[SquirrelDude]

As much as I would like to have my Yamaha, the 227 should be enough and will be easier to hide, and I can keep the Ruger on my person if we get it inside. I'll leave it to you Torrent."

[Volker]

"The drones follow a repetitive pattern. Observe closely where and how they search before you come too close. I'll do what I can about the metal sensor."

I'll attack either the drone or the sensor itself, if they are different icons, depending on the difficulty to get into them. If both are easy, or if both are equally difficult to crack, I'll attack the drone. If the sensor is significantly easier to hack, I'll attack the sensor.

Hacking on the Fly: 17d6t5 5
Edit File: 4#15d6t5 5 6 3 4

[Jack_Spade]

Finally the team reached the control. While the cooking gear went through the scanner and came out without a hitch, there was a tense moment when the massive, troll sized drone began to pat down each of the team.
Slobber was sure the machine had felt the holster and even traced its shape, but no alert came forth and the machine continued with its job.
bnc's computer magic must have convinced it that there was no restricted gear and consequently no reason to raise an alarm.

Finally the team was inside, together with more than 20 other restaurant workers. AROs told them where to bring the kitchen gear and where to place the various plates and cutlery. Beside the security drones, no-one from the estate was to be seen.
After about an hour of hard work, Valmont himself made his appearance. He called all the staff together and gave a little "pep" talk:
"Just in case you lot haven't realized it yet, we are here at a very exclusive venue. Any misbehavior or slacking on the job here will have your instant termination from employment as a result - and if you aren't careful one of this tin men might extend this to termination from being healthy and alive. I'll tell you only once, so listen up: We provide only the best food - no sauce leaves the kitchen without me or Gaston tasting it. Stay sharp - I don't want to smell anything burning today. You just received your updated rotation schedules. Keep at them to the letter. Anyone found taking an additional break or an unregistered toilette break will find himself with a lot more free time on their hand than they bargained for in short order. And for god's sake be professional if one of the guests talks to you. You all are representing Valmont's - even more so then normal. I expect perfect service from everyone - no excuses.

Oh and another thing: If anyone considers a stunt like our Little Angel pulled - be aware that she is now back at Highgate, serving the remain of her prison sentence without further parol. So whoever condsiders it funny to use their work commlink for computer criminality, think twice about that.
And now back to work you lazy bums"

Silent and without delay everyone began to file out, back to their tasks.

The team found their roles also updated:
bnc was sent to polish silverware and should later act as server
Slobbertooth had to man the grill
Torrent was ordered to prepare the tables and was also scheduled as server
Krestov was added as helper for the second cook, Gaston, to oversee the lobsters
Bluebird found herself at reception duty and should prepare the wine selection.

Only one hour before the party started and the first guests would arrive...

[SquirrelDude]

Slobbertooth saw that he was assigned to the grill, all on his own.

Fraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Volker]

bnc quickly shuts down her deck after they are through the entrance. No need to attract any unwanted attention.

You son of a bitch. Until now it's funny, but now you are going to wish you never got fucking born. You are going to pay for this. You are going to pay badly.
bnc inhales deeply. [color]Later, slitch. Focus. This is Slobbertooth's thing. If he's what I think he is, he will help with this later.[/color]

bnc looks Krestov one last time in his eye, using the marks she's got on his commlink to to send her the images of his eyes - using them as a mirror. She adjusts her fibreoptic hair - she's a redhead with a fiery mane today. Clips and strings try to hold her hair back but it hardly holds to its restrains. By means of her chameleon skin, bnc even shows some freckles here and there. When she's content, she nods them goodbye and heads for the kitchen. Doing so, she monitors every details as good as she can: Where are drones? Where are matrix access? How is the general architecture? Are there any free cables? What is attaached to the wifi matrix and what is hardwired? Where are the drones and how do they act?

In the kitchen, she greets the other waitresses. "Hulloh, there. I'm Amanda..."

[Jack_Spade]

bnc was greeted with a grunt by a surely looking ork, who consulted his own AR environment before answering: "Hi. I'm Rain and in charge of the servers. According to the list you'll be polishing the silverware over there. Careful they use real silver here, so don't lose any. I'll give you a head's up when we need you out for serving."
And with this curt but nonetheless quite polite answer, Rain turned around and began herding the other staff towards their positions.
Looking around, there were no exposed wires but a lot of gadgets and devices with open universal connector ports. The surrounding matrix showed that all wireless gear was slaved to the security host of the mansion. Very little was hardwired - even the fridge was wireless active.
Inside she spotted 5 security drones, wearing fancy suits - most likely some form of body armor. They didn't wear any obvious weaponry, but their cyber arms had more than enough space to have some form of weapons installed - although none were visible in AR. Three drones kept walking in circles around the ground floor, two more did the same in the floor above.
The architecture of the house was one of grandeur - high ceilings, broad doors and airy windows made the interior look very spacious.

Slobbertooth had been led to a charcoal grill outside and been given the order to get a good heat going so the first guests could be greeted with some fresh steaks. From the grill he had an unobstructed view to the large swimming pool and to the road leading up to the larger mansion.

