>>>>>[ Hey, chummers! I pulled this data out of Mitsuhama's system on a recent run. This is really extreme stuff. I've lived in Denver (excuse me, I mean the Front Range Free Zone) most of my life and have cruised the Matrix for a lot of years, but I've never heard of this group before. I found this sitting in a hot little Red 8 security datastore.]<<<<< - Leo (02:12:46/6-2-55)Date: 5/12/55
>>>>>[Komatsu Hiroki is Mitsuhama Denver's president, and Haida Kenshiro is head of security.]<<<<< - Leo (02:13:05/6-2-55)As you requested, we have spent the past week conducting an intensive interrogation of the intruder caught at our Golden facility. The interrogation has ben performed using classic disorientation techniques, followed by truth drugs under a high-intensity veracity examiner.
The subject is identified as John Redhawk, a physical adept. He is not a typical shadowrunner. Rather, he is a high-ranking member of an environmental group called Nova Gaia. The following report is the compilation of the information on Nova Gaia that we were able to extract from him before he was killed while trying to escape.
Nova Gaia is a magical organization with goals related to environmentalism. It is a moderate group compared to Greenwar. This means that while it doesn't advocate force as the primary means of stopping polluters, the group is not reluctant to use force if its peaceful moves are thwarted. The group's motto, "Iron Wood, Iron Hands," is a reference to preserving nature and a willingess to fight to do so (and to those adepts with what has been categorized as the Killing Hands power, no doubt).
Nova Gaia is predominantly made up of physical adepts, although some members are mages and shamans. Most members are of Native American descent, but there are representatives of other ethnic backgrounds, metahumans among them. The following information defines Nova Gaia.
Name: Nova Gaia
Type: Dedicated Group
Members: 50+ (Estimated at 3 mages, 7 shamans and 40 physical
adepts. The highest ranking members are Lynx of Mist, a cat shaman, and
Dark, a physical adept.)
Limitations: None; accepts any mage, shaman or adept who meets the
strictures
Strictures: Belief (Environmentalist), Exclusive Membership,
Fraternity, Secrecy
Resources/Dues: Luxury. Dues currently zero. All expenses of Nova
Gaia members are
paid by a patron that is known only by members of initiate grade five and above.
Donations from this patron amount to one million nuyen each month. This patron must
also have considerable clout in the NAN, as Nova Gaia maintains a large retreat in the
mountains west of Denver. The main house is in the CAS sector of Denver, a large estate
in Cherry Hills.
Offices (covert fronts) are maintained in most major cities in North America and in the capitals of several other contries overseas. These offices are staffed by hirelings who believe in Nova Gaia's precepts; magical means are typically used to screen staffers, eliminating those who are less than sincere in their convictions.
Nova Gaia's (meta)human resources include access to all professions and archetypes. This includes street samurai, deckers and riggers (although polluting one's body is frowned upon), as well as mage and shaman types who are not members but who sympathize with Nova Gaia. In addition, the option of hiring shadowrunners always exists.
Ritual materials, hermetic libraries, general libraries and other materials and services are routinely available to members at no charge when on Nova Gaian business, and goods are otherwise offered to members at a 50% reduced rate. Members may sleep and eat at either the main house or retreat at any time and at no charge.
Customs: Members typically defers to those at higher levels of initiation, although there is no stricture of obedience. There is a belief in freedom of individuality and religion, as long as Nova Gaia's objectives are met.
The best way to compare Nova Gaia and Greenwar is to contrast them. Greenwar is a terrorist organization that makes outrageous demands and then executes terrorist raids when those demands are not met. Greenwar seeks out media coverage. Greenwar is a destructive element for our times, no matter how lofty its expressed goals of environmentalism. If all of Greenwar's objectives were met, it would dissolve and its members would no doubt join other terrorist gangs.
>>>>>[Greenwar will never fall! Greenwar's objectives of restoring the environment worldwide will (12.5 Mp deleted by SysOp).]<<<<< - Narwhal (05:55:33/6-8-55)Nova Gaia, on the other hand, is an organization that builds for the future. Nova Gaia founds educational programs on environmental issues, including family planning, conservation, proper agricultural techniques and recycling. It supports grants for environmental research, both mundane and magical. Nova Gaia funds reforestation projects worldwide, as well as river and ocean clean up. The group helps small businesses develop and install pollution controls.
