TEXT: (order #9639630)
  
  (order #9639630)
  
  INTRODUCTION 
  5
  HOME SECURITY 
  6
  HOT RUBBER AND  
       COLD STEEL 
  10
  RIGGING 101 
  11
  The Rigger Experience  
  12
  Rigging the Shadows 
  15
  The Wheels on the Bus 
  19
  Personal Motorized Vehicle 
  19
  Motorcycles 
  19
  Cars 
  19
  Trucks 
  20
  Big Boys 
  20
  Personal Watercraft  
  20
  Powerboats 
  20
  Sailboats 
  20
  Yachts 
  21
  Submersibles 
  21
  Airplanes  
  21
  Rotorcraft 
  21
  LAVs 
  22
  LTAVs 
  22
  Drones 
  22
  ALL THE ANGLES 
  24
  THE CHROME BALLET 
  24
  Coordinating Your Strengths 
  24
  Intelligence First 
  24
  The Larger the Drone, the More the Motion 
  25
  Use Multiple Vectors 
  25
  Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control 
  26
  Lock In 
  26
  Mounting a Defense 
  27
  Obscuring Intelligence 
  27
  Area Effects Are Your Friend 
  28
  A Drone Moves Most Like a Drone 
  28
  Break the Lock 
  28
  Riggers and the Hack 
  28
  Hackers vs. Riggers 
  28
  Riggers vs. Riggers 
  28
  GAME INFORMATION 
  29
  Repair Rules 
  29
  Spare Parts 
  29
  Scavenging Parts 
  29
  Tools 
  30
  Making the Repair 
  30
  Electronic Warfare 
  30
  Break Target Lock 
  30
  Confuse Pilot 
  30
  Detect Target Lock 
  30
  Suppress Noise 
  30
  Target Device 
  30
  Swarms 
  31
  Operational Time 
  31
  Takeoff and Landing 
  31
  ON THE BLEEDING EDGE 
  32
  10W40 IN YOUR VEINS 
  32
  Positive Qualities 
  33
  Chaser  
  33
  Dealer Connection  
  33
  Grease Monkey 
  33
  Speed Demon 
  33
  Stunt Driver 
  33
  Subtle [Vehicle] Pilot 
  33
  Negative Qualities 
  33
  Accident Prone 
  33
  Motion Sickness 
  33
  Too Much Data 
  34
  LIFE MODULES 
  34
  Formative Years 
  34
  Minor Wheelman 
  34
  Shop Kid 
  35
  Teen Years 
  35
  Booster  
  35
  Further Education 
  35
  Trade School Shop 
  35
  Real Life 
  35
  Drone Hobbyist 
  35
  Getaway Driver 
  35
  Trid Stunt Driver 
  35
  THE ORDER OF CHAOS 
  36
  DEMOLITION DERBY 
  40
  WORLD OF WHEELS 
  41
  Motorcycles 
  41
  Daihatsu-Caterpillar Horseman 
  41
  Ares-Segway Terrier 
  42
  Horizon-Doble Revolution 
  42
  Evo Falcon-EX 
  43
  Entertainment Systems Cyclops 
  43
  Echo Motors Zip 
  44
  Yamaha Kaburaya 
  44
  Buell Spartan 
  44
  Harley-Davidson Nightmare 
  45
  Yamaha Nodachi 
  45
  Thundercloud Mustang 
  46
  Cars 
  47
  Renault-Fiat FunOne 
  47
  Dodge Xenon 
  47
  Echo Motors MetaWay  
  47
  GMC 442 Chameleon 
  48
  Mercury Comet 
  49
  Saab Gladius 998 ti 
  49
  GMC Phoenix 
  50
  Hyundai Equus 
  51
  Chevrolet Longboard 
  52
  Rolls-Royce Phaeton 
  52
  Thundercloud Morgan 
  52
  Tata Hotspur 
  53
  GMC Armadillo 
  54
  Ford Percheron 
  54
  Jeep Trailblazer  
  54
  Toyota Talon 
  55
  Nissan Hauler 
  56
  Eurocar Northstar 
  56
  GMC Escalade 
  57
  Ford Econovan 
  58
  Dodge Caravaner 
  58
  GMC Universe 
  59
  Ares Chuck Wagon 
  59
  Haulers 
  59
  Airstream Traveler Line Motorhomes 
  59
  Mack Hellhound 
  60
  Municipal/Construction 
  62
  Omni Motors Omnibus 
  62
  GMC Commercial G-series 
  62
  GMC Commercial D-series 
  63
  Saeder-Krupp Konstructors 
  64
  Mostrans KVP-28 
  64
  Universal Hovercraft Minnesota 
  65
  Vodyanoy Assault Hovercraft 
  65
  Corpsec/Police/Military 
  66
  BMW Blitzkrieg 
  66
  Dodge Charger  
  67
  BMW i8 Interceptor 
  68
  Dodge Goliath 
  70
  BMW Teufelkatze  
  71
  Dodge Stallion 
  71
  BMW Luxus 
  73
  Dodge General  
  74
  BMW Stürmwagon 
  75
  Dodge Rhino 
  77
  Ruhrmetall Wolf II 
  77
  RULING THE WAVES 
  78
  WET AND WILD 
  79
  RIGGER 5.0
  CONTENTS
  & CREDITS
  2    >> CONTENTS & CREDITS <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Powerboats  
  79
  Evo Waterking 
  79
  Sea Ray Cottonmouth 
  80
  Kawasaki Stingray/Manta Ray 
  81
  Aztech Nightrunner  
  81
  Zodiac Scorpio 
  82
  Mitsubishi Waterbug 
  83
  Evo Water Strider 
  84
  Sailcraft … sort of 
  85
  Corsair Elysium 
  85
  Corsair Panther 
  85
  Corsair Trident  
  87
  Blohm & Voss Classic 111  
  88
  Lurssen Mobius 
  89
  Sun Tracker Lake King 
  90
  Evo Aquavida 
  90
  UltraMarine Kingfisher 
  92
  American Airboat AirRanger 
  92
  GMC Riverine 
  92
  AIR SUPERIORITY 
  94
  FLYING THE UNFRIENDLY SKIES 
  95
  Hughes Stallion WK-4 
  95
  Aztechnology Agular GX-2 and GX-3AT 
  97
  S-K Aerospace SKA-008 
  98
  Dassault Sea Sprite 
  99
  Federated-Boeing PBY-70 “Catalina II” 
  100
  Airbus “Lift-Ticket” ALS-699 
  102
  GMC Gryphon 
  103
  Evo-Krime “KRIME Wing” 
  105
  Luftshiffbau Personal Zeppelin LZP-2070 
  106
  Renegade Works “Mothership” LAvH 
  108
  ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL 110
  THE AUTOMATED ARMY 
  116
  DRONING ON  
       AND ON AND ON AND ON AND … 
  118
  Ignition 
  118
  Warming Up the Engine 
  118
  Reticulating Splines 
  119
  All Systems Are Go! 
  119
  The Mainspring: Mitsuhama 
  120
  The Grinding Gears 
  120
  Renraku 
  120
  Ares Macrotechnology 
  121
  Sony 
  121
  The Worthy Cogs 
  121
  Aztechnology 
  121
  Evo 
  121
  Saeder-Krupp 
  122
  Shiawase 
  122
  DRONE MODIFICATION 
  122
  The Basics 
  122
  Adding Upgrades 
  122
  Enduring Downgrades 
  123
  Attribute Modifications 
  123
  Handling 
  123
  Speed 
  123
  Acceleration 
  123
  Body 
  123
  Armor 
  123
  Sensor 
  123
  Pilot 
  123
  Other Modifications 
  123
  Weapon Mounts 
  124
  Option: Pop-Out Mounts 
  124
  Option: Expanded Ammunition Bay 
  124
  Realistic Features 
  125
  Amphibious 
  125
  Assembly Time Improvement 
  125
  Customized 
  125
  Drone Arm 
  125
  Option: Primitive Arm 
  125
  Drone Leg 
  125
  Gecko Grips  
  126
  Immobile 
  126
  SkyGuide 
  126
  Spotlight 
  126
  Suspension Mod 
  126
  Tire Mod 
  126
  Software Solutions 
  126
  Pilots 
  126
  Autosofts 
  127
  Smartsoft (Restricted) 
  127
  Group 
  127
  Skillset 
  127
  Software Tweaks 
  127
  Personality 
  127
  Linguistics 
  128
  DRONE CATALOG 
  128
  MicroDrones 
  128
  Horizon “NoizQuito” 
  128
  Sony Goldfish 
  128
  MiniDrones 
  129
  Aerodesign Systems Condor LDSD-23 
  129
  Aztechnology Hedgehog 
  129
  Cyberspace Designs Dragonfly 
  129
  Festo Pigeon 2.0 
  129
  Horizon CU^3 
  130
  Renraku Gerbil 
  130
  Renraku Scuttler Remote CyberHand 
  130
  Small Drones 
  130
  Ares Arms Sentry V (And Mercury) 
  130
  Citron-Brouillard Smoke Generator 
  130
  Cyberspace Designs Wolfhound 
  131
  Evo Proletarian 
  131
  Ferret RPD-1X Wheeled Perimeter Drone 132
  Festo Sewer Snake 
  132
  Horizon Mini-Zep 
  132
  Knight Errant P5 Pursuit Drone 
  133
  Lone Star Castle Guard 
  133
  Mitsuhama Gun Turret 
  133
  Mitsuhama Seven  
  133
  NeoNET Prairie Dog 
  134
  Pratt & Whitney Sundowner 
  134
  Proteus A.G. “Krake” 
  134
  SAAB-Thyssen Bloodhound 
  136
  Renraku Dove 
  136
  Renraku Jardinero 
  136
  Renraku Job-a-Mat 
  137
  Renraku Pelican 
  137
  Telestrian Industries Shamus 
  137
  Medium Drones 
  138
  Ares Cheetah 
  138
  Evo Krokodil 
  139
  Federated-Boeing Kull 
  140
  MCT Tunneler 
  140
  Renraku LEBD-2 Law  
       Enforcement Backup Drone 
  140
  Transys Steed 
  140
  Large Drones 
  141
  Aeroquip Dustoff 
  141
  Ares Matilda  
  141
  Ares Mule  
  141
  Ares Paladin 
  142
  CrashCart “MediCart” 
  142
  GTS Tower 
  143
  Saeder-Krupp Mk-17D Neptune 
  143
  Mitsuhama Malakim 
  143
  Huge Drones 
  143
  Ares KN-Y0 
  143
  Mesametric Kodiak 
  145
  NeoNET Avenging Angel 
  145
  Anthropomorphic Drones 
  145
  Aztechnology Criado Juan 
  145
  Horizon Little Buddy 
  146
  Mitsuhama Computer  
       Technologies Kenchiku-Kikai 
  146
  NeoNET Juggernaught 
  147
  Saeder-Krupp Direktionssekretar 
  148
  Shiawase i-Doll 
  148
  Drone Missile 
  149
  Ares “Garuda” 
  149
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> CONTENTS & CREDITS <<    3
  (order #9639630)
  
  BUILDING THE  
       PERFECT BEAST 
  150
  MODIFICATION RULES 
  151
  Parts and Plan 
  151
  Tools 
  151
  Skill 
  151
  Modification Slots 
  151
  Removing Modifications 
  152
  VEHICLE EQUIPMENT 
  152
  Morphing License Plate 
  152
  Spoof Chip 
  152
  Road Strips 
  152
  Special Tires 
  153
  Tool Kit 
  153
  MODIFICATION LIST 
  154
  Power Train 
  154
  Acceleration Enhancement 
  154
  Gecko Tips 
  154
  Gliding System 
  154
  Handling Enhancement 
  154
  Improved Economy 
  154
  Manual Control Override 
  154
  Multifuel Engine 
  155
  Off-Road Suspension 
  155
  Removed Manual Controls 
  155
  Rigger Cocoon 
  155
  Rocket Booster 
  156
  Secondary Manual Controls 
  156
  Secondary Propulsion: Hovercraft 
  156
  Secondary Propulsion: Amphibious 
  156
  Secondary Propulsion: Rotor 
  157
  Secondary Propulsion: Tracked 
  157
  Secondary Propulsion: Walker 
  157
  Speed Enhancement 
  157
  Protection 
  159
  Anti-Theft System 
  159
  Armor 
  159
  Passenger Protection System (PPS) 
  159
  Personal Armor 
  159
  Special Armor Modification 
  159
  Weapons 
  159
  Ammo Bins 
  159
  Drone Rack 
  160
  Gun Port 
  160
  Missile Defense System 
  160
  Oil Slick Sprayer 
  161
  Ram Plate 
  161
  Road Strip Ejector 
  161
  Smoke Projector 
  161
  Weapon Mount 
  163
  Body 
  163
  Assembly/Disassembly 
  163
  Chameleon Coating 
  163
  Extra Entry/Exit Points 
  164
  Ejection Seats 
  164
  Extreme Environment Modification 
  164
  Increased Seating 
  164
  Life Support 
  164
  Mechanical Arm 
  165
  Nanomaintenance System 
  165
  Realistic Features 
  165
  Smuggling Compartment 
  165
  Special Equipment 
  165
  Valkyrie Module 
  166
  Winch 
  166
  Workshop 
  166
  Electromagnetic 
  166
  Electromagnetic Shielding 
  166
  Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) 
  166
  Gridlink 
  166
  Gridlink Override 
  167
  Pilot Enhancement 
  167
  Retrans Unit 
  168
  Satellite Link 
  168
  Sensor Upgrade 
  168
  Signature Masking 
  168
  SunCell 
  168
  Touch Sensors 
  169
  Cosmetic 
  169
  Amenities 
  169
  Enhanced Image Screens 
  170
  Metahuman Adjustment 
  170
  Rigger Interface 
  171
  Interior Cameras 
  171
  Searchlight 
  171
  Vehicle Tag Eraser 
  171
  Yerzed Out 
  171
  MAXIMUM PURSUIT 
  172
  ADVANCED DRIVING RULES 
  173
  Speed 
  173
  Terrain 
  173
  Control 
  174
  Range 
  174
  Vehicle Actions 
  174
  General Actions 
  174
  Change Linked Device Mode  
  174
  Change Speed 
  174
  Bootleg Turn 
  174
  Catch Up/Break Away  
  174
  Control Vehicle 
  175
  Crazy Ivan 
  175
  Cut Off  
  175
  Discreet Pursuit  
  176
  Driveby/Broadside  
  176
  Fire a Vehicle Weapon 
  176
  Hold it Together Baby  
  176
  Like a Glove  
  176
  Pickup  
  176
  PIT 
  176
  Ram  
  177
  Shake Things Up a Bit  
  177
  Switch the Six  
  177
  Zen Control  
  177
  Vehicle Test  
  177
  Use Sensors  
  177
  Use Simple Device 
  177
  Ground Vehicle Actions 
  177
  Clear Exit 
  177
  Drift 
  178
  Make a Hole  
  178
  Aircraft Vehicle actions 
  178
  Leaf on the Wind  
  178
  Falling Leaf  
  178
  Strafe  
  179
  Drone Vehicle actions 
  179
  Swarm  
  179
  Passenger/Pilot Vehicle actions 
  179
  Bailout 
  179
  Fire Weapon  
  179
  Grapple/Board  
  179
  Melee Attack  
  179
  Watercraft  
  Vehicle actions 
  179
  Capsize  
  179
  Driving With Style 
  180
  Pedal to the Metal 
  180
  COMPILED TABLES 
  184
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  4    >> CONTENTS & CREDITS <<
  © 2015-16 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 
  Shadowrun and Matrix are registered trademarks 
  and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in the 
  United States and/or other countries. No part of this 
  work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, 
  or transmitted in any form or by any means, without 
  the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, 
  nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that 
  in which it is published. Catalyst Game Labs and the 
  Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes 
  Productions, LLC.
  First Printing by Catalyst Game Labs, an imprint of 
  InMediaRes Productions, LLC
  PMB 202 • 303 -91st Ave. NE, E-502
  Lake Stevens, WA 98258
  Find us online:
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  (Catalyst/Shadowrun orders)
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> CONTENTS & CREDITS <<    5
  INTRODUCTION
  If you know what a rigger can do for your shadowrun-
  ning team, you know how badly you need one on your 
  side. And if you don’t know, you’d better find out, be-
  cause someone else is going to come in with their rig-
  ger doing all sorts of fancy Derek, and you’re going to 
  look very foolish. And maybe dead. 
  There are obvious uses for riggers that everyone 
  knows about—getaway drivers, border crossers, that 
  sort of thing. Those tasks are plenty useful, and often 
  reason enough on their own to make sure you sign up a 
  rigger. But there’s more than that. Any rigger worth their 
  salt has a squad of drones they can bring to the party, 
  and those drones are a miniature army waiting for your 
  command. They’re spies, force multipliers, decoys, even 
  one-person transportation, if they’re big enough. They 
  are the ultimate stealth teammate, one that won’t set 
  off heat sensors and won’t show up on astral overwatch. 
  Keep them hidden, wait for the right moment to bring it 
  out, and you’ll have an ambush that will catch all but the 
  most alert teams by surprise. Or you’ll have the chance 
  to sneak around and see or hear information you were 
  never supposed to know. The things a rigger can do with 
  their drones to help out a team is only limited by shad-
  owrunners’ imagination—which is one thing they should 
  never be short on.
  But it’s not just about drones once the job starts. A 
  rigger has vehicle options during the run, too. From air 
  vehicles that can hover over the job site and provide 
  much-needed cover fire to vehicles that can provide a 
  little extra speed and heft even in corporate office halls, 
  a fully equipped rigger knows how to select the right 
  option for the job. They also know how to trick their ve-
  hicles and drones out right, to give just the right advan-
  tage at the right time.
  This book is what a fully equipped rigger needs. It 
  starts with Hot Rubber and Cold Steel, which gives an 
  overview of the different types of riggers and vehicles 
  there are out there, as well as details on the absolute 
  rush riggers feel when fully jacked into one of their toys. 
  All the Angles gets tactical, discussing how riggers can 
  use all their tools in harmony to make vehicle magic 
  happen, while also giving rules to support what they 
  do. On the Bleeding Edge helps players make a rigger 
  as customized as their vehicles, with qualities and life 
  modules made with rigging in mind. Then we get to the 
  gear—Demolition Derby brings the ground craft, Ruling 
  the Waves details watercraft, Air Superiority lists off the 
  aircraft, and The Automated Army rolls out the drones. 
  Building the Perfect Beast has all sorts of vehicle acces-
  sories and modifications, and Maximum Pursuit offers 
  advanced chase rules. Finally, you’ll find tables of vehi-
  cles from this book as well as SR5 for easy reference.
  So burn rubber, break the waves, push the envelope, 
  and head for the skies! Riggers are not happy to sit still 
  for very long, so get up to speed with all the gear and 
  rules and start leaving the slugs of the Sixth World in 
  your dust.
  RIGGER 5.0 CREDITS
  Writing: Mark Dynna, Jeff Halket, Jason M. Hardy, Adam 
  Large, Aaron Pavao, Scott Schletz, R.J. Thomas, Malik Toms, 
  Thomas Willoughby
  Proofing: Chuck Burhanna, Bruce Ford, Mason Hart, 
  Francis Jose, David Silberstein, Jeremy Weyand
  Playtesting: Jackson Brunsting, Jacob Cohen, Derek 
  Doktor, Bruce Ford, Eugen Fournes, Joanna Fournes, Tim 
  Gray , Kendall Jung, Richard Riessen, Matt Riley, Leland 
  Zavadil
  Art Direction: Brent Evans
  Development Assistance: Peter M. Andrew, Jr.
  Cover Art: Echo Chernik
  Art: Bruno Balixia, Igor Fiorentini, Andre Garcia, 
  Benjamin Giletti, David Hovey, Ian King, David Lecossu, 
  Marco Mizzoni, Victor Moreno, Mauro Peroni, Chris Peuler, 
  Erich Schriner, Takashi Tan, James Cory Webster, and Iwo 
  Widulinski
  Cover  Layout: Matt “Wrath” Heerdt
  Iconography: Nigel Sade
  Interior Layout: Matt “Wrath” Heerdt
  Shadowrun Line Developer: Jason M. Hardy
  (order #9639630)
  
  HOME SECURITY
  Fetch was in the truck .029 seconds before he realized he was 
  the decoy. They had to know he’d figure it out. He felt the 
  weight differential against his chassis and calibrated his active 
  suspension so the change wouldn’t hinder performance.
  Decoy meant demotion, which meant he’d screwed up 
  at some point, but Fetch couldn’t figure how. It wasn’t about 
  his performance in the truck. The last three deliveries had 
  gone smoothly. This decoy job was no different. So far the 
  drive east was uneventful. He breathed a sigh of relief as his 
  truck and drones cleared the most heavily gang-controlled 
  portion of the road without incident. It was all corp-se-
  cured freeway to the finish line. The rigger took a moment 
  to breathe it all in. Slipping into the skin of his Cyberspace 
  Designs Dalmatian, Fetch climbed to six hundred feet, tilt-
  ed his nose, and took in the sight of the freeway. Ahead, 
  twelve lanes of silicon-pressed blacktop were fat with the 
  husks of insectoid automobiles flashing brake lights. Fetch 
  couldn’t imagine a situation where his Mack Hellhound 
  would be attacked here.
  In truth, the ordnance the run required could laughingly be 
  called an overreaction—even as a decoy.  Every combat drone 
  Fetch owned, save the X2, was either inside or flying above the 
  monstrous big rig. The truck itself carried a bristling arsenal of 
  mounted assault weapons. At a per drone cost, he was making 
  more today as a decoy than shadowrunners made in a dozen 
  runs. Fetch could only guess how many in the sprawling corpo-
  rate mess of Maersk knew what kind of nuyen his handler was 
  paying out for these simple transport jobs, or worse, how many 
  department heads were just like him.
  Fetch wondered idly if the demotion order came from Mr. 
  Brinkley or someone else. He didn’t like Brinkley. The man had 
  a rat face, and when he smiled, his mustache took on the curi-
  ous appearance of whiskers. They’d met through a broker who 
  helped freelance tech workers secure corporate jobs. They’d 
  found camaraderie in the trid shows they watched. It seemed 
  like the fixer cared more about whether they got along than 
  Fetch’s bonafides. Maybe he could lean on that camaraderie to 
  figure out how and why he got demoted.
  The rigger supposed he could take it easy now, slave the 
  drone set to autopilot, disconnect, and slot that new Mage-
  stone trid he’d been meaning to watch. He’d earned it. At this 
  point, what would be the harm? The company only monitored 
  the truck’s camera feeds. They’d have no way to know he’d 
  completely slacked off on the job. Still, Fetch wasn’t the type 
  to sandbag a run. No, he’d do the work and check in with Mr. 
  Brinkley in the morning, chat him up, maybe remind him how 
  much he appreciated the opportunity to work for Maersk. Run-
  ners acted like it was tough living in the shadows, but it took a 
  lot more finesse and effort to break into corporate life. It took 
  Fetch ten years to find his way into the corporate system, and 
  he was not ready to be unplugged.
  Near exit 347, a LoneStar AR security routine scanned his 
  big rig and the aerial drone marking its progress. His drones 
  came up with the RFID markings of Eastern Tiger Transport, a 
  6    >> HOME SECURITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  convenient lie in case he was pulled over. Like he did every 
  time a scan hit, he wondered if this was the time when he’d 
  finally be exposed as a gutterpunk climber living the good life 
  on a stolen SIN. 
  All of this—the life, the history, even the job—felt like lie piled 
  on top of lie. Lately he’d gotten in the habit of telling people he’d 
  done two military tours, and none of that commercial Desert 
  Wars shit either. The brass would tell him go fetch this, go fetch 
  that, and eventually the name just stuck. That was the lie he told. 
  And that lie led to the next one. Now here he was, out on the 
  road to nowhere hauling the illusion of something worth taking. 
  Except that was a lie too. 
  Fetch’s meat body wasn’t in the truck at all. Twenty years 
  ago he would have been riding a Kensai rig, his body buried 
  somewhere inside the tractor trailer, four gleaming ports wired 
  to four SOTA datajacks pumping hot feed straight to his cere-
  bral cortex. Twenty years ago he could’ve gotten around on his 
  own, run the op the way he had to—line of sight. Nowadays he 
  spent his hours laid up in a suburban split level wrapped in the 
  couture of near-do-wells and thought-I’d-do-much-better’s, 
  and relying on a double-insulated WAN to rig on a low-noise 
  bandwidth. The corporate life. Well, Auburn’s Valencia Hills com-
  munity was not quite corporate turf but it was close enough to 
  smell the LTG.
  The more he thought about the demotion, the angrier he 
  grew. Fetch wasn’t about to go backwards. He’d built a comfort-
  able life. Before Valencia, he had to worry about protecting his 
  doss through the night. Now the only thing he worried about 
  was, “Where’s my fracking pizza?”
  He said it out loud, the words slurring through chapped lips. 
  His hydration tube slipped free and slithered earthwards. He 
  cursed again and then a third time when he realized he couldn’t 
  reach it without sitting up. So the fat elf heaved himself for-
  ward, his tactical chair squealing and twisting in the process. He 
  almost wrenched the single remaining datajack out of his skull 
  and had to force himself under control, wheezing. Fetch’s con-
  dition was far past the point of a gym membership—the bet-
  ter option was to save up for muscle toner bioware that would 
  force his body to stay fit. Too bad he’d gone and blown that 
  nuyen on a new truck.
  The doorbell rang. 
  Fetch called up a panel of camera images and enlarged the 
  panel labeled “front door.” On the virtual screen was a punk kid 
  with a Knights of Rage t-shirt and a pizza wrapped in a urethane 
  foam sleeve. Fetch sighed with relief. He fired up an Aztech 
  Crawler—his mobile plate bot—and sent it toward the front of 
  the house. He moved to activate the front door, but then froze. 
  Something nagged at him.
  He refocused on the door cam again. Definitely the kid from 
  the last few times he ordered. Fetch tipped well, so the kid kept 
  coming back. Liked it. But now the kid was tapping his foot im-
  patiently, and he kept looking back to the car. Maybe he had a 
  girl there. The kid’s eyes then flicked to the right, off along the 
  front edge of the house. 
  >> HOME SECURITY <<    7
  BY MALIK TOMS
  (order #9639630)
  
  Fetch switched to a camera on the side of the house. He 
  couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary—only lawn, unused 
  porch, and the Anderson’s lawn just beyond. He flipped back to 
  the pizza boy, prepared to chalk the whole thing up to paranoia 
  inspired by a sudden demotion and too many hours in the chair. 
  The kid’s eyes flicked right again.
  Fetch raised his eyebrows and switched back to the side view 
  camera. That’s when he noticed a ripple of fabric. It blended so 
  perfectly with the evening shadows that he almost missed it. The 
  pizza boy was not alone.
  A throb of fear burned through Fetch’s chest. He could barely 
  make out the form of a man wearing a black balaclava and carrying 
  an uzi. Out front the kid rang a third time, nervous now. Fetch was 
  taking too long to answer. 
  The masked man stepped from the blind at the corner of the 
  house. A second emerged from the pizza kid’s Opel Luna. This 
  second man put a finger to his ear, muttered something, and an 
  Americar squealed into the driveway behind the tiny delivery ve-
  hicle. Fetch immediately checked in on his drone set. It had to be 
  a two-site attack. Hit the truck on the road and hit the rigger at 
  home, so the vehicular weapons systems couldn’t respond fast 
  enough. Back in the Puyallup days he would have been ready for 
  this, but these kinds of things didn’t happen in Valencia.  They hap-
  pened to shadowrunners, not to regular people like him. 
  The Maersk run was fine. Beyond too-heavy traffic, there was 
  nothing his spotter drone or Hellhound could see out of the ordi-
  nary. Was it a corporate action? They could be trying to take him 
  out from the home. Hit his WAN with a good enough hacker, and 
  you could take control of the whole drone set. It took every ounce 
  of courage he could muster to stop himself from firing up the ex-
  terior speakers and screaming, ‘I’m just the decoy!’ 
  He studied the two operators on the street and the other two 
  who’d just pulled up in the car. If they wanted to disrupt his WAN 
  and steal the Maersk load they’d need a hacker—maybe a rigger 
  too. These men were shooters, not hackers. So, what the hell were 
  they doing in his driveway?
  Fetch’s hand hovered over the AR command string for 911. 
  Local security response time was under four minutes in Valencia 
  Hills. He could hold out for that long on the strength of his home 
  security system. Still, it didn’t stop his heart from climbing up his 
  throat. Then the last man out of the vehicle tore away a strip of 
  black sheeting on the driver door, revealing the KE insignia be-
  neath. Fetch yanked his hand away from the command string like 
  he’d touched something hot. 
  They weren’t really Knight Errant Security, he was certain of 
  that, but a quick scan proved the RFID signatures coming off the 
  Americar looked real enough to back down the local security re-
  sponse. Valencia Hills residents were climbers by nature. They all 
  want into that enclave world—even the cops want the uniform up-
  grade and the pension it brought. They weren’t going to question 
  a corporate security action. Even if Fetch knew that wasn’t what 
  this was.
  The shooters were armed with uzis. They split into pairs, two 
  hopping the fence and moving into the backyard. The pair from 
  the car advanced quickly on the delivery driver. They bound his 
  hands and feet with zip ties and left him there, hogtied, in plain 
  view of the front door. 
  “Come on, Fetch. You have to think of something.” The rigger 
  muttered aloud, flipping through his drone manifest and scanning 
  the capabilities of everything in his arsenal. He had a trio of Steel 
  Lynxes armed to the teeth and sleeping in the back of his Mack 
  Hellhound almost two hundred miles away. The Dalmatian drone 
  providing air cover for that run was fast, but there was no way it 
  could make it back here in time. Nothing else on his list was combat 
  capable. Maybe the Optic-X2 in the garage, but it was still damaged 
  and ammo dry from that side job he’d covered for his old friend 
  Ellida a week back. Desperate, Fetch ran diagnostics on it anyway. 
  A moment after rebooting its system, he was convinced it would 
  never fly again. A waste. He hadn’t even been paid for that side job. 
  All he got for his trouble was a drone full of bullet holes and a hard 
  drive’s worth of surveillance data he hadn’t had time to analyze.
  Beneath the list of unavailable combat drones were a half-doz-
  en local signals, but they were all useless—worker bees serving 
  the one true king. The aforementioned plate bot, an Ares Duelist 
  stripped and modded to look like a butler he jokingly named Fri-
  day, a Frisbee-sized Sikorsky-bell microskimmer, a Horizon flying 
  eye no larger than an actual eye, and his BMW convertible in the 
  garage. He cursed out loud and beat his fist against the arm of his 
  command chair.
  Fetch had no way to defend himself. He didn’t even own a gun. 
  He had once, a Ruger Super Warhawk big enough that it felt like a 
  blow dryer in his hands. The day he got it, he drove to the woods 
  for target practice.  He turned it sideways like they did in the trideo 
  flicks, fired it at a tree, and the kickback snapped his wrist so hard 
  that he was in a brace for a month. He didn’t even know what hap-
  pened to the gun. It might still be in the dirt where he dropped it. 
  The two operators in the back were checking the windows and 
  French doors for a way in, but this rigger’s nest was very hard to 
  break into. With a wave of his hand, metal shutters slammed shut 
  over all of the windows and doors. Fetch cursed himself for not 
  adding offensive hardpoints to the house. At the time he’d ratio-
  nalized that the hardpoints were too conspicuous in the wageslave 
  world. Besides, when you worked with combat drones, you didn’t 
  need the extra offense.
  He sure needed it now.
  Fetch extended his digital web. He sent out feelers into the 
  Matrix to ping any other drones out there. It was a risk. Without a 
  hacker running overwatch, his WAN was only as safe as it was in-
  visible to intruding hackers. Fortunately, these guys hadn’t brought 
  one along—another clear sign they weren’t Knight Errant. 
  The residents of Valencia were PTO members and weekend 
  golfers with “my kid is on the honor roll” stickers plastered on 
  the back of their minivans. Fetch wasn’t expecting to find a fully 
  armed Roto-Drone lying around, so it wasn’t a surprise when the 
  only useful wi-fi signal came from next door. The Andersons had 
  bought their sixteen-year-old brat a used Strato-9 that was rust-
  ing away in the backyard. They told him about it over dinner once, 
  asking if he could teach the boy something about being a drone 
  hobbyist, which is what they clearly thought Fetch was. The drone 
  had no weapons to speak of, but with a 2700 engine RPM, the 
  rotors could be useful. 
  A plan started to take shape. Even though his drones weren’t 
  rated for use in this fashion, Fetch didn’t have a lot of choices. He 
  checked the position of the four operators one last time. The two 
  in the front were spread out on either side of the driveway. At the 
  back of the house, the men were still clumped together studying 
  the metal shutter on the back door. 
  He unshuttered a slit of a window in the upstairs bathroom. 
  The flying eye and microskimmer went through in quick succes-
  sion. It took a hard reboot to get the Strato-9 going, but the drone 
  8    >> HOME SECURITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  was airborne in a matter of seconds. The rigger already had the 
  drone’s protocols, from when he showed the teen how to fly the 
  outdated machine. He triggered his silent alarm, marked the time 
  at four minutes, and prayed God had a soft spot for elves. 
  Fetch jumped into the skin of the Flying Eye. He had more con-
  trol when he was fully immersed in the drone, and for what he 
  was attempting control was everything. He moved around to the 
  side of the house, keeping to the shade of the high trees. The op-
  erator on the far side of the driveway was making his way around 
  the side of the house, looking for any weak spot in the home’s 
  defenses. That distraction made him the target. Fetch lined him-
  self up with the man and zoomed the camera, searching the bala-
  clava-covered face for any sign that the man noticed him. Then 
  abruptly the rigger flung himself at the man, internal propulsion 
  unit straining to break 25 KPH. He tilted slightly, mentally bracing 
  for impact, and collided with the side of the man’s head. The im-
  pact sent a jolt of pain feedback up through wire into the rigger’s 
  real arms and legs, and he reflexively pulled back out of the drone. 
  The eye fell backwards and rattled to the ground. On the eye’s 
  camera, Fetch saw the man yowl and take a step back, training his 
  weapon on the tiny drone. The man leaned in closer, focused on 
  trying to figure out what had just hit him. It was only a moment, 
  but it was the moment Fetch needed. 
  The Strato-9 sliced out of the sky. The man heard it just before 
  it hit and jumped back, but the rotors connected with a wet chop 
  and stopped spinning. The drone hung there in mid air a moment 
  before crashing to the ground on top of the dead operator. 
  His partner screamed, “Man down. East side of the house!” 
  Fetch exhaled a quick sigh. He tried to raise the Flying Eye off the 
  ground, but a heavy boot slammed into the camera. Fetch winced, 
  watching several grand of mods and a lot of history grind into dust 
  on the pavement of his driveway. He couldn’t worry about that. 
  Living through this meant letting go of a lot more than an Eye.
  Fetch switched over to the BMW. He powered up and closed 
  the ragtop and mirrored windows. He gassed it, holding the break 
  until the tires spun fast enough to squeal, leaving smoking rub-
  ber marks on the garage floor. He threw up the garage shutter, 
  flipped into drive, and tore into the driveway at close to 47 KPH. 
  His prized car smashed into the Opel Luna, knocking the smaller 
  car backwards. Smoke and sparks puffed out from each vehicle. 
  From the cameras of the microskimmer, he could see the initial hit 
  hadn’t cleared enough room for his car to escape the driveway. 
  Fetch mentally backed the car up until he was touching the back 
  of his garage and then rammed the Luna again. That’s when the 
  three operators raced around the corner, leveled their guns on the 
  car, and unloaded their weapons. 
  They spread out in overlapping fields of fire, as he predicted. 
  As the bullets tore his prized car to shreds, he felt his heart beat 
  faster, fear seizing control. Now for the real risk. He jumped into 
  the microskimmer, taking careful aim. He spun toward them, iso-
  lating the guard farthest from the other two and crashed into his 
  gun arm, pushing the weapon and the live fire toward the other 
  two men. The force of impact against the man’s arm sent pain 
  down the wire like a bat to the side of the head. His cameras went 
  dark for a moment. When they came back online, a second gun-
  man was down, clutching his shoulder. Fetch barely had time to 
  back out of the microskimmer before gunfire tore it to shreds. 
  Echoes of dumpshock left him painfully disoriented. He tried des-
  perately to clear his head and focus on the garage-side camer-
  as. He came to his senses just in time to see the two remaining 
  operators running toward the open garage door. He lashed out 
  in AR, mashing the close button. As the door started to fall, the 
  closer of the two men dove through the entrance. Desperate, 
  Fetch urged the bullet-riddled sports car into reverse. It lurched 
  backwards on dying cylinders, catching the second operator in 
  the legs and knocking him off balance before he could start his 
  own dive. The armored garage door rattled shut. 
  “What the hell do you want with me?!” Fetch screamed.  Out-
  side, none of his neighbors dared to come out of their homes. 
  Fetch could see faces in the windows lit by their commlink screens 
  as they nervously keyed 911 or tried to film the event to share with 
  friends later when their safety was no longer at risk. In the dis-
  tance, police sirens warned of their arrival. The operator outside 
  banged his fists against the garage door in frustration. He knew 
  his Knight Errant car was meaningless now. It was one thing to be 
  told this was a police action, but a full-fledged firefight couldn’t be 
  fast-talked away.
  A warning flash in Fetch’s AR display reminded him that he had 
  an intruder. The other operator was still in the garage, crouched by 
  the X-2 drone, fishing around inside the hardware access panel. 
  He yanked something out and secured it in one of the pockets on 
  his combat vest. It might have been the memory core. 
  Fetch said, “Is that what this is about?” But it didn’t matter why 
  they were here anymore. The operator moved forward, slowly 
  sweeping his gun from left to right until he moved out of the ga-
  rage, out of camera range, and into the house proper. He could 
  hear the man moving steadily through his home, coming to kill 
  him. The rigger only had one card left to play. He fed a command 
  string to his plate bot and then jumped into his Ares Duelist. 
  The drone was sheathed in a black suit. It clomped awkwardly 
  down the hall, pausing just inside the doorway to the bedroom 
  Fetch used as his command center. At this distance, Friday almost 
  looked like a man. The traditional bulky samurai-styled armor plat-
  ing of the original model was gone, along with the sword hands. 
  These were replaced by one blunted tray arm and second du-
  al-jointed appendage with a fully articulated hand tuned for fine 
  manipulations. Fetch hoped they’d be enough to save his life. 
  The operator stepped into the long hallway leading to Fetch’s 
  command room. He cautiously moved forward, staying low, 
  weapon raised and ready.  Suddenly, plate bot skittered around 
  the corner and charged the gunmen. The man spun and fired. As 
  he did, Friday charged out of the command room on stumpy black 
  legs and crashed headlong into the operator. The man struggled 
  to get clear, but Friday’s articulated arm clamped down on his gun, 
  wrenching the weapon away. Then the heavy drone tipped and 
  fell on top of the man, pinning him to the ground. 
  Nearby, Fetch let out a cry of joy. It was over. He unhooked his 
  RCC cord and stood on legs wobbly from disuse. Fetch could hear 
  sirens right outside now. He walked toward the man slowly, using 
  the doorframe to steady himself.  If this were the trids, he would 
  stride out and stand over the fake cop, peel the gun from his fin-
  gers and turn it on him. He’d be in control, because he had won.
  As soon as Fetch stepped through the door, the fallen man 
  struggled to get his hand free to reach for a weapon. Fetch 
  flinched backwards into the room. He wasn’t a shadowrunner or a 
  trid character. He was a suburbanite who opened the door when 
  the cops knocked. As the local police flooded the hallway, Fetch 
  sighed and made sure his drones remained on mission. Tomor-
  row he’d call into his handler and try to fix things—right after he 
  upgraded his home security.  ✖
  >> HOME SECURITY <<    9
  (order #9639630)
  
  Stitcher jumped through the empty frame of the long-
  ago broken window and tucked into the nearest shad-
  owy corner. He could hear the thwupping of the rotors 
  outside, but he was sure he wasn’t spotted. 
  From his dark corner he began to scan around the 
  empty room for the slightest sign of movement or glint 
  of metal. The rigger on his tail was good. Whoever was 
  behind this drone armada that had been running him 
  ragged for the past six hours must have known the area 
  well. Every hideout and bolthole Stitcher knew was 
  quickly discovered by the mysterious being behind the 
  machines. 
  It all started with a trio of little tracked Crawlers. 
  Whoever was behind this had mounted some kind of 
  machine pistol on the Aztechnology drones. They rolled 
  out from behind some dumpsters in an alley and very 
  politely asked him to come with them. They opened fire 
  when Stitcher bolted into a nearby doorway.
  Five minutes later, when he thought he was total-
  ly clear, something landed on his back and crawled up 
  his jacket. It kept dodging his attempts to swing at it, 
  and it repeated the same polite surrender message 
  of the Crawlers. He was well aware that whoever was 
  controlling the little bug drone would be able to keep 
  tracking him and eventually bring in something bigger. 
  While he wasn’t a fan of angering the rigger by trashing 
  his drones, he also wasn’t a fan of getting dragged in 
  for whatever this rigger wanted, so the decision to slam 
  his back against a wall took some time to make. When 
  the shattered remains of the drone fell to the concrete, 
  Stitcher decided to go dark and head for the hills.
  He hailed a cab, paid upfront for the trip, and then 
  shut down his commlink while the cabbie took him 
  out to the edge of the Barrens. From there he popped 
  into a local bar he knew, slipped a local driver a hun-
  dred nuyen and got a ride out of Touristville and over 
  to Fall City. 
  Even though it was dark, whoever was after him kept 
  finding him. Under Construction, a skeevy bar in Fall City, 
  held a pesky little Spyball that tried to gas him. The run-
  down apartment over Yang’s Grocery had a little cock-
  roach drone creeping under the door. The warehouse 
  office he’d first found when he was a teenager running 
  from a mom who drank too much and had way too many 
  boyfriends was discovered by a trio of those flying trash 
  can lids. His last bolthole, a squatter den where the floor 
  crunched from the layer of used up BTLs, was where the 
  Roto-Drone had found him.
  Despite his exhaustion, he knew he had to move on. 
  But he was quickly running out of hiding spots.
  Lynx swore as he lost sight of the target again. Mr. 
  Johnson was going to be pissed if this guy got aced, but 
  every time Lynx made an effort to communicate, this 
  Stitcher twit freaked out and ran. Lynx had taken the 
  gig solo because he knew he had the tools, but now he 
  was down several of those tools. He lost three Crawl-
  ers after saving the twit target’s hide from gunners that 
  Lynx still wasn’t sure how the guy had spotted; he lost 
  his Fly-Spy when the guy crushed it against a wall; his 
  SpyBall got bricked by a hacker in Under Construction 
  after Lynx tried to just KO the target for an easy pick-up; 
  his Kanmushi was still stuck under the heavy sweatshirt 
  the target had tossed on it; and now his Roto-Drone was 
  under attack by some Barrens hacker.
  It was days like this Lynx actually considered getting 
  some meat teammates. 
  Maybe this Stitcher guy would be available once Mr. 
  Johnson was done with him.  
  RIGGER 5.0
  HOT RUBBER  
  AND COLD STEEL
  10    >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  RIGGING 101
  I don’t care what you’ve seen on the trid or heard from 
  a friend of a friend. Sliding into a fully rigger-ready ride 
  is like no other experience you will ever have. It’s bet-
  ter than Better-Than-Life, it’s hotter than novacoke, it’s 
  calmer than zen, it’s more visceral than even the most 
  UV simfeed. Rigging is living. If you’ve never rigged, 
  you’ve never lived.
  Two millennia ago, the Romans conquered over 2.7 
  million square kilometers by understanding the value of 
  mobility. Roads were referred to as the arteries of the em-
  pire. The Sixth World doesn’t limit mobility to roads, but 
  the value hasn’t changed. Now, it’s not about the roads, 
  but about the riggers. Riggers make the world go ’round. 
  Dramatic, I know, but it’s the truth these days. Wheth-
  er it’s operating the drones that patrol the borders or 
  the ones delivering your take-out, riggers are all around 
  you. I know trid shows skew the public view. They make 
  every rigger look like some hot-shot rig-jock breaking 
  all the rules for the forces of good or maniacal terrorist 
  flying an army of drones to take over the world. They 
  occasionally gloss over the security rigger as he gets 
  trumped by the slick decker or runner rigger. They don’t 
  take into account the guy running the construction site, 
  the dock, the freighter, or the one covering all the piz-
  za-delivery drones. For every hotshot out there, there 
  are a score of Everyday Joes. 
  But the wisest of those Everyday Joes know some-
  thing most people don’t. They know the truth of that 
  opening paragraph. Rigging is being your ride. It’s not 
  steering, piloting, shifting, pushing buttons, or pressing 
  the pedals. It’s running, flying, swimming, pushing your 
  limits, and feeling everything like it’s your own flesh and 
  blood out there. Those Everyday Joes chose to trade a 
  little piece of themselves and a big chunk of nuyen so 
  that they can control their vehicles with the same pre-
  cision that they control their thoughts. On top of that, 
  every one of them has a sim system like no other, and 
  plenty of them have slipped the doc a little on the side 
  to make sure the feeds go nova hot. It’s a job, a rush, 
  and—usually—an addiction all wrapped into one. 
  While drones are the most common vehicle for a rig-
  ger to jump into, every vehicle out there can be outfitted 
  with the electronics needed for a rigger to take precise 
  control. Most of the time they let the vehicle operate 
  on its regular pilot program because there just aren’t 
  enough riggers in the world to be jumped into every 
  drone, all the time. They only hop in when something 
  really spectacular is needed. Or they feel like. A lot of 
  riggers feel much more comfortable in their ride than in 
  their own skin. If you see a drone that was built after the 
  ’40s, you can expect there’s a rigger somewhere on its 
  network. If there’s a vehicle that does anything danger-
  ous, menial, demanding, precise, or extraordinary, you 
  can expect a rigger there too. 
  Besides the perpetual access to unique sim feeds, 
  the riggers of the world are usually gearheads or tech-
  heads at heart. They may have started out life fiddling 
  with their parents’ car or taking apart every drone toy 
  they got for their birthday. They don’t just want to fix, 
  drive, or make it better, they want to be it. They chose 
  the life of a rigger because they were called to get inside 
  their ride. Not just in the seat or under the hood, but in its 
  heart. Riggers know that vehicles have souls. There is the 
  rare case that simply took it on as a job because it was 
  available. Corporations offer big incentives to riggers 
  beyond just the expensive augmentations because they 
  know their true value. But even when this is the case, it 
  doesn’t take long for the rigger to get hooked. It’s the 
  ultimate level of control.      
  That control comes from three pieces of equipment 
  working in perfect tandem. One in the rigger, one with 
  the rigger, and one wherever the hell the rigger wants it to 
  go. The control rig is what makes a rigger a rigger and not 
  just a remote operator. It’s the headware that allows the 
  rigger out of their meat body and into the vehicle’s met-
  al. Sensations are translated into something the mind is 
  used to feeling, and the rigger gets to be the vehicle. The 
  control rig connects to one of two things, either straight 
  into whatever the rigger is controlling or into the rigger 
  command console (RCC). That straight connection makes 
  it only two pieces of equipment, the rigger and their ride, 
  but it’s good to point out the ride needs the right equip-
  ment. Most riggers run the other way, through the RCC, 
  because that way they aren’t limited to just one ride. The 
  RCC creates a wireless network where the rigger can hop 
  into any of the vehicles he’s got connected. Then there’s 
  >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<    11
  (order #9639630)
  
  the vehicles themselves. Cars, trucks, tanks, and other ve-
  hicles that are normally manually operated need special 
  equipment for riggers to truly use them. They can drive 
  them via remote, but to jump in they need to be rigger 
  adapted. A rigger adaptation kit consists of special sen-
  sors and equipment that lets the rigger feel the ride and 
  the ride respond to the rigger. It’s standard on drones, be-
  cause nobody can climb inside most of those. When that 
  trio of gear is operating smoothly, riggers make their rides 
  do the improbable.
  The expense of equipment, programs, augmen-
  tations, and drones means most riggers work for the 
  corporations. Some big governments have riggers on 
  staff, too, but more often than not they’re renting a rig-
  ger from a corporation. The only place to consistently 
  find them is the military or national security agencies. 
  With the corps, it could be a construction company, a 
  security firm, a public or private transportation service, 
  a police force, or a myriad of other areas that rely on 
  drones or specialized vehicles or that deal with hazard-
  ous situations, because it’s cheaper to lose a drone than 
  a trained tech. Riggers work for whoever will give them 
  the chance to play with the latest tech, jump into the 
  hottest machines, or just look the other way when they 
  spike their feeds to get a little rush. 
  Riggers work on every continent and in every body 
  of water on Earth. They work in orbit and on the Moon. 
  They work on Mars and even out in space. Riggers work 
  in every condition. They swim into volcanoes and deep 
  beneath the Arctic ice. They fly nape-of-the-earth trips, 
  launch into orbit, and zip along everywhere in between. 
  They rip up the earth with tracks, treads, tires, and turbo-
  fans. They walk the world on mechanical legs to reach 
  the highest peaks, the deepest chasms, and the darkest 
  forests. There is nowhere a rigger can’t—or won’t—go.
   
  THE RIGGER EXPERIENCE 
  Now that you’ve gotten my view of rigging, I’d like to 
  toss out the views of some friends with very specific 
  experiences. They’ve introduced themselves in each 
  piece, but I’d like to remind everyone here that none 
  of these guys are runners. These are real-world riggers. 
  Rigging the shadows is a whole different animal that I’ll 
  cover later.  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  12    >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<    13
  MY NAME IS ALLEN WALTERS, and I’m a CAS Navy rigger. 
  That’s what we call ourselves. We have an official title that breaks 
  down into a bunch of letters, but based on what I heard from the 
  guy who asked me to do this, the readers don’t care. They want 
  to know what it’s like to be one with the machines, especially 
  the hottest milspec tech machines out there. I’ll tell you, it’s like 
  nothing you’ve ever felt before. Each type of rigging is different. 
  I’ve flown drones, planes, helicopters, and VTOLs; sailed skiffs, 
  tugs, cruisers, and subs; and every one brings a different rush. 
  And not just the different types, each different craft has its own 
  feel. They all make you feel like a superhero. Sometimes you’re 
  flying faster than sound, other times you’re hovering over a scene 
  and blasting away at the enemy or diving beneath the surface to 
  creep up undetected. 
  I handle air and water myself. I don’t do much land time except 
  for the occasional duck, but those are never dirtdigging for long. 
  Water’s my favorite. There’s just something about the peace of the 
  depths or the roll of the waves as you glide along. The freedom of 
  life without roads or lanes. Feeling the coolness of the water like 
  it’s gliding over your whole body or knowing when you’re hiding 
  under the thermocline because you can feel it as you pass. All 
  that keeps me coming back. The sky has its freedoms as well, 
  but it’s not peaceful. The ever-present battle with gravity tinges 
  everything, but it also tweaks the rush just a little more. One wrong 
  move and gravity’s got you, pulling you down, but I’m a rigger. 
  Falling doesn’t mean hitting the ground. The rush is there, but I’ve 
  got tricks that channel th rush for my good. I can let gravity take 
  me and drop like a rock. It’s a move that would have stick-jockeys 
  pulling the ejector cord, but I can hold out and then pop right back 
  up in the fight. 
  Rigging is a rush, rigging is peace.
  Rigging is living.
  I’M RICHARD LINCOLN, but people call me Goggles. I’m not 
  a combat pilot or a police rigger, I’m just a guy with a control rig. 
  I like to call myself a freelance rigger. I’m not a shadowrunner 
  or anything. I just work for lots of different people rigging lots of 
  different rides. I’m kind of the jack-of-all-trades rigger. I often 
  operate several different vehicles in one day. Most people get 
  what I do confused with simple remote commanding but I only 
  offer my services to people who want me jumped in. Sometimes 
  it’s a rich executive who wants me as his car or plane because 
  he likes that extra feeling of security. I’ve worked as a camera 
  drone for a famous trid star who wanted a real person snapping 
  her photos for the red carpet walk. I’ve handled cargo runs for 
  drone delivery services because they need to use different routes 
  to avoid trouble. I’ve handled taking out a billionaire’s yacht filled 
  with drones and spent the whole time in the engine room because 
  he didn’t want his guests to see any staff but he wanted his drones 
  to be extra responsive. I like doing recovery dives in subdrones 
  for people who’ve lost valuables overboard or who like hunting 
  for imaginary treasure but don’t know how to drive a submersible. 
  I do it all. Rigging is my life and my living.  
  I’M DESIKA “DIZZY” MONTGOMERY, a rigger for DocWagon’s 
  High Threat Response teams. Being a rigger for DocWagon is 
  a special gig. I can be the angel of mercy or the angel of death, 
  depending which side of the bracelet your on. I started the same 
  way we all do, on a rig. In this case a regular old Ford ambulance. 
  Nothing special. I was an EMT rolling in and checking on our 
  “Golden Oldies,” as we call them. I grew up working on my dad’s 
  old truck, and it only took six months before the garage stopped 
  sending me on runs and kept me back slapping duct tape on the 
  rigs to keep them running. For all you who don’t know, medical 
  folks call ambulances “rigs.” Got nothing to do with rigging like a 
  rigger—it’s just a nickname. Time in the garage gives you a chance 
  to see “them,” those clean-dressed, slicked-hair gods that run the 
  Ospreys and Black Mariah’s. They give you a little nod as they pass, 
  and you want to just scream and ask for an autograph. 
  That was then. I am one now, and I’m not sure where the 
  glamour went. I just know can’t find it. Might be that I run an HTR 
  team on the edge of hell and they were working the downtown 
  beat but the point is the awe. And the start. I applied for my 
  control rig before my first year was up and I got it during my third. 
  I thought I was ready to go then, but boy was I a dim bulb. Training 
  took me out of the field for almost another year, but by the end 
  I was certified in everything. But understand, certified doesn’t 
  mean squat. When I finished training I could operate DocWagon’s 
  vehicles. Now that I’ve had a decade on the streets, I can make a 
  Black Mariah dance the tango, while running a perimeter with a 
  quad of rotos, and bringing in a Osprey for a hot scoop. 
  I can fly in, roll in, or buzz in and every one feels just a little 
  different. Every one has its little perks. Whether I’m chuffing along 
  as a big Osprey and feel like the biggest beast on the block or zipping 
  down an alley as a Roto-Drone to run off a hostile, I can get whatever 
  feeling I want from the range of rigs DocWagon has to offer.  
  Do I miss patching them up? Maybe a little. But I can save 
  dozens of lives at once by handling my rigs. I wouldn’t give up 
  rigging for anything. It’s the reason I get up every night with a 
  smile and a bounce in my step.
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  14    >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<
  MY NAME IS SGT. GUTHRIE MICHAELSON, but my squadies 
  call me Gunmetal. I operate close-quarters mechanized support 
  for the CAS Army. That means I’m an Army rigger, but I specialize 
  in close-quarters drone operations. I’m not the Wandjina Vagina 
  dropping ordnance from a few klicks up, or the MPUV driver 
  dropping the squad in a hotzone, or the Stonewall rigger popping 
  off ordnance into random buildings to make myself feel useful. I’m 
  the guy who’s right there with my squad as they kick in doors and 
  clear a room. I’m their eyes in the sky, making sure they’ve got a 
  clean way out. And if the way gets dirty, I’m the first one there 
  with the broom to sweep it clean. 
  I run everything from the SpyBall they’re each hauling to the 
  Condor overhead, keeping an eye on everything. They especially 
  love when I run the Lynx and kick in doors right by their side, or run 
  the Dalmatians through their paces to keep the whole zone clean. 
  Being a rigger is being part of the team—a big part of the team. 
  My drones pack more ordnance than the whole squad combined 
  and when they get hit, they don’t bleed. I make the sacrifices if I 
  can. But if I do my job right, it’s a moot point. Nobody gets hurt. 
  Well, nobody on my side. 
  I always have a tough time describing what it actually 
  feels like, because it feels just like how it feels. The rig and the 
  adaptations make it all feel natural. Take the Fly-Spy. I could 
  describe it as flying and that seems obvious, but that only works 
  for me. Problem is, it’s the only way I can describe it. It feels totally 
  natural, as if I’m an insect with wings and little legs, and I’m flying. 
  I think “up,” but what I really mean is “increase wing flap speed, 
  alter wing angle, shift head and thorax angle, tuck back legs,” and 
  dozens of other things that we don’t really think about; they’re just 
  things we do when we move. It’s like having a whole new body 
  every time. Roto-Drones give you the strange sensation of being 
  upside down but right-side up all at once, like your legs are above 
  your shoulders and your head is upright—but it’s located at the 
  bottom of your torso. It sounds completely unnatural, but it feels 
  totally normal while you’re jumped in. I like the Steel Lynx best. 
  It makes me feel like I’m right in there with my guys, and I’m one 
  tough SOB. It’s the posture that really does it, though. I feel like I’m 
  prowling and spitting fire. 
  I can’t make it all sound good. I’ve been dropped off duty for 
  detox plenty of times when I get addicted to the feeds. A little 
  physical activity never killed anybody, but you sure feel like it will 
  after a few months of doing all your rocking and rolling with your 
  brain. It’s a balance, but at least they let us go back to getting our 
  fix on after a little while off. They’d lose too many of us, too quickly 
  if we washed out every time we got addicted to the sim. Best to 
  just accept it. We do.
  FIRST OFF, I’M DALE EARNHARDT V. If ya ain’t never heard 
  of me I’m the great-great-grandson of the famous “Intimidator.” 
  Also, you’ve been livin’ under a rock. Bein’ the sixth generation 
  of racer in NASCAR was all I wanted when I was young, and my 
  early success was nice. It just wasn’t enough. While NASCAR 
  kept a lot of the same rules for over a century, lots of thangs have 
  changed elsewhere in racing. That’s why I got my SpIntimidator 
  control rig and moved over to the Formula 1 circuit. Now I’m not 
  just a driver—I am the car. I’ll admit, the crashes hurt more, but 
  the rush of the speed and control I have when rocketing around 
  Monaco makes the 220 curve at Talladega feel like your sittin’ at 
  home on the couch in Louisiana watchin’ paint dry. 
  It’s not just the speed. Everyone’s seen my ’75 French 
  GrandPrix finish where I dropped back, clipped Gerhardt’s wheel, 
  did a 360 spin and twist over the finish line, and landed flat on all 
  four wheels. Some call me a liar, but that was on purpose. I took 
  the fine just to prove a point to the world of why F1 racing makes 
  any oval-rolling meat drive race look like kids play. Those are the 
  tricks we can pull off. Had to wait to the finish, because I didn’t 
  even make a victory lap on those busted spindles, but that’s the 
  next evolution. Give me a ride that can take that beating, and I’ll 
  give you the ultimate race. 
  Riggin’ changed the world. Some parts just ain’t caught up yet.
  YOU DON’T KNOW ME, BUT YOU WILL KNOW MY NAME. I’m 
  Aleksya “Spider” Watada, and being a rigger is all I’ve ever known. 
  I was born with no arms or legs and too much nerve damage to 
  get cyberlimbs. I was born into the Watada-rengo, and while I was 
  born the double negative of a girl and a gimp, I was cherished by 
  my mother who had lost many before me. My state is a compromise 
  between a father who wanted resources and a mother willing to do 
  anything to have a child. What is that state? I had my first control 
  rig implanted before I’d lived a year. I’m sure my father had figured 
  I wouldn’t survive, but I did. I’ve cost him hundreds of thousands of 
  nuyen over the years, but I’ve made him millions. 
  Rigging for me is more than just controlling vehicles—it’s my 
  natural state of motion. I’ve adapted over the years, and while I 
  have no arms or legs I have a mind that doesn’t stop. I earned my 
  name, not by being the security spider for some corporation, but 
  for the legs and arms I built for myself. Yes, I am that Spider.  
  I drive for the Watada-rengo, and I am their best. I’ll admit 
  others are better with many of the drones we use, but my skills 
  there are adequate, and I know how to command them to best 
  serve my driving. When I’m in control, I am a prima-ballerina no 
  matter how bulky the armored limo that is my metal flesh. I’ve 
  never done ballet, obviously, but I’ve stood in awe at its grace. I 
  know what it looks like, and that’s what I see on the faces of those 
  who see me drive.
  (order #9639630)
  
  RIGGING THE SHADOWS
  Something that is very important to know—riggers can 
  do it all, even magic! They have such a wide array of tech 
  and systems to control and command it all, and they can 
  act as a one-man runner team. Is it ever that easy? Not 
  usually. Do they need the skillset of a trid-show spy? 
  Probably. But they could if they put their mind to it. How-
  ever, what they usually do is select a particular area of 
  rigging and get really good at that. They’ll have some 
  other skills and usually a decent understanding of every-
  thing a rigger could do, but these are the real shadows, 
  not some made-up game or trid show. Riggers can fill in 
  or back-up just about any spot on a runner team. They 
  aren’t just the transport, and sometimes aren’t the trans-
  port at all, but let’s take a look at what having a rigger 
  around is going to do for your team.
  Transportation is the first thing that always comes to 
  mind when vetting good riggers for a job. The key is re-
  membering that riggers aren’t all wheelmen. When you 
  see your rigger roll up to the meet in a tricked-out Bull-
  dog, your first thought is probably about how chill it is 
  that you can all stick together, but the reality is probably 
  a cargo area with enough space to fix the drones that are 
  racked and stacked. If you want your rigger to help with 
  transport, get your ride adapted for them so they can 
  make the best use of it.
  I can hear the response already from that last line. 
  “But we hire the rigger so we can trash their vehicle be-
  cause they can fix it!” Don’t be that runner. Riggers ar-
  en’t all mechanics, and even the ones that are don’t like 
  spending all their spare nuyen patching bullet holes and 
  painting over scorch marks and scratches. They can also 
  do the same for your ride, too. And your car probably 
  isn’t full of expensive electronics and gear that doesn’t 
  respond well to ricocheting lead. 
  Riggers trained in this area are great to have around 
  for transportation, but remember, I said “trained,” and 
  remember to check what modes of transportation they 
  operate. Riggers can specialize or be a jack of all trades, 
  and it’s important to know what they operate and what 
  they don’t. If you’re looking for someone good at han-
  dling tight urban streets, make sure they drive an Ameri-
  car, not a Vista. If you happen to be looking for a rigger 
  to do a rooftop extract, make sure they’ve got an Osprey 
  and not a Banshee. If your team needs a ride from the 
  Emerald City to Bug City, make sure they’re using a Ber-
  gen and not a Xenon. Transport is one of the easiest jobs 
  for a good rigger if they have the right equipment.
  Riggers aren’t a one-size-fits-all group of guys and 
  gals. They’re as varied and specialized as the muscle 
  you’re running with. The only thing every rigger has in 
  common is that control rig. Like everything else, you 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<    15
  NAME’S JOE MANIAITIS, and I work for Mitsuhama 
  Construction as an industrial site rigger. Most people hear rigger 
  and think about crazy flying and driving tricks. That’s not me. I 
  rig for precision. It’s actually quite funny, because I’m usually 
  operating 100 tons of machine clinging to the side of a mining or 
  construction operation using connectors you could fit in the palm 
  of your hand, but that’s my job. Well, part of my job. The other part 
  is the opposite end where I’m running the demo-drone setting up 
  a blast, or buzzing into a shaft to check stability and air quality. 
  I’m not what most expect of a rigger. Nothing I do is fancy, and 
  my drones are just tools. I use them like extra bodies to get me 
  to places it isn’t safe to hang out, sometimes literally. They’re an 
  extension of me, and full of tools to put my skills to use. I’ve only 
  run the sim feed over the redline once, and it was to make sure 
  my weld was perfect. I spend too much time in dangerous places 
  where anything can go wrong to risk frying my brain.
  TRYING TO DESCRIBE RIGGING IS LIKE TRYING TO 
  DESCRIBE SEX. It’s always good, but it’s the inexplicable 
  nuances of each partner that make it unique. Each car is like 
  a new partner. I’m Everett Holtun, Transportation Security 
  Specialist with SecureTech, Inc. I operate primarily around the 
  Chicago sprawl, so I’ve seen some crazy things in my time but 
  being a rigger gives you a special set of skills and abilities one 
  doesn’t have when they operate a vehicle manually or even via 
  standard remote control. 
  Let me clear a few points up early on. I don’t use an RCC, 
  because I do one thing and one thing only: I drive. I’d like to claim 
  I’m the best at what I do, but I’m smart, not cocky. I know I’m good, 
  but I also know someone else could be better, and keeping that in 
  mind is one of my cardinal rules. I only drive two cars. A slightly 
  modified 2075 Saab Dynamit and a heavily modified Mitsubishi 
  Nightsky. The Saab is for those single clients willing to forsake the 
  spacious back of a limo, while the Nightsky is for everybody else. 
  I’ve driven others over the years and I’m eye-balling the Gladius 
  and some new security vehicles that are coming out, but right 
  now these two are my girls. I know every inch of them. 
  These two points give me a very focused perspective on 
  rigging. I’m always about putting the rubber to the road when the 
  time comes. I feel the grip of the tires like pressure on my palms 
  and feet. I know how far I can tip it before I go on two wheels and 
  how far before I flip clean over. I can pop a door or push my shocks 
  to make sure I roll back onto my wheels and keep moving. I can 
  skim through an alley at a 100 kph while aggressively diverting 
  pursuit with onboard weapons or just keep rolling in traffic while I 
  spot a sniper and call in support. All done as naturally as walking 
  and talking.
  (order #9639630)
  
  have to know who you’re talking to and what you’re 
  looking for to get the right ride at the right time. Let’s 
  move on and look at a few other roles the rigger can 
  flesh out for a team.      
  Surveillance is often confused with reconnaissance. 
  I cover the second one later, but riggers are especially 
  well equipped to perform surveillance. They’re good at 
  reconnaissance, too, don’t get me wrong, but I’ll cover 
  that later as I said. 
  See what I did there? I repeated something just to 
  get you to think about it, and possibly distract you. That’s 
  how a mark throws off a tail or gets them to reveal them-
  selves, but a rigger isn’t limited to just one tail. A rigger 
  will run several tails at once so that when one would be 
  burned by a double-back, another can pick up the trail. 
  A regular surveillance team could consist of half a doz-
  en people trying to work in coordination to pull that 
  off, while one rigger can have a dozen drones that he’s 
  jumping between and keeping on a rotation. Half a doz-
  en people trying to coordinate, or one person running 
  the whole show. Advantage rigger.
  A rigger brings a wide range of surveillance options 
  to a runner team. In urban environments, there are very 
  few places that a drone or a vehicle won’t blend in with 
  the background, given it is the right kind. Using a se-
  ries of them, spread all around, is the advantage a rig-
  ger has over traditional surveillance. Drones are easy 
  to deploy, leave stationed on a rooftop, flow within the 
  dronestream, float among the other advertisements, or 
  sit so high up they are indistinguishable from the sky. In 
  rural areas, the options are different. Riggers will trade the 
  usual, one among many, method of blending in for being 
  unseen or blending in in a different way. Out here they 
  can use smaller drones to stay hidden or disguised within 
  nature. They can use camouflage in the form of tradition-
  al shape-breaking methods or more advanced ruthenium 
  polymer or ElectroPaint options to hide almost anywhere. 
  The most common change a rigger will make with rural 
  surveillance is distance. With advanced optics and mi-
  crophones, their drones can be a kilometer away and still 
  see and hear everything going on with a target. Distance 
  combined with the right paint job and the rigger is gold-
  en. Traditional methods can do similar things, but again 
  require large amounts of personnel coordination over 
  even longer distances. Once again, advantage rigger. 
  Not only can riggers take on the role of surveillance, 
  but they tend to be the superior option to traditional 
  methods. Now, hackers can work a lot of similar areas by 
  snagging camera feeds or taking over drones from their 
  standard users, but hackers have the issue of GOD. A 
  rigger operates without the coding designed to draw the 
  attention of authorities. Not that GOD has never blasted 
  a rigger out of the Matrix—it has happened—but at no-
  where near the frequency of hackers getting the boot 
  and scoop.  
  Next up, combat rigging. Who needs an angsty, 
  anti-social, over-cybered street samurai, or prissy, hy-
  per-zen adept when you can have an army of drones 
  with no anger issues, the ability to follow orders and 
  execute a plan, no drama, and best of all, no itchy trig-
  ger fingers. Riggers can easily replace the muscle on a 
  runner team with drones that lack the chemical miasma 
  that is the human psyche. They may not be able to solve 
  some problems that require lateral thinking, but they can 
  quickly be commanded to execute whatever solution 
  the rest of the team or the rigger decides on. 
  With drones of all shapes, sizes, and combat potential, 
  riggers also have the potential of bringing a much wider 
  range of options to the solutions table. A microdrone, or 
  even a small swarm of them, with small gas payloads, 
  a dart, electrical discharge, or chemical syringe stinger 
  can go in quiet to take out guards just like that former 
  corporate operative who no one trusts because he lives 
  a life of secrecy. Minidrones pack a little more punch or 
  versatility in the same role. Larger drones often become 
  more specialized, but riggers do a lot of customizations 
  that blend into the original design but add features that 
  are useful to the specific job. These can often be snuck 
  in as service drones for a building or personal assistants, 
  and then they deploy their hidden talents once inside 
  the facility. These talents can be quite exceptional when 
  they are directly inhabited by the rigger. 
  The most obvious advantage the rigger brings in 
  terms of being the team’s combat support is numbers in 
  a direct assault. While we are called shadowrunners, in-
  sinuating some level of stealth in our activities, open and 
  obvious violence is often the only solution some people 
  see. Here riggers are like military fire support. They can 
  bring in several drones with commands for suppression 
  or specific targeting. They can arm them with a range of 
  weapons and ammunitions to cover several contingen-
  cy plans. They can be commanded to stop firing, switch 
  targets, move, cover a new area, charge straight in, and 
  even self-destruct without any argument, attitude, delay, 
  or hesitation, all with a single thought from the rigger. 
  The single greatest thing a rigger brings to any run-
  ner team in terms of combat prowess is the ability to 
  sacrifice without regret. Yes, there are some riggers out 
  there who grow very attached to their drones and would 
  never let anyone send them in on a suicide mission, but 
  most riggers understand that drones are expendable as-
  sets that can easily be replaced, unlike metahuman lives. 
  The team that uses the rigger as their combat support 
  will rarely know that moment of saying tearful goodbyes 
  to the one member who needs to stay back and hold off 
  the oncoming wave while the rest of the team escapes, 
  because the rigger will happily wade into the maelstrom 
  in his synthetic shell to hold off the opposition. Even 
  if they “die,” it’s an unpleasant, but rarely fatal, case of 
  dumpshock and they’re back in action. Again, I have to 
  say, advantage rigger.
  I moved reconnaissance down here, though it was 
  mentioned above, because I’m trying to progress down 
  the order of what riggers tend to be best at handling 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  16    >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  versus other team members. When it comes to recon-
  naissance, riggers are great. They have a range of drones 
  with an abundance of sensor systems that can get every 
  drop of intel on a target person or site. I move it down 
  here because, I’ll admit, this is often just as easily done 
  by others with similar sensors and equipment as you’d 
  find on the drone. And since most reconnaissance re-
  quires getting somewhere and then watching or record-
  ing, drones and metahumans both have their strengths 
  and weaknesses. 
  Riggers are perfect for stealthy flybys with an aircraft 
  or drone. They can record the data they take in and ei-
  ther feed it back instantly or bring it back after they’re 
  done. Long-range sensor systems make this easier, but 
  those same systems can be employed by the opposi-
  tion. Drones offer a way to feed the data back right up 
  to the point that the target notices and hides or destroys 
  the drone. Loss of a drone is better than loss of a life 
  inside an aircraft.
  On the ground, a rigger can get a drone into place 
  and watch, but they are limited to the power life of the 
  drone. People may get cold, uncomfortable, or cranky, 
  but they can bring something along to easily replenish 
  their energy in the field. Yes, they may have to sleep, 
  but hiding and sleeping is a better option than needing 
  to travel back and recharge or refuel, especially when it 
  comes to long-term reconnaissance, because spotting 
  something that is out of place is all it takes to blow the 
  recon—especially if the thing is seen more than once. 
  When it comes to going into a facility for reconnais-
  sance, drones cannot always replace people, but they al-
  ways offer the less costly option for failure. If a person is 
  caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, the recon 
  is blown and the person needs to get out. If a drone falls 
  into the same situation, the recon is still blown, but the 
  drone can be abandoned. Yes, people can talk their way 
  out, but that’s why this is down here. It’s a job a rigger 
  can cover for the team, but it isn’t the best option when 
  considering which area of the team to leave in the hands 
  of the rigger and which part you’re going to need to split 
  the payday on.
  Much like reconnaissance, infiltrating a site to get 
  someone or something can be handled by a rigger with 
  the right tools. That’s important to mention again, that 
  it’s all about the right rigger with the right tools. The 
  wrong rigger or the wrong tools means they aren’t going 
  to cover the gap. 
  Infiltrating for a data steal is the best option for a rig-
  ger. They can take in a micro or minidrone that can get 
  wherever the team needs and get access for the hacker 
  to do their part. Move up to larger drones to imperson-
  ate (or would it be imdroneate?) a drone on site, and it’s 
  again just a matter of getting the drone to the right place 
  for the right access. Doors and other passage barriers 
  are often an issue for a drone, but small drones can hide 
  on the person or within the briefcase of someone going 
  into the building. Options like this could involve plant-
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> HOT RUBBER AND COLD STEEL <<    17
  (order #9639630)
  
  ing the drone on an employee or the cooperation of the 
  team’s infiltration specialist and the rigger to get in and 
  use the drone to keep the access inconspicuous.
  Infiltrating in order to grab something physical is 
  tougher. The imposter drone method above might work 
  if some method of getting the drone in and out can be 
  developed. A mixed method with rigger and infiltration 
  specialist to get the item and then plant it in a drone to 
  head out, especially in the case of a rapid, non-standard 
  exit, like out a window or quickly from a rooftop is ideal 
  to keep the meat partner from walking out with the pack-
  age. Special consideration should be given to a rigger 
  skilled with anthroform drones, especially some of the 
  lighter and stealthier models, that can be used to sneak 
  around just like a metahuman, but again cost no loss of 
  life if they are caught. Expense of these drones is some-
  thing to consider, and the need for the rigger to possess, 
  or be guided by someone with, appropriate training in 
  infiltration techniques makes it more rare and expensive. 
  Which is another reason infiltration is so low in this list. 
  This would be one of those no-advantage calls.
  Riggers are not hackers. They may occasionally par-
  take in a little warfare on the airwaves, but their normal 
  equipment, the RCC, is not configured to be a cyber-
  deck. That’s what cyberdecks are for. Of all things. That 
  said, a rigger can manage to fill in a few of the aspects 
  your hacker handles and can convincingly work to sty-
  mie the efforts of opposing hackers, though often at a 
  cost. Let’s look at the two instances and try to help you 
  develop an understanding of when your team’s rigger 
  can cover a job and when you need to just cough up the 
  cash for a real hacker.
  Hackers are often asked to obstruct the communica-
  tions of the opposition, handle the monitoring and se-
  curing of the team’s communications, gain and provide 
  access to video or audio feeds from nearby or inside a 
  facility, and help in accessing and bypassing electronic 
  locks and security measures. The order above is inten-
  tional. The four areas are in the order in which a rigger 
  tends to best be able to cover in some capacity. 
  The easiest is obstructing communications. Due to 
  the nature of modern communications and the process-
  ing and bandwidth needs for accessing the Matrix, turn-
  ing a commlink into a jammer is relatively easy. Riggers 
  do it all the time in order to reduce the effectiveness of 
  other riggers and hackers communicating in their vicin-
  ity. Have a burner handy and kick up the squelch. The 
  move jams up the rigger along with everyone else, but 
  the good ones have ways around that, especially if they 
  know it’s coming. The standard jammer works in any-
  one’s hands, but it’s a jammer and becomes the instant 
  target for opposing gun bunnies to clear the airwaves for 
  their hacker. Harder to tell what’s muddling the airwaves 
  when it’s a commlink just like everyone else has.
  Securing the team’s communications can be like 
  second nature to a rigger. Riggers are not huge fans 
  of having their drones hacked and therefore tend to 
  have a solid firewall on their RCC network to prevent 
  it from happening. This same firewall can protect the 
  team’s communications via their commlinks, if the rig-
  ger wants to slave those commlinks in place of some 
  drones. The big potential downfall is the replacement of 
  drones with commlinks, but in a pinch it’s something to 
  do. Riggers also tend to have the technical know-how to 
  make a pretty secure network with a decent commlink 
  as well, as long as someone on the team didn’t skimp 
  and is willing to be a bullseye for potential hackers. As 
  a note, skimping on a ’link is getting a lot more com-
  mon as SINs are getting harder to come by, and more 
  and more megacorporations are having them hardwired 
  onto commlinks.
  A high priority for hackers on a runner team is pro-
  viding intel, especially up to date visual and audio data 
  by hacking into local camera feeds. Riggers can’t hack 
  local feeds. What they can do is piggyback microdrones 
  in places where there are cameras and match the feed. 
  They can’t edit it, but at least they know what’s going on 
  in a given location. This piggy-backing can also be quite 
  handy if a rigger and hacker team up and while duplicat-
  ing the video feed; in this instance, the drone also taps 
  into the camera’s wiring for the hacker to get in. Remem-
  ber, shadowrunners work in teams for a reason. 
  Last point is bypassing electronic locks. Hackers of-
  ten do this with a simple wave of their hand. What goes 
  on in the Matrix is a whole other ballgame, but you get 
  the point. Riggers, most of them anyways, tend to have 
  a decent understanding of electronics that they can use 
  to take apart electronic locks and bypass them manually, 
  rather than in the Matrix. It’s never as easy or quick as 
  how hackers would do it, but it’s a place for riggers to 
  back them up—or take the lead if necessary. 
  Time for the one everyone’s been waiting to jump 
  on and cry foul: Magic! Now I don’t mean a rigger can 
  cast spells or summon spirits, but they’ve got some 
  countering and detecting tricks up their greasy sleeves. 
  Plus, with flamethrowers, lasers, Stick ‘n’ Shock rounds, 
  and grenades, I don’t think they’re lagging behind in the 
  combat options field anyway. But let’s get specific on 
  what I’m talking about here. 
  First, let’s discuss the countering options riggers 
  provide against magic. The biggest of which is plain, 
  old-fashioned line of sight. Riggers can deploy smoke, 
  tint windows, cut off sight lines, and use lights to blind 
  opposing spellcasters and prevent or hinder spellcast-
  ing, all through mundane means. Thanks to the great 
  research & development departments at most of the 
  major megacorporations, there are also a number of 
  magic-inhibiting options that are not so mundane. Gas 
  grenade loads that contain FAB (fluorescing astral bac-
  teria) can be used to detect spellcasting or hinder astral 
  movement depending on whether the FAB-I or FAB-II 
  strain is used. One of the best tricks riggers have de-
  veloped lately to help out in the arcane arena is the AP 
  grenade, usually called a dust bomb. AP doesn’t stand 
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  for armor piercing, but rather astral powder, a substance 
  that is drawn to magically active items, including people. 
  It’s the ultimate way to identify the opposition’s magical 
  resources when you don’t have your own arcane spe-
  cialist handy. Once those resources are identified, the 
  rest of the team can decide how to apply the principles 
  of “geek the mage first.”
  Last in line here is a look at riggers taking over for 
  the team’s face. Or at least, a drone taking over, if not 
  the rigger. The move is not always the best option and 
  sometimes considered in poor taste by Mr. Johnson, 
  but if it gets the team more money when their nego-
  tiator is currently out of the picture, all that matters is 
  that the Johnson goes with the deal. First off, even the 
  cockiest rigger would never suggest sending in just a 
  drone. Some other member of the team needs to go 
  in, preferably the muscle (as long as they are the type 
  of muscle that knows not to talk during negotiations). 
  Whoever goes in, it is their job to sit back, be quiet, and 
  let the best talker left on the team communicate through 
  the drone with Mr. Johnson. The benefits of this are two-
  fold. The negotiator doesn’t feel the same personal pres-
  sure when talking through a drone. Much like “trolls”—
  the Matrix kind, not the big metahumans—that level of 
  personal separation often frees one to say things they 
  would never say to someone’s face. The second benefit 
  is the lack of olfactory or any other form of hormone 
  analyzing and processing systems, making implants de-
  signed to sway people via subconscious chemical cues 
  completely ineffective. The team members in the room 
  may start wondering why their negotiator is such a dick 
  to their new best friend, but as long as the negotiation is 
  defined at the beginning as between the corp drone and 
  the real drone, those runners who catch feelings for Mr. 
  Johnson shouldn’t be a problem. Kane once told me of a 
  rigger he knows down in the Carib League who will run 
  solo jobs but hires local gangers or squatters to go into 
  the meet and stand with the drone. He said the move 
  has become such a common occurrence that area John-
  sons have told the rigger not to bother bringing in the 
  local. Kane said the rigger sticks with it to help out locals 
  without making it look like a handout. 
  Hope that helps everyone understand that riggers 
  aren’t just your wheelman. They may play that role, but if 
  you find the right one they can be so much more benefi-
  cial to the team than just a driver. But the trick, of course, 
  is finding the right one.
  THE WHEELS  
  ON THE BUS
  It’s not just about the wheels. It’s about the wings, the 
  rudders, the rotors, the tracks, the turbofans, the thrust-
  ers, the props, the legs, the sails, and the basic laws of 
  physics. The vehicles and drones of the 2070s cover 
  the gamut of drives and guidance. The mundane, the 
  insane, and everything in between is available to move 
  you around the Sixth World as long as you’ve got the 
  nuyen. No matter whether it drives, flies, floats, runs, or 
  dives, riggers handle them all. Let’s take a peek under 
  the hood of the various types of vehicles and drones 
  available these days and see what they’re intended for, 
  and what they’re really used for in the shadows.
  PERSONAL MOTORIZED 
  VEHICLE (PMV)
  These are small, single-person vehicles usually used 
  by commuters for work or solo drivers to just putter 
  around town. Runners use them for much the same 
  thing. When taking a PMV to a meet or a job, runners 
  usually park far away to avoid embarrassment or detec-
  tion. PMVs are also good for blending in with a crowd 
  while conducting surreptitious surveillance or recon-
  naissance. A few select riggers or tuners have turned 
  their PMV into something fast and furious, but those 
  are rare oddities.  
  MOTORCYCLES
  The world of monocycles, standard two-wheel bikes, 
  and the three-wheel trikes is the place for more of the 
  speed junkies, but some of the smaller mopeds and 
  scooters are used for commuting and regular urban 
  transit. The development of gyro-stabilization systems 
  also boosted the use and modification of motorcycles. 
  The newest cycles, the monocycles, are still catch-
  ing on, but as more and more people become accus-
  tomed to AR in everything, monocycles will definitely 
  move up in the market share. Bikes is a broad category 
  stretching from the dirtbikes of youth to the fastest rac-
  ing bikes on the market to the big comfortable cruisers 
  with many of the amenities of a car. 
  On the streets and in the shadows, motorcycles are 
  everyday transportation, assault vehicles, and fast get-
  away machines. Riggers can tweak the motors for speed 
  or add armaments for some offensive capability. The gyro 
  stabilization revolution also allows motorcycles to be re-
  mote operated or modified to function as drones. Trikes 
  tend to be big, comfortable cruisers with some extra seat-
  ing, but modifications for weapons, bigger engines, off-
  road capabilities, or storage capacity can be added or the 
  main reason for the extra wheel. The trike design varies, 
  with some designs pairing up the front wheels, while the 
  classic design is for two wheels in the rear. 
  CARS
  The massive world of cars has been filling datastores 
  for years. I can’t cover everything out there, so I’ll just 
  give an overview. At their most basic, cars are enclosed 
  conveyances for personal transportation controlled by 
  the user. The controlled part can be a little muddled 
  these days, but at least the user gets to program in 
  where they’re headed. The purpose of a car is to get 
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  someone from one place to another while protecting 
  them from the elements. They come in a wide variety 
  of shapes and sizes, usually to fulfill a certain purpose 
  or class of transportation. Smaller cars for efficiency or 
  speed, mid-size cars for comfort and versatility, big se-
  dans for luxury, and all the way up to limousines for 
  opulence to share. 
  In the shadows, cars are used for just about any pur-
  pose imaginable. They can go from cover, to transpor-
  tation, to a weapon, and finally to an escape vehicle in 
  a matter of seconds. And they can end up as a massive 
  flaming wreck just as quick. Riggers and gearheads 
  modify and upgrade their cars to be the strongest, fast-
  est, and toughest, but they also strip them down to bare 
  bones to minimize loss when they use them for some-
  thing not-so-legal and have to leave them behind.      
  TRUCKS
  For those who find cars underpowered or need some-
  thing with more hauling capacity, there are trucks. Like 
  cars, they range in size, usually based on how big of a 
  load they’re intended to haul, and they fall into three 
  general categories; on-road, off-road, and luxury. On-
  road and luxury are similar; one just has more ameni-
  ties and comfort, though they are often based off the 
  same chassis. Off-road trucks have rougher suspen-
  sion, and lift kits to give them more clearance. Some 
  have alternate air intakes and exhaust so their engine 
  can be submerged, light kits to operate at night, or ad-
  ditional armor to deal with things they might run across 
  off the beaten path. 
  In the shadows, trucks are just like cars. The pur-
  pose is often determined more by the user than by the 
  original design, with luxury trucks being used to go off-
  road without the added features of an off-roader. The 
  additional cargo and carrying capacity of trucks is a big 
  deal for runners who work heavily out of their vehicle 
  because they can’t be running back to their slumhovel 
  every time they need a piece of gear. The extra roomy 
  interiors are also favorites of orks for the extra legroom 
  and trolls for the extra space to customize for their bulk.  
  BIG BOYS
  This categories fits all the big vehicles, like RVs, busses, 
  tractors, and construction vehicles. These are too big 
  to park in the garage at home, but their size is intend-
  ed for a specific purpose. Whether it’s hauling all the 
  comforts of home or hauling all the crew in Compton, 
  these big vehicles are built with a job in mind. For reg-
  ular folks this means they tend to know what it means 
  when something shows up. A bus means lots of peo-
  ple, a motorhome means mobile living, and a tractor 
  means cargo being moved across the country. 
  To a runner, these vehicles can mean exactly the 
  same thing, or something very different. A bus could be 
  hauling a go-gang or smuggling people across a border. 
  A motorhome is a portable place to live. It could be a 
  place to lie low or provide some semblance of comfort 
  when they need to hide out in the wilderness. A tractor 
  could be hauling their target, could be full of danger-
  ous chemicals, could be smuggling people, or it could 
  be hiding all sorts of unpleasant surprises, like weapon 
  mounts or anti-personnel devices.  
  PERSONAL WATERCRAFT 
  These are basically the motorcycles of the water. They’re 
  built for fun and excitement. They are sometimes re-
  purposed by shadowy types, especially in places with 
  a lot of water, like Amazonia or Los Angeles. Here they 
  can be small transports or attack vehicles that are ma-
  neuverable and quick. Their smaller size makes them 
  ideal for moving up and down small rivers or streams 
  that might have shallow water or tight spaces. 
   
