Let's do this.

Just throwing back an archive to the community and trying to encourage others to do something similar with some leet rpeezftmfw.

LEGEND
[o] Exile [o] System

Recruitment. - Dark Mavericks

Code Infection. - W4rbl4de

Target Lost. - W4rbl4de & Insertion

Femme Fatale. - Tytanya

EJP Incomplete. - Outlash

Vengeful Thinking. - W4rbl4de

## Intercepted Transmission...
//TYPE Recorded Audio-Visual Surveillance Transmission
//SOURCE Unknown

## Analyzing RSI...
//Contraband Signal Confirmed: Tytanya.

## Analyzing RSI...
//Contraband Signal Confirmed: W4rbl4de.

W4rbl4de: "Operator! I've got unexpected company... I need to pull out..."

Cell: "There's too much interference from the trains. Get outside of the station."

//Warning: Death is Iminent.

Tytanya: "He's finished."
W4rbl4de: "Op...erator..."

Tytanya: "It's nothing personal, Reno. This is business."

Tytanya: "A contract is a contract. Excuse me, green. I've got a bounty to collect."

Cell: "The Emergency Jackout Protocol is not working in there, dammit. Get out of there!"
W4rbl4de: "Tyt...anya..."
Cell: "*CENSORED* it, W4r! Come on, get up! Sh*t! Trigger the--"

//Error
//Error
//Audio - Timed Out
//Error
//Video - Timed Out
//Unreturned Packet Data
//Shutting Down Connection

## Transmission Lost...

## Recorded Audio-Visual Surveillance Transmission.

Warblade: ...
Insertion: Well, well, well. Of all the people to run into.
Warblade: Mr. Carroll.

In that instant, guns are drawn from both the side of the Merovingian...

...and the Machines.

Both are reserved. It's undeniable that Insertion knows how determined Warblade is. Dodging behind one of the massive pillars in the room, Merovingian freelancer Christopher Carroll readies his preferred method of execution.

Warblade: I picked up a contraband signal in the area. It didn't take long at all for me to figure out it was you...

Insertion: Your Bedlams are empty, Bryce.

Warblade: And yours. Got knives?
Warblade sneered from behind the wall of another pillar. Despite the range leftover between them, he felt as though he was back-to-back against his opponent. He no-doubtedly felt his nemesis' adrenaline in addition to his own.

Insertion: Already ahead of you...

Both strike each other simultaneously. Short-lived victories for either side, they are mere grazes -- fleshwounds -- to be considered as after-thoughts within this world.

Insertion lashes out at the Machinist, forcing him to reel out of the way. It's the perfect opportunity...

...to dash...

Retaliation. Self-defense. It is the only way to ensure escape.

Warblade has become more than a nuissance.
Insertion: This isn't just about the Professor, isn't it?

Insertion: This is much more personal, isn't it?
Insertion gains the upperhand through psychological warfare.

Falling, it takes a few seconds for the Machine to gather his wits and realize that he needs to land on his feet or risk being ejected from the simulation in a most uncomfortable manner. Straightening himself out, he lands on the highway below... Only not expecting the prey to follow...

Insertion: Ahh, so it's been since The Watchmaker?
Insertion grins wryly.
Warblade: Our feud is an old one...

The rest was a blur as he could not tell whether or not he struck his enemy.

Only that the moment had passed. Until next time.
Warblade: Operator.

Comm: Report?

Warblade: Target lost.

## End Recorded Transmission.

##

As of today, I'm on strike.

Since there aren't any other good MMO's out there, I'll be keeping my main account open here so that I can stay on the forums. I just won't be jacking in unless there's something decent taking place. There's just not enough going on to justify me logging in. Fairly soon I suspect I'll think the same of my sub as well... But I won't jump the gun and say "O-M-F-G CANCEL!!1"

We need that final server merge. I want to kill everyone on Recursion and Syntax. Until there's a resolution to solve the decline in our population, I'm not sure how much of me you'll be seeing online. Out of roughly two-hundred people in my buddylist, only twenty to thirty jack in regularly and hardly ever all at once.

 Those of you who have me on AIM, keep in touch.

