hallway.  It branches further down
and Harlequin takes the extreme right hand passage until it comes upon a
tree blocking the passage.  "I'm going to have a long talk with Spade
about G.G.'s sense of humor in designing this system." The Alpha engages
its rocket pack. Upon entering the canopy, another door is visible.  It
looks as if a whole house has been built right into the tree.  A slat
opens up at the knocking on the door. 

"Who's there?"

"Me."

"Me who?"

"Exactly."

"Exactly what?"

"That's right."

"What's right?"

"Me who and the Exactly what!"

The door swings open at this old interchange of poetry.  Its a stark steel
cylinder of a room with a terminal in the middle.  Nothing else.  The
terminal is active, as always, waiting for input.  The door crashes open
before Harlequin could even enter a keystroke.  Its the Titan.  And its
looking pissed and slightly mussed.  A few minor scratches and a small
trickle of blood. 

"Aw DAMN!" The Titan swings at the Alpha, where its fist didn't connect
the chain on its wrist does.  The Alpha undergoes its color change back to
red again and fires its cannon.  Shell casings are ejected to the tune of
a mad buzzaw.  Most of the expenditure pock marks the wall but a few
manage to hit the Titan drawing blood.  The Titan circles around the room
as Harlequin's Alpha changes color again.  The green and white scheme
lasts only a second at most before converting back to red.  Inside the
cockpit a puzzled look comes across Harlequin's face.  His analyze shows
this to be part frame part ICE.  He slaps the red button marked EJECT!,
but nothing happens.  Blindingly the Titan rushes at the Alpha.  Harlequin
catches the motion out and reacts instictively.  The armored joint of the
knee catches the Titan squarely in the groinal area.  An expression of
hatres appears his face as he rips away the cannon and smashes it.  The
Alpha lashes out with a fist that connects with the nose.  Reeling
backwards, the Titan growls and paws its newly flattened nose. Harlequin
closes with it only to be tackled to the floor.  The Titan begins beating
on the metal frame with hands and chains.  With each hit, the Alpha grows
slightly smaller.  Suddenly chest, waist, and leg ports open up all over
the Alpha.  Inside the cockpit a shaken a bruised Harlequin tries to
smile. A confused look crosses the mountain of muscles face.  He raises
his arm to continue the fusilade but fire errupts from the opennings. 
Silver and red streaks on white contrails fly up over the head of the
Titan, only to descend a moment later.  A virtual halo of fire envelopes
the Titan.  One missile, however can be seen streaking out the door, then
its gone.  On the floor, the Titan is recovering from the mass of
detonations.  The steel of the floor is blackened and warped in places. 
The Alpha has regained its footing and is backing away.  When the Titan
stands upright, it now towers twice as tall as the Alpha.  A testement to
the damage done.  A second volley of missile errupt outward as the
shoulder opens wide.  The mayhem of explosions cloud the room. The Titan,
strangly, has yet to utter a word or sound.  When the smoke clears a man
in the battle armor of a Cyclone now stands in the Alpha's place.  Behind
the Titan is a woman in multi-colored silks.  Her eyes are blue within
blue and her hair is pure white.  This is Gossymer.  And she looks more
than angry. Maybe enraged would be a better word.  Sparks fly from her
hands to the oblivious Titan who howls as each touches him.  He turns to
see this new assailent and grins.  A couple of teeth are missing, the
others are in various states of decay.  The pistol in Harlequin's hands
stiches a line across the behemouths back as he advances on Gossymer. 
Gossymer's sparks are flying out at an amazing rate.  But the juggernaught
keeps coming.  He reaches Gossymer and grabs her.  But only for a moment
as she sails into the wall.  The titan lumbers after the newly found
projectile.  Harlequin makes a boosted leap into the oncoming path, but is
punted by a massive foot.  He too finds the walls less than soft. 
Gossymer is back on her feet, bleeding in several places, when she thrusts
her hands out.  Lightning scorches chest and hair as a fist is pulled
back.  She screams.  It connects sending her sprawling into another wall.
Harlequin bounces back into the frey with pistol going on full auto.  Red
holes appear over blackened flesh.  Gossymer stands up again, looking far
worse than before.  Harlequin intercepts another punch with his body and
lands beside Gossymer.  Golden bands encircle the Titans arms, legs and
body.  Gossymer is straining to keep them from snapping under the
strength.  Harlequin takes a moment to get his feet under him.  He takes
carefull aim with his forarm launchers. "This ends HERE!" Four
mini-missiles streak from his arms to the Titan.  An arm is seperrated
from the shoulder buy two explosions, a third impacts on the head, the
last strikes the chest on the breastbone.  The Titan starts to topple,
struggling weakly, but at the last second lunges towards Harlequin.  The
body hits the ground and slides into the wall, crushing Harlequin between
it and the wall as the glow fades from the corpse. Then, darkness
descends. 

*****End deck.log download*****]<<<<<
        -Cyberpunk <16:35:08/04-21-55>

*****Private: Dark Angel
>>>>>[Sorry about the late reply.  I...haven't been on.  Yes, it's that
fragging bad.

I'm not sure what you can do, anyway.  Either an AI or a mega-decker is
mad at me.  This is a BAD thing.  I don't see much that anyone else can do...
I'm just trying to be careful about when to get on.]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <18:57:56/04-21-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[Don't think you're getting away from me, Quickling.  I have more resources
than you can dream of, and I'm not letting up.

Be thankful you're not dead.  And don't think that you can do anything private,
Quickling.  I am watching you.]<<<<<
        --  Hack <No T/D>

*****Private: Hack
>>>>>[]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <19:00:00/04-21-55>

>>>>>[AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGH!!!!  You unholy mating of a behemoth and a
feathered serpent.  Spawn of the Mantis.  Pawn to your passion!
I shall rend your still living bloodied corpse digit by digit,
apendage by apendage!]<<<<<
        - David Etherial <18:15:34/04-21-55>

>>>>>[ Well, Jasmine, this one looks like it was made for you. ]<<<<<
        --  CoHort <18:15:54/04-21-55>

>>>>>[Ah, much better.  Now that I am of suffiently cooled
head I may explain my outburst earlier.  I have to apologise
for that bit of rashness.  It seems the semi-neophite decker
who has chosen the name Dante for his pseudonym truely wishes
to learn the pleasure/pains of hell.  Ceals Corp. was infiltrated
buy his frames.  The RnD Division, the Accounting Division, and
the Central Office as well.  These frames, from what we managed
to extrapolaite, managed to send two million nuyen missing.  Probably
into an account of his own.  They managed to scramble some of the
RnD work kept on file.  That is minor being that back-ups are kept
off-line and hard copy is hidden away too.  Merely an inconvienence.
The frames also managed to take down three out of five of our CPU's.
Temporarily slowing our work day down, but again no major hassle.  One
CPU will have to be replaced, the other two's repairs were effected
within an hour and a half of the mayhem.
Dante, where ever you are, congratulations.  You have managed to do
what no oter decker has done.  Both Co-Presidents and I, as their
field operative, consider you a sore irratation.  When the flea bites
a dog, it does so at its own risk.  Prepare for the scratching Dante.
You are out of sanction.  There is now an undisclosed bounty resting
on your temultous brows.  For _anyone_ to collect.  Anyone willing
to hunt for him, Ceals Corporation is willing to assist.  Just inquire.]<<<<<
        -David 'Drake' Etherial <21:30:54/04-21-55>

>>>>>[My dear Mr. Frypp, we meet again.  As it seems that Mistress Jasmine
is unable to assist you, I offer you my services...I attempt to avoid
indiscriminate killing, and will not kill mindlessly.  However, for enough
of a reason and honor, I believe I might be able to assist you.]<<<<<
       -- Dark Angel <20:32:39/04-21-55>

>>>>>[ Sorry I haven't been on for a while, folks.  I've had to run a full
diagnostic on my deck.  I've added a few upgraded defenses and even placed it
in a lead lined case when I'm not using
it while I finish a few more heavy duty
system safeguards.  I let myself get cocky by leaving it plugged in to run some
auto-programs, but I'm not gonna let
anyone touch this baby again...]<<<<<
        --Tech <20:42:14GMT/04-21-55>

>>>>>[ Hi ya'll.  Well Ah must first of all say that hospital computer systems
are too drekkin small ta handle the system load Ah like ta run with.

So far, the verdict is that Spirit and the children will live.  The children
haven't come yet, so Ah really can't give you any info on them.  From what we
can tell, a rather deligent but specific virus was put manually in the Spirit's
and CRUSH's house hold computer system.  While the system isn't that old or
obsolete, it still isn't brand new and dicing tech.  The virus was made ta be
part of the system geography, this took a while, but the Morgan's were out for a
few days, enough time for it ta work.  It was interesting coding, if but a
little over done and slow (Ah probably could get it ta work about 3 times as
fast, though it would take a few days).

Once it successfully became part of the geography it would sit in wait until
Spirit's MPCP came on line in the system.  Then it would proceed ta try and
bypass the MPCP by cloaking it self as just the geography parameters for the
neural interface.  It was partially successful in that it did get partially past
the MPCP protections, though not without a few problems.  Unfortunately the
problems weren't that reconizable and no-one expects that your own computer is
going ta attack ya.  Anyway, the virus was ta sit and gain some power (while
checking for detection) until it was ready ta strike, thats when it would create
a whole lot of feedback, not of the killing variety that Black normally does but
just LOADS of feedback, somewhat like the cascade ICE that the Dragon slitch
MONICA has.

Anyway, Spirit is basically alright.  She was unconscious when Doc Wagon brought
her in ta the hospital.  She was in and out of it last night, sleeping because
she was exhausted and waking up because of labor pains, which were really
exagerated because of the neural feedback.  The Doctors gave her something ta
slow down the birth, because they said that it wasn't safe before hand, her
contractions were coming too strong and becuase of the neural feedback she was
resisting it, though they say that they can't stop them all together, something
about it has past some point and that she was due any day now as it was.  With
then contractions farther apart she has been able ta get a some needed nest to
regain her strength and get over the feedback.  Ah would put her on but the
doctors and CRUSH say no, and Ah'm not argueing with CRUSH (Doctors AH can
handle)

The father ta be has been taking it fairly well.  Besides the constant worrying
over his wife and hitting his head on the much too low cealings, he seems ta be
only mostly insane.  Atleast he hasn't fainted yet, Ah hear some expectant
fathers do that.  Ah have been busy telling family what has been going on, this
was the first opportunity Ah have had ta lay Mah head down and surrepticiously
stick cord into the sockets.   Fox showed up at the hospital about a half hour
ago with his roomate, he thinks of Spirit as his older sister so Ah doubt he
would miss this for the world.  Everyone else has either come by ta lend moral
support or appeared via vidphone.  Ah'll be back shortly, Ah just need ta find
out whats happenin in the world of the living.]<<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <all went ta drek>

>>>>>[
*****Engage Sensory Upload, Recorder Frame*****

Chigago.  You recognize it immediately.  The glitz, the shine, the smell of
government and corporate corruption...Ahhhhh, yep, this is Chicago all right.
It permeates everything, even the Matrix.  You are viewing the Matrix through
the eyes of a frame, one of Raven's and likely programmed on the fly to do
this.  In fact, that looks like Raven over there.  Surveying the Matrixside,
or whatever the Matrix analog of a countryside is.  She appears to be waiting
for something, or someone...Until you see what she's looking at, that is.

One of those lovely pairs of frames, just coming out of a sat link, the very
same link that Harlequin traced a pair through.  And off they go, almost
escaping Raven as she goes into Masking mode and follows.  They are much faster
and harder to keep track of here in Chicago...  While you follow, with the
speed of photons in your mind and eyes, you wonder if they know you are here.
There are a time of two when you think one of the pair might have caught you're
position, but you figure that Raven would have changed her tactic some if they
had, so you're not too worried.  Following at a distance, you find yourselves
deep into the little used portions  of the city Matrix, and going deeper into
them towards the Noose.  In the real world, this is an area of urban combat
that it would take the UCAS military to clean out...if they thought that they
could do so without extensive casualties.  Military casualties, that is.
Whoever entered this place to set up a system was either brilliant, stupid,
or just plainly had more attitude than he(or she) knew what to do with.  The
fact that the system is still here and hasn't been overrun and torn down for
parts also speaks volumes about it's real-world security.

Finally, the frames find a well hidden and disguised SAN that looks like a
sewer grate, with raw sewage(data) flowing into it, and Raven enters.  You
quickly find youselves in a simple, three node system.  The SAN you just passed
through, the CPU you are in now, and after a quick call-up on the system,
Raven gets the map of the last node, a datastore.  The SAN doesn't even have
any security it is hidden so well, and neither does the rest of the system, at
least as far as you can tell.  The CPU is filled to almost overflowing with
activating, de-activating, inert and inactive frames.  The pair you just
followed inside are leaving to hit the datastore.  And they all look to be the
same basic configuration, but not exactly alike.  Minor programming modification
for the necessary specialization of tasks for the pairs.

Now you understand partially how this decker set up his frames.  He made them
free-flying expert system programs, capable of operating totally off the system
that they are in at the time, but they still needed to have processing power out
of
the system.  So the programmer set up this system to provide the power to them
when they were in the Matrix rather than a target system.  The real-time
processing power is high enough that the frames are capable of operating over
a sat link or two even.  Whoever programed this system and the frames did an
excellent job.  You have to admit it...this guy(gal) is good.

Following Raven, you begin to inspect some of the datastore files.  Over 1000
Mp are in this store, and by recent logs in the node, this is how much data
gets dumped here daily, maybe more.  So you know that someone(or a smart frame
sent by someone) has to come here to download the data.  And as even a frame
will lead you to the programmer, you are not surprised when you see Raven
settle down to reading some data.

Regularly, frames come in and out of the store, dumping more and more data,
and they seem to be activating and deactivating on thier own as their internal
time-out clocks count off and engage thier next missions.  And it all runs
smoothly, until you notice intently reading some files titled "Maxim Arms --
Confidential">  And as she reads, she smiles and then activates the Purge
utility in the Node, erasing half the data within the store, all of which is
connected in some way to Maxim Arms.  Except for the file that she is reading,
all is gone, erased, and Raven downloads the file she was just rading into
her storage memory.

Whether her actions in the node triggered it, or if it was just time for it to
arrive, the same strange group of 5 frames(the two demons, two angels, and the
ghost) that Solitaire had shown earlier arrives in the Datastore and begins
to copy and purge everything that is there.  Knowin that this is a special
purpose frame at least, Raven begins to activate herself and ready herself to
track this set of programs too.  Out in the CPU, you get a mild surprise.  The
demons and angels fade away rather quickly, leaving only the ghost standing ther
   e, as if in meditation.  The manner in which the icons disappeared, however,
is exactly how a utility program is removed from active memory.  You are
facing, or rather Raven is, the very decker she wants.  But she is being
patient, as she wants to track him back to his entry point, or at least to the '
   plex he comes from...

As you watch, something is appearing in the CPU.  Another frame, most likely,
but this one is different.  Much larger, and of a very different design, it is
a nude man, draped only in huge chains that look recently broken.  It also has
a long, black beard and almost biblical hair(long and flowing like a god's).
If Raven had the option, I'm sure she would have laughed at the imagery.  And
when the decker activates it, he raises his skeletal hand under the robe and
points off, out of the system, and the decker's eyes, hidden in the shadow of
the robe's hood, glow red as the frame takes off.

Again, the decker waits as a cloud of something gathers around his feet.  You
are not quite sure what it is, but you know that if Raven was to attempt to
analyze the program, she risks not only destroying it, but it could hardly be
missed by the very decker who is still uploading it.  Without the pompusness
of the last send-off, this program also exits the system, creaping along the
floor and walls like a poisonous fog propelled by an unseen breeze...

Then again the four utilities reappear, and the decker wanders around to many
of the frames, making minor changes to the coding that is literally reflected
in the iconography of the frame.  After finishing this task, the decker takes
off through the SAN, with Raven and you in tow.

As you follow, you find yourself jumping through RTG SANs at an incredible rate
as Raven sleazes quickly through in order not to lose the decker you are
following.
But somehow, you begin to recognize the landscape of the Matrix as you pass
out of Chicago into UCAS Rural to Souix to Cheyanne to Souix again to Salish-
Shidhe and finally, Seattle.  Ahhhhh...  Home sweet fraggin home.  The familiar
Matrix scene greets you, and after all this time in the Matrix, you hope this
is where the decker is located.  After all, it's easier to geek a fragger when
you know the turf.

Node to Node, system to system, you jump across Seattle, passing the Ares
Platform, skimming the edge of Gaiatronics, and finally ending in a small,
private system not too far from MCT's Pagoda.  Again, it's just a few nodes,
but an I/O port seems to have been added. Before he can jack out, Raven
rushes forwrd and grabs the icon in her talons.

"It's the cut-off. You can't move, so don't bother trying. Really wiz,
lamebrain, to leave the cut-off for Dante's deck active. Typical
shortsighted stupidity-assuming you ARE Dante."

"I know you don't give drek, but you killed a lot of innocent people with
that stunt in Redmond. For that, I'm going to rip your code to alphanumeric
flotsam. Because I'm not the sadistic fragger you are, you won't linger-
much."

"If you're an imposter, if this is your idea of a joke, you're one sick
fragger, and deserve this anyway."

Quietly, as if coming from the nowhere in particular, you hear a voice chant:

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while you pondered, weak and weary..."

Where did that come from?  Raven's head jerks up, scanning the area, but
she can't seem to identify the source anymore than you can. It's almost as
if the node itself was speaking...

"Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-"

No, it can't be....

"While you nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping..."

Louder now, and you seem to have caught movement.  From Dante's chin, the
only exposed section of his face, as if he were speaking. As the next line
is spoken, softly, you realize that it is localized and coming from Dante
himself.  But, the cut-out...

"As of someone gently rapping, rapping at YOUR chamber door!"

Raven, suddenly realizing that, somehow, Dante either removed or paid someone
to remove the cut-out and then reprogrammed his MPCP, spins to attack,
bringing her GNU Atttack program to bear.  And attack she does, but he just
laughs as her attack disappears, just fades away as if something had just
consumed it's memory allocation.  In a burst of speed, Dante's skeletal hand
is at Raven's throat, literally seizing up her MPCP (and your frame too) and
freezing her in place.

"Not quite what you expected, is it?"

"My dear Raven, it is truly a pleasure to meet you in the Matrix, and on such
a wonderful occasion too!  You'll excuse me if I don't ask you too many
questions, or ask you to respond.  The virus currently infecting your deck
won't allow you to do so.  Much like the cut-out in my deck's original
programming, but far more versatile, don't you agree?  What, no answer?  I'll
take that as a yes, then."

"And yes, my dear, as you are no doubt discovering, you cannot even jack out.
So long as I hold you by the throat, the IC code I encorporated into the virus
will keep your nervous system from being able to activate the muscles you would
need to remove the plug from your datajack.  Now, if you'll just wait a
minute..."

Dante pulls out a small tube, a scroll case for messages, and throws it out
into the datastream, abviously summoning someone.

"Raven, Raven, Raven...please be patient.  My deck tells me that you are
trying to break free of my control."

"Don't bother. The virus I've infected you with is a free-roaming virus
tailored to your MPCP only; it would find you eventually and infect your
deck again. Eventually, you'll have to either get a new deck or devise a
defense against the virus. And the best way to do the second option is to
be patient and analyze the virus once I release you...but I doubt you'll
have the time..."

Unfortunately, when Raven's deck froze, so did the frame, but your peripheral
"vision" sees another icon enter the node. This icon is blatant. It has a
spiked tail, extended muzzle with fangs, claws, scales, and an Interpol
uniform on. Looking exactly like a wingless dragon, it can only be Commander
Drake, recently assigned to Seattle with the instructions to find the
person(s) responsible for the Gamma-Anthrax incident several months ago.  It's
really too bad that he still thinks Dante is dead, and that Raven can't tell
him...

D:  "I see you received my message, Commander."

Dr:  "A little late, I might mention.  She is the one who caused it all?"

D:  "Yes.  Raven here was on the evidence video you showed me.  She masterminded
   the entire thing.  But you don't need my help as far as that is concerned.  I
suggest that you release her program, Commander."

Dr:  "Already released.  A specialized sat-capable version, as you mentioned
that she might be using a sat link.  I'm getting regular progress reports, and
it is already in Chicago."

D:  "Excellent.  And my fees?"

Dr:  "As agreed.  1/2 now, 1/2 upon arraignment for all the multitude of
charges she has levied against her, including mass murder and Use of Inter-
nationally Banned Biologicals.  And when we're done with her, the corps have a
list some 40 km long. I understant Tir Tairngire is also interested.
 She'll be lucky to keep her head."

D:  "Thank you, Commander.  I am, of course, only doing my civic duty."

Dr:  "I hardly believe that, sir.  You are a mercenary like all your
bretheren.  Better than most, but still a mercenary.  Ah, I shall be off.  The
Trace has her back in Seattle... GOT HER!  I'm off.  Hold her until her icon
disappears because we jacked her out."

D:  "Of course, Commander.  It's been a pleasure.  Gamma-Anthrax...such a
terrible waste of human and metahuma life..."

Drake literally disappears as he jacks out.  If past response is any indication
Interpol will have an extraction team moving already and at Raven's place
within 3 minutes.

Dante finally pulls back his hood, exposing the well known olive skin, clean
shaven face, dark hair and even darker eyes.  He slowly shakes his head.

"Fool.  Little does he know... but as you are recording this, my dear Raven,
I think I shall keep my thoughts on this matter to myself.  But you shall not
suffer your fate alone, my dear.  For, you see, by the time you recover from
the dump shock, in handcuffs of course, your friends will all be dead or insane
or in such pain as to be unimaginable by the minds of mortal men.  Harlequin
will be insane and in perpetual pain.  Streetdoggy and his whore will be lying
in pools of thier own blood.  IBA will be charred bits of flesh among the
remains of his vehicle.  Punisher will be burned down with his house by my pet
gang.  Crush will be swimming in acid, and his wife will be in early labor,
hopefully killing both her and the child through a breech-birth.  Coyote will
be looking to replace his deck, if he survives the attack by his own frame.
Etherial's little company will be a looted ruin, suitable only for salvage.
And my friend Solitaire... She will be fighting to keep her precious corp from
receiving the vaunted Omega Order from the Corp Court..."

"And you.  You who hunted me to the edges of the continent...who destroyed all
my homes and nearly ruined me...who is "officially" responsible for the deaths
of thousands.  You, who fell perfectly into my trap...you will rot in jail,
knowing that nothing you can say, nothing you can do will save you."

"Dante is back, my dear, little Raven.  I have died and come back from Hell.
But as I know you enjoy Ed Poe, here's a few words to remember till your
dying day..."

Pulling her closer, he stares into Raven's syes and with all the anger and hate
of a homocidal psychopath, says:

"Gently _I_ came a tapping, tapping on _YOUR_ chamber...door."

"Quoth the Raven?...(chuckle)


                Nevermore."