  POWERBOATS
  Unless a person lives on an island and needs their boat 
  to get to the mainland, the main reason anyone owns a 
  powerboat is for recreation. From the small fishing boats 
  all the way up to the massive ocean-going cruisers, pow-
  erboats are almost always a luxury item. And honestly, 
  if you live on an island and have your own boat to get to 
  the mainland, it’s probably a luxury for you too. There 
  are some people who use their powerboats to earn a 
  living or gather sustenance, but it’s not the norm. To be 
  frank, powerboats are something the rich and powerful 
  use to show off that they’re rich and powerful.
  Now, wherever there are rich and powerful people, 
  you will find runners skulking around in the shadows. 
  When that’s out on the water, runners use their boat 
  as a means to access someone else’s craft or get close 
  enough to keep an eye on their quarry. They’re used 
  for smuggling and escape, since water routes are more 
  open and land can be accessed from almost anywhere 
  with enough ingenuity. And just like using a boat to get 
  to someone else’s boat, runners use boats to access cor-
  porate facilities on the water. Finally, rich and successful 
  runners use them to show off that they are rich and suc-
  cessful. We don’t always have to be different.
    
  SAILBOATS
  Sailboats and some of their hybrid relatives have no 
  commercial applications anymore other than using 
  yours to ferry around people who want to go out on a 
  sailboat. Yes, there are some massive cargo liners that 
  use a wing-sail to decrease their fuel consumption, but 
  if those things relied on that sail alone it would take 
  about fifteen years to reach their destination. Sailboats 
  run a wide size range, with smaller ones being relative-
  ly inexpensive, stable on rougher waters, and cheap to 
  operate without fuel costs. Don’t get me wrong, sail-
  boats are expensive if you have a slip and need to fix 
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  things often, but they aren’t limited to the ultra-rich in 
  the same way as big powerboats. 
  Shadowrunners don’t find themselves involved with 
  sailboats very often. Maybe during smuggling runs or 
  working as a bodyguard, but the lack of speed tends 
  to keep runners away. But when they need something 
  stealthy for a night operation or a quiet sail down a coast, 
  these are ideal. The secret of a sailboat in the shadows is 
  to look innocent. 
  As a small point of clarification, there are wing-sail 
  racing sailboats that can get up in the seventy knot range 
  but this is the exception to the norm, not the norm.  
  YACHTS
  If regular powerboats are just rich people showing off 
  being rich, yachts are rich people showing those rich 
  people they aren’t really fully rich and employing some 
  average people with jobs serving them on their yachts. 
  Once you get this big, the boats have cabins and regu-
  lar size rooms and beds, along with amenities like hot 
  tubs, additional smaller boats and personal watercraft 
  to take out, and an obscene amount of money to burn 
  on maintenance and operations.
  For runners, these are targets, sometimes targets to 
  be sunk and sometimes to be infiltrated. If a runner owns 
  a yacht, they aren’t a runner. They’re an adrenaline junk-
  ie with criminal tendencies because they could sell off 
  their yacht and retire, rather than continuing to sail the 
  world. They could also be a pirate, like Kane. Though he 
  is the perfect example of that first characterization, the 
  adrenaline-junkie criminal. 
   
  SUBMERSIBLES
  Most submersibles for civilian use are operated by 
  tourist companies to go down and look at coral reefs 
  and undersea life or transport guests to some of the 
  deep-water habitats and hotels the megacorporations, 
  especially Evo, have developed. I include things like 
  seasleds in this category, but again, they’re still typical-
  ly tourist toys to make scuba diving easier, or hard-core 
  diver tech to get them through or around dangerous 
  areas faster, allowing more time in the places they ac-
  tually want to explore. 
  In the shadowy depths, the submersible and sea-
  sled are the covert approach vehicles of choice—when 
  they’re available. The military, mercenary companies, 
  corporate black ops, and shadowrunners all favor the 
  underwater approach on a seafaring target to the sur-
  face route. Visibility beneath the surface is far more limit-
  ed than on it, where waves and the horizon are often the 
  only limiting factors. Seeing down into water is another 
  problem area, as light doesn’t penetrate well, reflects off 
  the surface to obscure vision, and refracts to skew the 
  position of everything that isn’t directly beneath the ob-
  server. A good pilot can remain nearly invisible using the 
  refraction of light almost all the way to the target. Radar 
  is useless below the surface, leaving sonar as the only 
  truly viable detection method, and that requires highly 
  trained and skilled operators for passive sonar. Active 
  sonar, of course, completely gives away the position of 
  a ship, boat, or submersible, along with creating all sorts 
  of unpleasant encounters with Awakened sea life that 
  are not huge fans of aggressive sounding sonar pings. 
  The rarity and lack of speed are the usual limiting factors 
  for runners using a submersible for an operation on wa-
  ter, but when it is an option, it’s usually the best option.  
  AIRPLANES 
  Up in the sky, it’s a jet, it’s a prop plane, it’s a glider, it’s 
  an airplane! There are a wide array of airplanes out there 
  that are used for personal conveyance, commercial con-
  veyance, recreation, air defense, firefighting, surveil-
  lance, reconnaissance, supply drops, crop-dusting, and 
  the list goes on and on. The world has been in love with 
  the idea of flight since the Wright Brothers first made is 
  sustainable, and even before that when DaVinci made 
  his plans. Glider planes and hang gliders are two pop-
  ular recreational forms of flying, even though it’s really 
  just falling with grace. They’re the slowest overall, but a 
  sealed glider towed up behind another plane and then 
  released can spend a long time slowly working its way 
  back to the ground. Prop planes are the next up in the 
  speed category, as well as in recreational use. Commer-
  cial use kicks up here too, with short-distance flights, 
  older models in less affluent nations, and companies 
  that do a lot of math to determine fuel-cost-to-lift ra-
  tios to understand that prop planes are slower but don’t 
  guzzle jet fuel. The number of props doesn’t necessarily 
  determine speed, but they do determine lifting power, 
  so those multi-prop commercial haulers are going to lift 
  more weight than smaller single-engine Cessnas. Jets 
  are actually not all jets, but it’s easier to put them all in 
  one category than to try to explain all of the different 
  engine systems. It’s more important to look at purpose. 
  This is where the commercial haulers, affluent personal 
  transports, and air-defense craft come in. They put out 
  tons more lift and power than props and a few are really 
  good at going really fast!
  Now, how do the shadows abuse the invention of 
  flight? There are so many ways. Infiltration with gliders, 
  jumping out of perfectly good planes, surveillance flights, 
  sneaking into other countries, attacking places, moving 
  illicit cargo, etc. The list could go on. Riggers love planes 
  because they offer such a unique feeling—actual flight. It’s 
  the closest sensation to being a bird anyone can get until 
  we can create simsense recordings of birds. Airplanes are 
  a great tool in the shadows, even if some teams just use 
  them to get from one sprawl to another. 
  ROTORCRAFT
  The rotorcraft, man’s ultimate “frag off” to the laws of 
  physics. Recreational use of rotorcraft is pretty much 
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  limited to people being taken on tours, so it’s basi-
  cally commercial. The ability to operate in a one hun-
  dred percent vertical direction is the marvel of the 
  modern rotorcraft. Vertical takeoffs and landings and 
  hovering in place are the main virtues of a helicopter 
  compared other aircraft. So much so that one of the 
  biggest innovations in recent aviation history is the V/
  STOL (vertical/short takeoff and landing) aircraft, epit-
  omized by the Ares TR-55 series most often identified 
  as the DocWagon Osprey. A blending of the features 
  between a helicopter and a prop plane give these craft 
  remark versatility. Commercially rotorcraft are used for 
  heavy-lifting and making deliveries in places a plane 
  with the same payload capacity couldn’t utilize. Within 
  dense urban areas and even out to the less developed 
  surrounding vicinity, rotorcraft are used as short-dis-
  tance transportation. 
  When it comes to shadowy applications of the mod-
  ern rotorcraft, it boils down to two key points; tactical 
  insertions/extractions and increased offensive poten-
  tial. Rotorcraft have the ability to drop off and pick up 
  shadowrunners from just about any location, especially 
  if those runners have some rappelling and harness-use 
  training. This transportation versatility also falls outside of 
  the standard efforts expected by security at most facili-
  ties and police forces in most jurisdictions. The same can 
  be said for the offensive capabilities that can be slapped 
  onto a rotorcraft. While helicopter gunships have been 
  around over a century, they aren’t what most people ex-
  pect to see when a rotorcraft shows up. Consider also, 
  options for concealable weapon turrets and retractable 
  missile and rocket launchers that make a rotorcraft look 
  no different from its more mundane counterpart, and you 
  can understand why these hovering slingers of death and 
  destruction are a prize and a terror in the shadows, all de-
  pending on which side of the fight you’re on.   
   
  LAVS
  There are no applications for low-altitude vehicles, also 
  known as LAVs or t-birds, in the civilian world. They are 
  too inefficient to be used as standard haulers or person-
  al transportation. These things are strictly military and 
  security corp on the light side of life. But we’re mainly 
  here to talk about how they’re used in the shadows.
  Smuggling, that’s how! That’s biggest use for t-birds 
  in the shadows. Whether they’re carrying valuable car-
  go or shadowy people, t-birds are the way to go when 
  making border runs all over the world. They fly low (hence 
  “low-altitude vehicle”) to avoid radar. They don’t need 
  roads, so they can skip standard checkpoints. They can 
  fly at over 1,000 kph, making catching them the purview 
  of other LAVs and fighter aircraft, two difficult things to 
  have at the right place at the right time. Finish up with 
  the ability to take off and land anywhere with a generally 
  flat patch of dirt and you can understand why the LAV is 
  the vehicle of choice for the world’s smugglers. For shad-
  owrunners, they are how we get smuggled around. It’s 
  usually a little pricier than a commercial flight, but your 
  t-bird jammer—that’s the common nickname for T-bird 
  pilots—doesn’t ask questions about SINs and cyber, and 
  they’ll gladly let you haul whatever gear you want. That 
  usually comes with a caveat of stowing the gear away 
  from where you’d have access in case passengers are 
  suddenly feeling piratey. For security corps and the mili-
  tary, the LAV is a scout or fast-attack vehicle. They usually 
  don’t have really big guns, but they aren’t defenseless. 
  The main use is either getting into an area and getting a 
  lay of the land, as we’ve seen in the various Desert Wars 
  seasons, or coming in for a quick hit, usually as a soften-
  ing precursor to the next wave or as a distraction.    
  LTAVS
  Though their acronyms are similar, lighter than air vehi-
  cles, or LTAVs, are basically the exact opposite of LAVs. 
  While LAVs are turbofan blasting, fast-moving, scream-
  ing speed machines, LTAVs are slow-moving, peaceful 
  sky whales drifting across the sky. The civilian world 
  uses them for leisurely sky cruises, long-distance cargo 
  hauling to remote areas, or aerial living arrangements 
  in hazardous areas. 
  The LTAV has always hovered at the periphery of the 
  shadows. In recent years it’s been working its way into the 
  shadows more and more, but the lack of speed always 
  seems to be the major drawback that keeps it out of most 
  riggers hangars. Shadowrunners tend to operate in a fast-
  paced world with a perpetual sense of, and need for, ur-
  gency that doesn’t fit the LTAV style. Combine that with 
  their generally fragile nature, and they usually just can’t 
  stand up to the rigors of shadow work. In recent years, 
  however, materials science improvements that allow for 
  self-sealing gas chambers and design improvements that 
  create a multitude of gas chambers to prevent loss of 
  lift through damage to the balloon are making modern 
  LTAVs far more resilient. With this added toughness, the 
  rougher users such as runners, corp sec, and military are 
  finding more and more uses for the tough LTAV. Long-
  range reconnaissance from a high and safe vantage point, 
  transport and deployment of drones and smaller aircraft 
  with more offensive capabilities, long-range gunships 
  and missile-firing platforms, mobile-command stations 
  that are safely out of reach, secure communications 
  transfer points using laser data transfers, and cargo and 
  troop movement into difficult terrain are just a few of the 
  newest uses. Runners in the rougher parts of town have 
  begun using dirigible dosses that float above the sprawl 
  for security. It’s not a regular thing yet, but it seems to be 
  growing especially in the Aurora Warrens of Denver and 
  Redmond Barrens in Seattle. 
  DRONES
  While the earliest work on drones was done by the mil-
  itary, they have moved into every aspect of both mil-
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  itary and civilian life imaginable. They deliver goods, 
  direct traffic, record news, and perform a million oth-
  er mundane tasks in our modern world. Just like their 
  manually operated counterparts they come in every 
  type of drive system and power plant. They range in 
  size from a few centimeters to dozens of meters to fill 
  roles once handled by everything from cheap labor to 
  skilled technicians. 
  In the shadows it’s no different. Drones are used to 
  spy, kill, follow, track, build, chase, infiltrate, deactivate, 
  and imitate. If there is something a metahuman can do a 
  drone either exists or is being designed  that can do the 
  same thing. Yes, there is even research on using drones 
  to cast spells. I never said all of the things they are work-
  ing on have had a lot of success, but they’re trying. Reg-
  ular runners occasionally use drones for reconnaissance, 
  surveillance, or for a little extra firepower and just let the 
  drone’s basic programming run most of the show. Rig-
  gers take those basic uses and combine them, all while 
  the rigger actually takes direct control of a drone and 
  leads the charge. Riggers become the drones they oper-
  ate, and the difference is usually night and day between 
  what a basic program can do while operating a drone 
  and what a rigger can do while “being” the drone. 
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  A Roto-Drone whirred. A Dragonfly buzzed. A Dalma-
  tian whooshed. JohnBee was jumped into that one be-
  cause he had upgraded the sensors of it, and he could 
  hear the noise around him. He needed to know how 
  loud it was, because he needed to know if it should be 
  louder. 
  There was plenty of noise. He was satisfied, for the 
  time being.
  He angled toward the sprawl streets below. It was late 
  afternoon, sun peeking through after a spot of rain, and 
  people were out. At least, managers were. Wageslaves 
  stayed tied to their desks until their twelve-hour shift was 
  over, but one of the perks of power was being able to 
  see the sun when it was out. They were talking in small 
  groups, receiving deliveries of coffee and pastries from 
  small drones buzzing just above the streets. Those drones 
  were much closer to them than JohnBee’s crafts. But 
  JohnBee’s were louder, and that made people look up.
  He scanned the entrance to the Champion Financial 
  building. The guards were showing off their Renraku 
  training—they were keeping an eye on the drones in the 
  sky, but they knew that something that loud could very 
  well be a distraction. They didn’t let themselves stop 
  scanning every angle of approach just because some-
  thing was loud in the air.
  So when the back doors of a cargo van opened and 
  two Dobermans came rolling out, they were ready. The 
  drones only moved toward the entrance for a few sec-
  onds before the guards were pointing at them and send-
  ing messages back and forth. Jamming came quick, but 
  JohnBee wasn’t jumped into the Dobies and wasn’t even 
  monitoring their output, so he didn’t really care. The Do-
  bies moved placidly ahead, ignoring what he was sure 
  were continued warnings from the guards, until they 
  were shot to ribbons by automatic weapons fire. 
  It was okay. They were mainly just shells, hol-
  lowed-out bodies on treads. He had stripped the more 
  expensive parts before this mission.
  The guards didn’t slack off. When the Crawlers came, 
  trying to sneak through the smoke of the Dobies, se-
  curity remained alert and ready. They squashed them 
  quickly. 
  That third wave made it clear that this was serious. 
  JohnBee could see the tension in the guards’ bodies as 
  they moved briskly around the building’s lobby, watch-
  ing the ground for another wave, then scanning the 
  skies. Up, down, back, forth, constant scanning. One of 
  them would be on the horn trying to persuade Knight Er-
  rant to send in drones of their own and chase JohnBee’s 
  machines out of the area. They’d probably succeed in a 
  matter of minutes.
  He checked the ARO he kept low and to his left. 
  Five meters beneath the guards, his Tunneler was mak-
  ing steady progress, and they were none the wiser. It 
  worked every time—give people things they can see, 
  and they forget to worry about what they can’t.
  THE CHROME 
  BALLET
  POSTED BY: RIGGER X
  One of the secrets to good rigging is using multiple 
  tools at once. Look, if you meet someone who calls 
  themself a rigger and has just one vehicle in their sta-
  ble, don’t hire them. They’re a driver, not a rigger. But 
  simply having a clutch of devices is also not enough—
  they need to know how to use them. Here are some 
  tips on how to use drones and vehicles in beautiful 
  concert.
  COORDINATING  
  YOUR STRENGTHS
  INTELLIGENCE FIRST
  We all know that firing guns and making things blow 
  up is the exciting part of shadowrunning, the part we 
  talk about when we’re swapping stories. Gathering in-
  telligence, on the other hand, especially when we’re 
  doing it with drones, sometimes makes us feel a little 
  shameful, like Peeping Toms slipping cameras into de-
  partment store dressing rooms. None of us want cam-
  eras and microphones placed in our homes or work-
  places, and insofar as we can pretend we have privacy, 
  we don’t want it invaded. So when we do the invading, 
  it doesn’t seem to be something to brag about.
  RIGGER 5.0
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  ANGLES
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  Let me be clear: That shame should stop. None of 
  us want to be shot, either, but we are happy to tell sto-
  ries about shooting other people. Slipping a surveillance 
  device into a place where it shouldn’t be, getting intelli-
  gence only a few people know, and collecting the infor-
  mation that makes a job work is something we should be 
  proud of. It’s vital, it can make or break a mission, and it 
  also gives us some incredible pieces of gossip that we 
  can use to make a few extra bucks. So do it, and do it 
  with pride.
  Another part of intelligence-gathering that makes 
  it seem less suitable for storytelling is that it can be 
  painstaking. You do not just pilot your Fly-Spy into the 
  window of Saeder-Krupp headquarters and eavesdrop 
  on Lofwyr’s personal meetings. Gathering intelligence 
  is not about darting straight toward a target, but rath-
  er about drawing a series of concentric circles closing 
  in on the heart of what you need to know. You have to 
  know the front, the back, the sides—all the entrances, all 
  the security, and you need to eliminate as much unpre-
  dictability as you can. Critically, you need to know what 
  might mess with and what might detect your wireless 
  signals as you move in. If you give yourself away at any 
  point, the game is up. So know when you need to turn 
  wireless off and let the Pilot program do its work. And 
  make sure you have a Pilot program you can trust.
  THE LARGER THE DRONE, THE 
  MORE THE MOTION
  This is kind of simple, but I’m going to say it anyway. 
  Smaller drones benefit, generally, from staying hidden. 
  Motion attracts attention, so when they move, they 
  need to move carefully, or someone is going to squash 
  ’em. Use darkness, use cover, and use caution. Larger 
  drones, like a Dalmatian or something, aren’t going to 
  sneak into a room and eavesdrop on people like a Fly-
  Spy will, but they’re still smaller than most targets com-
  ing from the air, meaning they’re going to be harder to 
  hit as they move. I know it’s fun to find an ideal vantage 
  point and camp out there, but even someone who is 
  only moderately skilled with a pistol can pick a station-
  ary target out of the air. Your job is to make it harder for 
  the opposition to harm you, and that means keeping 
  your forces on the move.
  USE MULTIPLE VECTORS
  The legend of the Trojan Horse has endured for mil-
  lennia because it makes a simple point: Misdirection 
  wins wars. Know where your opposition is looking, and 
  then find a way to attack where they’re not paying at-
  tention. In terms of rigging, this often means making 
  sure your attack comes in from one or more directions 
  so that the opposition overlooks where the real attack 
  is. Of course, if you’re going to pull this off, you need 
  things that come at a variety of angles. That can mean 
  different types of aircraft—smaller drones, for example, 
  can come in a lot lower than larger craft, forcing tar-
  gets to change their sight lines. And rotorcraft or VTOL 
  vehicles can come in from entirely different angles 
  than typical winged craft, which can throw off defend-
  ers. Better yet, though, are attacks that involve both 
  ground and air, staged at different times and keeping 
  the targets flustered. It’s kind of a win-win—eventually 
  one of the vectors will catch them off-guard andmake 
  it through, or they’ll spend so much time reacting to 
  one punch after another that they’ll begin to wear out, 
  increasing the odds that sooner or later something will 
  get through. And this isn’t just about having drones and 
  vehicles coming from different angles—it’s great for 
  directing people toward an ambush you’ve set up, or 
  away from you if you need to redirect the heat.
  Keep in mind that while I’m using attack language 
  above, this is not always about firing weapons. Some-
  times, if you’re gathering intel, it can help to start with 
  something more obvious, then move in with subtler de-
  vices. For example, let’s say you’re crafty enough to have 
  gotten your hands on a Renraku Dove, despite the fact 
  that they’re supposed to be used exclusively by GOD. 
  You fly that thing over just about any corporate facility in 
  the world, and it’s going to get attention. It’s not large, 
  but people have quickly learned to recognize its bird-
  like profile, and they know what it means when it’s in the 
  area: GOD is watching. The Dove’s sensor suite is top-
  notch, especially when it comes to seeing wireless sig-
  nals, and the official line from GOD is they are just using 
  the Dove to detect the existence of signals so that they 
  can see if any unlicensed things are floating around that 
  they need to know about. No one, of course, believes 
  that the only thing they are doing is looking at signals—
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  everyone thinks they are tapping into them, so every-
  one gets wary when they see a Dove nearby. I promise 
  you, the first five minutes after someone spots a Dove 
  nearby will be chaos and scrambling in anyone who has 
  anything to do with monitoring wireless signals in the 
  area. That means you have five minutes to get some-
  thing small into the area when people aren’t paying at-
  tention. (Air ducts are great for this, BTW—they may not 
  be built to hold the weight of people, but a small, crawl-
  ing drone is something entirely else.) 
  As I mentioned earlier, if you’re a good rigger, you’ve 
  got multiple vehicles and drones at your disposal. And if 
  you’ve got multiple vehicles, use them.
  FAST, CHEAP,  
  AND OUT OF CONTROL
  There is virtue and beauty to a precision drone strike, 
  where every move is planned and executed to per-
  fection, but if that’s the only way you operate, you’re 
  missing part of the strength of drones. When you con-
  trol all of the drones and vehicles in your arsenal, you 
  have the comfort (usually) of knowing that their dog-
  brain isn’t going to make them do something stupid. 
  But sometimes something stupid is exactly what you 
  need. A weakly armored drone who flies into a head-
  on assault. A drone armed with a sniper rifle that has a 
  bad habit of striving for a close-in kill. Those are mis-
  takes an experienced rigger would not make, as they 
  tend to result in the loss of whatever drone or vehicle 
  attempts the stupid move. They also, though, tend to 
  throw the opposition a little off their game. It might just 
  be the excitement of getting an easy kill, but when the 
  unexpected happens, people lose their focus, and the 
  results can be wonderful.
  The upshot is, sometimes it’s good to take a step 
  back and let your drones go in as a chaotic swarm, be-
  cause they might do the stupid thing you need to throw 
  the opposition off their game. Just don’t try to pull that 
  off with your heavily customized baby that cost you six 
  figures—this is what you do with a pile of cheap drones 
  you got on sale at Kennedy’s Cheap Electronics.
  Of course, a good chaotic assault is about more than 
  allowing your drones the chance to make stupid mis-
  takes. It’s about employing a swarm, an attack coming 
  from different directions, moving fast, hitting hard, pull-
  ing back, then moving in for another strike. Again, there 
  may be individual losses within the swarm, but the whole 
  point of the effort—and the rigger’s skill—is to make the 
  damage inflicted much heavier than the losses.
  LOCK IN
  But let’s say you don’t have cheap drones, and you 
  prefer precision to chaos. In that case, if you’re serious 
  about being precise, take your time to get it right. Get 
  a target lock. It might take a few extra seconds, but the 
  reduced amount of weapons fire you may need to get 
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  the job done can make it worthwhile.
  The problem, of course, is that pretty much every-
  one out there knows the virtue of getting a target lock, 
  and they’ve been working hard to detect and break 
  them right after you get them. It can be frustrating 
  when a target jams your lock right after you get it, but 
  remember: Breaking your target lock takes effort. The 
  time they spend breaking your lock is time they spend 
  not doing anything else. You don’t get your immediate 
  shot off, but if you’re playing the chess game of moving 
  combat right, you can use the time they’re spending 
  breaking the lock to get in position to do something 
  truly annoying.
  MOUNTING A DEFENSE
  If there’s one principle the Sixth World is built on, it’s that 
  “Money talks.” If there’s another one, it’s that “For every 
  action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” It’s more 
  than just basic physics—it’s how we battle it out with 
  the other side (whoever that may be). They have every 
  weapon that we have, and they’re not shy about bring-
  ing them. All that stuff I talked about above? There’s a 
  good chance you’ll see someone use them against you. 
  Here’s some pointers on how to counter some of the 
  tactics opposing riggers will use against you.
  OBSCURING INTELLIGENCE
  A good rigger will prevent you from seeing what you 
  want to see in your intelligence-gathering efforts. A 
  great rigger will make you think you got what you were 
  looking for, while misleading you the whole way.
  There’s a proud tradition of this in warfare, espio-
  nage, and any other form of conflict you can think about. 
  From John Magruder marching the same troops before 
  Union eyes repeatedly, making his force seem much 
  larger than it was during the United States Civil War, to 
  MI5 using their network of double agents to convince 
  Germany that the D-Day invasion would happen at Cal-
  ais, letting people see the wrong image is a great way 
  to get them to do the wrong thing. So when you detect 
  a Crawler sneaking in to eavesdrop on your planning 
  meetings, feel free to let it stay and hear some juicy de-
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  tails that sound like actionable intelligence pointing in 
  the completely direction completely.
  AREA EFFECTS  
  ARE YOUR FRIEND
  I mentioned the advantage of a drone’s size and the 
  difficulty of hitting something in motion. This is why 
  artillery bombardments and rifle barrages exist to 
  stop infantry advances—because you want a barrage 
  against smaller targets, not pinpoint efforts. Not sure 
  how many small drones are in an area? Worried about 
  hitting all the drones darting around in the sky? Loft a 
  Powerball into the midst of them, or a nice, old-fash-
  ioned grenade. You may not have an accurate count of 
  all the targets out there, but you don’t need it. You just 
  need the ability to stop whatever is there.
  Yeah, you have to worry about collateral damage and 
  drawing too much attention, but if being both effective 
  and subtle were easy, they wouldn’t be paying us so 
  much to do what we do.
  A DRONE MOVES  
  MOST LIKE A DRONE
  A metahuman is not going to squeeze into the same 
  spaces used by a micro drone, get vertical the same 
  way a VTOL drone can, or hover like a Roto-Drone. If 
  you want to match a drone move for move, get your 
  rigger on the game. That’s what they’re there for. 
  Your mage performs astral overwatch, your hacker is 
  responsible for Matrix security for the team, so the 
  rigger should take responsibility for defeating any 
  drones that come your way. Yeah, she can call on oth-
  er members of the team for help, as described above, 
  but she should know the drones and their traits bet-
  ter than anyone, so she should know the best ways to 
  take them down.
  And it’s not just about movement. Keeping drones 
  moving and shooting correctly requires a continual array 
  of wireless commands, and while riggers are not hack-
  ers, they have ways of using those signals flying through 
  the air to their advantage. The most basic form of this is 
  reducing (for their own network) or increasing (for other 
  drones) the noise in the area. It may not be as satisfy-
  ing as shooting a drone out of the sky, but effectively 
  cutting the connection between a drone and its rigger 
  disables it quite well, letting you get your job done. But 
  we’ll get to that in the next section.
  BREAK THE LOCK
  I mentioned earlier that breaking target locks can be a 
  good distraction that you can take advantage of, but 
  that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Just be ready for 
  a follow-up attack.
  Better yet, avoid the lock in the first place. Quality Pi-
  lot and Stealth autosofts can save you a lot of grief with 
  your drones, and sneaking is an undervalued skill for 
  drivers. Stay elusive, and you won’t have to waste time 
  breaking target locks, because the opposition won’t be 
  able to make any.
  RIGGERS AND THE HACK
  As any runner with a wireless-enabled device can tell 
  you, wireless capabilities mean you might get hacked. 
  The power of a rigger is the ability to remotely con-
  trol a number of devices in several places all at once. 
  The weakness is the thing. When we’re talking about 
  riggers and the dangers of the hack, there are dangers 
  from hackers and dangers from other riggers. We’ll 
  tackle them separately.
  HACKERS VS. RIGGERS
  A hacker’s goal when it comes to interfering with your 
  work is simple: He wants control of one or more of your 
  vehicles or drones, and he has the tools and skills to 
  take them over. You have to hold him off.
  The basic defenses are well known. Your rigger com-
  mand console is a critical line of defense. Spend those 
  extra few thousand nuyen to boost the firewall; when a 
  good hacker comes after you, you’ll be grateful. A truly 
  skilled hacker, of course, is pretty good at blowing past 
  just about any firewall, so you can’t count on built-in de-
  fenses to do all your heavy lifting for you. I mentioned 
  noise—use it. You should know how to suppress noise 
  between you and your network of vehicles and drones. 
  Move the conflict away from you—and particularly away 
  from any opposing hackers. If you can increase the noise 
  they experience while suppressing your own, you can 
  gain a critical advantage.
  Finally, always be ready to reboot a drone when you 
  need to. Again, a destroyed drone is better than one that’s 
  turned on you, so if it breaks apart during the reboot pro-
  cess, suck it up and move on. And remember next time to 
  see how many expenses Mr. Johnson will cover.
  RIGGERS VS. RIGGERS
  All of the options mentioned above for dealing with 
  hackers also apply to riggers, but there is one fun extra 
  twist. Despite their differences in operations and man-
  ufacture, drones tend to speak the same “language,” 
  especially when it comes to navigational data. Sending 
  some bad navigation info might push a drone or ve-
  hicle using an automated pilot in the wrong direction. 
  Even a single wrong turn can be enough to give you a 
  much-needed advantage, and this can be a great way 
  to hurt drones with a bad firewall even if you don’t have 
  a full hacker on your team to take advantage of that 
  weakness. But it’s not just for bad firewalls—you can 
  surprise a whole range of drones or vehicles with this 
  little trick. Make sure you have it ready.
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  GAME 
  INFORMATION
  REPAIR RULES
  Chances are your drones and vehicles will get a bit 
  banged up over the course of a run. Whether it’s bul-
  lets, spells, or spirits, you can put them back together 
  again with some parts, tools, time, and elbow grease.
  This assumes, of course, that your vehicle or drone 
  is merely damaged. If all of the boxes on its Condition 
  Monitor are filled, then sorry chummer, your baby is to-
  taled (but I know a guy on Maynard who can give you a 
  good deal on a refurb). 
  SPARE PARTS
  To repair a vehicle or drone, you need to have the parts 
  on hand. These can be purchased from any shop, hard-
  ware store, or junk yard for five percent of the cost of 
  the vehicle or drone per box of damage on the Condi-
  tion Monitor that needs to be repaired. You can also 
  scavenge parts off of similar vehicles—more about that 
  later on. If you don’t have sufficient parts for your re-
  pair, you’ll take a penalty to the Extended Technical 
  Skill Test, depending on how short you are: Increase 
  the interval to one day, and for every box worth of parts 
  you lack, you take a –4  dice pool penalty.
  SCAVENGING PARTS
  You can tear parts out of a working vehicle or drone 
  (the target) for use in the repair of a similar vehicle or 
  drone (your gamemaster will tell you if your scaveng-
  ing victim is similar if you’re not sure). First, decide how 
  much damage you’re willing to inflict on the target, in 
  Condition Monitor boxes. Then the target takes that 
  damage (with no chance to resist) and you make an 
  appropriate Mechanic skill + Logic [damage inflicted] 
  Test. For every two hits, you scavenge one box worth 
  of parts for your repair job.
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  TOOLS
  You need at least a toolkit appropriate to the skill you 
  need for the repair (usually one of the Mechanic skills 
  starting on p. 143, SR5). Your gamemaster may require 
  you to have a shop or a facility (p. 443, SR5), depend-
  ing on the size of the vehicle.
  MAKING THE REPAIR
  Once you have the parts and tools sorted out, make an 
  Extended appropriate Mechanic + Logic [Mental] Ex-
  tended Test, with a threshold equal to the number of 
  boxes of damage to repair and an interval of four hours 
  (one day if you don’t have enough parts). The modifiers 
  on the Repair Table apply to this test.
  ELECTRONIC WARFARE
  The rigger is unique in that she fights in the Matrix and 
  meatspace at the same time. As a result, signals war-
  fare is way up there on the list of Things That Are Im-
  portant to Know About. These actions are used by rig-
  gers from beginning drone racers to elite thunderbird 
  pilots in the back-and-forth game of electronic warfare.
  All of the following actions are Matrix actions. Yes, 
  you can use them if you’re not a rigger.
  BREAK TARGET LOCK
  (SIMPLE ACTION)
  Marks required: None
  Test: Electronic Warfare + Intuition [Data Processing] 
  v. Logic + Sensors
  Passive targeting and active targeting with sensors 
  are described on p. 184 of SR5. If you know that you’ve 
  been locked (or suspect it), you can to try to break it. 
  Choose an enemy that has (or you think has) a lock on 
  you, and make the Opposed Test. For every net hit, you 
  reduce the target’s lock on you by one hit. Your RCC’s 
  Noise Reduction rating is added as a dice pool bonus 
  for this action.
  CONFUSE PILOT
  (COMPLEX ACTION)
  Marks required: None
  Test: Electronic Warfare + Logic [Attack] v. Pilot + 
  Firewall
  You send a stream of code to a device with a pilot 
  (usually a drone, but sometimes an autonomous vehicle 
  or gun emplacement) that resembles valid instructions 
  but is in fact gobbledygook. If you succeed, the pilot be-
  comes confused, and makes an immediate Simple Pilot 
  x 2 Test to figure out what it’s going to do next (p. 269, 
  SR5)—the threshold for this test is equal to half of your 
  net hits. Your RCC’s Noise Reduction Rating is added as 
  a dice pool bonus for this action.
  DETECT TARGET LOCK
  (FREE ACTION)
  Marks required: Owner
  Test: Computer + Logic [Data Processing] (2)
  Passive targeting and active targeting with sensors 
  are described on p. 184 of SR5. An active target lock 
  sends wireless and other signals that hackers and riggers 
  have learned to detect. The RCC, commlink, or deck that 
  you’re using must be wireless-enabled to perform this 
  action. Your RCC’s Noise Reduction rating is added as a 
  dice pool bonus for this action.
  SUPPRESS NOISE
  (COMPLEX ACTION)
  Marks required: Owner
  Test: Electronic Warfare + Logic [Data Processing]
  As described on p. 268, SR5, this action allows rig-
  gers to use their RCC to reduce noise between them-
  selves and their vehicles or drones. Reduce noise by 
  the hits on this test, cumulative with any other forms of 
  noise reduction. This effect lasts for the remainder of the 
  current Combat Turn. Your RCC’s Noise Reduction rating 
  is added as a dice pool bonus for this action.
  TARGET DEVICE
  (COMPLEX ACTION)
  Marks Required: None
  Test: Electronic Warfare + Logic [Data Processing] v. 
  Willpower + Firewall
  Pick a wireless-enabled device you’ve spotted on 
  the Matrix. You can target that device and feed targeting 
  data to any pilot program or person with a Sensor rating 
  or smartlink that is slaved to your RCC. For the rest of the 
  Combat Turn, the slaved attackers receive a dice pool 
  REPAIR TABLE
  SITUATION
  DICE POOL MODIFIER
  Working Conditions
  Distracting
  –1
  Poor
  –2
  Bad
  –3
  Terrible
  –4
  Superior
  +1
  Tools and/or Parts Are:
  Unavailable
  –4 or not allowed
  Superior
  +1 or more
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  bonus equal to your net hits when targeting the device 
  you’re tracking for them. Your RCC’s Noise Reduction 
  rating is added as a dice pool bonus for this action.
  SWARMS
  What do you do with a lot of relatively stupid drones? 
  Create one reasonably smart swarm! A drone (or vehi-
  cle) swarm is a network of linked drones all slaved (p. 
  233, SR5) to a single RCC running the Swarm program. 
  You can include as many drones in a swarm as your RCC 
  can slave (Device Rating x 3), or split them up among 
  several swarms (again, limited by your RCC’s slave lim-
  it). To start a swarm, simply run the Swarm program on 
  your RCC, slave your drones, and command them to 
  join the swarm you designate for them.
  Each swarm acts as a single drone with multiple, sep-
  arate “bodies.” Its Pilot rating is equal to the highest Pi-
  lot rating of its member drones, or the Device Rating of 
  the RCC, whichever is higher. The swarm uses the high-
  est-rated of each autosoft running on any drone or the 
  RCC, and the highest Sensor rating. It uses the lowest of 
  the drones’ Handling, Speed, and Acceleration ratings. 
  When performing actions, the swarm gets a dice pool 
  and limit bonus equal to one less than the number of 
  drones in the swarm.
  In combat, all drones attack with whatever weap-
  ons they have, but for game purposes only use a sin-
  gle weapon’s stats (the others are covered by the action 
  bonuses the swarm receives), although roll scatter for 
  explosive weapons separately. Drones in a swarm must 
  be targeted individually by attackers—the loss of drones 
  from a swarm due to damage, hacking, or other mishaps 
  affects the swarm’s bonuses and ratings immediately.
  OPERATIONAL TIME
  While vehicles use a variety of fuel sources besides 
  simple gasoline, they all still use something, which 
  means eventually they run out of what is powering 
  them. Vehicles operating normally can function for six 
  hours before needing refueling/recharging/whatever; 
  operating in a low-power mode (such as idling) ex-
  tends that time, while higher-powered travels (such as 
  moving at top speeds for prolonged periods) shorten 
  it. Keeping minute-by-minute records is not necessary. 
  The point is to make the players occasionally consider 
  their power needs and not allow them unlimited travel 
  without powering/fueling up, not making them track 
  exact fuel expenditures.
  TAKEOFF AND LANDING
  Planes and helicopters and such go from ground to 
  air at different angles, meaning they have different 
  amounts of horizontal land they need to traverse be-
  fore they get airborne—and when they get back down 
  to the ground. There are three different aircraft profiles: 
  long, short, and VTOL. Long distances are used for 
  planes that are not specified to have either short land-
  ing or VTOL capabilities, or lighter-than-air properties.
  TAKEOFF AND LANDING DISTANCE
  AIRCRAFT PROFILE
  TAKEOFF
  LANDING
  Long
  2,000
  1,800
  Short
  200
  300
  VTOL
  —
  —
  SWARMS
  RIGGING PROGRAM
  COST
  Swarm
  600¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> ALL THE ANGLES <<    31
  (order #9639630)
  
  Cayman pointed.
  “Stay!”
  A short man with a dusting of black hair on his chin that 
  was attempting to be a beard threw his hands in the air. 
  “I can’t do any good back here!”
  “Maybe,” Cayman said, “But you also can’t do any harm. 
  Past experience tells me that’s a tradeoff worth making.
  “So I’m just supposed to stand here?”
  Cayman had started walking toward X-Prime, who 
  was waiting patiently at the end of the alley. He didn’t 
  turn when he spoke to Looper.
  “No, of course not,” he said. “You’re too obvious. Sit 
  in the car. Be ready.” Then he caught up to X-Prime, and 
  the two of them walked toward the NeoNET subsidiary 
  that hopefully didn’t know they were coming.
  Looper paced a few times in back of the dumpy 
  brown Americar. He didn’t want to give Cayman the sat-
  isfaction of following his instructions.
  But then he got bored and tired of standing around, 
  so he got in the car.
  It was pointed in the direction Cayman and X-Prime 
  had exited, so Looper was free to look at the suits walk-
  ing back and forth in the blue-grey light that seemed es-
  pecially bright compared to the charcoal lighting in the 
  alley. The car was not hidden, and he figured they had 
  at most fifteen minutes before some cop noticed it and 
  ordered a tow. With any luck, he wouldn’t have to wait 
  that long.
  As it turned out, he didn’t. After five minutes, a 
  dark sedan pulled forward to block the alley. No doors 
  opened. 
  Looper didn’t like that. He didn’t like the clatter of 
  gunfire that followed, or the flash of light followed by 
  a loud boom that was close enough for him to notice 
  but not close enough to directly cause him problems. 
  He was pretty sure problems were on the way, though.
  This car was not exactly a hot rod, but it had the vir-
  tue of being very customizable. He was already in manual 
  shifting (he hadn’t driven getaway before, but he was pret-
  ty sure most professionals didn’t use automatic), and he 
  turned off traction control. He had seen a pile of loose nuts 
  and bolts when he came in the alley. Time to use them.
  More gunfire. It was probably time to move.
  He revved the engine, slipped into gear, and the car 
  lunged forward. His hands moved quickly on the gear 
  shift (he was saving up for an RCC but didn’t have near 
  enough yet) and put it in reverse while hanging off the 
  clutch for a second. People in the sedan were moving, 
  the window facing him moving down and the barrel of a 
  gun emerging. But then Looper was on the pile of bolts, 
  and he engaged the clutch. The car hated it, grinding and 
  squealing, but the wheels did their job and spun. Small 
  pieces of metal shot forward, flying above the sedan but 
  also hitting it, and the would-be shooter ducked for cover. 
  The car moved, a natural response to being under fire.
  Looper shifted his car back into first gear, and there 
  was more grinding but the Americar lurched, springing 
  for the sedan, which he nailed between the rear wheel 
  well and the trunk. It spun, then the sedan’s acceleration 
  took hold at an inopportune time, and it drove up on a 
  sidewalk and into a wall. 
  Looper squealed around the corner, saw two peo-
  ple running out of the confusion caused by the gunfire 
  and his sudden emergence, and he shot toward them. A 
  quick flip on an ARO opened the rear driver’s-side door 
  as he drew near them, and Cayman and X-Prime dove 
  into the car. Then it was time to accelerate again, before 
  any security could stop them.
  In five minutes, they had pulled into a garage, 
  dumped the Americar, and switched to a blue Honda 
  Citizen. Looper peacefully drove along at a legally bor-
  ing speed.
  Cayman looked over at X-Prime.
  “I may have underestimated the skill of our driver,” 
  he said.
  10W40 IN  
  YOUR VEINS
  Some people are born riggers, others work tirelessly to 
  build up the skills that could make them highly sought 
  after. There are a lot of different paths to being a great 
  rigger, and there is not just one way to be great. This 
  chapter has qualities and life modules for use with the 
  life module character creation system (p. 65, Run Fast-
  er). Dive in to make the tire-screeching, wave-riding, 
  drone-shooting, jet-flying rigger of your dreams.
  RIGGER 5.0
  ON THE  
  BLEEDING EDGE
  32    >> ON THE BLEEDING EDGE <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  POSITIVE QUALITIES
  CHASER 
  COST: 4 KARMA
  Something about reeling in a car, boat, or plane that is 
  trying to get away from you gives you a sense of urgen-
  cy and intensity that makes you perform at your peak. 
  The same thing happens when someone is after you. 
  Any time you perform any Chase Action (p. 204, SR5), 
  you receive a +2 dice pool bonus.
  DEALER CONNECTION 
  COST: 3 KARMA
  At some point in your wide travels and extra-legal 
  activities, you met someone who has access to retail 
  vehicles, and your connection means that you get ve-
  hicles at a discount. When selecting this quality, pick 
  a class of vehicle (ground craft, watercraft, aircraft, or 
  drones). Each time you purchase a vehicle of that class, 
  you receive ten percent off the price. The discount is 
  taken after the gamemaster makes adjustment to the 
  price based on Availability. This quality may be taken 
  up to four times, once for each class of vehicle.
  GREASE MONKEY
  COST: 8 KARMA
  When you were young, you would much rather make a trip 
  to the junkyard than the toy store (possibly because kids in 
  the barrens never have enough money to buy anything at 
  the toy store). As you got older, the allure or discarded ve-
  hicle and machine parts on the heaps in junkyards was far 
  stronger than the promise of some new toy. You not only 
  loved monkeying around with these items, but you could 
  often get the devices to work. Gain +1 dice on any skill test 
  using skills from the Engineering skill group. 
  SPEED DEMON
  COST: 3 KARMA
  Pushing your vehicle to its limits makes the hair on the 
  back of your neck stand up, but in a good way. You feel 
  alive, alert, and ready to do anything. This increased in-
  tensity gives you a +1 dice pool bonus to Pilot tests for a 
  vehicle that is moving at a speed attribute of 3 or high-
  er (4 for aircraft). Note that your character must either 
  be directly in the vehicle he is piloting or jacked in; the 
  bonus does not apply to vehicles that are simply being 
  piloted remotely.
  STUNT DRIVER
  COST: 4 KARMA
  Whether it’s because you spent some time working for 
  a trip studio in LA or because you taught yourself some 
  fancy moves while passing time in the barrens driving 
  some junker car, you developed particular skill behind 
  the wheel/helm/control stick of a vehicle and can pull 
  off stunts with a grace and ease that others envy. When 
  making any vehicle Stunt test (see p. 204, SR5), you 
  receive a +2 dice pool bonus.
  SUBTLE [VEHICLE] PILOT
  COST: 4 KARMA
  Other riggers can be flashy or showy, but you know the 
  value of getting your work done while appearing like part 
  of the normal traffic—or like part of the background you’re 
  passing. When you are piloting a craft on the ground, in 
  the water, or in the air, anyone trying to spot you gets a –2 
  dice pool penalty to their Perception Test to find you. This 
  includes drones, as long as you are directly controlling 
  them instead of letting your software for the work. This 
  quality can be selected once for each particular Pilot skill, 
  including the various Pilot Exotic Craft skills. The type of 
  craft it applies to must be selected when it is purchased.
  NEGATIVE QUALITIES
  ACCIDENT PRONE
  BONUS: 4 KARMA
  This driving thing—it may not be for you. You have a talent 
  for steering any vehicle you control into whatever wall, 
  tree, or other vehicle may be nearby. You receive a –2 dice 
  pool penalty on any tests involved in directing a vehicle.
  MOTION SICKNESS
  BONUS: 4 KARMA
  Yes, there is a strong benefit from being able to move 
  from place to place, but if your traveling comes with 
  >> ON THE BLEEDING EDGE <<    33
  (order #9639630)
  
  too much, well, motion, your stomach starts doing flip-
  flops. Any time you are in a vehicle that is effective-
  ly accelerating at a rate of 3 or higher (that is, moving 
  across three or more range categories) or moving at a 
  Speed of 4 or higher, you experience Nausea (p. 409, 
  SR5) until the vehicle’s Speed or Acceleration drops. 
  Once the vehicle movement drops, the Nausea disap-
  pears in (12 – Body) minutes.
  TOO MUCH DATA
  BONUS: 3 KARMA
  With a few vehicles under your control, everything is 
  fine. Once you get too many vehicles moving at the 
  same time, sending you information on what they are 
  doing, where they are going, and who is shooting at 
  them, you start to feel overwhelmed and flustered, and 
  your effectiveness drops. Anytime you are directing 
  four or more vehicles and/or drones that are in motion, 
  you receive a –2 dice pool penalty on any Pilot tests 
  related to the movement of those vehicles. This applies 
  even if some of the vehicles and/or drones are on au-
  topilot—the data streaming in from them is distracting.
  LIFE MODULES
  Some riggers are shaped by the life experiences they 
  had along the way—their hobbies, jobs, and possibly their 
  early criminal efforts. These life modules reflect some of 
  those experiences, and are for use with the Life Module 
  character creation system found in Run Faster (p. 65)
  FORMATIVE YEARS
  MINOR WHEELMAN
  Were you supposed to be behind the wheel before you 
  were even in your teens? No. But you were also sup-
  posed to be in school, living under an intact roof, and 
  being looked out for by someone who wasn’t constant-
  ly on novacoke, so your life never really followed any of 
  the patterns the establishment would approve. Wheth-
  er running errands for adults too stoned to drive or 
  capturing an illicit thrill in a stolen vehicle, you built up 
  driving skills early, along with a certain reckless streak 
  that comes from doing something stupid and getting 
  away with it.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  34    >> ON THE BLEEDING EDGE <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Attributes: Intuition +1, Reaction +1
  Qualities: Speed Demon, Stunt Driver
  Skills: Automotive Mechanic +1, Navigation +1, Pi-
  lot Ground Craft +2, Professional Knowledge: [Vehicle 
  Models] +1, Street Knowledge: [Vehicle Stunts] +1
  SHOP KID
  Someone close to you—a relative, a friend, or what-
  ever—had a repair shop, and you spent a lot of time 
  there, hanging out. You grew to love the smell of oil 
  and grease, the sound of metal clanking and ratchets 
  ratcheting, and the sight of a battered mess being re-
  stored to functional life. And along the way, you picked 
  up some pointers on how machines work.
  Attributes: Intuition +1, Logic +1
  Qualities: Grease Monkey
  Skills: Automotive Mechanic +2, Industrial Mechan-
  ic +1, Professional Knowledge: [Vehicle Models] +3, Pro-
  fessional Knowledge: [Vehicle Parts] +1
  TEEN YEARS
  BOOSTER 
  Money isn’t easy to come by on the streets of the Sixth 
  World—except for the fact that residents of the Sixth 
  World tend to drive vehicles worth several thousand 
  nuyen over those same streets on a daily basis. At 
  some point in your teen years, whether due to bore-
  dom or desperate need, you took to stealing cars, and 
  found you were pretty good at it. You learned that the 
  job has two main parts—getting a vehicle you don’t 
  own moving, and then staying out of the hands of the 
  rightful owners or police who want you to give it back.
  Attributes: Logic +1, Reaction +1
  Qualities: Stunt Driver
  Skills: Hacking +1, Locksmith +1, Pilot Ground Craft 
  +1, Professional Knowledge: [Vehicle Models] +2, Street 
  Knowledge: [Chop Shops] +2
  FURTHER EDUCATION
  TRADE SCHOOL SHOP
  You didn’t go to school to learn philosophy or read po-
  etry; you went to gain some solid skills with use in the 
  real world. Namely, you learned how to fix and repair 
  things. The undersides of your fingernails may be per-
  manently stained black, but you have skills useful to 
  just about everyone in the civilized world.
  Note: This counts as part of the Community College 
  group, and so costs 55 Karma.
  Attributes: Logic +1
  Qualities: Grease Monkey
  Skills: Engineering skill group +1, Academic Knowl-
  edge [Practical Mechanics] +2, Professional Knowledge 
  [Industrial Manufacturers] +2, Professional Knowledge 
  [Machine Parts] +2
  REAL LIFE
  DRONE HOBBYIST
  First you found out how to fly a drone in order to get 
  pictures of cityscapes that you could never get other-
  wise. Then you moved on to smaller drones that could 
  listen and see things where you normally couldn’t go. 
  Then you explored drone capabilities beyond just look-
  ing and listening. Over a few years and more expendi-
  tures than you would care to tabulate, you ended up 
  with some pretty solid skills when it comes to manip-
  ulating drones.
  Attributes: Logic +1, Reaction +1
  Skills: Automotive Mechanic +2, Gunnery +2, Per-
  ception +1, Pilot Aircraft +2, Pilot Ground Craft +2, Pilot 
  Walker +2, Pilot Watercraft +2, Sneaking +1, Tracking 
  +1, Professional Knowledge: [Drone Manufacturers] +3, 
  Professional Knowledge: [Drone Software] +2 Pilot Air-
  craft +2
  GETAWAY DRIVER
  It started as an insult more than anything else—you ran 
  with a pack of people who, when drek got real, would 
  leave you sitting in the car. “It’s for your own good,” 
  they said, but what they meant was “We think you 
  might kill us if you came along.” That’s how it start-
  ed, but eventually all that time in the car added up to 
  something. You learned quick reflexes, driving savvy, 
  and a calm demeanor—while also learning how to drive 
  really, really fast.
  Attributes: Intuition +1, Reaction +1
  Qualities: Gearhead, Speed Demon
  Skills: Automotive Mechanic + 1, Gunnery +1, Pilot 
  Ground Craft +3, Pilot Watercraft +1, Sneaking +1, Track-
  ing +2, Street Knowledge [(Selected Area) Streets] +2, 
  Street Knowledge [Stunt Techniques] +2
  TRID STUNT DRIVER
  There are a whole lot of bad jobs in the world. The fact 
  that you were able to spend time driving and crashing 
  cars for a living for a short time is no insignificant ac-
  complishment. Yeah, the pay wasn’t great, but it kept 
  you fed and sheltered for a time. Until you realized you 
  had developed some skills that might pay off a lot more, 
  if you were willing to be a little loose in your ethics.
  Attributes: Intuition +1, Reaction +1
  Qualities: Steely Eyed Wheelman (p. 150, Run Fast-
  er), Stunt Driver
  Skills: Automotive Mechanic +1, Demolitions +1, 
  Etiquette (Corporate) +1, Gunnery +1, Navigation +1, 
  Performance +1, Pilot Aircraft +1, Pilot Ground Craft +3, 
  Pilot Walker +1, Pilot Watercraft +2, Professional Knowl-
  edge [Stunt Techniques] +3, Professional Knowledge 
  [Trid Studios] +2
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> ON THE BLEEDING EDGE <<    35
  (order #9639630)
  
  When an electric sports car is accelerating, it has a few doz-
  en moving parts. Most, of course, are in the wheels, taking 
  the electric current from the battery and turning it into mo-
  tion. The engine doesn’t roar or even purr. The only noise is 
  from the movement of the rotors and the wheels contacting 
  the road. There is a certain purity to it, where the only noise 
  comes from actual movement—the faster you go, the louder 
  it gets. On the occasional trip out of the sprawl, Tucker had 
  driven internal combustion cars, and he had to admit satis-
  faction in hearing the engine roar when he stomped on the 
  accelerator. The engine dominated internal combustion cars, 
  overwhelming the road noise, sending shudders through 
  the whole body of the vehicle. It had its own thrill, but in the 
  end, Tucker preferred electric. The only rumble came from 
  the road, the only noise from movement. When you got up 
  enough speed on the right stretch of road and managed to 
  jump into the air, the wheels left the ground and their noise 
  briefly vanished, leaving nothing but the wind rushing by, and 
  for the small moment before the frame cracks back to the 
  earth, there is quiet flight. Tucker believed that if more theo-
  logians experienced moments like that, they would no longer 
  describe heaven in terms of angels and clouds, but rather talk 
  about suspension, wheels, and motors.
  Heaven, though, seemed far distant compared to the hell 
  that well might be waiting for him.
  “They’re looking for you, Tucker,” said Spinnaker over the 
  comm. “I’ve got you covered so far, but someone’s been 
  alerted. They want to find anything that looks suspicious, and 
  they might settle on you.”
  Tucker eased his low-slung car around a corner, passing a 
  few punks in glowing synthleather who tried not to look like 
  they were ogling his red-striped beauty. But of course they 
  were. The blue light from his hubs briefly shone on the faces 
  of the punks, then passed.
  Another nice thing about internal combustion cars was 
  the shifting of gears when you made a turn like this. It gave 
  you a level of control of the vehicle that was not, of course, 
  the same as being jumped in, but made you feel close to 
  the machine, unified with it. With the electric vehicle, you 
  just slid around the corner, all movement controlled by how 
  you massaged the pedal. It was smooth and calm, but a little 
  bloodless.
  Tucker thought about jumping in, just to satisfy his vehi-
  cle lust, but he didn’t think he could afford to be that focused 
  on vehicle movement right now. With a few Fly-Spys pro-
  viding footage from the downtown area, and footage from 
  THE ORDER  
  OF CHAOS
  36    >> THE ORDER OF CHAOS <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Spinnaker showing the location and movements of the rest of 
  his team, he couldn’t get too focused on one thing.
  “Motorcycles inbound,” Jekyll reported from her mid-air 
  perch. She was currently invisible, being flown around by 
  an air spirit. She’d light up the astral to anyone paying atten-
  tion, but the heart of the CAS sector of Denver generally had 
  plenty of spirits patrolling the area, so hopefully she wouldn’t 
  seem unusual. “Five of them. If they’re not Yakuza, I’ll eat my 
  familiar.”
  “They’ve swallowed the bait,” Spinnaker said. “Let’s make 
  sure their trip is worthwhile.”
  “They’re heading right to Klub Karma,” Jekyll said. “Guns 
  aren’t out yet.”
  Tucker was six blocks away from the club. The car was still 
  smooth and silent. It would not stay that way long. He regret-
  ted it. But he was not paid for peace.
  “I can’t drive straight in,” he said. “The Yaks are going to 
  need some time to get chesty first. Then I’ll make the run and 
  make sure the chaos takes hold.”
  “Roger,” Spinnaker said.
  Four motorcycles roared by Tucker. They weren’t electric. 
  The Yaks knew that for this particular mission, noise mattered.
  At the next street, Tucker took a left. He needed to take 
  a roundabout route, but he didn’t think the Yaks would make 
  him wait long.
  The Yaks drove down in front of the club, coming in range 
  of a Fly-Spy Tucker had planted on the marquee. The benefit 
  of the afternoon light was that the marquee was not washing 
  out the cameras of the drone, so he had a good view of the 
  motorcycles revving down the block.
  There was an art to what the Yaks were about to do. They 
  had to build tension, but at the right pace. Go too fast, and 
  things would be over too quickly. Any possible spectators 
  wouldn’t be aware of what was happening. Go too slow and 
  you’d seem timid, and you might give the opposition too 
  much time to craft some sort of response. They needed to get 
  attention, make some bad things happen, then make them 
  worse, then get out.
  They started with the traditional revving of engines and 
  hollering as they drove up and down the block. They swerved 
  from lane to lane, weaving through incoming traffic, certainly 
  drawing the attention of GridGuide authorities. A response 
  would be here soon, but the Yaks were doing an admirable 
  job of snarling up traffic, which would delay the response. 
  Looking out his windshield, Tucker saw some vehicles near 
  him awkwardly jerking to the side of the road, showing that 
  >> THE ORDER OF CHAOS <<    37
  BY JASON M. HARDY
  (order #9639630)
  
  GridGuide was already trying to clear a path. The Yaks would 
  not be long on time.
  But they were already escalating. Someone had done a 
  nice bit of programming, so that as the cycles spun around 
  the street, their rear wheels kicked up AROs of color that flew 
  into the air toward the club, spreading virtual stains over the 
  entrance. They were clashing neons, fluorescent colors mix-
  ing with browns, making the whole entrance look tacky and 
  ugly—assuming you were able to see AR, and who wasn’t? 
  Petty vandalism wasn’t going to satisfy the circling Yaks, 
  though. That was just to get attention. The real show was 
  about to start.
  It began with a spell, which surprised Tucker. He didn’t 
  think they’d send a mage on something like this, but they had, 
  and it was a good choice, because they were able to send up 
  some fire to sear the club doors without having to pull out 
  a weapon. Tucker had to move his Fly-Spy a little to see the 
  results of the spell, and once he did it looked like more light 
  than heat. There were some char marks on the door’s brushed 
  metal handles, but nothing more serious. But then the doors 
  open, and two prototypical security mooks in dark suits and 
  sunglasses emerged, large and shiny handguns out. They 
  waved them at the Yaks on cycles and yelled, but this attack 
  was not going to be deterred by words and waves. Another 
  spell from the mage knocked one of the guards on his hoop, 
  which brought an end to the shouting part of the ritual. The 
  non-Awakened Yaks whipped out their guns, while the stand-
  ing security guard fired three times and dove for cover.
  Sadly, the fast move left the other guard as the most obvi-
  ous target. A barrage of bullets hit his bulletproof vest, which 
  one stray hitting his left arm and another catching his neck. 
  That last one left spurting blood behind it. The guard would 
  not be getting back up.
  This wasn’t just for show anymore. This was real. And si-
  rens approaching fast indicated it wouldn’t be lasting much 
  longer. The Yaks would likely want to make one more big 
  move and then get out before the cops or the mob could 
  mount any credible response.
  That meant it was time for Tucker, who was there to make 
  sure the chaos did not end so easily. They were being paid 
  to make this a true incident with plenty of arrests, not a mere 
  skirmish.
  GridGuide had ordered him to the side of the road, and 
  he had complied. The twenty seconds of motionlessness had 
  been annoying. Fortunately, they were over. 
  “Gimme override,” he said, and Spinnaker complied. An 
  ARO flashed green, indicating his car was free of any con-
  straints. He hit the accelerator and pushed back in his seat as 
  the car pulled forward.
  That was the other difference between electric and inter-
  nal combustion cars. Internal combustion cars felt like the en-
  gine was pushing the car, heaving the inertia forward through 
  sheer power. Electric cars—at least ones as powerful as his 
  Porsche—felt like they were being unleashed, as if without 
  restraint they would accelerate forever until they burst into a 
  fireball of kinetic energy. The car was eager to run, and Tucker 
  was eager to let it.
  Squealing tires was a universal car noise, regardless of the 
  engine, and Tucker laid down rubber turning his way toward 
  Klub Karma. So far, no one had noticed the spell concealing 
  the large tube on the top of his car, but people would be look-
  ing soon. They’d notice, assuming they had the skill to see. 
  But that was okay. Tucker wasn’t being subtle anymore.
  The powers of GridGuide had managed to clear a path for 
  the police that were closing in on the club, and that meant 
  that once he was lined up, Tucker had a clear shot.
  He took it. Fire erupted from the gun in his roof, and a 
  large shell hurtled down the street. It hit the street, smoking, 
  then exploded for good measure. A street that was already in 
  chaos got worse. 
  Tucker came tearing after his shot. If anyone was checking 
  the ID he was broadcasting, he would look all the world like 
  a Mafia car. Whether the Yaks noticed that or not, they knew 
  he was a threat, so they turned on him. Their pistols wouldn’t 
  do him much damage, but he was worried about the mage. 
  That’s what Jekyll was there for, though.
  On cue, lightning sprang from the hands of the Yak mage, 
  but it fizzled just outside the Porsche. Jekyll was doing her job. 
  Tucker didn’t want to go with the big gun again, as he was 
  in closer quarters and didn’t have a good path, but he had a 
  handgun and a window just for this purpose. Passers-by had 
  passed by at this point, so he didn’t have to worry about hit-
  ting the wrong people. He flew through the block, spraying 
  bullets. He wasn’t sure if he hit anything, but he damn sure 
  had gotten their attention.
  Sadly, after another hundred meters he realized he had 
  gotten more attention than he anticipated. Two more motor-
  cycles were ignoring GridGuide and heading down the street. 
  And two black cars came out from the alley next to Klub Kar-
  ma, likely the mobile part of club security joining the fight. 
  The Yakuza knew he was firing at them, and if they looked at 
  the registration information he was broadcasting they would 
  think he was Mafia. The Mafia, if they looked at the informa-
  tion he was broadcasting, would know he was lying. And the 
  police wouldn’t care what he was right now—they’d just be 
  highly annoyed that he was firing weapons in the heart of the 
  CAS sector.
  They would all want to stop him. It would be bad for him 
  if any of them did.
  He unleashed the power of his Porsche and let it run. If it 
  became a fireball as he escaped, so be it.
  The acceleration was smooth, even, and powerful. The 
  motorcycles ahead of him could not react fast enough. He 
  saw them whipping out handguns as he passed by. They 
  turned and fired, but they were still moving. The shots were 
  awkward. He was not sure where the bullets landed, but it was 
  not near him.
  “GridGuide has politely but firmly suggested that you 
  pull over and stop, or the authorities will have to use deadly 
  force,” Spinnaker reported.
  38    >> THE ORDER OF CHAOS <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  “Tell them I appreciate the suggestion, but that is not 
  going to work for me at this moment.” The street ahead 
  was busy—it was not quite rush hour, but close enough that 
  plenty of cars were out. Most of them seemed to be letting 
  GridGuide do the driving, and they lurched into position as 
  a blockade. Tucker wove between them for a time, but then 
  there was a solid block of cars in front of him that he had no 
  way of avoiding.
  He turned sharply toward an alley. He could almost hear 
  his car protesting being reined in. So he let it loose again and 
  sped ahead.
  He saw gunfire in the street ahead before he emerged. 
  He didn’t know who was firing, but he knew he would not be 
  welcome. The street didn’t look as crowded as the one he had 
  left. He hoped that would hold true once he saw more of it.
  He came out of the alley and saw a Yak motorcycle no 
  more than fifteen meters away. The driver had his gun out and 
  ready. He fired. Sparks across the hood told Tucker he was 
  losing some of his paint. Dammit.
  He had already decided to turn right before he left the al-
  ley, which happened to take him away from the cycle. Double 
  dammit. His acceleration was good, but a lightweight motor-
  cycle would be better, especially at slower speeds. He looked 
  back, saw it gaining.
  So he slammed on the brakes. The rider was already falling, 
  a bullet scraped Tucker’s roof, but the rest of the shots were 
  too high. And the cyclist could not stop as fast as Tucker start-
  ed. He swerved to avoid hitting Tucker’s Porsche and went 
  nearly sideways. It’s possible that he might have been able to 
  right himself after the maneuver, but Tucker wanted none of 
  that. He moved in reverse, tapping the motorcycle enough to 
  ensure it went down. He would have run the both driver and 
  machine over, but at this point he couldn’t risk damage to his 
  undercarriage. He shifted forward again and sped off.
  Ahead of him, dark sedans with bright flashing lights 
  turned the corner. Behind him, two more motorcycles. Above 
  him, there was an unearthly scream of the air ripping in two. 
  Jekyll’s air spirit must have taken a hit. He hoped Jekyll would 
  find a safe landing spot before the spirt took too much dam-
  age. But he couldn’t spare the mage more than that brief 
  thought.
  Other things he couldn’t worry about: firing his gun, check-
  ing a map, watching his gauges. He could only drive. Swerve 
  around the police cars. Spin into an intersection, planning to 
  turn left, see dark Mafia cars coming at him, make the turn 
  into a spin, go a full 270 degrees so that what was going to be 
  a left becomes a right, then move forward again. Let the car 
  run. Use the cars sent to block him as pawns of his own. Give 
  them glancing blows, pushes, send them into spins. Anything 
  to make pursuit difficult. Ignore traffic lights, since now they 
  were all red anyway. Pick a direction, then keep moving to it 
  when you can. He picked east.
  Three thuds from above got his attention. Bullets, but not 
  scraping. Thudding. Like they were fired from above. Drones. 
  Dammit.
  He swerved right. Bullets hit the pavement next to him. He 
  checked wireless signals quickly, getting a read on what was 
  firing at him. LEBD-2. Law enforcement drone. Unwanted. He 
  waved at a few AROs while spinning around a corner, send-
  ing a burst of code to the LEBD-2. If he were lucky, the drone 
  would read it as directions that made no sense, confusing it 
  for a second. He hoped a second would be all he needed.
  The drone stopped, turned left with a shudder, traveled 
  a few halting meters. It wasn’t pointed at him now. It fired 
  harmlessly into the ground. Then it stopped, turned, and gave 
  chase again. 
  There was a crowded intersection ahead of him. A fuel 
  truck on the near right corner, pulled over clumsily. A station 
  wagon on the left. Two motorcycles coming at him. An SUV 
  behind. And a drone trying to get a bead on him.
  There was no plan. There was only reaction. Switch left, 
  into oncoming traffic. Accelerate. Sedan is directed by Grid-
  Guide to get in the way. Avoid it. Drone is closing in. A flash 
  warns him of a target lock. His hands move frantically, alter-
  nating turns on the wheel while making commands in AROs. 
  Two bursts hit the drone, one breaking the lock, the other 
  sending  another set of garbled directions. It works again. The 
  drone turns clumsily. The command to fire had been given. 
  Bullets fly. Into the tanker. 
  Tucker fires bullets of his own as he goes by. But tankers 
  are not weak. The sides hold. 
  Fire falls from the sky. Jekyll is up there somewhere, some-
  how, still. The tanker hadn’t been ruptured, but it had been 
  weakened. The fire finishes the job. Flame penetrates the 
  tank, and the whole thing goes up.
  The flash and the heat stun the cyclists. Another car comes 
  from the north. The force of the explosion sends the tanker 
  ahead a few meters, catching the newcomer off guard. The 
  tanker hits the car. More chaos. The Porsche is gathering all 
  speed, hurtling through. Past. No one is ahead. Tucker lets his 
  car loose, going up hill.
  As he hits the top of the hill, his momentum gives him a 
  brief moment of lift. Behind him, motorcycles swerve, drones 
  fire, and the tanker burns. But the chaos is distant. Tucker’s 
  wheels lift off the ground. The only sound is the wind. He is 
  flying clear. The chaos is past. He is at peace.  ✖
  >> THE ORDER OF CHAOS <<    39
  (order #9639630)
  
  /5Fargo spun the cylinder on his Colt Frontier and then 
  gave it a quick finger spin before dropping it snugly into 
  the holster on his hip. The western affectation was all 
  part of his look. You had to have a gimmick to make 
  in the shadows of the ’70s. Pink mohawks and black 
  trench coats were a dime a dozen. But genuine cow-
  boys were rare. 
  He checked his other three revolvers for show, 
  threw the leather loop across the single brass button of 
  his duster, and gave a mental command to fire up his 
  mighty steed. 
  The Nightmare rumbled to life between his legs. 
  Another command, and the Universe around the 
  corner came to life as well. He was on the way to meet 
  Mr. Johnson and a new team. No way he was rolling up 
  and stepping out of the van so that everyone would in-
  stantly label him as just the chauffeur. He’d have wheels 
  nearby in case some of the new guys were too poor or 
  too dumb to own their own ride. Only excuse for not 
  having wheels was being an out-of-towner. 
  He sent another command for the Universe’s autopi-
  lot software to follow him and then kicked his iron steed 
  into gear. 
  “No missiles. What rigger doesn’t have missiles?” 
  Cooper asked incredulously. Fargo couldn’t help but 
  laugh a little at the fact that Cooper really believed the 
  trids. 
  “You realize missiles are illegal, right? The possession 
  of them is enough to warrant being shot on sight.” Fargo 
  was talking as he turned and didn’t see the fist coming 
  when it hit. The blow dropped him to his knees.
  “How funny is that! Fuckin’ hillbilly.” Cooper spat the 
  words as he loomed over Fargo’s kneeling form.
  “Hilarious,” Fargo responded as he hoisted himself 
  up on the tire of his Universe.
  “What? You want some more?” Cooper cocked a fist 
  back but never dropped the blow. It was his turn to not 
  see something coming. 
  Fargo set the series of commands while he was on 
  his knee, but they were a precaution. A just-in-case se-
  ries of actions that would execute if, and only if, some 
  specific event occurred. 
  Cooper executed the command with his raised fist. 
  Fargo could have defused the situation with some verbal 
  platitudes and supplicated himself to Cooper, but that 
  wouldn’t be very cowboy-like. 
  The doors opened first. The passenger door hit Coo-
  per in the back and pushed him forward, off-balance. 
  The sliding rear door slid open at the same time, the 
  reason not apparent until the Universe lurched to life. 
  The back end swung around to the sound of screech-
  ing tires and clipped Cooper at the knees, tumbling him 
  back into the cab. The doors closed as the van took off. 
  It whipped around the empty parking lot, one hard turn 
  after another. 
  Everyone standing there could see Cooper being 
  bounced around. Each time he seemed set to break free, 
  the van would jerk and send him off balance. 
  “I’ve got different wheels if we want to get on with 
  the job,” Fargo said while rubbing his jaw and watching 
  the van.
  “No need. We all have vehicles. Shall we meet some-
  where more discreet?” Killian spoke for the three other 
  members of the team, who all apparently knew each 
  other, “Cooper was the only one without a ride.”
  “He’s got one now. I’ll tell the Universe to bring him 
  once he’s calmed down.”
  “That may be awhile.”
  “Good thing the battery’s full.” 
  RIGGER 5.0
  DEMOLITION
  DERBY
  40    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  WORLD OF 
  WHEELS
  POSTED BY: WILMA
  > 
  With the positive feedback we got from putting up 
  Armand’s catalog, we decided to pull together another 
  similar advert. We went to Armand and he directed us to 
  his sister, Wilma, and her site, Wilma’s World of Wheels. 
  A little hello from Wilma, and then on to the World of 
  Wheels.
  > 
  Glitch
  Hoi, chummers, Wilma here of Wilma’s World of 
  Wheels. Thanks for this chance to cobble together a 
  catalog of products every rigger should know and love. 
  Your timing couldn’t have been better, since I recent-
  ly gained access to some serious paydata on the new 
  Dodge and BMW security lines. These things are likely to 
  revolutionize (while at the same time standardize) how 
  corporate police and security operate in and around the 
  shadows. The powers that be said I only have a limited 
  number of slots for descriptions, so I’ll make a full list 
  and then narrow it down to my top-tier choices. I’ll make 
  the full file available to those who come through me to 
  get their next set of wheels. 
  > 
  Be wary, folks, Wilma can find something positive in 
  every vehicle on the road. The file might take a week to 
  download. And she loves pictures!
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Are you saying don’t buy from her?
  > 
  Hard Exit
  > 
  Not at all. She’s a great connection for all things vehicular. 
  You just might want to go by her advice instead of trying 
  to read her homage to wheels.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
   
  MOTORCYCLES
  Not just the screeching or rumbling conveyance of 
  go-gangers around the world, motorcycles are great 
  for  anyone who needs to get around in tight urban 
  environments, outpace pursuit on the open road, or 
  turn a horse trail into an escape route. Some can even 
  be used to just get around town! Something good to 
  point out for those who live under a rock: A lot of the 
  sound we get from motorcycles these days is artificial 
  because electric motors don’t make noise, but bikers 
  still want their loud toys. 
  > 
  Loud pipes are protection, too. Lets the cars know we’re 
  sharing the road.
  > 
  2XL
  > 
  That’s a little bit twentieth-century, but I’ll buy it for rural 
  areas. GridGuide pretty much wipes the need for the 
  excessive noise pollution in urban spots.
  > 
  Sounder 
  > 
  First-world runner problems.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  DAIHATSU-CATERPILLAR 
  HORSEMAN
  A few years back, this radical new concept hit the mar-
  ket and became an overnight sensation … for about a 
  week. That’s an exaggeration, but while the person-
  al mobility vehicle (PMV) market never made a huge 
  boom, they found a niche to fill. PMVs are intended for 
  one person, and as such they are great for transport-
  ing employees between work and home. The Horse-
  man has been one of the most successful due to its 
  persistence. A few other models jumped on the band-
  wagon, but the Horseman jumped out ahead early and 
  used that early success to lock its spot at the top of 
  this small market. The Horseman is a three-wheeled, 
  single-person vehicle powered by an electric motor, 
  and it offers two modes of travel: road and walk. Road 
  mode consists of stretching out flat like a motorcycle, 
  with the driver lying on their back inside the little bub-
  ble-canopied pod. In this mode it’s barely taller than a 
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    41
  (order #9639630)
  
  motorcycle and is intended to zip through traffic like 
  one. Walk mode moves the wheels closer together and 
  brings the driver into an upright sitting position. When 
  set like this, the Horseman is about the height of an 
  average ork. This mode allows it to move along pedes-
  trian pathways, such as sidewalks and building lobbies, 
  and it can even enter cargo elevators. 
  Such a small vehicle would often seem of limited 
  use, but the Horseman has several add-on modules 
  to expand its capabilities. These secondary vehicles 
  plug into the rear of the PMV so as to not interfere with 
  its ability to switch modes. The ModPods, as they’re 
  called, make the Horseman unwieldy, but it’s not the 
  most maneuverable to start. The ModPods include a 
  passenger module that allows one additional passen-
  ger, a cargo module that allows extra space for gear 
  and goodies that has about the same volume as a large 
  trunk of a car, an advanced cargo module that has a 
  pair of mechanical arms so the driver can interact with 
  the outside world without leaving the vehicle, a drone 
  module that comes with a small drone rack, and a se-
  curity module that offers a pop-up turret to chase off 
  would-be attackers.
  Riggers dig this vehicle for two big reasons. First 
  off, they’re inconspicuous. They don’t look at all hostile 
  and are usually associated with corporate wageslaves 
  too scared to step foot in the real world. In the danger-
  ous world we live in, wageslaves have chosen, or been 
  forced by their corporate masters, to travel between 
  their homes and workplaces in a Horseman. To further 
  protect them, the canopies are almost always mirrored 
  to hide whoever is inside—or occasionally what is in-
  side, as some corps use these on autopilot to transport 
  goods. Riggers like this because they can roll around in 
  their Horseman looking like your average corporate Joe 
  and run their drone network with less interference. Rea-
  son number two is the ability to stick someone or some-
  thing inside and roll it around, into, or through places 
  without too many second glances.  
  HORSEMAN (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/1
  3
  2
  4
  3
  2
  2
  1
  —
  12,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Enviroseal
  Notes
  Pods decrease Handling to 2/1, Speed to 2, Accel 
  to 1; Passenger increase Seats to 2 (6,000¥), Cargo 
  (3,000¥), Advanced Cargo (5,000¥), Drone (4,000¥); 
  Security adds a standard weapon mount (5,500¥) 
  ARES-SEGWAY TERRIER
  The Terrier is an interesting twist on an old design. It’s 
  basically two wheels, a place to stand, and a backrest. 
  It’s awkward to drive when you first get on because 
  leaning back makes you feel like you’re going to tip 
  over, but once you’ve got the hang of it, these things 
  are quite fun. The Terrier has no manual controls. Its 
  predecessor, the PT2060, was the last model to still 
  have a control bar in front rather than the backrest. 
  Now it’s completely controlled via AR using either the 
  onboard system with control glove and glasses or a 
  datajack. 
  Riggers, as well as hackers and mages, have been 
  known to use the Terrier to haul them around with their 
  teams when they go shifting their consciousness to oth-
  er realities, because the gyro-stabilization system keeps 
  the vehicle upright, and the pilot program is decent. 
  With a little modification (i.e., a better sensor package), 
  the Terrier also makes a decent and inconspicuous sen-
  sor platform for scoping out areas while looking like an 
  upgraded pedestrian.
  > 
  The Terrier is also pretty handy for rolling gunfights once 
  you tweak the motor. It’s far more stable than running but 
  just as fast. Run it direct and you’re almost as agile too.
  > 
  Sticks
  TERRIER (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/2
  2
  1
  2
  2
  2
  2
  1
  —
  4,500¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Gyro Stabilization
  HORIZON-DOBLE REVOLUTION
  One of the great things about Horizon getting into the 
  vehicle-building field is the crazy drek they come up 
  with because function just isn’t enough. They need 
  form in spades, and that’s what the Revolution offers. 
  The Revolution is an enclosed monocycle that puts 
  the driver inside the wheel. They rely totally on AR to 
  see the road because physical view is blocked by the 
  wheel, which is a giant smart tire ring around the rid-
  er. It comes with two rider options, Racer and Lounge. 
  Racer seats the rider like a motorcycle, leaning forward, 
  while Lounge has the rider lying back. The Lounge op-
  tion offers a secondary bit of safety in the form of an 
  optional canopy and seat belt system. 
  This unique design is not where the rigger love 
  comes from on the Revolution—that’s the accessories. 
  As mentioned above, the Lounge seat can have a can-
  opy (though as a note, so can the Racer), but it’s not 
  as comfortable, and that canopy is the first of the rig-
  ger-friendly upgrades because it closes off the rigger 
  from the outside world and lets her operate the Rev-
  olution, or anything else running through her RCC, in 
  full VR while protected from the elements, like raining 
  lead. Optional sidecars are also available that allow 
  for weapons, passengers, additional storage, or small 
  drones. Thanks to the design, a sidecar can be added 
  to each side of the vehicle. That’s actually the manufac-
  turer’s recommendation, though that might just be to 
  sell more sidecars.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  42    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  As one would expect with something so strange-looking, 
  this has been a huge hit with go-gangs, especially thrill 
  gangs that often use the smart tire to drive over other 
  people’s vehicles rather than around.
  > 
  Stone
  > 
  I know a street sam who got a canopy on his racer and 
  then cut slits facing forward and mounted a pair of SMGs. 
  They don’t have the ammo capacity of a full mount, but 
  they work for him.
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  Beware the canopy and sidecars for maneuverability. They 
  cut the Revolution’s ability to lean on turns. And make 
  sure you get two. The balance helps keep the monobike 
  stable and still able to perform all of its cool tricks. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Surprised Wilma didn’t mention the best trick this thing 
  has, the instant 360. The smart tire design allows the 
  Revolution to turn in place. Skilled riders can make the 
  same move going forward at full speed. Traction is usually 
  an issue but the wheel stays spinning and catches pretty 
  quick to send you right back the way you came. Don’t try 
  this in half-measures, though. The 180 lays you flat on 
  your side.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  The 180 is a great trick for going under things, especially 
  since the gyro-stabilization and smart tire can right you on 
  the other side.
  > 
  Thorn
  REVOLUTION (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/3
  4
  3
  6
  6
  2
  2
  1
  4
  8,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Gyro Stabilization, Smart Tire
  EVO FALCON-EX
  Whenever I see the Falcon, I think it was created by 
  someone who loves snowmobiles but has an issue with 
  skis. The Falcon-EX is a specialized off-road motorcycle 
  intended for the most extreme environments. In place 
  of wheels, the Falcon has a thick, flexible rubber tread 
  that runs the entire length of the vehicle. This tread has 
  a small air compartment inside for a little smoother ride 
  and better traction, but for all intents and purposes it is 
  a tankcycle. The Falcon-EX is the evolution of the Fal-
  con. The original cycle was multi-fuel, but this one is 
  pure electric and offers a fold-out solar panel for re-
  charge on those trips that take you beyond its 800-kilo-
  meter range. Yes, 800! The battery is constantly being 
  recharged by static created by the rubber tread. It’s an 
  off-road master that can handle anything from snow to 
  sand.
  > 
  That “800 kilometer” figure is advertising junk. It’s not a lie, 
  but the 800 number comes from operating in the desert 
  where the dry air allows for lots of static. A wet tread from 
  snow or a humid environment cuts the operating distance 
  in half.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  That’s still 400 klicks. I’ll accept that for a tankcycle!
  > 
  Picador
  FALCON-EX (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/5
  2/3
  1/2
  7
  9
  1
  1
  2
  —
  10,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Tracked Vehicle
  ENTERTAINMENT  
  SYSTEMS CYCLOPS
  AR plus gyro stabilization equals no limits on how to 
  design a motorcycle, and in this case we have another 
  monocycle. This one has the wheel under the rider rath-
  er than around her, but it is still strange. The rider sits 
  astride a single wheel with the balance aid of the gyro 
  system. Once mass-market production of these became 
  feasible and hipsters latched onto them, it didn’t take 
  long for consumers to start snatching them up. The Cy-
  clops was a sporty alternative to the Papoose, and you 
  weren’t riding around on something that was named for 
  a baby carrier. It’s small enough to be stored easily af-
  ter the commute, and its electric drive even lets it run 
  indoors for those too lazy to walk to their cubicle. This 
  is not a combat vehicle, but it’s small enough to hide 
  between some trashcans, and quick and maneuverable 
  enough to make it handy in a getaway. The presence 
  of the gyro system and a little added rigger kit can also 
  make the Cyclops into an interesting little dronecycle. 
  > 
  While these things aren’t scary, security forces are using 
  them more and more for urban patrols and perimeter 
  security on larger compounds to increase response time. 
  AR or DNI control allows the riders to sit up and shoot, 
  meaning they aren’t limited to a pistol or small SMG. They 
  can fire that FN-HAR they’ve got strapped across their 
  back if need be.
  > 
  Sticks 
  CYCLOPS (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/4
  4
  2
  4
  4
  1
  1
  1
  —
  6,500¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Assembly Time Improvement, Gyro Stabilization
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    43
  (order #9639630)
  
