New chat room entered at 4/13/2006 8:18:05 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw041306.”
Vernjonal has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:18:40 PM): *Trundle trundle*
Thematrian1 (8:18:43 PM): woah
Umbrafer (8:18:46 PM): ?
Thematrian1 (8:18:53 PM): I'm on AIM express
Thematrian1 (8:18:56 PM): and in a chat room
Umbrafer (8:19:46 PM): I've studiously avoided using AIM express for the past… six years? so I am unaware of the import of this
Umbrafer (8:19:50 PM): Well, except by inference
Thematrian1 (8:20:11 PM): ::trundle::
Umbrafer (8:21:23 PM): You find the location and are met by a robed individual you don't recognize. She hands you a pamphlet and directs you into what looks to be a changing room.
Thematrian1 (8:21:57 PM): I follow. No speaking yet.
Umbrafer (8:24:19 PM): You are ushered inside. She does not follow. The changing room is divided into two halves, one with various… well, they're slightly nicer than your typical lockers, but lockers they are nevertheless. The pamphlet instructs you that
Umbrafer (8:24:34 PM): candidates are to use number 20.
Thematrian1 (8:25:13 PM): is that something she says, or...?
Umbrafer (8:25:38 PM): Hm?
Thematrian1 (8:25:57 PM): What does "candidates are to use number 20" mean?
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (8:31:30 PM): Fucking hll
Umbrafer (8:31:36 PM): ?
CirclMastr (8:31:37 PM): Invite crashed the game I was in
Umbrafer (8:31:43 PM): Heh, sorry
MilesMk1 (8:32:18 PM): Evening.
MilesMk1 (8:32:48 PM): What game?
CirclMastr (8:33:03 PM): Ultimate Baseball Online
MilesMk1 (8:33:15 PM): Ah.
MilesMk1 (8:33:27 PM): Score many touchdowns?
CirclMastr (8:33:30 PM): And I'm probably not even going to have anything to do the whole session.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:33:48 PM): Maybe you will, maybe you won't. We'll find out.
Thematrian1 (8:35:15 PM): aw, but I *like* snipe hunting
MilesMk1 (8:35:35 PM): A what now? What happened last week after I left, anyway?
Thematrian1 (8:36:16 PM): snipe hunt
Thematrian1 (8:36:23 PM): we put on hats and glasses and hunted small birds
MilesMk1 (8:36:48 PM): ...
Thematrian1 (8:36:58 PM): that clown showed up, and bagged an ostrich
Thematrian1 (8:37:48 PM): seriously now. Last week, we did more between-run business
MilesMk1 (8:38:00 PM): Oh, snipe hunts. Man, I need to stop this work bullshit, it makes me tired.
Thematrian1 (8:38:14 PM): oh. You were thinking snipe as in sniping?
MilesMk1 (8:39:36 PM): No, it's just an idiom I don't use much, so it took me a while to recall.
Thematrian1 (8:40:13 PM): yeah, well, it's not a feature of my normal life either. You run a weird game, Jon
Umbrafer (8:41:00 PM): Thank you.
MilesMk1 (8:41:24 PM): Any of the business I ought to know about?
MilesMk1 (8:41:50 PM): Any word from your contacts on buying our fleshy bits?
MilesMk1 (8:42:08 PM): (Yes, I know how that sounded, I was just too lazy to erase it and retype.)
Thematrian1 (8:42:21 PM): A definite maybe. Gem's busy at the moment, though, I'm afraid.
MilesMk1 (8:42:36 PM): Ah. Doing anything I should know about?
Umbrafer (8:42:43 PM): Gaining untold power.
MilesMk1 (8:43:01 PM): Initiating? Summoning a dikoted ASV ally spirit?
Thematrian1 (8:43:02 PM): pretty much
MilesMk1 (8:43:15 PM): Ok, so should I be looking for work for us, or not?
Thematrian1 (8:43:16 PM): So, I hear HB gives out like 200 karma
Thematrian1 (8:43:23 PM): hm. I guess you'd better
MilesMk1 (8:43:38 PM): Are we playing HB?
MilesMk1 (8:43:47 PM): Does HB mean Harlequin's Back, or something else?
Thematrian1 (8:43:56 PM): no
Thematrian1 (8:44:01 PM): well, yes to your second
Thematrian1 (8:44:05 PM): no to your first AFAIK
Thematrian1 (8:44:09 PM): I'm just making conversation
Thematrian1 (8:44:14 PM): maybe making a suggestion
CirclMastr (8:44:36 PM): Maybe plotting our dooms
Umbrafer (8:44:56 PM): Last we left off you'd gotten a number to a "crazy bitch" who wants someone to burn a book.
MilesMk1 (8:45:04 PM): Oh, right.
MilesMk1 (8:45:16 PM): Guess I'll give that a look.
MilesMk1 (8:45:27 PM): A call, rather.
MilesMk1 (8:45:29 PM): *dials*
CirclMastr (8:45:32 PM): Mmmm, fire...
MilesMk1 (8:46:46 PM): Perhaps she'll want us to do it in front of the Reichstag.
Thematrian1 (8:47:02 PM): (No thanks, I've got enough SS involvement in my life)
Umbrafer (8:47:03 PM): *Ring ring*
Umbrafer (8:47:18 PM): (*Giggle*)
CirclMastr (8:47:19 PM): (What day is it in-game?)
