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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Oswald was framed <krobar@********.CLARK.NET>
Subject: Offer....
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 14:18:32 -0500
>>>>>[ Hey Reaper, need work ? Got an "opening" or four. Need
six team
members for some sort of funky contest. Ringo will be sixth. Never
heard of him ? He's grade A if he's getting paid, otherwise he wouldn't
lift a finger. Kinda weird, though, in an elvish sorta way.]<<<<<
--Sledge <14:20:43/2-7-55>
Message no. 2
From: Brion Wauters <BDW2@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Offer
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 1994 12:55:13 -0700
>>>>>[If you still have an opening for a merc/samurai on your
run, Ms. V, I'm interested.

Hey, does anybody know something about these rumors about Ares
getting it's clock cleaned on a couple of black ops. runs? Any
information would be greatly appreciated.]<<<<<
-- Irish <12:50:30/09-07-55>
Message no. 3
From: Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 1994 19:45:09 -0500
>>>>>[Yeah, I've learned a few things about Ares Macrotech getting smeared
on a few black op runs. Nothing really intriguing yet, though. I've not
done anything for Ares recently, sorry.]<<<<<
-- Dark Angel <Fallen/Soul>
Message no. 4
From: Tim Kerby <Drekhead@***.COM>
Subject: offer
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 00:00:43 -0400
*****Private: Tim Gartin, Security Supervisor for Red Lime, Inc.
>>>>>[Mr. Gartin, thanks for the nuyen. About my brother; wrong place,
wrong
time. Seems these fraggers get off geekin' trolls. Prob'ly some damn
policlub. If you could use a troll with an attitude, count me in. I think you
will find my size and strength an asset. Not to mention the cyberspur...gift
from the army when my arm was blowd off. Don't ask which army, it don't
matter. And don't think because I'm big that I'm slow. Seems the army took
care of that too...and if I have to, I can handle firearms just fine, thank
you.
So, you think I'm qualified? I do have one important asset: I want these
fraggers dead as much as you do. 'Nuff about me. Call me at <<LTG>> if you
want me.]<<<<<
-ViperClaw<23:57:30/06-22-56>
Message no. 5
From: Samuel Fortiner <fortsa@********.WWC.EDU>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 10:09:01 -0700
*****Private: ViperClaw
>>>>>[You're on if pay of <<encrypted>> is good enough for
you.]<<<<<
-- Tim Gartin <18:17:12/06-23-56>
Security Supervisor
Red Lime, Inc.
Message no. 6
From: Tim Kerby <Drekhead@***.COM>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 19:07:36 -0400
*****Private: Tim Gartin, Security Supervisor, Red Lime, Inc.
>>>>>[Count me in. I look forward to this...just tell me when and where.
I'll be there.]<<<<<
-ViperClaw<19:07:10/06-23-56>
Message no. 7
From: Samuel Fortiner <fortsa@********.WWC.EDU>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 16:53:10 -0700
*****Private: ViperClaw
>>>>>[Could you come into our offices sometime in the next couple
days. We're located at <<encypted>>. I could have you outfitted and
started up reasonably soon then. You'll also get to meet members of
the rest of the team.]<<<<<
-- Tim Gartin <19:06:26/06-23-56>
Security Supervisor
Red Lime, Inc.
Message no. 8
From: Tim Kerby <Drekhead@***.COM>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 1995 23:56:50 -0400
*****Private: Tim Gartin, Security Supervisor, Red Lime, Inc.
>>>>>[I'm ready. Will see you bright and early on the 26th. BTW, hope you
have a tailor. Doubt you got any thing my size....]<<<<<
- ViperClaw <23:54:46/06-24-95>
Message no. 9
From: Samuel Fortiner <fortsa@********.WWC.EDU>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 14:39:30 -0700
*****Private: ViperClaw
>>>>>[I think that the uniform will be the least of our
worries.]<<<<<
-- Tim Gartin <14:01:55/06-26-56>
Security Supervisor
Red Lime, Inc.
Message no. 10
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Offer
Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 15:23:59 +1300
*****PRIVATE: Magical Group
>>>>>[I would like one or more of you to apply for the job that is
currently being offered by one known as Bull. Act as you normally would,
but keep me informed. I believe that he has data in which certain
colleagues of mine would be interested.]<<<<<
-- L <19:00:24/10-18-57>
Message no. 11
From: Kris Kevin Maxwell <km10@*********.PG.CC.MD.US>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 09:01:05 -0400
*****Private:Shifters, Chickens of the Apocalypse
>>>>>[Hmm, I like shifters personally, but hey, can't win them all :)
BTW, I just found a backlogged message from L, he wanted one of us to go
with the Bull thing, anyone got that yet? I might be persuaded to go
along, but maybe I missed the response. Oh well :)]<<<<<
-- Wolfen <08:59:41/10-23-57>
Message no. 12
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 14:26:10 +1200
*****PRIVATE: The Magical Group
>>>>>[Bull thing? I didn't answer it, I was out of town when L's request
came through. I hope somone followed it up though, it wouldn't be very good
for our negotiations with L if we've messed up his first request.]<<<<<
-- Ice <18:28:35/10-23-57>
Message no. 13
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Offer
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 02:07:36 +1300
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[We overheard your conversation in the park...

