*****PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[ Thanks for the offer though if you'd read surveillance was all I was
offering.  Unfortunately there was only 1 position and it's been filled.  I
keep you in mind should we need extra magical support though, impressive list
of contacts, don't be surprised if you hear from one or two of them that
someone has been asking questions about you. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (15:53:38/27.8.55)

>>>>>[ Phew bloody hell Punisher that was some gun fight.  Was that really
Dante in that van with the bloody great big sniper rifle ?  I'm telling you
it's bloody dammed lucky that Fenris and his Pack were there to help or we'd
have been magical toast.  Still I don't think Dante and his Double-D's will
be keen to try something again after that little run it.  Nightstalker, you
were right about the kid, they made a definate attempt to kill Luke.
Fortunately Punisher was still there interrogating the two gangers he'd captured
earlier.  Jeese, by the way, what happened to those two, I thought you'd
secured them ? ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (16:44:13/27.8.55)

>>>>>[ I'm not sure though if it was he's changed.  I'll speak to Fenris and
his Pack to see if any of them recognised the aura.  As to the two Double-D's
I'd caught, they're dead.

No not by me, though they'd just about reached the end of their usefulness.  I'd
kneecapped them to stop them going anywhere but they must have decided to take
their chances and escape in the confusion when Dante and the Double-D's
attacked.  From what I can gather Dante himself killed them, but it this way,
their heads had been summarily removed from their bodies in much the same way
as a few of the unfortunate souls of God's Raiders had been when.  But when
hit by a Barret Sniper rifle that is the normal effect. ]<<<<<
        -Punisher (16:49:43/8.27.55)

>>>>>[ Dante your deck was mine when you first came to the matrix, now it is
mine even more so.  Oh that and your stupid fraggin life as well. ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

*****NOT TO Dante, Double-D's
>>>>>[ Here's the info I got from the two gangers before they got themselves
geeked.

Double-D's stands for Dead Dantes, no surprise there though the name is quite
fitting.  I think most of you are familiar with their attire from their
well publicised attack on the UB the other day.  They were based in Redmond
but are shortly moving to Auburn, so we ought to identify their HQ's quickly
before they move and put any listening devices into place.

Here's the bitter, Dante had proffesional help from four shadowrunners, I'd say
they must be outta town or they'd have heard the word on the street not to mess
around in this affair.  Let's see what else, 3 leaders, we identified one as
being dead at the scene of the shootout, apparently went by the name D-One,
the others go appropiately by D-Squared and D-Cubed.

Oh yeah, what else, they seem to have quite a high proportion of magiickers
in their gang and it least one of the outta town runners is a mage.  As PH
stated though we had some heavy duty astral backup of our own.

Nightstalker and IBA there is one thing you could try, apparantly the Double-D's
contact Dante through one specific deck, I'm going to see if I can track this
deck down and then get one of you's two to impersonate a ganger while the
other one slags Dante's brain. ]<<<<<
        -Punisher (17:00:04/8.27.55)

***** PRIVATE : Rasputin
>>>>>[Accepted. If you want another mage on the run, let me know and i will
try and arrange it. If you want the mage from Mr. Johnson checked out, let me
know, i will arrange it. Otherwise, will be looking forward to talking to you
on monday.  ]<<<<<
+++++  Buisness Card :(Deleted by popular request).
        -- Ice <00:29:19/08-28-55>

>>>>>[Well, having heard about the hit on various persons in Seattle, and
that my private nemesis, Dante, was involved, I went digging and found the
following in Lone Star's recon files.  Enjoy.

*****Include Recon Drone File:  rcn.drn2338;DD/GRcmbt.NO_RESPONSE

Airborne.  Decent view.  Multiple sensors.  Above a not-so-nice area of
Seattle, with Downtown off in the distance.  It appears that the drone is
keeping tabs on a certain gang.  It also appears that the drone has been
hovering over this area for a long time, watching the God's Raiders.  And it
also appears that its job will soon be over, if the rapidly zooming camera
shots are any indication.

