[Shaman_Yuri]

"Standard Operation Procedure for a mage extraction is to render the primary unconscious or otherwise unable to mentate," I quote by rote from the Renraku field ops guide.  "This practice is necessary even with a willing primary to ensure they do not either change their mind mid-operation or inadvertently interfere with the operation due to anxiety, unfamiliarity with mission operatives, or simple ignorance of correct procedure."  I look around at the open-mouth stares of my new colleagues and shrink a little.  "Um...it always seemed to be a good practice when I helped lead ops in Singapore..."

[ismilealot]

A light snow begins to fall and the sun peaking through the clouds as they hustle across the sky means that the delicate flakes are highlighted and swirled in a mad dance that ends with partners only meeting when they land exhausted on the ground. This high up in Marcos apartment there is no view of the roads from the table, only the serene sight of high rise buildings and silver-grey clouds racing to each building as if they were poles marking the next leg of the journey  hurried along by the vagaries of winds suddenly anxious to finish the long trek to the next ocean

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena had been looking through the glass doors to the patio deck at the snow when Firefly had made her statement.  The comment gets her attention and she looks at Firefly, trying to keep the surprise off of her face.  "So decker girl more than seem.  Sound official quote.  Corp work in Singapore?"

[gilga]

My heart skips a bit when Firefly seem to know exactly what to do at the task. Well, as long as Arc picks the professionals I am happy. "So we really are going to knock the mage unconscious ? I am not sure there are other alternative in such a short notice."

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc was listening intently, but did little to hide her surprise when Firefly perked up, spouting off a degree of professionalism that strangely seemed to fit well with her demeanor...and the fact that she wore a deck.  The robed 'ken has surprises.  Wiz  Grinning and shaking her head, the mechanic suppressed a little laugh as she took in a breath.

"Ysee that's why I like you guys.  I can count on y'all for ideas and I don't need to tell you how t'be helpful.  Marco, I trust you to do what you do best, and how we handle this mage we may have to play by ear. The way Firefly puts it, there's a shot this mage'll already be out cold when we hit them.  If so, that's wiz, but if not...well, we got tasers n drek for that right?"

She looked down at her plate and cup, the both of them empty.  Shrugging, the rigger set down her utensils and stood up, stretching her back a little bit.  "Again, thank you for helping.  We'll be doing this tonight, so whatever we need to do to prepare, we'll make it happen."

[Duck N. Cover]

When Arc suggests Yelena work from the Americar or her own ride, the troll with tap the table lightly with a finger. " I don't know her skills, but given she's willing to go deep cover without a net, I have another suggestion:  have her ride with me.  The King's going to be more than enough, and it would allow her flexibility to do something like be a boarding party.  If the opportunity presented itself, she wouldn't want to ditch her own bike to take it."  Before Yelena can respond to the negative,  she will turn and say "we're leaving nothing behind so there's no tracing, right?  We don't get caught?"

Tuskaloosa listens to Firefly rattle off SOP lifted right out of someone's manual.  When she concludes with  "Um...it always seemed to be a good practice when I helped lead ops in Singapore..."  Tusk takes a long swig of water to rinse the bad taste in her mouth.  Back in the UCAS military anyone who "helped" to lead was a Baby-faced Lieutenant, regardless of age or rank.
And while the manual quotation was sound advice--as most good manual quotations are-- Tuskaloosa had experience with another manual quotation: no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.

"I'm less worried about the mage and more worried about the escort detail..because an armored van WILL have an escort detail.  The'll have the room for it.  No, I'm not worried about the mage, I'm worried about the mage's entourage...and if they have orders to destroy the ball if they start to lose at Keep Away.  Arc, do we have any idea where the safehouse is now?  we may not be able to do drek as they board, but if there's a chance they board outside a building, a little drone could give us a ton of info."

"We also haven't talked exit strategy either.  Best case scenario is you get wireless control, we act as fake Jade Dragons escort and take an early exit to Outta There.   Then what?  Do you have a good chop shop on voicemail, Arc?  Do we trade it to Hrock and let him expand his border crossing fleet?  And where does the mage go?
...And that's best case.  Not to borrow trouble, but worst case? Where do we meet?  Here?  Arc's garage?  A love motel?  We have the opportunity to think about these things now, without distractions like bullets and bloodhounds.  Call me a worrywart, but I'd like to have a Plan A and B, so I can have something to switch to.  They don't have to be fancy, just in place."

