| From: | K is the Symbol <Ereskanti@***.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Wartime Details (Re: CAS) |
| Date: | Fri, 10 Jul 1998 16:29:08 EDT |
a reason. Mike (my roomie), has got things planned out, if just a bit
extremely. But he doesn't know exactly what is going to happen to whom.
The group here did a barrage of games last winter (real time) against
Winternight, the force from the Threats book. We cut off the head, but didn't
get the body. Now, like a Herculian Hydra, the thing is growing multiple
heads, and is striking out all over the place. Our part is just -one- target
that is so aimed for.
If Mike opts for the "CAS President is a Winternight toy", this is going to
get incredibly ugly. Aztlan in the home games has declared Blood Magic to be
outlawed (but as any Shadowrunner knows, making a law and seeing it completely
worked out are entirely different things). Indeed, any public displays
(including sacrifice) of sentient blood incurs severe punishment from the
Aztlaner Government. It is one of those time that "Corporate
Extraterritoriality" is being used to the letter of the law. But as such,
Blood Magic is kind of like "the last line of defense/offense" that exists.
Aztlan possesses it, but with the diminished of "Dark", they aren't as apt to
use it the way it once was.
The CAS does possess the Stonewall MBT, and indeed, such military technology
does make it's ground forces very impressive. Indeed, the term "dogfight" is
far more flexible than it once was. For instance, we know that Aztlan
possesses the "Lobo" tanks (Aztlan Sourcebook) and the Relampago Railgun
Technology. We have also discovered with the coming of the Cyberpirates
books, exactly what "Naval Category Damage" really is. The smallest of these
guns could, in theory, be placed upon the largest of the tank categories
(MBT?). Such a weapon that is highly mobile and encounterable on land, makes
for things to be very dangerous for anyone caught in the crossfire.
Additionally, in our games (to explains Mike's comments about Thor Strikes
from Above), Aztlan has begun making the leap into the heavens, as they have
been granted the "Sextant of Worlds" from the Draco Foundation (as per
following the predates in the Will, they have performed such). They are using
that toy to gain as much navigational knowledge both Metaplanar and
Astrometric as possible. Big use for it now is the ability to find safe
launch corridors for their satellites and stuff.
Ares is always going to be in the picture, and with Aztlan/Aztechnology going
into things at a full speed ahead program rate, yeah, we can imagine everyone
else will get involved. The tricky thing is, the PPG and Aztlan are
intersected now with the company known as "Universal Omnitech" (which is a
subsidiary of Aztechnology) (what, you didn't have that one figured out??).
And as such, Aztlan might be able to interfere in the form of trade tarrifs
and even stranger agreements.
Shadowrunner/Pirate activity is going to no doubt explode over this whole
affair. The Caribbean treats both Aztlan and the CAS with equal veracity, as
both nations seeks to gain a naval superiority in their waters (so they can
keep an eye on each other especially). Add to that massive rigger-oriented
pilots in the skies in our games, and the activities are immense.
Imagine breaking onto an LTA that is twice the size of an aircraft carrier?
We've got those as well, taking inspiration from the "Bloats" commentary from
the Shadowtech book (found on the Hoosier Hacker House btw). Imagine both
sides using stuff of this nature to motivate troops and supplies. Combine
that with "the Atlanta" (I think we like that name) carrier group and "the
Toltec" carrier group (the Aztlaners), and the fighting will get incredibly
obnoxious.
And with a group like Winternight hiding out in the background, all the runner
possibilities do quite literally explode.
CAS has plenty of weapons, and plenty of friends (the UCAS for instance). I
could imagine the NAN forces and CalFree wanting to desperately stay out of
this one, so they'll go neutral as possible. I don't see anyone going down
readily, and I have no idea how it'll all end.
-K
