January 1998 Official Responses

From:  Ken Morefield (Zane)

Hi Layne,
Please forward this to the whole group. Thanks.

Greetings all.

Hoping not to offend Syzygy but something doesn't
seem right to me about Maxim. I might be paranoid
but it seemed like his help comes too easy. I think
that he might not be the target of Dakka Syte's
revenge. Maybe Streel is the taget. We must find out
if there was any past relationship between them.
Back to Maxim, his goals are too different from 
Streel's for my liking. I plead with you all, do not
reveal Cimmy's whereabouts to anyone. If my feelings
are indeed right she could be in danger. Lets hope 
that I'm wrong, but lets not take any chances just
the same. I want for me or Urugg to try hypnotising
her to find out more information. I could administer
drugs to help relax her if need be. I propose setting
up a haleo image of her in an empty appartment and
leak the info to Maxim. We must use extra caution
that we are not followed to her current location.
We can also set trip wires or similar traps at the 
false location. t could be a chance to use the 
radiated paint gyroslugs. By the way does anyone 
have any extras for me. Thanks. My first attempted
move will be discussing my ideas to the rest of the
unit. My second will be cautiously going to Cimmy's
place(hopefully with Urugg) and doing the hypnosis
thing. Third I will work on the compound to duplicate
the Ixiol's affects. VERY carefully!

Thanks,
Ken(Dralasite@aol.com)

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)

Hi Layne, 

Here is Tork's "To Do" list for this month... :)

[ Item # 1 ]
Well, it seems that Loer An-Tehr is more interested in talking to Urugg. Thats okay, 
Tork will allow Urugg to take the lead. While here though, Tork would like to 
accomplish the following:

A. Get a description of "Spider". If he can avoid it, Tork will not reveal that 
"Spider" is Dakka Syte until the end of the interview. Tork wants to find out about 
"Spider" and does not want the witnesses to start adding things they have heard about 
Syte to their story.

B. Try and find out where "Spider" was staying. ( Can we check it out? ) Did he leave 
any other belongings? Can we check them out or take them with us (and check them out)?

C. Show Loer the image of Dakka Stye (that Zane downloaded in the August story) and ask 
"Is this 'Spider'?" If An-Tehr says yes go to "D" otherwise Tork will continue "Well, 
perhaps it is an old picture. From the fingerprints and DNA we got off the ammo, 
"Spider" is *this* man."

D. "Dakka Syte is a convicted murderer and industrial saboteur. He escaped from a 
maximum security prison about two weeks ago." 

[ Item # 2 ]
Tork will check to see if there are any outstanding rewards out for Dakka Syte. He will 
be sure to double check the wording of each. ( Tork will have no qualms about shooting 
Syte but it might make it hard to collect a "live capture" reward. ) If it is well 
known that there is a reward for Dakka Syte, Tork will mention to An-Tehr that "There is 
an reward for his capture."


[ Item # 3 ]
I did not see mention of the disposition of the 'assassinator' rounds. Tork will show 
T'Klkk a small black cartridge and ask "Who should I give these to?"

If T'Klkk says "Kare", Tork will hesitate, take a deep breath, look at the cartridge, 
and say "Okay". If Kare is in the room he will walk over and hand her the cartridge. 
If Kare is elsewhere he will give them to her the first time he is able.

If another team member is mentioned, Tork will give the cartridge to them. If T'Klkk 
wants to turn the cartridge over to the Police Tork will respond "I'll take care of 
them." He will then buy a needler.


[ Item # 4 ]

"DAMN!" and the sound of a datapad hitting the table are obvious signs that Tork is 
frustrated. "I've been over this report a dozen times and I still don't know who Dakka 
is after."

If anyone is in the room with Tork he will apologize for the outburst and then continue. 
If Tork is alone he will simply be tinking the following.

"Everyone is accounted for." "Except" Tork picks up the datapad. ( Hopfully it is still 
functioning.  ) "What was his name? Jacc Weeb's Commander." "Ah here it is Commander 
Kret'a Teel. We'll have to do a backround check and see where he is at."

"There is something else bothering me. If Streel does not know Dakka, WHY was the shaft 
to Streel's office broken into?" Tork hestitates a minute then start quickly scanning 
the report. He scans top to bottom and back up again. "Its not here." Tork checks the 
report again, this time rereading the whole thing to make sure he did not miss the 
information he is looking for. "Nope, its not here. No mention of it anywhere." 

"Who owned the freighter that the smuggler's came in on?"

Tork will either have a team-mate check, or try checking himself for the following:

A. Where is Commander Kret'a Teel.
B. What was the freighter's name and registration. ( Who owned the D*** thing and if it 
was a megacorp who was in charge of it. ) If possible, Tork will find out who the 
Captain of the ship was.


The rest of these items are 'if Tork has time' things...

[ Item # 5 ]
Given a chance Tork will talk to the team Techs about building a small (room size)
'white noise' generator. Tork would like to make sure that his conversations are not
being monitored.

[ Item # 6 ]
Tork is still not sure about Kare but there are some things he wants to ask her about. 
If possible Tork will talk to Kare ( but only in the presence of another team member ).

