[JackVII]

[21APR2075 1355 | Med-Eval Office Park | College Station, TX | CAS]

>>Bookworm's robed mage icon sent out a few more globes, redoubling her efforts at searching for information on Niles Gray. After a short amount of time, the globes returned to her, glowing characters swirling around them. As she popped the eyes back into her head, the characters dematerialized as the information was downloaded into Breeze's deck. Sifting through the data, a certain name jumped out at her.

Returning to her senses, she glanced around the room. Seeing that everything was apparently still quiet, she mentally opened an ARO message and composed a quick note to Dr. Billings.

<<@DrB [Delilah] Hi Dr. Billings. I hope you're doing well. My research is progressing with respect to technological resistance to magical effects. I even managed to get in some field work yesterday. With all of the commotion going on around campus, I've been trying to keep away if I can help it. With that said, I had a run in with a student the other day and I thought you might know him; I think he's in the CS program. His name is Niles Gray. He was trying to use a microskimmer to take upskirt shots of my friend. Kind of a creep, hoping you can help me to avoid him if you know him. Thanks!>>

[rednblack]

@Bookworm

<<@Delilah V  [Dr .B] M glad that I hearsfrom you. Given the troubles I'm going to cancel office hours tomorrow. I wouldn't not recommend you come in unless absolutely necessary either too. As for Niles, well, I'm not sure if you have to worry about him unfortunately, or fortunately as the case may be. >>
<<Attachment: 1 Slain, 1 Missing in Grisly Dormroom Scene.txt>>

@Red-eye

Renegade responds quickly, too quickly to have been a meta-human analyzing the data.

<<Incoming Message
<<Sender: Renegade
<<Message: Be ready to move.  Given the likelihood of your survival should you encounter the Victoria Gonzalezes, payment is required up-front.  ¥735.  Intel is estimated to be actionable from 15 min. to 8 hours from issue. 
<<End Message

[Ryo]

Archive pried loose his first bit of data and grinned as he copied it to his deck. Now that business was settled, it was time to move on to personal matters, and things were about to get a little...Messy.


>>Change Icon: Archive.icon
>>Loading sleaze.Attrib.config
>>Initiating new program loadout. . .

In an instant Archive returns to his robed form, data flowing out from his body and spiraling around his forearm before taking the form of a two-pronged spike that extends out over his hand. He gestures towards the City Hall even as he rapidly moves through the host toward it, a discreet blast of data forking out in two directions and striking the files he found earlier about Niles Gray. In an instant, they are marked, but that is only the first step in the dance he was about to begin. He glances towards the clock formed out of data on his other arm, the representation of his Baby Monitor program. It's higher than he likes. Better make this quick.


>>Loading attack.Attrib.config
>>Initiating new program loadout. . .

Time for the music.

Another forked blast of data flies from his spiked weapon, this one glowing red and far less subtle. It slams into the files with a loud crash, like shattering glass as the protection on each file is simultaneously broken. It wouldn't take more than a few seconds for the Host to react to that. He could already feel the vibrations in the code, the telltale signs of an alarm being raised by his brazen attack. All he had to do now was grab the files and go.


>>Loading data.Attrib.config
>>Initiating new program loadout. . .

He was mentally counting in his head, second by second to maintain his timing, starting to reconfigure almost before the previous action was even completed and coaxing a little extra power from his deck with every change. He was ready for the finale now, data racing down his arms and into his spike as he sends another command with a burst of data into both files.


>>Access File
>>Command: Copy File

[rednblack]

Archive reaches with a digital arm to his quarry, but even with the glass enclosure shattered, the virtual papers stay tethered to their lectern.  His off-hand has no better luck, and he can feel the papers slipping from his grasp.  He can feel a set of "eyes" on him, and as he turns, Archive is faced with a cowboy wearing a tattered hat and walrus mustache, a tin star glowing on his vest.  <<"I don't think yer s'posed to be here, pard.">> the program says as the star grows brighter.

In the bottom corner of his vision, Archive can see his Baby Monitor program switching to orange.

<<Baby Monitor: 21

[JackVII]

[21APR2075 1400 | Med-Eval Office Park | College Station, TX | CAS]

Reviewing Billings' message, Bookworm couldn't help wonder if every professor at A&M had some kind of psychological issue resulting in chemical dependency. Oh well, maybe I can use this to my advantage...

>>Response inhibition under alcohol: effects of cognitive and motivational conflict.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This experiment tested the effect of cognitive and motivational conflict on response inhibition under alcohol.
METHOD: Fifty-six male social drinkers were randomly assigned to one of eight groups (n = 8). Four pairs of groups received 0.62 g/kg of alcohol, or a placebo, and each pair performed a go/stop choice reaction time task under one of four conflict conditions...

