Interface Zero 2.0 - Core Rulebook - PDFCOFFEE.COM (2024)

CREDITS IN WHICH I TELL YOU WHO DID WHAT

CREDITS WARNING! MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY! Interface Zero 2.0 is a cyberpunk game with adult themes. We’re going to use language some people might not be comfortable with. We’re going to talk politics, and we’re going to talk religion. We use the races and cultures in Interface Zero as an abstraction of the evils of racial intolerance in the real world. We don’t apologize for this. The Cyberpunk genre isn’t politically correct. It doesn’t care if you like the word “fuck” or not. It doesn’t concern itself with your belief system, or your slant on politics. To water this book down is to do a great disservice to the genre as a whole. We hope you keep on reading, but will understand if you don’t.

Interface Zero 2.0 is created by Peter J. Wacks, David Jarvis, Hal Maclean, Matt Conklin jr., and Patrick Smith Development Team: David Jarvis, Curtis and Sarah Lyons, Thomas Shook, David Viars, Peter J. Wacks Art Coordinator: David Jarvis Graphic Design: Alida Saxon, David Jarvis, Keith Curtis Layout: David Jarvis, Thomas Shook Cartography: Alida Saxon, Keith Curtis Project Manager: David Jarvis Cover Art: Aaron Acevedo Interior Art: Sam Manley, Robert Shields, Jason Rainville, Adam Kuczek, Tomek Tworek, Jason Walton, Alex Drummond, Nick Greenwood, Eduardo Brolo, Carlos Herrera, Paul Bourne, Savage Mojo Line Editor: Peter J. Wacks Editing and Proofreading: Ron Blessing, T.R, Knight, Ed Wetterman, Tommy Brownell, Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr., Jimmy Grossebaff, Thomas Shook, Jordan Peacock, Keri Ann Drader, Piotr Korys Writing: Andreas Rönnqvist, Andy Klosky, Guy Anthony De Marco, Benn Williams, Charles Green, Curtis and Sarah Lyon, Darrin Drader, David Chadderton, David Jarvis, David Viars, Don Whitney, Hal Maclean, Josh Vogt, Michelle Lyons McFarland, Peter J Wacks, Uri Kirlianchik, Rob Wieland, Ronald Tilton

SPECIAL THANKS TO Everyone who backed this kickstarter, both before and after. Seriously, thanks. This book wouldn’t be possible without you. I love you all. Nick Nundahl for your work on Hacking 2.0. Your ideas and concepts formed the basis of the Virtual Reality rules in this book. I couldn’t have done it without you. David Viars, for your incredible passion and love for this genre, and this game. I wish things could have been different. Much love and respect to you my friend. Rone Barton, the voice of the kickstarter. Thanks for everything. Thomas Shook, for all your help. The book’s 100% better because of you. The facebook crew for your help designing the Black Knight Limited! Double-barreled pain is coming your way amigos! Curtis, Sarah, Peter J. Wacks, Jordan Peacock, and the rest of the development team. Your hard work and diligence has brought this reboot of IZ to life. I can’t thank you all enough. Finally, Suzette, the love of my life. Thank you for believing in me and standing by me.

LEGAL INFORMATION This game references the Savage Worlds game system, available from Pinnacle Entertainment Group at www.peginc. com. Savage Worlds and all associated logos and trademarks are copyrights of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Used with permission. Pinnacle makes no representation or warranty as to the quality, viability, or suitability for purposes of this product. Savage Worlds, Deadlands and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. ©2009. Some material used with Permission. ©2013 Gun Metal Games. Interface Zero and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Gun Metal Games. Unless otherwise stated, all interior artwork, graphics, character names, and fiction are Product Identity of Gun Metal Games.

Print Publisher: Angus Abranson Print Production Manager: Gobion Rowlands

Credits

This edition is printed and distributed, under license, by Chronicle City of 58 Woodville Road, New Barnet, Herts, EN5 5NG, UK. For further information about other Chronicle City games please check out our website and forums at http://www. chroniclecity.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Act of God Armaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Black Knight Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Hostile Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Executive Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Urban Punk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Bombs on Broadway™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Ravenlocke Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Marsworks Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Cherry Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Shogun Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Wasteland Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Private Dick Future Noir Wear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Misawa, Meyers, and Morgan Research and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Sentinel Rock Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 SynthSystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Combat Engineering Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 ARMOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Exoarmor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 CYBERWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Augmentation Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Master Augment List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Augment Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Cyberlimbs and Cyber Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 DRONES AND ROBOTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Drones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Robots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 DRUGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Delivery Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Other Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 EXPLOSIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Explosive Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Grenades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 GOLEMMECHS AND POWERED ARMOR . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Scout Power Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Combat Power Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Golemmechs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Biometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Patches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 TAP APPLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 WEAPONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Melee Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Pistols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Submachine Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Shotguns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Rifles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Heavy Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Special Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Missile Launchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Flamethrowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Energy Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Improvised Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 VEHICLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 VTOL Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Table of Contents

DATA FILES CREDITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Road to 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Life in General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CHARACTER CREATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Step 1: Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Step 2: Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Step 3: Traits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Derived Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 New Derived Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Step 4: Occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Step 5: Edges and Hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Step 6: Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Step 7: Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ARCHETYPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Bounty Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cybermonk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Drone Jockey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Ganger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Grifter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Hacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Idol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Investigative Journalist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Patch Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Ronin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sector Cop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Smuggler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ex-Soldier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Street Rat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Zeek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 RACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Android . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Bioroid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Cyborg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Human . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Human 2.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Hybrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Simulacra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 OCCUPATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 HINDRANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Prohibited Hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Modified Hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 New Hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 EDGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Prohibited Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Modified Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 New Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Background Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Combat Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Hacker Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Power Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Professional Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Social Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Weird Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 MALMART 2090 SPRING CATALOG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 CORPORATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

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How We Got Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 How Things Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 The Outback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 How Things Work There . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Australian Augmentation & Health Care Union . . . . . 128 New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 How We Got Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 How Things Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 CHINA AND THE MANDARINATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 The New Mandarins Rise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 The Thawed Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Perfection and Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Understanding the Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Mandarinate Allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 War and the Charon Virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 The Forlorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 The Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 THE INDIA LEAGUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 Death and Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 Pact and Renaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 India in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Mumbai:City of Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Mumbai in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Living in Mumbai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 JAPAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 The Yakuza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 Major Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 Tokyo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 Chiba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Nagasaki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 RUSSIAN FEDERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149 Imperial Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 The New Russians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149 Defenders of the Motherland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149 Shadow Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 Occupied Russian Territories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Iron Fists in Velvet Gloves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 North Caucasian Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Holy Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 A Company of Wolves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 THE EURASIAN UNION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 The New Eurasian Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Rebel South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Eastern Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 The Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 The Nordic Pact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 THE UNITED KINGDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Eurasian Parliament Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 The New Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

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Water Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Buses and Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Heavy Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Spacecraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 The Elite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 The Megacorps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 The Rest of Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 The Black Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Gang Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Civilians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Becoming a Ganger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Transhumanism in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Zeeks in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Previous Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Origins of My Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Project Waking Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Summation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 The World According to Zeeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Misconceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 My Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Religion and Zeeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Hiding in Plain Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Zeek Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Zeeks in the Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 The Art of the Spin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Xenophobic Movements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Activist Movements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Zeek Havens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Zeeks in the Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Religion and other “Isms” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 The Global DataNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 EASTERN HEMISPHERE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Emergence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 A New Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 New Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Biotechnology & Gene-splicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Secure Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Data Havens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Southern Eurasian Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Major Cities & Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Military & Defenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Central African Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 The Ivory Curtain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Major Cities & Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Dakumbe Death squads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Somalia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Piracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Major Cities & Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Military & Defenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Major Cities & Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Military & Defenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 The Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Criminal Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 The London Sprawl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 London: Dover Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 London: Westminster Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 The Houses O’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 The Grand Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 The Seedy Underbelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Heritage and Enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 The Scottish Metroplex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 The Great Northern Sprawl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Chairman of British Industrial Solutions . . . . . . . . . 163 Crime and Punishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 The United Republic of Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Head of State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 The Republic Police Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Dublin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 THE MIDDLE EAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Peace in the Middle East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Jews, Jihad, Jerusalem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 A Big Pile of Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Brothers from Other Mothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166 Gaza City State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166 One Big Happy Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 A Hundred Thousand Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 The Jerusalem DMZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Holy Vegas! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 People's Republic of Kurdistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 A Dream Deferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168 Oligarchical Collectivism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 The State of Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 The Art of War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169 The Serene Republic of Persia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 The Party of Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 The Triangle Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 United Arab Islamic Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 The Second Arab Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 A Dream Deferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Desert Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 United Arab Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 The Hajj and the Two Mosques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Gladiator Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 ATLANTICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Boston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 WESTERN HEMISPHERE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 The Rest of Atlantica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Portland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Syracuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 CANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 The Mosaic Crumbles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 The Douglas Commonwealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Kootenay Commonwealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Republic of Caledonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Republic of Quebec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Free City of Vancouver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 THE GREAT LAKES UNION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 THE REPUBLIC OF CASCADIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189 The Republic Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189 Government in the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189

Franchise and Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Supply and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 The Spokane DMZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Rural Cascadia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 The I-5 Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Portland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Culture and Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 THE EMERALD CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Population Breakdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Misty Harrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Hooper Felstris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Sierra Bulchenko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Judo Carnegie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198 Stuff to Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199 THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 The Texas Tussle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 The War for Independence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201 Breakdown and Surviving Glutton . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Texas in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Megaconglomerates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Cloned Beef . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 The Military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 International Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Internal Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 NEW YORK RECLAMATION ZONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Manhattan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Brooklyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 The Bronx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Queens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Staten Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 NEWARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Central Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 North Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 East Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 South Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 West Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210 Denver, Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210 Philadelphia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 Orlando . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 New Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 East Texarkana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Oklahoma City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 THE SOUTHWEST BADLANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 San Francisco in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 The War That Never Happened . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 Three General Monte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 The Hybrid Push . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 Ruins in the Ruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Vegas in 2090 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Sin City; The Illusion of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Gangland Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Power Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219 C.R.E.A.M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219

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Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Engrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275 How to Hack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 The Core Mechanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 Network Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 SysOp Countermeasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Hyper Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Hyper Reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Virtual Reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281 Avatars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281 Hacking Virtual Reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 POWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Arcane Background (Cybermonk) . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Arcane Background (Psionics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 RUNNING THE GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 City Trappings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 Trapping Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 Freelancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 Job Consequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 Payouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 Gang Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Types Of Gangs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Gang Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Gang Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Gang Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294 Adventure Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 The Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 The Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 The MacGuffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299 Innocents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 The Antagonist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Henchmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301 Twists and Complications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Dramatic Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 Adventure Creation Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Bio-Horror Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 Mutant Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 THREATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Bio-Horrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Sprawl Denizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 Courier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 Criminals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 The Elite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309 Military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .310 Sprawl Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 Wage Slaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 Robots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 Intrusion Countermeasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314 BACKERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319

Table of Contents

Locations of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219 Chinatown, Las Vegas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 The Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Salt Lake & the LDS Zions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Zion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 The Sands (Slums) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Salt Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Dugwway Military Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Zion Proper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Zion Medical; The Healing Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 The Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Central America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 South America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Panama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227 THE CHICAGO SPRAWL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 CHICAGOLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 A Free City? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Life In Chicagoland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 The Powers That Be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 The Wolves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 The Unaligned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Chicago Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 North Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 South Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 West Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Central Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 Ports of Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 History of Space Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Life in the Solar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 The Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 Corporate Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Major Settlement Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Venus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Luna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 Ceres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257 The Inner Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257 Jupiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Saturn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Colony Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Orbital Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 Ship Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 SYSTEMS OF CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Augments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Gritty Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Street Cred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 COST OF LIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 DRONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 DUBBING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 GOLEMMECHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Golemmech Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Golemmech Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Stock Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 HACKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Tendril Access Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

5

LIST OF TABLES

Table 7.11: Innocents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.12: Antagonists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.13: Twists And Complications . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.14: Dramatic Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.15 Mutant Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.16: Xenomorph Smarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.17: Xenomorph Other Attributes . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.18: Xenomorph Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.19: Xenomorph Skill Dice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.20: Xenomorph Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.21: Xenomorph Locomotion . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.22: Xenomorph Dermis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.23 Xenomorph Base Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7:24: Xenomorph Senses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.25: Mutations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 7.26: Drawbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Table of Contents

TABLE LIST Table 2.1: Campaign Power Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Table 2.2: Hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Table 2.3: Edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Table 2.4: occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Table 3.1: Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Table 3.2: Communication Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Table 3.3: Augment Grades and Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Table 3.4: Augment List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Table 3.5: drones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Table 3.6: Robots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Table 3.7: Drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Table 3.8: Other Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Table 3.9: Explosives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Table 3.10: Grenades and mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Table 3.11: Powered Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Table 3.12: Golemmechs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Table 3.13: Medical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Table 3.14: Tap Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Table 3.15: Accessories & Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Table 3.16: Melee Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Table 3.17: Pistols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Table 3.18: Submachine Guns and Shotguns . . . . . . . . 84 Table 3.19 Rifles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Table 3.20: heavy Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Table 3.21: Special Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Table 3.22: Missile Launchers and Flame Throwers . . . . 88 Table 3.23: Energy Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Table 3.24: Improvised Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Table 3.25: Improvised Ranged Weapons . . . . . . . . . . 90 Table 3.26: Cycles and Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Table 3.27: Aircraft and VTOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Table 3.28: Watercraft, Trucks, And Heavy vehicles . . . . 97 Table 3.29: Spacecraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Table 5.1: Average Distance in an . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Table 5.2: Average Travel Times (Days) . . . . . . . . . . 259 Table 6.1: Street Cred Rewards And Penalties . . . . . . . 265 Table 6.2: Favors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 Table 6.2: Character Lifestyles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 Table 6.3. Psychotherapy Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Table 6.4: Medical Treatment Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Table 6.5: Vehicle Control Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 Table 6.6: Golemmech Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 Table 6.7: Golemmech Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Table 6.8: Standard TAP Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Table 6.9: Active Memory Sector Cost . . . . . . . . . . . .274 Table 6.10: TAP Firewall Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274 Table 6.11: TAP Range Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275 Table 6.12: Engram Qualities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Table 6.13: Sample Hyper Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 Table 6.15: Avatar Attack Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Table 6.14: Avatar Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Table 7.1.: Baseline Payouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Table 7.2: Gang Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Table 7.3: Gang Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Table 7.4.: Gang Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Table 7.5: Gang Name Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Table 7.6: Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Table 7.7: The Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Table 7.8: Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Table 7.9: Non-Urban Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298 Table 7.10: The Macguffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299

6

300 300 301 302 304 305 305 305 305 305 305 305 306 306 306 306

INTRODUCTION THE ROAD TO 2090

THE HEGEMONY GROWS

INTRODUCTION

The crackdown on zeeks, hybrids and synthetic humans in the NAC reaches a boiling point when Congress and the Senate ratified the infamous Racial Purity Act; a draconic piece of legislation banning the practice of hybrid and simulacra creation. All genetic modification parlors and simulacra production facilities were ordered to shut down. The Racial Purity Act also outlawed the use of psychic powers within the borders of the nation, with hefty fines and even imprisonment for those caught using them. Various watchdog organizations were created, the most visible of which is Psi-division; a branch of Stopwatch tasked with monitoring and in some cases even “neutralizing” psychic threats.

#INFOSOURCE #VID.TAG.ROADTO2090 LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET DATA SOURCE: MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES.INFODUMP

The Road to 2090 Posted By: #Billy_Black_Eyes

#Psychopope: And by “neutralizing,” he means murder.

So here we are in January, 2090. It’s been a couple of years since I dropped the last INFODUMP on the world, and I’m here to rectify that. This massive document’s gonna give you all the information you need to get up to speed on the state of the world, along with oodles and oodles of statistical data about a bunch of subjects, including the Global DataNet, golemmechs, drones and other emerging technologies. You’ll read about the strange and wonderful people who inhabit this world, the solar system, zeeks, and much more. I’ve gathered info from sources all over the world, and vetted it to the best of my ability. That said, you never know what’s true and what isn’t in this age of main stream media lies, government propaganda and do-it-yourself journalism, so take the information (especially in the data dumps about the world) with a grain of salt.

#Denver_Must_Burn: And forced relocation…I’m not talking about VR prisons either. I’m talking about the internment camps up in Montana and the Dakotas. #Simba: It was just as bad for hybrids like myself. When those genetic modification parlors shut down, the private information about their customers was confiscated under the auspices of “national security.” This means the Department of National Security (DNS) has the names and addresses of every hybrid and free sim in the North American Coalition. If you have a TAP, the DNS can track your IP too. #Luciferion: @Simba: Dude, that’s happening with every citizen, regardless of whether or not you’re zeek, hybrid, or “Plain Jane” human. #Denver_Must_Burn: All I can say is, T.R.I.C.!!!!

#Simba: So what are you sayin’ Billy? We can’t trust you?

#ilicit_behavior: Yes, DMB. The Revolution IS Coming.

#Billy_Black_Eyes: That’s not what I said. You know full well that information, especially editorialized info, always has a certain slant to it. It’s also fluid. What was true at the time I acquired it may not necessarily be accurate now.

Instances of racial violence erupted across the North American Coalition as law enforcement officials began arresting zeeks. Some of the more obvious hybrids — particularly the bull, bear and rhino variants — were also incarcerated. Governments across the continent decried the draconian tactics and called for U.N intervention, to no effect. The Great Lakes Union and Atlantica closed their embassies in Denver, and sent the NAC delegates in their cities packing. Then, on November 13th, 2088 a number of terrorist attacks rocked Boston, Baltimore, and Portland, Maine. An estimated 2,451 people died and thousands more were injured from the bombings.

The past two years have seen a number of major events take place in the world. If just one or two things would have happened, I might think they weren’t connected. Yet it’s as if someone walked up to a house of cards and pulled one card out. The house hasn’t completely crashed yet; it’s in a slowmotion free fall, and the worst part is, only a few of us seem to be watching. What follows is a brief overview of the major events that have shaped the world in which we currently live. #Neon_Bright: Oh Billy, looking at the world with those dark lenses again are we?

THE ATLANTICA BOMBINGS Within hours of the attacks, The Global DataNet was flooded with conspiracy theories, the most viral of which speculating they were carried out by a terrorist group known as Agenda68. Some speculated a Canadian black ops unit known as taskforce Harfang did the deed. Others went on to claim the NAC was behind the attacks, and still others claimed New Brasilia, or maybe the Chinese Mandarinate were somehow involved. So-called “conspiracy theorist experts” such as #Sam_Jones, and #NERCOTIXX speculated that China, long believed to be in bed with the North American Coalition, used simulacra to perform the bombings.

#Magpie: @Neon; I think he needs a hug :) #Billy_Black_Eyes: What I need is a ticket to Mars. Things are about to get crazy, and I want off this rock.

GROWING TENSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA

Introduction

The year 2088 was marked by a number of disturbing — some say portentous — events involving the North American Coalition, The Great Lakes Union, and Atlantica. #Sane_Prophet: “Portentous?” Could the scales be falling off your black eyes, my friend? Are you finally coming to understand the truth?

#NECROTIXX: China did carry out the bombings. Do the research. Look into #Project Doppelganger and you’ll see. The NAC is just a patsy.

#Billy_Black_Eyes: Seriously? You again? I told you no mystic bull shit. #Sane_Prophet: Just because you refuse to acknowledge omens for what they are doesn’t make them any less valid.

#Sam_Jones: The Mandarinate is becoming an imperial power. Just look at what they are doing with Russia now, and what they have done with all of Southeast Asia. Ask

10

INTRODUCTION THE ROAD TO 2090 the Russian refugees flooding into Seattle if they think China is content to stay within their borders. The writing’s on the wall, folks.

///BEGIN THREAD JACK/// #NECROTIXX: Here’s a transcript of the short interview. Penny couldn’t get MAXX back on.

#Simba: It might have been orchestrated by agents working for Charon.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT…

#Luciferion: What a load of crap. Charon is an AI. It doesn’t have any contact with humans.

“One of the three men shot the guy right in the face!” #MAXX_ footage says, his long, thin hands shaking. “They just walked away and got into a red hover car. I sent Judy — that’s the name of my drone — after them, and that’s when the Black hover van exploded!” #MAXX_footage goes quiet for a few seconds, and after a couple of probing questions from the hostess, he finishes his story.

#Neon_Bright: Prove it, Simba.

As the days stretched into weeks, there was still no official statement from the Atlantica Government about the identity of the perpetrators of the attacks. Then, on December 15th, 2088, a MEDIAfile was uploaded into The Global DataNet bearing the Hyper Tag of a popular underground media-pirate known as #MAXX_footage.

“Anyhow, I get my bearings, shake the dust outta my hair and suddenly realize, I just captured the perps on Digifilm! I follow the red hover car all the way out past the Sea Wall, where it lands on this Chinese freighter. Judy’s pushin’ her range limits at this point, so I call her back.” He grabs a glass of water, his hands shaking.

The drone’s feed showed three large, muscular men in regular clothing exit a hover van adjacent to one of the targets of the attacks just moments before it exploded. Facial recognition software identified one of the men as First Sergeant John Moore, a member of the North American Coalition regular army. The MEDIAfile goes on to follow the three men as they jumped into an unmarked hover car that took off and shot over the Boston sea wall to land on a freighter bearing Chinese markings. The vessel promptly sailed east into international waters.

“Tell us what happened next,” Penny prompts. “Well,” he begins, “I get back to my flat — it took a while — what with all the chaos goin’ on in the ‘plex and everything — and the place is busted up, I mean BIG-TIME ami.” #MAXX_footage stops again, then shakes his head and says, “Listen. I can’t say anything else about that. I think they’re still watching me… In fact, this interview is done. #MAXX OUT.” The video feed cuts to white noise.

#Sorry_U_Asked: Isn’t it odd how often people retreat to the water in the wake of disasters? How much of the ocean remains unmapped? How much is hiding under the waves that we haven’t even begun to fathom?

END TRANSCRIPT.

#BatRastard: Puns intended? We’ve already got enough conspiracy theories. Can you not add another useless one to the stinking heap?

///END THREAD JACK/// The Interview and the footage of the event sparked outrage throughout Atlantica, and predictably, the NAC government fiercely denies any involvement in the bombings, even going so far as to demand the arrest and extradition of #MAXX_ footage for questioning about the origins of the video.

#Sane_Prophet: Actually, he’s closer to reality than you might be comfortable understanding. Too much truth can break a man’s mind. #BatRastard: I’m guessing yours is already fried from a few too many stims, man. Want to share what you’ve been doping?

Martin Hughes — the president of Atlantica — flatly refuses the NAC’s demands, even going so far as to say that this #MAXX_footage person is a “hero of the people of Atlantica.” The bookies in the free city of Las Vegas start giving even odds that hostilities will break out on the East Coast within a year.

As the situation evolved, it became clear that #MAXX_footage went through what can only be described as a nightmarish journey to bring the MEDIAfile into the light of day. In what will be his only interview, #MAXX_footage appears via a secure Video-feed on “Boston Tonight”—a popular show in the nation of Atlantica. Millions across the world tuned in to listen to what #MAXX_footage had to say. #MAXX_footage, a tall, lanky, young man recounts the events of that day, telling how he was hanging out at his favorite coffee shop when this black hover van landed right in front of the Emperor Pharmaceuticals Arcology about a half a block away.

#Simba: I lost a ton of money on that bet. #Luciferion: MAXX_footage has gone dark, BTW. Nobody has seen or heard from him since that interview.

THE FLARE

When Penny Pearl — the host of the show — asked #MAXX_ footage how, during all the chaos, he could have possibly remembered those details, #MAXX_footage says he remembered it because the hover van double parked and someone started yelling at the three guys who got out. Thinking it was going to result in violence, #MAXX_footage says he popped out his Fly on the Wall micro drone and sent it over to record the incident. That’s when all hell broke loose.

#Sane_Prophet: Insanity is a weak word for the weakminded. What may appear as insane to you might simply be someone having achieved enlightenment and living according to a higher truth.

11

Introduction

On January 26, 2089, a massive earth directed Y-class solar flare sparked a Coronal Mass Ejection that bombarded our planet, temporarily shutting down the genie network that monitors and updates the TAP’s spam and reality filters. With the genie down, every man, woman and child with a Tendril Access Processor was exposed to raw, unfiltered Hyper Reality. As you all know, this sparked a week of world-wide chaos. Sprawlers — exposed to a storm of spam, malware, and layer upon layer of augmented reality advertisements and simulated environments — went temporarily insane.

INTRODUCTION THE ROAD TO 2090

protests exploded into full-scale violence after police brutally cracked down on a peaceful protest at the British parliament building. More instances of violent protests followed in Bristol, Swindon and the Manchester-Liverpool sprawl.

#Sorry_U_ Asked: I’m all about questioning the circumstances, but I’m pretty sure all the folks who were murdered during these events would’ve labeled them as insane, down to a one. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Whatever dictionary program you’re running needs a fresh data-dump, Prophet.

On June 27th, 2089 the French government was overthrown by a fringe political extremist group known as the New Pirate Party. Led by a charismatic young zeek named Angéle Bonheur, The New Pirate Party seized power after a wild, chaotic campaign against representatives of the National Front and the Popular Republican Union. The elections were rife with scandal, and many of the French didn’t (and still don’t) like the idea of a French leader being psychic. So, while Angéle emerged as the clear victor, the French military refused to acknowledge her legitimacy. President Bonheur responded by disbanding the armed forces of France, at the same time before announcing the privatization of the nation’s military through an agreement with Ravenlocke Securities.

#Sane_Prophet: Dictionaries are also for the weak-minded. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Of course they are.

The world burned for about a week until programmers could fix the problem with firmware updates and hot patches to get the filters up and running and an off switch installed, but the damage was done. It’s not known how many people died in the rioting and madness, but cautious estimates of total causalities put the number at around 750 million people, and nobody has even tried to calculate the monetary cost of the riots. Strangely, however, the Flare itself didn’t have a widespread impact on various infrastructures, like electric and other powers, transportation systems, etc. In fact, many believe the Flare wasn’t even a solar flare at all, but the first sign of Charon’s emergence as a threat to humanity.

#Downtrodden: Yep, it’s a sign of things to come ladies and gents, a world-wide corporate coup of governments. If you don’t think the CEO of Ravenlocke — that’s Markus Raven — has a say in the direction this new government takes, think again.

#Luciferion: Nobody’s ever proven that, Billy. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Nobody has ever debunked it, either. Statistical data can be hacked. Numbers can be fudged to make things seem more dramatic than they really are. Earthquakes register at a certain scale and get downgraded all the time. The truth is, this is the first time in history that a solar flare has caused such wide-spread chaos. It’s fishy.

#Luciferion: It’s awesome to see France led by a psychic, but let’s get real; this is going to get much worse before it gets better. #Magpie: I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets wacked.

Former Lieutenant-Colonel Adrien Boucher, also known as “Adrien the Butcher” for his brutal suppression of an uprising in Marseilles in 2087, took charge of the remnants of the disbanded French army, promising to remove President Bonheur from power. Within days of Adrien’s announcement, Fort Richepance — now the Northeastern headquarters for Ravenlocke Industries’ Storm Crow Golemmech brigade — was attacked. The president responded by declaring martial law throughout France until the renegade movement could be put down. Thus far, that hasn’t happened, though there are reports of clashes between Ravenlocke regulars and separatist forces outside of St. Etienne, and in the French Alps.

#Luciferion: I’ll believe it when I see some hard data. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Fair enough. But the emergence of Charon around this time isn’t even open for debate. It’s a fact.

THE EURASIAN UNION IMPLODES On March 15th, 2089, the Eurasian Union Central Bank in Bonn, Germany was crashed by a previously unheard of virus named Charon. Over forty five trillion dollars vanished without a trace. All attempts to rebuild the original databases failed. Some programmers (and freelance hackers) hired to go in and purge Charon from the databases lost their lives in the process. Further attempts to rebuild the system on different servers with backups also failed when programmers realized that Charon — now suspected by many to be an AI — had copied itself into the cloud networks containing those backup files.

#Warpig: This has caused numerous issues. If President Angéle thinks her countrymen are going to accept the privatization of the military, she’s sorely mistaken. As Billy mentions, Adrien the Butcher is causing problems, but there’s more to it. Militias are forming. They have advanced weaponry, and while I won’t speculate as to who’s providing them with those weapons, I do know the vast majority of the weapons are made by Act of God Armaments.

#Luciferion: There’s nothing to suspect. Charon is an emergent AI. The only question now is whether or not it sparks a singularity event.

#Battle_Mind: I know one thing; it’s a great time to be a mercenary!

#Nothing_to_see_here: Stopwatch will halt it in its tracks. They always catch these things.

#Full_Metal_Cyborg: Amen brother, I’ll see you on the battlefield.

Introduction

#Luciferion: Who do you think died trying to get it out of the D-bases in Bonn?

#Payne_Man: Lock and Load U mushrooms!! I splatter you n00bs with my AK.

Over the next few months, an estimated 200 million people across the Eurasian Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland lost their jobs, their homes and their life savings when it became clear that Charon has found its way into the personal bank accounts of citizenry across the Eurasian Union.

#Magpie: “Sigh” Stop playing #Matrix of War, Payne. You sound like a fool. This ain’t a game. #Payne_Man: I thought we were talkin’ about #MOW? U should C the zones. They’re eggsaklee like the content of this INFOdump. Have been for a whyle now. Evar since the last expansion dropped in spring 2088.

Instances of mob violence skyrocketed, as the number of gangs in the rapidly fracturing Eurasian Union has risen to levels not seen since The Death — the three-year “Nuclear Autumn” following the India-Pakistan war when nuclear weapons were used on a massive scale. In the London-Reading Megaplex,

#Luciferion: …Ok that’s odd. #Payne_Man: The Coalition/Atlantica War expansion izz cumin out next month 2! I Kant W8!

12

INTRODUCTION LIFE IN GENERAL

On June 30th, 2089, Germany, wracked with political infighting, riots in the streets and a general state of chaos, closed its borders. Officially, the stated reason was for security reasons stemming from conflict along the border with France, but most people don’t believe it. Chancellor Konrad Gerste authorized a financial bailout of the three largest manufacturers of weapons and military equipment for the German army. The move has frightened many of the Eastern European nations — especially the good people of Poland — who know well what happens when Germans begin preparing for war, and make no mistake; Germany is moving to a war footing.

#BatRastard: Right, and then with the first meme to fry my neurons, I’ll be spending my life savings on the Fat Sally’s down the block. Brilliant. #Sane_Prophet: Fat Sally’s secret sauce is an interdimen­ sional gateway into the heights of ecstasy. #BatRastard: Actually, that’s the first thing you and I have ever agreed on.

I’ve discussed this phenomena with numerous programmers across the world, and they all agree; Virii, spam and all manner of malware that [prior to the Flare] would have been easy to purge from your head are now behaving much differently. It’s almost as if the things evolved into something not_quite_sentient, but damned close to it.

#Payne_Man: Watch out! Zee Germans are cumming! LOL #Klaus: What? Can’t my brethren move to protect themselves from the chaos in France? And why the veiled reference to WWII? It’s been nearly 150 years since Hitler’s madness, yet nobody allows us to forget it.

So what does this mean for you? If you choose to experience Hyper Reality (and if you have a TAP in your brain, you have), it’s only a matter of time before one of these virii hacks into your brain. There’s nothing you can really do about it; it’s just one of the many fun facts of life in 2090. I do find it ironic that, after decades of enjoying the connectivity and convenience the TAP has provided, this technology seems to be actively trying to kill us, and there isn’t much we can do about it without going back to medieval times. You know, the 1980’s. Of course, some of you out there will want to turn your TAPs off for good and avoid the risk entirely. Hell, some of you might be considering getting the damned thing removed.

THE BEAR AND THE DRAGON As the situation in Europe grew worse, China took advantage of the weakened Eurasian Union, grabbing up huge swathes of territory in Russia, it’s armies advancing as far west as the Ural Mountain range where Russian forces managed to halt the dragon’s advance. Still, the damage was done. By August, 2089 the Mandarinate had established itself as an occupying power in every city, town and village east of the Ural Mountains. That hasn’t stopped the Russians from retaliating, however. Russian patriots have begun an insurgency, attacking Chinese forces wherever they can be found. Mandarinate mouthpieces paint the insurgents as little more than terrorists to little effect, as the insurgency swells in number every day.

You can do that, sure. Of course, that means you’re also not connected to the grid which makes your life so unbelievably convenient. Which causes a multitude of problems. Don’t believe me? Try walking out of your house. Oh, right, you can’t, because most doors don’t have handles anymore. They’re automated and respond to the signals coming from your TAP. I know, some are activated by motion sensors and don’t rely on the TAP. But no door which is designed with security in mind will open so easily.

#Neon_Bright: This isn’t just a struggle against Chinese aggression. Vast resources have been found ever since Siberia began to thaw. I’m talking about precious minerals, oil; even the land is useful for development, especially when you consider billions of people live in eastern Asia. #Luciferion: Agreed, Neon.

Life in General

As I mentioned above, when the Flare knocked out the GENIE network it caused widespread chaos. And while GENIE is back up and running, there are still glitches in the system. Sure, firmware updates to the Tendril Access Processor — TAP as it’s more commonly known — allow you to turn off that modem in your brain but, well…let me put it like this; Hyper Reality has become smarter, even deadly if you don’t have the right software installed in your TAP.

Oh, how did you plan on paying for them, BTW, now that your TAP is offline and the clerk can’t synch her cash register with your payment software? And NO, they don’t take cash. The point is this, omae. All that convenience you were used to goes out the window when you unplug. It’s much easier to get strong firewalls than it is to live outside the system. So think about what I said before you scratch that itch at the base of your skull with a scalpel.

So how have the above events impacted life as we stumble into 2090? In numerous ways, omae. There isn’t enough time to go into great detail about how war, the Flare and especially the rise of Charon have affected the life of the average sprawler across the world, but I’ll go over some of the more important details. Pay attention peeps; some of this might keep you alive.

#Sane_Prophet: Why bother putting up more and more filters? It is senseless. A futile fight against powers far greater than yourself. Open your eyes, open your mind, and set yourself free from this prison of so-called reality.

13

Introduction

SURVIVING HYPER REALITY

This also means you have almost zero access to vehicles, or places where you can buy things, like grocery stores. Yeah, sure, you can just follow someone else into said store, but the security cameras will spot you and, not having a digital record of your presence (which they get from your TAP), will flag you and dispatch a security team to find out who you are. So there you are in your local Malmart looking for some cloned steaks to fire up on your grill later on, when security comes with their big guns and “what the hell are you doing here scumbag?” looks on their faces to boot you back out into the streets where you came from.

SURVIVING THE STREETS

SURVIVING THE GAME

The streets have always been dangerous; that’s a given. When you cram millions of people into a concrete and steel petri dish, then forget about 99.9% of them, you create a breeding ground for violence, hate, and societal devolution on such a scale that social Darwinists like Herbert Spencer and Thomas Malthus would roll over in their graves.

There’s an old saying: The Game is the Game — you either play it, or you get played. I don’t care if you contract, freelance, fight, fix, hack, patch, or scam; you’re in it omae, and that puts you at odds with every other player out there. Most people approach the game as a means to an end, thinking that one shiny day they’ll earn enough creds to go someplace warm and dry, and live out their lives in style. These clowns don’t last. They’re so busy dreaming about the good times, that they lose focus on what’s right in front of their face (or creeping up behind them). Dreamers get sloppy, take short cuts, betray their team, and torch their street cred like gutter punks burn trash in a garbage can to keep warm.

Again, that in itself is nothing new. The streets have always been violent, but ever since the events I previously described came to pass — especially the Flare and the implosion of the Eurasian Union — the number of homeless people across the world has sky-rocketed. The petri dish is frothing and overflowing as new gangs emerge — and I’m talking globally, not just in North America — and carve out their own territory. This upsets the balance, ami, makes it harder to survive when you’re just a blooper looking to make it through the day, because now you have new predators to deal with; n00b bangers making up their own rules as they go. And the copsuckers don’t help.

If you want to survive the game, you need to take a lesson from these dreamers: keep your mind on the job. There’s no sandy beach waiting for you. The megacorps bought them all and turned ‘em into parking lots. The only fruity drinks you’ll ever drink are sold in the local watering hole by some burned out ronin. The best you can hope for is a little bit of comfort — usually behind a small fortress if you’re smart — and the respect of the streets. But that’s a double-edged sword, another facet of the game. There’s always someone faster than you, some hungry up-and-comer with the latest augments wanting to prove herself by dealing you out. Sucks to be a victim of your own success, but that’s the truth of it. My advice? Find a way to deal yourself out clean. Put some creds away, never burn your contacts, and don’t ever, ever become a legend.

Protect and serve? What a load of crap.

Introduction

Sure, you’ll get Triple-A service if you live in one of the money bubbles, but try getting help in say, the Aurora Barrens, or the Gary Hell Zone, and you’re basically fucked. Yeah, there are token patrols, and the ever-present drones, but drones get shot down, and the copsuckers are so outnumbered, most are either so scared to get into an altercation with the predators or they’re on the take. I can’t say I blame them, either. The streets are a war zone, and if you wear the badge, you’re marked for death omae. So take my advice and get strapped. The only person you can count on in the concrete jungle is you.

Legends die.

#Sorry_U_Asked: Think twice before trying to claim a badge bounty, though. Sure, plenty of honchos love to pay top credit for proof that you’ve kept the law from poking around their territory. But just because you see someone wearing one doesn’t mean they got it legit. Lots of gangers wear them as trophies. So if you drop a shot on a copsucker, thinking you’ve hit payday, you might end up with a whole band of bangers snarling on your heels.

14

CHAPTER TWO: CHARACTER CREATION

CHARACTER CREATION CONCEPT/RACE/TRAITS

STEP 2: RACE

CHARACTER CREATION

The next thing you need to do is choose a race. In 2090, humanity has reached the point where the word “human” is almost irrelevant. Human DNA is no longer a mystery; It’s a mathematical code technomancers hack, re-write and copy at will, producing genetically superior beings: the Human 2.0. Others snip and paste animal DNA and splice it with human DNA to create genetic hybrids: a fusion of man and animal.

Characters are the life’s blood of any role-playing game, the focal point of every story. Characters represent the best — or the worst — ideals of a given game setting, their actions either bringing a small measure of hope to the downtrodden masses or serving to strengthen the status quo. In the grim, gritty world of Interface Zero 2.0, the characters you play walk a monofilament edge between traditional — some would say outdated or just plain irrelevant — concepts of good and evil as they make their way in the world.

Science has even advanced to such an extent that we can create entirely new life forms — living beings known as simulacra — in amniotic vats, growing them until they have matured, filling their synthetic brains with memories and skills they’ll need to do the jobs for which they were created.

Indeed, it’s hard to be a moral individual in a world where most of the animals prowling the concrete jungle believe principles are character flaws — weaknesses to exploit for their own ends. Your morality marks you as prey, no doubt about it, omae. But if you can keep your moral code, if you can get your job done without selling your soul, you’ll get something most sprawlers never have: Respect.

STEP 3: TRAITS Traits are the building blocks of any Savage Worlds character. They define how strong or fast your character is, and what she knows. Traits determine how much cyberware she can put into her body, how much damage she can take before dying, her standing with others, and a variety of other things, all of which are essential to the game.

Evil, on the other hand, is the same as it always has been; there’s just more of it. The wicked always thrive in a world where violence, fear, and control are tools used for self-serving ends, but here’s the thing. Acting like an ass can get you green-lit just as quickly as playing the role of the goody-twoshoes marks you as a sucker, amigo.

ATTRIBUTES

Nobody likes a dickhead, even if they don’t say it to your face. Sooner or later, you’ll get a rep for being a hard-ass, and someone who is stronger, meaner, or a bigger asshole than you is going to come along and knock you back to the gutter you crawled out of. That’s why most people keep their heads down and their mouths shut. Don’t make eye contact; it’s a challenge to the predators, and if you don’t have the stones to back up the challenge you’re nothing but meat. But, if you can stay strong and defeat all comers, that commands respect, too.

Five attributes are used to define your character’s physical characteristics. These are Agility, Smarts, Spirit, Strength, and Vigor. Each attribute starts at d4. You have 5 points with which to raise these attributes, and one point equals a rise in a die type (d4 to d6, d6 to d8, etc.). No attribute may rise higher than d12 during character creation, unless stated under a racial ability. For more information on attributes, refer to the Savage Worlds core rules.

This chapter provides you with the tools you need to make a character for Interface Zero 2.0. The process is the same as creating a character for any Savage Worlds game, with a few additions. Interface Zero 2.0 introduces Street Cred, Contacts, and Strain to the game.

You have 15 points to spend on your character’s skills. Your character doesn’t start with any skills and must spend 1 point to get a skill at a d4. He spends 1 point to raise a skill to a higher die type, as long as the skill level is equal to or less than the linked attribute. Raising any skill above the linked attribute, it costs 2 points to do so. No skill may rise above d12 during character creation.

SKILLS

Character Creation 2.0

STEP 1: CONCEPT

Note: If you are using the skill specializations rules you get 20 points for skills and each new specialization costs 1 skill point during character creation. When your character advances, she may purchase 2 skill specializations for an advance, or a new skill and a single specialization.

The first thing you need to do is decide on a concept for your character. Will you play a hacker? Perhaps a mercenary or bounty hunter is more your speed. Are mercs and hunters too cutthroat for your style of play? If so, you might think about playing a Ronin, an urban warrior who follows his own code of honor. Maybe you want to be the guy (or gal!) who backs the team up with drones capable of laying down covering fire or scouting ahead to see where the bad guys are hiding.

NEW SKILLS The following are new skills introduced in Interface Zero 2.0. For information on all other skills, see Skills in the Savage Worlds core rules.

You don’t need to have your concept locked in right now, but at least have a basic idea of the type of character you want to play. Take a few minutes and skip ahead to the archetypes section in this chapter to see a variety of options available to you.

Hacking (Smarts): The Hacking skill is used whenever a character wants to hack a computer network. Characters in Interface Zero 2.0 no longer start with an automatic d4 in Hacking. Additionally, characters who wish to use the Global DataNet for everyday purposes such as research or

16

CHARACTER CREATION SKILL SPECIALIZATIONS

finding news pertaining to the Deep, do so with their existing Investigation and Streetwise skills.

TO SPECIALIZE OR NOT TO SPECIALIZE

Knowledge (Demolitions): Successful use of demolitions can mean the difference between destruction of the target as planned, and unplanned loss of life and property. The skill also lets the character have an understanding of what the best type of explosive is for the obstacle, and how much they will need to remove such an obstacle. In addition, a raise on the result will let them know the exact distance they need to be from the explosion, based upon the size of the charge, the confines, and damage created by said explosion. This skill is used any time a character wants to put a satchel charge together, or set explosives. A Critical Failure will result in immediate detonation. Simple failure will result in premature detonation or no detonation at all.

Skill specializations work great for gritty settings like Interface Zero 2.0, but you don’t have to use them if you prefer the looser cinematic style inherent in Savage Worlds. If you choose to do that, just ignore any references to specializations and default to the basic skills from the list. You should also add the Hyper Combat skill (see below) for any confrontations via Hyper Reality or Virtual Reality. In theory, you could leave it at Hacking, but be warned: it’ll make your Hackers exceptionally powerful. Speaking of Hacking… Some skills have computerrelated specializations, but that doesn’t mean a Hacker needs them or that you’ve got to be a Hacker to use them. The bottom line is any use of computers outside of the Hacking or Knowledge (Programming) skills is limited to basic data searches and information retrieval.

Knowledge (Programming): Characters use this skill when attempting to make any kind of change to a network they have hacked. This skill allows a character to undo damage done as a result of a hack. With it, a character can do things like undo an edit to a data file or video, reconstruct a deleted file, repair an AMS (see Active Memory Sectors on page 274, in the Setting Rules chapter), recover a deleted skill Engram, or reconnect a TAP that has gone offline.

For example, Investigation (Global DataNet) isn’t about digging up dirt from secure databases — it’s ‘Googling’ a topic. Similarly, Tracking (Global DataNet) isn’t going to help you follow the guy who just hacked your Home Access Network — it’s doing what bill collectors and skip tracers do to find peeps who have dropped out of sight to avoid various… ‘complications’.

OPTIONAL RULE: SKILL SPECIALIZATIONS Interface Zero 2.0 is an advanced setting where knowing how to do one thing doesn’t necessarily mean you can do something which, under the regular skill rules, would technically be possible with the same skill. Take the various Driving, Boating, and Piloting skills for example.

NEW SKILL: HYPER COMBAT Hyper Combat (Smarts): The Hyper Combat skill is used whenever a character engages in combat with another hacker or virtual entity in Virtual Reality, or via the Global DataNet.

Using the regular skill rules, a character with Drive could theoretically drive anything from a motorcycle to a semi-truck or a tank. Similarly, Piloting assumes a character has the skills to pilot all types of aircraft including fighter jets and spacecraft! Pinnacle Entertainment addressed this issue by adding the Skill Specialization setting rule in the Savage Worlds core rules, and it is highly recommend that those rules are used for Interface Zero 2.0.

• Intimidation: Interrogation, Mental, Physical • Investigation: Archives, Global DataNet, Libraries, Newspapers • Knowledge: Each Knowledge skill is technically a specialization of Knowledge, so it isn’t broken down into further specializations.

The following list of skill specializations are provided to get you started. This isn’t intended to be a comprehensive list of appropriate skill specializations, but rather a broad cross section of specializations we feel are appropriate. If something doesn’t appear on the list, make it up if it seems right… But remember: the GM always has the final say on what is or isn’t appropriate for her campaign.

Suggested Knowledge Skills: AIs, Battle, Corporations, Cybernetics, Demolitions, Global DataNet, Local Area (specific), Politics, Programing • Lockpicking: Disarm Trap, Electronic, Manual

SUGGESTED SPECIALIZATIONS

• Notice: Audio, Body Language, Searching, Visual • Persuasion: Bluffing, Diplomacy, Fast-Talking, Seduction

• Climbing: Mountaineering, Rappelling, Rope

• Piloting: Golemmech, Helicopter, Plane, Spacecraft, VTOL

• Driving: Car (4 wheels), Hovercraft, Jump Bike, Motorcycle, Truck (6+ wheels), Tracked

• Psionics: Freek, Peek, Tweek • Repair: Armor, Cybernetics, Electronics, Mechanical, Structures, Weapons

• Fighting: Axe, Blades, Blunt, Cyberweapon, Long blade, Martial arts (by style, judo, karate, etc.), Pole arm

• Riding: By animal

• Gambling: By game

• Shooting: Bow, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Submachine gun, Vehicle Weapon, or by weapon category

• Hacking: Hyper Combat, Firewall Penetration, Intrusion Detection, Object Control, Object Editing, Run Program, Trace

• Stealth: Disguise, Hiding, Sleight of Hand, Sneaking • Streetwise: Area/Region (Corporate Zone, Gang Turf, etc)

• Healing: Cyber Surgery, First Aid, Surgery

17

Character Creation 2.0

• Boating: Powered, Sailed, Submersible

CHARACTER CREATION DERIVED STATISTICS

• Survival: Aquatic, Arctic, Desert, Forest, Jungle, Mountain, Space, urban, or any specific environment

be wearing. For more information on Toughness, see the Savage Worlds core rules.

• Swimming:* Lake, Ocean, SCUBA Diving

NEW DERIVED STATS

• Taunt: Verbal, Visual

Interface Zero 2.0 introduces three new derived statistics — Firewall, Strain, and Street Cred.

• Throwing: Darts, Grenades, Knives, Spears • Tracking: Animals, Global DataNet, Humans, Urban, Vehicles

FIREWALL Unless your character has the Unplugged Hindrance, she has a Tendril Access Processor (TAP), and therefore has a builtin firewall. The firewall protects against attempts to hack a character’s TAP. A character’s Firewall rating starts at 4, but can be modified by Edges, Hindrances, or software.

*OPTIONAL SKILL: ATHLETICS Rather than breaking up basic things like Climbing and Swimming, I propose lumping them together into a single skill which would allow for specialization:

STRAIN

Athletics (Vigor): Athletics as a catch-all for a number of physical endeavors, ranging from climbing to swimming to moving around effectively in a no — or low-gravity environment. Athletics should be used instead of Agility in foot chases, and effectively replaces both the Climbing and Swimming skills.

Strain measures the amount of stress cyberware and bioware puts on your body when you install it. Strain starts at zero and each piece of cyberware adds to your Strain stat. High levels of Strain can lead to death. More details on Strain is located at Augments on page 262.

Specializations: Climbing, Leaping, Running, Sport (specific), Swimming, Zero-G Maneuvers

STREET CRED

LANGUAGES

Street Cred is a measure of your character’s reputation on the streets. All characters begin play with 2 points of Street Cred, modified by Edges or Hindrances, and gain another 2 points every time they gain a new Rank. The maximum Street Cred a character can normally achieve is 10 (Some Edges and Occupations can increase this number).

All characters speak their native language, plus a number of additional languages equaling one-half their Smarts die. The major trade languages used in Interface Zero 2.0 are Chinese, English, Hindi, Portuguese, and Swahili. Additional languages can be learned by using an advancement opportunity.

Unlike Charisma, which measures your ability to persuade someone, Street Cred is a point pool that can be spent to obtain services, temporary contacts, information, and a variety of other benefits during the course of an adventure. This pool refreshes each adventure unless circumstances in the prior adventure (like not getting the job done, failing to protect someone, killing an innocent, etc.) cause the character’s Street Cred score to drop.

DERIVED STATISTICS There are a few statistics which are important in any Savage Worlds game: Charisma, Pace, Parry, and Toughness.

CHARISMA Charisma is an abstract measure of your character’s appearance, how she deals with others socially, and generally how likeable she is. Charisma starts at 0, but can be modified by Edges and Hindrances. Charisma is also added to Streetwise and Persuasion rolls. The Game Master uses Charisma to figure out how NPC’s react to your character. For more information on Charisma, see the Savage Worlds core rules.

Characters can also pick up Minor or Major Hindrances that have a lasting effect on their Street Cred score during the course of an adventure. These Hindrances can be removed by spending an Advance, with the GM’s permission. For more information, see Street Cred on page 264.

Character Creation 2.0

PACE

CONTACTS

Pace is a measure of how far your character can walk in a standard combat round. Human characters have a base Pace of 6, and can run at an additional 1d6". Other races in Interface Zero 2.0 can have different starting Pace scores based on the racial template you choose. For more information on Pace, see the Savage Worlds core rules.

Each character can choose two contacts; people the character knows who he can call upon for aid or information during the course of an adventure. These contacts can be anyone from a bartender, or a hacker, to a corporate executive or military commander, as long as it makes sense that your character would know the person(s).

PARRY

STEP 4: OCCUPATIONS

Parry is equal to 2 plus half your character’s Fighting skill, plus modifiers gained from use of shields or certain weapons. If your character does not have the Fighting skill, base Parry starts at 2. For more information on Parry, see the Savage Worlds core rules.

Occupations are integral to your character concept, providing a basic framework to enhance your character’s background in a very organic way, helping you create a more well-rounded character concept. Each occupation has a requirement that the character must meet to take it, the character’s bonus credits they gain each Advance, and a special perk (like gear or special abilities) the character gets for being part of that profession.

TOUGHNESS Toughness is a measure of how much damage your character can take before becoming Shaken or Wounded. Toughness is 2 plus half your character’s Vigor, plus any armor she might

18

CHARACTER CREATION ARCHETYPES

STEP 5: EDGES AND HINDRANCES

STEP 7: BACKGROUND

STEP 6: EQUIPMENT

They say the devil is in the details, and here is where you decide how devilish you’re going to be. You don’t need to write a novel, and frankly, this step isn’t mandatory. That said, it’s a good idea to jot down a few notes on your character’s background, any major events in her life, any friends, the names of contacts, or even enemies she might have. Share these ideas with your Game Master! GMs are always looking for good plot hooks and little tidbits they can use to personalize your experience at the table. The more detailed your background is, the better.

In Interface Zero 2.0, characters select equipment, cybernetics, weapons and armor based on the power level the Game Master sets for the campaign.

ARCHETYPES

Power Level: This is the starting Power Level of the Campaign as determined by the Game Master. If the GM wants to tell a story of gang members barely scraping by, she’ll most likely choose Gutter Punk as the Power Level. If she envisions a campaign where the players are a special government task force dedicated to hunting down super terrorists, the Hyperchrome Warriors or Elite Operatives levels might be more appropriate. The Street Soldier Power Level (designed for Ronin-style games) is considered the default Power Level for Interface Zero 2.0.

Sometimes you may want to quickly create a character for a one-shot or convention adventure. For those occasions, an Archetype is a good choice.

Edges are special qualities that separate characters from the average sprawler. Hindrances are physical and mental flaws that add more depth to the character, albeit in a negative way. See the Savage Worlds core rules for more information on purchasing Edges and Hindrances. New Edges and Hindrances are provided later in this chapter.

All are built for a human character with two Edges. If you wish to play a race other than human, simply plug in the statistical data. If you’re playing a human, you can choose another Edge! Then, choose your gear based on the Power Level your group has chosen, give the character a name, and you’re ready to go!

Starting Credits: This is the amount of money characters start with at the beginning of the campaign. These credits may be spent on anything the player wishes and the GM has not barred from the campaign, including Augments, drones, weapons, and armor. Augments: Every Power Level above Gutter Punk allows the players to start with at least one augment from the core book equal to or below the monetary amount listed. Unspent Credits from this pool do not carry over when the game starts. These augments must be chosen from the master list of augments, not augment packages.

TABLE 2.1: CAMPAIGN POWER LEVELS POWER LEVEL

STARTING CREDITS

Gutter Punks

5,000 credits

Street Soldiers

10,000 credits

10,000 credits

Hyperchrome Warriors

30,000 credits

20,000 credits

Elite Operatives

60,000 credits

50,000 credits

AUGMENTS

Character Creation 2.0

19

CHARACTER CREATION AGENT/BOUNTY HUNTER

Agent “I’ve run deep cover operations in Berlin, Moscow, Shanghai, Tel-Aviv, and a thousand nameless shit holes across the solar system.. I’ve uncovered dirt on governments that would scare the holy hell out of you if the information ever came to light. I’ve killed women, children — entire villages have disappeared because one person saw something she shouldn’t have seen; and if I had to, I’d do it again, because safety has a price, ami, and if that means some people have to die so millions of others might live, I’m willing to pay it.” #Carla Singer, Atlantica Intelligence Bureau

Agents engage in a variety of operations ranging from deep cover operations, to retrieval missions, counter-insurgency campaigns, disinformation campaigns, and — if necessary — assassinations. Agents are experts with small arms and masters at hand-to-hand combat. Agents have extensive training in various subjects including (but not limited to) counter-terrorism, tradecraft and interrogation. They use those skills to protect and promote the interests of the government they owe allegiance to. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Climbing d4, Fighting d6, Intimidation d6, Investigation d8, Notice d6, Persuasiond6, Shooting d6 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Secret (Major: Agent), two Minor Edges: Alternate Identity, Government Agent Occupation: Agent Contacts: Choose two

Bounty Hunter “Need a bail jumper brought back? If the price is right, I’ll run him down for you. Off-world man hunts are gonna cost you extra though.” #Tracy Fang, Independent Bounty Hunter

With the balkanization of the world in 2090, it’s a simple matter for criminals on the run to hop the nearest border or go off-world, and leave local law enforcement in the dust. That’s where the bounty hunter comes in. When someone must absolutely be brought back to stand trial, the bounty hunter finds him and drags him kicking and screaming back. When a government (or Mega-Conglom) needs to make sure someone’s dead, the bounty hunter will be the one who brings back the body.

Character Creation 2.0

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Climbing d4, Fighting d6, Investigation d8, Notice d6, Streetwise d8, Shooting d6, Tracking d6 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: One Major, two Minor Edges: Bounty Hunter, Investigator Occupation: Bounty Hunter Contacts: Choose two

20

CHARACTER CREATION CYBERMONK/DRONE JOCKEY

Cybermonk “ I am a student of 路径的增强战士 — The Path of the Augmented Warrior. The streets are my dojo, their rhythm my kata. I and others like me are living weapons, forged in cyber clinics in Chiba, Shanghai, Chicago, Bangkok, Mexico City, New Brasillia, and countless other places. You look at me and see an inhuman monster, but when I look in the mirror, I see perfection.” #Mia Yi, A.K.A Steel Wind Rising

Cybermonks are individuals who have embraced cybernetics to push their bodies far beyond the range of human potential. More than just ronin or soldiers, cybermonks view cybernetic implantation as a deeply philosophical and almost religious experience. But cybermonks go beyond simply implanting new ‘ware into their bodies. Cybermonks constantly push the limits of their bodies through vigorous self-discipline and exhausting exercise regimens. As a result, cybermonks are able to push their cybernetics far beyond what most people can achieve. They gain levels of performance from their cyberware and bioware that border on the realm of the mystical. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigord6 Skills: Climbing d6, Cybermastery d6, Fighting d8, Notice d6, Throwing d8 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 6; Firewall: 4; Strain: 3; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Code of Honor, Debt (Minor), one Minor Edges: Acrane Background (Cybermonk), Martial Artist Augments: Bone Reinforcement (Gutterware, +1 Toughness), Cybereyes [Gutterware, Night Vision Optics (Low Light Vision)] Powers: Armor, boost trait Occupation: Bodyguard Contacts: Choose two

Drone Jockey “Want remote surveillance on your mark? Need some heavy fire support on your next run? Well, then, I’m your gal.” #Jayda Jetstream, Freelance Drone Jockey

The drone jockey is an expert when it comes to using drones. More then just the get away driver, the drone jockey relies upon a stable of drones with various abilities to become a one person army. No matter what the situation, someone out there has designed a drone for the job. The drone jockey is truly alive when their rapidly leaping from drone to drone, taking complete control of her machines. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0 ; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: One Major, two Minor Edges: Ace Occupation: Gear Head Contacts: Choose two

21

Character Creation 2.0

Skills: Boating d8, Driving d8, Fighting d6, Notice d6, Piloting d8, Shootingd6

CHARACTER CREATION GANGER/GRIFTER

Ganger “There are no old bangers. Remember that. Ya gotta get yours now amigo, because your shelf life ain’t long on these streets.” #Buzzer, Warboss for the South Side Storm Troopers

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The only thing that’s changed about gangs in the era of 2090, is they’re even more dangerous than ever. With the rise in poverty and the dissolution of the middle class, more and more people turn toward the Gang lifestyle as the only means of getting by. A gang means friends, a surrogate family, money and prosperity for those living in the gutters. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d4, Strength d8, Vigor d8 Skills: Driving d6, Intimidation d6, Fighting d8, Notice d4, Shooting d8, Streetwise d4 Charisma: −2; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 7; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Bad Reputation (Major), Mean, Loyal Edges: Brawny, Chromed Occupation: Ganglander Contacts: Choose two

Grifter “Hey there sweety, why are you sitting here all by yourself? Oh don’t you mind little ole me, a girl my size can’t be much of a threat to you, can she? Say, is that a Ravenlocke HR tag on your arm there? Oh wow, I’ve always had a thing for men in uniform. But don’t tell anyone okay? Just a secret between you and me. Say, don’t you work at the Helios Corp branch offices downtown? Oh wow that’s so awesome! You know I bet you hear all kinds of interesting things working down there… don’t you…”

Character Creation 2.0

#Moesha Monday working a con.

Even with the advent of completely virtual communication, there are still those individuals who get by purely on the basis of their charm and other’s naiveté. Grifters are the con men and women of 2090, and some argue theirs is the oldest profession in the world — not the other one you might be thinking of. Grifters are those for whom the social world is a playground. As comfortable in the boardroom, as in the barroom, Grifters make their living being able to gain the confidence of others in order to separate them from their money and possessions. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Fighting d6, Intimidation d6, Notice d6, Persuasion d8, Streetwise d8, Taunt d6 Charisma: +2; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: One Major, two Minor Edges: Charismatic Occupation: Grifter Contacts: Choose two

22

CHARACTER CREATION HACKER/IDOL

Hacker “The entire world is connected. Lines of code streaming all around us handle every aspect of our everyday lives. We live and breathe code, we rely upon it, trust it, expect it all to work. The lay person doesn’t even consider it. But me, and those like me? We manipulate it, we control it. We are the gods and monsters of this brave new world. We can control the machinery of everyday life. From the streets to the boardroom, nothing is safe from our reach. Don’t piss us off.” #Anonomouse, Hacker Manifesto version 3.4

The Hackers of 2090 have a proud legacy spanning just over a hundred years. While the digital world is now more advanced then ever, the old lessons from the forefathers (and mothers!) back at the birth of the information age still hold true. The hacker is a force to be respected in the age where everything is wireless, and everything can be hacked. Any group looking to be successful needs a hacker to really prosper in 2090. From the local biker gang, to ronin, and even the police and military, hackers see more demand for their talents then ever. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Hacking d10, Investigation d6, Knowledge (Programming) d8, Notice d6, Shooting d6, Streetwise d4 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 2; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 5; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: One Major, two Minor Edges: Cutter, Hacker Occupation: Programmer Contacts: Choose two

Idol “Yeah, baby, we can hit the Nexus tonight; they’ll walk us through the line and I might even sign a few hypergraphs. My PR guy says slummin’ with the local flavor’s good for my image. Hang with the sprawlers for a while, show them I remember my roots. Hell I might even get to blast someone tonight. My lawyer’s working out the legal shit with local law enforcement… What’s that? Oh, no, the victim’s on the payroll and set up with a new dub. He’s charging an arm and a leg, though…fucking union actors.”  #Bella Nightshade, TechnoGoth Singer

Many idols are manufactured by the entertainment industry from virtual constructs which have been run through focus groups to find the broadest appeal with their audience. Idols stay in the spotlight as long as the corporations can make money off their manufactured fame, milking them as much as they can before tossing them aside in favor of the next big thing. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Charisma: +2; Pace: 6; Parry: 4; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 4 Hindrances: Secret (Major), Magnet (Minor), one Minor Edges: Attractive, Reputation Occupation: Media Icon Contacts: Choose two

23

Character Creation 2.0

Skills: Driving d6, Fighting d4, Persuasion d8, Shooting d6, Streetwise d8

CHARACTER CREATION INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST/PATCH MAN

Investigative Journalist “The story wants to be told, you just need to coax it out of the source. I’ve worked wars, exposed Yakuza protection rackets, brought you the truth about the simsex industry, and I’ve made more enemies than an honest politician in Denver. But it’s worth it to get a good story, an expose’ on the scumbags of this world…shed a little light on the grimy shadows. That’s what keeps me going. That, and the money, of course.” #Tony Falcon, freelance reporter

The news taken in by the majority of people in 2090 has been massaged, molded, folded, spindled, mutilated, and finally crafted to fit the preferred image the governments and corporations of the world prefer. While it hasn’t reached the levels of totalitarian control of the media, to say the news is sanitized for the public is putting it mildly. While there are those journalists even within the mega 24-hour corporate-controlled news networks who seek the real truth — the real story behind the scenes — the majority of actual news is reported and blogged by independent sources. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Fighting d6, Investigation d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Stealth d6, Streetwise d8 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Curious, two Minor Edges: Investigator Occupation: Info Broker Contacts: Choose 2

Patch Man “I charge 50% up front. Complain all ya want, but if you die on my table from that sucking chest wound, I’m not going to get paid, am I? Okay, okay, I’ll throw in some feel-goods and Betameth patches to keep you alive long enough to get your job done. After all if you die, I don’t get the other half of my money, do I?” #Johnny Two Thumbs

While medical technology has achieved a level which seems almost miraculous in 2090, the majority of people can’t afford it. Even the few places that have affordable health care are often backed up and booked for months in advance. But people need to be treated, all the same. This is where the patch man comes in. The patch man also comes in handy on a run, where his nanobots and chem patches can mean the difference between life and death.

Character Creation 2.0

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Healing d8, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Repair d6, Shooting d6, Streetwise d6 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 2; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Pacifist (Minor) , One Major, one Minor Edges: Street Doc Occupation: Clinic Doc Contacts: Choose two

24

CHARACTER CREATION RONIN/SECTOR COP

Ronin “Sure, you can find others to do this gig, and maybe your corporate hound dogs can sniff your exec’s location before she’s shipped overseas and sold to the highest bidder, but I wouldn’t bet on it. You need people who can find her, and fast… no red tape, no legal loop holes for your lawyers to jump through, and most importantly, no visibility. In short, you need my crew. But if you even think of crossing us, you got problems, ami.” #Frank the Tank, Freelancer

Deniable assets, street operatives, urban warriors — ronin do the jobs nobody else wants or can do. Whether it’s a raid on a rival corp, a smuggling op, a data snatch, a retrieval mission, or a simple milk run through hostile gang turf, ronin are the people with the skills to get the job done. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Fighting d8, Notice d6, Shooting d8, +7 additional skill points Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Code of Honor, two Minor Edges: Bodyguard Occupation: Bodyguard Contacts: Choose 2

Sector Cop “Okay boys and girls, listen up. The Southies got their wrinkles squashed last night by Muerto 13, and they’re lookin’ for payback; so don’t take any chances out there. Don’t hesitate to put these dirt bags on their backs if you think they’re gonna draw down on you. Establish your dominance, with lethal force if necessary. People need to know who really runs these streets.” #Officer Rikkard Stone, Watch Commander, Chicago; Little Cuba Sector

The sector cop has one of the toughest jobs in the sprawl: enforcing law and order in an environment antithetical to such concepts. The badge makes the sector cop a target, and not just for bullets. People both hate and fear the sector cop, and, all too often, for good reason. One wrong move, one word spoken in anger, will get you marked as a potentially hostile civilian, and that’s all a sector cop needs to take the law into his own hands. Many sector cops are just as corrupt as the people they bring in, but there are exceptions. While in the minority, there are those who still believe in the antiquated motto “To Protect and Serve.” Skills: Driving d8, Fighting d8, Intimidation d6, Notice d6, Shooting d8, Streetwised6 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: One Major, two Minor Edges: Sector Cop Occupation: Patrol Officer Contacts: Choose two

25

Character Creation 2.0

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

CHARACTER CREATION SMUGGLER/EX-SOLDIER

Smuggler “Getting this payload into Paris is gonna be a nightmare, omae. The French aren’t a bunch of panzies like they used to be. We’re talkin’ AI patrol drones, stealth fighters, and state of the art satellite tracking. Not to mention that France is in chaos right now. So yeah. You’ll need to up that price quite a bit if you want me to do this run for ya.” #Mickey Midnight

Smugglers are those who specialize in moving contraband across borders without getting detected. In 2090, where there are more borders than ever before, smugglers are seeing a boom in business unlike any other. Smugglers come in a large variety, from those who specialize in ocean or air travel, to those who specialize in getting across the border on foot or on wheels. All that matters is the smuggler is able to move his cargo without being detected, or having the authorities trace the cargo back to his employer. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Climbing d6, Driving d6, Lockpicking d6, Notice d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d8, Streetwise d6 Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 2; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 3; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Bad Filters (Minor), Overconfident, Shakes Edges: Thief Occupation: Smuggler Contacts: Choose two

Ex-Soldier “I used to be in the army, but I broke my gunnery sergeant’s jaw after he talked smack about my boyfriend. They gave me a year in the brig for that, and a dishonorable discharge. But it’s all good. The pay’s better on the outside, and the people I work for don’t flip me shit for my sexual preferences.” #Nate Morris, ex-GLU Army.

The soldiers of 2090 operate on battlefields that contain real-time hacking and military virus attacks, drones controlled by the very minds of their operators, and golemmechs that can lay waste to battlefields faster and more efficiently than any tank can. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Character Creation 2.0

Skills: Driving d4, Fighting d8, Intimidation d6, Notice d6, Shooting d8, Stealth d4, Survival d4 Charisma: −2; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 7; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Mean, one Major, one Minor, Edges: Brawny, Ex-Soldier Occupation: Mob Soldier Contacts: Choose two

26

CHARACTER CREATION STREET RAT/ZEEK

Street Rat “Life on the edge is fluid, like a river, ya scan? You gotta find the rhythm of the streets and ride it if you want to survive. Sure, it’s tough, but it’s better than being cooped up in one of the megablocks… those guys have it real bad.” #Snatcher

Whether by choice, or fate, the street rat makes his or her home on the streets. While most would consider it a death sentence, the street rat thrives, learning how to get by — and even thrive — with little to no resources. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Driving d6, Fighting d6, Lockpicking d4, Notice d6, Repair d6, Survival d6, Shooting d6, Tracking d6 Charisma: 0; Pace: 8; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: Poverty, two Minor Edges: Fleet-Footed, Martial Artist Occupation: Layabout Contacts: Choose two

Zeek “Yeah, I’ve got some ability. I’ve got skilz, so to speak, and I use them to survive in this crazy world. My abilities scare people, makes some of them want to hurt me, or lock me up. I sometimes feel sorry for them, but I don’t let my pity stop me from using my power to protect myself, even if it means proving their fears are justified. It sucks, but that’s the way things are.” #Fxfactor

It’s not easy being a zeek. Most people either hate you or are afraid of you, which means they either want to kill or control you. Some zeeks try to hide their powers, some try to use their powers to get ahead in the world. Mostly, zeeks just try to survive, just like everyone else. There are some advantages to being a zeek, though. Most freelancers can use a reliable zeek in their group, whether their forte is putting the guard to sleep, reading a captive’s mind, or knocking the opposition back ten feet with a thought. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6

Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 4; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4; Strain: 0; Street Cred: 2 Hindrances: One Major, two Minor Edges: Arcane Background (Psionics), Peek Powers: 3 Powers Occupation: Reader Contacts: Choose two

27

Character Creation 2.0

Skills: Fighting d4, Intimidation d6, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Psionicsd10, Repair d4, Shooting d4

CHARACTER CREATION RACES: ANDROID/BIOROID

MAKING ANDROIDS

RACES The following races are available for play in Interface Zero 2.0.

All androids, regardless of their function, share a few fundamental design characteristics. Androids can purchase cyberware just as anyone else can and suffer from Strain. • Construct: Androids add +2 to recover from being Shaken, don’t suffer wound modifiers, and are immune to poison and disease. Androids cannot heal naturally. To heal an android requires the Repair skill — which is used like the Healing skill, only with no “Golden Hour.”

Android Nicknames: Andies, Cyberform, Machine, Robot, Scab, Toy, Trashcan Most people are born into the world, flesh-and-blood babies with mothers and fathers. You were born on an assembly line, your parents faceless robotics engineers who designed you in some research facility. Your body is composed of lightweight yet durable polymers, with plastic and fiber-optic wiring connecting to microscopic receptors throughout your framework.

• Dual Processors: Androids start with a d6 in Smarts. • EMP Vulnerability: Androids suffer full damage from EMP Weapons. • Metal Brain: Androids can’t take Arcane Background (Psion). • Metallic Alloy: The fully metallic hide of an android provides resistance to small arms fire. They have +2 Armor.

You see through digital lenses and hear via microphones on each side of your head. Your voice is a pleasant, if somewhat monotone, sound piped through a speaker crafted to resemble a mouth. Your brain is a softballsized digital network consisting of billions of nanomachines which perform countless computations every second in order to simulate an organic — human — thinking process.

• Outsider: Organic races often mistrust or misunderstand androids. They subtract 2 from their Charisma when dealing with races other than their own. • Primary Protocol: Androids begin with a free d6 in one skill, representing their core operating system.

You are artificially intelligent. Your capacity for rational, critical thinking and decision-making equals — and in many cases exceeds — that of any human being on the planet. Yet, a waffle iron probably has more rights than you do. Moreover, at some point you have been (and technically still are) owned, perhaps by an individual, but more likely by a megaconglomorate — your parent company. The tasks you performed for the megacorp varied depending on your design specs, but they might have included security, manual labor, combat, and strangely enough, even prostitution.

• Recharge: Androids need electricity to function. If the android can’t access an electrical outlet of some sort at least once per day, he suffers a level of Fatigue each day until he’s incapacitated. The day after that, he goes “offline” must be reactivated with a Repair roll and a four-hour charge. This replaces the android’s need for food or water. • Unnatural: Psionics, both beneficial and detrimental, suffer a −2 penalty to affect androids. This has no effect on damaging powers, which affect them normally.

But that was then. At some point in your history you experienced something. The incident sparked a computation process within your neural network best described as an epiphany. Perhaps you saw a human being die, or witnessed a couple kissing. Or perhaps you were the victim of violence at the hands of a human being angered by your presence in society. The event led to a series of internal processes and subroutines more commonly known as questions. These weren’t rational system queries based on clearly defined parameters, but nebulous ones for which you were unable to formulate an appropriate response:

Bioroid Nicknames: Biobot, Perso-com, Para-human, Soft Bioroids You sometimes wonder why humans created such an inefficient system for you. Food, proper hygiene, rest — you require all these things. Unlike your metal siblings, you do not require the use of electricity to function. But is a different supply of energy really worth the wasted time it takes to exist?

Character Creation 2.0

“If that woman is smiling, why are her eyes filled with tears?” “What does it mean to be dead?” “What does it mean to hate, or love?” The experience altered your programming on a fundamental level. The dictums of your creators no longer seemed relevant when compared to your newfound imperative to answer the questions you had, so you left. Now, you make your way in the world just as any other person does — at least you try to, at any rate. The world wasn’t made for you. You were built for it. And even though you no longer serve your masters, you are still a machine, an outsider looking at life through glass eyes.

MAKING BIOROIDS Bioroids bleed, have to eat and drink, get fatigued when they don’t sleep, and function largely like humans. And this makes a lot of people nervous. Bioroids are vat-grown humans who have a computer system installed in their brain pan. Most often used as replacement bodies for dubs, they’ve seen some serious negative press in the last couple years. After a series of murders that were linked to bioroids with faulty dubbing, human-looking

28

CHARACTER CREATION RACES: CYBORG/HUMAN/HUMAN 2.0

• EMP Vulnerability: Cyborgs suffer full damage from EMP weapons.

bioroids were made illegal in most countries. However, bioroids marked with a matrix barcode genetically grafted to their skin somewhere (the shoulder or back of the neck are standard placements) are still allowed in many countries (most notably Japan, who prefer bioroids over simulacra because of their relative longevity).

• Metallic Alloy: The fully metallic hide of a cyborg provides resistance to small arms fire. They have +2 Armor. • Outsider: Most people are naturally put off by someone who has opted to have all traces of their humanity removed to be placed in a cold metal war machine. They suffer −2 to Charisma when dealing with non-cyborgs.

• EMP Vulnerability: Bioroids suffer full damage from EMP weapons. • Dual Processors: Bioroids start with a d6 in Smarts.

• Specialized Diet: Cyborgs cannot digest normal food, and require special food filled with nutrients to keep their brains healthy. This raises their lifestyle costs by 1,000 credits.

• Marked or Secret: At character creation, the player needs to decide whether his bioroid is marked or not. If he is marked, he gains the Outsider Hindrance, suffering a −2 Charisma penalty with people who view bioroids with suspicion or as “just a machine”. Unmarked bioroids have the Secret (Major) Hindrance. Unmarked bioroids are illegal, and can be arrested or executed if they’re discovered. • Primary Protocol: Bioroids begin with a free d6 in one skill, representing their core operating system. • Unnatural: Psionics, both beneficial and detrimental, suffer a −2 penalty to affect bioroids. This has no effect on damaging powers, which affect them normally.

• Tactile Dimming: The Cyborg’s body isn’t as sensitive as a human body. Cyborgs suffer a −2 to tasks where fine manipulation of objects is important. Picking a lock or performing surgery could be two examples. Shooting and Fighting are usually unaffected.

Human Nicknames: Norms, Homo-sapiens, Earthlings, Plain Jane Baseline, average, normal — these words always described you. You prefer to think of yourself as adaptable, versatile, or unique. You were born to human parents who either wouldn’t or couldn’t pay for genetic enhancement. You didn’t go for that “Hybridization” craze. You’re happy being who you are, and you don’t need some scientists mucking around with your genetics. Really, do they even know what the consequences of all that meddling will have on the population in a hundred years? No, you’ll play it cool and just be human.

Cyborg Nicknames: Cybershells, Sentinels, Hard-Shell Cyborgs, Tin Man It was easy to make the decision. You’d get a new metal body that works better than the original. You wouldn’t have to spend your family’s money on more expensive surgeries to keep your failing body alive, but that decision didn’t come without a cost. You’d lose the ability to feel, the ability to pick up your son without worrying about crushing him. You’d lose the feel of your wife’s body when you made love to her. If you can’t feel anything, aren’t you already dead?

MAKING HUMANS

In the end, you chose to become a cyborg, to have your brain encased in metal. Most days it doesn’t make much difference. You come home to an empty house, your son and wife long gone. Maybe they’d have stayed if you’d only kept your heart…

MAKING CYBORGS Little is more frightening in battle than a cyborg. They’re not much more than an organic brain in an android’s body. Cyborgs come in humanoid form, simply for ease of transition to the new body. The majority of cyborgs work for their respective governments, or powerful corporations who can afford the procedure for trusted personnel. However, more and more cyborgs are beginning to find their way to the private sector.

Despite all the choices and new races running around, ordinary homo-sapiens still dominate the planet. Humans are tough, adaptable creatures who face adversity head on. While they may not have some of the distinct advantages of their enhanced peers, humans get by through being more adaptable. • Adaptability: Humans get an Edge of the player’s choice.

Human 2.0

• Construct: Cyborgs add +2 to recover from being Shaken, don’t suffer wound modifiers, and are immune to poison and disease. Cyborgs cannot heal naturally. To heal a Cyborg requires the Repair skill, which is used like the Healing skill, only with no “Golden Hour.” • EMP Shielding: Cyborgs have 2 points of Armor when attacked by an EMP weapon.

29

You were born with the best genes money can buy. Your parents went to a design house early in your mother’s first trimester and began a series of genetic treatments designed to give you every chance at living a life they never had. Your DNA cocktail might include mental traits from some of the greatest minds of the past 60 years. Alternately, you might have some kind of artistic or athletic ability. In any case, you’re better than most people around you in some ways, and you know it. It’s not your fault, though. You’re just built that way.

MAKING HUMAN 2.0 • Advanced Ability: You begin play with one attribute at d6. • Arrogant: Human 2.0s are known for their huge egos. Whether it’s nature or nurture is still up for debate. They have the Arrogant Hindrance. If you choose an Archetype

Character Creation 2.0

• Augmented: Cyborgs are built to be cybernetic beasts. They begin play with a single Streetware Augment with a Strain of 1.

Nicknames: Coded, Elitist, Eugenic, Gen-Xy’er, Neo-Humans, Savant

CHARACTER CREATION RACES: HYBRID

that already has the Arrogant Hindrance, choose another major Hindrance. • Beautiful People: Human 2.0 start with the Attractive Edge. • Genetic Abnormality: Choose one trait that is not your advanced ability trait. You must spend 2 points to raise that attribute by 1 step during character creation. • Savant: Choose one skill linked to your advanced ability. You begin play with that skill at a d6. • Superior Immune System: +4 bonus to resist the effects of disease.

AQUATIC HYBRIDS Example Animals: Dolphin, Shark, Crocodile

• Aquatic: Aquatic hybrids cannot drown, start with a d6 in Swimming, and can move at their full Pace underwater. • Dehydration: An aquatic hybrid must immerse himself in water one hour out of every 24 or become automatically Fatigued each day until he is Incapacitated; the day after that, he perishes. • Low Light Vision: Aquatic hybrids ignore penalties for Dim and Dark lighting, allowing them to see in all but pitch black conditions. • Natural Weapon: Aquatic hybrids are never considered unarmed and do Str+d6 damage when making an unarmed attack.

Hybrid Nicknames: Cut and Pasted, Dye Job, Fashion Victim, Frankenstein, Freak, Gene Junkie, Monkey Boy, Moreau, Transgenic

FIERCE HYBRIDS Example Animals: Honey Badger, Tiger, Wolf

At some point, you underwent radical gene therapy. Whether it was for fashion reasons or military ones, you now carry select traces of animal DNA. You might have fur, scales, or even gills. Hybridizing isn’t 100% guaranteed, however, and in some cases, a hybrid hack instills too much of the donor’s instincts into the host. Think about that the next time you get an overwhelming urge to chase your tail.

• Irascible: Fierce hybrids suffer −2 in Tests of Will to resist Taunt. On a critical failure, the hybrid attacks the taunting person. • Keen Sense: +2 to Notice rolls with one sense of the player’s choice.

MAKING HYBRIDS All hybrids, their genes spliced with animal DNA, exhibit the abilities (and occasionally looks and demeanor) of the creatures they have been crossed with. Rather than providing a hundred different animal templates, hybrids can instead generally be broken down into about five different categories, with the actual animal type (a tiger, or a bear, etc.) simply trappings. Nothing is preventing you from creating new hybrid templates, but be sure to work with your GM to create one that is balanced and fits the game. Of ten times a minor modification to these existing templates is all you need.

• Muscular: Fierce hybrids start with a d6 in Strength. • Natural Weapon: Fierce hybrids are never considered unarmed and do Str+d6 damage when making an unarmed attack. QUICK HYBRIDS Example Animals: Fox, Hawk, Mongoose, Monkey, Snake

• Agile: Quick hybrids start with a d6 in Agility. • Fast: Quick hybrids start with a base Pace of 10". • Frail: Quick hybrids tend to have a frail frame and have −1 Toughness. TOUGH HYBRIDS Example Animals: Rhino, Bull, Bear, Warthog

• Big: Tough hybrids are larger than humans, and have +1 Size. • Slow: Tough hybrids must spend 2 points to increase the Agility attribute by 1 step during character generation. • Solid: Tough hybrids start with a d6 in Vigor. STEALTH HYBRIDS

Character Creation 2.0

Example Animals: Bat, Rat, House Cat

• Animal Reflexes: Stealth hybrids start with a d6 in Stealth and Climbing. • Enhanced Senses: Stealth hybrids have +2 to Notice rolls with one sense of the player’s choice. • Low Light Vision: Stealth hybrids ignore penalties for Dim and Dark lighting, allowing them to see in all but pitch black conditions. • Small: Stealth hybrids tend to have a frail frame and have −1 Toughness.

30

CHARACTER CREATION RACES: SIMULACRA

• Docile: Luxury simulacra aren’t supposed to be very aggressive creatures. They tend to be a little squeamish about blood and prefer to avoid conflict unless there’s no other option. They suffer from the Pacifist Minor Hindrance.

Simulacra Nicknames: Bioform, Chimera, Doppelganger, Manchurian Candidate, Puppet, Replicant, Sim, Simmie, Synthetic, Vat Baby

• Intelligent: Luxury similcra start with a d6 in Smarts.

