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[5e IC] Deep in the Shadows of Texas

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Poindexter

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« Reply #90 on: <06-08-15/1718:25> »
The three ladies assure Mister Hopeless that nothing is going to get serious tonight, just a little initial poking around. Though he puts on a good show of seeming to be comforted by that fact, he knows all too well how quickly "just poking around" can turn into a full blown riot. At least I've got my helmet with me. He sits in the backseat, and rolls down his window so he can see outside with all three eyes. The worlds streak by and he gives himself a few more blocks to enjoy just looking at them before his brain gets back to business. Reaching into his inside jacket pocket, he powers off his meta-link, then powers on the expensive, high end Avalon. Immediately, he sets it to run silent, then slaves all his gear to it. Checking his messages, he finds the file from Dadlez, forwarded by himself, and files it away under a password. Next, he mentally fires off a couple messages of his own.

<<@B-Know [Hopeless] Ayo, we should meet up and talk about some shit tonight or early tomorrow, wiz?>>

<<@Elise [Hopeless] Hey there, long time no chat! You been well? Things have been really looking up for me lately and I figured I'd holler at you, just to see how life had been treating you, wiz? Cindy still stealing your commissions? Probably not, you seemed like you had a solid plan for all that mess. Hey, speaking of commission, what kinda % off do you think you could give me if I needed to buy 100-150 drams, hermetic anyways? Hope to hear from you soon!>>

<<@Error [Hopeless] Havin landlord issues for four. You know any good spots to stay?>>

<<@Tammy [Hopeless] Yo, you know any Yaks? There's jing in it for ya if ya know the right one. Holler.>>

About a block later, Phonenix asks him a direct question, turning around to look him right in the face.

"I ain't for beating bushes, so I think this is good timing for drek, and I'll admit since I'm not from here I'm curious.  Hopeless, you think this so good time to give the rundown of what you know about stuff?"

"Well, I'd hate to distract the decker..." he says, unsure if he should proceed. Looking over to Wraith, he can see she's just tweaking things in AR at the moment and gives no objection to his continuing, so he does. "Basically, it was a simple theft job that was borked from the start; mostly due to bad casting. Not like, spells y'know? Like, casting roles, y'know? Anyways, our mage... Elf called Loki... stirred up a bunch of shit on our first day of recon and started a riot. He vanished shortly thereafter, so we never found out why, but he kinda seemed to think it was funny." Ian rolls his eyes and continues. "So now, we're also playing defense against these retro-futurists from the riot as well as trying to rob a MUCH-more-alert-than-before target. Well, THEN it turns out that the Putas De Frakkin Muerte have hacked our comms and know all our plans. Boom, the rest of the team goes missing, cept me and the decker. THEN, we're at a meet to try and work shit out with the retros when the Putas, along with one of our team members..." Ian's face goes cold and angry here. "Human piece of shit named Dantes, if you know where he is, let's you and me talk after this job is over." He collects himself and gets back into story time. "Anyways, they jump us, the decker gets geeked, me and a couple replacement guns we picked up barely manage to get out alive. But... one of the Putas gets taken down by the star while they're trying to escape." Ian stops to take a breath. He's having a thought he's never stopped to consider before. Without considering he should probably censor himself, he speaks it aloud. "Jesus, the other two probably blame me..." He shakes his head back and forth for a moment, snapping himself out of it. "Anyways, besides Dantes, there were other security leaks as well. I only found out about those cause Ms Johnson volunteered em up as part of her apology while she was paying us... Y'know? Me and the two replacements?" He feels like he could stop here and everyone would feel like that were a satisfactory amount of info. But for some reason, he keeps going.

"And duuuuude! This whole shit here tonight feels wrong as fucking fuck." He hates to admit it out loud, but it's been slowly eating at him since that fucking hostess knew him by sight. "This johnson keeps textin me through the meal. Talkin about vengeance and how these men were the ones responsible for the security leaks on the last job, trying to get me all riled up or something. I guess she thinks that me and Breeze were way closer than we were or some shit, and she wants to send me off on some 'dickhead crusade' to avenge my fallen brother or whatever." He's starting to get a little angry about the situation. Why the fuck do women like that always think I'm the one to fuck with, huh!? He really should keep his mouth shut at this point, but the floodgates are open and here it all comes. "And not only that?! But she sits me right next to her where I can get a good whiff of the tailored fuckin pheromones, laughs at anything that resembles a joke outta my mouth, and puts her fucking hand on my leg! The fuck stupid does she think I am?!" Finally having let it all out and gotten himself to the point where he's thoroughly embarrassed of nearly everything that just came out of his mouth, he shuts back up, and looks back out the window.

