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Message no. 1
From: Jeffrey Mach <mach@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 18:40:03 -0700
>>>>>[Wonder if the SPAM story would have even made the back page if Mr.
Frizman had cracked open his door to a caller who used a gun to "burst
every blood vessel in his brain" let alone burst open the back of his
skull?

And of course the shooter might have torqued his little finger while the
mage is probably puking his guts out somewhere or trying to deal with a
nosebleed that just won't quit. By no means am I trying to say that you
should feel sorry for the guy who did this, and I agree that the sick
bastard should get himself a one-way ticket to the burn-out factory for
this, but this kind of sensational journalism doesn't do anyone any good.

Sure, SPAM says we have "nothing to fear from registration and licencing."
Then, all magic users are described as evil wielders of Eldritch energies
who slaughter anybody in their way. (What ever gave them that idea?
Eldritch energies, I mean.) I don't buy it.]<<<<<
-- Michael <17:45:38/06-16-59 PDT>


>>>>>["Here we are. Born to be kings.
We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong. Fighting to survive.
In a world with the darkest powers.
And here we are. We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong. Fighting for survival.
We've come to be the rulers of your world."
-- Queen "Princes of the Universe" (circa 1986 C.E.)

*sigh*

(BTW, the only reason it comes to mind is one of my grand-dads thought it
was the greatest band of all time and liked to play is old "compact" discs
when I was around to "get some culture in me.")

If only it was as simple as a cliched trid program. We could all sit
back, wait for the heroes to kick @$$ and go get a good nights sleep. But
I take it you are serious, Illuminatus.

Keep that attitude, and you'll find your opposition neither weeping nor
pleading in the face of your (un)just wrath, but those whom you would
consider your "brothers" among the Awakened rising up against you in
numbers you couldn't comprehend for one simple reason:

We don't want war.

If it means fighting a battle to prevent one, so be it. And it isn't just
because there are so few Awakened and so many mundanes. And it isn't just
because while a fireball can kill dozens easily, a grenade can do so even
more easily. And it isn't because we wish to placate them in the hopes
that they won't treat us like dangerous beasts.

It is because no one has ever been born to serve. It is because there are
those who would even fight for the freedom of those who would wish to
enslave them. Humanity has three roads before it: the two that involve
enslavement of either mundane or awakened will lead to nothing but bitter
conflict, bloodshed, stryfe, and will never see their goals fulfilled.
The middle ground that you deny exists is where we learn to live together.
By no means will it be easy, since the danger of tipping in either
direction is a real one, and it requires a lot of the people who wish to
follow it. Lashing out like an animal against those that "are not like
us" is always the easy, primal instinct. But ultimately, it is the only
path that will succeed without destroying itself.

As was once said in a conversation where I was forced to correct one's
misuse of the word which means: gentle, patient, and without resentment
and not by any means weak, but choosing to withold that force from
destructive ends:

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."]<<<<<
-- Michael <18:38:59/06-16-59 PDT>


*****Private: Shifters
>>>>>[You think maybe I should cut back on my wine intake while checking
the shadowboards?]<<<<<
-- Michael <18:40:21/06-16-59 PDT>
Message no. 2
From: Justin Fang <justinf@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 20:26:08 -0700
>>>>>["SPAM"? Who the hell came up with that name, and why did
they expect
to be taken seriously?

Illuminatus: you're forgetting that your Superior Intellect is No Match for
our Puny Weapons. Oh yeah, you forgot the Evil Laughter (tm). Didn't you
learn *anything* in Evil Overlord School?]<<<<<
-- Sam-I-Am <20:20:09/06-16-59>
Message no. 3
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 20:12:42 +0100
>>>>>[They can't rule the world! _I_'m going to rule the world! And if
you refuse to accept me as your Evil Overlord, I'm going to hold my
breath until I turn blue! So there! And then I'll thcream and thcream
and thcream until I'm thick!

Ho hum, back in town, glad to see it's as fragged up as ever.]<<<<<
-- The Mighty Quinn <20:12:53/06-17-59>
Message no. 4
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 20:09:47 +0100
>>>>>[Yellow journalism, Michael. Nobody ever gets killed in a
screamsheet, they always get "brutally slain". Noone was ever "shot
twice while resisting arrest", they were "riddled with heavy-calibre
dum-dum bullets by Federal killers". Magical murder's surprisingly rare,
the irony of the SPAMmer getting his brain parboiled by a spell also
adds story value.

And you got to admit, magic makes a lot of people nervous, even guys
like me who always tried to work with a spellslinger in the team and
know what it's like. After all, don't you get a little wary of gun-
toting chromed-up cybersoldiers (yeah, like me) sometimes? They have as
much or more killing power as magicians, and you don't really understand
who and what they are, you couldn't ever be one or imagine being one
yourself, don't really understand their motivations... I guess maybe
that's a decent analogy?


Fear and prejudice and shock-horror-death sells copy, and so these
sheets play to it. And someone knows how to orchestrate that to produce
a desired result.

