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Message no. 1
From: Paolo Marcucci <paolo@*********.IT>
Subject: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 14:58:26 +0200
This is a short article that will be part of my Trieste submission:
-------------------------------------------------------------
On The Subject of Genetic Host Auto-Development In The Slovenian Matrix

By dott. Alberto Monchiari, Microtech Research Corporation, Free Town of
Trieste
Project n. 645 - SOUP
Internal Technical Report n. 15345/645/AM/MRC-TS
Abstract
In this tech report, we'll examine the peculiarities of the Slovenian
Matrix commonly known as "Freezed SANs" and their relation and connections
with the overall Matrix system. A number of possible explanations and
reactive systems will also be discussed.
Introduction
The Matrix structure of the state of Slovenia provides an interesting case
study in the field of mutating higher level algorithms and autonomous
objects. The degrading of the Matrix physical connections, due to the
nuclear after-effects of 2033, has changed the hardware/software substrate
for the closed cyberspace delimited by addresses ranging from LTG
3855/74323 to LTG 3855/95558 (Bernardi, 2045). In this address space, it is
not unusual to encounter a phenomenon called Genetically Mutating Matrix
Construct - GMMC (commonly known as "Freezed SAN"). Actually this occurs on
the 7.6% of the local sampled SANs, so giving it a FR of level 3 (Kern,
2046) to this address space. A FR level of this proportion qualify the
phenomenon for direct and active research either for governmental and
corporate investigation with the largest available resources.
Description
GMMCs appear just like any other ordinary construct from the outside of the
construct domain. Only the direct analysis can provide the information
necessary to identify this icons as hyper resolution constructs - in fact a
commercial analize utility rated almost at level 6 (we used for the tests a
Microtech Research Look-It 2.1 benchmarked at level 7.35) can easily detect
a GMMC .
The sensorium carried by GMMCs can overload the I/O bandwidth allowable to
the investigating subject. Given that the GMMC sensorium doesn't have a
noticeable degrading factor (Malkavich et al, 2045), the ASIST interface of
the subject's cyberdeck begins to reduce the MPCP cycles devoted to other
utilities, and in extreme cases (see "Light Decking With Low-Bandwidth
Devices", Manulli and Borger, 2048) the GMMC output can take fully control
of the MPCP computational capabilities. Being this the case, the software
loaded on the subject's cyberdeck is removed from active memory and cached
in storage, and the whole cyberdeck transform itself into an extension of
the GMMC, using the MPCP and the Matrix hardware resources to form a
multiple Herbert's Bridge with level 2 feedback response (Herbert, 2053).
This configuration moves part of the persona processing to the Matrix
hardware, building a tight connection between the subject's persona and the
GMMC. At this stage, a disconnect operation is very critical, with the
persona code distributed on multiple processors, and only a careful
roll-back sequence can interrupt the bridge.
While in the status generated by the Herbert's Bridge, the subject
experiences an unusually high level of interaction, with definite
improvements in his/her ability to affect ordinary Matrix constructs, but
with a strict limit on all the Matrix navigation operations. The GMMC
effectively acts as a binding force, with increasing ASIST traffic between
the underlying hardware and the cyberdeck's MPCP.
The effects of this configuration are currently under test. Preliminary
results show that a MPCP-9 class cyberdeck transfers its persona code to
the GMMC in about 15.2 seconds on a standard I/O connection. After this
lapse of time, the whole persona code resides directly on the Matrix
hardware and further disconnect operations don't provide a reasonable
degree of success.
Possible causes
The creation of a GMMC follows a series of events affecting either hardware
and software. The building material of transmission datalines affected by
massive nuclear exposition can mutate its atomical structure.
Analysis
In some cases the material gained ambient-temperature light superconductive
properties, with negligible diffusion and line response time (further tests
are currently being conducted about these events). In other cases a
background photon flux significantly improves the inner Matrix core
processes, bypassing the first three or four (depending on test conditions)
levels of code abstraction. The more direct link between utilities code and
Matrix core functions grant the subject's programs an effective upgrade
(varying from 0.7 and 2.45 units in the standard benchmarks) during the
period while the Herbert's Bridge is active. The same more direct link
causes a code dependency on the GMMC inner functions, limiting the
subject's persona motions to the GMMC itself (navigation operations have a
degradation varying from 2.66 to 9.4 units, depending on test conditions).
For detailed tests results, access the document n. T9885/645/AM/MRC-TS
Recommended course of action
We recommend the implementation of warning code on the Look-It series of
analize utilities, along with public information dissemination about the
threat represented by this Matrix region. Also a reactive system can be
laid out, using our protected four-tier hosts and custom software, along
the borders of the address space from LTG 3855/74323 to LTG 3855/95558
directly linked to our PLTG.
(>) Ok, this is the company official and public position, but a friend of
mine managed to snatch this from a Microtech datastore. Seems like their
backup system is acting up again
(>) DeckerDecker
Microtech Research Corporation Internal Memo
ENCRYPT CODE L3 [********************]
To: Mr. Andrea Balestra, CEO
From: Dott. Alberto Monchiari, R&D
Subject: Tech report n. 15345/645/AM/MRC
Andrea, this thing is scary. Three subjects suffered permanent neurologic
damage during the earlier testing phase. After the "sucking" period (as we
call it here in the lab), there is no way to extract a decker from the
thing. Even physically disconnecting the deck causes a terrific neural
shock and only in one case the subject partially recovered. This happened
two weeks ago, we're still waiting for her to come out from intensive
therapy.
And another thing I feared to put in the report: this hosts are growing.
Slowly but steadly, they are eating their way out of the limited address
space behind Slovenia. Grow ratings are still uncertain, but it is
happening right now.
I can only hope you can push a heavy fear feeling into the dumb heads of
our management, if we don't protect NOW our system, these things will
enter.
Bye, Alberto
(>) Basically, you are sucked into the Freezing SAN. Better not touch this
area even with a three-kms stick.
(>) DeckerDecker------------------------------------------------------------
-
Comments are welcome (in char and out char)
_________________________
Paolo Marcucci
Message no. 2
From: david christopher stephens <tfn5150@*******.TLH.FL.US>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 12:29:28 -0400
wow! this thing is scary!...heh i love it...a deckers dream/nitemare
but if you wouldnt mind could you try to explain this in a little more
plain eng? i onlu understood about half of this doc. and i got enuff to
know that this is something that i SHOULD understand verry well.

