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Message no. 1
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Dec 12 17:35:01 2001
>>>>>[Okay. I have no idea at all if this is genuine or not. Can't trace
it back, can't verify it.

But someone decided to let me have it, real or fake.

+++++begin transcript
G: Representative Gowne
D: Commander P Drake, InterPol Special Branch
K: VAdm J Kowaslki, UCAS Special Operations Command

G: Thank you for your time, Commander.

D: Glad to be assistance, Representative.

G: What is your opinion of Colonel Jason Lynch?

D: In what terms, Representative?

G: I didn't believe InterPol recognised 'terms'.

D: We _live_ by terms, conditions and legalities, Representative.

G: Then what is your opinion of Colonel Lynch, in what you know
of his assigned mission?

D: He's one hell of a soldier.

G: You like him?

D: He makes compromises I would never accept, breaks laws I
swore to defend. But... he's not an InterPol officer. In the years
I've
known him, he has attacked criminals that InterPol could not
touch.

G: Did you not once have Colonel Lynch in your personal custody?

D: I did. Of course, he was just a lieutenant back then. But I had
him, and proof that he'd murdered Colonel Zicahuata of the
Aztlan Intelligence Service in cold blood. And I released him.

G: Why?

D: For many reasons.

Because I do what is legal, and Jason does what is right, and we
need each other.

Because I was glad to see a murderous psychopath like Zicahuata
destroyed, because it needed doing and there was no lawful
means available and Zicahuata mocked the law as he hid behind
its shield.

Because Jason put his own life at risk, to protect the InterPol
troops sent to deliver him to his enemy.

Because on that occasion, I put my personal opinion above the
law.

I see that on this occasion, he brought Ernang in alive rather than
killing him: perhaps that was my influence upon him. I'd like to
think so.

G: And yet he made no such effort to protect FRAG troopers.

D: Officers of InterPol's Special Branch have _never_ killed small
children as a matter of routine. FRAG agents did so and went
unpunished. The FRAG's commander executed an unarmed
thirteen-year-old boy for his personal amusement. I don't believe
that comparing my men to Ernang's mob is remotely appropriate,
Representative Gowne. In any case, this is an internal UCAS
matter and I have no jurisdiction in the matter, unless a foreign
government registers a warrant for Colonel Lynch or General
Ernang.

G: My apologies, Commander.

D: I disagree profoundly with many of Jason's methods. I believe he
is an honest man and I agree with some of his aims even though I
disagree with his methods.

K: I also note that the majority of the casualties at the FRAG's
Annapolis facility were suffering from major blunt trauma or
Neurostun toxicity, indicating a non-lethal bias. What more do
you need to hear, Representative?

G: Do you have any warrants currently outstanding against
Colonel Lynch?

D: No. Since Aztlan rescinded their warrant for his extradition, I
have had no official, supported requests for his apprehension.

G: How much contact have you had with the Colonel?

D: Directly? Very little. We're both busy men. Indirectly... he's
placed a number of warrants, he's been very co-operative in
supporting InterPol-SB operations, and he's led several joint
exercises where my people were able to practice against or
alongside UCAS law enforcers and military.

We've usually found ourselves prevented from acting upon the
warrants, but it's interesting that our reports to that effect are
often accompanied by the relocation or retirement or extinction of
the corporate citizens involved.

As to the training, well, we operate in a very different milieu to
the UCAS intelligence fraternity, which means we have useful
experience to share on the subject of apprehending lawbreakers.

G: Do you consider Colonel Lynch a friend?

<pause>

D: I really don't know.

G: I must press you for an answer.

D: What if I don't know the answer.

G: "Yes" or "No" are sufficient, Commander. If you are unable to
decide, I can lend you a coin -

D: Then yes, I do. He and I are fundamentally different in our
approach, but we seek the same goal. I disagree with the methods
Jason - Colonel Lynch - uses, as I'm sure he would say about my
work, but we co-operate well

G: Even though his methods are unlawful?

D: Lynch has to operate through the Intelligence Oversight
Committee, with whom I've become more familiar since he and I
clashed. He has to justify, explain and approve. What oversight
did you impose on Ernang?

G: General Ernang indicated that outside oversight was
inappropriate for operations as sensitive as his.

D: With the result that while you and I have detailed records of
Colonel Lynch's activities, including his personal video of his
attacks on the FRAG and his collaboration with Minnie
Descabiere, we have no authenticated information about the
FRAG's actions, goals and methods. Perhaps it's my policeman's
instinct that makes me suspect they're hiding something,
Representative, but didn't Lynch formally ask for an
investigation into the FRAG on at least three occasions?

K: Five occasions that I can find. None of them were followed up
despite warnings of gross illegality and serious felonies.

D: He also alerted InterPol that the FRAG had committed homicide
in Sioux lands, meaning they fell inside our jurisdiction.
Unfortunately, InterPol-SB were vetoed from investigating, by the
UCAS - anonymously, but authenticated. That's extraordinarily
unusual.

For a criminal, Colonel Lynch seems to have been remarkably
vocal in his actions. For a supposedly honest man, General
Ernang has been extremely reticent in explaining himself. I can't
help but trust my policeman's instincts in this matter.
+++++end transcript

Is this real being leaked, or some sort of fakejob, or what? And who's
this 'Drake' guy that everyone seems suddenly so scared of?]<<<<<
-- Bungle <22:30:36/12-12-62>
Message no. 2
From: shadowtk@*********.com (shadowtk@*********.com)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Dec 12 23:10:09 2001
>>>>>[Drake was a major player in Interpol several years back. I never met

the man but I know he had a major vendetta against a former meber of this
list -- one Action Jackson, now retired -- and was involved in the hunt for
Dante and a couple of other hard cases who have since, thankfully, become
worm fodder.

I haven't heard anything about Drake in several years, so I'm a bit surprised
that the Hearing committee is draging him into all of this.

If you want more Bungle, I suggest checking the old archives, say about 8 - 9
years back.]<<<<<
-- Irish <21:16:15/12-12-62>
Message no. 3
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Sairys Larkspur)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Fri Dec 14 15:20:01 2001
>>>>>[...Drake...?

++++++[faint growl]

......]<<<<<
-- THE Nexus <15:19:21/12-14-62>





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Message no. 4
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Dec 19 17:40:01 2001
>>>>>[Another chunk from Lynchgate. Again, can't track it back so can't
say whether this is true, false or best fiction.

+++++begin transcript
G: Representative Gowne
T: Commander Z Turner, UCAS Navy


G: Commander, how well do you know Colonel Lynch?

T: We're good friends, and we have fought together on several
occasions.

G: Are you aware of his illegal operations?

T: I believe so, yes.

G: You 'believe' so?

T: I was less than four kilometres from the detonation of a twenty-
five kiloton nuclear weapon on one of Colonel Lynch's operations.
This was not officially admitted, and never officially sanctioned,
by the UCAS Government, but I have confirmed that VESPASIAN - my
commander-in-chief, personally approved it. I think it's hard to get
much more illegal than that, on paper at least.

