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>>>>>[Hmmmm.  Can you get me three doz of the old Stinger ATMs?]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

>>>>>[Well, I can try.  Right now I'm just seeing what I can get
ahold of with no paperwork.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (16:00:12 / 01-31-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Hey, GoD and Griffyn... well, Red and company, too, I guess.

I've been digging through this glacier of paperwork in my desk and I
just found a report from one of our snitch - I mean, confidential
informants.  He says something big is gonna come down on the seventh.

Like a bridge.

Christ, I can't believe somebody would be that stupid.

Anyway, he says the West 51st Street gang's been massing explosives
and spellchuckers.  I don't trust those sorry buncha trogs.  They're
stone-crazy fraggers.

I'm gonna hafta sideline my plans for a day or two (hell why not let
the Nips think the worst is over then spring on 'em?).

Red, you and yours can still go nuts, I'm just gonna be a helluva lot
less help.  And yeah, 25 works for me and bring 'er in.  I can have
the gas and a lift waiting.

GoD and Griff, we can't let these dipdunks get away with this.  I'm
gonna call up the city council and try to convince him that this is
good stuff.  This guy has always fed me good info.  We're gonna
actually <gulp> try and work with the Marines <shudder>.

But it's for the best of San Fran.  Even on a day like the seventh I
can't allow somebody to bring down a bridge.  It won't get us
anywhere.  The damn Japs'll just bear down harder.

Get back to me.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (16:20:22 / 01-31-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

*****Private Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[OK we are on our way should land at your site in an couple of Hrs.
we will be in the F-B Comander tail#SD1034, just got word from DJ and he
will be stopping by soon, if the cops stop giveing him a rought time. we will
pay for hanger time and gas at the site. see you soon Mr.Frypp.]<<<<<
         --Red Ronin (18:30:03/1-31-56)


  To: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Dear Mr.Frypp, Let me introduce myself, My name is Death Jestor, team
leader of HEADS WILL ROLL as you have been in contact with them I'm stopping to
set up the payment to you for gas and hanger for our aircraft, and also to get
a car of some sort to transport the team around (I don't think the the Japs
would like an assault aircraft,thats not theirs flying around) so I will be
stoping to by to fix all of this up.  My ETA is 15min to your location.]<<<<<
         --Death Jestor (18:46:20/1-31-56)

*****PRIVATE: Jolly Roger
>>>>>[Sir, I am sorry for taking so long to reply, but I am a busy being.  I
am able to provide you with a weapon focus of up to mid-range power.  Should
you desire a more powerful focus, it would take me several months to produce
one.]<<<<<
          --The Transformer  (20:12:30 EST/ 01:31:56)
            Prelate
            The Defenders of Life

***** Private: Freddy fripp, griffyn
>>>>>[ ok, let me get this straight.  Trogs blowin up bridges. what the
fragg? what ever happened to holdin' up your favorite financial institution,
or your local pawn shop? It's just like I was tellin' Griff this world is
going down the tubes... say boss if they been massin' this stuff up, Won't
that mean that the fireworks will be ready to go on the 7th? I suggest, mimd
you I'm no strategist, but Why not hit them with a little harrastment in the
next couple of days.  you know a little chaos spell here, acouple of bashed
brains there, all far and away from the actual site?? in other words I'm down
for what ever, that sitting around before just got my juices pumpin' nad i
guess I wanna cut loose a little.]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 05:52 / 02-01-56 >


*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ You mean Shal is in town?  Oh I must see Shal.  I sitll don't
understand why you would wanna knock out SHal, and Abdiel.]<<<<<
        -- Tarkis <Mental/Case>

*****Private: Shal
>>>>>[ SHal, is that you? I missed you, my head hurts so.  I wanna meet
you somewhere. Meet at >>Encrypted<<, thats the same place where Zarkon
wants you to meet, but instead of going to the front, and meeting
Zarkon.  Go to back and meet me.]<<<<<
        -- Tarkis <Mental/Case>

*****Private: Tarkis
>>>>>[ Yes Tarkis, it is me, I am in trouble. I need to talk to you.]<<<<<
        -- Shal <7:15:00/2-1-56>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ Ok its Unknown again, I found out more info. Shal is the one under
the spell, I saw her talking to DarkLord. Only Tarkis knows how to break
it though. But he does not know that he knows. ]<<<<<
        -- *UNKNOWN*

>>>>>[I can arrange for you to have that paperwork.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

***** PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp, GoD
>>>>>[  I'd have to agree with GoD that they'll probably have everything
set and ready on the seventh, so we need to keep them under control until
then.  You wouldn't happen to have any contacts in the gang that could let
us know where exactly they plan on setting the charges, or where they're
keeping the stockpile?  Hell, it'd probably be easiest to steal their
fragging explosives before they can set 'em. ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 5:53:01/2-01-56 >

>>>>>[Hell, with the right paperwork I can get you anything, twenty
minutes ago.

But, I've managed to find the Stingers you wanted.  They're in
Sacremenmto.  I can get 'em to Seattle... by the third looks
like.

Infer what you will.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:37:12 / 02-01-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: Chris Tarleton
>>>>>[This part can't go out publicly.  They'll be arriving around
2200 tonight at the docks in Seattle.  I've had 'em in the pipeline
since late night before last.  They're aboard the private craft MS La
Dulce Vida.

The owner's a gun-runner outta somewhere 'round here.  He uses the
Vida as a cover, usually going south, but I caught him going
north.  Wonderful little boat... wish I had one.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:39:59 / 02-01-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: Griffyn, GoD
>>>>>[Well, Griff, all I've got is scuttle-butt floatin' round the
streets.  I wish we had somebody inside.  I would have busted those
crazies wide open months ago.  Anyway, all I've heard is A bridge
(three likely guess, coupla less likely guesses) is comin' down with
loads of explosives and magic.

If I knew Shimazuki's weapons' contact we might be able to trace
them... or his talismonger, if they're using one...

Okay, we've got plenty of time.

West 51st is speculated to be at least near where they hide-out.  I
can try to get our snitch - ah, confidential informants into that
neighborhood, but I can't guarantee anything.  If you guys want to
poke around, you can, but I won't sanction it.  If you get caught the
secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence.

Gee, I always wanted to say that.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (10:44:23 / 02-01-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[You want a boat too, huh?]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>Ok. I'll be there, maby I have too trusting of a nature. No tricks
allright. We will just talk it out and then if you still don't trust me I'll
take off and keep in touch.<<<<<
           -- Abdiel <12:36:10 / 2-1-56>

>>>>>[say freddy what's the addres to that tailor I have a function coming up
and you know the kid has to look good.]<<<<<<
        --  GoD < 13:18 / 02-01-56 >

***** Private: freddy fripp, Griffyn
>>>>>[I like the way griff thinks. But tracing the talismonger wouldn't be so
hard if we had one of Mana-chuckers fetishes or focuses.  First thing to come
to my mind is to stage a little confrontation and get a fetishes/focus from
one of their Magi.   I know this femme that could hound down the Fragger once
we get her a scent. Input?

Don't worry boss they wont know what hit them. and the ones that do,well,
they'll just be allergic to breathin'. ]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 13:22 / 02-01-56 >


***** Private: Ripley
>>>>>[That does it!  Your Phaeton is toast!  I warned you not make those "Stinky
Lou" cracks!  If I ever get my hands on Scorpion . . . ]<<<<<
        -- Lou <11:40:15/01-31-56>

***** PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp, GoD
>>>>>[  Now I like the way you think, GoD.. I was considering trying to steal
a fetish or focus, but I didn't want to get involved with a ritual sorcery with
just the two of us.  Probably could have done it, but something gives me the
willies when there's a talismonger on the other end.

As far as disavowing any knowledge of our actions goes, boss, don't worry.  You
think we'd let some _gangers_ catch us?  We're pros... I'm kind of insulted
that you'd even think it.  *chuckle*  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 18:47:01/2-01-56 >

>>>>>[Hey, I'm getting up in the years.... Everybody else my age is
retired and fishing.  Maybe I should try it.... nah.  It's just that
this boat is a dream to race... probably one of the fastest privately
owned boats on the east Pacific.  Invisible to radar to boot.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (13:44:12 / 02-01-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: freddy fripp, Griffyn
>>>>>[ok, well here;s my formula. Boss if you're with us, maybe you can help
us in this, we would need some high impact fodder...  picture it
we Cause a little ruckus, taunt them out in the open, show them none of our
magik muscle. when they Bring out their spell-slinger, Me and Griff and
anyone else who might come along that's Willing, Gang up on the unsuspecting
soul and swipe a focus/fetish. this should take about 15-20 minutes depending
on how "testical"  these guys are. Input?]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 14:50 / 02-01-56 >

>>>>>[I prefer fast women to fast boa -- LINK TERMINATED AT SOURCE

>>>>>[Ignore him, please.]<<<<<
        --  Patricia Tarleton <13:53:27/02-01-56>

***** Not To: Karen
>>>>>[Ah, yes, but the fast women chase after the guys with fast
boats.  And Karen's a gajillion miles away so she can't pull the plug
on me, as much as she'll wish she had.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:36:12 / 02-01-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: Griffyn, GoD
>>>>>[Allright, allright.  Just don't do anything.... well, anything
that'll give me medical bills to pay.

And, <ha-ha> Lady Die says she want's to come along. GoD, did I
ever tell you she goes for guys who can turn invisible?  <yuck>]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:40:12 / 02-01-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[You may want to let me know which places in San Francisco to
avoid.  I have to be there for a few days, at least until the 8th.  To
say I'm trilled would be...incorrect.  I would very much like to do my
job without having to deal with you and your wiseass attitude.  So if you
could kindly tell me which establishments to avoid (the ones you
frequent), I would greatly appreciate it.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<15:34:01/2-1-56>

*****Private: Tarkis
>>>>>[Shal, and possibly Abdiel are under a spell, the same as Whisper.
An anonymous source has told me that it is only Shal, but we can't
afford to trust anyone by this point. They both have to be knocked out
so we can counter the spell. Whoever this unknown is doesn't know I've
done the research on how to counter the spell, so if it's some sort of
trick we have an edge.]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <18:16:07 / 02-01-56>

*****Private: Tarkis
>>>>>[Slight change of plans. I'm going to talk to Abdiel and not knock
him out... I'm going to follow him after the meet and see where he
goes. I'm going out to it in a few hours... we still have to get
Shal, though, and since Devil can't become invisible I'll be trailing
Abdiel... Shal will just be knocked out. Speaking of which, this same
unknown source has said that you also have the counter to the spell,
but you don't know it. Think carefully.]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <02-01-56>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ Don;t even think about hurting Shal!  No need to knock her out.  I
think I know how to undo it.  WHen we were around 16, and Shal and I were
deeply in love, she told me the ultimate secret about spells.  One that
only works if the heart is right or something like that. She said I could
break any spell on ehr if i did something, and I forgot what it was! What
the fruck is wrong with my mem?  Must remember. I will go meet Shal, if
you try to hurt her or stop me, I WILL hurt you.]<<<<<
        -- Tarkis <Mental/Case>

>>>>>[Seraphy, my friend, Tschau means (roughly) good-bye in Chinese, you've
been around long enough to know that.  Although you might be suffering from
Alzheimer's.:)]<<<<<
          --Ryuga (20:44:30 EST/02:01:56)
            CEO
            Ryaka Science and Tech

***** Private To: Griffyn, Freddy fripp, lady Die
>>>>>[Well, I have no problem with workin' with said lady.  she sounds like
my kind of woman.
well all seriousness aside, let's get this going. one short order of fried
won-trogs coming up. we need to get together and work this out. also we need
a quick practice run. Griff.. lady.. I'm going to need a list of gear you
guys might have laying around the squat, this way we can give da boss here
something to worry about. I was thinkin' to get the fetish, me, griff and
some muscle can go, no problem, the hard part will be once my hound gets the
scent on their Magic man, and now that I think about it we could probably
wipe out all their magical assets in one shot. one big bright hell blast and
a couple of fire balls at once, and well you know. input?  lets find a little
noodle shop or something and work the kinks out of this. ]<<<<<

        -- GoD < 21:15 / 02-01-95 >

>>>>>[ Status Hightower One, 100  Request go-ahead. ]<<<<<
        --  Spotter Macros (19:10:41/2-1-56)

>>>>>[ Spotter Macros, there is a green light on Hightower One.  Repeat,
there is a green light on Hightower One.  *untranslatable* ]<<<<<
        --  Xopipo (19:30:00/2-1-56)

>>>>>[ Thank you, sir. ]<<<<<
        --  Spotter Macros (19:45:00/2-1-56)

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Looks like we got a motherlode. Got a good deal on the remainders. For t
he package, we're comin' in at >>encrypted<<. The package includes an
assortment of SAM's & AVM's, with launch tubes. Most have been configured for
emplacement launching, but any tech should be able to rerig that in a few minu
tes. Like I say, it's a mixed lot, a total of about 50 missiles. In addition,
we got 4 Ares Dragon AAM's and a couple Hyundais. Add to that 15 assault
cannons (rotary) and 5 autocannons, and we're lookin' at under 20f street
value. Guess they took their victory to heart. I'm pushin to get a couple of
the vehicles included in that final price, but it ain't lookin' good. If you
can market this stuff, cut me in for enough to make it look good. All I been
able to move is the conventionals and a few reloads. But these guys are
desperate to get outta Anna, despite charity efforts. They'll take just about
anything now.

Oh, and if ya know anyone does minesweepin', you can probably get big nuyen
outta the ground there, and I might even be able to gouge 'em a little deeper
on the final price. Seems the whole perimeter of the city is mined, and that
kind of bang-bang would go nice to the right buyer.]<<<<<
          --  Jolly Roger <02:38:23 / 02-02-56>

>>>>>[You'd be surprised, Freddy.  Maybe she's not a gajillion miles away.

No further comment.  The prosecution rests.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

>>>>>[You know what? I say, that if you say the right things, and make them
feel like they've never felt before, they'll tell there friends. Then you
would n't need the fast boat... just thought I'd add my five nuyen to the
deal.... ]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 09:38 / 02-02-56 >


>>>>>[ Pretty much whatever you need.  As you know, we have access to
certain amounts of mil-spec equipment.  Costs -- let us say 90 percent
of standard, if that is agreeable? ]<<<<<
        --  OS^2 (18:43:44/2-1-56)

*****Private: Lou
>>>>>[If there's anything left of my car after this...

  I believe Scorpion was last spotted in Hawaii, but I haven't been able
to confirm that.]<<<<<
        -- Ripley <Irish-Eyes/Are Smiling>

*****Private Freddy Fyrpp
>>>>>[ Say Freddy whats this about a bridge been taken out? Do you need some
help with finding out who is going to do it? If so let us know the Steel Dragon
is fuled up and ready to go (thanks for the gas ++accept transfer of
19,000NuYen Y/N   Y++)  About the bridge thing Matchsticks was uot on the town
and he herd someting the bridge was going to be droped during rush Hr. He did
not see who said that bit of info but it olny sound logical for some goon to
do, causing mass damage and mass media attenion.  Well we keep an ear or two to
the ground.]<<<<<
        --Red Ronin (14:06:30/2-2-56)

>>>>>[Allright, Whistler, avoid.... lessee.... tell ya what, I'l tell
ya where ya can go.  You can go to..... Rick's Place.  I probably
won't be frequenting that particular establishment... 'round eight.

I dare you.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:19:12 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Why do I have this crazy feeling I should crash over at....
well, somebody else's place for the next few nights....]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:16:12 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: Jolly Roger
>>>>>[Oooo-la-la.  Hold on, I gotta go put on some fresh pants.

For that kinda money I can't turn it down!  I gotta make some calls
first to see what kinda money I can get out of them.  Whoa.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:15:16 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[GoD, I'm starting to wonder if you ever think above the
waist.... (ha-ha)]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:17:23 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[I think you should come crash here.]<<<<<
        --  Karen <Sweet/Whispers>

>>>>>[Sorry, I've already found them.  At a helluva good deal.  And,
while I'm thinking about it, I'm in the process of investing in a
good deal of mil-spec of my own.  Missiles, tank guns and the like.
Stuff that's too big for me to use, but the investment is pretty
good.  Would any of your other contacts have need for such
equipment?]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:20:12 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Not To: Karen
>>>>>[Uh, oh, kimosabi.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:22:12 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: GoD, Griffyn
>>>>>[Um, guys, ah, well, somethings, ah, come up.  And I gotta, um,
well, I'll be, uh... indisposed tonight.. and well, most of tomorrow
too, I hope.   Um, good luck, or something.  And, ah, whatever
you decide to do is, ah, great for me.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (14:25:23 / 02-02-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Oh, c'mon, Freddy, you're too uptight.

She won't hurt you too bad.

