[Zweiblumen]

#7

<<<@Team [Schöner] Ahh, I have a friend that can help us with a safe place to stay.>>>

<<<@Frau Sicherheit [Schöner]  Frau, ich brauche fur ein Paar Stunden ein sicher Raum bitte.  Können Sie hilfen mir?>>>


Having not filled out the rest of my background I realized I didn't name my contacts.  The SO original name of Frau Sicherheit is my Safehouse Master contact.  C4L2

Or we can use the place that Haywire finds for us

[belaran]

#9

Frank has been pretty silent, letting the "talky" folks handle the thing. He keeps a straight face, but this meeting is lasting too long, too many people moving around, making noise, too many smells, this is starting to really unhinged him. Just for sake of feeding the discussion, but still having a point he had:

"Third girls commiting suicide and Sternschultz does squat about it ? If they are that bad at their job, why do I even bother to cover my own track... Maybe I should leave a bite mark on my own target's cheek, along with a card with my adress on it. Maybe they would ruled those death as natural causes - heart attack.

No seriously, they can't be that clueless, he must be somehow connected. Maybe through his initiation group if he has any ? Like maybe one of his pal is the working for the magical investigation unit, or something like that ?
"

Taking a short break, he adds : "It'a shame that any of us is a pretty gal, could have been an easy way in... I mean, I can totally pull out a mean mini-skirt, but not sure I'll fit his criteria.", Franck finishes, grinning like a teenager hearing a dirty joke for the first time.

<<<@Team: Assuming she has no more intel to give us, let's move to your secure place, Schöner or the one from Waywalker, anywhere but this cramped place would do fine by me. We have a lot of intel to gather and confirm before getting anywhere near our mark, we need to get at it asap. Maybe we can get our own on the police report for his dead "assistants", but I would recommend caution, it may also tip off whoever is protecting him..

[Jack_Spade]

Roberto Tzernobo was the first to reply: <<Hello Schöner, I know what you mean. Not the easiest place to get into. But I tell you what: I have a nice cask of original Chianti sitting around. For 750 it's yours and as an added bonus, I'll send a nice bottle of red to Luca with a little message. Luca is the bouncer on duty from 5 to 7. Just be your charming self and mention the red and he'll let you and your friends in. But do me a favor and behave around the girls. Up their they have their prime product.>>

Next came the reply from Sicherheit: <<No problem. 200 for one day, 100 for each following. As soon as the money's in, you'll get the address and the key code.>>

Haywire thought for a moment, than he remembered that there was a little hotel that always had a "special" conference room on standby + all the soycaf you could stomach. A quick matrix look up told him that it was available for 100.

Schnee replied to Frank: "Vasco has done work for nearly everyone, including Sternschutz. I assume he is in their informant database and therefore pretty much untouchable as long as he isn't caught red handed. And even then I'd imagine he'd pull some strings to have someone else take the fall.
Or did you think I'd hire runners if I could just lodge a complaint with the authorities?

If that is all, here is the number of a secure line. Call me when you've been successful. I have to go now."

She stood up, nodded toward the DJ and made a complicated gesture with her left hand. She shimmered for a moment and was gone - at least on the mundane plane. Frank saw her for a few seconds longer on the astral, before she did something else and her aura changed into that of a mundane person.

The DJ had received the message and changed the music: Now it was current pop-rock and it didn't take more than a minute before other guests started to flood the upstairs. Whatever the purpose of that bizarre performance had been, now it was over

[Zweiblumen]

#8

As Schnee stands to leave, Schöner stands as well and takes the contact number.  Once she disappears and the music returns to normal he ponders the situation briefly before composing a message to the group.

<<<@Team [Schöner] I've a line on a safehouse that's 200¥ for the first day and 100¥ each day after.  If no one has anything better I'll send my contact the deposit.

Also, looks like I've got us a line on the VIP room for the boat.  We can discuss the details once we've found a better place to talk, but that'll cost us 750¥ and we get a cask of wine out of the deal to boot.>>>


Is Waywalker's room per hour or per day?  Also mind if I throw a perception check to see if Schöner notices wether the previous music had any effect on listening devices or the like?  ZB the player assumes there was some kind of noise canceling, but I'm not sure Schöner would have picked up on it (again, he's not too bright).

[Haywire]

#12

Their Johnson diseappeared with a gesture of hand. "At least she gave us a line to call..."
The crowd started swaming up. Waywalker stood up and went downstairs.
His thought got formed as text:
"I know a place that could rent us a conference room, with all the soykaf you can drink for just 100 nuyen a day. It's not far from here, if you need a transport I can give you a ride.
Once we're there we can discuss the details."
While in the crowd he ordered his Armadillo to came and pick him up, and the Fly Spy to do a last reconnaisance and then go in the van.

[belaran]

#10

"I'll grab my Falcon and join you guys wherever you want, see you in sec'"

Frank barely finishes his sentence before sneaking out, as fast as he can, of the bar. He would like to be more in control of himself and be able to focus on the job. He does managed to sent his agent on fact finding mission on the boat, the crew, and so on, but expect for that, he is too unhinged by the far too long stay, to his taste, meeting in the crowded bar. Too many people, too hot, too much... fresh flesh around.

