Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Play-by-Post => Topic started by: Mithlas on <05-13-13/1507:28>
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The Corporate Court's latest law suit against Nafarroa Informant closed this Monday, 3 October 2072, with the matrix-based company also facing a slew of charges from corporate espionage to endangering the public safety in other regional courts. Called a data haven by some and a malicious distributor of misinformation by Palos of Aztechnology's public relations division, thousands of memos, invoices, and other alleged documents were released to the public at large. These documents imply a variety of things from human experimentation, to genetic tampering of unwilling or unknowing women in economically vulnerable positions, to the radical development of stages of cyberware that could threaten public safety and the balance of power, to the release of biologically engineered contagions into civilian populations for research purposes.
These accusations have led to thousands of protests, suits of libel and slander, as well as investigations and resignations. In UCAS, agricultural and shipping center Peoria has seen several officials resign or, in the case of some corporate personnel, transferred to other districts. An emergency election was held recently at an Event Horizon police district, with Captain Donald Erickson being elected in a contested but landslide sweep. Various locals have expressed concern about the out-of-state captain's ability to deal with the goods smuggling, human trafficking, and gang warfare on the rise in the region, but his assistant and public relations expert MacPherson assures the public that he is fully capable of dealing with the challenges ahead and gang activity will be his number one priority.
While things may be stirring up in other parts of UCAS, most of Seattle is settling into yet another rainy day in the beginning of October. An acid rain warning is being broadcast on public service channels, and the weather stations are mentioning a cold front moving in. Traffic is light for an evening in the metropolis. It looks like things are going to be quiet when a buzz comes through your commlinks about a job out of the city, asking for a meet in Auburn. An address to a dive-type diner near a highway truck stop is attached. Apparently, the Johnson seems trustworthy - just not too much - and the money's been good on other jobs from him from what your fixers know.
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The cab arrives relatively quickly - with rush hour having ended and a lot of the Seattleites staying indoors to avoid the day's acid rain there isn't as much competition and cabs are eager to keep up the business. The parking lot is packed with a variety of odd vehicles, many of them obviously daily rentals, though there are still a handful of spots open. The diner is a 2040's style of architecture, but the AR posters on the billboard at the front indicate it serves clientele from retro to goblin punk fans. The interior looks like it has a somewhat sparse but modern decor nailed up onto the '40s architecture. Lighting is a little sparse, though not enough to make it hard to see through the crowds. Truck drivers make up the majority of the clientele, many of them orks trying not to look like they want to drown away their life with the bottles of cheap liquor at their table settings.
The main area of open tables is surrounded by more quiet booths, though at the north and east end of the buildings are doors to rooms too small to be properly called "party spaces", but still a good deal more private than the rest of the space. One doorframe has stickers labeling it 12C, matching the room number line of the address given.
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-At the Aurora-
"Ha ha ha! Yes, I'm sure it all came as a surprise to her too! If I ever see that woman again I'll give her a high five!"
A white feathered serpent lays draped across draped over several pieces of furniture, laughing and exchanging stories with his new found drinking buddy. It was by chance that he ducked into this rats nest, just avoiding the highly caustic rain which could easily damage his feathers.
"Bartender! Another round of cranberry cocktail, easy on the tail! Ha ha ha!"
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Chikage had just finished her daily training regimen when the call came in. Sitting in the seiza position with her katana in its sheath before her, Chikage adjusted the 'breathing routine' of her body, and took the call. A job that would take her out of the city? Well, she was in need of funds, since her debts to the Yakuza back in DeeCee were still unpaid. So she was not in a position to turn down work. Rising from where she was sitting, Chikage adjusted her simple training clothes and walked in from the small outdoor practice space in back of her house.
Ten minutes later, she was dressed in a simple all black number consisting of skintight leather pants and a black shirt with a deep V in the front, showing off her... attributes. For protection, she wore her lined coat, as well as some shin and forearm guards. Simple, practical, and yet stylish. That was how she liked her clothes. She had been told that she was beautiful, and she guessed that was true. It hadn't taken much for her to find records on the elf who was the template for her body. Nadja Daviar, former vice-president of the UCAS, former 'voice' for the great dragon Dunkelzhan, current chairman of the Draco Foundation. Having her face provided some challenges, as it did make her more noticable, but apparently there had been many people who had had procedures done to resemble the former VP. So it wasn't that uncommon.
Before heading out, she paused, considering how well-armed she should be. This body had its own defenses, of course, but a visual deterrent could stop trouble before it began, her research had told her. Still, it would also cause trouble if she came to the party loaded down as though she were occupying the place. In the end, she took only her katana, a set of throwing knives slid into a vest, and her machine pistol hidden in its concealable holster tucked around at the small of her back, with a couple extra clips in her pocket. That would be enough to get her out of a sudden situation, or prevent a situation from starting, she hoped, and would still be at a level that was presentable for a meeting with an employer. And if there was trouble on the road, her bike was well-suited for getting out of those situations.
As she walked to the garage, the door opened by wireless command, her bike already started by the time she got to it. Swinging her leg over the sleek Mirage, she changed both her coat and the bike to be a sweet cherry red color that contrasted nicely with her black clothes. At least while she was driving, she would look stylish, yes? With that, she set off for the meet site.
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Having been cooped up for the last week in this tiny hole, Baron nearly jumps when he hears the commlink signal. As he scans the message, he begins to grin. "It's begun.", he says quietly to himself. He hums a cheerful tune as he gets ready and leaves his apartment. Stepping outside, he notices a cab waiting nearby. He walks over, hops in, and quietly repeats the address to the cabbie. "Toss it, chummer.", the driver replies. "This hack's reserved." Baron grins again and spits a volcano of persuasion at the driver, his story ranging from Baron being the one who ordered the cab to it not being his but an emergency that demands a valorous gesture on the driver's behalf. By the end of it, the cabbie is so confused he barely remembers his own name, so he asks for the address again and heads out. Flashing his grin(trademark pending) one last time, Baron settles back in the seat for the ride.
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-Aurora Bar-
The bartender laughed heartily - it was unusual to have something like the feathered-serpent-like critter sprawled across a couple of couches, but the money was good and a cheerful customer made other customers feel better - and like ordering another round. As a server stopped by to drop off another drink, she noticed a commlink buzzing on the table next to Kukulkan. "Looks like you've got a friend on the line. Got a party set for sundown?"
-Streets of Seattle-
Thunder flickered in the clouds above, the overcast sky seemingly hastening the falling twilight. A red motorcycle shot down the surface streets, a faint drizzle faded for a brief spell. A DocWagon ambulance peeled out through an intersection, blue lights blazing, and then the street settled back into the rumble of a metropolis that never sleeps.
-Cab-
While the company was supposed to have procedures for link-called cabs, the elf who jumped into the back talked the driver into circles until he felt like driving through the Rockies. He didn't look scruffy like the smooth-talking hobos who sometimes tried to snag a free ried through the city, so he pulled out of park and scooted through the streets to the address provided - some bar and restaurant down in the southern part of the 'plex.
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After paying the driver a healthy tip, Baron makes his way into the bar. He quickly notices Shidhe and sits down at her booth after a genial "Mind if I join you?" . He orders a drink and then waits to see if she is feeling conversational.
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Huh, now why did I drop that there, and when did I set it to vibrate?
Aaliyah, AKA, Kukulkan in the Americas, answered the tellecom call via mental command.
"Hello? Yes? This is him, who may I ask is calling? No, no, I feel fine.... Horse? How is that a sound? Surely they say 'Neigh'...No I suppose a centaur doesn't. Who did you say this was again?"
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Nodding and giving his trademark grin, he says, "I figured as much, and I'd wager we're here for the same appointment. How have you been?" He breaks off info light and polite chatting.
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The rain did not bother Chikage. She was fully equipped to function in these parameters, and while the rain did make her clothes feel clammy against her skin, she didn't worry overmuch. The DocWagon ambulance was nothing she hadn't seen before, in her time since 'emerging', but still, the fragility of these flesh and blood types was amazing. She continued driving as the drizzle ended, making her way to the meet, letting the wind blow her clothes and hair dry.
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"Most definitely. Weather like this makes me appreciate the Tir even more, a good life experience or some such bulldrek." Finishing off his first drink, his signals the barkeep for another and then leans forward a little. "Any idea what this is about? Who else might be coming?", he says in a comically conspiratorial voice, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
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Nitro slid into the rigger cocoon in her new car, getting ready to get to the meet. Sucks that I had to ditch my old stuff... Going to take a long damned time to get set up all over again, and I still haven't found a place with enough space. Sliding into VR, she left for the meet and pulled up a feed of recent events that might be linked to the meet.
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Leaning back again, Baron nods and sips at his drink, shifting his attention to the patrons and any new guests that wander in.
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-Aurora Bar-
"We spoke earlier, on the recommendation of several of your friends and compatriots," the voice replied through the commlink. It isn't familiar. "At least, indirectly. I know that the assembly of a team was brought up through your friends, and your talents might be uniquely suited to the new season. You should have received the address and time of the meeting yesterday, I wanted to be sure that you would be there for a face-to-face at 20:00."
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, interior-
AR screens spaced through the upper corners of the room show various sports and news channels. Aztlan OnLine was playing in one corner, showing Palos making his condemning speech. A few AR screens away was a syndicated talk show discussing the possible repercussions of the suit and whether any of the leaked documents are true.
The clock ticked past 19:30 and another wave of clientele stood and departed, a smaller number of incoming truckers coming in. A few discuss trucking and others speculate on whether their chairman is going to get sacked and let somebody more generous run the company.
-Nitro's Hyundai-
Details of the job hadn't been given prior to the meet, but the fact that the past three days had been a storm of people leaving or suddenly moving up in public offices was well known internationally. A doctor administering one of Lone Star's prisons on the edge of Seattle, one of the UCAS representatives in Ontario, and a port health inspector in Denver were some of the biggest headlines in UCAS. There were others across the world, but many meets intending to operate overseas tended to hint at such.
The specific area and events aren't secret, but like many things on Google aren't common knowledge to the general populace. Roll Data Search if you want to look something up on the way to the meet.
