[Yok]

Then remembering that their words might be recorded she finally switches over to commlink.  >>Hey Henway, can you squeeze someone on the back of your bike?  I want the wind in my face to get rid of the smell of this place--or maybe that is just an excuse to ride a Harley.  We’re going somewhere to talk, right?  Anyone know any good places down in this end of town?<<

Henway responds over the comm as he checks out the parking lot while he strolls over to his bike.  Null sheen, Fawtee.  Dat place stunk, dat's fer sure.  Nuttin' like a bike ta clear yer head, dat's what I say.  I'll meetcha in da parkin' lot.

That said, he surveys the parking lot and the surrounding area for any observers as he listens to the rest of the comm chatter.  When the discussion of where to meet comes up, he chimes in on the topic.  I dunno da Mended Drum, but if it's a connected place it should be chill for us to talk dere if Angus is vouchin' for it.  Before we go after dese slots I'll need ta hit Redmond and pick up some gear.  Should probably hop in one of da vans then, since dat stuff don't really carry well on da bike.

[Beta]

>>Same here on needing to hit Redmond.  Just a machine pistol, so hiding it isn't so hard.<<

[obidancer]

<<Team [Kachina] There's much work to do before we can pretend even finding the perpetrators. That bar is fine by me. Let's meet there in two hours to gather the info and decide on our next move. I need to get in touch with a couple of my contacts to maybe get more leads. I advise that  if any of you know of someone who could help, don't hesitate. >>

She climbed in Vanguard's Van. Drop me off on your way. I'll catch up with everyone at the Bar Angus offered.

Using her Trodes she sent a message to her contact Manny:
<< Manny [Kachina], my friend, I know you're a busy man hopping from one Soup Kitchen to another, but I need to talk with you asap. Anyway we can meet?>>

[WillAsher]

>>Works for me.  Got to get my heavy kit anyways.  I don't have a lot of contacts in the area, but I can start analyzing the footage and checking out the boards.<<

[Beta]

>>Team [Forty]Sounds good. Henway and I could head up to Redmond and gear up.  Vanguard, Ravener, would either of you be able to come pick us up from up there?  Like the big guy said, him riding down the expressway with big guns strapped to his back may not be the best move if we want to see him any year soon.  And taxis have cameras, if you can even get one in Redmond.<<

After a moment, she feels compelled to add >>With the help of a spirit we could probably keep his toys from being noticed by a taxi's camera, and could take one somewhere close enough to where we are meeting.  Or if you just don't want to risk driving in Redmond, we could probably slide through under spirit wraps to somewhere a little less terrible.  But I'd rather be catching a nap and saving spirit services, if I can.<<

[Agleaca]

'they have food but its the usual bar drek mostly for show in case some gowl comes in off the street. But there is a Chinese place on the corner know for there spring rolls and we;ll be going in through the back door so the owner wont be after your dime not that he'd care if you came in the front door either as long as you were vouched for. i'll go  ahead to secure the room"

[Jayde Moon]

<<Kachina [Manny] I got some time for the Spirit Witch.  What say we meet at a Soybucks in... where's easy for you?>>

[obidancer]

Manny [Kachina]: Should be at your favorite Soybuck in 25min max... bring that brain of yours.

That should leave enough time for Kachina to be dropped off somewhere nearby and make her way to the meeting point. Manny was a funny man, but he knew many awaken individuals and runners.. If someone wanted to hire some spellslinger, Manny would be their go-to man. Or so she hoped.

The Soybucks was crowded enough that the two could remain inconspicuous but not so much that they could easily find a spot to seat. She bought Manny a soycaf', and the two engage in the usual small talks, Kachina inquiring vaguely whether the location of the artifact the Gambler's provided ended up being correct*.
Listen, I'm looking for someone or a group, and I need a lead. I'm sure it will cost me more than a soycaf, but you may have info I need.
There's been a run on a corp - I know, nothing new here. The perpetrators are a group of runners, low ethics -it was a massacre- but skilled at what they do. One of them is an Awaken, Mage or Shaman I couldn't tell, but an expert mentalist for sure. He pulled some good illusions and dangerously enough some mind / memory control. From what we gathered they may not be necessary from Seattle, maybe more rural neighborhoods. I need an ID or lead on the Magician, the Runners team, or the person / entity who hired them.  Would that ring any bell for you? And look I don't care if you were involved in the hiring process, all I care is to find them.