<pause>



Oh, my.  I lied.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

*****NOT TO: Blitzkrieg
>>>>>[I asked before but no one said nothin to me so I'm gonna ask again.
I'm lookin for an old friend o mine called Blitzkrieg.  I heard that he's
hurt and he's gettin patched up somewhere.  If anyone can help me find him
I would like that.  Tanks chummers.]<<<<<
        --  Pretty Boy (14:19:08/02-02-56)

>>>>>[Get some for me, Freddy]<<<<<
        -- Kor <20:36:14 / 02-02-56>

>>>>>[Yeah, yeah, whatever Red.... ah, talk to GoD, or one of them.
I'm gonna be... leaving the office here in a coupla minutes.]<<<<<
       -- Freddy Frypp (14:45:12 / 02-02-56)
          President
          Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Freddy, you ain't got no hope.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

***** PRIVATE: Pretty Boy
>>>>>[You have a rather interesting way of looking for old friends.  The
message has been passed along to another interested party.  If you check
out kosher, I suspect you will get something the Blitz in the mail.  Even if
you dont check out kosher I suspect you will be hearing from someone.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <20:43:06 / 02-02-56>

***** PRIVATE: DragonEyes
>>>>>[Someone by the name of Pretty Boy has been nosing around looking
for Blitz.  Deal with it as you see fit.  I am in Seattle right now, give
me a hollar if you need assistance.  Is he doing ok?]<<<<<
        -- Kor <20:45:00 / 02-02-56>

>>>>>[  Well, you could alway crash at my place, boss. I got a nice place with
the money I made for setting on my arse all last month. _heh_  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 21:45:02/2-02-56 >

***** PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp, GoD
>>>>>[  Figures .. and you were kidding GoD about not thinking above his waist.
Geez.  Some people.  Well, GoD, you up for a night of revelry in gang held
territory?  (grin) ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 21:47:02/2-02-56 >

>>>>>[Uh, Ryuga, I was pulling "Tschau" from a german colloquilism, which
I believe they derived from Italian.  It does mean "Good-bye", but since
I hardly know any Chinese, that sure as hell wasn't were I was pulling it
from.  Just to nit-pick.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<14:58:06/2-2-56>

*****PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[Confirming you are 10-97 Tau Delta Upsilon?]<<<<<
        --"Nagoma Awooyo"<15:07:39/2-2-56>
          Director of Special Operations
          *name deleted*

*****PRIVATE: "Nagoma Awooyo"
>>>>>[Confirmed, 10-97 Tau Delta Upsilon.  Currently standing by for
further developments.  Tail on one "Freddy Frypp" should provide required
information, drones are in place at major bridges.  Further
instructions?]<<<<<
        --the Whistler(15:09:13/2-2-56>

*****PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[Affirmative.  10-87 the Commander of the Japanese Occupation Forces
(the Imperial Marines) STAT.  You will be granted a temporary security
permit, and you shall be working in conjunction with the Imperial Marines
as a consultant.  That is all for now.]<<<<<
        --"Nagoma Awooyo"
          Director of Special Operations
          *name deleted*

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Yeah, I'll pick up the shipment. I haven't had any sleep for three
days and the bird is still down until probably Friday. There's a bill for
2K nY worth of parts comin' to you. I could cover 1.5K. Jac and your
other pal caught a flight back to you last night. Covello has nobody
for Security. Jonesy is w/ me and Hawk died on this last run. Some
fraggin border patrol used 2 Cessnas against us and they lost, but we got
hit hard. Your guys were ok. Where did you say that new shipment was to
be delivered?]<<<<<
         -- Tunnel-Rat (22:48:23 / 2-2-56)

*****PRIVATE: Shekhinah
>>>>>[We're in town. Flute and I grabbed a hotel here in Belfast. Her
deck is at home, I want to bring that later after I've tested her some
more. Gotta go. ShadowPriest will leave info abouyt Kovak's funeral
later this week, I hope.]<<<<<
         -- Zactof (16:50:45 / 2-1-56)

*****Private GoD
>>>>>[Freddy Frypp said that we should get a hold of you, we are a new to the
area and are 'working' for Mr.Frypp and we were wondering if you need any help?
Note I'm including a list of who's who in our team.
++TEAM HEADS WILL ROLL++]<<<<<
     --Red Ronin (17:24:20/2-2-56)

>>>>>[and this is the man that says I only think below the waist.
Freddy, enjoy and if we don't hear from you in a couple of days.  At least we
know where you'll be.  let me know if you need a Shock patch or something.
And boss ENJOY]<<<<<
        -- GoD <18:38 / 02-02-56>

*****Private:Tarkis
>>>>>[Well, if you have to. But be careful... Shal can't be trusted.]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <18:34:23 / 02-02-56>

*****Private:Chrome Devil
>>>>>[Tarkis is out of his head. Watch Shal carefully. If she has any
concealed weapons, knock her out. If not, let Tarkis talk to her.]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <18:37:41 / 02-02-56>

>>>>>[Does anyone here know anything about a fixer named Jose?  He also goes
by the name of Vincent.  As of my last update, his physical description was
as follows: human, mid-twenties, light brown hair, blue eyes, thin build,
average height and a unhealthy plae complexion.  He's a real social type,
and likes to have a beautiful woman on each arm as much as possible.  He is
also rather generous, and tends to flash his wealth.  Anyone who gives me
information leading to him will earn 50000 nuyen and my gratitude.  Just
post on this board and I will be in contact.  Thank you for your time and
trouble.]<<<<<
        -- Mr. Purple <16:06:07 / 02-02-56>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ OKIE DOKIE!! Don't worry, Shal isn;t dangerous, I don;t know why
you think she is.  You know, i was wondering, after i talk to Shal, I
think I will....nahhhhhhhhh.  That would be stupid.  You know, I have
this erge to kill, not living things, but dead souls. Cause they are all
around me right now, and they are haunting me. At first, they were
annoying after I woke up, now I am used to them.  They tell funny jokes.
They want me to join them, and kill myself, I told them no. Where are my
chips? where are my sleeping pills? where is Teddy?  Teddy is gone. The
dead souls took them they say, they won't give back till I join them.
Bye, off to see Shal now.]<<<<<
        -- Tarkis <Mental/Case>

***** private to: Griffyn, HEADS WILL ROLL
>>>>>[ Well, Freddy seems to be a bit indesposed, it seems he's been taken
prisoner by his heart. (and a couple of unmentionable parts) Well, nill presp
there, he needs alittle distraction anyways.  Well Ronin, here's the deal
some trogs over from west 51 plan to blow up a bridge, right now we don't
know wich one.  Me and Griff have a plan on how to get a hold of some
information, primarily the location of the explosives and a judgement of
their magical assets, and if possible exploit said assets. ( ie: blow up
their talismonger and any one with in a good 20 meters)  this is what I want
to do. I don't want to scare them out of going through with the bombing, so I
don't really want to cause too much damage, we can demolish them when the
boss says so.  so if you have any tactians on your team, run this by them see
what they come up with.]<<<<<
        -- GoD < 19:35 / 02-02-95 >

>>>>>[Hey, everybody, uh, the boss just called in and told us that
he'd be in late and he want's a pair of icepacks ready when he gets
here.  What's up?]<<<<<
        -- Spark (08:41:12 / 02-03-56)

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[Tanks chummer.  You are a real pal.  If this works out I will owe you a
favor.  Hope he writes to me soon.]<<<<<
        --  Pretty Boy (09:05:56/02-03-56)

*****PRIVATE GoD
>>>>>[ I ran the plan by Death Jestor and Strikes-Like-Lighting the team
tactical advisers, Strikes said if you know where they hang he will go astral
to ID their magical support and DJ will drop them(just a side note Strikes was
the Wildcat comando on our team and Death Jestor is the ex-hit man) Rolling
Thunder(rigger) will provied drone spoiters/and air transport to and from. The
rest of the team me Ludo and Matchsticks will provide back-up if needed. Let me
know what you think of this.]<<<<<
     --Red Ronin(10:15:12/2-3-56)

***** NOT TO: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[  Spark, lets just say the boss did a little, uh, thinking below the
waist last night.  Looks like she wore him out.  *chuckle*  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 16:33:03/2-03-56 >

>>>>>[Griffyn, your bank account just lost 1kY.  Let's be more civil to
Freddy, eh?]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

>>>>>[  Party Pooper. ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 17:08:03/2-03-56 >

***** PRIVATE: Griffyn
>>>>>[Ill see his one k, and raise him a k.

+++++ Transfer 2kY]<<<<<
        -- Kor <17:40:37 / 02-03-56>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[  Heh.  Don't get me wrong, the boss is a great guy and everything, but
sometimes I just can't resist.. *grin*  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 18:03:03/2-03-56 >

***** PRIVATE: Griffyn
>>>>>[He's actually quite likeable despite some of his problems.  Smile.

There was a cubicle with a really shitty couch in the corner and random
bits of computer equipment strewn about the room.  Is that office still clear
or do I need to get a hotel when I hit town?]<<<<<
        -- Kor <18:20:29 / 02-03-56>

***** PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Morning  --  I hear you are having a good time.  I would like to
set up a time with you where I could have a quick "face to face" with you
for about 1/2 hour or so.  I never checked your offices for Astral defenses
but if you have any, could you bring them down for me around 2:30pm your
time tomorrow?  Im going to hope a wave, come down and check on Castor
and Pollux and check in with you before I bring my meat body down.

I owe you some of my time, a lot of my gratitude, and likely a few beers on
top of that.  I have a friend here in town the brews his own and boasts that
he has some of the best Ales this side of the veil.  Put in your order and
Ill bring some down with me when I come.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <18:30:31 / 02-03-56>

***** PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[  I dunno.. I think that's Spark's office.. (I crashed there a couple of
nights too.. Lousy couch.)  If it's not free, you're welcome to crash at my
place.  My LTG # is >>encrypted<< or you could just swing by >>encrypted<<.
You may want to give me call before you drop by .. you never can be too care-
ful around here. *grin*  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 19:23:03/2-03-56 >

>>>>>[ And there we go again as one of my brothers goes and drains the life
blood out of one of my jokes.  I mean, does it not look like an onomatopoiec
version of a sneeze?  Sigh  ]<<<<<
        -- Seraphy <14:22:37/02-03-56>

***** Private: Red Ronin
>>>>>[Rush hour figures.  Well, keep eye and ears open.  If ya need
anything you know where to find me.]<<<<<
       -- Freddy Frypp (15:54:22 / 02-03-56)
          President
          Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[GoD, if I ever skip outta a planning session like that again,
stop me, or expect to see your ass on the street so fast you shoes'll
still be in my office.  But if you ever get between me an' well...
you know... I'll beat the holy bejeezus outta ya.  Sallright?

And you Chris.  It's times like this I don't know if I oughta thank
you for getting us together or punch you into next week.  For now...
thanks, pal, I'm feeling amazingly relaxed.

Anyway, anything get decided while I was, uh, busy?]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:40:00 / 02-03-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[Jeeze, sometimes I think you think I've actually got my head
screwed on straight (grin).  You've seen how wide open this place is.
I've barely got the assets to put up magical defenses for my clients,
much less the office.  You can just stick your head in whenever and
after I got my wits back, we can talk.  What's on your mind?

And go ahead and bring down whatever.  I'm not much of a beer
maestro, if it's golden and foamy I'll drink it.  Hell, if it's foamy
I'll drink it.  I trust your judgement.]<<<<<
       -- Freddy Frypp (15:45:23 / 02-03-56)
          President
          Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: Ripley
>>>>>[I refuse to go all the way to Hawaii to geek someone.]<<<<<
        -- Lou <15:08:00/03-02-56>

>>>>>[Rick's Place, around eight?  Sorry Mr. Frypp, but I don't think I
have the time for fun and games this trip.  Strictly business.  Perhaps
some other time?]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<15:50:09/2-3-56>

***** Private: Tunnel-Rat
>>>>>[Aw, Christ, I didn't need to see that....

Tell ya what, you know if Hawk had any family?

Don't tell a fraggin' soul about this.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (15:10:23 / 02-03-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Chicken.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (16:52:12 / 02-03-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Just having a little fun with you, Seraphy.  I LIKE doing that to
you.]<<<<<
         --Ryuga (18:03:30/ 02:03:56)
           CEO
           Ryaka Science and Tech

>>>>>[Chicken, Mr. Frypp?  According to my sources, you didn't show up
to Rick's Place either.  Instead you spent the evening indoors, at the
apartment of a particular female companion.  Isn't that wasting time,
considering the imminent problems before you?

I refer of course to the rumors of terrorist action on the 7th of this
month.  I also understand your lackeys are out hunting down information
while you disport yourself in other ways.  The terrorist threat is real,
Mr. Frypp, and if you truly love this city, then I would suggest getting
to work.  The I-Marines, for a change, are ahead of you on this one.
Believe it.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<16:36:25/2-3-56>

>>>>>[hey Gryff, You think he ever made it to the office???? you think he
ever made it out of bed???? ]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 15:19 / 02-03-56 >

***** Private:Gryffin, Freddy fripp
>>>>>[Boss, Red Ronin, got a hold of me, This is what they propose for
getting the location of the Explosives {+++download attack.txt++++}
What do you think? hey I just come up with the Crazy ideas, I don't plan
them. Gryff if anything, this happens tonight or we wait on what ever the
boss has planned. it's not that complicated and well it shouldn't take that
long. besides I have a little midnight encounter with an old flame, the boss
should know what I mean....]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 15:28 / 02-02-56 >


*****PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[Requesting update on operation to be refered to as
"Tora!Tora!Tora!"]<<<<<
        --"Nagoma Awooyo"<16:50:34/2-3-56>
          Director of Special Operations
          *name deleted*

*****PRIVATE: "Nagoma Awooyo"
>>>>>[Information learned:  a terrorist gang known as the "West 51st" is
planning to blow up one of the major bridges using a combination of
explosives and magic.  The gang is led by a troll of japanese descent,
name currently unknown.  Frypp Sec, led by "Freddy" Frypp is also working
to stop the terrorists, albiet in a covert/subtle manner.  Further
information provided by the Imperial Marines indicates that the "West
51st" gang has been quietly been buying explosives and acquiring magical
talent for almost a year now.  Estimates of explosives run from 30
kilograms of C-4 to over a hundred kilograms, with some military grade
demolitions.  Exact numbers are unavailable.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<16:53:08/2-3-56>

*****PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[You do not know which bridge is the intended target?  This is
critical information, and despite your excellent past record and your
connections, failure in this mission will NOT be tolerated.
Understood?]<<<<<
        --"Nagoma Awooyo"<16:55:55/2-3-56>
          Director of Special Operations
          *name deleted*

*****PRIVATE: "Nagoma Awooyo"
>>>>>[Understood.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<16:57:21/2-3-56>

>>>>>[Seraphy, I have to agree.  Having an older brother (and sister
in my case) is a royal pain.]<<<<<
        -Lazinthgul <22:19:19/02-03-56>

*****Private: Lou
>>>>>[But you would go intothe heart of Aztlan to geek some suit.  You're
lucky he came to town.]<<<<<
        -- Ripley <22:35:35/02-03-56>

***** Private: Freddy fripp
>>>>>[ say boss who ever this whistlin' sissy is, he's apparently not happy
with your addiction to oxygen, also boss, if I may, forgive me for not
putting an end to rageing hormones,  I figured you needed the R+R.  But
seriously, you should watch your back a bit closely, from what I can see
you've grown a tail since last we met.  If you want I could perform the
surgery.  With guys like the whistler running around, you can't indulge like
you did.  It gets ya geeked. I hope I haven't over exeeded my bounds, but if
I have it's because I like my paycheck.  hope I didn't sound like your mom

He's not as informed as he thinks, and well as it should be.  undermine me
will he, we got the information we require and did a little damage in the
prosess.  they are out a talismonger, and about 2 mages and a score of trogs.

No problems a couple of cuts and bruises, and two holes in a Brand new
Jacket.  Red and his gang are a piece of work, makes me glad they are on our
side.  We made it look like a rival gang incident, boss you shoulds see what
a water elemental does when you let it cut loose in a building( I think RED
RONIN has the vid-picks).  as far as all that other information  we needed,
here goes...

