(( I'm with Elliott-- the Elite Security seems like we'll be able to handle the investment. We do need to watch that personnelle overhead, though. It could wind up being a silent killer for us.
What do you guys want to tackle next after Max's character mission? After Nick's sweet video, I think it may be time to throw down with Bell.
As for Max's monetary contributions out of pocket, he's saving up for some fun stuff so he's gonna have to hang onto everything he has for a little while. ))
Over a Round of Beers
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( So, go ahead on combat simulator and shooting range? ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Sounds good to me. ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((Aye. And Im down with Bell or Robot for the next mission.))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((I think I, Robot might be best right now. The Bell mission is in the Yukon, which means we need air transportation - something we don't have quite yet.))
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Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((
I figured it's time to post up a helicopter build.
I'm going with the Nissan Hound from the book MilSpec Tech. With a base price of 265,000¥, it costs about half as much as the Ares Dragon, and is considerably more capable. I'm proposing a few stealth upgrades, a satellite link that will give Val a global matrix access point regardless of where in the world we are, plus a pair of Vindicator Miniguns for two of the included turrets.
Here's the loadout:
Nissan Hound (Transport Helicopter: Military, Security, Medical) - 265,000¥
+Improved Takeoff/Landing II (included)
+Lock-on Countermeasures (included)
+Weapon Mount (Normal, Internal, Flexible, Manual) (included)
+Weapon Mount (Normal, Internal, Flexible, Manual) (included)
+Weapon Mount (Normal, External, Fixed, Remote) (included)
++GE Vindicator Minigun - 5,500¥
+Weapon Mount (Normal, External, Fixed, Remote) (included)
++GE Vindicator Minigun - 5,500¥
+ECM 10 - 10,000¥
+Satellite Communication - 500¥
+Spoof Chip - 500¥
+Signature Masking 6 - 12,000¥
Total: 299,000¥
We might also consider a pilot autosoft upgrade, and some targeting autosofts to let this thing fight on its own (or to come and pick us up out of a hot situation).
Later on, we could even add guns to the manned turrets, if anyone wants to pick up the gunnery skill.
))
I figured it's time to post up a helicopter build.
I'm going with the Nissan Hound from the book MilSpec Tech. With a base price of 265,000¥, it costs about half as much as the Ares Dragon, and is considerably more capable. I'm proposing a few stealth upgrades, a satellite link that will give Val a global matrix access point regardless of where in the world we are, plus a pair of Vindicator Miniguns for two of the included turrets.
Here's the loadout:
Nissan Hound (Transport Helicopter: Military, Security, Medical) - 265,000¥
+Improved Takeoff/Landing II (included)
+Lock-on Countermeasures (included)
+Weapon Mount (Normal, Internal, Flexible, Manual) (included)
+Weapon Mount (Normal, Internal, Flexible, Manual) (included)
+Weapon Mount (Normal, External, Fixed, Remote) (included)
++GE Vindicator Minigun - 5,500¥
+Weapon Mount (Normal, External, Fixed, Remote) (included)
++GE Vindicator Minigun - 5,500¥
+ECM 10 - 10,000¥
+Satellite Communication - 500¥
+Spoof Chip - 500¥
+Signature Masking 6 - 12,000¥
Total: 299,000¥
We might also consider a pilot autosoft upgrade, and some targeting autosofts to let this thing fight on its own (or to come and pick us up out of a hot situation).
Later on, we could even add guns to the manned turrets, if anyone wants to pick up the gunnery skill.
))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Looks good to me. I could always pick up a gunnery skillsoft. As far as next missions go, I, Robot or Bell could both be good. I want to do Bell after that sweet video that Nick made. I'll chip in an even vote for either, though, as I'm sure they're both sweet. Maybe I, Robot is the way to go to get just a BIT more unity/history with the full group before delving back into Bell again. ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((You know the Bell mission is going to turn into a chain of runs, since this first one is just a "recon". So I agree with John: I, Robot to get us all a little more experience and $, then we do the Bell chain.))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Elliott and I agreeing, Max and Tyros are patching things up-- it truly is the dawn of a new age. 