Arriving at his Evo Falcon, Frank restore his composure, jumps on the large bike. Once the engine started, he begins a review of the intel mentioned during the briefing - while the GridGuide drives him to the safehouse picked by his new mates. Munching over the data for several minutes, he gets a (bad) feeling in his stomach.

Something in this all picture is just not sitting well with him. Clearly the target is powerful, organized and well connected - and the Johnson (or Schmidt as they call them here in Germany) seems to have a rather simple and honest agenda. It's not difficult to imagine that the samples contains hers - or at least, someones she cares about or work for. Still, it still feels like a piece of the puzzle is missing.

Finally, after a few minutes of reflexion, he decides to share his thoughts with his new partners in crime (literally):

<<<@Team [Schöner] Guys, I think we should discreetly take a look at our emloyer, Frau Schnee. It's an obvious alias, but a deaf mage is not something that common nowdays, so we should be able to id her. I'm not expecting a double cross here, but still I would like to own what her end game is (and see if this end game does not implies us being "missing" at the end of day). If you want, I have agent I can send on a matrix search, but I think it would be a better job for trusted informer.


@Jack_Spade I'm not rolling the Agent Matrix Search, it's more/less a fluff piece just to say that Frank does NOT do nothing. If we need some extra Matrix Search, done I can roll it, but I think we already got more than enough on this side.

[Jack_Spade]

2076-08-01, 21:15, Cologne, Rhein-Ruhr-Megaplex

The heat of the day had turned into the heat of the night that - thanks to smog and light pollution - didn't show any stars or a moon.
Schöner's safe house turned out to be a small flat somewhere in the western part of Cologne. The furnishings were new and clean but sparse: Four beds with thin, hard synthetic mattresses and even thinner blankets made from the same material, a small table with four chairs made of chromed steel, as well as a new, top of the line food processor. The bathroom contained claustrophobia inducing shower stall, a toilet and a sink under a mirror shined steel plate.
The only window was fitted with milk glass that didn't allow any heat signature through.
The saving grace was the tasteful AR decoration and the free Cologne-Net matrix access.

A quick call to their Fixer got them a bit of info on the Johnson: "Frau Schnee" seemed to be a young doctoral candidate at Cologne-Uni, with only a few months to go before she would have to defend her thesis "Inferences on the homeostatic exchange of flux properties in alchemical preparations". As far as you could find out, she is about to gain a lucrative position as a docent as well.

#19

[Haywire]

#13

The trip to the safe house was quick and easy. The Pilot of the Armadillo took care of the drive, while Waywalker stood in his rigger cocoon digging the results of his Agents suggestions.
"That dryad covered the safehouse cost...maybe I'll pay the soypizza later. It seems a guy worth his value in our team."
Once in the safehouse, he said:
"Well, seems that now we have an objective. I suggest that we disclose ourselves our specialties, so we can organize our work. I'll start: as I said with Frau Schnee, I'm a rigger and a decker. I've never worked with you, so if you don't know, my name is Waywalker."
Then, he proceeded:
"As we're speaking, I'm running a search on our target. I think a way to get him could be through his assistants, if he as any in this moment. It will take some time, so I'm helping myself. When it's done I suggest that me and Franck should surf the Matrix for the Loveboat Host, so we can do some reconnaisance this way. My drones will go to the physical location and stream their view to all four of us. What do you think? I'm open to other suggestions."

I'd like to have my 2 Fly Spy slaved to the RCC, with all their autosofts running, and going to the Loveboat, streaming their view in the AR of anyone of other that wants to see it.

[belaran]

#11

Frank arrived just before Waywalker started his little speech, and jumps right in:
"My speciality is execution, or assassination if you will. I'm pretty handy with a gun, but I'm not tank, neither will be the first one going into a firefight. My killing extends to the Matrix. I have some decent hacking skills, most aiming at covering my target with MARKs and then use my biofilter program to data spike'm to death."

Looking at the safehouse and the bar that Waywalker just raided, he turns to Schöner: "Very nice accomodation, thanks. A shame they don't have a bottle of blood, along with the pre chopped liver". Grinning, he hads "Ghoul jokes of poor taste are also my speciality".

Returning to a more serious tone, Frank goes on:

"And I agree, we need intel, a lot of it. If the Loveboat has a host, we probably want to take a look at it, but not right away. We don't want to take the risk of tipping our target of."

[Jack_Spade]

Waywalker followed absentmindedly the course of his two flyspys, directing them towards the boat. The AR pop-ups warning him from entering the air space around it he ignored. What he couldn't ignore where the six other drones circling slowly around the mafia boat: Ares Sparrowhawk drones, purpose designed to hunt and destroy smaller spy drones.
Going successfully nearer to their target would need a bit more attention on his part if he didn't want to risk losing his drones.

