>>>>[
+++++download: Trail_report_VI.b
+++++download: hunting_snail_frame]<<<<<
	--JayCee<19:05:32/09-30-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Squatter
>>>>>[Well, it take me a while to get in touch with my friend.  He is 
mostly cut away from the rest of the world.  He can't be tell me 
anything specific, only some general informations, and even that is a 
risk for him to talk.

Basically, the body is a very complex thing and is constantly 
monitoring itself and changing to maintain itself in the environment. 
Every time some cyberwares are put into the body, it interferes some 
with this feedback and as you know if too much is put in, the body 
can't maintain itself any more and the person dies.  With better 
techniques and refining the equipments, the impact of implanting 
cybers can be reduced, but there are still limits of about 40% non-
neural replacements.  Neural is much more sensitive and really can't 
be replaced above about 5%, only augmented.

Refining the components and techniques is reaching a plateau for 
reducing implant trauma, although carefully matching and integrating 
cyber components (i.e. installing them as a SYSTEM instead of pieces) 
may also help.  The next step seems to be Cybermancy.

Cybermancy, at least in theory, will push non-neural replacement 
tolerances to 90%+, and maybe even allow neural replacements.  It 
uses a combination of experimental drugs and magic to keep the 
remaining tissue functional.  The individual components in the system 
have to also be carefully integrated to make sure they are 
compatible, and installed in a specially designed regimen.  It is a 
very intensive process and must be continuously maintained or it 
starts to degrade.

This is all just experiment so far, and is only worked on seriously 
in a few labs, and very secret.  I don't know any labs, but they 
would be need much funding, so probably they are in big corporations 
or governments.  I also never hear of any work on people that have 
success over a long period, but that would be secret anyway.  I think 
it will be many years before this technology reaches a useful level, 
and even then it will be too expensive to build and maintain to use 
in most areas.

That is all i may tell you now.  I hope this helps.]<<<<<
	-- Basilisk <22:47:51 GMT/01.OCT.57>

*****PRIVATE: Cassandra
>>>>>[What the frag did you get me in to?!  I was walking 
down the street to see a friend and this thing just comes right 
up to me.  Usually I keep away from the squatters and all but 
this guy just walks right up like he knows me. Next thing I know
 my ally starts screaming something about an astral shadow 
and tells me to run! well i didn't know anything about "astral 
shadow's" so i look and sure enough this thing  walking up to me 
has what looks like a black aura or shadow all around it. so i start
 to turn and run away but the things all ready next to me, he was 
so close i swear i should have felt his breath but it never seemed 
to breathe at first i was afraid to even look up at it but then it started 
asking me about you. where did you live, where do you go, who are 
your friends, etc. that's when i looked up. the thing didn't even have 
a face it was just a skull with these weird eyes that glowed. i think
 i gained about 3 years at that point. it just kept asking me the same 
questions over and over. at first i didn't know what to say, but i figured
 you didn't need anything like this so i said i didn't know who he 
was talking about and started to walk away. that's when it got mad
 i think, it grabbed my arm and it felt like he would have ripped it 
off if my ally hadn't attacked him. it let go of me and these blades 
came out of his hands and he started to slice at my ally. the damn 
thing KILLED it like it was just a fly, i saw the spirit try a spell
but nothing happened that's when the thing tore into it.
seeing that i tried to throw a fireball but all that did is burn the
things cloak. that's when I decided to disappear it looked around for a
few minuets then walked off mumbling something about evita. you better
tell her to be careful this thing made tarlen look like a normal guy.
what ever it is i wont be around for a couple days, good luck and stay
alive.]<<<<<
	-- Dirk <17:29:03/10-01-57>

*****Private: Ms. Johnston
>>>>>[Questioning didn't work as had hoped ran into a small difficulty.
I will pursue a different person to find subject.  Any extra information
would be useful.  Also I am having minor problems with my internal
weapons this may slow my work if I cant find the appropriate tools soon. 
I will continue on main objective until further notice.]<<<<<
	-- The Skull Bearer<17:40:26/10-01-57>

*****PRIVATE: The Skull Bearer
>>>>>[Hmmm.  I assume you questioned Cassandra's mage acquaintence.  Did 
you kill him? I hope so. We don't need him warning the others.  Come to
>>encrypted<< this evening. I will have you restored to full working
order as best I can.  For the record, you are a magically sustained 
machine, no?  I will have personnel available with the appropriate tools.
Do not move forward until we have affected your recuperation.]<<<<<
	-- Ms. Johnston <20:57:00/10-1-57>

>>>>>[An I will be righ' ther' wi' ya, I wa' in on th' run tha' got th'
fragger]<<<<<
	--  STREETWOLF(Fire is an Elf's Best Friend)<00:29:59/10-02-57> 

*****PRIVATE:Nameless
>>>>>[So when do we get the details?]<<<<<
	-- Evita <15:45:32/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE:Valentine
>>>>>[I have found Sarah's father, there are some complications
involved...since you're the unofficial protector of Sarah and her mother,
can I meet with you to discuss this?]<<<<<
	-- Cassandra <15:49:12/10-02-57> 

*****PRIVATE: The Group
>>>>>[We really need a name.

Anyways, I'm back, so now I can tell you where I was. Gibraltar, up the
rock thereof, in this corporate hotel thing. I was under exec disguise, as
were a few other Seattlite runners. We mingled with the other execs, drank
some champagne, talked about corporate policy, and saved the world from a
madman with a big nasty virus. Boring, all things considered.

Also, I need your guy's help in a ritual to initiate again, can we meet
soon? Same place as the last one, >>time<<.]<<<<<
	--  Ice  <15:25:27/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Cassandra
>>>>>[Of course.  I am always here at Haven.  Stop by when you can.]<<<<<
	-- Valentine <16:15:39/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: L
>>>>>[Here's the report on the festivities at the Rock hotel, Gibraltar.

It mabe a little disorganised, but what am I, a secretary? I divided it by
days... but firstly, here's a series of pictures of the principals so you
don't have any trouble with the various footages.

+++++Include Blackthorne.pic
(Male, Amerindian, human)
Decker, AKA David Buchanan, SK Exec.

+++++Include Blackhawk.pic
(Male, Amerindian, ork)
AKA Ralph Serpiko, SK Bodyguard.

+++++Include Blademaster.pic
(Male, caucasian, elf)
Mage, AKA Eric Lees-Berry, SK Exec.

+++++Include Easy.pic
(Female, caucasian, elf)
AKA Leiah Brightfield, SK Exec.

+++++Include Ice.pic
(Male, caucasian, elf)
Mage, AKA Murray Jerzyck, SK Exec.

+++++Include Shockwave.pic
(Male, caucasian, human)
AKA Bill Steiner, SK Bodyguard.

+++++Include T'Shon.pic
(Male, albino caucasian, elf)
Physical adept, AKA Alan Thomas, SK Bodyguard.

+++++Include Whitetyger.pic
(Male, Eurasian, human)
Mage (adept of some sort), AKA Jared Chan, SK Bodyguard.

********************

Okay, in case you have to send this on to other departments or some damn
thing, I'll save you the trouble of adding the list of missions and goals
we had:

Talk to Renraku about anti-aztech cooperation.

Show Bevan Ratekov, a Yamu exec, that SK has his kidnapped step-son
Willard, but prevent Yamu resnatch at all costs.

Talk to Eric Goldmann, Shiawase exec, about defection, deliver a message,
get any replies.

Scope out aztech guards, write report on weaknesses, strengths, etc.

Find out why Hans Gagnon, geneticist, used to work for an SK sub, has been
traced to the Rock. Not very important, apparently, but ye gods and little
chickens, it turned into a killer...

********************

Day 0 (Tuesday)...

Some stragglers still arriving... out of our group, Easy and T'Shon arrived
first, which got us the second floor from the top of the hotel on the
first-in highest-room system. Aztech slipped in ahead of us to score top
floor. In descending order it went Aztech, us, Shiawase, Renraku,
Yamatetsu, Fuchi, Ares, and Mitsuhama.

The guided tour was vaguely interesting... Gagnon was unavailable when I
asked a few questions, so I gave the faked message to a miscellaneous
flunkey. The guy said he'd see he got it, but also that he doubted Hans
would even read it if he knew it was from BlueGenes. None of the others
found out anything about Hans either.

Blackthorne hit the matrix right away that night, took a look at some of
the security measures, but mostly spent his time familiarising himself with
the system and making sure he wasn't setting off any alarms. The Aztechers
got to the hotel first, so they'd had the opportunity to mess with the
system before we got there. Blackthorne thought not, and we trusted his
expertise.

The false execs mingled some, I had a try at meeting Goldmann, never got
around to him though, I wanted to establish a rep as something of a talker
before seeing him. I met a guy named Mercer, Renraku, though, and dropped
some hints about the anti-Aztech thing.

********************

Day 1 (Wednesday)...

Okay, we went to the meetings, managed to keep from falling asleep, but we
didn't do a lot of the constructive talking. Looks like the other execs'll
go home thinking SK was unusually quiet this year.

Anyway, while Easy, Blademaster, Blackthorne, and I were in the various
conference rooms, the rest of the team were having a look around the hotel,
checking out the security for keeping Willard on our side of the chicken,
that sort of thing. Turns out the place is a nightmare for defence.
Climbing down the hotel on the outside is as easy as an easy thing, it is
on enough of a slope that one can drop from one balcony to the next down
with ease, and there's enough room to land safely too. The locks on the
doors aren't bad, but not enough to stop anyone who knows what they're
doing. No alarms that wake us up, they're set up to tip off the central
security system only.

Evening, the virtual party thing... the icons were mostly ordinary stuff,
corp issue, but there were a few corp deckers who showed clearly (computer
security guard division? Or deckers disguised as plain execs? we started
checking...).

Later, after the party, Blackthorne hacked into the security system. On his
return, he reported that he had rigged up a subroutine to send a wake up
call to us if the alarm for any of the rooms on our floor went off, so that
was one problem solved.

********************

Day 2 (Thursday)...

More meetings, as per yesterday. Got a bit more into the swing of things
acting the corp type... lot's of fun.

Shockwave and the other bodyguards had a few games with the Aztechers, more
about that later...

Evening, the Tir Ballet Troupe event... a bit of mixing, but it was harder
during the performance (as the simporn star said to the bishop). At the
gathering afterwards, I met an old friend who was in the Tir Troupe... guy
name of Aleksandro, a real smoothie. Tir intelligence. We made eye contact
across the room, both jerked in surprise, faked like we were choking on our
drinks... you know the drill. We met up later on in the party, introduced
ourselves, staying in cover of course, and played the old
"I-can-lie-more-outrageously-than-you-can" game for a while. I let him
believe that I was a legit SK man, and told him subtly that he better
promise to tell me anything he found out, or I'd blow the whistle right
then and there. He recognised that I'd won this round, and gave me his word
he'd drop off a chip later if I stayed out of his way for the rest of the
evening. He even kept his promise. The chip had some info on Mitsuhama,
looks legit but I don't know if it'll be useful, I'll include it in the
miscdata file, which you will find included at the end of this report.

Turns out Aleks was trying to spy on SK too, which must have been why he
wanted me out of his way. When I told the rest of the team, next morning,
Easy said he had been hitting on her all night. From the look on her face
when I mentioned he was Tir intel, Aleks was lucky he'd already left the
hotel. There was also something going on with Aleks and T'Shon too, but I
didn't get the details. Given that it was probably intel related, I don't
think I want to know.

Some of the Yamatetsu boys tried to talk to Willard Ratekov. Blademaster
kept them away by subtle social methods, held them up long enough for the
keeper to pull Willard out of the area. I think we made it quite clear that
they could look but not touch or talk to.

Blackthorne got some stuff on Gagnon, just rumours mostly. I'll include it
in the miscdata file too. Could be that we were a little forward on this,
made it seem like a big thing to us. Considering how things turned out, it
didn't matter much, but it could have I guess.

********************

Day 3 (Friday)...

Meetings, meetings, meetings...

Bodyguards challenging Aztechers some more.

Blackthorne spent his time talking to Renraku, I don't think anyone saw
anything unusual in it, it looked like biz to me. A few knowing looks among
R's boys that were explained by later events. It's only through hind-sight
that I think about it at all.

Evening, the town visit... we stuck around here, watching Willard. Never
knew when Yamu might be after him. Still, if they came at all, it meant
they knew about the blackmail, and the kid was useless. There's still
revenge, I guess.

********************

Day 4 (Saturday)...

Most of the exec section spent the day firmly crushing the Shiawase Execs
in the lasertag arena (before you shriek about cover blowage, we had our
reflexes toned down a little to keep it close to even. Tactics won the day,
not magic or cyber enhancements).

Blademaster did some chatting to execs in the games room, and he pulled off
the message drop to Goldmann during a game of Mahjongg. Damn, it was good,
the way he tells it anyway. You play Mahjongg? Well, anyway, he played for
a draw, and passed the chip during the swapping tiles part of the goulash.
Cunning as a bucket full of cunning things.

Back at the lasertag, the bodyguards had a few rounds with the Aztechers,
looks like the boys from Aztlan may have had similar orders... to check out
SK I mean. They were easy to persuade to compete, and by saturday, it
seemed like our bodyguards were competing with theirs in every free moment.
It got quite nasty there near the end. T'Shon wrote up some stuff on it,
I'll include the file at the end of the report. I got the feeling that it
was close to even, with the luck coming down on our side.

Evening, the virtual party wasn't bad, we talked to people, mingled,
maintaining the old corporate cover thing. The icons had improved a little.
Blackthorne pulled out some more info on Gagnon by... shall we say...
dubious methods... approaching a staff member with the icon of an
exaggeratedly sexy elf-woman. Personally, I thought it wasn't very
subtle... but the target was too dazzled to notice. I've included what he
got in the miscdata file.

Blademaster ran cover on Willard again. No-one was trying anything tonight
though. Made some of the team edgy... not me, though, I have to admit.

At some point during the evening, Whitetyger got Mercer (the Renraku guy
from the first day) alone for a minute, and made a comment about a meet
after the party, to discuss the anti-Aztech thing.

I was back at my room just before midnight (narrowly avoiding the
transformation of my headware back into a pumpkin). Went to sleep, then, at
around 2:00, I got this call...

+++++Begin sndfile

(I: Ice
M: Jonathon Mercer, Renraku exec)

I: >>miscellaneous grunt<<... Y'ello?

M: This is Mercer. The coast is clear for that meeting your bodyguard mentioned.

I: Umm... okay. Now? Where?

M: Fifth floor sundeck, fifteen minutes.

I: Right, I'll wake the rest...

M: No. Come alone, as I will be.

I: Not likely, mate. One bodyguard each?

M: That is not acceptable. If there is no trust between our corporations,
how can we work together on the... situation? Be there, alone, fifteen
minutes.

<Call disconnected>

+++++End sndfile

Okay, so I listened to what he had said, and went alone. Yeah right, and I
also have a bridge I'd like to sell. Are SK interested in large scale real
estate?

Here's what happened down on the fifth floor:

+++++Begin footage

Black screen bearing the words "Supposed Renraku meet, Ice's Cybercamera.
Principals: Mercer, Whitetyger."

The view is of the Rock, a many layered facility on a steep slope, such
that each balcony ends about two metres back from the ending of the one
below it. The effect is remarkable in the dark with the lights from within
the building reflecting off of the stainless steel railings. The camera is
situated on one of the balconies, about twenty-five floors down from the
top.

The view changes, looking at a darkened section of window, and revealing
the camera-man in the reflection. It is Ice.

He turns, looking over the sea. Far out over the mediterranean, a freight
vessel is visible by it's running lights, an anachronism in these days of
radar and satellite navigation, but still a legal requirement nonetheless.
>From behind the camera comes a cough, and the POV rotates through 180
degrees, turning to face a suited man, not particularly tall, grey-haired,
trim build.

"You came alone?" asks the suit, joining the camera-man at the railing,
standing with the railing to his left.

"Yes," replies Ice, "So, what can you offer?"

"We're interested in your comments regarding the... offensive entity," says
Mercer, "What would be the extent of your operations?"

"That would depend in part on the... commitment displayed by your
operatives," replies the camera-man, "Though I must add that we would
prefer to avoid excessive disruption of the status quo. There are many who
envy our positions, which are not set in stone... look at what happened
when our newest brother joined the family."

"Then we can at least arrange some exchange of information. If we can set
up some sort of secure channel for communication between our operatives and
your own, we can begin this dialogue."

"That sounds acceptable. What do you have in mind?"

"Let me be frank. We own a small corporation, hidden under many shells. We
use it for some of the... activities we run that must be deniable. You know
about that kind of thing, no doubt, and must have a similar... asset."
Mercer pauses, looking over the ocean, "Quite simply, Mr Jerzyck, you show
me yours, I'll show you mine."

"I am not authorised to make that kind of revelation," says the camera-man,
his voice beginning to sound less confident.

"I had though I would be talking to someone with more power than that,"
says Mercer, sensing a weakness, "Who would be better suited to our
requirements?"

"I can get you in touch with someone," says the camera man grudgingly, "It
will have to wait until after the conference is complete though."

"In that case, Mr Jerzyck, we have nothing more to discuss," says Mercer,
half turning away, then turning back, "Oh, except this."

On the last word, he extends his right arm towards the camera-man, his
wrist cocked back 90 degrees. A small hole opens in the heel of his palm.

"This cyberarm," he says, "contains a CO2 powered cyber-weapon. Please
remain perfectly still."

The camera holds steady.

"No reason for a fight.... What do you want?" asks Jerzyck.

"Ratekov," Mercer answers, "I'll hand you back to your bodyguards tomorrow,
but Ratekov goes down the hill tonight, to a Yamatetsu transport flight
leaving in thirty minutes. I'll have to ask you to disable his cortex bomb,
or whatever precautions you have taken to render his escape impossible."

"I can't do that," replies the camera-man, "and I do mean that literally.
On the other hand, I can pay you double what the Yamatetsu people have
offered."

He risks taking a quick glance around and out of the corner of his eye, you
notice a slight glimmer on the level above, before his eyes fall back on
Mercer.

"Come now, Mr Jerzyck, don't be difficult. I _belong_ to Yamatetsu. In
fact, the entire Renraku contingent is from Yamatetsu. Renraku chose not to
come to the conference this year, and you would not believe how much it
cost us to replace their team with ours. Shiawase know, and I suspect some
of the Aztechnology contingent are on to us. But your sad excuse for a
chain of corner dairies? No, Mr Jerzyzk, Sadder-Krupp remains, as usual, in
the dark. Now, let us go to wherever you are holding the boy."

"Take him now," says Jerzyck.

For an instant Mercer looks uncomprehending, then, realising Jerzyck was
calling for backup, he fires at the camera. A spitting noise comes from his
cyber-weapon as a spray of gas exits the palm-hole, and Jerzyck shouts in
pain as he goes over backwards. From the ground, the camera observes the
Yamametsu man step forward readying another burst with a faint look of
surprise towards his still breathing quarry. As the cyber-arm is raised the
earlier shimmer moves off the railing and a loud kiai attracts Mercer's
attention skyward. Before his hand can raise high enough to block or shoot,
the blur connects with his shoulder, sending him spinning backwards, his
arm smashing hard into the rail. Conversely, what must be assumed to be
WhiteTyger's form lands safely. Mercer's arm slashes out in an arc, his
palm open, causing the cloaked form to commit to a diving roll, but no
bullets spray from the cybergun.

"Damn..." Mercer swears, his other fist coming down on the rail with a blow
that dents it. "I guess I'll have to rip you two apart with my bare hands."

The faintly shimmering form pauses for less than a second before he and
Mercer seem to switch into high gear trading a series of blows and blocks
at dizzying speed. WhiteTyger seeming to keep himself just out of reach of
Mercer connecting, while his strikes causing Mercer to do little more than
shake out his head. Finally, Mercer's Muay-Thai leg block, known for its
brutality on both attacker and defender, brings a brief pause to the fight
as WhiteTyger's leg begins to show slightly, its faintly limping pattern
digitizing into and out of focus.

"I've been working Black Ops since I was a teenager," Mercer laughs at his
mostly unseen opponent. "You're going to have to do better than that...."

WhiteTyger stands his ground. Taking his delay as a chance to finally move
in, Mercer leaps. What must be the arms of Ice's ally blur into motion,
avoiding Mercer's strike and rending a bloody track from Mercer's abdomen
to his chest. The surprise and pain this brings render Mercer unable to
shield himself from the strikes that finally knock him to the ground
motionless. WhiteTyger's body finally becoming fully visible as being
covered in a dark grey cloth, he pulls off his hood and yanks the mask and
goggles of what appears to be a stealth suit off his face. His large
cat-slit eyes are wide with rage. Moving through a few rapid motions of
some form, he draws back his fist.

"Alive," gasps Jerzyck, in some pain judging by the sound of his voice.

WhiteTyger looks up, and the anger quickly leaves his face. His fist
closes, and he instead kneels next to Mercer and clasps hands on either
side of the Yamametsu agent's neck. Waiting for another half minute, he
then releases his hold and drops Mercer's head to the ground with a
quasi-metallic thunk.

"He is not faking," Whitetyger says, "What about you?"

"I should live," Jerzyck gasps, "thanks to L's ever so wiz high tech
armour. I'm holding a healing spell now, it'll take a while to work."

"Thank you for helping me keep my head, but what about him?" the Eurasian
asks getting up with a slight limp. "I can heal this myself."

"Let him sleep it off, I guess," replies Ice, "We can't kill him, someone
would notice. Damn it, he knows we're not execs, that's for sure. And Yamu
must know about the blackmail attempt. Frag it!" The camera jerks as
Jerzyck rises to his feet. "Right, that's done," he says, his voice
stronger now, "But what the hell do we do with Mercer?"

"He won't tell the other corps about us..." reasons Whitetyger, going
through some meditative motions and placing his hands on either side of his
shin, "he has no reason to... but yes, he will probably tell the other
Yamametsu agents, and that means two teams to worry about. The Renraku
replacements are probably all Black Ops, too... Bevan has seen his stepson;
Willard should go down the hill tonight. We've done what we can..."

The rest of WhiteTyger's comments are cut from the recording.

+++++End footage

I didn't completely agree with some of the stuff he said, but Whitey had a
point. Thusly, we got Willard and his keeper the hell out. As we found out
later, Mercer was working directly for Bevan Ratekov, so the rest of Yamu
don't know. More about this in the footage of the final night virtual
party.

And the comment about the Renraku swap... seems to me a place at this
conference isn't worth the same thing as money... it's either worthless, or
more than anyone can afford. But maybe Yamu agreed to let Renraku have
their places last year... or next year. Something to think about, look over
the reports from last year, see if there's anything there that didn't make
sense at the time...

********************

Day 5 (Sunday)...

Spent the morning recovering from last night's fun and games. Played a bit
of chess and the like in the games room, got pretty much hammered, which
didn't do much for my ego. Still, the players were corp boys who I'd kill
in hand to hand, so we all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Blademaster and WhiteTyger held up our end of the mind games, and did some
more chatting. I think he distracted them enough to cover up for my injury
troubles.

Blackthorne spent the day in the matrix, I don't think he came up with
anything special though.

Evening, dancing and dinner with escorts... the dancing was good for
mingling. Goldmann danced with Easy, they made quite a hit, that guy can
move, and Easy was like lightning. Anyway, she says he was almost ready to
talk business, but wanted a little more time.

Shockwave talked to some of the escorts, got some pillow-talk type info,
but I don't know how valuable it is. Nothing on any of the mission-ops,
I've put it in the miscdata file.

********************

Day 6 (Monday)...

Meetings, meetings, and more fraggin' meetings. I hate this suit drek.

Virtual performance that night. Blackthorne rigged up a frame that imitated
me, and I went wandering. The rest of them covered for me in the virtual
viewing room. I found something that worried me a little, something to do
with the hotel itself, not the tasks you gave us. There are about four
stories below the hotel complex. None of the elevators went down that far,
and they weren't even mentioned in the tour thing. I didn't look any
further then, it didn't seem like it was my business. I mentioned it later
though, and Blademaster wanted to take a look. We decided to wait until
after the final night party.

********************

Day 7 (Tuesday)...

Meetings. Need I say more?

Party... wild... Not very suit-like at all... several indiscretions noted
among various exec contingents... included what I saw in the miscdata file.
I also got some footage that I might try to sell to one of those on-line
trash-news services, if you have no objections. "X-corp Chairman John Smith
in Three-in-a-Bed BTL-Sex Romp" sort of thing, probably nothing you can
use, but footage from inside an exclusive corp meeting like that'd be
priceless to the gutter press. Of course, if you don't want me to sell it,
just say so. You're paying enough to call the shots here.

T'Shon noticed the bodyguards from Yamatetsu were missing, and mentioned it
to me. Seemed strange, but what can one do? Alerted by that, he said he had
checked on the "Renraku" contingent, and half of them were missing too.
Mercer was still here though. Strange, but we didn't care, Ratekov was
already down the hill and gone.

I'll include a few of the more interesting pieces of footage from the
party, both virtual and real...

+++++Begin footage

Black screen, bearing the words "Blackthorne's Icon".

The screen blossoms with a chaotic view of a room full of light and dark
patches, and fastastic beings. The foregrouynd is lit well, and several
humanoid animals are dancing in the centre of an open space. In the
back-ground is a view of a galaxy or more of stars, winking on and off, and
shifting according to no recognisable pattern. A door at one end of the
dance area opens, and a burst of smoke and flame comes through.

When the cloud clears, a large red dragon stands just inside the doorway.
>From its size, it could not have enterred through that door in the real
world. It roars, and a burst of flame flows from its mouth, seperating into
a number of small fireballs that fly about the room, shooting at people's
heads and pulling up at the last moment. Some seem angry, several applaud,
and most can't seem to decide which way to jump.

+++++End footage

For the icon contest, there were three sections: general, flamboyant, and
abstract. Blackthorne won flamboyance, and I came second in general. Added
to Shockwave's first in abstract, that put SK at the top of the table for
the corporate icon contest. Does that get us a bonus?

+++++Begin footage

Black screen, bearing the words "Virtual party, Mercer killing Ice's
children. Also present, WhiteTyger and a miscellaneous escort."

Once again, the virtual party room unfolds onto the screen. There is a
large silver tiger in the foreground, facing the POV and talking to a
midnight-black woman with angelic wings. Standing back, but paying
attention, is a humanoid tiger in the robes of a monk of some sort. A small
swarm of (very cute) baby silver tigers is visible in the background,
chasing each other in circles. They stop as a waiter-robot glides past, and
all jump on it. Some curl about it's tracks, stopping it, others climb on
the drinks tray it carries. It beeps in electronic protest, and several
nearby icons laugh at its distress.

Then a demonic image comes to the waiter's rescue. It is taller than a
human, and its red hide is covered with tiny spikes. It scatters the baby
tigers with a gout of fire form its mouth, then turns to the larger tiger
with a sneer. The angel look disgusted, and the demon leers at her, then
walks around her in a close circle, looking her up and down.

"Very nice," he hisses, "But I think you should leave now, the... tiger and
I have... business to discusssss."

The angel departs, flying directly upwards with a flap of her wings and a
look of disapproval.

"Very friendly," says the tiger, sitting down on its haunches and licking
one paw, "Now what business do you have in mind?"

The demon replies with a snarl.

"I have a message from Bevan Ratekov," he says, and he doesn't sound happy
about the role of message-boy, "He will co-operate with the... requests,
and he agrees to the original proposal."

"Tell him forget it," says the tiger, looking directly into the demon's
eyes, "As a penalty for the attempt on myself and, through me, Ratekov
junior, Bevan will pay the agreed penalty twice. The exact circumstances of
his payment for the second installment will be arranged at our convenience.
And I recognise that you have no control over his response, so simply give
him the message."

The tiger turns it's back, and begins to recreate its children, weaving
them from sparky lines on the ground. The demon advances, anger plain on
it's face, but the tiger-monk steps forward, gripping a staff
threateningly. The demon backs off, raising it's hands in placation, and
leaves a short-lived pixelating after-image as it's human counterpart jacks
out.

+++++End footage

I hope that didn't mess with your plans too much. It sounded almost like I
knew what I was talking about, and if Bevan cares enough to mess with his
corp twice (once as per the agreement, and again by using Mercer without
saying why), why not a third time?

+++++Begin footage

Black screen, bearing the words "The message-drop, Ice's cybercamera. Easy,
Goldmann".

This time the view opens on the real world, in a large ballroom. Visible in
the back-ground are a number of tortoise booths, about half are occupied.
At one side of the POV stands a tall elven woman, Easy, at the other is a
middle-aged human male. Between the two of them and the camera, they form
an equilateral triangle. All hold drinks, and they are chatting about the
icons in the virtual party.

"I loved your little tigers," says Easy, looking at the camera.

"I always had the feeling they were looking over my shoulder," says the
middle-aged man, looking hard at the elf woman.

"Well," she says, with barely a moment's hesitation, "they aren't now."

"Then would you like to dance again?" the man asks, taking her in his arms.

The camera catches him slipping a chip-case down past the cuff of her long
black glove, but real eyes wouldn't have spotted it. The elf laughs and
waves to the camera as she is led away, but her smile does not make a dent
against the triumphant look in her eyes.

+++++End footage

So, as you see, Goldmann dropped a message with Easy. We didn't read it,
figured it wasn't for our eyes. But he looked to me like he'd made a
definite decision, and it was probably your way from the paranoid reference
to people watching him.

After the party we went down the side of the rock, had a look at those
lower levels. We knew from the start they had something to hide, but
frag...

+++++Begin footage

Black screen, bearing the words "Lower levels, the Rock, Ice's Cybercamera.
Principals Blademaster, T'Shon, Easy, Hans Gagnon. Full chorus of religious
nutters, security guards, and Yamatetsu hardmen".

The view is from the lowest sun deck of the hotel, looking down towards the
hidden levels. They have no balconies, and few windows. Those few that are
visible, however, look to be penetrable.

"Okay, who's going to watch while we climb down?" says a voice, and the
camera turns towards it.

The speaker is Blademaster, and he holds a rope in one hand.

"I'll do it," replies Ice, "Then I'll hide the rope, and follow in lizard form."

"Okay," says a third, T'Shon, "Me first, Easy, then Blademaster."

T'Shon steps onto the railing, and attaches the rope to a hraness, then
swings over and down. Easy follows, as does Blademaster and the POV looks
around, keeping watch.

"We're in," comes a call from below.

The POV moves to where the rope is anchored, and Ice detaches it and stows
it away behind a large pot plant. Then the POV drops in a sickening manner,
as Ice makes the transformation to a lizard. His clothes retain their
shape, droppping to the floor, leaving him inside them. He waits for a
moment, and the clothes start to writhe, changing shape until they are in
the from of a long piece of string. The lizard grips one end in its jaws,
and moves towards the edge then over it.

The view of the sea far below is distracting, but Ice seems to have no
trouble with it. Apparently, he has done this before. He approaches a
window, and slips inside.

"Lizard works," says T'Shon, "but Spider Monkey leaves you with thumbs to
manipulate things. Just a thought."

Ice looks at him for a moment (and until one has been glared at by a
lizard, one has not been glared at), then starts to pull in the rest of the
string. Blademaster works out what he's doing, then takes over, pulling
much faster than the lizard could have. After the line is pulled in, Ice
reforms his clothing, and climbs inside. The POV jerks, and he resumes
human form.

"All righty, then," Ice says, "Let's take a look around."

The group is in a hallway, running paralel to the surface of the rock, with
doors in the inner side and several shuttered windows in the outer. The
shutters on the opening through which the runners enterred are intact, but
the bar is broken.

"Can we fix that?" asks Ice, pointing at the bar.

"We talked about it while you were on your way down," says Easy, "We agreed
to leave it closed, fake it fixed, and escape out another way."

"Not necessarily possible, but we couldn't close it from the outside
anyway," adds Blademaster from down the hall, "Now can we go?"

Ice approaches him, and Easy and T'Shon fall in behind. The team proceeds
down the corridor, moving carefully and silently, but quickly.

Suddenly Blademaster stops, Ice nearly walking in to him.

"What the frag was that?" he says in a whisper.

"What," asks T'Shon.

"Gunfire, I think," says Blademaster, "Below us, one level maybe."

The team moves forward again, slower and more carefully.

"Stairs," says Blademaster, "Up, down, which?"

"Up?" replies Ice, "Check escape route?"

The others nod, and they enter the stairwell, moving upwards. There are no
levels above the one already explored, and the stairs end at an almost
featureless ceiling. In the centre of it is a palm-print reader.

"Not that way then," mutters Ice.

The group moves downwards again, past the first level, and moves in
leap-frogging cover formation. Ice is at the front when they come to a
door, leading off the stairwell, out towards the surface of the rock. He
listens at it for a moment, then checks the knob. He turns to the others,
holds up three fingers, and drops the first, then the second, then the
last, then throws open the door and rolls through.

The others follow, out of the camera view while Ice is moving. The POV is
now in a hallway, similar to the one above, but without any windows. It is
empty, but a noise can be heard, the sounds of a struggle. It is coming
from around a left-turning corner some thirty metres to the left of the
exit from the stairwell.

"I'm going to turn into a tiger," says Ice in a low voice, "Don't mistake
me for an enemy."

First the clothes change shape, ballooning out at the waste and shortening
at the limbs, Ice watching them carefully to be sure they will fit. Then
his bones and flesh seem to melt, and white fur grows. The result, when Ice
looks over his body, is a large siberian tiger, wearing what looks like a
bodysuit in predatory cat form and a silver-studded leather collar. He
stretches, and speaks, the sound apparently coming from micro-speakers
somewhere, probably on the collar.

"Okay, ready."

T'Shon moves past him, towards the sounds of combat, and Blademaster
follows, keeping his distance from the tiger. Easy follows, and Ice brings
up the rear, bounding along with playful abandon and batting occasionally
at Easy's feet. After the second evil look from the pale elven samurai, he
calms down.

At the corner, T'Shon stops, drops to a crouch, and takes a long thin
object from a pouch in his combat harness. A closer look from Ice reveals
that it is a mirror on a stick, such as dentists used back before
fiberoptics were commonly and cheaply available. T'Shon holds it's
reflective surface out beyond the corner, then mouths the words "three
targets, five metres". He stands, readying himself, then holds up three
fingers, drops one, then a second, and then the last. As the last drops,
the team moves quickly around the corner.

In the corridor are three standing men, kicking the body of a fourth, who
lies on the floor. The fallen man is wearing a suit, and the three that are
kicking him wear light armoured jackets.

They don't even notice the approach of the group until one is down, thrown
to the floor by a flying kick from T'Shon, and they don't get a chance to
react before the others are down too, dropped by some sort of area effect
spell from Blademaster.

T'Shon checks the suit, then the others.

"Guards unconscious, suit's dead."

Ice moves forward, looking at the suit.

"Mercer," he says, "I wonder why the hell he was down here."

"Who?" asks T'Shon, "Never mind. Let's move."

He steps past the bodies, and Ice follows. Blademaster takes the rear,
looking over his shoulder as Ice glances back at him. The group moves down
the hall, the comes to another hallway, turning another ninety degrees to
the left. This corridor contains three doors, two to the left, therefore
leading to the interior of the C shape travelled so far. One door, the
closest of the two on the left side, is open, and T'Shon kneels outside it,
readying his mirror.

Before T'Shon can look inside, Ice swears.

"Astral enemy," he snaps out through the speakers, "One mage, two spirits.
Going up."

T'Shon rears up, glancing about, and Blademaster moves forward, as a pair
of fiery columns appear in the corridor. The camera drops as Ice makes the
shift to astral space, leaving his body lying on the floor. Blademaster
shouts, then makes a hurling motion with one hand, destroying one of the
spirits with a bolt of lightning. Easy moves back, dodging under a gout of
flame fired by the remaining spirit, and she leaves the camera's field of
view. T'Shon gets up and glances around in time to see a trio of security
guards with SMG's burst from the open door to the left. Easy moves forward
again, jumping gracefully over the camera-tiger's prostrate body, and takes
the gun off one of the sec-men before he can fire it. One of the others
opens up in her direction, but she spins the now empty-handed guard into
the path of the long burst as she empties his weapon into the third
sec-man. Her two victims goes down as T'Shon attacks the second spirit,
striking it approximately halfway up it's height, and there is a flash of
released mana as his hand passes through the fire. The column of flame
loses definiton, and the spirit disappears in a burst of sparks and smoke.
Easy finishes the last standing sec-man by hurling the body of her
temporary shield into him then punching him twice in the face and slamming
him into a wall. The camera lurches as Ice returns to his body, and gets to
his feet.

"Got him," says the tiger's speakers, "Astral is clear."

T'Shon, meanwhile, is moving through the door, and after a moment, Ice
follows him.

The room beyond, about three metres square, is empty of people, holding a
single table and four hard chairs. There is a window in the far wall, and
through it is visible another room, in which a number of people, mostly
men, are attached to rail on the wall with handcuffs.

"He's from Renraku," says Blademaster, pointing through the window,
"Yamatetsu, that is. And so's she. Execs, or false ones."

"What the hell do you think is going on here?" asks Easy, entering the room
and approaching the window, "And what's this? Biolab gear?"

She is examining an alcove in the wall, containing the entrance to a
human-shaped suit with an extendable umbilicus between it and the alcove.
She stpes into the protective gear and advances into the room beyond the
window.

"How the frag do you..." she mutters, "Oh here it is... you, what happened
here?"

One of the people beyond the window speaks, but no sound reaches the
camera. Easy continues the conversation for about thirty seconds, then
steps out of the suit.

"They say they that Yamu heard something was going on here," says Easy, "So
they were sent to take a look. They were gassed in the stairwell on the
next level down, and draged up here in their sleep. They say Mercer shot a
guard with his cybergun and made a run for it. That would be the guy we saw
getting the drek kicked out of him back there a ways," she ignores Ice's
muttered protest that he had already mentioned that fact, "Anyway, three
guards chased him, and the rest sealed this room and played with some
controls out here. A gas of some sort was pumped into the room, but they
don't know what was in it."

"From the gear," says T'Shon, "it'll be a bioagent of some sort. But why
the frag would they have this weak point in a holding cell? Do they want to
study their victims, or what?"

"Secret bioweapons lab under a hotel?" asks Ice, "I don't think so. It's
too... I don't know... cheesy."

Blademaster steps into the suit, and asks a few questions of those inside.

"They say Yamu heard there was some sort of religious group here," he
reports, returning, "Supposedly they to wipe humanity from the face of the
planet. You know the drill, we are not worthy to live, and so on. How they
heard it, no-one in there knows."

"What do we do about them?" asks Ice.

"Leave them, I guess," replies Easy, "There's nothing we can do to help
them if it's a bio-thingy."

Ice grunts an unhappy agreement, and Blademaster tells the Yamu team the
bad news. They don't seem surprised.

+++++End footage

I cut out a lot here, we did some more exploring on that level, found
another experimental victim type room, empty. The last door on that level
lead to a stroage room, there was all sorts of bio-filter gear, agar and
drek like that, culture containers, incubators, boxes of bijou bottles
(whatever the frag they are)... biotech toys generally.

This bit starts on the next level down. We plugged up the gas holes, Easy
had asked the yamu boys where they were, this seemed to be the lowest level
to which the stairs we had found went.

+++++Begin footage

The view is of a corridor, same decor as the upper levels. Ice is third in
the row, behind Easy and Blademaster, T'Shon presumably bringing up the
rear.

"An alarm should have gone off," says Easy, "We didn't avoid the trigger of
that trap, it would have had other functions too."

"Yeah, but what can we do but be alert?" says Blademaster, "And we were anyway."

"Tension mounts," whispers Ice, drawing a grin from Blademaster and a sneer
from Easy. T'Shon stays out of it.

The group proceeds along the corridor, windows and the rock's surface to
the right, featureless wall to the left.

"Enemy," says Ice, "Sec-guard types, three or four, routine patrol I think,
just become aware of our presence or I would have picked 'em up earlier.
They can see us somehow, they're coming here..."

"Any more info?" asks T'Shon.

"Maybe when I see them," replies the tiger.

"Okay, they can see us, so maybe they can lip-read. Audio?"

"Don't know," says Ice, "But they won't be able to lip-read my speakers. So
listen real close."

T'Shon leans close to the tiger's neck, and the others follow suit. The
noise is barely audible to the camera, certainly not understandable. After
a moment, the team stands again, and move down the corridor. They stop at a
corner, and look back at Ice.

"They can't see us any more, but I can feel them... thirty metres," the
tiger announces quietly, then begins counting down in fours.

As he gets to two, Easy and T'Shon step around the corner closely followed
by Ice and Blademaster. The camera reveals four armoured security guards,
followed by a woman in a red silk robe. Easy steps up to the first of the
guards, shoving aside his SMG, and slashes him across the throat with a set
of retractable razors, as T'Shon lunges forward and hits a second guard
with a couple of punches to the face. As the guard goes down, T'Shon takes
his SMG from him. The woman in red silk raises her hands, and shouts out
the words to a spell, even as Blademaster begins to use one of his own. Ice
moves forward as a bolt of fire shoots past him at Blademaster, drawing a
shout of pain from him. He yells again, and a sparkling bolt of lightning
shoots past the camera, striking the red-robed woman in the face, and
throwing her backwards to the floor. She rolls to her feet, her face red
and raw in places. Ice attacks a sec-man, and the panicked guard fires at
almost point blank range, a long burst of which Ice catches the first
couple of rounds less than a second before he tears the guard's face off.
Easy scoops up a fallen SMG and fires a short burst past the tiger, taking
down the last of the sec-men, and T'Shon puts a couple of rounds into the
red-robed woman. This time, she stays down.

Easy checks the bodies, taking a few clips of spare ammo, and announces
that all but one are dead or headed that way. She cuts the throat of the
merely unconscious one, correcting that state of affairs. T'Shon looks
faintly disapproving, but remains silent.

"You hurt?" asks Blademaster, speaking to Ice.

"Yeah," answers the tiger, "Could you do the healing? I'll probably mess it
up in this state."

Blademaster drops to one knee, closes his eyes, concentrating, then slaps a
hand down on the tiger's shoulder. After about ten seconds, he gets up, and
looks up and down the corridor.

"Where now?" Blademaster asks.

"Keep going," says T'Shon, "Ice, can you tell where this lot were when they
first saw us?"

"Yeah," replies the tiger, "up here, around fifty metres... ummm... through
that door there."

The group moves up the corridor, to the door Ice indicated. It is on the
right of the passage at another turn to the left, leading out of the
c-shaped main corridor.

Okay, seems clear," says Ice, "No-one who knows about us is there, anyway."

"Then through we go," says Easy, and is true to her word.

The room beyind the door is devoid of other exits, and is occupied by a
larg computer monitoring system. Several screens show views of varying
parts of the complex. Ice looks closer at one of them, what seems to be a
chapel of some sort, empty of people. There is a large symbol on the wall
above an altar, a cruciform occupied by what looks not unlike a lunar
landing molecule.