6A. "I know you have connections 'off planet'. I don't trust the computer system here 
on Metrosphere, would it be possible to contact your 'friends' and have them verify some 
the data we have?" ( Tork is specifically thinking about background checks on Dakka and 
Selson Streel. These two have the resorces to alter their files if they wanted to hide 
something. )

6B. "We know that someone is smuggling stuff into Metroshpere. If you wanted, how would 
*you* get the stuff in?" Tork is asking this because bypassing security seems to be 
Kare's "specialty". He in *no* way wants to imply that she is involved in this type of 
activity. ( I got into enough trouble making allegations already, no need/desire to 
start unfounded rumors. )

[ Itme # 7 ]
Speaking of smuggling. Tork thinks the team needs to approach Baab and see if we can 
get him to talk about how he is getting stuff in. I have no desire to turn the 
information over to the police ( unless he is the one that got Dakka in ). The problem 
is that 'Diplomacy by Tork' usually involves weapons. He (nor I) can think of a way to 
entice Baab into talking. Tork, however, will suggest that someone from the team (Kare 
and Urugg?) talk to Baab. Tork will also volunteer to go as backup. Not because he 
thinks a firefight will break out but because he would like to learn how to handle this 
type of situation, not that he would admit that to anyone. :)

[ Item # 8 ]
Taanik mentions checking out the mine robots. This is not high on Tork's priority list
but he would welcome the chance to 'get outside'. If Tannik (or anyone else) wants to
go Tork will go.

TTFN
John johngroz@velocity.net
----------
"Can't say. Saying would be knowing. Don't know. So, can't say." - Zathrus

>From this month story:
>"A male voice replies through the chronocom. "Urugg, it's Tork. Bad news."

After cutting of the transmission, Tork realizes that he never asked if Urugg was able 
to talk. We don't need nearby ears hearing sensitive information. Tork makes a mental 
note to start asking if its okay to talk. Perhaps the team should set up a signal code. 
Caller asks "Hows the situation?"

Reciver then replys either:
"Green, go ahead" - means 'I'm okay, its okay to talk'.

"No problem, go ahead" = means 'I shouldn't talk now but I don't want the person sitting 
here to know that I'm letting you know I'm in trouble." :)

"Condition Red" = "Get your butt moving to my location ASAP!!!"

Any other suggestions?

TTFN
John johngroz@velocity.net
----------
"Can't say. Saying would be knowing. Don't know. So, can't say." - Zathrus

From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)

The content of my original note titled "Getting Started" 
contains actions that I would like to use. I'm including 
this note below:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
BEGINNING OF "Getting Started" NOTE

You hear a soft beep from your chroncom. When you 
activate it, you see the sharp angles of chitenous face-plates 
of the young female Vrusk known as T'Klkk. From the 
display you can tell that the other members of your team are 
also receiving this transmission. T'Klkk waits paitently until 
all 6 recipients of her hail signal an acknowledgement.

"Greetings, teammates! Self-T'Klkk has an update. 
Teammate-Kare and self-T'Klkk have met with Selson 
Streel to make him aware of an impending attack on his 
person through the old ventilation shafts. He has agreed 
to our plan of setting a trap, but insists on remaining in his 
office in person rather than using a hologram as a decoy. 
This makes self uncomfortable, but Streel is aware of the 
danger. Teammate-Kare and self are getting ready to set 
the trap. Any suggestions on a design?

"Also, something very interesting came out of the 
conversation with Streel. When self indicated that Dakka 
Syte is on this colony, Streel reacted strangely, as if he 
knows something or is hiding something. Nevertheless, 
he denied all knowledge about Syte. (Out of character: 
Layne, at this point could T'Klkk roll Comprehension to 
see if she can figure out what kind of relationship may 
be present?) Teammate-Syzygy, could you see if you can 
find any past links between Streel and Sytes in the 
databases? If there is any of us who can find this 
information, it is you. Six degrees of respect for your 
skill.

"And, Teammate-Syzygy, self understands that you 
have posted an open challenge to Syte. Quite an 
unorthodox strategy. Four degrees of approval on 
such a clever, albeit dangerous, approach to bringing 
on a more direct confrontation. But, use seven 
degrees of caution as he has already demonstrated 
his willingness to kill those who oppose him.

"Teammate-Taanik, your plan to go undercover 
demonstrates six degrees of brilliance, creativity, 
and bravery. However, you should also use seven 
degrees of caution in your dealings with Miemen. 
As soon as Teammate-Kare and self-T'Klkk are 
finished setting our trap, self will head in your 
direction in case self is needed for back-up. Just 
yell if you need help.

Self-T'Klkk is very please with the progress and 
cooperative spirit of this team! Self-T'Klkk is 
pleased to count herself among you!"

END OF "Getting Started" NOTE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -


Standing at the air duct, T'Klkk turns to her 
companion and says, "Teammate-Kare, self-T'Klkk 
suggests that we rig a motion sensor which, when 
tripped, will activate a gas cartridge filled with a 
powerful sedative to fill this shaft. A second motion 
sensor which will launch tangler grenades would be 
set here," pointing to a strategic point in the shaft. 
"After surveying the area, self-T'Klkk would also like 
to set up a hidden camera from there," she points, 
"to monitor any activity around the mouth of the shaft.
In addition to monitoring the feed from this camera, we 
should arrange to have it record. Suggestions?" 
If Kare is in agreement (or if they can with minimal 
arguing reach an acceptable plan), T'Klkk will throw 
herself into the work of rigging the equipment. After 
all is done, she will suggest that they spray the area 
inside the shaft with a dusty compound so that it looks 
the way Kare originally found it.

