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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Jon W{tte <d88-jwa@****.KTH.SE>
Subject: Plans
Date: Sun, 1 May 1994 22:05:24 +0200
***** ENCRYPT: Aardvark
>>>>>[ This is the deal: The bastard owes me fifteen thousand,
and we split what you get from him. I really don't expect any trouble.
Here's what I know about the place:
***** Gabb Enterprises Description
Do it soon, or he'll forget!]<<<<<
-- Pet <23.59.18/55-04-30>
Message no. 2
From: The Powerhouse <P.C.Steele@*********.AC.UK>
Subject: Plans
Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 22:28:58 +0100
***** PRIVATE The Lager Louts
>>>>>[ Right we meet tonight to go over some plans and assign some
additional
information gathering tasks, be warned though IBA lost Gallean when he left
the traffic grid system and entered Redmond, he's up to something but I'm
not sure what. My street sources don't know anything so keep your eyes and
ears peeled. ]<<<<<
-The Powerhouse (20:25:35/10.5.55)

***** PRIVATE Cerise
>>>>>[ Cerise, look, I'm sorry I can't let you go, I know you can handle
yourself and I know you helped find me when Ganz's actions caused me to forget
who I was. But I love you too much to see you hurt, Ganz has already killed
my parents, I'm not going to see you die as well. I don't like doing this but
I'm afraid I'm going to have to forbid you from trying to go on this run.

Believe me, it's for the best. ]<<<<<
-The Powerhouse (20:28:36/10.5.55)
Message no. 3
From: "Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Plans
Date: Wed, 11 May 1994 22:26:40 -0700
***** Private To: Powerhouse
>>>>>[ Humph! ]<<<<<
-- Cerise <22:38:43/05-11-55>
Message no. 4
From: The Powerhouse <P.C.Steele@*********.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Plans
Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 16:52:38 +0100
***** PRIVATE Cerise
>>>>>[ Look, I'm sorry but I would never forgive myself if something
happened
to you. If you go there's a good chance you'll get hurt and I don't want to
see you hurt, it's not that I don't think you can take care of yourself, it's
just that .. .ohhh I guess I'm not saying this too well am I. But you know
what I feel for you and just the thought of anything ....

Look, it's just easier if I forbid you from going, promise me you'll stay
behind. Please .... ]<<<<<
-The Powerhouse (16:51:41/12.5.55)
Message no. 5
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Plans?
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 23:22:29 +0100
*****INTERNAL: Farmer Archive
>>>>>[+++++begin transcript of telephone call

F: "Farmer"
E: "Emma"

F: Explain to me why this isn't a disaster, then.

E: Our aim was confusion, we achieved it. We have-

F: We have the FBI, the CIA and everyone else with a budget to justify
hunting for those supposed weapons of yours!

E: On the wrong coast, following a cold trail, with a few false leads
thrown in for good measure. I need Combine for a few hours.

F: Work fast, he's got a great deal to do. We're firm on the date now,
it's too late to turn back.

E: I know. But this should keep our enemies' eyes looking at the wrong
coast: and add to the impact when we strike. Blame SIGA for the
misinterpretation: they'll be the natural scapegoats.

F: And what about SIGA? What if they get in the way?

E: To be honest, who cares? They don't have the resources or the
manpower to stop us once the plan's underway, and they're still
scrabbling around looking for missing weapons. With three, count
them, three, agents in the field, oh, sir, we should shake with
terror compared to the sixty agents the FBI SAC brought in. I'm going
to give them a real spin on the nukes, they'll panic. For the same
reason, Coppinger's sudden outbreak of diplomacy towards Maxim won't
be a problem, especially since soon neither will Coppinger. If anyone
remembers it, it'll only add emphasis to the message we're sending.

F: Should we process some of these people? Sow some more confusion?

E: It would fit, and I have a couple of contractors available who'd be
appropriate. I'll need locations...