>>>>>[NG sounds too good to be true. They must be up to something really twisted somewhere behind the scenes.]<<<<< - Ravan (18:55:32/6-19-55)With small businesses, Nova Gaia allocates its resources to resolving ecological and pollution problems by selecting a project within its means to effect a change. The typical approach is to make a proposal to the responsible parties, to help them eliminate the causes of their pollution and to clean up existing pollution. The polluting parties are then given a deadline to agree to on and follow through on the plan and to make a long-term commitment to be environmentally friendly. If a party does not agree, Nova Gaian representatives conduct operations to convince the offenders otherwise. Eventually, offenders either conform or are put out of business.
>>>>>[Sounds like a classic carrot and stick tactic to me.]<<<<< - Shadow Crosses Moon (03:19:24/6-22-55)
>>>>>[Even more so when you consider that assassination of corp upper management is an option NG will pursue. To its credit, NG does try to restrict casualties to the responsible, higher-ranking corp employees.]<<<<< - Morlok (12:27:48/6-23-55) >>>>>[That's right. A few years back I was working undercover at a corp in which Nova Gaia took an interest. The corp didn't want to clean up its act, and Nova Gaia made a run to "convince" upper management that it would be in its best interests to change. One evening, while the board was holding a late session, Nova Gaians surprised everyone at the office. The agents' faces were covered with war paint in designs that were quite frightnenin, but the way they moved and handled their weapons was even more so. They were very courteous and very professional when they took us prisoner - there was no doubt that they were in full control of the situation. They sorted out the execs and took them away for a "meeting" and then let the rest of us go when they made their getaway. The execs who came back voted to play ball with Nova Gaia. I don't mind telling you that even though none of us lowly salarimen was harmed, I hope I never see one of those strike teams again.]<<<<< - Corporate Spy (09:22:34/6-25-55)Nova Gaia believes that large corporations have the ability and the assets to clean up their own problems. In cases involving larger companies, Nova Gaia presents them with a plan of action that is well thought out, reasonable (limited to the problem in question) and achievable (not to mention aggressive). Again, a deadline is given, and if the subject corporation does not comply, retributive action is taken until the corp does. Nova Gaia has yet to fail in any of its attempts to coerce large corporations. You may recall that Mitsuhama made a 10-year and 500 million nuyen commitment to environmental issues back in 2050. What you may not know is that it was at the behest of Nova Gaia.
>>>>>[Hey, wasn't Mitsuhama in deep drek with the FRFZ Council over toxic dumping in 2050?]<<<<< - Quickdraw (20:42:56/6-14-55) >>>>>[That's right, and if some runner friends of mine hadn't gotten involved, Mitsuhama would've gotten away with it.]<<<<< - Rage (14:23:14/6-15-55) >>>>>[Rage's being modest for once. He was one of the shadowrunners who exposed Mitsuhama's connection to the dumping. The FRFZ Council in a rare show of unanimity ordered MCT to pay some hefty fines. And if MCT hadn't made that mega-nuyen commitment, the Council would have kicked it out of the FRFZ.]<<<<< - Leo (17:32:27/6-18-55)In causes where environmental danger is extreme and quick action is demanded, Nova Gaia will react with whatever means it deems necessary to eliminate the threat. Poachers, for example, typically fall under this category.
>>>>>[Someone geeked some poachers near Rocky Mountain Tribal Park last year. They were found wrapped in the skins of their kills. The skins had been soaked in water and wrapped around the poachers, who were still alive at that point, and left in the sun. I wonder if Nova Gaia had anything to do with it.]<<<<< - Quickdraw (20:44:35/6-14-55) >>>>>[Nova Gaia doesn't usually tolerate torture, so I'd guess it wasn't involved. Although it's possible it was, maybe to make a point to other poachers.]<<<<< - Rage (14:24:44/6-15-55) >>>>>[Hey, Rage! How come you know so much about Nova Gaia?]<<<<< - Leo (23:30:00/6-16-55) >>>>>[One of my chummers, who I've been running with for years is a member. I've seen a few things in my time.]<<<<< - Rage (19:12:19/6-18-55)Nova Gaia prefers to operate in secrecy, through other environmental organizations and by means of fronts and cutouts. Direct media coverage of Nova Gaia would result in a failed operation; media coverage of a front operation would be considered acceptable, though.