ciao,
Entropy

**************************************************************************
* Man is not admitted into heaven because he has curbed and governed his *
* passions or has no passions,but because he has cultivated his *
* understandings of them *
* W.H. Blake *
**************************************************************************
Message no. 3
From: Paolo Marcucci <paolo@*********.IT>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 22:03:39 +0200
At 12:29 10/06/97 -0400, you wrote:
> wow! this thing is scary!...heh i love it...a deckers dream/nitemare
>but if you wouldnt mind could you try to explain this in a little more
>plain eng? i onlu understood about half of this doc. and i got enuff to
>know that this is something that i SHOULD understand verry well.

It's a technical report, even I don't understand all...:)

Basically, the tactical nuclear explosions of 2033 in Slovenia caused some
transformation in the matrix structure. A new breed of hosts growed (sp?)
up, with strange characteristics. These hosts are connected by "mutated"
datalines, that carry info faster and better than the ordinary ones. When a
decker enters this kind of host, he experiences a new type of sensation.
The faster datalines pump the host's sensorium (the whole range of stimuli,
from images to tastes to sounds...) straight into the cyberdeck asist
interface, overloading the deck and moving to storage memory all the
running utilities. A that point, a decker has no more direct access to its
programs (kinda like running naked, but in vr2 rules) while the host code
invades its cyberdeck.

This causes two things:

1) all target numbers for tests are lowered by 1 (never under 2) every
three turns reflecting the fact that now the persona code is beginning to
run DIRECTLY onto the matrix hardware.

2) all target numbers for movement outside the host (Logoff, Graceful
Logoff, Shutdown, etc...) are increased by 1 every three turns. The code
mutates itself to adapt to this peculiar host's hardware, making it more
difficult to run on other hosts.

I've yet to think about the "only a careful roll-back sequence can
interrupt the bridge" sentence, if anyone has some bright idea on this... :)

The decker enters the host, and suddenly his utilities vanish, he can do
things easier and faster then before (1) but he finds increasingly
difficult escaping the host (2). If it can't escape, he's stuck in the
matrix. GMs should treat this situation as an astral quest.

Hope this post clarifies things :)

Bye, Paolo
____________________________________________________________
Paolo Marcucci paolo@*********.it
InterWare Service Provider Trieste, Italy
http://www.interware.it/ Tel. +39-40-411400
Message no. 4
From: "David J. Browne Jr" <Ronin55444@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 23:30:01 -0400
"Only a careful roll-back sequence"

Sounds like a new program to be added into the MPCP to me....

Something which creates a "back door" as the GMMC begins to take over the
deck... but much more research is needed before developement sould begin.

I have a question. How fast is this GMMC expanding from the Salv area?

Ronin
Message no. 5
From: david christopher stephens <tfn5150@*******.TLH.FL.US>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 23:50:31 -0400
ok...this thing scares me...and i dont scare easy.
i have heard rumors that this "host" is expanding at an EXPONENTIAL
rate...if this is true it has VERRY serious ramifications for all of us

knowlege is power
Entropy


**************************************************************************
* Man is not admitted into heaven because he has curbed and governed his *
* passions or has no passions,but because he has cultivated his *
* understandings of them *
* W.H. Blake *
**************************************************************************
Message no. 6
From: Mike Elkins <MikeE@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix -Reply
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 10:19:41 -0500
>"Only a careful roll-back sequence"
>
>Sounds like a new program to be added into
>the MPCP to me....

