Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Play-by-Post => Topic started by: Jack_Spade on <12-27-15/1425:21>
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Sins of the fathers
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin."
Deuteronomy 24:16
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Seattle, May 26th, late at night
It had been sixteen days since the two smugglers had gotten back their container and still Josiah Willows - better known as Slobbertooth waited for certain information that was meant as his payment.
The other members of the team were in their rooms while Slobbertooth prepared for another walk through the bad parts of Seattle. He had just adjusted his boots when his commlink indicated an incoming message.
It read:
<<Greatings from Great Britain.
I haven't forgotten about you. My contacts finally delivered, although it seems to have been a hard nut to crack indeed.
All files on the murder of those two have been sealed - which is never a good sign. Also it seems as if the two didn't exist until seven years before their death. Fake SINs most likely. But you are interested in their murder. There was a bit more to be found there. They were both killed with two precise shots to the back of their heads. One of the investigators noted in a private journal that he believed that the Humanis angle was just a front for a contract kill. The investigator went into retirement a year ago and still lives in Seattle - Gordon Willcox. Lives on a small island five miles of the coast if you want to visit him.
The plant William Willows worked at was closed exactly a week after his death. It was sold by Thorin Macro-Dynamics to Wayfarer Inc., a subsidiary of MCT. Benjamin Thorin, the owner got quite rich through the buyout. He went to buy himself a mega-yacht and cruises around the globe. He has an upcoming family event in about 10 days, so if you wanted to speak to him, you'd have a chance. His son Wilbur has his 18th birthday then. I'm told it will be quite the party.
As for the woman Zelda Willows, there is a hint that she might have been involved with the militant ork underground - at least there was a partial match to a facial recognition of her while a woman looking very much like her set fire to a Renraku installation about 10 years ago. The plant was on a small Island north of Hawaii - since than it's been bought by Aztec and turned into a tourist paradise.
That's all I'm afraid. Please find the raw-data attached to this message.
Happy hunting
Scarry Spice>>
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bnc's brand-new MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone approaches Slobbertooth and halts mid-air three meters from him. An Ares Desert Strike sniper rifle extracts and points at Josiah.
"You are under arrest. Yield, and no harm will be done to you.", bnc's modified voice commands from the integrated speakers.
bnc has been like this the last two weeks. Once she adjusted to the new implant, she bought a bunch of drones, including this very flexible and fast Roto-Drone. She loved flying around and was even about to buy extra sensoric drones to feel the wind on her false skin. It's been a nuissance, but mostly you agreed with her new habit, since her consumption of drugs almost stopped and she seemed to be in a good mood most of the time. Only when she saw the new Proteus Krake. When somebody asked her about it, she just shook her head, sighed, and opened another ad.
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Josiah tilted his head at the drone floating in front of him, and sighed. He looked past the drone to where he imagined bnc might be standing. "Please don't stop pointing a weapon at me. It's bad manners, and it's freaks ou-
Slobbertooth was cut off by a blur of movement and loud barking.
"Li! No, Down! That is not a-, goddamit bnc, I told you this would happen!" The teams new animal friend had reacted, unfortunately in this situation, exactly the way Tibetan Mastiffs were bred to. Li had started trying to knock the rotor drone out of the air. Slobbertooth pulled Li away form the drone until she calmed down. She barked happily and wagged her tail at her glorious triumph over the armed and dangerous intruder.
"You're going to have to give her some time to get used to the new drones. We'll figure something out..."
Josiah went silent and started looking over his commlink. He read through everything.
<<@bnc@Torrent@Krestov
>Scary Spice just paid out on that info. There's a PI in Seattle I need to speak with. If you're interested in some pro-bone work you can tag along or wait for me to give a full briefing when I get back.>>
Slobbertooth hustled to grab his armor jacket, helmet, and Ruger Super Warhawk before heading out on his Suzuki Mirage.
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bnc maneuvers the drone away from Li, softly giggling, and parks it whereever we chose to put the drones before we can move to our new lair.
