[gilga]

Seeing that the balcony door became open access, Anna quickly opened the balcony door and quietly moved into the balcony, closing the door after her. Once out she used the levitate spell to slowly descend down the building, enjoying the view and for safety avoiding windows although she was still invisible.

stealth: 9d6t5 6 (her physical limit is 4).


She texted >>out, meet me at this address - but keep a door open to save time.  (she gave the address of a nearby street that had no direct line of sight to the balcony).

[Volker]

Is it all right to assume that Kite will tell me if anyone gets marks on me?
I think it makes sense to roll the Perception check after all:
Matrix Perception: 11d6t5 6 [Limited to 5]

• One hit to find her.
• Which programs are running?
• What's his Firewall rating?
• What's his Attack rating? [If you take one hit for telling the model, don't tell me the Attack rating. I don't really care]
• What's the last action it performed?

If the Firewall rating is below 4, I'll roll for 2 marks at once, otherwise only for one:
Hacking on the Fly: 17d6t5 4
If I rolled against Firewall 3 or less, subtract 1 die for a total of 3.

In case of a success:
Free Action: Load Battle configuration.
This is my last initiative pass in this combat round.[/spoiler]

Wohoo, you idiot! Just when I don't needed any more from your commlink, not only did you forsake all marks on my deck, but you also made it impossible for you to ever investigate what command I exchanged. You couldn't have done me a better service, drekhead.

What a waste that I didn't have time for a dose of Golden Mirror. I guess, after this run I'll change my mind about the internal drug injector. In for a dance, Sternenkind? I'm gonna make you pay for supporting a rapist.

"Good to know. If anyone minds me staying just a bit longer, now's a good time to tell me. Else, watch back and enjoy the show."

[Jack_Spade]

He is constantly switching from a 1633 to a 1336 configuration. The deck has a hardwired program module with the Encryption Program and also has a Virtual Machine program loaded to expand the available slots. In the regular module slot is an Induction Receiver Currently loaded are Stealth and Exploit.
bnc notices that Zodi switches extremely fast between attack and defense programs, using two free actions per turn. (Courtesy of the Perfect Timing and Overclocker qualities)

He has 5 in Int, Log and Wil
Defense: 16d6t5 5
Zodi always begins and ends in the defensive configuration, he also spends 10 Ini for full defense, increasing his defense to 16

Ini: 8+4d6 21

Ini starts with him in hot sim and having a MARK on bnc
Free action: exchange Exploit for Configurator, Free action at the end to switch attack and firewall
Deck now has 6133 during his actions and 3136 while he isn't acting. (Programs: Decryption, Virtual Machine and Configurator + the permanent Encryption



The matrix of the Emerald net had a cold and sterile design around the building, dominated by the presence of the R6 host. Both hackers had found each other through the multitude of signals and where now facing each other across virtual roof of the 20 story building. Above them the starless night sky of the matrix, only brightened by the occasional flash of high volume data traffic.
Zodi's persona wears the form of a huge anthropomorphic Yak with cartoonish looking glasses with added eyebrows, a fake nose and mustache on its face. The resolution isn't particularly good which is no wonder considering on what limited hardware the decker operates. As bnc gets ready for the confrontation, the Yak loses the glasses and instead materializes an outdated blunderbuss between it's hands.

<<Who the fuck are you?>>

[Volker]

I'll try to reconstruct what happened after they found me. If I recall correctly, my failed attempt was that round's last action.
The following combat round, Zody knew about me. If I got that correctly, his three actions were to attack Anna one last time, then perform matrix search, then mark me.

I opened the door by GIGOing, then rolled for matrix perception.

As a last action, I tried to get a mark on his deck. As his firewall is beyond 3, I rolled for only one mark - 17 dice. He only gets 11 dice, since Full Matrix Defense only works against Attack actions. That's a draw then.

Now there's this new combat round:
my initiative: Initiative: 4d6+10 23
his initiative: 21

Since I now know that he has a MARK on me, I will first try to eradicate it.
Erase Mark: 15d6t5 3

Erase Mark: 16d6t5 6

I use my 2nd point of edge to reroll the failed ones: reroll: 12d6t5 4

Oh, nice. I wanted to minimize the damage, but in this case I'm good. I erased the mark and hid.

