| From: | Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Runner's Attitudes |
| Date: | Sat, 5 Jul 1997 02:01:06 +0100 |
<topcat@***.NET> rambled on endlessly about Runner's Attitudes
<big snip - because it's this bit in particular that I wish to answer>
>Have you seen the camera? Do you know that there aren't others? Do you
>know that there are no further security measures present? Is there only one
>camera?
OK, before a debate on cameras ensues, I would suggest that anyone
considering such a reply should watch some extremely informative
programs on CCTV (closed circuit television). These cameras exist
everywhere, shopping malls, street corners, highways (monitoring traffic
flow) and a miriad of other places. In cases where garages are being
broken into, and car spares stolen it is possible to place a camera that
is no larger than a match book, the lens is about the size of a UK
penny, or US cent. Utilising current technoloy, the lens on the camera
gives a clear - very clear, still or motion picture view of the area,
this area can cover several hundred square metres. The camera is, to
all intents and purposes "invisible". Stuck in the rafters of the
garage/warehouse, it is incredibly difficult to spot, unless you know
precisely where the thing is. These units alone are available to the
common user for about 800 Uk pounds - say 1,000 US. Now that's just one
example of the kind of preventative measures available today.
An informative series of programs was aired on the Discovery channel
recently (for those who get it) covering exactly this type of
technology. It's a serious and extensive situation that has some highly
organised opposition to it, on the grounds that CCTV is a direct breach
of privacy - however, as of yet, US, UK and European governments don't
agree with that, they view it as a means of crime prevention.. and under
that tag - anything is plausible.
Corporations in California are installing CCTV to monitor staff and
their loyalty to the company, in offices, lavatories, washrooms,
corridors and other areas - this is without informaing the staff. When
questioned about the installation of the cameras, it is covered by the
simple expedient of "security", at which point the units are ignored and
forgotten by the majority of staff. A court case a couple of years back
brought the situation to the public view, with an incident that resulted
in the sacking of several members of staff for "unpleasant verbal
opinions" of the company they worked for. These workers sued the
corporation unsuccessfully, opening a precedent for other companies and
corporations in the US, and probably other countries to install CCTV
without informing the staff in a effort to combat espionage and spiteful
sabotage by disgruntled employees. Basically the Court allowed that the
corporation was not only allowed to install these monitoring devices,
but was correct in doing so.
So, TopCats view on undectable cameras, isn't unfortunately incorrect.
Extrapolating this nasty little concept into 205*, and you have a high
tech situation where pretty much anything is possible. In my games CCTV
is used extensively to monitor the heavy traffic experienced in the
metroplexes, to assist and complement Law Enforcment patrols, (in much
the same way as it is used in city centres and trouble spots in the UK),
it's not 100% foolproof, and can be spoofed by electronic counter
measures, not something generally available to the public. :) Although
I don't agree with Bob's severe and brutal thoughts on corporate power,
I do agree that they are tough mothers, and certain areas of corporate
facilities, and certain installations are going to possses intensive, if
not state of the art security systems.
Certain situations don't require heavy duty equipment to protect things,
so the main concentration of security is going to be in intensive areas.
I use that concept as a warning to my players that they are stepping
into the realms of "serious" when they are inside a company building.
The rest of the coverage is likely to be down to locked doors - always a
favourite way of "discouraging" casual crime, monocolour video feeds to
a recording centre which is monitored by one or two permanent guards.
In certain offices pressure pads and motion detectors. Large companies
will have a permanent security on hand, for a reference on how that
security is likely to be set up, watch the beginning of Die Hard.
Although not representative, it's a useful pointer.
The camera however, is always a favourite, in fact, in a recent game, my
players used a patch into traffic monitoring cameras, to find something
out, so they can be friendly as well as the worst kind of enemy for a
Shadowrunner.
Top level areas are going to be covered by all sorts of exotic items,
but this doesn't mean they are impregnable, US military bases aren't
impregnable, and lose materials or items from time to time, as do other
places throughout the world, so even with todays paranoia, it's possible
to get in and out, relatively undetected, certainly unidentified. But,
it takes a great deal of planning, expense, thought and skill.
Blundering in through the main doors and indulging in a running gun
battle with security isn't exactly sensible and certainly not effective
penetration of secure areas.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that up to a point TopCat is right
about security levels, I just feel that he's a tad over the top in
brutality when it comes to reaction and reprisals. Myself, I encourage
players to use thought, care and very careful planning if they are going
to infiltrate something that is considered "secure" - even light
security. I don't however, follow the "they broke in and stole
something - kill 'em" attitude. Yes, certain levels of loss would
require certain levels of reprisal, however, even the mega corp has to
consider it's public image, and cost effectiveness of a manhunt, not to
mention the possible international incidents that may arise from a -
shall we say - "mistake".
--
__ \ | \ __
| | _` | __| | / _ \ \ / _ \ __ \ _` | _ \ __|
| | ( | | < ___ \ \ / __/ | | ( | __/ |
____/ \__,_|_| _|\_\ _/ _\ \_/ \___|_| _|\__, |\___|_|
A Dark Shadow in a Dark World |___/
Web page at: http://www.shalako.demon.co.uk