And with the last word, Dante's hand crushes Raven's throat, dumping her
violently from the Matrix.  As the operation of the frame ceases(it is tied
directly to Raven's MPCP), the picture grows dark, but you catch one last
peice of sensory data...

quiet, demonic laughter, fading away............................

*****Link terminated at source
]<<<<<
        -- Raven <18:09:49/04-20-54>

>>>>>[ Well Ah see that some people have all the mannars of a pig in rut.

Mistress Taliana Seyliene, and Ah use that in the most derogatory means that can
be used.  Ya have mistaken ideals that ya obviously hold ta be the ideals of
other women with more lady like manners.  For one I.B.A. was not busy in the
"pelvic area" as ya would like ta believe, rather he was taking a friend out for
a nice night on the town, dinner and a little urban tourism.  As for
"rearranging her Circuits", well, time will tell.  Have nice cold night, Ah have
more important thing ta do than stay and wait for the idle threats of Ah women
who is so very concerned about her labido.]<<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <all went ta drek>

>>>>>[ Lister, or any of you other guys, if ANY of you start saying "cat
fight" we'll see how long it is until your respective other halves talk ta ya
again.]<<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <all went ta drek>

>>>>>[ Fox is in town, so Ah'll send him right over, ya better be at the
house.  And make sure he gets back in time for the babies ta be born :) ]<<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <all went ta drek>

>>>>>[WHAT, tell me what you know.  I will forward you =Y= for your
trouble.]<<<<<
        --Talon <VITRIOL>

>>>>>[WHAT- Frag, what do you mean? Crystal's dead.  Dis' Talon guy has a fif.
different girl!  It aiYTRi'nt her.  I seed da pitcure, it can't beese her! it
Ain;t! FRAG! FRAG! Oh my God, whatis happening?]<<<<<
        -- Gawk <04:05:09 / 04-22-55>

>>>>>[Guys, after that message, I went to check on Gawk.  He's really drunk.
He's even too drunk to be violent!  WHAT, Talon what the frag are you doing?
His girlfriend died months ago!  He was just getting over it.  How could you
be so cruel?]<<<<<
        --Couch <..:..:.. / ..-..-..>

>>>>>[Jacamus, i may have been finding a repacement for that chip of
yours.  The problem is that i don't know where you are now.  Please
contact me here if you are interesting in the new chip.  It will need
some modifications, but it should be working.  The offer will not here
for very long, so i need to be knowing soon.]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <10:45:00/22.Apr.55>

>>>>>[Mr, caberpunk, I am a shamanic healer.  I saw you r message today
htat you hneed a healer for "H".  If you still need one, call me at
567-8735.  I wil come immdiatly.  PLease don't give my number to anyone
lse, I plefer my privacy.  I will wait for your call.]<<<<<
        -- Cobra <03:55:40/04-22-55>

***** Private: Nova
>>>>>[ Nova, yes, yes, I am back at last,... to Seattle. It's good to smell
the filth of Seattle again. So whatcha doing tonight, baby? Any free
time?... haveta catch up with the times I've miss ya. <<<<<
        Slith<12:12:26/22.04.55>

>>>>>[Hi there ch&^ummers. I got lucky. *&%$#My deck got#$ a little fried from
@#$ my hound's attack**^, but the damag(*&e isn't too *%%serious. With a
*$^little bit of *^$$#work I can repair^$ it. My&^$ main problem, actually,)*
was*%^~ the dump shock. When Dante^$%$$ co-opped my hound*&%* he suprised
me.%^%&$ But I was able*&% to get !@(_+ out before anything$*&$% too serious
happened.(&^%$ So, I am all right.*&%^ I'll be back as soon *^%*&as my deck
9(^^))#% is repaired.]<<<<<
        -- Coyote <Ho&$#%wl/(^$Howl*%>

>>>>>[Yo, Pet, I'm allways in to split someone's desk. Unfortunately,
I'm a little busy at this time, but if you tell me where to find
this punk, I'll visit him when I'm a little less occupied.]<<<<<
        --  Aardvark (15:39:13/22-4-55)

*****Private To: Dark Angel
>>>>>[That sounds great to me.]<<<<<
        --  Patricia O'Connor(10:03:30/04-22-55)

***** Encryption: DES.v0.13.beta Personal to: Freddy Frypp.
>>>>>[Just want to let you know I'm in. I agree with you, if we
want to do this right, we need more people. As for collatoral
damage, I don't think it is neccessary to kill innocent
bystanders, if we do this right.

My best idea is swap the drivers (and why should't this work?)
and have the rest of the group take care of the escort. I think
this could be done.

'Cause I'm new here, I've got no useful contacts in this area.
I hope the rest of the team can come up with something.
BTW, if the swapping idea seems to nuts to you, I'm willing
to volunteer, though I'm not really an expert driver.

As far as my skills are concerned, I'm a close-combat
specialist, and shoot my Ares Viper quite well. I can move
very silently, and know something about First Aid, too.
The rest is probably just (above) average.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:02:13/22-4-55)

>>>>>[There is no need for much blood, if you've got the right
equipment. Personally, I'm carrying a Narcoject pistol...]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:07:13/22-4-55)

***** Private: Jasmine
>>>>>[If you want out, that is perfectly fine with me.  I realize
that some people do have codes they cannot violate.  I
understand.]<<<<<
       -- Freddy Frypp (09:12:33 / 04-22-55)

>>>>>[Ummm, I don't know how well you've been following things, but
Jac's in a drug-induced coma (or something, I guess) in Fort Lewis
right now.

What do you know about what happened to him last week?  I don't like
it when my employees go off indiscriminately killing cops.  It's bad
for business.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:17:34 / 04-33-55)

***** Private: Maddoc
>>>>>[Well, Maddoc, a seasoned team familiar with the area and
Lone Star / Metroplex Guard procedures would be nice to have, but I
was expecting the best I could find would be individuals.  I've got,
well, two others now: Dark Angel and Aardvark, plus I planned on
coming up with one of my people.

Who are the team you had in mind?  Anybody I might have heard of?
Mercs, I'd assume, right?]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:20:34 / 04-22-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #51510

>>>>>[NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!]<<<<<
        --  STREETWOLF(Fire is an Elf's Best Friend)(10:17:09/04-22-55)

>>>>>[Yes everyone that was STREETWOLF, he just woke up aftre the battle.  He
looks like hell, but what do you expect aftre spending that much time in a
drain induced sleep.  Other than that he is good as can be.  I am feeling great
finally.  Best wishes to everyone out there.  And thanx for all of your
concern.]<<<<<
        --  Colice Brightstar(10:21:03/04-22-55)

>>>>>[Herr Frypp, i have just scanned the logs looking for references to
Jacamus.  I finded some informations about a Herr Jean St. Jacques,
and they looking like the same person.  I might be having some more
informations for you.  I was doing some workings for Jacamus a short time
ago.  His smartgun link was severed during an attack, which he says was
by a giant insect.  He also having problems with his cyber interface.
I fixed the smartlink for him and checked the interface.  There was a
faulty chip that was building up charge and discharging, giving him
ghost images.  The problem was getting worse, and i offered fixing it for
him.  I recorded the parameters of the chip and looked for a replacement,
but that chip is no longer made.  I recently found an old chip in good
condition, which i could modify to his interface, but the number he gave
me to be contacting him is disconnected.  I was hoping to find him here,
then i got your message.  After i have reading the news reports, i am
thinking that the problem is still this chip, but much badder.  Too bad i
can't visit him in prison, i could be fixing the problem.  Oh, and he
owes me Y1'600 for finding the chip.  I think you are his boss, no?]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <16:04:35 GMT/22.Apr.55>

***** PRIVATE TO: Orion Antilles
>>>>>[I guess dat's what dat button does, makes dis private to whoever
I want.  No prob about Tk, Orion.  I'm sure you can talk to him soon as
we get him bacWe're goin' to Fraqnce to get him and I'll let him know
you're lookin' for him.]<<<<<
        -- Brick <10:32:03 / 04-22-55>

>>>>>[Thanks for the tip, Aardvark.  I will go ahead and join the group.
However, as soon as the body count begins to add up, I will leave.  My
services are available to be used.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (8:35:24/4-22-55)

>>>>>[Freddy, go ahead and count me in, unless you've found someone else.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine

>>>>>[I'll be there shortly.  I have but merely to travers
from Detroit Metro to Seattle and I will attend any healing
needs that Harlequin, for his fight against Dante, might have.
It was an alliance, and I hold to my bargain.]<<<<<
        -David 'Drake' Etherial <11:45:15/04-22-55>

>>>>>[ I run a team of specialists.  The individuals themselves often take
odd jobs on their own, but many of them are often on call by me.  Those
actually ON the team are required to drop all but the most serious of runs
if I require their assistance.  With this strict rule, many of my core
lieutenants only run with me.  All members must be proficient with firearms,
and either unarmed or armed combat, if not both, despite their 'profession'.
All members must remain unattached to either family or relationships.  All
members answer to me, and be willing to do as I tell them, regardless of
situation or any morals they may have had while on a run.  Qualms are taken
with me afterward.  When they run with me, they lose their individuality.
They are a unit.  Obviously, many people can not conform to these strict
disciplines (and I haven't even discussed training....), and therefore my
group is relatively small, but we are very powerful and very effective.
Of my group, only Jazz and Tech, my mage and decker, are comfortable being
named openly.  Others I can draw upon include two physical adepts, a
shaman, a pair of samurai, and a rigger.  My rigger's main vehicle is
currently defunct, having opted to take a run with other 'individuals'
which resulted in the destruction of his vehicle by a dragon.  He learned
the hard way that running with people he is not familiar with leaves him
open to greatly increased chance of risk. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <10:07:21GMT/04-22-55>



>>>>>[ If Maddoc sounds like a taskmaster, you're right.  And you haven't
even scraped the surface.  He doesn't take anyone who is remotely likely
to even flinch when told to shoot an unarmed man in the head or attack a
Western Dragon with a ball-point pen.  He won't take anyone who may hold
himself back because of a wife and kids.  He won't take anyone who will
question an order, and most of all, he won't take anyone who isn't the
best.  One time out east, Maddoc considered using local talent as a rigger
for a run.  After his intensive scrutiny, he decided that none of them
were capable enough and brought his own rigger. ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <10:17:02GMT/04-22-55>

>>>>>[What?  He owes you money too??  Sheesh.

Thanks.... where do I send the cred?.....]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (12:15:34 / 04-22-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

>>>>>[Frag right off Coach !  I saw what happen to Gawk after Crystal
supposily died. She was one slick slitch, and I find it damn hard to
believe that she got netted that easy in France. Gawk's a Term, but we
both made some bloody terrible choices in the women we trusted. I
never trusted Crystal, ever *snarl*.

Talon here's what I dug up. Hope it's some help.

*** File Transfer Down Load ***
12 Mp data file 8 Mp of Images
*** Transfer Complete ***

Gawk, *sigh* sorry Term, but she was bad news.]<<<<<
        -WHAT(16:00:00/22-04-55)

>>>>>[Allright, I'm getting lots of ideas on this, from lots of
different directions.  Everybody who wants in on breaking Jac out,
meet in a dark corner of the Matrix tommorrow night.  Specifically,
at >>>>LTG/RTG<<<< at around 2000.  It's a secure telepresence
conference area, in one of the other LTGs that service the Seattle
area.

I expect to see Aardvark (thanks for the help), Avatar, Dark Angel
(Where specifically do I know you? Were you in Portland during the
Year of Chaos?), Jasmine (glad you changed your mind), Maddoc
and anybody else who thinks they can contribute.  I'll be there with
my cybersnoop Magikthize.

Begin Encrypt:
****** Private: Aardvark, Avatar, Dark Angel, Jasmine, Maddoc
(Which reminds me, get together and bounce ideas off of each other.
I don't know squat about Seattle.)

Things to be specifically discussed:
1) assests: who can bring what to the group along the lines of
connections and skills to be used in finding Jac's exact whereabouts,
govt. plans regarding his trial, and what we can hope to do to bust
him out

2) timetable: how fast do we need to move?  I'm in no hurry, but
what's the window of opportunity?

3) exfiltration: who's getting out with us Frypp Security employees?

4) plans: ballpark ideas - so far, changing drivers vs. some brute
force ambush or extraction ]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (12:30:34 / 04-22-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

*****Private to: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[ It is imperative that we learn as much as possible about Jacumus'
current situation, location, and future plans.  I've already got Tech
doing some light inquiry.  If you wish, I can instruct him to team up with
your wiz-kid and find these things out. With this information, we are more
likely to discover which is the best method most open to success.  I have
heard the idea suggested that we replace the driver of the transit
vehicle.  If this is a very high-security transfer, the designated driver
may be one with a rig link containing a specialized command to operate the
vehicle.  We could not operate it without that command (not easily,
anyway).  Remember that Jac is reportedly a cop-killer, and such things
are still frowned upon by many citizens of Seattle. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <13:20:00GMT/04-22-55>

***** Private: Maddoc
>>>>>[Sounds kind of like the arrangement I've got with some of my
employees.  I let the best, most talented, most trustworthy ones
freelance, but if I need them, they are mine.  Most of the grunts in
the company are stuck here in SanFran and do work as regular rent-a-
cop security, while all of us are on retainer to the Underground.  If
only my clients really knew.

Tell you what, I've got an awful lot of free souls who have already
asked to join up.  I'm not sure if we will need all of your people.
Jazz, your mage would definately be a help, Jasmine is already
thinking about backing out, and I've always believed in walking at
the first balk.  I don't know, let's see what happens
tomorrow.....]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:20:34 / 04-22-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

>>>>>[I can send Spark up, but I'm not really sure if he'll be much
help.  Most of us are out of our element if we aren't getting
Japanese culture rammed down our throats.  The poor little guy might
freeze up in the bright lights of Seattle <grin>.

Odds are good he'll be pretty lame if the drek starts flyin' because
his lag might be pretty extreme with all of the LTG/RTG
transfers.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:52:34 / 04-22-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

>>>>>[If you didn't skimp on parts, I'd be faster.  Whoa!
Bye, Boss!]<<<<<
        -- Spark (15:52:36 / 04-22-55)

>>>>>[If I ever catch that little drek munch looking over my shoulder
again, I'm gonna wraith him.  Fraggin' kids.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:53:12 / 04-22-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

*****Private to: Patricia O'Connor
>>>>>[I'll pick you up at 2000, then.  Do you mind Italian food?]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel <16:27:24/04-22-55>

>>>>>[ Well every time to take a cigar!!!!!  ****Cigar.pic****

At 11:35, April 21, 2055 Mrs. Wendy Morgan gave birth to a  3.8 kg bouncing baby
boy!!!  But it wasn't over yet!!  Eight and half minutes later she gave birth to
a 2.5 kg giggling baby girl!!!


Mother Morgan and her two adorable children are fine and resting comfortably
while the joyous father just looks on in amazement at his two new additions to
the family.   The boy's name is of course - Criag William Morgan IV.  When
Nightfox got back after missing the festivities, Spirit asked him what his
mothers name was, and after giving it and asking why Spirit, she showed him the
distinctive pointed ears on the little girls head.  Fox was very honored that
Spirit would name her child after someone over 5000 thousand years gone, but was
very happy that her spirit and name would live on in the baby  Shaphealla
Morgan.  Right now Spirit is still deciding what to give.....]<<<<<
	--- Transmission Inturrupted....

>>>>>[  Sorry about that, someone came in on me and I had to quick like break
connection.  I'm ont xsure if anything went out - so here it is again.

Get out your cigars folks!!!! *****virtual cigars***** Mr Morgan is a father!!!!

At 11:35 April 21, 2055  Mrs William Morgan (Spirit) gave birth to a 3.7 kg
bouncing baby boy.  Eight and a half minutes later, she once again gave birth,
this time to a gorgeous 2.5 kg baby girl.  Both mother and children are resting
comfortable while the joyous Mr Morgan looks on in rapt amazement at the two
tiny new additions to his family and his glowing wife, vibrant from the joy and
pain of giving birth.  She says that to see their faces made everything worth
the effort.  Maybe someday I'll think about having kids, nahh, I'll just spoil
Spirit's.

Well, since your probably wondering what names to put on the cards and presents,
the boy's name was given to him by his father right after he was born,  Craig
William Morgan IV.  It took a little while longer for the girl to be named, but
that was because we had to wait for a friend to return.  Nightfox had been away
over helping Harlequin, and when he came back the first thing Spirit asked him
was what his mothers name was, he gave then asked why.  I was great to see the
look of surprise and joy when she showed him the pointed ears of her new
daughter.  Fox said he was honored to has his mother's name passed down to the
daughter of women who has always been one of his family.  So, Spirit named her
Shaphealla Fredericka Morgan in honor of a woman 5000 years gone and an
honorable man whom she deeply respects and hopes for constantly, Doctor Doom.

Well, I have to go, it looks like the sleeping beauties are about to awake.]<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <something went right>

>>>>>[Herr Frypp, i have just reading a message that indicates you are
wanting to free Jacamus.  While i am not really interesting in a physical
run, i could helps with some Matrix work, or as a medic for you.  Jacamus
will probably needing medical help after.  I could also fix the chip, if
the one i have fits.  The nuyen i was mentioned earlyer is not really
interesting for me, i have recently received a large donation from another
source.  It was just that the chip i found is almost useless unless it can
be modified to fit for Jacamus.  If you are interesting in my services for
Matrix or medic, send me a private message.]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <00:22:42 GMT/23.Apr.55>

>>>>>[Congratulations, Mr. Morgan!!!  As I am nnot one to indulge in tobacco
products, I will decline the cigar.  However, I wish the children as happy a
life as can be had in this world.  Innocence is one thing I wish we could
never lose.  Perhaps they will have the chance.  Once again, congratulations,
and enjoy the blessing of the two little ones.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (4:40:15/4-22-94)

>>>>>[Congratulations.]<<<<<
        -- Tirandor <From the Dragon's Desk>

***** Private: Freddy Frypp.
>>>>>[ Death completes the natural cycle of life: I hath no qualms
about killing -- there art no innocents in our game. ]<<<<<
         --  Avatar <18:50:23/22-04-55>

***** Punisher:
>>>>>[ Ya dunno me, chummer, but ya did some favours for a friend o' mine
couple years back so I owe ya at least this much -- there's been some
dickdrek lookin' fer ya. Somethin' ta do with that dame ya got stashed at
yer place at the moment. The scummer geos by the name of The Sculptor --
I ain't never heard o' him but he looks like he means business. Watch yer
back -- he looked like a mage and ya can't trust mages, y'know. ]<<<<<
         --  anonymous <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[Yet, Maddoc, there is a point to which your ideals of centralized control
lose efficiency rapidly.  A unit of trained, fanatically loyal people does have
its advantages...however, in my various encounters in Milan and the rest of
Western Europe, a loose, comfortable group of individualists can accomplish
much more at a greater pace than your system.  Cooperation, rather than orders,
are key.  A rigid hierarchy only goes so far.  If you fall in combat - and I
trust and hope it will not happen - then from what I gather none amongst your
group are fully capable of leading.  You seem to organize hierarchies.  I,
on the other hand, choose individuals of my own caliber to assist, and I have
watched groups similar to mine take 90% casualties (excessive security measures
were taken by the opponents) and survive.  It is crucial to learn all you can
about your opponents, and therefore "local talent" is exceptionally important,
as you seem to have overlooked.

Your group fights like ants, almost.  A queen that rules them and drones that
carry out orders -- flawlessly, I will admit, but they carry out orders.  I
would much rather 'run with a group that is totally individualized and yet
polished and loose and free and cooperative.  Regimentalization crushes
individuality and through that free and independent thought, which is so
critical on 'runs.

Meet you in the shadows.]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel <19:15:38/04-22-55>

*****Private to: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Mr. Frypp, as a security consultant myself, I seriously think that I
would be able to acccomplish your mission with the minimum amount of casualties
and damages, in addition to being swift and sure.  I will take 50kY less than
your highest offer, simply as a matter of pride.]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel <19:17:36/04-22-55>

*****Private to: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Ah, the Year -- yes, I was there for part of it.  You are slightly
acquainted with me, I believe.  Perhaps my icon will ring a bell in your
mind.

To answer your questions:

1.  I will be willing to provide either Matrix cover or direct assault.

2.  I think we should move as soon as we are prepared -- exceptionally
prepared, but let us not waste time.

3.  I do not think I will need to get out with your employees.

4.  Instead of the simple trash-everything-extraction, why not arrange for
him to be "transferred" to a pick-up site from which he will be trasnferred
to a military prison?  Of course, he won't really end up there...Oh, and by
the way, you may find these interesting: ***Visual Image Package: Partial
Blueprints*** That's all I could find on such short notice, but they may help.

I will also refuse to work under one such as Maddoc.  My apologies, Mr. Frypp,
but he cannot hold any power over me whatsoever.

The Angel of the Night Will Fly!]<<<<<
         -- Dark Angel <20:40:33/04-22-55>

*****PRIVATE TO:  All corporate, government, and private security concerns
>>>>>[Greetings, all.  I am very glad you have taken the time to read this, as
I am sure that you will find it well worth your time.  The reason I am
contacting you in such an unusual manner, and in a way generally frowned upon
by orginizations such as yourselves is that I have found a large amount of
information that you will find interesting.

You have all been infiltrated by sleeper agents, up to your highest levels.

The orginization is called just that, the Orginization.  The people who operate
it are suspected to be Moriarity, a Brit of unknown history; Solitaire, the
very same decker who less than a year ago broke into the Corporate Court to
purge the files on Mil Tech Incorporated, and Collussus, an amerindian cyborg.
They run the Orginization from an undisclosed location, termed Central.  It is
known that Central is located somewhere in North America, but it's exact
physical location has been unknown until now.

The Orginization is the outgrowth of the presumably destroyed Mil Tech, and it
has taken over where Mil Tech left off, but without the mistakes of the originalfounders and thier ideas.  They run a world-wide orginization of Outlets,
generally one per major city.  The ones I have been able to pin down are
somewhere in Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Tokyo, London, Paris, Cairo,
Moscow, Hong Kong, Sidney, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Atlanta, Berlin, Quebec,
Tenochitlan, Honolulu, Bejing, and Seole.  However, not I do not know where in
these citys the Outlets are located or the relative sizes of the Outlets beyond
that Denver is likely the largest.

The purpose of the Orginization is two-fold:  to gather intelligence regarding
arms deals, shipments, and similar data that will allow them to hijack or steal
or sell thier own arms for a profit, and to gather intelligence for the single
purpose of selling it to the highest bidder.  In this way, they are able to
keep themselves hidden deep beneath the surface and still turn a healthy profit
on thier operations.

I said you each had been penetrated to your highest levels...if you would
think back to the time just prior to Dr. Alexander Jackson's trial in New York,
you will remember a rash of killings world-wide of high profile and important
persons, including as a better example, the Governer of Conneticut.  They were
all agents for Mil Tech/the Orginization that had somehow been compromised, and
under thier rather strict security rules, had to be eliminated before they
could do any more damage.  After long months of digging, I have coolated the
files attached to this message.  I believe you will find them very interesting.
Perhaps interesting enough to warrant a full investigation and action by your
respective agencies.