Also, John Groszkiewicz said:
>
> If Tork is not busy ( i.e. Urugg and Tork are done 
> talking to Loer An-Tehr ) he will ask if T'Klkk and 
> Kare need his help. Otherwise, Tork will contact 
> T'Klkk as soon as he is free and ask "How is it 
> going? Do you need my assistance with anything?"

T'Klkk will respond: "Six degrees of appreciation 
for your offer of assistance. Teammate-Kare and 
self-T'Klkk-alias-Honeybee have just finished setting 
a trap in the air duct. Self-T'Klkk is proceeding 
toward Recreation Area C-7 to offer back-up for 
Teammate-Taanik in case ids ruse to buy Ixiol 
from Miemen goes awry. Additional support from 
Teammate-Tork would be welcomed. T'Klkk out."

At some point, T'Klkk will contact Syzygy again 
and say, "Teammate-Syzygy. When you get a 
chance, could you download a copy of the 
personality profile and photos of Dakka Syte so 
that all teammates can review it carefully and 
become familiar with information on him? It is 
imperative that we understand our opponent 
and be able to recognize him if we see him. 
Also, self-T'Klkk-alias-Honeybee has been 
pondering your report on the minute, undocumented 
changes to programming which you have 
been able to identify. Would it be possible 
for you to introduce minor changes to those 
changes? Maybe just enough to cause 
their intended function to fail. A bug, as it 
were. Or, even introduce some kind of tracer 
which will notfiy you of the source of the 
re-coding? Something you might consider, if 
it is possible. T'Klkk out."


If we get beyond this point in the next installment 
of the story, T'Klkk will proceed with having dinner 
with Syzygy. She will first suggest that they try a 
restaurant which specializes in alien (i.e either 
Yazirian, Human, or Dralasite) cuisine unless Syzygy 
would prefer Vrusk food. She will, true to form, 
appear at his apartment promptly at the designated 
time and will behave in her typical, formal manner. By 
no means does she see this as a date or as any 
movement toward a romantic encounter. She will 
pay for both meals and will try to better understand 
Syzygy by using the dinner conversation to get more 
personal information about him.

Again, if there is time or workability in the story, 
T'Klkk will post a message on the colony's equivalent 
of an electronic bulletin board seeking a Vrusk master 
of Martial Arts. She will indicate that she has some 
training in combat and is looking to find someone who 
would be willing to take on a student.

No experience will be spent this round.

If any of this is unclear or unworkable, just let me 
know.

I look forward to hearing what the rest of the team 
plans to do!

-JWW

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)

John Whitfield wrote:
> 
> Also, John Groszkiewicz said:
> >
> > If Tork is not busy ( i.e. Urugg and Tork are done
> > talking to Loer An-Tehr ) he will ask if T'Klkk and
> > Kare need his help. Otherwise, Tork will contact
> > T'Klkk as soon as he is free and ask "How is it
> > going? Do you need my assistance with anything?"
> 
> T'Klkk will respond: "Six degrees of appreciation
> for your offer of assistance. Teammate-Kare and
> self-T'Klkk-alias-Honeybee have just finished setting
> a trap in the air duct. Self-T'Klkk is proceeding
> toward Recreation Area C-7 to offer back-up for
> Teammate-Taanik in case ids ruse to buy Ixiol
> from Miemen goes awry. Additional support from
> Teammate-Tork would be welcomed. T'Klkk out."

Tork has several things he wants to check out. He will follow Urugg and Zane's lead 
when we finish talking to Loer. Which ever way we go Tork will try keeping tabs on the 
situation in C-7 incase it gets ugly.

> At some point, T'Klkk will contact Syzygy again << snip >>
> Also, self-T'Klkk-alias-Honeybee has been
> pondering your report on the minute, undocumented
> changes to programming which you have

Tork would not think of this but John has.  Perhaps Syzygy should check for some of 
the extra code he found earlier and see if the Metrosphere programmers have removed it.

TTFN
John johngroz@velocity.net
----------
"Can't say. Saying would be knowing. Don't know. So, can't say." - Zathrus

From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)

>
>From: John Groszkiewicz 
>
>[ Item # 3 ]
>I did not see mention of the disposition of the 'assassinator' rounds.
Tork
>will show
>T'Klkk a small black cartridge and ask "Who should I give these to?"
>
>If T'Klkk says "Kare", Tork will hesitate, take a deep breath, look at
the
>cartridge,
>and say "Okay". If Kare is in the room he will walk over and hand her
the
>cartridge.
>If Kare is elsewhere he will give them to her the first time he is
able.
>
>If another team member is mentioned, Tork will give the cartridge to
them.
>If T'Klkk
>wants to turn the cartridge over to the Police Tork will respond "I'll
take
>care of
>them." He will then buy a needler.

T'Klkk will reply. "Teammate-Tork, since these assassinator rounds are

illegal, have Syte's DNA traces on them, and are evidence, self-T'Klkk

believes that they should be held in safe-keeping. After all, they are

not only extremely dangerous but also are evidence. Self-T'Klkk 
believes that Teammate-Tork should continue to hold them."

>From: John Groszkiewicz 
>
>>From this month story:
>>"A male voice replies through the chronocom. "Urugg, it's Tork. Bad
news."
>
>After cutting of the transmission, Tork realizes that he never asked
if
>Urugg was able
>to talk. We don't need nearby ears hearing sensitive information. 
Tork
>makes a mental
>note to start asking if its okay to talk. Perhaps the team should set
up a
>signal code.
>Caller asks "Hows the situation?"
>
>Reciver then replys either:
>"Green, go ahead" - means 'I'm okay, its okay to talk'.
>
>"No problem, go ahead" = means 'I shouldn't talk now but I don't want
the
>person sitting
>here to know that I'm letting you know I'm in trouble." :)
>
>"Condition Red" = "Get your butt moving to my location ASAP!!!"
>
>Any other suggestions?