<@Team <Did they now? Muy bien. If you forward the message to me, I can find out whether I can find out something.>>
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After their last job Torrent spent his days in solitude.He was never a spiritual man but there was no denying that, lately, Raven was reaching out to him, offering guidance and promising power.
Torrent suspected that his recent actions pleased his mentor spirit but he knew the Great Trickster wouldn't hand power on a plate.
The elf's daily progress was almost imperceptible and he knew he needed a break from all this before he ran out of patience.
Slobbertooth's message presented the perfect opportunity to get some not-so- fresh air.
@Slobbertooth: <<I'm in, as long as you leave that monster of yours behind.>>
Torrent put on his new suit and armed himself with his trusty Savalette.
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Slobbertooth was halfway out the door when he saw the messages from bnc and Torrent. He forwarded both the address and sent bnc the full message.
<<@bnc@Torrent@Krestov
>Here's the address. The mirage is only a 1-seater. You'll need to take the van. See you all in a bit.>>
<<@bnc
>Here's the full details on the story. Keep your head down when searching out information on this one. I don't want anyone to get a heads up that we're on the way.>>
Slob sent the information from Scary Spice as he entered the garage and boarded his motorcycle.
<<@Kazuya Armstrong
>It's Josiah. I'm heading to the PI's place now.>>
The rest of the team heard Slobbertooth burst off on his Mirage.
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<@Slobbertooth <Roger, sempai. I'll just do some generall overall matrix search. I'll let you know in case there's something interesting, but I don't expect a lot.
bnc goes for an ordinary matrix search on the Gordon and Thorin.
[spoiler]Gordon Wilcox (http://orokos.com/roll/355902): 13d6t5 3
Benjamin Thorin (http://orokos.com/roll/355903): 13d6t5 4
Just tell me if there is anything special. I don't really need to know whether they love their cat or post silly pictures to the trix. But I'd like to know if they have been in jail for eating clients or so.
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Slobbertooth's map soft told him that he would need to take a ferry to get to the ex-police man's new home - a small island with maybe 50 inhabitants - mainly retirees of various governmental branches and there public-private-partnership equivalents. It was heavily wooded - or rather reforested and the info-blurb claimed it to be a prime location for quiet living and fishing.
The next automated-ferry would head out in about half an hour.
Armstrong's reply came back quickly: <<Happy hunting indeed. Give me a call when you get the info. But be careful - it might be a good idea to call that Wilcox before you appear on his doorstep. People can get touchy if an armed ork appears suddenly in the middle of the night on their doorstep.>>
bnc's efforts were twofold:
About Gordon she could only find that he was 68, a competitive shooter, hunter and liked fishing very much. There were no news about him regarding any misconduct - even though he had worked for Lonestar. The man had been an investigator for 40 years and a beat-cop for 5. He sported two degrees: One forensics and a political sciences.
On Thorin she found mainly that he was now a boating enthusiast - about his previous role as industrialist there was almost nothing left. MCT had worked hard to incorporate everything of his old firm as thoroughly as possible leaving only traces of old PR texts that hinted at some pretty revolutionary work on cooperative networked drones.
The family estate lay itself was also build on an island - an artificial one albeit - that was connected through a private, two kilometer long bridge to mainland Seattle. The families estimated wealth lay in the billions now.
Benjamin Thorin(56) was "happily" married to his first and only wife(48) Eliza - although she didn't accompany him on his turns around the globe. Most likely she was the one managing the assets and caring about investing and multiplying the family fortune.
They had a son(18) and two younger daughters(16) - twins. There was one mention that the twins had magical talent, but bnc couldn't find anything more about them on short notice.
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Slobbertooth walked his motorbike onto the ferry, and took a spot near the prow of the ship. He checked his commlink for messages recieved and saw that the rest of the team was on their way. If they were able to make the ferry, they'd be more than welcome. If they weren't, he'd wait at the landing on the island for them to arrive. He activated AR and sent a message to former detective Wilcox as Kazuya had suggested.
<<@Private Investigator Gordon Wilcox
>My name is Slobbertooth. I'm a concerned citizen, scheduling an appointment with you at your current abode tonight. I am coming in order to get more information about the murder of two orcs named William and Zelda Willows. I hope to find you in good health and good spirits.
