Session 17: April Fools

Shadowrun
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Chapter 2
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F.A.T.E. PCs
Anastasia Ellison - CS Dmitri - CS Eric Black - CS Gideon Wexler - CS Hector Radcliffe Kumiko Nakamura - CS Oni - CS

Briefing

Team 1

Members: Eric Black, Kumiko Nakamura, Anastasia Ellison.
Briefing:

<April 1st, 2073>

After the Drake's Bay mission, Dr. Yau returned to find a message waiting for him in his inbox from a former student Eve Ballentine, current professor at MIT&T. Eve contacted Dr. Yau in regards to an incident several months back involving her current research project, a collaborative effort between MIT&T, DIMR, and Manadyne (AA Corp. centered in Boston). While the university was out on Christmas break a significant aspect of their research project was stolen, this critical piece has impeded progress to a standstill while an investigation was launched by all three parties. MIT&T had so far been unable to uncover the origin of the espionage, but had effectively cleared the other two research teams as well as their own internal staff. DIMR on the other hand was not so quick to clear it's fellow researchers, and is now heavily investigating Mandyne for the incident. Eve doesn't believe this is the case, but has no way to prove it, besides looking for actual information on the missing device information to clear her fellow researchers from fault was needed.

Limited by strict privacy agreements Eve was only able to discuss the project to a limited extent, though the involved parties and timeline of the events gave Dr. Yau a starting point. MIT&T was providing the engineering know-how on the project, while DIMR and Manadyne were primary sources of funding and therefore each stood to gain or loose much more than MIT&T. Manadyne specifically had made an incredible leap in progress which had allowed the trio of researches to prep for Alpha testing at the start of the New Year. Naturally it never occurred. Eve had struck trouble on the power conversion and stability aspects of the project which were the primary concern during testing, this specifically involved Dr. Yau's former research and tipped him off that the device she spoke of must have been the Orichalcum device confiscated during the Platform Harvest Incident. Her mention of their extensive use of one of his mathematical theorems had been a major help in confirming his theories, though admittedly he never would have put the pieces together if the very device she spoke of was not housed in his laboratory.

Dr. Yau was inclined to let the opportunity to further investigate the incident pass, but JP wants to know who is funding terrorists in his backyard and providing them with cutting edge research from across the continent. Suddenly this appears to be more of a corporate incident than a true eco-terrorist attack, as it originally appeared to the pubic eye at least. JP doesn't believe that any of the three primary research teams had enough reason to steal the device to risk the act, therefore he is targeting anyone close enough to one of the parties to gain knowledge of the project and someone who stands to gain enough from ownership to take the risk.

F.A.T.E. needs to gather more information on the entire incident before it can make any sort of judgement or statement about what to do going forward, for now staying in contact with Eve without letting her know of any possible involvement or inside knowledge. While some investigation can be done through the matrix, JP wants a team in Boston to push things along. Team 1 will be dispatched to Boston to head the investigation with Dimitri in support from San Francisco. Dr. Yau will not be joining Team 1 in Boston, after the near catastrophe of Drake's Bay F.A.T.E. is a bit reluctant to let their head scientist venture so far from home.

Team 2

Members: Oni, Gideon Wexler, Hector Radcliffe.
Briefing:

<April 1st, 2073>

Team 2 will be tasked with operating as F.A.T.E. San Francisco while Team 1 is out of the country. The three members, along with support from Dimitri, are expected to carry out any and all missions assigned to the San Francisco office.

<April 2nd, 2073>

The California Intelligence Agency reports that the coast guard's matrix security was temporarily breeched by an unknown persona at 12:47 AM. F.A.T.E. has been notified due to their use of a coast guard vessel during the Platform Harvest incident as well as the possibility of their boats registry with the coast guard during the incident with pirates or at the Drake's Bay facility. There were dozens of effected parties and the notice is believed to be only a precaution, no data appears to have been downloaded before the hacker was ejected from the system.

Linking several intelligence reports mentioning increased street activity in the area as well as in Sacramento, JP believes someone is searching for a information regarding the lost Orichalcum device. Most likely one of the investigation teams from MIT&T, DIMR, or Manadyne is simply snooping around, but JP wants it investigated and put to a stop. Team 2 is up to the task of running counter intelligence however necessary, F.A.T.E. doesn't need any publicity right now.

