From:	Stephen Delear <shadow@***.com>
Subject:	Re: Killing in Shadowrun...
Date:	Sat, 25 May 1996 18:13:48 -0500 (CDT)

On Sat, 25 May 1996, TopCat wrote:

> I can very well pictures US marines in LA after having been to several other
> countries and cities, because it happens. When you're in the US, it is very
> rare to see a city or town that has one culture. Extremely rare. Maybe a
> few towns with a population of 100 or less would be. Most likely they'll
> have varying ethnic backgrounds no matter where you look, but I just live
> here, so don't take my word. Marines in LA look just like other people in
> LA, no visible differences. There is no American ethnic group. We
> represent thousands of different ethnicities. That's why it is extremely
> easy to blend into a crowd here.

A corporate strike team may fit perfectly well into corporate culter but
unless they have prior experince they arn't going to fit to well into the
barrens (this is probably not true for groups that opperate in the
barrens alot or)

>
> >Limited numbers, a large world, many many missions. Remember, your
> >corporation covers most of the world. The more time your "elite strike
> >force" spends learning local languages and customs for every possible
> >area, the less time they have to actually train for elite strike work.

Ever wonder why chipjacks are so popular amoung these groups.

> >You end up with a team of spies, not soldiers, useful for hunting
> >shadowrunners and not much else. Someone who keeps their soldiers as
> >soldiers is going to kick their butts.


>
> My elite strike force lived in the UCAS. They speak English just like the
> overwhelming majority of the UCAS does. They have their own customs, which
> is fine because everyone has their own customs in the UCAS and it's actually
> ok to do so. Not real hard to fit in over here is it?

Your elite force dose NOT live in UCAS it lives in Fuchi or Ares or any
number of corporate states. Your average corp sec gaurd was brought up
in the company, educated by the company and lives in the companys
housing. You better belive it's going to take him some time to get
accustomed to the barrens (unless he hangs out there after work). People
still mingle in sociaty in 2057 but it's much less likely that some one
from one of the big 8 will have experince with culters out side there
socio-economic class. In other words they stand out in the barrens like
a suit with no gaming experince at a con.

>
> I have tons of reasons. Site security is the foremost of these. They don't
> "only hunt down runners" which I have stated time and again throughout this
> thread. They are fully capable of doing so, however, should the need arise.

If the runners our good then the corp shouldn't be able to track them
after a run.

>
> >Corporations have economic power, but nations have military power. The
> >Corporate Court's combined might can crush any nation, even the UCAS,
> >but the UCAS could wipe *one* corporation out pretty thoroughly. Checks
> >and balances. This is one lever the Court uses to enforce compliance
> >with its "advice".
>
> Renraku cuts telecommunications in the UCAS. Is there going to be a fight?

UCAS nationalizes the telecommunications network. If Renraku puts up a fight
the military will be more then happy to deal with it. In fact after Chicago
I woudln't be surprised if there was a backup communications network
controlled by the goverment to be used in case of just such emergencies..

> Nope. UCAS will cave in immediately. Fuchi cuts all power. There a fight
> now? Still no. UCAS concedes defeat.

Again UCAS nationalizes the resorces. Sure Fuchi could destroy its
plants but I don't think even a magacorp would take that big of a loss
(at least nationalized there's a chance of getting them back through
legal action). All vital national security instillations of course have
there own power supply. Yes this one can couse problems but if they
actually blow there plants then Fuchi will undoubtably see all it's
holdings in UCAS confiscated and it's top corporate personal prosecuted
(and I wouldn't be surprised if a few seal teams "extracted" some board
members from Fuchi's Japanesse headquarters, just before it's demolished
by bombs from a flight of stealth aircraft.

> Aztechnology decides to back the NAN
> fully again. Oh my.

If NAN dosn't make any preperations to start it's war with UCAS again then
nothing happens. If they do then a preemptive nuclear strike destroys
much of Aztlan to prevent them giving magical aid to NAN. The moral of
this if you want to play with the big boys be prepared to pay the price.

> Or maybe they start feeding troops to help CAS's
> cause.

CAS and UCAS arn't at war, CAS and Aztlan on the other hand. If UCAS ever
really wanted to ruin Aztechnologys day all they need to do is give CAS
military support in the retaking of Austin.

> Yikes. The countries of the world don't stand the beginnings of a
> chance against any corporate power out there.

UCAS has the problem that it can't retaliate in small incriment when
fighting a corp it's an all or nothing proposition. The corps should
remember this when trying to figure just how far they can push UCAS.

>
> -------------------------------------
> "I was thinking of the immortal words
> of Socrates, who said: I drank what?"
> -- Real Genius
> -------------------------------------
> TopCat at the bottom...
>
>
Stephen