>Put on a pot of soykaf. Although I would rather not take up too much of your time, I imagine I'll have quite a few questions for you and we may be up for a while.>>
[spoiler]If I need to be making a palming check to my weapon while on the ferry. It's in a concealed holster.
Palming 1 + Agility 6 (http://orokos.com/roll/355938): 7d6t5 4[/spoiler]
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Torrent packs his new chameleon suit and his ballistic mask and waits for his friends to get ready.
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The reply came back about five minutes in: <<Who the hell do you think you are? I am no Private Investigator. But I was a Lonestar cop and whenever I see the term "concerned citizen" I just want to bash a head against a wall - not necessarily mine.
And if my damn bladder didn't keep me awake anyhow I'd greet you - whoever you are - with a swift shotgun blast to the gut.
But since I've got nothing better to do than to sit up anyhow, I'll see you. But any funny stuff and I have a riot team here within the minute.>>
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bnc doesn't take any weapons with her, though she loads the small drones into the back of the van - nothing illegal though. While she's searching the matrix, she lets the autopilot drive the car. Since a matrix research takes a while, they would have arrived at the harbor once she's done. She summarizes the most important info and shares it on the group channel.
"Ready for the boat, omae"
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Slobbertooth hunched over in his jacket to lower his profile against the wind and rain, and read the response from Wilcox. This was going to be fun.
<<@Retired Lonestar Cop Gordon Wilcox
Sounds great. I'll bring my own creamer. I may have a few friends joining me, but they'll be a bit late to the festivities.>>
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Choong Gi, Danh Goon, Doh San, Won Hyo, Yul Guk, Choong Gan, Toi Gye, Hua Wong, Choong Mu...
Krestov was in his room, furniture pushed off to the side as he worked on his patterns, reinforcing his taekwondo training. For him, it was the perfect level of physical therapy, allowing him to truly feel the differences with his new addition. And it showed, his moves becoming faster and effortless as he went through them. Unfortunately, such practice required focus, and he did not receive the message until after he was finished...and with a quick scan of the place, everyone had left.
"...Well, that is load drek" He chuckled and sighed, mentally pulling up the message and giving a reply.
<<@Team: just receiving message. On way>>
It took him but moments to don his new attire, the socially semiformal attire covered by the fancy-looking longcoat. Grabbing his Crusader, helmet, and shield, the troll slipped the gun into its concealed holster on his person, the helmet and shield going on respective places on his new Scorpion. Revving up the engine, the troll made sure to lock up before speeding off into the city, doing his best to catch up to the crew.
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Surprisingly enough the team made it onto the same ferry. At this time of night they had the thing practically to themselves. Only one other passenger was on board with them - an old man with a weathered face, ill fitting attire and a serious reek of alcohol inside the passenger section.
The transport took nearly half an hour - mainly due to the rough sea that had formed mid travel. The auto-pilot informed them that the next ferry from the island would probably be delayed until the early morning hours.
When the ferry finally docked and the swaying stopped a hefty storm had the little Island in its grip. Trees bend in the gale, debris and dust as well as spray cut down the visibility. Street lanterns swayed dangerously and made the shadows dance.
According to the file the house of the retired investigator lay at the other end of the island about two kilometers away.
A quick look into the matrix revealed that there were about five Lonestar rotordrones that had gone to ground. A few of the houses sported undisguised icons of defense drones, but most seemed to rely only on basic cleaning machines.
The road was narrow but clear. Their destination turned out to be a small cottage built with modern materials directly next to the sea.
A discreet AR sign declared the property to be protected by a Lonestar fast response contract.
Only behind one window light was visible.
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"Well, let's go see the officer. Hopefully he'll have had time to put the pot of soykaf on. I'll introduce everyone."
Slobbertooth flipped up his jacket's collar to brace it against the wind, checked that his pistol was where he left it, and lead on towards the old man in the house by the sea.
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The storm had gained in fierceness, lightning flickered across the sky, illuminating briefly the scenery around them.