God. Fucking. Dammit.

Luckily, the woman next to him pipes up to break the awkward silence that threatens to suffocate the car.

"Head's up, folks!"

Thank the Ghost!

"Minami just got a call. I'm recording it right now. Uh... does anyone speak Japanese?" Wraith listened to the conversation, hoping someone on either end of the line would speak some fraggin' English but, after about a minute, the call ended. While Wraith checked the incoming commcode to see if matched any of the numbers they had been given, she said, "It looks like something might be going down in about 15 minutes. 21:15 was appended to the conversation in a text message."

The human feels a little bit of adrenaline slip into his bloodstream. I really hope we're still just poking around, here.
« Last Edit: <06-08-15/1736:04> by Poindexter »
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SgtBoomCloud

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« Reply #91 on: <06-08-15/2150:04> »
Marissa was listening intently, head glanced back towards Hopeless whilst the car navigated itself (autopilot is a hell of a thing!) to show she was listening.  Man, looks like I rolled into some drek.  Means this will likely be just as dramatic ....AWESOME!  Smirking a little, she was about to open her mouth to give some reassurance to the red-cheeked man...something about how maybe the Johnson wasn't trying to be deceptive and manipulative (likely a lie), when Wraith piped in about the call and the time.  Pondering the question, the red-headed human gave a shrug.

"You'd think.  Dealt with Yaks once--enough for one lifetime, trust me--and have watched more than my share of anime...can't quite pick it up.  all the wordy-things just seem to blend together and I rely on subtitles...shoulda picked up a linguasoft, but then again, didn't think I'd run into them again"  She trailed off for a bit, frowning.  Idly, Marissa wondered how connected was the Yakuza networking between here and Arizona...well, luck may just yet be on her side.  Either way, she agreed to this job: no backing down now.  Seeing the tension on Hopeless' face, she gave a bit of a nod.

"The first to blow their patience loses, both predator and prey.  Just because something MAY be going down, it don't mean we need to make this op tonight.  How fast can we get some tech translating stuff going up in here?  It's just one voice, but I says we play this casual, see if we can learn something from it, and that be it.   Any other thoughts?"

JackVII

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« Reply #92 on: <06-09-15/0945:01> »
[05 MAY 2075 | 21:00 | DFW | In Phoenix's Car]

"Oh yeah, this is entirely informational. We don't even know where the other three are, so this isn't even a target of opportunity. But it may help us to establish patterns or associates." Wraith replied. "As far as translators, I'm not familiar with that tech. I know about linguasofts, but you need a skilljack for that... if anyone actually has one, we could spring for a program."

"Worst case scenario since it's a bit unprofessional, but we could call Mrs. Johnson. Don't we think she's Yak related? I bet she speaks Japanese. Kind of odd for her to hire us for this gig without having a single one of us able to 'speaka' the language."
« Last Edit: <06-10-15/0941:22> by JackVII »
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« Reply #93 on: <06-09-15/1446:49> »
Marissa didn't particularly care for calling on their Johnson for help when it could be nothing, and that feeling showed on her features as she pursed her lips, head tilting as she thought to all the shows she watched, all that Japanese that she had absorbed into her little head.  After a moment's pause, she muttered out some unintelligible speech (at least to present company.  "Just who the hell do I think I am...". Piping up, she glanced over at their resident Decker, her lips curling into a grin.  "What the hell, I'll take a crack at it. Worth a shot.  If all else fails, we use our phone a friend.". Once the file was received, Marissa would listen, then read, attempting to discern the foreign tongue and script.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So ka..." the redhead finally muttered, nodding her head.  " The call was with an underling of Minami's.  No name, but he was continually referred to as Otőto...Little Brother, which might mean protege.  Apparently, Otőto been getting a bit lax on collections for protection money from a taco stand of some kind, and he's picking Minami up with a crew to remind the place why it needs to pay for protection...normal yak biz if memory serves...whaddya  think, chummers?"
« Last Edit: <06-09-15/1735:30> by SgtBoomCloud »

JackVII

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« Reply #94 on: <06-10-15/0944:48> »
[05 MAY 2075 | 21:00 | DFW | In Phoenix's Car]

Wraith frowned. "I'm not sure what value there would be in going after him. Unless the taco stand in question is affiliated with the Feathered. Or could be made to look like it was affiliated with the Feathered. Maybe get over there and try to surreptitiously get some footage of the shenanigans? I don't suppose anyone has a drone, do they?"
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rednblack

