Anthony Ryans

[AceofSpades]

Opening File...

Anthony Ryans
Enemy of the state

...Recent Information
Bounty Increased to 20 Million Credits, Commissioned by LPI
Any information regarding to the whereabouts of Anthony Ryans should be reported immediately


Anthony Ryans was born in an understaffed, underdeveloped hospital in an impoverished district of Planet Pittsburgh. Born to Jared and Dani Ryans, Anthony was the only child of this poor, underpaid family. Worth noting is his relationship with Liberty Navy Officer Zachary Ryans, the two of them are cousins, whom were both given the opportunity to their education by Zachary's affluent parents. Anthony grew up in a ghetto of Pittsburgh, with little opportunity to advance in life until his 17th birthday changed the course of his life... and soon following, changed the standard of "hacking" upon the highways of Liberty.

Anthony was a gifted child. Not physically, he bore no resemblance to his well-built father who excelled in the mines of Pittsburgh. No, Anthony was brilliant. His mind had a knack for numbers, whether it be abstract math or deciphering code, Anthony was one of the best. Much like his cousin Zachary, Anthony struck those who met him as a young man brimming with potential. This is probably the reason that he was given, along with his cousin, a large sum of credits upon his 17th birthday to "help him down whatever path he desired."

Zachary joined the Navy, Anthony joined Ageira.

Some Ageira Research Facility (data classified)

Ageira presented remarkable a opportunity for Anthony, as his penchant for coding soon helped him move into higher priority work for Ageira. His skill with numbers allowed him to creatively spin remarkably complex series of code, designed typically to protect and encode vital data. Such data is used to encode many, many vital information highways in Sirius. Some of these "math whizzes" help encode transmissions between stations and ships.. The better ones helped create security codes for trade lanes and jumpgates..

The best ones, worked on a new type of encoding.

Nicknamed fileshare, Anthony and a few other top researchers, programmers, and other individuals worked on a program that was intended for use by military and corporate vessels that would allow quick, encoded information sharing. Such technology would aid military vessels by keeping units up to date on the status of other ships in its "group", and would benefit corporate vessels much in the same way. The technology worked by giving each ship a "signal", much like a neural net for ships, with each one having its distinctive ID. Today all ships have such signals built into the ship, these help make up ship transponders and ID codes that allow vessels to quickly identify one another. And in some cases also aid by helping ships communicate and (when allowed) access vital information about other ships' pilot status, ship integrity, and the like. Such protocols and information are often employed by Military and Corporate vessels.

Anthony, like his peers, was quite brilliant, and progress on the transponder technology was quite good. However, unlike his peers, Anthony was extremely ambitious. While studying these codes and sequences Anthony found another way in which the technology could possibly be used. Ships signals were unique and sent out vital information regarding pilot and ship statuses. There was a possibility, however, that by tracing that signal to its source and deciphering the remarkably complex encoding system, someone could "read" all of the information pertaining to the transmitting ship like a book. The signals that were designed to share with allies vital ship information could be, with sensitive equipment and a knack for decoding numbers and deciphering patterns, read by whoever was hacking them. Offering this person a complete readout of the ship's diagnostics, capabilities, and condition.

Recognizing that Ageira's technology was at the forefront of the transponder communication field, and that deciphering the transponder information from, say, Rogue ships and their transponders would likely be even easier than cracking Ageira's program, Anthony knew he had struck gold. A way for properly equipped Naval ships to know exactly what their counterparts were capable of at the start of every fight, and basically up-to-the-minute status updates on the condition of enemy ships during combat. Ryans, at his first opportunity, quietly contacted men of the highest status he could find in the Liberty Navy and LPI, hoping to share his ideas and strike rich.

His ideas, as it turned out, were very profitable. However Anthony would never see a credit come his way as a result of his work. The scientists he had spoke with of the LN and LPI, realizing the value of the technology, promised a second meeting with him after they had relayed the necessary information to their superiors. Needless to say, these men made off with Ryan's idea and claimed it as their own, scoring a rich payday in the process.

