Terminal Compromise Part 143

Therefore, regardless of your opinions, you must realize that the government will do everything it thinks it needs to do to protect the country.

MAKE YOUR POINT.

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It seems to me that the best way for you to keep the electronic freedom you crave, might be to help fight h.o.m.osoto and the vi- ruses and all. Minimize the damage, help defend the Global Network.

HE MAKES A POINT. I'VE HELPED. >

THEN WE FALL INTO THEIR TRAP. SAVE IT ALL AND THEN THEY CLOSE DOWN THE NETWORK. I CAN'T PLAY INTO THEIR DECEIT AND TREACHERY.

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DO YOU THINK THE FREEDOM LEAGUE IS DOING GOOD? >

OF COURSE NOT.

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That's h.o.m.osoto. Thousands of viruses. NEMO already helped.

ONLY THOSE THAT AGREE. WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY.

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SO YOU DON'T WANT TO FIGHT THE VIRUSES? >

NOT YOU, TOO?

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IT'S A MATTER OF RIGHT AND WRONG. ELECTRONIC FREEDOM, ANARCHY IS ONE THING. BUT WE DO NOT ABUSE. WE LIVE BY THE CODE AND WANT TO KEEP THE NETWORK OPEN. h.o.m.oSOTO WANTS TO CLOSE THE NETWORK DOWN.

BY SCARE TACTICS. >

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE FASCIST GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY.

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Only if they have to. Wouldn't you rather help and keep that from happening?

IF I TRUSTED THE GOVERNMENT.

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Can I introduce you to someone? His handle is FBI.

KIRK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GIVING US AWAY?

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THEY'RE TIED IN ON MIRAGE. THEY CAN PLAY BUT THERE'S NO REDIAL.

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Gentlemen, this is the FBI. Let me tell you something. I don't agree with hacking, theft of service and the like. But I also am pragmatic. I recognize the difference between the lesser of two evils. And as of today, based upon what I know, you guys are a pain the a.s.s, but not a threat to national security. That is why Washington has taken little interest in your activities. But at the same time, you are part of an underground that has access to the electronic jungle in which we find ourselves. We would like your help.

OFFICIALLY?

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No, unofficially. I am law enforcement, a.s.sociated with ECCO, if you've ever heard of them.

ECCO. YOU GUYS FIGHT THE REAL COMPUTER JERKS, DON'T YOU? LIKE ROBERT MORRIS AND PUNJAB. DID YOU EVER CATCH THE GUY WHO STOPPED THE SHUTTLE FLIGHT?

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Sadly, no. I am talking to you as a friend of Scott's. And I will tell you, that anything I learn I will use to fight h.o.m.oso- to's attack. But frankly, you are little fish. I don't know who you are, nor do I really care. In all honesty, neither does Washington, the NSA or anyone else. You're merely an underground protest group. If anything, you help keep us honest. But even protestors should have their limits.

MINE HAS BEEN REACHED. >

AND MINE. >

There is a big difference between freedom of speech and insurrec- tion and invasion.

WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY?

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THERE IS NONE, AND YOU KNOW IT. >

THAT'S THE POINT. WE HAVE TO STOP THE MILITARISTIC WAR MONGERS FROM PRYING INTO OUR LIVES. THEY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT US, AND MORE. I WANT TO SEE THAT STOPPED. NOW.

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This is Mason. At the expense of true freedom? Freedom of choice? By your logic, you may end up with no Compuserve. No electronic mail boxes. No networks. Or, they'll be so restricted that you'll never get on them.

IT'LL HAPPEN ANYWAY.

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And you'll just speed up the process. What do you have to lose by helping out?

I WANT TO CONTINUE HELPING. MY FREEDOM TO HACK RESPONSIBLY IS IN DANGER BY ONE MAN, AND I AIM ON KEEPING MY FREEDOM. >

It may be the only way to keep the digital highways open, I'm sorry to say.

IS THAT A THREAT?

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Merely an observation.

I NEED TO THINK.

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WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? >

A lot. We need a complete list of phone numbers for every Free- dom BBS. They provide wide distribution of infected software.

WE KNOW. BFD.

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This is FBI. We want to shut them down.

HOW? >

We have our means.

SEE WHAT I MEAN! THEY'RE ALL PIGS. THEY TAKE, TAKE, TAKE. BUT IF YOU ASK SOMETHING THEY CLAM UP.

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All right. If it works you'll find out anyway. There are a number of underused laws, and we want to keep this on a Federal level. USC 1029, 1030, 2134 - they're a bunch of them including racketeering. Then there are a number of Federal laws against doing anything injurious to the United States.

WHICH GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO PROSECUTE ANYONE YOU d.a.m.n WELL PLEASE WHENEVER YOU d.a.m.n WELL WANT.

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As a lawyer, I could make that case.

I AM A LAWYER, TOO. I PHREAK FOR PHREEDOM.

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Then you also know, that you have to really be on someone's s.h.i.t list to get the FBI after you. Right now, h.o.m.osoto and his gang are on our s.h.i.t list big time.