+++ include|[TROGPIZZA.DAT]+++

Boss these guys are for real, they've got enough fireWorks for two bridges
and they are crazy enough to try it.  I want in. what ever you got planned I
want in.]<<<<<
        -- GoD < 13:25 - 02-04-56 >

****** Private : Griffyn, RED RONIN, Heads Will Roll
>>>>>[ Hey, I filled the boss in. Red I think you might want to give him the
visual on what went on. Griff you are a geineous, water elemental in the
building??? what made you think of that??  All around good work!! I know
he'll pay big when he sees the little Trid show]<<<<<
        --  GoD < 13:25 / 02-04-56 >


*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Me and Jonesy were his only family. We're leaveing FRFZ tonight
and your shipment will be in Covello unless I see some type of message
either at the site or on radio.]<<<<<
         -- Tunnel-Rat (19:40:25 / 2-4-56)

*****PRIVATE: Jonesy
>>>>>[My dear, my niece said you used to babysit her. Her name is Flute
and she said you also taught her a little of the Matrix. If your father
will let you come I need you in Belfast to help teach Flute. I'll pay
expenses and a healthy compensation.]<<<<<
        -- Zactof (19:43:13 GMT / 2-4-56)

*****PRIVATE: Zactof
>>>>>[Dad said I can go, for a few weeks if need be. What do I bring
and what flight do I catch?]<<<<<
        -- Jonesy (19:45:24 GMT / 2-4-56)

*****PRIVATE: Jonesy
>>>>>[Don't bring your deck! We're teaching without them for awhile. You
should just bring some clothes for at least two weeks. I'll get you a
piece and Matrix connection if you need them. Here's your flight...

+++++UPLOAD TXT: Jonesy_Flight.txt

You will come under the name of Samantha Wilson. You are a cyberdeck
technician coming to see family. I'll meet you at the airport.]<<<<<
        -- Zactof (19:50:45 GMT / 2-4-56)

*****PRIVATE: Zactof
>>>>>[See you real early tommorow morning.]<<<<<
        -- Jonesy (19:53:12 GMT / 2-4-56)

>>>>>[
+++++BEGIN DATA TIMEBOMB KOVAK_LAST_WILL:

Hey folks, if you're reading this I'm dead...

Zactof thanks for helping me design this.

I'm just going to rant, rave, and offer thanks to my friends and
unfortunetly my enemies.

Aerich: Thanks for the help with Humanis in Chicago. Watch your back
though, because that help made you some enemies. Enjoy life.

the Whistler: Thanks for the constructive critiscim. We should have
finished that duel. It's always nice to wake up in the morning and
realize that asshole mercanry is still there without a cause, friends,
or responsibilties. Hope to see you soon.

Humanis Haters Club: Sorry I missed out on that final fight. Maybe if
I'd been there some people (DragonFly) wouldn't have gotten hurt.

THE Nexus: Thanks for all the encouragement. You own a third of the
farm now. Flute and Zactof each got another third. Take care of that
girl, she'll need it.

Zactof: Enjoy life, my brother.

Tarkis: Take care little bro. If you see Dad tell him I'm waiting for
him in Hell.

Flute: I love you. Enjoy life and remeber I'll always be right behind
you.]<<<<<
        -- Kovak (20:05:35 GMT / 2-4-56)
           Hell Uplink #666

>>>>>[Let me know if you want to see the video from Kovak's Funeral,
otherwise I'm not gonna place it on the net.]<<<<<
       -- ShadowPriest (14:10:23 CST / 2-4-56)

>>>>>[
'This Steve Hamilton for Carbondale News Service reporting.'

+++++Show video of Metahuman Lone Star FRT Squad dragging humans in
+++++restraints out to awaiting prisoner transports.

"'For the last week and a half since the explosion of a Carbondale
warehouse on January 24th, which killed businessman and known Humanis
Policlub memeber John Zealand, Lone Star has been going on a city
wide heat wave arresting all known and some unknown Humanis members.'

+++++You now see a troll in LS FRT uniform standing in front of the
+++++camera next to Hamilton.

"'Officer Thompson what sparked the arrests?'

+++++The Troll smiles grimly.

"'A demolitions officer in Chicago gave us some files on the policlub
here in Carbondale. We followed these up and after the officers death
we decided to repay Humanis for his death.'

"What was the officer's name?'

"'The won't be revealed because of the safety of his family.'

+++++The Troll walks away and Hamilton stands in front of the camera.

"'Over two-hundred arrests have been made with seventy-five of these
shot while resisting arrest. This has been Steve Hamilton reporting.
]<<<<<
        -- Carbondale News Service (     /     )

***** Private: Ripley
>>>>>[No, that was Irish who geeked the suit.  I was laid up with
several broken ribs, bullet holes, overdrain, etc.  remeber?]<<<<<
        -- Lou <13:54:57/04-02-56>

>>>>>[+++++Begin Maxim Download, Matrix log #12s9983W+++++

The picture fades into existance gradually, showing several
things at once, including, you realize, security logs from
numerous omnidirectional cameras.  Judging by the level of
activity, the official work day at Maxim Arms is winding down.
Outside you see the beautiful terrain of the Front Range of the
Rocky Mountains and Downtown Boulder less than 2 km away.  To the
north and south are good sized mountains, with the peaceful
community of Gold Hill and Lee Hill Road above to the north and
Flagstaff Mountain and the Flatirons to the south.  To the west
lies Boulder Canyon and Canyon Road, now a major thoroughfare
from the Ute Sector of the FRFZ to the Ute Nation border above
Nederland, some 15 km to the west.  To the east is most of
Boulder and the opening of the mouth of the canyon into the Great
Plains and the rest of the Front Range Free Zone, or as it used
to be called, Denver.

Looking closer in to the building, you see Boulder Creek, low due
to the season, running to the south of the facility, and
paralleling it lies the Boulder Creek Path, a well patrolled
footpath in this AAA neighborhood.  To the southwest and
southeast are small, upper class residential areas and small
parks, most of which are patrolled and lived in by Maxim Arms
employees.  Directly west is a small park and the curve of Canyon
Boulevard as it turns to join with Arapahoe at the mouth of the
canyon.  North is Canyon Blvd, recently expanded to 8 lanes
through Boulder, and several more, slightly less exclusive
developments that also mostly serve Maxim Arms.  To the northeast
lies Downtown and the Pearl Street Mall, covered since 2038 and
recently expanded again from 9th Street all the way to Folsom
Avenue.  And directly east lies the Boulder Public Library and
the Creek Park.

Even closer in are the grounds.  Meticulously groomed shrubs,
blue spruces, pinion pines, and elderly cottonwoods rim the
perimiter, with well trimmed grass within, some places evem
having a walking path and seats for employees to sit out and eat
thier meals outside when the weather permits.

All in all, a spectacular and beautiful area and grounds...until
you see some things you missed before.  Like the hurricane fence,
topped with posts that appear to have nothingness strung between
them.  And the recon drone scouting around along the path,
bristling with enough weaponry to stop a juggernaut.  And the
mostly concealed barrel of a machine gun sticking out through the
automated gun port in the side of the building.  And the multi-
tube missle launchers mounted on the roof.  And the guards with
hellhounds making their rounds.  And the RPV under urban camo
netting on the roof, ready for launch within 15 seconds.  And is
that the glint of a rotodrone or three hovering over the
facility, making the rounds of the local airspace?  All
tastefully done in a manner not to alarm the neighbors or the Ute
authorities, but the image of this area as peaceful and tranquil
is shattered by the presence of an obviously overwhelming force
called Maxim Arms-Headquarters.

Looking further inward, you see the internal setup of the
building as well as some of the lower levels.  The building is
full of security, mostly barraks, drone storage and shops, and
offices, mostly cubicles as any standard corporation.  In
addition, you see the lobby, numerous conference rooms, and a few
rather plush offices up on the second floor.  There are cameras
all over the buildin, it appears, although they are hidden behind
artwork, in plants, and in overhead lights.  No guns, that you
can identify at least, bristle in the actual building itself.

However, looking underground, starting with the garage, or Yellow
level, you see the reinforced steel security curtains and tank
traps and tire spikes as well as enough automated guns to
generate full coverage crossfire throughout the entire garage.
The Orange security levels show what appear to be sealable
killzones for gas and blast effects as well as security doors,
drop doors, and 1/2 meter thick blast-proof vault doors, and this
also appears down on the Red level, main security.  Looking
deeper, the Blue level even has some of the same things, but more
actual living guards than automation due to the number of people
living there, as it is the habitation level.

Outside, on Canyon, a black Phaeton limosine is pulling up to the
gate, and the camera changes to the nearest security camera.  You
see that the driver, a one Buzz, ex-CIA agent, is presenting
himself as a chauffer and bodyguard to the individuals in the
rear of the vehicle, who you can barely make out as Sabre and
Ripley, all dressed up as important suits touring Maxim's
facility.  Somehow, it appears that the work of Basilisk, Spirit,
Circuit Breaker, and Buzz himself has worked, as they have gained
access to the front parking lot of the facility.  Leaving the
keys in the ignition, the three leave the Phaeton and enter the
front door of the facility, into the two story glass enclosed
lobby.  From looking about, you'd say that the glass is both
armored, and that there are blast proof shutters designed to seal
it off as well.  Reporting to the receptionist, Sabre introduces
them as a group from somewhere, and they are asked to wait until
a representative shows up to escort them around the facility.

They don't have long to wait as one of the VPs arrives, wearing a
loose buisness suit and carrying himself as if he is God's gift
to VPs.  In other words, a standard corp type.

VP:  I am sorry to have kept you waiting, Mr. Maxwell, but I had
not been informed of your arrival until two days ago and had to
finish some buisness.  Please, follow me as I show you around the
first floor of the facility....

The suit begins to drone on about the building, the site it rests
on, and all that as Sabre and Buzz take up standard protection
positions around Ripley, with Buzz looking around for something,
probably a security access port.  Upon entering an open room full
of cubicles, Buzz spots something of intersest.

Buzz:  Excuese me, sirs, but I believe I accidently left the keys
in the limo.  Is there any particular procedure I need to follow
upon getting them, specifically upon entering or leaving the
building?
VP:  Just sign out and in and then meet us in the guest quarters.
Ask someone the way when you get back in.
Buzz:  Thank you, sir.

And Buzz literally leaves as Sabre and Ripley continue with the
tour, wandering from room to room, corridor to corridor, floor to
floor.  But Buzz, after retrieving the keys, returns to the
cubicle that attracted his interest earlier, removes a small
concealed optical cable, and attaches his datajack to a small
wall socket labled "Security Access Only!"

Time passes, and you get a sense of the facility, until you hear:

Buzz:  I'm in, connection acheived.  Welcome to Maxim Arms,
everyone.  Let's get to work...."
Spirit:  I'm in.
Circuit Breaker:  So am Ah
Christopher Tarleton:  I am as well.

+++++Temporarily Ending Download+++++]<<<<<
     -- ? <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[+++++Resume Maxim Download+++++

On the internal cameras, the VP is still showing Ripley and Sabre
around, and as of yet, he's not caught on to the fact that Buzz
has yet to return, and it's coming nigh upon 8 minutes.

Spirit:  Basilisk, engage the teams.  We'll be fully in position
and ready by the time they arrive.....Everyone, they're on their
way.

Outside, twilight is fading away into night and the number of
vehicles on the road is gradually decreasing.  Inside, in the
Matrix, you know although you can't seem to see it yet, that
there is a large amount of activity that with the express purpose
of confusing the security systems and people well enough to allow
the two approaching teams to enter the facility safely and
without attracting undue attention to themselves.  But something
is wrong on one of the security cameras....  The VP is finally
noticing that, after about 10 minutes, Buzz is missing, and he
appears concerned.

VP:  Excuse me, Mr. Maxwell, but where had your chauffer
disappeared to?  I know that he left to retreive the limosine's
keys, but he yas yet to return to us.
Ripley:  I am afraid I don't know, Mr Skulkin.  Perhaps we should
go look for him...
VP:  I agree, although it would perhaps be better if I sent
security after him.
Buzz:  Drek!  He's getting suspicious...Pull him off the scent.

And in another, more electronic tone, you hear what must be a
headware radio transmission from the VP to Security.

VP Radio:  Something's wrong.  Run their profiles through the
system again.
Spirit:  Chris, work it!
Chris:  I'm on it....
Sec. Radio:  Working, sir.  Nothing, they come up clean, sir.
VP Radio:  Search the facility for the other one.
Sec. Radio:  Yes sir!

Ripley:  If anything should have gone wrong, then I absolutely
must be there.  I am responsible for anything that an employee
should do to get himself into trouble, Mr. Skulkin.
VP:  Of course, Mr. Maxwell.  Please, we'll see if we can't find
your associate.

CB:  Chris?
Chris:  Safe, for now.

Outside, something appears to be happening.  In the air you see
something alternately blacking out the stars and then moving on,
but it doesn't appear that the sensors or the radar system has
seen it yet.  Make that them....  The cameras, having locked onto
the movement, must be blocked by the efforts of the deckers or
else some security monitor would have registered the switch over
to thermographic and subsequent appearance of four human shaped
objects, white hot against the cool night sky, riding on what
appear to be the vaunted Nightglider stealth glider, probably
launched from the Flatirons or Flagstaff Mountain.  And they are
very gradually descending on a tightening spiral.

Sec. Radio:  Sir, the cameras show nothing unusual, which is
itself unusual.  However, we have found something in one of the
unoccupied offices:  An unaccounted for power drain.
VP Radio:  Consistant with?  Other factors?
Sec. Radio:  Consistant with the activation of a C^2 deck, sir,
and we are checking the activity on the security portal.....it is
active, sir.  Orders?
VP Radio:  Inform Ms. Velli on my authority and ask her for
further instructions.  I will deal with my infiltrators here
directly.  Verify identities with off-Matrix systems.
Sec. Radio.  Yes sir.

Ripley:  A problem, Mr. Skulkin?  Have you found my associate?
VP:  As a matter of fact, I believe we have, Mr. Maxwell.
Security will be bringing him here to us.  But as you se....

And the chatter returns to normal inane babble.

Again outside, the Nightgliders have reached the limit that they
can approach without being seen by the guards on the ground, and
all of a sudden several Hellhounds begin to growl and claw at the
air as if being attacked or pestered by something in Astral
space.  Which, if MaxiMillion and Micheal are involved, is
exactly what's happening.  But the distraction is working, as
guards are rushing from all over the near grounds to inspect the
disturbance, and the team, unhooked from the gliders, drops to
the ground as the gliders, under low power, return to standby
mode for collection later or escape.  Now on the grounds, you
recognize Caine, Slash, Hard-to-Catch, and Shadow, all dressed as
Maxim SRDF off-duty security except for Shadow, who is dressed as
normal for a runner.  The three of them, taking their cue from
the approach of a group of real guards, chase down Shadow and
cuff him rather unceremoniously and harshly, in an excellent show
of acting and bravado.  This, in turn, has provided a second
diversion for the second team to use to their advantage.

Just on the other side of Boulder Creek you see an "abandoned"
truck and then an old Hudson drives by as well, driven by someone
you can barely see, but who has long red hair.  Probably Foxey
Roxey.  Closer in are the similarly clad "Maxim guards" Irish,
Claw, Diana, and Masque, literally going over the fence and the
mines and sensors on the other side with the help of some magic.
They land on the grass just shy of one of the Orange level access
hatches, rush up to it and wait.

CB:  Ah'm almost there....
Masque:  Hurry.  There's a drone coming.
CB:  Ah'm workin on it.

Outside there is a drone approaching.  It appears to be a combat
drone of some kind, but not of any common design.  Probably a
Maxim creation.  It is scanning, and then it's thermographic
imaging systems, or a rigger controling it, locks onto the hatch
area.

Buzz:  Hold it.....It's imaging is scrambled.  Hurry up, though,
CB.  It'll reset in about 10 seconds.
CB:  Go!

Outside, while the first group, with Shadow a "prisoner", is
heading in through what amounts to the front door, the second
group pops open a heavy steel hatch and drops one by one inside,
falling from the view of the external cameras and into the domain
of the internal ones.  You see them look around, point out the
cameras and the guns on the ceiling, and then head down toward
the nearest Red level access.

The first group, on the other hand, is literally walking through
the facility, led by Slash who knows it well, toward the elevator
and that way down to the Red level.

Back to the VP and Ripley, you continue to ignore thier banal
conversation, instead listening to the voice-over.

Sec. Radio:  Sir, the infiltrators have been identified as ex-
associates of Alexander Jackson.
VP Radio:  Move him now.  Upstairs, my office or Velli's.  GO!
Sec. Radio:  Yes sir.  Ms. Velli, I have informaton for you.  We
are being raided by elements known to have been associated with
Dr. Jackson.
Velli Radio:  I understand.  Is he being moved from his cell, and
an illusion being prepared?
Sec. Radio:  Yes, ma'am.  Yours or Avatar's office?
Velli Radio:  Mine.  Prepare as per SP-143.R.7.
Sec. Radio:  Understood.  Units in transit as of....now.

+++++Temporary Download End+++++]<<<<<
     -- ? <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[ +++++Download continues, Maxim Raid+++++

You notice that the four deckers in the system must have diabled
the defensive guns that were implanted in the ceiling well after
Slash left.  Miniguns, with automatic sensors, but the looks of
them.  And they are set to cover the approaches to the main areas
of the red security levels, in this case Red 3, Main Security.

