Gagdetry

 

Assorted ideas for toys for spies in “high tech” games.  Not by any means an exhaustive list.  Some of these are lifted from various espionage shows, some are real.  Most should be considered State of the Art secret devices, not normally available, or are simply, while not secret, rare or unusual.  Some of these are very specific, others merely general classes of items.   Generally, there are no weights, costs, or other bits of little game-specific trivia given.  Assign whatever values makes sense in the environment in which your story is set. 

 

Bug.  Your basic sound recording device.  Physics specifies a minimum size for a normal bug- when they get too small they can no longer intercept sound waves.  Bugs need to be about a centimeter long.  The true art of the bug is not in making the bug, it is concealing it.  Bugs that continuously re-transmit are the easiest to locate, smarter bugs will send a compressed, burst signal periodically, or upon command.

 

Card Decrypter.  This is another of those items that officially doesn't exist.  Feed an ordinary credit card- or whatever else used to move cash and data, chips, crystals, what have you- and the device will duplicate the information (and the account, security codes, etc) onto another card/chip/whatever.  The reason they don't officially exist is that these are the GOOD kind, that are not deterred by the safeguards and copy protections built in to a card, chip, etc, and even copy those onto the new card.

 

Contact Lens, False Retina.   Capable of fooling identification devices that look for structures within the eye.  Problem is, you have to know in advance the eye you intend to mimic.  If you have scanned a persons eye, though, or have access to the data in a retinal identification system, you can design a contact lens capable of fooling it.

 

Contact Lens, Polarized or UV sensitive.   Used to allow an agent to see certain markings or patterns invisible to the naked eye. 

 

Deception Image Screen.  Opaque neutral colored elastic screen with expandable frame designed to fill opening such as window, corridor, etc.  Used in conjunction with concealed projector to display high quality image, generally in deception operation to convince observer that displayed image is real.  For example, could be set up in a window to show meeting of two people inside a room that is not actually occurring, or set up in a hallway to display image of empty hallway while activity goes on behind it.  The high end screen is transparent, and only turns opaque to recieve projections on command.

 

Diamond Wheel Saw, Minature.   100g.  Handy, battery powered all purpose cutting device, cuts through all sorts of things, small enough to conceal in common objects like attache cases, shoes, watches, etc.

 

Door Brace.  Basically an angled bar.  Simple in concept, advanced versions will be much stronger, lighter, and more concealable.  It reinforces a door from the inside, making the door unopenable even if the lock is disabled, bolt cut, etc. 

 

ELF transmitter.  10 kg.  Most of this device is a reel of fine wire, which must be stretched out to form the antenna.  ELF transmissions are low energy and have a very low data transmission rate (a letter per second is fast!) but they travel over great distances through the Earth and bodies of water with ease, and are nearly impossible to localize.

 

Face-o-matic.  6 Kg.  60cm x 30cm x 12 cm kit.  A quantum leap beyond the ordinary disguise kit, this unit recieves input from a computer (not included in kit) in the form of virtual models of the agent's head, and the head of the person he wants to look like (you get this by scannign photos or digital camera feed into the computer).  The kit will then mold a poly-tex mask (which is usually not a full face mask, as per the movies, more like a series of poly-tex appliques) to  applied to the agents face, along with a color analysis overlay, which instructs the disguse maker on exaclty what colors to apply where.  It is finished off with elements taken from the standard disguise kit.   Although allowance must be made for differences in shape between the agent's head an the subject's head- and hence the kit works best with small boned, dimunitively featured agents, or prominently featured subjects- it is often possible to rather quickly make up an agent to look very much like the subject (again, unlike the movies, this will not generally pass close inspection from people very familiar with the subject).   Where the ordinary disguise kit can make you look different, this makes you look like a specific person, down to details like shape of cheekbone line, chin, nose, etc.

 

False Bottoms;  Still a standard in Spy Luggage, the modern professional false bottom is designed to fool a variety of sensors.  Just don't put anything bulky or metal inside.

 

False Flesh:  A putty that mimics human flesh.  With cosmetics, it can be blended into a person’s natural flesh.  In addition to its value as a disguise tool, this offers a way to sneak small objects past a strip search, at the possible expense of making an agent seem overweight.   The applicator must be skilled to make this look natural.

