[Sichr]

Omar turns off Spoof, with admin accounts in nodes he doesnt sippose it would be necessary. He loads Edit and runs the program, to be able to alter he signal between nodes.
From admin acess he reads the logs on last intrussion attempt eliminated by sentry guns. He is particulary interested in Sensor readings, Smartgun data and status reports of guns and sentry drones. Since it looks the only way to turn this off is to do it manually, he wans to be sure that there will be no harm done to whoever will try to get here...

[Netzgeist]

Fractal waits some seconds before attempting to walk into the Master Node... There are things that he preffer to put right before reaching the main node, and the most annoying one is that unconfortable bad influence this node is causing in his own commlink.

He turns off his Spoof program; with the liberated processing power he feels a little increase in processor response, but that's not what he is aiming at the time. He activates his Reality Filter program: a new, translated metaphor can solve most of the lag he is experiencing, and become a nuisance for the enemy icons in the form of delays.

While Mouse is creating accounts and Omar is logging in, Fractal activates his Reality Filter Program.
Since I'm already suffering the -1 Response that the node metaphor is imposing on my commlink, and another -1 for the 1 excessive program I'm running, my Response for this action will be equal to 4:
Attempting to change the metaphor of the node: 4 (Response) + 6 (Reality Filter 6) + 2 (Hot Sim VR) = 12 dice = 4 hits, no glitch
Even if you rule that the Reality Filter program should roll at a rating of 4, it's still 4 hits, no glitch

[Sentinemodo]

Carefully, Omar crafted loops in the sensor reading streams so that master node wouldn't notice the difference, and once done that he modified the smartgun readings.

the effect would be that instead of +2 from smartgun, the drone would suffer an outright miss in the first shoot and -2 on further ones as his targettring autosoft calibrate the result

Fractal, recalibrated his sensory inputs from the new reality filter programs and his icon visibly speeded up in performance

Instead of -1 to the response you got +1. No longer you are also overloaded.
A note: it is the sytem the limits the program rating not response. And system is limited by base response value. Modified response alter only subscription and processor limit

Mouse with a dazzling moves and tricks he used intuitively, but were an outstanding programming feats for any casual observants hacked his entry toward the Principal Node. For all watching from outside his icon manifseted iteslf as a data package and entered the node as if carried by the IC running between the nodes.

Firewall(4) + Analyze(4) -> 8d6.hits(5)=1, 8d6.hits(5)=4 -> total 5 hits
clean entry

Inside you can see an node sculpted as an office. The office is dark brown in collors, there is a heavy carpet on the floor and warm yellow lamp on the wall. There is a high desk (access_log), with a large flat screen (streamed sensor ar processed here - Analyze program). There are smaller screen attached (consoles for managing linked peripherals). Behind the desk is sitting a faceless humanoid icon in a suit (agent icon).

The pilot is processing the datapackage on the desk. There are in total four datafiles on the desk.
The IC checks the pilot program.

From now on please post no more actions than doable in an initiative pass. Sequence doesn't matter.

[Netzgeist]

Following the data package that is Mouse (and which Fractal can only identify as him since his access_id is saved into his own Commlink), Fractal avatar pass the gate.

@Mouse, Omar: "Okay, so here we are. What do you plan? My guess is that we should edit the agent directives, in order to take over the drones and turn this node useless. What do you say?"

He then proceeds to analyze cautiously the agent icon, trying to determine which programs it has loaded and if he can edit his directives with his admin privileges.

Observe Icon test
4 (Computer) + 6 (Analyze 6) + 2 (Hot Sim VR) = 12 dice = 3 hits, no glitch

[Sentinemodo]

Fractal slipped quietly into the principal node. His icon almost blending with the brown walls of the office.

Note, that you don't have any level of priviledges yet.
You also passed through the firewall unnoticed as of yet (the analyze program has rating of 4 and you have rating 6 stealth), Firewall didn't react since you didn't made any actual hacking attempt yet.
I forgot about two other running programs (reality filters 3 and analyze 4) hope you'll forgive me

The pilot program is running adaptation autosoft 3 (the faceless head), analyze program 3 (the flat screen) and encryption program 3 (the left hand).
He also has loaded (but not running) Edit 3 (sculpted as pen in his suit pocket), Browse 3 (scultped as glasses in his suit pocket).

[Sentinemodo]

Node overview update

[Netzgeist]

The sense of time is quite different in Virtual Reality that it is on the Actual Reality; computers nowadays can answer to commands as soon they are thought, and when you abandon the limits of the meat, there's nothing much to wait.

