[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena shrugs.  "You say accept fate.  Olena says brave."

She looks at Arc.  "So, Arc.  You seem to have plan.  What is?"

[SgtBoomCloud]

Admittedly, during the whole exchange between the group, Arc had decided to wander a little bit, finally noticing the beautiful H-D Scorpion that Yelena had rolled in on.  The cigar perched at the corner of her mouth, smoke wafting into the air, she was staring at it with her cybereyes, poring over every sleek detail of the expensive bike.  Her touch was delicate, testing the give on the gears, the seats, the tires.  As Yelena was making her last question, the human was running her hand over the gas tank, a caress not unlike one would give to a lover.  Finally, she broke out of her reverie.

"Huh, wuzza?  Oh yeah, finding this slitch."  She cleared her throat, tracing a line on the map of the Barrens from the sensor grids, tracing a guess about where the elf may have gone between S2 and W4 for the time gap provided.  "Like we said before, Rave, Lash, and Feathers and his team are gonna be focusing on the spirit.  This thing apparently be fueled with blood mojo...if ya don't know what that is, cuz I didn't, that drek is gotta be the fraggiest kind.  That's why we gon' get glassed if we don't shut this down."

Arc stepped back to the workbench, grabbing her Predator and slipping it back into her holster.  "Olena...I'm gonna be working with you, as I got a direct link to the sensor grid feeding to my eyes live.  We got a small team of Howlers that will listen to us as a shock troop force to work through some drek.  As for where the slitch gonna be, we're gonna have to act quick once we spot her.  The ghouls I don't know about much...all I know is from the trids, and don't let them touch you.  Blech.."  She heaved a sigh, scratching her head and sitting up on the bench, finishing off the cigar.  "I'm with you.  I mean I get it.  Witnessing your family getting slaughtered while you had to watch is hard.  It can break someone if they fragging let it.."  She trailed off before coming back to reality.  "But blood mojo is blood mojo.  Our homes and lives ride on it, and I ain't gonna go down quiet.  Olena, I can't promise a suppressor, but I'll give it a try...either way, whatever we got, we got tonight...hmm....wonder if we can pin her down somewhere...close off access...hmm..."

<<@Hrock (Arc)
<<Hey, Uncle.  I know I just asked you for some stuff, but I gotta last minute request for a friend of mine.  Of a less common nature.  Finding myself prey, and the Predator looking for me is in need of some suppression, or being silenced.  Can pay today.  If unable to today, null sheen.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena has been watching Arc from the corner of her eye.  She nods as Arc finishes talking then moves closer and nods at her bike.  "Is nice, yes?  Three things I have left to love.  Sax, rifle, and that.  If we live I need noise looked at.  If I do not live, you may have bike.  Best to go to someone who appreciates."

She pauses to put her second cigar out.  "So, when leave here?  Have time to clean weapons?"

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc gave a little smile at mention to the bike, nodding her head.  "Drek yeah it's nice.  Four cylinder, 165 horses...can go from 0-100kph in less than 4 seconds...it's a fraggin' work of art."  The way she spoke had a certain note of reverence to it, but she dialed it back, standing up straight and picking up her coffee, taking another sip.  "...this is good stuff.  Coffee be fraggin' rare yo..Olena, don't be offended, but I'm gonna share this.  Even if it's a little bit..y'all, here"  She handed the cup to the others, letting them drink.  A small, maybe silly symbol of unity, but one nontheless. 

"I just sent out a feeler for that suppressor for ya.  Putting a nice little dandelion bow on it if I can.  It's early, and if what they're saying is right.."  She gestured towards Feathers.  "We got till tonight to move.  Clean as you wish, but we gotta get some ideas together.  Which reminds me..."  Flipping up an ARO, she sent a message to Lupo.

