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PERMUTATIONS
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>>The
Code is out there. |
This Threat is built around the premise that someone in the Sixth World has recovered the source code of the computer virus that caused the Crash of ‘29. That "someone" is a pseudo-mystical organization of rogue deckers who have formed themselves into an organization much like an initiatory magical group. Calling themselves the "Order of the Degenerative Permutation," the tightly knit group of deckers has collected whatever bits of the virus they could from the Matrix over time to analyze how it works. No one knows for sure how or where they located the source code, but then again, no one outside of their own ranks even knows that they have the virus. Although they would like to think that their actions have gone totally unnoticed and completely without suspicions, some members of Shadowland's elite have begun to suspect that something is very amiss on the Grid. It would seem that The Order has recently begun to test their version of the virus.
But why would a bunch of deckers want to crash the whole Grid all over again?
Some of the private buzz on Shadowland (among the SysOps and the upper echelon deckers) has generated a few theories. Some think that this is a collection of anti-technological deckers. Like the toxic shamans who derive their power from pollution, yet seek to destroy the polluters, these deckers are preparing to use their insight on information technology to bring the technological world to a standstill. Others think that this is the ultimate power trip. For whatever reason, the members of this group are seeking to exact some kind of revenge upon the world (or at least threaten to do so). This would almost certainly be for some kind of personal gain -- whether that be in the form of nuyen or ego or whatever. It is possible that they are merely after an absurd amount of money and this is the only way to get it. But money would seem like such a trivial goal when a small group is wielding that kind of power. Would it be for the sheer sake of having crushed the world's ability to communicate? They would suffer more than anyone else at this. Even if they had a complete success, they would soon be tracked down and incarcerated or else they could never allow anyone to know that they were responsible. Or is this a plan for revenge upon even deeper scars?
GAME INFORMATION
The Order of the
Degenerative Permutation
The easiest way to describe the Order in the shortest
amount of space would be to liken them to an initiatory magical group and
use that format (from Grimoire II). Even though that would
be oversimplifying it, it is listed as such below, with an elaboration
to follow.
| Type: | Conspiratory |
| Members: | 6 |
| Strictures: | Attendance, Fraternity, Oath, Secrecy |
| Resources/Dues: | High/Luxury; no specific dues although members supply the group with a great deal of monetary and technical support. |
| Customs: | A great deal is expected of the group members by the group members. Although much of their correspondence is done remotely, all six are required to be present when they meet physically. In the outside world they are to give no indication that they have any knowledge of the group whatsoever, though they may maintain any other ties they wish, since implementing no specific cover is the best cover of all. When they are present together, they turn Matrix programming into a near mystical venture, as though their work transcended simple programming and had moved into a nearly religious order. They maintain a secret hub somewhere where they keep their items of highest value. This hub is supposedly in an some kind of large building, perhaps an empty warehouse, which they have forged enough documents for to keep the authorities away from them for an extremely long time. This building has enough hardware in it to qualify as a Microtronics facility and a Cybernetics facility. They have twelve (12) Hitachi RM-AX optical chip encoders or equivalent models, and maintain two (2) networks on site. One is a highly secure local area network which does not connect to the Matrix (although it is capable of creating an extremely detailed virtual environment). That network is the one where they keep and work on their tests of the virus. The source code of the virus itself is stored offline on a MatrixLogic "Magazine" Offline Storage Unit. The LAN has a total of twelve (12) personal computers attached to it, each with at least 4 gigapulses of memory, as well as additional ports for cyberdecks, as well as at least one breadboarded cyberdeck with an MPCP rating of at least 15. The mainframe of that network also has a programming suite hooked up to it for assistance with the programming of the virus code. The other network is a pirated PLTG, with the mainframe providing the node offering a Red-6 security rating and another programming suite. This p-PLTG is where most of the group's correspondence takes place. |
The six members maintain the highest secrecy with their true identities. It is rumored that they represent an extremely diverse crowd. Rumors abound as to who they could possibly be and it is said that at least one of them represents a major computer technologies company and was the one who supplied them with a great deal of their hardware. Another is rumored to be a core member of Shadowland, perhaps one of the echo SysOps or high ranking field deckers. Still another is rumored to be a former member of Echo Mirage.