But regardless of why they are off, they are, and no-one seems to
be paying them too much mind.  Group 3 is approaching the south-
east door and Group 4 the south-west door.  There is very little
traffic, you notice, in the corridors, but you have nothing to
guage the level of activity on.  Inside Red 3, though, there are
guards at most of the stations, monitering and maintaining the
security of this facility.  By the looks of it, the teams are
hitting it between shifts, where the old guards have already
retired for the night, and the new guards have yet to take thier
places at the monitors.  All the people inside are armed with
heavy pistols and are wearing Maxim armored jackets.  Standard
security forces, it appears.  Even though there are lots of them,
they shouldn't be a problem.

Checking another monitor, you see that AJ is still sleeping,
probably drugged, in cell 3.  Group 3 is arriving in the foyer
that provides access to the internal security.  Group 4 is just
about there, but not quite.  Luckily for group 3, they look
exactly like a Quad that's missing a member and escorting a
prisoner, who appears to be Shadow.  Now that you think of it,
didn't Slash say that there was always one inside?  Checking
quickly, you see that it's missing.  Interesting.  Tapping into
the foyer audio, you get the following:

Slash:  We're here to intern this prisoner(gestures to Shadow) in
cell 1.
Guard:  I'll have to verify.  Do you have written authorization?
Slash:  Of course(holds out a paper).
Guard:  Thank you..... (Messes with the computer.  You suspect
that somewhere in the Matrix one of the 4 deckers involved are
intercepting the request, processing an affirmative statement,
and returning it with the proper delay.)....  Excellent.  I see
you have orders to see him interned yourself.  Please, wait for
the door and then enter after speaking your verification code.
All of you, that is.
Slash:  Verification code 1Alphagamma4phi
Caine:  Verification code 1Alphagamma3phi
H-t-C:  Verification code 1Aplhagamma1phi
Guard:  Verification confirmed.  Watch your step.

You see that one set of doors have opened, allowing access to a
sealed killzone, probably set into meter thick concrete walls and
set with non-lethal gas.  A second set of doors opens, much like
an airlock, and you see a 1/2 meter thick slot for a blastproof
vault door, which is currently open.  Slash and everyone split up
while you see, on another monitor, Group 4 going through a
similar ritual, supposedly entering Main Security to replace the
missing Quad.  H-t-C and Shadow are heading over to the brig
access room, and you again patch into the audio as on other
cameras you see the other six member splitting off to cover all
the rooms with gas and spells, to knock out Main Security in the
event that the fake on AJ fails.

Jailer:  I was just informed that you have a transfer to cell 1.
I'll need his papers, and then you may go in.(HtC hands him the
transfer documents, and again you suspect that the deckers are
finagling a way to verify the document that at least looks
official, if nothing else.  And of course, someone is working on
the panel so that it'll appear that only cell 1 is opening when
in fact both cell 1 and 3 will be to let AJ out.)
.....Your papers are in order.  I'm unlocking cell 1.  Place your
prisoner within and I'll close the door when the camera shows him
there.

HtC nods and then moves around and stands before the set of
double security doors, moves through them, and then through the
final set of doors into the brig.  You see her do something and
all of a sudden Shadow seems to split in two, one part entering
the cell and the other part turning invisible and heading down to
cell 3.

Shadow:  What the frag?  Uh, we have a problem....  AJ ain't
here.
Spirit:  What do you mean?  He's lying on the bed, looking like
he's drugged.
Shadow:  I just checked that...  and put my arm clean through a
spell.
Spirit:  hold it a sec.....Move.  Now.  It's a set-up, and we're
found.  Buzz is looking for AJ, and we'll tell you when we find
his physical location.
Slash:  Drek....  use the gas...

Inside the brig, you see the two sentry guns go suddenly active
and rev up as HtC drops her spells and runs toward the closing
security doors, followed closely by Shadow.  Out in Main Security
the drek has hit the fan and spells and concealed gas grenades
are going off in every room of Red 3.  Followed immediately by
several klaxons and flashing signs that read "Gas alert!  Main
Security" and "Vital Signs monitor alert!  Main Security".

CB:  Ah couldn't stop em all....

Slash and all the 8 people inside Main Security are splitting off
into three groups, with Masque, Claw, and Irish in one, Caine,
Slash, and HtC in another, and Diana and Shadow in the third.
And all are wearing gasmasks.

C.T.:  Move it!  I'm reading three groups of security forces
bearing down on you from all three exits!  And they're labled as
RDF and Military, NOT standard security.  Get the hell out of
there!

With a minimum of conversation, you see the three groups split
up, two heading one way, one another.  It's very odd that they
don't have to fight their way out throught the foyer guards....
They've retreated down the corridors toward the advancing Maxim
forces.

Spirit:  I'm giving you cover with the automatic guns.  Now head
out toward Red 1, and then up to Orange 1.  Group 4, out the way
you came in.
Diana:  We're hitting the power station, see if we can't shut
down the party.
Buzz:  Quads from Blue level arriving in numbers.  Looks like
they were ready for us!  But how?

On the monitors, you see the groups running in thier respective
directions, with Diana and Shadow well ahead of Group 4, heading
toward Red 4.

+++++Ending download temporarily+++++]<<<<<
     -- ? <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[  +++++Resume Maxim Download+++++

>From the last section of camera and audio log, you notice an
immediate change.  This section is of what is called the White
level, the small part of the facility that is above ground.  The
second thing you notice is the focus on several sections of the
building, specifically the room where AJ actually waits, drugged
and bound, but still obviously angry at the person sitting across
the way from him--Nicole Macha Velli, President and CEO, Maxim
Arms.

You have perhaps seen pictures of her on the trid, but this is
different.  She is the ideal buisnesswoman here, clad in a
tailored and imported Italian charcoal grey with blue
shadowstripe buisness suit.  The only thing that doesn't look
quite normal is the small calibre pistol, apparently a Beretta
200ST, in matte black.  Judging by the way she's holding it,
she's not just a ruthless buisnesswoman but someone who's likely
seen the darker side of the corporate world, and with what you
know of her background as The Chameleon, she's been around.  You
also seem to remember that Solitaire's body was found with a
single bullet wound in the back of the skull, from a Beretta
200ST.....

AJ, on the other hand, looks almost as bad as he did getting off
the plane from Germany.  He looks like he can walk and talk, but
he looks like he's in some serious pain.  Taking another look at
the cuffs that they have him in, you begin to understand why.
Electrified and set so that if he moves too fast, the
monofiliment will cut his hands and feet off rather than just
stop him from going anywhere.  By the look on his face, he looks
like he's not gotten any sleep since Maxim took him, and there
may be some truth to that.

You can see that they are, at the moment, the only two people in
the office of the CEO, a very plush and well furnished office.
But you suspect that this will change very soon, as the alarms
have been going off for some time now.

Switching over to a second camera, you see downstairs, a cubicle,
with Buzz sitting there, jacked into a wall socket labled
"Security Only".  Looking elsewhere, you notice that Ripley and
Sabre are still being escorted around by someone who is probably
just a simple VP, but in this case just happens to be the VP of
security, John Skulkin, when you hear a suddenly implaced audio
feed "John, intruders in Red 3.  Escort your infiltrators to the
conference room and put it under guard.  Then report upstairs.
NOW!" and you realize that, somehow, the person providing the
download patched into a secure, scrambled headware transmission
to the VP.

John:  (into the headware radio) Roger.  (to Ripley and Sabre)
If you'll excuse me for a moment.  We are having a security drill
and I'm afraid that all guests are required to gather in the
conference room.  Please follow me.
Ripley:  Of course, I understand.  (gives Sabre a worried glance
and follows with her right behind)

The three of them head into the conference room, where John asks
them to help themselves to the bar until he returns.  You see him
leave, tap a code into the wall panel lock, and leave at a dead
run for Velli's office.

Inside the room, this is what you hear:

Sabre:  Something went wrong.  We need to cover for them, provide
a diversion if we can.
Ripley:  And find Buzz and then get the frag out of here.

Ripley advances on the door only to get quite a shock, literally.
It's a disguised insulated security door, with a electrical shock
system built into the lock, apparently.  And the jolt sends
Ripley into convulsions that Sabre spends a good minute stopping
and reversing the nearly lethal damage with her magic.

Sabre:  Drek!  Buzz, we have a problem here.  Unlock the
conference room door, and de-activate the shock system too.  It
damn near killed Ripley, but he'll be ok in a few....
Buzz:  I'm on it....all hell broke loose downstairs in security.
Sabre:  Yeah, we kind of figured as much....
Buzz:  It's unlocked....uh, I have a problem....  In case
I....can't get back to you, I'm,.......in Cubicle 14 on
the.......
Sabre:  Buzz?  Drek!  Lost him!  Ripley, can you move?
Ripley:  Huh?  Uh, yeah....I think....I'm a little
disoriented....
Sabre:  We've got to move.

And the two of them head off in search of Buzz, before they try
to find AJ themselves.

On another view, you see exactly what happened to Buzz.  It
appears that he got discovered at the door, or near it, and
dumped.  Something doesn't look right, though, as he's writhing
in pain, clawing at his head, probably where his C^2 deck is
implanted....You hope it didn't get burned, as that would likely
kill him or drive him insane in the process.  But regardless,
something happened to him that he didn't like, and you see Sabre
and Ripley, with weapons still concealed, running through the few
wage slaves milling around in the halls, wondering what the frag
is going on.  Most of them, however, are smart enough to get out
of the way of the pair as they approach Buzz's cubicle and enter
it, to find Buzz much better, but still looking tired and
confused.  In the audio, you catch some mumbling about
"worm....viral....." before Sabre nails him with a stimpatch that
punches him out of his confusion almost instantly.  But he'll pay
for it later, if he and the rest of them live that long.

Buzz:  I saw AJ.  Velli's office, upstairs.  Just the two of
them.  The back direct access corridor was open, but there were
guards converging on the area.

While he's doing this, Buzz is pulling his pistol and moving
toward the door, with Sabre and Ripley not too far behind.
Checking the corridor, they move off up the corridor, toward the
conference rooms again.  This time, however, they take a quick
detour and Buzz stops at a Maglocked armored cabinet.  Whipping
out a passkey, he runs it though the lock, which groans and makes
some sick sounding beeps, then opens.  Inside is some security
hardware and what appear to be Security IDs.  Buzz grabs three
and hands them to Ripley and Sabre.

Buzz:  These'll keep the gas and guns from thinking we're enemies
and killing us.

The three, now dressed more or less like official security
members, head off toward, of all places, the front door and the
only stairway up to the second floor.  But due to the IDs, they
literally have no difficulties getting through the guards, who
appear to think that these three runners are more important
security members, SRDF or higher even.  They head over and hit
the glass stairway running, and almost slipping and falling on
the turn at the top.  And then again, they are off at a full run
toward the main security offices for the building, then past them
and on to a locked security door.  Ripley and Sabre take up
covering positions while Buzz kneels, takes a sec to look over
the lock, and then makes some quick modifications to his passkey
before running it through the lock and opening the door.

Inside is a series of open doors that look as if they are
designed to seal and flood the area with gas, laser fire, and
monofiliment traps.  All in all a rather unpleasant hallway for
those people not wearing security IDs.

Buzz:  Come on, AJ and Velli are right up here, in her office.
Sabre:  Hold it!  It's too easy.  Slow up!

Seeing the wisdom of Sabre's words, Buzz slows up and approaches
the corner carefully, and reports no-one on the other side,
before the "secret" door access to the office.  Peaking through a
peakhole, Sabre reports that she can't see anything and then
she's almost totally enveloped in fire.

Ripley:  FRAG!  Elemental!

Ripley attackes the now manifest elemental with his knife, as
does Buzz, and with the additional willpower of Sabre who lets
out a scream muffled by the sound of flames that forces the
elemental to either return to Astral space, or kills it.  You
cannot tell, but either way, it's gone.  But Sabre's previously
very nice looking outfit is charred and still smoking in places.
And she decides that perhaps thier element of surprise has been
lost, and bursts through the door.

Following Sabre comes Ripley and Buzz, crouched low to avoid any
incoming fire, and there is some.  And it's not pistol shots,
either, but assult rifles and SMGs.  And the rounds are chewing
up the armored wall behind the three attackers.  Furthermore, you
notice a Quad advancing up the corridor that they just left,
weapons out and ready.  Within the room, this is what you hear as
Buzz, Ripley, and Sabre curse, hiding behind the desk.  The only
thing you do notice is that, before hitting the floor behind the
desk, a couple of rounds from the three actually came close to
hitting Velli, in the head no less, but were stopped by the
raising of a magical barrier that hadn't been there an instant
before.

Velli:  Please come out.  If you don't, I'll have to replace the
desk, and it's an antique.  And you'll die in the process.  If
you give yourselves up, there's actually a very small chance you
might live to see the sunrise.  After all, I still have your
Phaeton downstairs, Ripley.  And you really ought to consider my
offer.  If I kill you all, then it'll be my downfall eventually.
And I plan on living a long, full life yet, so some of you at
least will be released.  Well?

Buzz, Ripley, and Sabre look at each other, and then at the two
Quads that effectively have them pinned down, and then drop thier
weapons, slowly standing.

+++++Temporary End Download+++++ ]<<<<<
     -- ?  <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[ NOO!!! it can't be, first my brother leaves me at age 14, now he
dies on me! I will revenge his killers. Someone tell me who killed him?]<<<<<
        -- Tarkis <Mental/Case>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ HI there Zarkon, Tarkis broke the spell on me, I am better now.  I
know a lot about DarkLord. But now we got oen big problem.  Tarkis has
gone bonkers over his brothers death. I couldn;t hold him down with my
magic.  Now I don;t know where he is!]<<<<<
        -- Shal <17:25:00/1-4-56>

*****Private: Abdiel
>>>>>[ We need help finding Tarkis, we went bonkers when finding out his
bro died!]<<<<<
        -- SHal <17:28:00/1-4-56>

>>>>>[ 'Sorry, I've already found them.  At a helluva good deal.'
Frypp, was this to us?? If so, yes, we do have a few... interested
individuals who could possibly use such munitions. ]<<<<<
        --  OS^2 (17:19:46/2-4-56)

>>>>>[ We know of a 'Jose', Mr. Purple.  We are not sure if the one you are
thinking about is the one we know; 'ours' is the comptroller for The Clearing
House, LTD, a shadowcorp for fixers and dealers.  Thus, he may allow some
of his 'people' to utilise his name..... we do not know. ]<<<<<
        --  OS^2 (17:23:18/2-4-56)

*****PRIVATE: "Nagoma Awooyo"
>>>>>[Sir, there has been a recent development involving Tora!Tora!Tora!
It appears that a certain number of those employed by Frypp Security,
Inc., launched a pre-emptive strike on the terrorist group known as the
"West 51st."  The terrorist group suffered what appeared to be major
casulties, with at least 10 dead, mostly trolls but it is believed that
at least one, possibly two, were among the casulties.  It is further my
belief that our surveillance of "Freddy" Frypp has been compromised.

All our drones are still believed to be safe, and the Imperial Marine
surveillance of the bridges has not spotted any untoward activity.