Waving away the ARO, the dwarf composed a reply to Dr. Billings.

<<@DrB [Delilah] Oh wow, that's a little frightening. What do you think is going on, Dr. Billings? I've been on campus a while and don't remember it ever being like this, what with all of this Retro-Futurist stuff.>>

[rednblack]

@Delilah,

<<@Delilah V [Dr. B] These rettro-futurists have there hooops all mixed up.  And of course they go into Comp sci or engineering, cause wee technolog.  as u can imagine, it make s catlin a little uncomforgable.  but this, mostly those kids just make lot a noize, and Niles never really seemed into into it to be honest.  I always figured he just wanted a place to belong in, andhe'd outgrow it or something.  I dunno, he is an angry youngman.  still, hope it isn't as bad as what it looks like.  coulda been good kid.  I'm sorry, Delilah, I really shouldn't b telling u all thiss>>

@Archive

Joyfully, Archive feels the files on Niles Gray come loose and he easily tucks away copies of them into his robe as he turns away from the cowboy.  Feeling another digital presence, he notices an icon for a sheriff, wearing a silver star, who does not seem to be in the mood for subtlety.  In his hand, he carries 2 wanted posters, which he attempts to pin on Archive's robe.

[Ryo]

Archive was already counting as the Sheriff turned his attention his way, and the Spider came running up with his wanted posters blazing

"1" The first step to the beat, bringing him around as he ignores the challengers and focuses on the files.


>>Reconfiguring...


"2" Data swirls around him, his defenses weakening as all his movements become slightly faster, putting all his energy into his Processors.


>>Command: Copy File


"3" Twin arcs of data launch from his spiked weapon, striking solidly against the files this time and drawing a digital duplicate out of each. As the data arcs retract, the duplicate files are reduced to raw numbers, drawn into the streams of data that makes up his body. Even before finishing this action, he's already moving on to the next beat.


>>Reconfiguring...


"4" He completed his measure and turned back around to face his opponents, Data already flowing back into his defenses as he overclocked his Firewall as far as it would go. Archive lifts his arms up to defend himself as the Spider closes in, moving to avoid the posters but unable to get clear as they both adhere to his arms like magnets.

"Not bad, but too little too late." Archive remarks. He already has the data he needs to find Breeze's killer. Thinking of that, he's suddenly reminded of the old flatvids that Breeze loved to use in his little messages, smirking as he did his best to lay on the swagger.


>>Command: Exit Host
>>Exiting . . .


"You will always remember this as the day you almost captured Captain Jack-" Archive dematerializes mid sentence, disappearing from the host and reappearing on the open grid.

"- Sparrow. Hmm, timed it a bit wrong. Oh well." With a shrug of his digital shoulders, Archive sent the mental commands to disconnect himself from the matrix. The virtual world peeled away from him like a wet shirt, leaving him feeling vaguely disoriented as he rebooted his deck.

He sits up in bed, remembering where he is, and what he's doing. Once his deck is back online, he sees the response he got from Renegade and quickly drafts a response.


>>Send Message
>>To: Renegade
>>"I'm ready to fly when you are. Got more files for you to speed things up. And payment, of course. Let me know if you need a wing-man."
>>Attachments: Gray, Niles/Complete_Profile/Index/Security Threats on Campus.dox, Staff Meeting:Restricted/MS/20-4-2075/full-text-audio.sync
>>Syncing Nuyen Transfer: 735¥

That done, Jack actually wonders about the files himself, and quickly reads through their contents.

[JackVII]

[21APR2075 1400 | Med-Eval Office Park | College Station, TX | CAS]

Bookworm gave a half-frown; Dr. Billings was being disappointingly reserved. Shrugging, she hoped that Archive had managed to find out more information.

<<@DrB [Delilah] It's okay, Dr. Billings. I think you know you're doing the right thing here. Being Awakened, and a dwarf to boot, I don't fit the normal Computer Science profile and I haven't really felt all that safe over the last few days, given the riot in the Quad. I don't really have anywhere else to go, so I guess I'll just have to keep my head down for now.>>

[rednblack]

@Bookworm

Dr. Billings sends a few replies in quick succession.