G: On paper?

T: Colonel Lynch was cleaning house. We - the UCAS - had allowed a
situation to develop. We cleaned it up. None of the troopers I led on

that particular mission, regretted it.

G: Except for the ones who died.

T: One. We lost Boatswain's Mate First Class Josif Lasnig, in that
operation. He left his wife, Desdemona, and his daughter Lizabet, now

seven.

G: They're well?

T: They're the widow and orphan of a SEAL killed on active duty. The
UCAS may screw over its people, Representative, but in the Teams we
take care of our own.

G: What are you implying?

T: I'm implying nothing, Representative. I'm just curious why you
ignored the criminal for years, but are now trying to prosecute the
policeman.

G: The policeman is bound by laws and has a duty-

T: Colonel Lynch swore to protect the people, property and dignity of
the UCAS. In that order. He did so. I'm led to believe that he
repeatedly asked for your help in executing that duty and you
repeatedly refused to provide it.

G: There were considerations that Colonel Lynch was not aware of.

T: Namely?

G: I do not wish to discuss these issues here-

T: You've stated that these hearings are secure. What are you afraid of?

G: There are unresolved issues still pending.

T: Those are not stopping you from persecuting - I mean, prosecuting -
Colonel Lynch.

G: You'll have to trust my judgement, Commander.

T: Then you will have to trust Colonel Lynch's judgement, and mine.

G: Time will tell, Commander Turner. Patience is a virtue, after all.

T: Indeed.

G: Why did you deploy your Team to the FRAG headquarters?

T: To contain the situation and prevent unnecessary loss of life.

G: Please, could you be more explicit?

T: If Colonel Lynch was correct in his deductions about the Fast
Response Action Group, there would be over sixty armed men there,
most of very dubious loyalty and limited scruple, and all well-
equipped. Much better that the area should be secured by SEALs, than
by the Annapolis Sheriff's Department.

If Colonel Lynch was wrong and the FRAG were truthful, then there
would be less than a dozen rear-area personnel present, alive or
dead, and we would be better able than the local police to capture
and apprehend Colonel Lynch.

It turns out he was right.

G: What did you find when you swept the compound?

T: About seventy individuals. Fourteen dead, over forty - I misremember
the exact figure - disabled enough to be easily captured, and between

ten and fifteen who opened fire on uniformed UCAS troops while making

their escape. No serious casualties on our side, and we apprehended
four of them and killed two. We're not sure how many escaped, they
were very eager not to come into contact with their supposed
brothers-in-arms.

G: You sound bitter.

T: I'm just remembering all the warnings we issued about the FRAG being
out of control and involved in criminality. Ignored. Now, when we
clean their mess up, _we_ are on trial.

G: Colonel Lynch expressed similar sentiments.

T: And he's right. Either act, or shut up. You did neither.

G: You would deny civilian oversight of the military?

T: If I denied that, I wouldn't have gone to you with gigapulses of
evidence of FRAG corruption. You did nothing with it. I swore an oath

to protect this country and when you refused to act, I did.

G: You didn't stop to consider the consequences?

T: Of course I did. Had I been told to leave Ernang alone? No. Had I
been offered any explanation of his actions? No. Had I been shown
clear proof that he was murdering UCAS citizens and subverting the
law to achieve his own ends? Yes.

G: Politics moves slowly, Commander.

T: And Ernang killed quickly. Whole families wiped out overnight as
adjuncts to an interrogation. How many families had to die while you
decided what to do?

G: The situation would have been resolved-

T: The situation _was_ resolved.

G: Unlawfully.

T: That's what we're here to decide.

G: You could face charges yourself, your men could be charged...

T: No. My men have not been advised of their rights and I have been
granted immunity.

G: What?

T: Admiral Jane Kowalski arranged immunity for me in order that I could
testify freely and without fear of self-incrimination. My men
followed *my* orders: if we screwed the pooch, it was my call.

G: Very clever.

T: Admiral Kowalski said she had learned to deal with politicians.

G: And she meant what?

T: On the record, I have no idea.

G: Off the record?

T: Politicians will hide during the fight and then emerge to pick over
the battlefield, like vultures. So make sure you win, but you are not

the person who earned the victory.

She directly advised me to place myself and my men at Colonel Lynch's

disposal and to blame any and all aftermath on his orders and, if
that was insufficient, on her orders. She gave me those orders in
writing over her signature. I don't ever recall seeing your
signature, Representative.

G: And you obeyed?

T: On paper, yes. In reality, of course we did much more. But no matter
how hard you probe, you can't lawfully prove my Team did a damn thing

except support their local law enforcement on request and obey the
apparently lawful orders of Colonel Lynch.

G: Back on record. And you're proud of this?

T: It was the right thing to do. It was not the lawful course of action.

Commander Drake has already expressed his opinions on the difference.

We're soldiers, Representative. We've seen what happens when you
blindly obey law. That course of action takes you through iron gates,

under the motif "Arbeit macht Frei", into Auschwitz or Bergen-Belsen
or Abilene. Those camps were guarded and run by soldiers who obeyed
the letter of the law and set their duty to their countrymen aside.

Colonel Lynch did what was right. If he had not, I would not have
followed him, and my troopers would have been justified in refusing
to obey illegal orders to support him.

G: Do you have anything else to say?

T: No, Representative.

G: In that case, thank you, Commander Turner.
+++++end video

Not sure if that helped or not. Gowne's on a cleanup kick and he needs a
head to roll. I think he's decided who's getting the chop, and is just
making sure he's covered his butt when he swings the axe.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <22:40:25/12-19-62>
Message no. 5
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Fri Feb 1 01:25:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Your way does sound a _lot_ easier, and cheaper... what the hell,
Mani's a good enough guy, and I mostly trust Easy... I guess I'll see you
shortly.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <19:10:41/01-31-63>
Message no. 6
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Feb 12 23:50:00 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[I'm in town... now what? I suppose I need a contract or something...
another matter, I have a number of SINs available, but it might be better to get a new one
as a recent immigrant or some such... a genuine one, otherwise your pentagon spooks will
crack it sooner or later, and then we'll both be up drek creek with nary a paddle between
us. There are probably all sorts of issues I'll need to sort out, but I think that's the
only one I'll need assistance with.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:51:52/02-12-63>
Message no. 7
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Feb 13 18:55:00 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Matt, you need to lighten up.

The last time the UCAS Government had dealings with you - as Matthew Van
Holde - all charges against you had been dropped and your whereabouts
were listed as "unknown", with a recommendation that any officious Feds
who found you being told to call... well, me or some friends, and that
if nobody answered that you were to be allowed to go on your way, if you
declined offers of employment in sorting out local problems.

Oh, yeah, unless you had nuclear, biological or chemical weapons in your
baggage. But you're not stupid.