))
))-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Yeah, the Bell mission is going to be awesome, and I know Nick is chomping at the bit for it, but we have put off the I, Robot mission long enough, and it seems like it would be a good step up for our new team before jumping into a major series of missions ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((That chopper is sweet. Hopefully we can afford it after the next run!))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( We should definitely be able to! Is the company ledger up to date? ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Company ledger is current, yes. ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Let's bring both of those new cats aboard-- the armorer and weapons researcher. ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((Just wanted to say that everything about this endeavor is awesome. I love reading this forum(s). Good job everyone, especially you , Nick. Hope you don't mind if we wait another 'Run to ring the Bell))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( Whatever you guys want works for me. Let's take the weekend to update characters and buy gear and then I'll start I, Robot (right?) either Sunday afternoon or Monday. ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( I'm game for I, Robot. Bring it on. And I second everything that Tom said. ))
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Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Over a Round of Beers
(( I just realized, don't we have an accountant that increases contract payments by 5%? Or is that already being factored in? If not, the company should have an extra 25k from the I, Robot run ))
Adams strides into the bar with his head down, tapping away at a datapad. Specs, price points, and performance reviews scroll by a wireframe of a single-rotor helicopter. Doc had asked Val to see if he could dig up classified field reports on the vehicle's operational capabilities, and from what he's reading, the writeups have been largely positive.
Need to adjust the default trim to keep it from rotating left by 0.12 degrees per minute... Shouldn't be a problem.
He looks up from his pad, suddenly remembering where he is. "Hey, Kato," he says distractedly.
The wounds from the arcology have been healing well, but Doc has been maintaining a rather strict policy of avoiding blood thinners or anything else that might cause complications. He looks at the excitable Japanese man behind the bar, then at the shelves of bottles behind the man. Being his own primary physician, Doc quickly decides to amend his medical recommendation to allow alcohol.
"Start me off with that ale you got last week from the CAS," he says to Kato, tossing the datapad on the bar and sliding into a seat.
Doctor knows best.
Adams strides into the bar with his head down, tapping away at a datapad. Specs, price points, and performance reviews scroll by a wireframe of a single-rotor helicopter. Doc had asked Val to see if he could dig up classified field reports on the vehicle's operational capabilities, and from what he's reading, the writeups have been largely positive.
Need to adjust the default trim to keep it from rotating left by 0.12 degrees per minute... Shouldn't be a problem.
He looks up from his pad, suddenly remembering where he is. "Hey, Kato," he says distractedly.
The wounds from the arcology have been healing well, but Doc has been maintaining a rather strict policy of avoiding blood thinners or anything else that might cause complications. He looks at the excitable Japanese man behind the bar, then at the shelves of bottles behind the man. Being his own primary physician, Doc quickly decides to amend his medical recommendation to allow alcohol.
"Start me off with that ale you got last week from the CAS," he says to Kato, tossing the datapad on the bar and sliding into a seat.
Doctor knows best.
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Kato peers at Doc from behind a pair of designer mirror shades. His impossibly styled hair refuses to move as he tilts his head.
"Hey, boss, what'chu looking at there?"
"Hey, boss, what'chu looking at there?"
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((lol @ "impossibly styled hair." ))
Max, never having been one for doctors' orders, is already four drinks in and two tabs of bliss down. On any given day over the last few walking-talking-stereotypical years of the elf's life, imbibement of this caliber would have been know as "Tuesday morning," but he had been trying to cut down. Max broods at the bar with his face to the pine. The surface's wear is already showing-- offering a testimonial to the hard nature of the team's work (or more specifically the desperation with which they all sought to unwind after it). His consideration has excluded all socializing save for active listening affirmations to Kato's broken-English puns and innuendos. Something about "her mu shu tuna, 100%." Max couldn't tell you.
Finally, the elf breaks his reverie-- having bottoms-upped enough courage to do so and ignoring Doc's task at hand. "What the frag is wrong with me, amigo," the elf asks seemingly out of the clear blue. He doesn't look up as he continues to finger an empty whiskey glass.
Max, never having been one for doctors' orders, is already four drinks in and two tabs of bliss down. On any given day over the last few walking-talking-stereotypical years of the elf's life, imbibement of this caliber would have been know as "Tuesday morning," but he had been trying to cut down. Max broods at the bar with his face to the pine. The surface's wear is already showing-- offering a testimonial to the hard nature of the team's work (or more specifically the desperation with which they all sought to unwind after it). His consideration has excluded all socializing save for active listening affirmations to Kato's broken-English puns and innuendos. Something about "her mu shu tuna, 100%." Max couldn't tell you.
Finally, the elf breaks his reverie-- having bottoms-upped enough courage to do so and ignoring Doc's task at hand. "What the frag is wrong with me, amigo," the elf asks seemingly out of the clear blue. He doesn't look up as he continues to finger an empty whiskey glass.