The Double-Ds, from the dark green and black leathers, are parking in areas
all around where the GRs are hanging out.  On a quick count, there appears to
be around 45 DDs and about 40 GRs.  With the cameras zooming in and out all the
time, you can barely get any real features of the gangers, but you do notice
that there is a severe ordinance difference between the gangs.  The GRs are
armed mostly with pistols and a few SMGs.  The DDs are armed with SMGs and
assult rifles.  Some of them even move as if they have been cybered lightly.
Where a gang would get the money for that is beyond easy guesses.  And about
4 or 5 look like they might be magicians, judging by the different types of
clothing they are wearing.

Another addition to the growing mass of people, apparently unaware that the
opponents are around.  The GRs seem to have a couple of non-gangers, labled
NG1 and NG2, in thier camp as well.  One of them is staying near a young girl,
probably in her mid-teens, and a doll(isn't thermo wonderful?).  You guess he's
there to protect the child, who you see is in a camoflaged crib about 5 meters
from the doll and the mother.  NG2 is apparently interrogating two gangers,
wearing....green and black.  So that's why the Double-Ds are hitting the
Raiders.  They want thier chummers back.

And another addition shows up.  This one is labled slightly differently,
though.  This is labled PROVeh, specifically a van.  It's shielded pretty well,
so you can't see how many passengers there are.  One of the things you notice,
is that the DD magicians are spreading out pretty carefully, almost as if this
raid had been planned for quite a while, and they are heading out toward the
areas where the drone has labled LKOUT 1 through 6.  The logic is obvious:
remove the lookouts and approach unmolested.  Yep, judging by the sudden changes
in pressure, temperature, and position of five of the lookouts, they are all
dead, and silently enough that the GRs don't even know...yet.

You notice the side door of the van open and three figures emerge, labled
PRO1, PRO2, and MAGE1.  The new mage walks over to a save location, across
from where the van is currently, and sits down, propped up against the wall,
and then seems to slump over.  The other two, however, appear to be carrying
rifles, one of them rather like a sniper rifle, and they are scaling the
building closest to the GR squat.  Both are chromed, one of them heavily,
judging by fluidity of movement, probably an assassin and a street samurai.
You suspect that they are shadowrunners.

You see additional forces, this time three armed rotodrones, take up position
over the squat, and the van moves off toward the entrance.  This is when you
see the assassin finally gain the position he needed, take aim, and fire.  Two
barely noticable flashes are the only hint that two targets on the ground just
died--until you see NG2, the interrogator, is now thermally hotter from blood,
and visually, the two captured DDs are headless bodies lying on the ground.
>From where the lookouts were posted you see hazy glows a fraction of a second
before GRs die of magical attack on the ground.  The rotodrones also descend
into the fray, LMGs opening up on full-auto and turining the area into a free-
fire killzone.

The van, you notice, has just rammed its way through a rather weak barrier at
the entrance, and the side door is open.  You also notice that NG1, the guard,
has just gestured in the direction of the assassin and his sammy friend, and
that the next few rounds go wildly wrong.  It's too bad that there were two
snipers, or the chaos spell probably would have worked.  As it is, a figure,
wearing green and black again, aims out of the van and fires.  From the size of
this weapon, you suspect that you are seeing a Barrett sniper rifle.  Somehow,
the girl that was near the doll sees the sniper.  The first round takes out
the doll, and you can hear the sniper's curse of "FRAGGIN DOLL!!!" over even
the massive gunfire all around the site.  The NG1 person, however fast, will
not be able to reach the real crib and child before a second Barrett round,
although it seems that he need only make it before the third.  The mother, in
a feat of speed and strength capable only of those whose children matter more
than they do, has placed her body between the second sniper and the child,
just in time for the round to impact.  She collapses, a very large hole where
her chest used to be, dead before she hit the ground.  But this is enough time
for the protector to reach the crib, scoop the crying child out of the crib
without stopping, and then vanish from all sensor sight, including thermo.
Just in time, too, as the third round impacts the crib, shattering it into
schrapnel.

