Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6a The Gauge of Infinity - ch. 3 Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 05:38:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 04:50:00 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008102 With his headache reduced to tolerable levels by the application of several micro-brews and two aspirin, Harlock speaks softly from his couch. "Nemo? I have reconsidered your offer. I would like to point out, though, that anybody examining the body is going to expect to see cyberware. Specifically, an adrenal pump, some fairly tough dermal plating, and massive muscle enhancements." The Bard grins suddenly. "'Twas the easiest method of explaining my combat prowess without mentioning the Boots of Speed, Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength, and the Bracers of Protection Besides which, as a member of the Kindgaard Marines, he, er...I, that is, would be expected to have some cyberware." [Once the Guild has a body they can identify as Erik Jonson, I can find work in one of the local taverns as an entertainer using a different disguise. Erik Jonson will only appear via TunneLink thereafter, and only to his resistance cell. 'Tis fortunate that one of the "inventors" managed his breakthrough recently. Would that I understood quantum tunneling better. From what I did grok, it has some amusing potentials in quantum magic.] ================================= Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 17:42:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Tue, 8 Feb 2000 16:41:50 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008103 >On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 04:50:00 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008102 > >With his headache reduced to tolerable levels by the application of >several micro-brews and two aspirin, Harlock speaks softly from his >couch. "Nemo? I have reconsidered your offer. I would like to point >out, though, that anybody examining the body is going to expect to >see cyberware. Specifically, an adrenal pump, some fairly tough >dermal plating, and massive muscle enhancements." The Bard grins >suddenly. "'Twas the easiest method of explaining my combat prowess >without mentioning the Boots of Speed, Girdle of Cloud Giant >Strength, and the Bracers of Protection Harlock doesn't know about AC> Besides which, as a member of the >Kindgaard Marines, he, er...I, that is, would be expected to have >some cyberware." Nemo consults a few databases via methods that would surprize their owners. Then he projects a 3-D virtual image visible only from Harlocks point of view. It's a semitransparent view of Harlock's body, with appropriate internal changes. "This is based on technology used by the Kindgaard Marines, plus some later modifications that will appear something you had done by backalley cyber-doc. One who has come up with a few interesting innovations. They'll explain some of your deviations from a normal performance profile for augments." "Alas, they'll be too badly damaged to duplicate. But there are several 'clues' that should lead them on a wild goose chase looking for the 'doc. This can merely be a red herring, or I can provide the 'doc for them to find." "Of course, if they do find him, they'll be able to recover his tech, but he'll die resisting capture. And once they've adopted his superior augments, we'll have an advantage... you see, there's a "back door" control mechanism that's not detectable at their tech level." Nemo's voice carries some amusement as he relates that last tidbit. In other words, the augments appear to be improved in a manner that seems "obvious" once you see it. But the improvements have a vulnerability that only someone at a higher tech lvel than these jokers could find. But it doesn't require the higher TL to *exploit*. A trojan horse... ================================= Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 23:53:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 23:01:35 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008104 >Leonard Erickson wrote: > >"Of course, if they do find him, they'll be able to recover his tech, >but he'll die resisting capture. And once they've adopted his >superior augments, we'll have an advantage... you see, there's a >"back door" control mechanism that's not detectable at their tech >level." Harlock's grin turns evil. "'Twill serve, my friend. 'Twill serve nicely. If you can get the body prepared within the next twenty-four hours, it would be much appreciated. I hope the next one will not arrive within that time, but I honestly don't expect much more than that. The first, after all, arrived within three days of my posting to the Net. The second should be quicker, given that they need only re-equip it, rather than spending time on the hunt." ================================= Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 09:59:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Wed, 9 Feb 2000 04:05:15 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008105 >On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 23:01:35 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008104 > >Harlock's grin turns evil. "'Twill serve, my friend. 'Twill serve >nicely. If you can get the body prepared within the next twenty-four >hours, it would be much appreciated. I hope the next one will not >arrive within that time, but I honestly don't expect much more than >that. The first, after all, arrived within three days of my posting >to the Net. The second should be quicker, given that they need only >re-equip it, rather than spending time on the hunt." "Oh, it's ready now. It only took a moment after you approved the design... " ================================= Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 11:13:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Wed, 9 Feb 2000 10:47:59 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008106 >On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 10:06:42 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008094 > >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. About two days later, Rob solders the last connection on the last board, and puts it in a casing. [Finished. Now, I need to think about the problems at hand.] After pocketing his new equipment, he walks down to the nearest video arcade, and starts a game of _Street Warrior 7: Dark Conflict._ [First, finding some evidence to break the Ansible Guild's monopoly. No clues yet on what to do about that - set that problem aside for the moment.] Onscreen, Rob's character gets thrown for a loop, comes back up, and finishes the fight with a "Kinetic Pulse." [Second, finding out who operates the Mykarrians and putting them out of the game. It may be the AG, or it may not. Which doesn't narrow down the possibilities all that much, but keeps me from jumping to confusions.] The first round of the next fight is a one-sided match, with Rob working joystick and buttons to pound his opponent into the floor in under fifteen seconds. [The best question to ask: Who profits from seeing the Ansible Guild keep power? I can't find all the people who qualify for that description, but there must be a few. And the cost of operating a single Mykarrian can't be a small figure.] The next round is equally one-sided, but this time, Rob's character is the one eating the floor. [So the clues are money, tech base, and a high risk of losing badly if the AG falls, to the point that killing anybody who gets too close to the truth is better than risking the Guild's destruction.] The last round ends with the computer winning as the timer runs out. [Fine. Now that I have the parameters, I need to define the minimum settings.] ---------------------- A day and a half later, Rob drops a pile of notes on his table (formerly a cable spool), and sits down on his Extremely Cheap Futon with a Frame Made From Shipping Pallets. [Nemo? Are you there?] [This () is a list of the minimum technological requirements to create the Mykarrians, with an estimate of the bare-bones costs of running such an operation. I've also added estimates of the cost to produce one, after R&D produces a working model, both for a gengineering project, and for modifying an existing creature.] [In any case, would you mind dropping this off with Caprice and Harlock, and letting me know how this affects their positions? This is incomplete data, but with Caprice on the inside of the AG, she might be able to come up with a list of people who could create this sort of thing, and would have reason to. Assuming that it isn't a Guild project to begin with.] [Oh, and let me know about nine hours from now...I haven't slept in about forty-eight hours...] With that, Rob pulls a comforter over himself, and falls asleep. ================================= Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 08:28:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 01:10:07 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008107 >Leonard Erickson wrote: > >>If you can get the body prepared within the next twenty-four