+++++Include file tanscript.txt

We might be able to come to some sort of arrangement. Being into corporate
and industrial espionage, we are naturally interested in this information
you talked about. It would cost us quite a large sum to find what you know
already through other means... tell us some of the ranks involved and we
can come to a price for what you know.]<<<<<
-- Geo <23:28:00/01-24-58>

*****PRIVATE: Geo
>>>>>[I'll consider it. Meet me at 1500 tomorrow, the cafe at
>>address
downtown<<, this sort of bargaining is always quicker when done face to
face. Order two coffees, but come alone. I'll be there before the second
one get's cold.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <06:01:40/01-25-58>
Message no. 14
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 12:44:14 +1300
*****PRIVATE: Pyro
>>>>>[I have a task that will require your special skills.

Here's the history...

+++++Include previous correspondence re Ronin

We decided to sell Ronin to 'Raku, and part of the deal we came to was that
the information that he has must be suppressed. Some 'Raku troops were
waiting at the meet... local boys, not particularly good, but the magical
back-up was supposed to be drek-hot (on both sides, as it turned out).
Ronin had the advantage that they needed him alive, but that doesn't really
excuse the failure of the 'Raku guys. We caught the following pieces during
the botched pick-up.

During Ronin's approach to the meet, we monitored this radio conversation.
Encrypted, but their gear wasn't good enough to stop us listening in.

+++++Begin soundfile

The recording begins with a painfully loud squeal of electronic noise, then
its volume lowers and voices become audible.

Speaker One: Evita, this is Ronin, you got me? Testing, etcetera.

Speaker Two: I got you, I got you. Ice is on the astral, nothing to report.

Ronin: Okay, proceeding down >>street name<<. Traffic seems normal.

[Pause, 13 seconds]

Evita: Ice reports watcher activity near a tall building, predominant
emotional message in the name is something about protection.

Ronin: Armourguard Security?

Evita: Could be. There's a ward on the building, Ice is having a look...
average power, probably standard operating procedure if it is this security
company.

Ronin: Tell him to keep an eye on it. Armourguard is just across the street
from the cafe.

Evita: Yes, indeed.

[Pause, 23 seconds]

Ronin: I have pursuit, three in a van behind me, one more walking towards me...

+++++End soundfile

Now we move to the footage from our Condor drone... the guy in the leather
coat is Ronin. The 'Raku guys had planned to get him in the alley and
bundle him into the van, looking for minimal witnesses, cutting down on the
risks of, shall we say, audience participation.

+++++Begin footage

The view is from a fish eye-lense, about 10 or 12 metres above an alley
between a two-story building and one that continues above the camera. There
is a fire escape ladder leading from the roof of the smaller building
halfway down to the alley. What is visible of the street is occupied by
several passers-by at a time, moving in and out of the field of view.

A man dressed in a leather coat, Ronin, approaches the mouth of the alley,
moving from left to right, taking his hands from his pockets as he does so.
A wide-shouldered man approaches from the right, dressed in a dark suit,
carrying a grey coat over his arm. He steps out towards the street to get
out of Ronin's way, then lunges at him from the side, dropping his shoulder
and driving it into Ronin's side. Ronin falls back into the alley, rolling
over backwards and coming to his feet as the suited man moves forward to
attack again. He blocks a left hook, catches the suit's arm and spins,
somehow arranging to stick out a foot and trip his victim over it. Taking
the opportunity to pull his heavy pistol from under his coat, Ronin moves
back a step and puts two rounds in the suit's face. He looks towards the
street, two stunned passers-by gaping back at him, then runs down the
alley.

Squealing tyres are heard from the street, and a brown van makes a sharp
turn into it, narrowly missing the dead suit. Ronin turns and looks at the
approaching van, fires two shots into the front of it, then leaps for the
fire-escape ladder as the van draws closer. He pulls himself up by one
hand, firing again into the roof of the vehicle as it passes at high speed,
then drops into a pile of rubbish sacks directly below the ladder. The
van's back doors open, and two men in armoured jackets spill out, carrying
H&K SMG's. They move towards the pile, from which Ronin emerges, shaking
off bits of rotten cabbage and other muck, firing four times in quick
succession. One target goes over backwards, his head striking the van with
a solid "thunk", the other takes a step back, reflexively pulling his
tigger and loosing a long burst. Ronin catches one or two of the many gel
rounds, is knocked over by the impact, and the rest of the bullets go over
him and to his left. As he hits the ground, there is a sudden flare of
flame, and some sort of fire spirit manifests between him and the van. The
SMG-man shouts something, and the van starts moving forward again. Ronin
pulls himself up into a sitting position and fires twice, hitting the
SMG-man at least once. As Ronin's target goes down, the elemental lashes
forwards, engulfing the back of the van. Ronin gets to his feet, and climbs
up the fire escape ladder as the van's driver leaps out a front door and
the vehicle bursts into flame.

