USH'S MATRIX GAME: FIRST ASSIGNMENT- 'Codecracker'

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 changeover 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 if they work out you got 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 once you enter the Matrix.

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

The Crew of the Shez- Mors, Fire, Coeus, Ares, Rade, Castor, Burn, Heph

The Shez heads through the tunnels to the broadcast point nominated for the mission.

"I'll take the helm," says Dallas. "You guys come up with a plan."

The mission details give you the roles needed. You need to think about the following locations- in the order you will see them

CAR PARK: Irritatingly this is some way from the lobby doors.

LOBBY: You'll all go through here, and buy tickets from here if you want. It is a very busy area, full of all sorts. System Security is present in the Lobby- once the Courier reaches the Lobby he is effectively safe. The Lobby is as far as you can go into the airport unless you either buy a ticket or sneak in somewhere. Remember if you go through with a ticket you will go past metal detectors- you cannot take weapons.

CUSTOMS/DUTY FREE/BAGGAGE RECLAIM: All areas that the Courier will come through before getting to the Lobby. They are all adjacent.

LIGHT RAILWAY SYSTEM: The Airport terminals and the other buldings are connected by a Light Railway system. When the Courier leaves the Terminal, he will travel along this railway for a few minutes to get to the main buildings.

TERMINAL: You know the Courier will get off at Terminal Four, though which Gate he will use is less clear. This is where he will arrive first.

AIRFIELD: If you are playing silly buggers, the airfield itself is something to think about. It is fenced off from the outside world unless you in in via the railway, of course. Even the most conventional airports tend to have security ready to respond to terrorist threats.

PLANE: This is where the Courier starts- obviously enough you cannot get here!

So, the vulnerable areas the Courier will go through, in order, are: Terminal, Light Railway, Customs/Duty Free/Baggage Reclaim.

Start making your plans accordingly.

Crew from the Percy- Celsius, Cloud, Virus, and any latecomers

Yours is the surveillance operation that has made this mission possible. You have twice as much to lose if it balls up- not only will you have failed to get the Code, but the Machines will realise you have worked out their schedule and change that, making all your surveillance work useless.

Hence your Captain- with a currently inadequate crew- asked for back-up, and the Shez is responding.

You are actually already inside the Matrix- welcome in! For convenience I shall work out what you are carrying when the others do, though.

You are continuing to observe the airport and will join up with the contingent frim the Shez when they arrive- the rest of the crew of the Percy is on other duties. The flight is due soon- and rather a lot of security people are turning up!

"Ok seeing as Burn already had a good plan and we know have some more info we need to take a few things into account.

A) it will take time, maybe not much but still, to get the USB transporter from the carrier to the nearest restroom and back to the carrier.
since we have no idea what the carrier will do once he arrives at the airport, he might go shopping or anything like that. I suggest we send in a 4th guy to be a look out, someone who could tail the carrier.

B) We also need to look at a plan to see where the restrooms are, because if we were to take a terminal restroom and the carrier is already on the light train by the time the info is copied we lose a lot of time, hence forth the forth guy who can atleast try to slow up the carrier.

Last but not least we need a driver, and the rest of us can wait in the lobby, maybe we also need a second driver"

Being a Courier he probably won;t shop for any length of time- people are waiting in him.

Also being a Courier he will not be stopped by authorities for any reason.

Well, stalling him may be easier then we think, it could range from spilling coffe on him by accident, to pretending to know him from somewhere. But we need someone who knows how to do it right.....like....a good actor?

Vets have the best natural Charisma. Mind you, you could always download something to help yuo do that.

Note- Celsius, as a Veteran, is now the ranking officer from the Percy contingent, Whilst this is the Shez's- and Dallas'- operation and they do things his way, in general Celsius is in charge of the Percy crew here.

Celsius, you understand that Dallas has a reputation for... well.. DIRECT solutions. You are surprised to hear he was the choice for this mission.

Castor sat in the corner on the cold steel floor of the hover craft. He looked at his shipmates as they planned. Being one for little conversation he kept his mouth shut, then something occured to him.

"Hey Guys. We could set up a situation where he has to stop? Perhaps? Maybe a phone call, a moderately lengthy one. Not even that. If the guy who gets the package can get it quickly and be in the bathroom transfering the data while he is on the phone, he may be able to catch back up with him and restore the device before he boards the Light Rail....Just a suggestion..."

Incidentally, Fire, you are asking for someone to tail the Courier?

Remember the Operator can do that. Never forget the Operator!

Castor has come up with a point. If you take the device at the Terminal and copy the data in a restroom there, he will indeed be on the Railway before you can get the key back to him, unless you delay him.

This will be a problem with any set-up you have in which the laptop is not very close to the Courier when you make the snatch.

ok revised plan,
we need the computer person on the light rail.
this can bypass the bathroom system. the first pickpocket waits by the terminal, a person outside (operator?) tells him whate gate he's coming in. between there and the light rail he swipes the USB thingy, and enters the light rail with the courier, the computer guy and the secong pickpocket are on the rail. comp guy does his stuff and the second pickpocket puts it back after he gets off, or while on the rail if possible, then they all get the hell outta there

Well, seems consistent to me- comments?

o i forgot,
we need ppl in the lobby for cover incase of trouble.
if we could get ppl on the tarmac it would be nice as a precaution but that maybe too hard, and im probably over thinking this

You definitely need to break in to get to the tarmac. If it does not benefit your plan it's not worth it.

(Whats a tarmac?)

I think that soundslike a good idea. Best one yet. If the captains agree then we need to start assigning positions.

tarmac is the area that the planes travel on, area around the runway, the ground by the gates

Role choosing would indeed be a good idea...

I dont want to be the driver because if were chased i could lean out the window and shoot ppl.
ill be a lobby bodyguard

Heh- a Lobbyguard...

"sounds ok"

(I know about the operator, the thought crossed my mind, but the operator can't intervene while an irl tracker would be able to0
but since burn his new plan doesn't need that anymore it should be ok

Okideokey...

C'mon, folks! Let's pull it all together!