Nobody in the Navy or LPI was willing to believe that it was Anthony's brain that had spawned the new transponder hacking technology, or give him the credit due for it. Ageira however, was a different matter. They became aware of Anthony's work, and they became furious. Upper Brass of Ageira realized that billions of credits had just slid through their fingers as a result of Ryans trying to circumvent them and "freelance" his new discovery. Needless to say, they were not pleased.

Ryans was stripped of much of his pension and moved from Ageira's top research labs to a post at Detroit Munitions. There he was assigned to safeguarding and creating codes to help prevent local pirates from disrupting the trade lanes running from Manhattan to Detroit. Needless to say, Anthony was furious with Ageira for moving him to such a post, but even more so, he hated the men of the armed service who had betrayed him.

..He swore that he would one day have the wealth he so deserved..

Detroit Munitions

In his time spent at Detroit he continued his research on hacking transponder signals. It was more laborious, as the research tools available to him at Detroit were massively limited, and he had to work in secrecy. However it was once again his brilliant creativity that led him to another avenue that would forever change his life.

The technology that Ageira had been designing was supposed to encode the ship's vital signs and relay it to nearby ships. Only ships with the proper codes would be able to decode this information and make it useful. This was the theory behind "group flight", allowing multiple ships to be aware of the others conditions. However in order to send out this data, the transponder had to do a couple things. First, its computers had to monitor information coming from the ship. It established information highways to the whole ship by accessing the mainframe of the ship. This is how it would know the ship's condition, by accessing the diagnostics of the mainframe computer. Secondly, it had to send this information out in a signal, which allowed it to be traced.

Anthony discovered that you could trace this signal to its relative location. Thereby safely established what signal belonged to what ship. Upon nearing the ship, the trace became more and more accurate, to a point where at a certain range, he could in theory deduce the exact location within the ship of the transmissions. If given the proper tools, Anthony was able to decode enough of the information to get a rough diagnostic of the target ship. That being done, he deduced he would be able to send a "return signal" much like another friendly ship would. Under the guise of a "return signal", he would transmit data to the transponder and attempt, in layman's terms, to force his way in.

If he could get the proper equipment, and if he were able to have enough time to resend a proper "return" signal, Anthony believed he could access a ship's mainframe. The transponder technology was designed so that the transponder could read what the mainframe was being told, what if his signal could, instead of reading, write. Telling it what to do. In theory, controlling the ship.

Anthony wasn't sure if he could control another ship, but he was damn sure he could at least access the signals it was sending out. At the very least, that'd let him know the ship's capabilities, basic information, pilot information. Heck it might even get him into some neural nets, or at least bank accounts. He was determined to give it a try, so he hatched a plan to get his hands on the technology he would need to "hijack" a ship.

Late one evening, after a long shift, Anthony said good night to his replacement on the computers monitoring the trade lanes and headed for the hangar bays. He had arranged a civilian ship to give him a ride out to Rochester Base. Run by the Junkers, and apparently it was the type of place he might be able to meet someone who could get him the technology he needed.

Upon arrival he headed for the bar and sat nervously at a booth, awaiting the contact he had been told to meet there. About halfway through his second drink, a man approached him.
"Ryans?"
"Uh yes. That is me"

The man sat down, he was tall with short hair, obviously a pilot type. He had a painful looking scar below his left eye, and a pistol holstered at either hip.

"Word is you had some information for the Hackers, and a favor to ask."

Anthony was nervous, but he tried to keep himself together.

"Um yes.. I do," he started out stammering, but slowly gained confidence. "I've long been employed by Ageira. I did work on some of their more progressive research a while back, and they shortchanged me in a major way, along with the entire Liberty Navy. I'd love an opportunity to repay the favor, but I'm not looking to join a group... but I do need a ship with some technological specifications that are not typical."

The Hacker looked at him with an inquisitive look.