[gilga]

Hearing Tuskaloosa Marco figures up that a medic kit is in need, lucky for him he has the best one money can buy. He goes to his room and brings a R6 medic kit neatly packed in a suitcase.
He hands it over to Arc "I hope we do not need it, but I think you better keep it in your ride, I have the heal spell so together we can compliment healing. First mundane and then magic if we are not in a hurry... This talk starts to remind me Rambo 302 - the one where Rambo is outed as an adept, but in real life bad guys can aim, Just in case.  This is the best Medic kit money can buy... My contact Jimmy opened a shadow supermarket... just don't ask where he gets his stuff.  Should probobly get such medic kit in every wheels we have."
To the rest he say:
"Shooting jumping into vehicles taking mages...  There is snow outside!  Come to the balcony!  Lets watch the snow... With all this military talk I feel that there might be no better chance."  Marco did not wait for approval he rushed the balcony and glanced upon the snow happily... Half to himself he say "I know this is so silly... but just once I want to dress as Santa clause and use magic to create a flying reindeer snow slide. I think it will make people happy." The image in his head made him grin happily... it was so silly but the thought did not leave him alone " why not actually..."

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc smiled gently to herself as she lowered her gaze, giving a little shake of her head.  These people all know their stuff...that's wiz.  Wonder how long till they realize I've been making all this drek up as i go...  Standing up to the full stature her short frame could offer, she straightened her back and looked to each of them.

"This is all wiz stuff, chummers.  Marco, we'll hold onto this, thanks.  As for Yelena here, if you can fit her it might work that way.  I'll let her detail what she can do, but she's capable in a fight.  I've also got some air support coming in that might be useful: a drone.  I still can't quite do drek with handling it, but I loaded up some autosofts and it might be worth a shot to plug a few holes, ya feel me?"

"The escort does seem like the biggest deal, both inside and outside.  That's why we'll want to gain control without notice as quick as possible, and then act fast.  While I don't got the specific safehouse locations, I can at least show you the route..."  With a few subtle Matrix interactions, the trid projection shifted, showing a street map of Seattle with a big red line showing the escort's route.  "I've got some recon drones too that might be able to give us a peek...We'll start a bit early and work with it, how's that?"

"Exit strategy...From what I figured, there are ways to burn owner tags of things.  Best case, we got a new van to give away or work with.  Worst case, we dump it Dunkelzahn Tea Party style.  As for a dumpoff point, my garage is far enough away to be safe, and there's enough gang turf beef up around it that if we can shake em before, they won't want to look for us.  It's why I like it"  She smiled, closing her eyes and opening them to see Marco disappearing for the balcony, and something he said came to her mind.  Nodding to the others, she stepped out slowly before joining the male keeb.

"You said you had a chummer with a shadow market?  What're the odds you can get in touch with him today about getting some weapons and gear?  The whip for Yelena, and some heavy armor for Yelena and Tuska here?  or any other stuff for this fight if we go hot...I've got tech coming in to help us today, but right now I'm tapped out on resources yo..not cred, don't worry about that.  I can pitch my twenty if it means we can be ready"

[Duck N. Cover]

"Sorry Arc, but that van will be radioactive.  No amount of tag-frying will fool a go-gang looking for their own wheels."  Tuskaloosa shakes her head. "A new paint job and fresh tags are not going to cut it--best to get rid of it in pieces or use it as a down payment on something else.  Although now that you mention it, the Sound wouldn't be a bad place to park it either..."
Tuskaloosa will leave the table and stand in front of the route map. If it takes the convoy to a place over or near water...
"Say Yelena, how do you feel about water landings?"

"Yelena not know water landings."

Gears however are spinning in the troll's head.  "Let's play what if for a moment.  What if Firefly got Arc control of the van.  Just for a few ticks.  And what if Arc did a hard turn here," pointing to a spot on the route where the freeway was on a bridge.  "If the communications were out, it might look like their rigger had a heart atttack, or something.  And what if we happened to be waiting in the water below?  Everyone--rigger, security and mage--are going to be keen on evacuation.  Unless they are very professional, an unconscious or unpowered mage is going to be second to survival.  If we can get to the mage before he drowns, we have the mage,  and nobody knows we have the mage."

Firefly frowns.  "If they don't send people as part of Rescue and Recovery, the authorities will.  It won't be long before they know the mage is missing."

"True.  But those take time--which gives us a head start.  Best case scenario, they consider the mage geeked and the body sucked out of the vehicle.  They'd have no choice but to call things off and wait for the body to resurface in a few days."

"What if the mage has a tracker on him?"

Tuskaloosa grins. "I think that's a What Is, not a what If.  And the answer to that, is we find it and and fry it."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena shakes herself.  She has been lost in considering the information about Firefly.  A refugee from a corp, maybe Renraku or EVO.  She looks at the Troll.  "Sorry.  Yelena thinking.  Is good plan.  Yelena ask if kill soldiers."

[SgtBoomCloud]

After briefly conversing with Marco, Arc returned with him from the balcony.  As nice as the snow was, the view from that high up was a little bit dizzying for the small human.  Shaking her head, she came in to listen to Tuska detail her plan with the what if game.

