Remember back when some hackers pretty much funelled most of Hinocorp's funds out of the corporation like a vampire, and the money seemed to "vanish"? Well, I got some leads that might be interesting to hear. I'm getting several threads, most of them are red herrings, but here's a couple that I know are red herrings. (Never really liked any seafood anyways... :p )
1: Epoch's Backers on the Vile Bill murder - Nope, not a chance. I looked into this myself, it looks like he had no backers and did it all on his lonesome. Unless I can't find just who signs his paychecks...
2: Kuro-Tech - Recently there was a 10 Million dollar "windfall" that landed in their lap. After the little "Fiasco" that occurred with their new prototype aircraft, I doubt they enjoyed it.
3: Teknokat Corporation - Nope. TK's clean. Triple checked on that rumor and discovered a rival corp doing the smoke-screen.
4: Project Utopia S&T - Hmmm. It was probable, but I discovered that they hadn't even knew about the "incident".

So far, through my tracings, I have been able to follow a few leads. And I was able to actually recover a little bit of the green that I lost. But only a small fraction. The big mother lode was split up into the four winds. Although, if I find the source, I might... hopefully... be having a pretty large haul. I'm talking fat loot here folks.

I can hardly wait.

My congratulations on the successes your efforts have afforded you to this point.

There is one matter that puzzles me however. The stock of the former company is worthless, the dissolution and sale of assets in order to repay the defaulted loans must already be in progress, therefore what is the goal of your efforts? You are the beneficiary of a sizeable fortune from senhor Petersen that, with some effort and expertise, could easily be parlayed into a true fortune.

Please forgive me this seems impolitic but your goals seem muddled and contradictory.

This isn't about getting back what's mine. It's family buisiness. Yeah, it's half way gone, but I have made some recoveries. Many of these are stories to be told another day.

It's just a... passing little hobby I got. I call it, owning the bastards. What I can't get out of the legal system, I gain using my #@X0r skills. What I don't get from that, I have to do in a more personal way. Luckily though, my first two options have worked so far.

Ah, every girl needs a hobby.

For myself success and outliving the bastardos seems to be more rewarding.

It is still somewhat difficult to understand why this matter draws so much of your attention however. It is money, dinheiro taint, and belongs to no one. It is pretty paper blessed by the wizards of the treasury or bits of data running in circles within the controlled pastures of the gnomes of Zurich. Considering the circumstances it seems to mean more to you than to those who took it.

Vengeance or revenge would be comprehensible, my anscestors refined these to high art while most of the world was still squatting in caves and painting themselves blue.

I can not comment on "#@X0r skills" as I have no idea what this refers to.

Well, since your on the topic of funds and VB was mentioned, I need some advice here.

Well, he left me some money too. I'm not sure exactly what to do with it. I feel that I should put it towards a cause he believed in but in all actuality, I'm not sure what he believed in. I really didn't know him too well. I just enjoyed his smile, and saw some potential that I think most people ignored.

So anyways, what do you think? I don't need the money for myself, so what do I do with it? I would like to honor him, but how?

Senhora Apép,
This is a matter deserving of serious contemplation and one I will ponder at length for you. In the meantime let your esteemed attention be drawn to the fact that, though senhor's Troll or Chance would perhaps have greater insight into his character, he may truly have been an individual of modest requirements as always portrayed.

If this be the truth then it may be that he wished only your smile at memories of him. Is there nothing this money might bring to you, or some opportunity it might obtain, that would bring you pleasure? Senhor Vile Bill seemed a man needing to indulge in all the pleasures of life as a fish indulges in water. Perhaps his wish was that you share that for a time.

Perhaps in the creation of something lasting that satisfies a creative need, this money would be well spent?

Not that I claim to be any expert on such matters.

For you, Apep, an only somewhat comical notion.

Perhaps the money would best honor bill by being used to lobby the House and Presidential support necessary to make prostitution legal and safe in all fifty states of America.

While I can't say he'd approve of the means, the end leaves much in Bill's memory.

.ronin

*laughs*
I just realized something... I bet if I croaked, there'd be some fool who'd want some sort of way to get an anime convention made in my honor... :p
Sorry, a little humor never hurts a heavy subject.

When seeking the path of revenge, first dig two graves.

Endeavor, you were right about the folks behind Kuro-Tech. The information will be forwarded to you asap.

Revenge? Bah.
There were roughly 100 high-up stockholders which weren't too pleased that Hinocorp went belly up. And since it was done via a criminal act. They want justice. I'm more than happy to give them what they want, yet I still have to make absolutely sure that who's recieving the big can of 'splode deserves it.
I take no joy in doing this...Well...maybe a little bit.
I'll just have to sit and watch as the chips fall, and when the time is right, I'm laying all my cards on the table.