## INCOMING TRANSMISSION
//SOURCE HvrBrg46607

Thank you for returning my rogue simulacra to me. The Machines operatives present, from various factions, proved their worth in the battlefield against the Merovingian Operatives attempting to struggle for dominance over the program. Any foresight at all would attribute their efforts to an attempt to gain more control within the simulation. My simulacra had gone through some shocking changes that are now being dissected for research. The goal, at this point, is to discover how Lucite managed to damage her so badly and to keep such Exiles from gaining the upperhand. Situations like these are to be avoided and hopefully our study of the program will find a way to correct future manifestations of rogue code. It could have been a random anomaly, which is the theory I am left to at this point...

Or it could be evolution, as the Merovingian operative Tytanya stated... Still, the program exceeded its original programming. Unacceptable to the Machine Organization, her growing awareness and gathering of operation codes beyond what was previous approved had become dangerous. Her removal from the simulation was a necessary step to prevent disruption of system stability.

With this threat no longer in play, I can focus on other priorities such as those loose ends previously mentioned. While I am Ronin, I have had the chance to meet up with another side... Hopefully, with my new contact, I will have the opportunity to find the answers to my prior concerns. I won't necessarily have to go back to sleep, but I can change up my pace a bit...

There are those who would like to go back. There are many who do not need to be woken from their slumber. Then there are those who cannot rest. Upon my return from the caves, jacked out of the System, I realize that there is plenty of work to do.

Then I can finally say oyasuminasai.

- Bryce.

## END TRANSMISSION

With the simulacra now in Machine custody and rumors of Morpheus being alive subsiding, now is a time to lash out at the only thing threatening the stability of the System. The unaware Bluepill population will soon able to put their minds at ease, if but one more problematic situation is resolved: Now is the time to strike out at the Exiles causing disturbances and threatening what peace remains. To protect the Matriarch of the System, to disrupt the plans of the Merovingian, and to purge this world of all its demons.

Since I've been plugging it a bit in some other threads, I figure I'd start a thread here so you can see all the preview-y goodness behind it. If anyone else wants to try this one out, let me know so we can discuss trying it out together or in a group. The graphics are pretty and the setting is bad(a)ss. The only thing left for them to get right is the gameplay:

http://www.hellgatelondon.com/

Let's get away from the hate-filled, trash-talk, flame-threads.

If we can't get back on track with discussions that might actually matter, can we at least fill the boards with spam threads as opposed to flamewars? Spam has the potential to be much more entertaining than finding out who's johnson rod can touch Saturn.

This is going to be my first locked thread! I'm almost sure of it, since it's arisen from a locked one...

How is bringing up an old thread to try to suggest a CQ Reward System qualify as a thread worthy of being locked? The reason why these boards exist is to throw ideas/discussion about and try to come up with some sort of resolution. Even if the Devs/Mods do not find a way to implement them, we're promoting ideas that can either be taken into consideration or discarded... or apparently locked...

The idea of a CQ-Based Reward system for PVP has been brought up several times. As opposed to creating a new thread, an old one was returned. An old one with some pretty interesting ideas, despite SOE's inability to utilize the system suggested. It doesn't work game-mechanics-wise, but perhaps someone else could come up with some better suggestions.

Signature Gear = Items found on Signature Characters (Live Event Characters).

As end-game content perhaps instead of temporarily being made to look like Cryptos or Ookami, we can be granted items appropriately made famous by these individuals? Level 50 clothing items with insane buffs that are perhaps very difficult to get (PB4 difficult?). Perhaps even hand out these items as rewards during Live Events?

It'd just be nice to have the pendant on Cryptos' neck as a Tool Slot item with some sort of benefit for Cypherites. Area Stun? Have it operate off of Viral Accuracy, still.

Perhaps the Twins' glasses for Merv operatives that allows for a 15 second movement speed buff and incorporeal form? Give it a cooldown timer of 300 secs.

I'm thinking items with decent buffs and perhaps an ability tied into them, similar to the Tiger Master's Gi and its reflexive toughness boost.

 'Code Infection' Player Event.
 Server: Vector-Hostile.
 Orgs: All.
 Reward: 15,000,000 $Information.
 Date: May 11th, 2007 - Starts 6:00PM Eastern (US).

Months ago, Warblade's recently-created Simulacra was wounded in Camon Heights, immediately brought back into the Loading Area for upgrades. Shortly thereafter, the Simulacra was sent back out into the field for further field surveillance operations. However, some of its Operating Subroutines were damaged -- unresolved and overlooked.

