Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6a The Gauge of Infinity - ch. 2 Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 06:50:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE6a: Spells? [was: Re: AAE6a: Bard at Play] On 10-30-1999 at 06:45:30 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007893 >On Thu, 28 Oct 1999 01:30:33 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007883 > >Harlock brightens at this. {So, with this Talisman, my magic will >function much the same as it ever has? And my equipment? Will it need >some special preparations, as well? My main concern is for the hat of >disguise, at least for this venture, although my pouches, boots, and >girdle are somewhat of an issue. As for the form of the Talisman, are >the folk of that plane wont to wear wristcomps or watches? If so, >that would be the most inconspicuous form I can think of for such a >thing. Speaking of preparations, I will need several false IDs, as >well as at least one blind link to the Int-R-Net to properly >orchestrate this thing.} {Minimum Volume for this Device is 4 Cubic Inches, One can be produced as a 2w x 6l x 1/2 thick... Which could seem to be one of the Personal Databanks, Which I have been selling... Yes, Much the same, I am told that one spell, Which Requires swallowing a small live fish normally, Will work with Sushi there...} {Anything that is a Sustained Effect will continue to work, Wands and Scrolls do not tend to work..., Magically induced Attributes continue, But new Magical Invokations may not...} {You do realize that The Guild maintains, Branch Offices and Sells to Worlds, In all Nine of the Cosms and most of the Major Realms? You can operate from any world connected to the Int-R-Net... Can't you?} {False IDs May or May Not be possible, Depending on Where you want to Operate From, Some Worlds handle Identification from a Central DataBank, Keyed to Genetic Scanners...} ================================= Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 01:03:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE6a: Spells? [was: Re: AAE6a: Bard at Play] On Sun, 31 Oct 1999 00:42:23 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007898 >Nemisis wrote: > >{Minimum Volume for this [magic activating] Device is 4 Cubic Inches, > One can be produced as a 2w x 6l x 1/2 thick... > Which could seem to be one of the Personal Databanks, > Which I have been selling... >{You do realize that The Guild maintains, > Branch Offices and Sells to Worlds, > In all Nine of the Cosms and most of the Major Realms? > You can operate from any world connected to the Int-R-Net... > Can't you?} {I should be able to. In order to narrow my search for scandal, however, I have focused on the Realm where the Guild is headquartered.} >{False IDs May or May Not be possible, > Depending on Where you want to Operate From, > Some Worlds handle Identification from a Central DataBank, > Keyed to Genetic Scanners...} {Ah. Those would be difficult to deceive. I would prefer a realm that relies on fingerprints or retinal scans. Provided the Hat of Disguise functions properly, it can actually alter such small details--assuming I remember to concentrate on them. What sort of system does the Guild's Realm use?} ================================= Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 19:34:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6a: Spells? [was: Re: AAE6a: Bard at Play] On 11-03-1999 at 19:32:47 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007922 >On Sun, 31 Oct 1999 00:42:23 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007898 > >>Nemisis wrote: >> >>{Minimum Volume for this [magic activating] Device is 4 Cubic >> Inches, >> One can be produced as a 2w x 6l x 1/2 thick... >> Which could seem to be one of the Personal Databanks, >> Which I have been selling... > > >>{You do realize that The Guild maintains, >> Branch Offices and Sells to Worlds, >> In all Nine of the Cosms and most of the Major Realms? >> You can operate from any world connected to the Int-R-Net... >> Can't you?} > >{I should be able to. In order to narrow my search for scandal, >however, I have focused on the Realm where the Guild is >headquartered.} {As you think best, This is Your Area of Expertise.} >>{False IDs May or May Not be possible, >> Depending on Where you want to Operate From, >> Some Worlds handle Identification from a Central DataBank, >> Keyed to Genetic Scanners...} > >{Ah. Those would be difficult to deceive. I would prefer a realm that >relies on fingerprints or retinal scans. Provided the Hat of Disguise >functions properly, it can actually alter such small >details--assuming I remember to concentrate on them. What sort of >system does the Guild's Realm use?} "The Guild itself uses the Gene-Keyed Databank for Guild Members, At least in that Cosm, There are over 500,000 Governments in that Cosm, Counting only those which deal with The Guild, Perhaps 5% of those use this method... They will issue ID based on ID From other Worlds, For Tourists, But you will be stuck with that one in their Area..." ================================= Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 01:05:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6a: Spells? [was: Re: AAE6a: Bard at Play] On Thu, 04 Nov 1999 00:49:37 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007929 >Nemisis wrote: > >> > > A Suitable size to strap to a forearm between > Wrist and Elbow... > Or like a Holstered Palm-Top...> >"The Guild itself uses the Gene-Keyed Databank for Guild Members, > At least in that Cosm, > There are over 500,000 Governments in that Cosm, > Counting only those which deal with The Guild, > Perhaps 5% of those use this method... > They will issue ID based on ID From other Worlds, > For Tourists, > But you will be stuck with that one in their Area..." {It should be easy enough to avoid the high security areas...the more so since I had no intention of violating them in the first place. So, can somebody in this group provide me with false ID papers that will work in the Realm of the Guild? Once I have those, I can be on my way. I would do it myself, but my skill at forgery does not extend beyond signatures.} > The one thing to remember is, > The Nine Laws managed by the Artifacts, > can not be broken, > Other Physical Laws can be on limited scales, > With Enough Power... ================================= Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 08:04:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Yet Another Research Project On Thu, 4 Nov 1999 07:57:18 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007933 ************ "You're sure you don't want me to walk you home?" "I'm sure, Rob. I love you, but that doesn't mean I want to be suspected of robbing the cradle." "Right," Rob laughed. "Goodnight, Karen." Kissing her lightly on the cheek, he headed for home. [Dream...this is a dream...] In response to that, Rob became a ghostly observer, following Karen. But she turned a corner, and when he made it around the corner, she was gone. ************ "Karen! - agh." Untangling himself from the sheets, Rob gathered up his clothing and got dressed. [Now I know why Rio looked so familiar. Karen looked like her. Couldn't be an analog, though. Their ages don't match. One mystery solved, ten zillion left.] ------ Upon entering the planning room, Rob ran a search on "Conspiracy theory in the Ansible Guild universe," then brought up a window on the status of the Gauge of Infinity mission. ================================= Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 16:34:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6a: Spells? [was: Re: AAE6a: Bard at Play] On 11-04-1999 at 16:32:27 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007937 >On Thu, 04 Nov 1999 00:49:37 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007929 > >{It should be easy enough to avoid the high security areas...the more >so since I had no intention of violating them in the first place. So, >can somebody in this group provide me with false ID papers that will >work in the Realm of the Guild? Once I have those, I can be on my >way. I would do it myself, but my skill at forgery does not extend >beyond signatures.} {I will create an ID Faber, With Plans for all of the ID Forms That I know, An Analysis subsystem will derive Plans for New types, If an Example can be supplied.} ================================= Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 01:03:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Fri, 05 Nov 1999 00:31:59 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007945 >Nemisis wrote: > >{I will create an ID Faber, > With Plans for all of the ID Forms That I know, > An Analysis subsystem will derive Plans for New types, > If an Example can be supplied.} {My thanks. That should be the last piece I need.