You notice that another camera is still trained on MAGE1.  He does not appear
to be doing very well, spasming, coughing up blood, and suddenly manifesting a
long slice from shoulder to hip.  It is obvious that the mage is dead.  The
rest of the magical help that the DDs had is also otherwise involved.  And it
appears that we have yet another addition to the fray: a second vehicle, this
time screeching up, turning to provide the passengers cover, and then with
three persons exiting it.  The death count at this point is about 20 GRs dead
completly, another 10 wounded.  With the addition of three professionals on
the side of the GRs, the odds are certainly evened out.  Rifle fire becomes
more sporadic, two of the rotodrones are quickly shot out of the sky and the
third becomes a molten metal sludge.  The DD gang magicians are all set upon
by magical attack themselves, but none that can be seen any more readily thatn
the attack that killed the professional mage.  The Double-Ds begin to retreat,
even from an obvious advantage still, taking thier wounded with them.  You
guess that thier entire reason for being here was the death of the child, and,
having failed at that, have no further reason for remaining.  The van drives
off and picks up the two surviving runners and drives off out of the range of
the drone's sensors.  The professionals connected with the GRs give chase for
a few minutes, but eventually the damage done to their vehicle takes its toll
and they fall behind, turning around and returning to the scene of the carnage.

Final tolls:  GR Dead:  28
              GR Wounded:  12
              Total GR membership:  42

              DD Dead:  12
              DD Wounded:  15
              Total DD membership:  48

              Pros Dead/Wounded:  1 Dead, none known wounded

*****End Video*****

Nasty.  Dante is getting even more destructive as he gets older...]<<<<<
        --  Solitaire(15:00:01/08-29-55)

>>>>>[Actually, from what my associates tell me, the "Pros Dead/Wounded:"
category is two higher.  My ex-magical employee's elementals, in addition to
the magical talents of my gang, claimed the lives of two of Akailia's pack,
and they tell me that Akailia was herself wounded in the Astral melee with
my ex-associates.  All in all, a good evening.]<<<<<
        --  Dante(Abandon:All:Hope/Ye-Who-Enter-Here)

>>>>>[ Dante?  Interesting.

Dante, if you're the same decker who worked for certain associates of mine
at Aztechnology, I may have a certain number of projects that you would
prove useful in assisting me accomplishing.  If you are interested, contact
me at *LTGEncrypt* within 48 hours.]<<<<<
        --  Macros the Black (14:02:24/8-29-55)

>>>>>[Hey people. I may be new in this town but i have alot of experience.
If you would like to hire my services, leave a message on the net. I will
contact you. Specialties: (not spelling) burglary and explosives.]<<<<<
         -Ecman (12:16:44/8.30.55)

>>>>>[ Dante, while your information is somewhat correct, your employees
are much less efficient than what they would have you believe, while it
is true that one of my pack has joined his totem, our backup was able to
stabilize and revive the second 'dead' member. As for the child, well
he is now where even you cannot reach him, although not all of us agree
on his new protector's worth. And as for me being wounded, well it
certainly wasn't the first time, and it wont be the last, although I
admit I was being hard pressed until Fenris arrived. Oh, one last word,
Macros, we hold you no ill feeling for refusing our previous offer of
aid, in fact the offer still stands, however if you deal with the horror
that is Dante, you will be killed, for your aura is known to us. ]<<<<<
        --  Akaila <18:12:41/08-29-55>

*****Private: Powerhouse, Punisher, I.B.A., Nightstalker, Raven the Mage
>>>>>[ Firstly I will offer my sympathy to I.B.A., while he had many
harsh things to say about the mother of his child, the harshness of his
words betray the fact that he cared for her once, perhaps he still does.
More importantly, the child is now safe, we are placing him with the most
powerfull protector we know, I will not name him here, although Fenris
knows, even though he does not agree with the placement. The elf Courier
would be capable of arranging an untraceable visit to him, if you wish
to, although he would probably require compensation.

Now for the information that you are, most likely awaiting, unfortunately
I have not assensed Dante before, therefore I cannot confirm or deny his
presence in the combat. While I did spot the figure in the van, at the
time I was rather busy, and, unfortunately was unable to assense that
person. I did however assense two of Dante's pet ganger mages, and, as
soon as I am fully recovered will begin astrally tracking them.