hours, > >"Oh, it's ready now. It only took a moment after you approved the >design... " > > "A few moments notice, he said," Harlock mutters under his breath. "Is everyone in this band a demigod?" Suddenly he hears a deep baying. "Already? Please don't interfere yet, Nemo. I wish to disable this one for your examination. Besides, mutual kills are ever so dramatic, don't you think?" He grins and pulls out the Casio again. Soon, an electronic squeal announces the death of another subsonic generator. A series of clanks follows. [Again by the fire escape? That seems remarkably stupid. I don't trust this...] As before, the Mykarrian bashes the window in with one swipe of its paw. [Wait a minute. What's that irritating...shit!] Reflexes honed by months in the Terran Space Marines send Harlock dropping for cover even as he recognizes the sound of a laser charging up. Unfortunately, he's not quite fast enough. The blast vaporizes his left ear. The capacitor starts whining again. [Huh. Trickle-feed capacitor? Something's preventing a continuous beam. No time to waste, at any rate.] Reaching into a pocket, he pulls out...something. Even as it clears his pocket, the room plunges into an inky darkness. ----- "Sir? We've lost telemetry from unit four." "What? Replay the last twenty seconds. Son of a bitch! How in the hell did he dodge a laser!? What is that he's pulling out of his pocket?" "Can't tell, sir. The telemetry cut out as soon as whatever it is cleared the pocket. The locator beacon is the only thing still transmitting, but it's a direct ansible link, rather than a relay to one of our ansible stations." "I'm aware of that, son. Let me know as soon as you get a status change." "Yes, sir." ----- [Well, that ought to buy me a minute or two. Lasers being essentially focussed light, a stone with Continual Darkness on it neutralizes the threat rather neatly. Now then, where is it?] Training of a far more primitive sort takes over now as Harlock starts listening for his opponent, testing the air currents for hints of motion. [Hmm...about two yards ahead and a bit to the right. I don't dare draw the sword. The ring as it clears the scabbard is too damned obvious. Ecch. Sounds like it's down to non-verbal spells or the mono-mol, then.] Slowly drawing his holdout dagger from the small of his back, Harlock eases his way into better cover, using his memory of the room as a guide. With the barest trickle of breath, he whispers the single word "throat," then hurls the dagger toward the sound of the now-uselessly whining capacitor. The room erupts in chaos, then, as the Mykarrian leaps toward the sound of speech, to be intercepted midway by a dagger slashing at its throat. The dagger, with its monomolecular edge, penetrates the dermal plating easily, inflicting a blow sure to be fatal...eventually. Cutting off a critter's oxygen supply will down it in anywhere from under a minute to several hours, depending on factors such as body mass, activity level, and native environment (pinnipeds and cetaceans fall into the "several hours" category). Had the dagger managed to hit an artery, the death would have been quicker. As it is, Harlock spends the next fifteen minutes avoiding the Mykarrian's death throes. When the sounds finally fade to a stationary "whirr-click...whirr-click...whirr-click" he takes a shaky breath and calls the dagger back. As the hilt, now warm and sticky with blood, settles into his waiting hand, he cautiously advances on the sound. Feeling his way around the body, he works his way up to the head and stabs the eyes repeatedly. Then he drops the dagger and reaches down to place his hand on the head and mutter something, causing a brief jolt of energy to cascade through the creature's body, stopping the "whirr-click." Straightening up, he puts the stone back in his pocket, looks around at the damage done to his apartment, and sighs. "Ah, well, I had planned to leave fairly soon anyway. Too bad about the keyboard, though. Nemo? If you want to examine this creature now, you're welcome to. And if you can leave my 'body' with a monomolecular dagger, so much the better. Oh, and vaporize the left ear. I lost mine to the laser shot. 'Twill regenerate in a month or so, but I need to leave before they send a team to recover the bodies." With that, he picks the dagger up, washes it in the sink, and leaves, avoiding the blood stains as he goes. ----- "Sir? Partial telemetry from unit four." "Partial?" "Yes, sir. Some garbage audio and an 'initiating self-repair' message." "That's it?" "Yes, sir." "Can you get a memory dump?" "Trying, sir, but that's apparently one of the systems under repair." "Damn! Send a retrieval team out soonest." "Yes, sir. Oh, yes. Analysis has sent up their report on unit eleven's mission." "Hmm...So Bakatare wasn't affected by the subsonics either, but he didn't have to break the generator to do it. All right, focus on speed for unit seven and try to make it clear that it's to keep the range open as much as possible. That one punch he got off was enough to warp a dermal plate, despite showing no augments. Can unit eleven be salvaged?" "Umm...retrieval's still debating that one, sir." "Huh. Well, keep me posted on both of those missions." "Yes, sir." ================================= Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 08:28:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 00:13:24 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008108 >On Wed, 9 Feb 2000 10:47:59 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008106 > >[Nemo? Are you there?] ^The mind you have reached is not a working mind. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, ground and center and reattempt contact...^ The above is sent with Nemo's unmistakable mental "voice". ^Of *course* I'm here. Where else would I be?^ >[This () is a list of the minimum technological requirements to >create the Mykarrians, with an estimate of the bare-bones costs of >running such an operation. I've also added estimates of the cost to >produce one, after R&D produces a working model, both for a >gengineering project, and for modifying an existing creature.] ^As you can see, this gives them a reason to go looking in a place of *our* choosing. As well as a possible back door if things go on long enough.^ >[In any case, would you mind dropping this off with Caprice and >Harlock, and letting me know how this affects their positions? This >is incomplete data, but with Caprice on the inside of the AG, she >might be able to come up with a list of people who could create this >sort of thing, and would have reason to. Assuming that it isn't a >Guild project to begin with.] ^Done..^ >[Oh, and let me know about nine hours from now...I haven't slept in >about forty-eight hours...] > >With that, Rob pulls a comforter over himself, and falls asleep. ^GOOD MOOORNING, MULTIVERSE!....^ Rob is awakened by a fair imitation of Robin Williams playing crazy DJ. ================================= Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 20:35:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 19:08:55 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008111 >On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 01:10:07 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008107 > >Straightening up, he puts the stone back in his pocket, looks around >at the damage done to his apartment, and sighs. "Ah, well, I had >planned to leave fairly soon anyway. Too bad about the keyboard, >though. Nemo? If you want to examine this creature now, you're >welcome to. And if you can leave my 'body' with a monomolecular >dagger, so much the better. Oh, and vaporize the left ear. I lost >mine to the laser shot. 'Twill regenerate in a month or so, but I >need to leave before they send a team to recover the bodies." As Harlock watches, "his" body appears out of nothing. Not only minus an ear, but with damage suggesting he'd tried to *wrestle* with the creature to get a clear shot at the throat. Blood and scraps of flesh appear in appropriate places on the Mykarrian and around the room. The body has a dagger clutched in a deathgrip in one hand. A new keyboard appears floating in the air in front Harlock. As soon as he has a firm grip on it, it ceases to float. Nemo's voice speaks from a point in midair. "I trust this is satisfactory?" ---- Some time later... "Sir, we've got a partial report on unit four. It got the target, but not before he did major damage to it. He used a mono-edge knife to cut its throat. And discharged a fair sized electrical charge thru the brain." "Electrical charge? How'd he do that?" "They're still work on what's left of the body, but one of his augments seems to be an electric organ of some sort. sort of like an implanted electric eel. And his other implants are non-standard. Looks like he started with the standard Kingaard augments, and had a major blackmarket upgrade sometime later. But we've never *seen* augments like these before. What's left seems to be a *lot* better than ours." "How much better? And why don't we have them?" "With the damage it's hard to tell, but it looks like a good 150% or