[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #93

Cynthia makes some rather unflattering comments about the genealogy of one Tanya Marisart. Deciding she doesn't really have any choice, she will mark, check for surprises, open and monitor each and every file, starting with the new ones. She will check them for pertinent information regarding the situation in here, but that's not her main goal: she doesn't think the files are, by themselves, really useful or interesting.

If those bleeps are some kind of synchronisation, they would be the only way to find the destination. However even while she does this, she keeps an eye open for what is going on in the 'link, especially on what the agent is doing. Those files could very well be meant as a distraction, to have her miss the important stuff that is going on. And that wouldn't do. Could there be something hidden behind all those tricks? Yes, she is fast. Yes, she can do a lot of things in a small amount of time. But she takes care to keep a clear head, to not lose sight of the overall situation.

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   You are looking in the files in detail, but not really interested in what is being put into any of them so you almost miss it.  None of the files seem to be protected in any fashion beyond the most basic manner and you easily have complete access to them.  You happen to be watching some data spooling into one of the new folders on the second device when it starts changing on you.  The encryption program used is changing each sentence of the file to something else entirely.  The old sentences had been some salacious gossip that you have already nearly forgotten...................something to do with the current mistress of the Deputy Mayor.  Now the sentences are discussing what kind of food the Deputy Mayor's wife is going to be serving at the mid-term ball coming up in a couple of weeks and what designer gown she will be showcasing this year.  Utter drivel and completely uninteresting. 


@Eva   You and Sylvia step into the VIP lounge to find Tanya sitting in a chair watching Cynthia, who is slumped in a large chair, her eyes rolled back in her head.  Tanya raises a finger to her lips and rises to move towards you.  "Are you here to talk to Cynthia?  She is inside me right now, looking at the weaknesses of my 'link system.  She did ask me to bring her back if you showed up and needed to talk."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #94

Cynthia's Persona blinks in the Matrix. *So... Those blinks are an encryption program running... Makes sense. I could try to hack each and every file, trying to decrypt them. However...* A slow smile comes to her lips *There's a smarter solution.*

And that solution would be to find the encryption program itself...and have it spit its secrets. Probably something the Agent is running? Up to now, she left it to its own devices, but it seems it's time to dig into it. And the best solution is probably an unconventional solution... Good thing she has just the thing, able to dissect anything the Agent is doing. She'll ask Saint Exp to use its Cookie power on the Agent, monitoring its activity for a few seconds. If she's lucky, she will be able to grab the encryption key, and decode all the files in one fell swoop. In order to assist Saint Exp, and allow it to work unopposed, she will run interference, distracting the Agent: not enough that it raises any flag, but enough to pave the way for her Sprite.


Resonance Veil [5] (Distract Agent, Fade DV4): 13d6t5 2 13d6t5 4 Not enough for Cynthia and probably resisted by the Agent. Let's try and do better!
Resonance Veil [5] (Distract Agent, Fade DV4): 13d6t5 6 13d6t5 5 (limit is five)
Perfect result! Very nice roll here.
No Fade in either case.

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   As the fingers of your persona reach out and tweak the files to distract the agent some niggling thought that has been running in the background of your mind.  Just this afternoon you had been watching the news feeds about Colombia and one of the news strips on the bottom of the screen mentioned that the mid-term ball for the mayor and deputy mayor was to be held in four weeks, not two.  Maybe not important, but.................  Going back to look at the file you see that the sentences have changed again, now referring to the results of the Seattle Cup race yesterday.  Then the file blips.............and nothing changes.  it is interesting to note that all of the files blip at the exact same moment.  Saint Exp slips in and places his cookie on the device's agent and sliding away apparently undetected.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #95

Cynthia notes the simultaneous change in all the files, but something else is on her mind at that point. Waiting for the results, she takes a moment to think back about this Bogotá business. Opening the files Sherlock gathered in the afternoon and the beginning of the evening, she tries to learn more about those mayors' (deputy or not) business. Making some more queries to check specific pieces of data when needed. And precisely, she looks into what links there are, if any, between Bogotá and those two individuals, and what justification there is for the agenda change, if there is indeed a change.


Matrix Search: 13d6t5 6 (Limit is 5)

[VegasRigged]

"Let's give her a moment, I'd like to get you opinion on her, I assume you've formed one."

Stalling has to happen, if I just show up and send Tanya out for the conversation I'll seem rude and disrespectful, which are the last things I should be towards her other then trusting. Besides, if she flatters our young friend then I can glean her majesty's level of interest and, if it will strengthen my relationship with Tanya, let her have Cynthia for her own operations.

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   Your search reveals no outward links between the mayor or his deputy and what is happening in Bogota.  Also, there has never been a change in the date of the mid-term ball.  The first message you saw must have been incorrect.  Are you sure you saw it that way?  (you are)


@Eva   Tanya smiles and motions with her glass of orange liquid to the bar.  "Help yourself to anything at the bar.  Cynthia did say that you wanted to chat her up about some work you would like her to do.  She seems very introverted and I am not sure how to change that, or, really, if it is wise to even try.  She seems confident and competent in the matrix.  She is doing me a favor right now, but I, too, have an offer for her if she decides to not take yours.  I can give you some privacy when she wakes up.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #96

*So, no change eh? I'm sure there was something in the file.* Opening the incriminated file, she reads through it quickly *Could it be a hint for this encryption?*

Following this road, Cynthia will try to see if there's anything there, paying more attention to dates: maybe more than just this one was changed, and this is the key?