"Bacteriophage?" says Blademaster, "Some sort of viral capsular form,
anyway. Wonder what that signifies."

The group leaves the room, heading down the lower end of the c-form
corridor. Easy takes the lead, her borrowed SMG extended, and Ice follows.
The others fall in behind, and they advance down the corridor, checking
each of the three doors they pass. They are labs, viral or bacterial by the
equipment, all empty of people. The group does not check very carefully
though, there could have been peopl lurking under tables. The fourth door
they check opens onto some stairs, going down.

"Down?" suggests Easy.

Ice nods, and the elven woman enters the stairwell slowly, looking around.

"Optical trigger," she says, "I can see the receptor, but not the projector."

"I've got a spell to mess with that," says Blademaster, "There any more
tricks in there?"

"Not that I can see," says Easy.

"All right then," says Bademaster, and moves forward to touch Easy on the
shoulder.

She disappears from view, and Blademaster speaks again.

"Tell me when you're at the next level."

A grunt comes from below, and Blademaster casts his spell on Ice, who moves
down the stairs. They stop after only one level, and when Ice enters a
corridor and calls up to Blademaster, the spell is released. The procedure
is repeated with the last two.

The corridor is directly below the one above it, and follows the same
c-form pattern judging by what is visible. The team follows it, coming
across only one door on the way. It leads out from the centre of the
hypothetical c-shape, and is made from some sort of heavy composite
material. Ice steps up to it, batting at the round doorknob with one paw.

"Very cute," snaps Easy, "Now get the frag out of the way."

Ice moves back, and Easy listens at the door for a moment, then kicks it
open. There is a loud snap of a breaking lock, and the door is thrown open.
Easy moves inside, followed by T'Shon and Ice, Blademaster bringing up the
rear. Inside the door is a short corridor, carpeted in dark blue,
wall-papered in the same. The door at the other end is wood, real by all
appearances. Easy moves forward, and listens at the door.

"What?" whispers Blademaster, after ten seconds of this.

Easy makes shushing motions, and the rest of the group waits. Then Easy
moves back, directing them with her.

"Sounds like a religious leader in there," she says, "We will be protected
by the lord, so we can survive to spread the seed, that sort of thing.
Another guy's handing out weapons, and a lot of people are saying that they
should talk to us instead, that we'd surely see the light. Weapon guy says
that it might work, but he'd rather they were armed just in case."

"Let's get in there and jam an area effect spell down them, then," suggests
Ice, "Me and Blademaster can each pop one off, then you too hose down
anything that's still moving."

"It might not work," says Easy, "If they've got magic cover, we're hosed,
there are a pack of them. If you two could go for an astral jaunt first..."

Ice replies by dropping to the floor, and Blademaster follows suit. The
camera remains still for a minute or so, then moves again.

"Blademaster, you alright?" asks Ice.

"Mmm... yeah," replies the other mage, "that was overwhelming, wasn't it?"

"Frag yes," says Ice, then, to the others, "It's the chapel thing from the
sec-cam upstairs, they must have been out here when we looked before. All
that buggering around on the stairs gave them time to get in there first.
No mages. Twelve or thirteen people in there, they're creative types and
thinkers, big auras, maybe a touch of cyber or bio toys, but it's all
headware."

"Okay, then," says T'Shon, "Let's just go in talking, and see what the
light is, exactly."

T'Shon steps up to the door, and knocks. After a second, it swings slowly
open, and T'Shon steps inside. Ice follows, provoking a number of comments
from those inside.

The chapel is about twenty metres wide, and twice that long. At the far end
is the altar, a pulpit in front of it, and the cruciform symbol behind it.
the ceiling is high and arched, and soft electric lights hang from it on
chains. There are numerous rows of seats, behind which are the twelve or
thirteen people Ice mentioned on returning from his astral travel. One, an
elderly man with a short beard, white hair, and blue robes, stands, and
steps forward.

"Welcome," he says, "Though it is something of a cliche, we have been
awaiting your arrival."

Ice glances at the others, and a flashing lights up on one of them,
followed by the word "Gagnon", presumably an editorial modification.
Meanwhile, T'Shon steps forward to meet the elderly man.

"I am Alan Thomas," he says, "What is the light of which you spoke, that we
would surely see."

"Hans will explain," he replies, "but later. First you must have food and
drink, and rest a while."

"No can do," says Ice, "Let's hear it now."

The blue-robed man glances down at the camera.

"Is this a manifestation of the true way?" he asks, "A Raised Beast?" and
one can hear the capitalisation in his voice.

"No," answers Easy, "But the tiger speaks the truth, Hans must talk to us now."

Gagnon steps forward.

"I told you they would be like the other outsiders," he says,
"disrespectful and foolish. But I will speak to them of the Way."

He beckons, and the group follow him towards the altar. Ice watches the
remaining people carefully, but sees no hint of trouble. They sit down, and
begin talking quietly among themselves. The only things that look out of
place are the heavy pistols carried by about half of them. Ice turns back
to Gagnon, who is pointing up at the cruciform symbol.

"We have found a virus that is to be the weapon of the Way," he says, "It
will cleanse the world of all bacteria, animals, plants, and especially
humans, in no more than a month, but can last in dormant form for at least
a thousand years.

"I am aware that you are thinking something not unlike 'what a psycho', but
you are wrong. We do not want to destroy all life, just most of it. We have
come up with a technique to grow people who will be invulnerable to the
virus, because their genetic material will have different bases. Are you
familiar with the structure of the nucleic acid? In any case, I will tell
you what a lay-person could understand, so that you may be fully persuaded
to our cause.

"Viruses require certain enzymes and materials from the cells of their host
to replicate, and without replication, they can do no damage. These new
bodies will have different genetic materials, they will use what I have
called M, N, O, P, and Q in place of the standard A, C, G, T and U. We are
in the process of designing a genetic material which encodes the different
enzymes that will be required for life using these bases. The virus that
will be our messenger is ready, held in containment areas around this
facility. When a population of MNOPQ people is ready, we will release the
virus to ourselves and walk the world, spreading it. No doubt you will
think of many flaws in this plan, but we welcome that, for the release will
be delayed until they are fixed. We are not stupid, nor are we insane."

"You're talking about the murder of the human race," states Easy in a calm
voice, "and it's replacement with what you think of as perfect people."

"Yes," replies Gagnon, "But the world will be perfect too! No more tsetse
flies, no more malaria, no more rats, no more snakes. We..."

"No more shapeshifters," says Blademaster.

"No more mages," says Ice, "Or have you found the mythical magus gene?"

"No more Elves?" asks T'Shon, "Or maybe no more humans. Which of the
metaraces qualify for existence in you new world?"

"What am I, a Humanis thug?" asks Gagnon rhetorically, "Race is less than
nothing. I am killing myself in this way too, you fools. Would I do that if
I didn't think this was right?"

"It is not acceptable," says Easy. "To some I'm subhuman. To others, Elves
are the master race... yet even to those Elf-Nazis, the People of
Remembrance are scum to be forgotten." Her razors glitter at her
fingertips. "I'm tired of these judgements. You die."

A number of shots ring out from behind the camera, and Ice spins, roaring.
Easy closes on Gagnon as Ice's spin take her out of the view of the camera,
and the geneticist gives an abruptly curtailed shout of pain. Several of
those at the far end of the chapel are firing at the group, who take cover,
and several have fled out the door. The blue robed man is one of the
latter. Those that remained are not marksmen, but one of them seems to have
managed a lucky shot that hit T'Shon in the left leg. He is down and
swearing, sheltering behind the altar, one hand clamped over the wound.
Blademaster is crouching behind the closest of the seats, getting ready
move around the side of the chapel. Ice, keeping his head down, joins him
as T'Shon opens up in covering fire with the SMG he took from the last
group of guards. Easy starts firing too, and there are screams as several
of the opposition go down. Ice moves along the left side of the chapel,
matching Blademaster's advance, and soon he can see a number of the
religious fanatics.

"Give it up!" calls T'Shon, "You know we can kill you all!"

"Our leader can escape!" shouts one of them, "We will gladly give our lives..."

A spell, presumably from Blademaster, immolates the fanatic, just before
Ice casts a spell of his own. Numerous fanatics fall to the ground, stunned
by a blast of some sort of magic force. Ice shakes his head, then bounds
forward, looking for more targets. Blademaster approaches from the other
side of the chapel, and Easy and T'Shon come down the middle to meet them.

"I'll chase the rest," says Ice, "I can feel the leader with my detection
spell. You check them, then follow."

Ice bounds from the room, and through the two sets of doors into the
corridor. It is devoid of people, and Ice turns left and proceeds along it,
head down as if sniffing for tracks. He comes to a door, straight ahead of
him, the corridor turning to the right, and he jumps towards it, his weight
slamming it open. Beyond it is a group of fanatics, all of whom are
drinking from culture bottles. They look up with triumph in their eyes. Ice
backs off as they approach him, then casts a spell, knocking them all to
the ground. The tiger continues to back off though, and turns to run.

Arriving back at the door to the chapel, he keeps going.

"They've released their virus!" he calls, then keeps moving, "Get out!"

He is followed in his rout by the other three, but he does not look back.

+++++End footage

So, we all got out okay. Maybe the virus couldn't handle the change from
tiger to human. Maybe I never got it in the first place. Maybe it's got a
long latency period. Lot's of maybes. I haven't felt anything yet, but I've
been quarantining myself as much as is possible.

I know the leader escaped, he wasn't with the others, and (with magic
senses) I felt him leave the area at high speed. Some sort of ejecting
escape toy? I have no doubt that he took his information with him, and
maybe he can find others willing to continue Gagnon's work.

Speaking of Gagnon, I don't know if what he was talking about was possible,
but I suggest you think about it. The corp you work for trained him, that
makes him partially your responsibility. I hope you plan to do something
about tracking down the leader. I for one would be interested in the job.

********************

Day 8 (Wednesday)...

Got back up to our rooms fast, woke the others, and left the hotel somewhat
early, for obvious reasons. Didn't have any trouble getting out.
Blackthorne went in to the security system, messed up their records, he's
pretty sure he cleaned out any trace of our actvities here. He also dragged
out pretty much every file he could find in the hope of getting something
valuable. I'll include it all in the file ntnlddwn at the end of the
report. There's some footage of corp dealing, but mostly I can't see the
use of it. Of course, some of it may be useful to you...

********************

Here are all those files I promised during the report...

+++++Include file aztgrds.txt

+++++Include file miscdata.txt

+++++Include file ntnlddwn.txt

Alrighty, that's the lot... look forward to working for you again. Next
time you need a run done (preferably the PacRim, but anywhere's cool),
please don't hesitate to contact me. I think the rest of the team were
pretty happy with the way you operate as well.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <18:22:16/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Ok, you want the idol and we've got it.<snip>]<<<<<
	--  Evita  <23:00:00/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Ok, you want the idol and we've got it. We'll give you the idol if you
give Ronin his body back in good condition. Don't try to mess with us again,
give Ronin his body back while I'm there to see it, and we'll tell you where
the idol is, we've got no reason to want to keep it. Meet us at
<<encrypted>> at 1200 tomorrow.]<<<<<
	-- Evita  <23:16:20/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE:Ice, Rosha, Wolfen, Runs-Over-Pedestrians, Shiftboy
>>>>>[I need your help. Can you be at <<encrypted>> at 1200 tomorrow? I
really REALLY would appreciate it.]<<<<<
	-- Evita <23:17:12/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: Evita
>>>>>[Y'don't even need t'ask, kid. :)]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <07:44:21/10-3-57>

*****Private:Evita
>>>>>[Man, I check my messages and finally find one! Good stuff!
I'll be ther, sounds good. So whats the gig?]<<<<<
	-- Wolfen  <11:40:31/10-2-57>


*****PRIVATE: Ice
>>>>>[What has happened to the second section of your report? I presume it
is intended that I receive it?]<<<<<
	-- L  <12:24:23/10-03-57>

*****PRIVATE: L
>>>>>[Stupid shadowland... I sent it off again, it should be in your hands
by now...]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <12:24:23/10-03-57>

>>>>>[Thanks to all who were involved in the... recovery. I don't know all
your names/addresses, but you know who you are. If you ever need my help,
contact me, I owe you big.]<<<<<
	-- Ronin  <17:03:43/10-03-57>

>>>>>[   ++++Begin footage

The screen fades in and seems to juggle up and down as it is moving down a
street late in the evening.  Apparently, someone is wearing a helmetcam and
is running somewhere.

A comm_unit-processed voice intones, "Rosha, beginning Ronin-rescue
recording, moving to rendezvous under cover in support function for Evita."

"Contact in 3 .. 2 .. 1 ..."

The scene is of an alley at night. Some feeble light comes from the street,
enough to see three people waiting at the mouth of the alley. Two are tall
and bulky, the third is shorter. One of the taller ones rests an arm on the
shorter.

"Please," says the shorter figure nervously, "DON'T do that!"

"You know you love it, babe," replies the taller, in the voice of a male.

"Give it a rest, Donny," says the second tall person, also male from the
sound of it, "We're on biz."

"Frag you, Picker," replies the first man, Donny, "We aint on biz yet."

The camera moves closer, right up behind the one with his arm on the woman.
He suddenly gasps.

"That," says Rosha, "would be a blade ready t'reduce y'r already pat'etic
manhood, esse. Don'tcha know m'loco?'"

"Rosha!! What are doing...how did you...why..." Evita tries to ask several
questions at once, none of them quite making it out.

"Not lettin' y'hog glory on this job. Plus, y'need qualified help t'keep
yer arse fr'm fryin on this one."

She casts a dismissive look at the gangers.

"Yeah, but how...nevermind. Oh, they're not that bad." She turns to face
the camera. "And I'm sure he didn't mean any harm, so how about letting him
go?

"Nah. M'n the mood f'r a souvenir," she watches the ganger's eyes bug out,
"psyche. Y'sure y'r off da street, kid?"

Donny relaxes a little as Rosha backs up.

"How the frag did you get so close anyway," he asks, sounding injured.

"Trade secret, buster. An stop askin so many questions.  We ARE on the
clock now."

"Okay," says Picker, "Time to move."

The group leaves the alley, crossing the road, and begins to walk up the
street. Rosha looks around.

"Whas the transport, bloodclot?"

"We walk," says Picker, "Didn't Evita tell you anything?"

"OH! We can roll f'ya want!" Rosha replies, spitting disgustedly, "Whodafuq
are these two, Ev? Dios!" she turns half away, but keeps an eye out.

"Okay," replies Picker, "The nest is in an apartment in a building up there
a ways. We go in and bash the hell out of any bugs we see, and burn out the
nest."

"Then we're in," says Rosha.

The group continues to walk, at a fairly relaxed pace. It is late, and
though several cars pass, no-one is out on foot. Donny and Picker glance
nervously about every minute or so, watching for whatever their paranoid
brains fear. Eventually Donny stops at a builing, and steps up to the door.

"This is it," Picker says as Donny slides a magkey card into the reader.

The door clicks, and Donny shoves it open, moving inside followed by the
others. Rosha takes the lead.

"Takin' lead cover," she snaps, "Stay sharp - 'L'be in touch. Where we lookin?"

"The spir..." starts Evita, "well, the third floor, apartments D, F, and H.
I guess they've been joined together by the bugs taking out some walls."

"Rendezvous third fl'r stairwell. Don't be late, son."

The group enters the stairwell, and climbs to the third floor. Rosha leaves
the rest there, and wanders down the corridor. The building is less than
sumptuous, the floor is covered in stained carpet, torn up in places. The
doors are those of residets who fear their neighbours, heavy and covered in
warning signs. The corridor ends in a window, looking down to the street.
Rosha looks out it, seeing the fire-escape that leads down to yet another
alley. She returns to the stairs, noting the fact that the ten doors each
hold a letter, A, C, E, G, I on the left when looking towards the stairs,
B, D, F, H, J on the right.

"Clear run s'far. S'keep movin."

"We've got a key for the door to D," says Picker, "but we thought that me
and Evita would kick down F while Donny tried to surprise them through D."

"M'down wit' Donny." says Rpsha, then, to Donny, "'You down wit OPP?"

She laughs at his confused look, then backs off a little when the gangers
pull their weapons, a Colt Manhunter heavy pistol for Donny, a Remington
Roomsweeper for Picker. They grin, but at each other, not at her expense.

"Let's rock," mutters Picker.

"Now you're talkin'," answers Donny.

Picker and Evita move down to the door to F, and Donny and Rosha get ready
at D. Facing the doors, the stairs are to the left, D closer to them than F
is.

"We should do this all at the same time, right?" Evita looks at the others
for approval, realizes they're waiting for her, and states "On three, then.
1, 2, 3."

Picker waits as Evita counts, then drives his heel into the door at the
lock. It shakes, and he kicks it again, breaking it open this time. Donny
slides a key into the door of D as Evita rolls through her door, Rosha
waiting in the hallway. Picker is next through. Donny slips inside his door
followed by Rosha who takes a last look at the hallway before entering. It
is empty, no-one has been disturbed yet.

In the front room of D, Donny is advancing in a crouch, holding his
Manhunter out ahead of him.

"No sign," he says, "Are they astral, or whatever you call it?"

"No can do, buckaroo. Stay sharp, though, they'll be on us quick."

Donny safes his weapon, and looks through a door.

"The connection to F is through here," he says, "Can't see the others."

As if his comment were a prophecy, there is a yell from F. Donny hurries
through the door he was looking into, and Rosha plunges after him. They
turn right after entering F, and see Picker straight away. He is firing
into the body of a woman lying on the floor. Donny puts his hand on
Picker's shoulder, pulling him away from the woman on the floor. Picker
stops firing, out of rounds.

"Calm down, drekhead," Donny yells.

"You didn't see it's fragging face!" shouts Picker, "Look at it!"

Donny kicks the body over, and stares into the face of the woman. It is
twisted and inhuman, the mouth filled with weird scrapers and mandibles,
the eyes compound and huge.

"Basic roach," says Rosha, "Flesh form, 'think."

"Yeah," says Donny, "Whatever the hell that means. Let's burn the place and go."

"The cops might be on their way," begins Picker, reloading his shotgun,
"Let's..."

He is interputed by a scream of rage from the direction of H. The group
spin around, Evita raising her monosword, and Rosha pulling out a monowhip,
the two gangers raising their weapons.

"Oh, no! Ronin, that's Ronin! Let's get in there!" screams Evita.

"Who?" asks Picker, then follows anyway as Evita and Rosha charge through a
door and into a short dark corridor. Donny brings up the rear.

The corridor ends in a hole in the wall, leading next-door, to H. Evita
dives through it, and the others follow. As Evita rolls to her feet, Rosha
climbs through, panning her camera around the room. It is occupied by a
number of comatose people, all coccooned up in web-like excretions. Another
shout comes from beyond a pile of coccoons, and Evita moves around it,
followed by the others. Visible on the other side, to Evita's shocked gasp,
is a huge cockroach thing. It and a human male are struggling, the human
trying to keep on it's back, the roach trying to throw him off or roll and
crush him.

"Ronin!" shouts Evita, and the human looks at her.

The distraction is enough to prevent him from maintaining his grip when the
roach bucks, and he is sent flying off it. He lands with a thud, then rolls
to his feet and leaps towards the roach, one foot out in a flying kick.
Evita moves forward too, but she is blocked by another, smaller but still
giant, roach that appears out of thin air. She stabs at it with her sword,
but the weapon passes straight through the bug. A scream comes from behind
Rosha, and she spins to see Donny being attacked by a huge roach that has
appeared on top of him. Picker fires twice, blasting huge chunks of chitin
off the beast, but then he too is attacked, by a fourth roach. Rosha moves
forward, slicing Donny's assailant in half with her monowhip. It
disappears, but it has already ripped out Donny's guts, and he stays down.
Picker screams at Rosha to help him, and she turns towards him. The roach
has pushed him up against a wall, and is holding him there. He has thrown
away his shotgun, and is stabbing frantically at the insect's back with a
switchblade. He screams again as Rosha runs towards him, and blood starts
to drip down from one corner of his mouth. The roach surges, pushing
harder, and the drip becomes a torrent as Rosha arrives to attack the roach
from behind. The roach spins as she slices off three or four of its legs,
and drops Picker. The ganger slides down the wall, his entrails mostly
missing, as the roach leaps at the camera. Rosha ducks and the roach lands
behind her, and she spins around, using the momentum to send the monowhip
straight through the centre of the spirit. Like the first one, it
disappears. Rosha turns, looking for Evita, and sees her backing away from
the larger roach. Ronin is nowhere to be seen.

"'I came to bring the pain,'" Evita shouts, "'Hardcore from the brain, come
inside my astral plane.' Hey! Where'd Ronin duck to? Ev?"

"He ran out that door!"

Evita continues to back away, and the roach does as well, snarling at her.
As Rosha advances, the roach disappears, making the shift to astral space.

"He grabbed a stone crab-looking thing," says Evita hurriedly, "He went
that way, but she's after him!"

"Time t'recoup the man's body then," replies Rosha.

She turns, running past the dismembered bodies of Picker and Donny, and
stops, hearing a retching from behind her. She turns, seeing Evita looking
at the corpses.

"Help Ronin," Evita gasps, "I'll be alright, they didn't deserve this."

Rosha turns again, and sprints out the door, heading for the fire escape at
the end of the corridor. A number of people stick their heads out the door,
but they cower back inside when the monowhip wielding maniac charges past.
When Rosha arrives, she sees that the window is broken, and she can hear
someone on the fire escape. Evita joins and overtakes her as they go out
the window and down the ladder.

At the bottom, Evita runs off into the darkness. Rosha follows, slower than
the other woman.

"Hold up, kid!" she yells, "Can't cover ya f'ya don't wait f'r me!"

"He's this way, I just know!"

She stops, looking around a corner, and after a moment Rosha catches up to her.

Around the corner, Ronin is visible, fighting with the roach mother again.
As the two women arrive, Ronin rolls back a couple of metres and throws his
arms out, sending a wave of flame at the roach. It screams in rage, but
seems almost uninjured, the flames apparently held off by  some sort of
invisible shield. Rosha advances, then stops, seeing a rough stone idol
carved into the shape of a paddle crab lying on the ground. It is
approximately ten centimetres across. Rosha scoops it up and tosses it to
Evita, who is moving towards the fight, a look of fear on her face mixed
with determination.

"This's the ticket f'r the spirit, right?"

"Yes, that's it alright," Evita replies.

"Game, set, match.  Train's leavin the station, kid."

"No, I can't leave Ronin like this!"

"The best way y'll help'm is by getting that free spirit out'f his head!"

"I'm not going anywhere, now get out of my way!"

Evita passes Rosha, heading for the fight, but Rosha attacks her from
behind, throwing her ams around the taller woman's legs and bringing her
down. Evita yells in protest, and rolls over, getting to her feet and
striking out at Rosha with a right hook. Rosha ducks under it, catches
Evita's wrist in her right hand, and spins left, dragging Evita close and
winding her with an elbow to the solar plexus. As Evita doubles up, Rosha
spins back out and throws the other woman to the ground by applying force
to the elbow while keeping her grip on Evita's right wrist. Rosha maintains
the hold as Evita recovers her breath, then starts yelling into her face.

"M'not letting y'cash y'r chips against that Roach. We're out. Now. This
thing is the key t'freein Ronin ... once an f'r all. We stay. We lose the
idol. We lose Ronin. F'r good. Y'see how he's kickin the tar outta the
Roach mom?" she pauses for a moment, allowing Evita to get her head up and
take a look, "Yeah, thought you'd see it m'way. Now let's go. F'he turns on
us, we're toast. Comprende?"

The two get up, and start to run from the area, Rosha glancing back once to
see Ronin drive a blindingly fast roundhouse, his booted foot trailing
magical fire, into the roach mother's head, sending a spray of chitin and
ichor into the air. The insect spirit shrieks, and starts to back off.
Rosha shudders, then turns away again, and keeps running after Evita.

+++++End footage

Seems like "you" got the best of the big roach. Hey, y'ever think about
doin commercials for that extermination service? Anyway, m'glad y'r back
n'yr bod safe and sound. Let's all go out and grab a beer s'mtime--you, Ev,
me, and her roomie Cass. Sounds cool t'you? {r}]<<<<
        --  Elgin Baylor <17:09:19/10-03-57>
            Managing Partner
            Seattle Supersonics

>>>>>[I require a missing person to be identified and located, and will
pay well for this to be done. Reply in confidence for further
information.]<<<<<
	-- Jarman <00:16:42/10-03-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jarman
>>>>>[You could have just dropped by the office. Or looked in the Yellow
Pages under 'K'. What do you need?]<<<<<
	-- Marlowe <00:18:42/10-03-67>

*****PRIVATE: Jarman
>>>>>[This guy's an ex-cop. No cops on this! I want that bitch found and
I want her dead!]<<<<<
	-- Bozeman <00:20:17/10-03-57>

*****Private:Jarman
>>>>>[Got a picture? It might help. I can do it, whats the pay?]<<<<<
	-- Matrix Jockey  <09:10:43/10-4-57>

>>>>>[Just what we need, Nightmare again.  Have you perfected that lovely
spell of yours?  Last I remember, you had it just about right.  Dad
nearly died from the last time.

Don't come sniffing around here.  Dad may have declared you a non-person,
but I still have a slight grudge against you.

Oh, and if you were the one who tried to get Drake out of InterPol HQ in
London, all I have to say is "Bravo!"  Next time, use a team that's good
enough to actually get within 4 floors of him out before they get
captured.]<<<<<
	-- Diana, Mistress of the Night <10:23:31/10-04-57>

>>>>>[I'm certain that they thought it was secure at the time.  It pays to
have excellent contacts, or blackmail candidates.  Then again, what's
the difference these days?  Oh, I heard recently that Lt. Colonel Jose
Montoya testified yesterday.  Hopefully I'll get ahold of the tapes
within the next day or so.]<<<<<
	-- Trideo Pirate <10:26:48/10-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[We've got to move, hon.  We've got a meeting set up in just under
6 hours.  We need to be in the air in 2 hours.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <19:05:54 / 10-04-57> 
	   Field Officer
	   Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Rosha Team
>>>>>[ Akira, Christine  --  You two are with me.  NAN is going to be running
security for the meeting so we dont need the entire team, we'd only get in
their way.  We need to be on the deck in 1.5 hours.

Sorry I'm late, overslept and missed my flight out of Germany.  Im really
sorry.  I should have been back last night for a good night's sleep in my
own bed!]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <19:07:56 / 10-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Trax, Skuff, Karma, Gemini
>>>>>[Hold the hell on, people.  Let me clear up this meeting and we can
get together.  I should be back in Seattle in just under ... frag it, lets
meet tomorrow at 19:30.  At Naavah's.  Ill call her while I am in the air
and set up a private room.  That will give us a chance to scope out
the op and see what the problem is. 

Karma, relax, bro.  Keep it cool and lock it down.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <19:09:15 / 10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jarman
>>>>>[i'm game.  I took a rest from the shadows for a while to get some things
in order but I'm back now.  I'm a sammie...but I do do more than just dish out
hits.  Though, if need be I can.  I prefer stealth.  And I mostly deal with 
electronic warfare/reverse engineering (read: eavesdropping).  Contact me at
>>>encrypted<<< with more info.  Cya.]<<<<<
	-- Forte <15:19:32/10-04-57>

>>>>>[Hmmm.  I think you might have missed the point, Dianna.  Im sure that
if Nightmare really needed Drake out of the InterPol pokey, he would be
out now (and likely in a body-cast).

Im sure 'mare knows, as does everyone else here, that Paul wants to stand
trial.  A lot of people are hoping he fries, and a couple of us are just
waiting for the outcome.  Im not sure I like the man, but I do respect him
for what he does and how he carries that out.  And for what he has built over
the years.

Hell, even if anyone had gotten to him to break him out, they'd have a pissed
off Drake fighting them off to stay in.  Drake is respected, I doubt he's 
shackled in any cell anywhere.  Even on my best day I would not want
to have to stand toe to toe with Commander Paul '1.5 tons of pissed off
dragon hide` Drake.  If Nightmare had gone after him, which I personally
doubt, he would have suceeded.  That is, assuming he planned to suceed, which
is a moot point. ]<<<<<
	--Kor <19:26:27 / 10-04-57> 

***** PRIVATE:  Ice
>>>>>[I hear you might be in the market for a new animal form.  Lets talk
in the coming week]<<<<<
	-- Kor <19:28:19 / 10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R Stormwind, Serenity Security
>>>>>[Jay! Glad t'hear you made it back n'one piece! M'n f'r t'night.
C ya alli.]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <16:44:01/10-04-57>

*****NOT TO: InterPol
>>>>>[Kor's hit the nail on the head. 

Drake has the means and the contacts to get him out. _I_ could have got
him out of there, with the right plan and preparation, and I would have
done so: I'm in the man's debt and he knows it.

But, his trial is already forcing InterPol to examine the corruption in
their upper echelons. You should hear the rumours coming out of the
London HQ... Internal Affairs are cleansing the building with fire and
sword. A lot of dirty cops are, very quietly, being sent on gardening
leave pending prosecution. 

And that's what Drake wants. It offends him that Special Branch is the
only part of InterPol that is percieved as being honest, and that they
still get ordered onto wasteful wild-goose chases when they have better
targets to pursue. He's doing what he can to amend that.

And, because he has a touch of martyr complex, if it costs him his life,
he'll die content.

It's a real pity, you know: I really like the guy. I admire his skill, I
agree with some of his aims, I respect his determination: and he's
sacrificed a great deal for his beliefs. But, if push comes to shove, if
they order his execution I'll do everything I can to save his
life.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <23:40:31/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Forte
>>>>>[The subject is a SINless female Elf, hence the job of locating her
and providing details of her identity and residence will not be easy.
Because of this, I am authorised to offer >>encrypted<< for success.

Other parties may also work on this contract. I will pay the full sum
for credible information, even if another has previously provided it: I
consider it valuable confirmation, and my client is able to afford a
duplication of effort. If you discover others pursuing the same line of
enquiry, contact me and I will advise.

If you accept the job, I will provide you with all available data, plus
a 10% advance of the final payment.]<<<<<
	-- Jarman (23:30:18/10-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[If it comes to that, you can count on us to assist you.  And I do
mean all of us.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <23:20:40 / 10-04-57> 
	   Field Officer
	   Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[Tell me you are kidding]<<<<<
	-- Skuff <23:22:55 / 10-04-57>

***** PRIVATE: Skuff
>>>>>[He's done nothing wrong.  I've seen no evidence that he even violated
any of InterPol's rules without justification.  This should never have gone
to trial, it should have be as easy as him coming to his superiors saying
"Look, we have a problem, get IA or IAD in here and clean it up", but that
isnt going to happen.  InterPol has gotten large and too sloppy to be
left without being checked here and there.  Drake is pulling a hip-check
which should just be accepted.

You know I wouldnt send an order down the line that would compromise
anyone's personal morals.  If you need to be exempt, thats fine.  Serenity
will likely not exist afterwards if it comes to that.  I hope that
it doesnt.]<<<<<
	-- Jason R. Stormwind <23:31:40 / 10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Matrix Jockey
>>>>>[The payment for the girl's current identity and whereabouts,
without revealing my involvement or interest, is >>encrypted<<. 

She is a SINless individual, who may use a number of aliases, hence the
relatively high pay: I don't underestimate the difficulty of this job.

A picture, a 10% advance and the other information I have on her, will
be made available once you accept the job. Be advised that I may hire
more than one person to find her: if two employees successfully locate
her, both will be paid in full. Success is important to my client.]<<<<<
	-- Jarman <18:50:43/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[Where'd you hear that? And what do you mean, a "new" animal form?]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <19:24:06/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: {r}, Evita
>>>>>[I'm a bit confused about the sequence of events while I was running
about on the astral. As far as I can tell it went like this:

My body came to Seattle, contacted Evita, then went on a run to grab some
ashes, followed by a second to get hold of an antique clock, then sent
Evita and two gangers to raid a bug-house. While they were there, Rosha
joined up, helping them for a while. My body also turned up, grabbing a
stone idol of a paddle crab, then dropped it while fighting a roach spirit.
Rosha grabbed the idol and persuaded Evita to leave my body behind so the
two of you could use the idol for a bit of extortion. Since the spirit
wanted the idol so bad, it gave me my body back under close supervision
(Who were all those people, anyway?).

Is that pretty much what happened?

And about the drink, how about tomorrow? Around 1900, >>bar name<<.]<<<<<
	--  Ronin  <19:36:15/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Drink sounds good.  The order o'events seems steady fr'm m'end.
And ya can call me b'name now. Splain that'n later. :)  An' don worry
'bout payback ... y'dve done t'same f'r me, right?]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <22:54:23/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Easy, T'Shon, Ice, Whitetyger, Blademaster, Shockwave,
Blackthorne, Blackhawk.
>>>>>[Congratulations on your efforts, here is your well earned payment.

+++++Cred transfer

I will keep your names in mind for future work.]<<<<<
	-- L  <15:14:55/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: L
>>>>>[How much would you charge me to change the status of the Jerzyck ID
to that of a discharged (for psychological reasons) SK exec?]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <17:45:18/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ice
>>>>>[>>nY sum<<. No bargaining, that's already low considering the sterling
service you provided during the Gibraltar incident.]<<<<<
	-- L  <20:09:39/10-04-57>

*****PRIVATE: L
>>>>>[Okay... and I see the change has already been made.

+++++Crd transfer

As I said before, it's a pleasure doing business with you.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <23:37:47/10-04-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet
>>>>>[TO: J R W Lynch
No problem, Thunderbird Six detected message and attempting trace,
FAB!]<<<<<
	-- Sgt J S Karlsbruhn <Sergeant:Peppers:Lonely/Hearts-Club-Band>

*****PRIVATE: Lilith
>>>>>[I think Jake's been watching too much of our old video collection.
Move him from "Harmless" to "Mostly Harmless". 

Why was Dexter asking me for help, anyway? All I know about him was that
he was talking about going after JayCee. Never met him, never worked
with him.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <23:45:41/10-02-57>

*****PRIVATE: Blademaster
>>>>>[Thanks for the thoughts, and the offer of help. Want to meet up
for a few beers sometime? 

Coppinger recruited me to SIGA a few months after it all blew up. Back
then I was only called in once in a while. As things got bigger - like
Maxim acquiring nukes, which if we'd had people in the shadows we might
have seen coming - and the Warsaw hit, I ended up spending more and more
time "consulting" so I ended up going virtually full-time.

Used to be a freelance merc, used to be Ares Security, used to be a
runner, used to be a cop... I've been around a while <g>]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <09:43:10/10-05-57>

*****PRIVATE: Apollyon
>>>>>[Mr. Minnifield, I have completely the final edits on the 
audio-visual record you commission our forces to provide for you.  Because
our presence was requested by another organization, there have been no
undue questions regarding the creation of this file.  I hope that you will
be satisfied with my work and continue to maintain such quality relations 
with the Nation in general.

+++++begintrid: 092657.200000  ...  200001  ...  200002 ...

A window opens and fills the screen, and as it does, the flashing numbers
indicating a progression fade from the image.

Replacing them is a view of a rough forest clearing, approximately 40 
feet in diameter.  It is obviously autumn, as multicolored leaves form a 
natural carpet that rustles and swirls in the wind.

You notice the camera angle is elevated looking down on the scene from 
a distance of about 10 feet at approximately a 30 degree angle, obscuring 
the bottom portion of the clearing.

After a few moments, two individuals wearing the deep blues of Serenity's 
light security armor enter the picture. One is a sizable female troll 
with uncharacteristically femine features, a single horn protrudes from 
the long flowing blond hair. The other is a short, stocky man, Asian in 
origin.

They enter the clearing less than cautiously. One walks counterclockwise
to the camera around the edge of the clearing while the other kneels in
apparent meditation. Both take a minute to complete their activities 
before they return to the left of the screen and beckon someone else to
enter.

An Amerind female teenager steps into view quickly. She has a long facial 
scar down her left cheek, and has a very solemn look in her eyes.  Still,
the light of youthful curiosity dances beneath the surface in her mein.

Following her is Jason Stormwind. His long black hair braided back in its 
trademarked intricate design. Seemingly slightly annoyed, he asks the 
male bodyguard, "Any sign of him?"

Akira: "None yet, Jason, but we'll know when he gets here."

The male bodyguard shoots a knowing glance at the female, who returns the 
gesture with a smirk.

Jason: "Everyone in place?"

Christine: "As far as I can tell. We were only allowed the 4 of us, the
rest of security is up to the Elders."

Jason nods and turns to the Amerind girl, his daughter perhaps.

Jason: "Are you sure you're ready for this?" {to the Amerind girl}

Girl: "Jay, stop worryin 'bout me. Ah need t'see this guy, and maybe 
fairytales do come true."

Jason: "Rosha, I just want you to know that every fairytale has its monster,
and this guy might be it."

Rosha: "Think that would be his problem, not mine." {smirking slightly}

Just as the last words come from her mouth, something rustles off camera
to the left of the screen.  Both bodyguards draw heavy pistols out of their
jackets and take aim in the direction of the disturbance; Jason takes a 
long stride and moves in front of Rosha.

A darkskinned man with a shaved head stumbles on to the screen from the left,
nearly falling before catching himself by planting a long silver walking
staff in front of him.  His tattered gray robe seems to have several new 
holes in it.

Man: "Not the best introductory entrance, I could have imagined, but I am
here nonetheless.  I apologize for my lateness, Mr. Stormwind.  Salud, mis
amigos!  I am Hector Otalvaro Minnifield."

Rosha: "Let's see s'm proof, bud. Words are drek."

After stepping from behind Jason while Hector spoke, Rosha is visibly focused
on Hector -- watching his every movement religiously.

Hector: "Certainly! Your suspicion is both expected and welcome."  {as he 
sits down}  "I have both the formal documentation of my identity and the
story of how I came to be here; both for you analysis.  Mr. Stormwind may 
verify that the documents I provide you are copies of the same ones I gave
to him months ago, and that all of them are in order.  Furthermore, he 
can assure you that I am the same man with whom he has met previously.
I am, indeed, your half-brother, Hortensia."

Jason: "Yes, these are the same documents and he did check out."

Hector: "Then let me tell you how this most joyous moment for me has come 
to pass.  I was born in 2029 as an illegitimate child to Maria Otalvaro, 
our mother.  However, because we did not share a father, she gave me up for
adoption at birth.  Her marriage to your father was new at that point, 
and she mistrusted his ability to accept me as his child.  My biological
father was a drug-dealer whom she had fallen in debt to, and an unsavory
individual who met his end in a deal gone wrong in 2032.

Sadly, I never knew either of my biological parents as I didn't become
aware that I was adopted until 2052, when the woman who raised me told
me of my adoption on her deathbed.  Her husband, my father, had died
just two years earlier; ironically, the same year your father died in 
service to the UCAS Army.

Driven by the thought that I had family elsewhere in the world, I used 
all of my adoptive family's resources and influence to collect facts 
about the Otalvaro family--your family.  And, sure enough, I discover that
Maria and Marcus had a child in 2035, a daughter--Hortensia. You.

But by 2053, when I learned of you, you had joined the UCAS Special Forces
and they told you that you had been killed in training.  Upon further 
investigation, I discover that they only half-lied.  Their brainwashing for
your work on the Reconnaissance Team had destroyed your identity as Hortensia
Otalvaro, and left only Rosha.  A weapon for their deployment.  

Though I tried to have political friends of mine secure your release from
the Special Forces, your commander, Nelson Wilkerson, held you on the 
team with the passion of a zealot.  Your exemplary performance record did
little to help my efforts.  However, your ... extracurricular ... activities
with Special Forces in 2054 opened a window of opportunity.  I felt sure
that your discharge would come through and I'd finally be able to meet you.

But Wilkerson's system of Code Red discipline denied me this.  At least, 
until you went AWOL, but that provided other problems.  

By living in the shadows so effectively, you evaded both Wilkerson's and my
efforts to locate you.  And anytime, we did ... you were gone.  Finally,
I changed my methods.  I sought out members of the shadowcommunity to keep
you safe, and eventually, introduce me to you.

When you made contact with Mr. Stormwind, I allowed myself to hope the time
was nigh for our encounter.  I had been informed of Mr. Stormwind's 
fundamentally paladin orientation.  I knew that if I could convince him 
of the sincerity and love in my plea, we could finally talk.  Thus, after
5 years of seeking you, I finally see you sitting before me."

As Hector spoke, he, Jason, and Rosha all sat down in the middle of the 
clearing as the bodyguards maintained a secure perimeter around them.

Rosha: "S'posing I b'lieve you... why?"

Hector {looking shocked}: "Hortensia! It must be obvious!  I have lost 
all others who could tell me something of who I am!  You are my final
chance to learn about my mother!"

Rosha: "Sorry, bud. But I don't remember much. You know about the SpecForc
rehab, nothing is left."

Hector: "Then why have you secured the services of Dr. Bayard Rustin? Yes,
I have been observing you for some time.  And you would not be working
with Dr. Rustin unless he could help restore your memories."

Rosha {angrily}: "So y've been spying n'me! How dare you!"

She rises quickly and turns to leave.

Hector {calmly}: "Think for just one moment would you? If for nothing
else than you're own gain.  Let me provide you a secure life where you
can receive Dr. Rustin's treatments on a regular basis as opposed to 
seeing him at random intervals.  Furthermore, I can afford a team of 
specialists to assist him in recovering your memories.  And you can
trust me in this matter at least, because I have as much interest in your
regaining your memories as you do."

Rosha stops and turns back, looking at Jason.  Jason reflects her gaze, 
leaving the decision in her hands.

The female bodyguard moves swiftly to Jason's side and whispers something 
to him.

Hector {looking concerned}: "A problem."

Jason: "No. A patrol team. We need to move this along, our time in here is
limited."

Hector rises from the ground with a regal air that belies his attire.

Hector: "So, I must ask my final question.  Forever more, will you be Rosha
or Hortensia?"

Rosha looks up into his eyes.  Her image wavers and trembles as if it were
giving off heat.

Rosha: "I think Rosha should find out as much about Hortensia as possible.
Then I'll see if I can answer your question."

Hector looks confused by the answer.  But Rosha waves her arms in front of
her face and body, and the image of the Amerind teenager falls from her.

She loses 4 inches of height and gains 25 pounds of muscle as her complexion
darkens and her hair shortens and glows with an azure hue.  Finally, she
stands before Hector and sparkling lines of midnight blue creep over her arms
and face, making it especially difficult to make out her features beneath
those lines.

Rosha: "Ese fue un 'si'."  And she grabs Hector's left hand with her right.

Looking at the two of them, facing each other, there is definitely a family
resemblance.