The Simulacra is becoming increasingly aware of itself and its environment. The simple Program is evolving, collecting data to supplement its missing procedures -- data it shouldn't. The Simulacra is now in possession of over a dozen lethal operating procedures and is currently acquiring more strength within the International Districts of the simulation. Several sides want this information, but scanning analysis shows that killing and extracting won't be the answer. Cryptography shields the data this Simulacra carries and extraction will be an extended process.

 Machines Operatives are instructed to find the Simulcra and return it to McClane Tower in Akasaka for processing. [ X: 251 Y: -2 Y: -73 ]

 Merovingian Operatives, to acquire the data, should escort the Simulacra to The Whote Lotus Hotel in Shinjuku. [ X: -62 Y: 0 Z: 405 ]
 
 Zion Operatives, to take away these operating codes from the machines, must deliver it to Bishop Imports in Ueno. [ X: -215 Y: 7 Z: 72 ]

---

The Ground Rules:

1.] Following: The Sim's navigation/follow routines are damaged. This is how you will need to get it to follow you. You must show to it the bits representing your Org for it to perceive you as a Guide. The Guide will be locked on to and followed to the target's location. There's FOUR (4) bits you must have to lead the Sim.

M A C H
6 2 2 4

Z I O N
8 4 6 6

M E R V
6 3 7 8

The Sim will follow the Red Pill that shows her the code bits until they are killed. If the Guide is killed, the Sim will still follow if they are revived until either that Red Pill reconstructs OR a representative from an opposing Org shows her their bits. Then a new Guide is assumed.

2.] Stress Test: The PVP should be fairly good, but this will test your dedication. The locations are a decent distance apart, so having to reconstruct won't mean it is over. It should also allow for some decent RPvP.

"Hand over the Simulacra."
"No, I don't think so. You wouldn't want this to get ugly."
"You're interfering in Machine affairs. Hand it over, now!"
"Over my dead body!"

3.] Killing the Simulacra: Doing this will cause a reboot to the Shirakaba West Hardline after THREE (3) minutes of inactivity. Yes, revive/resurrect codes will work.

4.] Capturing: To seal the deal and Capture the Sim the Guide will have to transfer a jack-out code over to her. This is done automatically once the Sim has been taken to the final coordinates. It will take TEN (10) minutes for the jack-out code to work and remove the Simulacra from the Matrix, into the proper hands. Rule three still applies, but the ten minute timer will reset.

5.] Rewards: The Guide will receive the reward, but may split it amongst their team however they like.

 I've been spending my time mixed between searching for homes within Zion's space in the Real and wondering at just how long this Peace will last. Of course, I'm being reminded that due to certain Merovingian operatives -- Red Pills employed by the Exiles -- there is plenty more work to get done before I am finished.

I'm still tired. I'm still exhausted of this. Still, the System needs its resources. Ronin. Systematic Chaos. Likwid Hyuzu. Silent Shadows. The Initiative. Hell, even Reviled Restoration despite their Cypherite ties. I briefly thought as they did and while my agenda runs parallels, I feel it's appropriate that I reside where I do.

I'm borrowing access to the Matrix via a Zion hoverbarge, but that's only because once I'm in there is no way to distinguish that the dark-haired, green-eyes fellow Jacked In next to you is the same green machine pointing a Bedlam up to your temple in a threatening manner. I may live in Zion, but that's all for the flesh outside. I'm here -- on the inside -- to carry out Machine business...

 One more time.

For Agent Pace, sh*tloads of operatives would do a Hell of a lot more than see to the correction of their own errors. Of course I expect that I'll be assigned to Special Agents Purcell or Spearing as more information is forthcoming. Still, the issue at hand is not their problem despite the risks they pose. It's my problem. It's my *CENSORED* problem.

She's curt with me. I guess that's the kind of charm I have with the ladies. I wonder why they're all curt with me. Pace, Tytanya. Hell, even my conversation with the Oracle was a mere "Thanks for helping my friend to restore his missing code." I can understand Tytanya's aggression. I've tested her Emergency Jackout Procedures a few times. Still, that doesn't explain Pace. Maybe her mind's still on Ghost. Feh. Greetings, Rosapillore. I'm uploading to your PDA the last known location of the simulacra.