The mechanic seemed to pause, her eyes staring intently ahead as her brain detailed in all the possibilities and ideas, and the inspiration of how to get the mage out safely without risking half the group to turreted gunfire.

Then she smiled.  A grin, an almost wicked one that Firefly saw only a couple days before, when they were about to storm the warehouse.

"Well frag my hoop seven days to Sunday.  I think we just figured out our plan of approach.  The other plans will be backup then...we'll go with taking the van out, bypassing the Jade Dragons altogether, take care of whoever we need on the recovery, and boom we got a mage.  Nice goin'.  Except uh..."  She scratched her head, looking about.  "Anyone feel up to taking a swim in the Sound in December?  I uh...I uh...can't swim.."

She paused after that, opening up for more ideas, but the big issue was there: an underwater operation to recover the contents, with hostiles leaving the same location.  It was a good move, but still a hot one.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena looks at Marco.  "Maybe Marco change Yelena or other to Octopus.  Can swim and use arms."

[Duck N. Cover]

Yelena seems to surface from whatever dark thoughts she has sunk into, with a question:  "Yelena ask if kill soldiers".

"If they are the disciplined type or try to geek the mage just to be sure, and run for it?  You bet.  Otherwise, the more it looks like an unfortunate accident the better."

Arc is more than pleased.   "Nice goin'.  Except uh..."  She scratched her head, looking about.  "Anyone feel up to taking a swim in the Sound in December?  I uh...I uh...can't swim.."

Tuskaloosa looks from one blank face to another. I can tread water... "Um...What if we can borrow a minisub?"

Yelena shrugs.  "Maybe Marco change Yelena or other to Octopus.  Can swim and use arms."

Tuskaloosa looks from one elf to the other.  "...He can do that?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena shrugs.  "Of course Marco do.  Yelena not say if not true."  Yelena then looks from the Troll to the Keeb.  "Is secret?  Yelena sorry.  Good team not have secrets."

She rises from the table and goes outside onto the patio, where she walks over to the railing to look towards the invisible ground below.  She pulls her cigar case from a pocket, removes one of the thin things and lights it up.  She sighs as she draws the acrid smoke into her lungs and releases it into the frosty air, watching as the smoke mingles with the falling snowflakes.  Shivering, she draws the shadows from the edges of the patio to give her protection from the afternoon chill.  Her eyes are looking out and down but her mind races through the various compartments of her cybered commlink, at one time focusing on the crew in the room behind her, then to Bella and what is happening to her, then on to other things; searching...........searching...........there.  Suddenly, her shadow enhanced mind finds the image she is looking for; a picture of a beautiful woman walking on a street  An unidentified street, to be sure, but less mysterious now.  Before, her mind had been focused on the face, that younger-than-it-should-be face.  Now Yelena scanned the rest of the photo.  There, there, and there.  And finally......yes...there.  Four men in tow.  They were very good and hard to pick out, but there was at least a four-man detail with her.  And she recognizes the leader.  She chastises herself for thinking that he would be older.  After all, if Tsina Molovna could do it, why not do the same thing for her main collaborator. 

The shadow whispers to her, telling her that 38 years of waiting is almost over.  She had been given 38 years to train for this, to be ready.  The shadow had kept her alive that night, as it had done earlier and since.  Her life has a purpose.  The shadow has given her life and purpose and will one day take it all back, but that is the way of the shadow and Yelena fully embraces it.  Her voice is low as she says, "Я для вас, Tsina Molovna. Елена Солоха выходит добиваться справедливости для тех, кто вам предан. Тень будет направлять мне и вам будет падать".

The shadow prods Yelena, whispering to her that Tsina will be waiting in Poland, but there is other justice to mete out here.  Flashes of other pictures, other news items spin across her conscious, retrieved from the storage within her 'link.  The last is a still of Bella.  The shadow whispers that Bella and others are being used by killers at the club.  These men have betrayed people who trusted them, then used them, then killed them.  Bella may already be beyond hope, but others can be saved and justice provided for those.  Yelena shakes her head and flicks the ash of the burned up cigar into the snow.  She turns and goes back into the apartment, her eyes brighter and her mind clearer.  Moving to the table she looks at all of her companions.  "Yelena sorry.  Yelena lose control at club.  Much drugs and alcohol.  But Yelena friend Bella in danger.  Need plan destroy club after get mage.  Kill club men.  Destroy drug.  So what plan for take mage?"


"I am coming for you, Tsina Molovna.  Yelena Petrovna is coming to seek justice for those you betrayed.  The shadow will guide me and you will fall."

[Shaman_Yuri]

{Placeholder}

Firefly will support the aquatic idea.  Her only concern will be survivability of the mage underwater.  Hypothermia and or asphyxia.  It is a lower risk plan for us, but a higher risk of loss of the primary.