<<@Delilah V [Dr. B] Just hanb by your place, if u can hep it.  id aboid some of the campus bars.  Tipsy turtle especilly  i know that Marcarhall Edgestrom guy goes there a lot.  honestly, the rterro futurist shave as much to be worired about as anybody.  Some have pull, but admin doesn't like anybody staring riots.>>

<<@Delilah V [Dr. B] niles was takking upskirt shots?  realy?  that loittle weazel.  Ill tell yhou, if the drone during the riot was a retro-futurist drone, then it was Niles.  And if it was NIles, and he's alive right now, he's got trouble coming his way.  as dose VIPs.  No reason for college kids to have that kind of equipmet>>

<<Delilah V [Dr. B] a;sklj;aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa>>

@Archive

Archive is able to log out before the Texas A&M spider is able to hit him with a Trace Icon, or get any IC of note to come into play.  And that's why he's been able to get away with things so far.  Nobody knows who he is, and he's gone by the time any defense can be mustered.  Truth be told, Archive is feeling pretty good about himself when he gets another message from Renegade.

<<Incoming Message
<<Sender: Renegade
<<Message: Re: Staff Meeting, Last contact 15 min. ago at Valdez Super Pawn.  Still working on appropriate algorithm for destination.
<<End Message

Upon looking at the files, Archive notices that the Staff Meeting has been effectively cleansed through a judicious use of redacting.  The last edit was applied by McCormack, J., head of Applied Magics Lab Security.

The Security Threats document looks a lot more promising.  Archive sets in to see what can be learned.

<<Gray, Niles/Complete_Profile/Index/Security Threats on Campus.dox>>
<<Aliases: Big Daddy, BD, Niles the Conqueror (now defunct)
<<Affiliation(s): N. Gray is a suspected senior member of the Retro-futurist branch on campus, suspected in various hate crimes against meta-human students and possible intimidation of meta-human rights activists on campus. 
<<Known Accomplices: Edgestrom, Marshall; Comstock, Dwayne; Holt, Vivian; Green, Walker; Comstock, Jessica
<<Personality Profile: (Uploaded by Dr. Lillian Fuente, School Psychiatrist) Mr. Gray is prone to delusions of grandeur and martyrdom.  His obvious problems with female students suggest unresolved familial issues and a retarded sexual development, most likely stemming from frequent and extreme misuse of pornographic material, most likely of the illegal Hot-sim variety.  It is my opinion that meta-human female students are the most at risk from his continued presence on campus, and it is likely that the recent outbreak of pornographic AROs and "dorm cams" are most likely the work of Mr. Gray working alone.  A recent sweep of Mr. Gray's school emails suggest an unhealthy level of attachment to Jessica Comstock, whom he most likely views as a surrogate mother, though his inability to make distinctions between the virgin/whore dichotomy suggest this influence would not be a pacifying one.  Currently, our research shows that Jessica's eldest brother Dwayne will keep Niles Gray "in check" to borrow from the vernacular, but my fear is that without a clear outlet for his sexual energies in a more constructive relational form, we can expect to see more of anti-meta, anti-woman activities.
<<Suspected Illegal Actions:
<<19-4-2075: The drone found after the riot on the Quad is suspected to belong to Niles Gray.  J. McCormack is lead investigating officer.  No report filed.
<<30-3-2075: A Fly Spy was spotted by a random electronic sweep outside the Women's Dorms.  Said Fly spy was absent when School-Sec arrived.  No report filed.
<<15-3-2075: Pornographic AROs were found in the University Center, depicting a strong anti-meta, anti-female perspective.  Complaints filed.  Insufficient evidence was collected to file an formal complaint against Niles Gray.

Archive notes a number of other complaints, but they seem to be more of the same.

[Ryo]

Jack makes note of the info, but decides he'll wait to hear back from Renegade before moving on any of this. Instead, he heads back into the main room of the hotel and creates an ARO floating over the table displaying the 3D map of the airport blueprints he acquired from the host.

"Archive came through with some good intel on the airport. We should go over it, and devise a strategy on how we plan to get in and out of this place." Jack explains, using his Engineering knowledge to study the layout.

[rednblack]

the crew begins discussing their possible strategies for infiltrating the Easterwood airport, when Jack gets another ping on his comm.

<<Incoming Message
<<Sender: Renegade
<<Message: It seems our rat will be masquerading as a mouse.  19:20 Platform E.  Direct to Dallas.  Running under the SIN Arthur Brandt.  Statistically, I show a 86% chance that Niles Grey will have tapped his Retro-futurist comrades after selling his gear.  I do not have statistical probability on whom he would contact
<<End Message

[JackVII]

[21APR2075 1400 | Med-Eval Office Park | College Station, TX | CAS]

Bookworm pored over the blueprints Red-Eye had put together by way of Archive.

"That looks promising," the dwarf said, her finger stabbing at a particular ARO, "if we can rig a transformer to blow, we could take out the power." Thinking about the collateral damage that could potentially cause, she added, "Although maybe we should keep that in reserve in case things go to drek." The dwarf opened up a new ARO and checked to see if there was any publicly available arrival and departure information for the small regional airport.