On a final note, this encryption is not likely to keep Dante out for
long, if he notices the message (I am sending it from a different
location than the first message), to increase security I would
appreciate either 'Stalker or I.B.A. to clean up the situation, if you
take my meaning. ]<<<<<
        --  Akaila <18:37:31/08-29-55>

>>>>>[{Shiver} My, I must be in the Seattle node--the temperature
variable dropped fifteen degrees.  Cerise, you were pretty hard on poor
Colin.  The laddie was scared away!  Shame on you!]<<<<<
        --Heather (22:42:33/8-29-55)

>>>>>[Ha.  Ha.  I've been on another job, thank you lassie.  APretty
soon I'll be able to afford that upgrade.  Happy now?

Och, welcome back all you old timers!  (Exscept Dante....)]<<<<<
        --Highlander (22:45:44/8-29-55)

*****PRIVATE:  Commander Drake
>>>>>[Sir, the computer has come up with an interesting development.  Earlier
today, we discovered, on a particularly deep penetration scan, a compressed
and cross-linked viral frame.  It was linked to any command issued in regards
to certain file fragments, amounting to 4.339 Megapulses of data.  This data
had been forwarded by an unknown individual who not only left no ID trace at
the time of forwarding, but also the correct passwords and protocols to
correctly place the files within our top security, classified-BLACK, immediate
action database.  As it is only connected to the Matrix when absolutely
necessary, it is also likely that the implanter knew our physical procedures
intimately.  While this is extremely problematic and cause for intense
scrutiny and worry, the implications of another individual being capable of
keeping the data from being noticed is far more important.

We have done a full signatory analysis of the implanter's signature traces,
and find that there is a 34.887% chance it was the independant decker known
as Dante.  Based on this, we will have to upgrade our security and threat
estimate of his abilities yet again.]<<<<<
        --  INTERPOL MATRIX HQ/NY(16:03:22/08-30-55)

*****PRIVATE:  INTERPOL MATRIX HQ/NY
>>>>>[So what?!  Dante has been on the back-burner until a true lead on his
location and/or additional data becomes available.  Even the threat upgrade
hasn't changed this, unless IPHQ has issued new orders, that is.]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol(16:05:36/08-30-55)

*****PRIVATE:  Commander Drake
>>>>>[They have not issued new orders to the best of our knowledge.  Besides,
you'd know that before we would anyway.  However, the reason you have been
contacted is the possibility of a major lead on another back-burner case of
yours, and one close to your heart and ego.  The Mil Tech incident was a case
of your's, if memory serves.

After analysis of the implanter's nearly non-existant signature traces, we
analyzed the viral frame.  It was found to be a radical improvement over all
known viral constructs but a few coming out of the Nexus.  And compared to
those, it was ahead of most of them and only a half-step below the best.  It
connected to our systems in a way that was theorized to be utterly impossible.
We are currently unable to duplicate the coding, as it self-destructed upon
being analyzed, taking all non-hardcopy analysis records with it.  This means
that we were incapable of recovering anything but the last nanosecond of
analysis.  However, from this nanosecond, we were able to make a connection to
the designer's programming style and a possible signature.  We give it a
64.992% chance that the viral frame was an original Solitaire design.

Based on this, we would not normally recommend a change in tact.  However,
the fact that the designer knew our system intimately and knew that any
attempt to delete or alter the files once placed in the BLACK system would
alert us leads us to assume that the designer had a fantastic desire to keep
the data secret.  Also, had the files been deleted or altered, they would
have been noticed and the automatic hardcopies would have been automatically
retrieved and given ultimate priority.  By deflecting and disallowing any
command relating directly to the files, the virus convinced everyone that
the files didn't exist in the system, and no-one bothered to look in the
hardcopy vaults.

Finally, when the virus was originally discovered, it's program iconography
was that of a Tarot card.  Of all the deckers in our system, only Solitaire
has even remotely the skill to generate this complex a program and still has
the audacity to use her iconography.

Add to this the references to Maxim Arms, the parent company to Maxim Arms
Research, excuse me, Maxim Armament Research, Maxim Armament Systems, and
Maxim Armament Technologies, and we belive that you will be VERY interested.

