ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

Some things to scare Virtual Adepts.

Bugged Processors (RISPs) (Corr. 3, Forces 2)

Iteration X invented these, but their main user is The New World Order. The bugged processors, or "Remote Intercept Standard Processors", RISPs, are apparently normal processors. They look like a 68000, a 80386 or any other standard processor. They work completely the same way. But each RISP has an individual identification code. When the Technocrats send this code using their sophisticated communications technology, the RISP will respond from anywhere in the world. It will immediately link up to a Technocrat computer, which will emulate the processor. The user will never suspect anything, but all information passing through the processor will appear in the Union's computers. The Technocrats can take control of every machine with a RISP inside.

The New World Order has used RISP technology to infiltrate most government and military systems. Almost any information stored in these systems can be retrieved, records can be altered or deleted. Iteration X has begun experimenting with sending not only information into the RISPs, but instead using the link to send high voltage currents into the computer, destroying the computer and killing the operator.

Fortunately, the technomancers have not yet infiltrated everything with RISPs. While they certainly would like to have a RISP in every piece of machinery on Earth, it would not be very useful. The amount of information would be too much to handle, even with the biggest computers in Autochthonia. Even today there are millions of RISPs, and most of them sit unused in personal computers, washing machines and stereos. Most of these have been simple tests of the technology, using infiltrators at Intel and Motorola to spread the RISPs. Since the technomancers only have a very general idea of what each RISP is used for and where each RISP is, they have not yet been used for anything.

Another problem is security. The paranoids in The New World Order do not like the thought of having RISPs everywhere. While they certainly would like to have total access to every computer in the world, they are suspicious of Iteration X. What if the Iterators use the RISPs to infiltrate the New World Order? Or even more horrible, what if the Virtual Adepts got wind of the RISPs and used them to infiltrate the Technocracy's networks?

There also exists RIMUs (Remote Intercept Memory Units) and AISP (Autonomous Intercept Standard Processors). The AISPs are designed to constantly scan for certain patterns, like the words "Virtual Adept", and contact the main computers if this appears. Unfortunately, the AISPs are not very advanced yet, and can only scan for very simple patterns (they would fail against "Vrtual Adpt"). Iteration X scientists are working on this problem.

RISP Scanner (Corr. 3, Forces 2)

This is a small device, looking like a calculator (often camouflaged as such). It will send a signal to a certain RISP which respond with a signal. The scanner will use this information to track the distance to the RISP. Some scanners can send signals to every RISP in the vicinity, thus finding unexpected RISPS. Using these scanners, New World Order is tracking interesting computers to find their owners. Even if they only find an uninteresting RISP in a stereo, they will note its position and enter an identification number into their gigantic database of known RISPs. You can never tell what use it could have one day.

Pattern Recognition Expert System (Spirit 4)

The expert system is a small AI, designed to search computers for certain patterns. They are used to track people, find intruders or anything else in the area of pattern recognition. For example, the Union wants to know if someone is a mage. The expert system immediately begins to collect all available information, comparing it to known mages and making assumptions on its own. If the person has been seen with known mages, has won the lottery 100% more than average, has an almost perfect medical record and is known to be regarded as an eccentric, then the expert will inform the user that there is an 88% chance for the person to have an Awakened Avatar, and 65% chance for him to be a true mage, given this information.

These Expert systems are constantly tracking certain people in whom the Technocracy has become interested, noticing if something odd happens. They also search for intruders in their systems, nodes, breaches of the Gauntlet and general weirdness.

New World Network (Artifact)

This is the New World Order main computer network. It contains not only technomantic computers, but also government, military and commercial computers infiltrated by the New World Order. Using this network the Convention can quickly access almost all information about someone or something.

It is a deeply paranoid network, filled with security checks and expert systems constantly on their guard for intruders. All information is encrypted. The whole network is slow and cumbersome, but very secure. Still, many technomancers suspect that there may be trapdoors or security holes left by Virtual Adepts.

Inside the Network the user can search for information about anything, but every access is logged. Expert systems scan for users who display unusual interests, especially in areas outside their normal work. If the New World Order find an intruder, they immediately send the Men In Black to the intruders location, send net-spiders into his computer and reorganize the areas accessed. If the intruder has found names or addresses for agents, they are immediately moved or eliminated ("No security is better than compromised security" is an old New World Order saying).