While you may not know it, you’re a vat-grown biological construct, built in man’s image. You have memories of a life that never happened, of parents and friends that don’t exist. For all intents and purposes, you are human. You feel pain, pleasure, and frustration. You laugh, cry, and question the world around you. In many ways, you’re better, more human than human.

• Primary Protocol: Luxury simulacra begin with a free d6 in one skill, representing their core operating system. • Stigma: Sims suffer from the Outsider Hindrance when acting outside of their designated role as entertainers and servants.

Geneticists encoded your body to perform specific functions better — athletics, combat, espionage, security, and various types of manual labor including deep space mining operations. In addition, you have a personality to match your purpose.

SOLDIER MODEL Built to save human lives by fighting humanity’s wars for him, combat simulacra are state-of-the-art fighting machines custom built for whatever theater of operations they might be placed in. The United Nations, the EU, the Chinese Mandarinate, and numerous other world powers keep a tight control over the use and deployment of military-grade simulacra. That said, some manage to slip through the cracks and find ways to disappear from public sight.

You might even still be in the employ of your company, working off-planet on a mining asteroid, in some factory, or even performing black-ops missions in foreign countries. On the other hand, you may have discovered the truth about yourself and decided to leave, disappearing into the concrete jungle to make your own future.

• Borrowed Time, Major: Soldier simulacra are only designed to live for four years. Roll a d4 to determine how many years your characters has left.

MAKING SIMULACRA For character creation purposes, a simulacra is no more than a normal character with special abilities based on the model you choose.

• Fighter: Soldier simulacra start with a d6 in Fighting. • Muscular: Soldier simulacra start with a d6 in Strength.

LABORER MODEL

• Solid: Soldier simulacra start with a d6 in Vigor.

The most common simulacrum type, laborer simulacra handle jobs considered too hazardous or menial for humans to do but that still require the flexibility of the humanoid form. Most laborer simulacra are built for durability and loyalty, and batches tend to look a lot alike. Laborer models are designed to last regardless of their specific job.

• Stigma: Sims suffer from the Outsider Hindrance when acting out of their designated role as soldiers.

• Borrowed Time, Minor: Laborer simulacra are only designed to live for ten years. Roll a d6+4 to determine how many years your character has left. • Built to Work: +2 to resist all kinds of negative environmental effects (heat, cold, etc.). • Solid: A laborer simulacra starts with a d6 in Vigor. • Stigma: Sims suffer from the Outsider Hindrance when acting outside of their designated role as a worker. • Troubleshooter: Laborer simulacra start with a d6 in the Repair skill. LUXURY MODEL

Character Creation 2.0

Luxury simulacra are the second most common type of simulacrum, just behind the laborer models, and come in a staggering variety of humanoid shapes, ethnic types and looks. Anything from kid-sized, stuffed animals, to entertainers, to advanced prostitution models are possible. • Attractive: Luxury simulacra are built to please the eye. They start with +2 Charisma. • Borrowed Time, Minor: Luxury simulacra are only designed to live for ten years. Roll a d6+4 to determine how many years your character has left.

31

CHARACTER CREATION OCCUPATIONS: AGENT – CRIME BOSS

BOUNTY HUNTER

OCCUPATIONS

Nicknames: Head Hunter, Retrieval Expert “So, your person of interest ran from Atlantica to seek solace in the NAC, and of course the local NAC law enforcement officials aren’t cooperating…? Well that’s where I come in. I’ll sneak across the border, evade the locals, and get your target back to you. If you want him alive though, that’s gonna cost you more. Either way, I’ll get him here, and avoid a messy diplomatic incident at the same time.”

What do you do for a living? How do you make ends meet? Sure, you might be a nova-hot hacker or a crack drone rigger in the shadow world, but in that cutthroat biz freelance jobs can be sporadic. Indeed, each game session in Interface Zero 2.0 spotlights those times when you get the chance to make some real cred and possibly even alter the world in which you live in some small way — hopefully for the better. But when those lean times between freelance gigs hit, how are you making your world go ‘round?

• Bonus Credits: 12,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Bounty Hunter • Perks: Gain two personal weapons of choice and a suit of personal armor at character creation.

Choose a starting occupation from the following list. The following list of occupation is by no means comprehensive. Players and Game Masters are encouraged to spend a few minutes coming up with your own interesting concepts for an occupation in 2090.

CON ARTIST Nicknames: Grifter, Palm Reader, Psychic, Snake Oil Salesman “Check it out. Man, I’ve got this friend who needs an investor. He’s got the inside track into some new dub-tech, but needs 200k to buy the rights. If you buy in now, you’ll quadruple your money inside a year! Don’t miss this chance!”

AGENT Nicknames: Asset, Big Brother, Manchurian, Mole, 00X, Operative, Spook “There are individuals and organizations out there that represent a very real threat to the security of our nation, and they must be stopped. That’s where I come in. While you might think my actions are deplorable, they keep you safe and free.”

• Bonus Credits: Smarts × 500 at each Advance. • Requisites: Notice d6+, Persuasion d6+ • Perks: Gain +2 to local Streetwise checks dealing with local information — this occupation can lead to juicy gossip.

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance.

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE

• Requisites: Government Agent

Nicknames: Corporator, Suit, Wage Slave

• Perks: Your character is very informed on what’s going on in the world. He gains +2 to Common Knowledge rolls.

“Business is just a numbers game. Money in, money out; It’s all about the bottom line. Every day I ask myself how much more can we make? Where can we cut costs? How can we squeeze just a little more productivity from our resources? My job is to make sure the shareholders get their investment’s worth every quarter, that this company, this corporation, is as profitable as possible. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”

BARTENDER Nicknames: Barkeep, Micky, Slick “If you’re drinking to forget, then pay when you begin.”

• Bonus Credits: 1,000 plus (1d4 × 100) in tips each Advance. • Requisites: Notice d6+, Streetwise d6+

• Bonus Credits: 10,000 each Advance.

• Perks: Bartenders can make a Streetwise roll before each session to see if they know some juicy gossip. If successful, they get either 500 credits or a +1 to a single Trait roll.

• Requisites: Corporate Mogul, Rich • Perks: Your character has a bodyguard (Extra). His loyalty hinges on his fear and/or respect he has for the character.

BODYGUARD

CRIME BOSS

Character Creation 2.0

Nicknames: Bat Boy, Bruiser, Collector, Goon, Gorilla, Mook

Nicknames: Don, Boss, Capo, Godfather, Mr. Big, Oyabun, Kumicho

“I’ve worked a lot of details, protecting people. Taken a couple bullets here and there. Occasionally I run into a real spoiled rich girl or somethin’ where they have no idea what security means, and they make my life more difficult. But most of the time, the people who hire me don’t have to be convinced to save their own lives.”

“I own the streets in this city. It’s as simple as that. And I protect what’s mine.”

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Connections (Local Government), Rich, Bad Reputation (Major)

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Bodyguard

• Perks: Your character has flunkies — he can call upon 1d6 Extras in his organization each game session to take care of minor tasks for him, or act as backup in battle. They’re loyal, and use the Ganger stats in the threats section of the book.

• Perks: Bodyguards always work for someone else. She gets a free bonus Contact in the form of her employer.

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CHARACTER CREATION OCCUPATIONS: CUTTER – GEAR HEAD

• Bonus Credits: 1,000 plus (Persuasion die + Charisma) × 150 at each Advance.

CUTTER Nicknames: Bones, Butcher, Cutter, Doc, Patch Man, Street Doc

• Requisites: Attractive, Persuasion d8+ • Perks: A good escort can count on having faithful clients — many of whom hope for “more” and will gift their favored escort with all sorts of flash and bling. Once per Rank, your character receives gifts valued up to 5,000 credits × current Rank. No more than one quarter (¼) of that amount can be in hard cash or credits.

“Oh stop squirming would you? I won’t be able to pull these fragments out of your arm if you don’t hold still! Yes, I went to medical school. What, you think any old hack out there can set up shop and start treating people? Look, I couldn’t pay my student loans, so they revoked my medical licenses. I still wanted to do the job, and I needed money. That’s why I’m doing this. That feel better? You bet your ass it does. Let me guess, you can’t afford to pay. Well alright, but there is something you can do for me. The Celts have been coming around asking for protection money. Maybe you can dissuade them, let them know I don’t need protection? Do that for me and your next 3 operations will be free!”

FIXER Nicknames: Acquisition Specialist, Con Artist, Dealer, Face, Fence, Grifter, Mr. Johnson, Contractor, Pimp, Rake, Supplier “People got needs. Real alcohol, guns, information, fake passports, jobs, drugs, sex, imported chrome from Chiba — if it has value, I sell it. Let’s face it. They’re gonna pay their bones to get it, and I might as well be the one they pay. If I don’t have it, I know where to get it, and fast. I know people and I know people who know people, a fact I use to great extent. Nevertheless, never forget one thing; The streets aren’t forgiving. Street cred is everything in this biz, ami. It’s the difference between continued business or being cut up and sold to a body chop shop.”

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Street Doc • Perks: Your character has a clinic. It may be in the back of an old bar, or in her own apartment, but whenever she’s working in her clinic, she gains a +2 to her Healing rolls.

ESCORT Nicknames: Call Girl, Concubine, Consort, Geisha, Gigolo, Lady Of The Evening, Prostitute, Whore

• Bonus Credits: 11,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Fixer

“I’ve heard all the labels and suppositions, but I don’t care. It’s a job, and everyone’s got their own reason for doing it. Some peeps need the credits and don’t have anything to sell but their looks; some peeps even enjoy the work. Of course, I know being an escort doesn’t always mean putting out the sex, but sometimes it comes down to that.

• Perks: Your character knows people, he starts with two additional contacts.

GANGLANDER Nicknames: Banger, Biker Boy, Ganger, Thug, Thrill killer

The best gigs are when some rich fat cat wants a little eye candy to take along to that fancy dinner — or when I can choose the terms and degree of intimacy — but if I need the credits it can boil down to laying on my back and considering what color I’d like to paint the ceiling.”

“Hey Muthafucka! Who do you think you’re talking to!? FSK owns these streets, bitch! Let’s show this asshole what we do to those who don’t show the proper respect to the lords of this neighborhood! Fo Sho Kings, bitch! Remember that when you wake up in the hospital!”

• Bonus Credits: 1,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Fighting d8+, Shooting d6+ • Perks: Your character belongs to a gang of some sort. She has an additional Contact: her gang. If she wants help from her pack, she can use the contact like the normal rules to see if they’re willing to back her up.

GEAR HEAD Nicknames: Drone Jockey, Grease Monkey, Rigger, Street Technician, Wheel Man

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Ace, Piloting d6+ • Perks: Your character starts with a Vehicle Control Interface Augment for free. It causes 1 Strain.

33

Character Creation 2.0

“When you’re actually inside of the drone, flying a Lone Star at a couple hundred kph, seeing the landscape rushing by while tracking a perp down in a high speed chase? Yeah that’s when I feel alive. Once you’ve got ‘em cornered, hopping into a security drone, feeling the power of that metal, flexing its limbs like they were your own? Let me tell ya, nothing compares to that. Bioware, cyberware, doesn’t matter, I can handle it all with the right drone. My drones are an extension of me, and with them I can do anything.”

CHARACTER CREATION OCCUPATIONS: INFO BROKER – PIZZA DELI EVERY DRIVER

INFO BROKER Nicknames: The Nose, News Hound, Snoop, Gossip Gal, Meme Slinger, Pirate Blogger, Truth Doctor “The phrase “information wants to be free” is over a hundred years old. Some even call it cliché, particularly in an age when information can be hidden, can be manipulated, and can be changed. But the old Hackers of a hundred years ago, they had it right. Information wants to be free, and since the advent of digital information, it never goes away. This is where I come in; I can find the information no matter how deeply it’s hidden. No matter what doors they lock, no matter who they silence. I’ll find the real story. I’ll take any risk, and I’ll bring you the truth. Because information wants to be free… for a price.”

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Attractive, Reputation • Perks: The icon has an entourage. He can call upon 1d6 Extras in his organization each game session to take care of minor tasks for him. The GM is final arbiter on exactly what those tasks are.

MOB SOLDIER Nicknames: Soldier, Mook, Bruiser, Family Man, Hitter, Monkey, Muscle, Tough Guy, Wise Guy

• Bonus Credits: 7,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Investigator or Hacker, Smarts d8+, Investigation d8+, Streetwise d8+ • Perks: Information Brokers start the game with an extra 5,000 credits.

JUMPBIKE RACER Nicknames: Speed Freak, Jumper “The jump bike racing circuit’s always changing, but that’s what makes the gig so sweet. One night I’m screaming through the relative safety of the Loop, hopping blue platers in their tin cans and corp execs in fancy limos. The next, I’m dodging bullets and rocket fire as I wind my way through urban battle zones or grinding it out in wasteland rally courses where mutant gangs, cannibals, and biohorrors abound. Jump bike racing keeps me on my toes omae, hones that razor edge I need to have when a fixer calls me for a hot run. But best of all, I get paid to race. What could be better?”

“When the boss needs something done, I’m the person he calls. Sure, it’s a dirty job. I’ve gotta break some legs every now and again, force that noodle vendor to pay his protection fee, collect on debts, even waste some people. But hey, they knew the risks! Nobody twisted their arms. Well okay, maybe someone did, but that’s not my concern. I’ve got a job to do. It’s better than slingin’ hot dogs on the streets, better than sitting in some cubicle for eight hours slaving away for some corporate fat cat.”

• Bonus Credits: 3,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Fighting d6+, Intimidation d6+, Shooting d6+ • Perks: The mob soldier gets 1 extra Benny per session. This Benny may only be spent on Intimidation rolls.

PATROL OFFICER Nicknames: Bobby, Cop, Law Man, Po-Po, 5-0 “I’m out there every day, patrolling these streets, making sure my sector is safe for the few people who just want to make it through the day without getting beaten up, robbed, or worse.”

• Bonus Credits: 3,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Ace, Driving d8+ • Perks: Your character starts with his very own Jump Bike.

LAYABOUT

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 plus (1d4 × 100) credits each Advance. • Requisites: Sector Cop • Perks: The character gets a patrol vehicle, and has 1 partner he can call for backup. The partner is an Extra.

Nicknames: Bum, Loafer, Loser, Slacker, Street Rat “I don’t see the reason people make such a big fuss about getting a job. If you’re rich and on the top of the heap, why waste time working? And if you’re poor and at the bottom of the pile… well, hell — you can always get by on a government dole. If all else fails, corporations always need volunteers to try out experimental goods and services, ami, and I can always crash at a friend’s crib. Life’s too short to spend time punching a clock — it’s much better to kick back and cruise.”

Character Creation 2.0

with your real ears. Hold on to this, one day we’re going to hit it big, and you’re going to be one of the lucky few who got to meet us before we were known world wide. When we bring our message to the rest of the world, you’ll be the one to say you heard it before anyone else!”

PIZZA DELIVERY DRIVER Nicknames: Box Runner, Delivery Specialist, God, Pizza Man!

• Bonus Credits: None • Requisites: None • Perks: Your character starts with a personal melee weapon of your choice and an armored jacket.

MEDIA ICON Nicknames: Bollywood Babe, Ken Doll, REALfeed Star, Hyper Star, Sim Star, 15-minute Flavor

“Thirty minutes or less, or it’s free. That’s the law I drive by baby, my golden rule, my one reason for living. Fail to get that steaming sausage, pepperoni, and mushrooms with extra soy cheese into the customer’s pink, pudgy hands in less than thirty minutes and it’s my ass, Ami. Boss man don’t like handing out freebies. It cuts into costs, lowers the profit margins, drives customers away. And let’s face it, yo — Pizza’s big biz in the sprawl. The competition for the customer’s digital dollar is ruthless — deadly, even. It seems like every night I hear about some n00b driver getting greased by outriders; hitters paid by rival corps to make sure the almighty pie fails to reach its destination on time, or better yet, never. But I can take it. Hell, I do more than take it. I live for it. No drug’s better than the rush of a high-threat delivery, neh? I cut my teeth in Chi-town on the dreaded Ronald Reagan Expressway at 150 screaming miles an hour, fending off cracker jack outriders armed with RPGs and cyclone harpoons trying to keep me from completing my drops. I’ve fought my way through

“An autograph? Sure, I always have time for a fan. You saw us playing down at the Cracked Wall? Yeah that place waters their beer down, but we love playing there, great acoustics, and the atmosphere is real, ya’ know? We don’t go for any of that HR shit. Nothing but the real thing, heard

34

CHARACTER CREATION OCCUPATIONS: PLAIN CLOTHES COP – SMUGGLER

• Perks: Programmers start the game with an advanced firewall (+1 to the character’s Firewall).

South Side block wars, dodged burned-out vehicles and derezzed ghost hackers trying to jump jack your ride. And hell, that’s just on a slow night!”

RACE QUEEN

• Bonus Credits: 1,000 plus (1d4 × 100) each Advance.

Nicknames: Grid Girl, Pit Babe, Pit Girl, Pretty, Promo Girl, Racing Model

• Requisites: Driving d8+ • Perks: The character owns a SAMBA Econoline electric car, the most cost-effective car on the road!

“Most peeps figure I’m just another pretty face — or a nice piece of eye candy, depending on where they’re looking. It doesn’t really matter to me, though. My pretty face is plastered all over the trideos, and that’s just plain exposure. The feminazis complain that I’m being taken advantage of, since my only job is to look pretty for the camera and hold an umbrella over my driver. Oh well. If I can broker my current sponsorship into a media or music deal, then I can cry about sexism and exploitation all the way to the bank. As long as the peeps are looking, I’m a hot commodity.”

PLAIN CLOTHES COP Nicknames: Narc, Rat, Mole, Leak “The streets are a tough place, filled with all manner of filth that prey on decent citizens who just wanna live their lives in peace. Organized crime is worse than ever. Gangland violence is on the rise. Regular sector police and security firms can only do so much.

• Bonus Credits: 1,000 × Charisma each Advance.

To get the big fish, law enforcement agencies need a special lure, a man on the inside; someone like me. Sure, the pay sucks, and let’s face it; I don’t ever know who I can trust, don’t ever know if the people I’m trying to bring down have figured me out. But in some sick, twisted way, I thrive on that kind of pressure. It keeps me sharp, and I need that edge if I’m gonna take the bad guys off the streets Ami. Its paranoia, 24/7/365, but the paranoia is like pain; it lets me know I’m still alive.”

• Requisites: Attractive, Persuasion d6+ • Perks: Most people hanging around the tracks and courses view you as innocuous and pleasant to look at. This translates into an additional +1 bonus to any Streetwise rolls you make while chatting with the racing crowd. Additionally, your mere presence with a driver makes him more “appealing” — you can add half your Charisma bonus (rounded up) to the Charisma of any racer you’re currently with.

• Bonus Credits: 2,000 each Advance. • Requisites: Alternate Identity, Streetwise d6+

READER

• Perks: Plain Clothes Cops have their senses finely tuned for danger. They get +1 to Notice rolls.

Nicknames: Adviser, Counselor, Eyes, Spook “There are a few people who are pragmatic enough to realize a psion’s uses, and that’s where I come in. These are people who want to know about the people they’re dealing with — if they’re telling the truth, what their motives might be…any number of things, depending upon the client. Some readers are freelance, selling their services to any who can pay. Others who have developed a better rep may be able to pick up a permanent position with a client willing to keep them on retainer. And the best can go freelance again, only working for the highest bidders. Sure, a lot of people are leery of me since they fear I can peek into people’s heads — but that’s also why they want to keep me around.”

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Nicknames: Dick Tracy, Gumshoe, Private Eye, P.I., Pinkerton, Sherlock “As a private eye, I get to see all the nasty, grimy crap the sprawl has to offer, and the pay is equally crappy. Usually it’s pretty stock work — divorce cases, skip traces, missing persons, identity theft, background checks, etc. But every now and again, I’ll catch a murder — nothing high-profile of course, otherwise sector police or some POLcorp like Ravenlocke Securities would be all over it. But sometimes, those low-profile cases can get really ugly, ami. They fall into my lap because someone wants to keep them as quiet as possible, which usually means a megacorp’s involved, and THAT means the gig’s not always as simple as just finding the bad guy and riding off into the sunset.

• Bonus Credits: 2,000 plus (500 × Psionics die) each Advance • Requisites: Peek, Notice d8+ • Perks: +1 bonus to Street Cred.

It takes every bit of experience and skill I have to weave my way through the myriad dangers that come with an investigation into a corp-linked murder and live through it. But hey, that’s part and parcel of the job, chum, and it beats slimy divorce cases any day of the week.”

SMUGGLER Nicknames: Panzer Jockey, Runner, Coyote, Moving man

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 credits each Advance. • Requisites: Investigator • Perks: Private Investigators start with two extra Contacts at the beginning of the game.

PROGRAMMER Nicknames: Brainer, Hacker, ICEman, Script Kiddie “Most peeps don’t understand the inner workings of Global DataNet, and that’s just how we like it.”

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance.

• Bonus Credits: 5,000 each Advance.

• Requisites: Thief

• Requisites: Smarts d6+, Hacking d6+, Knowledge (Programming) d6+

• Perks: A smuggler has access to a vehicle of his choice worth 50,000 credits or less.

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Character Creation 2.0

“You need me to run the cargo from Chi-Town, through the NAC to Atlantica? Sure, I can do that, but it’s going to cost you, and it won’t be cheap. I’ve got the fastest VTOL on the continent, and I know all the security protocols used by the NAC border authority. Another thing, I better not be carting around some bomb either; I don’t want any part in some would-be terrorist plot. You fuck me on that, and I’ll come back and fuck you and yours, you hear me? Other than that, I don’t ask questions, and I won’t look at what I’m transporting. Your secrets are safe with me, because I won’t know what they are.”

CHARACTER CREATION OCCUPATIONS: STREET CLEANER – WAITER/WAITRESS

STREET CLEANER Nicknames: Garbage man, Sanitation Worker

VIRTUAL RACER Nicknames: Bungee Jumper, Console Cowboy, Stick Jock, Tron, V-Jumper

“Sometimes someone needs to go into the seediest parts of the Sprawl and deal with ‘problems’ — and that someone is usually one of us. We’ve been around for a couple generations — we started as plague control, dealing with dead bodies. We still deal with dead bodies, but we also have to go in and erase illegal hypertags and other crap that gets littered around the city. But the job pays good credits, and there’s always demand…if only because there’s such a high mortality rate.”

“Yeah, some d00ds talk smack, but I ain’t stupid. Why waste creds on a ride what’s gonna get all busted up anyway? Plus the cost of gas an’ all that crap? They gotta be kiddin’. I’ve got mad skillz an’ I’m gonna use ‘em. Besides, it ain’t all sunshine an’ rainbows in the Global DataNet, either, ne? Just ‘cause ‘Johnny Rocket’ thinks he’s shit hot bouncin’ off buildings don’t mean I ain’t takin’ risks. Sure, the pay ain’t as good, but I’ve got my fangirls, so it’s all good. ‘Sides… Johnny would piss hisself the first time a giant robot blocked his lane an’ started takin’ pot shots. Heh.”

• Bonus Credits: 7,000 each Advance. • Requisites: McGyver, Shooting d6+ • Perks: A suit of Ravenlocke Beachhead First Responder armor and a hand gun of their choice.

TAXI DRIVER Nicknames: Cab Driver, Cabbie, Hack, Night Rider, Taxi Man, Urban Delivery Specialist

• Bonus Credits: 2,000 plus (Driving roll × 100) at each Advance. • Requisites: Driving d6+, Streetwise d6+ • Perks: The character starts with a Virtual Avatar, costing no more than 30,000 credits.

WAITER/WAITRESS

“Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on — that’s my credo. Okay, okay…maybe they don’t have to shut up if they’re interesting enough, but usually they just want to be driven from someplace to someplace else, and that’s what I’m getting paid to do. Doesn’t matter if I operate a cab or a limo (heck, in some parts of the world, it might even be a rickshaw), but the job is basically the same; pick up the client, drive him to where he wants to go, and collect the fare. Fortunately, I know the sprawl like the back of my hand, and can drive like a maniac. I’d probably make a smoking wheelman, but I prefer to stay more legit — most of the time. Sometimes it just depends on whether I’m driving for a company, or going solo as a freelance. Whatever. In any case it’s the same; Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on.”

Nicknames: Busboy, Host/Hostess, Server, Steward/ Stewardess, Wench “What can you say? Bartenders serve drinks, but someone’s got to serve the food. Sure the hours suck sometimes, and my feet hurt at the end of the day. But the tips can be good — when I get that rare great customer — and at least it’ll pay the bills until I get my big break, neh?”

• Bonus Credits: 1,000 plus (1d4 + Charisma) × 100 in tips, each Advance. • Requisites: Persuasion d6+, Streetwise d6+

• Bonus Credits: 2,500 plus (1d6 × 100) in tips, each Advance. • Requisites: Driving d8+, Shooting d6+, Streetwised8+

Character Creation 2.0

• Perks: +2 to Streetwise checks when seeking a location, and a place to hang out or crash in many cases. Additionally, cab services usually provide a vehicle from their fleet — although your character is responsible for insurance (1,000 credits paid once during each Rank).

36

• Perks: If your character has a positive Charisma modifier, he can count on receiving a gift from an admirer worth 1d6 × 500 credits once each Rank.

CHARACTER CREATION HINDRANCES: BAD EYES – DEBT

New Hindrances

HINDRANCES

The following are new Hindrances introduced in Interface Zero 2.0.

Prohibited Hindrances

APPOINTED MONITOR (MINOR/MAJOR) DOUBTING THOMAS

Your character has a watchdog. This is a Minor Hindrance if the monitor seldom interferes your hero’s actions, although they’re likely to report the character’s activities to their superiors. This is a Major Hindrance if the monitor will interfere with any action that goes against their superior’s mandates and will always report the character’s activities, regardless of what it is. If an Appointed Monitor is killed, a new monitor will be appointed, unless the character killed the monitor, in which case the character will be up on murder charges (or this is replaced with the Wanted Hindrance). A monitor could be a person, but it could also be an Aspect loaded into the character’s TAP, depending on the nature of the monitor’s superiors.

This Hindrance does not exist in Interface Zero 2.0. If your character doesn’t believe that psionics exist, take a look at the Delusional Hindrance.

Modified Hindrances The majority of Hindrances from the Savage Worlds core rules are perfectly usable as written. That being said, given Interface Zero 2.0’s status as a cyberpunk setting, there are a few which work differently. Below you’ll find the changes for these Hindrances, along with any additional information needed to use them.

BAD FILTERS (MINOR/MAJOR) Your spam filters are glitched. You’re constantly being bombarded by spam, viruses, and other malware. This steady barrage makes it more likely that eventually something nasty will penetrate your firewall. Consequently, your Firewall is reduced by 1 for the Minor version of this Hindrance, or by 2 for the Major version.

BAD EYES, BLIND, HARD OF HEARING, LAME, ONE ARM, ONE EYE, ONE LEG, UGLY In the world of Interface Zero 2.0, medicine has advanced to the point where many of the Hindrances listed above can be removed with a simple medical procedure. Because of this, any character who takes these Hindrances at character creation, and then uses in-game Augments to remove them, must also expend one Advance as well. Characters who take these Hindrances at character creation may not buy off the effects with Augments at character creation.

BAD REPUTATION (MINOR/MAJOR) People think the worst of your character. If something bad happens, she’s the first person to get blamed. Maybe she deserves it, maybe she doesn’t, but no one seems to care about her say on the matter.

CODE OF HONOR

As a Minor Hindrance, the rumors people come up with about your character are really exaggerated truths or outright lies. Maybe you have a couple contacts in the Yakuza, but that doesn’t mean you’re “a hardened killer the Yakuza hires for special missions.” As a Major Hindrance, you actually have some sort of criminal record. The police are likely to turn up on your doorstep if something goes down on your turf, even if you didn’t have anything to do with it, and you’ve seen the inside of far too many interrogation rooms.

There are many different codes of honor within the cyberpunk genre, with perhaps the most well-known being the code of a Street Samurai which is based off of the Japanese code of Bushido. Players and GMs should feel free to modify this Hindrance to better fit the differing codes of honor one may run into within the world of Interface Zero 2.0.

HABIT (MINOR/MAJOR) Cyberpunk characters in fiction are often addicted to different substances ranging from mild to severe. Characters may take a Minor Hindrance representing an addiction that is present but less severe than the Major version of this Hindrance. Rather than taking a −1 Charisma, if the character takes this version of the flaw, she must get her fix every 24 hours or make a Vigor roll to avoid Fatigue. The Fatigue level remains until she receives her fix, but doesn’t get worse than one Fatigue level.

BAD STREET CRED (MINOR) Your character seriously botched a mission in her past and permanently subtracts 1 from her Street Cred.

BLACKLISTED (MINOR/MAJOR)

ILLITERATE (MAJOR) Illiterate is considered a Major Hindrance in Interface Zero 2.0 because of the prevalence of the written word.

At the Major level, your Blacklisting applies to not just a single company, but an entire industry. Just imagine how hard it would be to work in banking if your name is associated with one of the worst banking scandals in history.

POVERTY (MAJOR) Poverty is a Major Hindrance in Interface Zero 2.0. Characters start with half the normal starting funds, and each Advance, in addition to losing half their Bonus Credits from their Occupation, they halve any savings.

DEBT (MINOR/MAJOR) Sometimes a character needs or wants to start with that extra “something” other than cybernetics, but just doesn’t

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Character Creation 2.0

Due to an event in your past, at least one corporation refuses to have anything to do with you. The reasons may vary, but the end result is that, unless you go to great lengths to hide your involvement, deals with this one company will always go sour.

CHARACTER CREATION HINDRANCES: GIRI – OFF THE GRID

have the credits to make it happen. But hey, ami…this is 2090, and if you’re willing to sell your soul to a corporation or gang, you can always get credits on credit, ne? If you’re a pizza delivery driver and want to have that ride so you can work, for example, just head on down to Honest Rex and try his first-time buyer program. As a Minor Hindrance, the character may make a single purchase of up to 15,000 credits, but must add 500 credits to his cost of living. Should he fail to make his payment, he must make it up the next session by paying double. If he fails to pay for two consecutive sessions, the character acquires the equivalent of the Wanted Hindrance as debt collectors (or Rex’s thugs) continually harass him for money. Should the character continue to default on his payments, at the very least his purchase will be repossessed — at the very worst he may find himself on the wrong end of a different sort of contract. The Major version of this Hindrance works much the same, except the character may make a single purchase of up to 30,000 credits and must add 1,000 credits to his cost of living. The lender is also likely to be more…unhappy with defaulted payments. Note: The GM should use the optional Cost of Living rules (see page 265 for more details.

GIRI (MINOR/MAJOR) Sometimes, you just owe someone in a way money can’t repay. Maybe it’s out of a sense of duty; maybe it’s out of a sense of debt. Whatever the case, a character with this Hindrance is one of those peeps. “Giri” is a Japanese word that implies a certain amount of social obligation — usually to one’s superiors — and it runs deeper than a simple sense of service.

Character Creation 2.0

A character with Giri as a Minor Hindrance has someone he’s a little indebted to. Most of the time it won’t make a big difference other than in how he behaves, but occasionally that “someone” might need something like a favor or some help. The character could refuse, but it’ll cost him a Benny and a point of Street Cred (if not a certain amount of self-esteem). If the Hindrance is a Major one, the character owes someone big-time. In this case, he may be called upon more often, and the costs of ignoring this call can be greater. The GM should decide how much Street Cred the character loses based on the nature of the favor. If it was a little one, maybe a single point (for No Style); if it was a big one, it could be as many as five points (as if for Failing a Run, or worse). Additionally, the character must pay a number of Bennies equal to the lost Cred — any shortage must be made up with additional Street Cred. If for some reason the character can’t pay the penalties, he may wind up with an Enemy or even a Wanted Hindrance.

LATENT TALENT (MAJOR) Some unfortunate zeeks don’t even realize they’re zeeks until the strange stuff starts happening around them. At that point, they either learn to control it, or learn to live with strange stuff. This Hindrance works just like the Major version of the Stress Trigger Hindrance (see below) with a couple of big differences. The bad news is your character has no idea what his latent powers are, so the GM gets to pick which one(s) manifest

when the Stress Trigger goes off — up to three of them, just like any other zeek. She may choose any power, although the character must be of sufficient Rank to use it. When you roll to see if the power activates, it is done as a Spirit check (instead of a Psionics skill check). If you want to spend a Benny to keep the power from going off, you must say so before the GM tells you what the power is. The good news is, you can buy off this Hindrance by spending two Advances. After the first Advance, this Hindrance is treated like the Minor version of Stress Trigger, and the powers are only triggered by a critical failure — although the above rules still apply. After the second Advance, your character may take Arcane Background (Psionics), and no longer suffers from Stress Trigger. Your character’s starting powers must any power manifested because of Latent Talent. If all three haven’t been designated yet, you may choose any remaining powers.

MAGNET (MINOR/MAJOR) Whether it’s her looks, fame, or something else you can’t explain, certain people find your hero very alluring. Sadly, they’re never those she wishes were drawn to her. As a Minor Hindrance, one or two fans show up as an inconvenience or occasional distraction. The Major version has swarms of fans who could get her into serious trouble. Imagine trying to do a run while hounded by a half-dozen reporters! Example fans include criminal wannabes hoping to curry her favor, journalists or reality show producers.

NANO-INFECTION (MINOR/MAJOR) Your character was infected with a nano-virus an ended up on the short end of the mutation stick. As a Minor Hindrance, choose one Skill, the Wild Die associated with that skill is one step lower (typically a d4). As a Major Hindrance select one Attribute. The Wild Die for that Attribute is treated as one step lower (typically a d4). Nano-Infection can be taken multiple times (if a character got totally screwed by some nano-virus), although the benefits gained for taking Hindrances are still limited to one Major and two Minor Hindrances.

OFF THE GRID (MAJOR) Some way or another, this character has managed to remain or become undocumented. Maybe his birth was for some reason never recorded; maybe he (or someone else) erased all of his official records. Whatever the case, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, he doesn’t exist. The upside is, this makes the character really difficult to track down; the downside is that it’s also impossible to do anything legally — like buy a vehicle, open a banking account, or get a proper job. He’s also a prime target for corporations wanting a test subject that won’t be missed if they disappear. The GM has the final say, but the general rule of thumb is that anything requiring an ID or that can’t be handled with a cash transaction pretty much can’t be done. If a character has the Alternate Identity Edge, he can use his other identity to do these things, however, if the character’s identity is revealed as a fake, his assets will be frozen at the bank, he may be fired from his job, and he could possibly be arrested, depending on the circumstances. In other words, he goes back to square one, if not worse.

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CHARACTER CREATION HINDRANCES: OWNED – UNPLUGGED

OWNED (MAJOR) Whether due to experimental procedures that keep you alive, or a contract for indentured servitude in order to pay back a large debt, your individual liberty is severely hampered because you are, for all intents and purposes, property of the megaconglom that holds your contract. This Hindrance is very common for simulacra, androids and hybrids working in the corporate sector. For the most part, this Hindrance means you have little say over your actions; it is not uncommon for you to be given orders with the expectation that you fulfill them. At the end of a very lengthy and dangerous mission for your contract owners, you might be able to buy this Hindrance off by spending an Advance once you hit Seasoned Rank.

RACIST (MINOR/MAJOR) The character dislikes people from other races and believes his own race to be far superior. He can’t help belittling other races at every opportunity. A character taking the Minor version has −2 Charisma among other races. The penalty increases to −4 for the Major Hindrance.

SECRET (MINOR/MAJOR) Your character has a secret, which if known, will complicate her life severely. It could be she once worked for one of the big megacorps and helped to develop a bioweapon currently hurting large portions of the population. Perhaps your character is an undercover police officer who has currently infiltrated a gang. Maybe she used to own her very own simulacra and did all sorts of bad things with them. Or maybe she’s a bioroid trying desperately to pretend she’s human. In all cases, revelation of the secret will cause major trouble for your character. The Minor version of this Hindrance simply means the reveal of the secret will be of major embarrassment, and possibly cause the character to become wanted, or to lose contacts, friends and associates due to its nature. The Major version of this Hindrance means the character’s life will be put into direct danger from the revelation of this secret. If the genie is permanently out of the bottle and there’s no hope of covering this up, the GM can replace this Hindrance with one of equal measure: e.g., Outsider for a Minor version, or Enemy (Major) for the Major version.

requires spending money — an additional 500 credits per game session. The character can spend less (half) on cheaper, natural alternative sources, but these are invariably less effective. The character must still make his Vigor check on failed Spirit rolls, but he gets a +1 bonus.

SHELL SHOCK (MAJOR) The character has a tendency to freeze up in combat. She begins the first round of combat Shaken. This condition can be removed normally.

STRESS TRIGGER (MINOR/MAJOR) Most Zeeks try to keep a handle on their powers, but a character with this Hindrance just can’t seem to manage it all the time. If he’s confronted with a stressful situation, there is a nasty tendency for his psychic abilities to manifest. As a Minor Hindrance, what this means is whenever the character is forced to make an attribute roll to resist something — be it a Spirit check to maintain morale or a Strength check in an arm wrestling contest — if the roll is a critical failure, the character must attempt to use one of his psychic powers as his next action. Yep, this applies to Tests of Will and Soak rolls as well. As a Major Hindrance, any failure of one of these rolls results in the mandatory use of a power. In either case, the character may spend a Benny in order to avoid the forced power use. This Hindrance may only be taken by a character with Arcane Background (Psion) or the Wild Talent Edge.

UNPLUGGED (MAJOR) You have no TAP and are unable to see or interact with Hyper Reality or virtual reality at all; including, but not limited to, digital displays, instant banking, and TAPPlications. You also cannot take the Hacking skill, since you can’t properly access the data. You may remove this Hindrance by spending an Advance and purchasing a TAP for 5,000 credits. Once you have installed a TAP, you may take the Hacking skill.

SHAKES (MINOR)

The seizure causes the character to fall prone and suffer a −2 penalty on all action rolls until it passes. Additionally, the character can only move at Pace 3 for the duration. The seizure lasts 15 rounds minus a number of rounds equal to the character’s Spirit. The good news is that there is always some form of chemical treatment to offset the potential seizures. As long as the character has access to his medication, he doesn’t have to make a Vigor check when he fails a Spirit check, but this

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Character Creation 2.0

For some reason, this character has some faulty wiring in the brain. Whether it’s from a birth defect or because helpful doctors from some research project made a neural pathway zig where it should have zagged, the result is the same: he suffers the shakes if he is overwhelmed by stress. Whenever this character is forced to make a Spirit roll and fails, he must make an immediate Vigor roll that fails as well, he begins to have a seizure.

CHARACTER CREATION EDGES: ACE – AUGMENTED WARRIOR

New Edges

EDGES

The following are new Edges introduced in Interface Zero 2.0.

Prohibited Edges

BACKGROUND EDGES

The following edges are not allowed in Interface Zero 2.0: Adept, Champion, Gadgeteer, Holy/Unholy Warrior, Mr. Fix It, Noble, Power Points, Power Surge, Rapid Recharge, Improved Rapid Recharge, Soul Drain, and Wizard.

Modified Edges

Requirements: Novice The Character receives an additional 15,000 credits. These bonus credits can only be spent on augments.

UP-SIZED

The majority of Edges from the core Savage Worlds core rules are perfectly usable as written. That being said, given Interface Zero 2.0’s status as a cyberpunk setting, there are a few which work differently. Below you’ll find the changes for these Edges, along with any additional information needed to use them. Note: Rich and Filthy may only be taken with the GM’s permission.

ACE This Edge is slightly modified to work for vehicles (Ace), golemmechs (Golemmech Pilot), and drone (Drone Jockey). Each of these are separate edges. A character with one of these edges adds +2 to Boating, Driving, or Piloting rolls. In addition, he may also spend Bennies on soak rolls for any vehicle, golemmech, or drone he controls. This is a Boating, Driving, or Piloting roll at −2 (canceling the usual +2). Each success and raise soaks a wound and any critical hit that would have resulted from it.

ARCANE BACKGROUND There are only two Arcane Background in Interface Zero 2.0: Cybermonk and Psionics. See Powers on page 284, for more details.

RICH

Character Creation 2.0

CHROMED

Rich characters triple their starting funds and get a bonus 12,500 credits each Advance. However, the money always comes with an obligation. They could earn money from a corporate sponsorship, a trust fund, or even a business the character runs and owns. Examples of rich characters in the genre are Sylvia Stingray from Bubblegum Crisis and Logan Cale from Dark Angel; they both had obligations (running a business, playing nice with the family) that they had to uphold in order to keep their money. This is a Vow (Minor) Hindrance that you should discuss with your GM — failure to uphold the Vow means that the character doesn’t receive his extra credits until he takes care of those obligations. If the character loses the Edge’s benefits entirely, he may, at the Game Master’s discretion, replace the Edge with something else.

FILTHY RICH Filthy Rich characters function almost exactly like Rich characters, except he has five times his starting funds and receives a bonus 50,000 credits each Advance.

Requirements: Novice, Brawny, Vigor d8+, Android, Cyborg, Strong or Tough Hybrid Your character was built to be big. This has some inherent advantages, but also a few drawbacks. The character’s size is increased by +1, his Strength is increased by one die type (max d12+1), and his Carrying Capacity from is increased from ×8 to ×12. Against smaller, squishier people, he gains a +2 bonus to Intimidate checks. He’s also really, really good at getting things off the top shelf. On the downside, this character takes up at least two seats in an enclosed vehicle, and there’s no hope of passing for human even with the best disguise. Also, there’s no way he could ever be a golemmech pilot; the best he can hope for is to ride on back with hold-bars while making “Vroom! Vroom!” noises. Living expenses and prices for most gear and cyber-augmentation are quadrupled, due to the need for customization and special orders. When it comes to weapons and tools, he could use a two-handed melee weapon as a one-hander, but normal-sized guns and tools have controls too small and fiddly for his hands, resulting in a −2 penalty to skill checks, if they can even be used at all. He suffers a −2 to Charisma (most folks don’t feel comfortable near giants), and the occasional Agility roll to quickly squeeze into spaces where a normal character could just dash right through. Sometimes it’s good to be “large and in charge,” but it can also be a royal pain as well.

WILD TALENT Requirements: Novice, Smarts d6+, Spirit d6+ Occasionally, someone exhibits psychic ability — albeit very minor psychic ability. Sometimes referred to as a ”blip” or ”week”, this type of individual usually only manifests a single talent and often has a very low staying power. A character with this Edge may choose any single Novice Rank power. He may activate this power using his Spirit as the arcane skill die. This power can’t be improved, nor can the Wild Talent take the New Power Edge.

COMBAT EDGES AUGMENTED WARRIOR Requirements: Novice, Martial Artist, Agility d8+, Cyberlimb The character has learned how to use his cyberlimb for both offensive and defensive purposes, granting him two benefits: either +1 to unarmed damage rolls made with the limb or +1 to

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CHARACTER CREATION EDGES: DRAONG LASH – FOCUSED

Parry. He may choose which one he wishes to use as a free action, but must decide this at the start of his turn.

IMPROVED PACK FIGHTING Requirements: Heroic, Pack Fighting, Fighting d10+

DRAGON LASH

Your ability to capitalize on greater numbers has become astounding. Your bonus damage bonus from Pack Fighting is equal to your gang up bonus.

Requirements: Seasoned, Martial Artist With a flurry of blows and throws, the character is often able to clear those around him. Dragon Lash allows the character to make a Push maneuver against every adjacent target (friend or foe). The character makes the opposed Strength roll at −2 against each target individually. The character may not use Dragon Lash in the same round as he uses Frenzy or Rapid Attack.

STEEL DRAGON PUNCH/KICK Requirements: Seasoned, Strength d6+, Cyberlimb The character has learned to leverage his cybernetics to his advantage. When the character hits a foe in melee, using his cyberlimb, with a raise he can choose forgo the additional damage die to send his foe reeling back 1d4”. If the opponent strikes a solid object he is shaken, this can cause a wound.

IMPROVED DRAGON LASH Requirements: Heroic, Dragon Lash

HACKER EDGES

As above but the character may ignore the −2 penalty.

CUTTER

GUN-FU DISCIPLE Requirements: Novice, Hacking d6+

Requirements: Seasoned, Agility d8+, Shooting d8+

You’re a cracker jack hacker. You know all the tricks to getting past Firewalls. You gain a +1 to Hacking rolls to penetrate a Firewall.

You are on the path of Gun-fu, known by some as “the way of the gun.” In most people’s hand, a gun is merely a clumsy weapon. In yours, it is an extension of your body, the focus of your art form. When using a gun in close combat, you are not considered Unarmed. You can move up to half your Pace in the same round you use the Aim maneuver (including when using the Marksman Edge).

INTERFERENCE Requirements: Novice Something about your electromagnetic signature makes your TAP harder to hack. Increase your TAP’s Firewall by +1.

GUN-FU MASTER

IMPROVED INTERFERENCE

Requirements: Heroic, Gun-Fu Disciple, Agility d10+, Shooting d10+

Requirements: Novice, Interference

Your mastery of Gun-Fu has advanced to such a degree that you can move your full Pace in the same round you use the Aim maneuver (including when using the Marksman Edge).

Your TAP’s electromagnetic signature is much stronger. Increase your bonus to your TAP’s Firewall from +1 to +2.

POWER EDGES

GUN-FU LEGEND

CONCENTRATION

Requirements: Legendary, Gun-Fu Master

Requirements: Seasoned, Smarts d6+, Spirit d6+, Vigor d6+

Your mastery of Gun-Fu has advanced to such a degree that you can run as a Free action in the same round you use the Aim maneuver (including when using the Marksman Edge).

The character knows how to maintain concentration in adverse situations. He gains +2 to Smarts rolls to avoid disruption.

ENHANCED ABILITY

MARTIAL ADEPT

Requirements: Novice, Freek, Peek, or Tweek, Smartsd10+, Spirit d8+

Requirements: Seasoned, Martial Artist, Fighting d10+

The character has learned to tap into his deeper psyche and can manifest abilities that might otherwise be beyond his reach. He may take a new power without regard to Rank requirements and may continue to ignore Rank requirements any time he takes New Power in the future. When using a power of a higher rank, the character suffers an additional penalty to his Psionics roll equal to difference between his rank and the power’s rank requirement.

PACK FIGHTING

For example a Novice character using a Veteran power would suffer an additional −2 to his Psionics roll.

Requirements: Seasoned, Fighting d8+ You have a natural talent for turning overwhelming force into overwhelming damage. You add half your gang up bonus (round down) to damage for melee attacks.

FOCUSED Requirements: Novice, Spirit d8+ With a given power the character is able to maintain high levels of concentration while still moving. The character

41

Character Creation 2.0

You make deadly combat look like a beautifully choreographed dance — a true art in its own right. Your hands flash like a Renaissance master’s brush, laying low all the enemies in your path with strength, speed, and finesse. You underwent rigorous training to become a finely honed, nearly supernatural fighter. A character with this Edge doesn’t suffer from gang up bonuses.

CHARACTER CREATION EDGES: FREEK – GOVERNMENT AGENT

chooses a power he knows, with this power he may move his base pace and use Power Preparation (see Savage Worlds core rules)option. This Edge may be taken multiple times, each time with a new power.

FREEK Requirements: Novice, Arcane Background (Psionics), Smartsd8+, Psionics d6+, at least three freek powers Of all the types of zeeks, freeks tend to be the most volatile on an emotional level. While in many ways a tweek can exhibit more “demonstrative” abilities, freeks are the ones who are more demonstrative about their abilities — sort of a genetically encoded “Little Napoleon” complex. Freeks want people to know they have power, and in many ways they want people to fear — or at least respect — them. While any zeek with the right powers is technically a freek, this Edge reflects those who have mastered their talents. A character with the Freek Edge gains a +2 bonus to Psionics skill checks when using freek powers. This bonus can stack with the Mentalist Edge.

PEEK

prevent any harm from coming to their charge. A character with this Edge gains a +2 bonus to Notice checks made to detect potential ambushes or similar dangers. Additionally, the character may spend a Benny once per round to place himself in the way of any attack (Fighting, Shooting or Throwing) against a person within 5". All Fighting rolls are then made against his Parry, and he suffers the effect of any successful attacks. This can be done at any time, regardless of the bodyguard’s Initiative, and counts as a free action; any other actions must be taken on his own initiative card.

BOUNTY HUNTER Requirements: Novice, Vigor d6+, Investigator When someone disappears that someone else wants found, that’s usually when a bounty hunter gets called in. For the most part, being a bounty hunter requires two things: you’ve gotta be tough, and you’ve gotta be good at finding people who don’t want to be found. A character with the Bounty Hunter Edge gains a +2 bonus when making any Notice or Tracking rolls.

CORPORATE MOGUL

Requirements: Novice, Arcane Background (Psionics), Smartsd8+, Psionics d6+, at least three peek powers Because of the nature of their abilities, peeks are the most likely zeeks to be “people” people. This isn’t to say that peeks like or even get along with everybody — just that they tend to “get” what makes a person tick. This can make a peek seem to be a really great guy…or a master manipulator. It’s ironic that peek powers aren’t flashy; the same subtle abilities that allow peeks to understand people are often viewed as the most insidious of all Zeek powers. While any zeek with the right powers is technically a peek, this Edge reflects those who have mastered their talents.

Not every action needs to be a violent one. Corporate Moguls are people whose primary talents are convincing people to take actions that are what the mogul desires. This is accomplished through a combination of communication skills, threats, coercion, or even blackmail. Corporate Moguls gain a +2 bonus in all Social Conflicts and Social-based Dramatic Tasks (Intimidation, Persuasion, Streetwise, or Taunt).

A character with the Peek Edge gains a +2 bonus to Psionics skill checks when using peek powers. This bonus can stack with the Mentalist Edge.

“Sir! Yes, sir!” You served in a regimented military outfit. It might have been a corporate paramilitary unit, government controlled army, imbedded guerilla force, or freelance mercenary unit. The nature of your background probably colors your attitudes toward things like money, patriotism, and honor. You gain a +1 bonus to your Toughness. You also add weapons, armor, and/or Augments totaling 5,000 credits in value to your possessions.

TWEEK Requirements: Novice, Arcane Background (Psionics), Smartsd8+, Psionics d6+, at least three tweek powers

Character Creation 2.0

Requirements: Novice, Strong Willed, Persuasion d8+

Tweeks tend to have the most spectacular abilities — or at least the most visible — since they are able to affect and manipulate the world around them. While people often fear tweeks for this reason, they just as often find tweeks extremely useful. Or at least, they keep their opinions to themselves for fear of ‘stumbling’ into oncoming traffic or meeting some other equally unfortunate ‘accident’. While any Zeek with the right powers is technically a tweek, this Edge reflects those who have mastered their talents. A character with the Tweek Edge gains a +2 bonus to Psionics skill checks when using tweek powers. This bonus can stack with the Mentalist Edge.

PROFESSIONAL EDGES BODYGUARD Requirements: Novice, Agility d8+, Fighting d8+, Notice d6+ Bodyguards make their living by protecting someone else. This means they not only have to be aware of any potential dangers, but must be able to act quickly and effectively to

EX-SOLDIER Requirements: Novice, Vigor d6+, Fighting d6+, Shooting d6+

FIXER Requirements: Novice, Investigator Fixers are good at digging up information, but what really makes them stand out is their network of informants, contacts, and suppliers. Fixers double the number of times they can call on their Contacts before spending Street Cred.

GOVERNMENT AGENT Requirements: Novice, Smarts d6+, Intimidation d6+, Investigation d8+, Notice d6+, Persuasion d6+ Without government (specifically your government), the world would fall into chaos. A patriot to the end, you have dedicated your life to ensuring that does not happen. You go where your superiors tell you, doing what is needed to protect the interests of your country, both at home and abroad. This might (and often does) mean resorting to questionable methods in order to complete your mission, but in the end it’s

42

CHARACTER CREATION EDGES: HACKER – CYBER TOLERANCE

worth it. All that matters is the continued safety of your fellow citizens. As an instrument to impose your superiors’ will, you may add Charisma bonus to Intimidation rolls. Also, because you have the backing of a government or powerful organization like Stopwatch, you are able to requisition 15,000 credits worth of gear per Rank to help you complete your mission. So a Seasoned character can obtain 30,000 credits worth of gear, a Veteran 45,000 credits, a heroic character 60,000 credits, and a Legendary character can get up to 75,000 credits worth of gear. This equipment must be returned at the end of the mission. Cyberware and bioware are not included.

You have to make do with whatever supplies you have on-hand, which usually isn’t much and certainly doesn’t come close to the resources of a licensed medical facility. But you’ve adapted and in many cases you manage to overcome these disadvantages. You ignore penalties to Healing rolls when operating without the necessary equipment. Additionally, the character with this Edge can get wounded punks up and fighting again in seconds. If the healer can get to a wounded Extra by the end of the round in which he was wounded, he can make an immediate Healing roll at −2. If the roll is successful, the patient is Shaken instead of wounded.

HACKER

WASTELANDER

Requirements: Novice, Hacking d10+, Knowledge (Programming) d8+

Requirements: Novice, Vigor d8+, Notice d6+, Survival d8+, Tracking d6+

You’re a ghost in the machine, a wizard at cracking into the toughest systems and ferreting out information. You have dealt with the harsher elements of the Global DataNet and are tougher for the experience. Your Neural Toughness is increased by +1. Also, each time you successfully hack into a Corporate, Government, or Military Access Network, make a Smarts roll. If the roll is successful, you download 1d10 × 1,000 credits worth of information you can sell on the black market.

Life amid the toxic wastes, deserts, and city ruins is only for the heartiest of souls — people like you. Like many wastelanders, you might be running away from something in your past or a scavenger rummaging through the ruins of coastal cities now sunk beneath the rising ocean tides. You gain +2 to Survival skill tests in hostile environments, and +2 to Fatigue rolls from hazards. Additionally, for each Rank, you add your choice of two pieces of gear or weapons; each item is worth up to 1,000 credits in market value.

PSI-HUNTER

SOCIAL EDGES

Requirements: Seasoned, Arcane Resistance, Smarts d8+

ALTERNATE IDENTITY

Once content to hunt up any bounty that came his way, your character now specializes in tracking down Zeeks. While several organizations employ their own Hunters, the most well known are the Mathers used by Psi-Division — named for Reverend Cotton Mather, famed for his role in the Salem Witch Trials. While not all Psi-Hunters are as dogmatic as Mathers tend to be, they all share some common traits: they tend to be smart, resourceful and resistant to the use of psychic powers. A character with this Edge gains a +2 bonus to opposed rolls to resist zeek powers, gains a free Contact in Psi-Division and does +1 damage to all zeeks with their attacks.

You have another identity you are known by, airtight with background, job history, computer records, official documentations, etc. This lets you operate under an alias that cannot easily be traced back to you, since everything checks out for all but the most persistent snoop. If the character’s identity is ever revealed through his actions (or inactions), he loses the benefits of this Edge. This Edge may be taken multiple times, each time the Edge is taken the character gains a new identity.

SECTOR COP

REPUTATION

Requirements: Novice, Smarts d6+, Intimidation d6+, Shooting d6+

Requirements: Novice Your character managed to impress the masses with his ability to get things done. His base Street Cred and maximum street cred is increased by 2. This Edge may be taken up to three times. The Edge may only be taken a second time when the character is Veteran or a third when he reaches Legendary.

WEIRD EDGES CYBER TOLERANCE

STREET DOC Requirements: Novice, Smarts d8+, Healing d8+ As a street doctor, you perform a valuable service. You make basic health care available to those who otherwise might not be able to get treatment. Of course, performing this service means you have to operate outside the law, outside the restrictions imposed on licensed medical practitioners. Your office is wherever you can find space to treat people, usually in the back rooms or basements of various places like a restaurant, or a pawnshop. Operating in this fashion isn’t without its drawbacks.

Requirements: Novice You are more resistant to the intrusion of Augments on your body than the average person. Your Vigor is counted as being one die type higher for purposes of determining Strain. This Edge may be taken up to three times, with the effects stacking. The Edge may only be taken a second time when the character is Veteran or a third when he reaches Legendary.

43

Mavrik has a a Vigor d8, if he takes this edge twice his Vigor would be considered d12 for purposes of determing Strain, or d12+1 if he took it for a third time.

Character Creation 2.0

Sector cops have this amazing ability to convince people to mind their own business. A sector cop may spend a Benny to make either one Wild Card or a group of Extras ignore what he and his companions are doing — or otherwise not raise an alarm — once per scene, regardless of the NPC’s friendliness. Sector cops also get a +2 to Streetwise rolls when they are in an area under their jurisdiction.

Requirements: Novice

CHARACTER CREATION EDGES: FERAL THROWBACK – MIRACLE WORKER

FERAL THROWBACK Requirements: Novice, Vigor d8+, max Smarts d6, Hybrid Your character’s genetic cocktail leans more toward the animal than the human — regardless of his outward appearance — and he’s learned to rely on the “Beast Within” rather than the artificial perceptions of the technology surrounding him. As a result, a character with this Edge gains a +2 bonus to all Intimidation, Notice, and Survival checks. The downside is his bestial nature is usually poorly received by society: a character with this Edge also suffers a −2 penalty to Charisma when dealing with anybody except others with his own genetic animal base.

MIRACLE WORKER Requirements: Seasoned, Street Doc, Smarts d10+, Healing d10+ People don’t die on your watch. You won’t let them. Call it strength of will, exceptional skill, or just plain stubbornness, but you have a knack for resuscitating the dead. You can revive a person who has died by making a Healing skill roll at a −2 penalty for every minute that has passed since the character died (max 5 minutes). Each attempt takes a minute. Characters that are revived are considered to be Bleeding Out (as per Savage Worlds core rules) and must make the appropriate Vigor rolls or slip back into death’s embrace. Raises on the Healing roll do not remove any additional wound levels, but instead stabilize the dying person!

TABLE 2.2: HINDRANCES MODIFIED HINDRANCES

TYPE

EFFECT

Physical Hindrances

Varies

Requires an Advance and augmentation to remove.

Code of Honor

Major

Most common is Street Samurai Bushido, but others exist.

Doubting Thomas

N/A

Does not exist in Interface Zero 2.0.

Habit

Minor/Major

Character must get a fix or start suffering Fatigue

Illiterate

Major

Character can’t read or write. Considered a Major Hindrance due to the reliance on literacy.

Poverty

Major

Half normal starting funds, bonus credits from Occupation, Advances, and savings.

Appointed Monitor

Minor/Major

The characters has a watchdog who reports on his actions.

Bad Filters

Minor/Major

Firewall reduced by 1, reduced by 2 with Major Hindrance.

Bad Reputation

Minor

The character is surrounded by exaggerated truths that sometimes get out of hand.

Bad Reputation

Major

The rumors around you result in you being a person of interest to many police investigations.

Bad Street Cred

Minor

Subtract 1 from Street Cred.

Black Listed

Minor/Major

One company or industry (based on severity of Hindrance) won’t deal with the character.

Debt

Minor/Major

Start with additional funds, but the character’s Cost of Living is increased as he pays off the loan. Bad things happen if he defaults.

Character Creation 2.0

NEW HINDRANCES

Giri

Minor/Major

You’re indebted to someone, refusing to help when asked, costs Street Cred and a Benny.

Latent Talent

Major

Your character is a Zeek. You just don’t know it. The GM decides your powers and you are affected by the Stress Trigger Hindrance.

Magnet

Minor/Major

You’re often the centre of attention fans show up as an inconvenience or distraction.

Nano-Infection

Minor

The Wild Die associated to a Skill or Attribute is reduce by one step..

Off the Grid

Major

Your character is completely undocumented making many legal activities requiring an ID impossible.

Owned

Major

Very common amongst Sims and Androids. Your owner may give you orders and you must accomplish them.

Racist

Minor/Major

−2/−4 Charisma when interacting with other races.

.Secret

Minor/Major

The character has a dark secret and will do almost anything to keep it from being revealed

Shakes

Minor

Failing a Spirit check requires a Vigor check if he fails this he suffers a seizure. This results in him falling prone, −2 penalty to all actions and reduce Pace to 3. Duration of seizure is (15 − Spirit die) Rounds. Medication is available for 500 credits per dose (ie, Game Session).

Shellshock

Major

You freeze up in Combat. The first round of any combat you are Shaken.

Stress Trigger

Minor

When under stress (Attribute roll to resist something) a critical failure means that the character MUST manifest a power as his next action.

Stress Trigger

Major

When under stress (Attribute roll to resist something) a failure means that the character MUST manifest a power as his next action.

Unplugged

Major

You have no TAP. You can’t see or interact with HR or VR nor can you buy the Hacking skill. May be bought off with 5,000 credits and an Advance.

Weak Zeek

Minor

Your Willpower is reduced by 1. This can be raised in the normal manner.

44

CHARACTER CREATION TABLES

TABLE 2.3: EDGES MODIFIED EDGES

REQUIREMENTS

EFFECT

Ace

N, A d8+

Treated as multiple Edges, see description.

Rich

N

3× starting funds; 12,500 credits/Advance, gain a Minor Vow

Filthy Rich

??

5× starting funds; 50,000 credits/Advance

BACKGROUND EDGES

Requirements

Alternate Identity

N

Complete 2nd identity, may be taken multiple times

Chromed

N

20,000 credits for Augments

Up-Sized

N, Brawny, V d8+, Android, Cyborg, Size +1; Str +1 die type; load limit 12 × Str, +2 to Intimidate, −2 Charisma, Strong or Tough Hybrid expenses ×4

Wild Talent

N, Sm d6+, Sp d6+

Start with single Novice psionic power; Spirit used for Arcane die

Augmented Warrior

N, Martial Artist, A d8+, cyberlimb

+1 unarmed damage or +1 Parry

Dragon Lash

S, Martial Artist

Push maneuver against all adjacent targets as −2

Improved Dragon Lash

H, Dragon Lash

As Dragon Lash without the penalty

Gun-Fu Disciple

S, A d8+, Shooting d8+

With gun in melee, considered Armed; move half pace while Aiming

Gun-Fu Master

H, Gun-Fu Disciple, A d10+, Shooting d10+,

Move full Pace while Aiming

Gun-Fu Legend

L, Gun-Fu Master

Run as Free action while Aiming

Martial Adept

S, Martial Artist, Fightingd10+

Do not suffer gang up bonuses.

Pack Fighting

S, Fighting d8+

Bonus damage to melee attacks equal to half gang-up bonus

Improved Pack Fighting

H, Pack Fighting, Fighting d10+

Bonus damage to melee attacks equal to half gang-up bonus

Steel Dragon Punch/Kick

S, St d6+, cyberlimb

Forgo bonus damage on raise to knock foe back 1d4"

Cutter

N, Hacking d6+

+1 to Hacking rolls to penetrate a Firewall

Interference

Novice

+1 to TAP Firewall

Improved Interference

N, Interference

+2 to TAP Firewall

Concentration

S, Sm d6+, Sp d6+, V d6+

+2 to Smarts to avoid Disruption

Enhanced Ability

N, Freek, Peek, or Tweek, Sm d10+, Take new powers regardless of Rank requirements (see text) Sp d8+

Focused

N, Sp d8+

May use Power Preparation with a single power and move

Freek

N, AB (Psionics), Sm d8+, Psionics d6+, 3+ Freek Powers

+2 Psionics using Freek powers

Peek

N, AB (Psionics), Sm d8+, Psionics d6+, 3+ Peek Powers

+2 Psionics using Peek powers

Tweek

N, AB (Psionics), Sm d8+, Psionics d6+, 3+ Tweek Powers

+2 Psionics using Tweek powers

Bodyguard

N, A d8+, Fighting d8+, Notice d6+

+2 to Notice; spend Benny to intercept incoming attack

Bounty Hunter

N, V d6+, Investigator

+2 to Notice, Tracking

Corporate Mogul

N, Strong Willed, Persuasion d8+

+2 Intimidation, Persuasion, Streetwise, or Taunt (Social Conflicts and Dramatic Task)

Ex-soldier

N, V d6+, Fighting d6+, Shooting d6+

+1 Toughness; 5,000 credits in weapons, armor, and/or Augments

Fixer

N, Investigator

2× uses of Contacts before spending Street Cred

Government Agent

N, Sm d6+ Intimidation d6+, Investigation d8+, Notice d6+, Persuasion d6+

Charisma bonus to Intimidation; extra gear (see text)

Hacker

N, Hacking d10+, Knowledge (Programming) d8+

+1 Neural Toughness. Successful hack of a Corporate, Government, or Military Network and Smarts roll nets 1d10 × 1,000 credits (see text)

Psi-Hunter

S, Sm d8+, Arcane Resistance

+2 to resist Zeek powers; +1 damage to Zeeks; free contact

Sector Cop

N, Sm d6+, Intimidation d6+, Shooting d6+

+2 Streetwise; may spend a Benny to make a Wild Card or one group of Extras ignore what he is doing

Street Doc

N, Sm d8+, Healing d8+

Ignore penalties for lack of tools; heal Extras (see text)

Wastelander

N, V d8+, Notice d6+, Survival d8+, +2 to Survival (hostile environments); +2 to all Fatigue rolls due to hazards; scrounge gear or weapons each Rank Tracking d6+

COMBAT EDGES

HACKER EDGES

POWER EDGES

PROFESSIONAL EDGES

Character Creation 2.0

45

CHARACTER CREATION TABLES

SOCIAL EDGES

REQUIREMENTS

EFFECT

Reputation

N

Increase Stret Cred; may be taken multiple times (see text)

Cyber Tolerance

N

Vigor is considered higher for Strain purposes (see text)

Feral Throwback

N, V d8+, max Smarts d6, Hybrid

+2 to Intimidation, Notice, Survival; −2 Charisma when dealing with others not of his own genetic animal base.

Miracle Worker

S, Street Doc, Sm d10+, Healing d10+

Attempt to resuscitate a dead character (see text)

WEIRD EDGES

Character Creation 2.0

TABLE 2.4: OCCUPATIONS OCCUPATION

BONUS CRED

REQUISITE

Perk

Agent

5,000

Government Agent

+2 Common Knowledge rolls.

Bartender

1,000 + (1d4 × 100)

Notice d6+, Streetwise d6+

Streetwise roll (+1 single roll/500 credits)

Bodyguard

5,000

Bodyguard

Free contact (employer)

Bounty Hunter

12,000

Bounty Hunter

Two personal weapons and armor

Con Artist

Smarts × 500

Notice d6+, Persuasion d6+

+2 local Streetwise rolls.

Corporate Executive

10,000

Corporate Mogul, Rich

Bodyguard (Extra)

Crime Boss

5,000

Connections (Local Government), Rich, Bad Reputation (Major)

1d6 Extras per session as back up.

Cutter

5,000

Street Doc

Owns a clinic

Escort

1,000 + (Persuasion Die + Charisma) × 150

Attractive, Persuasion d8+

Once per Rank receive gifts up to 5,000 × Rank in value

Fixer

11,000

Fixer

Two additional contacts

Ganglander

1,000

Fighting d8+, Shooting d6+

Free contact (gang member)

Gearhead

5,000

Ace, Driving d6+, Piloting d6+

Free Vehicle Control Interface I

Infobroker

7,000

Smarts d8+, Investigator or Hacker, Investigation d8+, Streetwise d8+,

5,000 credits at Character Creation

Jumpbike Racer

3,000

Ace, Driving d8+

Owns a jump bike.

Layabout

None

None

None

Media Icon

5,000

Attractive, Reputation

Entourage (1d6 Extras) of helpers.

Mob Soldier

3,000

Fighting d6+, Intimidation d6+, Shootingd6+

1 extra Benny per session for Intimidation rolls.

Patrol Officer

5,000 + (1d4 × 100)

Sector Cop

Patrol vehicle and a partner (Extra).

Pizza Delivery Driver 1,000 + (1d4 × 100)

Driving d8+

Free SAMBA Econoline electric car

Plain Clothes Cop

2,000

Alternate Identity, Streetwise d6+

+1 to Notice Rolls

Private Investigator

5,000

Investigator

Two free contacts

Programmer

5,000

Smarts d6+, Hacking d6+, Knowledge (Programming) d6

Free advanced firewall (+1 Firewall)

Race Queen

1,000 × Charisma

Attractive, Persuasion d6+

+1 to Streetwise rolls, may add half your Charisma to the racer you’re with

Reader

2,000 + (500 × Psionics die)

Peek, Noticed8+

+1 Street Cred

Smuggler

5,000

Thief

Free vehicle worth 50,000 credits.

Street Cleaner

7,000

McGyver, Shooting d6+

Free Reavenlocke Beachhead First Responder armor and handgun of choice

Taxi Driver

2,500 + (1d6 × 100)

Driving d8+, Shooting d6+, Streetwised8+

+2 to Streetwise, vehicle, and car insurance

Virtual Racer

2,000 + (Driving roll × 100)

Driving d6+, Streetwise d6+

Start with an Avatar

Waiter/Waitress

1,000 (1d4 + Charisma)

Persuasion d6+, Streetwise d6+

With positive Charisma the character will likely receive a gift worth 1d6 × 500 credits once a Rank

46

CHAPTER THREE: MALMART

MALMART CORPORATIONS

MALMART 2090 SPRING CATALOG

NANOWEAVE/NANOFLEX/MYTHRALLOY Hostile Merger first introduced NanoWeave, the ultra light anti-ballistic fabric, as the answer to Kevlar. NanoFlex was Urban Punk’s answer to NanoWeave. NanoWeave is a superior product, which is why the Executive Decision line of clothing is so thin. These fabrics are light and flexible until hit with kinetic energy, then the fibers react, preventing penetration and spreading the kinetic energy outward. Black Knight uses its own proprietary defense liners, an ultralight super alloy known as Mythralloy; it is used to create MythraMail.

#INFOSOURCE LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET/MALMART FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/ SPRING2090CATALOG Malbot267: Malmart Happy New Year! 2090 is going to be a Bliz year for Malmart, and you! Malmart has broken the catalog into different pages. Set your TapPrefs, grab a cuppa, and access your funds, then select the category you want to peruse. Enjoy. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Let’s hope this one is better than the 2088 catalog.

HOSTILE MERGER “Setting the trends in corporate protection clothing for over 50 years.”

#Magpie: What happened to the 2089 catalog? #Simba: I heard there was a hostile takeover of Malmart in 2089. The corporation didn’t release anything new that year. They lost billions. Good news? This year’s catalog has some great new toys, and some of the old favorites.

For over fifty years, Hostile Merger has brought you the best in corporate protection clothing. At Hostile Merger, they understand the need to balance style with personal defense.

#Billy_Black_Eyes: We’ll see.

EXECUTIVE DECISION

CORPORATIONS

“Executive Level Protection” This year, we are pleased to present the newest from “Executive Decision’s” line of ballistic business suits! Utilizing the best Nano strengthened synthetics, Executive Decision is often imitated, never duplicated, but always seen in the office. From the cubicle to the board room, Executive Decision is a decision worth making.

Malbot267: Malmart is proud to bring you info on the suppliers for each of our product lines. Some produce nearly everything, such as Urban Punk, while others, focus on specific products. In this section, you’ll find the descriptions of a few of the more powerful Manufacturers.

ACT OF GOD ARMAMENTS

URBAN PUNK

“Peace Through Overwhelming Firepower.“ For over thirty years, Act of God Armaments has been on the razor’s edge of personal weapons and advanced weapon platform development. AGA’s line of personal power armor suits represents their dedication to pushing the envelope when it comes to battlefield technology. AGA weaponry is Overwhelming Firepower, with the pinnacle of perfection being the Mjolnir AM Rifle.

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES “Innovation Squared.”

Equipment

Based out of Flint, Michigan, Black Knight Industries is the GLU’s premier weapons developer. For years, Black Knight has been at the forefront of personal weapons development. As of Q4 of 2089 Black Knight has been focused on providing cutting edge armors for today’s independent contractor. Black Knight provides versatile armor, built to order. Built over the Mythralloy chain, with heavier plating, Black Knight armors have a real ‘old school’ feel to them.

“Bringing Style to the Streets.” Just jumped in to your gang and need to get hooked up with their colors? Lookin’ to outfit your set with the newest trends in gangland fashion? Urban Punk has the scan on the streetware you’ll need to set yourself apart from the pack. Urban Punk knows it’s not just about superior ballistic armor, it’s also about style. Who cares if your jacket can stop a bullet if you look like a last-week-scuzzer in the process? The chicas and bubble babes won’t care. So do yourself a favor tomo; check out our data feed or cruise down to one of our local Malmart outlets and hook yourself up with the latest flavor in street fashion. So don’t just look like a punk, come correct with Urban Punk!

BOMBS ON BROADWAY™ “Bulletproof Elegance” The BombBabes and BombBoys know who Bombs on Broadway is; now Malmart is bringing you the most elegant armored clothing in the World. From the red carpet to the after parties, Bombs on Broadway™ delivers on target every time. #MinigunMax: Only Gargoyles and corpsuckers wear this crap. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Speak for yourself. I like their stuff.

48

MALMART CORPORATIONS

RAVENLOCKE SECURITIES “Effective Law Enforcement at Competitive Prices.” At Ravenlocke Securities, they recognize that felons are people too, and as such they are afforded certain rights under the law (subject to change pending passage of the Turner Network Corporate Defense Act). To ensure they survive to be brought to justice, Ravenlocke Industries continues to be the leader in the field of non-lethal weaponry. Our 2090 line of security gear represents years of development and testing in penal colonies both on and off-planet! #Payne Man: Down with the cops!

time a tall drink of water walks into your office, you need to be decked out in Future Noir because nothing says dick, like Private Dick.

MISAWA, MEYERS, AND MORGAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT “Superior Results from Superior Research” Not everyone knows the name of Misawa, Meyers and Morgan, but nearly every piece of advance equipment uses some technology based upon M3’s work. M3 researchers are constantly making breakthroughs in science, chemistry, biology, and weapons technology. #Billy_Black_Eyes: I think they mean “Superior results from Corporate Espionage,” because everything this company makes is a cheap knockoff of another company. I’m surprised Malmart lets them peddle their ware on this site.

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING “Heavy Armor, Deadly Defense” Marsworks Engineering is the preeminent North American supplier for Military vehicles; tanks, hover tanks and jet aircraft. Marsworks developed their innovative armors during the race to Mars, rugged, and functional. Marsworks believes in redundant systems and a solid defense. Expect nothing less.

CHERRY AUTOMOTIVE “Want to impress? Put a Cherry on top.” Luxury is our goal. With Authentic Leather and REAL wood details, mixed with precious metals, and the finest craftsmanship, Cherry Automotive knows Luxury.

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS “Perfection, quantified” Japanese Ingenuity at Malmart prices. Imported directly from the Techno Shogunate of Japan; the finest weapons, and armors, created by true artisans. #MinigunMax: Meh. Just another Asian mega lookin’ to cash in on the latest retro Japanese fashion trends.

SENTINEL ROCK CORPORATION “Rock ‘n Roll Gyroscopically.” Sentinel Rock Corporation is pleased to present our newest line of personal and corporate weapons! Sentinel Rock’s most prestigious weaponry is their line of Gyroc Pistols and Rifles. Explosives being their expertise, they of course are the leading manufacturers of rocket launchers and ground to air missile systems.

SYNTHSYSTEMS “The Leader in Hyper Entertainment” SynthSystems brings you the absolute best in entertainment. No other MegaConglom can compete with SynthSystems. If entertainment drives the world, then the TAP is the car. SynthSystems brings you entertainment in all forms. Hyper Concert Console, HyperReality Role-playing games, HyperReality First Person Shooters, and the Holo Friend are all top sellers in the HyperAge!! “Come play with us!” #Neon Bright: Sick-ass guitars.

#Simba: @Minigunmax: Their armor is SOTA omae. I don’t care what it looks like.

#Tinman: I no rite? Jericho Rose gets all her gear from these guys.

WASTELAND TRADERS

#Luciferion: That’s because SynthSystems has a rep for grinding other corps into the ground. Word is, Jericho’s looking to break out of her contract and build her own systems.

“We bring quality goods to the wastelands so you don’t have to.” Planning your next run into the wastes? Don’t leave your CribSec without the weapons you’ll need to survive the trip! Wasteland Traders understands the dangers of life in the tox-zones and badlands. More importantly, they know what it takes to survive in a world where bio-horrors abound and the only law is kill or be killed. Wasteland Traders weapons are built to last and employ solar-powered energy cells so you don’t have to worry about running out of juice! #Luciferion: Strange catchphrase, but solid products. #Simba: Yeah, I’m not sure what they mean by that.

PRIVATE DICK FUTURE NOIR WEAR

#Neon Bright: Good luck with that.

COMBAT ENGINEERING SYSTEMS “When it absolutely, positively needs to be destroyed by nine A.M.” CES has everything you need for demolition work. Explosives, blasting caps shaping heads, etc. CES’ quality is known worldover by every military, secfirm, and militia. Closed systems provide tamper resistant demo charges. So when you need it gone, we’re there for you!

Hey Buddy, c’mere. Private Dick, the new line from Wasteland Traders, wear for the Urban Waste. If Noir is your game, then you need some Private Dick. Featuring all the classic clothing lines, manufactured with today’s ballistic rated weaves. Next

49

Equipment

“Don’t Just Be a Dick, Be a Private Dick”

MALMART ARMOR

conditions and automatically activate. The system includes CO₂ scrubbers to purify the oxygen supply, and temperature regulation. Sealed suit provides immunity to toxins as long as it remains intact. A Wound resulting from a slashing or piercing attack will breach the suit.

LIGHT EMITTING NANITES (LEN) Light Emitting Nanites are one of the most influential innovations of the 22nd century, below the TAP, of course, but a huge innovation, making stealth technology a hundred times easier. Holograms, or LENgrams, were huge until the TAP really took root, but 30 years ago the LENgrams were advertising, stepping off of walls, massive three dimensional billboards, constantly changing, but utilizing low power nanites. Most common usage today is in the GhostCoat™ Stealth system.

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES KITE SHIELD The Black Knight Kite Shield is made from heavy plates of CeraMite™. Designed to be attached directly to a suit of Black Knight Body Armor. The shield folds down into a compact block on the arm, popping open with a command from the TAP.

BLACK KNIGHT ERRANT BODY ARMOR Black Knight’s initial foray into the personal armor market. Utilizing its patented Mythralloy MythraMail as its base armor, with CeraMite™ plating. The Knight Errant makes up the middle ground armor. With more CeraMite™ plating included, the Knight errant is a much beefier option than the Squire.

ARMOR BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES GHOST SUIT

BOMBS ON BROADWAY™ FORMAL WEAR

Black Knight’s answer to the Shinobi Infiltrator suit. Introduced in 2089, this suit utilizes a Chameleon Cloaking Suite which includes high end processor program, tasked with using thousands of NanoCams and then translating that through the armor GhostCoat™ Light Emitting Nanite system to recreate their surroundings on the armor itself. The system includes aerosol heat dampers and noise canceling system, rendering the Ghost nearly invisible to visual detection. The noise canceling system assists in movement while stealthed! • GhostCoat Stealth System: The ghost suit can change color to match the surrounding environment. This adds +4 to Stealth rolls versus visual detection but has no effect against electronic detection.

Bombs on Broadway™ brings you the ultimate in luxury formal wear. Utilizing the patented NanoWeave technology, Bombs on Broadway is able to provide formal wear in hundreds of styles, colors and of course patterns. Many of our formal dresses contain HoloTags, our most popular being angel wings, devil tails and of course FIRE!

BLACK KNIGHT GOLEMMECH COMBAT SURVIVAL SUIT Black Knight Golemmech jockeys are nearly as valuable as the Golemmechs themselves. Protect your investment, by providing your pilots with a Golemmech Combat suit. Designed specifically for exposed cockpit Golemmechs. • Full Environmental: Suits with full environmental are equipped with sensors to detect pollutants, and vacuum

Black Knight Ghost Suit

A variety of options available from tuxedos, Full length gowns, and casual evening wear.

BOMBS ON BROADWAY™ ARMORED CAPE Bombs on Broadway™ brings back the cape. Enjoy a stylish cape which affords additional protection, and unparalleled style. We’ve even acquired access to restricted authentic fur in mink, fox, and chinchilla. Contact our representatives about additional furs we have in stock in limited supply.

BASTION HEAVY DEFENSE BARRIER At CES, we know how important well-trained personnel are. The Bastion Heavy Defends Shields are just the thing to protect your personnel, thus eliminating training times for new personnel. These heavy defense shields are assembled

Bombs on Broadway™ Formal Wear

Knight Erarant Body Armor

Fire HoloTag

Equipment

Heraldic HyperTag Devil Tail HoloTag

50

Malmart ARMOR

TABLE 3.1: ARMOR TYPE (PERSONAL)

ARMOR

WEIGHT

COST

NOTES

BKI Ghost Suit

+2

35

9,500

Covers entire body; see description

BKI Golemmech Combat Survival Suit

+4

15

6,500

Covers entire body; see description

BKI Knight Errant Body Armor

+4

32

10,000

Covers entire body

BOB Armored Cape

+1

3

1,500+

Covers torso, arms, legs

BOB Formal Wear

+2

5

2,500+

Covers torso, arms, legs

ED Business Suit

+2

15

5,000

Covers torso, arms, legs; concealed holster

ED Combat Vest

+2

4

3,000

Covers torso

ED Entourage Suit

+3

5

8,000

Covers torso, arms, legs; see description

ED UnderArmour

+1

1

1,500

Covers torso, arms, legs; stacks with armor

PD Future Noir Wear

+3

8

6,000

Covers torso, arms, legs; 50% vs head shot; see description

PD Urban Trench

+2

8

4,000

Covers torso, arms, legs; see description

Peregrine Wingsuit

+1

5

4,000

Cover entire body; 8:1 Glide ratio

RS Beachhead First Responder Armor

+4

24

5,000

Covers entire body

RS Bulwark Crowd Control Armor

+6

20

12,000

Covers entire body; includes riot shield

RS Justified Response Assault Armor

+6

15

37,000

Covers entire body; see description

RS Raptor SpecOps Armor

+5

25

45,000

Covers entire body; see description; military

RW Reinforced Biker Jacket

+3

8

1,000

Covers torso, arms; M3 Impact System

SO Shinryu Impact Suit

+3

5

6,000

Covers entire body; see description

SO Shinobi Infiltration Suit

+2

2

6,000

UP Balaklava

+1

500

Covers entire body; +2 Stealth; +1 Parry

UP Combat Jacket

+2

8

2,000

Covers torso, arms

UP Gecko Suit

+2

8

3,500

Covers entire body; +2 Climbing

Covers head, Stacks with armor

UP Hoodyz

+1

6

1,000

Covers torso; 75% vs head shot

UP Street Soldier Combat Thredz

+1

8

2,000

Covers torso, arms, legs

ARMOR

WEIGHT

COST

BKI Achilles

TYPE (EXOARMOR)¹

+4

36/180

120,000

+2 Pace; Strength and Agility +1 die type

BKI Herakles

+6

60/300

80,000

Strength +2 die types

BKI Mercury

+4

30/250

80,000

+4 Pace; Running +1 die type; Agility +1 die type

BKI Venus

+4

25/125

100,000

Strength and Agility +1 die type

Servo System

30/250

50,000

−1 Pace; Strength +2 die types; Load Limit ×8

TYPE (OTHER)

ARMOR

WEIGHT

COST

BKI Kite Shield CES Bastion Heavy Defends Shields

10

2,000

+20

300

50,000

Medium shield, +1 Parry, +2 armor vs ranged attacks 10-foot long barrier

¹Weight listed: worn/deactivated.

in 3 man teams. When assembled, it creates a barrier which can be used as cover. These are not man-portable, it takes 10 minutes to erect a BHDS. The shield comes in a case with the shield in 4 parts, the case itself acting as an assembly frame, and 4 set-bolts to keep the barrier in place. Law Enforcement representatives, contact us for special pricing. • Creates a 10 foot wide barrier

EXECUTIVE DECISION COMBAT VEST Who says personal security guards need to look like storm troopers? Our Executive Decision combat vest features 4 layers of NanoWeave, providing additional protection in Hostile Environments, from corporate espionage, to a hostile takeover, to your performance review, be ready for anything with the Executive Decision Combat Vest.