[Yok]

Throwing his leg over the bike, Henway grins as the engine roars to life while he waits for Forty to climb on the back.  Pulling out of the parking lot, his voice comes over the comm on the team channel.  Awright, so me an' Fawtee is headin' ta Redmond to pick up our drek, den if someone wants ta meet us at Mom's Diner we could use a ride to da meet.  If dat ain't chill, I'll have my gear in a case so dat we can grab a cab if we can find one around Touristville ta get to da Mended Drum.  And if anyone is gettin' food, I'll take da biggest size noodles and dat drek dey put wit 'em for me.  Or I can eat da bar food, I don't mind dat and I prolly ate worse before.

Switching to a private channel, he adds, Forty>> Awright Fawtee, where we headin'?

[Turkish]

Drop me off on your way. I'll catch up with everyone at the Bar Angus offered.

"Sounds good. Send me a message if you need me to pick you up later, I am going to swing by my pad and make sure my other equipment is ready to go at a moments notice, before heading to the bar."  VanGuard then muses to himself, "Kay sure does make a good leader, I hope that we pick that conversation back up.  If no one else mentions her, I'll be sure to throw my vote her way.  Poor lady, leading a group like this sure will be a thankless job..."  "Kay, we as a group have been avoiding the question, but my convictions tell me that it is important.  We need a leader for the group, especially for times when the group does not come to a consensus.  From my limited obvservation, you seem to handle yourself quite well.  Unless you are completely opposed to it, I intend to nominate you for the role.  I hope that is ok?"

VanGuard, otherwise uneventfully except for the sudden downpour that happens everytime someone sneezes, drives to Kachina's drop off point, then sends the following comm message to his roomate as Kay climbs out of the vehicle at her destination.

>> Kayla [VanGuard]  Hey, are you at the apartment? <<

[obidancer]

Before climbing out of the van to meet with her contact and buddy Manny, Kachina couldn't help but nod at Vanguard with a sweet smile.
Thank you for the trust. If the consensus if for me to lead the team, then I will take that role. I actually feel everyone will actually get along quite well. A lot of strong personalities but good complimentary skills. It's going to be a good team.

She gave him a military salute and left for her meeting, leaving in the van her belt with her sub-machine gun.

[Beta]

Switching to a private channel, he adds, Forty>> Awright Fawtee, where we headin'?

Responding on the private channel, Forty suggest >>Henway [Forty] Drop me off somewhere  at the eastern edge of Touristville, I'm not far to the east of there.  I just don't want to get the locals all wound up at the sight of you -- not today anyway, might be fun later on.  Meet you back at Mom's Diner in an hour? Might make us a bit late getting back, but they can deal.  And I'll buy you a soyburger or two --- or maybe about ten?  I figure I owe you for the ride, and sounds like it beats the bar food.  <<

>>Anyway, while we are riding, let's talk about fighting, get to know what to expect from each other.I'm pretty quick, but the first things I'm usually gonna do in a fight is ask my spirit to help, and make sure I'm not a sitting duck, so I'm not putting out the hurt personally at first.  After that I'm pretty good with my machine pistol, can lay down cover fire or stick to quick bursts.  If some fragger gets in my face I got shock gloves, but I might have trouble tagging someone really slick.  I do like to try and make them back down without having to lay out the beat down, and I'm pretty good at that part.  What about you, if people don't take one look at you and give up, what's your thing?

On the way back through the barrens the nice weather was a hindrance.  All the local gangs were outside, and Forty had to avoid one imminent fight, then call on Bolt to frighten off a human who wouldn't take 'go frag yourself' for an answer.  It was almost enough to make her happy to be home.

A quick call to Radiant Shadow and a transfer of some funds to her sister ensures that at least one of them would have a pleasant evening.  Then Forty pulls her gun from its hiding place, pulls out Mr. Bonsai, and spends half an hour contemplating the century that the tree has seen.  Finally she rouses herself, straps on her Steyr, and strides back to Touristville.  This time the look in her eye -- or maybe the visible gun on her hip -- keep the gangers out of her face.  Coming into Tourstville proper she takes off her outer vest and wraps the gun in it, so she doesn't scare off the tourists.

[Agleaca]

         Angus heads to the mended drum. On the corner a fat man eagerly rubs his hands as he enters Yu Soon Fatt Authentic Chinese Restaurant reminding Angus of Henway’s request. So, he enters the restaurant and orders the troll bowl with twice every thing extra on the side. Then he thought again, and ordered a second for himself plus some egg rolls for the group telling the clerk to have it sent over to the mended drum in about 20 minutes.

        Exiting, he turns left down a dark dead end street shaded by four tall coffin hotels. Random refuse lay strewn about the road a trail of soured milk leads to a dumpster at the end. The bottom half of an old neon sign flickers in the dark, proclaims simply beer, the top half stating fresh had long since stopped working. Lurking underneath is reinforced metal door with “Mended Drum” lazily painted in red. The whole approach gives off an uninviting aura, it was designed that way. The mob didn’t like entertaining locals so they went out of there way to make this hang out imposing. They even bribed the local clean up agency to leave extra garbage every so often. They seemed to going about this assignment with pleasure.

