New chat room entered at 3/1/2007 8:51:46 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw03012007.”
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MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

circlmastr (8:52:50 PM): Huzzah and such!
Umbrafer (8:52:56 PM): How did the experiments go?
MilesMk1 (8:53:40 PM): So... tired... Experiments? Are you getting paid for having electrodes inserted into your brain?
MilesMk1 (8:54:02 PM): Cosmetics testing?
MilesMk1 (8:54:34 PM): ...abnormal parapsychology?
Umbrafer (8:54:57 PM): Very possibly.
Umbrafer (8:55:56 PM): Sorry, things are a bit discombobulated. So, when we last left our antiheroes…
MilesMk1 (8:56:53 PM): Wait, were you asking me how the experiments went?
Umbrafer (8:56:58 PM): Yes.
Thematrian1 (8:58:20 PM): (We were going to cross the border, I believe?)
Umbrafer (8:58:26 PM): So, a program plan had gotten written up
Umbrafer (8:58:32 PM): And some lasers had been purchased
MilesMk1 (8:58:34 PM): Oh. Didn't really get any results today. Aside from restoring the head of the lab's 25GB MP3 collection after her husband tried to import it all into iTunes and caused a nuclear meltdown...
Thematrian1 (8:58:47 PM): fulfilling
circlmastr (8:58:50 PM): I hope you got paid overtime for that.
Umbrafer (8:58:59 PM): Hm.
Umbrafer (8:59:12 PM): I'd ask how that happened, but I'm not sure I want to know the answer.
MilesMk1 (8:59:21 PM): Hope springs eternal.
MilesMk1 (9:00:17 PM): When you import stuff into iTunes that's not in MP3 or MP4 format, it'll do a conversion, and - for some reason - save an extra copy of the file aisde from the one it creates in the iTunes library.
MilesMk1 (9:01:14 PM): If you don't know what you're doing and try this, say, two or three times, you might suddenly find yourself with a full external hard drive and some corrupted files, which will make it impossible to copy anything off said drive in
MilesMk1 (9:01:15 PM): bulk.
Umbrafer (9:02:15 PM): Hm.
Umbrafer (9:02:45 PM): Curious. Anyway, our antiheroes were buying stuff, making programming plans, and deciding how to sneak into other countries.
circlmastr (9:02:59 PM): Hound was installing the lasers if he had time.
MilesMk1 (9:03:16 PM): Of course, it could have been a combination of that and HD failure of some sort. Anyway... What were the lasers for?
MilesMk1 (9:03:44 PM): And... what kind of program plan?
Thematrian1 (9:04:13 PM): Mine, for Decrypt. I think I wrote the actual program, too; it's an easy one.
Umbrafer (9:05:12 PM): You didn't actually make the roll, though you can almost certainly finish it before you leave.
Thematrian1 (9:05:31 PM): sure, what the hell. The penalty for breaking off in the middle isn't that severe:
Thematrian1 (9:05:33 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 4 3 1 3 6
Thematrian1 (9:05:38 PM): that's 5
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Umbrafer (9:08:21 PM): What was the base time, 36 hours?
Umbrafer (9:08:34 PM): And I don't actually remember there being a penalty for breaking off in the middle.
Thematrian1 (9:08:44 PM): yeah. Not even one full working day
Umbrafer (9:09:09 PM): Seven hours and twelve minutes later, you have Decrypt.
Umbrafer (9:09:15 PM): Decrypt-6, no less.
Thematrian1 (9:09:23 PM): (Ugh, the forums' new address hasn't propogated yet? What the hell does iPowerweb do all day?)
Thematrian1 (9:09:33 PM): yep
circlmastr (9:10:55 PM): *tink tink tink*
Umbrafer (9:11:27 PM): (Oh, crap. Yeah, it actually isn't their fault yet)
Umbrafer (9:11:35 PM): (Wait, not "yet", "any more")
Umbrafer (9:11:54 PM): (It took them about a week to unlock the domain, but I haven't transferred it yet. I'll do that tonight)
Thematrian1 (9:12:09 PM): (Oh, ok)
Umbrafer (9:15:21 PM): Anyway. Gem has her program, did Hound do his roll for laser installation?
Umbrafer (9:15:46 PM): Is Glitch doing anything in particular?
MilesMk1 (9:16:27 PM): Uh... God, I barely remember what we were doing.
MilesMk1 (9:16:54 PM): No, I have the info I wanted, unless someone tells me we need something, I'm studying manuals and making sure I have the right gear.
circlmastr (9:17:33 PM): I need a TN to roll against for the lasers.
circlmastr (9:17:49 PM): (gah, brb)
Thematrian1 (9:18:12 PM): So, the next step is to pile into...whose car?...and cross the border, right?
MilesMk1 (9:19:08 PM): Hound's car?
Thematrian1 (9:19:23 PM): if it doesn't have anything too illegal built in
Umbrafer (9:19:59 PM): Hm. TN 3, base time 24 man-hours. I figure lasers can be finicky.
MilesMk1 (9:20:01 PM): Oh, right... someone remind me, what kind of stuff is it ok for us to take with us?
MilesMk1 (9:20:37 PM): Did we basically decide to go weaponless, or what? And how are we crossing the border? Do we have ID? Do we need ID?
Umbrafer (9:20:49 PM): Remind me of the visible/audible ethnicity of the various characters?
Thematrian1 (9:21:01 PM): I'm human.
Umbrafer (9:21:06 PM): Not metatype
Umbrafer (9:21:34 PM): Anglo, amerind, eastasian, so on and soforth.
Thematrian1 (9:21:58 PM): oh. Anglo, with probably a little amerind back there someplace.
circlmastr (9:22:14 PM): Back
Umbrafer (9:22:30 PM): Well, you've got at least one anglo with you, so they'll probably frown on visible weapons without permits, and on things other than hunting-style longguns in general.
Umbrafer (9:22:40 PM): ID is required for a legitimate border crossing.
MilesMk1 (9:22:41 PM): East asian.
circlmastr (9:23:02 PM): Damn for Microscopic Vision not turning it to TN 1
Thematrian1 (9:23:05 PM): oh, rats. So I'll be needing some fake ID. How hard is that to scare up?