Game Masters wishing to implement the Permutations Threat are left with a variety of options, beginning with how to introduce the threat. This scenario ties in nicely with the Artificial Intelligence Threat also listed on this page. In that manner, it can be introduced as a sub-plot and then take over as the former winds down to its close. It can also be introduced as a rumor on Shadowland that the runners then become involved in. Or the GM can have a decker character witness a Matrix anomoly associated with the tests of the virus. The introduction is extremely open ended, but the GM must bear in mind at all times that these individuals are extremely secretive and represent the upper crust of twenty-first century computer knowledge. Once introduced the GM may play the runners off of the scenario in as many varied ways as it can be introduced. One suggestion is to have the runners begin with a very sketchy knowledge of the conspiracy, involving it only as a side note to something else until it becomes very prevalent in their lives, at which point it becomes a race against time to see if they can track down the Order before they release the virus. Even this can be done either at arms length, with the runners never actually encountering the Order or up close and more personal than the runners would like to get. Should the GM directly involved the runners with the Order, use the following character sketches as members of the Order:
Calling himself Locke on the Grid, he gives (through his name) perhaps the only clue as to the nature of the Order of the Degenerative Permutation. If that name is in fact any indication of the group's purpose, then they support social revolutions in order to overthrow ruling powers. Nevertheless, this might only be his personal view and but one manifestation of a group with multi-faceted goals. Locke is the keeper of the Order's hardware. He protects their p-PLTG personally as well as through the IC he designed for it. He probably no longer functions normally in society, having withdrawn completely into the project, taking "funding" from the other group members while he protects the equipment and works full time on perfecting their version of the virus.
Known on the Grid as Silhouette, if any of the members are a former member of Echo Mirage, it is her. Now for all intents and purposes retired, Silhouette likely withdrew from Echo Mirage at its completion, made her money in the private sector before turning to this project for personal reasons. If encountered on the Grid, she is perhaps one of the most extremely formidable foes ever to be encountered. With an innate knowledge of how the Matrix works, decades of experience with it, and a high-end cache of hard- and software to back it up, she is not to be trifled with. However, she is more likely to disappear than engage in a full scale, frontal attack. However, her physical whereabouts and day-to-day occupation are unknown.
Perhaps one of the most frightening aspects of the order, is the idea that one of its members, calling himself Mimicry is in fact one of the core members of the Shadowland community. However, this is mere speculation and a possibility even the likes of Captain Chaos and Epoch do not wish to approach unless absolutely necessary. If Mimicry had sensitive information on the Denver Nexus, that would place Shadowland at an extremely vulnerable point, since that would practically mean its end -- at least functionally for a very long time. However "Mimicry" would not even be the individual's Shadowland monicker -- although some of Shadowlands ranks have begun to suspect that it may be Mad Tango.
Still the frightening aspects of the group do not stop with a bunch of self-taught underground programmers and intuitive hacks. The member known as DiscordArray has supplied the group with a great deal of hard- and software. Considering it is unlikely that six individuals could have accumulated enough money to install the kind local area network and Red-6 mainframe that they have, these things could have only come from one place: a major computer technologies corporation. DiscordArray is an upper level programmer for Mitsuhama Computer Technologies and with access to sensitive data and the latest in cutting edge computer technology, he is making it possible for the Order of the Degenerative Permutation to achieve their goals at a frightening rate.
Another member of the Order calls herself Acidhammer. Although her background with the Matrix is largely unknown, her personal carriage is somewhat immature, leading one to believe that she may in fact be very young. But how young? Acidhammer is likely otaku. Although the otaku are anti-social in the sense that they do not actively contribute to the whole of society, they are also not exactly known to be popularly malignant. However, perhaps she is a "toxic" cybershaman, seeking to vent some sort of anger the only way she knows how -- through the Matrix -- regardless of what this may mean.
Supposedly a full-time Matrix operative for the UCAS central intelligence agency, Cloak backs the Order of the Degenerative Permutation with a new brand of Matrix technology. Whereas members like Acidhammer and Silhouette provide intuitive knowledge, Cloak brings them quasi-legally acquired access codes and security algorithms and complete data spreads on many grid points. Whereas DiscordArray provides a great deal of developed hardware and software (and sometimes even prototypes), Cloak brings with him the many underhanded ways developed by the CIA to bridge that technology together or rip it to shreds. Cloak rounds out the team as a kind of juxtaposition to what everyone else seems to supply. Not only that, but Cloak helps provide them with much of the secrecy they need to survive. With his connections through the CIA, he can erase nearly any suspicion held anywhere in the world as to their existence -- or plant rumors to lead individuals farther and farther away from them.