Anyone knows anything about this, you might consider letting me know.
(Yeah, sound effects, me backing down and looking dumb). We may be in
for some anti-magical vigilantism as well as these Enlightened Ones
weirdos, and some people here are targets for that.]<<<<<
-- Mitchell <20:09:43/06-17-59>
Message no. 5
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 09:22:06 +1200
>>>>>[I hate to dignify any of your comments with an answer, Illuminatus...
but to talk about you "just wrath" and "writhe in agony for our
pleasure"... surely that's a contradiction? The only way writhing in agony
can be part of just wrath is as a punishment, I would have thought... and
as for this "join us or die" bollocks, well, you're just asking for trouble
really. Some of my best friends are cattle.]<<<<<
-- Faerie <15:14:12/06-17-59>

*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[No, I didn't notice any obvious signs of
drunkenness.]<<<<<
-- Faerie <15:15:38/06-17-59>
Message no. 6
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 18:04:59 -0400
>>>>>[Hey, well, Quinn's got my vote for Evil Overlord. Oh wait, you don't
normally vote for that sort of thing, do you...

Don't hold your breath for too long Quinn. That particular shade of blue
just isn't you.]<<<<<
-- the Dark Stranger <22:23:42/06-17-59>
Message no. 7
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 18:05:27 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Mitchell
>>>>>[So why the change in heart Mitchell? Have recent events shaken you
more than the cool facade would suggest?

Look for some who's got an ax to grind against magicians. It doesn't make
any damn sense for any magical group to work so openly. It's possible, but
it's far more likely that someone else, someone more in line with CAPCOM
and SPAM that's behind this nonsense. No, a real magical group is smart
enough to operate behind the scenes, not so blatantly.]<<<<<
-- the Dark Stranger <23:42:05/06-17-59>
Message no. 8
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 23:01:47 +0100
*****PRIVATE: Shifters
>>>>>[I would only ask if I might sample some. It produces a pleasing
eloquence, it seems.]<<<<<
-- Mr Gone <23:01:46/06-16-59>
Message no. 9
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 20:01:14 +0100
*****PRIVATE: the Dark Stranger
>>>>>[Shaken? Me? Surely you jest. The cool isn't a facade, I let my
warm and sunny nature cloak the ice-cool core. Break through my outer
layer of cool, and you risk death by frostbite...

The Star have very little on these guys, maybe I can learn more from the
shadows. See if all those people telling me what a resource this place
is were right or wrong.


As to the cause... my guess is that it's orchestrated and magic's just a
convenient excuse. We had that GKJ guy hopping up and down beating his
chest last month, which was about when CAPCOM and SPAM both got going
and started recruiting.

Be interesting to see what I can learn out here, anyway.]<<<<<
-- Mitchell <20:01:34/06-18-59>
Message no. 10
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 18:46:07 -0400
*****PRIVATE: the Dark Stranger
>>>>>[Death by frostbite, eh? Must really impress the ladies...

Of course the Star has little on these guys. It's not in their best
interest to stop them yet. Lone Star has been pushing for magical
registration and additional "magic" laws for years now. This gives their
lobbyists more ammunition to push those legislative items forward, which in
turn means more money for the expanded contracts Lone Star holds.

Rumor is there are more than a few locals scoping things out on a freelance
basis. They may not be willing to share with the "fedgov kill kill."

But I would guess your suspicions are right. Magic is a convenient cover
for something else. What, I have no idea. And I'm afraid I've weightier
issues on my mind at this moment, such as if my damn plane will ever land
in Gatwick (fragging thing's been circling the airport for a half hour now)
though I don't suppose you'll actually get this message until I've hit
ground, one way or another.

Look up The Mighty Quinn; she's seconded (I think that's the proper term)
to SIGA and she seems to have wandered back to Seattle. She's got the
Talent and I think she could use some hard work to keep her mind off of
other things. First her friends die and then we go up against something
deep dark and spooky that is best we don't ruminate too much on. I'd
rather she doesn't go any loopier than she already is. But she might be of
some assistance.]<<<<<
-- the Dark Stranger <03:05:23 GMT/06-19-59>
Message no. 11
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 01:13:05 +0100
*****PRIVATE: the Dark Stranger
>>>>>[Oh, yeah, I'm so cool I freeze the ladies out. This job sucks if
you want to get laid regularly.

Maybe it wasn't in the Star's interest to stop them... until someone
shot a DPI agent. Only motive anyone can find is "he was DPI".

Quinn. I've heard about her. Meant to be good, but crazy as a fox. What
the hell, I'm consorting with the shadows, exploiting my RoE, using
Quinn for backup can't hurt. I'd appreciate some magical help, too.

She got a boyfriend? Just a sneaky unworthy thought. I never did
unfreeze the White Queen, maybe I can get some action with the Mighty
Quinn. Yes, I think with my dick sometimes, at least I admit it... be a
real bitch if I get _another_ cute female partner who freezes me out
completely.


Good luck with whatever you're dealing with, anyway. Whatever shit I say
about other shadowrunners, I owe you a favour: you took time to try to
straighten me out. You didn't have to do that, you didn't stand to gain
anything from doing so.