Umbrafer (9:23:20 PM): Depends on what rating you want. Let me get a page reference.
MilesMk1 (9:23:33 PM): Won't we all be needing some fake ID? I mean, I'm not exactly going to get a pass either, right?
circlmastr (9:23:54 PM): circlmastr rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 3 6 2 3 3
Thematrian1 (9:23:55 PM): you don't have a fake seattle ID?
circlmastr (9:24:04 PM): 6 successes means... 4 hours?
MilesMk1 (9:24:05 PM): Well.
Umbrafer (9:24:22 PM): 4 hours per drone-laser.
MilesMk1 (9:24:26 PM): Presumably, I would, but it's one of those things that slipped my mind at character creation...
MilesMk1 (9:24:40 PM): ...I always fotget something. Encryption, fake ID...
Umbrafer (9:24:47 PM): Anything under rating 8 that you can convince someone to sell you, you can get in 72 hours or less.
Umbrafer (9:24:58 PM): (I always forget ID, it's awful.)
Thematrian1 (9:25:18 PM): sweet. Can I pick those up starting three days ago? I know we discussed it...
Umbrafer (9:25:23 PM): SR3 p239
MilesMk1 (9:25:33 PM): ...so, how are we handling this? Do we assume that, in the long, long time I've been in chicago I could have made myself one? :)
Umbrafer (9:25:37 PM): Sure. Anything rating 9 or above is getting into a base time of 14 days.
Thematrian1 (9:26:04 PM): ok. How much in nuyen? I'm at work, so I don't have my books?
circlmastr (9:26:13 PM): *tink tink tink for 8 hours*
Umbrafer (9:26:16 PM): Oh, right
Umbrafer (9:26:28 PM): Ratings 5-9 are Rating*5k¥
Thematrian1 (9:27:02 PM): Mise splurge for rating 8, I guess. Avail = rating?
Umbrafer (9:27:11 PM): Correct.
Umbrafer (9:27:16 PM): Except for you.
Thematrian1 (9:27:19 PM): well, right
MilesMk1 (9:27:35 PM): So, doe Hound have a fake ID?
MilesMk1 (9:27:38 PM): does
Thematrian1 (9:27:53 PM): I'll go rating 6, then; I'm in a tearing hurry.
Thematrian1 (9:28:21 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 1 1 2 4 4
Umbrafer (9:28:38 PM): That's what, four?
MilesMk1 (9:28:50 PM): I'm assuming that "Sure" above was in response to Seiler's question, not mine?
Thematrian1 (9:28:55 PM): 3, unless Good Looking etc. applies
circlmastr (9:29:57 PM): Hound... does have a rating 6 fake ID
Umbrafer (9:30:55 PM): Fair enough. It probably doesn't on this sort of thing. As for Matt's question, one moment.
Umbrafer (9:31:00 PM): So twenty-four hours.
Umbrafer (9:32:27 PM): Hm. I'm going to have to nix that much retroactivity, sorry. You could try to get one through Gem.
MilesMk1 (9:32:56 PM): ..eh.
MilesMk1 (9:33:03 PM): I guess I'll just stay in Seattle, then.
Thematrian1 (9:33:24 PM): ...maybe we could hide you?
circlmastr (9:33:42 PM): "Fold up your legs and pretend you're a drone."
circlmastr (9:34:35 PM): Ah well.
MilesMk1 (9:34:53 PM): I mean, it was stupid of me not to buy one, but I'm not spending 20% of my ready cash on a not-so-great ID to satisfy my curiosity about a train... Bah. This is one of those moments when the need to move the game along clashes with
MilesMk1 (9:34:58 PM): in-character preferences.
Thematrian1 (9:35:00 PM): or we could try and evade their border patrols. We have lots of recon ability.
Umbrafer (9:36:11 PM): (Don't worry about the game, it'll move along any which way. That said, there are always options.)
MilesMk1 (9:37:23 PM): (Yeah, well... We just spent 2 or 3 sessions preparing to go, plus I think people are curious...)
Thematrian1 (9:37:40 PM): (Maybe a tiny bit, yeah)
circlmastr (9:37:41 PM): (How about Glitch and Gem drive the van across the border, towing a U-Haul thing with Hound's mech (and Hound) inside. Then if they try to search the cargo, BAM! Instant killation!)
MilesMk1 (9:37:42 PM): Fuck it, let's try to get a rating 8, if possible. Might as well get a decent one.
circlmastr (9:37:58 PM): I like my idea, let's do it!
Thematrian1 (9:38:15 PM): I go hunting for an even nicer ID for Glitch:
Thematrian1 (9:38:20 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 1 5 1 1 4
Thematrian1 (9:38:30 PM): (unless you wanted to kill your own food, in which case never mind)
MilesMk1 (9:38:40 PM): (Nah.)
circlmastr (9:38:46 PM): Fine, nobody listen to my idea. :(
Thematrian1 (9:38:47 PM): that's 1 success
Thematrian1 (9:38:56 PM): The plan is to avoid instant killation
circlmastr (9:39:16 PM): This is killation only if they search the cargo. Gem is a better face than that, isn't she?
Umbrafer (9:39:59 PM): Assuming you put this order in on Monday, you'll have it on Thursday. A little tight, but not unworkable.
Thematrian1 (9:40:07 PM): good enough
Thematrian1 (9:40:41 PM): And, no, I'm probably not good enough to talk a bunch of racists out of searching your u-haul
Umbrafer (9:40:54 PM): Your ID belongs to someone who apparently died in a bicycling accident. Not officially, of course.
circlmastr (9:40:55 PM): Aww.
Umbrafer (9:41:48 PM): Glitch's new personality, meanwhile, is a partly-original mixture.
Umbrafer (9:42:07 PM): You consult for a small security company.
Thematrian1 (9:43:24 PM): hey, that's almost true
Umbrafer (9:45:23 PM): Your ID also includes a telephone, which is listed as the contact number for the company.
Umbrafer (9:46:39 PM): Gem's ID includes no such accessories, but does include a small locker at a bicycle storage facility near downtown.
Umbrafer (9:46:52 PM): Actions?
