Binary clears his throat, moves his weight from one foot to the other, and says, his voice shaking:

We have developed a code that will substantially help this operation.  It merely needs to be implanted in the right server.  Because the Matrix is built on a code that follows laws almost identical to the real world, implanting this code means only that the group responsible must get a disc to the proper server.

Once uploaded, we will have the following benefits:

First, we can use a direct hardline from Zion to jack you in and out.  No more traveling to remote locations.  Given that Zion's location is no longer a secret, we do not have the same concerns.

Second, we will be able to read Zero-One's code within 100 yards of our operatives, even within the Firewall Zone.  This means better and immediate assistance for you in your missions.

Already we learned that, within the Firewall Zone, Zero-One has established many points, such as healing centers, which will be extremely valuable.  Zero-One has been working on rebuilding code within the Firewall Zone to better secure it, and we intend to exploit those code changes for our own operatives.  You will get more information as soon as we have it.

Next, a disc given to us by Jinx provides a code that, also if installed in the proper server, will act as a virus.  It should shut down Zero-One entirely--forever.

The politician known as "The Philosopher" stands up.  What about all the Potentials?  Will this kill them all?  Many are not ready to be awakened from their slumber.  That would be a death sentence.

General Blythe butts in.  It is a regrettable sacrifice, but a necessary one.  We expect some would live and some would die.  But if we don't do this, everyone dies.

Binary looks hesitantly between them and says, We are developing and continuing our research 24 hours a day and will have constant updates over the next two weeks.

"Twelve days," General Blythe corrects.

"Yes, twelve days," Binary says and then says, "Any questions before General Blythe begins debriefings?

Jade says, "So why can't you just jack us in with a nuclear bomb?  We could take it out with one great explosion."

"Very good question," Binary says.  "Unfortunately, the very nature of the Firewall Zone prevents us from jacking anything of substance in there.  For any on the mission into the Firewall Zone, they will have to do a 'naked jack,' as we call it.  We will not be able to send you in with any equipment of any kind, just your bodies and a thin skinsuit--and the single disc to upload.  Anything else would automatically alert all of the defenses of the Firewall Zone, which are numerous and deadly."

Screed asks, "Just for giggles, what is one foot from this Zone and what would keep us from being able to step across with stuff, or just popping in a bunch of nuclear bombs around the edge.  Heck, pop in a bunch of nuclear bombs on handgliders pointed towards the center of the zone or something like that.  In other words, what is the deal with this zone?"

Dracos listens quietly, not sure of any questions quite yet.

Blythe says, "The Firewall Zone is located deep underground, heavily guarded with only one entrance.  Besides, our jack in requirements force us to place you next to a hardline.  So the choice is either get in and do it from the inside or launch a full scale frontal assault."

"Besides," he continues, "we do not have the code to jack you in with a nuclear bomb.  Our weapon codes are quite limited.  Remember that only recently Locke and his crew uploaded such a large cache of supplies and weapons.  Unfortunately, a nuclear bomb was not in that code, nor anything even close to a bomb."

General Blythe says, "We are still generating our military strategy regarding our assault and how best to infiltrate the firewall zone.  We plan to have the strategy finalized by tomorrow, and are in the midst of training everyone in their particular roles."

"In the meantime," he says, "the loss of Locke and his crew has been a great devastation to Zion.  All who remain of his men--and women--are a few brave souls, souls who have seen more than most of the rest of you combined."  He points out among the 60 or so soldiers in the audience.

"As such, they will play an important part of our final assault.  In the meantime, we are in the middle of briefing all of you on your missions, which must be coordinated exactly, without any failures.  But until everything is finalized, we have a special mission for this group of brave soldiers from the Hyperion."

He now looks at each of you, and you realize you have been placed in the front row for this reason.

"We need you to search out a certain AI, one called 'The Oracle,' an AI that is a 'neutral,' neither for nor against Zero-One or Zion.  Your trusted Operator, X, will lead you through this mission in cooperation with out defense network.  Once you find out who this Oracle is and what, if any, message he might have to help us in our assault, you must jack back out of the Matrix and return here for briefing on the final assault."

Binary steps up and hesitantly interrupts.  "This Oracle can read the code like no other.  Although we don't know his identity, we learned much from the information you brought back on your mission to spy on the meeting and your newly found friendship with the Awakened AI.  The faceless ones assisted you there and you brought back information about many of the AI's and the politics that goes on even among those computer programs."

His eyes move from side to side.  "We don't have much information on this 'Oracle,' except for a location at a hospital of some sort.  We will send you to the hospital, and you need to find out the rest from there.  As we understand it, the Oracle 'tests' visitors before giving out any information."

"You must pass this test.  The Oracle can read the code in such a way as to prognosticate the future through the patterns in the code.  Maybe he himself can shift through time.  I don't know.  All I know is that whatever information you can get from him will be invaluable."