  ECHO MOTORS ZIP
  The Evo, or should I say Echo Motors, Zip is the most 
  popular personal scooter on five of the seven conti-
  nents. Designed as part of the Echo Motors meta-friend-
  ly line of vehicles, the Zip has an interchangeable com-
  ponent design that keeps costs more manageable. That 
  cost savings is passed on to the metahuman consumer. 
  The Zip has variable seat, pedal plate, and handlebar 
  components for dwarfs, elves, orks, and even trolls! 
  ZIP (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  3
  1
  6
  4
  1
  2
  1
  —
  3,500¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Metahuman adjustment
  YAMAHA KABURAYA
  Yamaha’s latest racing bike, the Kaburaya is as sleek and 
  loud as the arrow it’s named for. This demon of a bike 
  has more weight in its ultra-lightweight motor than the 
  entire rest of the bike. The low profile and single front 
  fork make this one of the most easy to identify bikes on 
  the streets of ’77. Did I also mention that it makes it the 
  fastest? Not since the olden days of internal combus-
  tion and the legendary Hayabusa have speeds like this 
  been reached on two wheels.
  KABURAYA (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/3
  6
  3
  5
  4
  1
  2
  1
  —
  17,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  BUELL SPARTAN
  This off-road bike offers the kind of power and speed 
  you expect from Buell, delivered to a custom tire and 
  suspension designed for a variety of off-road environ-
  ments. Even non-gearheads know the Spartan thanks to 
  Vale Runs-as-Deer, the excessively handsome scout for 
  Ares on Desert Wars. He’s all over the ads for this bike, 
  Desert Wars, Ares Arms, and the new Predator V. “He 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  YAMAHA KABURAYA
  44    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  was born to run as a deer, but now he can hunt like a 
  wolf. Predator V(ale)!” has been on everyone’s lips for 
  its flashy flying-through-the-air combat antics and the 
  butchering of the V meaing five into V standing for Vale. 
  Gearheads know the Spartan for its simple design and 
  built-in toolkit, which makes it easier to fix in the field. 
  SPARTAN (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/4
  4
  2
  7
  6
  2
  2
  1
  —
  11,500¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Off-road suspension
  HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHTMARE
  Harley isn’t likely to give up on their Scorpion line any 
  time in the near future, but if it does, it will be because 
  it was replaced with this beauty. This year’s Nightmare 
  is aesthetically similar to last years inaugural design. 
  Rider feedback has led to a few comfort and handling 
  improvements, as well as a whole new AR and security 
  suite available for this sophomore model. Riggers will 
  love the built-in gyro stabilization (marketed for easy 
  parking!), ample storage, extended range, and that 
  aforementioned AR suite. The designers also seem to 
  have made the bike built for a control rig. Installation of 
  the aftermarket systems on this bike is a breeze. 
  NIGHTMARE (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/3
  5
  2
  8
  8
  2
  3
  2
  —
  22,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  YAMAHA NODACHI
  While the Rapier still finds occasional use in combat 
  biker arenas, the Yamaha Nodachi is fast becoming the 
  most common bike on the circuit. Corporate brand loy-
  alty is about the only thing that prevents it from being 
  used by just about every player. The Nodachi is a beast 
  of a bike that can plow through a fully armored troll like 
  they were rice paper. Designed with arms and armor in-
  tegration in mind, the Nodachi reminds car buffs of the 
  early Hummer H1, a combat vehicle made street-le-
  gal—barely. Though Yamaha still claims the bike was 
  designed for the street and retrofitted for combat biker, 
  no one buys it. This beast makes my list because it’s 
  easier to find one with a control rig than without, the 
  weapon mounts require about six minutes for a bar-
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHTMARE
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    45
  (order #9639630)
  
  rens-raised troll to install, and it always looks lethal so 
  it rarely draws any more attention than regular bikes. 
  > 
  This thing has a 360-degree AR field, and Yamaha is 
  developing a Miracle Shooter–like game for motorcycles. 
  This bike will likely dominate others and may draw more 
  buyers for the game bonus. 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Those rear cargo boxes seem the perfect size for a 
  mounted SMG to pop out of. Oh wait, they are, since that’s 
  what’s in them on the combat biker circuit.
  > 
  Sounder
  NODACHI (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/3
  5
  2
  8
  9
  2
  2
  2
  12R
  28,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  THUNDERCLOUD MUSTANG
  Based on the designs of Thundercloud’s cross-country 
  bike, the Pinto, the Mustang is the mixed terrain monster 
  the Pinto should have been. While the Pinto was laud-
  ed as capable of traversing nearly any terrain, including 
  water, whenever it hit pavement you realized that those 
  big balloon tires may float on water and get traction 
  like glue, but they also howl like a barghest. To combat 
  this issue, the original off-road tires were replaced with 
  smart tires that widen for traction off-road and narrow 
  for speed on pavement. To keep the Mustang capable of 
  the same limited aquatic operations as the Pinto, Thun-
  dercloud hollowed out the rims and frame for buoyancy 
  and added inflatable pontoons that come out from un-
  der the frame. All the tech and goodies make this a great 
  workstation for riggers off the grid.
  Exports of the Mustang have increased in recent years 
  to replace aging Pintos and increase Thundercloud brand 
  recognition beyond the Contrail and its bad-boy go-gang 
  image. The Pueblo Corporate Council is working with 
  Horizon to get better branding for Thundercloud with 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  YAMAHA NODACHI
  46    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  some wild Doble versions of the Mustang that will soon 
  come out and get splattered all over the media.  
  > 
  The Mustang is watertight as well. You can sink it under 
  some water and then remotely activate the pontoons to 
  bring it up. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Just in case some folks aren’t very bright: Remember the 
  water trick only works if you can get a signal through. 
  Water sucks for that. So don’t sink it in deep water or 
  where there are currents—you might lose it.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  MUSTANG (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/4
  3
  2
  8
  6
  1
  1
  2
  3
  11,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Smart Tires, Amphibious Operation
  CARS
  The cars of 2077 are a strange lot. The days of “a car in 
  every garage” are long over. Corporate enclaves don’t 
  need them, big cities have been pushing them out for 
  over a century, and suburban living is a thing of the past 
  in most sprawls. But that does not keep them from re-
  maining popular symbols of independence and free-
  dom, even if they are only used as a capsule to trans-
  port you to the corporate office via GridGuide. Riggers 
  know this and use it to their advantage. 
  RENAULT-FIAT FUNONE
  This tiny two-seater is like a little box on wheels. What 
  makes it so special is the easily adjusted interior. The 
  FunOne has three steering wheel inputs—left, right, and 
  center—for differing countries and differing sizes of driv-
  ers. The seats slide forward and back on a rail system and 
  are designed to be completely removable so the cabin 
  can accommodate whatever is necessary. Trolls require 
  a specially designed center seat, but the massive scissor 
  doors open up with plenty of space to climb in and out. 
  Even the rear door opens wide. All this versatility makes 
  this car a dream for the rigger in need of a subcompact.
  > 
  Even orks will find a center-set regular seat more 
  comfortable. This setup also allows you to keep your rifle 
  handy. 
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  This thing isn’t a speed demon, but it can be a decent 
  tank. Get the model with the sunroof, upgrade the sensor 
  package, then buy about forty sandbags. Build a bunker 
  inside where you can drive from and pop out the sunroof 
  with whatever weapon you have handy.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  FUNONE (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/1
  3
  1
  6
  4
  2
  1
  2/1
  —
  8,500¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Metahuman adjustment
  DODGE XENON
  The Xenon is a head-turner. As a compact car, it hov-
  ers in the world between the ultra-cheap and environ-
  mentally friendly subcompact and the family-friendly 
  sedan. This is the car of late teen and twenty-some-
  thing corporate brats who have decided to strike out 
  on their own. And in that lies the rigger appeal. The 
  Xenon is the leading member of a small class of cars 
  one will frequently see drive out of one megacorpora-
  tion’s property and right into the extraterritorial net of 
  another. The Xenon is also known for its abundant trunk 
  space and vibrant color options.
  > 
  The Xenon is great for getting someone to notice the car 
  and not the driver. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  The car has a robust electrical system thanks to the audio 
  system options available. The same wiring that makes the 
  bass go boom, boom, boom, boom can also make the 
  weapon mount go thump, thump, thump. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  The power system is also good enough to set a charge 
  station for a drone that can pop out and make an easy 
  corpkid snatch a lot more interesting. You get a really 
  good understanding of just how big that trunk is when a 
  Doberman pops out.
  > 
  Stone
  XENON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  4/3
  2
  8
  6
  2
  2
  4
  —
  18,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  ECHO MOTORS METAWAY 
  Built for the bigger man! This is another one of Evo’s 
  new line that looks to be very meta-friendly and not 
  at all bottom-line friendly. This troll-modified compact 
  sports car was designed and built around the average 
  frame of a troll. Great for those troll riggers out there, 
  but I’m not about the single purpose, I’m more about 
  multipurpose or repurpose. The basic design and rep-
  utation trades space for comfort but gains an intimida-
  tion factor of 10. This is the car that every go-gang will 
  recognize and avoid (exceptions exist for metahatred 
  gangs or nutjobs like the Halloweeners). Roll a quartet 
  of these up to a meet with blacked-out windows, and 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    47
  (order #9639630)
  
  thoughts of a double-cross tend to fade. Also, instead 
  of the space for a comfortable troll, a sly rigger can load 
  it with a drone or a smaller metahuman and all their 
  running gear. 
  > 
  Wilma’s got good insight, but she lives in the world of 
  sales, not shadows. This is a small vehicle, literally not 
  much larger than the trolls it is designed for, and for a 
  car, that’s small. It doesn’t look threatening, and a troll-
  shaped charge of C-12 makes a big boom. Add in the fact 
  that Echo/Evo has made an enviroseal system standard 
  because trolls rarely live in pleasant places, and, well, let’s 
  just say TerraFirst! has bought plenty of these.
  > 
  Ecotope 
  METAWAY (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  4
  1
  10
  4
  1
  2
  1
  —
  24,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Metahuman adjustment
  GMC 442 CHAMELEON
  The world of tuner cars is a subculture all its own, and 
  creating a popular car isn’t about making something 
  to fit the part, it’s making something that inspires en-
  hancement. When the GMC 442 hit the market, it was 
  never advertised as something special. It was the first 
  of several brilliant moves that lead to the development 
  of the Chameleon, a stripped-down 442 with a remark-
  ably large array of aftermarket parts—parts that were all 
  made by subsidiaries under the same megacorporate 
  umbrella. For riggers, it’s cheap and can be tweaked for 
  any niche or set up as cheap transport for those runners 
  who never seem to have their own wheels.
  > 
  Gangs find this car popular. Especially to steal. A few 
  switched-out parts, and it’s a whole new ride.
  > 
  Sticks
  CHAMELEON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  4
  1
  10
  4
  1
  1
  4
  —
  14,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  ECHO MOTORS METAWAY
  48    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  MERCURY COMET
  The 2077 model marks the return of the Comet, a sedan 
  for every occasion. Ford/Ares is marketing this as the 
  average car with unlimited potential. This isn’t like the 
  Chameleon or the Shin-Hyang with aftermarket tun-
  ing—the Comet has been designed with interchange-
  able body panels to make this a car for everyone. Styles 
  and colors galore fit any taste. Every exterior panel on 
  the Comet can be easily switched out, and changing 
  all the panels takes only about a half hour. Versatility 
  around a rather robust crash cage has put this new of-
  fering in plenty of garages. 
  > 
  The base Comet is probably the most boring, boxy car I 
  have ever seen. The only curves this car starts with are on 
  the windshield. 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  The bare box look is really popular, though. The basic 
  metallic paneled box is popping up all over. The price is 
  such a draw. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Surprised Wilma didn’t mention the ease of concealing 
  armor in the different panels. The panels are all so 
  lightweight to start and a thin layer of armor polymer 
  goes a long way. The panels and this little trick even let 
  you armor up different sections. Trunk, who needs it; 
  doors, PILE IT ON; hood, depends on what’s under there. 
  The options are endless.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  COMET (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/4
  3
  2
  11
  6
  2
  2
  4
  —
  20,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  SAAB GLADIUS 998 TI
  No one thought the Dynamit would ever be topped … 
  until the Gladius concept hit the screamsheets, and Dy-
  namit owners started flooding into Saab dealer hosts 
  looking to pre-order this sleek supercar. The secondary 
  market has been flooded with used Dynamits, while 
  the Gladius has become the new hot supercar. That 
  last sentence defines why this car is here. Riggers are 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  MERCURY COMET
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    49
  (order #9639630)
  
  getting secondhand Dynamits at great prices, while a 
  new state-of-the-art supercar is out there, and every 
  car comes rigger-ready. The Gladius is a 150,000-nuy-
  en BTL habit on wheels. 
  > 
  Wilma may seem like she drank the Saab kool-aid, but 
  she’s not exaggerating. The Gladius is made with rigging 
  in mind, and that includes a feedback package unmatched 
  in a street-legal machine. If you want word straight from 
  the horsepower-junky’s mouth, ask Lady Lane over in Bug 
  City. That is, if you can catch her. She got her Gladius and 
  has been making high-speed runs back and forth from 
  Chicago to St. Louis. Her best runtime is about two and a 
  quarter hours. She averaged over 200 kph! 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  The Dynamit can get similar speeds, but the electronics 
  suite is out of date. I’d recommend the Dynamit over the 
  Gladius to anyone who isn’t wired for it. Manual controls 
  are more responsive in their previous model.
  > 
  Thorn 
  GLADIUS (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  7/3
  9
  4
  10
  5
  3
  5
  2
  14
  154,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Rigger adaptation
  DYNAMIT (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/1
  9
  3
  10
  3
  2
  3
  2
  8
  98,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  GMC PHOENIX
  Someone in the GMC design family has been watching 
  too many old flatvids. The 2077 model Phoenix harkens 
  back to the Trans Am of ninety years ago. This thick and 
  powerful-looking American muscle car has taken de-
  sign cues from past models, melded them with modern 
  materials and technology, and created a stunning piece 
  of functional art. This car has become the runaround 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  SAAB GLADIUS 998 TI
  50    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  toy of middle-aged execs with enough clout to get off 
  the corporate reservation and out onto the highways. It 
  also has a low enough price tag to make it affordable 
  to more than just execs. It’s a solid sports car with a 
  modest price tag and a lot of enhancement potential, 
  making it popular for riggers. 
  > 
  The Phoenix is doing well in NorthAm, and several 
  Pacific and Asian corporations have been reaching out to 
  find individuals who might be able to get some design 
  schematics so they can create the Paskunji, Fenghuang, 
  Firebird, or Simorgh.
  > 
  Mika
  > 
  Why not just buy one and reverse engineer it?
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  The reverse engineering process hasn’t worked. While 
  they can get a shell that looks like the Phoenix, the 
  mechanics aren’t coming apart and going back together 
  correctly. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Looks like someone at GMC knew they had a hit and 
  designed in some security features to prevent reverse 
  engineering. That engineer might know how to get past 
  this as well.
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  Arlesh Singh is listed as the head engineer on the design 
  project. 
  > 
  Bull
  PHOENIX (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  6
  3
  10
  6
  2
  3
  4
  —
  32,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  HYUNDAI EQUUS
  This flagship of the Hyundai brand, this luxury sedan is 
  entering its seventy-ninth consecutive model year. While 
  that longevity is amazing, it is the fact that the external 
  design of the car hasn’t changed since the first decade of 
  this century that makes it a rigger favorite. Materials sci-
  ence has changed, and while the Equus doesn’t look any 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  GMC PHOENIX
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    51
  (order #9639630)
  
  different, the body panels are made with modern poly-
  mers. The nice thing is the older parts still fit, so riggers 
  can scavenge junk yards for panels to replace ones that 
  might have been somehow damaged. The older metal 
  panels also tend to take a beating better, and they can be 
  repaired. Rust is an issue for some, but most of the pre-
  ’29 Crash models were made from a non-rusting alloy. 
  > 
  Parts from those models can make you some money, 
  but they’re hard to find. Add in that all of these cars 
  have looked alike for almost eight decades and it’s a big 
  haystack to sift through. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Funny thing is, you won’t find a Hyundai logo anywhere 
  but the owners manual. They have an EQUUS tag on 
  the rear and a special hood ornament, but no company 
  name. Early on it was a branding thing to avoid having 
  their lower-end models erode the Equus’ reputation, but it 
  stuck and is now just one of the quirks of the car.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  EQUUS (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4/3
  2
  12
  10
  2
  3
  4
  —
  40,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (low)
  CHEVROLET LONGBOARD
  A blast from the past, this wagon-style car has the look 
  of the ’70s—the 1970s—down pat. Wood-paneled sides 
  are standard for the classic wagon sedan. I liked the line 
  from the ads, so I added it. This car really does look like 
  something out of an old flatvid, but it’s made with all 
  the modern amenities. Sold for young suburban families 
  who want the space to fit everything but don’t like the 
  feel of driving a big van or SUV, this thing is repurposed 
  quite often by riggers who want something with a little 
  extra room but not the hassles of a bigger vehicle. The 
  retro design isn’t just on the outside, either. The Long-
  board features two forward-facing bench seats that both 
  fold down and an open cargo area with a flip up rear 
  facing seat. With all the seats folded down, the inside 
  is big enough to sleep a troll, and VR operation systems 
  are standard like most modern vehicles, so it can still be 
  driven with the seats down. 
  > 
  Nice to not mention the other reason riggers end up 
  with these to retrofit. The purchase of a Longboard is like 
  a signal to your employer you have too many kids and 
  too much money if you’re an average wageslave. These 
  things get sold off to secondhand dealers all the time 
  when wageslaves get shipped to the local arcology or 
  corp town. 
  > 
  Icarus  
  LONGBOARD (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/3
  3
  2
  12
  6
  1
  2
  6
  —
  31,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  ROLLS-ROYCE PHAETON
  The Rolls-Royce Phaeton was once the premier lim-
  ousine, but years of competitors copying their style 
  and Rolls-Royce refusing to change made the Phaeton 
  nothing more than another long car like all the rest. 
  When the line ended in ’69, many thought they were 
  done, collapsed from being stubborn. Their revelation 
  of a new model for this year will change all that. That 
  is, if Rolls-Royce can keep their new tech in house long 
  enough to get their initial run out the door before their 
  competitors steal their ideas and undercut them again. 
  As a new model, in fact one that hasn’t even hit the 
  streets, you have to be wondering how it made a list of 
  rigger’s favorites. It’s because of the rumors. The new 
  tech in the Phaeton is a SOTA rigger interface that al-
  lows a fully jumped-in rigger to slide between the Pha-
  eton and other drones connected to its PAN. 
  > 
  If the tech’s as good as it sounds, the first Phaetons on the 
  street are going to be extraction targets. People out there 
  are going to want access to what’s under the hood.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  The entire first run is already sold. They must have 
  something.
  > 
  Thorn 
  PHAETON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/3
  5/3
  2
  16
  12
  3
  4
  2/8
  18
  350,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (luxury), anti-theft 2, concealed armor 3, 
  rigger adaptation
  THUNDERCLOUD MORGAN
  The PCC has lots of good reasons to keep producing 
  off-road vehicles from Thundercloud. In the case of this 
  auto, one of those reasons is not to make riggers hap-
  py. The Morgan is intended for operations in the rug-
  ged wilderness that fills much of the PCC. From border 
  patrol operations to chasing off Juggernauts, the Mor-
  gan does it all. But it also does all of that without any 
  modern conveniences that a rigger can take advantage 
  of. It’s here because this is a vehicle riggers hate to run 
  across—unless they need parts for their own off-roader. 
  The Morgan is a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle with 
  all manual controls. It’s an amazing off-road vehicle that 
  can outrun or run down just about anything on the dirt. If 
  it can’t run them down, it also has a second option. The 
  Morgan carries two people: a driver and a gunner. The 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  52    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  gunner stands up behind the driver to use the mounted 
  weapon, usually a machine gun of some form. 
  MORGAN (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/5
  4
  3
  14
  6
  —
  —
  2
  8
  7,500¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Off-Road Suspension, Weapon Mount (external, fixed, 
  manual), Manual Operation
  TATA HOTSPUR
  Knowing this was up next is why I said the Morgan can 
  outrun “just about anything on the dirt.” Even on the 
  worst terrain, the Hotspur will leave the Morgan in its 
  dust. Hell, the Hotspur can run off-road faster than most 
  cars run on it. It was designed and developed for off-
  road racing and has evolved to handle the worst condi-
  tions the Awakened world can toss its way. Running on 
  wheels with heavy-duty shocks on independent spon-
  sons that allow over a meter of travel, the Hotspur has 
  little reason to slow over any type of terrain.
  Unlike the Morgan, the Hotspur is built with riggers 
  in mind, including an option for a built-in rigger cocoon. 
  The navigator still has a normal seat, but the rigger op-
  erates the truck from the safety of his own little life pod. 
  Due to the dangers of the Awakened deserts that the 
  Hotspur usually races across, the vehicle is sometimes 
  equipped with weapon mounts. The trucks are usually 
  fitted with a safety system to prevent using the weapons 
  on each other.
  > 
  That’s what the non-mounted rifle is for.
  > 
  Stone
  > 
  Actually, the Hotspur is the main design for the off-road 
  version of FX racing. FX is Formula 1 with weapons. FX 
  Truck Wars is gaining popularity, but it’s a brutal game. 
  Last season they lost as many trucks to paracritters as 
  they did to each other. 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  HOTSPUR (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/5
  6
  3
  16
  12
  2
  2
  2
  8
  60,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Off-Road Suspension
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  ROLLS-ROYCE PHAETON
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    53
  (order #9639630)
  
  GMC ARMADILLO
  Just your everyday average pickup, except that this 
  one comes with an easy-to-swap rear end. You can 
  have a traditional cargo bed in the morning to help 
  haul some dirt for a local gardening project and then 
  swap it out for a sleeper with a few quick latch pops 
  or the flip of a virtual switch. The Armadillo isn’t in-
  tended as a commuter and comes standard with sol-
  id off-road suspension and tires. The interchangeable 
  beds are great for riggers who want to use this as a 
  variable support vehicle. A sleeper command cabin, 
  a workshop, a drone rack, armory, food truck, rigger 
  cocoon, etc.—you name it, the back of the Armadillo 
  can have a bed for it. 
  > 
  Riggers, watch how you purchase these. Too many picked 
  up on the same SIN is gonna get some attention. 
  > 
  Fianchetto
  > 
  I know a coyote in Denver that uses these to make border 
  hops. A few are painted the same, and she runs them back 
  and forth, filled and empty boxes.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Third-world corp sec love these things. Quick and easy 
  switchouts for the back end, and they armor the frag out 
  of the cab. 
  > 
  Picador
  > 
  Some do the same for the rear for personnel transport. I 
  even saw one that came in hot, dropped a big armored 
  box, and let it roll right off the back. Locals lit the box up 
  with everything they had, and when their mags ran dry 
  the box popped open and out came the assault team, 
  guns blazing. 
  > 
  Balladeer
   
  ARMADILLO (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/4
  4
  2
  13
  10
  1
  2
  2/4
  —
  22,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Armory, cargo pod, drone rack, food truck, rigger 
  cocoon, off-road transportation, sleeper command 
  cabin, transport, workshop
  FORD PERCHERON
  Big trucks for big jobs. The Percheron is designed to haul 
  just about anything with the right setup. It’s built for hard 
  work, and that’s why riggers love it. Ford built it with 
  power and hauling in mind, and they made sure to in-
  stall a little extra dogbrain power in these beasts in case 
  of emergency. Smart riggers have found that this means 
  the Percheron can handle tricky situations better than 
  any of its competitors when left to its own devices. The 
  extra-large cab on this truck not only allows for more 
  passengers but also can double as a sleeping space for 
  those long hauls, or that time out in the wilderness wait-
  ing for a pickup, if you know what I mean.
  > 
  Speaking of tricky situations, Ford is having a slitch of a 
  time trying to use their upgraded dogbrain software in 
  anything but the Percheron. The software isn’t taking with 
  any of their other vehicles, and the results have been 
  nothing short of disastrous. I’d guess shadow ops were 
  involved, but I don’t have anything solid to back that up.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  The sleeper space is great if you’re a dwarf or an average 
  human, but orks and elves can’t stretch out and trolls will 
  feel like they’re back in the womb it’s so tight.
  > 
  2XL 
  PERCHERON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  3
  2
  15
  6
  4
  3
  6
  —
  39,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  JEEP TRAILBLAZER 
  For decades, the word “Jeep” conjured a specific image 
  in the minds of the masses. When that name was ut-
  tered, images of exposed roll bars, four wheeling, soft-
  top-down cruising in the sun, doors off and foot on 
  the empty hinges, or even associations from the olden 
  days of the military before the humvee, jilter, or empuv 
  would drift in. This is the great, great, great, grandchild 
  of that image, and it makes you question whether clon-
  ing was involved. This is the descendant of the mod-
  el known as the Wrangler, and the Trailblazer name is 
  emblazoned on every one of the iconic Jeep vehicles. 
  It still offers serious off-road capability (with the right 
  package), while keeping in mind that most buyers will 
  never turn off the GridGuide. The great thing about the 
  Trailblazer is that they kept that versatility in mind, and 
  riggers with a gearhead mentality will love the fact that 
  this ride can be stripped down to bare bones and ac-
  cessorized to the point where no one will know it isn’t 
  some custom ride unless they find a Trailblazer RFID tag 
  you missed. 
  > 
  Even after more than a century of production, the one 
  totally unique feature of this model is the ability for the 
  windshield to lie down against the hood. Custom kits 
  even offer options for splitting the flat windshield and 
  being able to lay down either part of it. 
  > 
  Picador
  > 
  Versions of this vehicle can be found in all countries of 
  the world. It’s popular anywhere the roads aren’t paved 
  and even more so in places where tourists needed 
  something familiar to convince them to take the back 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  54    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  roads. The durability of this line shows in the number of 
  countries that still have operational models after decades 
  of use, with some vehicles in African and South American 
  countries approaching the century-old mark. 
  > 
  Traveler Jones
  TRAILBLAZER (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/4
  3
  2
  12
  6
  1
  2
  4
  —
  32,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Multifuel engine, off-road suspension
  TOYOTA TALON
  The Talon is an inexpensive and rather boring little SUV. 
  The designers’ image of sharp styling was pretty much 
  standard fare for SUVs, but this is what makes it ideal for 
  riggers and wheelmen. It’s boring and blends in with a 
  crowd of other vehicles. It’s a little bigger than most se-
  dans, but with a low-slung roof to look very sedan-like. 
  Smaller than the big SUVs, it is still thick-bodied and 
  has enough similar features to other craft in the market 
  that it can be mistaken for them. The taillights match up 
  well with the Ford Tauren; the front quarter panels are 
  like smaller versions of the Jeep Charon; the headlights 
  could be a Dodge; the rear window and trunk a Eurocar. 
  Underneath is a generally underpowered motor sys-
  tem that makes Talons that have been “sharpened,” as 
  their tuners say, true sleepers. They look mundane but 
  have the heart of a racecar hidden beneath. The problem 
  is that the back-end work tends to be a little pricier, since 
  not many people want to tune their Talon. Skilled me-
  chanics are a necessity, and the best work is done with 
  a rigger jumped in and giving feedback on the changes 
  and feel as they’re made. Work on a Talon feels almost 
  more like surgery than tuning, with the patient telling 
  you when the implant feels just right. 
  > 
  This process leads to something very interesting: custom 
  rigger adaptations. The rigging module and feedback 
  sensors in the car are for one specific rigger, and when 
  another climbs in it almost feels like putting on skin that 
  doesn’t quite fit right. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  I’m now picturing Turbo Bunny trying on different skins. 
  It’s very creepy but in a rather amusing way.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  JEEP TRAILBLAZER
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    55
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Some people add a lot of aftermarket chrome and glitz 
  to their Talons to make them stand out. These ones are 
  usually not tuned up, but sometimes they like to pretend. 
  This can also be a great look for a Talon to use to suddenly 
  stick out if you have a properly prepared mage around.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Ah yes, the old hide-by-being-the-most-obnoxious-thing-
  around-so-no-one-thinks-it-could-possibly-be-you trick. A 
  classic.
  > 
  Winterhawk
      
  TALON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/3
  4
  2
  12
  6
  2
  2
  5
  —
  30,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  NISSAN HAULER
  While the SUV may have started as a way to haul a little 
  extra cargo, it didn’t stay that way for long. Most peo-
  ple think of SUVs as family (albeit rich family) vehicles 
  or protective transport for executives. The cargo SUV is 
  rarer in this day and age, but it does a nice job of fitting 
  right in between the too-big-for-a car and too-small-
  for-a-van slot, and keeping this niche of the hauling 
  market well filled is the Nissan Hauler. 
  > 
  Nissan keeps their market niche well filled by using 
  runners to sabotage other companies’ designs and 
  factories. It seems a bit outlandish, but the market isn’t 
  very big, so as long as they keep producing and cut any 
  competition off at the knees, the Hauler is the hauler. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  The Hauler is relatively boxy and not exactly a stylish 
  design, but it was never intended to be. It’s a utilitarian ve-
  hicle used for mostly utilitarian purposes. Want to imper-
  sonate a flower delivery company? Don’t use a panel van, 
  use the Hauler. Because they do, and people are far less 
  suspicious of the SUV that has been parked on the cor-
  ner for a while than the van. Vans scream three things to 
  the subconscious of the average wageslave: pedophile, 
  shadowrunner, or corporate hit team about to fire them. 
  Blame it on the media. The Hauler helps you blend in a 
  little better and keeps you off the local wageslave’s radar.
  > 
  Using it as a team transport is rough but doable. The 
  seating is really designed for just two, but there are fold-
  up “seats” from the rear door that double as tables for 
  package staging, and the rest of the rear is just open. Fun 
  to roll around in if you’re a kid; tough to find a comfortable 
  spot in if you’re a grown-up runner in your work kit. 
  > 
  2XL
  > 
  These are relatively easy to find with a good pilot program 
  and are even adapted for riggers. So many companies 
  use them in automated fleets in conjunction with other 
  delivery drones that the setup is standard fare.
  > 
  Sounder
  HAULER (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4/3
  1
  16
  8
  2
  2
  4/4
  —
  30,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  EUROCAR NORTHSTAR
  What the Westwind is to the car market, the Northstar 
  is to the field of SUVs. Referred to as a luxury sport 
  SUV, the Northstar does not skimp on either aspect. 
  Knowing that the largest piece of cargo that was likely 
  to ever go inside would be a set of golf clubs, the de-
  signers laid out the interior with luxury space for four, 
  rather than two, with a tiny rear seating area so that it 
  could call itself a four-seater. The Northstar offers basic 
  leather as the standard interior, with options for more 
  exotic skins including behemoth, afanc, and basilisk for 
  a healthy premium. Other than fancy paracritter seats, 
  the Northstar offers a top-of-the-line electronics suite 
  with a premium AR layout and options for installed or 
  ancillary systems coming with the initial purchase. The 
  basic install package is just an image link, but a full suite 
  of eyes is a small step up. 
  > 
  The Northstar is quickly becoming the power symbol 
  for Herr Brackhaus around Europe and North America. 
  Expensive enough to show they’ve got cash (or access to 
  powerful friends with cash), and yet roomy enough for 
  their security force. 
  > 
  Traveler Jones
  > 
  Those security force members hate it. The body is made 
  of “tissue paper,” as they put it, and no matter how fast 
  they can make it go it doesn’t outrun bullets. 
  > 
  Stone
   
  > 
  That initially purchased cyber system keeps its access 
  to the original system even after the car is sold. It’s like 
  keeping a copy of the keys. While the Herr Brackhauses of 
  the world may be trying to keep up a show, their ride can 
  easily be second-hand, especially with how often these 
  are bought by the ultra-rich to drive for a few months and 
  then move to the newer model. Just a reminder, not all 
  the ultra-rich are ultra-secure. Take that how you will.
  > 
  Mika
  In the area of speed, the Northstar can hold its own 
  versus everything shy of a supercar. This is all thanks to 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  56    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  lightweight materials utilization, alongside a top-of-the-
  line drive system that is Eurocar’s latest innovation. The 
  next place this system is likely to end up is inside the 
  Westwind in an even smaller and lighter frame. That is, 
  if someone else doesn’t snag the systems first and plug 
  them into their latest ride. 
  This makes many riggers’ wish list for obvious rea-
  sons. It’s fast, spacious, luxurious, a dream to drive with 
  some corporate executive in the back, and the kind of 
  machine you can pull the guts from, stuff them in your 
  Americar, and be outrunning the Star in no time flat. The 
  Northstar is great for the hour or two you might be run-
  ning after you snag an executive, but you need to know 
  about it for the aftermarket value or when you might 
  have a few minutes of driving this dream.
  > 
  There is a modified version of the Northstar that has been 
  rolling around the Middle East. Everyone in the region is 
  thinking S-K, since they own the Eurocar brand, but most 
  of the vehicles have been carrying Global Sandstorm 
  executives. I have a feeling that if some digging on the 
  ownership of the Northstars is done, you’ll find them 
  stolen. GS is doing a little antagonizing.
  > 
  Goatfoot
  > 
  That seems like a really bad idea considering the 
  corporate merger that Global Sandstorm was working 
  their way into in order to gain some strength against 
  S-K is a complete drekstorm. Proteus has gone totally 
  turtle. AG Chemie is working the pry bar on that turtle, 
  and FBA is looking elsewhere for a new place to build 
  an alliance for the megacorporate audit (a.k.a., screwing 
  the little big guys).
  > 
  Cosmo
  > 
  And giving money to runners in the process.
  > 
  Picador
  NORTHSTAR (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/3
  6
  2
  12
  8
  3
  5
  4
  12
  115,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle)
  GMC ESCALADE
  Big luxury at its best. That’s GMC’s tagline for the Es-
  calade, their high-end luxury SUV. The adverts work, 
  since this is the ride that all the newest trid stars and 
  music sensations drop a little piece of their first big 
  payday to own. Rarely do they ever actually drive it, 
  but they certainly like to show that they can afford it. 
  It’s after this first big payday that a lot of those stars 
  have second thoughts, and this is the ride they take to 
  run for the hills. And thus, the ride that a lot of riggers 
  working the shadows need to snag control of in order 
  to get them back where they belong. Or at least back 
  where the runners will get some nuyen on their sticks. 
  > 
  Wilma seems to be showing her true colors. Anyone got 
  the story?
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  She’s a former CAS Army rigger. That’s according to her, 
  since she’s been around long enough to clear any traces 
  of her former life from databases around the world. I’ve 
  met others who claim to know her from those days, but 
  it’s hit-and-miss on the details and accuracy. What we 
  need to know is that she’s worked for every Big Ten mega 
  as well as the majority of the world’s governments and 
  smaller megacorporations. She’s a pro with a reputation 
  for maintaining her reputation. 
  > 
  Sounder
  The Escalade also finds its way onto the secondary 
  market (a.k.a. stolen) quite often. This means they’re 
  available for those of us who might not have the SIN re-
  quired to make a purchase at the GMC dealership. Due 
  to the types of people who often own them in the first 
  place, the Escalade comes with extra baggage frequent-
  ly enough for me to feel it necessary to mention here. 
  Mob brats, wannabe gangsters, and thugs with image 
  issues don’t like having their things stolen. Most folks 
  reading this travel in a far more dangerous crowd, but 
  stupidity and ego can be a deadly combination when 
  one of these disaffected punks comes to get their “ride” 
  back. 
  Also, thanks to the aforementioned types who of-
  ten purchase this vehicle, extra protection is a common 
  addition. In order to keep the Escalade as luxurious as 
  owners expect, the extra protection is well-hidden. This 
  means you can’t tell if it’s been upgraded without taking 
  it apart. While I’m sure we all trust our grey-market deal-
  ers, it’s just something to look out for if you’re buying 
  from someone new. 
  > 
  I’ve seen several Escalades that skimped on the armor for 
  the rear end. They put the extra protection on the doors 
  but save nuyen by leaving it out of the rear gate and side 
  panels. 
  > 
  Mihoshi Oni
  > 
  For the long guns in the crowd, get a high vantage if 
  you’re firing on one of these. Even the extra armored ones 
  don’t have it in the roof unless they have a modified top 
  which is rare and expensive. 
  > 
  Balladeer
   
  With a rich target audience, the Escalade packs in the 
  features even when they won’t be used by most. The stan-
  dard rigger adaptation is great for security companies with 
  wired drivers, but for most casual buyers, it’s something to 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    57
  (order #9639630)
  
  brag to their golf buddies about. Runners like the option 
  since this thing can dance in the hands of a rigged driver.   
  > 
  While Horizon isn’t known for their vehicle-manufacture 
  or arms division, they have a subsidiary called Ride 
  Rockers, Inc. The company specializes in custom vehicle 
  modifications that it designs, implements, and then offers 
  to other customers. It’s a small operation, but their best-
  selling mod was designed for a certain ork rapper who 
  shall remain nameless to go in his Escalade. The mod 
  added a dozen compartments that blended right into 
  the original interior. Six of the spots could easily fit an 
  SMG, two were pistol sized, three seemed to have been 
  designed for an AK-97, and the last had almost the same 
  dimensions as the Krime Kannon. Ride Rockers even 
  offered customized foam inserts in case you knew what 
  you would always store in there. 
  > 
  Clockwork
  ESCALADE (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4
  2
  16
  10
  3
  4
  6
  10
  125,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (high), anti-theft 2, rigger adaptation
  FORD ECONOVAN
  This long passenger van may not seem like something 
  every rigger should know about, but it’s ideal for cart-
  ing a shadowrunner team around, and it happens to 
  be a very common shuttle vehicle. While most riggers 
  tend to go with the Bulldog or Governor, the Econo-
  van has something important that they do not: seats. 
  As a passenger van, it has several rows of seats and 
  can even be purchased or quickly modified to fit a troll-
  sized seat or two. It can fit more, but too many trolls in-
  side reek havoc on the suspension. The point is, those 
  inside can sit on seats, not just sprawl around the rear, 
  making it safer and a whole lot more mundane looking. 
  > 
  It’s also legal. I’ve heard so many stories of runners who 
  were just headed to the meet in a Bulldog when the local 
  police force pulled them over because it scanned more 
  than two PANs in a stepvan. Nothing like having to send 
  your wheelman off to ditch your ride while the meet is 
  going on because you left a dead cop behind. 
  > 
  Balladeer
  As a popular shuttle, the Econovan is a regular tar-
  get for extractions when trying to snag a target on the 
  move. It’s also a great ride to use to sneak into some-
  where that shuttles employees from off-site housing to 
  the office. Gate security usually lets it pass right in, or 
  out, as long as it looks legit. 
  As one would suspect, the Econovan comes with 
  practically no added features, but Ford offers a list of up-
  grades in both comfort and security. EnviroSeal is com-
  mon along with upgraded onboard systems. Variations 
  on seating arrangement are often installed on vehicles 
  carting executives who don’t do bench seating. Ford 
  even offers a wetbar and small fridge option. Secondary 
  companies—usually related subsidiaries—offer custom 
  packages that turn the van into a mini RV. 
  ECONOVAN (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  4
  1
  14
  8
  2
  2
  10
  —
  30,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (low)
  DODGE CARAVANER
  Since I’m covering a bunch of other vans, I figured I 
  might as well drop in my favorite minivan. The Carava-
  ner is meant to be a family van for suburbanites. The 
  modern world doesn’t have a whole lot of the required 
  suburbs to create suburbanites, but that doesn’t keep 
  middle income families from having one of these in 
  the arcology garage for those times they want to drive 
  somewhere (assuming the megacorp will let them go).
  The sales volume going to pseudo-suburbanites is not 
  enough to keep a car line afloat, so the Caravaner had to 
  find another market as well: the cargo taxi market. The Car-
  avaner is that boring little bean-shaped van with the ob-
  noxious adverts spamming the airwaves around it while it 
  drives from place to place dropping off cargo and people. 
  It’s spacious enough for trolls, and since it’s intended to 
  haul cargo, and sometimes cargo (and trolls) can weigh a 
  lot, it is seriously overpowered for such a small vehicle.
  > 
  Half the time you can’t even see the vehicle inside its 
  armor of AROs. All the spam made these things the 
  frequent target of hackers early on and later models all 
  got upgraded systems with premium firewall software. 
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  They’re also rumored to be high priority on GOD’s 
  monitoring system. Helps them smack the daylights out 
  of punk hackers who should know better than to hack a 
  spam-mobile.
  > 
  Glitch
  That extra power could allow for some additional ar-
  moring, but no one makes armor kits for the Caravaner 
  that are subtle. There are armored delivery versions of 
  the Caravaner, but they don’t look much like the basic 
  model. The armored model replaces the round bubbly 
  shape with a boxy, angular design and the ability to 
  shrug off anything short of an anti-material rifle.
  > 
  Banks are known to use the armored Caravaner for the 
  occasional run. We also see this thing carting for science 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  58    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  companies, because that back box can be bought with a 
  full EnviroSeal system. 
  > 
  Ma’fan
  > 
  Great for having conversations with less-than-willing 
  participants.
  > 
  Kane
   
  CARAVANER (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  4
  1
  12
  8
  2
  2
  7
  —
  28,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  GMC UNIVERSE
  While the Bulldog is considered GMC’s armored work-
  horse, the Universe is GMC’s real all-purpose work-
  horse. Runners dig the Bulldog because it comes stan-
  dard with some serious protection, but the Universe is 
  far more common in the world’s sprawls. Again, I bring 
  out the Universe instead of the Bulldog because you can 
  armor up a Universe for just a little extra nuyen, but what 
  you gain in inconspicuousness is priceless. The Universe 
  also offers the MultiPaint system, a relatively inexpen-
  sive way to change the vehicle’s colors or advertisement 
  patterns as a simple add-on accessory. While the com-
  panies that buy this appreciate the extra money from 
  advertising or the chance to change up the purpose of 
  the van quickly, we all know why runners would like it.
  UNIVERSE (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4/3
  1
  14
  8
  3
  2
  2/14
  —
  30,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  ARES CHUCK WAGON
  A rigger’s got to eat, right? One way to have food 
  where you need it is to make it look like you’re there to 
  serve food while you’re actually spying on local corpo-
  rate traffic. This mobile food-service truck, usually re-
  ferred to as a food truck or, much less politely, a roach 
  coach, provides facilities for a variety of food-related 
  activities. Trucks come in three varieties: prepared 
  food, unprepared food, and frozen treats. Prepared 
  food trucks offer things like ice cream, chips, sodas, 
  and prepackaged sandwiches. Inside they’re set up 
  with a large storage unit that can be specialized as a 
  freezer and/or refrigerator, along with some heating el-
  ement for food served warm. Unprepared food trucks 
  offer a limited menu of items usually centered around 
  a certain theme. Inside they have a slightly smaller cold 
  storage area and heating element, along with a sink, 
  sanitation facility, and prep area. Frozen treats trucks 
  serve the standard frozen pops of every kind, with spe-
  cialized ones offering scooped ice cream. The back is 
  nothing but freezer space.  
  The Ares Chuck Wagon is the premier roach coach 
  because it has windows on both sides to increase ser-
  vice speed. Since seating isn’t a high priority, the front 
  area includes the driver’s seat and one fold-down jump 
  seat. The Chuck Wagon is not a race truck by any means, 
  but at least the ride is smooth and the food is plentiful. If 
  you stock it, of course.
  > 
  My favorite surveillance vehicle. Inconspicuous, people to 
  talk to, and plenty of food.
  > 
  2XL
  CHUCK WAGON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  16
  5
  2
  2
  2
  —
  40,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  HAULERS
  AIRSTREAM TRAVELER  
  LINE MOTORHOMES
  (CHINOOK, PRESERVE, OUTBACK)
  Airstream is a legendary name in the world of travel 
  trailers and RVs. That legendary brand name is now 
  wholly owned by NeoNET. While not well known for 
  their vehicle production, they invested heavily in Air-
  stream over the last decade in order to solidify their 
  American connection. The primary production facility 
  is located in Reading, Massachusetts, just outside the 
  Boston quarantine zone, and it’s been operating with 
  limited staff since the lockdown. All of that has nothing 
  to do with why riggers love the Traveler line, but every-
  thing to do with why runners may love Airstream in the 
  future. NeoNET has been paying very little attention to 
  the subsidiary since their troubles and Airstream execs 
  are looking for a way to get back in business. 
  As for the Traveler line itself, the value comes in vari-
  ability. Airstream produces three primary models for the 
  Traveler line: the Chinook, the Preserve, and the Out-
  back. While built off the same cabin frame, the accesso-
  ries and amenities make all the difference to set up each 
  model for a different market climate (literally). 
  The Chinook is a cold excursion model with addi-
  tional insulation, heat-absorbing paint with internal heat 
  storage technology, a quick-change propulsion system 
  involving a tracked drive and ski system, a radar system 
  for determining ice-thickness, and a satellite communi-
  cation system. 
  > 
  Chinooks are most abundant in the AMC and northern 
  Asia. Several run with Karavan, and quite a few of the 
  Yakut tribes have these around. 
  > 
  Red Anya
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    59
  (order #9639630)
  
  The Preserve is the most common model with the 
  fewest extraordinary features. It runs on a six-wheel bus 
  chassis and is designed for the roads and trails of the 
  modern world. This is truly the successor of the iconic 
  silver bullet that roamed the highways of America. In-
  tended for use in those corners of the world where civi-
  lization is never far, the Preserve is simply a home away 
  from home.
  > 
  The Preserve is mundane enough to be modified by 
  coyotes. The storage and sleeping areas are set up to 
  tightly pack in those who need discreet transport. It isn’t 
  comfortable, but it also isn’t intended for long distance 
  transport, just over borders. 
  > 
  Sounder
  The Outback is the Chinook’s hot-weather cousin. 
  Heat storage systems are optional for areas with highly 
  variable day and night temperatures. The Outback runs 
  on a six-wheel system similar to the Preserve but built 
  on a larger and more rugged suspension and wheels. 
  Most of the time. For some of the truly treacherous 
  places the Outback can go (not that many people take 
  it to those places), the Outback has an eight-legged 
  drive system capable of scaling surfaces to the point of 
  complete inversion. A satellite uplink is standard to help 
  overcome the connectivity issues present in the middle 
  of nowhere, where the Outback is most often found. Air-
  stream has a proprietary system on the latest Outback 
  models that gathers and stores water directly from the 
  moisture in the air—even from the arid air of the desert.
  > 
  The Outback is rarely found in cities, but it’s not unheard 
  of. Among those standard features that Wilma didn’t 
  mention are the airlift hooks designed right into the 
  frame. The Outback can be dropped or picked up using 
  just those. The Chinook offers it as an added feature, but 
  it rarely got picked up. The oversized tires are sometimes 
  switched out for urban areas as well, but they don’t need 
  to be. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
    
  CHINOOK (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  4/3
  1
  14
  12
  2
  2
  10
  -
  145,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), extreme environment 
  modification (cold), satellite uplink, suncell
  PRESERVE (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4/4
  1
  16
  12
  2
  3
  10
  -
  134,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), gridlink, satellite uplink, suncell
  OUTBACK (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/4
  3/4
  1
  14
  12
  2
  4
  8
  -
  158,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), Extreme environment mod (hot), 
  off-road suspension, satellite uplink, suncell
  MACK HELLHOUND
  Transporting goods across long overland routes can be 
  dangerous, so Mack developed the Hellhound. I was go-
  ing to say something about it being like a real hellhound 
  only without flaming breath, but one of the most common 
  close-defense systems installed on the Hellhound is flame-
  throwers. This road warrior would make a great post-apoc-
  alyptic war rig like the ones in Mad Max: Furios Child if it 
  weren’t so damn pretty. Though it’s meant to deter go-
  gangs and road-jackers, Mack certainly didn’t intend to do 
  that with looks. The Hellhound looks like it’s asking you to 
  pet it—so that it can joyfully burn your face off. 
  > 
  No joke. Mack started with the guts of their top-of-
  the-line Boxer and then built a combat Mastiff on top. 
  While protecting the haul was the goal, they wanted a 
  pretty hauler. With doors closed and drones tucked, the 
  Hellhound looks like a show-truck cruising the streets. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  The Hellhound offers a lot of options for its defensive 
  systems with the use of Ares’ track-mounted Sentinel 
  drone series. The Sentinel system rings the top of the rig, 
  and the drones tuck back behind the sleeper cabin when 
  not in use. The rig can mount up to three Sentinel drones 
  in this spot, with three sidetrack rails that are also used by 
  the drones to move around one another or to duck back 
  on for cover. The top ring has two forward facing rails that 
  lead to a ring of rails around the front of the Hellhound. 
  These rings have two Sentinel drones with protective cas-
  ings that only open up when there’s trouble.
  > 
  And guess what, they’re wired! They have a port on the 
  inside of the rig to plug the RCC into directly, though many 
  riggers either run wireless or leave the system under the 
  command of the pilot program. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Wow! Old school. I’ve been waiting for a rehash of the 
  Sentinel system. I was surprised it hadn’t become more 
  popular when wireless hacking could be done from a 
  MetaLink, but now that wireless access is back under the 
  thumb of the megacorps, I guess they need to protect 
  themselves from each other. 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  The Sentinel system is also used on an optional (though 
  everyone gets it unless their trailer doesn’t fit) rail kit that 
  fits around any standard trailer. The rail kit is an like an ex-
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  60    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  ternal cage that folds up over the trailer box. It runs the top 
  rim, bottom rim, and side edges, has four ribs that go all the 
  way around the trailer, including across the belly, and two 
  more rib rails that ring it long ways. The basic system has a 
  power supply for up to four drones, but optional packages 
  include eight, sixteen, and even twenty-four drone battery 
  packs. The added weight of the batteries and drones pulls 
  the range down, but SolarCell systems are available to sup-
  plement and recharge the system.
  > 
  The 24-drone model is a gunship. Karavan recently got 
  their hands on one of these and they use it for central 
  defense of their governmental rigs. Basically it’s just a way 
  for those in charge of Karavan to stay in charge, but the 
  thing is a sight to behold. 
  > 
  Red Anya
  > 
  I’ve actually seen a Hellhound chilling out at the center 
  of a four-pack of quad Bergens. That’s four Bergen mega 
  haulers, each with four trailers. The Hellhound had nothing 
  on the capacity of the Bergens, but its drone loadout was 
  guaranteeing the big boys were getting where they were 
  headed. If they got into a tussle I’m not sure anyone would 
  be able to use the road afterwards, as the majority of the 
  drones were packing something that made a big boom. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny 
  Back to the main rig. The back of the rig not only has 
  space for the Sentinels but also has a pair of pneumatic 
  launchers. The launch tubes usually contain a pair of Ro-
  to-Drones but can be loaded with fifty-gallon drums filled 
  with whatever. That latter option is usually seen in poorer 
  places that have somehow gotten their hands on one of 
  these but can’t afford to replace the Roto-Drones that they 
  had to shoot down getting the Hellhound in the first place. 
  The passenger side of the Hellhound is what really tells you 
  this is a rigger’s ride. The section where another person 
  might normally sit is replaced with a rack for Microskim-
  mer drones. When the door is closed, it just looks like that 
  side has a big door with no windows. Once opened, it 
  reveals what look like garbage-can lids stacked sideways. 
  This section launches the eight drones like skeet and is ca-
  pable of launching two at a time. Because of the minimum 
  time needed for the Microskimmers to fire up and fly, the 
  launcher had to be higher, and this left space below for a 
  wheeled drone that can burst from its berth even when the 
  Hellhound is at full speed. Riggers usually launch the drone 
  at the first sign of trouble and then tuck it under the belly of 
  the trailer to come out as needed.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  MACK HELLHOUND
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    61
  (order #9639630)
  
  Inside the regular cab is a manual drive system set 
  low, with a rigger cocoon set behind it where the seat 
  can slide back into the cocoon or the rigger can climb 
  straight in. The sleeper area is good sized and allows 
  every standard metatype smaller than a troll to lie out 
  comfortably, and even trolls find it roomier than most 
  troll-sized coffin motels. A secondary rigger cocoon is 
  part of the sleeper area, as this thing usually requires 
  more than one rigger to handle all the drones. It’s got a 
  full Matrix hookup and wall screen run through a high-
  end commterminal with a road warrior theme. 
  Being assigned to work in this truck is the dream job 
  of wageslave riggers around the world. 
  > 
  It only seems like a dream job. Because when something 
  happens that you get to play with all these toys, your life 
  is at risk. Honestly, I think Mack made this rig just so they 
  could sell them to Ares Media division for cool trid shows. 
  > 
  Sticks
  HELLHOUND (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  4/3
  1
  20
  15
  3
  3
  2
  16R
  150,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (low), landing drone rack (medium), landing 
  drone rack (micro), landing drone rack (medium), 
  landing drone rack (small), 2 x rigger cocoon, rigger 
  modification, special equipment (drone rail), standard 
  drone rack (small)
  MUNICIPAL/
  CONSTRUCTION
  OMNI MOTORS OMNIBUS
  The Omnibus is not just the local public transportation 
  you see hauling disparate wageslaves from their bleak 
  neighborhoods to their bleak workplaces. Omni Motors 
  markets versions of the Omnibus for urban mass transit, 
  high-capacity urban mass transit, long-distance mass 
  transit, rural mass transit, personal luxury transit, cargo 
  hauling, livestock hauling, and an off-road version of any 
  of those with their patented Oct-O-Gone drive system. 
  The OOG is an eight-wheel-drive system with inde-
  pendent motors for each oversized wheel and a massive 
  suspension system. The OOG is not street legal in any 
  major metroplex, but when you have the OOG you don’t 
  need streets. Part of the OOG package is a SolarCell sys-
  tem to keep it charged in the wilds. Okay, that last bit is a 
  little copy-paste from the catalog, but I liked it. 
  > 
  This thing is a beast! All-wheel drive, all-wheel steering, 
  and eight wheels with a suspension system that can 
  climb mountains. Okay, maybe not mountains, because 
  it also happens to be huge. A few of these OOG systems, 
  at least the drives, have made it into Chicago. They’re 
  great for the CZ. 
  > 
  Crush
  > 
  If they aren’t street legal, how’d they get there?
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  In pieces, usually. Hence, Crush mentioning the drives. 
  Without the SolarCell systems the range isn’t great, but 
  the batteries don’t take long to recharge because they’re 
  so small. Folks in the zone make do like they have for years 
  by rigging up gas generators or other solar systems.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  The drive system on these things can be run through a 
  virtual control. The system is meant for use during the 
  box switching, but it can be driven without a box or with 
  anything else on the frame. Some very creative folks can 
  do a lot with this. I even know a Dreamland explorer who 
  has two OOG systems welded together to increase the 
  range and operate as spare parts if he needs any. He’s also 
  got extra batteries and a pair of rotating compartments 
  built into the frames. It’s quite the Frankenstein creation. 
  > 
  Kane
  The great thing about the Omnibus is its versatility 
  and changeability. The drive system and box are two in-
  dependent pieces, and changes can be made by a sin-
  gle individual in about an hour, faster if you really know 
  what you’re doing and you have a team to help out. 
  Omni did this so mass-transit companies could quickly 
  change out boxes during rush hour times when comfort 
  was sacrificed for the bottom line. It was also marketed 
  for metroplexes and countries that have urban and off-
  road areas butted up against one another for the OOG 
  switch-out on the edge of civilization.  
  > 
  Forget about comfort. Worry about the bottom line. How 
  corporate! Why didn’t they just leave the high-capacity 
  ones on there all the time? Why worry about comfort at 
  all?
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  High-capacity ones are heavier and drain the batteries 
  quicker. It’s still always about the bottom line.
  > 
  Sounder
  OMNIBUS (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  18
  10
  2
  2
  53
  12
  296,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Gridlink, gridlink override
  GMC COMMERCIAL G-SERIES
  We’ve all gotten stuck behind a garbage truck or stolen 
  one for cover. Okay, maybe not all of us have done the 
  latter, but we at least all know how huge these beasts 
  are compared to our tiny little urban autos. Most have 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  62    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  wondered how many of our little cars this thing would 
  go through before it was stopped or how awesome it 
  would be to hide a team in the rear and infiltrate them 
  into a facility through the garbage shaft. Yep, that was 
  an awesome episode, though a real garbage truck 
  would require a full-face alternate air supply breather 
  because they are that nasty, but it wouldn’t look as cool. 
  Back to the point. The Commercial line is a base front 
  cab with alternate carriage packages. The G-series is 
  the garbage truck line, and it comes with a variety of 
  loading, crushing, and capacity variations. It can have 
  forks for grabbing dumpsters, trashcans, cars, or trolls; 
  a funneled front-end loader for the scoop and dump; or 
  drone docks for loader drones. The loaders are usually 
  operated on autopilot, but they can be rigged remotely. 
  Noise keeps riggers from getting fancy with them from 
  home base, but up close they can be quite handy. 
  > 
  She watches Run Bunnies. I think I’m in love.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  In commercial areas, these things usually operate 
  without a driver and just let the pilot program handle the 
  route and pickups. In residential areas there is usually 
  a driver to keep the image up. They don’t have to do 
  anything, but sometimes they’ll get out and walk around 
  while the drone systems are working and make it look 
  like they’re checking things out on the rig or doing some 
  work. These events usually occur when some attractive 
  suburbanite mom is out watering the lawn or out for a 
  walk. The rough life of a garbageman. 
  > 
  More often they are sleeping in the cab or drinking in a 
  nearby bar and waiting for the truck to finish the route.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Or banging those suburban mommies. I know a 
  garbageman out in Snohomish who operates as a gigolo. 
  While the truck does its thing, he does too. 
  > 
  Cheshire
  COMMERCIAL G-SERIES (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  18
  12
  2
  3
  2
  14
  287,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Gridlink, gridlink override, maneuver autosoft (2), 
  special equipment
  GMC COMMERCIAL D-SERIES
  Next is the dump truck. D-series, G-series, get it? That’s 
  the whole line. Not very original, but they are selling a 
  line of commercial vehicles, not trying to market to rich 
  corporate brats. This one has the same drone options, 
  but they are usually mini-front loaders or backhoes and 
  the occasional anthroform. The other thing is that these 
  have a cab, but they are rarely manually operated. The 
  pilot program usually handles the driving while the 
  drones are programmed with whatever the job is. Meat 
  people are sometimes present to make sure every-
  thing is right, but more often than not the only people 
  around are security. 
  > 
  Not only is this true, but the guys working security on 
  these things are often remarkably good shots. Since 
  they have no other responsibility, they spend a lot of 
  time practicing. Sometimes they even practice on the 
  drones. The little construction drones are hardy, and a 
  light pistol or small-caliber rifle won’t do squat to hurt 
  it, but the bored operator gets the chance to practice on 
  moving targets. 
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  And I thought Dozer was kidding. 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  The D-series also comes with different options for 
  the dump bed. The most common is the simple lift bed, 
  where the front end raises and everything dumps out 
  the back, but there are side dump models, multi dump 
  models, spreaders that have a conveyer system linked to 
  the drive, filler boxes that are meant to be filled and then 
  dumped off whole, liquid dumpers, concrete mixers, 
  and front pours that lift and dump the load in front of the 
  cab. The D-series has three size lines; D Compact, D, and 
  DD. The compact are comparable to everyday pickup 
  trucks, the D is what you’d expect for basic construction, 
  and the DD are site trucks that don’t drive on the roads 
  but aren’t quite as big as the humongous things they use 
  in mines.  
  > 
  The D-Compact models are often commandeered by local 
  militias to act as troop transports or gun trucks. 
  > 
  Picador
  COMMERCIAL D-COMPACT (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  12
  8
  2
  2
  2
  12
  196,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Special equipment
  COMMERCIAL D-SERIES (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  16
  10
  2
  2
  2
  12
  248,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Special equipment
  COMMERCIAL DD (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  20
  12
  2
  2
  2
  12
  312,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Special equipment
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    63
  (order #9639630)
  
  SAEDER-KRUPP KONSTRUCTORS
  I know someone is going to laugh at this or wonder why 
  it’s in here, but I have my reasons. The first is Mine Wars, 
  the new series S-K is running. These massive hauler ve-
  hicles are being used to battle in the deepest pit mines. 
  Usually rigged, they’ve become a popular topic of 
  conversation in rigger bars around the world. The Kon-
  structor series is the most popular line by far, mostly 
  for their awesome aesthetics. Designed with Lofwyr in 
  mind, the vehicles have swept-back exhausts that look 
  like horns, and jagged cabs that look like spikes. The 
  dump truck’s bed resembles wings. All these designs 
  are easily painted to look fierce, and that’s drawn plen-
  ty of Mine Wars teams to these models. 
  > 
  The fact that S-K leaves a crap ton of them and their 
  spare parts behind after mining operations is another 
  reason. I’m not surprised, since they often can’t get 
  them out without airlifting them or building new roads 
  into the pit mines. Oh yeah, and S-K is the main sponsor 
  of Mine Wars.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  The second big reason is action in Africa. All the 
  mining that has occurred in Africa over the past century 
  has left plenty of these monsters behind. Warlords jump 
  all over these, as there are plenty of structures in Africa 
  one of these can drive right through without slowing. 
  Not that they use them for that. Most of the time these 
  things are turned into mobile bunkers, filled with AK-97–
  armed locals, and sent out to terrorize in the name of the 
  warlord. Runners contracting with corps that are trying 
  to tame certain parts of Africa are getting jammed up 
  when one of these enters the picture.
  Now you know why I mentioned it.
  > 
  Those African tribal tanks usually have one really big 
  weakness: a cloth roof. The bunker is made with a canvas 
  top rather than something sturdier to let it breathe and 
  prevent the back from becoming a hot box. A tossed-up 
  grenade may not land inside, but the next one will after 
  the first shreds the top. Though the second is usually not 
  necessary.
  > 
  Picador
  > 
  Careful of that trick. The locals are wise to it and really 
  good at slapping the canvas top to knock a grenade from 
  pretty much anywhere it rolls to.
  > 
  Red Anya
  KONSTRUCTORS (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  24
  18
  4
  3
  2
  16
  365,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Off-road equipment, special equipment
  MOSTRANS KVP-28
  Mostrans introduced the KVP-27T back in the 2050s. 
  Its unique offering of wheels when you can use them 
  and hover when you can’t made it an overnight success 
  (by hover vehicle standards). The design had its issues, 
  most coming from the fact that it was a retrofit, rather 
  than a pure design. The KVP-28 is the result of feed-
  back from owners of the 27T and a design done from 
  the ground up. The only feedback they didn’t take into 
  account was the size issue. Many users pointed out 
  that the KVP-27T was too big. The 28 is actually larger 
  by a tenth of a meter in every dimension, almost like 
  they were spiting that feedback, but the truth is they 
  were just making this one even bigger so they could 
  market the Mostrans Minsk, which is a smaller version 
  of the KVP-28. The KVP-28 is quite large but still falls 
  within most street legal limits. The upper section of the 
  rear compartment, above the storage area, is common-
  ly a small sleeper not much larger than a coffin motel. 
  The KVP-28 is marketed to backwater areas with min-
  imal road access or abundant small bodies of water and 
  is primarily a delivery vehicle, mobile store, or RV setup. 
  The mobile store is quite popular in Asia and Northern 
  North America as well as Australia. Then again, that’s 
  where all the models are popular. The versatility of the 
  KVP-28 is the key to its success. Tons of modifications 
  have been made to this model already, and many of the 
  modification plans for the 27T that can be found on the 
  Matrix work for the 28 with some minor alterations. 
  > 
  The Minsk isn’t as versatile, but it’s much easier to drive 
  in a city. That one is only about the size of a Bulldog Step-
  Van, and we all know how easy those are to move around 
  town.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  It sticks out more and is easier to remember but if you 
  aren’t doing anything memorable it’s got better storage 
  and handling than a Bulldog. The Minsk, that is. The 
  KVP-28 is pretty maneuverable for its size but it still isn’t 
  parallel parking in the city.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  It could park on top of another vehicle!
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  KVP-28 (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  18
  12
  4
  3
  2
  16
  87,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Secondary propulsion (hovercraft)
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  64    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  MINSK (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/2
  3
  1
  16
  10
  4
  3
  2
  16
  77,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  UNIVERSAL HOVERCRAFT 
  MINNESOTA
  All smugglers need one of these in their garage of 
  tricks. Driving on the classic cushion of air, the Minne-
  sota handles any terrain with relative ease. The versa-
  tility of a hovercraft to go from solid ground to water is 
  there, but the Minnesota was designed with even more 
  adaptability in mind. The dense and reinforced rubber 
  cushion can flatten foliage and small trees, while cages 
  protect the fan blades beneath so even thin forested 
  land can’t stop the Minnesota. The Minnesota has an-
  other unique feature that was recently added to this ci-
  vilian model from the UH-406 Drake military transport 
  and lander. It can “jump” by adding additional thrust 
  under the cushion that will push the hovercraft over 
  obstacles or up on landing spots up to three meters in 
  height. This thrust can also allow a “hover” feature that 
  can lift and hold the Minnesota up at a height of up to 
  two meters in the air over a distance. Maneuverability 
  is poor due to a lack of stabilization, but it opens a lot of 
  eyes when that rabbit comes out of the hat. 
  The Minnesota is designed as a cargo craft with 
  a cabin for two, with the normal amenities raised up 
  at the center of the craft. The additional height allows 
  great visibility and puts it over both the front and rear 
  cargo spaces. The area beneath the cabin comes with 
  two options: empty to allow for oversized cargo pods 
  or extra cargo space, or as a small cabin with a pair of 
  pullout sleeper spots and a living space with a kitchen. 
  Smugglers usually go for the latter in case they need to 
  make an extended rural layover. The cargo space is split 
  between front and rear, and the base model comes with 
  two custom pods that can be reused or traded out with 
  shippers who use a lot of UH vehicles. While that isn’t 
  the norm for smugglers or runners, it means there are 
  spare pods out there.
  > 
  Most smugglers I know bring a tent and some rations and 
  use the extra space for more goods. Works just as well 
  and increases the profit on all their runs.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Just so it’s out there and folks know, there is a UH Manitoba 
  that is based on the same frame as the Minnesota, but it’s 
  a huge luxury RV. 
  > 
  Sounder 
  One final feature that makes the Minnesota so 
  unique is the airboat option. UH has a contract with 
  American Airboat to add two specialized airboats to the 
  rear of the craft. These boats are intended to be an op-
  tional unloading method but also offer a fourth and fifth 
  fan to increase power output. This added power results 
  in additional top-end speed if the load stays standard or 
  allows for more load with no loss of speed. The added 
  fans also make the Minnesota even more maneuverable. 
  > 
  American Airboat and Universal Hovercraft both 
  trace their ownership to Ares. It’s really not a contract 
  between American and Universal, it’s just Ares working 
  their assets together.
  > 
  Mr. Bonds
  > 
  Ares has several other brands of airboat under their 
  umbrella. The American/Universal connection is always 
  renegotiable if another subsidiary comes in with a better 
  deal. Ares only worries about the bottom line when it 
  can be felt on a megacorporate level. Infighting between 
  subsidiaries makes them just hungrier for success. 
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  So, I get the smuggler thing for why this is here, but why 
  have hovercraft even been kept in production?
  > 
  Cheshire
  > 
  The hovercraft is not a first-world vehicle. It’s primary 
  specialization is that it allows access to areas without 
  roads or separated by bodies of water with no bridges. 
  While these things are rarely seen near the big cities of 
  North America, the more rural areas understand their 
  value. This is especially true of parts of the UCAS and 
  NAN lands where government support for the roadways 
  is a thing of the distant past. They’re huge all over Africa, 
  Asia, and Australia as well as the island nations of 
  southeast Asia.
  > 
  Red Anya
  > 
  The northwestern seaboard of North America has 
  seen a huge leap in the hovercraft market, and the 
  innovations on the Minnesota are a direct result of the 
  needs in that area.  
  > 
  Mika
  MINNESOTA (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/4
  4
  2
  14
  9
  3
  3
  2/12
  12R
  130,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  —
  VODYANOY ASSAULT 
  HOVERCRAFT
  Since I mentioned other friendlier options, I might as well 
  mention a not-so-friendly one too. The Vodianoi (yes, 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    65
  (order #9639630)
  
  spelled different, read on) was originally designed by Ya-
  matetsu’s Naval Technologies division as a support vehi-
  cle for their amphibious operations. After the first dozen 
  floated off the line, their production facility was sabo-
  taged, and design specifications were lost. A month later, 
  Ares introduced the Vodyanoy, which quickly became a 
  worldwide hit. I’m sure something came down from up 
  the well to square these two, but Evo never put together 
  another production plant. The Vodyanoy features some 
  serious armor protection that hammers its maneuverabil-
  ity, but it usually doesn’t have to avoid much.
  VODYANOY (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4
  3
  16
  16
  1
  2
  3(10)
  12F
  84,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (Squatter), Hovercraft (built), Weapon 
  Mount (external, turret, manual)
  CORPSEC/ 
  POLICE/MILITARY
  Ares, via their Dodge brand, and Saeder-Krupp via 
  BMW are moving into a security vehicle war that is like-
  ly to reshape the industry. Ares is hedging their efforts 
  with extra support from Ares Arms and an instant list of 
  buyers in their security divisions, but even Lone Star is 
  on the fence for which to start ordering from since S-K 
  has Onotari tweaking weapon designs to fit better in 
  their models. Both megacorporations are selling every 
  model in their new lines all over the world, including 
  the backyard of their primary competitors. 
  Someone is going to ask or make a point of men-
  tioning it, so I’ll do it here first. There is at least some 
  collusion going on between the megacorps because 
  no, they don’t have design overlaps to create compe-
  tition. Dodge doesn’t have a high-speed pursuit model, 
  and BMW doesn’t have a command center rig and so 
  on and so forth. Other megacorporations with interests 
  in keeping these two from taking over the entire market 
  are going to be all over stealing their designs or finding 
  and exploiting any weaknesses they can. 
  > 
  Megacorporations 
  are 
  scary. 
  Megacorporations 
  cooperating on a level like this are absolutely terrifying. 
  > 
  Balladeer
  > 
  They do things like this all the time. We just live in the 
  shadows and experience far more of the backstabbing 
  and corporate espionage. 
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  At least it’s just two of them, and the rest are still going 
  after them. The day to fear is when they come together 
  and separate the world markets like a giant pie, with each 
  getting their share to exploit.
  > 
  Plan 9
  > 
  Their nature is to always be looking enviously at everyone 
  else’s pie.
  > 
  Aufheben 
  BMW BLITZKRIEG
  This German legend in the making is a combat bike on 
  steroids. Loosely based on the venerable Blitzen, the 
  Blitzkrieg is all anger and edges with weapon systems 
  designed in, instead of being added on. Both the front 
  and rear have space built right in for specific arms. The 
  front offers an Onotari Arms minigun to shred anything 
  in its path, while the rear mounts anOnotari Arms assault 
  rifle to push back any unwanted advances. The advertis-
  ing crossover for Onotari Arms and BMW has been quite 
  fruitful. The absolute top reason to choose the Blitzkrieg 
  over any other bike on the market is the pullover canopy. 
  The canopy is really a pullover carapace designed to al-
  low the rider to lie down, or “get small” as riders say, and 
  the canopy can extend over them, protecting them from 
  most small arms. Operating this way requires AR access 
  but also allows for full VR control with an onboard gyro 
  stabilization system compensating for the unconscious 
  form of the rider, who is safely tucked into the carapace. 
  Even without the carapace, Blitzkrieg riders are more 
  protected than average riders with the bike’s leg, arm, 
  and torso rails, which help to ward off stray bullets. Even 
  though its adverts describe the Blitzkrieg as being based 
  on the Blitzen, a rather round bike, the Blitzkrieg is all 
  hard angles and sharp edges to match the latest BMW 
  design trend.
  > 
  This thing is hell on wheels. That front minigun can lay 
  out a stream of lead that will cut a car in half. The rear gun 
  isn’t as potent, but it doesn’t have to be, especially when 
  it carries the X Factor IV complete with “underbarrel” 
  grenade launcher. Two weapons on one mount, thanks to 
  the efficiency of German engineering. 
  > 
  Red Anya
  > 
  Get in front, it cuts you in half. Come from behind, and 
  it blows you to pieces. Best approach from the sides. 
  Oh wait, Wilma didn’t mention the additional mounts 
  available that ride like saddlebags and provide lateral 
  firepower. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Those side mounts aren’t standard for the combat biker 
  model—they’re secondary-market items offered by 
  Onotari for the security market. They usually offer them 
  with an Onotari SMG, but I’ve seen models with shotguns, 
  grenade launchers, and even lasers. 
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  Don’t forget the rockets! 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  66    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  I’ve never seen one with rockets. I’m not convinced the 
  footage flying around the Matrix isn’t doctored, and I only 
  speak on bikes I have physically seen in action. 
  > 
  Sticks
  BLITZKRIEG (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/3
  4
  2
  10
  8
  3
  4
  2
  14R
  46,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Two heavy weapon mounts (external, fixed, remote; 
  weapons not included with the vehicle)
  DODGE CHARGER 
  With the multi-market popularity of the Knight-Ares 
  Charger when it was introduced back in the early ’70s, 
  it was a no-brainer to use the popular moniker for the 
  “redesigned” model. Truth is, this Charger probably has 
  only two shared components, the Stallion and Ram lo-
  gos. The Charger EV is the base design and is intended 
  as an escort vehicle, while the base Charger is being 
  marketed as a patrol car. This is one of those rare cas-
  es where they designed a vehicle for more arms and 
  armor and then trimmed back. I’d expect some of the 
  patrol cars to be stripped down and end up on the 
  civilian market in a few years after they’ve got some 
  mileage on them. There might even be a civilian model 
  by then if they redesign the interior for less cannons 
  and more comfort, but what’s the fun in that? As an 
  escort they chose the four-door sedan style but tried 
  to keep some sleek two-door looks.  The Dodge tear 
  drop, the signature shape of their new line, comes from 
  the front of the hood and over the top, giving the Char-
  ger a heavy-looking front end for more intimidation, 
  while the rear window comes to a sharp point for some 
  slick style. Don’t forget that this car was designed to be 
  badass, not just pretty, and that rear point folds open 
  to give the “tail-gunner” (as the buyers are calling that 
  seat) a great view of (and shot at) anything creeping up 
  from the rear. The EV is armed with a pair of front-firing 
  mounts on opposing sides of the hood and the same 
  in the rear, though most of the time these mounts are 
  retracted and kept hidden until they’re needed.
  > 
  These things are great working in tandem, front and rear. 
  No matter which way you come from, they can open fire 
  on you, and when you swerve to avoid, you drive right 
  into a stream of bullets from the other car. 
  > 
  Sticks
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  BMW BLITZKRIEG
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    67
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  There’s rumors of an Ares backdoor on the Matrix. I’m not 
  convinced it’s real, but we’d be the people to hunt it down 
  if it was out there.
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  Might be my natural disposition, but I figure Ares would 
  just blast the drek out of any Chargers used against them 
  in order to get parts and replacement sales. 
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  Funny you mention that. A rookie I know got a call for a 
  job that involved taking out some escorts on a transport. 
  Just take out the escorts. He figured it was a message 
  being sent or just one part of a bigger play. His Johnson 
  even supplied him with some serious ordnance. The 
  escorts were Chargers and the arms were Ares. Nothing 
  more than a conspiracy theory, but something to be on 
  the lookout for.
  > 
  Stone
  CHARGER (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/3
  5
  2
  12
  12
  4
  4
  5
  16R
  65,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Two standard weapon mounts (external, fixed, 
  remote) front; two standard weapon mounts (External, 
  fixed, remote) rear
  BMW I8 INTERCEPTOR
  Security and police firms rarely engage in high-speed pur-
  suits. Once they have a few of these in their arsenal, they’re 
  going to have a hard time resisting, and with a much higher 
  success rate. The initial specs on this put it right up there 
  with the latest hypercars, but minus any of the comfort and 
  luxury you might have expected in a BMW. The inside is 
  more like a racecar than a luxury car, and though it’s sized 
  like a mid-size, it only seats two; driver and gunner, both 
  usually strapped in and operating completely in VR. The 
  driver handles making this mean machine dance while 
  rocketing after a perp using the i8’s SOTA rigger interface, 
  while the gunner controls all of the vehicle’s onboard of-
  fensive and defensive systems from an almost game-like 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  DODGE CHARGER
  68    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  captain’s chair interface. Offensive systems include mul-
  tiple weapon mounts to provide superior firepower. The 
  standard artillery load out is a forward-mounted mini-gun 
  and two rear-mounted assault shotguns. Ammunition load 
  usually depends on jurisdiction, but BMW is offering spe-
  cial rates on APDS through Krupp Arms. The i8 also offers 
  smoke dispensers, an anti-vehicular spike dispenser, and 
  an oil sprayer straight out of James Bond. BMW also inte-
  grated the same light defense system as their Stürmwagon 
  assault truck that can be used to seriously disorient an op-
  posing driver from any angle. Combine this thing’s speed 
  with the tricks up its sleeves, and we can all see how tough 
  life will be on the other side of the law.
  > 
  The dog-brain does a solid enough job with the onboard 
  weapons systems on this thing that the gunner seat 
  will often be taken by a combat decker who is doing his 
  damnedest to break into your rig while you run. If you see 
  one of these things holding back in pursuit, check the ’trix.
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  They also hold back because they know they can catch 
  you, but they have no support whatsoever once they do. 
  A crashed van may injure some of the runners inside, but 
  none of them are going to just roll over and surrender. 
  The i8 has some decent offensive hardware but can’t take 
  much of a pounding. 
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  Krupp has been working on a light pattern that induces 
  physical effects. Nausea, headaches, and disorientation 
  are already in the testing phase, but Krupp is trying to 
  discover the pattern that will induce a seizure in anyone. 
  > 
  Butch
  > 
  BMW is testing out another variant of this as an off-
  road pursuit buggy. Same general style but a big lift and 
  serious suspension. Data on the test results would be 
  worth a premium to competitors with similar desires for 
  an all-terrain pursuit vehicle. 
  > 
  Red Anya 
  I8 INTERCEPTOR (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/3
  8
  4
  12
  8
  4
  4
  3
  20F
  114,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Heavy weapon mount (external, flexible, remote) 
  front, two standard weapon mounts (external, fixed, 
  remote) rear, oil slick sprayer, smoke projector, road 
  strip ejector, rigger adaptation
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  BMW I8 INTERCEPTOR
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    69
  (order #9639630)
  