You need my help, I'll do what I can to provide it.]<<<<<
-- Mitchell <01:12:42/06-19-59>
Message no. 12
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 12:56:32 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Mitchell
>>>>>[Hey, it's not really easy picking up the ladies as a shadowrunner
either. "Hey baby, my name's the Dark Stranger. Wanna dance?" Doesn't
work that often. Neither does responding to "Is that a gun in your pocket
or are you just happy to see me?" with "Why yes, it is a gun." Why a lot
of shadowrunners either retire or "inter-breed."

Well, if we were talking about a Lone Star beat cop, a 20yr veteran or
something, they'd throw everything they had at it until it started damaging
the bottom line. But this guy was DPI, otherwise know as a Dip. Regular
Star aren't too keen on the way they prance about with their attitudes. So
while he was a fellow cop, he was also a Dip, which is even worse than IA
or the REMFs (I think that's the term) that hassle the beat cops all the time.

But it did get Lone Star's notice and I'm willing to gamble they'll focus
more attention on the matter. Dips, liked or not, are hard (and expensive)
to replace.

Heh. Good luck with Quinn. You'll need it if you're serious. She's a bit
unhinged, but part of that's because she's a Coyote shaman. Hard to tell
what she'll do next. And I don't think she's got the highest opinion of
you either.

I will tell you this though. You hurt Susan in any way, she'll have to
stand in line *behind* me while I visit a little pain upon you. Susan is
one of the exceptionally few individuals that I actually care about
Mitchell. We've had so many shared experiences, fought so many of the same
enemies. Honestly, only one magician can possibly understand what another
magician goes through on a day to day basis. So whatever you do, don't
hurt her or you may not live to regret it, consequences be damned.

But if you think you've got it, well, you're free to try. Just don't mind
me laughing in the background as you're shot down.

Careful about offering favors Mitchell. They might get called in sometime.
So why did I "help" you? I could chalk it up to the fact that you're a
well-trained soldier and it's unwise to frag with someone like that. I
could chalk it up to the fact you work for an agency and a government that
can wield enormous power when it needs to, and it's unwise to frag with
someone like that.

But it really comes down to three things. I respect your boss, Mr.
Coppinger. I care for Quinn. And I told Lilith that we'd fight a
particular enemy side-by-side when the time came. I'd rather not risk
changing any of those three, even if only two of those people are still
alive.]<<<<<
-- the Dark Stranger <23:05:42/19-06-59>
Message no. 13
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 22:31:07 +0100
*****PRIVATE: the Dark Stranger
>>>>>[Apparently Lynch used "security consultant" back when he
was
independent. That's got a decent ring to it. "Security" so the women
know you're a kick-ass-and-take-names type of square-jawed hero,
"consultant" has echoes of management and independence and power. Kind
of cool, in a sad way. And I guess it's sort of true, you get hired to
investigate someone's security. From the outside.

The buzz I'm getting from the Star is that they're taking it seriously.
A Dip or not, assassinating a cop is a really bad move. And this guy was
liked by colleagues, even regarded well by the FRT and SWAT units he
backed up. Something about saving fellow cops' lives, tends to help your
popularity.


As for Quinn... I can work with her. She's a soldier, she made it
through P Company, that's hard-core - BUD/S training but longer. I'm
talking about Lieutenant Rodriguez, if she fucks up she's not scoring a
joke on me, she's letting down the Regiment. She'd die before she did
that. I've worked with Paras before, I know what to expect. Lots of
stupid annoying little jokes, but nothing that threatens the mission.

I'm not getting into a pissing match about how much we could hurt each
other, Stranger. You got a big edge, you're a mage, but I _know_ that,
and I know some tricks too, so what say we both try not to make that
necessary? It would be painful for us both and I don't know which of us
would win, and it sounds like a waste of useful time and effort to me.


As for offering favours: I know what I did. It stands. You need to call
it in, remember I've got obligations to country and Navy, but you're a
smart guy, you knew that already. You know what was offered, you know
what it's worth.]<<<<<
-- Mitchell <22:29:40/06-19-59>
Message no. 14
From: Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM>
Subject: Re: They Don't Learn / Call to Arms
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 19:34:10 -0400
*****PRIVATE: Mitchell
>>>>>[So the Dip was not only an expensive corporate resource, he was well
liked by the boys on the sharp end of the stick. Okay.

I'm not trying to get into a pissing match with you either Mitchell. You
ever picked up a girl and her brother and/or dad was there, glowering at
you, sending you a not-so-subtle message of "Don't fuck with my daughter!"?
That's me, the protective big brother. Geez, I rough up one troll and
people start thinking every word is an insult or a taunt...just kidding.
I've had my cup of coffee and I'm feeling suprisingly bright-eyed and
bushy-tailed.

Aside from that, I can't help you much right now. Out of country, mopping
up a bit of left over business.]<<<<<
-- the Dark Stranger <09:23:42/20-06-59>

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