Umbrafer (8:47:21 PM): *Ring ring*
MilesMk1 (8:47:25 PM): (Well, I would certainly consider declining if that were the case.)
Umbrafer (8:47:28 PM): Um.
CirclMastr (8:47:39 PM): (It's either Saturday or Sunday)
Umbrafer (8:47:42 PM): Saturday, probably. The party parted ways, temporally speaking, and has not yet reconvened.
CirclMastr (8:48:03 PM): *tink tink tink on secret project*
Umbrafer (8:49:38 PM): Progress is going well. You've identified the source of the delay in one of the actuators.
Umbrafer (8:49:54 PM): Unfortunately, unless some money or new parts come in soon it looks like you're going to hit a wall in a few weeks.
Thematrian1 (8:50:02 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 1 6 4 3 5
CirclMastr (8:50:09 PM): *ponders calling the team*
CirclMastr (8:50:34 PM): *concludes pondering and calls Gem*
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (8:50:48 PM): (...Then again.)
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:51:33 PM): She doesn't answer, you get dumped to voicemail.
Umbrafer (8:51:39 PM): Glitch:
Umbrafer (8:51:43 PM): *Click* "Hello?"
CirclMastr (8:52:17 PM): *leaves a message* "It's Hound, call me back."
CirclMastr (8:52:31 PM): *goes back to tinking*
MilesMk1 (8:54:53 PM): "Good evening. My name is Glitch, and I am a friend of Mr. Foster. He has told me that you were looking for someone to perform a piece of work he was unfortunately unable to take?"
MilesMk1 (8:55:21 PM): BTW, can I try for an Etiquette roll to smooth things over, since this can be a little awkward?
Umbrafer (8:56:55 PM): Go for it.
MilesMk1 (8:57:14 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 4 4 3 1 6 1 4
MilesMk1 (8:57:17 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Umbrafer (8:58:27 PM): "Yes, hello. I assume you're interested?"
Umbrafer (8:59:07 PM): "It may not be… glamorous, though, I warn you."
Umbrafer (8:59:17 PM): There's a slight twist in her tone towards the end.
MilesMk1 (9:00:18 PM): "That should not pose a difficulty."
MilesMk1 (9:00:53 PM): (as long as I don't need to spend an hour in a sewer this time around)
Umbrafer (9:01:33 PM): "Can you meet in two hours at Grill 322?"
MilesMk1 (9:03:00 PM): (I'm assuming Gem gave me her blessing to do the job search in her absence? Since I'm pretty sure she won't be available.)
Thematrian1 (9:03:20 PM): (She's not, and sure)
MilesMk1 (9:03:40 PM): (Though hopefully, she will be by the time we do the work.)
MilesMk1 (9:04:02 PM): "Yes, that'll be fine." (assuming I think Hound can make it in that time, if he's around.)
Thematrian1 (9:04:09 PM): (If I'm coming back at all, I'll be back in plenty of time)
Umbrafer (9:07:03 PM): *Click*
MilesMk1 (9:07:31 PM): Friendly.
MilesMk1 (9:07:35 PM): *calls Hound*
CirclMastr (9:08:03 PM): "Hello?"
Thematrian1 (9:09:08 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 3 6 6 2
MilesMk1 (9:09:08 PM): "Hey, it's Glitch. How're you doing. Interested in working?"
CirclMastr (9:10:15 PM): "Tonight?"
MilesMk1 (9:11:16 PM): "I don't imagine so, though we'd need to meet the woman with the job in a couple of hours."
MilesMk1 (9:11:44 PM): "If you can't make it, I can always go myself and fill you guys in on it later."
CirclMastr (9:11:58 PM): "I can do the meet tonight, sure."
MilesMk1 (9:13:18 PM): "All right - can you meet me in front of Grill 322 in... let's say, an hour forty from now?"
CirclMastr (9:13:42 PM): (Assuming I know where that is) "Sure."
MilesMk1 (9:13:50 PM): (and what's the door security at 322 like? do they let in exploding spiders?)
CirclMastr (9:14:11 PM): (Heh)
MilesMk1 (9:14:20 PM): "All right, see you there."
Umbrafer (9:14:22 PM): If you don't, a quick Aztechoogle of the term ANDed with Seattle gets you an address.
Thematrian1 (9:14:56 PM): (I though we established that it was Saeder Kroogle? ;-))
CirclMastr (9:15:53 PM): (Here I thought Google would be a double-A corp by then)
Umbrafer (9:16:49 PM): (Ah yes, my error. Shiawasoo!, then?)
Umbrafer (9:19:27 PM): (The place appears to be small, a family restaurant that's done well for itself. Probably doesn't have any response for exploding spiders other than a can of RAID.)
MilesMk1 (9:20:38 PM): (Meaning, no large troll bouncers at the door with MAD scanners?)
CirclMastr (9:21:34 PM): (Sweet)
MilesMk1 (9:21:37 PM): Ok, I dress in my good clothes (not the ones I wore to that super-swanky place, mind you), pack a concealed gun, and drive over there in time to have a few minutes to catch my breath before meeting Hound.
CirclMastr (9:21:57 PM): I clean up and head over fairly early.
Thematrian1 (9:22:37 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 2 3 5
Thematrian1 (9:24:10 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 2 5
Umbrafer (9:28:47 PM): You two reach the place with plenty of time remaining.
