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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Fixers and Johnsons
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1993 18:21:39 -0500
cks brings up a number of points about Johnson/runner relationships, some
of which may or may not be true for individual campaigns. I disagree to
some extent on most of what was said, but only the last section really
sticks out:
A fixer is. . .supposed to die before telling the opposition who
did the grunt work. . .

I don't think so. Fixers don't go blabbing about things, and they don't come
cheap. To me, only the following will stop a fixer from selling out:
Personally knows and trusts one or more of the runners (very rare)
Possibility of retribution from runners or their friends should th
betrayal be discovered.

If a Fixer can make a fast Yen by selling out on a team, and he does not need
that team for his biz, what's to stop him? Of course, this depends on the Fixer
himself and his background. A street fixer who lives and dies in the DMZ
will probably have a more callous and practical attitude, while a high-level
fixer (the kind who puts together BIG ops for Megacorps via satphone from
his bimbo-laden tub in Tahiti may have other cards to play. . .possibly playing
the targets against their aggresors and collecting a "finder's fee" for
warning them!

By and large, Fixers are motivated by two thigs: their lives and their money,
and not always in that order. Loyalty comes after that, sometimes LONG after.
Don't tell your Fixer more than he needs to know-that the mission was completed.J Roberson
Message no. 2
From: "Richard C. Osterhout" <rcoster@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Fixers and Johnsons
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1993 20:26:17 -0400
On Tue, 24 Aug 1993, The Deb Decker wrote:

> will probably have a more callous and practical attitude, while a high-level
> fixer (the kind who puts together BIG ops for Megacorps via satphone from
> his bimbo-laden tub in Tahiti may have other cards to play. . .possibly playing
> the targets against their aggresors and collecting a "finder's fee" for
> warning them!
>
> By and large, Fixers are motivated by two thigs: their lives and their money,
> and not always in that order. Loyalty comes after that, sometimes LONG after.
> Don't tell your Fixer more than he needs to know-that the mission was
> completed...


YOU GOT IT RIGHT THERE!!!!!


i agree, tack this onto my message about fixers also....

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| rcoster@*****.net Currently in Baltimore, MD |
| Richard C. Osterhout but hope to be home in |
| professional nerd Orlando, FL soon!!! |
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Message no. 3
From: Chris Siebenmann <cks@********.UTCS.TORONTO.EDU>
Subject: Re: Fixers and Johnsons
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1993 21:13:51 -0400
I suppose I should have underlined the 'supposed' in the 'supposed to
die before ...' bit. This is the 'street macho' ideal, and most everyone
(on *all* sides, because it holds for 'runners as well) claims that
they're going to live up to it. Unfortunately, of course, it's pretty
hard to put it to the test.

Fixers definetly aren't supposed to squeal if the corps look at them
crosswise; as always, fixers that behave like that will find lots of
people unwilling to work with them.

As for selling a team out -- yes, sure, a fixer can generally do
that ... once.
After that, he needs to find a new line of work, or at least a new
name, a new city, and a new bunch of contacts. 'runners have long
memories and, unlike corporations, don't have to make money on their
grudges. And sometimes the 'fixer' is more like a Johnson, and he'll
sell you out and then sneer at you from behind a corp enclave.

The best fixer is the one on the Street, not the one in the enclave.
And work for him cautiously for a while, first. Trust is earned slowly.

- cks

Further Reading

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Thwap!