He waits to see if there are any questions.

"What sort of resistance can we expect trying to contact this 'Oracle'? If she can read the future, she'll know to expect us...What if she doesn't want to be found?"

"Unfortunately, we know nothing about what is inside the hospital or about the Oracle himself...or herself.  It is a dead zone.  There may be defenses and danger, or maybe none at all."

Screed pushes his glasses back onto his nose with practiced ease and says, "I'll take no resistance for a 1000, Alex, but I'm not going to count on it."  The skinny tech looks a bit frazzled and nothing like his calm cool exterior presented in the matrix.

Shadow rubs his chin thoughtfully then speaks,

"If we know the Oracle is there, does Zero-One know as well?  Can't imagine they'd be unwatched be Zero-One."

Screed frowns and says almost to himself, "Like I said, I'm not going to count on it."

"A neutral AI... is that even possible? Isn't any AI that helps us one that Zero-One doesn't like?" he mutters.

"So do we stock up and scare the hospital or arm up inside with scalpels.... hmmm... maybe we can have medical skills uploaded ot us... learn about medicine that can make people sleep or die..."

General Blythe says, "The Oracle is not within the firewall zone, so you can upload whatever equipment you normally take.  Zero-One, in all its hubris, does not really think we are much of a threat to it from within the Matrix.  Nor does it focus energies on neutral AI's.  Also, because the Oracle is within a dead zone, it is unlikely that Zero-One knows exactly where the Oracle is.  Regardless of whether such an AI is neutral or not, Zero-One thinks it is neutral, which works to our benefit.  My understanding is that the Oracle also helps Zero-One from time to time, so there is no reason for it to take out the Oracle."

He winces at being overheard, but then replies to the General, "What I meant... was it might not seem like we have the best intentions to any guards she might have if we jack-in with guns lining our jackets..."

"Your choice," he replies.  "Having guns that you can conceal might be the best approach."

Screed nods, "Well, yeah, concealed of course.  It's the matrix and I don't think a bunch of doctors and nurses will be happy with a bunch of guntoting freaks wlking around their patients.  Where is this hospital located?  I'm thinking large doctor's labcoats with briefcases and the like.  We could be visiting from another hospital in another country.  I look a little young, maybe I could be the guide or," he adds with a chuckle, "an interpreter for any non doctorish kind of people."

He shrugs, "Just an idea, I dunno.  General, can you get us on the manifest, or uh, get us a copy of press clippings or something?  The Oracle will probably recognize us, but I'm sure it won't respond well to a frontal assault that would risk patients, doctors, and it's home.  Any information like that would be helpful to create a cover story."

"It's a small facility located in a rundown area of Detroit.  Because it's in a dead zone, we don't know much about it at all until someone--like you--actually goes there."

 "Getting into the hospital will be easy, I have the skills necessary to navigate without being noticed...But, if you know nothing about the Oracle herself, then how will we know when we find her/him....I'm certain it isn't wearing a yellow tag with "Hello -My name is 'the Oracle', on it.. And I'm certain,  the Oracle is not going to admit to it, if we ask. -Erm...Why is this 'oracle' so important anyway?"

"Exactly right.  You must find out who the Oracle is.  Because of the Oracle's ability to see certain strands of the future and willingness to help, we may be able to glean some information that will prove invaluable in the fight over the next 12 days.  It is a gamble, to be sure, but until our strategy is finished regarding the final assault on Zero-One, it is worth the time spent there."

Screed suggests, "I don't think we have to worry too, too much about finding the Oracle right away.  I'm guessing the Oracle is going to come to us as long as we hang out for a while.  That's why I like the doctor scenario.  I don't really have the skills for that though.  Maybe a maintenance contractor.  Patches would be an interesting thing to start using in the hospital, ER maybe.  It might get the Oracle's attention if accident victims started getting healed right away.  Just an idea."

Jade says, "Sounds good to me.  Let's get some equipment and get out there to see what this Oracle's all about.  If we can get some clues to defeating Zero-One, that would be great."

You prepare to jack in to go to the Oracle.  X will be your operator, as usual.  You will have earphones and a mike to communicate to him through a cell phone, which also allows you all to communicate to each other at any time.

Because of the strange characteristics of the hospital and area surrounding the Oracle, X may not always be able to communicate with you.

As the general and others walk over to you, strapped in your chairs ready to be jacked in, he asks, "Any last questions before you jack in?  Find out any clues from the Oracle that you can which would help us in this war.  Remember, we have 12 days until Zion is history.  We can use any help we can get."

OOC: Last chance to update equipment or get any final details.  (Technically, you can still ask through the cell phone if you have further questions.)

Screed waits and waits and finally punches in his equipment in a flurry of movement.  Sitting back he says, "Alright, let's go."