1. Shooting, Beating, Stabbing

[tibbius]

You're backstage at Stevie Luiz rally for the 3rd Ward council campaign when Stevie's campaign manager, Linda, walks over to your group.

"Hey," she says quietly. "Have you heard about the murderbots down in the Ward?"

[Lance]

Clark rolls his eyes. "Don't use lifeist slurs, Linda. Even if you really mean mindless automatons with orders to use lethal force."

Checking to see if I know
Information: [1d8] = 8

[shaidar]

Shift stands quietly in the corner while the others converse, his cyber-tune music plays over his auditory input, a continuous soundtrack to his existence.

When Linda speaks his algorithms automatically pick out the humans speech frequencies, reducing his music to a quiet background murmur, and at Clarks response he turns his head. "We should go there immediately and prevent my enslaved brethren from committing atrocities at the command of the great oppressor"

[BackworldTraveller]

Angus
Hey Linda - That's probably not an accusation that should be spoken of in public in a room full of political stooges, snitches, reporters and containing people who may have links to guys running "Murder Bots". Stevie would roll in to office if that can be proved - and they didn't land the blame on him.

I've got to finish working the lights for this shindig - but that statement needs some clarification and justification and (maybe) evidence! I suggest that we grab some beer and find a quiet place to discuss just what you mean. After all, I like a good conspiracy theory as much as the next guy.

[tibbius]

Linda frowns at Clark. "You know we're droid friendly, Clark. But call a murderbot a murderbot, y'know? They aren't standard droids. Creeping around and coming up on people on the sidewalk, then, next thing, those blades go out ... and then they're gone again. Creepy!"

She nods to Shift. "Thanks, buddy. You're a good one. But let's keep this quiet, ok? Don't want ... people to know that you're moving on this."

"Yeah, Angus, I don't have time for a drink after this, nice try though." She tucks in the waist of her blouse, which makes her breasts just a little more noticeable. "Anyway, I figured the hubbub here might cover a casual conversation about current events, and it's a simple reason for us to be together talking. The trouble's happening down around Crown Ave and G Street. However you want to approach it."

As she turns away, she adds, "Maybe you heard of Arthur Sullivan? He's in to help with this. And somebody from Govcorp kicked loose some change for us, a nice campaign donation we can spend on consultants like you. Six cash ... I can transfer to any of you. Get what you need."

[BackworldTraveller]

6C - In Cash just like that? From GovCorp! Always look a gift horse in the mouth - unless you want it to bite you later.

Louis & Clark might be able to look into why GovCorp want anyone to investigate this. Sounds to me like someone taking an independent initiative/growing a conscience, or a set up. Coin-toss on which.

Hmm...Questions for later

• Who/What are the targets of these guys?
  • Are they random or is there a pattern?
  • Crown Ave and G-Street? Anything special?
• Who/What are the murderbots?
  • Where do they go between murders?
  • What motivates them to do the murders?
    • Are they legal persons with mental competence?
• Who/What is behind the murderbots?
• Who is behind our investigation
  • Linda has already got cash to investigate:
    • How did she know to do this?
    • Who from?
    • Did the cash come to her or did she go looking for the cash?
  • Who is Arthur Sullivan?
    • Did Arthur Sullivan engage Linda or Vice-Versa?
    • Is there a link between Linda/Arthur/MurderBot group
• Who else is investigating?
  • How do the Gangs take to having trouble on their patch?
  • Anyone from Security assigned? If so, Who?

[shaidar]

Shift

"Planning and equipment improves the chances of success, but procrastination will result in more sentient death. I do not understand why you must check the mouth of a horse given as a gift. Could it perhaps be a murder bot in disguise with a laser in it's oral cavity? "

[Lance]

"We should go there immediately and prevent my enslaved brethren from committing atrocities at the command of the great oppressor"

Clark point as Shift "My point exactly, if someone is exploiting these poor artificials, they're victims, not" he does the airquotes as he says "'Murderbots'".

I guess I don't know Arthur Sullivan
Information: [1d8] = 4

But i DO know someone who can tell us who wants this investigated on Govcorp's part
Connections: [1d10] = 8

"Planning and equipment improves the chances of success, but procrastination will result in more sentient death. I do not understand why you must check the mouth of a horse given as a gift. Could it perhaps be a murder bot in disguise with a laser in it's oral cavity? "

"We are not procrastinating, we are collecting information. We're looking the gift horse in the mouth before we ride it, to check for nasty surprises."

[BackworldTraveller]

Angus

It seems I have heard of Mr Sullivan...Information [1d8] = 7.