Good day, everyone.

*****Enclosure:  MAXIM Files: 4Mp]<<<<<
        -- Double D(21:48:29/04-22-54)

>>>>>[WHAT!!!!!!?  4MPs?  that was over 1000!!!!!  RAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!]<<<<<
        -- Double D(21:49:21/04-22-54)

>>>>>[Orion, I truly am sorry about taking so long...I have been otherwise...
occupied.  But when they killed Dante the first time, there was barely enough
left to identify.  So a simple decapitation might not be enough, when you don't
know your enemy.  Much as you did not when the two of you met so long ago.]<<<<
        -- Double D(21:56:34/04-22-54)

*****PRIVATE TO: Longshot
>>>>>[It's not exactly a program...but I do have *limited* access to
some very HIGH speed stuff. Keyhole-29 sound familiar? The next pass
will be around 231000APR (PDT). If you are not available to back me up in
the matrix, I've got someone here who can cover me. Oh, and don't even think
about asking me how I can do this. It's so classified, I don't even know
*smirk*. As for blueprints, I'll see what I can do. ]<<<<<
        --  Tracker < 19:54:51 / 04-22-55 >

*****PRVIATE TO: Longshot
>>>>>[I found some initial plans for the compound. Building contractors have
NO concept of computer security.  I'm sure that the compound has been modified
since then, but check these out >>>DOWNLOAD Planfile.AllHalous(25MB)<<< It
never ceases to amaze me what some people leave unsecured in their
computers.]<<<<<
         --  Tracker < 20:23:21 / 04-22-55 >

>>>>>[Alright, this is getting a little worse now.

I am looking for runners for dual extractions.  There will be major
magical support there, but we can always use more.  The pay should be
relatively good, and the runs should not be very difficult.  Mostly, I
just need them DONE.

Call me at >>LTG<<< for information and time for a full meet.  Matrix
offers could be difficult.

Matrix cover would also be appreciated.]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <00:04:20/04-23-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[Extractions?  You're not thinking of taking me out, are you,
Quickling?]<<<<<
        --  Hack <No T/D>

*****Private: Hack
>>>>>[Frag off.  I'm not doing anything to you.  I'm doing favors for a
friend.]<<<<<
        --  Quicklng <00:06:20/04-23-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[A pity.  I could use the excitement.]<<<<<
        --  Hack <No T/D>

>>>>>[ I am available as a mobile ops platform, or as a rigger in the
normal respects. ]<<<<<
        --  CoHort <22:38:42/04-22:55>

>>>>>[ If I couldn't trust my crew to do things on their own, I'd have to
clone myself and watch their every move.  All of my members have the
ability to add their two cents worth at any time... before the run.  On
it, no one tries any bright ideas or expressions of individual panache. 
They do their job.  I only have to tell them what to do if something goes
wrong.  I'm the strike force leader, and I prepare them on how to make the
strike.  As opposed to mindless ants running around after I fall, my
people are totally self sufficient.  My being present on the run just
guarantees success. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <23:19:44GMT/04-22-55>

>>>>>[ I am not interested in taking over anything.  This eclectic group could
never function as well as my own, nor would I want to run it.  Disharmony is,
after all, one of the quickest paths to failure.  Instead, I offer the use of
my two adepts, who are quite capable of filling any suitable roles, and my
decker, who is already doing some prying as we speak.  I suspect that Jazz
may be available, but he accepts his own missions, and I can not speak for him
in regards to such a mission. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <23:31:22GMT/04-22-55>

***** ENCRYPTED: Aardvark
>>>>>[ Wonderful! I hate letting people think they can get away
with it. I would've done it myself, but I think I'm known with
their security. Here's what I know:

<<<Building Description 13 Mp>>>

Just get back to me when you're done, OK? ]<<<<<
        --  Pet <11.55.40/55-04-23>

*****Private to: Quickling
>>>>>[It depends.  What are you doing?]<<<<<
         -- Dark Angel <9:30:09/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Guarantees success?  Excuse me?  I do not think so.  There are no
guarantees in the shadows -- I thought that you had realized that.

Bright ideas are often the only way to get out of a sticky situation without
incurring massive casualities.

Do you like your people to die, Maddoc?]<<<<<
         -- Dark Angel <09:31:44/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Freddy, I'll be there...]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:34:13/23-4-55)

>>>>>[Maddoc, you really have a nice army out there. I think Jac is
out already, only he doesn't know it yet...]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:32:13/23-4-55)

>>>>>[Basilisk, you actually CAN visit Jac in prison. I could
get you in in no time. The only problem is to get you out...]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:43:13/23-4-55)

>>>>>[Well, back from yet another run.  Clown, I've already transferred your
share of the profits into your account: same with you, Irish.

***** Begin AudioVisual Upload

A group of seven people sits around a circular oak table in a brightly lit
room: five humans and two elves.  The elves are both lightly cybered and
wearing heavy armor jackets, while three of the humans are heavily cybered and
armored.  One of them is carefully reassembling an Ares Predator heavy
pistol.  Another human is dressed as a clown, and the last is clad in black,
his silver-grey hair neatly trimmed.  Spread on the table are detailed
blueprints and a three-dimensional model of a corporate building and the
surrounding areas.

DarkAngel: "A word of introductions.  I'm Dark Angel, that's Clown (points to
the one dressed as a clown).  The humans are Michelis, Stephen, and Alexander,
and the elves go as Patrick and Alexandra.  We need to get into the building,
intercept the target here (he points to a room on the blueprints) and get out
again.  How we do it, well, I run a fluid team.  We need a general plan, but
you are free to do as you wish: just don't get yourselves killed or endanger
the rest of the mission."

Alexander: "I think we ought to just go in and tear up as much as we can.  They
can't do all that much damage to us, they've got two squads to cover a whole
building."

Patrick:   "Not quite buisnesslike.  Can we intercept him at some other point?"

DarkAngel: "Not really.  He generally has a rather extensive bodyguard."

***10.1 Mp's Deleted by Operator -- Discussion***

Alexandra: "What we might want to consider doing is going in individually,
as maintainance crews or somesuch, then terminate the target and try to slip
out quietly."

Stephen:   "Not a bad idea."

Michelis:  "Here's my idea.  Let's split into two squads.  One will hit the
roof -- I can get us there without too much trouble, I think -- and the other
squad will do individual infiltrations, like Alexandra suggested.  Then we
launch a coordinated strike and lift out of the roof."

DarkAngel: "Sounds good to me.  I'll go in and fake a registered helicopter
landing on the roof, then we go in.  Sound good to all involved?"

All agree.

DarkAngel: "We'll meet at 2200 hours back here.  See you then."

***Fade to Black***

The nightline of Seattle sparkles bright in the cool night air, polluting the
dome of the stars with the tawdry lights of the city.  A light cloud cover has
settled over the sky, and a slow, cold, drizzling rain has begun to fall.
The strike team is once again sitting around the table, each member wearing a
small radio headset and clad in what ranges from armor vests to half-suits of
hardened milspec.  Dark Angel himself wears a long black trenchcoat and a
weatherbeaten fedora.

DarkAngel: "Alpha Squad will be Michelis, Patrick, Clown, and myself.  Beta
Squad will be Alexandra, Steven, and Alexander: Anyone have any objections?"

No objections are raised.

DarkAngel: "In that case, keep in radio contact with all team members.  The
links are encrypted, so we shouldn't have much to worry about.  Remember, if
you have any brilliant ideas, don't hesitate to use them -- but think about
what they're going to do first."

The squads stand up and depart.

***Fade to Black***

The low hum of helicopter rotors sounds through the city as the Wasp, piloted
by one of Michelis' friends, settles down on top of the building.  A slightly
obese, graying security guard watches the helicopter with disinterest.  The
'chopper lands, the rain making for a slightly shaky landing.

DarkAngel: "Beta Team, we are down.  Here we go."

Alexandra: "All set."

Steven:    "No problems here."

Alexander: "I'm ready."

Dark Angel gets out of the helicopter, then walks over towards the security
guard.  He stands up tiredly and puts his hand out.

SecGrd01:  "Your pass, please?"

Dark Angel smiles and hands him a small slip of paper.  He peers at it in the
rain, holding it up close to his face.  Dark Angel swiftly and silently pulls
a small pistol and shoots it into his stomach.  The guard groans softly and
falls over, and Dark Angel feels for a pulse, then gestures towards the
helicopter.  They all run towards the down staircase that leads into the
complex.

Michelis:  "You killed him?"

DarkAngel: "No, put him out for a few hours.  He'll wake up with a terrific
headache."

They hit the staircase, sprinting down the steps.  Michelis spins around a
landing, and a heavily armoured guard opens fire with a Predator, barely
missing him.  He returns fire and the rounds glance harmlessly off the armor.

Michelis:  "We've got some opposition here: heavily armoured guard."

Steven:    "Same here: looks like two guards, medium armor."

SecGrd02:  "Station 32A1 reporting: Intr --"

The commlink is drowned out with the electric whirr of a Vindicator as Patrick
opens fire.  The security guard falls in a spray of scarlet, staining the
floor the color of a rich wine.

Patrick:   "Come on!" (gesturing downwards)

The group sprints down the stairs, finally reaching the desired floor.  Michelis
blasts the door open with a well-placed shot.  They run in a loose formation,
in a half-crouch, down the corridor.

DarkAngel: "We're heading down the primary corridor into the target area.  How
is it on your end?"

Alexandra: "We're moving down our corridor.  Oh dre --" *sound of weapons fire*

Steven:    "We've got a guard with a LMG on us.  Taking another corridor, there
is one here to the left..."

Patrick:   "Anyone hit?"

Alexandra: "I'm fine."

The squad turns a corner and looks into another corridor that ends with a large
steel door.

DarkAngel: "We're in position.  Get there as soon as possible, please.  I don't
want the entire security force of this place here..."

Alexandra: "Hold on...just a few more meters...got it, squad in position."

Patrick raises his Vindicator and reduces the door to a twisted scrap metal as
the rest of the squad scurries into a large room, lined with desks and computer
equipment.  There are three doors into the room, two on one side and one on the
other.  A large concussion resounds as the other squad enters the room through
the shattered remains of the adjacent door.  A rather stout man with greasy
black hair stands in the middle of the room, along with six heavily cybered and
armoured guards and a handful of corporate secretaries.  The secretaries and
man turn to run for the other door as the guards start to open fire: two with
heavy pistols, one with an assault rifle, and three with SMGs.  The room is
filled with bits of flying lead as Patrick opens fire with his Vindicator, and
Alexandra and Steven open up with assault rifles.  Alexander fires a round from
a grenade launcher, neatly tearing one of the guards in half.

DarkAngel: "STOP!"

He pulls a glistening black rifle from beneath his trenchcoat, and a red dot
springs into life on the back of the stout man's neck as he sprints toward the
door.  Dark Angel carefully lets all the breath out of his lungs and squeezes
off a single shot, which tears the man's neck in half and shatters his spine.
He then turns and engages in a furious firefight with a guard, eventually taking
cover behind a desk.  A man runs crouched towards him.

Irish:     "Sorry, I'm a bit late."

DarkAngel: "No drek, chummer."

They return fire over the desk and take out one of the other guards, and then
rapidly help the rest of the team clean up the others.

DarkAngel: "Patrick, how many rounds do you have left in your Vind?"

Patrick:   "Enough, why?"

DarkAngel: "Michelis, Alexandra -- you guys go and get the helicopter in front
of the building.  The rest of us are going to cause damage.  Any objections?"

None are raised.  Michelis and Alexandra take off towards the roof.

DarkAngel nods to Patrick, who opens up with his Vindicator and indiscrimitely
sprays the room down with minigun fire, tearing through delicate computer
equipment with no effort whatsoever.  Dark Angel places a grenade in every desk,
working rapidly, and then the squad heads down the corridors towards the front
lobby, shattering every cubicle with a quick burst from an SMG or assault
rifle.  At one point, Dark Angel stops and pulls a bulky soft plastic
container from within his trenchcoat and shoves it into a corner.  Steven
raises an eyebrow:

DarkAngel: "Three kilos of C12.  A birthday gift from a friend...let's go."

***End AudioVisual Upload***

Well, chummers, that's it.  We all managed to get out okay, although Patrick
took a round into his forearm in a duel with a guard.  Clown patched him up
okay: he was sticking around back in the chopper.

See you in the shadows!]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel <10:42:13/04-23-55>

>>>>>[A large explosion rocked a Saeder-Krupp corporate building late last
night.  Believed lost is one Paulus Giovanni, a SK executive.  In addition to
structural damage caused by the explosion, SK has estimated the damage in
excess of 1.5 million nuyen.  Saeder-Krupp executives have refrained from
further comment.]<<<<<
         -- Seattle News Feed <10:46:42/04-23-55>

>>>>>[You gotta love Seattle.]<<<<<
         -- Dark Angel <10:49:27/04-23-55>

*****Private To: Solitaire
>>>>>[God, I hope this wor%$@^$%!!1
>>>> Activate: ICE.Trace-and-Dump.Intepol.8736
>>>> Link Terminated at source
]<<<<<
        -- Raven <**:**:**/**#$@$#%@ ^$#@

>>>>>[ Hard to tell, considering none of them ever has. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <09:29:10GMT/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Where can a guy find some action in this city. When I was in
Detroit, I was busy just about every fraggin day.]<<<<<
        --  Street Heat(12:20:304/23/55)

*****Private TO: Dark Angel
>>>>>[Wonderful, I love Italian Food]<<<<<
        --  Patricia O'Connor(14:00:00/04-23-55)

*****Private: CoHort
>>>>>[Alright.  Meet me at >>ENCRYPTED<< tonight.  You can have weapons, but
nothing bigger than a shotgun, please.  And keep the cover discreet.  Oh, and
I will NOT be alone.  Be so warned.]<<<<<
        -- Quickling <12:59:26/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Congratz, I mysel' don' smoke bu' I will light th' cigar of an'one else.
*Smirk*]<<<<<
        --  STREETWOLF(Fire is an Elf's Best Friend)(14:00:25/04-23-55)

>>>>>[Congratulations, as you can see Streetie is feeling much better now, he
is even back to making jokes.  So when do we get to come and see the children?
I may be interested in having a few of my own.]<<<<<
        --  Colice Brightstar(14:03:10/04-23-55)

>>>>>[WHAT??????]<<<<<
        --  STREETWOLF(Fire is an Elf's Best Friend)(14:04:10/04-23-55)

>>>>>[Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Morgan on your recent family addition.  Best of
luck with them.]<<<<<
        --  Patricia O'Connor(14:05:15/04-23-55)

*****Private: Dark Angel
>>>>>[I'm extracting some people.  I'm sorry I can't tell you any more here,
I am being...observed on the Matrix.  I'd give you more information if we could
meet in person.

You know, I might have forgotten to mention that the run's in Chicago.  I
suppose that transportation isn't a problem, if you want it...

Here.  Call me at >>LTG<<.  DON'T use the Matrix for it.  I can't risk
being overheard.]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <13:04:38/04-23-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[You're really worried about me, aren't you Quickling?]<<<<<
       -- Hack <No T/D>

*****Private: Hack
>>>>>[I'm worried about anyone that can read all my mail, public or private.
Frag off.  I'm not in the mood.]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <13:05:59/04-23-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[I am not interested in anything not related to your run on Yamatetsu.
This is a routine surveilance measure...at least from me.

To be honest, I also am impressed.  You are the only one to ever get ANY
information by me like that.  Maybe you would not have succeeded without the
help of your friend Solonus, but still, I am impressed.]<<<<<
        --  Hack <No T/D>

>>>>>[ Oh, Wendy!  Congradualations!!!!!  When can we come to the hospital and
see you?  ]<<<<<
        -- Raven the Mage <11:26:27/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ <Hack> <Hack>  Damn.  I never could handle smoking.  Congraduations,
Crush.  How's it feel to be a father twice in one day? ]<<<<<
        -- Nightstalker <11:28:34/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Congradulations, Spirit.  Now how do you plan on controling a pair of
Troll rug-rats?  I hear that they hit really hard. ]<<<<<
        -- Cerise <11:29:57/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Thank you God. My deck is finally working again. Nice to be back here.

As my first return message, congrats to the entire Morgan clan from Coyote,
Chance, and the gang. You can send the cigars to ***Location***. Our presents
will be on the way as soon as our current biz is finished.

Now, on to biz. Warehouse, you crazy fixer, you got a request for our team
specifically? Fantastic! I know that Chance has been in touch with you because
I was down, but now that I'm back, I will tell you that the arrangements made
with Ms. Johnson are adequate. We will meet her at the agreed time and place.
Your fee is on its way as we speak. Thank you once again for your wonderful
services.

Finally, what is the deal with MONICA? I want in!!! I know that the guys who
are mainly involved with that think that I'm an arrogant little doof who gets
in over his head all the time. Well, I'm not. Please, let me help just a
little bit? I want to taste a little bit of revenge when Cyberbitch gets taken
down. I'll behave, really I will.

That's all for now... I gotta go. Congrats to the Morgans again!]<<<<<
        -- Coyote <Howl/Howl>

*****Private to: Patricia
>>>>>[Perfect...see you at 2000 Monday, then.]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel <15:47:47/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Congrats.]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <15:49:44/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Welcome back, Coyote.  We need to have a chat sometime soon.  ***Private
to: Coyote*** We need to discuss Lauri ***End Private***  Give me a private
call at LTG *encrypted* and we can talk.]<<<<<
         -- Dark Angel <15:54:16/04-23-55>

*****PRIVATE TO:  Quickling
>>>>>[I'm still here in Chicago, Quickling.  While Bruce is still planning on
doing your run, I felt it was important to tell you that I will be as well.
Until I think I've convinced him to stop doing these crazy runs of his, I'll
be here.  He's almost killing himself...  Oh, I may be able to provide another
friend to help too, but there is no guarantees.  After Bruce thought he was
Nightmare and manabolted him, Micheal is a little skittish around him.  Not
that it hurt much, but still...  We'll see.]<<<<<
        --  Diana, Mistress of the Night(17:40:56/04-23-55)

*****Private: Diana
>>>>>[Good to have you aboard.  We need to meet in person.  Meet me at
>>Encrypyed<< in a few hours.  Leave your assault cannons and such at home
(you can bring some small guns, but they don't like anything where the collater-
al damage would take down the building).  Bring Bruce, too...oh, and be
careful about Matrix connections.

Meet you there in a couple of hours...you'll recognize me.

Oh, and I'll try to keep you and Bruce on the same team, at least...]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <17:07:37/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Dark Angel is correct. Regimentalization does crush.  It crushed my
brother.  Maddoc denies the truth when he says he has lost no one. 
Perhaps not to a run, but the high pressure he exerted in his control over
him crushed his spirit and his soul.  It got so high, in fact that one day
he cracked and jumped out a window.  All my brother's talent and innocence
was gone.  With his death, so did everything good about me die.  For this,
Maddoc shall pay. ]<<<<<
        --Elender <18:57:49CST/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Hah! You think you have defeated me! But I know where the bitch is,
and I shall return to destroy her! Noone is safe from the Sword of God!
Noone! ]<<<<<
        --Sword of God (01:04:20/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ Hahahahahahahaha! Sword of God! You make me laugh! You honestly
do!]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (01:04:58/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ DeDannan, you're mirth shall be short-lived. The Lord's will shall be
done and all trace of the metahuman abominations shall be wiped from the face
of this Earth! I am the Lord's instrument in this matter! ]<<<<<
        --Sword of God (01:06:37/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ Would you count elves as "abominations"? ]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (01:08:09/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ Anything that is not human is an abomination! The so-called "elves"
shall die along with the rest! ]<<<<<
        --Sword of God (01:08:57/04-24-55)

***** NOT TO: Sword of God
>>>>>[ Gotta keep this guy talking. Dumping this file for anyone who wants in
on the action. Sorry 'bout the length - Don't wanna waste too much time,
wanna keep bouncing messages back at this guy...

# systemcmnd: download logfile: lastlog.txt

*Starting lastlog (Commands)*

Message entry detected.
Scanning MCPC...
Identified MPCP: Sword of God
Activating alert.

