[adamu]

Al studied the 3D display carefully as the others talked. Ducts were always trickier than they seemed at first glance. This set-up could work, though - didn't seem to be in active use for heating, which could be a serious issue. And although duct systems as a rule had sections that tapered in width to help encourage air movement, there were no such bottlenecks in the parts they planned to access.

There were other potential hazards, though. "Can ya put one o' them mini-drones in there afore we commit? Like Isaint said, good to put eyes on the sensors, plus scope fer any that ain't wireless. Anything ya'll ain't got counters for, if Alyce can't handle it digitally, then I'll be able ta figure somethin' out mechanically. Then there's dust - especially disused ducts like this, can be literally toxic - but I think we all got counters fer inhalation vector as well, right?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Halfpint has been sitting quietly nearby, almost overlooked in the exchange.  But now someone had asked a question he can answer.  "Yeah.  We can get a couple of the drones in there in advance.  Give the word and I will send two of my boys in.  Robyn offers up Misha for the job and the halfer nods.  Good.  I will throw in a second one.  Do you guys want me to deploy them now?

[Jack_Spade]

"Yesterday would have been even better - yeah, get them in there, but keep an eye on stealth. Slow is safe and safe is fast because it gets results."
Isaint said with the tone of someone who has told this particular witticism a few times to often.

#300

[Mercy Merchant]

The diminutive rigger nods.  "I will jump in and take one at a time myself.  That way I can more accurately control them."  Robyn dissolves the 3D image and returns to her spot against the wall.  "Let me help by controlling the sensors you need to pass.  Three of them are cameras only and should be easy to pass, but I can help with the other one.  It is a motion detector and might be sensitive enough to pick up even a drone that small.  I will contact you when I am in."  He goes back to his drone couch and gets in the cockpit before jacking into his network of drones, selecting one of the small micro drones and jumping into it, in effect becoming the drone.  He tests out the capabilities and sets his RCC to give him the best stealth capability he can get and moves off.  There is no denying the value of the micro drones.  Sure, they are not flashy like their bigger cousins, and carry no weapons.  But they have the ability to sneak almost anywhere and be undetected.  As small as an insect, they are easily confused with a fly or a mosquito and can go almost anywhere. 

The target corridors are no exception and he easily passes by the first two cameras on his way to the motion sensor.  At the same time, Robyn has drifted back to her world through the data tap and has bounded to the grid and her deployed antennae and other assets reduce the noise to zero effect.  She once again carves her avatar to be just like the others and is able to glide into the host past the sensors ahead of Halfpint and carefully penetrates the motion sensor.  She stops the halfer outside the limit of the sensor's range and manages to send a momentary spoof to the sensor brain.  She tells Halfpint he can move forward but should not tarry until he is well past the sensor.  Working together is certainly easier than going it alone and soon the drone is past the last sensor and in the duct.  Halfpint leaves the drone on watch at the opening looking out into the corridor and jumps into the other drone.  The process is repeated and soon both drones are in the duct.  He leaves the second one farther up the pipe and near where the team plans to cut into the vault.  Halfpint jumps back to his command drone and slowly comes back to the meat world.  Robyn joins him shortly afterward.

Halfpint thanks Robyn and looks at ISaint.  I think they are where they need to be.  I can easily control them from here so tell me if you think I need to move them."

[obidancer]

Deckard raised his hand. When he got teh attention of a few, he asked:
Before we get inside, can somebody remind me how we're planning on smuggling this artefact out? If I got all the Shenanigans right, we're gonna have to head back to Below right after the heist, so I take it we can't really go for an all-gun-blazing run out kind of tactic.

[Jack_Spade]

"Depending on the crate, I'd just put it in another crate and either write Beer or AMP on its side. Because if our little sawing exercise goes right, no one will notice it's gone. In any case we'll transport it back here after the immediate action to regroup. If everything stays calm we can just stroll away with it. If not - well plan B does see us running to the checkpoint throwing a few gas grenades and flash bangs and vanishing into Below where the fuzz won't follow."

To Halfpint Isaint said: "Scout a bit further - I don't want to be surprised by a devil rat nest while I'm sawing through 30cm of concrete."

[Mercy Merchant]

Halfpint nods and smiles.  He does not even need to go back into the drone to command it for that task.  The feed shows the duct to be clear of any inhabitants.  He shakes his head, "The duct appears to be clear."

[pistolgrip]

Jackhammer initially resented being volunteered to stay back and "keep watch" while everyone else actually got to do the job, but the more he thought about it--squeezing into some tiny vent, patiently chainsawing his way through a concrete wall, then trying to drag a crate back through there, vs staying back and eating sandwiches with whatever was left of Robyn while she was at work--the more he could accept the small insult to his pride. He didn't smile, but soon found himself nodding with satisfaction, almost as if a song was playing in his head. Deckard was doing some mystical drek he didn't much care for, halfpint was playing drone, and Al was smoking. It all seemed right. Maybe this would be an easy job after all. And why not? They were all professionals. Well, at least the others were. And so was he, as far as they knew. Except with matrix files and mojo mind-reading tricks, they probably all knew he wasn't exactly a vet. Probably just too polite to say anything. The nodding stopped and he frowned, kicking at a chunk of debris. He claimed a sandwich and set it down, then set himself against a wall for hand-stand push-ups of an indeterminate number.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn finishes her sandwich as Jackhammer comes up to claim one.  She "watches" him as he heads off to a wall and she walks over to see if wants any company.  He moves to a handstand position against the wall before she gets there and starts doing pushups.  She goes to the wall, but gives him his privacy as she sits back down and reviews the data she has prepared for the others, trying to see what errors she might have made.  Despite her long resume, she still second-guesses herself a lot, which has often paid off in her finding errors or changing her interpretation of data.  So she lights up a fag and looks at it all again.  And again.