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"...Hrm... Yes I recall an e-mail. I agreed to sit in, but I have yet to promise any services, you, or your associate will be seeing me personally; soon."
With that, the Naga slammed his head against the small table with a thud, attaching the small micro mechanical adhesives to his head. "Quite."
Slithering towards the door the Naga bid the bar folk au du. Before stepping through the threshold Aaliyah, the naga, willed forth an invisible umbrella over himself, after a brief moment he called up an AR window of his contacts book, paging through for the local AB+ Chapter's contact method.
Force 3 Deflection Spell, using the deflection spell, sustained over my head to deflect the rain-I highly doubt people will notice, I hope...
15d6.hits(5)=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4048837/)
And the drain resist.. which I think is 3, unless you round down which is then 2.
10d6.hits(5)=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4048841/)
either way no drain.
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-Aurora Bar-
"I have yet to promise any services,"
The voice on the other end of the line replied promptly, "Understandable. However, as part of the assurances I will be making to my manager, I have promised to personally greet each of you and extend this opportunity." After Aaliyah finished the message and set up to go, the bartender waved a farewell, also giving a nod and passing a small plastic tray of wake-up pills to Andreas. The drizzle outside continued, cast aside by the mana-induced umbrella, and a series of trucks churned down the center of the street. In the contacts book, several of the local AB+ draw up on the link.
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, interior-
The murmur of drivers getting ready to start a night shift continued, a crowd gathering around one AR screen displaying a CAS urban brawl match. One of the contestants went down and the gathering of drivers whooped as the teams traded shots. The commotion is almost enough to obscure the entry of a woman in black, wearing a red coat.
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A brief moment of navigating the gently blue and white contacts window Aaliyah settles on the most innocent tellecom number he can find then minimizes the window to his peripheral. Opening a new window and subscribing to the city tellecom directory he pulls up a cab service catering to 'larger' metahumans.
"Yes...I need, 2 cabs at this address... one large, and one small. Zàijiàn."
After closing the cybercom he pulled up the other window and began the call.
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Noticing the woman in black and red, Baron indicates her subtly to Shidhe. "Look like the regular sort to frequent this fine establishment?" He briefly shifts his view to the astral, checking out the new arrival. While there, he gives the room a quick once over before switching back.
Looking for who is awakened, who has cyberware implants, sustained spells, etc.
Assense the woman - 9d6.hits(5)=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4049735/)
Assense the room - 9d6.hits(5)=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4049740/)
Does this site always give such awful rolls?
"Huh.", he says noncommitally.
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A slight shake of his head is his only response as he tracks the woman's movements through the establishment.
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As Chikage entered the bar, those checking the astral would see her as a drone, pure and simple, despite the looks. The red coat shifted as she moved, turning from red to black. Her eyes scanned the crowd, watching the people's reactions to her, or lack thereof. On another night, she might get a drink or two and socialize (her body was specially modified for such tasks), but she was here to work. She checked the directions again, to see whether she was supposed to head to a separate room, or whether she was just supposed to wait out here until time for the meet.
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"Well," he begins, "I'd wager almost anything that she's here for the same appointment. Also, she isn't really here... It's a drone, if you can believe that." Having said that, Baron considers inviting her over before deciding against it. Can't be too careful... , he thinks.
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Nitro walked in nonchalantly, moving to the bar to order a couple fingers of bourbon. While she was waiting, she augmented her scanner and set about looking for anything running in hidden in the area - never hurt to be aware.
Threading Scan (15d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050000/)
Fading Resistance, DV4S. (11d6.hits(5)=3) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050001/)
Actually 3S - I forgot that I had Scan, and thus that using 4 hits would take me to physical.
Detect Hidden Node - interval 1 Combat Turn, threshold 15 (11d6.hits(5)=2, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 11d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=2, 11d6.hits(5)=1, 11d6.hits(5)=5, 11d6.hits(5)=2) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050002/)
And, doesn't take too long to pick up on the hidden nodes in the area.
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While Nitro set about searching, Chikage sat down at the bar nearby, apparently taking no notice of the man watching her. Logging on to the bar's AR node, her usual icon (that of a female samurai in red armor) appeared, and placed an order for a beer. Well, she didn't often consume food or beverages, except in virtual environments, but it was one of the modifications this body had, in order to make it more lifelike, especially when she was on bodyguard duty. What she consumed went to a special holding tank, where it was stored until she disposed of it later.
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What is she going to make that drone do?, Baron thinks as he watches the woman-bot in black order a drink. After a moment of hesitation, he stands and makes his way across to the seat next to the her/it. "One of these days, my curiosity will be the end of me..." he mutters softly to himself as he walks.
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Baron sits down next to the drone, pointedly paying only a nominal amount of attention to it. "Hey", he says casually before ordering another drink. Good thing I'm going sans-synthahol tonight, he thinks with a mental smirk. When it's delivered, he proceeds to nurse the drink and wait to see if the drone's controller will try to strike up a conversation.
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Looking over to Baron, Chikage nodded, and said, "Hey yourself. You finally decided to stop staring at me and come over? Sorry, I'm not in the mood to play tonight, I have an appointment later." She clearly took Baron as yet another person trying to hit her up, and decided to shut that door quickly. Wasn't enough time for that, especially not when there was work to be done shortly.
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With a chuckle, Baron takes another drink before replying, "You either have great peripheral vision or I need to work on being subtle. You stick out here like an ork at a Humanis rally. Your appointment must be important... Are you the one that arranged it or are you just invited?" He decides to not mention that she's a drone, stuck between indifference and curiosity as to how things will play out. Cautious Johnson? Shut-in riggger? Betrayal attempt? We'll see.
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Chikage chuckled. "I'm used to the stares. And yes, you do need to work on being subtle. But yes, I'm merely invited. Why, did you get the same invite too?" At this point, her beer arrived, and she nodded to the barkeep, before taking a drink. Setting the bottle down on the counter, she looked back to Baron, and said, "So, your ladyfriend get tired of you, and you came to talk to me? Or is this something else, hmm?"
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-Aurora Bar, exterior-
The taxis took a couple minutes to arrive, and the brief pause in the acid drizzle begins to pick up again before they take off.
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, interior-
Scanning for wireless signals in the somewhat crowded bar is no difficult task. The vast majority of the clientele had their commlinks and devices set to the common and convenient open broadcast, with the eatery's central node also openly broadcasting if with a modest firewall. A few moments of checking the wireless signals picked up a scattering of commlinks set to hidden. One of them is a woman sitting in a corner near the entrance, another from within room 12C.
The gathering of drivers clustered around the urban brawl AR screen whoops at another take-down. The clocks on the AR screens tick to 19:55.
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, exterior-
Two taxies pulled up in the parking lot now about half full. The darkness of the sinking sun and the thick clouds seemed to emphasize the glittering lights of the drone air traffic higher above, flitting back and forth over Seattle with messages, express deliveries, and other purposes.
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"I see. I was invited, as well. The name is Baron.", he says before extending a hand to shake.
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Chikage nodded. "Well if you're here for the party in 12C, then we ought to head up. Don't want to be late. Also, the name's Chikage." For those who knew Japanese, the name translated to 'Blood Shadow'. Rising from her seat as she finished her beer, Chikage turned, and began heading for room 12C. No point in keeping the Johnson waiting.
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Baron rises and follows Chikage.
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"...Shì de... xièxiè, zàijiàn."
A neon yellow cab, decorated by the refracted lights of the cityscape sped off, the serpent Aaliyah slithered towards the diner basked in its cool glow.
"Proklyatiye ... What horrid weather... If I get bald patches I'll put the 'dry cleaning' on my bills."
Pushing the front door open with his head the serpent 'stepped' into the diner. Taking a moment to pull his coils through the threshold, slowly, smoothly looking out over clientele. Giving the scene a quizzical look then gently looking back he held the door open for his friend.
"Don't stand out there too long, your shoes will melt!"
passively I'll gather information with my pits. (Thermosense organs)
8d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050811/)
just looking for anything out of the ordinary.
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Hm. Seems like we're here for the same thing... Strange that there's no public signal... Nitro got up and moved to the room for the meet, angling for a little more detail as she did - it never did hurt to take the lay of the land.
Threading Analyze (15d6.hits(5)=6) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050878/)
4 hits used
Fading Resistance - DV4S (11d6.hits(5)=2) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050879/)
2S taken
Matrix Perception Tests - node in 12C, then on Chikage (opposed needed if Chikage has Stealth running) (11d6.hits(5)=2, 11d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050882/)
For the node in 12C, I'll go for general info on what type of device it is, and it's Firewall rating. For what I assume to be Chikage, I'll go for type, Firewall, System, and Signal - with details coming off the end of that list based on the opposed hits.
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Chikage knocked twice on the door of 12C, and unless she was told otherwise, turned the knob in an attempt to enter. It was time for the meeting, so the door ought to be unlocked, right?
<OOC> Firewall+Sensor: 12d6.hits(5)=4 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050917/)
No net hits for the matrix perception = no info.
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The hell? Who runs node-level stealth? Something strange about that...
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-Streets of Seattle-
Steam's search, as with many forays into the matrix, turns up dozens of hits. After a few moments of sifting through them, however, one area shows up as notable for the relative lack of news coming out of it. Peoria, Illinois is a small metroplex primarily involved in shipping, but a couple of small news outlets have posted articles on the controversial appointment of Captain Erickson to Event Horizon after the quiet but sudden ushering out of his predecessor.
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, interior-
The roughly two dozen clientele pay little attention to most of the runners drifting towards 12C, though once a feathered Naga enters even several of the group watching urban brawl turn and stare. More than a few hurriedly turn around and try not to have seen anything, though the beer spilling over a glass in one waitress' hands is only one among many who've forgotten what they were doing when Aaliyah entered.
The door to 12C is a simple faux-wood panel sliding arrangement with a worn metal handle bolted to one side. A pad like those on many maglock passkeys rests midway up the door, though the door opens with only a little resistance from the aged motors.
Just beyond the wall is the quiet signal of a high-end commlink sporting a strong firewall (rating 6).