MilesMk1 (9:47:07 PM): It includes a telephone, or has a number associated with it?
Thematrian1 (9:47:14 PM): get my ID, call Hound, get in his car, penetrate the Salish Sidhe
Umbrafer (9:47:34 PM): It actually includes the telephone with the number indicated on your ID.
circlmastr (9:47:40 PM): *interrupts Gem to beam about laser installation*
Umbrafer (9:47:49 PM): There's a note suggesting you give it to someone you trust with some instructions.
MilesMk1 (9:47:59 PM): Ah.
circlmastr (9:48:05 PM): (brb, dinner)
MilesMk1 (9:48:10 PM): Damn it, who do I trust?
Thematrian1 (9:48:28 PM): yourself?
Thematrian1 (9:48:37 PM): it'd make the instructions part easy, too
MilesMk1 (9:49:13 PM): I think it'd look suspicious if the person checking my ID called the number, and I pulled out a cell phone and answered.
MilesMk1 (9:49:32 PM): I suppose I'll give it to one of my level 2 contacts...
MilesMk1 (9:50:11 PM): My surgeon buddy - he ought to keep reasonably business-like hours, and I'll tell him it's only for a few days.
Umbrafer (9:50:25 PM): There's an appropriate-sounding voice-mail message already set up on it, and you have the file for it in case you decide to replace it but later change your mind.
MilesMk1 (9:50:54 PM): Great. So, I'll give it to the doc along with some instructions and a bottle of good scotch.
MilesMk1 (9:51:08 PM): To be used when not answering the phone.
Umbrafer (9:51:33 PM): He eyes it with a little suspicion, but accepts when he sees the scotch.
MilesMk1 (9:52:55 PM): So, I assume we can bring along a gun in a concealable holster, yes?
Thematrian1 (9:53:31 PM): it should be ok, as long as it's a small gun
Umbrafer (9:53:32 PM): Full searches are relatively uncommon.
MilesMk1 (9:54:43 PM): I'll also take a bag of climbing gear (and print out some map-questish directions to several rock-climbing spots in the area as well as other touristy crap, to memorize and pad out my cover).
MilesMk1 (9:55:14 PM): And a tool kit with my electronic tools, making sure not to include anything I might have that screams "B&E!"
MilesMk1 (9:55:28 PM): I suppose most of my kit has legitimate uses.
Thematrian1 (9:56:56 PM): I'm going clean. Shock hand only
circlmastr (9:57:21 PM): (Back)
Umbrafer (9:57:26 PM): With 5¥ of equipment from the nearest Matrix Hut (and your Electronics Kit), you can impersonate an Extreme Ham Operator.
MilesMk1 (9:57:51 PM): Heh... sure.
MilesMk1 (9:58:25 PM): So, what do you think - a heavy pistol with a concealability of 8, or a light pistol with a concealability of 10? (factoring in the holster)
circlmastr (9:58:47 PM): Aww, didn't give the phone to Hound?
Umbrafer (9:58:49 PM): Glitch is now, as far as the world is concerned, planning on climbing a big mountain to talk to people he could talk to from ground level.
Thematrian1 (9:59:03 PM): the difference between 12 and 15 after a long coat isn't vast, so I'd go heavy
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MilesMk1 (10:00:08 PM): Heavy it is!
MilesMk1 (10:00:13 PM): Good point about the long coat.
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Thematrian1 (10:00:42 PM): Hound: any weapons or "special" gear?
circlmastr (10:01:28 PM): Hound has no weapon aside his new pistol, which I foolishly forgot to buy accessories or decent ammo or a permit for, so I guess he'll leave it.
MilesMk1 (10:01:44 PM): Hmm... Does a shut down ruthenium suit look obviously like what it is? Bah. No, I'm not bringing it. I'm not risking getting $300,000 worth of gear (at street prices) get confiscated.
MilesMk1 (10:02:23 PM): Just going to take my rapid-transit suit, since I think that's passable wear for eXtreme Ham Radio.
Thematrian1 (10:02:25 PM): Then I think we're set
circlmastr (10:02:27 PM): I'm guessing a Strato-9 in the back of the van wouldn't look good, so how about just the spiders.
Umbrafer (10:02:51 PM): It looks obviously not like normal clothing, but only those specifically familiar with ruthenium would recognize it.
circlmastr (10:03:04 PM): Should the van be anything in particular?
MilesMk1 (10:03:22 PM): ... do I know if border guards fall into that category, generally speaking? I feel so naked without it...
circlmastr (10:03:25 PM): (It has photovoltaic paint, though it hasn't come up yet)
Umbrafer (10:03:36 PM): (VW Microbus!) Roll security knowledge.
MilesMk1 (10:03:43 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 3 6 3 5 3 4 4 2
MilesMk1 (10:03:48 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
MilesMk1 (10:03:56 PM): 8,5,4,4
MilesMk1 (10:04:14 PM): Nah, no need - we're tourists.
circlmastr (10:04:31 PM): *sets van to "Hippie"*
MilesMk1 (10:04:32 PM): Unless you can think of something the amerind racists would appreciate.
circlmastr (10:04:52 PM): How about a big art-y mural of an eagle and shit like that?
Umbrafer (10:05:02 PM): Probably not. They wouldn't be specifically trained for it for border patrol duty, at least.
Thematrian1 (10:05:03 PM): how about if we don't tease the animals?
MilesMk1 (10:05:10 PM): We could get some bumper stickers - a Humanis logo crossed out, or something...
MilesMk1 (10:05:53 PM): Heh... Yeah, I think it'd be a bit obvious if we all just showed up wearing Daniel Twelve Hyena t-shirts, or whatever that Ghost Dance guy was called.
circlmastr (10:06:00 PM): "Honk if you love shamans"?
Umbrafer (10:06:07 PM): Daniel Howling Coyote.
circlmastr (10:06:31 PM): I'm partial to "Honk if you love shamans" because hey, we have one!
MilesMk1 (10:06:56 PM): So it was Daniel, one of the words started with an H, and another was a dog-like animal...
MilesMk1 (10:07:04 PM): Wait... Are hyenas canines?
MilesMk1 (10:07:14 PM): I remember someone telling me something weird about them...