} Harlock types a few more notes into his DiscReader, then gets out of his chair and stretches. [Gah. My back never used to ache this much after..._nine_ hours straight?!? Oh-kaaay...methinks 'twould be best to put in another practice session to work out the kinks before departing. What in Gond's name is a Faber, anyway? Ah, well...] The Bard goes to a Danger Room for a quick acrobatic workout, stops by the Armoury for the ID Faber and a Talisman (conveniently disguised as a PDA) then heads for the Hangar. Once there, he finds an attendant and asks, "is there any way in which you could transport an escape pod to the Realm of the Ansible Guild without equipping the pod with dimensional travel abilities? Methinks 'twould be best to appear as a refugee for the time being." (assuming a positive answer) Harlock thanks the attendant, then visibly blurs form for a moment. When he reforms, the handsome, slender man with the slightly pointed ears is gone. In his place stands a burly man, three inches taller than the Bard, with a dirty blonde buzz cut, three days' worth of beard, and much paler skin. His clothes are no longer the usual colorful, immaculate silks and linens, but grubby spacer's coveralls of some indeterminate shade (the ever popular "they _used_ to be brown/black/white...") Examining the results in the nearest shiny surface, Harlock grins, showing a gap where his upper left bicuspid should be. "There. That ought to do nicely." Even his voice has changed, becoming rougher and deeper. Pulling the ballcap (that used to be a feathered cap) down to shade his (now brown) eyes more, he gestures the attendant to lead the way. ================================= Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 04:35:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAEa: Reporting in On Fri, 5 Nov 1999 07:06:48 -0500 (EST) caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007946 The communications equipment in the planning room at the castle comes to life, bringing up a hologram of Dr. Essex standing there. "Forgive me for not having Legion report in, but she is somewhat preoccupied at the moment. First, let me state that neither she nor I will play any part in appointing the CAoL judge, jury, and executioner." He clears his throat a little. "She had other comments on this point, which I will lay aside for now for the sake of politeness. "Legion's adaptation has gone smoothly. She now holds the memories of Dr. Victoria Cross, Minister of Devices for the Ansible guild, and one of the ten most important people in it. Dr. Cross has no knowledge of the use of the Rod has a planet slayer... she believes that experiments gone wrong caused the explosions. She is, however, aware of the monitoring of some communications channels by the guild. In her mind, it is justified as the Guild is the keeper of peace and the preserver of civilization in the Macrocosm. "She also has access to many designs which can replace the current use of the Rod... though not with the same effeciency of manufactor. Removing the rod will destroy their planet killing ability. At this time, that is all we deem necessary." ================================= Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 19:04:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAEa: Reporting in On Fri, 5 Nov 1999 21:35:56 EST Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007952 >caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007946 > > "Legion's adaptation has gone smoothly. She now holds the >memories of Dr. Victoria Cross, Minister of Devices for the Ansible >guild, and one of the ten most important people in it. Dr. Cross has >no knowledge of the use of the Rod has a planet slayer... she >believes that experiments gone wrong caused the explosions. She is, >however, aware of the monitoring of some communications channels by >the guild. In her mind, it is justified as the Guild is the keeper of >peace and the preserver of civilization in the Macrocosm. > "She also has access to many designs which can replace the >current use of the Rod... though not with the same effeciency of >manufactor. Removing the rod will destroy their planet killing >ability. At this time, that is all we deem necessary." /*"Such knowlege and beliefs would be consistant with a minister of devices. The decision to destroy a competitor would be more likely to come from a security branch, or business controller."*/ Aurora says. ================================= Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 18:34:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAEa: Reporting in On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 21:30:20 -0500 (EST) caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007966 >On Fri, 5 Nov 1999 21:35:56 EST >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007952 > >/*"Such knowlege and beliefs would be consistant with a minister of >devices. The decision to destroy a competitor would be more likely to >come from a security branch, or business controller."*/ Aurora says. "Personally, we suspect the Minister of Information or the Minister of Corrections... the Minister of Economics doesn't seem the type." ================================= Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 00:36:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE6a: Getting started? On Wed, 17 Nov 1999 23:22:11 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007974 Upon being transferred to the Realm of the Ansible Guild, Harlock starts tinkering with the pod's computers. [Hmm...shall I go into cold-sleep immediately, or try to steer a little closer to a shipping lane first? Immediately. 'Twould lend verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative. Now then...] The Bard pulls his lasgun out and puts a few careful shots into the comm section. [That ought to make the signal nicely intermittant.] Harlock speaks into the comm, keeping it on record mode for the moment. "Mayday, mayday. Anybody who can hear, please respond. This is escape pod zero-niner alpha, originally assigned to KSS Kindgaard's Pride. Our ship has taken critical damage and will not survive the hour. All able-bodied personnel have evacuated. We request pickup. Repeat: this is escape pod zero-niner alpha, originally assigned to KSS Kindgaard's Pride. We request pickup." [Hmm...now then, fudge the logs to reflect my borrowed identity. Right. Lessee...place/time stamp changed to put me smack in the middle of the Kindgaard Incursion when I 'ejected.' Good. Place comm on loop transmission, but don't start transmitting yet. Good. Fudge the comm logs to show that I've been transmitting since...umm...four hours after 'ejection.' Better make it ten. The sensors in this thing are good enough to figure out when the battle was over. Damn. Must have needed one of the components I shot. OK, let's try this...comm logs deleted entirely. Better than nothing, anyway. That should be all the fakery I need, now let's shoot the place up a bit more and duck into the cold-sleep capsule. The capsule! Fudge the capsule logs to show I've been in cold-sleep since ten hours after the 'ejection.' OK. Shoot the place up a bit more, start transmitting, and duck into the capsule. I forgot how cold.......] --Harlock, Bardsicle-- ================================= Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 00:33:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Yet Another Research Project On Thu, 18 Nov 1999 21:16:19 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007975 >On Thu, 4 Nov 1999 07:57:18 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007933 > >Upon entering the planning room, Rob ran a search on "Conspiracy >theory in the Ansible Guild universe," then brought up a window on >the status of the Gauge of Infinity mission. "Harlock's left, Caprice and Mr. Sinister were gone a while back, and nobody else has left. Not much in the way of new info." *beep* "This, however, is interesting..." alt.conspiracy alt.conspiracy.ansible-guild alt.conspiracy.arcadia alt.conspiracy.bjorne alt.conspiracy.black-helicopters "I can do something with this. I speak the language, and if I can provide bits of verifiable evidence...this will work nicely." ------ Two weeks later, Rob is reading the archived messages in alt.conspiracy from an apartment in the Ansible Guild's universe. He now has one e-mail account for CAoL messages, two accounts for posting to conspiracy newsgroups, and a job helping to write and publish a monthly newsletter on trading-card games. And he's in the middle of a flamewar with himself. ================================= Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 22:37:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On 11-26-1999 at 22:33:26 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007981 >On Fri, 05 Nov 1999 00:31:59 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007945 > >Harlock types a few more notes into his DiscReader, then gets out of >his chair and stretches. [Gah. My back never used to ache this much >after..._nine_ hours straight?!? Oh-kaaay...methinks 'twould be best >to put in another practice session to work out the kinks before >departing. What in Gond's name is a Faber, anyway? Ah, well...] Turns out to be a small box with a small keyboard and display panel, Select the ID Style and give it the Name to show on the ID, The New ID slides out of one end... >The Bard goes to a Danger Room for a quick acrobatic workout, stops >by the Armoury for the ID Faber and a Talisman (conveniently >disguised as a PDA) then heads for the Hangar. Once there, he finds >an attendant and asks, "is there any way in which you could transport >an escape pod to the Realm of the Ansible Guild without equipping the >pod with dimensional travel abilities? Methinks 'twould be best to >appear as a refugee for the time being." "If that is what you want, It can and will be done." "Lady Nemisis Instructs me to inform you that, Some classes of Mage can and do use Any Space Capable Vehicle, Line Walker Transit Spells move them, Along the Interstellar Flux Lines, and A Slight variant allows them to Transit between Realms, At any proper Spatial Node... This is the Root that was developed into, The most common Drive System, The Techno-Magic Line-Walker Drive..." "She also Wishs you to, Remember that the Interstellar Flux Lines and Nodes, Average 100 times the Maximum Energy Density of any, Ley Line or Node on a Normal Planet..." Normal planetary Ley Line and Node intensity Ranges, Symbolized as pL+ for Maxima, and pL- for Minima Stellar System Lines: sL- = 10pL+, Galactic Lines gL- = 10sL+, Inter-Galactic Lines iL- = 10gL+, Matrix Inter-Realm Lines mL- = 10iL+ Thus Inter-Realm Nodes can be identified by a Minimum Power Amplitude, Of 10 times that justifiable by the visibly involved Lines... >(assuming a positive answer) Harlock thanks the attendant, then >visibly blurs form for a moment. When he reforms, the handsome, >slender man with the slightly pointed ears is gone. In his place >stands a burly man, three inches taller than the Bard, with a dirty >blonde buzz cut, three days' worth of beard, and much paler skin. His >clothes are no longer the usual colorful, immaculate silks and >linens, but grubby spacer's coveralls of some indeterminate shade >(the ever popular "they _used_ to be brown/black/white...") Examining >the results in the nearest shiny surface, Harlock grins, showing a >gap where his upper left bicuspid should be. "There. That ought to do >nicely." Even his voice has changed, becoming rougher and deeper. >Pulling the ballcap (that used