rnnrqterm.cdx.access - -:- -.- -.- -:- -.- - =================================================================== RUNNERS' GUIDE v.1.001.01.tciv RUNNER RIVALRIES =================================================================== KILL OR BE KILLED: RUNNERS compete over resources, loot, and contracts. Both individuals and crews have goals they are chasing beyond survival. These goals may be personal, professional, or random moments of ambition, vengeance, or rage. In any given moment or encounter, it can be hard to gauge the specific temperament or motivation of rival RUNNERS. Typically, RUNNER-to-RUNNER encounters are expected to be violent. And, as a standard survival tactic, they are. The risk of trusting a rival carries too much weight to assume benevolence, especially considering the general reality of life on a run, which boils down to a simple truth: RUNNERS are mercenaries deploying to hostile environments to risk their livelihood and their lives for uncertain paydays. Anything or anyone competing for that payday is a threat. Hesitation can, and often does, lead to violent failure—loss of a SHELL, loss of gear and weaponry, loss of progress toward goals, loss of pride. Hesitation in conflict has a heavy price, one RUNNERS are rarely willing to sacrifice. A common understanding between RUNNERS starts most engagements with "guns up," then sort out any misunderstandings after the violence has settled. LOVE/HATE AFFAIR: Most RUNNERS understand the nature of the lives they've chosen. Few take conflict personally. It's just part of the job. And many RUNNERS and crews with heated rivalries still hold a mutual respect, finding joy in the thrill of competition, even when it threatens a score. After all, beyond a payday, bragging rights and making a name for oneself or your crew have their own value in mercenary circles. Obviously, feuds exist and bitter hatreds can simmer. But in general, a run is a run, and anything lost or any damage endured is simply a favor to be returned upon the next crew you encounter. The disposable nature of SHELLS and the thrill of the run allow for flexibility in how deeply a grudge takes root. Most seasoned RUNNERS take loss as a lesson learned and an opportunity to skill-up—learning from defeat helps avoid the frustration of repeating unfortunate missteps. FRIENDS LIKE THESE: None of the above negates the opportunity for unlikely alliances. RUNNERS have been known to team up with their rivals for any number of reasons—joint threat, general goodwill, desperation. It doesn't hurt to attempt to find common ground if you're willing to risk an unfortunate outcome. In fact, many RUNNER crews started as rivalries, and many of the best RUNNER stories start with uneasy allies overcoming obstacles that may have ended them individually. Caution first, RUNNERS. But some risks are worth the effort. REMARK: Good luck. =================================================================== [RNNRqterm] || CyberAcme Systems, Inc. ///REDACTED///