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
The door opens into the far end of a rectangular room. A respectable space with the same general architecture as the rest of the building makes up the more lightly-decorated room, though the spray-plastic siding is less than a year old. Inside is a much more realistic plastic table styled to look like a 2060s craftsman-style wood table. The chairs in this room are the same general brand as the general eatery, but like the rest of the room only seem to be a few years old. A long lounge furniture stretches against the near corner of the table.
At the far end of the table sits a clean-shaven, slightly broad-shouldered human with a squared jaw. His double-breasted business suit is formal, but also gives little indication as to how armored it actually is. He looks each runner over as they enter. He tenses on spotting Chikage, but then settles back into his stoic pattern. A few feet to his side is a heavy metal door with AR warnings identifying it as an emergency exit.
Standing behind him is an ork with slightly slimmer than standard physique but a similarly formal style with his navy-blue double-breasted suit. The holster for a machine pistol rests on his hip, though the ork's hands remain held straight at his sides. He gazes at each runner as well, and after a slight delay his fingers begin tapping against his sides.
As the team enters, he smiles and gestures to the table. As they begin sitting, he gestures to his ork companion and whispers.
To those with audio enhancements:
The French whispered is not noticeably masked. "Send line one, and have some service brought in for the auditioners."
The ork taps a few fingers against his trousers, and his commlink signal shifts from Hidden to Active, then transmits to the eatery's node.
The human smiles. "Honored guests, thank you all for joining me today. First, I invite you to enjoy a meal from the establishment, my employer will be covering your orders." A few moments later and a waitress enters and distributes water and menus.
Unless something directly involving her arises, she takes orders and departs, then returns a few minutes later with the orders and departs again.
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After taking a seat, Baron shifts his vision to the astral in hopes of gleaning whatever information he can from doing such. When finished, he orders a simple but filling meal. After the waitress delivers the food, he eats politely, neither hurrying nor talking with food in his mouth.
9d6.hits(5)=3 hits for Assensing on everyone/thing (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4050983/)
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Whether by missing the wait to be seated sign or its non existence, Aaliyah slithered down the aisles, nonchalantly looking over the patrons. Over the patrons was perhaps an understatement, with just over a fifth of his body off the ground he 'stood' head and shoulders above most.
Late... Well, I can take comfort in not looking desperate, even more so because I'm not... yet. I wonder who I'll be taking home with me tonight, or who will be having me.
Moving to an empty section of counter he inquired to a wait staff, feigning a french accent"Where might I find your business parlour?"
Absent mindedly coiling himself up to prevent others from tripping over him.
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Chikage adjusted her coat as she sat down at the table, revealing the katana hanging in its sheath at her belt for a moment. With a smile, she ordered a simple meal of fish, with a nice wine to go with it. Once the food arrives, she begins eating, waiting for the real meeting to start. As she did so, she looked at the others in the room, sizing them up softly. They didn't look like much, but looks could be deceiving.
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Nitro took a seat and ordered up some barbecue and beer.
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Pausing at the bar a moment Aailiyah 'dialed' the local AB+ chapter house over an encrypted channel...
"...Yes, this is Olobit ... I'll be stopping by sometime latter tonight, can I assume the office will be open?... Blagodaryu. Should you get the chance, I'd like a print up of anything we have concerning Peoria, Illinois... Yes a real usad'ba, but where are our roots? Spasibo, it was a pleasure."
After the brief call Aaliyah checked his AR calender for the date and time, then departed down the hall to room 12c, gesturing to Andreas.
"After you."
Before making his way into the room itself, posturing himself at the back of the room in pantomime of a gentleman.
"Good evening."
Aaliyah tipped his head with the tip of his tail as if he had a hat.
Run encryption, Rating 2, threshold for decrypt is 4 - my node is running silent, I have not been broadcasting my sin, and have been paying with certified credstick. My commlink is 2s across the board. I would have at this point payed in certified credstick for a black MSP service (100 nuyen a month).
Anarchist Black cross, seattle legwork regarding Peoria. Whatever their involvement or knowledge of the area and its goings ons.
24d5.hits(5)=6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4051998/)
3 1s, no glitch.
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, interior-
The waitress blinks at the impressive, serpentine creature before her. "Um . . . You're wanting to use one of the party rooms? Room 11B is scheduled for the Dares and should be coming out in ten minutes, and the Fluourspar party is beginning in room 12C. Were you wanting to claim one of the others?" A screen behind the serving bar flickers with changing text, and she looks at one of the other waitresses, "Angela, could you take the food into 12C?"
Aailiyah's contact with the Anarchist Black Cross takes a moment to run a quick search on Peoria. The power dynamics in the city primarily center on the megacorps that have set up shop there, with the three local but fairly stable and long-lasting gangs taking up the vast majority of the rest of the control. The city is smaller than Denver or Seattle, but sees a large amount of shipping by land, sea and air, so a lot of smuggling routes pass through it. The contact promises to make a few calls and get back soon with more information.
-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Assensing the human reveals an extremely healthy mundane. The ork is awakened. He has the slightly hazy distortion of alpha-grade ware inside his skull, his Essence looks about the same as Baron's but his Magic feels slightly stronger. He's holding traces of sustained health spells, but does not seem to have any active spells or foci.
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Baron finishes eating and waits quietly.
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
As the meals begin wrapping up, he activates a jammer that also lets out a soft, electronically-generated hiss sound and draws his hands from his pockets to clasp them above the table, placing an AR projector. He greets the team in English. "Honored friends, thank you for joining me. Some Johnsons have merely looked at your appearances or slices of your past exploits. My employer is a man of broad vision, and has seen what they have not: your potential. You have the ability to apply swiftness and subtlety, or to mete out force in large measure. You more than many have seized every tool at your disposal."
He presses a switch on the AR display, activating a two-dimensional display as well as the full three-dimensional AR aspect. Featured on the left side is a news clipping of Police Captain Erickson's appointment and his first speech to the people to confront gang activities under his jurisdiction. Information about Peoria, Illinois and the major corporations active there are displayed along the right. The displayed files are held on the AR node, with no encryption.
"This is Captain Donald Erickson, a recent arrival at Peoria. He is a career manager in Event Horizon, but has had more experience shutting down information operations and smuggling than combating well-entrenched gangs. Even before he finished rearranging offices, he began making requests for quite a few things, including military surplus hardware that is normally not frequently granted to police providers without significant events taking place. Surveillance drones, signature-reduced armored personnel carriers, and other gear that in and of itself would not be so unusual were it not for the amounts he was requisitioning . . . and the amount being approved."
He taps a sequence into the top of the table and the display advances, now showing a news article on the Red Glen gang in Peoria, as well as additional intelligence on the gang and Peoria along the opposite side of the display.
"Somehow he is securing funding, manpower, and equipment that should be only trickling to him. This has created an imbalance of power that will not benefit my employer. This first mission, an audition if you will, shall be to rectify the situation. There are a few ways to go about this, and both my employer and myself are interested to see what you pursue."
Another sequence passes. The display shifts to a largely empty heirarchy tree. "While killing him might provide enough disruption to balance things, my employer's concern is our inability to determine precisely who is behind his support. That means that some weak link must be exploited. Publicly embarrassing Erickson or his promises should be enough to cause a stir that will allow my employer to determine who is pulling the strings. Your thoughts?"
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Aaliyah looked over the assembly of runners, a couple he had heard of, the rest were new to him. Thinking on the presentation and simple AR feed he posed a simple question, "At a glance combating gang violence with martial law seems like it would only serve to improve Peoria, both for its people and as a tourist destination. Perhaps he has friends in high places, but a politician who does what he's promised? He must have some incentive, and his suppliers must see some large payoff, if they're donating such expensive resources. What activity did the gangs he is now preying on, engage in, who was their prey?"
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Chikage considered the situation carefully, ignoring the flattery at the top. Flattery was simply a tool to get people to do what you want, that's what she figured. Concentrating on the information provided, she said, "If, say, some of these weapons and vehicles were to go missing, and end up in the hands of the local gangs or syndicates, that would prove to be a major embarrassment to the new captain, yes? Creating a scandal of some kind would also work, but that would require doing some further research into the man's habits. 'Creating' a habit may be difficult, since that would entail getting to him physically, without him catching on. A third option would be to start a problem that would require him to turn his attention away from gangbusting for a while. If he is forced to combat hackers attacking critical services, evidence lockers and motor pools being raided, and so on, it will create several public embarrassments, and could slow his plans enough that the puppetmaster gives a clue as to their nature."
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Leaning back in the comfy chair, Baron listens to the others speaking. At Chikage's suggestion for getting the goods into the hands of some gangers, he nods. That sounds like a feasible plan., he thinks. After the other two finish speaking, he says so to the group. "I like her idea to get the guns and give them to the gangs. I'm still not sure what our actual objective is, though. You just want us to cause trouble for him, so you can figure out who is helping him?"
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Listening to the, albeit dissenting, ideas Aaliyah couldn't help but interject, "Perhaps arming gangs isn't the most tempered option, while public opinion would easily be swayed against him, what could that mean for the people? What are the gangs motives, and how does that effect his?"
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Chikage shrugged. "Then instead of the local gangs, give the hardware to the syndicates. A mob war would certainly disgrace a new police chief who said he would clean up a town. Especially if it is happening with his own weapons. And once the war settles down, the syndicates are disciplined enough to keep the military hardware out of sight until it is really needed. Well, the Yakuza are, at least. I can't speak for upstarts like the Vory or the Seoulpa Rings, of course."
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Aaliyah raised an eyebrow, or it would appear so, to the mention of the Vory."The Vory would be the more reserved option, they're less likely to buy something then turn around and use it, if we needed to make certain assets start appearing on the other side of the world without precedence they would be the ones to contact."
Moving forward slightly to assert himself, "I wouldn't put it past them however to take smaller 'purchases' and turn them over to the locals for a profit however, I just wouldn't expect them to personally have a hand in their use."
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"The Vory do have rules, at least in theory. But if we're going for embarrassing, we'd want to make a public spectacle, wouldn't we? Of course, that means loud and flashy, which will mean more risk..."
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Mister Feldspar looks at Aaliyah. "These gangs have a little deeper hold than the gangs in many cities. The usual things like drugs, smuggling, and regional "security" rackets are the primary ones, though the last one is complicated by the fact that they have a few neighborhood watch companies that appear to operate legitimately." He stares briefly at the AR projector. "I believe the issue is that he is clearly preparing for much more than simply stomping out the gangs. That would have seen more requisition for human intelligence collectors."
