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Message no. 1
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 10:10:35 +0000
>>>>>[Oh, boy, someone's either crazy or stupid or both...

+++++begin news item
GUN BATTLE RAGES THROUGH STREETS OF LAS VEGAS
Over Sixty Police Officers Wounded Or Slain
Thousands Of Bullets Riddle Gambling Mecca


LAS VEGAS, UTE NATION - The normally-peaceful city of Las Vegas
shuddered under a hail of machine-gun fire and shook to explosions
today, as armed raiders masquerading as police stormed the Mistral Hotel
and Casino. They gunned down several hotel employees, while pillaging
its mainframe and fleeing with data that informed sources say would be
worth "many millions of nuyen".

+++++include picture
[The front entrance of the Mistral Hotel, its glass facade starred with
bullet holes]

Las Vegas Police Department Limited units promptly and efficiently
sealed off the Strip, trapping the bandits: who with reckless regard for
life, proceeded to savagely blast their way through the police cordon.

Riddling their victims with banned 'cop-killer' armour-piercing bullets
and potentially lethal grenades, the raiders cut a swathe through the
valiant police officers.

Many of Las Vegas' finest sacrificed their lives to protect the
citizenry from the ruthless onslaught of these heavily-armed maniacs,
who from the speed and violence of their attacks must have been heavily
augmented with illegal combat cybernetics.

+++++include picture
[A street-level shot across a POLICE LINE tape of four Patrol-1 cop
cars, all slewed awkwardly in the road (one rammed into a lamp-post,
another burned out) and all sporting many bullet holes. Ominous dark
stains mar the concrete surface in several places, and through one
cruiser's open door can be seen the blood-soaked driver's seat]

The murderous onslaught lasted less than fifteen minutes before the
cowardly killers evaded the vengeful pursuit of the Law, leaving eleven
officers and seven citizens dead and fifty-two patrolmen and eighteen
citizens injured in their wake, plus property damage estimated at over a
million nuyen.

Staff at the Mistral were too shocked to comment immediately, beyond
issuing a statement apologising to their customers for the appalling
attack and offering a >>very large sum<< reward for information leading
to the capture of the homicidal killers.

A LVPD Limited spokesman, however, stated that "We have gathered
considerable forensic and other evidence already, and are continuing to
tighten the net on these desperate and dangerous criminals. They can
run, but they cannot hide."
+++++end news item

Someobody went for a head-on armed raid on the third-biggest hotel and
casino on the Strip, and shot their way out past a whole city's police
department on the way out.

The scary thing is, they must have _expected_ that. Which means they
expect the way the Mob is going to be down on them. Whoever did this is
either incredibly good, or incredibly overconfident, or just plain
crazy...]<<<<<
-- Bungle <10:10:35/02-13-59>
Message no. 2
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 10:10:35 +0000
>>>>>[Oh, boy, someone's either crazy or stupid or both...

+++++begin news item
GUN BATTLE RAGES THROUGH STREETS OF LAS VEGAS
Over Sixty Police Officers Wounded Or Slain
Thousands Of Bullets Riddle Gambling Mecca


LAS VEGAS, UTE NATION - The normally-peaceful city of Las Vegas
shuddered under a hail of machine-gun fire and shook to explosions
today, as armed raiders masquerading as police stormed the Mistral Hotel
and Casino. They gunned down several hotel employees, while pillaging
its mainframe and fleeing with data that informed sources say would be
worth "many millions of nuyen".

+++++include picture
[The front entrance of the Mistral Hotel, its glass facade starred with
bullet holes]

Las Vegas Police Department Limited units promptly and efficiently
sealed off the Strip, trapping the bandits: who with reckless regard for
life, proceeded to savagely blast their way through the police cordon.

Riddling their victims with banned 'cop-killer' armour-piercing bullets
and potentially lethal grenades, the raiders cut a swathe through the
valiant police officers.

Many of Las Vegas' finest sacrificed their lives to protect the
citizenry from the ruthless onslaught of these heavily-armed maniacs,
who from the speed and violence of their attacks must have been heavily
augmented with illegal combat cybernetics.

+++++include picture
[A street-level shot across a POLICE LINE tape of four Patrol-1 cop
cars, all slewed awkwardly in the road (one rammed into a lamp-post,
another burned out) and all sporting many bullet holes. Ominous dark
stains mar the concrete surface in several places, and through one
cruiser's open door can be seen the blood-soaked driver's seat]

The murderous onslaught lasted less than fifteen minutes before the
cowardly killers evaded the vengeful pursuit of the Law, leaving eleven
officers and seven citizens dead and fifty-two patrolmen and eighteen
citizens injured in their wake, plus property damage estimated at over a
million nuyen.

Staff at the Mistral were too shocked to comment immediately, beyond
issuing a statement apologising to their customers for the appalling
attack and offering a >>very large sum<< reward for information leading
to the capture of the homicidal killers.

A LVPD Limited spokesman, however, stated that "We have gathered
considerable forensic and other evidence already, and are continuing to
tighten the net on these desperate and dangerous criminals. They can
run, but they cannot hide."
+++++end news item

Someobody went for a head-on armed raid on the third-biggest hotel and
casino on the Strip, and shot their way out past a whole city's police
department on the way out.

The scary thing is, they must have _expected_ that. Which means they
expect the way the Mob is going to be down on them. Whoever did this is
either incredibly good, or incredibly overconfident, or just plain
crazy...]<<<<<
-- Bungle <10:10:35/02-13-59>
Message no. 3
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 22:43:09 +0100
>>>>>[This is hot from the press, people. This just happened.

_Anyone_ going to do _anything_ about it?

+++++begin trideo
The image snarls with noise bars and the audio yowls static. There is a
*thud* and a yelp of "Piece of drek!" and another *thump* and it slowly
clears to reveal the face of a young Elven boy. He looks terrified. "You
working now, you Indonesian chunk of junk?" The view swings, getting a
view of the floor of a teenage boy's bedroom (complete with unwashed
socks in the corner). "Oh damn oh drek please work..."

The view bobs and weaves out over to the window. The street outside is
empty.

"What the...?" The camera view bounces and jolts out of the room, down
the stairs, into the street where it swings left and right. A murmur of
voice and the cameraman moves that way, hugging the walls of the
Tarislar tenements.

Around one corner, the camera slowly edges (for sure its wielder isn't
following). The chipped plascrete gives way to the ash-and-garbage-
strewn yard of a school: at first glance abandoned, at second glance
showing signs of use (like the tenements, some of the windows have
plastic sheeting tacked over them).

That's of secondary interest to the gaggle of humanity and metahumanity
gathered in three distinct clots. A dozen or so Elves stand, huddled in a
fearful knot. Four more kneel, hands behind their heads. And five Humans
- suited, arrogant, confident, carrying shotguns and submachineguns -
threaten both groups.

Clear of the obstruction, even the cheap trideocam's directional mike can
pick up what's being said.

"...knew what was happening! You _live_ here, don't you? You must have
seen something, heard something! But you didn't tell us. And two of our
people got hurt because of that." The apparent leader gestures with his
Ingram. "That really makes us angry. You let our people walk into a trap
and you didn't do a damn thing about it! Well, it's payback time." He
theatrically cocks the Ingram.

"Leave her alone!" someone shouts from the crowd.

"Oh, what, you offering to swap places with her?" the leader asks. "You
gonna take her place?"

"Yeah!" An Elven boy of fifteen or sixteen walks out of the crowd, past
the five gunmen, to one of the four hostages. He squeezes her shoulder.
"Go on, Ellie. Go home."

The girl sobs, scrambles to her feet, runs as though the Devil himself were
after her: the boy, with a contemptuous glance back at the leader of the
gunmen, takes her place: kneeling, hands laced behind his head.

"Real heroic, kid, and real stupid. Kill'em!" One of the quintet keeps her
shotgun aimed at the Elves: the other four fire enthusiastically into the
hostages. All four are flung face-down, jerking and spasming as bullets
smash into them.

The leader reloads, examines the four corpses. The boy who'd taken the
girl's place twitches: probably just a nervous spasm, but it earns him
another dozen rounds anyway.

"Okay, you pointy-eared motherfraggers, you learned an important lesson
today. Anyone frags with us here, you get it back, twice as bad. You get
even a _hint_ that someone's aiming to hit our people, you tell us. Or you
get more of this. You'll run outta kids before we run outta bullets! You
understand me?"

A mutter from the cowed, afraid crowd.

"I can't hear you! Speak up! You understand me?"

A louder assent.

"Then get the frag outta here. Leave these sacks of drek where they are
'till they rot. Anyone moves'em, we'll kill another few people to make the
point. You guys, now you belong to us, and you gonna do what we tell you
or you gonna die! Now get back in your squats! Get outta here!"

The crowd begins to disperse: the cameraman bolts for cover before he's
seen.
+++++end trideo

This happened ninety minutes ago. Eleven people called the Star. Not one
Goddamned breeder cop bastard has turned up yet.

You want a war, you fraggers? You've damn well got one now.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <22:42:46/07-19-60>
Message no. 4
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 15:25:56 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[I hear tell you are about to start something in Tarislar. I cannot
stand by any longer and just watch things happen, so I intend to help anyway
I can. You tell me what you need and I'll see what I can do to get it. As a
goodwill gesture, you can pick up a crate of 15 AK97 Assault Rifles and 5000
rounds of ammunition to go with 'em at {{location}}. Free of charge. They're
waiting for you, and I've made sure you won't receive any surprises whilst
you retrieve them. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for
you.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader<15:23:37/07-19-60>


*****PRIVATE: Zenox
>>>>>[I have made the offer as you suggested. Now we see if they are
willing
to accept our help. I'll contact Kumiko and let her know as soon as I find
out anything.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader<15:26:23/07-19-60>
Message no. 5
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 00:13:50 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[Rifles and ammo. Okay. That's a start. We got the people, we just
don't have the weapons.

Yet.

I'd suggest you come clean about what you want. I ain't being nasty, I just
see a friendship developing and I'd hate to have it fall apart. Don't want
any misunderstandings here.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <00:13:35/07-20-60>
Message no. 6
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 20:42:29 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Hey, no offense taken. I would be asking for hidden motives as well
if
I were in your place. I don't suppose the 'concerned citizen' line would cut
it for this one, eh?

I am interested in Tarislar for very specific reasons. First, you are being
pushed around by the Mafia, and Don Malone isn't too high on my list of
happy people at the moment. There's really no love lost there. Second, the
kind of equipment you are going to need isn't going to be cheap, but it will
be available. That's where I come in...

I have the resources to outfit your people with more equipment like that
which I already gave you. In return I ask only for information that leads me
to the Don so that a personal acquaintance can settle their scores with him
personally.

Sound too good to be true? If you still need proof of my sincerity, I have
placed another crate at {{location}}. This one has 3 AK98 assault rifles
with underbarrel mini-grenade launchers, 1500 rounds of ammunition and 15
Anti-personnel mini grenades. Also included are 3 pair of level 2 protection
form-fitting body armor. This one is also free of charge, and I have ensured
that you can retrieve it without difficulty.

Further equipment will, of course, have to be traded for in information, but
I think you can see the benefit of having a friend like me. If you have
further questions, just let me know.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <00:42:17/07-20-60>
Message no. 7
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 21:32:11 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[I don't want to spoil a beautiful friendship, but all I know about
Don
Malone is that he's Mafia, from Vegas and he - via his sockpuppet Eric
Descabiere - is fragging with us. Well, time we fragged back a
little.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <21:32:46/07-22-60>
Message no. 8
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 18:06:50 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Alright. Do you have any more information on this Descabiere? I think
we can continue to work some things out...perhaps in exchange for a safe
house or two? Let me know what you would be willing to do to maintain a fair
deal.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <18:04:27/07-22-60>
Message no. 9
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 22:25:39 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[Information about Descabiere? Just a little, pal. Since those rifles
work so well, here's what we got in return. Only seems fair.

+++++include data file: 9.7Mp
Businesses, bases, info on some of his lieutenants, the places he's been
making moves, his ongoing war with the late Luigi Bartolo, the works.

You want more detail on anything specific, let us know. You want any of
our work aimed at Descabiere particularly, hey, he's a breeder and so are
most of his people, I'm sure we can find it in our hearts to route a little
misery their way.

What _we_ need are weapons, ammo and explosives. I'm sure we can
carry on a relationship...]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <22:25:37/07-23-60>
Message no. 10
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 22:42:59 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Thank you very much for the information, it'll help my acquaintance
settle a score. I think I would like a little more specifics on his
businesses, though, and his lieutenants. For a trade, how about another 10
AK97s with 5000 rounds of ammunition, a single Moi MMG with 1000 rounds of
ammunition and an armored van to carry it all in. Nothing too fancy, mind
you, just something to stop small arms fire. You like?

If I can get something really specific, I may even throw in a
bonus...whaddaya say?

If you want to put a little hurt on Descabiere, that's fine by me, but don't
get caught up in something you cannot handle. <grin> That's my department...

The van will be waiting for delivery of the specifics I requested. I hope to
hear from you soon.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <22:42:23/07-23-60 PDT>
Message no. 11
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 14:47:28 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[You got a deal.