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Val stands in front of his locker in the armory's dormitory, one finger tracing the frayed kevlar weave around the hole in his lined coat where a Mitsuhama enforcer's round nearly ended his life. That coat had been with him for years, and had helped get him through almost as many hairy situations as it had been through with him. Lo siento, viejo amigo. His hand moves to brush the matte polymer coating on its replacement (as if anything could ever truly replace a good, solid black coat). He keys on the holographic display on the right breast and passes his fingers through the ethereal hologram of the Firestarter logo there. Just a few months ago, when he'd been sitting in his dilapidated Seattle apartment looking for work as a decker, he was sure he'd never need to don anything nearly as advanced as this (though perhaps 'ridiculous' would have been the word he used at the time). Oh, how wrong he had been.
Val had never considered himself wealthy in the ways of luck, but that evaluation no longer seems valid to Val. The blur of action at the arcology, in retrospect, was a series of perilously close calls and miraculous recoveries. Not just for him, but for everyone. Things are beginning to get heavy for Firestarter, but Val realizes he's in too deep to turn back now. Val is surprised to find a second truth emerge alongside that revelation: there's nowhere else he'd rather be, and no other way he'd rather have it. Val might be in over his head. He might not be up to the caliber of his teammates. He might not always do the right thing or make the right call. Hell, he might not survive the next contract. A strange and alien peace washes over the former small-time decker as he realizes, regardless of all dangers, doubts and uncertainties, that all this is somehow right. This is his place. This is his team. These are the conditions that give him the opportunity to transcend himself and to become more, against all odds, against whatever this twisted world can fragging throw at him.
Val flicks off the holo on his armor and shuts his locker quietly. He turns and makes his way toward the common room with a slight smile, his new-found if fragile confidence adding life to his step.
Val had never considered himself wealthy in the ways of luck, but that evaluation no longer seems valid to Val. The blur of action at the arcology, in retrospect, was a series of perilously close calls and miraculous recoveries. Not just for him, but for everyone. Things are beginning to get heavy for Firestarter, but Val realizes he's in too deep to turn back now. Val is surprised to find a second truth emerge alongside that revelation: there's nowhere else he'd rather be, and no other way he'd rather have it. Val might be in over his head. He might not be up to the caliber of his teammates. He might not always do the right thing or make the right call. Hell, he might not survive the next contract. A strange and alien peace washes over the former small-time decker as he realizes, regardless of all dangers, doubts and uncertainties, that all this is somehow right. This is his place. This is his team. These are the conditions that give him the opportunity to transcend himself and to become more, against all odds, against whatever this twisted world can fragging throw at him.
Val flicks off the holo on his armor and shuts his locker quietly. He turns and makes his way toward the common room with a slight smile, his new-found if fragile confidence adding life to his step.
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Kaplan Zodiac strolls into the bar, hands tucked inside his lab coat pockets. He stops a tuneless whistle and squints at Doc.
"How'd that instant cover work out for you?"
Without pausing long enough for Doc to answer, he continues. "Swell. Anyway, while you cowboys were off raising ammunition corporation stock prices, I was busy in the lab. Oh speaking of the lab--we're going to need a new centrifuge. Apparently they weren't designed to spin at mach speeds--who knew? I'll expect that order placed by the end of the day. I've worked on something that I think could really benefit the world."
He produces a baseball sized metal ball and sets it on the bar counter.
"Press the button on the top and you have 5 seconds to hurl this little gem against a wall. Once its airborne, a super powerful suction cup will come out of the bottom and stick to whatever surface you throw it at. Unless you throw it at sand. Don't throw it at sand. Once stuck, three little arms pop out of here. Each arm is tipped with a diamond bit. The whole contraption will spin, the three diamond bits making a sort of circular saw. It's capable of drilling up to 15 centimeters deep. Once it detects open air or it reaches the end of its range, a handle will extend from the top. As you pull, the suction cup will tighten and--unless you shot at sand--you'll be pulling a 1 meter diameter piece of whatever."
Zodiac grabs a shot of whisky that Kato was pouring and downs it. He slams the glass on the counter and wipes his mouth.
"You're welcome."
Kato watches Zodiac depart, alternating confused stares between the swirling lab coat tail, the empty shot glass and the metal baseball.
"How'd that instant cover work out for you?"
Without pausing long enough for Doc to answer, he continues. "Swell. Anyway, while you cowboys were off raising ammunition corporation stock prices, I was busy in the lab. Oh speaking of the lab--we're going to need a new centrifuge. Apparently they weren't designed to spin at mach speeds--who knew? I'll expect that order placed by the end of the day. I've worked on something that I think could really benefit the world."
