***** PRIVATE:  Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Hey Orion, got your message and the downloads.  Thanks a lot.  Not that I'm done fighting with my hardware, and I'm not having panic attacks
and nightmares about the fuckin' bugs, I figured it was time to get down to
business...  Sorry it took me so long...

Ok, as for the equipment, none of that should be too much of a problem...  I
know goober always has a few heavy weapons floating around, and they may
just be necessary.  I'll talk to him shortly.

Stephanie...  the Mr. is not necessary.  Please, just call me Bull.  I'm
nothing special, really.

You shouldn't need to bring the machine gun into the meeting, but...  Kepp
it handy anyways.  With the way we're being tailed lately, I'd hate for
anyone to be caught unprepared.  I know I'll have the Panther handy...  <grin>

Ok folks, sounds good.  As soon as everyone arrives, we'll get this meeting
started.  See ya.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <02:35:20/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Goober
>>>>>[Heya pally, what's up?  I got the prelim order for ya.  Let me know
what ya can get for me, ok?

You know my standard gear.  Mini-grenades, Panther ammo, and Warhawk ammo,
as much as you can manage.  I had to leave most of my supply behind in teh
CZ for the conclave.  Not really a big deal, as I can always get more,
right?  Also, maybe pick up a couple extra Warhawk pistols.  Marie lost
hers, and I'd like to make sure she's armed.

Ok, I've got a group cooking, and we need to arm them.  I believe you talked
to Canis and Orion once already.  Here's a rundown on what we'll want.  This
could be a long trip, so we need to stock up.

Ok, for starters, let's get ahold of some tac headsets.  We'll need at least
20, preferably closer to 30.  As high a rating as possible, but at least a
six, please.

We'll need some guns.  Give me a standard mix of high powered heavy pistols,
plenty of ammo for each.  Also about a dozen SMG's, half smart, half
lasered.  Lots of ammo, once again.  And some Assault rifles, same deal.
About half and half for all the guns.

Better throw in some big firepower.  Give me a couple more panthers.  mine's
getting a bit worn, and they may come in handy later on.

We'll need some explosives, too.  give me 25 party packs, the ones with
everything from smoke to HE.  That'll give us a good start.

Oh, and we'll need some ammo for a Barret, you know, the DU kind?  One of
the guys is packing one of those mothers.

Aything else you think might come in handy too, pal.  Xuxa's got a few
"items" for ya as part of the payment, and I managed to get ahold of SAT,
and he hooked me up with some more of those Moxes you've been looking for.
Other than that, let me know what the balance is, and you'll get it.

Thanks friend.  I appreciate it.  And I know the drill.  I can have two out
of the three.  I'll take it Fast, and Good, and I know that means it won't
be Cheap, but our survival depends on these.

I'll see you later, and I owe ya one.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <02:50:48/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Bull
>>>>>[Hey there, ya dumb ork.  I'll have everything on your list for you
this weekend, and delivered to you by Sunday night, at the latest.  I'll
meet you in my old warehouse.  It's still abandoned, and I still have the
defense systems active to keep it that way.  Anything tries to mess with you
there, the sentry guns will make hash of it.  <evil grin>

The balance will be >>six figure amount<<.  That's quite a bit lower than it
should be, but a guy I know gave me a huge discount cause you ordered so
damn much.  Don't know what you're planning pal, but you're a hot commodty,
so it must be big.  Word on the street is that the UCAS military is offering
some huge reward for any info on you, something in the neighborhood of 20 grand.

Well, you know me, you're worth a hell of a lot more than that to me.  i'm
making twice that off this transaction, not counting the goodies you and
that talismonger are giving me.  Good luck Bull, i'll see you at teh
warehouse at >>encrypted<<.]<<<<<
	-- Goober <03:19:39/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Harkion
>>>>>[No probs.  As you know by now, Orion was planning to pick you up.
With my comp troubles, I delegated the whole mess to him.  Things were a bit
confused there, so sorry for any confusion on your part.  I look forward to
meeting you soon.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <03:02:28/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion_Force.1
+++++Add Alias:  IronMan  To:  Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[IronMan, we are in need of one last rigger.  I have done some checking
on you, and you seem clean.  Please meet at >>encrypted<< and we'll discuss
the job further.

Please reply to Invasion_Force.1 if you can make the meet.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <03:30:20/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion_Force.1: BULL
>>>>>[Bull..Will meet you at provided coordinates..Looking forward to meeting you..]<<<<<
	-- IronMan <03:42:20/11-01-57>

***** Private: Kor, Scourge, Black Knight
>>>>>[ This is going to be really interesting.  Ummm guys . . . we got a
small problem.  (or should I say "yet another complication")

We got two groups of mercenaries watching over the remaining two children.
No telling which way the sparks are going to fly or who is working for who.
These mercs are pretty good.  I almost got noticed doing the surveillance
of both houses.  I'll lay good money down that says it happens tonight.

Someone get a hold of Doomsday and find out how he wants to play this.
Either that, or one of you guys figure out what I should do ....

Trick or treat? ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <13:47:20/10-31-57>

***** Private: Kor, Scourge, Shadowfox
>>>>>[ I say trick.  We don't know who is on who's side.  Can't risk having
more hostages than we already have.  I can have a team arranged for you to
lead 'fox by sundown, it won't give you much prep, but at least it is
something.  What are your feelings on this? ]<<<<<
	--Black Knight <13:50:20/10-31-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion Force Internal Email
>>>>>[

+++++ Message-From: Canis
+++++   Message-To: Bubba
+++++      Subject: Meeting
+++++     Priority: Urgent

Bubba, you were contacted by _who_? What did she tell you, about herself and
about Bull? Do you have a recording of her, or at least a description? This
one is important. I pay for info...

+++++ Credit transfer: 800.10 Nuyen

Listen, where this comes from, other is waiting. It is extremly important we
meet, and i can't leave Chi-Town right now, so you must come here. I will pay
your time. You may want to use the railway, you'll find a ticket from your
place to Chicago Central Station will charge you 0.10 nuyen. Then follow these
instructions:

+++++ Download: Map.PICT
+++++ Download: Description.txt

You should be able to find the place easily. Please be there at >>encrypted<<.

Oh, one more thing. Analysis of your hometown indicates there is a 78.6%
chance you are a farmer or working for one. Do you have access to very strong
insecticide? And - a possibility to bring some with you? I do NOT mean the
stuff you can buy at the local Stuffer Shack, but _strong_ stuff. we'll pay
extra, of course.

Canis ]<<<<<
	-- IF Mailer Daemon <16:16:17/11-01-57>

***** PUBLIC: Newsnet Downlink
>>>>>[
AMTRAK DENIES RESPONSIBILITY

Amtrak states that the computer error that calculates different prices for
short- and long distance rail traffic is not orginated in their computer
system. According to C. Weisse, PR Spokeman for Amtrak, "an individual or
individuals unknown infiltrated in our computer system and inserted a virus
program in the price calculation routines.

"The security of the Amtrak trains was at no point of time endangered, our
expert systems are double secured by Fuchi Matrix Security systems."

Amtrak expects the virus to be wiped out next week. So, all you train-hoppers,
enjoy the prices. ]<<<<<
	--Newsnet <16:59:59/11-01-57>

>>>>>[ I don't know who did this, but many thanx to him! It's fun to cruise
through the area for less'en a buck! Yahooo! ]<<<<<
	--Anonymus <17:19:39/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE: Black Knight, Shadowfox
>>>>>[We are a little busy as I am sure you know.  Since there isnt a lot
that I can do around here other than having my ass chewed off left and right
by LSS and KE, I'd rather go back to the front lines.

Im available if you need me.

We are keeping press down as best we can on what happened last night.  We
are still assessing damages.  Yet another domicile goes down the tubes.  What
the frag is with people blowing up my house?  Its obvious that I am not home,
its also obvious that I rare actually spend time there.  What the hell?

Tell Nightmare, if you happen to see him, that I need to see him about re
decorating.  The insurance on the couple of pieces that I purchased from his
gallery (speaking of which...someone might want to warn him if he isnt already
on alert about the bombings) is going to give me full replacement value.

Yet another insurance company is going to double my rates and raise my
deductable.

Trick.  Trust no one.

Any spin on DragonEyes?]<<<<<
	-- Kor <16:57:11 / 11-01-57>

***** Private: Shields, Scourge
>>>>>[ I am including Scourge in this because he needs to know about
Shadowfox.  He's still missing.  We think he is alive, or either extremely
prepared because someone was in his place who knew exactly what to do.
Down to the signals for pointing out that someone was observing too
closely.

The run, umm, went about as expected.  The unknown substitute for Shadowfox
played her role to the hilt.  Chased the poor kid screaming out, "Someone
stop that kid, he stole my purse!"  It was beautiful.  The kid bolted into
the preplanned alley due to the way we bribed people to be in the way.  He
got tripped up by our favorite beggar, Blitzkrieg, and then when Blitzkrieg
was about to pounce on him... they fried his brain.  The backup kid
realizing he was in trouble, never saw me and I smashed him with a stun
baton.  They must be monitoring the vital signs.  They fried that kid too.
What a waste of life.  The rather, large woman and Blitzkrieg get into an
arguing dispute over the kid  (Blitzkrieg screaming "You killed my chum!").
She snatches the purse that Blitzkrieg was holding the whole time and
starts running.

I didn't see it, but Doomsday did.  She gave the signal that we were being
watched.  Doomsday and I hopped into the van, after removing the bodies,
and drove to the prearranged spot.

Shadowfox planned it perfectly.  Blitzkrieg nailed the observer in the
alley.  The woman, seeing that the beggar was distracted by a persistent
guy in the alleyway fled.  Doomsday hopped out of the van, and they forced
the guy into the van.  We then realized what he had on our hands.  A ghoul.
Probably shouldn't be confused with the skank who posts under the handle
"Ghoul."  We interrogated this skank, and then let him go.  He'll wake up
in some alleyway with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, a little bit of
money, and one wicked headache from where we knocked him out.  It is
extremely unlikely he will remember much of anything.

Sprinkler got all the data.  He and Puppet managed to clean up the gear and
get it out of there just before the cops got there.  Sprinkler said that
after he goes back to Denver he will analyze the data on a mainframe
through some "borrowed time".  He left me with a backup of the data in case
something should go wrong with him.  I will pass it along to you [Shields],
so you can do some analysis as well, but be warned, the data has been
cleaned at all.  With a mainframe, Sprinkler thinks he can have the full
analysis done by sometime late next week.  If you could reimburse his
expenses he would be appreciative.

Blitzkrieg is doing a full-length interview about music in the lights and
shadows for the pirate trid that let us borrow the equipment.  I'm sure he
will in a thrilled mood after the interview.  But I guess that is neither
here nor there.

All in all, it was about 6-7 hours of prep for one minute of fame.  With a
very quick clean up afterwards.  As Blitzkrieg would say, "Got to love
doing shows." ]<<<<<
	--Midnight <10:01:45/11-1-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity
>>>>>[Good job everyone.  Everything was executed perfectly last night.
If reporters get in your face, ignore them and walk away.  We have not yet
issued a press release on the happenings of last night.

If pressed, tell them we are still assessing the damages and that our
official party line is that we would really hate to have to suspect another
law enforcement agency of using such tactics to run us out of town.

In other news, Ares has frozen our accounts and "lost" most of the shipments
of arms and armor for the new officers due out of training in a couple of
months.

Someone, or a group of someone's, have definitely pressed us up against a
wall on this one.  Will we stop?   No, we wont.  The FRT will come into
being, we have every right to be allowed to complete in this new arena.

If it comes down to it, we will have satisfaction for this last attack.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <17:22:32 / 11-01-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[Sor sorry.  I'm goint ot bed now.  I draknek a litlle too mcuh last
nibht and I can beryly type on this fucking turngls.

No majroy problems to repotd, thank goodness.  I'll get the actual fotohate
up[plaed.....upploadked when I qweke up .]<<<<<
	-- VAlentine <Hic:Hic:Hic/Up-Up-Up>

>>>>>[(snicker)]<<<<<
	-- Mercury <10:39:41/11-01-57>

++++Add Alias: Wells, Scorpius, Loch: Invasion_Force.1
*****Private Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Alright people we seem to be in the clear for the moment.  You
guys *really* worry me. For three days there's nothing.. ziltch.. Utter
Silence... Then I ask a simple question of a buddy, someone hacks Gates'
encryption, and you're all screamin' at me.  Well I guess at least now I
know you're all OK.

Bull, we are going to have to have a long talk when I come in.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <14:37:10/01:11:57>

*****Private: Canis, Orion
Where are you dude... I have a gift for you.. 1998 Glenfiddich, from my
personal collection, the *real* stuff, just don't drink it too quickly,
it has aged well. But... delivery of the item is dependant on one thing.
We need collection.  Shado trashed the car.  We are at >>place<< and
will wait here for your arrival. But give me at least 6 hours, I'm going
to try something. And I've got that pack I owe you, some decent British
cigarettes, not that UCAS tripe you asked for. <grin>

If you're out and about watch your back man, something stinks around
here. Vorsicht mein freund. Vielen dank fur alles]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <14:39:12/01:11:57>

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>[I *need* cover, you wouldn't happen to have a couple those foot
warmers of yours floating around would ya. I also need to talk to you
about these damn bugs.  We had some real trouble last night.  A couple
got into the compound, Shado got em with her blade.. My trusty didn't
hurt em much.. Worrying... I *need* to talk to you about these things.

And what in the name of Moses are they doing out of the CZ??

I could do with some extra people.. especially a Mage. Any ideas??  I'll
accept your judgement on this, you know my opinions of Mages.  But be
carefull, the Core is compromised.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <14:40:17/01:11:57>

*****Private Wells
>>>>>[Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I've been kinda busy.
I'm glad Scorpius was able to settle your internal affairs. Always could
rely on him to be... efficient. I will be happy to meet with Trinity at
>>place<< I will await your arrival.

I have verified the identity of the prime movers in IF-1 they are
secure. However. I have been hit twice now after passing across
information as to my location. Someone in Zeus is transmitting the
location of external assets.  I would suggest here that this person is
or has also transmitted the location of the core team. As per my
previous orders... though wether these cowboys are following them is
another matter.. Canis/Orion, Inferno can be trusted implicitly. You may
recognise Inferno from that job in Colombia, but then again you may not.
I can't remember if you met him or not in all that confusion.

Bull seems to be pretty solid, but I'm beginning to have doubts, he's
been away from the scene for a while, and is taking huge risks. It may
be a good idea to keep an eye on him.  He's not quite up to speed on
present conditions outside the CZ yet.

I'll talk more when we meet later.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <14:44:25/01:11:57>

***** Private: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[ The ice upgrade happened a couple hours later than expected due to
unforeseen complications.  It has been fully installed.  I just finished
running the last of the regression tests against it and swapped out the old
ice.  Sorry about the delay. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <10:46:14/11-1-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[A couple of questions, Scourge:

First off, are you ok, and would you like for us to put people in your
place of business?  And dont be thinkin' this is alturistic, cause it
aint.  If you fall over and sink into the swamp, the Jason's cash goes
with you and, well, he took away from us to give to you.  And secondly,
we'd never melt our way out from under this without help.

Is Shadowfox ok?]<<<<<
	-- Skuff <17:58:07 / 11-01-57>

***** INTERNAL: Skuff
>>>>>[I dont think you should get too deeply into Jason's business.]<<<<<
	-- Merrox <17:58:07 / 11-01-57>

***** INTERNAL: Merrox
>>>>>[Frag off, nut case.  I can get in his business if I want to!  I've known
him for years.  Ran with him back when he was fresh off the boat.  I think
I know where I can and cannot tread.  Back off man]<<<<<
	-- Skuff <17:58:07 / 11-01-57>

***** INTERNAL: Skuff
>>>>>[What the hell is your problem, old man?  Last night shake you up a little
more than you are letting on or what?]<<<<<
	-- Merrox <17:58:07 / 11-01-57>

***** INTERNAL: Merrox
>>>>>[+++++ Initiate trace
+++++ Initiate Seek and Destroy

I dont know what you mean.

+++++ Trace results:  Serenity Head Quarters

You're in your office?  What the fuck?]<<<<<
	-- Skuff <17:58:17 / 11-01-57>

***** INTERNAL: Skuff
>>>>>[If you arent going to play nice, you arent going to keep your connection
to the Serenity Hub.  Why dont you just admit that you havent been that close
to live ammo in a long time.  The prospect of not having jacked out in time
last night got to me too.  It not a big deal.

Listen, man, if you need someone to talk to, im here.  We are all here.]<<<<<
	-- Merrox <17:58:27 / 11-01-57>

***** INTERNAL:  Skuff
>>>>>[This is the last mail message you will recieve  --  if you want your
connection back, come and see me.  You know where I am, and yes, my deck
is still operational, no thanks to you.]<<<<<
	-- Merrox <17:58:27 / 11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE: Tangent
>>>>>[ Hey old buddy, do you have a squad in the Sea-Tac area that's not
doing anything at the moment?  I may need some 'deniable assets' to do
some work that can't be traced back to me.  You available? ]<<<<<
	--Griffyn <13:22:06/11-1-57>

***** PRIVATE: Griffyn
>>>>>[ As a matter of fact I do .. I have a squad that's just getting off
of R&R after some work in SE Asia.  I'll put them on active standby and
await mission details.

+++++ include file: squad-a3.dossier

The fee for being on standby will be >>encrypted<< per day, but they'll
be available at a moment's notice.  We'll discuss further compensation
after I get mission details. ]<<<<<
	--Tangent <13:30:34/11-1-57>

***** PRIVATE: Tangent
>>>>>[ Thanks, old friend.  I appreciate it.  Here's a retainer for a
few days to get us started.

+++++ transfer funds: amount=>>encrypted<< / dest=>>encrypted<< ]<<<<<
	-- Griffyn <13:35:23/11-1-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor, Neuron Basher, Akira, GoD
>>>>>[ I have a team of Tangent's mercenaries on 24hr standby, with the
next 72hrs paid in advance.  Here's a description of the unit .. they'll
be good if we need to break some things and not have it traceable.

+++++ include file: squad-a3.dossier ]<<<<<
	-- Griffyn <13:42:12/11-1-57>

***** PRIVATE: Griffyn
>>>>>[Fine with me.  Im inbetween meetings.  Im scheduled to have a
talk with LSS again about the evidence that we uncovered that says they
were the people responsible for the run against us.

We've become hot property again.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <18:45:46 / 11-01-57>

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Allright, are you ready for this?

Here goes:

Daniel Laughing-Mountain (aka Poppa Chubby) is not in fact a
runner, but rather a senior at Willamette University, majoring in
Matrix Science.  He's been accepted into the University's Matrix
Architecture masters program (that means this guy is _the_ enemy of
deckers everywhere, I say we whack 'im).  I read some of his work -
decent, no great breakthrough, though.

Regected by half of the frats on campus (problably didn't even try
with the other half), no girlfriend, no activities -- geek.

Oh, yeah, he's an elf (if ya haven't figured that out).

I've got his GPA, his transcript, his schedule, his home address, LTG
number all that nitnoy stuff.

Well, here:

+++++ transfer: chubby.txt

The good stuff is in his family tree.

Amerind elves on both sides.  Mother's parents interred at Mojave
Reducation Camp in 2011, mother born in early 2012, right before the
camp was liberated.  Her father was listed on one of the PCC lists of
dead Ghost Dancers.  Mom and the daughter lived in Sioux sector of
Denver until 2029, when she followed Bright-Water to Portland with
her elven daugher.  Chubby's mother was quickly recognized as a mage
and enlisted (well, shanghaied) into the Tir Peace Force.

Father's parents were Salish tribesmen and slipped the net, so they
were in Oregon when the Tir was formed.  Father was an officer in the
3 / 1 Armored Cav.  He was killed during the California War by the
CNG's only supersmart tank killing artillery battery.

Apparently, he left a bun in the oven back home because December 4,
2036, Daniel came along.

Mother never remarried, she's still with the Peace Force, with a
decent rank, I might add.

Anything else?

If there isn't, I'll return the 743.76 =Y= left after time, long
distance charges, a case of Fiz and a box of Stuffers.

+++++ funds transfer

Thanks for the business.]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

***** PRIVATE : Dark Avenger
>>>>>[In route now.

How could one forget Inferno in Colombia? To think...people attribute
the burning of the rain forests to the corps; they haven't met
Inferno. I do remember.]<<<<<
	-- Wells  < 14:57:09 / 11-01-57 >

***** PRIVATE: Rumormonger
>>>>>[ Good work.  One more for you, but this one is a little more difficult.
I want everything you can get about Freddy Frypp .. I know it's kind of a weird
request, but humor me. ]<<<<<
	--Neuron Basher <14:30:09/11-1-57>

>>>>>[ Poor Poppa Chubby .. only got a B on that last Matrix Architecture
course.  What a shame. ]<<<<<
	--Neuron Basher <14:30:51/11-1-57>

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Hey, now, I already refunded part of the money.... ah, whatever.

What's with the Fred-ster?  He's dead an' gone.  Japs whacked 'im
remember?  Close to a year now....

Long as it pays.  You know my rates.]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Wait a sec, you aren't thinking... nah....]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

>>>>>[WHAT?!!! HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THAT?!!!!

I mean - course?  What course?  Oh, you mean that stuff I hacked into
the U's system.  Yeah, tryin' to put together a legit ident.  Gotta
make it look real ya know <wink, wink, nudge, nudge>.

Hangin' around with those types, talkin' to profs.  Maybe
they'll remember something about me when it matters.  The way I've
been diddling their records it won't matter that they don't remember
me ever being in class.  <heh>.]<<<<<
	-- Poppa Chubby (13:45:23 / 11- 01- 57)

***** PRIVATE: Rumormonger
>>>>>[  Yes, I know he's dead.  I want to know about the events preceding that,
obviously.  I'll authorize up to 5 days of work on it right now.  Let me know
what you have at the end of that period, or as soon as you are done.

+++++ shadow transfer = amount: 5,000 =Y= / dest: rm.acct.01

Oh, and as a gesture of goodwill, I throw in some of the blackmail material
that I had on you from a while back. Heh Heh.

+++++ include file: rm_data_01.vid ]<<<<<
	-- Neuron Basher <14:58:35/11-1-57>

>>>>>[ Yeah, whatever Poppa.  So when do you start on that Masters, anyhow?
 You must be excited to get into the program, huh? <chuckle> ]<<<<<
	-- Neuron Basher <14:59:34/11-1-57>

>>>>>[I don't know which is worse, school boy here or Jen & Gabe.  Geesh, go
home!]<<<<<
	-- Phobos <15:35:12/11-1-57>

*****PRIVATE:  InfoScholar
>>>>>[While my comment was not meant to constitute a threat to your
person, I was merely alluding to the fact that it is of monetary value to
me that those I seek information on do not learn of my query, and it is
likely of security value to you as well.

To the contrary, the earlier information has been quite useful in
assessing the threat that these persons may pose.  What information you
gather from now on will be of use if they ever do become a threat.
Consider it also as an evaluation of your abilities if I need to make use
of your services in the future.

In regards to the "armor" and "sword," you surmise correctly that they are
not for sale, but perhaps to the right people and for the right price,
they may be available for rent.  Data, on the other hand is easier to
replicate.  You could say I am in a position to know many things or be
able to research them easily if they happen to pertain to things
technological.  I can acquire information on such diverse topics as
cybertech, computers, vehicles, and weapons-systems; however biotech, I
will let you know now is not one of my forte.  Ask and I will answer, for
the right price.

For example, I could tell you much about this, but I believe the price is
most likely out of your range:

+++++include fighter.trid
It is a trid image still head-on of what appears to be an aerofighter in a
hanger. However, its configuration is unlike any yet publicized.
+++++end include

Here's to your All Hallow's Eve having been profitable.]<<<<<
	-- Hephaestus  <13:35:49/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE: Sprinkler, Neuron Basher, Trixie, Griffyn
>>>>>[Here is the preliminary plans for tonight's activities.

+++++ Include: initial.pln

If any of that falls through, we fall back to the following backups

+++++ Include: backup.plns

Sprinkler, are you still free or have you been sucked up into something
else?  I have alternatives if you arent available.  I wont work with anyone
other than you so dont bother sending me a substitute.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <21:40:14 / 11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Ivasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Ok, We've got both Bubba and IronMan coming en route.  Good, other
than these last few, I believe we'll have everyone.  I've got an ace in teh
hole as well, that has been stored away until the final meet.  He's been
helping as an astral lookout thus far, and I want to make sure the team
leaders all know about him now.

His name's Caric, and he's a dog shaman.  I've done some background checks
on him, and he's clean, and Johnny confirms that he's following dog.  I'll
add him to the alias list momentarily.  Sorry I didn't let everyone know
sooner, but with the comm probs we've been having, and DA disappearing like
that, I wanted some backup, just in case.

+++++Add Alias:  Caric  To:  Invasion_Force.1

Ok folks, let's rock and roll.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <16:24:02/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[Orion has already picked me up, and we are now on our way to meeting
some Bubba fellow.  >>Time<< should do fine for our meet.  I will have some
friends to introduce then.]<<<<<
	-- Harkion <16:33:45/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE: Harkion
>>>>>[John, what have you gotten yourself, and me for that matter, into?
Me, I can handle this sort of life, but you are kind of old for it, you
know.]<<<<<
	-- Nodoze <17:42:14/11-01-57>

***** Private: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[ I'm alive, therefore, I guess I'm okay.  Thank you for the offer of
more people, but it looks like you have enough going on.  My security is
still up to the task.  Looks like my insurance is going to get a good work
out, but other than that, I expect that under a month, we will be back in
business.

Shadowfox is missing.  Therefore, it is hard to assess how he is doing.  I
will offer no speculation on his current status based on the information I
have at hand. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <12:06:35/11-1-57>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ I was brought to Seattle to do this job, so of course, I'm still
available.  You know Kor ... ahhh nevermind.

To reiterate, yes, I'm still available, if you want me for the job.  If you
don't let me know and I'll get out of town now. ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <21:41:03/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Bull
[Bull...In the route you gave me, you designated a pickup..Are there any *classified* routines I need to know for ID purposes??

FYI..This travel route doubles my trip time as well as fuel expenditures
before final destination is reached..I hope the job is worth this
trip..

Have been enroute since shortly after receipt of invitation
message..Should be nearing pickup soon..Reply Soonest..]<<<<<
	-- IronMan <16:22:02/11-01-57>

*****PRIVATE: Forte, Matrix Jockey
>>>>>[I am disappointed by your failure, but gratified by your honesty.
Thank you for making the attempt.]<<<<<
	-- Jarman <21:20:16/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE: Sprinkler
>>>>>[We are doing final briefings.  Get your ass to the warehouse, now.

>>Encrypted<<

I wouldnt ignore the punks on skates, they pack smg's and they are all pretty
good shots.  I've left word with them that I am expecting you.  They will
pat you down just for show.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <23:23:17 / 11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  IronMan
>>>>>[Ummm, classified routines?  Well, use the code phrase >>encrypted<<,
and that will identify you.  Canis and Orion will be meeting you, so look for:

+++++Include Canis.Pic
+++++Include Orion.Pic

As for money, don't worry.  We'll have everything taken care of.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <18:57:10/11-01-57>

*****PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[That Tank person who was coming with me turned out to be a bad
guy, I think. I would have asked him but I sort of killed him a little.
He _was_ trying to kill me, though.

+++++begin video
The shot seems to be from a POV about four feet off the ground and
bouncing around as the owner (wearer?) fidgets. An arm comes into view,
looking at a watch, and you figure from the angles that the camera must
be worn about chest height.

"Come on, Tank, this is _boring_." mutters a female voice. Stephanie
appears to be waiting in the empty lobby of a middle-budget hotel.

A voice behind her says "Steffie?" and she turns, revealing a tallish
human with short-cropped hair wearing a very new-looking synthleather
jacket.

"You took your bloody time!" she says tartly.
"Sorry." He doesn't look apologetic. "Can you remember where we're
going?"
"Of course I can. Why?"
"And was there a password?" His eyes are a little too intent for
comfort.

"Why are you so curious, Mr I-Came-From-Nowhere-Really-Wanting-To-Go-
Into-Chicago-And-Kill-Bugs?" Stephanie glares at "Tank".

He looks distant and thoughtful for several minutes, then says "Roger
that." to nobody in particular, and his hand lashes out at Stephanie.

She ducks under it and backpedals rapidly, and as "Tank" reaches into
his jacket you see her hand come up holding a large, scoped pistol: The
man's face has time to register surprise before most of it is blown off.
Fortunately, perhaps, the gigantic muzzleflashes of the pistol hides the
carnage being wrought on his body until Stephanie ceases fire, the audio
track picking up the jingle of empty cases rolling on the floor.

"So THERE!" she says disdainfully, and you see her changing the magazine
in the pistol - a heavily customised Matchmaster .45 - before she leans
over to look at the dead man, who has four thumb-size holes grouped
tightly over his heart, a fifth in his forehead and a sixth in the edge
of his left eye.

She holsters the Matchmaster and quickly rummages the body, extracting
the Guardian machine pistol he'd been halfway through drawing, then
adding the two spare magazines - black-tipped APDS ammo, you notice -
his credstick and a few other items.

After that, she takes a plastic bag out of one pocket, and draws a
murderously efficient-looking combat knife, and neatly chops off the
dead man's right index finger. You notice it's white with frost when she
drops it into the bag and puts it back in her pocket, before she picks
up an ominously large and heavy holdall and leaves.

As she goes out of the front door, she passes two police officers
entering at a run. They ignore her completely, even though one had to
step aside to let her pass.
++++end trideo

He had lots of cyberware and maybe a headware radio and his ID was all
really boring. It didn't say "Aztlan Death Squad" or "Insect Commando
Trooper" or anything. So I kept it in case anyone knows how to do things
like find out who he really was. And I took the finger so you can do DNA
fingerprinting, because don't you need a whole finger for that? Is one
finger enough? And the cops didn't see me, and the camera in the lobby
was broken already, so I think I got away with it.

But he wasn't very nice and he was always asking questions about all of
you and I never knew the answers to any of them except when we were
going to meet up. And because he was being nosy I didn't tell him when
and where because I wanted him to ask nicely, which he _never_ did. And
I didn't like him very much and he smelled, anyway, so I'm not even a
little bit sorry I shot him. Except if I'd had more time we could have
asked him lots of questions and cut bits off him every time he told
fibs. So I am sort of sorry I shot him if you look at it like that.

Anyway nobody's following me and the police haven't mentioned it and
it's not in the news or anything. Which is probably a Really Bad Thing,
actually.]<<<<<
	-- Stephanie <23:14:32/11-01-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Ummm, Steph, remind me not to get on your bad side...

It's ok that you had to shoot the guy.  He needed to be killed.  But can you
remember if there was anyone else with this Tank guy that might have been
working with him?  Or if maybe you told him anything that might tell him
where we are?  This is important.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <04:01:26/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[ Needed to be killed! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death.
And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too
eager to deal out death in judgement.

Although this is a statement not from me, but from an author of the beginning
of the last century you as Ork should know, it think it fits.

Yeah, Steph, deadly violence might have been neccessary, but don't cheer too
loud. Take a second to remember even this infiltrator was a mother's son.
]<<<<<
	--Canis <13:45:00/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[  DA? What about the first glass? ]<<<<<
	--Canis <14:55:03/11-02-57>

***** INTERNAL: Orion's Cyberdeck
>>>>>[
+++++ Initiated: Telescope Tracer Program...
+++++ Telescope: Insert ID/Call/Persona:
> Dark Avaenger
+++++ Telescope: Routing...  02 %
+++++ Telescope: Routing...  58 %
+++++ Telescope: Routing...  98 %
+++++ Telescope: Routing... 121 %
+++++ Telescope dumped.
+++++ Trace not successful.

Drek! ]<<<<<
	--Orion <14.55:03/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
*****  NOT TO: Wells, Dark Avenger
>>>>>[ A word of warning: DA might be captured or been replaced with an
imposter. I still wait for confirmation, but handle him with care for now.
Will keep you updated. I hope nothing happened to him... ]<<<<<
	--Canis <15:03:04/11-02-57>

*****Private: Canis
>>>>>[First glass????  Damn cheek, you know that's just a vicious
rumour.  Anyway, one has to check these things when giving drinks to a
fusspot like you, you'll only whine if you get something that doesn't
match that finicky german palate of yours, and they're only ever small
glasses anyway.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <15:32:17/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
*****  NOT TO: Wells, Dark Avenger
>>>>>[ *PHEW* It's ok, it is really DA out there, and he's not switched sides.
Sorry if I confused you, but for a moment I really thought... ]<<<<<
	--Canis <18:45:05/11-02-57>

>>>>>[The possibile ramifications of what could happen to that snake shaman
after breaking his oath are all very severe, I'm afraid.  Breaking such an
oath is a major step, one which almost always has dire consequences for the
breaker.

You see, it is possible to rationalize the breaking of an oath.  This can
indicate that the person has decided, quite logically in some cases, that
the greater good can be achieved by breaking the oath.  Please excuse the
archaic reference, but such actions as in the excellent flat-screen movie
"The Wrath of Kahn" can, and in many cases are, justified and considered
righteous.

The problem with rationalization is that anything whatsoever can be
rationalized.  This path often leads the person down a road to behavior
which can only be characterized as amoral.  This has the potential too
drive the person insane.  For a shaman, this could cause him or her to
become toxic as well, although I have known some magicians whose Totems
just refused to speak to them any more, and thus the magician became a
"burnout" of sorts.

However, it is quite possible that the rationalization will be a one-time
thing as well, which means that the shaman could suffer no real long-term
effects.

The second possibility, however, depends on how the oath was performed.
Some oaths are sworn in the presence of the Totem, or sworn using the blood
of the shaman speaking it.  These oaths almost always turn the shaman toxic
or mundane if broken.  Some Totems are more forgiving than others in this,
and I'm afraid that I don't know Snake well enough to know his or her
opinion on this.

I'm sorry if this is woefully inadequate as an answer.  But I can sum it up
into four possibilities:  The shaman will be fine, the shaman will be fine
but with tremendous feelings of guilt for having broken the oath even once,
the shaman will lose his or her connection to the Totem, or the shaman will
become toxic.

And if the strength of the oath has been lifelong, I'd suspect option 3 or
4.  For everyone's sake, I hope for 2, or even 3, but I don't really know
for sure.]<<<<<
	-- Valentine <12:33:54/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Bull
[Please pass the enclosed pic of my vehicle to Canis and Orion if possible this close to my arrival..My ETA is approx 30 minutes..:

+++++Include vehicle.Pic

As for money, I'm glad you said, "Don't worry." That will make everything
flow a lot smoother...]<<<<<
	-- IronMan <15:57:10/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE:  IronMan
>>>>>[No probs, IM...  I'l give them the pic, and they'll see you in about
10 minutes...

As for money, well, you'll get all the details soon, but I have a family to
protect here, and that's worth quite a bit to me.