  DODGE GOLIATH
  I wouldn’t bet naming yourself David is going to help 
  you bring down the Goliath. Taking lessons learned 
  from the Master series, integrating the upgrades and 
  modifications right into the design, and using market-
  ing that doesn’t say Ares anywhere on it are combining 
  to get the Goliath clients no one would expect, includ-
  ing Lone Star. The Dodge teardrop design is integrated 
  into one of the most attractive features of the Goliath: 
  the extended roof. Wondering what’s so special about 
  an extended roof? There are two answers. First, it al-
  lows those inside to stand prior to deploying out the 
  doors. This means deployment can start at a run, saving 
  seconds and lives in the process. Second, the panels all 
  around the teardrop open to create a 360-degree field 
  of fire. Sensors and Matrix tech, linked wirelessly to the 
  weapons of the individuals, control opening, closing, 
  and sliding panels in order to keep the firer as secure as 
  possible while using the TopFire system. Deployment 
  security was among the top issues in the design of 
  the Goliath. The side-sliding doors are set toward the 
  rear and provide rear exit security on the sides once 
  opened. Combined with the rear drop and lift gate, this 
  provides a secure exit from the rear. To cover the side 
  doors, every Goliath has four Ares FlaShields as stan-
  dard equipment that can be used by personnel to cov-
  er the doors or locked into mounts on the floor. Once 
  locked in, they operate off the Goliath’s network and 
  can be activated remotely. 
  > 
  The firing panels up top can be used manually, but it 
  takes time and leaves you exposed. The TopFire system 
  also integrates sensor data and other inputs to highlight 
  targets or potential threats.
  > 
  Sticks 
  > 
  Even with the FlaShields in place, the side doors are still 
  accessible to a good shot. A decent compensation system 
  is a must just in case they fire up the shields.
  > 
  Stone
  GOLIATH (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/2
  4
  2
  16
  16
  3
  3
  8
  20R
  120,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Special equipment (extended roof), six gun ports, 
  extra entry/exit point (assault ramp to the rear), ram 
  plate
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  DODGE GOLIATH
  70    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  BMW TEUFELKATZE 
  This SUV, the devil cat, is really more of a MPUV, as it 
  is intended for the triple role of escort, transport, and 
  assault vehicle. Featuring the same sharp look as the i8, 
  this is the Interceptor’s bigger, meaner, nastier brother. 
  This hellish predator can run every job a security corp 
  needs with only a few changes—to the personnel. Paired 
  front seats, a trio in the center so the client can get 
  space, and another set of paired rear seats facing toward 
  any potential trouble running up from the back make 
  sure that this cat has more than nine lives. It sounds a 
  lot more angsty in the original German. Then again, ev-
  erything does. Being designed for a purpose ensures 
  there is plenty of space for stowed gear and additional 
  munitions in handy spots rather than being tucked away 
  wherever they could fit. Security features and counter-
  measures are also designed right into the vehicle with 
  FlashTech lighting in the front and rear lights, electronic 
  signature dampening in the frame, and the namesake 
  TeufelKatze automated defense system. 
  > 
  I don’t know the TeufelKatze system. Enlighten me?
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  Instead of a shock system to prevent theft, this vehicle sets 
  you on fire.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Do you two ever talk in person?
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  Big ears around. Especially for words like “fire.”
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  TEUFELKATZE (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/4
  5
  3
  16
  16
  3
  3
  7
  16F
  76,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  FlashTech, signature dampening, TeufelKatze flamer
  DODGE STALLION
  Every security and police force needs a workhorse. To 
  fill that role, Dodge designed the Stallion. It came as no 
  surprise to the security companies looking to buy the 
  Stallion that this workhorse makes one hell of a war-
  horse too. The Stallion is a pickup-style truck with an 
  open bed that is accessible from the cab. Since this is a 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  BMW TEUFELKATZE
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    71
  (order #9639630)
  
  new Dodge design the expected teardrop is there, and 
  it’s going to bring tears to many eyes after it fills many 
  bodies with holes. The weapon mount on the Stallion is 
  integrated into the teardrop, centering on the bulb end 
  and allowing the barrel of whatever weapon is installed 
  to tuck down into the narrow rear. This makes access-
  ing the rear a little tougher when the gun is stored, but 
  how often does that happen? The folks who drive this 
  truck want people to know it’s got a cannon mounted 
  on top to remind them to get out of the way in traffic. 
  Speaking of traffic, the rear-facing mounts built over the 
  back wells keep tailgaters from straying too close for 
  too long. Heavy-duty suspension and oversized tires 
  make the Stallion a little unwieldy on pavement, but if 
  you hit dirt, sand, mud, gravel, or even grass, this pony 
  grabs hold and won’t let go. The single greatest feature 
  unique to this truck is the prototype Ares Testudo sys-
  tem. The system turns the truck into a heavily armored 
  gun emplacement by shifting body panels around. Mo-
  bility is gone, but this feature combines nicely with the 
  General to create a well-protected command HQ. 
  > 
  The Testudo system is neat, but it creates several other 
  requirements for the Stallion, like the need for solid 
  Matrix defenses, because engaging this system while the 
  Stallion is in motion does not turn out well.
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  Brutal!
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  The Stallion is one of the most likely models in the new 
  catalog to get a civilian version. It looks cool and has tons 
  of horsepower and awesome off-road potential. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Check out the Ares Minotaur. It has quite the familiar 
  teardrop.
  > 
  Picador
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  DODGE STALLION
  72    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  STALLION (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/4
  5
  3
  16
  12
  3
  3
  4
  16R
  78,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Heavy weapon mount (external, turret, manual) 
  top, two standard weapon mounts (external, fixed, 
  remote) rear
  MINOTAUR (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/5
  5
  2
  14
  8
  4
  4
  4
  —
  45,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Heavy weapon mount (external, turret, manual) top, 
  standard weapon mount (external, fixed, remote) rear
  BMW LUXUS
  If they can get the price down, the Luxus may become the 
  only limousine in use for security-conscious clients. This 
  limo has sharp yet elegant features tipped with the angular 
  front end reflective of the BMW i8, which the Luxus is built 
  around. The limo loses a little top end due to the added 
  weight from its thoroughly armored hide, but while it can’t 
  dodge a missile, it can take a hit, even several. Its active 
  defense systems may make it tough for any slow-fliers to 
  get close, however. Speaking of its active defense system, 
  the Luxus can deploy anti-missile mini-guns from both the 
  hood and trunk. While the advertisements call it an active 
  defense system, they can be turned on softer targets just as 
  easily. The Luxus comes standard with an EnviroSeal sys-
  tem and passenger-restraint safety systems. Field-testing 
  involved a Luxus sinking to the bottom of the Nile in Cairo. 
  The driver got banged up going off the bridge but man-
  aged to get clear quickly. The four passengers in the back 
  were at the bottom of the river for two hours. When the 
  rescue team got them out, the worst injury was a sprained 
  wrist and possible alcohol poisoning. 
  > 
  Pulling an active defense system onto soft targets makes 
  it extremely ineffective against its intended targets. If you 
  can get the security team to turn the guns on some local 
  gangers, it will open the Luxus up to a hit. Just make sure 
  you’re using something like HEAP or Sabot rounds to get 
  through this fancy monster’s armor. 
  > 
  2XL
  > 
  2XL’s evaluation is correct when you take over the system 
  manually, but if you extend the valid target settings while 
  still leaving it under the system’s control, the defenses 
  works fine.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  LUXUS (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  COST
  5/5
  5
  3
  18
  16
  5
  6
  8
  398,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), anti-theft system 3, heavy 
  weapon mount (concealed, turret, remote) rear, 
  life support system 2, missile defense system, 
  passenger protection system, Vindicator Minigun w/ 
  250 standard ammo
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  BMW LUXUS LIMO
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    73
  (order #9639630)
  
  DODGE GENERAL 
  I want to go work for Knight Errant just to get to drive 
  around in this thing. The General is a massive two-piece 
  mobile command vehicle designed with both form and 
  function in mind. Sticking to Dodge’s new teardrop de-
  sign principle, the General uses the narrowing rear of the 
  main truck for a quartet of oversized double tires to give 
  it a big-rig look. This command truck is based on mobile 
  home technology, so it expands out once in place, but it 
  can operate without extending and even while still on the 
  move. Doors on both sides allow for ambidextrous de-
  ployment, and along with only internal access to the driv-
  ing compartment, it’s easy to keep secure. The only other 
  access is via a hatch up to the roof, which is reinforced to 
  support drones, trolls, or gun turrets and has an available 
  hip-height wall for cover when needed. The command 
  center contains a complete command and communica-
  tions suite, washroom, two-man sleeping quarters, two 
  lock-up cells, two built-in remote command consoles, 
  and a twenty-gun armory. 
  The rear vehicle may look like a trailer, but it can be 
  operated separately via a small control station at the top 
  or a virtual interface from the inside. It is primarily de-
  signed for support items and can house a rigger cocoon 
  with another RCC, up four medium-sized drones on racks, 
  a generator, additional communications gear, a drone 
  workshop, a secondary armory that usually includes sev-
  eral drone mountable weapons, and/or additional lock-
  up space. Additional trailer-units are usually driven to a 
  command site separately, as the General can only haul 
  one, but it is common to see several.  
  COMMAND (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  4
  1
  20
  16
  5
  7
  10
  18R
  344,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Additional entry/exit port (roof hatch), amenities 
  (middle), special equipment (bathroom), special 
  equipment (holding cell x 2), special equipment 
  (sleeping quarters)
  TRAILER (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  3
  1
  20
  16
  3
  7
  1
  18R
  54,000¥
  Standard 
  Equipment
  Drone workshop (aircraft repair), 4 medium drone 
  racks, rigger adaptation, rigger cocoon, specia 
  equipment (generator)
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  DODGE GENERAL
  74    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  BMW STÜRMWAGON
  The Stürmwagon was intentionally designed as a special 
  tactics vehicle, rather than being retrofitted from some 
  other model. This means all of its systems are integrat-
  ed, not just tacked on. While most police and security 
  vehicles have had lights added, this one sports a pair of 
  high-intensity LED bars that ring the entire top and bot-
  tom. The bars can be used as normal lights and sirens, 
  but they also double as a flash and flare system. The 
  system can be linked with the electronic vision systems 
  of team members to perfectly time flare compensation 
  and lighting systems for maximum benefit. That means 
  that not only can they ignore all the flashes and blinding 
  light, but they see better thanks to perfect light compen-
  sation and sensor integration. The forethought put into 
  design also allows this BMW to double as a secondary 
  assault vehicle for special operations teams. The normal 
  elegance of BMW is buried far below the surface, while 
  the intimidation factor is amped up to eleven. Besides 
  tearing down the road on runflat tires, the Stürmwagon’s 
  wheels are protected by bulky wheel wells and covers. 
  The wells are commonly augmented with ablative armor 
  to take a little extra punishment. To make an already-in-
  tense vehicle even more frightening, BMW has used 
  their all-wheel steering system on the Stürmwagon to 
  make it handle like a deadly ballerina. Vehicular egress 
  is often an issue in combat situations as doorways be-
  come chokepoints with predictable patterns. Not on the 
  Stürmwagon. The rear and side doors have a multitude 
  of opening options. The rear doors consist of four panels 
  that are connected magnetically and can be “hinged” on 
  any side of each square. The side doors have the same 
  magnetic system, though they are twelve-paneled. This 
  allows them to create firing ports at a variety of heights 
  while also offering variations on cover provided when 
  entering or exiting the vehicle. Even better, they can 
  form ramps or bridges when needed. Since no one has 
  invented dimensional warping technology (yet), space 
  confinements still place a finite limit on the systems 
  that could be integrated into the interior, so the design-
  ers created an interchangeable pod system and rein-
  forced the roof. These pods connect directly into the 
  vehicle’s power supply and device network. They come 
  with a wide range of options, including drone pods, 
  additional weaponry, communications gear, equipment 
  storage, medical supplies, and more. The roof has four 
  plug-in points and two different sized pods (single and 
  double plug). 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  BMW STÜRMWAGON SWAT
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    75
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Okay, deckheads, here’s something for you. The 
  Stürmwagon is usually the tactical hub of a special 
  operations team. Not saying the wheeled stormcloud 
  (that’s the standard icon) is going to be an easy nut to 
  crack, but if you can, you own them. 
  > 
  Stone
  > 
  And they then know exactly where to find your team’s 
  Matrix support. There’s a manual reboot switch for the 
  system. One flip of a switch and you’re dumped. 
  > 
  Clockwork
  > 
  Selling drek for BMW now, are we, Clockwork? The 
  manual killswitch is an urban legend. What you need to 
  worry about are the honey pot and isolation chamber. 
  The Stürmwagon will often run hidden while displaying 
  a secondary icon that is full of Matrix ugliness. That’s the 
  honey pot. Then, once you’re in, the device locks you in 
  the isolation chamber. Only way out is to jack out and 
  lose all the work you’ve done. Have fun with these things, 
  script-sammies.
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  I was operating in the Sioux Nation and ended up in a 
  chase situation with a pair of special operations vans I 
  didn’t recognize. I know now they were Stürmwagons 
  from their AR icons, but that’s not my point. They’re hot on 
  my team’s tail, and we’re pinging rounds off this thing left 
  and right. All of a sudden the two trucks even out, and the 
  side doors open. First, the panels fold down, like Wilma’s 
  talking about, but then they extend out, and the two rigs 
  connect at the door. Two nut-job Sioux ops guys walk out 
  of each rig out onto this makeshift bridge. Two of them lay 
  down some suppression on us as the rigs pull up fast and 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  DODGE RHINO
  76    >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  deliver the other two right onto the back of our van. It was 
  crazy. This thing is going to have a lot of tricks.
  > 
  Sticks
  STÜRMWAGON (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5/4
  4
  2
  17
  18
  4
  5
  10
  20R
  145,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Light system allows those subscribed to use the 
  Sensor rating as their limit for relevant tests; 
  additional entry/exit port (assault ramp, rear) firing 
  ports, special equipment (advanced lightbar)
  DODGE RHINO
  The Rhino is going to be the new star of shadowrun-
  ner’s nightmares. Images of this beast crushing through 
  flaming walls are already lined up for the advertising 
  push Ares will be spearheading on this, their latest 
  combat achievement. To maintain the common design 
  theme, this urban assault vehicle reverses the Dodge 
  teardrop to create a battering wedge that looks like 
  an axe at the front of the vehicle. The driver sits high 
  and forward, with a hatch and weapon mount directly 
  behind the seat. Below the driver is an AR cocoon for 
  controlling the remote weapon and defense systems. 
  The rear area, where the teardrop is widest, is designed 
  as the cargo and personnel section. The seating in back 
  is designed for a fully outfitted seven-man squad, but 
  little else. The horrifying wedge shearing through the 
  wall is also not the end of the nightmare. The rear of the 
  Rhino opens up at a seam in the center, with both doors 
  shaped like a wedge. They swing outward with a jump 
  seat on each side, usually containing a well-armored ri-
  fleman. The rear compartment also has two side doors 
  that drop open but act as seating while closed.
  Standard equipment on the Rhino includes a pair 
  of forward-firing anti-material rifles intended to soften 
  walls, twelve smoke dispensers evenly spread around 
  the truck for visual obscurement, eight genuine Ares 
  FlashPak systems, and the new Ares Shockwave elec-
  tro-defense system.  
  RHINO (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/4
  4
  2
  24
  14
  6
  7
  9
  18R
  225,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Additional entry/exit point (assault ramp, rear), 
  anti-theft system, standard weapon mount (external, 
  flexible, remote) front, 2 standard weapon mounts 
  (external, fixed remote) rear
  RUHRMETALL WOLF II
  Though this is not directly part of the Dodge/BMW bat-
  tle, I wanted to include the Wolf II because it’s a rigger 
  favorite for versatility, and increasing numbers of them 
  are finding their way to strange places like the Red-
  mond Barrens in Seattle and inside the CZ in Chicago. 
  The Wolf II is a six-wheeled combat vehicle, popular 
  with mercenary groups around the world. Based on a 
  modular design, the Wolf II has five standard config-
  urations: troop transport, air defense vehicle, medical 
  transport, mobile staff command post, and light tank. 
  Due to its sturdy construction, it can be airdropped 
  anywhere in whatever configuration, and other pods 
  can drop in parts for alternate configurations. 
  WOLF II (GROUNDCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3/3
  3
  2
  24
  12
  2
  2
  6
  20F
  330,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Enviroseal, life support (60 hours), Runflat tires
  Options
  Troop Transport: Seats 6/16 (0¥); Air Defense: add 
  weapon mount w/ missile launcher (¥); Medical 
  transport: add 2 stabilization beds, medkit (Rating 6), 
  Seats 6/6 (¥); Mobile Staff Command Post: add tacnet, 
  Seats 6/8 (¥); Light Tank: add weapon mount w/ 
  cannon, weapon mount w/ machine gun, Seats 6/6 (¥)
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> DEMOLITION DERBY <<    77
  (order #9639630)
  
  Teacup hated the water. She couldn’t swim and couldn’t 
  bring her pride in check enough to wear the flowery child-
  size life vest with the Cutie Cupies all over it. And that’s 
  why she was slowly watching the shimmering light of the 
  surface get further and further away while she flailed use-
  lessly in a vain attempt to swim. It was not the ending such 
  a smart and funny gnome should be dealt. It had been a 
  bad hand all along.
  Teacup sat across from the Johnson and swung her dan-
  gling feet from the barstool. It looked childish, especially 
  from Teacup. Being under a meter tall made her look like 
  a child, and she played the role when she could. It wasn’t 
  her favorite role—that would be wheelman—but right now 
  Dagger wanted her to sit up tall, swing her little legs, and 
  bounce, ever so slightly like a happy child. It kept Mr. John-
  son’s mind off-step.
  “We’ll do it, but the cash has to be up front. Once this is 
  done, we’re in the wind,” Dagger barked. The harsh tone of 
  his voice jarred the Johnson’s eyes from Teacup. 
  “Uh, well. My employer …” he stammered. Quite un-
  professional.
  “Up front or no deal,” Dagger said again. This time Tea-
  cup timed her bounce with a little shoulder stretch and 
  stuck out her namesakes. The move caught the Johnson’s 
  eye.
  “Of course. Up front. Let me just make the arrange-
  ments.” Mr. Johnson’s eyes seemed to light up as a smirk 
  crossed his lips, “No need for your whole team to be de-
  layed. I’ll work it out and transfer the money to Miss Teacup 
  here. I’m sure the team trusts her to spread it around fairly.” 
  Teacup almost laughed. The innuendos in his speech 
  were so blatant they almost couldn’t be called innuendo. 
  She held it in and smiled demurely. 
  “Go ahead guys. The cars already warmed up and roll-
  ing up front. I won’t be long.” 
  No one argued. They knew she could handle this creep 
  if the need arose. She had already sent commands to the 
  car, the van, and six drones in the area while bouncing 
  childishly on a chair in order to preoccupy the mind of the 
  closet pedophile Johnson. Brushing him off was as easy as 
  pointing out how similar she was to a little girl, despite her 
  more mature accoutrements and Mr. J would clam right up.
  Two minutes later the money was being distributed, 
  and Teacup was uploading a rather inappropriate propo-
  sition from Mr. Johnson to her private storage in case she 
  found a way to use it against him someday.
  Teacup shot Dagger a glance as Mackie and Grunt bound-
  ed over the back rail of the Kingfisher. They were distant 
  splashes in the water before the glance could be answered. 
  “You said it. Eighteen seconds to impact. We’ve got 
  nothing. We gotta bail!” Dagger yelled as he swung out 
  around the side of the ladder from the pilot deck. Graceful 
  even in a moment of panic.
  Teacup swallowed hard and then huffed. She almost 
  stomped her feet but stopped the tantrum short when 
  Dagger disappeared out of sight. Instead she jumped over 
  towards the ladder and looked down. Fear and pleading 
  filled her eyes, “I can’t … I can’t swim!”
  Dagger smiled briefly. The gleeful look evaporated 
  when he saw the tears forming. “You’re not kidding.”
  “No.” Teacup actually gasped as she pushed the word 
  past the lump in her throat. 
  “Shit. Jump down. We’ll go together. I’ll help you.” Dag-
  ger raised his arms up like a father waiting for his child to 
  jump down from a tree they had climbed up but couldn’t 
  get back down. 
  “I will. One second.” Teacup turned and grabbed her 
  RCC from where it hung over the captain’s chair. She slung 
  it across her back as she jumped down toward Dagger’s 
  waiting arms. 
  From the corner of her eye she saw it. The torpedo that 
  was coming their way had a strike booster and sped up 
  once it got close. The strike booster system was intended 
  to make the torpedo hit with more force and punch through 
  the hull before exploding, but it forced the torpedo straight 
  at the end of targeting. That made it easier for small ships 
  to evade it. She could have dodged it. 
  Instead, she saw the viciously churning water and 
  watched the ship rock while she fell toward Dagger. His 
  legs wobbled but he stayed on his feet. He even caught her. 
  Just in time for the torpedo to explode beneath his feet. 
  Dagger shielded Teacup from the shrapnel but the concus-
  sive force sent her flying through the air and into the water. 
  Water that quickly pulled her down into its depths.   
  At least they were paid up front.
  RIGGER 5.0
  RULING  
  THE WAVES
  78    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  WET AND WILD
  Welcome to Wilma’s Wave Works! This is the place to 
  check out my reviews on some of the smoothest craft 
  on or under the waters. I lean my reviews toward those 
  who live in the shadows but I’ve been trying to make 
  sure I consider those who don’t rig in, and add a little in 
  for the casual shadow user. Okay, seriously I’m interest-
  ed in continuing to develop reviews that are of use to 
  everyone. I’m opening with the powerboats, then sail-
  craft, followed by yachts, then the oddballs, and wrap-
  ping up with a look at the big kid toys. 
  One of the things to always remember about water-
  craft is that they are designed to be compact and effi-
  cient. This means that bulkier members of metahuman-
  ity like orks and dwarfs are rarely comfortable at sea. 
  When it comes to elves, they tend to end up with back 
  and neck issues from crouching so much. Trolls view 
  most boats like adults view the bicycles of their youth. 
  They can ride them, but it isn’t pretty, comfortable, or 
  safe. The mass and size of most trolls seriously throws 
  off the balance of small boats. Once we call them ships, 
  trolls, orks, elves, and dwarfs are all good, but up to that 
  point, boats require serious custom work to accommo-
  date the full breadth of metahumanity. 
  > 
  I know that sounds totally racist, but it isn’t. Boats are 
  already built short and narrow. Elves and orks come out 
  tall, dwarves come out wide, and trolls come out all of 
  the above in spades. Add on how heavy trolls are and 
  what that means to displacement when floating, and 
  you’ll understand why even Evo, and their naval giant 
  progenitor Yamatetsu, haven’t delved far into the world of 
  metahuman boating. 
  > 
  Red Anya
  POWERBOATS 
  This is a broad category that includes anything that is 
  primarily driven by a motor. Ranging from small two-
  meter-long personal watercraft through the relatively 
  massive fifteen-meter-long cigarettes built for nothing 
  but speed up to twenty-meter luxury cruisers, power-
  boats can be found on waterways all over the world un-
  der the control of everyone from suburban families to 
  rich executives to charter captains out to make a living. 
  EVO WATERKING
  The Waterking is my favorite offering from Evo and one 
  of the most reasonable in terms of cost to amenities ra-
  tio. It’s on the larger side, eighteen meters, and designed 
  with traditional boat mechanics in mind right alongside 
  efforts to make room for comfortable living spaces. The 
  rear deck is long but completely houses the drive sys-
  tems for the boat, leaving everything fore (that’s nautical 
  for front) clear for living space. These spaces are split 
  into two levels. The lower has a large galley (kitchen), 
  two heads (restroom), and four small berths (sleeping 
  areas), as well as a small exterior seating area at the fore. 
  The upper cabin contains an aft sitting area, two sleep-
  ing cabins, and a fore sitting area.  Above both is the 
  pilot house. Secondary controls are also located in the 
  upper floor fore sitting area, complete with aft VR feeds. 
  Though it’s rare for owners to spend this kind of nuyen 
  on a boat and not own a top-of-the-line ’link, they don’t 
  need it with this boat, as the electronics suite offers the 
  power for a full VR-control feed. Rigger adaptation is of-
  fered but not standard, as this boat kind of hovers at the 
  top edge of poor boaters and the low end of yachters. 
  > 
  I’ll back Wilma on this one. The Waterking is a great option 
  for riggers on a budget with a need for a big boat. This 
  thing can be operated by a single rigger with an Ahab pilot 
  program to run it during the sleepy times. The rest of the 
  boat can be retrofitted for whatever purpose is needed. 
  Smuggling, weapon systems—whatever you need can be 
  stuffed in those extra spaces.
  > 
  Sounder
  The Waterking is not a corvette, built for speed, nor 
  is it a destroyer, built to take a hit. This is just the clas-
  sic, average, everyday joe of the oceans, lakes, and 
  rivers of the world. Perfect for runners who know how 
  to fit in. 
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    79
  (order #9639630)
  
  WATERKING (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  3
  2
  14
  8
  3
  2
  12
  12
  74,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), satellite link, secondary manual 
  controls, smuggling compartment
  SEA RAY COTTONMOUTH
  The Cottonmouth is truly the viper of the seas. This craft 
  slithers through the waters of the world, ready to open 
  up the throttle and strike at a moments notice. While 
  speed may be the primary weapon of the Cotton-
  mouth, the creators of this high-speed craft knew the 
  world they lived in. Sea Ray designed a drive system 
  variation that allows for a slight shift in motor and bat-
  tery position that compensates completely for an addi-
  tional pair of weapon mounts at the front (the mounts 
  are often referred to as fangs). Another pair are avail-
  able for the rear, but these don’t have the same com-
  pensation system and require turret and lift systems to 
  overcome the lift of the front of the boat and prevent 
  over-lift caused by their weight and movement. 
  The Cottonmouth is a fourteen-meter-long ciga-
  rette boat designed with speed in mind. The controls 
  are located in the main cabin near the rear of the boat. 
  The Cottonmouth offers an enclosed cabin option that 
  makes the thing look totally badass but really requires 
  the addition of a full VR control system due to a com-
  plete loss of visibility at speed, especially if rear weap-
  ons are engaged. Despite these shortcomings there is 
  nothing else on the water with the options for speed and 
  offensive firepower the Cottonmouth possesses. No 
  matter whether the boat possesses the arms or is just 
  running at high speed, it needs a skilled driver because 
  it is not designed to take a hit. It can usually endure hits 
  from small arms enough to stay above the waterline, but 
  anything bigger, especially explosives, will spell a one 
  way trip to Davy Jones’ locker.
  > 
  To help limit the weak hull issue, the rear weapon mounts 
  can be stocked with miniguns loaded for anti-missile 
  operations. Yup, phalanx-style defense on a cigarette 
  boat. Speed and direction are still limiting factors, as a 
  head-on missile strike cannot be countered by the rear 
  weapon systems, but skilled pilots know when to turn the 
  broadside even if it makes a bigger target.
  > 
  Kane
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  SEA RAY COTTONMOUTH
  80    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  While the Cottonmouth may look like nothing but 
  speed on waves, it has a few amenities. Below you will 
  find a small head (no shower, though), a galley that 
  consists of a small gas burner, a fridge, and a tiny table, 
  and two berths near the fore that would make even a 
  navy lifer cringe at their size. This lower area is not troll 
  friendly, and most dwarfs and orks find it way too tight 
  for their wide shoulders. This water missile is built with 
  fun in mind and lacks the comforts and supply space for 
  much more than an afternoon out on the water. That 
  said, most folks reading my reviews aren’t taking this out 
  for cross-Atlantic treks. Maybe some island hopping in 
  the Carib League, but usually just a quick sprint to outrun 
  or outgun pursuit and then into port to lay low.
  > 
  The Cottonmouth is popular with several pirate crews in 
  the Carib League. They can run up fast on anything, and 
  while those berths aren’t good for a person, they hold 
  quite a bit of booty. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Booty, Kane, seriously?
  > 
  /dev/grrl
   
  COTTONMOUTH (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  7
  4
  8
  4
  3
  3
  4
  12
  120,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), rigger interface, speed 
  enhancement 1, 2 x weapon mount (standard, 
  internal, fixed, remote) front, 2 x weapon mount 
  (standard, internal, flexible, remote) rear
  KAWASAKI STINGRAY/ 
  MANTA RAY
  The Kawasaki Stingray and Manta Ray are a pair of 
  small one- or two-man jet boats meant for fun and rec-
  reation on the water. But what would we care about 
  that? I like them because they’re fast, maneuverable, 
  and have a ton of accessories that can be utilized for 
  alternative purposes! For example, they both offer a 
  mount for the bow that can easily be used to strap in 
  an AK or even a Stoner. The top bar offers more places 
  to mount lights, strobes, weapons, or small drones with 
  Kawasaki’s clips or a little homemade jerry-rigging. The 
  optional ski holder tube happens to be the same size 
  as the latest LAW single-fire rocket launchers, and you 
  can mount two. Not that I personally ever plan to make 
  use of any of these highly illegal modifications, but I’m 
  sure someone will.
  > 
  Check out some of the footage from Amazonia. These 
  things were very popular with river strikers, and that’s 
  where most of these modifications were developed. 
  Maybe Wilma had something to do with that?
  > 
  Red Anya 
  > 
  These things get stolen from docks all around the world. 
  They’re small enough that no one really notices they’re 
  gone until it’s time to use them, and most boaters only 
  get to use them on weekends. By then their boat is a new 
  color, has new accessories, or is sunk after its illicit use.
  > 
  Sounder
   
  STINGRAY (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  5
  3
  8
  6
  1
  1
  2
  —
  13,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
  MANTA RAY (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  5
  3
  9
  6
  1
  1
  3
  —
  16,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
   
  AZTECH NIGHTRUNNER 
  The Nightrunner has been taking shadowrunners on 
  fishing trips for over three decades despite its com-
  plete lack of fishing seats or a fish cooler, and the diffi-
  culty of fishing from an enclosed cabin. While that joke 
  has been passed down and remains unchanged, the 
  Nightrunner has managed to upgrade quite a few things 
  since those days. The enclosed cabin was replaced with 
  a slide-open cabin cover, and the Nightrunner gained a 
  new ad campaign back in ’73, which led to the addition 
  of scuba storage spaces built into the interior design. 
  The ad made the Nightrunner out to be the ultimate 
  in unobtrusive diving technology to help explain why 
  it had heat-masking paint, an ultra-quiet drive system, 
  and a sonar package rivaling some military craft. We in 
  the shadows know what everyone uses this thing for 
  and can continue the laugh at the dive boat with no 
  access ladder or dive rails. 
  Even though the craft has been around for a gener-
  ation, it’s still a solid performer. They’ve done a decent 
  job of keeping it up to date, though retrofits to old-
  er models have hit the classic boat snag. Everything is 
  small and designed to fit and function with a purpose. 
  Anything retrofitted has to fit into the same space or 
  displace something else. The Nightrunner is a five-me-
  ter-long stealthy speedster, favoring the former over the 
  latter. It’s got nothing on the cigarettes, but it will run cir-
  cles around a cruiser—all the while appearing nowhere 
  on their sensors. Its size has been its biggest limitation. 
  It has a small fore cabin where there is a berth area, a 
  tiny head, and the closets and racks for dive equipment. 
  These spots double nicely for other types of equipment 
  as well.  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    81
  (order #9639630)
  
  NIGHTRUNNER (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  6
  3
  12
  6
  3
  4
  6
  10
  56,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), life support 1, rigger interface, 
  satellite link, signature masking 4
  ZODIAC SCORPIO
  The rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, is rarely referred to as 
  such thanks to Zodiac and a contract with the U.S. mil-
  itary dating back to the last century. Zodiac was the 
  brand, but the name stuck to every other RIB, and right 
  now their Scorpio line is my personal favorite. There are 
  other brands out there, but they all chase after Zodiac 
  for the next innovation in RIB technology. 
  The Scorpio line is so named for the three mount 
  points—two forward and one rear—usually referred to as 
  claws and stinger by those who use this boat frequent-
  ly. These aren’t traditional mounts, as the Scorpio is de-
  signed to be hauled deflated to take up as little space 
  as possible. Instead the mounts are little more than ex-
  tendable rods that are connected to the craft’s onboard 
  sensors and help to compensate for the movement of 
  the boat. Use of the mounts requires a mount clip to be 
  added to any weapon, but the same clip can be quickly 
  fitted for any weapon as it is basically a rubber strap with 
  a mounting pin to connect to the rod. Simple and easily 
  adapted—more reason to love the Scorpio.
  The Scorpio is small—only four meters long, and the 
  last half-meter houses its pair of motor mounts. It only 
  has one seat, the pilot’s, mounted on the right side be-
  hind the small control station. Zodiac was one of the first 
  to offer VR controls and adaptation for riggers, and now 
  they offer AR controls on every new model. The man-
  ual controls are usually still there, but those folks who 
  have way more trust in electronics than I can have them 
  removed. The Scorpio offers a bench seat option for be-
  hind the pilot, but everyone else will be taking a knee or 
  sitting on the deck. 
  Weapons and control options are great, but what 
  separates Zodiac from other RIB makers is speed and 
  maneuverability. Motor options for the Scorpio run from 
  mundane to ridiculous, with the latter often causing more 
  problems than it could ever solve, though there is a nota-
  ble exception. You can lose a motor and still have a back-
  up with serious power. Zodiac crafted their boats with 
  that in mind—you’re not supposed to run both of them, as 
  that could create too much lift and flip your boat.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  AZTECHNOLOGY NIGHTRUNNER
  82    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Maneuverability on the Scorpio is managed by an 
  available 360 degrees of rotation for the props rather 
  than a rudder or the standard 180 degrees of rotation. 
  The Scorpio can turn 360 degrees in place, make ra-
  zor-sharp turns at speed, and even pull some moves that 
  folks usually only see on the trid. These flashy moves 
  usually require the rigger adaptation and a skilled rigger. 
  They’re also best performed either in an empty boat or 
  with a fully aware crew, because they frequently toss a 
  rider in the water. 
  > 
  Zodiac still has the military contract for the UCAS and 
  CAS, but their main money comes from megacorps with 
  offshore or coastal assets. Maersk owns thousands of 
  Zodiac craft that they use to protect their shipping lanes 
  and ships near the coast.
  > 
  Kane
  ZODIAC SCORPIO (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  4
  2
  10
  6
  1
  1
  2/6
  8
  26,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  2 x weapon mount (standard, external, flexible, 
  manual) front, weapon mount (heavy, external, 
  flexible, manual) rear
  MITSUBISHI WATERBUG
  This cute little single seater is the next generation of 
  personal watercraft. The Waterbug is the most maneu-
  verable waterbike on the market, thanks to Mitsubishi’s 
  quinjet drive system. The quinjet, as the name implies, 
  is a five-jet propulsion and steering system only avail-
  able on the Waterbug. Not only does it have the stan-
  dard rear-facing waterjet system with the standard 
  steering nozzle, but it also has four additional waterjet 
  ports. With two jets on each side, each with their own 
  steering nozzle, the Waterbug can gain extra stability 
  and speed on the straight run, or make turns and ma-
  neuvering in tight spots a breeze. 
  The Waterbug also has a larger model, the Waveskip-
  per, that comes in two and three seater models. The 
  Waveskipper isn’t quite as maneuverable as the quin-
  jet technology was added as an afterthought to recent 
  models. A redesigned Waveskipper has been in the 
  works for a few years now but keeps getting bogged 
  down in testing and redesign as they work the bugs out 
  of the system. 
  > 
  The Waveskipper redesign has been a frequent runner 
  target. Whether caused by corporate sabotage or just 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  MITSUBISHI WATERBUG
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    83
  (order #9639630)
  
  ineptness, this thing keeps suffering from design issues. 
  I’ve used the Waterbug for some river excursions and 
  while impressed by its nimbleness, I don’t know how that 
  can transfer to a larger craft. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Sepjet. That’s the latest redesign effort. Bigger frame, 
  more jets. 
  > 
  Sounder
   
  WATERBUG (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  6
  3
  2
  8
  4
  1
  —
  1
  —
  8,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
  WAVESKIPPER (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  3
  2
  10
  4
  1
  —
  2
  —
  10,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
  EVO WATER STRIDER
  This is a watercraft looking to make it. I called the Wa-
  terbug the next generation—this one is a future gener-
  ation that’s being worked through the ends of its pac-
  es to make sure it really is ready before it storms the 
  market. At the moment one of the biggest foreseeable 
  problems for the Water Strider is going to be keeping 
  people from driving them over land. They can do it, 
  they are not meant to, and they will break down quickly 
  if it’s kept up. 
  If you’re confused by that and have never seen a Wa-
  ter Strider, you aren’t alone. The craft looks like a stan-
  dard waterbike seated inside a clear globe. The globe is 
  made of smart materials, and as it rolls it keeps chang-
  ing its surface in microscopic ways to create propulsion, 
  whisk away water, and allow air to circulate. While this 
  may sound crazy, the higher maneuverability, insulation 
  in cold environments, complete inability to become sub-
  merged without massive damage, and ability to almost 
  instantly reverse direction is getting the Water Strid-
  er attention from all quarters. As a recreational craft it 
  has unmatched amusement potential, along with safety 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  EVO WATER STRIDER
  84    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  and security for all ages. Industries in cold-water envi-
  ronments are looking at the Water Strider as a personal 
  scout or recovery vehicle. Security firms appreciate the 
  maneuverability, sealed environment, and full field of 
  visibility on three axes. 
  > 
  Add ruthenium to the outer shell and you’re invisible.
  > 
  Cheshire
  > 
  Doesn’t work like that. The smart materials aren’t really 
  compatible with the ruthenium.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  It does work. I know a guy who did it. He uses his to tool 
  around sunken LA.
  > 
  Cheshire
  > 
  And I know a guy with oceanfront property in Arizona. 
  Wanna buy it?
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Maybe. Where’s Arizona? 
  > 
  Cheshire
  The only major drawbacks I found when I got to test 
  one out was acceleration and speed. In order to accel-
  erate the globe rotates, but the faster it goes, the more 
  it lifts out of the water and the less speed you gain be-
  cause of the loss of frictional surface. First solution to 
  that is to draw more water into the internal ballast to 
  keep the craft down in the water, but that leads to too 
  much mass and the inability to get up to high speeds. 
  The whole craft is an experiment in advanced tech and 
  materials. Now they just need to add in the math to get 
  the balance right.
  > 
  They must have something ready. Pre-orders are open, 
  and the sales guy I talked to said they shipped to their 
  initial investors already. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  A real sales guy?
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Could have been a bot. I can’t tell the difference most of 
  the time.
  > 
  Kane
  WATER STRIDER (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2
  1
  8
  5
  2
  2
  1
  16
  11,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Life support 1, signature masking 1
  SAILCRAFT … SORT OF
  Normally sailboats are slow as molasses. They usual-
  ly have a motor but can’t get much more speed under 
  power than with the wind. This is such a common con-
  ception of everyone who sees a sailboat that Corsair 
  decided to change things up. They wanted to bridge 
  the gap between powerboaters and sailers, and so they 
  created this line of boats. Runners all over the seas 
  have started to see the potential in these craft.
  CORSAIR ELYSIUM
  The Elysium is the monohull offering by Corsair. Mono-
  hulls are the classic boats we all expect to see in the 
  harbor. They have a single body, usually with a cabin 
  amidships and fore, steering and seating in the rear, 
  and several sails but usually a single mast, though some 
  larger boats have more. The Elysium has two sails, a 
  main and jib sail, both of which are furling sails. Furl-
  ing sails wrap up around themselves rather than fold 
  down, making them easier to handle. That’s one reason 
  to love the Elysium. 
  But not the main reason. The main reason to love 
  the Elysium is the fact that while it can operate as a sail-
  boat and travel on wind power alone, the Elysium has 
  sacrificed its rear berth for a motor cabin and can cruise 
  at speeds normally limited to powerboats. Looks like a 
  sailboat, moves like a powerboat, can sail silent like a 
  sailboat, and can create the illusion of a slow sailboat 
  and catch other craft unaware. 
  Other features of the Elysium are a small galley, 
  bench, and fold-down table in the main cabin with a 
  head, shower, and twin berth in the fore. The pilot sta-
  tion is located aft with seating around it, but it is easier to 
  handle with VR controls while sitting further fore, though 
  there is no standard seating. 
   
  ELYSIUM (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  1/3
  1/4
  1/2
  14
  10
  2
  3
  6
  12
  78,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), improved economy, satellite link
  CORSAIR PANTHER
  The Panther is a sailing catamaran along the same lines 
  as Corsair’s Elysium, except that it removed berthing 
  space at the rear of both hulls so it has twin powerboat 
  motors. The motors are primarily accessed from the 
  rear and on deck rather than through the cabin. The en-
  gines give it even more power than the Elysium, but the 
  boat design and positioning cost it some turning radi-
  us. When under sail the Panther can unfurl three sails—
  the main, jib, and spinnaker. The main and jib are the 
  standard sails seen on a sailboat off the main mast and 
  front rigging. The spinnaker is a large parachute-like sail 
  that extends further out in front of the boat. 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    85
  (order #9639630)
  
  The access adjustment for the motors preserves 
  the remaining portion of those aft berths to be storage, 
  which allows the Panther extended time at sea. With the 
  repurposed berth space, the Panther sleeps eight rather 
  than ten. The added storage and reduced complement 
  means it can store food and water for all passengers 
  for over two months, its normal sea travel storage max. 
  Mathematically it’s 82.5 days, so I could say almost 
  three months. 
  Below deck the Panther has a large sitting area 
  around the galley with berths in the fore and amidships 
  hull areas on each side. The head and shower are on the 
  port side, with a secondary pilot station and electron-
  ics suite starboard. The rear deck of the Panther is like a 
  small covered porch with a pilot station and seating as 
  well as a step down dive deck full aft. The bow has two 
  options, a solid platform that ends a meter before the 
  hulls or a trampoline-like net that runs all the way out. I 
  personally like the trampoline though security conscious 
  folks like the platform.
  > 
  Those security folks are just landlubbers. The trampoline 
  is a much better option for prone firing. Only issue is hot 
  brass from older weapons sometimes collects close to the 
  firer and always seems to find some exposed skin. The 
  trampoline is a flexible kevlar and actually provides some 
  armor and doesn’t get burnt by spent shells or muzzle 
  flash.
  > 
  Kane
  The Panther’s biggest limitation is the color options. 
  It only comes in black. While this may seem strange for a 
  vessel that may spend its entire existence in the blazing 
  sun, there is a reason and zero issues. The black paint is a 
  combination thermoelectric and photovoltaic material that 
  constantly feeds juice to the ship’s battery system while 
  sapping heat away from the black paint. The power supply 
  isn’t enough to run the motors directly, but it allows the 
  secondary batteries to be gaining charge while the main 
  batteries are in use. Main batteries take about twelve hours 
  of sunlight to fully recharge, secondary batteries take eight.
  > 
  Story time kids. Gather round. Picture the quiet waters of 
  the western Caribbean Sea with just the slightest sliver 
  of the moon hanging overhead in a cloudless sky full of 
  stars. A well-worn but tenderly loved Beneteau 370 sails 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  CORSAIR PANTHER
  86    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  on a wisp of wind. It’s dashing captain at the helm, his 
  keen eye scanning all horizons for anything that would 
  endanger his precious craft. The swirling green light of his 
  radar screen casting his face in an eerie glow. Peace on 
  the waters. 
  A sudden flash of red light ignites the air and burns a 
  slash through the captain’s sail, causing the perfect wind 
  to begin to whistle through the now-billowing sail. The 
  captain’s eyes scan for a source, but the flash was fast 
  and the source still hidden on the dark waters. The captain 
  checks his radar screen and sees nothing. 
  More red flashes create more gashes in the sail, but 
  this time the captain is ready. He follows the flashes back 
  to their source. And sees nothing but black water. The 
  captain has been a man of the sea for many years and 
  has learned many tricks. He has thermographic goggles 
  handy and quickly pulls them to his face. They reveal the 
  quickly cooling streaks of air and the flashes of intense 
  heat at their source. The empty sea.
  Powering the motor up and reeling in the tattered sail, 
  the captain is forced to run from the ghost on the water. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  And the ghost was?
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  That question took a while to show up. I was thinking 
  people didn’t like my story. Anyway, I got some recordings 
  on thermo and did some enhancing. All I got was a vague 
  outline but it was a cat, about the size of a Panther, and it 
  was running a firelance.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Run a laser off the batteries that are recharging constantly 
  on a ship that is always running cold because the heat is 
  being used for energy. Slick. Any idea who was running it?
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  My guess was corpsec, since I’d sailed too close to 
  something valuable. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Accidentally?
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Seriously?
  > 
  Kane
  PANTHER (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  1/3
  2/5
  1/3
  18
  10
  2
  3
  8
  12
  135,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), improved economy, satellite link, 
  secondary manual controls, signature masking 2, 
  SunCell
  CORSAIR TRIDENT 
  The Trident is a three-hull power-sailer from Corsair, also 
  referred to as a trimaran. These craft have one main hull 
  and two outrigger hulls allowing the boat to sit higher 
  in the water. The Trident has a wide main hull for more 
  living space and plated beams for more deck space. As 
  expected, the Trident also has some tricks up her sleeve.
  As with the other two Corsair offerings, the Trident 
  has additional motors over a standard sailing trimaran. 
  While people often expect a trimaran to have more 
  speed than other sailing craft, the Trident can still leave 
  them in shock. Both outrigger hulls have waterjet mo-
  tors, much like the personal watercraft out their. The 
  main hull has twin motors, giving the Trident four total 
  motors. The waterjets also make a craft that most find 
  unwieldy into something I would call graceful. 
  The next trick is probably the biggest selling point of 
  the Trident and its pure sail sistercraft, the Triton. The out-
  riggers often make a trimaran unwieldy and difficult to 
  maneuver in tight spots, especially docks. The concept of 
  retractable outriggers isn’t new, but retractable deck plat-
  ed outriggers are. One or both of the outriggers can be 
  retracted in towards the main hull to narrow the Trident. 
  While similar in length to the monohull Elysium, the Tri-
  dent is wider and therefore offers a more spacious cabin. It 
  has a full galley, two heads, one shower, a large sitting area, 
  two single aft berths, two double fore berths, and a sec-
  ondary ladder at the fore as well as one at the aft. The deck 
  area is abundant, and with the extended beams it’s down-
  right palatial. The foredeck has a large seating area that can 
  be fitted with a hot tub instead of seating. The aft deck is 
  covered but not enclosed and offers seating and a table. 
  The pilot station is located on a raised platform above the 
  aft deck, with secondary controls linked to a swing-out 
  seat that comes from the aft deck and locks in place. 
  > 
  When the secondary controls aren’t in use, they make a 
  great spot to fish from.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  The Trident and Triton look identical, with the exception 
  of a small hump at the rear of the outrigger hulls and 
  the emblems, which are often removed by the owners 
  in order to put a name on the aft hull of the boat. This is 
  definitely a feature for those who want to own a Trident 
  with its ridiculous speed and make others think they are 
  only dealing with a Triton. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Just so it’s clear, the Triton can still run down powerboats 
  with a half decent wind and a good captain. It’s a straight-
  line run, but there’s something satisfying about gliding 
  past a powerboat at full throttle while you’re using nothing 
  but the wind. 
  > 
  Kane
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    87
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Are we seeing a softer side of Kane? We’ve got a lot of 
  sailing references.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Nothing soft about sailing, Slammy. Give it a try and you’ll 
  see.
  > 
  Kane
  TRIDENT (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  1/3
  4/5
  2/3
  16
  10
  2
  3
  6
  12
  125,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), improved economy, satellite link, 
  SunCell
  TRITON (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  1
  6
  2
  16
  10
  2
  3
  6
  -
  104,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), improved economy, satellite link
  BLOHM & VOSS CLASSIC 111 
  Blohm & Voss have outdone themselves yet again. This 
  111-meter luxury yacht features 2070s tech blended 
  seamlessly with turn-of-the-century styling. Harkening 
  back to simpler days when Shiawase was just a corpo-
  ration, this floating den of opulence will remind every 
  megacorporate executive of where they rose from and 
  where they want to rise to. This is wood, gold trim, 
  crystal faucets, and all the gaudy classic trimmings of 
  the early days of this century. 
  Designed to sleep twelve guests on the main deck, 
  two on the owner deck, and eight crew on the lower 
  deck, the ship can easily fit ten times that many during a 
  party. The guest sleeping quarters, not berths, six entire 
  rooms, are located in the fore section of the main deck 
  along with attached full bathrooms. The two foremost 
  cabins also have hot rooms between the sleeping quar-
  ters and the bathroom. A stairwell is located near the 
  fore that goes up to the social deck. The aft section has 
  a circular stair near amidship followed by a large social/
  dining room. Beyond that is another large social area 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  BLOHM & VOSS CLASSIC 111
  88    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  built around the glass lower section of the pool on the 
  deck above. A split stairwell near the aft of the ship leads 
  up to the social deck.
  The owner deck is the entertainment heart of the 
  Classic 111. The aft section of the deck is also known as 
  the pool deck, because that’s where the eight-meter-
  long pool is, along with its sitting and sunning areas. The 
  pool deck, fore deck, emergency boat berths, and balco-
  nies are the only open areas of this deck. The foredeck 
  has seating and sunning chairs along with a bar. It also 
  possesses an access stair to the main deck, along with 
  the anchor rigging and a pair of Zodiac Geminis for port-
  ing and emergencies. The enclosed areas of the owner 
  deck contain a large social area near the pool that often 
  doubles as a bar or dance area for parties, a bathroom 
  attached to the club, the central stair with access to the 
  emergency boat decks, and the owners living quarters. 
  The owners quarters consist of an office, conference/
  social room, workout room, sauna, bathroom, two walk-
  in closets, and the master bedroom at the fore. While it 
  may sound like a lot, none of the rooms feel cramped. 
  The conference/social room has floor-to-ceiling win-
  dows, as do the workout room and office. 
  Above the owner deck is the control deck. The fore 
  section of the deck is the control room, where the con-
  trol room is completely enclosed with access from the 
  lower decks as well as two doors out around the rear 
  sitting area. The rear sitting area is a simple table and 
  seats or a hot tub. This is only accessible through the 
  control room, so it’s either for the captain and crew, or 
  it’s intended to torture them as bikini-clad elves slither 
  through the control room on the way to the tub. 
  The lowest deck is all motors, ballasts, and storage. It’s 
  all very tight compared to the upper decks, but the own-
  ers and guests rarely come down here. If they do, the last 
  thing they are worried about is the cramped space. 
  The Classic 111 has two other near-identical models, 
  the Neo 111 and Trafalgar 111. The primary difference is 
  style. The Neo is ultra-modern with a lot of chrome and 
  glass, while the Trafalgar resembles the ships of yester-
  year complete with AR triple masts and flat sails. 
  CLASSIC 111 (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  4
  2
  24
  14
  4
  4
  14
  16
  14,870,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (high), internal cameras, rigger interface, 
  satellite link
  LURSSEN MOBIUS
  Dreaming is allowed. The Mobius is a 140-meter man-
  sion on water. It’s an ultra-luxury yacht that gained 
  quite a bit of fame when Johnny Spinrad grounded one 
  on an island in the Caribbean and then bought the is-
  land and built the ship into a home. Now everyone is 
  wondering what he’s going to do with the second one 
  he bought.
  The Mobius is unique in the ultra-luxury realm as it 
  can be fully operated and run by a single person, thanks 
  to its complement of thirty drones. The drones handle 
  everything on the ship, even the piloting. It can be done 
  manually, but manual labor is so out of style. Owners of 
  this class of ship usually hire a real rigger and let them 
  keep everything running smoothly.
  The Mobius has five decks; Low, Virtua, Living, Enter-
  tainment, and Sun. 
  The Low deck houses the boats engines, supplies, 
  generators, water supply, and general storage in the aft 
  half of the ship. It’s the only cramped deck on the boat 
  and is usually only visited by drones. The fore section 
  houses the internal dock. The dock has slips for one fif-
  teen-meter craft, four five-to-ten-meter craft, and a doz-
  en personal watercraft. 
  The VirtuaDeck is a Mobius exclusive. It only cov-
  ers the aft portion of the ship because the dock area 
  is tall, though not the full height of this deck. The slim 
  additional section near the fore houses small motor-
  ized wall sections that move out to change the physical 
  character of the VirtuaDeck, while an AR feed creates 
  the rest of the experience in the completely open cab-
  in. The rear five meters of this deck are open around the 
  sides and have a spiral stair at the center that leads up. 
  Seating and a table are usually added, but this craft has 
  a lot of options for this area like a hot tub, fishing setup, 
  and diver deck.
  The Living deck has ten basic living quarters, the 
  owners suite, pilot’s suite, two galleys, and four dining 
  rooms. Basic living quarters are either queen size or 
  two double beds, a personal bathroom, and a small 
  sitting room. The owner’s suite has a king bed, per-
  sonal bathroom, two walk-in closets, an office, a work-
  out room, a hot tub room, a sauna, a conference room, 
  and an entertainment suite. The pilot’s suite is located 
  in the center of the ship. It has a double bed, a bath-
  room, workroom, and a spiral staircase that reaches 
  every floor. 
  The Entertainment deck has all the fun stuff. There 
  are four bars, four social rooms, six hot tubs, a pool, a 
  galley, and an open sunning section of the deck near the 
  fore with a ladder up to the helicopter pad.
  The Sun deck has two hot tubs, a large social cabin, 
  and a lot of deck space. The pilot house is technically 
  part of this deck but is only accessible via a ladder from 
  the Entertainment deck or the pilot’s spiral stairway.
  It may look crazy, but it’s a beautiful ship.
  > 
  The Poseidon’s Tear is the name of Spinrad’s other 
  Mobius. It’s currently docked in Hong Kong but actually 
  spends a lot of time randomly cruising the South Pacific. 
  The guy who runs it is named James Aster, and he has 
  been known to ferry his friends around as long as the 
  boss doesn’t need the ship.
  > 
  Sounder
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    89
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Wilma mentioned the thirty drones for operating and 
  serving on the ship but left out the ship’s twelve defensive 
  drones. It has two mini blimps and ten Roto-Drones, and 
  the onboard contingent contains eight full anthroforms 
  that can be adjusted for security detail if needed.
  > 
  Kane
  MOBIUS (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  3
  2
  36
  14
  6
  5
  22
  36
  84,985,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (luxury), internal cameras, manual control 
  override, rigger cocoon, satellite link, searchlight, 
  SunCell
  SUN TRACKER LAKE KING
  The Lake King is a beautiful pontoon boat, designed with 
  slightly longer and larger pontoons than normal to create 
  extra decking on the front and rear of the boat. This also 
  makes it one of the few small watercraft that can handle a 
  troll with ease. The fold-down roof allows for shade or sun 
  and only covers the central section of the boat. 
  The Lake King is popular with divers thanks to the 
  oversized decks, and some have even been sold for 
  ocean-cruising reef divers, though they stay close to 
  shore and don’t sail in rough weather. The little bit of 
  added versatility puts them among my favorites.
  LAKE KING (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  3
  2
  14
  8
  1
  1
  8
  —
  35,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
   
  EVO AQUAVIDA
  This houseboat is the primary competitor of the Mit-
  subishi Waterhome. The two companies are constantly 
  trying to one up and out do the other. The Aquavida’s 
  latest innovation is an optional subsurface sleeping/
  sensory deprivation chamber. The pod is loaded from 
  inside the cabin but then lowers down into the waters 
  below the boat. 
  The Aquavida comes in one- and two-bedroom ver-
  sions, with the two-bedroom version losing some of its 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  LURSSEN MOBIUS
  90    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  outside deckspace. The living area is on the main deck 
  with the quarters, bathroom, galley, and small seating 
  area. The fore has a small external deck space similar 
  to a balcony, and the aft has a larger deck space with 
  seating and a grill. The boat has a second level with the 
  pilot house, along with another open deck area with a 
  table and chairs. 
  > 
  The Aquavida, and any other houseboat for that matter, 
  makes a great safehouse, especially since they can be 
  moved if you need to. The pod on the Aquavida is a great 
  place to hide out if you’re not claustrophobic or a troll. 
  > 
  Mihoshi Oni
  > 
  As folks could easily guess, that pod is getting used for all 
  sorts of things other than sleep or sensory deprivation. It’s 
  a nice smuggling tool or a good way to hide things under 
  your boat and then pull them up when you need them. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Speed is a problem, though. The winch needs to be 
  modified to move things up or down quickly, and that’s 
  not an easy task. Boats often aren’t made with mods in 
  mind. 
  > 
  Sounder
  AQUAVIDA 1 (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  1
  2
  20
  16
  1
  3
  2/8
  10
  115,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), winch (basic)
  AQUAVIDA 2 (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  1
  2
  20
  16
  1
  3
  4/8
  12
  135,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (middle), winch (basic)
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  EVO AQUAVIDA
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    91
  (order #9639630)
  
  ULTRAMARINE KINGFISHER
  The Kingfisher is basically a cruiser with some added 
  features for fishing. It has berths for four in the bow, a 
  galley with a table that folds down to sleep two more, 
  and a head with an attachment for an on-deck shower. 
  It has less berthing space than a standard cruiser be-
  cause the pilot cabin is enclosed and pushed to amid-
  ship to open up the aft deck for the fishing gear. 
  Now I could give you a rundown of the great fishing 
  gear this thing has, but the reason I have it on here is not 
  because of the MaxDepth 6200 fish finder. Riggers, and 
  runners in general, have found plenty of alternative uses 
  for the crane that typically is used to hoist caught fish 
  out of the water and onto the boat. This, along with the 
  fish-storage space that can easily be modified to hide 
  other cargo, makes the Kingfisher and other boats like it 
  quite popular. 
  > 
  The CAS Navy is aware of the Kingfisher’s reputation. 
  They don’t have the direct procedural means, but they are 
  not above contracting out to find out if a boat is legitimate. 
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Don’t take that deal if you want to keep working around 
  the water. You’ll run across a real chummer and find out 
  why we don’t use that term for friends. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Everyone has to make their money somehow. Getting 
  paid by the government or a corp to trim smuggling is 
  perfectly legit. Just because you know the bullseye hits 
  too close to home doesn’t mean you have to make threats 
  here.
  > 
  Cheshire
  > 
  Sorry, kiddo. That was advice. Not a threat. Just making 
  sure you’re aware that there are consequences on the 
  water that others might consider personal, but are merely 
  professional.
  > 
  Kane
      
  KINGFISHER (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  3
  2
  16
  12
  3
  4
  6
  12
  61,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), satellite link, smuggling 
  compartment,  winch (basic)
  AMERICAN AIRBOAT 
  AIRRANGER
  I totally dig the AirRanger, not only as a flat-bottom 
  swamp boat, but also as an additional feature available on 
  the UH Minnesota. The AirRanger is driven from a high 
  seat near the center of the boat. It cruises along, pushed 
  by its massive fan, with a draft of less than ten centime-
  ters with a full load. The AirRanger Heavy is a specialized 
  version of the craft that has additional floatation and can 
  hold more massive cargo. This watercraft comes with 
  multiple seating arrangements, though the most com-
  mon is a two-front, three-back setup for five passengers. 
  As far as swamp boats go, this one is my favorite.
  > 
  That heavy load option needs to be used for AirRangers 
  tweaked for trolls. They also adjust the seating to two 
  front and two back, and the pilot’s seat isn’t as high. The 
  Swamp Ogres, who operate a smuggling and piracy ring 
  in the Louisiana swamps, have a fleet of these. Most with 
  some form of weapon mounted with the front seats.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  American Airboat is getting targeted by other boat 
  firms to try to break the contract they have with UH. The 
  contract opens up production so much that American is 
  doing some serious market domination.
  > 
  Mr. Bonds
  AIRRANGER (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  4
  3
  10
  6
  1
  1
  6
  6
  25,500¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
  AIRRANGER HEAVY (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  4
  3
  12
  6
  1
  1
  5
  8
  35,500¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
  GMC RIVERINE
  In 2074, a marine legend returned after a short pro-
  duction hiatus. The Riverine was the bane of smugglers 
  around the world, but its success led to a coordinated 
  effort to disrupt production by those same smugglers. 
  Let it never be said that pirates can’t work together. 
  Don’t argue that they hired runners, because they still 
  had to communicate to get it started. That would have 
  been one hell of a meeting to get in on.
  > 
  It was!
  > 
  Kane
  The time off and damage to the production equip-
  ment gave GMC the perfect excuse to re-engineer a 
  new Riverine. What they came up with is going to be a 
  lesson to criminals around the world that when some-
  thing’s already badass and you decide to trash it, the re-
  placement risks being even more of a hoop-kicking mar-
  itime predator, this one with better armor, better arms, 
  better navigation, and an electronics suite that can find a 
  minnow in the Pacific. 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  92    >> RULING THE WAVES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  New materials technology has armored up the hull 
  as well as the internal compartments and cabins. The 
  Riverine can shrug off most gunfire. Even anti- materiel 
  rifles have a tough time, and the single hole they make 
  isn’t going to do much to slow the Riverine. 
  Anyone trying to get a shot in at the Riverine is going 
  to need some serious cover themselves. The Riverine 
  comes standard with a complement of five mounts. Two 
  rear, one port, one starboard, and one fore. All of them 
  are designed for remote operation, but each can be 
  assigned to a different user station inside the Riverine. 
  Weapon systems vary, but the most common line-up 
  consists of a pair of fully automatics in the rear, anti-ma-
  teriel cannons at the side, and a multiple missile system 
  up front. Positioning and mounting allows the two rear 
  mounts 360 degrees of rotation and up to 90 degrees 
  up from the horizon. Side mounts only offer 195 de-
  grees of rotation and 65 degrees up from the horizon. 
  The fore mount covers 360 and 90 as well. And remem-
  ber, that’s the basic complement. The Riverine is capable 
  of mounting side batteries consisting of up to six guns 
  on each side and a rear battery of three guns. The rear 
  battery isn’t very effective at high speeds, but the entire 
  setup is a rude awakening for anyone who comes creep-
  ing up on the boat. 
  > 
  The new model can also mount torpedo tubes and depth 
  charges. Despite its small size, this beast thinks it’s a 
  destroyer. 
  > 
  Kane
  The navigation system is fully integrated into the 
  new Matrix and usually links to the Ares Grid, where a 
  special division of GMC monitors all the craft they’ve 
  produced that are logged on. If there’s trouble, they con-
  tact the owner while they go check it out. They’re usually 
  outmatched due to signal restrictions, but they come en 
  masse and are good at working together as a team.
  Finally, the Riverine has been outfitted with an elec-
  tronics suite to make any rigger drool, including high-
  end built-in commlink, complete with satellite, premium 
  sensors, full AR and VR control suite, serious targeting 
  and fire solution software, and even some entertain-
  ment equipment.  
  The most impressive thing about the new Riverine 
  is that it looks just like the old Riverine. There are a few 
  subtle changes, but when this beast is buzzing up on 
  you, you aren’t going to be looking for subtleties like the 
  direction of the exhaust port or the blade size on the 
  propellers. 
  > 
  If the weapons are out it’s a dead giveaway, but some of 
  the older models are getting retrofits to mount the new 
  weapon layout. The Riverine is back and ready to take on 
  all comers.
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  That sounds like a challenge. I’m in.
  > 
  Kane
  The Riverine is produced with one of three packages 
  in mind, and they are all built to suit. The Security model 
  is the base and has all the things mentioned above. The 
  Police model adds a light bar, two sets of twin spotlights, 
  front and rear, and a siren. No big surprises there. The 
  Military model has the torpedo and depth charge set up 
  standard, offers the same spotlights as the Police, and 
  sits about a quarter meter lower in the water thanks to 
  the armor increase. 
    
  RIVERINE SECURITY (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  5
  3
  16
  12
  4
  4
  8
  15R
  100,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), commlink (DR 7), rigger cocoon, 
  rigger interface, satellite link, searchlight, weapon 
  mount (heavy, internal, flexible, remote) front, 2 x 
  weapon mount (standard, internal, flexible, remote) 
  sides, 2 x weapon mount (standard, external, flexible, 
  remote) rear
  RIVERINE POLICE (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  5
  3
  16
  14
  4
  5
  8
  15R
  154,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), commlink (DR 7), rigger cocoon, 
  rigger interface, satellite link, 4 x searchlight (2 front, 
  2 rear), weapon mount (heavy, internal, flexible, 
  remote) front, 2 x weapon mount (standard, internal, 
  flexible, remote) sides, 2 x weapon mount (standard, 
  external, flexible, remote) rear
  RIVERINE MILITARY (WATERCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  5
  2
  20
  20
  6
  6
  8
  20F
  225,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Amenities (squatter), commlink (DR 8), rigger cocoon, 
  rigger interface, satellite link, searchlight, signature 
  masking 4, weapon mount (heavy, internal, flexible, 
  remote) front, 2 x weapon mount (standard, internal, 
  flexible, remote) sides, 3 x weapon mount (standard, 
  external, flexible, remote) rear
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> RULING THE WAVES <<    93
  (order #9639630)
  
  Bishop opened his eyes and saw Finch leaning over and 
  yelling at him. It took a few seconds, but the loud ringing 
  slowly gave way to the street samurai’s voice.
  “… oss! You okay? Boss!!!”
  Bishop waved his hand, trying to signal he was fine. 
  Taking Finch’s arm, he lifted himself upright and imme-
  diately regretted the decision as pain shot through his 
  torso and legs from shrapnel. 
  Propping himself up against an old, rusted heating 
  unit, he looked out over the skyscraper’s rooftop but fell 
  back down. On the other side of the heater, he felt heavy 
  rounds impact. Finch rose and let loose with a long burst 
  from his AK, tagging a Northrup Wasp as it flew by. The 
  small security helo trailed smoke but remained airborne. 
  A second Wasp took up the slack, its chin-turret MMG 
  blazing away. 
   Bishop looked up just as up Finch, defiantly blasting 
  away with his AK, was cut in half by MG rounds. AROs 
  from the team’s PI-TAC floated in Bishop’s field of vision, 
  fuzzy and distorted. In his ear, Bishop thought he heard 
  someone say something like “ETA, twenty seconds.” He 
  tried again to get into the fight but realized his shotgun 
  was gone.
  Wracked with pain, Bishop crawled past Finch’s body. 
  He saw the rest of his team, all wounded and pinned 
  down by machine gun fire. Moon-Seeker’s chest was 
  covered in crimson as Bingo tried to apply trauma patch-
  es; the female shaman wasn’t moving. Hooper, the other 
  samurai, was army-crawling behind another heater, his 
  right cyberarm hanging on by a few wires. The only one 
  left in the fight was Thunder, but the second Wasp kept 
  the troll pinned down. 
  The first Wasp formed up with his wingman, both 
  hovering nearby. Under stubby wings hung ripple-fire 
  rocket pods. Bishop knew they were waiting for perfect 
  target locks before they finished his team off. He could 
  see the looks of smug superiority on the pilot’s faces. 
  Defiantly, Bishop gave them the middle finger— just as 
  the first Wasp was ripped to shreds by heavy-machine-
  gun fire. 
  The second Wasp then banked sharply to the right 
  and accelerated. Another helo, a Hughes WK-4 Stallion, 
  painted to look like a local trid station, pursued. But in-
  stead of packing cameras and sensors, it packed its own 
  rocket pod and machine guns. It didn’t take long for the 
  Stallion to blast the Wasp out of the sky with its own 
  rockets. 
  His vision swam, but Bishop felt hands reach under 
  his arms. Bishop looked over his shoulder and saw his 
  team’s rigger, Crankshaft, hauling him into the now wait-
  ing Stallion. Likewise, Thunder and Bingo were helping 
  Hooper and Moon-Seeker (and the rest of Finch) into 
  the helo as well. 
  An ork in the Stallion’s pilot’s seat, wearing a worn 
  flight suit and helmet with the name “Zero” stenciled on 
  it, looked back at Bishop and smiled before mouthing 
  “Need a lift?”
  Bishop raised his arm, and instead of a finger he gave 
  Zero a thumbs-up.  
  RIGGER 5.0
  AIR SUPERIORITY
  94    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  FLYING THE 
  UNFRIENDLY SKIES
  POSTED BY: KANE
  There’s an old military saying: he who controls the air 
  controls the battlefield. Well, modern tech and magic 
  may have something to say about that, but there’s still 
  something to be said about being able to call in air sup-
  port, or even better, fly it in yourself, screaming in out 
  of the sun with weapons hot and blowing the ever-lov-
  ing hell out of some poor unsuspecting bastard. I may 
  be the terror of the seas now, but my first love—other 
  than Kat—is the sky. 
  > 
  And yeah, I’m just a tad bit slotted off that the “trinity” 
  went with some second-rate used-boat salesman for the 
  watercraft section. That’s like trying to cook a pure Angus 
  steak in a microwave.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Wait, what? That doesn’t make … oh forget it.
  > 
  Bull
  Now, some riggers will argue (and they’re wrong) 
  that modern combat drones have rendered manned ae-
  rial combat vehicles obsolete. Well, if that’s true, then 
  tell me why hasn’t it happened yet? Drones are defi-
  nitely handy in a fight, but they’ve got their limitations 
  and weakness. One good hack or a jammed signal and 
  you can say bye-bye to your baby birdy. And speaking 
  of that, don’t get me started on how fragile most aeri-
  al drones are compared to a manned combat vehicle. 
  No, when you need some real hot and heavy close air 
  support, accept no substitutes. A manned craft will likely 
  have more weapons, armor, range, and that oh-so-im-
  portant thing in combat: situational awareness. 
  Now I know that most of you reading this are al-
  ready bitching about how superior drones are or that 
  you aren’t going to be able to get your hands on or 
  even need something as nova-hot as a sixth- or sev-
  enth-generation fighter-bomber. Okay, fair enough. But 
  I’d be willing to bet that a nice helo or LAV may just 
  be the thing to get into (and then out of) some rather 
  sticky situations. Or maybe you need something for a 
  nice long, extended working vacation. Or maybe you 
  just happen to have an omae with a real gunship that 
  can play cavalry for you. 
  Well, whatever your manned aerial needs are, Uncle 
  Kane has complied a quick list of some of the finest ae-
  rial vehicles currently available for some fun shadowy 
  adventures. And instead of just cut-and-pasting some 
  blood-suckin’, boot-licking corporate drone’s sales pitch 
  from a catalogue, I’ll give you the straight scan along 
  with the not-so-humble opinions of some associates of 
  mine, because let’s face it—we don’t have a lot of true 
  combat pilots hanging around here. So consider these 
  Kane-tested and Kane-approved!
  I’ll even act professional. For me. 
  > 
  Not enough true combat pilots? I might actually be 
  offended at that remark if I actually cared about your 
  opinion, Kane. 
  > 
  Rigger X
  HUGHES STALLION WK-4
  (ROTORCRAFT)
  Make no mistake; this is one sweet honey of a whirly-
  bird. The first Stallion flew in 2012 and has been in the 
  air ever since. That should tell you something right 
  there. Sometimes people do realize that if something 
  ain’t broke, don’t fix it! But then, sometimes you can 
  teach old dogs new tricks. 
  The current Stallion model, the WK-4, started rolling 
  off the Hughes assembly lines in late 2072 and has been 
  a big seller ever since. The first production run sold out 
  within a month, forcing Hughes to expand their produc-
  tion lines. It took almost a year to catch up with the back 
  orders, but now the WK-4 is rolling out at a nice steady 
  pace and is slowly replacing the older WK-2 and WK-3 
  models (not that they needed replacing, but newer is al-
  ways better right?). Overall the WK-4 is a slight departure 
  from previous designs. The main rotors on the WK-4 are 
  set farther back and the tail section has been updated. 
  The biggest design changes, however, are the landing 
  skids, which have undergone a major redesign that allows 
  for better landings and reduced drag while in flight. 
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    95
  (order #9639630)
  
  The biggest reason for the Stallion’s success is its 
  versatility. She may not be the best at anything, but 
  the base model is really fragging good at doing a lot of 
  things and is a true (pun intended) workhorse helo. With 
  a few tweaks, the Stallion can be configured to handle 
  just about every known helo job on the planet in a wide 
  variety of environments. This baby practically begs to be 
  hot-rodded! Militaries, corps, governments, and civil-
  ians all over the world use the Stallion in one capacity 
  or another, making it one of the most common aircraft 
  in the sky.
   Another secret of the Stallion’s success is her reli-
  ability. Built with ease of maintenance in mind, Stallions 
  feature multiple redundant systems that help keep the 
  bird in the air when dealing with pesky things like, say, 
  incoming fire. Semi-modular parts and convenient ac-
  cess panels allow mechanics to perform maintenance in 
  roughly three-fourths of the time it would take anoth-
  er bird. It also helps that many parts from older Stallion 
  models are compatible with the WK-4. 
  All this comes in a package that, compared to other 
  birds, won’t break the bank. 
  > 
  My unit got to field-test four enhanced WK-4 prototypes 
  during the war. I can’t say enough about these machines. 
  They took, and dished out, more fire that any aircraft 
  their size had any right to and kept on going. And when 
  other helos were grounded by environmental factors, the 
  Stallions kept flying. All of ours looked like patched-up 
  Swiss cheese by the time we pulled out, but they all flew 
  out of South America under their own power. 
  > 
  Picador 
  > 
  I’m glad they re-designed the landing skids. The WK-2 and 
  -3 were great birds, but landings were hard on that old 
  mainline body central-strut design. If you didn’t perform 
  regular maintenance checks, it wasn’t unheard of for it to 
  fail at the most inopportune time. One of the few problems 
  the older designs had. 
  > 
  Osprey 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  HUGHES STALLION WK-4
  96    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Same about the engine and main rotor placement. The 
  older Stallions flew like a dream, once you learned how 
  to handle them, which was tongue-and-cheekily called 
  “breaking them in” (although if that meant the aircraft or 
  the pilot was up for debate). The WK-4 is a lot more pilot 
  friendly. 
  > 
  Blackhawk
  > 
  I like these things because they’re so damn common—
  they’re like the Ford Americar of the skies. Look up in any 
  given city or sprawl and you’ll likely see a Stallion or two. 
  With a nice forged IFF or paint job, you could fly around 
  all day and no one would look twice at you. Perfect for 
  shadow work. 
  > 
  Pistons
  HUGHES STALLION WK-4 (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  5
  4
  16
  16
  4
  4
  8
  12
  440,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
   