Okay, Descabiere's business. He's based in the east side of Fort Lewis,
which means he spends a lot of time skimming the soldiers and zoomies
from McChord. Since the Army moved the Regulars in to secure the Arc,
he's been squeezed a little. You may have heard how the Roach Coaches
got nixed? That put a crimp in the funds of quite a few of the Lewis mob.
He's still got a string of bars and clubs, some of which are entirely clean
and legit and a few of which are fronts for brothels or chip dens.

He's also trying to move into Luigi Bartolo's territory in Puyallup, which so
far seems to have been an expensive mistake. Bartolo was actually pretty
well liked, and the locals don't appreciate some breeder coming in like he
owns the place. Plus, some of Bartolo's torpedoes are still playing hit-and-
run against Descabiere's operations...

Descabiere's tied in tight to Don Malone out of Vegas, which gets him
advantages and drawbacks... most of the other Mob around him are with
the Bigios. Malone's a heavy hitter, but he's also from out of town and
nobody's going to do too much to help his pet if Descabiere gets into
trouble.

'Course, _Malone_ may decide to act to prop up his Seattle business. That
could get _real_ ugly _real_ fast.


Descabiere's got two _consigliores_ - Tate Ilbury, who's mostly a law-
money-politics type, and Roy Nurfton, who's a kill-people-break-stuff
person. Roy's nickname is "The Grinder", because he allegedly likes using
one of those air-powered portable grinders to make people get talkative.
Or at least, noisy. Real charming guy.

He had a third lieutenant, a chica name of Nicki Mantegna, but she got
fired a little while ago. Or maybe killed, she's been real inconspicuous. Not
sure what went on there.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <14:47:54/07-25-60>
Message no. 12
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 11:51:38 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Thank you very much. You will find the van with the aforementioned
goods at {{{location}}}. The alarm system's code is {{{encrypted}}} so you
shouldn't have a problem.

I also included two kilograms of C4 explosives as a gift for you. Happy
hunting!

This past attempt was bungled, were your people wearing the armor that I
gave you? It should have been enough to stop most pistol rounds. If you need
more armor, I'll trade five sets for the current whereabouts of Roy
Nurfton.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <11:51:23/07-25-60 PDT>
Message no. 13
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 22:58:29 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[Pickup made, no problem. We can have _fun_ with that stuff.

The last hit... the Trog was wired, we aren't. I'd like to say we withdrew
in an orderly precise manner but we didn't, we broke and ran for our lives.
We can't win standup fights against real opposition, so we don't try.

Yeah, we were wearing the armour. Word is the trog bitch was a security
rentacop, so she probably had APDS, which maybe explains how come she
put Lonny down so hard. Shit happens, what can I say? Lonny doesn't know
anything that we haven't changed already, and he's a good boy, he'll keep
his mouth shut.

Roy Nurfton? He moves around a fair bit. The Grinder's made a _lot_ of
enemies. But the buzz is, he's kind of sweet on some hooker who dances
in the Silver Chalice in Lewis most nights. She's playing hard to get and
he's playing along for now. When he gets bored he'll just grab her, hump
her, kill her and dump her, but I guess _she_ don't know that.

You watch the Chalice, you've got a good chance of finding the Grinder.

Happy hunting, pal.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <22:58:43/07-26-60>
Message no. 14
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 17:03:28 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Looks like things will be heating up very soon for you folks. If Lone
Star actually manages to do something worthwhile in Puyallup, things could
get dicey. If you need it, I can provide a safe house for awhile...think
about it.

Now then, I wanted to thank you profusely for the information you gave us.
That was worth the bonus, and we will look kindly upon future dealings with
you and yours. Is there anything else you require?]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <22:58:43/07-26-60>
Message no. 15
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 22:43:09 +0100
>>>>>[This is hot from the press, people. This just happened.

_Anyone_ going to do _anything_ about it?

+++++begin trideo
The image snarls with noise bars and the audio yowls static. There is a
*thud* and a yelp of "Piece of drek!" and another *thump* and it slowly
clears to reveal the face of a young Elven boy. He looks terrified. "You
working now, you Indonesian chunk of junk?" The view swings, getting a
view of the floor of a teenage boy's bedroom (complete with unwashed
socks in the corner). "Oh damn oh drek please work..."

The view bobs and weaves out over to the window. The street outside is
empty.

"What the...?" The camera view bounces and jolts out of the room, down
the stairs, into the street where it swings left and right. A murmur of
voice and the cameraman moves that way, hugging the walls of the
Tarislar tenements.

Around one corner, the camera slowly edges (for sure its wielder isn't
following). The chipped plascrete gives way to the ash-and-garbage-
strewn yard of a school: at first glance abandoned, at second glance
showing signs of use (like the tenements, some of the windows have
plastic sheeting tacked over them).

That's of secondary interest to the gaggle of humanity and metahumanity
gathered in three distinct clots. A dozen or so Elves stand, huddled in a
fearful knot. Four more kneel, hands behind their heads. And five Humans
- suited, arrogant, confident, carrying shotguns and submachineguns -
threaten both groups.

Clear of the obstruction, even the cheap trideocam's directional mike can
pick up what's being said.

"...knew what was happening! You _live_ here, don't you? You must have
seen something, heard something! But you didn't tell us. And two of our
people got hurt because of that." The apparent leader gestures with his
Ingram. "That really makes us angry. You let our people walk into a trap
and you didn't do a damn thing about it! Well, it's payback time." He
theatrically cocks the Ingram.

"Leave her alone!" someone shouts from the crowd.

"Oh, what, you offering to swap places with her?" the leader asks. "You
gonna take her place?"

"Yeah!" An Elven boy of fifteen or sixteen walks out of the crowd, past
the five gunmen, to one of the four hostages. He squeezes her shoulder.
"Go on, Ellie. Go home."

The girl sobs, scrambles to her feet, runs as though the Devil himself were
after her: the boy, with a contemptuous glance back at the leader of the
gunmen, takes her place: kneeling, hands laced behind his head.

"Real heroic, kid, and real stupid. Kill'em!" One of the quintet keeps her
shotgun aimed at the Elves: the other four fire enthusiastically into the
hostages. All four are flung face-down, jerking and spasming as bullets
smash into them.

The leader reloads, examines the four corpses. The boy who'd taken the
girl's place twitches: probably just a nervous spasm, but it earns him
another dozen rounds anyway.

"Okay, you pointy-eared motherfraggers, you learned an important lesson
today. Anyone frags with us here, you get it back, twice as bad. You get
even a _hint_ that someone's aiming to hit our people, you tell us. Or you
get more of this. You'll run outta kids before we run outta bullets! You
understand me?"

A mutter from the cowed, afraid crowd.

"I can't hear you! Speak up! You understand me?"

A louder assent.

"Then get the frag outta here. Leave these sacks of drek where they are
'till they rot. Anyone moves'em, we'll kill another few people to make the
point. You guys, now you belong to us, and you gonna do what we tell you
or you gonna die! Now get back in your squats! Get outta here!"

The crowd begins to disperse: the cameraman bolts for cover before he's
seen.
+++++end trideo

This happened ninety minutes ago. Eleven people called the Star. Not one
Goddamned breeder cop bastard has turned up yet.

You want a war, you fraggers? You've damn well got one now.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <22:42:46/07-19-60>
Message no. 16
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 15:25:56 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[I hear tell you are about to start something in Tarislar. I cannot
stand by any longer and just watch things happen, so I intend to help anyway
I can. You tell me what you need and I'll see what I can do to get it. As a
goodwill gesture, you can pick up a crate of 15 AK97 Assault Rifles and 5000
rounds of ammunition to go with 'em at {{location}}. Free of charge. They're
waiting for you, and I've made sure you won't receive any surprises whilst
you retrieve them. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for
you.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader<15:23:37/07-19-60>


*****PRIVATE: Zenox
>>>>>[I have made the offer as you suggested. Now we see if they are
willing
to accept our help. I'll contact Kumiko and let her know as soon as I find
out anything.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader<15:26:23/07-19-60>
Message no. 17
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 00:13:50 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[Rifles and ammo. Okay. That's a start. We got the people, we just
don't have the weapons.

Yet.

I'd suggest you come clean about what you want. I ain't being nasty, I just
see a friendship developing and I'd hate to have it fall apart. Don't want
any misunderstandings here.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <00:13:35/07-20-60>
Message no. 18
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 20:42:29 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Hey, no offense taken. I would be asking for hidden motives as well
if
I were in your place. I don't suppose the 'concerned citizen' line would cut
it for this one, eh?

I am interested in Tarislar for very specific reasons. First, you are being
pushed around by the Mafia, and Don Malone isn't too high on my list of
happy people at the moment. There's really no love lost there. Second, the
kind of equipment you are going to need isn't going to be cheap, but it will
be available. That's where I come in...

I have the resources to outfit your people with more equipment like that
which I already gave you. In return I ask only for information that leads me
to the Don so that a personal acquaintance can settle their scores with him
personally.

Sound too good to be true? If you still need proof of my sincerity, I have
placed another crate at {{location}}. This one has 3 AK98 assault rifles
with underbarrel mini-grenade launchers, 1500 rounds of ammunition and 15
Anti-personnel mini grenades. Also included are 3 pair of level 2 protection
form-fitting body armor. This one is also free of charge, and I have ensured
that you can retrieve it without difficulty.

Further equipment will, of course, have to be traded for in information, but
I think you can see the benefit of having a friend like me. If you have
further questions, just let me know.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <00:42:17/07-20-60>
Message no. 19
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 21:32:11 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[I don't want to spoil a beautiful friendship, but all I know about
Don
Malone is that he's Mafia, from Vegas and he - via his sockpuppet Eric
Descabiere - is fragging with us. Well, time we fragged back a
little.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <21:32:46/07-22-60>
Message no. 20
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 18:06:50 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Alright. Do you have any more information on this Descabiere? I think
we can continue to work some things out...perhaps in exchange for a safe
house or two? Let me know what you would be willing to do to maintain a fair
deal.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <18:04:27/07-22-60>
Message no. 21
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 22:25:39 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[Information about Descabiere? Just a little, pal. Since those rifles
work so well, here's what we got in return. Only seems fair.

+++++include data file: 9.7Mp
Businesses, bases, info on some of his lieutenants, the places he's been
making moves, his ongoing war with the late Luigi Bartolo, the works.

You want more detail on anything specific, let us know. You want any of
our work aimed at Descabiere particularly, hey, he's a breeder and so are
most of his people, I'm sure we can find it in our hearts to route a little
misery their way.

What _we_ need are weapons, ammo and explosives. I'm sure we can
carry on a relationship...]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <22:25:37/07-23-60>
Message no. 22
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 22:42:59 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Thank you very much for the information, it'll help my acquaintance
settle a score. I think I would like a little more specifics on his
businesses, though, and his lieutenants. For a trade, how about another 10
AK97s with 5000 rounds of ammunition, a single Moi MMG with 1000 rounds of
ammunition and an armored van to carry it all in. Nothing too fancy, mind
you, just something to stop small arms fire. You like?

If I can get something really specific, I may even throw in a
bonus...whaddaya say?

If you want to put a little hurt on Descabiere, that's fine by me, but don't
get caught up in something you cannot handle. <grin> That's my department...

The van will be waiting for delivery of the specifics I requested. I hope to
hear from you soon.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <22:42:23/07-23-60 PDT>
Message no. 23
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 14:47:28 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[You got a deal.

Okay, Descabiere's business. He's based in the east side of Fort Lewis,
which means he spends a lot of time skimming the soldiers and zoomies
from McChord. Since the Army moved the Regulars in to secure the Arc,
he's been squeezed a little. You may have heard how the Roach Coaches
got nixed? That put a crimp in the funds of quite a few of the Lewis mob.
He's still got a string of bars and clubs, some of which are entirely clean
and legit and a few of which are fronts for brothels or chip dens.

He's also trying to move into Luigi Bartolo's territory in Puyallup, which so
far seems to have been an expensive mistake. Bartolo was actually pretty
well liked, and the locals don't appreciate some breeder coming in like he
owns the place. Plus, some of Bartolo's torpedoes are still playing hit-and-
run against Descabiere's operations...

Descabiere's tied in tight to Don Malone out of Vegas, which gets him
advantages and drawbacks... most of the other Mob around him are with
the Bigios. Malone's a heavy hitter, but he's also from out of town and
nobody's going to do too much to help his pet if Descabiere gets into
trouble.

'Course, _Malone_ may decide to act to prop up his Seattle business. That
could get _real_ ugly _real_ fast.


Descabiere's got two _consigliores_ - Tate Ilbury, who's mostly a law-
money-politics type, and Roy Nurfton, who's a kill-people-break-stuff
person. Roy's nickname is "The Grinder", because he allegedly likes using
one of those air-powered portable grinders to make people get talkative.
Or at least, noisy. Real charming guy.

He had a third lieutenant, a chica name of Nicki Mantegna, but she got
fired a little while ago. Or maybe killed, she's been real inconspicuous. Not
sure what went on there.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <14:47:54/07-25-60>
Message no. 24
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 11:51:38 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Thank you very much. You will find the van with the aforementioned
goods at {{{location}}}. The alarm system's code is {{{encrypted}}} so you
shouldn't have a problem.