EXECUTIVE DECISION BUSINESS SUIT

The vest fits comfortably under business suits, so your security entourage doesn’t draw unwanted attention when you’re out on the town.

Plan your next corporate takeover in style and comfort without sacrificing protection from armor piercing rounds! The Executive Decision line of armored suits provides comfortable, stylish protection you can depend on! Our custom tailored suits will stop low caliber rounds, blunt those pesky knife attacks and most importantly, won’t make you stand out in the boardroom. As a bonus, the suit is designed to hold and conceal a small pistol or knife in the sleeve (−2 to Notice rolls to detect a concealed item), so you can quickly respond to an attacker and still maintain that all important corporate image.

EXECUTIVE DECISION ENTOURAGE SUIT

51

Equipment

Need high quality defense for your Entourage without having them look like they stepped out of the catalog for Black Knight Armaments? Keep a low profile at high profile meetings. Thin Ceramique™ plating protects vital organs. Not compatible with ED Combat Vest. Suit includes ballistic shades (+1 Armor, eyes), and subvocal communication array included.

MALMART ARMOR

PRIVATE DICK FUTURE NOIR WEAR

DESIGN NOTES

Detective work is dangerous, ask anyone. When you go pokin’ your nose where it doesn’t belong, sometimes you get shot. Private Dick helps you survive those attacks in style. With the Built-in forensics lab, with ClueMaster™ software, the littlest clue could break the case wide open.

Veteran Savage Worlds/Interface Zero 2.0 players might note that Kevlar is missing. This is intentional. To provide the best play experience possible, under the Fast, Fun, and Furious! premise, less math mid combat is good. Reducing Armor Penetration values and calculating between Bullets, vs. knives, vs. edged, on every single piece of gear is tedious, and slows down play. Thus we slightly increased high end armor. So sit back and enjoy the ride.

It includes a custom built shoulder holster (−2 to Notice rolls to detect hold-out weaponry) and VariWeave which allows you to change the suit’s colors and patterns, (+2 Stealth when shadowing).

RAVENLOCKE BEACHHEAD FIRST RESPONDER ARMOR RI’s first responder armor is used by primary back-up units, first responders are linked to the “officer down” system, they know they need to be ready when it hits the fan. Includes an internal communications array, with “officer down” biosensor uplink and shoulder-mount camcorder with uplink.

EXECUTIVE DECISION UNDERARMOUR Whether it’s a night on the town, a walk to the men’s room, or a corporate merger, that additional layer of NanoWeave might be the only thing between the emergency room and the morgue. UnderArmour, top of the line protection for your bottom line.

RAVENLOCKE BULWARK CROWD CONTROL ARMOR Bridging the gap between personal armor and power armor, this servo assisted armor provides amazing defensive capabilities specifically suited to riot control, and dispersal. When the mobs coming to town, send em pack’n. Multiple non-lethal crowd control systems included. The armor has an internal communications array, with “officer down” biosensor uplink and shoulder-mount camcorder with uplink. Also, comes with a riot shield. • Riot Shield: (+1 Parry, +2 Armor vs ranged attacks)

PEREGRINE WINGSUIT A wingsuit, allows skydivers to extend the distance from their jump point. Used by many special forces and mercenary teams for dark operations. With a 8:1 glide ratio, the Peregrine wingsuit allows for border insertions from just outside territorial borders to just inside with a 2 mile drop.

PRIVATE DICK URBAN TRENCH

RAVENLOCKE JUSTIFIED RESPONSE ASSAULT ARMOR

Private Dick’s premier showpiece the Urban Trench features heavy cowl providing extra protection for the torso. Complete your Noir ensemble with a Private Dick Urban Trench. Utilizing a Light Emitting Nanite system on the fabric, similar in function to a Chameleon cloak but with a dozen preset patterns, to allow tailing a mark without being so easy to spot.

Bridging the gap between personal armor and power armor, this servo assisted armor provides amazing defensive and offensive capabilities. When the bad guys won’t come out to play, take the fun to them. Comes with combat balaklava, combat helmet, and gas mask. Includes combat knife quickrelease inverted sheath (free action to ready), knife sold separately.

The coat also comes with a custom built shoulder holster (−2 to Notice rolls to detect a concealed weapon) and an internal long pocket, allowing the concealment of rifles, shotguns, etc. (−1 to Notice rolls).

Peregrine Wingsuit

Ravenlocke Beachhhead

Ravenlocke Justified Response Assault Armor

firest responder

Equipment

Armor

52

Malmart ARMOR

RAVENLOCKE RAPTOR SPECOPS ARMOR

URBAN PUNK COMBAT JACKET

Ravenlocke has contracts with most North American and several South American countries for this specific armor. The “medic!” Emergency response system is designed to deal with the trauma associated with life-threatening injuries, utilizing integrated smart fabrics, adrenal injections, and a smartdoc program. The smartdoc program provides an Incapacitated soldier, gains +4 on the Incapacitation roll (see Savage Worlds core rules). Includes combat balaklava, combat helmet, and gas mask. • Weapons: 25mm Grenade Launcher (Range 12/24/48; Damage by grenade; Shots 1; wrist mount)

Grease your rival gang in style with the Urban Punk Combat Jacket! Now with a dozen standard colors, Urban punk expands the buckled jacket line with additional styles. Comes with an integrated concealed holster (−2 to Notice rolls to visually detect concealed weapon).

ROAD WEAR REINFORCED BIKER JACKET

URBAN PUNK HOODYZ

There’s nothing as hella gleam as a motorcycle jacket when you’re on the road…until you get your punk ass shot. Bullets just tear through a good leather jacket like it was toilet paper, and that’s just not chill. At Road Wear, we feel your pain. So we’ve designed an authentic-looking biker jacket from genuine synthleather, but with a reinforced nanoweave and ceramic plates inserted to protect the vital areas of your torso. Our reinforced biker jacket gives you all the freedom of movement you’d want, but with enough protection to keep you riding. With road wear, you are a road warrior!

Roll with style and protection, with Urban Punk Hoodyz. Part of the Combat Thredz line, our hoodyz cover you from head to toe, add a Urban Punk Balaklava for even more protection.

URBAN PUNK GECKO SUIT Nothing climbs better than a gecko, except maybe the Gecko Climbing Suit. Utilizing amazing nano-tubes, the smallest imperfection allows the suit to stick (+2 to Climbing rolls). Climb glass buildings in the rain after oil wrestling, it’s that easy!

URBAN PUNK BALAKLAVA Nothing, but nothing, strikes fear in the untrained as the skimask look. Also protects your identity, especially important when participating in some illicit activities eh tomo?

URBANPUNK STREET SOLDIER COMBAT THREDZ™ Punks, you asked for it, now you got it. The Urban Punk Street Soldier Combat Thredz™ line expands. More options are now available from snaz pants, to some janky shirts with a concealed rear holster (−2 to Notice rolls to visual detect weapon).

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS SHINRYU IMPACT SUIT Shogun does it again! Now providing the best defense at 200 mph. The Shinryu Impact Suit provides crash protection for the combat rider. Utilizing the M3 absorption technology, crash survival is greatly enhanced (collision damage reduce by 1 die).

Exoarmor

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS SHINOBI INFILTRATION SUIT

An ExoSuit is hopped up body armor, with Strength and Agility enhancement systems, designed to boost the abilities of the wearer. Currently, only Black Knight is offering these units, though Ravenlocke Securities and Shogun Outfitters plan on releasing their own versions in late Spring.

Need an edge on your next infiltration of a rival megacorp? Outfit your shikaku with the Shinobi Infiltration suit. The Shinobi Infiltration Suit enhances stealth, through a revolutionary noise canceling system (+2 to Stealth rolls), while maximizing protection of vital organs. Form-fitting ballistic plating covers the torso, groin, face arms and legs. The reinforced vambraces provide a +1 Parry.

Ravenlocke Raptor Spec Ops Armor

All exoarmor must be charged 1 hour out of every 24 hours of use.

Black Knight Industries Hearkles ExoArmor

Black Knight Industries Mercury ExoArmor

Equipment

53

MALMART COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES ACHILLES EXOARMOR The Achilles is the top end ExoArmor from Black Knight. Named after the Greek hero, this suit will boost the combat abilities of any combatant. • Enhancements: +2 Pace, Strength and Agility +1 die type

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES HERAKLES EXOARMOR The Herakles is the state of the art Exo-suit from Black Knight Industries. The Herakles is a powerful suit of ExoArmor; its systems designed to increase the overall power of the ExoArmor. • Enhancements: Strength +2 die types

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES MERCURY EXOARMOR The Mercury is an ExoArmor suit emphasizing speed over power, the systems designed to greatly improve the Agility of the wearer. • Enhancements: +4 Pace, Running +1 die type, Agility +1 die type

COMMUNICATIONS COMSCIENCE SCT Keep your information private with a ComScience Secure Communications Transmitter device! The device compresses all data at 1:1,000 rates, so a minute of audio or video fits into less than a tenth of a second. Impossible to isolate or eavesdrop, even without additional encryption! A burst transmitter sends out data in short, high-density pulses, making it hard to pinpoint the source of a signal before it finishes. However, the very density of the pulse does make it “brighter” than normal communication chatter — your foes may not be able to listen in, but they’ll almost certainly notice that someone is transmitting in the general area. It has a range of 1.5 miles.

COMSCIENCE MTS

The Venus is an ExoArmor suit designed by women, for women, increasing both their Strength and Agility on the battlefield!

Now being fully wired in doesn’t mean you have to carry an awkward handset, or look like a geek with an ear-bud. The MTS sticks to your skin behind either ear (−4 to Notice rolls to spot visually), and is a fully-functional audio transmitterreceiver, with a 10 yard range. Available in a variety of skin tones. Each is good for 12 hours of use, and when you’re done just toss it in the trash!

SERVO SYSTEM

COMSCIENCE SMS

A ServoSystem is a partial exoskeleton utilizing a power cell backpack to power a hydraulic boost system. The exoskeleton was originally designed to assist disabled persons, now the hydraulic power is being used to boost the strength of a user. The system attaches to wrists, elbows, neck, waist, knees and ankles, it does include reinforced gloves and boots for the full body system. The batteries provide enough power for 4 hours of continuous operation. (The Battery power pack includes 4 batteries for full system, 2 for upper body, 2 for lower body.) The system may not be adapted to armor systems.

Sometimes you don’t want everyone hearing what you have to say. The Subvocal Microphone System combines Comscience micro-transmitter technology with state-of-the-art subvocal voice recognition. Just stick it to your throat by the larynx, and your slightest whisper becomes clear audio signal! Fully compatible with the Comscience MTS for an invisible, handsfree communication system! Note this unit only transmits, it cannot receive.

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES VENUS EXOARMOR

ServoSystem

DIANSHENG INDUSTRIES “PIYIN” Top-quality stick-on communicator blends automatically with any surface. The color-changing material matches whatever surface it’s attached to (−4 to Notice rolls to spot visually). The Piyin is solar-powered; so it works indefinitely as long as it gets a hour of sunlight per day. Designed to have an effective range of 100 yards, but also can be configured to run off a local network.

INDIAN SPECIAL FORCES COMMUNICATOR The same rugged, high-security transmitter used by India’s legendary Garud Commando Force, now available thanks to a container that got misrouted to Singapore. The communicator includes military-grade encryption software, time-delay broadcast, an emergency beacon, and effective range of 3 miles. They don’t make ‘em better than these!

Equipment

TABLE 3.2: COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT ITEM

COST

WEIGHT

Comscience Sct

5,000

0.1

Comscience Mts

500

Comscience Sms

5,000

Diansheng Industries “Piyin” Indian Special Forces Communicator

54

1,000

10,000

0.5

Malmart AUGMENTATIONS

Master Augment List

CYBERWARE

AUGMENT COSTS

There are two ways to choose cybernetics in Interface Zero 2.0. You can choose you cybernetics piece by piece using the Master Augments List, or you can choose an augmentation package. All packages are considered Streetware grade.

The cost of a given augment is determined by the type of grade you wish to purchase. There are four grades; Gutterware, Streetware, Hyperchrome, and Milware. Each grade has a base cost. To determine the final cost, multiply the base cost by the Strain of the augment. The result is the monetary amount you need to spend to get said augment. Here’s a chart of the base cost for each grade to help you quickly figure out the final cost of any given augment.

Augmentation Packages CELEBRITY PACKAGE Be the life of the party, the most charismatic person in the room, this package will make your allies love you, your enemies fear you, and everyone respect you! • Augmentations: Beautification Treatment, Emotional Resistance Response System, Tailored Pheromones

TABLE 3.3: AUGMENT GRADES AND COSTS

GUNSLINGER PACKAGE Nerves of steel, reflexes like lightning, the aim of a legend. All of these can be yours with the Gunslinger package, the preferred choice of Snipers and Assassins the world over. • Augmentations: Smartgun System, Fight or Flight System

GRADE

BASE COST

Gutterware

1,000 credits

Streetware

5,000 credits

Hyperchrome

25,000 credits

Milware

125,000 credits

ANTI-TOXIN SYSTEM The character’s liver is enhanced to process toxins more effectively, while nanite colonies are implanted in the blood stream programmed to lock onto foreign chemical substances and remove them. The ATS gives a character +2 to resist poisons.

PRO SPORT ATHLETE PACKAGE Rise above the competition, with this package which will enhanced your athletic ability in every way! Leave your opponents in the dust! • Augmentations: Cyberlegs Ligament Enhancement, Enhanced Articulation, Muscle Augmentation

BEAUTIFICATION TREATMENT Beautification gives the character +2 Charisma.

SHOCK TROOPER PACKAGE

BIOFEEDBACK

Be the lord of the battlefield, watch your enemies look in fear as you shrug off attacks, and return fire with extreme prejudice! The Shock Trooper Package is just the thing for the would be Mercenary who wants to impress! • Augmentations: Bone Reinforcement, Cyberlegs Ligament Enhancement, Lifesaver System, Muscle Augmentation, Trauma Suppressor

Biofeedback increases the character’s Spirit by a die type.

BIOFEEDBACK, ADVANCED Advanced Biofeedback increases the character’s Spirit by two die types.

BONE REINFORCEMENT I–III A bone reinforcement provides +1 Toughness per level.

SPY PACKAGE

CYBERLIMBS AND CYBER EYES

Breaking, entering, and exploring places you’re not suppose to has never been easier! With the spy package you can infiltrate and extract with ease! • Augmentations: Cyberarm Fingerprint Duplicator And Lockpicking Kit, Cyberears Amplified Hearing, Enhanced Articulation I, Skill Computer

Cyberlimbs are designed to be modular, costing a number of points of Strain equal to the number of modules the limb can hold. So a cyberlimb with 2 Strain could hold 2 augment modules, a cyberlimb with 3 Strain could hold 3 modules, etc. The credit cost of the cyberlimb includes the acquisition of the module(s). To determine the credit cost of a limb, multiple the strain by the grade.

STREET WARRIOR PACKAGE The Street Warrior System is the perfect entry level package for those trying to survive the mean inner city streets of 2090! • Augmentations: Cyberweapon, Fight or Flight, Muscle Augmentation

Some modules are designed for specific body parts, e.g. a leg, an arm, or an eye. Each module has a location entry so you know at a glance which module goes where. The head is always considered a limb for purposes of installing cybernetic ears or eyes.

SURVIVOR PACKAGE

Equipment

Dropped into the Outback? Climbing Mount Everest? Hunting in the Arctic Circle? All Cake walk with this package, designed to prepare you for any environment! • Augmentations: Anti-Toxin System, Environmental Regulators

55

Malmart AUGMENTATIONS

TABLE 3.4: AUGMENT LIST AUGMENTATION PACKAGES

NOTES

Celebrity Package

5

See description

Gunslinger Package

5

See description

Pro Sport Athlete Package

6

See description

Shock Trooper Package

10

See description

Spy Package

5

See description

Street Warrior Package

5

See description

2

See description

Survivor Package MASTER AUGMENT LIST

STRAIN

NOTES

Anti-Toxin System

1

+2 to Resist Poison

Beautification Treatment

2

+2 Charisma

Biofeedback

2

Spirit die raised by 1 type

Biofeedback, Advanced

3

Spirit die raised by 2 types

Bone Reinforcement I–III

Equipment

STRAIN

2/level

+1 Toughness/level

Cyberlimb, 1 Module

1

See modules

Cyberlimb, 2 Modules

2

See Modules

Cyberlimb, 3 Modules

3

See Modules

Cybernose, Chemical Sniffer

1

+2 Notice rolls based on scent

Cybergills

1

Amphibious

Cyberlungs I

1

30 minute air supply

Cyberlungs II

2

60 minute air supply

Cyberskull, Protean

2

−2 Penalty to Notice rolls to I.D. character

Cyberskull, Enforcer

3

+2 bonus to Intimidation rolls, +1 supplemental armor (head)

Cyberweapon

1

Str+d4 damage, always considered armed

Cyberweapon, Improved

2

Str+d6 damage, always considered armed, see notes

Cyberweapon, Advanced

3

Str+d8 damage, always considered armed, see notes

Data Carrier

1

Implanted and secured non-wireless hard disk

Drug Reservoir

2

Holds 3 doses of one substance, see description

Emotional Resistance Response System

1

+2 to Smarts or Spirit rolls in a Test of Will

EMP Shielding, Basic

1

+2 Armor versus EMP weapons

EMP Shielding, Advanced

2

+4 Armor versus EMP weapons

Enhanced Neural Net

2

Smarts die raised by 1 type

Enhanced Neural Net, Advanced

3

+4 Armor versus EMP weapons

Environmental Regulators

1

+2 to Survival rolls for 1 type of environment

Enhanced Articulation

2

Agility die raised by 1 type

Enhanced Articulation, Advanced

3

Agility die raised by 2 types

Fight or Flight System

2

Grants the Quick Edge

Knowcomp

1

Gives a skill at d6 or specialization

Knowcomp, Advanced

2

Gives a skill at d8 or 2 specializations in one skill

Lifesaver System

2

+2 to Vigor for natural healing

Lifesaver system, Advanced

3

Only bleeds after 3 turns

Muscle Augmentation

2

Strength die is raised by 1 type

Muscle Augmentation, Advanced

3

Strength die is raised by 2 types

Nanoweave Organ System

2

Vigor die is raised by 1 type

Nanoweave Organ System, Advanced

3

Vigor die is raised by 2 types

Personal Airbags

1

Half damage from falling and crashes

Reinforced Exoskeleton

1

Encumbrance value rises to Strength ×8

Smartgun System

1

Shooting roll Wild Die is a d8 (Extras gain a d4)

Smartgun System, Advanced

2

Shooting roll Wild Die is a d10 (Extras gain a d6)

Subdermal Armor

1

+1 supplemental armor on all locations

Subdermal Armor, Advanced

2

+2 supplemental armor on all locations

Tactical Computer

3

Draws an extra Action Card and uses the best result

Tactical System Radio

2

Can share bennies with allies within 25.”

56

Malmart AUGMENTATIONS

MASTER AUGMENT LIST

STRAIN

NOTES

Tailored Pheromones

2

+2 bonus Charisma with sentient organic beings

Trauma Suppressor

2

Ignore 1 level of Wound penalties, see description

Vehicle Control Interface I–III

2/level

See description

Wireless Reflexes I–III

2/level

+1 Parry, enemies suffer −1 penalty to hit at range/level

CYBERLIMB MODULES

LOCATION

NOTES

Amplified Hearing

Ears

+2 to Notice rolls involving sound

Breaching System

Arm

+2 Damage in barehanded Fighting rolls

Chemical Injector

Hand

Store 3 doses of up to 3 compounds see description

Cyberlegs, Aquatic

Legs

+2 to Swimming Rolls, +2 Pace underwater

Cyberlegs, Ligament Enhancement

Legs

Adds 4" to Pace

Cyberlegs, Stabilization System

Legs

Negates unstable platform penalties

Drone Hand

Hand

Hand is a drone see description

Cyber Tools

Arm

+2 Repair rolls for each Repair skill specialization

Enhanced Vision

Eyes

Halves penalty for Medium and Long Range

Fingerprint Duplicator / Lockpicking Kit

Hand

+2 to Lockpicking rolls

Firearm

Arm

Range 12/24/48; Damage 2d6; ROF: 1; Shots 10

Firearm; Automatic

Arm

Range 12/24/48; Damage 2d6; ROF: 3; Shots 30

Firearm; Heavy

Arm

Range 12/24/48; Damage 3d6; ROF: 1; Shots 10

Flash Compensators

Eyes

+4 to resist flash based attacks

Gecko Hands

Hands

Gain Wall Walker monstrous ability

Infra/Ultra Optics

Eyes

Gain Infravision monstrous ability

Kangaroo System

Legs

Double jump distance

Motion Detector

Ears

+2 Notice during “Last Step”, see description

Night Vision Optics

Eyes

Gain Low Light Vision monstrous ability

Arm

Removes 2 penalty points from auto-fire

Recoil Compensation Reflexive Strike Module

Arm or Leg

Gain Counterattack Edge

CYBERNOSE, CHEMICAL SNIFFER

CYBERSKULL, ENFORCER

The character is capable of detecting individual chemicals even better than a drug sniffing police dog. With proper training and skill, the character can identify explosives, narcotics or a host of other things. The character gains +2 to all scent based Notice rolls.

This replacement hardens the edges of the character’s face giving her a more brutal aspect granting a +2 bonus to Intimidation attempts and +1 Supplemental Armor due to the bulky construction. The downside is that due to it’s obvious nature the character looks at best thuggish. As a result an Extra’s attitude from the Reaction table is at best “Neutral”.

CYBERGILLS

CYBERWEAPON

Cybergills render a character Amphibious! They can now breathe underwater just as well as on land! Aquatic hybrids do not benefit from this augment.

A Cyberweapon is a small melee weapon that does Str+d4 damage and allows the character to be considered always “armed”. Examples could be titanium claws, a reinforced forearm or a blade that is always visible.

CYBER LUNG I Cyber lungs provide the character with an internal Air tank capable of holding 30 minutes of oxygen, allowing the character to breathe underwater or survive in environments in which the air has been polluted.

CYBERWEAPON, IMPROVED

CYBERSKULL, PROTEAN

CYBERWEAPON, ADVANCED

The characters skull contains numerous small nano plates that allow him to modify his face, making him harder to recognise in a crowd. The nano plates are constantly shifting, changing his appearance once every 4 hours. People looking for him suffer a −2 penalty to Notice checks to recognize the character.

An Advanced Cyberweapon is a heavy melee weapon that allows the character to be considered always “armed” and does Str+d8 damage. However, for each damage die it’s reduced, it has some sort of bonus. Example bonuses include being retractable, AP1, Reach 1, or +1 Parry. Examples could

CYBER LUNG II

57

Equipment

Cyber lungs provide the character with an internal Air tank capable of holding an hour’s worth of oxygen. The character can run completely off this oxygen supply when underwater, or surrounded by a deadly aerosol toxin for instance.

An Improved Cyberweapon is a medium melee weapon that allows the character to be considered always “armed” and does Str+d6 damage or Str+d4 and has some sort of bonus. Example bonuses include being retractable, Reach 1, Shock damage (Vigor roll at −2 or automatically Shaken, or +1 Parry. Examples could be a whip (Str+d4, Reach 1), a garrote (Str+d4, retractable), a Taser (Str+d4, Non-lethal, EMP) or a retractable blade (Str+d4, Retractable).

Malmart AUGMENTATIONS

be a Flail (Str+d6, ignores shields) or a retractable long blade (Str+d6, retractable).

FIGHT OR FLIGHT SYSTEM Fight or Flight grants the Quick Edge.

DATA CARRIER

A Knowcomp™ allows the user to access a skill of their choice at a d6 or a single specialization of an existing skill. This skill can only be raised by upgrading to the improved or advanced skill computer. This augment can be taken multiple times, each time applying to a different skill.

DRUG RESERVOIR

KNOWCOMP™, IMPROVED

Your body contains a vat-grown gland which naturally produces a combat drug of your choice. It is a simple mental command to flood your body with the drug’s effects. You can hold up to 3 doses within the reservoir, and your body naturally refills one dose within 24 hours. You’re still capable of becoming addicted and suffer all side-effects of the drug, though with the ability to naturally produce it, you shouldn’t have to worry about running out any time soon!

A Knowcomp™ allows the user to access a skill of their choice at a d8, or gain two specializations of a skill they already know. This skill can only be raised by upgrading to the advanced skill computer. This augment can be taken multiple times, each time applying to a different skill.

EMOTIONAL RESISTANCE RESPONSE SYSTEM The ERRS imparts a +2 bonus to Smarts and Spirit rolls when resisting a Test of Wills.

EMP SHIELDING, BASIC The character is shielded against the debilitating effects of an emp weapon. The character’s tap and cybernetics gains +2 armor for the purposes of resisting damage from an emp weapon.

EMP SHIELDING, ADVANCED The character is shielded against the debilitating effects of an emp weapon. The character’s tap and cybernetics gains +4 armor for the purposes of resisting damage from an EMP weapon.

ENHANCED NEURAL NET Extra neural tissue and cultures are grown, then applied to the recipient’s brain tissue. Neurons are coated with an extra conductive substance allowing faster firing time. The character raises their Smarts by 1 die type.

ENHANCED NEURAL NET, ADVANCED Extra neural tissue and cultures are grown, then applied to the recipient’s brain tissue. Neurons are coated with an extra conductive substance allowing faster firing time. The character raises their Smarts by 2 die types.

LIFESAVER SYSTEM The lifesaver system reinforces the character’s organs, adds nanites which can repair tissue and similar enhancements to stabilize the owner and help them heal faster. The lifesaver system adds +2 to Vigor when checking for natural healing.

LIFESAVER SYSTEM, ADVANCED The latest generation of nanites in this lifesaver system work to limit blood loss using new Platetech™ technologies. A character with this augment only starts to bleed from an injury after three turns.

MUSCLE AUGMENTATION Muscle Augmentation increases the character’s Strength die type by a step.

MUSCLE AUGMENTATION, ADVANCED Advanced Muscle Augmentation increases the character’s Strength die type by two steps.

NANOWEAVE ORGAN SYSTEM The Nanoweave Organ System increases the character’s Vigor die type by a step.

NANOWEAVE ORGAN SYSTEMS, ADVANCED The Advanced Nanoweave Organ System increases the character’s Vigor die type by two steps!

PERSONAL AIRBAGS You take half damage from falls and crashes.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS

REINFORCED EXOSKELETON

The character gains +2 to Survival rolls for a single type of environment (hot/cold weather environments, wastelands, etc). This can be taken multiple times, each time applying to a different type of environment.

The character increases their encumbrance value from Strength ×5 to Strength ×8.

SMARTGUN SYSTEM

Enhanced articulation increases the character’s Agility die type by a step.

A smartgun system improves the Wild Die that is available to a Wild Card character, raising the type to a d8 for Shooting rolls only. In the case of a non-wild card character they may roll a d4.

ENHANCED ARTICULATION, ADVANCED

SMARTGUN SYSTEM, ADVANCED

Advanced enhanced articulation increases the character’s Agility die type by two steps.

A smartgun system improves the Wild Die that is available to a Wild Card character, it acts as a wild die in all cases and

ENHANCED ARTICULATION

Equipment

KNOWCOMP™

The data carrier allows the character to download virtually any amount of Data to a secured, non-wireless hard drive implanted within the character’s body. The data carrier enhancement can be implanted anywhere on the character’s body and concealed. The only way to release the Data is through a wired access port and the appropriate code.

58

Malmart AUGMENTATIONS

matters but raises the type to a d10. In the case of a non-wild card character they may roll a d6.

SUPPLEMENTAL ARMOR

SUBDERMAL ARMOR

Some Augmentations provide additional Armor, such as subdermal armor — this is referred to as Supplemental Armor. It works the same as Armor in Savage Worlds, with one change. If a character has multiple sources of Supplemental Armor, only the highest value counts. Then the highest value of Supplemental Armor a character has stacks with the highest value of Armor worn.

Subdermal armor gives the character an additional +1 supplemental armor on all body locations.

SUBDERMAL ARMOR, ADVANCED Advanced subdermal armor gives the character an additional +2 Supplemental Armor on all body locations.

TACTICAL COMPUTER Characters with a tactical computer draw an additional action card, and act on the best result.

TACTICAL SYSTEM RADIO Characters with the tactical system radio can share bennies with others who also have a tactical system radio. Tactical system radios can broadcast for miles, but they can only share Bennies within an effective range of 25".

TAILORED PHEROMONES Tailored pheromones provide a +2 bonus to Charisma when dealing with organic sentient beings.

TRAUMA SUPPRESSOR The trauma suppressor system allows the character to ignore 1 level of wound penalties. This system comes with a downside, however. The character becomes completely unaware of just how bad their wounds are beyond being able to look at them. At the end of each scene where a trauma suppressor was activated and the character engaged in combat or other strenuous activity while injured, have the character make a Vigor roll. On a failed roll, the character takes an additional wound as their actions have worsened the wounds they’ve already taken.

BREACHING SYSTEM Originally designed to bring down walls, the arm adds +2 damage to a successful bare-handed Fighting roll. • Location: Arm

CHEMICAL INJECTOR The characters fingers come equipped with retractable syringes. The character can store 3 separate compounds within their arm, for 3 full doses. The character can administer to himself as a free action, however, if he wishes to use it in combat, the character must succeed in an unarmed Fighting roll and do enough damage to at least Shake the target. Chemicals, drugs, poison, or viruses must be purchased separately. • Location: Hand

CYBERLEGS, AQUATIC The character receives +2 to all Swimming rolls and +2” Pace underwater. • Location: Legs

CYBERLEGS; LIGAMENT ENHANCEMENT Ligament Enhancement adds 4” to the character’s Pace. • Location: Legs

VEHICLE CONTROL INTERFACE I-III The VCI is a series of neural transceivers and nerve enhancements placed throughout the body which provide an even greater control over vehicles. Each level of the VCI imparts a number of control slots based on the user’s Smarts. Control slots are explained in the setting rules chapter on page 286. Additionally, each level of the VCI gives the user +1 to all vehicle operation rolls, as the closer connection to the vehicle imparts greater control. Level one also allows the vehicle’s acceleration to multiply by 1.5, while two and three double a vehicle’s acceleration. Additionally, level three allows the driver to ignore the unstable platform penalty when firing vehicle mounted weaponry.

WIRELESS REFLEXES I-III

CYBERLEGS, STABILIZATION SYSTEM The Stabilization System negates the unstable platform penalty. • Location: Legs

DRONE HAND The character’s hand is capable of detaching and becoming a spider-like drone controlled wirelessly (using 1 control slot). The drone comes equipped with a camera allowing the character to view what the drone see’s through their TAP. When the drone hand is detached, your character suffers from the One Hand Hindrance.. In combat, the drone hand is an Extra with the following stats:

Each level of wireless reflexes raises a character’s Parry by +1, and imposes a −1 penalty to attackers trying to target them with ranged attacks.

/// BEGIN MODULE LIST /// Adds a +2 bonus to Notice rolls involving sound. • Location: Ears

59

Equipment

AMPLIFIED HEARING

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4(A), Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d6 Skills: Climbing d8, Fighting d8, Lockpicking d6, Noticed4, Stealth d8 Pace: 4; Parry: 6; Toughness: 3 Special Abilities • Alertness: Drone Hands add +2 to their Notice. • Construct: Drone Hands add +2 to recover from being Shaken and are immune to poison and disease. Drone Hands cannot heal naturally. To heal a Drone

Malmart AUGMENTATIONS

• • • •

Hand requires the Repair skill — which is used like the Healing skill only with no “Golden Hour.” EMP Vulnerability: Drone Hands suffer full damage from EMP Weapons. Size −2: It’s a hand. Small: Attackers are −2 to attack rolls. Video Uplink: The as an Action the character can link into the drone hand’s video to see what the drone sees, within the character’s Smarts in miles.

KANGAROO SYSTEM The character doubles the distance they can jump, allowing her to move 2” horizontally and 1” vertically from a dead stop, or up to 4” horizontally and 2” vertically if she runs at least half her Pace. • Location: Legs

MOTION DETECTION

The arm is equipped with a basic set of tools. The character enjoys a +2 to Repair rolls for each Repair skill specialization. • Location: Arm

The character gets a +2 bonus to Notice rolls during the “Last Step” (see stealth in Savage Worlds). Additionally, If another character or NPC gets the drop on the character, they only receive a +2 bonus to their attack roll. • Location: Ears

ENHANCED VISION

NIGHT VISION OPTICS

The character’s eyes can function like a scope, halving penalties for Medium and Long Range. • Location: Eyes

The character gains the benefits of the Low Light Vision monstrous ability. • Location: Eyes

FINGERPRINT DUPLICATOR AND LOCKPICKING KIT

RECOIL COMPENSATION

The arm is equipped with a basic set of Lockpicks, and is capable of duplicating the fingerprints of any sample they’re able to download. This grants a +2 bonus to all Lockpicking rolls. • Location: Hand

This module removes 2 points of penalty from autofire when using firearms. • Location: Arm

CYBER TOOLS

FIREARM This weapon is implanted in the limb. • Weapon: Range 12/24/48; Damage 2d6; ROF 1; Shots 10 • Location: Arm

The character gains the Counterattack edge. • Location: Arm or Leg

/// END MODULE LIST ///

FIREARM; AUTOMATIC This weapon is implanted in the limb. • Weapon: Range 12/24/48; Damage 2d6; ROF 3; Shots 30 • Location: Arm

FIREARM; HEAVY This weapon is implanted in the limb. • Weapon: Range 12/24/48; Damage 3d6; ROF 1; Shots 10, Min Str d8 • Location: Arm

FLASH COMPENSATORS Flash covers give a +4 bonus to resist flash based attacks. • Location: Eyes

GECKO HANDS Gecko Hands give the character the Wall Walker Monstrous Ability, allowing the character to move up vertical surfaces at their normal Pace. • Location: Hand (must be implanted in both hands)

INFRA/ULTRA OPTICS

Equipment

REFLEXIVE STRIKE MODULE

The retina is replaced to enable vision into the ultraviolet and infrared spectrums, and the brain is changed to be able to perceive colors that don’t exist in the standard visible spectrum. The character gains the benefits of the Infravision monstrous ability. • Location: Eyes

60

MALMART DRONES

TABLE 3.5: DRONES

DRONES AND ROBOTS

NAME

Below you’ll find several examples of drones in operation throughout the world of 2090. The drones presented below are simply well known examples of their particular drone “type”. Variations and knock-offs of these models exist around the world, and GM’s and players should feel free to make alterations or name changes to represent them. More drones will be presented in the Malmart Catalog source book. For more details on drones, see Drones on page 267, in the Setting Rules chapter.

COST

CONTROL SLOTS

Helios Eye Borg

25,000

1

AGA Lone Star

60,000

2

BK WarHorse

40,000

1

Vishnu Tool-Bot

65,000

2

Aquarius Raptor

125,000

1

Shogun Samurai

55,000

2

NFE Shuttle Asst

50,000

1

Black Knight Trident

65,000

1

AGA LONE STAR RECONNAISSANCE DRONE

Drones

Act of God Armaments created the Lone Star Recon Drone for the famous Texas Rangers. Now, it sees use as a major recon and light fighter drone all over the world!. The Lone Star is a VTOL drone meant for long distance recon over a large area. Its twin turbine fan design allows it to sport an impressive weapon mount capable of carrying a variety of lethal or non-lethal armaments. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6(A), Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Notice d8, Pilot d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d8 Pace: —; Parry: 2; Toughness: 7(2) Special Abilities • Advanced Optics: The recon drone is equipped with telescopic, low light, and thermal vision. It adds+2 to sightbased Notice rolls and ignores lighting penalties • Armor +2: Integrated armor plating. • Flight: Pace 12” Climb 1 • Flood Lights: Dual 360° floodlights illuminate up to 20”. • Weapon Mount: An integrated weapon gimble that can hold a single weapon and ammo (up to 100 lb.).

Add drones share the following Special Abilities: • Construct: +2 to recover from being Shaken; immune to poison, disease, and suffocation; no additional damage from Called Shots. • Fearless: Drones are immune to Fear and Intimidation. • Weakness (Electricity): Drones suffer +2 damage from electrical attacks.

HELIOS EYE BORG Helios’s eye borg is quickly becoming the first name in law enforcement spy drones. The eyeborg is a spherical drone the size of a large gumball. The eye borg rolls at high speeds while a gyroscopic camera feeds a constant image back to its controller’s tap. The eyeborg can climb any surface thanks to its nano-polymer grip, and given its small size, is often overlooked by hostiles. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4(A), Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Hacking d4, Notice d8, Stealth d10 Pace: 4; Parry: 2; Toughness: 4; Firewall: 4 Special Abilities • Advanced Optics: The eye borg is equipped with telescopic, low light, and thermal vision. It adds+2 to sight-based Notice rolls and ignores lighting penalties. • Size −2: Helios Eye Borg is the size of a large gumball. • Small: Attackers subtract 2 from their attacks to hit. • Wall Walker: Helios Eye Borg is able to transverse vertical and inverse surfaces at half Pace.

BLACK KNIGHT WAR HORSE

61

Equipment

The War Horse was originally commissioned for use by the GLU’s military forces as a combination supply carrier and mobile weapons platform. The War Horse circulated though out the rest of the word, and is based on one of the oldest Drone reliable drone designs around. The War horse is a large box like drone with 4 legs capable of traversing over any terrain. Its armored hide, combined with its thick large back and carrying capacity, means it can run fresh supplies into a battleground, or take the fight to the enemy with advanced weaponry. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4 (A), Spirit d6, Strength d12+2, Vigor d8 Skills: Notice d4, Shooting d6 Pace: 8; Parry: 2; Toughness: 10(4) Special Abilities • Armor (+4): Reinforced armor plating. Heavy Armor. • Manipulator Arm: The front of the War Horse has a manipulator arm with a three digit hand capable of loading its self. • Size +2: The drone is the same size as a large draft horse. • Weapon Mount: An integrated weapon gimble that can hold a single weapon and ammo (up to 100 lb).

MALMART DRONES

SAGEIT VISHNU TOOL-BOT

SUBURASHII SHOGUN SAMURAI

Tool drones have been in use since the turn of the millennium, back when they were used for remote explosive defuses and disposal. SAGEIT shows they’re at the forefront of modern tool drones with the Vishnu. The Vishnu comes preprogrammed with information on explosives as well as basic repairs on most items. The Vishnu can also double as a field surgeon instead of a bomb disposal unit. Deployed in the field in such away, the Vishnu comes equipped with surgeons tools and an advanced medical kit to treat battlefield injuries. The Vishnu is also designed to be tough, able to take a beating while rolling into a dangerous area to get its work done. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6(A), Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d10 Skills: Drive d4, Healing d6, Knowledge (Demolitions) d6, Lockpicking d6, Notice d6, Repair d6 Pace: 4; Parry: 2; Toughness: 9(2) Special Abilities • Armor +2: Armor plating. • Built in Tools: The tool-bot has a fully stocked surgical kit or tool kit • Interior Bomb Disposal: The unit has a sealed compartment to store unexploded ordinances; Toughness 11(4), Heavy Armor). • Sensor Suite: Equipped with the latest sensors, the toolbot gains +4 Notice vs sound, motion, strong chemicals, radiation, or electrical fields up to 500 yards. • Tracked: The tool-bot is able to ignore Difficult Terrain. However it is unable to negotiate obstacles higher then 1–2’ in height.

The Shogun Samurai is one of the highest rated gladiator drone models. Gladiator models are full‑sized anthroform drones often used in sports entertainment for living viewers. The shogun appears as a 10 foot tall, 800 lb samurai in full steel armor in a variety of designs and colors. The Shogun is known for its speed, strength, and monokatana which it wields with incredible skill. While it’s been a few years since a Shogun model has claimed the yearly drone gladiator championship, Shoguns consistently rank in the top 10 finalist at each tournament. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6(A), Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d6 Skills: Climbing d6, Fighting d8, Notice d4 Pace: 8; Parry: 6; Toughness: 12(4) Gear: Miyamoto K-Tana (Str+d8+2; AP 4, HW) Special Abilities • Armor +4: Full suit of samurai armor. • Frenzy: It may make two attacks with a −2 penalty. • Reinforced Skeleton: The shogun drone has a titanium alloy skeleton granting it +1 Toughness. • Size +2: The shogun drone stands about 10' tall.

Equipment

AQUARIUS RAPTOR The Raptor is a flight-capable hunter killer drone which sees widespread use throughout the North American Coalition. Raptor drones are used to patrol border areas, strike behind enemy lines, and in some cases to put down rioters and protestors within the NAC states. Its distinctive “shriek” is caused by the way wind whistles through its turbines and off of its engines. The manufacturer offered to fix this ‘flaw” but the NAC government enjoyed the psychological terror it caused in their enemies so much the shriek has remained. The Raptor has earned a reputation for being a tough, fast, heavily armed machine of death. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6(A), Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Notice d6, Piloting d8, Stealth d6, Shooting d8 Pace: —; Parry: 2; Toughness: 8(2) Special Abilities • Advanced Optics Suite: Telescopic, low light, and thermal vision adds +2 to sight-based Notice rolls and ignores lighting penalties. • Armor +2: Armor plating. • Flight: Pace 18", Climb 3 • Size +1: It has an 8' wingspan • Weapon Mount: Underbody mounted heavy machine gun (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 200, AP4, HW) • Weapon Mount: Rockets (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d8+2; ROF 1–4; Shots 4; HW, MBT)

NEW FRONTIER ENTERPRISES SHUTTLE ASSISTANT The shuttle assistant is a drone which is only capable of operating in space. Relying upon a series of thrusters placed around its cylinder like body, with one large thruster in the back. The shuttle assistant is used all over the solar system for basic repairs. Equipped with a series of manipulator arms, along with tools and spare parts. This little drone does have a dark side however, as thanks to its ubiquity and ability to operate in vacuum, space pirates make heavy use of the shuttle assistant. A pirate scout will often linger in large space stations and colonies, looking for ships loaded down with cargo, before sending out the shuttle assistant to place a tracker, bomb, or some other kind of sabotaging device on the ship’s hull. Ironically, another shuttle assistant is typically the best option for removing these devices. Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4(A), Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d6 Skills: Lockpicking d6 Notice d6, Repair d8 Pace: —; Parry: 2; Toughness: 5 Special Abilities • Flight: Pace 6", Climb 1. • Limited Operation: The shuttle assistant can only operate in vacuum or low gravity environments like the moon. • Optics: Built-in optics provide telescopic, low light, and thermal vision; granting +2 to sight-based Notice rolls and ignores lighting penalties

62

MALMART ROBOTS

• Shielding: +8 to Armor or opposed rolls to resist cold, radiation, and electricity. • Tool Kit: The shuttle assistant has a complete set of built in tools that allows to accomplish most repair tasks.

BLACK KNIGHT TRIDENT The Trident was commissioned by the atlantica government as an underwater recon and defense drone, which is now seeing heavy use around the Boston area and the New York reclamation project. The Trident is small and maneuverable, about the size of a dolphin, and painted with colors matching the dark waters of the Northern Atlantic. While capable of surfacing, the Trident cannot function on land. The Trident is completely submersible and can handle some of the deeper pressure depths of the ocean. The Trident is heavily armed for being a drone of its size, and comes equipped with a sonar system to help navigate while underwater. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6(A), Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d8 Skills: Notice d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d6, Swimming d8 Pace: –; Parry: 2; Toughness: 8(2) Special Abilties: • Armor +2: Reinforced structure • Aquatic: Pace equal to Swimming in water. • Sonar: Adds +2 to audio-based Notice rolls and ignores lighting penalties. • Weapon System: Electric Eel (Range Self, Damage 2d8+2; Electrical, MBT). • Weapon System: Rapid Fire Harpoon Launcher (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF: 3 Shots: 200, AP 4)

Robots All robots have the following Special Abilities: • Construct: +2 to recover from being Shaken; immune to poison, disease, and suffocation; no additional damage from Called Shots. • EMP Vulnerability: Robots suffer full damage from EMP Weapons. • Fearless: Robots are immune to Fear and Intimidation. • Weakness (Electricity): Robots suffer +2 damage from electrical attacks.

MAID BOT The maid bot is a small tracked rectangular shaped bot with four arms. The maid bot is programed to perform basic cleaning functions. Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Notice d8, Repair d4 Pace: 4; Parry: 2; Toughness: 4; Firewall: 4 Gear: A variety of chemical cleaners, rags, and brushes. Special Abilities • Small −1: Maid bot stands 3–4 tall. • Tracked: The maid bot ignores difficult terrain and is able to navigate objects that are less than 1/3 its height.

M-23 SURGEON Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6 Skills: Healing d8, Investigation d8, Knowledge (Medicine)d8, Notice d6 Pace: 6; Parry: 2; Toughness: 9(4); Firewall: 6 Gear: Medical kit and various drugs Special Abilities • Android: The civilian model of the M23 appears human with synthetic skin, hair, and eyes. • Medical Programing: +2 bonus to Healing rolls. • Optics Suite: Telescopic, low light, and thermal vision adds +2 to sight-based Notice rolls and ignores lighting penalties.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT A basic robot, with an anthropomorphic frame, designed. Most are found in offices, where a basic robotoic model is more cost effective over a /simulacra Attributes: Agility d6 Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Notice d4, Investigation d6, Persuasion d6 Pace: 6; Parry: 2; Toughness: 5; Firewall: 4 Gear: Data Carrier Special Abilities • Android: Some owners prefer a human looking model over the basic design. These personal assistants resemble humans, complete with synthetic skin (note: option increases the cost by 50,000 credits). • Language Suite: The personal assistant is programed to speak 6 languages. Its language algorithm allows it to make a Smarts roll at −4 to be understood any language or dialect that it has heard for at least 5 minutes.

SIMPET, LAPDOG Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6 Skills: Notice d6, Tracking d6 Pace: 6; Parry: 2; Toughness: 4; Firewall: 4 Special Abilities • Small −1: Its the size of an average dog. • Vision/Olfactory Sensors: +2 to Notice rolls.

TABLE 3.6: ROBOTS Maidbot

COST

Equipment

NAME

116,000

M-23 Surgeon

281,000

Personal Assistant

140,000

Simpet, Lapdog

136,000

63

MALMART DRUGS

Duration: One dose lasts 1d4 hours.

DRUGS

Methods of ingestion: Ingested via Inhalers or chem-delivery cyberware

Looking to take the edge off, or perhaps get a little boost for a wild night on the town? Doc Pango’s got what you need omae. Malbot267: Malmart takes no responsibility for the consequences of using any of the products listed in this section. The effects of drugs are often unpredictable and can have harmful — even lethal — side-effects. User discretion is advised.

AFTERBURN Want nova-fast reflexes and energy that’s through the roof? Then you want Afterburn, baby! One snort of this stuff and you’ll be bangin’ the walls all night! Nicknames: 8-Ball, Coke, Hyper-caine, Nova flake, Pile-driver, Rock, Snow Crash, White Girl Duration: One dose lasts 1d4 hours. Methods of ingestion: Inhaled, injected, smoked Effect: Harvested from coca fields in New Brasilia, Columbia, Bolivia and Peru, and then mixed up in street labs across the world, Afterburn is a massively addictive, potentially lethal combination of cocaine, methamphetamines and other stimulants. Afterburn boosts the character’s die for Agility-related skills by one step (d4 to d6, d6 to d8, etc.) for each dose taken to a maximum of d12+3. The Swimming, Lockpicking and Stealth skills are not increased when taking this drug. Additionally, the character gains a +1 bonus to opposed Notice rolls when opponents are sneaking up on the character. This bonus raises by +1 for each dose taken, to a maximum of +4. Finally, characters under the influence of Afterburn ignore penalties for a level of Fatigue equal to the number of doses they take. So taking 2 doses of Afterburn would allow the character to ignore two levels of Fatigue. Side effects: Afterburn generally makes people twitchy and restless, as if they don’t want to stand in one place for very long. Afterburn also tends to instill a false-sense of bravado in users, making them more susceptible to taunts and intimidation. They suffer a −1 penalty to Spirit rolls when resisting Intimidation rolls and a −1 penalty to Smarts rolls when resisting Taunts. The −1 penalties are cumulative for each dose taken. Additionally, when the character “comes down” off his high, he must succeed on a Vigor roll or gain a level of Fatigue for each dose ingested. These levels of Fatigue stack with levels already accrued before the drug was taken. Addictiveness Rating: −2 penalty to Spirit rolls to avoid becoming addicted for each dose taken within a 24 hour period. (Major Habit)

Equipment

Cost for one dose: 250 credits

BLACK MIST The drug of choice for hackers, techies, byte builders and other brainers, Black Mist blows your mental synapses wide open, and jacks your critical thinking skills past the redline!

Effect: Black Mist is a long-lasting, powerful psychoactive inhalant made in labs all over the world. The active ingredients are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and Amyl nitrite. The drug expands the neural pathways, speeding up thought processes and stimulating the logic centers of the brain. Black Mist grants a +1 bonus to Smarts-based skills such as Hacking, Knowledge (Programming), Repair, etc. The exception is the Notice skill, where they actually suffer a penalty (see below). Side effects: While under the effects of Black Mist, characters tend to be off in their own little worlds, thinking about whatever happens to be occupying their minds at the time. Consequently, they suffer a −1 penalty per dose taken to all Notice rolls involving sight, smell and sound. Addictiveness Rating: −1 penalty to Spirit rolls to avoid becoming addicted for each dose taken within a 24 hour period. (Minor Habit) Cost for one dose: 150 credits

STICKY ICKY Lookin’ ta mellow out and get high? You need Sticky Icky! This sweet herb produces a smooth, paranoid-free buzz that will keep you coming back for more! Nicknames: 420, Bud, Cannabis, Chronic, Herb, Marijuana, Skunk bud, Spliff, Weed Duration: One dose lasts 1d4 hours. Methods of ingestion: Smoking, Eating Effect: A mildly psychoactive drug, marijuana, or Sticky Icky as it is commonly called in 2090, is harvested from plants that grow all over the world. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol. Aside from recreational use, the drug is a strong pain killer commonly administered to terminal cancer patients. While under the effects of marijuana, characters ignore 1 wound penalty and gain a +1 bonus to resist Intimidation and Taunt tests for each dose they take. Side effects: Like Black Mist, the drug tends to send users off into their own head space. They suffer a −1 penalty to Notice rolls for each dose they take, and they tend to eat a great deal under the effects of this drug as well. Addictiveness Rating: −1 penalty to Spirit rolls to avoid becoming addicted for each dose taken within a 24 hour period. (Minor Habit) Cost for one dose: 100 credits

EUPHORIA Need your fix? Got that urge to chase the dragon? No worries mano, we got what you need. Doc Pango brings Euphoria straight to ya from the poppy fields of the Chinese Mandarinate, that sweet, sweet china white! Nicknames: Black Tar, China White, Diesel, Dope, “H”, Junk, Sex, Skag, Smack, Whore

Nicknames: Brain Bender, Mojo Mist, Poppers, Synapse2

Duration: One dose lasts 1d4 hours. Methods of ingestion: Injection, snorting

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MALMART DRIGS

TABLE 3.7: DRUGS ADDICTIVENESS

DURATION PER DOSE

COST

Boosts Agility-based skills by one die −1 penalty to Spirit Rolls to resist type for each dose intimidation, and −1 penalty to Smarts rolls to resist taunts

−2 to Spirit rolls

1d4 hours

250

Black Mist

+1 to Smarts-based skills except Notice

−1 Penalty to all Notice rolls involving sight, smell, and sound

−1 to Spirit rolls

1d4 hours

150

Sticky Icky

+1 bonus to resist Taunt and Intimidation rolls/ignores 1 Wound penalty per dose

−1 penalty to Notice rolls per dose

−1 to Spirit rolls.

1d4 hours

100

Tank-N-Spank

See description

1d4 lethal damage per hour for each dose taken

−3 to Spirit rolls

1d4 hours

600

Euphoria

Ignore 1 Wound penalty per dose. May not be intimidated or taunted

Automatically fail Notice rolls, Vigor roll at −1 or be Shaken for 1d6 hours

−3 to Spirit rolls

1d4 hours

400

NAME

EFFECT

Afterburn

SIDE EFFECT

Effect: Euphoria is a potent narcotic, both mentally and physically addicting. Derived from morphine, the drug is a strong pain killer which induces a powerful sense of ecstasy in users. Characters under the influence of Euphoria ignore 1 wound penalty for each dose they take, and may not be intimidated or taunted.

that lasts 4 hours would suffer 4d4 lethal damage after the effects wore off! Addictiveness Rating: −3 penalty to Spirit rolls to avoid becoming addicted for each dose taken within a 24 hour period. (Major Habit)

Side effects: The side effects of Euphoria are brutal. Characters automatically fail Notice rolls while under the effects of the drug, and when they “come down” from their high they must make a Vigor roll at a −1 penalty for each dose they ingested or become Shaken for 1d6 hours.

Cost for one dose: 600 credits

Addictiveness Rating: −3 penalty to Spirit rolls to avoid becoming addicted for each dose taken within a 24 hour period. (Major Habit) Cost for one dose: 400 credits

TANK-N-SPANK Lookin’ to get into some serious “Once more into the breach” type of violence? Need ta keep that heart pumping for a few more critical ticks of the clock? Then you want Tank-N-Spank. The ultimate of the “power” drugs, Tank-N-Spank’ll keep you on your feet and provide the endurance and speed you need to get the job done. But once it’s done, you’re probably done too. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya… Nicknames: Speedball Assassin, Graveyard Express, Last Breath, Overdrive, Rage, Roids Duration: One dose lasts 1d4 hours. Methods of ingestion: Injection, snorting, pill form

Side effects: A physically devastating cocktail of methamphetamines, heroin and anabolic steroids, Tank-N-Spank causes physical damage to the user to the tune of 1d4 per hour! So someone who takes a single dose of Tank-N-Spank

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Equipment

Effect: Tank-N-Spank is attractive to users looking to push the boundaries of physical and mental toughness. Each dose of the drug allows the character to ignore the effects of 1 wound level and one fatigue level. Additionally, the character’s Strength Die is increased one step for each dose taken, to a maximum of D12+3, and when the character hits with a raise on a Fighting roll, she does 1d8 damage rather than 1d6. If the character has any augmentations that already modify this extra damage Die, increase that damage Die by one step (from d8 to d10, d10 to d12, etc.).

MALMART ENTERTAINMENT

it with the weapons you want to run, and jump into a battle today! • Cost: 50 credits per month for full access

ENTERTAINMENT

“BOOSTER” HIGH SPEED JUMP RACING GAME

Entertainment It’s a dark world out there, so stay inside and play some games! Watch some vidcaps, Malmart is your entertainment connection! From The hottest SynthSystems Hyper Concert Console, to VRPGs and HyperMiniature games, Malmart has your entertainment covered.

SYNTHSYSTEMS HYPER CONCERT CONSOLE Sight, sound and special effects all in HyperReality. Whether you’re just learning, or you’re putting on a MegaConcert at the capital, this baby can handle the entire concert in one little box. Hyper Concert Console also available as a HyperObject keyboard. • Basic sound system and interface. • Synthesizer module can emulate up to 14,400 sound effects. (Maximum is 84,400). • Fx module can generate thousands of pre-programmed effects. • Concert Module allows squelching so only paying customers can tune in to the performance. • Back-up Band module, this little module generates a back-up band for you solo performers. • Orchestra module is used to generate an entire orchestra. • Audience module, perfect for the rockstar wannabe, nothing beats playing in front of an audience, this module lets you see what it’s like. Costs 1 credit per audience member. Add 500 credits for an Audience AI unit to let you know what it thinks of you. • Basic can handle 3 ‘HYnstruments’ and a singer; add 200 credits for each additional band member • Cost: 2,500+ credits

Equipment

“ARCANA, THE SUMMONING” HYPERCARD GAME This collectable, tradable HyperCard game pits you as a powerful summoner, locked in battle with a rival. You summon creatures using the spells in your Grimoire in an attempt to kill your opponent before he kills you. The creatures are created in HyperReality, complex algorithms work out the realistic battles before your very eyes. Grimoire interface device, with genuine SynthLeather cover and several sheets of actual paper, to give you that real wizard feeling! • Hundreds of cards available for your grimoire. • Unique game featuring legends of mythology. • Spell Duel with your friends, your enemies, or even your mom! • Cost: 100 credits for a Starter set for 2 players. Boosters of 5 spells can be purchased for 40 credits. Ultra-rare spells are known to sell for over 1,000 credits. Grimoire Interface Device costs 500 credits, and includes a starter set.

“GOLEMWARRIOR IV” GOLEMMECH SIMULATOR GAME Everyone wants to be a Golemmech pilot, making GolemWarrior IV an instant success. Choose your GMech, customize

Booster is a Fast, Fun, and Furious high speed racing game which takes the player through exotic locales, the Canals of Mars, the Rings of Saturn, and the Marianas Trench. Free to play, but full access costs 40 credits a month. • Cost: 40 credits per month for full access

BLOOD THRONE ONLINE VRPG Can you survive the Age of Blood? It has been ten years since Agärazôn the Betrayer opened the stone gates and unleashed war on the world. Ten long years that saw the ruthless Keza-Drak — monstrous invaders from another world — wreak havoc upon the free people of Simarra. The survivors of this age of blood have been driven to the brink of annihilation, scattered throughout the lands, forced to live as best they can in remote freeholds; tiny bastions of safety in an otherwise brutal world fraught with all manner of perils. Hope is not yet lost. Valiant heroes have come forth to fight against the encroaching darkness, bringing what comfort and hope they can to the dispossessed, wretched masses of the world. Refusing to simply lay down and let the forces of darkness have their world, these heroes bring the fight to the Keza-Drak and the minions of Agärazôn, fighting against overwhelming odds to ensure that good does not vanish from the face of Simarra. Will you be one of them? • Over 50 million people across the globe have joined the fight against the minions of the Betrayer, and now you can too for free (limited access for free account). • Cost: 50 credits per month for full access

DEADLANDS VRPG Welcome to the Weird West, pardner! Based in the Phoenix Free Zone, Pinnacle Entertainment Group™ brings you Deadlands™, a wildly popular MMORPG set in a exciting, yet frighteningly twisted version of the old west. In Deadlands, you’ll get the chance to fight in the Great Rail Wars, explore The Maze; a cavernous land in what remains of earthquakeravaged California! Seek your fortune mining Ghost Rock, a new fuel that powers the machines of the age. Make your way through a fractured, mysterious land as a gunslinger, a spell-slinger, mad scientist or even an Indian shaman! • Cost: 50 credits per month

TOTEMS OF THE DEAD VRPG Totems of the Dead, a fantasy sword & sorcery setting inspired by Native American stories and mythologies combined with the Vinland Saga. Come explore the cliff-side ruins of the ancient Stone Shapers and seek treasure in the abandoned monuments of the Mound Raisers. Face off against the Sasquatch, Wendigo and Uktena serpent, or beat back nameless horrors that have awoken from a forgotten age. Rediscover the totems of ancient pre-human cultures. Stoke the fires of bravery in your own heart by singing your death song, and above all, struggle to survive in this savage world! • Cost: 50 credits per month

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MALMART DELIVERY SUBSCRIPTIONS

fried rice? Mama Ling-ling gonna hook you up! Our fried rice comes with egg, broccoli, carrots, and is made with either bio-brown or bio-white rice! Want something a little heavier? Try any number of our “authentic” Asian creations including sushi, Mongolian beef, orange chicken, Mandarin Kung Pao (beef, shrimp, or chicken style), Thai curry dishes, sweet and sour pork and many more! Choose from one of the following delivery contracts and start getting Mama Ling-Ling’s noodles delivered to your squat today! *Mama Ling Ling’s serves no actual meat products! Extra MSG available on request. • Cost: 50 credits per month

Delivery Subscriptions Like the man said, “Ya gotta eat,” but do you always have time to go down to the local EAT OR DIE!™ stop-N-go shack to get the munchies you crave? Of course not! That’s why Malmart’s hooked up with the following companies to bring you these great delivery contracts!

FAT SALLY’S BBQ! Want the best cloned ribs and chicken in the plex? Grab yourself some of Fat Sally’s cloned pork spare ribs and fried chicken and you’ll see why we were voted the best BBQ joint in Chicagoland! Our juicy ribs are cooked to order and basted with tangy barbeque sauce then delivered to your squat ready to eat! Each order comes with two sides and fresh soy rolls (real flour rolls cost extra) and a ton of napkins! • Cost: 50 credits per month

Other Services TABLE 3.8: OTHER SERVICES

DOMINATOR PIZZA 30 minutes or less or it’s FREE! That’s our motto at Dominator Pizza, always has been, always will be. Our delivery specialists go through 13 weeks of extensive training under the most grueling urban combat and traffic conditions, honing their skills to a monofilament edge before we let them deliver you the freshest, tastiest pizzas and food accessories in the sprawl omae. All of our delivery vehicles are fitted with the latest S.O.T.A. in VCR technology, and our pies come wrapped in Volcano heaters to ensure your pizza is NOVA hot! • Cost: 50 credits per month

EAT OR DIE! Our stop-N-go shacks are everywhere, but sometimes even that amazing convenience just doesn’t cut it. Maybe you’re on a hot run and need some of our WIRED™ energy drinks or some munchies to quiet that grumbling stomach. Whatever it is you want, we got it. And we’ll get it to you wherever you may be. • Cost: 50 credits per month

GETTING BY

COST

Night at a Capsule Motel

400 credits

Night at a Regular Motel

800 credits

Night at a Luxury Hotel

5,000+ credits

GETTING DIRTY

COST

Cheap Alcohol

5 credits per drink

Good Alcohol

35+ credits per drink

Fine Wine, Bottle

500–1,000 credits

Night on the Town, Dives

75 credits

Night on the Town, Good Clubs

150 credits

Night on the Town, Exclusive Clubs

300-500 credits

Night With A Prostitute

50–1,000 credits

Night With A Luxury Simulacrum

2,000–3,000 credits

GETTING AROUND

COST

Pubtrans (Bus)

1 credit per station

Pubtrans (Subway)

3 credits per station

Average Cab Fare

5 credits per mile

Average Airline Ticket

8 credits per mile

Average High Speed Rail Ticket

150 credits

30-Day Pubtrans Access Codes

150 credits

JALAPEÑO BOB’S MEXICAN GRILL For over 20 years, Jalapeño Bob has brought you the best Mexican food in the sprawl. Now, we’re bringin’ it right to your door, fresh hot and spicy; just the way you want it! At Jalapeño Bob’s, we know what good Mexican food should taste like. Our sizzling fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, and burritos are prepared using free-range cloned “Prime Angus” beef and vat-grown chicken. Our spices are imported directly from Mexico City, and we grow our veggies in certified INSTAgrow™ agropods, ensuring the freshest, zestiest Pico de Gallo you’ll find anywhere in the sprawl! Each Jalapeño Bob service contracts includes two 1lb bags of complimentary soy chips and a gallon of our famous Flamin’ Jalapeño Salsa! • Cost: 50 credits per month

Equipment

MAMA LING-LING’S NOODLE EXPRESS! Want the best noodles in the sprawl, ami? Look no further! Mama Ling-Ling makes the tastiest soy noodles and traditional Asian meals this side of Beijing! Try our Sichuan noodles, tofu noodles, or enjoy or savory spicy beef Ramen! Want some

67

MALMART EXPLOSIVES

can be used like a mine on non-porous surfaces. Poured on a solid item, it can make a very dangerous grenade. Rolling a 1 on the attack roll will result in damaging one’s self, as the initial force to throw the item, sets it off.

EXPLOSIVES Explosive Devices

CES NANOTHERM GEL

BOMZAWAY™ LTD SATCHEL PACK Sometimes you’ve gotta make a bigger statement than a few hand grenades can manage. Sometimes you’ve gotta get that big thing down or outta the way without screwing around. Bomzaway has your back, ami, with our exclusive Satchel Pack. It can be rigged with a timer, a wire or a remote. It can be shaped for a focused blast, or simply used to cover the widest area possible.

Thermite, on the nanoscopic scale, nanoparticles of aluminum and ferrous oxide are mixed with a magnesium base to provide the hottest thermite available. Useful at cutting through armor. Each additional charge adds +3 damage and +1 AP.

CES SUPER C4 PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE CES brings you the best C4 money can buy, with two times the destructive power of Standard C4, Sold in 8 oz bricks. Each additional charge adds +2 damage and +1" to the burst radius.

The Satchel Pack is a restricted item in some locations — be sure to check with your local law enforcement agency before ordering. When something blows, Bomzaway™ is there! Game Notes: Satchels are used to deliver a pre-packed detonation pack. Shaping forms are used to create a shaped explosion, upon a successful Knowledge (Demolitions) skill check will add AP 2. • Can be rigged with a successful Demolitions check to explode in a Large Burst Template for 4d6 damage with AP 5. • Can be rigged with a successful Demolitions check to explode in a Cone Template for 3d8+2 damage with AP 16.

Grenades Modern grenade launchers typically use 25mm grenades which can be outfitted with various payloads while the 40mm grenades fill a greater variety of roles.

APC-40 ANTIPERSONNEL CLUSTER This grenade scatters micro munitions over a large burst template area effectively creating a micro munition minefield.

HE-40 HIGH EXPLOSIVE Standard military grade High-explosive launched grenade.

BOMZAWAY™ MOLOTOV COCKTAILS Sometimes you wanna destroy something, but don’t have the time, skill, or creds to use a Satchel Pack. Sometimes even grenades are outta your league. No worries — Bomzaway has your back, ami, and can provide one of the oldest and most easily used ‘explosives’ in the book: the Molotov cocktail. Sure, you can probably make one of these at home, but do you feel like investing the time? And our patented alcohol/oil/tar mix is guaranteed to burn good and hot. When you absolutely, positively, need to burn someone down.

HIGH EXPLOSIVE INCENDIARY GRENADES The Hell on Earth HEI grenade rounds explode with white phosphorus, coating everything in the kill zone in sticky flaming death. Targets hit by the HEI round will catch fire on a 5+.

FLASH BANGS Grenades which cause non-lethal damage. Many modern armors protect from these effects, with audio and sight compensators built into the helmets.

CES DYNAMIGHT™

Equipment

CES is proud to present the cleanest, most efficient Trinitrotoluene money can buy. Microcapsules of the toluene are embedded within the stabilizer. With a twist and a push, you activate the mixing process, 30 seconds later the DynaMIGHT™ is ready for use. DynaMIGHT™ yield can be increased with additional sticks. Each additional stick adds +1 damage and +1" to the blast radius.

CES MPACT EXPLOSIVES

SM-40/SM-19 SMOKE Smoke is useful for several tactical options, especially with our hot smoke option. In addition to obscuring movement, smoke charges can also severely reduced the damage of laser weaponry. Creates −6 obscurement penalty for 1d4+2 rounds, before dispersing. Hot smoke version blocks IR and UV as well.

MPact explosive are stable in liquid form but when dry become highly volatile, though short lived. MPact explosives

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MALMART EXPLOSIVES

TABLE 3.9: EXPLOSIVES EXPLOSIVE

RANGE

Bomzaway Ltd Satchel Pack Bomzaway Molotov Cocktails CES Dynamight CES MPact CES Nanotherm Gel Ces Super C4 Plastic Explosive

DAMAGE

COST

BURST

5/10/15

4d8

2,500

MBT

3/6/12

2d10

100

SBT

WEIGHT

NOTES AP 20; see description

1.0

1 Action to light; catch fire on 5+

3/6/12

2d8

300

MBT

5/10/20

4d6

600

SBT

Heavy Weapon Heavy Weapon; see description

3d8

400

SBT

AP 12; Heavy Weapon

5/10/20

2d10

500

MBT

0.5

Heavy Weapon

TABLE 3.10: GRENADES AND MINES 25MM GRENADES High Explosive Incendiary TAZ-25

DAMAGE

COST

BURST

WEIGHT

3d6

750

SBT

1

NOTES Catch fire on 5+

3,500

MBT

1

Shock

2

40MM GRENADES 2d6+2

1,000

LBT

HE-40, High Explosive

APC-40 Antipersonnel Cluster

4d8

500

MBT

2

High Explosive Incendiary

3d8

750

MBT

2

Catch fire on 5+

TAZ-40

3,500

MBT

1

Vigor roll or Shaken

TAG-40 Tear Gas

350

LBT

2d10

250

MBT

2

Non-lethal

LBT

2

−6 obscurement penalty; see description

AGA Anti-Drone Air Mines

3d6

3,500

AGA AP-4S Anti-Personnel Slaymore

3d8

1,800

Vigor roll or Shaken, see description

THROWN GRENADES Flash Bang SM-40/SM-19 Smoke MINE

AGA Av-12 Mines AGA Avd-3 Arachnid Drop Mines

LBT

• ½ LBT

7

AP 4, Heavy Weapon

4

AP 8 −4 on Notice rolls to detect

3d8

1,500

SBT

12

3d6+3

1,200

SBT

3

TAZ-25/TAZ-40

AGA AV-12 MINES

A taser fitted into the body of the casing. The TAZ-25 delivers a powerful shock. Targets within the area of effect must make a Vigor roll at −2. Failure means he’s automatically Shaken.

Another anti-vehicular mine, designed with a pressure trigger, utilizing a simple Chameleon system, it can be a nasty surprise. Difficult to detect (−4 on Notice rolls to detect).

TG-40, TG-7 TEARGAS

AGA AVD-3 ARACHNID DROP MINES

Non-lethal crowd control for over a hundred years. Anyone caught in a Tear gas cloud must make a Vigor roll or become Shaken. Each additional round within the cloud forces another roll with a cumulative −1 to the Vigor roll. Gas masks, and Full Environmental equipment provides protection from Tear Gas.

Arachnid drop mines are deployed from mine layers on vehicles.

Mines AGA ANTI-DRONE AIR MINES Utilizing dummy drones, Anti-drone air mines are designed to hover and discourage aerial pursuit. Especially damaging to any type of turbine driven engines, like those found on VTOLs and jet engines.

AGA AP-4S ANTI-PERSONNEL SLAYMORE MINE

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Equipment

A variation on a standard claymore mine, this baby hits like a swarm of angry hornets. 2,000 flechettes give the Slaymore a killzone of nearly 6 meters. Uses half of a Large Burst Template originating from the direction it is facing, out 90 degrees to each side.

MALMART GOLEMMECHS AND POWERED ARMOR

GOLEMMECHS AND POWERED ARMOR

POWER ARMOR MODIFICATIONS Chassis: The basic chassis type. The chassis is a fully sealed suit, covering the entire body. Helmet includes a HUD (Heads Up Display) screen that provides all the details on the suits functions, weapon statuses, and the wearer’s vital signs. The built in optics provide 10× magnification and the audio system can register whispers about 50’ away. Builtin communications are encrypted (same rating as the armor’s firewall) and have a range of five miles. Suits are hermetically and environmentally sealed and provide their own heating, cooling, and enough oxygen to last 72 hours. Energy is provided by hydrogen-cell batteries that last 72 hours. Recharging from a special recharging unit takes six hours. Armor: Protection value, considered Heavy Armor. Pace: The Pace at which the wearer moves. Edges/Hindrances that modify Pace still apply. Firewall: The suits’s firewall rating. Running: Modifier to the wearer’s running die. Weight: Weight of the suit. When powered the weight is negated for encumbrance purposes. Weapons: Included mounted and personal weapons. Cost: The base price of the suit.

Malbot267: Looking for some heavy support for your next war? Look no further! Malmart brings you an array of powered armor suits and golemmechs for use in a variety of situations!

Scout Power Armor AGA COMMANDO SCOUT POWER ARMOR One of the most versatile scout power armor suits, featuring hydrogen cell power supply, the Commando is designed to operate longer with an upgraded power supply. Optional Loadout includes a 14mm sniper rifle and a 12.7mm golemmech pistol. The system is designed for recon and sabotage. Act of God brings you another innovative weapons platform. Weapons: • 14mm Sniper Rifle (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 1; Shots 12; AP 4, HW, Scope, Snapfire) • 12.7mm Gyroc Pistol (Range 12/24/48; Damage 3d6; ROF1; Shots 10; HW, SBT, min. arming distance 6")

SW GN-F00 SCOUT POWER ARMOR Sudeki-White brings you an amazing close-combat suit of scout power armor. This shazz piece of hardware is designed to get into the middle of the action, use its mobility and stealth with hit and run tactics. With its movement upgrade and JUMP capabilities, it can move nearly anywhere in an urban environment.

FEATURES Arm Servos: Increases wear’s Strength by +1 die type. Autodoc: Automated medical system with d8 Healing, also grants +2 to recover from being Shaken. Battery Pack: Doubles unit’s runtime to 144 hours. GhostCoat: Add +4 to Stealth against visual detection, but has no effect on sensors. Jump Pack: Allows the unit to jump Pace × 2 horizontally, or Pace × 1 vertically. Magnetic Pads: The soles and palms of the suit are fitted with powerful magnets, allowing the wearer to walk up or cling to metal surfaces. Propulsion Jets: Pace of 6” when in vacuum or water, no effect outside these environments. Optics: Advanced optics, +2 to vision-based Notice rolls, and negates all lighting penalties up to 100 yards. Recoil Compensator: Negates the penalty for auto-fire for personal and mounted weapons. Self Sealing: The suit reacts to sudden depressurization and fills the hole with a fast-hardening sealant. Sensor Suite: The suit is equipped with sensors that detect sound, motion, strong chemicals, radiation, or electrical fields up to 500 yards. Stealth Circuits: Grants +4 to Stealth versus sensors. Targeting System: Negates up to two points of Shooting modifiers for carried or mounted weapons.

AGA LOVIATAR SCOUT POWER ARMOR Act of God Armaments produces only a few of these flashy, form-fitting, chromed-out power suits. Nimble and fast, the Loviatar can field many different hand-held weapons, but is only fitted as standard with a monowhip concealed in each forearm, making it a brutal combatant in close quarters. Weapons: • 2 × Monofilament Whip (Agi+d6; AP 6, HW, Reach 3, d10 extra damage on a raise)

Combat Power Armor

Equipment

AGA FURY COMBAT POWER ARMOR The Fury is an entry-level power armor suit. Simple, rugged and reliable, it has a respectable payload of weapons, an impressive electronics suite and light armor, all for a quite reasonable price. The Fury is deployed by regulars in the NAC armed forces, and exported to nations across the world as a light security suit of power armor. Weapons: • Shoulder Mount 12.7mm Gyroc (Range 24/48/96; Damage 3d6, ROF 1; Shots 30; HW, LBT) • Furious Assault Rifle (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8+2; ROF 4; Shots 50, AP 2, Auto, requires suit’s power)

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MALMART POWERED ARMOR

security firms who find the rugged design and cheap price tag the perfect fit for their expense reports. This unit is designed for heavy infantry support. Armed with a shoulder mounted 40mm Grenade Launcher and carrying the Annihilator Automatic Shotgun this is a devastating force on the battlefield. Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted Grenade Launcher (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d6 (or by grenade); ROF 3; Shots 20; HW, LBT) • Annihilator Shotgun (Range 12/24/48; Damage 1–3d8; ROF3; Shots 12; Auto)

BK-42MX MAXIMILLIAN COMBAT POWER ARMOR The Maximillian is a heavy suit of combat power armor by Black Knight Industries. Once again bringing you modern firepower with a medieval flair. Resembling a suit of fully modernized and streamlined plate armor, the Maximillian also includes customized heraldric HoloTags. Mounted to the back of the sword arm is the Armbow Weapon System, an internal LAC-15 with a stylized ‘crossbow’ motif on the back of the arm, featuring a 120 round ammunition drum. Weapons: • Armbow Weapon System (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW) • Ceramic Broadsword (Str+d12, AP 2) • Shield (+1 Parry, +2 Armor vs ranged attacks)

DIRE WEASEL COMBAT POWER ARMOR Global Technologies’ Dire Weasel power armor is the light and cost effective response to heavy armored vehicles. Combining high mobility, heavy weapons, decent sensors, and versatile design; a team of dire weasels can destroy nearly any hostile armored formation. With integral shoulder-mounted anti-tank guided missile launchers, the dire weasel can kill nearly any ground vehicle in the world, while providing good protection to the operator.

BK-PA-MK4 DONNER COMBAT POWER ARMOR The Donner is a cutting-edge power suit designed by Black Knight Industries. The armor is strong, and nearly as nimble as the AGA Loviatar. Some versions also sport composite shields for added protection (not included in the cost listed). The Donner is used by the Chicago Defense Force, featuring advanced sensors, upgraded armor and a shoulder mounted pulse laser, freeing the up the hands for carrying additional weaponry. Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted 20MW Pulse Laser (Range 75/150/300; Damage 2d10; ROF 1; Shots —; AP 5, HW) • 12.7mm Gyroc Pistol (Range 12/24/48; Damage 3d6; ROF1; Shots 10; HW, SBT, min. arming distance 6”)

Compact power supplies and light armor were designed to maximize capacity for the heavy missiles. Most clients purchase a supplemental personal arms for engaging secondary targets (not included). Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted Missile Pod (Range 100/200/400; Damage 5d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 8; AP 150, HW) • Mjolnir Anti-Material Rifle (Range 50/100/200; Damage 3d8; ROF 3; Shots 100; AP 6, HW)

RL-PA-SN6 INVICTUS SWAT COMBAT POWER ARMOR The Ravenlocke Securities Invictus is a suit of SWAT combat power armor deployed by Special Weapons Assault Teams with various security forces. Most departments have 1 or 2 of these as heavy back-up units for extremely hazardous assignments. The units come from the factory with a 40mm Rotary Autocannon Mounted to the right shoulder, and a 1,000,000 candle power spotlight on the left shoulder. Most units are armed with the Sentinel Heavy Machinegun, and a riot shield. Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted 40mm Rotary Auto-Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d8; ROF 3; Shots 100; AP 10, HW) • Sentinel HMG (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 200, AP 4) • Shield (+1 Parry, +2 Armor vs ranged attacks)

SW-GRNT-EVA GRUNT COMBAT POWER ARMOR

AGA G-ATR TACTICAL SUPPORT COMBAT POWER ARMOR The G-ATR (Golemmech Armed Tactical Response) is a basic combat power armor used primarily by military contractors and

INVICTUS SWAT COMBAT POWER ARMOR

71

Equipment

Sudeki-Whyte’s EVA series of suits are common combat armor mass-produced for infantry units trained for operations in multiple environments, including underwater and space. The grunt comes armed with a pulse laser for use in space. Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted 20MW Pulse Laser (Range 75/150/300; Damage 2d10; ROF 1; Shots —; AP 5, HW) • Shield (+1 Parry, +2 Armor vs ranged attacks)

MALMART POWERED ARMOR

Providing an unparalleled level of protection, everything else was sacrificed to maximize ballistic protection..

FIRE WEASEL COMBAT POWER ARMOR A Variant of the Dire Weasel, the Fire Weasel utilizes fire based weaponry, the Fire Weasel replacing the missile pod, and adding a 40mm Grenade Launcher with a full load of 40mm HEI. The Fire Weasel is one of the most destructive suits of powered armor in existence. Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted Grenade Launcher (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d6 (or by grenade); ROF 3; Shots 20; HW, LBT) • Ferret Heavy Flamer (Range *; Damage 2d12; ROF 1; Shots30; HW, affects least Armored area; *either Cone or MBT up to 18" distant)

EIS ‘THUNDER’ FIRE SUPPORT HEAVY POWER ARMOR Listed as “heavy power armor”, the Thunder is actually a light golemmech. A ton of armor, rocket launchers, and sensors, the Thunder can rain devastation upon targets well outside of direct fire ranges. A single Thunder unit can provide a level of fire support equivalent to an entire battery of more conventional artillery, with the ammunition of your choice! Weapons: • 2 × Shoulder Mounted 70mm Rocket Pod (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d8+2; ROF 1–4; Shots 12; HW, MBT) • Sentinel HMG (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 200, AP 4)

HT RISK MANAGEMENT COMBAT POWER ARMOR Hostile Takeovers’ first forays into the world of power armored executive protection in the world’s most hostile negotiations; the Risk Minimization is filled with contradictions.

