"Listen up!" says Locke, as he begins his address. You all stand in respect, and then sit when he starts talking.
"Penetration of Machine Security remains our number one priority at this time. All our strategic projections confirm the extreme likelihood of a large scale machine operation in the near future. Accurate information about machine movements may become vital if we are to keep with the upper hand in this war. We may be having a good time right now- but we have seen such things before. If the Machines are allowed to create an unopposed counterplan it could finish things for us.
"One of our priorities has been to directly access machine communications. Various means have allowed us to intercept their messages. Unfortunately, this has been of very little use. One thing the machines are incredibly good at- despite the talents of many of us in that regard- is encryption and security. We are completely unable to penetrate their codes and cyphers.
"However, the System has one in-built weakness that cannot be eliminated. Ironically, this is the Matrix itself. In the Matrix, authority IS the Machines. They are, eventually, behind every single Government and Law Enforcement agency. By its very nature, the Machines must make use of the contemporary tools available to them in their simulation of the late 20th century. They use contemporary personnel, equipment- and communications. Inside the Matrix, their codes are those used in that time. Back then, they were effectively unbreakable. Using modern techniques, we CAN break them. And so we have the tantalising potential of breaking open the entire Machine security network inside the Matrix.
"In practice this has not proven possible. Aware of the weakness the Machines have perfectly predicted the amount of time it takes us to break a code. We can break them in about six months. The Machines change them every four. But now, we will reverse that situation without the Machines knowing it.
"The Persepolis has just completed its long assignment to observe Machine security activity. Their surveillance has given us a gold mine of information. Most importantly of all, its work has exposed the Machine's next code changeover.
"Shortly after midday tomorrow in the Matrix, on flight MTX497, a Courier will arrive at the Airport. That Courier bears a USB storage device. That device contains the new encryption codes for the local police network- and also the State and Federal authorities- and therefore, the Machines. We will steal that code.
"The vulnerable window is very small. It exists between the point where the Courier leaves the plane, and the point where he leaves the airport lobby- where he will be met by considerable System Security (of a conventional sort). At some point in that five minute window, the USB storage device must be taken from the Courier, the data on it copied, and the device returned to the Courier, without him knowing it. If this is successful, all machine traffic in the Matrix will be known to us for the next four months. I do not need to spell out to you how useful that could be.
"This operation will not be easy. It will need to be very precise. If at any point it becomes clear that we are making an attempt to take the codes, the Machines will send everything they have at us. Not only will they then change the codes, they will realise we have also got their timetable, and change that- making the long work of the Persepolis and its crew a waste of time.
"This being the case, the Captain of the Persepolis has made the request for back-up- a request made in person, due to an obvious fear of a communication being intercepted and the whole plan ruined.
"The Council agrees with the importance of this mission. We therefore ask that one ship volunteer to be taken off its standard duties and..."
Dallas stands up, bolt upright.
"Captain Dallas of the Shahazarad will answer your call," he says. Locke turns to look at him.
"Captain Dallas, I understood your ship would be undergoing vital repairs for the next few days at least."
"I can have a ship and crew ready to go inside four hours," says Dallas.
Locke thinks this over. "Very well," he says. "The mission is yours. Good luck."
"Thankyou, sir," says Dallas. He smiles, and glances for a few moments at Morpheus.
The meeting breaks up, and Dallas turns to the three Veterans. "Get your things," he says, "And get the others."
I shall follow up in a moment with a official player briefing...
FULL ASSIGNMENT DETAILS
Assignment Name: Codecracker
Objective: To covertly take the new encryption code for the Machine security network in the Matrix.
Details: Surveillance has revealed the timing of the next changover of Machine codes in the Matrix. Appropriation of this Code will give us four months unrestricted access to Machine communications- so long as they do not realise we have done it.
A Courier carrying the new codes in a USB storage device will arrive shortly after midday at the airport. The Courier is human- he is part of the standard law enforcment system carrying codes for the police and state authorities, that the Machines will make use of as well. The Machines do not think he will be targetted. Nonetheless he will be met by considerable conventional security once he leaves the airport. There will be a window of between five and ten minutes during which he will journey between the plane and the outside of the airport lobby. In this time, the USB storage device he carries must be taken from him, the data on it copied, and the device returned to him, without him knowing. If this is done, the Machine Security network will be blown wide open for four months.
