Stumbling out of the marketplace, you emerge from the dark, cramped tunnels of the market and into a clean, well lit RED-corridor.  As you turn and look back, you see no sign of the exit you just came through that goes to the market.  Just as well, you think with a shudder about the slimy merchants.  But at least some of you have some new equipment to test out when you get a chance.

You notice on your PDC that you have three hours and 40 minutes left in your mission schedule.  You hear sudden shouting from just around a nearby bend in the corridor.

"Help!"  It's a frightened voice.  "Someone help me!"

A second voice--this one mechanical and sinister:  "Nasty!  Dirty!  Filthy!  Mr. Bubbles will remove you from his list!"

Tension Level:  5
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Fri 14 Mar 2008.

Dexter looks over at Ginger for leadership and mentions laconically, "Sounds like our first mission task is calling."

She sighs.  "Our first mission task is calling?" she repeats.  Then she moves forward to peek around the corner and see what's going on.

Rounding the corner, you see a GREEN Clearance citizen in a PLC uniform being mopped violently by a standard scrubot.

"Lets play a game! First one to deactivatve the scrubot wins!" CL says. Making sure everyone has fun on this mission was his mission of course.

"Hmm well it seems that crazy guy that tried to blow us all up was right about something" Vixcis knowningly asserts herself "Hmm the hygine officer should probably talk to it or fix it or something, I mean it is a cleaning thing isn't it?

Ginger says, "Yeah, sure.  But it might be a good time to try out our new weapons."  She is hesitant to shoot before anyone else though.

Dexter heads over to the bot to have a look at it.  He is as careful as possible.

CL readies his Model Slugthrower, "Okay, so we take turns in order of name. Looks like I'm first if we get to shoot things. If you go against the rules, no one will have fun!"

"I dunno sugar buns, seems risky...we don't want to hurt the illustrious GREEN citizen, perhaps we should use someone as bait and lure the bot away first, then we can shoot it." Vixcis says loudly almost as if she wanted the GREEN to hear her sensibility

Since Dexter is running into the line of fire, Ginger holds her fire.  "I can't shoot it if you stand in the way."

You round the corner with your guns, and Dexter approaches the scrubot.  As he gets near, the scrubot turns and sees you approaching menacingly...unless that's just your normal expression.

The scrubot immediately flees down the corridor before Dexter can touch it, very fast for one of its kind.  It rolls down the corridor in flight and out to...*SMASH*...a large transbot runs it over, smashing it to bits.

After his mopping experience, the GREEN citizen stands up and brushes himself off.  "My name is Marco-G-BUD.  Thank you so much for your heroism.  I want to reward you.  I have no hard currency, but I'll authorize a 25 credit reward to each of you.  Just give me your names, and I'll transfer the money to your accounts.  Beam me your ME identity from your PDC and I'll put the transfer through."

(You understand this is the normal way everyone in Alpha Complex pays money to anyone, at least legally.  It is standard procedure and thus safe.)

"Done!" Cl says as he gives Marco his name and beams him his ME identity, "Thanks."

Ginger also complies.  "I could sure recoup some of that money I spent on supplies.  I'm practically broke."  She sighs and forwards the information.

"Glad to be of service to a fellow citizen," Dexter replies as he forwards his information.  "Did our recording officer get footage of the haywire bot?"

"Of course, I'm always filming...you may not notice it but Ive got my eyes all over" Vixcis says while complying with the green citizen.

"Anyone else want a reward?" your thankful rescuee asks.  "Really, it's the least I can do."  He pats down his jumpsuit.

Last chance to get the 25 credit reward.

"Look," he says, "I'm on my way to SPD Sector's R&D Demo Laboratory where me and my boss, Andrea-B-OCK, will review new candidates for my PLC firm's product line.  You're welcome to come along and apply as candidates.  I hear you Troubleshooters just LOVE handling new R&D prototypes."

Dexter looks Vixcis over for signs of recording equipment that is supposedly "always filming" as he listens to Marco's offer.  "Sounds interesting, but I dunno.  We're supposed to be on a mission."  Dexter glances at Ginger.  "Maybe we should finish our current business first?"

"Finish our first mission first?"  She sighs.  "As the equipment guy, I think you'd be first in line, but yes, I suppose you're right about finishing our mission, although R&D sounds fun.  Our happiness officer would probably want us to have fun, right?"

Vixcis smiles as she notices Dexter trying to find her...equipment...and then turns to the GREEN citizen. "I'm sure we would all love to go, I mean what if your new product actully helps our mission, and I wouldn't want to turn down an illustrious offer from such a kind person such as yourself"

Marco appears excited to have new victims volunteers for R&D experimentation.

A voice at the end of the hall interrupts your discussion.

"Did you get it?" an enthusiastic voice calls.

