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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv    

AN INTRODUCTION TO RUNNERS 

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv                                               

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WHAT IS A RUNNER: RUNNERS are freelance mercenaries inhabiting biocybernetic humanoid SHELLS. RUNNERS offer their services as scavengers to a wide variety of corporate, governmental, and private FACTIONS willing to finance their operations in hazardous, often hostile environments. 

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RUNNER SHELLS                                        v1.001.01.tciv                                                  

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WHAT IS A SHELL: SHELLS are engineered bodies combining advancements in bio-science, cybernetics, neural transference and consciousness capture, along with customizable hardware and software innovations that allow for synthetic living beyond the limitations of a born body.  

SHELL VARIETY: SHELLS come in a variety of types complete with unique ABILITIES. Each SHELL TYPE offers a specialized survival/combat focus, allowing RUNNERS to choose how they operate within a run. Additionally, assorted cosmetic STYLES provide a distinctive visual presence designed to highlight combat aesthetics. Finally, most SHELLS utilized by RUNNERS are programmed to support a base level personality matrix with vocalization patterns [vox patts] built in.

BENEFITS OF A PERSONALITY MATRIX: A SHELL's personality matrix runs as an operational layer of "programmed humanity" functioning in tandem with the living mind inside a SHELL's neural housing, supporting the RUNNER's mental stability. Though the science remains unproven, it is understood among RUNNERS that a personality matrix helps combat mental fatigue and memory loss[1] in those pushing SHELL usage beyond its designed limits. 

RUNNERS AND SHELLS: All RUNNERS utilize SHELLS as temporary bodies to house their living mind via neural transfer. SHELLS provide a synthetically natural humanoid experience, allowing the RUNNER to feel "at home" in any temporary body they choose. 

Enhanced biosystems durability and advanced eject mechanics allow each SHELL to endure considerable harm while allowing most sub-critical damage to be fixed through the administration of aftermarket repair items. Additionally, neural ejection protocols provide a RUNNER with an emergency "escape hatch" for their consciousness when/if the SHELL they are utilizing experiences catastrophic systems failure (a common risk considering the contested nature of most RUNNER operations). 

As sophisticated mechanical systems merging biologic, cybernetic, and synthetic materials, SHELLS are essentially "living" mechanisms once a RUNNER's mind has been transferred into its neural housing. To be clear, it is the RUNNER consciousness that is living, but the SHELL, once inhabited, does become that RUNNER's physical body until time of total destruction/operational failure or whenever the RUNNER chooses to transfer their mind into a different SHELL. 

SHELL AUGMENTATION: All SHELLS are capable of being augmented to craft unique operational functionality, providing a variety of SHELL options for a RUNNER to select and tune to fit the needs of a given run.

System UPGRADES can be unlocked via .exe updates purchased from FACTIONS. These help a RUNNER regulate many aspects of their SHELLS' onboard systems—heat regulation, durability, movement, etc. 

Individual IMPLANTS and CORES can be earned or looted to further customize a SHELL's functionality to fit the needs of a crew or run. 

REMARK: Remember, RUNNER, you are not your SHELL—your SHELL is you. Become who/what you want to become to achieve the goals or style of run that best fits your needs or pushes the boundaries of your expectations. 

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv      

SHELL "DEATH"                                                                              

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DO SHELLS DIE: No. Although SHELLS provide a "natural living" experience for RUNNERS who inhabit their neural housing, they are themselves non-sentient biocybernetic machinery incapable of high-motor function without a human mind to drive their systems. 

All biological components of a SHELL are patented synthetic products, so while RUNNERS may use terms associated with death as shorthand[1] for a SHELL's forced expiration, there is no technical connection between a SHELL's absolute systems failure and the human understanding of death.

HOW DO RUNNERS SURVIVE SHELL EXPIRATION: Most fully operational, market-released SHELLS include complex neural eject and catch protocols supported on the backend by CYAC proprietary tech. These are deeply encrypted data recalls that connect an active SHELL to a RUNNER's support systems located in secure points of operations typically removed[2] from the RUNNER's targeted ZONE of interest.

Essentially, when a RUNNER's SHELL is met with either catastrophic systems failure or sudden data or signal corruption, the RUNNER's mind is ejected into a secure liminal buffer before the SHELL's neural housing is fully compromised. Most secure buffers run on one of CYAC's looping data systems to record and catalog a backup of the RUNNER's consciousness as an added failsafe against total neural erasure. This gives CYAC ownership over, at least, a portion of a RUNNER's consciousness, if not the whole thing.[3]

Neural ejection takes no more than an instant, though the perceived time to a given RUNNER varies. Typically, there are few immediate issues with eject/catch instances, as long as the RUNNER has up-to-date, licensed equipment operating their neural/SHELL interface. 

FAILURE TO EXFIL—A DANGER UNIQUE TO TAU CETI: One harsh reality learned through trial and error by the earliest RUNNERS to touch down planet-side on TAU CETI IV is that some combination of atmospheric disruption and anomalous energy patterns limits the viability of the neural sync housing. After a short period, the connection between a RUNNER's consciousness and a SHELL's internal systems will fray, triggering immediate neural ejection. This complication requires RUNNERS to carefully monitor their time spent on-planet via geosync orbital links that provide windows in which to successfully exfil/eject. Strategically planning or adapting a run to EXFIL prior to the geosync window closing is key to a successful run. Miss the window, and a forced neural ejection will trigger at the last instant, saving the RUNNER's consciousness but forfeiting the SHELL and any items carried, regardless of emotional attachment. 

To reiterate the consequences of an overstayed welcome on TAU CETI IV, when a RUNNER fails to exfil from the planet's surface, the SHELL they were running, along with any gear they carried and any connected IMPLANTS and/or CORES will be lost. But thanks to properly installed and updated eject/catch mechanics, the RUNNER will survive as they transition into their waiting buffer, then back into whichever SHELL they have prepped as their backup. 

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[1] EX: "Death," "die," "dying," "kill," "murder," "murdered," "to die," "to kill" and more are terms used by RUNNERS freely when discussing the loss of a SHELL or SHELLS. 

[2] Relative to TAU CETI IV operations, this means somewhere in low orbit, typically within the same hemisphere.

[3] Cases may vary based on debt, legal precedent, and/or other complications.

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv         

SHELL REVIVAL                                                                                                

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"DOWN BUT NOT OUT" [DBNO]: Prior to absolute systems failure [ASF] a SHELL will attempt to conserve energy to protect neural systems and establish a secure neural ejection. This conservation results in loss of coordination and basic motor control as well as a cascading reduction in internal systems function, causing the RUNNER to lose their footing and some optic and mental acuity. 

A RUNNER experiencing "DBNO" can have their functionality restored if a crewmate can reach them before ASF. Once a SHELL's operations are restored, additional repairs will likely be needed to bring health and shield systems back to full. 

"'DEATH' IS FOR QUITTERS": Experienced absolute systems failure? Remain calm and patient. Even in the aftermath of ASF, when your mind has been ejected from a critically damaged SHELL, your run is not over as long as a member of your crew remains active. 

If a surviving member of your crew can access your abandoned SHELL, they can run a neural resync to repair critical damage and reestablish a connection between your SHELL and your consciousness, bringing you "back to life" and allowing you to continue your run. 

Be warned, a neural resync will not repair all damage to your SHELL, so additional mending is likely required. Neural resync also will not counter any theft of gear, IMPLANTS, CORES, or LOOT perpetrated by hostile RUNNERS between the point of ASF and resync. 

REMARK: Despite technological protections designed to support mental and emotional integrity following ASF or near-ASF experiences, repeat instances of catastrophic SHELL failure have been proven to cause lasting traumatic damage to RUNNER psyche and memory.  The implementation of sense-mem regulating therapies during neural sync and teleportation alignment have been shown to ease the onset of these side effects. 

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv            

SHELL MAINTENANCE and REPAIR                                                      

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HEALTHY SHELL, HAPPY RUNNER: Like any human body, a SHELL requires care and maintenance to properly function and, more importantly to RUNNERS, to allow it to be pushed to the limits of its operational capabilities. Luckily, there are a number of repair items available for RUNNERS to purchase, scavenge, or steal that allow you to mend, cleanse, or reboot your damaged SHELL: 

   • PATCH and PANACEA KITS are specifically crafted to deliver targeted healing to both organic and technological systems. The modern RUNNER has the benefit of all those who have tried and failed before them, and the specialized combination of med-industry science and RUNNER back-channel kit-bashing to thank for the effectiveness of the current generation of SHELL repair tech. 

   • SHIELD CHARGES are as vital as any tool in a RUNNER's arsenal. Protecting your SHELL protects your mind, your body, your loot, and your ability to stay in a fight.

   • MECHANICAL KITS [MCH] and OS DEBUGS [OS] target specific concerns related to hardware and software corruption. Timely application restores SHELL functionality and combats hazardous effects that threaten your survival effectiveness if allowed to linger. 

   • SELF-REVIVE KITS are life savers. Maybe evident in the simple clarity of their label, but these will get you out of DOWN BUT NOT OUT [DBNO] when there are no crewmates available to administer critical system repairs. 

A robust inventory of support items gives RUNNERS access to immediate repair solutions to keep them on their feet and running. 

All SHELL-based maintenance and repair items should be considered vital in a RUNNER's loadout. A healthy SHELL helps you compete for survival as much as any weapon. Remember this for yourself and your crew. 

REMARK: SHIELDS. Never forget your SHIELDS. 