>>>>>[This may be true in non-Native American Nations, including the FRFZ. However, many in NAN are aware of Nova Gaia and support its efforts.]<<<<< - Running Wolf (14:38:33/6-17-55)Nova Gaia maintains close contact with many other environmental groups and, in many cases, operates through them. Close ties are maintained with Wicca Covens and eagle shapeshifters. Its unofficial network is extensive and keeps it well informed of environmental crises in the making.
When Nova Gaia is alerted to a problem, it usually dispatches an agent to investigate. If the group is stretched particularly thin at that time, it may dispatch one of its more trusted employees from the nearest covert office. Nova Gaia will then react based on the investigator's report. The decision is made to take either the long approach or immediate action to solve the problem. Based on this decision, a negotiator or strike team is sent in.
Surprisingly, most of Nova Gaia's mage and shaman members do not concentrate on spells that would reduce pollution and its effects. Nor do they use spells that would be useful in reforestation or other recovery projects. Rather, they rely heavily on combat spells and skills, much as typical shadowrunning mages do. While Nova Gaia members are trained to recognize ecological imbalance and detect pollutants, they prefer to hire outside help for cleanup and recovery. Make no mistake, Nova Gaians are very much a warrior elite.
Also, Nova Gaians are not opposed to using technology. They are as well equipped as any shadowrunner. Physical adepts carry guns as well as katanas. They use computers, commlinks and an array of electronic tools. Do not underestimate them. They are not back-to-basics fools whose best weapons are bows.
>>>>>[Yeah, I've never seen anyone better with an Ingram Smartgun than my chummer from Nova Gaia. On the other hand, he's even better with his katana and his hands.]<<<<< - Rage (14:35:51/6-15-55)Nova Gaia's structure puts its patron at the top, with Nova Gaia members forming the Praetorian Guard, as it were. Below them are the people who work for Nova Gaia on a regular and permanent basis as researchers, recovery project teams, investigators and covert office staff. Then there are the freelancers who are hired as needed for special projects.
Note that anyone who works for Nova Gaia in any capacity is screened personally by the patron to ensure loyalty to the cause. This screening may be accomplished without the subject's knowledge. Indeed, few members and no nonmembers know when they've been checked out by the group's patron.
Nova Gaia reacts to both small issues and large issues. The following anecdote illustrates this point, as well as the group's operating precepts. Note that an offer is made to rectify a problem, including remuneration, and that a largely nonlethal raid is staged only if/when the offer is rejected.
An eagle shapeshifter's eggs had been stolen. The shapechanger was able to follow the thief long enough to get a license plate number. She then contacted Nova Gaia, and they put a young field operative, Dark, on the case.
Dark contacted a decker he knew to be reliable, who was able to get registration information from the license number. Dark then arranged for an intermediary experienced in negotiations th attempt to convince the thief, one Justin Carr IV, to return the eggs. A payment to Carr was even offered. While the meeting proceeded, Dark investigated Carr's property in case the meeting did not go as planned.
Carr refused to turn the eggs over, planning instead to use them in some sort of ritual magic (Carr was a mage). Dark therefore staged a raid on the property where the eggs were being kept. During the raid, Dark subdued the guards, rather than killing them. Carr was killed when he surprised Dark at the incubator. Dark repossessed the eggs and released Carr's small zoo of animals and paranimals.
>>>>>[My chummer Dark has since become one of the high muckity-mucks at NG.]<<<<< - Rage (14:25:43/6-15-55)Finally, Nova Gaia promotes (meta)human rights. Nova Gaia insists that all (meta)humans are also children of Gaia (i.e., flora and fauna) and as such need to be given the same consideration.
The patron of Nova Gaia is actually a Great Form Free Storm Spirit. This spirit has its personal domain on the top of Mount Evans, 65 kilometers west of Denver, but is free to roam anywhere it pleases. Although spirits have no gender as far as we know, the spirit is considered male since the being refers to itself as such. Estimations of the spirit's power, according to our corporate classifications, are force 20 and spirit power 15.