At this point sir, it has become a waiting game, and we cannot afford to
lose.  It is my suggestion that we "join forces" with Frypp Sec. and work
together.  Frypp and his associates have many contacts "underground" that
the Marines do not have, which could be highly usefull.  Perhaps with a
two-pronged assault we can protect our interests and the civilians also.
Permission to contact Frederick Frypp?]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<20:07:19/2-4-56>

*****PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[Permission granted.  However, it should go without saying that our
interests are of the utmost importance, and should be protected at all
costs.  Reveal as little as possible.]<<<<<
        --"Nagoma Awooyo"
          Director of Special Operations
          *name deleted*

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Mr. Frypp, I think it is high time we had a face-to-face
discusion.  I know you are working towards stopping the terrorist bombing
planned for the 7th.  And I don't think you are so stupid to not realize
by now that is what I am working on also, if for other reasons.  We need
to stop the bombing, and I think we should join resources to stop it.
You have the underground, I have the Imperial Marines.  Together we might
have a shot here.  Interested?  It might actually get the Marines off
your back for a while.  If so, contact me privately (I trust your dogs
even less than I trust you) and we can arrange a meeting time and place.
But remember, time is running out, so there is no time for
fun-and-games.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<20:13:46/2-4-56>

Freddy Fyrpp
>>>>>[ Ok I had to rebuild Rolling Thunder vid-link, that were we got hit, only
the down link system was hit, we got all of it]<<<<<
      --Red Ronin (22:27:46/2-4-56)

+++START VID-LINK+++
Open on a rundown Wherehouse
AUDIO: Death Jestor in position,.....spotted one ..no two repeat two
gangmenbers by the main door.
Vid: zooms on the main door two trolls stand to the side of it, armed with
AK-97's
Rolling Thunder: Drone's in the air....spot main door I have left ganger.
DJ: Spot right....Strikes-like-lighting go astral
Strikes: Check...out....
Matchsticks: Ground Team ready
Red Ronin: I have you 5x5
TIME OUT 3.3MPS
Red Ronin: DJ, Thunder drop targets.
DJ:Roger
cut to DJ's gun cam extream close-up of the head of a rather big troll and in
one second it's their and the next just a pink mist.
DJ:target one down
RT:Target 2 down.
vid cuts to the body of a troll minus it head and most of it's right arm
RR: Ground team...Go!
MS:Check
SLL: Clear channel....their mage is in the second level frist room on the left,
making my phyical entrance.
DJ: Ground Team ! two trolls on your left.(thump)..check one.(thump).check none
no threat left.
MS:activating camera....
RR:reciving....
Cut to a dimly lit room Matchsticks speaks: Loudo you have left side, Strikes
you have right flank GoD you and me have middle, Gryf..you have back.
then you see a LARGE troll (3.5m holding a HMG in one hand) moving  to the left
an Amerindian in all black moving to the right he holds a M-70 smg and a rather
large ax on his left hip. and Matchstick an ork with two Ingrma smg's leads
Loudo:Something move this way. Troll's three trolls, are they bad?
SLL: Yes Loudo they bad they want to hurt many people who did them no harm
Loudo: They Bad me hit them (the HMG opens up cutting four trolls in half.)
Matchsticks: TWO MORE ON THE CAT WALK
SLL:got'em
Gryf:Ditto
two smg's open up hitting the trolls, who return fire hitting Loudo
Loudo: OW that hurt. she pivots still firing the HMG raking the cat walk with a
rather long burst. cutting part of the cat walk down
DJ:Have target..ork ID...
SLL: thats their mage DROP repeat DROP
DJ check(thump..thump) two hits the target is wounded repeat WOUNDED out of
sight.
SLL:roger DJ...head up guys...
GoD: hey we got company guys...
MS:Loudo shoot at them..
Loudo. yes
the HMG opens up and the trolls dive for cover
SLL KEEPS THEIR HEADS DOWN GOING ASTRAL...AND SUMMING MY SPRIT AID ..
You see Strikes-like-Lighting slump to the floor and a few seconds later a
giant ghost wolf takes shape around Strikes and runs off to a stair case
+++End Of Link+++

>>>>>[ In order to keep the wonderfully tenacious news hounds off
our backs, they've been fed a line a' drek about what's happened ta
that "darling of the media"-- Kerran Eldritch-O'Connor.

Mind ya, he's STILL outta the country...and, the dates they have
have been all scrambled outta kilter.  This should buy Nex some
mending time.

Hope he pulls outta this thing soon, though!  Dunno _how_ long we're gonna be
able ta keep them off the scent...

Besides...it's been gettin kinda _quiet_, 'round here, without him
under foot!  *smirk*  ]<<<<<
        --  RANDOM ( 04:29:53 / 02-05-56 )

+++++  video download.condition.vid
+++++  audio ( y/n ): y

You see a rather attractive Human woman, of indeterminate age,
seated behind a desk.  Behind her, a large photo of the band
BloodRunn can be seen, flashed across a wall screen.  The name
"Pamela Jean Anton" is superimposed across the bottom of the
video screen.

PJA: International music sensation Kerran Eldritch-O'Connor,
      hearthrob, and featured artist of  the nova-hot band BloodRunn, is
      listed in critical condition today, following what _many_ believe to
      have been a _racially motivated_ assault, late Friday night.

      The young musician / vocalist apparently slipped into a coma,
      during the course of more than 5 grueling hours of emergency
      surgery to repair the damage done by a viscious slash to his
      right wrist, and a near-fatal stab wound to the heart.

      His recovery is seen to be _further_ complicated by the
      diagnosis of both exhaustion, AND severe diabetes -- which had
      gone previously undetected, but the onset of which is believed to
      have been triggered by the extreem trauma of his injuries.

      Only family members are being admitted, during strict visiting
       hours, at the private clinic where he's resting, while attempts are
       made to maintain stabilization.

+++++   end video download

>>>>>[ Diggin thru the wasteland of "Kerran's" studio, it seems he's
been a bit more diligent than we'd given him credit for!  We found a whole
DREK-LOAD of tracks he'd laid down, nearly 95omplete!

With what _we've_ been working on -- and the stuff Afrique's come up
with -- we SHOULD be able to get this project turned out, after all!
And, only about a month behind schedule!

Colice?  If you're up for it...I KNOW Sean wanted ya in on this.
]<<<<<
        --  RANDOM ( 07:50:28 / 02-05-56 )

>>>>>[ _Life: a Sacrifice of Innocents_, huh?  Ya know, luvs...
ordinarily, given the sitch, I'd suggest considerin changin the _name_
on this project!

But, _somehow_, I don't think Sean'd want us ta do that... ]<<<<<
        --  Afrique Wylde < Don't:do:anything / I-wouldn't-do ;>

>>>>>[ I _sincerely_ hope you don't think this too _forward_ of me,
or presumtious, friends.  But, might I make a little suggestion of my
own?

The higher-ups, here at the company, wanted me to run by you  the
possibility of _holding off_ on the release of this package of
recordings.  At least until we see which direction Kerran's condition
takes.

Without trying  to seem..."indelicate"...he COULD take a turn for the
worst, at any time, given recent complications.  And, heaven forbid
that anything _should_ happen to him, but taking that very REAL
possibility into consideration...the executives were hoping you might
decide to _postpone_ its release -- at least for a while.

A postumously released collection could bring in an _unprescidented_ amount
of revenue, given his...and the band's...
popularity -- providing all of you involved with CONSIDERABLE
royalties!

And, just THINK of what a FITTING tribute it would be to such an
extraordinarily TALENTED young man, tragically stolen from us,  in
the "bloom of youth", at the height of his popularity...by the very
violence -- the SENSELESS violence -- he's given so MUCH of
himself to crusade against... +++++  LINK TERMINATED  ]<<<<<
        --  Marcus Brandford ( 08:20:27 / 02-05-56 )
            Department of Promotions
            Virgin / Arista / Kyletech Recordings

>>>>>[ LOOK, you obnoxious little GHOUL!!!   DON'T let me catch
yer smooth-talkin', slick-suited, sorry little hoop 'round this node
again -- or I'm _personally_ gonna SLAG it for ya!

GOT THAT!?!?  ]<<<<<
        --  Sahara ( 08:20:58 / 02-05-56 )

>>>>>[ YOUCH!!!   So, Sahara...I s'pose he should take that as a
"no"...? ]<<<<<
        --  RANDOM ( 08:21:18 / 02-05-56 )

*****Private: Lou
>>>>>[Hey, lay off. I just got back from the run of a lifetime and I'mnot
in the best of shape either. I'm sure you'll hear about it soon.]<<<<<
        -- Ripley <08:54:40/02-05-56>

>>>>>[ +++++Resume Maxim Download+++++

The first thing you notice is the change of scenery.  Where
before you were indoors, within Maxim's HQ facility, you are now
outside, on the grounds.  With the changing perspectives, you can
see that the camera angles correspond to cameras hidden within
the trees and bushes of the perimeter as well as on the building
and roof themselves.

The second thing you notice is that there is no prayer that the
AJ rescue team is going to escape.  There are at least 50-100
fully armed and armored troops standing around Hatch #6 and the
south door to the facility.  This doesn't include the 10 ground
drones and the 6 rotodrones, or the tilt-rotor RPV that is
hovering overhead either.  If Maxim wants them dead, they'll be
dead, and very quickly as well.

Over at the hatch, the Maxim troops, and they are true military,
not mere security, pop open the hatch and shine several large
spotlights down as well as covering the five runners within with
large amounts of weaponry.  And you suspect that, although you
can't see in, the runners are realizing that they are caught.
And as they aren't truly insane regardless of what most people
think of shadowrunners in general, you begin to see weapons being
passed up as they surrender.

Over at the south door, a similar drama is playing itself out as
HtC, Slash, and Caine are also being captured and then escorted
toward the west side of the building, directly between the two
capture zones.  Here you see something else extraordinary.  Buzz,
Sabre, and Ripley, unbound but sitting under guard on folding
chairs alongside eight empty chairs.  Before the 11 chairs are
two others, one a stool with AJ sitting uncomfortably upon it,
and the other a semi-plush rolling chair with Nicole Velli
herself sitting on it, with 10 folders sitting in her lap, one
open and being read.  Beside her, however, are two very large
folders, one titled Caine, the other Alexander Jackson.  Combined
the other 10 folders don't equal one of those two.

Looking up, she sees the approach of the rest of the runners, and
puts down her folders and stares at them.

Velli:  Please, have a seat.  And, please excuse the necessary
guards.  I'd hate to have to trust myself to your safety,
especially now.  I do have a predicament that you can perhaps
help me with.  What ever am I to do with you all?

Slash:  Give us AJ and let us go.

Velli:  (laughs)  While that would certainly remove your
difficulties, mine would only be beginning.  You see, eventually
word would get around and Maxim's reputation would suffer severe
losses, and that would be bad for buisness.  What would be
excellent for buisness would be for me to order your deaths.

Buzz:  But you said...

Velli:  Quiet!  Excuse my manners, but I've told these
three(motions to Ripley, Buzz, and Sabre) my plan already and I
don't wish to spoil the suspense.

Shadow:  You're playing with us.  Why not just kill us and get it
over with.

Velli:  Actually, my discourse with you serves a purpose, even if
I do kill you all.  It helps me understand the mind of the
shadowrunner, something that I never truly understood, even when
I worked for the Tir and caused the deaths of Caine's old team.

Caine:  You always seemed a little distant, Chameleon.  Or is
Velli your real name?

Velli:  It is my legal name, although my birth name was radically
different.  As a CEO, I can hardly hide my identity, can I?  But
what I cannot understand is your loyalty to such a creature as
this.(kicks AJ)

HtC:  He is a friend, regardless of what else he is.  Some of us
refuse to hold someone accountable for things they have no
control over.

Velli:  And you risk all your lives for him?  Why?  Slash, I know
you, and I've read your dossier.  You probably could have
succeeded where all of you failed.  Why not try yourself?

Slash:  Because to do so would have meant failure.  You've read
my dossier?  Then you know my history, and you know that I helped
design the security here.  I knew all it's foibles, but I also
knew that my design had been something that I couldn't defeat
either, and neither could the four of us 6 months ago when Pete
hired us to break in here.

Velli:  As you say....I feel you are mistaken, but no matter.
The result is that all of you are now my prisoners and I still
don't know what to do with you.  If I let you go, my personal
reputation and the reputation of Maxim will fall, perhaps
irretrievably.  But if I kill you all, each of you have enough
associates that I cannot succeed and survive in the long run.
And I intend to have a very long life.(looking at Caine)  So,
what shall I do with you?

Caine:  You have already captured us, Chameleon, and yet AJ still
lives.  Obtain from us, on our honor, that we shall never again
knowingly set foot on Maxim property, and then let us go.  Will
we be your enemies?  Absolutely.  But we all have enough honor to
not break our word.

Velli:  Honor?  Honor!(laughs)  Oh, please.  Runners have no
honor.  But what you recommend intrigues me, as I had already
considered the option.  And it indeed is the best option I can
conceive of.  But, in addition, I shall give you something in
return.  Alex here is slated to die tomorrow morning at 9.  In
exchange for one of you to take his place, I shall release him
into the custody of the rest of you and then set you free.  What
do you say to this?

Diana:  Frag off and die.

Velli:  Wrong answer, my dear.  And I thought that you'd like to
have your father back...if only to deliver him to your group, who
wants him dead for the death of a ganger in Seattle.  Or didn't
you know?

Irish:  Like she said, Frag off and die.

Velli:  If you do not accept my offer, you all die.  Here and
now.

All around the little circle of chairs the guards take aim at the
heads of all the runners.

Caine:  Wait!  I accept your offer, Chameleon.

All the runners' heads turn to Caine, some relieved, some aghast.

Irish:  No!  You'll die!

Caine:  Ever see the old Star Trek movies?  The old Flats?  Well,
the good of the few outweigh the good of the one, kid.  And if
someone doesn't, we all die.

Irish: (turning to Velli)  Take me instead!  He has a wife.

Velli:  Your honor does you credit, but no.  To me, Caine is at
least as dangerous as AJ, who could be one of the most dangerous
people to me on this planet.  Caine, I accept your offer.  But
before I let the rest of you go, I must make one thing very
clear.  If any one of you is found on Maxim holdings anywhere in
the world, you will all be hunted down and killed one by one.  I
expect that, regardless of your so-called honor, concern for each
other and one's self will keep you away from me and my
corporation far better than any words given ever could.  And to
show you my sincerity....

Velli pulls her Beretta from under her suitcoat and motions Caine
forward with it.

Velli:  Kneel, my old friend.  Your time to join your old friends
has come.

Caine:  (smiling) Perhaps, but I shall see you to Hell before I
join you there.

Velli:  I doubt it.  Goodbye, Caine.  You'll die better than your
friend did.  It's more than you deserve.

And with her last word, she puts the Beretta to the back of
Caine's head and fires a single round.  Caine, his mind and soul
already gone, bleeds what appear to be tears from his eyes for a
single instant before collapsing foward, dead.

Irish, seeing his friend executed before his eyes, surprises the
guards and leaps from his chair and charges Velli.  Her speed,
obviously enhanced, spins her around and her movements expose her
cybernetic arms as she stops Irish with a single blow to the
stomach, then pivots and throws him back into his chair.

Velli:  Escort them to thier vehicles.  And add this...thing...to
the enterauge(as she kick AJ forward off his stool).  Remember
what I said, everyone.  And have a good life.

The runners, escorted by close to 40 military guards, advance to
where Irish's truck and the Phaeton are parked.  Outside, on the
other side of the street, you see partially concealed behind a
hedge the Hudson with Roxey still behind the wheel, obviously
concerned.

Back at the circle, you pick up the last vestiges of the
converstation between Skulkin, VP of Security, and Velli.

Velli:  Inform Interpol that they will be leaving Maxim property
in less than 5 minutes.
Skulkin:  And the traced deckers?
Velli:  Transmit thier coordinates and the tracking beacon
frequency to Interpol as well.
Skulkin:  And what would you like done with the body?
Velli:  Deliver it to Portland, to the Peace Force building.  It
is my final duty to them, finally completed....

+++++End Maxim Download+++++]<<<<<
     -- ? <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[ +++++Resume Maxim Download+++++

Group 2, comprised of only Shadow and Diana, have joined Group 4
for the time being, as they are heading in the same direction.
Group 4, made up of Irish, Claw, and Masque are headed off toward
the Orange level to leave by the same way they entered, since
it's the best retreat at this point.  Group 4, Caine, Slash, and
Hard-to-Catch, are headed off in a different direction, trying to
get out via another Orange level, hopefully before the Maxim
forces cut them off.

Group 2 is the first to encounter resistance as they round a
corner, in the form of a group of cautiously advancing troops,
coming from the direction of one of the Blue level stairways.  By
the looks of them they are RDF members, equipped with sealed
medium security armor, SMGs, some rifles, and at least one mage.
Luckily, Diana and Shadow only have to cut a corner and they do
so, running off up another corridor.  However, Irish, Claw, and
Masque aren't so lucky as they will have to fight their way
through.

Diana:  Sec coming down the corridor!
Irish:  Got it.

The advantage of having Maxim uniforms is the ability to have
"snuck" weaponry into the building and have it not look unusual.
In this case, Masque has unslung an M22A2, Claw is using his
Ingram Smartgun, and Irish has an Alpha combat gun, all ready for
the instant that the RDF members arrive around the corner.  And
arrive they do, with Masque in front providing covering fire,
followed by Irish on the opposite wall to limit his profile to
damage, also providing suppression fire and lobbing gas grenades
down into the oncoming security.  Explosions and smoke are
already beginning to fill the air when Irish shudders and bruises
appear spontaneously on his hands and face from a mana spell of
some kind.

Claw:  Mage.  Cut the fire--Barrier up....  Move!

Claw, his fingers and face twitching, begins to sweat terribly as
the strain of maintaining a physical barrier begins to take its
toll.  But Group 3 advances up to the corner that Diana and
Shadow just disappeared down, and begin to back away when, the
RDF members realizing that their opponents have a magician,
collapse the barrier somehow.  Claw suddenly staggers as the
drain hits him hard.  They begin a fighting withdrawl, with
Masque taking up the rear and helping to sheild Claw with his
semi-armored body.  Between the people you see a single figure
stand up, take careful aim with a rifle, and fire at Claw, who is
rapidly recovering.  Luckily for Claw, Masque also noticed the
sniper targeting the obvious mage and got Claw out of the way.
But in the process, he got himself caught in the chest with a
single shot from a sniper rifle.  The bullet, you see, has left a
ragged hole in Masque's armor and also the torso beneath it.  But
somehow, Masque is still standing, if screaming in pain.  Irish
responds with a single grenade, a defensive frag grenade, and the
blast, channeled by the thin corridors, blasts all three people
on thier backs and faces.  Due to the smoke, you can't see what
the effect was on the armored RDF troops, but even thier armor
isn't indestructable.