Slobbertooth pressed the old fashioned bell-button and heard a little melody of "shave and a haircut" that would probably stay in his ear for a while.
It took a few moments until the door opened just wide enough behind a solid looking chain to admit one peering eye and the glint of gun metal:
"Ah, the concerned citizen and his friends." He paused. "Where did you leave the dwarf?"
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Slobbertooth chuckled at the comment he assumed to be about their diversity, "He's seeing his 6 cousins for one of their holidays.
"May we come in."
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"Eh, what the hell. If you wanted to rob me you probably should have waited for better weather. Come in."
The door closed and the chain was removed.
The man had close cropped grey and white hair, a weather beaten face and seemed to be quite fit despite moving a bit stiffly.
"Soykaf? Help yourself." He indicated towards a sota food processor and then walked back to the illuminated room to sit in a high comfort chair. For the team there was just enough room on the two matching couches.
"So, you got questions about that double murder. May I ask why you are interested in this, especially why now?"
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[spoiler]I don't think I have to roll every time I go outside , but please presume that Torrent always goes to meetings in disguise, resembling obscure characters from old films.My average number of hits is 6(for Disguise+Impersonation checks), and If I have to buy hits then it's 4.[/spoiler]
Torrent made himself comfortable but didn't touch the food.He suspected the old man wasn't a fan of gluten-free diet.
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"Thank you." Slobbertooth removed his respirator and shuffled into the warmth of the home
Slobbertooth went over and poured himself a cup of soykaf. He held up the pot in the direction of Krestov and bnc, indicating he would pour them a cup if so desired. After pouring the soykaf, he took his time surveying the apartment before heading into the sitting room.
"Turns out the couple had a child, and he hired us to do some independent work. We've been working on it for a while. It's been hard to track down any leads on the case.
"This is a nice place for a retired police officer."
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bnc didn't like this weather at all. For once, she didn't like anything at all that's uncomfortable. Moreoever, it meant that they would have to stay the night at some god-forsaken island in the middle of nowhere - at a heavily armed place where Lone Star is highly present. She felt nervous and itchy. She cuddled herself to Krestov. "I'm cold", she explained. She damn sure was cold - but this alone wasn't the reason. She was afraid.
At the island, she quickly searched for hidden icons. She didn't like the presence of so many drones.
bnc enters the building shivering. She even manages a shy smile and an almost voiceless "hello", before she shuffles in and walks, hesitantly over to the food processor, where she nods to Slobbertooth to make her a hot soykaf (without cream). She then takes place next to Krestov and listens to the conversation.
[spoiler]Of course, inside she, too, checks for hidden and non-hidden potentially dangerous items. What kind of commlink does he have? Is he armed?
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As far as bnc can see, there are no hidden icons around - or very well hidden ones indeed.
The old man's shotgun is a throwback as far as she can see. He does carry a taser with a laser sight and somewhere in the house is a weapons locker with a wireless active security, slaved to a Lonestar host.
Whatever else this man is, but he takes gun safety serious.
Within 100m there is no other wireless signal than the house and its devices.
Wilcox looked up sharply at Slobbertooths answer, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the adept:
"So, the missing kid has surfaced then. It always nagged me that we couldn't find him - or rather that we didn't get time to search properly.
I guess it won't do harm to tell you about it - the case is closed after all. I imagine you come to me because you found the official version a bit... lacking. I did file an other report, but that was downgraded to personal annotations.
I see, you got your hands on those, didn't you? I still stand by it. The whole thing wasn't a random break in of humanis thugs. Someone entered the house silently, probably with an autopicker to the back door. The lock smelled of graphite lube. The parents where executed from a very short distance yet there were no scorch marks. Probably a suppressor and sub sonic ammunition. The neighbors didn't hear anything - but they always say that.
The mother was the first victim I believe. She had scorch marks on her neck consistent with a shock glove. A clean shot to the back of the head - she was ironing in the bedroom and the iron was turned off on a slightly scorched trouser, leading me to believe that it was the killer who turned it off. Probably didn't want the father to smell something.