more. We don't have them because it looks like however made them made a breakthrough of some sort. One we can't duplicate without *intact* units." "We *do* think we know how he dodged the laser. The records show him starting to dodge *before* the laser fired. His hearing augments are fairly standard and the computers say he started to dodge about the time the sound of the laser charging would have reached him. It still requires incredible reflexes. But it's not *impossible*." "We can't have folks running around with better augments than we've got. *Where* did he get them?" "The research teams are checking out sources of some unusual materials. That should at least narrow the search to a few worlds. Maybe to only part of one world, if we get lucky..." ---------- ================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 00:35:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 00:18:32 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008112 >On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 19:08:55 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008111 > >A new keyboard appears floating in the air in front Harlock. As soon >as he has a firm grip on it, it ceases to float. > >Nemo's voice speaks from a point in midair. > >"I trust this is satisfactory?" Harlock shakes his head once, blinking, then grins wryly. "Perfect. And thank you for the new keyboard." Shoving said keyboard into his pocket, he heads out the door, melting into a new form as he goes. >"They're still work on what's left of the body, but one of his >augments seems to be an electric organ of some sort. sort of like an >implanted electric eel. And his other implants are non-standard. >Looks like he started with the standard Kingaard augments, and had a (nitpick alert) That's "Kindgaard" You forgot a "d" >for the edification of the folks facing them.> ================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 10:03:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 08:10:48 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008114 >On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 00:13:24 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008108 > >>On Wed, 9 Feb 2000 10:47:59 -0800 (PST) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008106 >> >>[Nemo? Are you there?] > >^The mind you have reached is not a working mind. If you feel you >have reached this recording in error, ground and center and reattempt >contact...^ > >The above is sent with Nemo's unmistakable mental "voice". > >^Of *course* I'm here. Where else would I be?^ [Paying attention to something more important, like the World Series, or the movements of the Grayson Space Navy? I don't know, I just thought you might be busy with something else.] >>[This () is a list of the minimum technological requirements to >>create the Mykarrians, with an estimate of the bare-bones costs of >>running such an operation. I've also added estimates of the cost to >>produce one, after R&D produces a working model, both for a >>gengineering project, and for modifying an existing creature.] > > > >^As you can see, this gives them a reason to go looking in a place of >*our* choosing. As well as a possible back door if things go on long >enough.^ [I like that. Especially the part about the hidden flaws. That wouldn't happen to include override codes, would it?] >>[Oh, and let me know about nine hours from now...I haven't slept in >>about forty-eight hours...] >> >>With that, Rob pulls a comforter over himself, and falls asleep. > > >^GOOD MOOORNING, MULTIVERSE!....^ > >Rob is awakened by a fair imitation of Robin Williams playing crazy >DJ. Rob does something he hasn't done in years - reacting in a way that he could not manage on purpose. In this case, it results in his vaulting from the couch, bouncing off the ceiling (leaving a set of shoe-prints on it), and landing in a crouch on the other side of the room. (blinkblinkblink) "Good morning, Nemo." Pausing to check his watch, he groans softly. "Nine hours to the minute, isn't it? Note to self: Do not ever give Nemo the opportunity to play 'alarm clock.' I'm mostly awake now, thanks. Just give me a moment to clear my head." Rob takes a wide stance, then locks his fingers together, palms out, and stretches, starting from above his head, and moving down until he touches the floor. After straightening up and separating his hands, he curls his fingers, and 'pushes' outward with his will, then stares as his hands light up with red energy. "This is unexpected." Focusing on the glow, Rob shifts its color from red to yellow to orange to blue to purple, then lets it fade out. "Something like practicing with weights on, I suppose. In any case, what's happening with the rest of the team?" ================================= Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 12:36:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 11:38:59 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008116 >On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 08:10:48 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008114 > >>On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 00:13:24 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008108 >> >>^Of *course* I'm here. Where else would I be?^ > >[Paying attention to something more important, like the World Series, >or the movements of the Grayson Space Navy? I don't know, I just >thought you might be busy with something else.] ^If I ever *don't* have attention to spare, we will all be in *very* big trouble.^ >> >> >>^As you can see, this gives them a reason to go looking in a place >>of *our* choosing. As well as a possible back door if things go on >>long enough.^ > >[I like that. Especially the part about the hidden flaws. That >wouldn't happen to include override codes, would it?] ^Essentially, yes.^ >"This is unexpected." Focusing on the glow, Rob shifts its color from >red to yellow to orange to blue to purple, then lets it fade out. >"Something like practicing with weights on, I suppose. In any case, >what's happening with the rest of the team?" ^Harlock was attacked again. He escaped with minor damage and an appropriately "dead" double was left behind. I scanned the hound and found the following items that may be of interest[]. But it's also obvious that much of the armaments are plug in modules, so the next one you run into could be *very* different.^ ================================= Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 00:07:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 23:52:29 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008121 >On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 11:38:59 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008116 > >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008114 >> >>[I like that. Especially the part about the hidden flaws. That >>wouldn't happen to include override codes, would it?] > >^Essentially, yes.^ [Would you mind giving me the information on the overrides? Anything I don't understand, I can either research, or avoid using, and it seems like a good idea to have the information on hand.] >^Harlock was attacked again. He escaped with minor damage and an >appropriately "dead" double was left behind. I scanned the hound and >found the following items that may be of interest[]. But it's also >obvious that much of the armaments are plug in modules, so the next >one you run into could be *very* different.^ > >mana-damper since you might be affected by it.> [Mana damper? Interesting. They may not think to fit one in, though. I haven't used magic against them, which means they might not expect it. Still, I'll keep an eye on my bracelet just in case. I'd bet that they're going to refit to aim for my weaknesses, which probably means sending in a tank, playing sniper, or trying to out-speed me.] By this point, Rob is smiling. Widely. The look on his face practically screams, "This is going to be fun!" ================================= Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 12:35:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Sat, 12 Feb 2000 12:16:39 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008124 >On Fri, 11 Feb 2000 23:52:29 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008121 > >[Would you mind giving me the information on the overrides? Anything >I don't understand, I can either research, or avoid using, and it >seems like a good idea to have the information on hand.] ^[]^ There's a swelling feeling inside Rob's head. He know knows all about the augments, their limits, their vulnerabilities, and their susceptibilities to things that wouldn't make sense without the advanced tech level knowledge. ================================= Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 04:35:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Bard on strings On Mon, 14 Feb 2000 04:24:03 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008141 Harlock no longer looks like Erik Jonson. His IDs now register him as Ioseph of Neapolis, a legal immigrant to the realm from one of the low-tech realms of the Matrix