Jason: "OK, look, before I start bawling, and the locals start asking too 
many questions, can we make the rendezvous?"

Hector: "May I ..."

Jason: "You don't even need to ask."

At this point, the female bodyguard disappears off the right side of the 
screen followed by Rosha and Hector--still holding hands--, then Jason, and
finally, the male bodyguard.

A wind rustles the leaves on the floor of the clearing, and just for a 
moment, it seems as if they were cackling.

+++++endtrid: 092657.220317

And, for the record, I wish you all the best with your family.]<<<<<
	-- Sgt. Daniel Joseph Stands-In-Shadow <16:32:22/10-06-57>
	    Recording Specialist
	    Salish-Shidhe Border Patrol

*****PRIVATE: Ice
>>>>>[I have an offer for the group that you advertised earlier. I would
like to... sponsor, if you will, such a group, but not let it become
public knowledge. My sources indicate that the group is already
formed, it's strictures set, so I have no wish for my patronage or the
secrecy I require to be part of the structure of the group's binding.
Instead I would like there to be a sort of inner core of members who
know about my purposes, and another section who know you are taking
orders from someone, but not from whom, or why. Note that I would
never expect you to betray your group. In fact, I hope that you would
refuse to do so.

My purposes are mostly bengin, and purely defensive. I would like you to
watch the shadows for runs against my corner of my corporation, having one
or more of your members apply to any offers that I find suspicious, offers
to which I will alert you in such cases. Also, I would like to establish a
long-term employer-employee relationship with a group such as yours, so I
always have access have a team of capable magicians I can trust. My
identity must remain secret, I would regret the consequences of an attempt
to uncover it.

You will benefit by access to certain libraries and other information that
you will find hard to get elsewhere, as well as by a generous monthly cash
payment, the amount to be negotiated once you gain the consent of such
members of your group as you consider to be discreet enough to know the
truth. To earn this, all you will do is be avaiable, and continue to
practice your skills, becoming more suitable for my work as time
progresses. The compensation for any other work you do for me will be
negotiated if and when such a situation arises.]<<<<<
	-- L  <10:19:16/10-06-57>

*****PRIVATE: L
>>>>>[I'll consider it, and discuss it with the group. Leaving out what
little I know about you, of course.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <16:45:04/10-06-57>

*****PRIVATE: Group
>>>>>[Take a look at this:

+++++Include L's message

The sender was the johnson for that Gibraltar thing I told you about, I
shouldn't really tell any more until we decide whether to accept the offer
or not. But what the hell, he works for SK, and that's about all I know.
The letter L could be taken to mean Lofwyr, but I'm not buying it, he
probably just wants people to think that. Of course, there's no better way
to lie than to tell the truth as if it were a lie...

Anyway, what do you think? I like the idea of a monthly payment, but the
whole thing seems a little too good to be true.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <16:52:20/10-06-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ice
>>>>>[It sounds interestin t'me. V'got some experience workin the 
corp-protect circuit anyway. So count me'n, Ice.  And how about 'Hecate's 
Star' as potential groupname? Just a thought ...]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <21:14:10/10-06-57>

*****Private:Jarman
>>>>>[Who else have you hired, I'd like to know, so if I run into any of 
them I can help them out/get some help should it come to that. Besides, 
I might know a few of them. As for the finding of SIN and SINless, hey, 
it's a can do]<<<<<
	--  Matrix Jockey  <08:59:31/10-07-57>

*****Private:Lynch
>>>>>[Yes, you have been around a while. Ever deal with Vampire's or a 
Dragon? As for the beer's, I can't stand them, I much prefer hard liquor.
On the other hand, if you'd like meet up and have a few drinks, that sounds 
great.]<<<<<
	-- Blademaster  <09:06:57/10-07-57>

>>>>>[Well, this would be another installment of the hearings.  It's amazing
that there's so many fraggin witnesses.  And I should have Marshall Qoph's
testimony up in a day or two.

+++++ Begin Trideo record, International Police Hearing S57-01 +++++

Clerk:  All rise.

Commander Drake, Lt. Rachel Mizikar, Lt. Gerry Burr, and the clerk all stand
while the panel walks in.  Sir Harold Burns is looking very tired but still
distinguished.  Miyamoto Okyoshu also appears as if the travails of the
hearing are finally wearing him down some.  Chief Eric Skinwalker, however,
appears as solid and stolid as always.  And Rep. Thomas Lang looks more and
more triumphant as the days go on.

Cleak:  Be seated.

Burns:  Well, then, where were we?

Clerk:  We were just about to call another witness, Sir.

Burns:  I know that.  It was a rhetorical question.

Clerk:  Sorry, sir.

Burns:  Call the next witness, then.

Clerk:  The Panel calls Jose Montoya.

The camera turns again, as it has for all the witnesses at this point, and
faces the rear door as it opens to admit Lt. Colonel Jose Montoya, acting
head of InterPol's Special Branch.  He is wearing his black dress uniform,
just like all the other InterPol officers present.  On it are several ribbons
and commendations for various acts of heroism and selflessness, and a very
new rank insignia.  He walks forward, stands behind the witness table, and
waits while the clerk comes forward.

Clerk:  State your name and rank for the record.

Jose:  Jose Montoya, Lt. Colonel and acting head of Special Branch, InterPol.

Clerk:  Repeat after me, sir.  I, Jose Montoya, do solemnly swear....

Jose:  I, Jose Montoya, do solemnly swear.

Clerk:  To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help me God.

Jose:  To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help me God.

Clerk:  Please be seated, sir.

Burns:  Well, whose turn is it this time?

Lt. Burr, Prosecution:  Mine, sir.  Lt. Col. Montoya, you are currently the
acting head of Special Branch.  Why is that?

Jose:  I'm not sure I understand the question.  Could you be more specific?

Prosecution:  Certainly.  Could you please tell me why you are the acting
head of Special Branch and not someone else more qualified?

Jose:  Because Commander Drake promoted me and gave me his command as his
last action before turning himself in.

Prosecution:  Why is that, sir?

Jose:  Because he feels that I am the best qualified to lead Special Branch.

Prosecution:  He told you that himself?

Jose:  Yes.

Prosecution:  What, if you know, do you posses that qualifies you to lead
Special Branch?  Any particular skills or abilities?

Jose:  Nothing that I'm aware of, except that I believe as ferverently about
Special Branch's mission and duties as Commander Drake does.

Prosecution:  Would you say that would be enough?

Jose:  Enough to put me over the top in an equal race, yes.

Prosecution:  But not enough were someone else well ahead of you in, say,
skills or abilities?

Jose:  You'd have to ask Commander Drake about that.

Prosecution:  But I'm asking you, sir.

Jose:  Probably not, then.

Prosecution:  Were you aware that there were several individuals who have
much greater skills in administration and management than you who were being
groomed by the Council and Enforcement Branch to replace Commander Drake when
he retired?

Jose:  Commander Drake did tell me that, yes.

Prosecution:  Did you feel inclined at the time to ask why he was ignoring
them and going to you?

Jose:  No, I did not.

Prosecution:  I see.  Sir, is it possible that Commander Drake wanted to keep
control of Special Branch in the hands of those individuals who were a
product of it's specific doctrine?

Jose:  I'd like to think that's precisely why he did it, but I know
different.

Prosecution:  Really?  In what way?

Jose:  Commander Drake told me at one of our meetings that the individuals
who were being groomed for his position were, if I remember the term
correctly, "megacorporate stoodges."

Prosecution:  Are you saying that Commander Drake accused them of being on
the payroll of any of several megacorporations?

Jose:  He suspected it, but never said anything which could be construed as a
direct accusation.

Prosecution:  I see.  Did Commander Drake ever tell you why he suspected
this?

Jose:  No, he did not.

Prosecution:  Very well.  Lt. Col. Montoya, has Commander Drake told you that
you are next in line for command of Special Branch when he retires?

Jose:  Not precisely, no.  He has told me that I have been designated as his
successor, officially and according to Section 43 of the Special Branch
charter, upon his leaving the position, through voluntary or involuntary
means.  He has pointed out to me repeatedly that he does not expect to live
to a ripe old age.

Prosecution:  And why is that?

Jose:  He feels that he has made too many enemies who see him as an
impediment to thier doing anything that they want.  He led me to believe that
these enemies were corporate, national, private, and even internal to
InterPol.

Prosecution:  And he felt that someone would remove him, perhaps even kill
him, when he became too much of a problem?

Jose:  Yes.  Various people have tried that already, and some have come very,
very close in the process.

Prosecution:  So you are designated Commander Drake's successor.  You are, I
hope, aware that his official sanction of you does not automatically mean
that you would be placed in command of Special Branch?

Jose:  Of course.

Prosecution:  One thing still puzzles me, though.  Why would you be
designated his, well, heir if you didn't have any real skills in that
department?

Jose:  Well, I do have some skill in command or else I wouldn't have been
placed in command of one of Commander Drake's special units.  And I also
believe that Commander Drake thinks that I can learn anything which I don't
already know.

Prosecution:  Indeed.  While we're on the topic, why are you in charge of the
Montoya sniper unit?

Jose:  Because I am an expert sniper, Lt.

Prosecution:  Yet the records show that you have only rarely expressed more
than a passing interest in most sniper weapons, and had, until the pursuit of
Mr. Lynch, not even drawn a weapon from stores larger than an SMG and
standard sidearm.  Why is that, sir?

Jose:  Because, until recently, Commander Drake had restricted my use of
rifles to the shooting range.

Prosecution:  Really?  Why?

Jose:  Your increduality is forced, Lt. Burr.  Commander Drake's restrictions
on my weapon use is well documented, as is his rescinding those restrictions.
The reason is that I am an expert sniper with a past.  I wasn't, after all,
always a cop.

Prosecution:  Really, sir?

Defense:  Objection, Sir.  Prosecution is attempting to turn the focus of
this hearing from Commander Drake to Lt. Colonel Montoya.

Prosecution:  I am attempting to ascertain certain of Commander Drake's
motives and his sudden change of heart, which I have not yet had a chance to
bring up.

Burns:  Overrulled.  But keep it quick, Lt. Burr.  I'm a tired old man, and
all the more crochety for not sleeping well last night.

Prosecution:  Of course, Sir.  Lt. Col. Montoya, what were you before you
were a cop?

Jose:  I'm sorry, Lt. Burr, but because of Special Branch Charter Sections 65
c and d, I am not required to answer that.

Prosecution:  Sir, I put the question before the Panel.  You have the power
to force the answer if you wish.

Burns:  Very well.  Councilman Okyoshu?

Okyoshu:  Hai, he must answer the question.

Lang:  I concur.

Skinwalker:  I do not agree.  Lt. Col. Montoya does not have to answer the
question.

Burns:  And as I am allowed a vote, I concur with Chief Skinwalker.  Lt.
Colonel Montoya, you are not required to answer that question.  Lt. Burr,
either retract the question or rephrase it.

Prosecution:  Very well, honored panel members.  Lt. Colonel Montoya, what
were the reasons for Commander Drake's placing weapons restrictions on you?

Jose:  He felt that my prior history, which I will not discuss, was such that
I was potentially dangerous with rifles.  He felt that this potential should
be limited at all costs, but in a manner which would still enable me to give
the benefit of my experience to others.  Thus I acted as a spotter and
commander of the sniper unit.

Prosecution:  So there were very valid reasons, related to your supposed
sniper skills, to restrict your access to rifles?

Jose:  Yes.

Prosecution:  Yet Commander Drake released those same restrictions the day
before he named you as his successor, correct?

Jose:  Yes.

Prosecution:  Why is that?

Jose:  Because it would have been counterproductive to have me remain
restricted.

Prosecution:  And what did you do as soon as you were released from his
restrictions?

Jose:  I immediately dived into the shooting range to practice and regain my
skills with sniper rifles.

Prosecution:  And the Barret 121 in particular, correct?

Jose:  Yes.  I am an expert in using that particular weapon, while only
extremly skilled in others.

Prosecution:  I see.  And after your restrictions had been released, what
positions did you fulfill?

Jose:  I immediately began carrying a rifle with me when we were setting up
for Mr. Lynch.  In some cases, two rifles.  One for non-lethal ammunition,
the other for lethal in the event that Commander Drake had ordered us into a
weapons-free situation.

Prosecution:  And what were the two rifles, sir?

Jose:  The non-lethal rifle was usually a Walther WA-2100 loaded with gel
rounds.  The lethal rifle was always a Barret 121, for pure stoping power.

Prosecution:  Always the same rifle?

Jose:  Yes.

Prosecution:  Why is that?

Jose:  Because....  Lt. Burr, that question again relates directly to my past
and I am not required to answer it.

Burns:  Lt. Colonel Montoya, I am not inclined to allow you that way out this
time.  Answer the question.

Jose:  Yes, sir.  Because that particular rifle is mine.

Prosecution:  Yours, sir?

Jose:  Yes.  It had been in my possesion before I joined InterPol.

Prosecution:  I begin to see, but since I have been disallowed from asking
too direct questions, I will desist.  Sir, you were the individual who shot
Mr. Lynch, correct?

Jose:  In the leg, yes.

Prosecution:  Were you aware at the time that Marshall Qoph had ordered that
Mr. Lynch be killed?

Jose:  I was.

Prosecution:  And yet you did not shoot to kill.  Why is that, sir?

Jose:  Because Commander Drake's orders, as my direct superior, took
precedence.  In addition, by ordering me to shoot to wound, Commander Drake
was knowingly disobeying a direct order from a superior, while not passing
that responsiblity down the chain of command to me.

Prosecution:  So you knew that, by ordering you to shoot to wound, Commander
Drake was disobeying a direct order?

Jose:  I just said that, didn't I?

Prosecution:  Thank you, sir!  One final question:  Does Commander Drake have
a file of Special Branch personnel; a file outside the normal InterPol
procedures?

Jose:  No, sir, he does not.

Prosecution:  Are you very sure of that?

Jose:  Of course.  He's not in command anymore, thus I have that file now.

Prosecution:  (laughs)  I see, sir.  But he did at one point, correct?

Jose:  Yes.

Prosecution:  No more questions.

Burns:  I call a 10 minute recess.

<pause>

Burns:  Lt. Col. Montoya, may I remind you that you are still under oath.

Jose:  I understand, sir.

Burns:  Excellent.  Lt. Mizikar, your witness.

Lt. Mizikar, Defense:  Sir, how long have you been under Commander Drake's
direct command now?

Jose:  For the last 5 years.  Ever since he formed his special units and he
gave me command of the sniper unit.

Defense:  In that time, have you ever known the Commander to be dishonest, or
to act without any sense of honor or integrity?

Jose:  I have not.

Defense:  And in that time, has the Commander ever ordered you to perform
tasks which were personally degrading or unethical?

Jose:  Unethical, no.  However, the nature of under-cover operations
sometimes requires that a cop do things that he or she finds personally
distasteful.

Defense:  Of course.  In that time, has Commander Drake ever asked you or
your team to assassinate anyone.

Jose:  No, he has not.

Defense:  And why is that, sir?

Jose:  Because to do so would run counter to his personal ethics and to the
spirit of the InterPol charter.

Defense:  How so?

Jose:  InterPol exists to bring some justice to those who break the laws and
escape across national jurisdictional lines.

Defense:  Mr. Lynch said much the same thing in his testimony.

Jose:  I'm not surprised, although I suspect that he and I, and Commander
Drake as well, would disagree as to the correctness of our various methods to
bringing people to justice.

Defense:  I'm sure you are correct, sir. Commander Drake never asked you or
your team to assassinate anyone.  Has he ever ordered you to kill someone?

Jose:  If you are asking about assassinating again, then the answer is still
no.  However, if you mean to kill someone if they became dangerous, then yes,
he has.

Defense:  Could you give me an example, sir?

Jose:  Of course.  When the Commander arrested Dr. Jackson, my unit was on
the site.  Commander Drake ordered us to be ready to kill Dr. Jackson should
he appear to pose an immediate threat to the lives of our arresting agents.
As Dr. Jackson accepted his arrest more or less without incident, his death
was not necessary.

Defense:  I see.  Are situations like this common for Special Branch?

Jose:  In my experience, no.  We are trained to kill only in defense of
ourselves or our fellow InterPol agents.  There have been some unfortunate
incidents, but the individuals responsible were always disciplined, in
several cases the agent was brought up on manslaughter or murder charges.

Defense:  How do you think that this differs from normal police operations,
if at all?

Jose:  Very little, actually.  From my experience, normal police, and indeed
the rest of InterPol as well, treat killing suspects or criminals as highly
undesirable.  After all, a dead suspect or criminal cannot be sentenced or
tried for his or her crimes.  Of course, this is under the ideal situations.

Defense:  What do you mean by that, sir?

Jose:  All police are human beings, Lt.  If a criminal kills a cop, then they
want some measure of revenge.  The percentages of criminals accused of
killing a cop reaching trial are very low.  And there are always corrupt
cops who kill criminals because thier real employers fear what they would
say if allowed to go to trial.

Defense:  Do you personally feel that there are individuals in InterPol who
fit that description?

Prosecution:  Objection, sir.  Irrelevant to the hearing.

Burns:  Overruled, Lt. Burr.  Since the charges of corruption within InterPol
have been repeated by several of the most important witnesses so far, I am
inclined to allow questions of this sort from now on.  But don't let that
stop you from objecting.

Prosecution:  Of course, sir.

Defense:  Lt. Col. Montoya?

Jose:  Of course.  I would like to believe that there are fewer corrupt
individuals within InterPol's heirarchy than within, say, Lone Star's, but I
have no doubt that there are some.  Police are always targets, and police
with InterPol's level of power and responsibility even more so.

Defense:  Sir, you said earlier that you knew that Commander Drake was
disobeying a direct order from Marshall Qoph when he ordered you to fire to
wound Mr. Lynch.  You also said that you followed the Commander's orders
because he is your direct superior and that you knew that he was attempting
to limit your responsibility.  If Marshall Qoph had removed Commander Drake
from command and ordered you to kill Mr. Lynch, would you have done so?

Jose:  No, I would not have.

Defense:  Why not, sir?

Jose:  Because to do so would violate the Special Branch charter and would go
against my personal integrity and ethics.

Defense:  How is that?

Jose:  I personally have no qualms with killing a dangerous criminal who had
severely injured or killed a fellow agent.  I would prefer that the criminal
go to trial, but if the only way to save the life of a friend was to kill the
criminal, I would do so.  If Mr. Lynch had, at any time, killed an InterPol
agent, and I had been ordered to kill him, he would likely not have had a
bullet in his leg, but rather his skull.  However, Mr. Lynch is an honorable
man, in his own way.  He follows his conscience, however much I personally
dislike his means and methods, or how illegal they truly are.  Mr. Lynch
deserves to face a trial by jury for his crimes, not summary execution.  For
those reasons, I would not have fired, nor would I have allowed anyone under
my command to do so.

Defense:  Even at risk of removal from your position?

Jose:  Lieutenant, Marshall Qoph could have held his pistol against my head
and told me to do it or die, and I would not have fired.  Death is not
necessarily worse than sacrificing your integrity.

Defense:  Thank you, sir.  A couple more questions, if you don't mind.  Why
do you think that your arrest of Mr. Lynch took so long to accomplish?

Jose:  Because Mr. Lynch and his associates are highly trained professionals.
Being able to operate outside the law allows them several more degrees of
freedom than Special Branch agents enjoy.

Defense:  Why do you think that Commander Drake disobeyed the orders by
Marshall Qoph?

Jose:  Commander Drake would be the best person to answer that question, Lt.

Defense:  I assure you that I will ask it of him.  But I would still like to
hear your impressions, sir.

Jose:  I believe that he refused to follow the orders because he felt that
they were wrong, and that they were politically motivated.

Defense:  Thank you, Lt. Col. Montoya.  No more questions.

Burns:  Lt. Col. Montoya, do you have any last comments or observations you
wish to add before the panel?

Jose:  I do, sir.  I believe that the entire Lynch debacle was politically
motivated rather than motivated by good sense.  Mr. Lynch is a dangerous
criminal, and wanted by more nations than I can easily remember.  But his
crimes have always been carefully carried out.  He has always targeted those
individuals he believed most responsible for whatever it was he was pursuing
them for.  Yet Special Branch was ordered by the Council itself to pursue
him, and the council was convinced to do so by a nation who is not a
signatory of the InterPol charter, under the pretense that said nation would
become a signatory.

Special Branch was originally formed because so much of the rest of InterPol
was political at the time.  I feel that it still is.  Yet Section 96 allows
for the politicians to control Special Branch whenever they feel like it.
Commander Drake's cooperation with the orders was specifically because he
knew that he would be replaced with a political appointment if he was removed
for disobeying a direct order.  Yet he fought against the orders as best he
could, while still obeying the letter of his orders and following his
conscience.

Commander Drake is facing this disciplinary hearing not because he disobeyed
orders, but because he disobeyed the politics behind those orders.  And
because he has the audacity to be an ethical and uncorruptable officer of the
law.

Burns:  Is that all, Lt. Col. Montoya?

Jose:  It is, sir.

Burns:  Very well.  Witness is dismissed......

+++++ End Trideo record +++++ ]<<<<<
	--  Trideo Pirate <09:54:42/10-07-57>

>>>>>[I suspect that the hearing is independant of an actual trial.  It seems to
be more of a pre-trial, as much to determine whether Drake should be run
out of InterPol and then tried in a UCAS court of law for his actions.

It's never happened before, even those few times that Drake was totally in
the wrong, like the killing of the decker Raven.  But there wasn't as many
people gunning for his job then either.

I suspect that unless Drake has a card or two up his sleeve, he'll be
drummed out of Special Branch and put on a real trial.  Whether he has
those cards or not remains to be seen.  I'm looking forward to his
testimony, actually.]<<<<<
	-- Slash <10:01:41/10-07-57>

>>>>>[Greetings, everyone!  You all know me, or at least know of me.  I hope.

But regardless, I am holding my 23rd annual Samhain fundraiser costumed
ball to benefit Haven again this year.  The party will start at sunset on
October 31 and end sometime thereafter, daybreak at the earliest.

You are all invited, and party crashers are welcome.  Just remember the
rules before you get here.  And be advised that arch enemies commonly show
up and toast to each other's slow and painful demise.  Why, last year we
had two of the Ancients drinking with Foxey Roxey for part of the evening,
and there have been times when Commander Drake and some of the individuals
he was pursuing sat down and drank together.

So, please, come one and all.  Just remember the costume, as you will not
be admitted without one, and the magicians who are responsible for giving
you one if you show up without one have somewhat odd senses of humor.]<<<<<
	-- Valentine <10:07:02/10-07-57>

>>>>>[If it works as well and Lynch and Lilith's wedding, and if you don't 
object strenously to me being there, count me in.  And I'll start working on
the costume.]<<<<<
	-- JayCee <18:10:41/10-07-57>

>>>>>[Everyone is invited.  This party is usually indoors, as it's normally
raining outside.]<<<<<
	-- Valentine <13:59:20/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Forte, Matrix Jockey
>>>>>[You are the two who have expressed an interest in this task. You
may work seperately or together, as you choose: I am merely interested
in success without the target becoming aware of your surveillance.

Please tell me whether you accept the job or not, so I may give you the
information you need to begin your searches.]<<<<<
	-- Jarman <18:20:14/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Group
>>>>>[Rosha sent me a private message (you really should have sent that to
all of us, IMHO) suggested "Hecate's star" as a group name, anyone else got
suggestions? Seeing as half our members turn into wolves or tigers at
little or no provocation, I like "The Seattle Zoo", but I doubt anyone else
will.

Anyway, the selling out to SK thing, Rosha seemed agreeable. I sort of
don't object to the idea, we wont be commiting to anything much.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <14:48:44/10-07-57>

>>>>>[Hey, Pat, I suppose there's no way I can justify coming armed as
being a necessary part of my costume... guess not :) If I do it'll be a
replica. 

I'll be there anyway. I still have a few brain cells left alive, after
Jason and Lilith got married and That Party. Went off into the Outback
for a few days, ended up staying a month. Interesting place. 

Want some help on costume duty? <snigger> We could cast the whole Rocky
Horror Picture Show on anyone who forgets their outfit.]<<<<<
	-- The Mighty Quinn <21:13:21/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Cass
>>>>>[Cass? You had any more trouble from that cyberman thing? You still
out there?]<<<<<
	-- Squatter  <16:08:52/10-07-57>

*****Private:Group
>>>>>[Hmmm....

What do we have to lose, really? I say try it.]<<<<<
	-- Shiftboy <16:03:19/10/7/57>

>>>>>[Valentine, thanks f'r the open invite. M'still hurt fr'm missin 
the 'weddin of da century'!  Anyway ... I'll be there. Lookin' forward 
t'meetin you ...]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <20:14:11/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Evita
>>>>>[Hey!  Great idea ov'r here! Let's go as EACH OTHER! M'probs wit
Wilk are done, an' he couldn't get into Haven anyway, so ....  whaddya
think?  Would play havok wit ev'rybody else ... esp. Cass, Ronin, Ash,
Jason, and any other Serenity folks in da house. ... C'mon ... it'll be fun!
F'no one notices, we'll switch into somethin else ... Illusions--Essential
for the Ultimate Costume Party!]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <20:18:13/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Golem
>>>>>[I am still awaiting your final report from your TWO WEEK old 
assignment.  I have ascertained that you succeeded, but I still want the 
confirmed, firsthand evidence.  Kindly forward the requested information
asap.]<<<<<
	-- The Saracen <20:21:00/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: The Saracen
>>>>>[Unholy bastard! We lost an arm in this action! 'Kindly' back the fiznuk
off of us until we've finished this matter. You'll have your verdammt report.
The kill is absolutely confirmed. Don't press the matter again. Recall who
IS your enforcement wing.]<<<<<
	-- Golem <20:25:43/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: The Skull Bearer
>>>>>[Cassandra still walks the streets. She is inquiring after you, no 
doubt. Carry out this matter with no further delay.  As a loose end, I want
her tied in a knot. Literally.]<<<<<
	-- Ms. Johnston <20:29:00/10-07-57>

>>>>>[Cass and Ronin, y'folks goin t'the party! It'll be phat an all dat!
All the Seattle players. Much needed relaxes, f'ya ask me ...  An' ya can
spot me a couple drinks f'r gettin ya back where ya belong. ;)  <---
That would be you, Mr. Ronin!]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <20:34:59/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: InfoScholar
>>>>>[Hello, Sage. We have not spoken previously. However, I am told you
might be able to confirm some information of interest to me. Namely, the
death of a UCAS Special Forces officer, nicknamed Stampede. Please 
confirm or deny this for me, if you can.]<<<<<
	-- Apollyon <20:37:00/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Apollyon
>>>>>[Hello, Mr. O-M. The information you require will cost 
>>encrypted<<.  Remittance may be forwarded to >>encrypted<<.]<<<<<
	-- InfoScholar

*****PRIVATE: InfoScholar
>>>>>[Be careful, how you deal with me ... my reach never exceeds my 
grasp.  

+++++credtransfer: >>encrypted<<

Well?]<<<<<
	-- Apollyon <20:40:00/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Apollyon
>>>>>[I'll remember that next time I get some footage of you pleasuring 
yourself. :) 

In any case, I can indeed confirm the death of one Nelson Wilkerson.

+++++minreq1.pic

As you can see, even his reinforced body did not respond well to the sudden
and sustained impact of over 200 tons of titanium-reinforced concrete and
fairly dense earth.  Though the photo doesn't resemble the late captain very
much, I believe that if you reconstruct the facial image, you will find 
adequate confirmation.

Should require further evidence, I may procure the pre and post mortem 
nucleic acid sequences for your perusal, for a small additional fee of
>>encrypted<<.  Speaking of which, you're claiming to be Ms. Otalvaro's
brother  aksdf  dkfy ou  kdfa;lk;a;a

+++++signal interrupted ... re-establishing
+++++SIGNAL LOST!!  TRANSIENT  VIRUS  IMPLANT!!!
+++++DISCONNECT  DISCONNECT DISCONNECT

*****PRIVATE: InfoScholar
>>>>>[I think that just about settles our accounts.]<<<<<
	-- Apollyon <20:42:00/10-07-57>

>>>>>[ Thank you for the invitation, Mr Valentine.  Since I have never
attended your particular shin-ding before, may I inquire what type of costume
would be acceptable? Many thanks... ( I could use a good party,  after the
last bit of biz I had...) ]<<<<<
	--Shockwave <20:49:00/10-07-57>

***** PRIVATE: Karma
>>>>>[You werent at the meeting, man?  Where are you?  If you get this,
please get in touch with me]<<<<<
	-- Kor <22:21:03 / 10-07-57> 

***** INTERNAL:  JRS, personal log
>>>>>[+++++ Include JRSlogentry

The image of a small spartan office unfolds before you.  Seated behind a 
small desk is Jason Stormwind, CEO of Industrial Sound and Magic, and
founder of Serenity Security.  His Amerindian features are striking in the
muted light of his desklamp.

He looks up from the computer on his desk as someone walks in.

JRS:  "Jim, I'm glad you had the time to come and see me, have a 
seat"

JAF:  "Well, I was heading home when I caught your mail.  Whats this problem
you need help with?"

James A. Foster comes into view and sits in the chair offered.  His black hair
streaked with grey is tied back in a loose pony tail and thinning on top.  He
sits heavily, tired from his long day.

JRS:  "Yeah, actually I could use your assistance.  I've got a friend who's 
gotten it in his mind to kill a number of visiting diplomats from the Tir."

JAF:  "What do you want me to do about it?  Call Lone Star and be done with it"

JRS:  "I can't that, Jim.  This man is a friend of mine.  I know him well enough
to know that Lone Star wouldnt bring him down.  They'd botch it and end up
getting a number of their officers wounded, maybe dead and then there would
be nothing I could do for him."

JAF:  "Ok, who is this friend"

JRS:  "Karma"

Akira pushes his chair back abruptly and stands quickly.

JRS:  "Wait!"

JAF:  "Do you have any idea what you are asking me to do?  Do you?  Im not
going to assemble a team of my men go get shot up just because you want
to keep that nut out of prison."

JRS:  "I only need a couple of your snipers to take a look at the area and 
tell me where would be the best place for him to have holed himself up.  Ill
take it from there."

JAF:  "Give me everything I need?

JRS:  "You call the shots around here as much as I do.  You dont need me to
authorize personel for you.  Take what you need to ensure that none of your
people get made.  If you spook him, he will move"

JAF:  "I know the man.  Ill brief a team in the morning and get right on
this"

JRS:  "Sooner?"

JAF:  "You really ARE worried.  Whats the whole scoop, Jas?"

JRS:  "The 'tir contigent' is possibly a ghost unit sent out by someone close
to one of the princes.  They are being very obvious about trying to get
information about an imposter of one of their operatives.  Unfortunately, I
was the imposter.  Karma is trying to protect me in a round about
way and isnt thinking clear enough to understand the reprecussions of his
actions.  If this is really a ghost unit, there will be more, and there
likely are more than just the 6 or so that have been reported"

JAF:  "I assume you were on a run at the time.  You know how I feel about that,
and you know even better how I feel about bring your drek back to Serenity."

JRS:  "I understand that.  Normally I would deal with this myself but he's gone
completely rogue and I dont know where the hell to start looking.  Im not a 
sniper, I dont know how they think.  Working with Karma so long ago, I realize
that he just doesnt think like a normal person.  Sniper's see things differently
from most others.  He can go days without food.  Without so much as even
moving.  I've seen him set up for a job nearly a week in advance with nothing
more than his rifle and his survial suit an a litre of water.  He just doesnt
move.  Look, im pleading here.  My screw up cannot result in the loss of
life.  His, the unit's, or LSS personel."

JAF:  "Relax, Jason.  Ill take care of it.  Ill put a couple people on
maps tonight and have them do set-ups on the building in question.  We'll
go over their perches tomorrow morning, and then go then go over them
again until we get the best places.  He is not active, is he?"

JRS:  "No, but he might have the aid of Gemini, wolf shaman, physical adept of
sorts.  Ill give you the information I have on him and his brother."

JAF:  "I'll handle this."

+++++ END LOG]<<<<<
	-- Kor <23:56:03 / 10-07-57>

>>>>>[ Ya know what, Diana?  I actually agree with the ever humble Kor.

Nightmare, if it was his goal, would have succeeded.  Even his failures 
are pretty successful.  Like the time Doomsday got busted by Interpol 
and Shadowfox by the Sioux Wildcats instead of him nailing AJ to the 
wall.  Lets face it, the man knows how to plan an op.  With that said, 
I can already speculate on what failure would buy him.

To put it bluntly, it casts a new light on Mr. Drake's situation.  
Perhaps he is considering offers from other sectors to further his 
goals.  Perhaps Mr. Drake arranged it with the Baron to point out the 
corruption in Interpol and how easily Herr Nightmare _could_ have 
pulled it off if he wanted to.  Perhaps, we should stop considering Mr. 
Drake as the sweet and innocent guy that he pretends to be.  From one 
of the conversations I listened into between Doomsday and Herr 
Nightmare, Drake had a pretty good idea on how to make best use of 
certain talents.  He had a certain flare for convincing convicts what 
their true options are.  Of course, I could be wrong and that just 
_may_ be speculation on my part.

Or, as Nightmare would elegantly point out -- this could all just be a 
dream of your imagination.  After all, would Nightmare admit in public 
that he wanted Drake to go free -- either in the physical or 
agricultural sense?  I leave it to you, the Muses, to decide.

Let me leave you with this thought:  Most of us will probably never 
know why Nightmare did it -- maybe the question to ask is what is he 
planning to do now that his "percious" op failed?]<<<<<
	-- Ratspeak <21:15:18/10-07-57>

>>>>>[ Truly amazing.  I was beginning to wonder if you were trying to 
get into 'mare's good graces by defending his honour.  Then again, I 
know you better than that. ]<<<<<
	--Black Knight <21:16:39/10-07-56>

>>>>>[ Frag off, Knight.  I'm not afraid of you or him.  We all know 
who can skate a system better.  Until you can match me there, SHUT THE 
FRAG UP, you poser! ]<<<<<
	--Ratspeak <21:19:11/10-07-57>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ Oh, why is it the greatest openings can never be fully taken 
advantage of by those not engaged in the direct conflict?  I bet the 
system could shut them both up.  Too bad it is a waste of money to let 
them feel humilated.  Oh well.  Temptation must be avoided.

One little thing that Mr. Harker asked to pass along (he still hasn't 
gotten his act together to get on here).  Doomsday and he would like to 
meet you for a night on the town.  Sometime soon.  Harker can be 
reached at >>encrypted<< for the next two days.]<<<<<
	-- Scourge <21:21:21/10-07-57>

***** Private: Ratspeak
>>>>>[ My, my.  Looks like Knight touched a nerve.  Well find anymore 
good gossip out, now that you're at: >>encrypted<<? ]<<<<<
	-- Scourge <21:23:27/10-07-57>

*****INTERNAL: SIGANet Archives
>>>>>[+++++Begin video recording
The picture shows the interior of a car.  In front of it, you can see
headlights and the night sky over the desert.  From the way the scenery and
asphalt is moving, the car must be going very fast.  The dash board is lit
up with readouts, most of which seem to cover normal operating functions.
You catch a glimpse of the speedometer, which is holding steady at 350 kph.

>From the way the perspective shifts, and how things are situated, you think
that the video feed is coming from someone's eye cam.  The person turns
their head, and you barely make out the profile of Blade sitting in the
drivers seat.

"Couldn't you have given me any more info than  it's near Vegas?"

"Hey, that's all I know.  It's all the information they were allowed to give
out.  We can't have our citizens knowing where our secret storage sites are,
could we?"  Lynch's voice.  It must be his eye cam.  "You haven't exactly
been talking a lot either.  For example, where are we going?  I know this is
the general way to Las Vegas, but something tells me that's not where we're
headed."

"Correct.  We are going to Vegas.  Eventually.  First, though, I want to
stop off and talk to a friend of mine.  He's an information broker.  The
truck stop we're headed to is a front of his.  If she's done anything
electronically in Vegas, he'll be able to find out what it was."

"Well, well.  You do think with more than your muscles.  Quinn owes me 50
nuyen."

"I resent that."

"I'm sure you do.  You might want to slow down, Blade.  I don't know how
well this highway is patrolled, but I don't think I'll be able to talk you
out of a ticket.  And with the amount of illegal gear in here," and you can
see Lynch's fingers tapping something low on the dash, "you probably donÎt
want to get pulled over."

Blade chuckles.  "It's like I always told my ex-wife, Lynch.  I never drive
faster than I can see.  And besides that, it's all in the reflexes."

With a hard yank, Blade spins the wheel and turns the car into the poorly
lit parking lot of a truck stop that they almost passed.  The view leans far
left as Lynch is pushed over by the force of the turn.  With the squeel of
tires, Blade applys the brakes and stops the car.

"You need some Oh, Shit!' handles, Blade."

"Probably."

Blade and Lynch start to get out of the car.  Blade looks over at Lynch.
"You can leave your weapons here.  You won't need them, and they're a little
paranoid anyway."

Lynch shrugs and you can hear the smack as a what sounds like a couple of
heavy pistols hit the upholstery.

"Oh, and no matter what happens in side, be cool."

As Lynch turns and begins to walk towards the entrance, you get a much
better spot of the restaurant.  It looks awful.  You think the name of the
place is "The Desert Twister", but the only letters lit up spell "he se t
Twi".  There are several stations for gas pumps, but they look so old, you
doubt they'd have the right fuel for a modern car.  There are a couple
transport vehicles parked, but other than that, the outside appears
deserted.  Lights are on inside, and you can see Blade open the door and
enter as Lynch follows behind.

The inside doesn't look much better.  A couple large, bored looking orks sit
at a table, eating and talking too quietly to be heard.  Behind the counter
is a old grimy looking grill with an equally pleasant cook.  Sitting at a
booth alone is the woman who appears to be the lone waitress.  The only
person who looks up as Lynch and Blade walk in is the cook.

Lynch just glances around, taking in the view, before whispering to Blade
"Booth or counter?"

Blade makes a motion towards the counter.  "Counter."  Walks over and sits
in one of the swivel stools.  As Lynch takes a seat, you can see Blade grab
a menu.  Lynch takes one as well.  As he looks it over, you can see that
it's usual greasy spoon food.  Well, except that the menu appears to be
about as old as the place it's in.  One item refers to something called
"USDA Choice Beef."

The cook walks up "Waddaya want?"

Blade looks up to the cook and smiles "Two whole fried chickens.  And a
chocolate milkshake."

"_Two_ _whole_ chickens?  You sure about that?  Cause I think we're out."

Blade just keeps smiling.  "That's O.K.  Hey, does Ricardo still work here?"

The cook leans forward slightly, his hands on the counter top.  "Yeah,
chummer, he still works here."  As he finishes, the windows all go pitch
black and Lynch's ears pick up the sound of an action going back.  His hand
reaches inside his jacket for the guns that aren't there.

"Be cool Lynch.  Just be cool."  Blade turns his attention back to the cook.
"Tell him Gillette is here to see him."

At that, the cook smiles, and you can see the reflections of the orks in the
back of the grill go back to their seats.  The windows remain dark, however.
"Sorry about that Blade.  But, well, you know how paranoid he can be."

"Not a problem Murray.  Mind if we go downstairs?"  Blade points towards
Lynch.  "Don't worry about him.  He's clean."

"Sure thing.  You know the way."

Lynch and Blade stand up and head towards the back of the restaurant.  In
the stockroom, out of Lynch's view, Blade does something to one wall, and a
floor panel pops up revealing a set of stairways.  Blade gestures for Lynch
to go first.  The stairs don't seem to be too long, but are dark.  Reaching
the end, Blade brushes a hidden switch and the lights come up.  With the
lights on, you can see a nice size chamber furnished like a small bunker.
It has one well equipped terminal and a couple of bunks.  There is, however,
a nice kitchen.  Blade walks over to the terminal, flips it out of low power
mode, and logs in.

"What is this place?"  asks Lynch

"Like I said, it's the front for an information broker friend of mine.  He
goes by the name of ÎThe Bard of Bermuda'  Easily the best decker I have
ever worked with or against.  We used to be teammates, but he hated having
to put his physical body on the line for meets and certain runs, so now we
just work together when he can do the job remotely.  When he decided he
didn't want to meet with people, but still work, he had to set up secure
places for people to contact him.  This is one of those places.  The windows
are two way video screens, so that when they blacken on the inside, it plays
a smart recording of what was happening inside with some few modifications.
The building could take a hit from the main gun of a Stonewall tank, and
this bunker could withstand a nuke blast.  All the people upstairs are hand
picked by me.  So I designed these, and he feeds me information when I need it."

Just then, the telcom screen blinks on.  "Evening Blade.  What brings you
out of this part of the world?"  The voice has a very cultured British
accent.  When Lynch and Blade move in front of the screen, the camera shows
a well tanned, young looking blonde man in a suit.  The image appears to be
live, but you can see nothing of his surroundings except a blank gray wall.

"Hoi Bob.  I need you to do find a woman for me.  Think you can do that?"

The man called Bob chuckles.  "I don't know.  You've been trying for 27
years and haven't found one yet.  I don't know what you expect me to do.
Set you up with my sister?"

"Haha funny man.  You know what I'm asking."

"Well, what do you have on her?"

"Let's see."  Blade pulls out a small data pad and hooks it's fiber optic
cable to a port on the computer.

Bob whistles.  "Moving into the 21 century I see.  What made you decide to
finally use that?"

"I figured that if you were going to give it to me for Christmas, that I
should probably use it.  At least in front of you.  Anyway, here we go.
Name: Byrnes, Elizabeth Michelle.  Byrnes is B-Y-R-N-E-S.  Need me to spell
the rest?"

"No.  Continue."

"Ok.  SIN number <<encrypted>>.  Date of Birth: 11 November, 31.
Downloading image now.  Went to school at University of Mississippi,
graduated with a doctorate in Pharmacy in June of 53.  A full bio is
included with the image.  Need anything else?"

"Likely area to start searching?"

"Vegas.  Work out from there."

"Alright.  By the by, may I presume that your companion is the infamous Mr.
Jason Lynch?  If so, tell him that while I do not mind if he records this
conversation and reports the location of this contact point, please make it
plain to him that I would become very upset if any of this information was
to get into the hands of the wrong people."

"Sure thing, Bob."

"Good.  I'll contact you in 8 hours."

The screen goes blank.

Lynch looks at Blade "Now what?"

Blade shrugs.  "Now?  Now we wait."

+++++end video

+++++begin video

The view returns, again from Lynch's eye cam.  All you can see is brown
glass, but after a few seconds, it lowers and you can see Blade sitting
across a small table from him.  The object blocking the screen was
apparently a bottle of beer.

"Your friend might be paranoid, but the people he hires sure know how to cook."

