[farothel]

"I will have to know what his aura looks like before I can find him," Kitten said.  It was so annoying at times when people assumed because she could blow them up with just a thought, she could also find them anywhere on Earth without having seen them before.
"Also, those hotels tend to have quite a lot of magical security," she continued, "I'd rather do some recon first before I go barging in."

[Kontact]

<<@Silk: Ah, well, I suppose it was too much to hope that you would take a principled stance, knowing the line of work you chose.  With principled and incompetent gone in their turn, I suppose that only leaves "dismissive and unreliable" or "a coward and a liar."  A shame, that.  Still, I'm still getting to know you better and better.  To that end, I got you a gift in anticipation of our current job.>>  Jun handed Silk a small envelope.  <<@Silk: It's a set of identity documents placing you in the upper class.  Oren Fukuyama.  She comes from a long standing family of mid-level executives for the Shiawase House Bank.  I'm prepared to play the part of your son, Jun, as you can see from my PAN.  It should be enough to get the both of us into a position to do a preliminary scout of our target.>>

[OOC: Security Knowledge roll 9d6.hits(5) → [1,3,1,1,1,6,1,4,2] = (1) Derp! Glitch]

"Extra-territorial does not simply mean security.  It means that the hotel is a black hole in space and law."

[Xzylvador]

More insults from the tiny person? The provocative little gnome is trying to see how far it can push me? Calm yourself, Silk. Killing your partners is probably considered unprofessional... though in this case I'm sure people will understand the mitigating circumstances.

PM @ LJ "You're right. You're absolutely right. I try not to let my personal principles stand in the way of the job I've been hired to perform. You take that as a bad trait?
I got Salt answering questions we needed answered. It takes quite some effort getting a person to the point where they'll spill their guts about the job that cost them everything with absolute honesty.  Switching the topic to the one thing left to protect could easily push them well beyond that point. And I'd risk doing just that for... what, exactly? Some personal issues of yours? No, you see, that would be against my principles.
Besides, I distinctly remember you going in there yourself and talking to Salt when I stepped out and asked if there was anything else we needed. Got so excited taunting a defeated and helpless person that you forgot to ask yourself? Very professional of you. Isn't this getting to know each other fun?
But good, you're right, let's focus on the job at hand."

Silk took the envelope and checked its contents. "Okay, I can see how this can be useful. How much'd it cost you? I prefer not to be in anyone's debt.".
She switched to Japanese. "And you speak Japanese or will you be the shy and quiet child?"
Please be the last.

"Funny, LJ. What do you guys say a few of us take a visit there, prospecting the hotel for future business opportunities and maybe grab something to eat?"

[Kouryuu]

Aki gets hits on a number of name drops on newscasts and blogs about big shindigs around the continent, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. His lucky rise to money is all ways credited. Before a year ago he has no mentions, and 6 months ago all mentions cease.

A metallic buzzing sound in Andromeda's head said >Information has been gathered, my leash.<
at first Andromeda did not understand at first what it was, but then she heard the message and then she remembered her agent. a quick look in AR reviled the the bee-swarm circling a big honeycomb. She put. her finger in the honey cell put the golden wonder to her lips, nothing happened, no taste of honey and no stream of information.
Must have just been visualization.
She took a second look at the comb and saw that there are some honey-cells that are closed with wax.  Andromeda taped one, and the hexagon enlarged and showed her the information it contained. In the next few minutes Andromeda spent reading trough the contains of the honeycomb.
T@Teeam  >guys, the man has some friends in high places and been seen in their company. Got in the high circles just a year ago and has been in the spotlight  up until 6 month ago when he disappeared. and  in the last 6 months there isn't a single item on him."
Will try to cross-reference Aki and our favourite politician, will see if they have some connection on the surface.<
Few seconds later
>nope, nothing<

[Kontact]