[adamu]

"Alrighty, then," Al concluded, "No sensors besides the three cameras an' one motion sensor, all four accessible by Robyn. Nothin' ta worry about besides dust - an' I fer one will be on my own air in there. I done a lotta work in tight places like this, so ain't no worry fer me. Only question I got 'bout yer plan, bossman, is three people in a duct like that, gits a mite crazy. Hell, two's a crowd in a space where yer shimmyin' nose-ta-ass on yer elbows an' knees. Reckon I can handle a chainsaw well as the next feller. You come in as back-up, but a good distance behind me so as not ta crowd. Then we can keep Deckard on ghost patrol. That's how ol' Al sees it. Your say, natch, but if we go in with three, I sure as hell ain't bein' the middle guy."

[Jack_Spade]

"Fine by me. One works, the other secures. Here's my saw by the way. Batteries are full. We'll need a few blankets to lay down the debris without creating a racket.
I too will wear my FBA.
If we do this right, the whole thing will be over today.

I'll call our contact and have them execute their distraction in three hours. You all try to get some rest. In Two hours we start to get into position."
 
#302

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn hears the men talking with part of her mutated brain, recording everything for later playback if she thinks she missed something.  The intent of the plan is quite clear, though, and seems executable.  She stands and walks over to her mule, where she opens a compartment and pulls out a rolled up sleeping bag.  Taking that back to the wall, she lays it out in a place free of debris and unrolls it to lie down on to try to get some rest, setting her internal chrono alarm for two hours.

[adamu]

Al used the available time to build a light but sturdy trolley out of what he could scrounge from the abandoned bakery. It may look like a lot of junk to some, but everything he needs is here. He knew from experience that moving anything of any weight through a narrow space is a pain in the ass - with your weight on your elbows, holding anything in your hands was beyond awkward. The shape and surface may not be conducive to sliding. And carrying on one's back would likely be impossible, since there was probably very little overhead clearance beyond that necessary to move one's own body. So he fashioned a handy conveyance, simply cutting a sturdy board to the dimensions Robyn had shown them of the ducts, making sure to allow it to clear any corners, and affixing four wheels stolen from the bases of some dilapidated appliances, along with some lateral metal struts for reinforcement.

After oiling the wheels and wrapping them in felt to prevent undue noise, he chose a quiet corner and sat down to smoke.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn's rest is interrupted by a wet nose pushing against her face.  She reaches up and scratches the head of her Hell Hound and then sits up.  She hugs the beast then stands to walk to her mule, where she opens a large compartment and pulls out a slab of raw meat and a plastic bag.  She leads the hound to a corner of the abandoned structure and sits down before tossing the meat in front of Al, who just sits and looks between the food and its mistress until she gives the command to eat.  The meat does not last long.  Afterwards, she patiently waits for the dog to do its business, which she picks up in the odor eliminating plastic bag.  Smiling, she praises the huge animal and walks back to the mule to slide the bag into the compartment that already holds two like it from the walk to get here.

Robyn moves back to the sleeping bag and waits for ISaint to give the word to move out.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint had contacted their Johnson and forwarded the schedule. With an assurance that the other team would beginn their operation on time, he had reclined and allowed himself to nap for an hour. Afterward he took the time to watch technical videos on the (combat) use of monofilament chainsaws. A lot of them showed what not to do, but afterward he felt pretty confident that he would be able to use the saw without incident - even if he had to attack someone with it.

When it was time his Agent gave him a nudge: <<Time to get into position>>
Isaint grunted and mumbled "Thanks Susi."

"Alright lads and lady, time to do some work. Everyone knows their positions.
Al, Deckard with me, we'll take one of the mules with us."

The trip to the entrance was short - a small utility closet with an access to the maintenance tunnels - the locks disengaged just as Isaint was about to touch the handle <<Thanks Robyn. We'll climb the ladder down and change into our FBAs give us the sign when you are ready to disengage the sensors.>>
To Deckard he said: "Ok, you know the drill - keep an eye on the Astral and if possible summon us a nice support spirit. I'll leave Arthur with you."

Down the ladder he went, finding a small tunnel with dozens of pipes, electrical and fiber optic lines adorning the walls. Without wasting a second, Isaint began to disrobe and pulled the FBA from the backpack he had been carrying and in turn stashed his street gear. Since the room was severely confined he only carried his various tasers, pistol and revolver as well as the cestus. An AR map unfolded in front of his vision as he locked the helmet with the armor. <<Susi, Agent Cluster: Stealth mode - high alert - jammer at the ready - constant scanning.>>

Than he helped Al to get the transport contraption down there.

<<Alright, Robyn we are down the ladder - give us the go once you have taken care of the sensors.>>