Thematrian1 (10:07:26 PM): I'd assume so. They tear at meat with their mouths.
Thematrian1 (10:07:30 PM): Let's ask the border gurads
circlmastr (10:08:04 PM): Uh, don't cats also tear at meat with their mouths?
MilesMk1 (10:08:07 PM): Heh... Ok, so let's go. I'll... pack the ruthenium suit.
Umbrafer (10:08:11 PM): They aren't. They're Hyaenidae.
MilesMk1 (10:08:28 PM): "most closely related to mongooses and meerkats"
circlmastr (10:08:31 PM): *drives to the border, with the paint job adding "Honk if you love shamans" to the bumper*
Umbrafer (10:08:35 PM): Though calling them "dog-like" isn't unreasonable
Umbrafer (10:08:50 PM): One packed RSuit.
Umbrafer (10:09:04 PM): One pro-Shaman bumper sticker.
Thematrian1 (10:09:07 PM): er, right. I meant that they have canines ::sigh::
circlmastr (10:09:51 PM): *has Gem sit in the front passenger seat, so I can profess to be sweet on shamans*
Thematrian1 (10:10:00 PM): aye aye
circlmastr (10:10:18 PM): And Hound also wears long pants to hide his obvious cyberleg, assuming that they are anti-cyberware.
Umbrafer (10:10:37 PM): Do you have any S-S-related knowledge?
circlmastr (10:10:42 PM): (Granted, he does that anyway...)
circlmastr (10:10:53 PM): Me? No.
Umbrafer (10:11:00 PM): Then that's what you've heard.
circlmastr (10:11:15 PM): I've got Negotiations 5, if that helps. >_>
Umbrafer (10:11:38 PM): Not in knowing whether to wear shorts or not. Anyway.
circlmastr (10:12:01 PM): *drive drive*
Umbrafer (10:12:05 PM): Someone tailgates you for a few blocks. When he turns away, you see several alchemical symbols on a bumper sticker.
Thematrian1 (10:12:17 PM): *click*
circlmastr (10:13:05 PM): *drive drive*
Thematrian1 (10:13:09 PM): ::recline::
Umbrafer (10:13:36 PM): The seats are as comfy (or not-comfy) as Dave claims they are.
circlmastr (10:13:37 PM): "So, either of you actually killed someone?"
MilesMk1 (10:13:48 PM): ...
Thematrian1 (10:13:51 PM): Quellingly: "Yes"
MilesMk1 (10:14:00 PM): "Why do you ask?"
circlmastr (10:14:02 PM): The front ones are comfy, the back one less so because it usually has drones and such back there.
MilesMk1 (10:14:24 PM): (What work did we actually do together?)
Thematrian1 (10:14:33 PM): (The one where we killed that guy)
Thematrian1 (10:14:39 PM): (And his bodyguards)
circlmastr (10:14:46 PM): (Uh, we did the whole raid on the herring room or whatever?)
circlmastr (10:14:52 PM): (And he helped you fence a car)
Thematrian1 (10:14:54 PM): (We 3 only did that one, yeah)
circlmastr (10:15:03 PM): "I never have. Always think it somehow makes me less of a runner."
MilesMk1 (10:15:04 PM): (Really? I thought... No, the troll was along for that one.)
Umbrafer (10:15:16 PM): (I forgot about that as well.)
circlmastr (10:16:05 PM): (Excuse me for trying to talk about something. :( )
MilesMk1 (10:16:25 PM): (It's fine, I just needed to remember to see how I'd respond.)
Umbrafer (10:16:52 PM): (Yeah, unfortunately our timeline has been stretched enough that realizing that that's a perfectly reasonable question takes some time)
Umbrafer (10:17:06 PM): (It feels like only yesterday that Glitch was gunning people down left and right.)
circlmastr (10:17:55 PM): "Ah well. Someone else pick a topic, or should I turn on the radio?"
Umbrafer (10:18:23 PM): What time of day are you leaving?
MilesMk1 (10:18:26 PM): "Killing's easy. All the stuff that makes someone a competent runner is a lot easier harder than pulling a trigger."
MilesMk1 (10:18:36 PM): ...doh...
circlmastr (10:18:40 PM): (Easier or harder?)
Umbrafer (10:18:43 PM): Drop the "easier"?
MilesMk1 (10:18:44 PM): cross out that "easier"
circlmastr (10:18:49 PM): (And, I have no idea. Whenever Gem says, I guess.)
Thematrian1 (10:19:00 PM): "And there are lots of ways to kill people, some harder than others."
Thematrian1 (10:19:09 PM): Her tone puts a double meaning on "harder"
Thematrian1 (10:19:17 PM): um. Lesse...target time is 1am of...Friday?
Thematrian1 (10:19:24 PM): And we picked up Glitch's ID Thursday morning?
circlmastr (10:19:35 PM): "I only have the Strato with an actual gun on it, and I've not had occasion to use it."
Umbrafer (10:19:37 PM): Correct.
Umbrafer (10:19:50 PM): You can leave any time after… say, 10:00 AM Thursday.
Thematrian1 (10:20:11 PM): Then let's leave 10:00 AM thursday
MilesMk1 (10:20:37 PM): "Well, yes. I suppose it's the same as anything else. Is driving easy or hard?"
Umbrafer (10:20:56 PM): Fair enough. Remember, getting to the target location almost certainly won't take more than three and a half hours, probably closer to two unless there's border issues (or you get delayed somewhere else)
circlmastr (10:20:58 PM): "It's a lot harder after you've experienced rigging."
Thematrian1 (10:21:22 PM): That's fine with me. The target area is relatively isolated, and I want lots of time to scout and think.
Thematrian1 (10:21:34 PM): "I thought the point was to make driving easier?"
circlmastr (10:22:24 PM): (Damn too long message error)
MilesMk1 (10:22:26 PM): "It's all about the circumstances. Killing is a lot harder if there are other people shooting at you. Or if they have a knife, you're wounded, and they're better than you ar at hand to hand." *gets a faraway look*
circlmastr (10:22:54 PM): "That's what I mean, rigging is... well, it's cliche but it's like the vehicle is a part of you. Or you're a part of the vehicle, it's hard to tell sometimes..."
circlmastr (10:23:07 PM): "But after that, going back to a steering wheel? It's like swimming in molassas."