 

Fast Prototyper  (In 2300, this might just be called a prototyper).  This machine, by quickly assembling many thin, carefully cut layers of plastic, produces a 3d model of any thing up to the size of capacity in about 20 minutes (or less, depending on how far the tech goes).  Cutting edge devices will adjust the density, surface texture, color, and thermal conductivity to match the desired target object.  Input of photos from different angles is required, or computer imaging, or computer design file.

 

Flourescent Aerosol.  500 g. Spray this into an area and it forms, briefly, a cloud which flouresces dimly in the presence of infrared beams, lasers, and other normally invisible beams used for security sensors.  Will not activate sensors, (It does not absorb enough of the light) and will not reveal the presence of passive sensors or magnetic or other sensors not relying on electromagnetic beams of some kind.  Fortunately, most common security sensors DO rely on electromagnetic beams.  Note that unlike the movies, an ordinary cloud of mist, as from a fire extinguisher, or block of dry ice, will not do.  No ordinary mist will make an invisible beam visible, and at worst it will block the beam and set off the alarm.

 

Forgery Kit, advanced:  State of the art kit contained in a large briefcase.  It has tools, inks, dyes, and chemical treatments allowing a forger to copy a wide range of paper medium, as well as copying tints, embossing, raised seals, etc.   The larger Forgery Workstation is generally moved in a van, (where it is often disguised) but can be fit into a steamer trunk.  This has the ability to copy electronic media, signs, clothing, insignia, and other things a spy may wnat to duplicate.  They range broadly in capability, and intelligence agencies are generally trying to keep theirs as up to date as possible- some more than others.

 

Gel, Pseudo Rigid.  A  very disturbing plastic.  Quickly converts (with the application of some sort of trigger like an electric signal) from soft, moldable stuff to strong, rigid material, and vice versa.  Its existence is not normally discussed, but 2300 chemists would understand its workings.  Among its used are body armor which turns rigid when the owner wishes, and barriers, bars and restraints which look and feel convincing but are extremely escapable.  Advanced forms have "memory", the ability to harden into a pre-determined shape.

 

Harmonic Explosives.  More of a concept than a specific item, as it uses standard plastic explosives.  Uses computer analysis and precise timers to set off a number of small explosives designed to produce harmonic effects in a large structure.  This can allow damage or destruction of a structure with much less blast and force than might ordinarily be expected, or possibly non-destructive but very frightening events such as induced swaying of a bridge or tower.  Not all structures are vulnerable to this.  Advanced structures with elements under tension such as a suspension bridge are the most vulnerable, earthen walled structures are entirely invulnerable, masonry structures mostly invulnerable.

 

Inflatable dummy.  These have been around a long time, and are used for things like making an observer think there are more people in a room or car than there are in reality.  The latest inflate very rapidly, and have heating elements mimicking human body heat.

 

Jammer, Expendable Barrage.  This devices emits a very high output of radio frequency energy over a short time period- minutes to hours depending on size and power.  The effect is interrupt all radar and radio communications within an area.  The device typically destroys itself when its power is consumed.

 

Koi, artificial.  Drop this robot into a pond and it swims with the other fish, while housing sensors, communications, and cameras.  (Fish eye lenses of course).  Designed to realistically simulate fish behavior and appearance.

 

Laser/Maser Audio Intercept system.  Sound in an area, preferably from conversations you wish to overhear- causes large planar surfaces to vibrate.  (Typically a window, but cabinetry and certain smooth wall surfaces exhibit the same phenomenon.) Using a laser or maser, this vibrations can be detected from a distance and the sounds reconstructed.  The device is the size of a typical laser rangefinder, but its use requires a stable  set up, so it must be tripod mounted.  The device can be countered by inducing masking vibrations in vulnerable surfaces. 

 

Micro-actuator.  Typically activated by remote control, timer, sensor, etc, this is merely a very small machine producing action on a device.  Agents come up with all sorts of uses for them, such as creating 'pop up' devices that stay hidden, then emerge to perform some special function.   One classic stunt involved rigging a cabinet to open itself- the cabinet was in a room the bad guy was perfectly (and correctly) confident was accessible after hours only to himself and one close confident, and if he didn't leave that cabinet open...   The actuator can aslo be used to aim sensors and weapons remotely.  Be creative. 