<<@Lupo (Arc)
<<We move tonight.  Get your squad together and meet us at 127th and Weston at 17:00.  Have your mojos contact Feathers, he'll coordinate that side of this thing.  We got one shot, let's not frag this up

Turning back to the others, she took a deep breath.  "Feathers, Raven, Lash.  When we do this, I'ma keep an open link with you at all times.  My sensor net will still stay up, so if I spot Ol' Smiley, you'll be the first to know.  Anything else you think I can help with before we move, say it now, my facilities are at disposal.  I just sent out a message to Lupo, telling his mojos to keep in touch with you, Feathers.  You got the ritual, they're your force now.  Olena...they got a squad for us too, we're meeting up with them elsewhere before sundown."

"We got one shot at this drek, chummers, but we got a little time to prepare.  When this goes down, we're gonna wanna be quick, fast, and hit hard.  Got not choice to frag this up."  For the first real time since anyone knew her, Arc's expression grew serious and hardened, her fists clenched as she looked around to the small group about to commit to taking down what corpsec deems a level alpha threat.  "...if anyone wants out, I won't blame em.  But I'm committed to this, and that slitch is going down."

[Imveros]

Johnny takes the offered cup and takes a tiny sip and passes it to the next taker Now you cant expect me to walk out right when things get interesting. Besides a lot more is ridding on this than any one of us. We all have something worth protecting from this thing. Not only that, but when we take this thing down it will make others think twice before messing with this neighborhood again. I may be a relative new comer here, but i recognize something good when i see it

Johnny scans the room for the one Arc referred to as feathers. That one over there says you are in charge of this trap we are springing. What the plan? We have any defenses, can we make any, or is this the kind of thing that needs done in the open to work? Never did have a head for mojo. I'm all ears partner

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena laughs.  "Yes, is very nice bike.  Bought when Olena had money I did not gamble away."  She holds out her to-go cup.  "If had known there would be party in garage I would have brought enough for all.  Please take mine as well, although should warn them about bitter taste.  Is not called Turkish for nothing."  She nods at Arc's comment.  "Thank you for looking for suppressor.  And I listen and clean together."

She goes to the bike and removes her weapons case from one of the carry boxes.  Taking the case to one of the benches she unlocks it and removes the operating parts of the rifle.  With a method that borders on love she disassembles the rifle and cleans everything.  After cleaning, she re-assembles the rifle and snaps all the parts into place.  The final step is to remove the rounds from every magazine and inspect each one before reloading them.  She then removes three small waterproof sacks from the case and puts several spare magazines in each one, one bag per different weapon.  She hangs the sacks on hooks attached to her belt.  She pops a magazine into the rifle and adjusts the sling.  When done she stands back and gives a satisfied smile.

Yelena listens to the huge troll.  *He may have something.  These people are fighting for their homes.  Maybe, Yelena Petrovna, you need a home.  Maybe here?*  She shakes her head, *Monster and mage first, then Tsina, then maybe a home.  If live that long.*

[Csjarrat]

That one over there says you are in charge of this trap we are springing. What the plan? We have any defenses, can we make any, or is this the kind of thing that needs done in the open to work? Never did have a head for mojo. I'm all ears partner

feathers extended a weathered and wrinkled hand and shoot the new face's hand
The plan as it stands is not ideal. You heard the lady, the plan depends on bait, and our ability to bind the spirit in place before anything bad happens. The other half of it is to neutralise its Mage, the one who links it to this realm. Neither task will be easy so pack for a hard fight.

feathers nods with Arc's summary, zapping a message out to his fledgling team.
<<all>>\\It happens tonight, prep for a hard night. We will beat this thing. <<location attached>>

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc followed Yelena's lead with the weapons check, hopping over to the trunk of her Americar and producing a black duffel bag whilst the others formed their own plan.  As a courtesy, the human left the broadcast of the sensor net on her wall, with pictures of both Ol' Smiley and the elven girl on either side: their targets.  With a huff, she took the other side of the workbench and unloaded her gear.  From her back, the Predator came out, deft hands unloading the mag and field stripping the slide, spring, and barrel from the action in a matter of seconds.  Her Ingram followed suit, the parts placed neatly in their respective arrangements, her spare mags lining up next to them. 