Cosm. Ioseph is evidently in his 60s (which, in a low-tech realm, could make him anywhere from late 30s to early 80s, but I digress) with thinning grey hair, jaundiced skin, and rheumy eyes. His one undeniable talent is for playing stringed instruments. On the strength of that, he's managed to join the house band at a slightly better than rat-hole tavern, earning enough in wages and the occasional tip to set himself up in a slightly better than rat-hole apartment. After two weeks with no Mykarrian attacks, Harlock quietly puts together a pair of TunneLink communicators and ships one of them to the weekly meeting of Erik Jonson's former cell. In the privacy of his apartment, he shifts back to Erik Jonson's form and places the call. "Hey." "Erik? Where the hell have you been?" "I got...sidetracked. By a Mykarrian." "And you're calling us over an open frequency? Are you mad?" "Naw. The TunneLink's untappable. I lifted the plans off the Net before the hellhound trashed my place. Lady and Gentlemen, we have a new strategy." "What's that, Erik?" "We're gonna hit 'em in the wallet." "That's preposterous! The Guild's been operating for centuries. Their coffers are deeper than anything you can imagine. They can afford to wait out any penny ante tricks you try to pull on them." "Dave, you're lucky I gotta lie low for a while or I'd be makin' ya turn purple again. Think about what I just said about the gizmo you're usin' now. It's untappable. It also has a range that's effectively infinite, if I read the specs right, with zero transmission lag. It's also easy enough to build that I got everythin' I needed at the local Trideo Shack." "If it's so marvelous, why isn't it already available to the public?" "The guy what invented it had a lab fire the day he finished his prototypes. Trashed all his notes. He was lucky enough to get out of there with a prototype in one piece. Reverse-engineered it well enough to put the plans on one of the techie geek groups on NewsNet the day before he was gakked by a mugger. I was lucky enough to pull down the plans two days before they vanished again, thanks to a virus what only hit that group. The virus trashed my computer, but not before I got a hard copy. That's about the time the hellhound showed up. I dunno about you, but I got a feelin' there's more than just coincidence workin' here." "Umm...sounds like a reasonable assumption. So how do we fit into all this?" "Simple. We go inta the TunneLink business. I figure we gotta make a couple million or so, then flood the market with 'em. We get the advertisin' right, we even make a profit while we give the Guild a black eye." "Are you honestly proposing that we become guerilla _businessmen?_" "Well...yeah. There's two ways of fightin', really. Ya find the enemy's weak spot and attack there or ya figure out yer own strong spot and attack from there. I figure they ain't had competition in such a long time that they think their business end is the strong side. But with no competition to keep 'em in shape, I bet they don't really know how to run a business right any more. Besides, this has the advantage of bein' a surprise." "You...have a point." "Well, think it over. Just punch in this code {} the next time ya wanna talk, and I'll check back in when I can." "Where are you staying these days, Erik?" "If I told ya, it wouldn't be a secret, now would it?" "I just thought a more conventional means of communication--" "Can it, Dan. Erik's right. If he's got a Mykarrian after him it's best that we don't contact him 'conventionally.'" "Thanks, Vick. The hellhound I saw ain't after nobody no more, but that don't mean they ain't gonna send another. If you like the plan, call me back and I'll send you the blueprints. If you don't think you can pull it off, I'll find someone with the guts to try. See you later." ================================= Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 01:35:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Bard on strings On Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:40:21 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008143 >On Mon, 14 Feb 2000 04:24:03 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008141 > >"Thanks, Vick. The hellhound I saw ain't after nobody no more, but >that don't mean they ain't gonna send another. If you like the plan, >call me back and I'll send you the blueprints. If you don't think you >can pull it off, I'll find someone with the guts to try. See you >later." Harlock hears Polaris chuckle. "Boogyman would be delighted by your use of his efforts. You need to tell your associates to be careful, that was no ordinary mugger the Guild send after Boogyman. I will tell him he doesn't need to follow up on that line. He will be able to devote more time to doing what he does best. Causing trouble for the enemy. Thank you." She tells him. ================================= Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 02:37:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Bard on strings On Tue, 15 Feb 2000 02:13:30 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008144 >On Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:40:21 -0800 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008143 > >Harlock hears Polaris chuckle. "Boogyman would be delighted by your >use of his efforts. You need to tell your associates to be careful, >that was no ordinary mugger the Guild send after Boogyman. I will >tell him he doesn't need to follow up on that line. He will be able >to devote more time to doing what he does best. Causing trouble for >the enemy. Thank you." She tells him. Harlock looks startled. "There really was a mugger? I thought I was providing mere corroborative detail, intended to lend verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative." > "After all, the virus and the Mykarrians were completely unrelated. They must have been, considering I didn't even look for the TunneLink plans until after the first Mykarrian paid me a visit. I will be sure to pass that on, though. Incidentally, having Boogyman post the details on the lab fire was a nice touch." ================================= Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 19:06:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Bard on strings On Wed, 16 Feb 2000 07:06:13 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008145 >On Tue, 15 Feb 2000 02:13:30 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008144 > >"After all, the virus and the Mykarrians were completely unrelated. >They must have been, considering I didn't even look for the TunneLink >plans until after the first Mykarrian paid me a visit. I will be sure >to pass that on, though. Incidentally, having Boogyman post the >details on the lab fire was a nice touch." "He's had a lot of practice. Boogyman has been one of Aurora's best 'black ops' people for hundreds of millions of years. He has a definite talent for it." She answers. "I suspect that your attackers will upgrade the weapons in their attack dogs. If you run into something you can't handle, call, and we'll see if they can come up with something that can deal with a Starspawn." ================================= Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 23:06:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Bard on strings On Wed, 16 Feb 2000 22:58:29 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008146 >On Wed, 16 Feb 2000 07:06:13 -0800 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008145 > >"He's had a lot of practice. Boogyman has been one of Aurora's best >'black ops' people for hundreds of millions of years. He has a >definite talent for it." She answers. "I suspect that your attackers >will upgrade the weapons in their attack dogs. If you run into >something you can't handle, call, and we'll see if they can come up >with something that can deal with a Starspawn." Harlock shrugs. "They do not seem to be targeting me at this point. The false body that Nemo provided for their amusement seems to have satisfied them. I just hope Dan gets his thoughts marshalled quickly, lest I have to prod him further to create the TunneLinks. Perhaps Vicki will see the possibilities. 'Tis not possible for me to do all of the work, despite my legal identities in this realm. Speaking of which, I am due at work within the hour..." The Bard morphs back into Ioseph's form, then heads out the door. ================================= Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 13:10:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On 02-17-2000 at 12:42:54 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008152 >On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 04:50:00 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008102 > >[Once the Guild has a body they can identify as Erik Jonson, I can >find work in one of the local taverns as an entertainer using a >different disguise. Erik Jonson will only appear via TunneLink >thereafter, and only to his resistance cell. 