Keep the SINs in case you need them. You can be yourself for this, in
fact you should be. I asked for you, I was told I could have you, the
people I talked to know all about Matthew Van Holde and they said "yes".
Plus it's easier to look for searches against *real* IDs than fake ones
(one reason I stick to being who I am... I hear about folks looking for
Jason Running Wolf Lynch a _lot_ faster than I hear about probes against
my fake IDs)


You did *good* work for us at Lewis. People remember that and respect
it. If you were that good as a prisoner, people expect you to be even
better as a freelance contractor... but you've got a lot more room to
work in as a freelancer.

Got somewhere to stay yet?]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:55:42/13:02:63>
Message no. 8
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Feb 13 23:45:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Hmm... I was expecting a lot more in the way of bureaucratic crap
than that, but okay, I'll just be me.

You mean I have to leave my backpack nuke at home? Damn!

Yeah, I found a place to stay temporarily... the airport Hilton, as it
happens. I love room service, but for some reason I can't shake the
habit of having a gun in hand when I answer the door... still, the maids
have been real understanding about it after I explain that when I hang
up the "do not disturb" sign, I really do mean it.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:50:06/02-13-63>
Message no. 9
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Sat Jan 5 16:10:01 2002
>>>>>[More leaked files to feed to the shadow nets.

And I still can't find who's sending me these. Which worries me. Any
good deckers interested in a challenge and willing to work for no money,
just the warm happy glow of a job well done?


+++++begin transcript
G: Representative Gowne
M: Commander C Mitchell, UCAS Navy



G: Commander, thank you for your time.

M: Representative.

G: Commander Mitchell, you were impersonated for some time by Colonel
Lynch.

M: That's correct.

G: Does that offend you?

M: It was necessary.

G: I'm sorry?

M: Aztlan forces captured me when a supply and training run to the
Yucatan was compromised by General Mado, who worked for Doctor
Nar'moh'ach, also known as Silvermoon Winterleaf, also known as 'Jan
Smits'.

Doctor Nar'moh'ach used a combination of chemicals and psychosurgery
to condition and reprogram me into his puppet, and set up an incident

in Denver where three of my teammates were executed and I was allowed

to escape to the UCAS Zone. It was intended that this would convince
the UCAS that I was an escaped hero. Were you aware of that?

G: I... no, I was not.

M: My conditioning was detected, and I was sent for treatment. This was
successful, in part due to the experience of Lieutenant-Colonel
Lilith Lynch who had previously suffered such assaults. However, the
decision was made - not by me, I was severely wounded - to replace me

with Colonel Jason Lynch, who was also recovering from serious
injuries sustained in an assassination attempt. This afforded the
UCAS an opportunity to destroy a threat.

I am not 'offended' by my comrades-in-arms exploiting opportunities,
even if the opportunity is created by my misfortune. I would have
been hugely offended if that opportunity had been squandered out of
regard for my 'feelings', especially if lives had been lost as a
result.

G: Your feelings? I'm sorry, I don't understand.

M: Representative, one of the 'negative reinforcement' experiences
applied to me if I was not co-operative, was to have a stun baton
forced into my anus, and then repeatedly discharged until the
batteries went flat or until I lost consciousness from the pain thus
induced. That was... rather unpleasant. It reduced my motivation to
resist my treatment. Fortunately, it seems it did not *destroy* my
motivation.

I'm reliably assured that this never actually happened to me, and
that it was merely simsense conditioning using prerecorded stimuli:
but it felt quite horribly real at the time and it still gives me
nightmares now.

If nothing else, this was done to *someone* in order that the
experience could be recorded and re-used, and I also wonder how many
individuals experienced that particular sensation in order to produce

a sufficiently detailed experience for implantation.

Knowing that the teams who inflicted that memory upon me are now
radioactive vapour helps me feel better about it, as does knowing
that Colonel Lynch used what was done to me in order to assist him in

destroying the individuals responsible.

On the other hand, how would you justify allowing Nar'moh'ach to
continue his operation, to kill UCAS citizens, subvert your
government, and increase the cost in blood of shutting him down,
merely because it requires a small feat of misdirection; and the UCAS

shrank from that lie, preferring to needlessly sacrifice its own
soldiers instead?

G: But he stole your _life_.

M: I had very little life to steal at that point. Kathleen had left me,
I was... not a likeable individual. One reason I was vulnerable to
Nar'moh'ach's conditioning, and why he believed Colonel Lynch's
portrayal of me.

Besides, Representative, I'm expendable. But on that operation, I was

safe and secure and having my mind rebuilt while others took the
risks.

G: Does it bother you? That you were subjected to such conditioning?

M: Yes, it does, very much. My great fear is that it may reassert
itself. I'm assured this is almost impossible, but that I should
watch for certain warning signs. My command team have been briefed
and trained on what to expect, and what to do if it happens, but with

that proviso I've been cleared fit for unrestricted duty.

G: And what's your professional opinion of Colonel Lynch?

M: Divided. On one side, he's ill-disciplined, with a casual attitude to

matters such as drill, deportment, respect for superiors and dress
regulations. He's a slovenly sonofabitch and a royal pain in the ass.

On the other side, he's a thoroughly competent combat commander. A
typical active-duty warrior, one who needs a war to be useful: in
peace he's an irritant, in war he's a hero.

G: I don't understand.

M: I would consider resigning my commission rather than serve an
assignment of barracks duty or other low-activity service in the same

unit as Colonel Jason Lynch. I would also accept a combat assignment
alongside, for or with him, against any enemy; in any location, under

almost any circumstances.

He is a sorry excuse for a soldier, but a first-class fighting man.
In war I would be happy to have him under my command, be happy to
serve alongside him, and in a warzone would follow his orders gladly.
Are you able to understand the difference between peace and war,
Representative Gowne?

G: I believe so, yes.

M: There are many things I would criticise about Colonel Lynch, just as
he would have many differences of professional opinion with me. But I

would be very glad to have him fighting beside or beneath me, and
would obey his orders if he were promoted above me. I dislike him,
but I trust and admire him. I would hope that feeling was mutual.

Do I make myself clear, Representative?

G: No further questions.
+++++end video

Some of that's enough to bring tears to the eyes. A stun baton up the
jacksie...]<<<<<
-- Bungle <22:40:25/01-05-63>
Message no. 10
From: shadowtk@*********.com (J. Mach)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Sun Jan 6 20:50:00 2002
>>>>>[So, let me get this straight...for no money--no money mind
you--you'd like someone to either:

a) waste their time on a wild goose chase looking up the source of some
bogus / doctored / just plain faked data.

-or-

b) risk their neck breaking into a black-if-not-worse-ice of the
government or military installation(s) where this data _may_ be hidden.

-or-

c) both of the above.

That there brings tears to my eyes. Shit man, most of the deckers around
here wouldn't bother even _if_ you were offering hefty newYen.

You know what? It really doesn't matter. If people like Lynch, they'll
belive anything good said about him. If they don't, they won't.

Sorta like the whole God question, really, but you didn't hear me say
that.