Umbrafer (9:29:03 PM): It's a small storefront, looks like it specializes in sandwiches and pizzas.
Thematrian1 (9:29:09 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
CirclMastr (9:29:17 PM): "Mmm, pizza... wonder if they have pizza sandwiches."
Umbrafer (9:29:25 PM): They do indeed have calzones.
CirclMastr (9:29:38 PM): (Yeah, those things)
CirclMastr (9:29:59 PM): *orders a couple and some soda*
Thematrian1 (9:30:51 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 1 3 1 1 5
MilesMk1 (9:31:48 PM): *orders a couple of slices and a coke*
Thematrian1 (9:34:22 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Thematrian1 (9:35:59 PM): /roll-dice1
Thematrian1 (9:36:02 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (9:40:52 PM): The food is pretty tasty and the drinks are cold. A few minutes later, someone matching the description of the J walks in.
CirclMastr (9:41:20 PM): *munch munch*
Umbrafer (9:42:27 PM): She walks up, orders a sandwich, and homes in on your table.
CirclMastr (9:43:06 PM): (She can't live here! It's ours! *Hiss*)
MilesMk1 (9:43:55 PM): *nods and finishes chewing his pizza* "Good evening."
CirclMastr (9:44:24 PM): *nods in commiseration, still chewing*
CirclMastr (9:46:21 PM): (Did we ever get a description of her?)
Umbrafer (9:47:05 PM): (Yes. I forgot to relay it, because I'm still bad at remembering those important details, but it happened in there somewhere.)
Umbrafer (9:47:19 PM): (You know, the various things required for recognition)
Umbrafer (9:47:53 PM): She nods back. "I don't know how much you've heard about this. The short version is it's a quick in-and-out, and I'm offering fifteen up front, sixty-five after."
Umbrafer (9:48:04 PM): "You have someone that can handle a deck?"
MilesMk1 (9:48:16 PM): "Yes, we do."
Umbrafer (9:48:20 PM): (Glitch also notices a hissing noise coming from a bag by her side)
MilesMk1 (9:48:27 PM): Figures.
MilesMk1 (9:49:17 PM): (Should I try to bargain? I'm no Gem, but I could give it a shot...)
CirclMastr (9:49:26 PM): (I miss senseware. And I have Nego 4, dunno about Glitch)
MilesMk1 (9:49:34 PM): (8)
MilesMk1 (9:49:56 PM): (Generally, if Glitch has a skill, and it's mental, not physical, it's at 8 :))
CirclMastr (9:49:57 PM): (You can go for it then, heh)
CirclMastr (9:50:01 PM): (lol)
Thematrian1 (9:50:34 PM): (Go right ahead; no guarantees that you'll do worse than I would, anyway. Remember our last job?)
MilesMk1 (9:50:43 PM): "Though I have to admit, I was thinking a sum more easily divisible by three would work better. Say, 30 now, and 60 after?"
MilesMk1 (9:50:48 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 3 6 4 2 1 5 5 1
MilesMk1 (9:50:52 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
MilesMk1 (9:51:20 PM): "For, you, know, religious reasons."
CirclMastr (9:52:38 PM): (Religious reasons?)
Thematrian1 (9:53:13 PM): (It's against his religion to shoot people over the two leftover nuyen)
MilesMk1 (9:53:51 PM): (Just being facetious.)
CirclMastr (9:53:59 PM): (That's why he has shock gloves, right?)
Umbrafer (9:57:33 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 5 2 2 6 2 3 4 2 4 3 1 1 5 4 6
Umbrafer (9:57:37 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 1
Umbrafer (9:58:20 PM): "Twenty-one now, sixty-three after."
CirclMastr (9:59:12 PM): (28k apiece?)
MilesMk1 (9:59:39 PM): (Looks like it... Why, not enough?)
MilesMk1 (10:00:32 PM): (Say something, so I'll know whether to agree to it. ;))
CirclMastr (10:01:46 PM): "Sounds good to me."
MilesMk1 (10:02:31 PM): "All right... So what is this about?"
Umbrafer (10:04:42 PM): "There's a book we don't want published."
CirclMastr (10:05:18 PM): ("Too late, Harry Potter will be ingrained in our culture..." *Shudder* )
Umbrafer (10:05:40 PM): "The writer is a bit… odd. The manuscript is handwritten. It should be easy to identify."
Umbrafer (10:06:00 PM): "There will be a scan that needs to be eliminated as well."
MilesMk1 (10:07:09 PM): "Hence the decking you mentioned."
Thematrian1 (10:07:38 PM): (Before we burn this book, we need to give Gem a glance at each page)
MilesMk1 (10:07:42 PM): "What sort of proof the destruction are you requiring?"
MilesMk1 (10:07:50 PM): of the destruction
Umbrafer (10:07:53 PM): She nods. "Security should be light. They employ a single security guard in the building, though they have a contract."
Umbrafer (10:08:05 PM): "We will know."
CirclMastr (10:08:42 PM): #Definitely magical...#
MilesMk1 (10:09:03 PM): "What about magical or automated security?"
Umbrafer (10:10:53 PM): "Motion detectors, security cameras."
Umbrafer (10:11:23 PM): "The contract includes astral flybys, but they are infrequent and usually Watcher-only."
MilesMk1 (10:13:54 PM): "Do you have any particular stipulations concerning the amount of discretion you want us to display, and about collateral damage?"
