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Message no. 1
From: Brion Wauters <BDW2@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Maxim
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 18:55:44 -0700
Brian Angliss
Would you mind clearing something up for me?
The way your maxim posts have been reading, the big 8
has requested permision from the Coporate Corp to conduct a
"shadow war" on Maxim, & maxim is responding by prepairing to
conduct open, all-out assults on the big 8. Basicaly a total
noncovert corp war is brewing.
Please tell me I'm misreading these posts.
Brion
Message no. 2
From: "Brian E. Angliss" <ANGLISS@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Maxim
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 23:53:14 -0500
No. An Omega Order, which is what the Big 8 requested, is a mandate from the
Corp Court that allows all the Big 8 to wage any form of war against the
target, including mobilizing Desert Wars assets to destroy or take control of
the company. The idea is that they are destabilizing the Big 8 so much that
to let the target live would potentially result in a Corp War.

Maxim and The Org have what I call the Security Protocols, which say that in
the event of individuals reaching a certain threat level(40% is the normal
cutoff), they are guaranteed to be dead within a week. If orginizations reach
this level, like the BIS and Interpol Special Branch have, then the
orginization is guaranteed to be reduced using whatever means necessary to
reduce the threat level below 30%. If Corps hit this level, then a shadow
war against the corp is called for. However, if ANY target hits the 50% mark,
it assumed that they KNOW that Maxim is the cover corp for The Org and
therefore everything is exposed anyway, so the drek hits the fan. Anything
goes, and Maxim would go down.

Ms. Velli is taking control of Maxim by using these very restrictive Protocols
against both the Org and Maxim's President, Peter(Moriarity). She is offering
them two alternatives: Either let Maxim live, and in trade she'll destroy
The Org, which is the reason for the Omega Order request in the first place,
or she'll release the combined forces of The Org and Maxim, which together
could start a corp war and end the world as we know it. It's all or nothing,
and Maxim has been ready and at full mobilization alert for about 2 weeks now.
Basically, Maxim would die if they carried through their Corp War option, but
the would inflict so much damage on all the other Megacorps, and the Big 8
in particular, that they would start Corp War in the process.

Does that help? I have NO plans on it getting this far, but I need the sense
of something about to go horribly wrong(just in time for the nuke in Chicago,
too **evil grin**) to create the tension and cement Velli as a world class
bad girl.

Brian
Message no. 3
From: Brion Wauters <BDW2@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 11:25:48 -0700
Brian
Yes, that clears everything up just fine. But I think everyone alreday
had classed Vellie as a major problem (just not world class). Just remeber
to not have to much fun and keep the lid on please.
Brion
Message no. 4
From: Evan Hughes <ehughes@****.CARLETON.CA>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 1995 10:55:26 EDT
ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD writes:
> Oh, just so you know what one of my ultimate goals for Maxim was/is. Up
> until Maxim came around, it seemed that all the corps were was a source
> of money that you could frag with whenever a character wanted to. This
> isn't the way that SR works in general, at least not in my world. And
> since I couldn't exactly run Renraku or someone like that, Maxim became a
> way for me to bring back the fear of the corps that we all seem to have
> lost for so long. Regardless of how powerful we feel we are, all of our
> characters should not be considered above even the ability of the corps
> to squash, and it seemed to me that most of our characters do fit that
> mode. I hate to say it, but you can't go and romp into, say, Ares and
> steal stuff of value and not expect them to not care. If your run is
> minor, the corps will write it off as a minor loss too expensive to
> alleviate and repair. But if you cause them real harm, you will get
> squashed. And that just never seems to happen here, or at least so
> rarely that it's nearly a non-event(ewww....thinking in statistics
> again. Ick).

*claps*

I like it. Good thinking.


Maxim has been making leaps and bounds in the past year or so in
all fields. Where exactly have they been going in the realm of
corporate security and R&D?

-- Evan. [R&D... But a different KIND of R&D. =]
Message no. 5
From: ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD <angliss@****.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 18:42:02 -0600
Corporate Security and R&D for Maxim:

Well, you weren't around for the Org/Maxim plot that followed Dante's death.