F: Easily supplied this time. I'm still worried by the fact Lynch was
chasing some archaic chemical weapon when he should be after your
nuclear programme.

E: It's his field, and it's a minor enquiry compared to the manpower the
FBI have brought to the case. It's not a problem, the weapons were
recovered and disposed of. Old stuff, pre-Crash: dangerous, but
overstatedly so. I did a little research in case it might be of use
to us... it isn't. Never tested and it's sat in a lake for thirty
years: not a chance it's remained effective.

F: Pity. Still, we don't want _too_ much damage to the target, do we?
<laughs> I'll get you Combine. The really funny part is the weapons
were sold to...

F: Surely not.

F: And you can bet your bottom dollar Maxim clammed up and refused to
talk. Can you imagine Velli describing her arms sales? To SIGA? To
one of the people who personally trashed her nuclear programme? I'm
amazed Lynch got out alive: you can be certain he learned nothing
useful.

E: I should hope so. If they were to reveal any information-

F: It would still be meaningless. We've sown enough false leads that
nobody will be able to work out Wild Rose until it's happening: and
by then Old MacDonald will be unstoppable. Isn't it perfect?

E: I hope you're right, sir.

F: I _know_ I'm right.
+++++end transcript]<<<<<
-- Farmer <23:22:35/04-05-58>
Message no. 6
From: Mike Goldberg <michael.goldberg@*******.COM>
Subject: Plans
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 18:13:25 MST
>>>>>[ Midnight. I wish ta meet wid ya and discuss da past and da
future. If in yar in Seattle, I know a few good bars. ]<<<<<
-- Doomsday <23:48:07/10-21-58>

>>>>>[ How about lunch tomorrow? While getting drunk with you and
spending a night on the town would be a lot of fun, it is not
something I can afford to do right now. (Even if you were going to
cover the bills.) Let's meet at the first place we met Tommy, and
then we can decide where to go from there. ]<<<<<
-- Midnight <23:54:00/10-21-58>

>>>>>[ How's he doin'? ]<<<<<
-- Doomsday <23:54:33/10-21-58>

>>>>>[ Not good. His doctors give him less than a year to live and
he is still pretty much confined to bed rest. ]<<<<<
-- Midnight <23:55:27/10-21-58>

>>>>>[ Drek. So much for doctors knowing the cure for everything.
]<<<<<
-- Blitzkrieg <23:55:50/10-21-58>

>>>>>[ Scientists and magicians (whether hermetic, shamanic, or
other) do not know all the answers in life. As far as the doctors
go, they are doing the best they can. In Tommy's case, it didn't
help his cause that his body was already overtaxed from the extended
years of partying hard plus cyberware stress. ]<<<<<
-- Midnight <23:56:00/10-21-58>
Message no. 7
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Plans
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 22:30:21 +0000
*****PRIVATE: Serenity Detachment, Griffyn, Vincenzo, Mani
>>>>>[Okay. For what it's worth, you guys are on the 'clean' list. I
figure my mole is one of my people, but I know it's not Vinny or I'd be
dead by now.

If you saw Ein_Schuss's report, you know that Kim's a bigger problem
than anticipated. We've got a two-front war, and it's probably only the
aftershocks of Serenity wheeling out power armour that's keeping this
place from being hit.

Griffyn and I took down three Heihachi couriers on Bartolo's
information. Netted over a hundred thousand nuyen in convertible credit,
and seriously screwed up their network: now the bagmen move in armoured
limos, there goes discretion. A few words to the right cops could be
useful there.

The White House is back in business... Heihachi decided to reopen, since
it was obviously a feint and only a fool would attack such a well-
defended establishment. Mani, Griff, we take it by the weekend.

Kim... I want ideas. Every time we or someone else hit him, he bounces
back, bigger and badder. How? Why? And what the hell do we do about it?