  AZTECHNOLOGY AGULAR 
  GX-2 AND GX-3AT
  (ROTORCRAFT)
  In service for over thirty years, the Agular continues 
  to be the Aztlan military’s premier attack helo and the 
  bane of smugglers, coyotes, or anyone operating ille-
  gally along the Aztlan border. With a ridiculous mix of 
  speed, armor, and firepower, it’s a potent hunter-killer 
  and escort. The Agular often goes to go toe-to-toe with 
  t-birds and even a few fighter-bombers. Popular leg-
  end (or Aztlan propaganda) says that border-jumpers 
  would often cut and run based solely on the number of 
  inbound Agulars.
  And then, Aztechnology upped the ante.
  Just in time for Operations: Marauder and Huntress, 
  Aztechnology rolled out two new designs that quickly 
  made an impression. The first was the GX-2, a modern 
  upgrade on the classic GX chassis. Compared to the 
  original, the GX-2 was even faster and featured SOTA 
  targeting systems and sensors. The second design, -3AT, 
  is basically a flying armored personnel carrier that trades 
  speed for heavier armor and an additional “cabin” in the 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  AZTECHNOLOGY GX-2 AND GX-3AT
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    97
  (order #9639630)
  
  rear of the aircraft that can carry up to eight average-sized 
  metahuman passengers. Both models feature a tradition-
  al two-person cockpit with the pilot seated behind the 
  “gunner”. While the aircraft can be controlled by only one 
  person, the control systems are designed to allow both 
  pilot and gunner to jack into the aircraft at the same time 
  for maximum combat efficiency. Although in an emer-
  gency one can take over for the other, or they can even 
  switch positions. 
  Aesthetically, the GX-2 looks the same as the orig-
  inal GX while the GX-3AT has an enlarged “box” area 
  under the raised engine compartment and before tail 
  section; this is the troop/passenger compartment. 
  After the recent war with Amazonia, Aztlan put sev-
  eral de-weaponized GX-2s and -3ATs on the (semi) 
  open market or sold them to “preferred customers” 
  (read: merc units aligned with Aztlan during the war). 
  While the weapons were removed, the hard points and 
  other systems remained. 
  > 
  I can attest to the Agular’s’ efficiency. During the Battle 
  of Bogotá, the GX-2 and -3AT were a nasty combination. 
  Augmented by spotter drones, the GX-2s struck first, 
  deftly maneuvering between buildings and providing 
  close air support with pinpoint accuracy before darting 
  away before they could be engaged. Meanwhile, the 
  -3ATs came straight in, shrugging off all but the heaviest 
  of fire to deploy troops.
  > 
  Aufheben 
  > 
  It’s miserable riding in the back of the -3AT. It’s extremely 
  cramped (carry eight my hoop), and the engine’s vibration 
  rattles everything while the noise deafens everyone. If 
  you’re going to ride in this beast, use audio dampeners. 
  > 
  Hard Exit
  > 
  According to my sources, there are some back-room deals 
  in the works for the UCAS to purchase both the GX-2 and 
  -3AT and have them assigned to JTF: Seattle as part of a 
  rumored “Denver Response Unit.” And that deal may or 
  may not include a few Aztlan technical advisors to train 
  the new aircrews.
  > 
  Kay St. Irregular
  AGULAR GX-2 (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  7
  5
  20
  16
  4
  5
  2
  28F
  500,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Rigger interface
  AGULAR GX-3AT (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  6
  4
  22
  20
  4
  4
  10
  28F
  550,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Rigger interface
  S-K AEROSPACE SKA-008
  (ROTORCRAFT)
  In early 2074, S-K Aerospace’s newest design burst 
  onto the rotorcraft scene with their out-of-nowhere in-
  troduction of the SKA-008. Described as an “executive 
  security aircraft”, -008s have been quickly rotated into 
  S-K Prime’s aircraft fleet, replacing all other rotorcraft 
  assigned in the executive-protection units. 
  Nicknamed the “Skate”, the -008’s design is sleek 
  and the passenger cabin is extremely plush with the 
  normal host of high-priced amenities befitting a VIP. But 
  don’t make the mistake of thinking this is just a lumber-
  ing, flying limo; the -008 is all business, and that busi-
  ness is keeping VIPs away from or getting them out of 
  trouble. Highly maneuverable and able to turn and land 
  on a dime, the -008 also has a freakishly fast accelera-
  tion profile. Combined with some heavy armor, excel-
  lent ECM, sensors, and a single hard point in the nose 
  for a single retractable heavy weapon mount, the -008 is 
  just about damn near perfect for getting a corporate big 
  shot out of a danger zone. 
  While it’s very good at its intended role, the -008 isn’t 
  without its flaws, and the high performance comes at a 
  price. Like most German-produced products, the -008 
  is extremely over-engineered. Every part, component, 
  plate, and even the rivets are made to ridiculously high 
  specs, making the craft extremely hard to repair, main-
  tain, or modify. The -008 comes as-is and usually stays 
  that way unless you want to put some serious work into it. 
  > 
  Yeah, to hot-rod this bird, add an extra five to eight hours 
  to the job because the internals are fragging tight. And 
  make sure you know what you’re doing, because working 
  on this thing is like messing with the innards of a Swiss 
  watch. I’ve heard of several aero-techs who’ve fragged up 
  royally repairing Skates, with the pilots and passengers 
  paying the price. Needless to say, their superiors were 
  less than pleased. 
  > 
  Airman Al
  > 
  The design was rushed into service. The airframes and 
  flight systems haven’t gotten the normal shakedown 
  period other designs get. Reports are filtering in that 
  during rapid egress maneuvers, the rotor assemblies 
  are being stressed beyond original specs. A lot of the 
  first production run Skates were grounded pending a 
  full maintenance check. If you get one, quadruple the 
  diagnostics. Despite this, when Skates are in good shape, 
  they’re absolutely wiz!
  > 
  Blackhawk
  > 
  Huh, you would expect something like this from someone 
  like say, Ares, not S-K. I wonder who got fed to the boss-
  dragon. 
  > 
  Cosmo 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  98    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  On another note, current S-K protocol dictates that each 
  “Skate” carries no more than three VIPs/principles to 
  allow a minimum six-person security detail and two door 
  gunners. Yeah, this may be hard to modify, but slapping a 
  few slings or gyro-mounts out the side doors is still easy. 
  > 
  OrkCEO 
  S-K AEROSPACE SKA-008 (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  6
  5
  8
  16
  18
  4
  4
  12
  24R 
  525,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Rigger interface
  Note
  When modifying/customizing this aircraft, raise the 
  threshold by 2 on all Extended Tests. Any critical 
  glitch during this test results in damage to the aircraft. 
  DASSAULT SEA SPRITE
  (ROTORCRAFT)
  When Dassault first tried to break into the rotorcraft 
  market in late 2052, it was met with a lot of general 
  apathy because none of their early designs stood out. 
  For years that branch of the company floundered and 
  was almost shut down until the introduction of the Sea 
  Sprite in 2060.  
  An all-weather tilt-rotor search-and-rescue craft pri-
  marily used for long-range or maritime operations, the 
  Sea Sprite is more commonly and affectionately known 
  as the Sea Angel. In 2062, it gained worldwide recogni-
  tion when Sea Sprites were prominently featured during 
  rescue and relief efforts after the Yucatan earthquakes. 
  Because of the exposure (and a massive marketing blitz 
  by Dassault), militaries and rescue agencies from around 
  the world quickly placed orders. By 2064, Sea Sprites 
  were a common sight over oceans and other waterways. 
  Known for being an extremely stable platform, the 
  Sprite’s most distinguishing features are the inverted gull-
  wings that can raise the wingtip engines high above the 
  airframe during hovering or low-level flight. This allows 
  for greater rotor clearance, the advanced turbo-prop en-
  gines, and overall aircraft stability during rescue opera-
  tions. In certain weather conditions (read: calm), the Sea 
  Sprite is able to land directly on the water. In horizontal 
  flight, the wings assume a more traditional flight profile, 
  allowing the Sea Sprite to rapidly respond to emergen-
  cies. Also featured are two rescue winches, one aft just 
  above the rear retracting boarding ramp and a second 
  one at the starboard waist door. 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  S-K AEROSPACE SKA-008
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    99
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  The Sea Angel is good at what she does; “all weather” 
  is an understatement. I’ve personally seen one of these 
  things brave category four hurricanes. The cabin was nice 
  and warm when they pulled me out. Last time I take a boat 
  ride through the Carib League. 
  > 
  Traveler Jones. 
  > 
  Not just for search-and-rescue, the CAS especially 
  likes to arm them for interdiction duty. Designated 
  “Archangels,” these birds operate with drone support, 
  but the biggest threat are the aerial gunners who 
  use assault cannons or anti-material rifles to tag the 
  engines of suspicious watercraft. Then they deploy an 
  inflatable craft for a nice “safety inspection.” Of course, 
  they’ve never tagged me. *grin*. 
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  A lot of Aztlan and Carib smugglers are buying Sprites 
  through back channels and are putting CAS Navy/Coast 
  Guard markings on them. If you try this, make sure your 
  forged IFF codes are good or have a good hacker. 
  > 
  Marcos
  > 
  Sea Sprites operate best in open areas. Those lovely 
  wings are very large and could cause problems in more 
  cramped, urban environments. Plan accordingly. 
  > 
  Al Dhibi  
  DASSAULT SEA SPRITE (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  4
  3
  18
  12
  3
  5
  14
  18R
  400,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Rescue winches (x2)
  FEDERATED-BOEING  
  PBY-70 “CATALINA II”
  (AMPHIBIOUS FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT)
  At first glance, the PBY-70 looks like a throwback that 
  belongs in a museum rather than flying in the Sixth 
  World. But this bird, to paraphrase an older flat-vid 
  movie, has “got it where it counts.”
  In 2050, the Catalina II began as a personal resto-
  ration project of F-B’s top aeronautics engineer. Using 
  the latest technologies of the time, he completely re-
  stored an old WWII Catalina PBY like a classic car, but 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  DASSAULT SEA SPRITE
  100    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  with a few upgrades. In 2059, F-B’s then-owner/CEO 
  found out about the project and asked for a demon-
  stration. Impressed, he decided to give rival Fiat-Fokker 
  (with their classic Cloud-9) a run for their money in the 
  amphibious aircraft market and authorized the PBY-70 
  project.  
  The first new aircraft took to the skies in 2065 and 
  went into limited production in 2070, with full produc-
  tion beginning in 2075. 
  Outwardly, the Catalina II looks almost exactly like 
  its predecessor, except that it boasts modern turbo-prop 
  engines and is approximately twenty percent larger. 
  While the prop engines make it markedly slower than 
  similar jet-powered aircraft, the Catalina II makes up for 
  it in range. The large wings enables the Catalina to glide 
  and cruise at mid-to-high altitude on only one engine, 
  drastically reducing fuel consumption. Other features 
  include a small but comfortable cabin with modular cots 
  to accommodate a variety of metahuman sizes (three 
  humans is standard) and a sizable cargo compartment 
  that can double as a passenger area (six average meta-
  humans). Just the thing for long working vacations. 
   For defense, the Catalina has three “gunner” posi-
  tions at the nose and two at the waist, along with two 
  hard points on each wing. And because she won’t break 
  any speed records, she also boasts a powerful ECM/
  ECCM unit to help deal with pesky things like missiles. 
  > 
  They also copied the interior of the old PBY closely 
  enough that the old radio operator/navigator position is 
  there. A couple of chummers of mine who started flying 
  Catalina IIs use them as decker or secondary drone rigger 
  positions. 
  > 
  Blackhawk
  > 
  Or gunner. Even though it’s relatively new, the rigger/
  smuggler communities are taking to the Catalina like flies 
  on drek. I’ve already heard of the different ways this bird 
  has been modified, like mounting M/HMGs in all the gun 
  turrets and putting rockets pods on the wings. Another 
  went ECM and drone heavy with a decker and drone 
  rigger tag-teaming. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 
  Who knows the different ways this bird will be rigged in 
  the next few years?
  > 
  Airman Al
  > 
  Some prefer to let the crew operate the guns manually in 
  the turrets like it was still 1945. I like my retro-fantasies as 
  much as the next slag, but when it hits the fan, I want the 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  FEDERATED-BOEING PBY-70A
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    101
  (order #9639630)
  
  maximum accuracy only an RCC can give. Anything else 
  is just stupid. 
  > 
  Clockwork  
  > 
  For those like me who’re of a larger stature, moving 
  between compartments can be a bit tight, but no worse 
  than an average building. The compartments themselves 
  aren’t too bad, and if you take out the other cots, the bunk 
  area is quite comfortable. 
  > 
  Beaker
  > 
  If you’re going to get one, do it soon. Sales are slowly 
  increasing, and the first production runs are almost gone. 
  If popularity and word-of-mouth continues, some corp(s) 
  or government(s) will likely put in a bulk order, creating a 
  massive back-order backlog. Or Fiat-Fokker may decide to 
  try and disrupt the line, because we all know something 
  like that never happens. 
  > 
  Kane
  FED-BOEING PBY-70 CATALINA II (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  3
  3
  22
  14
  3
  4
  16
  12
  250,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Heavy weapon mounts (nose, right/left waist)
  AIRBUS “LIFT-TICKET” 
  ALS-699
  (HEAVY ROTORCRAFT)
  The direct competitor to the Ares Dragon, the ALS-699 
  is the latest model of a very successful dual-rotor heavy 
  lift utility helo design. Despite being considered inferior 
  (although it’s debatable) to the Dragon in terms of lifting 
  capacity, the aircraft still had (and continues to have) a 
  significant production run in Europe, where it nearly out-
  sold the Dragon.
  The original model, the ALS-690 and its successor 
  the ALS-694, saw extensive action during the Euro Wars, 
  transporting heavy equipment, supplies, artillery, and 
  vehicles directly to the front lines throughout the Euro-
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  AIRBUS ‘LIFT TICKET’ ALS-699
  102    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  pean Theater. European commanders loved the aircraft 
  for its ability to travel long distances and stability while 
  crossing pesky obstacles such as mountain ranges. It 
  was also easy to maintain and modify for various other 
  jobs such as search and rescue and vehicle recovery. 
  The newest version, the -699, has the same heavy 
  lifting capabilities as its predecessors but comes with 
  fully modern systems. In terms of lifting, the advanced 
  turbo-shaft engines allow for a maximum load of 16,000 
  kg. This can be accomplished through the four auto-de-
  ployable, high-tensile magnetic grapple cables (or stan-
  dard cable/hooks) that come standard, or on a modular 
  cargo pod similar to the one on the Dragon. 
  Despite its outstanding performance and capabil-
  ities, the Lift-Ticket has never been able to fully shake 
  the stigma of being inferior to the Ares Dragon. This 
  is in large part because no other aircraft, including the 
  Lift-Ticket, has been able to break the Dragon’s aerial 
  lifting record, which Ares marketing likes to remind the 
  world of every chance it gets. To help combat this, Air-
  bus often undercuts Ares by selling the Lift-Ticket at a 
  lower price, even if it means taking a hit in overall profits. 
  > 
  Yes, but they make their money back with upgrade 
  packages and parts. Still a very good deal.
  > 
  Al Dhibi
  > 
  Okay, so why’s it called the Lift-Ticket? Seems like a goofy 
  name for an aircraft. 
  > 
  Chainmaker
  > 
  The original designer was a Swiss national who loved 
  skiing. No big mystery here. 
  > 
  Glitch  
  > 
  The Lift-Ticket is a common sight among mercenary groups 
  who purchased surplus aircraft after the Euro Wars. With a 
  quick upgrade package offered by Airbus, older -694s were 
  quickly brought up to -699 specs. Unless a tech checks the 
  production ID numbers, you can’t tell the difference.
  > 
  Picador  
  > 
  With Ares’ recent quality control problems, Dragon sales 
  have also begun to slip. It didn’t help when three Dragons 
  crashed in Morocco six months ago during humanitarian 
  mission to the Western Sahara region and the cause was 
  ruled “faulty rotor assemblies.” Airbus, among others, 
  was quick to jump on that little tidbit.
  > 
  Mr. Bonds 
  > 
  I’ve flown the Lift-Ticket for years and this talk of it being 
  inferior to the Dragon is pure bulldrek. Yeah, the Dragon 
  out-lifted the Ticket in competitions, but have you ever 
  seen a max-loaded Dragon move? It’s like a pig in slop! 
  The -699 can carry up to eighty-five percent of its max 
  payload weight, with minimal loss in performance. Put the 
  same load on a Dragon and watch it do nothing more than 
  limp along. That little fact Ares doesn’t like to advertise. 
  Real-world performance trumps marketing every time. 
  > 
  Airman Al
  > 
  What world do you live in?
  > 
  Aufheben
  > 
  Not too long ago, during a job in LA, my team and I 
  attempted an exfiltration through the sunken remnants of 
  Downtown via speedboat. Well things didn’t go as planned, 
  and the local law was hot on our heels. After nine-hours of 
  playing cat and mouse, my rigger calls a local buddy of his. 
  She saved our collective hoops by swooping in with her 
  Lift-Ticket, using small drones to attach the magnetic cables 
  directly to the boat, and then carries us away while under 
  heavy fire. Damn, what a wild ride. 
  > 
  DangerSensei 
  AIRBUS “LIFT-TICKET” ALS-669 (ROTORCRAFT)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  3
  3
  16
  12
  3
  4
  5
  14
  325,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Retractable magnetic grapple lines (x4), standard 
  grapple lines (x4)
  GMC GRYPHON
  (V/STOL)
  To make them more viable in the cutthroat markets, en-
  gineers often try to design aircraft, especially LAVs/t-
  birds, with at least some versatility in mind. But the de-
  signers of the Gryphon went in the opposite direction, 
  which resulted in one of the most lethal purpose-built 
  combat aircraft in recent years. 
  Simply put, the Gryphon is a pure gunship. 
  The Gryphon’s design lineage is one of GMC’s most 
  closely guarded secrets, but a few details have leaked 
  out over the years. At first glance, many think of it as 
  nothing more than an amped-up Harpy Scout, but the 
  opposite is true. During initial testing, the Gryphon’s air-
  frame seemed to be too unstable and the flight control 
  systems inadequate. Out of ten testbeds, seven crashed 
  or suffered massive system failures on the ground. With 
  the project going way over budget, GMC scrapped it. 
  However, the frame was re-tooled and the internal sys-
  tems re-designed, resulting in the Harpy Scout. 
  Approximately five years later, the Gryphon’s chief 
  project manager was uncovered as an Aztechnology 
  mole and saboteur. With the mole gone, engineers re-
  visited the project and discovered that all the initial dif-
  ficulties were the result of sabotage and false data, not 
  design flaws. So the project was reinstated.
  Not much more needs to be said about the Gryphon. 
  It’s fast, maneuverable, rugged, armored, packs the lat-
  est in sensor/ECM suites, and it has more weapon hard 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    103
  (order #9639630)
  
  points that any other combat aircraft in its class. Other 
  than a pilot and gunner, it doesn’t carry any passengers 
  or drones. Because of its massive engines, any room left 
  in the fuselage is usually taken up by fuel tanks and am-
  munition bins. In combat, Gryphons usually just over-
  whelm their targets with sheer firepower. 
  This is one t-bird you do not want to have coming 
  after you. 
  > 
  The Gryphon is a terror in the skies, but it’s expensive 
  and a gas-hog. This is not a t-bird you’ll see on any long-
  distance strikes or escort missions unless it has a refueling 
  aircraft or drones accompanying it. Drop tanks are often 
  used to help offset this, but they take up valuable weapon 
  space.
  > 
  Osprey
  > 
  In military operations, Gryphons are often used 
  defensively as interceptors tasked with taking out the 
  close air support of their enemies or defending staging 
  areas/bases. Their tactics are simple: move in fast, take out 
  the target, and get out. 
  > 
  Blackhawk
  > 
  That’s great for military operations, but a lot of corporate 
  security forces make use of them, too. MCT for example, 
  likes to keep a few near their more valuable facilities. In 
  this situation, the range problem is rendered moot. 
  > 
  Rigger X
  > 
  This is one of those craft that is dubious for use by 
  shadowrunners (Kane notwithstanding)—more likely 
  will be used against us. Sure, you’d have a metric ton of 
  firepower at your disposal, but I doubt this thing is very 
  subtle, and it will attract a whole lot of unwanted attention. 
  Good to have the paydata on it, but not very practical for 
  running. 
  > 
  Danger Sensei
  > 
  Come on Sensei, you should know better than that. 
  Sometimes a run calls for finesse, but other times it calls 
  for blowing the ever-loving hell out of something. And this 
  would be the t-bird to do it. Sometimes the right tool for 
  the job is a big gun(s).
  > 
  Hard Exit 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  GMC GRYPHON
  104    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Hey, does anyone have any data regarding the firewalls on 
  this thing? A decker pal of mine hacked a t-bird a couple of 
  years ago, not a Gryphon but a Banshee I think, and I want 
  to see if I can one-up him! All that armor and weapons 
  don’t mean squat if it’s hacked. DANCE PUPPET!!!
  > 
  /dev/grrl
    
  GMC GRYPHON (V/STOL)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  8
  7
  24
  24
  4
  5
  2
  28F
  3,200,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Heavy Weapon Mount (nose, left wing, right wing) 
  Rigger Interface
  EVO-KRIME  
  “KRIME WING”
  (V/STOL)
  What do you get when one of the premier aerospace 
  firms in the world teams up with a small-time renegade 
  company famous for making weapons specifically de-
  signed for *cough* “larger metahumans”? First, you 
  get a lot of people who say something like: What the 
  frag possessed them to do something like that? And then 
  you get something like the Krime Wing.
  Apparently the idea for this t-bird came about when 
  a group of drunken Evo junior execs on a bar crawl found 
  themselves in an establishment that just happened to be 
  the local favorite of Krime employees. By some miracle, 
  the patrons (mostly trolls) decided not to stomp the Evo 
  execs into paste. This was most likely because one of 
  the execs deployed the greatest weapon at his disposal 
  to prevent said pasting: his corporate expense account. 
  Thousands of nuyen in drinks later (this was a bar full of 
  trolls after all), the fragile execs were back at their hotel.  
  When their supervisor invoiced their expenditures, 
  the execs covered their hoops by claiming it was a 
  planned business meeting with Krime. When said su-
  pervisor called them on their bulldrek, the execs went 
  back to Krime to try to cover their hoops. But instead of 
  a cover-up, the Evo execs walked out with an idea for a 
  new t-bird design that fit within Krime’s line of products. 
  Basically, Krime “persuaded” the execs into helping 
  them build a t-bird for trolls. Even funnier was the fact 
  that the project actually became a winner!
  A niche aircraft in a niche market, the Krime Wing 
  looks like a (slightly) scaled-down cargo plane with the 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  EVO-KRIME ‘KRIME WING’
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    105
  (order #9639630)
  
  wings removed and massive engines attached. Despite 
  its size, its performance profile and general load-out is 
  on par with other t-birds, such as the GMC Banshee. The 
  big selling point of the Krime Wing is the sheer amount 
  of interior space it has compared other t-birds. This also 
  translates into a lot more cargo and passenger space 
  than most t-birds. While originally designed for trolls, 
  many Krime Wings have been purchased by non-trolls 
  who are looking to take advantage of the craft’s size and 
  carrying capacity; although they’ll have to downgrade 
  the internal accommodations first. 
  > 
  Despite what marketing departments say, all Krime did 
  was give some general specs and put their name on 
  the product. Engineers from Evo subsidiary Yamatetsu 
  Naval Technologies did most of the design, R&D, and 
  manufacturing. Still, it works because Evo gets an opening 
  into a new market (and “edgy” demographic) while Krime 
  gets to say they designed a t-bird. 
  > 
  2XL
  > 
  Last week the Black Forest Troll Kingdom, Evo, and Krime 
  closed a joint manufacturing deal. Various products, 
  including the Krime Wing, will now be produced in the 
  Kingdom. 
  > 
  Mr. Bonds 
  > 
  Sorry, but the Krime Wing is a gimmick, nothing more. 
  There’re a lot better t-birds out there. So unless you like 
  flying bricks, look somewhere else. 
  > 
  Rigger X 
  > 
  Look, the Krime Wing is proof that if you put enough 
  thrust on it, even a brick will fly, but it’s able to achieve 
  a t-bird performance profile is still fragging good. I know 
  a lot of smugglers who use that massive cargo capacity 
  for many things, like converting it into a massive drone 
  carrier. Use some imagination. 
  > 
  Clockwork
  > 
  No wonder you like it. 
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  I’ll take function over form every time. And yes, I have one 
  converted to a drone carrier—a massive drone carrier. 
  This thing as room to spare, it’s like a flying RV and semi-
  truck all rolled into one. And with a few key mods, I dare 
  anyone to take a shot at me.
  > 
  Clockwork
  > 
  Don’t tempt me.
  > 
  Netcat 
  > 
  Still, the Krime Wing is better suited to a flat-out run at 
  full throttle than trying any kind of tight turn. Getting 
  that much mass to pull off a high-g maneuver is like 
  trying to drive a bus in the Monaco Grand Prix. Still, 
  she’s a decent craft, if you know now to handle her; she 
  can be a harsh mistress. 
  > 
  Osprey
  EVO-KRIME “KRIME WING” (V/STOL)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  6
  5
  22
  18
  4
  5
  10 (20)
  24F
  2,275,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Metahuman customization (troll)
  Note
  Smaller figure is for trolls, larger figure is for human-
  sized occupants. For mixed groups, trolls take two 
  human-sized seats
  LUFTSHIFFBAU PERSONAL 
  ZEPPELIN LZP-2070
  (LTA VEHICLE)
  In an era of super-fast … everything, zeppelins maintain 
  a relative level of popularity despite their perceived 
  shortcomings. While the majority of these lifting bod-
  ies are for commercial use, transporting bulk goods 
  cross-country, there’s still a demand for personal LTAs 
  (lighter than air vehicles). And with demand, there’s 
  supply. This is the case for the LZP-2070. 
  Considered a middle-of-the-road design, the LZP 
  gets little fanfare but still manages to achieve decent 
  sales through mostly customer word-of-mouth. Those 
  who’ve purchased the LZP have given the craft nothing 
  but positive feedback, citing ease of operation, durabili-
  ty, and a price that’s relatively easy on the credit balance.
  Nothing more than a lifting body (a.k.a. the balloon) 
  and a small control cabin, the LZP-2070 has become a 
  popular aerial transport in both urban and rural areas. As 
  long as you don’t need to get somewhere in a hurry, the 
  LZP is for you. 
  Besides being a personal leisure craft, the LZP has 
  been pressed into service with various security and 
  law-enforcement companies as a mobile observation 
  and airborne control posts, coordinating drone and ve-
  hicle patrols in their assigned sectors. In this role, the 
  LZPs are often given upgraded sensor and communica-
  tion systems. A few are even known to be armed, but the 
  relatively fragile craft usually avoids combat as much as 
  possible. 
  > 
  Okay, Kane, spill. How in the seven hells did this make 
  your list of “finest aerial vehicles”? You got some kind of 
  super-hyped up combat balloon that takes out jet fighters 
  with a laser you boosted or something? 
  > 
  Bull
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  106    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Would you believe that Kat and I simply like to take the 
  LZP on romantic moonlit flights along the beach? I’m 
  actually quite the romantic soul didn’t’cha know. 
  > 
  Kane 
  > 
  Normally I’d call bulldrek on this, but then you did hire an 
  army and invaded Aztlan to save Kat so there’s that. But 
  now that I think about it, I don’t know which one is scarier, 
  the pirate or the romantic. 
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  You should read some of my love poetry. Let me give you 
  a sample. *ahem* There once was a elf from Nantucket 
  <.23 mp deleted by SYSOP>
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  Sometimes I’m really happy that I have powers I can 
  abuse.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  This actually has a lot of run potential. Yeah, you won’t 
  be using it for a hot extraction or fire support, but 
  with its popularity and the fact that you can find it just 
  about everywhere, it makes a great vehicle for covert 
  observation and legwork. You go flying around in this, and 
  no one is going to look twice at you. 
  > 
  Danger Sensei
  > 
  It also comes with a very good autopilot system, and 
  combined with the right drones this could make a decent 
  flying command center, allowing the rigger to concentrate 
  on the drones and not flying the aircraft. Sometimes you 
  can’t get to the target at ground level and the only way to 
  go is up.
  > 
  Rigger X
  > 
  You sure? One good shot from anything larger than a 
  heavy pistol is gonna take this thing down. Better think 
  way ahead and have a lot of backup in case things go 
  south, because you are not getting away in a hurry. 
  > 
  Stone
  > 
  Like any runner’s tool, use the right one for the right job. 
  I’ve seen these used on runs before, both properly and 
  improperly. I know of a team who used it as a mobile 
  sniper’s position to great effect, taking out targets from 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  LUFTSHIFFBAU PERSONAL ZEPPELIN LZP-2070
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    107
  (order #9639630)
  
  a half-kilometer away. Another time, they used it as a 
  massive area jammer and packed it with explosives. 
  When their pursuit tried to, well, pursue, they got a nasty 
  surprise when the hydrogen tanks went off. But then I’ve 
  also seen runners try to use this as a getaway vehicle. 
  Glad I opted out of that run. Heard later that team didn’t 
  make it. Big surprise. 
  > 
  2XL 
  LUFTSHIFFBAU LZP-2070 (LTA VEHICLE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  2
  3
  12
  6
  5
  4
  6
  12
  85,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  —
  RENEGADE WORKS 
  “MOTHERSHIP” LAVH
  (CUSTOM LTA)
  The LAVH is one of those aeronautical oddities that 
  doesn’t fit very well into a particular category but rath-
  er blurs the lines between a couple. LAVH stands for: 
  Lighter than Air Vehicle Harness. That’s right; the Moth-
  ership isn’t a vehicle per se, but an add-on. 
  The LAVH is the brainchild of an underground group 
  of riggers and techs who call themselves Renegade 
  Works. They first started working on the Mothership 
  concept two years ago when a smuggler associate 
  came to them, looking for a way to extend the range of 
  his t-bird. At first they considered using multiple custom 
  drop tanks, but that concept proved too cumbersome for 
  the aircraft and actually strained the engines and other 
  flight systems. The techs were at a loss until one of them 
  (reportedly after smoking some good deepweed) made 
  the comment, “We’ve been trying to attach more stuff to 
  the bird—what if we attach the bird to more stuff?”
  The rest is history. 
  Designed specifically to help t-bird pilots extend the 
  range of their craft by attaching an oversimplified zeppe-
  lin frame to it, the idea behind the Mothership is a simple 
  one. The LAVH attaches to said t-bird, and both take off 
  like a normal LAV. The t-bird is uses the LAV’s power and 
  fuel to carry it over long distances. Once they reach their 
  destination (or once some emergency occurs), the t-bird 
  simply powers up its engines and the two separate. The 
  Mothership can remain in the area to await the t-bird’s 
  return or head to another location. 
  A cross between a stripped-down LAV and a large 
  drone, the Mothership looks like a flying frame with 
  engines, fuel tanks, grappling arms/struts, and other 
  necessary components attached to the lifting body. It 
  also comes with a small one-person command pod with 
  standard rigger controls so that the craft can be piloted 
  directly with those controls. During normal operations, 
  the Mothership is controlled via the carried aircraft 
  through either a standard wireless connection, or a cus-
  tom direct link through a fiber-optic cable. When the two 
  aircraft separate, the cable simply detaches and remains 
  with the Mothership. 
  For a more covert transport experience, Renegade 
  Works offers a custom faux cargo container with re-
  mote-triggered blast-away panels for quick egress (ad-
  ditional cost: 1,000 nuyen). Getting a hold of a Mother-
  ship can be a bit tricky, as Renegade Works isn’t exactly 
  a legit business with a manufacturing facility. Currently, 
  they only take orders through word of mouth or refer-
  ence. You’ll need a good point of contact to be able to 
  put in a reference. And even then don’t expect a very 
  rapid response; each Mothership LAVH is handmade. 
    
  > 
  Interesting concept, I can see how this would be useful, 
  but here’s the question: Does it work and how well?
  > 
  Orbital DK
  > 
  Renegade Works has been producing them slowly but 
  steadily over the past few years, giving them to trusted 
  associates for field tests. They have a solid rep in the 
  black markets, and the Mothership is gaining popularity 
  within t-bird circles. I got mine last year and used it quite 
  frequently. The flight systems and vehicle interfaces are 
  top notch, but the one concern I had were the grappling 
  arms that hold a t-bird in place. The struts were solid and 
  hold firm, but I recommend checking them frequently for 
  fatigue. Flying in calm skies isn’t a problem, but don’t 
  try flying it in bad weather. Also, if you use the cargo 
  container, make sure you check the explosive bolts. I have 
  heard that if not used, they need to be replaced every six 
  to eight months or so. 
  > 
  Blackhawk 
  > 
  Renegade also highly recommends that coupling the 
  two aircraft together be done on the ground only. Mid-
  air coupling is possible, but often tricky. I know a t-bird 
  jock who tried a mid-air link last month and ended up a 
  fireball. If you got the time, do it safely.
  > 
  Osprey
  > 
  So what do we know about Renegade Works? I’ve never 
  heard of them before.
  > 
  Mika
  > 
  Unless you’re a rigger or smuggler, that’s not surprising. 
  They’re a co-op of riggers and like-minded tech-heads 
  who used to go by the collective handle of “the Garage.” 
  Until two years ago, they were based out of Detroit until 
  Knight Errant got tired of their shenanigans and field tests 
  up and down Interstate 75 and finally shut down their 
  warehouses and shops. Those who avoided the dragnet 
  set up shop elsewhere. I won’t say where because it’s a 
  trade secret, and I like my relationship with them. They’ll 
  customize just about any vehicle out there, but a few of 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  108    >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  the techs have been focused on aircraft mods. They’re a 
  bit eccentric to say the least, but they do top-notch work. If 
  you ever need a point of contact, let me know. If you want 
  a Mothership or any other of their products, they deliver. 
  But right now there is a massive backlog. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Okay, I got an odd question. If the Mothership can handle 
  a t-bird, is it also able to carry other vehicles like, say, a car 
  or van?
  > 
  Treadle 
  > 
  Sure. Just pray the support struts hold out or you don’t 
  get intercepted at altitude. 
  > 
  Airman Al 
  > 
  Be careful operating Motherships around the Sioux 
  border. The SDF has gotten wind of them and are starting 
  to inspect all incoming LAV traffic a bit more thoroughly. 
  I’ve heard that a number of t-bird jocks have punched out 
  and left their new toys behind. 
  > 
  Mika
  > 
  Cost of doing business, chummer. 
  > 
  Blackhawk 
  “MOTHERSHIP” LAVH
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  3
  3
  10
  5
  3
  4
  1*
  24R
  50,000¥
  Std. 
  Equipment
  Metahuman customization (troll)
  Note
  When two aircraft are connected, default to 
  Mothership stats. Can only control Mothership 
  directly from command cabin, otherwise must use 
  remote/direct interface. 
  To obtain a Mothership, players will need or have 
  access to (through another player for example) a 
  contact with an appropriate contact-type (rigger, 
  smuggler, black marketer, fence, etc.) with a 
  Connection Rating of 4 or higher.
  *For command cabin only
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  “MOTHERSHIP” LAVH
  >> AIR SUPERIORITY <<    109
  (order #9639630)
  
  “I trust the remainder of your team accepts my offer,” Mr. 
  Johnson said flatly.
  Get smiled. “They wouldn’t send me in to negotiate if they 
  didn’t.”
  Mr. Johnson had already questioned why the team’s rig-
  ger was doing the meet. It wasn’t a direct question, Johnsons 
  were rarely direct until it was time to screw you over. Instead 
  he simply asked where Tact was and then accepted Get’s an-
  swer with a predatory smile. Get wasn’t a skilled negotiator, 
  and he knew the Johnson had gotten the better end of the 
  deal for the price of a five-man team. But Get wasn’t part of 
  a five-man team today; he was one man, with a wide array of 
  skills and drones to cover any job some other runner might 
  do. Except for negotiating. He hadn’t found a good negotia-
  tions drone yet. Yet.
  The best part wasn’t even the money. It was nice that it 
  was all his, and though he’d probably lose a drone or two—
  he usually did—the pay was plenty to replace those he lost. 
  No, the best part was not having to deal with the drama of a 
  bunch of other runners. Posturing for alpha, divvying the pay 
  unevenly because the mage always thought they deserved 
  more, testing the face to make sure he hadn’t skimmed a little 
  extra for himself, dealing with some drama or another caused 
  by the street razor because karma was catching up with their 
  murderous ways. None of it. None of that bullshit. Get was 
  alpha, Get got all the money, and Get knew all his own drama. 
  “Well then. We are agreed. Your upfront payment is avail-
  able now. The remainder will be paid upon delivery of the 
  item. Good luck to you and your team.” 
  Get’s reply was a quick, “Thanks!” It was all he had time 
  for before Mr. Johnson stepped back out into the dimly lit bar. 
  Alone in the back room, Get pulled up diagnostics for all 
  of his active drones and lined them up along the right side of 
  his AR window based on altitude. Every one was green across 
  the board despite the local interference. Thanks to his scrub-
  ber program, the Vulcan’s premium CleanAir technology, and 
  the filtration hardware in the Transys datajack, the signal for 
  even his farthest drone was perfect. At the top of the ARO 
  stack, and over a kilometer overhead, was the center of Get’s 
  network, a modified Aerodesign Systems Condor LBSD-41. 
  The mini-blimp was based on the old and sturdy frame, but all 
  of the internals had been updated based on Get’s own per-
  sonal design specs. The systems weren’t milspec, but they 
  were better than anything you could buy and he never had 
  issues with compatibility or corpsec backdoors. 
  Early in his career Get had learned that lesson the hard 
  way. He hadn’t earned the grease behind his ears and took a 
  stock MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone on a job inside MCT property. 
  ONE RIG TO 
  RULE THEM ALL
  110    >> ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  When the drek hit the fan, the local combat decker slipped 
  a simple shutdown command through the backdoor. Get 
  watched the Roto-Drone autorotate back to the ground right 
  in front of the security force leapfrogging up to push his team 
  out. To rub some salt in the wound, one of the guards even 
  used the drone as cover for a moment and gave the blades a 
  little spin as he moved away.
  Get had learned a lot since then.
  He issued a command series to the Condor to get it under-
  way. It wasn’t fast, and it would take a while for it to get to the 
  target location. He needed his hub in place ASAP—Get wasn’t 
  wasting time getting started on this op. The commands would 
  bring the Condor closer to the nearest dronestream, where it 
  would drop the sneaky ninja act and slide into the flow as 
  an advertising mini-blimp. Wing’s Asian Take-out would get a 
  little extra advertising tonight. 
  Once the commands were set, the ARO slid over to the 
  left. As it slipped into virtual place two bars—one green, 
  one blue—popped up next to it. Green was a status bar that 
  warned Get of any issues the drone was having so he could 
  check it out and maybe jump in to get it out of trouble. The 
  blue bar was already getting smaller as it represented the 
  progress of the Condor on its commands. It would flash once 
  it got close to completion. 
  Next up for commands was the third icon down his right-
  side AROs. Numbers one and two were custom MCT-Nissan 
  Roto-Drones located inside number three, a GMC Bulldog 
  kitted for drone hauling. The GMC had a half-dozen other 
  drones inside, but none of them were currently active. Get 
  logged commands for the Bulldog to get underway, park on 
  the top floor of a garage a block from the target location, and 
  activate three more of the drones it was carrying: a Dober-
  man, a Crawler, and a Fly-Spy. 
  After only two minutes, Get had commands out through 
  his rig to a dozen drones as he dropped into the driver’s seat 
  of the Americar he had rented when he first got to the island. 
  The vehicle wasn’t rigger friendly, but that was fine, Get en-
  joyed some manual operation every once in a while. Soon 
  enough he’d leave this car behind and start the job in ear-
  nest, but for the next twenty minutes, he focused on the road 
  ahead and drove the old-fashioned way.  
  ✖
  The sensation was similar to zero-g, but Get knew gravity was 
  there. He was just lighter than air. Air that held a bit of a chill 
  at his current elevation of 964.25 meters. It was 8.3 degrees 
  cooler up here than at the ground. Temperatures varied all 
  >> ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL <<    111
  BY SCOTT SCHLETZ
  (order #9639630)
  
  over Get’s vision. The land was still warm, even hours after 
  the sun had set. Spots of intense heat showed the locations 
  of lights along the streets that warm blobs glided along. A few 
  bright areas flickered—fires or tiki torches at the resort. The 
  waterfront was a shimmering mix of cool water pulling heat 
  from hot sand with each crashing wave. A line of hot blobs 
  zipped along in the space between Get and the ground, cre-
  ating a river of warmer air with their exhaust and motor heat. 
  Get reached up and pulled the overlay back into his view. 
  It was thrilling to take some time to get the full feeling of be-
  ing the Condor almost a kilometer above San Juan, but work 
  called. The overlay added all of his currently active drones to 
  his field of view. He now had nine icons on the right side of 
  the screen, each with a thin line connected to a matching icon 
  in his field of view. Several were so close together the icons 
  overlapped at this distance. Though distance was irrelevant 
  with his current eyes. He did a flash zoom and made sure 
  things were five by five in the overlaps. Years of experience 
  taught the double-check, and it paid off. Get sent a quick 
  command to move the microskimmer. Its final position only 
  shifted by two meters, but it stayed out of sight by gliding 
  along the wall and around to the other side instead of go-
  ing over. That little hiccup wouldn’t have ruined the op, but it 
  could have started it all off on the wrong foot. 
  With that one move, everything was in place. It was time 
  for Get to conduct the symphony.
  ✖
  Get’s VR persona, a symphony conductor with airman’s gog-
  gles on his forehead, permanently grease-stained fingers, 
  and vintage Wolverine work boots, sat in the high-backed 
  chair that represented the center of operations for his Vulcan 
  Liegelord. He knew other riggers often customized their cap-
  tain’s chair mode, but Get didn’t find it necessary. He spent 
  most of his time jumped in and using the Condor to feed him 
  overall tactical data while he enjoyed the sensations of real 
  rigging. While his persona was that of a conductor, he was 
  more like first chair for every instrument. 
  Next up was a little piccolo. 
  ✖
  Zipping around through the air was exhilarating. His back 
  hummed with the beating of his tiny wings as he dipped and 
  dodged around the various shorts-clad tourists of San Juan’s 
  Condado district. He avoided several swatting hands as he 
  buzzed past ears just for the fun of it, and then quickly chas-
  tised himself for risking the job. Get was currently in his most 
  fragile drone, an MCT Fly-Spy, and a single lucky swing could 
  end the tiny microdrone. 
  He flew higher to avoid the crowds and remove the urge 
  to buzz people with his large wasp-like form. It gave him a 
  clear view of his target striding quickly along the sidewalk. 
  The man’s movement was too fast for a stealthy approach. 
  Get kept his altitude, buzzing right along the side of the 
  huge hotel that held his final quarry, and got directly over the 
  quick-stepping target of phase one. 
  The man’s movements were unexpected. Get had consid-
  ered several options for infiltration, and this was the best, but 
  he never thought a guy delivering flowers would be trying to 
  set land speed records. A string of petals had already been lost 
  along the route from flailing arms. His haste, and damage to 
  the roses—nice, expensive roses—made Get feel a little better 
  that no one would be tipping him for his speedy delivery. 
  But no tip didn’t solve his problem. He didn’t have many 
  options this early in the plan. The Roto-Drones weren’t in 
  place yet, and while the other drones were, nothing they did 
  right now would slow the world’s fastest flower deliverer. It 
  was up to him.
  Get buzzed ahead and landed smoothly on the back of 
  a streetlight. As his tiny metallic feet grabbed hold, he could 
  immediately feel them tingle from nearby vibrations in the 
  metal. Quickly rotating in place, he turned to see the long yel-
  low-and-black legs of a spider appearing as it emerged from 
  a rusty hole in the metal only a few centimeters from Get’s 
  landing spot. 
  Once out, the spider raised up four of its front legs in a 
  harrowing threat display. The position gave Get a clear view 
  of the arachnid’s fangs, and he understood why other insects 
  might back off. Problem was, he couldn’t. He needed this 
  spot. Get was bigger, though only barely, but the spider was 
  clearly defending its territory and not about to let some wasp 
  claim his spot. 
  While the move might risk the entire operation Get hun-
  kered down to do battle with a banana spider.
  ✖
  Seconds later, and none the worse for wear, Get was once 
  again on mission. He focused on the approaching target 
  while trying not to be distracted by the woman screaming 
  below him who had just received a stunned banana spider 
  in her hair. It was a doubly lucky encounter. Get learned he 
  was pretty good at fighting spiders, and the woman’s panic 
  slowed the floral courier enough for Get’s next move.
  Get launched himself downward toward the courier. 
  Wings folded back and wind zipping over his narrowed form, 
  he made slight adjustments over the short flight. His aim was 
  perfect as he reached the space right next to the delivery-
  man’s ear, opened up to rapidly slow, and then started beat-
  ing his wings rapidly. 
  The old bug in the ear trick worked perfectly. While a hand 
  swung up to swat him away, Get landed lightly on the man’s low-
  er back. After a few more swings at nothing, the man stopped to 
  look around and Get quickly buzzed over to the flowers, crawled 
  down inside, and jumped over to the next phase.
  ✖
  112    >> ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Hovering only a millimeter off the ground near a small pile of 
  trash, Get looked like yet another discarded piece of tech. He 
  took in his surroundings quickly and found the narrow alley 
  just as he expected. Some rats, insects, a few arachnids that 
  he hoped weren’t telepathic and holding grudges, and a wide 
  array of garbage. Most importantly, flammable garbage. 
  Buzzing up a few centimeters, he extended his arm and 
  flicked his thumb. The microwelder in the microskimmer’s tiny 
  arm tool sparked to life. It took a few passes to clear the ev-
  er-present moisture caused by the Borinquen humidity, but 
  in under a minute the trash of the alley was all ablaze and 
  the microskimmer started skimming along the walls headed 
  towards the hotel where all the action would be while Get 
  moved on. 
  ✖
   Skimming along always felt so different from true flight. While 
  he was excited for this next phase, Get made sure to pull the 
  status display up for all the drones. Zooming along within the 
  dronestream that buzzed over Expo Baldorioty de Castro, 
  Get ran down the right side and issued commands to each 
  drone. He ordered the Condor to move south fifty meters to 
  get an angle around the rising smoke. The microskimmer he 
  had just departed was commanded to continue to the ren-
  dezvous. The Crawler got orders to dismount the Doberman. 
  The Doberman got commands to tuck in next to the lift and 
  activate its ruthenium systems. The Fly-Spy was ordered to 
  gain visuals but stay hidden. The other Roto-Drone was told 
  to reduce following distance from fifty to twenty-five meters. 
  The second microskimmer got cleared to execute its tagging 
  program. The Nightrunner was released to run its preset pilot 
  sequence. The Artemis received the command to unfurl its 
  wings. And the Bulldog was ordered to move to the lower 
  level of the parking garage. 
  It was all done in a matter of seconds. No arguments, no 
  suggestions, and no drama. This was the part Get loved.
  Still in the dronestream over the highway Get located 
  the smoke rising in the distance and spotted a trio of drones 
  headed in that direction. Two were Roto-Drones, and the 
  third was a Spinmaster, the specialized media drone from 
  Cyberspace Designs. Both Roto-Drones had cameras mount-
  ed where most runners see guns, and Get had his window. 
  He broke away from the dronestream and zipped ahead into 
  formation with the other drones as they bee-lined it for the 
  smoke. As Get flew over Avenue Ashford, he received the 
  local policia command to maintain standard media distances. 
  The message had override codes that Get ignored, but he still 
  followed orders. No one was going to notice a failed com-
  mand if the drone still followed protocol.
  Get got himself lined up with a nice view of the hotel’s 
  front and back doors, the burning alley of trash, and the ga-
  rage where the Bulldog was just now slipping into a parking 
  space on the first floor. He unfurled his media ARO for all to 
  see. Then he found himself in a cloud of smoke.
  ✖
  The smoke swirled all over from Get’s tiny little turbofans. 
  He finished dotting the exclamation point and then zipped 
  up ten meters into the air. He brought his open palm to his 
  mouth and blew. The air around him was suddenly filled with 
  thousands of AROs. They were all too close together to read 
  just yet, but as they moved out and got distance from each 
  other, the message became clear.
  No More NATVAT! 
  AZTECH OUT!
  ✖
  Get drifted in a little closer to the other media drones. He un-
  furled his media ARO while lining up a great shot of the little 
  Microskimmer as it buzzed off towards the water and away 
  from the cloud of RFID tags it had just spewed into the air. 
  Get recorded the RFID graffiti for later use and set his po-
  sition with a clear view of the alley and the derelict, graffiti 
  covered building where this orchestra was really being con-
  ducted from. At his current elevation and angle he couldn’t 
  see the Artemis unfurled on the balcony or its unconscious 
  cargo, but he knew it was there from the feeds the Condor 
  was offering.
  Everything was going as planned.
  ✖
  The view was terrible. Plastic, even the slightly more expen-
  sive stuff the ritzy flower shop used, was not easy to look 
  through. Get risked an early discovery and sliced a small slit 
  in the plastic, and then he pressed his little wasp head in close 
  to see out.
  He was thankful the deliveryman wasn’t walking as quick-
  ly and was finally holding the flowers steady. They were near-
  ing the room for delivery; Get could see the numbers on the 
  doors as they passed, so the deliveryman was on his best be-
  havior. 
  Get played back a little footage from the Fly-Spy’s record 
  and discovered the act had started shortly after he stopped at 
  the front desk, and it wasn’t because he was a consummate 
  professional. The deliveryman had an escort. 
  Get couldn’t see who was with him, but he could hear the 
  other man’s footsteps. They were almost in step, but the es-
  cort had a heavier footfall. Knowing the other man was there, 
  Get watched the shadows and figured out the other man’s 
  position. Not too far, not too close. Probably hotel security. 
  Get tucked back in and watched through the plastic, he 
  wasn’t going to get this close just to get spotted by some ho-
  tel mook.
  ✖
  >> ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL <<    113
  (order #9639630)
  
  Get scurried up the stairs quickly. He extended an arm and 
  activated the dock lift. 
  ✖
  Get rolled quietly over to the lowered lift. He checked his gun, 
  locked and loaded, and the case he carried. Everything was 
  just as it should be. Some security had been making their way 
  through an industrial-looking back hallway of the hotel, but 
  a few Dragonfly drones at his disposal had given him a look 
  at the situation, and a quick hack took over a cleaning drone 
  that spewed soap on the floor. Following that up with nipping 
  attacks from the drones would keep the mooks confused and 
  occupied. They would stay away while he worked.
  ✖
  “… didn’t order any fucking flowers. Now slot off.”
  Get could hear the anger in the man’s voice immediately. 
  Things weren’t going well for the flower deliveryman.
  “This is the address and room number. This says they go to 
  Mr. Tom Garfield, with love P. Kat. These things are expensive. 
  Really expensive.”
  Get heard the delivery guy trying to work something for 
  himself and enjoyed a little internal chuckle at the names. 
  There wasn’t a damn thing he could do about what happened 
  next. 
  Get was suddenly crushed inside the plastic prison. His 
  ears rang from the crackling plastic as he was jerked quickly. 
  He thought it was toward the room, but he couldn’t be sure. 
  Pain lanced through his arms and legs as they were caught 
  and twisted in what he could only guess was the doorman’s 
  grip. 
  The crushing lessened, replaced by a feeling of weight-
  lessness and then a crashing of everything around him. More 
  pain hit his back as rose thorns jabbed through his thin wings. 
  He jumped away to escape the pain. 
  ✖
  Get hopped over to the door and cut through the glass with 
  a laser on his arm. He caught the falling glass, set it aside, 
  crawled through the opening, and opened the door for the 
  approaching Doberman. He was still a little shaken from the 
  damage to the Fly-Spy. According to the display it was still 
  operational, though he knew several systems, including flight, 
  were not going to be operational. It only had one more task. 
  Hopefully it could manage. 
  Get led the Doberman to the service elevator and hit the 
  call button after climbing on the larger drones nearly invisible 
  back. The ruthenium was doing a great job of keeping the big 
  perimeter drone out of sight. It helped that they hadn’t run 
  into anyone yet either.
  When the elevator arrived, that changed. 
  ✖
  Get watched the Crawler scurry for the corner, taking the 
  attention of the two men in the elevator with it. Two quick 
  shots later and both men were writhing on the floor, electric-
  ity coursing through their bodies. Get put an extra round into 
  each, just in case, and pushed their twitching bodies out of 
  the way as he rolled into the elevator.
  ✖
  It was always a strange feeling to have pain in a place that 
  didn’t normally exist on your body. Get’s wings were killing 
  him. One was cracked, the other pierced by rose thorns, and 
  they were both trashed. His legs were in a little better shape, 
  with three and a half still operational. It was enough to crawl, 
  and that was all he needed. 
  Well, that and the lens. 
  Get had hindered nearby hacking by filling the air with 
  RFID tags. Physical security could be zapped like the waitstaff, 
  and the bulky cameras on the Roto-Drones shot something 
  other than pictures. Magic was usually the issue. That’s where 
  the lens came in. 
  Get crawled slowly through the wreckage of the flowers 
  and found the slit he had already started. Before slipping 
  through he lowered the small green lens into place in front 
  of his right eyes. As he pushed through the plastic, the room 
  came into clear view. 
  It was a decent suite, and he could see everywhere but 
  behind the half-wall area that looked like a little kitchen or bar. 
  There were three people in the room, and he could see them 
  talking but couldn’t hear them. When Get made the realiza-
  tion that his hearing was gone, he also realized he probably 
  wasn’t as stealthy as he thought moving through the flowers. 
  The lens cast green over everything. Living things came 
  up a slightly lighter green. Awakened things were nearly 
  white. The three men in the room ran the gamut of colors. 
  It was all the info he really needed. He would have loved to 
  have the Fly-Spy in place when the Doberman arrived, but the 
  sudden appearance of a massive cat head sent Get straight 
  into the hallway.
  ✖
  The Crawler wrapped a few times on the door, and Get could 
  hear the people inside coming closer and talking. “Better not 
  be another flower delivery. I’ll shoot this one.”
  There was a long pause when the man arrived at the door, 
  most likely as he peered through the peephole and saw noth-
  ing, but it eventually opened a crack. 
  Get watched the Crawler jam a leg through the space but 
  focused primarily on his efforts to shoot the leery ork eye as 
  he peered through the sliver of open door. Though Stick ‘n’ 
  Shock rounds are not intended to cause permanent harm, 
  Get was sure the ork would need a new eye once he woke up. 
  114    >> ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Gunfire followed almost instantly. Get had expected that 
  when he saw one of the other fellows in the room was pretty 
  close to matching the furniture through the Fly-Spy’s lens. 
  Unaware of danger and simply following orders, the 
  Crawler pushed open the door, or at least the remains of the 
  door, and scurried into the room in front of Get. Switching 
  weapons, Get fired a thick stream of greenish-gold liquid into 
  the room. 
  The coughing began immediately, but that wasn’t Get’s 
  purpose for hosing the room down with concentrated liquid 
  chlorine. Sure, it slowed the goons down, but the minute the 
  first drop of that stuff hit the air, the real target was on the 
  move. 
  ✖
  Get tucked his legs in and prepared to leap into action from 
  his spot behind the half-wall. He issued a quick command to 
  the Doberman and then scrambled out into the path of the 
  cat as it ran for the door. When measuring the gracefulness of 
  things in the Sixth World, riggers can often move their drones 
  far beyond what others would expect. That said, Get had yet 
  to determine how to make a ten-kilo chunk of metal, plastic, 
  and servos match the grace of even the clumsiest of felines. 
  And this was not a clumsy feline.
  ✖
  As the Crawler tumbled from losing the grace-inducing com-
  mand of the rigger interface, Get tried not to notice that it 
  landed right in front of the doorway to the other room of the 
  suite. If the guards over there weren’t totally incapacitated by 
  the chlorine, he was going to be out another drone. 
  Instead of watching another couple grand get trashed, Get 
  kept his eyes on the prize. Or more specifically, his targeting 
  reticle on the cat. The clumsy strike with the Crawler forced 
  the cat to leap up and off the remains of the door and then 
  out into the hallway. 
  Get watched and tracked the cat’s movement until it 
  cleared the frame where his shot would no longer risk send-
  ing the cat back into the room. Then he fired. 
  At that range, the blast from the barrel peeled away fur 
  and chunks of flesh before the Stick ‘n’ Shock round even 
  cleared the barrel. When it hit, the cat spun in the air, did a 
  little herky-jerky twitch, and then landed on all fours, moving 
  at a dead run that would make a cheetah proud. 
  Get swore. He’d expected something like this from a 
  monad cat, but it didn’t matter. Even the fastest monad cat 
  in the universe couldn’t outrun his targeting software. He 
  finished bringing the barrel around and fired several shots in 
  rapid succession. 
  Only one missed.
  And that was intentional.
  Get felt the weight of the Crawler climb onto his back 
  and the chemical chill of the chlorine on his skin. He rolled 
  quickly down the hallway and opened the case he carried, 
  then stuffed the cat inside. 
  “I think you can hear me in there, so listen up. If I think 
  you’re doing anything funky in my belly, I’ll flood your box 
  with the rest of the chlorine in my tank. Not sure that will kill 
  you, but I know it won’t feel keen.”
  ✖
  Get zoomed along Avenue Ashford toward the hotel where 
  the gunshots had gone off. He was behind the other media 
  drones again, but that was fine. He knew the story already. 
  ✖
  Looking down over Condado, Get saw the approaching poli-
  cia and the buzz of people drawn to the violence like moths to 
  a flame. He monitored his other teammates as he floated fur-
  ther out over the ocean. The Fly-Spy was gone, destroyed by 
  the target cat. The Doberman and Crawler slipped out of the 
  hotel, and once Get sent a remote command to the Americar 
  to speed away and be a distraction, they rolled through alleys 
  and back to the Bulldog. The microskimmers were both zip-
  ping along the beach to a rendezvous point where they’d wait 
  for the Bulldog, Roto-Drones, and Condor to arrive before all 
  loading up and heading to the cargo container waiting for 
  them at the airport. 
  Everyone was doing just what they were told. No dou-
  ble-cross. No “great” ideas. No improvising.
  ✖
  Get watched his limp meat body dangle in the harness of the 
  glider from his place on the water. He kicked and felt the wa-
  ter slide along his belly. He sent a command to the glider to 
  shift its course a few degrees and then turned to glide along 
  the water and line up beneath the descending glider. 
  When the Artemis reached 25 meters from the Nightrun-
  ner it executed its final command. The targeting autosoft lined 
  up a perfect shot and fired at the rear seat of the fast-moving 
  boat. Get timed his mental command perfectly and popped 
  the rear seat up, exposing a metal plate beneath. With a loud 
  thunk, a large magnetic disc slammed into the small metal 
  plate, and the seat immediately dropped closed. 
  A thin line ran from the disc back to the glider, which now 
  gained lift as the boat’s speed increased. 
  Get focused on the cool water gliding over his smooth 
  skin. He let the overlay go and let himself feel the strange life 
  of a boat. He was not below the surface and not above; he 
  was between, and it was a strange sense unequaled by any 
  other. 
  Well, except for the feeling of a job well done.   ✖
  >> ONE RIG TO RULE THEM ALL <<    115
  (order #9639630)
  
  With each small tap on a polyacetylene myomer fiber 
  in the exposed wrist, a finger curled in response to the 
  tiny electric pulse, replicating the contraction of muscle 
  tissue. Satisfied that it was responding correctly, Shui 
  Clark closed the small access port in the cyber-arm, 
  leaned back in her chair, then pushed her goggles to 
  the top of her head as she released a long breath. 
  “All right, Tater Tot. Time to give your new arm a 
  spin.” 
  With a well-practiced roll of her left shoulder, her cur-
  rent arm clicked and unlocked, allowing her to pull it free 
  with her right, setting the cybernetic one on her work-
  bench beside the shiny new model she’d just finished 
  calibrating. As she always did, she paused for a moment, 
  brushing fingertips over the chrome connector port that 
  divided her flesh even as the car accident had divided 
  her life. She hated that it existed, but the wreck was a 
  decade ago, and the one-armed life was all she could 
  truly remember. She felt a small shudder of revulsion 
  and longing for what could never be as she fetched her 
  new arm. The connector whirred to life as she held the 
  arm to it, hearing it dock smoothly, then a pop indicating 
  completion. Now whole once again, or as whole as she 
  could ever be, she ran through a familiar set of mental 
  commands, turning the limb this way and that, wiggling 
  each finger individually, then closing her eyes to try to 
  touch her nose, ears, and right shoulder for a spatial-rec-
  ognition test. With all tests passed, she opened her eyes 
  and said, “Now, let’s try the new feature.” 
  It was odd learning the secrets of a new limb. Each 
  command was like a creating shadow puppet, learning a 
  new combination of muscles and bends that would ac-
  tivate it, always tricky and clumsy at first until your brain 
  could learn exactly how to make the shape. Retracting 
  her hand was as easy as bunny ears, accessing the tool 
  menu not unlike clenching a fist, but rotating the assem-
  bly to get the right tool was going to take practice. Luck-
  ily, she had a patient ready to go.
  Stepping away from her work table, Shui looked 
  across the garage. Numerous drones looked back 
  at her, from the small Kanmushi perched on posts or 
  clinging to walls like house geckos to the Fly-Spy lurk-
  ing on a spare tire to the delivery drone whirring just 
  inside the window, waiting patiently with cooling food 
  below it. “Aw frag, totally forgot I’d called in for some 
  Heli-Tacos.” She reached for her left forearm, forgetting 
  momentarily that this arm had a tool assembly instead 
  of an onboard commlink, then fumbled for a few min-
  utes until she found her ordinary ’link in a desk draw-
  er. She added a generous tip, then took her bag before 
  dismissing the drone. Glancing inside as it flew away, 
  she found room-temperature and soggy food within. 
  “Just my luck.” 
  Setting the bag aside for now, she pushed her tummy 
  rumble to one side, instead focusing on the beaten van 
  currently on the lift. “Aleksi, status report?” 
  The Proletarian drone that rolled from beneath the 
  lift had once been a lovely red, but after many acci-
  dents with grease and oil was now a mishmash of red, 
  brown, and black. She should really clean him up, but 
  he always looked adorable mucked up. With a chirp, he 
  stated, “Preliminary repairs are completed as instruct-
  ed. Damage was primarily cosmetic and easily patched 
  over the indicated portions.” An AR projection highlight-
  ed several locations in separate panels, each showing 
  bullet strikes or, on the front grill, where she’d had to 
  drive through a closed barrier. “The right rear tire was 
  unrepairable and will need replacement. Several engine 
  components have suffered minor damage from shrapnel 
  and, as instructed, unit designate Aleksi did not attempt 
  repairs. If mistress is ready to begin, unit designate Alek-
  si is prepared to assist on command.”
  “In a moment. First, would you please bring me my 
  console?” 
  “Affirmative.”
  As the small drone wheeled away, Shui attached a 
  single cable to the van’s diagnostic panel, then sat on 
  the floor in the lotus position to await the Proletarian’s 
  return. When it arrived, console in claw, it asked, “Will 
  we now begin repairs on unit designate Charlie?”
  Attaching the cable to the console, she then ran a 
  second from it through her coveralls, finding the data-
  jack at the base of her spine. “I need to get inside first, 
  see how he feels. Keep an eye out for customers, Aleksi, 
  I’ll be right back.”
  His reply was a distant echo as her consciousness 
  slid from her meat form to the console and, from there, 
  into the Bulldog step-van. Most riggers she knew pre-
  RIGGER 5.0
  THE AUTOMATED
  ARMY
  116    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  ferred wireless commands, and she used them herself, 
  but when time wasn’t a factor, there was nothing quite 
  like climbing inside by a direct feed. It was like putting 
  on an old sleepshirt or a raggedy old pair of pants … 
  everything just felt right when connected this way. The 
  connection was more personal and intimate, bonding 
  her mind inside the machine completely until it was her 
  body. She became the van.
  The previous bullet holes were well-patched, but she 
  could still feel them like small scabs. The urge to scratch 
  at them was terrible, but there were other issues she had 
  to explore first. Turning her drive train, she felt the flop in 
  her right ankle and knew that it wouldn’t hold her weight. 
  The tire was flat, but she could feel the small grind in her 
  ankle that indicated a minor bend in the rim as well. Small 
  enough that you couldn’t have seen it with the naked 
  eye, but a rigger’s awareness was something else entire-
  ly. More troubling was the phlegm in her lungs and the 
  stress in her heart. The engine damage was more wide-
  spread than she’d first realized, hardly fatal but enough 
  that she’d be short of breath, unable to reach top speed, 
  keep a good pace, or pull a large load. Her team needed 
  to know that, when things got hot, they could count on 
  her to get them out of there like she did three nights ago. 
  But as it stood now, there was no way she could.  If she 
  couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t run. There was a feeling 
  like flush to her cheeks as she realized that she’d thought 
  of Charlie as her true self again, an impossible response 
  as she didn’t currently have cheeks, and she idly won-
  dered if she’d turned on the van’s heaters in response. 
  She ran a few more diagnostics, wiggling her fingers and 
  toes, blinking and opening her eyes wide, wriggling her 
  nose to make sure the windshield wipers would work, 
  making mental notes about what needed to be fixed and 
  what was fine. 
  In time, she realized that she was procrastinating. 
  She’d noted all the damage but hadn’t returned to her 
  body. Here, she felt strong; her Bulldog frame was heavy 
  steel and powerful compared to the 1.53-meter flesh 
  frame she normally called home. She swept the room 
  with her sensors, experiencing infrared and standard vi-
  suals at once, low-end sonar giving her an approximate 
  location of everything within ten meters, atmospheric 
  sensors bathing her in numerous scents and an aware-
  ness that, of course, it would soon be raining in Seattle. 
  She knew her normal five senses were blind, deaf, and 
  dumb compared to this, the sensor arrays showing her 
  what the world was actually like in a way that she could 
  never experience normally. She allowed herself to sim-
  ply lie there, floating in space, a gentle pressure against 
  her torso where the van’s frame was supported by the 
  lift, just enjoying the sensors … until a rough series of 
  coughs jolted her with pain.
  Right. Engine damage.
  With a resigned pang of disappointment, she slid 
  back out of the van and into her natural form, groggi-
  ly disconnecting the cord from her spine. As she did, 
  she felt the familiar pins and needles in her legs as her 
  neural pathways reconnected and blood began flowing 
  properly. She stood on wobbly legs before setting her 
  console to one side. She shivered a bit, vulnerable flesh 
  thinking the room was cooler than her metal skin had, 
  then glanced around at how much darker the room was 
  without the van’s eyes. 
  She held up her left hand, retracting the fist inside 
  the arm cuff of her forearm, then extending a ratchet 
  from the aperture. “All right, Aleksi, let’s get that tire off. 
  We’re going to need to get that rim straightened out af-
  terwards.”
  “Affirmative, mistress. Unit designate Aleksi is al-
  ways ready to serve.”
  On her workbench, a small bag of soy tacos contin-
  ued to cool, forgotten as it dangled from the loose grip 
  of her old arm. Just another casualty of a rigger’s life. 
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    117
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  So, why are we letting Clockwork do this again?
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  We’re not “letting” him, we asked him. 
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  After Rigger X told us no. Full disclosure.
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  What was it he said again? “Who cares about toys and 
  glorified vacuum cleaners?”
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  I get that, but … Clockwork? Come on.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  I know that you two have history, Fred, but remember, 
  FastJack recruited him for a reason, same as the rest of 
  us. You at least owe it a look-over for that if nothing else.
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  … Frag. All right, put it up.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Already on it.
  > 
  Glitch
  DRONING ON  
  AND ON AND ON 
  AND ON AND …
  POSTED BY: CLOCKWORK
  It never ceases to amaze me, how few people really get 
  drones. I mean, they’re everywhere, right? It should be a 
  no-brainer, but no, they’re too common now. They’re like 
  AR spam or pollution, the background noise of life that 
  everyone looks over, through, or past. I’m here to tell you 
  that you shouldn’t, and further to show you what you’re 
  missing. But first, it’s a tradition around here to talk about 
  the distant past, and I’m not one to skip steps. As such …
  IGNITION
  The history of civilization is filled with machines, from 
  the Simple Machines of Archimedes in antiquity to the 
  Five Mechanisms of Heron of Alexandria near the year 
  1, to Leonardo da Vinci’s Renaissance inventions, to the 
  electric masterpieces of today—each one given purpose 
  simply by existing, serving humanity by definition. While 
  the first machines were simple things of wood and rope, 
  as time marched on, we adapted them to new materi-
  als, new applications, but always as a force multiplier. If 
  one man couldn’t lift a rock by himself, he could use a 
  pulley to do the work of five, making every action more 
  efficient. If it took a man a week to travel a distance, we 
  could put wheels under him and have a horse pull him 
  in half the time. Later, we replaced the horse with an 
  engine and got even faster. Faster, stronger, better—we 
  made machines work for us.
  The first time drones were weaponized is debatable. 
  Old Chinese stories of clockwork soldiers and magical 
  automatons of Europe should be disregarded in the 
  name of science, leaving us the first verified use in 1849 
  when, on August 22, the Austrians released firebombs 
  via balloon into Venice, lighting the way for the future 
  with fire. Balloons, manned this time, were further devel-
  oped over the next few decades, leading to aerial obser-
  vation and reconnaissance more than bombing work, as 
  the strength of eyes-in-the-sky became realized. Over 
  the next few decades, an unwillingness to sacrifice pi-
  lots combined with a need for more aircraft resulted in a 
  race for drones, either remote-operated, or self-guided, 
  weapons that could get the job done bloodlessly.
  > 
  Bloodless for one side, that is. As bloody as possible for 
  the other!
  > 
  Aufheben
  > 
  So dismissive of the magic of the past. Do you think it has 
  never bubbled up before?
  > 
  Man-of-Many-Names
  The dawn of the space race brought even more work 
  into the field as robots—a word invented by a Czech 
  named Karel Capec and not a Japanese word for “servant,” 
  as so many people seem to think—became a cultural fasci-
  nation. Elektro shocked the world at the 1939 World’s Fair 
  by speaking, smoking, and moving about, while Robbie 
  the Robot from Forbidden Planet and Rosie the Robot from 
  The Jetsons captured the minds of youths who would bring 
  about the robot revolution half a century later. General Mo-
  tors’ Unimate showed that robots could accomplish tasks 
  too dangerous for humans, a task they did so well at that 
  whole factories were soon given over to automation.
  > 
  And with the invention of the automated loom came the 
  Saboteurs, those who threw their shoes into the works 
  to destroy the machines that took away their livelihood.  
  Workers have protested the replacement of man by 
  machine ever since!
  > 
  Chainmaker
  > 
  Now now, let us not throw stones (or shoes) at this point. 
  Some of my best friends are machines.
  > 
  Icarus
  WARMING UP THE ENGINE
  Automation had progressed so much by the turn of the 
  century that robots were able to do many jobs humans 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  118    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  were once chained to, with industrial work the most ob-
  vious target sector, but agricultural right behind. During 
  the Food Riots of ’99, some took to raiding the fields even 
  as auto-pickers were in use, resulting in several avoidable 
  injuries and a few deaths. As would so often happen over 
  the next few decades, public opinion of robots soured, 
  shelving much of the progress that would have followed. 
  This was made even worse by the Crash, which eradicat-
  ed so many records of the past. You didn’t see drones of 
  any real ability for decades after that.
  > 
  Not entirely true. Certain anthromorphic robots were 
  active in the 2030s, after all.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  There are several incidental cases like that out there, 
  where someone retained knowledge of technology past 
  a collapse and wouldn’t share it with anyone afterwards. 
  Technology of 2077 isn’t terribly more advanced than 
  what they had in 2000 in many ways due to that. 
  > 
  Snopes
  > 
  Like the Nightwraiths, which were all remote-operated 
  planes controlled by David Gavilan!
  > 
  Plan 9
  RETICULATING SPLINES
  It was 2060 when everything really changed. We always 
  think of the human and financial cost that came from the 
  Seattle Arcology shutdown, but the work Deus did in 
  there advanced drone technology by leaps and bounds. 
  Nanomachine advances, bee-sized drones, vicious com-
  bat robots, all designed and produced in-facility by a mad 
  AI. Each development was eventually captured and ex-
  amined by top men in corporate and government circles. 
  With that head start, years of research was completed in 
  months, even weeks. Renraku had been surging ahead in 
  a dozen engineering fields before this, but even their ac-
  complishments paled before the creations of Deus.
  > 
  “You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet” is the 
  vibe I’m getting here, and I don’t much care for it.
  > 
  Pistons
  > 
  He knows nothing of Deus. Nothing.
  > 
  Puck
  ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO!
  Today, drones are everywhere, from delivery of foodstuff 
  by roto-drone to advertising blimps to construction robots 
  to security work to remote tele-medical research, drones 
  are at the cutting edge of science, exploration, and indus-
  try. Most people don’t even drive these days, preferring to 
  let their cars do the work while they relax, giving control to 
  devices that are autos in every sense of the word. Today’s 
  drones do our taxes, polish our boots, and mow our lawns. 
  They pick our fruit, monitor the weather, and compose 
  music for our amusements. In another fifty years, metahu-
  manity itself could find itself retired to a life of leisure while 
  machines do all the work. Truly, a utopia.
  > 
  He clearly hasn’t read the book, Utopia. What a horrible 
  place to live! How it became a go-to word for perfect 
  society, I’ll never know. 
  > 
  Butch
  > 
  Come now! A place where the wise rule, children mind 
  their manners, and slaves know their place? Sounds like 
  paradise! Well, other than the gold bit. Sir Thomas More 
  could have used a course on economics.
  > 
  OrkCE0
  > 
  He is biased, but that does not make him wrong. Even 
  as drones explode as a hobby, they are slipping into the 
  workforce, displacing thousands of low-skill workers 
  who are left unemployed and, worse, unemployable. 
  That delivery from Heavenly Noodle used to involve a 
  pimply teenager’s first job. That teenager would then go 
  on to join the workforce with some level of skill. His drone 
  replacement never gets a promotion, and now that kid is 
  left both jobless and bored, soon to stir up trouble. For 
  the right price, I could direct you toward any number of 
  societal studies on this.
  > 
  Icarus
  > 
  It’s important to remember how overlooked drones are 
  by most workers today. They forget that each one’s full 
  of electronic eyes and ears, treating them as they would 
  the furniture while chatting about any number of topics. A 
  wise runner should take advantage of that.
  > 
  Balladeer
  > 
  Drone defenders are also seeing more use. They aren’t 
  affected by bribes, fatigue, or mind-magic, never call in 
  sick, and won’t be flirted away from their station. They 
  generally aren’t as skilled at the job as metahumans, but 
  they’re far more reliable. 
  > 
  Hard Exit
  > 
  I love it when people forget how easy it is to hack into 
  most commercially used drones.
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  Don’t forget the military side of things! Ares has been 
  trying to field an all-drone team in Desert Wars for 
  years but hasn’t yet gotten permission to do so. Civilian 
  casualties are still horrible news leads for any war, so 
  most world governments are looking to replace as many 
  flesh-and-blood soldiers with machines as possible.
  > 
  Sticks
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  > 
  The ‘60s were a terrible time for drones, no matter how 
  good the science had gotten. Rogue AIs, technomancers, 
  and commlink scriptkiddies were making a mockery of 
  most security protocols, taking drones on joyrides, strafing 
  neighbors, and more. Political pushes drove lethal-armed 
  drones almost to extinction and, even today, people just 
  flat-out don’t trust a robot with a gun. (Nobody ever thinks 
  about the two-thousand-kilo machine that they take to 
  work each day as a weapon, of course. Remember what I 
  said about not seeing drones? It goes double for cars.)
  > 
  Hard Exit
  > 
  Danielle de la Mar hasn’t forgotten, and her next project 
  is to try and deal with “massacre machines,” to drive out 
  grenades, automatic weapons, and, yes, weaponized 
  drones from polite society.
  > 
  Nephrine
  > 
  I don’t think she knows how much money the corps make 
  from those things. They might have backed her before, 
  but I’d lay good odds that she’ll be blocked on this.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Good odds you say? How good? <leer>
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  Girl’s got a problem …
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
   