See ya soon.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <16:15:41/11-02-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Canis, Orion
>>>>>[Hey there guys...  IronMan's on his way.  He asked me to give you a
pick of his vehicle, so that you know what to look for.  See ya soon.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <16:17:21/11-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Canis..... Don't be too hard on Steph. I agree with her on this 100%,
and I see nothing wrong with enjoying your work.]<<<<<
	-- Inferno <13:01:33 GMT/03.NOV.57>

***** PRIVATE:  canis, Orion
>>>>>[

+++++Include IronMan's_vehicle.pic

Here's ya go...  hit the send button a little too early tehre a few minutes
ago.  That's the pic that should have been included.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <16:18:51/11-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[I hear Ronin's gone to Calfree to look for Ev, I'm going after him
to offer some magical support. Maybe I can track her down for him. Have to
find him first though. Anyway, see you all later.]<<<<<
	-- Ice <15:31:42/11-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Turbo
>>>>>[ Hey there, man. Sorry it's been a while since I contacted you;
some problems cropped up but I'm sure they're solved now. Anyway, I
talked to some of the guys who hired me and Hamish, and they agreed
you'll be helpful. I think the next meet's at >>encrypted<<. Say around
>>encrypted<< - do you think you can be there then? You may or may not be
on our team - we'll put in a good word to get you, obviously, but I don't
know if all the other groups have a rigger yet.

Oh yeah, and I found some more of those elf jokes, too!

+++++ Include file: Pester.txt

Enjoy, buddy! ]<<<<<
	--Minx <22:45:18 GMT/11-04-57>

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[What the #@!$@!#%*!% $#@J TGAFS*G Ware yoyhu sending me
after?@@#@!  It was liek s[ agwav my face into a hornet's hsaf o[hga!

this hg wa i ssounstable, IU dohng fw I can keep it together.

I fonnd a cipod of Fred's dossier from th wafh Marines and then
adsjl; broke loose.

gt0hjt3n5pg qn5l    5r r42

DAMN! that hurt!

I'l;l ree to stanbpot a ndf getg bak.]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <always / 17:42:22>

***** PRIVATE: Minx
>>>>>[ Problems here too... Our old friends Humanis tried hassling me and
a few friends from the Tir.  They should get out of hospital sometime
next week.

Hmmm... I'll see what I can do, but I see no problems being there.  Be
glad to meet up with ya again!  Hamish still packing all of his stuff, or
did someone attack him with his own set of armor again? *grin*

No riggers for the OTHER teams?  You mean there's more'n one?  Sounds
like you got yourself a nice big job!  Glad I'm in on it.  If the other
teams really need a rigger, I guess I'll go, but I'd prefer to run with
my old friends for a while.

Hmph.  Elf jokes my butt.  Show them to Hamish, will ya, or do you want
to keep all your organs in one place?  Nah, he'll probably laugh at 'em
too.  To quote my southern brothers, "He's a traitor to the cause".  At
least, that's what the daisy-eaters were saying when I left... and if you
tell 'em I said that, I'll roast you alive... :)

See you then...]<<<<<
	-- Turbo <00:45:38 GMT/11-04-57>

>>>>>[ This goes out to everyone whose listening and those who arn't.  If
by some merical of creation ANYONE noticed I've been missing for awhile
thank you for caring, if not; that's life.  When I got back from a
business trip, I came home to find my fiance had vanished, taking with her
some very important files and items.  Whether or not she left on her own
free will I'll never know.  As I searched the streets of this and many
more towns, I bounced from one clue to the next; sending me straight back
here to the slums of Barren.  I found her lying in a gutter, her blood
pouring from her body and her life slipping away.  I held her as she died,
telling her how much I loved her, how much she meant to me, letting her
know that I was her's for all time.  She died there in my arms, her last
words being " I love you too ".  I sat there holding her in my arms
crying, knowing that forever am I alone.  As I got up to leave a group of
cars surronded me and opened fire.  For my life I thank my friend
Blackhawk, who pulled me out after they left.   All of you open your ears
to this, the items and files missing MUST be found.  They tell how my
brother Muffin Man was created and who I and many of my friends really are
and what we do.  If you know who has these items please come forward, if
you know who killed my fiance please come forward.  I am asking all of you
for help, I need to find out who killed her and if I have to tear this
town apart I will.  If the ones who did this are listening, I will find
you, I will kill you, revenge will be mine.  I won't sleep, eat, or give
up until your souls are locked forever in the internal damnation of Hell
like mine is. Money is no object to me, revenge will be mine, this I
swear.  To all those who will help me I thank you, contact me with any
info you find.  No longer am I Donavin Blackthorne,like the Phinox reborn
in fire, on this day I am reborn Crow. ]<<<<<
	--Crow <11-4-57/19:56:43>

***** Private: Quickstep
>>>>>[Sorry i couldnt make the meeting ive got heat on me. Suggest another
Location.Also request you make contact with Chi teams and arrange extra
security. we may have a leak.]<<<<<
	-- Smudge <01:53:12/11-03-57>

*****PRIVATE: NEMESIS
>>>>>[Life has got a tad sticky, I know you're operating nearby, check
in 24 hours, and lock onto my beacon. If I survive the incomming I will
need immediate extraction. Trinity and three.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <02:26:54/11-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Amanda Taylor.
>>>>>[I must apologise to you for my failure. Although I have managed to
remove some occupants from the CZ, I will be unable to deliver them to
you.  It appears that my charge has attracted considerably more
attention than previously suspected. I made an error in judgement and
compromised our position in Chicago.

I can only tender my deepest apologies and return the money paid in
advance >>7 figure Nuyen<< and ask that you stay clear of Chicago for a
while.  I am about to pay the price for my failure. I hope that you will
be able to find someone more skilled and better judged than I, for any
future operations.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <02:31:37/11-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Trinity
>>>>>[Caution Trinity, someone has hacked my encryption routines, and
launched a trace at us. Gates was unable to identify the trace, I
believe we have been compromised.  Recommend extreme caution when
approaching meet.  If you are not greeted by Shado within the perimeter
and greeted in the manner we used in Santiago expect the worst, I would
suggest Extreme Prejudice!!]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <01:41:17/11-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion Force Internal Email
>>>>>[

+++++ Message-From: Dark Avenger
+++++ Message-To: Bull, Canis, Inferno
+++++ Subject: Suspicions
+++++ Priority: Urgent

Gates has finally got the Bull box built, and I'm using this for what
may well be my last message to you.  Two days ago someone launched a
Matrix trace at my team, someone also hacked my encryption routines and
posted what can only be considered a diversionary message questioning my
integrity.  Somehow Thor has been severely compromised. A request for
assistance from Inferno has not been answered, I can only assume Inferno
is in trouble of his own... Things are not good...  Recommend immediate
evacuation of Safehouse and establishment of Asgard security. I have
received no response to request for assistance, so I must assume that
you are harder pressed than I believed.

Be careful moving around in Chicago, I think they may know what we are
doing.

Canis... Your payment awaits you in >>location<<, thank you, I have had
a glass, in lieu of drinking it with you... Think of us when you drink
the Malt. Aufwiedersehen

Bull... Good luck getting your family out, I'm sorry I'm unlikely to see
the day you get them to safety.

Inferno... If you can hear this, good luck old friend, I think you are
going to need all that power you are so proud of, and then some.

I am proud to have served with you. I ... I hope I can hold them off
your backs for a while. Goodbye.

Il vaut mieux mourir debout que de vivre a genoux!

...Dark Avenger ]<<<<<
	-- IF Mailer Daemon <01:46:38/11-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Well excuse me Mr Canis! He _was_ pulling a gun on me and trying
to kill me, so I killed him first, and I'm really rather happy that he's
dead and I'm not.

And so what if he is some mother's son? His Mommy should have taught him
to be careful who he tries to shoot. I'm somebody's daughter and it
didn't stop him, did it?

Mr Bull, he kept asking questions about what the job was and where he
wanted to go. He'd heard it was Chicago but wouldn't say where, said it
was "professional courtesy" not to "reveal his sources". He got ever so
grumpy when I told him it was "professional courtesy" not to tell him
about all of you until he was properly hired.

I hardly saw him except maybe twice a day when he'd ask if there was any
news, so he could have been talking to lots of other people really
easily. But I never saw him with anyone else and he never introduced
anyone to me. Maybe he was doing it all over his headware radio?

Anyway I changed hotels and used a different ID and nobody's followed me
that I can see so I think I still got away with it.]<<<<<
	-- Stephanie <16:04:52/11-03-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[DA!!!!! What the FRAG are you talking about? ANSWER ME!!!!!

What do you mean you "ASKED FOR MY HELP" and didn't get any reply?

Who has traced you and what do you mean by "GOODBYE"?

I am NOT in any serious difficulties at this time, and I DID answer you the
last time you asked about me....

DA???? Answer me goddammit!!!

Don't do anything stupid! We NEED YOU!!!!!

FRAG!!!!!!]<<<<<
	-- Inferno <12:26:32 GMT/04.NOV.57>

***** PRIVATE: Smudge
>>>>>[No Sweat. As I didn't get a relpy from you I didn't expect you to
show up anyway. Please forward all information you have concerning a
possible breach of security.

I would suggest that we start to converse via private email in order to
narrow down the range of recipients of our messages. I will start to
establish channels of private communication with the other members of
team Heimdall. By the way, do you have contact to any of them? I am not
sure who is on this team.]<<<<<
	-- QuickStep <07:54:12/11-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[To all members of team Heimdall: Please contact me ASAP via
private email so that we can establish save communications and arrange
for a meeting.]<<<<<
	-- QuickStep <07:57:46/11-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Bull, Orion
>>>>>[Bull, Orion, I am not sure who interviewes and hired the other
 guys in Seattle. Anyway, I have no clue how I can identify any of them.

Therefore, please forward a list of all members of IF who are currently
in Seattle. Please include snapshots and if possible a transcript of the
interviews. Some catchy phrases will do, anything I could ask them to
proof their ID.]<<<<<
	-- QuickStep <07:59:17/11-04-57>

>>>>>[ Thank you, Valentine, for your answers.  While they are hardly
comforting, they reinforce what I was suspecting.  From what I know of
DragonEyes, he was already going through severe guilt from being thrown out of
his tribe.  (He is/was Zuni.  He was thrown out when violence followed him down
right before the disappearance (and death) of Crashkit.)  I suspect it was only
a matter of time before things worsened.

In hindsight, I'm probably the last person he should have been hanging around
with. ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <08:34:05/11-4-57>

>>>>>[ I'm not sure I follow this all, but I'll say, "Uh-oh."

I'm back.  I owe a very big thanks to Valentine and an associate of his.  Its
been a surprising weekend.  I've been traveling a lot. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <08:35:32/11-4-57>

>>>>>[ Out of all the people I have had the chance to work against, you,
Shadowfox, are truly the most amazing.  My compliments for getting yourself and
two out of three hostages out of a sticky situation without use of your
cyberware. ]<<<<<
	--Whirlwind <08:37:33/11-4-57>

***** Private: Nightmare
>>>>>[ Ugh.  Been a hellish week.  We REALLY need to talk.  I think Scourge
should be present for it as well.  The sooner the better.  I'm in Denver now.
Raising some money to donate to Haven.  Besides, we owe some merc evaluations to
Scourge's Security Captain.

Status: Gunner is back in Boston with his family; we have two children in our
protection; and Doomsday has come here to watch over the children.  I have some
surprising news as well. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <08:43:29/11-4-57>

***** Private: Shadowfox
>>>>>[ Yes, we do need to talk.  Black Knight and I have been in contact with
Ratspeak.  Physical contact.  (Ratspeak sought out the contact.)  I'll come into
Denver on >>encrypted<<. ]<<<<<
	-- Nightmare <08:49:11/11-4-57>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ So, I've heard Sprinkler, Puppet, and Wrecker's reports on what happened
-- now it is your turn.  How did it go?  Was the information accurate or not?
What could have been done better?  How did Sprinkler, Puppet, and Wrecker do?
Sorry, I have been out of the loop for a bit, it was a surprising past few days.

PS. I'm in Denver so stopping by to talk about it isn't an option.]<<<<<
	-- Shadowfox <08:54:03/11-4-57>

***** PRIVATE: Shadowfox
>>>>>[Due to the nature of the op, we've no footage.  Give me a second
to debrief myself and I'll get a report to you pronto.

Denver.  Not to far.  Say the word.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <16:29:45 / 11-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Crow
>>>>>[If you need my help, it is yours.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <07:25:32/11-04-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: 1Lt JRW Lynch
You sure that's a good idea? The guy sounds sort of... unstable, to put
it mildly. I appreciate we might have an interest here, I'm just
suggesting a little caution before you rush off to help a friend.]<<<<<
	-- 1Lt LRW Lynch <07:30:45/11-04-57>
        Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: 1Lt LRW Lynch
I figured - short-term - we could set Easy to help him. Sounds like the
sort of situation her skills would be useful for. Looking at what
whoever-it-was did to Don's brother, I think turning Easy loose on them
counts as "necessary force". If he needs more, he's a friend and he will
have whatever aid I can give.]<<<<<
	-- 1Lt JRW Lynch <07:40:25/11-04-57>
        Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

*****PRIVATE: Easy
>>>>>[A friend of mine needs help and you're well-equipped to provide
it. I can offer you >>encrypted<< if you assist him. Be warned, it could
get bloody: he's on a quest for vengeance. Someone turned his brother
into a cyberpsycho, forcing Don to kill him: then the woman he loved was
murdered.

So, he's more than a little bit furious. Remember that O'Barr graphic
novel I lent you? Well, he's calling himself the Crow now. Give you an
idea?]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <07:41:31/11-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Crow
>>>>>[Lynch sent me to help you. What do you need?]<<<<<
	-- Easy <07:46:53/11-04-57>

***** Private: Scourge, Black Knight
>>>>>[ Until I talk to Nightmare in person, keep Kor in the dark.  I cannot
ignore the information I have heard in the past few days.  I'll let
Nightmare make the official decision on whether he is in or out. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <10:28:47/11-4-57>

***** Private: Shadowfox
>>>>>[ He was that unhappy? ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <10:29:47/11-4-57>

***** Private: Scourge
>>>>>[ No.  He actually was rational about the whole thing.  He was able to
rationalize why it happened, and frankly, his analysis makes sense with
other information I have at my fingertips. He was a bit afraid that I would
blacklist him because of his information though.  So I gave him a present.
(I arranged a blind date for him with a woman he has been drooling over.  I
imagine, tonight he will be rather surprised because he is probably
expecting the worst from the "clean biz meet.")]<<<<<
	-- Shadowfox <10:31:18/11-4-57>

>>>>>[ Ah, love -- with friends like you, who needs enemies? ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <10:39:41/11-4-57>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ Ummm.  Normally, I would love to debrief you in person, I don't
think with all that is going on, that you popping off to Denver would be
the best thing to do PR-wise.  Let's hold off on a person-to-person
debriefing for now.

Btw, I'm sorry to hear about the hit on Serenity.  From what Whirlwind
blathered at me (at the other end of a gun) during a firefight, I don't
think it was him.

So let me ask this, what does the Wanderer hate about your house?  In all
probability, it was him.  It seems a little too low for your other more
honest competitors. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <16:30:43/11-4-57>

***** PRIVATE: Shadowfox
>>>>>[At this point, I am sure that he is completely unhappy about its
construction.  I think they might have used non-union labor to lay
the foundation.  Hell, I dont know!  I've been working under the assumption
that he was just doing what he could to hurt me or my corps' for our
getting in his way of the children.  Which, ultimately, we didnt as
they are MIA yet again.

Pulling the run over the weekend was more than just a little risky with
everything else thats been going on.  You are right, however, I've already
been called into 3 meetings in the last couple of hours.

Things are starting to settle down a small bit.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <17:58:22 / 11-04-57>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ He was bound to think someone tried to get in his way since every
kidnapping was contested.  Its unfortunate that he seems to have picked you
and Nightmare as those obstructions.  We really need to figure out why he
wants those kids so badly. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <17:59:32/11-4-57>

***** PRIVATE: Shadowfox
>>>>>[Sorry for the delay.  Normally I would record this after the run was
completed but I return to a mess in the office that needed to be dealt with.

+++++ Include: Ares.db

No serious casualties on either side.  Clean as clean can be.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <20:24:04 / 11-04-57>

>>>>>[ Hey guys, I was scanning around looking for who misfortune is
courting and found out a little gem.  Looks like Ares Arms lost the
prototype for some gun they were developing.  Bummer, eh?  It wasn't a
complete snatch from what I hear, because they still have the data to
design more.  Makes you wonder who did it.  They think it was an inside
job, but they have no immediate leads. ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <13:33:50/11-4-57>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ Payment is enroute.  Here are the details.

+++++ Include: Ares.pm

Glad to hear it went smoothly.  Client was most happy with the delivery.
]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <20:25:32/11-4-57>

*****PRIVATE: Hat Squad
>>>>>[Let's see, it's past ENDEX, so that makes it Golden Carrot and
Stick Wiv Nails In time... We take "carrot and stick" a stage further in
the Regiment, the carrot's made of Gold(TM) and the stick has big spikes
in it.

My apologies for the delay, by the way, but we felt you all did so well
you deserved a full mess meeting to decide the awards.

A Golden Carrot to Imp and his squad, for Most Improved Teamwork During
An Exercise. Glad we could help, guys, you came in good and went out
better. Skull's team are close runners-up in this category, but came in
so lethal anyway there was less room for improvement.

A Stick Wiv Nails In for Quinn, for not telling any of you she was one
of our War Reserve Force officers until you saw her in uniform, or for
mentioning that she's actually a Knight of the Thistle. I am given to
understand Lieutenant the Lady Rodriguez, for so she is better known
here, finds such small jests endlessly amusing.

A SWNI for "if I put a silencer on my weapon nobody'll hear it" Shiftboy
- 'nobody' including the sensor of his laser engagement simulator, which
resolutely refused to fire even though he was phut-phut-phutting away
like crazy. It won't shoot unless it hears a round fire, Shifty...

A GC for Lynch, for working out how to program the pulses from his eye
rangefinder so that our engagement simulators "heard" it as direct hits
from 155mm artillery fire. It might have been cheating, but it was still
clever. _Really_ clever would have been working out how to use an eye
rangefinder to fire _real_ 155mm HE...

A SWNI for Lilith, for sparking a news scare about escaped wild animals
- some civilians saw her while she was out hunting rabbits and we had
The Sun and The News Of The World crawling all over the place looking
for "The Catterick Wildcat".

A GC for Imp for drinking the RSM under the table on the beer-and-curry
crawl.

A SWNI for Skull's team for being nearly as hard-core and deadly as us.
The lads appreciate a little competition.

A GC for Skull for having a cool attitude and sharing some, ah, insights
into field interrogation technique with us.

A SWNI for Stormwind, whose marksmanship brought new meaning to the term
"spray and pray" and delighted ammo manufacturers everywhere with the
sales prospects he offered them.

A GC for Stormwind, for imaginitive and effective use of magic,
especially some illusion work and cunning use of spirits and Watchers.
Stick to the spells, Stormy...

A SWNI for Quinn, for those "Children of Frypp, Messiah" speeches during
the hostage scenario. We offered the idea, she ran with it.

A GC to Easy: the only person ever to beat Titch arm-wrestling. (Most
people don't get to keep their arms, let alone win...)

A SWNI for Lynch, Lilith, Blade and Quinn, for humour above and beyond
the call of duty or reason.

A GC for Skull, for not only maintaining a straight face and calm
composure after the first mouthful of Vindaloo Extra, but for finishing
the whole dish without visibly breaking into a sweat and for keeping it
all down as well. He only dipped out on the Grand Prize because he
didn't order a second helping...

A SWNI to Quinn for starting the napkin war during that meal.

A GC for Whitetyger for listening, learning, and demonstrating plenty of
commonsense to compensate for a degree of inexperience.

A SWNI for Easy, for hospitalising those civilians for making unwanted
advances, though the hand up your skirt was certainly provocation.

A GC for Stormwind for breaking up that fight before Easy killed one or
both of them. At least I presume she was going to kill them, she
certainly wasn't pulling her punches.

Anytime you want to drop down to Cwrt-y-Gollen to collect your prizes,
feel free to do so, you're listed with the ModPlod as "good guys". And a
few of you expressed an interest in completing P Company: from what you
showed us, you'd only need to do the final two or three weeks. Contact
me or Lady Rodriguez if you're interested and we'll sponsor you for
it.]<<<<<
	-- Colonel James R. Clarke-Jervoise
           Commanding Officer
           Third Battalion, The Parachute Regiment

>>>>>[I was going to just keep this as a private memory. But what the
hell, I lived through it, it doesn't give away anything that could get
me killed that wasn't already given away, and I'm pretty damn proud that
I coped with it. So anyone who wants to see, can do so.

+++++begin trideo
You see a remarkably beautiful view of a sunrise over rolling moors
covered with gorse and heather, recognising after a few seconds Lilith's
point-of-view. Glamis Castle looms on a hilltop nearby, and she and
Quinn seem to be walking along a metalled road towards a stone cairn: as
they reach it you see it's an Ordnance Survey triangulation point.

"This as close as you want me to get?"
Quinn, looking comfortable in jeans and a Barbour jacket, nods. "Yeah.
If I'm not here this time tomorrow, come looking. Carefully. Until then,
don't get any nearer than you are now."

Lilith shrugs. "No problem, unless the deer are particularly frisky. Is
it a stupid question to ask if you're going to be all right?"
The shaman shrugs, for once looking less than certain. "No. I should be
okay, though. You just stay clear."

"The way some of the locals talked, about the last guy to go up
there..."
"What, the tearing-out-his-own-tongue routine? I checked it out, he just
clawed up his face some. He's not very well, though. I guess the place
is pretty thoroughly haunted."
"And you want to live there?" Lilith sounds amused.
"Maybe the spirits are just guarding it for the rightful owner. Which I
hope is me."
"You're not even Scottish, Quinn."
She shrugs and smiles. "Actually I am, dual citizenship, remember? Not
to mention a Knight of the Thistle. Maybe that'll help. And I like the
sound of it. Lady Rodriguez, Thane of Glamis."
"Remember what happened to the last person to try that?"
"But I don't want to rule and I didn't murder my King." Quinn embraces
Lilith. "Take care, you big dumb spotty cat, and have fun chasing the
deer." She turns and walks along the road with her usual shamble: hands
in pockets, blonde hair blowing in the wind. Lilith watches her until
she's out of sight.

+++++

Quinn peers into the camera's lens. "Testing, testing, is this thing
working? How would I know if it wasn't anyway?" The view gyrates as she
sticks the camera on the wall, giving a good view: she's in a small high
room, stone-walled. You see a sleeping bag, a hurricane lamp, a small
hexamine burner, and the cardboard box of a 24-hour ration pack among a
few other items.

"It's been a quiet day." She settles back into the corner, lying on the
sleeping bag. "Nobody's jumped out at me and said 'boo!' No headless
ghosts, no phantasms, no armies of zombies. Or if there was I slept
through it. On the other hand, the sun's going down and the moon won't
come up until two a.m. or so. I seem to remember this place inspired
Bram Stoker, or am I thinking of the wrong castle?" Quinn opens a case
of chips, selects one and slots it into her datajack.

+++++

It's very dark, relieved only by pale light through the window: the moon
must be up. The camera must be rigged for low-light, and seems to be
working pretty well. Quinn suddenly stirs, then sits bolt upright,
reaching for a weapon that isn't there. She snaps her fingers, looks
irritated that nothing happened, and uses a match to light the hurricane
lamp: its soft hiss and white glow illuminate her corner of the room.

The light, though, seems to almost curdle in her part of the room,
leaving the corners darker than before. Quinn frees herself from her
sleeping bag, pulls on a polar fleece jacket and zips her Barbour over
that.

"Okay, so all of a sudden someone turned off the magic. Anyone there?"
She looks around inquiringly.

Figures steps forward from each of the three dark corners: robed women,
one young, one middle-aged, one ancient. Quinn does jump.

"Hi there. I'm Quinn." She rises to her feet, looks from one to another.

"You are Susan Elizabeth Rodriguez, Lady and soldier."
"You are The Mighty Quinn, shaman and shadowrunner."
"You are Suzy Barker, then and now."

Quinn blinks, evidently surprised. "Well done. And you are...?"
"We are the guardians of memory."
"We are the stewards of the past."
"We are those who read the future in the entrails of history."

"I guess you know why I'm here?" The robed women simply nod. "So what do
I have to do?"
"You must see."
"You must remember."
"You must relive." The grey-robed forms step back into the shadows,
leaving Quinn standing alone.

"Why don't I like the sound of that?" she mutters.

You hear faint singing, growing louder, and recognise the tune as "The
Mighty Quinn" as the left wall fades away, revealing a shower room.
Quinn steps into it, incongruous in clothes better suited to country
hiking than taking a shower. Half-a-dozen men stumble through the
entrance, wearing only shorts or jockstraps, most holding beer cans,
circling her mockingly as they sing.

"Fragging useless, you are." one says over the singing. "Useless dead
weight, you are. Can't throw magic, can't shoot, can't do frag all." He
pokes Quinn hard in the chest and she staggers back a little. "Only one
thing you might be any good for at all, and we're gonna give you some
lessons in that."
"Yeah?" As two of them grab her arms, Quinn glares at the leader with
fury. He laughs.

"This is the replay, you dumb bitch, you don't get out of it with a
spell this time." His body flows and changes, a horrific blackened,
melted mask replacing his face and great burns appearing all over his
skin. The charred face still speaks, though white bone shows through the
jaw. "You burned me up real bad with your magic surprise fireball,
little Suzie. Real unexpected, that you'd learn to do magic just because
a few of the guys wanted a good time. Took me three months in hospital
before I died from what you did to me. Now, though, it's payback time,
I'm gonna frag you up worse than you ever did me, but first we're gonna
have us some fun!"

"Replay time?" Quinn manages to resist the first effort to force her to
the floor. "You forgot two things. One, you've been dead six years and I
haven't. Two, I had to learn to fight and I learn real fast. Watch
this!"

Her left hand blurs across the thigh of one of her captors and he
collapses backwards with a great gash opened in the muscle: blood pumps
out in an amazing crimson stream. She pulls the other one in front of
her and, as he flails for balance, cuts his throat with what you realise
are cyberspurs, spinning him around so the great sanguine gush sprays
his friends, who - apart from the burned man - break and run.

"Pretty fancy moves for a jumped-up magician." His own spurs slide out.
"Now I show you how a real man fights. I'm gonna cut you up so bad
you'll wish you'd just laid back and thought of the UCAS!"

He lunges, and you realise he's good; Quinn, though, twists around the
attack, slashing at his extended arm: the three deep cuts ooze a sickly
yellow pus, and hardly seem to affect the blackened corpse as he lashes
out, Quinn leaping back too late to avoid  the blow: it should have
taken her eyes, as it was it's merely laid her cheek open to the bone.

Quinn drops to one knee, and you realise it's an attack not a collapse
only when her leg comes around fast in a vicious ankle sweep: the burned
man falls sideways and Quinn is on him in an instant, crouched above him
with spurs cocked above his face: a steady drip of her blood falls on
him.

"You won't do it. You never had the guts-" The spurs slam down, and
Quinn almost frenziedly stabs the body a dozen times or more: head,
neck, chest. Breathing hard, she rises to her feet, then fumbles for a
medkit as the corpses and the blood - except her own - vanish.

"Cute. Real cute." She brushes a hand over the slash on her cheek,
winces, uses the medkit to spray a bandage. "He was an asshole then and
being dead for six years didn't improve him."

She turns suddenly, as the back wall melts away. Beyond it is a city
street, and a burning tenement building. A half-dozen teenagers, all in
white synthleather jackets painted with flame designs, are standing
around the building, cheering and yelling, and a couple more are riding
back and forth on motorbikes. As you watch, a woman runs from the door
of the tenement, only to be shot down by one of the gangers. The others
roar with approval, as the woman - wounded rather than dead - thrashes
on the road and the boy who shot her swaggers up to her: another ganger
hands him a fluid-filled bottle with a rag stopper, which he almost
ceremonially ignites before hurling it at the screaming woman, who is
instantly engulfed in fire.

Quinn takes a deep breath, points at the boy, and he drops as if pole-
axed. She seems surprised. "Okay, the magic's back!" As the gang members
turn, four of them are engulfed in a billowing maelstrom of flame, a
blazing, riderless motorcycle skidding out of the fireball. As it
clears, you see all four down and ablaze, Quinn walking forwards with
purposeful gait.

Two other gangers are turning and raising weapons, and Quinn almost
casually snaps her fingers at one, lightning crackling around his body
and he barely manages to scream before collapsing. The last fires once,
missing, as Quinn reaches down and scoops up the Glock automatic dropped
by the first ganger she killed and shoots him twice in the head.

She pauses, finding a spare magazine in the dead man's pocket, and walks
towards the tenement building's entrance: two motorbikes roar around the
corner and you see the crackle of a barrier just before they slam into
it, the Rapiers passing through unchecked but both riders being swept
off, Quinn aiming and double-tapping both as they sprawl in the road.
The Glock's slide locks back and she drops the empty clip, reloading and
letting the action close.

She raises a hand and points, and water and steam gush from the entrance
of the building, and she runs inside. She's gone for several minutes,
reappearing singed and scorched.

"SONOFABITCH!!!!"  Quinn screams, and fires half-a-dozen shots into the
body of the nearest gang member. The street begins to darken and close
in, and she runs back towards the small stone-walled room. "Bastards!
They were dead already! Oh, I'm allowed to do magic to kill people,
sure! Won't let me heal my own parents, though? My foster parents,
looked after me for years, treated me like their own, the one fucking
chance I have to save them and you take it away?" As she rants, the wall
slowly solidifies. She looks down, realises she's still holding the
Glock.

As she stuffs it in a pocket, the right wall fades, revealing a child's
room. Quinn tries to step into it, but is blocked. You see a blonde girl
of perhaps three or four, sitting on the bed and crying as though
heartbroken: a powerfully-built teenage boy sits beside her, arm around
her shoulder.

"Not want to go! Stay with Jon'than!" the girl manages between sobs.
"You've got to go, Suzy. It's important. "
"Stay with JON'THAN!" shrieks the girl, wrapping her arms around him.
He's weeping too, you notice.

A woman - startlingly beautiful, almost ageless, and slightly other-
worldly - enters.
"Suzy, if you don't choose what to take you won't get to keep it with
you."
"Jon'than come with Suzy?"
"No, Susan. It's dangerous. Bad people want to hurt Suzy. Mummy and
Daddy and Jonathan have to go away to stop the bad people hurting you.
"Suzy hurt _them!" the girl manages between sobs. "Suzy help Jon'than!"
"Susan, your brother will be busy taking care of himself, and you have
to get ready to go now." The woman gently but firmly pries the girl's
arms loose from her brother.

"Jonathan, you know what she'll miss most, would you...?" The boy -
trying not to let his mother see that he's crying - packs a few clothes,
toys and books into a holdall and hands it to his mother, who lifts the
girl off the ground. As she walks towards the door, Susan starts
screaming deafeningly for her brother, who begins to come to her: a
freezing glare from his mother stops him, though, as she carries her
daughter out of the room.

She's gone for several minutes, and the boy walks to a window and
watches briefly... then she comes back. You notice she's wiping her eyes
too.

"Mom, did we have to...?"
"Jonathan, perhaps one day you'll have a child, and perhaps you'll have
to choose between giving her up, perhaps never seeing her again, or
keeping her with you and almost certainly having her killed."
"Is it that bad?"
"Yes. We are in that much danger, Jonathan, that if you were a few
months younger I'd have sent you away too. As it is, you're going to
need everything I taught you. And if we live through this, in a year or
two you and Susan will be back together."

The wall darkens and you realise Quinn is huddled in a corner, crying
almost hysterically. "I'm sorry, Jonathan. I couldn't find you, I
thought you were dead. I'm sorry it took so long."

She gathers herself, slowly but carefully, and rises to her feet and
glares around the room. "Okay. So, what's next?"

The three women reappear, this time smiling.

"All hail Rodriguez, beloved of Coyote!"
"All hail Rodriguez, daughter of the Dragon!"
"All hail Rodriguez, Baroness of Glamis!"

The women melt from view as the grey light of dawn begins to shine
through the window. Quinn draws a deep breath, lets it out, fumbles for
a cigarette.

"I do _not_ want to do that again." she mutters.

+++++

Quinn is carrying the camera, walking down the road: you see a battered
Land Rover parked some distance away, which seems to be her destination.
She turns to see a white-tipped periscope weaving through the heather
towards her, which proves to be a long tail curled up over a leopard's
back. The leopard is carrying a twitching hare in its mouth, and as it
stops in front of Quinn you realise it's Lilith: the vivid dark-blue
eyes smirk at you.

"Thanks." Quinn bends down, takes the hare and kills it with a blow to
the back of the head. "Mind if I cook it?"

Lilith flows into human form, her clothes appearing at the last moment:
you boggle slightly at the rather spectacular view. "Sure. The deer were
too easy, I couldn't bring myself to kill them. Besides, they were all
too big, I'd have wasted some. The hares and rabbits were more fun. Are
you okay? You look like..."

"Like I saw a ghost? Three sets of ghosts, Lilith. Three sets of
ghosts."
"Was it worth it?" Lilith looks concerned.
"Yeah. It was. But it was a high price, and I don't want to pay that too
often.

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain..."

Lilith looks at Quinn for a long moment, then smiles.
"You're going to be all right, Susan, if you're quoting The Scottish
Play. Come on. Pie, chips and beer at the Fife and Drum. My treat."

"Eighty Shilling?"
"But of course. What else would we drink here?"
+++++end trideo]<<<<<
	-- The Mighty Quinn <21:45:42/04-11-57>
           The Right Honourable Baroness Glamis

*****PRIVATE: Vladimir Gorchek
>>>>>[M'bein' civil f'r the initial m'stake.  However, actions like
y'r 'underestimation' o'the 'posing force ARE NOT appreciated by people
like me.  Scope the scene ... then provide some answers or me and Skully
 ... well, just give us some answers ... O muerte visitare contigo.

+++++begintrid:  nse_job1.trd ....

A grainy image resolves itself on the screen.  At first, all that is visible
is the ground ... black plastic-compound, with odd pieces of debris scattered
here and there.  As the pov moves forward, it becomes obvious that the
person recording is standing on a roof.

Across the street is a two-story residential home, nothing special ... might
even be a pre-fab job.  It is obvious one of the less well-to-do areas of
a major city as there are several squatters passed out on the sidewalk
in front of the house.  Through a display window on the groundfloor, three
men are visible.  They are standing around talking, one moves out of
sight of the window often.  All of them look like salarymen, typical corp
issue.

A slightly deeper-than-average female voice speaks ...

"This is Rosha. Assignment: Access and retrieve individual. Accompanied
by Skull Bearer.  Assessment: Target structure has only one accessway/exit--
front door.  Secondary exits include: groundfloor front window, two windows
groundfloor back, one second floor window.  Re-assessment: Greater
anticipated resistance than informed.  TacOpt: We're layin low and checkin
the scene under cover to ascertain best moment."

Rosha {turning her head to the right, but looking at nothing}:  "Skully,
y'pickin anythin' up n'there?"

Skull Bearer {disembodied voice}: "Weird talking ... not English."

The camera view pans back to the front door the house as six men step out
and begin to cross the street.

One of the squatters approaches them asking for money, but is rudely shoved
back to the ground as one of the suits mutters something in a gutteral
tongue.

Rosha: "Note speaking Russian.  Proceeding to two vehicles parked under
current location.  E2000's, both black, shaded windows.  Even split between
both vehicles.  {tone changes} A'ight, Skully. Let's play 'follow the
leader'."

Skull Bearer:  "I never played "Follow the Leader" ... how does it go?"

Rosha: "Those guys are t'leaders ... we follow them. Got it?"

Skull Bearer:  "Think so..."