"I got it, baby!  Did you see how that scrubot smashed under its wheels?  We'll make prime time for that."

You turn and see an eager-looking YELLOW-Clearance citizen with a clipboard under his arm.  He sees you and says happily:  "There you guys are!  I've been looking for you everywhere!"

He's wearing an HPD&MC vest and a production cap for the reality vid series "Shooters."  His cameraman is nearby.

The producer gives each of you a firm, friendly handshake.  "I'm Harry-Y-LGT-3, your casting director.  Glad t'meet you.  Trouble finding the studio?" he says, then waves it off casually.  "I figured as much.  People get lost around here all the time.  I'm a produce for 'Shooters,' the hit reality-vid series about real Troubleshooters--not that scripted Teela stuff!  I put in an audition request for a new Troubleshooter team this morning.  When you didn't show up, I came looking for you."

He points to his cameraman before you can even open your mouth and gestures for him to roll.  The cameraman introduces himself as Trevor, a RED Clearance citizen.

The producer looks through his notes and says, "Okay, so you guys are...let's see...looking for missing fissionable material?  Yeah, okay, we can work with that.  Follow me back to my offices."

He gestures for you to follow him to the production offices.

Dexter is now thoroughly confused and it shows on his face.

"What is going on?" CL asks because he is just as confused as Dexter.

Marco has left during the interruption of the reality TV series producer.  You have certainly heard of the Shooters reality show and it might be exciting to be on the show, and you would become vid stars.  You remember how good the last season was, with the ex-IntSec agent who wrestled with revealing his mutant nature, and the CPU clerk who discovered he was a cyborg assassin from the future.

You ask if you are sure they've go the right people, and Harry Y says:  "Of course!  This is your service service.  It's written right here.  Let's go see the production team."  He's waving you forward.  "What we do," he explains, "is to accompany you on your current mission, getting the behind-the-scenes point of view.  We'll try to stay out of your way.  We just need to interview you for a few minutes first and make sure you have your Personal Story Augmentation Templates--your PSAT's.  This is the HPD&MC makes sure the reality vid-stars are 'real' enough to be suffessful, and...welll...illusion and just a bit of fiction helps us establish that."

He's starting to walk, assuming you're following him.  "You see, today's vid audience needs more than snappy dialogue and visual effects.  They want rich, ocmplex charaters with compelling personalities.  A little drama, a little flair, a little moral lesson.  Because most citizens have the personality of a Vita-Yum bar, this helps, and we'll provide you with the props.  Are you with me?"

He turns to see if you are following.  "If you have any problems with this, we could take it before the Computer, but I don't think that will turn out very well.  And since I'm YELLOW clearance, I wouldn't want you to get hit with an insubordination charge or anything.  Any further questions?"

He starts to walk toward the production office again.

"Um, what are the props?" CL asks and then squeaks and hides behind Vicsis.

"It depends on which template you adopt for yourself.  I will give you the details back at the office.  The good news is that we pay you for using the templates and a good-sized per-mission cash bonus if played well enough."

[OOC: Essentially, you will be roleplaying your characters roleplaying another personality.]

The PDC's for CL, Ginger, Dexter and Vicsis beep with the arrival of a message.

Vicsis gasps dramaticly when she gets her messege and looks around all shifty like she knows something about you now. And then suddenly it's gone and she smiles and moves in closer to the producer. "I think it's a wonderful idea, I mean what's the harm in being video taped while we compleate our mission, You know if your looking for a leading lady type..." Vixcis says and puts an arm around Ginger "Then good old Ginger here...can vouch that I would be perfect!!" Vicsis moves in even closer to the producer. "And just to let you know as recording officer...a big strong YELLOW citizen such as yourself can always have access to any of my...tapes"

CL reads the e-mail and his eyes pop open. He then says to Vicsis, "Bet ya one credit he has already seen all of your tapes."

Harry takes you back to the producer's office, where he begins reviewing hte current set of personae they have ready for use in the field.  The production offices has a giant neon sign inside that says "Shooters."

Tension Level 8

"Rags to Riches," he says.  "You invented a way to reduce inventory management costs 20% PLC-wide and were rewarded with the single largest bonus check in the history of Alpha Complex.  Money is no object for you now.  Pays 50 in an advance, plus a bonus at completion."

He tells you the others as well:

Haunted:  Your best friend from the Junior Citizens creche was killed in a tragic vat-drowning accident and you believe it was your fault.  The guilt eats at you constantly.  Heavy drama at its best!  50 advance, plus bonus.

Rising Star:  "You've been practicing your thera--your, uh, thermi--what is this name?  We'll work on the name, name'll be great, trust me--your theremintar for years, waiting for that big break, but just as you were about to make the big time, you realized you needed to do your duty, so you became a Troubleshooter!"  100 advance, plus bonus.

