The PI-Tac (a.k.a. P-Tac, or—to old timers—Tac-Net) is the latest generation of personal tactical network. Used by both security and military forces, PI-Tac units are now available to civilians—once said civilian has passed a background check and been issued a permit. The Tac-Net concept is not new; team networking devices of one sort
components that weren’t necessarily compatible, result- ing in a complex mash of patches subject to malfunctions. PI-Tacs are self-contained, plug-in units designed from the group up to integrate with a commlink, cyberdeck, or rigger command console to form a shared PAN/WAN.
PI-Tac enhances team coordination and effectiveness with streamlined simplicity and comes in three levels of sophistication. Strictly speaking, only the most basic level is legally available for civilian use. The benefits of using PI- Tac are substantial, but gamemasters should remember that PI-Tac is wireless by nature, which makes it a target for hackers. All PI-Tac models include:
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Real-time GPS location software•
Universal image and audio link that can access any image sources from within the network, including all external sensors and personal augmentations•
Team Biomonitor•
Weapon status indicator (ammo count, opera- tional condition, possible incursion)•
“Enhanced Situational Awareness” (bonus to all Perception Tests, based on level)Note that the maximum number of team members (in- cluding drones) on a particular ’net at one time equals DR x 1.5.
LEVEL I
The basic, civilian Level PI-Tac is popular with the ex- treme-sport set including combat re-enactors or ama- teur urban/combat brawl leagues and even big/game hunters. While the Level I comes with only the basic functions, it provides users with a +1 to all Perception Tests, including audio and visual.
MODEL DR AVAIL COST
Renraku Taka 4 18F 517,500¥
LEVEL II
The Level II is intended for use by security, law en- forcement, and/or standard military forces. Unit cost makes use of the Level II for routine security and law enforcement impractical. Thus the Level IIs are usually assigned only to special tactical response units. In ad- dition to the functions of Level I, the Level II includes:
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Host unit enhancement. One half the device rating can be used to enhance either the firewall or processing ratings of the host device.•
Trauma module. Worn on the chest under anyarmor, this flat plastic plate can be loaded with one dose any drug of the users’ choice and programed to automatically deliver the drug under user-set conditions.
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Enhanced situational awareness. Provides a +2 to all Perception Tests, including audio and visual, along with a +1 bonus to all Sneaking tests.maneuvers as a simple rather than complex action and to transfer five initiative points to one select team member on the network.
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Combat Mode. + 1 to one of the following com- bat skills of the player’s choice: Armed Combat, Automatics, Longarms, Pistols, Unarmed Com- bat. Player can switch to a different skill during combat as a simple action.MODEL DR AVAIL COST
Novatech
Tactician 5 18F 824,000¥
LEVEL III
Designed for use by the most elite military and corpo- rate units, the unauthorized use of the Level III unit or unlicensed possession of such a unit is considered a felony by the Corporate Court and most national gov- ernments. In addition to all the features of Level I and Level II, Level III provides:
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Upgraded host unit enhancement. The full de- vice rating can be used to enhance both the fire- wall and processing power of the host device.•
Enhanced Team Leader Coordination (upgraded).This allows a designated team leader to coordi- nate combat maneuvers as a Simple rather than Complex Action and to transfer ten points from their initiative score to one team member on the network or five points to two team members.
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Enhanced situational awareness. Provides a +3to all Perception Tests, including audio and visu- al and +2 to Sneaking and Tracking Tests.
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Combat Mode. + 2 to one of the following com-bat skills of the player’s choice: Armed Combat, Automatics, Longarms, Pistols, Unarmed Com- bat. Player can switch to a different skill during combat as a simple action.
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Remote and limited access to vehicles and drones linked into the network. This allows the team leader, or any other designated team member (consider them to have three marks on any vehicle while subscribed to the network) can remotely access and have limited control over a vehicle or drone by accessing their dog- brains. As long as the units are operational, sim- ple commands such as “go to this location” or “attack this target” can be issued in the event a rigger is rendered unconscious or dead.MODEL DR AVAIL COST
ComPac-Esprit
General 6 24F 1,234,000¥
It was neither the first, nor likely the last, time a bullet had found its way into Vespa’s torso. But it was most certainly going to be the most unique of tales to tell down at The Other Place. That was, as long as the chop doc he’d had to resort to didn’t just slip a little something into the IV line and sell him off for parts.
The story might even come off as unbelievable. He certainly wouldn’t believe a tale like his, even if it came from one of his closest chummers. Hell, who would? He’d definitely have to tell it sober, so no one could say it was the synthbooze talking. And he’d need to tell it early in the night, but not too early. He didn’t want to seem like he was just rattling off stories, but he also didn’t want to look like the guy out to one-up the last runner’s amazing tale of the shadows. But how do you start off a story like that?
Maybe he’d ask Chino to help him out, maybe get his pal to ask him about his last run. Problem was, Chino was smart and he’d know a lead-in when he saw one. And though he thought of the SoCal native runner as a pal, loyalties didn’t always run both ways on the streets. It was a rough spot to be in.
As the doc wiped another rivulet of blood from his side and prepped to dive back in with the creepy long- nosed-plier-looking things, he tried to recount the tale in his own head first. It was basically two unbelievable stories in one. Street legends come to life right before his eyes.
There he was, looking down the sights of his trusty Manhunter, getting ready to drop the trash-talking ork whose capture would net him a healthy certified stick from Renraku, when the ork dared—dared!— him to take the shot. Smartlink was running clean and had a perfect bead on the guy’s forehead, and he was loaded with subsonic rounds, though he had yet to screw on the silencer. The itch to pop the mouthy ork in the forehead was nigh irresistible. In fact, he only managed to resist it for about ten seconds, until the ork said something about his mother and a troll and how dandy-eaters may be vegetarians but they love the trollmeat. It would only drop the stick value by ten percent, so he figured “what the heck.” Mom’s honor is worth it.
When he squeezed the trigger, he felt this amazing rush of satisfaction. The rush was quickly crushed in a wave of utter astonishment as the ork did the impossible. Twice.
First, the big meaty beast of a metahuman, with his upturned piggy nose and protruding brow, moved like a flashing serpent and … wait for it … snagged the fucking bullet out of the air. Caught it between his index finger and thumb like he was snatching a lightning bug from the air.
Then he smiled, an eerie smile, full of perfect ork teeth, and flicked the bullet right back. Just a quick one-finger flick from his middle finger and thumb, but enough to make the bullet scream. It shot back with the force of a full 15 gram load, and Vespa spun quickly to try to avoid it. His move was exactly wrong—instead of dodging the bullet, he let it hit the thin armoring on the side of his jacket. The bullet punched past the thinner armor like teeth slipping through a warm donut.
Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe the bullet had hit right when some unseen chummer of the ork’s fired a round of his own, and that was what had done the damage to Vespa. But he thought it over, and thought it over again, and decided he’d be fragged if he was changing his story. He had witnessed a street legend in ac- tion, and learned an important lesson as well: If the bounty is so high you can drop ten percent and not really care, it was that high for a damn good reason.