The father was ambushed on the toilet while relieving himself. Just a shot to the head.
Now, this could have still been a hate crime - just a more subtle one. But one thing that didn't make it into the file was: The whole apartment had been sterilized. Not one piece of foreign DNA to be found - or indigenous for that matter. The blood on the floor was totally useless. I'm pretty sure whoever did this was a mage or an adept and a professional killer. The destroyed interior, the graffiti and the abuse of the corpses happened all after the deaths. The killer kicked a door in that hadn't the bolts locked - leading me to believe that it wasn't locked at all.
Any questions?"
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bnc wraps her hands around the cup of soykaf as she listens to the story. She whistles softly when the man finished his report. Her immediate unease about her being unable to pull off anything remotely usefull, is mended by the fact that he seems to be cooperative and shows no sign of immediate threat.
bnc pauses for a moment, then speaks up.
"I do.
Is there any material left? Like, are they camera recordings or something? Protocols, witness interviews, photographs of the corpses?
Then another question: You said, it has been downgraded to "personal annotations" and that one fact "didn't make it into the file" Who exactly is responsible for these decisions?
Do we know whether it was a usual habit that they didn't lock the door? Or is there reason to assume that they were either victims of Control magic or knew the killer (or thought so)?"
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"Probably. But all that is archived with Lonestar's Seattle Prime Host. You'd need to ask someone from the clerks to fetch them up for you. Here, I'll give you a contact: Phil Rainier. He should still be working there. I'll give him a call to prepare him for you.
Yeah, I wondered that myself. Turns out these changes were ordered by my then chief Edmont Verres.
It might have been a problem with our quotas. More profit in closing the case fast.
Only problem is, that a possible magic connection always rates additional funds. So it was probably political or financial pressure that caused this decision.
No, no reason to assume that.
As I said: The killer most likely opened the locked back door, he killed the pair and opened the front door from the inside, just to go outside and kick it in so it would look like a home invasion.
There is no indication that they knew their killer or that they even saw them."
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"You seem convinced there was only one perpetrator.Unless I'm wrong, Humanis thugs don't work solo.Anyway, do you know if there was a Humanis cell active near the area at the time?"
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"I assume there are no suspects, enemies, yadda yadda you-know-what-I-mean?"
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Slobbertooth leaned back, thought on the details and then spoke again.
"A couple, actually.
"What motive did you discover that would implicate this being more than an unusually brutal hate crime? The couple didn't seem to be particularly noteworthy in any way we could discover, besides being employed.
"Did ballistics turn up any information on the weapons used?
"You got a couple of spare blankets? It would appear we caught the last ferry into this place until the morning, and the inquisitive young woman wouldn't last more than an hour out in this weather at night."
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bnc shoots Slobbertooth a glance, but then admits before herself, that he's totally right and instead turns her eyes, hopefully, at Mr. Wilcox.
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"Yeah, only one type of foot prints, precise executions, no stolen possessions, no spelling errors in the graffiti.
I'm pretty sure that it was only one person and that he or she didn't do it out of hate but for money.
About the motive I have no idea. Both seemed to be pretty ordinary. The only thing funny was that they both didn't exist eight years prior to their murder. But that could easily have been the result of the matrix crash back then. Quite a few identities were lost - on purpose or by accident.
Ballistics did find caseless, subsonic ammunition was used. Heavy pistol, probably severely modded.
Because there is another piece that never made it into any files: A little dwarf boy told me that he had seen an Elf Pirat walking down the street. Now it could have been the over active imagination of a five year old and I didn't make the connection then, but if true, there might have been an elf with an eye-patch around the scene.
Now why does someone not compensate for a lost eye with cyberware? Someone with magic talent maybe?"
To the question with the blankets he said:
"Seems like I got myself some guests. You really need to work on your charm, though. You can use the couch. For your girl I have a guest room."
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"I imagine the place wasn't assensed for any lingering magical presence or auras? It's a throwaway question, Slobbertooth knows the answer will be no, and that there won't be anything left to read under all the pain and suffering that infest the barrens at this point. He's hung up on the the idea of subsonic ammunition from a heavy pistol, though.