Blade chuckles  "Murray sure does.  In fact, it's why I picked him.  I love
to eat, and he cooks like no I know.  And it's all real food too, even the
meat."

"Bet that costs."

"Don't know."  A beep can be heard in the background.  "That's probably The
Bard."

Lynch follows Blade over to where he can see the screen.  The same blonde,
tanned man as earlier is on the screen.

"Well, your bounty might be a good micro-biologists, but she's an awful
espionage artist.  Potential, but not much skill."

"What've you got, Bard?  I need the info, not a run down on where she should
best be used."

"Always in a hurry.  But here you go, I'm sending the full report to the
console.  You can download it from there.  Until you have a chance to read
it, though, I'll give you the salient points."

"She checked into a Las Vegas hotel using her mother's maiden and her
sister's middle name.  She made transactions around the town using this name
before switching to another.  This one was a little tougher to piece
together.  Apparently, it was her maternal grandmothers married name.  Well,
using that and a fake SIN she picked up on the street, she's booked a flight
to Newark.  Oh, the SIN is good enough for the flight, and to get into
Newark, but it won't allow her into New York.  She won't have the right
passes for that."

"Any idea why she's heading for Jersey?"

"Well, my guess would be that that is where one of her contacts is.  If not,
then a boyfriend."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, over the last year, a little before the time the Doom agent became
available on the black market, she started making phone calls to a telecom
number there.  Really, the cold relay was fairly poor, not even a challenge
to follow.  But, after leaving 'Desert Door', she made several calls to this
same number from her hotel room."

"Wait a second, what's 'Desert Door'?"

"That's the base.  Or didn't they tell you?  No matter, it's not important
in this instance.  To continue, her flight leaves in aproximately 16 hours,
so you may want to hurry up and find her."

"Thanks BOB.  You know how to get me if you need anything.  Watch out for
reefs."

"Thank you, Blade.  Try not to get dead."

The screen goes blank.

Blade looks at Jason "Lets go.  I don't have much time."

"Sure thing.  And don't worry, I won't be looking over your shoulder for
much longer.  Lilith will take over as handler from a more remote position
shortly.  We just wanted someone with you for the beginning to..."

"Make sure I could be trusted?"  Blade smiles  "No problem.  You have to
watch security just like anyone else."

+++++End video recording]<<<<<
	-- SIGANet DC <01:24:24/10-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Group
>>>>>[Sure, I could always use some extra nuyen, this sounds easy. And I
don't care about a name really, but I don't fit into the zoo concept. So I
guess I'll vote for Hacates, unless someone else has a different
suggestion.]<<<<<
	-- Evita  <23:11:20/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[I'll be there, I'm already thinking of different costumes.]<<<<<
	-- Cassandra  <23:12:00/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Dirk
>>>>>[This thing scares me, Squatter n I couldn't really find anything,
although we turned up someone else I was looking for. Any ideas on possible
weaknesses? My gun didn't do anything to it. Tell ya what, meet me at
<<encrypted>> and we'll discuss it. Please?]<<<<<
	-- Cassandra  <23:14:22/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Squatter
>>>>>[Nope, been busy. Whas up?]<<<<<
	-- Cassandra  <23:16:55/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Nah, come up with something else, please...can you make me really
pretty? I wanna impress someone I hope will be there.]<<<<<
	-- Evita  <23:18:34/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE:Ronin
>>>>>[Are you going to the big bash? I hope so. What're you going as?]<<<<<
	-- Evita  <23:20:05/10-07-57>

*****PRIVATE: Evita
>>>>>[Awww, party poop! "Real pretty, eh?"  OK OK ... wha's da scoop, kid?
Who's dis f'r? Ah need t'know f'I'm goin to make a pit'chr they'll like ...
{smirk}. Tryin t'persuade m'bro t'go, but he's suspicious o'Haven ... btw
he's fairly cool, a li'l rigid fr'm time t'time, but he cares bout me a 
lot ... an not like Wilk either ... mebbe y'll meet 'im one time. Let's 
hang out t'morrow night ... no practice, just chill f'r a bit ... 
y'free?]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <07:52:11/10-08-57>

>>>>>[So there I am, totally fleeced of my windfall, nearly penniless 
in 'lantic City.  So, I'm on the right coast an' figure, "What the 
hell, it's an election year."  

Sos I scoot down to eFfDeeCee to cee what I can cee - and, oh yeah, 
make a buck or three on the side.  

Like I said, it's an election year and folks with my... talents are 
always in demand.  Pros, not like those dumbasses that bungled 
rolling a hotel.  I mean, sheesh, it was the Seventies, how tough was 
security?  Buncha mechanical locks and a coupla guards.  Oh, yeah, 
and a pres that can't keep his trap shut.

Anyway, so I figure I'll cast my nine votes for General Yates.  But 
what happens?  Some scuzbucket ices him.  So I figure, I'll vote for 
the dragon.  

Yippee, the dragon wins.

Uh-oh, somebody blows up the dragon.

Well, needless to say, that whole place is just too crazy for me 
right now. I made my money, so here I am, back in Seattle.

Whuzahappenin' Seattle!!!]<<<<<
	-- Rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

*****PRIVATE: Blademaster
>>>>>[Vampires, one's a friend. Dragons... two I'd call friends, two
I've killed, one left me with the interesting scars on my gun arm (while
I was hanging out of the door of a Learjet at 18,000 feet, but that's
another story). 

Meet up with me at >>encrypted<<. Good vodka and some of the best Scotch
you'll find in Seattle. Needs to be soon, I may have business elsewhere. 

Looking forward to finally meeting you.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <00:25:31/10-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Sure, where? and when? Ice cream?]<<<<<
	-- Evita <10:01:11/10-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Evita
>>>>>[Let's meet at >>encrypted T & P<<. Ice sounds heavenly.]<<<<<
	-- Rosha <12:25:12/10-08-57>

*****Private:Group
>>>>>[I dunno, sounds good, but who is this L person anyway? My pops told 
me to stay away from working for a corp, if I had no other choice, find 
another were his exact words. This L sounds like he is a corp. Any 
answers?]<<<<<
	-- Wolfen  <23:43:32/10-8-57>

*****Private:Forte
>>>>>[Forte, so nice to have a job with you. I'm acepting, but I didn't 
know you were in the information buisness. Oh well, guess Phobos was busy :)
Where do you wanna start?]<<<<<
	-- Matrix Jockey  <23:34:54/10-8-57>

*****Private:Jarman
>>>>>[I accept]<<<<<
	--  Matrix Jockey  <23:34:55/10-8-57>

*****Private:Lynch
>>>>>[Sounds good. Looking foreward to finally seeing you face to face too.
The vampire and dragon question was a bit leading. I seem to be having 
trouble with some vampires, and I do monetary concerns and help a dragon. 
So you see, I needed to make sure there were no biases against or for 
either, just in case one or the other decided to call on me while I was 
out. The dragon prbably wouldn't, but the vampires have been leaving 
calling cards everywhere. It's starting to annoy me, I may have to do 
something about them. Anyway, >>encrypted<< sounds great. I'll meet you 
there around >>encrypted<< tommarrow?]<<<<<
	-- Blademaster  <23:15:31/10-8-57>

***** PRIVATE: ICE
>>>>>[Lets just say a little bird told me that a spider monkey has thumbs to
manipulate ropes while a lizard does not.

Do you want the formula?]<<<<<
	-- Kor <17:50:52 / 10-08-57> 

***** PRIVATE: Trax, Skuff, Khan
>>>>>[Karma is missing.  Since neither of the twins showed up at the meeting
Im assuming that they are working with Karma on trying to remove the Ghost
unit from operation.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <17:52:32 / 10-08-57> 

***** PRIVATE:  Navaah, Icepick
>>>>>[We have a problem.  Karma has gone rogue as far as I can tell.  I suspect
that he has set up somewhere near the Jo'Boy and is planning on cleaning up
the problem at hand.  Can you survive that type of heat, if not give me a 
day or so to work on digging him out]<<<<<
	-- Kor <17:53:41 / 10-08-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[No.  You have until tonight to rope him in or I will have him and anyone
working with him killed on the spot.  I am not in the best of graces with
a number of the factions in the Tir and I am not at all interested in having
one or more of them swarming around my bar asking questions I dont have
the answers to.  I've worked too hard and too long setting this operation
up to have it go under.]<<<<<
	-- Navaah <17:58:10 / 10-08-57>

***** PRIVATE: Khan
>>>>>[I have a  couple of possible locations for Karma to be set up.  I have
to assume that he is working with Gemini on this.  I need backup to try to
check out the locations astrally.  

I dont think that either of the twins is stupid enough to attack either of 
us, but just incase, I want to make sure that they wont do it again.  Karma I
want alive, you already know how I feel about Gemini.  I need you as soon
as you can be ready.  We are going to have to be mobile for this.
Get here ASAP]<<<<<
	-- Kor <18:08:11 / 10-08-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Kor
>>>>>[On my way.  Let Skuff know Im coming and so I dont get shot]<<<<<
	-- Khan <18:11:18 / 10-08-57>

***** PRIVATE: Skuff, Trax
>>>>>[Skuff, I've got company coming in to the warehouse.  Khan.  We are going
to check out the roosts astrally.  Navaah responded poorly to 2 days, and has 
given us until close tonight to stop him.  Trax, I need you and the van out
here at the warehouse as soon as you can get here.  I'd like you and Skuff to
sit in the vicinity of Navaah's place and wait for us to contact you.  When we
find him, we will send a watcher to you to lead you back to our physical
location.  We wont be able to handle him in manifest form and if we do manifest
he will only relocated to one of the other spots.  We'll come back for our
the meat, then advance on him.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <18:16:21 / 10-08-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor, Skuff
>>>>>[Im not bringing my van withing 1/2 mile of Karma and his rifle.  Ill
risk a couple of drones if they are masked but thats about it.  I dont mind
carting your bodies around either but that will be about the extend of my
involvement.  Karma is old enough to take responsibility for his own 
actions.  That goes doubly so for the twins.    If they frag themselves, let
them.]<<<<<
	-- Trax <18:36:45 / 10-08-57>

>>>>>[Oh, boy, you're gonna enjoy this one.  Well, at least I did.

+++++ Begin Trideo record, International Police hearing S57-01 +++++

Clerk:  The panel calls Marshall Xavier Qoph.

The camera turns to face the rear door as it opens and a tall human man
strides in, a look of supreme confidence on his face.  He is about 50, with
greying blond hair cut in flattop.  His dress uniform is covered with medals
and pins earned over several decades of InterPol service.  He walks up the
aisle and then sits down, pointedly ignoring Commander Drake's presence.
Drake, on the other hand, appears to be all but staring at Marshall Qoph,
almost as if he is daring his nemesis to lie, or perhaps accusing him of
having done so already.

Sir Harold Burns:  Clerk, swear in the witness.

Clerk:  For the record, state your name and rank.

Qoph:  Xavier Qoph, Marshall, International Police, Seattle.

Clerk:  Repeat after me:  I, Marshall Xavier Qoph, do solemnly swear....

Qoph:  I, Marshall Xavier Qoph, do solemnly swear.

Clerk:  To speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth....

Qoph:  To speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Clerk:  So help me God.

Qoph:  So help me God.

Burns:  Very good.  Marshall Qoph, you are now under oath.  Conduct yourself
accordingly.

Qoph:  Of course, sir.

Burns:  Lt. Mizikar, you may question the witness.

Lt. Mizikar, Defense:  Thank you, sir.  Marshall Qoph, you are personally
responsible for bringing many of the charges against Commander Drake, is that
correct?

Qoph:  It is.

Defense:  Which of the four charges are yours?

Qoph:  The charges of dereliction of duty and disobeying a direct order of a
superior officer.  The other two charges were brought as a function of the
Commander's actions.

Defense:  Could you explain the chain of command between Special Branch and
the rest of InterPol for the panel, sir?

Qoph:  Special Branch is the only branch of InterPol which is semi-
autonomous.  What this means in terms of the chain of command is that the
commander is completely responsible for those agents under his command,
worldwide.  In turn, the commander is responsible only to the Council or
those individuals of higher rank that the Council sees fit to designate.

Defense:  So, normally, you would not have been considered Commander Drake's
superior officer.

Qoph:  In rank, I am his superior.  However, because of the Special Branch
charter, I am not his superior under normal operations.

Defense:  Then could you please explain how you became to be his direct
superior for this particular operation.

Qoph:  I approached the Council after I became aware of Section 96a and
voiced several concerns about Commander Drake and his ability to perform his
job correctly.  The Council decided that it's orders would be better carried
out if Commander Drake they had someone overseeing him.  As Mr. Lynch was in
Seattle and I am the Seattle InterPol commander, I was the natural choice.

Defense:  What concerns did you voice to the Council, sir?

Qoph:  I supplied them with transcripts of Commander Drake's communications
with Mr. Lynch.  These transcripts suggested that Commander Drake was too
personally involved with Mr. Lynch to objectively pursue and arrest him.  The
Council felt that this feeling was justified.  And Commander Drake's actions
have verified my concerns.

Defense:  Which of the Council members did you approach first, and why?

Qoph:  I approached Rep. Lang first because he is the UCAS representative to
the Council.  As Seattle is in the UCAS, it would have been inappropriate of
me to approach anyone else.

Defense:  And Rep. Lang approached the Council, correct?

Qoph:  To the best of my knowledge, he did.  However, as I am not privy to
the Council meetings, I have no personal knowledge of that.

Defense:  Do you have any personal difficulties with Commander Drake, sir?

Prosecution:  Objection, sir.  Irrelevant.

Burns:  Overruled.

Defense:  Sir?

Qoph:  Since the beginning of this case, our relationship has been strained.
Prior to this, however, we could have been called friends.

Defense:  But now, you say your friendship has been strained.  Where do you
stand regarding Commander Drake now, sir?

Qoph:  Our friendship is over, Lt.  It was over the first minute that
Commander Drake second-guessed my orders.

Defense:  I see.  And which orders were those?

Qoph:  The first time I ordered Mr. Lynch killed and Commander Drake refused
to order his agents to do so.

Defense:  The first time, sir?  I take it then that you ordered Mr. Lynch's
death more than once?

Qoph:  I ordered it twice.  The first time Commander Drake talked me into
altering the order.  The second time and thereafter he manipulated
circumstances to enable Mr. Lynch to remain alive and at large.

Defense:  And why did you issue that order the first time, sir?

Qoph:  Because I felt then that Mr. Lynch was going to kill, and kill without
conscience or remorse, which he did at the Five-Eyes motel and other
locations.

Defense:  If you felt that way, sir, then why did you capitulate to Commander
Drake when he asked you to reverse the order?

Qoph:  Because the Commander made an excellent argument that Mr. Lynch would
not do what I feared.  Tragically, I proved to be correct and several dozen
people now lie dead, directly or indirectly because of Mr. Lynch and
Commander Drake.

Defense:  When did you issue your second order, Marshall Qoph?

Qoph:  After the Five-Eyes Motel incident, when I was sure that I was right.

Defense:  Are you aware, sir, that the International Police Charter
specifically forbids the issuing of death warrants under any circumstances,
even after lives have been lost?  That the killing of a suspect can only be
justified when another person is in immediate danger?

Qoph:  Yes, I am.  I logged in with the order that I felt that Mr Lynch's
continued survival constituted placing all of Seattle in immediate danger.

Defense:  And you feel that was justification enough for your actions, sir?

Qoph:  I do.

Defense:  One last question, sir.  Why do you feel that Commander Drake
disobeyed your orders?

Qoph:  Because he is incapable of separating his work from his personal
attachments, and that he had become biased toward Mr. Lynch, a bias which
gave tacit approval of Mr. Lynch's actions and later enabled Commander Drake
to release a known criminal into freedom again.  And because Commander Drake
is unqualified to responsibly lead Special Branch.

Defense:  But not because your orders were, at best, bending the regulations,
if not breaking them?

Qoph:  No.

Defense:  No more questions, sir.

Burns:  There will be a short recess.

<pause>

Burns:  Marshall Qoph, you are still under oath.

Qoph:  Of course, sir.

Burns:  Lt. Burr, your witness.

Lt. Gerry Burr, Prosecution:  Are you currently aware of the charges that
Commander Drake has levied against you, sir?

Qoph:  I am.

Prosecution:  Would you be so kind as to inform the panel what those charges
are?

Qoph:  Of course.  Commander Drake has charged that I willfully went against
regulations regarding the issuing of a death warrant.  He has also charged
that I was responsible for the release of Jose Zicahuata, a criminal who was
possibly guilty of crimes against humanity on the Yucatan Peninsula.  He has
also charged that I have been corrupted and bought by the Aztechnology
corporation and/or the Aztlan government.  And finally, he has charged that
personal biases against him and Special Branch were part of why he is now up
on charges before this panel.

Prosecution:  And what do you think about these accusations?

Qoph:  Utterly preposterous.

Prosecution:  Why is that, sir?

Qoph:  Well, if I may, I'll take each charge in turn and explain.  First, I
have no special bias against Special Branch.  Yes, I am a member of
Enforcement, and the inter- branch rivalries are alive and well within me,
but Special Branch does perform its duties, for the most part arresting minor
shadowrunners and clumsy terrorists.  While I personally feel that Special
Branch's agents and materials would be better spent and better utilized if
Special Branch was still a sub-unit of Enforcement as it originally started,
this personal opinion has not hampered my relationship with Special Branch
agents and officers in any way.

Second, I have no bias against Commander Drake himself.  As I told Lt.
Mizikar, the Commander and I were once friends.  My reasons for no longer
calling him a friend are professional, not based on personal bias.

Third, I was not responsible for the release of Jose Zicahuata.  The facts of
the matter are that I ordered the late Mr. Zicahuata released because
Commander Drake and the rest of Special Branch could not provide me with
evidence which could be used to link him to the crimes which Commander Drake,
and Mr. Lynch, accused him of.

Fourth, I have already explained my rational for ordering Mr. Lynch
eliminated.  I feel that the deaths of Mr. Zicahuata, the innocent men and
women at the Five-Eyes Motel, as well as the InterPol officer will bear
witness to the dangerous nature of Mr. Lynch.

And last, the charge that I have been corrupted by Aztlan or Aztechnology.
How can I answer this one except to say that I have never taken money or
favors from members of the nation or the corporation.  I'm afraid that there
is nothing else that I can say regarding this.

+++++The camera had turned slowly to cover the faces of Commander Drake and
the panel members during Marshall Qoph's explanation.  Drake, his body an
face totally impassive, is revealing his inner rage only in his eyes, which
apparently have a cosmetic modification beyond the slit pupils.  In those
pupils has appeared the deep red of a nuclear explosion, a sure testament to
the Commander's mood.  And the panel is sitting there, listening to Qoph's
testimony with various expressions.  Rep. Lang still appears confident,
almost as if he fully believes that Commander Drake's fate is already sealed.
Miyamoto Okyoshu is outwardly calm, but some minor emotion of, perhaps,
worry is appearing in the lines around his face.  Sir Harold Burns has a thin
smile manifesting at one corner of his mouth, almost as if he finds something
quite humorous, and Chief Eric Skinwalker, normally as solid as if he were
carved of marble, has thin eyes and a slight frown on his face.+++++

Prosecution:  You are the individual personally responsible for two of the
charges against Commander Drake.  We have already covered his disobeying your
direct order.  I would like to turn now to the charge of dereliction of duty.
How was Commander Drake, in your estimation, derelict in his duty?

Qoph:  Commander Drake willfully ordered his officers to shoot to wound
incapacitate Mr. Lynch the first several times that his agents had Mr. Lynch
in their sights.  Commander Drake also willfully ordered his tracking drones
to stay back far enough from a marked vehicle containing Mr. Lynch to not be
sighted.  Yet the drones were sighted, and Lone Star records show that the
drone was not only close enough for the occupants of the vehicle to see it,
but it was "waggling" its wings in an effort to alert Mr. Lynch to his
pursuit.

Prosecution:  Excuse me, sir.  Honored panel members, this evidence has been
made available for you via your terminals.  I'm sorry, Marshall.  Please
continue.

Qoph:  Commander Drake also knew that Mr. Lynch would attempt to assassinate
Jose Zicahuata and intentionally did not take adequate precautions at the
exchange site, nor did he equip his agents for the expected level of
opposition should Mr. Lynch make his appearance.

Defense:  Objection!  How could Marshall Qoph possibly know that Commander
Drake's precautions were inadequate?

Prosecution:  Marshall Qoph has provided the panel with a list of additional
measures that he would have implemented which he says would have made it
impossible for Mr. Lynch to have successfully assassinated Mr. Zicahuata.

Defense:  Marshall Qoph has the advantage of 20/20 hindsight.  I have seen
the list of alterations, and they are all so far outside the realm of
reasonable that Commander Drake would have been drummed out of InterPol for
suggesting a single one of them, never mind the entire batch.  Commander
Drake's precautions were already considered overdone, even for someone as
skilled and well equipped as Mr. Lynch.

Prosecution:  Does Consul presume to be able to determine what would be
considered adequate precautions under these circumstances?

Defense:  No, she _knows_ what is considered adequate....

Burns:  Lieutenant Mizikar, Lieutenant Burr, compose yourselves!  Lt.
Mizikar, your objection is overruled, but I will allow you a _short_
statement as explanation for the outburst.

Defense(glaring at Lt. Burr):  I wish it to be known that Commander Drake's
precautions were well in excess of normal for such exchanges, and all for a
man he personally felt should not be released.  However, I will concede that
those precautions were still insufficient.

Burns:  Thank you, Lt. Mizikar.  Lt. Burr, you may continue.

Prosecution:  The Prosecution acknowledges the concession.

Burns:  Noted.  Continue with your questions, Lt.

Prosecution:  Yes, sir.  Marshall Qoph, are there other specific case of
dereliction of duty which you wish to bring before the panel?

Qoph:  No, those are the primary reasons.

Prosecution:  Thank you, sir.  Now, how does Commander Drake ordering his
agents to shoot to incapacitate Mr. Lynch constitute dereliction of duty?

Qoph:  Normally, it would not.  However, Commander Drake knew from his
conversations and Mr. Lynch's dossier that Mr. Lynch was a very tough
individual, and that knockout gel rounds to his head would not severely
damage him.  Knowing this, the Commander nevertheless ordered his agents to
use gel rounds to knock out Mr. Lynch, knowing that they would only daze him
and allow him a chance to escape.  Obviously, this particular circumstance,
and indeed all the dereliction charges I have filed, fall under aiding and
abetting as well.

Defense:  Objection.  Speculation.

Qoph:  There are no other possible conclusions which can be drawn from the
dossier which Commander Drake used to plan his arrest attempts, Lt. Mizikar.

Burns:  Marshall Qoph, next time allow the Prosecution to answer the
objection.  Objection overruled.

Prosecution:  Very well, sir.  Then how does the spotting of the drone
constitute as dereliction of duty?

Qoph:  As I have already mentioned, the drone was not only not out of sight,
but was actively attempting to gain the attention of Mr. Lynch and his party.
One of the pieces of evidence is a signed and witnessed deposition by the
drone pilot that Commander Drake had ordered him to enable Mr. Lynch to see
the drone in an attempt to provide a means of escape.  The deposition also
states that the pilot did not object because he felt that Mr. Lynch was
honorable and did not deserve to be extradited to Aztlan for trial.

Chief Skinwalker:  Excuse me, but why was this individual not made a witness?

Prosecution:  He was dismissed from his position immediately for conduct non
becoming of an InterPol agent.  I'm afraid that about a week after his
release, the Halloweeners, a Seattle gang, rampaged through the streets in
his neighborhood, raping and killing residents and looting homes.  He was
killed trying to save a woman's life.

Skinwalker:  I may be getting cynical in my old age, Lt. Burr, but doesn't
that strike you as terribly convenient?

Prosecution:  I wouldn't know, Chief Skinwalker.

Skinwalker:  Very well.  Continue.

Prosecution:  Are you done answering the question about the drone and pilot,
Marshall Qoph?

Qoph:  I am.

Prosecution:  And, without touching again on the precautions for the
Zicahuata exchange, could you explain how Commander Drake was derelict there
as well?

Qoph:  Of course.  The Commander simply refused to provide his agents with
the gear that would have allowed them to successfully arrest Mr. Lynch.
Commander Drake fully expected that Mr. Lynch would be capable of jamming the
ultrasonic sights, as Mr. Lynch had been surprised by them previously, and
should have provided his officers with the means to cut through the jamming
in some way.  Microwave imaging systems, of which Special Branch has several,
would have provided a method to cut through the ultrasonic jamming and still
take down Mr. Lynch.  However, Commander Drake did not issue them to his
sniper unit.  But more importantly, Commander Drake did not immediately warn
his agents when he saw Mr. Lynch, but hesitated just long enough for Mr.
Lynch or his associates to activate the jamming and pop thermal smoke
grenades, which was sufficient to cover Mr. Lynch's escape.

Prosecution:  It sounds almost as if you are accusing Commander Drake of
collusion with Mr. Lynch.

Qoph:  As much as think that might be possible, I'm afraid that the evidence
that I know of which points in that direction is all circumstantial at best.
The evidence that Commander Drake aided Mr. Lynch and was derelict in his
duty, however, is solid.

Prosecution:  On the final charge, that of being responsible for the death of
the InterPol agent, why do you feel that Commander Drake is responsible?

Qoph:  For two reasons.  First, simply because any superior officer is always
held accountable for the actions of those under his, or her, command.
Similarly, a superior officer is held accountable for the injury or death of
any individual under his or her command.  But more importantly, and more
damning, is the fact that, had Commander Drake not been derelict and aiding
Mr. Lynch to remain at large, that officer would still be alive today.
Commander Drake is as responsible for the death as if he had pulled the
trigger himself.

Prosecution:  No further questions.

Burns:  Before I dismiss you, Marshall, do you have any further comments to
add?

Qoph:  I feel that Commander Drake allowed his personal sensibilities to
cloud his judgement in this case.  For that reason, I feel that the Commander
should be removed from his position as head of Special Branch, and that you,
the panel, should find him guilty of the charges before you.  However, I also
feel that a trial, while serving the law, would not serve justice.  While
Commander Drake must be removed from his position, that alone will be
punishment enough for such a man as he.

Burns:  Thank you for your opinion, Marshall.  You are dismissed....

+++++ End Trideo Record +++++

Now, wasn't that just _special_?]<<<<<
	--  Trideo Pirate <>

*****Private:Group
>>>>>[The way I read it, wolfers, is that we aren't working for him, we
are simply remaining available in case he needs an asset such as us. The
reason he'd be making training and other help available is so that when the
time comes, we are sufficiently capable to help him. We won't have any real
obligations, except that he may know a little about us.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <23:43:32/10-8-57>

PLAYTHING OF A CRUEL GOD
JAIMIE NICHOLSON

*****PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[I'm not sure what formula of shapechange you're using, but mine allows
all sorts of animals.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <18:22:03/10-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Magical Group, Blackthorne, Easy, T'Shon, Blademaster,
Shockwave, WhiteTyger, Blackhawk
>>>>>[What do we know about a guy named Kor? He seems to know more than
he should about that Gibraltar thing.]<<<<<
	-- Ice  <18:24:34/10-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Blademaster
>>>>>[I see what you mean about problems... this place should be okay
while you're there, but it's deeper Puyallup so watch your ass going in
and (especially) out. See you there.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <00:07:31/09-10-57>

>>>>>[Thanks, Trideo Pirate, I was looking forward to this one.

So my continued survival placed all of Seattle in danger? Sheesh. I'm
meant to be able to exterminate nearly four million people and level a
city all on my lonesome? What am I, Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra all
rolled into one? Qoph needs a dose of perspective, at the very least.

And the Five Eyes... I pulled the autopsy reports and read them. One guy
died of burns and smoke inhalation in his room: tore the flesh off his
fingertips clawing at the window, trying to open it. So he was a Leopard
Guard, present illegally, that's a shitty way to die and I wish he'd
gone easier. 

But I know what I did, I have the nightmares to prove it. And I would do
it again. But I would much rather find a way to make it unnecessary.

I have a conscience and I feel remorse, because I killed a lot of people
that day. And I killed them. If Aztlan hadn't ordered their killers into
my country, those men would still be alive. Aztlan and I carry the
responsibility: if Drake had stopped me, the next step would have been a
Marine battalion led in by SEAL Team Seven and with air support, and a
lot more people would be dead. 

Think we're joking? We're not.

Oh, and another minor point: gel rounds to the head put me out cold. If
I hadn't had backup, I'd have been caught. Monty trained his snipers
well. 

If Drake had somehow been colluding with me to help me escape, he hid it
well. As I said at the hearing: that was only the second time, in... too
many years, I've ever been captured, and Drake didn't have the help
Mitsuhama did.]<<<<<
	-- Lynch <00:40:41/10-08-57>

*****PRIVATE: Magical Group, Blackthorne, Ice, T'Shon, Blademaster,
Shockwave, WhiteTyger, Blackhawk
>>>>>[Kor is a very good friend of mine and can be trusted. He has
connections in a number of places, only a few of which I know about. He
may have heard from corporate sources, for instance.

If you have a problem, Ice, let me know and I will pass your concerns on
to him. Please don't do anything rash: I have too few friends to allow
harm to come to them, and I hope you might join that category: but if
you attempt action against Kor, you will find me opposing you. I would
regret that for many reasons.]<<<<<
	-- Easy <00:52:17/10-08-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[You and I need to have a long discussion.  Some of my superiors would
very much like to know how you pulled off your little charade.  Aleks has
stirred up quite a bit of trouble for me due to your little misguided 
operation.

+++++ Trace Detected
+++++ "I got it  -- dead"
+++++ Trace Detected
+++++ "Stopped"

As I am unable to...extract myself from my current assignment, I will have
to bring you to me.  3 of my operatives will assist you in finding your
way to my current location.  Please do not make this harder than need be.]<<<<<
	-- T'Shon Twinbough <00:58:33 / 10-09-57> 

***** PRIVATE: Ice, Easy
>>>>>[He is a meddelsome mage of no small aptitude.  I suspect that he 
was the one who went by the code-name of T'shon.  Elven lad, about my
height and weight, not nearly as charming.  

+++++ Trace Detected
+++++ Routing Establi
+++++ "<translated from sprethial -- DAMNIT!>"
+++++ Tra
+++++ "Hurry up!"

Young one, are you taking good care of yourself out in the world of 
savage monkey's?]<<<<<
	-- T'Shon Twinbough <00:59:32 / 10-09-57>

***** PRIVATE: T'Shon
>>>>>[As ordered, I stopped all but the traces from command, Sir.  One got
very close, likely has a general location for your last transmission.  This
node is far too insecure to use for comminication, shifting to land.]<<<<<
	-- <01:00:02 / 10-09-57>

***** PRIVATE: Gemini
>>>>>[Stand down.  We've taken posession of Karma and alerted LSS, KE, and
the ghost operatives to your plan.  No names, just times and places.  I'd
suggest you not continue with this course of action.

Karma asks me to tell you that he is fine and sorry for having drug you
into this, his payment to you for your services has been transfered to
your account.

If you needed the money, you could have asked, man. You know me better than
that.  I'd rather you keep up with your Dojo than to have you getting yourself
arrested and thrown in jail...I might actually feel obligated to get 
you out.]<<<<<
	-- Kor <23:24:30 / 10-09-57> 

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[A couple of friends and I are going out for a beer tonight, care to
come along?  We'll be at O'malley's down on 2nd.  From the way they talk,
we will be closing the place down and looking for somewhere else to go]<<<<<
	-- Kor <23:29:14 / 10-09-57>

*****Private:Group
>>>>>[O.K. sounds good. I'll go along with that.]<<<<<
	-- Wolfen  <08:49:30/10-9-57>

>>>>>[ Here are a few news items that everyone in the shadow community
should make note of:

[SEATTLE] Lone Star investigators continue to be baffled by the ongoing
wave of kidnappings in the Tacoma area. All the victims are are children
between the ages of 7 and 12, and of human or elven genotype. There seem
to be no other corellations involving econimc means, employment of 
parents, or in appearance. No ransom demands in any of these 12 cases
have been made.

DE's note: What the cops haven't picked up on is the fact that all the
victims live within 2 kilometers of one of the three Aztechnology
facilities in Tacoma. More importantly, Each of the children involved
has at least one magically active relative.

[CHICAGO] An entire platoon of soldiers guarding the southern border
of the Chicago containment zone were slaughtered in their barracks last
night by forces unknown. Forensic experts have stated that the manner of
death is consistant with an insect spirit attack. General Marcus Haig,
commander of thesouthern portion of the containment action has assured
the Chicago city government that this incident does not indicate a
major breakout, and is likely the work of a small group of insect 
spirits that have managed to find a previously unknown exit from the
containment zone, most likely a long-forgotten branch of the sewer 
system. Military analysts are currently searching through records and
plans dating back to the turn of the century in an effort to locate
the possible gap in defenses.

DE's note: It's doubtful that something broke out. The attack is more
likely consistant with something trying to break IN. I'm also willing
to bet that it wasn't done by bugs, and that the military knows this
and is covering the fact up. 

[New York] The New York Stock Exchange closed at an all time low today.
Investor confidence appears to be low. Several smaller brokerage houses
are rapidly approaching bankruptcy and have turned to their larger
brothers and sisters for help. The larger brokerage houses, while
suffering a loss at today's trading have only suffered a minor hit,
though their future may be in jeapordy if they are forced to continue
to issue "bail-out" loans to smaller firms. Merill-Lynch-Yamato, and
Shearson-Leahman-Sato have granted the largest loans, betting their
continued profits on the market's ability to bounce back.

DE's note: Interestingly enough, none of the top tier megas had any
problems, all of them either closed higher than they started, or broke
even on NYSE, with the biggest gains going to Aztechnology and the Draco
Foundation. The Draco Foundation can be expected to soar over the next
year or so no matter what happens to the rest of the market, they just
have too much in the way of resources from the Big D's estate for 
any big market crash to be anything more than an annoyance.
Aztechnology, interestingly enough, did better on NYSE than on NASDAQ
and AMEX combined.

OK, so what do a wave of kidnappings, a possible bug breakout, and the
NYSE taking a large fall while the other stock markets in the UCAS
go on business as usual all have in common? The Azzies look like they
may have had something to do with two of these. However, the deal with
the stock market is nothing too unusual for the megas, and the 
kidnapping is just as likely a move to discredit the Azzies as it is an
Azzie plot.

If it's so coincidental, then how come I can't shake the feeling that
something VERY bad is going on behind the scenes...]<<<<<
	-- Dark Elf <**:**:**/**-**-**>



***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security - Overwatch
>>>>>[ I concur .. T'shon is most likely not dead according to what's being
said on the street.  I've got an idea though.  I want to do a ritual sending
with Jason's sample and see if I can locate him.  Does anyone object? ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn <11:11:37/10-10-57>

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security - Overwatch
>>>>>[ No objections, but I want you to have Castor and Pollux with you in
case something chases you back down your sending.  I'm going to try and do
some digging in the Tir systems.  Up for a quick jaunt, Skuff? ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <11:15:29/10-10-57>

>>>>>[Just who is this friend, names or aliases would help a bit.]<<<<<
        --  Wolfen  <23:48:43/10-10-57>

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[Damned straight, bubba!  Should we bring priest along or do you
want to leave him behind as well?]<<<<<
        -- Skuff <16:49:27 / 10-10-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor, Karma, Khan, Gemini, Trax
>>>>>[I dont know what you guys did, and I dont care.  Thank you.

+++++ Begin Footage

This is a scene from one of many security cameras mounted in various locations
around a moderately sized night club and bar.  Workers are busily tidying up
and rearranging tables back to their original positions from the previous
night's festivites.  Behind the bar stands a its tender, a troll of no small
stature.  He delicately cleans and polishes the glasses and goes about his
work with an almost calm serenity.

The image changes again, to the outside of the bar.  Paper swirls around
caught in the eddies of the wind.  A patron, or just some poor homeless person
lays huddled against the side of the building.

Again the image changes rapidly through a number of variously sized rooms
obviously set up for clandestine meetings.

+++++ End Footage

As you will note, there are no more fraggin' Nazi Tir pukes sitting around
my bar.  Sometime during the night they just all stood up
and walked away.  Good job, as always.

Dont let anything like this happen again!]<<<<<
        -- Navaah <17:27:34 / 10-10-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Dark Avenger
>>>>>[There, that should do it...  Ok, got the trace eliminated, I hope...
Had bugs in the deck, literally.  We need help, man, bad...  Penth got
fragged, Marie's down and needs help, and Johnny's real messed up.  Kept
muttering about a bug the size of a house, but I couldn't see nuthin'.  If
you can help, we're at >>encrypted<< and have cash...  Appreciate the help.
And watch out for the wasps...  Seems some got out same time we did.]<<<<<
        -Bull (13:58:23/10-10-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Inferno
>>>>>[Thanks for the help, man...  Bugs got to the deck...  Trace should be
nullified now.  Didn't know they cold do that.  Fraggers had a bugged out
decker workin' for emm...]<<<<<
        -Bull (14:02:30/10-10-57)

>>>>>[OK, got in touch with a buddy who sorta does "odd jobs" for the
SEC, mostly investigating insider trading allegations (meaning he's
never out of work the way the megas have been going lately).

Seems the board of the NYSE has been keeping a tight wraps on the
behind the scenes of this week's trading. Today, again, while NASDAQ,
AMEXX, and just about all the foreign markets continue to perform as
usual, NYSE on average continued to drop through the floor, though
not nearly as fast as last time- looks like it'll level off just above
the low Dow limit (at which point the market will shut down rather than
continue to self-destruct) by friday.

Anyway, the inside scoop at NYSE, the thing they want to keep real
quiet, is that they have been targeted by some sort of sabotage-
either a group of individual companies as yet unidentified are
coordinating their trading to send the market into a downward spiral
(which I find hard to believe can be pulled off without causing similar
ripples in NASDAQ and AMEX as well as several forign markets) or
someone has done an ace job of slicing some code on their network.

If someone's hacking into NYSE, they're either better than anyone I've
ever seen, or it's an inside job. Considering NYSE's matrix security
is on the same order as that of Zurich Orbital (in fact some of the
same freelancers do security coding for both), it's most likely an
inside job.

The how isn't important. Who's doing it is. Why they're doing it is
the most critical concern by far.

Also, there was another kidnapping in Tavoma, this time two Lone Star
officers are dead. They must have stumbled onto the perps and bit off
more than they could chew. Interestingly enough, note that the news
feeds refer to the cause of death as by an "assault," and never mention
anything about gunshot wounds. They still haven't elaborated.

There were no more incidents over at Bug City, however, I've heard
rumors that the active bugs in the CZ seem more agitated than usual,
whatever the hell that means.]<<<<<
        -Dark Elf <**:**:**/**-**-**>

*****PRIVATE: Jarman
>>>>>[I'm in for good.  Send me all the info.  Cya.]<<<<<
        -- Forte <15:34:33/10-10-57>

*****PRIVATE: Matrix Jockey
>>>>>[you didn't know I was in the info business 'cause we don't know each
other. If you wish to work with me thats fine, finding a SINless person
in the matrix could be hard.  but you might not like footwork.  Contact me
later.]<<<<<
        -- Forte <15:37:21/10-10-57>

>>>>>[Difficulties certainly exist that preclude the simple execution of
a Matrix assault upon such systems as Zurich-Orbital.  However, finessing
oneself into such systems can be accomplished by those with sufficient
dedication and tenacity.  Similarly, the NYSE system may be accessed, and
all without interior connections.

There are those alive whom have accomplished such feats of skill.]<<<<<
        --  Mercury <14:08:37/10-10-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rosha, Evita
>>>>>[It's pretty sweet all ready, if you think about it. Aparently it's
talking legal simsense, not BTL, copies of what'll probablty be a major
hit, you know how art appreciates after the death of the artist. All those
previously unreleased recordings of assorted OD'd artists over the years,
even as far back as the ninteenth century. All it would take is getting the
chips to any branch of Truman Technology, who own the rights to the
production, and the salvage payment would be staggering.

And as for what it did to me, well now it's doing the same thing to some
poor trog named Thirstein, and I would like to put an end to that.]<<<<<
        --  Ronin  <15:54:24/10-10-57>

*****PRIVATE: Forte
>>>>>[Excellent.

Your target is a female Elf, between seventeen and twenty years old. She
suffers from a severe form of albinism and is unable to tolerate
sunlight: this also affects her appearance, as she is - apart from her
eyes, which we believe are now cybernetic - almost devoid of any
pigmentation.

The last confirmed sighting was at a club called the Sexy Shidhe, three
months ago, where she was one of their "exotic dancers" under the name
Ice Maiden.

+++++include picture: Elf_girl_dancer.jpg

A word of warning. Do _not_ approach the subject. My clients wish to
speak with her concerning several killings and a number of cases of
dealing in body organs: basically they believe she has murdered people
and sold them as spare parts. They inform me she is both ruthless and
dangerous.

Our data on her begins in Fort Worth, though she may originate
elsewhere. She has no SIN, hence no registered name, and probably
operates under a number of aliases.

I look forward to hearing of your success.]<<<<<
        -- Jarman <22:25:41/10-10-57>

*****Private: Bull, Dark Avenger
+++++Begin Encryption sequence.
>>>>>[Glad to help. Where abouts are you? I might be able to help.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <23:58:06 GMT/10.OCT.57>

>>>>>Greetings Inferno, long time no see.  Still giving the orders I
see.  Whassamatter, can't forget the stripes huh?  Mind you Bull, he's
got a point, if you don't drop the sig, some drekkers gonna come and
jump up and down on your butt. This would not be a good thing.  Now,
about that extraction, can you make it to a clear location.  And when do
you want out.  Assuming you do want to get out.<<<<<<
        - Avenger (13:14:10/10-10-57)

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[I wouldnt do that if I were you.

Kor is fine, as it his woman friend.  I had a need to debrief him on his
contact with a collegue of mine, Aleks, which he had chance to meet while
on a run.  I am sorry for the inconvience of having your mage wisked away
from you on such short notice but I didnt have time to dally.  Please
accept my apologies.

He's asked me to relay a message to a Black Knight or a Doomsday that he is
ok as well.  I cannot directly send mail to these two as my connect time to
this node needs to

++++++ Trace Defeated

be kept a a minimum.  If you would be so kind as to make sure that the
above

++++++ Trace Stopped

people recieve that message, it would be greatly appreciated.