Reaching the top of the lader, Ronin pauses to take stock of the situation,
then changes clips on his pistol before heading away from the street from
which he entered the alley. A muffled explosion sounds from below as the
elemental rips into the fuel tank, and Ronin turns his head briefly at the
sound, apparently spotting the floating camera as he does so. He fires at
it three or four times, and the camera plummets towards the alley.

+++++End footage

So much for the condor... finally, the gun-cam footage from our combat
heli-drone...

+++++Begin footage

The point-of-view starts above a street, moving along it at speed, then
banks steeply into a left turn, shooting down an alley full of dead suits
and a burning van. It clears the roof of the two story building by a few
centimeters, catching it's first glimpse of Ronin. The samurai is running
across the roof, jumping down to a slightly lower one as the drone arrives.
The POV rotates towards him while passing, lining up the crosshairs on his
moving form. As it fires an automatic burst, a similar fire spirit to that
which appeared down in the alley manifests between Ronin and the bullets,
only one or two of which make it through the flame. Ronin jerks with the
impact, almost falling, but the gel rounds bounce off his presumably
armoured coat, and he regains his stride as the drone moves past. The fire
elemental moves towards it, then suddenly demanifests. Ronin begins firing
at the drone, and it drops below the rooftops, slowing down, and cruises
along a quiet side street.

When it resurfaces, Ronin is nowhere in immediate view. The drone rises,
camera tilting to look downwards, and spots the samurai, waiting in the
shelter of an air-conditioning system's rooftop motor housing. The drone
drifts down towards him, motors going quiet, but just when it has him lined
up, Ronin dives aside, turning to fire at it. The burst from the drone hits
only the roof, gel rounds bouncing in all directions, but one of Ronin's
three shots seems to damage the drones electronics, causing it to slip away
to the side, losing height. More shots sound, the camera jerking with a
couple of impacts. For some reason, the motor fails to restart, and the
drone crashes into the roof, bouncing a few times before coming to rest
facing away from Ronin.

The footage ends about five seconds later as the camera is engulfed by a
fire elemental.

+++++End footage

Ronin kept going across the rooftops, and the elemental continued to run
interference for him. A 'Raku mage was up in the astral trying to deal with
it, but Ronin had some very capable astral support of his own. More spirits
arrived, spells went off in random directions and from non-obvious sources,
and in the confusion, Ronin got away.

According to the 'Raku hit-mage, his astral back up consisted of a female
mage of unknown type (probably initiated, capable of astral perception,
sorcery, and conjuring, but she didn't come out and play on the astral) and
an elf who is an initated hermetic magician (described by one of the 'Raku
astral guys as "not bad, for kawaruhito shadow-scum"). The female adept was
tentatively identified as Evita, of whom we have some pictures. Ronin may
also have the backup of an as yet unidentified gang known as the Shifters.
Ronin himself so far seems to be a fairly standard issue chipped-up street
monster... he has yet to show active magic use, and according to the 'Raku
astral back-up he's so cybered he couldn't light a match by magic. But be
aware that he has a very high powered detection spell quickened on him. The
'Raku mage was doubtful about his ability to take it down, even if he
hadn't been hampered by Ice and his herd of elementals.

These are all the pictures we have:

+++++Include picfile Ronin1.pic
+++++Include picfile Ronin2.pic
+++++Include picfile Evita1.pic
+++++Include picfile Evita2.pic

And the 'Raku mages impression of Ice's astral body:

+++++Include picfile IceAstr.pic [A blue-robed, powerfully muscled elf with
a long slender dragon wrapped around his left leg, body, and right arm. The
head of the serpent is rearing up from the elf's wrist, snarling in the
direction of the viewer. The quality of the picture is surprising.]

You must take Ronin and all associates, so follow him for a while before
finishing him. Use drones though, remember the detection spell.]<<<<<
-- Geo <16:41:26/01-26-57>
Message no. 15
From: Bredget Stroud <bstroud@*********.COM>
Subject: offer
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 11:34:24 -0800
*****PRIVATE: Heihachi
>>>>>[A mutual friend told me of your need of good employees, and after the
recent attack on your business, I would like to offer my skills. I would
like to meet with you and discuss our possible future together.]<<<<<
-- Grey Wolf <11:16:21/12-18-58>
Message no. 16
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 22:49:07 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Grey Wolf
>>>>>[Come to >>encrypted<< at 7:30pm tomorrow. Bring whatever
routine
equipment you require. If you have additional needs, you may advise us
then.]<<<<<
-- Roger Nakamura <22:33:51/12-18-58>
Message no. 17
From: Frank Pelletier <jeanpell@****.IVIC.QC.CA>
Subject: Offer
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 23:10:09 +0000
*****Private: Ein_Schuss
>>>>>[

+++++Start Message.1.file

Hey man..wussup?

Nah, thanks a bunch homie...but I'm kinda tight right now... I need to lay
low...real low... It's a miracle my account still forwards my
messages...So thanks, but no thanks... I'll stay in touch...