Great idea! I like it a lot!

And, going along with T'Klkk's code name: Honeybee :-) how about 
"Sweet as sugar, go ahead" = means "Syzygy is alone with me and 
won't keep his hands off my ovipositors. If someone doesn't get here 
quick, I'll pull his antennae out by the roots!" :-)

At some point, T'Klkk will contact both Urugg and Taanik. 
"Teammates, Self-T'Klkk has been thinking about Teammate-Taanik's 
efforts at subterfuge to investigate the Ixiol peddler Miemen. As 
self-T'Klkk understands, Dralasites have a natural ability to detect 
deceptions and untruths. Perhaps acting as an addict and even 
using medicines from Teammate-Zane to mimic symptoms would be 
unwise since Miemen may be able to sense the ruse. Self-T'Klkk 
admits a very limited understanding of hypnotism, but would it be 
possible for Teammate-Urugg to hypnotize Teammate-Taanik 
into believing that id really is an Ixiol addict and that it really does

experience withdrawal without this drug? This way, there will be 
no lie to detect since Teammate-Taanik will believe ids condition 
to be true. Of course, it would be important to include a release 
word so that Teammate-Taanik can be made to stop believing 
ids addiction when the mission is completed or in case something 
goes wrong. Is such a thing possible, Teammate-Urugg? If so, 
is this a plan that you would consider, Teammate-Taanik?"

-JWW

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)

John Whitfield wrote:
> 
> >
> >From: John Groszkiewicz 
> >
> >[ Item # 3 ]
> >I did not see mention of the disposition of the 'assassinator' rounds.
> Tork
> >will show
> >T'Klkk a small black cartridge and ask "Who should I give these to?"
> >
> 
> T'Klkk will reply. "Teammate-Tork, since these assassinator rounds are
> illegal, have Syte's DNA traces on them, and are evidence, self-T'Klkk
> believes that they should be held in safe-keeping. After all, they are
> not only extremely dangerous but also are evidence. Self-T'Klkk
> believes that Teammate-Tork should continue to hold them."

Tork lets out a barley audible growl of resignation, he does not recall the ‘capture of 
the perpetrators' being in his contract. Tork looks to the cartridge, and takes in a 
measured breath, and looks to T'Klkk.

"Team-mate T'Klkk. I doubt that ‘Spider' would have left this cartridge laying around 
if it where his *only* one. Its presence here tells me that our foe is well armed and 
dangerous. I would prefer to enter battle as well armed as possible." 

"It would seem we have a difference of opinion. I believe the team would be better 
served using this item to help capture Dakka. You appear to believe that the team would 
be better served using this item to keep Dakka in jail once he is captured. I will 
respect your opinion and place the item in a safe place."

Tork will then hide the cartridge behind one of the air vents in his room. His 
thoughts on how well the last jail held Dakka Stye.

TTFN
John johngroz@velocity.net
----------
"Can't say. Saying would be knowing. Don't know. So, can't say." - Zathrus

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

In a message dated 98-01-28 09:52:56 EST, you write:

<< This way, there will be 
no lie to detect since Teammate-Taanik will believe ids condition 
to be true. Of course, it would be important to include a release 
word so that Teammate-Taanik can be made to stop believing 
ids addiction when the mission is completed or in case something 
goes wrong. Is such a thing possible, Teammate-Urugg? If so, 
is this a plan that you would consider, Teammate-Taanik?"
>>

***LAYNE - PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AN [OFFICIAL] URUGG ACTION FOR THIS TURN.

"My knowledge of hypnotism is still incomplete - my training is far from
exhaustive in the area. I could certainly attempt to implant such a
suggestion in Taanik's mind if id is agreeable."

Urugg

Game note: Urugg will do some quick research to determine if such an effect
is possible - though it would seem logical that if hypnotism can be used to
suppress pain [as per SF:AD] it could be used to induce symptoms of discomfort
as well. Since a hypnotist must speak a language known to the subject, Urugg
will speak in PanGal rather than human dialect during the procedure.

Urugg will implant the suggestion that Taanik will experience withdrawal
whenever id says or hears the word "Ixiol", and these symptoms will subside
only when id says the phrase "what a rush". These will be the triggers;
symptoms Taanik will be told id is feeling will include whatever symptoms a
dralasite would feel if a victim of withdrawal (will consult medical case
histories from Inner Reach with Zane's help, if he's willing).


First, Urugg's actions / reactions to the other PC's plans:

TORK - 
<<"There is something else bothering me. If Streel does not know Dakka, WHY
was the shaft to Streel's office broken into?" Tork hestitates a minute then
start
quickly scanning the report. He scans top to bottom and back up again. "Its
not here.">>

If Urugg is home in the apartment as Tork scans the reports in frustration, he
will try to be helpful:
"No leads Tork? It could be that Syte is striking back at someone else using
Streel as a mere tool for his revenge. It might be worth checking if Streel
is or was a close associate of any of Syte's known enemies. Given the
unexplained presence of Streel-designed prototype military boots, maybe Streel
has been involved in some of the megacorp's "dirtier" business; who knows,
Syte might have been doing a job for Streel at the time of his arrest and
wants revenge because the 'corp
hung him out to dry on some prison asteroid. Who knows? Maybe Streel's just
worried that Syte's discovery here will ruin the colony's reputation and kill
next quarter's profits..."