Next came the contents of her hip pouch, small football shaped objects with pins at the end gingerly placed on a blanket to prevent rolling: grenades.  Combine those with the ones she pulled from her bag, and it looked like she sported at least a half dozen of them, maybe more.  Lastly, the short human upended the contents of the duffel, out coming several metallic, capped pipes, several of them bundled together and connected with wires.  She couldn't help but flash a grin at the reactions she may have gotten at the realization that she had been carrying explosives...or even was proficient with them..but she merely lifted her arms up in a shrug.  "Rainy day toys..might come in handy.." 

Inspecting each bundle, she replaced those and her spare hand bombs back in their compartments in her duffel, zipping it up before returning to her two guns.  Mimicking the cleaning process, Arc's hands moved like water, fluidly going from one step to the next like her fingertips were speaking and dancing with the gun parts, twirling a few of them as she ran the oils, solvents, and cloth over them.  When she reassembled each, she twirled the firearm twice before racking the slide, pointing it towards the garage door to check the sights and the smartlink.  Finally, she grabbed her shoulder holster and mag holsters, the former fitting her Ingram and it's spare mags under either arm, the latter holding her spare Predator clips at the hip opposite her grenades.  As she worked, her head bobbed to her own silent music, eyes unblinking as if in full focus.

[ismilealot]

Sun : 14:30
>>Sorry Cricket, no can do till tues at the earliest. I'm on a milk run and won't be back in town until then, if you need it before then call TriggrT JH55587XM62445. I happen to know he's got almost anything you need in stock. Tell him I sent you and if he'll fix you up I'll bring him back a turkey sandwich. <<

<<all>>\\It happens tonight, prep for a hard night. We will beat this thing. <<location attached>>

After getting Feathers message Merlin had messaged him back >>I got the time & place from Lupo. We be there prof, null sheen.<< and then messaged the Howlers. >>Prof says it's going down tonight so polish you tusks and put you best suit on.<< He spent the afternoon with his little family. His vrukhan tried to hide her worry, just as he tried to hide his and they took the baby on a short walk before they went home and got reacquainted with each other. Holding his baby girl in his arms he kissed her and then told his Vruk, "This don't work out you two go to you mama's. She'll help you so's you can finish you schoolin' I be proud my vruk be a librarian. You finish an be what you can be." He kissed her then, and put his hand in his pocket to rub his foci. It was an old "shooter" marble,  his great-grandfathers. When he was really little he used to pretend it was a crystal ball, and his dad had given it to him a month before he got shot. Merlin had hung onto it ever since, now he just hoped it was enough.

Mermaid had spent the afternoon with Lance. The big troll was good at being quietly sympathetic and let her go back and forth about Tsunamee for over an hour before he suggested she go swimming. "The Y in Issaquah be heated. We kin swim there for a bit." He'd paid for it too. And as she swam she relaxed. She'd always been more at home in the water, as he knew full well, they'd been friends since they were children. They'd met when he'd beat up a couple of guys who'd been harassing her when it had turned ugly. He relaxed and just floated a bit while she'd swum like a sylph in the water. And then the comm chirped time, and she was scared again. That thing had scared her drekless earlier, and now Tsunamee wouldn't even be there. Lance saw the change and told her, "It be ok, I be there. I be between you an it the whole time. We making it through this." He promised her. She'd hugged him then, tight, and looking up at him had said, "Thank you Lancelot." she'd been the one that had named him that all those years ago after that fight, and it had somehow just stuck, she was the only one that ever called him Lancelot though, everyone else just used Lance. Straightening up she looked at him and said, "We be Howlers. The night be afraid of us!" They'd howled and laughed then, knowing it was a bit of bravado to hide their fears. Lance reflexively clenched and straightened his hand and arm then. The arm he'd thought he'd lost to the beast earlier. And then they turned and began the long walk back to the meet point.

Tom & Marion had spent the afternoon in bed, they knew better than to waste one precious drop of mana or energy. They'd practiced their spells and gathered reagents yesterday, it would have to be enough..

Two-Bit spent the afternoon preparing lessons. Her "act of faith", against tonight.

Sarge and Bonehead had spent the afternoon going over what they knew of the sewers for possible areas of defense & offense and had decided against the grenade launcher. Weapons, manpower, skills, Sarge was a veteran and believed in being prepared, he and Bonehead gathered manpower and supplies, and made sure everyone stayed relatively sober.