He pauses to listen to Chikage's proposal. "Yes, I agree with your assessment. Most of the heavier equipment - signature reduced APCs, for example - have not been delivered. However, at least a couple shipments of automatic weapons and grenade launchers have been delivered already." He leans forward and types into the top of the table as if a keyboard rested in front of him. The AR display flickers and displays a map of the city, with three locations in the south-west quarter marked. "These are three active armories and storage facilities that Event Horizon uses. I wouldn't recommend the armory and motorpool on Seventh Street, but the others have not seen extremely heavy personnel movement and would likely be easier to compromise. If enough marked equipment is put into the hands of the underworld, Erickson's superiors will find out about it, and will take steps that will allow my employer to discover who they are." He chuckles quietly. "It is unlikely that delivering a single shipment to them would destabilize the region, but it would also likely open further contacts in the area if you have to return."
Feldspar nods to Baron. "His public speeches have all been on the conveniently public matter of the existence of gangs, but his reorganization has been highly distributed. Cryptolinguists of extremely high caliber have already been deployed, and these are signs to the intelligence community that something more is afoot. What disturbs me is that we cannot determine what those plans are, nor the extent of his support."
Feldspar listens to Aaliyah's point. "A valid concern. While I am sure some might argue, particularly for the relatively recent Red Glen, the Pottsonians have been a significant social force in Peoria for nearly fifty years. While they have had quite a bit of trouble with the local security providers, being declared illegal twenty years ago seems to be the greatest catalyst of trouble. Their presence has also prevented the Triads and Yakuza from gaining a large foothold. If the Yakuza had a larger share in the underworld they might be more calm, but competition is often a good catalyst for violence."
"...that means loud and flashy, which will mean more risk..."
"Assuming that you target the public, yes. As long as his strings to his unknown benefactors is shaken they will have to act. Attacking that link directly is one option, though uncertain given the fact that neither I nor my employer know who all of his supporters are. Attacking his reputation in the public will shame Erickson's supporters for having tried to put an inept person in place. It is likely that publicly shaming his stated mission will not only disrupt his covert plans, but will also almost certainly shame his supporters."
"While I do not like to ask for a rush, it is important that he is destabilized before November. Past that point, the eyes and ears that have been put in place may no longer be where they need to be to see all involved."
Search results:
Peoria is owned and controlled almost 75% by megacorps, with 8 of the big 10 having formal offices and full extraterritorial districts in the city, though some are not extremely large. The UCAS government controls slightly over 20%, including Illinois University in the east side of the city. The remainder is controlled through private ownership and small businesses. The criminal underworld is dominated by three gangs: Pottsonian, Red Glen, and Fondulak, with the next major force being the Triads, Vory, and Yakuza. There is a small presence of smaller groups like the Sons of Sauron, and the Ancients who recently were pushed back by a combination of other underworld powers and police operations. Peoria is a transportation community that lies at the center of the vast majority of North America's transportation, primarily material and partly-manufactured goods. As a transportation nexus, it is a major site of smuggling.
The heavy control - direct and indirect - of Peoria means that it is policed by a variety of security companies. Lone Star is responsible for the general area out of the city, and Sakura Securities at 12% territory is the largest non-megacorp security provider. Most of the rest of the city is policed by Big Ten providers, usually active in most of the district surrounding their extraterratorial holdings. Ares and Aztechnology are the largest presence of the megacorps.
Captain Erickson grew up a citizen of Horizon, and was a supply and personnel manager for his first ten years. He worked in security the next ten years before moving to Los Angeles and working as Captain there for two years. He has shut down several information networks but has not been noted for distinction outside Event Horizon. After the Nafarroa Informant scandals, he was promoted to chief of police in Peoria.
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Aaliyah bobbed his head from one speaker to the other, UCAS politics were foreign to him, but metahuman machinations were all the same. The age where a people could get their way through shear force were gone, long since the fires of descent were quelled in the now complacent populace stricken stupid and blind by the trough fed media they so greedily partake in. Turning people upon their ears was the only way to combat power in this day and age, and those with power could only be tempted with the prospect of more.
"Upending his seat of power takes manpower, pamphlets and canvasing are for activists at large and a fools errand otherwise. What you are asking for is a job for lobbyists, why stop him from quelling the petty criminal element? Why concern us?"
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
"If we wanted to become the face of public control, then lobbyists would be the workers we would hire. What my employer is concerned with is a police captain who has well-connected support from people outside his own corporation, quite possibly people in other corporations, all of them trying to hide in the shadows. The other things he has been gearing up for do not coincide with merely crushing gangs that haven't been a serious threat to the public for two years. It is the combination of outside supporters and goals that he is taking great pains to hide that have my employer and myself uncomfortable. That is why a team of problem solvers," Feldspar nods to the group in general, "have been assembled."
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"Analysts, civil servants, accountants, all could be hired over the matrix to look into this, they don't make much so what is it worth to you for us to look into this?"
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Baron looks from the Johnson to the naga. "I don't think he's asking us to look into it. He just wants us to do something that forces his backers to react, and it sounds like her", he says, gesturing at Chikage with his chin, "plan is the best we've got right now. We could either recover goods in his possession... or we could just reroute a future shipment to some gang. I lean toward the latter, as it would implicate him in a more obvious way if records showed that he was sending the stuff to the gangs directly." Finishing his words, he looks back to the Johnson. "It brings up a valid point. There has been no mention of our compensation. I'm assuming that we're here as a team, not as competitors vying to be the one to get the job done. How much do we stand to gain from helping you and your employer in such a grand way?"
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Chikage nodded as the information came in, and the others seemed to agree somewhat with her plan. "I would suggest that we do both. Take some of his existing weaponry, and redirect shipments as they come in. If that happens, it will be a major loss of face for the man. He will be forced to react, publicly, and possibly explain why he had military grade gear lying around unprotected. Regardless of why he wanted the gear, this would show that he cannot be trusted with it." She paused, and then said, "Getting another player into the underworld would shake things up, which would also prove his incompetence at keeping the peace. You see what the power play by certain groups looking to grow off the Tempo crisis did to Lone Star in Seattle, after all."
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"And why is it that we would assume Horizon couldn't handle the PR scandal? Seems to me our role is to flush the backer out - I doubt it's a coincidence that they chose this guy. The fact that Horizon would handle such things limits their exposure."
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With a raised eyebrow, Baron responds to Nitro. "Does it matter if they control the PR? Either way, the scandal would happen and his backers would be aware of it. Whether the general population knows about it or not, the hidden people supporting him would see him as untrustworthy and a liability. They might even try to take him out themselves, rather than risking exposure. This Captain isn't the problem, it's the group behind him, correct? So he's not the end goal. They are."
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With a raised eyebrow, Baron responds to Nitro. "Does it matter if they control the PR? Either way, the scandal would happen and his backers would be aware of it. Whether the general population knows about it or not, the hidden people supporting him would see him as untrustworthy and a liability. They might even try to take him out themselves, rather than risking exposure. This Captain isn't the problem, it's the group behind him, correct? So he's not the end goal. They are."
"Why are you so sure that this is the sort of thing his backers would care about in the first place? It may well be it doesn't matter to them at all, and that they picked this guy and this city because they wouldn't have to worry about this sort of scandal."
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Feldspar nods at Baron's proposal, and listens to the rest of the counters. "Gentleman, it seems that you have a solid plan A and backups to ensure that his plans and backers are shaken. That is what my employer has assembled us for. Whether the captain ends up killed or deposed is not something my employer considers vital, nor is a massive public relations campaign - embarrassing his promises to the public would be one of several options to discredit him and his backers' choice, which should be enough to trace them, but if you don't create new headlines and his strings are still shaken that will still be a victory for my employer."
He glances to Steam. "I am uncertain whether he has been selected because he is thought to be capable of engaging all of these objectives, or if somebody thinks he will be easy to control. His broadcasted speeches have centered on gangs, though the equipment would be more easily applied to transit line control. He was appointed without the public's complete approval, and if they are sufficiently dissatisfied with him, Event Horizon's police contract may be threatened - his job there almost certainly would be."
"You are problem solvers, and it is in my employer's best interests to see to it that you are facilitated. Some of the gear you have used before is material that could cause complications if it went through standard checkpoints, so I have arranged for a shipping container that will be . . . poorly inspected . . . to be made available to you this Wednesday, two days from now. It will be placed onto an express train to Springfield, but a pre-arranged technical malfunction will force it to stop in Galesburg just seventy kilometers west of Peoria. It will not have sufficient trained personnel or proper sensory equipment to pick up any restricted gear you have in the container. A base of operations in Peoria has been prepared for you."
Feldspar steeples his hands. "Now I believe the questions are beginning to circulate around your payment. Of course, necessities like fuel and ammunition will be reimbursed by my employer." He settles back in his chair. "Our offer is seven thousand each, plus an additional ten thousand to your team should you complete your objective within two weeks."
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Aaliyah almost choked on his own tongue at the sound of such a lowball pay. His head was practically spinning.
"Why would I leave my perfectly nice vacation for money like that? I couldn't even travel abroad for that kind of pay. Let alone the six of us. That kind of cash wouldn't even cover IDs and Passports, let alone operations expenses and transportation. 300'000 Nuyen, 60'000 up front, I wouldn't leave seattle for less. That comes to 50'000 a piece, 10'000 up front. I'll even keep track of an operations account for you.
13d6.hits(5)=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4058659/)
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Corporate Interactions Knowledge Skill to boost Negotiations roll (10d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4058693/)
Negotiation (25d6.hits(5)=14) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4058695/)
I assume we make separate negotiation rolls, since we're not really working together yet. In the future, I assume we'll do teamwork or something, right?
With a disarming smile, Baron leans forward to rest his elbows on the table. "Surely we can come to a more appropriate price than that. You're talking about what could amount to a long-term contract away from our personal bases of operation. My charming new associate has the right of it, and his figures sound fairly reasonable. I'm positive your employer will be more than happy with the results he buys with said funds. We are talking about a big move, after all... This isn't knocking over a Stuffer Shack. For that, 7000 would be fitting." He rests his chin on his hands, indicating that he has finished speaking for the moment.
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This work entails subtle political machinations, working the people's view, planting descent and presenting opportunity for those that would make a grab for it, and undermine those that we wish in the process. I'm not putting my neck out onto a chopping block for a salary man's wage."
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Feldspar:
Shadow operations (financing)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4058794/
Negotiation
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4058800/
Feldspar’s hands remain steepled. He listens to Aaliyah’s negotiations, and then the exchange with Baron. After a couple minutes, his lips curl into a smile, though his eyes remain still as steel. “We were expecting a counter-offer closer to two-hundred fifty thousand, but you make some good points.” His eyes unfocus and drift in horizontal motions for a moment, and then he looks back at the group. “We can pay you fifty thousand each, with another ten thousand if the job is done within two weeks.”
The ork’s fingers tap quickly. Feldspar pauses and his eyes make the brief sweep of horizontal motion. “I can pay you ten thousand nuyen each immediately, but my employer has several projects running simultaneously. I am afraid that my shadow account cannot make thirty percent up front.” He unfolds his hands. “That comes to three hundred thousand for your team, not including the bonus for timeliness or our arrangement of your transportation and the comfortable safehouse that we have prepared for you. Given that my employer has already agreed to reimburse any ammunition, parts, IDs, and such small items, that is a generous offer for a team without audition. We are prepared to alter supply and financing if something unexpected occurs.”
Feldspar nods to the ork, who reaches into one of the deep pockets on his double-breasted coat. He withdraws what looks like two Metalink commlinks, then sets them on the table before the closest two members of team, Chikage and Nitro. "These have modified chipsets and will allow encrypted communications if you find some pay data worth sending, or find a sudden need for equipment or plan changes."
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Without so much as a blink Aaliyah extended forward, gently, smoothly, to the table and 'stood' just a couple feet back, pulling his coils up underneath himself. Turning his head slightly to the left into something of a gentle bow, he extended the tip of his tail like a handshake across the table, "These terms are fair and acceptable, I will communicate to you book keeping as necessary. Should I expect a certain communications window, or code you would like to keep to?"
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"Yes, that is more than satisfactory. Thank you.", Baron says with a kind smile after Aaliyah finishes. "Now we have 2 days to prepare for this trip. Is there any further information you could offer that would aid us in achieving your goals? Anything, no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant, could end up being crucial to our success." On the surface, Baron appears to be all calm and composed, but his thoughts tell another story. I've never gone that far from home... and this is the biggest payday I've worked toward. Keep it together, Reg, don't count it until it's in your hands. I'm just pleased to find that my name is growing Imagine, being the go-to guy for everyone that's anybody...
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Taking one of the offered commlinks, Chikage nods her approval of the situation. The pay was good, and with many expenses being taken care of, that would reduce their overhead substantially. It could be a lot worse, definitely. As she slipped the commlink into her pocket, she quietly made sure the link was completely turned off. She would scan it for bugs later on, but for the moment turning it off would help keep anyone from tracking it remotely.
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Nitro leans back in her seat, paying careful attention.
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Aaliyah looks to Baron then back again, ...Yes, I'm rather interested in the Captain's new found obsession with the local gangs."
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
The ork takes his position standing behind Feldspar, and the human nods. "That is correct. The gangs haven't been an extremely big presence in the news for most of the past fifteen years, but that changed two years ago. A couple of high-profile murders and drug smuggling shipments were intercepted, and this last year has seen a great deal of highly publicized conflict between gang-supported 'social groups' and police-backed 'social programs'. They have been in the public and I suspect that he is merely exploiting Horizon's spin instead of publicly tackling real problems like externally supported drug cartels. As long as the locals believe he is doing them a service, they aren't digging into his questionable election and they aren't reconsidering whether they should update Event Horizon's contract next year. If public relations turn sour, it could look bad for himself and for Event Horizon."
"If any of you have recently run afoul of one of the big ten you will want to keep a careful disguise anywhere you go. Seattle is heavily influenced by the triple A's, but underground newspapers have called it a corporate playground for a reason. Most have an extraterritorial wedge cut out of a district - or two in the case of Ares. Their formal presence extends into police and manipulative economic 'aid' in surrounding neighborhoods in the district. Fortunately, as long as you keep your head down they are not likely to cause trouble - most of the crime in Peoria is corporate espionage, or corporate sabotage. The city's money comes first and foremost from shipping, so vehicular traffic will receive much less scrutiny than other areas. There are technically three airports in Peoria, all of them relatively secure. Lake Peoria running through the center connects the Mississippi to the Great Lakes, so a good deal of naval traffic passes through as well."
He types into the flat tabletop as if a keyboard were built into the surface, and the AR display shifts to show the city again. "The underworld of Peoria is contested, but the largest share is held by the three local gangs: Fondulak in the east, Pottsonian and Red Glen in the west. The vory are more active in waterlane smuggling. The Yakuza, Triads, Sons of Sauron and a couple other illicit groups have a scattered presence."
Feldspar leans back. "As for Event Horizon itself, Captain Donald Erickson has begun a reorganization as most new managers tend to. He brought Lieutenant Richard MacPherson along as his Chief Gang Supervisor, instead of promoting one of the veterans of the area. That could be an opening. His scaling up the armament of the district could be another - several buildings are under heavy renovation and should be more vulnerable to matrix and on-site disruption. Files and evidence lockers have also been moved to off-site storage in several cases, though my hackers have not been able to get into his nodes to find out where."
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Aaliyah eyes Sidhe briefly and nods, looking back to the johnson, "I don't suppose we'll be aware of any agents of yours in Peoria, can we hope they will be aware of us?"
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"Just how subtle do y'all need need us to be?"
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Chikage considered all this, and nodded. There was plenty to get started with here. She would put in a couple calls once the meeting broke up. If anything, having a local source of supplies in case things went crazy would be a good thing. The "Will we have to find our own way into the city, or will there be transportation provided?" While Peoria was still the UCAS, one couldn't exactly just take a train or drive unless one was able to successfully cross several national borders, including more than one that was outright hostile to the UCAS. Flying would be easiest, but airports tended to be well secured. That meant smuggling, especially if they needed to get any substantial gear (like her body) into the city unnoticed.
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
"I can assure you that nobody under myself or my employer will hinder your mission," Feldspar replies to Aaliyah. "The reorganization hasn't completed yet, so I can't give you a current list. I can have a few hackers look specifically into that and have the information delivered to you before you arrive in Peoria."
"I trust you to be able to complete the job without leaving crumbs leading to Seattle, but if 'an unidentified team of shadowrunners' is spotted in the vicinity it would mean little. Obviously the less notice you draw the better, but my employer wants his backers shaken. Whether that means finding data on who all of his supporters are with nobody else in the world knowing, or whether his headquarters are blown up for all the world to see will give my employer same result."
Feldspar nods to Chikage and types into the table. A map centered on a train station near the southern end of the Seattle metroplex appears. "I have arranged for an inspection to skip over a shipping container on an express train intended for Springfield. This will allow you to bypass the normal border checks through Sioux territory. False IDs will be distributed at the train station, and it should be able to transport whatever equipment you wish to bring. A pre-arranged firmware error will force the train conductor to stop the train at Galesburg, a short distance west of Peoria. The station there will lack the equipment and trained personnel to properly inspect the cargo. In order to expedite shipping, Peoria's biggest business, there is minimal inspection of incoming traffic not logged for flagged areas. Entry into the city and to your established home of operations should be uninterrupted. The issue will be whatever surprises lie in wait in Event Horizon."
The human looks across the group. "If that is all, I believe we are all prepared to move on. Unless you have anything else?"
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The first to stand, Baron sketches a bow to the Johnson and his 'associate'. "It was a pleasure, Sir. I expect your employer will be most pleased with my and our performance." He makes no move to leave, apparently waiting for the rest of the group to rise.
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Feldspar nods to Sidhe and Baron. The ork standing behind him begins typing against his trousers again and the human's eyes make one horizontal sweep before he paints on an expected smile. After Baron finishes standing, the ork gives a shallow bow and remains waiting next to Feldspar. The human leaves the AR's subscription feed open for the runners to download the discussed data, but does reach one hand out to the white noise generator.
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Nitro transfers the files to storage with a mental command.
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery, private room 12C-
Feldspar gives a few more moments for the team to download the data, then deactivates the white noise generator and AR display, which folds back into a pocket-sized square. He stands, draws a commlink from his pocket, and types into it for a moment to briefly connect to the eatery's customer node before deactivating it and slipping the matte black device back into his pocket. Feldspar nods to the group and strides to the door. The ork takes longer steps to get there first and opens the door for him, holding it open until he disappears into the back alley before following him out. The door swings closed, and after a moment a shallow clunk emanates from the door as it latches.
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"Nice guy.
I think we can agree to meet at the train before it departs? I know I have a few stops to make before hand."
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Giving a short wave to Sidhe as she leaves, Baron simply says, "Agreed." He then makes his way out of the room.
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Nitro simply stood and left, having as she did arrangements to make before the job.
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-Elmer's Dive Bar & Eatery-
The murmur of truck drivers, shipping riggers, and locals continue unabated as the runners depart the eatery. The evening rain has come to a stop, but the clouds remain thick.
-Seattle-
The following day proceeds with the slow pace of anticipation with nothing to do, but Wednesday finally rolls through with a moderate bank of fog. The sky is overcast, but no rain is forecast and all forms of traffic are buzzing like normal.
The train station is significantly larger than the local rail lines, an adjoining bus terminal feeding people onto trains with varying mixes of personnel and cargo. The north lot is relatively clear, and a gate marked 'staff only' is unlocked, leading to a utility and small-scale loading zone. A flatbed truck with a standard steel cargo container - the same type that large cargo ships haul - is parked and waiting, a worn steel ramp attached to facilitate moving vehicles and heavy equipment into the cargo container. The three train station employees - paid off by Feldspar - speed the loading and very intently pay no attention to the contents being loaded into the shipping container. Shortly before the container is fully loaded, the ork chauffeur accompanying Feldspar arrives and distributes the falsified paperwork and tickets for the express train bound for Springfield.