<<[ Itme # 7 ]
Speaking of smuggling. Tork thinks the team needs to approach Baab and see
if we can get him to talk about how he is getting stuff in. I have no desire
to turn
the information over to the police ( unless he is the one that got Dakka in ).
The problem is that 'Diplomacy by Tork' usually involves weapons. He (nor I)
can think of a way to entice Baab into talking. Tork, however, will suggest
that someone from the team (Kare and Urugg?) talk to Baab. Tork will also
volunteer to go as backup. Not because he thinks a firefight will break out
but because he would like to learn how to handle this type of situation, not
that he would admit that to anyone. :)>>

Urugg's been wanting to pay Baab a visit for some time now, and will happily
agree to revisit the unsavory blob. He will ask Kare (prior to her setting
the airshaft trap) to accompany him again for a game of "good cop, bad cop" to
get some more dirt on smuggling and the Ixiol trade; if she's tied up (so to
speak), Urugg will go with Tork if he's willing and try the same tactic. 

Urugg will play the angle (used in the previous "interview" that he's an
outsider hired by Streel to investigate the sabotage, but that the Sphere cops
are leaning on him hard to squeeze middlemen like Baab. Urugg doesn't want to
give in to them, and can thinks he can divert their attention to more
important matters by getting info on who might be smuggling in drugs and
explosives to the colony. Tork (if he's willing) will play the "Streel hard
guy" / "security goon", threatening Baab with arrest and seizure of his shop /
goods when we both arrive and start talking; Urugg will then step in and ask
Tork to wait outside while he tries to "reason with" Baab...


KARE, T'KLKK AND THE TRAP:
<<"Greetings, teammates! Self-T'Klkk has an update. 
Teammate-Kare and self-T'Klkk have met with Selson 
Streel to make him aware of an impending attack on his 
person through the old ventilation shafts. He has agreed 
to our plan of setting a trap, but insists on remaining in his 
office in person rather than using a hologram as a decoy. 
This makes self uncomfortable, but Streel is aware of the 
danger. Teammate-Kare and self are getting ready to set 
the trap. Any suggestions on a design?>>

If the two ladies set up the trap in the time leading up to Taanik's
undercover, Urugg will volunteer for a stakeout shift in the Streel offices.
He will keep his rifle (barbed clip loaded), melee weapons and gas mask at the
ready; he will also request a pair of IR goggles from Streel in case the
trapped parties are in inviso-mode.

TAANIK AND THE DRUG BUY:
Urugg's main concern will be ensuring Taanik's sting goes smoothly. If Taanik
agrees, Urugg will attempt to hypnotize id and implant the suggestion that id
is undergoing withdrawal (when the trigger words are spoken - see previous
email). Once Taanik heads to ids "job", Urugg will tail id along with Syzygy;
Urugg will ask Syzygy to hang back a bit so that Urugg can effectively use his
Tracking and Stealth subskills to (hopefully) remain unnoticed in the crowded
rec dome. Urugg will wear his skeinsuit for the op but conceal it with one of
the billowing Yazirian cloaks favored by his species. Urugg will leave his
rifle "home", but will keep his melee weapons about him and carry his grenades
in a fanny pack [treat as bandolier?]; he will also bring his needler pistol
(holstered under arm, loaded with anaesthetic clip) and carry his envirokit
slung across back in carrying case [in case he needs to analyze drug samples].
If a fight erupts, Urugg will try to take out anyone going after Taanik first,
then go after the dealer.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Other stuff Urugg would like to do:
- A while back (I can't find the post) someone suggested that Maxim's motives
might not be as pure as they seem to be, including perhaps his interest in
Cimmy / Simeonne's whereabouts. When this is brought up, Urugg will suddenly
grow quiet. 
After a minute, he will scowl: "Hm. I don't like the idea, but you may have
a point there. Until we sort out Maxim's relationship to Streel and the Lost
Point rebels maybe its best we keep her location a secret. For now all he
knows is that she's hidden away in one of the park domes." Urugg will ask
Maxim for any info he has on Cimmy's next of kin (if any) but will not reveal
her exact whereabouts to anyone (including Streel / Metrosphere personnel) but
his teammates.

- Urugg will continue to spend some of his off time unwinding in the park
domes; with all this lunacy going on he needs to get back to nature from time
to time and get his head together. He'll also spend 20 or 30 credits on a
decent meal in a Yazirian restaurant - though the Streel fare included in his
room and board is OK, he needs some "real food". Speaking of off-time, what
other diversions (VR sims, casinos, etc.) are available in Metrosphere to help
an on-edge Yazirian unwind?

- Lastly, Urugg will get some new threads - whatever clothing is in fashion
among Metrosphere's Yazirian population at the moment - a cloak or two, some
coveralls, etc. He'll spend up to 50 creds to get some new duds and blend in
with the locals.

Well, that's it for now. Let's see what the future brings : )

From:  Clark Valentine (Taanik)

If I remember, the January story left off with Meimen giving Taanik the ol'
brush-off. Taanik will try to get ids attention again immediately, but
won't push ids luck. If necessary, Taanik will wait until the next day or
the day after. *** Taanik sets ids blaster to level 5 and carries it in a
shoulder holster, well concealed by ids jacket. ***

Taanik is ready and willing to do the hypnosis thing. Two potential
problems: 1. Hypnosis cannot simulate physical, chemical addiction, but
just the psychological might be enough. (Layne, I'm assuming that Taanik
will have an idea of how Ixiol works, from friends who used or school
anti-drug programs or something.) 2. Would the hypnosis leave enough left
in ol' Taanik's noggin that id will remember ids primary objective?