Were we incorrect in our assumptions?]<<<<<
        --  INTERPOL MATRIX HQ/NY(16:22:22/08-30-55)

*****PRIVATE:  INTERPOL MATRIX HQ/NY
>>>>>[No.  I'll get my people right on it.  I'm assuming that you have
contacted HQ and will have an interdepartmental resource order as well as
copies of the relevant files on my desk when I return.  Don't bother to
reply, as I have made reservations for a sub-ballistic and will be returning
to New York immediately after disconnecting.]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol(16:25:05/08-30-55)

*****PRIVATE:  INTERPOL HQ/NY-SPECIAL BRANCH
>>>>>[Do not respond to this communication.  I will be unable to respond.
I also expect the letter of it to be carried out by the time I arrive at HQ
in 2.5 hours.

Gather all data relating to Heather Patricia King(aka Solitaire), Alexander
Jackson(aka Action Jackson, AJ), and Moriarity specifically.  Dig out all the
data on Mil Tech and the known accomplices of the above individals.

I also want a full listing of the runners in national prisons that we can
contact about a pardon in return for their aid, as per SOP.  Everyone that
could possibly be of use should be included.  EVERYONE.

Also dig up all files on Maxim Arms.  I want to know everything there is to
know about the corporation.

I also want the files that are suspected to be of Dante's discovery and
forwarding.  He has a history of being honest to those he feels as a
necessary aspect of one of his plans, even if that means us.  If the content
of the files shows correlation, then we'll go ahead.  I'll give you the rest
of your orders when I arrive.

Be prepared to stay up late.  This is full time from now until it's over,
whenever that is.  I hope you're husbands and wives are really openminded
about your work....]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake(16:35:06/08-30-55)

>>>>>[
*****Include Video, Charlie Fingers*****

Hello, this is Charlie Fingers coming to you from North Africa, in the care
of and on the request of Ares Macrotech, where a radical development in the
Desert Wars phenomenon has just taken place.

But first a word from our sponsor...

+++++adds

Well, we're back.  Today, after a grueling three week campaign between
Aztechnology and Desert Wars newcomer Maxim Arms, Maxim Arms was declared the
total victor.  This came after a week of real-fire combat between these two
corporate armies.

As per standard Desert Wars "rules," the two combatants, to minimize
casualties and loss to equipment, are supposed to maintain limited, simulated
combat, with the effectiveness of various weapon systems simulated in the
combat zone.  In this spirit, the two corporations of Aztechnology and Maxim
Arms faught for two weeks and 2 days with neither side gaining any real
advantage over the other.  This went against all the expert's predictions of
a rapid defeat of Maxim, perhaps even in the first 4 days, which would have
been a record time.

Unfortunately, on the third day of the third week of combat, Aztechnology
appears to have decided that they had had enough of the upstarts, and that
they needed to be put in their place.  The beginning of that day's combat
saw the first live-fire combat for three years.  The re-arming of Aztechnology
units was done under total secrecy, so it is unknown how the Maxim Arms units
were able to know of the re-arming and come out also fully combat ready.
The units of Ares Macrotech, sent in originally to separate the armed
Aztechnology units from the "unarmed" Maxim units, were rapidly withdrawn
when it became apparent that neither side was at a signifigant disadvantage.

After three days, 7 hours, and 26 minutes, the battle was declared won by
the Corporate Court in Maxim Arms' favor.  Both corporations are scheduled
to appear before the Court next week to plead thier cases.

Related to this is the recent rash of sabotage at Maxim Arms and Aztechnology
facilities worldwide.  Although the Court's decisions are confidential, it is
likely that they will order Aztechnology to, in addition to letting the
Desert Wars decision stand, pay Maxim Arms for the loss of equipment and
personel, an inside source has told us.

It is intersting to note that Maxim Arms' units inflicted 76% casualties on
Aztechnology units while only recieving a 43% casualty rate themselves.

This has been Charlie Fingers...