Better yet I know something useful and exploitable. Exploit [1d6] = 5. His habits may be catching up with him!

Oh - Mr Sullivan! Hmmm...

[tibbius]

Angus knows that Arthur Sullivan is the pseudonym of a renowned, reclusive netmage - one of the founders of 247, an underground netmage collective. It's totally unclear whether he works for or against Govcorp or is a single individual or a collective hidden within the larger organization of 247. One of Arthur Sullivan(s) is rumored to run orgies with high-level androids. The orgies sometimes culminate in deactivation of the androids. Angus knows these rumors have some truth because at one point he was invited to such a "party." Did he decline? Why?

Arthur Sullivan isn't usually "Retained" - he pokes in to whatever interests him.

Clark has a friend in the Investigation Control and Enforcement division. Lana usually has the dirt on undercover operations, and she likes to gossip with people she trusts. Clark is pretty sure she trusts him. Why?

[BackworldTraveller]

So we are being persuaded to investigate murderous androids by an alleged android killer! I wonder if there isn't an ounce of retribution in the motive? In which case, might the motivation be self-preservation.

Well, Arthur Sullivan. That's a bit of a surprise. He isn't usually known for philanthropy. 6C seems cheap. Is he just getting cheap PIs?

Linda - How did this Mr Sullivan get in contact with you? I hope you haven't been involved with his more disreputable parties - although you may not recall if you had. He's supposed to be a sadistic character at best.

[shaidar]

Shift

The information on Arthur Sullivan seems to get Shift's full attention, he turns body to face the others

"While there is no evidence to these rumours they are disturbing, I require nothing purchased with his money. I question his motives, we should consider investigating him as much as these so called murderous bots. We could be being manipulated. As a fellow inorganic sentient perhaps I should try and make contact with these bots"

[BackworldTraveller]

Shift

Perhaps wandering up and down asking "Excuse me are you a murder bot" isn't going to be the best way of doing this.

Firstly, they may not answer, or may not answer truthfully; and secondly, they may prefer not to be caught and thus (should you find the right one) they may become violent; and thirdly, an innocent may be unhappy with the suggestion that they are a murder bot and react adversely.

If I asked you "Are you a murder bot?" what would you say?

If I asked you "Are you a renegade android?" how would you answer?

[shaidar]

Shift

"I am confused. Did I state that I would wander about aimlessly in the manner you have described. My memory circuits tell me that I did not."

[BackworldTraveller]

So which bot did you intend to ask?

[Lance]

Clark speaks softly "Shift, even if you were capable of the degree of deception needed to infiltrate such an organisation, we can't be sure if they are even IN an organization. If we assume the rumors are true, these might be remote controlled or pre-programmed puppets doing someone's dirtywork."

[BackworldTraveller]

I wonder what Louis knows of this 247 group...He dabbles in that sort of thing!

[shaidar]

Shift looks directly at Angus

"Your question makes no sense. Reconnaissance would be required to determine a suitable contact. Perhaps you have a plan , as you seem intent to find illogic in the statements I make. "

[thenewflesh]

"Ahh - hmm - yes - quite right - although these cybersecurity protocols are extremely difficult to engineer, as you may remember from the Tel-brothel scandal a few years ago - the elliptic monoids involved are notoriously unstable - but then I'm merely an interested amateur in the field - excuse me, Vasily, I am being called away - "

Louis breaks off from a conversation with a huge bearded man, Stevie main cyberpublicist, to slouch over to his friends, sandals flapping on the cheap ceramic floor.

"247, huh. Hmm. I've heard of them, yeah. Funny you should ask..."

Connections [1d8] = 6

[Lance]

Clark has a friend in the Investigation Control and Enforcement division. Lana usually has the dirt on undercover operations, and she likes to gossip with people she trusts. Clark is pretty sure she trusts him. Why?

"Ok, give me a minute, I just remembered someone" Clark says, walking a few steps away and dialing a familiar number. Lana lived next door when they were kids. They went to the same schools, their parents worked together, he's pretty sure she has a crush on him since middle school and his parents implied several times how good a match she would be. He's never been interested. "Lana! Not too late, am I? Working late, as usual? Do you really NEED another promotion? Ok, listen. I was just offered a sum of corp money to investigate something in Ward 3. Yeah, I know. Yeah, I know. I don't know, I mean I know why I would care, but why would the corp? You do, huh? Really? No, that's exactly what I needed, thanks. Sure, I'm free friday night. Yeah, I'll see you there! Ciao!"