COMMENTS- by Locke.
"This is a smart person's mission. This isn't a case of killing things. If there is any shooting or disturbance at all, the Machines will work out what we are trying to do and the whole thing becomes a waste of time. Keep your nerve, and do it right. The payback on this simple mission will be enormous.
"The crew of the Shez and those sent from the Percy are expected to work together well on this one- but this is Captain Dallas' operation overall.
"How you chose to do this misison is entirely up to you. Just do it right."
SPECIAL RULES:
Opening Mission: This opening Assignment is a single situation, once it is done you will come home. It is an ideal starting place. There will be no Philosophy/Combat Path split- you work together. There will be no reference to your Oracle predictions either. All this will come later.
Stealth Mission: This mission is a designated covert operation. Unlike Combat Missions (where you ignore Bulk), this involves no rule changes compared to a normal mission, but simply a change in style. Normally, detection is an issue as you will run into trouble if exposed. But in this mission, if you are detected, not only are you in trouble, but the mission automatically fails. Therefore you will have to be careful with what you carry- openly carrying big guns is not advised!
In this particular mission, detection means disaster as the Machines will realise your plan- even if you got the Codes, the Machines will never use them.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
Laptop: (Bulk/Encumberance 3/3). This slim laptop computer is what you will download the data from the storage device onto. It is coded so the information on it can be taken from a hard line onto the systems of the Shez.
Pickpocket programme: (One memory space). This downloadable programme will turn you into a sleight of hand master. People with this download will be able to both take the device from the Courier and get it back to him without him noticing, so long as they are close by.
ESTIMATED DANGER LEVEL: Low. But if something goes wrong, this becomes Very High- the Machines will not take kindly to an attempt to subvert their security system.
TIPS: You don't need a genius master plan for this, but you will need a plan of some sort. The important things are this:
1. Get to the Courier without arousing suspicion
2. Get the device off of him without him knowing
3. Download the info
4. Get the device back to him without him knowing
5. Get OUT without arousing suspicion
It is an airport, not a military base, so you can walk around it freely- but if you want to get to the Courier before he gets to the Lobby and safety, you have no business inside those parts of the airport unless you buy a ticket- which means going through security, which means no weapons.
Don't ALL bundle towards the Courier, that would be a poor use of manpower.
A Map will be provided for you on assignment.
Don't panic too much. The Machines are not omnipotent and are not expecting trouble. They are not even there- this is a fully conventional operation carried out by Coppertops. You have to cause quite a disturbance for the Machines to take notice. If that happens, though, expect a fast response time.
Remember the Stealth part of this mission only counts for those DOING the covert bit. You can carry as many guns as you can hide if you are not planning to go past a metal detector.
ROLES: The following roles for team members are NEEDED
Pickpocket: Someone needs to get the device from the Courier and get it back. You may want more than one person to be able to do this. You may want one to take it and one to put it back. Your call.
Computer man: Someone needs to carry the computer and store the info. You can make this one of the Pickpockets if you want, or have a Pickpocket pass the device to the Computer man
The following roles for team members are USEFUL
Driver: ALWAYS useful to have someone with the escape vehicle ready to go. Trouble is, Driver can be a dull job- there ARE things for one to do, but he'll need to go find them, I will not make things happen to him.
Lookout: A good precaution is to leave people looking out for trouble. This can be with the Courier, out in the car park, in the Lobby... anywhere.
Bodyguard: In the worse case scenario, you need people to look after people doing the important jobs.
Any questions, ask me
I want volunteers for this mission- the Shez is leaving soon!
He continued to drink from his cup, then he looked toward all the gathering activity. It looked like the old timers had just gotten out fo the meeting. Locke probably had given them their orders.
He wondered who the poor saps who would have to go on this mission would be..
He approached Captain Dallas, not addressing him, but expecting some word form him since he himself wasnt allowed in the meeting.
Not one for chit chat, although he was pretty social person, he kept his repsonses somewhat short, but to the point.
"Yeah....I'm Ready...Gotta love this job eh? Leave home at a moments notice and never really know whether you'll come back..."
He chuckled a bit.
"Let me stop dampening your spirits, we'll be fine. Heh..."
He continued to walk.