'Tis fortunate that one >of the "inventors" managed his breakthrough recently. Would that I >understood quantum tunneling better. From what I did grok, it has >some amusing potentials in quantum magic.] When the TunneLink message was posted, Zia and Nemo's probability manips, Caused the message to successfully get out, Before the ansible links to that world were severed, Boogey the on site StarSpawn, Then had to act to keep the planet alive, As Every Ansible link on the planet Exploded... That planet is out of contact by normal means, The Guild assumes it was destroyed... On a thousand world the probability manips caused, The incoming backup messages filters to miss the TunneLink Message, On three hundred of those planets no-one has quoted the message, Yet Into any ansible linked channel, On The remaining seven hundred worlds, Someone forwarded the message into an ansible link, On 200 of those it was a newsgroup, Twenty of those got out before, Those Worlds Died... 10,000 worlds failed to filter the messages, And the Cascade continued Within hours The Guild's Automated system, Had a Higher total death count that The Blue Horizon, And still growing... Just incidentally including the Home World of The Senior Master of The Guardians of IF... " The Rest of the Masters should stand by, In case we fail to identify our opponents in time..." The Senior Master of The Guardians of IF, Travels backtime a few hours and destroys a small mechanical linkage, In the Automated Final Security system that has been killing planets, collecting the resultant Paradox Gem He Returns to the present, He then Uses The Game of IF to make that the True Past... Causing, of course, a major reality ripple in that Cosm. All but the first 354 planets are left intact as the Ansible Chips, Fall to the floor before reaching the Gauge of Infinity... But since they are out of Circuit anyway, The Communications Links are Severed... FailSafe Passes word via the many channels to the teams... "\ A Recent Reality alteration has severly injured Legion, She and Dr. Essex have left the Matrix to save her life, We may or may not hear from them, After what is expected to be a Very Long course of treatment.\" ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 05:37:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Thu, 17 Feb 2000 22:38:55 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008157 >On 02-17-2000 at 12:42:54 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008152 > >When the TunneLink message was posted, > Zia and Nemo's probability manips, > Caused the message to successfully get out, > Before the ansible links to that world were severed, > Boogey the on site StarSpawn, > Then had to act to keep the planet alive, > As Every Ansible link on the planet Exploded... > That planet is out of contact by normal means, > The Guild assumes it was destroyed... Can Nemo/NEMO attempt to absorb/divert the energy? (He's *capable* of doing so, but is he "allowed" to?) And ditto for the other planets. >The Senior Master of The Guardians of IF, > Calls for assembly of a Conclave... >" In the Mean time you have all heard the report of a Paradox Immune, > Tracking attempts to find us, > We Must Confirm any relationship between It, and > Those who have recently targeted The Ansible Guild." Is that me of Zia? >He Lists some Senior Brothers, >" I want you to seek the origins and purposes, > Of those Targeting The Ansible Guild..." Nemo will take *extreme* interest in this... >Yet Another List, >" Find Every Paradox Immune in the Matrix. > Find out What they have been doing and Why!" > Which will give Zia and Nemo something to work with.> And Nemo will love working with it/them. >The Senior Master of The Guardians of IF, >Travels backtime a few hours and destroys a small mechanical linkage, >In the Automated Final Security system that has been killing planets, >collecting the resultant Paradox Gem He Returns to the present, >He then Uses The Game of IF to make that the True Past... >Causing, of course, a major reality ripple in that Cosm. > >All but the first 354 planets are left intact as the Ansible Chips, >Fall to the floor before reaching the Gauge of Infinity... >But since they are out of Circuit anyway, >The Communications Links are Severed... Any chance Nemo can "grab" the chips as they fall towards the floor? Not only would they be useful in establishing a network that doesn't go thru the Guild, their absence will help keep the Guild in the dark (by encouraging them to think the planets in question are gone. ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 07:12:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On 02-18-2000 at 07:08:41 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008158 >On Thu, 17 Feb 2000 22:38:55 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008157 > >>On 02-17-2000 at 12:42:54 >>Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008152 >> >>When the TunneLink message was posted, >> Zia and Nemo's probability manips, >> Caused the message to successfully get out, >> Before the ansible links to that world were severed, >> Boogey the on site StarSpawn, ^Boogyman^ Ooops >> Then had to act to keep the planet alive, >> As Every Ansible link on the planet Exploded... >> That planet is out of contact by normal means, >> The Guild assumes it was destroyed... > >Can Nemo/NEMO attempt to absorb/divert the energy? (He's *capable* of >doing so, but is he "allowed" to?) > >And ditto for the other planets. I'm Sure *NEMO* could have casually tracked all of the messages, When it was not an intended bias of probability, More like a second or third order side effect, The Question is Could and Did Nemo do so? Also allowing it to happen, May be a Greatest Good issue... On the Other hand *NEMO* Could just tell us where the artifacts are, Couldn't he... :( >>" In the Mean time you have all heard the report of a Paradox >> Immune, >> Tracking attempts to find us, >> We Must Confirm any relationship between It, and >> Those who have recently targeted The Ansible Guild." > >Is that me of Zia? That is Scott. Whom they know got away from the Lavalight Realm >>He Lists some Senior Brothers, >>" I want you to seek the origins and purposes, >> Of those Targeting The Ansible Guild..." > >Nemo will take *extreme* interest in this... Omniscient knowledge, or Noticing them in their effort? to find out about this... >>Yet Another List, >>" Find Every Paradox Immune in the Matrix. >> Find out What they have been doing and Why!" >>> now, Which will give Zia and Nemo something to work with.> > >And Nemo will love working with it/them. Another message stated the why and how of these, Feel free to work them in, Typeface changes in News distributions, Whether or not the Politician misplaced his speech notes, That kind of thing, All over the place... Each one generating a tiny ripple... Each Ripple distorted by anything it can not change, or anything that acts directly on it, Like Zia just did... >Any chance Nemo can "grab" the chips as they fall towards the floor? >Not only would they be useful in establishing a network that doesn't >go thru the Guild, their absence will help keep the Guild in the dark >(by encouraging them to think the planets in question are gone. If he knows where this is happening why doesn't he just grab, The Gauge of Infinity? ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 08:22:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 07:59:41 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008161 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008116 > >^Harlock was attacked again. He escaped with minor damage and an >appropriately "dead" double was left behind. I scanned the hound and >found the following items that may be of interest[]. But it's also >obvious that much of the armaments are plug in modules, so the next >one you run into could be *very* different.^ > >mana-damper since you might be affected by it.> "Mmhmm. Nothing that I can do at the moment, then. And I have to meet a lady in the park." ------------- "...doesn't match the bio-patterns of any known planet." "But if the Mykarrians don't match any planet known, then how is their home planet being kept secret?" "That's the tricky part, Rob. Personally, I have three theories: a means of FTL travel which goes somewhere that nobody else knows about yet, genetically engineered life-form, or some sort of dimensional warp." "Dimensional warp? Janet, that's science fiction. Nobody's built one yet." "Not that we know of. But some people claim that the AG has been suppressing or appropriating new technology as it sees fit, in order to maintain its technological superiority. If that's the case, then there may be something we don't know about." "That's what made me curious about the Ansible Guild. Since the ansible was invented, there haven't been any new innovations in communications technology. It's all variations on the ansible." "What do you mean?" "Well, there have been advances in all sorts of science, from quantum physics to whatever makes the spatial inversion jump drive run. But nothing has affected communications technology. Nothing in the 'cheaper but slower' range, or the 'cheaper and faster' range." *** "Sir, we have target acquisition. I'm setting Unit Seven into stalker mode until nightfall." "Cancel that. The Council just sent new orders. We are to engage and kill immediately." "Sir?" "The latest report from OpAnalysis indicates a 78% probability that he has superior night vision on a level which nullifies our equipment advantage. The Council cleared us to attack in daylight. Now GET STARTED!" "Sir!" *** "...so I started playing paranoid loon on the net, to draw out people who might be...Rob, are you listening to me?" [Something's out there, and it's zoning in on me.] "Janet, why don't we go to my place and have a few drinks?" *Janet, I want you to slap me, and be as offended as possible.