The camera view bounces momentarily as it turns to the left and moves
toward a fire escape.  Then the image abruptly cuts ...

Only to fade back in after a momentary lapse.  The view is now from an
alleyway ... across the street are the two black Westwinds that Rosha
recorded earlier.

Skull Bearer: "Do we go get him now?"

Rosha: "No. Don't like this a'all.  Status update: Subject and friends
have been in Royal Ukrainian Arms Hotel for 5 minutes. Will hold for
another 15 then return to original site for investigation."

Skull Bearer: "But if he's here ... then don't we ...???"

Rosha {cutting Skull Bearer off}: "No. Vlad could've got us killed.
Let's just do some homework, and then, if we still wanna nab this guy,
we'll be better prepared to do it, knowin the layout o'the place he sleeps."

Skull Bearer: "Oh. OK."

Again, the image crashes into whiteness.

As the image of the door, much closer up fades in, Rosha speaks ...

Rosha: "Status. Subject's residence ... beginning search ..."

As she finishes speaking, the door's lock clicks, the knob turns itself,
and the door slowly opens.  It gets about halfway open when the pov moves
into the foyer of the house.  Late 20th century style, immediate steel
stairwell leading up to the second floor with a corridor to the right
leading to the back of the house.  On the left is the living room which was
visible from the perch across the street.  Sparsely furnished, this place
still has a style to it.  The alternately green and yellow painted walls
seem to induce a feeling of warmth and inclusion, or maybe nausea in some.
But there are no noticable decorations ... everything in the house serves
a function -- only tables, chairs, a trid, and a clock in the living area.

Rosha: "OK. M'upstairs see what y'can see around here and in the back."

Skull Bearer: "Uh. Did you notice the two bums ....."

Skull Bearer is again abruptly cut off as the front door is kicked inwards
from the outside.  Two large men dressed in rags that only barely cover
their light security armor storm in bringing their Uzis to the ready.

The camera view is elevated on the stairs and wheels around at the sound of
the crashing door.  However, Rosha apparently loses her footing and lands
sitting on one of the steps as her lower torso, legs, and hips become visible
to the camera.  At the same time, a HUGE form appears in the corridor next
to the staircase.

Swathed in a dark gray/black cloak, the figure's hood brushes the ceiling.
In a blur of sparkling gray light, the cloaked individual has covered
the 10 feet between 'him' and the two men, and is holding them by their
necks.

The one still holding his Uzi blasts away at the Cloak's side.  The
ricocheting bullets chew into the base of the stairwell, and the metallic
hand around his neck tightens until the man slumps unconscious, dangling
in the Cloak figure's grasp a foot above the ground.

Somehow, the other intruder broke free of the Cloak's strangehold while
'he' was focusing on the first one.  After struggling momentarily to unjam
his Uzi, he turns to run out of the door.  But the Cloak is quicker--striking
the man with a metallic right fist across the back of the head.  A sickening
crunch accompanies that man's fall to the floor.

Rosha {sounding as if she expects her answer to be true}: "Y'wax them both?"

Skull Bearer: "No. Neither. You want information, right?"

With his words, Skull Bearer finally turns to the camera.  Though his head
his shrouded in the darkness of his hood, two glowing red eyes shine
out.  Rosha's microphone catches her involuntarily inhalation at the sight.
In the distance, sirens whine through the night.

Rosha: "Those're prob'ly f'r us. C'mon ... I got y'r cover again. Wanna
know why Gorchek sent us against these milspec boys?"

Skull Bearer: "I just wanna get paid."

Rosha: "You wanna get paid and not get hurt right?"

Skull Bearer: "Yeah."

Rosha: "Then we're talkin t'Gorchek b'fore the B-Count gets any higher."

Skull Bearer vanishes from the camera's eye, and the pov pans down to
the two bodies at the base of the screen.

Rosha: "Hope y'alls insurance was paid up."

And her lower body fades from the cameraview, as well.  The pov then moves
out into the street and ...

Fades to static.

+++++endtrid: nse_job1.trd

So, Mr. Gorchek?  What were those heavily disguised and armed Slavs doin
outside a place YOU said only saw 'rent-a-cops'?  We'll still get y'r
boy, if we like the answers.  But we're not goin' in 3/4 blind, again.
Slot us up again ... and I'll ... 'sew y'r a_sh_le closed, and keep
feedin' you and feedin' you.']<<<<<
	--  Rosha  <17:53:59/11-4-57>

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Uh, since you seem to know more about me than I care to have
made public, I guess I should ask you -

+++++ signal alteration
+++++ continue (y/n): y

'Basher...  What're you doin', 'Basher?  Betcha didn't think I could
trace the money to you, 'Basher.  I know you paid the Rumorweasel to
dig into my past, 'Basher.  I know you paid 'im to dig into the kids
past, too, 'Basher.  I been callin' favors, 'Basher, from the best
deckers in Hong Kong.  Whatchou doin', 'Basher?  You tryin' to screw
things up for me, 'Basher?  The other night I took the kid to a frat
party, 'Basher.  We had the time of my death, 'Basher.  You try to
screw things up, 'Basher, an' I'll haunt your ass 'til the day you
die, an' then, then things'll get exciting.

You wouldn't want anything to happen to Trix, now would ya, 'Basher?

+++++ signal alteration
+++++ continue (y/n): y

I don't suppose Serenity has an... internship program?

Just looking for experience, ya know, maybe something I can do in the
summer?]<<<<<
	-- Poppa Chubby (22:22:22 / 11-04-57)

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Frag, I think I got this thing working again.  I think I mighta
found what you were looking for.  I heard some rumors about a file
some corp put together.  It's a compilation of data accumulated on
lots of shadowfolks, including Fred's dossier from the I-Marines.  I
heard a copy was available in one of the other Shadowland nodes.

I managed to find it the other day, but all hell broke loose.  I
called up Freddy's file and at least three screamers cut loose.  I
couldn't get 'em all, hell, they were so fast I only got one.  And
that one was aimed for an address in the Tir.  I don't even wanna
think where the others were heading.

Scrambler IC clamped down hard on the file, I'm still trying to crack
the encryption.

One of the screamers musta called in some mondo cav.  I got hit by
tons of IC right outside the Shadowland hub.  They shredded my deck
before I could get out.  This one is gonna cost you big on repairs.

I'll get back to you with more data, as I crack the encrypts.

Oh, yeah, I'll hafta warn ya a trip to SF is included in my bill.  To
many people would rather meet in the flessh.  Some people are still
kinda leery 'bout talkin' 'bout Fred.

Talk at ya later.]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

>>>>>[Interesting.

One could, of course, make a legitimate claim that the "grounds
historically associated with" Glamis Castle include Cawdor and all of
Scotland, since King MacBeth held all those during his brief rule.

However, one could also suggest that such a demand - given the fate of
the last person to make it - would be fatally unwise. Comments about
Birnam Wood and Dunsinaine Hill spring to mind, and Dunsinaine is
heavily forested today.

I believe Lady Rodriguez is wise in limiting her claim to the
traditional title and territory of the Baron of Glamis.

In any case, my congratulations. The toll exacted by this clause of the
Dragon's will stood, at the final count, at nine committed to various
mental institutions, eleven dead, twenty-three suffering from injuriees
requiring hospitalisation (including six not anticipated to leave a
persistently vegetative state) and four missing, believed dead or
insane. At the very least, I thank you for stopping the
casualties.]<<<<<
	-- Whittaker IV <01:56:42/11-05-57>

***** Private: Quickstep
>>>>>[I dont know who else is on the team.Like i said ive been out of
contact dodging Surveillance since i landed in Seattle, I think they knew i
was comming.
at the moment im holed up with two sams who owe me a favor,but one of thems
been chewed up badly during an ambush we ran into on our way to the meet.
Lets try to meet at the Battlecircle in redmond sometime tonite or when you
have the time,but make it soon we need to get organised on this end to get
Asgard Prepared for Ragnarok.]<<<<<
	-- Smudge <17:05:34/11-05-57>

***** Private: Bull
>>>>>[Bull I need more info on Quickstep and any other Heimdall members we
have been.
Under heavy surveillance since me and my group landed here in Seattle and i
dont like it. We got into a major shotout last night with a bunch of FBI
agents. We got one of them alive and he claimed that his group was on loan
to another Ucas agency and thier job had been first to monitor us and once
they had identified all members of the Seattle group take us out.Since we
spotted them on day one they thought we were it.
But what i want to know is what Agency is this and why is it making it so
difficult for
us to get you out of the Zone?.BTW questioning the captive is not an option
he died during interrogation from wounds suffered in the firefight.]<<<<<
	-- Smudge <17:14:56/11-05-57>

*****PRIVATE: Easy and Lynch
>>>>>[ Thank both of you for your response, I don't know what to do this
whole thing has just got me out of whack.  Ever since that day I swear
I've been seeing things, I see her ghost following me but when I turn
around she's not there.  Everytime I see cars wiz past me I have a flash
back to that day.  Hell yesterday I fragged some poor slob who just wanted
some -Y-, I thought they sent him to kill me.  I can't seen to find these
fraggers no matter what I do, no one will even talk to me, it's like
they know where I'm going and get there first.  I went to go see a contact
of mine the other day Mike Simil, when I got there he split the other way
yelling he didn't know anything.  I hope you two have better luck than me,
I'm going out searching again I know if I try hard enough I'll find
something.  If you find anything, I mean anything give a call or tell
Blackhawk, he's at >encrypt<.  In fact it would probably be better if you
gave it to him, lately I find it harder and harder to stay in that
apartment. ]<<<<<
	--Crow  <11-5-57/12:29:59>

*****To: The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[Thank you for allowing my participation with the maneuvers against P
Company.  It is a worthwhile experience for anyone to learn how much
there is to still to learn.  While my typical operations find me usually
working alone or with minimal support, it is good to know what teamwork
can accomplish, especially when employed against you.

I regret that I will probably not be coming to Great Britain any time in
the foreseeable future, so what prize may be awaiting me--I believe it was
called a "Golden Carrot"--should probably go to someone else deserving.

If you are ever in need of someone with my capabilities, feel free to
contact me.  I am somewhat in your debt.]<<<<<
	-- WhiteTyger  <14:01:34/11-05-57>

>>>>>[Well, Crow, I asked some questions. Here's what I got.

+++++begin trideo
The view is from a portacam in a badly-lit smoky room, watching a girl
doing an inexpert but enthusiastic striptease on a table: a dozen or
more boys and girls are watching with expressions ranging from hunger to
boredom.

The door smashes open, chunks of macroplast flying, and most of the
room's occupants turn in surprise. A figure is silhouetted there in the
doorway, backlit by a streetlamp.

"I hear you kids claim to own this neighbourhood." it says, in a
feminine voice accented by Tarislar and Texas. Moving into the room, you
realise it's a painfully beautiful Elven girl, wearing a long black
leather coat and holding an old MAC-10 in one hand.

"So what if we do?" asks one of the gangers, whose colours identify him
and his friends as the Dark-and-Deadlies.

"So, someone was killed in your turf. I want to know who by. I want to
know why you didn't do anything about it. I want to know why you're
sitting on your ass while pedestrians are getting snuffed."

"Oh, frag you. Not our drekking problem, okay?" The boy is turning to
sit when a chunk of his forehead disappears and he collapses. Easy blows
smoke from the muzzle of the Ingram.

"I said, there are things I want to know. Insolence is not an option."

There is a long pause.

"We got told to stay put, to stay out of it." says one of the gangers
after a long pause.

"Wonderful. Who? Why? Where?"

"They said they'd kill us if we talked."

Easy shrugs, points the MAC-10 and squeezes off a short burst. The
ganger falls back in a spray of blood, her feet drumming spastically on
the floor.

"Oh, gee whiz, I guess I'll kill you if you _don't_ talk. Kind of
like being between a rock and a hard place, isn't it?" Another ganger
rushes at her with a knife and she slaps the blade from his hand, the
crack of snapping bones clearly audible. "Oh, stop that useless drek and
talk to me."

"I don't know!" wails Broken Wrist. "Suits. Suits with guns and money.
They said they just wanted to set up a hit. We should call when we saw
this slitch show up, then shoot her. They'd take over after that.

"So we did what they wanted. Then this guy turns up, the chica's still
breathing but she's all fragged up, they're talking and he's all upset,
then the suits show in three, four cars, open up like ammo was going out
of fashion. That's all we saw! I swear to God that's all! We ran out, it
wasn't our fight no more!"

"Sure." The Elven girl nods and smiles. "I believe you." The Ingram's
muzzle flash is enormous as she rakes the room, pausing to change
magazines and then watch the bodies: one groans and coughs, and she
fires a short burst into it.

She picks up the portacam on the way out.
+++++end trideo

If nothing else, I've given our bad guys another target. That might
improve our chances, since it seems we're playing in the big league. At
least half of those gangers were fine, just faking, and I'd made my
point: they'll know someone's asking questions and in a bad mood.]<<<<<
	-- Easy <22:23:41/11-05-57>

***** PRIVATE: Wells, Scorpius
>>>>>[ C,  I scouted out the contact point mentioned by DA. 
There seems to be little activity. No suspicious civilians or 
unwarrented military activity. I did however sense something
 else. I know you don't put any faith to my hunches, but there is a bad 
smell. I suggest that we stand point and await DA. It would be 
safer waiting and observing than to rush up to a meet sight. I 
suggest we leave the old man to himself at your current location. 
Besides, I'm tired of listening to his damn stories. Sometimes I 
think he still sees me as that little girl who enjoyed sitting on his 
knee listening to them darn things. Oops, sorry for the rant. Does 
DA know that the ol'man will be with us?

Considering the parting terms; I think it would be best if you told DA.

Thats my report.]<<<<<
	-- Loch < 04:45:22 / 11-04-57 >

***** PRIVATE: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[DA; Loch wanted me to warn you about something. Tank will be
tagging along on this one. He had a falling out with Kimber and
needed help. I felt sorry for the old guy and took pity on him. I
know you had some terms with him and Loch felt you needed to
know.]<<<<<
	-- Wells  < 10:22:53 / 11-04-57 >

*****PRIVATE: WhiteTyger
>>>>>[Hey, Tyger, I should thank you. That was a seriously fun exercise
and you contributed a lot to it. I'm glad you think you gained from it
too.

The Carrot is just a plastic carrot painted gold, I'll pick it up next
time I'm there and let you have it. Its only value is sentimental. Cool
idea, though, CJ's notion. "I didn't get where I am today by letting
people neglect to claim their prizes..."

I'm kind of busy at the moment, the castle needs a lot of work :) And I
apparently have to make my maiden speech in the Lords. I tried
explaining it was a long time since I was a maiden, but nobody wanted to
know, except a few Conservationists who wanted my phone number :) And
one who asked if he could borrow my garter belt ;)

And it was good to meet you, and I hope to work with you again. You
impressed a number of people. Me included.]<<<<<
	-- The Mighty Quinn <23:06:42/11-05-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Christ in a handcart, DA! I heard you'd been bagged and tagged
down south. Yeah, I'm operatin' outta Chitown, been droppin' supplies ta
th' unfortunates in the CZ... If'n you know what I mean.  Well, things
are quite at the pres, so I'll sit on up here and wait for that little
ol' flasher o' your'n to start up.  I'll be in afore ya c'n blink man.
Say, ya still got that little tasty wid ya??  I shore would like to meet
her agin.  Gotta go buddy, watchin' fer ya.]<<<<<
	-- Nemesis <23:43:55/11-05-57>

*****PRIVATE: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Thankyou for returning the payment Avenger, I must confess to a
certain amount of disappointment in you.  You came highly recommended, I
am upset that the recommendation was inaccurate.

I have received the information your coleague Gates sent to me.  It
makes for fascinating viewing, I can't wait to talk to this Bull
character, if he survives. Don't bother contacting me again, our
association is ended forthwith.]<<<<<
	-- Amanda Taylor <11:10:17/11-05-57>

***** PRIVATE: Trinity
>>>>>[Thank you for the warning Wells, I appreciate it, if Tank had
arrived without being announced I'd most likely have shot the SOB.  If
you have to bring him in OK, but keep him out from under my feet. I ahve
enough problems at the moment without him tripping around.  Is he off
the booze yet??

If you have supplies with you, please *do not* bring them with you. I
see shadows moving these days and everyone here is on edge. Come on in
Wells, it'll be nice to see a friendly face for a change.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <02:28:14/05-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Inferno
>>>>>[I have little time left now for idle conversation old friend.
Things are moving in the shadows... and I have little knowledge how to
deal with them.

I requested some astral cover a day or so ago, you were distracted, it
matters not, it's too late now, I think they've found me. I have set my
stand here in Chicago. When they come they will understand the wrath of
The Dark Avenger.

Who has traced me??  I don't fully know, we have run afoul of some
government department, something bigger than I at first believed, I had
hoped to find out who, but there is no time left, and nowhere to go
anymore.  What do I mean by "GOODBYE"?  What do you *think* I mean?

I have no intention of doing anything stupid Inferno, but I know when
the time has come to stop running.  Remember that time in Venezuala,
when we were waiting for Ranger to extract us from that scabby little
town, and the rebel forces hit us....  I still have the bullet that was
reserved to prevent capture.. Huh! I have worn it for five years as a
charm, maybe soon it gets it's use.

You do not *need* me, any more than you need a personal rash, I am
merely a statistic in this nightmare I have created.  Just do me one
favour.  If I don't make it, get Bull's family out, and have a drink in
the Needle for me.

Wish me luck Inferno, I may need it.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <02:45:23/11.06.57>

*****PRIVATE: India Bravo Niner
>>>>>[Incoming at >>location<< require assistance. Opposition size
unknown, expect quantities. Fire lanes set and clear. On my
signal.]<<<<<
	-- Dark Avenger <14:57:43/11-06-57>

*****PRIVATE: Alpha Tango Six
>>>>>[Core *is* secure, holding on station.]<<<<<
	-- Cmdr. "Minny" Stanford <15:15:23/11-06-57>

***** Private: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[ Check all your licenses for Serenity.  On a hunch, I thought I
would look at public record of Serenity and companies that might be
related to it (including what's left of mine).  Someone who is real
good modified the Serenity's licenses to expire tomorrow, close of
business.  As far as I can tell, no trails were left on the
modifications.  It would imply either a) someone did it from the
inside, or b) a really good decker did it.  I can think of a handful
that could pull that kind of job off so smoothly.  Only two would have
motivation to screw Serenity around like that.  One I seriously doubt,
and the other was playing nicely last I heard.

If you know anything about city officials, the word of a computer is
more important than god, although every once in a great while, they
will actually question what the computer is telling them.  They live
their lives by the motto:  "The computer is your friend."

I would figure out first what it is going to take to fix the licenses,
and how much time it is going to take before telling anyone.  If you
are real lucky, no one has noticed yet and so you won't have to bribe
anyone.  At any rate, I wouldn't worry for the time being who did it,
merely what is it going to take to undo it.

Sorry for the bad news. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <21:23:01/11-5-57>

>>>>>[ When it rains, it pours.  The Wanderer successfully tracked us
down today.  In the ensuing battle, with the illusions flying every
which way, Black Knight was taken hostage.

I guess this means that all my travel plans are hereby canceled.  Sorry
for this sudden inconvienence. ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <21:25:03/11-5-57>

***** Private: Nightmare, Scourge
>>>>>[ I'm going to take lead then.  Here's my simple plan:

1) Get a truce with Whirlwind.
2) With Midnight's and Doomsday's help, well see if we can figure out
through the children why the Wanderer wants them.
3) Put Kor back into the loop.  Feed him information enough to go on as
far as it concerns Serenity.  Unless there is risk of us getting
tangled, I would recommend we keep things shush about how we deal with
things.  Obviously, we will have to mention that we have reached a
truce with Whirlwind if that comes to pass.

Any other things I should be concerned with? ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <21:28:21/11-5-57>

***** Private: Shadowfox
>>>>>[ Unidentified sources tell me that Kor has a "quiet" bounty on
Ratspeak's head.  If Ratspeak learns of it, when so many other things
besiege Serenity, Kor's financial well-being is gone.  I recommend you
get an immediate truce between Kor and Ratspeak.  Having Ratspeak on
our side might be the only way we are going to be able to trace them
through Europe with Black Knight MIA.

Lastly, no matter what, I think it is time we sent Kor on a vacation to
somewhere quiet. It will help him in the long run. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <21:34:50/11-5-57>

***** Private: Whirlwind
>>>>>[ Let's meet at a neutral site in a neutral city and talk.  We
have two children, you have zero children, and in all likelihood, the
Wanderer has the rest.  For the sake of the children, let us at least
meet and discuss things.  I'm not going to try and stop your feud with
Doomsday, merely recommend a different strategy in using our resources
for the time being.

I was planning on using >>encrypted<< to set up the meet, since we have
both worked through him before.  I was going to invite Nightmare to
this since he does have a knack for these sort of things, but he is now
unavailable. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <21:40:37/11-5-57>

>>>>>[ Greetings.  Through a neighborly decker, I'm posting here.  This
will likely be my only post.

Some of you already know me.  I am known as Archangel.

My reputation probably already proceeds me with some, and others of you
are probably wondering, who the hell is this old fossil?

+++++ write statement received: "Feeling sensitive about your age
today?"

Time is merely short as always, my friend.  For those who don't know
me, I'm probably not worth the time to meet.

To:  Nightmare, Blitzkrieg, Scarface, FireWraith, Shadowfox, Doomsday,
Whirlwind, Kor, Midnight, Scourge, and Ratspeak

I summon you.  A personal courier will arrive to deliver the details.
I have something I wish to share with you in person.  The only one I
will accept a refusal from is Ratspeak.  The rest of you have no
excuses.  It will take one day of your time, namely Sunday, and I
expect you to show up.  Anyone else is welcome to come.  I have a
simple story I wish to tell.  While I could tell it to you through
here, I think I rather have you people see it as well as hear it.

It relates to DragonEyes and more.

Nightmare -- Black Knight is no excuse.  I think you will find that he
didn't end up where he is now by being incapable of taking care of
himself.  God will watch over him in the time you are unavailable.
Kor, financial burdens are no excuse.  And for everyone, past history
is no excuse.

I trust I make myself perfectly clear.

Oh, one last small little detail:  The meeting is white flag.  You are
allowed to bring items that you cannot be separated with.  Your
favorite 9mm is not one of these.  Any hostilities initiated, will be
dealt with by my personal security.  And I will make no exceptions.
You are expected to be civil to the other present.  You are expected to
listen.  Unless you are one of those I specifically asked to be
present.  Those are the ground rules.

Those others who may wish to attend, contact one of the invited people
to get the details.  I will not approve of anyone trying to arrest or
kill my guests. ]<<<<<
	--Archangel <22:00:00/11-5-57>

***** Private: Shadowfox
>>>>>[ Very well.  I agree to meet you to discuss things.  Based by the
information provided by a courier, I contacted our mutual friend to arrange
a neutral meet in Denver for Saturday.  On Friday night, you and I will
both find out where it is.

Perhaps, depending on Nightmare's success to find his comrade, he may join
us as well.  I wouldn't make the offer though until it is clear whether or
not he has found his friend. ]<<<<<
	--Whirlwind <08:36:06/11-6-57>

>>>>>[ I *like* that girl's style.. ]<<<<<
	--Imp <10:57:57/11-6-57>

***** PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind, Imp, Griffyn
>>>>>[  Fuck, fuck, fuck.  Check this out:

+++++ include: scourge.message

Couple of solutions:  1) Bribe someone at city hall to fix it. 2) Go in and
fix it ourselves .. we've got more than enough matrix muscle to do it, but
there
is still some risk involved.

God, if I get my hands on the person who is screwing with us .. ]<<<<<
	--Neuron Basher <11:02:46/11-06-57>

***** INTERNAL: K. Donaldson
>>>>>[Send in the paper pushers.  Thats what we are paying them for.  It
might take a couple of days to get it sorted out, but so be it.

I've faith in their ability to deal with it.  If push comes to the drawing of
weapons, send in the matrix group and get it fixed or at least turn up
who did it.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <16:37:35 / 11-06-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE:  Smudge
>>>>>[This is what i got on Quickstep so far, Smudge.

+++++Download Heimdall.dat

That's all the info I have on your group.

As for the Surveillance and shootout, keep your head down if possible.  It's
a shame about the prisoner, he would have proven useful...  I have no idea
who it is tracking you down.  We're under heavy scrutiny on my end as well,
and it definately does appear to be some kind of government group.

Keep you head down, and wait for further instructions...  We're waiting for
some equipment to come in here, and a good time to make a break for it.
Chicago is getting REALLY old already...]<<<<<
	-- Bull <22:17:03/11-016-57>

      
              "You're mocking me, aren't you?"
                    -Buzz Lightyear, "Toy Story"

***** PRIVATE:  Quickstep
>>>>>[Hey there, QS...  Hmmm, seems I missed a post of yours a couple days
ago...  Damn deck's been acting funny again...  Maybe time to disinfect...
I outta buy stock in fraggin' insecticide of some kind...  might come in handy.

Anyways, here's that data you requested...  Get everybody together out tehre
in Seattle, and try to secure at least two new safehouses.  Don't tell
anyone else about these, though.  They are for emergency use only, and
everyone's a bit panicky about a traitor in our midst, so secrecy is important.

We'll let you know as soon as possible what's happening with the lot of us
here in Chicago.

+++++Download Heimdall.dat

Ok, pal...  See ya later.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <04:23:10/11-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Hephaestus
>>>>>[Sorry to be out of touch so long.  However, many of the trails leading
to your subjects are being dutifully camouflaged.  As I acquire more
information, I will notify you.  However, for right now, the going has gotten
tough.  Apologies for any disappointment.

Btw, very nice piece of machinery you displayed in the last message.  I'm
glad to see you finally got out of the smithy, and into engineering lab!
(smile)]<<<<<
	-- InfoScholar  <11:37:22/11-07-57>

*****Private: Easy
>>>>>[ We thank you for all your help, right now Don... er Crow is not in.
In fact I'm not to sure where he is, I hope for all of our sakes he hasn't
gone over the deep end.  When I see him I will relay the info you got, and
try to keep him here ]<<<<<
	-- Blackhawk <11-7-57/12:26:45>

*****Private: Satyre, Inc.
>>>>>[ The fragger's falling for it all, he even has some of his friends
out looking for the people who shot his "fiance".  We'll have to watch out
for this slitch named Easy, she slagged most of our ganger's, not a big
lose I know but still it could have been us.  We need to hurry up this
operation before Don or Easy finds anything that points to me, if I get
fingered you'll be next. ]<<<<<
	--Blackhawk <11-7-57/12:38:34>

*****Private: Blackhawk
>>>>>[ You worry to much my friend, he woun't be able to find us, the chip
makes it impossible.  As for Easy, she can and will be taken care of, I'll
simplely send a few of the team after her and poof, she's gone.  But you
are right we do need to step up the op, faking my death twice was hard
enough, I don't need for that breeder or his friends to find that I'm
still alive.  Besides I'd hate for our dear friend Don to find out that I
was his fiance, I mean after all I'm the one that made his brother into a
killer and a freak.  Find him and take him home, from there we'll bring
him back here and get started. ]<<<<<
	--Amber Snowmane <11-7-57/12:44:23>

*****PRIVATE:  Lilith

>>>>>[Thanks for being understanding on the last minute scrub of the
sim-run....  Anybody so much as throws a stone over the fence and CorpSec
has a tendency to want to clam up like an oyster.  Now go and have some
runners pull a job on a building a good hard stones throw away and I am
amazed they don't strip-search us on the way into and out of work--not
that one @$$#*!& hasn't been itching to try.  Would you believe that
somebody wanted Jenn to backup and blank her headwear at the end of the
day?  They said it was in case she was ever "taken."  Goddamnit, I saw the
look in his eye, and that wasn't the reason why.  Just 'cause she used to
run with an "antisocial element"--hell, they probably combined were some
of the hottest young minds on the west coast, and the most dangerous thing
they ever did was make the freeway signs broadcast poetry instead of the
traffic report--doesn't matter how good you are, how smart you are, to
some of these guys, you have a record, your rabble plain and simple.
Bastards.  At least the old man put a stop to the nightly brainwipe.

Jenn was acting strange the other night, but she didn't want to talk about
it.  I think she took a look at the trid-footage that razorgirl Easy put
on the open board.  I figure they set her down when she joined up and gave
her that, "Being part of our team can be a dangerous business" drill they
shove on all the suits so when the shit hits the turbine, they know to
duck and cover behind the nearest CorpSec, maybe even show them some nasty
pictures of what happens when you are stupid. But God, she's never seen
anything real, like that.  I mean, hell, I got the shakes bad that first
time when I got back to the tarmac and realized that I never did see the
other guy punch out when the AAM I sent up his tail turned his fighter
into so much steel confetti.  I trained for that, I know what I am in for,
and most of the time it comes down only one of you being able to come
home.  Jenn, for all her brains, is still as naive as a kid.  The same day
someone throws her once being a "ganger" in her face, she gets to come
home and watch somebody blow the brains out of some bangers for no other
reason than the bitch is fucking impatient.  What the hell am I going to
do?

Rhetorical goddamn question.

Back to business:  I'm finalizing a reschedule right now.  I don't think I
really have to ask you if you have clearance, but you two should probably
have your IDs in you back pockets on the way in and leave anything
"suspicious"  in the car or they may want to run you over with a fine
toothed comb coming and going.  Not that they won't anyway.  Just give me
a few days.]<<<<<
	-- Arashi  <16:03:38/11-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Combine found them.

+++++include location.dat

Move fast. I don't want any... outside interest in this, and I don't
want the cash flow disrupted. Getting Jalopy roadworthy is proving more
expensive than anticipated.]<<<<<
	-- Farmer <23:03:41/11-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Black Queen
>>>>>[Our sources have firmly located Dark Avenger and his associates at
>>location<<. A team will be despatched to secure him and his comrades.
Prepare to receive and interrogate prisoners. Use the following when
signing for the captives:

+++++include file: ID_one.dat

to prevent questions being asked: it will register as that of a
legitimate operative. We urgently require data on how severe the
compromise of our operation has been: provided you acquire that
information, other considerations are irrelevant.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <23:05:32/11-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Arashi
>>>>>[No problem on the delays. Lynch used to _be_ your security, many
many moons ago, so we understand completely.

As for the trideo... I know what you mean.

What can you do? The best I can suggest is to advise Jenny that, when
someone points a gun at you and asks questions, answer quickly and
politely. Some people are psychotic enough that they really do consider
.45-calibre lobotomies appropriate penalty for hesitation or rudeness,
especially _pour encourager les autres_.

I've met Easy, and she really has no comprehension that other people
exist except as moving, talking furniture. The idea that you or I might
have the same thoughts, dreams, whatever as her... she can't get it. Or
maybe she doesn't really care if she lives or dies, so why should anyone
else matter? In any case, if you're inconvenient enough, she'll kill
you. If not, you're safe. Refreshingly simple, at least.

I don't know what could have made her that way, she certainly wasn't
born thus. Nor do I care to find out.

Should we turn her in? Kill her? Leave her alone? I don't know, yet.
Should we play God and execute her, or leave her roaming the world?

More rhetorical questions, I guess.

Looking forward to the flying, anyway. Clearance? <laughter> Good
enough, and leave it at that, though doubtless your weenies will have
confidentiality agreements ready for us to sign as well.

As for "suspicious", well, depending on definition we'd need major
surgery to leave everything "suspicious" in the car... :) And try
telling me you're not as bad. We hadn't planned on bringing anything too
unusual beyond ourselves and a sidearm each.]<<<<<
	-- Lilith <02:10:24/11-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[ Well, Friend, I do believe we can help each other out. My Name is
Gregory Ellington, and I have this little problem.  There's a buddy of
mine, goes by the name of Chaz... in certain circles, he's known as
Rasta, or Maybe Stonekeeper. I recieved word from him 'bout two months
ago sayin' something about he was goin' into the Chicago CZ to get more
details on some kinda bug. He said he'd make contact once he reached the
Noose, and he'd head into the Shattergraves if he encountered anything
he couldn't deal with. I haven't heard from him since. Now then, Rosey
tells me that yer headin' up an excursion right into the heart of the
CZ, and y'all would have the best chance of findin' what happened to ol'
Chaz... I'd be much obliged if you could help me out, and in return, I
can offer my services should you ever need an old hand here in Seattle.
I'm sure we can work out specifics later, but time IS of the essence
here. The details are included in this mail drop, and I hope ta hear
from you soon... Also, Rosey says hi to you and yours, and she hopes ol'
Johnny has forgiven her for that mess back in Austin.
+++++include file: Chaz.dat
Thank you kindly for yer time.]<<<<<
	-- Thorn <13:23:52/11-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rosha, The Skull Bearer
>>>>>[Hmm, perhaps my estimate of the strength of the aforementioned
individual was a bit off.  I apologize but there is nothing I can do now.
What I can do is give you a little more info.

The name of the individual you were suppose to retrieve is Pavel Rastov.  He
is the son of an ex-KGB operative ( the son's father has been dead a while..).
 It was imperative that I retrieve some information he has stored on his 'Deck.
I can't stress how important this info is to certain parties.  Fortunately he
does not have the key to the data, so it sits there encrypted; waiting for him
to sit down and crack it.  I need the info back before he can try and crack it.

unfortunately, from my operatives, he is planning to leave the country; heading
back to Russia.  And with him goes the data.  I have procured the schedule he
is trying to keep.  Stop him.  I do not care if he is dead (preferably) but I
want the data.

+++++ include airport.schedule
+++++ include Pavel.Agenda
+++++ Transfer >encrypted< =Y=

I have also include some finances to help motivate you.  If you succeed, there
will be more.

Failure is not an option.  Poka.]<<<<<
	-- Vladamir Gorchek <19:05:32/11-8-57>

*****PRIVATE: Skull Bearer
>>>>>[OK.  Let's get this thing done this time.  Meet me at >>encrypted<<
t'plan the op.

+++++begin soundfile: wu-tang.aud
"I breaks ya down t'your bone bristle, nose-bleedin SCUD missile, heat-seekin
 Johnny-Blazin, nightmares like Wes Craven, niggaz gunnin, my third eye seen
 it comin', before it happened"

+++++end soundfile: wu-tang.aud

This time leave some f'r me, a'ight?]<<<<<
	-- Rosha  <20:25:11/11-08-57>

*****Private:Ms. Rosha
>>>>>[ill be there at >>time<< if that is alright.
what was the sound file for?
it sounded vaguely familiar
......................(extremely long pause)
...connection terminated due to inactivity]<<<<<
	-- The Skull Bearer <21:44:23/11-08-57>

*****PRIVATE:Emma
>>>>>[we will handle the pick up of the subject.
we are sending a team as we speak.
they will be executed after interrogation.]<<<<<
	-- Black Queen <03:30:57/11-9-57>

*****Internal:Black King
>>>>>[we have the location of the nuisance, >>location<<.
follow these orders. we don't want another bus incident so this time
we have included a little extra.]<<<<<
	-- Black Queen <03:35:21/11-9-57>

*****Internal:Kings Bishop
>>>>>[these are the requirements for the next mission
+++++include file: brief 02
be sure that they are supposed we want this done properly]<<<<<
	--Black King <03:39:29/11-9-57>

*****Internal:Queens Rook, Kings Knight, White Kings Bishop
>>>>>[i have just received the following brief.
we are going after the man known as DA.
we have his current location and reports indicate he is prepared for an
attack. this changes things slightly but we are using plenty of
resources so we should conquer with minor loses.
+++++include file: brief 02
White Bishop you need to make sure that all goes smoothly during the
preparation.  Rook you will have to be there at the engagement to handle
any un-for-seen difficulties. Knight you will command your usual squad
plus several other individuals from the white section.
lets not repeat the bus incident shall we.]<<<<<
	-- Black Kings Bishop <03:50:10/11-9-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[No sign of Evita in LA, Ronin is still down there, still looking.
I'm beginning to get worried. Did she leave anything usable for a ritual
detection spell?]<<<<<
	-- Ice <17:29:51/11-10-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[Yeah, M'worried, too.  Was lookin through m'exercise outfits ...
found a couple hairs on them.  They're probably Ev's cuz I've only
been practicin with her.  Ah can't help the send, but maybe this stuff'll
help ya find her.  We meeting at t'usual place?]<<<<<
	-- Rosha  <21:09:11/11-10-57>

>>>>>[ Well it has sure been an interesting day.  Based on the wide
range of topics covered, I think I'm going to fall back on the
recommendation handed to me.  If you wanted to know what went on, you
should have been there.

