Message no. 1

From:	"Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk>
Subject:	Independent Research
Date:	Tue, 2 Jul 1996 19:43:09 +0100

*****PRIVATE: 1Lt Lilith DiAnnio, SIGA: D J H Coppinger, Director, SIGA
>>>>>[+++++engage encryption: invisible_ink.com
SUBJECT: Jenna and Gabriel

With a little enforced leisure to hand, I started pulling down some info
on the Gruesome Twosome. Firstly, a couple of direct cites.

21 November last year. "We are a fully equiped combat team. We had a lot
of experience in the British and New England shadows, so we're ready to
hire."

I was still on the East Coast back then and I never heard of those two.
Quinn works Britain a lot, ditto.


7 December, what is supposedly a post of a run against an "Informix
Centre". One point to note: if they're faking then Jenna is the dominant
element of the pair. Gabriel is always portrayed as the smarter, more
skilled member.

5th March - "For those of you who just got decks as Xmas presents and
didn't get a chance to see our original posts, we'll give a breif recap
of our existance:
-- We're from northern england, and spent a while in London."

Negative, at least not in anything resembling their current form. Quinn
is emphatic that they are not Northerners, probably not even British,
and while a pair somewhat resembling Jenna and Gabriel worked out of
London, they still do so. Eddie and Ritchie are the wrong colour (West
Indian) and never claime to be deckers.

" -- We're corp trained (Matrix: local node intrusion, using hardened
combat decks. Magic: Hard physical combat, specializing in... Well, you
might find out someday if you're lucky...)"

Two-way specialisations are common (myself and Lilith in combat and
rigging, Quinn in magic and combat, for example). Three, though -
especially magic/matrix overlap - is extremely rare. I wish I knew more
deckers who could tell me whether this is even possible. I know how hard
it is to stay top-end in two areas. Three?

" -- We can't give any EXACT specs on what we did because that would
put us in a position even we probably couldn't handle."

So they avoid giving even outlines. Neatly done.

" -- We did all the things we say we've done."

Except come from Northern England/Britain? <g>

" As to the "backing and support": all the support we get is purely
cosmetic. Armour would be sooooooo uncomfortable without it... "

Now we get interesting. They claim to be entirely independent.

" We're not backed by anyone. Most of our contracts are blackOps style
(ie, very few people hear about them), so it probably confuses a few of
the less proficient runners when they hear underworld mumerings about
our success. Don't be surprised if you don't hear about them. When
you're good you can afford to make a lot of noise -- and trust your
victim to be dutiful enough to muffle it for you. "

Now this is downright hilarious. Consider an earlier post, dated the 8th
December.
"But we're in a very select field. Sometimes your Johnson doesn't want a
sneaky little grab done, sometimes a smash and grab is necessary.
Sometimes we're used to "send a friendly little message", or to do a
little visible damage...
<my snip>
We often personalize what we do... Bring you back a few trinkets, say
something specific to the target before toasting, etc)...
Someone has to do the flashy runs, and if you guys can't, we'll do 'em
for you..."

Now, a job like this is worthless if not widely publicised. Compare the
two versions: I'd guess the two of them have trouble keeping their story
straight, or they realised the contradictions inherent in the first
version.

And I don't even hear "underground murmurings" about their successes <g>
They displayed a basic competence during the Muffin Man hit, no more.

They refer to "previous employers" several times and claim to have been
'in the biz together' for more than seven years. Their descriptions of
their work fluctuate, though. During the Muffin Man unpleasantness, they
said to my late friend Redfeather...
"Either that or we find their base of action and frag 'em up at home. We
can do that too. Remember: That's what we're trained for. We wouldn't
mind leading a team or two..."

Independents become experienced. Employees get trained <g> Again, their
story slips.

I like this scam, as long as Quinn's up for the appearance alteration.
Couldn't happen to a nicer pair <g> Think I'll go see if I can wind them
up a little more, and see what else they let slip.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <19:40:21/07-02-57>