Justice is a funny thing. Most often, it looks just like revenge dressed up with justification. Mind you, I don't really have a problem with revenge.

One thing about the world:
If a creep has the choice of ripping off someone who they know will come gunning for them or someone who will just shrug and go about their life, they will go after the shrugger every time. This attitude helps keep revenge popular.

But if the fool just shrugs it off, then what value revenge when it does nothing? *sigh*
And the leads keep drying out... bah.

Revenge usually destroys one persons live, Endeavor. Did the info I provide to you help?

Still muddling through it.
I got several other sources to juggle. My OS is reaching critical mass here.
I'm going to have to reboot. {connection terminated}

Ahhh. It's so good to be able to breathe after a long stretch of crazy days. I've been sorting through the data I've recieved, and followed a few leads. My duties at TKI have slowed my progress, and has limited some of my options. I don't want to soil TKI's image. There are some interesting developments though, and I should have all the peices in position for a quick checkmate. If everything follows through, I might be living comfortably, and be able to help out TKI's research at the same time. And, as soon as the new terminal at Endeavor Point comes online, there'll be a lot more I can do for everyone. Sorry ot sound vague, but things are going smooth, and I don't want to jinx anything.

*Sigh*
I must be becoming domesticated.
I've given up on this wild goose chase. Every time I think I've found something, it's not anything I needed.
Ugh. Oh well, some new crusade should catch my eye sooner or later. At least Teknokat keeps me busy.

When you think you're ready perhaps you can join those of us in the advanced class for a little game. We're just starting a new one.

Added note:
No pressure of course. Not all novas possessing hyper evolved intellects like to play.

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Widget:

Really? Pray tell what it is... Preferribly over a more secure means of communication.

((OOC: Via PM... Hint hint...))

"Civilization". More later.



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:p

Why is it that I think my chain is being pulled here...

No idea. Does this mean you don't want to play?

You should give some thought to which country you want to choose. Japan, Nigeria, America, Brazil and Canada are already taken from the last game since your victories carry over to the next round.

Don't wait until the last minute unless you want to be left out of the initial covenant agreements.

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Eh. Sorry, I'm not in.
I got some R&D reports to go through for Teknokat. It should be a while before I get some free time.

Widget, just quick note - While you're playing, do you mind not moving my pieces? I'm planning something for the moment, and while it's small-scale, it's kinda essential to a few gambits I hope to have near to my end-game.

You probably already know about them. I'm just asking nicely, since I don't usually play for keeps, and I usually stick to micro-scale with this stuff.

Endeavour, if you want to know what we're talking about, put your mind to it. That's all you should need to know, if you have the ability to play.

I can be such a pollyanna sometimes...

I'm in, and I call dibs on South Korea. I gotta take what's mine. But you must tell this n00b the why and whatfor of the rules.

Just let me know what I have to do. I'm a strategist, a good one.

In simple terms the permanent rules are:

1. No direct physical or quantum contact between principles without mutual consent or majority decision as defined as a quorum by the covenant of the game.

2. No assassinations of public figures.

3. By mutual consent a single organization or public company may be utilized in lieu of a traditional geo-political structure as a resource base. Utopia and Devries are already spoken for. This decision will net the player an economic and support grace period as defined by the covenant and not avaialable to principles utilizing traditional geo-political structures defined as "countries".

4. Win conditions are to be delineated within the covenant for the game round under consideration before the start of game and may not be amended after game start without cancellation of game followed by a sixty day period before the start of the next round.

5. Once majority control of a resource base is seized by another principle, the original principle has ten days from announcement of majority control to regain control or establish a new resource base. They then have 30 days to erode the majority control gained by their usurper. Failure to erode the usurper's majority means forfeiture of all resources to the usurping principle until completion of the game. Challenges to interpretation are defined and allowed for within the covenant.

All other rules are defined within the covenant.

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A game of tag... With high stakes and the world as your sandbox.

I like that.

So the goal pretty much is to grab as much as possible with the resources you got?

So, who's the current "king of the world", and what is the covenant?

Not so much "grab" as being able to prove you can gather sufficient influence by accomplishing a particular goal. A player could be eliminated by taking direct action against their resource base but that's considered gauche and lacking in subtlety when done without (many) other reasons.