*****End Video Clip*****
]<<<<<
        --Trid Pirate(16:54:29/08-30-55)

>>>>>[ Fenris, thank you for a very interesting weekend.  Your new friend is
a most interesting fellow.  I look forward to our next meeting. ]<<<<<
        -- Princess (and Regent) <22:49:17/08-30-55>

*****PRIVATE: Akaila, Fenris
>>>>>[ Commiserations on the loss of your pack member, I too know what it feels
like to lose a member of a much trusted and loved magical group.  His death
will not have been in vain though, his actions saved the lives of many,
including myself and his spirit will live on and be guide on it's way to the
spirit lands. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (19:31:39/31.8.55)

*****PRIVATE: Nightstalker
>>>>>[ Nightstalker, IBA is rather, errm, indisposed is the best way to put it
I suppose, so I can't ask him for the help I need right now.  I have the
Double-D's deck, I got PH to briefly check it out and he couldn't detect any
tracking devices, however with IBA busy we lack the expertise to determine
wether or not it will be of any use in tracing Dante.  Contact me to set up a
meet so that I can let you have the deck. ]<<<<<
        -Punisher (21:37:25/8.31.55)

>>>>>[ That was a cheap fraggin stunt you pulled Dante, killing the gal.
Trouble is she didn't mean frag all to me, ah thought you knew she was a slitch,
still thats no reason to shoot her, she was doing quite well looking after the
kid, now the kid's without a mother.  Ah reckon thats another reason to make
sure your death comes dammed fraggin quickly.  If you reckon you're such a
hotshot, since you know how to kill gals and their kids why don't you just see
how you size up to me in the matrix.  Yeah here at the Nexus in one of the
maintenance nodes, see just how hard you and your fraggin deck are, see just
how well you can code, or ya can do exactly what I fraggin expect to see yer
do.  Turn around and run away with yer tail between yer legs like the yellowed
bellied piece of scum that yer are. ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

*****PRIVATE : Akaila
>>>>>[ Akaila and your pack, thanks for looking after the kid, frag knows what
the drek I'm supposed to do with him now though.  Is this protector of yours
So Ka ?  Lemme know how the kids doing, oh and here's a cred transfer for the
kid and the latest patch of my encryption routines.  I've cleaned up that
last post of yours as well.

***** Dowload 10 000 Y
***** Dowload GNU.Encrypt.IBA.Patch.74h ]<<<<<
        -I.B.A. (**:**:**/**.**.**)

*****PRIVATE : Duncan
>>>>>[ We've resumed surveillance now and have employed magicial help, his
rates are the same as ours, non-negotiable.  He's beginning to set up certain
magical suveilance measures as I speak, we should have some heard information
shortly. ]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (20:02:20/31.8.55)

*****PRIVATE: Fenris, Punisher, IBA
>>>>>[ Hopefully Dante won't be showing his face again for a while, when he
does though we can deal with him then.  In the meantime paying work beckons,
sorry to be so callous but this job is important.

Fenris remember strictly surveillance, IBA you've some catching up to do,
we've struggled without your abilities.  Punisher you and me can check out
Gillian's secretary, and no I don't mean in the looks department either,
though from some of the images we've received via the bugs she does appear
quite smart.]<<<<<
        -The Powerhouse (20:06:38/31.8.55)

>>>>>[My, my, my.  It is rather quiet here in Seattle, isn't it?  People
still missing from the shadows and the Matrix, although I have caught at least
two deckers around my old hangouts from time to time.  Trying to catch a
trace, Nightstalker?  And are you still mad that I killed your "whore,"
IBA?  All I can say in my defense is that I wansn't aiming for her--she just
got in the way.

Oh, by the way, thanks for the visuals in Auburn.  I'm sure that Lone Star
will be glad to know that you are around and active again.  I'm sorry that
I couldn't be there to see your faces when the claymores went off, but I had
a prior appointment.  Maybe, if I'm lucky, one of you actually died in the
ensuing explosions.  If not, no matter.  As Raven, who has yet to reappear,
can attest, I am not to be taken lightly.  Interpol hasn't found her yet,
but her decks are marked Matrix wide at this point.  Be very careful lest you
too must disappear to survive.]<<<<<
        --  Dante(Abandon:All:Hope/Ye-Who-Enter-Here)

*****PRIVATE:  Cat Dancing
>>>>>[We are getting worried about Raven, Cat.  Is she still all right?  If
all goes well, Nightstalker and friends will have removed Dante from the
picture, and she'll be able to return to the world of the living again.
Assuming that she can keep Interpol off her tail, of course...]<<<<<
        --  Valentine(15:52:48/08-31-55)