I also included two kilograms of C4 explosives as a gift for you. Happy
hunting!

This past attempt was bungled, were your people wearing the armor that I
gave you? It should have been enough to stop most pistol rounds. If you need
more armor, I'll trade five sets for the current whereabouts of Roy
Nurfton.]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <11:51:23/07-25-60 PDT>
Message no. 25
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 22:58:29 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Dawn Treader
>>>>>[Pickup made, no problem. We can have _fun_ with that stuff.

The last hit... the Trog was wired, we aren't. I'd like to say we withdrew
in an orderly precise manner but we didn't, we broke and ran for our lives.
We can't win standup fights against real opposition, so we don't try.

Yeah, we were wearing the armour. Word is the trog bitch was a security
rentacop, so she probably had APDS, which maybe explains how come she
put Lonny down so hard. Shit happens, what can I say? Lonny doesn't know
anything that we haven't changed already, and he's a good boy, he'll keep
his mouth shut.

Roy Nurfton? He moves around a fair bit. The Grinder's made a _lot_ of
enemies. But the buzz is, he's kind of sweet on some hooker who dances
in the Silver Chalice in Lewis most nights. She's playing hard to get and
he's playing along for now. When he gets bored he'll just grab her, hump
her, kill her and dump her, but I guess _she_ don't know that.

You watch the Chalice, you've got a good chance of finding the Grinder.

Happy hunting, pal.]<<<<<
-- Nobilis Domini <22:58:43/07-26-60>
Message no. 26
From: zebulingod zebulingod@****.yahoo.com
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 17:03:28 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Nobilis Domini
>>>>>[Looks like things will be heating up very soon for you folks. If Lone
Star actually manages to do something worthwhile in Puyallup, things could
get dicey. If you need it, I can provide a safe house for awhile...think
about it.

Now then, I wanted to thank you profusely for the information you gave us.
That was worth the bonus, and we will look kindly upon future dealings with
you and yours. Is there anything else you require?]<<<<<
-- Dawn Treader <22:58:43/07-26-60>
Message no. 27
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 21:36:16 -0500
>>>>>[

+++++insert satfeed (WWAS 41)

"And what a dog show, Sheryl!"

<sounds of canned, artificial laughter>

"Indeed! Thank you Al. Now for our local news. A Federal convoy got
stopped earlier this afternoon after one of the heavily armored cars
exploded, literaly. With more details, we join Cathy Miller, on the scene.
Cathy?"

"Yes, Sheryl, I'm standing near the scene of a bizarre incident, that
happened this afternoon. A federel convoy, whose purpose is yet unknown,
was stopped by what appeared to be a small explosion. One of the cars has
its rear wheels blown off, and for a few minutes, as you can see, there was
a terrible amount of smoke. It's only clearing now."

"And Cathy, we understand there was no one hurt."

"Indeed Sheryl. The cars are obviously well armored, and travelled in a
convoy. The explosion was just not strong enough to harm any occupants,
although some of them are being medivaced out because of the dense smoke
that followed the blast, probably smoke inhalation and other problems.
We're being pushed a good way from the scene, by the numerous agents here."

"This convoy was important?"

"We don't know. We're being instructed now to move so... James, James,
move back. Yes sir, we're moving. Sheryl?"

"We're still here Cathy."

"Yes, well, we're about 50 yards away from the scene now. There are several
agents, making sure no one gets close. James, get a zoom on the people
getting out. As you can see, there are some minor injuries, again, mostly
from the smoke..."

<loud noise>

"My God! My God!"

"Cathy? Cathy!? Are you still there?!? What just happened?"

"God. Oh God. I don't know. One of the men, oh God."

"Cathy. We can't see much from here. What happened? We heard a loud
explosion..."

"I don't know. God. Sheryl, it's chaos here. We heard a loud bang, a
gunshot. I think, from behind us. It sounded like a jet airplane passing
overhead. Then. God."

"Cathy?"

"One of the men on the stretchers, being carried out of the car. He's dead.
There's just blood everywhere. It's chaotic. Now men are coming towards
us. Sirs! Sirs! No! Don't... "

<cut feed>

"Cathy. Cathy. We lost your feed. Are you there? Cathy? Ladies and
Gentleman, we'll try to get the feed from this location back. Again, an
explosion stopped a Federal convoy late this afternoon, and it seems there
are developments as we speak. We'll try to have our feed back up as soon as
possible. Now, in other news..."]<<<<<
-- WWAS Trixfeed 32-B <17:32:54/02-23-61>
Message no. 28
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 22:30:11 +0000
>>>>>[Hey, folks, check _this_ out!

The place in question belonged to Don Malone. So did a whole bunch of
other places that have, very quietly and discreetly, become crime scenes
associated with multiple homicides.

Thing is, less than a hundred people have died in a month... so who cares?

And, since it's Malone getting screwed - after he _didn't_ kill any cops or
Feds or anyone else, oh no, there's _no_ evidence - who'd really give a
damn?

I don't really know how to feel. Malone's got it coming, for sure... what's
happening to him is illegal, but then he was using law enforcement as
target practice, so who's right and who's wrong?

Ethics make my head hurt. And my supervisor made me add a chapter on
them to my thesis.

Bleah.

+++++begin recording

+++++theme music
+++++intro credits "Mean Streets"

The anchorman looks gravely at the camera. "Good evening. I'm Tim
Glennie, and you're watching 'Mean Streets' - the show that takes you right
into the dark underbelly of the Metroplex."

A change of camera angle. "Tonight - Tacoma. A district swamped by a
rising tide of chips and drugs and vice. Our elite reporter, Gerry Levin, is
going undercover - _live_! - to show how far the once-respectable borough
has sunk."



+++++begin video feed
A Tacoma street: streetlights flaring under dark skies, snow drifting down
to melt into a dirty slush. The cameraman/narrator says, "Good evening,
Tim. This is Gerry Levin, live and on the streets. This part of Tacoma
used to be a respectable, pleasant place. Now, though, it's invaded by the
cancer of crime. Behind some of these windows -" a panning shot of the
pleasant houses lining the street - "lurk sickening depths of depravity and
vice."

"Where are the police, Gerry?"

"You may well ask, Tim, and many do. They're impotent, or corrupt.
Either they can't act, or they won't act, to do their duty and protect the
citizens."

"But where's the proof?" Glennie asks.

"Coming right up, Tim." Levin pulls up the hood of his coat, hurries across
the street to one of the houses - like any other, except there are four
cars parked in its drive where others have one or none.

He taps on the door, and it opens on a security chain. "Yeah?" asks a
young Human woman inside, who's wearing too much jewelry and not
enough clothes.

"Can you fix me up?" Levin asks, with just the right note of urgency.

"Yeah. Come on in." The chain rattles and Levin is admitted to a small
anteroom: big enough for the girl to keep him at arm's length while she
closes the outer door, before the (reinforced) inner door swings wide.
Glued to the wall, around the outer door, is the loop of a MAD weapon
scanner.

Levin walks into the hall, past a hulking Ork who's watching a handheld
trideo (a SuperSonics game, by the sound) and who has an Uzi
submachinegun in his lap. A sudden frisson - what if the Ork had been
tuned in to "Mean Streets"? Levin's certainly taking risks...

"In there." The Ork jerks a thumb and Levin steps into the living room.
Two more armed men wait, one of them holding his Uzi aimed almost at
Levin.

"What'cha want, chummer?"

"I need... I mean, I want a chip. A good one." Levin's not a bad actor, just
the right amount of desire and desperation in his voice. "A... sinchip"

The two dealers exchange grins. "You came to a good place, bud." The
one aiming his Uzi lets it drop on its sling. "We got some primo porno-
beetles here. What do you like?"

"What have you got?" Levin asks eagerly. Someone who'd tried and been
hooked by the boosted ecstasy of BTL pornography, seeing new vistas
opening.

"Straight, gay, racial, kiddie, you name it. Say the word, friend, and pay
a hundred yen, and go directly to Paradise for an hour."

"I like... Elf girls. Two or three Elf girls. Can you...?"

"Fix you _right_ up." One dealer taps the screen of his pocket secretary,
says "Five one three.", and the other opens a drawer lined with chips in
their flat plastic cases and offers one to Levin.

"Is that..." The case is blank, unmarked.

"An hour of joy with two nympho dandie-eaters. When you're not doing
them, they're doing each other. You like the sound of that?"

"Oh, yeah!" Levin passes over a handful of crumpled paper currency, and
takes the chip.

"You want to slot it here?" one of the dealers asks.

"I can?"

"Sure, no problem. Big Bill can show you a cube. Means nobody catches you
at it." The dealers divert their attention back to the card game they were
playing, as Levin goes back into the hall.

"You wanna room?" the Ork mumbles round his tusks, not looking up from
the trideo. "Up da stairs, t'ird right. Nummer four."


Levin walks up the stairs, seeing how what was once a pleasant house is
rapidly becoming grubby and dirty. Upstairs, the bedrooms have been
crudely partitioned into cubicles barely big enough for a mattress: Levin
finds #4, lies down, and inserts the chip.

"What these people don't know, is that I've disabled my datajack." he
whispers. "So, I'm not actually using the chip. But before we went on air, I
called Lone Star and identified this house as a BTL dealership. So, let's see
what - if anything - the police do."

"Thanks, Gerry. You're a brave man." The camera cuts back to Tim
Glennie in the studio. "We'll bring you updates as they happen... if
Seattle's Finest ever make it out of the donut shop. Meanwhile, after the
break, I'll be interviewing a girl who went looking for excitement... and
found herself forced into prostitution. Don't go away!"

The commercial break is what you'd expect from a low-budget channel like
KFIR: two law firms touting no-win-no-fee suits, a pay-per-view
pornography channel, the sale on at "Bob's Bargain Basement", and the
collected "Greatest Hits of the Fifties", six hours of music and video for
_only_¥39.99 plus delivery!

When the show resumes, Glennie is just beginning to get the girl to tell
her story (she's backlit, and nervous, and definitely sounds like she's having
second thoughts about telling anyone watching how she started selling sex
to finance a growing drug habit) when he sits bolt upright.

"Go to Gerry! Now!" he shouts, and the show does.


Levin is crouched in his cubicle, peering out through the ajar door: smoke
and dust curls up the stairwell, as automatic gunfire thunders. Someone
down there is screaming, a wordless wail of agony.

"Tim? Tim? I don't know what the frag's happening. Explosions, gunfire, it
sounds like some sort of raid but I don't know what." Levin crawls
forward, peers over the edge of the stairwell. (More gunfire, short sharp
bursts of something very loud)

"Big Bill" lies face-down in a huge wet puddle of very, very red blood. The
Uzi in his right hand still smokes, but the scarlet chrysanthemums that
have bloomed across his back say he won't ever rise again.

A blur of movement at the living-room door and Levin leaps back as the
stairpost beside him explodes in dust and splinters. A male voice shouts
"One, upstairs!"

"Clear here!"

"Check!" Something flies into Levin's vision and he barely gets his arms
over his head before the shockwave smashes him flat against the dirty
carpet.

By the time his vision recovers, he's looking up at a pale-skinned Amerind
who's wearing black-mirrored sunglasses despite the late hour. Those
details lag somewhat behind the threat of the Steyr assault rifle aimed at
his face, one-handed, as the Amerind finishes Ty-Wrapping Levin's hands.

Behind him, a remarkably beautiful woman is covering the hallway, also
with a grey-stocked AUG. "Got him?"

"Customer. No threat, now. Cover my back." The man changes magazines
with a frightening speed and grace, before disappearing from Levin's
vision. The woman, crouched at the top of the stairs, calmly ensures
nobody threatens her partner's back: nobody does before he emerges.

"Four chipheads or smart bad guys. No threat. Other door?"

"Cover me." She disappears, into the other group of macroplast-walled
cubicles, to emerge moments later. "All clear."

"Done?"

"Done."

"Congratulations, Mr Wideawake, you live... he's broadcasting." the man
says. "Trideo signal. Broadcast quality." Both AUGs are suddenly focussed
on Levin's head.

"Fuck. Live?"

"Does it matter? We're on Candid Camera anyway."

"Then we'd better leave, Don Malone." the woman smirks, as they retreat:
she covering their rear, her partner's rifle sweeping the corpse-strewn
lower floor as they descend the stairs.


"Gerry? Gerry, you okay?"

"I'm okay, Tim." Levin tries the strength of the Ty-Wrap and winces. "But I
don't think I can get out of here without the cops. Think they'll turn up
now?"

"They'd damn well better, Gerry. Who were those people?"

"I have no idea, Tim. But I'm glad they're gone. They killed _at least_ four
chip-peddlers with automatic weapons, without any apparent effort.
Maybe that's illegal, but there's _still_ no sign of the police."

Glennie answers his phone. "Yes? No! Frag off... oh. Right. You'd damn
well better!... Yeah, and you were tipped an hour ago and you didn't do
drek! Stop whining and do your damn job!"

He slams the 'phone down. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been
_threatened_ by Lone Star. I can only assume they're angry at being
humiliated by a news station. While they whine that they can't find the
criminals, we're doing their job for them and being threatened with arrest
for doing so..."
+++++end trideo

Cut plenty of self-congratulatory whining by the KFIR crew.