to be a feathered cap) down to shade >his (now brown) eyes more, he gestures the attendant to lead the way. He is led to an Obviously Distressed Survival Capsule, "The Main Drive systems have been damaged, In such a way as to prevent Flux Line Interface, The Liquid Mercury type Thermometer, In The Emergency Medical Kit, If Broken on the Drive Module will release, A Set of Nano Repair Drones, Which will have the system online in a few minutes." ================================= Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 22:37:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAEa: Reporting in On 11-26-1999 at 22:33:27 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007982 >On Fri, 5 Nov 1999 07:06:48 -0500 (EST) >caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007946 > > The communications equipment in the planning room at the castle >comes to life, bringing up a hologram of Dr. Essex standing there. >"Forgive me for not having Legion report in, but she is somewhat >preoccupied at the moment. First, let me state that neither she nor I >will play any part in appointing the CAoL judge, jury, and >executioner." He clears his throat a little. "She had other comments >on this point, which I will lay aside for now for the sake of >politeness. "Tell her that I would be please to Discuss them with her, At some point of opportunity... I have noticed some Flaws, In the Logic of my base Cultural Programming..." > "Legion's adaptation has gone smoothly. She now holds the >memories of Dr. Victoria Cross, Minister of Devices for the Ansible >guild, and one of the ten most important people in it. Dr. Cross has >no knowledge of the use of the Rod has a planet slayer... she >believes that experiments gone wrong caused the explosions. She is, >however, aware of the monitoring of some communications channels by >the guild. In her mind, it is justified as the Guild is the keeper of >peace and the preserver of civilization in the Macrocosm. "Communications is, The Single most critical resource for any Civilization..." > "She also has access to many designs which can replace the >current use of the Rod... though not with the same effeciency of >manufactor. Removing the rod will destroy their planet killing >ability. At this time, that is all we deem necessary." "So we will not have to supply them with a new Tech, They already have several... Removing planet killing capacity, Does seem to me to be the Truely Necessary point." ================================= Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 03:09:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Sat, 27 Nov 1999 02:34:11 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007983 >Nemisis wrote: > >"Lady Nemisis Instructs me to inform you that, > Some classes of Mage can and do use Any Space Capable Vehicle, > Line Walker Transit Spells move them, > Along the Interstellar Flux Lines, and The Bard nods and looks wise. [Ley lines? Flux lines? What are those?] >He is led to an Obviously Distressed Survival Capsule, > >"The Main Drive systems have been damaged, > In such a way as to prevent Flux Line Interface, > The Liquid Mercury type Thermometer, > In The Emergency Medical Kit, > If Broken on the Drive Module will release, > A Set of Nano Repair Drones, > Which will have the system online in a few minutes." "Ah. Perhaps I had better be a bit more specific. I had intended to pose as a refugee from the Kindgaard Incursion. As such, the plan is to pop in relatively close to shipping lanes--on a vector consistent with the story, of course--rig up a distress call, and cold-sleep until rescued. I don't wish to be too close, or somebody will wonder about the sudden appearance of comm traffic; but by the same token, I don't wish to be too far away, or I'll not be rescued for an inconveniently long time. Can do?" ================================= Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 04:08:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On 11-27-1999 at 04:04:56 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007984 >On Sat, 27 Nov 1999 02:34:11 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007983 > >The Bard nods and looks wise. [Ley lines? Flux lines? What are >those?] > >thauma-techno-babble pretty much sapped his curiousity. Besides >which, a) he doesn't use ley lines anyway, and b) somehow he's never >managed to get his hands on any dimension-travelling spells, so >maneuvering the pod himself isn't going to work.> >"Ah. Perhaps I had better be a bit more specific. I had intended to >pose as a refugee from the Kindgaard Incursion. As such, the plan is >to pop in relatively close to shipping lanes--on a vector consistent >with the story, of course--rig up a distress call, and cold-sleep >until rescued. I don't wish to be too close, or somebody will wonder >about the sudden appearance of comm traffic; but by the same token, I >don't wish to be too far away, or I'll not be rescued for an >inconveniently long time. Can do?" "Yes Sir, The Nanites hidden in the Thermometer, Are for use incase either everyone ignores your signal, or The First to arrive are Hostile..., A Combination Backup plan, and Safety Net..." Detecting them hidden in liquid Mercury would be very diffcult." ================================= Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 01:37:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Sun, 28 Nov 1999 01:06:33 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007990 >Nemisis wrote: > >"Yes Sir, > The Nanites hidden in the Thermometer, > Are for use incase either everyone ignores your signal, or > The First to arrive are Hostile..., > A Combination Backup plan, and Safety Net..." > Detecting them hidden in liquid Mercury would be very > diffcult." Harlock sighs with exaggerated patience. "That's very thoughtful of you, but I can't very well break the thermometer if I'm in cold-sleep, now can I? The Kindgaard Incursion took place roughly five years ago. I sincerely doubt a survival pod is rated for five years of life support. Thus, I need to be in cold-sleep when I'm 'rescued' or the story falls apart then and there." ================================= Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 06:06:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Sun, 28 Nov 1999 07:25:05 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007991 >On Sun, 28 Nov 1999 01:06:33 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007990 > >Harlock sighs with exaggerated patience. "That's very thoughtful of >you, but I can't very well break the thermometer if I'm in >cold-sleep, now can I? The Kindgaard Incursion took place roughly >five years ago. I sincerely doubt a survival pod is rated for five >years of life support. Thus, I need to be in cold-sleep when I'm >'rescued' or the story falls apart then and there." Penny Robinson, who had been passing through the general area looking at the various ships, snooping after a fashion at just what the Armo of Light had access to, strolled over to Harlock and the attendant. "Forgive the interruption, gentlemen," Penny said, "But, Mr. Harlock, why don't you just rig a sensor to wake you whenever a ship passes within range and have life support switch on and cold-sleep revive you so you can scout out your would-be rescuers before you're rescued? That would be the safest way to guarentee your mission a success." ================================= Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 00:47:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 00:30:24 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007995 >Michael Knight wrote: > > "Forgive the interruption, gentlemen," Penny said, "But, Mr. >Harlock, why don't you just rig a sensor to wake you whenever a ship >passes within range and have life support switch on and cold-sleep >revive you so you can scout out your would-be rescuers before you're >rescued? That would be the safest way to guarentee your mission a >success." Harlock's expression stills for a moment, his eyes flickering right to left and back, then brightens somewhat (only somewhat--the face he's currently wearing tends toward the sullen) "Yes, that would work nicely. As a refugee from the Kindgaard incursion, I would naturally be on the defensive about rescue efforts." As he removes his baseball cap to bow, he reverts to his normal appearance for an instant. "Thank you, milady, for the eminently practical suggestion." A grin flickers across his face. "And in case you're wondering, no, I won't do that every time the cap comes off. 'Twould be nearly useless an it did. And, for the record, it is simply Harlock. Where I was raised, only the nobility have surnames. Others are simply known by name and, if necessary, by job or home village. John the smith, for example, or Evan of Hillsfar. My half-brother Kell being one of the few exceptions I can think of. Of course, since the surname he took translates simply enough to 'wanderer,' I suppose it's not all that different from claiming a village name." ================================= Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 11:09:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On 11-29-1999 at 11:05:31 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007997 >On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 00:30:24 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007995 > >Harlock's expression stills for a moment, his eyes flickering right >to left and back, then brightens somewhat (only somewhat--the face >he's currently wearing tends toward the sullen) "Yes, that would work >nicely. As a refugee from the Kindgaard incursion, I would naturally >be on the defensive about rescue efforts." As he removes his baseball >cap to bow, he reverts to his normal appearance for an instant. >"Thank you, milady, for the eminently practical suggestion." > >A grin flickers across his face. "And in case you're wondering, no, I >won't do that every time the cap comes off. 