        As Angus walks in conversation dies the regulars glare at the front door instinctually in the off chance it’s a local. Seeing Angus the denizens go back to their topics without a second glance. Angus walks to the bar and simply states “I need the key” The bar man grunts and sets down a half brick attached via chain to a key. Angus picks up the brick and walks behind the bar into a dirty kitchen. Looking at the cook, who seems to be setting a serious prospecting camp in his nose, Angus tells him to expect some people coming in the back and to send them to the storage room. He then walks past the freezer and unlocks another reinforced door. Illuminated by a single incandescent light is empty room save for a single chair a pool of blood and a couple teeth. Angus sighs and says to himself “Looks like its going to be one of those days” and goes searching for a mop and some industrial cleaner.

         After 15 minutes of heavy cleaning he shrugs and calls it good. Searching through the basement he gathers an eclectic set up for a meeting; a folding table with one leg duct taped in place, two relatively sturdy if rusty folding chairs, one not so sturdy but new folding chair, a bar stool, a stepping stool, and finally a turned over 5 gallon bucket which he had used for the mop water. Happy the meeting place is ready he goes and waits for the takeout to arrive and then takes it back to the room. He opens the group comm and tells every one to use the rear entrance in the ally and to tell the cook you were with Angus. Sitting down on the stepping stool he opens his food and begins eating listening, all the while, to Lilith singing a beautiful song which if translated would be about the down fall of the french monarchy.

[WillAsher]

Ravener takes his truck to his apartment, stopping at a KrillGrill to pick up an order of RedFries and a shake.  'Hmm...definitely bring the full kit.  Wonder if the boards have any info about a group of runners with similar tactics.' he muses as he eats his fries.  After getting home, he checks the building security camera to make sure noone has been snooping around.  'Stupid run is going to make me paranoid.'

After loading up the truck and setting up GridGuide to take him to the meet, Ravener heads out to a nearby car park to start checking the boards for any clues. 

[Yok]

Henway nods at Forty's response and eases the bike out of the parking lot and into traffic.  Heading to the Touristville section of the Barrens, he opens up the bike when traffic allows, but otherwise his riding style tends towards cruising rather than flash, as if he simply enjoys the sensation of riding without adding any unnecessary thrill to the experience.  The ride is uneventful, and after passing through Touristville he glides to a stop on the eastern side of the 'safe' area of Redmond.  Forty [Henway] Awright Fawtee, here ya go safe an' sound.  I'll head to my doss and collect my gear and meet ya at Mom's. 

He frowns for a minute, then opens up a link to the entire team. Team [Henway] Hey, anyone pickin' me and Fawtee up or we need ta find a cab?

Once Forty is clear of the bike, he cruises to the north side of Touristville, flashing a greeting to the crew on the corner of his block.  Parking the bike in what passes for a secure garage in this part of the plex, he nods to the gangers on the stoop of his building.  "Hoi, chummehs, howzit today?"

One of the youths responds with a nod of his own.  "Not bad.  Quiet for a change, but it's early so hopefully things jazz up as the day goes on."

Henway grins as he squeezes past the group, heading into his apartment.  "Wiz.  I gots some biz ta take care of, youse stay chill."

As the troll enters the building, one of the other gangers comments to the one that had spoken previously, "That is the biggest fraggin' trog I ever seen.  What the frag does he eat?"

Entering his dingy apartment, Henway quickly gathers up his guns, equipment and ammo, packs them into a hard case and loads the case and spare clips into a large duffel that looks like it might have been intended as an equipment bag for combat bike enthusiasts or a hockey player.  Hefting the bag over his shoulder with an ease that belied the actual combined weight of the assault rifle, light machine gun, gyro mount, and spare ammo and clips, he headed out the door and out onto the street.  The crew on the stoop look back as they hear the door open, then grumble in a good natured manner about having to move for his sorry hoop.

He lumbers towards Touristville, keeping an eye out for any LE patrols that might decide he was worth hassling.  He had fake papers that allowed him to carry all the gear in his possession, but he didn't want to risk them not standing up to scrutiny, hence the 'disguise' of the oversized sports duffle.  Arriving at Mom's Diner, he leans against the front of the building and waits for Forty to arrive, thinking, I hope one of dem vans can pick us up, I hate tryin' ta squeeze inta da tiny cabs dey got around here, especially wit dis much gear.