Umbrafer (10:15:16 PM): "No information not related to this run is to be touched, and minimal collateral damage."
CirclMastr (10:16:17 PM): (brb, dinner)
MilesMk1 (10:17:32 PM): *nods*
Thematrian1 (10:17:37 PM): (As long as by "touched" she doesn't mean "stolen", we're good)
MilesMk1 (10:18:13 PM): "Does that mean you'd prefer the manuscript was destroyed off-premises, then?"
Umbrafer (10:18:44 PM): "That's up to you. I don't mind some scorch marks in a sink or wastepaper basket."
Umbrafer (10:18:59 PM): (I believe that is indeed the implication she was making)
Umbrafer (10:19:13 PM): (Or, more to the point, Glitch would believe it unless he botched an Etiquette roll)
Thematrian1 (10:19:36 PM): (Oh well)
MilesMk1 (10:20:12 PM): "I'd hate to set off the sprinklers. I suppose it'll depend on the circumstances."
MilesMk1 (10:20:52 PM): "I assume you have information on where the manuscript and the copy are located, within the building?"
MilesMk1 (10:21:05 PM): "Also, what sort of time frame do you require this to be done in?"
Umbrafer (10:22:07 PM): "In eighteen days the copy will be sent to the printer."
Umbrafer (10:23:28 PM): "Within the next sixteen days is preferable."
Umbrafer (10:25:17 PM): She taps an OMC on the table. "Will you take the job?"
MilesMk1 (10:25:52 PM): #Sound ok to you?#
MilesMk1 (10:26:21 PM): #I'm sure there's more than she's telling us, what with weird hand-written books, but that's par for the course.#
Umbrafer (10:26:33 PM): She gets up to get her sandwich.
MilesMk1 (10:26:49 PM): (Oh, right, Dave's eating dinner...)
MilesMk1 (10:27:33 PM): (once she gets back, assuming there are no objections from Hound) "We'll take it. How would you like to be contacted once it's done?"
Umbrafer (10:28:14 PM): She returns. "The same number you used before."
Umbrafer (10:28:37 PM): She slides the OMC over. "The target is Sylvan Information."
MilesMk1 (10:29:10 PM): *takes the chip, makes a "go on" motion*
Umbrafer (10:31:11 PM): "The book was written by a bigwig in the Tir. Ehran something-or-other."
Thematrian1 (10:31:30 PM): (Aw nuts)
MilesMk1 (10:31:54 PM): (We don't want to mess with the Tir?)
Thematrian1 (10:32:08 PM): (Nevermind, I don't think Gem would catch the reference)
Thematrian1 (10:33:11 PM): (And anyway, she's not there)
Umbrafer (10:33:33 PM): He's a member of the Tir government alright. Appears on talk shows every now and then and talks about Humanity's wonderful future and how we all have to work together.
MilesMk1 (10:33:55 PM): (If we're all going to die because of it, I demand OOC knowledge! ;))
MilesMk1 (10:34:15 PM): ...aren't the Tirs a bunch of racist fascist bastards?
Umbrafer (10:34:29 PM): Ish, yes.
MilesMk1 (10:34:44 PM): Or are they like Aztechnology, with really good public PR, and that's not how I'd think of them, necessarily?
CirclMastr (10:34:56 PM): (Back)
Umbrafer (10:35:09 PM): They've got decent PR. They're closer to everyone else, though, so the mostly-closed borders are harder to hide.
MilesMk1 (10:35:18 PM): Right.
Thematrian1 (10:35:32 PM): (I don't care so much about the Tir, it's fragging around with Ehran the Scribe that worries me)
MilesMk1 (10:35:44 PM): Ok, I no longer feel bad (OOC) for burning a book.
CirclMastr (10:36:52 PM): #If push comes to shove we can store a scan for ourselvs before we burn it.#
MilesMk1 (10:36:53 PM): (Well, let's just make sure we leave no ritual links behind, and try to do it quietly...)
MilesMk1 (10:37:11 PM): #True...#
MilesMk1 (10:38:21 PM): "So is this manuscript simply what it sounds like, the product of an eccentric, or is there more to it? I ask, because it might very well affect our approach and ability to destroy it."
Umbrafer (10:38:28 PM): "While you're removing the copy, there is a payload you should leave where you find it. It's on the chip."
MilesMk1 (10:39:01 PM): *slots the chip and scrolls over to the description of the payload*
Umbrafer (10:40:05 PM): "It's called…" she checks a pocket secretary. "Mankind Revealed. Judging from the talk shows he's promoted it on, it's more of the same from him."
CirclMastr (10:40:24 PM): "So what makes it worth destroying?" *offhandedly*
Umbrafer (10:40:49 PM): "The fact that someone is paying for it."
CirclMastr (10:40:52 PM): (*pokes J's IM window*)
CirclMastr (10:41:06 PM): "Hah! I like you."
Thematrian1 (10:41:07 PM): (My question: what's to stop him from taking his backup copy and sending it to the publisher? Something's weird)
CirclMastr (10:41:27 PM): (Clearly the handwritten pages are magical woowoo shit)
CirclMastr (10:42:00 PM): (Yes, "magical woowoo shit" is a technical term.)
Thematrian1 (10:42:28 PM): (Then why publish them?)