++++++ Trace has aquired target
++++++ Trace returning

++++++ Transmission interruption  --  SIR:  That one got through.  We've been
made.  I dont know where it came from, it was piggy backed on the last
trace from Neuron Basher and his team.  I couldnt stop it.  Log out NOW, we
need to be gone from here! +++++ Persona Dumped +++++]<<<<<
        -- T'Shon <02:38:25 / 10-11-57>

*****PRIVATE: BULL
>>>>>>[Can you and your people make it to >>encrypted<<?  Can have two
Yellowjackets in for support if needed, on small transport for carry
out.  Say, near dark.  Will wait offshore for signal. Leave Penth, can't
help corpses. How bad rest of team, medical extraction can be authorised
by UCAS forces, can get in easier if I know better what the hurt is.
Also makes it easier for medic to prepare.  Yellowjackets will deal with
wasps, money not needed, glad to help another chummer, talk payback
later.  Bring evidence.  No one out here knows what's going on, we need
to expose this.  Anything you can get.  If extraction is unavailable
will drop supplies at >>encrypted<< at time >>encrypted<<.  Will drop
medical and ammo.  Do you need clothing or other supplies?  Will supply
whatever required.  All insurgency operations expedited at utmost
priority.  Hang on chummer, we're coming.<<<<<<
         - Dark Avenger (14:01:13/10-10-57)

******PRIVATE:  Inferno
>>>>>>[Inferno, if we run this, I might need to apologise for that
incident down south, and request you run interference on this one.  If
the sit inside is as bad as appears, two jackets won't be enough.  Can
you still provide cover. And how much d'ya want?<<<<<<
         - Dark Avenger (14:05:22/10-10-57)

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security - Overwatch
>>>>>[ Lookie what I just got:

+++++ include: t'shon.message

Are you guys ready to move? ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <13:20:36/10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: T'Shon
>>>>>[ Apology noted.  Now return him.  I don't like playing games, especially
when my friends are involved.  ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <13:21:36/10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Doomsday, Black Knight
>>>>>[

+++++ include: t'shon.message

I don't believe the fragger, though.  I'm planning an op to go get Kor out.
I'd appreciate it if you'd coordinate anything of the same sort with me so
that we don't get in each other's way. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <13:25:49/10-11-57>

*****PRIVATE: The Saracen
+++++loadencrypt: fractalay.enc ... running ...
>>>>>[Sorry about the blow up earlier. We lost Marduk. You'll come to
understand why. Your body was more monster than you let on. Dropped both Ogun
and Chang Ti -- one on one.  Fragger is done, though. Believe me, there
are no doubts about this one.  NO one survived except us.  Anyway, I've
spliced together my surveillance footage from inside, complete with
comm_traffic from the on-base forces.  And they were waiting for us. If
your distraction hadn't been there, we probably wouldn't have gotten the
job done.  I've also recorded post-op commentary from the rest of the
team and placed it appropriately.  Here goes ...

++++begin miss1022.cmp ....

A window opens in the middle of the screen showing a barbed wire fence about
200 yards directly in front of the camera.  Focusing in on a sign attached
about halfway up the 20' fence, you can read, "MILITARY FACILITY: NO
TRESPASSING."  There is a picture of a piasma's face underneath the words.

The angle then zooms back away from the fence and pans to the left and right.
There are 35' tall guard towers to the extreme left and right, each has two
guards armed with rifles looking  vigilant standing in them. In the upper
left corner of the window, the date/time index reads "09-26-57 ::
19.53.16 ... 19.53.17 ... 19.53.18 ..."

A voice breaks in, "Operative four, matrix and physical penetrations are
complete.  Autodef shutdown in 90 seconds.  Awaiting prelim strike from
East.  All standards ops are running."

The image shifts in the window momentarily as the word "ultrasound"
flashes in faint blue across the bottom.  Four large, doglike outlines
appear on the screen wandering back and forth along the fence.

"Barghests located. Dispatching ..."

Responding to the voice, the four figures dash away from the fence in
three different directions.  However, there is an immediate response from
a three member group, running onto the screen from the right, with large
guns in their possession.

"Oh HO! The boys and girls actually have a pulse. Note: Distraction is
late, minus forty - ... check that"

The soldiers at the gate open fire through the fence into the periphery of
the forest.  Because it is night, only the muzzle flares provide lighting
in the first moment.  However, seconds after the gunfire, the spotlights
at the two towers, spring to life.  Similarly, the "ultrasound" message fades
from the camera window and is replaced by a flashing red "infared" ...
at the forest border, the spotlight reflect off of ... something for an
instant before ...

"Oh that's not fair! No ganging up on our poor boy!"

And the spotlights fade.

A different voice, fighting a great deal of static interference, "Sir! Our
systems have been seized and we're locked out!  Furthermore, our spotlights
are down and ....  skkkreeeee .... BOOOM!"

Twin shrieks drown out the voice as two streaks of light and smoke trail at
the towers on either side of the screen.  The streaks enter the tower's
canopies and utterly destroy them in huge explosions.  The initial three
guards at the fence have now been joined by ten compatriots ... eight of whom
are firing assault weapons of various types into the woods, deforesting a
significant area.

The original voice chimes, "So let's see him already!"

But, as the soldiers cease wasting their ammunition against an opponent
they have not yet seen, an eerie silence creeps over the scene.

The clock reads, "19.56.11" when one of the figures in the back of the
defending pack screams as a blue-green flash of magical energy lashes out
from his outstretched arms at a shadow that had somehow remained unnoticed
in the camera's eye.

The figure seems to absorb the bolt and move to its left on the opposite
side of the fence from the soldiers.  It is a blur that the camera is
having a problems catching up with.

In nearly a heartbeat, the fence has exploded at its base and the figure is
through the resulting hole.  It is wearing black cloak, and seemingly,
reflective armor of some kind.  But it moves to quickly to be sure.

The soldiers are firing once again, but because the interloper is so
quick and they are surrounding it, they drop several of their comrades
just trying to hit it.

And as this creature moves in one directions, the opposing flank of soldiers
steps right into an explosion.

The screen freezes unnaturally at this point.

"This is Ogun. After Apollo showed me this bit, it's my opinion that the
thing that made the penetration was receiving mid-range coverage from an
assault cannon of some sort, using explosive rounds.  Furthermore, the
explosion at the fence appears to have been caused by an explosive shell.
Shape of the crater, burn marks on the remains of the fence. All point
in that direction."

The screen resumes motion.

The cloaked figure is moving through the stacked lines of the bases defenses.

"Apollo here." This is the same voice that was speaking at the beginning
of the message. "Slowing the images down reveals that this thing isn't
wearing armor.  It's moving too quickly and flexibly. However, it takes
literally hundreds of medium munitions rounds before finally being forced
to withdraw by heavy, mounted machinegun fire.  It cut down nearly two dozen
of the base's infantry forces, and half of the on-site mages were too
freaked out by it to do anything except get gutted.  Furthermore, the two
earth spirits they managed to summon might as well have stayed home because
he carved one into a sod farm and nearly ripped the other in half.  Where did
you find this guy so I can be sure to never visit there!?"

"Ogun speaking. Don't let toy-decker-boy here lick your new recruits private
parts too much. It's obvious to me that you've just found a local talent
to match the international squad you compiled.  I'm wrong, right?"

"Apollo. Clipped the remainder of the cloak's performance.  You know, enough
of the undercards... time for the main event ..."

The window fades to black after the comments, the cloaked figure had just
revealed two cyberspurs in each arm and was moving towards a large earth
elemental.

Apollo's voice intones again, but it is more like the first time he spoke.

"Operative four. Distraction was extremely effective. Forces reduced by a
third due to losses and pursuing weakness.  ... Strike team arrival in
180 seconds...  Sending the autodef's after the on-base forces.  Sealing
target in SB-Delta.  Matrix defense active ... all codes rejected ...
Rock and roll never dies!"

The screen fades in again, but this time, you are viewing the main
entrance to the facility.  The clock reads "20:08:34" as a GMC Banshee
smashes through the gatehouse under rifle fire from the guards formerly
therein.

"Chang Ti speaking. Marduk was screaming about how he could always make an
entrance.  When he spoke the words, I felt the bad karma.  I wish he could
have made the exit."

There are five autocannons firing at will on the Banshee ... two on each
side and one on the roof.  Any infantry that weren't wiped out by the cloaked
figure are wishing they had been.  Shortly behind the Banshee comes a
Yellowjacket copter ...  it fires two missiles from an undermounted
launcher, leveling the building that the camera is mounted on.

"Chang Ti. I apologize for that destruction. I didn't realize Apollo was
using that particular camera.  I was shot down shortly thereafter. Karmic
retribution."

Sure enough as the window reopens, you immediately notice that it is an
interior camera in use. Through a large hole the wall to the left of the
screen, you can see the burning remains of the Yellowjacket in the background
while the smoking front of the Banshee is nosedown in the rubble remains
of the wall as the base of the screen.

"Mordred here. The Trojan Horse part of the plan was predestined. As
anticipated, in the wake of their losses, they dropped back to the
command center to regroup.  This information was relayed to the
second strike team who opened the facility to find that I had removed all
magical resistance.  Imagine the look of surprise on the mundane's faces
as their magical "support" disappeared when I dropped the illusion."

"Ogun. Taking them out after that was easy. Their hearts broke."

"Apollo. You know I saved the photo!"

A still image of four men and three women fills the screen.  They are looking
in all different directions with their weapons down.  Two actually are
slack-jawed.  It might actually be funny, if this wasn't the last photo ever
taken of them.

"Ogun.  By 20:30, we had made our way down to SB Delta.  Apollo had radioed
that he had sealed the target in with a single decker. From the profile,
we figured the target would probably kill the decker out of sheer
frustration.  However, we still hadn't located 9 members of the elite
defense."

"Mordred.  That didn't last. They didn't count on my being behind the lines
so it was pretty much easy pickins.  But you can see for yourself."

The camera angle shows four individuals standing in an elevator.  The
camera is behind them, so you can't see their faces,  but they're all
wearing night camouflage heavy security armor.  As the digital display
directly across from the camera shows "SB <triangle>", the elevator humms
to a stop.  Darkness emanates from the individual to the bottom right of
the screen until it fills the elevator.  Near silently, but just loud enough
to be heard, the doors slide open.

Muzzle flashes from outside the elevator unnaturally do not create a
strobe effect in the elevator.  The normal flashes cease at the elevator
door.

"Chang Ti. Marduk covered us with night substance. Then, once we got out
the battle was joined."

As the picture resumes, the  muzzle flashes slow, then cease.  And
immediately the darkness expands outside of the elevator ... brilliant
light explodes from outside the elevator, attempting to hold the darkness
at bay.

The light illuminates three heavily armed, heavily cybered individuals with
their backs against a triple, metallic, double-maglocked door.  Within three
seconds, all three disappear from the camera's eye, but it was already
too late.

A shadowblur blitzed across the screen the instant the light went up.  As
the cybersoldiers faded into invisibility, two of their respective heads
tumbled to the floor and the third was struggling in vain to keep his
intestines from falling to the floor before he did.

"KEEEE YAAAA  HEY!"

Two figures materialize -- one in the elevator, which the darkness has
now fully vacated -- and one a meter in front of where the cybersoldiers
fell.

Again, the image freezes.

"Apollo. Mordred--Did you ever figure out how you missed those two?"

"Mordred. Some sort of astral invisibility lock as far as I could tell.
I may have missed them.  But the 'Duk didn't.  Saved my a_s.  Oh yeah,
I had the two covering mages to take out, remember?"

"Apollo. <chuckles> So you admit you were outclassed?"

silence ...

the picture moves again ...

To the upper left of the screen, a shadow figure rises from the mass of
darkness on the floor ... it is hissing and it's tentacles are wrapped around
something ...

A body!  An Amerind female ... middleaged and apparently getting older by
the instant ...  she's now screaming and her arms are thrashing ... or
rather her hands and feet are thrashing as the rest of  her is held immobile.

One of the two figures that materialized ... a muscular Asian male elf, about
six foot and change leaps at her assailant.  He looks like a legendary hero
as he flies at the shadowcreature in his tattered and torn fatigues ...
when in mid-flight, his body bursts into flames, and his charred remains
slam backwards against the metal doors opposite the camera.

The shadowcreature never turned its attention from the woman, whose
skeleton is all that remains, and rapidly that is covered by the black
form ... and then it recedes back to the mass, leaving only ashes to fall
to the floor.

<rumble>

<rumble><rumble><rumble>

"KRA-BOOOOOOOM!"

A dent about two feet in diameter swells out towards the camera from the
opposite side of the metal triple door.

"KRA-BOOOOOOOOM!"

Another appears to the upper right of the first!

Frozen picture.

"Apollo.  At this point, the base was cleared.  With only cuts and
scrapes to the penetrating team.  However, the target was restless."

Picture resumes ...

The mass of darkness vanishes, revealing the four individuals in black
secarmor standing among the remains of eight individuals.

"Alright, ... Op 4?  Time for us to Go Barca. Let 'im loose."

"Op 1.  Uhm ... I can't."

"Op 4, say again? You didn't say 'can't' ?"

"Op 1. Affirmative. Strictly temp. ... Gather yourself for El Toro."

"KRA_BOOOOOOOOOM!"

"Tell 'im to gather himself."

Suddenly, the image goes down.  Only the intermittent rumbling and crashing
of the door is heard.

"Uhm.  Op 4 ... we're all a bit concerned down here.  Lights, please?"

"Op 1.  Doors and lights.  Coming, sir!"

The lights pick back up ... the door looks like it's a jigsaw puzzle
barely holding together.

"Chang Ti. From this moment on ... nothing would be the same."

"Op 4.  We're going in.  This guy's in too much pain. We're putting him out."

Responding to the statement, the camera view is abruptly cut off as a
thick metal wall slams to the floor where the elevator doors slid open.
And a computerized voice intones ...

"Auto destruct sequence authorized ... in T-15 minutes  ... mark ...
counting ..."

"Apollo speaking. At this point, both comm's and surveillance were all
off line ... The signal couldn't get out, and the camera's were
destroyed. Mordred can probably tell you the most."

"Ogun. Yeah Mordred might tell you the most, but he'll distort it to
favor himself.

We had the lights on, and we could hear the countdown ... Target had stopped
pounding on the doors ... I know now he was waiting for us ...  Chang and I
leaned into the remains of the door with a running start.  It fell easy
enough.

On the other side, we saw the body of a skinny darkhaired human ... probably
the decker that the target had sealed in with him.  The doors opened into
a 35' wide corridor with dimly flickering lights in the ceiling ...  he was
at the end of the corridor, squatted down ... at that distance, he looked
a lot like a big, furry boulder ...

Seeing what he did to the door, not me, not Chang, not nobody wanted to fool
around with him.  Me and Chang cut loose -- my LMG and his Minigun.  We
smoked up til he was just a blur in the fog ...  We started to let the smoke
clear and dust settle ...

BIG mistake ... He unloads two of the weirdest biggest guns I've ever
seen (and YOU know I've seen plenty!) on me and Chang.  Now I'm wearing
armor ... and have as much titanium in my chest as you can get ... and it
took me two weeks to piece my sternum back together from his cannon ...
Chang took a shot in the leg, but didn't seem to feel it.   He just ..."

"Chang Ti speaking.  Let me tell my story, Ogun.  I felt the pain, but I knew
 that if both Ogun and I fell, all of us would die ... so I stood and charged
the beast.  Wilkerson was easily a foot taller than me.  And he seemed
crowded even in that enormous corridor.  He charged forward ... I know now
 why he was called  "Stampede."  We collided and I was thrown backwards
severely ... I nearly lost consciousness from his blow, yet so quick was
he ... that he caught my foot before I had even hit the ground, and that
is my last memory of that night."

"Mordred here.  Well, I saw what was happening Chang.  Holding you by your
foot, he slung your body head first back and forth against both walls.
Then slammed you down on top of Ogun to make sure you both stayed down.

The files  on him were correct cause I cast the Allergy on him and his skin
immediately blistered and popped.  He screamed, "At me ... we're all
going down together, mage!  I don't care how I feel!  You're dead!!"

Marduk stepped forward and touched my shoulder.  I felt his mind touch mine.
He said, "Take Ogun and Chang Ti.  I will stop this monster."

Now you know me.  I never leave a fight, but I think Marduk knew that he
had to die if we had to live.  I felt him WILL me to his plan.

I turned and saw flames spread over all of his body and he walked calmly
up to this frothing, bleeding minotaur.  The beast smashed a backhanded fist
across Marduk's face, but he just took the blow!  Before he turned back to
Wilkerson, he stomped his foot on the ground and a compression wave swept
all three of us up and out of the corridor back to the sealed elevator door.

I cast a manabubble to carry us up to the ground level, and smashed
through the sealed wall with a Ram spell that made my ears bleed.  As I
carried us up the shaft, I heard Marduk scream.

I don't know what could have made him make that sound, but I hope I never
ever find out."

"Ogun.  Yeah, I heard that too.  The sound of victory and defeat, life
and death all crashing together and consuming each other ... frightening."

"Mordred.  But I felt this thoughts with me, and I felt his final
casting.

Ogun realized we were out, and gathered his sense enough to mumble the
distress code to Apollo.  'Pollo had figured out something was wrong, so
he was already at the rendezvous with the van.

But that's not the important part.  We had gotten about 200 meters off
the grounds, when I felt him sling it for the last time.  Even though
Wilk was crushing the life outta him... Even though he was all alone ...
he  ... well ... you wouldda had to see it.

It was, like, the closer he got to dead, the more mojo juiced outta him.

He cast his earthquake shot.  Normally, anybody's tell you ... he might
throw a bus ... topple a house ... nothing too big.  This time--by the
time we got 400 meters away, there was nothing left of the base ... I mean
nothing!  Earth just opened up and swallowed the place ...  and about
two minutes later,  EVERYTHING went nuts.

All the ground that the base was on ... just exploded ...  And I felt him
vanish ...  and it was raining ... but not water ... soil and rock ...
and metal and blood and flesh ...    But he still kept pushing me ... get
Ogun and Chang away."

"Chang Ti.  And it is good that you did.  Death was mere moments from
claiming both Ogun and myself as well."

"Ogun.  True enough.  'Dred won't even admit it, but I saw a salty diamond
escape when him and 'Pollo dragged me into the van.  The 'Duk was his
brother.  Spirit and blood.  Just like the rest of us.  I think we'll all
need some time off.  I know you'll understand."

+++++end miss1022.cmp

Listen, we'll contact you when we're back in service.  But physically,
mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually, we're never going to
be the same.  You know the rite ... meet us at >>encrypted<< for The Passage.
Bring the prize for all this effort.  We have a gift for her.]<<<<<
+++++closencrypt fractalay.enc
        --  Golem  <23:59:53/10-10-57>

>>>>>[I'll tell you this for free... another coincidence was that the
"bug breakout" happened not only while the JSTARS surveillance aircraft
was on the far end of its orbit and coverage of that area was marginal,
but almost dead-centre between KH-14 passes.

Might just be lucky bugs, or lucky runners, or lucky refugees. Or it
might be something more sinister. If anyone finds out more, I'd like to
hear it. And ignore what Jake's probably doing to my ID and/or
timestamp, it's nearly time for his medication anyway.]<<<<<
        -- J R W Lynch <22:10:31/10-10-57>
           Killing People And Breaking Things For God And Country
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency

>>>>>[ Don't even ask how I got this photo. Don't even think about asking.

+++++Include Corpse.jpg

As you can see, whoever this unlucky fragger was, he wasn't killed by
gunshot. The large slash/puncture trauma to the chest area is consistant
with a bug assault (though there are things other than a bug that could do
that, such as a really pissed off troll with a really bbig axe...). The
head "wounds" are interesting, the skull is partially crushed, and the
markings on the skin seem to indicate some kind of claw or large hand shaped
appendage did the deed. All four limbs have been forcibly torn from the body,
and appear to have been partially consumed by something that appears to be a
large animal. Look closely at what's left of the neck- you can clearly see
ligature marks consistant with a choking action, and if you zoom in, you
can see a pattern that looks like some kind of scales.

I don't have a photo to back this up, but sources tell me that the body
was found, along wih the others at the site, arranged in a rough circle.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, the photo is of a corpse of one of
soldiers found dead near the Chicago CZ.

On another point, today's trading appears to be going better for NYSE than
it has in the past few days. NYSE appears to be rising in general, albiet
at a snail's pace. However, if you look at the NASDAQ ticker, it's obvious
that NASDAQ is going into the same kind of panic that hit NYSE. It's too
early to tell if the NASDAQ hit is a deliberate act like NYSE appears to
have been, or just a nervous reponse to NYSE's troubles. It'll be easier to
tell once trading resumes after the weekend. Looks to me like someone was
testing the waters, setting up for something big. Either that whatever
agenda is at work here was successful and well disguised.]<<<<<
        -Dark Elf <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[Absence is merely the presence of all simultaneously.]<<<<<
        -- InfoScholar <10:34:12/10-11-57>

>>>>>[Okay, got the costume.  Just hope that no one else comes in a similar
one, or this is going to get confused. <g>]<<<<<
        __ JayCee <09:30:07 / 10-11-57>

>>>>>[Well, I've gotta admit that it's beyond my capabilities to do it. At
least via the matrix.  But it *is* worrying.  Part of my money is tied up
in there at least, and if a large proportion of the 'little investors' are
starting to worry over this, there will be no need to whoever is doing it
to keep doing it.  They merely have to push enough pebbles to start a rockslide.

I agree who and why are important: any chance you can feed over the LoneStar
report on those two officers who got toasted down in Tacoma ?  Pop it up
here where we can all see it in the raw, and all the heads can bounce together
on it.  That's if you can access that.]<<<<<
        -- JayCee <09:23:14 / 10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[As you wish.  Kor says he needs to see some friends before
he leaves but will be in contact with you shortly.]<<<<<
        -- T'Shon <18:33:57 / 10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Black Knight
>>>>>[Im with 'Mare.

I made a mistake worthy of a severe flogging but have managed to skirt the
brunt of it.  Its a long story.  You buy the wine, and Ill tell it.

Get this information to those who need to know.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <18:39:20 / 10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[I'm fine, really.  Im in Germany with some friends.  Ill explain
T'shons stupidity when I get back.  My flight should get me back in Seattle
by midnight or so tomorrow.  I've got a stop over in New York of a couple
of hours.

Feed Dweezil for me.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <18:51:19 / 10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[ You've got alot of explaining to do ... Dweezil is taken care of. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <15:04:59/10-11-57>

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security - Overwatch
>>>>>[ Stand down. I just got a message from Jason that seems to indicate that
he's alright.

If I don't hear from him late tomorrow night, or early the next morning, we're
goint hunting in full force.  He says he'll be in by then. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <15:06:57/10-11-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ronin, Evita
>>>>>[A'ight. M'n f'Ev's goin. Still don' like much walkin n'to Bugtown
w/o m'can o'Raid.]<<<<<
        --  Rosha <15:30:35/10-11-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity - Overwatch
>>>>>[And you believe this message?

If I wanted to buy time, I'd force him to send out mail as well.  Just
something to think about.  Im moving forward.  It would take too much time
to move if we find out later this was a hoax.]<<<<<
        -- J. A. Foster <19:35:20 / 10-11-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security - Overwatch
>>>>>[ There's a lot of things that he could have said in the message to
indicate that he's in trouble.  He didn't.  He sent me the message that he's
okay, and that he's not being forced to write the message.

Anyway.  If you /are/ going in though, I don't want you to be unprepared.
 Here's a log of access to his account over the last week or so.  I know Griff
wants to go along, but who else are you planning to take?  I can have new ID
and Passports ready with a couple of hours notice.

We need to tread carefully with Ares breathing down our necks about being a
private army.

I hope I'm not wrong about his message, but if I am there's going to be hell to
pay.  Has everyone on this alias looked over RETRIBUTION lately? ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <16:23:01/10-11-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity - Overwatch
>>>>>[I understand how the retribution order works.  I am not willing to
invoke it pro-actively.  Not at this time.  I just want to be in
position in case he needs us and incase he was forced to write that.

Ghost units, Tir Special Forces, and now one missing Jason  --  This doesnt
add up to a good thing in my mind.

Ill move my team to New York, assume our identities there, and move to London
for staging.  If Jason shows up, like your information states, then we will
see him and stand down.  If he isnt on the flight, we will move.

Im taking:

Myself
Alpha
Omega
Griff (did you get anything on your ritual or was it blocked?)
Dirk --  I've not talked with him but he would be good for a mission like
this.

Ill fill in the rest of my needs with a few merc contacts in germany.  As to
Ares, I dont give a frag about them.  We will continue to get pay checks even
if they do pull their support.  I am more worried about the krauts, to be
honest.

Do you think that "friends" would mean Herr Nightmare?  I dont think he would
have been in a position to mention his association with him to you.  Or me
for that matter, I just happen to have access to information he doesnt know
I have.  That was who he went to visit on his way back from his last "vacation"
so I'd be willing to guess this is where he's ended up again.]<<<<<
        -- J. A. Foster <20:56:25 / 10-11-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[++++++Begin Encryption 
Hiya, thanks for the offer of assist. Mucho appreciatedo man.
Base of operations at this time is the Country Club down by Hazel Crest.
Come and say hi.  Do you still have contacts with the old squad?  We
could do with some experienced help here.  I've got three rookies on
line and one vet. Still waiting for Bull's response as to LZ, when I
know more I can plan a strike to extract him and team.  Visit soon, need
your style. ++++++End Encryption ]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <00:12:11/10-10-57>

>>>>>[If we are going in for Bull count me in. He was of great help to
me during my first Years here in Ucas.I can be Contacted at
Seanet/Tac/35632.]<<<<<
      -Smudge(10:04:21/10-11-57)-

*****PRIVATE: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[kjha*n$ you make this out?  Working under heavy fire here, I
apologi*&%% Alright...  We can be there...  Fighten our way tehre now,
seein' as it's getting close to dark...  How the hell ya gonna get past
UCAS?  Frag, doesn't matter, as long as ya can make it.  We ^%&%*@KHJ@#$4...

Fraggin' deck's wet...  Hold on...  There.  Ok, summoning that spirit took a
lot outta Johnny.  Long story, but the short version is we had to cut
through Clamaet swamp to do some retrieval.  Got hit by Roaches and
Mosquito's...  Johnny summoned up a huge fraggin' spirit to deal with them,
but it took a lot outta him.  Soon's he dismissed it, he went down like a
rock.  Marie's got a nasty gash on her arm, Xuxa's unconcious and lost a lot
of blood, and I can't tell what's wrong with Tailspin.  The  fraggin'
Roaches there were Toxic, least that's what John said.  Tailspin went Nova
to take out the Queen and the Shaman, and he's been in a coma since...

Penthisil's gone.  We lost him to the mosquito's.  Frag, seems like every
bug in the place knew we we're makin' a break tonight.  I gotta broken arm,
but it's my left...  I can still hold my fraggin' guns...  and the kids are
ok, just shook up...

I've head the headcam on the whole time...  Will send footage when
possible... Frag, here they come again...  See ya at the meet spot...]<<<<<

        -Bull (21:34:51/10-11-57)

*****Private Bull
>>>>>>[Got your message, hold on Chummer we're comin I'm hoping an old
acquaintance is gonna be here soon, he's got more pull than I do.  don't
worry about the mil. they're cool.  We know what to do.  The jackets
will be at your location in 3 klicks, can ya hold out till then?
Transport is coming in low and fast, we'll need to extract ASAP.

Medics onboard, bringing plasma and patches, we'll fix ya'll up.

Hope to have Corp backup on-line in 2 clicks.  Will arrive locked and
loaded hot and running.  Can you cope, sounds like your on your own
there, if you've got people down, tag 'em, we'll pick up if possible.
Dewy is sending spirits your way, astral backup should arrive any time,
don't know how useful they'll be but at least it's interference for you.

Kids!  how many, who's carryin' 'em, it's a small transport, we can
manage maybe 8 bods at a squeeze, not much more, specially if the med's
got bleeders, he needs room to work.  I count 4, two down, one gone plus
? kids - who the frag's carryin' 'em?

Comms says the mil. are movin'  they've got some heavy drek hittin the
north and west walls.  Makes our lives easier, and the cost less.  Good
news for all.  Keep humping air pal, you're almost out.<<<<<<
        - Dark Avenger (21:42:13/10-11-57)

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[+++++Begin Encryption sequence.
Drek's hittin' the fan.  We're goin' in.  Need interference at
>>encrypted<< and we need it now!  Any help appreciated.  LZ is hot.
Team under heavy fire, varied assailants, need some extra hitters in
there.  Jackets are going in point, but I don't know how long they can
hold out.  I don't wanna lose this one!  I hate to lose. Any assistance
appreciated.  Will reimburse later.]<<<<<
    - Dark Avenger (21:37:43/10-11-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Ok, I'm here...  We can hold on for the moment, I think...  We seem to
have a nice lull in the combat...  It's been a running battle to reach the
LZ though...

Ummm, let's see...  Just so you know who we got coming...  We got Me,
Johnny, our Shaman.  He's starting to come around now.  His wife Xuxa.
We...  lost...  His other wife Becky.  Tailspin's also a Shaman, but he's
still out cold.  My wife Marie.  And my two kids, Reba and Billy.  Total's
7, not counting Penth who didn't have much of a body left.

Umm, I should also warn you about Daytripper ahead of time...  He's a free
spirit that's sort of attached himself to our family...  He's pretty
powerful and been a big help, but around here everyone gets jumpy with
spirits, so I thought I'd give ya fair warning.  If you see a spirit wearing
Day-Glo Tie Dye and looks a bit like that old actor from teh Twentieth
Century, Don Knotts...  It's Daytripper...

We'll be ready...  See ya soon...]<<<<<

        -Bull (23:22:41/10-11-57)

*****Private Bull
>>>>>>{ I feel for you pal. If you scan the LZ, you'll see a small
gazebo, err, summer house, near the centre of the LZ, stay near there,
it gives the jackets a field of fire, and plenty of space for the
support MGs on the transport.

7 huh?  Bit of a squeeze but we can accommodate ya.

Oh great, just what we need. A freebie in dayglo, drek...  hold on....
OK, jackets are informed, will watch out for it/him.  However, if he
crosses the bead, he's gonna get wasted, mini's ain't fussed who they
hit.  Locking down now, should be with you 35 seconds.  Corp is clear,
we have passage.  It'll need to be fast, contact can't hold the system
for long.  As soon as you see the chopper comin' in, start movin'.<<<<<<
        -Bull (23:32:14/10-11-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Dark Angel
>>>>>[<<.23 MP data lost>> everywhere!  tell you're men to watch out for the
wa<<.31 MP data lost>> astrally!  Frag, where'd they all come from?!?  We're
holed up near that little summer house...  We're taking heavy hits here...
We had a few others with us joined at the last minute, but they're gone
now...  Bugs ambushed them.  We're <<,50 MP data lost>> -eems to be having
trouble.  Hope this got through...  Watch out boyz.  They're hittin' us
hard...]<<<<<
        -Bull (00:11:46/10-12-57)

*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Well, I wasn't sure about the simsense, but I can't let that thing do
to someone else what it did to you. Yes, I'll go with you. Enough is
enough.]<<<<<
        --  Evita  <22:39:24/10-10-57>

*****PRIVATE:  bull
>>>>>>[Move! Move! Move!  We're coming in... NOW!!!]<<<<<
        - Dark Avenger (00:11:54/10-12-57)

*****PRIVATE: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[We're in position, DA.  Ready when you are... I look forward to
meeting you, friend.]<<<<<
        -Bull (01:41:45/10-12-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Inferno
>>>>>[Well, chummer, much thanks for the thoughts and the offers to aid our
escape.  We just pulled out and will need some help shortly.  Dark Avenger
will contact you with further info.  For now, here's the scene as we escaped
so you know what you missed...

++++ begin recording, Bull's headcam.

Two yellowjackets screech over the park border, twin minguns blazing,
tracer lights the trees and bushes as explosive buletts detonate on the
ground and in bodies, some creatures fly apart in the hail, others turn
towards the new threat.  A loud buzzing comes in from the north and one
of the jackets pulls heavy G's heeling over into the new threat,
slamming into the wasps,  guns and rocket pods spitting fire and explosive
death.  Within seconds the jacket is a flaming wreck, it hits the ground
with an echoing explosion as the fuel tanks and remaining ammo detonate.

The second yellowjacket moves in a desperate spinning ariel dance with
the wasps, guns blazing.  Two smaller craft join the combat, dark,
unidentifiable, no lights or markings, spitting flame in an almost
constant stream.  Under this hail of fire, a small huey drags the grass
as it thunders in.  Miniguns at its flanks desperately churning lead
into the horde of creatures gathered near the summmer house, attempting
to clear a path to the refugees desperatly fighting for their lives.
Two soldiers leap from the chopper, and race to the summer house.

"Bull??  Grab your kit.  MOVE!!!  NOW!!! WE ARE LEAVING!!"

<The camera view shakes once, as if the person filming all this nods.>

"Yes sir."  A deep, tired voice replies.

The camera spins and faces the small and battered house.  From inside
several figues can be seen moving out of the building.  One is a tall, young
Indian.  He wears jeans and a t-shirt, and carries a large Katana at his
side.  Slung over his shoulders is another Indian, a much older man, wearing
more traditional Indian leathers and feathers.  Behid then come a battered
looking human woman, her blond curls plastered to her forehead.  She is
helping herd two scared looking ork children toward the Huey.  Behind them
is a Dark haired human woman.  She has a large bandage over one shoulder,
and blood can be seen seeping through it.  They limp their way toward the
camera, and the barrel of an assault cannon can be briefly seen as the
camera weilder shifts his hold on it.

Suddenly, the dark haired woman shouts and the camera spins.  three hideous
looking flesh-form wasps swoop down toward the group, while a horde of huge
roaches swarm toward the group. One of the soldiers dies in a spray of blood
as the battered family drag themselves and friends to the Huey.  The second
dies as he fires into the swarm of roaches attempting to cover the escape.
A loud roar is heard from next to the camera's mics as teh carrier fires his
assault cannon toward the bugs.  He backs up, and climbs into the chopper
once the rest of the family is in.  The Huey lifts off, swaying under the
heavy load, rotors cutting the night air as it desperately struggles to
achieve height, and escape.

The last Yallowjacket slams into the park grounds exploding debris and
burning fuel creating a flaming pyre, marking the end of a nightmare, a
wasp tangled in the rotors. The two smaller black craft slip into escort
alongside the Huey, within seconds they cross the CZ, and turn south
towards their base.

A tall grizzled, man with a face like a map of the rockies leans out
from the co-pilot's seat.

"You must be Bull, My name is Avenger, pleased to meet you. This your
family?"

++++ end recording]<<<<<

-Bull (04:23:13/10-12-57)

>>>>>[Glad to have you along Smudge.  Things are in hand at present,
but we could do with some help pretty soon.  Meet us at >>encrypted<<
I'm sure Bull would be grateful for a helping hand and a friendly face,
as I figure it, he's got cut up real bad in there. Welcome
Chummer]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger (17:40:22/10-11-57)

>>>>>[Ummm... Dark Elf, don't you think you might just be a taaaaaad too
paranoid on this one? What with all the other drek that's been going on,
it'd be understandable for the markets to take a bit of a dive...

  (Just a thought)]<<<<<
        -- Tobias Dark <04:58:54/10-12-96>

>>>>>[ Tobias, there's never such a thing as too paranoid. Some of
the drek that's hit my fan over the years makes conspiracy theorists
look blind deaf and dumb. Nobody believed me when I said that a high
level corp official, a faction within the UCAS military, and a dragon
with a spiffy aircraft carrier were up to something... until everything
came to a head. There are still unanswered questions about that caper,
despite the fact that the great matrix war and the omega rebellion
were events that shook the world.

I see trends that are setting off warning lights all over the place.
the only way to know for sure that the tidal wave is coming is to watch
how fast the water rises. Trust me, the water is rising right now.

I don't have photos from the cop killings associated with the last
Tacoma kidnapping, I've been concentrating more on the stock market
events. I do know for a fact that the two officers were killed with
10mm pistol rounds, possibly a manhunter or an ultra power. One
officer took two rounds to the chest, one completely penetrating his
vest (most likely a close-up shot), the other took two in the leg and
one in the throat and probably bled to death a few minutes after the
shooting. There is an interesting possibility... one of the officers
may have been equipped with a reinal camera. Lone Star has been
experimenting with them lately as a way to have an analyzable visual
record of crimes, evidence in the case of cop killings, and ammo for
the internal affairs boys. It's possible that there is a recording of
the crime in progress, a thought that has me VERY interested.]<<<<<
      -Dark Elf <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[I thought most cops had retinal cameras?]<<<<<
        -- Tobias Dark <10:07:54/10-12-57>

***** INTERNAL: Neuron Basher, Serenity Security
>>>>>[We have an all clear.  The plane landed 45 minutes late and one
tired by happy Jason Robert Stormwind exited.  On his arm, a very attractive
brunette.  Me thinks I understand why he booked the lay over in New York over
coming directly back to Seattle.

We've made no contact with him, fading back to the offices in time.  Do me
a favor and make sure that I am around when he decides to explain what
the hell just happened.  I think it would be education to see what types
of people he considers to be friends.

Change of plan --  Im heading back, everyone else has decided they want
a vacation on company time.  With the way everone is talking you'd think
we never let them out of the office.]<<<<<
        -- J. A. Foster <14:26:56 / 10-12-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[Dark Elf:  That really wasn't information that LSS would have liked
to have gotten out.

According to my sources (which are fairly close to LSS), less than 1 percent
of their Seattle branch have retinal cameras.  The cost is prohibitive
enough that they are only really installing them in ranked officers.  Of course,
all of IAD's officers have them in hopes of keeping them honest.

Retinal cameras are starting to work fairly well as a "black box" of sorts.  The
officer goes down and, if the perp doesnt purposefully remove the recorder's
data, there is record of what happened.]<<<<<
        -- Trax <14:59:18 / 10-12-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

******Private: Bull
>>>>>>[OK dude, we're gonna let you lay up here for a while. We have
medical facilities here that should be able to cope with the injuries of
you and your friends.  If we can't help the Mage, he will be flown to a
neuro-surgeon who will be able to help.

Once you and your friends are a bit healthier, we're gonna shift you to
a safe house outside of Chicago.  As soon as you all feel up to it, you
will be transfered to sheltered housing in Seattle. I recommend you stay
there for a while.  It's going to be difficult for the unpleasant
gentlemen from UCAS to find you there.  You will be safe, and we will
look after you.  You're the first to come out of there, alive.

Now, regarding the data we asked you for... What did you bring out with
you, it's vital that we are able to supply our sponsors with something.
They are desperate to find out what is happening in the CZ, and let the
world know about it.  But first, I've got to find out exactly what it is
we've got.  Don't worry about the kids and family they'll be well looked
after, and food is being prepared now. We've got some beds sorted for
you.  So go and get that arm seen to, and get some groceries down your
neck, a couple of hours shut eye, and we'll talk. OK?]<<<<<<
        - Dark Avenger (02:37:15/10-12-57)

>>>>>[Dark Elf, there certainly is such a thing as being too paranoid.
So many people -- shadowrunners, gangers, criminals, wage slaves, corp
execs, etc. -- believe that paranoia is a way of life, the only way to
survive in a harsh, uncaring world where everyone is out to get you.

Why live in fear?  That's all paranoia truly is -- the fear that what you
cannot directly control is only trying to kill you.  Living in a state of
pure paranoia is only the manifestation of living in total fear,
perpetually.  That's not a very pleasant way to live.  And what life is
that?  Certainly, I have no wish to die, but I have no desire to continue
living if I must always look back over my shoulder to see if the sword I
once lived by is coming to remove my life from this body.  For I cannot
enjoy life in such a manner -- it is but half a life, at most, and
usually far less.

And I'm afraid that I must disagree about the importance of the Omega
Island rebellion.  Such hick-ups in the world have such little long-term
meaning to future generations that they might as well be ignored.  The
true changes in life, the true earth-shattering events are performed one
person at a time, one day at a time, on student at a time.  For if one
person, say a child, can ever learn the value human life and true to that
value, then he or she can pass that value on to others.  If one child
ever learns the value of personal honor, or of integrity, or how to trust
someone else, or how to care, or how to love, then he or she can see the
reality of this world, just how warped and fucked up it really is, and
can teach others.

Military conflicts, while vital to those involved in them, are nothing in
comparison to the teaching of our future, our children.  For the only
truly earth-shaking events are being created, day by day, thought by
thought, in the minds, hearts, and souls of the children.]<<<<<
        --  Valentine <11:58:37/10-12-57>

>>>>>[Wow, I almost expected to hear a plea for donations to Haven at the
end of that spiel.]<<<<<
        --  Slash <12:00:20/10-12-57>

>>>>>[I have made my appeals to that effect enough times, and enough
people have answered the call.  If you don't know that Haven always needs
money by now, then you never will.

But I would like to re-extend the offer to attend the party on Samhain,
Halloween for those of you non-Celtic/Wiccan/etc.  It's a fund raiser,
but it's more of a party.  If you got a written invitation, then that
means I'm hitting you up for donations.  If you're reading this, I can
almost guarantee you're not getting hit up for a donation, and by all
means, feel free to crash.

One of my instructors reminded me that, with the large turnover in
Seattle of those people able to read this, not all of you likely are
aware of the rules.  Simply put, no weapons of any kind, for any reason.
This includes everything, including cyberweapons.  Cyberguns are unloaded
and deactivated at the door, and spurs, fangs, and razors are either
restrained, or temporarily deactivated as well.  No exceptions.  Casting
spells upon unwilling individuals(with the exception of the Costume
Enforcement Magicians at the door) will get you thrown out, especially if
the spells are dangerous.  Those will get intercepted.  Attending
via Astral is allowed, but not recommended.  The Veil has grown very
thing at this point in the year, and the background count will likely be
quite high.  And the spirits attending the party might not appreciate it,
although they obey the rules too.

Furthermore, any violence of any kind will get you thrown out, no
exceptions.  If you're a violent drunk, don't drink, and if you do, the
Drinking Enforcement Magicians will detoxify you, forcibly if necessary.

It is a party, and as such I want everyone to have fun.  But it's a safe
party, not a violent one.  Oh, and there will be music, as always, so
feel free to bring instruments if you would like to perform.

One last warning.  Haven is extraterritorial and the only truly safe gang
area in Seattle.  You will very likely see Ancients alongside
Halloweeners patrolling the grounds.  If you have animosities toward
gangers, keep them to yourselves.  I assure you that the gangers are
there by my request.  They're my area security team.  Once you pass the
pure white picket fence, you're in Haven.  Leave your problems outside
the fence.  You can pick them up again afterward.]<<<<<
        --  Valentine <12:16:50/10-12-57>

>>>>>[According to my sources, however, a significant percentage of
InterPol cops have retinal cameras.  About 10% of the base InterPol, and
a whopping 35% of Special Branch agents(and, like LSS, almost all of
IAD's folks).]<<<<<
        --  Trideo Pirate <12:19:55/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[Mr. Valentine, your party sounds as if it will be a very good time.
Unfortunately, I am committed to be out of the country for a time period
overlapping your celebration.  However, I am relatively certain that my
sister, Hortensia Otalvaro, known to this BBS as Rosha will attend.
In the name of our family, I would like to make the following annual donation
to Haven.

