Prologue: E-mails

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Daisy, daisy . . .

A: Addresses are good.  We'll probably spend a couple of days eyeing off the building and seeing what we can find out before we do anything, though.

B: I know Shade, and he always seemed alright, I'm just paranoid and he's acting suspiciously.  A bad combination. ^^;

C: *nods* And -precisely- where do you need it put?

And if you hear anything about Stirling Dubert, do tell me.  Unseen vanished a couple of months ago.  >_>

Alright, now I'm officially interested.  Thanks for the heads up, and you be careful too.

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Subject: Tell me your answer, do....

The CD itself will run several programs which will port-scan the network and run back to several catching servers I set up.  It needs to be run -- it will look like an applications or utilities disc to a standard Windows operating system installation, and will hopefully defeat any anti-virus measures.

On a linux system, the unpackaging will attempt to get root on one system and compromise security enough for me to get in.  If not, some of the processes should at least leak information about the compound back to me.  Information, as you've guessed, is my trade, as it's really all I have.

And aquisitions, but that's all based on bartering information.

Regardless.

About Sterling Dubert:

The records say he was briefly involved with a group that was attempting to uncover Pax Arcana secrets and attack the society.  His group was called (collectively) 'Big Fire', and their motto was, "Allegience or death, big-fire!"  My research indicates that this line was also used in your friend Brian Randall's corespondence, judging by publically availiable archives.

Do you know the origin of that phrase, or should I investigate further?

Paul Durant is listed as a dangerous escapee from Workshop agents -- no further information was availible.

[Dracos]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Dracos

Howdy hmmm...  they seem to have a sure number that've escaped.  Any chance any of them can be hunted down later?

Tracks maybe?

Dracos

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

The only confirmed escape listed is Ezmereth.  Everyone else loose has merely evaded capture.

Whoever these people are, I can't find them on the internet.  Perhaps, I will dream....

Last night, I dreamed of a falling star, floating into the bottom of a well.  It was a fading, dwindling light that was going to burn out.  Someone reached to take that light, at the bottom of the well....

But I do not know what happened next.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Fluffy-Wuffy Unseen Teddies

Don't bother.  It's from an old anime series, 'Giant Robo'.  There was this criminal group called 'Big Fire', and that was their catch-phrase or salute or what-have-you.  >_>

Dangerous escapee, hm?  That sounds disturbingly like our Unsie-wunsie.

Ahm.  On the topic of the gauntlet, thus far I've figured that with it can hide any one item, shoot a bow really well, set arrows on fire, and deliver one hell of a right hook.  If you figure out anything else I should know, feel free to let me know, for now, this is more than helpful.  ^_~

We've heard a lot of happenings from the Seventh Cabal, btw, but nothing much about Pax Arcana.  They just not interested in us, or something?  (Hope springs eternal).

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Pax Arcana specificaly was quite vehement about capturing Paul Durant and Sterling Dubert, as well as Mr. Duber's 'BigFire' group.  From what I know, they have not succeeded.  This is not, neccessarily, an accurate reflection of their current status.

The Seventh Cabal is behind the Workshop, but I do not trust either faction.

The power of Apollo always took a different form.  Once a helm, once a spear ... now a gauntlet.  If I learn more, I will tell you.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Topic: Ahh, look what I see . . .

Sterling was an associate of Brian Randall.

So was Unseen.

In fact, -everybody- involved here seems to be an associate of Brian Randall, and -our- files were all made on the day he died.

This is pushing probability a bit far.  Any ideas?  <_<

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

It is odd that there is so little information in their database on him, if he is so central to this.

I don't understand, but will try and investigate further.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Revvin up the engine, listen to it howl 'n groan . . .

Appreciate it.  There's a -lot- of unanswered questions here, and none of us seem to understand the tenth part of anything that's going on.  I hate that, and you don't seem to like it that much either.  ><;

Anyway.  Sleep now, DRIVE in morning.  Good luck.

And why 'Fans of Unriced Civics', anyway?

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

It seemed an innocent enough subject to not really attract any un-toward attention....

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Metal under tension, begging you to touch 'n go . . .

But, I mean, it's like rice and it's like civics.

I suppose the two don't mix that well, but nevertheless, why does one need to unrice a civic?  Removing all traces of rice from a civic seems a rather pointless endeavour, unless you happen to use your civics for moving rice around.  In that case, I suppose riced civics could get annoying.

Which would, I guess, mean you prefer unriced civics.

I don't imagine you've really had much trouble with rice in your civic, though.

--

I think the dust is affecting my mental processes.  Meeeddddiiiicccc.

--

OK, in all seriousness, leaving now, nothing notable, will have mobile phones on in case you need to contact us.  As a general guide, how long do we have to turn our mobiles off once the warning sounds?

Apologies for the above.  I'm, like, bored.  And I hate lego.  Oh, how I hate LEGO.  Stupid heretical lego-men.

BTW, Drac, when you read this, you're a ponce and your hair is silly.

Yeah, I only had one question, but since I have to wait for these guys anyway . . . slackasses.  >_>

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

No, no, not actively de-ricing them.  Simply appreciating them for what they're worth in their natural form as they emerge from the wilderness, without the need to alter them.

The warning should give you about forty seconds warning time.  I'm afraid that's not much, but the're searching for you for a good two minutes at least before it gets to the power-level altering strength of sweep.  There is a good chance that they still at least have the cell-tower's sites for those that relayed the signal to you.

But they don't know specifically where you are.  I also do what I can with records, if I find them, but my influence with the phone company is less than with TerraLink.

[Dracos]

To: FansofunricedCivics
From: Dracos

Subject: None

Ye are a Poncy bugger, Rez.  Fourty seconds means only one phone allowed.


Hey Ayame, how good are you at creating a trail?

Dracos

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

To judge by the fact that you haven't been captured yet, quite good.  Point of Sales credit cards for things from packs of gum to new shoes have been charged to your credit cards all the way down to Florida.  Since I can't actually hide your cell-phone tracks, however, I've 'ghosted' your trail all the way across the country to several different locations.

[Dracos]

To: FansofunricedCivics
From: Dracos

More specifically, how good are you at creating a business background for one of us.  Considering the possibility of the direct infiltration route and seeing what resources we have to work with and how good a cover story we can produce if we try it.

Dracos