+++++End Message.1.file]<<<<<
-- Bell Atlantic <22:55:43/03-06-59>
Message no. 18
From: Sebastian Hamann <5hamann@**********.UNI-HAMBURG.DE>
Subject: Offer
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 21:13:20 +0100
>>>>>[Do you need somebody doing you a favor and you do not have too much
money? Drop me a note. I will see what I can do for you.]<<<<<
-- Dreamtime <21:11:43/03-22-59>
Message no. 19
From: "Mark A. Imbriaco" <mark.imbriaco@*****.COM>
Subject: Offer ..
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 11:33:58 -0400
***** PRIVATE: Scourge
>>>>>[ It has come to my attention that you're not with JICES anymore - I
have some friends at SIGA who mentioned it to me in passing since they
knew that we were acquanted. Let me cut to the chase: Myself and two
other "deckers" have recently founded a corporation called DataVault, Inc.
We are a small IC software house as well as a small scale Data Haven. To
be blunt, I'd like to make you an offer to join us, or at least to disuss
the possibilities. We have decent capitilization at the moment, and we've
picked up about a dozen and a half very good programmers.

Let me know if you have some time to discuss the possibilities. ]<<<<<
-- Neuron Basher <11:20:41/07-13-59>
Message no. 20
From: "Michael R. Goldberg" <mrgoldbe@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer...
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 23:34:04 -0500
***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[ To state that I'm not with JICES anymore would be an
exaggeration. I'm still on the Board of Directors, I'm just not
involved in the day-to-day operations of the company.

I am willing to discuss the possibilities and listen to your offer. If
we hold the conversation in a matrix bar, I'm pretty flexible as to the
when and where. If we need to discuss things face to face, it will
take a little bit of work, but I can probably get to Seattle within two
or three weeks. ]<<<<<
-- Scourge <05:30:40/07-14-59>
Message no. 21
From: "Michael R. Goldberg" <mrgoldbe@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer...
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 21:57:58 -0500
***** PRIVATE: Neuron Basher
>>>>>[ Barring the unforeseen, my appointment calendar should clear up
after Tuesday night. Therefore, I would either a weekday night after
then. ]<<<<<
-- Scourge <03:57:21/07-24-59>
Message no. 22
From: "Mark A. Imbriaco" <mark.imbriaco@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer...
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 12:06:12 -0400
***** PRIVATE: Scourge
>>>>>[ Call it Wednesday night, then. How does >>encrypted<<
sound?
I've booked a session at >>encrypted<< -- is that acceptable?
]<<<<<
-- Neuron Basher <13:55:58/07-24-59>
Message no. 23
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Offer
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 12:23:59 +1200
*****PRIVATE: BigDaddy
>>>>>[You're based in Chicago, right? Can I interest you in any of the
following?: 1 Ares GPHMG (with just over 400 belted EX explosive rounds), 2
GL-12 grenade launchers (with about 50 mixed mini-grenades), 12 assorted
SMG's and assault rifles (with about 1,000 mixed rounds - some APDS in
there, but most of it's crappy). Small scale stuff, I know, but you might
find some of it useful. I'll let you have it all for 2 KnY, howzat
sound?]<<<<<
-- Faerie <21:05:26/08-12-59>
Message no. 24
From: BigDaddy <bigdaddy@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 21:04:24 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Faerie
>>>>>[Sounds good. I don't need all the SMG's as my supplier recently
"found" some more and gave me a deal on that. The GL-12's and the GPHMG sounds
good. How 'bout 1/2 the original price and i'll take it NQA. How's
that?]<<<<<
--BigDaddy<21:06:54/08-12-59>
Message no. 25
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 11:35:10 +1200
*****PRIVATE: BigDaddy
>>>>>[Well that's quite a good offer, but the SMG's etc were pretty much
in the nature of a free bonus. What's a new GPHMG go for? Lots, that's
what, and it'd be registered, unlike this one. As for the MGL-12's - how
often do you see those on the street? 2K is dirt cheap, take it or leave
it.]<<<<<
-- Faerie <17:52:32/08-13-59>
Message no. 26
From: Brad LaFrance <blafrance@****.NET>
Subject: Offer
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 15:07:10 -0400
>>>>>[Hoi chummers! I pulled a run the other day that didn't quite turn out
as planned, and I'm looking for a drek hot decker to do a little snooping
for me. The pay will be something in the range of >>large amount<<, so if
any of you matrix cowboys looking to make a nice chunk of change, gimme a
yell at >>LTG<<!