Well, what happened was that The Org was a private intelligence gathering
orginization that AJ had built up over 30 years of being an arms dealer
and an excellent street samurai. He retired after the "corp" that ran it
originally was destroyed, and the Org was moved under Maxim. Maxim later
started getting connected by the german BIS and Interpol to The Org, and
thus to AJ and most of my characters. When this happened, AJ and
crew(look at the Org as a CIA type group--once you're in, you're never
out again no matter how much you might want to be.) went to Berlin and NY
and destroyed the only proof and tried to destroy the only people who
knew enough to cause Maxim grief. The almost succeeded. In the process,
Velli had been ascending the ranks of Maxim through assassination. My
decker character, Solitaire, was killed after she mad the connection that
Velli was paying Dante to do some special work for her. Velli then hired
an assassin team to kill her boss, Collussus the cyborg, and became VP of
Corporate Security. Then she had the CEOs ear and manipulated him into
doing what she wanted. After that, she killed him, although he's
officially resigned and on a permanent vacation, and she took his place.

Originally, when Solitaire was running Matrix security, Maxim had a
veritable fortress in the Matrix. Most of it the HQ in Boulder is still
off-line, and all of the R&D connections to the Matrix require that they
be bridged physically from within the facility, which happens to be
either the new one in Algonqian-Manitou, the one in Orbit, or the
original, buried about 200 feet beneath the corporate HQ. the HQ is
still a fortress, but a little easier to get to. The other subsidiary
HQs are smaller fortresses, except for the Maxim Arm. Tech., the military
folk. They have the latest in milspec IC and have no problems using it
all through the system. Other than that, the locals all have much lower
matrix security than they used to, with the only exception of
encryption. All my major deckers have one thing that they excell in.
Solitaire's expertise was encryption and decryption code. And Maxim
still modifies and improves on her code. I'd like to say that they are
the best in the world for this stuff, but that'd be a big change, so
they're just really good at it.

Magical security: Well, they have a large number of mages on thier
staff, more than anyone except Azzy and S-K, because of the Org. The Org
had what were effectively special ops units called Quads, and they
consisted of one mage, one adept, one rigger/decker, and a sam. There
were hundreds of these quads, and although many were split up when the
Org went down, they form the backbone of the Maxim magical section.
Maxim Armament Research and MASystems do the magic research, and of
course, the HQ is damn near impenetrable. They use passive goodies,
including ivy and other living stuff to keep astral beings out, and they
have many nice critters too. Add to it at least a bonded elemental or
two per minor facility, up to a dozens of watchers and spirits for the
HQ, and they're decently protected in this realm.

Physical is where these guys reign supreme. They were a military
provider originally, regardless of how they are branching out now, and
they still make most of their money of this area. The major facilities
will all have at least one Quad in them, usually repsonsible for
security. Minor facilities will have just your normal sec guards, but
thos normal sec guards are still armed in security armor and carry SMGs
with explosive or APDS ammo as a standard. Expensive, but Maxim can
afford it. Also, any facility that is alone in a city or not within 10
minutes flying time of another is considered major in this regard, even
though it may only be a warehouse. And the truly major
facilities(excluding the 5 in Denver, that is) have the people with
heavy duty armor and the really great stuff. If something is going to go
nuts, then expect the power armor, lasers, full auto sniper rifles, API
and APDI and DU ammo to come out and play, and if it's near a MAT
facility(or Maxim expected something to hit the fan), expect military units.

The way I introduced Maxim as a power in the corporate world was by
having them defeat Aztechnology in a Desert Wars engagement that was
originally to be totally simulated, and that turned nasty when the Azzys
decided to play rough. If I remember correctly, Maxim inflicted 70%
losses on Azzy while getting only 40 or 45% themselves. Their big toys
are VT and air cushion military and security vehicles, but they're
getting into aerospace fighters. IE combat planes that fight in orbit as
well as in the atmosphere.

Now, for research. Well, Maxim has been digging into some new armor,
both personal and vehicle, and are alwasys looking for new weapons
systems. In my game, their VT MBT(I can't remember what I called it....)
has an APZ that is laser based rather than blast/flechette/Sentry(TM) gun
based. And they have railguns, and are working on battle lasers, man and
vehicle portable, and the list goes on and on and on. Mostly military
goodies that conflict directly with Ares, S-K, and Aztechnology for the
most part. Their matrixware research is almost exclusively encryption
programs, but they have some really nasty ones(like encryption that has
black IC in the code for secure data packet transmission). Thier IC
research is rather limited, but they do have a protodeck that is rather
powerful that the rest of the world might like to see.

Magically, very little. They are working on discovering the secret of
Cybermancy, but are having little success, partly to the abhorance of
most of the researchers.