Establishing ASIST interface

> scan(oersona)
"oersona": Unidentified variable
> scan(persona)
Scanning...
Perasonas: Sword of God,
> SoG_trace Sword of God(persona)
Trace initiated...
> text scan SL-TXT#04-24-55/362
Dowmloading text...
> text enter SL-TXT
Initiating editor...
Saving SL-TXT#04-24-55/363
> activate bleeper_alert
Executing bleeper_alert process...
Input Bleeper text:
Sword of God's online, guys. Wake up, Lock'n'load! I'll have his location
in a few minutes. Standby. <esc>
Message sent.
> status(ps: SoG_trace)
SOG_TRACE Status report: Trace 87% complete. ETC: 186 seconds.
> text scan SL-TXT#04-24-55/364
Downloading text...
> text enter SL-TXT
Initiating editor...
Saving SL-TXT#04-24-55/366
> status(ps: SoG_trace)
SOG_TRACE Status report: Trace 99% complete. ETC: 14 seconds.
> load(package) wastem_v2.5
Loading package: wastem_v2.5
>
Trace completed: Location LTG:SEA-4206(30-2847)
> Xref location LTG:SEA-4206(30-2847)
Checking....
Downloading Telecom Data...
Location: 135th street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup.
> activate bleeper_alert                                                        
> Executing bleeper_alert process...
Input Bleeper text:
Got the location at last - 135th street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup
He's all yours, guys... <esc>
Message sent.
> text enter SL-TXT < display lastlog; edit
*End lastlog* ]<<<<<
        -- DeDannan (01:09:51/04-24-55)

***** NOT TO: Sword of God
>>>>>[Banzai! Got it, 135th St. E & 122nd Ave E, Pullyap. I'm off and
running, the rest of you guys either catch up or get outta the way.]<<<<<
        --Rattler <18:30:23/04-24-55>

>>>>>[ The hunt is on, let the prey beware.]<<<<<
        -- Claw <17:52:21/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ I'm an elf! Why the hell should I die? What have I done wrong? ]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (01:20:03/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ Got your alert.Yes!  Now we're going to catch that fragger... I'll
check to see if there's any Matrix security at that location, ok? ]<<<<<
        --Quickling (01:23:23/04-24-55)


***** Private To: Quickling
>>>>>[ Ok, go ahead, but I doubt if there'll be any... Looks like it's
just a squat he's using to hide out in... ]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (01:25:27/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ Ok, DeDannan... I'll be there in about five minutes.. ]<<<<<
        --Gawk (01:25:28/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ You're an ELF?!?!?!?! You're an abomination in the eyes of God! You
shall die! Along with all the rest! ]<<<<<
        --Sword of God (01:25:29/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ Hell, I'm only about half a klick from there! Bleep the others to
meet me at the corner of 135th and 123rd! I'll be waiting in my black
Westwind... ]<<<<<
        --Necromancer (01:25:43/04-24-55)


***** Private To: Necromancer
>>>>>[ Consider it done. I'll beep you if he logs off suddenly. If he
does, tail him, ok? ]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (01:27:05/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ So what if I'm an elf? I'm no abomination! Even the Pope said that elves
and other Awakened creatures are all of God! What do you say to that?! ]<<<<<
        --DeDannan (01:28:10/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[On my way.]<<<<<
        --  Slash (01:28:47/04-24-55)


***** Private To: WHAT
>>>>>[ I have the chem to keep him alive.  Even the catatonic that will make himlook dead, if the other's just want him killed.  Lone Star is a better way than
simply geekin the drekhead...]<<<<<
        --  Slash (01:30:02/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ The Pope?!?! Hah! He was afool, and we all saw what happened to him!
The Lord passed judgement on him! "Awakened"? Awakened my arse! You are all
corrupted! And Tir Tairngire is the worst of the lot! ]<<<<<
        --Sword of God (01:30:42/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ Gottit. Gonna finally get the fragger.. ]<<<<<
        -- Dark Angel (01:31:04/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ I'll be there in a few minutes! ]<<<<<
        -- WHAT (01:31:32/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ The Pope is the Head of the Church! He, more than anyone else is
qualified to say whether the Awakened peoples are abominations or not!
What about my homeland? Tir na nOg? Is that as bad as Tir Tairngire? ]<<<<<
        -- DeDannan (01:32:44/04-24-55)


***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ You were right. No Matrix system at that location... I checked up on
various records, and the telecom link has only been installed a month ago.
It's rented, and has been by the same person for the last three months.
Anything else I can do to help get the little sucker? ]<<<<<
        -- Quickling (01:32:44/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ You're from that hellhole! You shall DIE! Iwould personally like to
see your life's blood drain away! Tir na nOg is the source of the most evil
plans by the Abominations!!! ]<<<<<
        -- Sword of God (01:33:26/04-24-55)


***** Private To: Quickling
>>>>>[ Well, I could do with a hand in keeping him arguing... He seems to
be totally mad - Completely off his rocker... ]<<<<<
        -- DeDannan (01:33:43/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ Sword of God: Don't you think that that's a little over the top? ]<<<<<
        -- Quickling (01:35:14/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ Yeah right. Pull the other one. Us elves have got just as much
rights as you have, and as for the Tir being the "source of the most evil
plans by the Abominations", you oughtta go get a life, pal. ]<<<<<
        -- DeDannan (01:35:19/04-24-55)


>>>>>[ Sword of God: Don't you think that that's a little over the top? ]<<<<<
        -- Quickling (01:35:14/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ Over the top?!?!!? The Tir na nOg elves are carrying out a positive
policy of Genocide against the humans that live there! They shall be defeated!
noone can stop us! ]<<<<<
        -- Sword of God (01:36:39/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ That's what you think, you piece of scum! There's no policy of human
genocide in the Tir, and if there is, then it's from the Unseelie court, who
are no better than you are! ]<<<<<
        -- DeDannan (01:37:36/04-24-55)

***** Private To: DeDannan
>>>>>[ You're right. He's fragging nuts! ]<<<<<
        -- Quickling (01:37:42/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ You're history DeDannan! I'm not going to rest until the planet is
rid of you and your kind! I am the Sword of God! I.. Hell, what the frag's
goin.. -*>LINK LOST<*- ]<<<<<
        -- Sword of God (01:38:34/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ Looks like the lads got him.. ]<<<<<
        -- DeDannan (01:39:47/04-24-55)

>>>>>[ Yep. Hope they frag his ass... Well, I can't do much more, so I'm
off to bed again... G'night, DeDannan... ]<<<<<
        -- Quickling (01:40:39/04-24-55)

*****PRIVATE TO:  Raven
>>>>>[RAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Where the FRAG are you!?!?  Central is in an uproar,
the outlets are on Security alert, and you're a hair's breadth from being
labled a Security Risk, meaning you get geeked on sight!  Now, where the frag
are you, so Central can save your butt from Interpol and Dante.  If you're in
Denver, come in and visit us.  You know where we are...]<<<<<
        --  Solitaire(17:46:35/04-23-55)

>>>>>[My sincere condolences, Elender.  If you want to talk, I can be reached
at *Encrypted*.]<<<<<
        --  Dark Angel <21:01:24/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Die with your boots on!]<<<<<
        -- Spawn of Entropy (I'm so clever)<18:20:50/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Worry not about me.  Simply keep a safe distance from this evil one.  He
has taken something innocent from me, I am about to take something innocent
from him..... ]<<<<<
        -- Elender <11:05:04CST/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ That's not the way I remember it, Elender.  I seem to remember him
plugging in a fake firearms skillsoft he acquired that told him he could fly,
or don't you remember the coronary report? ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <21:09:14GMT/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Elender, you have to give up this revenge trip!  I don't have
anything against you or your other brothers Praxis and Enigma, but if you
come after Maddoc again, you'll probably end up dead.  You scan? ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <21:13:44GMT/04-23-55>

*****Private to: Maddoc
>>>>>[ I know you've seen these threats, Maddoc.  My deck has already
diagnosed his Time/Date stamps as frauds, and rather lousy frauds at that. 
They don't lie in accurate chronological order.  Therefore, he may or may
not be in the Central Time Zone.  I may run a trace to find out for sure. 
In the mean time, what does he mean, 'something innocent' from you? 
You're not hiding any family out east are you? ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <21:11:11GMT/04-23-55>

>>>>>[ Even if that quack report was remotely accurate, who would he have
been trying to appease by increasing his firearms ability thus?  Who would
have demanded better skill from even his most skilled employees?  You and
I both know the answer, Tech, so stay out of my way.....]<<<<<
        -- Elender <23:20:38CST/04-23-55>

>>>>>[Stay out of your way I will if you so wish it, but I think we ought to
talk.  ***Private to: Elender*** I would like to help if at all possible.  You
know where I can be reached ***End Private Segment***  Hopefully, see you
soon.]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <09:10:42/04-24-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[Interesting, Quickling.  To think that I missed all the fun you had last
night.  Wiping a known killer from existance?  And a bigot at that?  I am
very impressed.]<<<<<
        --  Hack <No T/D>

*****Private: Hack
>>>>>[You weren't up last night, then?  Too bad.  Even you might enjoy wiping

that guy up...your programs might have been nice, at that.  Stun him in the
Matrix as he's being killed outside...]<<<<<
        --  Quickling <10:47:23/04-24-55>

*****Private: Quickling
>>>>>[No, I would not kill like that.  I only would have killed you because you
were in our system.

Although, you're probably right, I would have been tempted.]<<<<<
        --  Hack <No T/D>

>>>>>[ A poem for you, Maddoc:

The day of my revenge,
cometh now at last
A demon from the future
joins an angel of the past.
This cat without a tail
takes a queen without a head.
The circle made complete
from a voice beyond the dead.  ]<<<<<
        --Elender <10:52:33CST/04-24-55>

*****Private To: Maddoc
>>>>>[ Have you seen this yet, Maddoc?  I've analyzed the poem for clues, and,
if it follows the 'riddle-poetry' it seems to, we can dismiss the first line as
simply a threat.  Each of the middle lines refer to one thing or one person of
significance, and the last two lines form a closer.  I think the closer is
most likely a reference to Elender's brother, but I can't be certain. ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <09:01:38GMT/04-24-55>

*****Private To: Tech
>>>>>[ Thank you, Tech, but seeing as how the poem was designed for me, I have
already gleaned most of the necessary information from it.  Contact Koan and
Athena, and have them meet me here with Jazz, stat.  In the meantime, procure
a set of four tickets to ***ENCRYPTED*** for as soon as possible.  You are
free to pursue this Jacamus case if you so desire, but this commands my
attention. ]<<<<<
        --Maddoc <09:09:40GMT/04-24-55>

*****Private To: Maddoc
>>>>>[ Why did you encrypt within a private message? ]<<<<<

*****Private To: Tech
>>>>>[ That location is of utmost secrecy.  In fact, I want you to have your
deck decode it and get the tickets utilizing an auto-program so that you do not
know at this point where we are going. I will contact you when we get there.
Understood? ]<<<<<

*****Private To: Maddoc
>>>>>[ Hey, I understand!  This is Tech you're talking to.  You don't have to
enforce orders on me....it's as good as done. And why did you activate the
program I gave you to remove our time/date stamps? ]<<<<<

*****Private To: Tech
>>>>>[ It is necessary to keep Elender from gathering clues as to our location
when I contact you from there.  No more questions.  Over and out. ]<<<<<
	-- null

*****Private to: Elender
>>>>>[Keep in contact, please.  Something wierd is happening.]<<<<<
        --  Dark Angel <11:35:34/04-24-55>
*** Phantom Steed v3.12 Limited Edition
***   Trace lock: Elender
***   Scanning............

>>>>>[Okay, looks like the team roster is finally beginning to
thicken up.  Looks like (in alphabetical order): Aardvark, Avatar,
Basilisk (thanks for the offer), Dark Angel, Jasmine, Maddoc,
Magikthise (one of my people who I'm bringing up to help), Spark, and
Tech.  My math is a little rough, but it looks like we need another
magi (Jasmine, would it suit your personal beliefs to do defensive
magic, including healing and astral scouting exclusively?  BTW, do
you think you could get a very beat up Jac moving?) Matrix support
looks nice and firm, with physical combat in really good shape.
Again, my math sucks, but it looks like everybody's getting a cut of
around 50K (more if I can't find another magic user).  Anybody who
wants to bitch can walk, that's about all I can expect to cut from
Jac's wages before he retires without putting him in the poorhouse.

So far nobody's taken the offer for a Caribbean vacation, amazingly.

I think we should move as soon as Bas, Spark and Tech get anything
good from their Matrix Recce.  That could be soon, so I desperately
would like to get a combat mage (or someone who doesn't mind through
fireballs into masses of sec-guards).

I shall return with more news.  Good meeting last night, folks.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (16:36:34 / 04-24-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

*****Private to: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[After last night's meeting, I am not going to participate in this run if
you intend to place Mr. Maddoc in command over me.  Sorry.]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <17:19:59/04-24-55>

>>>>>[ Don't burn yourself out.  Mr. Maddoc is elsewhere on personal business.
I am taking his place, and I am not a part of his organization.  ]<<<<<
        -- Powderkeg <16:16:22GMT/04-24-55>

>>>>>[Well, I've finished my first run, and it wasn't as hard as I
expected. Sorry, I can't give names or details (told it was
unprofessional), but I must say I stole the show... but I digress. I'm
currently in need of extra nuyen and have not had any birthday party
entertaining gigs for awhile. If anyone is in need of healing, astral
security, cute, little balloon animals, contact me at >>>LTG<<<. Or if you
see me on the street (I'll be the one dressed up as a harlequin), just
stop me and mention this ad, and you will recive an extra 10% off. And
remember, it takes more muscles to frown then it takes to smile.]<<<<<
        --  Clown <19.23.05/4-24-55>

>>>>>[Yes, Clown, but it takes even less muscles to pull a trigger...*pat on
the back*]<<<<<
        --  Dark Angel <18:36:09/04-24-55>

>>>>>[  Hmm Fenris just buzzed me, it seems he's been unexpectedly
delayed, he wont be getting back in town til Tuesday, so he hopes to get
together Tuesday night. *giggle* Just as well anyway I think Highlander
is still recovering from the raging we did last night, we ran into n old
friend of mine, *giggle* I think she likes Highlander, they seemed to hit
it off. Hmm, 30 clubs in just over 14 hours pretty good, even by my
standards, ow well, I think I'll head over to the Inferno, I don't wanna
wake old H. ]<<<<<
        --  SpotOn <18:42:12/04-24-55>

*****Private To: Maddoc
>>>>>[ I went digging through some of ol' Johnny's records, as best as I could
piece it together since his death, but I came up with something really
interesting.  Johnny had pieced together a set of files that were stored in
a very secure place.  The areas they were stored in contained a program that
was supposed to destroy the records if they ever electronically detected
evidence of his own death, like a coroner's report.  However, the files that
were there were removed, not destroyed.  That means that when the release of
his death hit the wires, someone was already waiting to catch the program upon
activation, enabling them to get the code keys to get in.  In other words,
someone that knew about those files was either on the scene when it happened,
or made it happen.  If these files
weren't destroyed, I'm hoping that
there are backups somewhere.  I'll keep in touch. ]<<<<<
        --Tech <00:00:00/00-00-00>

*****PRIVATE-TO: The Pest Exterminators
>>>>>[I found some information on Shrew and HER friends Mojo & Snap.  It seems
that they had a bit of a run in with CAS Feds in Atlanta.  The Hammer of Chaos
was hired to off some Corp-exec.  Those three escaped, but another member was
captured by 'independant operatives'  Before they geeked him, he told all.

Shrew is a female decker/rigger
Mojo is a male 'Shamman'  He is supposedly into "wierd Voodoo dreck"
Snap is a Troll 'punk wanna-be'  Dumb as a stump, but strong and mostly
'modified'

According to my source, HOC is based out of an old Cathedral in Chartes, France.

I have booked transportation (1st class) to France for anyone interested in
aboloshing this threat or getting revenge for Worlock!]<<<<<
        -- Couch <..:..:.. / ..-..-..>

>>>>>[ Well, I must say, I wasn't expecting so many people to be responding to
the birth of my children, though I am very grateful.  If you want to come and
see them, we are Seattle General and should be here until Tuesday.  The doctors
want me to stay so that they can get more money but say its to make sure that I
am alright after the birthing and complications that caused it.  They also want
the children to stay until then to make sure that nothing bad happens, they
worry about infant mortality, it seems this is one of the few cases were when
twins have been born and one of them elves, that the other was not non-viable,
in other words - dead.  They say that you can count on one hand the number of
reported cases of this occuring.

As things go, gifts have already start appearing.  Claw was one of the first
gifts, he gave the children both necklaces with a panther claw at the end (he
says that it was from a panther that had passed away, and was not killed) to
help ward of danger.  Knowing our good friend it probably has something stuck to
it saying "don't even think of messing with them".  Sheena gave them each
adorable little kimonos to put for dressing up, they were made with real silk.
Circuit Breaker's gift was set of matching outfits for everyday of the week.
While Nighfox gave them each a what looks like a silver rose with a black stem,
and in the center each rose is a small many pointed star of deep purple
amethyst, I don't know how he got them, but they are simply beautiful.

The most stunning and surprising gift though, showed up today.  A courier
arrived with two packages, each addressed to one of the children.  The packeges
were from a  New York art gallery named 'Destination: Enigma'.  I'm not all that
much into the art scene, but I've heard of this place and they consider showing
objects d'arte that are worth under 5 figures.  So after carefully unwraping
each package we find a golden holographic projector.  The title on the first was
"flight of the eagle" and on the second "dance of the dolphins", each were
signed by "Tia" who Dimitri said is a very respected and much sought after
artist in Tir Tairngire.

The "flight of the eagle" was a display that starts with an eagle perched atop a
high rock cliff, looking over a forested valley with a river roaring over a high
mountain falls and then into a crystalin lake.  The eagle, shining in the
sunlight, takes off from the cliff and plunges towards the valley below, were it
stops its descent and skims over the sparkling lake.  It continues to fly over
the forest for a bit before it heads straight up towards the great blue sky.
After a while the view changes from the Eagle, to looking back at the whole of
the earth.  As the view gets further away a pair of hands can be seen coming up
to hold the earth gently in their grasp.

The "Dance of the dolphins" starts the scene on a quite beach, its twilight and
and the moon is just rising over horizon.  The only sound is the gentle washing
of the waves along the moonlight sand.  The view then moves over the water and
toward the moon, until a sudden splash breaks the rthym of the tide.  A grey
shape passes by and the view turns to show a pod of dolphins flowing along and
leaping out of the water in a graceful water ballet.  The focus more on the
smaller dolphin who dives into the silver shadowed blue-green depths and then
rushes towards the surface to leap amazing high in the air.  The picture then
stills and the picture becomes an artfully done water-coloring of a the leaping
dolphin.

The holograms are really amazing in that something is different about them each
time they are viewed, the clouds in the sky are never the same and the number of
dolphins in the pod changes with each viewing.  It just simply spectacular.
The most curious thing though is the person who sent the them.  Along with
certificate of authenticity for each was a penned letter that said

        Welcome to the World
                -- Tirandor

I am not complaining about these two wonderous gifts for the children, 
but I must wonder...  why?]<<<<<
        -- Spirit <of the Matrix>

>>>>>[ What!!!!!!  How the hell did you have an elf?  Crush is a Troll.  Trolls
sire Trolls along with an occasionial human.  No wonder the doctors want to
keep them for observation.  Their probably running around looking at every
genetics study done since the Awakening.  This is damn strange. ]<<<<<
        -- Cerise <11:42:55/04-24-55>

>>>>>[Colin, wake up!  What have you been up to?  I know you're in
there laddie.....]<<<<<
        --Heather (23:20:44/4-24-55)

>>>>>[You asked for it......
*****Initiate Wake-UP Call*****]<<<<<
        --Heather (23:59:59/4-24-55)

>>>>>[Lassie, that wasn't very nice.  If you ever do that to my
telecom again, I'll scrag your bloody deck.]<<<<<
        --Highlander (00:10:00/4-25-55)

>>>>>[Promises, promises.....You never were a morning person, were
you Colin?  So what's this then with you and the SpotOn lass?]<<<<<
        --Heather (00:12:43/4-25-55)

>>>>>[We went out.  Och, we went all over Seattle!  God, I lost
track of how many places we went after the first dozen or so.....And
there was this other lass.....TickTock or something.....Now there was a
lass who wouldn't take no for an answer....I think we ditched her
eventually, though, I'm not sure.  Where's the coffee?]<<<<<
        --Highlander (00:17:22/4-25-55)

>>>>>[So, what about you and SpotON?  Where did you two end up last
night?  Is Cerise coming after you with a mana-dagger?]<<<<<
        --Heather (00:19:41/4-25-55)

>>>>>[Vanessa has beeen staying at my place, Heather, you know that.
I think we.--No, nothing happened.  She slept on the bed, I slept on
the sofa, like we've been doing.  Don't ask me when we got in, though.
God, I haven't done bar hopping like that for a while; I'm out of
practice.]<<<<<
        --Highlander (00:22:15/4-25-55)

>>>>>[It sure is quiet around here today.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:39:13/24-4-55)

>>>>>[Just some thoughts:

1) I think I can sneak in to find Jac's exact location. I will report
as soon as I'm back. I think the gouvernment's further plans with
Jac must be somewhere in a computer. I will deck into the Matrix
when I've got the time, but I'm not really goot at this (I write
my own programs :)), so I hope a real decker will come along.
If we find something, I guess we can change it to better suit our
needs. If we can get Jac to some quiet place, we can stop the car
and get him out. Better still, I can go with the car as a Lone
Star officer, and take care of the other gards, so the only thing
you have to do is to stop the car. I'm not sure this will work,
but I think it's worth trying.

Who wants to come along?

2) I think we should visit the Matrix as soon as I know Jac's
exact location. Maybe we can get him right out of the hospital,
maybe not.

3) Tkae your shot.

4) The ambush idea sounds fine, but I think no brute force is
neccessary.

I hope you like my plan, or come up with something better.]<<<<<
     -- Aardvark (00:17:13/24-4-55)

>>>>>[Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, with your two lovely
babies. I hope they will live a long and happy life, if that's
possible in this world. And no thanks, I don't smoke.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (17:25:13/23-4-55)

>>>>>[Nice to have you in, Powderkeg. You don't happen to be a
combat mage?]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (11:52:13/25-4-55)

>>>>>[I really don't need a holiday right now, Freddy. I just got
here. However, I'll be glad to take the vacation later this year.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (11:54:13/25-4-55)

***** Private: MIST
>>>>>[We've got a 'stick & move' going down in a couple of hours. Meet us in Om
aha tommorrow at 0530 at >>>LOCATION<<< with Lacy's bird. She'll be running bal
ls to the wall when we get there. BIGHORN will talk to you then.]<<<<<
***** END.MOBILE.SAT.UPLINK.06TY2NANSSC
      -- REDSKY <08:21:41 / 4-25-55>

***** Private: Aardvark, Avatar, Basilisk, Dark Angel, Jasmine,
      Magikthize, Spark
>>>>>[Dammit, I just love it when people get all hot and bothered
about something and then drop out.  Well, I guess nobody has to worry
about Maddoc, now.  Oh, BTW, Dark Angel I was going to try to keep
that fraggin' moron on a very short leash when things got started
(like a narcojet to the neck).  Somebody remind me to
remind this Powderpuff guy that I'm in charge.

REASSIGN ENCRYPT:
***** Private: Aardvark, Avatar, Basilisk, Dark Angel, Jasmine,
      Powderkeg, Magikthize, Spark, Tech

DESIGNATE ENCRYPT ADDRESSEES: Couple of Eggs Short a of a Dozen

(Hey, it kind of describes this whole plot, so far.)

Aardvark, if you want to help in the Matrix, is there any chance you
can guard Basilisk's entry point (I'm worried about Trace IC blowing
everything before we get going)?  Tech will use leave a frame to
protect his EP.  Basilisk, Spark and Tech will try to slip into the
Fort Lewis and Lone Star computer systems in the next few days tp
see what's there.  I'm going to cover Spark's EP from here.
Contact Basilsk to find his EP.

Once we get preliminary Matrix info, lets work out a full plan then
and expect to move within less than seventy-two hours (I'm hoping for
twenty-four to thirty-six.  Magikthize and I will be take a private
charter to SeaTac Airport and arrive about five hours after the
Matrix Recon is done.) I'm not sure if we can slip a new guard
in to a security detail. (Unless, Jasmine, how good are you with
physical illusions? Maybe we can mug a guard, and make Aardvark up to
look like him?  I will have to say one thing for you, Aardvark, you
are one gutsy kid. I've never had anybody offer to be cannon fodder
before.)

I'm sending Spark up in the next few hours to work things out
with Tech and Basilisk.