His chin is still resting in his hand when he realizes the answer. "It was a PSK-3 Collapsible pistol. If our killer got his hands on that, then he must be very well connected. You could more easily smuggle in an assault rifle than you could that pistol."
Slobbertooth thanks Wilcox for the spare blankets, and chuckles at his comment about charm. "I've tried charming. Turns out ladies aren't really fond of the big grey orc with giant tusks and scars over his body no matter how much I smile and act the gentlemen.
"Especially not when I'm standing next to Cassanova and the noble savage over there." Slobbertooth motions over towards Torrent and Krestov respectively.
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"Hm, if that's correct, you might be able to find the assassin - if you have the right connections.
I certainly never met anyone with that kind of weapon."
Wilcox laughed:
"You might want to learn nonetheless, as they say: There is no problem that can't be solved by a kind word, a five figure sum or five inches of steel."
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So we have a weapon, a suspect who would be relatively easy to identify, and a contact to gain access to the case files.
Slobbertooth was mum on the topic of learning how to use a kind word. It wasn't really his style. He just gave a nod and a shrug of his shoulders at the comment. It wasn't really his style. He finished the last of his soykaf and went to get himself another one. "Anyone else want another cup?
"Think he's ever going to ask us our names?
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bnc has no more questions. She'd love to get home and cuddle into her bed, but that's not an option. Well, not that she wouldn't be used to sleep over at other men's places, only, they usually aren't three times her age. Or sober. Or accompanied by her team.
"Thanks for the guest room. I appreciate that." And no funny ideas. I'm always armed.
She leans back, asks for a blanket, and wraps herself in. She doesn't feel comfortable enough for small talk, though.
"Don't think he cares a lot."
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"So if that's all, I'll retire. I hope it goes without saying but just in case: Don't try to steal anything. I have an active sensor suit here, your faces are archived and a few more other markers have been collected. I get that you are a bunch of runners set on this case - who else could a SINless boy turn to.
I admit I welcome diversions in my retirement, but that does not mean I'm senile.
Help yourself to an early breakfast if you want to catch the ferry. Bathrooms on the left, guestroom is upstairs to the right."
Wilcox got up and walked towards the bathroom.
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"Well, if the others have nothing to say. Have a good evening. I'll be out before the first ferry lands on the isle. You said your clerk friend's name was Phil Rainier, correct?"
Slobbertooth returned to his seat on the couch and took of a sip of the new cup of soykaf. He would need the energy, it was going to be a long night. Slob usually didn't sleep most evenings, but he usually didn't just sit around a retired cop's home. They had a ferry to catch in the morning, and he didn't want to be out when those rotodrones woke up.
"bnc, if you wouldn't mind trying to unarchive our faces. Get a nap if you need one. I'm heading out the moment this storm breaks."
<<@Kazuya Armstrong
> We have a possible suspect. Magically awakened elf, missing an eye, wielding a PSK-3 Collapsible Pistol. Keep your ear to the ground on any news about that.
> The team will be spending an evening at Wilcox's place. Weather has been bad enough to stop all ferry service in and out.>>
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"I can try, but they might already be stored in a Lone Star host, which might be a coconut to crack. What exactly are you up to, sempai?"
[spoiler]Can I see where our images our stored?
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A quick check showed indeed that the sensors were linked to the Lonestar Host, which bnc identified as a Rating 5 with A6 S5 D8 F7.
Just as she looked, bnc noted something strange: There was a MARK on the sensor suit in the shape of two circling ravens. But just as she looked closer, it disappeared.
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"This case was a cover up, obfuscated and buried for a decade, by men able to hire a well trained and well equipped awakened assassin, bnc. I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew someone is coming.
"I'd rather they not know who is coming for them."
Slobbertooth turned and gave his toothy grin. "Besides, they didn't get my good side."
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Torrent wasn't worried about his face being archived.He could always use another.
Though Wilcox's words sounded almost like a challenge he decided not to steal anything from the old man's house.
The idea amused him but he didn't want to get his friends in trouble.
