[Ren]

OK, that's it, then. Stake smoothed some code that would show his activity then logged off of the host. He rejoined his buddies in the meat world shortly, dissolving his presence from the virtual reality. He sighed deeply, rebooting the deck, and told the others what he didn't find, and the small amount of almost-information he got. The only lead this yielded was the shape of the mark, which was a stretch at best.

[Thermo]

It sounds like this whole thing is a ruse designed to protect this comatose decker. What is he, some kind of technomancer? The UCAS think they were going to start a cyber-army but only got this one guy? Doesn't compute. I wonder if the hospital even knows what this guy is up to.

Storm sends a message to both Zach and Stake via AR text:
>>Stake, is there any way to send this guy a message? Find out what he really expects to get out of this?<<

Storm silently stands up at the same time as Danny, turns, and leaves with Zach without saying a word.

[Ren]

Stake shook his head once slowly. ”Nah, I don’t have a direct comm number to him. And I seriously doubt the hospital will reroute calls to him just like that.” Stake tried to put the pieces together but there were still a lot of unanswered questions. However, a pattern seemed to be taking form in the background. TLSS, Lt. Goodman, TVH – all were connected to NeoNet.

[Sichr]

Well. What electrons didn't tell, visit may. I am going to setup an outpost nearby and watch the TVH and traffic for a an hour or so. Try to find out the best way in. What about astral recon? And as for that guy...well I say we put the bullet to his brain to end his misserx. I dont care about his motives. He tried to kill us. Thats all that matters. Strike back, and strike as hard as possible so he would never get the second chance.

[Thermo]

Storm smiles at the comment from her old friend Zach; he always had such a great way with words. She agreed with him that this threat needed to be crushed under their boot heel. Now that the group had taken the diplomatic solution off the table, it was time to find him, kill him, and move on with their collective lives in the shadows.

>> I will provide astral recon, once we get to the recon site I will project and scout the location. Let's go get him. <<

[Ren]

”I agree, bastard don’t deserve to survive this drek. Although, it would be profitable if we could discern what kind of backup he has, he could just be a middleman. In the meantime, i'll do some research on the TLSS. But for that, i have to get back to our cozy little bolthole.”

After Stake arrived back at the place Zach got for them in the Underground, he started to check things on the trix. This time, it was all legal, so he didn't have to worry about GOD that much, he optimized his setup for search.
[spoiler=matrix actions]Deck setup: Attack 3, Sleaze 5, Firewall 5(6), Data Processing 6(7), programs: toolbox, encrypt, browse
All search times are cut in half because of browse.
Matrix search, special: INT(6) + Computer(5) + hot sim(2) - public(2) [Data Processing(7)] (11d6.hits(5)=3); TLSS background
Related knowledge tests:
LOG(7) + Business(1) + Mnemonic(2) [Mental(11)] (10d6.hits(5)=1); Got... distracted... by Code...
LOG(7) + Law(2) + Mnemonic(2) [Mental(11)] (11d6.hits(5)=4)

INT(6) + Computer(5) + hot sim(2) - public(2) [Data Processing(7)] (11d6.hits(5)=5); boot-shaped mark, done in 1/2 hour[/spoiler]

[Sichr]

OK. I`ll run silent, contact every 5 minutes or emergency. If I wont respond, get the hell outa there. and good luck with your search. At least we know the shit is deep.

[inca1980]

Stake:
After a whole 1/2 hour of scouring the matrix, you find practically nothing at all, save for one little file.   Something posted to an obscure data-dump by a decker named Codec.  It is just a file header similar to the one on the drone you found and it has the four owner marks of the little boot.  The owner marks were scrubbed from the drone you salvaged and from the corrupted files on it by the emergency self-destruct protocols, so you don't know if the boot mark was ever on the one you found. Codec doesn't know who the mark belongs to but he has found it associated with someone involved in a heavily classified and now defunct NeoNet program called "Project Bootcamp."  Codec explains a little in a txt file addendum how he came upon such a file.  He seems to be addressing an admin named Chan of the data-dump.

 <<2075.4.20.17:53--Dear Chan, managed to piece together the disparate sections of this file and all I could salvage was the header and the owner marks on it, hope it fetches you some cred.  Have no idea who the boots belong to.  I got the file by taking advantage of a legit NeoNet mark invitation my team procured for a run we had to do and during all of my 15 min. in the host I had my run of the place before they figured out I wasn't supposed to be there.  I had enough time to complete the mission objectives and do a little personal data-grabbing.  It comes from a massive data trashing NeoNet conducted about a year ago.  Not only did I find that data was trashed but an entire sub-host called "The Bootcamp" was taken offline.  Something to do with "Project Bootcamp".  Quite intriguing and perhaps some of your scavengers might find an interested buyer.  --Codec>>

It appears no one found the header very interesting because after a few months Chan just threw it in the public folder.

