Subj : [1 of 2] The Ultimate Computer Affair To : All From : Kay Shapero Date : Thu Sep 05 2002 12:58 am THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER AFFAIR (or Operation: Officer Needs Assistance...) Prologue Scene: Cameron's office. Everyone involved is present chatting. Cameron is recently back in town after an absense of about six months, and the office has recently been reopened. The door is slightly out of true and will only stay fully shut when locked. It is currently unlocked, these being business hours Action: A sudden knock causes the door to open. In falls Ward Chani UiNeal (pale, dusty, wearing a suit) who looks at Cameron, gasps out "Officer needs assistance", and collapses. Act One Scene: Cameron's office, immediately after the above. Action: Upon investigation, folks will find recent bullet hole in UiNeal's upper arm (passed through cleanly, bleeding slightly. There is the traditional wadded up handkerchief blocking one end, but any medical knowledge should reveal that it isn't bleeding nearly as much as it should be). Clenched in his fist is a Sarla'nt dog tag... Whatever they do next, when he comes to UiNeal will NOT let himself be taken to a hospital, or be reported to authorities of any sort. Questioning will elicit the following: His current boss, one Gaius Valini Praed is head of the local Teklenan observation station. He is discretely using his position to enhance trade with the locals, which is against the regs for active Sarla'nt officers. UiNeal stumbled on a clandestine meeting and was spotted and shot at by someone unknown. Under the circumstances, he didn't dare return to the base, and, knowing of the earlier incident involving Our Heroes came here instead. UiNeal wants to hire Cameron & crew to do what he cannot, due to his injury, namely get some evidence against Praed. He does know that a meet has been scheduled two days hence between Praed and his local contacts to deliver the latest purchase, a high speed data storing and analysis device (a computer - pause to define in more detail depending on the questions asked by Our Heroes.) Someone must go there, plant a batch of ground-conduction bugs in the proper configuration to get a holographic image and stash a passive recorder nearby, (though not necessarily in the same room.) Only the recorder HAS to be retrieved - it'd be nice to get the bugs back too, but they have a short live span once activated and will degrade beyond recognition within a day or so. All he knows about the location is that it is located somewhere in or near SF, and is referred to as "St. Augustine". If asked, UiNeal will explain that once the data has been gotten, he can transmit it to an investigation team in orbit - though Praed does not know it, UiNeal is an investigator from the Inspector General's office. The party now has 2 days to find "St. Augustine". Act Two Scene: The St. Augustine, party ship deluxe currently located offshore from SF, just outside of US territorial waters. Along with the usual folk in search of fun unhampered by the laws onshore anent boozing, wenching, gambling et al., is also used by various illegal and semi-legal organizations as useful neutral ground for meetings. NO GUNS ALLOWED - this is enforced. Captain Thomas O'Sullivan runs a well organized show and has much fun doing so. His security force could give lessons to most cops, and operate under less restrictions. Action: However they get on board, the party will overhear a conversation between Chan Che Mei Lyn and a drunk. He is trying to get her to have sex with him, and she is trying to get it through to him that she is a hostess only, though she will be glad to summon a courtesan for him. Heat things up until someone steps in to the rescue. If nobody does (the cads!) she will eventually deal with him herself (without breaking cover - the guy is far too stewed to be a threat.) Security will remove him, and, being no longer required as an escort for the idiot, will offer services to the party. Mei Lyn will join the party if at all possible, explaining herself in rather poor English. She's a recent emigrant from China, looking for her brother from whom she was accidentally separated shortly after arrival. She took this job as a hostess recently (as she tried to explain to the drunk, a hostess on the St. Augustine is there to both guide a customer about and find him/her whatever he/she wants.) As a result, she knows where everything is, including where the meet will take place. [concluded next post] --- Msged 6.0.1 * Origin: StormGate Aerie (1:102/524) .