* "What did you say?" "You heard me." *Now slap me, and tell me what scum I am for hitting on you.* "You _bastard!_ Can't you even wait until the third date?" Janet yells, as she slaps Rob, who rolls with the blow. This is a good thing, as Janet has a right that, by Rob's estimate, should be enough to stun a bear. "Janet, I was just asking..." *Storm off.* "No explanations, mister. I should know better than to trust somebody I met on the Net." She turns and walks away, radiating anger to the point that Rob watches the bushes next to her, half-expecting muggers to flee in panic. [I hope that the telepathy got through. I may have to explain why I did that later--] A bush is torn out of the underbrush at the side of the clearing, and tossed aside by the Mykarrian. [--but I think I have other problems right now.] ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 13:36:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 12:04:34 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008163 >On 02-18-2000 at 07:08:41 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008158 > >>On Thu, 17 Feb 2000 22:38:55 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008157 >> >>Can Nemo/NEMO attempt to absorb/divert the energy? (He's *capable* >>of doing so, but is he "allowed" to?) >> >>And ditto for the other planets. > >I'm Sure *NEMO* could have casually tracked all of the messages, > When it was not an intended bias of probability, > More like a second or third order side effect, > The Question is Could and Did Nemo do so? > Also allowing it to happen, > May be a Greatest Good issue... > >On the Other hand *NEMO* Could just tell us where the artifacts are, > Couldn't he... :( Yes, but that would interfere with your "growth". And this isn't big enough for NEMO to have more than passing interest. It's only 8 universes, after all... >>>He Lists some Senior Brothers, >>>" I want you to seek the origins and purposes, >>> Of those Targeting The Ansible Guild..." >> >>Nemo will take *extreme* interest in this... > >Omniscient knowledge, or > Noticing them in their effort? > to find out about this... "The observer interacts with the observed by the process of observation." I.E. their search efforts will set up a "pattern" (events, dataflows on the net, people movements, etc) that Nemo should notice.And one noticed, he'd likely be tracing *them* as they trace us... :-) >Another message stated the why and how of these, > Feel free to work them in, > Typeface changes in News distributions, > Whether or not the Politician misplaced his speech notes, > That kind of thing, > All over the place... > Each one generating a tiny ripple... > Each Ripple distorted by anything it can not change, > or anything that acts directly on it, > Like Zia just did... The best part is that any Nemo *inside* a universe *does* change with such a ripple, even while remaining part of the "Nemo collective" (to draw an analogy with the Borg :-) That's one of the reasons he doesn't do time travel except in a "you can't change the past" setup. >>Any chance Nemo can "grab" the chips as they fall towards the floor? >>Not only would they be useful in establishing a network that doesn't >>go thru the Guild, their absence will help keep the Guild in the >>dark (by encouraging them to think the planets in question are gone. > >If he knows where this is happening why doesn't he just grab, > The Gauge of Infinity? Point. Alternative idea... Can Nemo "reach thru" an ansible link and "grab" the other end? ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 14:30:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On 02-18-2000 at 14:11:49 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008166 >On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 12:04:34 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008163 > >>On 02-18-2000 at 07:08:41 >>Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008158 >> >>I'm Sure *NEMO* could have casually tracked all of the messages, >> When it was not an intended bias of probability, >> More like a second or third order side effect, >> The Question is Could and Did Nemo do so? >> Also allowing it to happen, >> May be a Greatest Good issue... >> >>On the Other hand *NEMO* Could just tell us where the artifacts are, >> Couldn't he... :( > >Yes, but that would interfere with your "growth". And this isn't big >enough for NEMO to have more than passing interest. It's only 8 >universes, after all... Well, 9, but an insignificant difference anyway... ;) And Thank You. :) >>>Nemo will take *extreme* interest in this... >> >>Omniscient knowledge, or >> Noticing them in their effort? >> to find out about this... > >"The observer interacts with the observed by the process of >observation." > >I.E. their search efforts will set up a "pattern" (events, dataflows >on the net, people movements, etc) that Nemo should notice.And one >noticed, he'd likely be tracing *them* as they trace us... :-) Given, and Expected. >The best part is that any Nemo *inside* a universe *does* change with >such a ripple, even while remaining part of the "Nemo collective" (to >draw an analogy with the Borg :-) I need to think about this one... >That's one of the reasons he doesn't do time travel except in a "you >can't change the past" setup. Well you can't here, in any significant way, Unless the Game of IF intervenes... >>If he knows where this is happening why doesn't he just grab, >> The Gauge of Infinity? > > Point. Thank You. :) >Alternative idea... Can Nemo "reach thru" an ansible link and "grab" >the other end? Good Question. Maybe... If you think it would work for Nemo's abilities, I can't say it would not according to local law... ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 183718 -0800 (PST) Subject: ReAAE 6abody doubles, anyone? On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 180509 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008169 >On 02-18-2000 at 141149 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008166 > >Good Question. > Maybe... > If you think it would work for Nemo's abilities, > I can't say it would not according to local law... And my head hurts trying to figure out how this sort of "bi-location" works... ================================= Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 19:06:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On 02-18-2000 at 19:03:28 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008170 >On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 18:05:09 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008169 > >And my head hurts trying to figure out how this sort of "bi-location" >works... Try this way, It exist in a specific kind of 4space, The shows two and only two 3space intersection... Simpler yet, A specific kind of gravito-inertial pulse, will collapse the 4space aspect to a single 3space locus, Polarity determines which projection, Becomes the single 3space point of presence... IMO Nemo should be able to sense that easily. ================================= Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 02:09:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: Guardians vs Guild? On Sat, 19 Feb 2000 02:02:58 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008171 >On 02-18-2000 at 07:08:41 >Nemisis Said As GR.CAoL Message # 00003710 > >>*smirk* And so one group is played against the other. Now all we >>need for some real havoc is for our favorite demagogue to get wind >>of this... > >I'm sure he will suspect something of the sort when he hears the > Whispers, > After all I think it is what he would do in their place... Harlock logs on to the net, sifting through the postings to the NewsNet that have come up in the past day. [Hmm...nothing, nothing, spam, boring, nothing...maybe alt.conspiracy.ansible-guild will be good for something other than amusement. Somebody's accusing the Guild of blowing up planets? Where is that one being posted from? Huh. Anonymous server. Damn. Let me read the post a little more closely, then. Oh-ho! The Guardians of IF are joining the fray, are they?] Harlock rubs his hands in anticipation. [This could be fun.] Within the next half hour, the original post has been forwarded to the webmaster@ansibleguild.com through the same anonymous server that it was originally posted from; a categoric denial of any Guild wrongdoing is sent to a.c.a-g through a different anonymous server; and an incoherent rant accusing the Guardians of IF of interfering with