I have found out through some of my eyes and ears, that Black Knight
has managed to escape the Wanderer's grasp.  I think this is in part
due to putting together his trail.  At the beginning of the week, he
was in Pittsburgh paying some old debts that DragonEyes had acquired
when he went after the friendly church organization two years ago.
They were all butchered, but not before it was obvious that someone
messed with their minds real good.  From what I was able to garner from
a guy named 'Doc,' Archangel and some of his friends ran into the
Wanderer last night in Denver.  Checking out the area they battled in,
I would say all hell broke loose.  As far as I can tell, there were no
causalties asside from some drones.  Massive redecorating of local
landscape though.  Doc said they weren't able to bag anyone.  He also
made it clear that next time, they are just going to try and kill
DragonEyes because it is already too dangerous to try and worry about
taking anyone alive.

Apparently, about 10 hours ago, one of Archangel's associates found
Black Knight.  While the details aren't available as to how he escaped
(Archangel was pretty clear that he had nothing to do with it), Black
Knight is in no condition to return to the world of decking.  Our guess
is that DragonEyes got a hold of him and scrambled him.  *shudder*
Apparently, Black Knight's survival instinct is damn good, because the
shape he is in, its no small wonder at how he got out.  They must have
underestimated him.

A truce has been worked out with Whirlwind.  While I don't know the
details, it seems pretty clear that it was Shadowfox who pulled it off.
And that is all the news I have at this time.  Signing off. ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <21:51:47/11-10-57>

>>>>>[ Valentine, I have sent a bonded courier to you.  It isn't much,
but I hope you can put the money to good use.  Thanks again, for
helping me out.  (And thank you Gunner for disobeying an order!) ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <21:53:25/11-10-57>

>>>>>[ I should thank you for having the balls to rescue me like that.
And for the neat little toy you dumped in my lap.  I like it a lot.  A
sniper's wetdream.  Now if my wife would only let me use it. ]<<<<<
	--Gunner <21:54:51/11-10-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[ Hey man .. I've got a run that I'm setting up for right now, and I need
some hardware.  I was wondering if you might be able to refer me to someone
that can get me some hardware? ]<<<<<
	--Nomad <16:33:43/11-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Nomad
>>>>>[I guess it is safe to assume that you plan on staying in the shadows
for a while then.  Thats unfortunate, but it is your choice to do.

Depending on the nature of what you need, I might be able to get most of it.
But to make sure you are being taken care of like I want you to, I will put
you in contact with someone else who can fill most / all of your needs.

Treat him well, and he will treat you well.  Ill have him, if he has the time,
contact you.

Be well, young one.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <21:50:06 / 11-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: AJ
>>>>>[Nomad is a new comer, and a friend of a friend.  Rather than taking the
chance of him having to go out and make the mistakes that make or break a
runner, I'd like to smooth the way a bit for him.  Step one of
this is getting him in contact with those who can find the rare and not so
finable equipment needed in the shadows.  You are my first choice.  Do you
have the time?]<<<<<
	-- Kor <21:51:19 / 11-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Do not interfere.  He needs to learn and find his own paths.  He doesnt
know that you monitor my mail and this is already boardering on breaking a
confidence by not telling him.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <21:54:26 / 11-11-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[After a long discussion with Ratspeak, he and I have decided to
bury the hatchet.  What this means is that he is no longer a target of
oportunity.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <21:59:31 / 11-11-57>

>>>>>[ Welcome one and all to Doc Madness' 2057 Update to the Pananormal =
Animals of North America.

This is a new, regular feature you'll be seeing from time to time on
this BBS, wherin I, your fearless native guide will enlighten you about
all those nasty little critters waiting in the shadows to devour you.

Please, feel free to correct anything I get wrong here. Those of you
waging your own secret shadow wars against the various corps and
critters are sure to have more info than a street scientist like myself.
Your info could help save a life! (Geeez that even sounds corny to me.)

Let's start off with something simple . . . I know, how about the . . .

DEATH TOAD
Bombina Interfactus

IDENTIFICATION
The so called Death Toad is at first inspection nothing more than a
common toad
exhibiting traits of giantism.
Its body length averages 4 meters, and can weigh up to 400 kilos.
The toad can appear in a variety of colors, but mainly exhibits markings
of a dull
gray or green. This, combined with the mottled texture of the Death
Toads skin
lend to its often being mistaken for a large rock.

MAGIC CAPABILITY
None

HABITS
The Death Toad live primarily on a carnivorous diet consisting of small
mammals,
fish, and birds.
Active during the spring through early autumn, depending on the local
temperature.

COMMENTARY
The Death Toad is a fascinating example of giantism among awakened
species.
Some researchers wish to place the Death Toad in the dinosaur family due
to its
immense size, but genotyping does not confirm this theory.

POWERS
Concealment, Binding, Engulf (Some individuals in the species may
exhibit
Regeneration)

WEAKNESSES
Reduced Senses (Sight - movement based vision)]<<<<<
	-- Doc Madness <01:27:33/11-12-57>

>>>>>[How big did he say they get? Holy frag! Hook me up with some hot sa=
uce
mama! Were having frog legs tonight!]<<<<<
	-- Munch-Kin <05:52:22/11-12-57>

>>>>>[These things are a real danger in the swamps of southern Florida. 
They grow large enough there that the Engulf thing works exactly the
 way you think it does. Burp! Froggy snacks! I dig um!]<<<<<
	-- Kellogg <11:07:42/11-12-57>

>>>>>[Whats this binding thing the guide mentions? How about the movement
based vision?]<<<<<
	-- Seeker <13:13:13/11-12-57>

>>>>>[Its got a sticky tongue. If it nails you with it, its very hard to 
escape while the warty fragger pulls you into its maw. As far as the
vision, toads are primarily sit an wait hunters, only attacking something
that happens by them. As such, their vision is designed to detect 
moving object. If you hold very still, it might think that
youre just part of the scenery.]<<<<<
	-- Doc Madness <15:22:21/11-12-57>

>>>>>[Boggle]<<<<<
	-- #Id.Stamp.None.Formatted/TimeZone.Not.Recognised

***** PRIVATE: Skuff, Merrox, Priest, Trixie
>>>>>[ Do we pay attention, or do we flatline Ratshit if we have a chance?  I
guess it's obvious what my choice would be... ]<<<<<
	--Neuron Basher <11:23:20/11-12-57>

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[I'm not totally sure.  I remember some of what happened when
Jason first mentioned to me that he wanted him dead.  I know for a
fact that he knows Jason is Kor and has probably been Lording that over
him for a while.

It all started, I think, back when there was a mantis or some fraggin insect
attack on a Sam named PowerHouse (PH, for short) and, I think, Cerise, his
bride to be.  Most of this was actually posted to shadowland a year or
two (three?) ago.  He had just proposed to her over dinner and shortly there
after was cut down by these spirit forms.  You know how Jason is about
insects and toxics.  He immediately offered his services but didnt have an
'in' to the group working their angle.  He sent his SIN to them.  I didnt
get a chance to stop him.  He sent everything down to his frickin' shoe
size.  They accepted him with some reluctance.  Prolly due to the fact that
his SIN is mister white-bread good-two shoes.  After a bit of random crap
happening, there was a run into a place that I've be requested not
to talk about.  I've instructions of what to do with the footage that
came out of that if it is still where it is hidden 1 week after Jason / Kor`s
death is ever broadcast across shadowland.  I think Nightmare or Blitzkrieg
has been asked to retrieve it.  Well, anyway, Jas' went down casting some
huge spell in a hive environment  --  Blitzkrieg is the one that
literally carried his nearly dead body out.  This explains why Blitz showed up
on Jasons door step a few nights after his incident with Whirlwind.  A
lot of money changed hands as wells as a twilight trip to a shadow clininc
frequently used during heavy running times of old.

But thats not part of the current puzzle.  I dont know.  I know that it would
make him happy if Ratspeak were removed from the picture.  It would make all
of our lives safer.  Another piece to this puzzle is his recent meeting
with Whirlwind, Nightmare and the rest of the group.  If I read things
correctly, there was a big pow wow somewhere over the weekend, invite
only.  Ratspeak alluded to it in his post last night.  Since he knew, I
have to assume he was there.  Maybe they settled things or Jason
paid him off.  I dont know.  I've not talked with him.]<<<<<
	-- Skuff <17:54:48 / 11-12-57>

>>>>>[ I just received some interesting news.  Supposedly (and I don't know
how accurate this is), Archangel just had his first appointment with Black
Knight.

His diagnosis is:  "Assuming I can break the brainwashing, which will take
plenty of time, he can start to heal from his wounds.  No telling how long
it will take to heal from what he has been through.  I suspect Mister
Knight will never be the same.  He will remain in my care until I undo the
brainwashing.  At that time, I will transfer him over to a friend who
specializes in healing people who have been driven insane.  I also suspect
that he will never again visit here.  The damage was all done from a
combination of magic, technology, and good old-fashioned pain." ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <13:24:56/11-12-57>

>>>>>[ Do anyone know how to contact Archangel? ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <13:27:18/11-12-57>

>>>>>[ Not me.  My guess is possibly through here, but I honestly don't
know. ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <13:28:44/11-12-57>

>>>>>[ I think I can speak for most of the gang that is here with me on
this one.  We don't have the foggiest.  Possibly FireWraith knows, if
anyone can track her down again?  I doubt that though.  She didn't seem
aware of who Archangel was.  My past experience leads me to believe that he
will find us if he wants to.  For amusement sake, I tried doing a search on
all information on him.  With Sprinkler's help no less.  We came up empty.
I have a small lead on where one of his friends might be, but getting in
contact with him is a bit out of the realm of my resources.  And I wouldn't
dare ask some of our friends to front the resources that would be needed.
]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <13:31:47/11-12-57>

>>>>>[ That bad? ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <13:37:49/11-12/57>

>>>>>[ His sometime home is within Tir.  And he doesn't welcome visitors
from what I remember.]<<<<<
	-- Shadowfox <13:39:51/11-12-57>

>>>>>[ So what's so hard about that?

Shields and Midnight.  Here's a report I have written up for you.

+++++ attach signal.analysis
+++++ attach report

In the report, Shadowfox and I have tried to give you the data that will be
the most easiest to look into first.  In all likelihood, you will probably
find what you are looking for in the last group.  After looking at the data
for a few days, I decided that I would monitor the signal traffic coming
down from satellites, and possible transmission points from them.  I then
eliminated all known signals.  (From trid stations and other legal
sources).

I used that data to analyze the data we had previously obtained.  Pay
particular attention to the conclusion of the report.  We are pretty sure
that tracing the band ranges we have supplied will give you all sort of
interesting finds.  Probably most of which will get the average bloke
wraithed, so be careful.

As such, time for a shameless plug.  I have a pretty drek-hot algorithm for
doing signal analysis given wave samples taken from an area.  For a fee (to
be discussed as the situation dictates), I will be willing to take your
signal data and analyze it for you.  For a much larger fee, I'll give you a
compiled version of the code to run on a mainframe.  Be warned, you do need
a mainframe to run it on. ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <13:49:52/11-12-57>

>>>>>[I remember back when you only had to bribe the right people
to get licenses and other city paperwork in place, now it seems that
everyone and their mother is on the take down at the MetroPlex Halls.

After nearly a week of bribes, threats, and showing proof that we have
operating permits and licenses for all of our vehicles, people, AND
weapons, we are finally back on the air.

Hats off to whoever managed it.  It was fairly well done and actually
cost us money in the overall scheme of things.

On the upside of all of this, we've picked up a few new aces in the
hole.  There should be a press release in a couple of days or so
as soon as we solidify the workings of the current contract.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <22:30:15 / 11-12-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[One hopes that if any of the denizens of this board have savings
or (heaven forfend!) retirement plans, they were not invested with the
subject of this sorry tale.

+++++begin news item
FINANCIAL GROUP INSISTS "DEPOSITORS SAFE"
The directors of New York-based financial services group Esgar Mutual
reiterated their statement that all deposits and financial commitments
would continue to be honoured, as rumours continued to circulate that
they had been the victim of a major fraud that had wiped out nearly two
hundred million dollars of assets.

"If true, this is shocking news." said Wall Street analyst Jeri Ward.
"Esgar's intentions might be good, but without capital to back them,
they simply cannot support their customers. Thousands of small investors
and pensioners could face financial ruin here."

The fraud is believed to have been Matrix-based. InterPol are
investigating, but refused to release a statement. Customer alarm is
rising as withdrawals have been blocked and payments delayed, despite
management assurances that all is well.
+++++end news item

Doubtless, somewhere a decker is chortling over a "big score" and
congratulating him- or herself upon their skill and talent. So much
easier to destroy lives through the Matrix, where the retirement savings
of hundreds, the only wealth they possess, are merely an icon to be
downloaded; than it is to steal face-to-face. At least armed robbers
have the decency to face their victims.]<<<<<
	-- Footsie <20:13:32/11-12-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[It's got to be worth a try, Rosha. You sure they're hers? Silly
question, bring 'em anyway. Yeah, usual place, at >>time<<.

On another note, has L been sniffing around lately? I notice the payments
have started.]<<<<<
	-- Ice <16:37:32/11-12-57>

*****Private: Quickstep
>>>>>[We have set up the first safe house for our visitors,it looks as if
our little work on the watchers has done its work we have not been pestered
in the last few days.
Bear the tall amerind you met with me is en route to you with the building
plans and the security mesures we have set up. We also bought of one of the
local gangs to act as lookouts until we are ready to move in, if they spot
any snoops they will allert me.
Please contact Bull again and get a full list of what they are gona be
needing in the way of gear when they hit the city so we can begin the
shoping trip.
Work on the second safehouse will begin later this week shouldnt take more
than one of two days.If you need any more info than what ive placed on the
chip Bear has contact me eather here or through the Coffee house.Hang loose
and dont get cought.This message will self destruct in ten seconds (just
kidding:).]<<<<<
	-- Smudge<00:17:34/13-11-57>

>>>>>[Who are you calling indecent?  Half the time an armed robbery goes a muck
and then all you got is a bullet ridden corpse, and a quizzical look on a
Lone Star officer's face.  Gimme a break.  Besides, how do I know the guy I
wanna steal from is not some super-cybered-psycho just waiting to test out
his brand new >>insert name of favorite deadly weapon here<<.  Anyone can walk
up to you and say "gimme all your money or else".  At least we do it with
style.  Frag off.]<<<<<
	-- Phobos <19:45:21/11-12-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Kor
>>>>>[Sorry about the late response.  I've been busy in the clinic.  It seems
that all the sam-wannabes are getting their Christmas presents implanted
early this year.

I've got the time.  What are you looking for?]<<<<<
	-- Action Jackson <21:31:35/11-12-57>

***** PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[Nothing for myself, actually.  The friend I mentioned, Nomad, needs
to be outfitted.  Im going to step out of the loop and let the two
of you get together in anyway you see fit.

He's a novice, but he has potential.

I've been considering going back into the vat, do you have those facilities
available to you, or should I get this next augmentation legally?  I hate
having those trails following me all the time, however.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <18:10:19 / 11-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[Nope, haven't heard from L.  Who took on 'is assignment again?
V'been out the loop f'r a bit.  When's the next 'official' meet?  Aside
from locating Ev, I mean.]<<<<<
	-- Rosha  <14:30:54/11-12-57>

>>>>>[Mr (I assume) Phobos, you prove my point. You dare not steal for
real, because you're terrified that your victims might defend
themselves. Instead you steal electronically and call your cowardice
"style". Instead of depriving a passer-by of his spare cash and sellable
goods, you take away thirty or forty years of hard-earned savings, and
snigger to yourself at how "cool" you are.

Amaze me with what you spend the money you steal on. Good works? Helping
the starving? No, why bother? You robbed honest hardworking people, left
them destitute, and think it's stylish.

Go on, tell us why you need to steal such wealth. Startle us all with
the importance of your fiscal need. Expensive designer drugs? A
different-coloured Westwind for every day of the month? An entire
archipelago of Pacific islands?]<<<<<
	-- Footsie <21:30:26/11-13-57>

>>>>>[Actually, I wouldnt mind a small island to do research on.  Hey, Basher,
do you think you could steal me one of those?]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <23:13:36 / 11-13-57>

>>>>>[Sometimes I wish I had a different coloured westwind for every day of
the month. Let's see, there's green, red, ummm... black I guess, urban
camou, jungle camou... help me out here someone.]<<<<<
	-- Squatter <16:40:52/11-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[Wolfen was going to give L's assignment a try, but I haven't heard
anything from him about success or otherwise.

And I don't know about when the next meet is, [shrug] just whenever we next
happen to all be at the office at once, I guess.]<<<<<
	-- Ice <16:46:11/11-13-57>

>>>>>[You mean to say that you people _don't_ have designer cars for each
day of the month?  Well, I guess it's understandable.  After all, very few
people could ever be as stylish as us.

A lot of people have been asking where we've been for the last month.  We
can't tell, but if you were really in the loop, you would already know.
Of course, you might be able to find some hints in next month's issue of
Ultra Dangerous People Quarterly.]<<<<<
	-- Jen & Gabe <18:06:11/11-13-57>

>>>>>[How would I get a subscription to Ultra Dangerous People
Quarterly?]<<<<<
	-- Squatter <17:12:55/11-13-57>

>>>>>[You just have to ask at one of the better news stands in the Redmond
area.  You could also fill out the form in last month's issue of the Jen &
Gabe fan club letter.]<<<<<
	-- Jen & Gabe <18:27:11/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ Lord, spare us from your fanatics (like the Wanderer).

While you're at it, spare us from your idiots as well.  Fan club -- HA!
I'll give you a fraggin' fan club .... ]<<<<<
	--Blitzkrieg <18:36:54/11-13-57>

***** Not to: Jen & Gabe
>>>>>[ Just say the word. ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <18:37:00/11-13-57>

***** Not to: Jen & Gabe
>>>>>[ Let's wait for a BORING, rainy day.]<<<<<
	-- Blitzkrieg <18:41:10/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ In Seattle that wouldn't be hard. ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <18:42:54/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ Damn straight.  No news from the kiddos. ]<<<<<
	--Blitzkrieg <18:43:33/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ Nothing worth mentioning over here either. ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <18:46:04/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ Silent Night .... holy night.  All is well, all is quiet....

as a tomb that is.  I have just flatlined yet another decker.  I wonder how
many more will come.  One thing for sure, gives me a chance to test out
some more toys. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <18:49:13/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ You enjoy your job too much, Scourge. ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <18:49:42/11-13-57>

>>>>>[ Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <18:50:17/11-13-57>

>>>>>[Hey, J&G, I think I lost my secret decoder ring; can I get a new one?
Puhhlease.]<<<<<
	-- Phobos <19:51:12/11-13-57>

>>>>>[Listen Fetish Foot, if your looking for sympathy I think you came to
the wrong node.  Try Losers-R-Us.  Actually I don't need an island, or a car.
I do it because it pays the bills and I actually have a knack for it.  Though
I think I might join a clergy now.  thank you, you've pointed me in the right
direction.  Puuuhlease.  Might I ask how you plan to carry on your battle
against the evils of 2057?  Most of the people I have stolen from can afford
a few less =Y=.  Perhaps I should start looking into the Private sector...
Hmm.]<<<<<
	-- Phobos <20:02:12/11-13-57>

>>>>>[You _LOST_ your secret decoder ring?  Shame on you, there are people
in Denver that don't have them yet.  Our suppliers just can't seem to keep
up with demand.  You'll just have to wait your turn and save up proofs of
purchase to get another one.]<<<<<
	-- Jen & Gabe <19:37:11/11-13-57>

>>>>>[Children, the number of your vehicles denotes little except a
vulgar ostentation. One or two really excellent vehicles are far
superior. Besides, from what we've seen of your driving, you need one
for every day of the month, since most of them are under repair at any
given time. The pedal on the left makes you slow down, does that help at
all?

And where were you last month? How should we know? We only keep track of
people who have the capability to pose a threat. The only danger you
pose is that we'll bust guts laughing at you.]<<<<<
	-- Lilith <00:50:36/11-14-57>

>>>>>[Oh oh oh...I think we hit a nerve.  Lilith dear, you're
rationalizing things again.  It's ok though, we've seen you drive,
so I guess we understand were you're coming from.]<<<<<
	-- Jen & Gabe <19:52:11/11-13-57>

*****Not to: Jen&Gabe
>>>>>[sorry to ask but just who the frag are these two jokers from what ive
read from them it seems that they are a pair of Wannabees with delusions of
grandeour.
I get the feeling that they could not be trusted to fight thier way out of a
paper box.
Much less take part in a shadowrun. I mean COMMON Fan club and some Scream
sheet for wannabees ugh i liked the shadows better before we became a
fashion Item ]<<<<<
	--Smudge <06:12:54/11-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: Smudge
>>>>>[I think that I found a location that would be suitable for a
second safe house. I'd like to meet you at place #4 we agreed upon
the last time we met sometime tomorrow night.

I would also suggest that we don't sepparate again after this meet,
I'd prefer to have someone who watches my butt while I'm jacked in.
So please be prepared for a longer ... vacation.<g>]<<<<<
	-- QuickStep <11:23:10/11-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[Smudge and Bear set up the first safe house, we are about to
prepare the second one sometime this weekend. If you'd like to have
more data on it, I suggest that we arrange for a meet in the matrix.
I am not going to send this stuff out to ShadowLand.

Furthermore, we plan to go shopping next week. So if there is anything
you guys would like to have waiting for you in Seattle, just let us
know.]<<<<<
	-- QuickStep <12:17:03/11-14-57>

>>>>We need a Decker for a high security penetration Op in the
FRFZ. Any talented applications will be considered. Access Interlaken
Bank of Switzerland deposit file Nr. 4563 8857 3951 for further info
and initial meeting point/time. We assume that if you can get in you
will be worth it. Physical penetration necessary, so keep it
local.<<<<<
 - Vyper (15:36:14/11-15-57)

>>>> Has anyone seen Mad Dog recently? I have been trying to contact
him but I cannot get hold of him. Any viable Information shall be
considered a personal favour.<<<<<
 - Vyper (15:54:03/11-15-57)

>>>>> I`ve heard he`s in Newark, but I won`t tell ya more until I
know what you want with`em.<<<<<
 - Anon (22:12:46/11-15-57)

>>>>> He was part of my former team and I need his assistance with a
project that is going to ensue shortly. Have you got any more
specific Information?<<<<<
 - Vyper (22:13:55/11-15-57)

>>>>> Contact UCAS/NEW/354 557 892 and ask for extension number
3365.<<<<<
 - [P--rk--r] at [UCASOL.COM] (23:12:44/11-15-57)

>>>>>[ Squatter, just be more dangerous then the only other persons in there.
Like, beat up a rat. Or, switch on a tortoise.

Sorry, people, but if I read anything else 'bout how fraggin' "stylish" or
"in" or -spirits beware- "cool" something is, I gonna puke. I thought this was
a place for capable people? Who left open that backdoor again?

Now, may we come back to work? Danke. ]<<<<<
	--Orion <13:22:00/11-14-57>

>>>>>[  I don't know about the rest, but the archipelago sounds kinda nice...
sign me up! <chuckle> ]<<<<<
	-- Neuron Basher <10:03:25/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ I'll work on it, Jason.  Having an island might be fun.. need to make
sure it's in international waters though.  Decker paradise. ]<<<<<
	--Neuron Basher <10:07:31/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ 'fox, you got work for me, or am I finally free to pick up some
independent jobs? ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <08:37:45/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ Depends.  Swing on by and I'll explain.  By the way, how's Laura?
]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <08:40:13/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ You know, I don't know whether to thank you or kill you for that
"clean biz meet" a while back.  She's quite fine, I assure you. ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <08:41:26/11-4-57>

***** INTERNAL: Black King
>>>>>[ Sir, they made a mistake. They do use a formerly known
meeting point. Team Alpha is already moving in, and I informed
TacOps two.]<<<<<
	-- Kings Pawn 3 <18:16:21/11-14-57>

***** INTERNAL: Kings Pawn 3
>>>>>[ Continue as pre-planned. Send update when avaliable]<<<<<
	-- Black King <18:19:21/11-14-57>

***** PUBLIC: Newsnet Downlink
>>>>>[
AMTRAK ASSURES SAFETY

C. Weisse, PR Spokeman for Amtrak states on a public press conference that all
traces of the computer virus that affected the price calculation routines of
the Amtrak public transportation system were found and terminated. The
security of Amtrak's railways were to no time affected, stresses Weisse.

It is still unknown who planted the Virus program into the Amtrak system, or
for what reason, but "we are following several traces," says Lt. Burke from
Lonestar Matrix Security (GridSec). ]<<<<<
	--Newsnet <18:30:51/11-14-57>

>>>>>[You two clowns couldn't hit a barn door with a minigun, so how
could you hit a nerve?

Your egotism is inversely proportional to your talent, unfortunately.
We've seen you in action. Want to race, children? (I guarantee the
answer will be "no".)]<<<<<
	-- Lilith <17:05:42/11-14-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion Force Internal Email
>>>>>[

+++++ Message-From: Canis
+++++      Subject: Bubba pickup...

People, we ARE COMING HOME! Hope you haven't moved - again. We
are running, to be more precise. We were trapped, but as far as
I can tell right now have taken no casualities.

Here comes what Harkion and I have managed to cut together in a
few mins to show you what happend. Sorry if there are no flashy
transitions between takes, no time.

+++++ Begin Download: Trap.mov
The picture displays an elf at a bar table, and is shot from
above and outside through a window. The elf is Orion, and as the
camera swerves, Hamish and Minx can be seen at a nearby table.
The camera returns to Orion, and Canis' voice can be heared on
radio, saying "Hamish, I hope this is coffee I see you drinking,
and not some /cultural ethnic stuff/" - Canis manges to speak in
italics actually - "like Guinness or such..." He is interrupted
by Harkions voice that is much less distorted by the radio as he
says "These two might be the ones we are waiting for."

"Tank, how're ya doin'?" Canis asks.

"I am fine," a formerly unknow voice cuts in.

Two figures approach Orion's table. "Hiya," a slightly distorted
voice says while the words "Laser Mike" flash at the bottom of
the screen, "I am Bubba, 'n ya..." "Welcome, Bubba. I am Orion,
and that is IronMan I suppos..." A zoom to the figure in a long
trench with a hat on makes obvious what made Orion stop so
surprised, as it reveals metal where flesh should have been.
Either this is one of the most cybered person's you've ever
seen, or... "A fraggin' robot! Another fraggin' ROBOT!" Hamish
confirms your thought over radio.

"Please sit down," Orion invites the newcomers. Suddenly the
picture freezes. Harkion's voice informs you "Look to the three
details I will enlarge for you..." Three frams show people
getting up at the bar and two tables, one obviously raching for
a weapon. "We didn't see this right then, unfortunately." Canis
adds, "And since these didn't know who Minx was, her spell to
find enemies didn't ring any bells, too, we suppose. Too bad."

The picture changes aprubtly to inside the cafe. Orion, Bubba
amd 'IronMan' can be seen from behind, and half of both Nodoze
and Hamish can be seen on the slightly unfocused edge of the
picture, while Minx is not in view. The words "Cybercam
Recording" are blinking at the lower edge. Suddenly, as both
Bubba and IronMan are about to sit down, several people dart
toward them, Pistols and SMGs at the ready, and yell "Stop, you
are under arrest!"

"Wha... bu..." Canis' statement comes similar to the crash when
Hamish vanishes from Harkion's sight as he drops behind a now
turned table. From the edge of vishion the camera sees Minx
diving under another table. At Orion's table, everyone seems
surprised, but Orion grabs a longish bundle and tears at the
holdings while dropping over with his chair backward. IronMan
pulls out a large pistol from under his trench.

"I said Stop!" screams one of the attackers, and fires his Predator
at where Orion would have been hadn't he moved. Another one
turned to Hamish-behind-the-table and fires a burst from his SMG
at the sturdy plasic. What the others do can't be seen, since
Harkion makes a big jump behind the bar.

When the picture again shows anything but the cafe's floor, it
is again from the outside. Crosshairs aim at an attacker with a
SMG, while Orion can be seen charging at another, a large blade
risen high for attack. The panicked bursts of his opponent just
manage to hit the window, which shows a nice pattern afterwards.
Just as Canis fires at his target, a black van stops in front of
the Cafe, and both IronMan's "meat-voice" and Turbo's voice yell
through the radio "Contact!" - "Incoming!".

As the glass goes down, it becomes obvious Canis missed his
target, which now leaps for cover with an enourmous jump. A
quick movement shows Bubba who's charging the enemy with arms
spread in nearly-perfect football manner. His opponent obviously
though him to either give up or draw a weapon, and fires too
high before he is tackled to the ground with a crash. The
metallic IronMan uses the opportunity to fire a burst from his
strange pistol at someone who can't be seen by the camera right
now.

From inside the bar screams and small arms fire can be heared
that indicate a real chaos.

The picture freezes, as Canis informs you "We will now show you
what happened OUTSIDE. Thereafter will come Harkion's cybercam
take of what was INSIDE."

As the black van's door slides open, several people in security
armor jump out in military-like style. The first one fires
something at the door, which bursts open with a loud bang, then
jumps aside to let his fellows pass. These run into the Cafe,
while Turbo announces via radio "More enemies arriving!" from
the edge of vision, the camera sees a F-C Bison openening fire
from several small turrets at the black van and the troopers.
The one who shot the door open goes down besides the door, the
back of his armor all cracked and blood-stained. A Westwind
powers up and starts turning, nearly on the spot. On the black
van a turret appears suddenly.

"Marvin, EMERGENCY!" yells Harkion on the radio.

Canis fires a shot at the first of the amored people who's just
visible at the bar, and you see flesh, blood and bits of armor
spread from where the bullets leaves the corpse-to-be as he
falls down. Anything else inside is just a chaotic,
indistinguable blurr.

There is a short burst of static, then the recording changes to
someone just peering over a bar, a light pistol held out before
him. "More enemies arriving!" Tank reports, then there is some
explosion to the right. Harkion looks up just in time to see the
first of the armored troopers charge the bar and opening fire
with his Kalashnikov at a man and a woman who were running for
the exit and now are cut down immediately in a cloud of blood
and tissue.

The inside of the bar look chaotic. Hamish just looks over the
table he had turned and fires with two guns, downing at least
one of the "original" attackers Harkion can see, while Minx from
under the table makes a gesture toward an armored trooper, who
sways and slowly topples over, first by falling to his knees,
then completly.

Just as Bubba, still on his knees over the enemiy he tackled and
who now looks quite unconscious, grabs the Ingram, the an
attacker readies a weapon on him. There's a flash directly in
front of the camera, and you can just see through the flare
compensation how Harkion's gun rocks and the Bubba-Killer-
Wannabe spinning to the ground. Nodoze can be seen to the left,
firing at the newcomers from the edge of the bar with some
pistol with burst capacity.

As the trooper who has shot down the civilians is hit by
something that spreads some of his anatomy where it doesn't
belong, harkion slightly turns his head to avoid being the
splatter, and sees Orion decapitate his bleeding opponent with a
final slash. The metallic IronMan keeps firing, without any
expression on his... faceplate.

"Marvin, EMERGENCY!" Harkion yells, and a message scrolls
through his vision, stating "Marvin - Emergency Rescue Program
Activated. Use Personal Code To Deactivate," with each word on a
seperate row.

One of the armored troopers yells "Magician active!" and takes
cover, while the others try to spread out in the bar and fire at
anyone still up and some more. Two people fire at Orion, but one
of them was obviously the target of a spell fired by Minx that
occupies his attention enough to make him miss, and the other
finds it difficult to hit someone just somersaulting over a
nearby table, but some blood spraying indicates he's good enough
to make the hit somehow.

On the radio, Canis screams "Take it DOWN, Okami!", although
this is probably not meant to go out by radio.

Inside, one of the troopers who already has taken cover screams
"Green coming," and from behind his cover a grenade comes
flying, bouncing in the middle of the room. By coincidence, this
nearly the exact time where Orion, who's now crouching with
Harkion behind the table, yells "Nimm dies, Arschloch!" (a
blinking line at the bottom of the picture states: "Foreign
language: German: Take this, asshole") and throws a grenade
towards the attackers. Besides him, Hamish keeps firing double-
handed, as does Nodoze from the edge of the bar. Another
attacker goes down by their joined force.

Another burst of static. The road outside has turned into a
battlefield, too. The Bison keeps firing at the van, which by
now returns fire. The Westwind has managed to turn completly -
its tires are still smoking - and opened fire with a gun the
manufacturer doesn't deliver normally with this car, also at the
black van. So far neither side managed to damage each other
dramatically.

Right in front of the camera, a humanoid figure starts
manifesting. It looks like the things known as Golems in some
religions, but seem to be fighting a large wolf that also
manifests. "Take it DOWN, Okami!", a voice both on radio and the
recorder yells, barley recognizeable as Canis'.

The camera does a roll to the right. When the picture steadies
again, you see the back door of a Nomad camper fly open, and a
vaguely humanoid, metallic shape charge toward the Cafe's door.
Unfortunatly, the troopers outside had the same idea, and
suddenly four troopers and one robot are what can't be described
but as knot.

Inside, the cowering shape of Bubba can be seen who fires a SMG
at someone further inside. Suddenly there's a flash inside, and
smoke spreads out through the door and window. Screams can be
heared, both on radio and voice.

Canis yells "Orion, spirit incoming, about... NOW!" and there's
another burst of static just after the camera moves forward and
down in a smooth motion.

You see an armored trooper being shoved away viciously by an
metallic... arm of sorts, then the camera moves through a door.
There is no sound with this, making the scenery somewhat
ghostly. While the words "Recording Engaged. Activating
Thermographic Vision" scroll through the recording, you make out
several red humanoid shapes from which small white lances leap
occasionally. "Fire Detected. Activating Program: Lab Emergency.
Activating Routine: Fire." Reads the text now. Suddenly a large,
white, about humanoid shape becomes visible where just a moment
before was nothing. "Flame Center Detected. Extinguishing." You
informed by the scrolling text.

Another burst of static, then Harkion's camera shows you a
smoke-filled room. The words "LLE active. IRE active." are
blinking at the bottom of the picture. Sometimes there are
speckles of static in the vision.