  I know you guys are hot for the catalogue, but before 
  you see the product, you really need to meet the sales-
  men. Drones are an industry that runs like, well, clock-
  work, and if you just start poking around the machine, 
  it’s gonna grind you up and spit you out.
  THE MAINSPRING: 
  MITSUHAMA
  While it isn’t fair to say that nothing happens in the 
  drone industry without Mitsuhama Computer Tech-
  nologies deciding to make it happen, it’s not terribly 
  far from the truth. For the most part, other manufac-
  turers are defined by finding niches that MCT hasn’t 
  filled or having their own spin on an existing area of 
  operation. MCT casts an enormous shadow on the rest 
  of the industry and keeps a constant level of pressure 
  that forces the others to keep pace or break down. In-
  dustrial robots, hazardous environment machines, se-
  curity drones, mining, production, even the automated 
  service industry after some horse trading with Renraku, 
  they keep a finger in every market you can imagine and 
  a few that you don’t know exist. The only area where 
  they were weak was in the consumer side of things, 
  and even there they bring in more income in the field 
  than their nearest rival. 
  > 
  MCT innovated the Zero Zone (zero penetration, zero 
  survivors) but found that, no matter how well-trained, 
  some security teams were squeamish about the level of 
  brutality required for that level of security. Turns out that 
  robotic guns and toxin gas panels don’t care whose hoop 
  they dismantle. 
  > 
  Hard Exit
  Mitsuhama’s strength is in the physical design 
  of drones, but their software has always lagged be-
  hind some of the major players. As part of the Yamato 
  Damashi spirit surging through the Japanacorps, Renr-
  aku has been helping their chief rival in this regard, up-
  grading their pilot technology and sharing autosoft re-
  search, even selling them some of their older, successful 
  designs as they reposition themselves in the service 
  market. I’m not sure what Renraku’s getting in return, 
  other than nuyen.
  > 
  Isn’t that enough?
  > 
  Riot
  > 
  Not at the level they play at. Megacorps are frenemies, 
  helping one another one day, then undercutting each 
  other the next. Renraku doesn’t need the mechanical 
  or industrial strength of MCT, and while they’ve been 
  snapping up subcontracting work in the larger corp’s 
  wake, like a remora with a shark’s detritus, there’s not 
  enough there to justify losing their software advantage.
  > 
  Butch
  > 
  You’re all looking at the wrong side of the corp. Renraku’s 
  giving up technology, but they’re getting magical 
  knowledge in return. Renraku’s always been weak in the 
  magical area, while MCT’s second only to Aztechnology, 
  and may actually be in front. More about this soon. Gotta 
  see if a hunch pays off.
  > 
  Haze
  THE GRINDING GEARS
  While these are all top-level drone manufacturers, 
  none of them have ever knocked Mitsuhama from that 
  top spot. Renraku’s been the closest, and arguably did 
  so during the Golden Year of 2059, but the Seattle Ar-
  cology Shutdown cut them off at the knees before they 
  could really take advantage.
  RENRAKU
  Traditionally MCT’s primary rival, Renraku makes superior 
  software and operating systems (pilots, autosofts, and so 
  forth), while MCT makes the better hardware. With Renr-
  aku’s new tilt to a metahuman-and-service focus, they’ve 
  been quietly pulling back from the intense R&D required 
  to stay at the top of the scrap pile. This shouldn’t be read 
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  as them leaving the industry, far from it, but it’s just that 
  their focus has changed for some strange reason.
  > 
  <cough> Deus <cough>
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  With the strength of both GridGuide™  and now 
  HarborGuide™ in their pocket, Renraku’s new angle 
  is SkyGuide™, a program intended to control flying 
  drones but not airplanes. Turns out that those who went 
  through both the second crash and the outbreak of tech-
  nomancers afterward are a tad nervous about remov-
  ing control from pilots. SkyGuide is intended to control 
  drone traffic in an urban environment, automatically 
  redirecting them from air traffic and turning them from 
  restricted airspace, also providing information to law 
  enforcement should one be brought down through van-
  dalism (or, of course, used in a crime). By casting a wide 
  wireless net over a ’plex, they can ensure a reduction in 
  accidents, destruction, and collisions. 
  > 
  Huh. A net in the sky? Wonder why they didn’t go with the 
  obvious name?
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  ARES MACROTECHNOLOGY
  Ares is actually the tops in one subset of the industry: 
  military drones. Flying drones that silently unleash tar-
  geted mini-missiles, self-guided missiles, and support 
  weapon platforms are obvious, but also noncombat 
  support, like the Mule equipment transport drone or 
  a law-enforcement drone for the bomb disposal team. 
  It used to be called the military-industrial complex, but 
  these days, it’s just “Ares.”
  > 
  You’re selling them short, Clockwork. Ares is known 
  for firepower, but they made their name in aerospace. 
  They’re the leading producers of all manner of aero and 
  space assets, from atmospheric sensor drones to spy sats 
  to deep-space repair robots. Not really covered in your 
  report, but it should be remembered.
  > 
  Orbital Bandit
  SONY
  The only AA-rated corporation that can play at this 
  level is Sony. For over a century, they’ve been at the 
  cutting edge of robots, keeping a high level of tech-
  nological expertise even if they don’t match the raw 
  industrial production of the bigger boys. Every year, 
  they roll out an astounding breakthrough in artificial 
  intelligence, only for Renraku to top them the next 
  year. Mitsuhama’s “glass jaw” in terms of consumer 
  robotics is due to Sony and Renraku dominating the 
  market, and no one can rival them in the field of med-
  ical robotics. 
  > 
  The advanced R&D Sony does is later sold to the other 
  players (MCT, Ares, and so on) a couple of years after 
  they’ve invented it, in a sense operating as a subsidized 
  research lab for the other robot masters. Doesn’t keep 
  the other megas from blocking them from triple-A status, 
  mind you, but it keeps them from being preyed on quite 
  so much.
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  Huh. That’s pretty wily of ‘em!
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  THE WORTHY COGS
  Technically second-tier corps in the market (but don’t 
  say that to any of their executives’ faces!), the Cogs 
  have all found a place to make a profit while looking to 
  advance one step higher. Each has their own special-
  ized niche or a broad diversity that can’t match sales 
  with the big guns, but they’re always hungry for more.
  AZTECHNOLOGY
  While the Azzies have, as always, been happy to steal 
  technology, file off the serial numbers, then re-market 
  it as their own at a lower cost (and much lower quality), 
  the past few years have seen a turnaround that makes 
  them an actual consideration. They’ve always had 
  knockoff Ares drones on hand, but the war with Sirrurg 
  resulted in some bottomless R&D budgets and risk-tak-
  ing of the sort that tends to bear fruit. With “Dragon-
  Slaying” miltech having gone nova-hot, they’re seeing 
  a market hungry for their weaponized drones. Beyond 
  this, they’ve long had a significant presence in the field 
  of consumer drones, and the marketing push for “Juan” 
  is creating record sales. If they can keep this up for a 
  decade, or if Ares keeps falling, they could move up.
  > 
  While the Azzies are selling a lot of combat drones, they 
  don’t use them anywhere north of Monterrey; flying 
  death machines are all well and good for blowing away 
  Awakened critters and conscripted peasants, but they’re 
  not high-quality enough to face CAS electronic-warfare 
  specialists, let alone Pueblo.
  > 
  Kane
  EVO
  Traditionally third in the military side, behind Ares and 
  MCT, Evo continues to invest in both military and secu-
  rity drones, as well as large-scale industrial technology. 
  The one area that they continue to lead is submersible 
  drones, focusing on the industrial and exploratory rath-
  er than the artistic like Sony. Of particular note is that 
  Evo drones are notorious for being clunky but borderline 
  indestructible, reflecting the Russian technological her-
  itage that they now stamp on so many of their goods. 
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  > 
  And, again, they have a huge space focus via CosMos. 
  Honestly, Clockwork, the world doesn’t end with the 
  atmosphere.
  > 
  Orbital Bandit
  > 
  You don’t see them in North America often, but  Yamatetsu 
  makes slick drones for the Asian market.
  > 
  Sunshine
  SAEDER-KRUPP
  An odd duck, S-K should be scrapping hand-to-hand 
  (or, well, claw) with MCT in this field, but they’ve never 
  seemed too interested. They have the technology, the 
  computer expertise, and the industrial demand—hell, 
  they already have ludicrously large machines like the 
  Bagger 318, and when they decide to create a high-end 
  pilot program, it’s a thing of perfection. But Lofwyr just 
  never seems to care, so the drones are rare, if excellent.
  > 
  I asked a source about this. Their thought is that “Playing 
  with dolls is for children. Golden Snout was born too old 
  for that.” As always, take with a grain of salt.
  > 
  Frosty
  SHIAWASE
  With Mitsuhama, Renraku, Sony, and Evo (formerly Yama-
  tetsu) all operating out of Japan, you wouldn’t think that 
  Shiawase would find a niche, and yet here they are. They 
  have an investment in “drone homes,” living quarters that 
  network with a central administrator to keep lights, sounds, 
  and supplies at optimal levels, but their real money is sunk 
  into agricultural robots and in medical telepresence. The 
  quiet war between them and Sony in senior-care robotics 
  is vicious, and they recently leveled a shot across the bow 
  of Horizon, letting them know in no uncertain terms that 
  they shouldn’t consider the market of selling agricultural 
  support to the NAN to be an open field.
  > 
  That was an odd one, as Horizon only recently entered 
  the agricultural market via the Wind River Corporation. 
  They’re using Renraku models, with their own drone 
  production being cinematic in focus. Wonder if there’s 
  more to this?
  > 
  Sunshine
  > 
  There’s always more. You, of all people, should know that.
  > 
  Icarus
  DRONE 
  MODIFICATION
  While every rigger mods their cars, not many do many 
  mods with their drones other than strap guns onto 
  them. In part this is due to the compact design leaving 
  little space, but surprisingly few riggers even consider 
  that they can make mods in the first place. Vehicles are 
  investments while drones are “toys,” and thus, dispos-
  able. Time to think again.
  These rules provide detailed options for drones and 
  can be used as an optional rules system for adding mod-
  ifications to them. Players who do not want to use a sep-
  arate system can use the rules provided in the Building 
  the Perfect Beast chapter (p. 150).
  THE BASICS
  Drones have a much more limited space to work with 
  than ordinary vehicles. Every drone is given a number 
  of Mod Points equal to their Body. These Mod Points 
  work vaguely like Essence, a reserve of points that is 
  gone once they’re all used up, meaning no further mod-
  ifications are possible unless you first rip something out. 
  Some drones have some, or all, of their Mod Points al-
  ready spent in order to carry advanced equipment. Due 
  to this, a new indicator has been added to the drone 
  attributes that shows how many points are available 
  for a new drone of that make, shown thusly: Body X(Y), 
  where X is the actual Body rating of the drone while (Y) 
  is how many points are available. In many cases, this is 
  the same number, but not always. Drones from other 
  SR5 supplements have been added to the master chart 
  with this taken into account. Several older drones have 
  had their stats adjusted to fit the rules presented in this 
  book. This new statline replaces the original details for 
  games using Rigger 5.0, otherwise the older information 
  remains valid. 
  ADDING UPGRADES
  Adding an upgrade is easy enough: Check to see if 
  you have enough Mod Points available, find someone 
  to do the work (this can be yourself, of course), and 
  pay the fee. Once it’s installed, you’re good to go. 
  As an added bonus, all drones have a bit of wiggle 
  room for expansion, be it more memory and more 
  advanced software installs for the Pilot program, a 
  better grade of engine component for speed, and so 
  on. This means that any drone may have an attribute 
  increased from the base by 1 (or 3 for Armor) with-
  out expending any Mod Points. Increasing an attri-
  bute further than that requires at least a partial re-
  build, and the expenditure of Mod Points equal to the 
  increase minus 1. This means a +2 Speed increase 
  costs 1 Mod point, while +4 Speed would cost 3, and 
  so on. The only attribute that can never be increased 
  is Body; this is the inherent frame of the drone, and if 
  you want it bigger, you should just buy a larger mod-
  el. Adding one attribute point requires an appropri-
  ate toolkit, while more extensive upgrades require an 
  appropriate shop. 
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  ENDURING DOWNGRADES
  Drones may also be given Downgrades, worsening an 
  aspect of the machine by using inferior parts. The ad-
  vantage to this is that you could trade off a feature that 
  you don’t care for as much in order to free up space for 
  what you need. In a car, this would be ripping out seats 
  to make a racing vehicle faster, while in a drone this can 
  be removing sensors, going with a smaller and simpler 
  control computer, and so on. Any single attribute may 
  be worsened by 1 (or 3 for Armor), providing 1 Mod 
  Point. This cannot be used to lower an attribute below 
  1 except in the case of Speed (which can go to 0), and 
  obviously the attribute must be lowerable (So, no re-
  ducing a 1 to a 1 for a free Mod Point!). Furthermore, 
  no matter how many Downgrades you make, you only 
  receive a single extra Mod Point.
  ATTRIBUTE 
  MODIFICATIONS
  The most basic level of mod, attribute modification lets 
  you change the attribute of your drone. The one thing 
  to remember is that a drone’s attributes can never by 
  higher than twice their starting value (so if you had a 
  Handling of 3, it can never be modified higher than 6). 
  When you need to use a 0 for the math, like a micro-
  drone’s Body score, use 0.5 instead. No multiplying by 
  0 to get infinite free upgrades—nice try, though.
  HANDLING
  (Availability = Upgraded Rating x 2)
  Better gyroscopes, improved shocks, spoilers and 
  airdams, counterbalancing rotors, and more. Of the 
  physical components, only speed is more expensive in 
  the long run! Cost equals the upgraded Handling mul-
  tipled by the Body, then multiplied by 200. This means 
  that increasing to Handling 5 on a Body 2 drone would 
  cost (5 x 2) x 200, or 10  x 200, or 2,000 nuyen.
  SPEED
  (Availability = Upgraded Speed x 2)
  Everybody loves more speed! Bigger engines, better 
  engines, louder engines! The most expensive upgrade 
  for a drone, so brace for sticker shock! Cost equals the 
  upgraded Speed multiplied by the drone’s Body, then 
  doubled, then multiplied by 200. So increasing to a 
  Speed of 5 on a Body 2 drone would cost ((5 x 2) x 2) x 
  200, or (20) x 200, or 4,000 nuyen.
  ACCELERATION
  (Availability = Upgraded Rating x 4)
  A little nitro never hurt anyone, right?  Wait, it can 
  actually suffocate you? Oh. Well. Regardless! Brace for 
  G-forces, it’s better Acceleration! Cost equals the up-
  graded Acceleration multiplied by the drone’s Body, 
  then multiplied by 200. Increasing to an Acceleration of 
  2 on a Body 2 drone would cost (2 x 2) x 200, or (4) x 
  200, or 800 nuyen.
  BODY
  (Availability = Mod Points Gained x 3)
  While it cannot be upgraded, you can make some 
  tradeoffs on integrity for modification diversity. That is 
  to say, if you get a lighter, more fragile frame, you can do 
  more things with the weight savings—but when things 
  break, they break badly. Reducing the drone’s Body by 1 
  produces 2 Mod Points, resulting in a net gain of 1 Mod 
  Point. A drone’s Body may not be reduced lower than 
  half the starting value in this way. Thus, a Body 3 drone 
  may be reduced to 2 Body for 1 Mod Point, but not to 1 
  as this is lower than half the starting Body, which would 
  be 1.5.) 
  ARMOR
  (Availability = Upgraded Rating, may be R or F)
  For some strange reason, people want their drones to 
  survive. Funny, that! Adding armor is frowned upon by po-
  lite society, however, so you might have to face a few ques-
  tions from authorities worried that you’re making some 
  kind of aerial assassination robot. Not that you’d do that, 
  of course. Armor greater than 6 is considered Restricted, 
  while Armor greater than 12 is Forbidden. In addition, Ar-
  mor is heavy. A drone may bear the weight of Armor equal 
  to three times its Body without a decrease in ability, but for 
  every 3 points beyond this, the drone suffers –1 Handling 
  and Speed, while every 6 points also reduces Acceleration 
  by 1. If this results in Handling dropping below 1, or either 
  Speed or Acceleration dropping below 0, then the drone 
  is unable to move at all. Cost equals the upgraded Armor 
  multiplied by the drone’s Body, then multiplied by 200. In-
  creasing to an Armor of 15 on a Body 3 drone would cost 
  (15 x 3) x 200, or 45 x 200, or 9,000 nuyen.
  SENSOR
  (Availability = Upgraded Sensor x 2)
  Cameras to see, mics to hear, and short-range radar 
  for parking. Sensors take many shapes and sizes, but 
  fortunately they don’t take the size of the drone’s frame 
  into account. Upgraded Sensors are thus much easier 
  to calculate. The cost is equal to the upgraded Sensor 
  rating x 1,000 nuyen. A single sensor may be upgraded 
  instead of the entire array for (Rating) x 100 nuyen.
  PILOT
  More on this under Software Solutions!
  OTHER MODIFICATIONS
  Each of the following mods is listed with a cost in Mod 
  Points, Availability, and nuyen. Not all mods are appro-
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  priate for all drones, of course; the gamemaster is the 
  final arbitrator in what is and isn’t allowed. 
  WEAPON MOUNTS
  Probably the most common drone mod is finding a 
  way to strap weapons onto one. Due to the small size 
  of drones, standard vehicle mounts aren’t always ap-
  propriate, so drones use weapon mounts from the fol-
  lowing chart. Each weapon mount added uses up the 
  listed number of Mod Points (listed as MP), allowing 
  a drone to sometimes mount several smaller weapons 
  rather than a single large one. All weapon mounts are 
  at least Restricted, while some are Forbidden outside of 
  military use as shown. In addition, authorities are quite 
  interested in what weapons are mounted in them! In 
  most nations, it’s illegal for a drone to mount anything 
  other than non-lethal weaponry. The CAS is a notable 
  exception to this rule.
  OPTION: POP-OUT MOUNTS
  Ordinarily a weapon mount is quite obvious, as is the 
  weapon mounted therein. Since shadowrunners tend 
  to have quite illegal things mounted on their drones, 
  this can be problematic, as you might imagine. There 
  are two disguises for weapon mounts that can be used 
  on drones. The first are blow-away panels. These are 
  simple coverings that are designed to be ejected just 
  before the weapon is triggered. Once blown away, the 
  weapon is left exposed and obvious, but this method 
  is both cheap and easy. Blow-away panels may be in-
  stalled with a simple Kit, and cost 25 nuyen x the MP of 
  the weapon mount. A Perception + Intuition [Mental] 
  (2) Test will reveal that there’s something covered, but 
  not what it is. Once the panel is blown away, it cannot 
  be recovered.
  The other option is “pop-up” weapons (or pop-out, 
  or pop-under as the case may be). These are weapons 
  stored inside the body of the drone, deployed on com-
  mand (requiring a Free Action), then retracted again with 
  another command (also a Free Action). Much harder to 
  detect (requiring a Perception (4) Test) and re-usable, 
  the mechanisms are a bit cumbersome and complex, 
  adding 1 to the number of MP consumed by a weapon 
  thus concealed. (For example, a standard mount with 
  pop-up options would cost 4 MP.)  Pop-up mounts may 
  be installed with a Shop, and they cost 100 nuyen x the 
  increased MP of the weapon.
  OPTION: EXPANDED 
  AMMUNITION BAY
  Unlike normal vehicular weapons, the tight constraints 
  of a drone’s body offer limited ammunition reserves. 
  JUST HOW FAST IS THAT, ANYWAY?
  While the speed of many vehicles was listed in SR5 (p. 
  200), there are advanced rules. Speed for drones is listed with 
  an appropriate letter code indicating its type of travel: G for 
  ground, R for rotor, J for jet, or W for water. When comparing 
  speed across modes, note that in order of relative speed, they 
  line up like this (from slowest to fastest): Water, Ground, Rotor, 
  and Jet. Drones will have trouble catching up to a drone or 
  vehicle traveling in a faster mode. For more information, see 
  chapter nine, Maximum Pursuit. 
  WEAPON MOUNTS
  MOUNT
  MP
  AVAIL
  WEAPON
  Micro
  0
  8R
  Single-shot bullet or dart. 
  Mini
  1
  4R
  Hold-out pistol, light pistol, 
  reach 0 melee weapons, 
  single-shot grenade
  Small
  2
  8R
  Heavy pistol, machine pistol
  Standard
  3
  10F
  Sub-machine gun, under-
  barrel grenade launcher
  Large
  4
  12F
  Shotgun, hunting rifle, 
  assault rifle, grenade 
  launcher
  Huge
  5
  16F
  Sniper rifle, light or medium 
  machine gun
  Heavy
  6
  20F
  Heavy machine gun, rocket 
  launcher, assault cannon
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  Any weapon mounted on a drone uses the weapon’s 
  normal ammunition limits, rather than the expanded 
  version of a vehicle’s. There are, however, two optional 
  ammunition bays for drones. The first is simply adding 
  a second bin, which holds the same number of am-
  munition as the weapon ordinarily holds, and a small 
  switching unit to feed the weapon when one runs dry. 
  This may be installed with a Kit, uses 1 MP, and costs 
  50 nuyen.
  The other option is a full belt-feed system, replacing 
  the weapon’s normal ammunition feed mechanism en-
  tirely. This requires a shop, makes the weapon belt-fed, 
  and provides enough room for an entire belt of 100 
  rounds. Additional expanded ammunition bays may 
  then be added, each holding another 100-round belt. A 
  belt-feed system requires a Shop, uses 2 MP, and costs 
  500 nuyen.
  REALISTIC FEATURES
  One of the most-requested modifications, realistic fea-
  tures are found on several spy drones, allowing them to 
  blend in with local birds or insects. This type of modifica-
  tion also remains popular with anthropomorphic drones 
  in an effort to humanize them. As the design approaches 
  a more realistic model, the cost, as you might imagine, 
  increases. Realistic features are available in four ratings, 
  each rating serving as the threshold on a Perception test 
  to tell if it’s machine or a living being. 
  Rating 1, Availability 2, Cost (Body x Body) x 100
  Rating 2, Availability 4, Cost (Body x Body ) x 500
  Rating 3, Availability 8, Cost (Body x Body ) x 1,000
  Rating 4, Availability 12R, Cost (Body x Body ) x 5,000 
  While many drones can be made realistic (receiving 
  Rating 1), allowing them to pass at a casual glance at a 
  distance or at night, wheels, quad fans, and so on are 
  quite difficult to disguise. Most drones cannot be given 
  Realistic Features beyond Rating 1, while some cannot 
  even obtain that level. (The gamemaster is the final arbi-
  trator on what is and isn’t appropriate.) Realistic Features 
  2 can be added with a Shop, but higher than this requires 
  a Facility (most drones this realistic are designed as such 
  before being sold).
  AMPHIBIOUS
  An amphibious drone comes in two ratings: Rating 1 
  allows it to float on the surface of a body of water, as 
  long as it’s relatively still, and while vulnerable to being 
  submerged, it’s waterproof on the underbody. Rating 
  2 Amphibious makes the entire drone waterproof, al-
  lowing it to be submerged without harm. Note that in 
  either case, you’ll want a motive system! Rating 1 re-
  quires a Shop, 1 Mod Point, and costs (Body x Body) x 
  100 nuyen. Rating 2 requires a Facility, 2 Mod Points, 
  and costs (Body x Body) x 1,000 nuyen.
  ASSEMBLY TIME 
  IMPROVEMENT
  Many drones are designed to be partially disassembled 
  to allow for ease of storage and transport, most nota-
  bly several winged drones whose propulsion method 
  and wings can be removed so that the entire rig can 
  be transported via car, then re-assembled for use. To 
  assemble or disassemble a drone with this modification 
  requires (Body) minutes and an appropriate Mechanics 
  + Logic test with a threshold of 2. This upgrade can be 
  done with a Shop, requires 1 MP, and costs (Body) x 
  100 nuyen.
  CUSTOMIZED
  Pure cosmetic differences, including flashing LED 
  lights, snazzy paint, or chrome trim, can make a world 
  of difference in making your drone what you want it 
  to be. There is no game effect from these mods, but 
  they’re pretty to look at! Customization can be done 
  with a Kit, uses no MP, and can cost anywhere from 
  10–10,000 nuyen.
  DRONE ARM
  Similar to a cyberarm, a drone arm is much cheaper due 
  to the lack of flesh-chrome connections and sensory 
  translation. Unless otherwise noted, use the standard 
  cyberlimb rules, though the limb costs half of the normal 
  price. (Upgrades for the arm are at full price, however.) A 
  drone’s cyberlimb starts with a Strength equal to its Body 
  and an Agility equal to its Pilot. If the drone is using the 
  arm for a test that would normally be Agility-based, use 
  the limb’s Agility, rather than the drone’s Pilot Rating. A 
  drone limb may have the base drone’s starting attributes 
  as much as doubled, no matter how many increases that 
  is. The limb attributes may not go higher. (This means a 
  Body 5 drone could have a strength increased from 5 to 
  10, ignoring the usual cap of +4 to an attribute, but may 
  not go higher.) Drone limb armor does not affect the 
  drone in any way, but having a limb provides +1 to the 
  physical condition monitor as normal. Adding a drone 
  arm requires a Shop and uses 1 MP.
  OPTION: PRIMITIVE ARM
  While a normal drone arm has a metahuman’s level 
  of functionality, some drones save money by using a 
  simpler arm. These arms have brushes, or suction cups, 
  with a more limited range of options. These limbs suf-
  fer –2 to any limit on tests requiring fine manipulation 
  or weapon use with that limb, but the limb costs ten 
  percent of the normal price, rather than fifty percent.
  DRONE LEG
  Walkers have legs, sometimes two, usually more. These 
  operate similar to a cyberleg, but much cheaper as per 
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  drone arms. Drone speed is never based on limb Agility, 
  so there is usually little point to upgrading this and, as per 
  drone arms, cyberlimb armor placed on a drone doesn’t 
  affect the drone in any way. Drone legs do not add extra 
  boxes to the drone’s Physical condition monitor. 
  GECKO GRIPS 
  By coating the motive systems with gecko-glove-like 
  materials, the drone can cling to virtually any surface. 
  This allows it to climb vertical, or even hang upside 
  down, as long as the surface has a Barrier Rating at 
  least equal to the drone’s Body x 3. Gecko grips require 
  a Shop, use 1 MP, and cost (Body x 3) x 50 nuyen. Note 
  that larger drones may have gecko grips, but will have a 
  hard time finding a surface able to hold them!
  IMMOBILE
  A drone that is immobile can’t move under its own 
  power. These drones have a Speed and Acceleration 
  of 0, which cannot be upgraded. On the positive side, 
  they gain +2 Mod Points for not having a drive train. 
  Making a drone immobile requires a Shop but doesn’t 
  cost anything other than a day’s labor.
  SKYGUIDE
  By linking with SkyGuide, a drone can use the network’s 
  own guidance systems to get where it needs to be. The 
  downside is that the system takes priority over the own-
  er’s commands, allowing the drone to be controlled by 
  the Guide, or Riggers employed by SkyGuide, against 
  the owner’s wishes. The upside is that SkyGuide pro-
  vides both a Navigation (6) autosoft and a Maneuver (6) 
  autosoft to any drone while it’s logged in to the network. 
  Standard issue on flying drones sold form 2078 forward, 
  it may be added to older drone with a Kit, requires 0 MP, 
  and costs 5 nuyen, plus a 10 nuyen/year user fee.
  SPOTLIGHT
  Mounted externally, a drone spotlight acts as a flash-
  light in all ways. It requires a Kit, uses 0 MP, and costs 
  50 nuyen.
  SUSPENSION MOD
  Ground drones have an easily modified undercarriage, 
  ultimately allowing the owner to replace the motive 
  systems with some work. The base Handling of these 
  suspensions is as follows; Standard 4/2, Tracked 3, or 
  Off-road 2/4. Changing from one to another requires 
  a Shop, uses no MP, and costs (Body x 3) x 100 nuyen.
  TIRE MOD
  Wheeled drones may have the wheels replaced in a 
  pinch, serving a role roughly akin to a modified sus-
  pension but not quite as good. The wheels increase the 
  lower Handling Rating by 1, while lowering the better 
  Handling by 2, until they are replaced again. (Thus, a 
  4/2 becomes a 2/3, while a 2/4 becomes a 3/2.) This 
  exchange requires a Kit, uses 0 MP, and costs (Body x 
  3) x 25 nuyen. (Note that the old tires may be kept and 
  this mod removed at a later time, restoring the normal 
  Handling.)
  SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
  What, you thought modern cars were all about me-
  chanical grease monkeys and wrenches? Pfft! If you’re 
  working on anything made in the past quarter-cen-
  tury, you need to know computers to get it to run, 
  and if you know computers, you’d know how much 
  you don’t know about the subject. For the most part, 
  both vehicles and drones are simple things, needing 
  enough brainpower to go from A to B, do something 
  when they arrive, then wait for more orders. Cars that 
  come when you signal or drones that swoop over an 
  area for recon are basic, but most riggers want to take 
  over for anything more complex. I’m here to tell you 
  that that’s not always needed. A good Pilot program 
  can handle more than you think, since you’re mostly 
  used to dog brains on low-end commercial models, 
  and while you’ve not been paying attention, the auto-
  soft market got smarter.
  PILOTS
  It all starts with the Pilot, the main brain of your new ma-
  chine. For ninety-five percent of the people out there, the 
  pilot of their car or house-cleaning drone is what they’re 
  used to. It can play music, keep your car at the right 
  speed, or clean up a spill, but you wouldn’t trust it with 
  anything important (he says, knowing full well that most 
  commuters tell their car where to go, then lean back, fire 
  up their commlink, and entertain themselves until the car 
  tells them that they’ve arrived, never realizing that they 
  have a two-ton bullet under their butt). Security drones 
  have a more advanced Pilot program, with advanced fire/
  don’t fire protocols based on potential targets in the area 
  (or the known value of stored supplies) that can also use 
  predictive algorithms to guess where you’ll be next when 
  you get out of sight. “Retail brains” are simple pilots on 
  par with cars, able to do one thing, for instance your taxes 
  or legal research, but nothing else. 
  Then you get fancy.
  Advanced Pilot programs are comparable not to 
  dogs, but to small children or, in some cases, adult meta-
  humans. There aren’t many that can make this claim, but 
  led by military research where drones had to account 
  for dozens of factors at once, Pilot programs have got-
  ten smarter. I’m partial to the Djinn-IV Pilot from Saed-
  er-Krupp myself; it’s like having a child around the 
  house, curious about everything and capable of some 
  astounding leaps of logic. The top-end programs are re-
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
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  stricted to military use, but I’ve gotten my hands on a 
  few and, each time, they’ve developed personalities be-
  yond what I ever expected. Like the armored personnel 
  carrier that liked to “dance” to the almighty Troggs.
  The Pilot program determines the Rating of the drone 
  as a whole, serves as the primary source of attributes for 
  skill tests, serves as a cap on the highest rating autosoft 
  the drone can run, and more. Is there any reason that it’s 
  in such high demand? Civilian Pilot programs are generally 
  Rating 2 (or, rarely, 1), restricted security Pilots are 3 to 4, 
  while military-grade Pilots (5 to 6) are Forbidden for gener-
  al use. Cost and Availability are shown on the chart below:
  AUTOSOFTS
  It all ends with autosoft programs, the detailed com-
  mands that ensure a Pilot does what you want, when 
  you want it. New autosofts are released every year—
  some expected, some quite the surprise. They don’t 
  cover all situations yet, but there’s much more a drone 
  can do than spy or shoot. Some of the most common 
  ones are shown below.
  A Pilot program may not run an autosoft of a higher 
  Rating than itself (meaning a Rating 3 Pilot may run an 
  Autosoft with a Rating of 1, 2, or 3, but not 4 or high-
  er). When using a rigger command console, the console 
  may run a higher-Rating autosoft and share that with the 
  drone, allowing it to exceed its normal capabilities. So if 
  you have an Aztechnology Crawler Clearsight 6 autosoft 
  slotted into your RCC, each of your Aztechnology Crawl-
  ers may use it at the full value of 6.
  Some skills are Restricted or Forbidden. Those will be 
  indicated on the individual autosoft profile. Remember 
  also that an autosoft is designed for only a single drone; 
  you cannot slot a Clearsoft autosoft designed for an Az-
  technology Crawler into an Evo Proletarian. (Well, you 
  can; it just doesn’t do anything.) 
  SMARTSOFT (RESTRICTED)
  This is the same smartlink provided in eyeware or video 
  enhancements, integrated into the sensors of a vehicle 
  or drone. The Smartsoft is considered a Rating 3 auto-
  soft and allows the full use of smart weapons.
  GROUP
  A shared-signal autosoft that allows each drone 
  equipped with it to answer the same command, rather 
  than requiring you to issue commands to one at a time. 
  The Group autosoft is considered a Rating 2 autosoft.
  SKILLSET
  The Skillset autosoft gives the listed skill to the drone. 
  The Rating can be from 1 to 6 as normal, but note that 
  some Skillset autosoft are Restricted. The following 
  skills may be taken as an autosoft:
  Academic Knowledge (any single knowledge)
  Chemistry (Restricted) 
  Demolitions (Restricted)
  Electronic Warfare (Restricted)
  First Aid
  Hardware 
  Instruction
  Language (any single language)
  Lockpicking (Restricted)
  Mechanic (any single Mechanic skill)
  Medicine (Restricted)
  Melee (as Targeting, but for a specific melee combat 
  weapon)
  Navigation
  Performance (any single perform skill. Song-a-Mat 
  evolves!)
  Professional Knowledge (any single knowledge)
  SOFTWARE TWEAKS
  There are also some minor modifications that can be 
  made to programs that have no real effect on the over-
  all performance but allow for some customization. 
  PERSONALITY
  (Availability 4, Cost 100¥)
  Many people treat their drones as pets, and a per-
  sonality tweak can go a long way to help. A Pilot with a 
  Personality will develop a “flavor” all to itself, evolving 
  PILOTS
  RATING
  AVAIL
  COST
  1
  4
  100¥
  2
  —
  400¥
  3
  8R
  1800¥
  4
  12R
  3200¥
  5
  16F
  10,000¥
  6
  24F
  20,000¥
  AUTOSOFT PRICES
  While this is in the official SR5 Errata, not everyone has 
  access to the Internet and, quite frankly, there’s no better place 
  to list them than Rigger 5.0. So here they are!
  SOFTWARE
  AVAIL
  COST
  Autosoft (1–6)
  (Rating) x 2
  (Rating) x 500
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  a unique set of features over time depending on how 
  it’s treated and what it regularly does. Some are playful, 
  some are territorial, some adorably clumsy, some are 
  calm—the exact personality can be specified when pur-
  chased, but most allow their drone to develop naturally. 
  LINGUISTICS
  (Availability 4, Cost 50¥)
  When a drone is designed, it comes pre-loaded with 
  two languages: one native to the manufacturer and one 
  native to where it will be sold. In the UCAS, this is usually 
  Japanese and English, but not always. A Pilot may contain 
  as many Linguistics autosofts as its Rating, so few add more 
  than the initial two, but more can be added, or old ones 
  deleted and replaced, as long as room is present. Keep in 
  mind that Linguistics are used for verbal commands and 
  have a very limited vocabulary; you cannot use your mo-
  torcycle’s German Linguistics to eavesdrop on Hans Brack-
  haus and expect it to tell you what was said. Come here, go 
  there, shoot that guy, find the nearest McHugh’s, and sim-
  ilar commands are about as much as it can handle. (How-
  ever, there was enough demand that Renraku introduced 
  actual translation software, the Language autosoft, which 
  other corporations quickly picked up on.)
  DRONE CATALOG
  And now the part you’ve all been waiting for! I’ve 
  culled this list from several different sources, picking a 
  few personal favorites, some up-and-coming specials, 
  and some old classics. There’s a lot going on down be-
  low, so hang on to your command console!
  MICRODRONES
  HORIZON “NOIZQUITO”
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  The Aztlan-Amazonian War was ostensibly about two 
  nations fighting over resources, but it was also a proxy 
  war between Aztechnology and Horizon, who were 
  fighting for the hearts and minds of the world. In this 
  fight, Horizon attempted to act primarily through cat’s-
  paws and cut-outs, avoiding a direct confrontation that 
  could lead to bad press. Thus, rather than providing 
  weapons and materiel to the Amazonians, Horizon 
  developed a drone that could do what Horizon does 
  best—harass and annoy.
  The NoizQuito was developed as a flying micro 
  drone with a few special tricks. Visually similar to a 
  mosquito, the body of the drone can only house a small 
  number of features. The most prevalent and obvious of 
  these features is the speaker system. The drone can 
  blast sounds as loud as 160 decibels (which is the vol-
  ume of high-end race cars), which are used to produce 
  distractions and possibly even minor ear damage in 
  those unfortunate enough to be near the drone when 
  it activates. Additionally, the drone’s wings and body 
  are covered in small LEDs that are powerful enough to 
  produce blinding levels of light in a bewildering array 
  of strobe patterns.
  > 
  I hate these things. They hurt friends and foes alike, and 
  a swarm of them is enough to drive someone insane. 
  Whichever Horizon R&D guy designed this thing deserves 
  to be shot.
  > 
  Picador
  > 
  If you’d like, I can put together a package. PM me to make 
  arrangements.
  > 
  Cosmo
  > 
  Horizon didn’t get this drone out fast enough to make an 
  impact on the outcome of the war, and they lost out big on 
  the opportunity to advertise this drone to the world as a 
  result. They’re making their way through the market now, 
  but progress has been slow.
  > 
  Dr. Spin
  Standard Upgrades: Flying, speakers, strobes
  Game Information: When activated, the strobes im-
  pose a –2 penalty to all actions by those who are cur-
  rently looking in the direction of the drone. This penalty 
  is reduced to –1 if the target has flare compensation. 
  The speakers impose a –2 penalty to all actions by those 
  within earshot of the drone, which is lessened to –1 for 
  those with a sound damper system. If there are multiple 
  drones acting as a group, the penalties are cumulative 
  for each drone (meaning that if three drones are working 
  as one, the target can take as much as a –12 penalty to 
  all actions).
  Note: “Earshot” has the potential to be quite far, but 
  the physics calculations for determining actual earshot 
  are too complicated for a roleplaying game. As always, 
  the gamemaster has the final say in determining who (or 
  what) is affected.
  HORIZON “NOIZQUITO” (MICRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  3R
  2
  1
  0
  3
  3
  10R
  2,000¥
  SONY GOLDFISH
  (PILOT WATERCRAFT)
  Sized to realistic proportions and capable of dives of 
  up to four meters deep, the Renraku Goldfish is a prime 
  example of an entry-level water drone, suitable as a 
  trainer for youths who look toward a future as robotic 
  operators or hobbyists who wish to explore local wa-
  tering holes below the surface.
  Standard Upgrades: Submersible
  Similar Models: Mitsuhama Minnow, NeoNET Pinkeens
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
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  > 
  You’d be amazed how many executives have fish tanks in 
  their office. Nobody expects a water-based bug. It can be 
  expensive to make them realistic-looking, but the payoff 
  can be worth it.
  > 
  Sunshine
  > 
  Keep in mind that water does awful things to signal 
  strength. You’ll have to get back in to retrieve the data.
  > 
  Sounder
  SONY GOLDFISH (MICRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/4
  1W
  1
  0
  0
  2
  2
  6
  500¥
  MINIDRONES
  AERODESIGN SYSTEMS 
  CONDOR LDSD-23
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  Solar-powered and hydrogen-filled, the Condor is a 
  long-duration observation drone constructed with 
  transparent and radar-invisible materials, allowing 
  it to hover in place for days, even weeks, rather than 
  the hours that a conventional drone can manage. The 
  trade-off, of course, is that the Condor is completely 
  vulnerable if detected and unable to flee. While the 
  Condor’s balloon is nearly as large as kitchen table 
  when inflated, when deflated the entire unit is smaller 
  than a bowling pin.
  Similar Models: Ares Cloudship, Renraku Buzzard
  AERODESIGNS CONDOR (MINI DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  0R
  0
  1(1)
  0
  2
  4
  6R
  4,000¥
  AZTECHNOLOGY HEDGEHOG
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  A specialized sub-design of the Aztechnology Crawler, 
  the Hedgehog is the leading security-sniffing drone on 
  the market today. Intended to find opposition command, 
  control, and communication broadcasts, it can listen in 
  passively while running decrypting software. Parked in 
  a hidden location, it can eavesdrop for up to forty-eight 
  hours on a single charge, gathering data by the gigapulse.
  Standard Upgrades: Electronic Warfare (2) Autosoft, 
  Similar Models: Ares NS-Aardvark, Lone Star Mock-
  ingbird
  > 
  Age hasn’t been terribly kind to the Hedgehog. It’s still 
  good, but wireless protocols have advanced since it rolled 
  out.
  > 
  Rigger X
  AZTECHNOLOGY HEDGEHOG (MINI DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  1G
  1
  1(0)
  0
  4
  3
  8F
  8,000¥
  CYBERSPACE DESIGNS 
  DRAGONFLY
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  Perhaps the smallest drone-hunting drone in produc-
  tion today, the Dragonfly is designed to follow sur-
  veillance drones anywhere they hide and bring them 
  down. A sleek quad-copter design with in-body ro-
  tors that are protected from collisions in tight corners, 
  the Dragonfly comes pre-equipped with a chomping 
  “beak” of blades, allowing it to shear through the wings 
  or body of other mini-or-micro-drones, ripping them 
  from the sky. Against larger drones, the Dragonfly can 
  swarm, nipping away in small bites, but it isn’t designed 
  to cut through any appreciable levels of armor plating.
  Standard Upgrades: Melee Bite (Acc 3, Reach —, 
  Dam 3P, AP –2), Targeting (Melee) Auotsoft
  Similar Models: Ares Sparrowhawk, Renraku Yokujin
  > 
  The Ares Sparrowhawk is similar but mounts a modified 
  Ares Light Fire 70. Gotta love the CAS.
  > 
  Kane
  CD DRAGONFLY (MINI DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  2P
  1
  1(0)
  3
  3
  2
  12R
  4,000¥
  FESTO PIGEON 2.0
  (PILOT EXOTIC VEHICLE)
  Saeder-Krupp’s small Festo subsidiary mastered the 
  art of lifelike simulation for drones, producing the first 
  realistic flying “bird drone” almost fifty years ago. The 
  design has continued to be refined over the decades, 
  and now stands as a work of art. The baseline model 
  is a chrome-plated beauty, but a more lifelike model 
  is available and is commonly used as a surveillance 
  drone. 
  Similar Models: Sony Nightingale, Renraku Bluebird
  Standard Upgrades: Realistic Features (1)
  FESTO PIGEON 2.0 (MINI DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  2P
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  2
  8
  3,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    129
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  HORIZON CU^3
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A simple single-fan vectored thrust drone, the CU is 
  a cheaper version of the professional camera drones 
  used by most major trideo broadcasters. The fan traded 
  off speed for stability and whisper-quiet operation, al-
  lowing the camera to focus on the target without over-
  whelming the sound with the typical whirly-whoosh. 
  Hugely popular with the P2 crowd, where it follows 
  them everywhere and records their day, allowing them 
  to do live updates or edit the footage later. The profes-
  sional version has an improved camera, Pilot, and soft-
  ware, and usually operates in threes (thus the cubed 
  designation), allowing for three camera angles in any 
  given scene.
  Similar Models: MCT Redlight, Evo CultureCapture
  Standard Upgrades: Clearsight (2) Autosoft
  Optional Upgrades: Professional Upgrade: Pilot in-
  creased to (4), Clearsight increased to (4), for +3,000¥
  HORIZON CU^3 (MINI DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  1P
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  3
  4
  3,000¥
  RENRAKU GERBIL
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  A tiny wheeled drone, the Gerbil’s sized to travel 
  through not only any ventilation shaft, but most pipes, 
  allowing it to enter a surprisingly large number of oth-
  erwise-secure areas. It’s surprisingly quick and nimble, 
  able to evade most pursuit from metahumans long 
  enough to find a hidey-hole, 
  Similar Models: GM-Nissan Mouse, MCT Zipper
  > 
  A touch larger than most spy drones, the Gerbil uses that 
  extra size for a speedy motor. Not a tradeoff for everyone, 
  but certainly interesting.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  RENRAKU GERBIL (MINI DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  2G
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  2
  4
  2,000¥
  RENRAKU SCUTTLER  
  REMOTE CYBERHAND
  (PILOT WALKER)
  A subtle way to sneak a drone into an area, the Renraku 
  Scuttler is a detachable cyberhand that includes remote 
  rigger controls and a computer system to allow for re-
  mote operation. The middle digit is further equipped 
  with a sensor suite (if a poor one), while the other four 
  are used for locomotion. The Scuttler has manipula-
  tive ability that similarly sized drones lack, but it isn’t 
  as quick or nimble due to the shape constraints of the 
  metahuman hand. Due to the size of the drone system, 
  the Scuttler lacks any Capacity for further upgrades.
  Similar Models: Evo Hi-Five, Ares Thing
  SMALL DRONES
  ARES ARMS SENTRY V  
  (AND MERCURY)
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  The venerable Sentry rail-drone system has some three 
  decades of experience behind it. Hanging from a rail-
  ing, the Sentry can traverse an entire facility via small 
  “doggie doors” high on the walls, giving them com-
  plete access to areas without compromising security. 
  The Sentry both draws power and accepts commands 
  via the rail system, leaving it impervious to wireless hi-
  jacking and, due to being kept on a secondary, dedi-
  cated power supply, functional even when the rest of 
  the facility is blacked out. In the mid-’60s, enterprising 
  Ares executives decided to take advantage of the rail 
  system by creating the Mercury, an unarmed courier 
  that would allow messages or packages to be shuttled 
  around the office with greater reliability and safety. As 
  the Sentry was nigh-ubiquitous, the Mercury is now 
  found in over ninety percent of Ares facilities, serving 
  as a mobile mailbox. In the event of an active hostile 
  situation, Mercuries store themselves out of the way, 
  leaving the rails clear for Sentry deployment. 
  Standard Upgrades: Standard weapon mount, Colt 
  Cobra TZ-120, 30 standard ammo, Targeting autosoft 
  (3), SmartSoft
  Similar Models: Shpagina Evo-2, Shiawase Minebea 
  GridSys
   
  ARES SENTRY (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/—
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  4R
  4,000¥
  CITRON-BROUILLARD  
  SMOKE GENERATOR
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  A simple design, the tracked Smoke Generator is 
  equipped with a single function: creating smoke 
  screens. Capable of generating clouds for up to twelve 
  minutes, and IR-blocking thermal smoke for three more, 
  it can be kept stationary, creating a billowing screen 
  some 150 meters in diameter, or left rolling, in which 
  CYBERWARE
  CYBERWARE
  ESS
  CAP
  AVAIL
  COST
  Remote Cyberhand
  0.25
  (5)
  8
  8,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  130    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  case it creates a smoky trail 100 meters wide by 250 
  meters long. In either case, the ten-meter-high cloud 
  begins to dissipate one minute after the smoke gen-
  erator is turned off, at which point it becomes a light 
  cloud. It fully vanishes a minute after that. 
  Standard Upgrades: Smoke generator (holds twelve 
  one-minute doses of smoke and three one-minute dos-
  es of thermal smoke)
  > 
  You can fill the tank with other gasses, but don’t expect 
  that kind of volume. The Brouillard’s proprietary smoke 
  fuel is legendary.
  > 
  Rigger X
  C-B SMOKE GENERATOR (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  0
  2
  2
  8
  4,000¥
  CYBERSPACE DESIGNS 
  WOLFHOUND
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A basic recon drone that sacrifices durability or arma-
  ments for high-send sensors and breakneck speed, the 
  Wolfhound is the only drone of its size that’s broken 
  the sound barrier. It usually stays at subsonic speeds, 
  to better conceal its skyward location.
  Similar Models: Ares Sergeant, S-K Dawnrider
  CD WOLFHOUND (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2J
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  4
  12
  30,000¥
  EVO PROLETARIAN
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  The mechanic’s best friend. These little guys are amaz-
  ing. At the core, it’s a simple dome-headed, three-
  wheeled drone with a single functional arm, but they’re 
  just about perfect for pitching in around the garage. 
  They’re advanced enough to be trusted with simple 
  work, banging out dents, changing tires, checking 
  the oil, and so on, but they are also handy assistants 
  for harder work, presenting you with tools when you 
  need them, keeping vehicle schematics displayed on 
  their chest screen, and keeping an eye on things when 
  you’re beneath an undercarriage. They even have good 
  speakers for use as a mobile stereo system. Evo hired 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  EVO PROLETARIAN
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    131
  (order #9639630)
  
  Renraku to create a wide array of autosofts for them, 
  giving them an option for repairing anything, handling 
  electrical or construction work, even serving as butlers 
  as parties. 
  Standard Upgrades: Drone arm (Strength 4, Agility 
  2), Automotive Mechanic Toolkit, Automotive Mechanic 
  (2) autosoft
  > 
  Like you’ve ever been to a party.
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  They serve as cheap labor in some areas, taking entry-
  level jobs from metahumans. I can’t tell if the name is 
  ironic or tragic.
  > 
  Chainmaker
  EVO PROLETARIAN (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  2G
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  6
  4,000¥
  FERRET RPD-1X WHEELED 
  PERIMETER DRONE
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  One of the oldest security drones still in production, 
  the Ferret is a small patrol drone used as a cheap al-
  ternative to security guards. Armed with a flashlight 
  and a taser, it’s perfectly able to handle drunk college 
  students and would-be trespassers, but shadowrunners 
  are a different breed. That said, they see wide use in 
  college campuses, shopping malls, and many homes, 
  serving as basic light security. It should be noted that 
  they’re awful off-road, and so they need to stay on es-
  tablished paths.
  Standard Upgrades: Mini weapon mount, Defiance 
  Shocker, 4 taser darts, flashlight
  Similar Models: Aztechnology IDS, NeoNET Janus
  > 
  Since they’re so common, it’s a good idea to keep one or 
  two around the house where you can mod the exterior to 
  match the ones protecting a site, allowing you to have a 
  Trojan Horse that can blend in for pre-scouting.
  > 
  Hard Exit
  > 
  You can laugh off one easily enough, but when a dozen of 
  them pile on, that voltage hurts!
  > 
  2XL
  FERRET RPD-5X (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  1G
  1
  2(1)
  3
  3
  3
  8R
  4,000¥
  FESTO SEWER SNAKE
  Able to both slither and swim, the Sewer Snake’s long, 
  narrow design allows it to access areas that different-
  ly shaped drones cannot and handle whatever envi-
  ronmental conditions it faces. The Snake’s surface is 
  coated with several small gecko grip points, allowing 
  it to climb vertically when pressed, and it can handle 
  the pressure of a ten-meter dive. There’s little room for 
  further modification, but in terms of eyes that can go 
  anywhere, you’re hard-pressed to beat the Snake.
  Standard Upgrades: Submersible, gecko grips
  > 
  I hate this thing. I hate snakes, and this moves so 
  realistically that it triggers my phobia.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Rumor has it that Saeder-Krupp has a larger version that’s 
  weaponized for assassination.
  > 
  Plan 9
  FESTO SEWER SNAKE (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  1G/1W
  1/1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  10
  6,000¥
  HORIZON MINI-ZEP
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A simple lighter-than-air drone, the Mini-Zep’s only 
  notable due to the electrochromatic coating along the 
  airbag’s surface. This allows the Mini-Zep to be pro-
  grammed with ads for virtually anything and they can 
  either be scrolled through or changed completely with 
  a simple wireless signal from the home office. They also 
  have a small radio transmitter inside, allowing them to 
  spam AR ads to any nearby commlink. Due to being 
  a LtA drone pushed gently with fans, they can easily 
  loiter for eight hours, giving maximum eyeball time to 
  their ads. In emergency situations, they can even do 
  live rebroadcasts of weather alerts, law enforcement 
  APBs, or anything else. 
  Standard Upgrades: Electrochromatic coating
  > 
  You can’t go a block in any metroplex’s downtown without 
  having one of these things blaring at you. Damned 
  nuisances.
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  Super-fun to hack, however! You can post all kinds of 
  pictures on these things. Hubba hubba!
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  HORIZON MINI-ZEP (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  0P
  0
  2(4)
  0
  2
  2
  4
  2,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  132    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  KNIGHT ERRANT  
  P5 PURSUIT DRONE
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  An unusual “limpet” drone stored in some Knight Errant 
  police cruisers, the P5 is a small drone that sacrifices du-
  rability for raw speed. When at top speed, the batter-
  ies last a whopping ten minutes, but that’s more than 
  enough for this little beast. The P5 drops down from be-
  neath the cruiser, races ahead, then magnetically attach-
  es itself to the undercarriage of the pursued vehicle. This 
  allows KE to follow the wireless signal instead of engag-
  ing in a high-speed chase. Simple, but effective.
  > 
  The drone’s broadcast signal is based off a second battery 
  and has a twenty-four hour life; plenty for KE to come find 
  you.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  There are some sneaky runners out there who fill these 
  things with plastique. Ride go boom!
  > 
  Red Anya
  KNIGHT ERRANT P5 (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  6G
  2
  2(1)
  0
  3
  2
  10R
  8,000¥
  LONE STAR CASTLE GUARD
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  “Worried about your loved ones being victims of a late 
  night? Stay at work safely while Lone Star guards your 
  castle!” Notice the subtle dig at their primary law en-
  forcement rivals? Lone Star is unique in the home-se-
  curity drone market in offering a pistol-armed drone, 
  as opposed to the non-lethal options other security 
  drones carry as standard arms. Much more common 
  in the CAS than the UCAS, the Castle Guard ads push 
  that lethal force is the only true way to keep your family 
  safe while you’re grinding away at your job. The Guard 
  comes with four SmartSafety bracelets to ensure that 
  it can’t accidentally fire at family members, and addi-
  tional bracelets, or pet collars, can be purchased for 
  50 nuyen each. The drone itself is average-sized, four-
  wheeled, and has enough armor to turn aside small 
  arms or baseball bats, but not so much that one going 
  wild can’t be easily stopped by heavier firepower. The 
  marketing on these things is damned impressive, even 
  if the actual drone’s average at best.
  Standard Upgrades: Light weapon mount, Targeting 
  autosoft (3), Smartsoft, four SmartSafety bracelets
  > 
  Keep in mind, drones made in the CAS use different tools 
  than the metric tools that everyone else on the planet 
  uses. You need to buy new kits to work on ‘em.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  I had to go take a look. 3/16ths of an inch! Who the frag 
  thought these measures were a good idea?!
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  LS CASTLE GUARD (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  8R
  10,000
  MITSUHAMA GUN TURRET
  (NO PILOT REQUIRED)
  If you’ve ever gone into a Zero Zone, you’ve run into 
  these bad boys. MCT’s been selling them to anyone 
  with nuyen to wave around for over fifty years. They’re 
  immobile (other than rotating), but they’re both cheap 
  and well-armored, allowing them to do the job effi-
  ciently. The most common variants are Retractable or 
  Up-Armored, but some choose a larger weapon mount 
  instead.
  Standard Upgrades: Standard weapon mount
  Standard Downgrades: Immobile
  > 
  MCT normally uses these in packs of three. One will be 
  obvious, such as just above the front door of a facility, and 
  well-armored. There’s often a handy planter to hide behind 
  and observe it. While you do that, two more guns pop up 
  behind your flanks in a triangle while you’re watching 
  forward. Simple but effective.
  > 
  Hard Exit
  > 
  As runners learned to watch behind them for that, MCT 
  upped the game and put land mines around the planters. 
  Guns pop up, you take cover naturally, and then it turns 
  out that the whole game was to get you behind that cover 
  so that radio-detonated mines could take you out. Zero 
  Zones, chummer. They’re not worth it.
  > 
  Stone
  MCT GUN TURRET (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  —
  —
  —
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  4R
  4,000¥
  MITSUHAMA SEVEN 
  Launched on New Year’s Day 2077, the Mitsuhama Sev-
  en are intended to capture the North American casual 
  drone market, targeting both drone beginners and ad-
  vanced modders with the same product. The Seven (a 
  number chosen for marketing reasons) is a bare-bones 
  model with laughable programming. These things are 
  half-blind but dirt cheap. While the “Seven Dwarves” 
  have official numerical designations (77-MPD-01, 02, 
  03, etc.), they quickly developed nicknames that stan-
  dardized across the Matrix. The core wheeled model 
  is “Wheelie,” treaded is “Treads,” off-road suspension 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    133
  (order #9639630)
  
  is “Dirty,” the four-legged “Quad,” the surface-aquatic 
  “Swims,” the quad-copter “Hovers,” and the traditional 
  flyer “Soars.”  I never claimed that they were good nick-
  names, but they’re better than numbers, right?
  Standard Upgrades: Fragile (1)
  > 
  It’s all about the after-market mods on these things. The 
  base models are junk.
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  I know that they’re designed fragile to bring customers 
  back for replacements often, but Goddamn, I think the last 
  batch I bought were made out of tissue paper. They just 
  fell the hell apart.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  After an Aztlan patrol boat shot them.
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  I know, right? Too fragile.
  > 
  Kane
  MCT SEVEN (WHEELIE) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  2G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  2,000¥
  MCT SEVEN (TREADS) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  2
  2,000¥
  MCT SEVEN (DIRTY) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/4
  2G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  2
  2,000¥
  MCT SEVEN (QUAD) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  1G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  4
  2,000¥
  MCT SEVEN (SWIMS) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2W
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  4
  1,000¥
  MCT SEVEN (HOVERS) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  1P
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  6
  4,000¥
  MCT SEVEN (SOARS) (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2J
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  8
  4,000¥
  NEONET PRAIRIE DOG
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  Recently decommissioned by the PCC military, the Prai-
  rie Dog was the Pueblo military’s standard jamming/
  ECM drone for infantry platoons. The large off-road 
  wheels and shocks allow it to handle the worst terrain 
  with ease, with plenty of speed to keep pace with dis-
  mounted infantry. The Prairie Dog’s distinctive anten-
  nae are no less impressive, even with the reduction in 
  capabilities given this de-militarized version. 
  Standard Upgrades: Electronic Warfare (3) autosoft, 
  directional jammer (4), area jammer (6)
  NN PRAIRIE DOG (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/4
  2G
  1
  2(0)
  3
  3
  4
  12F
  8,000¥
  PRATT & WHITNEY 
  SUNDOWNER
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A simple, low-speed aircraft used in agriculture to spray 
  fields, or more rarely for skywriting for those looking 
  for some retro communication. The Sundowner isn’t 
  great but has little competition in this niche.
  Standard Upgrades: Aerial chemical sprayer (holds 
  ten doses of a chemical, each able to cover a line 125 
  meters long, twenty-five meters wide, and ten meters 
  high; these large spray doses cost ten times the normal 
  cost of a dose)
  Similar Models: Shiawase Hyakusho, Aztechnology 
  Roundup
  > 
  If they look familiar, it’s because they were used to saturate 
  Bug City with Strain III.
  > 
  Puck
  > 
  That didn’t exactly go as planned.
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  Especially for the ghouls.
  > 
  Hanibelle
  P&W SUNDOWNER (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  4P
  1
  2(0)
  0
  2
  2
  8
  10,000¥
  PROTEUS A.G. “KRAKE”
  (PILOT WATERCRAFT)
  Proteus A.G. is well known for its arkoblocks, and the 
  corp had a well-publicized spat with Ares in 2063. 
  Since the Corporate Court’s ruling against Proteus, they 
  have attempted to submerge themselves into their pri-
  vate research. While shadowrunners typically have had 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  134    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  difficulty infiltrating these facilities to perform corpo-
  rate espionage, one team recently managed to surface 
  with plans for a very unique drone.
  > 
  This drone is simply fintastic!
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Water you talking about?
  > 
  /dev/grrl/
  > 
  Make these puns stop!
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  Why are you so crabby?
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Oh whale. I sea what you did there. You shore did all that 
  on porpoise. You’re all washed up.
  > 
  /dev/grrl/
  > 
  Winner!
  > 
  The Smiling Bandit
  Since the best drone designs are based on natural 
  evolutionary perfection, Proteus decided to model the 
  design of the Krake drone on a squid. The six tentacles 
  are used to propel the Krake through the water and can 
  flex to provide a full range of motion options, making 
  this drone incredibly agile in the water. Additionally, one 
  of the tentacles is equipped with a plasma torch and 
  multitool, which are presumably used for underwater 
  welding and cutting tasks. Due to the small size of the 
  Krake, it can reach areas that are normally inaccessible 
  to metahumans.
  The seas are dangerous though, and Proteus has re-
  peatedly shown that they are willing to fight it out with 
  the merfolk and even the Sea Dragon. So the Krake 
  are occasionally retrofitted for security detail, adding 
  a small cluster of micro-torpedoes and a sort of “ink 
  pouch” feature. From the blueprints that were recov-
  ered, the micro-torpedoes have a limited payload, but 
  when used in a cluster they are more than devastating. 
  The “ink” that can be released by the Krake is designed 
  to scramble electronic sensors, as well as prevent visual 
  targeting.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  PROTEUS KRAKE
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    135
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  A word of warning: the payloads for these torpedoes 
  can be devastating. Instead of their typical explosive 
  warheads, some of them have been outfitted with a 
  chemical that eats through hulls.
  > 
  Sounder
  > 
  Word is that Evo NavTech is trying to find a way to utilize 
  this design for patrolling the waters of Kowloon Bay. If they 
  can figure out how to correct the effect of water refraction 
  on radio waves, they could have a fully autonomous 
  drone force that is nearly undetectable. Scary thought.
  > 
  2XL
  Standard Upgrades: Plasma torch, specialized weapon 
  (ink pouch), tool kit (Nautical Mechanic), weapon mount
  Game Information: The plasma torch can only be 
  used in immediate touch range, and therefore is useless 
  in combat scenarios.
  The ink pouch can release a cloud of manufactured 
  ink into the water along with a chafe of metal flakes. The 
  ink obscures vision (even electronic) in a five-meter ra-
  dius, applying a penalty equal to Heavy Smoke for any 
  attacks made through the cloud.
  The micro-torpedoes can be outfitted with either a 
  chemical or an explosive warhead. The explosive war-
  heads are treated as anti-vehicle rockets, providing –4 
  armor penetration to non-vehicle targets and providing 
  a –10 armor penetration to vehicular targets. The chemi-
  cal warheads apply an acidic adhesive to the target, pro-
  viding continuous damage to the target each Combat 
  Turn until the adhesive is removed with a simple solvent 
  (glue solvent, p. 448, SR5).
  PROTEUS ‘KRAKE’ (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  3W
  4
  2(0)
  2
  4
  3
  18F
  10,000¥
  MICRO-TORPEDO
  TYPE
  DAMAGE
  AP
  BLAST
  AVAIL
  COST
  Chemical
  6P
  –4
  1m radius
  18F
  3,000¥
  Explosive
  18P
  –4/–10
  –6/m
  18F
  2,500¥
  SAAB-THYSSEN BLOODHOUND
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  A hazardous-area exploration drone with advanced sen-
  sors, the Bloodhound is used to investigate areas that 
  might be contaminated by biological agents, chemicals, 
  or radiation before sending in organics. Not only can the 
  Bloodhound identify these materials, it also marks them 
  with small color-coded flags (equipped with RFID of 
  course). It also has a small scoop and storage compart-
  ment where it can collect and hold soil samples. 
  Standard Upgrades: Geiger counter (6), olfactory 
  scanner (8)
  S-T BLOODHOUND (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  0
  2
  4
  8
  10,000¥
  RENRAKU DOVE
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A Renraku product, the Dove is licensed exclusively to 
  GOD. It flits quietly around major sprawls, searching for 
  illegal wireless signals. While the Dove is, in general, an 
  unimpressive design, the radio-snooping technology 
  is top-notch, while the software can alert GOD opera-
  tives to activity, drawing attention from support opera-
  tors who then call in larger, more combative drones to 
  deal with the lawbreaker.
  Standard Upgrades: Radio signal scanner (6)
  RENRAKU DOVE-4 (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  2P
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  4
  5,000¥
  RENRAKU JARDINERO
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  Renraku has numerous lines all based on the same 
  chassis (which is why the Jardinero has the wrong sus-
  pension for the work it’s doing), but the Jardinero is the 
  top-selling, so gets the nod. The basic model is simply 
  an automated lawn mower, handling all of the upkeep 
  of suburban grass with silent electrical motors and 
  whisper-quiet blades, then returning to a solar recharge 
  station until told to mow again. Other versions handle 
  vacuum duties, floor polishing, repainting parking lots, 
  and similarly menial jobs.
  Similar models: Dozens
  > 
  There was, briefly, a version with an extendable arm 
  and hedge clippers for landscaping, but after a rather 
  hair-raising incident involving four of them, a crazed 
  Technomancer, and a Renraku exec, that line was, uh, 
  pruned.
  > 
  Baka Dabora
  > 
  While middle-class suburbanites love these things, 
  wealthier landowners hire metahuman landscapers as 
  a show of decadence. Renraku, of course, is the primary 
  source of those jobs. Gotta love Renraku’s cons; they’ll get 
  your money one way or the other.
  > 
  Haze
  RENRAKU JARDINERO (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/4
  1G
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  4
  2,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  136    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  RENRAKU JOB-A-MAT
  (NO PILOT REQUIRED)
  It all started with the Song-a-Mat, a simple desktop unit 
  that allowed consumers to put together music to their 
  own taste, allowing everyone to become a musician 
  of sorts. This revolutionized the entire music industry, 
  giving us today’s model where live performances are 
  the sign that you’ve made it, while struggling young 
  bands have to put out singles for wageslave pay. Since 
  then, Renraku’s found that the basic chassis was ide-
  al for loading other software modules into and a new 
  market was born. Keep in mind that Renraku never plas-
  ters their name on these things and that each of the 
  two dozen or so models is marketed in a different way. 
  The BarristaBot is marketed to small business owners 
  that want to add a small drink area, while the Intern line 
  fills up legal offices and insurance firms, grinding out 
  paperwork. 
  Standard Upgrades: Profession or Knowledge (2) 
  Autosoft
  Standard Downgrade: Immobile
  > 
  Renraku’s new focus on the service industry competes 
  directly with their Job-a-Mat line of drones, but each 
  brings in profit, so they push whichever one seems more 
  likely to break open a market.
  > 
  Haze
  > 
  Abominable things. It wasn’t enough to drive out the blue-
  collar workers?
  > 
  Chainmaker
  > 
  Keep in mind, these things only handle the basic functions. 
  When faced with an odd request, they call in rigger backup 
  to deal with the situation. There’s a big difference between 
  metahuman ability and Pilots. 
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  For now.
  > 
  Icarus
  RENRAKU JOB-A-MAT (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  —
  —
  —
  2(2)
  0
  2
  2
  4
  3,000¥
  RENRAKU PELICAN
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  You’ve seen these quad-copters around for years, but 
  I bet none of you knew what the actual name was. 
  Renraku keeps the marketing for these things aimed 
  at wholesale, not retail. The Pelican is a simple flying 
  drone with a modular storage compartment under-
  hung. Heated or cooled, they come in sizes for pizza, 
  noodle boxes, and more, and are used by everyone 
  from Pizza Hop to Heli-Taco to Heavenly Noodles, to 
  make sure you get your food in thirty minutes or less 
  anywhere in the sprawl. 
  Standard Upgrades: Storage compartment
  Similar Models: MCT Transporter-3, Evo Kourier
  > 
  The booming drone-livery market is what led to Renraku 
  developing the SkyGuide software. Nice to invent a 
  disease that you just happen to have a cure for, eh?
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  You hush your mouth! Those emergency deliveries of 
  SkyScoop ice cream save my bacon on a regular basis. 
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Goes without saying, but if you dress your drone in the 
  right paint, you can deliver more than food to an open 
  window without raising suspicion.
  > 
  Hard Exit
  RENRAKU PELICAN (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  2P
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  2
  4,000¥
  TELESTRIAN  
  INDUSTRIES SHAMUS
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  A rare entry from the secretive Telestrian Industries, the 
  Shamus is basically a forensic analysis laboratory rolled 
  into one compact drone. The drone’s design appears to 
  be partly canine, partly arachnid. Four legs with multi-
  ple joints support the body, while a cluster of sensors 
  in front suggest compound eyes below a more conven-
  tional head. The sensor suite built into the Shamus is 
  extremely impressive, boasting a full range of visual 
  sensors, X-ray scanners, ultrasound sensors, and even 
  a biomatter sampler for checking biological samples. 
  Additionally, the Shamus is capable of projecting a tri-
  deo display into open space, connecting to an investi-
  gator’s PAN to easily allow the investigator to re-create 
  a crime scene in real time.
  However, the feature that sets the Shamus apart 
  from all other drones in this space is the quicksilver cam-
  era. Normally a quicksilver camera requires a magician 
  to operate, but the Shamus has been outfitted with a 
  unique (and proprietary) blend of reagents that can op-
  erate the camera in lieu of a magician. Mana plates are 
  still required for operation, and they are available for pur-
  chase through Telestrian Industries-affiliated vendors.
  > 
  I call bullshit. There’s no way that Telestrian managed to 
  mix magic and tech without the whole world hearing 
  about it.
  > 
  Snopes
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    137
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  Normally I’d agree with you, but I’ve actually seen one 
  of these in use. The final product of their camera isn’t as 
  high-quality as that used by a magician, and it takes more 
  than twice as long to develop, but it works.
  > 
  Sunshine
  > 
  One could argue that all alchemy is a merger of mana 
  and technology. If I can use a gun or a cyberdeck as 
  an alchemical lynchpin, then why would this be much 
  different?
  > 
  Lyran
  > 
  Hagersburg’s police force has a Shamus. I heard that they 
  outfitted it with a personality chip that tells bad jokes and 
  responds to “Horatio.”
  > 
  Kay St. Irregular
  Standard Upgrades: Quicksilver camera, sensor ar-
  ray [Rating 8, w/ atmosphere sensor, camera (low-light, 
  normal, thermographic), Geiger counter, MAD scanner, 
  olfactory sensor, radio signal scanner, ultrasound, X-ray]
  Game Information: The quicksilver camera re-
  quires a mana-sensitive film plate (p. 214, Street Gri-
  moire) for each use. Standard rules for the quicksilver 
  camera apply, with the following changes: develop-
  ment time takes five minutes instead of two, and the 
  threshold for tests made with developed images are 
  increased by 1.
  TELESTRIAN SHAMUS (SMALL DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  3G
  1
  4(0)
  4
  3
  8
  10
  30,000¥
  MEDIUM DRONES
  ARES CHEETAH
  (PILOT WALKER)
  Originally more of a technological “Can we make this?” 
  from the early days of drone research than anything, 
  the Cheetah is the world’s fastest quad mech, matching 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  TELESTRIAN INDUSTRIES SHAMUS
  138    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  speed with any living animal and many of today’s cars. 
  This quad is based off of the African cheetah (obvious-
  ly) and trades maneuverability for raw speed. The claws 
  are just for traction, but the Cheetah comes with work-
  ing jaws that are quite able to chomp down on meta-
  humans if needed. Rarely, buyers replace the jaws with 
  a taser-equipped head whose teeth are just for show.
  Standard Upgrades: Fragile (1), Jaws (Acc 3, Reach 
  —, DV 5P, AP –3)
  > 
  Metahumans have never lost their primal fear of being 
  chased. The Cheetah takes full advantage of that.
  > 
  Icarus
  > 
  It’s true. Hearing copters buzz overhead or watching 
  wheeled drones roll around looking for you? All part of 
  the job. Seeing one of these chrome cats run someone 
  down and worry them with bites? Utterly terrifying.
  > 
  2XL
  ARES CHEETAH (MEDIUM DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  6G
  2
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  12R
  14,000¥
  EVO KROKODIL
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT/ 
  PILOT WATERCRAFT)
  A fine example of Russian design, the Krokodil looks to 
  be made entirely out of solid iron, welded at right an-
  gles, with Soviet-era tractor-treads and a clunky design 
  that’s ugly as sin but takes a beating and keeps on chug-
  ging. The Krok is a rare amphibious design, able to roll 
  into a river and pop out on the far side, never needing 
  to slow down. Beyond that, it’s a simple medium-sized 
  drone, easy to modify due to the basic design, but you 
  have to be careful that you reseal it properly or it’ll sink, 
  and while amphibious, it’s not submersible; the Krok 
  dies if you dunk it in more than a meter of water.  
  Standard upgrades: Amphibious
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  FEDERATED-BOEING KULL
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    139
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  The Krok does float, with only a tiny bit poking out of 
  the surface, allowing it to easily enter “loiter and record” 
  mode for hours. While many people would suggest flying 
  drones, since they’re more able to escape if detected, 
  most people these days know to glance around in the air 
  for spotters. Nobody ever looks down. 
  > 
  Sounder
  EVO KROKODIL (MEDIUM DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2G/3W
  1
  3(1)
  6
  2
  2
  8R
  12,000¥
  FEDERATED-BOEING KULL
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A mid-sized aerial drone with a small internal cargo 
  component, the Kull is best known for the underwing 
  “bomb racks” that allow it to attach a pair of disposable, 
  parachute-equipped supply crates. By flying over a tar-
  get zone, the Kull can quietly drop off supplies to a for-
  ward scout team, emergency medical supplies, and so 
  on. The Kull requires a much shorter landing strip than 
  a full-sized plane as well, making it an ideal smuggler.
  Standard Upgrades: Two single-use “bomb racks”
  Similar Models: Espirit Industries Recon-TF1, Saed-
  er-Krupp Bussard
  > 
  The Kull’s small enough to confuse radar, fast enough to 
  escape most drones, and dirt cheap.
  > 
  Kia
  > 
  Thing’s unarmed and unarmored, useless in a fight, and 
  the sensors are average at best.
  > 
  Rigger X
  F-B KULL (MEDIUM DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  4P
  2
  3(3)
  0
  3
  2
  4
  10,000¥
  MCT TUNNELER
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  Standard safety equipment at any mine and most other 
  resource-removing sites, the Tunneler is a basic crawler 
  drone fronted by a drilling mechanism, allowing it to create 
  a tunnel large enough for most metahumans to uncom-
  fortably shimmy through. Orks and trolls have to wait for 
  larger rescue machinery, but in the event of a collapse, 
  humans, dwarfs, and elves have an escape option. As you 
  can imagine, runners have been happy to use them for our 
  own nefarious ends, but the drilling is as loud as it is slow, 
  so don’t expect to get away with rapid silent intrusions.
  Standard Upgrades:  Drill mechanism (can dig 
  through a barrier with Armor 12 or less at a rate of 1 
  meter an hour.)
  > 
  These tunnels are usually unstable. More than one 
  person’s been killed when they collapse. 
  > 
  Traveller Jones
  MCT TUNNELER (MEDIUM DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  0P
  0
  3(2)
  6
  2
  2
  8R
  10,000¥
  RENRAKU LEBD-2 LAW 
  ENFORCEMENT BACKUP DRONE
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  The LEBD-1was a Ford-built police drone that never 
  found a market with KE, Lone Star, or Eagle Security. 
  It was quietly discontinued after dismal sales. Renraku 
  picked up the plans for virtually nothing and redesigned 
  it somewhat for use with their Neo-PD subsidiary. The 
  new LEBD-2 builds on the reliable roto-drone’s ability to 
  be slotted into a charging mount on the back of a patrol 
  car to create one-officer, one-drone teams, combining a 
  human’s gut instincts and friendliness with a  drone’s ex-
  pendability and perfect recording of events. The drone 
  can be sent to flank a home, provide fire support via the 
  included taser, and even help with paperwork. Most of-
  ficers are as loyal to their drone partner as a K-9 officer 
  to their dog, and assaulting an LEBD-2 is treated as an 
  attack on an officer in most Neo-PD subsidiaries. 
  Standard Upgrades: Mini weapon mount, Yamaha Pul-
  sar, 4 taser darts, Smartsoft, Targeting (4) autosoft, Clear-
  sight (4) autosoft, Knowledge: Legal Codes (4) autosoft
  > 
  The LEBD’s strongest weapon is the camera. It can scan 
  a crowd, run facial-recognition software, cross-reference 
  with Renraku’s staggeringly large databases, and produce 
  warrants and criminal histories in record time. If you’ve 
  been seen in a Renraku facility in the past year, avoid 
  these at all cost.
  > 
  Sunshine
  > 
  They have trouble with goblin faces. The work Renraku’s 
  doing in the Underground is dramatically improving this.
  > 
  Bull
  RENRAKU LEBD-2 (MEDIUM DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  2P
  1
  3(0)
  9
  4
  4
  12R
  20,000¥
  TRANSYS STEED
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  There are a few people in this world who can’t manage 
  cybernetics. Some are mages, some have unique nerve 
  designs, while others believe that chrome “eats your 
  soul” and refuse it. Some of these people can’t walk, 
  due to either disability or infirmity. Enter the Steed, a 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  140    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  motorized chair with wheels that can be controlled by 
  a simple trode-based DNI. Street-legal in the city, it can 
  also move around inside a building with ease.  
  Similar Models: Evo Freedom, DocWagon Chariot
  TRANSYS STEED (MEDIUM DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4/2
  1G
  1
  3(1)
  0
  2
  2
  2
  4,000¥
  LARGE DRONES
  AEROQUIP DUSTOFF
  The full details on this one are in Bullets and Bandages, 
  but I should point out that a few enterprising runners 
  had started modifying these things as personal trans-
  ports. For the cost of a motorcycle, you got an admit-
  tedly cramped personal helicopter. Prices shot up once 
  the hack got popularized online. Fraggin’ Invisible Hand!
  ARES MATILDA 
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  If you pushed over a refrigerator and gave it tank treads, 
  you’d have a Matilda. Blocky design, clumsy, and slow, the 
  Matilda’s main claims to fame are the two blast doors—es-
  sentially riot shields—that fold out from its side, allowing 
  officers to use it as mobile cover while advancing on rein-
  forced positions. The Matilda comes standard with a small 
  minigrenade launcher that can lob gas grenades ahead 
  for disruption, leaving the officers protected. Knight Errant 
  credits the Matilda with saving the lives of over two dozen 
  officers this past year, absorbing fire so that they don’t have 
  to. She ain’t pretty, but she works.
  Standard Upgrades: Two riot shields, standard 
  weapon mount, underbarrel grenade launcher, Target-
  ing (3) autosoft
  (if a shot hits the Matilda from a rear flank while the 
  shields are deployed, armor is halved.)
  ARES MATILDA (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  1
  2G
  1
  8
  8
  2
  1
  12R
  18,000¥
  ARES MULE 
  (PILOT WALKER)
  Another ancient design that dates back to DARPA re-
  search in the old United States, the Mule is a simple 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  ARES MULE
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    141
  (order #9639630)
  
  four-legged drone designed to haul cargo around for 
  soldiers in the field, leaving them well-supplied but 
  lightly equipped enough to hustle when shit goes 
  down. With four legs and an excellent sense of bal-
  ance, the Mule can go anywhere a soldier can, but it 
  can carry an entire squad’s worth of supplies without 
  slowing down—a good thing, considering it’s as slow 
  as a marching soldier. Nearing fifty years old, the Mule 
  predates the idea of arming a drone, but the head can 
  issue a surprisingly strong grip when called on.
  Standard Upgrades: Drone arm (Strength 6, Agility 2)
  > 
  It doesn’t come with guns, but you can damn sure strap 
  ‘em on these days.
  > 
  Stone
  > 
  The head and neck are as flexible and functional as a 
  primitive cyberarm. You’d be surprised at how often this 
  is overlooked.
  > 
  Kia
  ARES MULE (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  1G
  1
  4(3)
  6
  2
  2
  4
  8,000¥
  ARES PALADIN
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  After the debacle that was the Excalibur project, Ares 
  has been working hard to re-establish the trust they 
  lost among their most important customers: militaries 
  and law enforcement. In order to help rebuild that trust, 
  Ares decided to take a chip shot and release a simple, 
  effective, and affordable drone that could not possibly 
  go wrong. They call it the Paladin.
  The design of the Paladin is as straightforward and utili-
  tarian as they come. A simple tracked platform houses the 
  primary components of the drone, which is outfitted with 
  a pair of hydraulic arms that lift a sheet of plasteel and Kev-
  lar on command. The drone is designed to be integrated 
  with a sensor network to allow it access to cameras, mi-
  crophones, and other devices. A simple version of the old 
  Ares TacNet software is used to analyze data from these 
  various sources and determine if a shot has been fired. If 
  a shot has been fired, the arms swing up very quickly and 
  attempt to intercept the round in mid-flight.
  Once the plate is engaged, the drone’s dog brain 
  transitions to an escape plan. These plans can be 
  pre-loaded, or the pilot can be relied upon to utilize the 
  network’s data to create an escape route on the fly. The 
  Paladin has already seen several successes, most nota-
  bly in foiling a recent assassination attempt upon the 
  president of Kenya in Nairobi.
  > 
  Knight Errant is supposed to be working on using the 
  Paladin to protect their HTR units during breaches. 
  Instead of having a metahuman holding a riot shield, 
  they’re going to use the drone. The biggest problem 
  they’ve been running into is getting the drone to run 
  toward the gunfire.
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  That’s not the only obstacle they’re facing. The drone isn’t 
  exactly quick. HTR teams often have to operate at least as 
  fast as a street samurai, so they’re jacked up on all sorts 
  of combat drugs. The drone just can’t keep up with that 
  level of reaction. Ares is a long way from phasing out 
  metahuman bodyguards.
  > 
  Mihoshi Oni
  Standard Upgrades: Tracked platform
  Game Information: The Paladin has limited func-
  tionality without a network. When operating in a net-
  work, the drone makes a Perception test as soon as a 
  shot is fired anywhere within detection range of any 
  device on the network. The number of hits that are 
  achieved on the test are treated as extra armor for the 
  protected VIP for that Initiative Pass. Afterward, the 
  plate acts as Good Cover for the VIP ( p. 190, SR5) as 
  long as the VIP is using the Take Cover action. If the Pal-
  adin is operating by itself, it cannot provide the Armor 
  bonus when a shot is fired. Instead, it can only be used 
  as Good Cover for the VIP.
  ARES PALADIN (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  4G
  1
  5(0)
  18
  3
  2
  8R
  5,000¥
  CRASHCART “MEDICART”
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  Long seen as the little brother of DocWagon, Crash-
  Cart has recently gained a step on their competition. 
  The MediCart was unveiled at DroneCon at the end of 
  last year, and it has quickly gained a coveted position 
  in almost all disaster-recovery units around the world. 
  The tracked platform allows the MediCart to haul tre-
  mendous amounts of weight, and traverse almost any 
  terrain conditions that might be in the way of its desti-
  nation. Within the large frame resides a set of hydrau-
  lic rescue tools (commonly referred to as the “Jaws of 
  Life”), a pair of extendable arms that can lift up to 200 
  kilograms, and medical tools.
  The drone’s dog brain prioritizes targets that it can 
  detect first and attempts to get to those people who are 
  nearest to its location. During the Boston Lockdown, a 
  number of MediCarts were deployed to areas that had 
  seen the worst rioting. The rescue tools can cut through 
  most materials, and the arms can be used to lift debris 
  or patients. The medical tools are often deployed and 
  operated remotely, but the built-in software allows the 
  drone to perform basic life-support functions.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  142    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  Since its release, the MediCart has been credited 
  with saving over a dozen corporate lives, and sales have 
  been through the roof. Not to be outdone, DocWagon 
  has recently announced plans for a drone similar to the 
  MediCart, but with a built-in Valkyrie module and the 
  ability to lift up to 300 kilograms.
  Standard Upgrades: Tracked, specialized tools (hy-
  draulic rescue tools, medkit)
  Game Information: The hydraulic rescue tools on 
  the MediCart are capable of tearing through metal that 
  has been seared together, and it comes with the nec-
  essary appendages to puncture even plascrete. When 
  attempting to perform an act that would normally re-
  quire Strength + Body (such as lifting, forcing some-
  thing open, or tearing), use triple the MediCart’s Body 
  Rating for all tests. This means that the MediCart can 
  easily carry 270 kilograms without requiring a test. 
  The MediCart is capable of deploying a medkit to anyone 
  within two meters of the drone. The drone’s Pilot rating re-
  places the medkit’s rating for tests. The medkit comes with 
  twenty uses but cannot be used without the drone. Normal 
  replacement components are sufficient to refill the medkit.
  CC ‘MEDICART’ (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  5
  5G
  1
  6(2)
  5
  4
  4
  6
  10,000¥
  GTS TOWER
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  A fairly standard lighter-than-air drone, slow, unar-
  mored, and unarmed, the Tower pulls double-duty as 
  a retransmission drone, extending a rigger’s own wire-
  less signal, as well as serving as an “airbase” for up to 
  four minidrones or eight microdrones. These passen-
  gers can be used for protection, but mostly are used to 
  scatter and scan a large area swiftly. Several police cor-
  porations park Towers over events with large crowds in 
  order to keep a wide-eye on the surroundings. 
  Standard Upgrades: Drone rack (4)
  Similar 
  Models: 
  Cyberspace 
  Designs 
  Nexus, 
  GN-Nissan Beehive
  GTS TOWER (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  1P
  1
  4(0)
  6
  2
  2
  8
  10,000¥
  SAEDER-KRUPP  
  MK-17D NEPTUNE
  (PILOT WATERCRAFT)
  Designed to fit into a standard torpedo tube, the Nep-
  tune can either be launched from a submarine as origi-
  nally designed or, far more common these days, be de-
  ployed in a more traditional manner. Fully submersible 
  to depths of a kilometer, the Neptune has become the 
  industry-standard exploration and underwater survey 
  drone. The Neptune has a more-advanced Pilot than 
  most drones due to the difficulty, if not impossibility, of 
  radio communication once it dives, leaving it to oper-
  ate in a fully autonomous state, surfacing in designated 
  locations at designated times, allowing it to be gath-
  ered up and data transferred.
  Standard Upgrades: Submersible, Searchlight
  Similar Models: Proteus Tiefaucher, Shiawase Suredo
  > 
  Too expensive for most runners, priceless to coastal 
  smugglers.
  > 
  2XL
  > 
  Needs more boom.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  You can tether a drone via cable to get around the 
  wireless transmission issues faced by water, but your dive 
  is limited by the length of the cord. Cut the cord and the 
  drone’s pilot has to take over as best it can.
  > 
  Sounder
  S-K NEPTUNE (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  3W
  1
  5(0)
  3
  4
  3
  10R
  17,500¥
  MITSUHAMA MALAKIM
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  The standard response drones for GOD, the Malakim 
  are quad-copter drones that pack non-lethal weaponry 
  and high-level jammers, released in support of agents 
  on foot. The Malakim’s job is to block off communi-
  cation, keep updated via reports from Doves that are 
  scattered around watching potential escape routes, 
  and serve as a last line of offense should a takedown be 
  needed. While well-armed and armored, the Malakim’s 
  larger size prevents it from entering some areas, so if 
  you’re being pursued, move from building to building 
  and never get caught out in the open; if you do, it’ll 
  drop you.
  Standard Upgrades: Standard weapon mount, area 
  jammer (6), directional jammer (6), Targeting autosoft (4)
  MITSUHAMA MALAKIM (LARGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  6P
  2
  4(0)
  9
  4
  4
  20F
  40,000¥
  HUGE DRONES
  ARES KN-Y0
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  Designated as an unmanned micro-tank, the KN-Y0 se-
  ries of combat drones shows that Ares isn’t sitting idle 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    143
  (order #9639630)
  
  in the wake of the damage it’s taken over the past few 
  years. Unfortunately, the UCAS government has been 
  cool to new designs, so Ares is currently testing other 
  markets with the KN-Y0, to see if there are any takers 
  for a full production run. There are three sub-designs: 
  the Y1, Y2, and Y4, better known as Phobos, Deimos, 
  and Eris. While all three share the same tread-based fir-
  ing platform and stout armor, the turret of each has a 
  different weapon design and the model is thus given a 
  different tactical consideration. The Phobos sports an 
  RPK heavy machine gun with two hundred rounds of 
  on-board ammunition, putting it into an anti-infantry 
  role. The Deimos mounts a Panther XXL assault cannon 
  and fifteen rounds of ammo for anti-armor work. The 
  Eris has an Antioch MGL-12 grenade launcher and a 
  clip-switching mechanism that allows it to select from 
  any of the two dozen grenades it carries as well as a 
  directional jammer for inhibiting opposition C&C. In-
  tended to be deployed together, the three offset one 
  another’s weaknesses, or may be attached as heavy 
  support for patrols. 
  Standard Upgrades: (all) Targeting (5) autosoft, 
  Smartsoft, (Phobos and Deimos), heavy weapon mount, 
  (Eris) large weapon mount, area jammer (6), directional 
  jammer (6), Electronic Warfare (5) autosoft
  > 
  I happen to have one full set available for purchase.
  > 
  Red Anya
  > 
  Huh. The Eris is the Y4 model. Wonder what happened to 
  Y3?
  > 
  Bull
  ARES KN—Y2 (DEIMOS) (HUGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2G
  1
  6(0)
  18
  5
  3
  20F
  220,000¥
  ARES KN—Y4 (ERIS) (HUGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  2G
  1
  6(0)
  18
  5
  3
  24F
  270,000¥
  ARES KN—Y1 (PHOBOS) (HUGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2G
  1
  6(0)
  18
  5
  3
  16F
  250,000¥
  40,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  MESAMETRIC KODIAK
  144    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  MESAMETRIC KODIAK
  (PILOT GROUND CRAFT)
  If a bulldozer, a backhoe, and steamroller had a freaky 
  three-way, the Kodiak would be their collective baby. A 
  massive drone designed for road work, be it clearing, 
  constructing, or destroying, the Kodiak is a common sight 
  in the NAN, taking care of long stretches of roads that 
  the smaller population can’t maintain. A quarter-century 
  ago, it was designed to handle these needs for the Sioux 
  military, but sales to civilian governments quickly showed 
  where the real need was. There are several industrial vari-
  ants now, for tree cutting and planting, powerline repairs, 
  and more, but the core Kodiak is fraggin’ everywhere.
  Standard Upgrades: Drone arm (Strength 12, Agility 
  2), bulldozer blade, Road Engineering (2) autosoft
  > 
  They’ve ripped up most of the roads from the old U.S. of 
  A. out in NAN territories. Damn shame. I’d give my left arm 
  to have driven on some of those things. The historicals are 
  so romantic!
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Ugh. Trapped in a hot car for days, driving through 
  cornfields and small towns? Glad they’re gone.
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  MESAMETRIC KODIAK (HUGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2/4
  2G
  1
  6(2)
  12
  2
  2
  12R
  40,000¥
  NEONET AVENGING ANGEL
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  The last of the GOD-specific designs, the Avenging An-
  gel is the Thor Strike of drones. No muss, no fuss, the 
  Avenging Angel is a multi-MACH milspec drone that 
  carries a single fuel-air bomb, capable of leveling an 
  entire city block, for when you absolutely, positively, 
  have to make sure that decker nest is rooted out. Offi-
  cially, none have ever been used. Officially.
  Standard Upgrades: Heavy weapon mount
  > 
  For all intents and purposes, it’s a jet fighter without a 
  pilot.
  > 
  Kane
  > 
  NeoNET and not Ares? That is unexpected.
  > 
  Balladeer
  > 
  Notice that the three core members of the Wireless Matrix 
  Initiative make the three GOD drones? Saeder-Krupp and 
  Aztechnology have a seat at the table, but at the end of the 
  day, GOD and the corporate court know who the strongest 
  Matrix corps are. 
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  NEONET AVENGING ANGEL (HUGE DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  6J
  2
  6(0)
  12
  6
  6
  40F
  1,000,000¥
  ANTHROPOMORPHIC 
  DRONES
  Anthromorphic drones operate somewhat differently 
  than most walker drones. For starters, they come with 
  a full set of two drone arms and two drone legs, which 
  are usually Obvious but may be Synthetic instead. In 
  addition, they have a Physical condition monitor   of 8 
  + (Body/2), being more durable than most drones. Be-
  ing able to go anywhere a metahuman can, with similar 
  limbs and build, they can even use some metahuman 
  equipment, such as clothing, weapons, or tools. This 
  makes them far more versatile than most drones, but 
  the price point reflects that.
  AZTECHNOLOGY CRIADO JUAN
  “I want Juan! I need Juan! I gotta gotta HAVE Juan!” The 
  ad campaign that will haunt my fraggin’ dreams. The Juan 
  started off as simply “The Criado,” a cheap Azzie knock-
  off of the Renraku Manservant that was used around the 
  houses of pureblooded Azlan aristocrats in place of mes-
  tizo half-bloods. A PR fluff piece on “Ding” Ramos hap-
  pened to catch one on camera. When asked what it was, 
  Ding laughed and said, “Oh, that’s just Juan. Don’t you 
  have Juan yourself?” Calls started coming in from mid-
  dle-class types who wanted to know where to get “Juan,” 
  and Aztechnology PR flacks jumped on the chance. The 
  next thing you know, “I gotta gotta HAVE Juan!” was plas-
  tered on every AR feed they could find, with guest spots 
  on dozens of trid programs and pop-up Matrix ads. The 
  drone itself is an average house-bot at best, with a comical 
  tubular body and spindly limbs, but like the Manservant it 
  reflects, it’s generally seen as harmless and non-threaten-
  ing due to these structural weaknesses.
  Similar Models: Renraku Manservant, Telestrian In-
  dustries Jeeves
  > 
  The onboard pilot’s about as good as you’d expect from 
  a budget Aztechnology crapstack as well. Until you start 
  loading up on the overpriced autosofts (seriously, a 
  thousand nuyen for cooking?!), it’s not able to handle 
  much more complex than domestic cleaning. Then again, 
  that’s kind of the point.
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  It comes with the benefit of not being a mixed-blood 
  peasant, of course. Aztlan racism is weird.
  > 
  Butch
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    145
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  On the plus side, it’s domestic help that the head of the 
  household can’t sleep with. On the negative side … 
  it’s domestic help that the head of the household can’t 
  sleep with.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Amazing how a punk runner can still absorb cultural 
  sexism and class exploitation. 
  > 
  Aufheben
  > 
  On a related note, since the Juan’s introduction this 
  past year, unemployment in Aztlan has gone up by one 
  percent. Work is also getting harder to find for quite a 
  few simple services as Juans take over mowing the yard, 
  janitorial work, and similar duties.
  > 
  Icarus
  > 
  Am I the only one who noticed how much Ding’s personal 
  version looked like Juan Atzcapotzalco?
  > 
  Plan 9
  CRIADO JUAN (ANTHRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  2G
  1
  2
  0
  2
  2
  2
  8,000¥
  HORIZON LITTLE BUDDY
  About as large as the average five-year-old human, the 
  Little Buddy is designed for working parents with a sin-
  gle child to serve as a nanny, teacher, babysitter, and 
  playmate. The Little Buddy teaches as it entertains and 
  is equipped with a variety of age-appropriate lessons 
  on shapes, colors, letters, words, and numbers, as well 
  as a selection of bedtime stories and lullabies. The Lit-
  tle Buddy is designed to contact the parents whenever 
  faced with a situation it’s not pre-programed to face, or 
  when certain conditions are met, such as a wounded or 
  missing child. Never leave your child alone… get them 
  a Little Buddy™!
  Similar Models: Hasbro Playsalot, Sony Headstart
  Standard Upgrades: Instruction (2) autosoft
  > 
  A more modern version of the classic Bust-a-Move toy, 
  pushing the Horizon edu-tainment model down your 
  throat. It’s designed to make little Jimmy into a model 
  corporate citizen and serve as psychological support for 
  the parents who work too much to raise their own kid. It’s 
  too expensive for most people to raise a second child, so 
  it’s like having a brother or sister. Ish.
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  Early versions were somewhat more lifelike, but there 
  were problems in beta testing with childless adults 
  adopting them as if they were real. Little Buddy was 
  stripped down from there to the current non-threatening 
  plastic look. It’s available in a variety of colors, and the 
  voice selector can be set for boy or girl. There’s no other 
  difference between models I know of.
  > 
  Netcat
  > 
  These things aren’t very bright out of the box. A clever kid 
  can trick them without too much trouble, at which point 
  they freak out and start calling mommy and daddy. As is 
  the case with most of the drones here, the manufacturers 
  break even on the physical frame but make a killing in the 
  software department. That said, the “Play Doctor” first aid 
  autosoft option might be intended for skinned knees and 
  swallowed pennies, but it can set a broken arm, help with 
  asthma attacks, or even apply a trauma patch if needed. 
  Good stuff.
  > 
  Stone
  HORIZON LITTLE BUDDY (ANTHRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  1G
  1
  1
  0
  2
  2
  4
  2,000¥
  MITSUHAMA COMPUTER 
  TECHNOLOGIES KENCHIKU-KIKAI
  The oldest model anthromorphic drone still in service 
  today, the K-K has been working at MCT construction 
  sites for over three decades now. Roughly the size and 
  strength of an Ork, but without that pesky non-human 
  repulsiveness that MCT hates so much, the Kikai is a 
  tireless construction machine, able to use metahuman 
  construction gear, such as jackhammers, welders, or 
  rivet guns, but it also has enough raw strength to car-
  ry heavy loads or even bend rebar with its core hand 
  actuators. They’re slow, a little clumsy, and not terribly 
  bright, but as long as they have metahuman oversight 
  for when tasks get complicated, they can get the job 
  done like a proper crew, only cheaper. Until modern 
  nano-construction techniques largely left them ob-
  solete, the K-K dominated the construction industry, 
  putting tens of thousands of laborers out of work. With 
  the recent nano-pocalypse, the K-K has been salvaged 
  form the dustbin of history and put back into service.
  Similar Models: S-K Colossus, Ares JHI-65
  Standard Upgrades: Industrial Mechanic (2) auto-
  soft, limbs enhanced to Strength 8
  > 
  Security protocols on these used to be laughable, since 
  the software was seven generations behind, but they 
  predate wireless so you either had to get in there and 
  insert a datacord manually (always a dicey prospect) or 
  hack the central command core that they access each 
  night for recharging and downloading the next day’s 
  work program. 
  > 
  Pistons
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  146    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  > 
  While new machines are out that include a wireless 
  feed, Renraku’s been slotting in more anti-technomancer 
  protections, just in case. Over ninety percent of the units 
  are still throwbacks from pre-wireless days, however, so 
  hack carefully.
  > 
  Clockwork
  > 
  The raw strength that they have makes them dangerous 
  in terms of collateral damage, but they’re so slow and 
  clumsy that they’re not really a big risk to living people. 
  Well, unless you’re in your car when they flip it over. 
  That’d hurt.
  > 
  Beaker
  > 
  As a reminder, while these things are intended for 
  construction use, you can slot any sort of autosoft into 
  them with a bit of work. Quite a few can be found as one-
  off units in small warehouses, for instance, to serve as a 
  walking stacker, moving pallets about or barrels too heavy 
  for metahumans, or simple first-aid programs at hospitals 
  to serve as orderlies for thrashing patients far stronger 
  than the nurses can handle. Keep in mind the limitations 
  of the simple processor’s power.
  > 
  Nephrine
  MCT KENCHIKU-KIKAI (ANTHRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  2
  2G
  1
  5
  3
  2
  2
  8R
  20,000¥
  NEONET JUGGERNAUGHT
  Tired of your officers being out-gunned, out-armored, 
  and out-muscled? Need some heavy artillery to put 
  street scum back in their place? Then try the NeoNET 
  Juggernaught! Pushing the very limits of modern an-
  thromorphic design, the Juggernaught is the largest 
  two-legged mecha on the market today, standing fully 
  a head taller than the average troll and armored from 
  head to toe. Specially designed with multiple weapon 
  mounts (weapons sold separately) for lethal, or less-le-
  thal, armaments, anti-riot grenade dispensers, and 
  emergency point-blank gas dispensers, the Jugger-
  naught also possesses fully articulated hand actuators 
  that are capable of picking up and using additional re-
  sources as required or applying physical restraint when 
  called upon. The NeoNET Juggernaught—operators are 
  standing by to take your order now!
  Standard Upgrades: One standard weapon mount in 
  each arm, two one-use grenade drops.
  > 
  What a joke. These things have been the biggest 
  boondoggle in NeoNET’s history. They were originally 
  conceived back in the late ’40s as a military drone, a pet 
  project of Villers’ side of Fuchi, but internal stresses kept 
  it from going anywhere. Nuyen bled into the project with 
  nothing to show for it for decades, and when it finally got 
  rolled out in ’69 after thirty-plus years of development 
  hell, it failed almost every test the UCAS Army threw at 
  it. It’s been cleaned up, reprogrammed, and repackaged 
  for civilian security use now, but at the core it’s a failed 
  military design, and it shows. It has too many systems for 
  such a limited processor and sometimes uses the wrong 
  one, it’s too big to fit easily into urban environments but 
  too small to just smash its way through. Metahuman 
  stairs sometimes give way under it, and floors are never 
  pretty after it goes stomping through. It’s just this big, 
  clumsy oaf of a machine that’s prone to Frankenstein-like 
  flailing when it gets confused. 
  > 
  Clockwork
  > 
  I was wondering about those big ugly chicken feet! Being 
  intended for off-road use in the field of battle or through 
  an occupied urban warzone (where you don’t really care 
  about the décor) makes much more sense than police 
  work.
  > 
  /dev/grrl
  > 
  They make for drekky cops and drekky soldiers, but 
  they’re intimidating enough to be used for anti-riot patrol. 
  Kind of a niche product, but hey, whatever makes some of 
  your nuyen back, I guess.
  > 
  Puck
  > 
  You can sometimes find them parked in larger garages 
  and warehouses in corporate facilities (or organized crime 
  storage locations), used as intimidating security. That 
  usually lasts until a break-in occurs and the things spray 
  heavy weapons fire everywhere without consideration for 
  collateral damage. Dealing with three teenage corpses is 
  easy enough, but when ten grand of merchandise is filled 
  with bullet holes, well, then there’s some ‘splaining to do.
  > 
  Kat o’ Nine Tales
  > 
  The single best use I’ve found for those overgrown 
  paperweights is as the centerpiece in some TactiCool’s 
  basement. Oh, and if you think the official NeoNET models 
  are bad, you should see the Russian knockoffs. Go visit 
  your local Vory weapons dealer, and he’ll likely have one 
  leashed around back somewhere. They keep the weapons 
  unloaded for a reason. *ClickClickClickClickClick* “Halt and 
  produce your identification!” *ClickClickClickClickClick* 
  “Identification approved!”
  > 
  Kane
  NEONET JUGGERNAUGHT (ANTHRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  4G
  1
  6
  12
  3
  3
  14R
  100,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    147
  (order #9639630)
  