free communications is sent to a.c.a-g (posted on Dan's account, just because Dan's such an annoying twit) ================================= Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 04:50:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: body doubles, anyone? On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 16:40:14 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008172 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008170 > >>On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 18:05:09 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008169 >> >>And my head hurts trying to figure out how this sort of >>"bi-location" works... > >Try this way, > It exist in a specific kind of 4space, > The shows two and only two 3space intersection... > >Simpler yet, > A specific kind of gravito-inertial pulse, > will collapse the 4space aspect to a single 3space locus, > Polarity determines which projection, > Becomes the single 3space point of presence... > IMO Nemo should be able to sense that easily. It should stand out like a neon sign to the Starspawn. ================================= Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 19:22:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Sat, 26 Feb 2000 18:39:52 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008202 >On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 07:59:41 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008161 > >"Janet, I was just asking..." *Storm off.* > >"No explanations, mister. I should know better than to trust somebody >I met on the Net." She turns and walks away, radiating anger to the >point that Rob watches the bushes next to her, half-expecting muggers >to flee in panic. > >[I hope that the telepathy got through. I may have to explain why I >did that later--] > >A bush is torn out of the underbrush at the side of the clearing, and >tossed aside by the Mykarrian. > >[--but I think I have other problems right now.] For a moment, both Rob and the Mykarrian freeze. [It's not set up with heavy armor and weapons, so that leaves high speed, or--] The Mykarrian fires a spread of claws which Rob dodges, though an acid claw scores the sole of his shoe. [--sniper.] Pulling one plastic tube from each pocket, he primes them, and tosses them forward, and slightly to each side. The tubes burst into blackness, obscuring the Mykarrian's vision. [Someday, I'll figure out why I can see in complete darkness. Right now, though...] The Mykarrian responds by circling the blackness at a speed somewhere between "That's impossible," and, "Oh $***!" with brief stops to fire claws through the cloud. [Damn! He can't hit me, but I can't do anything to him unless...hm?] Pulling out one of his other new items, Rob activates it, and starts tracking the Mykarrian's movement. [Watch him carefully... nine... two... six... three... one... four... one... five... nine!] The plastic disk sails out, and sticks to the Mykarrian's flank with a soft "click." Then the capacitors discharge. *SHZAKT* [Easy as pi.] Unfortunately, there's only so much that can be fitted into roughly three cubic inches, so the jolt doesn't knock out the Mykarrian. It does, however, have an effect. {Alert - TacComp offline. Reboot failed. - Biological component stunned. Recovery in two seconds. Switching to standard tactics.} ---------------- In the darkened room, some of the operators are learning new ways to curse, courtesy of their supervisor. "What happened to the backup tactical computer?!" "We needed to cut the weight, but we also needed space for the extra claw-darts, so we pulled it out." "Who authorized that stupid idea?" "Ummm...you did, Sir. Or at least you signed off on the order..." [I need to read those things more carefully...] ---------------- A cybernetic blur slashes through the cloud of darkness, attempting to find its designated prey. [It's not sniping now, but it's getting too close with those teeth. I knew I should have thrown in a scent-breaker! Now, where did it--yow!] As the Mykarrian rushes by, Rob attempts to hit it, but finds only air. [It's too fast! And these jeans are going to be cutoffs when I get--yikes!--make that, _are_ cutoffs...] Then, a subsonic howl starts up. [Fine. I can still block that...] Flaring his Ler around himself, he shifts its color from red to yellow, and the sonics fade out. [Just powerful enough to use for something else, too.] Focusing his awareness on Ler, or life-force, Rob barely picks up the Mykarrian. [The cybernetics interfere with tracking him, but...now!] As the cyber-canine enters the darkness for the last time, Rob whispers, "sonic boom." The Mykarrian and the subsonic generator both howl, but the speaker goes down. [And for my next trick...] A ball of cheese appears in Rob's hands, then flies at his foe, exploding in a cloud of stench. As the Mykarrian attempts to clear the smell of Limburger from its nostrils, Rob steps up, and slaps another shock disk on the Mykarrian, who collapses. [Hopefully, the embarrassment won't kill the poor thing.] Collecting the disks, he leaves the scene. [If I work fast, maybe I can apologize to Janet before she decides to kill me.] ================================= Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 05:38:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Sun, 27 Feb 2000 04:56:57 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008204 >On Sat, 26 Feb 2000 18:39:52 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008202 > >[And for my next trick...] A ball of cheese appears in Rob's hands, >then flies at his foe, exploding in a cloud of stench. > >As the Mykarrian attempts to clear the smell of Limburger from its >nostrils, Rob steps up, and slaps another shock disk on the >Mykarrian, who collapses. ----- Back in the shadowy room again... "Sir? Unit seven is off line." "Damn! Send whatever data you can to analysis. And put in a recall order on unit one." "Yes, Sir. Any specific orders for refit?" "Yes. We finally tracked down the street doc that gave Jonson such an edge. He suicided, rather than work for us, and he tried to destroy his notes, but we halted his file-shredding program before it was done. What we got will let us give unit one roughly the same performance curve as unit seven while keeping its armor up to current spec." "That's...impressive, Sir." "Yeah. Impressive enough I can't help wondering if that was really Jonson that unit four took out." "Sir?" "Never mind, son. You have your orders." "Yes, Sir." ================================= Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 11:24:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: Mykarria is missing On Sun, 27 Feb 2000 08:56:50 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008205 >On Sun, 27 Feb 2000 04:56:57 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008204 > >"Yes. We finally tracked down the street doc that gave Jonson such an >edge. He suicided, rather than work for us, and he tried to destroy >his notes, but we halted his file-shredding program before it was >done. What we got will let us give unit one roughly the same >performance curve as unit seven while keeping its armor up to current >spec." A tech, sweating at how close he came to losing all the files and their valuable contents, inserts a data module into a receptacle on the late doctor's system. The module quickly fills with data. As he removes it to insert another, he has no way of noticing the dust motes and microbes clinging to it. Especially not the ones inside the access shutter. As he leaves, another tech takes the system to be shipped to a lab to see if any of the deleted data can be recovered. Nobody will pay any attention to the dust they blow out of the system when they disassemble it there, either. Cooling fans move air, air carries dust, ergo, computers will be dusty inside.... If they were capable of tracking the dust, and the microbes clinging to it, they'd be *very* surprised. Some of both seem to "melt" into the surface of data modules, and computing equipment. And then, if one could see *far* below the level at which normal circuitry is laid out, strange patterns would appear in circuit boards, silicon substrates, and other "unused" spaces. *Inside* the solid materials. An eclectic mix of nano-tech mechanisms, quantum electronics, and quasi-organic tech. Other microbes are merely looking for food, multiplying and spreading in the normal manner. As the "circuitry" investigates any hardware near it, the microbes act like a dyemarker in the ocean. Soon enough, they'll be detected by "insects" looking for them all thru the cosm. Which will tell Nemo where to look for the faint "noise" that is the signals from his little piggyback spies. ================================= Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 01:18:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE6a: Playin' 'em like a violin... On Sun, 05 Mar 2000 00:51:41 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008229 Meanwhile, Harlock has been amusing himself playing evenings in a tavern as Ioseph and doing his best to fan the flames of the Net