Umbrafer (10:42:38 PM): The payload is 20 megapulses large, and appears to be heavily compressed. There's a note instructing that it should not be placed on non-target machines.
Thematrian1 (10:42:38 PM): (Or more precisely, why prevent them from being published?)
CirclMastr (10:42:45 PM): (To throw us off)
CirclMastr (10:42:51 PM): (To financially damage the publisher)
CirclMastr (10:42:59 PM): (To give us an excuse for you to deck)
Thematrian1 (10:43:21 PM): (By forcing, at most, a month's production delay? No, I don't buy it. There's something we're not being told)
CirclMastr (10:43:35 PM): (There always is)
Thematrian1 (10:44:16 PM): (Well, right, but it's something vital this time.)
Thematrian1 (10:44:57 PM): (It's definitely not a setup to kill us)
Umbrafer (10:45:15 PM): She eats her sandwich. It looks like soysteak and cheese.
CirclMastr (10:45:19 PM): *munch* "So what happens when Ehran whoever comes after us in revenge?"
CirclMastr (10:45:40 PM): "We got any standing with you then?"
Umbrafer (10:46:01 PM): "The same thing that happens when Lone Star comes knocking from any other run you go on. Not leaving evidence is your job."
MilesMk1 (10:46:03 PM): (Uh... We're still shadowrunners, aren't we?)
CirclMastr (10:46:21 PM): (Nah, we're railroad jockies on the plot train)
MilesMk1 (10:46:21 PM): *chuckles as if Hound made a joke*
Thematrian1 (10:46:25 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 3 4 1 6 3
Thematrian1 (10:46:27 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
CirclMastr (10:47:36 PM): *munch munch* "Calzone's not bad, wish the cheese was real. You come here often?"
Umbrafer (10:49:03 PM): "Now and then. They've got real cheese, they just don't list it. Cost's high, though."
CirclMastr (10:49:45 PM): *groans a bit* "Wish someone had told me that earlier. You'd think I'd be used to that by now, heh."
Thematrian1 (10:49:59 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 1 6 6 5 6
Thematrian1 (10:50:03 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 2 3 6
Thematrian1 (10:50:06 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
CirclMastr (10:50:25 PM): #By the way, you know where Gem is? I tried calling her earlier and got no answer, and no call back.#
MilesMk1 (10:51:40 PM): #Doing mysterious magical things, I think.#
MilesMk1 (10:51:55 PM): #Said it shouldn't take too long.#
CirclMastr (10:52:01 PM): #Well then, she'll be ready for mysterious magical things on this run, won't she?#
MilesMk1 (10:52:19 PM): #We can only hope.#
CirclMastr (10:52:53 PM): #I hate to ask this, but would you mind excusing yourself? I'd like a chance to talk to her alone.#
Umbrafer (10:53:25 PM): (Are you hitting on the Johnson?)
CirclMastr (10:53:36 PM): (If you read your IMs you'd know what I'm doing)
CirclMastr (10:53:39 PM): (*Glare*)
MilesMk1 (10:55:03 PM): #Sure. Though I wouldn't have pegged her as your type...#
MilesMk1 (10:55:30 PM): *wipes his hands on a napkin, says "Excuse me" and heads for the restrooms*
CirclMastr (10:55:32 PM): #Cute.#
CirclMastr (10:56:09 PM): *sips drink* "Mind if I ask a personal question?"
Umbrafer (10:57:30 PM): She continues eating.
CirclMastr (10:58:01 PM): "When did you stop believing in Santa Claus?"
MilesMk1 (10:58:53 PM): (Are we going to lose a second job in a row?)
CirclMastr (10:59:16 PM): (No, that would boot us off the plot train)
Thematrian1 (10:59:18 PM): (Hey, hey, maybe he's going somewhere with this...)
MilesMk1 (10:59:56 PM): (I wouldn't call this a railroad plot...)
CirclMastr (11:00:01 PM): (It's called disarming with misdirection. A huge non-sequiter like that has to be reacted to)
Umbrafer (11:00:10 PM): (Use the phrase "plot train" again without good reason and I will become annoyed.)
Umbrafer (11:00:13 PM): (Clear?)
CirclMastr (11:00:18 PM): (Sorry)
Umbrafer (11:00:28 PM): "I think I was eight."
Umbrafer (11:00:45 PM): "You?"
MilesMk1 (11:00:53 PM): (Damn, she's one messed up woman. Eight?)
CirclMastr (11:01:20 PM): "Six. What made you stop believing?"
Thematrian1 (11:01:23 PM): (Corporate life, man.)
Thematrian1 (11:01:27 PM): (It does things to a person)
Umbrafer (11:01:29 PM): "I finally thought about it."
CirclMastr (11:01:44 PM): "Oh?"
Umbrafer (11:02:38 PM): "Never did that before. It didn't make sense, so I stayed up that year. You can figure out the rest for yourself."
CirclMastr (11:03:36 PM): *nods a bit* "Hard thing, to find out something like that by yourself."
Umbrafer (11:04:18 PM): "Not really. I still got presents."
CirclMastr (11:05:37 PM): *chuckles a bit* "Yeah, I guess that's true. But you don't dream as big as when you still believe, y'know? You can ask Santa for a pony or a rocket pack or something, and hope and dream about him delivering it for you...
CirclMastr (11:05:51 PM): Once you know it's your parents, you ask for normal toys they could really get you."