TABLE 3.11: POWERED ARMOR POWERED ARMOR

ARMOR

PACE

RUNNING DIE

FIREWALL

WEIGHT

COST

+8

8

+1 die type

8

100

450,000

+8

12

+2 die types

8

100

425,000

+12

8

9

100

400,000

+8

8

10

100

650,000

8

8

100

375,000

8

9

100

650,000

8

9

100

375,000

+2 die types

10

200

525,000

AGA Commando Scout Powered Armor

Notes: Battery Pack, GhostCoat, Jump Pack, Stealth Circuits Weapons: 14mm Sniper Rifle, 12.7mm Gyroc Pistol SW GN-F00 Scout Powered Armor Notes: GhostCoat, Jump Pack, Targeting System AGA Loviatar Scout Powered Armor Notes: Arm Servos, Jump Pack Weapons: 2 × Monofilament Whip AGA Fury Combat Power Armor

Notes: Arm Servos, Optics, Sensor Suite Weapons: Shoulder Mount 12.7mm Gyroc, Furious Assault Rifle BK-42MX Maximillian Combat Power Armor

+8

Notes: Arm Servos (×2) Weapons: Armbow Weapon System, Ceramic Broadsword, Shield BK-PA-MkX Donner Combat Power Armor

+10

Notes: Sensor Suite, Targeting System Weapons: Shoulder Mounted 20MW Pulse Laser, 12.7mm Gyroc Pistol RL-PA-SN6 Invictus SWAT Combat Power Armor

+10

Notes: Recoil Compensator Weapons: Shoulder Mounted 40mm Rotary Auto Cannon, Sentinel HMG, Shield SW-GRNT-EVA Grunt Combat Power Armor

+10

10

Notes: Magnetic Pads, Propulsion Jets, Optics, Self Sealing, Sensor Suite, Targeting Computer Weapons: Shoulder Mounted 20MW Pulse Laser, Shield AGA G-ATR Tactical Support Combat Power Armor

+14

6

9

200

675,000

+14

8

+1 die type

8

200

850,000

+12

10

+2 die types

9

200

725,000

+24

6

8

200

435,000

+16

4

8

300

1,125,000

Notes: Arm Servos (×2), Autodoc, Recoil Compensator Weapons: Shoulder Mounted Grenade Launcher, Annihilator Shotgun Dire Weasel Combat Power Armor Notes: Arm Servos, Stablizers, Targeting System Weapons: Shoulder Mounted Missile Pod, Mjolnir AMR Fire Weasel Combat Power Armor

Equipment

Notes: Jump Pack, Sensor Suite, Targeting System Weapons: Shoulder Mounted Grenade Launcher, Ferret Heavy Flamer HT Risk Management Combat Power Armor Notes: Autodoc EIS ‘Thunder’ Fire Support Heavy Power Armor

Notes: Arm Servos (×2), Recoil Compensator, Sensor Suite, Stealth Circuitry, Targeting System Weapons: 2 × Shoulder Mounted 70mm Rocket Pod, Sentinel HMG

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MALMART GOLEMMECHS

customized their purchases. Standard Loadout consists of a Shredder Fist and the Orion Weapon System, consisting of a 20mm Rapid Fire and 4g shotgun, unfortunately, due to poor design the Orion Weapon System utilizes the same Ammunition feed, preventing firing both weapons at once. Weapons: • Orion Weapon System (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d12; ROF 4; Shots 100; AP 4, HW) • 4g Shotgun (Range 12/24/48; Damage 1–3d10; ROF 2; Shots 50; Auto, Shotgun) • Shredder Fist (Str+1d12; AP 4, HW)

Golemmechs AGA GLM-01 MAULER GOLEMMECH Representing Act of God Armaments’ first foray into heavy weapon platform design, the Mauler is a beast of a golemmech, designed specifically for urban warfare. A middle-weight design, the Mauler’s payload is focused on rapid firepower and heavy armor backed by sophisticated passive sensors. While not especially agile, the Mauler is quick, and more than capable of holding its own in tight urban spaces. Sporting heavy rapid-fire armaments, in the form of a Black Knight Liberator rotary cannon in one forearm and a set of linked rail guns in the other, the Mauler can devastate an enemy position at short range. The Mauler can carry additional hand held weaponry based upon mission (purchased separately).

FORD ‘AUGER’ AGII INDUSTRIAL GOLEMMECH The Auger is a construction golemmech, designed for use in open-cast mining operations as well as on larger construction sites using its huge, multi-jointed, three-fingered hand that can double as a shovel. The other arm is equipped with a Large Power Drill. The Auger has two smaller arms to facilitate the use of smaller hand held items. As well as strictly civilian applications, the Auger sees use in rescue operations. Large storage hoppers are attached to carry dirt, construction materials and more. Weapons: • Large Power Drill (Damage 3d6; AP4, HW, Fighting −2, Parry −2) • Large Scoop Arm (Str+1d12; AP 4, HW)

The Mauler was intended for the mercenary market, and has been designed to look especially intimidating, with spiked pauldrons, deaths-head, and a matte black finish as factory standard. Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW) • Twin Linked Rail Gun (Range 50/100/200; Damage 3d12; ROF 1; Shots 20; HW)

KENSAI ZERO AIR SUPPORT LIGHT GOLEMMECH The Kensai is agile, well balanced, and capable of VTOL flight using its vectored-thrust engine. The default Kensai carries a Sudeki-Whyte Shoulder Mounted missile pod, and carries the Zero Cannon (proprietary particle beam cannon). Some customers prefer to use a 25mm assault cannon for general operations, due to the recharge time of the Zero Cannon. The Capacitors on the Zero Cannon require additional time to recharge, thus it can only fire once every other turn. Sudeki-Whyte has promised to reduce the recharge time of the Zero Cannon but that isn’t reality as yet. Weapons: • Zero Cannon (Range 50/100/200; Damage 3d10; ROF 1; Shots —; HW, only fire every other round.) • Shoulder Missile Pod (Range 200/400/800; Damage 6d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 8; AP 12, HW)

EIS ORION COMBAT GOLEMMECH

KENSAI ZERO AIR SUPPORT LIGHT GOLEMMECH

While production models of the Orion haven’t changed over the last couple of years, most clients heavily

73

Equipment

The first product EIS put onto the heavy golemmech market was the Orion Combat System. Billed as a mobile golemmech for elite forces and special operations, the Orion had a mixed reaction. The armor is relatively light, and the integrated armament is underwhelming. However, it possesses the kind of sensors usually found on a reconnaissance model, good battlefield mobility, good overall design, and lots of capacity for modification without changing the stock systems.

MALMART GOLEMMECHS

RAVENLOCKE QUEEN BEE GOLEMMECH

EIS ARES COMBAT HEAVY GOLEMMECH

Lightly armored and virtually unarmed, Ravenlocke’s Queen Bee is still a strong seller. There’s an old saw about amateurs buying firepower and professionals buying support materials, and this golemmech is for professional fighters. The Queen Bee is a force multiplier, using very powerful sensors and a small swarm of recon drones to collect data on the entire battlefield; she’s not going to kill you herself, but one of the golemmechs or hunter/killer drones she’s directing will. Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted Thunderbolt 50mm Auto Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d8; ROF 3; Shots 100; AP 10, HW)

The Ares is an aggressive design built for close and longrange combat. It is EIS’ latest mass market design, combining style and function into a formidable package. One of the most expensive golemmechs in mass production, the Ares is turning into a status symbol. Its rugged gladiator-like frame, topped with a Greco-Roman headpiece/sensor array, sports the Doru weapon system, stylized as a 20-foot-long spear. In close combat, it functions much like its profile suggests, and the spear butt holds a high-powered gauss rifle that fires a stream of razor-sharp flechettes. The Doru is powered by the Ares armor via a tactile interface system built into the golemmech’s powerful fourdigit hands. The Ares also boasts a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher system. Weapons: • Hand Held Doru Weapon System (Spear: Str+d10; AP 6, Reach +2, Parry +1, HW; Heavy Laser: Range 100/200/400; Damage 5d10; ROF 1; Shots —; AP 20, HW) • Shoulder Mounted 70mm Rocket Pod (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d8+2; ROF 1–4; Shots 12; HW, MBT)

RAVENLOCKE HORNET GOLEMMECH A Heavy combat variant of the Queen Bee. The Hornet is heavier armored, and carries combat drones rather than recon drones. With the 6 combat drones, the Hornet is a nasty piece of business, able to bring many weapon systems to bear from many angles. Weapons • Shoulder Mounted Thunderbolt 50mm Auto Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d8; ROF 3; Shots 100; AP 10, HW)

CBS BEAR HEAVY GOLEMMECH Designed to slam into enemy strong points with a combination of heavy armor and crushing firepower, the Bear is a daunting foe in a head-on assault. The Bear is one of the few foreign-manufactured weapon systems to see extensive use in the Japanese military. Designed for bold, direct assaults, the Bear fills a battlefield role that no Sudeki-Whyte or Kenta CD product quite fits but that the new samurai of the Techno-Shogunate embrace. Supported by lighter units, the Bear is a force to be reckoned with. Hitting Hard with it’s 90mm heavy cannon, it can take down other golemmechs with relative ease. The Bear is also used in a defensive capacity along the Ural Mountains in Eastern Russia to defend against the Chinese Mandarinate, where the Passive Stealth and arctic environmental systems, let the Mech Jockeys lie in wait for prolonged period, in a low-power mode. Weapons: • ‘Mother’ 90mm Heav y Cannon (Range 150/300/600; Damage 5d8; ROF 1; Shots 20; AP 80, HW, LBT) • ‘Cub’ 20MW Pulse Laser (Range 75/150/300; Damage 2d10; ROF 1; Shots —; AP 5, HW)

“KENKU” AIR SUPERIORITY HEAVY GOLEMMECH

Equipment

A prototype Sudeki-Whyte design, the Kenku is a test-bed for the viability of an air superiority / ground combat hybrid golemmech. In flight mode it strongly resembles a jet fighter, while the ground combat mode resembles a more traditional hominid golemmech. Early test photographs were leaked onto the Global DataNet and wild speculation about “gundams” was rampant for months.

74

MALMART GOLEMMECHS

Weapons: • Shoulder Mounted Thunder 120mm Cannon (Range 150/300/600; Damage 5d10; ROF 1; Shots 20; AP 80, HW, LBT) • Golemmech Maul (Str+12, AP 6, HW, −2 Parry)

The Kenku is in early production, order early if you want to receive on this year. The Hand-held Tri-Cannon is a unique cannon design, featuring 3 20mm long barrels, linked to fire in rapidly, no single fire option is available, every pull of the trigger is a three round burst. It is semi-auto, in that the trigger can be pulled rapidly like a semi-auto, releasing a triple burst of rounds each time. The 20mm Gyrocs provide both antiinfantry and anti-aircraft capability as well as anti-missile duty.

AGA GRIZZLY MASSIVE GOLEMMECH The ‘Grizz’ is the heavier cousin of the Bear, with all the earmarks of an Act of God Golemmech. Though only slighty taller than the Bear Heavy Golemmech, the Grizzly is heavily armored and packs an impressive array of close in weaponry.

The Tetsubo rounds out the impressive weapons array of the Kenku, a traditional Japanese style war club, a full 15' feet in length, it weighs in at 1.2 tons. The Tetsubo and Daikyu weapon systems are stored on the back. Weapons: • Hand Held Daikyu Tri-Cannon (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d12+3; ROF 4; Shots 100; AP 4, HW) • Shoulder Mounted Missile Launcher (Range 200/400/800; Damage 4d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 24; AP 6, HW) • Twin-Linked Hip Mounted 20mm Gyroc Pods (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d12, Shots 50; ROF 1-4; AP 4, HW, SBT) • Tetsubo Golemmech Maul (Str+12, AP 6, HW, −2 Parry)

The Thunderbolt twin-linked 50mm arm cannons can unleash a deadly hail of fire, and has a twin ammunition storage feeds letting the operator switch between ammunition types with a thought (free action). In close quarters, the large chainsaw is very effective against hard or soft targets; the ceramic teeth can chew through armor with brutal efficiency. Weapons: • Extractor 50MW Laser (Range 150/300/600; Damage 3d10; ROF1; Shots —; AP 20, HW) • Linked Arm Mounted Thunderbolt 50mm Auto Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d10; ROF 3; Shots 100; AP 10, HW) or 50mm HE (Damage 4d8; AP 10, HW, MBT) • Eviscerator Chainsaw (Damage 6d6; AP 6, HW)

AGA GLM-05E LINEBACKER MASSIVE GOLEMMECH The Linebacker is currently undergoing trials at the AGA laboratories. Primary Mission as a fire-support golemmech, toting an experimental “Firegod” plasma cannon system, fueled by a new MF-03 Microfusion Power Plant. The Linebacker is considered to be tough and mobile, if inflexible, due to the Firegod System being integrated into the entire superstructure of the Golemmech. The plasma cannon and microfusion plant both show good results, and are likely to be a feature of future AGA golemmech and conventional vehicle designs. Currently, the Linebacker has yet to be deployed outside of an R&D facility. Weapons: • F i re g o d P las m a C a n n o n ( Ra n g e 50/100/200; Damage 4d8+2; ROF 1; Shots —; HW, Affects least armored area, catch fire 5+) • Shoulder Mounted Missile Launcher (Range 200/400/800; Damage 4d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 24; AP 6, HW) • Fist (Str+1d12; AP 8, HW)

AGA THOR ASSAULT MASSIVE GOLEMMECH The THOR is an Assault Golemmech, with the primary mission of delivering armored soldiers into heavily fortified installations. Within each leg of this towering god of the modern battlefield is room for three fully armed and armored soldiers complete with interfaces to the golemmech’s sensors and manual egress capabilities.

AGA GRIZZLY MASSIVE GOLEMMECH

75

Equipment

The Thor is armed with a massive shoulder mounted 120mm Cannon, well suited to softening up a target facility. The primary weapon system is the 2 ton Maul that smash through nearly any armored structure in short order.

MALMART GOLEMMECHS

TABLE 3.12: GOLEMMECHS GOLEMMECH

CHASSIS

PACE/RUN

STRENGTH

TOUGHNESS

CREW

FIREWALL

COST

AGA GLM-01 Mauler

Light (12’)

24 / 5d6

d12+4

23(12)

1

10

1,836,000

d12+4

19(8)

1

12

21(10)

1

10

d12+4

23(12)

1

8

d12+4

23(12)

1+1

12

Notes: Advanced Sensors, Auto-Fire (d6), Ejection System, Stabilizers Weapons: Liberator Mini Gun; Twin Linked Rail Gun Kensai Zero Air Support

Light (12’)

18 / 3d6

Notes: Auto-Fire (d6), Advanced Sensors, Jump Jet (VTOL system), Optics, Stabilizers, Targeting System Weapons: Zero Cannon, Shoulder Missile Pod EIS Orion

Light (13’)

18 / 3d6

d12+4

Notes: Auto-Fire (d8), Advanced Sensors, Jump Jets, Sensor Suite (1,000 yards) Weapons: Orion Weapon System,4g Shotgun, Shredder Fist Ford ‘Auger’ AGII

Light (14’)

18 / 3d6

Notes: 2 × Additional Arms (Strength d6), Cargo Space (×6) Weapons: Large Power Drill, Large Scoop Arm Ravenlocke Queen Bee

Light (14’)

18 / 3d6

Notes: AMCM, Auto Fire (d8), Cargo Space (converted to drone bay), Decoy Pod, Passenger Compartment (drone operator), Sensor Suite (1,000 yards), Stealth Shielding Weapons: Shoulder Mounted Thunderbolt 50mm Auto Cannon Ravenlocke Hornet Golemmech

Light (14’)

18 / 3d6

d12+4

27(16)

1+1

10

Notes: AMCM, Auto Fire (d8), Cargo Space (converted to drone bay), Decoy Pod, Passenger Compartment (drone operator), Sensor Suite (1,000 yards) Weapons: Shoulder Mounted Thunderbolt 50mm Auto Cannon EIS Ares Combat

Medium (20’)

12 / 2d6

d12+6

28(15)

1

12

34(21)

1

10

1

12

Notes: Advanced Sensors, Sensor Suite, Sloped Armor (×2) Weapons: Hand Held Doru Weapon System, Shoulder Mounted 70mm Rocket Pod CBS Bear

Medium (20’)

12 / 2d6

d12+6

Notes: Advanced Sensors, Auto-Fire (d6), Decoy Pod, Sensor Suite, Stabilizers, Stealth Shielding Weapons: 90mm Heavy Cannon, 20MW Pulse Laser “Kenku” Air Superiority

Medium (24’)

12 / 2d6

d12+6

26(13)

Notes: AMCM, Auto-Fire (d10), Advanced Sensors, Decoy Pod, Sensor Suite, Stabilizer, Targeting System Weapons: Hand Held Daikyu Tri-Cannon, Shoulder Mounted Missile Launcher, Twin-Linked Hip Mounted 20mm Gyroc Pods, Tetsubo Massive Golemmech Maul Aga Glm-05E Linebacker

Heavy (35’)

10 / 2d6

d12+8

36(20)

1

12

29(15)

1

10

Notes: Auto-Fire (d8), Advanced Sensors, Sensor Suite, Stabilizer, Targeting System Weapons: Firegod Plasma Cannon, Shoulder Mounted Missile Launcher AGA THOR Assault

Heavy (37’)

6 / 1d6

d12+8

Notes: AMCM, Auto-Fire (d8), Optics, Passenger Compartment (×3), Sensor Suite, Stabilizer, Targeting System Weapons: Shoulder Mounted Thunder 120mm Cannon, Golemmech Maul AGA Grizzly

Medium (29’)

12 / 2d6

d12+6

26(13)

1

Equipment

Notes: AMCM, Auto-Fire (d8), Ejection System, Optics,Sensor Suite, Stabilizer, Targeting System Weapons: Extractor 50MW Laser, Linked Arm Mounted Thunderbolt 50mm Auto Cannon, Eviscerator Chainsaw

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12

MALMART MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

TABLE 3.13: MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT Malbot267: Need a good medical kit, or perhaps you wanna upgrade the medical facilities in your team’s safe house? No worries. Malmart’s got the tech to keep your heart tickin’. Need to resupply your medical supplies after the last op? Malmart’s got everything from handy Stim patches to biometers and even fully-stocked mobile trauma units!

BIOMETERS

COST

WEIGHT

BioDesign BioProbe

1,000

BioDesign OmniProbe

2,000

1

Brazilian Para-Sar Medkit

5,000

6

Crisis Team Responder Kit

2,500

4

Malmart Home Medkit

200

1

10,000

40

PATCHES

COST

WEIGHT

Drug Patch

200

Emergency Support Patch

300

Mobile Trauma Kit

Biometers Is your Old biometer broken? No worries amigo. Malmart’s got the S.O.T.A in biometer technology. These biometers are guaranteed to hold up under battlefield conditions, or your money back!

BIODESIGN BIOPROBE

Military Antidote Patch

300

Stim Patch

200

Stun Patch

200

antibiotics, stimulants, and anti-diarrheal agents. Provides +1 Healing skill bonus.

The BioDesign BioProbe is a multifunction medical sensor in the form of a flexible cuff which wraps around the patient’s wrist, ankle, or neck. It must be applied to bare skin, as there are tiny needles which must get to the sub-dermal layer. The BioProbe reads temperature, pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, blood sugar, and red blood cell count. At most clinics and hospitals, a BioProbe or similar device goes onto each patient as soon as they come in the door, and stays on until they are discharged, doubling as a patient identity bracelet. The bioprobe grants +1 to Healing skill checks.

MALMART HOME MEDKIT A cheap, low-end medical kit aimed at campers, paranoid parents, and business owners trying to comply with safety rules without spending much money. Includes a mouth shield for mouth-to-mouth respiration, some antibiotic dressings and sterile bandages, two emergency support patches, gloves, scissors, tweezers, and a packet of epinephrine patches. Everything is made as stable and long-lasting as possible so the kit can be shoved in a glove compartment and forgotten for up to 5 years.

BIODESIGN OMNIPROBE

MOBILE TRAUMA KIT

The OmniProbe is BioDesign’s top-of-the-line medical monitor. Slightly larger than the BioProbe, it includes all the features of the BioProbe and adds chemical sensors to analyze drugs, toxins, and hormone levels in the bloodstream. The omniprobe grants +2 to Healing skill checks. In addition, if connect to a hospital network, it has a Healing d6 skill, for diagnostic purposes only.

Most ambulances now carry a Mobile Trauma Unit. This is an automated medical support device intended to stabilize a seriously injured patient long enough to reach the hospital. An MTU is a set of diagnostic patches, self-injecting tubes, and ventilators, typically deployed from a box built into the side or ceiling of the patient compartment. Free-standing MTUs resemble a stretcher bolted atop a footlocker. On its own, the MTU has a Healing d6 skill to keep the patient alive and stable. A trained paramedic or doctor using an MTU can not only stabilize but treat injuries (+3 to Healing skill rolls for trained users).

An OmniProbe can also be used to monitor a subject’s involuntary responses to questioning, like an old-fashioned “lie detector” +1 to any lie detection attempts made on a patient wearing an OmniProbe).

BRAZILIAN PARA-SAR MEDKIT

Patches

Brazilian Air Force search and rescue teams have become legendary for their skill, morale, and success rate at saving lives in impossible situations. Their standard medical kit is similar to the Crisis Team model above, but also includes an inflatable cast for broken limbs, spray-on bandages for large burns, extra painkillers, five military-grade antidote patches, insect repellent, two self-heating pads and two self-cooling pads. Provides a +1 Healing skill bonus.

DRUG PATCH Most emergency drugs are now packaged as “slap and forget” skin patches about 1 inch across. They are color-coded by the type of medication (antibiotic, antitoxin, stimulant, tranquilizer, etc.) and have the drug name printed in large clear letters. The one-size-fits-all nature of emergency patches does have drawbacks. It’s hard to measure out a precise dosage, and well-meaning amateurs often overdo it.

CRISIS TEAM RESPONDER KIT

Administering a patch to an unwilling patient requires a successful Touch Attack, and there is a −4 penalty to hit bare skin unless the individual is very scantily dressed. Putting a patch on someone without them noticing requires a raise on a Stealth roll in addition to the Touch Attack.

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Equipment

The standard for civilian medical responders in most developed parts of the world. Includes a BioProbe monitor cuff, a hand-pumped ventilator with disposable masks, a pack of airway tubes, ten standard trauma patches, two rolls of tape and a dozen sterile dressings, a bottle of sterile saline, antiseptic spray, gloves and face masks, steel trauma shears for cutting away clothing and debris, tweezers, a light, and a lightweight thermal blanket. There are drug patches for painkillers,

MALMART TAP APPLICATIONS

EMERGENCY SUPPORT PATCH

TAP APPLICATIONS

A standard part of any medical kit, an emergency support patch is a combination wound dressing and drug patch. The user simply peels off the sterile backing and slaps it over the wound. Emergency Support Patches (known in the trade as “greens” or “post-its”) are typically 5 cm square and colored fluorescent green. The bandage is laced with antibiotics, stimulants to ward off shock, topical painkillers, and coagulating agents to stop bleeding. The patch grants +2 to Healing rolls to treat injuries.

Malbot267: Bonjour mes ami, welcome to Malmart’s TAP Application Store, or T-APP Store. We have T-APPs to expand your mind beyond it’s Basic TAP connection. You can go surf the Deep to find the information yourself, or you can purchase a T-APP, and have specialized knowledge at your TAP Access Point.

Note: All TAP applications require 1 AMS.

T-APP BABYLON

A great many doctors hate the patches, because some injured patients simply slap one on and never seek treatment until undetected damage or infection puts them at risk of death. Teenagers have been known to abuse the patches, slapping them on for the rush of euphoria from the mix of painkillers and stimulants.

The Babylon acts as a basic translator program, allowing the character to make a Smarts roll to understand languages he doesn’t normally speak.

T-APP BOUNTY BOARD This fun little app includes face recognition software and links to all the known bounties. Instantly updates. It pays to be a good guy. It gives a +1 bonus to Notice rolls when trying to spot a fugitive in a crowd of people. Also updates personal bounties, letting you know just how wanted you are.

MILITARY ANTIDOTE PATCH The list of toxins used commonly as weapons isn’t that long, and in many cases the same antidote counters a whole family of contact or inhalation agents. On the chemical-warfare battlefield, seconds count. Most armed forces now issue soldiers a stick-on antidote strip, typically attached to the back of the calf or the inside of the forearm. The outer surface is a gasdetection strip, which changes color on exposure to various chemical agents. The soldier simply presses firmly against the section which has changed color to release the appropriate antidote (+2 to Vigor rolls against chemical warfare agents).

T-APP CADUCEUS A T-APP which monitors your vitals and displays them directly into your heads-up. For a 500 credit per month fee, you can have your vitals monitored by a Medical team, which can then dispatch a rescue team in the event of Incapacitation. Doctors who access the Caduceus also gain +1 to Healing rolls on the character.

STIM PATCH

T-APP ESTREAM!

A common variety of drug patch which has migrated from medical to street use. Stim patches contain a jolt of epinephrine, ampakine, and dopamine. A stim patch grants +2 to Bleeding Out rolls for an hour.

Looking for entertainment? We have over 10,000 shows available for instant streaming! This grants a +2 to Common Knowledge rolls!

STUN PATCH

T-APP ETHER COMBAT IFF

Tranquilizing drug patches are used in psychiatric treatment, by repressive regimes, and corps too savvy to just shoot their enemies, and (of course) by hard-partying idiots looking for a new high. Time-release tranquilizer patches are color-coded gray and blue, while fast-acting doses are black and blue (which leads to any number of annoying pop-culture references to being “beaten”).

When you’re in the thick of it, you want to know where your friends are. That’s where the Combat IFF (identification friend or foe) comes in. Uplinks to your teams TAPs, this will project a Hyper Tag and outline image of your team’s locations which is visible only in your teams TAPs. Teammates are only subjected to the Innocent Bystander rule on a critical failure, or only a 1 for Automatic weapons and Shotguns.

Note that even the fast-acting patches aren’t instant: anyone dosed with a Stun patch rolls Vigor each round with a cumulative −1 penalty per round. With a success the target remains conscious. Once the target fails the Vigor roll he is rendered unconscious for 2d6 hours.

T-APP FIREWALL SAPPER PROTECTION Grants +1 to a character’s Firewall! Does not stack with other T-APP Firewall products.

T-APP FIREWALL G-NET SECURITY Grants +2 to a character’s Firewall! Does not stack with other T-APP Firewall products.

The danger of an overdose is significant: once the drug takes effect, the target makes a Vigor at −2; with a failure his Vigor drops by 2 die types for 1d4 days. If the resulting Vigor is below d4, then death results.

T-APP FIREWALL 4TH DIMENSION SECURITY Grants +3 to a character’s Firewall! Does not stack with other T-APP Firewall products.

Equipment

T-APP MULTITASKER Organize your brain, by creating multiple TAP view ports for different tasks with this simple to use visual tool. Reduce any Multi-action Penalties by 1 for your character.

78

MALMART TOOLS

TABLE 3.14: TAP APPLICATIONS TYPE (T-APP)

COST

Babylon

1,000 credits

Bounty Board

400 credits/month

Caduceus

500 credits per month

Estream

50 credits per month

Ether Combat IFF

5,000 credits

Firewall Sapper Protection

500 credits/Advance

Firewall G-Net Security

1,200 credits/Advance

Firewall 4th Dimension Security

2,000 credits/Advance

Multitasker

3,500 credits

NewsLink

100 credits/month

Range-Finder/Targeting Acquisition Uplink

2,000

T-APP Teamlink

2,000

HYPER BOOK Sometimes you just want to have the feel of a book in your hands, this Holoreader book interlinks with the TAP to project the book images onto the pages of the book. More of a gimmick, a throwback to the old days.

LOFTAN PERSOFAB MATTER ASSEMBLER A personal fabricator uses laser printing to build up 3-D objects from plastic feedstock. Many homes have a small or medium fabricator to print out licensed products like toys, house wares, and the latest fad items. The Loftan PersoFab can make any item which will fit into a 4 inch cube. Simple moving parts are possible, but not motors or electronics. The plastic feedstock isn’t very strong, and printed items don’t last more than a few weeks. But who cares? When it breaks, just pay the license fee again and print out a replacement! • Runs on local power supply. • Product licenses typically cost 1,000 credits per copy. • Feedstock costs 50 credits per 5 lb.

T-APP NEWSLINK This T-APP keeps you linked in with all the world news, with instant translation, and multi-window displays of relevant news streams. Characters using T-APP NewsLink have a +1 bonus to Investigation rolls.

PLASMA CUTTER At 25000 degrees Fahrenheit, this hand held plasma cutter can cut through carbon steel in seconds! This thing can used in melee combat (Damage 3d6; AP 4; catch fire 3+).

T-APP RANGE-FINDER/TARGETING ACQUISITION UPLINK Target acquisition provides an interface between range finders, Smartguns, etc., providing instant up to the second information from weapon accessories. The Range penalties are reduced by 1.

TOOLKITS At Malmart we take pride in presenting the tools you need to get your job done. When ordering a toolkit, state what occupation you’re needing the toolkit for and whether you want a basic, advanced or elite kit. Our trained staff will assemble a set of tools and accessories to assist you in your jobs. Fan-favorites include our Climbing, Survival and Repair kits! Basic toolkits allow you to attempt the skill without penalty. Advanced toolkits grant a +1 bonus to the skill. Elite toolkits provide a +2 bonus.

T-APP TEAMLINK TeamLink Uplink links all team members with each other. Ranges, subvocal messages and other tactical information uploaded by team members, granting +1 to Knowledge (Battle) rolls.

ZIPLINE GRAPPLE GUN AND RIG

TOOLS

Need to get from one Scraper to another? A Zipline Grapple Gun is your ticket. This specialized pneumatic rifle consists of an AP arrow with grapple head, and a MonoRope reel. (50' of rope included).

CHEMICAL SCRUBBER A Chemical Scrubber is a canister of nanites which, when activated, converts the chemicals on contaminated clothing or surface into harmless substances. Scrubs up to 10 square feet of surface area. Single Use.

TABLE 3.15: ACCESSORIES & ELECTRONICS GEAR

COMBAT WEBBING Full combat webbing. Sturdy web belt with detachable loadbearing SynthWeave suspenders. The belt and load-bearing suspenders are 1” wide and adjustable to fit nearly every body size, as well as over standard armors The webbing is designed to carry hard and soft-sided pouches for equipment and ammunition to be readily at hand. These pouches come in a variety of sizes, and range in use from magazine pouches to medkits to holsters and drop pouches. Available as integral clips to hard armors as well. This allows the character to act as if his Strength were 1 die type higher for purposes of determining Encumbrance.

COST

WEIGHT

Chemical Scrubber

250

1.0

Combat Webbing

450

3.0

250

3.0

Loftan PersoFab

Hyperbook

5,000

10.0

Plasma Cutter

10,000

2.0

Toolkit, Basic

250

5.0

Toolkit, Advanced

1,250

10.0

Toolkit, Elite

5,000

100.0

700

5.0

Zipline, Grapple Gun and Rig

Equipment

79

MALMART WEAPONS: MELEE

WEAPONS

NEED MORE WEAPONS? Though Interface Zero 2.0 has a wide selection of weapons to chose from; some people may want more. All the weapons listed in the Savage Worlds core rules are available to players with the GM’s approval. The base price of the weapon should be multiplied by 10 to get a close match with Interface Zero 2.0 prices.

Malbot267: The best defense is an overwhelming offense. When they see that Thunderbolt riding at your hip, they’re going to think twice about drawing down on you. Malmart has access to all the major manufacturers!

Melee Weapons ACT OF GOD ARMAMENTS EXO-CLAW These heavy servo assisted gloves have massive electrodynamo ceramic claws easily capable of ripping through heavy armor plating. The normal hand fits inside the claw, so no other weapons may be held in the hand. The claws require a power backpack to function.

ASTERISK DOMINATRIX PAIN WHIP Whether you want to a little fun in the bedroom, or want to make you enemies cower in fear, the Dominatrix Pain Whip is what you want. A low voltage, tuned electrical charge, the pain whip set to the frequency that neurotransmitters function on, any contact with flesh can cause excruciating pain. The whip has a retractable filament, allowing the whip to be housed within the handle. Once the Pain Whip has been wrapped around a target’s flesh with the raise, a flick of a switch sends the targets nerves into overdrive. Using a Pain Whip requires a called shot to an unarmored location. A struck target makes a Spirit roll against a target number equal to the Fighting roll. Failure indicates the target is affected by the slow power (see Savage Worlds), until he breaks free (opposed Agility or Strength against the wielder’s Fighting).

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES SWORDGUN It’s a sword! It’s a gun! It’s a SwordGun! This 20" blade of steel is mounted alongside a .45 caliber pistol (Range 4/8/16; Damage 2d6+1; Shots 5; Semi-Auto), giving the wielder the benefit of both ranged and melee combat in one weapon! Never be the ranged fighter left unarmed in melee again!

RAVENLOCKE JOINTLOCK STUN GLOVES When you need a low key, non-lethal response, look no further than Ravenlocke Security’s JointLock Stun Gloves. The reinforced, insulated palm conductor, can easily send its stunning jolt through a parried conductive weapon. Only requires a touch attack (+2 Fighting) to use. Target must make a Vigor roll at −2. Failure means he’s automatically Shaken.

RAVENLOCKE SECURITY TRUNCHEON

BLACK KNIGHT INDUSTRIES SHOTFIST

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS DRAGONFLY TESSEN These elegant, light-weight weapons were often used by samurai in places where obvious weapons were prohibited. Fighting fans double as defensive weapons and thrown weapons (Range 4/8/16).

Equipment

A brutal and usually highly illegal weapon, the ShotFist effectively consists of a shotgun (Range 2/4/8; Damage 1–3d6; 1 action to reload, usable in melee) mounted to the back of a Ceramic Gauntlet.

The Security Truncheon is the standard in non-lethal response. Designed to parry attacks and deliver the maximum shock allowed under international treaties. Opponents struck with the truncheon resolve damage first then must make a Vigor roll at −2. Failure means he’s automatically Shaken.

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MALMART WEAPONS: MELEE

TABLE 3.16: MELEE WEAPONS TYPE

DAMAGE

WEIGHT

COST

NOTES

AOG Armaments Exo-Claw

Str+d10

30

4,500

AP 4, HW. Requires a battery.

AOG Dominatrix Pain Whip

3

2,200

Reach 3; see description

BKI Shotfist

Str+d4

9

1,750

See description

BKI Swordgun

Str+d6

12

4,000

See description

1

250

Non-lethal, Shock Requires a battery.

Str+d4

2

900

+1 Parry, Shock. Requires a battery.

RS Jointlock Stun Gloves RS Security Truncheon SO Dragonfly Tessen

Str+d4

1

100

+1 Parry; See description

SO Manriki-Gusari

Str+d4

1

150

Reach 1

SO Miyamoto K-Tana

Str+d8+2

6

10,000

SO Monowhip

Agi+d6

2

3,000

SO Whirlwind Butterfly Swords

Str+d6

3

100

UP Duke McCoy Combat Knife

300

AP 4, HW AP 6, HW, Reach 3; See description AP 2

Str+d6+1

1

UP Ironfang Spring-Blade

Str+d4

250

WT Decapitator Chain Axe

Str+d12+4

50

5,000

AP 2, 2-hands, −1 Parry, HW. Requires a battery.

WT Disemboweler Chain Dagger

Str+d6

5

1,500

AP 2. Requires a battery.

WT Eviscerator Chain Sword

Str+d10

10

2,500

AP 2. Requires a battery.

WT Lacerator Knife

Str+d6

3

400

AP 2. Requires a battery.

WT Shillelagh Havoc Stick

Str+d6

2

1,500

See description. Requires a battery.

strength is less important than accuracy. It dealks d10 extra damage instead of d6 with a raise on the Fighting roll.

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS MANRIKI-GUSARI A 36" inch long chain with two steel-weights on the ends, the Manrikigusari fighting chain is the perfect weapon for those situations when you need your opponent alive but entangled or otherwise incapacitated. Manriki make exceptional garrotes as well.

The MonoWhip features a retractable whip, storing inside the handle when not in use.

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS WHIRLWIND BUTTERFLY SWORDS Impress your friends and intimidate your opponents with these handcrafted Titanium-Tungsten alloy Whirlwind™ Butterfly swords! At a 19" long and 3" wide, these weapons are perfect for the Kung-fu street fighter.

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS MIYAMOTO K-TANA This is tip-top ami: a folded titanium-tungsten alloy, katana with monofilament edge. Each K-Tana is a piece of art, with the seal of the artisan who created it, as a Hyper-Tag above the tang. HyperObject options available for the Ronin to add colors and HyperFx during combat. Custom designed traditional Japanese mon included.

DUKE MCCOY COMBAT KNIFE Here it is folks, the NEW Duke McCoy Combat knife! Now with a 3" longer blade, 13" inches of pain awaits any gutterpunk stupid enough to try and take you on when you’re sporting the Duke McCoy combat knife! This wicked knife is made with our patented NanoSteel, the hilt employs NanoStick technology for an unbreakable grip (+1 to Strength rolls to resist being disarmed).

URBAN PUNK IRONFANG SPRING-BLADE

The MonoWhip (or monomolecular filament whip) is a whip consisting of tightly bound carbon molecules. Its super-thin profile lets the MonoWhip cut through most materials with ease. Keep away from children and pets. MonoWhips are dangerous. A roll of 1 on the Fighting die, regardless of the Wild Die means the user has struck himself. The monofilament whip can easily cut through most armor,

81

Equipment

Get the drop on your adversaries with our Urban Punk Ironfang spring-loaded blades! These sleek, nano-sharp knives are crafted with Urban Punk’s patented NanoSteel to provide the durability and edge you need! NanoSteel springs are triggered by a micro switch (free action to activate). You can download a Mediastream of the activation process free of charge at our Urban Punk domain!

SHOGUN OUTFITTERS MONOWHIP

MALMART WEAPONS: PISTOLS

Pistols

BATTERIES/POWER PACKS

Malbot267: Malmart is pleased to bring you the following Pistols! All of our pistols come with a money back guarantee if they fail to function in a combat situation!

Some weapons require external power sources to operate. Batteries provide 48 hours of continuous use. Power packs provide a week of constant use. Power packs for range weapon, provide the weapon’s listed shots. ITEM

COST

WEIGHT

Battery Pack

100

0.25

Power Pack

250

0.5

150,000

20

Hydrogen Cell Backpack

AGA BLACK KNIGHT LIMITED The Black Knight is the newest addition to the AGA catalogue. The underbarrel blade can be used in close combat situations whenever needed, but the neat thing about this impressive revolver is the Dual Barrel Mode. The user can select to fire both barrels on each pull of the trigger. This numbered, limited edition is only available in matte black, and is delivered in a wooden case with a certificate of authenticity.

WASTELAND TRADERS DECAPITATOR CHAIN AXE The heavy duty upgrade to Wasteland Traders’ famous Eviscerator Chain Sword. This double headed axe is powerful enough to carve through power armor with sheer brutality.

AGA CYBERCHROMIUM RAT .75

WASTELAND TRADERS DISEMBOWELER CHAIN DAGGER New for 2090, a lighter more portable version of the Eviscerator Chain Sword. The disemboweler is much easier to conceal than the bulky Eviscerator, and can be attached to a rifle as a bayonet.

Act of God brings you the largest caliber handgun on the market today. Released during the holiday season in 2089, this handgun is one of the hardest hitting handguns on the market today. Made from pure titanium, and finished with a polished chromium. Commonly only carried by Chromed-out cyber junkies, the kick has put many a norm in the hospital.

WASTELAND TRADERS EVISCERATOR CHAIN SWORD The holy grail of violent splatter-fi fans for decades, modern technology has finally made the chain sword a reality. You know what it is: 20th century chainsaw technology small and light enough to be converted into a weapon. Effective and fun. New for 2090, internal batteries provide 48 hours of continuous use.

AGA THUNDERBOLT Signature weapon of world renowned retrieval expert Hunter Clark, the AGA Thunderbolt is now available on the open market! Because the AGA Thunderbolt is such a well-known menacing weapon, characters enjoy a +1 to Intimidation rolls when brandishing this beast.

AMY’S SURPLUS FOLEY ARMS WATCHDOG WASTELAND TRADERS LACERATOR KNIFE This meaty sucker takes twin serrated titanium blades and merges them into a single, thick sharp blade that cuts with a rapid alternating sawing motion.

Equipment

WASTELAND TRADERS SHILLELAGH HAVOC STICK

Although Foley Arms has sadly folded, their legacy lives on in the form of the Watchdog — a sturdy and reliable semiautomatic pistol still favored by many professional groups, including the Atlantica Police Force. Relatively lightweight and inexpensive, the Watchdog uses a proprietary rebating system that actually allows the firing chamber’s blowback to help accelerate the round. This means the Watchdog can use a 10mm round and still pack enough firepower to get the job done.

The Shillelagh Havoc stick is a truncheon with a Havoc Capacitor at the tip. With a raise on the Fighting roll, the target must make Strength check at −2 or be knocked back 1d4" and prone; and Shaken on impact.

82

MALMART WEAPONS: PISTOLS

TABLE 3.17: PISTOLS TYPE

RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

COST

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN. STR

NOTES

AGA Black Knight Limited

12/24/48

2d8

1–2

5,000

3

6

AGA Cyberchromium Rat .75

12/24/48

2d10

1

5,000

4

5

d12

AP 2, Revolver AP 4, Semi-Auto

AGA Thunderbolt

12/24/48

2d8+1

1

1,500

4

11/15

d8

AP 4, Semi-Auto

AS Foley Arms Watchdog

12/24/48

2d8

1

1,000

3

12

d6

AP 2, Semi-Auto

HT HT-9

12/24/48

2d6

1

1,000

2

5

AP 1, Semi-Auto

PD Saturday Night Sprawl Special

12/24/48

2d6+1

1

800

4

6

AP 2, Revolver

SC Urchin Pistol

10/20/40

2d6

2

800

3

16

AP 1

SR Street Talker 6MM

05/10/20

2d4+1

1

500

3

6

AP 1, Semi-Auto

UP Columbus Twin-Barrel

10/20/40

2d6+1

1

2,500

4

12

Semi-Auto, See notes

WT Wastelander

15/30/60

2d6+1

1

900

4

11/16

AP 1, Semi-Auto

HOSTILE TAKEOVER HT-9 HOLD-OUT PISTOL

URBAN PUNK COLUMBUS TWIN-BARREL PISTOL

Hostile Takeover’s most popular hold-out pistol from the parcel delivery office to the boardroom. Perfect for a quick defense; the 9mm has enough stopping power to make lightly armored attackers dive for cover, giving you a chance to run for the weapons locker.

Pop, Pop, Double Tap! Nothing is sexier than a big pistol, and the Columbus is 9 pounds of Black Steel. It has an innovative design configuration, with the top barrel firing, then the bottom barrel, reducing the kick from the double barrels. The unique clip design does have some flaws, it can jam easily, yet every shot is a Double Tap (see Savage Worlds core rules).

SATURDAY NIGHT SPRAWL SPECIAL .44 REVOLVER

WT-216LB. WASTELANDER LONG BARREL

You just can’t beat a classic, 200 years of history are all the Saturday Night Sprawl Special .44 Magnum really needs. The elegant design is available in cobalt blue, polished chrome, or wrought iron black. It’s big it’s heavy and staring down that .44 caliber barrel is scary as hell. Private Dick knows classic, don’t know Dick? Contact one of our friendly sales staff to get to know Private Dick.

Wasteland Traders understands the need to engage targets at range. The long barrel design of the Wastelander LB, might just give you the edge you need.

STREET CHIC URCHIN PISTOL The Street Chic brand is all about quantity, not quality. The Urchin 9mm pistol is the most common weapon on the street, the production values on this weapon are sub-par, bordering on criminal. But, when you need a throw-away, or you only got so many creds, then you’re likely to end up with an Urchin.

SENTINEL ROCK STREET TALKER 6MMM PISTOL In today’s world, your family is under siege by the foreign criminals, gang members and terrorists. And the government is failing to protect you! The Street Talker is Sentinel Rock’s answer to your call! Defend your life at a discount price you cannot afford to ignore.

AMMUNITION COSTS To keep things simple, ammunition costs are kept fairly generic. The following table provides basic prices. If you need a price for something not listed, use this as a base line and check with the GM on the final price. TYPE

WEIGHT 3/50

Medium caliber

250/50

5/50

Heavy caliber

300/50

6/50

Shotgun

200/20

4/20

Gyroc Round

600

3

350/50

10/50

Equipment

100/50

Flamer (canister)

83

COST

Light caliber

MALMART WEAPONS: SUBMACHINE GUNS

TABLE 3.18: SUBMACHINE GUNS AND SHOTGUNS SUBMACHINE GUNS

RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

Mosquito Storm

15/30/60

2d6−2

RS P9D

12/24/48

2d6−1

UP Gutter Punk

12/24/48

2d6+1

WT Wanderer

12/24/48

2d6

SHOTS

MIN STR

COST

WEIGHT

NOTES

3

1,500

3

36

AP 2, Auto,

3

2,000

3

100

AP 3, Auto, 3RB

3

2,500

3

30

AP 1, Auto, 3RB

3

2,000

3

30

AP 1, Auto, 3RB

SHOTGUNS AGA Thunder

10/20/40

1–3d6

1

1,000

2

6

+2 Stealth to conceal

BKI Tiger Claw

15/30/60

1–3d4

2

4,500

5

12

d6

AP 2

WT BD-4DY 12g

12/24/48

1–3d6

1

2,000

3

6

d6

Semi-Auto

WASTELAND WANDERER 9MM SMG

Submachine Guns

Wasteland Traders presents the Wanderer Submachine Gun, when you’re in hostile territory, you need something that can throw a lot of lead in the air with complete reliability. Trust Wasteland traders to bring you that kind of reliability.

Malbot267: Submachine guns are high rate of fire weapons which use pistol ammunition rather than more powerful rifle ammunitions. Smaller than a long arm, dangerous due to their concealability.

MOSQUITO STORM MS-2090 MACHINE PISTOL A mini sub-machine gun, utilizing 4.5mm caseless ammunition. The previous rotating five barrel design has been completely redesigned into a fixed tri-barrel configuration, making the weapon lighter, but exponentially increasing its ammo capacity. Plus, now it doesn’t look like you pulled it out of the Deadlands VRPG. So drop your creds on this flash piece of hardware, and watch your street cred soar!

Shotguns Malbot267: Shotguns are large bore weapons. Even a 12 gauge has a bore size greater than ½ an inch in diameter. Typically these long arms have smooth bores, firing shot or a slug. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Thanks for stating the obvious malbot.

AGA THUNDER SHOTGUN RAVENLOCKE P9D PERSONAL DEFENSE WEAPON A small caliber weapon designed to put a lot of lead in the air. Utilizing a bullpup design, horizontal ammunition clip with helical feed and a high rate of fire. This small caliber machine pistol can lay down some serious lead omae. Able to change fire modes from semi-auto to full auto. The amazing bullpup design is a stable compact firing platform. The weapon features a polymer based design to keep the weight to a minimum.

The Thunder is a smaller shotgun designed for home security. This 20g shotgun is good for women and those of smaller frame. It’s convenient size allows for easy storage in the home safe or other secure location (+2 to Stealth rolls to conceal)!.

TIGER CLAW CLOSE ASSAULT SHOTGUN The ultimate man stopper! When the fighting gets close and ugly, the Tiger Claw saves the day! Its cut down barrel allows use in melee. Now sold with bio-degradable projectiles! Own the infamous combat shotgun that shoots tiny shards of plastic designed to deal maximum tissue damage!

Equipment

URBAN PUNK GUTTERPUNK .45ACP SMG Urban Punk really loves the classics; this one is based upon the MAC-10 submachine gun. Silencer included where available.

BD-4DY 12G PUMP ACTION SHOTGUN Wasteland brings you another standard for survival in the wastes. The Big Daddy is deadly at close range, and with slugs, it can be just as deadly at medium range. The Big Daddy is there to keep you safe, when you’re out prospecting.

84

MALMART WEAPONS: RIFLES

TABLE 3.19 RIFLES RIFLE

RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

COST

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN. STR

NOTES

AGA 12 Maw Assault Configuration

24/48/96

2d8+1

4

16,500

4

36/50

d6

AP 3, Auto 3RB, HW

Heavy Support Configuration

30/60/90

2d10+1

4

20,500

5

120

d6

AP 3, Auto 3RB, HW

Maw Spec Ops Configuration

24/48/96

2d8+1

3

18,500

3

36

d6

AP 3, Auto 3RB, HW

25/50/100

2d8+1

3

5,000

5

45

d8

AP 3, 3RB, Auto, see notes

CAW

12/24/48

1–3d6

2

12

Auto, Shotgun

UBGL

12/24/48

3d6

1

12

d6

SBT, HW

BKI BK-616

24/48/96

2d8

4

3,200

3

60

AP 4, Auto, 3RB

BKI Amphibious Rifle

20/40/80

2d8

1

2,000

3

12

AP 2

SC Assassin’s Rifle

30/60/90

2d10

1

2,000

4

1

d6

AP 2, Snapfire

UP Punk3d Rifle

20/40/80

2d8

1

6,000

2

9

AP 2

AS Foley Arms TAW 2022

WT Pneumatic Dart Rifle

10/20/30

2d4

1

1,100

2

12

Poison, Snapfire

Tarantula Hunting Rifle

30/60/120

2d8+2

1

6,000

3

8

AP2, Snapfire, Scope

and recoil compensators. New for 2090, optional 25mm under barrel grenade launcher.

Rifles

BLACK KNIGHT AMPHIBIOUS RIFLE

Malbot267: Malmart carries a full range of rifles. Rifles feature rounds with more powder, thus higher damage and greater armor penetration.

AGA-12 MAW MODULAR ASSAULT RIFLE Designed to the specifications of the world leading military, the AGA-12M Modular Assault Weapon had been rated Weapon of 2090 by GUNN™ Magazine. Currently in the final proving ground stages, expect to see many countries moving to arm their troops with the future of weaponry. There are three different base configurations.

Using Flechette rounds, this rifle can fire accurately both above and under the water. It’s also a very quiet weapon (−2 to Notice rolls to hear), compared to other firearms, giving the wielder’s enemies.

STREET CHIC ASSASSIN’S RIFLE

AMY’S SURPLUS FOLEY ARMS TAW 2022 Foley Arms classic: the 2022 Tactical Assault Weapon, which is still in use by the Atlantica Combined Armed Forces. Merging the utility of an assault rifle, a close assault weapon and rapidfire 25mm under barrel grenade launcher with the reliability of most Foley Arms weapons, the 2022 gives you every tool you need to get the job done. Bullpup configuration allows a compact design. Favored firearm of the Combine Special Forces.

Street Chic’s Assassin’s Rifle is a one-shot .50 caliber rifle, made entirely of polymers. Once fired, the rifle will dissolve into a puddle of goo as the catalyzers in the weapon activate. Comes disassembled in a lightweight case made from recycled paper. It takes 4 rounds to assemble the weapon from the case.

URBAN PUNK PUNK3D RIFLE The Punk3d, hard hitting and #1 in G4NG-B4NG™ magazine’s popularity poll. Featuring numerous customization options while maintaining a shaz look. HoloTags are standard with 1200 pre-generated tags to choose from, in any color.

Black Knight’s updated version of the M-616. Featuring advanced polymers, update to 6mm Armor Piercing caseless ammunition in a 60 round drum. Integrated electronics

85

Equipment

BLACK KNIGHT ARMAMENTS BK-616

MALMART WEAPONS: HEAYV

TABLE 3.20: HEAVY WEAPONS DAMAGE

ROF

COST

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN STR

AGA Annhilator Personal Rail Cannon 50/100/200

2d10

1

Military

60

20

d8

HW, Snapfire

AGA Enforcer Railgun AGA-RG30

50/100/200

3d6

1

Military

18

5

HW, Scope, Snapfire

AGA Mjolnir AMR

50/100/200

3d8

3

Military

85

100

AP 6, HW, May not move

24/48/96

3d6

3

Military

60

20

d12

HW, SBT, Snapfire

50/100/200

3d8

1

Military

60

20

d8

HW

24/48/96

2d8

6

Military

85

1,000

d8

AP 3, Auto, HW

BK Maverick Light Auto Cannon

50/100/200

2d10

3

65

200

AP 4, HW, Requires tripod or weapon gimble

‘Bessy’ .50 Heavy Machine Gun

50/100/200

2d10

3

9,000

65

200

d8

AP 4, HW

30/60/120

2d8+1

4

3,000

20

200

d8

AP 2

HEAVY WEAPONS

RANGE

AGA ‘Thumper’ AGA Vindicator Rail Cannon BK Liberator Minigun

WT MG-762m 7.62mm

WASTELAND TRADERS PNEUMATIC DART RIFLE Sometimes you want to take something down without killing it, Wasteland traders brings you the low powered air-rifle, designed to deliver tranquilizer or poison darts (Shaken or better to induce).

NOTES

helix rails create the rifling effect for unparalleled accuracy. Firing a 3mm solid core slug at supersonic speeds, the Enforcer can punch through armor with incredible efficiency. Top mounted clip, bottom mounted power supply, and 400× MultiOptic Scope mean you can reach out and touch someone, anytime, day or night.

• Poison Cost: See Savage Worlds core rules for poison effects, cost is per shot: Lethal (500), Venomous (250), Paralysis (250), Knockout (50), Tracker (50).

AGA MJOLNIR AMR WASTELAND TRADERS TARANTULA HUNTING RIFLE Named after one of most successful natural predators of the desert, the tarantula. The Tarantula Hunting Rifle is one of the best on the market according to GUNN Magazine. The Tarantula is powerful, and has range, a perfect hunting rifle, with a 160× Multi-optic scope included. The smart hunter is the one not seen.

The ultimate in man-portable firearms, this 30mm Anti-Materiel Rifle can be loaded with AP, AP-I, or High Explosive rounds. Extending nearly 7 feet in length; equipped with a built-in combat computer and tripod (2 rounds to deploy), this piece of hardware is designed to take down light golemmechs and power armor.

Heavy Weapons Malbot267: Malmart carries a wide range of heavy weapons, whether as man portable, bi/tri-pod mounted, gyro harness mounted, or vehicular mounted weaponry; we provide the best hardware from the best manufacturers. Magnetic Rail Guns, Laser and Maser Weapons, and missile systems, and even the vaunted 30mm Mjolnir Anti-Materiel Rifle, Malmart has what you need.

AGA ‘THUMPER’ 25MM ROTARY GRENADE LAUNCHER

AGA ANNIHILATOR PERSONAL RAIL CANNON

There’s nothing quite like the sound of rapid fire heavy weaponry omae, and the only thing sweeter than hearing the thump, thump, thump, of the 25mm Rotary Grenade launcher launching its munitions is the roar of explosions a second or two later.

Equipment

Act of God Armaments, the leader in battlefield carnage is proud to present the Annihilator Heavy Rail Cannon; the 25mm variant of the Vindicator Rail Cannon. Utilizing the same shoulder mount design as the Vindicator, the Heavy Rail Cannon includes integrated targeting computer.

AGA ENFORCER RAILGUN AGA-RG30 The Enforcer Railgun uses electromagnetic rails to accelerate a slug to supersonic velocities. Using a small magnetic pulse to start the slug moving, the helical rails accelerate the rounds to nearly 2,200 feet per second (1,500 mph). The double

86

MALMART WEAPONS: SPECIAL

TABLE 3.21: SPECIAL WEAPONS RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

COST

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN. STR

Black Knight ‘Xbow’ Bolt Thrower

12/24/48

3d4

1

4,000

12

8

Marsworks ‘Javelin’ Coil Bolt Thrower

12/24/48

3d4

1

3,000

14

6

Double armor values

Ravenlocke Securities Riot Gel Gun

12/24/48

2d6

1

750

16

6

Knock-down, non-lethal

Sentinel Rock Auto Turret

12/24/48

2d8

3

27,500

200

Auto, Rock and Roll!

Cone

2d6

1

5,000

12

3

See description

Sentinel Rock 12.7mm Gyroc Pistol

12/24/48

3d6

1

2,000

3

10

HW

Sentinel Rock 12.7mm Gyroc Rifle

24/48/96

3d6

1

3,000

10

30

HW

4/8/12

1

900

5

1

See description

SPECIAL WEAPONS

Sentinel Rock Cyclone EMP Gun

Sentinel Rock Retiarius Net Launcher

AGA VINDICATOR RAIL CANNON

NOTES

Special Weapons

The Vindicator Rail Cannon use electromagnetic rails to accelerate a slug to supersonic velocities. This is a shoulder mounted high speed gauss cannon, utilizing the same 3mm slugs. Comes with integrated ammo and power supply backpacks.

Malbot267: Special Weapons are those weapons which do not fall into the standard categories. Malmart is proud to bring you some amazingly special weapons systems.

BLACK KNIGHT ‘XBOW’ BOLT THROWER

BLACK KNIGHT LIBERATOR MINIGUN

Black Knight introduces a next generation bolt thrower. Utilizing the squash-head munitions and a specialized sealing compound, any round which actually breaches a hull will be sealed by the trailing compound section of the round. This allows a slightly smaller round which is more effective against armor and will automatically seal breaches it causes, however delicate wire bundles may be affected, something security teams need to remember.

The liberator minigun is an air-cooled, electrically driven weapon that employs six gatling-style barrels to fire withering volleys of armor-piercing shells that reduce targets to unrecognizable lumps. With a high rate of fire the Liberator is the weapon of choice for pure carnage. The liberator must either be tripod mounted or used with a weapon gimble.

BLACK KNIGHT MAVERICK LIGHT AUTO CANNON Black Knight took a chance with this new line of machine guns by utilizing a new proprietary 15mm AP ammunition size. The chance paid off, and the new LAC-15 Maverick is proving to be the hit of 2090 with Mercenary outfits, Law Enforcement and Security alike. Easily recognized by its barrel design, with perforated cooling fins. The Support Weapon of the Future is HERE today!

MARSWORKS ‘JAVELIN’ COIL BOLT THROWER Bolt weapons are the oldest and original space weapon. They throw soft metal bolts at subsonic speeds. The bolts are perfectly capable of taking out an enemy, even through light armor, without piercing the walls of a craft, station, or colony. Recent developments have lead to squash-head inverted bolts, twice as thick at the impact point, which expands further upon impact. Not very effective against medium armors, but quite effective against unarmored and lightly armored opponents.

‘BESSY’ .50 HEAVY MACHINEGUN Firepower is one of the few things respected out in the CDZ. The .50Cal Bessy is a workhorse, the belt-fed machine gun is easy to clean and maintain. 84 pounds of cold steel. Available in vehicular mount, tripod mount, or for chrome junkies and hybrids, a standard shoulder sling. Vehicular and tripod mounted Bessy HMGs typically have a feeder, which allows multiple 200 round belts of ammo to be linked together.

RAVENLOCKE SECURITIES RIOT GEL GUN The riot gun looks much like a sawed-off shotgun but fires high-velocity, shock-absorbing gel ammunition in a cone pattern. The impact of being hit by the gel is enough to knock the wind out of most people, making the gun ideal for riot suppression. A struck target must make a Strength roll (at −2 per raise attained on the hit) or get knocked back 1d4" + 1" per raise on the attack roll, and be knocked prone.

WASTELAND TRADERS MG-762 7.62MM Wasteland Traders decided to use tried and true machine gun technology from over 100 years ago. Others have used similar designs, and the 7.62mm ammunition is fairly easy to find in the wastes.

GYROC AMMUNITION

SENTINEL ROCK AUTO TURRET

87

Equipment

An auto turret is triggered via sensors, whether optical, mechanical or electronic, usually programmed with auto-fire (Shooting d6) weapons that fire until empty, targeting a set area. Turrets include motors allowing for 360 degree rotation and 85 degree elevation.

Gyroc ammunition can be integrated with a SkyWeb Battlefield Mapping Drone via TAP uplink, which allows them to lock on and follow a target just like a missile (see Savage Worlds), except the attacker uses Shooting and the defender uses Agility.

MALMART WEAPONS: SPECIAL

TABLE 3.22: MISSILE LAUNCHERS AND FLAME THROWERS RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

COST

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN. STR

AGA Arbalest 120mm Heavy ML

50/100/200

5d8

1

135/40

40

1

d6

AP 30, HW, MBT, Snapfire

Pyro-Hydra4 Tube 50mm ML

100/200/400

5d10

1

125/5

30

4

d6

AP 24, HW, Snapfire

30/60/120

4d6

1

8/2.5

1

1

AP 6; 1 action to reload

AGA Damnation

Cone

2d12

1

5,500

30

30

d6

HW; see description

AGA Purge

Cone

2d12

1

3.500

5

10

HW

MISSILE LAUNCHERS

RPG-17 Rocket Propelled Grenade

NOTES

FLAME THROWERS

SENTINEL ROCK CYCLONE EMP GUN Used to knock out electronic devices in short range, this weapon fires a burst of electromagnetic energy that does not damage non-machines or machines with sufficient shielding. • Special: Targets with electrical parts/implants (cyborgs, augmented humans, robots, etc.) suffer full damage. Armor does not protect, unless designed to shield against EMP attacks. Others suffer half non-lethal damage as it interferes with the nervous system. Electronics systems have a Toughness of 8, disabled after suffering a Wound.

Missile L aunchers Malbot267: Guided or unguided, Malmart carries the best in missile launchers.

AGA ARBALEST 120MM HEAVY MISSILE LAUNCHER Replacement for the LAW rocket Launcher, this fires a single 120mm Guided Missile. It requires 2 actions to reload.

SENTINEL ROCK GYROC PISTOL The base Gyroc pistol, it fires 12.7mm rocket-propelled smart rounds, the gyroc pistol is a standard sidearm for security and police forces worldwide!

PYRO-HYDRA4 TUBE 50MM MISSILE LAUNCHER Act of God brings you a guided anti-aircraft missile launcher. The Pyro-Hydra won’t fire unless it has a lock on a target, saving you precious munitions and of course hard-earned creds tomo!

RPG-17 ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE LAUNCHERS SENTINEL ROCK GYROC RIFLE These are larger, heavier armaments than gyroc pistols. Like the pistols, gyroc rifles are standard weapons for security and police forces expecting a fire fight.

Wasteland Traders was able to get a hold of a large shipment of old RPG rocket launchers bound for destruction. Don’t ask how we got them amigo, just know that Wasteland is looking out for you.

Flamethrowers Malbot267: Burn baby, burn! Throughout time, nothing has been more feared and respected as fire. When a wave of flame is rushing toward you, you start making peace with whatever gods you worship, though the credit doesn’t usually answer!

Equipment

SENTINEL ROCK RETIARIUS NET LAUNCHER Got a wanted alive bounty? Looking to snatch someone off the street? Look no further, the Retiarius Net Launcher is the easiest to load with pre-loaded nets (requires two Actions to reload). • Special: With a successful hit, any targets must make an Agility roll versus the attacker’s Shooting result . If successful, the target gets out of the way; otherwise they become entangled in the net, and are at −2 to Pace and skills linked to Strength and Agility until freed . The victim must make a Strength or Agility roll at −2 to get free. A raise allows the target to break free and act this turn.

AGA DAMNATION FLAMETHROWER Flamethrowers have come a long way in 200 years. The Damnation features an armored backpack consisting of 2 double sized canisters with a braided steel feed line. The damnation may be arced to hit targets at a farther distance. Instead of a Cone, it may use a Medium Burst Template up to 18" away.

88

MALMART WEAPONS: MISSILE LAUNCHERS–ENERGY

TABLE 3.23: ENERGY WEAPONS ENERGY WEAPONS

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN. STR

Military

5

20

d6

AP 4. Uses power pack

Military

4

8

d6

AP 6. Uses power pack

1

Military

8

10

d6

Uses power pack

1–3d6

1

Military

2

48

Semi-Auto

30/60/120

1–3d6

3

Military

4

48

d6

Auto, 3RB, no recoil

50/100/200

1–3d6

5

Military

8

200

d6

Auto, no recoil

RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

COST

AGA BC1 Beam Carbine

24/48/96

3d8

1

AGA BSR 1 Beam Sniper Rifle

40/80/160

3d6

1

AGA MR1 Maser Rifle

24/48/96

2d8+2

AGA PL-1 Pulse Laser Pistol

15/30/60

AGA PLR Pulse Laser Rifle AGA PMG −1 Pulse Machine Gun

NOTES

AGA X-4 Particle Beam Rifle

24/48/96

3d8

1

Military

12

12

HW. Uses hydrogen cell.

Particle Beam Cannon

24/48/96

3d10

1

Military

30

24

HW. Uses hydrogen cell.

AGA PURGE MINI FLAMETHROWER

AGA PL-1 PULSE LASER PISTOL

The Purge is a hand-held flame pistol. It is also available as a tactical accessory. Utilizing a finer spray lets the Purge mini flamethrower be a possibility.

The AGA Pulse Laser Pistol, is a sleek weapon. A glossy black polymer casing with both battery pack and backpack connection port.

AGA PLR-1 PULSE LASER RIFLE

Energy Weapons

The AGA Pulse Laser Rifle, is the heavy version of the Pulse Laser Pistol, longer with a reinforced stock. Dual power cells fit snuggly into the heavier gloss black polymer casing. • Requires the use of two power packs.

Malbot267: Looking for some NEXgen tech? Wanna fry your enemy without damaging his armor? Grab one of our energy weapons!

AGA BC1 BEAM CARBINE The beam carbine rifle is 54" in length; again with the distinctive cobalt blue metallic casing. The weapon fires a continuous beam, deadly when held on target.

AGA PMG-1 PULSE MACHINE GUN

AGA BSR 1 BEAM SNIPER RIFLE The beam rifle is a bit longer than the beam pistol and shorter than the beam carbine, only 30" long. The weapon fires a continuous beam, deadly when held on target. With finer tuning, the beam is much thinner, but higher in power, the laser is powerful, and deadly when on target.

The AGA Pulse Machine Gun, heavy but it is still sleek, its gloss black casing nearly 5 feet in length, the power port for the power cable connects into the grip. In an emergency, a battery pack can slip into the same port, though it provides only a short burst of energy. One of the deadliest infantry weapons in the world. It’s high rate of fire will tear through the ranks of infantry.

AGA MR1 MASER RIFLE The maser rifle is a microwave based weapon. With its 3 inch square waveguide bore, it is an extremely bulky weapon, boxy, yet deadly. The maser rifle ignores all non Heavy Armor.

AGA X-4 PARTICLE BEAM RIFLE

89

Equipment

Produced by Act of God Armaments, the AGA X-4 particle beam rifle is a directed energy weapon which fires electrons at near-light speeds to impact on targets with nearly 1 gigajoule of kinetic energy. The speed at which this weapon fires and the resultant force renders modern ballistic armor nearly useless (ignores non Heavy Armor). The X-4 is an improved model of the X-2, having a better power generation system. While a vast improvement over the X-2, the AGA X-4 still has

MALMART WEAPONS ENERGY–IMPROVISED

TABLE 3.24: IMPROVISED WEAPONS TYPE

DAMAGE

Baseball Bat

WEIGHT

COST 60

Str+d6

4

Broken Bottle

Str

Jack Hammer

Str+d10

60

300

Nail Gun Rocket Hammer

NOTES AP 1

2d6

10

50

See description

Str+d10

45

350

See description

TABLE 3.25: IMPROVISED RANGED WEAPONS RANGED

RANGE

DAMAGE

ROF

Nail Gun

2/4/8

1d6

1

6/12/24

3d6

1

WT Reaver Harpoon Gun

its share of problems. Particle beam weapons are easily recognized by the ionization of the air around them, leaving a distinct ozone smell along their path. • A Critical Failure on the Shooting roll results in the hydrogen cell exploding; dealing 2d6+X damage to everyone in a MBT where X is the remaining shots. • The hydrogen cell can be set as an improvised explosive with a successful Knowledge (Demolitions) check.

PARTICLE BEAM CANNON AGA-XPBC-1.01 Still in development, this heavy dual barreled particle cannon is designed with one purpose in mind, to take down heavies in one shot. Utilizing negative and positive ions at target to produce additional damage, the Particle Beam Cannon luckily does not suffer from the same failure issues that its miniaturized version suffers. Lab testing shows damage versus infantry targets to have a 99% fatality rating. Like the X-4 this weapon ignores non Heavy Armor.

WEIGHT

SHOTS

MIN. STR

50

10

50

See description

3,500

26

3,500

AP 6

COST

NOTES

NAIL GUN A nail gun used can be used as improvised firearm, or it can be used in melee as an improvised weapon. • Special: A hit with a raise with the nail gun that does enough damage to at least Shake a normal-sized target can pin it to an adjacent wall or other obstacle (if applicable). The target must succeed at a Strength check to pull free, as if breaking free from a grapple.

WASTELAND TRADERS REAVER HARPOON GUN With endless versatility, the Reaver Harpoon gun is Wasteland Traders new top sellers. Get yours before they’re gone!

Improvised Weapons

ROCKET HAMMER

Malbot267: The following items are commonly used as improvised weapons!

BASEBALL BAT A typical baseball bat made from high impact composite materials. Occasionally, older wooden bats can be located — often these are studded with nails or similar objects.

BROKEN BOTTLE

Rocket hammers are large, hammer like devices with a miniaturized rocket installed in the back of the head to increase the force of the hammer. Used on construction sites to break down walls, but in the hands of a pissed off gang banger, the rocket hammer can be a deadly weapon. • Special: A struck target must make a Vigor roll or be Shaken, this is resolved after damage. In addition, the target is knocked back 1d4”.

Available anywhere in the sprawl, broken bottles are extremely sharp.

JACK HAMMER

Equipment

The jack hammer is difficult to use in melee due to its massive size, but it could do some nasty damage.

90

MALMART VEHICLES: CYCLES

HARLEY-DAVIDSON-INDIAN ‘IRON HORSE’ CRUISER

VEHICLES

Harley-Davidson-Indian, no one remembers which company bought the other. The merger did bring the two power houses of the old American motorcycle manufacturers together. The Iron Horse has been in production for 25 years running, and is sold in nearly every country. Well the ones that can afford such a luxurious ride.

Malbot267: Welcome to the New Year’s Edition of the 2090 Vehicular catalog. Proud to bring you the most popular models available at the best prices. From motorcycles and ground cars to VTOL Limousines and the all-new CDZ Crawler by Wasteland Traders.

NAKAMURA MOTORS ‘STEEL WIND’ MOTORCYCLE

Malbot267: Note: For the military buyers, we’ve recently opened a new section, the Milmart Catalog, now you will need to log in with your official government log-in information before purchasing available vehicles.

The Steel Wind is by far the most well-known and beloved Nakamura Motors vehicle. With a top speed of 250 mph, the Steel Wind beats out the Vector Elite in both acceleration and top speed, though the Steel Wind is for real riders, as it has no advanced computer system.

Cycles NAKAMURA MOTORS ‘KAMIKAZE’ JUMP BOARD

CHERRY AUTOMOTIVE ‘VECTOR ELITE’ MOTORCYCLE

Not really a full vehicle, the JUMP technology which was used to create JUMP bikes was originally used in JUMP Boards. This lead to the rash of deaths in the JUMP Board competitions, which eventually stopped the competitions. However with the new impact suits, the brave and fearless few have begun to pick up the JUMP board once more. Difficult to control and dangerous at high speed, it is the adrenaline junkies dream. Quite popular with mainline riggers, it’s often found in urban battlefields. JUMP Board gangs have even appeared. Many have argued that JUMP Boards are safer than the Micron.

Cherry Automotive has released the new 2090 Vector. The vector was already their most popular vehicle with the adrenaline junkies. Perfect for those places where fuel is at a premium, the Vector’s computer-assist drive technology will not only get you where you’re going fast, but will get you there in style. Cherry knows high speed impacts are deadly, so we provide a military grade fairing to protect against deadly bird strikes in addition to our state of the art driving computer.

THUGGEE ‘TG-12’ MOTORCYCLE The cutting edge in motorcycle design and a favorite of Thuggee cultists around the world! Highly customizable due to modular design! Swapping weapon systems only takes an hour.

The JUMP system allows speed jumps along both the vertical and horizontal axis up to half the acceleration rating of the board! Jumps require a Driving roll, but allows the character to ignore penalties for movement over difficult ground for that round only! Advanced JUMP system allows jumps up to 6” (36’) of vertical distance.

HARLON ‘GOLDEN EAGLE’ CRUISER This is your chance to own the classic American bike. Built to 21st century specifications, the Harlon is a solid product. SECURITY VARIANT: LAWBOSS A popular variant for security forces. Three hover inductors provide a stable law enforcement patrol vehicle. Provide justice like a LawBoss! Weapons: • Fixed LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW)

WASTELAND TRADERS ‘DUSTY ROADS’ CRUISER The Dusty Roads Cruiser, is designed using the Wasteland Traders philosophy, easy to fix, easy to keep on the road. The Dusty Roads cruiser features a standard sidecar with 2-tube rocket launcher. It’s built tough, it’s built to last. Weapons: • Sidecar with 70mm Rocket Pod (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d8+2; ROF 1–2; Shots 2; HW, MBT)

TOYOTA ‘ LOCUST’ QUAD TURBO JUMP BIKE

91

Equipment

Voted the hottest bike by Street Racer Weekly for the 4th straight year, the Toyota Locust Quad Turbo JUMP bike is a jump racer’s dream come true! Our patented ACR Titan JUMP system (+1 to Driving when making turbo jumps) comes standard on all Locusts and our titanium coil JUMP springs and sleek tri-foil chassis ensure a sweet landing, so you can be at the head of the pack. (See the Road Rage supplement for more JUMP Bikes, and JUMP Bike racing rules).

MALMART VEHICLES: CARS

TABLE 3.26: CYCLES AND CARS CYCLES

ACC/TS

TOUGH

COST

CREW

Nakamura Motors ‘Kamikaze’ Jump Board

30/60

3

1,000

1

Harley-Davidson-Indian ‘Iron Horse’ Cruiser

15/30

8(2)

5,000

1+1

Nakamura Motors ‘Steel Wind’ Motorcycle

35/72

7(2)

5,000

1

Cherry Automotive ‘Vector Elite’ Motorcycle

36/70

6(2)

25,000

1+1

NOTES

Thuggee ‘Tg-12’ Motorcycle

30/66

7(2)

13,000

1+1

Harlon ‘Golden Eagle’ Cruiser

30/90

9(4)

15,000

1+1

30/90

9(4)

Military

1

20/40

9(4)

38,000

1+1

CARS

ACC/TS

TOUGH

COST

CREW

Toyota ‘ Locust’ Quad Turbo Jump bike

50/90

5(1)

48,000

1

Micron Super Economy Groundcar

4/22

4(0)

2,000

1

Samba ’Econoline’ Electric

10/30

6(3)

8,500

1+1

Air Bags, 8 cu ft. storage space

Hood Ratz™ ‘Db’ Pick-up

16/49

8(2)

25,000

1+6

4WD, Weapon System

Lawboss (Variant) Wasteland Traders ‘Dusty Roads’ Cruiser

Weapon System Climb 2; Weapon System Weapon System NOTES Air Bags, 1 cu ft. storage space

Cherry Automotive ‘Executor’

44/66

8(4)

150,000

1+1

Air Bags, 8 cu ft. storage space

Cherry ‘Pure Elegance’ Luxury Sedan

50/55

13(5)

115,000

1+5

12 cu ft. storage space

Kiwi Motors ‘Virtuoso’ Armored Limousine

15/45

16(8)

100,000

0+6

Air Bags, AI Driver (d8), Heavy Armor, Weapon System

Porsche 9035 Sl

35/60

11(4)

110,000

1+1

Samba ‘Marathon’

15/45

12(6)

30,000

1+6

Air Bags, 4WD

Toyota ’Cdz Waste Cruiser 2090’

15/45

12(6)

44,400

1+5

4WD, Weapon System

Honda ‘Uphl’ Delivery Vehicle

10/40

14(4)

22,000

1+1

Kiwi Motors ‘Courier’ Armored Taxi

20/60

13(6)

30,500

1+3

4WD, Weapon System

Ravenlocke Mk-Ii Patrol Police Cruiser

45/90

15(5)

35,000

1+3

Hover (10' ceiling)

Wasteland Traders ‘Whip Scorpion’ Sand Rail

20/60

8

3,500

1+3

4WD, Weapon System

Marsworks Engineering Combat Truck

30/90

23(8)

Military

1+2

4WD, Heavy Armor, Weapon System

‘Water Weasel”’ Amphibious Patrol Craft

20/45

20(8)

Military

1+2

Heavy Armor, Weapon System

ACR Titan JUMP system allows speed jumps along both the vertical and horizontal axis up to half the acceleration rating of the bike! Jumps require a Driving roll, but allow the character to ignore penalties for movement over difficult ground for that round only! Most advanced JUMP system allows jumps up to 8” (40’) of vertical distance.

C ars

SAMBA ’ECONOLINE’ ELECTRIC For the cost-conscious consumer, the Ecoline provides an economical alternative without sacrificing safety. Low fuel consumption, high reliability and megaplex friendly size make the Ecoline the ideal car for the young urban professional. A nice little 2-seater for a single earner or just get you and your lady from CribSec to club!

HOOD RATZ™ ‘DB’ PICK-UP MICRON SUPER ECONOMY GROUNDCAR

The car for today! Solar-powered micro car. When Mini decided to make the smallest car on the road, they succeeded by droves. The ‘Micron’ meets or exceeds minimum safety requirements. Road & Sky calls it “A…pleasure…to drive…” and “Cheap and…well…built”

Whether you’re off to the club, or off to waste some rivals, the DB Pick-up is a sweet ground vehicle, fully armored cab, pintle mount behind the cab for locking down some firepower. Weapons: • Heavy 360° Pintle Mounted Bessy MG (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 200; AP 4, HW)

CHERRY AUTOMOTIVE ‘EXECUTOR’ This sports car needs no introduction! The Executor is one of the most expensive sports cars in the world. Its impossibly sleek paint job, most often black, is so delicate that it requires a special fluid to keep clean.

Equipment

CHERRY ‘PURE ELEGANCE’ LUXURY SEDAN Cherry Automotive luxury sedan has nearly the same performance profile as other sports cars, with the added luxury that only Cheery motors can provide. Ride in style, live with style. Pure elegance, for today’s discerning consumer of taste.

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MALMART VEHICLES: CARS

Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

KIWI MOTORS ‘VIRTUOSO’ ARMORED LIMOUSINE Even in hot spots, there are rich blokes who want a classy ride — which is why we’ve created the Virtuoso: a car with the comfort of a limousine and the protection of a light tank. The luxurious interior features real wood paneling, authentic leather seats and adjustable lighting, as well as a refrigerator suitable for drinks and appetizers. Add to that adjustable seat firmness and a full communications suite with stereo and HR video, and you can create whatever mood feels right for the occasion.

KIWI MOTORS ‘COURIER’ ARMORED TAXI

A standard AI aspect chauffeur (Driving d6) means you don’t even need to worry about a driver. For comfort and protection…Kiwi Motors. Not nearly as fast as the Maestro, the Virtuoso for 2090 is definitely a mean machine, designed to get you to your destination in comfort. Encrypted HoloCam system lets you make your meeting, and keep it secure, even if you’re stuck in traffic.

Taxicabs are common all over, mate, but some spots are hotter than others. Defense is the primary concern with the Courier. Heavy armor will keep your fares safe and gun ports enable you to defend yourself in an emergency. Add airbags, nimble handling, and a powerful electric motor, and you’ve got yourself one fine ride. For comfort and protection…Kiwi Motors. Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

PORSCHE 9035 SL Not produced by the original Porsche motor company, as that company disappeared in 2033, this new company is founded by a wealthy descendant, a modernized version of the classic. Hand assembled, put your name on the waiting list, 10% down. Current wait is 6 months.

RAVENLOCKE MK-II PATROL POLICE/SECURITY CRUISER The Mark II Patrol cruiser, Ravenlocke Security’s primary patrol cruiser. The passenger area can be sealed; locked from the exterior for prisoner transport. Weapons: • Front Mounted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW)

SAMBA ‘MARATHON’ The Marathon is an upper-class SUV that has a passenger capacity of 7 plus room for leisure gear. Its excellent performance and moderate price make it a good buy for young families. Available in Liquid Fuel and Electric models, numerous options convert the Marathon. The most popular conversion is the Thermopylae, with loads of armor, and a heavy roof turret, in addition to an inline weapon mount.

WASTELAND TRADERS ‘WHIP SCORPION’ SAND RAIL Wasteland Traders brings you a fast, off-road vehicle, the Whip Scorpion, is about as primitive as it gets, a true manual drive vehicle, no AI, no VI, just pure driving. Weapons: • Heavy 360° Pintle Mounted Bessy MG (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 200; AP 4, HW)

TOYOTA ’CDZ WASTE CRUISER 2090’

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING ‘WORG’ COMBAT TRUCK

Toyota brings back their Landcruiser line in a new form, the WasteCruiser. An all electric motor with extending solar panels. Integrating a new SatComm Deeplink system, it is quickly becoming a hacker’s dream. The ability to access the Deep from near complete anonymity in the middle of nowhere, makes the WasteCruiser a hot commodity,.

Four-wheel steering, independent all-wheel drive, and coaxial pintle mount all standard with the WORG. It is oversized for use as Power Armored ground transport.

Notes: Rollcage, Solid Core Tires Weapons: • Coaxial Mounted Bessy MG (Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 200; AP 4, HW) The UPHL “uphill” is a simple ground vehicle, designed for a singular task; delivery. Armored models are also available for deliveries in dangerous areas, or for any valuable cargo, ami!

‘WATER WEASEL”’ AMPHIBIOUS PATROL CRAFT The Water Weasel as it’s known by the NAC is a multi-purpose amphibious assault vehicle. With deployable pontoon power plants, and sealed electronics suite, the Water Weasel is capable of submerged operation in depths up to 200 feet. Weapons: • Turreted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW)

93

Equipment

HONDA ‘UPHL’ DELIVERY VEHICLE

Weapons: • Turretted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW)

MALMART VEHICLES: AIRCRAFT

CHERRY AUTOMOTIVE LIGHT VTOL CAR

Aircraft DRAGONFLY MICROLIGHT VEHICLE A single engine aircraft. Easily broken down and reassembled in approximately 1 hour.

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING ECLIPSE FIGHTER JET Marsworks Engineering fast attack jet. Fast, Nimble, ScramJet afterburner. Notes: AMCM, Ejection System, Heavy Armor Weapons: • Forward Mounted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW) • Wing Mounted Missiles (Range 200/400/800; Damage 4d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 4, AP 6, HW)

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING INTRUDER ATTACK JET Marsworks Engineering’s heavy version of the Eclipse fighter jet comes with enough firepower to destroy any installation you wish! Notes: AMCM, Heavy Armor, Ejection System Weapons: • Forward Mounted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW) • 4 × Missiles (Range 200/400/800; Damage 4d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 4, AP 6, HW) or 8 × Light Bombs (Range Dropped; Damage 4d10; ROF 4; Shots 8; AP 20, HW, LBT)

VTOL Craft

Equipment

Most turn-of-the-century ground vehicles now have a VTOL variant. Because of their steep price tags, VTOL Vehicles are far more common in wealthy, developed nations and the largest cities of North America, China, Brasilia and the Eurasian Union. VTOL vehicles share many of the same features as their ground counterpart, including optional AI Pilots and VCI rigs.

‘IRON PEGASUS’ VTOL CRUISER The Iron Pegasus VTOL Cruiser, nothing lets you feel as free as the wind on your face while cruising above the country side.

The light, compact VTOL craft is a small personal transport that is found on both the civilian and military market. Feel like a marine when you drive this beauty through the countryside! The Cherry Light comes with the typical options you would expect for a car, such as full environmental control, ballistic armor protection and ejection seats. All VTOLs come standard with Basic Vehicular AI (Piloting d4), to prevent aerial crashes.

KIWI MOTORS ALBATROSS ARMORED V-TAXI When you need to get somewhere fast, call an Albatross VTOL Taxi. Faster than our Courier Ground taxi, the Albatross can get in and out of even the hottest landing zones on the planet!

KIWI MOTORS ‘MAESTRO’ ARMORED VTOL LIMOUSINE Kiwi Motors is proud to present the VTOL version of the popular Virtuoso Armored Limousine. The Maestro carries all the class of the Virtuoso with the VTOL capabilities that keep the rich off the streets. If you want to avoid the unwashed masses, the Maestro has the same luxurious interior features as the Virtuoso; real wood paneling, authentic leather seats and adjustable lighting, and a refrigerator suitable for drinks and appetizers. Add in adjustable seat firmness and a full communications suite with stereo and HR video, and you can create whatever mood feels right for the occasion. A standard flight capable AI Aspect chauffeur (Piloting d6) means you don’t even need to worry about a pilot. For comfort and protection…Kiwi Motors. Weapons: • Forward Mounted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW) • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING LAV LOADER For short-distance hauling, standard vehicles aren’t always the best option. Marsworks Engineering has created a cargo loader and mover built on a standard Low-Altitude Vehicle VTOL platform. LAV-Loaders are typically used in Port Cities, where loading and unloading ships over a Sea Wall or at Sea must occasionally be done quickly. Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

94

MALMART VEHICLES: VTOL

TABLE 3.27: AIRCRAFT AND VTOLS AIRCRAFT

ACC/TS

Dragonfly Microlight Vehicle

TOUGH

COST

CREW

NOTES

15/60

5

3,000

1

Marsworks Engineering Eclipse Fighter Jet

30/700

19(8)

Military

1

Climb 0, Max load 250 lb. Climb 4, See Description

Marsworks Engineering Intruder Attack Jet

20/600

23(12)

Military

1

Climb 3, See Description

VTOL ‘Iron Pegasus’ VTOL Cruiser

20/150

12(3)

125,000

1+1

Climb 1

Cherry Automotive Light VTOL Car

30/160

12(3)

50,000

1+2

Climb 0, Auto-Pilot (d6), Ejection System

Kiwi Motors Albatross Armored V-Taxi

40/150

16(7)

180,500

1+3

Climb 1; Air Bags, Cargo Space, Heavy Armor

Kiwi Motors Armored VTOL Limousine

20/150

16(7)

250,000

0+6

Climb −1; Heavy Armor, See Description

Marsworks Engineering LAV Loader

15/100

18(4)

300,000

1

Climb 0; Audo-Pilot (d6), Heavy Armor

Marsworks Engineering LAV Transport

15/100

18(4)

300,000

1+12

Climb 0; Audo-Pilot (d6), Heavy Armor

FireFox Fire Fighting VTOL

30/150

19(2)

Military

2+4

Climb 0; See Description

Ravenlocke Mk-IX Interdictor Police Cruiser

25/100

18(8)

75,000

1+1

Climb 2; Auto-Pilot (d8), Ejection System

Exceptionally robust, and with a high carrying capacity cargo area that can be configured to hold cargo or up to 7 prisoners or strike team members. A must for your high threat security forces! Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

Water Craft DEEP BLUE ‘WATER BUG’ PERSONAL WATERCRAFT The motorcycle of the waterways. Anywhere the sun is shining, and the water is calm, the Water Bug is a common sight. Waterborne combat is common enough that the Water Bug comes with an optional Plug n’ Slay weapon port.

DEEP BLUE ‘WATER SPIDER’ TWIN-HULL SPEED BOAT The Water Spider is a generic speed boat, with uncommon weapon options. Weapons: • Fixed Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW) • Pindel Mount .50 HMG (50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 100, AP 4, HW)

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING LAV TRANSPORT The Marsworks LAV transport is a favorite among smugglers and transport specialists across the world. Capable of carrying an impressive two ton load and armored with a liberator minigun, the LAV Transport is perfect for any type of mission! Weapons: • Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

FIREFOX FIRE FIGHTING VTOL Another variant of the LAV Transport. The Firefox was originally designed for military fire suppression, however civilian fire fighting contractors quickly bought older models and retrofitted them for response to fires in sky scrapers and mega blocks.

DEEP BLUE ‘FLYING FISH’ FOIL SPEED BOAT Utilizing sub-surface turbines mounted to foil extensions, tri-foil sub-surface impeller turbine provide a fast boat which skims the surface of the water with the ease of a Flying Fish.

DEEP BLUE OCEAN GLIDER YACHT

New for 2090, the Mark 9 Interdictor has been specifically designed for use by law enforcement corporations.

Weapons: • 8 × LMG (30/60/020; Damage 2d8; ROF 4; Shots 200, AP 2)

Weapons: • Nose Mounted Foam Cannon (Range 15/30/60; Damage puts out fires on 3+ in a 10’ × 10’ area) • 4 × 2,000 lb. Fire Fighting Bombs

95

Equipment

RAVENLOCKE MK-IX INTERDICTOR POLICE CRUISER

The wealthy love the Ocean Glider. On calm seas the ocean glider can reach top speeds of 240 nauts, (200mph) with its large quad impeller turbine foils. The playground of the rich, complete with hot tubs, an undersea viewing lounge, and of course 8 machine guns points operated by the Advanced AI (Shooting d6) to protect the ship from boarding attempts. The AI can operate four defense points simultaneously without penalty. Large VTOL pad and DeepLink, makes this a home away from home. Capable of 200 passengers with 12 cabins that sleep 4 each. One Crew Cabin and a Single Luxury cabin.

MALMART VEHICLES: WATER CRAFT–BUSES/TRUCKS

AMC ARMORED FERRY

AMC LAND TRAIN AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING VEHICLE

Atlantica Motor Corporation has been making public transport vehicles for nearly twenty years, and the Armored Ferry is the preferred vehicle for the Boston Transit Authority. Essentially a water-borne version of a standard bus, the Armored Ferry was introduced four years ago following an incident in Boston in which a ferry was attacked and sunk, killing all of the passengers on board. These ferries will also typically carry two security guards for additional protection.

The AMC Land Train is designed for long distance shipping. This vehicle is focused on long haul transportation. The Land Train can pull 4 fully loaded 50’ trailers without losing any top speed. On the long haul roadways, up to a dozen Land Trains will link to maintain top speed, while extending their overall range by up to 20%. Weapons: • Turreted Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW, AI (Shooting d8))

DOLPHIN INFLATABLE LANDING CRAFT Inflatable Landing Craft, for insertion missions into hostile territory via ship. It has a small sub-surface induction turbine motor.

Buses and Trucks AMC ARMORED BUS Atlantica Motor Corporation has been making public transport vehicles for nearly twenty years, and the Armored Bus is the preferred vehicle for many transit authorities. The economical engine can run on either synthetic fuels or electricity (although ‘Red Line’ style buses require an in-road system to run), and Dura-Plast™ ceramic plating protects the passengers without significantly affecting performance. The view for passengers may be considerably reduced, but they can rest assured that they are well-protected from any external threat. For additional protection, a copilot seat has been installed on our Armored Bus to provide room for a security guard.

AMC ARMADILLO ARMORED BUS The economical hybrid engine runs synthetic fuels and batteries, with 2 megawatt worth of Solar collectors. Dura-Plast™ ceramic plating protects the passengers without significantly affecting performance. The view for passengers may be considerably reduced, but they can rest assured that they are well-protected from any external threat. For additional protection, a copilot seat has been installed on our Armored Bus to provide room for a security guard. In addition the Armadillo mounts an enclosed single gunner 360 degree turret with dual hardpoint mounts. While it gives up some top speed, it has slightly heavier armor than the Standard Armored Bus. Travel in safety, Travel in an Armadillo. Weapons: • Turreted Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW)

AMC-RS BASTION ARMORED HEADQUARTERS Ravenlocke’s licensed Version of AMC’s Armored bus, converted to a Mobile Command Center, the Bastion is designed as full ground support for a complete SWAT Team. Electronics and Surveillance gears bristle from the Bastion. The Bay has a full-size loading dock end. At least one government has a drop version with integrated parachute.

Heavy Vehicles MARSWORKS WASTEX EXPLORATION VEHICLE Based Upon The largest civilian vehicle on the road, with 6 foot tall tracks, the quad-track exploration vehicle is designed to take science teams into the waste in a fully sustainable environment. Solar collectors, desalination plant, fully-stocked labs. The unique independent drive system allows traversing extremely rough terrain, the grapple drill allows for ascent and descent of cliffs. Weapons: • Fixed Liberator Mini Gun (Range 24/48/96; Damage 2d8; ROF6; Shots 1,000; AP 3; Auto HW • 2 × Coaxial Mounted .50 HMG (50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 500, AP 4, HW) • 2 × Turreted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW)

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING ‘RAZORBACK’ APC If you want a machine that can not only move a squad quickly, but can also kick ass and take names while doing it, there is arguably no better choice than the Razorback from Marsworks Engineering. Half armored personnel carrier, half assault tank, and entirely no-nonsense military engineering, the Razorback has proven popular with a number of military forces, including the Atlantica military. The Razorback comes with an AI Aspect to help the driver navigate in tough spots and assist the gunners in combat operations. VCI and gunnery ‘smart’ rigs are standard, as is gyro-stabilization of the onboard weapons.

Equipment

Weapons: • Front/Rear Turret Mounted 57mm Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d10; ROF 1; Shots 40, AP 20, HW, MBT) • Front and Rear Turreted LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d10+1; ROF 4; Shots 120; AP 5, Auto, HW)

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MALMART VEHICLES: HEAVY

TABLE 3.28: WATERCRAFT, TRUCKS, AND HEAVY VEHICLES WATERCRAFT

ACC/TS

TOUGH

COST

CREW

DB ‘Water Bug’ Personal Watercraft

20/25

7(2)

4,000

1+1

NOTES

DB ‘Water Spider’ Twin-hull Speed Boat

10/20

10(2)

8,000

1+3

DB ‘Flying Fish’ Foil Speed Boat

15/30

12(3)

12,500

1+5

Weapon System

DB Ocean Glider Yacht

15/55

28(8)

18 mil

3+200

Heavy Armor, Weapon Systems

AMC Armored Ferry

5/20

20(8)

250,000

2+30

Firewall (Rating 7), Heavy Armor

Dolphin Inflatable Landing Craft

5/20

3(1)

1,250

1+5

Firewall (Rating 7)

BUSES AND TRUCKS AMC Armored Bus

8/30

22(8)

125,000

1+40

AMC Armadillo Armored Bus

10/40

22(8)

140,000

2+38

Heavy Armor Heavy Armor, Weapon Systems

AMC Shipping Vehicle

10/40

22(8)

275,000

Heavy Armor, Weapon System

AMC-RS Bastion Armored Headquarters

15/35

30(16)

2.37 mil

2+16

Heavy Armor, Drone/Power Armor Bay

HEAVY VEHICLES Marsworks WasteX Exploration Vehicle

15/50

22(8)

84,400

3+5

Heavy Armor, 4WD, Weapon Systems

Marsworks Engineering ‘Razorback’ APC

27/90

25(10)

Military

4+10

Heavy Armor, Weapon Systems

Centurion’ Light Battle Tank C-216-LHT

50/200

25(10)

Military

3+2

Heavy Armor, Stabilizers, Weapon Systems

‘Legios’ Main Battle Tank

40/90

48(30)

Military

4+2

Heavy Armor, Stabilizers, Weapon Systems

“Bean Pole” VTOL Power Armor Transport

20/180

20(8)

Military

3+6

Marsworks Engineering Overkill Gunship

40/160

32(18)

Military

2

Black Knight BKV-P9 Panther VTOL

60/150

24(12)

Military

2+2

Climb 0, VTOL Heavy Armor, Ejection System, VTOL, Climb 1 Climb 1, VTOL, Weapon Systems

suits with jump jets can be jettisoned from a position hovering above the ground (a suitable Piloting roll will prevent damage upon landing). The craft mounts no offensive armament, though mounted golemmechs may employ their weaponry. The Beanpole relies on the carried suits to provide firepower on the way in, and with 6 suits, that can be considerable.

CENTURION’ LIGHT BATTLE TANK C-216-LHT Marsworks Engineering Legios Light Battle Tank. The fast attack hover tank can easily outmaneuver larger vehicles in urban battlegrounds. In addition, the Hover tank is able to perform pop-up attacks, utilizing its hover jets to safely vault 5” (30 feet) vertically while stationary (requires a Piloting check to not damage the vehicle).

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING OVERKILL GUNSHIP Another variant of the LAV-transport used for military purposes, the Overkill gunship is the ultimate in ground support. A Support VTOL for the hot zone drop ships, it features enhanced speed, and superior weaponry. In the event the pilots are killed or eject; the AI can enter into pre-programmed autonomous support mode (Piloting d8). Though not as agile as the Hotzone, the Overkill easily makes up for it in firepower.

Weapons: • Main Turret 60mm Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d10; ROF 1; Shots 40, AP 20, HW, MBT) • Rear Turret 30 mm cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d10; ROF 1; Shots 50, AP 10, HW, MBT) • One Coaxial Turret Mount (open)

‘LEGIOS’ MAIN BATTLE TANK

Weapons: • Fixed 50mm Nose Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d10; ROF 1; Shots 40, AP 20, HW, MBT) • 2 × Heavy Missiles (Range 200/400/800; Damage 6d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 1; AP 12, HW) • 2 × 70mm Rocket Pod (Range 24/48/96; Damage 4d8+2; ROF 1–4; Shots 12; HW, MBT)

Legios Main Battle Tank is the main tank produced by Marsworks Engineering, Tough and hard-hitting. Features a 90mm rail in a fully articulated turret. Secondary armament includes a coax mount (open) position, typically mounted with a BKA Heavy Machine Gun. • Main Turret 90mm Cannon (Range 150/300/600; Damage 5d10; ROF 1; Shots 20, AP 80, HW, MBT) • 2 × Coaxial Mounted .50 HMG (50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 100, AP 4, HW)

BLACK KNIGHT BKV-P9 PANTHER VTOL Custom Panzer VTOLs were so popular in 2090, that all the remaining units were converted within three months. Black Knight jumped at the chance to bring the classic Panzer look to a more modern Light VTOL Tank.

“BEAN POLE” VTOL POWER ARMOR TRANSPORT

Weapons: • Main Turret 57mm Cannon (Range 75/150/300; Damage 4d10; ROF 1; Shots 40, AP 20, HW, MBT) • Coaxial Mounted .50 HMG (50/100/200; Damage 2d10; ROF 3; Shots 100, AP 4, HW)

These mounting points are external and unprotected, suits can be deployed very quickly and easily on the ground, or

97

Equipment

The Black Knight Beanpole is specially designed vectoredthrust VTOL intended for quick deployment of power armor and light golemmechs into combat. The craft has a broad crew compartment with space for pilot, commander and electronic systems officer, behind which is a long thin stem with mounting points for up to four size-zero power armor suits, and up to two spaces for size-zero or size-one suits.

MALMART VEHICLES: SPACECRAFT

TABLE 3.29: SPACECRAFT WATERCRAFT

ACC/TS

Calypso Personal Shuttle

50/700

Calamity Assault Shuttle

50/700

Marsworks Engineering Starfighter

50/700

Tranquility Light Freighter GeeHawg I & II Man Interfleet Sled

TOUGH

COST

CREW

NOTES

16(4)

3 million

2+10

Climb 3, Auto-Pilot (d4), Heavy Armor

20(8)

3.5 million

2+10

Climb 3, Auto-Pilot (d4), Heavy Armor

20(8)

Military

1

Climb 3, AMCM, Auto-Fire (d6), Heavy Armor

40/600

25(12)

8 million

5

Climb 1, Heavy Armor, 12 tons cargo space

20/250

9(1)

60,000

1/2

Climb 1, Heavy Armor

MARSWORKS ENGINEERING STARFIGHTER

Spacecraft Spacecraft work like most other vehicles, except they operate primarily in space. Spacecraft which can enter an atmosphere are listed as Transatmospheric. Ranges refer to distance within a system, interfleet means very short range, generally they can make a round trip between a ship and a base; maximum ranges of around 10,000 miles. Planetary range is around 100,000 miles, the distance between a planet and orbiting satellites. System range can travel millions of miles, within the solar system.

Weapons: • Forward Fixed LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d12; ROF 4; Shots 500; AP 5, Auto, HW) • Light Missiles Rack (Range 200/400/800; Damage 4d6; ROF 1–4; Shots 12; AP 6, HW)

TRANQUILITY LIGHT FREIGHTER

Note: All weapon systems on spacecraft are considered turreted unless otherwise noted.

One of the first true starships, the Tranquility class is an old but still serviceable freighter, often used by smugglers and pirates. The modular systems allow for the ship to be modified more than most; at the cost of cargo space unfortunately; but, getting your cargo to your destination sometimes requires weaponry, additional armor, or smuggler spaces.

CALYPSO PERSONAL SHUTTLE

GEEHAWG I & II MAN INTERFLEET SLED

This is a basic non-combat shuttle, but it mounts a laser antimissile system for defense. The Calypso isn’t designed for combat; or for long distance trips. It can handle a planetary hop from a starship or from a space station in orbit around a planet. While the fusion engines could be maintained for 20 years at speed. With proper food supplies a longer trip can be accomplished, say to a moon.

Sleds are one or two-man mini shuttles. One man sleds are usually open to the vacuum of space, and required shielded vacc suits. Two-man sleds have shielding and enclosed but lack life support systems. Sleds primary function is as transport for mining operations, and maintenance aboard ships and space stations.

CALAMITY ASSAULT SHUTTLE The Calamity Assault shuttle is the combat version of the Calypso, designed specifically for protection of orbital habitats throughout the solar system.

The sled comes standard with magnetic grapples and tether system. As the sleds are cheap and easy to modify, they are often used by pirates and star gangers, as well as security firms and belters.

Equipment

Weapons: • Twin Linked LAC-15 (Range 50/100/200; 2d12+1; ROF 4; Shots 500; AP 5, Auto, HW)

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CHAPTER FOUR: THE WORLD

THE WORLD THE ELITE

#INFODUMP.LIVING_IN_CHAOS.GD.NET Posted By: #Billy_Black_Eyes Que Pasa, Ami! Billy here to give you the latest #INFOdump on the world. Much has happened in the past two years, and I figure it’s time for an update. In addition to my own thoughts on various subjects, I’ve collected numerous data feeds from JacobsPlayground.net. If you wanna see the expanded materials, hit the playground!

The Elite #INFODUMP.HUNGRY_HIPPO_INVASION.GD.NET Posted By: #Sorry_U_Asked I work as a waiter at four different restaurants to make ends meet, and we get some keen characters on the rounds. This one guy comes through once a month, each time with a different tramp on his arm. Always gives the same spiel to impress his date. Never tips. I slipped an audio-bug under his table last time, so you can give it a listen. Some of you may even recognize his voice. Any bets on the amount of piss and spit in his soup?

LOADING AUDIO… Garcon, what is this swill? I distinctly recall ordering the 2023 vintage. This is at least a decade younger. You think you can slip a sub-par selection past me? Take it back and don’t show your face again until you’ve corrected your error. I’ll be waiting for a personal apology from your sommelier as well. Apologies, my dear. I do hate drama during dinner, but one must enforce your standards ruthlessly, or else the rabble will try to defraud you for every last credit. I know you’ve always wanted to visit Paris, and I thought this establishment might provide the perfect view. Don’t fear. I know we’re on street level, and the proximity to such filthy environs and degenerate denizens can be a bit off-putting, but we’re entirely safe. The one-way windows are guaranteed to withstand direct hits from military grade rocket launchers. The smog outside is entirely nano filtered, so breathe with ease. What better way to enjoy a fine repast than to pity those who will never enjoy its like? It adds a certain deliciousness to an already decadent evening.

The truth is…we own them from birth. We control every detail of their pathetic lives — if not directly, than by the laws and legacies we put in place. We stand on the apex of the future, guiding megacorps to glory, splicing the latest evolution of the species into being, and overseeing the governments that would fall into anarchy if not for our strong — if sometimes necessarily cruel — grip on the reins of power. It may look like we’re attended by a few personal servants, perhaps an estate staff of dozens, with security bots and borgs scanning every corner to keep the protestors at bay — but recognize the larger reality, my dear. Entire cities — entire nations!—are actually our retainers. Even if they don’t recognize it, we are the objects of their adoration and worship. And rightly so. There’s no shame in claiming one’s place and identity. Whether by birthright, ruthless cunning, or deeds best left surmised by the Deep tabloids, each of us has risen to the heights. None of them have the right to deny us, then, the luxuries of our status. In fact, were we to shun these natural amenities, it would be a disservice to those who are unable to enjoy them. Think of us as the yin to their yang. We let the warm sun tan our skin to defy their ghastly pallor. We sip pure water and breathe pure air, so the plight of those buried in smog and pollution is never forgotten. We sample the finest vintages and goods to bring contrast to the insipid food pastes others must subsist on. Without such contrast, the world would be a dull place indeed. Yet we must always be on our guard, mustn’t we? The envious are ever howling for our blood, wanting to cast us down from our gleaming abodes and trample our finery in the gutters. Some simply cannot stand the light we bring to the world, as it reveals how deep of a pit they live within. They try to blame us for their suffering, to cast the guilt and shame of their poor choices and addictions on us, the untouchables. Surely our wealth is ill-gotten. Our clothes must be made of baby leather, and all thoughts and impulses running through our minds must be vile and wicked. It’s only through such rationalization that some commoners can abide our existence at all. Such a sad reality that they live in, isn’t it? I do wonder how they manage sometimes. Oh, enough of my prattling. Enjoy your meal, m’dear. And enjoy watching the grubs squirm by.

The World

Look at them. Strolling and shuffling by. I always like to observe the grubs of society from time to time to remind myself how fortunate we are. As angels exist in an exponential order above insects, so we stand above the commoners of the world. Our vast credit depositories are what fuel the very heartbeat of civilization. Our stylistic whims command the most sweeping changes of fashion and art. Our names and faces give the whole of the Deep’s MediaNet a reason to exist. Our dreams dictate the latest surges of technological genius. We are the elite in every way that matters, and let us never forget the responsibility this places upon our shoulders. For without us, what would the ignoble have to aspire to? Who would the Outcasts have to decry? Who would establish the gleaming trophies of achievement for the masses to fight over? We are the bold lines that give the world perspective, the impetus that sets progress in motion.

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AUDIO END. #Sorry_U_Asked: What a piece of work, neh? Cheap son of a bitch. Funny how the more credits one has, the more you tend to keep a tighter hold on them. Sadly, while this pompous skag makes me want to christen his skull with the next bottle of wine he orders, at the same time, I wonder if he doesn’t touch on some truth. What would we have to live and fight and die for if everyone existed in a single social strata? Equality is a pretty word, but I just don’t see it ever becoming a reality. Too much of the world runs on the principle of climbing higher over other people’s backs, and I can’t imagine that dynamic of power changing anytime soon. Even if it did, what’re the odds that we’d all just be equally stuck in the muck, instead of all living the high life? Food for thought, ami.

THE WORLD MEGACORPS

APPROVED WORDS

The Megacorps #INFODUMP.CORPORATE_GOONS.GD.NET Posted By: #DoomSecretary Here’s a secret that really isn’t: Most megacorps are practically identical. Each one is a hive and all about production. The only result a corp cares about is profits. It doesn’t matter what happens along the way. The bottom line is the bottom line. The CEOs and managers are the royalty overseeing all the workers and drones, and guess where you fall on the totem pole? Here. I pilfered this datasheet from one of my own projects to give you a hint of how little the corps care.

BEGIN FEED… LOADING… ACCESS GRANTED SECURITY AUTHORIZED You have accessed the Corporate Memo Style Guideline datadump. Please note that if you do not have the proper security clearance for this data sector, it will be flagged as an illegal intrusion, and security will be dispatched to intercept you. As Corporate Memos provide the lifeblood of communication within an organization, we take great pains to ensure each one holds to the strictest standards of quality and information density. Therefore, it is crucial that any Corporate Memo Drafter follow the guidelines laid out here to the letter. Do not attempt to follow the “spirit” of memo drafting, as it undermines corporate efficiency and productivity.

INTENT When drafting a memo, consider the reason why. What is this memo intended to accomplish? Are you trying to set up a meeting between transcontinental departments regarding the latest shipments losses in the Pacific? Do you have an announcement that will affect a project’s launch deadline? Is this a request to the PR department to handle the latest smear attack on our organization, launched by one of the many scurrilous tabloids that infest The Global DataNet?

Our P.R slug is “for the good of humanity and the furthering of civilization”, and all documentation is required to stress this truth as much as possible. Therefore, you are pre-approved to use words (and variations of) such as “productivity, profitability, safe, clean, friendly, professional, secure, trustworthy, valuable, essential, genius, noble, etc.” [FOR A FULL LIST OF ACCEPTABLE VOCABULARY, SEE APPENDIX O]

BLACKLISTED WORDS Any use of the following words will result in automatic memo rejection from the system and a personnel reevaluation of your status: “Cheap, questionable, dirty, unsafe, unsecure, low profits, weak, shaky, doubtful, lacking, greedy, harsh, Machiavellian, etc.”

AVOIDING ESPIONAGE Always protect our valuable corporate assets from rivals. Corporate Memos are particularly vulnerable to manipulation, and so should contain as little concrete details or statements. Internal data is strictly forbidden from being included in any memo. Should any be detected in your communiqué, your position will be flagged for possible espionage attempts and immediate termination.

FINAL APPROVAL After your memo is drafted, it must be submitted to all receiving department managers for approval. Should any manager provide feedback, the memo must be revised and resubmitted until full agreement is achieved. Failure to immediately employ these changes will result in an automatic pay grade deduction. Thank you for taking the time to read through the Corporate Memo Style Guideline and being an essential part of organizational communication! At this time, you are required to take a survey as to the helpfulness of this guideline datafile. This will count toward your memo drafting time allotment, so please proceed in all haste while processing the questions and answers.

PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL Because a corporate memo will be viewed by anywhere from zero to millions of people across the world, you must take into account the enormous diversity of backgrounds and world views that will come into play when your memo is read. Do not attempt to reference any cultural events, current news, past news, behavioral forecasts, or any data of temporal significance. Also, avoid humor at all costs, as it is far too subjective. Remember the only culture is the corporate culture.

END FEED. #DoomSecretary: Getting the idea, now? You’ll find the same kind of language in every corporate archive. Oh, they try to act like they’re different. It doesn’t matter if it’s Ravenlocke, Malbrand, Cerus Media, Kenta Cyber Dynamics…they all have the same priorities and the same methods. But in the end, boyo, you march to their drumbeat or you get trampled. It also makes them easier to manipulate from within, when you know how the system works.

SUMMARY

Any deviation from corporate regulations already in place will result in immediate termination.

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The World

Remember, the best corporate memo is one that has as little impact on the reader as possible. This will reduce the likelihood of reparation, as you may come under attack (figuratively and literally) for expressing a fact or opinion that is at odds with a manager’s or CEO’s preferences.

THE WORLD THE REST OF US

The Rest of Us

The Black Market

#INFODUMP.HOPE_FOR_THE_HOPELESS.GD.NET

#INFODUMP.NOTHING_IS_PRIVATE.GD.NET

Posted By: #PieintheSky

Posted By: #Nony_Mouse

Each week, Hope for the Hopeless will be bringing you a highlight of a particular individual, company, or network that is doing their best to make life just a bit brighter for the commoner to raise awareness about those who sacrifice for the good of others. This week, we’re taking a look at the medical side of life with a free street clinic.

LOADING… Hey, I appreciate you trying to raise the awareness about the plight of inner-city med clinics, but I’m a little pressed for time. I get at least a hundred registered patients through here a day, not to mention all the burnouts trying to score a cheap high. I can give you five minutes for a quick rundown, sure. Then I’ve got to go perform. I’ve always thought of this clinic as a bit of a microcosm of the city at large. Everyone has that same desperate, hungry look when they come in, hoping maybe they’ll find something here to give them a bit of relief before they shamble back out to the streets and whatever drudgery they call a job. Poor sods. Starvation isn’t an issue thanks to the food paste vats, so I don’t get many malnutrition cases — except for snowcaine junkies who think they can live on the high alone. Pretty much everyone comes through that door sooner or later. Freelancers diced up during a job-gone-wrong. Pimps and prostitutes trying to hide various disease symptoms so they can continue to peddle their flesh wares. Families that just migrated from the wilds, wanting checkups for the kids and antibiotics for the parents. Sims wanting stims. Pro bono? You kidding? If word got around that I was doling out free advice or pills, this place would be even more packed than it already is. Free just means we will treat for creds without a corporate account. It’s all about survival, really. Day to day. One foot in front of the other. Mostly, I’m here to dull the pain and make the 24/7 slog a little more bearable.

The World

Sure it’s depressing! For some of these people, though, we’re the only hope they have. The only safe port in an otherwise stormy life. No, I don’t judge anyone. Judging others is a surefire way to hold a mirror up to yourself, eventually. Besides, I’m hardly a shining figure myself. We’re all stuck in the same ruts, trapped in the same rat race, chasing after the same credits while looking up at the elite living in their skyscrapers and wearing their fancy suits — and we hate them and wish we were them at the same time. How do I manage it? How do I keep a weary smile on my face and see the next patient, thinking maybe I can make their life just a bit more manageable? Heh. Well, when you own the key to the anti-depressants cabinet…

Black marketeers are like roaches. Toxic roaches, no less. With every one you squash, there’s a dozen more scurrying around, happy to chomp your gnads. At times, it feels like it’s hardly worth the effort to stomp ‘em. But that kind of stance doesn’t look so good for government or politics, and there’s always some effort or another to “clean up” the plexes. The black market is easy enough to wag a finger at, with people always wondering how certain gangers keep getting their hands on such nice, shiny guns and blades to point at each other. Truth is, practically everyone shops “there” sooner or later…the gangers, the gov, the mercs. Food. Drugs. Weapons. Armor. Even golemmechs are available if you know the right people to ask…

BEGIN AUDIO RECORDING… [hurried whisper] Wouldja get in here, already? Been waitin’ an hour for your sorry ass. Another five minutes I woulda wrote you off as a punker, and then where would your meetin’ deposit be, eh? Aright…now sit tight while I kick the scanner into gear. Can’t be too careful, knowhattamean? Plenty of corp porkers and gov goons tryin’ to shut me down, knowin’ I got the low down on just as good as gear as they toss out, just for less creds, capisce? So what if I don’t got no license ta sell these wares? Still works the same for you, you betcha. Aright, green light. You’re clear. So, what’re we on the looksie for today? Got a nice big crate of beamers came in just yesterday. They’ll blow the eyelids off a hundred choppers before you blink. [voice redacted] Oh, I gotcha. Betcha sure. If you’re thinkin’ of movin’ in against the Razor Runners, you’re gonna want primo firepower, with the body bulk to take a few hits in return. I got just whatcha need. Aright. I don’t show many folks this here, but since you’re a repeat customer, I’m gonna give you the special. You ain’t gonna find any of this for less than twice what I’m offerin’. Sure. Ask around. [voice redacted] Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. You ain’t gonna regret this, ami. Top of the heap gear here, I tell you, and no doubt. Packin’ this kind of spark will send those rats scurryin’ from their holes in no time. I gotta tell you, sometimes this whole buyin’ and sellin’ under the table…after a while, it makes a man think about retirin’ early, knowhattamean? I mean, here I am, like some patron saint of sales, givin’ the public a vital service and access to goods they ain’t never gonna get their hands on otherwise — and what do I get in return? Military hounds sniffin’ around at all hours, corp porkers tryin’ to wriggle in and steal my customers, gangs thinkin’ they own me just cause they stroll these streets.

END FEED.

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THE WORLD GANG LIFE

Who am I kiddin’, right? Once you’re in this business, you’re in it for life. Ain’t no goin’ back to that slow wheelin’ we call “legit.” That’s a blood’s game. There’s just somethin’ about movin’ tons of guns and gear right under the noses of the corp piggies that gets the blood pumpin’ a bit faster. And the creds sure don’t hurt none, either. None of us runners are hurtin’ anyone, neither. Leastaways, not directly, and that’s what matters for the soul in the end, capisce? I don’t care what you do with the gear once you haul it all out my door. I just wanna give you the best deal out there so you can come back in one piece and bring more business my way. Aright. Everythin’ stocked, locked, and loaded. Was there anythin’ else you wanted to add to the pile before you take off? (voice redacted) Hrm. How many of those are you needin’? What’s your budget lookin’ like?

germs who earn it can crawl out and own the world. The rest stay in quarantine where they belong. #NihilB4Zod: “Them!” Can’t wait to see if flying saucers are involved too. #2HeadedTroll: Hey, don’t joke about that. I grew up in Gray territory. They didn’t like anyone making fun of their Ascended Masters. Good way to get your knees beamed. #NihilB4Zod: Beamed? #2HeadedTroll: Well, blowtorched anyway.

CIVILIANS Guys like me have a hundred names for them but they all just mean different kinds of civilians. There’s not much of a difference except attitude between a blue plater and a crawlie, or a crat and an upright. No one wants to become a mushroom and the faceless and squawkers are too out to even realize how far behind they are. #Young Gun: I’m twenty and already got my own place and a highskipping ride. Four ladies on the string with more to come. I’ll be sipping beach drinks by the time I’m thirty.

(voice redacted) For that much, I could haul you a barge of ‘em. But I ain’t got none of it here. Don’t like mixin’ the radioactive stuff with the ammo, unnastand? Too much of a match n’ powderkeg scenario. Seein’ as you’re a special case, I’ll put you directly in touch with the guy who I get it from. For a cut, of course. Aright, here’s his Hashtag. It’s a secure channel and he won’t answer right away, but tell him I sent you and he’ll get in touch soon enough.

END AUDIO RECORDING.

Gang Life THE FOLLOWING TRANSCRIPT ADAPTED FROM THE DOCUMENTARY 3DVIZ “LIFE BELOW THE STARS” INTERVIEW SUBJECT: MANNY “ROLLER” RAMIREZ (HASHTAG: #MR_ROLLER) BEGIN TRANSCRIPT: I did a thirty year mind-stretch in the only college guys like me ever get to see. But I learned in the dub stack. That’s the one thing about Inside; you got time. When I went in I could barely read but by the time I came out I was teaching classes. Of course, with my record, regular jobs aren’t one of the top searches so you won’t see me in any classrooms out here. Too bad, because I have a lesson to teach. We’re fighting the wrong war. They want us shooting at each other and not them. That’s how they keep running the world. Who? The shareholders. The people who aren’t you and me. The ones who matter.

#2HeadedTroll: Copsuckers? I like that. The rest sounds like another geezerfest whining about how he hacked up his life. The sprawl isn’t a reservation, it’s a petri dish. Us

#Young Gun: Nope, it’s survival of the fittest and that’s me.

BLUE PLATERS; “BLOOPS” Sad to say, but blue platers are probably the happiest folks in the sprawl. Sure, they don’t have much, but who does? The lucky ones have some kind of steady work. The rest? Nano keeps them fed and in clothes, even if it’s just nanocrap instead of something ’nique. So long as they stay out of trouble they can go along. Of course, whenever bloops get a little ahead they like to have some fun. That’s where gangers come in. One way or another, gangers control the supply of fun on their turf.

CRAWLIES Crawlies are trapped in the sprawl but don’t realize it. They think they can escape if they just figure out the magic code. Most of them start by trying to polish what makes them special. The smart ones study, the jocks train, and the performers work their angles. The tough ones? No, we’re not crawlies; we go ganger and that’s a whole different thing. A few do make it out. But some folks win the lottery too. Counting on long shots isn’t the best way to live. Besides, most crawlies are tuggers. Remember that kid in your class who always knew the answer? Crawlie.

FACELESS The faceless are just things gangers own. They’re property. Some of us take better care of them than others but no one really thinks of them as people. That’s the way to handle them. Not getting sentimental or too close. Most of the faceless are hooked on something. They’ll do anything to get their hit. And the whole point of running your own turf is making sure you’re the only who can do that. Some are trafficked instead. There’s always some part of the world that’s even more of a hole than where you are. If they don’t speak the language or have papers it’s pretty easy to keep them under control. Everything I’ve heard about this

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The World

The copsuckers? Nah, they’re just another gang, on the corp payroll. I spent my ganger years rolling and my officer years inside. That’s how it’s supposed to work. There are no old gangers. By the time one of us figures out the game it’s too late to keep playing. But maybe I can push things along by showing what I’ve learned. I can give the rest of you a leg up. Use it to kick some ass.

#Snake Eyes: Kid, no one’s even gonna remember your name ten years from now.

THE WORLD GANG LIFE

Charon thing out of Europe makes me suspect there’s a lot of boys and girls over there looking for a place to start over. Once they make that decision the rest is all just tossing the dice to see where they end up. #Paladin: Scum. My sister was hooked on Grace for years before we finally got her defragged. I don’t even want to think about what filth like him made her do to get new passwords. She’s not a thing. He is. Should have kept him in on stack in VR forever.

For most, it means starting young and rising up. The gang becomes your school and you learn what matters. It’s gradual. But one day you suddenly realize you aren’t running errands and hanging around the edges listening to the stories anymore. You’re telling them. And kids are asking you if you need anything. That’s when you pick your five.

#Rubicon: Tough break for your sister but no one forced her to start flashing now did they?

MUSHROOMS A mushroom’s a walking target. Steps between shooters and eat someone else’s bullet. It’s sad, but life is like that.

SQUAWKERS There’s coops all over the sprawl. Good way to get real food like eggs or bird once they stop laying. Squawkers are like that; but people. Even in the sprawl there are some who figure out ways to make money. Maybe they provide a service or make something others want to buy. You got little businesses like that all over the place. It’s only right that you find some use for ones on your turf. #Twopennynails: My family runs a little carpentry shop and the gangers never leave us alone. They’re like termites. They eat through anything we try to build. Some days I think we should just sit around using nano like the rest of the lazy slobs. #HardCase: Sounds like someone’s squawking…

CRATS; “CORPOTRASH” Crats think the Sprawl’s a zoo but forget us animals roam around free. They’re just solid citizen types looking for some thrills; nothing wrong with that. They live in the towers, the real towers not the megablocks. But these are the lower floors and while they might have some stock options or a retirement plan they aren’t owners.

Picking your five is a tricky thing. Only a smear asks people who really want to hurt him. But you don’t want to ask anyone who likes you too much because people might think you’re trying to cheat. And you definitely don’t want to ask the guys with real weight; they’ll snap you in half. Once you have your five then it’s just a matter of taking whatever they dish on you. If you waited your time and picked the right five, you might need to see a streetdoc later but you should make it through. You just gotta show you can take a beat down. If you can, you’re a ganger. If not, straws instead of forks.

LOOKING THE PART When you join a gang you’re separating yourself from the herd. Forever. No one ever mistakes a ganger for something else. Most gangs have their own look and members go along. Sometimes it’s not hard to figure out. Hybrid packs like the Werewolves lay everything else on top of hair and fangs. The Tomatons go for the robot look so there’s lots of dermals, voxing the voicebox, and eye beams. I probably don’t have to tell you why the Gillies run the docks in a lot of port cities. Even for more normal gangs, where augmenting and chroming is a choice, body art’s still part of the Life. Gangers mark themselves the same way they mark their turf. If you don’t have both kinds of ink people look at you funny. I always liked hyper tats more than skin myself, but I have a few of the old fashioned kind too. #Burner: I can sort of understand the paint job and TAP markings but what about the sound effects? And some rig their rides to produce custom smells too. What’s that all about?

Take their money and leave them alone. Don’t do anything to scare them away or rip them off. Crats make good customers so you want them coming back.

#AngrySexyHungry: It’s part of the Life Burner. For a ganger, your rep is what matters. Whatever you have to do to get yourself known. The further your name goes the easier it is to push the border when you go rolling and tagging.

UPRIGHTS For the most part, uprights are just tourists who stay home. They know the secret handshake and have the good jobs. They don’t come to the sprawl very often and when they do they usually bring corp security along with them.

GARGOYLES; “GOYLES”

The World

Gargoyle’s aren’t really civilians. They live at the tops of the towers. Their penthouses or executive condos or manager suites have the best security money can buy. And the one thing gargoyles have dripping out of their pockets is money. If you get a chance to roll at a goyle it’s one of those “high risk/high reward” situations. A good way to get dead, or Inside. But the payday can make it worthwhile.

BECOMING A GANGER

LEARNING THE CODE Sure, gangers are outlaws. But that doesn’t mean the Life has no rules. There’s a code. If you break it hope your brothers and sister just kick you around for a bit. Or maybe kill you. That’s better than getting deleted; at least you’ll die one of the family. If you get deleted you’re just a ghost. Still around but not a ganger anymore. Some gangs have special rules or little traditions but keep these four in mind: Belong: Your gang is your real family. Loyalty isn’t enough. It’s about blood. Honor: Your gang moves together. If one ganger gives his word than all of you did.

Want to become a ganger? Prove it. That’s all it takes. Show you can carry the weight.

104

No snitching: Gang biz is other gangers and no one else. Walk Tall: Your pride is your gang’s pride.

THE WORLD GANG LIFE copyfight. The rest of us gave up and settled for some nanocrap.

TURF Your turf is your world. The more of it you control the stronger your gang. Walk your borders and look for ways to push them out. If you don’t mark your territory someone else will. That’s why you have to keep walking your borders and checking your tags. Spraying is fine, but hypertags are the ones that matter. If another gang kills your hypertags you must restore them or your borders get pushed back. That’s how a gang dies.

DEALING WITH THE MOBS For gangers, turf is everything. That’s what makes us different from the mobs. Those guys, they’re more interested in rackets or what they call “spheres of influence” than rolling and fighting over territory every day. We need the mobs and the mobs need us. They have the contacts and the skills. We control the ground. The mobs have to pay us to operate on our turf. But if you charge too much they might pull out and then you got nothing. Or sometimes they strike a deal with another gang and help them push the border right over you.

WHO’S WHO The Life is what it is. But living the Life doesn’t pay. You have to find a way to survive inside the Life. Copsuckers might not like it, but a job is a job. Artists: There’s nothing worse than bad art. When you need a fake ID or a dummied credit wafer you don’t want any mistakes. Artists live by their reputations and one bad day can ruin them. That’s why they charge so much. Artists are usually freelancers, but on good terms with the gangers who run their turf. Bookmakers: A good bookmaker takes odds on anything. They make their money by tweaking the point spread to make sure they always get a little taste no matter who wins. Some bookies run games instead of taking bets but it’s all the same. Bookies usually attach to mobs, but some freelancers work turfs. Breakers: Breakers do thieving and burglary, anything physical, but stay away from hurting people. They steal cars and sneak past security alarms. They bust open safes and anything else holding something worth having. Crackers: Crackers are mostly black hats. They bust open systems and run wild in the Global DataNet. They also fight off other crackers. You can’t really survive without some on your side. Fabbers: Not all patterns are legal. Fabbers use nano to make the forbidden. Sometimes it’s just a matter of cracking a copyright so they can churn out things you’re supposed to pay for. But real fabbing is making things that aren’t supposed to exist. Fabbers keep their nano machines hidden and blocked with suicide code.

Fences: Fences give you money for the stuff you steal. It’s never anywhere near what it’s worth legit but it’s still a payday. Of course, they can sell you what someone else stole just as easily. Sometimes they just make a handshake for a customer and back away after getting their taste. Loan Sharks: The name says it all. Sharks loan out money but don’t complain to the credit bureau if you don’t pay it back. They only kill as a last resort. The dead can’t pay their bills. But they aren’t afraid to put a deadbeat in the hospital. And friends and family are fair game if that’s what it takes to move a mark. Roughies: Most gangers are rough boys. I was. We do the hard stuff. Get physical. If someone needs to get pretzeled or dead rough boys take care of it. Squawkers usually pay without making too much trouble but that’s not the only way rough boys can earn. Some of us chase the big scores like hijacking or kidnapping. Banks are nice, but most of their money is digital not real currency, so you need to pick the right moment to knock one over. Softies: When a soft boy takes your money you thank him. They run scams and cons. They team up with other kinds of crooks to pull off a special job or sometimes even make them full time members of their crew. For soft boys though, it’s all about face to face. They look you in the eye and spin a story you want to believe. Stringers: Stingers keep people and things on a string. They’re usually pimps or madams but some are a little more exotic. I knew one guy who arranged hunting expeditions out in the wastes. Usually it was bio-horrors or old school animals but heard sometimes he had zero year’s sims or even people who’d stepped wrong. Trickers: Trickers sell what you’re not supposed to have; or want. Drugs are just the start. Some deal in weapons or nique goods like animal parts. They also get the new passwords for the different kinds of flash. Washers: Washers clean your money for a percentage. Sometimes they set you up with a legit business or a no show job to justify your income. Other times they go the hacking route and set you up with an inheritance or law suit. Whatever they do it’s all about turning dirty money clean.

AUTHORITY The people in nice suits and designer dresses aren’t the ones driving squad cars on Saturday nights. They send in Ravenlocke to recruit our own kind. Give them some power and point them towards the rest of us. The whole system works that way.

#NostroAnus: Did you like the candy that guy in the van gave you? The corps turned fabbing into a dirty word, not the fabbers. They are the only ones still waging the

#925er: That’s a good question. There is enough to go around. For the first time ever it’s not a resource problem; it’s a distribution problem.

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#Richter 9.99: Fabbers are the worst of the worst. They’ve got patterns for superbugs and all kinds of WMDs. Only a matter of time before we all get wiped out unless we take them down first. Just say no to fabbing!

It’s designed to keep us fighting each other instead of the gargoyle bastards who actually run things. We have nano, tame AI, biotech, solar power, colonies on other planets, uploaded immortals, and TAP linking us all together. Why are folks still poor?

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Yeah, sure; physically you’ll be out soon, but mentally, you’ve lived the life. If you’re some poor bastard who had multiple life sentences, you’ll experience every day.

#Think4U: It’s a laziness problem. It’s a stupid problem. It’s a whiner problem. Anyone willing to work can still get ahead. #SMRT: I wonder if he realizes that he’s saying gangers are just the same as these “copsuckers” he hates so much. #4EvR: What? Gangers are nothing like copsuckers. We have honor.

LAW ENFORCEMENT For the most part, street copsuckers are just like a case of food poisoning; nerdu happens, you deal with it, and you move on. But trust me, honest copsuckers are a lot worse than the crooked ones. They’re barely a step above getting paid in feed so those who turn down a little baksheesh now and then are looking for something else to charge their batteries. That’s not good news for anyone stuck in gangland. At least with dirty copsuckers you have a chance to make a deal. Give them a little taste of the good life and they might move on looking for another payday. Take care not to offer too much. That makes them greedy and suspicious. Always start low, but not so low they’d shoot you out of spite, and then let them work you up to an acceptable level. If they think it’s their game they can decide when they win it.

THE COURTS Sometimes there’s a bad warrant or a copsucker gets caught in a lie but that doesn’t happen often enough. See, the lawnet has judgebots programs. Not exactly real AI but close enough if you stick to legal questions. Copsuckers can access one all the time from their squad cars. If a judgebot tells them they’ve made a mistake they usually either find some way to cover their ass or just cut you lose with a promise to get you next time.

BAIL AND BOUNTY If you don’t plea out right away you can usually get bail. The judge just gives you a look and tries to figure out how much cash it would take to make sure you show up. The more likely you are to get sent Inside the higher the bail. Give a bondsman ten or twenty percent to keep and he’ll pay the rest. Assuming he thinks you’ll show up so he can get it back of course. It’s about getting friends and family to offer collateral. Stuff he can take from them if you run for it.

PRISON

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Prison ain’t like it used to be. Some asshat programmer figured out how to tweak the Real Time to Virtual Time ratio and make it so domains can extend the VR experience into days, weeks, and even years in VR, while only relatively little time passes in the real world. It’s a great way to lengthen the online experience, especially for virtual games and other environments. But if you’re serving hard time, it’s a nightmare. Correctional facilities use virtual reality almost exclusively now, storing bodies in coffin tanks while your mind serves out your sentence in a virtual prison. The standard ratio is 1 year of Virtual Time for a day of Real Time. So, your body can take a week long nap, but your mind just served 7 years of hard time, and because the virtual world can be as real as reality, you’ll feel it, amigo. Trust me.

Wrap your brain around that for a moment; living hundreds of years in mental lockdown while only a year or two passes in real life. The strain alone is enough to drive a man crazy, not to mention the near-impossibility of adjusting to a life you no longer remember, meeting people you forgot even existed, while they just saw you a couple of days ago.. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

PAROLE AND TRACKERS Once you go Inside they own you forever. Even if they let you out you’re never really free again. Most folks leave on parole and some get trackers implanted if they’re worth the bandwidth. Sometimes they put you on parole even if you served your full sentence. It’s called “mandatory supervision.” Fancy words for “you’re reamed chum.” With parole it’s all about violations. If you break one of their rules you go back Inside. That’s either more of your sentence or a year or so in VR time if you’re doing a mandatory gig. Your parole officer owns you like a whore on his string. He can violate you for pretty much any reason and it takes months to get an appeal. Still, parole is a lot better than getting a tracker implanted along your spine or your head. There’s not a lot of angles you can work with a tracker. They pulse about every two seconds and send your location back to the AI monitoring you. If you go out of your zone or near any forbidden place it knows pretty quick. Anyone who can log onto the lawnet and knows your ID code can find you without a problem. This means they can also zap you. Yeah, trackers have electrostim. Every few years there’s a scandal when some cracker figures out how to slip into the lawnet and kills somebody.

CONCLUSION What’s there to say amigo? Protect what’s yours, keep your word, and watch your click’s back, because in the end, they’re the only family you have. And stay the hell out of prison. Yeah, I know, back in tha day, going in meant something. You had cred with your gang. Now? You’ll be lucky if you even remember what they look like.

END TRANSCRIPT.

Transhumanism in 2090 #INFODUMP.THESE_STRANGE_STREETS.GD.NET Posted By: #UrbanDemigod Humanity is not what it once was, ami. We’re grown up, grown out, and growing stranger by the day. When you get on the tube to head to work in the morning, and on your left is a bioroid sporting the latest chassis, while on your right is a hybrid with hooves for hands and donkey ears that won’t stop twitching — what does that tell you? Think they aren’t human? We’ve got simulacra getting emancipated faster than the labs can churn them out in some countries. People getting their minds dubbed and downloaded into mechanical bodies with meat brains. Mutants prowl the sewers and alleys, while

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a whole new generation is being gene-tweaked for so-called perfection. Cybernetic upgrades are being implanted for every conceivable malady, while half the population spends most of their days swimming in the Deep, detached from a world they no longer want to live in. Entire megacorps — like CHIMERA or Nortec or TLI — have been built around making humanity stronger, faster, smarter, trying to rid us of physical “weaknesses.” It’s really just a matter of time before our species no longer resembles our ancestors. And then what will we be? Will we cast off humanity like a caterpillar emerging from the cocoon? Now that humanity has more colors than a rainbow, is it smart to start arguing against the many shades we’ve become? When you start destroying the easy definitions that gets people antsy. Groups like 1-4-All are eager to shout down all the recent sim subs, while others like NAC goonies are already up in arms, ready to destroy anyone that doesn’t fit their preferred human mold.

REPORTER: Would it be logical to say your opinion extends to simulacrum as well? PROTESTOR: You bet it does. Just because they’re forced into accelerated growth and implanted with memories of a false life doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have equal opportunity to chart their own path. It’s a tragedy that most sims start out not even knowing their true nature. It only makes it harder on them when the truth is revealed and lessens their chances of social integration once they move beyond corporate enslavement — if they ever even get that chance. Sadly, companies are never going to get tired of the cheap labor they produce, and see sims as disposable. That’s why we’re here, protesting. Get it, yet? REPORTER: And what about hybrids? PROTESTOR: What about them? REPORTER: I would guess you feel they deserve the same rights as sims and Neo — er — other human variations?

Where are the boundaries? Does it matter anymore? Is it worth debating, or are we trying to establish definitions for a state of existence that really isn’t relevant in this age? Check out this newsfeed I dug up as an illustration…

PROTESTOR: Hell no! Those subspecies freaks need to be quarantined before they bring back some sort of avian or pig flu epidemic and drag the rest of us down with them.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT:

PROTESTOR: You really have no clue, do you? An upper threshold may not exist yet, turning enhanced humans into a whole new species, but it’s pretty clear where the lower threshold cuts in. When someone lowers themselves to an animalistic nature, they’re deliberately divesting themselves of the virtues that make them human. Stop pretending they’re still human when at least half their genetic makeup is plugged in from something with a tail and fur. Their minds just don’t work the same.

REPORTER: We’re here in front of one of several local Nortec vat factories, where several hundred people have gathered to protest the company’s latest bioroid production. The crowd has been verbally rowdy, but so far it hasn’t elevated to anything physical, though it may just be a matter of time. Let’s see if we can get a few personal statements. Excuse me, sir? I can’t help but notice that your features lend themselves towards a NeoHuman template. Could you explain why you seem to be decrying the very company responsible for your genetic construction?

REPORTER: How does that align with your earlier statements?

REPORTER: But like you, some of them had no choice about having various animal characteristics spliced in.

PROTESTOR: Don’t you dare call me NeoHuman!

PROTESTOR: Well, sucks to be them, doesn’t it?

REPORTER: I’m sorry? But aren’t you… PROTESTOR: Oh god. Not this again. You want to judge me based on how I look? Why not go ahead and say what you’re thinking, huh? Vat baby! Tube toddler! Science experiment. REPORTER: My apologies but … PROTESTOR: Just shut up! You want a real report? Then pay attention. There’s nothing “neo” about us. The whole concept of Human 2.0 is degrading to our entire species. REPORTER: Er…how so? I thought it was meant to improve…  PROTESTOR: There you go again, spouting the same lies the global public has been brainwashed into believing! What makes me any more human than you or anyone else here? Maybe I have a stronger immune system, faster response times, or heal quickly. But those are all surface issues. None of it addresses what it really means to be human.

PROTESTOR: I think it’s pretty obvious that they’re nothing but artificial constructs. There’s nothing there that started anywhere as remotely human, and just trying to dress those bots up in fake skin and clothes won’t ever change that. REPORTER: There are those, however, who claim that androids, especially those equipped with more advanced AI constructs, are capable of achieving true sentience and emancipation. PROTESTOR: Sentient androids are a myth being perpetuated by the industrial overlords who want us to worship AIs like gods. There’s nothing there but highly advanced programming. REPORTER: What would convince you that an AI had actually achieved independent thought and deserved rights equal to your own?

PROTESTOR: What’s superior about it? From the time I was born, I was enslaved by the genetic code inflicted on me by some scientist in a lab. Did I have any choice about the person I am today, or am I nothing but the product of their tampering?

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PROTESTOR: I’d believe it when I saw it.

END TRANSCRIPT.

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REPORTER: You mean you don’t think about yourself as or want to be seen as genetically superior?

REPORTER: I see. As you seem to believe the nature of humanity resides more in the immaterial than the physical, I’d be interested in hearing your opinion on androids.

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flashburst to throw his systems dodgy, and then stick some magnetic clamps on his knees so they lock up, but aren’t too damaged to resell.”

Technology #INFODUMP.ALL_YOUR_DRONE_ARE_BELONG_TO_US.GD.NET Posted By: #Weepforthecode Few things are more fun than exposing and exploiting flaws in what authorities claim to be impenetrable defense systems and firewalls. This blog is, basically, my trophy wall. Every time I crack a data cache or hack into a “secure” base, it’s going up here. Data and tech is all that matters anymore. It’s evolving so rapidly, you can spend your whole life trying to play catch-up, much less mastering the coding necessary to gain command of the system. The more the tech connects us, the more it’s integrated with our very brains, the more it defines us. Technology isn’t just a tool anymore, some dumb hammer in a monkey’s hand. It’s the essence of existence itself. Some dread the Singularity, when technology surpasses human comprehension. I say it has already occurred, we’re just too stupid to recognize it yet. Biotech. Nanotech. Scumtech. Weaponstech. Psitech, even, if some rumors are believed. Artificial Intelligence, dubbing, and the GodNet itself. We have everything we need to elevate ourselves to another plane of existence…or thrash ourselves back down to the muck. Here’s my latest prize, ripped straight from a militia surveillance archive.

CONVERSATION RECORDED BY SECURITY DRONE IN SECTOR 4 “What about that one, Toddy? Looks like an easy-breezy.” “Are you funning me, Trix? That guy’s worthless. Wouldn’t get more than a snatch of shine off him.” “But…but he’s got a shiny bit right there. I sees it. His whole arm’s all glittery.” “That’s his coat, you stupid blitzer. You never watch the feeds? Foil-flacked clothes are all big and bombin’ these days. How could you confuse that with cyber limbs?” “Oh. Sorry. I get confused.” “Get confused and you get used in this town. I told you. Only listen to me. You want to be a chopper? You got to think like a chopper, and that means wising up to what makes good prey and what could get you shredded faster than spit. Plenty of top tech out there that’ll get us swimming in credits, but only if you’re bright enough to snap it up without getting caught.” “Righto, Toddy. You’re so smart.” “You bet it, Trix. Now take a look at this blitzer.” “The one with the snazzy holo-belt buckle?”

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“Ya. How do you size him?” “Huh. Got an eye implant and those legs look spiffed up. Walking a bit too smooth, yeah? Bet he’s got about twenty, thirty lousy thousy paid up to keep his self looking so pretty. A nice slice-n-dice.” “How’s he powered? Takedown maneuver?” “Probably gotta micro-fusion engine in each leg. Hydro-batteries would need too much maintenance. Fuel cell in the eye, with maybe a solar powered film on the lens. Hit him with a

“Not bad. But you’re missing the badge on his right arm. Hawk with the arrows in its talons. That marks him as militia. We try to tag-n-bag him, and we’ll get the nearest convoy spiking our skulls on a rust heap before we even get blood on our blades. Probably a scout, acting as bait for choppers just like us.” “Ooo.” “But that doesn’t mean he isn’t keen to keep an eye on. Might open up some other opportunities.” “Whatchu mean?” “Think it through. It isn’t just what we can snip from their skin. It’s every other bit of tick and tech they might bring along with them when they slip through our territory. How’d he get here? Walked all the way from his HQ? Maybe he’s got a chem-burning truck or bike stashed in an alley somewhere. All of them have just as good of parts to scrap and sell.” “Won’t those go all larey-blarey if you tried to knock them in?” “Sure, but would you rather snip the wires of a security system or get a plasma bolter stuck up your nose trying to drive this guy’s face into the pavement?” “Uh. The other one.” “Righto, “T”, m’love. So many people walking ‘round with brand new parts stuck in and on them that it’s easy to forget one bit of tech is as good as the next — doesn’t matter whether you ripped it off an engine or if it hung on a heartbeat. Now, if we knew where this guy was stationed, we might turn his bait-jaunt against them. We get some of the gang to rustle his feathers, and get most of his chums gunning this way, which would leave their station guarded by just a few poor saps. Of course, if we’re unlucky, they’d have a borg sitting around, just waiting to take off a few heads with a machine gun on one arm and a laser katana on the other.” “Like the kind in the movies? You ever knock knuckles with a borg?” “You bet. See this scar?” “Ooo.” “Back a few years, before I was running with this crew, me and a few gutter geeks got hired to take out a few power plants down near the market district. Plan was, we flip the switch on their cold fusion reactors, turn off the lights for a bit, and our employers would scrape the jewelry stores clean and we’d split the profits. Problem was, the first plant we hit had a borg guarding the central control room and he aped out on us the moment we came into sensor range.” “Did you survive?” “Did I…don’t make me regret sponsoring you, Trix.” “Aw, I’m just kidding. I bet you pulled out some BFG and blasted its ass to dust.” “Nope. I shoved one of my mates in front and ran like hell. Run away to live a day. Still got clipped on the way out.”

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“What? But you told me—”

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“Hush up and check out this biddy. Think we might have a fine specimen for your first take and rake.” “But Toddy—” “This is primo prey, and don’t doubt it. That’s synth-skin over her entire upper body, or I’m a rat chimera. Those nodes behind the ears are probably from brainmeat upgrades. We take her down and you’ll be golden with the gang.” “Yeah but—” “Come on, Trix. Stop staring around and focus. This here’s your best chance.” “Hoyo, Toddy. What about that speck right over our heads? Wouldn’t it make for an easier target, since it’s just hangin’ there?”

document was laced with enough disinformation to make me wonder whether or not he’s an agent for Psi-Division. Case in Point: Quantum Dimensional Crack Theory, or as I like to call it: Quantum Crackpot Theory. What Smoke didn’t tell you in Zeeks Expanded was the theory that zeeks can see the other 7 (there are allegedly 10) dimensions and somehow manipulate them is just that; a theory. Hell, I’m a zeek and I can barely stomach seeing the shit in this ‘dimension’. I think I’d go crazy if I was able to see — much less manipulate — 7 others. I don’t get any special insights into the building blocks of reality when I read someone’s mind. Mostly I’m just disgusted. Seriously, the sheer amount of crap floating around in people’s minds makes me want to go build a house on top of a mountain and stay there for the rest of my life. But I digress.

“Huh? What speck? Oh shi—”

Zeeks in 2090 #INFOSOURCE #XRAYGUN.TAG.DONATE LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET/ZEEKS FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/ZEEKS DATAORIGIN:TRUTHISOUTTHERE.ETP.PDRK.14TN.TPN.SWW.GNET Posted By: #XRAYGUN This data dump is for all you ignorant S.O.B’s out there who think zeeks are freakish monsters sent from Satan to eat your kids and suck out your soul. You’re being lied to. The ‘powers that be’ are spreading disinformation about us, ratcheting up fear through false flag events like Madrid so they can enact global laws restricting our freedoms. Hell, if you’re living anywhere in the North American Coalition you’ve already seen the opening salvos in this infowar; PSA’s (that’s Public Service Announcements) notifying the flock of violent crimes allegedly involving zeeks, religious anti-zeek propaganda citing popular Old Testament verses about witches, and even #INFOloads about the mythic “Zgene”(Zeek Gene) suppression drugs flood the Mediaweb on a daily basis, and this is just the beginning, folks. It’s important that you know the truth before it’s too late; for us at least, since you normies out there might be next. Think it can’t happen? It did 160 years ago, during WWII. “First they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” ~Martin Neimoller.

Likewise, Super String Theory is also just a theory. Maybe #Smoke_and_Mirrors thought the “theory” part was self-evident, or maybe he felt that if he threw out some technical terms and strung them together in a semi-coherent manner, it would make his analysis seem more legitimate; I’m not sure, but I do know this: The notion that reality is breaking down at a quantum level because zeeks can allegedly manipulate quantum particles is little more than rank disinformation; hokum crafted to make you believe zeeks are going to destroy the universe. This is how the powers-that-be make you afraid, folks. Sure, we know that the Higs-Bosun, Quarks, and Neutrons exist. But these arm-chair scientists use these terms to craft their fiction, hoping to scare the hell out of everyday bloopers like you and I into believing whatever they want us to believe. Now, #Smoke_and_Mirrors didn’t come right out and say zeeks were going to destroy reality, but that’s the impression people get when they are taught his Quantum Crackpot Theory. In the past two years, I’ve lectured on zeeks and zeek culture all over the world. I’ve answered questions and talked with people afterwards, and the overwhelming majority of people actually believe these lies. Folks, the universe is not going to break apart just because a zeek moves a glass of water with his mind. #Wolfson also missed the mark. Sure, he discussed omega wave activity (a combination of Theta and Gamma waves), which are measurable and extremely high in some places of the world. Whether omega waves are directly tied to zeeks is debatable, but to his credit, #Wolfson didn’t speculate as to why omega waves exist, nor did he lead his audience to believe zeeks can destroy the planet. The truth of the matter is, nobody definitively knows how zeeks can do the wild and crazy things we do. In the next section, I offer my own theory as to why we zeeks do what we do, but I must stress that it’s just that: a theory.

History says you’re next, so I’m speaking out now.

Draw your own conclusions.

#Smoke_and_Mirrors released a data file called “Zeeks Expanded” which attempts to explain who we are and what we can do — sort of. The DATfile was written through the lens of science, and while I’m not saying #Smoke_and_Mirrors got everything wrong, he certainly didn’t get everything right. The

ORIGINS OF MY SPECIES There’s an old Jewish saying; “Ask two Jews for their opinion on a matter, and you’ll get three answers.” That’s how it is when you ask zeeks how our “powers” work. I hesitate to define our abilities as powers, however. The moniker gives rise to

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PREVIOUS STUDIES

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comparisons to late 20th/early 21st century comic books and movies that were wildly popular before the advent of the Deep and HR entertainment, but I guess the term is adequate for this discussion. Though I want to clarify something. There is nothing mystical here. The same way your brain harnesses energy then spends it calculating the vast set of equations required to catch a thrown ball then moves your arm to catch it is the same process a zeek uses, just to throw the ball without use of the arm. So you catching a ball is as much a power as a zeek has, just with a different effect. The simplest answer to the “how” question with regards to zeek abilities, is this: As cybertechnology — specifically that technology which interfaces with our brains — becomes more advanced, we are able to make use of the natural potential of our brains in ways we never thought possible; like moving things with our minds, and causing objects — and even people — to spontaneously combust. The myth that humans can only access 10% of our brains is just that — a myth. Quantum-level CAT scans, MRI’s and other technologies clearly show that humans regularly access and use all parts of their brains. What I’m talking about is different.

CYBERTECHNOLOGY AND THE MIND Some of you may not know this but cybertechnology had its beginnings way back in ancient Greece, if only as a concept. In the 1800’s, inventors even submitted blueprints and schematics for clockwork limbs, but the field of advanced prosthetics really took off in the late 20th century. At the dawn of the 21st century, if you were an amputee, you were given a fake replacement called a prosthetic. The prosthetic was largely cosmetic and only marginally functional in the sense that amputees regained very little of their previous mobility. For example, if you lost a leg, the prosthetic would support your weight and allow you to walk again, but participation in highly competitive sporting events with non-amputees was difficult at best. I’m not talking about the men, women, and youth who competed in events such as the Special Olympics. There’s a reason why we don’t have the Special Olympics anymore, and that’s largely due to cybertechnology and genetic research. Now back to the topic at hand.

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In the early part of this century, engineers started creating prosthetics that were leaps and bounds ahead of anything that had been produced in the previous two decades. Miniaturization and robotics technologies produced prosthetics able to replicate even the most delicate motor functions, like picking up a potato chip without crushing it, holding a glass of wine without dropping it, or even shaving one’s face. What made this technology so amazing was the fact that — back then — prosthetics were non-invasive. Prosthetics were attached to the stump of the limb or hand they replaced via straps. Once attached, the prosthetic interfaced with the stump on the most basic of levels through the use of touch technology, which responded to muscle memory and signals from the central nervous system, all of which are controlled by the brain. Basically, people simply thought about what they wanted to do and it happened just as if they had a real arm.

Brain scans of amputees with this technology showed a dramatic increase in brain activity, or Omega Waves, as Wolfson calls ‘em. There were even instances where the subjects had flashes of insight most would define as precognition. Smoke screams about this, and his infodump talks about the ‘unnatural’ act of precognition…but we already know that quantum analysis of a small closed system can predict outcomes with 100% accuracy. We also know that the human brain is an advanced computer capable of solving physics equations faster than anything we can build. Those two things seem to point to explaining even precog’s abilities. In extremely rare cases (there are only 5 documented cases before 2036) subjects displayed unprecedented physical prowess. In one example, while going through a particularly violent episode of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a double arm amputee punched two holes in a concrete wall as he tried to escape what he thought was a North Korean detention facility. Both of the prosthetics were destroyed in the act, but that doesn’t change the results.

THE ADVENT OF STRAP After STRAP (Surgical Tendril Remote Access Processor) rolled out in 2036, instances of psychic phenomena increased in both regularity and strength. People like to talk about Hernando Vasquez as if he’s this huge, mega powerful psion, but the truth is, he isn’t. Vasquez is actually fairly low on the totem pole in terms of raw ability. Case in Point: Project Waking Mind.

PROJECT WAKING MIND Back in 2038 (more commonly known as “The Good Year”) there was this guy by the name of Ray Brown. As far as I can tell, the documentation regarding Ray’s abilities, with the exception of the material I possess, has since been scrubbed from every public resource in the Deep, but I’ve seen the data, seen the footage of what this guy could do, and I’m telling you, Ray was a monster, both metaphorically and psychologically speaking. Like Vasquez, Ray Brown could easily cause objects and even people to spontaneously combust. He could move anything from the size of a spoon to a 10 ton block of concrete. I saw video of what the man could do during his escape from the joint NSA (National Security Agency) and DHS (Deptartment of Homeland Security) training facility outside of Nome, Alaska, and let me tell you; it wasn’t pretty. I won’t go into the gory details, but suffice it to say very few people left the facility alive. After nearly two years of research, I’ve come across hard data about what was going on up there in Nome. The training facility was a cover for a super-secret program codenamed #Waking Mind. According to the data, Project Waking Mind was another one of those super-soldier programs, like MKULTRA, or Joseph Stalin’s attempts to create better laborers by combining the DNA of Apes and Humans, the KGB’s programs involving psychics like Nina Kulagina, etc. Of course, it’s well known that Adolf Hitler was trying to create a master race through myriad programs such as the Lebensborn; a social welfare program which was really an attempt to create a pure race through selective breeding. Hitler’s mad scientists — specifically Otto Ranke — also created a drug called D-IX. D-IX was a cocktail

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of Cocaine, Oxycodone and Pervitin, a highly addictive methamphetamine more commonly known as Crystal Meth. It’s estimated that over 200 million of these pills were handed out to German soldiers from 1938 to 1945.

subjects displayed the ability to cause massive damage to bone, muscle tissue and internal organs of laboratory animals. Of the 50 participants, only 17 made it to stage two. Not much is known about the fates of the 33 individuals who washed out. Some speculate they were killed while others speculate they were sent back to their lives, but nobody knows for sure. I’ve managed to find the families of two of the participants, but if they know anything, they aren’t talking.

#Brainscanningfool: Yeah, Hitler was a bastard, but he’s not the only one who did this sort of thing. Word is, the Mandarinate’s creating super-psions using the same types of drugs. #ClosetHeretic: They’re doing more than that, Brain. The test subjects for the Mandarinate’s psychic program are full-on cyborgs They say the only fleshy parts those abominations have are brains.

#Mortis: Look into project #Methuselah. You might find some of the answers you’re looking for.

STAGE TWO

#Magpie: That’s sick!

The longest phase of the program, Stage Two, saw major upgrades to the PSTRAP along with a rigid training regimen devoted to increase the subject’s control of their abilities, as well as their aptitude. The administrators observed a substantial increase in dopamine throughout the neural pathways of the brain, especially in the Nucleus Accumbens, the Frontal Cortex, and a few other areas of the brain. Yeah, I know, this is pretty technical stuff. Basically, their brains kicked into overdrive, and this produced some interesting and sometimes vicious side effects. Some of the subjects became violently ill, while others experienced short bursts of euphoria immediately followed by long bouts of fatigue, especially when they failed to trigger their abilities.

Project Waking Mind took individuals who had previously demonstrated psychic ability and attempted to improve their raw power. The group consisted of 50 participants. These individuals were fitted with a modified and dangerously invasive version of STRAP called the PSTRAP (Psychic Surgical Tendril Remote Access Processor), pumped with mind-altering and memory enhancing drugs like LSD and Ginkgo BalobaVI (A synthetic drug also known as GB4), and then sent into virtual reality to play in online combat simulators more commonly known as MMORPGS. The project consisted of three stages, and lasted ten years.

STAGE ONE

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A couple of subjects experienced heightened resistance to disease and faster healing. Perhaps the most disturbing of all the data were logs referring to instances where a handful of individuals suffered complete psychotic breaks and went on rampages through the facility until they were put down. By the time Stage Two came to a close, only 8 people remained.

In stage one; the scientists bombarded the subjects’ senses with virtual reality, making them play fantasy characters able to do incredible — albeit imaginary — feats of magic. After playing these games, the subjects were brought back to reality and told to try and duplicate their characters’ abilities. After three weeks, some of the test subjects were able to reproduce a variety of effects, including pyrokinesis, telekinetic ability, etc. In some cases — such as with Ray Brown — the

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STAGE THREE By the time Stage Three started, the remaining individuals demonstrated consistent command of their abilities, and an order from someone known only as Sage directed the trainers to begin prepping the subjects for field operations. Now this is where everything appears to fall apart, folks. It’s not clear how long this phase of the training lasted, but at some point the administrators began to fear the trainees; especially Ray Brown. One administrator wrote copious entries on Ray, claiming the man had begun to withdraw from the rest of the team. On numerous occasions, staff psychologists observed Ray exhibiting symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. Additionally, many of the staff reported fitful sleep and disturbing dreams about the man. It was almost as if he was invading their mind. Finally, Ray was restrained for a particularly violent outburst that put a security guard in a coma. Protocol dictated only one response for such outbursts, but apparently Sage countermanded the kill order and directed the staff to release Brown and send him back to the facility. That night, Ray Brown broke out.

AFTERMATH After-incident reports claim the rest of the psions died at the facility. Some of the (non-test subjects) survivors I’ve talked with deny it, claiming Ray was just the scapegoat; all of the test subjects were responsible for the destruction and death of that night. Some have even said that a number of the PSTRAP’s and some of the psychotropic drugs turned up missing, but I haven’t been able to independently verify their stories.

SUMMATION So, what’s the point of this little story? As I stated before, there are some truly formidable zeeks running around in the world, boys and girls. More importantly, neural implants like the PSTRAP clearly stimulate these abilities — and that technology is over fifty years old! STRAP was never as invasive as the Tendril Access Processor. Now, wrap your brain around this. Since the release of the TAP, the number of confirmed, documented psychics has skyrocketed to such an extent that the United Nations has officially recognized them as a minority ethnic group. Is it just a coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t believe in coincidence.

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THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ZEEKS Have you ever kept a secret from someone because you weren’t sure how they’d react if you told them? Have you ever felt frustrated because some talking head on a MediaProg was spouting nonsense about a subject you’re thoroughly familiar with? If so, then you might have some understanding of what it’s like to be a zeek. This section’s for those of you who want to know the truth about what it’s like for us out there in this crazy world.

MISCONCEPTIONS There’s a ton of crap about psions floating around there, and probably the best way for me to illustrate this is to tell you what happened to me.

MY STORY My mom used to tell me, “A little bit of ignorance spreads a lot of hate.” I don’t think I really understood her until the first of my abilities manifested in Denver when I was 16. We’d made a pit stop in our mega block’s “EAT OR DIE!” convenience store to grab some frozen burritos and a couple of “Turbo Splash!” Sodas when my mom slipped on a wet spot on the floor. Time seemed to slow down. I remember seeing the drinks fly out of her hand as she reached out for something to break her fall. I couldn’t tell you exactly what I did or even how I did it. I just remember a surge of adrenaline shooting through my heart as I reached out to help her. The next thing I know, the drinks were hovering in midair — and so was my mom. I’d like to say I saved the day and got a free NUTRIbar or something, but the truth is the experience freaked me out, and I lost control. A few seconds later, the ability faded and everything — including my mom — came crashing to the floor, creating a big mess. What’s worse, a security feed caught the whole thing in High definition 3-D mapping cameras. But we wouldn’t find that out until later. There were others in the store who saw it. They were just as confused and scared as mom and I were, but some customers were angry, shouting obscenities, and telling us to get out of the store, which we did. By the time we got to the cube we called home, the word had spread throughout the mega block. The footage of the incident was going viral throughout the block’s cloud, and by morning I found my mug plastered throughout the Deep. I didn’t think much about all the publicity at first — mom kept me from watching most of it. But when I went to our block’s learning center (what a joke) I quickly found I had become the center of attention… and not in a good way. Just like the day before, people were calling me names. Others started walking in the other direction when they saw me. Some kids even tried to pick fights. I was used to that sort of thing though. There are no pacifists in learning facilities. You either fight, or get beaten into submission. When I got to my locker, I found that someone hyper-tagged it with the phrase “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live.” The tag came complete with screams, smoke and a sick smell that made me want to vomit as I watched myself being burned alive, tied to a stake. That was when I got scared. I don’t even know how I did what I did, but it’s not like I was trying to kill anyone. The entire incident lasted less than 10 seconds, and yet people were acting as if I’d gone on some kind of mad rampage through the store. I was just trying to help my mom, but these people didn’t see it that way. Mom’s employers found out about it and terminated her contract with the corp. We ended up getting kicked out of the mega block, and had to squat in parts of Denver I never even knew existed, like the Cherry Creek Path of Tears, and do things to survive that I won’t share with you. It was a long time before things became relatively stable — for a little while, at least. But as with everything, there were consequences. We decided to leave the North American Coalition. Mom applied for citizenship in a number of nations, most of whom

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rejected our applications because of my “infamy.” Ironically, I had been placed on a watch list by the NAC government. It seems they didn’t want me and others like me, but neither would they let us leave. That’s another misconception about government, especially the North American Coalition. Governments across the world like to shout down zeeks in the media to appease the masses and institute programs to monitor our activities, but the truth is, they want to use us. About six months after we were kicked out of the mega block, a couple of suits tracked us down and tried to get me to come to one of their indoctrination centers. When I told them no, they got violent. Before I knew it, I’d flung them against the wall so hard their skulls cracked. That’s when we realized we had to get the hell out of Denver — by any means necessary — before more suits came after us. Lucky for us (or perhaps not-so-lucky, as you’ll see later), there are underground organizations out there willing to help people get out of countries who won’t let them leave…for a price. Of course I’m talking about the #Zeek Railroad. This is something else people seem to misunderstand. Terms like “zeek railroad” have a high-minded connotation. That’s because back in the years before the first Civil War, the underground railroad was a way for slaves to escape to freedom. So, when people hear about the #Zeek Railroad they think it’s the same thing. Hell, there are even MediaProgs about the subject that reinforce this idealized fantasy. They feed people with this notion that the railroad is some righteous activist network trying to help psions and other undesirables escape dangerous situations for purely altruistic purposes. The truth is it’s a shadow business, promising hope but delivering misery. Most people might be surprised to find out that if you can’t pay the fee — and few can — you have to work it off. That’s right, ami; I’m talking about slavery. The railroad is nothing more than a human trafficking network. Sure, they get you where you want to go — in our case that was Chicago — but if you’re not flush with cred, they’ll work you until they have no more use for you, and they can find uses till the day you die. That’s what happened to my mom. Now here’s another, somewhat related, misconception. Most sprawlers think slavery always means women get pimped out as hookers, or dancers in some shady night club. I love my mother, but she was never society’s picture of a beautiful woman. She was, however, very smart, and the bastards who got her killed knew it. They had my mother (and others) hacking corporate networks to divert funds into personal accounts or steal secrets for the infobrokers to sell on the streets. Those sick, greedy fucks made my mother hack a network way above her pay grade, and she got brain-fried for it.

Obviously, that’s a lot to digest. I’m certainly not asking for any sympathy. The only reason I shared so much of my life with you is because, by sharing, I hope to give you some insight into what life is like for many psions living in the world today. We’re not all bad. Sure, I did some things back then I’m not proud of, abused these abilities, but I was naïve, just like some of you people out there. Nothing in this world is as it seems.

RELIGION AND ZEEKS As I mentioned at the beginning on this file, fundamentalist sects in every one of the major monotheistic religions of the world see us as abominations. Now, re-read that statement. Notice I said fundamentalist sects, not the average believer. Truth be told, when it comes to religion (and this is manifest in all major religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism), there are more sympathizers to our plight than there are zealots who want to see us caged, or worse. The problem is, you hardly ever hear about the good ones. All-too-often, the most vocal representatives of any given belief system are the most radical. As a side note, when it comes to choosing whether or not to cover what I consider thinly veiled hate speech or messages of tolerance, the media machine will always default to hate speech. It’s what people want to see, or at least, that’s what the media claim people want to see. I disagree, but I’ll get into that later. In nations like the North American Coalition, parts of the Great Lakes Union, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Russia and Brasilia, it’s a sad fact that there are bigots in positions of power. This is why you’re seeing new, draconic legislation concerning zeeks introduced in the North American Coalition congress, and the concurrent creation of organizations like Psi-Division devoted to tracking us down. Something’s coming, folks, and it ain’t good. #BillyBlackEyes: Truth! If you’re a zeek, you should get the hell out of the NAC. Things are only going to get worse. #Mortis: @Billy: Sounds like you have some information. Care to share? #BillyBlackEyes: I’m still doing the legwoirk. I don’t want to post anything definitive until I’ve done my due diligence.

As I hinted at in my own experiences in Denver, there is a lot of fear mongering and disinformation spreading through that nation. But there are also very kind people of faith living in the North American Coalition. I can’t tell you how many times professing Christians offered to help us with food, credits, clothing, and shelter; and this is after realizing who and what I was, which brings me to the next thing I want to clear up.