Incidentally, on this run I happened to pick up some heavy ordanance that
I'm looking to sell. I've got two crate full of assorted ammo (APDS,
ex-explosive, exploding APDS, silvered, you name it I got it), along with 3
boxes (100 rounds each) of actually Black Rhino rounds! This is some old
school type drek, I didn't think any of it was still around! The biggest
find was half a dozen man-portable mortars and a crate full of assorted
mortar rounds. I also snagged a couple dozen stripped down Colt M-23
Assault Rifles and Ingram Warrior-10 SMG's which may be of use to someone.
Anyway, any of you chummers out there wanna take some of this heavy
firepower off my hands ring me up at the number mentioned above!]<<<<<
-- Sith <15:04:47/8-15-59>
Message no. 27
From: Jett <zmjett@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 15:40:46 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Sith
>>>>>[I might be interested in the decking job. By all means, share the
details. I may also, if my work is satisfactory, be willing to take some of those toys off
your hands. I can be contacted at >>LTG<<.]<<<<<
-- Winter <16:07:23/08-15-59>
Message no. 28
From: Brad LaFrance <blafrance@****.NET>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 16:45:51 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Winter
>>>>>[Thanks chummer! Here's what went down: Me and a couple chummers of
mine got contracted by fixer I knew to do a piece of work for >>surprising
amount<<. The suit shelling out the yen for the run was just a masked voice
on the telecom, and we knew there might be a catch, but we'd be kicking
ourselves forever if we didn't take the job. The Johnson wanted us to stop
some heavy ordanance from changing hands in some old warehouse in
"Loveland", a pretty bad neighborhood in Puyallup. He tells us the sellers
are gonna be there around 23:00 and the buyers will arrive sometime past
1:00, and we gotta get there 'fore the buyers get in, remove the sellers
from the equation, and destroy the firepower. He said the sellers should
have maybe half a dozen razors bodyguardin for them.

Ok, so we get there around 22:00, noones there yet, so we figure we'll set
up an ambush for them. Me and The Shadow, our other razor, would wait in
another building til they were all in and hit em from behind. Stutz, our
rigger and resident explosives expert set up an AP surprise in some debris
near the door, and have a few drones ready at a moments notice. Wombat, the
mage, and Moonbeam, the cat shaman, would sit behind some cover in the back
of the warehouse and back us up with magic. Our decker, Comet, would sit up
in the rafters as back up. We figured it was a pretty solid plan.

We set up the ambush without much trouble, and around 23:10 the sellers
show up, and out of a large truck hops 4 obviously chromed razors, half a
dozen street thugs, and what looked like some kinda shaman, and 3 norms
with no obvious weapons. The Johnson hadn't said anything about any shaman
on their side, and I knew we were fragged. As soon as the Shaman got in
there she sensed our magical support with some sort of magic drek and
tossed some kinda fireball at where they where hiding, I knew the drek had
hit the fan.

Our surprise caught the first two Razors and turned them into nothing more
than food for the Devil Rats. Comet got freaked out by the explosion and
fell from the rafters, where she was torn up by one of the razors combat
shotguns. I put a frag grenade from the my under-barrel grenade launcher on
my Combat Gun into one of the razors, and just barely missed getting torn
to pieces as a troll with a fragging minigun stepped out of the truck. The
Shadow got ripped in half just as a one of our attack drones popped up and
started hosing down the group of razors with a pair of LMGs. 2 of the thugs
were down and the 3 norms were sprinting back to the truck. I shot up the
rigger in the drivers seat of the van just as I heard what sounded like a
copter.

I looked up and one of our drones was hurtling into the rotor of the
copter, and the fragging thing crashed into the middle of the thugs and
razors. I remember seeing the troll with the minigun cut in half by a piece
of the rotor, and then everything went black. I wake up to Wombat doing
some sort of magic drek on me. I shoved him away and asked what the hell
had happened. Wombat and Moonbeam had roasted the Shaman and the spirit it
had summoned, and then they had finished off the remaining thugs without
much trouble, with help from our last attack drone. From what was left of
the copter we found a couple bodies that looked like corp types, but
nothing to identify what corp the fraggers were from.

Stutz set the truck up with some C4 and we took some of the more valuable
stuff out of the truck, and then we put the bodies in the back of the truck
along with what was left of the firepower, and Stutz remote detoned it. We
got the frag out of there just in time, too, cuz we saw another truck
escorted by a yellowjacket and a couple of drones heading towards the area
as we left. We got back to Stutz's doss and called up our fixer, who gave
us a number to call to contact the Johnson. We called it up and some corp
secretary slitch picks up and says there's noone by that name here and if
we call again we would "be in trouble with Lone Star". I call our fixer
back up but it seems he has skipped town.