All you could find of TLSS is that it's for sure  just a sham company with no other contracts save for TVH.  Your know legally TLSS only has to be registered as a company and as long as they're not stepping on anyone's toes nobody is really going to go check how legit their operation is.  Apparently TVH is such a shithole no other security company has taken interest in them. Strangely enough you find the company is a privately owned company registered to Lt. Marshall Goodman.

[Ren]

This gets more interesting with everything I find. At least the pieces fit the picture. Stake came out of the virtual pathways of the matrix and shared his findings with the others, adding his own thoughts.

>>This all seems like a very elaborate scam, I just can’t decide if it’s corporate financed black ops, or someone working in the shadows. The trashed data supports the latter, I don’t think any black ops files would be cast aside that carelessly. The financial backup, however, suggests some degree of corporate backup, at least in an unofficial manner. This whole ‘Bootcamp’ stuff fits the data from the drone you took out.
>>So what do you think, is this some scrapped NeoNet project our good lieutenant continues on his own volition, or is this still a NeoNet project?
>>Anyway, the next step is in the TVH. How goes the surveillance?<<

[Sichr]

Zach jumped on his bike and ride to the Tacoma. As he is just the solo rider in the traffic, he blends easily to the background and draws little, if any, attention. His new SIN wasnt bulletproof, but it was almot the best the money can buy and he should be able to pass standard security checks with only a little delay. He has his traffic control drone encounter still in memory, so he has licences connected even for his weapons, althought he is f r from carrying those openly. As he approaches TVH, he drives around the block, watching for signs of armed security, checkpoints, CCTV hubs and other surveillance equipement, but also for publicly accessible places with open view on the hospital, and he tries to find one with the good possition and oportunity to keep any eye on TVH entrance for a while. Restaurant or cafe would be great, well any place possible would do.

[inca1980]

@Zach:
After scoping the locale out a little bit you see there is a small building with a 4th story greasy spoon diner across the street.  You find a booth next to a window looking out on to the TVH lobby entrance marked by a low bluish over-hang supported by a few pillars.  You don't see any other businesses or services in the TVH building so it seems the veteran's hospital occupies the whole thing.

As you observe over the course of several cups of coffee, you see few people go in or out and the few that do seem to be mostly old deteriorating vets sometimes accompanied by a spouse, child or friend.  You haven't caught a glimpse of any security whatsoever.  There doesn't seem to be emergency room service either and nothing resembling an ambulance entrance seems to exist on any side of the building.  In terms of alternate entrances you only  found a fire escape on the rear-side of the building while you were walking about, but from the diner you can only see the front lobby entrance. 
Zach's perception test: 11D6E5 => 2 | ones: 2
You don't see anything more of interest.

[Sichr]

As promissed, Zach keeps radio contact in short intervals. After  half an hour hr was quuite sue anything new iss going to emerge.
Place looks clean from here. Meet me at the restaurant across the street, I have safe LOS.

[Thermo]

Storm heads back to her safehouse via public transport, scoping out the scene before hopping on her Suzuki Mirage and heading to the meet with Zach. Prior to getting too close to her safehouse in Redmond, she summons a spirit to make sure she is protected against anything waiting to ambush her.

[invisible castle is down, I'll roll for the spirit later I guess]

F6 Spirit of Man, optional powers: Movement and Innate Spell [detect enemies, extended]

On the way, she constantly cycles through her various vision options. She has the spirit connected to a telepathic link so she's in constant communication.

Once she arrives at the diner, she scopes out the whole scene in the Astral, followed by a quick Astral Projection to see if any new information comes from a closer look.

[again, invisible castle is down, Storm's dice pool for assensing is Int(5)+Assensing(1)]

"Keep me protected while I'm out there, eh chummer?"

[Sichr]

Zach continues  to to eat his soy-ham and eggs, sipping his soy-tonic. When Storm comes in, he sends her brief message, not paying her attention:
Sit over there in the compartmenet, I`ll keep an eye on you. Stake? Are you on your way or is there any problem?

[Ren]

"Be there shortly," the dwarf replied.