I'm left with init 13, he with 11 (or 21, if he chooses not to Fully Defend). It's his turn.
Depending on what he does, I might go for full defense.


Just for interest: I didn't get how he does all this shifting. He started the combat round with 1336. He then uses:

• Exchange Exploit for Configurator
• Free action to switch Attack and Firewall (6331)
• Obviously one more to switch S or D with Firewall to achieve 6133.
• And then one more to bring Firewall back up to 3136.

In case I didn't miss anything, that's 4 Free Actions. 5, if you include messaging me ;-)
[/spoiler]

"One usually first introduces oneself. Din't mommy teach you?"

[Crossbow]

Devon immediately summons a fire elemental when bnc shouts her order at him, Summon Fire Spirit: 10d6t5 4 4d6t5 1 Summoning Drain: 10d6t5 3and instructs it to follow him to Yeal's location.  He arrives to see her having already escaped the penthouse, but ordered the elemental to make sure she makes it safely to the ground anyway.

He also follows her decent astrally and waits for a need to do anything useful.

[Jack_Spade]

@Volker
First of all, no. Full Defense works against Sleaze actions. The German rules clarified that. Besides, it helped Anna just three posts ago against enemy sleaze actions and I didn't hear an objection then. No double standards please.

Secondly: Loading the configurator (free action) changes both the program loadout as well as the matrix attribute array, so only one Free action for a full configuration. The message was sent with a simple action, and the second free action to switch Attack and Firewall again.

The mark resulted from your failed HotF action with 4 successes vs. his 5 successes, which is also why he knows at whom to direct his message.

As you go into hiding, he uses his action at 1 to enter the host of the building, his icon vanishes.



When bnc's avatar faded from view again, the Yak only flipped her the bird and vanished too - by conjuring up a trapdoor on the roof and climbing into the host.


Meanwhile, Anna descended safely and invisibly from the real building towards the waiting car. The fire elemental reported no threats from the astral and Flatline likewise couldn't sense anything.

[Qwikfix]

Krestov wasted no time to join her at the table, drink in hand as he took a seat across from her, his smile widening as he called their host over.  "Another for my friend here.  Make sure our glasses never empty, da?"  Turning his attention back to Anna, he reverted to his more comfortable Russian o converse.

"Ah, of course, I am in awe.  Your "Black Vulture" was truly as evocative as intended.  I personally was drawn to the bird''s eyes.  So expressive!  Well, this is truly a wonderful day.  I am Grigor Koscoff, a crusader of arts one could say."  he tipped his glass back, encouraging her with body language to do the same as the warm liquid burned down his throat.  Taking a breath, he continued, using his AR view to reference his info.

"Now then, where to begin?  I must say while your Black Vulture had its merits, I do recall my fondest memory of your work being "Embrace of Lost Hope" some years back in Moscow.  There, I could feel the emotion in it...malaise, sorrow, longing.  You truly are a wielder of the feelings, miss Tschernenko, and to that I drink in your honor.."

Con (with bonuses): 9d6t5 3
Nailed it

[Jack_Spade]

Anna had for one moment doubt in her eyes about that huge troll that had just drunk a full glass of vodka before noon and wanted her to join in, but than her Cossack heritage won and with a cheerful "Nastrovje" she took a long swig from her glass too.

Not to long after, she and Krestov were in a heated debate about art, the current fascist policies of the Kremlin and how your commlink never is where you expect it to find but actually where you should have looked first if you really think about it.
Unsurprisingly, the artist was a hard drinker - with the added advantage of a filling meal inside her.

So it was one and a half bottle later that she suggested with the burning eyes of a true revolutionary that it was time to create a new work and that Grigor Koscoff had to assist her. With an irresistible and contagious enthusiasm she led him back to her room - only to emerge seconds later with a mono-chainsaw.
"To the park, comrade"

[SquirrelDude]

Slobbertooth heard over Krestov's image link what had suddently become his plans for the afternoon.

Well it's not like I have anything else to do. Slobbertooth continued his day of tailing the real Tscherchenko. Who knows, Krestov might actually need back-up for once.