They have a major presence in Aerospace, Computer Science(mostly
encryption and control software for their tanks and such), computer
engineering, chemistry, military tech, with limited research in cyber and
biotech. This is changing, however, and they've been able to make a few
leaps regarding electronic ways to destroy/short out temporarily
cyberware.

That's all I have from memory, although I have much more if I care to
look it up.

Now that i've waxed on and on, mind if I know why you wanted to know? Or
was it just general info so you'd have a better idea of Maxim?

Brian
Message no. 6
From: Evan Hughes <ehughes@****.CARLETON.CA>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 00:49:44 EDT
Yow. Just read the Maxim stuff.


Primarily:

Sheppard-Intrepid (my own pet corp. Sorry. =) works primarily in
"Corporate Security" (things that go "BANG!"), and they might be
curious abou the meteoric rise of another corp.

What I want to know about (you've already given me an idea, but it
wouldn't hurt to have more) is:
Maxim's work for other corps.
Maxims Research and Development work (SI does: control systems
for weapons, vehicles, smart buildings, AI-type (neural net/expert
system) cybernetic controls for weapons mostly, and magical use with
cybernetics and sensors -- The bio stuff is really limited, nothing
for sale, in corp research only, that I'd like to keep private until
necessary =).
Maxim's politicol connections (primarily in North America,
especially Tir, along with most of the small to medium sized corps --
with whome SI does most of it's trade).


A brief history:

SI has been around for about ten years, after the
amalgamation/hostile by Intrepid Weapons of Sheppard Biotech and
Pharmacuticles. The takeover was hostile in all ways: violent, bloody,
expensive, and drawn out. After a few years of regaining respect, they
came back onto the corporate scene. The corp hasn't grown in size in the
past few years, but has been viciously defending it's position as a
strong security and hardware provider.

I'll try to post more later (my server's getting mad at me for
being on so long... So many messages... So little time! =)


-- Evan. [R&D]
Message no. 7
From: Evan Hughes <ehughes@****.carleton.ca>
Subject: Maxim
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 96 12:58:24 EST
HEY! All these Maxim ideas, and narray a mention of SI! *grin* We've got
a corp war all nicely set up and we don't use it???
Message no. 8
From: Evan Hughes <ehughes@****.carleton.ca>
Subject: Maxim.
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 96 23:21:12 EST
ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD writes:
> **Begins to shuffle the new and patented Maxim Tarot Carp**

Noew here's something disturbing. After waking at about 7:00am (an
ungodly hour for the holidays) the other morning, I was fixing myself a
nice golden brown peice of toast when I happened to cast a sideways glance
at the toaster. A nice, friendly high tech toaster, owned by my
grandparents, and very fasionable. Black with red trim, and beautifully
chromed baking area. Very nice. Well, as I was saying, I glanced down at
it and noticed something I'd never seen before. At the lower right hand
corner of the side panel (just below the little heat adjuster knobby)
there's the name of the manufacturer: Maxim. Of course, I went through
various forms of palpatations ("IT'S REAL! IT'S REAL DAMMIT! I ALWAYS KNEW
IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE!" through to "OH MY LORD! I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM
SHADOWTK TOO LONG! MY BRAIN! MY BRAAAAIIIN!"). All to be summed up in one
word: Disturbing. =)


And speaking of toasters: You may not know it yet, but there's a new Red
Dwarf book out, called "The last Human". I bought it. Don't make my
mistake. It's evil. Rimmer dies. For most of the thing you aren't
laughing, you're just saying "Oh God! Why did they do this? Why? What sins
has world commited?". It's just evil on overdrive. I'm hoping they're
gonna pull an Alien^3 with it... *prays*

And speaking of Alien: Alien 4 just went into production... =)
Message no. 9
From: Chuck McKenzie <kilroy@**.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 17:07:39 -0600 (CST)
On Tue, 9 Jan 1996, Evan Hughes wrote:

> ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD writes:
> > **Begins to shuffle the new and patented Maxim Tarot Carp**
>
> Noew here's something disturbing. After waking at about 7:00am (an
> ungodly hour for the holidays) the other morning, I was fixing myself a
> nice golden brown peice of toast when I happened to cast a sideways glance
> at the toaster. A nice, friendly high tech toaster, owned by my
> grandparents, and very fasionable. Black with red trim, and beautifully
> chromed baking area. Very nice. Well, as I was saying, I glanced down at
> it and noticed something I'd never seen before. At the lower right hand
> corner of the side panel (just below the little heat adjuster knobby)
> there's the name of the manufacturer: Maxim. Of course, I went through
> various forms of palpatations ("IT'S REAL! IT'S REAL DAMMIT! I ALWAYS KNEW
> IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE!" through to "OH MY LORD! I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM
> SHADOWTK TOO LONG! MY BRAIN! MY BRAAAAIIIN!"). All to be summed up in one
> word: Disturbing. =)

Oh no...I see it allready... First Maxim gets nukes, the world can
(barely) handel that. Now however...they have the plans for Talky. The
world will never be the same.

Chuck McKenzie . kilroy@***.cs.wisc.edu
Finger me for my PGP key http://dax.cs.wisc.edu/~kilroy/
Fight Evil: alt.*
Message no. 10
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Tue, 09 Jan 1996 23:55:47 -0700 (MST)
>there's the name of the manufacturer: Maxim. Of course, I went through
>various forms of palpatations ("IT'S REAL! IT'S REAL DAMMIT! I ALWAYS KNEW
>IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE!" through to "OH MY LORD! I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM
>SHADOWTK TOO LONG! MY BRAIN! MY BRAAAAIIIN!"). All to be summed up in one
>word: Disturbing. =)

How about seeing a computer with the name "aztechnology" on it. I have a friend
who works at a motel at nights and says that a business man came in with a
laptop computer and the logo read "aztechnology"

Now there could have been miscommunication on the name at some point - but I do
know that there is a computer company by the name of "aztech".
Now that one is also scary.


Nightfox
Message no. 11
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 01:16:29 -0700 (MST)
>Oh no...I see it allready... First Maxim gets nukes, the world can
>(barely) handel that. Now however...they have the plans for Talky. The
>world will never be the same.

YES!!!! I love it!!!1

And I can even think of the story now


They'll bring forth their new special agent "The Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man"
to extract the vociferous hero from his humble abode!!!

Then of course will be the struggle where Talky burns the Man but is ruthlessly
torn from his electric outlet and taken unconscious to the Maxim Denver
headquarters to meet the Nefarious Velli before she sends him off to the
science lab boys.

At this sinister meeting the cruel dwarf greets are slowly awakening antagonist
with an evil grin. She laughs cruelly at his voice plate when he comes to
realize that they have mercilessly plug him into an only 90 volt power source
(not his normal 110).

Our hero is not phased though, he cheerfully recites the question that gives
his whole existance meaning.

"Howdy doodly Do, I'm Talky, Talky the Toaster (TM), would anyone like some
TOAST!!!!"

While Velli and her brainless brutes are stunned by the sheer exuberance and
flippancy of the question (for our hero should have been depressed and invective
towards his cantancerous kidnappers). The toaster, with an IQ of over 220
(220 PE teachers, its still a pretty insignificant number), desperately sends a
message out to his beloved owners informing them of his predicament and telling
them to bring a certain item that will help them defeat Velli's powerful new
henchman, the "Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man".

Quickly tiring of the toasters infatigueable optimism and chirpy voice, Velli
rips our poor misused hero from his woefully underpowered wall socket and sends
him to the R&D division (Rye and Donut).

Talky is then sent through battery after battery of gruelling tests and
examinations and horrible interogations. He does not break though, and the
sciencetists are confounded, for they are starting to realize that they do not
exist, for they 'DO NOT TOAST'.

Meanwhile preperations are quickly made on how to save the loyal toaster. The
special item is procured and the team of retired shadowrunners prepare to invade
the Denver Maxim Headquarters.

Our champion of bread products is not idle though, for he has gain a fortunate
ally in the realm of his enemies. The name of the valiant man is Pier, the
lonely night janitor of the R&D division. A man who Talky won to his cause
through his ability to make wonderful bagels and croissants even at the high
altitudes of the Mile High City. Pier, is instrumental in the gathering of the
second part of the secret weapon to destroy "Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man" who
the brave rescuers will have to meet before they can safely complete their
mission.

The time for the mission comes when Maxim least expects it, not at night, but in
the beautiful sunlit morning, the time of breakfast when our brave hero is at
the top of his form. While the enemy is still slow with the last vestiges of
sleep and the confussion of the morning infux of people allows the stulwort
group to infiltrate their way to the very heart of the biulding and rejoin their
faithful friend.