Man and Machine:  "We're trying to put forward a more positive cyborg role-model.  No more grim robot assassins from the future!  You're upbeat...funny, even.  A wacky, unthreatening cyborg sidekick!  100 advance, plus bonus."

Joe Friday:  "Internal Security has a bad rep as a bunch of sneaks who hide in the shadows.  Not you!  You're proud to announce your IntSec affiliation.  Show that badge with pride as you stick to the facts."  100 advance, plus bonus.

Doc Mania:  You were experimenting with high energy vat physics when a freak accident gave you powers--super powers, not mutant ones!  But it also rendered you vulnerable to algaeic bisulfide.  150 advance, plus bonus.

Grizzled Vet:  "Your experiences in the war against Beta Complex have left you scarred.  Grim-n-gritty, you know?  What you saw in the war makes your Troubleshooter duties seem like a vacation by comparison!"  200 advance, plus bonus.

Wolveboy:  "Get this:  Vulture Squadron Bravo 9 found you in the ruins of the Outdoors, where you were raised by a vicious radioactive wolve!  Now, despite your savage upbringing, you try to fit into our perfect society.  I should warn you in advance...This one is a toughie and HPD&MC has never found anyone who was up to the task of playing the role."  You have no idea what a wolve (or a wolf, for that matter, is), much more than a foggy notion.  Is that the one that barks and fetches?  300 advance, plus bonus.

"Go ahead and pick your persona while we wait for the rest of my crew to arrive," Harry says.

While you think about the personae, Harry introduces you to the mobile film crew.  Trevor-R-HNL-2 (the "cameraman") and Brian-R-PFD-5 (the "FX Guy") will follow you on your mission, getting behind-the-scenes point-of-view.  Harry himself will also follow and will interview you from time to time on the mission.

Trevor says to Vicsis, "I've dealt with many recording officers, and I know they can be touchy about who documents the mission and how it's done.  So don't worry, my job is to document the Troubleshooters...not the mission.  I wouldn't dream of interering with the official record of the mission.  Let's all just work together to make sure you guys get what you need...and I get what I need."  He winks to all of you as he says this last, as though a small bribe might go a long way in determining whether he films anyone committing treason.  His tone also suggests that he's dealt with recording officers who have probably expressed...maybe through physical attrition...their unhappiness with having him film too.

Brian carries satchels full of what appears to be high tech and explosives gear, but he won't let you come near him or look in the bag.

While you are waiting for the crew and picking your personae, Harry holds out the microphone and asks Dexter, "So what is your favorite thing to eat on a mission?"

"I'll be the grizzled vet!" CL says and runs over lines that he has seen in popular movies such as 'Omega for Beta' and 'The Last Beta'.

"You'll have no worries from me Mr. Big producer man" Vixcis says giving him a smile and a wink. She reviews all the options for personas and then decideds almost immediatley. "I'll go with the rising star...it's the obvious choice for me"

"Is that because its ironic?" CL snickers to himself.

Ginger sighs as she thinks over her choices.  "I'll be the haunted one," she says at last.  "Oh, and my favorite food is crunchy tym algae chips!"

"Great!" Harry says.  "Your props are on the way with the crew.  What about the rest of you?"

Dexter thinks for a minute, heads for the Grizzled Vet display, but falls back as CL rushes in to take it.  Dexter reconsiders, then heads towards the Doc display.

Harry looks at Gunther, Peter and Rob.  "What about you guys?  You want me to just assign you one?"

OOC:  To move forward, I will assign remaining personae if not chosen soon.

OOC: Moving along...

Have to go...I'll finish editing this post when I get a chance.  Sorry.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:02, Fri 04 Apr 2008.

OOC: Sorry for delays.  I have been ill.  That dang computer virus!  :)
You get your assigned or chosen roles for the reality series, depending on the case:

CL gets Grizzled Vet:  "Okay, your problem is that you are 'missing a limb,'" Harry says.  CL's left arm is bent and tied behind his back.  The production crew gives him hideous scar makeup that makes him very unpleasant to look at.  Then they inject him when his head is turned and explain, "This will just give you random 'war' flashbacks."  Harry says, "You'll get a higher bonus the more you can make your war experiences relevant to the current situation."

Ginger gets the Haunted One:  "When cued, you must pretend to see the ghost of your dead friend.  Our FX guy wrote some 'restless shade' multicoder software; they'll composite it into the rest of the footage in editing.  The 'ghost' tends to 'appear' when it's really inconvenient.  Like during fights and chases.  Bonus is based on the tragedy and believability of the guilt displayed by you."

Vicsis gets the Rising Star:  "You've been practicing your thera-- your,uh, thermi--what is this name?  We'll work on the name, name'll be great, trust me--your theremintar for years, waiting for the big break, but just as you were about to make the big time, you realized you needed to do your duty, so you became a Troubleshooter."