Thing is, you run the faces, what do you get?

95.4% match on the man, to Jason Lynch.

96.2% match on the woman, to Lilith Lynch.


The Agency is back, or else someone spent a _lot_ of money making us
think so.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <22:29:45/14-01-60>
Message no. 29
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 03:20:57 +0100
***** PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[ At >>Address<< is an unused warehouse. Looks like shit
outside,
but has decent electronic countermeasures - active and passive, ready to be
rigged or hand-operated. The code to open the door is >>Numerical
Code<<, and some weapons are stacked there.

At >>Address<< is another warehouse. Slightly nicer area, enough room to
house anouther eighteen or twenty people. Although you'd have to share the
living area with us... *grin*

I guess someone will be *quite* angry right now...

May Wolf watch your track, old friend. ]<<<<<
-- Canis <02:55:57/01-15-61>

***** INTERNAL: Cyberdeck Log Files
>>>>>[
20610115025557.01 Message enwrapped, sent to UCAS-SEA-666-010101
20610115025557.03 Message ReRouted
20610115025557.06 Message Rewrapped, sent to CAS-1441-9825694
20610115025557.11 ALERT! Tracer detected!
20610115025557.13 ALERT! Tracer identified:
Class: MCT TraceSnout v4.02
Trigger: 2nd Level To-Field
Status: Running datatrack 12.76%
20610115025557.14 Loading Glasshouse.route
20610115025557.21 ALERT! Tracer Status: 23.90%
20610115025557.22 Initializing Glasshouse.route
20610115025557.56 ALERT! Tracer Status: 49.52%
20610115025557.57 ALERT! Attack Program detected!
20610115025557.61 ALERT! Attack Program identified:
Class: Fuchi CyberSam v7r2
Target: Message
Status: Analyzing Target
20610115025557.64 Glasshouse.route running...
Rerouting Tracer in progress
20610115025557.78 ALERT! Tracer Status: 83.99%... stale
20610115025557.78 Glasshouse.route running
Looped Tracer.
20610115025557.82 User Initialized Modechange: Attack
Switching program configuration
20610115025558.43 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 13%
20610115025558.45 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 39%
20610115025558.46 Criplle (c) Crippleware
Contact AMAZ-NOW-000 for updates!
Linked to do_vis_09(ae0923e1h)
20610115025558.47 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 39%
20610115025558.49 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 39%
20610115025558.53 Analyse Message Complete: Data intact.
20610115025558.55 Attack Program collapses from Loopback.
20610115025559.72 ALERT! Access request: UCAS-GOV-0002
20610115025559.73 Access terminated, initializing shutdown...
]<<<<<
-- Orion <02:56:00/01-15-61>
Message no. 30
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 22:49:57 -0500
>>>>>[

Again?

*sigh* I guess it was inevitable. I thought Father Time had more sense
than to dive into our shadows again. He won the battle, lived through it.
He could fucking retire.

He didn't, and he brought his bitch along. I guess some people just don't
learn. They just keep fucking things up, and one day, just before the
teflon-coated round hits 'em straight in the forehead, they realize
"Goddamn, why am I here?".

They'll learn when they die.

On the other hand, it does make our lives more interesting, doesn't
it?]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:43:06/14-01-60>
Message no. 31
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 11:16:28 +0100
>>>>>[ Nonsense, Cathedral. Most people take it quite personal when
being shot down in an airplane and not being picked up by rescue crews.

More interesting: Lately there are lots of fake Lynch-sightings, I guess he's
seen more often thn Elvis these days - and more fakes.

Should Bungles software being correct, and he's not making up things to
lighten up his boring life as a student, I'd rather wonder who is experimenting
with what - do you remember these strange BTLs from '54 or '55? Is there
something like that in the air (or rather testing phase) again? ]<<<<<
-- Orion <22:45:08/14-01-61>
Message no. 32
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 11:45:58 -0500
>>>>>[No, most people RETIRE when they get shot out of a plane and SURVIVE.

Trust me, I know too well what happens when you get X chances in life, and
blow them all. ]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:47:54/15-01-61>
Message no. 33
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 21:03:30 +0100
>>>>>[ Yeah, I can see it now. Lynch lives his retirement by playing poker

with Elvis and once in a while showing his face in some assault published in
the news.

Get a life, please. Enough people already lost it... ]<<<<<
-- Orion <21:02:23/15-01-61>
Message no. 34
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 13:59:21 +0000
>>>>>[Nah, Orion. Don't you get it?

Lynch _is_ Elvis!]<<<<<
-- Jenny Tailya <13:59:56/01-16-61>
Message no. 35
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 13:38:35 +0000
>>>>>[Hey, if you're not a Caterpillar Club member, you just aren't trying.

What, all you shadowrunners quit the first time you catch a bullet that
doesn't kill you? You take on a job, you take on the risks, BFD. Go be a
wageslave if you want a safe life.

Why've you got such a bug in your hoop about this, Cathedral? Sounds like
you're freaking _jealous_ or something...]<<<<<
-- Lyric <20:58:42/01-15-61>
Message no. 36
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 16:10:33 +0100
>>>>>[ Damn. But I liked that fat-haired fat-stomached beats better then I

could have liked Lynch's beatings...

Well, doesn't matter, so now they, err, he, is happy in his spaceship and
watches our every footstep... ]<<<<<
-- Orion <16:08:24/01-16-61>
Message no. 37
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 12:05:06 -0500
>>>>>[One bullet?

I'm in a position to know that Lynch survived far more than one bullet.

And that from personal experience. What done is done, and while I wish
Lynch and Lilith burn in hell for all eternity, I cannot change the past.

Your first run. You survive one bullet, shot from the used rent-a-pistol of
a sec guard. You retire?

Of course not. But you misunderstand me completly. Lynch was kinda being
forgotten around here. Things settled down. You can say reasonably that he
fought the shadows, and won. I don't think anyone would've gone after him
if he just went away.

But it seems he can't, and he won't. Lynch catching a simple bullet? More
than that. Lynch has enemies. Not one. Several. Throughout his career
(illustrious, I might add), he pissed off a number of very powerful people.
Who knows if any ex-Thunda with a grudge is still out here, etching Lynch's
name on a bullet. Who knows if the Familia won't get some payback. Who the
hell knows what Lynch did when, rumor was, he was wiping out the whole
Middle East. Hell, Lynch is old. He probably killed shit we'll never know
about. Add that to the enemies that his daughter or Lilith have made. (And
sometimes, when nostalgia hits, and I get my hands on a good bottle of rye,
I can classify as someone who doesn't like Lilith all that much.), and I
think you could build a nice FBI Top Ten.

These are no stupid guards. These are powerful people. And now, he's
stirring the shit again, pissing off even more powerful people. Hell, some
of us on this board have a completly valid excuse to wipe him and Lilith.

[Append message: Private: J.R.W. Lynch +++++You know I can, but I won't,
because I'm not like him, and never be like him. As far as you-know-who is
safe, you'll never hear from me. ++++end message append.]

Am I in awe of Lynch? Might be. One can only envy a great career, on any
side of the shadowed veil. But there comes a point where you think: "Old
Lynch is getting senile.". But since he's such a hard-headed fool, I guess
he'll haunt us 'til the day he bites it.

What scares me more? That day may never come.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <12:03:21/16-01-61>
Message no. 38
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 18:23:04 +0000
>>>>>[Things settled down, Cathedral?

Malone's killed well over a hundred people, and in the process he's
graduated from shooting SINless folk to executing Federal officers. That
isn't the sign of things "settling down". It's the sign of freakin' _anarchy_.

'Course, maybe you _like_ that idea, but I don't. I like being able to walk
across campus without being beaten up, shot at, robbed or otherwise
folded-spindled-stapled-mutilated.


What _should_ scare you is the escalation factor. Malone got out of line
and they sent a Fed to rein him in. Malone killed the Fed.

So they sent Lynch to rein him in. Now, pause and think. What happens if
Malone kills Lynch?

You think it'll be pleasant for the shadows? 'Cause I'll betcha the UCAS
Government isn't going to blink first. They'll step it up _another_ notch.
Don't know how... but I wouldn't want to find out.


And finally, remember, assuming he's actually alive and not dead (still not
confirmed), he's not a shadowrunner: he's UCAS military.

That means he doesn't get choices: he gets _orders_. Think about _that_
for a moment.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <18:22:45/01-16-61>
Message no. 39
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 18:07:58 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[I was happily minding my own business. A little flying, a little
OPFOR work, writing a thesis on counterterrorism.

Then Malone declares open season on law enforcement. And I was invited
to come back, to help resolve the situation. So I did.

I'd explain why, but you couldn't understand.



You ever hear the story of Somebody, Everybody, Anybody and Nobody?
It's pretty damn appropriate.

And if you don't think Malone matters, try running the shadows in Vegas.
You would _not_ like living under those rules.

Why is any of this your problem?]<<<<<
-- Lynch <18:00:31/01-16-61>




















>These are no stupid guards. These are powerful people. And now, he's
>stirring the shit again, pissing off even more powerful people. Hell, some
>of us on this board have a completly valid excuse to wipe him and Lilith.
>
>[Append message: Private: J.R.W. Lynch +++++You know I can, but I won't,
>because I'm not like him, and never be like him. As far as you-know-who is
>safe, you'll never hear from me. ++++end message append.]
>
>Am I in awe of Lynch? Might be. One can only envy a great career, on any
>side of the shadowed veil. But there comes a point where you think: "Old
>Lynch is getting senile.". But since he's such a hard-headed fool, I guess
>he'll haunt us 'til the day he bites it.
>
>What scares me more? That day may never come.]<<<<<
> -- Cathedral <12:03:21/16-01-61>
>
>
Message no. 40
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 23:20:26 -0500
*****Private: J.R.W Lynch
>>>>>[My problem?

It was never my problem, only an observation. You are a very persistent
person, Lynch, and now I see why my lost friend hated you so much.

Did it ever cross your mind that you had another life besides this one? Are
you the only Agency operative that can and will handle the work?

Frankly, I do not care if you live or die. I am quite indifferent to your
final destiny. However, I'd like to know what drives you, what motivates
you to, time and time again, dive into something that will surely kill
you.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:21:42/16-01-61>
Message no. 41
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 23:29:28 -0500
>>>>>[Don Seamus Malone, executing federal officers.

My god, what a tragedy.

The Feds are executing dozens of us each month. The mafia wants to equal
the score? Fine by me. They want to frag each other senseless. The less
of either of them, the more space for us.

I don't know Bungle, in which fantasy world you live in. Who do you think
posts on this board? Concerned citizens?

No, we're all killers, hackers, swindlers, scum.

Eventually, if Malone keeps pushing, it will get ugly. That's a given. But
if they both go for a relative mutual destruction, I won't shed a tear.

Besides, Malone can't succeed. If you're reading this, Don, pull back and
stay down. Far better than anybody you got have tried to ace Lynch. No one
succeeded.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:29:39/16-01-61>
Message no. 42
From: Ein_Schuss jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 07:07:13 +0100
>>>>>[ Uh, kiddos: Don't try dis at home. The coppers get somewhat
angry if ya start shootin at em, and if ya succeed and finish one of, da others
get even more angry.

And just believe ma: Dere are more of 'em den dere are of you. Cathedral
may think what he likes - but offing coppers is a stupid move. Dey don't
forget these things. ]<<<<<
-- Ein_Schuss <07:05:12/01-17-61>
Message no. 43
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 11:02:24 -0500
>>>>>[You minsunderstand me, Ein_Schuss.

Let me clarify some things. I can consider myself one of the few people on
this board with a valid excuse to go ape-crazy and start waxing feds. That
was almost 10 months ago. God rest your soul brother.

Did I do it? Never. I do not operate that way. Revenge can only satisfy
you in the short-term.

Do I advocate the killing of Federal officers? Of course not. If a federal
officer kills one of ours, will I go out for him? I will not.

If a federal spook plants himself in my team, or his an Agency team lays a
setup, and my team comes under fire, will I just surrender?

No. They'll eat as much teflon as I have on me. We're not supposed to fold
down, go underground, when the Fed train passes through town. I won't go
out of my way to piss them off. But if they start messing with any part of
my team for no good reason, I won't back down.

Now, understand me. I can understand why the Agency would go after someone
like Thunda or War. Mass murderers, terrorists, with rapsheets as long as a
Barrett.

War. They went after my brother like hungry wolves, the bastards. But I
never saw Lynch lift a finger towards the Four Riders. Gotta love the Feds.
Pick and choose.

I wonder. If we stuck with him, as a group, if he would still be here with
us...]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:03:32/17-01-61>
Message no. 44
From: Ein_Schuss jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 20:07:06 +0100
>>>>>[ Who? Lynch? A doubt Elvis, err, Lynch would have had allowed
anyone to his team, if ye ask me. ]<<<<<
-- Ein_Schuss <20:06:26/01-17-61>
Message no. 45
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 15:45:32 -0500
>>>>>[I wasn't talking about Lynch.

Just speaking to myself.

On a message board.