  SAEDER-KRUPP 
  DIREKTIONSSEKRETAR
  The name’s a mouthful, but the Executive Secretary from 
  Saeder-Krupp is a true marvel of modern engineering. 
  The core piloting program is a semi-autonomous know-
  bot for all intents and purposes, learning the mannerisms 
  and schedule of its owner and factoring those in on re-
  sponses and in trying to maximize workflow. They han-
  dle standard datapushing tasks, manage finances, keep 
  books up to date, clean, file, take notes, and, oh yes, they 
  can also be pressed into service as additional security 
  when needed, with a subtle armored core around the 
  most vital internal parts, fully articulated hands that can 
  handle a wide array of weaponry, topped off with enough 
  speed and power to deliver mortal blows even unarmed. 
  Absolutely amazing.
  Similar Models: Sony Orderly-4, Ares Pygmalion
  > 
  The Secretary has the single most advanced processing 
  unit of any of the drones being detailed here. You can slot 
  all manner of autosoft in there, from pistols to driving to 
  Swedish massage. Just brilliant work.
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  The baseline drone isn’t going to be mistaken for human, 
  but, like the i-Doll, layers of customization are present, 
  should the owner want a more fully functional, and 
  anatomically correct, assistant.
  > 
  Glitch
  > 
  I wonder how well it fits data in the yar?
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  … Pretending to be Kane today, Bull?
  > 
  Slamm-0!
  > 
  Just making a joke that’s way too old. Nevermind.
  > 
  Bull
  > 
  I’m told that there are dozens of these models in place 
  with fully customized appearances, blended in at 
  important institutions all over the world such as banks, 
  megacorporate offices, the Intercontinental Climate Data 
  Center, and so on. These dopplegangers blend in with 
  society but send regular reports back to their dragon 
  master or, if the need is great enough, they can be 
  remotely activated to sabotage a facility, direct finances 
  his way, or any number of other acts of espionage.
  > 
  Plan 9
  > 
  What, not going to claim that Hans Brackhaus is secretly 
  two dozen of these robots?
  > 
  Snopes
  > 
  Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone knows that Brackhaus is 
  a disguise that Alamais used to keep tabs on Lofwyr’s 
  activities.
  > 
  Plan 9
  S-K DIREKTIONSSEKRETAR (ANTHRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  4
  4G
  2
  4
  3
  4
  4
  12R
  40,000¥
  SHIAWASE I-DOLL
  The latest in a long line of humanoid robots from Japan, 
  the i-Doll is perhaps the most customizable one yet. The 
  core model is designed to be a domestic servant, doing 
  the cleaning and the cooking as expected, but the big sell-
  ing point is the “Build your own!” section of the Shiawase 
  i-Doll website, where you can make it more lifelike, se-
  lect personality traits, hair color, and so on as you see fit. 
  Sometimes derided as “robo-girlfriends,” only the most 
  expensive i-Doll models can even try to pass for human. 
  The rest make good listeners, and sometimes it’s just nice 
  to have a pet in the house to talk to, but it’s the high-nuy-
  en realism market that really makes Shiawase profit.
  Similar Models: Renraku Nadeshiko, Spinrad OoLaLa
  Standard Upgrades: Realistic Features (1), Cooking 
  (3) Autosoft
  > 
  Class 2 is the most popular model, despite the cost. Able 
  to pass for human but with enough robotic features that 
  it doesn’t trigger the uncanny valley, it’s a nice bridge 
  between cost and aesthetics. Everybody loves the ear-
  tennae look.
  > 
  Clockwork 
  > 
  Class 3 Dolls are as lifelike as synthetic cyberlimbs, but 
  the usual problems, such as cold skin and eyes that aren’t 
  quite right, really makes some people uncomfortable. 
  Then again, they sell a ton of these, so what do I know?
  > 
  Sticks
  > 
  The Class 4 models are where Shiawase’s talent shows. 
  Body temperature, replicated breathing, subtle facial 
  expressions and body motion … they’re more real than 
  real. 
  > 
  Turbo Bunny
  > 
  Some of the more human-centric AIs have been trying 
  them out as bodies, to interact more with the metahuman 
  world. The limited processing power is crippling, however, 
  and most don’t stay for long. 
  > 
  Netcat
  SHIAWASE I-DOLL (ANTHRO DRONE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  3
  3G
  1
  3
  0
  3
  3
  4
  20,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  148    >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  DRONE MISSILE
  ARES “GARUDA”
  (PILOT AIRCRAFT)
  Several years ago, Ares was first-to-market with a 
  rigged missile system.  The main drawback was that 
  it required a rigger who was tremendously skilled to 
  operate sufficiently.  Additionally, when the missile ex-
  ploded, the rigger could suffer dumpshock as a result. 
  Since then, Ares has been hard at work on the next it-
  eration: the Garuda.
  Like the mythical Indian god, the Garuda is the sort 
  of missile you launch to blot out the sun.  Rather than 
  a single missile that causes the rigger to suffer dump-
  shock upon detonation, the Garuda is a cluster munition, 
  allowing the rigger to operate the core of the drone, fire 
  off the cluster rounds, and continue moving to prevent 
  dumpshock.
  Another major upgrade is the addition of a second-
  ary launch mechanism that allows the drone to operate 
  slowly at first, but then activate a booster module to gain 
  speed tremendously fast.  This allows less-skilled rig-
  gers to operate the Garuda in a fashion similar to most 
  drones, but be able to “turn on the jets,” so to speak, in 
  order to catch up with a fast-moving target.
  The booster module and the cluster munition mech-
  anism give the Garuda a dual purpose—it can operate 
  similarly to a normal airborne drone, but can also be 
  utilized as a missile.  The Garuda can be outfitted with 
  anti-vehicle, fragmentation, or high explosive warheads. 
  Additionally, the Garuda is small enough to be shoul-
  der-launched, or it can be fired from a mounted missile 
  launcher.  The Garuda is, however, incapable of under-
  water operation, as the engines require oxygen.
  Standard Upgrades: Launched, cluster munitions, 
  laser guidance
  Game Information: The cluster munitions act like 
  multiple small explosives. The statistics for each war-
  head type are described on the table “Grenades/Rock-
  ets/Missiles” on page 435 of SR5. Note that the costs 
  of these explosives are not included in the cost of the 
  drone missile and must be purchased separately.
  ARES ‘GARUDA’ (DRONE MISSILE)
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARM
  PILOT
  SENS
  AVAIL
  COST
  6
  3J/6J
  2/4
  2
  2
  4
  3
  20F
  8,500¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> THE AUTOMATED ARMY <<    149
  (order #9639630)
  
  Turbo Bunny winced as the bullets spattered off of the 
  Bulldog’s armor. She winced because she felt them, felt 
  them just like sharp needles pricking her own skin. She 
  also felt the wind whistling against her skin, the glare 
  of the city lights, the roar of the engines in her ears, 
  and the ache in her calves from the strain of running. 
  As far as her brain was concerned she was the van and 
  could move it just as nimbly as being able to move 
  her own body. She slipped between the cars in traffic, 
  keeping as many of them as she could between her and 
  her pursuers. An ache in her calves let her know that 
  the van couldn’t keep up this speed much longer, and 
  a splitting pain in her side let her know that the vehicle 
  had taken some serious damage. She had the munch-
  ies too, which also meant that the Bulldog was running 
  low on fuel.
  Safely enclosed in her rigger cocoon, Turbo Bunny 
  brought up the visual feed from the aerial drone that 
  she had shadowing them. Then she saw a new problem. 
  Just a couple of kilometers ahead, Knight Errant had set 
  up a roadblock. A big one. Frag. She checked the road 
  map: there were no exits off the highway before the 
  road block. Pursuit cars were closing in from behind. 
  She flipped back to the aerial view from the surveillance 
  drone. Then she saw it, another way off of this road. She 
  suddenly wrenched the Bulldog hard to the left, send-
  ing the passengers in the back tumbling, sprawling, and 
  cursing. With a flip of a mental switch, twin panels in the 
  front bumper slid back to reveal rockets behind them. 
  With the front of the vehicle aiming straight for the con-
  crete wall that bordered the highway she fired rockets, 
  smoke trails streaking straight for the wall. She pinned 
  the accelerator as twin explosions sent chunks of con-
  crete flying in all directions and the van sped toward the 
  freshly made hole.
  “Hang on,” she blasted through the van’s internal 
  speakers. It was time to try out that new modification 
  she had just installed. Sparks flew from the flanks of the 
  vehicle, and she felt like multi-bladed razors rake her ribs 
  as the vehicle ripped its way through the hole and plum-
  meted into the empty space beyond. As the nose tipped 
  and rushed toward the waters Puget Sound below, Turbo 
  Bunny activated the brand-new modification. Her head 
  rocked and her vision swam when the van hit the water. 
  Once she came to her senses, Bunny checked over 
  the new systems. 
  Water Seals: Engaged.
  Internal Air Supply: Active.
  Water Jets: Ready.
  “Don’t be alarmed. Please return to your seats,” she 
  piped over the van’s internal speakers. “We will now 
  resume travel to our previous destination by way of 
  lovely, murky, and heavily polluted Puget Sound. Enjoy 
  the ride.”
  Turbo Bunny switched on the high-beam headlights, 
  engaged the underwater propulsion system, and smiled 
  to herself as the Bulldog slipped on toward the opposite 
  shoreline.
  RIGGER 5.0
  BUILDING THE 
  PERFECT BEAST
  150    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  MODIFICATION 
  RULES
  Runners who use their vehicles day in and day out to 
  pull their jobs rarely want to keep them as they are off 
  the shelf. In the highly competitive world of shadow-
  running, runners need to get every edge they can to 
  avoid winding up dead. This means riggers and others 
  who use vehicles for their jobs will modify them in a 
  variety of ways to suit whatever needs they have. That 
  may be making them faster and more maneuverable to 
  avoid pursuit, giving extra armor and weapons to turn 
  them into a mobile firebase, or packing them with sur-
  prise tricks to give themselves an ace up their sleeve 
  for the right situation.
  There are three aspects or factors in getting a modifi-
  cation installed in a vehicle: parts and plan, tools, and skill.
  PARTS AND PLAN
  The first thing a runner needs for a modification is the 
  parts and the plan, or procedures for installing the 
  modification. The Modification List (p. 154) shows the 
  base threshold for acquiring the parts for a modifica-
  tion, which is based on its obscured and complexity. 
  The gamemaster is free to modify these values if there 
  are special circumstances that would make the parts 
  easier or more difficult to acquire. Depending on the 
  source, these parts may be provided “as is” or will have 
  the plans or instructions on how to install them on the 
  vehicle in question. If the parts were not provided with 
  a plan, the character can attempt to find one with con-
  tacts and legwork, or by doing a Matrix Search (p. 241, 
  SR5) with threshold and modifiers set as appropriate by 
  the gamemaster. A plan is not required to attempt the 
  modification, but if available the plan provides a bonus 
  to the Build/Repair Test (as per p. 146, SR5).
  TOOLS
  The complexity of installing a modification varies wide-
  ly, but in general they all require some sort of tools. This 
  can be a set of simple hand tools, ranging all the way 
  up to a building full of complicated and sophisticated 
  equipment. Each modification lists the required level of 
  tools for the job: Kit, Shop, or Facility. If the required 
  tools are not available, the modification can still be at-
  tempted but will suffer the Inadequate (if not the right 
  level) or Unavailable (for none at all) modifier (as per p. 
  146, SR5).
  SKILL
  With the plan, parts, and tools all (hopefully) in place, 
  the character can attempt to install the modification in 
  the vehicle. Installing a modification always uses the 
  Mechanic skill relevant to the vehicle (Automotive, 
  Nautical, etc.). The installer makes a (Mechanic Skill) 
  + Logic [Logic] (threshold, 1 hour) Extended Test, ap-
  plying all appropriate modifiers from the Build/Repair 
  Table (p. 146, SR5). The process can be interrupted and 
  resumed at a later time, but the gamemaster can de-
  termine if some or all of the vehicle’s systems cannot 
  be used until the modification is complete. Only one 
  modification can be applied at a time. If a critical glitch 
  is rolled, the modification automatically fails and the 
  parts are ruined; the character must start over. Once 
  the required hits have been accumulated, the modifica-
  tion is complete and ready for use. 
  If the modification list a Special Skill then one addi-
  tional die roll needs to be made before the modification is 
  complete. The character must succeed at a (Special Skill) 
  + Logic [Logic] (4) Test to complete the modification.
  MODIFICATION SLOTS
  Every vehicle has a certain number of Modification Slots 
  that determines how much extra stuff can be packed 
  into the vehicle. Each vehicle modification has a num-
  ber of Modification Slots equal to its Body in each 
  Modification Category. There are six Modification Cat-
  egories: Power Train, Protection, Weapons, Body, Elec-
  tromagnetic, and Cosmetic. So a GMC Bulldog with 
  a Body of 16 has 16 Modification Slots in each of the 
  six categories. Modifications only take up the slots for 
  their category. Once a vehicle has used up the Modifi-
  cation Slots for a category, no more modifications may 
  be installed from the category. A vehicle cannot exceed 
  its Modification Slots in any category. Not even a little.
  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    151
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  REMOVING 
  MODIFICATIONS
  A modification can be removed to free up the slots 
  that it originally took up. This will allow further modi-
  fications in that category to be installed. Removing a 
  modification takes the same tools and skill(s) that the 
  original modification took, but the threshold is halved. 
  Removed modification parts are assumed to be not be 
  reusable in any other vehicle, but they may be kept for 
  re-installation in the original vehicle, at the gamemas-
  ter’s discretion.
  VEHICLE 
  EQUIPMENT
  The following are not considered modifications to the 
  vehicle since they do not integrate into the systems 
  of the vehicle in a significant way. They are standard 
  pieces of equipment that can be purchased and easily 
  installed or used.
  MORPHING LICENSE PLATE
  While most modern governments primarily use elec-
  tronic identification for vehicles, they still require some 
  sort of physical identification plate to uniquely identify 
  a vehicle. Since being positively identified is something 
  that an average shadowrunner wants to avoid, most in-
  stall a special morphing license plate. Made from smart 
  materials, a morphing license plate can reshape itself 
  with a Complex Action and mimic any of the forms 
  used in governments around the world today. Runners 
  will typically also purchase a spoof chip (see below) to 
  keep their vehicle from being identified.
  SPOOF CHIP
  All governments in the civilized world require that a ve-
  hicle be uniquely tagged and broadcast that identifica-
  tion on demand. This allows law enforcement and any 
  authorized government agency (and some unautho-
  rized) to quickly identify and track a vehicle. All of that 
  may sound great to the common wageslave, but those 
  are all things that a shadowrunner wants to avoid like 
  a VITAS plague. Consequently, installing a spoof chip 
  has become a common practice for anyone wanted to 
  use a vehicle for their shadow activities. The spoof chip 
  mimics a standard vehicle identifier chip but can be 
  command with a Complex Action to change its iden-
  tifier to a different random value that is arithmetically 
  generated to appear authentic. Installing a spoof chip 
  requires a Hardware + Logic [Logic] (2) Test.
  ROAD STRIPS
  Road strips use a myomeric rope to stretch out over 
  a length of about fifteen meters (approximately four 
  lanes of traffic) in order to cause some effect on the 
  vehicle(s) that drive over it.
  Spike Strip: This strip consists of sharp, penetrating 
  spikes that damage the tires of any vehicle that drives 
  over it. The vehicle’s tires immediately blow out unless 
  they are run flat tires (see below), forcing the driver to 
  make an immediate Vehicle Test to avoid crashing. Even 
  if the crash is avoided, flat tires give a –2 dice pool pen-
  alty on Vehicle Tests.
  Zapper Strip: The zapper strip is equipped with 
  hundreds of tiny “feelers” that extend upward to brush 
  against the chassis of a vehicle that passes over. When a 
  EXAMPLE
  ADDING A MODIFICATION
  Rigger X wants to add a weapon mount to his GMC 
  Bulldog to provide some fire support for the team. He 
  wants heavy firepower while remaining able to drive 
  around downtown, so he chooses a heavy concealed 
  turret weapon mount. That modification has a Slot 
  cost of 8 (4 + 2 + 2 = 8), a threshold of 28 (10 + 6 + 12 
  = 28), an Availability 20 (12 + 2 + 6 = 20), and a cost 
  of 10,500¥. Installing it requires a Vehicle Facility. The 
  Bulldog has the modification slots available, and Rig-
  ger X has the nuyen from his last job. He has a chum-
  mer with a Vehicle Facility he can use, and his Fixer 
  owes him a favor and got him the parts. Now all that is 
  left is to install the gear.
  Rigger X will be making the modifications in his 
  chummer’s Facility, which is in a renovated old gas 
  station garage in the Barrens. Not ideal, but it’ll do 
  the job. He managed to score AR-guided plans for the 
  modification, giving him a +2 bonus. With his Logic of 
  5 and Automotive Mechanic skill of 5, he has a total of 
  12 dice for the test. Time to get to work.
  On the first test, Rigger X rolls 5 hits, a good start. 
  He drops down to 11 dice and keeps rolling, getting 
  4 more hits and then drops down to to 10 dice. Con-
  tinuing like that, Rigger X rolls hits of: 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, 
  and 1 for the necessary 28 hits. In total, installing the 
  weapon mount took Rigger X 10 hours (probably with a 
  break for sleep in the middle). It was a lot of work, but 
  the LMG that the Bulldog is now sporting will come in 
  handy for her team!
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  152    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
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  vehicle drives over it, the strip sounds a powerful elec-
  tromagnetic pulse into the chassis of the vehicle, at-
  tempting to damage its electronics. A vehicle that drives 
  over a zapper strip suffers 10 DV(e) damage. A zapper 
  strip has enough power for 10 discharges before need-
  ing to be recharged.
  Tracking Strip: The tracking strip is a subtle way to 
  gather information about vehicles that pass by. Once de-
  ployed, whenever a vehicle passes over a tracking strip, it 
  “fires” a stealth tag (p. 440, SR5) that attaches itself to the 
  vehicle. A tracking strip contains fifty stealth tags.
  SPECIAL TIRES
  Tires are one of the easiest ways to customize a ve-
  hicle. The following tires are available for all wheeled 
  ground craft. Changing tires requires a Automotive 
  Mechanic + Logic [Logic] (4, 5 minutes) Extended Test; 
  or you can get your brother-in-law to do it for a case of 
  beer, though that tends to take longer.
  Off-Road Tires: Designed specifically for rough ter-
  rain, these tires are not as effective as standard tires on 
  standard roads. When equipped, the vehicle’s off-road 
  Handling is increased by +1, and on-road Handling is re-
  duce by –1.  Off-road tires are also considered run flat 
  tires (see below).
  Racing Tires: The flip-side of off-road tires, racing 
  tires are designed to maximize vehicle performance in 
  urban conditions. When equipped, the vehicle’s on-road 
  Handling is increased by +1 and off-road Handling is re-
  duced by –1.
  Run Flat Tires: A common upgrade for shadowrun-
  ners, run flat tires are filled with a dense but flexible 
  foam instead of air. They continue to operate even when 
  the tire has been punctured but will quickly deteriorate if 
  the tire suffers significant structure damage.
  TOOL KIT
  It never hurts to be prepared! A smart vehicle owner 
  will purchase at least an Automotive Mechanic Kit in 
  their vehicle to affect emergency repairs, and possibly 
  others if the vehicle has more exotic equipment (see p. 
  443, SR5).
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    153
  (order #9639630)
  
  MODIFICATION 
  LIST
  Unless otherwise stated, a modification may only be 
  taken once for a vehicle. When a vehicle stat such as 
  Speed or Acceleration is listed as part of a modification 
  attribute (like cost), use the vehicle’s base or unmodified 
  value in the calculation. In the case of Handling, which 
  has two values, always use the higher value in any cal-
  culations.
  POWER TRAIN
  Power train modifications all deal with how a vehicle is 
  controlled and how the vehicle moves.
  ACCELERATION ENHANCEMENT
  Using a variety of techniques, like adding fuel acceler-
  ants (such as nitrous oxide), turbochargers, optimized 
  air intakes, afterburners, or hydrofoil drives, the accel-
  eration of a vehicle is increased. Due to inherent limita-
  tions in a vehicle’s design, its acceleration performance 
  can only be increased so far. In the end, though, there’s 
  nothing like going from zero to gone before you get 
  shot. Acceleration enhancement can be taken at Rating 
  1 or 2, with the Rating of the modification being added 
  to the vehicle’s Acceleration value.
  GECKO TIPS
  Using cutting-edge technology, the portion of any ve-
  hicle that contacts a surface can be made to strongly 
  adhere to that surface. With the gecko tips modifica-
  tion, small vehicles can be made to literally climb walls 
  or adhere to surfaces at an extremely sharp angle. The 
  larger and heavier a vehicle is, the more extensive the 
  modifications that are necessary to make the gecko tips 
  system work. There are definite limits to the technolo-
  gy however, as it can only practically be installed on 
  small mass vehicles and still allow them to move. If the 
  gecko technology was applied to larger vehicles, they 
  would literally rip away chunks of the surface they were 
  adhered to if they tried to move. A vehicle installed 
  with gecko tips can move on surfaces with angles that 
  would otherwise be impossible, including vertically.
  GLIDING SYSTEM
  For those rare but frightening times when you find your 
  (non-flying) vehicle plummeting to the ground, you’ll 
  thank the Great Ghost you installed a gliding system. 
  The gliding system deploys a large-scale parachute 
  and uses a series of small thrusters installed on the 
  hull of the vehicle to provide limited maneuverability 
  while descending. For vehicles with an exceptional-
  ly large mass, there is an upgraded system that uses 
  other methods, including multiple parachutes and ret-
  ro-thrusters, to slow the descent. While the system al-
  lows a vehicle to fall and not be utterly destroyed, the 
  landing is far from graceful. When it lands, the vehicle 
  takes (Body / 2) damage just as if it had crashed (p. 201, 
  SR5). Owners planning on using the gliding system on 
  a regular basis will often install a Passenger Protection 
  System (see p. 159). After it has been deployed, the 
  parachute(s) in the gliding system can be released with 
  a wireless or manual command. Repacking the para-
  chute(s) for reuse is a manual process requiring about 
  one hour.
  HANDLING ENHANCEMENT
  By adjusting the suspension and/or adjusting the work-
  ings of control systems, a vehicle can be made more 
  responsive to manual or electronic controls. This can 
  range from optimizing control system response times, 
  to more dramatic changes like gyroscopic stabilizers, 
  or destabilizing the structural integrity of the hull. Han-
  dling enhancement can be taken with a Rating of 1 to 
  3, with the Rating added to the Handling (both on-road 
  and off-road) of the vehicle.
  IMPROVED ECONOMY
  With this modification, the fuel consumption of the ve-
  hicle has been optimized to use the minimum amount 
  necessary for standard operation. Additionally, the ve-
  hicle is fitted with a variety of different means to gather 
  operational power from the environment around it in-
  cluding sunlight, static electricity, and wind. A vehicle 
  with improved economy doubles its operational time 
  as long as it is operating within normal parameters—no 
  high speed chases.
  MANUAL CONTROL OVERRIDE
  For runners that are extra paranoid about the Matrix 
  security on their vehicle (or just unwilling to pay for 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
  NAME
  AVAIL
  COST
  Morphing license plate
  8F
  1,000¥
  Spoof chip
  8F
  500¥
  Spike strip
  8R
  200¥
  Zapper strip
  12R
  2,500¥
  Tracking strip
  8R
  600¥
  Off-road tires
  6
  400¥/tire
  Racing tires
  6
  250¥/tire
  Run flat tires
  4
  250¥/tire
  154    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  it), they can install a manual control override system. 
  Nearly every modern vehicle made in the 2070s has 
  the ability to be piloted remotely or purely through 
  its electronic controls as well as its manual/mechan-
  ical controls. If a rigger is really nervous about those 
  electronic controls being taken over, they can install 
  a switch so that the manual controls will always take 
  priority over the electronic ones. In order to prevent 
  the switch from being remotely deactivated, it is always 
  mechanical in nature with the physical pressing of the 
  button making or breaking connections to ensure the 
  precedence of the manual controls. In game terms, 
  when manual control override is activated, piloting a 
  vehicle via AR or VR is not possible. The system can 
  only be activated by someone physically in the vehicle, 
  within reach of the switch (usually the driver’s seat), 
  and by using a Free Action.
  MULTIFUEL ENGINE
  For teams that frequently find themselves needing to 
  travel far away from the comforts of modern civiliza-
  tion, modifying a vehicle with a multifuel engine has 
  provide invaluable. First, a portable plasma furnace is 
  installed on the vehicle that can render small quantities 
  of matter down to its constituent parts. Then, the vehi-
  cle’s engine is modified to be able to consume the raw 
  material output of the plasma torch. This allows nearly 
  any matter to be fed into the vehicle as fuel. A vehicle 
  with a multifuel engine can always be refueled as long 
  as there is raw material around to be processed.
  OFF-ROAD SUSPENSION
  For those that like to make their own roads rather than fol-
  low them, there is the off-road suspension. Most modern 
  vehicles are designed to operate on a smoothly prepared 
  road and do not respond well out of that environment. 
  With an off-road suspension, a vehicle’s suspension sys-
  tem has been replaced with one designed to operate in 
  more rugged environments. The downside, however, is 
  that the vehicle loses some of it responsiveness when op-
  erating in regular on-road environments. A vehicle with 
  an off-road suspension has +1 Handling when driving 
  off-road, but –1 Handling on-road. This stacks with bo-
  nuses from off-road tires (see p. 153).
  REMOVED MANUAL CONTROLS
  Riggers who are completely confident in their Matrix skills 
  and security but worried about their lack of physical securi-
  ty will often add a removed manual controls modification. 
  Almost all vehicles in the 2070s are capable of being pilot-
  ed by either electronic or manual controls. With this mod-
  ification, the owner simply removes the option for manual 
  controls, relying entirely on the electronic ones. Anyone 
  wishing to pilot the vehicle who is not the owner must suc-
  ceed on a Control Device Matrix action (p. 238, SR5).
  RIGGER COCOON
  For riggers, there is no safer place where they would 
  leave their body than a rigger cocoon. Generally built 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  CORE VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS
  Vehicles from the Shadowrun core rulebook (starting on p. 
  461) have the following Standard Upgrades.
  Dodge Scoot: Improved economy
  Harley-Davidson Scorpion: Metahuman adjustment (troll)
  Yamaha Growler: Off-road suspension
  Hyundai Shin-Hyung: Four extra Body Modification Slots
  Eurocar Westwind 3000: Passenger protections aystem (Rating 6), 
  anti-theft system (Rating 2)
  Mitsubishi Nightsky: Amenities (Luxury), life support (Level 1)
  Toyota Gopher: Off-road suspension, special equipment (open box 
  storage)
  GMC Bulldog: Four extra Body Modification Slots
  Yongkang 
  Gala 
  Trinity: 
  Assembly/disassembly, 
  smuggling 
  compartment
  Morgan Cutlass: Two heavy weapon mounts (external, turret, 
  armored manual)
  Proteus Lamprey: Standard drone rack (medium)
  Artemis Nightwing: Signature masking (Rating 4)
  R-F Fokker Tundra-9: Alternate propulsion: amphibious (surface)
  Nissan Hound: Two standard weapon mounts (external, flexible, 
  remote)
  Northrup Wasp: Heavy weapon mount (external, flexible, remote)
  GMC Banshee: Rigger cocoon, ECM 4
  Shiawase Kanmushi: Gecko tips
  MCT Fly-Spy: Realistic features (Rating 2)
  Lockheed Optic-X2: Signature masking (Rating 3) *This explains the 
  penalty listed on p. 466, SR5; it does not increase that penalty.
  Ares Duelist: Two light weapon mounts (external, flexible, remote), 
  realistic features (Rating 1)
  GM-Nissan Doberman: Standard weapon mount (external, flexible, 
  remote)
  MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone: Three extra Weapon Modification Slots
  Steel Lynx: Heavy weapon mount (external, turret, remote)
  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    155
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  into the driver’s seat of a vehicle, the cocoon is de-
  signed solely for the safety and comfort of someone 
  who’s consciousness is going to be somewhere other 
  than their body. The cocoon has ballistic cloth and hard 
  armored plating for physical protection, is fire resistant, 
  has its own oxygen supply, and carries a host of bio-
  med sensors to monitor the occupant’s condition. Ad-
  ditionally, the cocoon has a variety of safety systems to 
  keep the occupant safe through the most extreme ve-
  hicle maneuvers and even crashes. Getting into a rigger 
  cocoon takes about a minute, but it can be exited with 
  a Complex Action using a quick-release system.
  Treat the rigger cocoon as a barrier with an Armor of 
  12 and Structure of 8 (p. 197, SR5). The occupant of the 
  rigger cocoon receives +6 dice to resist damage from 
  crashes or other vehicle maneuvers.
  ROCKET BOOSTER
  Vehicle operators who are truly daring (or have a death 
  wish) cannot resist installing a rocket booster. This ex-
  treme modification installs a high-powered rocket pro-
  pulsion system to allow the vehicle to make short jumps 
  over intervening terrain or obstacles. That could be a gap 
  in an unfinished road for a ground vehicle, or a dyke or 
  dam that a boat might attempt to leap over. For aircraft, 
  this allows them to take off with half the normal required 
  distance. The rocket is angled to generate an upward lift 
  of about 5 meters, similar to a jump ramp, allowing the 
  vehicle to clear an object or gap about the size of a semi 
  trailer or train car. The gamemaster should have the driv-
  er make a Vehicle Test with a difficulty they feel appro-
  priate for the jump. Activating the rocket system takes a 
  Complex Action and is in no way subtle, but it is spec-
  tacular. When landing the vehicle must resist (Body) DV 
  damage, following all of the rules for Crash damage (p. 
  201, SR5). Additionally, the driver must make an imme-
  diate Vehicle Test to maintain control. If successful, the 
  vehicle can continue driving as normal, but if it is failed 
  the vehicle crashes.
  SECONDARY MANUAL 
  CONTROLS
  Does your team have a backseat driver who’s always 
  wanting to take control? Or maybe your always sitting in 
  the vehicle of teammate and wishing you had your own 
  gas control so they would just get moving? Both of those 
  problems can be solved with the secondary manual con-
  trols modification. This modification literally provides a 
  second set of manual controls that can be used to pilot 
  the vehicle, just like the primary set. Either set can control 
  the vehicle, but the primary set always has priority. If the 
  vehicle also has manual control override, the system can 
  be set to switch only when a manual switch is activated. 
  Secondary manual controls are useful for teams that may 
  need a secondary person to control a vehicle while the 
  driver is otherwise occupied or particularly vulnerable.
  SECONDARY PROPULSION: 
  HOVERCRAFT
  A well-traveled rigger knows that lots of areas in the 
  world have demanding terrain. Plus, the work of a 
  runner means that they often need to take the path 
  less traveled. For a truly versatile vehicle, there is the 
  hovercraft upgrade. As with all secondary propulsion 
  systems, this is an extensive upgrade that adds an en-
  tire alternate means of motion to the vehicle. A large 
  rubber skirt is added all around the vehicle that can be 
  inflated on demand. Steering and control mechanisms 
  are added so that the vehicle can be directed while 
  hovering, which usually involve using compressed air 
  or expanding gas. While hovering, the vehicle only lifts 
  a few centimeters off of the ground, but it can travel 
  across water. Maneuvering is sluggish compared to 
  most standard modes.
  SECONDARY PROPULSION: 
  AMPHIBIOUS
  There are times when only the most dramatic action 
  will break off a pursuer, and having your vehicle ditch 
  into the water and keep going is definitely a dramatic 
  action. An amphibious operation package is a dramatic 
  modification that allows the vehicle to travel on water 
  (if it didn’t already have the means to do so). The mod-
  ification comes in two versions, surface and submers-
  ible, depending on how far the owner wants to take the 
  modifications and what the needs are for water travel.
  With the surface version, the vehicle is able to float 
  on top of the water. This could involve a variety of sys-
  tems including a secondary hull shaped to displace an 
  appropriate amount of water, inflatable skirts or ballasts 
  that expand to create flotation, or pontoons attached 
  to the hull of the vehicle. Regardless of the exact form, 
  the modification is fairly extensive, and it is immedi-
  ately obvious to any observer that something dramatic 
  has been done to the vehicle. When operating on wa-
  ter, the vehicle can use its normal means of propulsion 
  or a low-powered propeller. If the latter is used, speed 
  and maneuverability are fairly limited, but the vehicle at 
  least functions. It probably wouldn’t do well crossing an 
  ocean or large lake, but it can easily get across a river, 
  sound, or bay.
  With the submersible version, the vehicle has been 
  modified to operate under the water. This modification 
  is much more extensive but also more subtle than the 
  surface version. Seals are put in to make sure the ve-
  hicle and its essential components are watertight. A 
  secondary propulsion system is then installed to allow 
  it to move while submerged. Classically, this means a 
  propeller powered by the vehicle’s drive train, but it can 
  also be a ducted waterjet system for those that like later 
  technology. Finally, internal or external ballast tanks/bal-
  loons are added so that the vehicle can control its depth. 
  While the vehicle is capable of moving underwater, it 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
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  does not handle extreme conditions well and can only 
  handle depths of about 100 meters.
  SECONDARY PROPULSION: 
  ROTOR
  For many years, experimental riggers had been trying 
  to make a rotor secondary propulsion system work, and 
  in 2074 they finally did it. The plans broke on the shad-
  ow grids and instantly blew up in popularity. Like other 
  secondary propulsion systems, the modifications are 
  extensive and costly, but they can be life-saving when 
  you really need your vehicle to just take off and fly. A 
  rotary secondary propulsion system includes installing 
  the rotors on the top of the vehicle that can fold and 
  partially retract themselves. Additionally, a tail fin with 
  stabilizing rotor is constructed to also retract either into 
  the body, beside, or underneath the vehicle. Although 
  the system is functional—the vehicle does fly when it 
  didn’t before—it handles like a barn with rotors. Don’t 
  expect to be winning any dogfights, but the vehicle just 
  might get you out of a jam in a way nothing else could.
  SECONDARY PROPULSION: 
  TRACKED
  Another in the line of secondary propulsion modes, 
  the tracked mode is the ultimate in conquering off-
  road terrain. This ingenious modification features a sys-
  tem where jacks are deployed to lift the vehicle off the 
  ground, then the tires (or other regular propulsion) are 
  retracted partially into the body, and the tracks are de-
  ployed. Finally, the jacks are retracted, and the tracks be-
  come the means of propulsion. Smugglers that use a wa-
  tercraft as their primary vehicle have found this system 
  extremely helpful in allowing their boat to make short 
  excursions into the typically rugged terrain frequented 
  by smugglers. Others who have installed them in ground 
  craft do so because they find other methods of off-road 
  travel not good enough, or they want the versatility of 
  being able to switch from a primary on-road system to 
  the tracked system without making a sacrifice to either. 
  When moving in tracked mode, a vehicle can move 
  through extremely rough terrain without issue, includ-
  ing crossing trenches and climbing steep angles. Game-
  masters should reduce driving difficulty as appropriate. 
  Though the vehicle’s speed is limited, it can pivot on the 
  spot since both tracks can move forward or backward 
  independently.
  SECONDARY PROPULSION: 
  WALKER
  For truly exceptional or demanding terrain, some rig-
  gers install a walker system of secondary propulsion on 
  their vehicles. Using a variable number (four to eight, 
  as needed) of retractable mechanical legs, the vehicle 
  can deploy the system to give the vehicle the versatil-
  ity and mobility of a walker. When deployed, the body 
  of the vehicle is lifted about a meter off of the ground 
  to provide clearance from the terrain, with each leg 
  able to move backwards or forwards independently 
  to provide a walking motion. When in walker mode, a 
  vehicle is able to traverse far more rugged terrain than 
  any other propulsion and still be highly maneuverabil-
  ity, though its speed is severely limited. When using 
  the walker mode of secondary propulsion, the vehicle 
  uses those stats for Handling, Speed, and Acceleration. 
  Additionally, while in walker mode, the vehicle has the 
  basic maneuverability of a metahuman meaning it can 
  stop instantly and pivot on the spot.
  SPEED ENHANCEMENT
  Using a variety of techniques and equipment (de-
  pending on the vehicle), including things such as su-
  perchargers, fuel distribution optimization, and parts 
  replacement, the top speed of the vehicle is increased. 
  More dramatic increases in top end speed require more 
  extensive modifications to the vehicle as it is pushed far 
  beyond its original design and limitations. Some designs 
  can only be pushed so far. In the end, though, having 
  that raw top-end speed can save your hoop. Speed En-
  hancement modification can be taken with a Rating of 
  1 to 3, with the Rating adding to the Speed attribute of 
  the vehicle.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  SECONDARY PROPULSION  
  ADJUSTMENTS
  Whenever a vehicle switches to a secondary propulsion 
  mode, it uses the Handling, Speed, and Acceleration values 
  of the secondary mode, shown below, instead of the regular 
  values. Attributes of secondary propulsion modes cannot be 
  improved.
  SECONDARY PROPULSION MODES
  NAME
  HANDLING
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  Amphibious 
  (Surface)
  2
  2
  1
  Amphibious 
  (Submersible)
  2
  2
  2
  Hovercraft
  2/2
  3
  2
  Rotor
  2
  3
  2
  Tracked
  2/4
  2
  1
  Walker
  5
  1
  1
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  POWER TRAIN MODIFICATIONS
  MODIFICATION
  SLOTS
  THRESHOLD
  TOOLS
  SKILL
  AVAIL
  COST
  Acceleration Enhancement
  Rating 1
  4
  12
  Shop
  —
  6
  Accel x 10,000¥
  Rating 2
  8
  24
  Facility
  — 
  6
  Accel x 25,000¥
  Gecko Tips
  Body 1–3
  1
  8
  Shop
  — 
  6
  1,000¥
  Body 4–6
  4
  16
  Shop
  — 
  6
  5,000¥
  Body 7+—Not Possible
  Gliding System
  Body <= 12
  5
  16
  Facility
  —
  12R
  Body x 3,000¥
  Body > 12
  10
  24
  Facility
  — 
  16R
  Body x 4,000¥
  Handling Enhancement
  Rating 1
  4
  8
  Shop
  —
  6
  Handl x 2,000¥
  Rating 2
  10
  16
  Facility
  —
  8
  Handl x 5,000¥
  Rating 3
  18
  24
  Facility
  — 
  10
  Handl x 12,000¥
  Improved Economy
  2
  12
  Facility
  — 
  4
  7,500¥
  Manual Control Override
  1
  4
  Shop
  — 
  6
  500¥
  Multifuel Engine 
  4
  20
  Shop
  — 
  10
  Body x 1,000¥
  Off-Road Suspension
  2
  8
  Shop
  —
  4
  Vehicle cost x 25%
  Rigger Cocoon
  2
  6
  Kit
  — 
  8
  1,500¥
  Removed Manual Controls
  1
  4
  Shop
  — 
  2
  200¥
  Rocket Booster
  10
  36
  Facility
  — 
  16F
  Body x 5,000¥
  Secondary Manual Controls
  2
  10
  Shop
  —
  4
  1,000¥
  Secondary Propulsion:
  Amphibious, Surface
  4
  10
  Shop
  —
  6
  Body x 200¥
  Amphibious, Submersible
  8
  20
  Shop
  —
  12R
  Body x 2,000¥
  Hovercraft
  8
  16
  Shop
  —
  12
  Body x 1,000¥
  Rotor
  10
  24
  Facility
  —
  12R
  Body x 3,000¥
  Tracked
  6
  14
  Shop
  —
  10
  Body x 1,000¥
  Walker
  8
  16
  Shop
  —
  12
  Body x 2,000¥
  Speed Enhancement
  Rating 1
  5
  8
  Shop
  —
  6
  Speed x 2,000¥
  Rating 2
  14
  16
  Facility
  —
  8
  Speed x 5,000¥
  Rating 3
  20
  24
  Facility
  —
  12
  Speed x 12,000¥
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  158    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  PROTECTION
  Protection modifications are all based around provid-
  ing various defensive measures for the vehicle or its 
  occupants.
  ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM
  No self-respecting rigger wants to let their precious ve-
  hicle be stolen by some gutter punk with a screwdriver. 
  The anti-theft system modification provides a variety of 
  protection options, depending on the level rating.  
  Rating 1 simply installs sensors that detect an unau-
  thorized intrusion and alerts the owner with physical lights 
  and sounds, or sends an electronic message, or both. 
  Rating 2 includes the sensors from the previous lev-
  el and adds the ability for the owner to remotely lock-
  down the vehicle, making it physically impossible to 
  drive until the release code is sent by the owner. This 
  system can be circumvented by decking the vehicle, or 
  mechanically disabling the fail safe with a Hardware + 
  Logic [Logic] (4) Test. 
  If all of that is just for soft-ass corporate drones, then 
  Rating 3 may be for you. This level includes all of the 
  previous features, with the addition of an electro-shock 
  system inflicting 9S(e), or a gas release system equipped 
  with the toxin of your choice (see p. 409, SR5).
  Rating 4 is the final word in vehicle protection; it 
  includes all of the previous level’s features and adds a 
  remote triggered self-destruct option. The modified ve-
  hicle is reduced to medium-to-small component parts. 
  The explosion has a base damage of 12P and –2 AP, with 
  damage from the blast –2/m.
  ARMOR
  Need to protect your vehicle? Then give it some ar-
  mor! Vehicle armor comes in two varieties: standard 
  and concealed. Standard vehicle armor is additional 
  plating bolted or welded to the exterior—crude but in-
  credibly effective. However, it is immediately obvious 
  to any observer that the vehicle has a bunch of extra 
  plating slapped on to it. While that will win a runner 
  some points in the barrens, it may not sit too well 
  with security forces in downtown. Concealed armor 
  is installed in such a way as to be noticeable only to 
  a trained observer (Perception (4) Test), but does not 
  allow nearly as much protection to be installed. A ve-
  hicle must choose the standard or concealed option 
  for all additional armor taken—there cannot be some 
  armor of one time along with some of the other. Re-
  gardless of type, each point taken for this modification 
  adds a point to the vehicle’s Armor value for Damage 
  Resistance Tests. The most armor any vehicle can add 
  is equal to vehicle Body (meaning maximum armor = 
  Body + existing armor Rating). This is true even if there 
  are remaining modification slots on the vehicle.
  PASSENGER PROTECTION 
  SYSTEM (PPS)
  The passenger protection system (PPS) is a well known 
  and trusted series of systems and modifications made 
  to a vehicle to keep its passengers safe in the case of 
  a collision or other “adverse vehicular situations.” PPS 
  components include four-point harnesses, padded 
  surfaces, quick-deploying air bags, and in some cases 
  fast-drying foam. A PPS has a Rating of 1 to 6, with the 
  Rating added as dice pool bonus to any Damage Resis-
  tance Tests by passengers from damage due to crashes 
  or any other vehicular activity (including ramming) that 
  is not an attack by a weapon.
  PERSONAL ARMOR
  Shadowrunning in a vehicle can be dangerous for the 
  occupants. Besides just faithful (or mercenary) team-
  mates, there may be precious cargo or passengers that 
  need protecting. Personal armor is a modification that 
  adds additional ballistic protection to the occupants of 
  a vehicle in the form of protective lining, ballistic cloth, 
  and ricochet-reducing materials. The modification has a 
  Rating of 1 to 10, with each Rating point adding to the 
  armor used in Damage Resistance Tests for damage to 
  passengers from attacks originating outside the vehicle.
  SPECIAL ARMOR 
  MODIFICATION
  With this modification a vehicle’s armor can be made 
  more resistant to a specific type of damage. Special 
  armor modification works in the same was as modi-
  fications for personal armor (p. 437-438, SR5), with 
  vehicles able to take only Chemical Protection, Fire 
  Resistance, Insulation, Nonconductivity, Radiation 
  Shielding, and Universal Mirror Material. Each mod-
  ification can be taken with a maximum Rating of the 
  armor value of the vehicle. Special armor modification 
  may be taken multiple times, each time with a different 
  armor modification.
  WEAPONS
  AMMO BINS
  Are you one of those runners that feel that any problem 
  can be solved with enough bullets? Is “spray and pray” 
  your personal street proverb? Then you probably want 
  the ammo bin modification. Each ammo bin modifica-
  tion provides an extra 250 rounds of ammunition for 
  one of the vehicle’s weapon mounts. The modification 
  may be taken multiple times, providing more rounds 
  for different weapons or even multiple times for the 
  same weapon (if you really need a lot of bullets).
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
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  DRONE RACK
  A drone rack is an indispensable tool for a rigger who relies 
  on drones to accomplish critical tasks for their team. Drone 
  racks consist of a metal framework or harness designed to 
  allow for quick and easy deployment of a drone in an in-
  stant, turning a vehicle equipped with several of them into 
  a powerful, multipurpose drone carrier. Any drone carried 
  in any kind of drone rack can be deployed by spending a 
  Complex Action, or Simple Action if it is wireless enabled. 
  Each drone rack can carry a single drone of a maximum 
  size depending on the size of the rack. Additionally, each 
  drone rack can be standard or landing type.
  All standard drone racks deploy drones as above but 
  require a manual process to re-embark the drone. This 
  involves physically putting the drone back into the rack, 
  a process that takes about one minute per drone.
  Landing drone racks have a mechanic or electro-
  magnetic grapple system that can automatically re-em-
  bark a drone that is directly beneath or adjacent to them 
  with a Complex Action. This can even be done while the 
  the vehicle is in motion, as long as the target drone can 
  match the vehicle’s speed.
  Micro drone racks can hold up to ten micro drones, 
  mini drone racks can carry a drone of up to Mini size, 
  small drone racks can carry up to a Small drone, medi-
  um drone racks can carry up to a Medium drone, and 
  large drone racks can carry (you guessed it) up to a 
  Large drone.
  GUN PORT
  For those times when you want your vehicle to be less 
  “car” and more “armored personnel carrier,” there is 
  the gun port mod. A gun port is a small flap or slot in-
  stalled strategically in the hull of the vehicle that allows 
  a single passenger (or the driver, if you can multitask) 
  to shoot a hand-held weapon at a target outside the 
  vehicle, while still staying completely protected by the 
  vehicle’s armor. The port provides a ninety-degree 
  cone of visibility, and a small stability harness that pro-
  vides 4 points of Recoil Compensation. The gun port 
  mod can be taken as many times as possible for the ve-
  hicle, though provides no benefit beyond the amount 
  of passengers that a vehicle can reasonably carry.
  MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM
  While this item normally reserved for military use, a 
  resourceful and properly connected shadowrunner has 
  been known to get their hands on a missile defense 
  system (MDS). Using a highly complicated and special-
  ized set of software, the system ties in control of one 
  or more on-board weapon systems to shoot down in-
  coming missiles and rockets while in flight. The system 
  requires the vehicle to have a Sensor rating of 5 (min-
  imum) and at least one weapon capable of Full-Auto 
  fire, or a laser weapon, to be attached via remote con-
  trol turret weapon mount. When an incoming projectile 
  is detected, the system takes control of all weapons 
  tied into it in order to intercept in the incoming projec-
  tile. This supersedes any other current controller of the 
  weapon(s). Ballistics weapons use 20 rounds of ammu-
  nition each time the system activates. In game turns, 
  each ballistic weapon tied into the system gives the de-
  fender +2 on Defense Tests made against missiles and 
  rockets. Each laser weapon provides +4 dice.
  PROTECTION MODIFICATIONS
  MODIFICATION
  SLOTS
  THRESHOLD
  TOOLS
  SKILL
  AVAIL
  COST
  Anti-Theft System
  Rating 1
  1
  4
  Kit
  — 
  4
  500¥
  Rating 2
  2
  8
  Kit
  — 
  6
  1,000¥
  Rating 3
  4
  12
  Shop
  — 
  8R
  2,500¥
  Rating 4
  6
  16
  Shop
  Demolitions 
  12F
  5,000¥
  Armor
  Standard
  Rating x 2
  Rating x 2
  Shop
  Armorer
  6R
  Rating x 500¥
  Concealed
  Rating x 3
  Rating x 3
  Shop
  Armorer
  12R
  Rating x 3,000¥
  PPS (Rating 1-6)
  2
  Rating x 4
  Shop
  —
  6
  Rating x 2,000¥
  Personal Armor (Rating 1-10)
  2
  Rating x 2
  Shop
  Armorer 
  (Rating)R
   Rating x 500¥
  Special Armor Modification
  2
  12
  Shop
  Armorer
  (As Mod)
  (As Mod) x 2
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
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  OIL SLICK SPRAYER
  Some runners say that old tricks are the best tricks, and 
  they’re the ones who most love the simple but effective 
  oil slick sprayer. Using a few nozzles and a reservoir of 
  slick fluid, the ground immediately behind the vehicle 
  can be made extremely hazardous to pursuing ground-
  based vehicles. Activating the oil slick sprayer is a Free 
  Action; following activation, any ground vehicles in 
  pursuit at Short Range must make a Reaction + Vehicle 
  Skill [Handling] (2) Test to avoid crashing. The oil slick 
  sprayer has 6 charges and can be completely refilled 
  for 50 nuyen.
  RAM PLATE
  While ramming might be a last resort for some, it is 
  a first resort for others, and the ram plate is the per-
  fect modification for those people. Ram plates come 
  in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, from wickedly 
  engineered sharpened bifurcating blades to a motley 
  collection of extra car parts that the gangers welded 
  to the front. All are equally effective. When making a 
  Ramming attack (see p. 203, SR5) the damage done by 
  the ramming vehicle is increased by one level, as if it 
  were going one speed category higher. Damage taken 
  to the ramming vehicle is unchanged.
  ROAD STRIP EJECTOR
  The road strip ejector is another classic but effective 
  countermeasure from the good old days. Using a sim-
  ple powered release mechanism, a belt that is extreme-
  ly hazardous to ground vehicles is deployed with a Free 
  Action. A road strip ejector can be equipped with any 
  one type of road strip (see Vehicle Equipment, p. 152). 
  The strip ejector can carry six individual strips. Refills 
  cost the price of six of whatever road strip is desired.
  SMOKE PROJECTOR
  Another oldie but a goodie, the smoke projector contin-
  ues to prove that simple never goes out of style. One or 
  two canisters with aerosol nozzles are attached to the 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    161
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  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  WEAPON MODIFICATIONS
  MODIFICATION
  SLOTS
  THRESHOLD
  TOOLS
  SKILL
  AVAIL
  COST
  Ammo Bin
  1
  4
  Shop
  Armorer
  6R
  200¥
  Standard Drone Rack
  Mini
  1
  8
  Kit
  — 
  4
  500¥
  Small
  2
  10
  Shop
  — 
  4
  1,000¥
  Medium
  3
  12
  Shop
  — 
  6
  2,000¥
  Large
  4
  16
  Shop
  — 
  8
  4,000¥
  Landing Drone Rack
  Mini 
  2
  10
  Shop
  — 
  6
  1,000¥
  Small
  3
  12
  Shop
  — 
  6
  4,000¥
  Medium 
  4
  14
  Facility
  — 
  8
  10,000¥
  Large
  5
  20
  Facility
  — 
  12
  20,000¥
  Gun Port
  1
  4
  Kit
  — 
  6R
  500¥
  Missile Defense System
  3
  16
  Facility
  Software
  12R 
  15,000¥
  Oil Slick Sprayer
  2
  8
  Shop
  — 
  8F
  500¥
  Smoke Projector
  2
  8
  Shop
  — 
  6R
  750¥
  Thermal Smoke
  +100¥
  Road Strip Ejector
  2
  10
  Shop
  — 
  10F
  800¥ + strips
  Weapon Mount
  Light Size
  1
  4
  Kit
  Armorer
  6F
  750¥
  Standard Size
  2
  6
  Shop
  Armorer
  8F
  1,500¥
  Heavy Size
  4
  10
  Shop
  Armorer
  12F
  4,000¥
  External Visibility
  –
  —
  —
  —
  —
  –
  Internal Visibility
  +2
  +6
  Shop
  —
  +2
  +1,500¥
  Concealed Visibility
  +4
  +10
  Shop
  —
  +4
  +4,000¥
  Fixed Flexibility
  –
  —
  —
  —
  —
  —
  Flexible Flexibility
  +1
  +4
  Shop
  —
  +2
  +2,000¥
  Turret Flexibility
  +2
  +12
  Facility
  —
  +6
  +5,000¥
  Remote Control
  –
  —
  —
  —
  —
  —
  Manual Control
  +1
  +4
  Shop
  —
  +1
  +500¥
  Armored Manual Control
  +2
  +6
  Shop
  —
  +4
  +1,500¥
  162    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
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  vehicle, releasing a huge cloud of dense smoke on com-
  mand with a Free Action. Once deployed, all actions of 
  vehicles up to one hundred meters behind the vehicle 
  are affected by the Moderate Smoke Visibility Modifier 
  (p. 175, SR5). For a little bit more nuyen, the system can 
  be installed with thermal smoke (p. 435, SR5).
  WEAPON MOUNT
  Shadowrunning is not a business where one wants to 
  be defenseless (or offense-less, for that matter), so rig-
  gers often awant to put weapons on their vehicle. While 
  a small number of security or military-class vehicles are 
  designed to mount weapon systems, the vast majority 
  of vehicles are designed and built for civilian use, so 
  installing a weapon system is strictly an after-market 
  affair. Just like the weapons that they support, weap-
  on mounts come in a large variety of shapes and sizes 
  to suit the needs of the weapon as well as the owner. 
  All weapon mounts have four attributes: Size, Visibility, 
  Flexibility, and Control.
  Size defines what kind of weapons can be attached 
  to the weapon mount. Light weapon mounts can hold 
  weapons in the following categories: Melee, Tasers, 
  Hold-Out Pistols Light Pistols, Heavy Pistols, Machine 
  Pistols, and Submachine Guns. Standard weapon mounts 
  can hold Tasers, Hold-Outs, Light Pistols, Heavy Pistols, 
  Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Shotguns, Exotic Ranged 
  Weapons, Flamethrowers, and Special Weapons. Heavy 
  weapon mounts can hold any of the previous, as well as 
  weapons from the following categories: Machine Guns, 
  Cannons, Launchers, and Lasers.
  Visibility defines where a weapon is mounted on a 
  vehicle and how noticeable it is. An external mount plac-
  es the weapon on the outside of the vehicle, on its hull 
  somewhere, which is plainly obvious to any observer. 
  An internal mount has the weapon inside the vehicle un-
  til it’s deployed using a Simple Action. Once deployed 
  the weapon is externally visible and easily seen, but 
  while internal the weapon cannot be seen from outside 
  observation. A concealed mount is an internal mount but 
  further conceals the weapon behind false paneling and 
  other vehicle features such that it is not obvious even 
  when searching the inside, requiring a  Perception + In-
  tuition [Intuition] (4) Test to find.
  Flexibility defines how movable a weapon is on its 
  mount. A fixed mount cannot turn independently from 
  the vehicle it is attached to and so relies on the driver 
  of the vehicle to aim the weapon; it cannot change its 
  direction of fire unless the vehicle direction also chang-
  es. A flexible mount has a limited range of motion, able 
  to move ninety degrees horizontally and vertically. A 
  turret mount allows for a full 360-degree of movement 
  but can be constrained depending on where on the hull 
  of the vehicle the weapon is placed. Most smart riggers 
  will put a turret mount on the roof of the vehicle to fully 
  utilize its range of motion.
  Control determines how the weapon attached to 
  the mount can be fired. These days the default is remote, 
  meaning the weapon can be fired by making a Con-
  trol Device Matrix Action (the owner of such a device 
  automatically succeeds). For the security paranoid, or 
  those that just like the hands-on approach, manual con-
  trol can be applied to a weapon. This option removes 
  the possibility of remote, electronic control in favor of 
  direct mechanical operation of the weapon, meaning a 
  metahuman must physically operate the weapon, which 
  tends to put them at bodily risk. Armored manual control 
  is an option where the operator of the weapon is pro-
  tected by armored panels and shields while operating 
  the weapon. This gives the firer +6 armor against ranged 
  attacks while operating the weapon.
  To calculate the final cost of the weapon mount 
  modification, start with the Size. The apply the modifiers 
  to Slot, Threshold, Availability, and Cost when choosing 
  the other options. Use the highest requirement for Tools 
  from the options chosen
  BODY
  Body modifications modify the hull or structure of the 
  vehicle in some form.
  ASSEMBLY/DISASSEMBLY
  No rigger likes to see their vehicle “baby” in pieces, but 
  at least with the assembly/disassembly modification 
  they know it can be put back together. For times when 
  a rigger or their team needs to get a vehicle to (or into) 
  a location but can’t get it there whole, they put in an 
  assembly modification. While this can be used on larg-
  er vehicles to give more flexibility in how they can be 
  transported, it is far more common for smaller vehicles 
  like drones. Secure facilities will commonly search and 
  scan for illegal or banned drones, such as small sur-
  veillance “bugs,” but detection can be circumvented 
  by breaking the drone down into innocuous parts and 
  smuggling those in separately. 
  The assembly/disassembly modification allows a 
  vehicle to be broken down into several smaller pieces 
  and then reassembled for operation. Disassembling or 
  reassembling a vehicle takes a (Vehicle Mechanic Skill) 
  + Logic [Logic] (Body, 30 minutes) Extended Test. When 
  broken down, the parts are extremely difficult to identi-
  fy, requiring a Perception + Intuition [Intuition] (4) Test 
  as well as having an appropriate Knowledge Skill to even 
  recognize that the parts could be a vehicle component.
  CHAMELEON COATING
  Not just for the flighty owner who can’t settle on a paint 
  color for their vehicle, chameleon coating is an essen-
  tial tool for keeping a vehicle used for shadow activities 
  inconspicuous. A vehicle with the coating has its exte-
  rior hull covered in a specialized kind of polymer that 
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  allows it to display any kind of image sent to the sys-
  tem with an electronic signal. This can be as simple as 
  changing the color of the vehicle, or as complex as cov-
  ering it in moving advertisements and video. Changing 
  the output of the coating is a Free Action. Particularly 
  clever riggers have linked the video feed from their ex-
  ternal sensors into the system so that the exterior of 
  the vehicle mimics the environment around it, resulting 
  in a crude (but effective) “cloaking” or blending system. 
  When running in this mode, as long as it is not moving 
  faster than its Walking rate, Perception Tests made to 
  find the vehicle suffer a –3 dice pool penalty.
  EXTRA ENTRY/EXIT POINTS
  There are plenty of situations when a runner may need 
  to get in or out of their vehicle in an unusual way, for an 
  unusual situation. A vehicle equipped with extra entry/
  exit points has a variety of extra points on the vehicle 
  that can be used to get in or out of the vehicle. These 
  could be an ork-sized sunroof, or a special trap door in 
  the floor of the vehicle. In game terms, any occupant 
  of the vehicle is assumed to have a convenient entry 
  or exit point accessible to them, no matter what state 
  the vehicle it is in (including upside down), or from 
  what position they are attempting to access the vehicle 
  (such as from the roof).
  EJECTION SEATS
  Remember that time when there was an annoying or, 
  in the back and you wished you could just push a button 
  and fire him out of the vehicle? Well, with ejection seats 
  you can! Using a simple expanding gas propulsion sys-
  tem, activated remotely with a Free Action, any seat in 
  the vehicle can become a means to eject the occupant 
  of that seat. Seats can be equipped with parachutes if 
  the system is being used for safe egress of someone 
  that you want to be whole when they land, or without 
  if not. Traditionally, ejection seats launch vertically up-
  ward, but they can be configured to launch horizontally, 
  or even straight down (particularly vicious in aircraft or 
  watercraft).
  EXTREME ENVIRONMENT 
  MODIFICATION
  Most vehicles are manufactured with the anticipa-
  tion and intention that they will be used in common 
  or banal environments—basically, those found in the 
  day-to-day life of most of the population. There are 
  plenty of times, however, when a rigger will need his 
  vehicle to operate smoothly in environments outside 
  of those normal conditions. Since most vehicles were 
  never designed to handle such conditions, several spe-
  cial modifications are needed on a variety of systems, 
  depending on the environment. This could include ad-
  ditives and micro-heaters to ensure the vehicle’s liquid 
  systems do not freeze in extreme cold, or super-cool-
  ers to keep it running in extreme heat. Each time this 
  modification is taken, the vehicle can operate normally 
  in a specific selected environment (desert, arctic, etc.). 
  If the environment itself will be damaging to the vehi-
  cle, it needs a special armor modification (see p. 159) 
  to maintain protection. Note that this modification only 
  allows the vehicle itself to continue to operate; keeping 
  occupants of the vehicle alive would be handled by a 
  life support system (below).
  INCREASED SEATING
  While no riggers likes to be the “team mom” or the 
  “runner taxi,” there are plenty of times that they will 
  need to carry more people than their vehicle originally 
  allowed, especially if they’re driving some super-slick 
  European sports car that could only carry two to begin 
  with. With increased seating, a vehicle can comfortably 
  carry more passengers than its original design. This is 
  far more than just jamming a couple of extra think peo-
  ple in the trunk—the modification includes all features 
  for carrying people including comfortable (enough) 
  seating, incorporating the vehicle’s safety systems (in-
  cluding PPS if installed, see p. 159), and other personal 
  comfort features such as ventilation and lighting. This 
  can mean rearranging the internal layout of the vehicle, 
  extending it slightly, or even adding “external” seating, 
  such as a sidecar on a motorcycle. When this modifi-
  cation is taken, the passenger capacity of the vehicle 
  is increased up to a fifty percent increase of its base 
  value, though the gamemaster has final say on exactly 
  how many passengers the vehicle can reasonably carry.
  LIFE SUPPORT
  The world outside of a vehicle is often dangerous or 
  outright hostile to shadowrunners and their targets. In 
  order to keep their occupants secure, many vehicles in-
  stall a Life Support system. This system comes in two 
  levels, depending on the need. In a Level 1 system, all 
  normal “leak points” in a vehicle—such as door and 
  window frames—have been made air and water tight; 
  air only circulates through the vehicle’s ventilation sys-
  tem. The system also includes a variety of detection 
  systems and filters to help prevent airborne toxins and 
  diseases from harming those inside a vehicle. All occu-
  pants of the vehicle gain +4 dice for any resistance test 
  to an airborne drug, toxin, or disease that comes from 
  outside the vehicle. A Level 2 system includes every-
  thing from the Level 1 system while also allowing all 
  external air intakes to be shut off, making the vehicle 
  completely air and water tight. Additionally, the vehi-
  cle is equipped with its own independent air supply, 
  allowing passengers to survive where there is no air, 
  such as under water or in space.  Level 2 also counts as 
  a Chemical Seal (p. 437, SR5) for any game situations 
  where that applies.
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  MECHANICAL ARM
  Did a teammate ever ask you to give a hand? Well, with 
  the mechanical arm modification your vehicle actual-
  ly can! This modification essentially gives your vehi-
  cle an (extra) appendage, and comes in two different 
  forms. Arms in both forms have a length roughly equal 
  to Body x 10 centimeters, and five centimeters for a 
  Body 0 vehicle. The arm has a Strength equal to the 
  vehicle’s Body / 2 (rounded up). A basic mechanical 
  arm is a simple system with a limited range of motion 
  that is very useful for basic grasping and carrying op-
  erations. These are generally used to load and unload 
  cargo from the vehicle or something near it and can be 
  used for any operations reasonably similar to that, such 
  as putting a drone back into a drone rack (see p. 160). 
  An articulated mechanical arm is a mechanical repro-
  duction of a metahuman arm mounted on a vehicle. 
  It has fine motor abilities and can grasp and use tools. 
  A rigger jumped into a vehicle with an articulated me-
  chanical arm can use any of their Technical Skills with 
  the arm, though the gamemaster can impose a pen-
  alty if the vehicle is only equipped with one and the 
  task regularly requires two arms. Most surprisingly (for 
  those that don’t expect it), an articulated mechanical 
  arm can make a melee attack against any target within 
  range. To make a melee attack, roll Melee Skill + Agility 
  [Accuracy]—if a rigger is jumped into the vehicle, the 
  test uses their appropriate melee skill. If the vehicle is 
  attacking autonomously use (autosoft) + Pilot.
  NANOMAINTENANCE SYSTEM
  While many people have (understandably) gotten skit-
  tish about injecting nanites into their head, most of the 
  population still considers it safe to have them operate 
  on something inorganic like their vehicle. The nano-
  maintenance system installs a series of specialized na-
  nobot hives around the body of the vehicle and in key 
  sections designed to repair and maintain the vehicle’s 
  body and systems. This includes reshaping body panels 
  and filling holes, cleaning critical systems, and even re-
  building/reshaping parts on a small scale. Nanomainte-
  nance systems come in Ratings 1 to 4. When repairing 
  damage done to a vehicle, an owner can let the nano-
  maintenance system attempt its job autonomously, or 
  make repairs in conjunction with the system. If repairing 
  autonomously, roll the Rating of the nanomaintenance 
  system. Each hit repairs one box of vehicle damage, 
  with the whole process taking one hour. Alternatively, 
  the owner can repair the damage with the assistance of 
  the system. In this case, the owner makes a standard 
  Repair Test, with the nanomaintence system giving a 
  bonus equal to its Rating (see p. 146, SR5). Either one 
  option or the other must be chosen for each instance of 
  damage to be repaired—the two cannot be combined 
  on the same damages.
  REALISTIC FEATURES
  When undertaking surreptitious surveillance, making a 
  drone look like not a drone is an essential asset. For this 
  reason, many riggers will wrap smaller drones, or any-
  thing up to humanoid size, in a synthetic skin material. 
  The intricacy of the disguise can vary depending on 
  how much time and resources are put into it. This can 
  range from a simple coating of realistic-looking skin 
  made from a synthetic material, to a full covering of liv-
  ing tissue fed by an artificial circulation system with de-
  vices to simulate organs. The realistic features mod has 
  a Rating of 1 to 4. The Rating sets the threshold of the 
  Perception Test to recognize the machine as artificial. 
  When the modification is made, the installer chooses 
  a single living being that the modification is trying to 
  replicate. This modification is designed to be made on 
  vehicles no bigger than the size of a large animal. The 
  gamemaster can decide whether the modification is 
  even possible, given the size and design of the vehi-
  cle, but nearly all drones should be able to accept the 
  modification. The true nature of the vehicle is instantly 
  recognizable by Assensing.
  SMUGGLING COMPARTMENT
  You don’t need to run very long before you encounter a 
  situation where you need to keep something (or some-
  one) hidden from authorities that are trying to find it. In 
  these situations, the smuggling compartment is what 
  you need. This modification adds a storage compart-
  ment to the vehicle, one that is designed to not easily 
  be found. In general, a smuggling compartment can-
  not be seen unless a person is specifically looking for 
  hidden compartments or doing a thorough search of 
  the vehicle, and even in that case the Perception Test 
  to notice the compartment is made with a –6 penal-
  ty. Smuggling compartments are hidden by purely 
  visual means, so if the contents of the compartment 
  make it detectable by other means—chemical, radio-
  active, thermographic—these do not suffer a penalty. 
  Compartments can have shielding installed on them to 
  make the compartment difficult to detect by a particu-
  lar non-visual sense. If this is done, then the –6 penalty 
  applies to that sense as well. Shielding on a smuggling 
  compartment may be taken multiple times, each time 
  specifying a different sensory type (auditory, chemical, 
  radioactive, astral, etc.). The gamemaster determines if 
  an object can fit in a smuggling compartment, based 
  on the size of the vehicle. In general, smuggling com-
  partments are about ten to twenty percent of the over-
  all size of the vehicle itself.
  SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
  Depending upon its intended role, a vehicle may have a 
  variety of specialized equipment. This modification is a 
  “catch-all” category for any specific piece of equipment 
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  that a rigger may want installed on their vehicle. This 
  could include such things as a dozer blade, snoware-
  moval device, asphalt dispenser, road-paint applicator, 
  or temperature controlled storage. No fixed costs are 
  provided, as the gamemaster has final say on what can 
  be installed on the vehicle and what effect it may have.
  VALKYRIE MODULE
  If you have teammates that just can’t seem to stop from 
  getting themselves critically injured, then they are going 
  to thank you for installing a Valkyrie module. Named af-
  ter the mythical maidens that carry a Viking warrior to 
  the afterlife, the Valkyrie module is a small-scale, porta-
  ble, automated emergency room. The module includes 
  a bed with a transparent, enclosed lid and a host of so-
  phisticated medical equipment with built-in software 
  that can quickly analyze and treat almost any injury. 
  Any person placed in the Valkyrie module is auto-
  matically stabilized (p. 209, SR5). The systems on the 
  Valkyrie module are equivalent to a Rating 6 Medkit (p. 
  450, SR5), with all of the same functionality. Additional-
  ly, the Valkyrie module operates as an autodoc, and so 
  can be operated remotely (p. 208, SR5).
  WINCH
  For those times when a runner needs to pull or tow 
  something and they don’t want to call an underpaid 
  and overweight member of the auto club, there is the 
  winch modification. The basic winch hasn’t changed its 
  design much in about a hundred years. It has a heavy 
  gauge steel cable ending with a hook or latch and wraps 
  around a powered drum. A winch can be mounted on 
  the front or rear of the vehicle, and comes with about 
  one hundred meters of cable and can support a load 
  of up to ten tons, provided the vehicle itself is heavy 
  enough to support this. If wireless enabled, the winch 
  hook can be released remotely with a Free Action. An 
  enhanced winch is generally found in heavy industrial or 
  rescue vehicles but can be useful to a runner. Its winch 
  replaces the hook with an advanced system using a 
  combination of gecko-grip technology and magnetism 
  that can attach to any surface on its target without the 
  need to manually place a hook on an appropriate part. 
  The system can be activated or deactivated remotely 
  with a wireless command (if enabled). The enhanced 
  system can support a load of up to one hundred tons 
  and includes additional stabilizers deployed from the 
  vehicle and onto/into the ground to double the towing 
  vehicle’s weight for lifting purposes.
  WORKSHOP
  For the true tinkerers who can never be apart from their 
  tools, a vehicle with ample enough space can be made 
  into a mobile workshop. Niceties and comfort items are 
  removed to make room for shelving, work spaces, and 
  equipment. A vehicle modified in this way counts as 
  being a Shop for the purposes of tool availability (p. 
  443, SR5). The type of shop (Automotive Mechanic, 
  Armorer) must be chosen at the time of the modifica-
  tion and cannot be changed.
  ELECTROMAGNETIC
  Electromagnetic modifications are connected to or 
  modify a vehicle’s electronic systems.
  ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING
  When a rigger wants absolute control over the signals 
  that come in and out of their vehicle, there isn’t a better 
  option than the electromagnetic shielding modifica-
  tion. This system builds a system of conductive metal 
  bands into the exterior body of the vehicle, designed 
  to conduct away and dissipate all wireless signals that 
  attempt to penetrate the body of the vehicle, going in 
  or out. This modification only works on vehicles that 
  create an enclosed space—it is useless for vehicles that 
  are open, such as a motorcycle. In game terms, the 
  body of the vehicle acts as a Faraday cage for Noise 
  purposes (p. 231, SR5) meaning that no communica-
  tion is possible through the barrier. When the system 
  is installed, the owner can choose to have certain sys-
  tems or features be able to move through the barrier by 
  running a physical wire through the cage. Any device 
  that can connect to the body of the vehicle with a wired 
  connection can bypass the Faraday cage.
  ELECTRONIC 
  COUNTERMEASURES (ECM)
  Savvy riggers and deckers know that it is often easier 
  to attack the signals controlling a device than to attack 
  the device itself. To that end, a vehicle can be equipped 
  with an electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite. This 
  modification allows the vehicle to function exactly like 
  an area jammer (p. 441, SR5), with all of the same rules. 
  Just like a jammer, the modification comes with a Rat-
  ing of 1 to 6.
  GRIDLINK
  Gridlink is a fairly ubiquitous feature for modern ve-
  hicles in the Sixth World, at least in the areas where 
  the sun of corporate control continually shines. Using 
  a system of embedded power lines in the road system, 
  any vehicle equipped with gridlink can use these lines 
  to draw operational power and thus have an unlimit-
  ed running time as long as it is connected. As with ev-
  erything in the Sixth World, there’s a downside. In ex-
  change for the free power, vehicles running on gridlink 
  essentially give up control to the owner of the local 
  GridGuidesystem. A vehicle is identified and tracked 
  every second it is attached to the system, is limited to 
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  the legal speed limit set for the area, and can be re-
  motely shut down by the owner of the system. Most 
  vehicles constructed come with a gridlink system as 
  standard, but the system can be installed afterward 
  with a vehicle modification.
  In game terms, the host that controls the gridlink sys-
  tem is automatically assumed to have 3 marks (or be the 
  owner) of any vehicle connected. Needless to say, run-
  ners consider the GridGuide system to be a major liabili-
  ty to their work and will always (if they’re smart) remove 
  the system or install a gridlink override (see below).
  GRIDLINK OVERRIDE
  Using a combination of hardware and software mod-
  ifications, a vehicle can be equipped to override its 
  gridlink system, and retain independent control. When 
  activated, the vehicle appears to be a interacting with 
  the system normally but cannot be shut down, can ex-
  ceed the posted speed limit, and randomly rotates its 
  identifier so it cannot be tracked for an extended peri-
  od. Since even runners are pragmatic, the vehicle still 
  draws its operational power from the gridlink system, 
  as long as it is available, because who doesn’t love 
  stealing from the corps?
  PILOT ENHANCEMENT
  More than just another program, vehicle Pilot programs 
  are some of the most sophisticated software programs 
  in use today. Enhancing a drone’s Pilot program takes 
  more than just loading a new program: select chips 
  on the hardware set are replaced and upgraded, new 
  communication channels are installed to enhance in-
  BODY MODIFICATIONS
  MODIFICATION
  SLOTS
  THRESHOLD
  TOOLS
  SKILL
  AVAIL
  COST
  Assembly/Disassembly
  2
  Body x 4 (Min. 1) Facility
  — 
  6
  1,000¥
  Chameleon Coating
  2
  10
  Facility
  —
  12F
  Body x 1,000¥
  Extra Entry/Exit Points
  1
  8
  Shop
  —
  8
  2,500¥
  Extreme Environment Modification
  2
  12
  Shop
  —
  6
  2,000¥
  Increased Seating
  2
  6
  Shop
  —
  4
  2,000¥
  Life Support
  Level 1
  2
  10
  Shop
  —
  8
  Body x 500¥
  Level 2
  4
  20
  Shop
  —
  12
  Body x 2,000¥
  Mechanical Arm
  Basic
  2
  8
  Shop
  —
  4
  1,000¥
  Articulated
  3
  16
  Facility
  —
  6
  5,000¥
  Nanomaintenance System (Rating 1-4)
  Rating
  Rating x 4
  Shop
  —
  (R x 5)R
  Rating x 5,000¥
  Realistic Features (Rating 1-4)
  Rating
  Rating x 4
  Shop
  Medicine (R x 3)R
  Rating x Body x 
  1,000¥
  Smuggling Compartment
  3
  16
  Facility
  —
  8F
  1,500¥
  Shielding
  n/a
  12
  Facility
  —
  12F
  3,000¥
  Special Equipment
  variable
  variable
  variable
  variable
  variable
  variable
  Valkyrie Module
  4
  6
  Shop
  Hardware 
  8
  2,000¥
  Winch
  Basic
  1
  8
  Shop
  —
  4
  750¥
  Enhanced
  2
  12
  Facility
  —
  8
  4,000¥
  Workshop
  6
  20
  Facility
  —
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  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    167
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  formation gathering, and control systems are upgraded 
  to provide improved sensitivity and additional maneu-
  vering options. Unlike other modifications, the Pilot 
  enhancement replaces the Pilot Rating of the vehicle, 
  rather than adding to its existing Rating. A Pilot pro-
  gram can have a Rating of 1 to 9
  RETRANS UNIT
  For riggers that want to cast a wide net of drones, or 
  those wanting precision in a high-noise zone, the retrans 
  unit is essential. Using a specialized system of signal 
  capture and algorithmic reconstruction, the retrans unit 
  rebuilds and rebroadcasts a specific signal, eliminating 
  all the noise that accumulated on the signal up to that 
  point. Thus the signal behaves as if it had originated at 
  the point of the retrans unit. A vehicle equipped with a 
  retrans unit that is part of a network of other devices can 
  be used to rebroadcast all signal communications on the 
  network. In game terms, when calculating the effect of 
  Noise due to physical distance (see p. 231, SR5), the dis-
  tance from the source or the destination to the retrans 
  unit (whichever is greater) can be used instead of the to-
  tal distance from source to destination. In other words, 
  the Noise level is calculated as if the signal was originat-
  ing or arriving at the retrans unit, picking the higher of 
  the two. Note that this only works for communications 
  across the network of drones, not beyond it; that is to 
  say, a retrans unit cannot be used as a sort of bridge to 
  eliminate noise for a decker attempting to hack into de-
  vices beyond the drone.
  Although multiple retrans units in a single vehicle 
  provide no benefit, multiple vehicles equipped with re-
  trans units can be used to form a “chain” such that only 
  the single highest noise value of all devices is used. A 
  retrans unit can provide its functionality for all devices 
  on a PAN.
  SATELLITE LINK
  Want to have a drone keep tabs on your doss while you 
  sit on a beach halfway across the world? You need a 
  satellite link. Any vehicle equipped with this modifica-
  tion communicates exactly like it is equipped with the 
  satellite link accessory (see p. 439, SR5).
  SENSOR UPGRADE
  Just like the Pilot program, a vehicle’s sensors are a 
  complicated and highly integrated part of the vehicle’s 
  electromagnetic systems. Vehicles that are massed 
  produced for civilian use aren’t designed with acces-
  sibility and enhancement of their sensor systems in 
  mind, so improving a vehicle’s sensor suite is no easy 
  task. Sensory devices themselves generally need to 
  be replaced to be improved, as well as the processing 
  hardware and software that controls them. As such, 
  the sensor upgrade modification replaces the vehicle’s 
  Sensor rating rather than adding to its existing rating. 
  Sensor Enhancement come with a Rating of 1 to 6.
  SIGNATURE MASKING
  When you’re pulling a run, going undetected is more 
  than half the battle. With the proliferation of sensor 
  suites in the Sixth World, this is far easier said than 
  done, but signature masking will go a long way to mak-
  ing a vehicle harder to detect. With this modification, 
  a vehicle’s EM profile is reduced using a complicated 
  (and expensive) set of techniques including: coating 
  the vehicle in radar-absorbing materials, changing the 
  angle on body panels, and thermal and aural dampen-
  ing materials and systems. Signature masking comes 
  with a Rating of 1 to 6, where the Rating determining 
  the amount and extensiveness of the modifications 
  done to to hide the vehicle. Whenever an attacker at-
  tempts to either find the vehicle with a  Sensor Test, or 
  attack the vehicle using Active or Passive Targeting, the 
  Rating of the signature masking is applied as a nega-
  tive dice pool modifier, along with any other Signature 
  Modifiers (p. 184, SR5).
  SUNCELL
  For runners that are economically or environmental-
  ly minded, the SunCell modification provides a great 
  option. Using powerful solar-energy collectors and a 
  battery system, a vehicle can be powered by collect-
  ing solar energy. If operating exclusively during sunny 
  daylight hours, a vehicle has unlimited operational time 
  and needs no other fuel source. In any other conditions 
  (where sunlight isn’t readily available), the vehicle will 
  use up all power stored in the battery and then switch 
  to its standard means of power production (likely a fos-
  sil-fuel engine). If operating in a mix of conditions, the 
  SunCell system roughly doubles the operational time 
  of the vehicle between refueling stops.
  EXAMPLE
  Rigger X is trying to communicate with a long-
  range aerial-surveillance drone that is on the other 
  side of the city, 15 kilometers away. Normally, this 
  would result in a Noise level of 5. However, Rigger 
  X has placed a drone equipped with a retrans unit at 
  a point nine kilometers away from him and one kilo-
  meter from the surveillance drone. The distance from 
  Rigger X to the retrans unit has a Noise level of 3, and 
  the distance from the retrans unit to the target drone 
  has a Noise of 1, so Rigger X uses the higher value 
  of 3.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  168    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  TOUCH SENSORS
  When a rigger jumps into a vehicle, they experience 
  the world around them as if they were the vehicle, with 
  the hull of the vehicle feeling like their skin. With touch 
  sensors, that experience becomes even more realistic, 
  but it comes with a danger. When touch sensors are 
  installed, the hull of the vehicle is suffused with thou-
  sands of micro sensors that relay a variety of sensory 
  information. Consequently, when a rigger is jumped 
  into a vehicle equipped with touch sensors ,they are 
  able to feel and experience the world around them as if 
  the hull of the vehicle was their own skin, possibly even 
  better. In game terms, a rigger jumped in to a vehicle 
  equipped with touch sensors gains +2 dice pool modi-
  fier to any Perception or Sensor Tests, and the vehicle’s 
  Handling has a +1 modifier. However, the hyper-sensi-
  tivity increases the rigger’s vulnerability. Whenever the 
  vehicle takes damage, the rigger receives a –2 penalty 
  to resist the Biofeedback Damage (see p. 229, SR5).
  COSMETIC
  Cosmetic modifications exist in the realm between vehi-
  cle modification and vehicle equipment (like tires). They 
  are more permanent and integrated into the vehicle it-
  self than removable equipment, yet nowhere near as in-
  vasive as any modification. As such, they are listed as a 
  modification, but do not take up any modification slots.
  AMENITIES
  Sometimes it’s not enough to just get from place to 
  place—you want to travel in comfort and style. With the 
  amenities modification, the “living conditions” of a vehi-
  cle are upgraded to provide a more pleasant experience. 
  A standard vehicle provides accommodations equiv-
  alent to Low lifestyle, by default, but amenities can be 
  improved to middle, high, or luxury. With middle, the ve-
  hicle i equipped with comfortable fabric seats, pleasant 
  ergonomics and decorating, and basic AR entertainment 
  options. High has the seating made from fine materials, 
  and temperature controlled, refreshment options avail-
  able. There is also a full suite of Matrix and non-electronic 
  entertainment options to keep anyone entertained for 
  hours. With luxury amenities, every aspect of the vehicle 
  maximizes comfort: the seats keep you warm and mas-
  sage you according to a scan of your muscle tension, and 
  they are made of a non-synthetic material (possibly some 
  kind of dead animal hide). The refreshment unit contains 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    169
  ELECTROMAGNETIC MODIFICATIONS
  MODIFICATION
  SLOTS
  THRESHOLD
  TOOLS
  SKILL
  AVAIL
  COST
  Electromagnetic Shielding
  2
  20
  Facility
  —
   6R
  Body x 500¥
  ECM
  2
  20
  Shop
  Hardware
   (R x 3)F
  Rating x 500¥
  Gridlink
  2
  4
  Shop
  Hardware 4
  750¥
  Gridlink Override
  1
  8
  Kit
  Hardware 8F
  1,000¥
  Pilot Enhancement 
  Rating 1–3
  [Rating]
  Rating x 3
  Kit
  Hardware 
  R x 2
  Rating x 
  2,000¥
  Rating 4–6
  [Rating]
  Rating x 4
  Shop
  Hardware 
  R x 3
  Rating x 
  5,000¥
  Retrans Unit
  2
  4
  Kit
  Hardware
   8
  4,000¥
  Satellite Link
  1
  6
  Kit
  Hardware 6
  500¥
  Sensor Enhancement
  Rating 1–3
  [Rating]
  Rating x 3
  Shop
  Hardware 
  R x 2
  Rating x 
  2,000¥
  Rating 4–6
  [Rating]
  Rating x 4
  Shop
  Hardware 
  R x 3
  Rating x 
  5,000¥
  Signature Masking (Rating 1–6)
  [Rating]
  Rating x 6
  Facility
  —
  14F
  Rating x 2,000¥ 
  SunCell
  2
  16
  Shop
  Hardware 6
  Body x 
  500¥
  Touch Sensors
  3
  16
  Shop
  Hardware 8
  Body x 
  500¥
  (order #9639630)
  
