Audio-sealed Case: These grey valises are a common sight on higher-level Diplomats, or even lower-level ones, if on an important mission of state, and/or carrying documents or computer data of a sensitive nature. More rarely, they can be found in the possession of Couriers, Businessmen, Field Agents, Private citizens, or even Spies. Their price, however, tends to put them beyond the range of even the most extravagant Corporate Climber.
An audio-sealed case is, very simply, a large briefcase made of armored materials with internal hinges, and protected by a lock with a voiceprint analyzer and detection equipment that prevents it from being opened in the presence of the electromagnetic field generated by microphones, speakers, and video cameras. Invented by the Canadians and distributed to all nations, the higher-level Diplomats of even the poorest countries now regularly use them.
The lock can be easily opened by its proper owner, merely by speaking a certain pre-programmed command phrase which uses sounds particular to the owner's patterns of speech. Anyone else attempting to open the case will need an Electronic Security Systems Kit, and knowledge of the Security Systems Skill sufficient to allow them to succeed in a Formidable task. Due to the detection equipment, simply recording and playing back the owner's voice will not open the case. While this may be a minor inconvenience, at times (not being able to open the case in a stuck elevator with an active speaker, or while on the phone, for instance), it has the added benefit of disallowing the case to be opened in the presence of an activated bug or video camera.
The case itself has an armor value of 7, and since the hinges are internal, it easily resists all prying, and most cutting attacks. On occassion, an Audio-sealed case has been responsible for saving the life of a Diplomat in hostile territory, shielding them from an assassin's bullet. Due to their armoring, anything within an Audio-seled case is immune to sensor detection. Weight: 8.6 kg. Price: Lv 30,000.
Option packages offered by some nations (and those few private companies selling them to the general public) include:
Alarm: Sounds an alarm when the command phrase of the owner is used, but the voiceprint doesn't match. For this reason, command phrases will be non-sensical (such as "Elephants 32 lugubrious") and never anything used by the general public, lest "Let's do lunch", for instance, set off an Alarm Package. This package is commonly available. Failed attempts to open an Audio-sealed case with an Electronic Security Systems Kit will also generally set this package off. Weight: 0.1 kg. Price: Lv 330.
Gas Defense System: This incorporates DPV 9 (Stun) Doze gas into the case, which is released upon an opening attempt by the wrong voice. Gas Defense Systems are fairly uncommon, among Diplomats, but more sommon among other users. The gas released will fill only 1 M3, and the canister holds enough gas for ten attacks. This package requires that the Alarm Package also be installed. Weight: 0.3 kg. Price: Lv 25.
Silent Alarm: This package has all the capabilities of the Alarm Package, plus being able to notify the owner of unsuccessful opening attempts through a non-audible or less attention-getting means, such as through a computer, pager, blinking LED on a watch, etc. This package also requires that the Alarm Package already be installed. Weight: 0 kg. Price: Lv 30.