You can see a firey human shape manifesting in the middle of the
room, then something that must have been thrown from somewhere
to your left hits it, making it cringe for a moment. After this
moment, you see Nodoze attack the shape with a sword, while from
the left a robot moves at high speed toward it, foaming it with
what seems to be a build-in fire extinguisher while spraying its
foam on all muzzle blasts on its way. The robot keeps yelling
"Fire Alert! Get out immediately!" in a high, pitching voice.
Then you can't make out anything, since fire and foam hide
whatever happens there from you.

To the right, a trooper looks above his cover, makes a gesture,
and throws something that hasn't been there a moment ago at
Nodoze. It looks like a really nasty spell, probably acid of
some kind. Suddenly the ball stops in mid-air, a behavior not
normally known of spells. The enemy magician gasps in surprise
as for a moment the figure of a woman is just barely,
transparent, visible, and raises slightly more over his cover.
An obvious mistake, since Minx takes him out with a well aimed
shot in the forehead that shatters his helmet. The magician, the
shape of the woman, and the dangerously looking ball all vanish.

Bubba fires continiously at the troopers and forces them to keep
cover.

Just as the shape of an enourmous creature that looks like a
two-meter-wasp starts manifesting, both Orion and Hamish charge
over their cover, attacking it. Orion screams "Yea... shit,"
then hits the wasp katana-first, while Hamish screams something
you don't understand (a line at the bottom informs you: "Foreign
Language: Unknown Language."), and does a good swing with his
traditional scotish sword, the claymore. As the fight continues,
Orion curses on radio "You should *cough* have TOLD me *heavy
breathing* a BUG spirit!"

A short burst of static, then "...BUG spirit" can be heared, and
now the picture is street level outside the cafe. As the picture
rocks shortly, the front windshield of the black van vaporizes.
From the right, the Westwind uses this chance to fire a leadhose
into the driver's cabin, which produces red sprinkles on the
passengers window. The van's MG in the turret stops firing. To
the left, the Bison disassembles the van's rear with its steady
shooting.

"Let's move!" radios Turbo, and "Get out!" Canis while the
camera moves quickly and shakily toward the open back door of
the Nomad.
+++++ EOF
+++++ Done Downloading: Trap.mov

We made it all out.

Orion is wounded, but I think I will be able to heal him once
this is out. Minx got a few bruises, and I think IronMan's car
will need a bit more then new color, but don't know yet. The
rest of us is quite well, apart from some bruises and minor
cuts.

We are coming home. Tell the boys at the entrance my car will be
first, then the Westwind, then the Bison. And we will NOT stop
for passwords!

  Canis ]<<<<<
	-- IF Mailer Daemon <18:26:45/11-14-57>

***** PUBLIC: NEWSBlips Feed
>>>>>[ Welcome to NEWSBlips, your instant
[Data Loss: 0.1 Mp]

BLIP
Terrorist attack at Cafe in Denver

A terrorist attack was made upon a small cafe in Denver, the
"Swutsch". All present customers were killed violently. "With
the lots of Shadowrunners the CZ attracks, military style
attacks like this are always possible," says Captain Jackson
from the Military Police in a first statement. "We strongly
suspect shadowrunners to have done this. 'Twas a massaker!"
]<<<<<
	--NewsBlip Feed <18:41:21/11-14-57>

***** INTERNAL: Black King
>>>>>[ Sir,

We met unexpected resistance. Team Alpha suffered 100% casualities,
either severely wounded or dead, and TacOps2 couldn't stop the enemy
from escaping. We had to use... our special resources, and that was
downed, too. TacOps2 didn't leave any witnesses behind, and Black Pawn
4 already blamed the incident to be initiated byShadowrunners through
police channels. ]<<<<<
	--Black Pawn 3 <18:42:23/11-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: Black Queen
>>>>>[ My Queen,

they escaped again. The help you offered wasn't strong enough to
hold them. We need more magical backup next time, they seem to
have hired capable magicians. ]<<<<<
	--Black King <18:47:14/11-14-57>

>>>>>[Smudge, Jen and Gabe are a pair of shadowrunner wannabees who get
their kicks hanging around here and spouting nonsense. The only run
they've ever been linked to was such an unmitigated disaster they still
insist it wasn't them.

Apparently, they are so super-secret that no shadowrunner, corporation
or government agency knows about anything they do, because none of us
read Ultra-Dangerous People Quarterly.

Just consider them comic relief and treat them accordingly, or ignore
them. Never, though, expect them to make good on any of their
claims.]<<<<<
	-- Lilith <17:12:52/11-14-57>

*****NOT To :Jen & gabe
>>>>>[So-Ka lilith, Ill try to Ignore these slag heaps.Of course if someone
could
Give me some inkling of were they hold themselfs i just might be tempted to
play a little trick on them I and Otter like jokes]<<<<<
	--Smudge<01:21:23/11-15-57>

>>>>>[My, my. The story that probably dwells behind such an innocuous-
seeming item of news. Whoever is responsible, there are a great many
people in your debt.

+++++begin news item
ESGAR MUTUAL SHARES RECOVER AS FRAUDSTER CHARGED
Share prices for the troubled Esgar Mutual financial group rallied this
morning in brisk trading, as it was announced that Charles Norton Price,
formery of Fuchi Financial Services, was being held in UCAS custody on
various charges relating to the near-collapse of EM.

Fuchi distanced itself from Price's actions, saying he had acted without
authorisation and evaded supervisory controls, and announced that
compensation and a schedule for repayment of the stolen funds were being
negotiated. "Fuchi deplores the action of this renegade, who subverted
our systems for personal gain and undermined the stability of the free
market we all depend upon."

"This is excellent news." declared the chairman of EM. "We can guarantee
our investors will continue to receive the fine service they have been
accustomed to with Esgar Mutual."
+++++end news item

No mention of how a senior Fuchi trader managed to end up "in UCAS
custody", charged, and apparently part-way through his trial less than
seventy-two hours after the first hint of trouble at EM.

I admit, my cynicism is slightly dispelled. I had not expected the
perpetrator of this deed to ever be brought to justice.]<<<<<
	-- Footsie <23:04:31/11-14-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: 1Lt Lynch, 1Lt Lynch
You know, you two will get busted by the SEC for insider training one
day. But I'll cover for you if you do... but only if Lynch sends me his
tapes of him playing Hendrix.

Nice bust, anyway. Especially you, Lilith <fnarr fnarr>]<<<<<
	-- Sgt J S Karlsbruhn <Sergeant:Peppers:Lonely/Hearts-Club-Band>
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

*****PRIVATE: The Two Jakes
>>>>>[Jake, has someone let you at the Jolt Cola again?]<<<<<
	-- 1Lt L R W Lynch <23:13:31/11-14-57>
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

>>>>>[Hey Doc Madness...

Where'd ya say you saw that frog?  Sounds like a critter I need to add to my
trophy collection.

And he might make a nice set 'o luggage.]<<<<<
	-- Mac <22:33:19/11-14-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Quickstep
>>>>>[Hey there, QS...  Good work.

Things are pretty busy around here...  I'll get back to ya about the meet in
a day or two.

As for supplies, do you know a good discount arms dealer?  If not, i can
recommend one to ya.  I think he's working out of Seattle these days, usually.

His name's Goober, and you can contact him at >>encrypted<<.  Tell him I
sent you.  I'll let him know you might be contacting him.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <02:45:21/11-15-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Goober
>>>>>[Goob, I sent some business your way.  Name's Quickstep, and he's a
decker.  He's ok.  Thanks for the shipment we got.  It'll come in real
handy.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <02:48:23/11-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[Jay ... got some stuff t'tell ya about the Skull guy.  When'n where
do we meet?]<<<<<
	-- Rosha  <08:23:22 PST/11-14-57>

*****PRIVATE:Mr.  Gorchek
>>>>>[We attained the deck as you requested however Mr. Rastov managed
to escape.  Here is what occurred.
+++++Begin video:003
The picture fades in to show the front of a two story residential home
looking like a prefab.  It looks to be late at night as no traffic is
seen.  A raspy voice breaks in and the camera spins to the left to show
the vague shape of a small male ork, he jumps slightly at the
quick movement of the camera.
"did I startle ya skull'y, didn't mean too, we should move"
a slight nod of the camera and they begin to cross the street
" 'member the plan.  Y'draw some 'tention fr'm s'guards n'I'll
nab da bznitch."
just as the view closes in on the door it changes to thermographic and
several bodies can be seen inside and throughout the house, most seem
asleep but two are at a table playing cards it appears.
"two awake possible three, 6 altogether."
"Perfecto"  says the ork "Estas listo?"
without waiting for a reply the door is opened slowly and you see Rosha
pull out several small blades. the two men at the table slump down in
their chairs as their heads seem to pop. a metallic hand with a
retractable mount is seen lowered from the picture as Rosha spins around
with a very surprised and afraid look on his face. he barley controls
his whispers.
"Y'didn't tell me 'bout those!  Jesu Christo--what a mess!!  Don do that
'round me again!  Comprende?"
the camera simple looks at her and then continues toward three more in a
separate room. Rosha climbs the stairs and disappears from view.
as the door the picture is meet be several rounds from what appeared to
be a light machine gun. the camera staggers back a bit from the shots as
several pings are heard. then there is the loud sound of hydraulics and
the camera switches to low lite.
one man covered in a silvery dermal sheath is in the corner shoving
another magazine into a gun a look of fear on his face as he looks
toward the camera.
one of the other men is grabbing a rifle of some sort and the other is
charging forward.
with a loud hiss the one in the corner is torn apart by a spray of
bullets. then the camera is face to face with the one charging.
the man and what is known as Skully seem to be grappling with each
other. the camera scans over the man and it is evident even with the
skin coating on the his arms they are very cybered and the same size as
skully's just not all metal looking. a scream is heard upstairs and the
man with the rifle runs out a second door toward the stairs. the man in
front of the camera is cursing and trying to throw skully into a wall.
suddenly his face changes as he lowers to his knees he is in pain, and
his arms are starting to flex backwards something normally not natural.
a snap is heard as his arm touch behind him and his spine begins to
protrude through the front of his neck.
"Skully! He's runnin at you!!"  Rosha yells
somewhere of camera and the view rushes toward the stairs.
"Skully!  He's runnin at you!!"
a man rushes down the stairs holding a deck in one arm, the one with the
rifle fails over the railing with a blade pierced through his neck.
another blade hits the man running in the arm and he drops the deck he
then looks toward the camera and jumps over the side of the stairs and
heads for the door. a metal arm raises into view and several words begin
to flash across the screen.
"proximity error subject Rosha in immediate area.
system error, damaged equipment, malfunction, malfuction."
the view does a quick close up of the arm and you can see several wires
exposed and broken and the door where the gun is housed is severally
bent. the camera moves to the door only too see the man jump into a car
stopped at a nearby traffic light and then speed away.
"how could you let him get away"
Rosha screams toward the camera
the only answer skully can say is,
"I was unable to fire,...  I seem to be damaged."
"Frag'it We got the deck.  Lessee f'we can get y'fixed."
+++++end video:003
I apologize for my in-adequateness sir and hope this does not affect our
business together.]<<<<<
	-- The Skull Bearer <21:56:38/14-11-57>

*****INTERNAL:Black King
>>>>>[Sire, we were victorious.  The opposition fought bravely but feel to our 
mass numbers.  I recommend several accommodations for what transpired.  
We lost approximately one-third of our force as predicted.
The used explosives and claymore mines to slow us, but I feel they
didn't count on a dedicated opposition.  We have captured six
individuals and are currently taking them to interrogation, shall we
follow procedure and use them as new host?  Also we were able to damage
their supply line by hitting the suppliers themselves, we have not
confirmed any of their deaths but they are assumed to survive. We
confiscated a large stockpile of weapons and equipment for future use.
this was a well placed strike sir and the victory has helped the moral
of our troops.]<<<<<
	-- Black Rook <22:27:49/14-11-57>

*****INTERNAL:Black Queen
>>>>>[we have attained a victory.
+++++include: rook file 1
the next strike draws close and we will begin preparations
we will have our victory yet my queen.]<<<<<
	-- Black King <22:32:10/14-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Skull guy?  Im not sure I follow.

As to a meeting  --  Tomorrow?  Later tonight?  Your call, Im available
if you feel this is important.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <05:58:29 / 11-15-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

*****PRIVATE:  Kor
>>>>>[Do I have vat facilities?  Nope, none at all.  Of course, I have the
nanite farms, DNA/RNA viral injectors for nanite reprogramming,
nutrient vats, DNA/RNA sequencer, custom protein synthesizers, and a
copy of all of Wizard's Bionetic/Cybernetic augmentation research and
development data.

Nope, nope, can't do anything dealing with a vat.  (grin)

Just tell me what you want and I'll have it ready for you.

I'll be in contact with Nomad ASAP.]<<<<<
	-- Action Jackson <00:33:42/11-15-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Nomad
>>>>>[Kor informed me that you might be needing a lot of gear.

What, specifically, do you need, and ho soon do you need it?  I can get you
almost anything, with enough time and money.]<<<<<
	-- Action Jackson <00:35:20/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Oh oh...I think we've really got dear little Lilith's fur up!
Unfortunately for those of you who seem so interested in seeing us in
action, we don't do public appreances.  Real pros don't feel the need to
post their every little waking action for all the world to see.  (We're
called "Shadow"runners for a reason kids, mabye someday you'll get
it.)]<<<<<
	-- Jen & Gabe <03:48:42/11-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R Stormwind
>>>>>[V'got a lead n'a guy that couldda hit Cass!!  R'nt ya still lookin'
f'r him?  Yeah, t'night s'def'nitely d'best.  Where at?]<<<<<
	-- Rosha  <08:21:33 -0800/15-NOV-57>

>>>>>[My dear Footsie, where ever did you get the ignoble Idea that we
stole from honest hard-working people. We know who we steal from dear,
and they are just as dishonest as you would have us made out to be. What
we do is try to even the score for ourselves. We take our skills and
write programs for them, or we take programs from them and do what we
will with them. We trade in "honesty" and the corporations for
"dishonesty, theft and cowardice" and FREEDOM! No one owns me anymore my
dear, and mnever again will they. The corporations run your lives, and
you don't even see it. Thats ignorance my dear, you should try a little
harder to guard against it. After all, who listens to an ignorant
reporter?]<<<<<
	-- Matrix Jockey  <08:57:43/57>

>>>>>[ 'fox, you got work for me, or am I finally free to pick up some
independent jobs? ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <08:37:45/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ Depends.  Swing on by and I'll explain.  By the way, how's Laura?
]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <08:40:13/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ You know, I don't know whether to thank you or kill you for that
"clean biz meet" a while back.  She's quite fine, I assure you. ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <08:41:26/11-4-57>

>>>>>[ Clean biz meat? Sounds interesting, what`s the scan?]<<<<<
	-- Tungstein <12:56:23/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ Squatter, just be more dangerous then the only other persons in there.
Like, beat up a rat. Or, switch on a tortoise.

Sorry, people, but if I read anything else 'bout how fraggin' "stylish" or
"in" or -spirits beware- "cool" something is, I gonna puke. I thought this was
a place for capable people? Who left open that backdoor again?

Now, may we come back to work? Danke. ]<<<<<
	--Orion <13:22:00/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ Cool off, Orion. Those too concerned with style will weed
themselves out in time. Apropos work, interested in some
international biz? I`m gonna ride shotgun on some toy or other over
to Europe and I could need some company. Contact me on 0.4 MB
DELETED BY SYSOP ]<<<<<
	-- Sturmvogel <23:10:34/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ Talk about unproffesional; Leaving your Comm-number on a BBS.
For heavens sake, we`re not the only ones here. ]<<<<<
	--SysOp III <23:10:55/11-14-57>

>>>>>[ I believe it goes something like this:  Shadowfox told Sprinkler to go to
a "clean biz meet" to evaluate a prospective client.  Sprinkler went expecting
another boring night.  What he didn't know was that Shadowfox sent him to a
blind date to this woman Sprinkler was interested in -- as a bonus for a job he
pulled.  I believe it was a eye-opening experience for the lad. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <12:57:32/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ WHAT?!?  How the HELL do you know about it? ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <12:58:26/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ I was in on a conversation this weekend between Nightmare and Shadowfox.
I wouldn't be too upset, though.  They were envious. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <12:59:23/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ Just fragging great. ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <13:00:40/11-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[  I don't really need all that much gear right now .. just a few odds and
ends, but I am looking for a contact for the future.  Right now, I need the
following:

+++++ include file:  gear.list ]<<<<<
	-- Nomad <11:41:33/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Nothin personal, Matrix Jockey, but if you feel that you're free of the
corps, think again.  Nobody escapes them, in any way, shape, or form.

Sure, you might steal money from corp accounts.  More power to you, and I
highly approve.  But why aren't you stealin from private citizens accounts
too?  Because the corps are a scourge on the planet?  I agree, with a few
caveats, quid pro quos, and addenda.  But if you only steal from corps and
"dishonest" folk, then you're lettin other people decide your life for you.

Another example.  The clothing you're likely wearin.  Did you manufacture
the polymers yourself, or did you buy them, or, heaven forbid, did you
actually buy your clothing?  If you bought your clothing, you're lettin the
corps run your life.  How about the optical chips in your deck?  Bought, I
suspect.  That's money you're puttin into the corp's pocketbooks, and
unless you have the multi-billion nuyen facilities to manufacture the chips
yourself, then you're lettin the corps run your life.

There isn't a single peice of the world left where the corps haven't left
their taint.  And there isn't a person on the planet who isn't owned by the
corps.  I don't care who you are, where you are, or what you do, you're
owned whether you want to be or not.

The corporations run your life, my life, AJ's life, Diana's life,
Nightmare's life, Jason's life, Roxey's life, etc.  Fragitall, they run
everyone's life, and most people are too fraggin blind to see it.

Freedom is a myth.  Live with it.]<<<<<
	-- Slash <09:58:12/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ And to add to what Slash has said, you don't know what little
freedom you have until you have it taken away from you.  If you want to
appreciate your precious scant freedom, I suggest spending a week in a
maximum security prison as a prisoner.

This past Sunday was the most free I have been in years.  My thanks to
Archangel for that. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <10:34:03/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ Thanx for the offer, Sturmvogel, but I am already occupied. And do
listen to SysOp, it's dangerous to leave any trace. I would find your trace
unless you find someone to cover your signatures. ]<<<<<
	--Canis <19:32:13/11-15-57>

>>>>>[ Jen, Gabe, I have yet to meet someone who _calls_ you shadowrunner. And
for not posting - maybe you should start with ads, since the major corp
databases on quasi-legal assets don't mention you, either.

But sorry, don't want to tread on your virtual toes. Just be careful what you
steam of here, 'kay? ]<<<<<
	--Orion <19:24:59/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Come on now...that doesn't even pass muster as credible psychotic
babbling.  Anyone who uses their brain at all knows that there's no way to be
"free" of the influence of corporations; commerce is how humans exist above
the individual subsistence level.  What you need to ask yourself is where the
"second-best" optimum lies.  If you're a thief, I'd certainly hope you're
man (or woman =) enough to face that fact yourself.

And clearly, Robin-Hooding alone won't correct the _gross_ problems the
corps all experience...]<<<<<
	-- Azrael  <11:34:05 / 11-15-57>

>>>>>[And a large number of people I know exist at an individual
subsistance level because of the corps.  Again, they're lettin the
corps determine thier futures.

We live in a megacorporate world, whether we want to or not.  If you don't
like it, great.  Work to change it in some way.  If you like it, fine.
Just don't get in my way.  If you don't like it and don't work to change it
in some way, you've just stood up to be counted with those who let it get
this bad in the first place -- the apathetic masses.  And you'd better not
get in my way either, because in some ways you're worse than those who like
the corp system.]<<<<<
	-- Slash < 12:51:32/11-15-57>

>>>>>[For those of you who don't know, Slash used to be corporate.  He's
also a semi-pacifist, targeting only those responsible for whatever it
is, not the mass of underlings who the corps send out to frag him
over.  FYI, of course.

But I must say, he seems to be feeling a little militant these days....]<<<<<
	-- Foxey Roxey <12:53:26/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Oh, shut the frag up.]<<<<<
	-- Slash <12:53:53/11-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[You've got a name?

Yes, we are still looking but getting bogged down because a lot of our
street contacts are drying up from fear.

Ummm, fragit.  Meet me at Misha's]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <20:46:53 / 11-15-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[Dont worry about it, Sprinkler.  I think me and Neuron Basher are the
only outsiders that know.  I wouldnt sweat it.  :)]<<<<<
	-- Kor <20:51:48 / 11-15-57>

>>>>>[I must saw his choice in meeting locations was...most wonderful.  I
do not think that I have spent as much time relaxing and soaking up
the, *gasp* SUN in a very very long time.

It did give me a chance to think a while.  Got some things patched up
as well.  Thanks, guys.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <20:57:24 / 11-15-57>

>>>>>[Looks like one of Solitaire's old viruses has reared its ugly head again.
And it's been, what, at least 2 years since she could have put it in your deck?

You really ought to scan the thing more often.]<<<<<
	-- Diana, Mistress of the Night <14:07:58/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Oh, frag off]<<<<<
	--  Slash <14:08:28/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Matrix Jockey, it's nice to hear that an investment bank is a
worty target for your ire. Do you return the money of the ordinary folk
who had invested it there?

If not, you are worse than the corporations you claim to despise. At
least they make the pretence of providing goods or services as they
extract your money.

And I'm a financial analyst, trying to help people plan their
retirement: not a reporter, nor a decker. I am a "business", a
registered sole trader: does that make me "a corporation"?

In any case, it appears that Mr Price is on trial and will be convicted.
If he goes down, the minimum sentence is six years imprisonment. The
maximum would be life. I suggest any others who consider fraud and theft
to be "honesty" take note.]<<<<<
	-- Footsie <17:30:32/11-15-57>

*****To: Smudge
>>>>>[Soo ne.  From a moderately reliable source, I have heard that the
Toddling Twosome are under corporate thumb.  From their exploits (or lack
thereof) I'd be willing to guess that they are running moving target cover
for whatever real shadowbiz is going down.  Pry in, think you get paydirt
and you find yourself looking at copy for last year's Dangerous Bonehead's
Quarterly which isn't even good for wrapping dead fish.  The only skills
they can seem to muster is entering the matrix from ne'er the same place
twice and blowing smoke.

As for where they hold themselves, I'd give you my two n=Y= on that, but I
will assume I am speaking in polite company. o_-

If you do catch their signal in the ether, buzz me if you can, I'd love to
help if you want to play a joke or two.  Want to show them what it means
to shred in the matrix after those wankers trash-talked me and my
deck.]<<<<<
	-- Vernier  <15:01:45/11-15-57>

>>>>>[I'm shaking in my boots...]<<<<<
	-- Phobos <18:21:12/11-15-57>

*****INTERNAL: Colonel Angela Matty, Fuchi Security
>>>>>[We're still preparing our formal report, sir, but here's the
meeting I had with Lieutenant Samuels - the guard commander in question.

+++++begin transcript
Okay, Sam, let's have it. What happened?

"As far as we can tell, two intruders. Price's daughter phoned out for
pizza, and the delivery van went out from Slice'o'Heaven. Between there
and the Price residence, it was pulled over by two police officers, and
the driver was cuffed and left in the back of the cruiser. The cops got
in the van and drove it away."

Okay so far. And I take it they were in Slice'o'Heaven uniforms by the
time they reached the gate?

"Exactly, sir. The call was logged and Security knew they were coming,
so they were waved through as usual."

I take it you considered tightening up the gate security?

"Of course. The problem is, with up to a hundred vehicles an hour..."

I know, I know. We can use this as leveage for more budget and another
two officers, not that the accountants will buy it. How about getting a
pizza place inside the wire? Might reduce our vulnerability.

"Remember, we tried with that Chinese takeaway? And the suits ran the
franchise for profit, because they had a captive market... and nobody
would buy from them because it was expensive drek?"

Gah. You're right, that was a disaster, I've never tasted worse wonton
soup. Anyway, our two hitters are inside the wire and all the way to the
Price residence. Any description?

"Footage. Watch."

Okay... human female, Caucasian, back to the camera. Any ID?

"Nada. They knew where the cameras were."

Okay... ouch! Guard down from... stun baton? Those were sparks.

"Shock gloves, from the burns. She tranks him and jams the door with his
body, while her partner's bringing out the pizza boxes from the van."

Let me guess, the guns are in that box... yep. Defiance T-250s. Nice
anonymous weapons. Can we zoom on the ammo?

"Looks like gel rounds, mostly, some explosives. I guess they didn't
plan on killing anyone."

Okay. Casualties?

"One, our battered guard there. Bruises, concussion, minor burns.
Nothing too bad."

And out Price goes at gunpoint, guess he doesn't realise those
scatterguns are loading baton rounds. I make it ninety seconds from the
door opening to them leaving. Any alarms?

"The guard's biomonitor tripped and registered yellow alert. The quick
reaction team arrived three minutes after they left, by then they were
already out of the gate."

Okay. They make it out, we lose sight of the van. Back to the cop car?

"No, the kid's already been picked up and the Star have the word out. We
got a warning from them, which was kind of hospitable - they did tip us
someone had stolen a pizza van making a delivery to that compound. They
had four deliveries to make, gave us them all. Only six minutes late."

Co-operation for once.

"Well, fake cops look bad for them, I guess. Anyway, the pizza van is
next seen twenty minutes later, pulling into its assigned parking spot
by Slice'o'Heaven's back door."

No sign of Price?

"None. They had a camera in the loading bay, the tapes show our two
hitters moving Price out of the van and out of view. I guess their
getaway was near there and they drove him clear."

Okaaay... anything we could have done?

"With what we had to work with? Doubtful. This wasn't a high-security
area, and we were up against two .90-calibre hitters who knew exactly
what they were doing. They didn't have to fire a shot. Even if  we'd
sent the QRT to the right gate, I doubt we could have done much except
waste ammo and collect casualties."

Put that in writing and I'll sign it, then. Do we know why they wanted
Price?

"No. The shiny-suit weenies won't say, but they also won't say there was
no reason, which means he was probably doing something a bit grimy. Some
financial dirty dealing, maybe. Their problem now. Especially since, if
they'd tipped us, we'd have hiked security, and maybe chased them off."

Or even caught them... that would be useful. Except I'm sure the tape
self-destructed and they would be disavowed.

"Still be handy to have a couple like that owing us a favour. Slick."

Yes... anyway, get busy with your report. I'll brief Matty.
+++++end transcript

Bottom line, sir, is that if the suits play this sort of game, we need
to be kept informed so we can protect the executives concerned properly.
Or prevent them from being extradited alive. We're simply not set up to
handle this kind of threat here.

Price is up on trial in Washington DC, which strongly suggests he was
doing something dirty and that the UCAS snatched him. We have no
information, at this level, as to how it's going, but the fact that he
was two days into his hearing before we got a lawyer to him can't be
good.

My guess is SIGA, but try proving it.]<<<<<
	-- Captain G S Eades <23:20:21/11-15-57>
           Fuchi Security
           Residential Area 4, Tacoma, Seattle

>>>>>[Didn't your mama ever teach you not to smoke and deck?  I think I
met one of those at a party once.  He was a very friendly fella, not at
all carnivorous.  And the things that tongue could do.]<<<<<
	-- Chastity <23:45:38/11-16-57>

>>>>>[I love it when a plan comes together.

+++++begin trideo
"All rise!" The judge's voice is clear and piercing, and everyone -
including Lynch, whose point-of-view you recognise - does so, as twelve
men and women file in: eleven take their seats, the last stands before
the bench.

"Be seated." The courtroom is small, and there are few spectators: Lynch
and Lilith are there, but you don't recognise any of the others. "Ladies
and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"

The suited Ork before the bench, the jury foreman, nods.
"Your Honour, we have. On the charge that the accused did unlawfully
divert funds totalling one hundred and eighty million dollars from
various accounts, as specified in Count One to Sixteen, we find him
guilty as charged."

The man in the dock shouts "What?" as several of the spectators cheer.

"On the charge that the accused did deliberately alter the credit
history of certain monies, to conceal evidence of criminality, we find
him not guilty.

"On the charge that the accused did falsify identification data for
persons unknown, we find the accused not guilty.

"On the charge that the accused did evade UCAS tax liabilities of not
less than six million dollars, we find him guilty as charged." The
foreman returns to his seat.

"Before I pass sentence, has the accused any words for the Court?" asks
the judge.

"Yes, I do. This is an outrage! You have no legal right to do this. I
was kidnapped from my home - by those two people there! Right there! -
illegally transported across recognised international boundaries, and
now I've been thrown in front of a kangaroo court with no opportunity to
prepare a defence! This is unlawful, illegal, unfair, I'm going to sue
your-"

"Mr Price, this hearing is in full accordance with UCAS law. You were
provided with legal representation, offered every chance to speak in
your own defence. As for the 'kidnapping', it is not the business of
this Court to enquire about how you were brought before us, nor to
investigate crimes allegedly committed in Fuchi territory, our duty is
merely to weigh the evidence against you and sentence you according to
your crimes." The judge sighs.

"Charles Norton Price, the crimes you have committed are severe. You
have robbed hard-working citizens of their savings, caused the collapse
of several small businesses, and stolen the retirement funds of the
elderly. You have shown no remorse, nor any  understanding of your
crimes. I am required, therefore, to sentence you to the maximum
possible penalty. You shall be taken from this court to a Federal
penitentiary, where you will be detained at hard labour for fifteen
years. You shall serve no less than ten of those years, and will not be
transferred to any other prison during that time.

"Court dismissed."
+++++end trideo

Now _that's_ what I call law enforcement.

No casualties, nobody dead, not one building blown up, subject delivered
for trial in full accordance with the law, found guilty beyond
reasonable doubt and sentenced appropriately.

Does that meet with your approval, Commander Drake? <g>

And Jenna, Gabriel, pay attention. That was the _right_ way to pull off
an opposed extraction. We can provide instruction and training in how to
actually _succeed_ on runs, if you like. Or will your photo-shoot for
"Ultra-Dangerous People Quarterly" get in the way?]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <23:21:42/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Half right, Jen and Gabe. Better than usual, for you.

Real professionals don't post their actions for all the world: just a
selected audience. Amateurs and wannabees just send doctored photographs
to UDPQ.

Having seen you in action, we can understand why you're so shy. But
never mind. Talk's cheap, and so are you.]<<<<<
	-- Lilith <17:35:32/11-15-57>

>>>>>[Grrrrrrr *HISSS*  SNARL!!!

Wow, Lilly, you're really easy to provoke.  You really should watch
that temper of yours.  A noble lady like you must mind her
manners, you know.  If we didn't know better, we'd swear you were
dropping to our level.  But then again, after watching all those
doctored action-adventure-romance trids of you, we guess you're
_far_ more professional and oh-so-shadowy than that.  Ta Ta.]<<<<<
	-- Jen & Gabe <22:37:32/11-15-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: D J H Coppinger
Jason talked him into it. Here's the tape.

+++++begin video
"You!" Price glares at Lynch as he enters the cell: a soulless concrete
cube, the walls distempered a sickly yellow.

"Yeah, me. Surprised?"
"Come to gloat, Fed?"
"Sure. Got a few other reasons to be here, but partly I came to see how
the mighty are fallen."
"It'll be you here, one day." Price snarls. "You'll grok off too many
people, drek on the wrong guy's shoes. Some corp, maybe even your own
side, will grab you and just make you vanish."

"What, that's meant to be news?" Lynch laughs, lights a cigarette. Price
looks at the pack, then glances away.

"I mean, I spent a chunk of this year on the run from InterPol and
Aztlan. Came out ahead, too. Or at least, alive, and their ops got blown
to pieces while I didn't. Dead Leopards everywhere, dirty InterPol cops
dismissed or in jail, the business. I know the risks, I know the game,
and I'm good at playing it. I _like_ the game."

"You're wasting your time, though. My bosses will pull me out of here.
They'll get me a killer lawyer, I'll appeal-"

"Read this." Lynch hands him a newsfax. "Article nine. Before you ask,
sure, we could have faked it, but we didn't. Don't need to."

Price reads, aloud. "Price, whose trading account was deep in the red
from a series of bad deals... acting without authorisation... somehow
evaded internal safeguards... illegal diversion of corporate
resources... deplores the actions of this rogue? The BASTARDS! I make
them a hundred and thirty million of pure profit and they treat me like
this?"

"What did you expect? They got caught with their fingers in the cookie
jar. We grabbed you because you were the point man for the operation,
and we had enough to convict you." Lynch offers Price the pack, and
after a moment the financier takes one of the Marlboros: the merc tosses
him a lighter.

"When I die I'll go to heaven, I've served my time in Hell - Desert
War." Price uses the battered Zippo, hands it back. "So, you've been
around the block awhile. Which one?

"That one was just 'the Desert War', but I went back for Two and Three.
Anyway, Charles, while you were on the inside making them big money you
were a top-flight, valued asset. Now, though, you're an embarrasment and
a handy scapegoat. Your family just got demoted to a Grade Four three-
roomer in Auburn, your mistress was reassigned to some rising star in
the futures department, they even gave your car to someone else. They're
making like you never happened."

"So, you won. You got me. Happy?"
"Come on, Price, you know I wouldn't be here just to enjoy grinding your
face in the mud."

A long pause.

"So, what do you want from me?"

"You have two choices. Ten-year minimum working on a chain gang for the
Highways Department days, sleeping in six to a two-bunk cell nights. Or,
come and work for the Agency." Lynch taps ash off his Marlboro.

"What do I have to do?" You see naked hope in the financier's eyes.

"Poacher turned gamekeeper. We need analysts who understand all this
high-level financial crap. You got off on a couple of the charges, and
we really wanted to make those stick. The lesson's less effective if you
get partial acquittals." Lynch taps ash off his cigarette.

"You could just have told the jury the result you wanted."

"Believe it or not, we don't work that way. Word gets out. And if we
only wanted to shut you down, we could have killed you. It sends a
useful message. It makes people like you a little more cautious. But it
doesn't have the same impact as something like this, does it? This will
send out shock waves, much more so than you getting shot or blown up.
Never mind individuals being careful: Fuchi's doing some expensive
damage control, and more than a few other corporations are reining in
their 'rogue traders' in case they're next."

"Why not just nail the corp's balls to the wall?"

"If only we could." Lynch sighs. "But they can just cut you loose, make
you into a rogue. Neither you nor we can prove that anyone ever
authorised your little scams, or that the money went to Fuchi instead of
to your numbered accounts. No proof, so no case. And if you want to get
into a pissing match with an AAA megacorp, you had better have an
absolutely watertight case."

"It won't last long. Or change much. Could I have another cigarette?"

"Sure, here. You're right, we aren't changing the course of history. But
we are making a difference. A few thousand people are getting their
money back. There'll be a couple fewer such cases in the future, until
the lesson gets forgotten again. We may not save the world, but we put
out a few fires, pick up some trash, get a warm fuzzy glow of
achievement. Better than nothing."

"Kind of frustrating."

"Very." Lynch shrugs. "But it has its satisfactions."

"What's the deal for me?"

Lynch takes a deep breath. "Okay. You get an apartment in the Federal
Zone and sixty thousand nuyen a year - not exactly luxury, but enough to
be pretty comfortable. Your sentence is suspended, not cancelled; pretty
much any misconduct worse than a parking ticket will get you back behind
bars, full sentence, no chance of parole. You'll have to live with some
pretty intense scrutiny of your personal affairs, you're a convicted
fraudster and nobody's going to forget that. You get a spinal bomb and a
track signal implanted, because it'll be a long time before you're fully
trusted. Long hours, hard work, not many obvious rewards."

"But?"