'Twould be nearly useless >an it did. And, for the record, it is simply Harlock. Where I was >raised, only the nobility have surnames. Others are simply known by >name and, if necessary, by job or home village. John the smith, for >example, or Evan of Hillsfar. My half-brother Kell being one of the >few exceptions I can think of. Of course, since the surname he took >translates simply enough to 'wanderer,' I suppose it's not all that >different from claiming a village name." "Very Good Sir, That is a not abnormal configuration, It is far easier for a Lifepod to see a Ship, Than the other way around, Especially if the Lifepod is using extreme power conservation..." "Also Most Lifepods will allow one ColdSleep berth, To be configured that way to increase the odds of Retrieval..." "Whenever you are ready I will transport the Capsule, To your chosen point." ================================= Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 01:06:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:47:23 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008002 >Nemisis wrote: > >"Whenever you are ready I will transport the Capsule, > To your chosen point." The Bard looks the capsule over closely. "Hmm...it _does_ look like it's been through a lot. Have all of the logs been altered to reflect a launching during the Kindgaard Incursion? Computer, Comm, and Cold-Sleep being the three I'm immediately concerned about." [Heh. Nice alliteration. 'Tis a shame I cannot write that into a ballad back home.] "Come to think of it, unless you have some way of faking an inertial recorder log, 'twould be best to damage the fool thing. The TSM caught more smugglers by comparing their inertial logs to their computer logs..." (assuming a positive response) Harlock smiles and says, "then I am prepared to leave immediately." He climbs into the capsule, takes a quick glance at the controls, nodding absently, then installs himself in the cold-sleep chamber and turns it on. As his awareness fades, a careful observer might hear him mutter "I keep forgetting how _cold_ these damned things are..." (otherwise) Harlock arches an eyebrow and crosses massive arms over his chest. "Well, then..." ================================= Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:07:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On 11-30-1999 at 04:03:20 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008003 >On Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:47:23 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008002 > >The Bard looks the capsule over closely. "Hmm...it _does_ look like >it's been through a lot. Have all of the logs been altered to reflect >a launching during the Kindgaard Incursion? Computer, Comm, and >Cold-Sleep being the three I'm immediately concerned about." [Heh. >Nice alliteration. 'Tis a shame I cannot write that into a ballad >back home.] "Come to think of it, unless you have some way of faking >an inertial recorder log, 'twould be best to damage the fool thing. >The TSM caught more smugglers by comparing their inertial logs to >their computer logs..." "Yes Sir, All Computer Logs, All Black Boxes, The Quantum Distortions in the Physical Structures, That would have been caused by local conditions, It is doubtful that any non-omniscient source, Could identify a discrepancy without time travel." >Harlock smiles and says, "then I am prepared to leave immediately." >He climbs into the capsule, takes a quick glance at the controls, >nodding absently, then installs himself in the cold-sleep chamber and >turns it on. As his awareness fades, a careful observer might hear >him mutter "I keep forgetting how _cold_ these damned things are..." A Gate upens under the Capsule, and It aquires the proper kinetic vectors in transit... ================================= Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 09:08:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Getting Started [was: Re: AAE6a: Spells?] On Tue, 30 Nov 1999 09:13:32 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00008005 >On Tue, 30 Nov '99 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said > >Harlock smiles and says, "then I am prepared to leave immediately." >He climbs into the capsule, takes a quick glance at the controls, >nodding absently, then installs himself in the cold-sleep chamber and >turns it on. As his awareness fades, a careful observer might hear >him mutter "I keep forgetting how _cold_ these damned things are..." In a certain tavern in Long Island, off of route 25A, a certain multi-hued dragon Lensman, while watching events unfold via on of the Place's X-windows, is heard to remark, in a mock-soto voice, "If you think those things are bad, then you obviously haven't been traveling via StarGate recently." ================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 02:35:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Bard at Work On Mon, 13 Dec 1999 02:07:02 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008040 *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* "Wha? Where?" *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* "Oh, right." Harlock reaches for the cut-off switch. Absently scratching his chest, he looks over the scan data. "Hmm. According to the pod's database, that one should be safe. OK. Comm unit on, audio only, start recording for repeat transmission...Mayday, Mayday! This is escape pod zero alpha niner of Kindgaard's Pride. Please assist. Repeat. This is escape pod zero alpha niner of Kindgaard's Pride. Please assist. End recording. Begin transmission." Despite the database's identification of the freighter as friendly, the Bard still watches nervously as it changes heading. Soon, the pod's sensors register a radar ping from the freighter. Then the comm registers an incoming message. "Escape pod zero alpha niner, this is the freighter Hab Camber. What is your status?" "Power at 30%, Environmental at 85. Single occupant." "Understood, zero alpha niner. We will rendezvous in approximately five minutes......Pardon me for asking, but did you say Kindgaard's Pride?" "Affirmative, Hab Camber." "How the hell did you survive? The newsies said the Incursion was wiped out to the last ship and man." "Conduct unbecoming." Harlock vents a bitter laugh. "Guess at least there's no court-martial in my future. Whatever's left of it. Don't...Don't let anybody know, OK? The way the bastards anticipated everything, I figure somebody had to have the Ansibles tapped." There is a long pause at the other end, then the voice turns skeptical. "How?" "How should I know? I'm...was...just a Marine PFC, not a Navy Comm-tech. All I know is every ambush we tried to set, they snuck around. Every raid we tried to pull, they were waiting. Every damn trick we tried, they saw through. And I know damn well the Guild was supporting them, not us. If anyone would know how to tap the damn things, it would be the people who made them, hey?" The ensuing pause is even longer than the first. Finally, the voice comes back with a brisk: "Rendezvous in two minutes. Hab Camber out." ================================= Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 18:36:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Rumours On Sat, 18 Dec 1999 12:36:43 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008050 >Two weeks later, Rob is reading the archived messages in >alt.conspiracy from an apartment in the Ansible Guild's universe. He >now has one e-mail account for CAoL messages, two accounts for >posting to conspiracy newsgroups, and a job helping to write and >publish a monthly newsletter on trading-card games. > >And he's in the middle of a flamewar with himself. --three weeks later-- "...junk...junk...debunked rumor...true, but valueless...started that rumor myself...and that's the news." "And in the other mail account...hm. Unsolicitied mail from Mr. Paranoid Ravings. And encrypted, too. He's taking himself seriously." ----------------------- From : jcrowe@deja.com To : bakatare@aol.com Subject: The truth behind the AG I have information on the Ansible Guild which you may find interesting. If you wish to find out more, meet me at the coffee shop on Blackrock Avenue on Thursday at 4:00p next week. Order a raspberry iced tea with extra lemon. ----------------------- Thursday arrives, and Rob is drinking a raspberry iced tea with extra lemon. The time is 3:55. [I hope this guy is punctual. I'd hate to find out that not only is he paranoid about everything, but he's late to meetings.] Just then, the door opens, and a lady walks in. Tall, red blouse, green skirt, and blue hair. [Well, that's an obvious dye job.] She looks around, and walks over to Rob's table. As she sits down, she studies Rob carefully. "Janet Crowe. Finish your drink, and we'll go someplace where it's safe to talk." To his credit, he fails to choke on his mouthful of iced tea. ================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 13:48:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Trouble brewing On Fri, 21 Jan 2000 03:09:14 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008072 Two months after being picked up by the Hab Camber, "Erik Jonson" is getting bored. And disgusted. "Almost two months we been meetin', and I ain't seen any progress yet. S'far's I know, our 'resistance' is four guys what have weekly meetings to talk about how the Guild's screwed us. What gives?" "Now, Erik, you know the need for operational security. Nice tip about the monitoring system, by the way." "Operational security, my ass. If we was running under security, we wouldn't meet in the same damn coffee shop every damn week at the same damn time. I know better than to go to the newsies, but can't we at least troll the Net for collimators?" "That's 'collaborators,' you twit, and any we meet on the Net are likely to be Guild plants." Harlock lunges across the table to catch the man by the collar. "Watch who you're callin' a twit, ya scrawny geek. I could snap your neck with one hand." "Erik." A slender hand touches Harlock's shoulder. "Erik, put him down. Dan, maybe you ought to leave one of the drops to him." "Why should I," chokes the balding man, held half out of his chair in an iron grip. "Because you're going purple, for one thing. For another, he's got a point: he's not seeing any of the action, and he might be tempted to try something rash soon otherwise." Harlock glares at the woman. "What're you trying to say, Vick? That I'm stupid?" She