"I would think the material is probably in the operations room of the Rangers station. So... do we try to break in cold or cause a distraction to reduce the numbers at the station? Other options?"

[Poindexter]

There was so much to take in. For one, this was the most amazing place Ian had ever set foot inside in his entire life. This is the kind of place Loki spends his time in. He's not sure if that revelation makes him more proud or more ashamed, but right now, he doesn't have the time or the energy to put too much stock into pride or shame. Right now, all he can think about is survival. He's got a lot of opposition as it stands, and quite frankly, is terrified of trying to steal something from the airport.

From the first time Ian ever heard about airplanes as a child, he was also told about the insane levels of mind boggling paranoid security one had to pass through to even get NEAR a plane, let alone ON one. Flying, like decking, had been one of those dreams Ian gave up early in life. The reality of the situation was painfully obvious right from the get go. And now, he's expected to steal something from that very bastion of overzealous corporate security?! Not just any something either, but something from the freaking Texas Rangers! Who, themselves are being aided by an entire university's worth of spirits on the orders of a paranoid master wizard, who personally has a small army of fanatical riggers and gun waving psychopaths in his backpocket!

While the new guy with the hood and Bookworm spend a good amount of time researching and doing the things those skilled in the ways of the matrix do, Ian wonders what role he can play. Well, I need to summon some more spirits. That means binding them though, and I've really been having second thoughts about that lately. I wish there were a way to keep more around at one time without enslaving them to my will. That shit is just creepy, even when they don't really seem to mind that much. How would I like that? Maybe I'll just summon and bind a few and promise to let em go by such and such a time. OR, I could let em know that they aint gotta do anything they think is fucked up, like they can still follow their own moral compass or whatever. Shit I dunno. But... Fucked up or not, creepy or not, I kinda gotta do what I gotta do, right? This aint about money, it's about the Doc.

Hopeless drops his shoulder bag onto the gorgeous coffee table with a thunk. As he walks toward the bathroom, he turns and says to the group, "I'm gonna take a-" then stops, realizing most of them are in full VR and non-responsive. Instead, he shoots them a message.

<<@Team [Hopless] I'm gonna take a shower. Need to clear my head and figure out our next move. Let's all swap whatever info we have once I get cleaned up.>>

Shit, while we're all sending messages and whatnot...

<<@Mason Tremens [Hopeless] Hoi! Tammy linked me up with you. Two of us go way back, me and her. She's good people. Anyhow, she tells me you're the name to know in the entertainment biz round College Station and I'm in town on business for a little bit. Figured I should holler at you. Lemme buy us a tax deductible business lunch soon, see what we might could do for one another, eh?>>

<<Incoming Message
<<Sender: Ticker
<<Message: Thanks, Ian.  Literally, I'm at the clinic at least until 6:00 tonight.  Hypothetically, I could meet with you after, say 6:30.  We could either meet at the clinic, if you want to stay under the radar, or are in need of services, or we could meet at a little soykaf spot down off McEwan.
<<End Message

<<@Ticker [Hopeless] See ya at the clinic round seven.>>

And with all that taken care of, Ian takes off all his horrifyingly filthy clothes, drops them in the auto-wash next to the sink, and steps into the most amazing shower he'd ever had in his life.
To think. To plan. To brood.

[Ryo]

[21APR2075 1400 | Med-Eval Office Park | College Station, TX | CAS]

Bookworm pored over the blueprints Red-Eye had put together by way of Archive.

"That looks promising," the dwarf said, her finger stabbing at a particular ARO, "if we can rig a transformer to blow, we could take out the power." Thinking about the collateral damage that could potentially cause, she added, "Although maybe we should keep that in reserve in case things go to drek." The dwarf opened up a new ARO and checked to see if there was any publicly available arrival and departure information for the small regional airport.

Red-Eye smirked, "Rigging things to blow is my specialty. I think that's better for an exit strategy than something to do in advance. We rig it to blow, but break in normally. If we get spotted or on our way out, we kill the power to distract and confuse them while we make our escape."

"I would think the material is probably in the operations room of the Rangers station. So... do we try to break in cold or cause a distraction to reduce the numbers at the station? Other options?"

"I've always preferred the stealthy approach. Try to go as long as possible into the Op before the opposition even know you're there. We can bring out the big guns if they spot us, but the element of surprise is something we should definitely try to utilize."

[rednblack]

<<@Hopeless [Mason Tremens] Tammy's the best, and she didn't steer you wrong with me, chummer.  You want entertainment in College Station, I'm your man.  Lunch sounds wiz.  I like Junior's myself.  You ever been there?  Let me know when you'd like to meet, and I'll link you in.>>