By the way, Taanik's primary objective will be to attempt to find out who
Meimen's supplier(s) is(are), and maybe who their supplier is, and to see if
the bad Ixiol batch was related to the raids at all.

Taanik will go undercover using Tork's idea:

>"Green, go ahead" - means 'I'm okay, its okay to talk'. "No problem, go
ahead" means it's not OK.

How is Ixiol administered? Keeping Dral physiology in mind, I bet it's
similar to that nicotine patch thing, except mush faster. If this is the
case, perhaps Taanik can coat part of ids skin in an impermeable coating so
that the drug can't actually get through. Or better yet, allow a little bit
of the drug to get through, just enough to give Taanik a "taste" of it,
making ids performance that much more realistic but not enough to get id
really blitzed. Taanik won't hesitate to dose up in front of Meimen.

Taanik keeps ids eyes and ears open for Baab. Taanik doesn't completely
trust id.

*****************
Taanik's bad joke of the month:

A professional treasure hunter was diving for pirate treasure in an ocean
cove. He searched for hours with no luck.

Disappointed, he started toward the shore. When he was knee deep in the
water he tripped over an old strong box. He scooped it out, opened it...
and it was full of gold coins!

The Moral of the Story: Booty is Only Shin Deep

From:  Ruben Rivera (Kare)

Hey Layne,

I see they found our little art site. Sorry Ive been quiet, I was sick
the last couple of days, and as you know, I always wait for the last day
(to read everyone responces) before declaring my move.

Well, I still haven't read all the suggestions this month. But I
recommend that Kare spend some of her experience points, on technician
ability. Plus make Kare ambidexterious (ya I know I spelled it wrong).

I am in agreement that the traps should be nonexplosive. Since our
terrorist will be using spacesuits, there is no reason to believe that
they will take them off to perform their job. So Kare will not
recommend dose gernades, well not many anyway, but tanglers are a
option. But if we are dealing with a black ops team they should have
solvaway, oh well. Off to the store we go, to purchase gernades.

Also Kare could use a trip wire/counter device that we used earlier. 
Tied into her chromocom, Kare would be signaled the moment it is
tripped. That way we would have our own little network.

Its also about time we visited Lost Point.

Later Layne

From:  Clark Valentine (Taanik)

Oops! Layne, fogot this, hope it's not too late. Please forward.

Taanik will have ids chroocom turned off when id's in cover, especially
when Meimen or other "junkies" are around.

Clark

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

Layne - keep getting bounces off your phast account so I'm sending this to
you directly. I guess everyone else got it when I sent it, though, since a
copy came back to me. Hope it works out.

- your pal AL

--------------------------


The chronocom screen winks off and Syzygy is relieved once T'Klkk's image
disappears. In all his days running from himself and his past, he'd never
faced such a dilemma. Running was what he did well - laying low, blending
in, setting down no roots. He'd become particularly good at mixing with
aliens, learning their ways, adapting to new cultures. He'd never been
allowed the opportunity to grow up in a Vrusk environment, learn the ways
of courting, how to talk to a female or even a caste-colleague properly.
He'd always tucked away the fantasies of what it must be like to go to a
regular secondary school, attend formals, matriculate properly.

None of that mattered now. The stars were his home. Travelling was his
occupation. Funny how glamorous it all seemed years ago when he saw that
training film that showed space travel. Little did he know that recycled
air, dry rations, and serving hull-cleaning duty to pay his fare would be
his lot. Years of snatching bits and pieces of techno-training on his
journeys had left him with valuable skills he could ply here in the service
of a Corporate giant, but now at the age of accountability he was without
hive, without title, and without any prospects of assimilation into any
Vrusk network.

The thought stuns him. For long moments he moves the Dralasite puzzle over
and over in his hands, forming odd shapes as he thinks. The galaxy was so
huge. Sometimes it stretched out before him in his dreams, a yawning chasm
that threatened to engulf him whole, unrooted as he was to any planet or
place. He'd always contented himself with the close confines of some
ship's cabin. There he was safe. There he could think. Yet, he always
wondered what it would be like to stroll through a Vruskan wood...

A beep sounds. Another reminder set into his chronocom. Syzygy rises from
his brief dinner in his room and accesses the terminal. There he launches
into his daily regimen of database searches, code downloads and analysis,
conferring over remote link with Spire personnel, and processing the vast
amount of data pertinent to the mission. Hours pass. Typical of his days,
he sees little of the team, even less of this marvelous city. His place is
here, trained on the computer screen.

The detachment he feels is soothing. He feels less and less when he is
busy working. His mind trains in on the objective: the persona of Dakka
Syte. He visualizes the opponent being somewhere out there, linked to him
over the network, their minds locking in battle whether intentional or not.
He reads over the files of Jecc Weep and imagines himself as heroic a
figure - lawman gunning for the criminal. It's easier that way.

Another beep sounds. He looks at his chronocom and groans. Hours have
passed into evening and he is late for a task. With a precursory glance at
the screen he leaves to work hours longer on his remote terminal - his
'mouse trap'. The work is exciting enough to keep his fantasy alive -
Syzygy: 'computer cop'. The task is done in no time when a security robot
passes signalling the night shift. The day is done. He must rest.
Traffic over the chronocom from the other members of the team has been
sporadic. He wonders just how well, amidst all this running about, the
team really knows one another. Just as well.