Umbrafer (11:07:25 PM): "Yeah. But then, I never got the pony."
Umbrafer (11:07:33 PM): She gives a half-smile at that.
CirclMastr (11:08:52 PM): *smiles a bit in return* "Well, you're an adult now, you could get the pony if you wanted."
MilesMk1 (11:09:09 PM): *looks for interesting graffitti over the urinals*
MilesMk1 (11:09:47 PM): (also, since my part in this seems to have come to an end, and I'm still working hard on actually being able to sleep like a human being, I will have to bid you all good night)
CirclMastr (11:10:05 PM): (Your foolish desire for humanity will be your doom!)
Umbrafer (11:10:11 PM): She nearly chokes on her sandwich. "Do you know what equines cost nowadays? You can't get a natural for less than a million, and the clones still go for big money."
Thematrian1 (11:10:22 PM): (Ok, sleep well)
CirclMastr (11:10:28 PM): (G'night)
MilesMk1 (11:10:46 PM): (Bah... Try not being able to sleep normally for months, then talk to me about humanity :))
CirclMastr (11:11:01 PM): (Since when are horses an endangered species?)
MilesMk1 (11:11:42 PM): (But I think I found a solution, an hour of exhausting aerobic exercises in the evenings seems to help. Of course, now I'm starting to remember my dreams, which has its own pitfalls.)
MilesMk1 (11:12:08 PM): (See you guys next week.)
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:12:23 PM): (I do hope I'm not getting my dystopic futures mixed up, but I seem to remember them being scarce)
Thematrian1 (11:12:46 PM): (Certainly, keeping one in Seattle would be prohibitive)
CirclMastr (11:12:52 PM): (I don't recall any mention of horses in SR media, but given the rise of paranimals I can't imagine mundanes being so prized)
CirclMastr (11:13:01 PM): (Yeah, the maintenance is the killer part of horse ownership)
Umbrafer (11:14:02 PM): Well, if the world does have horses she instead laughs and makes a comment about how a sportscar would eat less hay.
Thematrian1 (11:14:18 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 1 3 1 2 6
Thematrian1 (11:14:21 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
Thematrian1 (11:14:24 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
CirclMastr (11:14:51 PM): *chuckles* "I suppose so. But childhood dreams are precious."
Umbrafer (11:16:06 PM): "That's why I keep them in my childhood, where they can't be touched."
CirclMastr (11:17:17 PM): *nods a bit* "Yeah, I definitely like you." *grins* "Maybe after our business is concluded we could talk more about it."
Umbrafer (11:18:00 PM): "That will depend" she smiles
Umbrafer (11:18:05 PM): "on how the business goes"
Thematrian1 (11:18:06 PM): (He is, he's hitting on the Johnson)
CirclMastr (11:18:15 PM): (Heh, he's not.)
Umbrafer (11:18:21 PM): (And on whether the GM can differentiate the comma and enter keys)
CirclMastr (11:18:35 PM): (Not likely!)
CirclMastr (11:19:27 PM): "Then we will see how business goes." *smiles and exits (presuming Glitch can exit on his own, his player being absent)*
Umbrafer (11:19:58 PM): He does so.
CirclMastr (11:22:29 PM): *drives home, still trying to call Gem*
Thematrian1 (11:23:31 PM): Gem left you a message, saying to call her, so ::picks up her phone::
Thematrian1 (11:23:33 PM): "Hello?"
CirclMastr (11:23:51 PM): "Hey Gem, it's Hound."
Thematrian1 (11:25:14 PM): "Oh, good. Do we have the job?"
CirclMastr (11:26:35 PM): "Yeah, we're burning a manuscript and deleting a digital copy. Pretty generous timeframe, about two weeks. Glitch has the upfront money and some specifics of it."
Thematrian1 (11:27:25 PM): "Good. I'll call him and start researching."
Thematrian1 (11:27:51 PM): "Get me some exteriors of the target site, and we can meet up tomorrow night and compare notes.'
CirclMastr (11:28:19 PM): "Sure thing. I wanted to talk to you about a side project, too."
Umbrafer (11:28:34 PM): The location is in one of the more office-park-y areas of Bellevue, judging by the address.
CirclMastr (11:30:27 PM): "Do you have any naval friends you keep in touch with?"
Thematrian1 (11:31:30 PM): "This would be a bad time for me to call them."
Thematrian1 (11:31:37 PM): "Try again in a year or two."
CirclMastr (11:32:31 PM): "Well, maybe you know someone else who could help, then. I'm after a rather specialized item..."
Thematrian1 (11:33:48 PM): "Maybe we'd best discuss it in person, then."
CirclMastr (11:33:57 PM): "Mind if I come over now?"
Thematrian1 (11:34:23 PM): ::ponder:: "Not at all."
CirclMastr (11:34:53 PM): "Alright, see you in [travel time+10] or so."
CirclMastr (11:35:06 PM): *vroom vroom*
Umbrafer (11:35:21 PM): *Vroom*
CirclMastr (11:35:31 PM): *knock knock*
Thematrian1 (11:37:28 PM): ::open open::
CirclMastr (11:37:45 PM): "Hey."
Thematrian1 (11:38:37 PM): "So, what's this about?" ::leading him in toward one of the chairs
CirclMastr (11:39:52 PM): "Thanks." *has a seat* "I need some rather sensitive equipment for my other secret project, I was hoping you and/or Glitch might be able to help."