[Mercy Merchant]

Looking at another file you notice a similar pattern.  As data spools from the first device to the second, it is encrypted no less then three times before settling in the folder.  Each encryption changes the phrases into completely different phrases.  The end result is a completely inane and boring item, hardly worth looking at at all.  Then you get an "oh shit" sort of feeling as you see what would be the equivalent of an arm reach into the folder and copy the latest file before withdrawing.  The entire operation takes only parts of a second and can easily be missed unless you are looking at the file when it happens.  This operation does not seem linked to the timing of the blips.  Whatever is doing this is running completely silent.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #97

Cynthia frowns. Asking for Saint Exp's data, she will confirm the pattern she just found and  that the Agent is not the culprit of the shenanigans that are going on. Not expecting anything, she will then look at something else that is running silent. *Didn't I check earlier for something hidden? Er... Maybe not, damnit, fail... Still... Given what I've seen up to now, I can't suppose I'll be able to find the damn sneaky thing just like that. Should I take this risk?*

Cynthia ponders about the problem for a second *I can't take too many risks, I should treat this as the real thing. Still... This one is reasonable, and I should take it. Let's hope the last juice was as good as the previous ones...*

And Cynthia takes the risk to, once again, compile Arsène at a high level. A bit anxious while she does it but...pleased to notice that, definitely, there's something going on. Now hopefully... She'll be able to find the final piece of the puzzle. To do that, she will start by paying attention to the last files created, hopping to catch the sneaky thing in the act, which should help quite a bit.


Crack Sprite [6] (Compiling, Defense, Fade): 12d6t5 4 6d6t5 1 13d6t5 4
Cynthia is on fire!
Once again, no fade damage, and three services!

First service will be to spot the thing that is running silent, and encrypting the files.
Matrix Perception (Teamwork test, Crack roll): 12d6t5 2
Matrix Perception (Teamwork test, Cynthia's roll): 17d6t5 8

Damn, only a limit of 6

[VegasRigged]

Not even hiding her interest, at least she's not planning to steal the girl from me, either that or she's so certain shed win she doesn't mind showing her hand. Either are possible but I won't be taking chances, I'll need to come up with a card I can play to win the Decker, without showing that I'm playing against Tanya at all. That will require time and a better sense of the board in this high stakes game of chess. For now I'm still playing catch up, theirs so much I don't know about Seattle and the people I'm sparring with, but perhaps this is an opportunity to remedy that.

My continued rational thinking is encouraging though, it's about all that's functioning properly at this point, besides the apparent ability to hide my feelings of abject terror.

"Honestly, the tasks I have in mind are well within her abilities, I see no reason for us to not both emplo her services. Assuming she's willing to split her time."

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   Arsene pops in and begins snooping around, looking for what is copying and taking the data.  The sprite is careful and accurate and has not failed you yet tonight.  And this will not be the first time.  He reports back to you, but seems a bit......................disconcerted, if a sprite can have feelings.  >>There is another Agent doing the work, cherie.  Very robust and not running on either device.  I have determined that a third 'link exists in this infernal system.  I have not tried to get more information yet because of something else I sensed here.  This new Agent is being guarded by what I am pretty sure is a powerful Fault Sprite.  I will be attacked if I go farther in and am detected.  What are your orders?<<


@Eva   Tanya smiles and nods.  "Of course we can share, but the ultimate decision is hers to make, don't you think?  And it may turn out that she can work for both of us at the same time.  After all, her skill set can be used from across the globe, right?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #98

Cynthia is clearly taken aback by the presence of the sprite. It's not the first time she came across one, not of her own, but she always tried to avoid them. Tonight however...

{Infernal, eh? You got that right. But....} She hesitates for a bit {Let's try it. I'll hide you. If it works, you can go. Otherwise, we'll stop here, I certainly don't want to brawl with a Fault. Especially not a big one.}

To do that, Cynthia threads a new Resonance Veil, targeting the Fault Sprite this time. Hoping to blind her to the actions of Arsène, giving him time to work his magic. Or Resonance, whatever. This time however, she feels a bit drained by it. Whatever happens, she will have to stop soon.

In meat-space, Cynthia twitches a bit. But with no further reaction.


Matrix Perception (finding the Fault Sprite): 15d6t5 8
I really have to increase my limits...

Resonance Veil [5] (Blind the fault sprite, Fade): 13d6t5 5 13d6t5 3
Limit is 5 so all successes are good to go (which is a relief...), one Fade Damage though, so 3S total for the evening.
Hopefully, this will be the last push...

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   As you pull the Resonance Veil up you observe first hand that the third agent and the sprite suddenly and without warning slide to a different grid at exactly the moment the files blip and you find yourself still on the grid you started with.  What you can see of the sprite is that it seems to momentarily look confused, but it shakes off the veil and begins snooping about, much like a bloodhound.   Fortunately, you are not on the same grid and the sprite seems unwilling to leave the one it is on at this time.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, In VR] #99

In the meat world, some cold sweat probably make its apparition on Cynthia's forehead when she fails to distract the sprite. With a sigh, she stops. {Ok, let's not go there. It explains the damn blips, but I really don't want to take that head-on. Not now, not for this. Stay around for now, but I don't think I'll need you anymore for tonight.}

Switching off from VR, Cynthia sits up. Looking at Tanya, she says "No way I'll take your hound on, not for this." Stopping, she looks at Marissa "Er..."