The floor is open.]<<<<<
-- Easy <22:30:36/12-02-58>
Message no. 8
From: Brian Angliss <angliss@*****.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject: Plans
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 02:09:10 -0600
*****PRIVATE: Cyberclinic 2, AJ's mailbox
>>>>>[ +++++ Begin video +++++

The image opens with an instant of static, followed by an obviously quickly=
edited cut to a security camera shot. It shows three individual walking=
quickly, but openly, down a street in a run-down neighborhood. All three=
are wearing urban night camo and carrying various weapons. One is a tall=
elven woman with red hair, Foxey Roxey. She's carrying a single knife in=
her belt, a heavy pistol, and a Sandler TMP SMG. The other woman, a much=
shorter black haired human, has what appears to be a monofiliment whip in=
her belt, a machine pistol in a shoulder holster, and is smoking a cigar=
and wearing a black top hat. It appears that Diana is being ridden by one=
of her Loa. The final figure, AJ, has no pistols, no weapons at all except=
for the compound recurve bow in his hand and three quivers of black and red=
fletched arrows strapped to his back, his bow, and his hip.

Suddenly an alarm goes off, sending all three of them scattering behind=
cover as the obvious sound of a minigun winding up is heard. From behind=
the wall that Roxey has used for cover pokes an optical periscope, and=
suddenly the sound of the minigun is replaced by the sound of a minigun's=
ammunition cooking off and the scream of a person on fire. The scream only=
lasts an instant as the randomly firing ammunition kills the unlucky defend=
er.

Another camera window opens, and the scene inside this old, supposedly=
beat-up warehouse shows dozens of men and women scrambling into heavier=
armor. Over an intercomm comes the sound of Russian saying "We are under=
attack. Defend the site at any costs." In addition, the guards and other=
scrambling people start pulling various weapons out of thier crates,=
shaking packing material off of rockets, assault rifles, armor-piercing and=
explosive ammunition, etc.

Back outside, two guards have collapsed, one dead from whatever spell=
Diana/the Loa, the other dead from a burst from Roxey's SMG. AJ has=
scrambled up behind a dumpster and is motioning to Roxey to advance=
herself. As he does so, and Roxey leaves her cover for a mad dash across=
an open street, a guard round the corner in security armor and opens fire=
at Roxey. Roxey dives to the asphalt and rolls, attempting to minimize her=
exposure, firing as she rolls. While she doesn't hit the guard, the=
returned fire breaks the guard's concentration long enough for Roxey to=
roll to the gutter and for AJ to nock an arrow. He lets the arrow loose,=
and it hits the unfortunate guard in the chest, puching through the armor=
and knocking the guard back into the warehouse wall, pinning him to the=
sheet metal.

When AJ motions Diana/the Loa forward, she just carefully and unhurriedly=
walks up the side of the street. She suddenly stops and then slashes out=
three times at the air, then takes the cigar out of her mouth, tips her=
head back, and laughs as she walks forward. From the two sides of the=
building come several people carrying assault rifles. One stops when he=
sees the guard pinned to the warehouse wall with an arrow. The others=
continue and begin laying down suppression fire into the street. Roxey and=
Diana/the Loa rush down a side street while AJ calmly fires his bow from=
behind the dumpster, killing one guard per arrow.

From around behind AJ comes two guards who circled around the building=
he's next to. But they didn't realize how close AJ was to the corner, and=
before either can react, AJ has closed the distance and their assault=
rifles have become nearly useless. One attempts to dodge out of the way,=
only to dodge into AJ's extended spurs and fist. His spur enhanced punch=
slices through the medium security armor the guard is wearing almost=
without any effort, killing the guard. The other guard pulls a monosword=
while AJ is disengaging his hand from the first guard's body, and nearly=
beheads AJ with the first strike. Only the strength of the titanium arrows=
in the shoulder quiver deflect the blow. But this gives AJ enough time to=
rip his hand out of the guard's chest, shredding the armor in the process,=
and enough time to sweep his spurs across the second guard's stomach,=
disemboweling him even through his armor. As the second guard collapses,=
AJ rips the helmet off and begins to speak into the helmet radio in fluent =
Russian.