END ENCRYPT SEQUENCE

Remeber Shadowfolk, I'm still looking for a good combat magi!  Fifty
grand, an expense account and a place to hide out while things
blow over!  Contact me here or leave a message at Frypp
Security, Inc. of San Fransisco!]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:04:34 / 04-25-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

>>>>>[Screw it, Magikthize and I are on the way, now.  We'll be in
town by 1400 at the absolute latest.  Basilisk, Tech, and Aardvark:
be in the Matrix by 1500.  Meet us (virtually) at a bar in Tacoma
called Dante's Inferno Bar and Grill (he's seeking litigation against
the other Dante's you all know and love) at >>> Encrypt: LTG
To: Aardvark, Basilisk, Tech <<<.  It's run by a chummer I used to run
with in Portland, many, many years ago (read: Before all of you were
born.  Yes, even DeDanna, Ramirez and the rest of the wheezers
[except the spirits that are roaming around here] that can make any
and all of you kids look like newbies.  [Extremely BTW: DeDanna,
Mistress of the Night, now there's a name.  I knew a stripper once
named Dianna Mistress of the Night, not that it matters, or even
relates to anything.]).  He runs a small, very sophisticated decker
haven out of the back of the bar called Little Havanna (lots of
atmosphere and great music 27 hours a day).]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:19:29 / 04-25-55)
           California Free State Matrix Uplink #5150

*****PRIVATE TO:  WHAT
>>>>>[I'll watch this scuzz here.  You go get the reward.  Tell them that we're
turning SoG over to Lone Star, with all the evidence we've aquired from here
(not mentioning the names or anything, or showing up ourselves...I'm sure
Interpol has my pic all over Lone Star by now) and the weapons and such we
snaged from the apartment(w/o our prints, of course...Good thing I wear gloves
all the fraggin time).  I have a few legit friends who would do this for me.
Just get the reward.  We'll distribute it ASAYGI(as soon as you get it)]<<<<<
        --  Slash(10:24:26/04-25-55)

*****Private:Nova
>>>>>[Yow womaannn, I hear that ya are are still as beaatifull as ever.
Weell, I am bacq in town for any run actually. I hear that
thare is a lot ofta businass going on hearr in SEATTLE, lately....
really good businass. Wantta join in tha fray or ya haveta job alreadyy.
I hear that Freddy Fruoo wanta many hired hands for a job. Do ya wanta go
on with it. Contact me if ya is interasted.]<<<<<
        Traith<14:28:30/25.04.55>

***** Encryption: DES.v0.13.gamma To: Avatar, Basilisk, Dark Angel,
      Jasmine, Powderkeg, Magikthize, Spark, Tech.
>>>>>[Basilisk, please let me know your entry point, then I'll
guard it with my army. I still like to go in there as a guard.
I think it's quite important, because in there I can protect
Jac from getting hurt (and killed). I can also wipe out the other
guards. I think Jasmine and I should be able to manage it, together
with the right papers.

BTW, I'm NOT offering to be cannon fodder, I likt to survive the 'run.
And I think I can.

See ya all in Dante's Inferno Bar.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:46:13/25-4-55);

>>>>>[ Um, no....I tend to cast spells like 'Big Fragging Missile' and 'Hand
Grenades up the Wazoo'.  I have a cousin who is, though....Slapshot.  I could
give her a call. ]<<<<<
        -- Powderkeg <08:16:29GMT/04-25-55>

>>>>>[ Ready when you are.  Just point me in the right direction ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <00:00:00/00-00-00>

*****Private To: Maddoc
>>>>>[ I found backups of two of the files, and both of 'em have your name on
it in big letters.  One of them is about all the runs you've ever done that
he can link you to.  I gotta say it, the wiz-kid was good.  He's found traces
I thought I had buried or destroyed.  Don't worry, they're history now, but
if any of those were to make their way into the hands of authorities or some
major corporations, you'd be getting some pretty serious heat by now.  The bad
news is, since this information hasn't seemed to surface yet, it kinda puts
you at the top of the list of suspects, doesn't it?
Also, I've discovered the Manx connection (i.e. cat without a tail).  She was
an operative of yours for a time, was she not?  That's almost common record.
On top of that, there was one or two fleeting references to an Antoinette Marie
someone or another....it's a no-brainer
to figure out this is your queen
without a head.  Johnny seemed to think
that you carried all or most of your
current information about her in your head?  Why?  What's important about her?
I can't find any shadowrunners in our filess with that as a name or alias?
If that's who Elender's after, he may be bluffing about being able to put a
strike on her if no one knows who or where she is.  If you're going after her
to save her, you may be leading him straight to her.  Take care. ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <00:00:00/00-00-00>

****PRIVATE: FREDDY FRYPP*****
>>>>>[Freddy, I'm horrible at physical illusions.  I'm a healer, not an
illusionist.  I once made a turnip look like a lemon, but then when I tried to
make a fellow runner look like a security guard he ended up looking like a
lemon. (size, shape, smell, everything, it was actually rather fascinating)  I
just don't trust my abilities in that respect.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (9:00:00/4-25-55)

>>>>>[Aardvark, I'm watching closely for the information and am ready to go.
Just let me know when and where.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (9:00:00/4-25-55)

***** Encryption: DES.v0.13.delta To: Jasmine
>>>>>[It will be afther the Matrix run, I will inform you when
I'm ready to go.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (18:18:13/25-4-55)

*****ENCRYPTION: Interneccine v4.21 PRIVATE TO: Aardvark, Avatar, Dark Angel,
      Freddy Frypp, Jasmine, Magikthize, Powderkeg, Spark, Tech.
>>>>>[Aardvark, meet me at the entrance to the University Botanical gardens
tonight at 20:00.  We can then be making arrangements where and when to
be entering.  The others who will be decking might also come with, so we
can coordinating.  So you recongize me I am so: *****INCLUDE: bas.pic*****
See you then.]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <17:34:20 GMT/25.Apr.55>

***** Encryption: DEC.v0.13.epsilon To: Basilisk.
>>>>>[I'll be there, chummer. I'll be wearing the multi-colored
party-hat with the Dutch flag on top. See ya then.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (18:51:13/25-4-55)

>>>>>[ I'll take the risk.  It's too important to me.  Prepare five different
plane tickets to ****ENCRYPTED DESTINATIONS****, all for tomorrow morning.
I'll have her on one of those planes and on her way to a safehouse. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <00:00:00/00-00-00>

>>>>>[Sorry I haven't been around much for the past week.  If you need to talk
to me or anything, drop me a line.]<<<<<
        - Necromancer <12:54:45/04-25-55>

>>>>>[ I'll be there.  Here's my pic:   *****Download [IMAGE]***** ]<<<<<
     -- Tech <00:00:00/00-00-00>

>>>>>[ Gotcha.  Will you be coming back to Seattle then? ]<<<<<
        -- Tech <00:00:00/00-00-00>

*****Private To: Tech
>>>>>[ Unknown.  It depends on the results of tonight's run.  If there is
sufficient evidence that Elender is in this area, I will stay.  If not, I may
personally join the young lady to the
safehouse, and then make my way back
to Seattle. ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <00:00:00/00-00-00>

>>>>>[Nice pic!]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (20:30:13/25-4-44)

*****Private: Aardvark, Basilisk
>>>>>[Guys, the boss is on his way right now.  I think he wants to
hit the Matrix this afternoon, around end of business for Lone Star
and the Metroplex Guard, I don't think you'll be able to meet and
then get to Little Havanna by five hours before you meet.  Sorry,
guys.  I'll try to get ahold of Freddy before he wants to start,
but.... Maybe you can just give Aardvark your address at the
meet, Basilisk.

See you at Little Havanna.]<<<<<
        -- Spark (01:16:55 / 04-25-55)

****** Private: Jasmine
>>>>>[Spark forwarded part of my mail up here and.... wow... a lemon,
huh?  Maybe that could work......

END ENCRYPT

Hey, Aardvark!  Do you like citrus products?  I mean the real thing,
not globs of chemicals that taste nothing like oranges, or lemons, but
the real thing?  I've got an idea: we'll sneak you into Fort Lewis as
part of a food shipment, then you can open the place from the inside.
Sort of a modified trojan horse.

RESUME ENCRYPT: Jasmine

Sorry, I just had to <grin>.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (01:35:35 / 04-25-55)

***** Private: Couple of Eggs Short of a Dozen
>>>>>[Oh, yeah, I forgot.  If anybody needs me, call and leave a
message at Dante's Inferno Bar and Grill.  Don't call the other
Dante's.  I also need to know where I can find everybody.  This
mission will go off by the 28th.  Call the bar and leave a message.
If you aren't home, call the bar and leave a message.  I need to be
able to find you on about three hours notice.  Things will begin
picking up soon.

Remeber, Aardvark, Basilisk, Spark and Tech.  Meet me in Little
Havanna by 1500 to get started looking.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (01:40:35 / 04-25-55)

>>>>>[ Congratulations Spirit and Crush on the marvelous gift of bringing life
into existance. Best wishes to you and your family. ]<<<<<
        -- Bruce <14:46:54/4-25-55>

>>>>>[ Yes congratulations are indeed called for. I've have passed on the news
to Blitzkrieg and I think he registered it, but I'm not to sure. I'm sure he
would pass on congratulations as well.

Spirit, if the doctors are hestiating letting you out, and you feel they have
no reason to, give me a call. I can fly up to Seattle and almost garantee that
you'll be out of the hospital in a few hours assuming it is safe for you and
your children to leave. Congratulations again. ]<<<<<
        -- DragonEyes <13:50:06/4-25-55>

>>>>>[ Congratulations Crush and Spirit. May your chil'ren bless ya with plenty
of joy an' happiness. I wish I could come an' visit ya' all but I have business
that I must attend to.

I suppose it would be nice to keep in touch with ya' all, but things aren't
working out that way. I have found Shadowfox. It appears he is back to his ol'
tricks again. He has been gatherin' up quite a crew, and our first job is down
in Africia. As such, I guess I'm goin' over there too. Wish I could say where,
but security calls. I have learen'd a lot about some people I never thought I
would ever work with. Take care all, and I'll see ya when I get back. If you
truly need to contact Shadowfox are I, then try through *ENCRYPT*. Hopefully we
will get it, but I wouldn't make promises on dat.

Oh! One last lil' thing. WHAT, I know you didn't like Crystal and all, but
don't ya think you could have been a lil' nicer to him and all. That whole job
was such a wonderful mess and all. Give him a break. ]<<<<<
        -- Doomsday <13:57:29/4-25-55>

>>>>>[Freddy, if you think this will work, it's ok with me,
but I don't want lemons. Grapefruits or oranges are just fine.
Let's call it a modern Seattle horse, right?
Euh, why would you want to go in there?

BTW, you can usually find me at >>Encrypt: Location<< or else
>>Encrypt: Other Loaction<<. If you need me real bad, you can
call me at >>Encrypt: LTG Number<<. It's a portable phone,
so you should be able to get to me if ya want to. Also,
my car phone number is >>Encrypted: LTG Number<<, or my
bike phone number is >>Encrypted: another LTG Number<<.
I don't think you need my plane number, but just in case
>>Encrypt: strange looking LTG Number<<. Also,
snail mail can be sent to >>Encrypt: P.O. Box<< or e-mail
to >>Encrypt: [c s pas 166] at [edu.eur.nl]<<.
Don't call us, we'll call you *grin*.

I can't say for sure, but I hope i'll make it to Little Havanna.
See ya all there, chummers.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (22:25:13/25-4-55)

*****Private: Dark Angle
>>>>>[Sorry about showing up late for the run, but I had just got
some info. on an old enemy, & I was following some leads on his
whereabouts.]<<<<<
        --Irish<02:01:10/04-25-44>

>>>>>[To all & sundry: I'm looking for info on a Major Joseh Hernandiz
of Aztechnology.  He used to run the Aztech millitary prision in what
used to be southern Arizona.  He also was stationed at the Azatlan
Southern Border.  I've heard rumors that he has  been asigned to
Aztech Security here in Seattle.  Any help in this matter will be
greatly appreciated.]<<<<<
        --Irish<02:03:45/04-25-55>

***** Private: Freddy Frypp *****
>>>>>[Freddy, I really couldn't guarantee that would work.  It is funny now
that I think about it.  Imagine, say, Aztechnology being invaded and taken
over by a lime, a lemon, a papaya and a ruby red grapefruit.  What would the
papers read?  A quote:  "Arnold Frump, a postal worker who witnessed the
incident, had this to say, 'My God, it was awful.  There was fruit everywhere
I looked.  Then, when the papaya pulled a thermite grenade I saw my life flash
before my eyes.  It was terrible.'  A security guard was found catatonic on
the floor repeating the words 'Trix are for kids' over and over again.  Never
in the history of the corporation has something this devestating happened."
The possibilities are virtually endless.

END ENCRYPT

Aardvark, forget the fruit thing.  It's a horrible joke.  Sorry.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (14:15:33/4-25-55)

>>>>>[Tonight at 2000 is bad.  Sorry, I've got previous...plans.]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <16:58:03/04-25-55>

*****Chicago Newsfeed...4/25/55... >>>>>[Eariler today, terrorists
attacked a small UCAS supply convoy. The vicious attack happened about 10
miles south of Old Peoria. An undisclosed number of terror ists were
killed. UCAS soldiers took light causlites.]<<<<<
	--  ChiNews

>>>>>[ Run initiated.  Cameras engaged.  Mikes active.  Radio On.
If you don't get a composite of the run within the next 24 hours, then
something hosed up over here.  Best of luck on yours, Tech. ]<<<<<
        -- Shutterbug <tImE iS fLeXiBlE>

*****PRIVATE TO:  WHAT
>>>>>[WHAT, Please hurry up.  This fragger is startin to really get on my
bad side, ya know?  He keeps on spoutin about how my blood is tainted with the
sins of my friends and how that I'll be goin to Hell along with them...

(off in the distance:  NO, I DON'T want to convert, you son-of-a-slitch!  And
if you don't shut the FRAG up, I'll dose up the gag with Hyper again!)

HURRY!  PLEASE!!!!  I can't dope him up on the catatonic again cause it'll
kill the worthless peice-of-drek fragger, but he's pushin my patience here...

Hmmmmm, maybe a little demonstration is in order....

(again off in the distance:  Sog, this is my trusty Pred 2 Heavy pistol.  It
is currently loaded with [crack] gel rounds, as the splat in the pipe above
your head shows you.  I also[ka-chink] have these rounds[clack].  These are
very special rounds, that I got from the manufacturer some time ago.  They are
API rounds.  Or, in case you don't understand the letters, Armor Peircing
Incendiary ammo[crack-boom!].  If you'll again look up at the pipe, if you can
hear me after the echo leaves your ears, you'll see a very neat hole with a
scorch mark around it where the incendiary charge blasted out again from
inside the pipe...Oooo, chummer, why'd you have to lose your bladder control?)

(snicker)  I think that got his attention...  And it should keep his mouth
shut for a LONG while...  Just hurry up before he realizes that his religion
allows him to go directly to Heaven and that he has a "mandate" to preach
regardless of him becoming a martyr(in his dreams, that is).]<<<<<
        --  Slash(20:08:45/04-25-55)

>>>>>[I heard a few things about "El General"...  He likes using his forces
quick and hard, but *real* quiet.  He may have some minor cyber; I can't confirm
that one, though.  And he's got a thing for American redhead girls.
Hernandiz is running sec here in Seattle?  Frag, that puts a whole new kink into
my plans...]<<<<<

        --  FireJack  (20:49.43/04-25-55)

*****Private to: Necromancer
>>>>>[Um, yeah.  Where the drek is my computer, chummer?  Tell She-Devil hello
for me, too.]<<<<<
        --  Dark Angel <Fallen/Soul>

>>>>>[Grim man, really grim]<<<<<
        --  Clown <9.35.00/4-25-55>

>>>>>[WHAT, thank you for your information.  I now have a positive ID on the
female perpetrator.  Her real name is Cyndre Kirith.  From '50 - '53 she was a
field agent for French Intelligence.  In the fall of '53 she was put on trial
for treason.  She escaped from prison and went into hiding.  In '54 she
appeared under the name of Alexis during a string of terrorist acts that where
claimed by the Hammer of Chaos.  She also surfaced during the summer under the
name Crystal.

Couch and company.  It seems as if the puzzle is beginning to come together.
Our paths have crossed too many times to be a coincidence.  Since we both
wish to find Tomas Kirith and the truth behind HOC, I propose that we start
working together.

With your permission, I will join you in your travels to Chartres.]<<<<<
        -- Talon <VITRIOL>

>>>>>[Congrats on the children Spirit and Crush.  And thanks
for sending 'Fox over.  Thanks to all that helped with H.]<<<<<
        -Cyberpunk <11:29:19/04-25-55>

>>>>>[Dante.  Spades are too nice.]<<<<<
        -Gossymer <Matrix Construct>

>>>>>[What the frag?!  I thought you were  off line being fixed.
Or  Keeping to yourself in the system.]<<<<<
        -Cyberpunk <11:32:36/04-25-55>

>>>>>[I'm better.  I'm back.]<<<<<
        -Gossymer <Matrix Construct>

>>>>>[Stay where you are Goss!  He gave me the codes to  enforce
that order.  And I will, spirits  help me.  Stay.  He needs to do
a little more work.  And he needs to heal some, you might be able
to help there.]<<<<<
        - Hard-to-Catch <11:44:27/04-25-55>

>>>>>[...]<<<<<
        - Gossymer <Matrix Construct>

>>>>>[I'm....back.  Oh this doesn't really feel...too good.
Just have....to say, Dante.  That was...a nice...piece of
work, that...frame.  Almost up ...  to my par.  Nice try.
Better...luck next time.  I'm ... alive.  And mad.]<<<<<
        -Harlequin <Ha-Ha-Ha>

>>>>>[GET THE FRAG OFF OF THIS THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]<<<<<
        -Hard-to-Catch <23:45:43/04-25-55>

>>>>>[Be still T.C.  He needs to get back here for theraputic
reasons.]<<<<<
        -Gossymer <Matrix Construct>

>>>>>[Spirit, what's Tirandor doing sending you presents?]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <00:00:39 / 04-26-55>

>>>>>[Do you know what Tia's holography runs on the open market?  At
least 100k, some as high as a quarter-million!]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[Tirandor, what's wrong with you?  You've been acting kinda
goofy.]<<<<<
        --  Wolf 359 <00:03:21 / 04-26-55>

>>>>>[Yea, I guess that's one way to put it.  Why did you do this?]<<<<<
        --  Ramirez <>

>>>>>[..... because .....]<<<<<
        --  Tirandor <From the Dragon's Desk>

>>>>>[ Yes, Ramirez.  I too know of the value of Tia's work.  I have a very
minor piece, and it cost me an arm and a leg.  It sits in the entrance hall to
my house so everybody can see it (that's the only way she can justify the
expense of buying it). ]<<<<<
        -- Princess (and Regent) <23:05:17/04-25-55>

>>>>>[ You know, you can have sex without having kids. I prefer
it that way, and can show anyone how if you want to. ]<<<<<
        --  Pet <09.06.00/55-04-26>

>>>>>[Sure it's a joke? What a pity...]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (10:13:13/26-4-55)

>>>>>[ Why that drek eating piece of good for nothing, son of a hell hound and
a lizard.  Fraggin Dante that's who, that guy has got a fraggin death wish
'cause when I find his fraggin deck it's mine, it's fraggin mine, make no
mistake about that Dante, sure you fooled everyone into thinking that you were
dead and knowing I was a better decker than you sent up a couple of icons that
appear good but were not overly difficult to beat.  Yes, I know exactly what
you did you little mother, son of a toad, they were fraggin carrying highly
infective viral code, taken last 3 days just to get the last trace off ma
hardware.  Well you'll not get me again like that I spent some time to look
at my viral protection on ma deck and *severely* upgraded it, there's no way
you'll catch me like that again, that's for fraggin sure.

Dante, just so you know, just so you can really remember, last time I couldn't
be bothered to spend the time with you 'cause you were nothing more than a
thug with a deck, well you're still nothing more than a fraggin thug with a
deck but that fraggin deck and your fraggin miserable life is mine.  Start
counting sonny Jim cause I'll get you in the matrix and Punisher will get you
and that miserable bunch of hangers on that you call the THUGS, just like he did
last time. ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

>>>>>[ Arrgh, humph! Well now that I got that out of ma system down to more
pleasurable tasks.  Whey'hay fraggin hey !  Nice one Spirit and CRUSH, congrats
all round, is they're gonna be a christening or are ya not into all that
religious stuff ?  If so who's the God folks gonna be ? *****ENCRYPT Spirit:
ah think ya should nominate Nightstalker and Raven, might get them to get their
act together, eh ?  Heh heh *****

Well CB I'd like to ask ya out again seeing as you found the other night so
pleasurable.  I hope that you like hot curries cause I know this excellent
cury house over in Downtown where the service is simply outta this world.  It's
also fraggin secure so that should any of Dante's crew come sniffing around
we'll get plently of warning. ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

>>>>>[ A second date this is getting serious for you IBA, is that the sound
of wedding bells I hear ? ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (17:39:11/25.4.55)

>>>>>[ Frag off, I don't see you getting anywhere with Cerise, last I heard
she was waiting to jump back into bed with Highlander as soon as he'd finished
with SpotOn. ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

>>>>>[ Why !  I'll have you're bloody hide I will, Cerise is a lady, as is
SpotOn and Highlander is .... well he's a Scotsman <not saying much admittedly>
but at least he's honourable <at least he'd better be if he wants to carry on
living>.  I think you owe both ladies an apology. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (17:42:21/25.4.55)

>>>>>[ Nah, remember I know ! how to keep out of Cerise's way, remember ? ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

>>>>>[ But you couldn't keep out of Punisher and myself's way, now could you
especially seeing as I'd fitted a bug to your van, heh heh heh. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (17:44:51/25.5.55)

>>>>>[ Sorry PH I don't have time right now, come to that nor do you remember,
you're meeting someone important tommorow night and you DON'T want to be late
for that lady. ]<<<<<
        -Punisher (17:45:59/4.25.55)

>>>>>[ Hmm, yeah ok, Cerise if you want a hand in repaying IBA until he
apologises then I'll be available after I'm finished with some business that
I'm still tied up in.

Oh, IBA is it true about that crash at the main Denver shadowland hub ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (17:47:44/25.4.55)

>>>>>[ Well that's the rumor, one thing is for sure and that's that the main
node is unreachable.  We're ok here as we're operating from the local hub,
I rather suspect that someone has tried to download some major dirt on some
govt or corp.  Remember what happened what the Tir file was downloaded ?  If it
wasn't for the Sioux Wildcats shadowland would have been hit then. ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

>>>>>[ So who was that IBA ?  An old flame whoever it was it sure annoyed CB.
Btw Spirit, CONGRATULATIONS !!!  May your bouncy babies bring you much
happiness, and CRUSH, congratulations on becomming a father.  So do any of them
show signs of being a physical adpet yet ?  Need a trainer ?  Oh well maybe in
a couple of years.

Punisher I see you've people interested in you so what's the story with this
girl Nova ? ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (17:09:15/25.4.55)

>>>>>[ Hmm, well I'm dammed annoyed that's for certain, this anonymous poster
whoever he/she was has only stated what I already knew for fact.  Mr/Mrs
anonymous, whoever you are I'd very much like to know where you got your
information from and what your connection with Nova and Talon is.

As to our mysterious Nova well she has turned out to be something of an Enigma,
we met at the arranged destination only to find her turn and leave.  This time
though it wasn't my ugly face, the wage mage that the anonymous poster
mentioned must have been near because I had to fight a couple of fire
elementals.  Dammed near set half of the metroplex plaza on fire before I
managed to finish them off.  Of course by this time Nova had disappeared into
the crowd and it was some time before I could find her again.