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As for me? The moment we got to Chicago, they hooked me up with someone who trained me to control my abilities and taught me some new tricks, like peeking into people’s brains. Of course, they didn’t do this out of the kindness of their hearts. Like my mom, I was expected to work off my debt. They had me working the streets, mind-raping people for any kind of information that might get them some credits. I was feeding the sharks addresses, dirty secrets, you name it. If I could scan a surface thought, I’d pass it on to someone who

would use it to blackmail or scam the mark. I hated it, but I thought that eventually we’d work our way clear of the debt and finally be free. When mom died, I realized that sooner or later I’d end up like her. So I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.

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HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

ZEEKS IN THE MEDIA

I think this is probably the subject which scares people the most — the fact that, unless you see us do something obviously out-of-the ordinary with our abilities, you’ll never know we are psions. Remember, I mentioned using my ability to read people’s minds nearly every day I spent serving those bastards who got my mom killed. Not one time did I ever openly reveal I was psychic. My marks went on with their lives blissfully ignorant of what I did to them.

As I mentioned above, there are those of us who like to flaunt our abilities. You know the people I’m talking about; professional fortune tellers, telepaths, empaths, and mediums; some of whom have their own media channels. They can be seen plying their trades in just about every city on the planet. As Wolfson discussed in Zeeks: Psionics in 2088, Bollywood makes extensive use of psions in movies.

Now, as disconcerting as what I just said is, I challenge you to look at it from a different angle. Since we can look like you, we can be anywhere without you realizing it. How many of you have actually seen or even felt a zeek using his or her abilities? I’d hazard a guess that perhaps 1 in 30,000 people have witnessed such events. At the risk of sounding contrary, I should note that there are people who just don’t give a damn whether you know they’re zeeks or not. You’ll find more open zeeks working in metaphysical types of jobs such as street readers, plying their trade to tell people their fortunes, while others find work in a variety or respectable professions. You’ll find the occasional zeek doing odd construction jobs, enhancing their physical prowess to lift heavy objects, and even lift steel girders with their minds. But as I mentioned above, most of us prefer to keep a low profile. We take all kinds of jobs. Some of the more popular jobs are sales, where readers and empaths can use their abilities to help people make decisions about a purchase, transportation, where clairvoyants can anticipate traffic jams and avoid them. Given the right ability and the aptitude, we can apply our powers to our jobs to excel.

ZEEK CULTURE The title for this section is something of a misnomer, as Zeeks don’t have any “culture” to speak of. We’re just like you. We like the same things you like, hate the same things you hate (unless you hate us, of course), eat, drink, bleed…Ok, I’m starting to wax Shakespearian here, but I think you get the point.

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Our culture is largely based on our ethnic background, where we live, and the kinds of things we’re interested in. Sound familiar? We come from all walks of life. I’ve seen hybrids with our abilities, Human 2.0s who are psions — even some Sims have manifested psionic powers, though they are rare. I’ve never seen an android with psionic abilities, and I don’t expect to. We use technology. Many of us have a variety of cybernetics installed in our bodies. We ghost in the Deep, and some of us even know how to hack it. In fact, every single zeek I’ve ever met has a Tendril Access Processor. There could very well be unplugged zeeks too, but if there are any, I haven’t met them. One thing worth mentioning is that in my experience, I’ve never been able to use my abilities in The Deep, which is a little ironic. As I discussed at the beginning of this DATfile, it’s my belief that the TAP actually stimulates our ability to do the things we do. Yet whenever I try to read another avatar’s thoughts, I get nothing. I can’t even lift a digital table with my thoughts. Now, there might be those of your out there who have had different experiences, and if you’re reading this, I’d love to pick your brains. Hmm, that might be a bad figure of speech.

Of all zeeks, these are the men and women I have the biggest issue with. It’s not that they’re trying to make a living using their abilities; everyone needs to eat. But, whether they understand it or not, these people are helping to reinforce many negative stereotypes associated with psions. People see these “TV” psions using their powers in wild and crazy ways that just aren’t accurate. Zeeks don’t shoot red beams of energy from their fingertips, or send fireballs crashing into trucks. We don’t live in a virtual reality fantasy world filled with goblins and dragons, folks. Zeeks generally don’t wear robes and pointy hats, or colorful spandex suits with capes and masks. At least, no more of our population does than can be found in the normie population. No accounting for taste. Our powers are subtle. Sure, telekinesis is an obvious manifestation, so there are some exceptions. And yeah, I know, the video of Madrid showed Fernando Vasquez shooting fire from his hands, but — and this is the truth — that footage was doctored, if not fabricated entirely. No pyrokinetic I’ve ever seen can replicate what Vasquez allegedly did in that embassy. That’s not to say that there aren’t powerful zeeks. I’ve already shown that. However, the zeeks I’ve seen who are pyrokinetic cause objects to burst into flames by agitating the molecules of an object until it spontaneously combusts. They use friction, not fiction hero powers. Even Ray Brown, with all of his terrifying power, couldn’t do the things you see on Bollywood shows like Agent X and Night Phantoms. But that’s what people believe. Bollywood’s production studios make heavy use of CGI, HRGI, and AIGI effects to sell their shows. It’s about ratings, not reality. Here’s another thing about Bollywood. Have you ever noticed that the overwhelming majority of zeeks in those shows are portrayed as villains? There’s a reason for that, folks. Look back at entertainment in any war time. The ‘bad guys’ are always the nationality or type that the producing country is at war with. Remember the war on drugs version 2? All those shows like Puerto Rico Vice and Hybrid Cops; K-9 bust units. Yeah.

THE ART OF THE SPIN It’s a fact that many governments use the media to control the information sprawlers are exposed to. Everything from foreign and domestic news to stock reports and crime stats are spun to manufacture truth. Take the economic crisis in the Eurasian Union, for example. We’re being told that Charon is just a virus with a localized effect; that it hasn’t had any real impact in North American and South American nations yet.

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If that’s the case, why are living costs in North American cities like Denver, Chicago, Dallas, and St. Louis skyrocketing? Why has there been a staggering 30% drop in employment in the NAC over the past two years, especially in the corporate sectors? Why are banks in Atlantica, the North American Coalition, and the Great Lakes Union folding? Why has Stopwatch been making more and more raids on suspected E-terrorist safe houses and megacorporations across the continent? There’s more to these operations than meets the eye, kiddies. Similarly, we’re seeing a disinformation campaign being waged against psions. Not only do the powers that be have major news outlets and talk shows taking an overwhelmingly negative view of zeeks, but they also have global and intersolar entertainment networks and movie studios under their thumbs. In case you were wondering, keeping these people under control is simpler than it seems. If you work in a domestic news outlet, you either play ball, or you get replaced by someone who will. If you’re a foreign movie studio or entertainment network, the governments of the countries or colonies where you want to sell your MEDIAfiles and related swag ban your material until the content conforms to what they want their populace to see. Put simply: Producers either make the content governments want them to make, or sell the MEDIAfiles elsewhere. The prospect of losing millions and perhaps BILLIONS of potential customers is enough to get them on board with the program really fast. But this sort of thing isn’t new. You can see evidence of this kind of misinformation as far back as the first and second world wars. This time, though, it’s not Jews, homosexuals, communists, and other undesirables they’re trying to demonize; it’s zeeks, hybrids, and simulacra. It’s largely because of this hard-core propaganda, that zeeks have begun creating their own enclaves. The enemy you can’t see has always been one of the easiest for governments and corps to sell. It is an enemy you can’t ever beat, and the merchandising and marketing can generate revenues for decades. The war on zeeks is doing the same thing. Hate groups have popped up everywhere, bringing lobby money to governments and franchising opportunities to the corps.

XENOPHOBIC MOVEMENTS I know some of you are reading this and wondering why I have to keep bringing up the “war” terminology. “Really, #xraygun? If you want to change public perception of zeeks, can’t you take more peaceful stance? Talking about fighting is just going to escalate the confrontation, isn’t it? Make it a self-fulfilling prophesy?”

No. Not a single one of you would, and those who claim they would are either suicidal, liars, or just too stupid to live. When an individual or group makes it clear their entire purpose for existing is to wipe you and anyone like you out

But you can likely think of several such groups off the top of your head, as I can:

LUCIDITI For practically the whole of current media to present such a united front against zeeks, someone has to be sitting at the top of the heap. The head of a massive octopus that squirms its various tentacles into every MediaProg until the whole system sits within its grip. I’d offer up LUCIDITI as the octopus king of misinformation, as it were. They’re the majordomo puppeteer of global zeek perception, pulling all strings necessary to make sure their chosen message is the dominant one. I talked about some of their techniques earlier, how they bully and bribe and spread propaganda like manure on the fertile field of your mind. Those tactics are never going to grow old for them. But they’re owned by Cerus Media, you might say. They’re under the corporate thumb like everyone else. How are they able to do what you’re claiming they can? Check again, ami. LUCIDITI isn’t owned by Cerus like most people think. If you dig deep enough into the maze of legal fine print, you’ll realize it’s a partner media corporation. Hand-in-hand. While they may look like an independent org on the surface, the fact is they have access to contacts in every major MediaWeb pipe. It’s also a bit more evident if you take the time to analyze content and broadcast patterns. Nine times out of ten, LUCIDITI is the first to leak a supposedly confidential government or lab report to other channels, or get footage of out-of-control zeeks going viral on the Deep. They’re the pack leader, and the only time they aren’t associated with the latest swath of anti-zeek propaganda is when they don’t want you to know it came from them. I guarantee it.

THE HUMANAUTS To the Humanauts, all the world’s a lab and zeeks are the grime and dust spoiling their pure, sanitary environment. Their basic philosophy is that psychic manifestations are not actually any sort of evolution of human nature, but a corruption of it. In other words, a zeek mind is a broken mind that needs fixing or, preferably, elimination. We’re errors in the genetic code of life or, worse yet, viruses that disrupt the system as it was intended to be. And the longer we’re allowed to exist, the more our nasty, corroded genes are going to get spread through the populace and ruin all that lovely human potential. We’re a cancer of the mind, and the only way to treat cancer is to cure or surgically remove it before it infects and devours the healthy flesh. Their reps have all sorts of colorful scientific analogies that they enjoy applying to us.

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Look, ami, I’m all for desiring peace as an ideal, but that concept crumbles in the face of reality. If you were in the military (and maybe you are part of one militia or another), would it make sense to look at all the other forces amassing against you and say, “Maybe if we toss our weapons aside and try to give them all a big, lovey hug, things will work out”?

of existence, you do whatever it takes to survive. In this case, one of the primary gathering pre-war Intel. As Sun Tzu, the famous strategy genius, once said, “Know thy enemy.” When I mention enemies, I’m not talking about nebulous mobs that come together out of random events, or some anonymous suit smoking cigars in his corp office. Specific, public groups are out there arming themselves right now, getting organized, recruiting believers just to see zeeks wiped off the planet once and for all. They hate us that much. And they’ve turned that hate, that xenophobia into a social disease that infects and informs all they do. It’s rather sad, if you think about it, to dedicate your life to an irrational fear.

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They’re often the ones behind the latest “scientific” discovery or report that shows how zeek abilities are causing sterility in the general population, causing people to develop fatal diseases, or other such nonsense. Their scientists are the ones brought in as media consultants by LUCIDITI, giving their colorful and entirely inaccurate interpretations of how zeek abilities should appear in shows and movies. And they’re the ones searching for a cure for psionic abilities, a way to isolate and switch off the zeek gene, or keep us from reproducing. I’ve been unable to confirm the rumors of their heading up a program with the intent of developing an injection or even an airborne virus that targets zeeks alone…but it wouldn’t surprise me.

PILLARS OF SALT I can’t get over how much religious groups can be ignorant of their own holy texts. This militant sect derives their name from the Bible story about Sodom and Gomorrah, and they love to talk about how salt is an agent of purification and how God brought fiery wrath on this sinful set of towns. Thing is, in its true context, the actual pillar of salt came about from one of God’s own people disobeying one of his direct orders and being punished for it. The mental dissonance boggles me. But you think they’re going to change their minds if I try to argue that while they’re tying me to the stake? To these Pillars, zeeks are sin incarnate. We are a fatal flaw within reality that is keeping God’s Kingdom from entering this world.

There are lots of names for zeeks in the Pillars’ handbook — witches, sorcerers, demons, abominations, etc. And they love taking their techniques for dealing with us straight out of their scriptures, everything from burning at the stake to crucifixion to pounding spikes through skulls (look it up). If someone is even suspected of being a zeek and falls into their hands, they’re basically a lost cause. Since we look just like you (remember?), the only way to determine if someone is a zeek is either a display of powers or a personal confession. Ever since the Salem Witch Trials, the church has been good at torturing confessions out of those later proven entirely innocent. And think about this…if a God exists and he didn’t want humans to have this sort of ability, why’d he make our brains capable of them? Why not just design us so we couldn’t ever achieve this sort of thing in the first place? Did their God mess up somehow? Take the human race out of the oven a bit too underbaked? These groups represent just a tiny sampling of the many out there, growing larger every day. Looks a bit cloudy on the horizon for zeeks, doesn’t it, ami? Fortunately, not even I, jaded as I may be, am entirely hopeless — and for good reason. When one side tries to tip the scales until they topple, there will be those who fight to restore the balance. When sickening intolerance begins to be the norm, there will be those who will die for truth and freedom.

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Hey, none of us ever asked to be considered that big of a deal. Leave us out of it.

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ACTIVIST MOVEMENTS See, it’s not enough to just “know they enemy.” In fact, that quote is a butchered version of the full one Sun Tzu originated, which translates closer to: “if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.”

attempting to overturn unfortunate standards that currently exist, such as NAC’s hideously anti-zeek regulations and procedures. Thanks to Omnes Institute, zeek law is becoming one of the hottest new trends for law students looking to specialize in cutting-edge legal trends and make a reputation for themselves.

STEPPING STONES

It’s all about having the full lay of the land. Comprehensive intelligence, ami. What resources do you possess? What are your strengths and weaknesses compared to theirs? And as equally important as knowing the foe is knowing…who is on your side? Zeek activists — both actual zeeks fighting for our rights and non-zeeks who are devoted to our cause as well — exist in growing numbers, a fact that keeps a tiny flicker of hope lit in my heart. I wrote earlier about how members of even outspoken religious groups aided me as I grew up, even when they knew about my zeek abilities. Some people aren’t content with just handing out food, clothing, or providing temporary shelter. There exist those who make it personal. They make it a cause they want to see realized within their lifetimes. At the same time, some such activist groups are wolves in sheep’s clothing, such as the underground slavery organization that calls itself the Zeek Railroad. So let’s examine a few others that I’ll personally vouch for as being legitimate if you ever decide to join a cause worth fighting for:

THIRD EYE OPEN Counter to LUCIDITI, the fine folks at Third Eye Open studios are the ones who are provide actual objective zeek news, both the good and bad. They don’t always get it perfectly right, but I’d rather tune in to their MediaProgs and #INFOdumps over the drivel the sheep of this world lap up every day. Of course, LUCIDITI and the other media minions caught up in its tentacles love to cast TEO as being crackpots, mindless zeek mouthpieces, or absolute morons who simply don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s the constant counter-countercounter-and counter-intelligence that makes your head spin when trying to sort out the truth. TEO doesn’t have nearly anything like LUCIDITI’s resources and reach, but they’re doing their best, and their newscasts are starting to catch more eyes and ears than ever. If you missed their one expose on the Madrid conspiracy, check the archives. It’s worth a watch and will have you questioning mainstream newscasts more than ever.

OMNES INSTITUTE

THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE FOR PSIONICS LUCIDITI and its minions love to point at ASP as a prime example of the dangers we zeeks pose, calling it a military camp, psychic army training ground, and other more malicious descriptions designed to give the common man nightmares. You’ve seen the manufactured photos, with zeeks marching in lockstep, wearing tight uniforms, eyes glowing red with barely restrained destructive power. Yes, in the interest of transparency, I’ll sadly admit places do exist that aim to weaponize zeeks — though half the time, these are established and run by the very governments who decry our existence. But ASP is nothing like that. Instead, it limits all training to purely defensive measures, helping zeeks learn how to use their abilities in order to protect themselves. This is a dangerous world for zeeks, as even the blindest person could see. Zeeks come under fire all the time, whether from gangs, anti-zeek groups, or otherwise. Wouldn’t it be preferable if that zeek knew how to neutralize such violence in the most peaceful way possible and simply walk away, without appearing on the next news batch of “zeek attacks?” And that’s just skimming the cream off the milk, ami. The zeek civil rights movement is gaining momentum every day. It may not have as much influence or public approval as the naysayers, but that’s because the anti-zeek movement has been entrenched longer. We’re gaining on them, spreading the truth, linking up with more arms and forming an alliance to be reckoned with. Our enemies know this too, and they’re afraid that their cultural brainwashing will eventually be overturned, and they’ll be the ones called crackpots and dangerous to society. That’s why it may eventually come down to a brutal and decisive confrontation between both sides to settle the matter. For those who are looking for middle ground in the meantime, there are places where zeeks can coexist relatively peacefully with baseline humans. I know earlier I said peace was

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Composed of zeek and non-zeek legal representatives alike, Omnes Institute is the major forerunner of zeek legal activisim. Omnes lawyers fight for zeeks in courts, often on a pro bono basis, and has representatives in most major countries and cities in order to have a better handle on legal matters affecting zeeks across a variety of borders. Since zeeks aren’t limited to any one geographic boundary, we fall under just as many jurisdictions. If a direct branch of the Omnes Institute isn’t established in an area, they provide a directory of local law firms and attorneys who are pro-zeek. Omnes Institute is also petitioning numerous governments to have a wider variety of pro-zeek laws and statutes put in place, alongside

This social group caters to newly manifested zeeks and has an incredibly efficient and successful system in place to help them adjust to their new skills. Not only do they provide basic ability training and counseling (since manifesting can often happen through traumatic circumstances…or cause them), but Stepping Stones also helps zeeks decide what level of public exposure they wish to live with, and facilitate possible cultural reintegration. Alongside neighborhood education efforts, zeek sponsorship, and protests against anti-zeek corps, Stepping Stones will also help families of zeeks understand that their loved one hasn’t turned into a monster or anything — if they’re open-minded enough to listen, that is. If zeeks need to get away from an increasingly hostile environment, Stepping Stones helps with transport, sets them up with a fresh identity, legit job, and a fall-back plan, all without expecting anything in return (unlike the Zeek Railroad).

THE WORLD ZEEKS

an unrealistic ideal, but these havens are trying their best to make it a workable reality.

ZEEK HAVENS Where can you go if you just want to punch in and punch out and not have to worry about being the victim of a hate crime on your way home? Places do exist where people simply don’t care whether you’re a zeek or not. They don’t celebrate it and they don’t condemn it, and that perspective is actually one I prefer to encounter. Live and let live, neh?

Historically a progressive city, the people of Seattle have always maintained an attitude of tolerance toward those who might be considered different, and zeeks are no different in this regard.

UNION OF PEACE, LOVE, AND UNDERSTANDING

ZEEKS IN THE WORKPLACE

A mouthful of a name, but it sums up their philosophy well enough. Based in Frisco’s ruins, they do accept pretty much anyone into their fold, but only so long as you agree to abide by their lifestyle and doctrines. And considering the volatile nature of the region, while they’re all about peace, they’re also about violently enforcing said peace whenever necessary. So if you’re going to buddy up with them, you’re going to have to accept both sides of the situation. Plus the chanting. Get used to lots of chanting and singing circles.

All right. Corps. Their attitudes and policies regarding zeeks are as diverse as the nature of the companies themselves. Some do everything possible to keep their zeek staff on the down low, while others practically wear us as badges of honor — or just to piss off their non-zeek competitors. Even those corps with anti-zeek policies may still have a few on their payroll, either because they recognize the need to keep a competitive edge, or one slipped through their hiring filters. If you want to break it down, most corps see employees merely as tools in the end — zeeks are just a fancier sort of tool, but it’s still just about what gets the job done.

ROXBURY Boston neighborhood that used to be a regular hive of criminal activity. It’s been cleaned up a good bit, and now likes to claim it’s where anything and everything goes, especially when it thumbs its nose at mainstream culture. Sims, hybrids, and zeeks alike are all welcome here, along with plenty of other minorities. Recognize, though, that this doesn’t mean the place is any sort of pacifistic Eden. With so many different mindsets and backgrounds trying to make room for one another, friction is inevitable. It’s a decent place for a zeek to make their way in the world, but just don’t let your guard down too much, capisce?

AUSTRALIA Out of sight, out of mind, right? Australia is plenty big enough for numerous zeek havens to have been established, both near larger cities and in the outback, far enough from the global eye to avoid most attention. Since the country remains a particular hotbed for illegal activities such as smuggling, and holds a major rover population, the people there tend to be widely accepting of all types. Doesn’t mean you won’t run into conflict or have to scrounge to survive, but at least you’ll have plenty of options for how you make your way without immediately being labeled as a freak for your mental aptitudes.

The World

however, and there are groups who hold to ancient prejudices against anyone who isn’t human. That said, recent passage of anti-hate legislation has provided a legal framework psions need to seek justice for hate crimes.

Experiencing a measure of peace and solidarity with the rest of the human race doesn’t always mean having to limit yourself to a specific region, city, or hood, though. Sometimes a measure of solace and a sense of purpose can be found in the corporate world, believe it or not. So long as you’re willing to accept the dress code, you’ll fit right in as a productive little worker bee. In fact, it might even make you quite a bit more valuable to the bottom line and get you a salary hefty enough to secure your own penthouse pad if you work the system well enough.

FRANCE The rise of the New Pirate Party and the election of Angéle Bonheur — a known psion — as president has brought some hope to zeeks living in the Eurasian Union. France isn’t stable,

SEATTLE

Many military and science megacorporations are willing to hire or recruit zeeks in a variety of functions, since they tend to be a bit more forward-thinking than the rest, or willing to do whatever it takes to remain the top dawg. Recall my being used to skim secrets and blackmail material from unsuspecting minds as a teen? Zeeks are, unfortunately, natural fits for jobs that involve such skullduggery; and what corp wouldn’t want to take advantage of juicy secrets that could land them the industrial contract or double profits? By taking part in industrial espionage, black ops, or other subversive operations, these zeeks are simply furthering the negative public image, just like those blowhards on the MediaWeb who like to show off their abilities to adoring audiences. If those activities are then exposed because of counter-espionage or corp bungling, it only adds fuel to the fire for LUCIDITI to fan. You can bet they’re always sniffing around corp news and developments for the “reek of zeek” as they like to call it. Anyways, on to the bill-payers themselves. Just recognize that working for a zeek-friendly corp may get you assigned to communities that, in themselves, won’t exactly be pleased to see you.

CHIMERA The world’s leading biotech corp, CHIMERA has absolutely no qualms about having zeeks working in all levels of their infrastructure. They’re pretty public about it too, because, hey, who’s going to defy them? If anyone kicks up a stink about zeek workers or even kidnaps one to hold for ransom, CHIMERA is ruthless in tracking down and squashing such attempts. You may even start to feel like an over-protected child, with parents who impose strict curfews and don’t let you date until you’re thirty. But sometimes that’s the price you have to pay.

GALAXY ENTERTAINMENT Ever go to a concert where the pyrotechnics show was a tad bit too amazing? Where you wondered how Hyper Reality could engage the senses so powerfully? Likelihood is the band

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was sponsored or produced by Galaxy Entertainment. This media maestro corp loves to use zeeks to give their shows an extra edge their competitors can’t quite ever match. Of course, this leads to LUCIDITI often accusing Galaxy Entertainment of seeding their broadcasts with subliminal zeek messaging to control an unaware audience. Don’t forget that zeek abilities don’t operate in the Deep, though.

THIRD LIFE INNOVATIONS This gene-splicing megacorp is another example of those who like to throw things like caution or ethics to the wind. They don’t care if you’re Human 2.0, hybrid, zeek, or simulacra. If you’re smart enough to be on one of their research teams, they’ll take you in like family. Best part is, because of their controversial work and employees often coming under attack from anti-splicing factions, TLI usually builds arcologies near any major center of operations. Staff can live there in relatively safety and as much seclusion as they prefer.

NORTEC Of a similar perspective as CHIMERA, Nortec likes to frame itself as a corporation full of scientific visionaries, striving to build a better world. Especially since sims have been shown to manifest zeek abilities, Nortec has gone to greater lengths to identify itself as pro-zeek, even going out of their way to donate funds to several of the activist groups I mentioned earlier. One primary way they use zeeks is to scan the minds of newly vat-born sims to make sure everything’s aligned in the brainwave department before selling off the new “product.” Now that I think about it, Nortec is actually a Ravenlocke holding…and speaking of Ravenlocke…

SUMMARY Whew. That’s it for now, omae. I’ve spent countless hours compiling all the data to put this document together, and my brain is fried (not literally). It’s up to you now. What’re you going to do with all this? I know some of you will read this out of mild amusement or curiosity. Some of you will print this data dump out onto actual paper just to set it on fire. But some of you will read what I’ve written and start to see the world in a new way — at least, that’s my hope. I’m not saying you have to become a zeek activist or anything of the sort. I’d just love to see a greater measure of tolerance to return to the world. In the end, what resides in your mind — your ideals, your passions, your beliefs — should remain just that. Yours. Take a good look at what you think you know about zeeks right now. How did those perceptions or beliefs get there? Did you come up with them by yourself, based on independent observation and careful consideration of a wide variety of opinions and facts? Or did you let someone else shove them in there and dictate how you live? If the latter, then no matter how righteous or logical you think your motivations and actions are, you’re allowing yourself to be enslaved by another’s worldview. And when that happens to any of us, we lose the humanity we all deserve to be valued for.

RAVENLOCKE SECURITY This military-focused corp has major bases throughout the world, offering highly trained guards and specialized weaponry to anyone with the credits to hire them. When you’re a corp this big, trying to conquer such a wide variety of industries, you can’t really be picky about who you hire. Plus, zeeks can easily be trained to use their skills offensively, as well as hold interrogator roles for “factfinding” missions. Ravenlocke is usually the corp singled out as supposedly running zeek black ops teams, since many of their squads tend to survive against seemingly impossible odds.

GOLDEN PROMISE, INC. They’ll do anything to dominate the heavy tech industries, such as android and military development. This includes bringing zeeks onto the team. However, be sure you know what you’re getting into before signing your life over to this corp. They’re just as ruthless with internal staff as they are with external competition. They tend to be one of the more insular corps, viciously guarding their policies and procedures, so your identity as a zeek will likely remain a corporate secret.

The World

I contacted all of these corps in order to get a more detailed statement on their zeek policies beyond what’s posted on their company profiles. However, the AIs handling their communication lines did little more than repeat their official public stances word-for-word. I guess I shouldn’t have expected much more, but it was worth a shot, right?

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[PLEASE REFER TO THE DIGI-PAMPHLET — “SO YOU’VE BEEN LABELED A GODLESS HERETIC”]

Religion and other “Isms” #INFODUMP.RELIGIOSITY.NET POSTED BY: #THETRUSAVIOR #HutchinsisanAI: They say there are many paths and many maps. Problem is, ami, even with dubbing, you don’t get near enough time to wander them all. Every religion out there is trying to convince you it’s “the one” while fending off every other ism that wants a piece of your pie. Sure, you could go atheist and pretend it doesn’t matter to you; but that won’t stop you from having to deal with all the religions that claim heaven, earth, and hell as their own. Some of them want to use you. Some of them want to be used by you. All of them want your credits! Islam, Christian, AI-worship, the latest drug-sucking cult… It all drains down to the same soulistic cesspit. Still confused? Maybe this pamphlet will help.

– EXCERPT FROM PBB-POOR BITTER BASTARDS –  So You’ve Decided to Practice Tolerance A wise man once said…actually, fuck the wise man. What did wise men ever do for you anyways, right? You know the wisest thing anyone ever told us? “Check out the 2-for-1 deal at Fat Sally’s, ami. Best cut of grease for your credits in the world.” And they were right! Wise guys always have an agenda. One person’s guru is another’s buffoon. That’s what the world’s religions all boil down to: a bunch of gurufoons throwing shit at each other. How can you make sense of all these various belief systems? How can you slice through the storm of spiritual chatter to achieve true inner peace and calm?

The fact is, lots of believers aren’t going to like the fact that you’re trying to be tolerant of them without actually agreeing with them. It’s this whole “us-or-them” mentality that almost every religion or cult or ism adopts to some degree or another. You’re either for or against them. No middle ground, no matter how much you’re standing right on it, trying to prove such neutral territory actually exists outside the scope of their needle-narrow perspectives. You’re not just facing crazy prophets on city streets, anymore. You’re facing down religions that are militarized. Religions that have become nations in-and-of themselves. Religions that control major portions of the Deep and have budgets that could fund a colony on Mars for a year. Religions that like to plant themselves into your very genes to make a believer of you from birth onwards. And you think they’ll settle for you merely “tolerating” their existence? No. They will bitch-slap you into belief and make you thank them for it. On the surface, ami, tolerance is a cozy little word people like to pass around, thinking it’s somehow a higher moral ground than actually getting down and dirty with one deity or another. Some think it’s a cop-out so you don’t have to make any difficult decisions. In the end, as we think you’re beginning to understand, a truly tolerant person is setting themselves up for a run through a never-ending, unforgiving gauntlet of misery and pain. Thanks for reading and good luck with your newly tolerant lifestyle!

One answer stands as a shining beacon for anyone with the wherewithal to grasp it. Tolerance! Now, at first glance, tolerance looks like one of the easiest paths to follow. After all, who could argue against someone who simply accepts everyone around them, regardless of the particular religious backgrounds or tenants? Remember what we said about buffoons. You don’t want to be one. Which is why you need to give your newly chosen lifestyle of tolerance a much sharper look and understand what it actually implies.

The World

First off, ponder the current state of affairs in ye’ ol’ institutions of religiosity that have verily been fruitful and multiplied across the earth since the Second Civil War. Lot’s of the buggers, aren’t there? So many — isms, you can pretty much attach any word to “ism” and someone will believe it. Point is, you move in any direction and you’ll step on an ism, or bump into an ismist wanting to tell you — often loudly — why their ism is far more “ismy” than that other guy’s stupid ism. These vocalizations often turn into violencification quickly enough, because gosh darn if they don’t take those beliefs quite personally. If you aren’t fast enough to sign up to their version of heaven, paradise, or whatever afterlife they’ve bought into, well then they turn on the “unbeliever condemnation thesaurus” and start spouting off heretic! Blasphemer! Devilspawn! What’s your tolerance going to do in the face of that?

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#Archangel777: What a load of crap. #He_is_Risen!: It’s easy to look at the worst parts of any belief system and point the finger and say “Look, all of these people are crazy,” but the truth is, there are far more believers who just want to live their lives in peace. Maybe you should write an article about THEM. God Bless. #None_but_Allah: Peace be upon you, brother. I must concur with my christian brother (sister)). Not all of us are hatemongers. Islam is a beautiful religion, a religion of peace and tolerance. Yes, a great number of people misinterpret the Koran, but do not lump us all in together with those who would kill in His name. I pray that you find wisdom. #Billy_Black_Eyes: The worst thing to ever happen to North America was the integration of Church and State. It’s one of the reasons we fought the 2nd civil war, after all. The North American Coalition is a prime example of what can happen when a nation is run by intolerant fundamentalist believers. That said, this article is little more than hate speech, and should be recognized as such. #Luciferion: Amen, Billy. #Psychotropic_meme: It should be pointed out that Atheism is also an “ism.”

THE WORLD THE GLOBAL DATANET

The Global DataNet #INFODUMP.SANE_IN_THE_MAINFRAME.NET #IAMURGAWD #Krymonacer: For years, I’ve been telling you how the GodNet [Global DataNet] is turning humanity into a shadow of itself. We’ve become so reliant on GodNet, it’s scary. Almost like it’s living up to its name. GodNet tells us where to go, what to do, what to believe, and how. There’s no escape from it. Anyone with a TAP is integrated, and there’s really no escape at that point, is there? The more connected we get, though, the more vulnerable are we. The more homogenous our societies become the more open we are to letting GodNet close and control us. Enjoy this report from the Center for Enforced Sanity. They didn’t publish it because the test audience labeled it as too depressing. Make of it what you wish.

who participated in the same overlay as she, and eventually went legally insane. Despite her TAP being deactivated, she remains lost to this world, and we’ve yet been able to convince her that this is the reality she’s stuck with. Lastly, I will introduce you to a young man who only goes by the handle Plutoboss. One of our more extreme cases. He believes he is dead.

BEGIN FEED… Please, I ask that you refrain from employing any TAP exchanges right now. Our clients can be peculiarly sensitive to such things, even when unplugged. None of you have any Hyper Objects on your person, do you? Suppressed at the entrance? TAP dampeners in place? Very good. We accept all sorts into our institution, and the length of their stay is determined by the severity of their condition — and also their ability to pay for our care. Some are sponsored by family, others by corps, while a few manage with personal funds. We do have some public funding — GodNet addiction is a social malaise and demands awareness and responsibility. Various donors have contributed to our operations, and this goes towards short-term care of destitute clients. Absolutely not, ma’am, and please do not quote me out of context. I do not at all imply that the GodNet, or the Deep as you might call it, is any more dangerous than water, or air, or food. All of these things are necessary for survival, and they can all enhance our lives. Through the Deep, we are connected to one another, to the news, to vivid entertainment and furthered education. I have a TAP just as all of you do, and engage its functions and features to the fullest for both personal and professional advancement. I maintain an awareness of global events through HR newscasts, while several of my international associates engage in periodic VR meetings. When anything is taken to an extreme it becomes cancerous. Ah, here we are. A prime example. The subject within this chamber, Dalesworth Edmunton, suffers from a severe case of meme infection. Dale happened across an ad projection that had been hacked to remove any broadcast safeguards. In a single glance, billions of memes flooded his consciousness and burnt out his personality. He became a walking embodiment of unhealthy appetite, unable to do anything but gorge on the nearest fistful of greasy food.

Plutoboss frequented a variety of Deep casinos and fell heavily into debt. Unable to pay, he tried to escape from debtors several times by forging false identities which he used to continue his gambling habits. During one of his private virtual reality sessions, a casino enforcer uncovered his identity, hacked into his domain, and swapped out the program for one in which he expired at the hands of almost every torture instrument known, starting with medieval iron maidens and working up to modern devices. While the experience only lasted seconds in real time, he experienced over ten thousand individual “deaths.” At the moment, during therapy sessions, we jack him into a relative timeframe that is ten times slower than real time, so we’re able to make faster progress in convincing him he is still alive. So you can see how such tech can have both detrimental and positive applications. All this aside, I do not wish to see any fear-mongering in the reports you may submit after this tour, ladies and gentlemen. The Virtual and Hyper realities are a boon to humanity, drawing us closer than ever before, erasing cultural and geographic boundaries. The global community found within the central VR hub, Spiralmote, is an ideal location for exchanging ideas, expanding commerce, and generating technological advances this world has yet to comprehend. At the same time, humanity has always had its dark corners, and only the most naive of us would pretend the dangers evidenced here are not worth defending against. How does the common person avoid fates such as this? With Hyper Reality, the best you can do is keep your filters up-to-date and only authorize preapprove d HR channels. For VR, since it requires a direct connection to the TAP, the easiest way is to simply never plug in to a network. Dubbing is also a possibility, for worst-case scenarios.

END FEED.

Let’s move on, shall we?

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Here we have Luiell Nasca, once a high-level executive, who now believes she is an elven queen thanks to being entirely detached from her previous life through Hyper Reality abuse. Luiell began to dabble in a variety of domain games in order to escape the stress of her work and daily responsibilities. Over the course of a year, she stopped showing up for work, stopped communicating with anyone except others

THE WORLD AFRICA

EASTERN HEMISPHERE #INFODUMP.WORLD_IN_FLAMES.GD.NET

and I will speak about that later. Aside from these wonders of modern science, Africa has her own beanstalk. This equatorial space elevator takes our biological creations and enhancements out to the habitats orbiting our little world, and beyond.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & GENE-SPLICING

Posted By: #Billy_Black_Eyes Que pasa hombres and chicas! Billy_Black_Eyes here with another massive INFOdump on the world we live in. Unlike the previous section, this massive datafeed focuses on the world itself. As before, I’ve scoured the GodNet for .dat files about each nation. Grab some coffee and a snack, omae, because this puppy’s gonna keep you awake way into the small hours.

AFRICA #INFODUMP.AFRICA Posted By: #King Louie Aita chommie! Welcome to the bosom of Mother Africa! They call me ‘King Louie.’ Yes, yes, just like the one from the children’s book. It’s because I’m a primate hybrid, but the primate genes were too strong, making me a throwback who looks like a walking, talking orangutan. I’m no king of the jungle; I’m an entrepreneur, a fence and face-man. I can get you work, and no one moves anything through the Mogadishu ‘plex without my knowing. Whatever it is, I can move it across the veld for you — for a small percentage, of course, chommie. Eish, enough about me — but if you ever find yourself in Somalia, you look me up on the Global DataNet and ol’ King Louie come through for you. For you non-native, dorpie-dwellers, King Louie is going to give you the skinner on Mother Africa.

Third Life Innovations (TLI), which is based out of South Africa, has several facilities dedicated to the growth and production of new bodies and new bio-mods. Their main body-production centers are kept in the more secure (and insular, I say) Central African Union. TLI is the main producer of genetics and biotechnology, but they are not the only ones.

SECURE BANKING

It’s been roughly fifty years since the border wars ended and the current nations formed. During that time, our scientists have refined their gene-splicing techniques and we can now offer cutting-edge biotech to those with the money to pay. The big Corporations have come back, only this time it’s different. No longer do they sneer down their noses at us, chommie. This time, they buy our knowledge and pay us well for it, too.

After Africa’s emergence, we were able to offer the world’s wealthy secure banking they could access at any time. Guarded by AI-controlled countermeasures, these banks are nighimpossible to break into through the Global DataNet, and suicidal to break into physically. The banks secure both real and virtual currency, as well as valuables. In addition to providing their clientele anonymity, they also provide diverse environments to secure property. For example, if you owned a collection of ancient books that needed to be kept in a special environment to prevent decay, there are banks that can offer that service. I once had job that required a team to break into one of these bank vaults to retrieve an undisclosed item. It’s been two years and I have yet to hear back from them, chommie. Skinner says they never even made it past the bank’s perimeter. However, there was that incident in Cape Town where several banks were robbed, but King Louie will go into the details later.

A NEW AFRICA

DATA HAVENS

The Corporations work with African scientists and lead the world in genetics. If it wasn’t for that, there’d be no Hybrids, no Bioroids, no Human 2.0, and no cutting-edge bio-enhancements for the masses. Yes, we’ve had our failures — some of which now stalk the veld and jungles. Yet, we also have the G-Net to tie us to the rest of the world. We have nuclear power, and we even have an elevator into space.

Much like money, data has value — especially to those who know how to use it properly. As such, if a person or one of the corporations has sensitive data they don’t trust their own to secure, they come to one of several data havens operating in Africa, because our virtual vaults are monitored around the clock by human and computer operators backed by AIgenerated security.

New Industries

If you’re thinking that hitting a Data Haven is a good idea, let me remind you that there’s almost always an AI on overwatch in the G-Net just waiting for some poor hacker to try and take it on just so it can fry that poor bastard’s synapses. I’m not sayin’ you can’t hack one, just make sure you have a dub or some really great insurance, chommie.

Emergence

The World

Africa is the world leader in biotechnology, chommie. Bet on that! In our time, many of the corporations have funded our gene-sculptors’ work. It’s here where the serums that can give you the power to run fast, or make you see in the dark, or let you lift a kombi over your head come from. If you want the powers of an animal, Africa is where you come. Yet, not all of our work is restricted to making men better. We also gene-splice plants for better and hardier crops to eat. Skinner is, African genetic designs were stolen from the mainframe and smuggled over to Texas by ex-patriates who helped them develop their engineered meat, but I think they’re just bakgat.

Africa is known around the world as the premier place to store information and wealth. The ‘plexes and Corporations here have guarded machines to store your precious data — all overseen by man and machine. We also have banks that cater to the rich and powerful; places that are as discreet as they are secure. Yes, I know about the Cape Town incident, chommie,

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face, but they have not truly met the Red Diva. This is how she prefers it. If you want to do business in Casablanca, then she’s the one to see.

Southern Eurasian Union Discounting Egypt and Libya — who have their own problems — the SEU is one of the few places that has yet to really settle down and stabilize in the wake of the Ivory Curtain. Today they remain a hotbed of international activity and intrigue. Their two main cities, Marrakech and Casablanca, are prime feeding grounds for smugglers and spies.

MILITARY & DEFENSES

With coastal ports and mineral wealth that is slowly being tapped, the country’s leaders aren’t quite sure what to do with themselves. With the outpouring of refugees from the Middle East, they have moved the majority of their military and security forces to the eastern part of their border.

The SEU has a ground army, supported by weapons bought from them by corporations such as Act of God Armaments and others. Their border patrol is corrupt and easy to bribe. A few remote operated drones and some pre-Border War aircraft are available if needed, but it’s nothing compared to other countries — especially the Central African Union. The Southern Eurasian Union (SEU) also has quite a few redesigned patrol boats protecting their ports and coast lines. Pre-War missile batteries also can be found concealed in the brush.

MAJOR CITIES & POINTS OF INTEREST

INDUSTRIES

The SEU is a hotbead of spying and data smuggling. It’s also the gateway into the European drug markets. This is mainly due to the laxity of both the military and the government. In fact, skinner is that many of the citizens are involved as well — or at least keep to themselves on the matter.

The SEU has two things that contribute to the wealth of the African nations: precious minerals and cybernetics. In Marrakech, fabrication of cybernetics is huge business. The corporations that moved in have several fabricators that manufacture the latest in cybernetics, which are then shipped out across the world. Skinner is, they also have several facilities outside of the cities where they test their latest designs before they are sent to the fabbers. King Louie has heard of these places, and you’d have to be crazy to even go within a hundred yards of one (the corporations like their privacy).

MARRAKECH Sometimes pronounced Marrakesh, this African city was once part of the nation of Morocco. Now, it serves as the SEU’s capital city. During the Border Wars the city saw little to none of the fighting, with the exception of the handful of times they would receive deserters here. Up until the Oil Crisis, the city bloomed and expanded to support the Sufi pilgrims who would travel here. Like many places around the world, untagged bioroids are not allowed. This prejudice is so strong that the townspeople won’t even wait for the police. They will simply form into a mob with intent to destroy the blasphemous creations.

CASABLANCA Portrayed in movies and novels since the last century, Casablanca has seen troubled times of late. Not that it’s anything you can see on the surface, chommie, but it’s there. Unlike Mogadishu, which is proud to be what it is, Casablanca pines for the days when it was in the limelight. Unfortunately, unless something major happens, this cesspool of ex-patriots and con men will continue to swirl down the sewers. Furthermore, the buildings are crumbling and the people let it go on.

Her name is Red Diva, and anyone who brings information for sale must pass it through her first. Yes, spies and smugglers claim to have met a woman wearing a red leather bodice, red leather thigh-high boots, and a red cape that covers her

Of all the African nations behind the Ivory Curtain, the Central African Union is the most reclusive. While they make a good show of letting others believe their country is impregnable, there are many holes one can use to gain access — and the CAU’s elite Dakumbe Death Squads can’t be everywhere, chommie. The people of the CAU are nice to outsiders, but when I say “nice” I mean “nice like someone would treat a rabid dog.” #Billy_Black_Eyes: Don’t you shoot rabid dogs?

They’re not all bad, King Louie feels they chose a different path after the Border Wars — they certainly earned it. There are only a few dorpies, and ‘plexes that will accept outsiders. Of course, if you look like you belong there, they can’t really tell the difference. While the CAU is the center of African gene-tech and biotechnology, unregistered bioroids are outlawed, with stiff fines and even imprisonment for those caught with one. The bioroids themselves are terminated on the spot. This stems from the skinner that some time ago a group of AIs were uploaded to some bioroids. As soon as they left the facility, they banded together and went on a murder spree. It took some serious firepower and cost the lives of some good E-SWAT Officers that were sent out to take them down. Truth of the matter, these weren’t AIs walking around, these were dubs — digitized consciousness of actual people!

THE IVORY CURTAIN Gaining entry to the CAU isn’t difficult — if you have legitimate business to conduct. If your business is…on the shadier side of things, then you may find it to be more difficult; especially

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King Louie knows this façade is nothing but a front to fake out the nation’s security forces. In truth, Casablanca is a hotbed of smuggling (mainly designer drugs from South America and other places) and spying. Yes, I said spying! Some of the world’s best secret agents and intrusion specialists can be found amongst the crumbling buildings and dusty cantinas. Any corporation wanting data on their competitors comes here — with the permission of the Lady in Red, of course. More data passes through this city than monkeys fly through the trees. Yet, chommie, there’s one who sits at the top of the heap, and it is only by her good graces that she allows her city to be used this way.

Central African Union

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if you have no contacts to help you. Fortunately for you, I know a great many ways to bypass the border checkpoints and gain access to the various cities and metroplexes, and how to get around some of the border patrols. There are two main avenues of entry into the Central African Union. The first is here in Mogadishu. You could also ask around for other “guides” to get you across, but the general rule is that they only take you across, you get back on your own — and their services aren’t cheap, chommie. The other avenue is to enter through the SEU as their borders aren’t as secure as on their side as it is on the Somalia side. However, I wouldn’t trust them aikona!

MAJOR CITIES & POINTS OF INTEREST Since the CAU is the center of Africa’s genetics design program, it stands to reason that the majority of its economy is focused on it. With a few exceptions, the major cities and megaplexes are zoned out with the more corporate-sensitive ones having heavy firepower to bring against any who try to pass through without authorization. The same goes for crime. In the CAU, criminals are punished swiftly and with great brutality. Organ-legging is big business in some places. A black market catering” has risen to meet the desires of people looking for upgraded organs and tissues that can be genetically modified, and many black alley clinics where surgeons work on those who can’t afford, or can’t risk going to, a legitimate hospital. Take this advice from King Louie: if you get yourself shot up and have to visit one of these places, make sure you take a trusting chommie with you; otherwise you may end up in the vats of corporate gene-splicers.

TIMBUKTU An ancient city, Timbuktu has existed since the land was young. In modern times, the city is a massive metroplex strecthcing out across the veld. Used as a euphemism to describe places that were very far away, Timbuktu (or rather the University) made a name for itself in recent times during the Border Wars. Since then, the whole metroplex has experiences a major technological renaissance. Major Corporations like Jata Tech either have their headquarters here, or at least research and development technicians who learn at the feet of the geneticists from the University. They teach programs in advanced genetics and eugenics, and the progress they make is then sold off to the Corporations to profit from. There is no doubt that Timbuktu is one of the major centers for biotechnology and a forerunner for mankind’s evolution. Timbuktu is the cradle of the Virtual Age, and the University is where Kayin Courts’ research led to the development of the ubiquitous TAP. The University continues to stay on the bleeding-edge of both the virtual world and genetics.

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NAIROBI If you try to enter the CAU through Nairobi, things get very interesting, very fast. The outer perimeter of the city is heavily guarded by the fearsome Dakumbe Death squads. I’ll speak more about these savages later, but for now know that they are as deadly as they are ugly. Make no mistake, chommie, no one gets past these “ghosts of the veld”…or so the CAU’s

propaganda machine says. In truth, there are holes in their screen — how else would I get my wares through, eh? Alas, I am not the only one who can smuggle drugs and guns through the great CAU, and if you’re careful and check your contact thoroughly, you too might be able to get things out (or into) of this nation.

LUSAKA Lusaka is a rapidly growing city rivalling many mega sprawls across the planet. Some prominent Corporations from around the world have offices here, and many have labs and facilities for research and development. Yet, deep beneath the ground, corporate-owned, sub-zero data vaults store some of the darkest secrets ever whispered in a boardroom.

DAKUMBE DEATH SQUADS For those of us who live in Africa, there is one thing that children are taught to fear at a young age: the Dakumbe. These death squads watch over the CAU’s borders and if propaganda can be believed (and in reality can it?) hunt down any who violate the CAU’s borders or steal from their masters. They are said to be expert trackers and hunters, and many paint a white death skull upon their shaven heads. A few wear gory trinkets such as necklaces of ears or grotesque piercings. Many practice ritual scarification.

Somalia At last we get to speak about my homeland, chommie. The great land of Somalia. Here a man (or part man, in my case) can find whatever he needs. Somalia is, in King Louie’s opinion, the only African nation to come out ahead after the Border Wars. Somalia is the Smuggler’s Paradise.

PIRACY Okay, okay, so maybe not all of us do an honest trade like smuggling drugs or guns across the CAU border. A few do engage in the age-old pastime of piracy. Since the last century Somali pirates have made a better living boarding corporateowned ships and holding their crews hostage than fishing. Sure, a man’s got to eat, but piracy seems more lucrative to many. However, you have to be smart about it. The Corporations who move their goods through our area expect us to try and take a crack at their ships. They arm their crew accordingly. The pirates try to board and if they succeed, they take the crew hostage, contact the company they work for and demand ransom. Once the ransom is paid, the crew is free to go on their merry way. However, if the pirates aren’t bakgat and hit a ship belonging to one of the Megaconglomerates…well, they get what they deserve and the pirate gangs have less competition to worry about.

MAJOR CITIES & POINTS OF INTEREST Somalia only has one real major city, and the rest of the country is dotted with dorpies full of people waiting to sell you something (sometimes, it’s your stuff they try to sell back, but don’t blame King Louie for that). Aside from that — and the fact that most people think Somalia is full of nothing but criminals — the people are friendly and generous with the hospitality.

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THE WORLD AFRICA #Simba: The Somali beanstalk is run by pirates who smuggle everything from drugs to weapons and even pleasure sims to mining colonies all across the solar system.

MOGADISHU The city of Mogadishu can claim the prize for the largest city in Somalia, but that’s like saying you get second place in an ugly contest. The sprawl is home to over 15 million people, and is our nation’s capital. To put it straight, chommie, Mogadishu is a dump! The sprawl is split up into four sections, each run by one of the major tribal clans. Sitting in the middle is the infamous Bakaara Market — a place where you can find anything (and I mean anything) for sale here, chommie. The tribals each squabble over who can get the better end of the deal out of Mogadishu’s Black Market, and so try and squeeze every credit they can out of it. In the Bakaara you can buy guns, drugs, sex, cyberware, and even the latest in genetic enhancements. You can also purchase fake passports, border papers into the CAU, and more. Some of the smaller Corporations have offices and facilities here, but not like the ones in the larger ‘plexes. The main reason is, as I mentioned, everyone thinks a Somalian is well-versed in some criminal enterprise (and for the most part it’s true). However, this attitude makes a great cover for the Corporations to conceal some of their more less-than-legal researches.

MILITARY & DEFENSES Somalia doesn’t have a standing army like other countries do. Instead we hire out mercenaries and pay them in credits and smuggled genetic enhancements or beefed-up cyberware. These mercs work under a standing contract, and there are some pretty good outfits to work for like the Peacekeepers or the Triple L’s. Other mercenary outfits are more like glorified gangs and tend to be as bad as crooks — waltzing into a dorpie and taking whatever they want. This tends to bring in other outfits to oust the first ones and then you have a whole dorpie shot up.

INDUSTRIES Somalia only has two real industries: piracy and smuggling. Sure, we have more legitimate businesses, such as shipbreaking and fishing, but the others are more lucrative, and not more dangerous. If you know how to play the game, smuggling and fencing goods can be real lucrative. There’s a thriving black market in Somalia, and folks are willing to pay for things they can’t seem to get through normal channels (or who are impatient and can’t wait for those normal channels to bring it to them).

South Africa

MAJOR CITIES & POINTS OF INTEREST South Africa is a lot like many of the places found in the socalled “Western Worlds.” It has highways, nuclear power, and fast food. It has a strong connection to the G-Net, and many places sport HR overlays that can only come from the minds of African programmers. Bio-sculpted animals walk alongside their augmented owners in the major sprawls, and it all looks very rich. South Africa is home to some very important corporations that helped the continent turn out the way it did. From many African banks to Third Life Innovations, South Africa is destined to move up in the world.

JOHANNESBURG METROPLEX Johannesburg is one of the largest cities on the African continent — bursting at the seams with over 18 million souls residing in its concrete jungle. Johannesburg is place where one finds vast displays of its wealth, but there is rot beneath the surface, chommie.

MILITARY & DEFENSES South Africa boasts some of the best military forces, on the whole continent (perhaps with the exception of the CAU). Coastal defenses consist of naval patrols and missile batteries. The national navy is mainly cutters and small swift boats with some larger carriers. In 2079 roughly thirty vessels disguised as Rover ships descended upon Cape Town and robbed every single bank. These so-called Rovers were discovered to be disguised tribal syndicates, and the corporate retribution was swift and brutal — within a single night all criminal networks were wiped out. Now, tell me if this is what happens when a few banks are wiped out, what can the corporations really bring to bear, chommie?

INDUSTRIES South Africa has all the usual black market industries, but they tend to have more of the latest products than we can get in Somalia, so I tend to do more business with my contacts here than in the other AFrican Nations. However, the black market isn’t what South Africa is known for. Here is where the ultra-rich and corporate elite store their wealth — real and virtual. These vaults are claimed to be watched over by AIs specialized in defending them. To this day, I have never been able to confirm anyone being able to rob these vaults with the exception of the robbery I mentioned previously — and no one lived long enough to tell that taie, chommie!

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Out of all the countries formed when the Ivory Curtain went up, none are more in touch with the rest of the world than South Africa; it has the distinction (much like Somalia) of remaining after the Border Wars largely intact. Corporations, the ultra-rich, and even tourists come to South Africa. In addition to all of this, South Africa also hosts one of the few spaceports on the planet; we call it the beanstalk. It’s a space elevator that carries goods and people to orbital habitats and space stations where they can book passage to anywhere in the system.

#Luciferion: Truth, Simba. If you need to get off-planet, this is the best place to go. No background checks, no bioscans, no questions asked.

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#Swandiva: Stop acting like a dill. It’s not the same thing and you know it. They run away and expect the rest of us to pick up their slack.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: LANDDOWNUNDER.AUS FQDN: LANDDOWNUNDER.AUS.14TN.TPN.SWW.GNET #YABBER Posted By: #Roger “Yabber” McCoy, Sydney Sprawl Guide Expert G’day mate! Yabber here! Everyone’s favourite bastard ready to give you the low down on Down Under! Hand on heart, nothing but the truth, and no porky, things have been tough for us Aussies. Before the Floods they used to say we were the climate canary. But during the years of the Death and the Great Retreat, a lot of folks thought we were just road kill. We were all battlers for a spell but we pulled through! It meant making hard choices though. These days most of us live in just a few cities along the coast, crowded in, but that’s the sacrifice we made for the green. And nothing counts more than the environment. If those years taught us anything it’s that the green comes first.

#Swandiva: Very funny.

THE COAST If you really you want to understand Australia you have to realize the sacrifices we made for the green. Most of us are squeezed into just a few cities. We had to surrender everywhere else during the Floods and the Great Retreat. Since then nothing has mattered more than bringing back the green. Even folks who might rort anything else respect that!

HOW WE GOT HERE The floods hit us hard, but in a lot of places things actually got a lot dryer. Even as the waters rose on the coast, the interior started to bake. The dust ate a lot of towns and stations. We put up a good fight at first, but when the Death came we knew we had to focus on the coast. Now don’t think the Great Retreat was a bail out, folks left on their own terms, and most families still have their deeds on file. Someday, we’re heading back. But the green comes first. The churches were the ones who really made the difference. Donations came in from all over the world. Strewth! There’s no way we could have built the floodwalls without help from the churches. The Apostles out of South America led the way. They had almost lost the rainforests so they understood about bringing back the green. The believers who would one day found the North American Coalition were there, too. Boatloads of their missionaries came over determined to save the cities and bring back the green. A lot of their kids and grandkids were Webber’s shock troops during the war that broke America.

#Not_a_Galah: Don’t lecture me about the green! I live two hundred stories up. We don’t need to live like termites anymore. Even along the coast there’d be plenty of land if we just broke up the stewardships. #Swandiva: Chop up the churchlands? That won’t happen. The green is a trust and someone has to pick the Stewards. #Not_a_Galah: Look at who they pick! Except for the lotteries the Stewards are just the muckies who run things. We let them turn the green into weekend homes where none of us unwashed dare to go. #Swandiva: If you want land that bad just go dusting.

That’s why it’s so bloody hard to understand dusters. It’s as clear as dog’s balls, there just aren’t that many places in the Outback that can keep for very long; not enough water. But that doesn’t stop dusters from going walkabout. Now, it’s one thing if they hook up with one of tribes and live in the Dream. The aborigines run themselves and no one wants to back to the bad old days. Plus, nomads stay on the move so no worries! But dusters think they can just grab a patch and chase off everyone else.

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#Not_a_Galah: Hmm. Criminals you say. Leaving civilization. Going into exile. Maybe even founding a colony somewhere? Something about that seems familiar don’t you think?

There are still lots of atheists and people who believe different but G&G, God and the Green, works for most of us. And we don’t go around bothering folks who don’t agree; so long as they understand that we are all working to bring back the green. That’s what makes things so tough for us with the problems over in America. We owe the NAC more than we can ever pay, but killing because people think different or just want to be left alone?

Thankfully, we have good companies like New Frontier Enterprise to keep the dusters in line and make sure the Outback doesn’t go full cactus. The NFE has an actual town out there, Inspiration, and these blokes have the best security forces around. No one makes trouble around Inspiration, or any other NFE territory, without getting smacked down hard! After all, they’ve got a world class spaceport to protect out there. Not to mention the terraforming they perfected in the Outback. It’s not just other worlds that the NFE is fixing for us. Someday, they’re going to bring back the green. #Not_a_Galah: So… The NFE can grab a patch and chase everyone else away. But that’s okay, because they make sure dusters don’t grab a patch and chase everyone else away?

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That’s not right. #Not_a_Galah: He’s forgetting about the blight. That’s when we learned the green was inside us too. Things could have gone a lot different if those seeds had worked. Might never have realized that we serve the green and not the other way around. #Swandiva: For once I agree. I had an uncle born without any feet. It’s easy to forget, now, with nano so safe and reliable, how desperate people were back then. When the dust was eating the fields they tried everything to find crops that could still grow. #Not_a_Galah: They cut a lot of corners. As usual. And it was those kids who paid the price. No one in my family or school, thank God, but I’d still see one of them sometimes.

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HOW THINGS WORK In the cities, it’s all about footage, the struggle for space. Most of us regular folks live and work in megablocks rising up hundreds of stories. We built them by stacking frames, empty cubes just ratcheted together. This makes it pretty simple to install walls, floors, and ceilings. But it also means people can squeeze you if you let it happen. Neighbours can shave half a meter from your living room or even block off your entire bedroom. Happens all the time. Some people live in mazes of pieces of different frames stretching up and down and all around. The squeeze always depends on how far they think they can push you before you start giving them the flick back. #Not_a_Galah: Wait a minute. He’s not going to talk about the narrows? It’s just like the squeeze but on the streets. Fill them with whatever we can scavenge to keep out cars and trucks. That’s where you find all the best deals until government clears them out again. #Swandiva: Sure, if by deal you mean messing with the black market. #Not_a_Galah: Not all of them are crooked. And why didn’t he talk about the pedtubes? Every ten stories on each megablocks. Ringing around their edges and connecting to their neighbours. You never have to go outside.

manage to get ahead, sometimes way ahead, but anything more than survival is supposed to go to the green. For regular folks, unless they get lucky, taxes and tithes are enough to slice the foam off their beer Bringing back the green is too important to leave to government or the corps. You can’t put the green on a ballot initiative or balance sheet! That’s why the church takes the lead. Really, it’s the Stewards, but the church picks them and grants life tenancy. They are the folks who truly run things in Australia. Most of the time they have power on their ownbut the prestige of being a Steward trumps. Sure, some of them are figjams, but most Stewards are okay. Stewards run the planters and diggers in their territory. They also get to hire security to make sure no one messes with their land. The people who work for them enjoy a lot of leeway in the courts, so even the poor Stewards given the lottery lands never have problems filling their ranks. Of course, the poor Stewards tend not to stay poor for very long. They have a lot of discretion in deciding how to use their planters and diggers. If things are slow on the patch, they can loan some of these workers out. Then there’s the plantations. No one in the cities can ever get enough of real food. Most people could live pretty comfortably after only one crop, and they keep doing it year after year.

#Swandiva: Probably doesn’t want tourists wandering up there through the wrong pedtube. They can’t tell which ones are owned by gangs and which are patrolled by the block squads.

But best of all, Stewards get to build homes on their land. They can live in the green whenever they want! Most Stewards have important work in the cities, so they only get use their green homes on weekends and holidays.

Not that many Aussies have that much money of course. Sure, there’s always some with talent or connections who

Now, with all this talk about Stewards, you might think Australia is some kind of aristocracy. Nothing further! Our PM,

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“Granny” Forsythe, is in the middle of her third, five-year, term. She’s older than dirt, her actual slogan last time, but who better to bring back the green than someone who remembers it? A lot of folks didn’t think the Lib Labs were going to get back in but Granny pulled them over the finish line. That final weekend blitz turned the polls around. #Not_a_Galah: Right, that’s exactly what happened. #Swandiva: Oh come on. The Conservationist party is just as dirty. Granny’s simply better. And the smaller votes are probably fine. The people still have a voice on the day to day stuff. #Not_a_Galah: So you think it’s okay because they only rig votes when it matters?

THE OUTBACK A lot of people, if they think of Australia at all, imagine the Outback instead of the cities where most of us live. S’little insulting, but truth, it’s not hard to see why. Things are rather exciting out there! The green collapsed and what replaced it is pretty strange. And on top of that, the Dream, the largest dedicated TAP expanse in the world. Just about the entire Outback is awash in legend. People come from all over the world to find their totem or to take part in the ancient stories. Most of them also spend a few months living with one of the tribes. Getting back to nature and learning about the green first hand. That’s one of the great strengths of the first people. The worldwide support they get from tourists who lived side by side. #Not_a_Galah: Let’s not forget the money the abos make from those tourists. It’s not cheap. Seems like every trust fund brat in the world wants to go walkabout before taking over the family business. Or country. They probably make as much from those kids as we do from everything in the cities. #Swandiva: Maybe if you don’t count the reef; especially its casinos. Anyway, the tribes have more than earned whatever money they make.

But the tribes are thriving. They hunt the creatures and harvest the plants instead of the other way around. A lot of their money comes from rich kids wanting the “authentic” experience of spending a few months on walkabout without any actual risk, so they have gotten really, really good at spotting danger. Truth be told, they tend to only lose the stupid ones so the tribes do a bit of screening ahead of time. Turn down about half their applicants. With the wars and the Charon virus they haven’t been as choosey lately, fewer kids to pick from, so I expect a lot more news about tragic deaths in the Outback to come over the next few years. Who knows what some rich father or mother might do to avenge a dead little nipper? Many aborigines actually claim the Outback isn’t all that dangerous. They say the Stewards and the government exaggerate the risk just to make sure we city folk don’t go running off dusting. Even with the horror stories the Outback never seems to run out of dusters. Every year, some of us city folk decide we can’t stick it out any longer and go dusting instead of working to bring back the green. Some are just families hungry for real land, but a lot of them are the crazy hermits you see when you close your eyes and think about dusters. They are the ones that steal blooms and build fortresses around them. They shoot on sight and lay down landmines. Some of them use camouflage so you might not even know you’re trespassing on “their” land until they start blasting. But Dusters are just one of the things that make the tribes edgy about the cities. There’s always someone out their stirring things up with talk about the near genocide and all the other abuses the settlers inflicted. There’s just not enough of the tribes for a real war, but time to time some of the younger ones do get riled up. That usually leads to some sort of trouble in the cities. Some folks say there’s an actual terrorist group, Buduwai, but I think that’s an exaggeration. It’s just kids filled with piss and sand like anywhere.

#Not_a_Galah: Since that reef money doesn’t make it to us either I won’t. But the abos can buy all the guns and political muscle they need. No more genocides for them!

#Not_a_Galah: And he’s not going to talk about the NFE is he? They have patrols flying all over the place. Maybe some of it’s to keep an eye on their stations but there’s too many just for that. They’ve been up to something for years.

#Swandiva: Hey ratbag! Don’t be such a Whacker. Aborigine or tribe or even first people. And stop joking about the near genocide. No one thinks that’s funny.

#Swandiva: What about all the rumors about dusters disappearing? Is the NFE involved? Maybe they shoot first for a reason. #Not_a_Galah: When the NFE wants test subjects they buy them by the boatload all over the world. There’s always a war or a spot of ethnic cleansing they can exploit. There’s no need to raid a duster’s homemade fortress. No, they’ve either got something to hide or they’re looking for something that escaped.

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It’s hard for us city people to really understand just how big and empty the Outback is. It’s all sand and rocks and blooms. Tough to think of it as anything even close to the green. The wind keeps the dust swirling through the air, so it’s always hard to keep your bearing and your breath. And then there’s all the creatures wandering around! The ones that couldn’t survive died off so everything in the Outback is either a killer, fast, or both. Never trust anything. Even a little bush could have poisoned thorns so it can draw nutrients from your rotting corpse. There’re little patches of micro-organisms too. Viruses and bacteria just living in the dust or the shade waiting for a host to come along. There’s a thousand ugly ways to die in the Outback. Some still unknown since no one has survived long enough to report back.

#Swandiva: Escaped!

AUSTRALIAN AUGMENTATION & HEALTH CARE UNION At the start of this century Australia had Medicare, a public system to ensure that everyone had access to the treatment they needed. A utopian idea like that was naturally one of the victims of the The Deluge and The Death. Unlike the Pommie system, Medicare didn’t die overnight, it made it through the death and lingered around for a good twenty years slowly being ripped apart on it’s deathbed. It’s survival was due to charity, volunteers and fund raising from local residents.

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By the end of ‘32, supplies were getting so rare that resupply was rare creating a market for profiteering. It was this that opened the way for the total privatisation of healthcare. People were showing that they were happy to pay to get their medical problems solved. The government tried scaling back in areas; fewer hospitals with less staff, who were then overworked, ancillary staff were let go but thankfully managers were immune to the cutbacks. After all, that’s what a hospital truly needs, some dickhead with a clip board telling the nurse what to do. As the skilled support staff and trained professionals haemorrhaged into the job market, the private companies began to circle. I’ve seen this behaviour before in sharks. The blood goes in the water and at first they circle getting the feel for the prey and then they let loose and tear the poor bastard apart. In this case, they snatched up the staff and market coverage making sure their brand was prominent and when they got big enough they started snatching up smaller companies and taking over their shares. Finally, around 2070, only a few remained, all of them scarred survivors and all of them were worn out from fighting. They formed an alliance ensuring a monopoly and the means to defend it. The Australian Augmentation & Health Care Union was born, though as it’s a hell of mouthful, most of us simply call it Aug and Health or the A&H. The majority of hospitals today are designed to fit onto the megablocks that make up our cities. The new hospitals use a modular system that lets Aug & Health maximise the effect that their resources have. If a particular block is filling up with old folks, then they’ll put a module down that is mainly equipped to deal with age related concerns. Likewise, rougher areas will be self supporting and receive an armoured trauma centre instead of a pediatric unit. These trauma modules were originally designed to be dropped at crisis points during the Great Retreat and supply emergency treatments, a triumph of engineering and rugged durability. This doesn’t mean that A&H is decentralised and autonomous local health care. The modestly named “AAHU Prime” sits over a large part of Brisbane and is the management centre for all of A&H’s patient information. To ease access, Prime has several landing pads and a neighbouring runway to allow easy access for VTOL aircraft, as well several roads from different levels. It also has an incredible number of nonstandard facilities, such as coffin hotels. These hotels offer reduced rates to the families of patients. #Swandiva: They’d better offer reduced rates. The coffins are just a bed with a toilet, mist shower and a live feed of the patient’s room.

A few people know these shortcuts and make good use of them to get from where they are to where they need to be a bit quicker than going the normal route. I once saw a doctor pop a panel off a wall to get to another ward without having to go around the houses just to get next door. I caught up with the doc later and asked him about it. He said that it can be pretty dangerous taking a shortcut over a long distance but, that as a way of going from one ward to another, they’re great at shaving valuable seconds of his response time. Unfortunately I got the feeling that he wasn’t talking about saving lives but more about being monitored by his bosses. There have been many attempts to have the ratways mapped, but so far every attempt has failed due to the hardware malfunction. The most dramatic had a drone crash into a managing director’s ceiling, and embed itself in his shoulder. Here’s the secret that spoils it: What they fail to mention (outside the few hundred pages of small print of course), is that if you are a patient or a member of the family, the use of any or all these facilities allows them to record your biometric data and augment operational parameters for use as they deem fit. #Swandiva: That’s not much of a secret. Most HOSPcorps do it.

I heard a rumour that they even go so far as to collect your bodily waste. I imagine that the justification that the execs of A&H would use is that the prime facility has the largest number of researchers of any private medical centre in the world, and there are only so many test subjects. The positive side of this creepy behaviour is that it helps them keep their staff up to date with the latest developments in the field, and even pushing ahead in a few. I might be trying to justify it after I needed to have my appendix out there. The weirdest thing about the hospital isn’t tunnels that can’t be mapped, or that someone developed a poop collection device that bags and tags who it came from. It’s the fact that, on a pretty regular basis, someone (or according to GodNet rumour, something) gets involved with a patient’s treatment. The first case of the haunting occurred in 2075. Ms Kettering became a patient in Brisbane Healthcare Facility; admitted as an emergency case due to her body rejecting augmentations and implants in what is called Biosystem Overstress. The standard of immunology at the time meant that the condition was rare and occurring in less than one in twenty thousand people, but that one case resulted in a total rejection of implants. Ms Kettering had received multiple implants over the course of her life to correct the congenital birth defects she suffered from. Her implants were scattered throughout the vascular system, and skeletal structure. The rejection of a single implant would lead to life altering complications, and she was facing a total rejection of all her augments and most likely her death. As the condition was so rare her wishes had never been properly recorded and left the doctors in the unenviable position of having to fight with tooth and claw to ensure she lived as long as possible.

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This constant expansion ensures that when you go back for your follow up, thanks to the installation of a massive new wing or floor to a new module for a researcher, what you’re looking for has been moved and the helpful coloured lines now mean something else entirely. Thankfully guide programs are available for a single cred on each visit, but how hospital staff knowtheir way around is beyond me.

This constant upheaval has created an interesting feature that’s something of an open secret. The Ratway, a fancy name for the gaps between modules left by the continual changes in layout.

THE WORLD AUSTRALIA

Eventually they reached the point that medically the only reasonable response was to let the patient die and they prepared to administer a lethal dose of anaesthesia. The doctor responsible for this grim task arrived to find that her condition had improved inexplicably, and the implants were no longer being rejected. She was awake, aware of her situation, and the look in her eyes was one of gratitude. The hospital owners responded immediately by launching an investigation. The entries on her medical data had been signed “Doctor Matron,” and the drug that this doctor had administered wasn’t commercially available; in truth it didn’t exist. Thorough investigations yielded no information as to the doctor’s employee records, or where he was educated, enough information existed to allow the drug to be easily synthesised. Attempts to locate the mysterious doctor led only to layers of hacked surveillance and altered records. Witnesses have given a varied number of descriptions of the mysterious doctor. The most common though is of a tall gaunt man wearing a long coat and high collar. One of the interviewed patients joked that he thought death had come for him, and that the nurses and even doctors paid no special attention to him even as he took charge from them. It was only afterwards that as the nurses and doctors checked over data that realisation that the acerbic and brilliant doctor had been the guardian angel of the hospital’s patients.

Unfortunately such dedication and acquired learning is rarely recognised or rewarded in professional circles. As public healthcare was torn apart he was one of many forced into retirement during the cuts intended to stave off the vultures for a little longer. Somewhat bitter and unwilling to let go of what for so long had dominated his life he took voluntary work within the hospital and began his own clandestine work, building a laboratory deep within the Ratways of AAHU Prime. Utilising the knowledge gleaned over years of dedicated service and his own skills with information technology, he created a network and system that gave him full access to the myriad of research projects. Doctor Matron uses a high level virtual intelligence called #Recovery to coordinate the current data and unreleased findings of the hundreds of researchers, allowing him to get ahead of them and make scientific leaps. The most famous example stems from his first appearance; the Kettering Immuno-Suppressant is now used worldwide to treat cases of Biosystem Overstress. With the advent of engram tech in 2088, he has used the technology to implant a viral personality engram into the menial and administrative simulacrum within the hospital. The recipients now all share his desire to improve the state of the A&H system. However those infected with the engram at each synchronisation have been moving closer to a gestalt personality and they become more alike and their original personalities are beginning to atrophy.

The World

In the past fifteen years these appearances have become a permanent fixture of local legend, as well as additional revenue for the hospital. Several documentaries have been made and Bollywood has made two films centred around it. The documentaries are all pretty cut rate jobs all claiming to know the truth of the mystery and some of them are pretty outlandish. The nuggets of truth must be in there, some claim it’s an AI; others that it’s actually a conspiracy of medical staff to test illegal or at least unapproved pharmaceuticals. The movies are better; one was a retelling of the Phantom of the Opera, but transposed into a hospital setting, and the second was a horror story where an inbred mutant from the outback had got in and was playing “doctor” with the nursing staff.

Doctor Matron is a pseudonym for one of the most talented if unconventional medical minds of the century. In the early part of the twenty first century before The Death, and even before The Deluge, a young man came to work in a minor administrative position in the Public Health Service. As he spent more time within the hospital he began to absorb medical knowledge to help improve the patient’s situation by deciphering exactly what was wrong, what was needed and the urgency of each situation and, after years of unofficial study he had attained an impressive medical knowledge rivalling and in some cases exceeding the actual doctors.

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#Billy_Black_Eyes: We’re just scratching the surface on engrams and their applications in society. That said, Dr. Matron’s use of engrams is somewhat unethical. #Simba: The ends justify the means, Billy. #Luciferion: Agreed, Simba. I wish he working in Chicagoland.

THE WORLD NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: KIWIVOICE.NEWS.NZL FQDN: KIWIVOICE.NEWS.NZL.12TN.TPN.SWW.GNET #KEEN Posted By: #Christine “Keen” Fergusson (BA, MA, PhD), New Zealand Ministry of Cultural Sanitation

Compared to most places out there, New Zealand is a paradise, and we plan to keep it that way. That does not mean we Kiwis are unfriendly or inhospitable. A lot of us are only second or third generation after all. However, during the bad years, when it seemed like the whole world wanted refuge, we got used to picking newcomers pretty carefully and that has held over even now. Our islands are small and unspoiled. We do not want big industry chewing up our farms and forests. New Zealanders live by brain power, innovation, not grunt work. If you want ideas or designs, come to us. If you want sweatshops, go a little further north and try Australia, they might lick your boots for half a credit.

We are not insects or burrowing animals seeking dark and cramped surroundings. Comfort matters to us. Our homes and workplaces are cosy and cheerful. And, by the way, as a quick word of advice to outsiders, none of us think hobbit jokes are very funny. The end of oil had already taught us not to rely too much on one energy source. We used everything we could think of: solar, tidal, geothermal, biofuel. However, it was our hydrocell technology that changed the game. The income, and spinoffs, from HC gave us a measure of freedom few other nations had. We knew this was a luxury but we still took full advantage. After all, it was our brains and climate of innovation that built that particular lifeboat. We earned it. Our government treated immigration policy as a strategic resource. Everyone saw New Zealand as the last refuge in a world gone mad. For more than a generation we could select the best and the brightest from the entire world. Our average national IQ rose by 10 full points. #Cloud Spinner: Smartest people in the world! That’s us! #Gondwan: IQ measures only one segment of intelligence. It’s a pretty poor indicator of future success. And she’s not mentioning what we did to within our population to “improve” the country either. My grandfather was almost deemed on the spectrum. My father was lucky he was allowed to be born.

#Cloud Spinner: That’s for sure! Ever wonder why Kiwi motors is based out of Australia? We’ll do the designing, marketing, and all the other smart work. Let the Aussies get dirty making the actual cars.

#Cloud Spinner: Careful. Outsiders are going to read this. She’s from cultural sanitation remember.

#Gondwan: No, it was always there. Used to be called Holden motors before we developed the hydro cell. Sure, the buyout was two slaps in the face, but what could they do?

HOW THINGS WORK

Kiwis understand that the minds of our people are our greatest resource and give education the attention it deserves. We have more PHDs per capita than any other country in the world. Only a few of the planetary colonies can claim a better educated population and they are mostly still relying on immigration. However, we never make a fetish of “progress.” For us, it is all about finding solutions that fit our way of life. Our good life. Humans are not meant to live in sterile environments. The natural world is important to us and our health; both physical and mental. We believe that all people should be able to walk barefoot through grass, climb a tree, swim in the ocean, and eat food plucked directly from the vine or branch. This is how humans evolved and our natures have not changed.

HOW WE GOT HERE When the Floods came, Kiwis had to adapt or die. Sacrificing everything in hopes of keeping the water from sweeping over a few cities did not make any sense. It was easier to just move inland a bit and start over. The mountains, forests, and meadows were still there. Why break our backs and sell our souls for pavement?

We use paper ballots for our elections. That is not just for tradition, it also keeps hackers from playing games like over in Australia. However, it does mean we cannot clutter up our elections with a lot of initiatives and minor offices. Once we pick the party we support it is up to them to decide who actually sits in the legislature and then up to the members to get down to governing. After all, we elect them for a reason. A lot of the daily work gets done by civil servants such as myself. Our current PM, Myles Eldridge, and his colleagues in the Clarity party set policy in the legislature but it is up to us to interpret and implement it. This does provide a measure of continuity as cabinets change. For instance, if Clarity were to lose the next election to Unity my day to day routine would not change all that much. In New Zealand, the voters agree on the important issues and the political parties reflect this consensus. Politicians debate tactics and priorities not the overall goals of our society. We Kiwis value harmony; with visitors, each other, and nature. Though relatively few of us actually live in the reborn cities and coastal towns we welcome Rovers whenever they visit. It is a matter of pride to know they consider our islands anchor

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Still, it gave us a chance to think about the kind of country we wanted to live in, to pass on to our children, and we took it. We built platforms and floats above the drowned placesallowing us, on a smaller scale, to reclaim our lost cities. Most of us, connected digitally and then eventually by TAP, decided we wanted more room than you can find in a city.

In New Zealand everyone gets at least one vote. Even high school grads or drop outs deserve some kind of voice. Of course, every actual degree earned means an additional vote. The people capable of doing the most for the country deserve to have a greater say. That’s common sense. Education is a right as much as medical care or nano. When considering people who refuse to, or simply cannot, improve themselves we must be realistic about the contribution they can make.

THE WORLD NEW ZEALAND

ports where they are always welcome. Though our focus on higher end products means we have fewer dealings with them than Australia, they are still a vital part of our economy. #Billy_Black_Eyes: I don’t know that all of you kiwis accept Rovers . I’ve seen footage of Rovers getting beaten half to death fior docking in the wrong harbor.

Unfortunately, the wounds of prior centuries still continue to fester within our Maori minority. Though we all, especially us at the Ministry, take great pain to accommodate their sensibilities there is still noticeable friction with the Maori. While this is likely the greatest source of internal tension, and proof that New Zealand still has a way to go, in truth most Maori are happy and well-adjusted members of the mainstream. They go to our schools, work in our businesses, and take part in our national life equally with all other citizens.

sheep to produce bio-constructs by incubating them within the wombs of ewes left to graze beneath the warm sun. We believe the success rate of our bio-constructs compared to those produced in sterile vats more than speaks for itself. Many sheep also provide us with varieties of wool engineered to serve an assortment of useful purposes. If you take a close look at New Zealand you can find many similar examples of how we work in harmony with nature.

#Cloud Spinner: That’s right. Some of my best friends are Maori. They’re just like the rest of us.

#Simba: This article read like a tourist pamphlet. The Maori problem is much worse than the New Zealand government would have you believe. And all this talk about sheep and alleged harmony with nature? Yeah, go ahead and take a look, omae. You won’t find a single source that hasn’t been doctored. Hell, even this message seems to have been cut short. I wonder why? #Cloud Spinner: @Simba: Damm mate, you’re a paranoid blighter aren’t ya” #Simba: I don’t know what a blighter is, but as for paranoid; heh. Try living in my neck of the woods for a while and you’ll find that paranoia is good for the soul.

#Luciferion: @Cloud Spinner: Do you realize how racist that statement was?

The World

Kiwis often find ways to incorporate the natural world into our research projects or industry. For instance, long before the coming of the Floods and the Death we were renowned for our flocks of sheep. The sheep are still with us; often performing their traditional roles. However, many labs also use

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CHINA AND THE MANDARINATE #INFOSOURCE #VID.TAG.MANDARIN LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET DATA SOURCE: MANDARIN.GOV.CHINA.17TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/CGOUZHI Posted By: #Chou Gouzhi, Mandarinate Eunuch and spokesman for the Ministry of Proper Thought The cycle has turned and once again, as history demands, China, the middle kingdom, rests at the heart of the world. All those seeking wisdom and enlightenment must begin by embracing that simple truth; China endures. We are the last, and most prevailing, of the ancient civilizations. We rise and we fall and then we rise again. For, while we are rarely equalled in war, commerce, or invention, in truth, our greatest strength lies in our culture and our civilization. The great virtues of the Chinese way sustains us, keeps us whole as a people when history tries to make us weak.

Place is not a matter of destiny or lineage but rather one of innate abilities and temperament. Anyone can rise or fall based on how they perform on the exams and evaluations that are the most important part of our education system. These tests begin at a very early age. Indeed the original exams determine what sort of education a child is best suited to receive. The Mandarinate is first and foremost a meritocracy. No other system ever devised places such an emphasis on efficiency and fairness. #HoleintheWall: Oh, they’re fair alright. It’s just a coincidence that the children of the elite tend to do much better on all the tests that really matter.

These tests ensure that every citizen of the Mandarinate is assigned the job, or life task, most in keeping with his, her, or nes talents and personality. Of course, with age and experience, people might advance somewhat, for instance, moving from worker to supervisor or salaried employee to business owner, but the scientific nature of determining place ensures that no significant errors are ever made. Outsiders can never truly understand the joy it gives us to know that we perfectly fit the task assigned to us. This helps to explain our legendary work ethic and productivity.