shakes her head, locking jade green eyes with the Bard. "Never that, Erik. After all, you're the one who figured out the Guild was tapping Ansible traffic. I'm just saying that as a Marine officer..." "Grunt." She smirks. "Have it your way. As a Marine, you're used to action, not inactivity. Now put Dan down before you make him pass out. Again." The Bard complies--with visible reluctance. "Yeah. Hurry up and wait was never my favorite part. The damn juicer never seems to shut down right." He shakes his head. "So what was this about a drop?" The fourth member of the party speaks up. "The rest of us have message drops that we use to contact other cells. Dan wasn't sure we could trust you with one yet." "Blind drops? That sounds more like security to me." Dan, after loosening his collar and taking a resorative drink, returns to the conversation. "Yes, well, that part of the organization was set up long before you entered the picture, Erik. I wouldn't characterize my decision to avoid assigning you one as stemming from a lack of trust, but rather as a simple procedural matter." "In other words, time to run a check on me." "Well, ah, that is to say..." "Don't bother. First smart move I seen outta you yet. Course, it prob'ly ain't _your_ procedure. So what's wrong with trollin' the NewsNet groups?" "It's not wise. The possibility of a Guild plant..." "Bullshit. You don't get all sweaty when you talk about Guild plants. You do when I so much as mention the Net. What gives?" Vicki says quietly, "the last cell that tried that was taken out by a Mykarrian. There may be worse ways to go, but none surer." "Mykarrian? Whuzzat?" Dan, paling a bit more, responds. "Canid somebody found out back of beyond and cybernetically enhanced. They know two things: hunt, and kill. Colloquially known as hell-hounds." [Oh, shit. So the fact that I've started contributing to alt.conspiracy.ansibleguild might be a problem. Somehow, I don't think now's the time to bring that up. Better warn Rob, though.] "Yeah, well, they ain't the only cybers around no more." [And thank Gond I can explain my speed and strength away so neatly!] "So where, when, and what is my drop?" "I'll have that ready for next week. I hadn't planned on giving you one just yet, so I'll have to warn my contact what to expect." "Yeah, fine, whatever. Just so long as I'm doin' somethin', you know?" The conversation trails off into a series of grumbles about the Guild and its ruthlessness. Two hours later, an email is on its way to Rob's CAoL account, warning him about the Mykarrians. ================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 13:49:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Trouble brewing On Fri, 21 Jan 2000 02:27:10 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008074 >On Fri, 21 Jan 2000 03:09:14 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008072 > >Two hours later, an email is on its way to Rob's CAoL account, >warning him about the Mykarrians. As Harlock hits the send button, he hears a voice in his mind. ^Harlock, I am Polaris. Please forgive this intrusion. Aurora asked me to keep an eye on you, while I coordinate the activities of my backtime crew. Considering the Ansible Guild's past performances this may be a good thing. If you run into trouble, just call out my name. I or one of my crew will come to your aid.^ ================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 13:49:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Trouble brewing On Sat, 22 Jan 2000 04:25:55 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008076 >Dane Anderson wrote: > >As Harlock hits the send button, he hears a voice in his mind. >^Harlock, I am Polaris. Please forgive this intrusion. Aurora asked >me to keep an eye on you, while I coordinate the activities of my >backtime crew. Considering the Ansible Guild's past performances this >may be a good thing. If you run into trouble, just call out my name. >I or one of my crew will come to your aid.^ "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Dammit, were it not for the fact that 'tis more secure to 'path than comm, I would start wearing my brooch of mind shielding. Ilmater's bones, but I hate the migraines! Come to think on it, I may yet start wearing the brooch, should I discover the Guild counts telepaths among their number." As Harlock heads for the freezer for an icepack, he hears a blood-curdling howl in the alley below. [A Mykarrian already? That was quick. Hmm...baying not unlike a yeth hound. Let's see, was it subsonics that cause people to become edgy? Right. Time to play with harmonics, then.] The Bard reaches for a pocket in his coverall and brings forth a Casio electronic keyboard. Turning it on, he plays a rapid series of notes, seemingly at random. Then, after a few deft adjustments, he presses the lowest key on the board and holds it down. Nothing seems to happen for a moment, then an electronic scream echoes up from the alley, and the baying (though still impressively deep) is no longer quite as blood-curdling somehow. [Good. That _was_ one of the enhancements mentioned.] The baying cuts off, and there is a sound of metal on metal. [It approaches by the fire escape? Malar's claws, what manner of beast _is_ it?] Quickly, Harlock draws a sheathed bastard sword from one of his pockets. Unsheathing it, he faces the window in a combat crouch. Moments later, the Mykarrian comes into view. A six-foot long wolf, four feet at the shoulder, with gleaming metal teeth and fangs. [Uh-oh. Methinks I spy armoring in the throat and chest, as well. No doubt the skull has been reinforced. Hmm...a difficult foe.] The Mykarrian raises a paw to slash at the window, which collapses in a heap of shards. It steps in, warily eyeing Harlock. [No innate knowledge of swords, perhaps? Or just caution in approaching an armed foe?] The Mykarrian raises its paw again, and the claws fly out at Harlock, only to stop within a hair's breadth of his body. It snarls in frustration as Harlock risks glancing down at the unexpected projectiles. [Hollow tip, some form of liquid slowly seeping out. Poison? Just what I needed. Thank Gond for my force field!] In his moment of distraction, the beast leaps for him. In a maneuver more fluid than most humans could manage, Harlock ducks and rolls under the flying creature, raking its underbelly with his sword as he does so. Sparks fly as steel meets dermal plating. The Bard regains his feet just as the Mykarrian whips around, ready to attack again. [Hmm. I wonder...] As Harlock starts to prepare a spell, the Mykarrian opens its mouth, and a stream of gas starts spilling out. [Oops. Right back at you, ugly!] Changing spells mid-chant, Harlock directs a gust of wind to blow the vapors back toward the beast. While the gas does not seem to harm the beast, it does blind it long enough for the Bard to finish a second spell, melding into the shadows. The Mykarrian casts about, looking for Harlock, then starts sniffing the ground. [Good. I was hoping it would prove wolfen in more than form. Let us see how it reacts to a stinking cloud.] The answer, evidently, is 'not well.' The beast backs quickly out of the spell's area of effect, sneezing repeatedly. What the Mykarrian doesn't realize is that Harlock has taken the opportunity to sprint around behind it. With a swing more reminiscent of Arnold Palmer than Conan, the Bard chops the creature's rear legs in half, just as an actinic blue flare surges from the blade into the creature's body. With one mighty spasm, the Mykarrian goes limp. [And thank Gond for the lightning power of my sword, for that matter.] "Polaris? Can you scan this thing for traps while I head for safer ground?" Harlock then grabs the Casio and heads out the window and down the fire escape as quickly as possible [I just hope these things don't run in packs!] ================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 19:06:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Trouble brewing On Tue, 25 Jan 2000 07:06:46 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008078 >On Sat, 22 Jan 2000 04:25:55 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008076 > >"Polaris? Can you scan this thing for traps while I head for safer >ground?" Harlock then grabs the Casio and heads out the window and >down the fire escape as quickly as possible he's wearing boots of speed, is very quickly indeed!> [I just hope >these things don't run in packs!] As Harlock steps out the window, the body of the Mykarrian vanishes. "There were no traps. Just an interesting mix of magical, and technological bio-manipulations and enhancements. In spite of the unique use of both magic and technology in its creation, it is none the less a rather simple and less than intimidating construct." He hears Polaris say as he decends the fire escape. ================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 23:05:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Trouble brewing On Tue, 25 Jan 2000 22:56:55 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008079 >Dane Anderson wrote: > >As Harlock steps out the window, the body of the Mykarrian vanishes. >"There were no traps. Just an interesting mix of magical, and >technological bio-manipulations and enhancements. In spite of the >unique use of both magic and technology in its creation, it is none >the less a rather simple and less than intimidating construct." He >hears Polaris say as he decends the fire escape. "Less than intimidating," Harlock mutters as he re-enters his apartment, "demi-gods, pfeh! Forget the ice-pack, methinks I need an ale!" ---Meanwhile, in a shadowy room--- "Sir? We've lost the telemetry link from unit three." "Unit three?" "Yes, sir. It was targeting an Erik Jonson." "Oh, yes, the joker who was fishing for people to help in his crusade against the Guild." "That's as may be, sir, but as far as I can tell, he took out unit three by himself." "Really. Replay the data, will you?" "Yes, sir." "Hmm...sword? Interesting choice of weapon. Low grade force field. A keyboard? Is that how he damaged the subsonic generator?" "Through resonance? Possible, sir." "Interesting. What happened to the gas? Oh, some sort of fan. Remarkable stealth suit--I don't have a clue where he is. Some sort of gas grenade. And...electroshock of some sort built into the sword, maybe? Send the data down to analysis. I want unit four equipped to deal with this joker properly." "Yes, sir." ================================= Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 050623 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE6body doubles, anyone? On Sun, 30 Jan 2000 041614 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008080 Nemo noted Harlock's close call. He sent a tightly focused thought towards the bard. ^Harlock? Is this a convenient moment?