I wonder how much trouble the participants in the past few Bungle-dumps
would be in if they cared to either "confirm or deny" the legitimacy of
the postings.

Mitchel loved to flap his jaws in here, or was that a Lynch in Mitchel's
clothing. Who knows? I'm just saying that I really doubt anybody is
going to offer up their bung-holes for the loving attentions of a baton
themselves in order to help you out on this one Bungle, but heck, it would
be nice if any of the first-persons in this would care to venture an
opinion.]<<<<<
-- NewzJunkie <16:37:48/01-06-63 PDT>
Message no. 11
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Mon Jan 7 18:35:00 2002
>>>>>[Hey, NewzJunkie, I *could* tell you...

But you know the second half of that sentence, right?



Don't worry. Whether the stuff going to Bungle (and whether it's true or
false, it ain't me sending it) is true or false, it should be pretty
academic as far as the Seattle scene goes. It's either disinformation,
or past history and arguments over a battle won by the Good Guys.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:37:53/01-07-63>
Message no. 12
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Mon Jan 7 18:35:02 2002
>>>>>[Hey, NewzJunkie, I asked a question.

Don't like it? Bite my fat Ork butt. "No" would have been enough,
wiseass.


I *know* this drek gets dangerous. I was in the middle of some of it
while it was happening. Now I'm curious to know how the aftermath is
playing out, and I don't have the skill to go dig for it myself or the
money to *pay* someone to look.

So I asked to see if anyone else was curious.

So *you're* not interested? WFW, cry me a river.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <23:30:48/07-01-63>

*****PRIVATE: Bungle
>>>>>[My, my, Edward, we *have* spent too long around Jason, haven't we?

What a transformation.]<<<<<
-- LCol L R W Lynch <23:32:26/07-01-63>
UCAS Air Force (Reserve)
Message no. 13
From: shadowtk@*********.com (J. Mach)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 8 01:20:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Bungle
>>>>>[After you pull that Ork-sized stick out of your bungle-hole, I'd
like to ask you something.

How many search programs just perked up their ears and raised their tails
to go yapping back to their masters when you admitted on an open channel
that, and I quote:

"I was in the middle of some of it while it was happening. Now I'm curious
to know how the aftermath is playing out, and I don't have the skill to go
dig for it myself or the money to *pay* someone to look."

Hmm?

I know you're not on the hot list when it comes to the deck-heads around
here, but admitting it and letting people know that you were involved in
some nasty govt. spy-crapola with Jason "Paint a target on me big brave
chest" Lynch. I don't know, kid, but maybe you might want to keep an eye
out for little read dots appearing on your forehead, and I don't mean to
imply you going Hindu.

So, I'll admit, I'm not the most honey-tonged bastard in this node, but
what I was trying to tell you in my own fashion was that you shouldn't
expect anybody to come leaping to your aid, especially openly. If anybody
was going to offer to help (which I ain't, by the by) they _might_ do it
nice and private like.

Meanwhile, some dumb-ass neophyte kid out there who was just about to get
it in their two working neurons to dashing to your side, hopefully read my
message first and thought about it a second. So, maybe, he will not end
his short time on this mudball flatlined in a pile of his own shit and
vomit. I say that because I've never known you to spread rumors, so if
you're going to say it happened, and Lynch is going to raz me about it,
then it probably happened. All the more reason to wave off anybody stupid
enough to help you out.

And just so you don't get it in your be-tusked skull that I'm just pissing
on your parade, I ain't sayin' nothing about the guys who are _smart_
enough to help you--and there's a big difference there--but I sure as hell
ain't in their league.

I hope you live and I hope you learn.]<<<<<
-- NewzJunkie <22:08:13 / 01-07-63 PDT>
Message no. 14
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 8 12:55:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: NewzJunkie
>>>>>[Once you get down off that high horse, you might want to cast your
mind back a little, to November last year.

To the fact that unlike some folks who slid in and out of this operation
like mist through a forest, *I* arrived when two FRAG troops came round
to my room to kill *me*, and then Lynch turned up and killed *them*, and
then we left rather rapidly, and then the cops found the bodies and
started a felony investigation, which between me being missing and two
Fed attack thugs being dead in my dorm, had the side-effect of putting
me into right into the spotlight.

So I'm already publicly stapled to this business, like it or not.

Besides, I'm trying to imagine who'd want payback for that op, but who's
also so weak and desperate that I'm all they can pick off... and not
coming up with much.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <17:58:43/01-08-63>
Message no. 15
From: shadowtk@*********.com (shadowtk@*********.com)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 8 22:35:01 2002
>>>>>[Now now, Bungle. Your supposed to be the voice of "proper
society"
around here, remember?

Besides, I'm sure somebody with your IQ could come up with more invetive ways
to insult someone. "Bite my fat Orc butt"? Sounds more like what some
barely literate, homicidal savage like me would say (well, excpet for the fat
and Orc parts).]<<<<<
-- Irish <20:41:45/08-01-63>
Message no. 16
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Thu Jan 10 16:55:01 2002
>>>>>[Hey, Irish, this is a private forum. There aren't many here who
know who I am in real life (yeah, many could find out if they cared, but
how many care?), still less many who could uphold a complaint against me
to the University.

I'm feeling kind of stressed at the moment because my academic sponsor
has just told me that I *don't* get an extension on my viva date, even
if I was... well, you know the story. So I have to get my thesis
submitted in September regardless. I know to many here this is a trivial
problem, but to me it's a big deal.


As for literate insults... I could come up with some doozies, but then
people might get really upset. Foreign languages and wit are Not
Allowed.

+++++private to Irish
I mean, Martial got a *killer* off. "Et delator es et calumniator, et
fraudulator es et negotiator, et fellator, et lanista, miror quare non
habeas, nummos!"

Which very roughly translates as "You're an informer and a muck-raker, a
con-man and a spiv, a male prostitute who takes it coming *and* going,
and a corruptor of the young... and yet amazingly, you're *still*
penniless!"

Okay, so some of the subtleties get lost, but the original is *good*.

I've heard what happens to intellectuals on this board. I'm sticking
with crude insult. Safer.
+++++end private include

Take me as I am. Or else come and try putting teethmarks in the
aforementioned fat Ork butt. It's fat. I'm an ork. It's my butt. Nice
and simple.]<<<<<
-- Bungle <21:54:27/01-10-62>

--
Paul J. Adam
Message no. 17
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Mark Imbriaco)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Thu Jan 10 23:25:03 2002
>>>>>[ Yes, Bungle, your footage is real. No, I'm not going to tell you
how I know it's real, but it is. You're welcome. ]<<<<<
-- Flux <**:**:**/**-**-**>
Message no. 18
From: shadowtk@*********.com (shadowtk@*********.com)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Fri Jan 11 21:35:01 2002
>>>>>[No teethmarks from me, Bungle. I'd have to eat with my mouth
sometimes
afterwards. Bootmarks can definetly be arranged though.