Weird.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <15:46:21/17-01-61>
Message no. 46
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 00:30:46 +0000
>>>>>[Hey, Cathedral, the Children of Thunda _were_ a tragedy for me.
They brought down a major heatwave and I had to not only walk away
from a sweet little scam, but burn some major favours not to get busted.

I come back and build myself a nice quiet little operation in Puyallup. And
this Malone squitch starts a war with the Yakuza, and I get squeezed out
in the crossfire.

I relocate to Tacoma. Nice and peaceful. Handy for the docks. Quiet. Be
discreet and quiet and you can earn a living here, right?

Guess what? This morning I wake up to my guys screaming to get down
here. What we got? A dozen dead Malone mobsters two piers down, and
cops and Feds and Men In Black all over the place. So much for my discreet
little clearing house.

Thanks a bunch, Don Seamus Padraig fragging Malone! You just _royally_
screwed my business - AGAIN!


I mean, HELLO! Why do you think they call them the SHADOWS? Because
you work SNEAKY! In the DARK! You don't start a fricking war with the
UCAS Government!

It ain't like you can't find some cop to turn a blind eye or something. If
you need a little less friction, a dab of grease helps the wheels turn. But
Malone's screwing that up for everyone.

I just want to be left alone so's I can turn over some yen. I make nice to
the cops and until this drek they made nice with me. I don't care _how_ it
turns out, I just want to be left alone.]<<<<<
-- Cumbernauld <00:29:53/01-18-61>
Message no. 47
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 00:00:10 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[Persistent? Yeah, I guess so.

I'm a half-blood Sioux, of the Lakota tribe, paramount warrior of the
Running Wolf clan.

I've had strangers trying to kill me since I was fourteen.

And you wonder why I'm persistent? You win or you die, is the one clear
lesson I've learned through my life.

Maybe if things had been different I'd be a movie star or an accountant or
a factory worker. But they didn't and I'm here. Arguing how much of that
was choice and how much necessity is an interesting philosophical point,
but doesn't change the here and now.


I'll let you in on a secret, Cathedral - there _is_ no Agency any more. SIGA
is disbanded: the official word is true. This is a military operation. Nice
and simple.

I got asked to take over the case, after Elliott was killed. I could have
refused... and then someone else would have been asked. And the Powers
That Be would have kept asking until they found _someone_ to do this
job. And right now, I can do it better than anyone else who's readily
available. Puts me on the spot... but that's my problem.


One day I'll die? BFD. "Man is born to die: life is a daily delaying of the
inevitable." Genghis Khan, allegedly.

I don't fear death. I fear leaving my wife a widow and my daughter an
orphan and my friends mourning me. I fear the agonies of a lingering
death at an enemy's hands. I'm scared of a lot of things. But I'm not afraid
to die.

Once, I _chose_ death, only to have life thrust back into my hands. That's
a strange and precious thing... I wouldn't recommend seeking it out. But
your life can never be the same again.


Again, maybe you understand why I accepted the Admiral's "suggestion".
Or maybe you can't... I don't know. You can't be stupid, but we have
almost nothing in common.

But you want to know something really weird? I wanted Haze alive. I was
one of the people who argued that Cyan Fitzpatrick should get one more
chance, when we had him in custody.

See if you can figure _that_ one out, Cathedral.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:45:32/01-17-61>
Message no. 48
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 21:00:19 -0700
>>>>>[ Funny, Cathedral.

You fail to mention a lot of interesting facts surrounding the bit of "going
after your brother like a pack hungry wolves." Things like he had an active
contract against me and a co-worker at the time. Things like he wouldn't
take warning messages to go away. After that, only God's mercy allowed him
to survive those failed contracts. He wanted to your "dear" brother of a
junkie to see the error of his ways, and find the correct path.

I am a hunted man. That is my price to pay for the role God has asked me to
fulfill. So be it. Your brother, from what I understand, afterwards his
last encounter with me chose to hunt trusted agents of the country known as
U.C.A.S. Which one of us has active priority as far as U.C.A.S. agents are
concerned?

Not really a hard choice.

Your brother made plenty of choices. He just didn't make the right ones.
God gives you plenty of chances to choose correctly, but only you can walk
down that path. Your brother, didn't accept that path and died foolishly
because of it. So be it. ]<<<<<
-- War <03:56:53/01-18-61>
Message no. 49
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 21:11:52 -0700
***** PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[ What War fails to point out is that your brother took the contract
out on us while we were hunting toxic shamans in Germany. He also failed to
point out that only after we captured him and another bounty hunter that was
after us, did we determine exactly who in the group had contracts on their
heads.

One of the targets wasn't surprising. The other, was, at least to me very
surprising. At any rate, it caused us to halt our crusade and that isn't a
good thing considering what we were trying to do. For whatever reasons,
your brother didn't expect us to react poorly to being hunted. He paid for
that near-sightedness, but he didn't pay with his life ... only his ego.

As far as we could tell, your brother freely chose that contract.

Tell me, if you had another shadowrunner tried to collect a bounty on you,
and you found out by being attacked during a critical juncture of a job, how
would you respond? ]<<<<<
-- Pestilence <04:12:49/01-18-61>
Message no. 50
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:44:33 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Canis
>>>>>[We're using the first warehouse. Very useful place to have - we've
got some equipment that is, uh, "noticeable" on the streets.

I mean, I admit a Jensen Interceptor V-12 is probably one of the best
police-pursuit vehicles ever built, but it's also _very_ distinctive: where do
you park it when you're not using it?

The second, we'll bear in mind if we need it (wouldn't want to blow it and
leave ODIN homeless, after all).

And, thanks, Canis. Owe you one for this.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:42:45/01-18-61>

*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[And what's wrong with my Interceptor?]<<<<<
-- Lilith <22:44:32/01-18-61>

*****PRIVATE: Lilith
>>>>>[Only what I said... which is why you hardly ever use
it.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:44:44/01-18-61>

*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[True enough.]<<<<<
-- Lilith <22:45:16/01-18-61>
Message no. 51
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:30:21 -0500
****^*Private: J.R.W. Lynch
>>>>>[You're entirely right. I can't, and will never, understand your
point
of view. You are a crusader, born to fight. I'm pretty sure you fit those
psychological profiles too. Always sees the world in black and white, good
and evil. Can't help but get involved. Tell me if I'm wrong.

As for you telling me that you wanted Haze alive, I'll never in my life
believe it one second. You know what he was, yet you gave him again and
again freedom he did not deserve, without supervision. He lived with me for
a while when he was part of my ops. I had him under reign, through
friendship.

You never once tried to understand him, to see what made him tick. He had a
tremendous inferiority complex. He felt he needed to be known, or he'd be
worthless. So he made a name for himself, and he succeeded, with what he
thought did best, killing people. More than anything he wanted, he wanted
to be remembered for something.

Unfortunatly, that something went completly awry. I will always take a part
of the blame. But cry me a fucking river, and cut the bullshit. Not once
did you try to "save" him. You used him like I heard you used Ronin, and
countless other blackops that fall in your hands.

But I won't blame you. I can't blame you. In the end, the only person
resposible for Cyan was Cyan.

But now that I do know what motivates you, at least a bit, I can respect
your decision, and frankly, there's only one thing I can say...

Good luck.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:31:43/18-01-61>
Message no. 52
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:38:22 -0500
*****Private: War
>>>>>[I only know you from reputation. I only know you from what Cyan told
me. Did you know he purposedly avoided Boston, when I retrieved him in
Miami, because he knew you were there?

You scared the shit out of him, War. I could cut off four fingers off my
hand and still count the number of people who freaked out Cyan.

Frankly, Cyan told me he was hunted by you. I never knew he was under
contract to wax you.

For that, and that alone, I can undertand.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:37:54/18-01-61>

*****Private: Pestilence
>>>>>[To answer your question:

Exactly the same way you did.

If I chose to believe you, it's because it made more sense than what he told
me.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:40:43/18-01-61>
Message no. 53
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 23:07:52 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[Yeah, you're wrong, Cathedral.

Drake's a crusader. That's why he came after me. I broke the letter of the
law (okay, the spirit of the law too) and I became his target. Simple as
that. No debate, no argument, I was dodging Interpol bullets (or picking
them out of my hide) most of the time I was chasing Aztlan on that case.
Still limp from one of them... a .50BMG APFSDS through the thigh.
Smarted just a little bit, shall we say?

Me? I was a mercenary, then a corporate gunbunny, then a shadowrunner,
and now an unholy blend of Marine killer and civil servant. And I learned
the hard way that the world _is_ grey. There's lighter and darker shades,
but there's only grey. The good guys have their flaws. The bad guys can
surprise you with things they do.

You draw a line and you make crossing it painful, for everyone's safety...
but you don't shine a searchlight into every dark corner, because the
world's not a perfect place and it needs the shadowy places to run
properly.

Can't help but get involved? Yeah, that part might be true. I like my work.
One day it'll repay me by killing me... and I'll have nobody to blame for
that but myself. Maybe I'll live long enough to get bored or to find
something better... maybe not. (Definition of an optimist - a black-ops
soldier who quits smoking so he'll live longer.)



As for Haze... I got a vote at the point where Haze was in custody, and
the debate was simple. Execute him or use him. I said, keep him alive and
make use of him. I was proved wrong, but it was worth giving him the
chance. That was the extent of my trying to "save him", so be careful
what words you put in my mouth, okay? I just spoke up to say, no, don't
execute the guy, give him this other option.

I gave Ronin the same chance. Ask him how badly _he_ did out of it.

Four or five other people have had the same deal. You know what? I can
only think of one that regretted it. Except Cyan Fitzpatrick, and while he
blew his deal, when he fucked up he put his head in a noose to protect his
sister and his friends rather than see them hurt for his mistake.


I hated the man. Part of me will always go past relief he's dead, to
wishing I'd killed him myself. He tried to kill me, well, BFD. He damn near
killed my wife, that upsets me. And I'll never get those six-year-old kids on
the Greyhound out of my mind. He killed them _first_. Why did he kill the
_children_, first, in front of everyone?

But he was cunning, and clever, and too talented to waste in an execution
or leave to rot in a cell. It was worth the risk, to try to tap that talent, to
learn from his black genius.

And, in the end, he gave his life to protect the people he cared about. I
thought he'd sacrifice his sister to save himself. He proved me wrong.

He earned respect.

Maybe it's fitting that he wanted recognition. He's a Worthy Cite for
anyone writing about urban terrorism. Hell, _I_ refer to the Breathstealer
in my thesis. If he wanted to be known and remembered, and didn't care
how, then for sure he achieved his goal.



And thanks for the good wishes, Cathedral. Those can't have been cheap
or easy words for you to say.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:03:37/01-19-61>
Message no. 54
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 20:24:05 -0700
***** PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[ I didn't know that. So the lesson did take hold -- although not
necessarily in the complete direction that we were hoping. Interesting.

Your brother had a lot of potential and provided a lot of people with
lessons to learn from. At least he is now finally at peace with himself and
God. ]<<<<<
-- War <03:28:14/01-20-61>
Message no. 55
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 20:29:48 -0700
***** PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[ If you chose to believe me . . . I'm not sure many people who
thought they knew me at one point in my life would have an easy time doing
that now.

Still, if you chose to believe me . . . ]<<<<<
-- Pestilence <03:34:32/01-20-61>
Message no. 56
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 22:30:11 +0000
>>>>>[Hey, folks, check _this_ out!

The place in question belonged to Don Malone. So did a whole bunch of
other places that have, very quietly and discreetly, become crime scenes
associated with multiple homicides.

Thing is, less than a hundred people have died in a month... so who cares?

And, since it's Malone getting screwed - after he _didn't_ kill any cops or
Feds or anyone else, oh no, there's _no_ evidence - who'd really give a
damn?

I don't really know how to feel. Malone's got it coming, for sure... what's
happening to him is illegal, but then he was using law enforcement as
target practice, so who's right and who's wrong?

Ethics make my head hurt. And my supervisor made me add a chapter on
them to my thesis.

Bleah.

+++++begin recording

+++++theme music
+++++intro credits "Mean Streets"

The anchorman looks gravely at the camera. "Good evening. I'm Tim
Glennie, and you're watching 'Mean Streets' - the show that takes you right
into the dark underbelly of the Metroplex."

A change of camera angle. "Tonight - Tacoma. A district swamped by a
rising tide of chips and drugs and vice. Our elite reporter, Gerry Levin, is
going undercover - _live_! - to show how far the once-respectable borough
has sunk."



+++++begin video feed
A Tacoma street: streetlights flaring under dark skies, snow drifting down
to melt into a dirty slush. The cameraman/narrator says, "Good evening,
Tim. This is Gerry Levin, live and on the streets. This part of Tacoma
used to be a respectable, pleasant place. Now, though, it's invaded by the
cancer of crime. Behind some of these windows -" a panning shot of the
pleasant houses lining the street - "lurk sickening depths of depravity and
vice."

"Where are the police, Gerry?"

"You may well ask, Tim, and many do. They're impotent, or corrupt.
Either they can't act, or they won't act, to do their duty and protect the
citizens."

"But where's the proof?" Glennie asks.