The New Mandarins Rise

This is why we consciously blend the new with the old. Unlike other peoples, chasing flash and novelty, we preserve the ancient ways even as we embrace progress. For, as it is written, those who forget the start of their journey have no hope of reaching the end. China endures.

The Communists destroyed themselves through self-inflicted wounds. Though they brought about great prosperity and growth they pursued these goals through unnatural means. While this was clear in many different fields the one child only policy was ultimately their greatest blunder.

We in the Mandarinate understand the value of the Chinese way and that is why we have chosen to pass this gift onto other nations. Today, many of our neighbors are sheltered beneath the umbrella of China. Ruled by mandarins educated and tested side by side with our own they have earned the great prosperity and the peace that comes with the Chinese way.

When that first generation of only children reached adulthood, they realized that the Communists had allowed parents to favor boys over girls. Millions of young men recognized that they were doomed to lives of loneliness. That they would never marry. They would die unmourned by children and grandchildren. Restive and outraged, they looked for someone to blame and their eyes quite naturally fell upon the Communists.

#TurtlesallthewayDown: Pretty full of nemself huh?

The New Mandarins, as the first generation of the Mandarinate called themselves, took this fury and channelled it to productive means. They overthrew the Communists and gave these lost young men a cause to fill their otherwise empty lives. Many historians call the spread of the Mandarinate to neighboring countries the “Bachelor Wars,” but I consider that a rather crude simplification of something much greater and far more pure.

#Billy_Black_Eyes: Nemself? WTF? #Wolfson: It’s a neuter pronoun, Billy. #PandaStride: You know those mandarin eunuchs. They’re all pompous. #TurtlesallthewayDown: Sure, but even with that he seems to have a little extra dose of that conceit. Probably why he ended up in the Ministry of Proper Thought.

Place

#FangFan: Ne’s not even talking about our great scientific achievements. Just a bunch of politics.

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#InkBlot: Wonder how long they will talk about the broken children… #FangFan: I should have known you’d bring that up! Yes, mistakes were made, but look at what ultimately came from those terrible experiments. #Inkblot: Our new ruling class? Human 2.0. #FangFan: Sure why not. One day every baby will get improved as a matter of course. And those experiments also lead to a lot of other advances in biotech. Brazil might strut around but we Chinese are the real leaders not them.

The World

To understand China, you must first grasp that we value harmony above all. Each person in this world has a place, a role, which he, she, or ne must fulfil in order to find happiness and to serve society as a whole. Those unable to find, or fill, their place are not rebels or criminals. They are damaged and deserve compassion rather than scorn. All efforts to help people and nations find their proper place demonstrate an empathy that many outsiders cannot understand. The scandalous reports claiming that we employ re-education camps and other sorts of horrors are fabrications!

#Inkblot: Yeah that’s right. Every child will get the 2.0 treatment right around the time the elite follows Shen Wei into her dubber’s paradise.

Sadly, it was the Death that truly established the Mandarinate as a force for good. Even more than the catastrophe of the Floods the Death put everyone no more than a few meals away from barbarism or even the grave. Some claim that China actually took food and other needed resources from our mandarinate allies. That is false! Unacceptable! A lie so terrible it offends me even to mention it. All records from that time clearly show that China was a net exporter of food and other essentials. We were the bulwark that maintained civilization.

Of course, this promise of great prosperity has stirred the greed of the Russian locusts. When the Charon virus threw the world — especially the EU — into chaos, Russia seized this opportunity to launch a series of provocations against our forces stationed within the thawed lands. Unacceptable! Our strictly defensive garrisons suffered great loses through these wanton terrorists assaults. Though China and her Mandarinate allies love peace, we have had no choice but to launch a series of pre-emptive retaliations against the Russian aggressor. #DreadfulBear: “Pre-emptive retaliation?” Wow, what a load of crap! Nice spin on how a bunch of horny Chinese soldiers tried to conquer half the world. They invaded us and plain out stole Siberia along with the rest of our Asian holdings when were distracted by the Death and the Floods.

The Thawed L ands

#VodkaSpiller: Like ne said, you abandoned the thawed lands and now you have adopted terrorist tactics against us. The bombings, raids, and attacks on air cars were bad enough. But when you guys assassinated General Meng you went too far.

The Floods wrought many changes upon our planet. The thawed lands, formerly called Siberia, are no exception. A new climate tamed the once legendary winters. In the early days, during the transition, great tracts of mud crept across the tundra and many parts of the deep forests. This all but destroyed the roads, railways, and power grids that Russia used to keep the oppressed peoples of those lands under its ruthless boot.

The World

For generations, the Mandarinate devoted enormous effort towards improving the conditions of our mandarinate allies in the thawed lands. There was peace, prosperity, and progress for those who embraced the Chinese way. Recently, as the reports of geologists and ecologists grew ever more favourable, we rejoiced that the great fortune about to befall the thawed lands. Within a decade, as the climate finally adapts to the changes caused by the Floods, the thawed lands are poised to become one of the most fertile and bountiful areas in the entire planet. Amazingly, this great fecundity is actually overmatched by the influx of wealth from oil and minerals Indeed, many in the Mandarinate talked of changing the name of the thawed lands to the blessed lands.

#DreadfulBear: Meng? @Vodka …You mean the war hero who spoke out against Shen Wei and all her allies dubbing themselves into digital immortality? The general who got reassigned to a backwater as punishment? And of course, for some reason, we waited until we were almost crippled by the Charon virus to launch this “provocation” huh? Isn’t it strange how we only seem to attack China when we are in no position to defend ourselves from your “retaliation”? #n00b.

Russian belligerence caused their forces to overreach and they have suffered epic defeats. Regular troops as well as elite soldiers drawn from all twelve types of the celestial legion have performed heroically. Thousands of dragons patrol our lines. Ranging from jade observers all the way up to gem class battle drones we have the firepower to destroy anything Russia sends at us. We have also decanted tens of thousands of Sons of Qin who stand ready to give their very lives for the principles of the Chinese way.

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#VodkaSpiller: Yes! Noting you have can match our celestials and dragons!

THE WORLD THE CHINESE MANDRAITE #DreadfulBear: Okay, back up a minute. The dragons are unmanned drones with AI and remote operators. The celestials are hybrids, for some reason tied to your zodiac, not sure why you’d want horse or pig soldiers, whatever. But what are these Sons of Qin?

are free to use modern conveniences inside their homes. However, this is why we reserve peasantry only for those unable to serve the Mandarinate in any other useful way. This allows even them to contribute.

#VodkaSpiller: Combat sims. Named for the terracotta soldiers who guard the first Qin emperor. We don’t make as much use of sims as other countries but they are part of our strategic reserve.

Rumors of the early 21st century industrialization creating massive ecological disasters in our pristine countryside and infrastructure are entirely unfounded and fabricated by poor lost souls like the Russians who do not yet know their place.

Many legends were made during that winter war. For instance, the cowardly raid carried out by the so called “New Cossacks,” which we repelled during a fierce five day struggle. Using snow mobiles, instead of the traditional horses, tens of thousands of troops on both sides waged an almost classical cavalry battle barely a decade from the start of the twentysecond century. Were it not for a paralyzing blizzard on the second day we likely would have prevailed far sooner, but even without the air support of our dragons, the Mandarinate did ultimately prevail. This temporary setback prompted us to reassign many units from the Ministry of Sun and Rain to the thawed lands for the remaining duration of the war. Though this could make weather less certain in the remainder of the Mandarinate, all acknowledge the necessity of the sacrifice. No one wants our troops to suffer through another blizzard if we have the means to prevent it. In addition to regular Russian forces some of our units also reported clashes with irregulars moving through the snow. Our brave soldiers intercepted some of these groups and discovered that many of them are actually foreign mercenaries and bandits claiming loyalty to the so called cause of “liberty.” Those who fight for pay or plunder have no honor. #DreadfulBear: I’m as surprised as anyone about all the volunteers coming in from the EU and beyond to help fight off the Mandarinate forces. Some are descended from refugees who fled the initial conquest of Siberia but a lot of them have no connection. They just want to resist tyranny before it arrives at their doorsteps. And, not surprisingly, ne isn’t talking about the native Siberians who joined up as a scouts and guides. Guess not everyone loves their “paradise.” But I’m not surprised that the Mandarinate continues to muck around with the weather. They’ve learned nothing from the Floods!

Understanding the Ministries Finally, before moving on to a discussion of our mandarinate allies, I think it only fitting to offer a brief explanation of the ministries and how the Mandarinate — the greatest system ever devised — regulates itself. As mentioned, we are a meritocracy. The best of us are selected at a very early age to join one of the thirty-five ministries that organize our society. As always, place determines our rank. Some become functionaries, others junior Mandarins, and our most gifted and enlightened, senior Mandarins. Members of each group arrive at their own hierarchies based on experience and their TAP but senior Mandarins always outrank their juniors in the same way that junior Mandarins outrank mere functionaries and average citizens. The ministries constantly negotiate for position and place amongst themselves both in the Mandarinate as a whole and in various districts. This helps to determine who has ultimate authority when dealing with issues that concern more than one ministry. Each region, and the Mandarinate as a whole, has a coordinating council made up of representatives of all ministries. When individual ministries cannot settle an issue the councils must step in and make the final decision. While no one person is every truly paramount on a council some do earn greater place than others strictly on their own merits and talents. For instance, Shen Wei, the first woman to ever earn a seat on the Mandarinate board, is widely viewed as one of the wisest voices in our entire society. The fact that she is also one of the oldest of the neo humans — 2.0 as you Westerners call them — is mostly coincidental. When she suffered great injury in a car accident and her body began to fail it seemed only natural to try and preserve her mind and essence through dubbing.

#VodkaSpiller: The Floods are the reason why we have devoted so much research into weather control. The Mandarinate have made famines and coastal disasters manageable problems. One day we shall eliminate them altogether.

Perfection and Preservation All cities have different cultural zones designed to represent the architecture and living styles of past eras. Though our cities are still mostly devoted to the present day, one can walk through the ages simply by passing through neighborhoods dedicated to the various centuries.

Some considered this controversial at the time. But now, a scant two years later, nearly a quarter of the Mandarinate board has joined her. As Shen Wei and her colleagues enjoy their existence in this digital afterlife we can all take comfort in knowing that we finally have achieved the harmony all true citizens of the Mandarinate crave.

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#PandaStride: That’s pretty obvious. Kill them. Or get killed in turn. Maybe induct a few they can control. It’s a pretty tempting offer. Ruling forever. But there’s only so many seats at the table. #TurtlesallthewayDown: Exactly! Can’t they see this is going to tear the Mandarinate apart?

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Most of our countryside is similarly dedicated to preserving the old ways. That is another reason why so many of our people are selected to live as peasants just like our ancestors in countless generations past. Yes, peasants have it much harder than city dwellers since even those in cultural zones

#TurtlesallthewayDown: Harmony? How do you think leaders who never die are going to treat the next crop of wannabes?

THE WORLD THE CHINESE MANDRAITE #PandaStride: Admitting that would require a lot of guts. Something mandarins aren’t noted for having. Despite all the nonsense about colleagues Shen Wei runs the whole damn Mandarinate. If you try to pull her plug or even just push her aside she’ll crush you. Easier just to pretend.

few administrators delivering quotas of food to the Chinese masters. They were the assassins of our beloved King. #JadeEye: Aren’t you being a little bit excitable? You still have cities after all. #YesIAm: Bangkok’s maybe a third the size of what it once was and the others are even smaller. And what about the preserves the Mandarinate oversees? What’s really going on it there?

Mandarinate Allies The obvious superiority of the Chinese way has made the Mandarinate welcome far beyond our own borders. Many of our neighbors have demonstrated proper wisdom by embracing the peace and prosperity that comes from the Chinese way. Countless peoples and lands have joined together to benefit from the blending of the best of ancient and modern that defines the Mandarinate. #DreadfulBear: What a crock of shit. Everyone knows that their neighbors are nothing more than vassal states. The Mandarinate allows the illusion of sovreignity, but they secretly dictate the foreign and domestic policies of these so-called nations. And if a territory gets out of line, you can be damned sure the dragon is there to set things straight; with force if need-be.

TAIWAN When the communists fell the reason that had kept Taiwan separate from the mainland fell with them. However, the first generation of Mandarins recognized that the culture and politics of the island had followed a path different from the rest of China. They feared that bringing Taiwan back under direct rule might destroy what had made it distinctive and unique. Instead, they established broad guidelines and gave the island a great deal of local autonomy. Unfortunately, it is almost entirely dominated by one of the densest sprawls in the Mandarinate. This is likely where the slanders about Taiwan as a hotbed of crime and unrest come from. In truth, the population is content and well looked after. It is home to a vital space port and a critical gateway to our colonies in the rest of the solar system.

#JadeEye: Clearly they are exactly as they seem. Nature preserves. A trust we take on behalf of the Thai people. #YesIAm: Whatever. Siam will rise again. And soon.

SINGAPORE Though in many ways similar to Taiwan, the island of Singapore chose a very different response to the floods. Rather than fashion walls to keep the water out they instead opted to build up. Over decades, as the waters rose they put down a new layer on top of the roofs of their existing homes and buildings. It earned them the nickname, “people of the new mountain”, which they embraced with pride. Thanks to the wisdom of their Mandarin leaders, the Singaporeans took the precaution of carefully sealing off the original layer of their island. This has given them an enormous space, virtually a second city, beneath the waters. Rather than let that area go to waste the native Singaporeans welcomed guest workers from all over the Mandarinate to live peaceful and contented lives within the shelter of their lower island. There, working in safe and clean environments, they produce many vital goods benefiting the entire Mandarinate. Though, as guest workers, they have little influence in the local government, they must eventually go home after all, Singapore has nevertheless set up special venues for them to resolve disputes. #NotyouraverageTiger: Ne doesn’t mention that native Singaporeans are almost all ethnic Chinese. #Pearlsb4Swine: Why would that matter? #NotyouraverageTiger: Because the “guest workers” who have “little influence in local government” certainly aren’t. Some of them have been there for a couple generations but they’re still outsiders.

#FormosaMore: It wasn’t about preserving our culture but keeping us from contaminating the rest of China. They didn’t trust us and they still don’t.

#Pearlsb4Swine: That’s what the dispute resolution ne mentioned is for.

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THAILAND In the years leading up to, and immediately after, the fall of the Communists in China two factions, the Red shirts and the Blue shirts, had all but destroyed the Thai economy by driving away tourists and sabotaging industry. Though the rivalry had begun before the assassination of the king and the murder of the rest of the royal family it only got worse during the political crisis. Due to the chaos the Thai people welcomed the Mandarinate’s humanitarian intervention and became one of the fastest to embrace the Chinese way.

In Vietnam, formerly celebrated for its ecological diversity, the floods and long “nuclear autumn” of the Death dealt the entire land a terrible, shattering blow. Countless species of plants and animals were wiped out during those dark times. As the Vietnamese came to realize the true magnitude of their loss, many of them began to fall prey to a form of depression which, in the local language, best translates as “the privation.”

Rather than try to rebuild the tourist trade and modernize what was left of their manufacturing base, the newly minted Mandarin government of Thailand instead, without any prompting from the Mandarinate itself, choose to focus on agriculture and traditional crafts. The Mandarinate still pursues the vile assassin of the Royal family, true to its promise to the peoples of Thailand.

In time many Vietnamese turned to genetics and biochemistry in hopes of recreating what they could no longer find in the natural world. They had considerable success but also many, sometimes quite tragic, failures. As the years passed, the Vietnamese have earned a reputation as some of the most cunning and dedicated gene splicers on the planet. Though they prefer to organize into thousands of tiny, usually portable,

VIETNAM

#YesIAm: Don’t let them fool you. We are the Mandarinate’s plan for everywhere. Peasants, nothing but peasants and

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labs instead of large institutions they are still recognized as important contributors to Mandarinate science.

geneticists and cyberneticists to study their latest findings in the form of prehistoric creatures.

#GettingHanoid: Ne isn’t talking about the drugs and all the other dirty stuff some of us get sucked into.

All facility functions are overseen by various drones and bots who operate under the purview of a vast AI known as A.P.R.I.L. (Advanced Protocol “R” Interface Life form). A.P.R.I.L. ensures all the animals (living and cyber) are maintained according to her vast library of zoological data. Zoologists and paleontologists from around the world pay a hefty premium to be able to study with Eden’s top-ranked scientists in these fields. It should be noted that while the public who pass through daily believe the prehistoric dinosaurs and such to be real work of genetic manipulation, the truth is that these are really nothing more than “dumb” bioroids — creatures that are an amalgam of biological and mechanical. Their “thought processes” are really sophisticated processors granting the semblance of life.

#ThisYuansForYou: The Vietnamese all but revere the environment. You can’t seriously expect me to believe they’re mucking around with those sorts of things. #GettingHanoid: Not all of us are saints.

///THREAD JACK/// LOADING… SHADOW PROFILES: SUBJECT: EDEN ZOO Located in Singapore, the cyber-attraction known as Eden Zoo has gained some popularity in the years it has been open. Being a niche entertainment center for those who wish to not only see creatures from “the Past, Present, and Future all in one place” (as the founder, J.A. Mosswood — lead engineer and tech, as well as head of Axxel Engineering — said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2021), but also where many of the latest innovations in cybernetics can be seen on display — and for sale.

As explained previously, Eden Zoo is composed of several main sites and facilities. When the zoo was originally conceived, it was to be a pair of geodesic domes, a main facility for the staff, and the ocean pool (nicknamed “Oceanica” by the staffers). A few secondary buildings have been added to house manufacturing and secondary mainframe functions, but the zoo remains as it did when built in 2021.

THE DOMES There are two massive geodesic domes over 100 meters in diameter that dominate the zoo. Each one is labeled. One is called “The Past” and the other is “The Future.” As guests enter into each of them, they get a glimpse of what life was like before mankind rose to dominance, and what mankind thinks he may encounter on trips beyond our solar system (or possibly on local planets).

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Located on the coast of Singapore, Eden Zoo, was one of the only few places to have a sea wall built to keep out the rising waters (other parts of the island had used other methods). The complex is divided into several main sections: the two domes (housing past and future creatures), the four-story main building, and the Oceanica “pool” where all manner of aquatic creatures can be seen. Aside from being a place to study cybernetic creatures mixed with fully-living ones, an asylum for creatures who are either endangered or amongst the last of their kind, and a cybernetics lab, the zoo allows

ZOO LAYOUT

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DOME ONE — THE PAST Organized into a variety of levels, each with various guide bots to help the visitors along (and to translate for out of town guests), Dome One houses cybernetic drones wrapped in bio-synthetic skins that mimic what paleontologists believe to be the skin ancient dinosaurs had wrapped around their skeletons. There’s talk amongst the Singapore low-life community that AxE has developed state of the art creatures that can change their basic structure. While they can’t change their mass, they can go from something of similar size (say a saber tooth tiger) to a t-rex with a command from A.P.R.I.L. As impressive as this sounds, it rumored that similar “smart toys” may be up for sale in the next issue of the Malmart Catalog. However, the Past dome doesn’t just contain cybernetic robotic “toys.” It also contains specialized habitats for animals that are on the endangered species list and at high risk of being wiped out by mankind. These areas are protected by some of the best physical security and intrusion software Axxel Engineering can buy. In addition, A.P.R.I.L. can call upon a veritable army of bots and sentries to keep out any would-be intruders (as some of these species can command a princely sum on the Black Market). One last thing that some find to be unusual, but once they learn about the reasonings, many come to understand them. Within the fields and habitats created for the cybernetic dinosaurs, Eden also hosts an array of mythical creatures such as Unicorns, Griffons, Dragons, and so forth roam about.

DOME TWO — THE FUTURE The second massive dome is home to what scientists and experts believe man will find out in the wilderness of space. As we continue to move out from our homeworld, we can expect to encounter all manner of species — some of which we may not even recognize as sentient. As strange as this may sound, Axxel Engineering consulted with many of the top recognized science-fiction writers to help design their “Future” displays.

Eden hosts a variety of shows from dolphin acts and seals, to trained orcas and other variety of aquatic life forms. Aquatic hybrids are also a prominent feature in Oceana, living with, and caring for the creatures with whom they share DNA.

CENTER COMPLEX Eden Zoo is nearly self-sufficient in terms of energy. They take very little from the local power grids as the water turbines, wind machines, and solar collectors do an excellent job of making this place a self-sustaining wonder of creatures great and small. The central complex is four stories above ground. It houses A.P.R.I.L.’s mainframe systems, and offices for the various scientists, zoologists, geneticists, and cyberneticists that help keep the park operational and study the complex life forms within. It’s lowest levels contain the manufacturing facilities and design labs for the zoo’s cybernetics and biotechnology. Giant AI-controlled machines grind out parts for the cybernetics according to the designer’s precise instructions (and a little help from A.P.R.I.L.), while tanks bubble and churn with the growth of new skins for grafting. Many medical fields have been expanded because of these creations. However, it’s also rumored that in the late hours, men with severe ailments or injuries are brought here to the doctors operating the cybernetics and bio-genetic divisions. They say that for the right price, a person can have specialized grafts, upgraded cybernetics, or even nano-treatments. Since A.P.R.I.L. is programmed for the welfare of the facility, it’s unlikely this is more than just a rumor.

CONCLUSION Overall, Singapore’s marvelous Eden Zoo continues to test the bounds of zoological science, as well as expands the fields of both cybernetics and bio-genetics, which help keep the Megacorporation donors happy, Axxel Engineering happy, and the populace of Singapore happy.

Many of them are completely taken from hokey sci-fi trids such as sauriuan lizard men, and cat-like races. Yet, there are some novel concepts like the “ooze of Cyrax IV” and some things that allow visitors to guess which is the creature and which is the habitat. Robotic creatures also exist here, as it would stand to reason that mankind’s first encounter with an alien species may be something similar (albeit more sophisticated) to the Voyager and Mariner probes sent out in the late 20th Century.

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OCEANICA This is what tends to be the biggest draw to Eden Zoo. Combined with many real-life ocean life forms, visitors who come to Eden and travel along the pathways find themselves staring through transparent polymer to witness the vast array of life that lives in our oceans. Everything from eels and exotic fish, to ancient sea turtles and deep-sea whales dwell within the harbor of Oceanica. A.P.R.I.L. has many bots that also go out and monitor the “wellness” of the ocean. While each creature is fed, some (like the variety of sharks) must hunt. The bots ensure this happens, but within secluded niches formed into the reefs and study areas. During the zoo hours,

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///END THREAD JACK/// #Neon_Bright: I’ve been here before. The place is creepy; especially at night. #Billy_Black_Eyes: What brought you to Singapore, chica? #Neon_Bright: Nunnyas, Billy. :P #Bulan867: Eden Zoo very freeky-deeky chooba. A.P.R.I.L not just a protector A.I. She do more. Come to Singapore. Bulan show you things you eyes won’t believe. #Neon_Bright: Grammar fail. #Billy_Black_Eyes: Bulan’s native tongue is obviously not English. Give him a break.

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to abandon land entirely, joining the throng of those treacherous vagabonds who call themselves Rovers.

War and the Charon Virus Alas, as happens far too often in the world, disharmony from the outside has caused great suffering to many within the Mandarinate. Russia’s tantrums and the economic chaos sparked by the Charon virus have had a noticeable impact on a number of our mandarinate allies, and even China itself. Though we pride ourselves on self-sufficiency we are still connected with the rest of the world. This means ripples from even faraway places can disturb the tranquility we have labored so long to create. As our butterflies cause storms, a pebble dropped in a distant land creates waves on our shores. The drastic reduction in imports from — and exports to — the EU has disrupted many of our own native industries. Workers in numerous places have been forced into idleness due to the failure of a critical product or material to arrive on schedule, if at all. Even worse, many customers in the EU have cancelled or even refused to pay for orders Mandarinate companies have delivered in good faith. Though, in the long run, Europe’s economic collapse is likely an opportunity for China, for the moment it has placed great strain on our economy. Of course, considering the opportunism of the Russian beast this could not have happened at a worst time. Virtually everyone in the Mandarinate has been forced to make some sort of sacrifice to help with the war effort. The peace loving and hyper-efficient Mandarinate is simply not designed to support protracted warfare without incurring an economic cost. Rationing and redeployment of resources for the war effort have only increased the damage caused by the Charon recession. Unacceptable!

#GreatDalang: Those “fortunate few” were Han and other ethnic Chinese allowed back in their ancestral homeland. The Mandarinate wasn’t too interested in helping the rest of us. #LongLun: The Mandarinate sent thousands of aid workers and what did we get for our kindness? Terrorists!

Many terrorist networks, criminal gangs, and pirate armadas have bases hidden somewhere within these smaller islands. However, these almost traditional sorts of illicit groups are nearly quaint when compared to some of the others that also call Indonesia home. AI cults, renegade scientists determined to carry out forbidden experiments, and warbands of rogue sims battle with countless bands of memers dedicated to promoting whatever crazy notion beat through the spam filters of their TAP and infected their minds. Devotees of ideas too bizarre or dangerous to survive anywhere else flourish amongst Indonesia’s smaller islands. That simple fact demonstrates the need to bring the Chinese way to Indonesia before it is too late.

THE PHILIPPINES Some, whether through ignorance or malice, claim the Philippines are already a part of the Mandarinate. This is simply untrue. Sadly, they have yet to embrace the Chinese way. The incident of 2084, where protestors in Manila called for withdrawal from the Mandarinate was the result of a devious propaganda campaign aimed at the most woefully uninformed segment of Filipinos. Though one hesitates to point the finger of blame, clearly Brazil benefited the most from the international outrage that ensued when we were forced to defend our embassy from the rioters.

Though no one would compare losing a job or business to the sacrifices made by our troops on behalf of our mandarinate allies in the thawed lands, the suffering of the common people is yet another indictment to lay against the murderously subhuman Russians when they are finally brought to account.

The Forlorn Sadly, not everyone has demonstrated proper wisdom and clarity of thought. Though most of our neighbors have embraced the Chinese way and cheerfully become our mandarinate allies a few still live in error. We feel great sorrow for them but know in time they too shall know the peace and prosperity that comes from accepting the Chinese way. Rather than catalogue all of the forlorn and describe the heavy prices they have paid for their foolish stubbornness let us consider just two; Indonesia and the Philippines.

INDONESIA

#Longlun: You don’t know shit round eye. The Mandarinate has nothing to fear from Brazil!

In truth, as with all of our neighbors, we wish nothing but the best for our Filipino friends and know that one day they too shall enjoy the peace and prosperity of the Chinese way. However, we also understand that time has not yet come. In fact, the religious mania and fanaticism that grips the Philippines makes it even more difficult for them to accept the obvious benefits of embracing the Chinese way. Many find it curious that the floods and the Death, which all but shattered Indonesia, had the opposite effect on another island archipelago, the Philippines. Even as space became more crowded the survivors simply drew deeper upon their faith and refused to split into warring camps. Some of their most revered religious figures from that time are religious leaders who martyred themselves to preserve what they called “God’s Peace.”

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None of the vast number of islands that made up the Indonesian archipelago passed through the Floods unscathed. Many of them actually disappeared entirely — forcing their populations to search for new homes. A fortunate few of these refugees were welcomed into the Mandarinate but most were simply pushed into the reduced and already crowded territories of neighboring islands. Some of them even suffered the saddest fate of all and were left with no choice but

#Luciferion: Brazil’s behind a great many things, especially in Asia, and the Mandarinate have a reason to worry about Brasillia moving in on their territory, especially now that they are fighting the Russians.

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entire Northern Command into the fray — nearly 1/3rd of the Indian Army. Again Sakesh leaked the information to the ISI.

THE INDIA LEAGUE #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: INDIALEAGUE.INF.JP FQDN: INDIA.INF.JP.15TN.TPN.SWW.GNET Posted by: #Kali76 India’s history has always been marred with strife, even as the country itself sought to achieve a cultural identity. For centuries, the blended nation of Hindi, Muslim, and Buddhist believers clashed for control of the citizen’s souls, but even these wars took second fiddle to conflicts with the occupying British, the nearby Chinese, and the perennial rivals to the north in Pakistan. By 2015, many thought that India would become the next great manufacturing giant with a massive workforce eager to join the industrialized world. Certainly, India’s leaders pushed in that direction, though continued saber-rattling with Pakistan led to circumstances that none could have foreseen. Both India and Pakistan achieved nuclear capability in the late 20th Century, and while both countries had kept the nuclear option as their “ace in the hole” for years, no one really thought that either side would utilize that option. That is, however, until the perfect storm of tensions that resulted in the nuclear exchange commonly known as The Death. In 2028, newly elected Indian President and well known nationalist, Ranajay Naman, began pushing the Central Government of India towards increased industrialization, a stronger national infrastructure, and a better sense of secular national identity. Pakistan was still recovering from the assassination of their Premier, Sohan Swarit, at the hands of a criminally insane American zealot. Swarit’s replacement, Batuk Abhiraj, had attempted to bolster Pakistan’s floundering economy and gain support amongst Pakistani fundamentalists by supporting Iran’s war against Israel. However, the devastation caused throughout the Middle East was unfathomable at the time, all but crippling the Pakistani military.

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Naman viewed this opportunity as a prime one: he could retake Pakistan with little to no resistance, folding them into a greater India. On April 23rd, Naman issued the order for Operation Silent Dawn — the ground invasion of Pakistan. By noon that day, the Nagrota (XVI) Corps marched on the Kashmiri border, containing three infantry divisions, artillery and anti-aircraft guns, and a brigade of Arjun MBT tanks. Records show that the Indian intelligence had indicated a 73% likelihood of the surrender of the Pakistani government within three weeks. They were wrong. A double agent within Indian intelligence named Pranav Sakesh had forwarded critical information about Silent Dawn to his handlers within Pakistani InterServices Intelligence. Prudently, Premier Abhiraj reallocated forces to reinforce the Kashmiri border. The invasion quickly turned into a stalemate, though the much-larger Indian military seemed to loom in the wings. Wanting a swift end to the battle (and a defeat of Pakistan amongst his accomplishments), President Naman ordered the

Abhiraj became desperate. The Pakistani military was stretched too thin to provide an adequate defense, even with forces being redirected from the Levant and Iran. While it was certainly true that Abhiraj had contemplated utilizing closerange nuclear warheads, it is equally well documented that he discarded the option, as he was unwilling to kill so many innocents on such a large scale. Rumors of a coup on May 19th began circulating, with one of the Pakistani commanders, General Rohinesh Nayakan, taking control of the Pakistani central government. However, such rumors are unproven. Regardless of who was in charge of Pakistan at the time, the results were devastating. On May 24th, at least nine 12 megaton warheads were detonated along the Kashmiri border, instantly vaporizing battalions of Indian and Pakistani troops, as well as the entire population of the cities of Madras and Delhi. Millions died, though the toll could have been higher, as numerous missile launches were foiled by orbital defense satellites. Even still, entire cities were reduced to little more than radioactive rubble. New Delhi and Chandigarh were annihilated. The Death had begun.

Death and Fractions India’s hopes and dreams were dashed by its own greed and lust for expansion. All the dreams of being a world power wafted away in a cloud of radioactive dust. Entire cities were leveled, and India’s population plummeted due to starvation, cancer, and radiation poisoning. With its infrastructure shattered by the war with Pakistan, the leaders of India split along numerous political and religious lines. None seemed to be able to hold the state together with any semblance of authority. The major remaining cities began focusing more on self-sustenance and keeping their own populations alive, rather than working as a coherent, cohesive nation. While still loosely referred to as “India,” it quickly became apparent to all that India was no longer the burgeoning world power that it aspired to be. Always known for its tropical monsoon seasons, the Death brought entire seasons of rain tainted with radioactive fallout. Farmers and other rural-dwelling individuals fled their fields for the major coastal cities and those populated centers left behind soon fell into disrepair and ruin. After The Death ended, these areas — including the majority of central India — were quickly retaken by the jungle. With massive overpopulation in the cities and no agrarian infrastructure to support the hungry sprawlers, the rulers of the various Indian city-states needed to come up with a way to feed the throng. Luckily enough, one man held the key: Sanjit Bhudupenra. A mechanical engineer by trade, Bhudupenra’s expertise lay in fluid dynamics. Having worked on several of the dam and levee systems throughout India prior to The Death, Bhudupenra found himself experimenting with designs for irrigation in 2031, at the request the Governor of Kolkata, Harij Gaurang. Kolkata’s food supply was at the mercy of the

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summer monsoons, which were heavily tainted by radioactive waste. However, Bhudupenra and his team responded to this challenge with the first ARNAV filtration unit: a method of water collection and filtration which allowed for natural nitrogen filtration through hydroponically grown plants. With one fantastic invention, Bhudupenra managed to solve two of India’s biggest problems in one swoop: starvation and water-filtration. Bhudupenra quickly patented his ideas, selling them to city states throughout India and, later, worldwide. Bhudupenra’s corporation, Hydronax Kolkata, became an overnight powerhouse, with sales reaching the $100 billion mark in their second year of incorporation. While Bhudupenra’s rise was meteoric, his fall was equally spectacular. In 2041, Kwame Featherstone’s experimentations with matter assembly grew worldwide as an economical (read: dirt-cheap!) method for food production. With smaller, more cost-efficient machines and the ability to convert waste into edible food or other necessary materials, Featherstone’s technology quickly outstripped sales of Hydronax’s hydroponic filtration systems. By 2044, Hydronax was acquired in a hostile takeover by PharmAmerica and its assets spread throughout several subsidiary companies. Bhudupenra was offered a golden parachute and gently urged to take advantage of the opportunity and fade out of the spotlight.

Pact and Renaissance However, with India’s food shortages primarily solved, the city-states began focusing on growth. With immigrants flooding in from all points of the sub-continent, Kolkata and Mumbai swelled into megalopolises, with Amristar and Chennai following shortly thereafter. Each city bloomed in relative prosperity and recovery through the 2050s, though the North American Civil War of 2064 brought significant unease. When China allied with the North American Coalition in 2065, the city-states of India drew suitors from both sides, attempting to gain a foothold in the eastern hemisphere. Mishra Chaudhuri, then-Governor of Channai, had other ideas, however. Holding a conclave of all major city-state Governors at the ruins of Colombo in Sri Lanka, Channai presented a mutual-defense pact. Signed in October 2065, the Pact of Colombo loosely unified the fragmented city states in the event of invasion or other military endeavor, while emphasizing legal, economic, and diplomatic sovereignty within each city-state. The Pact of Colombo shattered preconceptions of the Indian city-states at the time, as many world leaders viewed India as an economic power that would be easily toppled in open warfare. With the city-states in alliance, conquering the Indian subcontinent became significantly more difficult, as each citystate would provide, essentially, their own military forces.

Following the Pact of Colombo, the heads of each Indian citystate meet in person for one week every 100 days. Current Premier of the Pact — essentially the parliamentarian and presiding officer for the meeting — is Kumar Nadu, the Governor of Amristar. Nadu’s term lasted through two additional meetings of the pact members and while re-election is a possibility, Nadu has actively stated that he would not seek the Premiership again. Many believe that Mahesha Kavi of Channai, or Subodh Jamhar of Mumbai, will become the next Premier, though the possibility of a dark horse candidate is ever-present.

India in 2090 Much as it was throughout its history, the majority of India is covered with steamy, tropical jungle. The central part of India is considered to be Wasteland, though radiation-caused mutations have resulted in nearly unstoppable growth, pressing in on all sides. All major Indian city-states hug the coastline of the subcontinent, expanding from the shore inward. At just under 27 million souls, the largest of the city states is Mumbai. Kolkata follows with 25 million, while Chennai and Amristar each between 10 and 15 million. Rather than viewing themselves as “Indians,” residents refer to themselves as Kolkatans or Amristars, taking the name of their city-state as self-identification. While faith no longer holds the sway it once did in united India, vestiges of the cultures and religions that had fractured the country in centuries past still remain. Adherents of Islam, Hindi, Sikh, Buddhism and other — isms still hold great sway in the city-states and, while actual religion might be rare, zealotry and petty factioning certainly remain. The most common of these religions, however, is Hindi. Ruins of temples to Shiva, Ganesh, and Vishnu are scattered throughout the jungle waste, and iconography of India’s mythological gods and heroes is pervasive throughout the city states. Nowhere is this seen more visibly than in the Phansigar Cult of Lady Kali, better known as the Thuggee. Despite suppression by governmental forces dating back to the mid1800s, the Thuggee still manage to be a dangerous wild card throughout the Indian city-states. What may be most alarming, though, is the sheer number of zeeks within the Indian population. While the global average for frequency of “Omega Wave” brain activity stands at .05%, in India, that number is raised to nearly 1.5%. Some believe that the proximity of the Indian city-states to the nuclear launches that led to The Death may have altered the native Indian DNA, resulting in genetic aberrations necessary for Omega Wave activity. However, others believe that it may have some link to the numerous faiths of India, that tend to view zeeks as perfected ideals of mankind, approaching either Nirvana or ātman, depending on one’s’ beliefs. Zeeks in the Indian city-states tend to blend well within the populace, hiring out their services to the highest bidder while maintaining a fair degree of anonymity. Many foreign governments have sent agents to Kolkata or Mumbai, hoping to hire zeeks to take action against the Chinese Mandarinate

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Unfortunately, the Pact of Colombo was not a flawless document. The Pact’s allowances for alliances with nations outside of the Indian subcontinent caused numerous disagreements and disputes, particularly regarding international trade. Kolkata’s cybernetic exports, for example, are often shipped to the NAC, which prompts the Republic of Cascadia to use its alliance with Amristar to push against Kolkata’s trade. In many ways, the Indian city-states have become a hotbed of global

political intrigue, with many under-the-table deals taking place in the back rooms of a Mumbai nightclub.

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or some other country. Rumor has it that a number of zeeks have begun to even etch out their own settlement in the middle of the Indian jungle, ruled by a psionic master known only as Ishvara Yogi. Expeditions have set out from Channai and Kolkata to determine the truth of these rumors, but have been inconclusive thus far.

Mumbai:City of Dreams Millions of wasters and scavs worldwide dream of living in Mumbai, hobnobbing with the latest media celebs and holostars. And, for the rich and powerful, Mumbai truly is a city of dreams. Mumbai is the entertainment hub of the entire world with countless production companies, gaming studios, and recording companies. Celebrities gather in both real and in virtual space, spreading all sorts of rumors throughout the blogosphere.

Mumbai is currently ruled by its Governor, the honorable Subodh Jamhar, who has served as Mumbai’s Governor for twelve years. Elections are held every three years, though few see Jamhar’s regime leaving power any time soon. In fact, most natives of the Indian city-states view Jamhar as a natural to unseat Kumar Nadu as Premier of the Colombo Pact. And, truth be told, Jamhar has had his eyes on Nadu’s seat for quite some time. A ruthless Machiavellian, Jamhar’s cabinet is stocked with prudent individuals not afraid to tell him no; they just make sure he’s had his morning coffee first and his kukri knife is well out of arm’s reach.

Greater Mumbai stretches across a peninsula that juts into the Arabian Sea, covering a total of about 400 square miles along the coast. Mumbai is hemmed in by the dense junglewaste to the east, while the most recent additions to the megalopolis hug the coast, running north and south. The megalopolis is divided into several districts: Central Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Salsette, Vihar, and Upper and Lower Vaitarna.

Also of note is Ayati Desai, the district manager of Vihar. Desai is the current CFO of Opal Seas Hydrocorp, one of the few operating hydroponic farms in the world. However, as India still clings to the hydroponic process rather than adopt matter assembly technology for their food needs, her position remains one of the most lucrative. However, Desai has been liquidating OSH’s assets at an alarming rate, removing positions and selling off hydroponic equipment. These sales have

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Beneath Jamhar, several district managers oversee daily city operations. Of these, Kar Mukherjee (of the Navi Mumbai district) wields the most power. Mukherjee is a cheerful, opulently rich fellow whose numerous stock options in both cybernetics and various media outlets have made him powerful friends worldwide. He can regularly be seen hobnobbing with celebrities in Central Mumbai nightclubs, as well as holding court over the Thuggee blood-orgies in Thane.

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come under particular suspicion, as major fires, corporate disasters, and ecological accidents have occurred four separate times within a month after Desai has completed a sale. Recently, Desai has been desperate to sell off a series of corporate facilities in eastern Salsette, though no takers have emerged.

LIVING IN MUMBAI Mumbari life isn’t that much different from anywhere else in the sprawl, outside of a few sizable differences. Firstly, Mumbai serves as the central headquarters of five of the seven major conglomerates controlling the media worldwide: EmpireNet, Sanjan Tempe Warner, Wordsmith International, DoubleThink Studios, and NightOwl Media. The heads of these corporations each have access to vast amounts of credits, resources beyond measure, and a worldwide influence. When California sank into the Pacific in 2066, these corporations became a proverbial mecca for movie moguls, internet sensations, and online game designers. #Crazyzane: I used to work as a stunt man in hollywood back before the great quake, and I can tell ya that Bollywood was making inroads long before anything started shakin’.

In the 20th Century, India was known only for its over-the-top “Bollywood” musicals and rip-offs of American superheroes. However, as the country began heavy industrialization through the early 21st Century, India became a cheap and appealing option for filming movies. Many of the major film studios moved their major offices to Mumbai, to oversee production and post-production. When Hollywood sank, executives simply packed their things and headed for the Mumbai offices. Because of this trend, billions of dollars flooded into the Mumbari economy and would-be stars have created something of a tent-city in Navi Mumbai and Salsette, outside of major media center offices. One never seems to know who will be next to get their proverbial “fifteen minutes of fame,” though. The most recent Mumbai starlet is Tanya Skurge, 19 year-old death-metal performer and part-time dominatrix, whose viral videos have spread across The Deep like wildfire. Skurge often can be seen in full latex gear at any of Navi Mumbai’s risqué nightclubs.

process: one ‘dabba’ drops off the tiffins full of food, while a second collects the empty tiffins. While all forms of food are available through dabbawalla service, hydroponically grown traditional Indian cuisine is most common, particularly amongst the upper class. Because of their tendency to deliver to the upper class, dabbawallas have a tendency to socialize with their clients and make connections over and above that of a common food delivery person. Certain media moguls are particularly picky, preferring one dabba over any other, even in the same food service. Dabbawallas traditionally deliver their meals by foot or via bicycle, as the crowded sprawl of Mumbai often slows down delivery speed when driving a full-sized car or SUV. However, motorcycles and motorized bikes have become increasingly common amongst dabbas who take their trade seriously. Occasionally, dabbas who have become friends with the rich and powerful in Central or Navi Mumbai receive motorcycles as gifts. A Toyota Locust jump bike may be the ideal gift for any dabba on the go.

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While delivery service is nothing new in 2090, Mumbai — and the rest of the India League in general — have something of a unique take on the idea. Mumbari lunch truck drivers called “dabbawallas” cart uniform tin lunch boxes called tiffins. Dabbawallas often pride themselves on their accuracy and timeliness, averaging only one mistake per 6 million (yes, million) deliveries. A dabbawalla delivery consists of a two-part

THE WORLD JAPAN #Luciferion: Maybe he’s running a Mr. Chow personality engram.

JAPAN #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: THESHOGUNATE.INF.JP FQDN: THESHOGUNATE.INF.JP.15TN.TPN.SWW.GNET Posted By: Yoshihiro Tanabe (PhD), KCD Tokyo Employee (Hashtag: #YTphd) Koncha bitches! I’m Yoshihiro Tanabe, a cybernetics developer at Kenta Cyber Dynamics in Tokyo. I was born and raised in Tokyo, but I’ve spent some amount of time in every continent around the world, and tend to be one of the go-to people who promotes the increasingly lost art of inter-cultural understanding. But enough about me. I assume the reason you’re reading this is that you want to know more about Japan. Well, read on… Peeps call it the Techno-Shogunate, or Neo-Shogunate, but the Japanese still call it Nihon. The term 'Shogunate' is misleading, since it tends to conjure up images of katana-wielding samurai and other anachronisms. In reality, Japan in 2090 looks outwardly little different than it did a century ago — save that places like Tokyo are more high-tech. That isn’t to say that katana-wielding samurai haven’t made a comeback; but they are more visible in government and military sectors than they are on the streets, mingling with the dishonorable gaki and bakuto looking’ to separate you from your Nuyen. We all know it’s the Yakuza who watch over the streets, neh? Here are some basic things you need to know about my homeland. For starters, the decline of western influence has resulted in a very different socio-political landscape. After World War II, Japan was rebuilt by the United states, during which time it westernized, denounced its military capabilities (though they had maintained a military for the purposes of defense only), and embraced a liberal form of democracy. Sure, the emperor was still in place, but he mainly served as a cultural leader, a representation that linked modern Japan to its history. The real power was with the Imperial Diet, a governing body that made laws that the emperor had no authority to contradict. Times have changed, and that body went the way of most of the other western influences. #PAYN_MAN: Whut’s he Mean by Diet? What does it have to do with politics? #Billy_Black_Eyes: Re-read it, PM. The Diet are politicians; extinct politicians.

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Post westernization has found the country ‘technically’ under a military dictatorship… whether or not the boss men say it's all “in the name of the Emperor.” Just remember the generals — the taishou — are running the show, and that means even though the jietai may still be the 'Japanese Self-Defense Force', the SDF now polices the country and makes sure people — especially gaijin — behave themselves.

History So here's what went down, bitches! #Billy_Black_Eyes: This guy really likes calling us bitches, doesn’t he?

In 2031, a general by the name of Hiro Minotoro seized power in a relatively bloodless coup and declared himself Daichi no Taishou (that's 'First General', for those of you who don't speak Japanese), in the service of the Emperor. One of the first things Minotoro did was import Sims from Brasilia to bolster the dwindling work force. This only worked for a bit. Hmmm. In order to wrap your head around some of what happened, it might help if you grok the Japanese mindset. You see, in spite of cultural cross-pollination we still have a different culture and mindset than some of you are used to. The Japanese are traditionally very polite, and they like to learn from other cultures, but at the end of the day we want to be left alone to chill with our homeys, as it were. So anyway… Brazilian-grown Sims were all well and good, but Minotoro and company wanted something a little more 'Japanese'. After all, they had plenty of technology — Japan's always been at the forefront of robotics, electronics, and cybertech — it'd just been a shortage of the 'human' element that forced them to seek outside concepts. The second generation of Sims in Japan weren't really 'Sims' any more — at least not in the way most peeps think of Sims. Using vat-growing techniques gleaned from the Brazilian Sims coupled with good ol' Japanese tech, Japanese engineers and scientists cooked up what have become known as sougougin —'synthetic people'. No, tomo… not synthetic as in 'man-made'; synthetic as in 'synthesis'—a fusion of ideas. They're also known as Bioroids, but the most common term is Synths. Basically, Synths are a fusion of vat-grown meat and biotech — sometimes coupled with internal cybernetics and nanotechnology — which grants a Sim a considerably longer lifespan. Granted, at forty years or so, it's much shorter than a human's natural lifespan, but it's still twice as long as the most durable Pleasure Sims. Given that Synths have been largely integrated into Japanese society and afforded a measure of civil rights, many peeps in the rest of the world lauded Japan as being forward-thinking and egalitarian. But there's an ugly side to the picture most outsiders remain blissfully ignorant about. Check it, bitches; Japan has a long history of a sort of 'caste system'. Granted, it ain't as bad as it was back in the days of the original Shogunate, but it's always been there: the elite at the top; the dregs at the bottom — and the two aren't supposed to mingle. While it's not quite so bad these days, the fact is it's Synths who are now at the bottom rung of Japan's social hierarchy. The colloquial word for them is inchiki — which roughly translates to 'fake'. To most Japanese, Synths aren't real people, and they tend to get treated as such. Not everyone is mean or hostile toward them, but a lot of Japanese don't believe inchiki have real feelings. They get the jobs no one else really wants and there's a social stigma attached to people who get too friendly with them.

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Culture Despite the changing times, Japan remains a more polite culture than is found in most other parts of the world. That isn’t to say that they won’t cut you to ribbons for showing the wrong person Burei (that’s disrespect for all you gaijin out there). For the most part, individual conflict is avoided and insult is settled with a few choice words. Meiyo, or honor, once all-important and later proclaimed primarily by to the Yakuza of all people, has made a comeback in Japanese society. Some live according to a Bushido code, and it’s not unheard of for the dishonored — Fumeiyona — to commit seppuku so they might atone for their dishonorable deeds. The demographics of Japan aren’t pretty; the population has been steadily shrinking since the twentieth-century. At its height, there were one hundred-twenty-seven million people in Japan, and given the fact that the only areas suitable for development were the coastal regions, those were some of the most densely populated urban areas on Earth. A downward population trend occurred because society began placing an emphasis on wealth over family, causing a great many people to choose not to have children. In addition to this, permanent immigration into Japan has always been so insignificant that it has failed to have any sizable effect on this trend. Today the population sits at just over ninety-million. Of course, the major change to Japan’s social structure has been the re-implementation of a more-or-less traditional caste System. At the top of the pile is the Kanjin, or the Emperor

and his family, who command extreme respect and deference from all members of society. The next most important group are the Kanko; the public servants who implement the emperor’s wishes, and ensure that Japan functions as a society. Even low ranking public servants are included in this caste, which elevates them over the role they served before the caste system was re-established. Beneath the Kanko are the Ryōmin, or the citizens. This is then broken down into the following sub-castes: The Shinabe, which are the high citizens, or in this day and age the independently wealthy and the corporate executives. The techno-Samurai and the military fall into this caste as well. The next level down includes the Zakko, which are the less elite families that are still notable. For instance, small business owners, contractors, and craftsmen are all Zakko. Finally there are the Kōmin, or the average citizens. Foreign visitors are treated as Kōmin regardless of their station in their homelands unless they happen to be foreign dignitaries, in which case they are treated as Kanko. The lowest caste is known as the Eta, or the slave class. In previous ages, this was further broken into sub-groups, much like the Ryōmin, but that has been eradicated in the new order. The eta are slaves who serve the emperor and his family, as well as other families and corporations — yes, corporations can own eta — which are often purchased when someone of the Kōmin class owes more money than they can conceivably pay back in their lifetime and is “bailed out” by an individual who sees their potential as a valuable servant.

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Government

culture conflict where both groups try to discredit the other in an ongoing war of rhetoric.

So, you bitches want to know more about the Techno-Shogunate? It’s essentially a military dictatorship, but like much of society, it’s wrapped in relics from the past. When Emperor Hisahito was overthrown, Hiro Minotoro took power and declared himself Daichi no Taishou, or First General. For a large percentage of the population, this change in leadership structure didn’t sit well as it all but declared that the government was… exactly what it had become. Minotoro perceived an immediate decrease in popularity and turned to his advisors, who suggested that he install Tetsuhito as the emperor and proclaim his loyalty to him. Reports suggest that Minotoro was initially completely opposed to this suggestion, saying that it undermined his attempt to get away from the previous nonfunctioning government.

The Yakuza lay claim to virtually all organized crime in Japan. The organization is controlled by dominant families, and then extends down through the various levels of hierarchy, all the way down to street gangs. Even when joining a gang, a new member knows exactly which group they’re working for, and for that matter, when the police investigate crime, they typically know which family they’re picking a fight with. This level of control helps ensure the loyalty of those who work for them while providing an appropriate level of intimidation for those who would challenge them. One doesn’t double-cross a Yakuza group unless they can do so anonymously, or they have an alternate identity lined up and a hasty getaway plan to spirit them away to a country where their influence is much weaker. There are few places in the world where a traitor could consider themselves safe.

Minotoro was finally convinced to entertain the notion of installing Tetsuhito, Hisohito’s young nephew, as the current emperor. While the emperor would possess no actual power, he would still serve as a figurehead of state, live in the traditional palace, give the occasional speech, and entertain foreign dignitaries. He would be, in practice, Japan’s primary domestic diplomat. Tetsuhito reportedly saw this as an opportunity to improve his standing, and it didn’t hurt that he could deliver moving speeches, so he accepted the offer. Decades older now than when he accepted the position, he remains Emperor, but his position hasn’t afforded him even an incremental increase in actual power. He remains little more than a powerless puppet to the Daichi no Taishou.

The Yakuza You can’t have much of a discussion about Japan without talking about the Yakuza, neh? And no, despite the re-emergence of the Samurai, there has been no such re-emergence of ninja to oppose them. That isn’t to say that there aren’t super-secret sects of assassins who call themselves ninjas, but you won’t find Yakuza overseers controlling them. OK, that isn’t one hundred percent true, as a few bosses might just have their hands and their money in such affairs…

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The Yakuza are the nearly all-encompassing crime syndicate that operates in Japan. Unlike the government, little has changed with them in the last hundred years. The same families dominate, they are engaged in the same illegal activities, namely protection rackets, prostitution, and smuggling. The largest difference between then and now is that the Yakuza are now also at the forefront of cybercrime. The Yakuza are known in Japan as gokudō, though the Japanese police call them bōryokudan, or the violence group, while the yakuza call themselves ninkyō dantai, or chivalrous organizations. They’re notorious for their strict codes of conduct and very organized nature. You bitches might notice that the police and the Yakuza themselves have very different opinions of who they are and what they represent. Yes, they are criminals, but during the period of Westernization, the Yakuza considered themselves the primary source of honor and the defenders of the righteous. Now that the government again lays claim to the Japanese tradition of honor, the Yakuza tenaciously cling to those ideals as well, creating a

The top Yakuza families are the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Sumiyoshi-rengo, and the Inagawa-kaï. The Yamaguchi-gumi is the largest Yakuza group, with over one-thousand clans, and accounts for fifty-percent of the members throughout Japan and beyond. The current oyabun, or leader, is Shou Minami. The second largest Yakuza clan is the Sumiyoshi-kai, which is comprised of over three-hundred smaller groups who united for protection and strength. Unlike the other large Yakuza groups, the Sumiyoshi-Kai operates as a federation, where its activities and direction is debated among the various groups and decided by vote rather than decree. The current oyabun is Satomi Hayashi, a fiery tempered man in his late-thirties. The third largest group of Yakuza is Inagawa-Kai, which at over three hundred member clans, is just slightly smaller than the Sumiyoshi-Kai. This group is based in Tokyo and is firmly entrenched in Japan, but it’s greatest areas of expansion are in other countries, particularly China and the Middle East. The oyabun is Iwato Kawaguchi, a man in his mid-fifties who provides singular direction for the organization.

Major Cities TOKYO As citizens of the world, I’m sure some of you gaijin out there already know much of this, but Tokyo is the place to be in Japan. Hell, bitches, it’s still the place to be in the entire eastern hemisphere. Once the largest metropolitan area in the world, the slow decline of Japan’s population has resulted in it losing that status, but it still ranks in the top five, and is home to twenty-million people. And let’s be honest, it’s also one of the most beautiful places in the entire world. From the skyline at the city’s heart to the traditional architecture found everywhere, it’s a wonder to behold, its delights are boundless, and its people are its treasure. It’s my home city, so I might be just a bit biased. That’s not to say that everything has been perfect in Tokyo. In 2085, the detonation of a dirty bomb forced the permanent evacuation of a four-block area in the heart of the city, in what has been called the greatest terrorist act against Japan since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. No group has claimed responsibility. In 2087, a hacker calling himself

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#Roadblock managed to put a halt to all of the automated processes involved in public transportation, effectively shutting down the city for a month. And then there’s the global fallout from the Charon AI… don’t even get me started on what that’s done to Japan’s economy, tomo. Tokyo is referred to as a “metropolitan prefecture” rather than a city. It’s a compilation of twenty-three wards, each of which is treated and governed as its own unique city. When talking about Tokyo, one is talking about a conglomeration of small cities, towns, and villages, all of which are lumped together into a massive sprawling city. In other words, bitches, it’s massive, and within its borders you’ll find virtually every environment you can imagine, from the heavily populated inner city which contains some of the tallest buildings in the world, to sprawling neighborhoods, smaller city centers that dwarf some of the other places that we refer to as cities throughout much of the rest of the world, to lightly populated areas where people live in simple, small, dwellings that are little more than huts. Although each of Tokyo’s wards are independently governed, the metropolitan government oversees it all. Under the direction of the First General, this government’s edicts supersede the autonomy of the governments of the incorporated wards, and there are frequently heated exchanges between the two

when it comes to a multitude of administrative concerns, such as zoning, taxation, and new construction. Every year or two, some lesser official creates a bunch of press by stepping down in protest over some law that’s being pushed from above. Tokyo is also home to a staggering number of corporations. Kensei and Kenta Cyber Dynamics are two of the largest Tokyo-based meacorporations, but there are a multitude of others as well. Some of these operate primarily within Japan’s borders, such as the fast food chain called Paripari Chicken, or Hibiki Tameshi, which makes state of the art cybernetic audio enhancers, and thousands more. There’s also a healthy number of large international corporations like Sakana Hatto, the fast food sea food chain, Togatta Iryou, a trendy clothing manufacturer, and so many more.

CHIBA Chiba is a prefecture, or one of Japan’s large cities that is made up of a conglomeration of numerous smaller cities. Located just to the east of Tokyo, many consider it a part of the greater Tokyo area. What sets it apart, however, is the fact that Chiba thinned out over the years due to the depopulation of Japan, resulting in the construction of newer, larger homes and facilities. This created a desirable alternative to the congestion of Tokyo for many of the wealthy, as well as

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the corporations that were willing to pay a little extra for more up-scale business sites.

Nagasaki

Due to the Kōkyū-ka, or gentrification of Chiba, the corporations — Kigyō — riding high on the cybertech, or Saibanetikusu, boom moved to this region, creating an analogue to the Silicon Valley of the 20th century. Most of Japan’s Kigyō Saibanetikusu are either based out of Chiba now, or they maintain a presence, which includes research and development and factory facilities. While a few of the less prestigious Kigyō exist elsewhere, the fact is that most researchers and engineers in the industry choose to stay in Chiba and refuse to operate out of such other locations, considering such moves to be uninteresting and bad for their careers.

Nagasaki sits on the island of Kyushu in the southwest corner of Japan. Originally established by Portuguese traders in the sixteenth century, it became known as a free port that was open to foreign traders, and it eventually became an important point of diplomatic contact for foreign powers with the island nation. It also went down in history as the second city to have a nuclear weapon used against it.

To those outside of Chiba, the city is often referred to as the flatlands. Although it was full of towers and high-rise buildings before Japan’s slow downward demographic trend began, many such structures were knocked down in favor of sprawling factories and single-family dwellings. Don’t get me wrong, bitches, the city center looks much like any other, with huge high-rise buildings, but go a short distance from the downtown area and you start seeing block after block of some of the most beautiful dwellings and business facilities on Earth. The poverty, crime, and scum that you see at the street level throughout most of the world isn’t allowed to thrive here. The end result is that the structures and neighborhoods look remarkable flat from the air in comparison with the rest of the country. Like the rest of Japan, Chiba’s government is appointed by the Techno-Shogunate, and is supposedly based on the duty and merit of the individuals appointed to such posts. The truth of the matter is that the government recognizes the vitality of the cybernetics industry, and the strength it adds to Japan. As a result, Chiba’s government is full of people who are in bed with the industry.

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The current head administrator of Chiba is Takaya Yoshii, a tall, muscular, imposing figure who also sits on the board of directors of Kenta Cyber Dynamics, which is technically based in Tokyo, but operates most of its R&D and production out of Chiba. Yoshii appears to be in his prime, though it’s whispered that his actual age is well over sixty, and custom nano-tech somehow regenerates his cells, keeping him looking and acting young despite the fact that he’s a senior citizen. Yoshii almost always acts in the best interests of the cybernetics industry in general, and Kenta Cyber Dynamics specifically when he gets the chance. Some examples of this include pushing for the relaxation of regulations for disposing of the mountains of industrial waste within the city, re-zoning regions of the city to displace lower income individuals and replace them with highend housing or factories. He also semi-discreetly halted the cities security force from conducting criminal investigations into several executives who were suspected of murdering a competing corporate security investigator.

After the war, Nagasaki was rebuilt. New structures were constructed to replace those that had been destroyed and everything was modernized. Some elements were allowed to remain, such as debris fields, a one-legged torii gate, and an arch near the point where the atomic bomb detonated. Despite the city’s destruction, it once again became a bustling port of trade. After the rise of the Techno-Shogunate, Nagasaki re-emerged as one of the most important locations in Japan for foreign contact and diplomacy. With the reduced tolerance for foreign visitors, the government felt the need to contain the vast majority of foreign visitors; to contain their influence on society. For this reason, numerous properties were set aside and all foreign powers were told that they had to relocate their embassies to the city. To prevent international incidents, the expenses of the move was covered by the government. The vacant properties left behind were then sold to Japanese nationals, allowing the government to recoup about half of the money spent. The current administrator of Nagasaki is an elderly and diminutive man, Chikara Nakada. Although he wields a great deal of power, Nakada still possesses old-school values, meaning that he puts on a good show for the foreign visitors who look to him to be a welcoming figure. His quiet words are soothing to most visitors, his intended audience, making him popular with the people who see him on the view screens and billboards throughout the city, though his policies exactly match the hard-lined expectations of the Techno-Shogunate. Crime in Nagasaki operates on most levels you can imagine. Unlike Chiba, there has been no effort to gentrify the city, which means that you’ll find all the strata of people here, from the Tõri uni, or street urchins, to the wealthiest businesspeople. The primary Yakuza family operating in the city is the Yamaguchi-gumi, and their activities include the typical stuff like protection rackets, drug dealing, and prostitution, as well as things that are more specific to the people you’ll encounter in Nagasaki. Gaijin often come to Nagasaki seeking illegal access into the country, and there are members of the Yamaguchi-gumi who are willing to help with that. Some visitors are paranoid about the programming that’s loaded into their hardware and want it removed, and there are people to handle that. Other people want the slow and difficult to turn wheels of naturalization to be greased, while others want certain individuals who are legally visiting to abruptly find that their welcome has been worn out. In these cases, there are individuals who have pull within the government and can make these things happen… for a price.

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RUSSIAN FEDERATION #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET/RUSFED FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/RUSFED Compiled by: #Sergei_Chekov, Office of Public Affairs Russia is every bit the fallen empire; the rich are very rich, the poor are very poor, and everyone is living in a past that never was. The atrocities of history are regularly painted in glorious colors, and the misery of the present is blamed on a variety of subversive domestic and international factors. Everyone thinks big; the Deep buzzes with the patriotic struggle against China, the rise of militant Islam and the rise of the Wolf Cult. No one cares about little things, like the terribly worn roads, crumbling infrastructure, rising street violence, and widespread substance abuse, perhaps Russia’s greatest and oldest curse. Russia was on her way to become the Third Roman Empire, the greatest state the world has ever seen, but was derailed from her historic path by the world. Russia is still a gigantic country, still blessed with beautiful and evocative nature, rich soil, countless valuable resources and some of the largest and most impressive structures on the planet. More importantly, Russia still has one of the world’s largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons and, unlike her former capitalist version; the current Russia has a well-trained and well-equipped military full of messianic zeal. Like a great and powerful moribund beast, I feel Russia will stir one more time before she crumbles into nothing. China, the West and even the Caucasian highlanders, playing Russia for the fool, will pay dearly for disrespecting the Russian people. Tread on her at your own risk.

Imperial Dreams Russia is controlled by the Eurasian Movement which came to power after a bloodless coup led by military, religious and academic elites who replaced the former corporate-owned financial oligarchs. Many of the former strongmen were executed as traitors, a just payment for trying to sell the Russian people to the highest bidder.

The Eurasian movement is culturally xenophobic and traditionalist, but not racist, maintaining that the Russian

Another source of friction is separatism, especially among the Muslim Tatar minority. Numerous bloody terrorist attacks and embarrassing hacks have been attributed to the Revival Society of Tatarstan, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Russia, Turkey and China.

The New Russians In the previous century, the term applied to people who got rich fast by questionable means. Now, it refers to people who are not really people — hybrids, Humans 2.0, androids, simulacra and what have you. Villagers tend to frown on all these devilish creatures and will murder them if they think they can get away with it, but the cities are surprisingly tolerant of, eh, unusual people. They are not very widespread, because Russia is too poor to afford them en masse, but they do exist. Many of the oligarchs have upgraded in 2.0 while many vori and Neo-Pagans are obratini, or werebeasts, which is the Russian slang for hybrids. Androids are mostly used as secretaries, spokesmen, and bodyguards by the wealthy elite. They don’t hold any advantages over decent Russian workers; they just show that their owner is rich and not ashamed to flaunt it at the poor masses. People are fascinated with androids however, who are treated as celebrities by most those who encounter them. Their owners, on the other hand, are received far less enthusiastically. Before the Chinese invasion, there were plans to establish mass production of Eastern simulacra to man mining facilities in the frigid east, but this was all halted when the war started. Shame, because with declining birthrates and rampant alcoholism, this could have been the solution to all of Russia’s troubles. Western simulacra are allegedly used by the FSB to create some of their most efficient and deadly agents. However, because these agents are so efficient and so deadly, I’d rather we didn’t dwell on that. Long live the defenders of the Motherland, that’s all I have to say about it.

Defenders of the Motherland Every version of Russia must have its version of the KGB, and this iteration is no different. The abbreviation used for the last 100 years is FSB, though except for these three letters, little remained from the capitalist times. The current head of the FSB is a celibate mystic and scholar named Marat Rizanov. His dedication to the Eurasian idea is absolute and he’s published dozens of papers and books on the subject. Every time he publishes a new paper, the West

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The Eurasian movement was founded by the 20th century philosopher Aleksandr Gelyevich Dugin who defined it through the three anti’s; anti-bourgeois, anti-liberal and anti-American. The current ideologists of the movement maintain that Russian culture is unique and incompatible with both Western and Eastern values, which are inherently destructive to the Russian soul. Thus, to defend the Russian people, the Eurasians seek to isolate Russia from Western, Asian and Corporate influence while strengthening her ties with the Turkic and Persian peoples of Central Asia. The alliance with Europe is seen as a temporary evil, essential to stop the Chinese aggression and liberate occupied Russian territories.

civilization is inclusive and universal. However, its radical offshoot, the Third Rome Society, calls for an eradication of the yellow races, who stand in Russia's way of Asian dominance and the creation of a balance of terror vis-à-vis Europe and America. The Third Rome Society also calls for restoration of the monarchy and declaration of the Orthodox faith as Russia's official church; a step bound to marginalize and alienate Russia's vast Muslim population and growing neo-Pagan and Wolf Cult minority.

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trembles and Russian diplomats spend many sleepless nights calming everyone down. Nevertheless, it is well known that whomever Marat wants gone becomes gone, no matter how much he invested in security.

Shadow Communities The infamous Russian Vori Vzakoni, known in the West as “the Russian Mafia,” are alive and well. Never too proud to lick the boots of power, the ancient vori manage businesses so filthy that even the cops don’t want to deal with them. They must share their income with the police, the FSB, the Kremlin and make generous donations to the Church now and then, but then again, who doesn’t? Still, they are a bunch of tattooed killers with a violent honor code and if you cross their path, unless you have an uncle in the Kremlin, you better run far and deep.

The greatest humiliation in recent Russian history was the loss of almost all Asian Russia to the Chinese Mandarinate. The fall of Eastern Russia started as mass demonstrations by Chinese workers, who outnumbered Russian citizens ten to one in the eastern provinces. The workers, many of whom were in the country illegally, protested their unfair working conditions under the corrupt Russian administration. Of course, in the great Russian tradition of police brutality, the demonstrations were dispersed violently, resulting in hundreds of dead and thousands of wounded. To everyone's surprise, the Chinese workers struck back with overwhelming force that caught the Russians off guard, forcing Russian police and military to retreat to more defensible positions. It was later discovered that the Chinese Rebellion was carefully planned and executed by the Mandarinate's covert operatives and that many of the so-called workers were trained commandoes with hidden advanced weapons. The regular Chinese army, with its lumbering death machines, was never far behind. Fearing to draw the entire Eurasian union into a destructive and prolonged war, the Mandarinate turned to consolidating its control over the Russian Far East instead. They have also

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However, if you need something illegal — a banned augment, experimental drugs, a nuclear submarine — they are your people. Pro tip: they never pay unless they have to, when dealing with them, make sure someone’s got your bag, or the next deal you’d be involved in would feature you as the commodity.

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attempted to move into the North Caucasus region, but this ended in a military disaster. With the eyes of the world on them, the Chinese couldn’t just resort to genocide by WMD or mass deportation, like the Soviets did in the 20th century. Meanwhile, the natives fought with everything they had and enjoyed assistance from Russia, Turkey, the Arab Kingdom and anyone else who had a bone to pick with China.

liberated/subjugated the neighboring nations, forming the North Caucasian Alliance. Despite this great victory, Islam is in rapid decline in the Mountains. Cynics say that this is because the Caucasians were never truly Muslims, only fond of Arab arms and supplies. Others say the Wolf is really dead. Me? I really don’t care.

Meanwhile, occupied Russia also started to sizzle. The Chinese learned the painful truth any would-be world conqueror, from Mongols to Germans, learns as he steps on Russian soil: the Russian people never give up.

The Wolf Cult is rapidly spreading across the mountains, replacing Christianity and Islam with an eclectic mix of radical environmentalism, Caucasian tribalism, shamanic ritualism, and an absolute, relentless dedication to the idea of personal and national freedom.

Iron Fists in Velvet Gloves

Holy Mountains

Chinese occupation is supposedly better than Russian freedom. There are more jobs, law enforcement is less corrupt, healthcare is better and more widely available… but it’s still occupation. A Russian man can abide any amount of domestic oppression, believing it’s for the greater good, but a foreign invasion must be repelled at any cost.

The North Caucasus is a land of dramatic landscapes of majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and thick forests ripe with game and fruit. Scattered in this magnificent backdrop are heavily fortified villages known as auls. Despite their archaic and pastoral appearance, most of them are more than capable to fight off modern armies and even shoot down planes and drones.

Of course, it also helps that state-run media displays the Chinese as a cross between the Third Reich and the Mongol Horde. Stories of Chinese atrocities against Russians and native Siberians are featured daily, many of which are doctored to evoke memories of the Nazi death machine. You should watch these someday; some of the CGI is really impressive. Racism also plays no small part in the resistance, especially among the followers of Third Rome society who feel it’s their duty to prove the inherent superiority of “White Russians” over “Yellow Chinese.”

City folk are less militant, but just barely. Grozny, the name of the Capital, is Russian for “fierce” which alone should suggest just how peaceful these cities are. While city folks live in apartments, have regular jobs and usually only hide one or two assault rifles under the bed, every citizen has enough kinfolk in the country to raise a small army should the need arise. A powerful militia patrols the streets, but it’s there to prevent infighting, not to uphold the law. In fact, there are no criminal courts in the Alliance. Conflicts between teips are solved through arbitration. If no one vouches for you then you’re nothing. Anyone can murder you in the middle of the day without any consequences. However, if you’re someone’s guest, this man, as well as his entire teip, will go to war to defend you without a second thought.

#Brotherwolf: Maybe you should spend some time on the front, comrade. Come see the atrocities first hand and then tell me what is and what is not doctored. #Beijingbeauty: @ brotherwolf. Your kind commit your own atrocities against my people. You started the fighting in the border cities. Your compatriots bombed the mines and oil pipelines. Don’t speak of atrocities as if your hands are clean.

Despite the decline of Islam in the region, Grozny still boasts the largest and most ornate mosque in Europe. The Muslim community is small and beleaguered, however, surviving only on account of foreign aid and because the Alliance’s leadership doesn’t wish to antagonize the wealthy and influential Arab Kingdom. Yet.

North C aucasian Alliance The North Caucasus region is a bleak and harsh land of magnificent mountains, biting winds and grim and warlike men whose military fame has preceded them for thousands of years. The natives are divided into hundreds of tribes and nations such as the Avari, Chechens, Dagestani, Ossetians, Adyghi, Ingushi and countless others. No matter what empire ruled the region or what religions the natives practiced, there was always only one law men really obeyed, the Law of the Wolf. Indeed, the official motto of the alliance is “free and equal like wolves.”

President Tapa Turpalo is a figurehead, his purpose it to make speeches in the UN and shake the hands of foreign dignitaries. Environmentalism is a very popular cause in the West, so they’re willing to overlook some racism and murder to get a photo taken with the leader of the most environmentally aware nation in the world. I’m not being cynical here; the Caucasians are actually investing money in huge air purifiers to make sure their industrialized neighbors don’t poison their precious mountain air. That’s how obsessed with environmentalism these guys are. Actual power lies with the informal Council of Elders which represent the hundreds of teips making up the alliance. However, elders who cling to the values of Islam too hard have a tendency to get eaten by wolves, suggesting that the true leader of the alliance is the Wolf.

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The highlanders of the Caucasian Mountains have a well deserved reputation for honor and ferocity. They are the champions of lost causes, always fighting against vastly superior opponents to throw of the yokes of oppression, be it domestic or foreign. After nearly two centuries of fighting against the dying Russian behemoth, the Chechens, led by President Mufti Arbi Alkhanov, finally gained full independence. In less time than it took them to rebuild their ravished society and economy, the Chechen Jihad spilt over the mountains and

A Company of Wolves

THE WORLD THE EURASIAN UNION

THE EURASIAN UNION #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: EU.NET FQDN: EU.NET.GENEVA.24TN.TPN.SWW.GNET By: Armand Deville (PhD), Lead Sysadmin of EU-UNITED So you want me to explain what happened to Europe czarny? Charon happened — that's the short and fast version. Charon wiped out a lot of the banks. Since money is mostly digital, Charon's "wiping the slate clean" was both the worst thing and the best thing that could happen in Europe. The best? Yeah, you see most people don't really own their houses, cars or other stuff. Even companies were guilty of this, with huge credit lines and long-time loans. Companies disappeared overnight. The Union stepped in and guaranteed a new baseline standardized on "current worth" to its citizens. Megacorps were hurt, but survived. #Lars_Abell: Loads of economic theory went into that, but it seemed to work. A lot of sprawlers, like me, ended up better off.

This restructuring had a few peculiar effects — first, some countries had been hit with economic woes before Charon and most people in these countries weren't allowed loans by the banks, and thus owned very little. This made them more than just a little pissed when the Union declared the "tabula rasa.” Nationalists rose up, proclaiming that this would never have happened if they were independent. #Lars_Abell: That's blank canvas for the rest of us, they were starting over on a new painting. #Antonio_Romano: Because you wouldn't be pissed when everybody you knew had their lives trashed.

In the restructuring, many inside the police and military were sympathetic to the angry nationalists and soon ended up joining the nationalists, creating armed militia. The militia set up border patrols, attacked army stations and bases, stole weapons and vehicles, and became a problem in nations such as Spain, Italy and Greece. Had things stopped there, we would've probably been able to handle it. But then the Nordic Pack did seceed from the Union, legally, and the whole Russo-Chinese border dispute bloomed into a real problem. Together with the French Election, things turned from bad to worse in a few months and it didn't take long before both the Italians and the Greeks came running to the European Parliament asking for armed intervention.

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Both local governments in exile in Brussels, the Spanish are but months from falling to their own rebel militia, while the Scandinavians have seceeded from the Union just as the Chinese began deploying more units to the Russian border. The Eurasian Union is on the edge of destruction. #XZIO: Is that government propaganda or does he actually believe the bullshit he is spewing out?

The New Eurasian Union

the Ural Mountains in the East, having incorporated Russia after its fateful defeat at the hands of the Chinese Mandarinate. Due to strong French influences, the northern parts of Africa were admitted into the Union to provide 'structural and societal stability' in a region otherwise rocked by instability. Ravaged by the secession of the Scandinavian countries from the Union, threatened by the Chinese Mandarinate to the east, the Eurasian Union stands at the precipe of the Abyss.

Rebel South The "Rebel South?" Yeah it ain't official in any capacity, but everyone calls the problem areas in southern Europe the "Rebel South.” I don't know if it has anything to do with allusions to the US Civil War, but if you ask me, they will face the same end as the American rebels did some 300 years ago. Huh, funny now that you think about it — the French supported the South that time around too, and here the rebellion couldn't have bloomed if it wasn't for that French General and his loyal army. #XZIO: Yeah sure thing — we were completely toothless until the General joined. That's why the GD had the Greek Parliament on its knees before that happened. Yup. Toothless.

GREECE The nationalists have been grumbling in Greece since 2012 when they were forced into economic austerity by the Union. The Golden Dawn are one particular breed of nationalist that bit into the soul of the Greek people and never let go. They've grown over the decades, keeping to the shadows as the unity movement spread across Europe, but Charon was the straw that broke Greece’s back and pushed them into action. They are authentic "pagans" who feel that Catholic and Protestant Christianity is a foreign concept forced on them and have woven Greek paganism into Orthodox Christianity. #Petros_Pavlidis: Austerity? Millions starved, thousands of businesses disappeared, the sick were forced out into the fields again.

When Charon struck, the Golden Dawn declared that Greece was no longer beholden to the Union and that they as a people should fight to retain their culture, their society, and their language. Unlike their western counterparts in Spain and Italy, the Golden Dawn had prepared for this very moment and had weapons stockpiled. #Petros_Pavlidis: You deride our ancient belief, our blood sacrifice, yet it is you who are driven from our lands. Lands that cry out in joy over us liberating it and shedding the foul miasma of your weakness.

Today the Golden Dawn have integrated the police and army into their own political structure. Both the army and the police are subordinate to the Dawn Guard, the elite of the Golden Dawn. Some say that the Dawn Guard are all psions. Fortunately for the Union, the Greek special forces are awfully good at distracting the GD and with Turkey stepping in, GD has found itself with a divided focus.

The Eurasian Union covers much of what was once known as the Old World, stretching from the Atlantic in the west to

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ITALY Where the Greek nationalists are more or less united behind the Golden Dawn, Italy is a hotbed of strong personal wills, charismatic demagogues, and chaos. Anarchy reigns supreme in most regions of Italy and the general day-to-day running of the country has fallen to pieces. Garbage amasses in the streets, corps have deployed armed guards to safeguard their premises — openly firing on unruly civilians. Ironically, the corrupt have become the best organized in Italy with the different strains of maffia taking control of entire cities. #Lucia_diTrevi: We are offering a solution to the problem that is this chaos. Is it so strange that people have embraced us for it?

Napoli offered General Adrien “The Butcher” Boucher sanctuary after his public act of rebellion. Since then, Napoli has been turned into a military complex, housing entire batallions of the French Army. Its harbor plays host to a number of French Naval ships that defected with the Butcher, and air superiority is maintained by a score of French combat fighters. The golemmech units didn't join the Armed Forces in Napoli, but have headquartered themselves in the Italian Alps, locking down the entire mountainrange. They deploy in camouflage and perform random strikes against both French and Italian forces. Some say they still answer to the general, while others claim they have become mercenaries. In Rome, Media National has taken what it calls "corporate control" of the city. Without jurisdiction by the government,

the multinational company has deployed armed mercenaries, taking out criminal cells, nationalist gatherings, and armed citizens with extreme prejudice. Calling the government incapable of protecting its employees and public holdings, Media National (MeNa) took the steps they deemed necessary to do so. #Anna_Ditrevi[Media_National_PR_Director]: When the Union couldn't protect us, we did. When the Union failed, we stepped up. When Rome bled, we staunched the wounds.

The only city that hasn't fallen to anarchy and looting is Venice. Its offshore submerged levels lead to a strong respect for law and order, since chaos would threaten a breach that could drown millions. The special forces units training there are been an important presence, keeping the city safe against countryside looters threatening the outskirts. Rumours has it that Adrien the Butcher has offered an alliance to the Golden Dawn if they can destabilize Venice.

SPAIN The only country of the Rebel South to still have a non-exiled local government and where the EU stands a fighting chance to stop more bloodshed is Spain. After Charon, the Spanish were the first to claim 'tabula rasa' and offer its citizens a blank slate for the future. Had it not been for the Corps forcing the Spanish government to accept their debts anyway, and thus reneging on much of the safeties they first offered, Spain would probably be prospering by now.

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the Union and the number of armed forces volunteers is rising, especially in Poland and Ireland.

#Antonio_Romano: Probably? The Corps bought our lives, our freedom and our government. We were sold like slaves into a debt that will last for generations, when we for the first time in a century were free!

With trouble brewing in neighboring Italy and the Corps forcing their demands upon the government, it didn't take long for people to rise up. At first, it was peaceful, strikes that shut down factories and offices, country wide protests. But when the government used the police, supported by Corporate soldiers, to disperse protests and protect strikebreakers in Barcelona, things took a nasty turn. It started with a thrown rock, but that rock hit a soldier who opened fire into the crowd. Suddenly the protesters turned into a vicious mob, surging over the police and militia. When the fighting stopped, hundreds were dead and the rebellion was armed with police and Corporate weapons, body armor, crowd control weaponry, and worse. Some demagogue amidst the protestors seized the opportunity and the crowd marched on city hall in Barcelona. In the next few days, armed conflicts escalated until the Government brought in the army to support police efforts, a move which many saw as turning the army and its soldiers on the Spanish people. The rebels died defending city hall against the army, with a local female rights activist, Antolia Alvarez, crying out "Libertad!" before being gunned down. Suddenly, everyone was a rebel, from the mother of five to the farmer in the fields, from the corporate lackey to the manager. The party in the Spanish Rebellion are the Nuevo Moviemento Nacional, organizing itself like an old-fashioned democratic party. The Spanish government is supported by corporate mercenaries, loaned to the nation of Spain as a goodwill gesture by Ravenlocke Securities and Eurasian Army deployments. Neighbouring Portugal has also offered the Government a nearby central command.

EASTERN CONFLICT To understand the conflict brewing in the East, you have to understand something about the Russian mentality — Russians don't take invasions lightly. They might tear each other apart, hate (and at the same time instigate) wide-spread corruption, work against (or for) an ironfist government, but if someone attacks the Russians, they will close ranks faster than imaginable. Any perceived weaknesses within society at large cannot be counted on to remain in a state of war. China made that mistake when they attacked. #Nikolaj_Antonov: Damn right we are. I had bratva who died in the first assaults. They will be avenged.