The ork hands out a rating 5 fake SIN with a rating 5 fake driver's license to each runner, then loads the electronic train ticket verification onto the newly-distributed fake SINs.
The train speeds through NAN lands and crosses back into UCAS after a couple of hours. After re-entering UCAS, the train starts to jar and bump, shaking like a plane in turbulence, and after ten minutes the conductor calls over the intercom with an announcement of a minor technical problem forcing the train to come to an unscheduled stop in Galesburg. The passengers, mostly businessmen with appointments, immediately form an uproar as the they and the cargo is unloaded for a team of specialists to look at the train computers. Eager to get the runners and other angry passengers on their way, many of the inspections are simply skipped, and the team's cargo container is shipped to an empty gas station on the outskirts of Galesburg where it's unloaded and its autopilot sent back to the train station.
-Peoria, Illinois-
The traffic to Peoria is moderate, mostly made up of heavy cargo transports, with fixed-point scanners and lighter-than-air drones conducting random scans on vehicles in both directions. Nothing lights up or follows the runners on their way into the city of roughly 300,000 people.
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Stepping out of the car, Baron stretches as he says, "Well, now what? Any ideas about step 1 in our 10-step perfect plan?" He flashes a grin to the group.
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"Might be best all y'all get the lay of the land. Oughta know the moving parts 'fore we try to change 'em."
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"We should proceed seperately through town, through shppping arcades and tourist destinations, in a round about fashion to the base of opperations. Try and get a feel for the area. I will wait for nightfall before departing."
-
After the interview, and the knowledge that they would be doing business in Peoria, Chikage had not been idle. She had reached out to her contacts, looking to see if she could get an introduction to any of the local players. While she didn't expect them all to come through, she was still waiting on word from at least some of them. She hoped, at least, to get an introduction to the local gumi, if there was one, if only so she could know which businesses were under their protection, and should thus be avoided in any schemes they may come up with. If her other contacts could give her any introductions to the local arms dealers and gangers, that'd be great, too.
"I would feel most comfortable taking time to go over the safehouse that has been arranged for us. While we are on Mr. Johnson's dime for this, it is too much to expect that there won't be surveillance, or other things that could be used to burn us if things go bad."
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"If you want to be first on site, I hve no objections, just dont make your arrival deliberate. I`ll be taking my time to get there."
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"I am certain I wont be of much aid there, I will however be on the lookout for `clean` zones. I just hope they have an extra bed or two."
-
Chikage nodded to the others. "In that case, I'll go on ahead, and start scanning for bugs. Also, if we wish to make contact with the local syndicates, the Yakuza control most of the brothels in the city. Even if our target does not get involved with the sex trade himself, his subordinates may be tempted. Finding out their vices will allow us a means to control them, or at least move them out of our way. And the local Yakuza are not happy with the size of their presence in the city. Getting their hands on milspec weapons would certainly enable them to raise their status, which would look bad for the man who brought the weapons here."
That said, Chikage got on her bike (which had been part of the gear sent over), as well as a Vulcan maintenance drone, and said, "Do you think one of you could arrange for the drone to be brought along with the rest of the gear? I think it would be a tad conspicuous rolling down the street with us."
-
"We will see about how cooperative the vory are, though it may be safer to move it elswhere than our safehouse."
-
-Peoria, Illinois. Route 74-
The skies are partly cloudy, though too high to indicate rain in the coming week. The air is moderately warm for the autumn season, though the wind is cold and a large portion of the pedestrian foot traffic is already starting to bundle up in coats and jackets. A distant roar echoes through the skies above as the air freight comes and goes through the three airports of the city. The highway itself twists into the city, two lanes of dedicated freight shipping each way and a large portion of trucks and other transports in the rest of traffic. The majority of the general civilian traffic looks like the typical compact car.
Dense agriculture runs all the way up to the city limits, giving way directly to multi-story buildings. From the drive up, it was clear that the highest skyline was near the center of the city, and even without consulting mapsofts it looks like most of the buildings in Peoria are 3 floors tall, with a variety of architectural styles ranging from future-modern-40s to retro-60s construction.
Chikage angles to the right and shoots her bike around a sedan struggling with an overburdened trailer covered in brown tarp, then reaches an exit into the surface streets of the city.
-
Driving down the road with a duffel bag slung across her back holding most of her weapons (really, only the heavy weapons were left with her clothes and other personal items with the others to bring when they came after she checked the safehouse out), Chikage obeyed the traffic laws and didn't do anything to draw attention to herself while following the directions to the safehouse the Johnson had arranged for them. As she went, she tried to keep an eye out to find any signs of gang colors or the like, to try and get a clue as to whose turf they would be staying on. It would be best not to take too much direct action against that group, after all, until they were about ready to leave town.
<OOC> Visual Perception. 5 Intuition - 1 Default + 3 Vision enhancement. 7d6.hits(5)=4 hits (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4088725/)
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-Peoria, Illinois. Sommer District-
The streets buzz with traffic, though smaller levels than megaplexes like Seattle. The skies are also much quieter in comparison, but delivery and security drones still flit back and forth. Much of both bear markings of various corporations - Ares, Neonet and Saeder-Krupp are some of the most common. A bus pulls into the street ahead of Chikage, broadcasting gaudy AR advertisements for Wuxing's latest commlink accessories. The civilians, like Chikage, seem to be sticking to the speed limit and road-legal maneuvers, though a number are clearly letting the car's autopilot drive for them.
After turning into Robinwood District, more civilian vehicles are mixed into the street. After proceeding farther south in the district, she notices the occasional AR advertisement vandalism. Whether done by script kiddies or real hackers with time on their hands isn't clear, but one of the fraction-of-a-second flickers marks the display as territory for the Red Glen. Vehicle and foot traffic in the area doesn't look any different than the previous district, or other places. As Chikage proceeds into Arcadia District, none of the people seem to be wearing obvious uniforms except for the corp security serving as the police.
After entering Arcadia, the sightings of Knights Errant and Minuteman Security halt and all of the police vehicles look like Event Horizon. It takes a bit of piloting to avoid Event Horizon's trucks and the sensors on them which might be able to spot the weapons stashed in her duffel bag, but after proceeding south through enough of Arcadia, she spots a vandalized AR broadcasting "Pottsonian Pride" in one hardware shop storefront.
After avoiding another two Event Horizon trucks, Chikage arrives at the designated address, a six-story apartment complex that looks like it's at least ten years old from the architecture, but is also better maintained than the housing farther west. An obvious camera is positioned to view the front door of the residential high-rise.
-
"I'll go on ahead now - frankly, the bug check's probably more in my wheelhouse anyways. Supposing all y'all got no objections, that is."
-
"As good a plan as any, I suppose. I'll accompany you.", Baron says while nodding slightly.
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"Thought the point was for us not to all show upp together,and to confuse the rrail. That don't work if ya'll come with.".
-
"2 people traveling together are hardly suspicious. You don't care for company, is that it?", Baron says playfully. He orders a taxi on his commlink.
-
"Better if I check it out before anyone else comes on. This is pretty square in my space, as I reckon. Can't say as to why she decided to go on first, but that sure don't mean I ain't gon' do my job.". She wasn't much pleased with the almost dismissive way Baron had responded to her, and her accent was coming through a touch more thickly.
-
"I guess that means I need to kill some time.", Baron says. A quick data search pulls up a list of bars near the apartment. After reading a few reviews, he selects the poshest(comparatively) bar from the list. When the taxi arrives, he gives the destination to the pilot.
-
-Peoria, Robinwood District-
The western edges of the city wouldn't fool anybody into thinking 'high end', with either agriculture or assembly-related industry. The taxi takes Baron down through the district and into Arcadia. The western reaches are still industry and high-rise residential buildings, but the center of the district looks like a mix of commercial and residential. The taxi proceeds several kilometers through Arcadia before coming to a stop at the Evening Sun's Club. The AR map tag on the building marks it as a club for 'working gentlemen'. The parking lot for the building is rather small, but a bus stop is situated directly against the lot on the street. The building exterior looks to be shaped concrete, but the door seems to be fairly convincing synthetic wood and slides open with a standard computerized greeting welcoming Baron's broadcasted SIN. A short menu of drinks and appetizers blinks into Baron's AR. The interior is dominated by glass and shaped concrete, stretching easily three meters wide and at least eight meters in. The space is dimly lit, largely by blue and green, and is only occupied by roughly a dozen people scattered in small groups.
-
Moving towards the rear of the club, Baron finds a spot with a good view of the exits and other customers. He orders a simple beer and burger meal. While he waits for it to arrive, he surreptitiously checks out the other people like he was "taught".
Shadowrunning Basics knowledge check to boost perception. (11d6.hits(5)=3) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4094251/)
Perception on the crowd. (17d6.hits(5)=3) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4094253/)
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-Peoria, Arcadia District, Evening Sun's Club-
The pair at the table near the entrance nod as Baron passes, then resume their conversation on the upcoming North American Parkour Championship coming to the city this season. Only one other person takes notice of Baron as he navigates to the back of the bar area and settles down at a booth with clear view of the main entrance and a clearly alarmed door marked "staff and emergency only". The dim blue and green lighting in the club make it a little difficult to make out particular details, but the angry shouting from a dwarf bemoaning the irritating police in the district. The human sitting with him commiserates in the clear manner of somebody who's trying to be polite but isn't actually interested.
Sitting in the booth across from his destination booth is a group of three humans, though one seems rather short. Baron notices the short one make eye contact for a fraction of an instant before swiveling his eyes back on his companions. They continue talking in hushed tones, but Baron didn't hear them clearly enough to know whether or not the conversation changed as a result of his presence.
-
Baron acts oblivious to the world as he eats his burger and hums along with the music in the club. Other than keeping his eyes open for possible trouble, he's just here to kill some time while Nitro and Chikage check out the new place.
-
When she got to the safehouse, Chikage began scanning for wireless signals, starting from when she got to the door. She also took the precaution of using a radio signal scanner as well, moving slowly across the entire safehouse. It might take a while, but this should be able to make sure there weren't any bugs in the room. At least, none of the electronic variety, and any she found, she should be able to find out what they were there for.