Things run real fast, so fast that you got used to that faster-than-real rhythm; people who spend too much time in VR, specially the ones who dive in using Hot Sim, tend to get a little anxious and impatient. Fractal knew that, and the seconds that he took waiting for a reply from Omar or Mouse are boring him as hell.

Well, one should understand; Fractal is not sure, but Omar must be working on decrypting something once again - which on his view seem a boring and meticulous job, so he should leave the ork working alone (even if that's not the case, he knows his friend might enjoy being inside the inner workings of any drones, specially the armed ones like these); the kid spent too much time on this dark and dangerous tunnels, and without the comfortable touch of the massive digital data that permeates the world outside. Fractal had heard that technomancers don't funtion too well when they can't reach the Matrix, so this little light on the Matrixless tunnel must be a comfort for the kid.

Still, to keep waiting is not like Fractal. And there's work to do. Time to hack the principal node.

Fractal is trying to hack the principal node on the fly (normal user account)
4 (Hacking) + 2 (Exploit esp.) + 6 (Exploit 6) + 2 (Hot Sim VR) = 14 dice
1º Attempt = 5 hits, no glitch
2º attempt = 3 hits, no glitch
8 hits (Node's Firewall + System) achieved in two rolls

[snake_eyes]

Mouse is enjoying his task, controlling drones is cool and all, but THIS is what he lives for.
Once in the Principal node he will look around at what all is runnning and the files contained on the desk.
Matrix Perception: 11 - sustaining(4)=7d6.hits(5)=3
@Omar, Fractal: My intention was to shut down the pilot program and IC. Then Issues shutdown directives to the master security node for the drones. I have just accessed the principal node with admin priv.
What do the files on the desk contain?

[snake_eyes]

At the wardens office, he sees the configuration/status of the drone and what autosofts it is running. Hmm...he could shut down the pilot on drone #1, but that may trigger an alert on the main security node. This is probably not the best node to be attempting the shut down of the entire system; but he could trigger a shutdown of the pilot and restart the drone node buying time if needed. Ahh...Unca Omar finished the decryption of the master node.
Hacking on the fly for Admin Accnt Priv on master security node:
Hacking(4)+Exploit Spec(2)+Exploit(10)+TM(2)=18d6.hits(5)=8,18d6.hits(5)=9
And Mr. Fractal noticed a data bomb on a file....In the master node...not bad Mr. Fractal, Mouse thought. Mouse will log off the drone 1 node and log into the master security node.
Matrix perception on the master security node looking for IC and databombs, and other programs running on the node.
Matrix Percep 11 - sustaining(2) = 9d6.hits(5)=3
@Team: I have an account on the master security node as well. I'm sending in some help to defuse the databomb.
Using my registered Crack Sprite r4 with defuse to defuse the databomb:
EW(4)+Defuse(4)+Edge(4)=12d6.hitsopen(5,6)=6
After that my sprite disappears...
Mouse will create two more admin accounts, one for Unca Omar and another for use incase this attempt fails. So we are still faced with the same problem of the pricipal node overriding commands to the drone nodes. Mouse was thinking about boosting his stealth, but he was already threading the exploit CF and would take a while to properly thread the stealth, but he would give it a try anyway.
Software(4) + Resonance(5) +TM(2) - Sustaining(2)=9d6.hits(5)=0, 9d6.hits(5)=6
Discard the first attempt, only keeping 5 of the six successes of the second.
Fading: Res(5) + Will(5) = [url=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3330701/]10d6.hits(5)=5
No fading...Mouse is one lucky kid. So Mouse is running Exploit(10) and Stealth(10) and has a 2CFs he's sustaining.
Hack on the Fly Admin Account on the principal node.
Hacking(4)+Exploit Spec(2)+Exploit(10)+TM(2)-Sustain of stealth(2)=16d6.hits(5)=5
16d6.hits(5)=2, spend a point of edge to reroll misses,
14d6.hits(5)=6
1point of edge remaining
If still needed...
16d6.hits(5)=5

BTW, did my sprite defuse that databomb on the file? That was his last service to me.

[Sichr]

Shuffling with sentry guns here. Looks like this thing had to be shut down manualy, So Im just trying to make sure nobody gets shot on aproach. Using sensor loops we may be able to blindfold this drones, but Im making a little insurance just for case something goes wrong. Sentry 1 done, Im on my way to Sentry 2. Stay sharp, Im going to hack it so it is possible Ill trigger the response.

Will need to hack for the second drone IMO, since there are no accounts on I suppose.
Hacking(4)+Exploit(5)+Opt(1)+VR(2)=12d6
1.IP:
2.IP:

Stealth: 5+2= 7


Well this looks quite weird to me. Untill now I havent seen anything like IFF here, so those drones are going to fire on anything that moves in the tunnel. That is strange...it seems..and even with that creepy layout of the nodes...that something is buried here. We better find out the reason or purpose of this, before we shut down defenses. I understand there are some datafiles in those nodes. Are we able to access it?