MilesMk1 (10:23:15 PM): *continues to act slightly oblivious to Gem's obvious discomfort with the subject*
Umbrafer (10:23:20 PM): The traffic's of that sort of middle-density you expect on a weekday at about this time. Nevertheless, you make excellent time. You should be at the border in under twenty minutes.
MilesMk1 (10:23:34 PM): Make that "be" instead of "act".
Thematrian1 (10:23:39 PM): Heh.
Thematrian1 (10:23:51 PM): To Glitch: "I'm sure that's true."
circlmastr (10:24:27 PM): (Remind me again what time of year it is? Like, what month?)
Thematrian1 (10:24:55 PM): More generally: "I once knew a man who a rigger who'd only rig vehicles he was riding in. No drones, not ever. He was afraid that his soul wouldn't be able to find its way back from the strato to his body."
Thematrian1 (10:24:58 PM): (July, I think?)
Umbrafer (10:25:02 PM): (July 1st.)
circlmastr (10:25:53 PM): "Back when I first got the VCR jack, I had nightmares about my brains draining out of the hole onto my pillow. Went away after a week or so, but it was scary shit at my age."
Thematrian1 (10:26:09 PM): "Your age?"
MilesMk1 (10:26:12 PM): "Hehe... I bet he didn't do much decking, did he?"
circlmastr (10:26:27 PM): "Eh, let's just say I got into rigging young."
Thematrian1 (10:27:04 PM): "No, none. A little programming on the side, to get a little use out of his blimps, but that was it."
Thematrian1 (10:27:23 PM): "He had some kind of bad scare, a few years before I met him. Didn't talk about it much."
MilesMk1 (10:27:37 PM): "Interesting."
MilesMk1 (10:27:50 PM): "What's young?"
circlmastr (10:28:27 PM): "Heh, I thought it was rude to ask someone their age. Or is that only for women?"
Thematrian1 (10:28:44 PM): "Just women. And it's ok to ask, you just can't be upset if we lie."
Thematrian1 (10:29:01 PM): "Not that being upset about that would help you in any case..."
circlmastr (10:29:12 PM): "Noted." (I just realized I have no idea if the UCAS celebrates the 4th of July anymore.)
MilesMk1 (10:29:34 PM): "Meh, I lie about my age all the time."
Umbrafer (10:29:36 PM): You leave the main city. (They do, with suitable distortions.)
Umbrafer (10:29:46 PM): (Humanis in particular celebrates it, FWIW.)
circlmastr (10:29:59 PM): (...Any particular reason for that?)
MilesMk1 (10:30:11 PM): (What, the Humanis thing?)
circlmastr (10:30:18 PM): (Yeah)
Umbrafer (10:31:06 PM): (Playing on anti-Amerind and anti-Meta sentiment around the day of the independence of a dead nation)
circlmastr (10:31:58 PM): (Weird, but okay)
MilesMk1 (10:32:04 PM): (Bah... Fine, ignore my attempts at having a conversation.)
MilesMk1 (10:32:11 PM): (*sulks*)
Umbrafer (10:32:29 PM): You pass a power station. The border crossing looms ahead.
circlmastr (10:32:35 PM): (Your attempts at conversation would lead to whipping out wallet photos of crime scenes.)
Umbrafer (10:32:52 PM): For very small values of "loom". It actually isn't that large. The North crossing is much larger.
circlmastr (10:33:03 PM): ("And you shoulda seen what I did to THIS guy! I couldn't eat Swedish meatballs for a week!")
circlmastr (10:33:11 PM): *drives casually*
MilesMk1 (10:33:38 PM): (Hey, I was getting into that age conversation.)
MilesMk1 (10:33:45 PM): (No mention of killing, there.)
Umbrafer (10:33:54 PM): You join a line of about a dozen vehicles waiting to go into one of four inspection bays.
MilesMk1 (10:34:18 PM): (Though I suppose it could have gone like "Well, see, the guy who I killed to take his face was younger than I was...")
circlmastr (10:34:45 PM): *waits* "So should we stop for drive-thru after we get a place to stay, or before?"
MilesMk1 (10:34:56 PM): *puts on face paint, a headdress, and starts chanting shaking a turtle-shell rattle*
Thematrian1 (10:34:56 PM): (Yeah, see, tie the two in together ;-))
Umbrafer (10:35:11 PM): There's a sign: "Have IDs ready, interior lights on"
Umbrafer (10:35:21 PM): It's in several languages.
circlmastr (10:35:36 PM): *clicks on interior lights, has fake ID ready*
MilesMk1 (10:35:42 PM): "Before. You never seem to be able to find decent food once you get to the damn hotel."
MilesMk1 (10:35:49 PM): *gets his ID ready*
Thematrian1 (10:36:00 PM): > equip id
circlmastr (10:36:12 PM): "I'm sort of in the mood for barbecue."
Umbrafer (10:36:23 PM): > your ego begins to submerge
circlmastr (10:36:27 PM): "Meat on a stick, or something. Wonder if they have that."
MilesMk1 (10:36:41 PM): "Wait until after we cross to ask."
circlmastr (10:36:44 PM): > save game
Umbrafer (10:37:00 PM): > disk write error
Umbrafer (10:37:10 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 4-sided die: 1
circlmastr (10:37:11 PM): > save damn you!
Thematrian1 (10:37:28 PM): ::composes herself::
Umbrafer (10:37:29 PM): The light above bay 1 beckons you in.
MilesMk1 (10:37:30 PM): > This file could not be copied due to an I/O failure.
MilesMk1 (10:37:52 PM): (God, I saw something to that effect so many times the last couple of days...)
circlmastr (10:38:08 PM): *drives into bay 1*
Umbrafer (10:39:05 PM): You drive. There's a marked area to stop in between a pair of spike strips. The nearer strip is retracted, the far strip not. Signs warn of tire damage.
circlmastr (10:39:20 PM): *stops at the appropriate time*
circlmastr (10:39:41 PM): *makes a mental note to buy some RunFlat tires*
Umbrafer (10:39:43 PM): Through the rear sensors you observe the strip behind you deploy. This is normal.
circlmastr (10:40:04 PM): *taps steering wheel in casual bored manner*
Umbrafer (10:40:11 PM): A monitor ahead and above you indicates in several languages to roll your window down.
circlmastr (10:40:17 PM): *roll roll roll*
Umbrafer (10:40:26 PM): It augments this with a low-resolution animation.
