Splinter goal isn't to jump on the Knight IC but to mislead it and have it chase on a wild goose chase, if possible to send it to attack Sparky it would no great loss.

That’s Subversion you can (1) try it glitched or (2) roll it straight up but I add another threat to the system.

Splinter will take it glitched

Subversion 20:29, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Splinter, rolled 5 using 2d6+2 ((1,2)).
Fail Take 1XP

The Knight has arrived...

...he is drawing his Ares Predator.

Well that went well...

Splinter gave a warning ping to Venom before the spinning fragments shot forward trying to out react the Knight and blast it before it had a chance to draw its weapon and attack.

Sure it was a gambit and a chance but Splinter figured it was better to strike fast and hard as powerful as they could to suppress the attack.

Rock and Roll 19:14, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Splinter, rolled 13 using 2d6+2 ((5,6)). Strong success

Black Hammer CPU +3 / Black Hammer +2 / Hardening -1 = damage 4

The Black Hammer smashes home heavily damaging the Knight and sending it back to the Process node.

Knight (Blaster IC) [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] - relocated

You've got another turn before the Knight comes back.

Somewhere in meat space Splinter excuse for a body was shuddered in it's matrix induce coma.

Inside the construct Splinter fragment slowed down to normal operation.

"It will be back soon and with friends... lets move... and try to distract it so it would lose our trail."

[OOC: Sorry for the holdup. So:
1) Separate directions, right? Name a spot, Splinter, we can meet up there after.
2) Is there any chance left of Venom catching the Knight before it makes the process node? It's pretty banged up, and the move probably won't be expected.]

In reply to Venom (msg # 69):

re. Question 2 - no, the relocation effect is immediate.

"We need to get down to the datastore... can you make it there and I'll head to security and make some noise there? or would you rather do it the other way around?"

Datastore it is.

Having taken the CPU, you are able to sleaze past the Knight (Binder - peer) in the Process node without being accosted.

From here you split up...

---

@Splinter

::HUD ::

>>>Node: Security (tag: Monitoring and Dispatch)
>>>System Rating: RED
>>>Alert Status: PASSIVE

:: Warning Intrusion Countermeasures Detected

You move down the dataline to the Security Node where you find a Knight Errant downtown precinct full of constructs monitoring the system. In the corner there is a large vehicle bay where a massive black and gold mecha slumbers under a crudely painted sign that reads: 'Sparky' (Black IC - peer +).

---

@Venom

::HUD ::

>>>Node: SPU (tag: Security Analytics)
>>>System Rating: RED
>>>Alert Status: PASSIVE

:: Warning Intrusion Countermeasures Detected

The subprocessor contains a neo-minimalist office, sterile white and brightly lit. At the desk sits a heavily muscled plainclothes detective (Ripper - peer)

In for a penny, in for a pound....

Going to try to match the "motif" of the subprocessor, see if that does anything...

Basically, the same maneuver as before, as an opening gambit ("I work here."), except in this case, Venom is going to try to match the 'decor' of the area. In a wink, he's taken the 'icon' of an old, balding maintenance man, sleeves rolled up, push-broom in one hand, the handle of trash-cart in the other.

Tapping the office door, he croaks out 'Wastepaper?', and waits to see what the reaction is. (With any luck, this is masking for a sort of defrag app, to 'take old documents to the shredder'.) If going native doesn't work, hopefully it at least gets him close enough to get the first shot off.

Splinter  fragment shoots forward and than retract spinning faster and faster retracting and morphing. Soon where the mass of shifting fragment was spinning stands a carbon copy guard, strong jaw, steel gray eyes blond hair and biceps you can bounce apples on. Dressed in the Knight Errand uniform he looks like he step out of a recruitment poster for the corp.

"OK boys, tells me what's going on..." he said in a strong voice, synthesis to evoke obedience and loyalty.

Splinter will use the avatar to scan the node and than sleaze control over it.

@Splinter - nice... hold +1 for rolls in this node.

The constructs look up from their work, reading the passcodes you carry from the CPU. "Alert status slightly elevated, but no confirmed indications of intrusion" one of them replies. "Next system wide authentication will occur in 14ms. Is there something else you require user?"

---

@Venom - also nice... hold +1 for rolls in this node.

The detective looks up from his paperwork and scans your passcodes. "Everything seems in order." the Ripper replies. "State the purpose of your access request."

@Splinter - sorry missed that you were going to sleaze... there is nothing connected to the security node, so sleaze only puts you in the node undetected.  Still want to do that?

@Venom - if you attack, you have the drop. You can attempt to bypass the node, but if you fail you might trigger the IC

Venom usually liked to work clean and quiet, and (frankly) had been keeping things smooth to impress Splinter, but he had the drop. So he used it.

[OOC: No program just yet, just brute-forcing it, and warming up Pig.]

Splinter Knight Errand avatar flash a badge "You did an excellent job, I need to take over to deal with some classified anomalies."

Splinter want to take control of the node, so if not with sleaze than with sneak or brute force.

@Venom you are experienced enough at decking to know that, with your current loadout, if you Rock and Roll against IC like Ripper you will be at a disadvantage. With Hog and Steamroller you have two useful but specialized tools, neither of which are particularly effective in a stand-up fight.

But... back in January 2060 you did some shopping while you were on that run for Sunan... tell me what you bought...

Well, depends what you mean. Venom was trying to tinker a permanent version of Flashbang, so he didn't have to improv it every time. Or (he said) there was the guy who tried selling Venom a variant on Crash called TechSupport ("Have you tried turning it off and turning it on again?"), which reboots and then runs a maintenance cycle on a program, effectively 'banishing' it for a bit. Which, now? :)

How about this:

Tech Support: dmg +2, when you Rock & Roll against IC, you may choose to forgo dealing damage and instead force the IC to run a self diagnostic built in test. On 10+ the diagnostic lasts two turns, on 7-9 it only lasts one. [Size 3, Attack, Analyse x 2, 750¥.]

DEAL!

@Splinter
Queen of the Node 12:23, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Splinter, rolled 10 using 2d6+2 ((6,2)). STRONG SUCCESS Hold 2 for actions in this node

A crown of broken glass appears over you head…

Sling Code 12:24, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Splinter, rolled 11 using 2d6+2 ((4,5)). STRONG SUCCESS

…the policeman slides back from his desk, giving you access. ”Of course my Queen,” he says with due deference to your regal status.

@Venom Rock and Roll / Tech Support 12:25, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Venom, rolled 7 using 2d6+1 ((5,1)). WEAK SUCCESS you have the drop

Beside you another maintenance worker appears, wearing a pair of magnification goggles and holding a tablet with a scanning probe. Stepping forward toward the detective, he gives you a thumbs up. Holding up the probe he says ”This might hurt a bit.”

Deal damage or impose a turn of paralysis

Turn of paralysis and get moving.

Splinter was always surprised on how these different programs meshed together. Shifting the avatar now Splinter wasn't a male Knight Errand but a female one. Dressed in the uniform of a field captain.

Quickly Splinter scan the security logs and status, Splinter goal is to mask their presence, shut down any alerts and gain access codes to the data catch they were after.