As for knowing who you really are, that little statement about an acedemic
advisor sure gave a clue to anyone with more than ten firing neurons.

+++++private to Bungle:
No offense intended, Bungle. Just trying to lighten the mood and blow off
some steam. Actually, if you want I can try to convince my daughter to help
you with the book-work portion of your thesis. Maybe it will get her
interested in going for a PhD and get her damn fool idea of being a
shadowrunner out of her system...
As for (semi-)literate insults, I've alwasy liked "Rotzak". Its from a
fictious language and roughly translate as "bastard of a leperous whore".
Its pretty insulting and most people have no idea what you've called them.
+++++end private include]<<<<<
-- Irish <19:36:45/01-11-63>
Message no. 19
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 15 17:45:01 2002
>>>>>[Oh, boy... if this is real, it's the big tamale and the last move
in the game.

+++++begin transcript: Representative Gowne
G: Representative Gowne
L: Colonel J R W Lynch, UCAS Marine Corps


G: Colonel, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, upon your honour as a warrior of the Sioux and as a
UCAS Marine?

L: I do so swear.

G: Thank you. Colonel Lynch, during your service to the UCAS, have you
committed illegal acts?

L: Exhibit J-12 before you should be sufficient answer.

G: It's a lengthy document.

L: That's because I have committed many illegal acts for the UCAS.

G: Or for yourself?

L: I broke a lot of laws for personal gain before I went through
Quantico and took an oath of service. Since then, I do what I do for
country, not self. Being rich helps a lot, of course. Some of my
actions have made me richer.

G: Are you willing to discuss the sources of that wealth?

L: It's on file and declared. What more do you want to know?

G: Why? Why did you enrich yourself thus?

L: In the main case, in 2053, I was tasked to shut down a BTL
distribution ring, I did so. I couldn't lawfully arrest and
extradite the perpetrator to the UCAS for trial, so I could let
him go, gouge him and let him go, or kill him. Which is the best
option?

G: You extorted money from him.

L: No. I told him that his scam was over and that if he sold me his
securities and business for a 'consideration' I'd let him run to
spend the embezzled cash in his numbered accounts, and that I was
more interested in personal financial security and in ending his
smuggling than in putting him in jail. He accepted the offer.

G: That's hardly moral.

L: It's fairly just, especially since a FBI agent had to hire _me_ to
stop the BTL smuggling that they could not deal with by legal means
and I was hired for a pittance plus what I could pick up for myself
in breaking the outfit. "Bind not the mouths of the kine that tread
the grain."

I also took over the dealers' shares in a business, rather than cash:
I then used my shareholding and powers of persuasion and a bright MBA
friend of mine to restore the business to a functional profit,
protecting the employment of its workers and maintaining the UCAS tax
base.

G: And the smuggling stopped?

L: I might have walked on questionable ground as a freelancer, but I
stood by my work. The job was to shut down that smuggling route, it
was exterminated. Not many deaths, but lots of hasty relocations and
more arrests than expected. Now, Bluestar Airlines is honestly in the
black, if not hugely profitable, and that smuggling route was
permanently and completely closed.

G: So you let a criminal go.

L: I had a choice of illegally killing him, or legally letting him go. I
let him go and made myself rich in the process of stopping his crime.
Should I have murdered him?

G: You murdered Thunda.

L: Yes. You've gone on record as saying that was the wrong call. What's
right? Seems whatever I do gets me on your shit list.

G: If Thunda had offered you his BTL network-

L: I'd have shot him in the head and then suggested where he could put
his beetles. Of course he wouldn't have had much to say, then, but
you get the point. If he'd offered me a lawful business, I might have
let him hand it over to me. And _then_ killed him.

G: What if Thunda had given you his sponsors?

L: You think they were so stupid they'd let a disposable asset find
them?

G: You tell me.

L: I thought I just did.

G: You're calling *me* stupid?

L: I've never had to fight and win a marginal vote in the Lower House.
You've never opposed a group of renegade Aztlan Intelligence Service
dissidents, without central support and with Interpol on your back.
We don't really understand each other's worlds, Representative, but I
know there aren't PACs called "Pollution ain't THAT Bad" or "Asbestos
is your Friend" or "We'll Let Corporations Do What They Want Until
The Checks Bounce!"

G: And what about Las Vegas?

L: The job itself, we - the Intelligence Oversight Committee - agreed
as the most appropriate and effective for the mission.

G: And of course you kept the money.

L: I kept one-tenth of the money, and paid Federal and state income
taxes on it.

G: You paid _taxes_?

L: It's income, I came by it in the course of my employment, it's
taxable. I paid taxes.

G: What about the rest?

L: My team were freelancers, they work for money, they got paid. I
presume they file their own returns and I did not enquire.

G: Don't you feel that-

L: Representative, you should surely have seen how one Seamus Malone -
who was the man we robbed - reacted when the FBI tried to constrain
his illegal operations in Seattle. Twelve police officers dead and
thirty-one wounded, seven FBI agents killed and fifteen wounded, and
that was just the confirmed law-enforcement casualty count, the
civilian toll was into four figures. That was just for _reducing_ his
profits, not siphoning off a week's worth of his life's blood.

Everyone involved in that raid became marked men who can expect to
be hunted for life by Malone or his successors. Joey Cibarolo is
still offering a very large price for me, Lilith, and anyone else
on the team. I will not get them killed just to jump through hoops
doing *your* job for you.

G: People like-

L: Leave them out of this, Representative.

G: This hearing is secure.

L: And if you believe that, I have some national monuments available,
going cheap. I can show you transcripts of supposedly-secure
testimony in other cases that I've pulled off Shadowland, usually
within hours of the session. There are rumours that this hearing
is being filed there too. Someone's leaking, and it isn't me.

G: I can require you to answer-

L: And I will provide your answer through appropriate channels subject
to informed scrutiny, need-to-know, avoidance of compromise to
existing operations and currency of data. And if that data leaks,
you will be held personally responsible and punished severely for
any leaks, with a minimum sentence of twelve years without parole
in Terre Haute if that information reaches the public domain.

G: Are you threatening me?

L: The ship of state is unique, Representative, it's the only ship that
leaks from the top down. If I provide you with privileged and
protected data and it finds its way into the public domain, what am
I meant to believe?

I remain to be convinced that you have a need to know. I led the
mission, I chose my team, if the mission was illegal then my team
were obeying my orders and I was solely to blame for misleading them.
If my mission was _not_ illegal then there's no problem. Either way,
you don't need to know. If you want to know, here, and that
information leaks then you will be punished very severely for
endangering my team.

Of course, you can decide that this hearing _is_ secure and take
your chances...

G: I can compel you to answer.

L: Try it. So far I've waived my right to counsel and stuck to answering
questions. You want to get legal on me? You go ahead, Representative.
I _know_ when I'm outclassed and when to call in the artillery.

G: You committed multiple felonies in Las Vegas, and kept the money you
stole.

L: And I've got a seven-figure reward on my head from Bang-Bang
Cibarolo. How much protection is the UCAS offering me for that?

G: A gangster wouldn't dare-

L: Gangsters, shadowrunners, crooks, thugs, criminals, and nice polite
citizens with opportunity might all jump at the chance. Did they ever
find SAC Christopher D'Arkan's body? How many bullets were in SAC
Thomas Elliott's corpse? And a pirate submarine damn near killed _me_
with a couple of SAMs.

G: That's not exactly relevant-

L: They made enemies. They were hunted down and killed. They had the
same protection as I do, maybe more. But all of us got hit. I was
lucky enough to survive, they didn't.

D'Arkan's not just dead, but gone without trace, they didn't even
find a bloodstain. They found what was left of the NAN policewoman he
was working with... and they wished they hadn't, Thunda's mob had
*fun* killing her, they took their time over doing it and really
enjoyed themselves. And they left her corpse behind when they finally

got done with her; because they preferred making her body into a
warning sign, to keeping her alive and doing a thorough
interrogation.

They took Chris away because they wanted to do *more* to him, for
*longer*, than they did to Constable Sorilea. That thought scares me
terribly. Because I saw the forensics. I have some idea of what they
did, and how long it took her to die, and I wonder what could
possibly be worse that they were saving for Chris.

They found forensics showing SAC D'Arkan was captured rather than
killed. We know CoT took him and nobody has heard jack since, and we
have some idea from Constable Sorilea's corpse of what CoT would do
to prisoners: see what she suffered and how long they'd play with a
captive for, and then imagine what happened to the ones they took
away for more detailed examination rather than killing them in place.

Elliott got wiped out along with six fellow FBI agents in an open,
overt assault, shot dead in the street, and Malone *bought* the SAC
to stop any retaliation.

Thunda, his Children, Malone, and now Cibarolo, don't *care*,
Representative. Mainstream law enforcement does not scare or
intimidate our enemies. They are sure we are weak, disorganised and
stupid, and can be subverted, bought or just terrified by naked
force. And too often, they're right. That's the enemy we're facing
and the war I was fighting.

I _liked_ Chris D'Arkan. I kicked over a lot of rice bowls when he
called for help and I stormed in to find him and I failed just like
everyone else. What did the official, approved, by-the-rules systems
do to protect him or save him?

G: There are rules and procedures-

L: Let me know when the Bad Guys sign up to them.

G: While you believe you're outside the law?

L: Absolutely not. I set the law aside on occasion, under oversight and
for short periods. I don't do so casually or lightly, but sometimes
the law is twisted into protecting society's enemies. Sometimes, it's
necessary to do what is right rather than what is lawful.

G: The end justifies the means?

L: 'The end may justify the means, as long as there is something that
justifies the end'.

G: An example of this philosophy, please, Colonel.

L: Killing Thunda.

G: And your killing Thunda triggered a second, worse, round of violence.

L: We saw what the Children of Thunda did to avenge their fallen hero.
What would they have done to secure his release, if he were
imprisoned? No less than they did to "avenge" him, I'd bet, and
probably more. The Thunda/CoT cycles were carefully planned and
scripted, whether he died or lived. We - the UCAS - were played like
violins.

I actually think he was destined to die, whether we killed him or
whether he surrendered or whether we missed him completely, he'd have

been incinerated by remote control anyway. We found the code-receiver
and the incendiary catalysts in his ashes... eventually.
Sophisticated stuff: his handlers push a button and ten seconds later
Thunda is smoke and dust and metallic debris, and it was a long time
before the means was identified. He was *not* to be taken alive or
even identifiable. Of course, that's hindsight.

G: You decided on those cold, quiet grounds?

L: No. I saw his victims and I saw his handiwork and I looked for the
quickest way to end it. I said, "For the children" and that was true.



G: Do you like your work, Colonel?

L: No, usually I love it. As long as I can keep the collateral damage
down.

G: Really?

L: Yep. Of course, I'm widely alleged to be insane.

G: But you _enjoy_ your work?

L: On both levels. I mean, there's the crude one. Until recently, I got
to fly three, four hundred hours a year of high-grade fast jet combat
as an Aggressor, teaching overconfident pilots why an old MiG-57 is
something to fear; I got about the same amount of rotary-wing time,
which was mostly low-level NOE raiding stuff; I regularly,
routinely, fight OPFOR against the best UCAS and allied military
units we have; and that's just training. For real, I get to land in
the middle of the Bad Guys and kill-or-be-killed until I win or I
die, and you don't get a better buzz than that.

G: You _enjoy_ doing that?

L: As I said, my sanity is sometimes in doubt. At the time you wonder
if it's ever possible to be so scared again, but at the same time the
exhilaration of survival is just incredible. You might want to try it
sometime.

G: And you enjoy attacking the UCAS when it suits you?

L: Not when it suits me, no. I do take a savage satisfaction in
attacking scumbags like Ernang, though.

G: Explain.

L: Ernang ordered the murder of UCAS citizens simply to suit his ends,
which were illegal and undeclared. He abused his position to enrich
himself, kill our citizens, violate our laws and foment a war. He
personally murdered a UCAS juvenile. I am _proud_ to have fucked his
plans over.

G: You've done similar.

L: When?

G: Maxim Arms, to name just one. You declared war on an extranational
corporation-

L: No, that was a deniable-but-traceable response approved by the State
Department.

Even if the raid on the Cambodia nuclear bunkers had failed, my dead
body found - with the UCAS-issue rifle, my Marine Corps dogtags and
the Department of Energy skillchips I was carrying - would have sent
a clear signal to Maxim that the UCAS was vehemently opposed to this
particular manifestation of their nuclear capability. I could be
easily denied and written off as a renegade who'd "stolen" the
equipment, yet Maxim would also have had clear warning that the UCAS
wanted the situation resolved on terms other than Velli's.

I'm told - I don't *know* - that _PRIZEFIGHTER_ *personally* approved
the plan. And the contingency I was briefed upon, in case I and the
shadowrunners failed, would have *had* to have Presidential
authorisation. And I was briefed on it: if I'd been captured and
mindprobed, Maxim would have had clear cause to believe that their
Phnom Penh facility was targeted for thorough clean-fusion
annihilation from several submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Bluff or fact? I don't know. I believed it at the time, with
hindsight I think it was bluff. Plans within plans.

G: And yet it's virtually certain that Maxim has regained atomic
weapons, indeed that they have between ten and twenty warheads,
plus biological and chemical -

L: And Velli has been circumspect in letting that be known. She
lunged at nuclear arms, made a violent public demonstration of
her new weaponry, and had her arsenal publicly destroyed by a raid
sponsored by several hostile corporations and governments. Nicole
Velli is a lethally intelligent woman who has learned from that error
and will not repeat it.

Now, by being more discreet, she has a powerful arsenal of weapons
of mass destruction and the means to deliver them anywhere in the
world, but she knows the consequences of using them or even
brandishing them in public. Before, she was shouting "I am Nicole
Velli, queen of queens! Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
Now, she's just quietly whispering "Don't tread on me..."