[Sentinemodo]

Mouse took a closer look on the datafiles on the desk - it seems that the two datafiles are the access_logs of the drone#1 timestamped 10 seconds ago and corridor node timestamped 1 second ago the remaining two are the ones timestamped 3 seconds ago. The analyze program is doing a comparison check. The analysis is in 33% of progression and it will take 2 more seconds to complete. As you observe will be the time when the IC will bring another datapackages.

The sequence of access_logs analysis is as follows: principal node/corridor node/drone #1 node/corridor node/drone #2 node/corridor node pause and repeat
You haven't been detected so far, but the creation of new accounts on their usage will be found if the proper access_log will be compared with a previous copy.

Each analysis takes 1 complex action. That's probably the reason why the alert hadn't been yet announced is that there is in total 30 seconds interval between each drone#1 access log sweep.
The pause was probably introduced to reduce load of the node.

Meanwhile Warden IC logged into the corridor node. Fractal begun hacking the principal node and Omar begun hacking drone node #2.

Mouse is up. Sichr, what priviledges you are going for?

[snake_eyes]

Create an admin account for the sprite, then summon the sprite.
Summon Data Sprite R3:
Compile(4)+Resonance(5)+TM(2)-sustain(4)=7d6.hits(5)=2
Sprite Reist 3=3d6.hits(5)=1
Fading 2S: I can buy 2 hits.
1 service keep access logs cleaned of all activity of these acess_ids: mouse_access_id, fractal_access_id, omar_access_id.

@Team: I have a helper to erase our tracks and hopefully buy us some time. I will begin to analyze the decryped file. The other data files are access logs from drone 1 and the sec master.

Knowledge checks:
Based on the security configuration, do I feel that it would be unwise to shutdown the IC and pilot programs. If not which is the best to start with? Is there something that the configuration is hiding or what is that that unca omar feels is wierd?
Matrix Security Procedures: Logic(5)+Know(4)-LackOfMatrix(1)=8d6.hits(5)=3
IC Identification: Logic(5)+Know(4)-LackOfMatrix(1)=8d6.hits(5)=3

Mouse check for/the external/internal power supplys and will examine the decrypted data file.
Search of the newly decrypted file.
Data Search(4)+Browse(3)+2TM-4sus=5d6.hits(5)=3

[Sichr]

@Mouse: You have acess to some internal sensors of that vehicle from the node you are in? If there is some infected body buried in that vehicle, or chemical or biohazard waste, I`d rather avoid breaking seals or locks by shutting whole system down...

[Sentinemodo]

Knowledge checks:
Based on the security configuration, do I feel that it would be unwise to shutdown the IC and pilot programs. If not which is the best to start with? Is there something that the configuration is hiding or what is that that unca omar feels is wierd?
Matrix Security Procedures: Logic(5)+Know(4)-LackOfMatrix(1)=8d6.hits(5)=3
IC Identification: Logic(5)+Know(4)-LackOfMatrix(1)=8d6.hits(5)=3

Judging by the nodes layout, the corridor serves as bottleneck node. The main danger here is that you are vulnerable for attack in two nodes simultaneusly. In case of of alert, you would be able to defend in a single node only.

The warden IC here seems unarmed in terms of attack or armor programs and are really standard agent programs serving as IC. They got pretty good logic capabilities that allow them to follow complicated scripts. The agents are checking behaviours and change of nodes' states. The principal IC is also a standard agent, but with his programs he is capable of taking independent decisions on the AI level.

this are all rating 3 pilots, but with adaptability software of 3 principal IC it is equivalent of logic 3 metahuman - that is pretty high

the combination is tough as they are might be cross-verifying themselves. if you disable the warden IC, the principal IC will notice and issue at least an alert. if you disable principal, the warden will issue alert if it has condition to set one in such case. However this scenario isn't very probable, the principal IC seems to be having higher priority. Going by your guts, you'd start by disabling the principal.

The method of operating this node normally is through the principal IC. As an admin you may give orders to the principal IC to cease fire. He will propagate the orders to the drones in his next action.
If the warden isn't set to alert, you may shut down the principal and issue the orders yourself (the drones are slaved to this node, through the peripherals constructs on the desk).
If the principal allows this nothing will change, if it is set to issue alert on similar action it will and revert your orders.

[Sichr]

@Fractal, Mouse: IMO if we have admin account in all nodes, we may be able to shutdown whole security simultaneously. Or shutting one by one imitating their existence via inserted traffics.