From:	Doctor Doom <jch8169@******.TAMU.EDU>
Subject:	Anniversary . . .
Date:	Sun, 8 May 1994 23:54:44 -0500

*****Inquiry . . .
*****Date Verification . . . 8 May 2055
*****Input coincides with stipulated parameters
*****Running . . .
SYSNOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE
>>>>>[ Greetings, meine Kamaraden!

It was one year ago today that a memorial was unveiled in the Hall of Honor
in the ShadowLand nightclub, Valhalla, in memory of those who fought and
died in the Matrix War of 2054, naturally emphasizing RUFUS who selflessly
sacrificed his life to end the plague of MONICA upon the Matrix. What
follows is a description of the monument, for those unfamiliar with it:

Obviously, there is the depiction of RUFUS, called by some an Artificial
Intelligence, by others a new form of life. Either way, he was a programming
construct who merely sought to be human and in the end displayed the peculiar
traits of humanity such as a willingness to fight for his beliefs and sacrifice
himself for his comrades. His arms are outstretched, similar to the stance he
adopted when he closed with MONICA during that final battle.

What shall doubtless interest the participants in the Crash of 2054 is the
small constellation of smaller images surrounding the larger image. They are
the Matrix Icons (with their Matrix personae handle beneath it) of the various
technomancers who participated in the War with MONICA, and as such, were deemed
appropriate to honor as well. They are arranged in order of participation and
importance to the war effort. The breakdown is as follows:

Hovering above RUFUS's head is the image of Dark Elf, flanked by dear DOA and
the deceased Splut, both of which willingly risked their lives and gave of
themselves for the others.

Moving slightly further down are the other leaders, Highlander, Nightstalker,
Ramierez, Wolf 359, and myself with little Goetterdaemmerung, the inclusion of
which I feel is valid. If Dark Elf was the Marshal, then these men were the
Generals in the battle that ensued, going above and beyond the call of duty and
fighting until the very end, where they witnessed the final conflagration as
MONICA and RUFUS merged.

Lowering the altitude and interspersed up and down the sides of RUFUS are the
warriors, those who battled gallantly in pursuit of the continued security of
the Matrix, whose ranks include, in alphabetical order, Big Kahuna, Crossfire,
Cypher, G.G. Megabyte, Glitter Boy, Hangtime, Harlequin, I.B.A., Indigo, Jaez,
Raven, Rom (Deceased), Short Circuit, Sparcs, Spirit, Splitter, Upload, and
White Knight.

Also, there is a plaque on the base of the statue whose inscription reads:

RUFUS

This memorial is dedicated in fond memory to not only to our
fallen comrade, but also the others who gave their lives in
noble effort to prevent the pestilence MONICA from infecting
the Matrix, and to those individuals who fought in the 2054
Matrix War, as they, too, strove valiantly in the pursuit of
the ideals of protecting the Grid from those people who, due
to foolish pride and blind ambition, would control it for
their own selfish means.


Dark Elf DOA Splut
------------------------------------------------------------
Doctor Doom Highlander Nightstalker
Ramierez Wolf 359
------------------------------------------------------------
Big Kahuna Crossfire Cypher
G.G. Megabyte Glitter Boy Hangtime
Harlequin I.B.A. Indigo
Jaez Raven Rom
Short Circuit Sparcs Spirit
Splitter Upload White Knight


"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day who sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition: And
Gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think
Themselves accurs'd they were not here, and
Hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks
That fought with us upon St. Crispin's day."
-- Shakespeare, Henry V, Act IV, Scene III


It is my hope that this memorial shall stand to mark the occasion when so many
differing individuals joined together in a common cause, that furthered the
interests of all. Putting aside personal differences and interests, we banded
together. This statue shall stand as testament to the selflessness of those
who fought that day, an example for ourselves, and our posterity. ]<<<<<
-- Doctor Doom <23:49:30/8-MAY-55>

>>>>>[ Gee, it's been a YEAR? Doesn't seem like that long . . . man,
time really flies when you're running from creeps like Ganz. Hey,
Powerhouse! How's the mission coming? ]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <23:50:00/05-08-55>

>>>>>[ Matrix War? ]<<<<<
-- Sonic Boom <23:50:11/05-08-55>

>>>>>[ It happened before you joined with us, Sonic. We'll tell you over
breakfast tomorrow. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <23:50:23/05-08-55>