Spore

Spore is evasion program creates multiple copies of the core program of an Artificial Intelligence, surrounds them in a defensive software and launches them into the Net. The multiple copies then seek out other computers and attempt to supplant them with this new code. The number of spores released is equal to twice the INT of the core Al releasing them. In addition, AIs Often use Replicator to create thousands of "decoys" to distract attackers.

Spores are most vulnerable at their creation. If attacked with anti-program software, the anti-program will kill one spore per point of STR of the program, if it can successfully attack the sporing Al. Spores can be attacked this way for three rounds before being too far away to attack in this manner. After that, Spore Hunting programs are the only way to find and attack them.

Once free, the smaller spore modules are as capable as the original program, but their ability to access their skills diminishes (divide all skills except Interface by 2. No skill should go below 1). The Spore may also use any programs that were packed along with the core program in its defense (up to 10 MU can be packed into this defensive shell). Any software that inflicts up to the Spore's INT in damage will destroy the Spore and all the core software entirely. The exception is Eradicator which can kill any spore it contacts.

The trace option is used to find signals to possible new homes. but can also allow the Al to attempt to follow any attacking netrunner back to his home system where a takeover attempt can be made.

When a spore encounters a computer system. it will attack the data walls and if successful, will take over the CPUs. The program uses the Al's core INT+(a intrusion subprogram. i.e. Hammer. etc.) +Interface skill+1D10 versus the datawalls. Once inside. even if there is no Al in residence. the spore must defeat the computer in a INT+ 1D10 roll. This intrusion aspect can only be used once. If it fails. the spore de-rezes on the spot.

Spores can exist in the net for an indeterminate amount of time before dissolution. but there is no going back: The Spore program results in the "death" of the original software and the parent Al no longer exists in its original system. Thus this is something done only in extremis and rarely more than once.