Notes

• Anastasia and Wex have the potential of suffering -1 dice pool penalty if symptoms of radiation poisoning recur.
• F.A.T.E. agents will be tagging along with a cross continent CFS Postal Flight from San Francisco to DC, while the cargo plane won't provide the comforts of a passenger jet it should allow the agents to travel with a reasonable amount of gear. From DC the agents will drive a rented vehicle into Boston.
• JP has secured the agents a safe house to use in Boston through a former CIA contact, the safe house is theirs for the entire month of April should they need it.
• Tyrone Chausse is a local fixer in Boston who should be relatively friendly to our cause should the agents need additional supplies or equipment.

Session Synopsis

Team 1, consisting of Eric, Doc, and Anna, depart for UCAS on one of The CFS Postal Service cargo planes. Each agent as toting a duffel bag full of gear for their extended investigation in Boston, they made a quick stop in Boston to pick up a rental car before driving into Boston and finding the safe house JP had set up for them. It was about what they had expected, a large single room in the basement of an abandoned building that looked as if it might have been a restaurant before closing some time ago. The room featured a plain concrete floor and walls, but has all the necessities the agents would need. Two sets of bunk beds, a small sitting area, bathroom with running water, and several lockable storage containers to keep gear safe. After the long trip they grab some sleep before heading to MIT&T.

On April 2nd The Coast Guard reports to FATE, and other government agencies, that they experienced a breech in their computer security network. They are unsure of what information was taken, if any, and were unable to complete a trace of the hacker. JP tasks Team 2 with investigating and deciding if FATE is at risk, if they are dealing with it.

Dimitri starts the investigation by logging into the Coast Guards network, his evaluation of the computer system yields the information that the hacker was logged in from a node in San Francisco and that he was specifically accessing coast guard vessel usage records. 11 ships in total were looked in to, the vessel FATE borrowed is included. Wex contacts Krista Lively for any information on this sort of activity, pays 500 nuyen for information about shadowrunners recently hired to look into the Platform Harvest incident. Confirms that Coast Guard breech is almost certainly related to FATE.

Team 2 decides to put a trap together to lure the shadowrunners out and into contacting them, they can then track the shadowrunners with more information and spring the trap. (Honeypot) Dimitri splices together some video footage from agents aboard Platform Harvest to put together a video showing they have inside information about the incident. However he glitches the roll, a reflection on the water shows FATE agents loading the large crate onto a ship. No FATE agents could be identified and the vessel's ID is not shown in the video, but it confirms to the public world that a separate group beat the PCC government to the Platform and took something with them. FATE is flooded with information requests.

Dimitri picks and chooses who he responds to, ignores the plethora of news and blogger requests and instead focuses on government and anonymous requests. First request is one from the PCC government, tracking and spoof tests ensue and Dimitri eventually pulls the plug before tracing can be completed. Starts contacting anonymous users and finds one willing to pay for information, tracking and spoofing ensues and Dimitri tracks the connection to a local coffee shop. Team 2 is using their van as a mobile base and immediately heads for the coffee shop which they find to be reasonably empty, Wex and Hector enter the coffee shop and question the two lone patrons, both are moderately put off by their boldness. The last group is a pair of college students discussing their thesis papers, Hector questions them and determines they were most likely the group who contacted Dimitri. Not who they are looking for.

Dimitri contacts another anonymous user, this time with a bit more focus as the group is looking over his shoulder as he does it, looking for more serious inquiries willing to put out big money. Spoof and track tests with second anonymous users track them to a slum in Oakland, Dimitri offers more information but arranges a meeting at the coffee shop they're already parked at. Dimitri draws the short straw to be inside the coffee shop and meet with their contact, The Honeypot.

Team 1 goes to MIT&T to meet with Eve Ballentine on an unannounced visit as California Intelligence Agents looking form information about The Platform Harvest incident. Going for a shock and intimidation tactic, catching her off guard to see what she knows. Enter the MIT&T facility unarmed so to pass through MAD scanners without incident. The office building where Eve works is open to the public and students and Team 1 is able to walk in and head to her office.

Aftermath

• Dmitri has taken 3 stun damage from fading and has spent 2 points of edge.
• Team 1 Disguises: Anna - 2 successes, Eric - 2 successes, Doc - 3 successes.
• Team 1 Fake Badges: Anna - 2 successes + glitch, Eric - 2 successes, Doc - 3 successes.
• Eric casts Detect Truth on Doc who will do most of the questioning.

Results

Status: Ongoing.
Dates: April 1st, 2073 - April 2nd, 2073
Quote of the night: "This is definitely the B Team." -Oni
Nuyen: N/A.
Stipend: 7,000¥ Remaining. (-500¥ for information)
Karma Awarded: 7 Karma
Additional Awards: