Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

Usually, runners are hired to steal data from a locale. This time, the runners are to make a little switch—incorrect data for correct data. However, this run has some long-term consequences the runners will not be expecting—unless they read this column, that is.

See, when the Johnson approaches the runners and offers up the job, he tells them that the data to be switched is sealed on a data chip. This data chip has extremely high encryption on it, which the Johnson will tell the runners from the get-go. The chip needs to be physically swapped with another chip at the target location, then the other chip will be given to the Johnson when the run is completed.

Unfortunately, there are only three days to make this run—over a weekend. The chip with the real data was delivered on Friday, but it won’t be ‘unsealed’ until Monday. This meeting takes place on Friday night, thus the runners only really have three nights and two days to pull this off.

What is on the chip, you may ask? Well, it is a new prototype specification for a jet engine. This engine is much more fuel efficient than previous engines, and has a higher thrusting maximum. Thus, whomever comes to market with this engine first will get a lot of nice contracts from places like Federated Boeing, as well as the various governments in North America.

The ringer about all of this is—the data is exactly the same. At least, until the runners break the seal on the first chip to see what is on it. In essence, this run is to determine just how honest the runner team really is. And if they blow it, they are in for it big time. See, when they break the encryption on the chip the Johnson gives them, to see what happens, it will modify the design of the engine slightly. Yes, the data is correct unless the runners tamper with the chip. The runners are actually being hired by the same company, but seemingly different divisions, if they investigate.

The company in question will design one set of engines to the chip of the Johnson’s. The rest will be the original, correct specifications. These engines will be put onto one plane. When that plane goes down in flames—which it will—the runners will be blamed, and become wanted men by Lone Star, the government where the plane went down, and the plane owner.

Only do this run if you want to teach your runners humility and honor when dealing with a Johnson—otherwise, your players are going to want to lynch you.