 

Microinjector.  A very small concealable hypodermic injector capable of delivering  a single quick dose of a drug or toxin.  In addition to the classic hiding places like pens, umbrella tips, it is possible to have these devices surgically implanted

 

Orbit to Surface Message capsule.  A means of getting things to agents on a planet surface, from orbit.  The capsule is usually visible and trackable upon reentry, but it opens to launch a small, expendable, stealth glider about a meter across, with a 10-20 km range which will travel to the agent's position.  People will know something came down, but not what and where.

 

Phoo-gas, Pumps, and Tubes.  Used to make horrific looking fiery infernos that are actually quite mild and quite survivable.  Can be used, as examples, to clear people from a building, or convince someone that something was certainly destroyed when in fact it was not.  This is not as much as a "secret" as some of the other things here, the trick is to use it such manner as to give no reason for anyone to suspect the fire is not what it appears to be.

 

Plumber's Putty.  Still handy after all these years.  two soft, malleable elements are squeezed together and molded like modeling clay.  The epoxy like mixture quickly hardens into a very strong, rigid material.

 

Polarized paint.  A modern descendant of "invisible ink".  This liquid, commonly used to mark or leave messages objects, puts a clear mark on most surfaces.  It is applied not with a brush but with a directionally aligned applicator, the size of a paint marker, using the local magnetic field to ensure that the coating maintains a uniform orientation of polarity.  Viewed through the right polarizing lense, the normally invisible coating can be seen.

 

Quick Pitons.  Small spike/ring combinations, capable of being quickly and quietly set to almost any surface not through driving them in physically but by activation of a small capsule of fast acting, super strong adhesive.

 

Self Destruct Cartridge.  variable size, 20-200 grams.  Consists of a container of extremely corrosive liquid and a control device that will cause that liquid to spray out if a certain condition is met.  Generally placed inside another device,  with a skill of at least 1 in Mechanics and Electronics, as well as skill of at least 1 in the operation of the device you are trying to connect it to,  required to connect it to the operation of the device (for example, to rig it to destroy a portacomp if an access code is impoperly entered needs Computer 1, Mechanical 1, Electronics 1.  Placing it on an electronic eavesdropping device- bug- so that it will destroy itslef if tampered with takes only Mechanical 1 and Electronics 1).  Sometimes, the cartride may be triggered deliberately, as in an expendable probe you know won't be recovered, but should not fall into the wrong hands.   A few puffs of nasty greenish smoke waft out from the object, and the protection of top secret data or technology is assured. Agency provided equipment will often have this device pre-installed by their technical department.  It may also be used to sabotage the other side's equipment:  "At exactly 10;15 pm, the cable powering the searchlights will fail, Graham, that will give you enough time to get into position...".  The cartridge is considered state of the art and cannot be obtained "on the outside".

 

Sleep Gas.   Sorry, this darling of Hollywood and comics, unless we see some real changes in biological know-how, won’t happen.  Problem is, as any anesthesiologist knows, putting someone to sleep is darn close to killing someone, and the dosage has to be regulated carefully.  How do you do that with a cloud of gas on the loose/

 

Spy Dust.  This is really an old trick.  It consists of clandestinely "dusting" a target person or vehicle with a harmless, inert, and hopefully unnoticable powder of distinctive chemical makeup.  By checking suspect sites for traces of the dust, one can then confrim movements of the target that could not be otherwise observed.

 

Stereo-harmonic Microspeakers.  It is possible, through placement of an array of small, computer linked speakers, to create sounds audible in only very specific locations.  Placement of the array is contingent on analysis of the area in which the sound is to be created, and the specific locations at which the sound is to be audible.  Note that the sound will not be audible near the speakers themselves, it is only where the wave patterns of a number of the speakers intersect and interact that the sound will be heard.  This is one of the more "exotic" end devices.

 

Squeaker.   This small device, typically concealable, delivers a very short range, direction electromagnetic pulse designed to cause interference with a range of electromagnetic devices.  Each squeaker will typically be optimized to harrass a particular type of target, thus, a given squeaker may be set up to disrupt a vehicles ignition system, the display on a security monitor, or a cybernetic implant.  In this last use, the squeaker can be fatal to people relying on life sustaining cybernetic implants.  As technology increases, the capabilites of squeakers grow, and their sizes shrink. 