"My name is Action Jackson. If you cease your resistance, we won't kill=
you. Resist us and you will all die. I know you're listening, Genny, so=
make a decision now."

Over the radio comes another voice: "Cease resistance. Allow them in. =
Come in, Alex." AJ's name comes across the radio with all the venom of a=
viper who has sunk its fangs into your leg, yet Alex stands up and walks=
out into the street. As he walks forward, Roxey and Diana/the Loa join=
him, both slightly behind him, with Diana/the Loa on AJ's right and Roxey=
half a step further back on the left. The three of them walk forward, and=
then enter the warehouse.

The exterior camera shot fades away as the interior camera replaces it. =
Everyone has suddenly stopped getting into armor or picking up weapons, and=
they are slowly moving out of the way of the three attackers, creating a=
pathway for them to a heavy steel vault door.

"Good to see you again, Alex. I hope you don't mind if I won't come out to=
see you."

"Not at all, Genny. I'll be quite happy to come in." After this exchange,=
AJ inspects the door. "Very nice, Stegenovich. More than thick enough to=
counter even my strength." AJ sounds totally unimpressed, and as he drives=
his fist through the wall next to the door, the reason for his lack of care=
becomes obvious - the door is thick enough, but the wall has not been=
similarly reinforced. From inside the room comes several muffled pistol=
shot at the hole in the wall.

"Baron, would you do the honors?" AJ asks Diana/the Loa in English. "Of=
course. One unhappy and incapacitated Genny coming up." From inside the=
room, and over the still live radio, comes the sound of violent retching. =
AJ proceeds to rip the wall apart until the opening is large enough to=
allow Diana/the Loa through, followed by AJ, followed by Roxey herself.

The security camera again changes views, this time inside an exquisite=
office, with an English oak desk, italian leather chair, and a gaping hole=
in the wood paneled wall where AJ punched himself through it. A human male=
is hunched over, vomiting cockroaches, centipedes, and other insects. His=
discomposure fades rapidly when Diana/the Loa drops the sustained spell,=
and he sits down hard in his leather chair.

"Hello, Genny. I've heard good things about your operation. I've also=
heard that you have dealings with the Man UpTown. I'd like to know about=
those dealings, and I'm not in a mood to beat around the bush."

"Frag you, Alex. Take them from my safe if you can."

"Roxey?"

"It's a new safe, AJ, with a mercury trigger, temperature sensor, and=
artificial, electronic tumblers connected to a scuttling charge. It'll be=
difficult to break into, but not impossible. Of course, there's always the=
false top to the safe where the real documents are."

"Thank you, Roxey. You see, Genny, we did some research prior to coming=
here. You're employing people who were loyal to you but not to your=
father. You put in a new vault door to the office with the express purpose=
of keeping me out, but neglected to sufficiently strengthen the walls. You=
forgot to erase the records of the false safe. You're getting sloppy,=
Genny, and you don't deserve to operate your father's, my friend's, buisnes=
s."

As Genny stands up, he says "Frag off, Alex. You can't take my operation=
this time, because all those people outside are loyal to me, not to you. =
Some of them recognize the arrows, so they know who you are. A few even=
know that these two scars along my cheeks are your gift to me."

"They were the least I could do to a man who tried to kill me in my sleep,=
Genny. I left you alive as a favor to your father. But it seems that you=
didn't repay your father for the gift of your life. Baron?"

Diana/the Loa approaches the A/V system in the office and inserts an optical=
chip while simultaneously turning off the radio. As the chip plays, it=
shows the young man currently in the office murdering an older, but=
obviously related man, with a knife to the throat.