[gilga]

Only once in the car did Anna allowed herself to talk to Kite and Slobber , she lied low in the back seat and undid the spell. Hoping not to raise suspicion "Thanks for picking me up, Charles was so charming I actually did not mind sleeping with him. He turned out violent and perhaps rapist, my mission was successful.  We will talk more at the safehouse."

She used her spirit service to clean up all the astral signatures left at the scene, even from the astral Anna did not want to see that prick again.

[Volker]

Once Anna was safe and bnc was back to the matrix, an outburst of fury hit Anna: "What were you thinking, you retarded discount slot? Can't you even put your cunt to sensible use, carajo? Also, don't keep a link whose commcode is known. Merde!"

Suddenly there was a sizzling sound, and the reek of burned wires and scorched plasteel filled the car. Whoever was wondering what got a burner link its name, now's got the answer.

Assassin configuration.
Dataspike: 13d6t5 5
I just estimated the defense dice: Opposed Roll: 6d6t5 3
That's 2 + 6 (Attack) + 2 (Hammer) + 9 (3 Marks, Mugger) = 17 boxes of damage. Or so.

[gilga]

Anna would respond but the decker had just fried her burner link - it was an expensive kind - kind of a shame that she burned it. Anna felt as if she was treated unfairly, after all at the end of the day she got the job done. She was reasonably safe with her spirit and was never actually in danger, the thing was with physical assault or possible killing the police investigation was going to be much more extensive and Anna did not want that. She kept professional, did not mention over her link anything that might expose her and eventually with some decking help she escaped, without the use of completely obvious magic and without harming Charles, that was probably extremely frustrated at how the night degraded.

Tomorrow when Charles tries to cross an international border he'll be in trouble or significantly delayed at least, and the artist Anna was probably in trouble as Charles is likely to pursue her for his painting and with the way he behaves probably has some dirty cops on his payroll, all in all Anna felt successful. Anna placed the toasted link in the car. Figuring it'll be funny to give it to bnc and ask her to scavenge what was left of it. Anna would not justify herself, or answer bnc as she is reluctant to discuss anything incriminating over the matrix.
 She shrugged and  looking again at the burned burner she allowed a deep laughter escape her, she was happy, excited and peaceful - she felt competent.
"It was awesome, we did it!  and bnc is the second one I deal with that has some unresolved anger issues..."

[Jack_Spade]

Earlier that day:

Alcohol seemed to have a manic effect on Anna Tschernenko, since she dragged Krestov with her, while still brandishing an uncovered mono-saw and running down the hotel hall.
Without so much as a glance, she crossed the road in front of the hotel - ignoring the blaring horns and screaching tires - and entered the small park, where she immediately begun to work on an EVO-information kiosk, made from stainless steel and chrome and a holo lense.
"Keep a look out for the cops."

[Qwikfix]

Even if the human woman had a full stomach and tolerance for liquor, Krestov had the advantage of his size to absorb the alcohol.  He felt guilty after kicking the habit, but his resolve was strong as the day unfolded.  He was certain Slobbertooth was getting a kick out of his predicament, and sure that if she were watching, bnc would not let him forget it so easily.  Sighing mentally, his eyes widened as she brandished the chainsaw and pulled them out of the hotel to the park.

<<Believe our friend just set herself up.  I'll make sure she commits, but I need a way out without her knowing.  Can tip off KE anonymously.  Suggestions?"

He gave a silent nod to her as he took a few steps back, staying near some foliage as he looked around.  Thankfully, the odd midday hours and colder weather meant low pedestrian traffic...may be easy...

[Jack_Spade]

With amazing speed and precision for a pretty tipsy and rather petite woman, Anna began her work on the block. It took only a minute for her to carve a recognizable face from the steel. Another minute revealed a remarkable similarity to Krestov's handsome trog face. Somehow she even managed to get the various cords and cables from within the kiosk to take on the semblance of his hair.
As the sirens drew nearer, she began carving letters under his face:  "Morte Tyranni"
She had just finished carving the hammer and sickle as two beat cops appeared from their cruiser.