Claw and Irish begin to drag Masque with them, as Masque is
apparently unconscious and definately bleeding....but bleeding a
different color--clear, as if it's lubricant or water rather than
blood.

Back with Diana and Shadow, you see the two of them round the
next corner and almost get mowed down by automatic gunfire from
the gun outside the power generators.

Shadow:  Buzz, someone, get the guns outside Red 4!

But nothing is happening, and Shadow, even with his unholy speed,
has already taken a shot in his arm while attempting to blow out
the sensors on the gun.  But the gun stops.  Someone shut the
damn thing down, luckily for these two, and Group 3 when they get
here.  Shadow takes off, rushing up to the closed security doors
while Diana races to get there behind him.

Shadow:  CB, get the killzone and the doors.....anyone?  Drek!
Diana, can you open the fraggin thing?
Diana:  Sorry, wrong spell.
Shadow:  Well, I guess I can hotwire the thing....

Shadow pulls a rather large knife and begins to pry off the
armored casing of the locking panel and gets shocked, burning his
already wounded arm as electricity surges from the innards of the
lock up the knife.  However, he did tear the panel off...

Shadow:  Drek, that hurt!
Diana:  Stand aside...

Diana motions Shadow to the side and takes careful aim with her
Ruger Superwarhawk and fires two shots into the innards of the
lock.  Both explosive bullets send shocks through the system and
blow the lock all to hell and gone.  The two of them approach the
door cautiously and begin pulling apart, slowly opening it.

Shadow:  Sledgehammer approach.  Slash wouldn't approve.
Diana:  It worked, didn't it?

Inside is another, inactive gun, a camera, and enough gas ports
to flood the area, were it sealed, in less than a second.  But it
is very likely that the killzone is set with a safety so that it
won't flood unless it seals, to keep from contaminating the rest
of this level with whatever gas Maxim chose to put into the
dispensers.  You hope, as Diana and Shadow must as well, that the
manual overrides haven't been tripped yet....

Through the other door you hear the quite rumble of generators
running, powering the facility.  That's when the opposite door
slides open and two grenades come lofting through, as the doors
are still opening.  Luckily for Diana and Shadow, they both
detonate behind them and they are partially shielded by the doors
they had forced open.  But enough of the blast catches them both
to land them flat on thier backs.  Shadow, the first to recover
with his augmented reflexes, rolls to the side, using what little
cover the security door provides and begins to return fire, as
well as lobbing a gas grenade into the inner chamber.  Diana,
stunned by the blast, is a little slower to recover and takes a
bullet through her shoulder, leaving a tattered hole in what used
to be her shoulderblade.  Her left arm is now effectively
useless.

Through the smoke and gas, you see bug-like armored figures
inside the generator room advancing slowly, the lead one
targeting Shadow with some kind of pistol type weapon.  But
before he can trigger it, the figure arches his back and then
goes limp.  Behind him, literally ignoring the bullets that are
striking his unarmored back, stands a very tall black man,
wearing a bloodstained and dirty white longcoat, blood red T-
shirt, skin-tight black leather pants, alligator boots, and top
hat.  Peircing the SRDF trooper's back is the end of a ebony
stained, skull headed human bone cane.  There is only one person
who you know looks like this:  Micheal S. Baron, the free spirit.
How he got through the astral barriers around this building is
not your department, but he did somehow.

Micheal:  Run, mons.

As he says this, two large spirits manifest around him, appearing
to be Earth and Water elementals, and they close to do combat
with a creature that only magic and unquenchable willpower can
defeat.  Behind him advance four more SRDF troopers, similarly
clad, one of them wearing armor that appears to have magical
symbols on it.  Diana, cursing in creole, casts a spell at all of
them and catches one of the elementals in what appears to be a
sudden darkening of the room.  It appears as if all the shadows
and hidden evils of Hell have manifested in that room and they
begin to tear into the SRDF troopers, and even through their
armor you hear thier screams.  Micheal S. Baron, now facing only
one real attacker, is doing rather well, and covering Shadow's
and Diana's slow retreat.

Back at the corner that Shadow and Diana are approaching, Irish,
Claw, and Masque are about to round it as well, still falling
back as quickly as they can with wounded.  Diana and Shadow join
them, and they fall back some more, heading toward the stairs up
to Orange level before they set up shop and perform some
emergency healing on thier members.  Masque, however, appears to
be forced to endure the still dripping wound.  But in most cases,
all they try to do is releive the pain, as true healing magic
will take too much time, and then the five move on and up the
stairs.

Nearing the top, Masque and Shadow both stop and listen, and then
the two of them advance slowly upon the corner and lob one of
Irish's thermal smoke grenades down the corridor at the automated
gun they know is there.  The motion the rest of the team to
follow, and then the two of them advance and do something that
the smoke obscures.  The end result, however, is a very inactive
gun.  They begin to head down toward the exit point, until
something rounds the corridor.

A group of troops, apparently 4 or 5 of them, all dressed in what
appears to be full military armor.  But more than that, the armor
appears to be powered, judging by the speed at which they are
moving, and they are carrying some weaponry that looks like it
could take down a small aircraft.

Just as bullets begin to fly and the five runners take off down
toward another hatchway they hope is clear, you hear this over
the security channel.

"Infiltrators forced toward Hatch 6 as per orders."
Skulkin:  Excellent.  Carve them up some, but don't kill them.
"Understood."

And as this happens, something lances through the smoke and tags
Irish in the left leg.  The beam, probably from a laser weapon of
some type, slices through his armor and the leg and the damage
trips him up as his muscles spasm.  A second, slightly different
beam strikes out at Claw, sending him into spasms and throwing
him to the ground with his armor charred and his back probably
burned.  Diana and Masque spin to return fire and cover the
retreat of the others, only to take bullets themselves.  The five
members, still moving somehow, begin to return some fire and lob
several more grenades down the corridor with the grenade
launcher, and this appears to make enough of a distraction to
cover thier retreat to the closed hatchway.  Climbing up it, it
suddenly opens....

And the camera log jumps to the other group, comprised of Caine,
Slash, and Hard-to-Catch, as they race inward, hoping to get up
to the Orange level, section 1, the one immediately above Main
Security and the most direct route out.  However, as they round
the corner, a gas grenade detonating immediately in front of them
changes thier mind and, after Slash sets a flash grenade trap in
the settling gas, turn and race back the way they had came.
Advancing up the corridor and keeping away from the areas they
know there are guards, they appear to be heading toward the same
elevator that they had come down in.  And by the look on thier
gas-mask hidden faces, they don't particularly enjoy the concept.

Coming to another corner, you see a small group of troops
approaching the same corner.  In an action that would seem
comical under other cirucumstances, they literaly peak around the
corner at each other, only to have Slash jam his fist into the
armored guard's stomach with all his strength....and hurt his
fist in the process.  Caine, with his pistol and a knife drawn,
closes in with Slash, who has no choice but to fight melee.
Slash, his limited pacifism meaning that he refuses to kill(thus
the use of knock-out gas in Main Security earlier), pulls a funny
looking weapon called an Ares Squirt, probably loaded with some
cocktail that Slash cooked up just for this occasion.  Caine,
however, has no such problem when his life is on the line, and is
fighting tooth and nail with two troopers.  HtC herself, however,
is still out of the fight, slumped against the wall as if asleep.
Until Slash and Caine are literally thrown into walls by their
opponents and something goes off, centered on a specific trooper.
A spell, grounding out through some focus or another on a
magician or adept, and all the troops save one fall, apparently
unconscious.

The remaining one, standing over Caine, is about to pulverise the
stunned runner when Slash, barely able to focus, fires a single
shot from his squire into an exposed area on the back of the
trooper's head.  The trooper stops, then grabs his head and
begins to scream as Slash's cocktail kicks in.  Taking the
trooper's weapon, Caine brings his gun butt down on the troopers
neck/helmet joint, pincing the juggular vein and knocking him
unconscious.

HtC, however, has yet to return to her body, and then you see it
begin to manifest blotches and wounds as she begins Astral combat
with something or someone.  Then her awareness suddenly returns
to her body, and she collapses on the floor, shaking for about 5
seconds as Caine and Slash pick her up and carry her onward
toward the elevator.  They meet no additional resistance.

Until they begin the upward trip on the elevator, up two floors.
The elevator stops, stuck between the first and second floors of
the building section of the facility, finally above ground.
Slash, Caine, and the more or less recovered HtC look around and
then begin to work on the doors as they hear clunks on the roof
of the car, a signal that someone is up there.

HtC:  Move aside, guys....
Slash:  You'll kill yourself!
HtC:  We'll die anyway if I don't try.  Now move!

Slash moves aside with Caine and they take up positions in
opposite corners, covering the roof hatch and the rest of the
roof as best they can, while HtC centers heself and then reaches
out and touches the elevator door with a singer finger, blowing
it clean off the mountings with enough force to knock the first
floor access door off it's mounting as well.  The three of them
drop through the tight space and onto the first floor,
security/drone area, immediately before the entire interior of
the elevator gets peppered with armor-peircing bullets.  By the
sound of it, they are being fired from a minigun, and a few still
manage to hit Slash and HtC.  The three of them again encounter
some resistance, but this is in the form of drones, for the most
part.  They head toward the nearest door and superimposed over
the noise you hear the following:

"Infiltrator group 2 leaving, South door."
Skulkin's voice:  Take them.  Alive.
"Understood."

+++++Temporarily ending Download+++++]<<<<<
     -- ? <**:**:**/**-**-**>

>>>>>[+++++Resuming download, Maxim+++++

This time, not only has the area changed, but so has the entire
setting.  That's not too surprising, since you've entered the
world of Maxim Arms' Matrix.  Many of you have seen the insides
of computer systems before, both from the outside as you look
inward at the hardware, and from the pseudo-reality of the
Matrix, so you recognize some things.

Specifically, unlike most megacorps, Maxim has not spent any of
it's rather extensive processing capability to generate a
sculpted system, prefering instead to use the standard UMS
iconography, with only minor modifications, such as the color of
the nodes.  The major changes you notice, however, are in the IC
programs, most of which are thankfully inactive.  They are all
based on military weapons and arms that Maxim builds and sells
worldwide.  APCs, aircraft, chopper, sentry guns, but nothing
really large and menacing as of yet, like their MBTs.

The next thing you see is a view of Buzz, his electronic bee
persona buzzing from slave node to i/o port to slave node,
working at a frenzied pace as he tries to find AJ and keep
security off Ripley and Sabre.  Until you notice something,
something that looks like a worm, literally eating away at him,
and he appears to turn a little green, and then you hear him
scream a horrible electronic wail of pain as some form of viral
programming eats away at his persona faster and faster, finally
dumping him out of the system totally.

Spirit:  Buzz!  Dumped....  we have a problem....
CB:  Ah can't stop them all....

Alarm klaxons begin to sound all around the physical building as
well as within the Matrix, followed by a sudden increase in the
iconography's resolution as massive amounts of additional
processing power is devoted to the Matrix defenses activating for
the express purpose of finding and removing, by any means
necessary, the intruders called Spirit, CB, and Chris Tarleton.

Chris:  Split up.  The teams will need us all over the place to
help them get out, and we're doing no good here.
CB:  Ah'll...look out!

And in another node, somewhere deep within the security systems,
something nearly surprises and kills Spirit, who, taking her
partner's advice, dives to the side and narrowly avoids a blast
from an MBT that has just roared into the node.

Chris:  I'm reading it as a construct, Black and something I've
never seen before....

All conversation ends as the three deckers face the threat,
designed as a Maxim Mantichor MBT, with a main cannon and
multiple missile launchers.  If it's a construct, then those
weapons are different aspects of the IC, and you see a launcher
spew 6 missiles, two for each persona, one of which tags CB and
blows a good sized hole in her armor program, punching through
cleandly.

CB:  Armor peircing!  New ta me....Response Increase failing too.

And you see her persona literally flowing with electrical
currents, pulsing over and over, slowing her down as, in her
cyborged persona, the program manifests as electrical
interference with her joints.  But Spirit and Chris escape
unscathed, until a second blast from the cannon brushes Chris's
persona and just the power of the round passing through his black
cloak literally throws him up against the node's wall.  Spirit,
getting her first chance yet, pulls a vial from her belt pouch
and throws it at the MBT, and the damage manifests as a one-shot
Molotov cocktail, slowing the IC down.  CB sends a blast of
energy from her undamage side into the sensors on the top of the
MBT, followed by a gesture by Chris that clogs up the engine
intakes.  The MBT, fairly wounded, wanders around the node, blind
and failing, finally running into a wall and exploding as a knife
turned missile in the military aspect of the IC construct, blows
the turret off the program.

Spirit:  Don't bother suppressing it.  They know we're here
already....  Didn't see that ice last time I was here....
Chris:  Split up.

You see perspectives change as the three deckers split up to
create as many distractions and help the physical teams as much
as they can, and for the time-being, the matrix log seems to be
following Christopher Tarleton, aka Dark Angel.  From what you
can tell, the matrix is on full alert, and you see, off in the
distance, the movement of icons that can only be other deckers,
searching for the team.  Other, darker, more sinister shapes have
finished the process of fully taking shape in the nodes.  Shadows
of military devices have appeared, and whole new nodes, dataline
junctions, have appeared where none were before.  Chris appears
to be wastig no time as he speed from node to node, sleazing most
of the barriers and Access/Probe IC.  From what you can see while
traveling from one node to another, it appears that he is coming
up on a part of the system that has a LOT of processing power
devoted to it, but you can't tell, beyond some 20+ I/O ports and
more slave nodes than can be reliably counted, what it is.

However, before Chris reaches the section he's headed to, he
stops and looks at what appears to be dark storm drain with water
rushing into it.  It appears to be a uni-directional dataline,
flowing into the destination system, but Chris doesn't appear to
be taking any chances with it as he scans the area and then
manifests a small boat and pole, riding down the current much as
Charon down the river Styx.  Excellent imagry, until the flow
stops in a node and Chris's hooded face suddenly expresses some
worry.  Before him is a wall of laser light, and it doesn't
appear to be just your standard Barrier IC either.  However, as
the line he just floated down, he can't return up it, so he's
stuck here, and he must either stop and jack out or go forward.

Chris:  Drek....  Black Barrier construct....  Spirit, I may not
make the drones....

You see him wrap his cloak around him further as if wrapping the
darkness of the tunnel behind him around him in a Sleaze program,
and then something happens.  He doesn't move forward, but the
tunnel behind him disappears, as if cut.  His icon freezes and
then discorporates into individual, fading pixels as a physical
connection is literally cut, separating his icon and node from
the system his programs were running through.  Dumped, and in a
manner that can be very dangerous.  But before you can think too
much on this, the download switches over to another scene.

You see a cyborg, with layered detail, armor, energy sheilding,
implanted weaponry, and other features too numerous to mention
advancing on another aspect of the security system.  This is
Circuit Breaker, and she's nearing another large section of the
system, possibly even larger than the drone control section Chris
was attempting to access.  Certainly many more slave nodes,
grouped in at least 20 different SPU constructs and 7 different
CPUs as well.  Not too far away you notice more persona's moving
among the datalines and the nodes, hunting for her and Spirit.
But CB pays them little mind as she advances and encounters her
first regular IC.  It looks as a set of landmines laid across the
floor of the node.

CB:  Spirit, watch the Tar Pits....
Spirit:  Right.

CB, activating some program in her deck, touches her belt and
then hovers over the mines, setting down softly on the other side
and moving through to the next node.  This one is a little
different, however, as it is a CPU, and from the panels CB is
accessing, it apparently controls the security automation for one
of the levels of the facility.  A quick node map identifies it as
responsible for Blue level gun, gas, and tracking processing.  So
CB heads off in the direction of what she thinks is the Red,
Orange, Yellow, and White levels that control both security
levels, the garage, and the grounds and building security.
Nearing the Red level, that you hear from her communications with
the physical teams they are still on, she slows and scans the SPU
ahead, and with good reason.  Within it is some form of Probe IC,
easily fooled, but it is Security, afterall.  Paranoia,
especially when things are going this easily in this difficult of
a system, will save your hoop more often than not, and CB makes
the right move here.

Something else is in the node, and unfortunately her scan tripped
it.  From above her comes the readily recognized beat of a
helicoptor, in this case a Maxim Hornet Security chopper.  She
analyzes it as well, and whistles at what she has found.

CB:  Another Black construct...  Spirit, watch the choppers--
they're Black/Binder and something else constructs....

