[Xetheral]

Snap is peripherally aware of the tension, but is content knowing he's not directly involved. As he listens for more details about the job he congratulates himself for not (so far) saying anything stupid.

[The Big Peat]

The Johnson nods, and then takes a ziplock plastic bag out of his pocket, which he slides against the table. There's a data slate inside.

"That contains the rest of the information," he says. "Itinerary, codes, a few photos of the guy so you don't get him mixed up."

"Now, unless you've any more questions, I'll just fill these up" out comes another bag full of credsticks "Then be on my way."

He turns his attention to his comm, going through the rigmarole of online banking while you get a look at the slate. Mike Rossi, your target, looks human, although judging from the width of him you wouldn't be surprised if he was an Ork - not fat, but big, with slicked-back black hair and an average looking face. The briefcase looks like a standard model, designed to protect the contents from bullets but not assault cannons. And both are staying at the Lucky Strike casino, room 463, taking a well-detailed trip around parts of the desert tomorrow from 1400 to 1800, and then leaving town at 2300. At least, thats their plan.

Mr Johnson slides the bag of sticks across the table as he gets up - its striking just how absurdly tall he is.

"Well then. Last questions," he says, waiting for you to verify that he's put the right amount on your sticks. Which he has. So far, he's played you straight.

So far.

[HydroRaven]

Francis takes the credstick and slides it in his pocket. He didn't need to verify the funds; at the "high-stakes table", the Johnsons didn't try to screw you to your face like that. The crossing was done behind the scenes, far away from where people could easily retaliate.

He then turns over to the rest of the team and waits for them to be done with their business. Once that's taken care of, he asks them, "Does anyone know of a place where we could talk privately?"

[lonewolf1210]

Durkon quickly reviews the material and then smiles satisfied. After he makes sure that noone else has any questions he says to their employer:

"Excellent.
Mr. Johnson, Its been a pleasure meeting with you.
You´ll be hearing from us"

He waits until he is gone and then turns to his teammates:
"I see no reason not to stay here to talk. I assume there should be no listening devices here, and if Im wrong on that, were screwed anyway. But to be sure maybe anyone with experience in that matter can make sure of that."

After the team agrees or they are at another place in private, Durkon adresses them:

"Alright everyone, while we dont have huge amounts of time, I think we should spend at least a couple of minutes to get to know each other at least a little bit first. That way we can better understand each other and get a better sense of each others abilities.
I am Durkon and follow Thor. I have several decades of experience as a combat mage mercenary all around the world. I also have a bit of subtle mental manipulation magic available if necessary."

[HydroRaven]

Francis pulls out a cigar and sits down with the rest of the team. After listening to Durkon's introduction, he speaks up. "I go by "Francis". I specialize in B&E, and I can handle myself in a game of fisticuffs." There was no point in showing his hand just yet, so he kept it at that.

[farothel]

"Jade," the big troll said, "I shoot people, hit peopleor hit on people."
It was very clear that she wasn't all that talkative, at least not in the beginning.

[Xzylvador]

"Silk. I'm usually good at the whole talking and persuasion whatchamacallit, but since I'm obviously outclassed by Durkon's magical manipulation talent, I'll only be providing tonight's comic relief. Not too bad at the stealthy approach either, I suppose." She said it with a straight face, only the word 'magical' sounded happily over-excited, the way a small child would talk about rainbow colored flying unicorns from a magical lollipop land.

[Mysteris]

She looked up from her food and bowed while remaining seated. "I am Ephemera. I'm a technomancer, hacker, and have experience with using drones in combat. I also have a mobile base available should we need it for the operation." She went back to her food then. 

[lonewolf1210]

"Very nice. Looks like we have a well rounded crew here. I really like working with professionals!"

Durkon takes another delighted sip from his scotch and continues.

"Now about how to do this job:
I suggest that we gather some information before deciding exactly how to proceed, but the way I see it there are 3 general ways how to get the briefcase:
- some B&E into the guys room to steal it while he is sleeping. That would mean that Francis and Epherma would probably run point on the operation.
- social infiltration to get close to the guy and manage to steal it from under his nose. I guess Silk would be best suited to lead this option.
- and most straight forward: some kind of direct attack while he is touring the desert. That would be probably Jades and my area of expertise.

So my first idea would be to try to go for one of the first 2 options and also keep the third option as a plan B if something goes wrong.

Have I missed anything obvious? Does anyone have better ideas before we try to gather some additional information?"

[Mysteris]

"I have no objection. But I should note that my talents are best suited to the Matrix, not the meat world." She went back to her food at that point, not quite sure what else to say in this situation.

[HydroRaven]

Francis takes a long puff of his cigar. That fraction of a second when he could relax and forget he was in Vegas was worth a lot more than most people would think. He listens to Durkon's plan and follows with, "Those three approaches sound like the logical ones. But just one thing: if our cover gets blown in option 1 or 2, I highly doubt he'd be foolish enough to expose himself in the desert like that. Odds are, he'd be on the next flight out of Vegas in a matter of hours if we get made."

Francis then continues, "Obviously I'm all for option 1. After all, it is my specialty. If I can get someone to help me over in the digital world," and he turned over to look at the scrawny-looking Japanese woman, "I should be able to sneak myself into the room and get what we're looking for, or at least open a window to let you guys in and catch them with their pants down."

[farothel]

"We have to be careful about doing anything in the hotel," Jade said, "while they look as if they let just about anybody in, hotel security will protect their customers, so we'd be fighting both his personal security and hotel security if something goes wrong.  Maybe first check out what security he and  the hotel have, confirm his routine and check his hotel/casino."

[Xetheral]

Snap flips on his own white noise generator as the Johnson leaves.

He listens to the others speak, and eventually interjects with his introduction, long enough after the others introduced themselves to be vaguely awkward. "I'm Snap, I shoot people, blow things up, and otherwise cause large amounts of mayhem in a short period of time. I'm also good at surveillance and communications: jamming, decryption, things like that. I'm no hacker though."

He stumbles verbally momentarily, before continuing, apparently in a rush to get everything out so he can stop talking:

"As for the plans, just tell me what you need and I'll see it done. Either as a primary plan, or if we do get made and they flee, I'm partial to the idea of getting them stuck in traffic and worried for their safety--maybe with a loud, staged raid on a fake target ahead of them--forcing them to either abandon their vehicle and seek "shelter" somewhere we're waiting for them, or remain as sitting ducks in an unmoving vehicle. If it's done well, the police will be too busy chasing the diversion team to respond to any calls generated by the ambush team."

Snap blushes slightly at having said so much. He weakly stammers: "That's just an idea though... um, I mean, if people want to do some other plan that's fine. Just, ah, tell me where to shoot. Right, uh, yeah...." He tails off and looks around, and then at his feet, desperate for someone else to take over talking.

[Xzylvador]

Silk leaned back in her chair and relaxed. She didn't even speak when she was overlooked for the B&E role.
All the talking in the world couldn't make up for the fact that they'd need to get actual first hand information before they could make any real plans. But apparently Durkon felt the need to establish himself in a leader role and waste valuable time doing so. It was all fine by her. The more attention he drew to himself now, the more blame would fall on him the second things went south.
She observed how the others reacted and made mental notes. Extremely moldeable, desperate for leadership, no self-confidence, probable lack of strong paternal figure.

[farothel]

"Why don't a couple of people go check out the hotel our mark stays in," Jade suggested, "preferably those who know how to handle disguise.  I can have a look in that desert they drive in, search for good ambush spots and all that.  If our matrix oriented team members go look for information on our mark there, that would be nice as well.  Sounds like a plan?  Anybody wants to join me in the desert?"