"Coming right up, Tim." Levin pulls up the hood of his coat, hurries across
the street to one of the houses - like any other, except there are four
cars parked in its drive where others have one or none.

He taps on the door, and it opens on a security chain. "Yeah?" asks a
young Human woman inside, who's wearing too much jewelry and not
enough clothes.

"Can you fix me up?" Levin asks, with just the right note of urgency.

"Yeah. Come on in." The chain rattles and Levin is admitted to a small
anteroom: big enough for the girl to keep him at arm's length while she
closes the outer door, before the (reinforced) inner door swings wide.
Glued to the wall, around the outer door, is the loop of a MAD weapon
scanner.

Levin walks into the hall, past a hulking Ork who's watching a handheld
trideo (a SuperSonics game, by the sound) and who has an Uzi
submachinegun in his lap. A sudden frisson - what if the Ork had been
tuned in to "Mean Streets"? Levin's certainly taking risks...

"In there." The Ork jerks a thumb and Levin steps into the living room.
Two more armed men wait, one of them holding his Uzi aimed almost at
Levin.

"What'cha want, chummer?"

"I need... I mean, I want a chip. A good one." Levin's not a bad actor, just
the right amount of desire and desperation in his voice. "A... sinchip"

The two dealers exchange grins. "You came to a good place, bud." The
one aiming his Uzi lets it drop on its sling. "We got some primo porno-
beetles here. What do you like?"

"What have you got?" Levin asks eagerly. Someone who'd tried and been
hooked by the boosted ecstasy of BTL pornography, seeing new vistas
opening.

"Straight, gay, racial, kiddie, you name it. Say the word, friend, and pay
a hundred yen, and go directly to Paradise for an hour."

"I like... Elf girls. Two or three Elf girls. Can you...?"

"Fix you _right_ up." One dealer taps the screen of his pocket secretary,
says "Five one three.", and the other opens a drawer lined with chips in
their flat plastic cases and offers one to Levin.

"Is that..." The case is blank, unmarked.

"An hour of joy with two nympho dandie-eaters. When you're not doing
them, they're doing each other. You like the sound of that?"

"Oh, yeah!" Levin passes over a handful of crumpled paper currency, and
takes the chip.

"You want to slot it here?" one of the dealers asks.

"I can?"

"Sure, no problem. Big Bill can show you a cube. Means nobody catches you
at it." The dealers divert their attention back to the card game they were
playing, as Levin goes back into the hall.

"You wanna room?" the Ork mumbles round his tusks, not looking up from
the trideo. "Up da stairs, t'ird right. Nummer four."


Levin walks up the stairs, seeing how what was once a pleasant house is
rapidly becoming grubby and dirty. Upstairs, the bedrooms have been
crudely partitioned into cubicles barely big enough for a mattress: Levin
finds #4, lies down, and inserts the chip.

"What these people don't know, is that I've disabled my datajack." he
whispers. "So, I'm not actually using the chip. But before we went on air, I
called Lone Star and identified this house as a BTL dealership. So, let's see
what - if anything - the police do."

"Thanks, Gerry. You're a brave man." The camera cuts back to Tim
Glennie in the studio. "We'll bring you updates as they happen... if
Seattle's Finest ever make it out of the donut shop. Meanwhile, after the
break, I'll be interviewing a girl who went looking for excitement... and
found herself forced into prostitution. Don't go away!"

The commercial break is what you'd expect from a low-budget channel like
KFIR: two law firms touting no-win-no-fee suits, a pay-per-view
pornography channel, the sale on at "Bob's Bargain Basement", and the
collected "Greatest Hits of the Fifties", six hours of music and video for
_only_¥39.99 plus delivery!

When the show resumes, Glennie is just beginning to get the girl to tell
her story (she's backlit, and nervous, and definitely sounds like she's having
second thoughts about telling anyone watching how she started selling sex
to finance a growing drug habit) when he sits bolt upright.

"Go to Gerry! Now!" he shouts, and the show does.


Levin is crouched in his cubicle, peering out through the ajar door: smoke
and dust curls up the stairwell, as automatic gunfire thunders. Someone
down there is screaming, a wordless wail of agony.

"Tim? Tim? I don't know what the frag's happening. Explosions, gunfire, it
sounds like some sort of raid but I don't know what." Levin crawls
forward, peers over the edge of the stairwell. (More gunfire, short sharp
bursts of something very loud)

"Big Bill" lies face-down in a huge wet puddle of very, very red blood. The
Uzi in his right hand still smokes, but the scarlet chrysanthemums that
have bloomed across his back say he won't ever rise again.

A blur of movement at the living-room door and Levin leaps back as the
stairpost beside him explodes in dust and splinters. A male voice shouts
"One, upstairs!"

"Clear here!"

"Check!" Something flies into Levin's vision and he barely gets his arms
over his head before the shockwave smashes him flat against the dirty
carpet.

By the time his vision recovers, he's looking up at a pale-skinned Amerind
who's wearing black-mirrored sunglasses despite the late hour. Those
details lag somewhat behind the threat of the Steyr assault rifle aimed at
his face, one-handed, as the Amerind finishes Ty-Wrapping Levin's hands.

Behind him, a remarkably beautiful woman is covering the hallway, also
with a grey-stocked AUG. "Got him?"

"Customer. No threat, now. Cover my back." The man changes magazines
with a frightening speed and grace, before disappearing from Levin's
vision. The woman, crouched at the top of the stairs, calmly ensures
nobody threatens her partner's back: nobody does before he emerges.

"Four chipheads or smart bad guys. No threat. Other door?"

"Cover me." She disappears, into the other group of macroplast-walled
cubicles, to emerge moments later. "All clear."

"Done?"

"Done."

"Congratulations, Mr Wideawake, you live... he's broadcasting." the man
says. "Trideo signal. Broadcast quality." Both AUGs are suddenly focussed
on Levin's head.

"Fuck. Live?"

"Does it matter? We're on Candid Camera anyway."

"Then we'd better leave, Don Malone." the woman smirks, as they retreat:
she covering their rear, her partner's rifle sweeping the corpse-strewn
lower floor as they descend the stairs.


"Gerry? Gerry, you okay?"

"I'm okay, Tim." Levin tries the strength of the Ty-Wrap and winces. "But I
don't think I can get out of here without the cops. Think they'll turn up
now?"

"They'd damn well better, Gerry. Who were those people?"

"I have no idea, Tim. But I'm glad they're gone. They killed _at least_ four
chip-peddlers with automatic weapons, without any apparent effort.
Maybe that's illegal, but there's _still_ no sign of the police."

Glennie answers his phone. "Yes? No! Frag off... oh. Right. You'd damn
well better!... Yeah, and you were tipped an hour ago and you didn't do
drek! Stop whining and do your damn job!"

He slams the 'phone down. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been
_threatened_ by Lone Star. I can only assume they're angry at being
humiliated by a news station. While they whine that they can't find the
criminals, we're doing their job for them and being threatened with arrest
for doing so..."
+++++end trideo

Cut plenty of self-congratulatory whining by the KFIR crew.

Thing is, you run the faces, what do you get?

95.4% match on the man, to Jason Lynch.

96.2% match on the woman, to Lilith Lynch.


The Agency is back, or else someone spent a _lot_ of money making us
think so.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <22:29:45/14-01-60>
Message no. 57
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 03:20:57 +0100
***** PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[ At >>Address<< is an unused warehouse. Looks like shit
outside,
but has decent electronic countermeasures - active and passive, ready to be
rigged or hand-operated. The code to open the door is >>Numerical
Code<<, and some weapons are stacked there.

At >>Address<< is another warehouse. Slightly nicer area, enough room to
house anouther eighteen or twenty people. Although you'd have to share the
living area with us... *grin*

I guess someone will be *quite* angry right now...

May Wolf watch your track, old friend. ]<<<<<
-- Canis <02:55:57/01-15-61>

***** INTERNAL: Cyberdeck Log Files
>>>>>[
20610115025557.01 Message enwrapped, sent to UCAS-SEA-666-010101
20610115025557.03 Message ReRouted
20610115025557.06 Message Rewrapped, sent to CAS-1441-9825694
20610115025557.11 ALERT! Tracer detected!
20610115025557.13 ALERT! Tracer identified:
Class: MCT TraceSnout v4.02
Trigger: 2nd Level To-Field
Status: Running datatrack 12.76%
20610115025557.14 Loading Glasshouse.route
20610115025557.21 ALERT! Tracer Status: 23.90%
20610115025557.22 Initializing Glasshouse.route
20610115025557.56 ALERT! Tracer Status: 49.52%
20610115025557.57 ALERT! Attack Program detected!
20610115025557.61 ALERT! Attack Program identified:
Class: Fuchi CyberSam v7r2
Target: Message
Status: Analyzing Target
20610115025557.64 Glasshouse.route running...
Rerouting Tracer in progress
20610115025557.78 ALERT! Tracer Status: 83.99%... stale
20610115025557.78 Glasshouse.route running
Looped Tracer.
20610115025557.82 User Initialized Modechange: Attack
Switching program configuration
20610115025558.43 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 13%
20610115025558.45 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 39%
20610115025558.46 Criplle (c) Crippleware
Contact AMAZ-NOW-000 for updates!
Linked to do_vis_09(ae0923e1h)
20610115025558.47 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 39%
20610115025558.49 ALERT! Attack Program damages Message: 39%
20610115025558.53 Analyse Message Complete: Data intact.
20610115025558.55 Attack Program collapses from Loopback.
20610115025559.72 ALERT! Access request: UCAS-GOV-0002
20610115025559.73 Access terminated, initializing shutdown...
]<<<<<
-- Orion <02:56:00/01-15-61>
Message no. 58
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 22:49:57 -0500
>>>>>[

Again?

*sigh* I guess it was inevitable. I thought Father Time had more sense
than to dive into our shadows again. He won the battle, lived through it.
He could fucking retire.

He didn't, and he brought his bitch along. I guess some people just don't
learn. They just keep fucking things up, and one day, just before the
teflon-coated round hits 'em straight in the forehead, they realize
"Goddamn, why am I here?".

They'll learn when they die.

On the other hand, it does make our lives more interesting, doesn't
it?]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:43:06/14-01-60>
Message no. 59
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 11:16:28 +0100
>>>>>[ Nonsense, Cathedral. Most people take it quite personal when
being shot down in an airplane and not being picked up by rescue crews.

More interesting: Lately there are lots of fake Lynch-sightings, I guess he's
seen more often thn Elvis these days - and more fakes.

Should Bungles software being correct, and he's not making up things to
lighten up his boring life as a student, I'd rather wonder who is experimenting
with what - do you remember these strange BTLs from '54 or '55? Is there
something like that in the air (or rather testing phase) again? ]<<<<<
-- Orion <22:45:08/14-01-61>
Message no. 60
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 11:45:58 -0500
>>>>>[No, most people RETIRE when they get shot out of a plane and SURVIVE.

Trust me, I know too well what happens when you get X chances in life, and
blow them all. ]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:47:54/15-01-61>
Message no. 61
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 21:03:30 +0100
>>>>>[ Yeah, I can see it now. Lynch lives his retirement by playing poker

with Elvis and once in a while showing his face in some assault published in
the news.

Get a life, please. Enough people already lost it... ]<<<<<
-- Orion <21:02:23/15-01-61>
Message no. 62
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 13:59:21 +0000
>>>>>[Nah, Orion. Don't you get it?

Lynch _is_ Elvis!]<<<<<
-- Jenny Tailya <13:59:56/01-16-61>
Message no. 63
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 13:38:35 +0000
>>>>>[Hey, if you're not a Caterpillar Club member, you just aren't trying.

What, all you shadowrunners quit the first time you catch a bullet that
doesn't kill you? You take on a job, you take on the risks, BFD. Go be a
wageslave if you want a safe life.

Why've you got such a bug in your hoop about this, Cathedral? Sounds like
you're freaking _jealous_ or something...]<<<<<
-- Lyric <20:58:42/01-15-61>
Message no. 64
From: Team ODIN jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 16:10:33 +0100
>>>>>[ Damn. But I liked that fat-haired fat-stomached beats better then I

could have liked Lynch's beatings...

Well, doesn't matter, so now they, err, he, is happy in his spaceship and
watches our every footstep... ]<<<<<
-- Orion <16:08:24/01-16-61>
Message no. 65
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 12:05:06 -0500
>>>>>[One bullet?

I'm in a position to know that Lynch survived far more than one bullet.

And that from personal experience. What done is done, and while I wish
Lynch and Lilith burn in hell for all eternity, I cannot change the past.

Your first run. You survive one bullet, shot from the used rent-a-pistol of
a sec guard. You retire?

Of course not. But you misunderstand me completly. Lynch was kinda being
forgotten around here. Things settled down. You can say reasonably that he
fought the shadows, and won. I don't think anyone would've gone after him
if he just went away.

But it seems he can't, and he won't. Lynch catching a simple bullet? More
than that. Lynch has enemies. Not one. Several. Throughout his career
(illustrious, I might add), he pissed off a number of very powerful people.
Who knows if any ex-Thunda with a grudge is still out here, etching Lynch's
name on a bullet. Who knows if the Familia won't get some payback. Who the
hell knows what Lynch did when, rumor was, he was wiping out the whole
Middle East. Hell, Lynch is old. He probably killed shit we'll never know
about. Add that to the enemies that his daughter or Lilith have made. (And
sometimes, when nostalgia hits, and I get my hands on a good bottle of rye,
I can classify as someone who doesn't like Lilith all that much.), and I
think you could build a nice FBI Top Ten.