And just as she warns her friend, the chopper attacks, as does a
second recently activated standard Blaster IC program, a Maxim
soldier weilding a simple minigun.  The node suddenly fills with
noise as the whir and roar of the minigun combines with the beat
of the chopper and a second roar of a missile being launched at
CB.  CB, diving out of the way of the minigun fire, fires a blast
of energy in the soldier's direction, hitting it square in the
head and immediately removing it from the node and combat.  The
chopper's missile, however, impacts near her on the ground,
spreading something that appears to be white phosphorus across
the surface of the node and her icon as well.  But her armor
holds, and whatever damage the IC does is ignored, although her
icon appears more pitted and easier to see and less radar
absorptive.  She fires another blast of energy, this time from a
weapon that appeared on her shoulder, an energy cannon of some
kind, and it hits the IC square on the tail, sending it into a
spin for an instant.  Just before it crashes, it sprays across
CB's body with cannon fire and sends her sprawling into the wall,
leaking lubricant and obviously wounded.  She stands up, shakes
off her wounds as well as she can, and then rushes into another
node, the CPU for this level.

CB:  I'm hit, Spirit.  Black wound...  I'm shutting Red guns down
totally in case I have to jack out fast....

And it appears that something else has found her as well.  Behind
her, as she works, appears an icon of a Maxim SRDF soldier,
clothed in CVR-3 military powerarmor and packing a large variety
of weaponry.  An enemy decker.

Decker:  Infiltrator located.

CB spins and fires a blast that catches the persona full in the
chest, throwin it back and to the floor.  However, the only
damage appears to be a scorch mark on the chest, and the persona
rolls, springs up to its feet, and fires an assult rifle burst at
CB, with a sound that is distinctively a very different kind of
ammunition.  Indeed, if you saw the Berlin raid on the BIS, you
recognize the sound as the funny rifle that chewed up armor like
it wasn't even there, and CB not only knows this, but is avoiding
the bursts totally...  Until something else appears.

A demon frame.  An exact demon frame from the Lucifer construct.
CB, as part of the team that destroyed Lucifer before it could
damage more than just Boston, is stunned as it barrels toward
her, saliva and gore dripping from its gaping mouth and fangs.

CB:  NOOOOO!!!!!

Somehow, she avoids not only the next burst from the decker, but
spins to the side and manifests what appears to be an energy
blade out of her left arm and slices the head clean off the
demon.  It also pixelizes, and just as it fades, CB gets hit with
an assult rifle burst.  As it's counterpart in the real world,
the blasts seem to not only chew her armor up as if she wasn't
wearing any, but causes damage as well.  It must be one of those
new programs that does Black IC damage, but is under persona
control....  CB, absorbing more and more bullets, screams in pain
as she grasps for her head, obviously duplicating the same
gesture she's trying to do in real life, and then, without even
touching her icon, she too freezes and then pixelates.  Someone
just jacked her out, probably saving her life in the process.

Decker:  Target was jacked out.  Resuming search for the final
infiltrator....

And again, the Matrix shifts, this time to wherever Spirit is
attempting to access.  You see her icon, a figure dressed all in
black leather, a rogue, with bulging beltpouches, knives, and a
short sword strapped across her back, perhaps the only non-
roguish weapon she carries.  And she is moving exactly as a rogue
would, creaping along the walls of the datalines and nodes,
heading in a direction all her own, another area much like the
one CB was in.  And again, she accesses a CPU and you see that
she's in the section of the Security Matrix devoted to door and
camera security.  However, you know full well that she knows
EXACTLY where she is, as she couldn't have been doing what she
had been without having at least a few frames located in the
system.

On full alert, Maxim's system is powered up as if nothing could
possibly defeat it, and this is partially true.  If Spirit was
trying to barge through the nodes, she'd be dead or at least
jacked out by now, but she's not any more than CB or Chris were.
She's passing by IC that you suspect she's Sleazed by already
once, and re-written backdoors into them to ease her movements
exactly as she is now.  But she is still cautious, avoiding newly
activated Killer IC sentry guns, TarPit landmines, until she runs
afoul of something that catches her from behind without her even
knowing it was there.

Just after she makes a few alterations to a slave node, she
suddenly gets caught in something, and a massive figure appears
out of Masking mode before her.  This must be the Hyperdeck that
Slash had mentioned, and you begin to understand why he warned
that to run into it meant to run away....fast.  It is a large
icon, perhaps the largest you have ever seen, and it's complexity
is amazing.  Unfortunately, the current operator hasn't changed
the iconography, and it appears exactly as Solitaire's old icon:
a gypsy girl carrying a deck of tarot cards, and the one that
just got dealt was The Tower.

Spirit, perhaps for the first time ever, appears to be caught in
come form of Cascade IC program, flooding her deck and mind with
images that she can't help but see and that are so intense and
demanding that she literally cannot do anything else, and she is
realizing this as you see her quivering, trying to jack out,
attack, anything....  And yet, with Spirit totally under control,
the persona is doing very little except shuffeling the cards, and
then it draws another one:  The Devil.  As it settles over her
like a cloak, her entire icon changes, twisting and distorting as
if Picasso had painted her rather than the photons of an optical
processor, or perhaps as if a disease, a virus, had begun the
process of scrambling her utitities and her persona programs as
she was still jacked in.

The gypsy begins to shuffle, and she has a somewhat sadistic look
on her face, as she pulls one last card, looks at it, and throws
it at Spirit as well.....  Death, flipping over and over in the
psuedo-air of the Matrix.

Only to be hit by something silver, as if made by liquid metal,
that slices it in half, splitting the peices to either side of
the inactive Spirit.  A second figure appears in the node,
surprising the gypsy girl and probably Spirit as well.  It is
more like a humanoid shaped blob of featureless silver than a
true persona, but it nevertheless has all the features of a
decker, and an excellent one at that.  Before your eyes, the
persona converts his arm into a set of scissors that cuts through
the Cascade program and then the persona appears to split in
half, one half flowing around the other and enclosing Spirit in a
protective bubble as the second is freeing her from her bound
state.

Silver Man:  Spirit, I'll jack you out shortly.  You have Viral
code in your deck that you'll have to purge from your MPCP and
headware deck.  I'll be leaving immediately after you, as my
second deck will absorb the Black programming instead of
transferring the damage to me directly, but only for a time.  Go,
my dear, and I shall attempt to return myself and acquire the
logs to tell of the raid and it's success or lack thereof.

And Spirit, the viral code now resident in her deck inhibiting
her, only manages to mouth a weak "Thank you..." before the
person smiles, says "You're very welcome.  It's the least I could
do for someone who helped rid the world of Lucifer.  Till we meet
again, my dear."  And he jacks her out, then fades from view
himself.

+++++End Download+++++ ]<<<<<
     --  Mercury <**:**:**/**-**-**>

***** Private: Kor
>>>>>[ Thank you for the information.  I need you to keep this real quiet.
Blitzkrieg is conscious again.  I actually have a tape of all the events that
transpired then (which is well over a week and half ago, but there is a small
little problem.  If I release them now, Doomsday and Nightmare could be in hot
water.  Rebecca and most of them are planning a trip back to look for her
husband Shadowfox.  But that is neither here nor there.

As to Pretty Boy ... well as far as Mark can remember he has never heard of the
name.  Ask the kid where he knows Mark from.  Mark has pretty spotty memories
at the moment.  They are slowly coming back to him.  I wish I could explain
more what is going on here, but hopefully real soon, everyone should know.  If
you think Pretty Boy might be a threat, contact Scourge and tell him to look
into it more.

Wait, I have an idea.  As soon as the information about what all happened comes
out, tell him Blitzkrieg has gone to Asia to look for another "old chummer."
If they are friends, Pretty Boy might help him out, and if not, he'll just add
to the confusion which may not hurt Rebecca and Mark's cause at all.  What do
you think of all this?

By the way, what part of this continent are you at?  I am thinking of taking a
vacation as soon as Nightmare and Doomsday return.  Well, regardless, take
care and thank you very much for letting me know.  I should be posting the
stuff in a day or two if things go well. ]<<<<<
        -- DragonEyes <14:30:00/2-5-56>

>>>>>[The crew is back in Seattle, everyone, and while AJ is
working on keeping Slash from dying, I get to tell you about what
happened after we left Maxim.

>From the downloads, you've seen that none of us, except for
Basilisk and myself, were unharmed.  And that's just because we
were kept out of the raid for certain reasons.  Basilisk because
his skills would be more useful if he was unhurt, and me because
I have a kid.  Well, it ended up not mattering much in the end.

We hooked up with the van that Basilisk, CB, and Spirit were in.
Chris was decking in from somewhere else that he said was secure.
Basilisk was already healing them up as well as he could, but it
appeared that much of thier injuries were internal and beyond his
skill to repair.  However, after looking at us, he transfered the
ones of us who were most severly injured to the van and moved CB
and Spirit to the truck and the Hudson respectively.  So it
turned out that Basilisk, myself, Buzz, Diana, and Slash were all
in the van, Ripley, Claw, and Sabre were in the Phaeton, Spirit,
Hard-to-Catch, and AJ were in the Hudson, and Circuit Breaker,
Masque, Shadow, and Irish were in the truck.

AJ, after being magically purged of drugs in his body, took
control of his beloved Hudson.  Masque, even wounded as he was,
took over Irish's truck, much to Irish's chagrin, but Masque is a
rigger, after all.  Ripley, knowing his limo's systems better
than anyone, drove it.  And Buzz took over the van, while
Basilisk and I worked on Slash and Diana, the two most severely
wounded at the time.  Performing emergency healing almost knocked
me out, and the ride in the van wasn't really smooth enough for
me to do a good healing on Diana'a shoulder, only repair it
enough that it would be usable again.

But I get ahead of myself.  Before we left, AJ and Basilisk
passed out the reserve weapons that AJ keeps stored in his trunk.
He's got some nice stuff, actually.  And enough of it to equip
almost everyone.  And Irish pulled out some of his heavy hardware
from a panel in the truck:  a Panther cannon and ammo.  Luckily,
we didn't have to cross any borders to reach the safehouse that
Jolly Roger had set up for us.  But it really didn't matter in
the end.

We took off as soon as we could, and we started taking back roads
too, keeping to a route we'd set up before so we all knew the way
to get to where we needed to.  But it was only 5 minutes into a
the ride when we picked up a tail.  The driver was very good, but
not good enough.  But we didn't want to attract the attention of
Sand Creek Security, so we didn't do anything until it advanced
up on the van, passing the Hudson(providing rear-guard).  Out of
the window came an assult rifle and it started peppering the van,
trying to blow out the tires.  This is when the choppers
appeared, as well as the truck that came up and cut off the limo,
which was leading the procession.  From the looks of it, they
were runners themselves, until we noticed what appeared to be an
Interpol uniform in one of the choppers.

I don't remember what was said, but it amounted to being
unwilling to be taken by the cops.  So the drek hit the fan, and
we escaped.  Barely.  And not without taking some severe damage
and wounds.  Diana took another shot and some shrapnel in her
side.  An airtimed grenade nearly killed Slash as it exploded
right outside the back door of the van, the door he was leaning
up against.  AJ is still pulling shrapnel from his body, and we
had to drive him to Seattle sedated and in a stabilization unit
because we couldn't find open facilities to treat him in Denver.
Ripley and his Phaeton took some moderate damage, mostly
paintwork and body paneling along with blown out windows.  Claw
got spelled before I could identify the fragger and take him
down.  Sabre also took a bullet in the side and the shoulder and
some shattered glass in the back and back of the neck when one of
the armored windows in the limo shattered.  AJ and his Hudson did
the best, though that's because he managed to scare off the
choppers with his 2 vertical missile lauchers that he showed
them.  HtC took some damage from a spell that was too much for
her body, especially as she was hurting already.  But the spell
worked, and the truck that was chasing them stopped working.  But
the truck took some severe hits.  CB was lucky to have been right
behind Masque.  But Shadow and Irish weren't quite as lucky, and
neither was the truck.  They were fighting thier way down a
street with another vehicle when a firebolt cooked off the ammo
of the cannon Irish was using.  He just barely dropped it in
time, and as it was, the ammo cooking off nearly blew up the
truck.  It sent the rear of the truck up a good 1.5 meters into
the air and the shrapnel peppered Irish really bad.  Shadow got
several machine gun rounds while he was firing back at the cops,
and Masque ate some rounds as well.  The car, however, will need
some severe repairs before it goes anywhere.  I took some damage
from the same blast that took Slash out.

We limped back to the safehouse and then settled in for the rest
of the night and healed as best we could and caught up on our
rest.  We had begun to get really worried about Micheal and Max,
but they did eventually show up themselves, but hurting pretty
bad.

But most of us are back now.

Caine, you will be missed....]<<<<<
     --  Foxey Roxey <18:38:28/02-01-56>

>>>>>[And of course, Roxey forgets the two most important things
that happened.  Jolly Roger and I knew each other, from a long
time ago, back in New Orleans.  And he hates vamps, just like my
group and I do...generally.  And he tried to kill Dad after
realizing that he was a vamp.  But it was here that Micheal and
Max showed up, luckily for Roger and Dad.  Roger was about to
pump some spell into Dad when Micheal manifested inbetween,
exactly like Max had between Roxey and Nex.  Well, Roger freaked
out, looking up at a huge spirit that looked just like the loa he
follows.  And Micheal goes "That would be a bad idea, mon.  Leave
him be, vous comprendez?"  And Roger just nodded his head and
then backed away and sat down while Dad just shook his head and
mubled something about people never learning and went back to
work on Hard-to-Catch's wounds.

The other thing that was really kinda funny, although it didn't
seem like it at the time, was the argument between Shadow and
Roxey.  Frag, it looked like they'd be killing each other as
tempers rose.  And just as Shadow made some really insulting
comment about Roxey not giving a flying frag what happened to
Nex, and she was about to respond with a spell that would
probably have burned the flesh right off his bones, Max and
Micheal stepped in again, telling them to not lose thier tempers.
That there'd been enough death and destruction that day.  The two
of them, one holding each of them down from doing anything(and
let me tell you, Shadow was struggling really hard, and Max told
me later that he had had to dispell a spell Roxey threw at
Shadow), kept the situation under control until they both had
cooled down or gotten so fraggin tired as to not be able to
resist or do anything anymore.  Roxey said something that if she
only cared about herself then she wouldn't have gone to TNO
earlier to help get him back, and that she was going to stay away
because it was the best thing for him and her too.  Shadow heard
the words, I'm sure, but he didn't say anything to her the rest
of the trip to Seattle.

Only Micheal and Max seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if
they were a little tired and wounded, almost as if sharing some
jokes that only they could appreciate.

And me?  Well, I have some unfinished buisness to attend to in
New Orleans....]<<<<<
     --  Diana, Mistress of the Night <18:53:36/02-05-56>

***** PRIVATE: DragonEyes
>>>>>[Im currently finishing up some semi-legal contract work in SF with
another associate.  If you are looking for a place where you can vacation a
bit and maybe relax some, my home on Council Island is always open to
you.  I will be in and out (both physically and astrally) for the next
month or so I suspect.  Have a lot of things that I have always wanted to
do but have just not had the time.

If you are roaming the states and beyong, drop me a line and mayeb
we can get together and chat for a bit.

Threat or no, I'm going to have scourge take a look into the PB situation.
I have become a little more sensative lately to people nosing around
like this person.  Sorry, I didnt mention before --  He sent out shadowland
mail to everyone BUT B the other day saying he was a friend.  Ill hold off
for a couple days and sync up with your footage the drop the information.

I dont know if you are into paranormals at all but I have been trying to
get my hands on an animal reported to "eat" magic.  Its a lizard of some
sort and I have been running into problems left and right trying to find
someone who has one / seen one / or even read about one.  Do you happen to
have any over-seas people that wouldnt mind making a a few nY on the side
for some legit research?  I have found that without my 'jack I am back to
being slower than hell and its starting to get to me.

