[SquirrelDude]

"I imagine the place wasn't assensed for any lingering magical presence or auras? It's a throwaway question, Slobbertooth knows the answer will be no, and that there won't be anything left to read under all the pain and suffering that infest the barrens at this point. He's hung up on the the idea of subsonic ammunition from a heavy pistol, though.

His chin is still resting in his hand when he realizes the answer. "It was a PSK-3 Collapsible pistol. If our killer got his hands on that, then he must be very well connected. You could more easily smuggle in an assault rifle than you could that pistol."

Slobbertooth thanks Wilcox for the spare blankets, and chuckles at his comment about charm. "I've tried charming. Turns out ladies aren't really fond of the big grey orc with giant tusks and scars over his body no matter how much I smile and act the gentlemen.

"Especially not when I'm standing next to Cassanova and the noble savage over there." Slobbertooth motions over towards Torrent and Krestov respectively.

[Jack_Spade]

"Hm, if that's correct, you might be able to find the assassin - if you have the right connections.
I certainly never met anyone with that kind of weapon."

Wilcox laughed:
"You might want to learn nonetheless, as they say: There is no problem that can't be solved by a kind word, a five figure sum or five inches of steel."

[SquirrelDude]

So we have a weapon, a suspect who would be relatively easy to identify, and a contact to gain access to the case files.

Slobbertooth was mum on the topic of learning how to use a kind word. It wasn't really his style. He just gave a nod and a shrug of his shoulders at the comment. It wasn't really his style. He finished the last of his soykaf and went to get himself another one. "Anyone else want another cup?

"Think he's ever going to ask us our names?

[Volker]

bnc has no more questions. She'd love to get home and cuddle into her bed, but that's not an option. Well, not that she wouldn't be used to sleep over at other men's places, only, they usually aren't three times her age. Or sober. Or accompanied by her team.

"Thanks for the guest room. I appreciate that." And no funny ideas. I'm always armed.
She leans back, asks for a blanket, and wraps herself in. She doesn't feel comfortable enough for small talk, though.

"Don't think he cares a lot."

[Jack_Spade]

"So if that's all, I'll retire. I hope it goes without saying but just in case: Don't try to steal anything. I have an active sensor suit here, your faces are archived and a few more other markers have been collected. I get that you are a bunch of runners set on this case - who else could a SINless boy turn to.
I admit I welcome diversions in my retirement, but that does not mean I'm senile.
Help yourself to an early breakfast if you want to catch the ferry. Bathrooms on the left, guestroom is upstairs to the right."
Wilcox got up and walked towards the bathroom.

[SquirrelDude]

"Well, if the others have nothing to say. Have a good evening. I'll be out before the first ferry lands on the isle. You said your clerk friend's name was Phil Rainier, correct?"

Slobbertooth returned to his seat on the couch and took of a sip of the new cup of soykaf. He would need the energy, it was going to be a long night. Slob usually didn't sleep most evenings, but he usually didn't just sit around a retired cop's home. They had a ferry to catch in the morning, and he didn't want to be out when those rotodrones woke up.

"bnc, if you wouldn't mind trying to unarchive our faces. Get a nap if you need one. I'm heading out the moment this storm breaks."

<<@Kazuya Armstrong
> We have a possible suspect. Magically awakened elf, missing an eye, wielding a PSK-3 Collapsible Pistol. Keep your ear to the ground on any news about that.

> The team will be spending an evening at Wilcox's place. Weather has been bad enough to stop all ferry service in and out.>>

[Volker]

"I can try, but they might already be stored in a Lone Star host, which might be a coconut to crack. What exactly are you up to, sempai?"

Can I see where our images our stored?

[Jack_Spade]

A quick check showed indeed that the sensors were linked to the Lonestar Host, which bnc identified as a Rating 5 with A6 S5 D8 F7.

Just as she looked, bnc noted something strange: There was a MARK on the sensor suit in the shape of two circling ravens. But just as she looked closer, it disappeared. 

[SquirrelDude]

"This case was a cover up, obfuscated and buried for a decade, by men able to hire a well trained and well equipped awakened assassin, bnc. I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew someone is coming.

"I'd rather they not know who is coming for them."

Slobbertooth turned and gave his toothy grin. "Besides, they didn't get my good side."

[Sabato Kuroi]

Torrent wasn't worried about his face being archived.He could always use another.
Though Wilcox's words sounded almost like a challenge he decided not to steal anything from the old man's house.
The idea amused him but he didn't want to  get his friends in trouble.

Another elf in the biz eh? His methods sound cool and maybe I could study his moves but for Slobber's sake I'll probably have to get him out of the streets..permanently.

[Volker]

"Attention, we might not be alone. I think someone's coming. I might be mistaken, but I think there's another decker. Plus probably his team."

bnc is alert in a split-second. She leaves her meat body to dive full into the virtual environment. There, she again looks for silent running icons. Also, she examines the sensor icon closer to find out who was the last one to perform what operation on it.

Ready to measure skills, little Crow? Don't you mess with bnc...

[SquirrelDude]

Slobbertooth unholstered his Ruger, and swung open the cylinder to check to make sure it was loaded. "Of course it's gel."
He took a deep breath, focused, looked at Torrent and nodded towards the door. "We're not just going to wait for them to set up an ambush, are we?"

[Jack_Spade]

Seconds and minutes ticked by while the storm howled outside, but no icons appeared.
When the first hour had gone by, fatigue started to set in. Concentration and Adrenalin could only stay up so long.
But bnc was pretty sure that someone had tapped into the sensor suit - someone who could beat the firewall of the Lonestar host.
She of course would just have to look for a sensor, remove the cover and plug in directly to get easy access to the host - what she would find inside was another question entirely...

[Volker]

bnc doesn't wait for an hour. After some two minutes, she grows restless. Patience never was a strength of her, and waiting did no good either, whether or not somebody was out there. If there was fresh information to gather, she had to do it now.
"Apparently I was wrong with "plus probably his team". But somebody did hack these sensors. I better check what I can findn out. Sorry for the false alarm."

Inhaling deeply, she prepared herself to hack nothing less than the Lone Star host.

Mark the host:
Hacking on the Fly: 19d6t5 8

[Jack_Spade]

Ok, this will be combat time:
There is a patrol IC actively looking for intruders, so you'll have to roll LOG+SNEAK (+WIL if you go full matrix defense) every round)
Matrix Ini: 13+4d6 32
Matrix Perception: 10d6t5 4

Don't get caught!


bnc found herself inside a dull, commercial host with the Lonestar colors everywhere. The matrix-topography told her that this was a host that wasn't meant for flesh-and-blood users. Everything was absolutely utilitarian.
An active patrol IC in the form of a single eye roved around the inside, scanning every icon in a three second rhythm.