+++++credtransfer: >>sevenfigurenuyen<<

I hope this will help you maintain your facility until we can make our
donation next year.  Your party is certain to be a success, please try
and keep an eye on Hortensia for me ...  I believe she is coming as
>>encrypted<<.  Maybe someday we will meet face to face.]<<<<<
        --  Apollyon  <14:30:00/10-12-57>

******PRIVATE: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[I'm sure you don't remember me, but believe me I know you.
Concidering what you did for me I thought I'd return the favor. I've
heard some rumbling, and the contacts are impecable. What ever
operation you just ran has got some suits slitching flamed. Who ever you
extracted is HOT. Stick to him like glue and keep him safe. He must
know something - or seen something

You might think about changing safe houses; they might be
waiting.]<<<<<
     -Wells (12:46:35/10-12-57)

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Stripes? Avenger... I have absolutely no idea what you're talking
about......By the way... I think you need to get your deck sorted out a
bit...
Your format's getting a little scambled as well.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21:00:06 GMT/12.OCT.57>

Jason moved slowly down the alley, a few spot light suspended from the
factory walls were the only intermitent light. He slowed as he reached a
area where the last of the lights shon down. Jason re checked his weapon,
making sure the safety catch was slid down ready to fire. Benet was here
some where lurking in the shadows. Jasons heart began to pound as he stepped
acroos a puddle, the rain continued to fall slower now than earlier this
afternoon when he had had to stand out side "Benet's" office wating for him
to emerge. Now it was pay back time.
 The sound of a steel bin lid falling to the floor rang like thunder down
the alley. Jason rised his weapon and squeezed the trigger pionting the
silver colt pythons long barrel toward the head of the dark figure who had
just given his hiding place away. The colt belched a red flame and the
bullet struck the dark figure on the upper body, Jason did not have time to
see where the dark figure had been hit whilst he had ducked for cover. All
was silent, the only sound that of the rain fallind a water dripping from
the broken gutters of the factories. Jasons was surprised at the lack of any
kind of return fire. After waiting a few minutes he carefully peaked arounf
the corners of the door way he had found for cover, there was nothing, no
movement, no sound the dark figure lay slumped againest the side of the
alley about thirty yards away, still. Slowly Jason moved closer darting from
place to place incase the figure was not dead. But dead the figure was,
Jason was just able to make out from the remains of the skull which had
taken the hit from the soft nosed 11mm custom python pistol. A alarge jagged
hole just above where the left eye once was showed that jasons, shot had
been more accurate than he had intended. The pistol in the right hand of the
dead figure showed that this persons was waiting for him, but it was not
Benet. After searching the rest of the alley way Jasons decided to return to
his flat, again Bent had got away, But a cat has only nine lives and Benet's
were fast running out.

>>>>>[Im still looking for my friend, her name was cassandra, she was a decker
last i heard, if anyone has any information contact me through this bbs.]<<<<<
        --  Joe Runner <14:43:59/10-12-57>

++++Begin Encryption
*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[I'll try to get in contact with a few old... acquantances. It's been a
few years though, so I can't guarrantee anything....]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21:40:06 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****Private: Flash
>>>>>[Oi! Flash! I've got a job for you. Wake up.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21.40.15 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****Private: Running Horse
>>>>>[I have a job that you might be interested in... Contact me. Please,
it's been too long, old friend]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21.40.45 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>[This is a standard message. The alias (Flash) you requested has been
inactive since <10:22:32 GMT/22.JAN.55] and has been cancelled. I appologise
for any inconvenience this may have caused.<<<<<
    -- SysOp <21:50:06 GMT/12.OCT.57>

+++++Begin Encryption
*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Sorry guys... The best Cyberfighter I know is uncontactable. Possibly
dead. I'll miss him. I think old Running Horse is still active. I'll let you
know.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21.55.12 GMT/12.OCT.57>

++++Add alias: Smudge >> Invasion_force.1
*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Welcome to the team Smudge. (If it's the Smudge I think I've heard
about, then doubly welcome.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21:57:56 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****Private :Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[DREK!!!! Oh DREK!!!! Your last mailing didn't arrive 'till 22:00.
There must be some serious lag at one of the nodes. I'm sending help now. I
just hope it's not too late!!!!! Expect a few Fire Elementals... Soon!]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <22:00:40 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****Private: Bull
>>>>>[Oh god I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. The message arrived late... Too
fraggin late! I sent the elementals and got back to find the drek had hit
the fan 18 *HOURS* ago! I wasn't looking at the date! DREK! Whatever's
happening on the matrix between you and me, it's fragging things up
somethihng rotten! More death.....]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <22:40:47 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****PRIVATE: Rosha, Evita
>>>>>[Can you both meet me at >>time and place<<. The spirit will be there,
with its new body.]<<<<<
        --  Ronin  <14:30:26/10-12-57>

*****Private: Inferno: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>>[Yes you do, sir... Sorry about the scrambled format, some
unexpected interference.  Mil. tried a trace and scramble, beat it, but
it shot the transfer, garbled some messages held locally and in transit.
Damn I hate it when that happens.  Got it sorted and locked down now.
Hopefully the incident will not repeat itself.  Welcome Inferno, I hate
to say it, but it's good to see you.]<<<<<
     - Dark Avenger <21:12:03/12-10-57>

*****Private: Inferno: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>>[Good to know, I seem to recall you had a long memory.  Could
certainly do with those elementals.  Bull seems to have attracted some
serious attention, not sure why yet.  But when this goes down, it's
gonna be hot, hard and heavy.  Payment request accepted >>Begin trans<<
A small bonus is available if we get this guy out in one piece, will
transfer that when available >>end trans<<  I'll let you know more as we
get to it.
      - Dark Avenger <23:10:13/09.10.57>

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[Thanks for the assist Inferno, those elementals pulled out butts
out of the drek that time.  Lost both Jackets, Corp support arrived
late, but on time, without those elementals we would've been toast.
Thanks man, I owe you one. What the drek were those fraggin' things
anyway, they looked like insects, but so fraggin' huge, I mean Jeez,
they took a jacket out without fraggin' trying.  Something is very very
wrong here.  More so than we ever suspected.  Bull and co are OK,
hopefully he can answer a few questions.  Man's cut up pretty bad,  got
a smashed arm, but he stands there at the side of the chopper firing
this assault cannon like it was a fraggin handgun.  Never seen anything
like it.  Not since Hanghand bought it anyway.  Looks like he might be a
good guy to get on our side. Gotta go, things to fix]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger (04:22:27/10-12-57)

>>>>>[Bravo, Pat.

Personally, I gave up on paranoia, but then I know who most of my
enemies are in any given situation: sometimes those who were trying
their utmost to kill me last month are this week's staunch allies,
because this time our goals coincide. If I got paranoid I couldn't get a
quarter of what I do, done. Instead, I usually stick to pragmatism.

I'd add this to what Pat said: one of the Marine credos is that when the
meek inherit the Earth, the strong will take it away from them. The
Marines are there to protect the meek. I think Pat matters because he
teaches people - and not just his students - that not all strangers are
out to kill you, that not everyone hates your guts (until you give them
cause), that while this world contains plenty of darkness there is a
surprising amount of light.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <22:46:41/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[Pat, I don't mean any disrespect (except a sly humour) but if
Lynch has to disarm his spurs and blades, how do I (short of radical,
painful and unpleasant surgery) remove my teeth and claws? I am, after
all, one of the world's deadliest predators... and I can't think of any
way short of bolt cutters to get rid of my fangs.

I know, I know, if I pounce on anyone I'll land outside the fence with
my head spinning, I was just amused by the slight inconsistency.

Music, eh? I'll bring my sax. If you're lucky, I'll talk Lynch into
taking his Strat and a Marshall.]<<<<<
        -- Lilith <22:52:16/10-12-57>

*****Private: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[You mean the elementals made it in time? How is that possible? I
didn't send them until 22:30.... Hmmmm. Even taking into account time zones
and drek, they would still have been 12 hours late..... What the DREK is
going on? I think you might have had an unknown helper out there.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <22:40:06 GMT/09.OCT.57>

*****Private: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[You mean the elementals made it in time? How is that possible? I
didn't send them until 22:30.... Hmmmm. Even taking into account time zones
and drek, they would still have been 12 hours late..... What the DREK is
going on? I think you might have had an unknown helper out there.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <23:00:06 GMT/12.OCT.57>

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Come on Avenger. You know I let you off for that... Incedent, years
ago. As for interference... My elementals are at your disposal, as are any
spells you may need while you're running. Payment? I'll settle for >>
Encrypted<<. That should cover the costs and a few living expenses.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <22:40:06 GMT/09.OCT.57>

******Private: Wells
>>>>>>[Wells, I know that name from somewhere?  Thanks for the data, I
figured it got kinda hot in there.  I though Inferno sent in some
elementals to assist, but rumour has it they weren't his.  If the
choppers and the elementals didn't belong to him. Means we had a heavy
hitter comin' in anonymously.  That makes me nervous.  Will move to safe
location as soon as possible.  Thanks for the warning Wells.  Call me
direct, I would like to say HI, Personal like.  The LZ was overrun with
creatures like I never seen before, and this guy's right in the middle.
There's some serious fraggin' drek happenin' here, and someone is lying
- bigtime.]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger (13:18:23/11-12-57)

******Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[Sorry, I assumed you did. If you didn't send the things then who
the frag did!?.  We seem to have a heavy hitter hiding out somewhere.
This is beginning to make me really nervous.  Inferno we are moving,
now, I can't take the chance of waiting for clear weather, things are
getting strange.  Meet us at >>Encrypted<< I think we need to talk.
Looks like someone else is in here, and I don't know who it is.  Can you
run interference for us. And see if we've got an astral trace or
something tagging somebody here.  I don't know drek about magic, but is
this possible]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <00:09:37/13.10.57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[I'm in town.  Im sorry about the problems I've caused.  That
last job was not in anyway worth the time or trouble.

First off, T'shon intercepted my fraggin' payment.  Secondly, he flatly
refused to give it back.  'consider it rent on my name an identity and payment
for the 'pain and suffering' caused by your actions'.  Secondly it
didnt take the edge off of my boredom.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <23:30:58 / 10-12-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Everything going according to your plans?  I've been away from
the office for the last few days and I wanted to check to make sure
you were doing ok.  Whats going on with Hector?  Did he check out
for you or no?]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <23:35:16 / 10-12-57>

***** PRIVATE: Black Knight
>>>>>[Frag!

If this is going to happen everytime I go drinking with you and Doomsday I'm
going to have to gracefully bow out of your next outting.

Im sure you know by now that I took an unscheduled trip to see a friend in
Hamburg.  If I remember the most of it, it went like this:  Michelle and I
moved our section of the party up to a private room.  Sometime before
the break of dawn I awoke to someone entering our room.  Insert image of
everything happening too fast and then everything going black.  The next
time I awoke was listening to the hum of a small military troop transport's
whining engines, hooded, gagged, and pissed off.

A short one-sided conversation later, and the hood was removed.  It seems that
a 'friend' had a need to debrief me on my last job.  Whatever happened to
just asking?  To make a long and somewhat tiring story shorter, we reached
our destination, shot the shit for a while, and I'm back.

+++++ Begin Scrg.encrypt
Im clean.  We are still go on your op.  Count me in.
+++++ end  encryption

By the way, where did Michelle come from?  She just attached herself to my
hip at some point doing the night.  Im sure she will be a little more careful
the next time she picks someone up in a bar.  I have to admit, she was a
trooper through all of this.  Being kidnappeed by
evil shadowrunners can be a bit of a hair raising experience :).  She seemed
to really thrive on the cloak and dagger stuff.  I might keep this one for
a while.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <23:45:58 / 10-12-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[keeping secrets from us?]<<<<<
        -- Skuff <23:45:59 / 10-12-57>

***** PRIVATE: Skuff, Deckers
>>>>>[If I encrypt something, please dont break it.  I understand that you
are out to keep me safe, but this job is a bit too sensative to let anything
leak out right now.  Honestly, its for your protection as well as your
own.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <23:49:31 / 10-12-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[That looks like something Scourge would have cooked up.  I wouldnt
touch that with Kev's deck.]<<<<<
        -- Skuff <23:49:58 / 10-12-57>

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[I'll start on the astral overwatch a 02.00.00. Be ready. I'll send one
of my elementals to let you know I'm there..... It will >>encrypted<<]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <01:39:30 GMT/13.OCT.57>

*****Private: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[I will be on overwatch, but the elemental will actually do
>>encrypted<< on appearance. We may have an inside man.....]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <01:40:03 GMT/13.OCT.57>

******Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[Thanks for that, I appreciate it, a lot.  There's something
definately fishy goin' on, and I don't mean the lake.  Someone sent in
some backup, to help us out of the CZ.  As I said, we were getting our
butts kicked in there.  Those damn creatures are tougher than rock.  The
overwatch will be very useful.  I'm hoping nothing will come of it, but
it's best safe than sorry.  Are you OK for meeting later, or do you need
backup?  I can provide a couple of guys, but most of my team is dead.
Hoping to make contact with some of the old guys, but at the moment I
can't track 'em.  Smudge is sick, down with something, so he's laid up
for now.

Inside man, that's a horrible thought.  Mind you, Bull brought a couple
of Mages or Shamans with him, Native Americans looks like.  Maybe
there's a connection?  I don't know. Will contact you when we arrive at
the safe house, there may be some delay in messaging as I'm going to use
a couple anonymous routers to confuse any trace.  Will meet you at
>>Encrypted<< in 24 hrs.  Should have security lock by then.  Again,
thanks for the help.]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <**:**:**/**-**-**>

******Private: Bull
>>>>>>>[Somethings not right here, get your people together.  I've got a
BAD feeling.  Some dude called Wells buzzed me, and said you were pretty
hot property.  I can't quite figure it, but I know the name.  I can't
tell you where we're going yet, because it's gonna take a while before
I'm convinced that we're not being traced.  There are others involved
here, and when we get to where we're going. You and me are gonna talk.
There's more to this, this... mightmare than meets my eye, and I figure
you know what that might be.]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <**:**:**/**-**-**>

*****Private Inferno
>>>>>[Im active again.Im Currently in <Encrypted> let me know were you want
me to meet you im Bringing Bear and Katana With me as Muscle. I know I know
after
the Lassiter Investments Fiasco they are the people you least wish to see
but ill keep them on a tight lesh and they are two of the best people to
have if the led starts flying]<<<<<
   -Smudge(34:21:56/&//$(&))=(()= Connection damaged.

*****PRIVATE: Evita, Ronin
>>>>>[I'll b'there. W/ Bells on.]<<<<<
        --  Rosha <22:41:43/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind, Serenity Security
>>>>>[S'far s'good. Hasn't 'noyed me too too bad yet. A l'il o'rprotective's
all.  Seem t'attractive men like that.  {smile}  Y'in f'r the party at Haven?
Hope I'll seeya there.  Gotsa a job soon though.  S'also good t'hear fr'm ya.
Really hope we can stay n'touch.]<<<<<
        --  Rosha <22:44:14/10-12-57>

>>>>>[Mr. Joseph Runner, the person you seek has recently had an attempt
on her life.  You might consider verifying your motivations before
attempting to locate her.  Should you be able to convince some of the
readers of this system of your reasons, perhaps someone might help you
find your 'friend.'  Advice from one postmaker to another.]<<<<<
        --  InfoScholar  <10:51:41/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[I'll be there.]<<<<<
        --  Evita  <21:45:26/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE: Edgewood
>>>>>[HELP! Did you see a message from a Joe Runner? I DO NOT know any such
individual. Either it's Tarlan suspecting I'm not dead, or this this thing,
or somebody. It's not someone I know, I keep track of my friends. What do I
do? I am not eqipped to defend against either of the first two suggestions.
I might have an option, though. Can you come to my place? Thanks.]<<<<<
        -- Cassandra <21:49:44/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE:Jason R Stormwind
>>>>>[Is that offer of employment still open? If so, is your training camp
fortified? I could definitely use six months someplace I can't be
found...and no, it's not the law that I'm running from. Is it possible to
meet with you? Thanks.]<<<<<
         -- Cassandra <21:51:22/10-12-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Ok, Avenger, sounds good to me.  Nobody's hurt too bad, and my arm'll
heal up nicely in a few weeks.  Johnny's cool, he just knocked his own ass
out summoning up a spirit a little too large for him to handle...  And
Tailspin will be fine as soon as he settles down.  He's in shock at the
moment.  The girls and the kids are holding up really well, all things
considered.  I think they came out of that better than us so-called
"Shadowrunners"...  <grin>

As for that data you asked for, I got about 10 hours worth of vid recordings
for you.  Some of it's a week old, but it's got some weird stuff on it...  I
haven't figured it all out yet...  I currently going over it to see what I got.

Oh, by the way, I went over the recordings I made of our escape.  Take a
look at this and see if this makes any sense.  I have a few suspicions, but
they scare me.  I've given several shots a voiceover so that you know what
to look for, as at least one scene the item of interest is very small, even
with magnification.  Ok, let's roll 'em...

++++++Vid Recording, Bull's Headware.  Sequence #23

"Honey, the kids are frightened.  When will the chopper be here?"  A very
frightened looking young woman asks the camera.  She is dark haired and
lovely, with a strong build.  Her face is a bit smudged with dirt, and two
cleaner tracks run down her cheeks, as if she had cried recently.  Her
shoulder is bandaged, but blood is still seeping through.

"I don't know, Marie."  A tired sounding voice replies.  The voice is
apparently whoever is weilding the camera.  "I wish I di-"

"Bull!  Something's happening!" Another female voice yells to him from
nearby.  The camera swngs around to face a beatiful blond haired woman
wielding a nasty looking knife, the blade of which has an odd goldish color
to it.  She points outside the small wooden building that the group is holed
up in, and the camera shifts to follow her finger.

Outside the window, several very large insect spirits are huddled in
gruoups, watching the building.  Several bodies lay strewn about the ground
in front of them.  They appear to be mostly human, except for every one has
some sort of distinguishing deformity.  Sevral are transformed enough to
make out that they are fleshform roaches.

Across the sky, burning like a comet is the form of amanifested Fire
Elemental.  Several Wasp Spirits are buzzing through the air, and they move
to intercept.  The frame freezes and then magnifies several times to give a
better view of teh elemental.

The fire elemental is vaguely humanoid in shape, although this is hard to
make out in it's glowing, fiery form...  However, it seems to be formed in a
female figure, with somewhat elongated forearms.  There is an odd shape to
the head as well, and the legs seem to bend at an awkward angle.

<Voiceover>:  This is just a rough guess, but we've "met" the Mantids
several times.  We know for a fact that they use Mages as well as Shamans,
unlike most of the other Insects.  I'll give you more detail on our
knowledge of the Mantids later, but I would hazard a guess that this
particular Fire Elemental, as well as the other two that we saw, were quite
possibly summoned up by the Mantids.  Why, though, I coudln't say.

+++++End Vid Sequence #23

Also, we have an eyewitness account that I don't have film for on several
Earth Elementals that struck at the same time.  Johnny was the one that saw
them, and he ascensed one of them astrally.  He is fairly certain that he
knows who summoned it up.  We've been in contact with the Ghoul community in
Chicago on several occasions, and even aided them once or twice...  Johnny's
worked with a ghoul Mage on several occasions name Buddy.  John's fairly
certain the Elemental was his...  Seems we had some "odd" help on this one...

This next clip is the one you have to watch closely...  Seems we had a
little more help than any of us knew...  Were any of your boyz wizards, DA?
If so, they may be able to give a little more confirmation or denial of
this, since I can't see nor film teh astral.

+++++Vid Recording, Bull's Headware. Sequence #25

There is a loud roaring sound and a flash of light as an assault cannon
booms next to the camera.  The bugs are rushing the position, and the
defender's are fighting with all they got.  Several of the bugs go down in a
hail of fire, then they are upon the small group.

From the camera's point of view, there are maybe 8 fleshforms.  However,
they seem to be very large forms.  You see the camera look down at the body
carrying it, and a large hand grasps a wooden shaft that's attached to his
belt.  He holds the shaft up and presses a button, and it elongates into a
six foot pole with a large golden blade on the end.  The weilder holds it
out in front of him and prepares to meet the bugs.

The camera freezes once more and magnifies a location out over the docks.
It appears to be an empty scrren.

<Voiceover>:  Watch this space carefully.  I'll play the frames in slow
motion so that you can catch it.

Slowly the frames move, one at a time, then something flickers in the upper
left hand corner.  Something brown in color forms on the screen, appearing
to be a large flying insect of some kind, possibly a wasp.  Moments later
another shape flickers, and a green form appears.  This form is much more
difficult to make out, but it appears also to be an insect.  It seems to
have four legs and to long appendages that it holds in front of it.  The
green form dives toward the brown, then the both fade from view again.

+++++End Vid Sequence #25

Johnny's looked at this one and thinks that possibly, several Mantis
spirits, true spirits, not the flesh forms, were battling it out overhead.
He said possibly that the wasp manifested, trying to throw off the Mantis
that was chasing it, then went astral again.

I'm not really sure what all this means, but we really need to talk.  I'm
nothing special, just a hacker from bug city.  I don't know what all this
attention is about, but I want to know, and I want to know now...

I hope you can help, and if things are as bad as they seem, we may need to
have whatever friends you can summon up...  This could be big...]<<<<<
        -Bull  (23:44:19/10-12-57)


>>>>>[As for the stock markets, this is VERY unusual behavior.  Rarely does
one stock market crash, while the other markets keep chugging along.  Plus,
i've never heard of one market crashing, while the others keep rising...then
another one starts crashing while the first recovers and the rest of the
markets keep rising.  THIS should be setting off warning bells in your
heads.]<<<<<
         -- Ryuga (01:00:30 PST/ 10:13:57)
            CEO
            Ryaka Science and Tech

***** PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Hey, I just noticed  --  you've your own account.  Excellent.  Didnt
occur to just until just now.

I dont think that I will be able to make it to the party.  If I do, you'd
probably pick me out in a second, even in costume.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <05:35:11 / 10-13-57>

***** PRIVATE: Cassandra
>>>>>[With the same stipulations as before, yes, the offer is open.

As to the fortifications.  I would be willing to say it would stand up to
all but the most determinded assaults.  We arent the vault at LSS but
most people arent willing to walk into an area where everyone carries a live
weapon at all times and are drilling 75% of their day.  If the people
are you attempting to be away from are that type, then, we might
not be able to keep them away from you.  They will sustain heavy losses
in the attempt, I can assure you of that.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <05:37:14 / 10-13-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

*****PRIVATE: cass
>>>>>[I dont think it's tarlon after our last session he said he was going
to europe for a while. I dont think he is comeing back, I scared him a
little if you know what i mean. And the other thing i dont know. Do you think
its smart enough to think of useing an identidy when he went for me he seemed
very single minded. maybe its just someone who knew you when, you know an old
guy how kknew you more then you knew him that kind of thing. just a thought
anyway i cant go anywhere for awhile this is my last post for a little while,
im getting my ally back. big ritual you understand. tell me how this thing
turns out.]<<<<<
         -- Dirk <24:00:22/10-12-57>

*****Private: Cassandra
>>>>>[Have you had anymore problems with the cybertroll.
i have some ideas on how you can handle him.
meet me at >>Time&Place<< hope too see you soon.<<<<<
                          -- dirk <07:41:15/10-13-57

*****Private:Ms. Johnston
>>>>>[I'm trying something different to find the subject.
have had considerable trouble locating her this time.
i am expecting little resitance from her but will be prepared as always.
if all goes as planned you wont have to worry about her for a while.
there was a saying once "watch your enemys closely but watch you
friend's even closer" im hopeing she's never heard it. i enjoy my job
too much.]<<<<<
                  -- The Skull Bearer <07:47:21/10-13-57>

*****Private: Smudge
>>>>>[Dammit. Oh hell, I suppose they'll have to do then... I've agreed to
meet Avenger at >>Encrypted<< by about 01:00:00 tonight. Be there, we all
need to get together and sort this out.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <15:17:23 GMT/13.OCT.57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[Yep.  Things have become much more positive since ah last saw ya.
Hector's cool, s'far.  An' he's away enough not t'cramp me.

Sorry y'r not goin t'be at the party. D'ya have time t'hang outside o'that?
I don' have many friends ... y'r 'bout as close as I got ... 'cept Ev ...
the girl y'met at sai practice awhile back?]<<<<<
        --  Rosha <10:45:23 PST/10-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: The Skull Bearer
>>>>>[Hmmmm. Very well then.  I have been waiting for your action for
some time now.  Proceed.

I have seen your actions on the other matter I assigned you a few weeks
ago.  You performed well enough to receive a bonus.

+++++credtransfer:  >>encrypted<<

Perhaps I can assist in your efforts to locate the decker. I shall be in
touch.]<<<<<
        -- Ms. Johnston  <10:50:00 PST/10-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: Apollyon
>>>>>[Mr. Minnifield, the officer you had inquired after has been killed
during a training exercise.  Though I am sure this is not how you envisioned
achieving your goals, it has none the less eliminated our state's primary
interest in finding your sister.  I wish you luck in your presumably
continuing efforts to locate her.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if
you require our assistance again.]<<<<<
        --  Adrian Spain  <10:55:52/10-13-57>
            Interning Cultural Liaison, Milwaukee
            United Canadian and American States Government

*****PRIVATE: InfoScholar
>>>>>[Hello. My name is Ms. Johnston.  I have an interest in purchasing
information regarding the location of an attractive, brunette female elf.
She has been known for her skill on the Matrix, and I wish to retain her
services.  However, due to constraining circumstance (from my employer),
I must contact her in person.  Would you be able to assist me in this
matter?]<<<<<
        --  Ms. Johnston  <11:00:00 PST/10-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: Ms. Johnston
>>>>>[There seems to be substantial interest in the person you speak of.
As such, I have ... inquired after her already.  So I may have information
which may assist you.  However, I remain unconvinced about your motivations
for locating her.  You could be the individual who tried to end her life
recently for all I know.  Convince me of your intentions and transfer
>>encrypted<< into <<encrypted>>.  Later this evening, if I am satisfied
with your explanation, will receive your information.  If not, you will
find your donation has been refunded.]<<<<<
        --  InfoScholar  <11:05:43 PST/10-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: InfoScholar
>>>>>[My employer has made me aware of the circumstance surrounding
this woman. I apologize for not being better informed.  The following
material had been edited to provide you of the sincerity of my motivations.
However, parts have been deleted to protect the interests of those involved.
You will find that it is a normal dossier for a "shadowrunner" minus
the references to myself, my employer, and the target.

+++++download:  dossedt1.txt

I hope this will provide the 'evidence' you require of my motivations.
If it does not, I will have to find my information elsewhere --
uncharacteristic for someone with you reputation.

As the second matter,

+++++credtransfer:  >>twice encrypted amount<<

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  I look forward to your
reply.]<<<<<
        --  Ms. Johnston <11:10:00 PST/10-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[Did you receive my last message.  A large sum of money was involved
in a layered transfer so I want to make sure that you received it.  If you
did not, someone (either at your end ... which I doubt  OR in Shadowland)
has stolen money from both you and I ... which, if true, I say we pool
our resources to correct this individual's error.  Please let me know as
soon as possible.]<<<<<
        --  Apollyon  <11:14:00 PST/10-13-57>

******Private: Bull
>>>>>>[Alright, good to see your crew are holding up, Doc should be able
to cook something up that'll keep the worst of the pain out, and do
something for the kids if thay've got any problems sleeping.  If the
kids come out of better than us oldtimers, it's probably because they
don't fully understand the threat.  Kids have a real nice way of dealing
with things like this.

Interesting to see, what do you call 'em, Mantids seem to be against the
bugs.  You'll have to excuse my ignorance, I've no knowledge of what's
going on in there, I was left here on overwatch by >>encrypted<< to
watch for any potential break outs, and to assist if possible.

This is all new stuff to me, and pretty damn frightening.  Bugs... for
Frags sake!! What is going on here? Where did these things come from, is
it some sort of corp experiment that's gone out of control.

Nah, can't be.

Oh jeez, they're spirits. Bloody hell!  This is too Big...  They didn't
know!...

They use Mages and Shamans, Bull, whatdya mean the USE them?

None of my boys are mages, I've got one coming in.  Inferno, he's about
the best I know.  Real tough guy.  I thought he'd sent the help but he
says no.  Maybe he can answer when he gets here.  We don't always see
eye to eye, but he's *very* good.

Vid sequence 25:  What the frag was that?  Shit I don't what's happening
here.  I only hope it won't be too long before Inferno get's here, he's
the Magic master.  Drek Bull, what have you got yourself involved in
here.  What have I got involved in?

OK, your just a hacker, I have a little more experience on the streets,
used to be special ops, but that's over now, has been for a while, but
I've never met anything like this.

I have a number of people I can call on, but... not until I know more
about this.  I'll contact Inferno and see when he's going to get to our
location.  Maybe he can shed a little light on this thing.  He's
hopefully bringing help, but I don't know who yet.  He's one of the old
school, total professional, but he's got a couple of interesting
foibles.

We've together before, I trust him implicitly.  He may be our one hope
of figuring this out.  I need to contact control with this material, and
see what they want to do next. It may be that we're going to have to
bury you real deep, and figure out a way to make this public. This
cannot remain hidden...  I've got an idea, let me work on it, but the
first and most important thing is to get you out of Chicago.  And
somewhere I can defend you, somewhere I know...  OK, let's get to the
safe house.  Inferno will meet us there.

Keep that data handy Bull.  It's going to be our most powerful weapon in
this.]
      - Dark Avenger <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[Gaddammed bugs.  Gettin' smarter every day.  They've had two
years to weed out the weak hives.  Without the Brotherhood to keep
them together, they've been going at each other.  The dumb hives keep
getting chewed up by the smarter hives, the army and the corp strike
teams.

And don't forget the reports of exceptional numbers of flesh forms.
Even though I'll bet most of those are just extreme low-lifes who've
realized that the bugs are the Only power in the zone.  You want
anything, the bugs have got it.  You want what the bugs have, you
do dirty work for them: start rumors of supply horde, try to get lots
of people together, funnel rumors back to the hive, you don't need
insect spirits to do that, just some scumbags who don't deserve to
call themselves human.

The last time I was dropped into the Zone, I was scared silly.  The
bugs are getting too strong.

Face it, evolution is taking place at an outrageous rate in there.
It has to, resources are so slim.

And, prediction time, watch the aggressive hives.  They've got the
numbers to really put the hurt on the solitaries and the weaker
hives.  I'll bet good money there aren't any Firefly spirits left in
the zone, they don't have the heart to stick around.  The Mantis'll
always be around, they're the most dangerous of all, attitude alone
will keep them going.  The hives that are in torpor will go quickly
too, if they haven't already.

I'll bet a month's wages that by the end of this winter, Ants and
Wasps will be the dominate types.  Maybe the Cockroached, just 'cause
they can live through anything.]<<<<<
        -- Snake <13:45:00 / 10-13-57>

******Private: Dark Avanger, Bull
 >>>>>>[ Confirmed, DA, these beasts are spirits. Repeat, you met spirits.
Can't say I know who send you the elementals, but can confirm a astral
dogfight of several spirits near your LZ. Sorry I couldn't help, had to cover
some chummers on their way in.
These buggers are bad news, watch out.
Bull, you said these were Mantids? Never met 'em buggers before. Did go
against triple enemies. I didn't wait to see who won, though.
Do you need magical/mediacal help out there? Johnson and chummers are were
they wanted to go, I can offer help now. Can't stand if youngsters are under
attack.
Drek, how does one turn off this voice-input &/ ")!SB"S! ]<<<<<
       - Canis <OR:IO:ND/ID-TH-IS>

******Private: Canis
>>>>>>[Thanks Canis, you've just ruined my year.  Where the frag are
these spirits coming from?  I've never seen anything like this.  Bull
tells me Chicago is riddled with 'em, he started telling me some of it,
but we're in transit at the present time.  Things got real hairy in
there for a while. We have astral and spirit cover at this time, but may
need some more strength later, I've got a few things to do to lock the
safe house down, es[ecially now with these things fraggin about in the
area.  We have a couple of non-combatants with us, and would appreciate
any help you can give us to protect them.  Like I said, I've got a Mage
assisting at this time, but I don't want to burn him out, and this is
going to take some time, he can't be expected to maintain an overwatch
continually.  It wouldn't be fair on him.  Contact Inferno on
>>enrypted<< and chat to him.  I'll run a scan from here on the ground.
We are relocating to >>encrypted<< and I would personaly like to see you
and talk.  Welcome to the team Canis, nice to see you again.]<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <**:**:**/**-**-**>

******Private: Dark Avanger, Inferno
>>>>>>[ Always glad to help, DA. Especially to get non-combatants out of the
line of fire. Will send astral help ASAP, expect arrival of a ghost within a
few minutes. I myself will follow as fast as I can, but I will have to shift
my meat bod somewhere near the area. Can't offer much firepower, so I will
stay clear of your safe house for now.
Let me know if you want the next year ruined, too, I have some more news about
those spirits, we have faced 'em before. Cost me an arm and a leg (well, the
leg was just wounded...) Against these beasts the whole mankind is a single
pack and should act together.
Sorry, didn't manage to contact Inforno directly, I'm not really skilled on
this wirebox, most of the decking part does a chummer (You will have noticed
him in the time stamp). Ask him to set up a ward, or at least one of their
strange pentagramms or whatever those mages call it. should help.
Pay's as last time: A package of cigarettes. Good to be aboard with some old
chummers.  ]<<<<<
       - Canis <OR:IO:ND/ID-TH-IS>

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Welcome Canis.... Now, what's going on... DA. Where are you? I've not
heard from you in a while? How's Bull? Oh, and I don't want to be ominous,
but I think we need a serious talk when I get there. I should be there by
midnight.]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <21:50:01 GMT/13.OCT.57>

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>[ My arrival will be delayed. Someone broke my netsecurity sez my
decker. Expect Okami to be at Dark Avanger's safehouse, keeping astral watch.
With her will be a spirit of the skies.
Oh, one more thing - please don't adress Okami as "it", although she's a
spirit, she's a bit touchy here. Thanx. ]<<<<<
       - Canis <22:57:13/10-13-57>

*****Private: Dark Avanger
>>>>>[ Have someone check your dataline checked. My decker sez someone routed
back some trace programm (whatever that is) and did a report. Orion sez it
must have orginated near your current position. He sez he's sure all is safe
again, but how can electrons running through cables ever be safe? Better be
careful. ]<<<<<
       - Canis <23:01:02/10-13-57>

******Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[Inferno, thank god, your back.  Thanks for the cover.  If there
was anything up there, it looks like the elemental held it off.  We've
arrived at the safe house, my people are just locking the site down now.
As soon as it's secured we;ll be in.  Bull's fine, though very quiet.  I
think the strain of what he's been through is beginning to tell on him.
He's a big guy, and tough as nails, but...  hell a person can only take
so much.

About that serious talk, you are NOT wrong my friend.  There is some
serious drek coming down here, and I have no idea what it is or how to
deal with it.  Canis says he's got a line on some of this drek, but I
won't know more until he gets here.  He's sending some astral help to
give you a break, kinda take the pressure of you a bit.  We have some
*interesting* vidcam recordings for you to watch.  I won't say any more
about this until you get here, but it's pretty scary stuff.  OK pal, see
you soon. I hope we can get out of this one, it's some serious drek.  If
the situation inside the CZ is as bad as Bull says, then it looks like
we've not only got these Bug things to worry about, but Gov. too.  You
might want to rethink that payment request. <grin>]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <**:**:**/**-**-**>

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[DA! Thank god! you were out of contact for too long!!!!! I think you
should start using the alias I'm building.

+++++Include: Alias: Invasion_force.1

Use that. Then everyone who's in on it will know what's happening. Now,
what's this you said about vid footage???]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <22:26:12 GMT/13.OCT.57>

******Private: Canis
>>>>>>[Canis, check your deck, you might have a trace....  Lose the
.sig. Some in the CZ area have used this to trace people.  Thanks for
the astral, will tell Inferno he can relax a tad.  If what Bull says is
true, then we might need magical rather than mundane firepower, so you
may be of more use than you realise.  Will inform you when safe house is
secured.

Any news you can provide regarding these *bugs* will be much
appreciated, only Bulls people know much about them, and they're pretty
beaten up, we can't do much until they've healed somewhat. Tha way you
say that, it sounds like these... things, are a bit of threat.  Would
appreciate anything you know, that will help us to overcome the present
problem.  Like I said, I have a serious lack of experience in the team
at this time, and could do with people who know what we're up against.
I will co-ordinate the effort, but it's hard work without knowing what
I'm up against.  One pack of the usuals waiting here for your arrival
<grin> Thanks Canis, good to have you along.  Now if I can find a couple
of the other old timers, we might have a chance with this, situation.]
      - Dark Avenger <**:**:**/**-**-**>

*****PRIVATE: Ms. Johnston
>>>>>[Having received your file and reviewing it thoroughly, I can find some
 holes in your strategy, but that's your concern.  It was a convincing piece
of work for your purposes with me.  And the payment you enclosed was a
pleasant surprise.

Therefore, you'll find the x's and o's of the data you requested in
this file.

+++++download: cassadd1.txt

Her residence is more secure than normal living arrangements would be, but
you should be able to use the address above to make your approach and
proposition.  Good luck!  With the plans I saw, you'll probably need
it!]<<<<<
        --  InfoScholar  <17:49:44/10-13-57>

*****PRIVATE: The Skull Bearer
>>>>>[I have procured the primary target's address for you.  Do your
best, or is that, 'your worst?']<<<<<
        --  Ms. Johnston  <17:51:00/10-13-57>

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>>[Inferno, when you approach the safe house you will be challenged
reply >>encrypted<< or I'm afraid the guy on outlook may fire on you.
This would not be a good thing. We're all a bit nervous up here, and
getting twitchier by the minute.  Seems we've got another decker lurking
somewhere in the area, he's been trying to trace me and Canis.  My
decker is hunting him now, so I'll haop off, and leave him in peace.
Talk to you when you get here]<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <23:20:14/10-13-57>

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Willco old chap, sorry about the delay in contact, I figured that
with some of the things that have been happening here, it might be a
good idea to take the long route around, check for tails and suchlike.
Seems we're in the clear, but my Decker can't find this lurker. He's
very good, one of the best, but this other fella has got himself
concealed somewhere.  Never mind, we'll find him, and waste him.  C'mon
home Inferno, Coffee's hot.]<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <23:20:14/13-10-57>

*****Private: Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Password received and understood.... I'll be there about midnight.
Hopefully]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <23:03:43 GMT/13.OCT.57>

n 13 Oct 96 at 22:43, Dark Avenger wrote:
*****PUBLIC:
>>>>>[ I am looking for a Decker aliased Pegasus. He broke some real good
security protocols and even destroyed a cross-referenced demon that changed
time stamps through several RTGs.
I have some private questions to him (her?), so if anyone can give me a
pointer towards him (her?), it'd be appreciated. Rewards will be paid.
I want this Arschloch that burnt my system! ]<<<<<
        -- Orion (00:15/10-13-57)

*****Internal: Long Distance Phone Call
>>>>>[From: Canis (NA/UCAS-SEA-2206-xxxx-xxxx)
     To: <Unknown User> (NA/CAS-SB-0199-xxxx-xxxx) <relay>
     To: <Unknown User> (NA/AZ-SU-4242-hihi-hihi) <relay>
     To: <Unknown User> (NA/TT-0001-1111-1111) <relay>
     To: Dark Avanger <garbled access number>

Hoi, Dark. Hope you have this phone still running. This is a tape
calling you, I don't trust this stupid Matrix thing. Orion stopped his hunt
for the Decker that screwed us just long enough to make this call somewhat
untraceable. Let's hope the best.

The chase that strange Pegasus gave us took some time, but expect me to arrive
within 36 hours. Astrally, that is.

Okami reports one of the children with you is magically active. She sez the
kid is quite powerful.  Ask Inferno to keep her - its the girl - within a ward
to avoid unwanted attraction.

Should a woman, a wolf or a raven appear within your safehouse before Inferno
arrives, don't be too concerned. It should be Okami. I hope. Well, be a bit
concerned, might be someone else.

Well, I am off now, gotta cover some Spuren, err, tracks. Oh, if you gotta
contact me, try the voice box at NA/UCAS-MW-0000-1111. Orion sez it will
encrypt anything comming in and burn any traces. Well, should do. Damn Matrix.
]<<<<<
        --  Canis (00:57:56/10-13-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Appolyon
>>>>>[Yes, sir, I did recieve your generous donation, and as such,
retribution of any sort will obvoiusly not be required.  Thank you very
much, and look forward to meeting your sister at the party, and yourself
at a later date.]<<<<<
        --  Valentine <17:46:27/10-13-57>

*****Private: Canis
>>>>>>[Quite possible, as far as I've been told there is a person
hanging in on our conversations.  my guy says it's some dude from the
gov. but I don't know.  He's had a trace that has been altering my mail
a tad, and says no-one is tapped in, but there's definately somebody
listening.  Will be ready for your arrival when you come up the drive
you will be challenged answer >>encrypted<< or I'm afraid the guy will
probably waste you.  We're all a little nervous up here at the moment,
and the guys are getting twitchy trigger fingers.]<<<<<<
      - Dark Avenger <23:10:14/10-13-57>

*****Internal: Long Distance Phone Call
>>>>>[ From: Dark Avenger (NA/UCAS-CHI-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx)
     To: Canis <NA/UCAS-MW-0000-1111>
Have phone running, sorry Orion couldn't trace the SOB.  OK, will
expect your arrival in that time.  We should be heading out within 72
hrs to >>Encrypted<< would like to meet you physically at this time.
Will inform Inferno of this development regarding the child. And a word
with Bull.]
      - Dark Avenger <01:02:14/10-14-57>

*****Private: Inferno
>>>>>[ Good to hear that Inferno, you're needed.  By the way, are you
still into cookies with your cuppa?  If you need an escort let me know,
I've got two guys I can spare to bring you home]<<<<<
     -- Dark Avenger <23:31:07/13-10-57>

>>>>>[Ryuga, trends are everything as far as the market is concerned.
 you are right, a trend like this is VERY disturbing. Smart money says
that every trader on Wall Street is chain-smoking and gulping soykaf
nervously because they're wondering what surprises next week's trading
day will bring. With about 8 hours to go before the New York market opens,
the tension is probably extremely high right now. None of them are probably
sleeping well, if they are at all. The suits are scared out of their minds.