^ ^I noted your encounter with the 'hound'. If you wish, I can supply a body that will pass as you for any tests they can make, swap it for you and animate it remotely long enough for them to kill it. If you decide to use this option, I can do it almost any time, but I would prefer a moment or two of notice. One hates to rush such delicate work.> ================================= Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 03:06:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6: body doubles, anyone? On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 02:53:50 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008081 >Leonard Erickson wrote: > >^Harlock? Is this a convenient moment?^ "OW! Not really, but go ahead." >^I noted your encounter with the 'hound'. If you wish, I can supply a >body that will pass as you for any tests they can make, swap it for >you and animate it remotely long enough for them to kill it. If you >decide to use this option, I can do it almost any time, but I would >prefer a moment or two of notice. One hates to rush such delicate >work.> "Thank you, but no. I prefer to run my own risks. If, however, you know of some way to reduce the headaches I get from telepathy, that would be appreciated." Harlock staggers the last few steps into the kitchen, grabs a bottle from the fridge and an icepack from the freezer, and slumps into a chair, holding the icepack to his forehead with his right hand while sipping out of the bottle in his left. [Too bad there are no halfling brewers in this realm. This ale has no body to it at all.] ================================= Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 08:36:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 08:18:50 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008082 >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008050 > >Just then, the door opens, and a lady walks in. Tall, red blouse, >green skirt, and blue hair. > >[Well, that's an obvious dye job.] > >She looks around, and walks over to Rob's table. As she sits down, >she studies Rob carefully. "Janet Crowe. Finish your drink, and we'll >go someplace where it's safe to talk." > >To his credit, he fails to choke on his mouthful of iced tea. As they leave the coffee shop, Rob asks, "So what's this all about? And why do you write your messages to make it look like you're a guy with paranoid delusions?" "I could just as easily ask you why you play idiot, to the point of posting from bakatare@aol.com." "I play the idiot because I find that the level of information is better. For me, anyway, it seems that people are more willing to talk plainly if they think that they're dealing with an inferior. As for the address, it's a bad joke. If anybody ever asked, I'd claim that it was a suggestion from a friend." Turning the corner, they head into a park. "Fair enough. I write my messages the way I do because women aren't given as much respect on a.c.a-g. And I write paranoid psychobabble because it makes me look harmless. You took apart one of my rants with the mind of a genius pretending to be a child. That's when I got suspicious." "You exaggerate. Intelligent person, but not genius." "And you're humble too." "By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Rob Nishikawa." "You _were_ busy trying not to breathe your drink." "No excuse for my lack of manners." Janet looks at him oddly. "In any case, your first question was, 'What's this all about?' And the answer is, nothing right now. But rumor has it that the newsgroups are monitored, and anybody who gets too close to the truth dies. "Oh." "Exactly. So I want to give you my mailing address. The Guild can't monitor that." Janet hands him a piece of black paper, and adds, "I'll get your address off of the first letter you send." With that, she turns and walks away. Meanwhile: >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008072 > >Two hours later, an email is on its way to Rob's CAoL account, >warning him about the Mykarrians. Rob is singing as he returns to his apartment. "I wish I could fly, out in the blue, over this town, following you..." Anybody who knew the song would realize that he was slightly off-key, but since it doesn't exist in this universe, or, oddly, anywhere in the Matrix Cosm, nobody notices. Once inside, he unfolds the piece of paper with Janet's address, and finds an extra bit of information: --- I'll see you again a week from Saturday at the Science Museum. Send your letters with standard babble. --Janet --- "Very cloak-and-dagger. I suppose it could be worse - I could be in a Dune novel." "For now, I think I'll check my e-mail...spam, spam, game turn, and - something in the callahanian account from Harlock. Mykarrians? Hmm..." Reading [These Mykarrians are 'narsty critters'. Who would keep a kennel of these things? For that matter, who could?] "Time to hit the library. These bad puppies don't seem to fit the Guild's methods, and I need to return a few books besides." Throwing the books into a backpack, Rob makes his way out, locking the door behind him. ---------- A little while later, he gives up in disgust. [Whoever controls these critters has covered their tracks well. Mykarria Prime is the only habitable planet around Mykarria, and it's listed as a barren planet with no indigenous lifeforms, currently being terraformed. Which means that anybody could be running the 'Mykarrians,' and they could be from anywhere. Or they could be GELFs.] After checking out some new books, Rob heads for the waterfront. [I need to clear my head. And meditation never did sit well with me. Then again, Ben always preferred to hit the highway when he was out of sorts, so I suppose my method isn't too weird.] Two dollars and three hours later, Rob leaves the waterfront video arcade behind, with his name at the top of the list on Lethal Champion. [That's better. First, my problem is not having anything to aim at. There's no way to get any useful reactions out of the Ansible Guild, and no way to get useful information on them from the outside. Maybe I should contact Harlock and see if we can meet face-to-face for a brainstorming run. In the meantime, I think I'll watch the sun set.] After walking to the end of a pier, he sets his backpack down, and watches the water as it turns to a rich red. Once the sun has gone down, Rob turns toward home. "Quiet out here. I've never seen a city shut down so completely at night." Then, the barking starts, and Rob feels a lurch in his gut that he recognizes. "Sonic 'fear generator.' Fine. I can't use focus my Ler as well in this universe, but..." A nimbus of red energy surrounds Rob's hands, then shifts to yellow before flowing out to surround him, becoming almost invisible. Nothing seems to have happened, but Rob feels the subsonics fade away. [There. Sound plus anti-sound equals silence. Now what barks with a subsonic harmonic added in?] A moment later, the answer arrives: A dog that could be used as a template for a warg from Middle Earth - if Middle Earth had cybertechnology. [Fits the description of a Mykarrian...] "Bad dog. Go home..." [And here's something I can hit. I should remember not to ask the universe for anything.] Unsurprisingly, the Mykarrian ignores this, and attempts to bite off Rob's arm. As he dives aside, Rob loses a small part of his shoe. [It moves fast for all that metal.] Turning the dive into a forward roll, he ends up on another pier, with the Mykarrian between him and the city. [Let's see. It runs faster than I can, has unusually sharp teeth--] Two metal claws punch a hole in Rob's jacket, which begins to sizzle. [--and shoots acid-tipped claws which are almost too fast to dodge. I can't get past it, I can't outrun it, it's coming right at me--] As the Mykarrian leaps, Rob parries the bite, taking a shallow gash on his left forearm in the process. Taking advantage of his position, he lands a palm strike roughly where the floating ribs should be, only to encounter dermal plating. [Oww! D'leffyk critter! I can't punch through that armor!] The cyber-canine skids to a stop, slowly turns around, and fires another set of acid claws, this time covering a slightly wider area. Rob twists aside, deflecting one of them with a piece of metal he pulls from his pocket. [And it's a fast learner. I can't keep using the same tricks.] On the next charge, Rob tosses the washer he used to block the claw into the Mykarrian's open mouth. [Okay, that buys me a few seconds while it chokes. What now?] The answer comes barely in time. After spitting the washer out, the Mykarrian goes for the throat. At the last moment, Rob drops under the attack, and kicks upward, sending the creature into an even higher arc. High enough to clear the railing on the pier. [Mykarrians are deadly hunters,] Rob decides, [but they can't swim with all that metal on them. Not even the dog paddle.] ******* Two hours later, Rob has bandaged his arm, and bought some clothes to replace the shredded jacket and shirt. [I have to assume that there are going to be more of those. I'll need some other equipment if I want to stay ahead of the game. And it's time to contact Harlock and update him on my side of things.] It takes thirty minutes to write the e-mail, another five to proofread it, and five more to encode it. Then, Rob punches "Send," and begins making a shopping list. ******* Five hours later, a waterlogged Mykarrian drags itself out of the water, and collapses on a beach several miles away from where it was thrown into the water. {Unit 11 temporarily going offline} {System Status: Experimental system 101-E (internal oxygen system) depleted - resupplying. Internal batteries at 10%. Solar recharge initiated. Estimate 8 hours of sunlight necessary to restore to 55%. Organic component in shock, possible hypothermia.