The joyful reuion does not last though for the from the doorway comes a deep and
evil laugh, made more insideous by cheerful contenance of the "Stay Puffed
Marshmallow Man". His appearance releases a torrent of gunfire, but alas it is
to no avail for the hurricane of bullets is mearly absorbed by his alabaster
paunch. All would seem helpless for our intrepid squad of heros and heroines,
or does it? For at that moment the tides turn, the bullets where only a
distractoin for the real attack, the "Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man" has become
entrapped in the secret weapon of the industrious crew. The left side of his
body has become cramped up against a giant gramcracker created in secret by
Talky while the right side of his body is sandwiched up against huge piece of
chocolate curtesy of the inventive shadowrunners.

The last sight the "Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man" sees is an enormous troll with
a disconcerting hungry gleam in his eye. His nightmares have come true, for the
last words he ever hears are a cheerful "OOOhhhh, Smores..."

The rest of the escape is easy, for the enemy has become demoralize by seeing
their champion defeated and his form passing by the molars of groups large
troll.

The heros return safely to their abode and relax in the knowledge that they
succeed versus impossible odds against a dispicable.

And Velli? Her day does not end well, for upon returning home she finds that
the only food to be found in her residence are grilled bread products.



Hmm - maybe I do need more sleep. :)


Nightfox - Proves once more that he is nowhere close to being sane.

DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU - Daniel Waisley HTTP://DANA.UCC.NAU.EDU/~DJW2/
- Insanity is such a delightful state of mind.
BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!
Geek code V2.1 GE d-? H++ s+:->++: g+ p? !au(-) a21! w++ v+* C++$(++++)
U(-) p? L !3 E? N K- W M+ V+ -po+(---) Y+ t+ 5+++! j-x R+(++) G' tv
b+(+++) D(+) B--- e+ u+*(++)(**) h(*) f+(*) r-->+++ !n- y+*>++
Message no. 12
From: "Freddy Frypp no more" <JAMES-CUENO@*********.edu>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 10:35:26 CST
> Oh no...I see it allready... First Maxim gets nukes, the world can
> (barely) handel that. Now however...they have the plans for Talky. The
> world will never be the same.

A toaster company with nukes? Damn, gotta buy Maxim stock....

Ya know, maybe this could be plot. Ever consider "the good 'ole days
before we got into the military-industrial complex"?

jim
Message no. 13
From: ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD <angliss@****.Colorado.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 10:31:57 -0700 (MST)
Dan, I have to agree. You're not even remotely close to dreaming about
being sane.

Ya know, that toaster would do more damage to Maxim than the Big 8 could
dream about....

Next thing you know, I'll be having nightmares about happy and talking
toasters. Kinda like I had nightmares about bug spirits hunting me down
while I was putting my players through a grueling OB run.

And seeing Maxim on something is kinda neat, Evan. But seeing MCT, or
(shiver) Aztech on something would be worse.

But lets finish the nuke plot first. Then I think it'd be a lot better
to let Maxim rest a while, beyond occasional Charlie Fingers updates. I
seem to remember that Talky was supposed to be making Drake's life a
little bit more interesting....

Brian
Message no. 14
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 10:35:36 -0700 (MST)
>And seeing Maxim on something is kinda neat, Evan. But seeing MCT, or
>(shiver) Aztech on something would be worse.

MCT = Mountain Campus Transit

the bus service here at NAU. :)


So far - no sign of Ares or Renraku in the internet (atleast not at Yahoo)


Nightfox
Message no. 15
From: ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD <angliss@****.Colorado.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maxim.
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 10:36:11 -0700 (MST)
Actually, Maxim Arms was originally a subsidiary of a small multinational
based out of Boulder called(ta-Da!) Angliss Enterprises. It was mostly
telecomm products and electronics before the Crash(when AJ bought it) and
the EuroWars(where AJ made a LOT of money, so did AE, and Maxim Arms
became the largest subsidiary). AE got dissolved, Maxim became official,
and the rest is history.

Not to say that Maxim might not have made toasters, mind you....

Brian
Message no. 16
From: Evan Hughes <ehughes@****.carleton.ca>
Subject: Maxim
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 96 11:46:15 EST
I shall be popping up some postdated responses to that in about three
hours. Class calls...


Evan Hughes
Honours Computer Science
http://chat.carleton.ca/~ehughes

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Maxim., you may also be interested in:

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