  exotic alcohol and real food, along with access to every 
  Matrix entertainment channel or game available. Alterna-
  tively, the vehicle can have its amenities downgraded to 
  squatter (equivalent to most public transit), in which case 
  it automatically gains the effects of the increased seating 
  modification (see p. 164).
  Skill tests (such as Social Skills or Healing Checks) 
  that happen in a vehicle with an amenities modification 
  are considered to be happening in the equivalent life-
  style of the amenities. Gamemasters can apply bonuses 
  to Social Tests for situations where a display of wealth 
  or comfort would be advantageous. A character can 
  choose to live in their vehicle, but must still pay the full 
  cost for the chosen lifestyle.
  ENHANCED IMAGE SCREENS
  While every vehicle in the 2070s features some degree 
  of imaging screens to communicate important vehicle 
  information, many riggers and vehicle owners want to 
  enhance that image displaying capability. With enhanced 
  image screens, every sufficiently flat surface on a vehi-
  cle (including windows) can display an electronic image 
  or video. Theses images are hyper realistic and can be 
  used to project a false image of the outside world in an 
  attempt to deceive passengers. A Perception Test with a 
  –4 penalty is required to notice that the images are false. 
  Enhanced image screens can be used to display any vi-
  sual feed on a PAN, perfect for team members unable or 
  unwilling to use their AR, or tie their commlink or deck 
  into the same PAN. They can also be used for plain-old 
  entertainment. A vehicle with enhanced image screens 
  can display any and all Matrix AROs that they can see/
  access on the inside of their vehicle, making them visi-
  ble to characters who do not have AR equipped.
  METAHUMAN ADJUSTMENT
  As time marches on in the Sixth World, death, greed, 
  and racism seem to be constant. Despite the best ef-
  forts of many metahuman activist groups over the last 
  few decades, most vehicles are still designed and built 
  with human (or human-equivalent) size in mind. As a 
  result, any metahuman who wants to comfortably use 
  a vehicle must have it adjusted to their body. For trolls 
  and dwarfs, this means adjusting the position of ve-
  hicle controls to fit their size. For orks and elves, this 
  means more minor adjustments that take advantage of 
  their distinct physiology. Orks and elves attempting to 
  pilot a vehicle that has not been adjusted suffer a –1 
  penalty to any Pilot Tests, and dwarfs and trolls suffer a 
  –2 penalty. Pixies and centaurs shouldn’t even try.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  170    >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  RIGGER INTERFACE
  By the 2070s rigger control of vehicles have become so 
  common that even if a rigger adaption isn’t installed as 
  standard for a vehicle, it can easily be added after-mar-
  ket. This modification allows a rigger to jump in to a ve-
  hicle and control it with a full sensory experience. This 
  includes installation of the “black box” that process-
  es the sensory impressions for human consumption, 
  along with a suite of sensors and relays connected to 
  various parts of the vehicle. All drones come equipped 
  with a rigger interface by default.
  INTERIOR CAMERAS
  In the course of jumping through multiple vehicles and 
  taking in multiple streams of information from different 
  sources, a rigger can easily lose contact with their im-
  mediate surroundings—namely, the interior of their own 
  vehicle. As a result, many riggers install interior cameras 
  into their vehicle so they can easily keep track of their 
  own meat body and any passengers in the vehicle by 
  routing the feed from the interior cameras into their 
  PAN. Interior cameras allow a rigger to make a standard 
  Perception Test to notice anyone or anything inside of 
  their vehicle, even while they are in full VR mode.
  SEARCHLIGHT
  Hey, sometimes your needs are as simple as having a 
  light to shine on things when it gets dark. The search-
  light modification installs a high-powered light mount-
  ed somewhere on the exterior of the vehicle, capable 
  of all-around movement for wherever it happens to be 
  mounted. It can be operated remotely or manually, as 
  long as it is physically accessible. When activated and 
  pointed in the appropriate direction, the searchlight 
  reduces the penalties due to darkness by one step (p. 
  173, SR5).
  VEHICLE TAG ERASER
  All of the RFID tags installed on things makes them 
  convenient to find and track, which is exactly what a 
  runner doesn’t want. With a few simple steps, a tag eras-
  er (p. 441, SR5) is installed on the interior or exterior of 
  the vehicle. Drawing power from the vehicle itself, the 
  tag eraser can activate once every ten minutes.
  YERZED OUT
  Do you have a style all your own and want to show that 
  to the world? Then you probably have a yerzed out ve-
  hicle. Drawing from the increasingly popular movement 
  of incorporating slang from the ork language of Or’zet, 
  the term is a modification of the Or’zet word “yer-
  zon,” meaning “wealthy” or “rich.” Despised by most 
  ork rights advocates, the term has nonetheless caught 
  on. Popular trid programs show how to creatively “yerz 
  out” a vehicle in a variety of different ways. Note that a 
  person who drives such a vehicle is often called a “yer-
  zer.” While highly individual, in general a yerzed-out 
  vehicle will be aesthetically customized to the owner’s 
  unique style and tastes. This includes the color of the 
  vehicle (inside and out), as well as cosmetic additions 
  and modifications such as custom AR, additional (and 
  superfluous) lights, sounds, and maybe even a custom 
  sensations broadcast for the simsense-equipped. 
  The yerzed out modification can range in Rating 
  from 1 to 4. The Rating provides a dice pool bonus on 
  Social Tests of the owner in situations where the people 
  would be impressed by yerzing. Conversely, the Rating 
  provides a dice pool penalty to Social Tests of the owner 
  where the customization is frowned upon. Additionally, 
  because it is intentionally unique and memorable, any 
  attempts to gather information about the owner with 
  people or groups that known (or know of) him have a 
  dice pool bonus equal to the Rating, since the vehicle is 
  quite distinctive and memorable.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST <<    171
  COSMETIC MODIFICATIONS
  MODIFICATION
  SLOTS
  THRESHOLD
  TOOLS
  SKILL
  AVAIL
  COST
  Amenities
  Squatter
  —
  6
  Shop
  —
  —
  100¥
  Middle 
  —
  6
  Shop
  —
  2
  500¥
  High
  —
  10
  Shop
  —
  8
  1,000¥
  Luxury
  —
  20
  Shop
  —
  16
  10,000¥
  Enhanced Image Screens
  —
  12
  Shop
  —
  8
  5,000¥
  Metahuman Adjustment
  —
  4
  Kit
  —
  4
  500¥/seat
  Rigger Interface
  —
  8
  Kit
  —
  4
  1,000¥
  Interior Cameras
  —
  6
  Kit
  Hardware 6
  2,000¥
  Searchlight
  —
  4
  Kit
  —
  4
  800¥
  Vehicle Tag Eraser
  —
  8
  Shop
  Hardware 6R
  750¥
  Yerzed Out (Rating 1–4)
  —
  Rating x 4
  Shop
  —
  (R x2)
  (Rating x 1,000¥)
  (order #9639630)
  
  A cold rain impacts Reylen’s visor in a suicidal stacca-
  to. His high-speed race through Seattle on a dark and 
  rainy night is practically a cliché. His job is just as typi-
  cal. “A simple milk run,” Mr. Johnson said. Does he re-
  ally believe what he’s saying, or is it scripted? As the 
  streets get more cracked and faded, he knows he’s get-
  ting closer to Oorting. He jumps into his cycle as the 
  pavement ends to get a feel for the terrain. His sensors/
  eyes pick up the thermal signature from a few shacks as 
  he approaches the coordinates. He pulls up to the first 
  shack and flashes his headlight. 
  A man with a shotgun exits the building. Reylen waits 
  for the password before even going for the package. The 
  man smiles, amused by the cloak and dagger. 
  “Nice night eh? Should be a harvest moon with Ori-
  on in its zenith.”
  Reylen recognizes the password and replies, “It’s 
  summer on Venus, so it should be just as bright.” Reylen 
  pulls out the package and hands it to him.
  The man turns his back and takes a quick peek at the 
  contents, out of Reylen’s view. He goes back into the 
  shack. Reylen quells a momentary panic attack and checks 
  the sensors. Thermals show the man bringing out another 
  box, this one a little taller and rounded. “Keep it cool,” he 
  says with a smile and heads over to the other shack.
  Reylen drives off to finish the delivery. Jumping back 
  in, he looks around. He was about to put the bike on au-
  topilot when he hears the sound of drone rotors shred-
  ding dry leaves in the trees behind him. He immediately 
  swerves off the road and into the trees, weaving be-
  tween trunks for cover. Silenced gunfire snaps as it tears 
  bark from trees and rocks from the ground. Going deep-
  er into the foliage, Reylen sees a drone fast approaching 
  and slams on his brakes, raising his rear tire, which the 
  drone bounces into before veering off into the branches 
  of the trees. 
  Dodging more gunfire, Reylen swerves around a 
  large tree and nearly collides with a second drone on 
  the other side. Without thinking, he ducks under it and 
  drags his bike around ina a spray of dirt and dead leaves. 
  Snatching up a fallen branch, he swings it into the drone’s 
  rotor and brings it crashing down.  Coming around, Rey-
  len accelerates back into the foliage. He feels the impact 
  of metal on metal as a third drone gets a lucky shot on 
  his bike. Reylen runs deeper into the woods. He takes 
  a beating riding through a briar patch, but the pursuing 
  rotodrone doesn’t fare any better and gets tangled up, 
  unable to give chase.
  For another klick, Reylen moves through the woods, 
  hoping no one is keeping track of him. As he gets close 
  to the scattered illumination of Puyallup barrens, he 
  checks on the cargo. The package is mostly intact, but 
  there’s a wetness; white fluid stains the saddle bag. He 
  opens up the container and finds three vials in a nitrogen 
  refrigeration unit; one vial is mostly empty. The label on 
  each shows a smiling cow and the words “2% fat.”
  Stunned, Reylen can’t help but smile. “Huh, it really 
  was a milk run …”
  RIGGER 5.0
  MAXIMUM
  PURSUIT
  172    >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  ADVANCED  
  DRIVING RULES
  Advanced Driving Rules are new optional rules for ex-
  panding the use of vehicles and vehicle combat in a 
  Shadowrun campaign. They further enhance the rigger’s 
  role with more functionality and risk/reward options, as 
  well as adding some distinction between vehicle types. 
  Several of these actions can be used even when not ev-
  eryone is in a vehicle. Advanced driving rules revolve 
  around five components in combat: Speed, Terrain, Con-
  trol, Range, and Actions.
  Vehicle chase/combat can end in four ways:
  1. 
  A vehicle escapes by getting beyond Extreme 
  range in a chase.
  2. 
  A vehicle’s handling is reduced to 0 in a Com-
  bat Turn. This means that the vehicle has been 
  pinned and has no room to escape. 
  3. 
  A vehicle’s Acceleration and Speed are re-
  duced to 0 in a Combat Turn. This again means 
  that the vehicle is stuck and cannot get any 
  momentum to escape.
  4. 
  Vehicle’s condition monitor is filled, meaning 
  the vehicle is destroyed.
  SPEED
  Speed is controlled by the pilot of the vehicle as he ac-
  celerates or decelerates in chase/combat. The vehicle still 
  has a maximum Speed and an Acceleration limit to how 
  quickly a pilot can change speeds in a Combat Turn (p. 
  199, SR5). Speed is defined as a general value rather than 
  a rate of meters per turn (p. 199, SR5) allowing the use of 
  Speed as a modifier in some vehicle actions. Some ac-
  tions can also temporarily reduce another vehicle’s Speed 
  or Acceleration. Note that the Speed value is relative only 
  to the vehicle classification. Later in this chapter are addi-
  tional modifiers to add when mixing vehicle combat with 
  different vehicle types and against pedestrians.
  TERRAIN
  Terrain is the situational combat modifier where the 
  vehicle combat is taking place. It consists of all the 
  environmental and situational obstacles that the pilot 
  faces when performing actions. When a player is using 
  a vehicle or drone, the gamemaster sets this modifier. 
  All vehicle actions have a threshold that includes this 
  modifier, though basic driving does not require the use 
  of this threshold modifier unless the gamemaster re-
  quests it. (If you’re driving in heavy traffic and want to 
  be on time to a meet, you may have to roll.) There are 
  TERRAIN MODIFIER EXPANDED (P. 201, SR5)
  DESCRIPTION
  VARIABLE
  DETAIL
  Open
  +0
  Highways, flat plains, open sea, clear sky
  Light
  +1
  Main street thoroughfares, rolling hills, dock areas, intracity air traffic
  Restricted
  +2
  Side streets, light woods, rocky mountain slopes, light traffic, shallow waters, heavy 
  air traffic
  Obstructed
  +3 
  Low-altitude flying over heavy terrain, high traffic, riptide currents
  Tight
  +4
  Back alleys, heavy woods, steep slopes, driving against traffic, swamp, heavy rapids, 
  flying through winding canyons/cityscape
  Impossible
  +6
  Flying at street level through a city,  ten-meter waves and hurricane winds, driving in 
  an office building, situations where you just don’t want someone to tell you the odds!
  >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<    173
  (order #9639630)
  
  vehicle actions that can change this modifier, but only 
  with the approval of the gamemaster.
  CONTROL
  Control is keeping the vehicle doing what you want it 
  to do without crashing. Every Combat Turn, a pilot must 
  make a Control Vehicle Complex Action (p. 203, SR5) 
  to keep the vehicle under control. Riggers may opt to 
  spend Edge for Zen Control (p. 177) instead of using a 
  Complex Action. If a Control Vehicle action is not taken 
  in a Combat Turn, then all characters within the vehicle 
  receive a –2 dice pool modifier to all their actions in the 
  following Combat Turn until a Control Vehicle action 
  is taken. The vehicle is considered Out of Control. If a 
  pilot doesn’t take a Control Vehicle action in the Com-
  bat Turn while the vehicle is considered Out of Control, 
  then the autopilot (Pilot program if it hasn’t been dis-
  abled or a vehicle running GridGuide) will take over at 
  the end of the Combat Turn. If there is no autopilot to 
  take over, then Newton’s first law takes over until the 
  vehicle finds something immobile to meet. The end re-
  sult should be very unpleasant for all involved.
  The factory-installed autopilot will obey traffic laws 
  (slowing down to the speed limit, using turn signals, 
  etc.) and will not take evasive action against attacks. If 
  the vehicle is damaged, the autopilot program will find 
  the nearest location that is safe for passengers and crew 
  to exit from (a plane will land, a ship will find shore, a car 
  exits traffic, and so on).
  RANGE
  Range is a requirement for many actions and attacks. 
  Range can describe a specific distance measured in 
  meters (mostly for ground vehicles), or simply an ap-
  proximate degree of separation (especially for aircraft). 
  In either case, it’s the range category that matters.
  VEHICLE ACTIONS
  With the exception of passenger actions, each vehicle 
  action requires a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] 
  (X) Threshold test. The X in the threshold is based 
  on the terrain plus other modifiers, such as Speed 
  and stunts. Each vehicle action describes the thresh-
  old, along with the modifiers added. As always, the 
  VCR rating reduces this threshold (p. 199, SR5). Many 
  actions have an optimum Speed in order to be per-
  formed perfectly. Pilots can increase their Speed by 
  an amount up to their Acceleration value (or decrease 
  it by one) in any Combat Turn in order to meet the 
  required Speed to perform the vehicle action. If there 
  is an optimum Speed for the vehicle action, then a 
  Speed modifier value equal to the absolute value dif-
  ference between the vehicle’s current Speed and the 
  action’s ideal Speed is added to the threshold of the 
  action.
  Vehicle test modifiers (p. 201, SR5) still apply to all 
  vehicle actions. Unless stated otherwise, actions here 
  are Complex Actions.
  GENERAL ACTIONS
  CHANGE LINKED DEVICE MODE 
  (P. 202, SR5)
  Change Linked Device is a Free Action
  CHANGE SPEED
  (ANY SPEED)
  Change Speed is a Simple Action, allowing the pilot to 
  adjust their Speed value. Speed can be increased by 
  increments up to the Acceleration value in a Combat 
  Turn, but braking or deceleration with this action can 
  only reduce Speed by 1 per Combat Turn. 
  BOOTLEG TURN
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  When you find your target vehicle going in the oppo-
  site direction and you need to chase it down, the driver 
  makes a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Terrain + 
  Speed) Test. The Speed portion of the threshold is the 
  Speed value of the target vehicle. Net hits put the act-
  ing vehicle in a chase position behind the target vehi-
  cle. With one net hit, the chasing vehicle is behind the 
  target vehicle at Extreme range; each additional net hit 
  moves the chasing vehicle one category closer, up to 
  Close range (net hits beyond that have no effect). 
  CATCH UP/BREAK AWAY 
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  A vehicle may wish to close the distance between them 
  and another vehicle, or increase it. Either way, the driv-
  er makes an opposed Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Han-
  CHASE RANGE
  RANGE
  ENVIRONMENT APPROX. 
  DISTANCE (M)
  Close
  0–2
  Short
  2–10
  Medium
  11–50
  Long
  51–150
  Extreme
  151–300
  Spotter (only with aircraft)
  301–500
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  174    >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  dling] (*) Test. Threshold is terrain + the current Speed 
  difference between acting vehicle and target. If the act-
  ing vehicle has the current fastest speed of all vehicles, 
  then the threshold is just terrain. Every hit above the 
  threshold allows the vehicle to shift one range category 
  toward or away from her opponent, up to the vehicle’s 
  Acceleration value. If the acting vehicle is the chaser, 
  net hits can shift the acting vehicle to right behind the 
  pursued vehicle, or even in front of the chased vehicle 
  if they get enough hits. If this action results in the acting 
  vehicle moving the range value beyond Extreme range, 
  the pursuing vehicle(s) are each allowed a final Vehi-
  cle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (terrain + current Speed 
  difference) Test. Each net hit reduces the chased vehi-
  cle’s range shift by 1. If the acting car still has enough 
  successes to put them beyond Extreme range, then she 
  has gotten away and the pursuit ends.  
  If an aircraft is chasing the acting vehicle, then there 
  is the Spotter range that’s farther out than Extreme. If 
  the acting vehicle shifts the range further than that, then 
  even the aircraft has lost sight of the acting vehicle.
  CONTROL VEHICLE
  (P. 203, SR5)
  This is a Complex Action that keeps the vehicle under 
  control for the Combat Turn. It’s only needed during 
  vehicle combat, not daily operation.
  CRAZY IVAN
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  Crazy Ivan is the nautical term for subs to check if 
  someone is following them. In this, the action is to 
  check if a vehicle/drone is following them. The acting 
  vehicle makes a few unexpected turns (called Crazy 
  Ivans) to see if any vehicles react. The vehicle being 
  chased makes a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (ter-
  rain) Test. Each net hit reduces the Sensor or Perception 
  Test threshold in finding pursuing vehicles.
  CUT OFF 
  (SHORT RANGE ONLY)
  The acting vehicle makes a sudden move to cut off a 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<    175
  (order #9639630)
  
  target vehicle that is behind it, forcing it to crash. Make 
  a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (terrain) Oppsed 
  Test. If the acting vehicle achieves more hits, the target 
  vehicle must make an immediate Vehicle Test to avoid 
  crashing, with a threshold equal to the terrain + net hits 
  on the test.
  DISCREET PURSUIT 
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  Sometimes you just want to follow a vehicle to see 
  where it goes without being detected; other times 
  you want to slowly sneak up on the target. The clos-
  er you are, however, the riskier it is to follow anoth-
  er vehicle. The acting vehicle makes a Vehicle Skill + 
  Reaction [Handling] (Terrain + Range) Test. Range val-
  ues are (Close 5, Short 3, Medium 2, Long 1, Extreme 
  0).  Net hits from this test increase the threshold value 
  for detecting the acting vehicle, up to 1 + the current 
  terrain modifier. If the terrain rating is 0, the maximum 
  increase is 1. 
  DRIVEBY/BROADSIDE 
  (MEDIUM OR SHORT RANGE,  
  OPTIMUM SPEED 2)
  This action gives passengers in the acting vehicle a 
  steady, clear field of fire as it speeds past the target ve-
  hicle. When passengers are shooting at multiple targets 
  (using burst fire or full auto), the driver makes a Vehicle 
  Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Terrain + Speed) Test. Net hits 
  add to the passenger’s dice pool according to the rules 
  for Teamwork Tests (p. 49, SR5). If there are multiple pas-
  sengers, the pilot can divide the net hits among the pas-
  sengers shooting, up to their skill in dice. 
  FIRE A VEHICLE WEAPON
  (P. 203, SR5)
  A driver or passenger may fire a vehicle-mounted 
  weapon.
  HOLD IT TOGETHER BABY 
  (RIGGER ONLY,  
  ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  When the condition monitor of a vehicle is completely 
  filled, it cannot be driven any further. While the rigger is 
  jumped into a vehicle, she may spend a point of Edge 
  with an action in a Combat Turn to continue operating 
  the vehicle. This must be done every Combat Turn—
  otherwise the vehicle becomes a brick with momen-
  tum. This doesn’t remove the dice pool penalties when 
  performing an action. 
  LIKE A GLOVE 
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  Normally the change of terrain modifiers is dependent 
  on the story and how the vehicle is traveling, but with 
  this vehicle action, the character takes charge of the 
  change—basically, the driver/pilot moves in a path that 
  others find challenging, making it more difficult for them 
  to be in the same area. Characters must decide which 
  category they want to be their new modifier, and then 
  make a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (terrain) Test, 
  with the terrain modifier being the new value chosen. 
  The new terrain must have a higher modifier than the ex-
  isting terrain. If the acting vehicle fails, it takes ramming 
  damage based on acting vehicle’s Speed + the selected 
  terrain modifier. After resisting damage, the vehicle con-
  tinues with the old terrain modifiers. If successful, any 
  opposing vehicles must make a Vehicle Test with the 
  new modifier. If they fail, increase the distance between 
  the acting vehicle and opposing vehicles by 2 and sub-
  tract 2 dice in any Catch Up/Break Away vehicle action 
  made by opposing vehicles until the terrain modifier 
  changes. This new modifier lasts until the end of combat.
  PICKUP 
  (CLOSE RANGE, OPTIMUM SPEED 2)
  This is a tricky vehicle action where the pilot slides his 
  vehicle toward a target and picks him up without stop-
  ping. The vehicle must have a vehicle entrance wide 
  enough to pick up the target, most often an open door. 
  If successful, the target is considered inside the vehicle 
  and given the usual benefits (see Damage and Passen-
  gers, p. 205, SR5). Failure means … well, see ramming 
  rules (p. 204, SR5). An unwilling target may avoid ex-
  traction by this vehicle action by an Opposed Gym-
  nastics Test. The target must get more net hits than the 
  pilot and meet a threshold equal to the speed of the 
  vehicle, otherwise—splat.
  PIT
  (SHORT RANGE ONLY, ANY SPEED)
  A PIT vehicle action (precision immobilization tech-
  nique) is done when an acting vehicle attempts to 
  END RUN
  There is a limit to the paths of vehicle pursuit. If there is 
  difference in size or type of acting and pursuing vehicles, 
  the gamemaster may increase the threshold for the Like a 
  Glove action by 2 for the acting vehicle. If the acting vehicle 
  succeeds, then the pursuit ends as the path the acting vehicle 
  took is impossible for the pursuer to follow. This may be a 
  watercraft submerging when pursued by regular ships, a 
  microdrone down the drain, or even a car crossing the tracks 
  before a train arrives.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  176    >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  force a vehicle in front of it to crash. Make a Reaction 
  + Vehicle Skill [Handling] (terrain) Opposed Test. If the 
  acting vehicle achieves more hits, the target vehicle’s 
  handling is reduced by the number of net hits. If the 
  target vehicle’s handling is reduced to 0, it has become 
  pinned by the acting vehicle. The acting vehicle may 
  also stop and spend a Complex Action to keep the tar-
  get vehicle pinned.  If the acting vehicle fails, reduce its 
  current speed by the deficit in hits.
  RAM 
  (SHORT RANGE ONLY, ANY SPEED)
  The acting vehicle attempts to collide with a target ve-
  hicle. Make a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (ter-
  rain) Opposed Test. If the ramming vehicle achieves 
  more hits, the vehicles have collided. The base Dam-
  age Value of the attack is determined by the ramming 
  vehicle’s Body and Speed, as noted on the Ramming 
  Damage Table, plus any net hits achieved. From be-
  hind, the ramming damage is calculated by Speed dif-
  ference between the vehicles. From the side, use the 
  Speed of the acting vehicle, and from the front, add 
  the Speed of the acting and targeted vehicles. If the 
  acting vehicle hits the target vehicle in any direction 
  other than head on, the acting vehicle resists only half 
  the damage (round up). If the acting vehicle hits the 
  target head on, the acting vehicle takes full damage.
  SHAKE THINGS UP A BIT 
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  With this action, the driver brushes against other ve-
  hicles or objects as she passes by, causing debris to 
  fall into her wake and making pursuit more dificult. 
  Air and sea vehicles could generate more turbulence 
  or wake behind them. The driver must make a Vehicle 
  Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Terrain) Test. If success-
  ful, terrain difficulty increases by 1 for the rest of the 
  Combat Turn for any vehicle actions made by vehicles 
  following within 100 meters. This can be done once 
  per Combat Turn.
  SWITCH THE SIX 
  (ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  For most vehicles, weapon platforms are forward-fac-
  ing. This means when the vehicle is chased, it can’t 
  fight back. A favorite tactic of pilots in aerial dogfights, 
  Switch the Six enables the acting vehicle to trade plac-
  es with a target vehicle behind him. This is a Vehicle 
  Skill + Reaction [Handling] Opposed Test. For every 
  range category above Close between the two vehicles, 
  the target gets a +1 dice pool modifier to this opposed 
  test. If successful, the acting vehicle is now behind the 
  target vehicle at Extreme range. Each net hit puts the 
  acting vehicle one range category closer to the target.
  ZEN CONTROL 
  (RIGGER ONLY,  
  ANY RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  Once rigged into a vehicle, blood and high-octane 
  fuel flows just the same for the character. He is sub-
  consciously aware of his surroundings and involuntary 
  functions keep the vehicle steady. A rigger may spend 
  an Edge point in one action per Combat Turn to keep 
  the vehicle under control instead of making a Piloting 
  Test. This can only be done for the vehicle/drone that a 
  rigger has jumped into.
  VEHICLE TEST 
  (P. 203, SR5)
  A forced action to check if the vehicle is still under control.
  USE SENSORS 
  (P. 202, SR5)
  This is a Simple Action to use sensors.
  USE SIMPLE DEVICE
  (P. 202, SR5)
  Simple Action to manually activate/deactivate a device.
  GROUND  
  VEHICLE ACTIONS
  CLEAR EXIT
  (ANY RANGE, OPTIMUM SPEED 1)
  A challenging stunt where the driver exits the vehicle 
  while it’s still in motion and remains poised enough to 
  take a Simple Combat Action (hopefully while on their 
  feet). The vehicle may continue on its journey con-
  trolled or uncontrolled. The character must be able to 
  exit on the ground. A character can always exit a vehi-
  RAMMING DAMAGE TABLE
  SPEED
  DAMAGE VALUE
  1–2
  Body / 2
  3–4
  Body
  5–6
  Body x 2
  7–8
  Body x 3
  9–10
  Body x 5
  11+
  Body x 10
  Note as stated later, Speed is relative. Aircraft damage from a ram is 
  calculated at 3 times the current Speed when calculating damage.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<    177
  (order #9639630)
  
  cle while moving, though they might suffer road rash 
  (see Bailout, p. 179). The character must make a Vehi-
  cle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Speed + Terrain) Test. 
  If successful, the character can make a single Simple 
  Combat Action this Combat Turn. If unsuccessful, see 
  Bailout.
  DRIFT
  (ANY RANGE, OPTIMUM SPEED 2)
  Drift is the intentional oversteering of a vehicle caus-
  ing loss of traction while maintaining control. In racing, 
  drifting allows for faster vehicle actions through turns 
  as the vehicle slides into the new forward direction. 
  Successful use of this action adds +1 die to any Catch 
  Up/Break Away test made in the same Combat Turn. 
  The character must make a Vehicle Skill + Reaction 
  [Handling] (Speed + Terrain) Test.
  MAKE A HOLE 
  (MEDIUM RANGE, OPTIMUM SPEED 4)
  This vehicle is going to plow through the terrain to give 
  following vehicles that are at Medium or Short Range 
  an easier path to follow. The character must make a Ve-
  hicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Speed + Terrain) Test. 
  Each net hit reduces the terrain modifier by 1 for fol-
  lowing vehicles for this Combat Turn. The acting vehicle 
  takes (Body/2) + terrain modifier in damage. 
  AIRCRAFT VEHICLE 
  ACTIONS
  LEAF ON THE WIND 
  (ANY RANGE, OPTIMUM SPEED 0)
  Unlike ground vehicles, when aircraft have been com-
  pletely damaged or have their Speed reduced to 0, 
  they become gravity-controlled projectiles waiting 
  to crash. The pilot may still come out of this alive; by 
  spending (not burning) a point of Edge, they can make 
  an immediate Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (ter-
  rain + damage penalty) Test, where net hits reduce the 
  damage penalty during their control test to lessen the 
  impact when “landing.”
  FALLING LEAF 
  (ANY RANGE, OPTIMUM SPEED 2)
  Aircraft don’t normally stop in midair. With this action, 
  a fixed-wing aircraft can stall itself without going into 
  a spin. The character must make a Vehicle Skill + Reac-
  tion [Handling] (Speed + Terrain) Test. In a chase, the 
  use of the Falling Leaf action drops the acting vehicle 
  out of aerial combat. Net hits add to the distance be-
  tween acting vehicle and pursuing vehicles as the air-
  craft drops out of the sky. Speed of the acting vehicle 
  is reduced to 0 after performing this action. A glitch in 
  this test puts the vehicle out of control; players must 
  make a Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Handling) 
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  178    >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<
  EXAMPLE
  EXAMPLE VEHICLE CHASE
  Sherman has been assigned to follow Mr. X’s 
  car to see where he’s going and who he’s meeting. 
  He’s sent Itchee (a Dragonfly drone) and Scratchee 
  (a Wolfhound drone) to follow at a medium range (11 
  to 50 meters behind the target). Sherman is rigged 
  into Itchee. It’s evening with light city traffic (terrain 
  threshold is 2), so hopefully Mr. X doesn’t notice the 
  drones. Sherman attempts to bring Itchee up to Medi-
  um range. Sherman tries Discreet Pursuit and orders 
  Scratchee to do the same but at Long range (terrain 2 
  plus Long 1). Mr. X doesn’t see anything (perception), 
  but he tells his driver to check. The driver attempts 
  a Crazy Ivan (p. 175) then checks sensors. While he 
  didn’t see Sherman’s Itchee, Scratchee has been 
  spotted. Mr X’s driver tries to Break Away (p. 174), but 
  fails. He then shakes things up a bit, hoping to help 
  get away. Sherman swears as things got public real 
  fast as a  Lone Star Roto-Drone drops into a nearby 
  intersection. Sherman decides not to pursue and tells 
  the team to try plan B.
  BEHIND VEHICLE SCENE 1 
  Sherman has a control rig Rating 2. Mr. X’s chauf-
  feur has no control rig. 
  Sherman performs a Discreet Pursuit action and 
  rolls a Pilot Aircraft + Reaction Test with a threshold 
  of 2 (terrain 2 plus Medium range 2, minus 2 for his 
  control rig). Sherman gets 4 hits. This means 2 net hits, 
  which means Perception and Sensor Tests to notice 
  his pursuit have their thresholds increased by 2.
  Scratchee also performs the Discreet Pursuit ac-
  tion, Vehicle Skill Test with a threshold of 3 (terrain 2 
  plus Long range 1). Scratchee has a dice pool of 8 and 
  gets 3 hits, which means no change.
  Mr. X’s chauffeur performs a Crazy Ivan action. 
  With a threshold of 2, he gets 4 hits, which counters 
  the Discreet Pursuit by 2.
  The chauffeur then rolls Perception + Intuition 
  [Sensors] vs. Sherman’s Sneaking + Reaction [Han-
  dling] and Scratchee’s Pilot rating + Stealth autosoft 
  [Handling]
  Mr. X’s chauffeur loses 3 dice due to the signature 
  size of his pursuers (drone).
  The chauffeur rolls 3 hits, Sherman rolls 4 hits, 
  Scratchee rolls 3 hits.
  With Discreet Pursuit, Sherman adds 2 hits. With 
  Crazy Ivan, Sherman and Scratchee lose 2 hits.
  This means: The chauffeur has 3 hits, Sherman 
  has 4 hits, and Scratchee has 1 hit.
  This means that the chauffeur has spotted 
  Scratchee following him. Because the chauffeur 
  pulled a Crazy Ivan, it becomes apparent to everyone 
  that something is going on. The gamemaster deter-
  mines that a Lone Star Roto-Drone will investigate the 
  erratic traffic behavior.
  (order #9639630)
  
  Test. If they meet the threshold, the Handling of the 
  vehicle is unchanged (the particular nature of this test 
  means generating net hits typically will not happen); 
  for each net miss on the test, Handling of their vehicle 
  is reduced by one. On a critical glitch, the pilot takes a 
  –4 dice pool penalty on the test.
  STRAFE 
  (MEDIUM OR SHORT RANGE, OPTIMUM 
  SPEED 2)
  With this vehicle action, the driver of the vehicle makes a 
  Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (Terrain + Speed) Test. 
  Net hits add to subsequent Fire a Vehicle Weapon actions 
  done with this vehicle in the same Combat Turn as this ac-
  tion. The disadvantage is that the vehicle cannot make a 
  Catch Up or Break Away action in that same Combat Turn. 
  DRONE VEHICLE ACTIONS
  SWARM 
  (CLOSE OR SHORT RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  Used with multiple drones, this action allows pilots 
  controlling the drones to coordinate an attack more 
  efficiently, dancing in a deadly ballet. When rigged 
  into one drone, the driver makes a Vehicle Skill + Re-
  action [Handling] (Terrain + number of drones) Test. 
  If successful, net hits are added to the dice pool for 
  any drone involved in the test for any subsequent at-
  tacks during the same Combat Turn per the rules for 
  Teamwork Tests. If unsuccessful, the drones are as co-
  ordinated as the Three Stooges, and each receives a 
  penalty to its actions equal to the difference between 
  the threshold and number of hits. This action must be 
  performed with two or more drones.
  PASSENGER/PILOT 
  VEHICLE ACTIONS
  BAILOUT
  Bailout gets the character out of the vehicle as fast as 
  possible. This Simple Action is not the most graceful 
  of exits, but it gets the character clear of the  relative 
  danger of the vehicle. The character resists (Speed x 3) 
  Stun damage from exiting a land or watercraft while in 
  motion (if you exit a moving, flying aircraft without a 
  parachute, you’re likely facing more damage than you 
  can adequately soak). Characters may take addition-
  al physical damage based on terrain, falling, or water 
  depth. This additional damage is up to the gamemaster. 
  If the acting character is attempting to get more than 
  himself out of the vehicle, like rescuing someone, this 
  action becomes a Complex Action.
  FIRE WEAPON 
  (P. 203, SR5)
  GRAPPLE/BOARD 
  (CLOSE RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  This isn’t your opening-the-door-to-get-in-the-car-
  parked-in-the-street challenge. This is the thing you 
  do when you are traveling at 80 kph and you want to 
  get in a vehicle you’re chasing. Characters must make a 
  Gymnastics + Strength [Physical] (Terrain) Test to move 
  from one vehicle to the next. If there are no openings 
  into the target vehicle, the character is considered to 
  be hanging onto its outside surface. At the end of ev-
  ery Combat Turn while the car is moving, the character 
  must make a Strength check to continue to hang on. If 
  the target car makes a Break Away action (p. 174) while 
  the character is on the outside, the character must 
  make a Strength test with a threshold equal to the net 
  hits from the Break Away test. If the character fails to 
  get on the vehicle or falls off, he must resist (Speed x 3) 
  Physical damage.
  MELEE ATTACK 
  (CLOSE RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  Like attacking mailboxes with a baseball bat, this ac-
  tion is the same as any melee attack action a charac-
  ter can do normally. Damage, however, is increased by 
  the Speed of the vehicle. If the Speed of the vehicle 
  is equal to or greater than the strength of the attack-
  er, then the character must make a Strength test with a 
  threshold equal to the Speed of the vehicle or lose the 
  weapon after impact. Melee weapons can be added to 
  vehicles to take on nearby targets. Such weapons use 
  half the vehicle’s Body for Strength and then add that 
  to the Speed of the vehicle for damage. 
  WATERCRAFT  
  VEHICLE ACTIONS
  CAPSIZE 
  (CLOSE OR SHORT RANGE, ANY SPEED)
  This action can be done as a ram, but it’s more about us-
  ing the acting vehicle’s weight, engine wake, or thrust 
  of water from the propeller/jet to compromise the tar-
  get vehicle’s buoyancy on water. Make a Vehicle Skill 
  + Reaction [Handling] Opposed Test against the target 
  vehicle. If the acting vehicle succeeds, the target ve-
  hicle’s Speed and Acceleration are reduced by the net 
  hits.  If both attributes are reduced to 0, the vehicle has 
  been swamped and is adrift. While Capsize is used for 
  targeted watercraft, it can be attempted against land 
  vehicles or aircraft if they are close to deep water, but 
  add 2 to the target vehicle’s dice pool for the Opposed 
  Test. If successful, the target vehicle’s engine sucks up 
  water and stalls.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<    179
  (order #9639630)
  
  DRIVING WITH STYLE
  Stunts are what separate the riggers from the Sunday 
  drivers. With advanced driving rules, stunts have add-
  ed benefits that a pilot can choose from. They can be 
  performed alone or added to other vehicle actions. The 
  rating of the stunt is chosen by the pilot. While there is 
  no upper limit, the gamemaster may dictate the rating 
  of a specific stunt. If done alone, it’s a Complex Action 
  using Vehicle Skill + Reaction [Handling] (stunt rating + 
  terrain). If done as part of another action, the stunt rat-
  ing is added to the threshold. Any action that includes 
  a stunt (or a stunt alone) that fails must make an imme-
  diate vehicle test with a dice penalty equal to the stunt 
  rating or crash. 
  Note only riggers and drivers of vehicles may per-
  form stunts. Pilot programs are just too logical to try ac-
  tions this crazy.
  PEDAL TO THE METAL
  Terrain and Speed modifiers work when the vehicles 
  are of the same size and type. When the vehicles are 
  not equivalent in size or type, then the modifiers can 
  increase or decrease. With regard to speed, aircraft are 
  the fastest, otherwise they fall out of the sky. Consider 
  their speed at three times the value when calculating 
  speed modifiers for vehicle actions.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  STUNT BENEFITS*
  • Add stunt rating as hits to determine range change (this 
  can go beyond the Acceleration limit of the vehicle).
  • Add rating as dice to soak vehicle damage from an attack 
  or crash.
  • Add rating to reduce another vehicle’s Speed or Handling 
  for this Combat Turn.
  • Add rating as hits to avoid being struck by an attack.
  • Add rating to handling for any action in this Combat Turn.
  • Add rating as dice to one Social skill test. Target audience 
  must be able to have seen the stunt or as far as they are 
  concerned, it didn’t happen.
  • Some crazy stunt for some other benefit.** (For example: 
  Drive a vehicle through the air, rolling it just enough to have 
  a hook from an overhanging crane knock a bomb off the 
  bottom of the vehicle before it explodes.
  *These stunts can be done multiple times, but cannot 
  add more than +4 dice to a test or increase a limit (Handling, 
  Acceleration, etc.) to more than twice its value in any given 
  Combat Turn.
  ** The player must also spend a point of Edge to attempt 
  this stunt, receiving the customary bonus dice for using Edge. 
  Gamemaster should determine difficulty.
  180    >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<
  EXAMPLE
  EXAMPLE VEHICLE COMBAT, SCENE 2
  The team meets at a pub near the barrens to plan 
  how they will find Mr. X. They don’t realize that some-
  one working for Mr. X dropped a Fly-Spy microdrone 
  to keep tabs on them. They’re too busy eating soy na-
  chos and drinking synthbeer to notice the Fly-Spy.
  The team exits the pub after the decker traces Mr. 
  X to a hotel downtown. Unfortunately for them, Mr. X 
  hired his own team after tracking them down. After 
  a couple of synthbeers, no one notices the ganger, 
  Thrasher, and his team slowing down in a Hyundai. 
  Thrasher performs a Driveby, assisting his team. The 
  gang opens up with autofire. Sherman, Manicore, and 
  Nybbles are hit badly, but Samurai Jacques flees the 
  scene with only a light wound. 
  After Samurai Jacques escapes, he finds himself 
  in an abandoned building. Four Dragonfly drones fol-
  low him inside. They are equipped with blades and 
  plan a death by a thousand paper cuts. In an elegant 
  dance of speed and grace, they Swarm Jacques.
  BEHIND VEHICLE SCENE 2 
  Team members make Perception Tests to see the 
  Fly-Spy. Because of the drone’s size, each runner re-
  duces their dice pool by 3 to perceive it. 
  The Fly-Spy rolls Piloting + Stealth [Handling]  vs. 
  Perception + Intuition [Mental] for the runners. The 
  Fly-Spy gets 4 hits, while the runners’ best effort is 3 
  hits. The drone is not seen as it hovers quietly above 
  the table.
  Thrasher performs Driveby/Broadside for the pair 
  of team members sitting in the back seat of his car 
  with automatics.
  Thasher has a Rating 1 control rig. The terrain is 
  relatively light (+1 modifier), and the vehicle is mov-
  ing at a Speed of 2. The threshold for the Driveby is 
  3. Thrasher gets 6 hits, but since he’s in the Hyundai 
  Shin-Hyung, the Handling of 5 reduces the hits to 5. 
  Since this functions as a Teamwork Test, he gives 1 
  die to each ganger.
  Both go full auto and split the dice pool between 
  two runners apiece. The targeted characters are left 
  feeling quite perforated.
  Samurai Jacques comes face to face with four 
  Dragonflies, one of which has a rigger jumped in. The 
  rigger performs the Swarm action. Terrain modifier is 
  1, with 3 drones, and control rig Rating 1; all of that 
  combines to make the threshold 3. The rigger gets 5 
  hits, which becomes 2 net hits. So for the remaining 
  Combat Turn, the three drones get an additional two 
  dice when they attack.
  The drones attack using a blade weapon. When 
  they hit successfully, their damage is half Body + 
  Speed. Since they are flying and their Speed is 3, 
  while Body adds nothing, the damage is 3.
  When Jacques tries to attack the drones, he takes 
  a –4 dice pool penalty: –2 for Speed and –2 for the 
  drone’s size.
  (order #9639630)
  
  Terrain should also scale with the size of the vehicle. 
  While a car driving through heavy traffic is difficult (+3), 
  a drone pursuing the car would be less inhibited by the 
  terrain. The gamemaster should figure out the base ter-
  rain modifier value for the most common vehicle type, 
  then reduce or increase the terrain modifiers by the size 
  difference to the common vehicle. In this example, if the 
  Lockheed optidrone (small drone) is pursuing a Honda 
  Spirit through heavy traffic, the drone would only be at a 
  +2 terrain modifier.
  Size modifiers also affect other skill tests, such as 
  perception and actions that target vehicles. Target size 
  modifiers in this case add or subtract dice when engag-
  ing with target. Shooting and hitting a jumbo jet is quite 
  easy (unless it’s moving high in the air).
  Speed is relative to hitting a target. It is hard to hit a 
  small drone, it’s even harder to hit a small drone that’s 
  moving fast. For people, walking and running modifiers 
  already exist. Vehicles can move much faster compared 
  to a person and so need special consideration. When 
  calculating modifiers of a stationary object (turret, etc.) 
  or pedestrian, if a target vehicle or drone is moving (that 
  is, has Speed greater than 0), add the vehicle’s Speed as 
  a negative dice pool modifier to hitting said vehicle. For 
  other vehicle actions (Ram, Chase, etc.), adjust the speed 
  by the mode of movement using a multiplier, as follows: 
  0.8 for Water, 1 for Ground, 3 for Rotor, and 4 for Jet.
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  TARGET SIZE MODIFIERS
  SIZE
  MODIFIER EXAMPLE
  Minuscule
  –3
  Micro drones
  Tiny
  –2
  Mini drones
  Small
  –1
  Small drones
  Average
  —
  Vehicles and drones (Body 8 or less)
  Bulky
  +1
  Vehicles and drones (Body 9 to 14) 
  Large
  +2
  Vehicles and drones (Body 15 to 20)*
  Huge
  +3
  Vehicles and drones (Body greater 
  than 20)*
  *If the vehicle has 10 or more seats, add +2 to Body when 
  calculating size for every 10 seats. 
  >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<    181
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  182    >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<
  EXAMPLE
  EXAMPLE VEHICLE COMBAT SCENE 3
  It’s combat biker season. Unfortunately for the team, this means a little amateur hour in the arena. Rigger Daft takes 
  a bike out with the Crimson Crush, a minor-league team. While combat biking is dangerous, someone out there is getting 
  serious in taking out players for higher bets. The odds are 10 to 1 against the Redmond Tiger, so guess who’s getting tar-
  geted? Daft drove around the bumps and cinderblock walls. The Redmond Tigers are on the offensive. Daft is spotted by 
  two Tigers and chase begins.
  Tiger 1 gets up in his face and gets into an ugly punching match. Tiger 2 pulls into the lead. As Tiger 1 pulls away, Tiger 
  2 tries to cut off Daft. Daft is very skilled and avoids Tiger 2’s antics. 
  Daft takes the lead to a small jump, where he flips into a handstand and swings a leg out, kicking Tiger 1. He uses this 
  stunt to intimidate Tiger 2. As Daft comes up aggressively on Tiger 2, the latter bugs out.
  Daft doesn’t pursue and continues to drive around the zone, looking for someone out of the ordinary. Daft sees a small 
  structure where a man is perched on a wooden structure with what appears to be a sniper rifle. Daft makes a beeline 
  toward it. He then jumps off, letting his vehicle roll into the structure. The sniper has no chance to react as the motorcycle 
  rams into the structure, collapsing it.
  BEHIND VEHICLE SCENE 3 
  Terrain modifier for this situation is 2. Daft’s Speed is currently 2. Daft has a control rig with Rating 2, Tiger 1 and Tiger 
  2 have no control rig—they’re just really good.
  Tiger 1 and Tiger 2 dive past Daft and perform a Bootleg Turn to pursue. Each makes a vehicle test with a threshold of 
  4. Tiger 1 gets 6 hits, Tiger 2 gets 7 hits. This means 2 and 3 net hits. This puts Tiger 1 at Medium and Tiger 2 at Short range. 
  Daft tries to lose them through a Break Away action, increasing his Speed to 3.  Daft isn’t jumped in, but he has the 
  highest Speed of the vehicles involved in the chase, so he has a threshold of 2. He gets 2 net hits; if nothing else changes 
  in this initiative pass, Tiger 1 will fall back to Extreme range, while Tiger 2 will drop to Long.
  They don’t want to lose ground, though, so Tiger 1 and Tiger 2 attempt to Catch Up. They increase their Speed to 3, 
  making the threshold for the test the terrain modifier only, which is 2. They both get 4 net hits. Tiger 1 will finish the pass 
  at Close range, while Tiger 2 will move in front of Daft.
  Tiger 1 uses the Close range to make a melee attack against Daft.
  Tiger 2 pulls a Cut Off maneuver. The threshold is 2 for both riders, giving them even odds. Tiger 2 gets 2 net hits, while 
  Daft luckily gets 3. He avoids crashing. If the successes were reversed, Daft would have had to make a vehicle test at 
  threshold of 3 or crash his bike.
  Daft tries a melee attack against Tiger 1. He spends Edge to get more dice as he’s also adding a Rating 2 stunt to the 
  action to boost a subsequent Social test. With a threshold of 4, he manages to get 4 net hits.
  Daft’s next action is to play chicken with Tiger 2. He makes an Opposed Intimidation test using the additional 2 dice 
  from the stunt, and Daft scares off Tiger 2 from pursuit.
  Daft finds his target sitting in a wooden scaffold structure. He heads for the structure at full throttle (Speed 3) and then 
  attempts a Clear Exit to get clear of the motorcycle as he sends it into a collision. His threshold is 4—2 for the terrain and 
  2 more for being beyond the optimum speed. While he makes the attempt, he fails to get enough hits, so while he exits, 
  it’s not graceful. The motorcycle crashes into the wooden structure, taking the motorcycle’s Body in damage. Daft also 
  resists 9 boxes of Stun damage from the road rash. Not pretty, but effective.
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> MAXIMUM PURSUIT <<    183
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  MOTORCYCLES
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Cocotaxi HT
  4/2
  3
  2
  5
  4
  1
  1
  3
  —
  4,000¥
  p. 139, Hard Targets
  Cyclops
  4/4
  4
  2
  4
  4
  1
  1
  1
  —
  6,500¥ 
  p. 43
  Falcon-EX
  3/5
  2/3
  1/2
  7
  9
  1
  1
  2
  —
  10,000¥ 
  p. 43
  Growler
  4/5
  3/4
  1
  5
  5
  1
  1
  1
  —
  5,000¥ 
  p. 462, SR5
  Horseman
  3/1
  3
  2
  4
  3
  2
  2
  1
  —
  12,000¥ 
  p. 41
  Kaburaya
  5/3
  6
  3
  5
  4
  1
  2
  1
  —
  17,000¥ 
  p. 44
  Mirage
  5/3
  6
  3
  5
  6
  1
  2
  1
  —
  8,500¥ 
  p. 462, SR5
  Mustang
  4/4
  3
  2
  8
  6
  1
  1
  2
  3
  11,000¥ 
  p. 46
  Nightmare
  4/3
  5
  2
  8
  8
  2
  3
  2
  —
  22,000¥ 
  p. 45
  Nodachi
  4/3
  5
  2
  8
  9
  2
  2
  2
  12R
  28,000¥ 
  p. 45
  Revolution
  5/3
  4
  3
  6
  9
  2
  2
  1
  4
  8,000¥ 
  p. 42
  Scoot
  4/3
  3
  1
  4
  4
  1
  1
  1
  —
  3,000¥ 
  p. 462, SR5
  Scorpion
  4/3
  4
  2
  8
  9
  1
  2
  1
  —
  12,000¥ 
  p. 462, SR5
  Spartan
  3/4
  4
  2
  7
  6
  2
  2
  1
  —
  11,500¥ 
  p. 44
  Terrier
  5/2
  2
  1
  2
  2
  2
  2
  1
  —
  4,500¥ 
  p. 42
  Zip
  3/2
  3
  1
  6
  4
  1
  2
  1
  —
  3,500¥ 
  p. 44
  CARS
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Americar
  4/3
  3
  2
  11
  6
  1
  2
  4
  —
  16,000¥ 
  p. 463, SR5
  Comet
  4/4
  3
  2
  11
  6
  2
  2
  4
  —
  20,000¥ 
  p. 49
  Artemis
  4/2
  3
  3
  9
  6
  1
  1
  4
  —
  17,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Chameleon
  4/2
  4
  1
  10
  4
  1
  1
  4
  —
  14,000¥ 
  p. 47
  Concordat
  5/4
  5
  2
  12
  12
  2
  4
  4
  10
  65,000¥ 
  p. 463, SR5
  Dynamit
  5/1
  9
  3
  10
  3
  2
  3
  2
  8
  98,000¥ 
  p. 50
  Equus
  3/3
  4/3
  2
  12
  10
  2
  3
  4
  —
  40,000¥ 
  p. 51
  FunOne
  3/1
  3
  1
  6
  4
  2
  1
  2/1
  —
  8,500¥ 
  p. 47
  Gladius
  7/3
  9
  4
  10
  5
  3
  5
  2
  14
  154,000¥ 
  p. 49
  Jackrabbit
  4/3
  3
  2
  8
  4
  1
  2
  2
  —
  10,000¥
  p. 462, SR5
  Journey
  4/3
  3
  3
  9
  5
  1
  1
  4
  —
  17,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Longboard
  4/3
  3
  2
  12
  6
  1
  2
  6
  —
  31,000¥ 
  p. 52
  MetaWay
  4/2
  4
  1
  10
  4
  1
  2
  1
  —
  24,000¥ 
  p. 47
  Phoenix
  4/2
  6
  3
  10
  6
  2
  3
  4
  —
  32,000¥ 
  p. 50
  Shin-Hyung
  5/4
  6
  3
  10
  6
  1
  2
  4
  —
  28,500 
  p. 463, SR5
  Spirit
  3/2
  4
  2
  8
  6
  1
  2
  2
  —
  12,000¥ 
  p. 463, SR5
  Westwind 3000
  6/4
  7
  3
  10
  8
  3
  5
  2
  13
  110,000¥ 
  p. 463, SR5
  Xenon
  3/2
  4/3
  2
  8
  6
  2
  2
  4
  —
  18,000¥ 
  p. 47
  184    >> COMPILED TABLES <<
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> COMPILED TABLES <<    185
  TRUCKS
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Armadillo
  3/4
  4
  2
  13
  10
  1
  2
  2/4
  —
  22,000¥ 
  p. 54
  Escalade
  3/3
  4
  2
  16
  10
  3
  4
  6
  10
  125,000¥ 
  p. 57
  Gopher
  5/5
  4
  2
  14
  10
  1
  2
  3
  —
  25,000¥ 
  p. 463, SR5
  Hauler
  3/3
  4/3
  1
  16
  8
  2
  2
  4/4
  —
  30,000¥ 
  p. 56
  Hotspur
  4/5
  6
  3
  16
  12
  2
  2
  2
  8
  60,000¥ 
  p. 53
  Minotaur
  4/5
  5
  2
  14
  8
  4
  4
  4
  —
  45,000¥ 
  p. 53
  Morgan
  3/5
  4
  3
  14
  6
  —
  —
  2
  8
  7,500¥ 
  p. 52
  Northstar
  5/3
  6
  2
  12
  8
  3
  5
  4
  12
  115,000¥ 
  p. 56
  Percheron
  3/3
  3
  2
  15
  6
  4
  3
  6
  —
  39,000¥ 
  p. 54
  Sidewinder
  4/3
  3
  2
  10
  6
  2
  2
  6
  —
  33,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Talon
  4/3
  4
  2
  12
  6
  2
  2
  5
  —
  30,000¥ 
  p. 55
  Trailblazer
  3/4
  3
  2
  12
  6
  1
  2
  4
  —
  32,000¥ 
  p. 54
  Watcher
  3/3
  3
  3
  9
  8
  1
  3
  5
  4
  40,000 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  VANS
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Bulldog
  3/3
  3
  1
  16
  12
  1
  2
  6
  —
  35,000¥ 
  p. 463, SR5
  Caravaner
  3/2
  4
  1
  12
  8
  2
  2
  7
  —
  28,000¥ 
  p. 58
  Chuck Wagon
  2/2
  3
  1
  16
  5
  2
  2
  2
  —
  40,000¥ 
  p. 59
  Econovan
  3/2
  4
  1
  14
  8
  2
  2
  10
  —
  30,000¥ 
  p. 58
  Endurance
  3/3
  4
  3
  14
  6
  1
  2
  8
  —
  35,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Roadmaster
  3/3
  3
  1
  18
  18
  3
  3
  8
  8
  52,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Rover Model 2072
  5/5
  4
  2
  15
  12
  2
  4
  6
  10
  68,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  S-K LT-21
  2/1
  2
  1
  15
  7
  2
  2
  2
  —
  31,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Universe
  3/3
  4/3
  1
  14
  8
  3
  2
  2/14
  —
  30,000¥ 
  p. 59
  RVS
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Chinook
  3/2
  4/3
  1
  14
  12
  2
  2
  10
  —
  145,000¥ 
  p. 59
  Outback
  3/4
  3/4
  1
  14
  12
  2
  4
  8
  —
  158,000¥ 
  p. 59
  Preserve
  3/3
  4/4
  1
  16
  12
  2
  3
  10
  —
  134,000¥ 
  p. 59
  LIMOS
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Nightsky
  4/3
  4
  2
  15
  15
  3
  5
  8
  16
  320,000 
  p. 463, SR5
  Phaeton
  5/3
  5/3
  2
  16
  12
  3
  4
  2/8
  18
  350,000¥ 
  p. 52
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  186    >> COMPILED TABLES <<
  TRACTOR/TRAILERS
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Conestoga Trailblazer
  2/1
  2
  1
  14
  6
  2
  1
  2
  4
  75,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Hellhound
  3/2
  4/3
  1
  20
  15
  3
  3
  2
  16R
  150,000¥ 
  p. 60
  Trailer (Trailblazer)
  1/1
  1
  1
  20
  6
  2
  1
  —
  —
  20,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  COMMERCIAL
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Commercial D-Compact 
  2/2
  3
  1
  12
  8
  2
  2
  2
  12
  196,000¥ 
  p. 63
  Commercial D-series
  2/2
  3
  1
  16
  10
  2
  2
  2
  12
  248,000¥ 
  p. 63
  Commercial DD
  2/2
  3
  1
  20
  12
  2
  2
  2
  12
  312,000¥ 
  p. 63
  Commercial G—series
  2/2
  3
  1
  18
  12
  2
  3
  2
  14
  287,000¥ 
  p. 62
  Konstructors
  2/2
  3
  1
  24
  18
  4
  3
  2
  16
  365,000¥ 
  p. 64
  Ram Industrail Narrow
  3/1
  1
  1
  16
  8
  2
  4
  2
  4
  49,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  Ram Industrial Large
  2/1
  1
  1
  16
  8
  2
  4
  2
  4
  51,000¥ 
  p. 187, Stolen Souls
  HOVERCRAFT
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  KVP—28
  2/2
  3
  1
  18
  12
  4
  3
  2
  16
  87,000¥ 
  p. 64
  Minnesota
  4/4
  4
  2
  14
  9
  3
  3
  2/12
  12R
  130,000¥ 
  p. 65
  Minsk
  2/2
  3
  1
  16
  10
  4
  3
  2
  16
  77,000¥ 
  p. 65
  Vodyanoy
  3/3
  4
  3
  16
  16
  1
  2
  3(10)
  12F
  84,000¥ 
  p. 65
  BUSES
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Camellos HT
  3/2
  3
  1
  16
  5
  1
  2
  200
  —
  150,000¥ 
  p. 139, Hard Targets
  Omnibus
  2/2
  3
  1
  18
  10
  2
  2
  53
  12
  296,000¥ 
  p. 62
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> COMPILED TABLES <<    187
  WATERCRAFT
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  AirRanger
  4
  4
  3
  10
  6
  1
  1
  6
  6
  25,500¥ 
  p. 92
  AirRanger Heavy
  4
  4
  3
  12
  6
  1
  1
  5
  8
  35,500¥ 
  p. 92
  Aquavida 1
  2
  1
  2
  20
  16
  1
  3
  2/8
  10
  115,000¥ 
  p. 90
  Aquavida 2
  2
  1
  2
  20
  16
  1
  3
  4/8
  12
  135,000¥ 
  p. 90
  Classic 111
  3
  4
  2
  24
  14
  4
  4
  14
  16
  14,870,000¥ 
  p. 88
  Cottonmouth
  5
  7
  4
  8
  4
  3
  3
  4
  12
  120,000¥ 
  p. 80
  Cutlass
  5
  4
  2
  16
  10
  3
  5
  6
  14R
  96,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Electronaut
  3
  3
  1
  12
  10
  4
  4
  2
  10
  108,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Elysium
  1/3
  1/4
  1/2
  14
  10
  2
  3
  6
  12
  78,000¥ 
  p. 85
  Kingfisher
  3
  3
  2
  16
  12
  3
  4
  6
  12
  61,000¥ 
  p. 92
  Lake King
  2
  3
  2
  14
  8
  1
  1
  8
  —
  35,000¥ 
  p. 90
  Lamprey
  3
  2
  1
  6
  6
  1
  3
  4
  —
  14,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Manta Ray
  4
  5
  3
  9
  6
  1
  1
  3
  —
  16,000¥ 
  p. 81
  Mobius
  3
  3
  2
  36
  14
  6
  5
  22
  36
  84,985,000¥ 
  p. 89
  Nightrunner
  5
  6
  3
  12
  6
  3
  4
  6
  10
  56,000¥ 
  p. 81
  Otter
  4
  3
  2
  12
  6
  2
  2
  8
  —
  21,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Panther
  1/3
  2/5
  1/3
  18
  10
  2
  3
  8
  12
  135,000¥ 
  p. 85
  Riverine Military
  5
  5
  2
  20
  20
  6
  6
  8
  20F
  225,000¥ 
  p. 92
  Riverine Police
  4
  5
  3
  16
  14
  4
  5
  8
  15R
  154,000¥ 
  p. 92
  Riverine Security
  4
  5
  3
  16
  12
  4
  4
  8
  15R
  100,000¥ 
  p. 92
  Stingray
  5
  5
  3
  8
  6
  1
  1
  2
  —
  13,000¥ 
  p. 81
  Trident
  1/3
  4/5
  2/3
  16
  10
  2
  3
  6
  12
  125,000¥ 
  p. 87
  Trinity
  5
  6
  3
  10
  6
  1
  1
  3
  8
  37,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Triton
  1
  6
  2
  16
  10
  2
  3
  6
  —
  104,000¥ 
  p. 88
  Water Strider
  3
  2
  1
  8
  5
  2
  2
  1
  16
  11,000¥ 
  p. 84
  Waterbug
  6
  3
  2
  8
  4
  1
  —
  2
  —
  8,000¥ 
  p. 83
  Waterking
  3
  3
  2
  14
  8
  3
  2
  12
  12
  74,000¥
  p. 79
  Waveskipper
  5
  3
  2
  10
  4
  1
  —
  1
  —
  10,000¥ 
  p. 84
  Zodiac Scorpio
  4
  4
  2
  10
  6
  1
  1
  2/6
  8
  26,000¥ 
  p. 82
  SECURITY/POLICE/MILITARY
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Blitzkrieg
  4/3
  4
  2
  10
  8
  3
  4
  2
  14R
  46,000¥ 
  p. 66
  Charger
  4/3
  5
  2
  12
  12
  4
  4
  5
  16R
  65,000¥ 
  p. 67
  Command (General)
  3/3
  4
  1
  20
  16
  5
  7
  10
  18R
  344,000¥ 
  p. 74
  Goliath
  3/2
  4
  2
  16
  16
  3
  3
  8
  20R
  120,000¥ 
  p. 70
  i8 Interceptor
  5/3
  8
  4
  12
  8
  4
  4
  3
  16R
  114,000¥ 
  p. 68
  Luxus
  5/5
  5
  3
  18
  16
  5
  6
  8
  14R
  398,000¥ 
  p. 73
  Rhino
  4/4
  4
  2
  17
  18
  4
  4
  9
  18R
  225,000¥ 
  p. 77
  Stallion
  3/4
  5
  3
  16
  12
  3
  3
  4
  16R
  78,000¥ 
  p. 71
  Stürmwagon
  5/4
  4
  2
  17
  18
  4
  5
  10
  20R
  145,000¥ 
  p. 75
  Teufelkatze
  5/4
  5
  3
  16
  16
  3
  3
  7
  16F
  76,000¥ 
  p. 71
  Trailer (General)
  3/3
  3
  1
  20
  16
  3
  7
  1
  18R
  54,000¥ 
  p. 74
  Wolf II
  3/3
  3
  2
  24
  12
  2
  2
  6
  20F
  330,000¥ 
  p. 77
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  188    >> COMPILED TABLES <<
  AIRCRAFT
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Agular GX-2
  5
  7
  5
  20
  16
  4
  5
  2
  28F
  500,000¥ 
  p. 97
  Agular GX-3AT
  4
  6
  4
  22
  20
  4
  4
  10
  28F
  550,000¥ 
  p. 97
  Banshee
  6
  8
  4
  20
  18
  4
  6
  12
  24F
  2,500,000¥ 
  p. 465, SR5
  Cessna C750
  3
  5
  3
  18
  4
  2
  2
  4
  8
  146,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Commuter
  3
  3
  3
  16
  8
  3
  3
  30
  10
  350,000¥
  p. 465, SR5
  Dragon
  4
  4
  3
  22
  8
  3
  3
  18
  12
  355,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Gryphon
  5
  8
  7
  24
  24
  4
  5
  2
  28F
  3,200,000¥ 
  p. 103
  Hound
  5
  4
  3
  16
  16
  2
  4
  12
  13R
  425,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  “Krime Wing” 
  4
  6
  5
  22
  18
  4
  5
  10 (20)
  24F
  2,275,000¥ 
  p. 105
  “Lift-Ticket” ALS-669
  5
  3
  3
  16
  12
  3
  4
  5
  14
  325,000¥ 
  p. 102
  LZP-2070
  4
  2
  3
  12
  6
  5
  4
  6
  12
  85,000¥ 
  p. 106
  “Mothership” LAVH
  3
  3
  3
  10
  5
  3
  4
  1
  24R
  50,000¥ 
  p. 108
  Nightwing
  6
  3
  1
  4
  0
  1
  1
  1
  8
  20,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  PBY-70 Catalina II
  4
  3
  3
  22
  14
  3
  4
  16
  12
  250,000¥ 
  p. 100
  Sea Sprite
  5
  4
  3
  18
  12
  3
  5
  14
  18R
  400,000¥ 
  p. 99
  SKA-008
  6
  5
  8
  16
  18
  4
  4
  12
  24R 
  525,000¥ 
  p. 98
  Stallion
  5
  5
  4
  16
  16
  4
  4
  8
  12
  440,000¥ 
  p. 95
  Tundra-9
  3
  4
  3
  20
  10
  3
  3
  24
  12
  300,000¥ 
  p. 464, SR5
  Venture
  5
  7
  4
  16
  14
  4
  4
  6
  12F
  400,000¥ 
  p. 465, SR5
  Wasp
  5
  5
  3
  10
  8
  3
  3
  1
  12R
  86,000¥ 
  p. 465, SR5
  DRONES
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Ares KN-Y0
  Deimos
  3
  2G
  1
  6(0)
  18
  5
  3
  —
  20F
  220,000¥ 
  p. 143
  Eris
  3
  2G
  1
  6(0)
  18
  5
  3
  —
  24F
  270,000¥ 
  p. 143
  Phobos
  3
  2G
  1
  6(0)
  18
  5
  3
  —
  16F
  250,000¥ 
  p. 143
  Avenging Angel
  3
  6J
  2
  6(0)
  12
  6
  6
  —
  40F
  1,000,000¥ 
  p. 145
  Bloodhound
  3
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  0
  2
  4
  —
  8
  10,000¥ 
  p. 136
  Castle Guard
  4/2
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  —
  8R
  10,000¥ 
  p. 133
  Cheetah
  4
  6G
  2
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  —
  12R
  14,000¥ 
  p. 138
  Condor
  2
  0R
  0
  1(1)
  0
  2
  4
  —
  6R
  4,000¥ 
  p. 129
  Crawler
  4
  3
  1
  3
  3
  4
  3
  —
  4
  4,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Criado Juan
  2
  2G
  1
  2
  0
  2
  2
  —
  2
  8,000¥ 
  p. 145
  Dalmatian
  5
  5
  3
  5
  5
  3
  3
  —
  6R
  10,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> COMPILED TABLES <<    189
  DRONES, CONT.
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Direktionssekretar
  4
  4G
  2
  4
  3
  4
  4
  —
  12R
  40,000¥ 
  p. 148
  Doberman
  5
  3
  1
  4
  4
  3
  3
  —
  4R
  5,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Dragonfly
  4
  2P
  1
  1(0)
  3
  3
  2
  —
  12R
  4,000¥ 
  p. 129
  Duelist
  3
  3
  1
  4
  4
  3
  3
  —
  5R
  4,500¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Evo Krokodil
  3
  2G/3W
  1
  3(1)
  6
  2
  2
  —
  8R
  12,000¥ 
  p. 139
  F-B Kull
  3
  4P
  2
  3(3)
  0
  3
  2
  —
  4
  10,000¥ 
  p. 140
  Ferret RPD-5X
  4/2
  1G
  1
  2(1)
  3
  3
  3
  —
  8R
  4,000¥ 
  p. 132
  Fly-Spy
  4
  3
  2
  1
  0
  3
  3
  —
  8
  2,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Flying Eye
  4
  3
  2
  1
  0
  3
  3
  —
  8
  2,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Garuda
  6
  3J/6J
  2/4
  2
  2
  4
  3
  —
  20F
  8,500¥ 
  p. 149
  Gerbil
  4/2
  2G
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  4
  2,000¥ 
  p. 130
  Goldfish
  2/4
  1W
  1
  0
  0
  2
  2
  —
  6
  500¥ 
  p. 128
  Gun Turret
  —
  —
  —
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  —
  4R
  4,000¥ 
  p. 133
  Hedgehog
  3
  1G
  1
  1(0)
  0
  4
  3
  —
  8F
  8,000¥ 
  p. 129
  Horizon CU^3
  4
  1P
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  3
  —
  4
  3,000¥ 
  p. 130
  Jardinero
  2/4
  1G
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  4
  2,000¥ 
  p. 136
  Job-a-Mat
  —
  —
  —
  2(2)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  4
  3,000¥ 
  p. 137
  Juggernaught
  3
  4G
  1
  6
  12
  3
  3
  —
  14R
  100,000¥ 
  p. 147
  Kanmushi
  4
  2
  1
  0
  0
  3
  3
  —
  8
  1,000¥ 
  p. 465, SR5
  Kenchiku-Kikai
  2
  2G
  1
  5
  3
  2
  2
  —
  8R
  20,000¥ 
  p. 146
  Knight Errant P5
  4/2
  6G
  2
  2(1)
  0
  3
  2
  —
  10R
  8,000¥ 
  p. 133
  Kodiak
  2/4
  2G
  1
  6(2)
  12
  2
  2
  —
  12R
  40,000¥ 
  p. 145
  Krake
  5
  3W
  4
  2(0)
  2
  4
  3
  —
  18F
  10,000¥ 
  p. 134
  LEBD-2
  4
  2P
  1
  3(0)
  9
  4
  4
  —
  12R
  20,000¥ 
  p. 140
  Little Buddy
  2
  1G
  1
  1
  0
  2
  2
  —
  4
  2,000¥ 
  p. 146
  Lynx
  5
  4
  2
  6
  12
  3
  3
  —
  10R
  25,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Malakim
  3
  6P
  2
  4(0)
  9
  4
  4
  —
  20F
  40,000¥ 
  p. 143
  Matilda
  1
  2G
  1
  8
  8
  2
  1
  —
  12R
  18,000¥ 
  p. 141
  MediCart
  5
  5G
  1
  6(2)
  5
  4
  4
  —
  6
  10,000¥ 
  p. 142
  Microskimmer
  3
  3
  1
  0
  0
  3
  3
  —
  6
  1,000¥ 
  p. 465, SR5
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  190    >> COMPILED TABLES <<
  DRONES, CONT.
  NAME
  HANDL
  SPEED
  ACCEL
  BODY
  ARMOR
  PILOT
  SENS
  SEATS
  AVAIL
  COST
  REF
  Mini-Zep
  2
  0P
  0
  2(4)
  0
  2
  2
  4
  4
  2,000¥ 
  p. 132
  Mule
  4
  1G
  1
  4(3)
  6
  2
  2
  —
  4
  8,000¥ 
  p. 141
  Neptune
  2
  3W
  1
  5(0)
  3
  4
  3
  —
  10R
  17,500¥ 
  p. 143
  NoizQuito
  4
  3R
  2
  1
  0
  3
  3
  —
  10R
  2,000¥
  p. 128
  Optic-X2
  4
  4
  3
  2
  2
  3
  3
  —
  10
  21,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Paladin
  5
  4G
  1
  5(0)
  18
  3
  2
  —
  8R
  5,000¥ 
  p. 142
  Pelican
  4
  2P
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  2
  4,000¥ 
  p. 137
  Pigeon 2.0
  4
  2P
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  8
  3,000¥ 
  p. 129
  Prairie Dog
  2/4
  2G
  1
  2(0)
  3
  3
  4
  —
  12F
  8,000¥ 
  p. 134
  Proletarian
  4/2
  2G
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  6
  4,000¥ 
  p. 131
  Remote Cyberhand
  n/a
  n/a
  n/a
  n/a
  n/a
  n/a
  —
  —
  8
  8,000¥ 
  p. 130
  Renraku Dove
  4
  2P
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  4
  5,000¥ 
  p. 136
  Roto-Drone
  4
  4
  2
  4
  4
  3
  3
  —
  6
  5,000¥ 
  p. 466, SR5
  Sentry V
  4/—
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  6
  3
  2
  —
  4R
  4,000¥ 
  p. 130
  Seven
  4
  1P
  1
  1(1)
  0
  2
  3
  —
  4
  3,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Wheelie
  4/2
  2G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  —
  2,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Treads
  3
  2G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  2
  2,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Dirty
  2/4
  2G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  2
  2,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Quad
  4
  1G
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  4
  2,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Swims
  3
  2W
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  4
  1,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Hovers
  4
  1P
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  6
  4,000¥ 
  p. 133
       Soars
  3
  2J
  1
  1(3)
  0
  1
  1
  —
  8
  4,000¥ 
  p. 133
  Sewer Snake
  3
  1G/1W
  1/1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  10
  6,000¥ 
  p. 132
  Shamus
  3
  3G
  1
  4(0)
  4
  3
  8
  —
  10
  30,000¥ 
  p. 137
  Shiawase i-Doll
  3
  3G
  1
  3
  0
  3
  3
  —
  4
  20,000¥ 
  p. 148
  Smoke Generator
  3
  1G
  1
  2(0)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  8
  4,000¥ 
  p. 130
  Steed
  4/2
  1G
  1
  3(1)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  2
  4,000¥ 
  p. 140
  Sundowner
  3
  4P
  1
  2(0)
  0
  2
  2
  —
  8
  10,000¥ 
  p. 134
  Tower
  2
  1P
  1
  4(0)
  6
  2
  2
  —
  8
  10,000¥ 
  p. 143
  Tunneler
  3
  0P
  0
  3(2)
  6
  2
  2
  —
  8R
  10,000¥ 
  p. 140
  Wolfhound
  3
  2J
  1
  2(1)
  0
  2
  4
  —
  12
  30,000¥ 
  p. 131
  (order #9639630)
  
  >> RIGGER 5.0 <<
  >> COMPILED TABLES <<    191
  WWW.SHADOWRUNTABLETOP.COM
  (order #9639630)
  
  (order #9639630)
  
  © 2015 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun and Matrix are registered 
  trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in the United States and/or 
  other countries. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of 
  InMediaRes Productions, LLC. Printed in the USA.
  Under License From
  ®
  www.catalystgamelabs.com
  Spin your wheels over slick sprawl 
  streets while drifting away from hot pursuit. 
  Fly through narrow canyons ahead of 
  missiles twisting their way after you. Shrink 
  down to insect size to get an eye on places 
  outsiders aren’t supposed to see. These are 
  just some of the ways riggers jack up their 
  seemingly unending adrenaline rush, as 
  they show that the hardest shadowrunners 
  to hit are the ones that stay in motion.
  Rigger 5.0 is the ultimate hot-rod, jet 
  plane, speedboat, and more companion for 
  Shadowrun. With dozens of new vehicles 
  and drones, more detailed rules for vehicle 
  chase and combat, and customization 
  rules, this is a book that every rigger needs 
  to get ahead of the competition and stay 
  there. Get the feel of laying down hot 
  rubber in the cold shadows of the Sixth 
  World and a taste for speed, danger, and a 
  good, clean getaway.
  Rigger 5.0 is for use with Shadowrun, 
  Fifth Edition
  F I F T H  E D I T I O N
  (order #9639630)
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Shadowrun [multi]/5th Edition/Core/Shadowrun 5e - Rigger 5.0 {CAT27007}.pdf