} {Analysis: Requesting retrieval.} {Mission Status: Unsuccessful. Sending sensory data from past five hours now (*).} ----------------------------------------- +--------------------------+ | Boring Copyright Section | +--------------------------+ _Wish I could fly_ (C) 1999 HipHappy. Written by Per Gessle, performed by Roxette on the album _Have A Nice Day._ Used without permission. ================================= Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:07:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 18:57:57 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008083 >On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 08:18:50 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008082 > >Two hours later, Rob has bandaged his arm, and bought some clothes to >replace the shredded jacket and shirt. > >[I have to assume that there are going to be more of those. I'll need >some other equipment if I want to stay ahead of the game. And it's >time to contact Harlock and update him on my side of things.] > >It takes thirty minutes to write the e-mail, another five to >proofread it, and five more to encode it. Then, Rob punches "Send," >and begins making a shopping list. Nemo contacts Rob and makes much the same offer as he made to Harlock. ^It also occurs to me that it might be a better idea if I send a self to one of the nearby worlds and start 'blundering' around. This might lead to them concentrating on me, rather than you, Harlock and the rest. Confer with the others and let me know if this is acceptable.^ ================================= Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 220817 -0800 (PST) Subject: ReAAE6body doubles, anyone? On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 092953 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008084 >On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 025350 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008081 > >"Thank you, but no. I prefer to run my own risks. If, however, you >know of some way to reduce the headaches I get from telepathy, that >would be appreciated." Harlock staggers the last few steps into the >kitchen, grabs a bottle from the fridge and an icepack from the >freezer, and slumps into a chair, holding the icepack to his forehead >with his right hand while sipping out of the bottle in his left. [Too >bad there are no halfling brewers in this realm. This ale has no body >to it at all.] "I have the knowlege you request, but you don't want me to implement it on you. When we have time, I'll ask Boogy Man to help you. He is much more skilled in mental augmentations. For me to do it would be like trying to sharpen a sword with a sledge hammer. You can get the job done, but the sword isn't going to like the process." Harlock hears Polaris say. ================================= Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 02:07:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Tue, 01 Feb 2000 02:02:48 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008085 >Peter Eng wrote: > >Ben always preferred to hit the highway when he was out of sorts, so >Two hours later, Rob has bandaged his arm, and bought some clothes to >replace the shredded jacket and shirt. > >[I have to assume that there are going to be more of those. I'll need >some other equipment if I want to stay ahead of the game. And it's >time to contact Harlock and update him on my side of things.] > >It takes thirty minutes to write the e-mail, another five to >proofread it, and five more to encode it. Then, Rob punches "Send," >and begins making a shopping list. After the headache has subsided, Harlock starts pondering his options. [If I quit posting messages to the Newsgroup, will the Guild decide I've been eliminated and stop sending Mykarrians after me? It's a good start, anyway. Let me think. Alternate address plus alternate identity yields alternate Int-R-Net access that doesn't connect to Erik Jonson. Problem one: maintaining both identities. Problem two: what happens if the Guild is not done with me yet? Ah, well, the future will take care of itself. Let me see if Rob seen my message yet.] ----- [Hmm. It sounds like his Mykarrian was equipped somewhat differently. Time to warn him about possible refits and update him on my end of things. I don't think the Erik Jonson persona is going to be able to survive without some major adjustments. Deep hiding and telepresence to his cell meetings, perhaps? Let me lurk about and see if any of our inventors have had their 'breakthrough' yet.] After sending the email off to Rob, Harlock starts scanning some of the more technically oriented Newsgroups. Five hours later, he has a score. [Perfect. That will allow Erik to remain in the resistance by telepresence and spread the word about the new technology at the same time. Now for an alternate identity that seems utterly harmless. Moderately talented folk-singer should do nicely. Certainly an easier role than bouncer. Now...should I let the Guild think they've killed me, or should I fake Erik's death in some other way? Probably Guild. They are not likely to continue pursuit of a man deemed dead.] ----- Meanwhile, in the same shadowy room: "Sir? Analyst's report on the telemetry from unit three." "Low grade force field, obviously em-permeable. I knew that. Magic? Huh. I hadn't considered that. Rhythmic chanting in an unknown language, gestures out of place with that combat crouch. They may have something there. All right. Fit unit four with a mana damper and a laser or two. Those will penetrate his force field, and I'd like to see that son of a bitch dodge a laser. Don't bother with poison or acid. If he is using magic, he'll probably look into a spell to counter those, assuming he doesn't already know one." "And the subsonic generator, sir?" "Hmm? What about it?" "The analysts noted it was blown before the combat, making it essentially worthless against this target." "Um, still...leave it in. He might think we're over-confident or stupid, to send another one in with the same tactics." "Very well, sir." ================================= Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 11:06:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6: body doubles, anyone? On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 03:03:58 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008086 >On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 02:53:50 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008081 > >"Thank you, but no. I prefer to run my own risks. If, however, you >know of some way to reduce the headaches I get from telepathy, that >would be appreciated." Nemo's voice speaks out of the empty air. "My apologies." "As for your headaches, they can certainly be removed. The question is whether or not you'd wish the changes to you that would accompany the removal." ================================= Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 11:06:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 07:55:39 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008087 >On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 18:57:57 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008083 > >Nemo contacts Rob and makes much the same offer as he made to >Harlock. [Nemo? I hope you can hear this, because you certainly aren't within six feet, and I'm not going to go for a headache to extend my range right now.] As he thinks, Rob mixes chemicals, with _Fundamentals of Chemistry_ by Dr. Charles McNider as a reference book. [I refuse to change my plans for one attack. I would like the "dead body" as a contingency, though. And I'd like to find out what happened to the Mykarrian that Harlock killed. When I was fighting last night, I think I saw some sockets on it, and I'd like to get a look at them in good light to see what they are. Just in case my guess is right.] >^It also occurs to me that it might be a better idea if I send a self >to one of the nearby worlds and start 'blundering' around. This might >lead to them concentrating on me, rather than you, Harlock and the >rest. Confer with the others and let me know if this is acceptable.^ [Can you link us up in a sort of 'conference call' arrangement? I don't have Harlock's address or any contact method for Legion, and everything else is tapped. And even with using Beale ciphers based on Oprah's latest recommended book, it's still possible that somebody could figure out what we're saying. Telepathy is the only way to dodge the Ansible Guild.] [BTW, my gut reaction is to keep you out of this at the moment. As far as I can tell, whoever is running the Mykarrians has effectively unlimited resources. By the time there were enough people 'blundering around' to strain such resources, they might have decided to pull out something less subtle. I know that a dog the size of a pony with cybernetic enhancement is not exactly subtle - but they may do something like an 'accidental' test firing of a SDI system.] As he finishes this comment, he divides the chemicals between three plastic tubes, and caps each one. "There. Ready to go. And thank you, Doctor McNider, for being the same genius in a million different universes." After cleaning up the mess, he turns to a new project, involving electronics and a modified charger stand for an electric razor. ================================= Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 18:11:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 20:58:41 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008088 >In a message dated 2/1/00 5:07:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, >harlock writes: > >>Ben always preferred to hit the highway when he was out of sorts, so > >reference..