In fact, the trader whose apartment window I can see into (with the aid
of a good pair of binoculars) has been pacing all night, watching the
newsfeeds and apparently fighting with his wife once every hour. He's
on his second pot of soykaf and is almost done with his first pack
of smokes. He just hung up the telecom- probably talking with his boss.
He knows he's in trouble tommorrow. I have a good idea just how bad
it's going to be for him.]<<<<<
        -Dark Elf <**:**:**/**-**-**>

*****PRIVATE:  Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Ok DA...  Here's a rundown on what we know for all you outside the
CZ...  Basically, there has been an invasion into Earth by some really nasty
spirits being called Insect Spirits, as they tend to reflect similar insects
here on earth.  Here, take a look at this file that has been distributed
among the CZ for a while now.  This explains a lot, and should give you some
idea about what it's like inside.

+++++File Bug.Cty >>Chicago, City under Seige<< transferred

As far as we can tell, the Mantis spirits are hunting down the other Bugs.
As a Shaman once said, "As above, so below".  Here, real Mantids hunt other
insects...  This seems to hold true with the spirits...  We've gotten to
know a little more than i would have liked about the Mantis spirits, but
that's something Johnny will have to tell you when he gets the chance.  He
was...  real close to one of them once...  Long story, though chummer, and
not mine to tell...

No probs about the ignorance, pally...  Seems Ucas and Ares are real keen on
keeping Bug City (Chicago's Nickname in teh CZ) under wraps...  They fed us
that Viras scam too when the wall went up, but...  That's not something you
hide real well....

Give your employer my regards and my thanks, and tell them that if they want
anything on the city, they've got it, on the condition that it get's out to
the public...

BTW, tell your employer that aiding every breakout attempt may not be a good
idea, at least not without heavy astral backup and recon.  As you can see
from the Bug City file, they can look very human.

I really don't know where they came from...  That's something to ask a
Shaman, and good luck getting a straight answer.  No one knew inside, and
it's a good bet no one knows outsaide.  And the bugs ain't talking.  I'll
tell you one thing, it's not a corp.  At least not directly.  I have my
suspicions that things may have been helped along by certain individuals,
but for now I won't say anything, as I don't know for sure.

Apparently, unlike other Shamans, the spirits actually control the Shaman,
rather than the Shaman works with and for the totem.  These are alien to all
known magic.  And they should be unable to use Mage powers.  they should be
Shamanic only, but they are...  ask a mage for a good definition on those,
cause I can't give it.  I don't really understand the magic drek myself. And
as I said, get all the magical help you can get.

Show Inferno the Vid Sequences when you get a chance...  He'll understand
them better.  And you, my friend, have gotten involved in some big time bad.
Unfortunately, I'm right there too, so...<grin>

Please don't discount me as your average hacker.  i've seen my share of the
streets.  Granted, the keyboard is my home turf, but I can hold my own.  You
can count on me if things get thick and hairy.

Please post that file to everyone concerned with this operation, as well as
your employer.  This needs to be known.  Also, we need to be careful, as I
believe several of the spirits after our party may have escaped the CZ
during our fight.  Thanx.]<<<<<

        -Bull  (03:43:21/10-14-57)

*****Private: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Hello all.  I just wanted to say hi to those of you I haven't met yet.
My name is Bull, and I've just left teh Chicago CZ, and I am kissing the
Bug-Free ground as we speak.  For those of you unfamiliar with what is truly
happening inside the CZ, here's a file that was compiled inside.  Please
read it and distribute it to all your friends.  The word most go out.

+++++File Bug.Cty >>Chicago, City under Seige<< transferred

There you go.  Please read that and----  >>message interupted<<

*****Mirrors Program Operating.
*****Routing.
*****Routing.
*****Trace Defeated.

Dammit!  Some fraggin' decker tried to trace that file transfer...  I got
rid of him, but he's good.  Watch out Boys and Girls...  someone's watching
us closely.

Well, I look forward to meeting you all.  Thanks.]<<<<<
        -Bull (03:56:57/10-14-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Black Knight
>>>>>[Sir, I just picked this up off shadowland.  I believe it's that decker
we've been watching.  I managed to defeat his trace without him knowing.
Here's a copy of the file, as well as one he was sending out.

+++++File Bull.1, Encrypted

+++++File Bug.Cty, Encrypted

Anything else, sir?]<<<<<
        -Black pawn (04-01-52/10-14-57)

***** INTERNAL: Serenity - Overwatch
>>>>>[ I wasn't suggesting that we invoke it at this time, only that we

As for Nightmare being the 'friend' .. it's hard to say.  Jason hasn't
received any mail from Nightmare recently, but that's not proof positive.
I just don't know. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <10:51:34/10-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[  Tristiana and I will be there .. wouldn't miss the party for the
world.  ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <party/animal>

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Deckers
>>>>>[ Why'd he hafta go and do that.  He _knows_ we're going to be
tempted as hell to play with that encryption.  Sorry, guys, I'm not
going to make that game of Jungle Battle X2 tonight.  I'm going to
be busy.. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <12:03:58/10-14-57>

>>>>>[DA! Bull! Anyone!!!!! Where are you?]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <17:48:32 GMT/15.OCT.57>

Personal:Inferno
>>>>>>[Im here Inf whats the problem?]<<<<<
    -- Smudge <18:04:45/15:10:57>

*****Private: Smudge
>>>>>[No problem now. Panic's over. I thought I'd lost 'em for a moment, but
I'm there now. (I got delayed a bit.....)]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <18:30:14 GMT/15.OCT.57>

*****PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Inferno, I read you load and clear]<<<<<
        -Wells (10:38:22/10-14-57)

*****PRIVATE:  Inferno
>>>>>[I got your message, Inferno.  What's wrong?  We are still waiting for
you at >>Place<< but cannot wait much longer.  Please respond.]<<<<<
        -Bull (12:50:26/10-15-57)

>>>>>[New York market dropping like a stunned falcon? Oh, goody, time to
build up my stock portfolio again. Buy cheap, sell dear, be rich and
happy. Even I know that much.

A friend tells me that the London markets are just pegging New York:
there doesn't seem to be any downward momentum there that he's noticed.
Yet. He tried to explain it all to me, but it made my head hurt:
basically he doesn't think it's an accident and he (and everyone else)
is trying to figure it out so they can ride it out and make money on its
back.

Good luck to him, is all I can say. As long as I still come out ahead in
the long run, I'm happy.

Oh, by the way, any samurai want to make some easy money and have some
fun? I'm recruiting OPFOR, we want people to be "the enemy" for a
training exercise. Money's >>encrypted<< and all expenses are paid, plus
there's going to be a hell of a post-exercise party. You just need to be
reasonably clean with the British government (no major warrants
outstanding).]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <18:00:15/10-14-57>

>>>>>[Hey, Quinn, you need ony physicals, or would a couple mages help
you out a bit?

I'd be happy to send a small detatchment of my people to give you a good run
for your money.

Dianna's group (formerly AJ's group) is also really good to train against.  They
are the people I call when I want to give the Serenity workouts a little
spice.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <20:37:26 / 10-14-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[Unfortunately, all of us have some rather unpleasant warrants for our
arrest in Britain.  They've always taken poorly to our supplying the
various metahumans with a signifigant percentage of thier weapons.  Of
course, we don't do that anymore, but the statute of limitations has a
LONG time before it runs out.  Sorry, no dice.]<<<<
        --  Diana, Mistress of the Night <15:00:51/10-14-57>

>>>>>[My team, on the other hand, is always in need of professional
training.  Fighting minor warlords in Africa is hardly what I would
describe as a challenge.]<<<<<
        --  Skull <15:02:06/10-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: The Might Quinn
>>>>>[ How large a team of hostiles are you looking for, and what type of
scenarios do you have in mind? ]<<<<<
        -- Imp <16:43:26/10-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[ How would you feel about setting the new FRT squad up as the hostiles
in Quinn's training excercise.  It'll be great training for the team. ]<<<<<
        -- Imp <16:50:30/10-14-57>

>>>>>[I can vouch for Skull and his group as well.  They are quite
professional and are good at doing what they say they are going to do.

It would be a pleasure to work with your group again.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <21:06:10 / 10-14-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: The Might Quinn
>>>>>[Sure.  Go and do this when I already have a job.  Actually, the way
things are looking now, I might end up near Britain.  If you give me a
number I can stop by when this job is finished.

Oh, and if you see Lilith soon, tell her that she'll have a full report on
my doings for the last week and a half in a few hours.  Things have been too
busy lately to send anything off.  Thanks.]<<<<<
        -- Blade <18:26:26/10-14-57>

>>>>>[The Zone's getting worse, true enough. The gangs are getting more
and more blatant, the bugs better and better organised, and Snake's
right - they seem to be learning how to use collaborators as well as
their own sort. Basically, any time you go in there, you virtually have
to consider anything moving to be hostile. If it wasn't hostile, it
would be hiding from you.

A few groups are still ferrying weapons, ammo, trained bodies in, trying
to protect a few enclaves. Some of those enclaves are getting lifted out
now, a few dozen at a time, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to
how many people got caught inside the Wall. Must be over half a million
dead now, and winter's going to kill a lot of the remaining survivors:
no heat, no power, never enough food.

It's harder and harder to find airdrop sites where the food actually
reaches those that need it, and casualties among the strike units who
try to enforce distribution are getting to unacceptable levels. Manning
the CZ is bleeding us white.

I still think that, within a year, there'll be so many bugs and so few
peoples that we'll be left with just nerve-gassing the whole city with
thickened VX and killing everything inside. I can't see any other
option, against the numbers and strength of the insects in there, other
than just keeping the Wall manned.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <17:50:42/10-14-57>

>>>>>[Can't you fools see that the whole bug fiasco is nothing but a vile
meta-"human" conspiracy?]<<<<<
        --  Dominique Vega  <15:47:51/10-14-57>
            Communications
            Humanis Policlub, Seattle

>>>>>[ Inferno, this is Orion speaking. Canis and I are on the run. We  are
physically near the mentioned place. We had severe problems, someone was
following us.

Canis took care of the pursuers, but it took him out cold. But it was a nice
firework, if I may say so. Our arrivial will be delayed, I fear.

Watch out, there seems to be a real heatwave coming down, and your...
operation is the only one we are connected to that might be the reasons. Watch
security protocols on all channels, even private and/ or encrypted ones. Looks
like this Pegasus-Arsch was better then I thought.

How is your team? Any casualities yet?  ]<<<<<
        -- Orion <00:37/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Hello Orion.  Nice to trace, err...  meet you.  I'll be seeing you.
BTW, for future reference, you shouldn't post private transmissions on the
public post.  Very, very sloppy.  But don't stop on my account.  It makes my
job sooo much easier <g>.]<<<<<
        -- Black Pawn (18:40:29/10-14-57)

*****PRIVATE: Blademaster
>>>>>[Thanks for a good evening. You do know there's a pack of vampires
following you around? They buttonholed me while I was waiting by my bike
(letting the detox patch burn off the whiskey before I rode anywhere)
and basically said I should stay away from you, unless I wanted to make
some money killing you and some of your friends.

I do so love people who do their research before they threaten people...
anyway, I was polite and didn't give them an excuse to start a fight. We
might not be taking long hot showers together, but you're a good guy to
drink with and I don't intend to let any vampires get in the way of a
promising acquaintance.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <18:07:42/10-14-36>

*****PRIVATE: Spirit
>>>>>[I have a special requirement for some more of your arrows: I need
twenty with wooden heads, or some implementation thereof. The reason, as
you might guess, is that I may have vampire troubles in the near future.
Can you manage those?]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <18:09:24/10-14-57>

*****Private: The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[Sounds interesting, and I have a Brittish Passport, the old man was a
ex-pat' who livied in Hong Kong...so I wsa able to get a Brit SIN with no
problem.   And the SIN is clean. contact me @>HERE<]<<<<<
          --Death Jestor (19:01:42/10-14-57

***** PRIVATE: Orion
>>>>>[Excellent to see you are still alive.  I've been a bit worried
about you since your last leave.

So, do you have time to have dinner with myself and possibly a guest?]<<<<<
        -- Kor <02:04:48 / 10-15-57>

>>>>>[To Dearest Darling Vega:

   Eat drek and die.

This has been a public service message from your favourite running duo:
Jen and Gabe. (Nah, we don't usually push PC buttons, but when dipdrek
here opens his hoop and starts spewing, you just have to respond, so
kah?)]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <22:16:32/10-14-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: InfoScholar
>>>>>[How are you when it comes to confidential information
gathering?

     Even though just getting mail from us should be payment enough, we're
willing to pay >>a lot<< =Y= for a job well done.]<<<<<
       -- Jen and Gabe <22:45:43/10-14-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: Jennifer and Gabriel
>>>>>[My services do extend into the less than well known.  How secure
the information, and where my particular sources are placed have a great
deal to do with my success.

As in most situations, the more nY you spread, the more success is achieved.

What are you interested in?  And how badly (?? nY) do you want to know?]<<<<<
        --  InfoScholar  <23:03:37/10-13-57>

>>>>>[Obviously, Jen and Gabe are either demons or the flunkies of demons.
Which is worse?]<<<<<
        --  Dominique Vega <21:08:26/10-14-57>
            Communications
            Humanis Policlub, Seattle

*****Invasion_Force.1 :Open broadcast. Headset radio
>>>>>[Sorry to leave you like that people, something needed to be
sorted.  An idea I had about our opponents seems to be panning out.
Have set a small trap for them. I'm hoping my people will be able to
delay them long enough for us to get Bull and company out.  I'll have to
leave you in charge for no Inferno.  I'm gonna run interference, don't
know when, or if I'll make it back.  Keep the coffee hot, let me know
were you take everybody.  I'm going to get the Boppers that are tagging
our butts. Recommend you bug out from safe house.  It might get a little
warm in there soon.  Sorry to do this to you Inferno, but circunstances
demand my personal attention. In case I don't see you again.  It was
nice knowing you.]<<<<<
      -- Dark Avenger <19:36:13/15.10.57>

***** PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[Ok, I would like to have that job. Consider me as having officially
accepted that offer of employment. What are the details...when is the next
session of your training camp? Thanks.]<<<<<
        -- Cassandra <23:12:14 / 10-14-57>

***** PRIVATE: Cassandra
>>>>>[Come in now!

I need to get some sleep, but you can stay at my place for now, and when
I get up later this afternoon Ill drive you over to the training facility.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <06:32:36 / 10-15-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[He who shouts loudest generally has something to hide, Dominique.]<<<<<
        -- JayCee <09:50:35 / 10-15-95>

>encryption / hidden<
+++++ Download Trailer v2.02b: target Vega, Dominique
>encryption off/ hidden off<

>>>>>[Part of the reason for fluctuating the markets might be to cause a
stampede of people moving shares around.  I don't like the way that one
stablises and another goes... sooner or later they'll all go. I think.

Regarding Lynch's comment on the Zone and annhilating everything in it:

It might not be a bad idea, but some of those bugs plan, and well.  I have
a deep suspicion that somewhere in all the people coming out are some mixed
collaborators. Hellfire - even a few good flesh forms.  Eventually there
will be little pockets everywhere outside the wall as well.  Winter might
be too late.]<<<<
        -- JayCee <09:52:37 / 10-15-95>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[ Huh? Not that I have ever been known to turn down an offer for a
dinner, but I am quite sure here's a mistake...

I am relatively new to this region, have haunted the CalFree Shadowland BBS so
far. But if that doesn't keep you from inviting me... *grin*

After I get that Arsch who blew my system, of course. You don't happen to know
someone named Pegasus, do you? ]<<<<<
        -- Orion <12:48:36/10-15-57>

>>>>>[ Black Pawn (yup, this is going public, too, so even your bosses can
read what I think of you) it was fully intentionally I set it up public. What
use is it to

+++++ Trace IC detected....
+++++ Relocate Stardust activated...
+++++ Relocating...
+++++ Trace IC defeated.
+++++ Stardust Report: Trace Benchmark: 5
                       Trace Location: NA/UCAS-MW (98.2 %)
                                  LTG: 3312 (47.1 %)
                               Access: 7834 (0.9 %)

What, that's all? What use it is to hide the data stream if Pegasus is still
on my hoop? I didn't offer any data you shouldn't have had for a long time if
you were earning your money, slavedeck. But enjoy.

Who are you working for, anyway? ]<<<<<
        -- Orion <10:43:13/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Yeah Vega, we're demons. Now acquire a brain cell before we toast
your pink ass.]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <10:14:54/15-10-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: InfoScholar
>>>>>[We're looking for the happenings around an incident we were
supposedly responsible for:

   A few months back a certain research executive was (supposedly) killed
in his home. Null persp -- We care not. But the walking fasion-disasters
who were pretending to be us did a good enough job that the nobrained
execs of that corp decided to blame us. The basic information regarding
this event was posted to Shadowland -- so you've got a running start.

Requirements: Who. When. Where they are now. How... And that this
investigation remain entirely confidential.]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <10:21:23/15-10-57>

>>>>>[ Well maybe not demons, but definitely corporate backed.  Not all that
much difference, the way I see it. ]<<<<<
        -- Tangent <10:25:37/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Tangent:

   Disturbingly competent != corporate backing. At least not in our
case...

 Now stop trying to cover up for your own inadiquacies by insulting
your betters.]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <10:32:14/15-10-57>

>>>>>[ Any time, any place, Jen & Gabe. ]<<<<<
        -- Tangent <11:15:15/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Jen and Gabe may be flunkies of demons(whichever corp is backing
them, of course), but whichever is worse is obvious.

Choose one of the following:

A:  Demons
B:  Flunkies of demons

I choose C, _you're_ worse.

Have a nice day.]<<<<<
        --  Slash <09:28:18/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Disturbingly competent you two are not.  Tangent's and my teams have
had the opportunity to run up against each other on occasion, and I
assure you that what we've been through would have left you both dead,
or at least so far from life that cybermancy or HMHVV would have been
required too bring you back.

I'm surprised your handlers let you out so soon.  It's obvious that your
embarressing episode which was so publically distributed disturbed them
enough to call you home for a full debriefing.

It's unfortunate that they didn't call you home permanently.]<<<<<
        --  Skull <09:35:23/10-15-57>

>>>>>[ Although I don't know who they were, I wish tooffer my condolence to
the families and friends of the people who died today in a black Westwind at
about 09:30 hours. I think their death was unneccessary and their employers
are to blame who gave orders rather to shoot at us then let us escape.

I acted in self defence, but do feel really sorry for the death of these - as
I have no reason to doubt - valuable and brave people. I mean it, I feel
sorry.

To those who sent them out to follow us. Such attempts will not be taken
lightly, and opposition should be expected, although I don't normally try to
kill of employees. Please be in the vehicle yourself, next time. Thank you.  ]<<<<<
        -- Canis <16:37:27/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[ Ah, finally Orion set up this Alias-Thingy for me. Good...

To all, as I suppose Orion has already informed you, we have been followed by
a car when we were closing in towards Chicago. After we nearly managed to
shake them, they opened fire, using some kind of assault rifle. I was forced
to use a spell to stop the car, unfortunately it was a bit... strong.

Orion said the Westwind nearly dissolved into its parts, a behaviour that's
not clever at a speed of more then 200 kilometers per hour. I don't want to
cite what Orion said, he's a bit tactless sometimes, but I take it the
passengers were immediately dead. He said there was nothing left to examine,
plus the "show" (his word, not mine) did attract too much attention, so he
made our gettaway.

Can someone point me to who is tracking us this effectivly? The Wichsers need
to be stopped ASAP!

I will not join the team right now, not until time has shown we really did
loose all followers. Instead, I will do a quick trip to where the battle with
the bugs took place. Maybe I have a chance to find traces of these strange
elementals. This means I will need Okami, so you'll have to take full astral
cover, Inferno. Is there any help nearby you can draw to your aid?

Avanger, good luck for you, too. Sorry, I don't dare to come near the
safehouse now, can't assist you. But don't be so pessimistic: You GOT to get
out there: You are owing me a pack of cigarettes! So cover yourArsch, damit!
Got that?

Bull, Orion sez someone might be not only tracing the messages we leave here,
but may even be deciphering them. Is this possible? When will you be in a
position safe enough to examine? Orion will be needed to cover my meatbod, so
he can't do it himself. ]<<<<<
        -- Canis <16:44:33/10-15-57>

>>>>>[NASDAQ continued to take it's lumps yesterday, but is back to
normal today. Now AMEX is taking the hit. I'd be stating the obvious
if I said it looks like someone is nailing each of the major
domestic markets for two days in a row...

Anyway, I think I've found another pattern in the Tacoma kidnappings.
Most of the kidnappings are just random, designed to throw off
pursuit. BUT If you look closely at three specific cases, you'll
note that they occurred the day before each of the three domestic
stock markets crashed. Coincidence... doubt it. I've got a frame
sorting through birth records and current adresses of relatives
stored in several different public databases. Unfotunately, it's going
to take a few days to get a good picture of what's going on, and by
then, the damage may already be done.]<<<<<
        -Dark Elf <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[Ah, it's great to be back. Once again, all of Seattle has a
yardstick to compare itself to.

Although we are left wondering: What DID Skull have to do without us
around? You can only posture with yourself for so long... (After that, it
gets immoral)]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <12:57:43/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Tangent: If you are sooooo certain of your abilities, why not take a
brief jaunt down to Actechnology tonight? Get as far below the arcology as
you can. When you get there, you'll find out why...]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <12:57:43/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: Jen and Gabe
>>>>>[Do you two EVER shut up?]<<<<<
        -- Ghost Mailer <CORRUPT/CORRUPT>

>>>>>[The only demon here is you Vega. Take your crap and your ass
somewhere outta my way or you might find an un-happy ork runnin over you
in your own car(if ya gots one!). Or maybe I'll just nukle your house
while you're inside. Take care of the whole problem. But wait, I forgot,
that racist bullshit is an excuse to make good natured orks like me do
stuff like that so we can become a more plausible target for
"extermnination of the demons!". Well, care to try exterminating this
one?]<<<<<
        --  Hit and Run  <13:10:32/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Shields, I've seen a few of those kids you were talkin' bout few
weeks back.  Chased one, a girl, into an alley in Belltown on the
Waterfront.   Ya know, down by Post Alley?   Anyways, the kid
frickin' vanished.   You sure we ain't chasin' spirits.   I'm
pretty beefed, and that girl was bookin']<<<<<
     -- Guido <10:20:32 / 10-15-57>

>>>>>[WHOA!!!! Guido, hey, there's a voice from the past.  Last I knew,
you were in CFS somewhere.  San Diego?   What brings you back to
Seattle?  So, how far from Post Alley were you?   Basilisk still
needs to look at the wiring stuff we got from the dead kid.   Send
me whatever info you've got, Guido.]<<<<<
     -- Shields < 10:23:43 / 10-15-57 >

***** PRIVATE: Canis
>>>>>[No casualties yet, but my suspitions are building. Get here. I think I
might need a mage before I reveal what I suspect!!!]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <19:18:22 GMT/16.OCT.57>

***** PRIVATE: Jason RW Lynch
>>>>>[A short while ago you and I discussed a matter that might have had
the need to come to the attention of your superiors.  I have, unfortunately,
recently been informed that that matter has come to an unnatural close.

Wilkenson, also known in the shadows as Stampede, is dead.

I suspect internal, but its not my place to dig into UCAS matters any further
than necessary to fulfil my contract to my charge.

I'd like to thank you, both personally, and corporately, for your help and
the help of your agency.  I hope we will be able to work together again
in the future.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <17:48:34 / 10-15-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** INTERNAL: Serenity Field Officers
>>>>>[One of our newest recruits, L. E. Brody also known as Cassandra, is
coming in a bit on the hot side.  I dont know who or what is following her
but Ill take a good field op anyway I can get one.

I would, however, like to know what the hell we are going to be in for when
the proverbial shit, hits the fan.

Get out there and find out, 'k?]<<<<<
        -- Jason <17:59:52 / 10-15-57>

>>>>>[As if immoral has ever stopped Skull.  Or you two, for that matter.

But if you're really interested in learning what Skull and the rest of our
unit were up to, here's a list.

Desert training in Somalia
Jungle warfare in the Ivory Coast
Concealed naval assault in Indonesia(you'll forgive me if I don't mention where)
Aiding the Yucatan resistance
Submarine combat training in Hawaii
Airborne training over the Rocky Mountains, Pueblo Training Grounds,
Algonkian-Manitou icefields, and the Togo jungles.
Weapons testing for 4 corporations.
Night combat drops over 4 continents
And 6 other combat operations which will not be discussed.]<<<<<
        --  Fat Chance <12:34:05/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Hmmm, better make sure we're not traced on this...

+++++Download Anti-Trace Program  Re-route_66.exe

+++++Begin Re-route 66.exe

Ok people, it's me again...  Things have ben a bit busy around here
lately...  Ok, I've gotten a lock on our tracer...  Managed to follow him
home before I got detected and had to burn him down.  Seems that Black Pawn,
I believe he's a friend of yours Orion?  <grin>, works for Ares or the UCAS
governement, not sure which.  They seem to be working jointly on this, so
the decker could have belonged to either of them.  Also, seems taht there is
more than one Black Pawn.  All their slave-deckers use that handle, I believe...

Also, I have not been able to track down *anything* on this Pegasus fellow.
I even managed to contact an old decking buddy from down Atlanta way, and
he's never geard of the guy.  And Spinning Diamond's been running teh
shadows and the electron highways since I was born.  Either this Pegasus is
extremly new, or he's VERY good.

Canis, Orion...  Good job handling that tailer.  The deaths are regretable,
but we seem to have gotten involved in something that at least two parties
want left alone, and the play for keeps.

Keep yourself hidden, Canis...  We look forward to seeing you, but if
tehy're following you that closely, go to ground for now...  If you need
supplies, call a Dwarf named goober at >>encrypted<< and tell him I sent ya
and that he should bill me for the supplies.  he can get ya just about any
hardware you may need.  Just tell him that "Bull owes him a Mox" for the
supplies and he'll know what you're talking about.

As for the astral, Johnny's back on his feet and eager for some payback, so
we should have enough magical support between him, Inferno, Daytripper, and
Xuxa...  You keep your own rear covered on this one.

IYeah, we've been made several times, but i am currently re-routing the
signals now that I have my equipment running again.  the trace shouldn't
happen again.

Ok people, we look forward to seeinbg you all when we can.  Hopefully we'll
all be able to meetup soon.

+++++End program Re-route_66.exe]<<<<<
        -- Bull <14:13:37/10-15-57>

>>>>>[As long as the magicians are happy throwing non-lethal stuff,
fine. Water bombs, stun bolts, illusions, nicely placed barriers... I
find strategically icing over stairs to work well. This is, after all,
only an exercise. Let me know who you intend to send so we can sort out
the visas and whatever.

I'd like to work with Diana - I hear good things about her - but I think
it would be difficult for her and for us to get her and her people in.
This does still involve crossing borders, and is pretty official.]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <18:40:31/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind, Skull, Imp, Blade, Easy, Death Jestor,
Lynch, Lilith
+++++Create alias: Hat Squad
>>>>>[Okay, you're the people (or the leaders of groups) who have
expressed interest in this little hop.

Briefing: we're providing OPFOR to A Company, 3 Para, for a ten-day
exercise based in Whinney Hill training area. We'll basically be playing
ourselves, in both offensive and defensive roles (hostage-takers,
terrorists, armoury raiders, covert infiltrators, snipers, whatever) for
exercise Burning Plain IV, from 22-31 October.

Accomodation: we'll be in quarters in Catterick for most of the
exercise, or sleeping out in the village for a couple of nights. We'll
mostly be eating in the officer's or SNCO's messes (probably end up
being individual choice), so bring your manners :) It's also likely to
be cold, so make sure you take your wooly vest. I'm not kidding about
the weather, this is North Yorkshire in November and it's odds-on to be
wet and windy. Being casevacked with hypothermia is not fun.

Weapons: a slightly tricky issue, the British not being fans of armed
self-defence, and there being very obvious safety implications on an
exercise like this. Basically, the deal is this: we can bring in damn
near anything we like, but no ammunition: training will be with gel
rounds, which they can provide in most common calibres. If you don't
want wear and tear on a personal weapon, there's a passable collection
of firepower there which you can sign out as needed.

For the paranoid, though, I negotiated permission for a handgun each,
plus ammo, for security and defensive purposes (us being rough uncouth
colonials - or colonised - and all), but it goes in the armoury before
you go onto the training area. No live rounds inside the training zone.
Period. And you can't take it off the garrison, either, unless you're
able to negotiate - or have already done so - a FAC "with carriage".

Contact me for details if you think you need this, though I can assure
you that nobody's shot at anyone else in Catterick for years (apart from
a bodged raid on the post office) and I won't be armed off-base.

Money, sum as discussed, plus all medical and repair expenses (this
could be rough, people lose teeth and break bones occasionally), payable
in certified credit on completion. It's not exactly retirement cash, but
the phrase "money for old rope" leaps to mind - we're going to be
shooting guns and jumping out of windows and having fun, there's minimal
risk, and we're getting _paid_ too? :)

Other issues... the Paras are a rather rowdy bunch. Don't take any crap
from them - they'll take the mick out of anyone and everyone, and expect
to get it back in equal measure. When we hit town for the party,
remember British beer's rather stronger than the gnat's piddle they brew
over here. And, in the restaurant, don't worry about the menu, just ask
for the Vindaloo Extra :)

That's it. Comments, questions, ideas?]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <19:40:21/10-15-57>

>>>>>[That's the problem, Jen and Gabe. The only way the two of you
manage to survive is by corporate backing... notice the way you were
reeled back in after that hopelessly bodged run?

The people who remind you that you're two overdressed, underskilled
wannabees have established reputations. You two don't (what you say
about yourself doesn't count). What matters is your work, and we've seen
it... and we are _not_ impressed, though your backup is rather good.

Presumably you're meant to be a deniable front. It doesn't work.

We know who you are.

We know who you work for.

We're watching you.]<<<<<
        -- Lilith <19:01:06/10-15-57>

>>>>>[No, the bugs were being bred by Alamos 20,000 who intended to
release them in Tir Taingire, but they screwed up and the bugs got out.
I have evidence to prove it, too.]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <18:50:21/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: Imp
>>>>>[Team numbers, almost as many as I can get: anything up to thirty
or so will be fine, means we're not all working flat-out if we have
extra people along. If you want to bring a group, great.]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <18:45:21/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Lynch has suggested the use of thickened VX toxin to wipe out the
remaining enhabitants of Chicago, or what is now known here as "Bug City."
While this may aid in removing the problem of corporeal life in the city
grounds it suffers from two considerable problems.

The first, is simply mounting the support for such an action.  Only the
UCAS government would be able to mount such an operation (possibly with
the aid of Corporations, but, a corporation would not do this without the
tacit approval of the UCAS).  It is doubtful that they could justify to
their "constituants" the loss of life that that would cause.  Is there not
in the Judeo-Christian tradition a story where their God was asked if he
would destroy a city if there were but a handful of good people left
within it, and he said he would not?  While I believe the UCAS lacks the
reservation of a deity, I don't think they could justify the slaughter of
the innocent with the damned.

The second is that while the bodies of the people within the CZ would be
destroyed, the actual insect spirits themselves could remain free from
harm within the astral plane.  Worse yet, the nature of the VX chemical
would no-doubt render the entire CZ a toxic zone.  The insane rage of a
spirit affected by his domain becoming so polluted, I have been told,
could be far worse than what difficulty exists now.  This is educated
speculation on my part, perhaps some of my magically enclined brethren can
illuminate more on these issues.

All told, the "clensing" of the CZ will not be a viable option until it is
reasonably assured that all attempts to free the unaffected individuals
has been made.  Next, a less toxic method must be found (perhaps napalm
enducing a clensing fire).  Finally, there must be a considerable effort
to simultaneously wipe out the threat that exists outside of mundane
existance.  I only wish that I could some how be a part of it.]<<<<<
        --  WhiteTyger <12:49:43/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Thanks for the vote of confidence, Quinn.  Being blatently illegal
has its disadvantages.  Just keep me in mind for the future.]<<<<<
        --  Diana, Mistress of the Night <13:49:20/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Inferno
>>>>>[ Uh - I thought I did make clear what I think of joining you right now.
But if you insist, I suppose there has to be a good, convincing Grund. OK,
expect my arrival at about 23:30 hours. We will come in in a somewhat battered
grey Nomad, with two fresh holes in the back. And the reason is better Good
with capital "G".

Oh - one more thing... I am NO mage. Please. I follow Wolf, not the strange
totem of higher mathematics.

When you are not at >>Encrypted<<, call me at the number I gave DA. Oh - and
have people out to cover us when we come in - I am still not convinced we
really shook all folowers, although anything is quit right now. Deadly
silent...

We will use the password DA gave to us when we come in. Oh - speaking of wich,
any news from him? Did his plan already have success? I do not dare calling
him now for obvious reasons... ]<<<<<
        -- Canis <21:40:12/10-15-57>

***** INTERNAL: Inside safehouse in Chicago, near CZ
>>>>>[The area was calm. Slightly the colors of anger, fear and nervosity  drifted in
from the next room, where the runners her master had told her to protect were
discussing what to do next very loudly. Well, for now it didn't concern her.
And there was this man now, who was obviously capable of taking her part.

If it weren't for the children, this last order of her master would have been
awfully boring. They were sitting on a matress in a corner of the room, playing
something with paper and pencils. Every now and then, they would start to
laugh, both of them, not as reaction to stress, as she had seen with these
strange Shadowrunners sometimes, but out of pure joy of life.

They were refreshing, especially the girl. She had power, lots of raw power.
She wondered what might become out of that litttle kid that took so easily what
the older humans feared so much. She herself feared them, too, these monstrous
spirits that were making all of her instincs cry out.

The feeling in this room was good, peacefully, even filled with joy. Slowly she
materialized, looking the children over. With the physical view she saw two
small orks. The boy looked surprised, but not fearful, while the girl just
smiled at her. She had known the girl had noticed her while she kept guard.

She walked two steps over to the children, and gave them both a quick stroke
over the head.

"I hope we will se again," she said.

After that, she dissolved her physical presence, and followed her master's
call. Work was at hand, and Okami was willing to take her part.]<<<<<
	-- Sascha <13:50:02 / 10-15-57>

>>>>>[Don't forget natural predators, there 'Tyger.

The heavily armed, metahuman with magical backup has been proven to
be _the_ most effective weapon against bug infestation.

It will probably never be known the total number of hives
exterminated outside of Chicago, for the most part without the use of
traditional chemical weapons.  FAE's are good ways to clear out the
broods and any slow flesh forms.  The trues are tougher, natch, but
elementals running shotgun tend to help with them.  More often than
not, destroying the queen can throw a hive into such a disoganized
state, the clean-up is just a matter of time and rested mages.]<<<<<
        -- Snake (14:50:02 / 10-15-57)

>>>>>[I and some felow team members are looking for some competant help.
Experts in teh fields of magic, decking, and combat are needed.  If
interested, please contact either myself, Canis, Inferno, or Dark Avenger
privately to set up an interview.]<<<<<
        -- Bull <15:07:57/10-15-57>

>>>>>[ Strange to find rasism on both sides, with my "noble cousins" from the
Tirs and the "honorable guys of the <wherever>" to the same extend. Will
people never learn?  ]<<<<<
        -- Orion <22:13:12/10-15-57>

>>>>>[To the Moronic Gaijin Duo: Jen and Gabe

Do not butcher my language with your diarrheic prattle.  You talk about
having to respond when someone opens their "hoop" and starts "spewing"?
Before you try to insult someone with another language, know what you are
saying, so you don't sound like an infant gurgling.  "Soo ka?" is a
questioning response, as in:  "Jen to Gabe wa, baka desu ne?" would cause
the response, "Soo ka?" >That is so, isn't it?<  I'd tell you to buy a
clue, or not finding that, a dictionary, but for the scrip you corp must
pay for your kind of incompetence, you probably can't afford either.]<<<<<
        --  Arashi  <13:28:46/10-15-57>

*****Private: The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[I would like to know if your offer for participation in you training
exercise is still open.  A recent run has let me know that I require
additional training myself in order to be up to the standards of the
Shadowrunning community here in Seattle.  While I am not a Samurai, I am
trained considerably in hand to hand combat as well as stealth / evasion /
counter-technique.  I am, in addition, an adept in what is known locally
as a Shamanic tradition although of an Oriental flavor.  My spirit is one
with Tiger.  While not perhaps as physically qualified as others applying
for the excursion, since I have no cyberwear, I do make a rather difficult
target, and would appreciate the chance to further my training.  My legal
record is, so far, spotless.  Currently, I have no plans pending, so
please respond at your earliest convenience.]<<<<<
        --  WhiteTyger <11:50:46/10-15-57>

***** INTERNAL: Radio Message near Chicago CZ
>>>>>[ Drek, will please get CLEAR? Whadda mean come in - come not in? Will
you please discuss matters before sending me stuff seperatly? I am hanging
here in the street now, and I don't feel good. Get

+++++ Static Error
+++++ Data Loss:1.8 Mp

and find a soultion till then. I will meet your friend, Mr. Hauer, but find a
solution FAST! Orion, street still clear? Good.

Get back to me fast!  ]<<<<<
        -- Canis <22:54:33/10-15-57>

here are a multitude of things that you can do and likely get away with
that I could only dream of trying to attempt in "the line of duty" without
being burried under a mile of very sticky red-tape covered paperwork.

Just something to remember.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <19:52:04 / 10-15-57>

***** INTERNAL:  Imp, Ken, Jim, Jas
>>>>>[ I want to go.  I've already checked and I cannot bring in a
vehicle, but that doesnt mean I cannot bring in the portable transmitters
and the like.  I promise to leave the C-12 drones at home.  I've got to
get out for a bit.  All of you have been trapsing around the
country doing runs, setting up shops, taking vacations and what have you
done?  LEFT ME BEHIND!]<<<<<
        -- Trax <19:59:08 / 10-15-57>

***** INTERNAL: Kenney, Imp, Trax, James
>>>>>[I think we'd better take Trax with us or we run the risk of
returning to smoldering ashes were our building used to stand.

We could use communication in the field.  If we are going to run this
as much as a training session for them as ourselves, we should make sure
we are prepared for an extended field march.

Anyone, other than myself and Jim with non-urbanjungle experience?  Its a
lot different dealing with hills and trees as opposed to small vehicles and
light poles.

I noticed that Imp was separate on the list.  Did Quinn say how many
people you can bring along with you or are we supposed to be going
singly?]<<<<<
        -- Jason <20:32:54 / 10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: Matrix Jockey
>>>>>[hey, meet me at >>encrypted<< if you can at >>encrypted<<.  I think we
could find this person quicker if we worked together.  But thats upto you.
I'll send you an encryption scheme soon, I don't want any unwanted eyes to
be watching.  I know how prying they can be, cya.]<<<<<
        -- Forte <17:14:10/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Fat Chance, we are impressed! All that in three months! All we
managed to do in that time was a quick global circumnav$UYHBd

vs$%
    $%^Gbnv

+++++LINE ERROR: MESSAGE NOT SENT

*****PRIVATE TO: Jen and Gabe
>>>>>[We said: Shut up. Got it?]<<<<<
        -- You know who <And if you don't/You're in deep drek>

>>>>>[Impressive Fat Chance. All that in three months? Now we KNOW you're
full of drek]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <18:09:23/15-10-57>

>>>>>[We're pleased you find us so interesting Lilith -- and you're
certainly not the only ones watching us (hell, our fan club has over
3,500 official members). But if you want personal attention, you'll
have to wait in line.]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <18:09:38/15-10-57>

***** INTERNAL: Radio Message near Chicago CZ
>>>>>[Go Canis, get clear.  i'll talk to DA and Inferno and figure out where
the mix up is.  We've been seperated for teh last day or so, and signals
have been mixed on occasion.  I will contact you when it's clear.  We will
also hopefully be getting you some reinforcements.

Can you handle whoever's following you?]<<<<<
        -- Bull  <22:55:31/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Black King
>>>>>[Sir, it appears there's some confusion in the ranks now.  I advise
moving the strike team into position to hit this wolf shaman and his pals.]<<<<<
        --  Black Pawn 2 <23:10:31/10=15-57>

>>>>>[Arashi dear:

   Before you try giving language lessons, buy yourself a better deck. If
your poor 'pooter can't properly handle embedded native language support,
don't blame us. And certainly don't try correcting us -- you'll only get
yourself in trouble.]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <18:15:34/15-10-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: InfoScholar
>>>>>[Payment numero uno:

+++++CREDIT TRANSFER: >>encrypted<< =Y=

   This is for any and all background information. We again stress that
confidentiality is of utmost importanct.]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <18:20:32/15-10-57>

***** PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[I see you're looking for some hired help. Let me know if I can be
of use - I've got some limited skill with magic (though mostly support
magic, rather than heavy-grade firepower) and I can also rig.

Yeah, don't ask. A magic rigger, I've heard the jokes before.]<<<<<
        -- Minx <08:26:09/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jennifer and Gabriel
>>>>>[After some diligent inquiry, I have discovered some details about your
 ... ahem ... 'duplicates.'  They are not to be trifled with, thus, my
increased security in communications with you.  I appreciate the advance
payment.  I shall require three more like it due to the extremely
hazardous nature of your targets.  I assure you that discretion is not an
issue with my services.

+++++download: JGimpact1.txt

This is the initial information I have compiled for you.  It is sparse, but
I am only just beginning.  Within >>encrypted<<, I will have the
remainder of the information for you.  Please make the payments every other
day until the completion of this assignment.]<<<<<
	--  InfoScholar  <18:34:56/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Bugs being produced by Alamos 20,000.  An interesting hypothesis.
Might I examine your evidence sometime, O Mighty Quinn?  My interest is
purely ...  academic.]<<<<<
        -- InfoScholar  <12:38:11/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Sounds good Minx.  We need all the help we can get.  Canis, Orion, if
you read this, send Minx a line.  I think at the moment your team needs the
most support.  Also spunds like a rigger could come in hady for you guys.

Thanks for the offer Minx.  the pay will be >>encrytped<<.  Will send you
more info once you've talked to Canis.]<<<<<
        -- Bull <09:12:10/10-16-57>

*****INTERNAL: Weeklog.101357 ... HOM
>>>>>[Negotiations have proceeded according to schedule.  The Polish and
Russian affiliates do not suspect the Azanian involvement in North America.
That should change within the week.

The Passage rite always depressed me.  Desmond was a fine shaman. Arguably,
the best in Azania.  I miss him already.  But his Passing has made us all
stronger.

Hortensia took to the ceremony relatively well.  Her face and body
language try to hide her spirit's ready acceptance of its birthpattern, but
slowly she is beginning to recognize and accept.  I am proud of her.

Meeting with my Amazonian affiliate manana.  With the steady swiftness of
the Tortoise, all the pieces fall together.  Apollyon will be pleased.

The metaworld may be his home, yet his time on this plane has changed him
remarkably.  I am glad to have forgotten my mortal existence previous to his
revelation.  Much good for all is the ultimate result.