MilesMk1 (10:40:28 PM): (Couldn't you just make a crash test, or whatever, to plow through stuff like that with no damage? Or is that just for things like concrete walls and battleships?)
circlmastr (10:40:29 PM): (Actually it's more like *whirrrrrrrrr*)
circlmastr (10:40:52 PM): (I think spike strips specifically attack the tires, but I'm not sure.)
Umbrafer (10:40:58 PM): (It is, yes)
Umbrafer (10:41:34 PM): A man with a clipboard comes out. He has a sour look on his face.
circlmastr (10:41:37 PM): *leans elbow where window was*
Umbrafer (10:41:38 PM): "How many?"
circlmastr (10:41:42 PM): "Three."
Umbrafer (10:41:47 PM): "IDs?"
circlmastr (10:41:53 PM): *proffers*
MilesMk1 (10:41:56 PM): (I need to make a gun that shoots roofing nails into jet turbine intakes. Bypass that whole annoying armor thing.)
circlmastr (10:41:59 PM): *passes others up*
MilesMk1 (10:42:02 PM): *holds out ID*
Thematrian1 (10:42:41 PM): ::shows off her shiny new ID::
circlmastr (10:42:44 PM): *waits*
Umbrafer (10:43:04 PM): He takes them, then hands you a clipboard he had hidden under his other clipboard. "Fill this out."
Umbrafer (10:43:14 PM): He vanishes back into the booth he came from.
Thematrian1 (10:43:18 PM): what's on it?
circlmastr (10:43:21 PM): *looks at form*
Umbrafer (10:43:37 PM): It includes questions of the following variety:
Umbrafer (10:43:42 PM): How long are you here for?
Umbrafer (10:43:46 PM): What is the purpose of your visit?
Umbrafer (10:43:52 PM): What is your intended destination?
circlmastr (10:44:11 PM): *fills in appropriate vacation-y answers*
Thematrian1 (10:44:24 PM): rock-climbing vacation
Thematrian1 (10:44:28 PM): three or four days?
Thematrian1 (10:44:33 PM): maybe that's too little for the cover
Umbrafer (10:44:38 PM): Are you carrying more than ¥50,000 in certified credsticks or monetary instruments?
Thematrian1 (10:44:41 PM): We can always leave early
circlmastr (10:45:04 PM): I'll just fill in "weekend" and let them worry about it.
Umbrafer (10:45:19 PM): Do you have an emergency contact in the country?
circlmastr (10:45:40 PM): *asks Glitch for that phone number of the phone he got*
Umbrafer (10:45:40 PM): Do you have an emergency contact in your country of origin? (Both contact questions also ask for name, address, number, etc.)
Umbrafer (10:46:09 PM): If you have been issued a criminal SIN, what were the reasons for this issue?
circlmastr (10:46:27 PM): *fill fill fill*
Umbrafer (10:46:33 PM): So we have two R6s and an R8?
Thematrian1 (10:46:35 PM): no and no to those other two
circlmastr (10:47:04 PM): I've got R6, yeah
Umbrafer (10:47:19 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 6 6 5 2 4 5 5 3 2 4 3 3 1 4 6
Umbrafer (10:47:31 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 1 1 2 2 4 1 1 6 3 5 3 5 6 6
Umbrafer (10:47:36 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 5 4 1 1 4 4 1 2 1 6 1 3 5 4 4
circlmastr (10:48:07 PM): (I don't see 6+ sixes in any of those. :P )
Umbrafer (10:48:34 PM): After about eight minutes, the man reemerges. What're your answers?
circlmastr (10:48:44 PM): Oh, you need actual answers?
Umbrafer (10:48:50 PM): If you have them.
circlmastr (10:49:07 PM): Rock climbing, the weekend, no contacts, no criminal SINs, no excessive amounts of cash, etc...
Umbrafer (10:49:22 PM): Do you list a destination?
Thematrian1 (10:49:38 PM): Sure. One of those mountain-y places Glitch picked out.
circlmastr (10:49:54 PM): Yeah. I am clueless as to names, but Hound wouldn't be, and would fill in something appropriate.
Umbrafer (10:50:25 PM): He hands you your SINs, takes the clipboard back, glances over it.
circlmastr (10:50:31 PM): *passes SINs back*
Umbrafer (10:51:12 PM): He hands you a small slip of paper densely packed with hazardous materials on both sides. "Are you carrying any of these items?"
Umbrafer (10:51:26 PM): One side is marked "BY PERMIT ONLY", the other "FORBIDDEN".
circlmastr (10:51:36 PM): *looks at the listed items*
Thematrian1 (10:51:37 PM): We read. Do we have anything on the list?
Thematrian1 (10:51:44 PM): I mean, we say 'no', either way
Thematrian1 (10:51:48 PM): but it's nice to be aware of
Umbrafer (10:51:51 PM): Let's see, what were you carrying?
circlmastr (10:52:04 PM): We really should read the list before saying no, just to give the appearance of propriety.
Umbrafer (10:52:09 PM): Your shock hand is actually on the list as BPO.
Thematrian1 (10:52:20 PM): whoops. Oh well, it's hard to spot
circlmastr (10:52:26 PM): *looks it over* "Nope."
Thematrian1 (10:52:43 PM): shock hand, eye camera, criminal-quality cyberdeck, magical focus
Umbrafer (10:53:01 PM): There's something called "stealth suit" on the forbidden list. What exactly it is is unclear.
Thematrian1 (10:53:01 PM): oh yeah, are there any astral defenses around?
Thematrian1 (10:53:14 PM): Glitch probably owns one
Umbrafer (10:53:27 PM): Are you perceiving?
