Within the vast network of alliances and rivalries, operatives are occasionally chosen by their Techglomerate to undertake covert Unlicensed Objectives. These mandates comprise three distinct Black Ops that align with each stage of the primary mission operation. Completing these mandates is critical to the strategic interests of the Techglomerate, offering substantial rewards for success and penalties for failure or refusal.
Before the launch of the primary mission, there's a 33% chance for each player to receive a Shadow Mandate from their Techglomerate. This mandate is accompanied by three Black Ops, each tailored to a specific phase of the mission—Infiltrate, Execute, Extract. The GM will roll secretly to determine which players are chosen for these high-stakes tasks.
The science ring hung in the void like a broken halo — dark, frozen, abandoned. Its artificial gravity still hummed in some sectors, but the life support had long since given up. Frost rimed the interior bulkheads. Lights flickered low like a dying pulse.
The last logged activity? A breach in the genetic containment wing. Something had grown — and escaped. And then… silence.
Two operatives boarded the station under sealed orders.
Cipher, a data phantom in the service of ICE, specialist in digital infiltration.
Striker, ex-special forces turned MERC, loyal to Spearpoint Logistics — or whoever paid better this week.
Official mission Brief: Contain and extract a Roaming Organic.
The real op? depends on who was asking...
Cipher: Unlicensed Objectives Deployed
Cipher had received more than just containment protocols. A sleek black file had unspooled in their retinal HUD:
Black Op.
Striker: Unlicensed Objectives Deployed
By the time Cipher sliced through the bio-lab's ice-sealed core, they'd already mapped the facility’s nervous system. Logs. Cameras. Power relays. All of it.
Striker moved fast, methodical, weapons hot — unaware their tactical HUD, subtly compromised by a benign-looking firmware update Cipher had accidentally released.
Cipher found the incriminating data first. They didn’t just delete it. They replaced it.
A handcrafted report, timestamped, fabricated, flawless. A work of high betrayal dressed in corporate logos and artificial blood.
When Striker stormed the lab, they found the decoy data, and Serendipitously synced to their drive. Cipher, standing at the adjacent terminal, gave them a polite nod — two professionals just doing their jobs.
Neither said a word.
The debrief was clinical.
Cipher:
Cipher submitted logs encrypted three times over, with shadow signatures attesting to Black Op compliance.
“All objectives completed. Shadow Mandate neutralized. Opposing intel redirected.
Result: Elevation to Level 10 clearance Recommended
Striker:
They delivered their payload and awaited accolades.
What they got instead was a frozen account, a security audit, and silence.
Across the Core, Spearpoint’s stock dipped 17%.
Their CEO issued a hollow apology in a press release titled “Integrity in Bioethics.”
Now the GM tells the Story:
Cipher never looked back...
Level 10 - never earned, Taken.
— like everything else that matters in the Core.
The integration of Shadow Mandates and their corresponding Black Ops introduces a profound level interpersonal dynamics to Cybercore. This system not only challenges players to adeptly manage multiple objectives within the overarching mission but also to remain vigilant of potential sabotage or discovery by fellow agents. The Goal is the resulting narrative be one of of intrigue, cunning, shenanigans and fun. This however wont fit all tables, or all participants, so check in with your players (secretly), if only a few are keens to "bring it on" then allocate the Shadow Mandates to those players in secret, and let them have their fun.
Let the Shenanigans Begin.
- (Guidelines really...)
The Shadow Mandate system within Cybercore is designed to add a layer of complexity and intrigue to each mission, encouraging operatives to engage in espionage, subterfuge, and tactical gameplay.
Due to a single rouge squad starting the Shar-rogin ground Wars of 3258, Extensive laws have been written into the unicore Accords covering joint Techglomerate "off mission" Mandates. The best legal SI's have scoured them extensively and the following common language Rules Of Engagement have been established:
Adhering to these Rules Of Engagement ensures that while operatives may engage in a wide array of shenanigans to fulfill their Shadow Mandates, the integrity of the main mission remains intact.