He produces a baseball sized metal ball and sets it on the bar counter.
"Press the button on the top and you have 5 seconds to hurl this little gem against a wall. Once its airborne, a super powerful suction cup will come out of the bottom and stick to whatever surface you throw it at. Unless you throw it at sand. Don't throw it at sand. Once stuck, three little arms pop out of here. Each arm is tipped with a diamond bit. The whole contraption will spin, the three diamond bits making a sort of circular saw. It's capable of drilling up to 15 centimeters deep. Once it detects open air or it reaches the end of its range, a handle will extend from the top. As you pull, the suction cup will tighten and--unless you shot at sand--you'll be pulling a 1 meter diameter piece of whatever."
Zodiac grabs a shot of whisky that Kato was pouring and downs it. He slams the glass on the counter and wipes his mouth.
"You're welcome."
Kato watches Zodiac depart, alternating confused stares between the swirling lab coat tail, the empty shot glass and the metal baseball.
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Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Adams' mouth has opened and closed several times during Zodiac's speil, never finding quite enough time to interject. Now that the pitch is over, he finds himself remaining silent as he turns the device over in his hands. Finally, he speaks.
"This... This will come in pretty damn useful, actually. Nice work," he says as the inventor rushes out of the room.
The momentary storm now settled, Doc tries to remember what they were talking about. Max's haggard look triggers his memory.
"Max, uh yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. With your permission, I'd like to perform an examination on you. Well, on your 'ware, mostly. If you've been seeing things that aren't there, then that can cause problems for us. Even more, it could indicate that something is very wrong with you..."
He reconsiders his wording,
"What I mean is, it could point to a more serious problem if we don't address it. What do you say? I could grab my tools from the armory, and be back in two minutes. The diagnostic shouldn't take very long."
"This... This will come in pretty damn useful, actually. Nice work," he says as the inventor rushes out of the room.
The momentary storm now settled, Doc tries to remember what they were talking about. Max's haggard look triggers his memory.
"Max, uh yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. With your permission, I'd like to perform an examination on you. Well, on your 'ware, mostly. If you've been seeing things that aren't there, then that can cause problems for us. Even more, it could indicate that something is very wrong with you..."
He reconsiders his wording,
"What I mean is, it could point to a more serious problem if we don't address it. What do you say? I could grab my tools from the armory, and be back in two minutes. The diagnostic shouldn't take very long."
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Max nods and says,
"Go grab your back of tricks. I'll make sure this stool doesn't get away."
The elf stares at the cigarette in his fingers in apparent contemplation, but no such thoughts race through his head. He's gone blank and far away. Some men are faced with their mortality and get angry while others beg. Some men fight; some men quit. Max faces his own mortality on an almost daily basis, but this was different. Bullets flying at you from outside were considerably less terrifying than something rotten flying at you from the inside, and Max has no idea how to react to it.
So for the moment Max does nothing.
Maybe that's for the best.
"Go grab your back of tricks. I'll make sure this stool doesn't get away."
The elf stares at the cigarette in his fingers in apparent contemplation, but no such thoughts race through his head. He's gone blank and far away. Some men are faced with their mortality and get angry while others beg. Some men fight; some men quit. Max faces his own mortality on an almost daily basis, but this was different. Bullets flying at you from outside were considerably less terrifying than something rotten flying at you from the inside, and Max has no idea how to react to it.
So for the moment Max does nothing.
Maybe that's for the best.
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Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Over a Round of Beers
It doesn't take long. Doc keeps his pack ready to go at a moment's notice; Medical supplies line the outer pockets, a pair of minidrones sit in a top pouch, and everything else lies in a jumble in the man cargo space.
Returning to the bar, he unceremoniously dumps the pack against a stool.
The CyberPal diagnostic tool from his medical toolkit silently syncs up with Doc's commlink. An AR window opens to inform him that the startup is complete.
"Okay Max, give me an open port onto your PAN," he says.
(( We'll be using the cybertechnology active skill for this one ))
Returning to the bar, he unceremoniously dumps the pack against a stool.
The CyberPal diagnostic tool from his medical toolkit silently syncs up with Doc's commlink. An AR window opens to inform him that the startup is complete.
"Okay Max, give me an open port onto your PAN," he says.
(( We'll be using the cybertechnology active skill for this one ))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Max accommodates Doc, saying with an air of detachment,
"I'm all yours."
"I'm all yours."