As to who attacked us well she's not letting on much only that someone has
chased her all the way from Shanghai, I tell you Chinese ettiquette is not my
strong point and I almost felt out of my depth as she started mentioning names
of Chinese fixers that I might know.  There is also something very strange
about her but, hmm ... ]<<<<<
        -Punisher (17:17:28/4.25.55)

***** EXCLUDE Nova
>>>>>[ I didn't want her to know my thoughts but the other night something
strange happened, and I don't mean Dante's gang attacking either.  She had the
room next to mine and at about 3 in the morning I was woken by a strange
thudding noise, at first I thought IBA had brought another woman back until I
realised that he's been working on some other stuff just recently and had been
sleeping in his van.  Well I checked it out but only found Nova fast asleep,
I did however find something curious on the floor, I swear it's a scale,
multi-coloured but mainly blue, what I need is someone to analyse it because
I've a funny feeling about all this and I hope I'm wrong.

So Wizard, are you still operating a lab ?  If not could you recommend me
someone or if anyone else has the ability I'd real appreciate it. ]<<<<<
        -Punisher (17:22:52/4.25.55)

>>>>>[ YOU obtained us 1st. class tickets to 'La Belle France', Couch? HA! I
think not! It was _I_ who broke through the nefarious IC of Seattle/Tacoma
airport!!! _I_ who trudged through billions upon billions of bytes of
worthless and boring commuter data!!! _I_ who obtained the LTG numbers of
roughly 10 good looking stewardesses... (not that that was hard work, or
pertaining to my gripe with you, but...) I think you should give a little
credit where credit is due!!! ]<<<<<
        --  Silicon Saboteur <Bitch/Moan>

*****Private to: Irish
>>>>>[I'll take a look.]<<<<<
          --  Dark Angel <07:04:10/04-25-55>

*****Private to: Slash
>>>>>[I will be there as soon as I can, and I'll bring one of my friends with
me.  Think I'm gonna miss the fun?]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <07:19:19/04-26-55>

>>>>>>[Take care of yourself, Harlequin.]<<<<<
           --  Dark Angel <07:26:10/04-26-55>

>>>>>[ Got this patch from Shutterbug last night.  Thought I'd share...]<<<<<
        -- Tech <00:00:00/00-00-00>

>>>>>[ I've put together a composite of all the cameras, radios, and mikes
we were using, and I've put together the run in one feed, thanks to some
'borrowed' news feed from some gutsy local news-folk.  Here's your scene.
Enjoy ]<<<<<
        -- Shutterbug <tImE iS fLeXiBlE>

Maddoc: Be wary.  If Elender knows this location already, there could be a
trap or surprise waiting.  If he is, as Tech surmised, using us to find this
place and is tracking us somehow, we must be prepared to move quickly.

Several well armed and darkly dressed persons, Maddoc and his crew, spread out
from Shutterbug`s vehicle.  The cameras being used identify with a dot of color
who is who.

Maddoc: Keep all cameras rolling and sensors sweeping, Bug.  Activate alarm
sequence if either you or your shotgun spot something.  Have him give regular
reports.  Koan, scan the perimeter and penetrate the house.  Athena, you and
I will cover the exits until Koan signals.  Clear?

Shutterbug: No activity yet.  No power signals or surges.  There's a party
taking place in a house two blocks north, their music is being captured by one
of my mikes.  Shotgun says that he is detecting traces of magical background
within the house.  Advise Koan.

Koan: I heard.  One of the windows shows signs of having been entered.  Not
many signs, but a few paint chips scraped inward suggests someone came through
it.  Unless the owners forget their keys but know how to break into houses,
I'd say it isn't the owners.

Maddoc: One owner.  Remember, she's the one we're here for.  If she is harmed,
I will be very angry.

Koan: Won't be a scratch on her.  Status on background?

Shutterbug:  Shotgun is checking right now in astral form.

Maddoc: Athena?

Athena: That party that Bug identified is helping us somewhat.  The few cars
that have passed all direct their attentions to it.  Makes it less likely
for them to see us.

Maddoc: Acknowledged, but stay as hidden as possible.

Shutterbug: Shotgun says that the background is the residue of some sort of
detection spell, designed to locate a specific person.

Koan: Probably our gal....what's the inside look like.

Shutterbug: He says the place shows signs of a light search: a few drawers and
closets opened.  Either that or a messy owner.  Safe to enter.

Koan: I'm in.  House is as Shotgun described.  Shag carpet shows deep
indentations of wide bootprints; male.  Initiating silence during search.

Athena: First draw.  Pair of deuces.  Mark.

Maddoc: Next hand. West. Tens. Mark.

Koan: Search completed.  No signs of violence, or disarray.  Message machine
empty; no calls.  Calendar for today shows only a dental appointment for 9AM.
Calendar for tommorrow is empty.  So far, no indication as to current
location.

Athena: Car approaching.  Make and model correct, license confirmed.  It's
her car.

Maddoc: Shutterbug, keep scanning.  Anything remotely out of the ordinary, I
want to know.  I'll keep her covered till she gets to the house.  Athena,
verify as she approaches house.  Koan, move into position inside door.  You
didn't mention any hidden mikes, but assume there are.  Do not let her speak
when she enters.

Koan: Got it.  And I remember..not a scratch.

Shutterbug:  I've got the car full on my monitors now.  Definite match.
Special lenses identify only one occupant.  Verified by Shotgun.

Athena: Entering driveway.  I've got a clear view, though I doubt she sees
me.  It's her.  Matches your image-photo well enough to be detectable by
my cybereyes.

Shutterbug: Are you sure she's not magically active?  Shotgun says the
background increased slightly as she approached....what...?  Koan, get out of
the house!

Maddoc: Athena, shift position.  If something is happening, I want you to get
to her as fast as you can>

Shutterbug: Shotgun said, 'trigger'.  I think he means that the magic inside the
house is a trigger spell for something else, and it looks like it will be set of
off if the woman gets inside, or perhaps even close enough.

Maddoc: Koan?  Location.

Koan: Out a window and on the roof.  Soundlessly, of course.  I heard Bug.
No suspicious activity spotted from here.  Relocating to better cover.

Maddoc: Have Shotgun keep scanning.  Koan, move to intercept the MOMENT she s
s foot out of her car.  Athena. Fold with deuces.

Athena: Done.  Car stopping outside house now; preparing to shut off engine.

Maddoc: Athena, move back...Koan-Go!

As car shuts off lights, and lady removes keys from engines, a slight blur
of black, noticible only because of the indicating dot revealed electronically
by Shutterbug's camera, bounds at an incredible pace toward the car.

Shutterbug: Trigger active!

Maddoc: Get her behind the car!

Koan: Sorry about this lady......

The woman can be seen getting out of the car.  As she begins to stand upright,
she seems to blink as she tries to make out the incoming object.  Before she
can react, the blur grabs her about the waist and deftly leaps over the car with her in his arms.  As he lands semi-gently on the other side and begins to
dash away, cargo intact, the house erupts with a large explosion, shooting
mainly upward in a fiery blast.

Maddoc: Koan...

Koan: Sorry, sir...she'll probably end up with a few bruises.

A second explosion blows outwards, destroying the car in a lesser fireball.

Shutterbug: Reports coming in.  This was a very visible flare.  Units
approaching.  Shotgun says to move your butt.  He says if the spell was meant
to kill her, it would have been set to go when she was inside.

Maddoc: It probably means someone just got the signal that the party`s
started.  Koan, move to Shutterbug.

Shutterbug:  Speaking of parties, the one two blocks north has just started
heading this way.  At first I thought it was curiosity about the explosion,
and general paranoia, but I can make out weapons.  Several semi-automatics.
Lights are coming on in houses now, obviously.  Ambulance and authorities
closing in on this location.

Maddoc: Athena, head the deuces in an intercept pattern.  Have them pump a few
tear gas grenades in the party's direction.  If they refuse to back off,
open fire.

Athena: what?!  I mean...got it.

Maddoc: Don't be shocked. Athena.  I'll be willing to bet that all the
approaching hostiles are members of a certain Southeast Asian gang from
this vicinity.

Shutterbug: Helicopter approaching.

Maddoc: Probably the leader of said gang.  Koan!

Koan: Right here.  At Shutterbug's vehicle.

Voice<female>: Who...who are you?  What do you want?

Koan: Don't fear.  We're here to help you.  Someone is trying to kill you.

Voice<female>: me....why would anyone want to kill me?

Koan: I'll explain in transit....

Maddoc: No you won't.  Take Shotgun and take cover.  Shutterbug, take the
woman.  Rendezvous with the deuces and transfer.  Then return.  Shoot
anything that isn't us.

Voice<female>: I'm not going with you!

Maddoc: Miss, does the word: Horizon hold any meaning for you.

Voice<female>: What?!  Er..I mean, wh...what color is the sky?

Maddoc: Green.  Now go.

Voice<female>: Then you've seen him!  How is is he?  Where is he?

Maddoc: Safe.  GO! NOW!

Shutterbug:  On my way.

Koan: Shotgun's with me.  Borrowed a launcher from the back for the helicopter.

Maddoc: Yes....very good.

Voice<male>: What...?

Koan: Quiet, Shotgun....

Athena: Reports from deuces.  Taken some fire.  Tear gas effective, but not much.
Had to open fire.  Slowing party's progress, but not stopped.  Have broken
off to rendezvous with Bug.   As for me, I've wired a few explosives.  When
they charge through the remnants of the smoke, things are gonna go boom!

<series of explosions>

Athena: What the....those aren't mine, but they're close!

Maddoc: Don't worry about it.  I just dropped morter fire on the party's house.

Athena: Where are you?

Maddoc:  Just enough east that they may think they're under assault from a
multitude of directions.

Athena: And here I thought we were overbearing with firepower for this run.

Maddoc: There's never too much firepower.

Shutterbug: Transfer made.  Returning to your position.

Maddoc: Status of incoming units.

Shutterbug:  Helicopter just entering visible range now.  Is pursuing my
vehicle.

Maddoc:  Good.  Draw it away from the deuces.  Athena, tell the deuces to
stay together.  Woman is with deuce of hearts?

Athena: As ordered.

Maddoc: Fall back to Koan's position.  Meet me there.  Prepare for pickup.

Shutterbug:  The police have been ordered to stay away from the area by a
woman's voice.  Transmission is coming from the helicopter.

Maddoc:  Alteration.  Bug, meet with Koan and Shotgun.  Prepare to engage
helicopter.  Athena, fall back to ground zero and meet me there.

Athena: Yes, sir.

Shutterbug: News crew van entering area.

Maddoc: Is it targetable by the helicopter?

Shutterbug: Yes, sir.

Maddoc: For how long?

Shutterbug: About one minute, sir.

Maddoc: Keep a target on it.  If the helicopter isn't shotting it, it may be
one of them.  The moment it does anything out of the ordinary, blow it to
kingdom come.

<series of explosions>

Athena: Party has encountered my explosives.

Koan:  Sniper fire from a window.

Maddoc: Have you positively identified the window?

Koan: Yes.

Maddoc: How many?  Two, same house, just north of target's ex-house.

Koan: Yes, sir....How did you?

Maddoc: I see them.  Keep their heads down with fire.  Have Shotgun nail the
area with a manaball.  I'm going to secure the house.  Athena, I see you.
Keep low and hidden, and shoot the people about to come out the door to
your left.  I don't think they know you're there.

Koan: Shutterbug approaching, helicopter incoming.  Visual confirmation of
party guests.

Maddoc:  Rocket the guests.  Slow them enough for Shotgun to get to the car.
Shutterbug, take Shotgun and target all cannons on the helicopter.  Give
Shotgun minimal time necessary to get in the car, and keep moving.  If the
helicopter or news van approach or engage, take them out.  Koan, get inside
the house.

Koan: Missiles away!

<explosion>  <gunfire>

Koan: They're beginning to shoot, but wildly.

Athena: Shotgun's manaball did the trick.  That and whatever that WHOOMPF was
a moment ago....two targets nullified.

Maddoc: Plus three more on the inside.  All clear.  Get in here.

Athena: Entering house.

Shutterbug:  News van stopped.  It is broadcasting from its location.  Am
receiving feed.

{visual feed of burning house, smoke, craters.  Nearly a dozen people with
machine guns are slowly advancing on the burning rubble.  About twenty to
thirty lie on the ground, either dead or injured.  Shutterbug's vehicle is
seen entering the screen}

Shutterbug: Hey!  Look, ma!  I'm on TV!

Maddoc: Then get off of it.  Is Shotgun with you yet?

Shutterbug: No...I'm weaving all over the street avoiding gunfire.  He can't
cross to me.

Maddoc: Koan, get him in the house with us.  Shutterbug, turn your cannons on
the party guests.

Shutterbug: All right!

<Cannonfire>

Shutterbug: That got their attention.  Uh, oh!

Maddoc: What?

Shutterbug: The chopper just opened fire.  Returning fire.  What the...?

Maddoc: Stop making stupid noises!  Report what you see!

Shutterbug:  The chopper just redirected course.  It's heading off southeast,
and on an intercept course for where the deuces are.

Maddoc: Athena, get out to Shutterbug.  The three of us will cover you.  Shutter
bug, take Athena and get after that chopper!  Athena, take Koan's launcher
with you.

Koan: No problem.  There's only a hnadful left.  I think the party's just
about over for these boys.  A bunch of wannabes it looks like, to me.
A few teenagers with auto weapons.  What a waste of already wasted youth.

Athena: See ya, boys.

Shutterbug:  Ok, I see her.  Firing cover from cannons.  Got her.  We're
outta here.  See ya when I see ya.

>>>>>[ Oopsie....be right with ya.  Just gotta patch in the news feed again.
Hang on for a few minutes. ]<<<<<
        -- Shutterbug <tImE iS fLeXiBlE>

>>>>>[ Ok...here's the rest of it, provided there are no more techinical
problems....]<<<<<
        --Shutterbug <tImE iS fLeXiBlE>

**Beginning feed**

"....as you can see, the house has been totally blown apart.  Since the
fire department and Docwagons have not arrived yet, it is unknown if there
are any casualties inside the house.  There certainly are a number OUTSIDE
the house, right, Barbara?"
     
"There certainly are, Bob.  Bodies are strewn everywhere on the lawn in
front of a house just in front of the destroyed house.  The very self
contained eruption, as it seems, has kept nearby houses from being caught
in the blaze.  Only a few bits of burning rubble and the wreckage of a car
seem to persist."
     
"The bodies you can see through the haze and smoke are being identified as
members of a local gang, as identified by the colors and markings visible
on some of the fallen figures.  Gunfire and ROCKETfire was seen early as
viewed by our cameras coming from the house on your screen now. Perhaps
this is an escalated gang war.  Things have been quiet for some time, but
an incident was due any time now, right Barbara?  Barbara?"
     
"Hmmm?"
     
"Don't tell me that reporting all these random acts of destrcution are
boring you, Barb, eh?  Heh heh heh.  Say, are you ok?  You look
distracted."
     
"I'm fine....."
     
"Look, exiting that house!  There are a pair of figures coming out of the
house.  As you can see, they're dressed in dark camo designs (focus the
shot a little, Ralph....) and they're heading this way!  Yowsa!  One of
them just shot a ganger that stepped from behind a tree....ooh, that had
to hurt. the figures are at yelling distance now, and it looks like one of
them is about to speak...."
     
"You there!"
     
"Look at these guys!  They look like they're armed to invade a small
country!"
     
"Get back inside your vehicle and leave this area.  You are in a dangerous
scenario."
     
"Sir, look.....like Shotgun said, she's got the....urghk!!"
     
"Holy smoke!  Ladies and gentlemen, our very own Barbara Jones has just
decked one of the gunmen with a rapid kick!  (Ralph, you getting this?!)
The gunman has rolled into a combat crouch!"
     
"Better let me handle this, Maddoc."
     
"It is you....."
     
"Barb, what are you talking about!  Oh, my!  Barbara has just...
changed....her attire into a silver bodysuit!"
     
"You were right, sir.  It's Manx.  And she has a spell focus just like
mine."
     
"Exactly like yours.  It was one of two that Jazz made to increase
reactions.  She got the first one."
     
"...I don't know what's going on folks, but isn't it exciting!"
     
"I couldn't believe the irony when I found out that your first love, your
'high school sweetheart', was living in my city.  If it hadn't been for
Elender, I might never have known.  That's the only reason I haven't
killed that slitch yet.  But I will.  Slowly, and painfully.  Just like
how you hurt me, Maddoc.  You used me, Maddoc.  Made me a part of your
little group...trained me...took me to your bed...but it was only
temporary!  The day you left, with no note, message, nothing, was the most
painful of my life.  And why?  You left over a memory...the memory of the
one girl you ever truly loved.  She was a memory, I was flesh and blood! 
HOW COULD YOU PICK HER OVER ME!"
     
"I'll.....ARGHH!"
     
"...for those of you that missed that...I almost did...the gunman in black
just attempted to attack Barbar...I mean, Manx, who somehow manipulated
one of our cameras into smashing him in the head.  The whole thing took
less time than it did for me to describe it!"
     
"Restrain yourself, Koan.  She's as fast as you are....maybe faster."
     
"We'll see about that...."
     
"....AMAZING!  The man in black just faked a dive to the side, and a mail
box flew at him, but he caught it and tossed it aside, just before kicking
her in the stomach!  These two are moving faster than the eye can see! 
This is like a Trid on fast-motion!  Like Bruce Lee movies on Fast Forward
on our trucks Video units!  If you notice, each of the two combatants are
wearing identical pendants.  These, I can only assume, are the 'spell
focuses' they are talking about, the ones that have them moving in
overdrive right now.....ooh! He just took a nasty shot to the head,
there....  Initially, it looked like somehow, she was using telekinetics
or something to manipulate objects into flying at him, but now it looks
like they are both having to concentrate solely on defending against each
other.  I haven't seen such evenly matched opponents since
....well....since the classic Rocky I + II..."
     
"Shutterbug, what's the status of the deuces and chopper?"
     
"Folks, it seems the other gunman is talking to himself...."

***Data Splice:
Shutterbug:  We haven't been able to get near firing range on the chopper
yet.  I've done just about everything but go over cars in order to make up
ground.  The deuces are trying to shake the chopper.  If they go to the
pre-arranged sight now, the chopper will spot it.  The chopper seems to
withholding fire.

Athena:  The deuces say the chopper is indeed within firing range, but are
withholding fire.

Shutterbug: I cut through their transmissions momentarily...I think they're
awaiting a kill order.  Did I understand correctly, is Manx there?

Maddoc: She is, and she's giving Koan a good run for his money.  Even with
my own reflexes I can't take a shot at her.

Voice<male>: ...and stranger still, he seems to be able to hear someone.
Either he's got a hidden radio transceiver or some such, or he's whacked
out of his mind.  Personally, I'm for the latter.

Athena: Who's that?

Maddoc: Nevermind.  Go over cars if you have to.  Stop that chopper!
***End Splice

"You are very good, Koan......if you were not....already banged up...
...and I was not...well rested....this might have been....a draw...but...
...as it is....I SHALL BE....VICTORIOUS!!!"
     
"WHAMMO!  And the fight is over.  The man known as Koan put up a good
fight, but it looks like he was outmatched this time.  He hit the pavement
and is down for the count.  Let's hear it for our very own Barbara Jones!"
     
"It's just...you and me now, Maddoc.  The way it should be.  Don't make me
kill you.  We can be together again.  All you have to do is let me kill
that slitch.  Rid you of her memory!  Look at me!  Am I not the perfect
weapon you thought I could be....beyond your wildest dreams!  I could take
that gun from your hand before you could pull the trigger. If you couldn't
love me, love what I am!  This time, with YOU in MY gang, we can head the
most powerful army you always dreamed of.  Think of the power, and glory,
and money we can gain together!  All you have to do is say yes.  Join me. 
Elender wants the woman dead in revenge for his brother.  All I want is
you.  If you join me, I'll let her live, and protect you from Elender. 
What more can you ask?  What fairer deal is there than that?"
     
"....sounds good to me, right folks?  I mean, he'd get his life, his
woman's safety, lots of money and power, and a heckuva babe.  Pretty much
a no-brainer if you ask me."
     
"Remember when we first made love?  You told me that I was the only
un-cybered woman you had ever been with.  You could feel my essence as we
touched, and the power I had within me.  It intoxicated you.  The woman in
that car has no cybertech.  You have never slept with her.  You never even
had a real relationship with her!  Why do you hesitate?!  Does a ghost
from the past hold that much sway over you?!"
     
"Yes....she does."
     
"Uh, oh, folks.  Looks like Manx has had her fur ruffled now!  Ooh! Look
at that, Maddoc's gun just flew from his hand, and Manx just landed a
nasty blow to his jaw!  (I shoulda been a fight announcer, eh, Ralph?  I
mean, the way I can see these fast moves happenin'...."
     
"You've given me no choice.  At least you don't have to see her die. Manx
to chopper!"
     
"...Manx is talking to a radio in her watch...always thought it looked
like an offbrand..."
     
"Chopper here."
     
"Destroy the car."
     
"Chopper.  Chopper!"
     
"...something's up folks...."
     
"CHOPPER!"
     
"Shutterbug, would you mind turning up the broadcast volume to my outward
reciever and say that again."
     
"<crackle>.....I said, the chopper's history, sir.  Athena nailed it with
the rocket launcher.  The deuces are headed for the home base, and we're
on our way back."
     
"NOOOOOO!!!!!"
     
"....looks like she's pissed, eh, folks?"
     
"Luck!  Dumb Luck!  You won't leave me again, Maddoc!"
     
"Owch!  Maddoc had just stopped spitting blood and began to scrape himself
off the sidewalk when she nailed him again!  Maddoc is desperately trying
to block, but she's too fast and too angry.  Maddoc is reeling.  Now she's
taunting him!  Slapping him about with telekinetic smacks!"
     
"One of the finest warriors I've ever known.  Little more than a playing
card before my power, and pussywhipped by some image of the past. I thank
you, Maddoc, for showing me the error of my thoughts.  You are not worthy
to be my partner, my suitor, and king.  You are pathetic."
    
"Wow!  She just telekinetically tossed him about twenty yards against a h
house wall!"
    
"Sayanora, Maddoc.  Maybe I'll talk to Elender when I'm done.  He might
make a better mate.  But right now, I'm going to kill you."
    
"...look at that bloodied face...it looks like he's going to say
something.  (Ralph, turn up the mike...all the way!!!)"
    
"....do it...."
     
"WHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Folks, I'm not sure what just happened, but it looks like Manx was just
caught in the center of a blast emanating from the pendant around her
neck.  It looks like she's toast, ladies and gentleman.  Well, it looks
like I'll be running the airwaves by myself for a while, folks.  (I've got
ideas lining up already, Ralph....).  Maddoc has risen from the ground,
and has made his way over to Koan, who seems to be groaning on the
pavement nearby."
     
"Snap it up, Koan.  Time to go."
     
"Oh, my achin' noggin.  I heard the big bang.  Was it...."
     
"It was....Shotgun's....or should we say, Jazz's, ace in the hole. he cast
a major fireball at her from astral space.  Fried her instantly."
     
"Are you gonna explain why we were calling him Shotgun the whole time?"
     
"In case Manx was receiving our signals somehow.  After all, Jazz was the
one who made the pendants, and he knew how to destroy them irrevocably. 
If she thought he was nearby, she might have been less tempted to make
herself and her location known.  I didn't even made him speak to me
through Shutterbug so his voice wasn't audible, and Jazz's radio
tranceiver didn't have to be in operation.  But, now that the moment has
passed.....Jazz?"