Sounds to me like if you have a research-type
deck, which logs every transaction the deck
makes (triple the bandwidth, cut speed by a
factor of three at least), you can "turn back
time", slowly, and return your deck to a previous
state. This wouldn't undo black or grey ice
damage, but would repair persona damage, (and
un-download any files you downloaded, in case
your thinking of using this as a way to repair
your deck) and get you out of the trieste sticky
nodes.

Not practical for most deckers, but the kind of
thing computer science PHds really like.

Double-Domed Mike
Message no. 7
From: Paolo Marcucci <paolo@*********.IT>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix -Reply
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 17:05:31 +0200
At 10:19 11/06/97 -0500, you wrote:
>your deck) and get you out of the trieste sticky
>nodes.

Slovenian nodes... Trieste is basically a PLTG router :)

Bye, Paolo
____________________________________________________________
Paolo Marcucci paolo@*********.it
InterWare Service Provider Trieste, Italy
http://www.interware.it/ Tel. +39-40-411400
Message no. 8
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix -Reply
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 11:53:46 -0700
On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, Mike Elkins wrote:

> >"Only a careful roll-back sequence"
> >
> >Sounds like a new program to be added into
> >the MPCP to me....
>
> Sounds to me like if you have a research-type
> deck, which logs every transaction the deck
> makes (triple the bandwidth, cut speed by a
> factor of three at least), you can "turn back
> time", slowly, and return your deck to a previous
> state. This wouldn't undo black or grey ice
> damage, but would repair persona damage, (and
> un-download any files you downloaded, in case
> your thinking of using this as a way to repair
> your deck) and get you out of the trieste sticky
> nodes.
>
> Not practical for most deckers, but the kind of
> thing computer science PHds really like.

True, a "research-type" deck would most likely contain the routines
needed to do this hard-coded in, but I'd think that any sufficiently
talented decker could attempt to reconstruct (maybe 'retrieve' is a
better word) his persona code, or maybe a stripped down version of it.
Given some time...
(kinda like trying to reconstruct a deleted file without using any file
recovery software or utilities - e.g. the time I deleted 20 pages of an
rpg document on my old XT and spent days looking at FAT's and hex-codes.)

I'd imagine that even a standard deck would contain routines for logging
events, but certainly a "research" deck would not only contain the log
that it happened, but the means to reverse it at the touch of a button.

I'd agree that it would take a fairly difficult skill roll (with t#
increasing at about the same rate as those other modifiers from the
phenomenon - or maybe more)... the rule system could/should feel like a
race against time for the decker, getting harder and harder as each second
ticks by (maybe both t# and # of successes needed increasing at each
increment).

~Tim
(BTW way to go Paolo! - love the feel of the article.)
Message no. 9
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 11:59:43 -0700
On Tue, 10 Jun 1997, Paolo Marcucci wrote:

> At 12:29 10/06/97 -0400, you wrote:
> > wow! this thing is scary!...heh i love it...a deckers dream/nitemare
> >but if you wouldnt mind could you try to explain this in a little more
> >plain eng? i onlu understood about half of this doc. and i got enuff to
> >know that this is something that i SHOULD understand verry well.
>
> It's a technical report, even I don't understand all...:)

But Oooh does it sound goood.

> Basically, the tactical nuclear explosions of 2033 in Slovenia caused some
> transformation in the matrix structure. A new breed of hosts growed (sp?)
> up, with strange characteristics. These hosts are connected by "mutated"
> datalines, that carry info faster and better than the ordinary ones. When a
> decker enters this kind of host, he experiences a new type of sensation.
> The faster datalines pump the host's sensorium (the whole range of stimuli,
> from images to tastes to sounds...) straight into the cyberdeck asist
> interface, overloading the deck and moving to storage memory all the
> running utilities. A that point, a decker has no more direct access to its
> programs (kinda like running naked, but in vr2 rules) while the host code
> invades its cyberdeck.

Hmmm... yes, but what if the whole nuclear mutation story is just a cover
for something a bit more sinister?

Anyone ready for the "Crash of 2060"?


~Tim
Message no. 10
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix -Reply
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 00:35:42 -0700
Mike Elkins wrote:

> Sounds to me like if you have a research-type
> deck, which logs every transaction the deck
> makes (triple the bandwidth, cut speed by a
> factor of three at least), you can "turn back
> time", slowly, and return your deck to a previous
> state. This wouldn't undo black or grey ice
> damage, but would repair persona damage, (and
> un-download any files you downloaded, in case
> your thinking of using this as a way to repair
> your deck) and get you out of the trieste sticky
> nodes.