"Yes we do sell ships, but they aren't cheap, and we don't just sell them to anyone."

Ryans looked around quickly, and then looked back toward his contact.

"I have information that should be well worth the trouble. I was looking to acquire a Falchion Light Fighter, one with state of the art monitoring equipment for monitoring transmissions. I realize this is no light thing, so I've prepared quite the collateral." He reached slowly, making an exaggerated effort to reveal that he was not producing a weapon. "Here I have a dossier that includes the programmed codes for the Manhattan <--> Detroit Munitions trade lane. I wrote the codes myself and they are set for the next six days, I can assure you that even if you were to start taking the lanes down within the hour, there is nobody on station who has the prowess to rewrite an effective code to keep you all out for the rest of this week."

The Hacker whistled, "This is certainly valuable, though not worth an entire ship I'm afraid. However I'm sure we can work something out for this.."

"That's not all," Ryans cut him off as politely as possible. "Before you all take down the lanes, there is about to be a large incoming shipment tomorrow evening. Four transports, three with light arms and one loaded with Gold Ore that is worth millions upon millions and I'm sure the Molly's would love to buy back. They are under heavy escort, and will not be coming from the trade lane. However these ships require time and special process to moor, and during that time, if we can reach an agreement, I can make sure Detroit's defenses stay down."

The Hacker leaned back in his booth, deep in thought.

"Really now." He half said, half asked.

"Yes," Anthony responded, "and if you're willing to take me with you back to wherever you are headed. I'd be happy to work out some sort of deal with the rest of your companions."

--Mactan--

Within hours, Anthony was walking through a hangar bay of Mactan Base, escorted by a few armed guards. He was brought into a private room, where he sat down with some men who appeared to be officers of some sort. "Brass" of the Hackers here.

"Well our man who we sent out to Rochester to contact you says you have quite the deal for us." The officer to Anthony's far left spoke as his two companions paged through the dossier that he had handed the contact at the bar in Rochester. "I've taken a look at these lane codes, we received them the moment our contact uploaded them to his neural net while leaving Rochester, and I'm happy to say that our first patrols to attempt to deactivate the lanes were met with complete success. Obviously your information holds some merit, so what is it you seek here?"

Anthony sat up straight and leaned forward at the table, speaking with newfound confidence that hours ago he had lacked.

"I'm looking to acquire a Falchion. Preferably with up to date weaponry, but that is not so much important." At this statement the officer cocked an eyebrow, looking at Anthony with a curious look. "What I need most is state of the art transmitting equipment. Something that can help me both receive and transmit information, as I'm much handier with a cipher than I am a gun."

"I see," said the officer, "and how do you propose to pay for this equipment?"

"Well," continued Anthony, "as I informed your contact, I have information regarding a delivery to be made tomorrow. Four large transports will be carrying three loads of Ageira grade weapons, and one load of Bretonian Gold Ore to Detroit Munitions for processing. Now as you are likely aware, that was the place of my work, and I was pretty much in control of the encoding for all of our systems. Trade lane defenses, which I've already shown you I can disable, and the other was defensive platforms directly associated with the station. Now these transports aren't under an incredibly strong escort, but they're not coming from a lane either. The only time they'll be vulnerable is when they have to engage the long mooring process, under protection of Detroit's guns. However I will be able to, if present with the right equipment, be able to disable to station's defenses for a short time. Long enough to get the cargo and get out."

The officers looked at one another, and then excused themselves, leaving Anthony to think.

A few minutes later they returned.

"We will accept your offer and help you equip a ship properly. You will aid us in the assault by disabling the defenses from your ship, and afterwards we will all return to base here to discuss further relations."

Ryans smiled, stood and shook the officers' hands, and was escorted to a room where he would spend the night.