Thematrian1 (11:40:21 PM): "Much depends on what exactly you're looking for."
Thematrian1 (11:40:32 PM): "If you need to steal a ship, I do know one or two things about that..."
CirclMastr (11:40:59 PM): "I think I might, unless a better idea can be had. I need a vehicular nuclear power plant."
Thematrian1 (11:41:22 PM): Gem shuts her eyes briefly. "Of course you do."
CirclMastr (11:41:39 PM): *blinks a bit* "Did I say something wrong?"
Thematrian1 (11:43:00 PM): "No, no. This is for your giant walking death machine, right?"
CirclMastr (11:43:43 PM): *leans back a bit* "And here I thought I had better astral security than that."
Thematrian1 (11:44:23 PM): (Wait, haven't we seen the death machine already? Or at least heard about it?)
Umbrafer (11:44:41 PM): You've seen the small death machine
Thematrian1 (11:44:44 PM): (Nvm, I see the way forward)
CirclMastr (11:44:50 PM): (You saw the powered armor version)
Thematrian1 (11:45:02 PM): "In the first place, even a small plant would fill this room."
Thematrian1 (11:46:26 PM): "Whatever you're trying to build, it has to be land based."
CirclMastr (11:46:27 PM): "..."
Thematrian1 (11:46:42 PM): "Otherwise you'd just steal a ship."
Thematrian1 (11:46:48 PM): "Stealing ships is easy, these days."
CirclMastr (11:47:05 PM): "I would if I could. I don't have the manpower or firepower alone."
Umbrafer (11:47:27 PM): (Gem's idea of "easy" in this context may not be objectively correct.
Umbrafer (11:47:29 PM): *)
Umbrafer (11:47:44 PM): (Universally correct, perhaps is the better way)
Thematrian1 (11:48:12 PM): (Ah, but you can run a ship that used to require 20 people with a single rigger. That makes hijacking much simpler)
Thematrian1 (11:48:39 PM): "I don't think I can help you get one of those without knowing what you plan to do with it."
Umbrafer (11:49:04 PM): (Yeah, but the ship that used to require a hundred people frequently requires two Riggers and a dozen people.)
CirclMastr (11:49:26 PM): *chuckles a bit* "I'm not building a bomb, if that's what you're worried about. Besides, a fusion bomb would have a much bigger yield, and fusion power plants abound in Seattle."
Thematrian1 (11:50:00 PM): "I'm so very reassured."
Thematrian1 (11:50:11 PM): "But there are lots of ways to misuse a nuclear plant."
CirclMastr (11:51:14 PM): *nods* "It's the sort of thing that couldn't be spread around. I'd really prefer not to tell anyone."
Thematrian1 (11:52:19 PM): "Naturally"
CirclMastr (11:53:00 PM): "Is there any other guarantee I could give you?"
Umbrafer (11:54:03 PM): (Cranial bomb)
Thematrian1 (11:54:09 PM): "No. If you don't feel that you know me well enough yet, then that's fine; we're not going to rush off tomorrow and hijack an aircraft carrier in any case."
CirclMastr (11:55:01 PM): *nods a bit* "What would it entail?"
CirclMastr (11:55:19 PM): "Stealing a nuclear ship, that is."
Thematrian1 (11:56:11 PM): "First, we'd need to pick a ship. Ideally one with a cargo. The logistics are tricky, but it can be done with a small team."
CirclMastr (11:56:30 PM): "As small as our team is?"
Thematrian1 (11:57:27 PM): "Hmmmm. How are you at rigging ships?"
CirclMastr (11:58:08 PM): "Just having a VCR makes it doable at least."
Thematrian1 (11:59:22 PM): "Yes, but you'll need to evade pursuit, by serious-minded people with VCRs of their own and actual ship-handling experience besides."
Umbrafer (11:59:36 PM): (Much, much less so with ships than with other vehicle types. There are mods that stack up extremely quickly for that sort of thing.)
Thematrian1 (11:59:40 PM): "I'd want a second B&E type, and a spellcaster with a strong Mind Probe"
Umbrafer (11:59:43 PM): (Nevertheless, you're right, it's risky but doable.)
Thematrian1 (12:00:00 AM): "Ships run by recognition codes; they can't help it."
Thematrian1 (12:00:33 AM): "There's no way to hide the ship, so you have to be able to bluff being the legitimate operator."
CirclMastr (12:01:40 AM): "No way to disable or change the code?"
Thematrian1 (12:02:29 AM): "No. It's not a transponder; you don't care about that. But most ships of the size you care about are military or merchant marine. They validate contacts manually, with pre-arranged recognition codes."
CirclMastr (12:03:27 AM): "Guessing we couldn't just bribe or intimidate the legitimate operator into cooperating."
Thematrian1 (12:05:03 AM): "Not in the sizes you need, except maybe for prices that would let you buy a plant legitimately."
Thematrian1 (12:07:04 AM): "Another mage, another infiltrator. With those two, and we three, it could be done."
CirclMastr (12:07:26 AM): "Fun."
Thematrian1 (12:07:43 AM): "The hardest part is the handoff at the end. Whatever you end up catching, it's not some Americar that you drive into a chop shop and never see again."
Umbrafer (12:10:07 AM): (For reference, the smallest chassis with a nuclear plant available is the Medium Merchantman, with 5 Hull.)