<<@Silk: Yeah. I talked to Salt after you did.  Also noticed he had plenty of fight left in him.  That right there tells me you didn't break him.  You didn't break him, yet the codes he gave you worked, so he helped you anyway.  I do not think you are stupid enough to trust him and go yourself if you didn't have reason to believe his word.  So, what currency could you have had to gain his confidence?  I offered him pain beyond imagining, and he didn't care, so it couldn't have been clemency.  I offered him salvation for the men of his unit, and he didn't care, so it couldn't be a chance at fidelity.  I offered him answers to any question he could dare ask, and he spoke like he had nothing left in the world to concern him.  I offered him revenge, and he had no idea how wronged he had even been, so it couldn't have been justice.  What reason could it be then, hmm?  Maybe you think I am stupid?  It really is your weakest point is that you underestimate people, yourself included.  This is not good.  We can not work successfully like this.  I need you to be direct with me.  I need you to be a leader.  I.. can not entirely control myself, and I sometimes need someone who is capable of interceding.  I do not know if you are truly in the dark as to why Joe hired you, but if you can not stand up to me, and tell me "NO" when I go too far, then you and all the others->> 
The message cut short with a tinge of desperation in how it moved from that sort of informal tough-guy pattern to dead pan seriousness.
It continued
<<It would be highly improper for a Fukuyama child to speak in public except in the direst emergency.  Perhaps now you are testing me?  Shikata ga nai...  As I said before, these identities were prepared in anticipation of our current objective.>>

[Chrona]

has been in the spotlight  up until one year ago when he disappeared. there have been some mentions of him, but in the last 6 months there isnt a single item on him."
Will try to crossreference aki and our favorite politician, will see if they have some connection on the surface."

As clarification, his time in the spotlight began 1 year ago, nothing pre-dates that.

You find no links between the two.

[Xzylvador]

"I really am sorry, LJ. That's some very strong reasoning and deduction you've done there, but it's wrong unfortunately. Simply all wrong. Believe it or not, but I never even asked him about his family."
He told me without needing encouragement.
"I offered only what I took away from him, and it worked." Air; breath. "If he fought you, it's because he found a way to reestablish his defenses... or because he decided that no matter what happened things couldn't get any worse. I can only be glad we got enough out of him before that happened. But I'll forgive you for pushing him over that line, because we got what we needed to complete the job all the same.
I don't underestimate you -or me or anyone else- for the simple reason that I try not to estimate at all. I know or I don't know. Estimates can only be wrong, one way or the other. Imprecise, sloppy, unprofessional.
Wisdom lies in knowing what you don't know. That's Socrates I believe... may have been Aristotle, I'll admit not to know.
You want me to be direct? I don't like the games you're playing. The buttons you seek, the buttons you push. No matter what the consequences. You're not alone in the world and you're not the only one who'll suffer the fallout.
You need me in control? I'll have to warn you, you wouldn't be the first to hand me the whip and the keys to the cuffs and later regret the way things turned out. But if it's an order you're looking for: Stop playing games. That is, without involving the rest of your team. We're all new to each other and on unfamiliar grounds. Why not give some simple honesty and trust a chance? That must be a breath of fresh air to you, but I promise it might be worth it. Try being part of a team. And tell me how much this SIN is worth. I'll not be in your debt.

Silk wondered if they'd have to pay for their own hotel bills or if the hacker would be able to forge their credentials. Of course getting to the target outside of the hotel was a possibility... if he needed to go out at all.

[Larzarus]

"Okay, I will take a look at the security system, not hacking it right away. Give me a few minutes and I probably can tell you ifhow much matrix voodoo I can do."
Space switchs to VR (cold SIM) and looks at the officiel node of the hotel, which he can reach through its website. I only moves through the public area and looks for entrances to more private areas of the system, their firewall rating and running IC who security the entrances. He don't start anything what could be interpreted as hacking by a watching SecHacker.

[OOC: Can't reach IC to roll matrix perception right now. Do you want those rolls, Chrona?]

[Chrona]

Yes but I need sleep so no rush. Also need to check the matrix sec on the place, and if they even have a public node

[Kontact]

<<@Silk:  A team can not exist without a leader, and a leader does not run off on their own without discussion or standing orders.  Twice now, you have decided to go into a situation without backup and without a solid plan.  Both times, someone was shot.  Be a leader and I will be part of the team.  As to the ID, it was created for a job you only heard about minutes ago.  Yours cost 3000 nuyen.  Joe gave me the money for it a week ago.  The most honesty I can offer you is this, "To lie to those who only understand lies, is no crime."  If you should ever peak out beyond the limitations of your ego-prison and begin to understand the world as it is laid bare, I will speak to you openly and without hesitation.  But, so long as you pretend to be deaf and dumb, what is the point?  Perhaps I will find us some Red Mescaline.>>