The Return to Detroit

Anthony knew exactly what he intended to do, and he assumed he knew what the Hackers planned to do. He had examined the Falchion they had provided, it indeed was equipped with state of the art electronics. It was perfect for the task at hand, as well as for the work he would put it to use for in the future. Ryans did not intend to ever return to Mactan, he naturally assumed that once his usefulness expired, the Hacker's willingness to lend him a ship would as well. He didn't think he'd be killed, but he certainly wouldn't be handed the keys for forever, he was sure. And in fact he was right, somewhat. The officers didn't plan to leave him in possession of the ship, but they did plan to kill him. Unfortunately the technology was brand new, and expensive, so they planned to kill him on the spot once he returned to the hangar bay. Needless to say, life is rough in the borderworlds. Anthony spent the greater part of the day "preparing" his equipment and "inputting" the proper information for the attack. In reality he spent the day cleaning the system and making sure there was nothing on the ship that was going to allow the Hackers to track him in any way.

The flight to Detroit was uneventful, the gathering of ships--Falchions, Broadswords, a few Sabres, a Gunship, and five transports to carry back the loot, sat waiting in the Jersey Debris Field, scanners sweeping in long ranges to hopefully detect the incoming delivery early. Fortunately, it was easier than they thought.

"Contacts eight o'clock." said the flight leader, calmly as he studied his HUD. "Looks like our boys."

Luck had been on the Hacker's side, as the convoy had tried to mask its approach and instead was on route to fly right past the group that had been planning to ambush it. Even more lucky, the escort consisted of only four Liberty Guardians and two Bretonian Challengers. They hadn't been expecting an ambush, and had planned to rely on Detroit's defenses if needed.

"All ships engage," commanded the flight leader, and the Hackers quickly joined combat, with Anthony--as told by the Hacker officers--hanging back until needed.

The fight was quick, with the escorts being terribly outgunned. The transports all attempted to run for Detroit. But two were disabled before they could even break from the field, and only one made it within range of Detroit's guns. Fire lit up the skyline for two seconds, before a sudden darkness fell over the station. The turrets continued to track their targets, but there was no energy to power the cannons.

Ryans smiled from his Falchion, as the remaining transport was disabled only meters from the maximum range of Detroit's guns. How they must be panicking inside, wondering what the hell is going on, he thought to himself. His enjoyment was short-lasting however, as he prepared for the final part of his plan by moving himself behind Detroit, a few klicks out, on the opposite end from the trade lanes.

As the Hackers finished rounding up the cargo, a Falchion and Sabre made their way to Anthony's ship.

"Alright buddy, Brass wants you back in one piece, don't wanna risk all that fancy equipment."

Anthony responded, "Alright one second, I'm havin some trouble getting the engines operating, can you boys come around behind me and see what's up?"

The two ships made their way over, positioning themselves behind Ryans. The station's turrets continued to silently track them. Anthony reached forward and fingered a pair of switches,
"aaaand... lights on!"

He flipped both switches simultaneously, one releasing a Nuclear Mine from the rear of his ship, the other reentering the defense codes at Detroit, instantly providing power back to the station.

The Mine tore through the shields of the two Hacker ships as Anthony pushed the throttle to full, diving downward as the station's turrets resumed firing. The Falchion never had a chance, and the pilot of the Sabre must have not been paying close attention. Two explosions rocked the space behind Detriot as a single fighter ducked under the station and made full throttle for the trade lane.

The Hackers in the area immediately noticed the suddenly lively station and the two corresponding explosions, but nobody was close enough to prevent the single, stolen Falchion from reaching the trade lane and disappearing into space...



...Anthony sped away from Detroit, prepared to take revenge upon the men of Ageira, the corporations of Liberty, and most importantly the law enforcement of the LPI and Navy. He'd end up doing it in his own special way, slowly learning to better and better manipulate the ships around him, learning eventually to manipulate bank accounts and turn corporate transport's turrets on their allies around them...

---

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[5:57:11 PM] InfernalTater (Lewis) [Formerly TLI-Inferno]:meanwhile, Aces 'I don't always miss my destinations, but when I do, I'm on the other side of house space.'

Seriously nerf Junkers.

Shoot to Thrill