#20

[Zweiblumen]

#9

<<<@Frau Sicherheit [Schöner] Lovely I'll take a spot that can sleep 4 comfortably.  You know my preferences.  I'll reserve it for 3 nights, if we need it longer I'll let you know, or a new location by that time more likely.
>>>
Attachments>> .funds.520


<<<@Team [Schöner] Here's the location of our new temporary digs for the next three nights.  I'm covering the base cost, and each of you (40¥ each if you wouldn't mind).  Expect there to be some decent vittles and some space with reasonable security.  I've got to run and pick up a few things before meeting you at the safe house.  I'll be about 15 min late.  Speaking of being late, should I get us that invitation to the VIP room?
>>>
Attachments>>.safe_house.loc


The tall dryad conveys all of this while on his way back to his place to pick up the rest of his gear.  He takes a circuitous route to get there and doubles back a few times to check for tails.  He may not be the brightest bulb, unless you count his glamor, but he's been around the block enough to know he's got to watch his back.  Once home, he grabs his Defiance and Ingram and tosses them in a duffel bag with a few changes of clothes and his overnight bag.  He double checks his latest SIN to make sure it has all of the correct licenses just in case he gets pulled over some some odd reason before he gets to the safe house.  With everything in order he waters his plants and sets the timers so they'll be alive when he returns in a few days and closes his place up tight.

Once more on the bike with his dreads blowing in the breeze he has the dog brain in the bike take him to the safe house while he reviews what they have so far.  The idea of compromising one of the marks assistants seems like a good possibility.  Once they profile the target he should be able to worm his way in.  They don't have a lot of time, so the social strategy may take too long, but it's a good plan regardless of what else they come up with.

[k-sim]

#4

The change in music and sudden disappearance of his new employer startled Käse to the point he was halfway casting a fireball spell to take out potential threats. Luckily he realized what happened in time to stop him self. Just like his team mates he made his way to his car and ordered the Grid Guide to take him to western Cologne. During the drive Käse took some time to let the bits and pieces of his memory create a picture of what the magical department of the Cologne University looked like and how it operated.

With a bag of gear slung over his shoulder Käse made his way up the stairs to the flat, to find Frank and Waywalker already there. "Phew, couldn't fancy pants get anything on a lower floor? Damn..." He drops his bag in a corner and sits down on one of the beds. "Oomph... I wasn't expecting a four star hotel style bed, but this is a little tough." After trying in vain to fluff up the pillow "Though this might be seen as a motivation to finish this job up quickly." He added with a grin.

"As for introductions, people call me Käse. Not because I smell like cheese or anything. I'm Dutch and people started calling me Käsekopf ages ago, and it stuck, so yeah... Ahem... Anyway, I'm getting the feeling I'm the only magic user among us, or am I mistaken?

Käse takes a moment to assense the rest of the group. Confirming he's the only spell slinger of the party.

But, just because I'm the mage I'm going getting geeked first, I've plenty of skill with pistols to hold my own when spells and spirits aren't a viable option." Käse takes of his jacket to reveal his right arm is shiny chrome from the elbow down.


Knowledge test Rhine-Ruhr-megaplex for info on the magical department of the Cologne University: 12d6t5 2

Assensing the party: 11d6t5 4

[Jack_Spade]

Käse remembered only a few details, he read over a year ago on some party flyers: The magic department of Cologne University is relatively large thanks to the sprawls high population density and an accordingly high number of magically active people. The department is largely independent even though a certain local dragon is donating large amounts to the institute and does have first pick among the graduates.
The courses are rigidly Hermetic and only a few advanced classes are taught by experts of differing philosophies. At the moment a total of ca. 500 magically active students are supposed to be enrolled.
There is also a testing facility where specialists investigate kids who might have magic potential, colloquially called the "Hexenteich" or witch pond.

#21

[Haywire]

#14

The Fly Spy were blocked. It seems like the boat is expecting some surveillance... I need to change my tactics.
"My drones were blocked, so I need to do the job in person, from the Matrix. I'll wait to finish the search before adventuring in the Matrix; is it ok for you, Franck?"

[Zweiblumen]

#10

Schöner finally shows up at the safe house.  As he approaches he noticed that the rest of the team followed good SOP and did not cluster their vehicles in front of the building.  Schöner parks his bike a block and a half away before walking the long way around with his duffel bag back to the safe house.  Knowing that he's going to be away from his home has already started to make him itch on the inside.  It's not even been 30 min and he already wants to be back in the comfort of his neighborhood.   Shaking off the pull, he concentrates on the task at hand and unlocks the door to the apartment.

Inside, it's reasonably well appointed.  It's not the Wyndham Penthouse, but it'll do for a short stay.  The kitchen is stocked with a little bit of actual food, and the soy-processor has a full set of flavor profiles available.  And while he trusts Frau Sicherheit to provide a safe place if for no other reason than to maintain her reputation, he asks the two deckers if either of them could give the unit a once over to make sure everything is on the up and up.  With all of that finally finished, he sits down with the others.

"As I mentioned earlier, I've an acquaintance that can get us an invite into the VIP room on the boat.  It's a little pricey, but we get a really nice cask of Chianti out of the deal in addition to the access.  While in the actual VIP room we would need to be on our best behavior, however I think it would be useful for getting access to the target if not a place to actually off the poor bastard."