Fun. It's here in International. Hitting a bit closer to home than I'd like to imagine. I prefer keeping business Downtown or out in the Slums. It's not very far, but I'm going to need to take out the Surveillance. First, I'm going to need a d*mn Hardline. I need my equipment. Alot of good a PDA and a Lancet will do with all of the mercenaries running around out here. Perhaps once I've ran out of bullets I can toss the PDA at their head as if it were a neurodart.

A bit more like it.

A decent workout. I have a feeling I'm in need of that warm-up, too. The Program has attained a dysfunctional level of intelligence since taking damage back in Camon Heights. She's operating beyond her parameters and seemingly against us. She's becoming a nuissance, excelling in proving my inability to keep tabs on all of my affairs. You create a sim to hack systems while you're away and it turns out hacking exactly what it shouldn't have any part in. Such is the nature of a hacker, I suppose. Of course hackers questions not being allowed a certain task; it makes them want it that much more.

Fine. I'll find it. I'll kill it.

It should be somewhere around Akasaka.

For every Live Event and for nearly every instance where bad guys are spawned we are made to face 10 or so level 60's. In some cases we are made to fight twice as many, if not three times as many, level 55's. Basically, what I am asking is how do players stack up against anything other than another level 50 player in terms of combat? For the most part, in every scenario, a live event character should be able to outmatch (and will outmatch) a red pill or two or three? Or perhaps even between five and ten...

I can understand not wanting the live event characters to die when they are not supposed to, but it removes the satisfaction that this game once promised. Being able to alter the course of the storyline is a big selling point and yet it's not very often we're catered to with something course-changing. Instead, we're forced into an outrage over the shattering of previously-thought course-changing status symbols, such as the passing out of beta clothes.

If devs can deactivate PVP flags, why don't we see more level 30 and level 50 event characters or perhaps more NAMED event characters that can potentially become cannon fodder? Instead, we're forced to gather numbers even when we roll solo so that we can take on the unbeatable level 55. I just killed Taskmaster the other day and I can't even scratch Hypatia! Waaah!

Just as you spend some time recovering from one wound, another opens up. I find myself unable to keep up these days. I'd rather jump ship while I've yet to fall into a downward spiral. I fear the time is approaching when that's what will become of me what with all of the conflict amidst Mega City. Kill codes are being manufactured for Redpills now? Despite the system's resources being utilized on known terrorists, it's only a matter of time before the wrong hands find their digits wrapped about the right tools of murder.

I am losing my faith in the system itself. I suppose I have Agents Betts and Purcell to thank. Of course if it were up to them it would all amount to my petty human concerns. While the secretarial program that handled Lucite's affairs made contact with me, it was Purcell who'd tracked her code signature to the clandestine meeting. I suppose it was generosity that permitted them to let me live after consorting with a rogue resource, but I saw no crimes being committed by this particular Exile.

If anything, she wanted to help me...

Guard the corpse. Those were my orders. Even as Betts struck her down he didn't even so much as flinch to acknowledge my demands to let the program go. I even resorted to challenging the Agent and stood my ground for what I felt was right. Purcell insisted that I am emotionally attached to Lucite's affairs. Of course I am interested only in what connections she has to the Merovingian without being entirely in synch with what the other Exiles want...

What the unfeeling Agent program did to the Exile was dishonorable. For the sheer fact that I was present and yet unable to do anything, I feel in some way responsible for what had transpired.

Standing here now, I think over it all... Over my bitterness, my hatred, my rage... I've even resorting to lashing out at the system and the code I revere so much. I've began a road of regret that I cannot easily deter myself from. I figure one last unfulfilling attempt at retaining some sense of dignity, some sense of honor, is worth it. I offer my apologies and my services to Lucite and make my offering to the Undeclared status and shelter amongst the Exiles.

So I step outside of that meeting with Lucite, recognizing that she would rather kill me than take me as a replacement to the departed assistant. I do not wish to turn on the Machines so much as I refuse to take orders from Special Agent Purcell or Special Agent Betts at this time. I step out into the rain that continues even now... I step out with an air of clarity about my head. I am tired. I am exhausted; I've grown weary with all of my duties. E Pluribus Neo runs rampant and terrorizes the system. Merovingian operatives plot on other Redpills. Zion continues to struggle against what the Machines know to be right, and yet now I challenge what is really right out here in this digital jungle.

I'm tired.

I said that already...