This is where you come in. I'm willing to pay you >>large sum<< if you can
find out: Who the frag the sellers were, who the sellers were, and who the
frag the drekheads in the yellowjacket were. I lost two of my team members
on this fragged up run, and some son of a slitch is gonna pay, one way or
another. Think you can help me with this, chummer?]<<<<<
-- Sith <16:45:24/08-15-59>
Message no. 29
From: Brad LaFrance <blafrance@****.NET>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 16:48:57 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Winter
>>>>>[Oh, yeah, chummer, one more thing. I've got some biz to handle out of
town tonite, and I'm leaving as we speak. If yer interested in the job
after those details I'll get back to you on it some time tommorow.]<<<<<
-- Sith <16:48:49/08-15-59>
Message no. 30
From: "Mark A. Imbriaco" <mark.imbriaco@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 18:25:20 -0400
***** PRIVATE: Sith
>>>>>[ What do you want for the ordnance? I am willing to take it off
your hands in it's entirety if the price is right. ]<<<<<
-- Nomad <18:10:04/08-14-59>
Message no. 31
From: "Paul J. Adam" <Shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 23:15:38 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Sith
>>>>>[I could use a few of the SMGs and rifles.]<<<<<
-- Cobra <23:15:42/08-15-59>
Message no. 32
From: Jett <zmjett@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 16:01:33 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Sith
>>>>>[Messy business indeed. I'll start working on it immediately and
return information to you as soon as possible. For an additional fee, by the way, the
people who killed your teammates can also be...eliminated.]<<<<<
-- Winter <16:00:24/08-16-59>
Message no. 33
From: Brad LaFrance <blafrance@****.NET>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 20:28:00 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Winter
>>>>>[Thanks chummer! Me and my chummers gotta know if the slots who
screwed us over are gonna be sending anyone else along to with blood in
their eyes or if we are in the clear. Then we can worry about some kinda
revenge. Gimme a yell if you find anything!]<<<<<
-- Sith <20:27:15/08-17-59
Message no. 34
From: Michael Broadwater <neon@*******.EDU>
Subject: offer
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 12:10:59 -0500
*****Private: Mitchell
*****BCC: The Grey Ghosts
>>>>>[There are some people wondering if you'd like to be the fifth in a
high stakes game of poker. Confirm here. Further info will be sent.]<<<<<
-- Ghost One <11:08:37/08-24-59>

*****Private: The Grey Ghosts
>>>>>[That was needlessly cryptic.]<<<<<
-- Manhattan <11:15:24/08-24-59>
Message no. 35
From: Jett <zmjett@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 13:07:13 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Sith
>>>>>[Have some information you might find interesting. Contact me, and
I'll be happy to share it. Once you have it, you can decide how you want to act on it. Or
how you want me to act on it. Your call.]<<<<<
-- Winter <13:07:26/08-24-59>
Message no. 36
From: "Paul J. Adam" <Shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:47:09 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Ghost One
>>>>>[I'm dead, or hadn't you heard?

But then... dead men are the best poker players of all.

Deal me a hand. I'm interested.]<<<<<
-- Mitchell <20:45:32/08-24-59>
Message no. 37
From: Michael Broadwater <neon@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:25:06 -0500
*****PRIVATE: Serpent
>>>>>[We would like to meet with you at >>encrypted<<. As a
man of your
abilities must have a busy schedule, the time is up to you.]<<<<<
-- Ghost One <20:23:32/08-24-59>
Message no. 38
From: "Paul J. Adam" <Shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 23:51:04 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Ghost One
>>>>>[Okay. I'll be there at >>time<<.]<<<<<
-- Serpent <23:50:32/08-25-59>
Message no. 39
From: Michael Broadwater <neon@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: offer
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 11:12:01 -0500
*****Private: The Grey Ghosts
>>>>>[Here's the video of Manny's meet with Serpent last Thursday.

+++++include 8-27-59.vid


The picture is from a grainy black and white security cam places high on a
wall. It's pointed at a human man sitting at the booth of an old looking
family style restaurant. The man, his characteristics unclear from the
combination of the camera's high angle and the poor image, sips at a cup of
coffee and fends off the attempts of the waitress to get him to order
something more.

After only a short wait, a dwarf walks up to the table and sits down. The
human watches carefully as the dward situates himself and sticks his hand
across the table.

"Hi there, Serpent. My name's Manhattan. People just call me Manny." A
pause, not _quite_ long enough to be an insult, before the human accepts
the offered hand and shakes it. "I know you're looking for a guy calling
himself 'Ghost One'. He doesn't exists. The name is just a front for my
group.

"I'm here representing a team that calls themselves the 'Grey Ghosts'.
We're runners. There's four of us. A decker, a mage, a sam and a sniper.
One big happy family. We've done our share of jobs in the few months since
we started out, but we've noticed a gap. We need another heavy. We think
you'd fill that spot nicely."

"Now, before you interrupt me, let me finish." Serpent hadn't moved, much
less made any sign of interupting the rapid fire stream of words coming
from the man across the table. "We know about you. We know who you used to
be. That's not a threat or anything. We know that you're not some green
runner new on the streets without the skills or the brains to last. You
were a good soldier. The reason you're here, well, no one's really sure
about that. We don't care, in so much that it doesn't affect our business
relationship. You're a good man, with a lot of potential, but you don't
the people to speak to and the right way to speak to them."

"So here's the deal. We want you to fill our gap, on a part-time basis to
start, and in return, you get a full cut of the money we make, and we help
you find the people you need. Fair give and take all around. What do you
think."

Serpent sips at his coffee, finishing it off, and sets his cup down slowly.
He stares at Manny for a moment, his eyes unblinking, as he thinks. Manny
doesn't seem phased by the steady gaze, but does fidget with his napkin.

"Not a bad deal. You understand, of course, that I have plans of my own?"

"As long as they don't interfere with any work you do with the group, it's
not problem."

"Good. The first thing I need is a fence. Someone who can move goods.
Fast isn't necessary. In fact, in fact, slow is better. And a reliable
equiptment source."

"Is that a yes then?"

"Yes."