Thematrian1 (10:53:38 PM): they can tell I'm a mage either way, so sure
Umbrafer (10:53:54 PM): They could always botch their assensing roll
Umbrafer (10:54:03 PM): The camera's not listed, but provided the focus is rating 3+ everything you mentioned is BPO.
Umbrafer (10:54:08 PM): Everything else.
Umbrafer (10:54:20 PM): Perception.
Thematrian1 (10:54:23 PM): yeah, that figures
Thematrian1 (10:54:24 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 1 5 2 1 1
MilesMk1 (10:54:31 PM): Uh... Let's see, illegally boosted reflexes, climbing claws, concealed gun, stealth suit, B&E tools...
Umbrafer (10:55:25 PM): "Reflex augmentation" is listed under forbidden, though by your knowledge of S-S law that isn't strictly true. "cybernetic claws" are also forbidden.
circlmastr (10:55:44 PM): *already said Nope*
Umbrafer (10:55:46 PM): The building proper is warded, with the guard hut separately warded.
Umbrafer (10:56:17 PM): Little watcher-type critters flit about. There's some background count around the inspection area.
MilesMk1 (10:56:40 PM): Well, obviously, I'm going to say "no".
Umbrafer (10:56:43 PM): He glances around. "Mind if I take a look in the back?"
circlmastr (10:56:52 PM): "Sure."
Thematrian1 (10:57:01 PM): ::distracting smile::
Umbrafer (10:57:17 PM): Roll… whatever. Negotiation?
Thematrian1 (10:57:32 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 2 5 6 4 2
Thematrian1 (10:57:34 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Thematrian1 (10:57:44 PM): I claim Good Looking should apply here
Umbrafer (10:58:04 PM): He isn't visibly distracted, but his aura indicates otherwise. Nothing major, but he's less focused than he was a few seconds ago.
circlmastr (10:58:12 PM): (Would it have killed you to wear a low-cut top?)
Thematrian1 (10:58:24 PM): (I demonstrably don't need one, so hah)
circlmastr (10:58:24 PM): (Yay chat lag)
circlmastr (10:59:31 PM): (Hound would have appreciated it if you wore a low cut top. ;) )
Umbrafer (10:59:42 PM): He glances around the back. What's there?
Umbrafer (10:59:45 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 2 1 3 4 1 3 2 3 3 1 3 5 1 2 3
Thematrian1 (10:59:46 PM): (No doubt)
Umbrafer (10:59:59 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 5 3 2 5 4 3 5 3 6 1 4 5 3 4 2
Umbrafer (11:00:05 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
Thematrian1 (11:00:09 PM): All my illegal gear is inside my body or under the seat. How about you guys?
Umbrafer (11:00:10 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
circlmastr (11:00:13 PM): He might find the two spiders.
circlmastr (11:00:26 PM): He'll find whatever we packed in the way of clothes.
Thematrian1 (11:00:53 PM): maybe the ruthenium?
MilesMk1 (11:00:57 PM): Toolkit, bag of climbing gear (ruthenium suit is actually stuffed inside the rapid transit suit)...
Umbrafer (11:01:11 PM): As it happens, he doesn't find much of anything. He walks back into the guard hut.
Umbrafer (11:01:20 PM): Perception from Hound.
Umbrafer (11:01:22 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 1 1 1 1 4 5 2 6 2 3 1 3 1 6
Umbrafer (11:01:26 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 5 2
circlmastr (11:01:42 PM): circlmastr rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 3 4 3 5 4
circlmastr (11:01:49 PM): (I'll karma if that's not good)
Umbrafer (11:02:18 PM): You notice a spike in EM radiation. You're probably getting scanned.
Umbrafer (11:02:31 PM): By something very close by.
circlmastr (11:02:53 PM): *makes a mental note to check for bugs later*
MilesMk1 (11:03:17 PM): It's probably on the ground between the spike strips.
circlmastr (11:03:31 PM): (Probably, but it's not your van, is it? :P )
Umbrafer (11:04:38 PM): After another minute, the guy comes back out and hands you a stamped hardcopy of the form you filled out earlier, as well as a small stack of pamphlets. "Welcome to Salish, don't get into trouble."
circlmastr (11:04:49 PM): *takes the form* "Thanks."
circlmastr (11:05:06 PM): *takes the pamphlets too*
Thematrian1 (11:05:08 PM): (And there's the hard part. Good times)
Umbrafer (11:05:27 PM): The absence of the latter half of the name is audible. He walks away a few steps, the spikes retract, the door in front of you opens up, and the display turns green and says "proceed" in umpteen languages.
circlmastr (11:05:45 PM): *drives onward*
circlmastr (11:06:02 PM): "Did anyone pack some water or soda or anything?"
MilesMk1 (11:06:11 PM): "Yes."
circlmastr (11:06:36 PM): "Pass one up?"
MilesMk1 (11:06:54 PM): *passes a can of green tea with ginseng forward*
circlmastr (11:07:13 PM): *takes it and looks at the can* "What's this?"
Umbrafer (11:07:17 PM): You drive into the vast wilderness of the Salish-Shidhe. And by "vast wilderness", I mean "large rest area".
MilesMk1 (11:07:51 PM): "Green tea? Like iced tea, but green? Less sweet? Supposedly good for you, but I just like the taste."
circlmastr (11:08:14 PM): *pops the can open and tries it*
Umbrafer (11:08:32 PM): It's green tea. With ginseng, no less.
MilesMk1 (11:08:49 PM): (You usually can barely taste the ginseng anyway.)
Umbrafer (11:08:50 PM): Since it's from Glitch, it probably isn't even soy-ginseng.
circlmastr (11:08:58 PM): "Wow, that's pretty bland."
MilesMk1 (11:09:01 PM): Or so-tea.
Umbrafer (11:09:02 PM): (Yeah, I know)
MilesMk1 (11:09:04 PM): soy-tea
MilesMk1 (11:09:29 PM): "Want some water instead?"
circlmastr (11:09:43 PM): "Nah, I can drink this."
MilesMk1 (11:10:22 PM): (Incidentally, this is the point where I must sign off.)