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Cybertechnology Test (Doc)
Re: Over a Round of Beers
Tyros arrives at the bar with an exhausted look on his face. An expression which quickly turns to curiosity as he sees Doc and Max hooked up together with far off eyes.
Tyros feels weary, slumping down into his special troll sized chair and signaling Kato for a beer. He as spent most waking minutes since the completion of the Takahara rescue up to his elbows in magical theory tombs and artifact lore compendiums. The golden, magically charged statue that the team retrieved from an abandoned subway as yet proves a mystery, but Tyros is certain that with enough effort and study, he can unlock its secrets.
(So, as we discussed, can I have been making an extended magical theory test to study the statue? Is there any way I can improve my knowledge skill with by studying?)
Tyros feels weary, slumping down into his special troll sized chair and signaling Kato for a beer. He as spent most waking minutes since the completion of the Takahara rescue up to his elbows in magical theory tombs and artifact lore compendiums. The golden, magically charged statue that the team retrieved from an abandoned subway as yet proves a mystery, but Tyros is certain that with enough effort and study, he can unlock its secrets.
(So, as we discussed, can I have been making an extended magical theory test to study the statue? Is there any way I can improve my knowledge skill with by studying?)
Re: Over a Round of Beers
The tri-d conference phone springs to life, projecting a set of ghostly letters into the air.
PRIORITY MESSAGE
A moment later, a gaunt human male in a black leather coat materializes in the center of the room. His features are severe. A pointed nose and strong brow line paired with sunken eye sockets give him an authoritative appearance. Arms crossed formally behind his back, he stares at some distant point and addresses those present.
"My name is Dragesh."
A strong note of Oxford English accents his words.
"This message is for Tyrosthenes, whom I gather is an employee here. Tyros--I know that we never fond of one another and that we both chose different paths, but this is a matter that you deserve to be a part of. Darius McLeod--our beloved mentor--is dead."
Dragesh's face blanches as emotion overtakes him.
"He was murdered."
PRIORITY MESSAGE
A moment later, a gaunt human male in a black leather coat materializes in the center of the room. His features are severe. A pointed nose and strong brow line paired with sunken eye sockets give him an authoritative appearance. Arms crossed formally behind his back, he stares at some distant point and addresses those present.
"My name is Dragesh."
A strong note of Oxford English accents his words.
"This message is for Tyrosthenes, whom I gather is an employee here. Tyros--I know that we never fond of one another and that we both chose different paths, but this is a matter that you deserve to be a part of. Darius McLeod--our beloved mentor--is dead."
Dragesh's face blanches as emotion overtakes him.
"He was murdered."
Re: Over a Round of Beers
((Alright gents, now that we have some money to spend, I suggest we beef up security for the HQ and hire a bunch of soldiers. After that last run, I have a feeling Legion may be seeking some revenge on us in the not too distant future.))
Re: Over a Round of Beers
The gruff rumble of Tyros' voice wrests Val from the staring contest with his bourbon, which remains undefeated in contests such as these. He plays Tyros' last few words back in his head, and finds himself nodding.
"I'm tempted to agree, 'mano. For better or for worse, we're on the grid now, and we seem to be making enemies quicker than friends. A few more guards--strike that, soldiers--would do us a world of good in a pinch. And they've gotta be good. I don't know about you guys, but I've never been up against anything like Legion before. If they come knocking, we won't be ready as it stands now."
Val knocks back his shot and gestures to Kato for another, firmly fixing it with his gaze as it arrives. His mind flashes back to the rooftop battle only a few days ago, a full legion squad pouring out of the access doors amid the banshee wail of the gunship's thrusters. The team had done well, but a few more strokes of ill luck could have closed the book on FRSR for good and all.
"We know that Legion has access to formidable air support, and we're seriously lacking surface-to-air capability. If it comes down to an assault from them, we'll all be needing to focus our attention elsewhere. Some SAM batteries would make it far more difficult for their birds to be effective, but for that we're also going to need a radar array. We may not be able to afford both right now, but I think we should start working in that direction before such a scenario takes us by surprise."
Val taps his lips thoughtfully.
"Also, as far as my personal experience goes, I strongly suggest we consider upgrading the facility's firewall. The more security gadgets we get in here, the more an attacker gains by gaining access to our network. None of these toys will be worth a damn if we end up with a fly in the ointment during a combat scenario, and, in the grip of a decent hacker, they could actually turn into liabilities. Don't get me wrong, I'm good at playing spider, but I don't want my hand forced into it if I could be of use elsewhere. But even if it comes to that, a firewall upgrade would help to catch a breach early enough for me to initiate damage control."