Umbrafer (12:10:35 AM): (Well, the submarines are probably smaller.)
CirclMastr (12:10:42 AM): "Yeah. If we could get it to my warehouse I could take it apart."
Thematrian1 (12:10:56 AM): ::laughter::
CirclMastr (12:11:36 AM): *grin* "Too bad I didn't buy a seaport, I guess. Hindsight's 20/20..."
Thematrian1 (12:12:57 AM): "Best would be to find someone willing to launder it for you. You'll only get one or two percent of the ship's real value, if that, but they'll dispose of it for you, and the cargo too if you ask nicely."
Thematrian1 (12:13:11 AM): "Unfortunately, you'll have to run those investigations youself."
CirclMastr (12:14:00 AM): "Launder a ship?"
Thematrian1 (12:14:32 AM): "It happens. Change out the transponders, repaint the hull. It can't be done in the UCAS, of course."
CirclMastr (12:14:53 AM): "Why not? Don't tell me everyone here is honest."
Thematrian1 (12:15:38 AM): The UCAS coast guard is too good. Same for the CFS. You need a country with a totally dysfunctional government."
Thematrian1 (12:16:08 AM): "The carribbean islands are the classic choice, but it's hard to know who to trust."
CirclMastr (12:17:15 AM): "CFS government isn't totally dysfunctional?"
Thematrian1 (12:17:40 AM): "Next best is China, if you have someone who knows their protocols." ::idly buffs her fingernails on her jacket::
Thematrian1 (12:18:05 AM): "No. It's terrible at making decisions, but the coast guard, at least, has a strong, effective authority derived from a government that will back them up."
Thematrian1 (12:18:24 AM): "If you get caught, you probably can't bribe your way out of trouble. The guard knows that."
CirclMastr (12:18:42 AM): "Carribean is sort of a long sail, isn't it?"
Thematrian1 (12:19:28 AM): "Yes. China's the best option if you're operating on the Pacific, in my opinion."
CirclMastr (12:20:50 AM): *nods a bit idly*
Thematrian1 (12:21:08 AM): "It's possible to get a deal out of the Aztlaners, sometimes, but it's risky."
CirclMastr (12:21:48 AM): "Yeah, I'll pass on the Azzies, thanks."
Thematrian1 (12:21:54 AM): "In principle, if you managed to pull off a true decapitating hijack, you could sell the crew along with the ship and cargo down there, but I've never been tempted to try it."
CirclMastr (12:23:45 AM): "That seems rather cold-blooded, though I guess it depends on who we hijack."
Thematrian1 (12:24:14 AM): "As I said, I've never been tempted to try it."
CirclMastr (12:25:26 AM): "Quite a project..."
Thematrian1 (12:26:05 AM): "Yes. But it can be done by a small team, if they're skilled enough."
CirclMastr (12:27:14 AM): "Willing to wager that we are, and can find some help?"
Thematrian1 (12:28:10 AM): A slow nod. "The mage isn't optional. I'd take two if I could get them."
CirclMastr (12:28:34 AM): "Maybe we could find two B&E mages."
Umbrafer (12:29:02 AM): (You and your convergence.)
Thematrian1 (12:29:26 AM): "That would be nice."
CirclMastr (12:30:59 AM): *sighs* "Guess I'm just talking out of my ass until we get some serious money for this."
Thematrian1 (12:31:49 AM): "Yes. You'll probably be able to recoup your costs, though."
CirclMastr (12:32:23 AM): "And have a nuclear power plant."
Thematrian1 (12:32:46 AM): "Which was the point of the exercise."
CirclMastr (12:32:51 AM): "Indeed."
CirclMastr (12:40:04 AM): "Well, I'd better get out of your hair. Thanks for the talk."
Thematrian1 (12:40:33 AM): Nod, smile. "Sure. It's all hypothetical for now, anyway."
Thematrian1 (12:41:38 AM): (Ok, I'm gonna sleep now)
Umbrafer (12:42:00 AM): (Yeah, that would be good.)
Umbrafer (12:42:05 AM): (What's it like, anyway?)
Thematrian1 (12:42:32 AM): (We'll see)
CirclMastr (12:43:02 AM): (It's a lot like playing RPGs but you roll well.)
Umbrafer (12:43:17 AM): (Weirdest metaphor of the night award.)
Umbrafer (12:43:37 AM): (Simile, rather)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (12:44:03 AM): (Anyway, sleep well.)
CirclMastr (12:44:05 AM): Do I get any reward for that?
Umbrafer (12:44:09 AM): Hm?
Umbrafer (12:44:21 AM): For which?
CirclMastr (12:44:35 AM): Weirdest simile of the night award
Umbrafer (12:45:09 AM): Oh. Yeah, ¥10 that you find on the street next time you go out.
CirclMastr (12:45:56 AM): *Finds 10 nuyen... dropped by Hestaby, which I return to her, and she grants me 3 wishes in return for my honesty*
CirclMastr (12:45:58 AM): Or something.
Umbrafer (12:48:00 AM): Three cases of Shasta Cola, more like.
CirclMastr (12:50:14 AM): :(
Umbrafer (1:01:03 AM): Anyway, sleep now. Enjoy the Shasta Cola, and dream of plans to steal ships.
Chat room exited at 4/14/2006 1:01:10 AM.