> Okay, I'll do my usual straight-man thing: Huh??? ================================= Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 21:43:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 21:08:04 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008089 >On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 07:55:39 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008087 > >>On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 18:57:57 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008083 >> >>Nemo contacts Rob and makes much the same offer as he made to >>Harlock. > >[Nemo? I hope you can hear this, because you certainly aren't within >six feet, and I'm not going to go for a headache to extend my range >right now.] > >As he thinks, Rob mixes chemicals, with _Fundamentals of Chemistry_ >by Dr. Charles McNider as a reference book. > >[I refuse to change my plans for one attack. I would like the "dead >body" as a contingency, though. ^Noted. I've prepared a template that can be updated to match your current state virtually instantaneously.^ >And I'd like to find out what happened to the Mykarrian that Harlock >killed. When I was fighting last night, I think I saw some sockets on >it, and I'd like to get a look at them in good light to see what they >are. Just in case my guess is right.] ^Alas, it was "retrieved".^ >[Can you link us up in a sort of 'conference call' arrangement? I >don't have Harlock's address or any contact method for Legion, and >everything else is tapped. And even with using Beale ciphers based on >Oprah's latest recommended book, it's still possible that somebody >could figure out what we're saying. Telepathy is the only way to >dodge the Ansible Guild.] ^I'll have to convert to/from audo both ways for Harlock. He doesn't do well with telepathy. Not to worry, the sound will be damped out to random noise for anyone else.^ >[BTW, my gut reaction is to keep you out of this at the moment. As >far as I can tell, whoever is running the Mykarrians has effectively >unlimited resources. By the time there were enough people 'blundering >around' to strain such resources, they might have decided to pull out >something less subtle. I know that a dog the size of a pony with >cybernetic enhancement is not exactly subtle - but they may do >something like an 'accidental' test firing of a SDI system.] ================================= Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 03:08:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6: body doubles, anyone? On Wed, 02 Feb 2000 02:38:40 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008090 >Leonard Erickson wrote: > >"As for your headaches, they can certainly be removed. The question >is whether or not you'd wish the changes to you that would accompany >the removal." At this point, an observer with good hearing or a shotgun mike would pick up some muttering from Harlock. About the only words that come out clearly are "wizards" and "cryptic." ================================= Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 09:38:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 09:35:41 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008093 >On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 20:58:41 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008088 > >>In a message dated 2/1/00 5:07:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, >>harlock writes: >> >>>Ben always preferred to hit the highway when he was out of sorts, >> >>>reference.. > >Okay, I'll do my usual straight-man thing: >Huh??? Harlock is thinking of Ben Reilly. Rob is thinking of one of his Valdritkar's other students, Ben Hutchins. ================================= Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 10:11:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 10:06:42 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008094 >On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 21:08:04 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008089 > >> On Tue, 1 Feb 2000 07:55:39 -0800 (PST) >> Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008087 >> >>[I refuse to change my plans for one attack. I would like the "dead >>body" as a contingency, though.] > >^Noted. I've prepared a template that can be updated to match your >current state virtually instantaneously.^ [Perfect. Can you leave a fragment of your awareness to monitor me for a thought? 'Tsukikage no Knight' will do for a trigger phrase, since I don't think in Japanese.] >>[And I'd like to find out what happened to the Mykarrian that >>Harlock killed. When I was fighting last night, I think I saw some >>sockets on it, and I'd like to get a look at them in good light to >>see what they are. Just in case my guess is right.] > >^Alas, it was "retrieved".^ [Damn! I think they may have modular weapons systems available to them, with two or three hardpoints open.] >>[Can you link us up in a sort of 'conference call' arrangement? I >>don't have Harlock's address or any contact method for Legion, and >>everything else is tapped. And even with using Beale ciphers based >>on Oprah's latest recommended book, it's still possible that >>somebody could figure out what we're saying. Telepathy is the only >>way to dodge the Ansible Guild.] > >^I'll have to convert to/from audio both ways for Harlock. He doesn't >do well with telepathy. Not to worry, the sound will be damped out to >random noise for anyone else.^ [I had a similar problem. It may not work, but I'd recommend having him take a basic course in shielding. It buffers the impact from most telepathic sendings, though it seems that a Starspawn can still generate enough volume to hurt. It doesn't fix the root of the problem, but it's easier, less intrusive, and has useful side effects.] [Let me know when you can link us up.] Turning back to his work table, Rob begins soldering together a collection of electronics on to a board about four inches in diameter, occasionally referring to _Basic Electronics_ by P. Horton. ================================= Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 17:40:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 13:48:13 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008095 >On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 10:06:42 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008094 > >[Perfect. Can you leave a fragment of your awareness to monitor me >for a thought? 'Tsukikage no Knight' will do for a trigger phrase, >since I don't think in Japanese.] ^Done.^ >[Let me know when you can link us up.] ^Anytime you are ready.^ ================================= Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 17:40:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6: body doubles, anyone? On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 13:30:41 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008096 >On Wed, 02 Feb 2000 02:38:40 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008090 > >>Leonard Erickson wrote: >> >>"As for your headaches, they can certainly be removed. The question >>is whether or not you'd wish the changes to you that would accompany >>the removal." > >At this point, an observer with good hearing or a shotgun mike would >pick up some muttering from Harlock. About the only words that come >out clearly are "wizards" and "cryptic." Actually, they'd pick up nothing. Once Nemo shifted to "audio", he scrambled sound (and light) leaving the immediate vicinty of Harlock so as to *prevent* any monitor from picking up anything "unusual". ================================= Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 02:34:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Mykarrians 'R Us On Thu, 03 Feb 2000 01:46:56 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008098 >Five hours later, a waterlogged Mykarrian drags itself out of the >water, and collapses on a beach several miles away from where it was >thrown into the water. > >{Unit 11 temporarily going offline} > >{System Status: > Experimental system 101-E (internal oxygen system) depleted - >resupplying. > Internal batteries at 10%. Solar recharge initiated. >Estimate 8 hours of sunlight necessary to restore to 55%. > Organic component in shock, possible hypothermia.} > >{Analysis: Requesting retrieval.} > >{Mission Status: Unsuccessful. Sending sensory data from past five >hours now (*).} Here comes the shadowy room again. Can't anybody change the lights in there? "Sir? Unit eleven is requesting retrieval." "Two down within twenty-four hours? What the hell is going on here?" "Sir?" "Never mind. Why is unit eleven requesting retrieval?" "Umm...failure of supplementary oxygen system, near total exhaustion of power supplies, organic component suffering possible hypothermia, corrosion? Oh. It just spent five hours submerged in salt water." "Who was unit eleven sent after?" "Let me check...only name we have for him is his email address. Bakatare@aol.com." "Bakatare...right. Posting on the conspiracy theory group. Run back the transcript. Let's see how this joker managed to dump unit eleven in the ocean." "Yes, sir." "Some kind of martial artist, by the stance. Good lord, but he's quick. A washer? A ten megacred piece of biocybertechnology and he fouled it up with a washer? Lunge, and...hmm. Kick in the belly to boost it over the rail, looks like. Damn. If anything, this joker looks to be more dangerous than that Jonson character." "Sir?" "Think about it, son. Jonson had a sword and some magic, plus the records on him indicate he's cybered to the ears. I would expect somebody with that kind of edge to put up a good fight. But this character...a six inch washer and bare hands. No evidence of cyber, no sword, no magic, and he still gets the better of unit eleven. Send all the data down to analysis. I want to know if I missed something. And pass the word to prep unit seven for a refit." "Anything specific, sir?" "I think...speed comes first for this one. Sacrifice weapons if we have to, but this bakatare is fast, so we need unit seven to be faster. And son?" "Sir?" "Make sure unit seven can swim." "Right, sir. Oh, yes. Unit four has been refit, sir." "Any problems getting the mana damper and the laser to work together?" "Well, the mana damper's a pretty big energy draw, so the laser was put on a trickle-feed capacitor. It's only good for one shot every fifteen seconds or so." "Huh. Shouldn't much matter. I don't care how cybered up Jonson is, he can't dodge a laser. One shot will be all unit four needs. Send it out." "Yes, sir." =================================