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv            

RUNNER RIVALRIES  

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KILL OR BE KILLED: RUNNERS compete over resources, loot, and contracts. Both individuals and crews have goals they are chasing beyond survival. These goals may be personal, professional, or random moments of ambition, vengeance, or rage. In any given moment or encounter, it can be hard to gauge the specific temperament or motivation of rival RUNNERS.  

Typically, RUNNER-to-RUNNER encounters are expected to be violent. And, as a standard survival tactic, they are. The risk of trusting a rival carries too much weight to assume benevolence, especially considering the general reality of life on a run, which boils down to a simple truth: RUNNERS are mercenaries deploying to hostile environments to risk their livelihood and their lives for uncertain paydays. Anything or anyone competing for that payday is a threat. Hesitation can, and often does, lead to violent failure—loss of a SHELL, loss of gear and weaponry, loss of progress toward goals, loss of pride. Hesitation in conflict has a heavy price, one RUNNERS are rarely willing to sacrifice. 

A common understanding between RUNNERS starts most engagements with "guns up," then sort out any misunderstandings after the violence has settled. 

LOVE/HATE AFFAIR: Most RUNNERS understand the nature of the lives they've chosen. Few take conflict personally. It's just part of the job. And many RUNNERS and crews with heated rivalries still hold a mutual respect, finding joy in the thrill of competition, even when it threatens a score. After all, beyond a payday, bragging rights and making a name for oneself or your crew have their own value in mercenary circles.

Obviously, feuds exist and bitter hatreds can simmer. But in general, a run is a run, and anything lost or any damage endured is simply a favor to be returned upon the next crew you encounter. The disposable nature of SHELLS and the thrill of the run allow for flexibility in how deeply a grudge takes root. Most seasoned RUNNERS take loss as a lesson learned and an opportunity to skill-up—learning from defeat helps avoid the frustration of repeating unfortunate missteps. 

FRIENDS LIKE THESE: None of the above negates the opportunity for unlikely alliances. RUNNERS have been known to team up with their rivals for any number of reasons—joint threat, general goodwill, desperation. It doesn't hurt to attempt to find common ground if you're willing to risk an unfortunate outcome. In fact, many RUNNER crews started as rivalries, and many of the best RUNNER stories start with uneasy allies overcoming obstacles that may have ended them individually. Caution first, RUNNERS. But some risks are worth the effort. 

REMARK: Good luck. 

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv 

RUNNERS AND FACTIONS: UPGRADES 

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MORE TO A PAYDAY THAN CREDITS: FACTIONS identify those RUNNERS who best fit their agendas and offer them ways to improve their value in the form of UPGRADES. 

These UPGRADES can improve shell operations or open a wider assortment of goods in the ARMORY. It is up to a given RUNNER to select the UPGRADES that best augment their run style. 

RUNNERS who continue to work for FACTIONS earn deeper access to more UPGRADES, which can be purchased for some combination of CREDITS and MATERIALS. The deeper a RUNNER'S connection with a FACTION, the better the UPGRADES they will have available to them.  

Over time, a RUNNER can maximize their SHELL and their arsenal, giving them great odds at survival when risking another run on TAU CETI IV. 

SHELL UPGRADES: As a piece of advanced technology, a RUNNER's SHELL offers the opportunity to improve the run experience via SHELL system UPGRADES. These software enhancements allow a RUNNER to customize their functionality to fit their skills/interests or simply to increase baseline SHELL operations. 

     • Improve HEAT regulation 

     • Increase Ability charge rates 

     • Up movement, agility, handling 

     • Enhance every aspect of SHELL function 

SHELL UPGRADES offer an evolution across numerous systems.  

ARMORY UPGRADES: Open up the ARMORY's inventory to purchase more and higher-tier weapons, equipment, and support gear. RUNNERS who UPGRADE their ARMORY can build an unmatched arsenal to stock up for their next push to the MARATHON, or restock after unavoidable complications. New weaponry. Improved protections. A deeper roster of dangerous toys. The ARMORY provides… at a price. 

REMARK: Evolve or die. 

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RUNNERS' GUIDE                                      v.1.001.01.tciv      

CREDITS AND ARMORY 

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RUNNER PAYDAYS: RUNNERS collect their fees for goods sold and CONTRACTS completed in the form of CREDITS for use in ARMORY and UPGRADE markets. 

CREDITS IN/CREDITS OUT: Dark market ARMORY outlets are digital storefronts where vendors, including FACTIONS, can connect directly with RUNNERS to offer expanding inventories to help fill, or refill, a RUNNER's arsenal of weaponry, equipment, Implants, and more. 

According to a regularly repeated UESC crime report, ARMORY shops—funded by an illicit mix of FACTIONS and outside interests—pop up wherever RUNNERS start to congregate, creating a thriving underground ecosystem that feeds a cyclical risk/reward lifestyle. 

Need to gear up and loadout? Connect to an ARMORY market. 

Need to sell goods to bankroll your next run? Your local ARMORY dealer is buying. 

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