"I'm tempted to agree, 'mano. For better or for worse, we're on the grid now, and we seem to be making enemies quicker than friends. A few more guards--strike that, soldiers--would do us a world of good in a pinch. And they've gotta be good. I don't know about you guys, but I've never been up against anything like Legion before. If they come knocking, we won't be ready as it stands now."
Val knocks back his shot and gestures to Kato for another, firmly fixing it with his gaze as it arrives. His mind flashes back to the rooftop battle only a few days ago, a full legion squad pouring out of the access doors amid the banshee wail of the gunship's thrusters. The team had done well, but a few more strokes of ill luck could have closed the book on FRSR for good and all.
"We know that Legion has access to formidable air support, and we're seriously lacking surface-to-air capability. If it comes down to an assault from them, we'll all be needing to focus our attention elsewhere. Some SAM batteries would make it far more difficult for their birds to be effective, but for that we're also going to need a radar array. We may not be able to afford both right now, but I think we should start working in that direction before such a scenario takes us by surprise."
Val taps his lips thoughtfully.
"Also, as far as my personal experience goes, I strongly suggest we consider upgrading the facility's firewall. The more security gadgets we get in here, the more an attacker gains by gaining access to our network. None of these toys will be worth a damn if we end up with a fly in the ointment during a combat scenario, and, in the grip of a decent hacker, they could actually turn into liabilities. Don't get me wrong, I'm good at playing spider, but I don't want my hand forced into it if I could be of use elsewhere. But even if it comes to that, a firewall upgrade would help to catch a breach early enough for me to initiate damage control."
Re: Over a Round of Beers
"Just what we need," quips Kaplan Zodiac. "More jarheads."
The eccentric inventor is decked out in full laboratory gear, including a chem-resistant lab-coat, safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves. He extends a pair of tongs towards Val, at the end of which is a test tube full of color-less liquid that exudes a nefarious plume of vapor.
"Go ahead take a sniff."
He withdraws the vestibule as the wary decker leans forward.
"Ha. No, don't, actually. It would eat through your sinuses and bore a hole in your brain. Anyway, you're probably trying to figure out what your old pal Kaplan has cooked up in your surreptitious absence. Well, fear no longer, because I'm going to tell you. I promise I'll use little words."
With great care, Zodiac pours out a thimble sized dollop of the goo on to the bar-top. As soon as the concoction hits the heavily soiled wood grain, it begins spitting and sizzling like oil on a wok. The Doctor slaps Kato's hand to prevent him from touching it.
"I heard someone drop the word nanites a few weeks ago, so I thought--why not? The solution contains a concentration of black market nano-bots designated Black Mamba. These little guys chew through pretty much every material known to man, except for glass and some forms of plastic. Once they've consumed the matter, they convert it to a highly concentrated acid. What can we use it for, you might ask. Well, that's your job, not mine."
Kaplan squints into the smoking hole in the bar's surface and looks gravely at Kato and then Val. "That should stop by the time it hits the foundation. Should."
He turns and walks briskly out of the bar.
The eccentric inventor is decked out in full laboratory gear, including a chem-resistant lab-coat, safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves. He extends a pair of tongs towards Val, at the end of which is a test tube full of color-less liquid that exudes a nefarious plume of vapor.
"Go ahead take a sniff."
He withdraws the vestibule as the wary decker leans forward.
"Ha. No, don't, actually. It would eat through your sinuses and bore a hole in your brain. Anyway, you're probably trying to figure out what your old pal Kaplan has cooked up in your surreptitious absence. Well, fear no longer, because I'm going to tell you. I promise I'll use little words."
With great care, Zodiac pours out a thimble sized dollop of the goo on to the bar-top. As soon as the concoction hits the heavily soiled wood grain, it begins spitting and sizzling like oil on a wok. The Doctor slaps Kato's hand to prevent him from touching it.
"I heard someone drop the word nanites a few weeks ago, so I thought--why not? The solution contains a concentration of black market nano-bots designated Black Mamba. These little guys chew through pretty much every material known to man, except for glass and some forms of plastic. Once they've consumed the matter, they convert it to a highly concentrated acid. What can we use it for, you might ask. Well, that's your job, not mine."
Kaplan squints into the smoking hole in the bar's surface and looks gravely at Kato and then Val. "That should stop by the time it hits the foundation. Should."
He turns and walks briskly out of the bar.