Mass Effect PbP Game Thread

[Elemental_Elf]

[ic]As you try to hack the enemy, the enemy tries to hack you. Fortunately, you're able to disconnect before the person transmits a few virus. [/ic]

[Steerpike]

[ic]Taking his chance while the deletion process is stalled, Archimedes hastily dumps a copy of the remaining data into his Omni-Tool.  While his opponent is trying to hack Lini he forcibly ejects the console's data cache, yanking the hard disk out of the machine with his talons.

"With any luck I can recover the deleted files on this thing later," he says.[/ic][ooc]If necessary, Use Computer: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+13 : 4 + 13, total 17[/blockquote][/ooc]

[Elemental_Elf]

[ooc]As you rip the hard disk out of the casing, you are jolted by an electrical current.

Archimedes takes 3 points of damage.[/ooc]

[LD]

[ic]Real Virus playing havoc with her immune system...Computer Virus threatening to further ***k up her suit's environment control...Real Virus making her feel like a dying Genophaged Krogan Matron..."Fu*k this." Lini segregates files, uploads a bunch to Sal's OmniTool for backup and she logs back on. Her pride demands it. This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+10 : 13 + 10, total 23 [ooc]For creativity, can I get a bonus if she uses her AI Hacking tech power to marshal the nearest computer jack to increase her CPU power and to create a mini-botnet out of the comps in the building?[/ooc] Under her suit, Lini's face flushed redder as she met the resistance of a very, very good opponent. She didn't care that he was deleting files, she didn't even care about the viruses (yet...if they infected her OmniTool she'd be really pissed); she did care that this b*#*ard was outsmarting her. She respected that he was beating her, but she wasn't in the mood for shop-talk now.[/ic]

[Elemental_Elf]

[ooc]You successfully re-open the network connection.[/ooc]

[Steerpike]

[ic]Wincing slightly at the electric shock the console gave him, Archimedes connects to Lini's Omni-Tool and thus the network she's sharing with whoever is meddling with T'Kin's files.  He uploads a worm of his own design - Ligeia - onto the network with a simple payload: install a backdoor that Lini can use to gain full access to their opponent's computer.[/ic][ooc]Use Computer Aid Another: This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+13 : 4 + 13, total 17[/ooc]

[Elemental_Elf]

[ic]Caught unaware, the enemy scrambles to block you. Before re-asserting control by quarantining your worm, you gain access to their camera and their location.

Two people are seen on the screen, one is a Salarian male, colored yellow and white. The other is a human female, looks to be in her early-to-mid-thirties. She has swarthy complexion, big brown eyes and short black hair. After a bit of thinking, you recognize her as the famous reporter Khalisah al-Jilani - the one Commander Sheppard punched! She's yelling at the Salarian to fix the problem, as he frantically works at the computer.

She's located on the Citadel, looks like Zakera Ward.

Once the worm is quarantined your video link is abruptly shut off. [/ic]

[Steerpike]

[ic]Interesting.  A salarian hacker and an infamous reporter on the Citadel attempting to destroy information on the console of a corrupt port authority official in bed with a would-be space pirate... wheels within wheels.

Archimedes dispatches a VI search agent, Rowena, into the extranet to gather information on Khalisah al-Jilani, ideally including extranet contact info.  If they can't get the information they need from T'Kin's console's data cache, perhaps they can find something interesting from al-Jilani.  He sets the VI's metamorphic code to activate itself once it locates the reporter - it'll perform a self-rewrite and become Ligeia, then attempt to infiltrate her computer and give him remote control.[/ic][ooc]Use Computer: This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+13 : 7 + 13, total 20[/ooc]

[Elemental_Elf]

[ic]Most of the information gathered by the program are links to Spacetube vids of the infamous punching. It finds a receipt for the following interesting things she's purchased recently: a flight to Illium, coffee at Yama's Cafe, Medi-Gel from a Hospital on Illium, the services of Galo Pidar - Ace Detective.

The worm transforms and again gives you momentary camera control but the Salarian thwarts you once more, this time by disconnecting the computer from its power source. [/ic]

[ic=To Archimedes]Moments later, you receive an email:

Title: Good Job
Sender: You know who I am

Message: [spoiler]Pleasure locking horns with you sir. Hope to do it again some time.

Attachment: A file named  Ligeia[/spoiler][/ic]

[Steerpike]

[ic]Archimedes boots up T'Kin's Omni-Tool and transfers all files from his old Omni-Tool onto it, including security software and all information they've gathered so far.  He equips T'Kin's Omni-Tool, then wipes his old Omni-Tool completely, erasing all data within it and performing a full reset leaving only his custom diagnostic and security tools.  He then proceeds to quarantine and open the attachment on his old tool, prepared to power-down the tool if it starts doing anything alarming (like heating up or making strange sounds).[/ic]

[Elemental_Elf]

[ic]The Attachment forces your Video Tool to turn on and display a Salarian moving his finger back-and-forth saying "Ah ah ah, you didn't say the magic word." [/ic]

[Steerpike]

[ic]Archimedes cocks what would be an eyebrow on a human face and attempts to break any encryption on the file.[/ic][ooc]Use Computer: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+13 : 19 + 13, total 32[/blockquote][/ooc]

[Elemental_Elf]

[ic]The encryption is like warm putty in your hands. You break the code with ease.

The video display scrambles for a second then displays a Salarian who says, "Meet me in the C-Sec Brig on Zakera ward in 32 hours. I have information that will help you."  [/ic]

[Steerpike]

[ic]"Everyone.  I've found something of a lead - unlikely it's a trap, given the rendezvous location.  We need to get to the Citadel; let's get whatever else we need here and take our leave."  He cycles back over to the Administrator's security profile and checks the Maintenance and Security log in one window while simultaneously flipping through Video Drone views on another.[/ic]

[CoyoteCamouflage]

[ic]
Kai, given his his rather passing knowledge of codes or computers, is more or less unaware of everything that has proceeded up to this point. His prerogative is the statue, since it is a clear and immediate objective. With that secure, and the others tending to the business of the Volus' whereabouts, or just good old fashioned looting-- Kai wouldn't be able to tell the difference in this place-- he is left with a few options himself.

Loot the place for valuables, or speak with the much more civil-seeming Volus. Then steal all of the guns from the next room over. Better he has it than the authorities-- he might even be able to set-up his own side business with it in the future.

"Good work," he says to Archimedes. "Let me see if I can learn anything about our political landscape right about now.

Statue in hand-- gun in the other-- he approaches the other two Volus. "Listen, please. we are all reasonable people here. I can't guarantee you that we are not also looking for the Thorstad. But I also cannot tell you that we are looking for it, because we don't know what the fething hell it is. Now, before yo answer, let me make this clear: We are not Eclipse. Eclipse do not leave witnesses-- something we are more than glad to do if things progress beneficially for us. So, right now, in polite, civil terms, I would like you to me 1. What is the Thorstad. 2. Who are you working for? 3. Who is this 'Tsar' your uppity friend keeps blathering about?"
[note=Persuasion]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 14 + 9, total 23[/blockquote][/note]