The goal hasn't been announced yet and won't be until the finalization of the covenant. This is to insure that the standings of all participants are on equal footing in preparation. At the moment there is debate on whether Utopia should be considered a geo-political entity on par with a country or continue to be accorded private organization status. At stake is the grace period the Utopian principle has enjoyed in the last few rounds. The quorum is already deliberating but she knows the vote will likely go against her and is using the delay to optimize her resources.

Your claim on South Korea has been acknowledged by the quorum. As of this moment no other principle will take direct action in that theater until the goal is announced. Which is not to say they won't continue to make preparations but no major action will be initiated until the covenant is invoked.

I can't tell you who is king, though the term used is "Sphinx", as that's something you'll have to determine on your own. Sorry. I'll give you one hint though; Portman owes them a greater debt than he knows.

Last bit of advice to a n00b (that is so 20th century it's adorable BTW); alliances are part of the larger pattern of probabilities but all alliances are ultimately a confluence of goals. When the goals conflict the alliance fractures.

Technokat
I'll see what I personally can do but I speak only for myself, not the others.

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Ah Widget, now I understand what Javier was alluding to last week. You have some rather interesting notions of the concept of "fun." So, would revealing your own country in this little game put you at too much of a disadvantage?

In general and ordinarily yes but in my case not so much. I play a decentralized base and use unaligned and tangential resources belonging nominally to another geopolitical structure or company. Think of it as playing a holding company and thereby drawing on resources of the parent indirectly.

There are several weaknesses initially to that style of play as Javier knows, including being little more than a neutral party in some rounds, but several strengths as well. I developed this strategy after failing to subvert a coup d'état of Racheal's company to my own advantage.

Its a gray area of the convenant rules but still legal. This approach also neutralizes some of the advantages of the larger organizations / countries while optimizing mobility and (re)flexibility. In a temporary alliance I can act as a force multiplier while conserving my own resources.



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Widget.

I must confess, upon first reading of this thread -- one I have not explored since the last time I posted upon it -- I burst out in a rather uproariously display of laughter.

I am glad that I am not so distinct in my existence as a nova that this action drew to my presence in the cyber-kiosk any more attention to be aroused in me than any baseline. After a few puzzled glares from the locals, I was alone again to enjoy the spectacle that unfolds before me.

And here I've been complaining about boredom.

Please, may I?

.ronin

This is the sort of thing I might get involved with when I'm older and smarter... right now I'll pass however.

A few rounds of this game would probably be educational, I do so love the computer game versions, if there's room for one more player that is.

I'd want some explanation of the game terms and a few examples of previous game rounds before I decided. Anyone care to be enlightening in public or private?

heheh.

Just to make it fair, I won't use any of the resources I already got. I've already got a plan in mind.

Guard your mind.

For all that are interested you are welcome to participate so long as you abide by the covenant when published. I'll insure a copy of the covenant reaches you and will even register your resource base with the quorum to insure there are no conflicts caused by inadvertently using resources already claimed.

In related matters I have some notes and clarifications to ease transition for new players;

- the Fundamentalist Principle (aka The Michaelite) has elected to forego participation citing personal reasons. As previously explained control may be seized however their alliance with the Religious Council of America and some federal agencies remains in place.

- Morocco in general and Marrakesh in particular remains independent following a coup de maître in the region, which eliminated the governing principle's power base, but failed to demonstrate majority control under quorum review.

- The off-limits area of Calcutta has been expanded 200 meters from the 500 meter restricted area initially established by covenant.

On a personal note; it was a brilliant initiative in an alliance between two philosophically opposed principles. Still, they should have been prepared for the contingency plan by the Utopian Principle.

- Use of fission or fussion devices in other than 21st century designated testing areas remains penalty offense for all parties involved. Indirect involvement will be treated as direct involvement under covenant.

Endeavor you are allowed to use whatever resources belong to you or to another player with whom you establish an alliance or favored status agreement provided the covenant is understood to supercede in cases of dispute. As a new player you may not wish to handicap yourself by foreswearing use of the prior resources. You are now the recognized conservator of a country and thereby responsible whether you've developed an influence base in the country yet or not.

Walker what would you like to know? Ask anything though answers regarding prior rounds will be given in private. It disturbs some to peer behind the curtain without mental preparation.



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Actually, after I looked at what I could possibly give to bear, I have decided not to go into this. I would be so horribly outclassed it wouldn't be fair to the other participants of the game for me to even pretend to be able to play. I'm sorry. I'm not able to do this.

Perhaps you underestimate yourself, although being disingenious is a valid tactic and has served me in the past. There will be disappointment on the parts of some of the principles.

I know of at least one that was looking forward to seeing if you had your mother's skills.

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