"But, you're reasonably free. You get a new ID - one of ours - and
because we can follow you and cripple you anytime, we can give you a
fairly long leash: you're not a prisoner, you're paroled. You get a cube
in the Pentagon, some unusual workmates, some pretty damn interesting
work to do. Admit it, Charles, you preferred being in the investigative
branch at Fuchi. Catching thieves was more fun than stealing from third-
tier S&Ls."

"Yeah. It was. But what about my family?"

"If you want, we can get them out."

"Yeah. I want. I do care about them, you know."

"Good." Lynch nods. "We'll probably just cut a deal with Fuchi, no need
for any more commando-style crap. We let this slide, don't milk it for
advantage, they leave you alone and let your family join you. They push
it, we start throwing extradition warrants for your bosses. They'd
rather deal." He offers his hand, and after a moment the financier takes
it, shakes it. "Welcome to SIGA."
+++++end trideo

Davidovich made the deal to get his wife and daughter out. No real
problems: they did get a touch difficult about releasing them, but we
agreed to publicly accept that Price was operating outside their
supervision. Fuchi did try to leverage that into dodging some of the
compensation liability, but Davidovich squashed that at birth.

We did agree to pay medical expenses for the injured guard, but Lilith
and I coughed that up already from personal funds. Not too many hard
feelings, either. They crossed the line, they got caught, we didn't do
any damage grabbing Price, we let them off with a rap on the knuckles as
long as they put the money back, everyone saw the trader involved go
under and the buzz is out on the street that it _was_ official and Fuchi
just threw Price to the wolves when the heat came on, Jason and I maybe
owe them a favour.

A good few days' work. It's nice to deal with professionals, for a
change. How much more time do I need to waste on the Gruesome
Twosome?]<<<<<
	-- 1Lt L R W Lynch
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

>>>>>[Provoked? Children, I'm not provoked. I'm not even annoyed. Just
because you two shoot people for mocking your dress sense doesn't mean
real professionals are so oversensitive and trigger-happy.]<<<<<
	-- Lilith <12:10:24/11-16-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: 1Lt L R W Lynch
Same setup, different relay node. I could have another try at tracing
it, but I doubt we'd learn any more than last time. We're logging
everything, anyway. Keep them talking as long as you can.

Do their bosses know these two clowns are spouting off? I mean, the
track database is swelling, we'll get enough to ID their sponsors
eventually. That could be _really_ funny]<<<<<
	-- Sgt J S Karlsbruhn <Sergeant:Peppers:Lonely/Hearts-Club-Band>
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

>>>>>[Doc Madness.  Send me more info on that toad of yours.]<<<<<
	-- Mac <18:31:47/11-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Farmer
>>>>>[Excellent news concerning the... removal of the impediments to our
schemes. Provided Black Queen continues to provide resources as agreed,
I see no particular problem in her expending her assets against
shadowrunners.

We have stored the captured equipment for resale or later use. The
captured individuals are being interrogated and will be retained for,
ah, "use" by our allies. Do you have any further instructions?

We have completed recruitment for Wild Rose and training is well
underway. We anticipate H-Hour to be in the vicinity of the New Year,
perhaps sooner if all goes well. Tractor reports unexpectedly fast
progress and is hopeful of an early outcome.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <21:36:31/11-17-57>

*****INTERNAL: Cpt G S Eades, Fuchi Security
>>>>>[Geoff, concur on SIGA as being behind the Price hit: he was
brought out, shoved in front of a UCAS court, convicted and sentenced
before his head stopped spinning.

The intel types passed me some information that's interesting. Check
this out.

+++++file transfer: 1.3Mp

A lot to handle at once, but get this. Lynch and Lilith are supposedly
the available agents for Seattle. Now, study their style. Does that fit
the Price hit?

Jen and Gabe are supposedly drek-hot runners who have never been pinned
to a job. Sound like this one?

Jenna and Gabriel have been bandying insults back and forth with the
known SIGA agents for some time. See the reaction when Van Holde - now
calling himself Ronin - accused Lynch of being a hypocrite: the argument
went private for a while, but it looks like they nearly ended up
fighting a duel over it. Yet Jen and Gabe get away scot-free.

Conclusion? Jen and Gabe are SIGA agents, and _they_ grabbed Price.
Lynch is letting everyone assume it was him and Lilith, but if pressed
I'm sure they'll have a rock-solid alibi, because it was actually J&G.

All makes sense, doesn't it? It's the only reason anyone would provide
those two the sort of Matrix protection they enjoy, while still letting
them run off at the mouth like that. They're meant to be too dumb to be
dangerous, and we all fell for it.

Might be worth checking, if you have the time.]<<<<<
	-- Colonel A Matty <21:50:21/11-17-57>
           Fuchi Security, Seattle

*****INTERNAL: Colonel Angela Matty, Fuchi Security
>>>>>[Interesting theory, sir. Right now we're kind of busy on damage
control, but we'll see what we can do about it.

One thing's not in doubt, Jenna and Gabriel are not just two independent
runners with inflated egos. That bombast is a front for _something_, and
trying to backtrack their matrix IDs is enough to show you they have
serious support from someone with big money and muscle.]<<<<<
	-- Captain G S Eades <21:55:43/11-17-57>
           Fuchi Security, Seattle

*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Jason, I was staying at Gradpa's old place when I found an old
aircraft nose gear in the workshop. For interest's sake, could you run
it through and see what it might be doing here? Just me being curious.
Call it habit.

+++++include serial number]<<<<<
	-- Rose <23:00:25/11-18-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rose
>>>>>[Hi, Miss Tremaine. Lynch got me to look at that gear you found for
him, and it's sort of odd. That gear went on a Logistics Command C-130
that was lost on a run from Dover AFB to Thule in Greenland, way back in
2027. What are bits of it doing near Lake Huron? I'll keep digging, see
what comes up.

Thinking about it, it's probably scrap from another airframe and someone
mistyped the paperwork. Happens all the time. Or the records got
scrambled in the Crash.

I'll keep looking, though. It's kind of boring with you guys off being
romantic, and it's too easy beating Karlsbruhn at "F-22H Lightining ".
He tries hard, but he's no pilot <nyuck nyuck> But my teaching him
BFM means he keeps doing my T/D for me.

In case you're wondering, Lynch is flying out to ask around that area
himself. He may drop in to see you too <nyuck nyuck> What's it worth not
to tell Lilith?]<<<<<
	-- The Horny Toad <Furry:Fighting:Felines/Rule-The-Skies>

*****PRIVATE: The Horny Toad
>>>>>[If you keep quiet, I won't send Rita this.

+++++include trideo: Tailhook_56.avi

Of course, your wife does have a legitimate right to know...]<<<<<
	-- Rose <23:05:42/11-18-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rose
>>>>>[How... what... where...?

Okay. You win. This time.

I guess this is what I get for butting heads with an information
broker.]<<<<<
	-- The Horny Toad <Furry:Fighting:Felines/Rule-The-Skies>

>>>>>[I've got a deal that's to good to pass up!  I've got a line on some hot
paydata that needs to be unloaded in a jiffy.  You name it and I might have
it.  Top notch and priced to move.  Because I'm in a good mood, I included a
teaser for you.  If you like what you see let's talk.  Check this out
>>>ENCRYPTED>>> Am I your favorite information broker or what?]<<<<<
	-- Marcus <17:36 / 11-19-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Thorn
>>>>>[Hey Thorn, this has gotta be brief, so sorry about the abruptness.
I'll see what I can do about Chaz on my end.  things are kinda hectic, and
we may not be able to go into the CZ rigt now, but at the very least I might
be able to find out whether the guy's alive or not.

If you're interested in some work, contact Smudge or Quickstep in Seattle.
They might be able to use a hand.

Johnny says hi to Rosie.

See ya.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <21:33:17/11-20-57>

*** PRIVATE:  Invasion Force Internal Email
>>>>>[
+++++ Message-From: Stephanie

Hello everybody, I'm back. I had to go away for a while because we had
an - well, I had to go to- anyway, just because. But I'm back again. Has
anything happened? It was ever so quiet while I was here before and it
was really boring. I thought this job was meant to be urgent but
nothing's happening. Which was why I thought it was okay to go away for
a couple of weeks. I did send everyone some mail but the batteries in
this thing don't last very long and maybe it didn't get sent.

What do I have to do? Who do I have to do it to? When do we go into
Chicago? Or can I just go home? It's pretty boring sitting around
waiting for someone to say what's meant to be happening and discovering
that nobody knows what's happening and that there's nothing on the
trideo except reruns of "Manhatten Blues" and boring game shows and talk
shows and lots of other boring stuff where nobody ever shoots anyone and
nothing blows up and nobody even _mentions_ sex. The stupid "family
lockout" won't even let me watch war documentaries "becuase they're
violent". Which is probably a good thing because most of them are wrong
anyway, especially that really stupid program about Kursk they ran on
Edutainment. And just because I don't look my age I can't get any of the
decent channels with the proper sports and movies and fun stuff, so I'm
even going to miss the finals of 'Pain, Pistols and Pesos' unless
someone tapes them for me. Please? Anyone?

Oh, yes, I talked to some friends while I was in Kirgi^H^H^H^H wherever
I was and I got some information about getting in and out of the Zone,
because that's actually quite hard because it's all Army and they're
getting very good at stopping people who aren't meant to be going in or
out from going in or out so if we want to go in or out we need to be
ever so careful and talk to the right people and say the right things
because if we just rush in or out we might all get killed or captured or
just shot in the legs and thrown inside the Wall for bugs to eat our
brains. They do that, you know, the bugs I mean, I only _heard_ that the
Army throw people who really annoy them to the bugs. And the Army
definitely don't eat people's brains, at least not where anyone can see
them doing it. But I _saw_ a Mosquito spirit shove its probobo- its
prubosk - its probusc- its spiky-suck-your-blood-out-thing up someone's
_nose_ and start to suck all his brains out. Until I blew it up with
George.  It splattered all _over_ the place. George works really well on
bugs.

I wonder if they really _do_ shoot you in the legs and feed you to the
bugs? The Army I mean. They might do that to people who shoot at them or
really annoy them. It seems silly, though. Why not just shoot them in
the head? I mean, what if they crawled away and hid before the bugs
caught them? I think Quinn was making that up when she told me. She does
that a lot. She knows some really good spells, though, and she's really
funny, so it's all right really.

Anyway, what's up?

Stephanie ]<<<<<
	-- IF Mailer Daemon <17:01:23/11-20-57>

*****PRIVATE: Stephanie
>>>>>[Steph, that guy you killed flagged up as ex-Special Forces. His
name was Rowan Brigley, ex-Corporal in the Green Beanies, known Humanis
Poli supporter kicked out for assaulting a metahuman trainee at Tiger
School. Guess he forgot that sweet innocent Elven cutie was a proto-SEAL
and she kicked him so hard in the nuts, he had to pick his nose to
scratch his balls no. So much for human supremacy: instant three months
in Leavenworth plus dishonourable discharge. Guess he didn't learn from
his mistake either.

Anyway, that happened early last year. Chasing his fake ID around led me
back to a dead NSA rogue called Ploughshare. It looks like he worked for
her off and on until recently, then moved to Chicago in May or so. Don't
know why: someone was paying him good money, and he didn't seem to be
running what little shadows are left around the Windy City.

Watch yourself, anyway, Ploughshare worked for a really nasty type
called Farmer. If you're opposing that organisation, be ready for a
bumpy ride, and don't be afraid to make a fighting retreat if you have
to. Quinn's being approached by the Brits for some discreet enquries in
that region, which is why she didn't ask you or I <g>

Be careful: I don't want my favourite daughter getting killed. You
should pick this up when you get back to Chicago.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch 17:05:42/11-20-57>

***** PRIVATE : Wells
>>>>>[Wells, buddy. This is a blast from the past. I'm set up in
Texas now and am looking for some buisness.

I know what you are thinking, Texas? You know my standing on
rednecks, but hey, these volitale bastards can crack up some trouble
and this is were my last run dumped me.

So if you are out there, give me a holler and we'll
meet. Last I heard you were in Seattle.]<<<<<
	-- The Stripling Warrior < 01:46:33 / 11-21-57 >

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: 1Lt J R W Lynch
Odd. That nosegear went on a Logistics Command C-130 that was lost on a
run from Dover AFB to Thule in Greenland, way back in 2027. What are
bits of it doing near Lake Huron? I'll keep digging, see what else comes
up, there should be records, flight plans, whatever.

Thinking about it, it's probably scrap from another airframe and someone
mistyped the paperwork. Happens all the time. Or the records got
scrambled in the Crash, happens even more often for old K-models like
that.

I'll keep looking, though. It's kind of boring with you guys out of the
office, and it's too easy beating Jake at "F-34H Spectre - Total Flight
Experience". He tries hard, but he's no aviator <nyuck nyuck> But me
teaching him BFM means he keeps hacking my T/D for me.

OBTW, Price is settling in nicely. He's getting over the culture shock
at last.]<<<<<
	-- The Horny Toad <Furry:Fighting:Felines/Rule-The-Skies>

***** PRIVATE: Marcus
>>>>>[Hoi, I just read your posting. As a complete newbie to the Matrix (I
normally jack in to vehicles) I don=B4t know whether your posting was meant to
be read by all users of this BBS or just me. Sorry, chummer. I don't want to
annoy you, it=B4s just that I=B4m better at maneuvering a Banshee LAV through
the Rockies, if you know what I mean. If you=B4re not completely scared away
by my ignorance, please drop me a note. If you are, well, sorry chummer.]<<<<<
	-- Stealth <21:22:54/11-20-57>

*****PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
+++++Boost gain 150%
+++++Engage satuplink.... ....
>>>>>[

+++++Load frame: Sepulchre.fme
+++++Load frame: Surveille.fme
+++++Upload Ident 19a7-Gates.idt
+++++Begin upload: Vidcomp file: jnk3-57A.vid

We got away... Jeez that was close, too close, the bugs hit us, hard.
Grainger's gone, so are Houston, Franklin, Howard and James...  They
took 'em.  Thanks to Wells we were able to escape the trap, but it cost
us dear, nigh on all the gear is gone, ammo's down to a few shells
apiece, and they're on our tails, hard. We're movin' now, but things
have gone to a world o' hurt.  They knew where we were, and who we
were... Someone fed 'em enough information to make a mockery out of us.

Christ in a sidecar, I just don't know what happened.  We were dug in so
tight you couldn't have pried us out with a crowbar, the next these
*things* were everywhere, troops, bugs, they must have brought half the
fraggin' army with 'em.

DA's hurt bad, took three slugs, Shado and I got cut up some, Scorpius
got hit the worst, he's lost his legs, Loch only just made it out, Wells
is OK though, and Tank's driving at the moment.  I don't know what else
to do except warn you we're finished. We can't do any more to 'em. We
have nothin' left to hit 'em with.  Wells is trying to contact some
people and get some gear, but....

I've been asked to contact ya and let ya know what happened, we
desperately need someone who understands these damn bugs, and can hit
back at 'em at their level, we're gettin, our asses kicked here and
we're having some real trouble dealing with these creatures. Also maybe
a couple o' guns, we could do with someone good with weapons, edged
weapons especially.  We're going underground, deep, we need time to heal
up.

Everythin's shot to shit....

...I gotta go, it costs the deck dear to punch through like this, I've
pushed this little baby to her limits to get this through to ya clean.
It'll be comin' at ya in two parts, the first is the Wreckers yard, the
next is what happened after.  I hope to punch that through to ya'll
later.

+++++Begin Playback Vudcomp file: jnk3-57A.vid
+++++Integrating soundfile R27-4F.snd

Bloated leaden clouds hang darkly over a vehicle wreckers' yard.  Four
men patrol a small perimeter constructed from wrecked cars, trucks and
metal plates.  Several slap hand detonators sit on a pile of sand bags
in front of DA as he reassembles the M-16, oil gleaming dully in the
faint light.  A tall man in a dirty torn duster and stetson can be seen
cleaning a wheelgun almost half the length of his arm, Gates.  Shado is
polishing her Katana, haunted eyes darting around the site, searching.

"Shado.  It's time."
"Hai.."

Fluidly the petite woman stands and smoothly vanishes into the Shadows
of the breakers yard, followed after a short while by Dark Avenger.

"Gates, keep the men on the perimeter, I've got a feeling about tonight.
Graniger!  Back in five."

"Sir", Grainger turns to the other three men, and begins talking to
them.  He appears to be favouring his right leg, and showing a bloody
bandage on his right arm.

+++++LLE engaged
Narrow channels add a claustrophobic air as DA moves through the dark in
the direction Shado left.  After a short time a steel link perimeter can
be seen, two people standing near the gates.  Something moves in the
dark, and DA's handgun snaps up, safety off, smartlink led glowing as
the weapon seeks a target.  Shado materialises.

"Asenne-yo.."

"Shit girl, don't do that.. not now, not here."  The handgun drops.
"Wells?"

"Hai, Wells, Scorpius, Loch maybe in vehicle, and Tank....I think."

"I know he's there, Chan warned me.  It's OK Shado, what happened is in
the past, as long as he's off the booze, he's welcome.  He used to be a
good gun, and we have a need of people like that right now.  Go fetch
them.  I'll watch from there."

Shado moves towards the gates, every fluid movement broadcasting speed
and power.  DA climbs a couple of cars up a pile, panning left and right
scanning for hostiles.

Wells stands a few meters from an Apaloosa scout, the dash lights adding
a supernatural glow to the interior, two people can be faintly seen
within.  Standing with wells, is another male, loose, but with an air of
danger about him, smoking a large cigar.  Wells appears totally relaxed,
both are dressed in loose black clothing, of a style favoured by Yakuza
businessmen.  The only weapons in sight is the one held by Wells, a
Mini6 MGL-12. As Shado moves to the end of the channel between the car
piles, Wells focuses his attention firmly in her direction.

A few feet from the gate, Shado stops, SMG raised in the direction of
the four.

(Shado)  "Kurimas, hitobari-dake desuka naigetsu?"

(Wells)  "Hai. Dakara lidesu-anune minogasu toshite ikutsuka no-biru."

(Shado)  "Kangei sareru. Hairi nasai."

A short hand gesture and DA whistles in reponse, moving down and towards
the approaching group.   Wells raises his hand in greeting, and smiles
broadly.  The smile is friendly, but it doesn't quite reach the eyes,
eyes which move restlessly and constantly over the area, the only sign
of caution.

"Chan, old friend.  God it's good to see you again,"  DA's hand is
clasped by Chan and shook warmly.  "Sorry to invite you to this hell
hole, but it's all I've got at the moment."

"It is great seeing you too, Clint, or do you prefer Avenger these
days?" Wells' eyes shift around the yard, a grin spreds across his face
"Incredible decor, did you design it your self or did you just lob a few
grenades to move the furniture around?"

"Ha! They call me Dark Avenger these days, Avenger is fine, or use my
name if you prefer, there's no need to stand ceremony between us.  As to
the decor well we prefer a more lived in look to our accommodation, so
we chose something that didn't need decorating. Come my friend, meet the
boys, there's someone back at the camp who will enjoy seeing you.
Greetings Nahn, I see you have looked after your brother well, and
April....  You have grown, has it really been so long?"

A smile breaks her stern visage "What I remember of you are just
flashes, but they're happy flashes," her face shines in retrospect but
soon a dark gloom falls across it.

  A pregnant pause as DA scans the older member of the small group, a
scrawny, scarred man of late middle age.  "Tank."

The old grease monkey looks up to DA for a second, his frail thin body
convulses as he draws up a large mass of phlegm and spits it on the
floor. Looking to DA he smirks a reply "Sweet, sweet memories, huh?
Don't you think?" He quickly turns away from DA, more out of fear than
loathing. Moving along side of the old man glides a matte black painted
drone, it's "eyes" continue to observe DA, as Tank turns.

As Tank moves away, Wells draws a deep sigh from his lungs, "Chikusho,
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought him here. It was god knows how many
years ago." Tank moves out of view as he heads into the center of the
junkyard, but lagging behind is the drone, hovering, peering at DA.

"We all fall on hard times Chan, I am not completely heartless. Yet, his
presence is, difficult. I will not object to him being here, but if he
shows any sign of repeating his actions in Brazil, I will kill him.
Enough of this, come on through to base camp, I think Gates may have
some hot coffee rustled up, and I'm sure I've got something to keep out
the cold somewhere."

"Sounds great, Nahn smokes to keep warm, I myself love a hot brew of
java." Wells turns with DA toward the main camp. " I still remember my
first cup....."

A small shielded light burns near two bikes, behind the sandbag bunker,
Gates straddles the bunker, lazily cradling an HVAR.  A broad shitkicker
grin breaks the darkness under his hat.

"Yo Wells, how's it hangin' man?  Coffee's hot, but I'm afraid we've
eaten the steak already, just a few KR's left.  April!!  Girl, you git
yer butt over here, I wanna take a look at you...  You was knee high to
a grass snake the last time I saw ya."

"What's with the new cowboy hat, Gates? " Loch says as she places her
hands to her hips, in an air of defiance. "Whereever did you put that
one that The Stripling Warrior blew a .50 cal round thorugh? I still
remember your ridiculous face," She  breaks out into a tear jerking
laugh.

"Well, girl we had us a little chat later on, me an' Colt had to teach
the idjit to shoot straight, he seemed to find it a difficult concept at
first. So I gave him m'hat and showed him first hand what to do, I do
believe he got the idea real quick."

From behind Wells in the shadows, Scorpius steps forward, in a whisper
he murmers into Wells right ear, "I believe that was an insult my
brother,"

Shado turns towards them, "More than insult Nahn, that was Gates'
favourite hat, and though he tells the story well, Warrior took it from
him and wears it now."  She looks fondly at Gates,  "One day he will
take it back."

"Hey Chan... ain't you taught this little viper any manners yet??  She's
darn near busting a gut over thar. The equipment we requested??  I
assume you've managed to get some of it?"

Wells looks right to Gates' eyes "Some? Some of the equipment? I think
you forget me. Here is the Christmas list," Wells pulls forth a small
data chip, "All items accounted for. As promised." Wells just smiles as
he tosses the chip to Gates.

Gates slots the chip home in his deck and thumbs the power stud.  A few
seconds later, he whoops with joy. "Sheeeit. Hey DA, Chan came up trumps
on this one, we got it all dude.  Hey man, thanks, you have no idea how
desperate we were for this."

"Thankyou Chan, I appreciate what this must have cost you.  I will repay
you as soon as we are out of this damn city, and I can access my
accounts again.  Shado! Gates!  Stop pissing around and go with Loch,
she'll show you were Chan has stashed the gear.  Bring it in, we need
it."

"Chan, about that coffee, you still take it black, or has the easy life
softened you any?"

...
...

"DA!!! AMBUSH!!!!!"

A dull thump causes ordered chaos within the camp, Grainger moves,
rapidly heading for the slappers in the bunker, shouting orders.  DA
sweeps up his assault rifle, as Howard, Franklin, Houston and James cock
weapons and take combat positions.

Wells motions to Scorpius, his arms speaking for his throat. Silent
orders are obeyed immediately as Scorpius unleashes a small cannon from
the dark folds of his clothing, and steps back towards cover. Tank
pays no attention to Wells,  he pulls out a heavy handgun and runs off
towards the Appaloosa as the drone drops out of the surrounding rubble
to engage.

"We need some light," Wells mutters.

Flare compensation flickers desperately, futilely attempting to adjust
for the stroboscopic effects of the flash packs that erupt within the
camp.  Freeze frame action is played out, as the entire barricade
becomes a moving, heaving mass of bodies.  Huge bulky creatures smash
the cars out of the way, as Grainger hits the slappers, detonating the
claymores.  Explosions rock the yard, flares from the exploding AP mines
light up the nightmare in broken clarity as metal balls spang off steel
sheets and tear through bodies.  Two intense flares erupt from the far
side as phosphorous grenades explode in the midst of what appear to be
human forms, but warped and twisted beyond belief, and twice as bulky as
normal.

Muzzle flare from assault rifles flickers from multiple locations around
the yard, answered by short angry burst from the defenders.

Fireflies rip through the air, churning a path of destruction through
the centre of the yard, ripping the two motorcycles to pieces.

"They're airborne!" Screams Wells as he blasts away at the shadows on
the ground. Yelling as if to say, I'm doing my part, now where's your
contribution to this fucking mess?

"Minny!!!... where the fuck are you!!!  Kill the bandit!"

"Zeroing now DA, Weapons hot."

DA's sidearm roars, punching an attacker into a small group, creating
confusion as they untangle from the corpse.

A fire trail tears through the dark impacting on a black shape in the
sky, night turns into day, as the attack chopper fireballs.

A flash, and the yellow jacket roars into the wreckers yard, what
appears to be a wasp thrashing in the cockpit, lit by the flames from
the crashed attack helo, as it smashes into the ground. A large torn
section of the yellowjacket breaks skyward from the blast and crashes to
the dark oily soil. A scream rips the gunfire filled junkyard as
Scorpius is caught beneath the massive chunk of steel. Crimson blood
splays across Nahn's agony struck face. The exploding helo lights the
scene with a hellish fiery glow, flickering flames reflect from metal
plate creating an illusion of the entire wreckers yard aflame.

A hoarse grating voice is heard above the din, something almost
unearthly in the quality of its tone

"Alive... We want them alive!!!"

Two of the mercs go under in a mass of heaving twisted forms, faint
screams heard above the gunfire.  Grainger lifts the HVAR and fires
wildly into the crowding forms of the attackers, bodies fall, peppered
with bullets. Several of the attackers force their way towards Grainger
seemingly oblivious to the hail of bullets.  Howard vanishes as a wasp
swoops across the yard, his screams fading into the night.

"Grainger!!!! Get the hell out, we can't hold this place... It's
lost!!!!  GRAINGER..... !"

Holding the HVAR like a club Grainger charges the approaching forms,
flailing about himself in a futile attempt to beat them back.  One of
them lashes out, blinding in it's speed, and Grainger drops, lifelessly.

Wells unleashes mini-grenades to the swarms around him as he pulls
debris free of Scorpius body. "Hang in brother." He shouts as he hefts
Scorpius' legless body over his shoulder. Tank's drone spits shells
around Wells as it lays down covering fire.

Blazing at anything that moves, brass cases flickering in the fireglow
as the M-16 spits furiously at the attackers, DA begins to back away
from the enemy.  Confident that they have beaten the small group, the
attackers cease fire and approach the three remaining men.

The sound of tortured metal shrieks over the battle as  a large section
of rubble rips open, an armored and battered Appaloosa slides into the
firebase, it skids to a stop just short of the party, turret gun blazing
azure flames at the incoming horde.

"Wells, take Scorpius and Tank, get the fuck out of here,  over there by
the caddy, there's a way through the fence, I'll cover you. Go my
friend, you don't deserve this. I'm sorry."

As he finishes, DA draws a remote trigger from his duster and thumbs the
active switch, a red light glows on the top.  "LEAVE!.. GO!! NOW!!"

Wells carrying his broken brother rushes towards the open doors of the
Appaloosa as Gates and Shado rip into the yard, dumping their bikes they
rush towards DA, firing at the onrushing hordes.

"NOOOOO!!!!!!  GET THE FU....!!!!" A grunt of pain.

The yard staggers...

Shado's mouth opens in a silent scream of rage, fear stitched across her
face like a tapestry of pain, hands reaching....

Gates disappears behind the muzzle flare of his weapon....

Rolling thunder....

+++++EOF. Vudcomp file: jnk3-57A.vid
+++++EOF. soundfile R27-4F.snd

]<<<<<
	--Gates <01:38:17/11-21-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
+++++Cannot access SIGANet due to router failure
+++++Technician on site. ETR eight hours.
+++++Cancel (X) or continue (Y)? Y

*****PRIVATE: Lynch, Lilith
>>>>>[Hey, you two? I got visited by a couple of heavies from, of all
places, the Office of Naval Intelligence. They told me to lay off asking
about 329, the owner of that missing nose gear.

So I asked them, whose authority were they acting on, and they got
shifty. And then I told them to talk to my Director, and they got angry
and said "I was placing myself and my family at risk." Like, what
family? There's only me and Mom.

At that point I thought "what would you or Lilith do?" so I pulled my
sidearm and screamed for Security. The ONI bozos _never_ expected that.

Toad leapt out waving his weapon (NOT an impressive sight, har har), two
Marines turned up with machine-guns ready (and got really disappointed
when it turned out they weren't allowed to kill anybody today), and the
two ONI spooks then had to explain why they'd threatened a SIGA agent.

Coppinger turned up and asked what the hell was going on, and the upshot
is, they don't know, there's a standing order on file and "all measures
are authorised" to silence enquiries about the C-130K tail number 45329.

Coppinger said a few things in the right places and it turns out
_nobody_ knows why, which is kind of embarrasing, so now SIGA has the
job of finding out. So those (apologetic) ONI guys are flying out with a
batch of diving gear, so you can check the lake that the nose gear came
from.]<<<<<
	-- The Two Jakes <Sergeant:Peppers:Lonely/Hearts-Club-Band>

*****PRIVATE: STEALTH
>>>>>[Stealth, the post was open to the public.  Think of it as a gift from
yours truly.  Unfortunately, the tip has expired.  I'd sell you the algorithm
that was used to generate the access node, but you probably wouldn't know
what to do with it.  Although I do know a good tutor....]<<<<<
	-- Marcus <16:27:32 / 11-21-57>

>>>>>[Well, for those of you that followed up on my freebie, I hope you liked
it (a simple thanks would have been nice).  I know I made some quick change.
 I can set you up with the corp's algorithm so that you can make your own
investment predictions for a small transaction fee.  However, you have to act
fast.  They recycle montly.]<<<<<
	-- Marcus <16:32:53 / 11-21-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[ Gates, you know what DA's pay to me was? Check the bar code of this. At
>>encrypted<< is a small flat. Use the number you found in hexadecimal
(whatever that is) on the maglock there. Inside you'll find food and some
weapons, I think we left an assault rifle and my RA there, plus several
hundred rounds of mixed ammo. Hope that helps.

How's DA? Is he with you? ]<<<<<
	--Canis <14:39:53/11-22-57>

>>>>>[ Check this out, ye denizens of ShadowLand .. I picked this up off of
a local screamsheet in Seattle, and thought some of you might be interested.

+++++ include file: news.blurb

In local news today, Serenity Security, who was in the news recently with
the attack against their headquarters here in Seattle has announced the
purchase of CFS based SpecWar, Inc.  SpecWar is a bonded Mercenary unit
that specializes in Special Warfare and Counter-Terrorism operations.
Several local security providers have expressed a concern over this
recent acquisition, fearing that Serenity is attempting to build a private
army rather than simply providing security services.

Zachary Turner, the Public Relations Spokesperson for Serenity had this to
say, "We are simply try to gather the resources necessary to provide a
better overall security package to our customers.  No one accuses Lone Star
or Knight Errant of building a private army with their FRT units, they
are simply covering all of the bases.  We feel that the acquisition of
SpecWar will allow us to respond to nearly any type of incident that may
arise with our clients, and thereby offer better service.  Thank you."

Sources close to the situation indicate that Serenity was in the process
of building it's own fast, high-threat response unit, but has scrapped the
project with the acquision of SpecWar, and intends to use the resources
gained in the purchase instead of creating the unit from scratch.

+++++ end of file

For those of you who don't know, SpecWar is the corporation that Tangent's
mercenary outfit operates under.  Things are getting very interesting.  I
don't think _I'd_ want to be involved in the next attack against Serenity..
It looks like they are beefing up a /lot/.  ]<<<<<
	-- Flux <**:**:**/**-**-**>

***** PRIVATE: Flux
>>>>>[ Big mouth. ]<<<<<
	--Tangent <13:11:50/11-22-57>

***** PRIVATE: Tangent
>>>>>[ Oh, come on.  It's not like your involvement with SpecWar and certain
major Serenity stock-holders was a secret.  I didn't tell them anything that
could hurt you.  If I had tried, NB woulda flatlined me before I finished
composing the message, you know that.  Jeez.  Touchy, touchy. ]<<<<<
	--Flux <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[I have arrived in Newark in search of my former colleague
Mad Dog. My contact Parker has been shot in the head at close
range in the meantime. I would like to know who did it.
5000Y for the person who identifies his killer.

+++++ Display Video:
(crystal-clear picture, although obviously cybereye-download,
multiple "target aquisition confirm" messages flash through the
field of vision, at all times overlaying the bodies of the people
closest to the camera, a map is displayed in the top left corner of
the picture, no sound) A busy crowd scene. The Fuchi Mall, a decent
part of town, suits everywhere, the camera constantly focuses on the
various secguards who come into view, then the camera pans towards
a door. A man  dressed in a yellow maintenance suit with a Fuchi Logo
and "You drop it, I mop it" on the back, carrying bucket and mop
comes out of the door, closes it behind him, then turns and looks
around. The picture freezes when he turns in the direction of the
camera, then zooms in on the face, turns gritty when the resolution fails,
then zooms out until the picture is clear again. It shows a human of
about 30 years, wearing a baseball cap of the Cleveland Indians, short
black hair on the sides, slightly pale complexion with very light blue eyes.
An overlay at the side of the picture reads:

Age: ca. 30
Height: 1.93m-1.95m
Build: Athletic, Ratio "Legs:Torso" higher than usual
Distinguishing features: light eyes, strange walk, cybered or adept

The camera flicks back to normal picture. The focus stays on the
door, while the maintenance man disappears to the right, his strides
making his head bob out from the crowd at regular intervals. When the
camera reaches the door, it turns around for a quick check of the
crowd. The picture freezes again when the man comes into view. The
tacticomp has locked on to the guy and displays angular and relative
velocity of target, the latter outlined bold red: 9.3m/s. Running speed,
although the man appears to be walking. The picture unfreezes, sweeps
on, then back towards the door. A hand reaches into the picture and
taps a code into the maglock. The door opens into a corridor. The
camera moves into the corridor, when it suddenly looks down onto a
display screen on the lower left arm. A complex molecule formula is
displayed as a 3D structure with the comment "Propellant residue"
flashing in a corner. Immidiately a Walther PB-120 appears in the field
of vision and the camera slowly moves on while a tiny indicator in the
bottom left corner switches from Low to Max. Target aquisitions now
overlay any irregularities on the walls and doors. The camera checks front
and back, then moves towards an open door to the left. A foot can
be seen in the doorway, followed by the corpse of the person attached
to it. The picture freezes again and zooms in on the bullethole in
the forehead. It is small caliber and has black marks and burns around the
entrypoint. The corpses face has a surprised look on it, then a picture of
the man laughing at something off camera is superimposed on the right
side of the picture with the caption:

Julian Parker, 35, human
Head of Optical Archive Department
Antares Storage Services Ltd.
+++++End Video

When I realised the man in the maintenance suit can not have
overlooked the corpse in the doorway I tried to catch up with him,
but by the time I got out into the crowd again, he was long gone and
several security guards talking on the radio closed in on my position.
I decided avoiding trouble was more important, so I left quietly. I
assume the killer is local talent, so anyone who wants to earn some
serious money, leave a message at >>encrypted<<]<<<<<
	--  Vyper <20:10:32/11-20-57>

>>>>>[ Don`t know who he is, but ya can forget `bout him bein` a
local physad. We`re tight around here, know what a mean?
So a`d know him if he was. ]<<<<<
	--Chan <22:03:13/11-20-57>

>>>>>[ Do you want me to run a background check on him? Standard
rate, to be delivered 12:00:00/11-21-57?]<<<<<
	-- LoopDiWoop <--:--:--/--:--:-->

>>>>>[ Hey, man! I can do it! Just give me a chance and I can do it.
I just need a thou up front and tomorrow night you get the guy on a
friggin` silver tray!]<<<<<
	-- Glowball Override <23:12:00/11-21-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shadowfox
>>>>>[Hey, Hey.  I hear you've been pounding the streets for a guy named the
Traveller...no,...the Waltzer,...no,...um... The Wanderer, yeah- neat name.
 Well, my source flagged a file that you might want to scan.  If your
interested, make your favorite information broker (me) an offer!]<<<<<
	-- Marcus <15:53:47 / 11-22-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[Jas, are you or any of your people interested in being hired for
some information gathering? I'm being a Johnson for a change. Client
wants to meet and discuss this over dinner: the Eye, tomorrow night,
1900. Their tab, and I'll vouch for their peaceable intent.]<<<<<
	-- The Mighty Quinn <19:32:21/11-21-57>

*****PRIVATE: Serenity Security Staff
>>>>>[I thought you should see this, so you could protest any
inaccuracies in the record. It pretty well speaks for itself.