On his way home, Syzygy takes the moving sidewalk strips to the restaurant
sectors of Metrosphere. "Perhaps I can finally see some of this place", he
thinks to himself. After many stops his eye is caught by the bright lights
of an out-of-the-way bistro that seems run by a Dralasite. It conjurs up
many memories of his time amongst the ameoboid creatures - pleasant
memories of a people that took him in without hesitation. Over the years
he'd developed quite a palate for Dral food, as well as Dral culture.

It is too much a coincidence to pass up. Syzygy enters the restaurant and
breathes in the surroundings. Brilliant tapestries of psychidelic designs
hang everywhere, faint scented mists permeate the air, holo-projectors cast
colorful light in every direction. Booths are nestled into pod-like eating
chambers and in the middle of the place is a dance floor. A grin appears.


Syzygy immediately makes reservations for himself and T'Klkk. In addition,
he submits his credit account to cover the bill, then orders Vruskan
flowers and champagne. "Fitting", he thinks, "that a beautiful female such
as T'Klkk who seems so used to being in charge will now be surprised to
find I've taken the initiative and made the evening myself."

Syzygy chuckles to himself at his impish behaviour. He can just see her
distressed expression when she learns he has made all the arrangements,
ordered all the ingestibles, laid out all the plans. His next few stops
see him purchasing new clothes and a carapace wax. 'After all', he reasons
to himself, 'can't look shabby on my first date in years!'

Finally he is back at home. A whistled tune accompanies him as he
approaches his apartment and enters. Darkness inside. The Human known as
Zane must be fast asleep. It figures - it is well after normal bed-time.
Once again he has managed to work an entire cycle without any contact with
the others. He promptly moves back to his computer and resumes his work.
Half a dozen messages await him. He sighs and places earphones over his
antennae and commences to typing, knowing he will be awake well into
another night.

"Syte...I'm on yer ass, Syte...."

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

Layne -
this also bounced off your phast account - here it is again

- AL

--------------------------------

All -
I apologize for being gone for so long. My brother passed away in St.
Louis and in addition to being gone for that I've been scrambling to catch
up in school - unfortunately I had to drop a class I was so far behind. I
am submitting this post for the February story, but will understand if it
cannot be used just yet.

------------------
Battle on a higher plane

Syzygy's mind is trained on one thing : the human known as Daka Syte. He
is the nexus from which all enigmas in this case seem to stem. The foe is
known, but only partially - the battlefield is the vast etherway the
planet's, yea the entire Frontier's, computer network forms. Like some
pensive techno-warrior launching a crusade from his room, Syzygy steals
away any moment he can to pursue the foe.

Syzygy's tasks, in order of importance:

1 - following T'Klkk's suggestion Syzygy will download every last detail on
Syte, including pictures, and reproduce them into hard copies and
chronocom-compatible-chips for each team member to study. In his room he
will project a 3D rendering of the human (shutting down his 3D image of
T'Klkk first). He will try to construct a psy-profile for Zane and Urugg
to study.

2 - Syzygy will follow up on the code-glitches he found on two separate
occasions in the Spire network: the personnel records and the hospital
vid-program. He will check to see if they're corrected, who corrected
them, and if not will ask the customer service MANAGER (not some underling)
why they haven't been fixed.

Tork said:
>Grumble, grumble, grumble.... Okay, I guess Tork will just have to remember
>to ask Syzygy about it. 

3 - Syzygy will frequently key into his lost chronocom to see if he can
pick anything up - hopefully it is still in 'open channel' mode. Also, he
will keep a record of the number of times the monorail moves over his
whip-wire device. It is amazing that Metrosphere hasn't locked that darn
thing down or at least kept guard/surveillance over it.

4 - Syzygy will repeat his attempts at a computerized analysis of the
mining robots' activities over the last several months to notice any
peculiar changes in their routines, work cycles, deployment patterns, etc.

5 - Syzygy will check his remote computer terminal to see if it has been
accessed, altered, bypassed, or in any way tampered with. Syzygy will
again send out a breadcrumb trail of hacker's fingerprints to lead Syte to
the terminal. This time the trail will consist openly of clumsy queries to
the main system trying to track Syte down (perhaps the action I listed
above). All such queries will appear to be done from that terminal. If
necessary, Syzygy will write a computer security program to cover the
terminal's back-trail.

If it isn't already the case, Syzygy will relocate the terminal to one
where there is a hidden surveillance camera nearby (he'll ask the police
chief where these might be or, if she's reluctant to help, will try to hack
it out of the system). If it is feasible, he will bag that idea and try to
buy and install one of his own to access remotely from his room (if
Metrosphere's security will permit it).

6 - As to the White Noise Generator, that may be a task best left to Taanik
or Kare. But if they are too busy and the time presents itself (not
likely) Syzygy will attempt a simple rig.


7 - Once T'Klkk calls Syzygy about their dinner date, er, appointment,
Syzygy will immediately proceed to the restaurant districts in Metrosphere
to find a cozy place with the perfect atmosphere. There he will make
reservations, submit his credit account to cover the bill, order flowers to
be placed their (Vruskan bouquet), and reserve the best Vruskan equivalent
to Bollinger champagne.