through carefully anonymous posts (with an occasional post from Dan thrown in just for laughs) Given that the Bard's chosen weapon is words, things ought to be heating up quite nicely between the Ansible Guild and the Guardians of IF right about now. ----- With that in mind, we cut back to our favorite shadowy room... "Sir? Unit one has been retro-fitted with the new cyberwear." "Good. Send it out after that Bakatare character and put in a recall order for all other active units." "Sir?" "New orders from the council. We're to go after as many of the junior Brothers of the Guardians of IF as we can manage." "Sir, is that entirely wise? If we start picking off Guardians, don't you think they'll retaliate somehow?" "You know it, and I know it, but the council orders and we obey." "Yes, Sir. Sending recall order now." -*-*-*- Shadowy room? What shadowy room? Nothing but bedrock here. Gods, time travel makes my head hurt. Of course, since the discovery of the TunneLink was what prompted the Guardians to tangle with the Guild, Harlock still has a flamewar to manage. He just never fought the Mykarrians or lost a pointy ear, that's all. ================================= Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 01:07:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 00:30:13 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008299 Harlock steps into Fuzzy's castle, a bemused expression on his face and a package under one arm. He strolls along the corridors until he reaches the planning room, then places the package on the table. In answer to questioning looks from Nemisis and Nemo, he speaks. "As I arrived in the realm where we thought the Gauge of Infinity was to be found, a man approached me, asking if I were Harlock. I did not think to deny the fact, so he had me sign a receipt and handed me this package." Within the package lies the Gauge of Infinity, along with a note which reads "Compliments of the Guardians of IF." "I will be honing my skills in a holo-deck until such time as another team is assembled." With that, he shakes his head slowly and heads off to one of the holo-decks. ================================= Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 05:38:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 04:38:03 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008300 >On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 00:30:13 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008299 > >Within the package lies the Gauge of Infinity, along with a note >which reads "Compliments of the Guardians of IF." > >"I will be honing my skills in a holo-deck until such time as another >team is assembled." With that, he shakes his head slowly and heads >off to one of the holo-decks. Nemo comments "Language isn't up to describing this sort of thing." He then sends a though to all present. They all agree that at the moment they received it, it described to goings on involving timelines being edited/swapped/whatever. And most of them go on to state that as soon as he finished sending the thought, it made *no* sense, and they get a headache if the "look at" it too closely. Others just keep their own counsel. ================================= Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 06:52:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 06:37:47 -0800 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008301 >On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 04:38:03 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008300 > >He then sends a though to all present. They all agree that at the >moment they received it, it described to goings on involving >timelines being edited/swapped/whatever. And most of them go on to >state that as soon as he finished sending the thought, it made *no* >sense, and they get a headache if the "look at" it too closely. Rio "listens," actually comprehending a fair amount of Nemo's report. /Well,/ she sends with a wry grin, /I haven't seen anything _that_ anticlimactic since I finished Myst./ ================================= Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 075056 -0800 (PST) Subject: ReAAE 6aWe...did it? On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 073808 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008302 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008300 > >>Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00008299 >> >>Within the package lies the Gauge of Infinity, along with a note >>which reads "Compliments of the Guardians of IF." >> >>"I will be honing my skills in a holo-deck until such time as >>another team is assembled." With that, he shakes his head slowly and >>heads off to one of the holo-decks. > >Nemo comments "Language isn't up to describing this sort of thing." Elsewhere in the castle, Rob wakes up with something that most people would diagnose as a touch of the flu. His analysis is a bit different. [Urg...not time-shift sickness again. I had enough of that when I met Jeffrey Jones.] >He then sends a thought to all present. They all agree that at the >moment they received it, it described goings-on involving timelines >being edited/swapped/whatever. And most of them go on to state that >as soon as he finished sending the thought, it made *no* sense, and >they get a headache if the "look at" it too closely. Rob ignores this, in favor of staggering to the kitchen for a carafe of orange juice, and a few slices of garlic bread. [One of these days, I'll figure out why the garlic bread helps...] ================================= Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 09:37:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 09:39:24 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008303 >On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 06:37:47 -0800 >Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008301 > >/Well,/ she sends with a wry grin, /I haven't seen anything _that_ >anticlimactic since I finished Myst./ Seth exits the monitoring room through one of the portals, not arriving at the destination set inside the ship (a long unused hallway found during the team's explorations), but instead rounding the corner of the doorway of the planning room. He glances in the box briefly. "It would seem we have in fact acquired two of the artifacts. The Guage of Infinity and, upon completion of our other tasks, the Game of If." >Rio >"A life without cause is a life without effect." > Barbarella ================================= Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 09:37:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 08:06:30 -0800 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00008304 >On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 07:38:08 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00008302 > >Rob ignores this, in favor of staggering to the kitchen for a carafe >of orange juice, and a few slices of garlic bread. > >[One of these days, I'll figure out why the garlic bread helps...] /Because, deary,/ Morgan's slightly amused 'voice' drifts through the link, /Garlic helps almost *everything*. Russian penicillin and all that./ /Congrats on finding the first two artifacts, BTW,/ she sends to everyone on the link. /At this rate, we'll have Fuzzy back before the twins arrive. These two are going to have one heck of an interesting set of...hmm, godparents doesn't seem the right word. Deity-parents?/ The druidess frowns mentally. /I'm going to have to work on that one..../ ================================= Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 11:37:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Wed, 22 Mar 2000 14:15:35 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008313 >In a message dated 3/21/00 12:38:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, >ljwolfe writes: > >/Congrats on finding the first two artifacts, BTW,/ she sends to >everyone on the link. /At this rate, we'll have Fuzzy back before the >twins arrive. These two are going to have one heck of an interesting >set of...hmm, godparents doesn't seem the right word. Deity-parents?/ >The druidess frowns mentally. /I'm going to have to work on that >one..../ For absolutely no reason, Roger gets a very strange expression as his eyes roll in ther sockets like Vegas dice..... ================================= Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 12:37:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 6a: We...did it? On Wed, 22 Mar 2000 13:58:08 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008314 >On Wed, 22 Mar 2000 14:15:35 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008313 > >For absolutely no reason, Roger gets a very strange expression as his >eyes roll in ther sockets like Vegas dice..... From the Place, Tinkerbell sends, /How about 'extended family'? Grumpa and I got to wondering one evening about what we'd be called, and we thought just 'Mike' or 'Uncle Mike' and 'Tink' worked best. I thought about 'Cousin Tink,' but that just sounds funny and I don't think I'm old enough to be an 'aunt', at least the way we use it./ =================================