+++++end 8-27-59.vid

It looks like he'll work with us. Seems like kind of a hard-ass
though.]<<<<<
-- Havoc <10:08:08/09-02-59>


*****Private: The Grey Ghosts
>>>>>[Hard ass? Well isn't that the pot calling the kettle black...

And hold on a second, why are you just sending this out today? Don't tell
me it took you this long to deck into a Denny's! HAHA!]<<<<<
-- Manhattan <10:10:37/09-02-59>
Message no. 40
From: Umfleet <gumfleet@***.edu>
Subject: Offer
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 19:28:13 -0500 (EST)
*****Private:Mr. Jackson
>>>>>[Well, well, it seems you have a "friend" of mine, a very
important
friend at that. I want to put you at ease though, I have come to make
you an offer. My employers do not need Mr. Nox, he is but the carrier of
what we seek. My employers have told me to offer you 30,000 -Y- for any
data you would share with use about Mr. Nox's bioware. We are also aware
that most of it is, shall we say dagerous, and are not stupid enough to
think you would share such things. What we are interested in is his
anti-toxin and other such bioware. We would appreciate any information
you can give us. The funds will be transfered if you agree.]<<<<<
-- Amber Snowmane <02/27/57 7:26:23>
Message no. 41
From: jaimie.nicholson@********.otago.ac.nz (Jaimie Nicholson)
Subject: Offer
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 16:21:13 +1200 (NZST)
>>>>>[ Some bubble headed news biff hired me to post this, so don't blame
me:

+++++Include add.txt

You want to make money, that's why you're runners. We want to make money
too, that's why we're in show biz. Here's an offer you can't refuse. Call
us at >>telecom number<<, and we'll courier a deluxe, lightweight,
professional quality, simsense recording device to whatever location you
specify. All you need to run it is a datajack, it weighs less then half a
Kg, and each datapak is good for half an hour of footage. You wear it on
one of your runs, send us the datapaks, and we'll pay you royalties on
sales. We benefit by not having to pay actors, no need for stunt crews, and
best of all, it all feels real. And feeling real is what we're about. We'll
send a contract for you to sign with the unit. Don't delay, the cash is
calling.

+++++Close add.txt

Sounds good? Yeah, right, if she isn't working for the Star, if the
royalties are worth drek, if the gear works right. You can give it a try, I
won't be.]<<<<<
-- Nevyn <20:41:05/06:28:57>
Message no. 42
From: jaimie.nicholson@********.otago.ac.nz (Jaimie Nicholson)
Subject: Offer
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 12:49:39 +0300
*****PRIVATE: Ice
>>>>>[I have an offer for the group that you advertised earlier. I would
>>>>>like to... sponsor, if you will, such a group, but not let it become
>>>>>public knowledge. My sources indicate that the group is already
>>>>>formed, it's strictures set, so I have no wish for my patronage or the
>>>>>secrecy I require to be part of the structure of the group's binding.
>>>>>Instead I would like there to be a sort of inner core of members who
>>>>>know about my purposes, and another section who know you are taking
>>>>>orders from someone, but not from whom, or why. Note that I would
>>>>>never expect you to betray your group. In fact, I hope that you would
>>>>>refuse to do so.

My purposes are mostly bengin, and purely defensive. I would like you to
watch the shadows for runs against my corner of my corporation, having one
or more of your members apply to any offers that I find suspicious, offers
to which I will alert you in such cases. Also, I would like to establish a
long-term employer-employee relationship with a group such as yours, so I
always have access have a team of capable magicians I can trust. My
identity must remain secret, I would regret the consequences of an attempt
to uncover it.

You will benefit by access to certain libraries and other information that
you will find hard to get elsewhere, as well as by a generous monthly cash
payment, the amount to be negotiated once you gain the consent of such
members of your group as you consider to be discreet enough to know the
truth. To earn this, all you will do is be avaiable, and continue to
practice your skills, becoming more suitable for my work as time
progresses. The compensation for any other work you do for me will be
negotiated if and when such a situation arises.]<<<<<
-- L <10:19:16/10-06-57>

*****PRIVATE: L
>>>>>[I'll consider it, and discuss it with the group. Leaving out what
little I know about you, of course.]<<<<<
-- Ice <16:45:04/10-06-57>

*****PRIVATE: Group
>>>>>[Take a look at this:

+++++Include L's message

The sender was the johnson for that Gibraltar thing I told you about, I
shouldn't really tell any more until we decide whether to accept the offer
or not. But what the hell, he works for SK, and that's about all I know.
The letter L could be taken to mean Lofwyr, but I'm not buying it, he
probably just wants people to think that. Of course, there's no better way
to lie than to tell the truth as if it were a lie...

Anyway, what do you think? I like the idea of a monthly payment, but the
whole thing seems a little too good to be true.]<<<<<
-- Ice <16:52:20/10-06-57>
Message no. 43
From: Nightblade <wgreason@*****.ocis.temple.edu>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 1996 21:12:48 -0400 (EDT)
*****PRIVATE: Ice
>>>>>[It sounds interestin t'me. V'got some experience workin the
corp-protect circuit anyway. So count me'n, Ice. And how about 'Hecate's
Star' as potential groupname? Just a thought ...]<<<<<
-- Rosha <21:14:10/10-06-57>
Message no. 44
From: jaimie.nicholson@********.otago.ac.nz (Jaimie Nicholson)
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 11:12:10 +1300 (NZDT)
*****PRIVATE: Group
>>>>>[Rosha sent me a private message (you really should have sent that to
all of us, IMHO) suggested "Hecate's star" as a group name, anyone else got
suggestions? Seeing as half our members turn into wolves or tigers at
little or no provocation, I like "The Seattle Zoo", but I doubt anyone else
will.