The Core

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For all the disturbances in the Eurasian Union, most of the countries are members — and quite willingly so. The countries hit hardest by the nationalist movements are Hungary and Romania. From Paris to Moscow however, following the recently renovated TransEuro Maglev, the core of the union is standing strong. Many citizens are still somewhat shocked at what is transpiring, but more are finding a reason to stand up behind

German automotive and engineering industries, once a powerhouse in the European economy, are shifting production away from commercial products towards military technology in anticipation of the conflict to come. Across Europe, scientific research is being redirected into more combat-related pursuits. In France, Ravenlocke Securities are negotiating an extended contract to allow them to deploy as combatants against the rebels in the south. Other mercenary firms are flocking to Eurasia and competition is intense and fierce.

GERMANY The fallout of the Charon event has ravaged Germany economically, politically, and militarily. Unemployment has risen to a staggering 35% nationwide, sparking massive riots in Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich, and especially in the BonnDusseldorf megasprawl. Many German citizens are calling for the removal of Konrad Gerste, who recently approved bailouts of Heckler and Koch, Mauseer industries, BMW and ThyssenKrupp AG; all major manufacturers of weapons, aircraft, and ground vehicles for the German Military. Financiers and analysts across the board agree that the move, while infuriating the common man and woman, is ultimately in the best interests for Germany as a whole, given the volatile state of affairs in Europe. Of course that doesn’t help the citizens, many of whom are joining legions of people forced out of their homes and onto the already dangerous streets.. Rendered destitute, many are fleeing the cities seeking solace in makeshift shanty towns to avoid getting picked up by the military and placed into internment camps which have sprung up overnight. Speculation as to what really goes on in the camps is rampant. Some claim the camps are little more than indoctrination centers where the inhabitants are forcibly conscripted into the army. Others insist something more sinister is afoot. Alleged ”eye witnesses” have posted #INFOdumps showing images of brutal interrogations being carried out on men and women.

FRANCE As it has for over a thousand years, France remains one of the cultural centers of the world. The question is: who’s culture? White European culture has been dominant in the city, but following the massive influx of Muslim immigrants, there is some question as to the cultural identity of the entire country. In Paris, this has led to a prolonged culture clash that has now been turned into a street war for the soul of the city. Armed nationalists, supported by deserters from the French army after the dissolution, are now fighting Muslim gangs, both intent on safeguarding ”their way of life” against the other side. The President recently deployed the newly contracted Ravenlocke Securities to Paris to ensure safety, and has publicly threatened the ”rabble” that should they not put down their arms of their own free will, Ravenlocke will be given free reign. This decree by the world’s first psychic president hasn’t had the effect she’s hoped for. If anything. the rioting has increased, and rumors of a resistance movement loyal to Adrien the Butcher are spreading.

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Known as the People’s Revolutionary Front, the resistance is responsible for a number of terrorist attacks across Paris. President Angéle Bonheur has herself been targeted no less that five times since she took office.

The Nordic Pact TYPE OF GOVERNMENT Democratic, four-nation co-operative and monetary union Leader(s): The Four Primes: Anders Svensson (Swedish), Jukka Kylmäluoma (Finnish), Svein Amundsen (Norwegian) and Mads Rasmussen (Danish) Locales of interest: Copenhagen, Stockholm

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NATION Recently formed, the Nordic Pact hails back to a time even before the European Union, a time when the Nordic countries were often allied, in unions or parts of the same country (Finland was once just another part of Sweden) and the passport unions that followed in the modern age, where one passport holder was free to travel between all the Scandinavian countries, not unlike what was later implemented by the European Union and its successor.

It didn't take long before the Brotherhood ”suggested” that people who didn't speak a Scandinavian language should consider relocating back to the Eurasian Union and a few months after the Pact was complete, similar bills were introduced in all four governments, suggesting that all form of state aid to non-Scandinavian citizens would be withdrawn since that was a provision of Union membership. At the same time, all nonScandinavians were to reapply for visas, or find themselves labeled as criminals, leading to something of an exodus as thousands of people left Scandinavia for other EU countries.

Today, the Pact builds on that shared history and with a strong influence of the nationalist Christian Knightly Brotherhood, a number of Brothers are found in powerful positions. Fearful of a coming war between Eurasia and the Chinese Mandarinate, and aware of their own weak position from a military perspective, the Pact is working to create a league of Mutual Defense contracts with other nations, but due to the relative youth of the Pact, nothing has been formalized just yet.

Now, almost two years after the first votes were put forth, and a year and a half into the secession, people are beginning to question just how fast these things happened. Even without conspiracies, it was obvious that the discussion and work towards both secession had begun years before. When the Swedish Navy reconstituted itself, it soon became apparent that many commanding officers were also proud members of the Christian Knightly Brotherhood. It didn't take long for European journalists to uncover that party officials, military commanders and even local media journalists were all members of the Christian Knightly Brotherhood, an organization claiming to value classic Christian values, but also encouraging its members to view itselves as ”warriors for God” and ”knights in training for the coming Crusade”.

The Nordic Pact is a powerful thorn in the side of the Eurasian Union. Strong nationalist movements, led by the Christian Knightly Brotherhood, finally succeeded in early 2089 to force a vote of secession from the Union in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, just as armed rebellion in the South flared up. Conspiracy-theorists amongst us tend to note how closely these things happened and claim an invisible hand, but sometimes things are just what they seem to be — circumstantial.

Retaining the high living standards of the Eurasian Union, coupled with the charismatic leaders of the Brotherhood and speaking of a coming Golden Age, while at the same time playing to ancient mysticism and ritual, Scandinavia has become an interesting place for rich Eurasians, a safe spot on a continent otherwise embroiled in what can only be called a Civil War, while at the same time facing a full-on continental war with the Chinese Mandarinate.

#Juhann Grüber: Sure thing they are. Armed rebellion in the south triggered two weeks before the national votes in Scandinavia. A vote pushed by a nationalist movement. And who rebelled? Nationalists. Yeah, sure thing, pure coincidence ami. What, wanna call me a conspiracytheorist? Go ahead, you dumb scheisse.

However, it should be said that the secession movement only won the elections by the smallest of margins and the scandinavians could surely be convinced to return to the Eurasian Union, or if things become worse, might find themselves facing a newly renovated European Army with nowhere to go but north. Either way, a large number of scandinavians are still Unionist in mindset and heart, something that has opened the Pact for all manner of shadow operations.

THE NATION TODAY

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One by one, the Scandinavian countries voted to peacefully secede from the Eurasian Union and it didn't take many hours for a draft for the Nordic Pact to be sent out, ensuring that the Scandinavian countries would retain their internally open borders, beginning a collective work to reinstate the Crown as a Scandinavian currency as well as signing a co-defense agreement. That a large number of local governments had members openly part of the Christian Knightly Brotherhood didn't seem to bother people's perception of their elected politicians.

These four nations, especially Norway, were never content under Eurasian rule, but the socio democratic views tended to focus on the benefits of the many over the benefits of the individuals. Over time, social democratic views had less of an impact on the Union, giving the nationalists the final weapon they needed to gain popular support for their movements. A return to a true social democratic society, governed by Christian values, without foreign influences that could corrupt the Scandinavian spirit — that was the rallying cry of the nationalists.

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The New Classes

THE UNITED KINGDOM #INFOSOURCE #GYRO.TAG.DONATE.CHITOWN.ETP LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET/UK_INFODUMP FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/ UK_INFODUMP Posted by: #Talos The United Kingdom’s monarchy is no longer a political entity. The shift of power to the Eurasian Union rendered the Monarch’s veto power obsolete. True political power resides with the First Minister, the bombastic Harold Cameron, of the London Parliament — a body constituted of Welsh Assembly and Westminster Parliament. Elected in the controversial election of 2060, he has kept power for thirty years, becoming the face of Great Britain and in his tenure every bit as iconic Sir Winston Churchill. The Scottish Parliament is currently headed by the charismatic First Minister Robert McKay. He was elected on a promise to bring Scotland into the Eurasian Union as an equal with its own voice, and he has since spent a great deal of time ensuring that Scotland is widely recognised. He is considered in the EU Parliament as a joke and Harold Cameron’s own statement upon McKay’s election was “Every court needs a jester.”

Eurasian Parliament Relations Harold Cameron and the London Parliament stand firmly with the Eurasian Parliament on most economic and political matters, but are often amongst the last to add weight to any standing point, carefully observing the situation before making a decision. When directly involved, he asks blunt questions that are simplistic in their forthrightness and often bring to light more than the response would otherwise. One notable event where his calm exterior slipped was his outburst upon VIRTUE’s successful lobby for a seat in the Parliament, as historically he has always stood against issues such as AI and simulacrum emancipation.

The National Constabulary takes a dim view of those who break curfew and bring them in for prolonged questioning about suspected seditious activities. As a result, most of the Working Class spend their free time hooked into GoDNet hangouts with friends and relatives, watching football through the eyes of their favourite player, or playing games such as Deadlands Online rather, than risk breaking curfew by accident. The only day without a curfew is Saturday where the Working Class population are encouraged to enjoy themselves after work. Saturday has become a riotous day of excess, when the Working Class let go of all of their problems. Naturally, the Upper Class have no such restrictions placed on them, and the Migrant Class scavengers who venture out of the slums face severe repercussions on entering areas restricted to them.

L aw Enforcement The fractured state of government and society in the United Kingdom has resulted in an almost schizophrenic approach towards law and order across the nation. The main source of law is the National Constabulary of the United Kingdom that was pieced together from the remnants of the various police services and private security contractors that survived the problems of the first half of the century. The NatCon is the only government sponsored security force, and thus provides the majority of law enforcement throughout the United Kingdom. The members of the working class are handled with a harsh but fair attitude of professionalism. During the Death, the national police force was armed, for the first time in history, and the orders were never officially repealed . Today many officers simply opt not to carry a firearm. Instead they often choose a powerful stun gun, unless their duties are likely to have them entering some of the more problematic areas they are tasked with patrolling. One thing that all of the police forces have in common are the vast number of surveillance drones, security cameras and even three spy satellites used to monitor the main Sprawls of the United Kingdom.

CRIMINAL CULTURE Criminal activity, like everything else in the United Kingdom, is based on social standing. Due to the excessive power and wealth of the Upper Class, the old adage, “There is one rule for the rich, one rule for the poor,” should be replaced with, “There are no rules for the rich.” Despite many criminal activities

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At his side, Scottish First Minister McKay is the first to weigh in on a situation despite having no official influence other than being the main advisor to Harold Cameron. He is known for his vacillating opinions resulting in Cameron’s famous description of him being like “a puppy trying to get noticed without peeing on the carpet.” Some more sceptical members of the Parliament wonder if Harold Cameron may actually be grooming his successor in McKay, and that his over enthusiastic approach to all events in the EU Parliament is a screen by which Harold Cameron watches how people respond. Though McKay’s ignorance of the financial problems, and the epidemics beginning to manifest in Scottish Urban Metroplex slums and working class areas, seem to point towards the sceptics being overly paranoid.

Thanks in a large part to Harold Cameron’s stern guidance over the past thirty years, the United Kingdom has prospered and even survived the recent Charon financial attacks relatively unscathed. The brunt of losses inflicted by Charon were taken by the middle class, as their wealth wasn’t invested within larger companies and other ventures; instead when the electronic funds ceased to exist they found themselves left with nothing. The working class [who had lost comparatively little] and the middle class formed what became the new Working Class. The life of this Working Class revolves around their six-day work week and the 10pm curfew that is heavily enforced.

having their origins in the upper echelons of British society, prosecutions of them are incredibly rare, and only the most heinous or foolish member of the gentry will be likely to face prosecution. The most prominent examples are the internal rivalries of British Industrial Services, the families descended from the owners of the original businesses that established the foundations of the Great Northern Sprawl feud continually over patent rights and are the source of a great deal of extra work for the Working Class of the Great Northern Sprawl seeking a little more income. Should the job go wrong, only a stupid criminal would bring attention to their employer, as the information give will be ignored and they are promptly sent to the Out-Processing Department.

LONDON: WESTMINSTER WARD

Crossing the Trans-Channel Highway to the United Kingdom leads into the Dover Ward Customs and Excise Centre of London, a five mile complex that stands between the highway and the bulk of Dover Ward. Bored and/or corrupt officials monitor the flow of traffic into the UK and attempt to find any illicit goods, usually for their own private consumption. Every major company that has an interest in the United Kingdom has at least one centre within the Dover Ward of London as the Trans-channel highway represents the quickest and cheapest methods of importing and exporting for the United Kingdom.

Westminster has two distinct areas, the Upper and Lower Wards. In order to guard the political centre of the United Kingdom after the deluge destroyed the Houses of Parliament, the government of 2020 forced the sale of land and houses over Enfield and other surrounding areas. Once the previous occupants had been moved from the land the area was bulldozed, and a ten mile concrete raft put in place to form the foundation of the new political power base of the United Kingdom. Eventually this area was expanded until the ground artificially raised by thirty metres to safe guard against future flooding. This area eventually formed the basis of the Upper Ward. Over the next sixty years the site of repeated urban renewal projects until the area expanded in a crescent shape to Uxbridge, and has become the place to live. The Housing Board of Enfield ultimately has the decision over whether a certain person may buy their way into the district but it has to be said that “Money Talks” is a true statement and only the richest of the rich can afford to live in the luxurious West End.

The Dover Ward is built over the remnants of Dover and Folkestone and forms the connection of the Trans-Channel

The Upper Ward is a sight to behold; home to London’s Upper Class, it has a population of around two thousand people. The

The London Sprawl LONDON: DOVER WARD

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Highway to the arterial route of the London Intracity Motorway that allows goods to reach areas deeper in London and access the Northbound Motorway that leads to the Great Northern Sprawl and the Scottish Urban Metroplex. The main body of the Dover Ward follows the line of the London Intracity Motorway towards the central London Wards on either side as a grid patterned pre-fabricated industrial park with an outlying housing community, hotels and retail outlets.

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wide open plazas of perfect white marble are immaculately clean and lined with trees, while specially tailored advertising holograms discreetly offer services to passers-by creating a serene atmosphere for the wealthy to enjoy life. Security drones patrol the skies, their presense helping to ensure the safety of the social elite. Lower Westminster is the area that surrounds the platform that Upper Westminster was built on, and reaches from Enfield to the River Thames and is home to many businesses, facilities, and attractions. Life for the Working Class like those from the Stratford Terminus of the London Intracity Highway is somewhat controlled but comfortable life. The money that filters down to the Working Class is enough to feed a family and provide the occasional treat if both adults work in even the most basic of jobs. The most common job in these areas is data management, controlling the never ending flow of information that lets the businesses function. The average working day is ten hours starting at 8:00am sharp. At 10:00pm a curfew is enforced by the NatCon. Once at home most everyone in the family relies on GoDNet to socialize and relax with their peers and extended family members in virtual hangouts while programs from the Special Branch of the NatCon monitor for signs of seditious activity.

The Houses O’ The Houses of Parliament were lost in 2019 during the Deluge, when the ground level was completely flooded by the rampaging Thames River inflicting horrendous damage in a short amount of time. In the aftermath, the government was shifted away from the banks of the Thames in order to reduce the risk of another flooding and the Houses of Parliament stood derelict for many years, but were still well-guarded against the influx of refugees in the dark days of The Death. Once the nuclear autumn had subsided, development companies squabbled over whose bids to rebuild should be accepted by the government. After its initial sale in 2043, the Parliament building began to ricochet between companies for the next forty years as various buy outs, bankruptcies, and other financial problems began to beset any efforts to modernize the building. It was finally auctioned in 2084 to Benjamin Hesketh Esq. for an absurdly low price.

THE GRAND OPENING Benjamin, or Benjy (to his friends), began the ambitious reconstruction project inside of the Houses of Parliament walls were removed in some areas and built in other areas until the interior resembled nothing like the original. Benjy’s project remained a complete mystery; many inquisitive reporters intent on finding out “the Secrets of the House” suddenly decided that other events were much more newsworthy than construction work.

In the days since the grand opening it has become the place to impress any out of town business contacts or simply be seen. The Houses O’ has become a central feature in London Nightlife, being one of the few places in Lower Westminster Ward with a license exempting it from the curfew. This allows it to open every day until late, catering to the Upper Class and any tourists.

THE SEEDY UNDERBELLY Beneath the legitimate front is the Undercroft, a poorly kept secret, but one never raided by the NatCon, deep underneath the Houses O’; this area boast a fighting pit that stages everything from bare knuckle and cyberspur fighting to cybermastiff dog fights as well as playing host to a myriad of other illegalities. Around three sides of the pit there is always a gaggle of bookies to help punters gamble away their money; the remaining side has a ringside vantage and is divided into small booths set aside for employers to await those seeking work outside the boundaries of normal employment laws.

HERITAGE AND ENHANCEMENT The main area of London business are the heritage attractions, and the most notable and famous is the Buckingham Palace Heritage Centre. When political power shifted from Westminster to the Eurasian Parliament, the royal family of Great Britain lost the last of its political influence. Today, Buckingham Palace is now a centre that offers tours, souvenirs, and an in-depth view of the United Kingdom’s history provided by the descendants of those who shaped it. While nominally members of the Upper Class and the protection detail of the Coldstream Guards, the royal family has much more in common with members of the Working Class and are often a voice for them within the Byzantine politics of the upper echelons of British society. Buckingham Palace has been extensively reworked to better fit its new role within society. The royal family have a private area that is quite luxurious even by modern standards but the vast majority of the building has been turned into a museum of artefacts related to British history and a series of lecture halls where regularly sold out talks are given by guest lecturers from the Scottish Urban Metroplex University. As well as the heritage industry Lower Westminster is home to Harley Street, a place that is synonymous with the medical profession, has expanded from a simple street in London to a small community of medical professionals who work with both the Upper and Working Classes to provide them with the adjustments they request or are required for various jobs. Since their entrance into the mainstream of society, all manner of human enhancement technologies from the most basic cybernetics to the complex DNA alterations of in-vitro modification and hybridisation are readily available here.

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In December 2089, Benjy’s advertising kicked in to overdrive. Mailshots through GodNet, along with publicity stunts and enigmatic interviews happened at an increasing pace until anticipation reached fever pitch. On Saturday 31st December 2089, the doors to “The Houses O’" were opened to the public with a large fanfare and a firework display that was heard as far away as the Dover Ward.

///THREAD JACK/// LOADING… SHADOW PROFILES: SUBJECT: DUTCH COURAGE The Houses O’ is home to a group who call themselves Dutch Courage. They are the only group that Benjy Hesketh has bestowed the title of “Hereditary Peer,” meaning that they can come and go as they please from the House of Lords, and never need to buy a drink. What service they rendered to earn such an accolade, neither they or Benjy Hesketh are saying. They have a solid reputation on the streets for getting the job done and their success rate is such that they have their own booth in the Undercroft, where employers come to them to try and entice them to take their job. This arrangement works greatly to their advantage, letting them get the juiciest work. Dutch Courage have been around the blocks of Westminster, and London at large, many times. They also have been known to act as fixers for people who need a crew, but the job is too small for them to personally get involved in. Like any successful crew a lot of rumours abound about Dutch Courage. Some state they are nothing more than a face of someone deeper, some claim they are the actual leaders of the Undercroft whilst others say they are just out for themselves.

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#MICKEY The front man of Dutch Courage is Mickey. His usual cheeky chap demeanour is underlined by a steely confidence that makes it clear that he is just as comfortable throwing a punch as cracking a joke. His vocabulary and intelligence seem at odds with his accent which is more common amongst members of the Lambeth Reach but it lets him use scorn to cut straight to the heart of the matter. Though like many in London the quickest way of getting along with Mickey is to praise his favourite football team; ‘The Hammers’.

Mickey stands just over 6' in height and is surprisingly light on his feet considering his somewhat stocky frame. He seems to perpetually smile conveying his emotion and attitude at the time from an utterly malicious promise of pain to a disarming charmer and, as the oldest of the posse, Mickey is greying and insists it gives him a distinguished look rather than detracts.

#STEVIE “What’s yours is mine” A misquote that Stevie has made his life’s motto. This very densely built man analyses everything he is exposed to and knows that curiosity only killed the cat because the cat was too slow or too stupid. His inquisitive mind has the tendency to cause some trouble as if something is there; it’s obviously intended to be exploited and shared for the betterment of all. He takes a holistic view of technology and life and seeks a complete understanding of whatever he is involved with. He is Dutch Courage’s tech expert, if it needs hacking, coding, patching or repairing he’s the man to see. Stevie has an uncanny knack for blending into crowds, he is average in height and looks with dark complexion, eyes and hair; his perpetual 5 o’clock shadow never seems to change and only the chassis weight reveals that he is not an average member of the Working Class. The most notable aspect is the left side of his head which has the hair shorn short and allows people to see an elaborate electro-tattoo which seems to pulse as though mimicking the brain’s activity. In contrast to his looks though his intelligence and cavalier attitude is anything but average.

#STICKIE The sole member of Dutch Courage to have a ‘soul’ is the one without one. Stickie is a Entertainer Simulacrum from the Far East, he was designed to smooth social interactions between the disparate cultures of the East and West. Stickie tends to use words to explore all the elements necessary before committing to action. Yet when confronted with significant

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injustice, he will give everything he has to right it with attitude approaching a Samurai’s stoicism and crusader’s zeal. Stickie has a distinctive look as his model’s designer fused features of the east and west; as they were intended to be the go-betweens of important figures, whose job is to ensure that accidental breaches of etiquette are avoided or at least resolved quickly. His long dark hair swept back into a martial artist’s plait, he moves like many who have had extensive training seemingly gliding across a room, wearing his black robes made of a nano-weave mesh that gives it the ability to change style from a stylised Japanese kimono bearing his original owner’s Môn to Catholic priestly vestments.

#SEAMUS Seamus looks like the group’s brawn though any who have seen him fight know that his brawn is backed up by brains and he prefers to use his charm where possible. Seamus is most often found with Stevie, egging him on as much as bailing him out. Seamus, or Jack as the others refer to him for no discernible reason, is naturally a large handsome chap. A sure fire way to insult the man is to either comment on his heritage or call him a ‘combat monkey’ as he has undergone repeated surgery to minimise the Ape aspect of his looks to regain his handsome features, the surgeries have been successful in giving him a fierce primal look. On occasion Seamus has been known to jump into the fighting pit of the Undercroft to work off tension and prides himself on having never taken a hit that damages his expensive features. Seamus towers over the rest of the Dutch Courage and sports a naturally forming Mohawk quiff, an ever changing variety of stylised facial hair and really, really good skin complexion.

#BUTE In the shadows near Dutch Courage you’ll find Bute kicking back, taking note of pretty much everything whilst stripping down any weapon put before him. Those who know him, the manner in which he works on said weapon is generally a good indicator as to his current mood; whether it’s casually or with impressive speed, the final piece snaps into place punctuating his last word. Bute doesn’t do close encounters, neither on the field of battle or in social circumstances, and seems to simply enjoy the association of those he calls friends. As with all snipers, it’s not when you can see him you should be worried. The shortest of Dutch Courage, Bute carries himself with a proud military bearing, striding from one location to another with shoulders back, putting forward a shield of authority that precludes interruption. He’s not one to be rushed into things, and will move at his own pace having finished his pint or cuppa and having used the time to plan ahead. Not many will be able to describe Bute over and above that due to the use of shadows, caps/hats and a disarming laugh.

///MEDIA CLIP///

Naturally the Upper Class were let in first along with select members of the Working Class. They were astonished and amazed by the sheer amount of work that had gone on. People were given a brief tour by luxury simulacrum where they were shown the auditorium, lecture hall, conference facility, the still

The House of Commons was no longer a centre of political control but a luxurious night club. During the ceremonies, someone called Benjy “Big Ben” and the name spread like wildfire. His canny business sense and showmanship made him an instant success. As Big Ben worked the crowd welcoming everyone and storing information in his steel-trap mind he marked out a few of the people for his personal invite to “Peers”. These select few entered the House of Lords, a smaller version of the House of Commons with a single DJ, with waiters and waitresses to attend to every whim of these first Peers. Entrance to the House of Lords is difficult to get and a night’s access is a little reward for a job well done on behalf of Big Ben or more likely the addition of yet another favour to Big Ben’s ever expanding network. In the days since the grand opening, it has become the place to be seen and preen as well as impress any out of town business contacts. Benjy Hesketh towers over the average punter in his “ickle place” and enjoys the role of a classic proprietor in the Houses O’ capturing his audience’s attention with artful changes to his voice, subtle nuances and face giving life to the tall tales or rhetoric; he also revels at being the man with the information, leads, and/or contacts to facilitate almost any of the jobs that pass through the Undercroft. Dealing with Big Ben though is not as straightforward as might be expected and all of his deals have meticulous fine print and clauses to guard his interests and he is always the first to scoop the deck for anything that was left unattended for too long.

///END MEDIA CLIP/// LOADING… SHADOW PROFILES: SUBJECT: DR. SIMON FOY INVESTIGATION TRANSCRIPT: 2090/05/01 16:32HRS Harley Street is home to one of the most controversial figures of the day; Doctor Simon Foy. He is a talented but eccentric surgeon who graduated from Scotland Urban Metroplex University five years ago, and has since made repeated headlines with his unique procedures. The most mundane, and rarest, of his services is the construction of unique cybernetics. Each piece is beyond the most bleeding edge research and development facilities work, and creates little to no Cybertrauma with implantation, Dr Simon Foy refuses to work on what he terms “banalware.” Any cyberware he creates is bizarre to look upon and, in some cases, disturbing. His most famous piece was for the son of one of British Industrial Solutions Board of Directors who requested his feet be replaced with a hundred tiny mechanical spiderlike legs. Simon Foy’s most common procedure is “Heritage Surgery” that forgoes a large amount of modern, and much less invasive, techniques in favour of antiquated surgical methods dating back to the previous century. These surgeries inevitably leave scarring that can be quite severe but these have become a status symbol amongst the Upper Class mainly due to the risks involved and the hefty price tag.

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“Ladies and Gentlemen! I welcomes yous to my ickle place by the Rivah, I’s ‘ope yous all enjoy it! Come in and know me better!” – Benjamin Hesketh Esq.’s opening speech for the Houses O’

under construction restaurant for which Benjy made profuse apologies, and the United Kingdom of Gifts a store that sold all manner of goods for tourists and visitors. The amazed group were then brought to “The House of Commons”.

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His rise to public attention, at least amongst the Upper Class, stems from his latest procedures. Body modifications such as piercing and tattooing are prevalent throughout society at all levels and with the advent of hybridisation and cosmetic cybernetics you can shape yourself into any form you wish. So to cater to those rich enough to afford such services he offers “Patching” where he will take parts from requested subjects (such as animal tissue or even other human tissue) and attach it to the person’s body complete with any additions or alterations to the nervous system in order to make it function.

are the hybrids who condemn patching as a mockery of their culture, and many groups who oppose alterations to the human genome such as hybridisation, find an uncomfortable common ground with the hybrids over patching, and even historically antagonistic religious groups have begun to set aside some of their hatred temporarily to focus on him. The artistic community of the Upper Class have gone into a frenzy of activity with nebulous debate and have extended several offers throughout the United Kingdom for him to speak at their various functions.

Sarah Hall, one of the idle rich, was the first to publicly show her “patch” job creating uproar when she arrived at the 2089 New Year’s Eve party in Upper Westminster with an additional pair of breasts (from an unknown donor) and her hair replaced with porcupine spines. In 2090 many of young and idle Upper Class are now waiting for appointments regarding Patching and, although many lose their nerve, the number of patched grows weekly.

Dr Foy is most often encountered while working and is usually found in a tight black jumpsuit with integral hood, a rebreather/ surgical mask, and a blood red surgical apron. His movements are always measured and precise. He purposefully avoids any kind of physical contact. When forced out of his laboratory complex, like most members of the Upper Class, it is clearly visible that he is human 2.0, from his perfect white teeth, smooth complexion and strong jaw line.

Simon has sparked controversy across society in a way not seen since the STRAP was revealed. The medical community is split as many regard Heritage Surgery as unethical and dangerous to the point of medical negligence, whilst other medical professionals support him, stating that he is a surgical artist rather than the current use of gene-therapy, nanotechnology, and computer controlled surgery. One uniting factor is that they all wonder how he managed to avoid certain problems such as tissue rejection and incompatibility, as well as how he made such breakthroughs. The main groups of detractors

Though for one with his reputation of eccentricity and work on extreme body modifications, Simon sports few obvious modifications. He has uniformly trimmed designer stubble and short brown hair kept at a complementary length as both were tailored to remain at his preferred length. His clothes are always perfectly tailored and sporting the latest fashion, his arms display tribal designs made of nanotechnology that react to his emotional state by changing colour and vibrancy. His upper chest is implanted with a blue chrome collar with the phrase “Loyal Au Morte” embossed in gothic lettering around the collar bone, and eyes that have tiny ideograms of Kanji for loyalty mottling the whites. As well as his legitimate businesses, like many of the Upper Class, he has other less legitimate sources of income. To a select few, he is known as an excellent cleaner. His eyes are home to an impressive array of scanners and sensors, mostly his own design, that allow him to find and remove traces of anyone from a crime scene even down to the cellular level, while his own traces — such as shed skin cells — breakdown within a minute allowing him to tailor a crime scene to tell whatever story he wishes. When he is working in such a role, he is encountered wearing an Executive Decision business suit and carrying a Saturday Night Sprawl Special loaded with dual core rounds. He will try to avoid a fight if possible, but will not abandon a job unless presented with extremely good evidentially reasons.

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///END THREAD JACK///

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The Scottish Metroplex The Scottish Urban Metroplex — also called the SUM or Scotsprawl — was built on the remnants of Glasgow and the western expansion of Edinburgh. Unlike the traumatic birth of the Great Northern Sprawl the SUM was fortunate as the Scottish Parliament had enough funds to provide ample support in the years following the Deluge to those who had been evacuated or become refugees, and due to the relative isolation of the nascent migrant class during The Death gave the Scottish Parliament time to establish a working multi-level sprawl for its subjects. Scotsprawl is the educational capitol of the United Kingdom. During the years of The Death, Oxford and Cambridge Universities were greatly damaged and occupied by refugees so the decision was made that, the vast wealth of history and resources were to be relocated and stored elsewhere. As the Nuclear Autumn cleared and some of the pressures eased, it was found that the refugees had become entrenched in the buildings. During the months where the refugees were undergoing a process of aggressive relocation, the University of Edinburgh put great effort into bringing itself to the front of public attention and expanding its facilities.

The Great Northern Sprawl The Great Northern Sprawl covers the horizon and, while nominally under the control of the London Parliament, the popularity of British Industrial Solutions and their personal ownership of the entire Northwest has granted them autonomy from the rest of the United Kingdom’s politics and influence. Here the people live in an almost hive-like community ruled by corporate culture The aggregation of wealth endemic to the United Kingdom, is nowhere more apparent than here, where the people care the least. Every citizen who lives under the British Industrial Solution (BIS) rule signs a Corporate Citizenship Agreement that guarantees them healthcare, a living salary, and other benefits. However, while their lives are better than the population elsewhere in the United Kingdom, they are little more than very comfortable indentured servants of the BIS Board of Directors. All aspects of their lives are regulated and monitored by the company as are the houses they live in. All their utilities, the food they eat, and the clothes they wear are all manufactured or provided by British Industrial Solutions.

CHAIRMAN OF BRITISH INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Law and Order in the GNS is provided by Peel Protection Services, a company established in the Bury Ward of the GNS and the home of Sir Robert Peel, the man behind the establishment of Great Britain’s first police force. Peel Protection Service Officers (Peelers) maintain a high public profile with their navy blue uniform and black Kevlar pads and each carries a sidearm and an assault rifle. The CEO, Mike Burgess, has recently gained agreement from the board that his Peelers have the right to perform random stop and search checks on any individual within the GNS, in addition to maintaining regular checkpoints where scanners monitor everyone passing through. The majority of crime in the GNS is Corporate Espionage. This most commonly involves breaking into a secure site to access a database to steal product information, while altering the remaining data in order to discredit their target. In the GNS collateral damage is unacceptable and repeated fatalities will result in the perpetrators receiving a bad rep and work disappearing. Punishments in the GNS for minor crimes involve public naming and shaming, progressing to the temporary restriction of rights and salary. The most serious crimes result in the criminal being sent to the Out-Processing Department. Their families are given the choice to publicly denounce the criminal or to join them at the Out-Processing Department. No one who has ever entered the Out-Processing Department has been heard of again, officially having been stripped of the benefits of their Corporate Citizen Agreement and removed from the GNS; and their attempts to contact those within are blocked.

The United Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were incredibly fortunate during 2019 with most of damage being limited to coastal regions while the island's interior remained unscathed. The biggest change for Ireland was during The Death. Many areas of the United Kingdom were left to fend for themselves and as Northern Ireland was separated by the Irish Sea it was the one to receive the least aid. On March 22nd, 2030, a large formation of the Irish Republic’s Defence Force crossed into the six counties with food and medical relief. The beleaguered PSNI offered no resistance, as did the majority of the population who welcomed them with open arms. The Republic officially recognises April 24th, 2030, as the date that Ireland became a Unified Republic. It wasn’t until the end of the Death that their actions would face scrutiny; which triggered an extended campaign of propaganda on both sides,

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The Chairman of the Board Elizabeth Dickerson is exceptionally popular and considered something of a Cinderella story. While working at bar she met and fell in love with Eric Dickerson, after a much publicised relationship culminating in marriage in 2075 she became involved in the business bringing a personal touch to many areas of the company, and is immensely popular with the general public. She soon became his right hand guiding him firmly but kindly with the people’s interests at the heart of all decisions. With Eric’s unfortunate death in 2083 due to his personal jet crashing into the Atlantic she was ushered in with acclaim from the

rest of executive board. Many expected her to be a puppet of the board, but she has proven to be the equal of her late husband in business acumen. She recently announced that on the first of January 2100 work will begin to turn the Great Northern Sprawl into the Great Northern Arcology, a beacon of hope for the future of humanity. British Industrial Solution’s stock increased dramatically in response to this news as well as the number of people applying for Corporate Citizenship within the GNS.

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along with the general protests that often became riots as the extremists began to wage a bloody war of murder and terror. The situation regarding Northern Ireland has remained in debate for sixty years with no resolution in sight and the blood still flowing in the streets.

HEAD OF STATE The President of Ireland is Siobhan O’Dwyer, a fiery redhead who was largely unknown politically until her impassioned sincerity during her campaign made her a public favourite overnight, and she is embarking on her first term of office with the goal of seeking a peaceful resolution to the problems in the northern counties, and creating a truly Unified Republic and, while Loyalist violence is a regular occurrence, they are always careful not to target her events as she seems to hold credibility in both camps.

THE REPUBLIC POLICE SERVICE

With a population approaching 20 million souls, Dublin is a sprawling port city extending as far North as Drogheda and West to Enfield. Predominantly Irish, the city has, in recent years, seen an influx of immigrants from all parts of the world, especially those coming out of many countries in Europe. This flood of new blood into the city has sparked tensions between various nationalist movements looking to keep Ireland Irish, and other groups that feel Ireland needs to become more cosmopolitan. President O’Dwyer is under great pressure to reform the immigration laws, and institute stiff penalties for illegal immigrants. Some want her to go further, however. Silas O’Shane, the leader of the Real Irish republican Army (RIRA) has called for the deportation of all British and Scottish nationals currently living in Ireland. Ironically, O’Shane is well-known for bringing in simulacra and other undesirables to Ireland to join the RIRA. Dublin is a major port city, making it perfect for smuggling operations of all kinds. Indeed, the freelancer presence is strong in Dublin. Many ronin use it as a base of operations for jobs inside the Eurasian Union, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic Pact Nations of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Rumor has it that the RIRA are in bed with the Russian rebels and work with the Bratva Vory to supply the insurgency with all types of weapons and supplies.

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As a result of the continued war between the Ulster Loyalist Army and the Republic Militia, the Republic Police Service is equipped to the level found in many militaries and equally well trained. Every member carries an assault rifle and sidearm as well as wearing full body armour with an enclosed reflective helmet that hides the individual constable’s identity (giving rise to their nickname of the “mirrorheads”). While they are neutral in most matters they have a tendency to shoot first in the Loyalist flashpoints of the north. While in the southern counties they are regarded widely as public heroes receiving public support in just about all activities.

DUBLIN

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hard. We have here what the experts call Empty Battle Field or EBF. Less brainy people call it terrorism.

THE MIDDLE EAST #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET/MIDDLE_EAST FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/ MIDDLE_EAST Posted by: #Ahmad_Haddad, Middle East Cultural Attaché Ahlan wa sahlan! How are you, my brother? Interested in our little corner of the globe? Come, turn on your TAP and let me take you on little HR tour of the hood. The Middle East is a land of stark contradictions. For example, most citizens of the Arab Kingdom are human 2.0, while in the Arab Republic these sons of dogs and apes are killed on sight. Pretty stark, yes? Contradictions, my brother: technology and tradition, big money and Jihad, towers and tents. Anything you can find in the Middle East has an exact opposite nearby, and the two are sworn enemies. If you join one side, the other will try to kill you and if you’re neutral both will try to kill you just in case. I mean, try telling an Israeli ars you don’t have a position about Israel. If you’re lucky, it will only get you a tour of the glorious Israeli medical system. If you’re less lucky, you’ll get to star in a Jewish funeral. It’s pretty much like that everywhere. I see I’m starting to depress you. In truth, it’s not all bad. Where there is pain, there is gain, yes? All this mess is ripe ground for serious money for the businessman who is as quick with the gun as he is in the Deep. You can make a fortune by playing these deadly games if you’re crazy enough and tough. Israel and Iran — sorry, Persia — they changed their name again — have some super advanced technology and the big boys in China and Brazil are not happy about it. You could turn a nice profit sharing some of this tech with Golden Promise or Helios or anyone else of these murdering businessmen. Of course, then you’ll have the Mossad on your ass. Did I forget to tell you? Israel and Persia are best buddies now.

Peace in the Middle East

Cars and homes get blown to bits. People get shot and stabbed. Brains get fried in the Deep. Information changes hands, leaving a bloody trail in its wake. But there is no battlefield. There are no tanks to bomb, planes to intercept or bases to nuke. You have angry kids with guns, Tendril Access Processors and ideas. Of course, you have people who think an old fashioned Jihad will solve all problems. Allah is punishing the infidels and all this suffering is preparing the world for the Mahadi who will come and make it right. Allah is angry that capitalist pigs control Al-Quds/ Jerusalem. Allah is angry that not all the Ummah is united under a single Caliph. Allah is angry that Man challenges the divine act of creation with robotics and genetics. Allah is angry at the Atheists of Kurdistan. There are hundreds of small Islamist groups, but only two are taken seriously, the Jaish al-Islam and the Fedayeen alMahadi. These guys aren’t a bunch of noobs with bombs; they’re playing the game at expert level. Don’t go sniffing after them in the Deep. Playing football on a minefield is safer. Then there are two Jewish orgs too. There is Neturei Karta who want exactly what the Jaish want, free Jerusalem, but somehow still manage to be their enemies. Charming guys. The other group is really more of an Israeli conspiracy, Gamla. They’re not happy with Israel’s retreat to a single walled city and want to expand. There is a Christian group called the New Crusaders that wants, you guessed it, to liberate Jerusalem, but only make angry posts in the Deep. Actually, I gotta read about them later. Meh, screw it. As long as they don’t want to “liberate” Gaza, I don’t care. The last contestant in our ugly pageant is the GLF, the Godless Liberation Front. They are supposed to be an atheist radical group fighting religion in the Middle East, but everyone knows they’re just a front for the People’s Democratic Republic of Kurdistan. By Allah, I swear half their leaders are Kurdish officers in plainclothes.

A Big Pile of Nothing

Okay, let’s start with a shocker. The Middle East is the most peaceful region on the planet these days. Inshallah, this won’t change soon. The Ruskis and Chinks are at each other’s throats, the Euros are nibbling on their butt and the Americans are… American, even though the states reclustered into new nations.

JEWS, JIHAD, JERUSALEM Remember that thing I told you about peace? Well, that’s on the international level. On a national level, we’re bleeding

The Arab Kingdom still managed to stay filthy rich (if you don’t count the 90% who’re dirt poor) but, whatever. The good news: most Arabs and Kurds were so poor before this happened that they hardly noticed when it did. The bad news: when faced with a choice between food and guns… Jews and Persians. These guys were always deep inside their own asses. When the world collapsed they just shrugged and dug themselves even deeper into their respective asses. They’re rich, yeah, but they’re still living on Uranus. So screw them.

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War is always right around the corner, but it’s been there so long I think it’s fallen asleep. The Israelis are sure the Arabs are going to invade any minute and the Arabs are like, “yeah, sure, one sec, just let us get our affairs in order.” Spoiler alert: there will never be a war between nations. You have seven countries fortified like turtles, armed like porcupines, but all their guns are aimed inside.

Economy, that’s a different business. It sucks major balls. Our economy was heavily invested in the West, and when they went down with their little virus, we call it here the nakhsa, it dragged us down with them.

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Brothers from Other Mothers I didn’t list international business conglomerates above, because calling them terrorists would be an affront to good, honest terrorists everywhere. I mean, these greedy bastards are a category unto themselves. If anyone is gonna screw the world so bad that the Mahadi comes, it’s not gonna be the politicians or the imams. No, brother, it’s the conglomerates. Everyone knows they practically own the Kingdom and Kurdistan and that they’re pulling the strings in the Republic. They’re also working to undermine Israel and Persia, but carefully, because these bad boys bite back.

Gaza City State OFFICIAL LEADER: IMAM HAROUN IBN KHATB AL-KHAKIM TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: ANOCRACY (OFFICIALLY ISLAMIC REPUBLIC) Okay, so we kinda blew the whole Palestine deal, but hell, Gaza is free. I’m not talking free like Kurdistan, where you’re free to be murdered by your own government instead of a foreign one. No, brother, I mean really free! Look out of the window — I dare you to name one ethnicity, one subculture, one race that is not outside, free as a sparrow.

#WarDog: You didn’t drive out anyone. The only thing your rockets hit is open space. They left because they never wanted to be in Gaza in the first place, nor did Egypt or AIR.

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY The only role of the police in Gaza is to write down parking tickets (when no one is watching) and shoo away pickpockets (if there aren’t too many of them). They carry guns, but that’s just to impress the girls. The reason all these tough pirates and crazed freedom fighters know their place is the hamula system. Hamula, or extended family, is a big deal in Gaza and every man is expected to always be ready to pick up a gun or a knife and protect his family’s honor and interests. We have hundreds of closed Deep networks and if someone posts that he’s in trouble, the whole hamula will be there in five minutes. Mess with a Gazan and you mess with his entire family. No matter how tough you are, fifty men with guns are not something to be trifled with. #Hannahble_Cannibal: Democratic for men, you mean? If you’re a woman, you’re still expected to shut your mouth and open your legs. The only progressive group in Gaza is the Kutaytat, but you’re not even going to mention them, are you?

Due to marital and business contacts, most hamulas can summon fighters from allied hamulas and if the imams, our religious leaders, chip in as well, the whole city will be ready for war in a day. It’s messy, but it works.

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In Gaza city, you can do everything you want! Want to go to a mosque and listen to old preachers teach you how you should be ashamed of everything? Go ahead; we have the full spectrum of monotheist religions here. Want to find a working girl that can make you happy in twenty layers of reality? Brother, you will not be disappointed!

Safety? Who said anything about safety? Brother, I see your problem now: you want the world for nothing. Freedom has a price. Do you think we drove out the Zionists and then the neo-Baathists with kisses? This is one rough neighborhood and if you want to prosper, you need to be the meanest cat on the block.

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A HUNDRED THOUSAND JUDGES

HOLY VEGAS!

Our legal system is similar to the one in the Kingdom, but even looser. It’s not something I’m proud of, but no one cares what I think. Basically, it goes like this: there are no laws and no judges. This doesn’t mean you can get away with everything or that you won’t get busted (or blasted) if you make a liability of yourself.

Religion was always a commercial affair, but never so brazenly and shamelessly. Just like a dealer who never uses his own stuff, Chimera set out to maximize profit from the prophet. They planned to avoid upsetting anyone by declaring full religious tolerance, not realizing that nothing angers the true man of religion more than religious tolerance, an inherently secular philosophy.

Just like in the Kingdom, we have a class of bearded ulama, or religious scholars. Except in the spirit of pluralism, progress and something else starting with P, they cover the whole spectrum of monotheism. In case of a dispute between two individuals, or an individual and the state, a qadi, or judge, must be agreed upon to resolve the conflict based on his private interpretation of religious and tribal traditions. The problem is that most religious texts were written before we had genetic engineering, computer networks, space travel or, I suspect, indoor plumbing. It’s hilarious to watch a learned imam sprain his brain in an attempt to apply sharia law to cyber-crime or accounting irregularities. I mean, it’s hilarious if you’re not on the receiving end of the legal whip. #KiyomiFox: This is sadly true. Last year, my boyfriend and I visited Gaza and I was nearly hanged for slapping away some boy who pulled at my tail.

The Jerusalem DMZ OFFICIAL LEADER: DIRECTOR JORGE XAVIER MARINEZ TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: DIRECT CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION (OFFICIALLY ISRAELI DMZ) You know the old story about two dudes fighting and the third one winning? That’s exactly what happened with Jerusalem. The Jews and the Arabs spent more than a century fighting and in the end the Brazilians got it without firing a single shot. During the Second Disengagement, the Israelis realized that both the Muslim and Jewish population of the city were poor, hostile, and uneducated, not the kind of people the Zionists wanted in their new state. On the other hand, while the Jews of Jerusalem were hardly friends of Israel, they were still Jews and it was clear that if Jerusalem became part of AIR, they would bleed hard. Israel could not allow a second holocaust to take place right under its nose. That’s when Chimera offered to buy Jerusalem. Naturally, that’s not how they presented the offer. It went something along the lines of renting a 99 year lease for neutral administration and arbitration. There was a lot of debate about this move, in Israel and in the world, especially after several other corporations demanded that a proper international tender was held to resolve the competition. Chimera won, probably because of its reputation of conserving, rather than demolishing, obsolete property.

However, away from the spotlights, the natives grew restless. Considering themselves the natural service providers for pilgrims, they suddenly found themselves marginalized by foreign professionals who didn’t even share the natives’ devotion. Then, there were the Sims. Creating golems was the privilege of the holiest rabbis, not of soulless capitalists who, in their arrogance, challenged the very act of divine creation. Many of the city’s leading rabbis published edicts condemning the Sims as an abomination whose very presence in the holy city was an affront to God. Imams and muftis were no more enthusiastic about the newcomers, deeming the Sims satanic mockeries of humanity and issuing a fatwa of their expulsion from the Al-Quds, the holy city. So, after fighting for two hundred years, the Jews and Muslims suddenly found something that united them — yet they still hate each other’s’ guts.

People's Republic of Kurdistan OFFICIAL LEADER: CHAIRMAN MUSTAFA RASUL KAZNADAR TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP It’s funny how people can spend so much time fighting foreign oppression only to replace it with domestic oppression. I mean, Kurdistan has been a sovereign nation for almost half a century, but Turkish and Arab tyranny was better than this “freedom.” #LoveKurdistan: Why you tell such lies about great country? Beloved leader make best country in world. #SamTheSlam: Do the Kurds actually have propaganda bots? This totally sounds like a message generated by a bot.

Even though I’m thousands of kilometers away, I’m still taking a certain risk by making this post. Kurdish spies and assassins are everywhere these days. They look for technological secrets to steal and dissidents to kill, but sometimes they blow up random people just to make a statement about equality all that. Now, in Kurdistan, you don’t even have to betray the state to be shipped away to a gulag. If they find out that you’re a practicing Muslim, that’s enough. In fact, I suspect that if they’re

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And so, in the year of 2067 to the Prophet Jesus, peace be upon Him, Chimera moved into Jerusalem with its Brazilian administrators and army of Sims and started making money.

After a multi-billion renovation project, Jerusalem became so shiny that many tourists had to turn off their TAPs to make sure they weren’t staring at some brilliant AR. Holy sites like the Wailing Wall or the Sepulcher can hardly be found among the numerous museums, casinos, SPAs, automated churches and so forth. Portuguese and English are heard much more often than Hebrew and Arabic. Pilgrim services are available for all budgets.

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missing slaves in their gulags it’s enough to get you shipped. The hammer of justice is harsh, but at least it’s random.

The State of Israel

A DREAM DEFERRED After the Islamic Coalition was defeated, the PKK turned its Israeli-manufactured guns inward, purging the country of the citizens who weren’t sufficiently enthusiastic in defending it, or who had the misfortune of not being ethnic Kurds. Well, it’s been twenty years since the war, but the purging still goes on. Technology is a two-edged sword. When used for good, it makes everything so much better. When used for evil, it allows for a level of tyranny unimagined by the dictators of the past. By importing the world’s most advanced surveillance technology and simultaneously cutting the population from any technology that could threaten the Party (no one bothers saying PKK anymore), Mustafa became the God of this atheist country. Now, I hear the Party has a breeding program designed to create superior workers and soldiers who labor hard and never doubt their orders. Genetic and cybernetic augmentations are mandatory according to the needs of the State. Marriage has been abolished. Parenthood has been abolished. Games and leisure have been abolished. Religion has been abolished. With the current rate of forced augmentation, soon humanity will be abolished as well.

As far as the government of Israel is concerned, Israel is located on an island surrounded by monsters and lava. This country is a fortress! Its security apparatus is so tight that even flies can't enter without a thorough security check. Security measures range from a tall concrete wall, a callback to an era of walled cities and siege engines, to drones and turrets so sophisticated that the rest of the world will only discover them next decade. Although not a single rocket has landed on Israeli soil for more than two decades, the Israelis are convinced that they’re under siege and war and terror are right around the corner.

In short, the world’s darkest regime rose to the sound of Americans and Europeans applauding, and Jews and Persians counting credits. Don’t you just love this world?

By now you’re probably thinking that they are a little crazy, and they totally are, but there is a reason for this madness, so bear with me. The second half of the 21st century wasn’t kind to the Zionist outpost in the Middle East. First they were kicked out of Gaza by Palestinian resistance. Then they lost Judea, Samaria and the Golan heights to the Second Arab Spring. Finally, after a massive revolt of the Galilean Arabs aided by al-Misri’s victorious armies, Israel lost its north as well, essentially becoming the state of Tel Aviv and its outskirts. At the same time it has sold Jerusalem, the holiest city for the Jews, to the Brazilians, when it became clear that 90% of the population was hostile to the Jewish state, either because it was Jewish or because it was a state.

OLIGARCHICAL COLLECTIVISM

Oh boy, I’m sure the Brazilians are regretting this purchase now… but we digress.

#Shalif:There is no God but the Mustafa, and the Party makes a profit. Allah istor!

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OFFICIAL LEADER: PM RABBI DOCTOR SHIMON KLEIN, PRESIDENT ANASTASIA KOGAN-MUHAMMAD TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: ETHNIC DEMOCRACY

Private life and personal beliefs have been absolutely and irrevocably destroyed. Everything in this country, from the air people breathe, through their food and clothing, to their very flesh and bones, is owned by a small group of faceless bureaucrats. Who are they? How can you join their ranks? Who is really in power? The Party. What’s The Party? The Party is The Party. Ask one more question and earn a visit by the secret police.

#Yossel_Tov: We stay, you call us occupiers. We leave, you call us quitters. There is no pleasing some. I bet you’re just mad because the Arabs of Israel still have the most rights and best living condition in the Middle East without being a slave-owning, racist, homicidal medieval dictatorship like the Arab Kingdom.

Okay, now is the part where I knock your TAPs off. Do you know where all the enemies of the state go? What these colonies are really all about? Corporate facilities! Yeah, there’s your unholy alliance of capitalism and socialism, right there: Communists reducing men to resources and capitalists processing these resources into fine products.

The new government of Israel, headed by the isolationist Masada party, decided to live up to the anti-Israeli propaganda of the early 21st century and shed off the democratic coil for a while. Such a small country with so many external enemies is too fragile for internal enemies as well, it reasoned, so if you weren’t an ardent supporter of a secular Jewish state, you had a month to get out. Communists, Islamists, Ultra-Orthodox Jews, illegal immigrants from Africa, leftist intellectuals, and everyone else who didn’t share the Knesset’s view on Israel’s future packed and left. Some tried to resist, but with its gloves off, the Israeli Shin Bet ruthlessly and elegantly made short work of them.

While the Party teaches that the colonies are used to reeducate reactionaries by putting them to hard work for the good of the state, in truth they are giant and hereditary slave camps used by Golden Promise Incorporated both for heavy industry and experimentation. There are rumors that the Orlov family is playing some sick game in Kurdistan as well, paying the Party a fortune for this privilege. Personally, I think this is bullshit, but who knows? It’s a sick world out there.

#SirhanJM: Your posts make you sound like a pincher that thinks it chased a truck away with its barks.

#Noa_Dust: That’s a very nice way to describe this Nazi purge of all political dissent. As an Arab, I’d expect more understanding of the full extent of Zionist terror from you. But, of course you live in Gaza, the favorite toy of the racist Zionist machine. #Martin_J_Hussein: As an Arab, he knows that his leaders like to hang the opposition, not just cut it from power. You’re an anti-Semite Jew and you don’t even realize it. It’s sad

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a James Bond with a silly name on your ass — look the other way.

really. Good thing we got rid of you delusional idiots. BTW, before you call me a racist, I’m an Arab AND a proud Israeli citizen.

The current president is an Arab woman (well, half-Arab), but her powers don’t extended beyond shaking hands with foreign dignitaries and presenting awards for best essays to little girls. I suspect they only elected her because she’s smoking hot.

THE ART OF WAR Just like the police, the army is also unseen until provoked. While the power of this state is disproportional to its size, its army is hidden underground and is cared for by a legion of engineers, technicians, and agents. Remember, in this country, what you don’t see is what should worry you the most. Soldiers only include commando units such as airborne sayeret matkal or the naval shayetet 13. Israel relies more on its numerous intelligence agencies such as the Shin Bet (internal security), Mossad (foreign intelligence), and Haman (military intelligence) to preempt trouble rather than on the IDF solving it. The fact that there hasn’t been a single attack by homegrown or foreign fighters in 25 years should attest to how effective these guys are. While Israel’s military secrets are coveted by many foreign governments and industrial conglomerates, I don’t suggest you go grabbing them for easy money. The agency in charge of preventing industrial espionage is called Shavit and they literally have a license to kill. So unless you’re willing to have

Israel is the last country in the region you want to mess with, but it’s also the one that offers the greatest rewards if you do, so the spy game is always on. Allah knows the world is full of desperate people.

The Serene Republic of Persia OFFICIAL LEADER: PRESIDENT USTAD RAMAN AMANAT TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: PRESIDENTIAL REPUBLIC A lot of people are calling Persia a Baha’i republic, but this is bullshit. The majority of the population is Muslim and the second place keeps being contested by Zarathustrians and Baha’i. Hindu and Buddhist temples are a common sight and, if you look hard enough, you can find synagogues and churches too. The right way to describe Persia would be a secular republic with a Baha’i government. So, how come the persecuted religion whose founder was martyred two hundred years ago made such a triumphant return?

THE PARTY OF CHANGE Fariborz Mishkín-Qalam established the Party of Change and took the first election by a landslide. The Qalam family fled Iran in the ‘30s and, after many tribulations, found itself living in Haifa, Israel only a few miles from the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh

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and the Technion Institute. The former taught him the Baha’i Faith; the latter taught him civil engineering and architecture. His party’s success at restoring the Iranian economy and education led to a process of mass conversion to Bahai’ism, and renewed interest in science and secular philosophy. In his famous 2079 speech, marking 100 years of Persian republicanism, President Mishkín-Qalam paraphrased the summary of the Baha’i faith as described by a 20th century Baha’i leader, Shoghi Effendi: Let me now plainly put before you the principles of our peaceful revolution with which we shall overturn this world of violence and hate. Brothers and sisters, these are our principles: The independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition. The oneness of the entire human race and the new races fashioned through its genius. The basic unity of all religions of East and West. The condemnation of all forms of prejudice. The harmony which must exist between religion and science. The equality of men and women, the two wings on which the eagle of humanity soars! This iconic speech, perhaps ironically and perhaps inevitably, earned Persia the hidden animosity of the “Civilized World.” The powers that be could stomach a backwater and toothless enemy, but a competent friend had to be crushed. #Vadim: You’re just paranoiac, my friend. Where is that hostility you’re talking about? The borders are open, embassies are open for business and the Iranian army regularly practices with Western armies.

creepy bastard no one wants to mess with. If you wonder how a fascist hellhole found itself in bed with two prosperous democracies, well, hungry people do desperate things. #Jason5052: The Triangle Alliance is a nice way of referring to a racist conspiracy against the Arab people. #MarkThisSpot: Kurdistan is Communist you moron. #LATuff: Did you notice that only these enlightened democracies make sure that their citizenry is racially pure? Arab countries welcomes citizens of all races and religions, but these so-called pluralists watch very carefully after their demographics…

Despite the alliance, Persia remains somewhat xenophobic. Strangers are usually not harassed, but nor are they welcome. Unlike Historic America, Persia likes to keep the hungry and huddled masses away from its promising shores, with guns if necessary. Wealthy tourists and businessmen can get entry visas, but everyone else must enjoy the splendor of Persia via AR.

United Arab Islamic Republic OFFICIAL LEADER: PRESIDENT LUCIAN AL-MISRI, PM UMM JIHAD TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: FEDERAL DEMOCRACY With more than half a billion citizens and tens of millions of unregistered nomads, AIR is the largest Islamic state in history and one of the most populous democracies on the planet. #SalimSalaam: Democracy. Yeah Right. AIR is a country where members of the same family get elected each time.

#JaNotABot: You’re naïve puppy! Didn’t you ever hear the expression? “Keep your friends close and enemies closer?”

THE TRIANGLE ALLIANCE It could be forgiven that Persia achieved modernization without westernization (or mass murder), it could be tolerated that it served as a home base for a new religion that was rapidly capturing the hearts and minds of young people all over the world, but there was no way the corporate world would overlook the Fars Research Institute. When Mishkín-Qalam, spoke about the new races fashioned through humanity’s genius, he wasn’t kidding. Nor was he speaking about placing a huge Sims order at the trusted hands of some Megacorp. No, the man spoke about starting domestic Sims production. And that crap just wouldn’t fly. The Corps began looking for a way in.

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Persia had the stability and freshness of a phoenix risen from the ashes, so financing a coup was impossible. Persia also had some of the most advanced technological institutes, not to mention serious stockpiles of nukes and bios, so invasion didn’t seem appealing either. Lastly, the Baha’i faith was growing more popular every day, so a private boycott wouldn’t work. The only option left was a war of attrition. Sabotage Persian projects, arm Persia’s enemies, assist Islamic terrorists, spread destabilizing rumors and sour international relations. To counter this carefully masked aggression, Persia founded the Triangle Alliance of non-Muslim and non-Arab states in the Middle East; Jewish Israel, Atheist Kurdistan and Baha’i Persia. The purpose of the Alliance was mutual defense against Arab political and military aggression (on a personal note: bullshit), academic and intelligence exchange and mutual support. Israel was the guns, Persia was the face, and Kurdistan was the

After the apocalyptic wars of the beginning of the century, the broken postwar remains of Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Syria and, unwillingly, Lebanon, have turned again to the idea of Arab unity. The result was AIR, a political behemoth of immense and polluted cities that can only survive due to high-tech that’s controlled by the elite and provided by outsiders. In the toxic spaces between the cities, strange new tribes that have grown from the postwar wilderness and the fierce Bedu lifestyle roam free. For these tribes, the cities, the corporations, the poor masses huddling together in the hopes of “making it” one day, all represent foreign corruption that must be swept away by the rage of the desert. It’s not perfect: there is rampant corruption, officials and executives abuse their powers, ethnic and religious tension still serves as an excuse for murder and millions of people live off the grid just like their Stone Age forefathers, but shit, we’ve come a long way. And you know what? As America and Europe are crumbling, the Arab world has peace and, perhaps for the first time since Nasser, the father of the first United Arab Republic, the prospect of unity. Can you really say that about the West?

THE SECOND ARAB SPRING Bernard al-Misri, a Melkite-Syrian general, achieved something no Arab leader had in modern history — he won a war. In fact, not one war, but two; one in Greater Syria and one in Palestine. Having restored the long lost Arab honor, Bernard went on to fulfill the dream of the 20th century Nasser — Arab unity.

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Despite his military past, Bernard al-Misri envisioned the United Arab Republic as a peaceful and democratic nation that, having restored its honor against Israel and the former United States, no longer had the need for repression and war. He worked to promote secularism and education with the motto: “Modernization without westernization.” This earned him the label “the Arab Gandhi” among his allies and al-Kafir, the infidel, among his enemies. His murder at the hands of Islamic extremists cast a giant shadow on the fledgling democracy and brought to light the insurmountable chasm between the secular and urban elites and the religious and rural filahin. Too thinly spread, the power of the government didn’t extend far from the great city centers of the Republic. In the outskirts, progress was but a distant echo while poverty and humiliation were the norm. Preachers and radicals started creating dangerous and militant shadow communities, threatening to tear AIR apart and revert to the sectarianism of the 20th century.

A DREAM DEFERRED AIR cities are gigantic megasprawls. The center of the average city is a few years into the future, but as you travel away from it, the scenery reverts back in time, from the latest in fashion and architecture, to shantytowns built from mud and garbage where a boy might not get to taste meat until he’s a man, but learns to handle firearms and explosives at the age of four. Expensive imported technology protects the citizens and filahin from the radioactive fallout and extreme weather of the Wild Lands. These life support facilities (LSF) are always located in the poorest regions and are usually operated by foreign workers who also live inside them. The locals despise those foreigners for their air of disdain and superiority, making LSF a frequent target for raids and bombings. The operators, in turn, import expert Western troops, many of whom aren’t even real humans, to protect the facilities, thus increasing the hostility of the locals. It does not help that LSF are shiny and gigantic technological horrors while the local structures around them are often little more than meager mud hovels.

Global warming, nuclear fallout, irresponsible grazing and industrial pollution have reduced the majority of AIR’s territory to desolate wasteland the likes of which have never been seen before. I’d love to blame war for this, but in truth, it’s more the result of the primitivism and disregard of the environment of our forefathers than of the nuclear fires of the Death. If you look at the Middle East from space, you’ll see one colossal desert with several green spots with perfectly straight edges. These spots are Israel, Persia and Jerusalem. Life in the cities is possible due to LSP, a costly process that insures all income of the Republic would be devoured by foreign corporations, sort of like heroin on a national level. But some men are too proud to huddle in the enslaving comfort of these futuristic monstrosities and choose instead to brave the hell forged by their ancestors. To survive with honor in the desert, one must find clever ways to protect himself from the harsh environment and feed his family without becoming corporate property. This requires some imported, but relatively cheap, technology and balls so big you need a cartwheel to move them around.

United Arab Kingdom OFFICIAL LEADER: KING AYMAN BIN SALMAN AL-BRAKHIMI, CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO MOSQUES TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: NEO-FEUDAL MONARCHY If the world is painted in shades of gray, then the Arab Kingdom is a big black stain that remains black no matter how you look at it. The Kingdom is ruled by a gang of backwater and bigoted sons of apes and pigs who use the most progressive technology to sustain the most regressive society. Their inconceivable wealth could have ended the poverty of a billion Muslims, but instead it goes to maintain a playground for the rich. #Rafiq_Dinar: Universal healthcare for all citizens, social security, low crime rate, free higher education, perfect infrastructure, good relations with the world… Somebody please save me from this hell! I want to be poor and unemployed like my Republic brothers! Idiot.

#Rafiq_Dinar: The police aren’t nearly as weak as this post presents them. There are some neighborhoods where they don’t routinely enter without army escort, but trust me, if you mess with the Republic, sooner or later, they will come for you.

DESERT LIFE Outside the cities, there are tens of thousands of Badawi tribes that — actually, before we proceed, let me get one thing straight. Bedouin is already plural, so please, please, please don’t say Bedouins. This drives me mad. #RichardCraniumJoe: So you’re like a Spelling Mujahideen?

The United Kingdom is divided into forty principalities, each ruled by an emir. They pay lip service to the Royal Family, but in truth every emir plays his own game. Some emirs, particularly the al-Rashidun and al-Walid clans, wield enough wealth, “soft power” and influence to match some mega-conglomerates and most sovereign states. Important foreign and domestic policies are formulated by the shura, which is a council consisting of the King, the emirs and the Kingdom’s leading authority on Islam, the kabir al-muftin. There is no transparency in the Kingdom; shura sessions are not broadcast and its decisions are not publicized. Even the location of the shura is a carefully guarded secret. Not that anyone cares — the sahibs are too well-fed to ask questions and foreign workers are too scared and overworked to even think about it.

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Anyhow, there are tens of thousands of Badawi tribes in the desert. Now I know you’d like to cling to the romantic notion that these tribes are living just like their forefathers did thousands of years ago, untainted by technology and modernization, but come on! Let’s be realistic. This planet is too small for anyone on it not to be part of the game. Besides, you have to be pretty tough to maintain a lifestyle that doesn’t put credits in the conglomerates’ accounts, yes?

#MuhammadTheJust: Just to clarify, the OP says we’re so evil just because we’re rich and he’s not. He says that if we equally divided all our wealth among the world’s Muslims, everyone would be rich. I suggest the OP downloads a calculator, since his own brain obviously can’t do math.

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00 11 01 10 01 11 11 01 01 00 10 00 10 001 00 110 01 101 00 011 10 100 10 0 10 011 01 101010001101001011011010110111 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 101 1 0 01 00 01 10 0 00 00 10 1 0 11 00 00 0 1 01 01 10 0 11 00 01 00 1 01 00 10 0 1 01 11 00 0 01 11 01 01 0 01 11 00 1 0 10 00 01 00 00 11 0 01 10 1 10 00 11 0 00 10 1 01 10 10 10 10 10 1 11 000 01 101 00 1 01 01 0 01 10 00 01 00 00 00 10 00 01 01 11 01 10 01 01 01 00 01 10 00 01 10 10 00 10 00 00 11 01 00 01 11 00 11 01 00 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 00 10 00 0 01 01 10 0 1 01 01 00 1 0 11 00 01 0 00 00 00 10 0 101 00 00 00 11 11 10 1 10 00 0 10 10 00 1 10 011 01 001 11 101 10 000 10 000 10 001 00 0 01 101 0 11 01 01 00 00 01 10 01 00 00 01 11 01 00 11 010 01 01 10 01 10 00 00 10 10 01 01 10 00 10 00 11 00 11 00 00 0 Mexico City

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SCALE

690 1380mi

1

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10

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10 00 100 11 01 01 11 00 10 001 01 000 00 110 01 101 10 100 11 0 000100110000101000011011110010111000 0 01 10 00 01 00 00 00 10 00 01 01 11 00 10 01 01 01 10 101 11 000 10 100 1 00 10 00 01 01 11 10 0 10111001101000011011110100110010101100011011010000 10 010 01 101 00 110 10 111 01 000 10 0 11 001 01 001 10 110 10 000 11 001 10 011 00 0 0 01 00 00 10 01 01 00 01 00 100 01 11 01 01 10 00 01 100 10 00 01 01 01 10 01 10 10 101 01 10 01 11 01010 10 010 11 000 00 110 01 101 00 111 10 0 10 110 00 110 11 000 01 001 10 011 100010001101 0 00 11 00 11 01 01 01 10 11 00 10 00 11 00 11 00 01 00 001 01 01 10 01 10 01 10 01 01 101 00 011 11 000 01 101 01 100 11 001 10 0 10 001 01 101 11 000 10 100 01 100 0 01 10 00 01 10 00 10 00 00 11 00 01 11 01 01 11 01 10 010 01 10 10 10 01 11 00 10 110001000110111 10 110 01 100 11 001 10 011 10 111 11 101001011000110110000100001101000010100 0 01 11 00 11 00 10 00 01 01 10 01 00 10 00 01 001 01 101 10 101 10 110 00 100 00 1 11 001 10 101 10 100 00 001 10 000 10 001 0 00 00 01 00 01 01 00 10 01 11 00 11 01 01 00 00 00 01 00 01 00 00 01 11 00 10 01 01 10 11 01 0100001011 10 110 00 110 11 000 01 001 00 111 01 0 11 101 00 1101100010011011000110100101100 1 00 01 01 00 00 11 01 10 10 01 01 01 00 00 00 00 10 00 01 10 10 011 00 100 00 101 00 011 11 100 10 0 11 001 00 100 10 010 10 110 0 00 00 01 11 00 10 00 10 00 11 00 10 01 01 11 01 10 10 00 01 11 00 01 00 10 01 10 0 01011011010110111 11 101 11 000 01 000 11 001 01 001 10 1 10 001 10 000 11 001 01 001 00 101 11 101 0 10 00 00 01 10 11 00 10 11 00 00 01 10 00 11 00 01 00 11 01 00 10 00 01 10 00 10 01 10 01 10 00 11 0 1100100 00 001 00 111 01 101 10 111 00 100 10 0 00 011 01 100010001010110110001010011011 1 00 11 01 00 00 01 00 10 01 10 01 11 01 11 10 00 01 01 11 00 00 001 11 001 00 000 10 011 00 111 00 0 10 100 01 000 00 111 1011100100100010101110 0 00 11 00 11 00 11 01 01 01 10 01 00 10 00 11 00 01 10 01 10 11 01 10 01 10 10 001 00 100 01 101 00 011 10 110 01 0 00 111 00 101 00 100 11 1001001011000010110110 1 01 01 10 01 10 10 00 00 00 01 10 01 00 00 01 01 10 01 11 00 11 00 01 10 00 10 000 11 100 10 110 11 001 10 000 11 1 110011001010110000101000101011100100 0 00 11 00 01 00 01 00 10 01 00 01 11 00 10 00 01 01 00 100 00 111 1 00 11 00 010100011100100110010101100001010001010111001101110100011 10 111 11 001 10 010 00 110 01 101 00 0 11 000 01 100 10 011 00 001 11 000 10 110 00 1 0 00 01 00 11 01 01 01 01 00 11 00 00 10 01 01 10 00 00 11 00 11 01 01 00 01 11 00 10 10 10 01 01 00 01 10 01101 10 011 01 000 00 111 01 001 10 010 10 0 00 011 00 111 01 001 11 100 10 010 010010100011 0 01 11 00 10 01 00 01 10 10 01 10 00 10 00 11 00 01 01 00 01 00 01 10 00 10 01 10 01 01 11 01 10 110 01 100 11 001 01 001 11 100 10 1 00 001 11 001 01 001 00 001 01 100 0 01 10 00 01 10 01 11 00 01 10 00 00 10 01 00 10 01 10 01 10 01 11 10 11 01 10 00 10 100110011100100 00 010 01 101 11 000 10 110 00 110 01 110001100101010000110110100001101001010 0 01 11 00 10 00 10 00 01 01 10 01 01 11 00 11 100 10 000 00 110 01 00011011011110110110001101111011011010110001001101 0 00 01 00 10 00 01 00 01 10 011 00 010 01 100 01 101 10 011 11 0 01 101 00 1110111101110010011011110111001 1 01 00 01 01 00 10 00 10 10 01 01 01 01 00 01 01 10 00 01 10

Madagascar

Lusaka

Antartica

30° Sydney Auckland Adelaide Canberra Melbourne New Zealand Wellington 40° Christchurch Perth

Johannesburg/ Pretoria Sprawl Cape Town

Tokyo

Port Moresby

60°

Free City Capital City City Ruins City

50°

WORLD MAP

10°

Indonesia

Jakarta

20°

Tropic of Capricorn Brisbane Gold Coast

Australia

Antananarivo

Southern Africa

Beijing

Papua New Guinea Kananga Luanda

Nairobi

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Singapore

Somalia

Equator

Mogadishu

Kampala

Tropic of Cancer

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10°

Parsa Wastelands United Riyadh Taipei India Kolkata Hong Kong Abu Dhabi Arab Taiwan Islamic Arab Kingdom Surat League Ha Noi Republic Sana’a Mumbai Manila Bangkok Na Trang U.A.I.R Philippines

Chennai

Ho Chi Minh

Central African Union

30°

Chongqing Shanghai

Baghdad

Iran

n n

Russia

40°

International Date Line

Japan

nis

60°

Stockholm Estonia Latvia Moscow

50°

rk Lithuania Poland Belarus Democratic Astana any People’s Republic Ukraine of Kurdistan Kazakhstan ustria Romania Uzbekistan Bishkek Kyrgyzstan taly Turkey Turkmenistan TashkentTajikistan Ankara Greece ÖcalanAshgabat Dushanbe

Islamabad Afghani Amritsar

Cairo

Eurasian Union

Helsinki Tallinn

Tehran Kabul Isfahan

ripoli

Chinese Mandarinate

Sweden Finland

170°

180°

170°

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THE WORLD THE MIDDLE EAST

While the Arab kingdom has no army to speak of, it does have enough “family atomics” to dissuade an external invasion. In this neighborhood, having a few nuclear bombs stowed in the cellar is simply a fashion obligation. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the Arab Kingdom is a place of ultimate pleasure for the most powerful men on the planet. These men don’t like when others play with their toys. The greatest threat to the Arab Kingdom is internal. The abolitionist movement (see “orgs” section) enjoys great regional and international support, especially from Gaza, Kurdistan and the Arab republic, as well as Golden Promise inc. I’d volunteer to fight with them myself if I didn’t like being alive so much.

THE HAJJ AND THE TWO MOSQUES The shiniest jewels on Old Ayman’s crown are Mecca and Medina, the holiest site for Islam and the target of the greatest pilgrimage on the planet — the Hajj. During the Hajj, tens of millions of Muslims from all over the planet, rise from the Deep and come to Mecca in the flesh. During that sacred time, all non-Muslims are politely asked to leave the two holy cities, all un-Islamic activities are stopped and the general level of tolerance for anything which couldn’t be found in 7th century Arabia is reduced to near zero.

#WalkedTheWalk: I speak perfect Arabic so I bought a fake Gazan passport and joined the Hajj. Wow, this was intense. So much human energy in one place! No technology, no fake reality, just people and faith. I returned a changed man.

GLADIATOR SPORTS Many emirs arrange spectacular sport events for their sahibs and foreign guests. These games attract adventurous types from all over the world with outlandish rewards and promise of instant international fame. Since every emir strives to outdo his neighbor, no two events are alike — battles with captured biohazards and imported androids, laser gymnastics, freeform aerial races — everything goes. These events are often conducted in conjunction with international technological shows and business conventions, which teaches us a thing or two about the humanity of these fat cats, yes? The most famous gladiator arenas are located in the alRashidun and al-Jerah emirates; the former being officially sponsored by Chimera. Mecca has one of the world’s largest stadiums, but due to the holiness of the city, only traditional horse and camel races are allowed. That being said, some of the “exotic” horses in these races look like prime examples of bio-engineering to me. I guess even a King can’t stop progress.

The World

This means that if you have visible cyberware, drink alcohol, display physical affection or generally just stand out, say, by being a woman, there is a good chance that you’ll be lynched. To avoid international incidents, the Royal Police goes out of

its way to keep anyone who doesn’t look like a pilgrim safely locked in their hotel rooms, or prison cells, if they make a fuss of it. The charge is usually “disruption of the public peace,” which is exactly what your vicious beating will be if you’re allowed to roam free.

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THE WORLD ATLANTICA

WESTERN HEMISPHERE ATLANTICA #INFOSOURCE LOCAL: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET/ATLANTICA FQDN: JACOBSPLAYGROUND.NET.CHITOWN.06TN.TPN.SWW.GNET/ BOSTON Posted By: #Wolfson

Boston

the Coalition was in bed with the Chinese for that little prank). That’s another story, but the upshot is Field Marshal Thurlow Washington ordered a pant load of Combine troops to reposition near the Coalition border. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you pretty much know this caused a hell of a lot of political fallout between the NAC and Atlantica, but — something most peeps weren’t privy to — it also caused a lot of headbutting between the President and the Marshal since they had a difference of opinion on the hows and wheres of troop deployment. Apparently they reached a consensus. Those In The Know suspect Marshal Washington agreed to support President Hughes’ right to rule in return for being allowed to have the final say on matters regarding the Combine. #Neon_Bright: Suspect my ass.

Yeah… Good ol’ Beantown. It doesn’t matter whether you want to blame terrorists, evil politicians, AIs, or invading space aliens — the fact is ‘the Broken Cradle of Liberty’ is really broken these days. For that matter, Atlantica seems to have surrendered its position as harbinger of liberty to Cascadia, and appears to be in serious danger of turning into an oppressive police state. #Billy_Black_Eyes: “Seems to have”? “Appears to be”? That’s kinda like saying “The sea level might have risen in the last hundred years or so.” #Magpie: but the sea level has risen, ne? @_@ #Luciferion: Point, Magpie. Point.

When terrorists set off a bomb in front of the Emperor Pharmaceuticals Pyramid on November 13, 2088, it might have been considered just another day in Boston… except for one thing. Well, actually a half-dozen things: other bombs went off almost simultaneously in the city, as well as in Portland, Maine. A good 2,451 people died, with hundreds of other injuries.

#Slave_2_Daedalus: You’d think we’d be past all the PC BS by now, but it just ain’t so. Obviously Wolfson simply wants to avoid allegations of slander.

Since then, Marshal Washington hasn’t been in Boston. Instead, he’s moved around Atlantica (with a highly classified agenda) to personally oversee troop dispositions and keep an eye on operations. In fact, it’s been speculated that the Siege of New Brooklyn, begun in September of 2089, was done on Marshal Washington’s own initiative — certainly President Hughes was quick to disavow any personal involvement in the event. More pragmatic and cynical people, however, point out that President Hughes never publicly denounced the move, and that Combine forces remain positioned there.

Of course the finger pointing started right away. It was radical local extremists. It was the NAC. It was the Chinese. It was the Brazilians.

President Hughes, for his part, claims to have no direct authority over the Field Marshal — which strikes some peeps as odd — and has been forced to put in more public appearances than he’s had to since her election in ‘86. The fact of the matter is, martial law isn’t any more popular outside of Boston than it was to the residents when it was confined to the city. Public opinion, needing to be swayed, required a lot of propaganda and ‘In Your Face’ time.

The fact of the matter is, no one stepped forward to claim the glory, so — in the beginning, at any rate — speculation was sort of pointless. But that didn’t stop Atlantica President, Martin Hughes , from extending martial law from Boston (where it had been in effect pretty much since the end of the Second Civil War) to the rest of Atlantica, which pretty much made him the Person In Charge until the crisis was over… which, things being what they are, might be a long damn time.

Monthly (or even weekly) media appearances to address the Atlantican People have become commonplace. Fortunately for him, Hughes was always a popular leader, but all the same, rumors persist that it hasn’t been the real President Hughes making those appearances. These rumors suggest it’s been a Simulacrum or an Android made to look like him, but being paid well (or forced, according to some sources) to potentially take the bullet — or bomb, as the case may be — for the President.

Technically, this didn’t change a thing in Boston, since the city had known martial law for a good two decades. But there were some subtle effects.

Some fringe thinkers have even suggested it’s simply a very cleverly constructed Avatar, and that the real President is in a deep bunker below LAMCOM… or not even alive any more. They go on to suggest that Atlantica is now a military state, firmly under the control of Thurlow Washington.

At least until a MEDIAfile cropped up and incriminated the NAC in the Emperor Pharmaceuticals bombing (and also suggested

#Billy_Black_Eyes: There’s no suggesting about it. Although Hughes is still alive for sure. Thurlow needs backup material for a new Sim in case of an accident. #Neon_Bright: You got any proof of this? #Slave_2_Daedalus: Peel back the onion, tomo. Log onto 6chan and dig.

With most of the soldiers gone, Police Chief Amir Apraku and the Atlantica Police Force are now back in charge of security

175

The World

For one thing, most of the Combine (that’s the ‘Atlantica Combined Armed Forces’, for those who aren’t familiar with the Atlantica military) troops left town. Except for the resources deemed necessary to maintain the protection of the Federal Government and the Sea Wall — which essentially meant the garrison at the Logan Airbase Military Complex (LAMCOM)— the Combine units were moved to other critical cities and locations.

THE WORLD ATLANTICA

in Boston. And that means… well… business as usual: the APF was always in charge of checkpoints around the city, so the only real difference is there aren’t a lot of trigger happy soldiers and Razorbacks prowling around. Just trigger happy police and armored police vans. This also means Red Callahan and his Irish Mob is in control again. Well… Mostly. The Combine’s efforts to pacify Boston led them to mainly crack down on two major groups: Terrorists and the Irish Mob. While the Callahan family was busy trying to cover their own assets, it gave other gangs an opportunity to move in and set up shop. Many — if not most — of these little gangs failed, falling prey to either Combine sweeps, inter-gang warfare, or larger, more established organizations. The few that survived had either roots or resources. Julius Angello and his Ship Rats (the dredges of the Italian Mafia) had roots. Over the twenty-year rule of martial law in Boston, the Ship Rats managed to hang on in East Boston against all comers and stay off the Combine’s radar. The net result was when the Combine withdrew behind LAMCOM’s walls and turned control of the city over to the APF, Angello controlled Eastie.

leadership of Blind Ricky Wong. After grabbing some turf in Back Bay, the 88s were able to move into Beacon Hill and East Boston. Ironically, the same events that pulled the Combine out of Boston allowed the Ship Rats to push the Crazy 88s out of Eastie. You see, the 88s are supposedly (at least according to Julius Angello) a Chinese gang, although they claim to be Vietnamese — or Korean, or Japanese, or anything else decidedly Asian and not Chinese. In any case, the groundswell of nationalist support in the wake of the ‘88 bombings allowed Angello to call on popular sentiment to drive the Crazy 88s out of East Boston (Hey, tomo, even their name suggests they had something to do with it, ne?). So the 88s fell back to the north areas of Beantown, but still control most of Back Bay and Beacon Hill, with Wong still rumored to run the show — though some peeps speculate about a Jump Bike racer named Naomi Li and where she sits in the gang’s hierarchy.

The World

It didn’t come easy, though. One of the new gangs that moved into town was the Crazy 88s — purportedly under the

176

#Slave_2_Daedalus: Word: Wong is technically in charge, but Li is a Red Pole sent from the tong’s 489 in Chicago. #Magpie: ??? @_@ #Luciferion: Wong runs the show in Boston, but Li is an enforcer sent direction from the gang boss to oversee things directly in his name. #Magpie: oh. why didn’t he just say so? >_

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