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« Reply #95 on: <06-10-15/1301:40> »
@Hopeless,

<<@The_Apostle [Error] Hoi, chummer.  Not sure if you'll notice, but I've updated your commcode in my log.  Folks round the way have taken to calling you that.  Funny, eh?  I know a few spots.  Whatcha lookin 4?  Bolthole?  Off the grid?  Prime trix access?  Go with me and you won't be in "Error" eh chummer?>>

<<@Hopeless [Elise] %5 off 100+.  10% off on 150+.  Little busy.  Call me 2morrow>>

<<@Hopeless [B-Know] Come round the way, breeder.  Me n da boyz jus knocking a few back.  Be up late.>>


Given the time and the lack of a reply, Hopeless figures that Tammy must be working.
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Poindexter

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« Reply #96 on: <06-10-15/1739:11> »
<<@The_Apostle [Error] Hoi, chummer.  Not sure if you'll notice, but I've updated your commcode in my log.  Folks round the way have taken to calling you that.  Funny, eh?  I know a few spots.  Whatcha lookin 4?  Bolthole?  Off the grid?  Prime trix access?  Go with me and you won't be in "Error" eh chummer?>>

<<@ Error [Mister Hopeless] DFW base of operations sorta thing. Not sure about preferred location, yet. Matrix drek ain't super important. As for my new name, I kinda don't like that folks around the way are talking about me at all. Honestly, if I had any damn money saved up, just hearing you say that is almost enough to make me take a vacation, y'know?>>

<<@Hopeless [Elise] %5 off 100+.  10% off on 150+.  Little busy.  Call me 2morrow>>

<<@Elise [Hopeless] Wonderful! Let's meet for lunch, or tea, or something and talk more specifics, wiz?"

<<@Hopeless [B-Know] Come round the way, breeder.  Me n da boyz jus knocking a few back.  Be up late.>>

<<@B-Know [Hopeless] I'll come through sometime tonight, but I got things to talk about that I don't want "the boys" hearin bout, ya feel me?>>

As the man in the backseat texts with his various contacts, the women in the car with him discuss the intercepted call. Despite paying attention to three worlds at once, Mister Hopeless still keeps up with the conversation. Apparently, Phoenix speaks a little Japanese and according to her, there's gonna be some sorta low level ass kicking going on tonight. Talk gets tossed around the car about looking in on it and Ian gets more and more nervous. Then Wraith asks a question.

"I don't suppose anyone has a drone, do they?"

Ian really doesn't wanna answer this question truthfully, since doing so makes the likelihood of some actual drek and shooting going down tonight much higher. However, he doesn't want to be dishonest, even by omission, with his team. Still gazing out the window, he sighs and says with a defeated tone, "I do." He turns his head to look over at the brunette in the cowboy hat next to him with a small shrug. "A little roto dealwave. But, it's back at the house, and the sensor system on it is straight from the factory. Not great for long range surveillance." Then, remembering his encounter at the college, he adds, "Plus, it's pretty flimsy and costs a drek load to fix." He looks around the car at the three women assembled and finishes with, "If yall wanna run by my side of town so I can get it, I don't have a problem."
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rednblack

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« Reply #97 on: <06-11-15/1124:56> »
<<@The_Apostle [Error] How u expect to build a rep in this biz less ppl speak your name, no?  Maybe u just leave it n your back pocket.  Cud come in handy.  NEway, if you're looking for DFW-plex I gotta spot in Arlington, complete with a gopher, 1,300¥ for the week.  Another spot in Ellis.  Quiet little neighborhood.  Nobody bother you.  1,700¥>>

<<@Hopeless [B-Know] u ain't bringing anything here.  U just need to talk, cool. We can grab a quiet corner.>>
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« Reply #98 on: <06-11-15/1444:49> »
Pursing her lips, Marissa shrugged.  " We could do that.  I'd have to do some "Kessel Run in 20 parsecs" drek to beat our boys to the place, but it's doable.  Question is, what would witnessing the throw down tell us?"

Cracking her neck, the lady turned to the others.  "Surprisingly I just had a thought.  How hard would it be to ID Otőto-San?  I mean, we're pretty sure he isn't one of our marks that drives Minami, so if we know what other drivers this hoop got, we can maybe set the two up easier?  I dunno...either way, we decide now, or I won't be beating them there..."