Thanks again, take care of everyone for me.  Scream if you need anything.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <01:11:08 / 02-06-56>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[Consider yourself paid back. Make sure you tranfer.]<<<<<
        --  Chrome Devil <21:40:17 / 02-05-56>

*****Private: Chrome Devil
>>>>>[Thanks.
+++++Transfer: 4k]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <23:36:10 / 02-05-56>

*****Private: Shal
>>>>>[Great. You won't mind if I examine your aura, then? Just a
precautionary measure. As for Tarkis, I think we really need to find
Whisper... he was always best at calming Tarkis down.]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <23:40:57 / 02-05-56>

*****Private: Tarkis
>>>>>[We'll look for him, then. Not a problem. You won't mind if we
delay a little while, though? We need to find more people to help us or
our chances of finding this person go down considerably... and you do
want to find him, don't you?]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <23:43:18 / 02-05-56>

*****Private: Abdiel
>>>>>[Tarkis is still insane. I'm beginning to suspect this is not
going to change any time in the near future. It seems like as soon as
we get rid of one problem, another one pops up. Anyway, I think I can
trust you a bit farther than I can toss you at this point, so I'd like
you to help us find Tarkis' brother's killer. Or, for preference,
Whisper. I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement.]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <23:50:35 / 02-05-56>

*****Private: Cranial Leech
>>>>>[Status of info dig?]<<<<<
        --  Zarkon <23:52:41 / 02-05-56>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ Ok examine me if you want, the spell id broken. I did examine
Tarkis right before he left, part of his aura is still missing. As for
DarkLord, he thinks I am dead, and I know where his hideout is.  We have
to get Tarkis though, cause, I am afraid he will hurt someone.]<<<<<
        - Shal <21:10:00/1-5-56>

*****Private: Zarkon
>>>>>[ NO! I must find the killers!!!!! Who was it damn it to fucking
hell!!!]<<<<<
        -- Tarkis <Mental/Case>

*****PRIVATE: All Known Associates of Caine, except Velli/Chameleon
>>>>>[I may possibly get in some minor trouble for associating with you,
but under the circumstances, I'll let it slide.
  My name is Capt. Abel Porter, UCAS Armed Forces, Seattle.  I have heard
through some sources that my brother Caine perished in an attack against
Maxim a few days ago. I could not get all the details from my
sister-in-law, Trish Watson, but the most I got was that he gave his life
to save his colleagues.  That is the truest cause for a warrior to fight
for.  I regret not having gotten the chance to know him better.
  At Trish's behest, I have arranged for his body to be turned over to me
by Maxim in the morning. We will be holding a private funeral at
>>Encrypted<<.  Of course, all of you who knew him are welcome to come.
I have been asked to specifically ask for Dr. Alexander Jackson to
attend.  Dr. Jackson, I am not familiar with the limitations of your
species, but we will be holding the service at night.
  Others who are specifically requested to attend:
(I only know the names of these people)
        Irish
        Lou
        Erika
        Dr. Jackson
        Diana
        Ripley
        Jayna
        Spirit
        Phantom
        Manhunter

  Of course, this is not a complete list, but those who knew Caine are,
again, more than welcome to pay your last respects. Also, for those who
cannot attend the funeral, Ripley and Lou will be holding a wake at Lou's
Bar and Grill. Dates for these should be about Wednesday or Thursday. We
will let you know. Again, thank you for your time.]<<<<<
        --Captain Abel Porter
          UCAS Seattle          <19:39:26/02-05-56>

>>>>>[Sir, I thank you for your offer, and I feel that it is the least I could
do to honor the man who gave his life to save my own specifically, and the
lives of all who ran with him on his final run.  I will, of course, attend, and
your concern for my well-being regarding the time of the funeral is more than
I could have asked for.  Sir, your brother died well.  I only hope that I
shall die such a death when my final hour comes to call upon me.

I can never repay the debt of honor I owe your brother, sir, but should you
ever need for anything, for yourself or anyone else, never hesitate to ask, for
if it is within my power to grant, I shall do so unhesitantly.  I only regret
that I have to make this offer to you rather than to your brother himself.

Until then.]<<<<<
        --  Dr. Alexander Jackson <23:24:28/02-05-56>

>>>>>[I too shall attend, sir.  As shall, I believe, several others.  Indeed,
you may very well find that all of us who were on that last...run...will
desire to attend.  Good night, and thank you for your offer.]<<<<<
        --  Diana Jackson <23:27:03/02-05-56>

>>>>>[Buzz....Shadow.....Spirit.....Circuit Breaker.....Claw......Irish....
Sabre.....She-is-Hard-to-Catch....Masque.....Diana.....Roxey......Slash.....
Basilisk.....Ripley.....

And most especially Caine, may he rest in peace......

Thank you.  I think you're all fools who should have known better, but thank
you anyway.

If you ever something so goddamn stupid again, I'll beat the living shit out
of the all of you.

I love you guys....I'll see you at the wake.....and the funeral......]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <23:36:26/02-05-56>

*****PRIVATE:Shadow Priest
>>>>>[Yes, until Nex wakes up. I will watch her, and when I cannot, Nex has a
housekeeper who desperately needs someone to fuss over full-time. You need
not worry for her. She will be safe; we'll even make certain she can get onto
the board.]<<<<<
         --  Shekhinah  (02:40:23 GMT / 28-Jan-56)

*****PRIVATE: Resta Hannahgunt
>>>>>[On my way, sweets. I'll expect to see you at the same ol' same ol'.
Just give me a couple hours.]<<<<<
        --  Jolly Roger (21:22:12 / 01-27-56)

>>>>>[I am currently seeking a young Elfin woman by the name of Caitlin
Seafear. If anyone has any information on this, please contact me discreetly
at >>encrypted<<. A substantial cash reward will be available.]<<<<<
        --  Padraig Silgareth (18:42:51 / 01-27-56)
            Director of Electronic Research
                  Information Analysis, Inc.

>>>>>[What's it to ya, chummer? The woman wants to stay lost, she should stay
lost.]<<<<<
        --  Jolly Roger (20:47:23 / 01-27-56)

>>>>>[I am, for your edification, seeking her on behalf of her parents, my
friends. They have been upset by her long absence and their inability to even
locate traces of their one-time-daughter in the public databases. Her recent
contact with me has assured me that she is not only near, but also hopelessly
over her head. Thus I am attempting to track her down before she hurts
someone else.

And by the way, chummer is a really stupid term.]<<<<<
        --  Padraig Silgareth (21:17:19 / 01-27-56)
            Director of Electronic Research
            Information Analysis, Inc.

>>>>>[Well it's certainly good to know that I used it properly.]<<<<<
        --  Jolly Roger (21:25:19 / 01-27-56)

*****NOT TO: Padraig Silgareth
>>>>>[I too seek the one called Caitlin Seafear. While I can offer neither
the cash reward nor the insolence that Mr. Silgareth seems so ready to
dispense, I can assure any provider of a means of contact that she shall not
be harmed. A virtual meet would be perfectly acceptable. Unless I am
mistaken, this would be the Shekhinah?]<<<<<
        --  Donovan Giles (22:12:24 / 01-27-56)

*****PRIVATE: Shekhinah
>>>>>[Whatever you mean, Cait. I'll be in town in a day or six. Just keep yer
head down. Got some hunters after ya.]<<<<<
        --  Jolly Roger  (22:30:14 / 01-27-56)

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[Sorry 'bout the delay, chummer. Been a little -- er -- busy. But I've ma
naged to get the goods into town, and I can hold off the nuyen at least as
long as these race riots continue down Carbondale way. But not much longer...
there's a lot of metas lookin fer a way out.

So send your man to >>encrypted<<, or send me details on delivery specs. It
may be a good price, but I'm still a little short on the nuyen angle...]<<<<<
        --  Jolly Roger <23:24:53 / 02-05-56>

*****PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[Um. No hard feelin's, eh? Spent some time with the Baron. He says you
check out, so I take his word. But don't think that means I like the idea
much... just take care of yerself. Can't see it any other way than
yours.]<<<<<
       --  Jolly Roger <23:32:12 / 02-05-56>

*****PRIVATE: Zactof
>>>>>[Sorry I haven't been in touch sooner. I missed you at the terminal, and
figured I'd get back on track... well, we're at >>encrypted<<, but I wouldn't
recommend coming by. It's not pretty. I've been working constantly to keep
Nex stable whenever the visions let me be, and I'm not able to do nearly enoug
h. He runs back and forth across the critical threshold.

I can see you've made accomodations for yourselves... so long as you're
willing to stick around, you're probably in as good a place as I could find
myself. If you need anything, it'd probably be best to contact me by phone.
Not that I intend to be offline, but it does put a considerable drain on me,
and with the hours I've been keeping...

I'll be by to see Flute in the next couple days. I still have a program here
that Dragonfly assembled when he was trying to teach me matrix engine
hacking. It's a good tutorial, she might find it fun to play with. I still
haven't reached the bottom -- it gives me headaches to look that deeply into
a mainframe's code structures.

Til then...]<<<<<
       --  Shekhinah <06:38:22 GMT / 06-Feb-56>

>>>>>[According to my sources, Whistler, you're gonna find yourself in
no small amount of drek if you arrange any "information gathering" on
Mr. Frypp.

Nothing personal, just what I'd do for any friend.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

***** Private: FryppSec Employees, Team: Heads-Will-Roll
>>>>>[Way to fraggin' go!  Damn, I'm proud of ya.  And mighty
impressed to boot.

Allright, everybody, we've got a target: the Butterfly Bridge, rush
hour on the seventh.  We gotta assume Shigekazu knows somebody kicked
the hell outta his people, but you guys did a good job of keeping it
clean.  Let's hope they don't expect something serious to be waiting
for them.  With any luck they believe it was just some competition
that tried to raid their digs.

And good work on shaking up my tail.  Thanks folks.  Coord-tac
meeting, tonight in the conference room, 1800, BYOB.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:31:12 / 02-06-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[Hey, Whistlin' to the Classics, I know a secret, I know a
secret!

So, not only do you suck up to corps, you suck up to the occupation?
Not that there's much of a difference...]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:35:55 / 02-06-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

***** Private: the Whislter
>>>>>[Yeah, right.  Sounds like my people have already kicked the
hell outta one of your surveillance teams, I'm not walking into the
sights of a sniper.  You wanna meet, come alone and unarmed to
the Windmill around noon.

'Course, you since you don't trust my "dogs" you might need to be
really convincing so I don't start getting stingy with the
kibble.]<<<<<
        -- Freddy Frypp (09:40:12 / 02-06-56)
           President
           Frypp Security, Inc. (CFSM Uplink #5150)

>>>>>[*grin*  AJ, don't be a goof. *giggle*  As my love
would say "PTHBT!" and "Have a Nice Day".  And as the
name say, have to catch me to beat me. *GRIN*  Luv' ya!]<<<<<
        -Hard-to-Catch <12:00:00/02-06-56>

>>>>>>[I think the quote from my brother that she wanted was,
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread....so here I go again."
And if you ever get that idea about beating us into your head,
I'm going to replay the footage from your last birthday (edited of course)
where you almost died from stress...SURPRISE!  *grin*  I can't
forget that.]<<<<<
        -Sabre <12:03:52/02-06-56>

>>>>>[When I get back State side, I know two people that
are in for a world of trouble.]<<<<<
        -Harlequin <Ha-Ha-Ha>

>>>>>[AJ, I'm sorry I wasn't able to help out.  Certain
things detained me.

That's twice Etherial.]<<<<<
        -Harlequin <Ha-Ha-Ha>

>>>>>[Mr. Tarleton, the "information gathering" has already been done.
Don't worry though, no harm is intended towards him.  We are just making
sure that we know everything that he knows.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<11:00:07/2-6-56>

*****PRIVATE: Freddy Frypp
>>>>>[I don't know what surveilance team you are referring to, but all my
Imperial Marine "associates" are alive and well.  You had better keep
your dogs on a shorter leash.

Mr. Frypp, I grow tired of your pedantics and your paranoia.  I have no
desire to kill you, or to harm your organization.  You must realize that
you do not have the resources alone to stop the terrorists.  The Marines
do not have the underground street contacts that you do.  It only makes
sense that we work together.  Our combined resources can save hundreds of
lives and millions of nuyen.  I'll meet you, but NOT at the Windmill.
Meet at the Lighthouse Park, or whatever the Occupation is calling it.
It's up high, it's out of the way, and it's in the open.  Anytime between
10 and midnight.

And by the way Mr. Frypp, yes, I do have corporate loyalties, but I have
no love for the Occupation Forces.  I grew up in CalFree; I vacationed in
SF every other summer.  I may not hate them like you do, but neither do I
share any love for them.  In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not
your average corporate whore.]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<11:14:35/2-6-56>

*****PRIVATE: "Nagoma Awooyo"
>>>>>[Sir, we have narrowed the targets down to two possible sites.  The
Golden Gate Bridge and the Butterfly Bridge appear to be the most likely
targets.  Both bridges have shown an unusual amount of activity, and
members of the "West 51st" terrorist group have been seen in small boats
near and underneath both.  Yes, this does appear to be circumstancial at
this point, but Imperial Marine intelligence is indicating the same.

Sir, dealing with "Freddy" Frypp might be more difficult than originally
thought.  The man is extremely paranoid, possibly even clinical.  We have
a meeting arranged for tonight, but it may be difficult.  Suggestions?]<<<<<
        --the Whistler<11:22:10/2-6-56>

*****PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[Negative.  Proceed as planned.]<<<<<
        --"Nagoma Awooyo" <11:24:30/2-6-56>
          Director of Security
          *name deleted*

>>>>>[You know, I should probably arrange for some punitive action in
regard to said.  Nice use of the plural, by the way.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

>>>>>[The only thing we have are our friends and family, AJ.  And I'll be damned
if I'll just stand by and let one of 'em die.]<<<<<
        -- Irish <14:09:01/06-02-56>

>>>>>[  Whistler, I'd take Christopher's warning to heart.  He doesn't kid
around where friends are concerned.  I'd also like to mention that it may
be rather unwise to attempt astral information gathering on Mr. Frypp.  ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn < 21:23:06/2-06-56 >

>>>>>[  Yer welcome sugar, and Ah suggest we have a South'rn wake, mostly
because Ah hate it when everyone gets togather and mopes for a few hours.  Ah
sure fraggin know that when Ah pass on that if my friends mope for more than a
few days - AH'll come back and haunt them till they stop!   Any body good at
Dixey land?

Also - AJ, when you back ta form, would ya mind stinkin in a new C^2 for me?
It should be done cooking by wednesday, Ah started before we went ta Denver,
cause AH knew this was going ta be a one hell of a run.

Ah would consider going ta a normal deck, but Ah've had a C^2 for so long that
Ah don't think Ah'd ever want ta change back.  Any way, ya'd have ta fill mah
head with an airsack ta take care of all the empty space removing it would
leave.  And AH'd never live down the "AirHead" comments from Lister.]<<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <South'rn Belle>


***** Private: Revenge and Rescue Crew
>>>>>[  This is the second umpteen million dollar cyber deck in the past 2
months!!!  Oh well, atleast I'm not really paying that much for them.  Hardly
anything really.

I think I can make the wake.  CRUSH and I are planning on going to visit the
good doctor Doom and Maze in Germany, but we will hold off until after words.
I think we'll take a small vacation with the kids, its been a while since we did
anything as a family.   Of course, spending some time alone with Craig wouldn't
be bad either, so if anyone wants to volunteir to watch the kids for a few days
later on this month, or next month, we would be very happy.  It hard to believe
that the little ones are already 9 months old!

Oh by the way, the offer goes both ways, so if you want to have a few free days
Roxey, just ask, I really don't mind watching over little ones, and CRUSH is
very gentle with them.]<<<<<
        -- Spirit <Of the Matrix>

***** Private  Circuit Breaker
>>>>>[ Trina, I think I have the BIG response increase problem mostly solved
now, some ideas came to me during the Maxim run, a little bit from them, but
mostly just insight from having my brain work over time.  Over christmas I made
a partial increase, but now I think that I can do a full one, and I have a way
to compress the MPCP size of your C^2 and do a smallish response increase also.

Plus, I think I have a trick dealing with cascade IC, I first started thinking
of after Monica came back, but I never had the time to test it.  Now that others
have taken the idea (us included) I think I can do something that will be very
help full.  Also, our few frames left in Maxim, the semi-dormant ones, have sent
us the info we needed for a few things.]<<<<<
        -- Spirit <Of the Matrix>

***** Private:  Spirit
>>>>>[ Ah have an idea or two also from the new stuff, plus Ah think Ah'm going
ta try duo decks with an extra hardwiring of the newest up grade for the
program.  From the looks of it, it should work rather well, but three persona's
in a node won't work unless we really compress the MPCP.  Think ya could help me
make a normal deck based off of one of your designs, no reality filter?

Ya actually might want ta try it, it shouldn't be that difficult.]<<<<<
        -- Circuit Breaker <South'rn Belle>

***** Private: Circuit Breaker
>>>>>[  I think I may try it, and yes, I already started on a new one for
you over christmas, but things came up and I couldn't finish it.]<<<<<
        -- Spirit <Of the Matrix>

***** PRIVATE: the Whistler
>>>>>[Hey, man.  How goes it?  Long time no see.  I see you are still getting
yourself into fights / argument.

Do you remember Kovak?  He was the guy that we both tried to help out when
he was having problems with Humanis / bombs and stuff?  I heard a couple
days back that he bit.  Do you have time to make it to the funeral?  Actually,
it might already be over... Sigh.

Too many people dying.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <21:51:30 / 02-06-56>

>>>>>[Yes RANDOM I will help out...You didn't even need to ask...We were going
to volunteer to help out as it was.  We wanna see this work just like everyone
else does.  And you know where ya can reach us.]<<<<<
        --  Colice Brightstar<17:55:30/02-06-56>


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