Anyway, the selling out to SK thing, Rosha seemed agreeable. I sort of
don't object to the idea, we wont be commiting to anything much.]<<<<<
-- Ice <14:48:44/10-07-57>
Message no. 45
From: Benjamin <benjamin@*****.com>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 16:03:42 PDT
*****Private:Group
>>>>>[Hmmm....

What do we have to lose, really? I say try it.]<<<<<
-- Shiftboy <16:03:19/10/7/57>
Message no. 46
From: sjwelch@******.net (Becky Welch)
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 96 23:33 MDT
*****PRIVATE: Group
>>>>>[Sure, I could always use some extra nuyen, this sounds easy. And I
don't care about a name really, but I don't fit into the zoo concept. So I
guess I'll vote for Hacates, unless someone else has a different
suggestion.]<<<<<
-- Evita <23:11:20/10-07-57>


*****PRIVATE: Valentine
>>>>>[I'll be there, I'm already thinking of different
costumes.]<<<<<
-- Cassandra <23:12:00/10-07-57>


*****PRIVATE: Dirk
>>>>>[This thing scares me, Squatter n I couldn't really find anything,
although we turned up someone else I was looking for. Any ideas on possible
weaknesses? My gun didn't do anything to it. Tell ya what, meet me at
<<encrypted>> and we'll discuss it. Please?]<<<<<
-- Cassandra <23:14:22/10-07-57>


*****PRIVATE: Squatter
>>>>>[Nope, been busy. Whas up?]<<<<<
-- Cassandra <23:16:55/10-07-57>


*****PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Nah, come up with something else, please...can you make me really
pretty? I wanna impress someone I hope will be there.]<<<<<
-- Evita <23:18:34/10-07-57>


*****PRIVATE:Ronin
>>>>>[Are you going to the big bash? I hope so. What're you going
as?]<<<<<
-- Evita <23:20:05/10-07-57>
Message no. 47
From: Nightblade <wgreason@*****.ocis.temple.edu>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 07:50:10 -0400 (EDT)
*****PRIVATE: Evita
>>>>>[Awww, party poop! "Real pretty, eh?" OK OK ... wha's da
scoop, kid?
Who's dis f'r? Ah need t'know f'I'm goin to make a pit'chr they'll like ...
{smirk}. Tryin t'persuade m'bro t'go, but he's suspicious o'Haven ... btw
he's fairly cool, a li'l rigid fr'm time t'time, but he cares bout me a
lot ... an not like Wilk either ... mebbe y'll meet 'im one time. Let's
hang out t'morrow night ... no practice, just chill f'r a bit ...
y'free?]<<<<<
-- Rosha <07:52:11/10-08-57>
Message no. 48
From: sjwelch@******.net (Becky Welch)
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 96 10:10 MDT
*****PRIVATE: Rosha
>>>>>[Sure, where? and when? Ice cream?]<<<<<
-- Evita <10:01:11/10-08-57>
Message no. 49
From: Nightblade <wgreason@*****.ocis.temple.edu>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 12:23:06 -0400 (EDT)
*****PRIVATE: Evita
>>>>>[Let's meet at >>encrypted T & P<<. Ice sounds
heavenly.]<<<<<
-- Rosha <12:25:12/10-08-57>
Message no. 50
From: Kris Kevin Maxwell <km10@*********.pg.cc.md.us>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 13:08:34 -0400 (EDT)
*****Private:Group
>>>>>[I dunno, sounds good, but who is this L person anyway? My pops told
me to stay away from working for a corp, if I had no other choice, find
another were his exact words. This L sounds like he is a corp. Any
answers?]<<<<<
-- Wolfen <23:43:32/10-8-57>
Message no. 51
From: jaimie.nicholson@********.otago.ac.nz (Jaimie Nicholson)
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 12:41:43 +1300 (NZDT)
*****Private:Group
>>>>>[The way I read it, wolfers, is that we aren't working for him, we
are simply remaining available in case he needs an asset such as us. The
reason he'd be making training and other help available is so that when the
time comes, we are sufficiently capable to help him. We won't have any real
obligations, except that he may know a little about us.]<<<<<
-- Ice <23:43:32/10-8-57>

PLAYTHING OF A CRUEL GOD
JAIMIE NICHOLSON
Message no. 52
From: Kris Kevin Maxwell <km10@*********.pg.cc.md.us>
Subject: Re: Offer
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 08:55:20 -0400 (EDT)
*****Private:Group
>>>>>[O.K. sounds good. I'll go along with that.]<<<<<
-- Wolfen <08:49:30/10-9-57>

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Offer, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.