JackVII

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« Reply #99 on: <06-11-15/1522:37> »
[05 MAY 2075 | 21:00 | DFW | In Phoenix's Car]

Wraith pursed her lips. "No, I don't think we need the drone. If it was one more suited for surveillance, that might have worked. As far as witnessing the event, I was thinking it would be footage we could use if we wanted to leave 'evidence' of the Feathered's involvement. Just edit some stuff together and message it to the head Yak when we take the four out."

Squinting behind her completely unnecessary set of sunglasses, she responded to Phoenix, "I don't think anyone drives Minami. From the information we were givem, Minami drives Oshiro around. I doubt any of the scrubs he's in charge of are allowed within two blocks of Oshiro."

Taking a deep breath and expelling it quickly, Wraith finished, "It's up to y'all what we do. I can stay on his 'link for a little while, so we're not missing out on anything from that angle."
« Last Edit: <06-11-15/1524:28> by JackVII »
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Poindexter

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« Reply #100 on: <06-11-15/1702:40> »
"No, I don't think we need the drone."

Oh thank god.

"If it was one more suited for surveillance, that might have worked. As far as witnessing the event, I was thinking it would be footage we could use if we wanted to leave 'evidence' of the Feathered's involvement. Just edit some stuff together and message it to the head Yak when we take the four out."

She's got a damn good point. Maybe I should invest some of this money into a better sensor system for Lil Rambo in the near future... Ian feels a lot better about things now. He relaxes a bit in his seat and goes back to watching out the window.

"It's up to y'all what we do. I can stay on his 'link for a little while, so we're not missing out on anything from that angle."

Hopeless stays quiet, preferring to let the rest of the team talk before he puts his opinion out there. Meanwhile, the texts keep coming and going, back and forth.

<<@The_Apostle [Error] How u expect to build a rep in this biz less ppl speak your name, no?  Maybe u just leave it n your back pocket.  Cud come in handy.  NEway, if you're looking for DFW-plex I gotta spot in Arlington, complete with a gopher, 1,300¥ for the week.  Another spot in Ellis.  Quiet little neighborhood.  Nobody bother you.  1,700¥>>

<<@Error [Mister Hopeless] This breeder aint tryin to build a rep. Just tryin ta eat, wiz? Both spots sound good. I'll holler at my room-mates and get back at you within 24 hours.>>

<<@Hopeless [B-Know] u ain't bringing anything here.  U just need to talk, cool. We can grab a quiet corner.>>

<<@B-Know [Hopeless] Yeah, I know the drill chummer. I'll holler when I'm on my way.>>
« Last Edit: <06-12-15/0628:01> by Poindexter »
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« Reply #101 on: <06-12-15/1210:27> »
[05 MAY 2075 | 21:00 | DFW | In Phoenix's Car]

Wraith pursed her lips. "No, I don't think we need the drone. If it was one more suited for surveillance, that might have worked. As far as witnessing the event, I was thinking it would be footage we could use if we wanted to leave 'evidence' of the Feathered's involvement. Just edit some stuff together and message it to the head Yak when we take the four out."

Marissa gave a nod at this, agreeing with the sentiments.  Seeing that both Hopeless and La Sombra had fallen silent on the matter, she spoke up.  "Nix on the drone then it is.  Can't be helped...but footage would be hella tight for getting what we after....wait a minute-oooohh..."

As she rounded a corner, the Phoenix took the wheel and stepped on the gas a bit, an idea forming in her mind.  "While the winds howl, the angels watch from the heavens... Wraith, is it possible to get a layout of the area around the taco stand they're going to?  Hoping for a building a few stories high with a good view.  Hopeless, this will just be a looking op, I promise.  Idea is this: one of us finds a place with a good view...two if needed.  I got two imaging scopes in the back.  We get stealthy, hole up, and record some good footage through the scopes to our links.  Bam, we get the footage we need."

She grinned.  Man, she was having a good day... "Too risky?"

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« Reply #102 on: <06-12-15/1706:00> »
"Or I could just walk in and buy a taco."
That's just like... your opinion, man.

rednblack

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« Reply #103 on: <06-12-15/1712:05> »
As if to punctuate the current conversation, Wraith intercepts a text on Minami's link from an anonymous number.

<<@Minami [Redacted]

>>


The message is checked, immediately deleted, and Wraith loses her MARKs on Minami's link.
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JackVII

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« Reply #104 on: <06-14-15/1916:48> »
[05 MAY 2075 | 21:00 | DFW | In Phoenix's Car]

"Frag!" Wraith cursed. "Not sure, but I think someone just alerted Minami that something was up. He shut down or rebooted his 'link. I don't have eyes on him anymore."

The decker took the image and sent a copy of it to the rest of the team. "Anyone recognize that?"
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