"Betraying me I can forgive, Genny, but betraying your father and patricide=
I cannot. But I might let you live if you...." And AJ never gets an=
opportunity to finish that sentence, and Genny pulls an Ares Predator 2 out=
from under his desk and levels it at AJ's head. But as the trigger is=
pulled, AJ's head is no longer where the bullet passes through, instead=
it's two feet lower as AJ drops hard to the floor, extending his spurs and=
spinning at the same time. The spin takes AJ's extended arm and spurs=
through Genny's left leg, cutting it clean off at the mid calf. Genny=
collapses in a heap on the floor, screaming in pain.

AJ immediately bends over and drops a single pill into Genny's mouth, a=
potent opiate for the pain. As he's bending over, he tells Roxey and=
Diana/the Loa "Open the safe. I want the manifests and sales records. =
Now, Genny, that was stupid. But don't worry, I won't allow you to die a=
slow death by blood loss. But you don't deserve to live. Goodbye, Genny."=
And AJ punches his hand into Genny's head, crushing it, sending viscera=
across the floor almost explosively, and putting small cracks in the floor=
where he punched.

"Ok, here's the plan. Extract the paperwork, and then we leave by the vault=
door. Our research shows they'll come in and find the body and then attack=
us with everything they have. Set your elementals to go ballistic, Roxey. =
Baron, just do what you can. Scatter as necessary, kill everyone, and burn=
it all down. Leave nothing salvagable behind."

"Right, AJ" says Roxey. "We're about a minute from having the
documents."

"Oh, and Roxey, pull the security logs. I want this to be used as a lesson=
in what happens if you decide to try to take over. Maybe we won't have to=
do this again."

"Got it. Ahhhh, here you are, AJ."

"Thanks." AJ takes the three heavy books, wraps them in fire-retardant=
cloth, and then gives one each to Roxey and Diana/the Loa. From the looks=
of things, Roxey burned through the wall and into the real safe that way,=
rather than going through the false safe.

"Ready?"

"Yeah, Dad, we're ready." Diana draws the whip, but hides it somewhat in=
her palm.

"Yes." Roxey changes her clip, checks the pistol, and then gives orders to=
four fire elementals and MaxiMillion, her now manifest free spirit and=
ex-ally. AJ opens the vault door and the three walk out of the office in=
the same order in which they walked into the warehouse. The camera view=
changes again, to the main warehouse this time, and it shows a person=
scrambling into the office, turning around, and shouting "Genny's dead!" in=
Russian. As soon as that happens, all hell breaks loose as AJ looses an=
arrow into the throat of the only person wearing heavy security armor, as=
four fire elementals manifest and engulf the ammunition cases, as=
MaxiMillion breaks an unarmored guard's neck, Roxey fireballs the largest=
group of guards she can see, and the next largest group is largely ripped=
to shreds by a blast of tendrils of pure blackness.

Gunfire erupts, but with all the sudden commotion and the scattering of the=
three attackers, it doesn't appear to be hitting anything except other=
guards. Through the violent commotion, fire, and smoke occasionally=
appears AJ, literally tearing heads off people with his bare hands. =
Diana/the Loa appears to be occasionally turning her hand into a long spear=
or lance that gets driven through a person's heart shortly thereafter, or=
she cuts someones head or arm off with the monofiliment whip, or she=
concentrates on a single person, and that person begins to steam red as=
their blood boils in thier veins. Roxey is using her SMG loaded with API=
ammunition to punch through hard and soft targets alike, and when she has=
an opportunity, she flames a group of guards with a fireball or similar=
spell. At one point, Roxey's hand glows slighly, even through the smoke,=
immediately before she touches a guard, who gurgles, twitches once, and col=
lapses.

The battle, as apparently overwhelmingly in the defender's favor, goes=
against them rapidly. With minimal magical support and no-one who can stop=
a Loa-ridden houngan and a vampire, the three attackers rapidly kill=
everyone and burn the warehouse to the ground.

+++++ End video +++++ ]<<<<<
-- Foxey Roxey <02:11:05/05-04-59>

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Plans, 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.

Thwap!