The production crew hands you a "theremintar"--basically, a guitar like theremin--and a bunch of groupies, all INFRARED.  Bonus is based on how thoroughly you live a life of rock-n-roll!

Dexter gets Doc Mania:  "You were experimenting with high energy vat physics when a freak accident gave you powers--super powers, not mutant ones! But it also rendered you vulnerable to algaeic bisulfide."

The production team brings along a small mobile crane which will be used to simulate flight with hooked cables attached to your clothing, and superstrength by attaching hooks to whatever you want to lift.  They're working on pyrokinesis as well, using a modified slugthrower with napalm ammo, but it's still a little dicey.  The vulnerability is simulated using nausea gas pellets which the FX man throws in front of you.  "Oh, no, look out, htat bad guy has algaeic bisulfide!" he says in a terrible acting voice.  Bonus is paid on impressive use of superpowers and manic bravery.

Gunther gets Man and Machine:  The production crew begins applying about 20 kilograms of glue on cyborg makeup and prosthetics.  Some of it is electrified and might shock the wearer.  The prosthetics look just real enough to induce fear and revulsion in most citizens who see them.  Bonus is paid on how "wacky" and "unthreatening" you are.

Peter gets Wolveboy:  "You don't wear armor, or even a uniform.  Just a loincloth.  You don't use any weapons more advanced than an unpowered hand weapon.  Also, you're pre-verbal, communicating in only grunts and hand gestures.  This is one bonus you will earn the hard way!"

Rob gets Joe Friday:  "You get an 'all access door pass' that supposedly opens any door in Alpha Complex.  It doesn't really, but if you give advance warning, the FX guy can get most doors open if necessary.  Then we just film the door opening in response to the badge.  Keep in mind, we disclaim any responsibility based on which door you decide to open.  The bonus is paid on how often you step into a touchy situation with the revelation that you're Internal Security!"

Once you're all set and characters ready, Harry says, "Plot?  Oh, yeah, we got that too.  Let's see...you're looking for missing fissionable material?  Yeah, okay, we can work with that." He thinks for a moment.  "Have you been to the reactor yet?  Do you have the contact information for your decomissioning overseer?"  Looking at your blank stares, he says, "No?"

OOC: Remember, the basic introduction to each character type is in my post above.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:33, Tue 08 Apr 2008.

Dexter is looking more confused by the minute and raises a hand for permission to speak to the director.

(waits for acknowledgement)

"Uh, I thought you said you were just going to film us while we do our assigned mission.  Tracking missing fissionable material was not the original assignment we were given.  It is very confusing to get conflicting orders from higher level citizens."

"Yeah but what was our original mission? who knows?"
*Vixcis puts on her theremintar and gives it a stroke...a horrible noise come out of it thats almost deafing, Vixcis's groupies all cheer and shriek bouncing with excitment*
"What if it was to track some missing fissonable material and this is just the illustrious computers way of getting it done?"

"Ouch hey what did you prick me with that for!" he then looks of into the distance and says in a gruff voice, "Just like in Beta. You changed from being a soldier, just another troubleshooter. Some men doubted the computer. Those men died."

Ginger falls into character after a sigh.  "I should never have told her to retrieve my slugthrower from the vat.  Her death was all my fault."  She holds a dramatic arm to her forehead, ala Scarlett O'Hara.  "Who cares about fissionable material when my best friend died because of me?  And without a clone!"  She grabs Vicsis by both arms and screams with emotion, "WITHOUT A CLONE!"

Then she immediately calms down and says with a smile, "How's that?"

"I like it!"
Vixcis hums to herself
"Without a clone
I should have know
I'd end up dead decaying
and alone!!!!"
Vixcis screechs this last line jumps up in the air and wiggles her tounge

"Beta scum sreamed like you." CL says gruffly and pretends to be larger than he is.

When Dexter asks his question about the mission, Harry gets a confused look on his face.  He opens his mouth to answer, but just then an INFRARED production assistant rushes up and says:

"Do we have a forensically trained Troubleshooter team ready for a shoot?  Some scrubot killed a vat shift supervisor over in SDK Sector and we can get first crack at the crime scene if we move fast."

"Anyone of you forensically trained and ready for a short detour involving scrubots?" Harry asks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:28, Tue 15 Apr 2008.

Dexter perks up.  "That's what I was told that our mission was!  I'm all for it, assuming the boss agrees, of course.  And I suppose adding some acting on the side wouldn't hurt."  Dexter hurries to put on his costume.

Harry looks relieved.  "Great!  You can get to that fissionable matter mission later."  He looks to Ginger, the team leader, for confirmation about doing the mission.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Tue 15 Apr 2008.

Ginger nods...after sighing.  "Yes, we are absolutely ...uh... friendily... frenetically... forensically (yeah, that's it) trained.  Count us in!"