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.
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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.>
MikaIn the area of speed, the Northstar can hold its own versus everything shy of a supercar. This is all thanks to
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.
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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.>
PicadorNORTHSTAR (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.
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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.>
SounderThe 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.
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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.>
BalladeerWith 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
brag to their golf buddies about. Runners like the option since this thing can dance in the hands of a rigged driver.
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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.>
ClockworkESCALADE (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.
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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.>
BalladeerAs 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)