Sounds to me like every decker should have a back-up copy of the Persona
chips handy (no problem, since most of my deckers do this as SOP...)

Of course, this is only handy after you've extricated yourself from the
web - but logging off is easy (even if it does mean Dump Shock)

> Not practical for most deckers, but the kind of
> thing computer science PHds really like.

What sort of decker wouldn't keep a log of his time online? It's not
/that/ difficult, doesn't chew up much processor time. It takes place
entirely within the deck, so it's not affecting to I/O any, except that
the processor has a few less cycles to devote to the port - but ports
are always the slowest parts of the computer, so no problemo.

And you could dump out whatever caching your software is using (Netscape
captures my 'surfing, to no effect on how fast I can load a webpage; if
I wanted to, I could reconstruct the last three or four 'nodes' I've
visited from the cache). If absolutely necessary, I could query the
computer RAM, though that's a tech level I'd not want to explore.

Again, it's all handled offline; I don't see why SR computers shouldn't
resemble RL computers to that extent.

> Double-Domed Mike
Message no. 11
From: Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix -Reply
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 11:55:18 -0700
On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, Matb wrote:

> What sort of decker wouldn't keep a log of his time online? It's not
> /that/ difficult, doesn't chew up much processor time. It takes place
> entirely within the deck, so it's not affecting to I/O any, except that
> the processor has a few less cycles to devote to the port - but ports
> are always the slowest parts of the computer, so no problemo.

> And you could dump out whatever caching your software is using (Netscape
> captures my 'surfing, to no effect on how fast I can load a webpage; if
> I wanted to, I could reconstruct the last three or four 'nodes' I've
> visited from the cache). If absolutely necessary, I could query the
> computer RAM, though that's a tech level I'd not want to explore.

Except that to imply what you are implying is to say that all a decker
needs to do is enter a node, then jack out, and then happily browse
through his cache for what he's looking for. NOt true, even with a
conventional web browser. Let's say you jump to somthing like, Gurth's
Plastic Warriors site, wait for it to load, then log off. If you search
your cache all you will see is the index html file, which contains none of
the details of his netbooks - only the links to the files, which you would
have to go back online (and with most protected sites, back through the
front door) to retrieve.

To say that a deck is like a web browser also means that if you read any
files on the matrix, then you automatically have copies of them - no need
to download.

~Tim
Message no. 12
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix -Reply
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 01:02:59 -0700
>> To say that a deck is like a web browser also means that if you read any files on
the matrix, then you automatically have copies of them - no need to download. <<

Absolutely correct. Netscape codes all the files it receives in its
cache. So long as you don't go over the cache limit - or use fileman to
make back-up copies - and so long as you waited long enough for the site
to fully load, you can re-construct sites you've visited. I couldn't
reconstruct, say, the Chrome Book Conversions, but that's because it's
/not at that node/ - it's at another FTP site. I can, however,
reconstruct the URL for it, since that information is present on the
HTML file.

I get the feeling I'm stepping on toes here, however, so I'll drop the
line.
Message no. 13
From: "Paolo Falco, Explorer" <Falco@****.IT>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 15:39:26 +0100
Quit the complaints and the tech mumbojumbo. Paolo's piece was great
(And ont only coz he's another Paolo)!

It's not only scary, inventive, and at least slightly plausible, but
it held the non-banal keys to an AI in the future of SRII (after all,
deckers stay connected, and they are MUCH better, so why not leave
them there and use them as a sort of AI? And what about if their
reflexes to predetermied situations are recorded by the overly
reactve nodes? Man you can fell the Corps shrugging when you ask!) :)
It also resists to the temptation to say "why don't they disconnect
the SANs?" Obvious! They want to study them! (Adventure idea?)
But, above all, it was written in a competely different tone from all
of the other sumissions until now, and I _do_ like tech articles
(yeah, I am the only one)!

Great job! I like it 100%. It's obscure enough to give the creeps!
(Growing? Man, you _are_ wicked!) :P

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Paolo Falco | "Run rabbit run, for the hills, I can find that hole
(explorer) | in the wall, and know they never will" (The Clash)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shadowrun Stuff held captive in our Games Section!
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/2717
Message no. 14
From: david christopher stephens <tfn5150@*******.TLH.FL.US>
Subject: Re: Trieste's Matrix
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 01:30:13 -0400
i aggree and must give palo a job well done on it
but i feel like the "roll back sequencing' needs to be explained in greater
detail please

**************************************************************************
* Man is not admitted into heaven because he has curbed and governed his *
* passions or has no passions,but because he has cultivated his *
* understandings of them *
* W.H. Blake *
**************************************************************************

Further Reading

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