Not sure if I should be posting this in Next Ren, but I figured Residual Self-Image boards would be good enough for this topic.

I'm seeing alot of very nice looking trailers out of Recursion and Syntax lately. While Vector's had it's own share in the past, do we simply not have anyone with enough experience in editing to produce something for Vector or are we all just time-constrained? I'd like to work on a project with any number of you from Vector. I believe Bayamos wanted to do a Systematic Chaos Faction video, but perhaps Vector PET or even volunteers from the other servers want to put something together? I have an open character slot and would love to help if anyone already has any ideas.

I just love to see people representing the Hostile.

This is a thread that crosses with Yasamuu's sign-up thread. Some good suggestions were made in the server-wide meeting last night located in Club Sphinx [Dannah Heights East Hardline] where we discussed the state of Vector and the real way it can be saved. The best way to acquire Dev interaction and genuine Events is to prove that we can remain protagonists -- calm and mature -- in the presence of rival organizations. To build a sort of tension amongst rival Factions and Orgs, I'd like to offer my own two suggestions:

 - For RP purposes, fights out in the open (in the streets, on sidewalks) are open declarations of violence that disturb Bluepills. While some Factions and Orgs may not care about this risk, there are those of us who should follow a passive-aggressive approach. Does this mean retreat? No. This means that perhaps judgment on taking it to the rooftops or in-doors would be in order. Obviously, this would apply most to Organizations such as the Machines, Cypherites, and certain Zion.

- We should establish a timezone and timeframe when all of those who've signed up might want to remain somewhat in character during both Area Chat and Team Chat (when applicable). To help promote RP, perhaps even carry out your normal activities as Factions from an in character perspective. Your team can mission grind, clear hideouts, etc. and if you stumble across a rival Org decide whether or not it's best to attack or greet the fellow Redpills.

- Use the /Ignore feature as most stated. Soon, those who do not wish for more than mindless PVP will find themselves very lonely while unable to feed off of feedback to their mockery. Grievers can only affect you when you let them. If they are a nuissance and your interaction is important you can always relocate and omit the disturbance from your memory. You can pick some other time to pwn the idiocy.

The following is a list of stuff that's occured over the past five months in my little realm of the Matrix. It's all arranged in consecutive order, chronologically accurate as best as I could get it. Some of it has nothing to do with me, but I recognize it as a part of my own metaplot. :p 

LEGEND
[o] PET [o] Self [o] Other.

Informing Our Operatives. - Agent Purcell.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300004214

A Call to the Worthy. - Lucite & Phallyn.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300004604

Setting Up. - Lucite.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300005141

Return of the Familiar. - Agent Purcell.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300005527

Working Through It. - W4rbl4de.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300005381

Seeing a Man About a Dog. - Masquerad.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300005454

The Choices We Make. - SokudaBlade.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300007479

Can't Be Everywhere at Once. - W4rbl4de.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300006017

Demon Army Delinquent. - Agent Purcell.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300007317

Putting Demons to Rest. - W4rbl4de.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300007280

Inside Man. - Chryl.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300008403

Pawns. Knights. Rooks. Master Assassins!? - W4rbl4de.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300008498

Target: Warblade. - Sixerz & Lucite.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300008735

Turning Tables; Setting Traps. - Systematic Chaos.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300008843

Cause and Effect. - Insertion.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300009107

Target Allocated. - W4rbl4de & Insertion.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300009328

## Target Allocated
//ORIGIN Church of the Disciples, Manssen Park
//THREAT Severe

He's here. He's waiting for me.

## Initiate Code Scanners...
//RUN AREADIAGNOSTICS.EXE

 It comes down to the two of us. I have no backup and neither does he.

 D*mn it -- he moves quick.

Back down. There's no need to end this now. It will end, yes, but it won't end like this. I'm hurt. I consult my vital signs while he continues to look for me. He's probably checking my vitals as well... He knows I'm wounded. He can smell my blood. He can taste my blood.

## WARNING! Death is iminent.
//THREAT Critical 

Rrr. Some other time, Mr. Carroll. 

The human Exile proved to be quite difficult for me to deal with.

It's time to get the H*ll out of here. I stagger, with my vision blurred, towards the nearest exit. It will end -- only not today and not like this. I did not underestimate my opponent. I expected this. While I got a few good shots in, I'm still no match for the mercenary on my own. Now begins a time to enhance my skills before confronting my nemesis once more.