[SquirrelDude]

Slobbertooth did his best to watch the road and the pool for interesting guests and for security detail while he tended to the charcoal.

[Volker]

bnc faked a very fake smile, throwing him the very sort of glance a criminal would send a boss if they knew they can't allow themselves to let slip any word that might come cross. Then she went to the silver, taking up the cloth and searching the matrix for a silver-polishing quick-guide. Once she's confident and started the almost meditative task, she uses the free time to go and check out silent running icons.

[Sabato Kuroi]

While Torrent prepares the tables he scans the room for security personel and measures.

When the party starts he will try to spot the hostess and her (probably disguised) bodyguards. He will discreetly try to overhear any interesting conversations concerning Mrs. Thorin.


Etiquette(server): 8d6t5 2
Perception: 10d6t5 3

[Jack_Spade]

The canvasing was both boring and exhausting - Slobbertooth got yelled at by three different cooks, both for making the coal too hot, too cold and having it either smoke to much or creating not enough aroma. When the first guests arrived, the ork felt entitled to a medal for self restraint.
bnc likewise learned that no matter how good a job you did with polishing, there was always at least one missed spot someone could complain about or an admonishing not to rub to hard and taking off valuable silver.
Torrent found decking the tables to be an unbelievable tedious affair - millimeter precision was asked for and controlled with a ruler.
Krestov had it worst of all: Gaston the second cook turned out to be a small man with so much internal anger that he seemed to be at all times at the verge of throwing knifes in the general direction of every living being inside the kitchen. The fact that he verbally abused a troll easily capable of crushing his skull with one hand didn't seem to register. If the man were magically active, his most likely totem would have been Wolverine. 
Bluebird had it a bit easier, but only because nobody was interested in coming near her, unloading the heavy crates of wine bottles.

By the end of the hour, the teams nerves were severely frayed and fingers, back and arms began hurting.
The mercenary work of being shot at on a run never seemed more enticing than now.

But the endurance payed off. Thorin and his whole family were the first to arrive. While the twins engaged with their older brother Wilbur, running around the house. Eliza Thorin and her husband Benjamin calmly walked around, inspecting the work of the caterers.

This was the first time Slobbertooth had a chance to lay eyes on the woman in RL. She was tall, blond and looked at least 15 years younger then her real age of 48. Surprisingly she appeared warm and charming, taking her time to talk to the staff and exchanging encouraging words and a bit of praise for their hard work.
Benjamin Thorin in contrast kept largely to himself, looking distracted and pensive.

bnc noted that all members of the Thorin family carried their own Fairlight commlink with them, as well as a personal panic button. All drones went respectfully out of their way. Torrent observed that the drones reacted to voice commands of the whole family, including the twins. The two girls wore tight, matching black dresses, forcing Torrent to remind himself that the two were only 16 years old. Wilbur was a thin, lanky guy. If he hadn't been so tall, he could have easily been confused for the younger brother. He seemed genuinely happy with this party. His sisters also seemed to enjoy the bustling of the party preparation.
Eliza Thorin didn't seem to have any bodyguards around her, but Torrent saw her checking him out as he picked something up from the floor.

Bluebird spotted two bound spirits of man following the twins. They weren't particular strong, but the girls surely had a lot of talent for their young age.

Finally Eliza Thorin found her way to Sloobertooth and the first steak he had put upon the grill. The smell of searing meat seemed to please her as she said with a smile: "Ah, the man with the meat - thank god there is at least one dish without seafood around. And don't worry about preparing for me - I like my steaks just lightly singed. Keep it nicely juicy and bloody for me." She winked at him.

[SquirrelDude]

Slobbertooth kindly chuckled at her flirting and served her one of the pieces of grade A meat he had badly mangled over the hot coals.

"A thick slab of meat for the lady willing to pay me," he said with a wink.

And a bullet in your fragging head.

It's probably necessary.

Etiquette (Influence Group): 5d6t5 3

[Volker]

Goddammit, these fraggin' drekheads. This is gonna cost ya the sweetest joghurt there ever was, Slob...
It didn't take a lot of acting to play the irritated kitchen wench who is fighting to keep her anger down. After half an hour, she started nervously chewing her lip, yelling at anybody she could afford to yell at.

Finally something happened. "Target arrived finally. I summed up their matrix defense and weaponry as far as I can tell at the moment and attached it to the file. Physical and magical observations requested.
Boss, request permission to hack target's commlink and try and gather valueable information."

[SquirrelDude]

"I haven't spotted much in terms of physical security. Eliza seems content to walk around without it trailing her every movement. There aren't any heavy rifles on the lawn, but beyond that it's still a bit of a mystery.

"You're a go to try and get the target's commlink. If there is any sign that you are going to be detected, bail."

[Volker]

"Roger.
Pointy ears: The 'link is slaved to a tough security host. How do you estimate your chances of successfully palming it?"

[Sabato Kuroi]

"I should be able to take it. I will try it if you think it is absolutely necessary. I'd prefer to do it after the start of the party , while she's distracted. And I'll have to return it quickly lest she realizes the loss."