I'd hazard she's finding the full range a poor investment and that
within a few years she'll abandon all but one strand, probably
nuclear but possibly chemical, and let the others wither - but that's
a guess. It's fact that she's been very discreet about her
capabilities.

G: It sounds as if you admire her.

L: I do, very much. She's killed friends of my friends, she's cunning
and dangerous and intent on increasing her own personal power; but
she is a fearsomely clever woman, a powerful leader, and also a
potential UCAS ally. She has a knack of finding highly competent
people and earning their total loyalty. We should find ways to align
her interests with ours, rather than fight her unnecessarily, because
there aren't many obvious reasons why the UCAS and Maxim have to be
enemies and she'd be a useful ally as long as she was sure she'd gain
by it. We should not *trust* her or take her on faith, but that does
not mean we can't work with her.

What was your point?

G: That you've done highly illegal things yourself.

L: Damn right. When did I kill a whole family in their house because
their son turned out to be a decent decker?

G: I'm not aware of any specific-

L: Ernang did that. Is that right or wrong?

G: I... <pause>

L: Take your time. Seems pretty clear cut, doesn't it? But you're
scared to go on record as saying it can't ever be done, in case _you_
need it done for fine and moral reasons, and some suit-clad killer
you've hired realises that you've officially said the job you're
asking for is illegal and there are no exemptions.

G: You're saying you're a Federal hitman?

L: I'm a cleaner. I police up the mess other people make. I do so with
Government sanction. And I am usually proud of what I do because I
do it efficiently and well.

G: You're proud of blowing Colonel McNally's head off? Of killing, at
best estimate, over sixty Fast Response Action Group soldiers?

L: Yes. I stopped their ritual, I fucked their plans over, I held them
accountable for their actions. I asked for help and was told I
couldn't have it. I was told to solve the problem by any means
necessary without UCAS help.

I solved it.

I also left over thirty FRAGgers alive for the police to arrest at
Annapolis, when I could have used live ammo and phosphorous grenades
and just _killed_ the sonsabitches. And I and my team didn't kill
that many of the FRAG on Madagascar, the _corpses cadavres_ *they*
summoned did most of the execution. We just fought our way *in* to
rescue my wife, and then stayed alive until we could escape. Self-
defence for us, self-inflicted for the FRAG.

And now I'm here, accounting for what I did. That's why I am right
and they are wrong: I'm here to answer for what I have done and I
will accept the consequences. I will not lie and deceive and hide.

G: Are you making allegations?

L: Are you?

G: You think you're above the law?

L: I'm here proving that I'm not.

G: You'll accept the judgement of this court?

L: It would be pretty fucking stupid appearing here otherwise.

G: *Why* are you here?

L: Because we have to set precedent. Even if the guys on the frontline
aren't answerable while we act, we have to answer afterwards.

Otherwise you get Ernangs and von Drexlers and Bartletts, who hide
behind the laws they claim to serve and justify escalating crime
behind 'national security'. We have to have security but we have to
have oversight too.

I am right because I did what I believed was correct, and now I am
answering for my actions. If my actions were wrong, then I'll be made
an example of. If I was right, then this is a confidential hearing
and nobody of consequence will know. But I am here, presenting myself
for judgement.

G: And what if you are charged and convicted and spend long years in
jail?

L: Then I will accept the judgement of the Court, right up until I
escape and go back to shadow work and never use my true name again.
The point will remain; I am not above the law, no more than any other
citizen. And if you don't think never being able to use your own name
again is petty, then you understand nothing of honour.

G: You really believe that you did the right thing?

L: Why the hell else would I have done it?

G: Do you have anything else to say?

L: Not unless you have more questions.

G: Then we'll recess and debate until we reach judgement.

Good day, Colonel Lynch.
+++++end transcript

Oh, great. "Go away and clench your sphincter until we tell you what
happens.

Any idea what they could do to him? I mean, what's the worst that could
happen?]<<<<<
-- Bungle <22:46:42/01-15-62>
Message no. 20
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 15 18:00:00 2002
>>>>>[If you really wanted to know, Bungle, then the worst that could
happen is that the Panel determine that Colonel Lynch's actions merit a
dishonourable discharge and a life sentence without parole in
Leavenworth. That's possible, but unlikely.

The best, which is simply not going to happen, is that they pat him on
the back and tell him he's a good little Marine.


Where in the middle they will choose to land... is a good
question.]<<<<<
-- David J. H. Coppinger <23:03:24/01-15-02>
Message no. 21
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Mark Imbriaco)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 15 20:50:01 2002
>>>>>[ I don't think the Representative is going to push the issue too
terribly far. His constituents wouldn't be terribly impressed by his
failure to act when he was notified about Ernang's activities, and he's
aware that the transcripts of the proceedings have been leaked to
Shadowland already.

***** PRIVATE: D J H Coppinger

And he sure as hell doesn't want the public to find out about the
adventures that Ernang was planning into Sioux territory, which he
neglected to ask about in the hearings. It's a good thing my SEAL team
just happened to be conduscting joint excercises with the Wildcats at
the time.

***** END PRIVATE ]<<<<<
-- Zachary Turner <19:52:51/01-15-63>
Message no. 22
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 15 23:30:04 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Well, the mention of Malone in that I've just realised what an idiot
I've been. I'm surprised I lasted this long, actually. Maybe I'll join Faerie in whatever
hellhole she's doing time in now. ]<<<<<
-- <17:59:29/01-15-63>
Message no. 23
From: shadowtk@*********.com (shadowtk@*********.com)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Jan 16 22:35:01 2002
>>>>>[What? Lynch fragged with Velli and I had to miss it?! Life just
isn't
fair....]<<<<<
-- Irish <20:43:25/01-09-63>
Message no. 24
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Mark Imbriaco)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Jan 16 23:40:02 2002
>>>>>[ I was there, Irish. Be glad you missed it, that was a hairy
mission to say the least -- getting carried through the wire by Lynch
and Buzz is not my idea of fun, to say the least. Cripes, that was
almost six years ago now. ]<<<<<
-- Griffyn <23:39:12/01-16-63>
Message no. 25
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Thu Jan 17 16:40:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Cdr Zachary Turner, UCASN
>>>>>[While I don't know who is leaking those transcripts, I find it
interesting that those questions *were* asked... in segments that have
not been made public. I would almost say that fact might perhaps point
us at the leaker... indeed, Jason is fairly sure that it's *Gowne* who
is leaking. I'm not sure myself, but it's possible; and I at least know
who it is *not*.

I also think that the prudent response of yourself and others, did a
great deal to prevent Ernang from being able to create the situation he
desired.

The Committee's response was... interesting. I think it's unnecessarily
harsh on Jason, but it's not unjust... just unfair.