These are no stupid guards. These are powerful people. And now, he's
stirring the shit again, pissing off even more powerful people. Hell, some
of us on this board have a completly valid excuse to wipe him and Lilith.

[Append message: Private: J.R.W. Lynch +++++You know I can, but I won't,
because I'm not like him, and never be like him. As far as you-know-who is
safe, you'll never hear from me. ++++end message append.]

Am I in awe of Lynch? Might be. One can only envy a great career, on any
side of the shadowed veil. But there comes a point where you think: "Old
Lynch is getting senile.". But since he's such a hard-headed fool, I guess
he'll haunt us 'til the day he bites it.

What scares me more? That day may never come.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <12:03:21/16-01-61>
Message no. 66
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 18:23:04 +0000
>>>>>[Things settled down, Cathedral?

Malone's killed well over a hundred people, and in the process he's
graduated from shooting SINless folk to executing Federal officers. That
isn't the sign of things "settling down". It's the sign of freakin' _anarchy_.

'Course, maybe you _like_ that idea, but I don't. I like being able to walk
across campus without being beaten up, shot at, robbed or otherwise
folded-spindled-stapled-mutilated.


What _should_ scare you is the escalation factor. Malone got out of line
and they sent a Fed to rein him in. Malone killed the Fed.

So they sent Lynch to rein him in. Now, pause and think. What happens if
Malone kills Lynch?

You think it'll be pleasant for the shadows? 'Cause I'll betcha the UCAS
Government isn't going to blink first. They'll step it up _another_ notch.
Don't know how... but I wouldn't want to find out.


And finally, remember, assuming he's actually alive and not dead (still not
confirmed), he's not a shadowrunner: he's UCAS military.

That means he doesn't get choices: he gets _orders_. Think about _that_
for a moment.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <18:22:45/01-16-61>
Message no. 67
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 18:07:58 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[I was happily minding my own business. A little flying, a little
OPFOR work, writing a thesis on counterterrorism.

Then Malone declares open season on law enforcement. And I was invited
to come back, to help resolve the situation. So I did.

I'd explain why, but you couldn't understand.



You ever hear the story of Somebody, Everybody, Anybody and Nobody?
It's pretty damn appropriate.

And if you don't think Malone matters, try running the shadows in Vegas.
You would _not_ like living under those rules.

Why is any of this your problem?]<<<<<
-- Lynch <18:00:31/01-16-61>




















>These are no stupid guards. These are powerful people. And now, he's
>stirring the shit again, pissing off even more powerful people. Hell, some
>of us on this board have a completly valid excuse to wipe him and Lilith.
>
>[Append message: Private: J.R.W. Lynch +++++You know I can, but I won't,
>because I'm not like him, and never be like him. As far as you-know-who is
>safe, you'll never hear from me. ++++end message append.]
>
>Am I in awe of Lynch? Might be. One can only envy a great career, on any
>side of the shadowed veil. But there comes a point where you think: "Old
>Lynch is getting senile.". But since he's such a hard-headed fool, I guess
>he'll haunt us 'til the day he bites it.
>
>What scares me more? That day may never come.]<<<<<
> -- Cathedral <12:03:21/16-01-61>
>
>
Message no. 68
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 23:20:26 -0500
*****Private: J.R.W Lynch
>>>>>[My problem?

It was never my problem, only an observation. You are a very persistent
person, Lynch, and now I see why my lost friend hated you so much.

Did it ever cross your mind that you had another life besides this one? Are
you the only Agency operative that can and will handle the work?

Frankly, I do not care if you live or die. I am quite indifferent to your
final destiny. However, I'd like to know what drives you, what motivates
you to, time and time again, dive into something that will surely kill
you.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:21:42/16-01-61>
Message no. 69
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 23:29:28 -0500
>>>>>[Don Seamus Malone, executing federal officers.

My god, what a tragedy.

The Feds are executing dozens of us each month. The mafia wants to equal
the score? Fine by me. They want to frag each other senseless. The less
of either of them, the more space for us.

I don't know Bungle, in which fantasy world you live in. Who do you think
posts on this board? Concerned citizens?

No, we're all killers, hackers, swindlers, scum.

Eventually, if Malone keeps pushing, it will get ugly. That's a given. But
if they both go for a relative mutual destruction, I won't shed a tear.

Besides, Malone can't succeed. If you're reading this, Don, pull back and
stay down. Far better than anybody you got have tried to ace Lynch. No one
succeeded.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:29:39/16-01-61>
Message no. 70
From: Ein_Schuss jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 07:07:13 +0100
>>>>>[ Uh, kiddos: Don't try dis at home. The coppers get somewhat
angry if ya start shootin at em, and if ya succeed and finish one of, da others
get even more angry.

And just believe ma: Dere are more of 'em den dere are of you. Cathedral
may think what he likes - but offing coppers is a stupid move. Dey don't
forget these things. ]<<<<<
-- Ein_Schuss <07:05:12/01-17-61>
Message no. 71
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 11:02:24 -0500
>>>>>[You minsunderstand me, Ein_Schuss.

Let me clarify some things. I can consider myself one of the few people on
this board with a valid excuse to go ape-crazy and start waxing feds. That
was almost 10 months ago. God rest your soul brother.

Did I do it? Never. I do not operate that way. Revenge can only satisfy
you in the short-term.

Do I advocate the killing of Federal officers? Of course not. If a federal
officer kills one of ours, will I go out for him? I will not.

If a federal spook plants himself in my team, or his an Agency team lays a
setup, and my team comes under fire, will I just surrender?

No. They'll eat as much teflon as I have on me. We're not supposed to fold
down, go underground, when the Fed train passes through town. I won't go
out of my way to piss them off. But if they start messing with any part of
my team for no good reason, I won't back down.

Now, understand me. I can understand why the Agency would go after someone
like Thunda or War. Mass murderers, terrorists, with rapsheets as long as a
Barrett.

War. They went after my brother like hungry wolves, the bastards. But I
never saw Lynch lift a finger towards the Four Riders. Gotta love the Feds.
Pick and choose.

I wonder. If we stuck with him, as a group, if he would still be here with
us...]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <11:03:32/17-01-61>
Message no. 72
From: Ein_Schuss jhary-a-conel@***.de
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 20:07:06 +0100
>>>>>[ Who? Lynch? A doubt Elvis, err, Lynch would have had allowed
anyone to his team, if ye ask me. ]<<<<<
-- Ein_Schuss <20:06:26/01-17-61>
Message no. 73
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 15:45:32 -0500
>>>>>[I wasn't talking about Lynch.

Just speaking to myself.

On a message board.

Weird.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <15:46:21/17-01-61>
Message no. 74
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 00:30:46 +0000
>>>>>[Hey, Cathedral, the Children of Thunda _were_ a tragedy for me.
They brought down a major heatwave and I had to not only walk away
from a sweet little scam, but burn some major favours not to get busted.

I come back and build myself a nice quiet little operation in Puyallup. And
this Malone squitch starts a war with the Yakuza, and I get squeezed out
in the crossfire.

I relocate to Tacoma. Nice and peaceful. Handy for the docks. Quiet. Be
discreet and quiet and you can earn a living here, right?

Guess what? This morning I wake up to my guys screaming to get down
here. What we got? A dozen dead Malone mobsters two piers down, and
cops and Feds and Men In Black all over the place. So much for my discreet
little clearing house.

Thanks a bunch, Don Seamus Padraig fragging Malone! You just _royally_
screwed my business - AGAIN!


I mean, HELLO! Why do you think they call them the SHADOWS? Because
you work SNEAKY! In the DARK! You don't start a fricking war with the
UCAS Government!

It ain't like you can't find some cop to turn a blind eye or something. If
you need a little less friction, a dab of grease helps the wheels turn. But
Malone's screwing that up for everyone.

I just want to be left alone so's I can turn over some yen. I make nice to
the cops and until this drek they made nice with me. I don't care _how_ it
turns out, I just want to be left alone.]<<<<<
-- Cumbernauld <00:29:53/01-18-61>
Message no. 75
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 00:00:10 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[Persistent? Yeah, I guess so.

I'm a half-blood Sioux, of the Lakota tribe, paramount warrior of the
Running Wolf clan.

I've had strangers trying to kill me since I was fourteen.

And you wonder why I'm persistent? You win or you die, is the one clear
lesson I've learned through my life.

Maybe if things had been different I'd be a movie star or an accountant or
a factory worker. But they didn't and I'm here. Arguing how much of that
was choice and how much necessity is an interesting philosophical point,
but doesn't change the here and now.


I'll let you in on a secret, Cathedral - there _is_ no Agency any more. SIGA
is disbanded: the official word is true. This is a military operation. Nice
and simple.

I got asked to take over the case, after Elliott was killed. I could have
refused... and then someone else would have been asked. And the Powers
That Be would have kept asking until they found _someone_ to do this
job. And right now, I can do it better than anyone else who's readily
available. Puts me on the spot... but that's my problem.


One day I'll die? BFD. "Man is born to die: life is a daily delaying of the
inevitable." Genghis Khan, allegedly.

I don't fear death. I fear leaving my wife a widow and my daughter an
orphan and my friends mourning me. I fear the agonies of a lingering
death at an enemy's hands. I'm scared of a lot of things. But I'm not afraid
to die.

Once, I _chose_ death, only to have life thrust back into my hands. That's
a strange and precious thing... I wouldn't recommend seeking it out. But
your life can never be the same again.


Again, maybe you understand why I accepted the Admiral's "suggestion".
Or maybe you can't... I don't know. You can't be stupid, but we have
almost nothing in common.

But you want to know something really weird? I wanted Haze alive. I was
one of the people who argued that Cyan Fitzpatrick should get one more
chance, when we had him in custody.

See if you can figure _that_ one out, Cathedral.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:45:32/01-17-61>
Message no. 76
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 21:00:19 -0700
>>>>>[ Funny, Cathedral.

You fail to mention a lot of interesting facts surrounding the bit of "going
after your brother like a pack hungry wolves." Things like he had an active
contract against me and a co-worker at the time. Things like he wouldn't
take warning messages to go away. After that, only God's mercy allowed him
to survive those failed contracts. He wanted to your "dear" brother of a
junkie to see the error of his ways, and find the correct path.

I am a hunted man. That is my price to pay for the role God has asked me to
fulfill. So be it. Your brother, from what I understand, afterwards his
last encounter with me chose to hunt trusted agents of the country known as
U.C.A.S. Which one of us has active priority as far as U.C.A.S. agents are
concerned?

Not really a hard choice.

Your brother made plenty of choices. He just didn't make the right ones.
God gives you plenty of chances to choose correctly, but only you can walk
down that path. Your brother, didn't accept that path and died foolishly
because of it. So be it. ]<<<<<
-- War <03:56:53/01-18-61>
Message no. 77
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 21:11:52 -0700
***** PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[ What War fails to point out is that your brother took the contract
out on us while we were hunting toxic shamans in Germany. He also failed to
point out that only after we captured him and another bounty hunter that was
after us, did we determine exactly who in the group had contracts on their
heads.

One of the targets wasn't surprising. The other, was, at least to me very
surprising. At any rate, it caused us to halt our crusade and that isn't a
good thing considering what we were trying to do. For whatever reasons,
your brother didn't expect us to react poorly to being hunted. He paid for
that near-sightedness, but he didn't pay with his life ... only his ego.

As far as we could tell, your brother freely chose that contract.

Tell me, if you had another shadowrunner tried to collect a bounty on you,
and you found out by being attacked during a critical juncture of a job, how
would you respond? ]<<<<<
-- Pestilence <04:12:49/01-18-61>
Message no. 78
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:44:33 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Canis
>>>>>[We're using the first warehouse. Very useful place to have - we've
got some equipment that is, uh, "noticeable" on the streets.

I mean, I admit a Jensen Interceptor V-12 is probably one of the best
police-pursuit vehicles ever built, but it's also _very_ distinctive: where do
you park it when you're not using it?

The second, we'll bear in mind if we need it (wouldn't want to blow it and
leave ODIN homeless, after all).

And, thanks, Canis. Owe you one for this.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:42:45/01-18-61>

*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[And what's wrong with my Interceptor?]<<<<<
-- Lilith <22:44:32/01-18-61>

*****PRIVATE: Lilith
>>>>>[Only what I said... which is why you hardly ever use
it.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:44:44/01-18-61>

*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[True enough.]<<<<<
-- Lilith <22:45:16/01-18-61>
Message no. 79
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:30:21 -0500
****^*Private: J.R.W. Lynch
>>>>>[You're entirely right. I can't, and will never, understand your
point
of view. You are a crusader, born to fight. I'm pretty sure you fit those
psychological profiles too. Always sees the world in black and white, good
and evil. Can't help but get involved. Tell me if I'm wrong.