8 - Syzygy will spend no experience points this round. However, based on
the rules for Computer Specialists as pointed out earlier from page 12 of
the AD Expanded rules, Syzygy will declare these four programs to have been
learned by heart, giving him the ability to write them and gain a 20% bonus
when manipulating them or detecting security on them:
- computer security
- installation security
- information storage
- life support

9 - I remember Taanik wanting Syzygy's help in spotting for id in the
transactions with the drug dealer - if id still wants Syzygy's help he will
comply.

10 - Syzygy will keep his gyrojet pistol holstered and loaded with the
barium trace rounds. A clip of tangler rounds will be attached to his belt
for easy access.

Just to keep the enemy intimidated, from now on Syzygy will stroll
purposefully with a hipster glide to his step, the song 'Staying Alive'
accompanying him as theme music.

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

(OOC: This narrative is to detail how Syzygy would act on the 'date' with
T'Klkk - it is mostly for myself as an outlet of writing, but may help in
Layne's final narrative, T'Klkk's responses, etc. For characterization
purposes, imagine T'Klkk a Bill Murray type character in this segment)
--------------------------------------------
Syzygy stands before the mirror in his room, trying on the dapper duds he
purchased for the occasion. It is easy to see that he is not experienced
with such affairs - the outfit isn't overly dressy and would be
appropriately stylish, if it wasn't about 10 years out of fashion! Syzygy
is a picture of good intentions: relaxed posture, an expression trying too
hard to look confident, and exoskeleton gleaming a little TOO much from the
carapace wax he bought. His unrefined manner is ill-suited to the image he
is going for. Yet, he has a good-natured, rough-around-the-edges appeal
and an engaging mind for conversation. He'll need it!

Presently the doorbell rings. Syzygy sends a quick message to Zane asking
him to stay with Urugg for the night, then rushes to the door, only to
suavely open it as if he had a million better things to do.

"Why, hello, T'Klkk! My your antennae look perky today - how nice of you
to stop by! Can I do something for you?"

The thinly disguised sarcasm doesn't seem to register with the female.
Chalk up the umpteenth time that's happened, he thinks. When T'Klkk flatly
answers she is here for the 'dinner appointment' Syzygy is nonplussed,
acting as if he suddenly remembers and apologizes for forgetting. Another
retort as to methods of improving memory will follow, no doubt.

Syzygy will probably look like a hipsterdoofus in his retro clothing
standing next to the functional-minded T'Klkk, but he will dutifully escort
her to the pedestrian conveyor belts and try to make small talk. If she
asks about their destination, he says it is a surprise.

Once they get to the restaurant, the Vruskan wine and flowers will be
waiting for her at their table. Syzygy will make sure to tip the
owner/head waiter ahead of time to act like he's an important and popular
person here. The image will seem out-of-place with Syzygy to be sure,
leaving T'Klkk more confused than impressed. But Syzygy will make the most
of it.

Once at the table, Syzygy will try to put some pre-prepared Vruskan customs
into practice. Unknown to the others, he'd been trying to read up on what
he missed in his upbringing, but the sources were slightly out of date and
cryptic. As a result, the actions will seem rehearsed and clumsy, but
Syzygy will at least give them a shot.

"Um...six degrees of admiration for the state of your girdle", he fires,
not knowing that decorative girdles worn about the thorax of females went
out 30 years ago with the sudden independence of females in Vruskan
society.

If the meal goes well, Syzygy will drop the formalities and be himself.
After several drinks he is feeling quite loosened up - he encourages T'Klkk
to drink as well and tells her all about his experiences with Dral cuisine.
Hopefully she won't think him a complete bore. If she inquires of his
background, he will tell her all about his humble adventures in the
industrail complex of his home hive as a youngster, fixing things no one
else could fix, avoiding the Overseers and their goons. Then about his
sporting aboard a training shuttle, finegling his way through academy, then
the events that led him to a life as a fugitive. He is detached and
dismissive of the subject and will tersely move on to something else. If
possible, he'll get her to tell him more about her and her life.

At the meal's conclusion, and after many draughts of wine, Syzygy will
hopefully have made some progress in getting to know T'Klkk.

"T'Klkk, I've got to put the cards on the table. I've been jumping through
hoops lately to impress you, but that's just not me. I've been alone all
my life and I'll probably die alone. I'm a zillion miles away from a
planet I used to call home but where I have no family, no title, no
position. I'm a free-radical in the universe - which is convenient in a
position as a freelance agent - nothing to lose. This mission is big and
we've really pulled together as a team - I'm proud to finally serve with
people I can call 'friends', even if it is a tentative statement for me."

The alcohol clearly seems to be loosening his tongue.

"I guess I'm just saying all this because I've seen enough suffering, lived
in enough ship-holds among the desperate and despondent, scrabbled together
a living for myself while on the run for so long that I can't take this
life too seriously. When I'm gone - what'll be left? No name in some
hive-chronicle, no progeny...nuthin. And what I've found out is...", he
chuckles softly, " it's amazing what you can accomplish if you're not
afraid to die."

Syzygy takes another drink, smiles, then leans in close and places a hand
on her's. His gaze is steady, sincere.

"Carpe diem, babe...carpe diem. You never know when one of us may kick
off...next year...next month..tomorrow! Next time I get way-laid by
invisible terrorist may be my last. I've made it a practice not to take
tomorrow for granted so I'm laying it to you straight - you are one
_beautiful_ female, and I'm an eligible male...what say you and me head
back to my place and we make the most of the time we have now? We'll make
magic happen that'll put the brillance of the stars to shame!"