[Xzylvador]

Isn't it a general's job to make decisions and send soldiers into the line of fire? The only difference is that I don't wear stars on my shoulders that show to everyone that I'm in charge.
For all the figuring out you've done, that's the part you missed? Or do you expect me to say it out loud?
"You know, I really like this part of your personality that just popped up. No needless games and bullshit to needlessly complicate things... you should switch it on more often.
Listen, considering my 'role' in this group I can't blame you for sometimes doubting my words. But what good is a leader without the trust the team? Doubt and dissension are more dangerous to a team than anything an enemy could put against it.
If only you stopped thinking me a liar all the time, we could make some real progress... But we've got time."

Silk read the information on the SIN again and smiled at LJ. "And now, teach me how you pull off those disguises." She got up and walked towards the bathroom to watch the mirror. After two steps Aswan Cuttler's blond wavy hair had turned into Oren Fukuyama's straight black. Another two turned her high heels into flat soles. By the time she reached the mirror, her skin color had darkened from that of a Caucasian girl who spent most time outside at night to that of the suntanned Japanese business woman. She leaned forward towards the mirror and watched her own eyes. Focus, Silk. A slow and gentle shift in the shape of her eyelids removed the traces of her Caucasian blood.

[Kontact]

<<@Silk: Certain levels of lucidity are painful for me.  I am sorry.  It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane.  But, please don't think that I've brought this up because I don't trust you.  I simply planted a seed and wanted to see how it had grown.  It was important for me to see if you would go out of your way to protect someone, and I believe you have.  I had no interest in that man's family.  If I'd wanted them, I have resources.  I simply wanted to see if you'd feed them to me.  You didn't.  That is good.  It's the difference between whether I would die to protect you, or whether I would cut your head from your body with a tomahawk.  There are rules for whom I'm allowed to kill.  Likely that man's family did not fit the bill.  Currently, neither do you.>>

[OOC: Disguise 4 +5 Intuition = 9d6.hits(5) → [1,6,3,6,2,5,6,1,1] = (4)  assuming this is a teamwork test, bonus dice would be capped at Silk's skill.]

"It is important to know that the disguise is always there.  Like a master sculptor when presented with stone, know that the shape of it is always in the block, in its natural veins and mineral flow.  You can not cut against the grain of it, but instead must reveal shape as it dictates."

[Xzylvador]

After some work she examined herself in the mirror and sighed. "Still needs some work... Show me again how you did that thing..." The second attempt was a bit better.

She looked at the mirror and saw Oren Fukuyama looking back. She started speaking Japanese, every sentence a different tone and accent. "You really are certain about this? That I'm looking after his family. Why is that? Do I seem such a kind person?"

[OOC: Int 4, Skill 2, Facial Sculpt 1, Shoes 1, Aid 2 (10d6.hits(5)=2)
Int 4, Skill 2, Facial Sculpt 1, Shoes 1, Aid 2, Trying again -2 (8d6.hits(5)=3)]

[Kontact]

Jun quietly responded in Japanese, as this conversation was not for stray ears. "You walked into a building which you knew was rigged to explode, and sent a command given to you by a dead man in a darkened room.  I do not think you would have trusted the dead man without good reason.  It would have been foolish.  You had to have faith that he would want you alive.  It is not important anymore."

[Xzylvador]

That last voice she had used seemed to fit with the character she had in mind. Silk kept using it, now only changing accents and the way she spoke. She shrugged.
"Sounds like a perfect fit. Both this voice and my behavior. I'm a woman who knows what she wants. I know how to make people get me what I want. I'm confident in my abilities... Besides, one of the more cynical persons in you must have noticed that I wasn't the one who went inside first.". She smiled at LJ's reflection in the mirror. "It's flattering how nice a person you think I am. I'll try to live up to it."
She seemed to have reached a decision and turned to face LJ. A Japanese woman in her late twenties, her every movement calculated and measured, thin lips on a face so smooth it seemed to be plastered -more than likely the result of botox or plastic surgery. The noticeable absence of creases in the corner of her eyes and mouth indicated that she was the kind of woman who never smiled or laughed because it created wrinkles. "Tell me what you think, son." The softness of her voice only accentuated her hard way of speech, every word sounded like a command she knew would be obeyed.