<<<<<[Where does a force 20, spirit power 15 free spirit roam? Anywhere it wants!]<<<<< - Rage (14:26:18/6-15-55) >>>>>[Rage, chill with the lousy attempts at what passes for humor in your part of the Matrix.]<<<<< - Moraya (14:27:12/6-15-55)This spirit calls itself, simply enough, Storm, and in most regards is a guardian spirit. However, Storm does enjoy imposing severe weather changes on the FRFZ from time to time. (It is said to appreciate what baseball-sized hail does to the finish on corp towers!)
>>>>>[I've always wondered about those sudde, radical weather shifts. This may explain them. It certainly explains why the corporate enclaves seem to get hit with damaging storms more frequently than any other place in the FRFZ.]<<<<< - Little Bear (23:18:08/6-18-55)Storm enjoys the powers of storm spirits and has acquired several powers over the years as a free spirit. According to the subject, they are as follows (as grouped and labeled by our survey classifications):
Storm Spirit Powers: Concealment, Confusion, Electrical Projection, Fear, Storm Power
Free Spirit Powers: Animal Form, Astral Gateway, Aura Masking, Dispelling, Human Form, Personal Domain (Mount Evans), Possession, Sorcery, Wealth
Storm spends about 70% to 80% of its time on Mount Evans, presumably watching over the FRFZ and the Rockies in what was Colorado. The remainder it spends in roaming The Sixth World, but mainly in the North American West, promarily in the Rocky Mountain region. When Storm manifests, it usually does so as a (meta)human of varying age and gender, but has been known to manifest as various animals. It has also been known, when manifest as a cat, to associate with Nova Gaia senior member Lynx of Mist, a cat shaman.
>>>>>[That cat with Lynx is a free spirit!? And I was making nasty remarks about sicking my dog on it!? Omigod!]<<<<< - Hammer (17:45:13/6-20-55) >>>>>[I think Hammer has just realized how close he came to making his last shadowrun!]<<<<< - Morlok (18:07:55/6-20-55)Storm's biggest responsibility with Nova Gaia (aside from providing funding) seems to be screening members and workers, measuring their dedication and loyalty. It is unlikely that even the most prepared infiltrator could mask against a spirit this powerful. This goes far in explaning how Nova Gaia has been able to keep its existence secret for so long.
Storm seems to tolerate people on an individual basis, but doesn't have much respect for (meta)humanity as a whole. It also seems casual about those who are injured or killed by its playful manipulation of the weather.
Storm is difficult to typecast. It is primarily a guardian, but shows elements of being an animus and trickster. Its outlook seems to demonstrate elements of shadows and player.
Storm finances Nova Gaia with its wealth, offering funds approaching the millions on a monthly basis. Actually, the spirit founded the organization. NG now largely makes its income from investments. Precautions are taken, though, to ensure that investments are not made in polluting-causing organizations.
Storm's existence as a free spirit quite probably dates to the late 1980s or early 1990s, when the Denver area began to develop abnormal weather patterns. That is to say, even more abnormal than they had been. Since then unusual weather phenomena has grown more frequent and more intense. Nova Gaia was formed in 2030, and Storm has probably more than doubled its potency since that time. Storm has expressed to the senior Nova Gaians that it desires to gain as much force as possible before the "others" arrive. Who these "others" are the spirit supposedly has not said, but hints that they are not friendly. The spirit clearly intends that Nova Gaians help oppose these "others" when they make their presence known.
This is the extent of the information we were able to get from Redhawk. I recommend that we have our operatives gather more. Then when the time is right, we will able to use this information to influence Nova Gaia to take action against our enemies. We should also look into finding the true name of this storm spirit so that we might dominate it.
>>>>>[Leo, I hope you know what kind of a position you've put yourself in by posting this data. Nova Gaia won't take any action against you. Mitsuhama's another story. It'll want to fill a cemetery plot with your sorry body. And Storm, well, you can never tell about him. I hope your flood, lightning, hail and avalanche insurance is paid up. You know, it would really frag your day if a bolt of lightning hit your digs when you were jacked in.]<<<<< - Dark (12:17:40/6-28-55)
| Taken from the pages of Jens-Arthur Leirbakk |