***Data Splice: 

Jazz: Yeah, Maddoc.... 

Maddoc: How are you feeling? 

Jazz: Tired, as always, but better than you guys must be. 

Maddoc: Probably.  Now get your butt back out here before Shutterbug gets
back. 

Jazz:  Yes, sir.

Maddoc:  And Jazz...

Jazz: Yes, sir?

Maddoc: Nice job.  And a million thanks to you, Athena.

Athena:  No problem.

Maddoc: For that shot, I'm not going to make you buy the beer.  Koan?

Koan: Um...yes...

Maddoc: Got your credstick handy?

***End Splice

"There you have it, folks.  Love, hate, passion, violence, and me:
Bob Roberts.  What more can you ask for?  Good night, folks.  (This one
has Pulitzer on it, Ralph, I can smell it...or maybe a sim deal...)"

****End transmission.

>>>>>[ That's the way it was, folks.  Hoped you enjoyed it.  Especially you,
Elender.... ]<<<<<
        -- Shutterbug <tImE iS fLeXiBlE>

***** Private: Jack
>>>>>[ We are no longer in the Chicago area. However, we are prepared to
return on short notice if we are needed. Something came up that demanded
our immediate attention. We will most likely be returning next week. But,
as I said, we can return earlier if our services are needed. We can be
reached at >>>LTG<<<. ]<<<<<
     -- BIGHORN (10:35:02 / 04-26-55)

>>>>>[I think Tirandor, no disrespect, is feeling his age.
As far as I know, dragons reproduce seldomly.  And they
celebrate those births like Christians celebrate Easter or
Christmas.  Congrats Spirit and Crush.]<<<<<
        -David 'Drake' Etherial <11:49:26/04-26-55>

*****PRIVATE TO: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[I will being at the meeting at Little Havana.  If you need to reach
me otherwise, you can call <LTG Number>.  It is a wrist phone, also hooked
through my computer, so you will getting me anywhere.]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <17:07:55 GMT/26.Apr.55>

>>>>>[Herr Erdferkel, uh, i mean Aardvark.  I have received a message that
we should be meeting at Little Havana before our other meeting.  We could
just be arranging the run then, if that would be more convenient, or
directly after.]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <17:12:25 GMT/26.Apr.55>

*****ENCRYPTION: Interneccine v4.21 PRIVATE TO: Aardvark, Avatar, Dark Angel,
      Freddy Frypp, Jasmine, Magikthize, Powderkeg, Spark, Tech.
>>>>>[OK, I was not aware of the other meeting at Little Havana when i
suggested the meet at the Botanical Gardens.  We will all meet at Little
Havana and discuss our part directly after, if that suits everyone]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <17:18:44 GMT/26.Apr.55>

>>>>>[And what plans would those be, my friend?]<<<<<
        - Necromancer <12:08:33/04-26-55>

*****Private to: Dark Angel
>>>>>[Heh.  I, uh, borrowed it for a while.  Thought I told ya.]<<<<<
        - Necromancer <%^:%(:(&/&^-*^-@$>

*****Private to: Dark Angel
>>>>>[Hello, Chris, sorry we had to borrow the mainframe, but Jer had some stuff
to do that couldn't be done at your place.]<<<<<
        - She-Devil <Phoenix/Arise>

>>>>>[ This only serves to prove my point.  Is it not certain that this man
is insane?  See, world, how Maddoc so callously disregarded and slew his
former lover!  See, how, when presented with an opportunity that could
appease all factions involved, he turned away to follow his own twisted
path of destruction!  DOES HE REALIZE WHAT HE HAS DONE?!  In slaying
Manx, he has killed the most powerful gang warlord of that area.  The area
will be thrown into a violent civil war as factions now vie for control!
Thousands of innocents will be killed in the turmoil!  What won't this man
do to follow his own greedy ends?  This battle is not over yet, Maddoc.
I will teach you the meaning of pain, and of retribution. ]<<<<<
        -- Elender <12:11:39CST/04-26-55>

>>>>>[Allright with me. See ya there.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (19:47:13/26-4-55)

>>>>>[Punisher, I know you by your rep only, sorry to say that
I haven't met you in person (that I can remember).  Wizard cannot
help in the task you are asking.  When Wizard and I went over to
the corps we evidentally hosed off someone powerfull.  At AJ's
birthday party CoHort and Collossuss (not to mention our bodyguards)
heard that something was going down against us.  We left and were here
(oops, typo) hit buy a couple of runners.  In the end, they iced Wizard,
and damn near did the same to me.  Maybe someone over here might be able
to help.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.]<<<<<
        -Masque <13:57:34/04-26-55>

>>>>>[Yeah, that wasn't very nice of you, Maddoc. You should'n have
killed her. You suck.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (19:52:13/26-4-55)

*****Private: BIGHORN
>>>>>[Thank you for informing me.  If you make it back soon, the offer
still stands.

Tell me if you can bring anyone else, also...]<<<<<
        --  Jack <13:07:14/04-26-55>

>>>>> [  DATAFAX-24 HOURS A DAY- DATAFAX==

PARIS--
The downtown offices of the Saeder-Krupp owned Counductronics company ,
responsible for the development of the NS1 launch facility , were struck
today by a series of Elemental spirits , conjured by still unidentified
members of the Greenwar ecoterrorist movement.
The spirits firestormed the building , leaving only ashes and forcing the
authorities to resort to dental records in their efforts to identify the
victims.

LONDON--

St. George's hospital has just been declared under military quarantine,
following the deaths by amazingly accelerated toxic shock syndrome of 12
staff members.The origina virus-infected civilians had recovered and were
to be let out tomorrow. Riots currently rage in Baterjees market , where
the population demands the inmediate cleansing by fire of the hospital
and surrounding areas.

          NEXT STORY NOT RELATED

SEATTLE--

The infamous terrorist known only as Tic-Toc was gunned down by authorities
as he tried to escape the Renraku arcology in a stolen vehicle.
Police officials cite members of the Seattle underworld as informants.
Apparently, Tic-Toc had become a rabid dog ,overindulging in sex, BTL ,
and violence , to the point where his partners judged him aganist his
interests.]<<<<<
       --DATAFAX24H(IN YOUR HOME) <26-4-55 / 14:00:00>

>>>>>[Maddoc, it was unnecessary to kill her.  'Nuff Said.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (1:45:55/4-26-55)

*****Private to: She-Devil, Necromancer
>>>>>[Like what?  Oh, I've moved, by the way:  >>Encrypted<<]<<<<<
        --  Dark Angel <16:35:12/04-26-55>

*****Private-To: Rubicon.Command
>>>>>[Sir, all of the operatives are in place.  The specified locations will be
under our control soon.]<<<<<
        -- Bloodfist <The Time Draws Near>

*****Private-To: Rubicon.Field
>>>>>[Command is moving to Primary base.  All of the targets must be held to
maintain security.  Bloodfist and Crystal, transport Tomas to Primary.]<<<<<
        -- Commander Louis <Salvation is at Hand>

*****Private-To: Rubicon.Field, Rubicon.Command
>>>>>[The Hostiles are planning to come to France.  Destinations and Motives
are unknown.  I will be waiting.]<<<<<
        -- Shrew <16:32:22 / 04-26-55>

>>>>>[ It's not often that we get to celebrate the beginnings of life in
this race we lead, so it is with great pleasure and honor that we of the
Posse:  The Mav, CyberWraith, Veangeance, Black Dog, Damn Yankee, The
Extremist, and FireJack, extend warm and heartfelt congratulations to
Circuit Breaker and Crush on the birth of their twins.  We hope they lead
long and happy lives, and do it outside both the shadows and the corps.

Unfortunately we mark this occasion on the anniversary of the passing of
one of our dear friends, Jani Talltrees.

Our birthday gift, then, to these new spirits is these:
        "Life is but a circle,
          doomed to repeat itself,
         unless all can learn from the past."
                                -- Jani Talltrees, 2029-2054

And from all of us, (especially Wolfgang, who found this for us):
[ include soundfile Billy_Joel.Goodnight_My_Angel ]
                                        We hope you enjoy! ]<<<<<
        -- CyberWraith <For / ThePosse>

***** Private: Couple of Eggs Short of a Dozen
>>>>>[Once everybody showed up last night, things went off very well.
I really need to commend everyone.  That was some exceptional dirt
you pulled out of the blackest of IC (well maybe not, but its still
good info).

Here's the plan:
Tech and Spark managed to get Jac's hospital record, a quick lay-out
of the place and general security.  We know where Jac is and where
his guards are (two at the his door, one at the nurses station and two
in the lobby).  They even managed to get a list of everyone else
who's in the infirmary.  There just happens to be lots of people (a
particularly stupid accident on the obstacle course) in there right
now.  Basilisk scored his schedule: in four days LSSC moves him to
the Metroplex Prison.

We probably can't get directly into Jac's room, but we can get into
the next room.  A team will get into that room, posing as
visitors, climb out on the ledge to the next room and get Jac
together.  We'll take down the guards in the hall (tear gas maybe?
or even better, we'll leak some anesthia [????] from one of the
operating rooms into the hallway....), throw Jac in a wheelchair (if
he can't move himself) and just waltz out to the van I've borrowed
out in the parking lot.  A security team will be waiting in lobby in
case things get ugly, with a heavy weapons element in the van if
things get really ugly.  (Don't worry, its one of those huge cargo
vans, that would seat something like 15 if you put seats in all the
way back.)  Maybe some Matrix cover wouldn't hurt.... Basilisk, Tech,
can you get back into the Fort Lewis Infirmary's system?  I've got
comm gear for everybody, I want to stay in near constant contact.

We'll throw Jac in the back and make like a wage slave outta work to
Sea-Tac airport.  We can get directly to the private hangars so
anybody who wants out can take off with us.  I suppose we can drop
people off along the way, but I don't know.  Can you arrange
transportation from Sea-Tac airport to wherever on your own?

Assignments:
Extraction Team: Aardvark, Jasmine, Magikthize
Security Team: Dark Angel, Freddy Frypp
Heavy Weapons Team: Avatar, Powderkeg
Matrix Cover: Basilisk, Tech

Equipment:
We're gonna need lots of slap patches to Jac going.  (Jasmine could
probably handle getting Jac going herself, but I don't want to put to
much strain on her.  If anything ugly shows up, I'd like to have her
to help pull our cajones out of sucking chest wounds.)  Aardvark, can
you scratch up about a half-dozen stim patches, antidote patches for
the drugs they've got him on (check later in the file for a list of
these) and maybe even a trauma patch, in case he's really bad off?
Magikthize will be carrying the only lethal weapon in the party (a
concealed Pred).  I'd like the others to at least carry narcojets or
tasers.

Dark Angel, do you have anything that's small and concealable, but
still packs a wallop?  If you do, bring it.  I'm going to try and
hide a shotgun under my coat.  (yeah, yeah, but I've lost lots of
stuff in the pockets of this coat.  I tell ya, the pockets are
actually openings to other dimensions or something.)

As for heavy weapons, I mean big stuff, LMG's, MMG's assault rifles
whatever.  If you don't have it, ask, maybe I brought something up
that'll work.

I'd like to move on this tomorrow night.

Drop me a line with ideas / comments / flames.

FILE: STATUS.JAC - 35 Mp
FILE: INFIRM.PLN - 150 Mp
FILE: GUARDS.SEC - 10 Mp
FILE(S) DUMP? (Y / N): Y

END FILE DUMP]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:28:34 /04-26-55)

*****Private: CoHort
>>>>>[You asked me last week for some details on the danger Heather
represents?

Are you familiar with Revelations?  Stephen King?  Clive Barker?  Imagine
the gates of Hell opening wide.  PPicture all the demons & devils from
the abyss ascending, unopposed--maybe even aided--to Seattle.  Imagine
the horror, the chaos, the mayhem.  Now distill all that feyness,  all
that wickedness into one being.  Give her blond hair, a long-limbed
feminine form, and a personality that could convince the devil (no need
to abandon a perfectly good motif) into passing out bloody ice-cream to
his subjects!  That, laddie, is what you're offering to bring over here.

Now, I may be overstating things just a tad.  After all, I did date her
up until my.....parting with Fuchi UK.  And I won't deny that I
enjoyed myself immensely.  But time & distance have a way of clearing
a man's head.  I look at the bonnie lads & lasses I know here, and
then I add Heather to the mix.  Every i time I get the same result:

Chaos.

Think very carefully, CoHort, if she ever takes you up on your rash
offer of transport.  Very carefully indeed.]<<<<<
        --Highlander (22:15:41/4-25-55)

>>>>>[ The way I remember it, Elender, Manx was about to kill him at the
time.  Besides, he never said no....he just admitted he was a little
pussywhipped by the past (if he wasn't in a content mood at the moment,
I'd have never have said that).  Of course, knowing Maddoc, I have a feeling
he wouldn't have joined her anyway.  Under her command, he'd never be certain
that his lady-friend would have been safe from Manx's fury.  Personally, I
think a focused manaball woulda been just as effective, but I guess Maddoc
isn't into breathing loose ends.  If I'd have been him, I'd have taken
her up on it....hell, she was a nice lookin' woman.  Check that.  If I
was him, I'd have given Shutterbug a big raise, and then gone off with
the woman.  But I digress.  You've seen how Maddoc operates, Elender.
Whether you agree with his methods or not, that's what he is.  Right now,
Tech is digging up all he can to figure out the truth about your brother,
but it's a race.  If Tech doesn't find it by the time Maddoc finds you,
especially if you keep this little game going, that info will do you no good.
Me...I do what I'm paid to do, and I'm paid to do as I'm told.  I feel for ya,
man, but if he says run you over, I'm gonna do it. ]<<<<<
        -- Shutterbug <tImE iS fLeXiBlE>

>>>>>[ So far, all the evidence continues to point at Maddoc.  Are you paid
to look the other way, little man?  There will be a reckoning.  I pray I
need not kill you in order to serve justice. ]<<<<<
        -- Elender <19:36:11CST/04-26-55>

>>>>>[You sure we're talking about the same Joshe Hernadiz here, Firejack?
The one I'm after is just a Major (well, he was the last time we met),
and I've never "seen" him do ANYTHING quite.  And I had the misfortun to
be a "guest" at the Millitary prision he was running back in '42, so I
got to see how he worked real well.  But thanks for the Info anyway,
it could turn out to be usefull.]<<<<<
        --Irish<05:40:25/04-26-55>

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[I've just received word that Leon Meyers has invited several
potential investors to Chicago on the 28th.  Apparently he's going to try
to raise some cash by selling limited partnerships in the the traffic cop
idea he presented a couple months ago.  Dunno who is going to show up for
sure, but I'm going to crash the meeting and will fill you in on the
details when I get back.]<<<<<
        --  Wolf 359 <19:40:23 / 04-26-55>

>>>>>[ It's happened again ..... first NodeFaerie and now Fenris .....
*****Upload Contracts.sav
Lowe ..... it was Lowe... ]<<<<<
        --  SpotOn <22:56:12/04-26-55>

*****Encrypt: Emerald Temptress v. 12.3  to The Lovers
>>>>>[ I need a couple of things, firstly a new kit, same as always,
deliver it to your operative old squat... I need an infiltrate of Feris's
favourite eat house. you know it, gotta be down pronto, before the media
gets a copy of the camera surveilance.

Firstly I need some traces done, firstly the Troll in the clip, I want
everything you can get on him. Next I want one Brandon Lowe, if there's
the slightest bit of confirmation he bought that assassin I'll be taking him
too....

Finially, you owe the Faerie, pay to me, get you know who on the matrix
searches, I know it's basic stuff but I need it mega pronto, and not even
Ouro can match him in the matrix. By the way how is that search going,
is he alive or not! ]<<<<<
        --  SpotOn <23:05:12/04-26-55>

*****Encrypt: Ebony Cloak v. 8.4
>>>>>[ Alright target is renting under the alias Kyle Smith (real
original) at, whoah, he's living right one block away from the restraunt
you were at, you're kit will be arriving any minute, I assume you want me
to download the video image, when I got there, someone was just finishing
downloading and had started delteing the relevant tape, I got the bit
you're looking for, I'll post it after I've edited it. 

By the way tracing Lowe isn't going to be easy, however all my sources
indicate the original payment came from another source, one from Japan,
remember Japan Vanessa. I'll suspend the search on Lowe unless you order
it ahead, I can tell you that he's into some weird stuff though. 

I just entered security system, target is there, repeat target is there,
it seems your troll friend didn't think you could trace him this quick. Be
warned there are some yak in the building also, don't know if they're
related..., I will remain in the system and tape your little party, and of
course assist in any way possible. ]<<<<<
        -- Wouldn'tYouLikeToKnow <23:21:43/04-26-55>

*****Upload newsclip
>>>>>[ Tonight uptown seattle was the setting for a bizarre set of
events, I am here at Aldredo's the home of good Italian pasta, it seems
one of the waiter's attacked an as yet unidentified guest, about an hour
ago. I have the owner here with me, tell me Mr. Popadopalis how has this
effected you

Mr. P: I am not a happy man, firsta one of my men try to kill da
customer, he no worka here no more. Then the customer, theya leave
without paying, I run'in a business here, I cant afford customers to
leave without a paying

Thankyou Mr. Popadopalis, it seems that the surveilance video for
Alfredo's was broken into and deleted of tonight's events, and the police
only have eyewitness descriptions of the people involved. One of the
diners, has however, been identified as one Vanessa Walsh, a known
criminal and murderer. It has also been confirmed that a spirit
manifested to defend the man who was attacked. Wait just in, the person
attacked,was in fact an ork.

The location of the attacked patron (who is presumed dead), the other
diners, and the attacker are as yet unknown....

*gunfire is heard in the distance*

Wait, whats that, it's coming from that building over there, come on
let's check it out...

(For several minutes a jumping picture is seen running through alleys
then the camera points up.)

There's some sort of a duel going on up there between a troll, and a ..
human female I think, wait several other figures are joining, the troll
breaks away, he's heading out... the others are attacking the female, she
seems to be winning....

****BBBBOOOOOOOOOOMMMM****

(The camera captures the floor the fight is on erupt into flame, which
shoots out as the reporter and his cameraman take cover, a figure can be
seen falling which, several seconds later lands right on our intrepid
reporter. The figure, a human female lies motionless, as the reporter
staggers to his feet, then points to the figure.)

That's Vanessa Walsh, wow, what a knockout, umm, we better get the cops.

(At that moment the figure springs to her feet, grins at the reporter.)

SpotOn: Thanks for the landing pad

Jim: Uhhh, that's Ok, can I have your number?

(The figure giggles and runs off.)

This is Jim 'action' Bannister for WHAM news with another exclusive
action packed report. ]<<<<<
        --  Wouldn'tYouLikeToKnow (Time/Date Supressed)

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[I am just about ready to make a run on AIs systems.  I've been
developing a type of 'smart-ice' that will hopefully give us an edge.
I'm going running a test-run in the next couple of days, and if the
self-preservation and self-modification code works correctly, I'll assign
the program the correct parameters for an AI run and let it loose.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[So THAT'S what you've been working on all these weeks.]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <22:42:24 / 04-26-54>

>>>>>[Yup.  This is the most intensive programming project I've ever
undertaken.  If it hadn't been for the six Yoshida expert systems, it
would have been several years.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[Was that a cheap plug?]<<<<<
        -- Norman Yoshida <22:44:31 / 04-26-54>
           Executive Vice-President
           Yoshida Technologies

>>>>>[Heh.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>>[So what's this thing supposed to do, anyways?  Crash the system
and kill MONICA?]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <22:46:00 / 04-26-55>

>>>>>[Nope, at least not yet.  Right now, I am just trying to get some
kind of a clue what the hell they are up to.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[Got a name for it?]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <22:47:48 / 04-26-55>

>>>>>[Not really.  It's just a program.  Names are for living things.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[ IBA, your pathetic attempts to insult me will not work.  However I will
have to take sometime to teach you a  I have to get
Nightstalker first. ]<<<<<
        -- Cerise <22:28:46/04-26-55>

>>>>>[ Yes Cerise, Trolls most often do sire Trolls with the occasional Human,
but most of thos statistics are for troll-troll pairings, and the last time I
look I wasn't a troll.  The confusion lies in that among the goblinized
metahumans there is not interaction between different sub-races, not even orks
and troll, my marring CRUSH is a very large anomoly.  We are the only
cross-racial Troll-human pairing that I know of.

From the looks of everything, it would seem that I am a carrier of metagenes
that can, under the right cicumstances, produce elven off-spring.  Craig also
carries the metahuman metagene, but his has goblinization factor.  There is no
knowing of whether Craig Jr will stay human or if he will goblinize later on in
life, Criag did not goblinize until he was 18 - an almost unheard of occurance.
All in all though, we now have have two beautiful children, who we love very
much, no matter what sub-race they are.

Powerhouse, though physical adepts become active the earliest of the magic
wielding populous, the 'doctors' say it will be a few years before we will even
know if the children carry the meta-magic gene, let alone what they will
manifest as.  Nightfox say that both children are active and that they will be
strong in magic, though he is not sure of what as of yet.  We will try to keep
you in mind for when the children need to learn self-defence, though you might
have to flip (literally) Sheena and Claw for the rights <grin>.

Wolf 359 - I really don't know why Tirandor is sending presents, "Because" is
all the answer any of us got.

Now that things have finally settled down, and the children are safe in bed and
I am fully recovered from birthing and other ordeals, I think it time to get
back into shape, both physically and matrix wise.

So Chummers, whats happening Doom, Monica and Dante wise.  I want a crack at
each of the respective problems, and after fixing a few virus bugs, I really
want to teach the Dante what pain truely is.

Watch out - after 4-5 months of relative inactivity, the 'Thief' is back!!!!
(Relative inactivity means no big 8 main systems orthings like the Tir
Tairngire or PPC matrix).]<<<<<
        -- Spirit <of the matrix>

>>>>>[Funny...Dante's influence doesn't spread THAT far...what's
wrong, Dante?  Afraid of war paint?]<<<<<
        --  Medusa (22:21:01/04-26-55)

>>>>>[ (Heh) Cyberwraith, (heh) when did Crush get CB pregnant?  I though he
was married to Spirit.  I even remember the wedding (ha ha ha ha ha). ]<<<<<
        -- Cerise <22:34:50/04-26-55>

>>>>>[A human and a troll?  Doesn't that hurt?]<<<<<
        --  UCAS Online Guest #004523 (22:23:34/04-26-94)

>>>>>[How crass.]<<<<<
        --  NetBoy (22:24:40/04-26-94)

>>>>>[ Come on, Ramirez.  You've got to name the program.  It's the traditional
thing to do. ]<<<<<
        -- Nightstalker <20:39:48/04-26-55>

>>>>>[ Hey I.B.A. , Ah would be happy ta go on another night on tha town with
ya, though Ah am a little skeptical of the curry idea, Lister had me try some
once, and Ah was not that impressed, it really didn't taste that good, and for a
spicey sauce it was really bland.  Now some good ol' blackened catfish or
something might be interesting, as long as it isn't from the  'Sound that is.