Still, I'm sure he'll cope.]<<<<<
-- D J H Coppinger <21:42:46/01-17-62>
Message no. 26
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Mark Imbriaco)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Thu Jan 17 16:50:01 2002
***** PRIVATE: D J H Coppinger
>>>>>[ He always does, David. That's why he gets the jobs like this
that nobody else wants, with the added bonus of putting up with the crap
that the bureaucratlike to dish out. And Jane wonders why I don't want
her job when she retires -- putting me in that position would not be
conducive to the continued good health of the members of the committee.
]<<<<<
-- Cdr Zachary Turner, UCASN
Message no. 27
From: shadowtk@*********.com (shadowtk@*********.com)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Fri Jan 18 23:20:01 2002
>>>>>[I would'd of missed it anyway, Griffyn, a certain arangement curtails

my ability to interfer with Maxim. I still would have loved to see someone
_else_ kick over Velli's little red wagon.]<<<<<
-- Irish <21:24:30/01-18-63>
Message no. 28
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Sun Jan 20 22:35:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Faerie
>>>>>[Hoi and wassup? I'm drifting clockwise round the pacific rim from
Seattle, am I likely to be passing through your neighbourhood?]<<<<<
-- Ronin <16:36:38/01-20-63>

*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Nope, unless you're really fast, anyway. My unit is in southeast asia
at present, but we probably won't be here very long. Training corporate security types in
counter-insurgency techniques doesn't take much skullsweat.]<<<<<
-- Faerie <04:42:15/01-21-63>
Message no. 29
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Mon Jan 21 17:05:02 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Don't worry too much about Malone, Matt. He's dead.

His replacement is finding trouble getting people to even look for the
Vegas raiders. They made Mitchell, Harley, Easy, and Mani. Cibarolo even
sent people out after them.

There's something about sending a living, breathing hitman out... and
getting back a severed head in a hatbox with its testicles nailed to its
forehead... that deters repeat attempts. (That was Easy's solution.)

But if you feel some heat or want a rest, I can shelter you for a while.
Got my stupid self promoted, so I might as well *use* what I got.


As for Faerie... she's doing damn well, where she is. She might be
visiting various hellholes, but she's going there in good company. Like
you, it seems she's a pain in the butt that's also too competent to get
rid of.



Take care of yourself, Matt. I'd miss you if you weren't around.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:09:43/01-21-63>
Message no. 30
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Mon Jan 21 23:50:00 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Huh? Malone's dead? When did that happen? I need to keep my ear
closer to the ground.

What sort of shelter are you talking about? The sort of shelter I found
in that military prison you had me in briefly, or the sort I found down
south of the border (that pyramid-top shoot out, if you recall)? By
coincedence I'm heading in that direction now, maybe I'll visit that
pyramid and get some touristy photos.

Miss me? You must be getting old... careful, if you start giving a damn
about people, it'll get you killed.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:49:15/01-21-63>
Message no. 31
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 22 16:35:04 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[For enough money, you can make anyone dead. Especially
high-profile mafiosos with a taste for beautiful women. When the
military option to eliminate Malone failed, I went to the shadows.

As for shelter... you could always follow Faerie into mercenary work.
You'd walk straight into a platoon commander's job, if you wanted it.
Failing that, I could use you as a consultant (like the UCAS prison job
except you're an employee not a prisoner). No teocali jobs in sight, at
least not yet. I'm sure some will come, but I try to keep them
volunteers-only.

As for giving a damn about people... it's kept me alive this long, I'm
going to stick with it. There are only so many people I trust, it's in
my interest to keep them alive.

Even if I only trust them to be serious pains in my ass <g>

Stay safe, Matt.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <21:24:36/01-22-63>
Message no. 32
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Tue Jan 22 23:45:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[It'd be nice to work 9 to 5... what sort of consulting are you
talking about?]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:46:22/01-22-63>
Message no. 33
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Mon Jan 28 16:25:03 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[This is as much of a job description as I've got at the moment.

+++++begin audio
"Same as before, jarhead. Mostly you go around trying to screw over our
boys and girls in training the way the Bad Guys would for real. If
they're good, praise'em. If they're not, fix'em. Sometimes we'll turn
over a rock, find something festering underneath, well, you clean it up.
You won't get permanent troops, one of the safeguards, but you know
plenty of people to ask for. And doing the high-intensity training
routine means you know who's hot and who's not, who you can work with
and who you can't."
+++++end audio

So if you want a cushty distance job, you get to suggest ways-and-means
that an opposing force (simulating terrorists, shadowrunners,
mercenaries, corporations and associated scum) might find and exploit
weaknesses in Blue Team (the heroic square-jawed UCAS soldiery).

If you want a more exciting life, you get to come in with us and lead
some of Red Team to put your theories into practice.

Like I said... pretty much the Lewis job, without the bars and the walls
and the awful Day-Glo coveralls, and with you being a respected paid
consultant instead of a prisoner.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <21:14:36/01-28-63>
Message no. 34
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Mon Jan 28 23:25:05 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[That does sound good... what the hell, I'm in. When do I
start?]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:26:55/01-28-63>
Message no. 35
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Wed Jan 30 17:55:00 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[A couple of weeks, I think. I'm still mired in the administrivia
of "where do I get based" and "who do I get for my staff" and
"which
funding line do I draw my budget from"?

Never realised how much of that crap went on, back when I was working
for SIGA.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:54:32/01-30-63>
Message no. 36
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Thu Jan 31 00:05:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Delay's fine, I'll have to work my weay back through the smuggling
routes anyway, not having a passport and all... so what's easier this time of year?
Aztlan/CAS/UCAS? That Aztlan/CAS border's a bit of a fragger, but the CAS/UCAS is easy
enough. Or the Carribean Highway? Not so bad this side, but the CAS and UCAS boats are
real damn vigilant around there, still fighting the losing war on drugs and immigrants. I
suppose there's the boat ride round to CalFree, then across the middle, but that's really
the long way round... ho hum. I'm sure I'll think of something
cunning.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <18:05:52/01-30-63>
Message no. 37
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Punish the Innocent, Reward the Guilty
Date: Thu Jan 31 18:25:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[I can simplify that a *lot*. Get to _location_ and call
>>number<<
and say who you are. You'll get collected, have a few days stay in Easy
and Mani's guest room - probably get to help them with the horses, which
you may or may not enjoy - and then get courier-delivered to Seattle by
Harley. (Enough names to trust yet?)

In Seattle? Go to the gatehouse at Fort Lewis, identify yourself as
Matthew van Holde, and after they stop kowtowing you get given a
business-class ticket to DC. (You're clean as far as we're concerned.)

I have a side that sees the light... and a side that lives in shadows.
Ain't it cool?

Besides, I need to be good at moving people around. The Bad Guys play
the same game. How do we shuffle people and stuff around unnoticed while
seeing everything they do? The answer is 'we don't but we try hard'.


Or of course you can do it your way and just knock on the Pentagon door
when you get here. See if I care <g>]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:26:15/01-31-63>

Further Reading

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Thwap!