 

Stealth Suit.  This is NOT a "Chameleon suit" that mimics the color and appearance of the background.  A Stealth suit is a very advanced article of clothing that is radar absorbent. Neutral gray in color, it is saturated with heat and light conductive fibers that enable the suit to match the ambient thermal and lighting environment.  The suit contains its own photometers and heat sensors and does this automatically.  Note that matching "ambient" conditions does not confer invisibility, but does help in blending into the background, especially in dark areas.  Against a light background, the suit will be light gray, against a dark background, dark.  But always gray.  If the ambient temperature is lower than body temperature (typical) the suit will collect body heat in an "ice can" to match suit temperature to surrounding temperature.  It can only do this for as long as the ice can holds out- the colder it is, the more body heat has to be collected, the quicker the can will melt its coolant.

 

Tempest Tracker.   Size varies with range and "tech level".  All electronic devices produce their own characteristic electromagnetic field while in use.  These fields are distinctive, so that even two devices of the same make and model will produce a slightly different electronic "fingerprint".    This device is designed to scan for a specific electro-magnetic "fingerprint' and filter out all others, and so provide a range and bearing to the desired object.  These fields can be interfered with by conductive barriers, stronger electromagnetic fields, and on occasion, sunspots.  However, since the art of tempest direction finding is less well known than radio direction finding, there may be times when the system is very effective.  For example, you may be tracking a terrorists across a wilderness area, and he is smart enough to maintain radio silence, but isn't aware that every time he uses his electric shaver you get a fix on him.  It is necessary, of course, to first get a confirmed "baseline" reading of the shaver's electromagnetic field.

 

Thermite Toothpaste.  Looks like toothpaste.  Smells like toothpaste.  Tastes like Albanian Toothpaste. Squeezed from toothpaste tube into long, thin strips, can melt through steel in seconds when ignited.  You'll get 4 meters of paste from a typical tube, but only if you remember to squeeze from the bottom, not the middle.

 

Vibrating Signal.  Descendent of the vibrating pager/cell phone, this is usually concealed in a watchband, ring, shoe, underwear band, etc.   It allows clandestine signaling and limited coded messages through use of patterns of vibration on the skin.  Outgoing clandestine signal devices are common as well, allowing a device to be triggered, or a simple message sent, with a harmless looking gesture, tugging at a ring, tapping a shoe against a chair, etc.

 

Video Intercept Link.  This has to manually inserted somewhere between a monitor- computer, entertainment, adverstising, etc, and its information source.  It allows an operator, through another computer, to alter the image displayed on the screen.   The effect is on the image only- for example, if used on a computer monitor to change a number from 15 to 5, none of the computer's programs or other functions will be effected, the computer will still operate as if the number on the screen was 15, while anyone looking at the screen sees 5.  Changing certain screen images can be very challenging, for example, to alter a real time live video image of a person (for example, making it look to a TV viewer that Sam, and not Bob, got off the plane) requires top notch software and a strong computer skill.  The Video intercept link does not itself provide any access to a computer, even if it is being used to alter the image of a computer monitor, however, it can be used to provide indirect access, by causing a user, seeing the "wrong" image on a screen, to enter inputs he normally would not.

  Sewer-Bot.  This device is about the size and shape of a football (American).  It is used for inspecting and maintaining sewer and water mains, and has been adapted for covert work.  The Sewer-Bot often operates in areas shielded from remote control signals- for example, inside heavy metal pipes.  To this end, it carries a spool of tough optic data link fiber which it can trail out behind it, either to its base station or to a radio repeater.  It is programmed to backtrack in the event of loss of signal, to prevent sewer systems from being clogged with lost sewer-bots.

 

Voice Stress Analysis Device.  A hand held instrument designed to detect stress levels in a subjects.  Detail, accuracy, and size will vary with technology level.   A more advanced device, not officially existing, measures the electromagnetic field around the subject's head, and from this analyzes activity levels across the brain.  Dubbed a "mind reader", it cannot reads minds.  It can, however, give an analyst quick insight into the subject's emotional state on a moment to moment basis- it can show excitement, arousal, curiousity, fear, anger etc.  A hidden "mind reader", and a concealed earpiece or other signalling device, and a pair of good agents (one talking, one  analyzing) can take control over any conversation and steer it where they want it.