[Mithlas]

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.

[Mithlas]

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.

[Aryeonos]

-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!"

[Mirikon]

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.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

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.

[Mithlas]

-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.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

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.

[Aryeonos]

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?"

[mtfeeney = Baron]

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.

[Mirikon]

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.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

"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.

[RHat]

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.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

Leaning back again, Baron nods and sips at his drink, shifting his attention to the patrons and any new guests that wander in.

[Mithlas]

-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.

[Aryeonos]

"...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
And the drain resist.. which I think is 3, unless you round down which is then 2.
10d6.hits(5)=5
either way no drain.