As for you telling me that you wanted Haze alive, I'll never in my life
believe it one second. You know what he was, yet you gave him again and
again freedom he did not deserve, without supervision. He lived with me for
a while when he was part of my ops. I had him under reign, through
friendship.

You never once tried to understand him, to see what made him tick. He had a
tremendous inferiority complex. He felt he needed to be known, or he'd be
worthless. So he made a name for himself, and he succeeded, with what he
thought did best, killing people. More than anything he wanted, he wanted
to be remembered for something.

Unfortunatly, that something went completly awry. I will always take a part
of the blame. But cry me a fucking river, and cut the bullshit. Not once
did you try to "save" him. You used him like I heard you used Ronin, and
countless other blackops that fall in your hands.

But I won't blame you. I can't blame you. In the end, the only person
resposible for Cyan was Cyan.

But now that I do know what motivates you, at least a bit, I can respect
your decision, and frankly, there's only one thing I can say...

Good luck.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:31:43/18-01-61>
Message no. 80
From: Frank Pelletier (Trinity) fpelletier@******.usherb.ca
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:38:22 -0500
*****Private: War
>>>>>[I only know you from reputation. I only know you from what Cyan told
me. Did you know he purposedly avoided Boston, when I retrieved him in
Miami, because he knew you were there?

You scared the shit out of him, War. I could cut off four fingers off my
hand and still count the number of people who freaked out Cyan.

Frankly, Cyan told me he was hunted by you. I never knew he was under
contract to wax you.

For that, and that alone, I can undertand.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:37:54/18-01-61>

*****Private: Pestilence
>>>>>[To answer your question:

Exactly the same way you did.

If I chose to believe you, it's because it made more sense than what he told
me.]<<<<<
-- Cathedral <22:40:43/18-01-61>
Message no. 81
From: Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 23:07:52 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[Yeah, you're wrong, Cathedral.

Drake's a crusader. That's why he came after me. I broke the letter of the
law (okay, the spirit of the law too) and I became his target. Simple as
that. No debate, no argument, I was dodging Interpol bullets (or picking
them out of my hide) most of the time I was chasing Aztlan on that case.
Still limp from one of them... a .50BMG APFSDS through the thigh.
Smarted just a little bit, shall we say?

Me? I was a mercenary, then a corporate gunbunny, then a shadowrunner,
and now an unholy blend of Marine killer and civil servant. And I learned
the hard way that the world _is_ grey. There's lighter and darker shades,
but there's only grey. The good guys have their flaws. The bad guys can
surprise you with things they do.

You draw a line and you make crossing it painful, for everyone's safety...
but you don't shine a searchlight into every dark corner, because the
world's not a perfect place and it needs the shadowy places to run
properly.

Can't help but get involved? Yeah, that part might be true. I like my work.
One day it'll repay me by killing me... and I'll have nobody to blame for
that but myself. Maybe I'll live long enough to get bored or to find
something better... maybe not. (Definition of an optimist - a black-ops
soldier who quits smoking so he'll live longer.)



As for Haze... I got a vote at the point where Haze was in custody, and
the debate was simple. Execute him or use him. I said, keep him alive and
make use of him. I was proved wrong, but it was worth giving him the
chance. That was the extent of my trying to "save him", so be careful
what words you put in my mouth, okay? I just spoke up to say, no, don't
execute the guy, give him this other option.

I gave Ronin the same chance. Ask him how badly _he_ did out of it.

Four or five other people have had the same deal. You know what? I can
only think of one that regretted it. Except Cyan Fitzpatrick, and while he
blew his deal, when he fucked up he put his head in a noose to protect his
sister and his friends rather than see them hurt for his mistake.


I hated the man. Part of me will always go past relief he's dead, to
wishing I'd killed him myself. He tried to kill me, well, BFD. He damn near
killed my wife, that upsets me. And I'll never get those six-year-old kids on
the Greyhound out of my mind. He killed them _first_. Why did he kill the
_children_, first, in front of everyone?

But he was cunning, and clever, and too talented to waste in an execution
or leave to rot in a cell. It was worth the risk, to try to tap that talent, to
learn from his black genius.

And, in the end, he gave his life to protect the people he cared about. I
thought he'd sacrifice his sister to save himself. He proved me wrong.

He earned respect.

Maybe it's fitting that he wanted recognition. He's a Worthy Cite for
anyone writing about urban terrorism. Hell, _I_ refer to the Breathstealer
in my thesis. If he wanted to be known and remembered, and didn't care
how, then for sure he achieved his goal.



And thanks for the good wishes, Cathedral. Those can't have been cheap
or easy words for you to say.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:03:37/01-19-61>
Message no. 82
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 20:24:05 -0700
***** PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[ I didn't know that. So the lesson did take hold -- although not
necessarily in the complete direction that we were hoping. Interesting.

Your brother had a lot of potential and provided a lot of people with
lessons to learn from. At least he is now finally at peace with himself and
God. ]<<<<<
-- War <03:28:14/01-20-61>
Message no. 83
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 20:29:48 -0700
***** PRIVATE: Cathedral
>>>>>[ If you chose to believe me . . . I'm not sure many people who
thought they knew me at one point in my life would have an easy time doing
that now.

Still, if you chose to believe me . . . ]<<<<<
-- Pestilence <03:34:32/01-20-61>
Message no. 84
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Tue Sep 25 18:35:01 2001
>>>>>[Ah, hell, they caught the sumbitch.

String him up and light a fire under the bastard while he chokes.


+++++begin news article
Ralph Beaumont arrested, charged in DuBois murder case
A Lone Star SWAT team seized Mr Ralph Beaumont at the offices of
Lanniford Productions today, formally charging him with accessory to
kidnap, rape, and accessory to murder. A Lone Star spokesperson said "We
have a high confidence that genetic material recovered from Ms DuBois'
body have an identical DNA pattern to Mr Beaumont." Mr Beaumont's
application for bail was refused.

The brutal kidnap, rape and murder of the actress Cinnamon DuBois, a
27-year-old former model best known for her roles in "Manhatten Blues"
and "Corporate Drama", shocked the Metroplex. Beaumont had denied claims
of harassment prior to her kidnap, although Ms DuBois had filed a
lawsuit against him alleging he attempted to extort sexual favours from
her.
+++++end news article

Scumbag. Filthy dirty scum.]<<<<<
-- Jumbo <23:33:42/09-25-62>
Message no. 85
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Michael Goldberg)
Subject: Breaking News
Date: Thu Sep 27 00:10:04 2001
>>>>>[ Jumbo -- are you really sure that isn't what _they_ want you to
think? It feels like an awful simple, wrapped gift. In my experience, life
is never quite that simple.

Just like the media and the law to give us the simple, convenient answers.
Apparently, we don't deserve better any more. Just like my dead parents.

I don't know. It just feels like someone tried really hard to pixel a real
neat photo for us because the dark is just . . . well ... dark. ]<<<<<
-- Lurker <04:19:10/09-27-62>
Message no. 86
From: Brian Angliss <angliss@*****.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject: Breaking news!
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 01:31:57 -0600
>>>>>[Damn, InterPol's busy tonight. Take a look and see.

+++++ Begin News Report +++++

Good night, I'm Nikki Citizen, and I'm coming to you live from the Tacoma
docks where a raid by InterPol's Special Branch and a Lone Star SWAT unit
has apparently gone awry. Approximately 20 minutes ago, the combined SWAT
and elite anti-terrorist unit from InterPol attempted a lightning raid on
a warehouse on Dock 14, a supected Children of Thunda warehouse, in
Tacoma. They met unusually heavy resistance from the smugglers, pirates,
arms dealers, or terrorists within the warehouse, and several law
enforcement officers were wounded before they retreated. Since then,
InterPol and Lone Star have laid seige to dock 14, occasionally returning
sporadic fire.

From other news affiliates nation and even worldwide we have heard similar
stories. In Miami, InterPol officers raided the storehouse of a suspected
arms smuggler and pirate. In London, a highly saught-after BTL dealer was
arrested when his girlfriend turned and reported his whereabouts in a plea
for leniency. In Denver, InterPol has arrested three individual and
unconnected smugglers for transport of stolen goods and possession of
military weapons and ammunition. The FBI has been active in areas where
InterPol has few resources, including Boston, where a raid arrested a
suspected Tir n'an Og anti-metahuman protestant terrorist with arms
connections, and Detroit, where a man wanted for smuggling BTLs and small
arms was arrested following a shoot-out at a bar. Dozens more arrests
have occured worldwide. Commander Drake of InterPol's anti-terrorist and
anti-shadowrunner Special Branch had this to say:

"We've finally collected enough data to purge large portions of North
America and Europe of the people who supply terrorists like the Children
of Thunda - the arms dealers, smugglers, and pirates who rob, transport,
and sell weapons, drugs, and anything else that can supply the Children of
Thunda with money or the means to wage a war of terror."

When asked about....wait a moment, something's happening....

<The camera changes from facing Nikki to the dock area which is totally
cordoned off. The police appear to be firing gas grenades into the
warehouse from a variety of directions. Over the top of the dock are two
nearly completely silent, black helicoptor shaped holes in the sky, each
of which is disgorging multiple armored shapes on droplines. The gas
grenades contine to pour into the building, and gas has started pouring
out of broken and open windows. A Lone Star tank, followed closely by an
APC, rumbles forward toward the building.>

It appears that Lone Star and InterPol are raiding the building,
attempting to knockout or otherwise disable everyone inside. As of yet,
there has been no response from the terrorists holed up inside the
warehouse....

<And the gunfire begins, including heavy machinegun fire ratcheting off
the tank and APC. Assault rifles and SMGs, fired nearly wildly out of
windows and doors, send the less-armored police scrambling for cover
behind buildings and cars. Other police begin to return fire, and the
sounds of gunfire become nearly overwhelming and deafening. From the roof
of the building, sounds of gunfire and grenade explosions from within the
warehouse carry over to the camera. From the roofs adjoining dock 14 come
the sounds of carefully aimed rifle fire, and each time the rifles fire,
the sound of gunfire from the terrorists becomes less and less.>

<From inside the warehouse come the unmistakable sounds of screams,
grenade explosions, both concussion and regular grenades, and automatic
weapons firing. The tank and APC have sped up and, as soon as the tank
has crushed through the warehouse wall, the APC drives through the gaping
hole into the building. More automatic weapons fire, including the dual
LMG from the APC, is added to the noise coming from within the warehouse.
Gradually, over the next minute or two, the sounds of resistance fade to
nothing, and police begin carrying out thier wounded.

Hurry, let's get to an officer....

<Nikki and the camerperson rush over to the officers coming out of the
warehouse, pointedly staying out the way of those who are carrying
wounded. There are several seriously wounded officers, scarred armor and
soon to be scarred bodies. None of the exiting officers appear to be
totally unfazed by the combat.>

Officer, care to comment?

"Frag off, slitch."

"Let's try another.... wait, all he's mumbling is 'they wouldn't
surrender' over and over again. How about this one... Officer! Can you
comment?"

"I lost a good man, and another's going to lose his arm, so frag off."

What? What's happened inside?

<An InterPol officer comes over to Nikki>

"You want to know what happened? I'll tell you. They wouldn't give up.
They were sluggish from the NeuroStun, blind from the tear gas, and yet
they fired wildly, not caring if they killed each other just so long as
they took us out with them. I saw two kill an officer when one grabbed
the officer and slowed him down by hanging onto his armor while the other
put burst after burst of armor-peircing into both of them. When one went
down wounded, they'd kill the wounded man or woman. There were even some
kids in there, ma'am, carrying knives and rushing us. Do you have any
idea what it's like having to kill a 14 year old girl because she wants to
carry your gonads home as a souveneer? Can you possibly understand? It
was absolutely horrible. I've been in combat before, I was at the Haven
bus attack, and the horror of that can't be adequately explained. I'll
have nightmares about that for decades. But this was horrible on a
different level, because they wouldn't let themselves be taken alive, and
they took us with them when they could. That's what happened in there,
ma'am."

<The InterPol officer begins to walk off.>

You're name, officer?

"Sergent Taggit."

We'll see if we can't get more information from other officers....

+++++ End News Report +++++ ]<<<<<
-- Trideo pirate <01:28:04/05-08-59>

*****PRIVATE: Cap'n Silver
>>>>>[I want dock 14 transfered from whoever owns it now into my
posession immedately after it's available. Grease any palms you need to,
just get it. I need access to Seattle via sea.]<<<<<
-- Action Jackson <01:30:23/05-08-59>

*****PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[You know, it's amazing how many of the arrests are people in markets
you want to move into, AJ. Not surprising, and it's a good move, but I
wonder how many plants you had to pay Mercury or some other decker to put
in place to make the arrests reasonable.]<<<<<
-- Foxey Roxey <01:32:04/01-08-59>

*****PRIVATE: Foxey Roxey
>>>>>[Fewer than you might think, actually. Only about 4 out of the 13
North American dealers are plants. The rest are real. Of the European
smugglers and dealers, 6 of 10 are plants. It'll be much easier to move
into those markets after InterPol and the rest of the people who want the
CoT dead take out some competitors for us.]<<<<<
-- Action Jackson <01:33:10/05-08-59>

Further Reading

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Thwap!