MilesMk1 (11:10:29 PM): (At least we made it into the country.)
circlmastr (11:10:30 PM): (Doh)
Thematrian1 (11:10:40 PM): We're in, the worst is over, save any magical horrors
Umbrafer (11:10:47 PM): (Fair enough. We're now past the checkpoint and into unknown territory)
circlmastr (11:10:55 PM): I thought the whole train thing was the worst.
Umbrafer (11:10:56 PM): Speaking of which, is the corpse still at your apartment?
MilesMk1 (11:11:08 PM): See you guys next week.
Thematrian1 (11:11:27 PM): it is
Thematrian1 (11:11:31 PM): good night, Matt
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:11:32 PM): Take care, sleep well.
Umbrafer (11:11:35 PM): Too late.
circlmastr (11:11:38 PM): That'll be foul by the time we get back.
Umbrafer (11:11:48 PM): There's nothing left to go foul.
Umbrafer (11:11:54 PM): It's about mummified as it is.
circlmastr (11:12:03 PM): Oh
Umbrafer (11:12:39 PM): Wherever it came from, it had been in the corner of that garage for a long time. Or possibly somewhere else before for a long time. Anyway, it was somewhere for a long time.
Umbrafer (11:12:47 PM): After being dead.
Thematrian1 (11:12:59 PM): thousands of years, maybe
Thematrian1 (11:13:14 PM): I'm very glad I didn't bring it along, but I'm sure all this magical drek is of a piece
Thematrian1 (11:13:25 PM): I forget, does Hound know about it?
Umbrafer (11:13:31 PM): I'm sure it would've helped your border crossing.
Umbrafer (11:13:34 PM): I don't believe so
Umbrafer (11:13:45 PM): You may have discussed getting rid of it in front of him.
Umbrafer (11:13:58 PM): But that may have just been OOC
circlmastr (11:14:10 PM): Hound came over at one point, I know.
Thematrian1 (11:14:12 PM): well, if not: "I'm very glad I didn't bring it along, but I'm sure all this magical drek is of a piece"
Umbrafer (11:14:18 PM): At this point, it's your call.
Thematrian1 (11:14:18 PM): oh. In that case, he definitely saw it
Thematrian1 (11:14:31 PM): it's right there in a pentagram in the bedroom, so it's hard to miss
Umbrafer (11:14:32 PM): Possibly. It's always possible to keep a door closed :)
Umbrafer (11:14:36 PM): Ah, right
Umbrafer (11:14:43 PM): I'd forgotten it was actually in the bedroom
Thematrian1 (11:14:46 PM): you'd best believe it's in a pentagram
Umbrafer (11:14:56 PM): Oh, I believe it.
Umbrafer (11:15:16 PM): What with it being the whole reason it's in your apartment instead of some shipping container you rented.
Thematrian1 (11:15:53 PM): yeah, I wanted to keep an eye on it
Thematrian1 (11:16:09 PM): that I'm also letting it keep an eye on me is just something I'll have to live with
circlmastr (11:20:17 PM): Someday, Hound will do something useful.
circlmastr (11:20:32 PM): Aside be the wheels. And he's not even that now that Gem bought a car.
Thematrian1 (11:20:35 PM): started a conversation
circlmastr (11:20:44 PM): Useful, I said.
Thematrian1 (11:21:01 PM): clearly, we need to get into more fights
circlmastr (11:21:09 PM): ...
circlmastr (11:21:13 PM): That doesn't follow at all.
circlmastr (11:21:20 PM): Hound doesn't even have his Strato in the van.
Thematrian1 (11:21:32 PM): yeah it does. I mean, yeah, getting into a fight now wouldn't be optimal...
Thematrian1 (11:21:50 PM): but neither Glitch or I is all that great at mixing it up
Umbrafer (11:22:05 PM): You're armed. You have a bumper.
circlmastr (11:22:08 PM): What we need to do is get into a situation where I can blow shit up in the powered armor.
circlmastr (11:22:10 PM): Then it'll be ON.
Thematrian1 (11:22:22 PM): we'll take a nice relaxing Yucatan vacation, how does that sound?
circlmastr (11:23:08 PM): Hard to transport the mech to the Yucatan.
Thematrian1 (11:23:14 PM): but once you're there...
circlmastr (11:23:14 PM): And besides, dreaming gods > powered armor.
Umbrafer (11:23:15 PM): Walk it overland.
Umbrafer (11:23:22 PM): There is that.
Umbrafer (11:23:29 PM): But just bring in a nuke and stun it.
circlmastr (11:24:02 PM): Gem... or maybe Glitch, I can't remember, is trying to get a nuke.
Thematrian1 (11:24:21 PM): Gem
circlmastr (11:24:28 PM): Yeah
circlmastr (11:24:32 PM): So we need that first.
Thematrian1 (11:24:32 PM): and I don't want one big enough to kill a god
Thematrian1 (11:24:40 PM): a couple dozen city blocks, and I'm content
circlmastr (11:24:43 PM): It's just a 5-kiloton nuke.
Umbrafer (11:24:44 PM): Not kill, just stun.
Umbrafer (11:24:54 PM): The Jjaro will take care of the rest when they arrive.
Thematrian1 (11:24:57 PM): ok, stun. But I'm not sure I want one that big either
circlmastr (11:26:53 PM): Hah
circlmastr (11:27:13 PM): Survivor contestant: "I know in her diabolical little Mexican mind, she's trying to come up with something."
Thematrian1 (11:27:25 PM): sometimes you just need to push a big atomic reset button, you know?
circlmastr (11:29:12 PM): > restore
Thematrian1 (11:29:27 PM): I've tried that, you just get a disk read error every time
Umbrafer (11:30:40 PM): > you are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.
Thematrian1 (11:30:49 PM): crap, I used to know this one...
circlmastr has left the chat room.

circlmastr has entered the chat room.

circlmastr (11:32:23 PM): I hate my connection
circlmastr (11:32:30 PM): 9 times out of 10, it dies when the phone rings. WTF?
Thematrian1 (11:32:36 PM): DSL?
circlmastr (11:32:49 PM): Yeah
Thematrian1 (11:48:10 PM): good night guys; gotta catch a bus
circlmastr (11:48:19 PM): G'night
circlmastr has left the chat room.

Chat room exited at 3/1/2007 11:48:56 PM.