I wonder how my metallic friend in Seattle fares.  Hopefully, I will be
able to complete my final payment to him and be done with such ...
distasteful matter.  Hmmmm ... perhaps I have not been so affected by
Apollyon's presence after all.

Cognac '73 ... amazing that its taste evokes such memories of the last
millenium.  Truly among all men, I have been most blessed.

"Excuse me, Mr. Minnifield?"

Yes ...

"Incoming call for you, please place your credchip in the slot."

Who from?

"A Mr. Chetan Gopal?"

Excellent.  <slight click>

Chet!  Magnificent to hear from you!  We're still to meet in Madrid, no?

+++++end of recording]<<<<<
        --  Apollyon  <19:21:00/10-15-57>

*****INTERNAL: Todd, Enforcement Division
>>>>>[People such as Ms. Vega do our organisation no good at all. See that
she is dealt with, if you please.]<<<<<
        --  *&^(*H <15:53:46/10-15-57>
            Humanis Policlub, Seattle

***** PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[I've just had a private communication from a friend of mine. He's
worried about his lines being traced by certain unfriends, so he'd like
to apply for employment via me. Name's Hamish - he's a pretty competent
fighter, and fairly dependable. Your friends might be able to use his
help.]<<<<<
        -- Minx <09:41:58/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Canis
>>>>>[Bull figured I might be of some use to you, and made me an
employment offer. I have some magical ability, and I can rig too. How can
I help?]<<<<<
        -- Minx <09:43:57/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Speaking of bugswatters, I've heard that Ares has put a lot of effort
into developing autonomous and/or remotely piloted robots. In particular they
are supposedly developing something for the UCAS military that can go into a
hive to kill bugs. The advantages of such a thing would theoretically be mass
producibility, toughness, and resistance to the magical powers of insect
spirits. Anyone more informed care to comment?]<<<<<
        --  Fisher <16:32:03 EST/10-15-57>

>>>>>[Or really anger you.  I'm certain that would get immediate
attention.]<<<<<
        --  Short Stuff <19:11:39/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: InfoScholar
>>>>>[If I had any evidence you could see it, but I just made that up to
piss them off. A lot of my friends are metas and they aren't demons.
Sorry.]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <01:13:31/10-16-57>

>>>>>[I personally was not involved with all of it.  But considering that
the unit is more than just a single squad(actually, Macross Rangers
numbers 10 squads, precisely 120 mercenaries).  Please read more
carefully, as I said that Skull's group did all that in the past 3
months.]<<<<<
        --  Fat Chance <19:15:47/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE: Jason R. Stormwind
>>>>>[Wilkenson was Stampede?

Damn! We missed that completely.

It wasn't us that caused his demise, at least not directly... we just
pointed out to a certain two-star general that his team was causing
ripples and generally making a mess. In short, not career-enhancing for
someone who was due for his promotion board.

I don't _think_ that led to his death. His outside activities may have
had more to do with his untimely demise...

Anyway, if we can help you again in future, let me know: if we need
anything from you we'll ask. We owe you one for that tip, anyway, you
didn't have to tell us that for free.

You in on the Para exercise Quinn's recruiting for? Should be good for a
few giggles.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R W Lynch <01:20:51/10-16-57>
           Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency.

>>>>>[Oh, damn. Thanks for the magic lesson, WhiteTyger. I never thought
about the toxic zone angle, I was concentrating on killing the bugs I
could see. So, we can't even poison the bastards.

The collateral casualties... by next spring, I honestly doubt there'll
be more than a few hundred people left inside the Zone. Everything
inside there is broken. You need weapons to fight the bugs, but there's
no ammo. You need medical attention when you're wounded, there's no
medicine. You need fuel or warm clothing in winter, there's none of
either. And less and less food is reaching the people who need it.

If we sit and wait, the problem of civilian deaths goes away because
they've all frozen, starved or been taken by the bugs.

I mean, does _anyone_ know how we could clean out two hundred miles of
bug-infested city centre and still keep a few of our own people alive?
Napalm's out - won't get into the buildings, and do you know how much
nape you need for _that_ much city? Nothing works when you're facing a
threat this tough, this numerous, mixed in with your own people.

But don't worry, WhiteTyger. When something gets found that might work,
there'll be plenty of room for anyone who wants to help.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <01:31:38/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Their little robot's only saving grace is that they are fairly
simple to put together, guide into and out of hives (though, I cannot at
all imagine any of them ever managing to get out, certainly not with all the
C-12 packed inside), and operate.

I've seen some of the test footage for the new drone (last I checked, they
weren't named yet) and I honestly do not think that they will stand up to
an insect spirit attack.

When they become available, We'll pick up a couple and see how they work
for normal urban situations.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <01:15:41 / 10-16-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

>>>>>[Oh, don't worry, Jenna and Gabriel. We don't need to join your fan
club (there's a misplaced decimal point there - shouldn't it be 3.5, and
even that's including Killer as a full member?) to fatten our files on
you. And believe me when I say I have nothing to fear from your
'personal attention'.

Sadly, you can't say the same about us.]<<<<<
        -- Lilith <01:35:16/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Bull, Canis, Inferno, Dark Avenger
>>>>>[I'm on leave and I could be free if it's interesting and it pays
all right. I shoot things. And blow things up. And drive over things in
a tank. Except it's not _my_ tank, so you'd have to provide one, or
steal one, or something, if that's what you want. I don't _need_ the
tank, I'm just good at commanding them. Lots of them, actually. But not
many people have lots of tanks, so that's not very useful.

And I can do magic, too. Especially big spells. _Really_ big spells. The
bigger the better, except I fall over after I cast them sometimes, but
they really, really blow things up, which is why they make me fall over.
Daddy calls it "astral recoil" and says I should use smaller spells, but
if I have to do magic it's _obviously_ dangerous, so I should use _big_
spells to stop it being dangerous.

Anyway, I'm really good in a big fight, but apparently I'm not very
subtle. Is that any use to any of you?]<<<<<
        -- Stephanie <02:10:35/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Stephanie sounds like my kind of girl.... What'd'ya think guys? (And
gals?)]<<<<<
    -- Inferno <02:34:56 GMT/17.OCT.57>

*****PRIVATE: WhiteTyger
>>>>>[Sure, no problem. You're added to the alias file as of now, you
should be in on any debate. Here's the spiel...

+++++include briefing.txt

Look forward to working with you.]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <01:34:31/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Canis, Dark Avenger
>>>>>[Should you require the services of someone in the "strong, silent,
tall, and dark category ... I know someone who would exceptional for you.
Are you interested?  Only a moderate >>small nuyen<< finder's fee.]<<<<<
        --  Ms. Johnston  <21:40:00/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[Upon seeing the petition to workout overseas, I immediately thought
of an individual who has been of great service to me lately that will
be willing to be out of the area for awhile.  No legal problems.  Clean
history as far as I can tell, but you can discuss this with ... him.  You
can reach him through Shadowland at "The Skull Bearer".  Will definitely
make you exercise more interesting ... just make sure you tell him no
lethal force.  Consider this professional courtesy if you end up inviting
him along.  If not, don't hold it against me.]<<<<<
        --  Ms. Johnston  <21:48:00/10-15-57>

*****PRIVATE:  The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[How large a group can you handle?  My command unit could use the
workout, but so could about half of the people not on assignment.  If you
can handle it, I'd like to bring about 3 squads, plus myself, Fat Chance,
Short Stuff, and AEPacker.

That's 37 mercenaries.

Of course, fewer than that is also acceptable, but I'd like to go no
lower than a full squad.  We train in squad units, and breaking up the
squad would run counter to that training.]<<<<<
        --  Skull <19:55:19/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Ok, Minx...  You and Hamish are now part of this party line.  Myself,
Orion, and a couple others monitor this encrypted line pretty heavily to
avoid a trace.  You should be safe using it, as should be Hamish.  I'm
working on some hardware to make communication easier for us.

Ok, what's Hamish do?  We need all the people we can get, so he's welcome
aboard.  If the two of you work as a team, have him contact Canis as well.
I wouldn't want to split up partners.

Dark Avenger...  Where in the hell are you?!?  I haven't had contact with
you in over 24 hours...  Please respond.]<<<<<
        -- Bull <22:59:12/10-15-57>

*****Private: Ms.Johnston
 >>>>>[As requested the subject will not be a problem for some time.
 may i say now that i have enjoyed our buisness together and look foward
 to future endevors.

 +++++include video 1.003

 The view comes into focus looking toward a large apartment complex.
 There are heavy iron bars encircling the building, and the neighborhood
isupper middle class. No one is seen wandering the streets.

 The camera moves toward a gate and guard shack. A cyberarm slowly comes
 into view and a gun slides out from its compartment in the forearm.
 Several shots to the hinges blow the gate open.

 When inside the view changes to thermo. Two figures are seen running
 toward the camera; both appear male. One stops approximately 20 yards
away and starts to yell to the other to "get Lonestar this thing aint
even a freakin meta-human.......what the frag are you?". As the second
begins to turn back and presumably "get lonestar" hydraulics can be
heard from just behind the camera. The first guard yells "get down
Matt!" and he dives behind a bush. Matt attempts to drop, but as he does
his body is cut in two by what sounded like sub-machinegun fire. Seconds
later the bush is also destroyed in the same manner.

 The camera goes to each body and arms are seen picking
 them up. The view then climbs several flights of stairs before laying
down the bodies outside of door 243. The image is still thermo and one
female body can be seen inside, evidently putting things into a
something. On further view, it looks as if she is packing. A loud knock
is heard, she calls out, "Who is it?" Upon hearing nothing, she
evidently panics, and begins digging through things, possibly looking
for a weapon.

 View changes to show the bodies...a hand is searching them, and finally
 comes across a mag-key. The key is inserted in the door, and it opens.
The image changes back to normal. The apartment looks like a hurricane
hit it, clothes are scattered everywhere, some neatly stacked on a
couch, others tossed this way and that, apparently thrown there as she
looked for her weapon.

 The apartment is searched, and the woman is seen crouching in a closet,
 holding a monofilament whip. She manages to get a strike out, but
although some damage is done, it isn't nearly enough. She is forcibly
gagged, and tied to a chair. The hand smacks her across the face,
drawing blood.

 The two dead guards are brought in.
  The cam focuses back on the girl, it is easy to see that if not for
the blood soaking her face she might be quite attractive. Just then, a
spur appears from a hand and jabs into her chest just below her lungs,
ripping muscle from the diaphram. She screams through the gag. The view
goes back to the guards who are hung upside down next to the girl, the
skulls are stripped of flesh and left limply hanging from the bodies.
Blood soaks into the plush carpet.

 View changes back to the girl. She is evidently in extreme pain, and
appears to be suffering from shock as well. A gentle yet chilling voice
then says quietly "you were warned" and a fist strikes her in the back
of the head causing an obvious bump to appear in millisecounds. She sags
in her bonds, unconscious.

 Sirens can be heard and seem to be getting closer. The image changes
back to thermo and leaps out of the door. Ignoring the steps the veiw
falls 2 stories then continues to move down the street.

 +++++end video

 as always if you aver need me just drop a line also if you could spred
 my name around with anyone needing my special talents i would be most
 appriciative.]<<<<<
         --  The Skull Bearer <08:30:48/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Ummm, but what do we do with her?  Are we planning to invade
somewhere?  I say sure, let's get ehr on board, but...  Where???]<<<<<
        -- Bull <23:30:21/10-15-57>

*****Internal: ChicTelCo Call
>>>>>[Hey there Canis.  Wwe've got a couple new recruits that I'm sending
your way.  You should have heard from them or be hearing from them shortly.
Sound like a decent pair of runners, and could be..*&^%@KJH#@#

+++++Line Trace Detected
+++++Execute Re-route_66.exe
+++++Failure:  Re-route_66 not activated in time
+++++Trace Successful

Oh shit...]<<<<<
        -- Bull <00:49:38/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Black King
>>>>>[Sir, we finally got a trace on tehre location, through the phone
lines.  you were right, they weren't nearly as secure.  I suggest sending a
strike team tehre immediately.]<<<<<
        -- Black Pawn 2 <00:51:10/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Black Pawn 2
>>>>>[Good work.  Strike team is mobilizing as we speak.  Keep trying to
track down that arrogant Orion.]<<<<<
        -- Black king <00:55:23/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Shit!  Drek!  Goddamn it!  We've been compromised!  Safe house is no
longer safe.  We're moving.  I'll let you all know when we get set up again.
Frag, I don't need this shit!  God damn phone lines weren't secure and I
didn't catch the trace in time...  that fraggin' slave-decker is really
pissin' me off!  Stay off the phones till I contact you.  I'll try to get
something set up to help us avoid this shit in the future.]<<<<<
        -- Bull <00:51:23/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Black King
>>>>>[Sir, the strike team reports that they were unable to locate the prey.
They moved out as soon as Bull realized we'd traced him...  The place was a
wreck and it looked like tehy'd cleared out just minutes before the team
arrived.  We're monitoring the airports and roads now to make sure they stay
here.  We'll find them sir.]<<<<<
        -- Black Pawn 2 <01:19:18/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE:  Black Queen
>>>>>[My queen, it appears our prey has escaped us once more.  We have
doubled our efforts to find them.  We are very close.  The ork shall not
escape to tell our secrets.]<<<<<
        -- Black King <01:29-51/10-16-57>

>>>>>[ Well, it wouldn't be a week without some sort of tidbit for you
all.

+++++ begin transmission

A beautiful, and extremely angry female voice shouts, "Frag you,
Blitzkrieg!"

An equally angry male voice retorts, "Bite it, whore!"

"Why YOU -" A door slams shut.  "Fine!  Walk away, you sorry
muscle-headed idiot.  I'm better off with out you."

"You're a fragging whore for money, fame, and music!  You have no
concept of the words quality and taste!  You just agreed to work with
me so you would have a shot of dating my brother!  Fragging WHORE!
Good FUCKING RIDDANCE!"  A door slams hard.

You see an angry man in a trench coat storm out and onto the sidewalk.
People scramble out of his way as the shaved-headed man storms down
the path.   The left hand, a cybernetic one, ruthlessly shoves people
out of his way.  A kid, not moving fast enough gets a fist to the face,
breaking the kid's nose.  The man, Blitzkrieg you assume, continues
storming along like the kid never existed.  He fails to notice that a
white van starts to follow him.  He also fails to notice that this van
has no tags on it.

As he is passing a troll, he suddenly stops and looks at the troll in
surprise.  The troll grins viciously and says as he slams a fist into
Blitzkrieg's right shoulder, "About time, breeder!"  Blitzkrieg grunts
and spins around and a smooth motion is backing away and drawing a
pistol.  You can see a man leans across the driver of the white van.
He pokes an assault rifle out of the window and everything seems to
slow down.

Blitzkrieg, unaware of the van opens fire at the troll, who is diving
(because he is aware of the van).  The guy with the assault rifle fires
on Blitzkrieg and the crowd.  Blitzkrieg finally realizing what is
happening, hits the ground as well.   He takes a bullet in the left
arm, but seems to ignore it.  He rolls around and shoots at the van.
The first shot misses but the second shot nails the rifleman.  The
troll, meanwhile, springs to his feet (extremely quick for a troll) and
right after Blitzkrieg's second shot, nails him with a punch.

Blitzkrieg slams into another kid and backs out onto the street, as
another gunman opens fire at him and the general crowd.  Blitzkrieg
starts running in-between cars as the troll takes off after him.
Suddenly, the troll grabs a bystander.  The bystander screams in terror
as the troll holds her in-between him and Blitzkrieg.  "Drop the gun,
Blitzkrieg!"

"Frag off, Whirlwind!"  The white van pulls up. and blocks Blitzkrieg's
only escape route.  Blitzkrieg swears and shoots the hostage in the
leg.  Whirlwind, surprised, drops her and opens fire on Blitzkrieg.
Blitzkrieg jumps over the car as bullets come crashing in all around.
Suddenly, a dull thump is heard and the other gunman has stopped
shooting.

Whirlwind shouts, "You can't escape, fool!"  As he jumps on the hood
of the car with the now blaring alarm.  Blitzkrieg runs and crashes
into one of the few brave people standing.  The boy he crashes into (a
decently in-shape 15 year old) stops him and shouts, "You shot my
sister!"

"Get out of my way, kid!"  Blitzkrieg shoots him in the groin area and
smashes him aside with the butt of the pistol.  Ejecting the clip, he
jams in another one into the pistol.  You think you hear him mutter,
ãWhat a fucking time to be packing normal rounds."  As he races around
a corner.  Whirlwind hot on his heels tramples the still falling boy,
but dives back as yet another gunman opens fire.  This one at the
troll.  You hear someone shout, "Take that you stinking, trog!"

Whirlwind quickly breaks for the van, and enters through the side door.
The van surges forward, ignoring the bullets from some unseen assault
rifle.  The van breaks through the traffic jam (by ramming any vehicle
in its way) and races around the corner that Blitzkrieg took.
Blitzkrieg however is nowhere in sight.  Hearing the police sirens.
Whirlwind curses, but the van drives out of the area.

+++++ end transmission

The van was found later.  There was one dead ork in the van that had
his cyberware ripped out.  The police have identified the ork as "J.R."
a local punk with an attitude and a rap sheet a mile long.  The police
have issued warrants for Blitzkrieg and Whirlwind, but so far neither
has been found.  Although I hear Blitzkrieg's lady friend was
questioned extensively about Blitzkrieg.  Body count is 10 with another
35 or so wounded.  Some of them aren't expected to survive the night.

The name Whirlwind seems to ring a bell.  I believe he gave Doomsday
some fits guarding the children from the massacre a year or so ago.
Didn't he have run ins with Whirlwind both in Seattle and Germany?
]<<<<<
       -- Ratspeak <21:40:14/10-15-57>

>>>>>[ Very perceptive, my rodent chum.  I believe you are correct.
Whirlwind among others was speculated as having been involved in the
massacre.  Rumor has it, that when it was realized to have been a
failure, and they finally got up the nerve to tell him that they
botched the job, he told them to go frag themselves.  (He ended up
murdering the slot who had hired him in the first place.  I guess not
all the money in the world can remove guilt.)  The guess is that the
Wanderer hired him (and some friends of his) for his past record of
dealing with Doomsday.  He went after Doomsday with zeal.  First in
Seattle, and then chasing him to Germany.  Things in Germany got ugly.
But ultimately, we got the poor troll and ork orphans out with only two
more deaths in the children.  How is not my story to tell though.  It
was tricky though, because at the same time all this was going on,
DragonEyes was going through his crisis. ]<<<<<
        -- Sprinkler <21:42:04/10-15-57>

>>>>>[ Oh that.  I remember that, almost old news.  I hear that Kor
learned the true meaning of non-violence, eh? ]<<<<<
         -- Ratspeak <21:42:26/10-15-57>

>>>>>[ I hear that you are a dead man, if I ever get my hands on you.
At least you didn't show what the person I was arguing with looked
like, you miserable slot.  Shadowfox, I believe I'm going to call a
favor you owe me. ]<<<<<
         -- Blitzkrieg <21:50:12/10-15-57>

***** Private: Blitzkrieg
>>>>>[ Contact >>encrypted<<.  He will get your identity clean, and get
you on the first plane to here.  Once you arrive here, we'll discuss
things.  And Blitz., I owe you nothing.  I'm doing this because you are
a friend.  Meanwhile, I'll also have my chum put out some feelers to
see if we can track down Whirlwind.  See you soon, Blitz. ]<<<<<
        -- Shadowfox <21:56:31/10-15-57>

***** Private: Scourge, Kor
>>>>>[ Contact Doomsday and Harker and warn them that they could
have company in their yard.  Whirlwind won't waste much time now
since he is probably assuming that Doomsday already knows.  I suspect
he will first go for Nightingale since he failed to get Blitzkrieg.
I've already contacted a friend and told him to get her to Boston,
where Gunner can help her out.  I guess this is what happens when you
are decently visible.  I wonder if this means he will try and go after
Nightmare soon. ]<<<<<
        -- Shadowfox <22:00:00/10-15-57>

*****Internal Seattle FBI Surveillance dep to Directors office
>>>>>[Sir we managed to take these pictures of the suspects.Here are the
Downloads.

Begin download.
++++++Loading surveillance Clip 3455b Sea-tac Airport
Subjects Alias:Smudge
Static fills the screen but then clears up to show the front entrance to the
Sea-tac arrival Terminal. The camera Pans in on a man exiting the building
A short man with long blond dreadlocked hair and beard wearing a
conservative buisness suit carrying a Brown Leather Briefcase.The man Looks
around and walks toward a parked taxi he bends down and says a few words to
the driver then get in and the taxi drives off.+++++Clip ends...]<<<<<
	-- Special Agent Driscol Surveillance dep <06:45:32/10-17-57>

*****Internal Seattle FBI Surveillance dep to Directors office
>>>>>[Sir the Subject has been identified as one of the people wanted for questioning
concerning the Lassiter Investments terrorist bombings.We have a second clip
that shows him with two of the others wanted for questioning ready to
receave clip?.

begin Download?:Begin
+++++Loading Surveillance clip 45644ty FireHouse Nightclub
Subjects: Alias:Smudge Alias:Katana Alias:Bear
A short burts of static that fills into a shot of the front side of the
Firehouse a small Nightclub In Redmond Seattle.
The same Blond man from the first Clip is seen stading by the entrance
lighting a cigarette the flame from the lighter glitters coldly from an
uncovered cyberarm.He puts the lighter away and walks towards a side
alley.As he approaches two shadows form out of the alley into the shapes of
two men one is a tall amerindian wearing feathers in his long greasy hair his
clothes are those of a street ganger leathers with what seems to be a west
made of ammo shells from a hip belt two revolvers hang in plain sight.The
second man is a tall Caucasian wearing biker leathers and carrying a black
helm with golden lightings painted on it he constantly scans the area around
him in short nervous movements.The blonde man smiles as he sees them and
grabs hold of them hugging them and laughing.The two men smile and slap his
back.After some hasty talking they move farther down into the alley out of
sight, A few minutes later three bikes come roaring out the alley and down
the road all ride heavy BMW 2052  B4s
The camera folloew them until they disappear then shuts of into static.
+++++Clip ends. ]<<<<<
-Special Agent Driscol Surveillance dep<06:57:45/10-17-57>

*****Internal Seattle FBI Surveillance dep to Directors office
>>>>>[As you can see the Amerindian is the terrorist Bear who was arrested
and sentenced to life inprisonment for the bombing.We beleave the other to
be the Terrorists Katana but we are not sure since Katana was reported to
have had extensive plastic surgery and body modifications done.Request
Permission to
Deploy a team of agents to capture the group]<<<<<
-Special Agent Driscol Surveillance dep<07:03:21/10-17-57>

*****Internal Seattle FBI Directors office to Surveillance Dep
>>>>>[Request denied keep them under surveillance and report any activity
directly to me.]<<<<<
-Director heiss Seattle FBI<07:05:34/10-17-57>

*****Internal Seattle FBI Directors office to project Knights Gambit
>>>>>[We have confirmation on the three men you requested being searched for
they are all in the Seattle area,but have not made any moves towards leaving
the city nor has there been any evidence that the fourth man Inferno has met
with them or been in the city. Am keeping them under surveillance as ordered.
I wish to restate my protest that these terrorists be allowed to move
freely.]<<<<<
-Director heiss Seattle FBI<07:012:53/10-17-57>

*****Internal knights Gambit to Seattle FBI Directors Office
>>>>>[Protest Noted continue with surveillance as planned if subject Inferno
is seen with them or they make ready to leave the city notify imeadietly]<<<<<
-Black Pawn 4 <07:045:09/10-17-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[Glad to be aboard lad....sorry I couldna offer me services in
person, but I was having a wee spot of trouble with some old unfriendly
aquaintances. It should be all sorted out now, and I think some poor
bastich is going to have one hell of a headache...isn't it grand having
decker friends. Glad to know you're watching this line though...would
hate to inflict me problems on the rest of you.

What do I do? He he...what don't I do? I've done six years Special Ops out
of Glasgow, and two years running in UCAS, Seattle mostly. Tactics, recon,
wetwork, demolitions... you name it, I can do it. Sounds like you guys
need some heavy firepower, and that's what I do best. If you need me, I'm
yours. Just eager to get in there and start blasting some bugs...been
sitting on my arse for way too long...

Canis...where do you want Minx and meself to report? Bull says that you
could use us. I am meeting Minx at >>encrypted<< and we'll try and catch
up with you lads from there.]<<<<<
        -- Hamish <23:27:17/10-15-57>

***** INTERNAL: Radio Message near Chicago CZ
>>>>>[ Read ya, Bull. Cover my sorry ass at adress mentioned. Really need some
stuff, hope the <cough> er, ... well, he's as good as ya say. Good luck to
yall. ]<<<<<
        -- Canis <22:55:58/10-15-57>

***** PRIVATE: Stephanie
>>>>>[ Hello, Stephanie, sounds like we could use you. Please prepare to meet
at >>encrypted<< at >>encrypted<< local time. You will meet an elf who wears
black tatoos in his face. ]<<<<<
        --Canis <12:05:38/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Minx, Hamish
>>>>>[ Read you. OK, let's meet ASAP. Place is >>encrypted<<, time is
>>encrypted<<. You will be expected by an elf with black stripes tatooed in
his face. Be there in time. ]<<<<<
        --Canis <12:03:01/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE TO: InfoScholar
>>>>>[Not bad for a day's worth of work. Keep it up.]<<<<<
-- Jen and Gabe <9:54:32/16-10-57>

>>>>>[About those 'bot bug swatters: Don't spirits have to be whacked by
something with 'spiritual force', like magic or a sword?

(Silly me, beleiving the media and all =)]<<<<<
        -- Tobias Dark <9:55:31/16-10-57>

*****Private:Lynch
>>>>>[Hmm, they do anything interesting, or just talk? I really need to
get rid of these guys, they're starting to mess with some of my close
friends. I just hope they don't find Wolfen before I can warn him, maybe
he'll come home for a bit, I can defend him better there. Oh well, can
you keep an eye out for Wolfen? He's my son. I'll let him know otherwise,
just tell him to get in contact with me if you see him. I don't trust the
Matrix now, so have him call me if you see him.
+++++include Wolfen.pic
Other than that, know any vampire hunters? I can pay well to hav a few of
these gotten rid of. I can deal with smaller numbers, but this many, even
with a lot of them new, is too much for just me. Thanx for the warning
and the drinks, it was an enjoyable evening.]<<<<<
        --  Blademaster  <10:03:41/10-16-57>

>>>>>[ Nuke it from orbit.  It's the only way to be sure. ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn <11:55:16/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[ Your job offer sounds interesting.  Are you in need of another Wolf
Shaman for support? ]<<<<<
        -- Nomad <12:00:32/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[ Hello, Val.  I'm back in the area for a few days and I was wondering
if it would be okay for me to come to Haven for a couple of days and visit
some of my old friends.  ]<<<<<
        -- Kenneth Donaldson <12:04:58/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Ok ... who let Sigourney Weaver on set?]<<<<<
        --  Hollywood Historian <12:05:10/10-16-57>

>>>>>[ Son of a bitch. ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn <12:09:30/10-16-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity Security: Personnel Division
>>>>>[  Mark me as being on indefinite emergency leave, effective immediately.
I suspect Jason won't be terribly far behind me. ]<<<<<
        -- David Jarman <12:12:50/10-16-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind
>>>>>[  I'm going after that fragger.  He disappeared on us last year, but
he won't get away again.  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn <12:14:21/10-16-57>

***** INTERNAL: Serenity Security: Personnel Division
>>>>>[  I'm on personal leave, effective immediately.  ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <12:15:54/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind
>>>>>[  I _want_ that fragger that Wanderer was working for.  Bad.  After what
Wanderer did to Tris, he's got to pay.  I'm on personal leave until further
notice .. personnel has already been contacted. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <12:18:12/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Doomsday
>>>>>[ If you or your brother need anything, I'm here.  I didn't forget about
the massacare last year, and that fragger still needs to pay. ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn <12:20:30/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[ All my old contacts have dried up, so I need to ask you a favor.  Do you
have any contacts that I could use to get a hold of a little bit of gear?  I
need some untraceable weapons as soon as possible.  Nothing heavy, just an
assault rifle, some grenades and such. ]<<<<<
        -- Neuron Basher <12:22:17/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Kenneth Donaldson
>>>>>[Of course, Kenneth!  Feel free to stop by.]<<<<<
        --  Valentine <10:41:54/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE:Bull

>>>>>[ If you are still looking for some magical support I may be able to
help you out.
Have combat experience especially with spirits.  Let me know.]<<<<<
        --Caric<10:04:29/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Don't think it hasn't been suggested.]<<<<<
        -- Snake <12:30:22 / 10-16-57>

>>>>>[Hey, Griff, you didn't hear this from me, but I've heard the
UCAS AF has a FOBS bird parked in geo-sync orbit over Chicago, just in
case things get really out of hand.

Wonder if they've taken into account wind speed and direction?  I
mean, hell, Damien Knight might get mighty pissed off when fallout
starts dropping past the window of his office in Detroit.....]<<<<<
        -- rumormonger <Always / Tuned-In>

>>>>>[Hmmm.  I guess it's lucky for Blitzkrieg that his opposition was
almost as incompetent as he was.]<<<<<
        -- Blade <20:45:00/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Yeah, tough, pack a bunch of explosives an' dumb as bricks.  To
be really effective and flexible, a rigger hasta be hardwired to the
drone and follow it into the hive.  Just put a big-assed bomb on the
back of a snooper, cue some chemo sensors to the pheremones the queen
releases and send it in.

I know it might be crazy, why do spirits need pheremones?  Hell
if I know, but hives stink inside.  Maybe it's just me, but I
swear I've seen people do goofy things in hives, gotta be the
pheremones.]<<<<<
        -- Snake <12:35:22 / 10-16-57>

>>>>>[Buy a clue, buy a vowel, I don't care, but don't dis my deck,
she-bitch and pet, (yeah you Jen & Gabe).

I've got your embedded native language support right here....  And a few
other things I'd like to embed IN YOUR FOREHEAD.  Ji-chan would roll on
the floor laughing if he heard you wankers.  So let's settle this like
reasonable adults:  recognize your mistake, acknowledge it, and come back
here an kiss Arashi's toe in gratitude for pointing out your ignorance
like good little pups, and maybe we'll forget the whole thing.]<<<<<
        --  Vernier <11:48:25/10-16-57>

>>>>>[No idea, Tobias. I've vaguely heard some of them, at least, can be
hurt by guns, but the only bugs in my job description are software. You'd
think that Ares would get someone who knows to tell them whether or not it
would work before spending lots of money on the project, but I've seen some
fairly impressive cases of corporate stupidity, so I wouldn't depend on
it.]<<<<<
        -- Fisher <14:38:56 EST/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Skull
>>>>>[A full platoon? Yipes.

We're more interested - for this exercise - in the small numbers of
specialists than we are in merc units: different threats, different
tactics. Also, we're not budgeted for that many people.

However... I did pass your message on to a couple of riva^H^H^H^H
friends from another units, and they may well make contact with you for
those exercises where we _do_ want to train against military units. So,
you may get further offers (though probably not through SLand).

We'd still like you and your team - with squad to suit, since you should
be gaining training value from this too - along: your reputation is
considerable.]<<<<<
        -- The Mighty Quinn <17:20:31/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Big bomb? How big? A sub-kiloton nuke didn't work too well on
Cermak, did it?

The deeper you get into the hive, the more you're dealing with beings
that are mostly astral and treat their meat bodies as merely convenient
tools to rip you up with. You want a dead queen, take a powerful shaman
and make sure she gets there alive. Plain high explosive doesn't work.

Flamers are good, but manpack ones don't carry enough fuel. Green Ring
works, too, but you need to be damn careful where you use it, and again
you can't get enough or carry enough... plus, one tear in your suit and
you're in trouble, and fighting hand-to-hand in full NBC is a losing
proposition against bugs.

I really hate the insect spirits. Not like me to do that, but I
do.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <20:00:16/10-16-57>

>>>>>[I just returned from an "extraction" from that hellhole we all know
as Bug City.  People, something must be done, and done fast.

I've dealt with these demons for the past two weeks, and God help me, I'm
going back.  Here's what I learned from my experiences that might help you
tech boys out:  Fire and water attacks are more effective than bombs and
bullets.  I think it has to do with their primal elemental nature.  We've
actually made makeshift flamethrowers with the leftover fuel from the bus
depot and airport.  The bugs' armor doesn't handle flames too well, and
they worked great against the damn fly spirits.  Just don't use them
indoors.  I've seen few of Chicago's Bravest, the firemen, drive away a
beetle spirit with just their water hose on their truck.  They actually
knocked that walking tank over and bought us some time to escape.

I hope this small amount of info helps.  If anyone wants to help out,
please reply back to me.  If you need to find me inside the CZ, I'll be at
Little Earth.]<<<<<
	-- Daredevil <08:35:29/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Well, Jen and Gabe, I see you're carefully avoiding a chance to
train against some of the finest soldiers the world has to offer.

It won't be _that_ hard. They promise not to laugh at your dress sense,
and the company CO says you can bring your rollerblades too. You can
have manicure breaks, and there'll be a helicopter standing by to whisk
Jenna off to a hairdresser if she suffers another of her coiffure
disasters.

Come on, come and play with the grown-ups for once.
        -- The Mighty Quinn <17:25:31/10-16-57>

>>>>>[I got word from one of the bartender's at Dante's Inferno this
morning that a kid has been hanging out around "Hell".   You know,
the private meeting place at the Inferno.   Anyway, she said the
kid fits the description of our little urchins.    I'm checking it
out.]<<<<<
       -- Jasmine <12:49:00 / 10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Bull
>>>>>[I'm here to offer you my services.  Whereas I am not an accomplished
fighter, can't stand fighting, and barley passable as a decker, what I can
offer you is resources.  I am an accomplished reserch scientist in computers
and in cyberware, and my services could prove to be invaluable.]<<<<<
        -- Harkion <14:50:10/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Blademaster
>>>>>[They just talked. Threatened me a little, which was funny: hinted
they might offer me money to move against you, which was really funny. I
kept my face straight and nodded and behaved myself.

I'll keep an eye out for your boy, too, no problem. As for vampire
hunters... I don't know offhand, at least not for Seattle. You could try
InterPol or CDC, it's their jurisdiction, but they're usually worse than
useless. I'll see what I can do, and I might end up helping you out
directly. I don't like being threatened.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <19:40:31/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[AJ, a nodding acquaintance has vampire problems.

+++++include message traffic: Lynch <=> Blademaster
+++++include video: vampiric_intimidation

Not having much experience of vampires, and the only one I know well
being something of a friend, I thought I should seek advice. Do you know
these guys? Are they as well-adjusted as you, or a threat to the public?
Is Blademaster a good guy or a bad guy?

Basically, do I walk away or pick a side?]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <19:42:56/10-16-57

*****PRIVATE: Jason R Stormwind, Serenity Security
>>>>>[Jas, know any vampire hunters? A guy called Blademaster has
problems and they threatened me indirectly: by rep he's a good guy, in
person I liked him, so I figured I'd see if you had any contacts. It's
not my area of expertise, all I can do is direct him to CDC or InterPol:
neither of which I'd trust to take out my trash, let alone deal with a
threatening group of vampires.]<<<<<
        -- Lynch <19:46:31/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Hell with the native language support.  It's not how hot the hardware,
but how you handle it. >}  Speaking of which, all you hot-and-heavy deckers
should come on by and say hi to with Jabberwock2.0a.  She's _really_ friendly
as daemons go *smirk*.  I'm sure noone will have any complaints about going
"hot" with her...if you're good enough.  Consider it a personal invitation to
<<ENCRYPTED>>.  ]<<<<<
        --  Azrael  <12:44:58 / 10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Azrael
>>>>>[Temee!  All those drooling incognoscenti can end up on your processor
allocation, you know.  She is _not_ intended as an amusement part sideshow.
]<<<<<
        --  LowlyKahn  <12:52:41 / 10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: LowlyKahn
>>>>>[Iii ja nai.  Most of these people won't even make it through the mirror,
and if they do, most of the rest will just get tossed out of hand.  The system
loading only starts if someone manages to get "serious" with her.  Besides, we
both know that there's more going on than just the (considerable) physical
benefits...]<<<<<
        --  Azrael  <13:38:13 / 10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Azrael
>>>>>[Hmmm....we'll just have to wait and see how skillful these deckers have
become.  Remember that she is only one aspect of our work...]<<<<<
        --  LowlyKahn  <13:42:59 / 10-16-57>

>>>>>[And Roxey pointed out that there might have been one up near
"Heaven", that other private meeting place in Dante's, but don't quote
me on that.

I'm still keeping my eyes open, but the person really to ask is Val.  With
all his gang contacts, he must have heard of something.]<<<<<
        --  Slash <14:36:44/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE:  The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[Of course.  And, unfortunately, there are situations where terrorists
are in squad sized units where an extraction must be performed.
Thankfully rare situations.

One squad it is.  FYI, I will be in command, but the rest of my command
team will be otherwise occupied.]<<<<<
        --  Skull <14:39:35/10-16-57>

>>>>>[Big enough to destroy the brood chamber's big enough.

Exactamundo on the deep part.  Keep the astral stuff in the holster
when you're in deep, though.   However good it works on the
street.  The bugs hafta manifest to do any harm.  That's when you
drop 'em.  Wallacher Combat Axe right through the ole cranium'll do
the trick.  Wired 'flexes help rip through 'em quicker and don't run
the risk of quickened spells acting as big signs.  The problem with
that is heavily cybered types are relatively unattractive hosts, they
like 'em fresh an' juicy, not crunchy.

The bugs cue in on magical types.  They'll swarm an aggro shaman
before they go toe to toe (mandible to tooth, boot to abdomen...) with
us heavies.  'Course masking'll cut down on that some, just forget
about going straight astral, or so I'm told.  Hell, even astral
perception can get dicey, I'll bet.]<<<<<
        -- Snake (15:32:00 / 10-16-57)

>>>>>[Wow Vernier, your hardware seems a little TOO important to you. You
aren't trying to make up for something, are you?]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <17:47:54/10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Invasion_force.1
>>>>>[Well I'm the hired help, so I don't really get a say in the matter
- but I'd love to work with her.]<<<<<
        -- Minx <07:45:10/10.17.57>

*****PRIVATE TO: The Mighty Quinn
>>>>>[Sorry Quinn, we were ignoring you. What was it you were talking
about?]<<<<<
        -- Jen and Gabe <17:51:32/10-16-96>

***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher, Griffyn
>>>>>[I guess we are mobilizing.

Ill get ahold of Black Knight.  He's our contact point on this end.  My plan
is to offer my services to him as needed.  Nightmare needs to be kept out
of this.  I suspect that someone is just pushing buttons to get him into
the open.

Ratspeak is a target of oportunity.  100 knY to whoever brings that slitch
down.  Dont let that bit get out.  And dont let it come back to me or
Nightmare will crawl up my ass and out of my mouth.  I dont need that
right now.  Im sure he'd understand but I think he's able to manipulate
'speak somehow to his own needs and removing one of his unwitting dupes wont
go over well with him.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <22:22:29 / 10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Black Knight
>>>>>[I guess we have a couple of off duty officers that need to have a
talk with Blitz's friend.  I happen to be one of them.  Rather than
bumbling over one another, I've pointed them at you.  Feel free to contact
them as need be.

+++++ include: history.nb
+++++ include: history.griffyn

You should remember them from before.

If you need me in Boston, Im there.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <22:28:29 / 10-16-57>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[SHIT!  Did you mean for that to go to him with your real name?????]<<<<<
        -- Skuff <just/on>

***** PRIVATE: Skuff
>>>>>[The German contingent knows who I am.  It happened right after
Powerhouse's death.  It was the only way I could get an "in".  Blind trust
won out.  Dont think I'm stupid enough to do that again]<<<<<
        -- Kor <22:28:41 / 10-16-57>

***** INTERNAL: Scourge, Serenity Security, Consultant
>>>>>[+++++ Encryption: On
Please don't fiddle with mail messages that I encrypt.  Puzzle or not, it
would annoy me to find you doing it
+++++ Begin Alpha.scrg

I made contact.  Now we wait.  I wasnt expecting this puke to turn up
again but I guess I should have known better.  Most important is to
keep Nightmare clean in all of this.

Do you even check your mail on our systems or do I need to go land for you?
+++++ End Alpha.scrg
+++++ Enctryption: Off]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <22:32:24 / 10-16-57>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

*****PRIVATE:  Lilith
>>>>>[Your right, it is easy to get Jen and Gabe riled up.  Unfortunately,
Jennifer took their taunt a bit to heart.  Kept her from doing anything
stupid.  So, what do you know about these punks anyway?  I like to know a
bit more about who I'm poking fun of usually, unless of course they're
Aviators of Navals....

By the way, the offer on the simulator ride got postponed for a bit.
Jenny mentioned it in passing to the "Old Man" and was told that she just
might get what she wished for.  Will let you know more later.]<<<<<
        --  Arashi <15:59:39/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE: Rosha, Evita, Wolfen
>>>>>[I don't like what I've been hearing about the CZ lately... but what
can one do? We leave tommorrow morning, meet at 0830, >>place<<.]<<<<<
        --  Ronin <16:23:53/10-16-57>

*****PRIVATE:  Info-Scholar
>>>>>[It has come to my attention that you are in a position to acquire
valuable information.  An associate of mine has come to cross digital
paths with a pair calling themselves Jen and Gabe (what seems to be short
for Jenna and Gabriel).  The pair seem to be a pair of shadowrunners in
the Seattle area, of some renown if one is to believe them.  Conversely,
rumor has it that they are a pair of corporate operatives, if not
braggadocious simpletons who happen to know how to milk the local matrix
for their own amusement.  I am in a position to offer considerable funds
in return for the true story of who they are, what they are, and who they
work for.

I place considerable value on my associate and would not like to see any
harm come.  As well, I am of a natively curious sort.  However, you can
appreciate that certain inquiries, or the depths of certain inquiries can
be beyond the capability (physically or simply legally) of some.  Please
reply at your earliest convenience an estimate you would place upon such
an inquiry.  Note there can and will be a considerable bonus if the data
was to be more verifiably illuminating or hazardous to you.]<<<<<
        --  Hephaestus  <16:22:14/10-16-57>

*****Private To:  Azrael
>>>>>[Sukebe.... (do look that one up)

Kudo's on the Lewis Carol motif, but that's not any interpretation of the
story that I know....  And if anything, she sure didn't "burble as she
came." -_^ God, I don't believe I just said that.  Anyway, not my type, too
aggressive, and the tail was a tad too long (could get mighty uncomfortable
if anything).  Brings "sleaze" to an all new...low.

So