+++++begin trideo
"I hope you don't mind our recording this." The handsome blonde Elf
adjusts the small trideo camera as it sits on the table. "It's merely a
useful way of logging what was discussed." You recognise Quinn,
Stormwind, Neuron Basher and Imp, plus the Elf and a dark-haired pudgy
human, seated around the table: from the Needle's vantage point, the
nighttime view of rainswept Seattle is breathtaking.

"In any case, introductions are in order. I am Edwin Pendleton, and this
is my associate, Charles Harcourt. We work for, and on behalf of, His
Majesty's Government."

Quinn grins. "And I'm The Mighty Quinn, this is Jason Stormwind, Imp and
Neuron Basher. How are Valerie and the children?"

Pendleton smiles. "Valerie's well, thank you. William's just started at
Brazenose, reading ancient history, and Josephine passed her RCB and
been accepted by the Anglians."
"Put her in the Paras, Edwin. We'll make a man out of her yet." The
Coyote shaman cackles happily. "And Charles, still having problems with
the diet?"

Harcourt regards his girth ruefully. "If they will keep holding meetings
in places like this, is it any surprise?"
"Mind over matter, Charles. Mind over matter." The shaman grins
wickedly. Harcourt leans forward with sudden interest, looking at Neuron
Basher's tie.
"New College?"
"No, Brooks Brothers." Neuron Basher smiles. "What, is there a secret
tie code?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." says Pendleton. "For instance, Lady
Rodriguez's fetching maroon and sky-blue scarf indicates her membership
of the Parachute Regiment. My associate's cravat indicates that he
serves with some distinction in the Royal Signals, while my own is
merely a school tie."
"Harrow, to be exact." interjects Quinn. "Edwin, as a true product of
the British aristocracy, has a great deal in common with a certain
Gilbert and Sullivan character."
"Baroness Glamis, I must object. Unlike the Great Poo-Bah, I was _not_
born sneering." Pendleton does smile. "In any case, I spy a waiter
approaching us."

The conversation pauses while exquisitely printed menus are distributed.
"I suppose there's no chance of egg and chips?" asks Harcourt
plaintively.
"Charles, we have a rare opportunity to dine at His Majesty's expense,
and I suggest you make such an unusual event memorable. Does anyone
object bitterly to the house wine? Harcourt, I am already quite aware
that you intend to order beer, but you will be sadly disappointed in the
colonial products on offer here. Unless they offer an imported brew, you
would be better advised to enjoy what appears to be a promising Cape
red."

The waiter discreetly returns and takes the orders. As first the wine,
then the starters arrive, Pendleton becomes more serious.

"I'm rather grateful to Lady Rodriguez for breaking the ice for me, but
I fear my business could be rather serious. We have been monitoring a
situation within the UCAS for some time that has caused us considerable
concern. I hope you understand the necessity for monitoring our allies
as well as our enemies... in any case, there appears to be a highly-
placed rogue within the UCAS intelligence system."

"So what else is new?" asks Stormwind with a hint of cynicism. "Ames,
Reynolds, Flude, Bartlett, seems evereyone in the UCAS spook business is
a spy for someone."

"Sadly true. However, this individual offers particular cause for
concern. His nom-de-guerre is Farmer. I believe you may have encountered
his operatives already? I also am led to understand that he was
responsible for certain events involving the mass murder of refugees in
and around Chicago." Stormwind sits up a little at that.

"There are hints that he has other interests in the Windy City. We have
quite definite proof linking him to Aztlan. Somewhat contradictory, our
Mr Farmer, until you realise that he's motivated by greed and ambition,
not any political or magical cause. His known collaboration with Aztlan
is limited to sabotaging the UCAS assistance to the Yucatan in exchange
for funding and covert assistance, his links to the... denizens of
Chicago appear to merely involve providing a measure of protection
against the Army, and channels of egress, in exchange for money. There
is, after all, the wealth of a city inside the Zone."

Stormwind nods, looking doubtful. "And while this concerns us, how do we
get involved?"

The Elf tops up his glass. "HMG values the friendship of most of the
North American states, most particularly the UCAS and Confederacy. We
are concerned at Farmer's actions, but short of carrying out actual
espionage against a valued ally our options are limited. We are
especially constrained in some of the more, ah, intrusive methods of
gathering information.

"However, if a group of reputable, respectable and efficient UCAS
citizens were to become involved, investigating our concerns for us,
then these matters might better be brought to light and Farmer's
behaviour and habits revealed for proper enquiry. Yourselves, for
instance." Pendleton smiles.

"How overt is this?" asks Imp.
"We would prefer a measure of discretion." Pendleton sips his wine.
"However, this is - at least for now - an entirely legal transaction,
and discretion is required rather than secrecy." He reaches into his
jacket. "Excuse me. Harcourt, a moment of your time, I believe London is
calling."

"So, they wander off to let us talk about them behind their back?" asks
Imp mischievously.
"Sure, except the camera's still running." Quinn pulls an outrageous and
probably magically-assisted face at it.
"Who are these guys, anyway?" Neuron Basher inquires. "Come on, Quinn,
spill it."
"Well, don't let the aristo-and-prole act fool you. Those two are
serious and dangerous. Harcourt's a Matrix jockey from GCHQ Cheltenham.
Pendleton is with Five."
"Five?" Stormwind looks curious.
"MI5. MI as in Military Intelligence. Five handle internal and
defensive. Six handle external and aggressive. It's a good sign we're
dealing with Pendleton, suggests they want information not muscle.
Though the wording of their inquiry mentioned 'capable' help, which is
why I asked for Imp."

"More codes?" asks Neuron Basher.
"It's all codes when you deal with British civil servants. If they tell
you an idea is 'novel' it means they think you'll regret it. If it's
'courageous' then it'll get you killed. 'Capable' means 'we can use you
instead of sending the Hereford boys'. They were particularly happy when
I mentioned your name, Imp, your team made a real impression at Whinney
Hill." As she finishes, Pendleton and Harcourt return, as the waiters
efficiently clear the remnants of the main course and lay out dessert.

"Mr Stormwind, if I may summarise what we require from you, and why. We
will have certain avenues of enquiry we wish pursued, and will pay you
well to do so. The results from these will - if you confirm our
suspicions - allow us to bypass certain internal constraints, set in
place to prevent the wastage or diversion of resources. On a few
occasions, we may require direct action to be taken: I would offhand
expect us to handle the majority of this, but it would assist greatly if
our people were to have friendly faces, local help and a reasonably
secure lodging while operating here.

"Are you, in principle, interested?"

Stormwind nods. "Lose the camera."

<pause>

Quinn shrugs. "Fine by me, I don't mind running liaison."

"And by us, Mr Stormwind. We are not paying you enough to endanger your
business." Pendleton smiles and it even reaches his eyes this time. "Our
contracts people will be in touch to negotiate details."
+++++end trideo

Speak now or forever hold your pieces. Or something like that.]<<<<<
	-- The Mighty Quinn <23:37:52/11-21-57>

*****PRIVATE: Canis
>>>>>[Sorry it's taken so long to get back to ya, but we got jumped
again. I know what the pay was for ya Canis, and I hope ya haven't
smoked 'em all yet,  but I have no way of checking the coding... Sorry,
my deck was destroyed yesterday with our vehicle.  I'm using a borrowed
deck and it's pretty useless.

Thanks for the offer dude, but we gotta blow. They're on us pretty much
all the time, I don't know if we can stop movin' to pick up your offer.
Seems everytime we stop so far, the sonsabitches are waitin'.  Tank
boosted a panel truck earlier, so we're mobile again, and I'm real glad
to get outta them damn sewers.

We're hoping for evac somewhen today.  We found a butcher who patched DA
and Scorpius, though he had to take what was left of Scorp's legs off.
Aside from that, he couldn't do much for us. We're heading out of Chi
town, we can't take the risk of using local med facilities, so we're
headin' south.  We have to move fast, DA and Scorp are dyin' and I don't
know how much time they got left. Shado's down too, she got herself shot
in yesterday's attack.

There's only three of us left standin' and one non-com, and we're all
too tired to care anymore. I'm hoping a friend can git m'spare deck and
I'll talk to y'all later.

Wish us luck Canis, we need every bit.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:57:03/11-23-57>

*****PRIVATE: Nemesis
>>>>>[Authorisation Bravo niner seven Romeo Sierra fiver.

Need evac, four plus three.

Expedite earliest opportunity.

Beacon at Charlie Six.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <13:04:15/11-23-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Nomad
>>>>>[Sorry for the lateness.  I've got the first half dozen items already,
and I should have most of the rest by the end of next week.]<<<<<
	-- Action Jackson <22:30:46/11-22-57>

>>>>>[Val, you're losin your touch, you know.  Those kids of yours must REALLY
be runnin you ragged for you not to have that post out by now.  You know,
Halloween?]<<<<<
	-- Slash <22:32:17/11-22-57>

>>>>>[The kids have been better than ususal, actually.  Probably because I
jumped down one smart-ass's throat after 56 hours awake fighting with
the new hardware system that's been installed.

But that's what I get for trying to do-it-yourself a new network to keep
costs down instead of asking for professional help.  I'm working on it,
really.  But it seems that the file's disappeared, and the backups
accidently got erased, and the second set of backups were shipped off to be
recycled and have probably been purged or melted down and made into new
optical chips.

It's not been a good time, and I've not been particularly good company
recently.]<<<<<
	-- Valentine <22:35:22/11-22-57>

*****PRIVATE: Red Shift
>>>>>[Roger that Red Shift, poppin' and boppin now. ETA 35 ticks.
Confirm lock on Charlie Six.]<<<<<
	-- Nemesis <15:24:47/23-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[ Gates, good to hear from you, although the news you are reporting are
not good.

If you can't make it to Orion's and mine safehouse, maybe you have an idea how
we can help you? We have no hideouts in this area, and I don't think right now
you'd like to sit at some bus-stop and wait for us *sad grin*.

Besides, although I hate it, right now we have to stay with Bull. Some of us
are suspecting there is a traitor in the team. So be careful when sending
infos to the team.

My best wishes, and Orion's too, to you, Gates. Bring DA somewhere where he
has a chance to live. May Wolf be with you, Gates. ]<<<<<
	--Canis <13:01:14/11-23-57>

*****PRIVATE Mother Jaja
>>>>>[ Hoi Mother Jaja!  Christ! I've been seeing some scarry drek in Seattle!
 Makes my skin crawl, thinking about it.
I'm talking about several murders I've been trying to solve, for a
hefty sum of nuyen.   My buddies Ryker, and DigitalDeath have been
trying to hang in, but their inexperience with magic leaves them at a
fraggin' disadvantage!  And after the things I've seen, I'm not sure if
my experience with magic isn't enough as well.  But I can't give up,
because this run is becoming personal...  I mean the fragger' has
geeked several of my best friends already, and I feel like I'm being
watched ( Kinda' like the hunter becomes the hunted ) from a distance.
     This guy really scares me too!  Everyone he's killed has a Preying
Mantis carved into their fraggin' chests!  Symbols, and wierd markings
line every inch of the victim too!  It's like something out of a horror
sim-sense!
I've included some pictures of the crime scenes, and I was wondering if
you could take a look at them.  I know that you've studyed many other
traditions of magic, and that you could probably tell me what they mean.

[[[ Send files::Crime-sc-*.std.trid + ]]]

Well Mother Jaja, I have to go now.  Hopefully I'll live till
tomorrow... Send me any messages to >>>encrypted<<<.]<<<<<
	-- Onyx <10:06:56/11-23-57>

*****PRIVATE Onyx
>>>>>[ Hello my Onyx, my student.  I have carefully studied the
pictures, and found that the symbols are unique, and something I have
never seen before.  In fact the symbols seem completely alien!  No, No!
I don't mean that they are from another planet!
[[[ Play file::laugh-loud.std.snd ]]]
But they are very strange, and seem to have been influenced by something
"spiritual". The man you are chasing is probably into new forms of magic
that arose recently, or he might follow a tradition he made himself!  Or
as you would say:
"He's a fraggin' crazy!"
I really don't know yet Onyx.  The preying mantis symbol seems to be
his Loa, er... "totem" (as some call it.)
And you already know my feelings on that.  A boccor doesn't stand much
of a chance battling the darkness within his soul.  I've always felt
that the Voudon tradition leads us the right way, because of it's
implementation of a spirt guide, or Loa.... But you've already heard
this many times before, and I'm sure you don't want to hear it anymore.
But as for you insect-worshipping friend; I think he has lost his way.
His murders might have more to do with feeding his magic, more than
having a purpose.  And the pictures DO suggest that strong magics have
been used on the victims.  The victims have apparent burns, that would
be almost impossible to make with a flame-thrower or something along
that line.  I don't find this run too profitable.  Money is always less
in value, compared to your life.  This man appears to be someone that
you don't want on your bad side.  Well I'll go ahead and do some more
research...  Goodbye, and may Ghede guide your way, in life, or in
twilight ]<<<<<
	-- MotherJaja <12:04:52/11-23-57>

*****INTERNAL:Black King
>>>>>[Sir I believe we have made a mistake. the subject we assumed
 was known as DA is not in our custody. we have just seen reference 
to him as being alive though. we are still pursuing him and several others.
according to reports from the team assigned we shall soon have them
all.]<<<<<
	-- Kings Pawn 6 <14:30:17/11-23-57>

*****INTERNAL:Kings Bishop
>>>>>[Identify our guest.  I want full information on all of them.
Use drugs if you have to but remember not to hurt any of them.
make sure they are all at full health when you are done.
the body you save today could be yours tommorow.]<<<<<
	-- Black King <14:35:49/11-23-57>

>>>>>[ News sure travels fast.  Without knowing how detailed your
information is, Marcus, I cannot make a bid on it.  But yes, I'm
interested.  Let's meet and discuss details.]<<<<<
	-- Shadowfox <21:55:06/11-23-57>

***** Private: Nightmare
>>>>>[ FYI:  Here are the people I'm working at.  Currently we are tracking
down what maybe an interesting lead.  Will let you know if we are going to
need backup.

+++++ transfer: roster.list ]<<<<<
	-- Scarface <21:56:38/23-NOV-57>

***** Private: Ratspeak
>>>>>[ Just to be safe, find all you can on these people:

++++++ transfer: roster.list

Scarface trusts them, but something is telling me, we want to be careful on
this.  Pay equal attention to them all.  If you are going to look at
>>encrypted<< heavily, do the same for all of them.  He is an obvious
person to look closely at, but something tells me, it will be a red
herring.  Let's err on caution -- the Wanderer maybe crazy but he gets
results done. ]<<<<<
	--Nightmare <21:59:55/23-NOV-57>

*****PRIVATE: Shadowfox
>>>>>[My source has the information on who hired him and the official
transaction file.  Much of the operation's details have been corrupted, but a
skilled decker may be able to perform a little reconstructive surgery.  It's
definately "some assembly required," but then again the price is not too
high.  If you are willing to float the cash, the source will contact you
personally.]<<<<<
	-- Marcus <20:13:22/11-23-57>

***** Private: Marcus
>>>>>[ Interesting.  I will be willing to pay >>encrypted<< for it.    I
would in addition be willing to pay >>encrypted<< as an arrangement fee to
you in order for you to set up a meet for myself and your source.  Assuming
I like what your source has to say, I will pay the source well for the
information. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <03:07:09/11-24-57>

***** Private: Sprinkler, Scourge
>>>>>[ Got another potential lead from Marcus.  Since he is setting up a
meet with his "source", I want all information that can be found on him,
and I sort of need it yesterday. ]<<<<<
	--Shadowfox <03:10:02/11-23-57>

***** Private: Shadowfox, Scourge
>>>>>[ How loud should I be? ]<<<<<
	--Sprinkler <03:11:23/11-23-57>

***** Private: Sprinkler, Shadowfox
>>>>>[ Come on, lad, you cannot be that loud because everyone knows you
work for Shadowfox.  I, on the other hand, have an excellent reason to dig
up dirt on Marcus.  I can use it to gauge whether I want to land some more
work for my company. ]<<<<<
	--Scourge <03:13:03/11-23-57>

***** Not to: Marcus
>>>>>[ Hello.  Been a busy week.  My company has managed to acquire a new
location, and we expect within the week to resume work.  My thanks to
Whirlwind for doubling my insurance rate.

Speaking of rates, I'm thinking of pursuing a new contract and was
wondering what people know about Marcus.  Any useful information will be
well rewarded.  I just want to make sure I don't step on his toes (too
hard) if I design new security for the company he made some money off of.
]<<<<<
	--Scourge <03:17:25/11-23-57>

>>>>>[ Boring.  Stale.  Wait a second.  You are going to do another freeze
job for a place.  Awesome.  Another place I'll have to visit and scout
around.  Looking forward to the challenges. ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <03:19:26/24-NOV-57>

***** Private: Nightmare
>>>>>[ So far nothing interesting to report.  Here is the easy info that I
have acquired on them.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  As we expected, our
most notable friend has a SIN, and all the information involved with that
is included in my first report.  Something smells funny though.  I'll keep
digging.

+++++ transfer personel.files]<<<<<
	-- Ratspeak <03:21:41/24-NOV-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion Force Internal Email
>>>>>[
+++++ Message-From: Stephanie
Hello everybody?

My Da^H^Hcontact says that Dead Mr Tank was an ex-Green Beanie who used
to work for somebody called Ploughshare, who's a baddy that my contact
killed earlier this year for being a not very nice person. He also says
this might be part of a bigger nastier organisation and that it could be
really dangerous and we could all be killed or tortured horribly until
it really hurts. But we don't know who he worked for here in Chicago or
what he was doing or anything except that someone kept giving him money
to do whatever it was that he was doing. Until I shot him. They stopped
giving him money after that.

So I thought I'd better tell everybody so they know in case someone
knows something I don't.

Is anybody there or did the bugs come and eat you all? Nobody even said
'welcome back Stephanie'. You're not very friendly, are you?]<<<<<
	-- Stephanie <15:20:32/11-23-57>

*****PRIVATE: Tangent, Imp, Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[So, you still want to link our units unofficially? We have no
problems with exposure, but you may have difficulties. We consider our
arrangement still on despite this, until you say otherwise.

This Flux has large mouth. He is lucky not to have State Security speak
to him about his publications. But then, freedom is why I come to UCAS
anyway... he is lucky never to learn difference between 'free' and 'not
free'.]<<<<<
	-- Col. Sergei N. Rusanov <00:20:11/11-23-57>
           Commanding Officer, Rusanov's Rebels

>>>>>[HIYA in Seattle. Anyone needing a rigger around here ? Just came from
Denver. Used to do T-bird jamming. Have experience with (nearly) everything
that flies, especially vectored thrust vehicles. Interrested ? Drop me a
line at >>Encrypted<<. Frag Aztech !!!]<<<<<
	-- Stealth <11:10:31/11-25-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion Force Internal Email
>>>>>[

+++++ Message-From: Orion
+++++      Subject: Re: Hello everybody?

Welcome back, Stephanie!
Sorry it took me so long to answer, but Canis just now managed to run his heal
routine over my meatbod, and I was not in the shape to check the 'trix before.

You really did a good job with that wanna-be-Tank guy, don't listen too much
on what Canis said. He's a bit strange sometimes...

Well done on the information gathering, too. Should really help me with the
algorithms for the 'trix. Thanx a lot, Freund.

Good to have another one on the team, especially since we were quite
handicapped lately :-(

    Orion ]<<<<<
	-- IF Mailer Daemon <14:06:20/11-25-57>

***** PRIVATE: Col. Sergei N. Rusanov, Tangent, Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[  Indeed, our arrangement is definitely still on.  We still would like to
have access to your resources as well as being able to augment you with our
SpecOps teams.  You guys can kill people and break things on a larger scale
than we can, and we can be more selective than say, a mortar round. <chuckle>

As far as Flux is concerned, yes, he does tend to have a big mouth, but he's
very useful when the situation demands as Lynch could testify to.  Besides,
I'm inclined to cut him slack since we've saved each other numerous times in
the past.. ]<<<<<
	--Zachary Turner <11:20:30/11-25-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[We went out there with the right gear and Lynch won the toss. Next
time, tell VD to screw the budget and screw secrecy, we spring for
professional divers. That was not a nice piece of water to put someone
down into.

+++++begin audio recording.
Lynch's breathing echoes. "How are you doing, Jason?" warbles the
gertrude; Liliths's voice is just recognisable on the underwater
telephone.

"Trying to remember all the stuff I learned on a two-week course in
2047." Lynch's laugh is warped by his breathing gear. "Damn, it's cold.
On the way down. I see the plane. Old C-130, J or K model. Probably a K.
Tail number... it's 329 all right. What the hell's it doing down here?
We have a cause of the crash looks like number-two engine ate its
compressor, and then threw its prop. A couple of the blades went through
the airframe, looks like one went clean through the cockpit. The hole's
big enough to get through."

"Watch out for your suit."

"Yep. She's shallow enough I shouldn't need to decompress."

There is a pause, then you hear him again: Lynch's voice sounds strained
and there's more interference.

"Pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, still strapped into their seats. I'm
getting their dogtags. And the flight file. The prop blade killed the
co-pilot and took out a lot of instruments. Guess they had to land in a
hurry. The gear's down... winter. The FDR's still in place, I'm pulling
it. Going aft."

"Winter?" Lilith sounds worried. "You don't sound too good, Jason."

"It's cold as hell. There's another body aft. And canisters. No markings
obvious. Metal, not corroded, about two feet diameter and five feet
high. Lots of them, maybe a dozen. They've got ID plates, I've got one
off. I... I don't... I'm cold."

A long pause.

"Jason, are you okay?"

Another, longer pause, then "no... coming up..."
+++++end audio recording

He wasn't too bad. Just hypothermic from the cold. The flight file is
mostly mush, but a friend at the FBI's Text and Graphology is looking it
over. The dog tags match the crew from the official flight plan. The ID
plate from the cargo cylinder was badly corroded, but we're working on
it.

As for the flight data recorder... the technical data confirms what the
voice track says. We got IDs on the crew from the first part of the
flight. Takeoff was from Dover, in February, and they barely got
airborne: that runway's nine thousand feet and they needed all of it.
That cargo must be heavy. I'll just give you the important part.

+++++begin excerpt, FDR transcript
V - Major James Vorson (Pilot In Charge)
G - First Lieutenant Anne Golding (Co-Pilot)
B - Captain Roger Burns (Flight Engineer)

V: And then, get this, the Navy ensign starts asking the Colonel,
   where's the best place in town to get a blonde girl with big hooters
   who'll -
<siren>
B: Fire in number two, fire in number two!
V: Shit, that's all we need! Feather it and shut down the fuel!
B: I tried already! She won't feather! Damn thing's windmilling.
   Hydraulics dead. Fire's holding, fuel cocks closed, pulling
   extinguishers.
G: Losing altitude. We need to dump some fuel or we're going in.
V: Okay. Dover, this is Camel Two Nine, we are declaring an emergency.
   One engine out, hydraulics out, cannot hold altitude. Request nearest
   landing area, over. <Pause>  Dover, you read me? <Pause> Dover, you
   copy, this is Camel Two Nine declaring an in-flight emergency!
B: The breakers for the radio gear won't stay set, we might have lost
   the antennae with all that icing.
V: Fuck. Goldie, get into the nav computer, find us three thousand feet
   of flat land or we're dead. Jettisoning fuel. Can we get that engine
   stopped?
B: Even the backup hydraulics won't respond. I'll try the emergency
   compressed air, but something must really be fucked-

<crashing noise>
<loud background noise of howling wind>

B: GOLDIE!
V: She's dead! Roger, she's dead! Get me control back and find us
   somewhere to land!
B: <breathless> You have emergency reversion. Navcom's wrecked. Got a
   miracle handy?
V: I'll let you know. If it wasn't for this fucking snowstorm we could
   look for a road, even. Just got to get low enough to see ground and
   then take what we can find. What the hell happened?
B: Two threw its prop. I think that's what.. what..
V: Calm down. She's dead, Rog, and we will be too if you start losing
   it.

<pause>

V: THERE!
B: What the hell is it, Jimmy?
V: The hills open out to plains! We can use that. Ten degrees of flap.
   Can you get the gear down?
B: Maybe. <squealing, hissing noise> How's that?
V: Red light on the nose. Mains both okay. It'll have to do. Fifteen
   degrees flap.
B: We're fast...
V: Tell me about it. The ASI's frozen over and there's bits of Goldie
   all over the AOA indicator, we're overweight and underpowered.  I'm
   not taking any chances.
B: I didn't need to know that, Jim.

V: Flaring...
<tyres squeak, engines wind up to full power >
V: We're down. Slowing. Damn, it's icy. Brakes aren't doing much. Full
   beta on all props.
B: Ease off on the brakes, you're locking the wheels. How's the nose
   gear?
V: Sounds like it's damaged, but we're okay. Slowing... slowing...
   Christ on a crutch, we made it. Got your survival gear?

<engines winding down, wind nose fades>

B: You bet. I just don't believe we're still alive. Let's get out of
   here and get-

<creaking, groaning noise>

V: What was that?

<tearing, crashing noise. Screams. Sound of rushing water.>
+++++end recording

Looks like they put down on the frozen lake, and when they came to rest
the ice decided it didn't want to support forty tons of Herc. Rest in
peace, guys, that was some pretty incredible flying. You deserved to
walk away from that.]<<<<<
	-- 1Lt L R W Lynch <21:00:23/11-25-57>
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

*****INTERNAL:Black King
[sir we have had some success in retrieving who we now know as DA and several of his friends. we attacked them early today and managed to destroy their vehicle however luck seems to be on their side as they fled underground. we should have them within 24 hours.]<<<<<
	-- Kings Knight <14:19:47/11-25-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind, Tangent, Zachary Turner
>>>>>[This is good, and covers overlap well. Lynch already explain to me
about his friend Flux, and this is clearer now. I am still not fully
familiar with matrix or magic: these were not common back home. This is
why Lynch is so much use to me, because he is from capitalist chaotic
West and can translate its strange ways for ignorant Russian like
me.]<<<<<
	-- Colonel Sergei N. Rusanov <20:55:43/11-25-57>

>>>>>[My, my. A one-off or a harbinger?

+++++begin news item
THREE DEAD IN MAFIA BAR HIT
Three men died and two women were hospitalised after an eruption of
gunfire and violence at "Jason's", a notorious Mafia vice den. The three
were provisionally identified as being members of the Verozzi crime
syndicate, and the two women as prostitutes.

Lone Star refused to comment on allegations that the men had been
executed by being beheaded; or that Verozzi's rival Riku Matsehori was
believed to be behind the crime. Street sources point to rising tensions
and a series of minor incidents along the boundaries of Riku and Verozzi
territories, and suggest that a major syndicate war is imminent.
+++++end news item

Funny thing is, my friends in Riku's turf say they had nothing to do
with it, in fact it's damn inconvenient for their plans. Anyone got any
better information?]<<<<<
	-- Marlowe <21:10:23/11-25-57>

>>>>>[Greetings, if may, I am looking for information concerning an
old chummer of mine that goes by the handle of Wells. He is a
japanese fellow that travels with his kid sister and twin brother. I
have tried to contact him lately but have received no responces. If
anyone has information on his well being or last known location
please contact me via PRIVATE header.]<<<<<
	-- Stripling Warrior  < 01:19:33 / 11-26-57 >
Lynn Twiss
Online Coordinator
Kimber of America, Inc.
Clackamas, OR
(800) 880-2418
Fax (503) 656-5357

*****PRIVATE: Shadowfox
>>>>>[I am Marcus' contact.  I'll meet you at >>>ENCRYPTED<<< and detail the
files.  In return, I seek help with some matrix detective work.]<<<<<
	-- Stewart Thao <20:00:00/11-25-57>

>>>>>[If u 'ave a prolerm wiss Aztek it mart be betair to be mor
cairfool in vot u r sayink.  Zis airea 'as moor peepul on it zan u may
sink.  I pairsonalee work for Aztek ant 'ave not ze problairm wiss ze
companee.

I sink dat an atitute like zis woot be betair kept to yor zelf.  Aftair
all, you r not as saf as u mite sink.  Other peepul workink for Aztek
may not like wot u r sayink ant may bee inclarned to tek u sumwair ant
beat sum polartness into u.

Az for employink a rigair viss yor atitute, it iss not laklee.
Considair zis a frendlee warnink.  Yoor anti Aztek atitute wil nit be
tolairaytit.  Ze big A iss wotchink u. jest remembair zat a t-birt iss a
lonlay target in ze sky, ant we 'ave many wayz off dealink wiss it.  Do
not forget, not eefen dragerns r saf enymor.]<<<<<
	-- Dr. Jose Hernando <21:21:12/11-25-57>
           Paranormal/Paranatural/Paraphysical Research
           Aztechnology.

>>>>>[The following news item is of interest to certain parties, if any
further information regarding this event can be forwarded to >>LTG
number<<  we will evaluate the information and award payment as
appropriate.

+++++Begin Newsflash download
+++++Begin trid replay

In a recent event, an area of Chicago was turned into a war zone between
unknown forces.  A vehicle recycling plant, known as McMarcus Auto
Wreckers was virtually destroyed the other day when approximately 24lbs
of C12 explosives was detonated.

Interviews with local people has revealed that a pitched battle was
fought in the Wreckers Yard, just minutes before a massive explosion
tore the site apart.  Security forces investigating the area have found
traces of food and shell casings.  I asked Lieutenant Paul Harkose,
Chicago PD, what he thought was the cause of the explosion.

"Well, as far as we can tell on what we've got so far, there was a small
group of people living in the yard for a few days.  We have uncovered
sufficient detritus for us to ascertain that whomever was here was more
than likely a group of mercenaries, there was none of the usual garbage
associated with street gangs.  Another big clue of course was the
presence of two crashed attack choppers.  Forensics has determined that
one was shot down, the other appears to have crashed for no apparent
reason.  We also found some body parts near the debris, and we are
running analysis on these remains now.  We have been liaising with the
military, and they claim not to know anything about the events here.

Evidence so far indicates that a pitched battle was fought in this area
for a few minutes, before whoever was here blew the place to kingdom
come.  From what we've pieced together so far, estimates are that six to
ten people lived here for a period of one week.  Who attacked them adn
why is unclear at this time."

Earlier today I was able to catch Captain Grant T. Weissman of the UCAS
5th Armoured division, and questioned him on the presence of the two
attack helicopters.

"Ma'am, I'm not at liberty to discuss this situation with you, beyond
the fact that UCAS forces had absolutely no involvement whatsoever in
this incident, and that we are currently working closely with the
Chicago Police to ascertain the origin of the Attack helos."

He was extremely reluctant to say anything more.  A few of the local
people who were near the site, stated that they had witnessed several
large military style transport vehicles arrive in the area about 10
minutes before the battle.  They also state that a fairly large number
of troops disembarked from these vehicles, and after the explosion, that
almost destroyed a large section of the yard, they saw these men
climbing back into their vehicles carrying what looked like bodies.

If the military weren't involved in the incident, why were troops
present on the scene?  And why were two attack helicopters found crashed
in the yard?  Not so much a mystery as a potential cover-up.

A further event, possibly linked to this battle, occured yesterday
night, in Downers Grove, near the Good Samaritan's Hospital.  Reports
from local witnesses tell of a running battle between two or three
military style vehicles.  What this reporter wants to know, is.  Has the
Containment Zone been breached?  And, what are the military up to?

This is Pauline Gravity, on KAC-TV, News at 5.

+++++EOF
+++++End Newsflash download

]<<<<<
	--Anon. <02:11:17/11-26-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: Lynch, Lilith, The Two Jakes, The Horny Toad

Forensics cleaned up the ID plate Lynch lifted.

A three-leaf clover. Radiation warning.

Those cylinders match the description of storage canisters for sixteen-
inch shells. _Nuclear_ sixteen-inch shells. There's no record of any
missing nukes, big deal, this is pre-Crash.

Start getting the gear together to raise that Herk, _now_. You have full
authority to demand any military or federal resources you need to get it
done.

Lynch, Lilith, you're badged FBI counter-terrorism for the duration,
approved and signed. Behave yourselves.]<<<<<
	-- D J H Coppinger
           Director
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

*****PRIVATE:  Stephanie
>>>>>[Hey Steph, Welcome back.

Sorry I haven't been able to arrive, but things have been hectic around
here.  Some of the wizzie types are preparing to do some sort of mojo, so
I've been running around getting stuff for them and dodging tails from the
bad guys.

That, and I haven't checked my mail in almost a week.

So, hi!  Glad to see you back, and thanks for the info on that guy you met
up with.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <04:32:05/11-26-57>

>>>>>[Terrific...another ThuderBucket driver crashes into Seattle.  ^_-
Well Stealth, welcome to the few, the proud, the underapreciated:  the
riggers of Seattle.  I personally can't muster a pulse below Mach 1, but
I'm sure there will be someone looking to hire you around here.  And since
we're mud-slinging....  Screw Fed-Boeing and the winged sow they flew in
on. :P ]<<<<<
	--  Arashi <20:08:23/11-25-57>

***** Private: Stewart Thao
>>>>>[ Most excellent.  I'll bring some personal recommendations for people
who might be able to help you out.  See you at >>encrypted<< ]<<<<<
	-- Shadowfox <21:00:43/11-25-57>

>>>>>[Colonel Anders, ahm real sorry I couldn't git down ta the field
t'day but ahm kinda busy right now.  Oh, yeah, while I think of it, take
me off'n yer list o' pilots please. I no longer work fer ya. Ta muchly
bud. See ya later mebbe.]<<<<<
	-- Nemesis <03:22:43/11-26-57>

*****PRIVATE: Tugger
>>>>>[Yo buddy, ahm commin' in kinda hot, should be there by 21:00
tonight.  I have some real delicate cargo on board that needs a good
medfac.  Ah'd consider it a personal favour if'n you'd make all the
'rangements, thanks.  It needs t'be kept fairly quiet, as the cargo is a
bit warm.]<<<<<
	-- Nemesis <03:25:14/11-26-57

*****PRIVATE: HungHi, ER Inc.
>>>>>[I'm looking for some information on a few people.  I would
appreciate any information that you can send me. >>Names.dcc<<.  Also
looking for anything on a particularly gung ho person known as
Stephanie, no known aliases, mid to late teens, >>desc.dcc<< I am
nervous about friends and wish to assure myself she is not a threat to
them.