As for christening, Spirit has asked me ta be the Lady of the pair, since Ah am
her best of friends and partner in cri...  Ah mean fun.  As for the gent she is
going ta ask, well, she isn't sure yet, she still has a little while ta work it
all out, christening isn't usually that soon after the birth.]<<<<<
        -- CB <back in business>

>>>>>[I would think that many would find troll-sized parts . . uh . . .
interesting, Guest.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[ Ramirez!  I had no idea you were such a dirty old man!. ]<<<<<
        -- Raven the Mage <22:45:13/04-26-55>

>>>>>[Spoken like a typical male, Ramirez.]<<<<<
        --Heather (22:38:15/4-26-55)

>>>>>[ So, Mr. Etherial what makes you think that the births of dragons are
celebrated like people celebrate Easter and Christmas?  No one has of yet
reported the birthing of dragon, normal or of the greater variety.  What make
you think that some of then don't count them as a threat and try to kill them
of.  In normal instances a dragon will kill of a younger one that might
threaten its area, this is of course not exihibited by greater dragons because
of the fact that normal dragons seem to know better than to anger one.

Congradulations Craig and Wendy Morgan, I do hope that you liked the rainbows
that I sent.  The ROCK was right also, there were children, there were twins,
they made through birth and both are special.]<<<<<
        -- Seraphy <22:33:01/04-26-55>

>>>>>[I prefer Ork women (over Trolls, that is).  I find something
intimidating about someone who's still almost a meter taller than me
(and I'm not short).  Of course, I haven't really spent time looking
for members of the opposite sex for quite a while...spending too much
time with my Eurocar, I think.  So, is it racist to go /looking/ for
a metahuman woman?  Something kind of glammy about looking for an
elf, really.]<<<<<
        --  Mortis (22:36:20/04-26-94)

>>>>>[Kind of sad how short an ork's life is, though.]<<<<<
        -- Mortis (22:37:03/04-26-94)

>>>>>[Raven, I've known a lot of women.  A good many of them say that size
does make a different.  Not a dirty statment, just a statement.]<<<<<
        --  Ramirez <>

>>>>>[ This is still very strange.  Elven births to humans have been almost
unheard of for decades.  Then you have the viable twin.  And then you have
the father being a Troll.  On top of that you have Nightfox saying that the
kids will be magicians.  There's only one thing that can explain this.
Something must have happened to you when you guys when to Austraila.  I mean
something besides all the stuff we know about. ]<<<<<
        -- Cerise <22:51:51/04-26-55>

>>>>>[ Cerise, you really should stop playing Metatheorist and Genetist.  Your
knowledge in either of these fields is minor. ]<<<<<
        -- Raven the Mage <22:52:36/04-26-55>

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[Nightstalker, I haven't any idea what to name it.  It's not like
it's going to do anything.  Just race around the system and try to give
us a clue about what she's up to.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[Wasn't there a movie back in the late 1980's about a guy who was
zapped into a computer cuz the AI in it was not happy?  It was really
primitive, but had an interesting storyline.  If I remember, there was a
scene at the beginning where the guy sent in a program to try to do
something like this, to get some information.  Anyone know what 2D I am
talking about?]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <00:39:31 / 04-27-54>

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[The name of the movie, I believe, was called Tron.]<<<<<
        --  Ramirez

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[What was the name of the program at the beginning?]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <00:41:39 / 04-27-54>

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[I haven't a clue.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[ Let  me do a quick data search here.  I'll have the name and a movie
clip in a minute. ]<<<<<
        -- Nightstalker <22:56:57/04-26-55>

*****NOT TO: MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[Uh, guys?  Not to be a cold fish for your AI-hunt, but what
would keep your restricted types (which I so nicely put into the
Encryption line above) from attaining an account on a net-service and
just reading the mail?]<<<<<
        --  Medusa (22:47:30/04-26-94)

>>>>>[Nothing...hehehe.]<<<<<
        --  UCAS Account #44055736 (22:47:56/04-26-94)

>>>>>[That was some idiot college student in the MCT student complex...I
just locked him out of his account and jacked his rates up by about
2,000%.]<<<<<
        --  Medusa (22:50:17/04-26-94)

***** NOT TO:  MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[ Ahhh, here we go.  Looks like you were not a clueless as you thought
old man :)

***** Include:  2-D Download (Tron) ]<<<<<
        -- Nightstalker <23:05:50/04-26-55>

>>>>>[He was right there, and I couldn't help m him.  The lad was
sitting across from me, and I couldn't move fast enough.  So much
blood.....]<<<<<
        --Highlander (22:55:33/4-26-55)

>>>>>[Colin!  Snap out of it!  What are you babbling about, lad?]<<<<<
        --Heather (22:56:45/4-26-55)

>>>>>[Didn't you see the news flash Heather?  The hit at the
restaurant....that was Fenris they got.  At least Vanessa got the
bastard.....

SpotOn; anything I can do to get the people beind the Troll, let
me know.]<<<<<
        --Highlander (22:57:16/4-26-55)

>>>>>[Well, I got the name of the movie right.]<<<<<
        --  Ramirez <>

>>>>>[Ah, hell; sorry, man.  I gotta learn to check people's spelling, ya
know? But the guy I was talkin' about was still a real son-of-a-slitch,
so... 

Hernadiz, Hernadez... Yeah, stupid mistake. Sorry.  But in case my friend the
General shows up, don't forget what I said, okay?]<<<<<
        --  FireJack  (01:58.43/04-27-55)

*****Not TO: MONICA, Leon Meyers
>>>>>[Hmmm, Colin and I used to try and stump each other with sci-fi
trivia.  That one's a toughie, though.....Wasn't it something like
HINT?  Och, the part only took about five minutes of the movie.....

Got any ideas, Colin?]<<<<<
        --Heather (23:05:15/4-26-55)

>>>>>[Lass, I've got a few other things on my mind right now.]<<<<<
        --Highlander (23:06:44/4-26-55)

>>>>>[You don't know either, eh?]<<<<<
        --Heather (23:07:32/4-26-55)

>>>>>[ARGH!  I just datasearched that movie Tron.  Now I get why
Nightstalker was being so snide.  The name of the program that Wolf was
talking about is CLU.

I feel so silly now.]<<<<<
        -- Ramirez <>

>>>>>[And so you should!]<<<<<
        -- Wolf 359 <01:09:40 / 04-27-55>

>>>>>[You want backup, Cerise, you got it.  First, Nightstalker.  Then,
Powerhouse.  Hey, Heather!  Want a chance to beat up on an Englishman?
Virtually speaking, of course.....]<<<<<
        --Highlander (23:11:43/4-26-55)

>>>>>[Oh, I don't know, Colin; aside from a rather limited view of
one of his neighbors, he seems like a nice enough sort.  Besides,
we don't want to interfere with that little triangle you've got
going on.....]<<<<<
        --Heather (23:13:32/4-26-55)

*****Private: Couple of Eggs Short of a Dozen.
>>>>>[About the plan: Nice, and it should work, too. Just a thought: my
personal fighting style makes use of lots of smoke, so the enemy can't see
me, but I still can see them (and take them out, of course). I think this
is the way to handle Jac's guards, at least the ones in his room and just
outside. So I've got a question for the Extraction Team (Jasmine,
Magikthize): you don't happen to have some kind of Infra Red vision? Or
better, Ultrasound vision? (I got both) If this can be arranged, I could
bring one of my special smoke types along, which will reduce the chance of
getting shot (after all, we have to get Jac out, alive). Please let me
know ASAP. 

I will not fly with you, but I'll escort you to the airport. Got a nice
desk to split... I will have my bike there, so if anybody needs a ride,
just let me know. 

As for the equipment, I actually have all the necissary patches, exept
some antidotes, but I can get them tomorrow morning. As for the weapons,
ofcourse I'll carry a Narcojet pistol, but I won't leave my Viper at home
(don't worry, it is pretty good hidden away, and I promise I'll not use
it). 

BTW, the smoke I'll be using is black, so wear as much black as possible,
without looking suspect (so please don't paint your face). I'll also be
carrying a grapefruit... More BTW, the way I shoot my viper make it looks
like a LMG... 

At what time will we be moving? Where do we assemble? Please let me know. 

I'm ready for it. See ya all tomorrow!]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (11:49:13/27-4-55)

>>>>>[ Oh well here it is, sorry it's a bit late but this isn't the only
thing I'm doing at the moment. So ka.

*****Include video reference

You see a nice upper class Italian restaraunt seated in the centre of the
room are the figure most of you recognise as Fenris, SpotOn, Highlander
and Princess, they seem to be enjoying their dessert. Suddenly the ork
you know as Fenris taps on his glass and the others spin around, he holds
up a glass of champagne handed to him by the group's waiter a troll, who
in turn pours each of them a glass, then stands behind Fenris.

As the ork pronounces the words 'to the Faerie, may he cause as much
trouble up there as he has caused us', the sentiment is echoed by the
others and as Fenris begins to sip his glass all hell brakes loose. The
waiter lunges forward and a piece of metal, a spur, emerges out of Fenris
chest as blood runs out from his mouth, the first to react is the female
SpotOn, who, without hesitating engages the troll as he pulls the spur
out. The other patrons start screaming and running, Highlander dives out
of the picture, Princess remains stunned...

Just as the troll gets an advantage over SpotOn the form of an elf
(Regent) appears in the room leaping at the troll from the blindside,
and stunning it. Princess can now be seen dragging Fenris away, although
she does not seem to be getting far. Once again the troll gains the
advantage by throwing off Regent, it then leaps straight for SpotOn. But
it never gets there, a bullet rips into it's arm, although it seems only
a flesh wound, the camera pans slightly and the Highlander is seen taking
aim once more. Then Troll moves towards Fenris, but as the shot rings out
changes direction towards the door, sending the shot meant for it's head
slamming into a wall instead, SpotOn starts to give chase, and the Highlander
runs after her.

The scene closes as Princess and Regent drag Fenris away. ]<<<<<
        --  MeMeMeMe <PeekAboo>

>>>>>[ Now that the situation is a somewhat cooler, I think that I can take a
moment of time to point out your faulty logic.  Did it ever occur to you, Tech,
that if the information concerning me that you are now getting from these
files is information Elender already knows, that perhaps he has a copy, or
access to it?  Did it also occur to you  that if I knew of the existance of
such a set of files on me, and if I knew that they contained innumerable
headaches to me, and I knew that they would be destroyed upon notification of
his death (regardless of whether I caused it or not), and was waiting there
in the matrix for it, that it would have been of much greater benefit to me
to allow it to be destroyed?  Why would I go to the trouble of killing him,
and then not let the file be destroyed? ]<<<<<
        -- Maddoc <00:00:00/00-00-00>

>>>>>[Fraggin' gangers inthe part of town are really getting on my
nerves!  The dip dunks blew up the fraggin' hardware for this
LTG yesterday.  I managed to retrieve part of my mail before it went
offline.

Your governor Shultz made a statement a couple of years back
regarding the state of criminal activity and violent crime in this
city: We have no socila problems that a few thousand armed troops
won't solve (or something to that affect).  I agree with this
statement all of the way.  In SF we have two divisions of Imperial
Marines to keep the peace.  There are very few parts of SanFran
proper wher it isn't safe to walk in all night.  Any blatant criminal
activity (read: firefights in the streets) are pretty severly dealt
with.

A couple of years back I watched as a brawl between
an Ares black-op squad, Fuchi security fell into the streets.  The
SFPD responded first, but got pinned down almost immediately by the
Ares squad.  The firing attracted the attention of an I-MArine PC
sown the street.  When they rolled in, they started shooting at
everybody, Ares, Fuchi, SFPD, everything that shot at them.  After
about five minutes the Ares and Fuchi brawlers snuck out and let the
I-Marines slaughter the SFPD.  The Imperial Governor barely
apologized to the families.  This guy does not like open violence in
the streets.  Take it inside.

BEGIN ENCRYPT -
***** Private: Couple of Eggs Short of a Dozen
Did anybody except Aardvark have any comments regarding the run?
And Magikthize does have infra-red eyes so pop off as much smoke as
you like.  I'll be passing out gas masks at the door.

Visiting hours end tonight around 2000 local.  I'd like to meet here
(Dante's Inferno Bar and Grill >>>Address<<<) at 1700 to give us time
to get everything together.  Expect to see action by 1900
tonight.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (08:31:45 / 04-27-55)

>>>>>[ Ah well Spirit as I said it is a *wee* bit early just yet <grin>, but
who knows if I'm still around in years to come maybe we can all take a part
in teaching your children self defense.  My style as you know is fairly unique
having taken a thorough grounding on Karate and incorporated facets from
virtually every other martial art including a few of my own. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (13:23:59/27.4.55)

>>>>>[ IBA when you're not too busy we need to do some talking there's a bit
of background work to do for this next job.  Punisher is still hooked up with
this Talon business so we can't count on him at the moment I'm afraid.  Meet
at the usual place tonight. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (13:26:59/27.4.55)

>>>>>[I'll be there on time.]<<<<<
        -- Aardvark (16:22:13/27-4-55)

>>>>>[Heh.  Yes, I have my heavy pistol.  This will work quite well, trust me.
After all, that's why we have been granted the wonders of APDS ammo.]<<<<<
        --  Dark Angel <09:34:34/04-27-55>

>>>>>[Sorry it's taken me so long, but thanks for Monday evening, Patricia.
Do you think I ought to upload a log?]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <09:43:07/04-27-55>

>>>>>[Shut up, Necromancer.  Don't even THINK it, chummer.]<<<<<
         --  Dark Angel <09:43:31/04-27-5%>

>>>>>[The plan sounds good.  I am ready to go.  I would like to meet
with Tech before, perhaps we could double up on the Matrix part.  It
would be safer for everybody if we went in from the same locale.]<<<<<
        -- Basilisk <15:45:12 GMT/27.Apr.55>

***** Private: MIST
>>>>>[We're back at the hideout. Redsky and Lacy are running mods on the
new toy. Ritter can't wait to get into the gunner's seat. Unfortunatly, it
wasn't built for orks. Anyway, Nash went up to Council Island to book
offical plans flight plans back to Chicago. We still might have some biz
there, and if anything comes up, I want to be sure we have guarenteed a
dust-off. I'll get back to you later...Josh.]<<<<<
     --BIGHORN (09:50:39/04-27-55)

***** Private: BIGHORN
>>>>>[I would suggest going back to UCAS turf anytime soon. They still
have a serious mad-on after that hiest you guys pulled. If you have to go
back, you better go packing heavy and you better have some serious magical
backup.]<<<<<
     -- MIST (10:32:54/04-27-55)

>>>>>[For everyone goin' ta France, Mercy won't be able ta make it.
I talked ta the Doc yesterday.  He said Mercy was gettin' better,
but he had to be kept under observation or somethin' like dat.  He
siad his brain was so used ta da Matrix dat the intense physical
activity he did blew a couple of fuses.  He said I should keep him
on his computer as much as possible once he's out ta keep him from
freaking out again.  He said he wishes us luck, though.]<<<<<
        -- Brick <10:15:35 / 04/27/55>

>>>>>[ Cerise:  Take a frying leap...

Spirit, Crush, _and_ Circuit Breaker, our humblest apologies for the
mistake.  I'm afraid my brother has been too busy programming, and ended
up swapping your names unintentionally when he set the message up.  If
nothing else, remember, that _none_ of us is infallible, and we all, how
ever we look are human. ]<<<<<
        -- Veangeance <11:48:47 / 04-27-55>

>>>>>[ Goodie.... ]<<<<<
        -- Powderkeg <09:56:10GMT/04-27-55>

***** Exclude NOVA
>>>>>[ You can say that I do have the capabilities to analyze what you found.
I am located down in Denver, and have just fully set up shop. For a nominal
fee, I would be more than willing to help you out. Take your time in making the
decision. ]<<<<<
        -- DragonEyes <11:21:47/4-27-55>

*****Private: Aardvark, Jasmine
>>>>>[Ummmm, do I really need to know what the grapefruit's for?  I
thought we decided that disguise wouldn't work?]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (12:22:34 / 04-27-55)

>>>>>[Its log, its log, its big,its heavy, its wood...its log, its log
....nevermind.]<<<<<
        - Harlequin

>>>>>[ Good afternoon, I am in fairly desperate need of a mage or a shaman
with skills in manipulation, combat and/or detection spells. Masking is
VERY import ant. I can be contacted at >>>LTG<<<. ]<<<<<
     -- BIGHORN (13:45:34/04-27-55)

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Um, what grapefruit?  I apparently missed something.]<<<<<
   -- Jasmine (11:49:00/4-27-55)

***** Private: BIGHORN
>>>>>[ Got the plans, null perspriration. We are cleared through Sioux
territory and UCAS direct to Chicago on Saturday NET 0500. I also picked
up the extra gear from the shop. I'll be at the hideout NLT 2100]<<<<<
     -- NASH (13:15:59/04-27-55)

>>>>>[ Punisssher.  I'm looking for a woman -- Juliette Sssstryker isss
the name.  You know her asss Nova.  If you agree to hand her over, I'm
sssure we can arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement.  Otherwissse,
I will be compelled to take her by forccce and pleassse don't harbour any
illusssionsss asss to how long you can essscape me.  You may be good; I
acknowledge your skill and professssionalisssm.  I hope, therefore, that
you will sssee that thisss girl isss not worth the hasssssle -- think
about it ... but not for too long. ]<<<<<
        -- The Sculptor <**:**:**/**-**-**>

***** Encrypted: Powderkeg
>>>>>[ I have just received Freddy's communique; consider the meeting
moved forward.  If thou couldst present thyself an hour before the
appointed time of the run at the saud location, I wouldst be most
grateful. ]<<<<<
         -- Avatar <00:00:00/00-00-00>

***** Encrypted: Powderkeg
>>>>>[ I propose we meet that we might discuss our roles and tools of trade
for the forthcoming mission; fools we would be should we venture forth
similarly equipped and later find something amiss that neither of us
perchance had upon our person.  If thou wouldst be so kind, avail thyself
then the morrow of the 28th this month at St. Francis Cathedral.  I shalt
be there at the seventh hour of morn.  Till then. ]<<<<<
        -- Avatar <18:17:09/27-04-55>

***** Encrypted: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[ Thine plans suiteth me.  Thou needst not worry about my
transportation from our final destination.  May I enquire about
payment ? ]<<<<<
        -- Avatar <18:02:37/27-04-55>

>>>>>[ Again, I wilt be there. ]<<<<<
         -- Avatar <17:51:00/27-04-55>

>>>>>[Sorry about that.  Had to terminate that link.]<<<<<
        - Gossymer <Matrix Construct>

>>>>>[Soon to be fragmented code if that happens again.
As most of you can tell, I'm feeling groov...much better.
Pardon the strangeness, all is normal.]<<<<<
        -Harlequin <Ha-Ha-Ha>

>>>>>[Dark Angel, only if you would like to.  I had a wonderful time
though.]<<<<<
        --  Patricia O'Connor(13:35:27/04-27-55)

***** Private: Jack
>>>>>[Jack, we will be returning to Chicago on Friday evening. Yes again,
we will have room for others. But mainly, we're going to have to find
someone who can mask our identities. It has come to my attention that our
getaway was not as clean as we had so hoped. However, there should be no
real problems. I will contact you again if there are. I can be contacted
at >>>LTG<<< here, or >>>LTG<<< when we return to Chicago.]<<<<<
     -- BIGHORN (13:50:35/04-27-55)

*****Private to: BIGHORN
>>>>>[ Hmmm. You need a mage huh? I may be interested, depending on what
the job is and if you can afford my services. The name is Street Heat,
Bounty Hunter extrordinair. If you have ever been in Detroit, you may
have heared of me. I was the one that nabbed Dr. D. Range and his gang.
Anyway, you may reach me at >>>LTG<<< with a reply]<<<<<
        --Street Heat(1:56:30/4/27/55)

*****Private: Couple of Eggs Short of a Dozen
>>>>>[People, I hate to sound like I'm bitching, but could you try
to keep track of the timetable?  We are going out tonight, 04/27 at
1700, just like I've been saying for the last two days.  In fact, in
about three hours I'd like to see everybody here.  Just bring
everything and sort it out on the way.  And if yer that worried about
payment, I can arrange for transfers into accounts of certified
credsticks.  I suppose most of you will want the cert-creds so I'll
have them ready in the amount of 55 K =Y=, tonight.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:14:14 / 04-27-55)

***** Encrypted: Avatar
>>>>>[ Uh...ok. ]<<<<<
        -- Powderkeg <13:00:00GMT/04-27-55>

>>>>>[Frag, dis church is huge!  I've been scopin' da place out, but dere ain't
much ta see.  Looks like dere are a few gaurds up top an' a bit of cameras and
da likes.  I've gotten into worse.]<<<<<
        -- Gawk <14:42:22 / 04-27-55>

>>>>>[Welcome to Europe.  Gawk, it's a Cathedral not a Church.  Has anyone else
done any recon?  I have found out a little more about the Hammer of Chaos.
They are led by a man named Elysius.  It seems that his followers worship him
as some kind of a demi-god.  What a shame, some people will follow anyone with
a bit of charisma.]<<<<<
        -- Talon <VITRIOL>

*****PRIVATE-TO:  Silicon Sabotuer, Brick, Gawk, Clown, Couch, St. John, Father
                  Brian Grant, etc.
>>>>>[I think that we should infiltrate the complex at 02:00:00 tomorrow morning
Please, continue with the recon and report anything relevant.  We should meet
at my room at midnight to solidify our plan]<<<<<
        -- Talon <VITRIOL>

>>>>>[Posted without the consent of the original poster...

*****Include INTERPOL posting, Lone Star, Seattle*****

Attention all Lone Star employees:

The following person was recently apprehended by Interpol and has since
escaped.  She is a prime suspect in the February Gamma-Anthrax incident and a
reward of 100k nuyen has been offered by Interpol to anyone who can provide
information as to her whereabouts.  She is to be considered dangerous, but all
attempts should be made to capture her alive.  Please forward this message and
post it per the Lone Star/Interpol agreement of 2034.

*****Include PIC.RAVEN-NEW.HOLO*****
*****Include Dossier:  Raven*****

*****End INTERPOL posting*****

Interesting...]<<<<<
        --  Double D(17:58:30/04-27-55)

>>>>>[If Dante were still alive, I'm sure he would not bother with the likes
of you, Medusa...  War paint went out with the cavalry.]<<<<<
        --  Double D(17:59:59/04-27-55)

>>>>>[Impossible.  Dante was killed by Raven because he stumbled across her
plan to kill off half of Redmond with Gamma-Anthrax.  It's all in the tapes we
have, from Dante no less.  And as he has an excellent reputation, even dead, of
having his facts right in regards to his enemies, I don't doubt it's     c
accuracy.  You are all paranoid.  And you are all illegal.  Necessary, from
time to time, but if you cross me, you go down.]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol(18:03:19/04-27-55)