All across the Barrens people made ready to do the only thing they could do. Fight this thing to the last man standing.

[Mercy Merchant]

Rifle cleaned and assembled, Yelena lovingly places the long noise suppressor on the barrel and makes sure that all the electronics are working.  She removes the monocle headband from the case and places it on her head, flipping the lens down over her eye.  She passes the command to the monocle through her cybered commlink and it flips on.  She smiles grimly as she places the rifle on the work bench and gets her pistols out.  Her nimble fingers work magic on the Predator and the Light Fire and they are soon cleaned, reassembled, and holstered.

Finished, she slings the rifle on her back and goes to the half open door.  Taking her silver case from a pocket, she lights up one of her cigars, letting the acrid smoke float into the sky.  Without turning around, she calls to the small woman, "Hey Arc.  Can get food delivered here?  Maybe pizza?  Olena treat all to dinner.  Make sure enough for all, including Johnny."

[SgtBoomCloud]

Everything cleaned and assembled, Arc grabbed her armored vest from its peg on the wall, the howling wolf emblazoned on the back glinting in the light as she set it down next to her bag.  Reading Hrock's response, she gave a smile and shook her head.  At least he's honest.  Good on him.

<<@Hrock (Arc)
<<Null sweat, Uncle.  Thanks much

<<@TriggrT (Arc)
<<Hrock gave me your number, and said you could give me some help.  I've got some trouble with a predator that I'd like to suppress, or even silence if the first option ain't there.  Hrock said there's a turkey sandwich in there if you can help me before sundown.  We got biz?

Firing those off, she listened to Olena, then looked at the others, then back at the early afternoon sun.  It was a few more hours till things went down...sure, why not.  "Pizza works.  Know a place local, they know my address.   SO934810LW0I390.  No delivery charge, which is a bonus, and they don't skimp on the flavor."  She smirked, her stomach growling.  Part of her gritted her teeth at the notion that this might be their last meal...it's gonna be a long night...

[ismilealot]

@ Arc  >>Tell Hrock to add a bag of roasted grasshoppers and he's got himself a deal. <<

[Csjarrat]

Feathers made his own preparations for the afternoon, calling forth a spirit of air to assist with the trap planned for tonight.
He loaded his pistol, stashed the spare ammo in handy pockets and gathered his equipment, writing a note explaining his death to whoever kicked the door in when they found the rates unpaid.
He sighed heavily and closed the door, heading back into the fray.
The street was eerily quiet, word had obviously spread. A few people headed about their business, worried looks on their faces. Feathers figured he had a pretty worried look on his own face and decided to think positive.
He slammed the autotaxi's door closed and headed to the RVP, mentally rehearsing the ritual once more in preparation for the night's events.

[SgtBoomCloud]

@ Arc  >>Tell Hrock to add a bag of roasted grasshoppers and he's got himself a deal. <<

<<@TriggrT (Arc)
<<Wiz.  We will don the exchange at the attached locale at 16:40.  Much appreciated

<<@Hrock (Arc)
<<TriggerT came through, asking for a bag of grasshoppers with his sandwich.  You're the best.

Sending off those messages, Arc grinned and turned to Olena.  " We got lucky, we will pick up your silencer before meeting up with our boys.  Now, for food..." . Pulling up the pizza place's number, she made a call.

"....uh yeah hi, I'd like to place a delivery...uh-huh...it's me, Arc, you know where the frag I live...uh-huh..gimme five grandes: one supreme, two heart-stoppers, a vegetarian, and a cheese...woah, you wanna say that about my weight again, fragger?  Yeah that's what I thought...yeah, got peeps over, will pay on arrival...yeah, see ya..." . With a click, she hung up.  "20 minutes out"

[ismilealot]

The pizza's arrive smelling like heaven and the young dwarf delivering them is completely hidden by the boxes. He looks around the garage with interest but leaves as soon as he gets his tip.

TriggrT is also a dwarf, but the weathered grizzled face doesn't look like he remembers his youth and the exchange of silencer for cred is brief.