Also I would appreciate the present whereabouts or status of Dewdrop,
Talisman, Blaze, Shep, Questor, Pharoah, Doc, Phantom and Bob.

Thanks for any assistance. Your usual fee >>transfer nuyen<< I look
forward to your reply.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <04:46:22/11-26-57>

*****PRIVATE: Dr. Jose Harnando
>>>>>[I'd strongly reccomend a decent piece of translation software. Yours
appears to have been corrupted beyond usefullness.....]<<<<<
	-- Inferno <13:42:34 GMT/26.NOV.57>

*****PRIVATE: Mother Jaja
>>>>>[ I'm onto him pretty well now.  I caught him on trideo doing some pretty
sick drek!  My chummers and I have setup hidden cameras all over his
fraggin' hideout, and we're just waiting for our chance to geek him.
It seems almost a little too easy...  But there is still one thing I
don't understand.  Sometimes he walks into the abandoned building, and
we don't see him on camera...  I don't see why, maybe he's paranoid
about someone being in the house.  I don't know.
Stay in touch. ]<<<<<
	--Onyx <9:40:03/11-26-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[ Gates, Don't know if you have the time to check the public boards, but
I think this might interest you:

+++++ include <Lynn_Twiss011933_112657.nnw>

...since Wells is a contact of you as you said. Better warn him someone is
lookin' for him. I still have to wait what the mageboyz come up with here, so
can't be of any assistence right now, sorry.

I thought better you tell him, since I don't know him... ]<<<<<
	--Orion <11:01:12/11-26-57>

***** PRIVATE: Lynn Twiss
>>>>>[ Why are you looking for Wells? I might know someone who may knows
someone who _might_ help you, if you have the right answer handy... ]<<<<<
	--Orion <11:03:14/11-26-57>

>>>>>[iF ANYONE IS INTRESTED IN A MAGICIAL initiation group, 
or you know some one who might be, contact me.]<<<<<
	-- Josha The Weird

***** Private: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[I don't have a damn clue what's protecting that file about
Freddy.  It's some kinda Access, not a Scrambler, but it's tied to a
grey ice, probably Sparky by the way it keeps tearing up my deck.
But whenever I crash the Access, the grey stuff fires and trashes
more chips, knocking my offline before I can grab the file.  Then the
access comes back again, stronger.  Hell, the deck's full of
viruses now, I don't dare hook up to a system, who know's what'll
spill out.  This message is goin' out through my pocket secretary.

Cascading, defensive white IC?  I dunno.  You ever seen anything like
it?

My legwork is done, though, so maybe we won't need the file anyway.
Here're my notes:

+++++ file: freddy.txt

Not much we didn't know anyway.  Fred was President, CEO andmajor
stockholder of Frypp Security, Inc. of San Francisco, a mid-level
security corp providing security for the mid to high profile metas of
the Bay Area.  On the side he ran guns and maybe even a protection
ring.  Slotted of a few Yaks, but who doesn't right?  They called in
the heat, the Imperial Marines, to deal with the situation.  So
Freddy and his compadres wage a little terrorism against the
Occupation and it catches up to him, or they catch up to him, at
least and execute him, end of story.

So, anyway, the thing is, he always said he was born back in the
twentieth, he woulda been 82 this year, or so he always said.  But,
he was an elf, right?  Weird stuff.

He rarley talked about his two marriages, but wives were killed, Fred
blamed himself, big time self-pity, but anyway.  The last one really
fried him, guess he was some kinda big-wig in the Tir, but he split
for the Golden Gates, huh?

Guess he was connected out the ying-yang, protected by the Prince of
Darkness himself, cause he got him and his people outta some severe
shit on more than a few occaissions, plus he was usually operating
deep in the red, so there's no way the company shoulda been around
for more than a few years, not the... ten, I think, that it did while
Fred had it.

As for connections between him an' PC, I just don't think they exist.
Hell if I know why he picked the kid.

Anyway, once I get that freakin' file broke, I'll send it over.

Huh?  Waitasec, hold on....

+++++ command: pause

Oh, shit, you gotta see this.

+++++ command: link: remote drone -> matrix
+++++ command: initiate
+++++ done -- remote drone loading to matrix

The view is filled with static, but starts to form up -- a cluttered
pit, with a thin, disheveled little man with a cigarette hanging out
of his mouth.

"You gotta see this.  Can you see this?"

He's waving towards an open door, there's nothing there.

"F-F-Fred?  That you, ain't it?  You're lookin' good.... for bein'
dead.  Me an' astral space, huh?  We jus' don' get along, do we?"

He looks like somebody's talking to him, only there's nobody there.

"I dunno man, just stuff.... you know, biz.  Somebody wanted -"

Rumormonger takes a step back.

"Yeah, I know -- Hey, who the hell're you suppossed to be now?"

He stumbles over a pile of techno-crap. He scrambles backwards over
the equipment, eyes wide open in terror.

A loud, extended scream ends the transmission.]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

>>>>>[Senkyu Inferno, fur pointenk owt zat my translashun softwair iss
up ze shoot. 'owevair, it iss net! I 'ad zis softwair riten espeshulee
fur me. It 'as not enee of ze problairms, ant iss net yoosless!

Ant wile we r on ze subjekt my nem is spelt vis a E net a A. U say I
need nu softwair, but I say u need a spel chicker, or nu i's.

I 'ave a qwestchun abowt yoor nem. Duz it meen u r net cuvert in fer,
sat u 'ave a problairm wiss pippel inferink sinks, or r u 'ot stuff?
]<<<<<
	--Dr. Jose Hernando <15:34:07/11-26-57>
           Paranormal/Paranatural/Paraphysical Research
           Aztechnology.

*****PRIVATE: Strippling Warrior
>>>>>[So, another creature poses as the wierd and useless Strippling.
Funny, I heard he got hisself dusted over in LA.

So.  Who the hell are ya really?  And what do you want with Wells?  And
how much are you gonna pay for information?

Careful what you do and what you ask for dude, or somebody might take
offence.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <23:57:11/11-26-57>

*****PRIVATE:Emma
>>>>>[We are expecting the capture of the pest within 24 hours.
Also we have identified the ones we already have.
+++++ include: guest. text
they have been successfully incorporated into our structure, and one of
them the apparent leader had some interesting information we have
already put to use. upon obtaining our expected company we will
interrogate then integrate as normal, we hope that resistance will not
be encountered as we dislike using toxins and drugs to have cooperation
however we do expect this next group to be most noncooperative as they
have been very resourceful to this point. we will proceed with the
others as soon as we have captured our pest, as planned.]<<<<<
	-- Black Queen <17:23:39/11-26-57>

*****PRIVATE: Orion
>>>>>[

+++++Engage Satlink
+++++Searching... ...
+++++Found GeoNavSat34a,
+++++Begin trans

Thanks Orion, I wasn't aware of the search, but then I've only just got
my spare deck, and it took a bit o' tweaking to get it runnin'.  I'll
warn Wells and see if he knows who this person is.  If not, I will take
the neccessary steps to deal with him.

Further to our earlier conversation about DA.  We're on route to a new
location now, and should have him, Shado and Scorpius in decent medical
care soon.  We're out of Chitown, I can't tell you where at the moment,
we're still trying to keep that quiet, but I will keep you updated as to
their condition.

How are things going at your end?  I understand from the public datanets
that you recently had a run in with the some of our friends recently,
you were damn lucky to get out of that one. Anyone hurt?  Looks like
we're going to be famous Orion, we just keep on hitting the headlines.

I'm going to try something next week, once I know how DA and Scorpius
are going to be.  I have an idea that may work.  I've been talking to a
chap I know who might have some information that could be of use to us.
I'll let you know more later, once I've figured out what the heck he's
on about.

+++++Endtrans
+++++Disengage Satlink...

Gates <20:25:52/11-26-57>

***** PRIVATE: Fohdytoo
>>>>>[ Hi, Sam. How are things? Still taking the borders?

I need your help. Most probably, that is. Do ya still have that ass-kicking
Vacationer you saved our buts with near Atlanta? Do you have time right now?
And... How fast can you make it to Chi-Town? ]<<<<<
	--Orion <15:42:57/11-27-57>

***** PRIVATE: Orion
>>>>>[ Hey, Orion!

Long time no... read, I suppose. Yeah, still gad ma baby. And for ya I'll have
time always. Ya know dad.

Whad do ya need me'n'ma baby for? Still runnin with da others? How's dad
Ronin-fella with his big gun?

I can make it to Windy City in one or two daz if ya're in a hurry. Will dad
do? I patched up my babe a bit, should speed up thinkz mach. She now floatz
like a swan ova wader. ]<<<<<
	--Fohdytoo <16:05:21/11-27-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: D J H Coppinger
Document Recovery pulled the name of the authorising officer off the
remains of the flight plan: unfortunately his records are either pre-
Crash or thoroughly excised. We're going to have to go to SLand to get
the information, though: Jake had a little, uh, incident, and won't be
up and about for a few days.]<<<<<
	-- 1Lt J R W Lynch <19:35:43/11-27-57.
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

*****PRIVATE: Serenity Deckers, Flux, Squatter
>>>>>[Anyone got some spare time and want to - legally - siphon some
sweat from the taxpayer's brow? We need someone finding. Hopefully just
someone whose records were lost in the Crash.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <19:30:32/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Farmer
>>>>>[The problems in Chicago approach resolution: one group of the
irritants have been eliminated, and the capture of the other should
occur imminently. This is what we learned.

+++++include file: identities.txt

And, of course...

+++++credit transfer: >>encrypted<<
+++++verifying transfer.................OK
+++++transfer completed]<<<<<
	-- Emma <17:13:32/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Interesting. While Combine was scanning the files on the
inconvenience currently plagueing our Chicago friends, and adding yor
new information, some potentially useful facts emerged.

At least several of that mercenary team, and their leader Granger, were
members of a team nicknamed "Red Shift", operating in Amazonia and the
Yucatan. Their errant leader, "Dark Avenger", matches closely the
description and profile of the leader of this group. They were, by all
accounts, an effective and efficient unit.

Given the ...interesting items we have identified as being potentially
available in that region, I believe Dark Angel may be more use to us
alive and free than converted into a host for our... friends. Better to
have him inside the tent, as LBJ once said.

He can be returned to our friends once his usefulness expires, of
course. Advise our allies accordingly.]<<<<<
	-- Farmer <17:57:53/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Black Queen
>>>>>[Abort your pursuit of Dark Avenger. We have discovered a use for
him.

When his usefulness to us is complete, his utility to you can
begin.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <18:02:23/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE:emma
>>>>>[We are stopping our pursuit of Dark Avenger now, we hope
 it is for a good reason. We do not like to waste time playing games with you kind.
We will give the appearance that he has escaped us at present, if he is
smart he may realize that he could never escape our pursuit but then
again he is one of you.]<<<<<
	-- Black Queen <14:56:21/11-27-57>

*****INTERNAL:Kings Knight
>>>>>[STOP NOW!  The Queen just told me in person to cease the operation.
  You are to give the appearance that they have escaped, somehow let them lose
 you. The Queen is not happy right now so keep watching the subject but be sure
 they don't see you, you mission has changed from capture to follow and report. 
under any circumstances you are not to engage the enemy!]<<<<<
	-- Black King <15:02:10/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE:emma
>>>>>[I know you haven't heard from me since that last drop I did for you in the 
CZ but things just haven't been the norm. We are on our way to pick up some very 
hot customers. i think they just came out of the CZ you did still want to know how 
comes out and all that right.
i think the main ones name is dark avenue or something like that, anyway
this looks like an ordinary job a simple pick up and drop off but just
thought you might be interested.]<<<<<
	-- Edgewood <15:14:57/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Black Queen
>>>>>[Dark Avenger may be able to retrieve the... items you advised us
about: is _that_ a sufficiently good reason? We do not play games, nor
do we wish to waste your, or our, time.

It will be difficult and dangerous for us to control and direct him. Thus, we will require >>encrypted<< per item. However, we are confident of DA's ability to secure the items, or we would not ask such a high
price.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <23:58:53/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Edgewood
>>>>>[Yes, I am very glad to hear from you.

Ensure Dark Avenger gets safely out of the Zone. Get us all the
information you can about his companions. If possible, attach yourself
to the group. More information to follow.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <22:43:32/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Farmer
>>>>>[We have a lead on DA and a chance to disinform. Perhaps even to
lead. If we have a Matrix point for him to search, it will take some
time for him to contact a decker, and we will have time to plant the
information we require. We _need_ the... item in question: our Chicago
friends would find it most valuable. Far more so than your present
arrangement.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <22:47:53/11-27-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Agreed. Get him down there, as soon as possible.

+++++include file: LTG,RTG

By the time he contacts a decker able to penetrate the IC, the
information we require will be in there.

We need more funds, urgently. A mishap occurred and Jalopy's renovation
has been delayed: by up to three months, unless we can secure
_considerable_ additional funding. Take any measures necessary to do
so.]<<<<<
	-- Farmer <22:55:42/11-27-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[Gee, who cleaned the muck off the top of the swimming pool?
Does pond scum take offence? As for my demise, I hide in the shadows
of this hat I acquired from an old friend. I might be up to using it
as payment for the info I've been asking for but....I doubt somebody
could win it from me.

If he's up to it.

I'm not sure he's learned to shoot yet.]<<<<<
	-- Stripling Warrior < 23:52:23 / 11-27-57 >

*****PRIVATE: Pharoah
>>>>>[Pharoah, You still here man, or has the Reaper finally come
callin'.  If yor available I know a man who could do with a good hand
like you.  Pays piss poor, but the scenery's kinda fun, and you'll get
to do what you like best, travel. Talk back to me man.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:39:54/11-28-57>

*****PRIVATE: Stripling Warrior
>>>>>[So, my celebrations were early, you live then?  What happened,
they find a cure for rabies did they?

As far as I know Pond Scum doesn't take offence, but you'd know more
about that than me.... maybe you could ask one of your reptile relatives
about it.

And SW, You wouldn't hav'ta hide in the shadows o' that hat, if you
weren't so damn small.  Maybe if you tried some real food once in a
while, you'd git bigger'n a snake.

I learned to shoot while you  were still peeing your diapers, boy.  And
if you hadn't double crossed me like ya did, things mighta been
different.  You ain't earned that hat yet....

Now, whaddya want with Wells....]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:15:14/11-28-57>

*****PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[So, you go by different name now huh?  OK, that's cool.  I know
you anyway.

Location of requested customers, Dewdrop working out of Houston, Blaze
also in Houston, they work together now, Shep unknown, possibly Little
Rock, or maybe Fort Worth.  Pharoah in St. Louis, Doc, in Poland,
Phantom and Bob are deceased, sorry.  Hope this is of some use to you.

I find no reference of anyone called Stephanie in the Shadows, only
vague reference to something elsewhere, I am checking for you, having to
use appearance as search criteria, maybe something turn up later.  For
further research another >>sum nuyen<< will be required.

You hot property Gates, someone big want you, want you good.  Watch you
back friend.  Apologies for delay in returning information of previous
request.

+++++Include IFne9.dat

Hope this is what you expect.  They all OK people.]<<<<<
	-- HungHi <02:27:34/11-28-57>

***** PRIVATE: Arthur Fury
>>>>>[Arthur, Trinity Company has fallen on harsh times. I need to
send word to father that Nhan has been injured. Both his legs were
severed at the knee. He is in critical condition but I am in need of
money. April handled the chosen mark that Luo had set for cleaning in
Chicago. The set amount for this duty should be fine. I understand
father's protocol in these matters but, the finger can not be
deleivered until later. Nhan's safety is at stake. I'm sure father
will understand.]<<<<<
	-- Wells < 03:55:19 / 11-28-57 >

*****PRIVATE:  Gates
>>>>>[Hoi Gates, I am available, and bored shitless.  What's the scam?
What's the pay?  Where's the fun?  And how come you're employing and not
DA.  Oh, yeah, I'm in St. Louis, and just about to hit Joe's Bar, I
intend getting wrecked to some home town blues tonight.]<<<<<
	-- Pharoah <20:31:22/11-28-57>

***** PRIVATE: name{,name, name, ...}
>>>>>[ Okay. Pay's double usual. Run to Chi-Town, and take anyone with you you
can trust with your life. We are in a bit of trouble here, and since we've
been ambushed before by para-militaries, I think counter 'em with your guys
will work best *grin*

We have the adress of a building that's either the HQ or at least one of the
bases of our enemies. Mission objective is a hit and run to distract enemies
when we are attacked again, so you'll have to hide for maybe a few Tage. Oh -
and Canis is on the team, so avoid collateral damage, especially on
non-combatants if possible.

You'll proceed to <<encrypted>>. There you'll find an empty warehouse. i
changed some entries on the 'trix so you'll have access to it and will not be
disturbed. Stay inside, I suppose the opposition will watch the area. On
notice (check channel <<encrypted>>) you are to attack the building at
<<encrypted>> using heavy arms, preferably missiles or the like, and if
possibly, level it. Avoid casualities - this is just a distraction and should
not turn into Hamburger Hill. No Mercenary Machoism, please.

After that, run, err, retreat.

Well ... that's it. Here's an advance...

+++++ transfer funds: <<nuyen>>

and I hope you notice how I tried to stay to your merc's lingo :-) ]<<<<<
	--Orion <22:14:36/11-28-57>

***** PRIVATE: name{,name, name, ...}
>>>>>[ Received and understood. Will bring five buddies of mine, those are
good hacks and near my LTG. Will notice you when we arrive near your SAN.

I hope you appreciate how I stay to your Decker-Lingo! :-)) ]<<<<<
	--Fohdytoo <22:38:00/11-28-57>

***** Private: Bull
>>>>>[Bull weve set up the second saftehouse and the railroad to Seattle is
ready. here are the files SEND rail.doc.They include all the info you need
include were who and when.Cya in a few days mate and stay safe,
ps cant wait to see your kids:) last time i meet you,you were still 
single and swearing that you'd never marry or have kids (i think 
you passed out shortly after saying
that).well take care.]<<<<<
	-- Smudge<00:12:43/11-28-57>

***** Private: Quickstep
>>>>>[ive sent the latest update on the safehouses and the Railroad.If yo=
u
can get those Sat photos you were talking about i can send them to him AS=
AP.
Later.Dont get cought:)]<<<<<
	-- Smudge<00:15:23/11-28-57>

***** Private Dark Avenger
>>>>>[ Dark old friend were are you havent heard from you since.. well since
i cant remember is there something wrong???. Contact me if theres anything i
can do for you]<<<<<
	--Smudge<00:17:56/11-28-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[Since you are so defensive about Wells, I'm going to assume
that you know where he is. I've been trying to reach him, looking for
info concerning a friend of mine. I didn't want Wells to know that
was why I was trying to reach him. I thought I would just subtly ask
the question, after Wells got me some work.

The info I'm looking for, deals with Luo. (Yea, you know who I'm
talking about. Don't go trying to put off that you don't know Luo,
I know Wells told you.) There is a friend of mine who I think has been
painted a mark by Luo's Syndicate. I need to know, if it isn't Luo,
than who is it?

My friend just got back from a run in Chile. Since Wells was with us
down there I thought he might know something or at least remember
something.]<<<<<
	-- Stripling Warrior < 01:12:11 / 11-29-57 >

*****INTERNAL:Black King
>>>>>[sir we know thier final destination.
we traced thier current path and used the information you supplied us
with. they are going to seattle.
+++++include. travel file.
sir this are where they will be stopping and all the info we need.]<<<<<
	-- Kins Pawn 3 <18:08:12/11-28-57>

*****INTERNAL:Black Queen
>>>>>[We have just had a very usefull report from the matrix unit.
+++++include. travle file.
should we go ahead of them and set up a trap or follow and wear them
down. They are headed to seattle and as yet we dont have any body there
in the whole colony the closest we have are in calgary, but they are
small and do not have the resources like we do. i suggest we get to
seattle and make a new branch to our own structure. in any case we have
them.]<<<<<
	-- Black King <18:16:09/11-28-57>

*****PRIVATE: Pharoah
>>>>>[Pharoah, we need you... Now.  We're staying at >>location<< It's
DA....   he's...  Just get here man.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <03:27:39/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Stripling Warrior
>>>>>[I might know where he is, but I'm sure not going to bother him,
he's got one of those Japanese fugues on right now, and he keeps
stroking this funny little knife.  Shado said somethin' about Giri,
whatever the hell that is.  Wells, ain't gonna be in much condition to
talk to ya ferawhile Scorpius just lost both legs.  We got caught in a
furball in Chitown, came out of it on the shit end.

I have no idea who Luo is, I only know of him.  If I get the chance I'll
talk to Loch about it.  I'll get back to ya real soon.  It might be a
good idea for you to make your way up to St. Louis, we're staying at
>>location<< and should be here for awhile, DA's comatose, his lung
collapsed on the way here and it don't look like he's gonna make it.
Wells has been busy talking to some hot shot about his brother and
making all kindsa wild promises, Shado's hurt but alive, and Loch is in
a kind of depression, I been trying to break her out of it, but I ain't
got your humour.

I'm hoping Pharoah will be joining us shortly, he should be in Louis
somewhere. If'n ya take a red eye, you should be up here by tonight.
If'n Wells has snapped out of his mood, I'll take ya to him.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:37:15/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[I just checked in with the butcher,  I have some bad news for all
those of ya who give a damn.  Dark Avenger's dyin'.

He took a bullet in his lung, and that ruptured somethin' else, The
other two bullets caused,  collateral damage, I think the quack called
it.  I don't know the full med shit for it, but basically he's one
fucked up puppy.  The doc, reckons he's gonna fade afore the weekend's
out.  We can't take him to Med Centre cos o' the bad guys, so he's gotta
sit it out and die in some shit heap back street hick house.

I'm pissed, oh man am I pissed....

I'm gonna find me a few bugs and stomp their ass.

We're out of it now, there's.....

there's no point us goin' on....

...

Oh christ....

I, I don't know what to do anymore....

I'll seeya.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <03:20:04/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Orion
>>>>>[I've recently made contact with a fella called Edge, who's been
flying with Nemesis over the CZ, dropping supplies.  He reckons he heard
some people talking near the hanger the one night, something about Chess
Pieces he says... You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?  Anyway, he saw a
uniform, and being an intelligent sorta fella, he figured what they were
saying might be worth something, so he taped it.  He should be bringing
it over later and I'm hoping something interesting is on that tape.

I'm also going to search around the area of Chicago, and see if'n I can
find me some Bugs in the Matrix.  If I can, and it's the Chess Men, I'm
sick o' this runnin' and hidin' bullshit, I'm gonna kick some ass.  If I
can find their home SAN, I'm gonna take me on a bug hunt, and I got me a
real nice virus, that should put paid to these bastards.

I'll get in touch with ya somewhen over the weekend, after I've run the
sonsabitches.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:58:47/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE:emma
>>>>>[ok I'll somehow get into the team. i hope you realize extra duty means extra pay. so how do you want me to do it, i cant exactly say 'hey do you mind if i follow you guys around and oh yeah im an informant'.
oh and one more thing why are they so anxious to get out of there what's
chasing them?]<<<<<
	-- Edgewood <21:01:47/11-28-57>

*****INTERNAL: The Chess Board
>>>>>[Children our efforts shall soon be rewarded.
The sacred artifacts lost so long ago will soon be in our hands.
Our sisters and their children shall soon be joining with us.
However we must not rejoice yet as the end is still far away.
All recourses will be placed on recovering the artifacts, already we
have made plans with the humans who work with us to recover the
twilight's soul.  We your Queens congratulate your accomplishments and
loyalty in the face of the losses we have attained. The Great Colony
will
remember our accomplishments long after this world has become our
own.]<<<<<
	-- The Queens (21:26:39/11-28-57>

*****PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[Gates? Where are you? There IS a chance to save DA. Contact
>>encrypted<< at >>encrypted<<. He's the best magical healer I know.

Tell him Inferno sent you.

DO IT NOW!!!!]<<<<<
	-- Inferno <11:20:21 GMT/28.NOV.57>

***** Private: Gates
>>>>>[Gates were are you and were is DA Give me the location now.Ill be down
there imeadietly maybe i can do something to help him tell me please.]<<<<<
	-- Smudge<11:44:12/11-29-57>

***** Private:
>>>>>[Bull consider me on indefinate vacation as of three minutes ago im
heading out to where ewer DA is From that posting by Gates he seems to be in
real truble and needs help.If you need any info about the railroad or
anything done here on this end, Contact Bear or quickstep
they know as much as i do.Contact you again when im ready]<<<<<
	--Smudge<11:47:42/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[Gates, we need to talk, and fast.

I'm sorry it's taken so long for us to contact your group, but - as your
enemies already seem to have discovered - you're very difficult to pin
down to any one location.

We need Dark Avenger and his expertise. Badly.

Set up a meeting, your terms, time and place. I don't expect you to
trustingly come to me, and don't worry about offending me with excessive
precautions, just meet with me so we can negotiate. Contact me when
you're ready to talk.

We've got a lead on something. Let's just say that, maybe it's myth and
legend and rumour; but maybe it could be to the bugs in Chicago, what
the Great Ghost Dance was to the 101st Airborne.

We need someone to get it: someone experienced, capable and deniable.
And since it's in Amazonia, Dark Avenger's the best guy around to take a
team in and get it.

Talk to me, soon.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <20:04:32/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Edgewood
>>>>>[Of course, the extra difficulty of your assignment will be
rewarded appropriately.

How are you to join their team? That is up to you: you are supposedly
capable in these matters.

When you join them, if they mention insect spirits, mention the
following:

+++++include data: RTG/LTG

It contains information that concerns such spirits.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <17:55:53/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE:emma
>>>>>[What do you mean insects is that what these guys are running from?
great.. geting into their group shouldnt be to hard nem said they were
pretty hurt so i figure a few heal spells and some friendly talk and im
one of the boys. everything else looks good ill contact you again when
ive successfuly been accepted.]<<<<<
	-- Edgewood (14:30:25/11-29-57)

*****PRIVATE: Farmer
>>>>>[It appears our 'hold' order went out too late. I've been informed
that Dark Avenger has been mortally wounded and will be dead within a
couple of days at most. A pity, he would have been ideal for the
recovery of the Soul.

What alternatives can we pursue? Perhaps we should hire a mercenary team
elsewhere? A unit called "Macross Rangers" appears promising.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <18:07:53/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Find him and get him healed. AT ONCE!!!

Don't you see this is the perfect opportunity? He is reputed to suffer
from loyalty. He will serve us, if it repays the debt of his life. There
is nobody available who is better qualified than he to recover
Twilight's Soul for our friends, and with that money Wild Rose will
proceed to completion regardless of any other problems that may arise.
Our setbacks elsewhere will become... irrelevant.

Also, ensure our informant is given the route to the data Combine has
prepared. This will confirm the information we will pass to Dark
Avenger, and make him less distrustful of us.

Contact him personally if necessary. But keep him alive and get him
working for us.]<<<<<
	-- Farmer <19:00:34/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Farmer
>>>>>[I checked it out, I looked, and there's only one way with a good
chance of working. For this, is there any other option than personal?

I'm going to have to put my head in the noose and stand on the trap, and
pray nobody pulls the lever.

If this gets me killed, Mark, you'll go down too. Depend on it.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <19:50:43/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Your offer of a deal makes me curious, as to how you know so much
about us and my enemies....  What makes you think I have enemies?

I'm afraid that Dark Avenger is not available for employment at this
time, he met with a serious accident and is not likely to recover from
it. We, I am unable to afford the kind of medical attention he requires.

You make me very nervous with your comments regarding bugs and
Chicago....  I would like to know your sources of information, and how
you managed to identify us.

Further to that, if you don't mind meeting with myself and a couple of
friends.  We will await your arrival at Joe's Bar, on L.Armstrong
Avenue, St. Louis, say 13:00 tomorrow.  Don't do anything silly or bring
any friends of your own.  There will be people watching. Also, it is a
bar where we have friends.  It would be a fatal error for you to try
anything fancy.

Appreciate one thing Emma, I do not normally do this, nor do I normally
meet with people who know more about me than is acceptable. But you have
my curiosity, and only that so far.

Remember, the first sign of anything suspicious, and you will be
dust.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <23:06:22/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Wells
>>>>>[Luo has authorized the release of the, previously agreed, nuyen
figure. It has been transfered from your father's estate to April's
account.

Do you require assistance from us?]<<<<<
	-- Arthur Fury < 00:42:23 / 11-30-57 >

*****PRIVATE: Loch
>>>>>[Don't forget little one. I am counting on you. It must be
swift.]<<<<<
	-- Divinity < 00:48:53 / 11-30-57 >

*****PRIVATE: Smudge
>>>>>[Smudge, there is nothing you can do friend.  Thanks for the offer
though.  We're out of Chitown, and in St. Louis now, DA's condition
worsened during the flight down here.  By the time you get here there'll
be nothing left for you to do.  I'm sorry.

Stay in Seattle, finish what Avenger started.. Get Bulls family to
safety, get the information spread to the trid's, media and Shadowland.
Don't spoil his efforts to date by abandoning the project, you know how
he hated failure.

Thankyou for your concern, but there is nothing you can do for him now,
you're too far away.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <22:55:13/11-29-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[Will be there with red eyes. Anything I should know before
hand? I'll greet with the old sign.]<<<<<
	-- Stripling Warrior < 01:02:21 / 11-30-57 >

*****PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[Word gets around, Gates. Certain folk, whose allies are a
little... chitnous, have been asking questions about you. Questions such
as "where could Gates and Dark Avenger be found, and how much would you
expect to be paid to deliver them to us?" It's our job to monitor and,
when we can, deal with, these threats.

An opportunity may be presenting itself to do the invae great harm, but
we need the Avenger to exploit it.

As for Dark Avenger's injuries... we can get you an Army trauma team: if
he's still alive now, if they get to him fairly soon he'll survive. We
_need_ his expertise and experience. We will do whatever is necessary to
keep him alive. Is that a sufficient guarantee of my bona fides?

If I wanted him dead I could simply sit back and wait. Instead, I'm
exposing myself, risking a medical team, and possibly compromising my
organisation.

I'll meet you in St. Louis, as you said. I will be alone, though armed
(just my Guardian, I have no doubt you'll have enough firepower backing
you up to turn me into hamburger if I try to use it on you).]<<<<<
	-- Emma <01:15:35/11-29-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Your offer of a deal makes me curious, as to how you know so much
about us and my enemies....  What makes you think I have enemies?

I'm afraid that Dark Avenger is not available for employment at this
time, he met with a serious accident and is not likely to recover from
it. We, I am unable to afford the kind of medical attention he requires.

You make me very nervous with your comments regarding bugs and
Chicago....  I would like to know your sources of information, and how
you managed to identify us.

Further to that, if you don't mind meeting with myself and a couple of
friends.  We will await your arrival at Joe's Bar, on L.Armstrong
Avenue, St. Louis, say 13:00 tomorrow.  Don't do anything silly or bring
any friends of your own.  There will be people watching. Also, it is a
bar where we have friends.  It would be a fatal error for you to try
anything fancy.

Appreciate one thing Emma, I do not normally do this, nor do I normally
meet with people who know more about me than is acceptable. But you have
my curiosity, and only that so far.

Remember, the first sign of anything suspicious, and you will be
dust.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <23:06:22/11-29-57>

>>>>>[I hear ya SW, and will be available to collect ya, I cain't take
ya directly to Wells, as I ain't heard from Loch yet, but as soon as I
do, I'll take ya in.

I'll be watching fer ya.  Mind your back SW, we have some strange people
interested in us right now, and I'm getting a real nasty itch between my
shoulder blades.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:35:29/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[Interestin', so your military huh?  Funny how you people can
accomplish things when and if it suits ya.  How soon can the team be
here, I have another option that is a few hours away?  This, offer may
be sufficient to gain some trust, though I must confess to some
considerable suspicion myself.

As for needin' DA, I find that real interestin', what qualities does he
posses that can't be found in another of his experience.  Or are you
merely considering availability and obligation as incentives here?

I appreciate you are exposing yourself to some danger, but I have a funy
feeling that danger isn't too interested in you... but may follow you.

Give me a time scale on the med team, and I'll make arrangements my end,
the meeting is still on I take it?  Or would you like to bring the
schedule up a bit?  And one other thing deary, you can bring whatever
pop gun you want, it won't do you no favours, we don't make hamburger
here, it's too messy, a smear is easier to mop up.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <02:30:43/11:30:57>

*****PRIVATE:  Gates
>>>>>[Man, my prayers are with ya'll.  The only decent Doc I know is Doc
Madness, but he's in Seattle...  No way he'd be able to get to ya in time...

I'm sorry, man.  It's my fault too...  DA was helping me...

I think I mentioned my friend Goober to ya once before, but if I haven't,
give him a call at >>encrypted<<.  He can get ya just about any equipment
you need, including heavy weapons, should you need them.  Tell him to put
whatever you get on my tab...

Good thing I been socking money away all these years...]<<<<<
	-- Bull <07:22:25/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Smudge
>>>>>[Hey tehre...  Sounds good...  We're waiting to find out what's up with
DA before we move...  But it will be soon, i hope.

Thanks for teh good work, and I look forward to meeting you.]<<<<<
	-- Bull <05:03:31/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[It's not your fault Bull, this was DA's option.. he doesn't like
leaving people in distress, and you were a bit distressed at the
beginning. His work profile was to monitor for transmissions and act
accordingly, but it didn't entail that he get personally involved.
Other arrangements should have been made, so if anything this is his and
my fault.  I monitored the first transmissions.

DA's CIC is here in SL, so maybe Pharoah can come up with something, I
know the old pack rat has caches all over the country.  I won't charge
anything to your account, for starters i don;t have any way of proving I
know you, but more importantly, I feel you are going to need every penny
you have.  You've been lucky by all accounts so far.  Good luck has a
habit of deserting you when you need her most.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <07:35:25/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE: Gates
>>>>>[We can accomplish many things when and if we are permitted to do
so, and given the right resources. This is one of those cases.

As for why we need Dark Avenger, name me another individual currently on
the market who has his experience operating in Southern America. The
item we require is deep inside Amazonia and retrieving it is not
expected to be easy: we simply don't have personnel with the right mix
of skills and experience available.

Assuming not only you, but DA, are in the St. Louis area; I can have a
trauma team at a dustoff within forty-five minutes and DA in surgery an
hour after that. All we need is a location to collect you from: the
timescale's in your hands. If he's elsewhere I'll need as much as a
couple of hours.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <12:22:42/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE: Farmer
>>>>>[Warm up a casevac team from the 354th to pick up and repair a
gunshot casualty. Cover story is a wounded agent; no questions, no
identification. It's been done before, we can do it again.]<<<<<
	-- Emma <12:26:43/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE: Emma
>>>>>[OK, Emma.  Call in your boys.  I'll take the risk, DA's life is
too important to me to fart around arguin' niggly points.

But be warned now.  Any sign of a double-cross, any trickery on your
part, and I'll chase you through the seven hells and tear your lungs out
at the end of it.  Do you understand?

I can be reached at >>location<<. I'll take your team to DA.  Will
expect arrival within the allotted time.]<<<<<
	-- Gates <16:12:33/11-30-57>

*****PRIVATE:emma
>>>>>[well so far so good their on the plane and we are headed to saint Louis. there are four of them and two are hurt bad, ive stabilized both DA and another one called Scorpius but their is a lot of internal organ damage more then any magic can fix. they seem like good people what did they do to get your attention so well?]<<<<<
	-- Edgewood (14:50:28/11-30-57)