<OOC> Using Electronics 3 + Scan 5 to check for Hidden Wireless Signals, which is a (15, 1 Combat Turn) extended test, which she'll repeat again and again as necessary until she's gone over the entire safehouse. Using Cracking 3 + Radio Signal Scanner (Sniffer) 6 to Capture Wireless Traffic on any hidden nodes she finds.
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-Peoria, Arcadia District. Safehouse-
After filtering out the broadcasted signals from the apartment complex's home nodes, personal commlinks, and the obvious and uninteresting publicly-enabled devices, Chikage combs over the provided safehouse. It takes just under a minute before she spots the ultrasonic sensor camouflaged above the door, watching the entry den and running a stealth program to keep it out of notice, subscribed to a red lamp in the master bedroom. The kitchen and first bedroom show no unusual activity, as does a storage room converted into a small bedroom. While scanning through the master bedroom, however, after slightly over a minute, Chikage detects a hidden node running low-level ECM and ECCM, originating from low in the adjacent apartment.
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As she finished her sweep, Chikage sent a brief message to the others. Found one sensor above entryway, as well as an unusual node in the next apartment. Safehouse is clean otherwise. I can try to disable the sensor, if you like, or wait until the hacker arrives.
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<<Leave that to me - and I'll want to run my own scan to confirm.>>
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Right. I'll see about checking the floor plans and exits while you're on your way.
With that, Chikage began a physical inspection of the layout of the safehouse, cataloging the rooms, their layout, the placement of any windows (and what was on either side of them), and checking all the exits. Essentially, she was making sure that the safehouse could be defended if need be, or whether there were any quick exits, in case they had to get out in a hurry. She probably ought to check the buildings facing the safehouse as well, including whether there was roof access, both in their building, and in the ones adjacent.
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Nitro walked into the the safehouse and took a quick look around, and then turned to talk to Chikage. "Reckon I'd best work from VR on this one - clearing a safehouse right can be trickier than just checking for hidden signals. Liable to be under for a few hours - you mind sticking around and keeping an eye on things here in the meantime?"
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Chikage nodded to Nitro. "Very well. The sensor over the door seems to be subscribed to the lamp in the master bedroom. Unknown why, but it is probably either a relay point, possibly to a hardwired connection, or a recorder. The node in the next apartment is running ECM and ECCM, so it'll probably be something important, even if it has nothing to do with us. But I have confirmed that there are no other signals coming from this place."
Since Nitro's entry changed her plans, Chikage went to the table, and opened her duffle bag. She began laying out her weapons on the table, so she could perform routine maintenance on them.
-
Best switch to comms; never know who's listening in.
"I'm gonna follow that back to see where it goes, then - should be pretty nicely camo'd, but since it ain't like it hurts to be prepared, best keep ready for someone to come through that door." After sending a voice message to Chikage, she fired off a message to the rest of the group.
<<Reckon it'll be a bit of time to do this proper. All y'all might be best off finding something to do in the meantime.>>
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Baron replies to Nitro's message with a simple 'Way ahead of you. Let us know when it's clear.' before ordering another beer.
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-Peoria, Arcadia District, Evening Sun's Club-
Baron doesn't need to focus on his hearing to pick up a change in the dwarf he passed earlier - the short, brown-haired person has begun complaining loudly about illegal search and seizures, and banging his bottle of beer into the top of the table. His human companion hunches forward and whispers intently.
-Peoria, Arcadia District. Safe House-
Chikage sets up on a rather solid table that looks like wood but feels more like heavy plastic. The entry den contains a common trideo entertainment system, minus the trideo projector possibly lifted by the previous tenants. The rooms are lightly furnished, but nothing looked out of place. As Nitro strides into the den, muffled sound emanates from the apartment hallway as a gaggle of people tromp down the public hallway connecting the apartments.
I need to know exactly what you're doing to roll - detect hidden nodes? Perception to search the flat?
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Nitro nodded to Chikage and found herself a comfortable place to flop down and go into VR.
A few rolls to begin with:
Threading Scan (15d6.hits(5)=7) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099538/)
Fading resistance - only 3 hits used for Threading; DV 3S (11d6.hits(5)=6) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099543/)
Detect Hidden Node (Area) (13d6.hits(5)=7, 13d6.hits(5)=3, 13d6.hits(5)=6) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099544/)
That should be enough to detect any and every hidden node in MSR. Also using the List Active/Passive Nodes action.
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Baron takes his newly ordered beer over to the dwarf's table. "Mind if I buy you a drink, friend? You seem upset, so this should help.", he says as he sets the unopened beer on the table by the dwarf. He takes a seat at the table opposite the dwarf's companion and smiles companionably. "The name's Bishop. What's troubling you, chummer?"
Not sure which social skill I'm using, exactly. Just a general "make him talkative like my best friend" roll. I'm guessing... negotiation? Con? They all have the same dice pool, so it doesn't matter, I guess.
Corporate Interactions knowledge skill to boost active skills. (15d6.hits(5)=5) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099684/)
Social skill to make him talk to his new bestest buddy, Baron. +5 from knowledge skill boost. (26d6.hits(5)=8) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099685/)
8 hits to influence the guy.
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-Peoria, Arcadia District. Safe House-
A sweep of the relatively generous apartment reveals all of the expected wireless signals on appliances in the kitchen, the water heater shared with the adjacent housing units, and the entertainment center in the entry den. There are some other signals filtering in from outside, but all of them also look like the ordinary signals of a fairly modern city.
Already knowing to look for the ultrasonic sensor, it takes less than a minute to find that running in hidden mode, and the red lamp in the master bedroom that is slaved to the sensor. The node next door takes longer with its ECM, but Nitro manages to pierce its protection and confirm that it is receiving data from somewhere, then transmitting bursts of encoded data out at regular intervals. It also seems to lack any wireless subscriptions. Its system seems to be running slower than the scan's hardware should indicate, but without going into the node, Nitro can't be certain exactly what programs it's running.
-Peoria, Arcadia District. Evening Sun's Club-
The dwarf's human friend sits back in his chair, keeping his ale in hand, and slowly and silently looks over Baron. The dwarf, on the other hand, appears to have drunk himself past the point of reservation and eagerly accepts the proffered beer. "My garage," he moans before taking a generous sip of the beer. "They came in with a health and work hazard inspection. It's trumped up charges! We've only got a couple guys with the flu trying to make ends meet. It's not a bad garage, but they tore the place apart. They won't pay to repair the damage caused to my tools and storage, and they fou--planted evidence of smuggling."
The dwarf takes a swig of beer, and his mood rather suddenly changes from melancholic to enraged. He slams the beer to the table, causing droplets to splash out. "I'll bet it was Henderson's shop! They've never been able to handle the competition, and they're mad that they're not getting as much money with the vory as doing mod--"
"Jose!" the human shouts, managing to get the dwarf's attention. He sighs and takes a sip from his ale, then nods to Baron. "Name's Richard. My friend and boss here has had some undeserved attention from the local law enforcement. We've been having a lot of people sick lately - I'm sure it's just the winter season hitting harder than usual - and we all have bills to pay, so some had to come back in despite not being back up to full health. Henderson is our biggest competitor, and I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to knock us out by snitching about the conditions of some of the back-garage men. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me, since they are dealing with the vory. Anyway, Event Horizon's goons went way beyond what their health search had a right to, and now they're holding us accountable for more, but the only place we have to complain is the corporate court. We all know how well that would go," he says with a tip of his ale before taking a sip.
Richard gently settles his ale down on the table and looks Baron straight in the eyes. "So what exactly are you here for? You don't look as frazzled as most of the folks who come in here."
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As the dwarf tells his story, Baron nods in a supportive manner, his face showing honest interest. "That's truly awful." His attention switching to Richard as the other begins to speak, he takes a drink and replies, "I'm here on a business trip. You know, the usual boring drek. So is this the first time this Henderson has attacked you? And does Event Horizon normally just do whatever they want without fear of repercussions? I thought Peoria was a better place than my sprawl when I read up on it." He taps a few buttons in his commlink to order another round for the table. "Gotta love corporate accounts, am I right?", he says with a wink.
-
Sitting back in her chair as she begins cleaning her weapons, Chikage takes her time while Nitro does her thing. While she could play backup to a hacker, she wasn't a specialist by any means. Her primary job was putting holes in flesh, and it was one she did quite well. The last time someone tried to classify her in terms of a team, she was a Street Samurai, with the ability to play back-up in anything except magical matters. That guy didn't know her true nature, of course, but that was fine with her. People acted weird when they found out her secret.
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-Peoria, Arcadia District. Evening Sun's Club-
Richard shrugs and continues sipping at his ale even after Baron's rounds arrive. "They didn't used to. True, I'm just a garage mechanic, but maybe it's the new people I hear are coming through. After what's-his-face resigned three weeks ago, they've been throwing people every which way. Even started some huge rennovation or reconstruction project on their headquarters in Laughterbach. We all thought it was good fun up until Monday. I guess they finally started getting their act together, because suddenly they're annoying everybody. I hear that even some of the old snitches were brought in."
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"Hrmmm..." pondering the rather alien transit network Aaliyah pulled up his browser and began searching for a simple pedestrian route to the waterfront. Without knowing of any underground method of travel or segway networks through shoping arcades and plazas travel would prove challanging. While setting off on the rather shaky route to the waterfront it was a good opportunity to do some research on the area, and start memorizing some landmarks.
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Baron distributes the drinks among the 3, and then he says, "New people? What's-his-face? I'm afraid I don't scan you. Could you catch me up? Sounds like something I ought to know, seeing as I intend to stay for a while." He takes a measured swallow of beer, keeping the pace slow to avoid inebriation and its toxic effect on memory. Maybe these really are his friends.