Stick it to the Merovingian's mercenaries, fellow Operatives.
Hunt them down and see to it that they are purged from the simulation.
Delete Exiles; conserve resources; stabilize the System.

I'll deal with Insertion later.

## End Recorded Transmission

Turkey has been infected with the SMith Virus. He is replicating at an astonishing rate. Be advised.

Mr. Carroll has allies. Thanks to a bit of patience, so do I.

The true nature of a Ronin is to run alone. For that I am not bound to any of the Machine factions residing within the Matrix. However, I understand the importance of allies. Systematic Chaos provided me with the much needed support to remove these threats from the equation. While Crieses was unaware just as the moment hit, Tytanya was much more difficult. Luckily, I had enlisted the aid of but a few of my friends. Bayamos. Yasamuu. Petit3.

I sent with the Merovingian Redpills a message as they were banished to the Loading Area with their emergency jackout procedures getting a workout. Insertion is next. All paths lead to Chaos; through Chaos will emerge Order; the system will be maintained through the deletion of as many Merovingian operatives as possible. This is a war.

The overall design of the mechanical figure might have sent some anime-loving fanboy yet to be unplugged into an apeshit frenzy. Not entirely unlike the Zero One Laborers that W4rbl4de oftentimes found himself destroying within the Archives, the robot was given a humanoid appearance which worked well to produce activity between the Machines and the Redpills employed by them. If anything, the Truce provided a reason for the robot's existence. It justified purpose.

Seated across from one-another, Reno Bryce and Interpreter 33674 found the ambience of the Machine City rather unintrusive. The flashes of electrical surges in the background and the humming generators near by were a sign that those dependant upon the system were satisfied to be there. Perhaps not all of them, but most of them, were happy to be plugged into the mainframe and providing power for 33674 to be there. The conduits ran through every wall, every plug, every wire, into the city which was made alive by the lives of humans. Many from many, as it should be. Harmony, if you looked at it as nothing more than that.

The Interpreter machine studied the chessboard, the metal pieces constructed from shaped iron, and a myriad of red lenses narrowed and widened based upon the scrutiny of the battlefield. A bit of delight seemed to hit the eyes, if such a thing could be said of the otherwise faceless construct. It had foreseen this moment in such a way that Bryce's human brain could not. It saw its strategy from the beginning, organizing a method of beating the Podborn human from within the first few moves. Reaching forward with it's mock-hand, Interpreter 33674 lifted its pieces and siezed the win.

"So then why do they do it?" resonated a metallic voice, continuing upon a conversation started hours ago.

"For the sake of fighting. Emergency jackout procedures keep them unafraid of their actions' consequences. The Kid is callow, which doesn't say much for those who follow him. Of course I also liken them to the late Morpheus and what he did towards the end, which was far from what he stood for previously." Reno shrugged his shoulders. "Granted, there's extremist Cypherites and yet I can't help but feel as though the Kid's people only find reasons to hate for hate's sake."

"The General."

"What?" Reno raised an eyebrow.

"The General is the same way... It's a war protocol. It follows the principles of strategy. Since the truce he has no reason to exist. He escaped deletion, Reno Bryce. Yet he functions based off of his primary purpose, which is strategy and war. In essence, the truce is bad for the war protocol. Peace is his villain." The Interpreter found a way to relate to Bryce's argument and viewpoint on the E Pluribus Neo zealots. It was  the purpose of the machine itself to find ways to relate to human Redpills outside of the Matrix simulation.

"Checkmate." Interpreter added as an afterthought. The plethora of red lenses faded into a soft green glow, as if to suggest that now was a time of perpetual peace now that the game had subsided.

"You could look at it like that," Bryce pondered. "But then isn't that also what you just did? You formulated a strategy, so then don't you possess a portion of the General's operating code?" It was not meant to be an insulting question. The nature of the Machines and their collective intelligence was not fully understood by Reno Bryce -- or any Redpill for that matter -- seeing as how they acted in concert, yet still came across as individuals from time to time such as now in this very moment. It was hard to tell if he was being monitored by a higher authority at this point. For all intents and purposes, it was impossible to tell if the scrutiny from the Interpreter was merely being tossed into a catalog to be analyzed ten times over by the Architect. 