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-Peoria, Arcadia District. Evening Sun's Club-
Richard scratches the back of his neck. "Well, I don't quite remember who the police chief was before - one of the big-shots who retired when the matrix leaks hoopla started. I gather he left to avoid an investigation, and now this new guy - Erickson - is in, and kicking hornets' nests all over the city." He finishes his ale and picks up the one ordered for him by Baron, giving a brief nod of thanks as his dwarf friend stares at his glass, now quietly moaning about broken knees. Richard shrugs at him and looks back at Baron. "Anyway, Erickson's the new police captain and he's brought in a ton of his friends from out of town. Every time he makes a public speech he talks about how he's going to clean up the 'gang problem' in the city, but I don't believe it. Maybe I'm just suspicious, but when a politician only says one thing about what he's doing, he's doing something else."
Richard pauses and looks at Jose, polishing off another glass of beer. The human mechanic looks back up at Baron. "Of course, they have been going after anybody suspected of involvement with gangs, which I suspect is the real reason they tore apart Jose's garage."
-Peoria, Sommer District-
A map of the city springs to life in Aaliyah's AR display, with bus and subway routes highlighted in the various colors of their circuits. The coast of Lake Peoria lies miles to the east, and while a walk option is included in the map directions function, most of the recommended paths are tagged to automotive or subway routes. An AR advertisement for Jefferson district appears, with a small note warning that most regions of that district require a broadcasted SIN.
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"Oh yeah? Jose has connections?", Baron says with a small look of wonder.
-
-Peoria, Arcadia District. Evening Sun's Club-
Jose turns up his nose, though being shorter than both others at the table reduces the effect. He does manage to successfully puff out his chest a little. "You don't get a business like O'Malley's Repair and Rebuild without getting to know a few people. Ask a lot of the folks here who aren't gulled by the news trid, Pottsonians aren't bad folk. The Red Glen may not know enough to keep on their turf and in their businesses, but if there's a gang in the city to worry about, it's Fondulak. Those people are so crazy they got into a fight with both the Ancients and the Sons of Sauron last year."
Richard nods and takes a sip of his beer. "They'd better be glad the Ancients don't think this place is important enough for a permanent presence, or there'd have been major retaliation. Hurt us all in the long run, because news trids have been saying how bad we all are because of the violence back then."
-
Joss began by crafting a widget to aid her perceptions and improve her analysis of the nodes in the area, then moved on the a cursory analysis of the nodes themselves, her icon flashing brightly as the Fading struck her hard - but she kept on through it.
Widget Crafting: Benchmarking, Rating 3 (15d6.hits(5)=6, 15d6.hits(5)=4, 15d6.hits(5)=5) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107720/)
Widget crafted in 1 hour.
Fading Resistance DV6S (11d6.hits(5)=6) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107721/)
AWESOME.
Threading Test: Analyze (15d6.hits(5)=9) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107725/)
Only using 4 hits
Fading Resistance test, DV4S (11d6.hits(5)=1) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107740/)
LESS AWESOME.
12d6.hits(5)=4, 12d6.hits(5)=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107755/)
Matrix Perception - 4 hits for the sensor (let's go with rating of the sensor, encryption status, and... Not sure what else right now), and 5 for the lamp (type of node, access to other nodes, Signal, System, and encryption status)
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-Peoria, Arcadia District. Safe House-
Although the ultrasonic sensor camouflaged above the entry door as well as the lamp have better firewalls than Nitro was expecting, they have little more in terms of security. The two devices are slaved into one circuit, the lamp set to activate when the sensor detects motion, but no analysis or recording software is running on either node. The only unusual thing that Nitro spots about the node is a small software tag disabling its wireless controls, the tag indicating it is set to a manual switch built onto the lamp itself. It looks like a passive security setup.
Rating 3 Camera with ultrasonic replacing the normal visual detection. Both camera and lamp are device rating 2, but running an optimized Firewall 3.
The lamp looks like a stripped-down sensor node hub (device rating 2) with optimized firewall (rating 3), System and Signal rating 2. No encryption detected, just an unusual frequency slaving the two together into their own closed circuit and the sensor running a basic 'transmit when change in motion detected'.
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"looks like there is no getting around traffic, I will have to call a taxi."
searching auto cab directories and picking a water front tourist destination to have it take him to aaliyah, patiently awaited the cab.
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-Peoria, Sommer District-
It takes almost five minutes of waiting, but a taxi cab with stickers indicating authorization to cross megacorp boundaries pulls up to Aaliyah. After requesting tourist destinations, a scrolling list of AR advertisements for corp and resorts for the wealthy in Jefferson district appear, as well as scenic visitor spots touted as "the city's greenest spaces" for Glen Oak Park in Jefferson and Peoria Heights in Patton. A number of shopping and rental service tabs line the window advertising Peoria Heights.
-
Aaliyah thought to himself whether or not they had any waterfront attractions, San Francisco certainly used to, and japan was littered with them. Greenest spaces sounded promising, but any choice was just another way of going in blind. I suppose some harmless sight seeing on day one wouldnt be a total loss, hopefully I can get a lay of the land.
Selecting "the greenest place" Aaliyah slid into the cab.
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-Peoria, Sommer District-
At the point in the day the city hasn't lit up yet for the coming night, and at this point in the year it has taken on the deep shadows and winter gloom, giving the look of a city rising out of the shadow, as if clawing its way out of The Twilight itself. The first leg of the trip through Ares' industrial and petrochemical synthesis sector only adds to the effect of a city in shadow. The cab ride to the waterfront takes a little longer than expected, but like many maps it helped put a sense of scale on the dozen plus kilometers of city between the city limits and Lake Peoria.
The districts between Sommer and Patton look a mix between light industry and the commercial/residential of many working cities, but the look of the cityscape changes shortly after pulling into Patton District. The economies of scale in industry and efficiency of construction in residential begin to fade as a sector of the city clearly crafted to advertise and impress rises up. The buildings around Peoria Heights aren't quite tall enough to call skyscrapers, but most have a glass with shaped concrete faced in faux-ivory. The cab turns and rises as it advances up the slope of the city's highest point of elevation at Peoria Heights itself, then pulls to a stop in front of a hotel/casino with a park just north across the street, evergreen trees and other greenery. Before even exiting the taxi, a crowd of AR advertisements for products and services that promise to Make Your Life Better, By Your Trustworthy Neighborhood Megacorp. Looking to the east, the top of a ferris wheel is visible next to the waterline.
-
Aaliyah quckly dismissed the advertisments that involved sales of this and that with a few short mental actions, then authorized the cab fare. Looking over the remaining few adds as he slithered through the park for various water front attractions, maybe a nice resturaunt with a sweeping view.
-
-Peoria, Patton District-
The footpath into the park lane winding up and eastwards across Peoria Height's southern slope is easily wide enough to accommodate even wide vehicles, but retractable concrete barriers restrict entry to pedestrians and bicyclists. Smaller, intentionally quaint stands offer American, Hopi, Spanish, and Japanese confections and snacks. A shielded outdoor trideo display shows a map of Peoria Heights, marking the nature preserve at the top as well as paths branching up and into the park area, marking Aaliyah's current location as technically commercial park area, and a path continuing to lakeside recreation and leisure businesses. The roadside vendors, mostly humans and a couple orks, peddle their snacks and trinkets, and the path briefly opens up into a roundabout with a grassy knoll in the middle. Several people in nicer than everyday-blue-collar clothing lounge around the small cultivated hill, watching the rentacops haul away a coughing woman. About a hundred meters further down the path it opens back up onto the regular street, a gift shop on the left and a sit-down restaurant on the right.
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<<Safehouse seems to be good. Looking at Matrix stuff nearby to see if anyone's attempting to monitor traffic, but nothing on that yet. Come on down whenever ya'll like.>>
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Aaliyah slithers up the path in as casual fashon as he can, without much rough terrain to push off of having to sidewind gently up the concrete. Deciding to forgo the resteraunt for now and observe the heights of the city, perhaps to get a view.
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-Peoria, Patton District-
The area around the ascending path shows fewer and fewer AR advertisements, and after a while the connection indicator marks a low bandwidth available. The vegetation remains relatively green for this late in the year, but also doesn't show a large degree of diversity. The paved path takes a wood bridge over a clearly engineered water spring and babbling brook, the path on the other side being made of flagstones. The large groups thin out extremely quickly, fading into groups of twos, threes, and solitary individuals in a mix of dress ranging from upper-blue-collar to fine. All of the people seem to be more milling about nonchalantly, and as the path ascends, fewer and fewer are on their commlinks. A couple of the humans and orks give a faint nod to Aaliah as he passes, but most are absorbed in their commlinks or staring off into space. After a couple dozen meters, the path branches off, one winding down and east while another passes through a wide arch gate with a plaque marked as the nature preserve for Peoria Heights. A smaller metal sign politely requests minimized commlink usage, though scratching defaces the small sign. A dwarf in a white, faux-silk suit passes Aaliyah, nods with a slightly impressed demeanor, and then walks quickly into the park.
The hill itself rises above all of Peoria except the high-rise downtown Mitsuhama district across the river, though frequent trees and other vegetation give a broken view of most of the city. AR maps indicated a few lookout rest areas, most on the south and east face of the hill.
-
Baron orders a cab to pick him up. When it arrives, he gets in and relays the destination.
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-Peoria, Arcadia District. Evening Sun's Club-
Richard sips at his ale and lifts it in recognition when Baron leaves. A couple of the other scattered patrons watch Baron as he walks out, but nobody motions to follow. The city outside seems almost as dark as inside, the clouds having gathered into a gloomy overcast. The traffic has picked up by this point, the city entering its evening rush hour. A variety of shades and tones of cars, subcompacts and vans, zip back and forth on the faintly dusty roads. It takes only about a minute before an automated cab arrives for Baron, and the onboard computer accepts the address and speeds down the road to the safehouse.
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Aaliyah continues towards the overlooks in the direction of the high rises, keen on finding some view of the waterfront, hopefull better signal too.
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*Some time later*
Once people had arrived at the apartment, Nitro leaned back in a chair and put her feet up on the table. "So, what's next?"
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Chikage did maintenance on all her weapons while Nitro worked. By the time the others had arrived with the rest of the gear, she had already finished cleaning and reassembling the lot of them. Looking up to Nitro, she said, "I'd suggest making contact with some of the local players, as well as perhaps arranging for a raid on the armories where the milspec weapons are housed. We need to make this guy look bad, and having your military grade weapons fall into the hands of the gangers you were going to use it against sounds like a good start."