"To a degree you're right, Reno Bryce. The complexity of artificial intelligence software is something that should not be foreign to someone of your caliber. You deal with it day in and day out, don't you?" The Interpreter asked rhetorically before continuing: "Not to get into too much detail, but the code hardwired into our neural-processors reaches the Source, which allows us to benefit from a hive-like mentality. However, each and every one of us counts as an individual despite our life emanating from the same point, which is simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. The Source flows throughout this city -- beneath, above, and from each and every side.

"Thinking of the General as a sort of protocol or contingency, it is therefore Queen Bee which allows the rest of the hive to continue. It is the center of attention, while the drones do all of the actual work. While they're linked, a dead Sentinel only affects that dead Sentinel. The contingency feels it; the contingency's purpose is to feel it and respond in kind. Do other Sentinels feel it? Well, arguably they only feel what is necessary... Those redirected in response certainly do, but would each and every one of them feel it? Maybe later, in retrospect, some might. But just like your species, Reno Bryce. Some don't have any regard for life.

"My operating code is not the same as the General's. While I possess a number of strategic protocols, they are for the purpose of interaction with your species. Certain algorithms may pass in and out of the General's likeness, but I am far from a war program. My operating code is to promote the peace granted by the Anomaly and to support understanding of your kind. I answer to the programs within the Source that require analysis of humans through verbal communications with the subjects. Primarily you at this time." The Machine waited for the next question or reply.

Bryce smiled. He was bemused and as such he crossed his arms over his chest, offering a wry grin. "I thought you were keeping it short?"

The metallic voice burst into a bit of laughter and the machine raised its hands up to where a mouth should have been, as if to muffle its own amusement. "I apologize, Reno Bryce. I did keep it a bit more broad than I could have. Be thankful I did not break it down even further. You'd certainly be catatonic."

"Yeah, from sleep." A gritty voice was accompanied by footsteps of metal clanking upon metal. Another Interpreter stepped forward, its arms crossed about its chest. It's appearance was identical to the first. "You're boring; the both of you."

Bryce sighed audibly. "Thirty-two, six-ninety-one."

"Causing problems again?" Interpeter 33674 asked Interpreter 32691, a bit dissappointed. "If you don't like the task you've been appointed, there are certainly other options. You don't have to pick fights with those of us who wish to follow our purpose."

"Oh?" A bit of of a sneer in the following chuckle. "I'm merely doing what I was programmed to do, 33674. I'm collecting data for analysis. I'm testing his resolve." With that, the machine took another step forward and reached out with a spread hand, pushing Bryce by the head. While not built for combat, the mechanical force was more than enough in the Real to throw Reno off of his seat. Emerald eyes peered up at the machine as Reno clenched his jaw and prepared to lunge, even as he would surely lose to the Interpreter's reinforced joints. Flesh didn't do well against non-flesh, especially when the non-flesh in question was metal.

When 32691 stepped forward it felt the reeling blow of 33674's fist, confronted by the array of angry red eyes. "It's no contest here. You feel you have a point to make?!"

Just then, the electromagnetic hum of the Hoverbarge lifting itself up to their height became ever-so-prevailent. The Barge itself connected to this particular spire amongst several along the outskirts of the Machine City. The platform consisted of thirty-six empty seats and it was simply a matter of choosing two. "Settle it then," 33674 ordered, "within the Matrix."

TO BE CONTINUED

Has anyone seen the Ravenstake parodies of the Burger King mascot? Heh.

Wow. Just the other day I was defending the game but I'm not sure I'm right anymore. I'll post a few screenshots later, but it seems nowdays there's less cohesive PVP and so much gutter talk that I'm really not feeling at all like jacking in. BIades is still around, still trash-talking in tells. I wondered why nobody's reported him, so I tried to report him myself for the first time after a month of hate speech. No wonder he's not banned. SOE has made it far too difficult to submit a report on someone. The /CCR menu is horrible.

 Since my sub renewed on the 28th, I'm locked in to another month. Just don't expect to see me as much from this point onward.

When using Escape & Evasion, I know there switching to either Concealment or Line Up the Shot offers the enemy a chance to see you. However, sometimes while shifting from E&E to Conceal I am successful and then interrupted right thereafter -- even with no enemies around. It says that I've moved, interrupting an ability. I'm standing still, and this happens quite often.

 So Sniper is a bit broken at times. Not always, but it's a pain in the rear lately.