Another elf in the biz eh? His methods sound cool and maybe I could study his moves but for Slobber's sake I'll probably have to get him out of the streets..permanently.
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"Attention, we might not be alone. I think someone's coming. I might be mistaken, but I think there's another decker. Plus probably his team."
bnc is alert in a split-second. She leaves her meat body to dive full into the virtual environment. There, she again looks for silent running icons. Also, she examines the sensor icon closer to find out who was the last one to perform what operation on it.
Ready to measure skills, little Crow? Don't you mess with bnc...
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Slobbertooth unholstered his Ruger, and swung open the cylinder to check to make sure it was loaded. "Of course it's gel."
He took a deep breath, focused, looked at Torrent and nodded towards the door. "We're not just going to wait for them to set up an ambush, are we?"
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Seconds and minutes ticked by while the storm howled outside, but no icons appeared.
When the first hour had gone by, fatigue started to set in. Concentration and Adrenalin could only stay up so long.
But bnc was pretty sure that someone had tapped into the sensor suit - someone who could beat the firewall of the Lonestar host.
She of course would just have to look for a sensor, remove the cover and plug in directly to get easy access to the host - what she would find inside was another question entirely...
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bnc doesn't wait for an hour. After some two minutes, she grows restless. Patience never was a strength of her, and waiting did no good either, whether or not somebody was out there. If there was fresh information to gather, she had to do it now.
"Apparently I was wrong with "plus probably his team". But somebody did hack these sensors. I better check what I can findn out. Sorry for the false alarm."
Inhaling deeply, she prepared herself to hack nothing less than the Lone Star host.
[spoiler]Mark the host:
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/357654): 19d6t5 8
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[spoiler]
Ok, this will be combat time:
There is a patrol IC actively looking for intruders, so you'll have to roll LOG+SNEAK (+WIL if you go full matrix defense) every round)
Matrix Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/357676): 13+4d6 32
Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/357677): 10d6t5 4
Don't get caught!
[/spoiler]
bnc found herself inside a dull, commercial host with the Lonestar colors everywhere. The matrix-topography told her that this was a host that wasn't meant for flesh-and-blood users. Everything was absolutely utilitarian.
An active patrol IC in the form of a single eye roved around the inside, scanning every icon in a three second rhythm.
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Showtime!
Before bnc enters the host, she takes a moment to customize her icon to blend into the Lonestar host. Instead of the macabre and bizarre semi-robot that was usually her icon, she loaded what older generations called an UML icon: a simple, nondescriptive humanoid form of polished gray. The dullness of it anooyed bnc, but not enough to take out the thrill of breaking into a Lonestar host.
Secretevily, she opened the gateway to enter the commercial host. She almost ran into the patrol ice. Not by skill, but my mere luck, she was saved from instant recognition: The IC got distracted by an icon entering the host and examined just a split-second to long. Already, bnc had changed her location and modified the appearance of her icon. The she approached the icon she had seen being marked before and took a very close look at it.
[spoiler]Booyah! I was alraedy complaining that I never meet IC ;-)
I've loaded my standard stealth default configuration.
Sneaking (http://orokos.com/roll/357684): 13d6t5 2
crap. I'm using Edge to re-roll the failed ones:
Sneaking (http://orokos.com/roll/357685): 11d6t5 5
Whew, that went better.
Oh crap, I forgot to subtract 2 dice for running silent. So in total it's only 6 instead of 7 hits. Still, I evaded. Or do I get the 2 bonus dice from running hot sim? If so, it's back to 7 ^^
Matrix Ini: Matrix INI (http://orokos.com/roll/357686): 4d6+10 24
I take a closer look at the icon of the sensor:
Ini phase 24: Complex Action Perception: Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/357688): 13d6t5 4
please give me following information:
- most recent edit date
- presence of a data bomb
- the last Matrix action performed + date
- marks on the icon
3 Edge left
-
Well, if they aren't incoming, then there isn't a reason to get wet.
Slobbertooth headed over to a nearby chair, placed his Ruger on the table, along with one of his speedloaders carrying APDS rounds. He began deliberately removing the Gel rounds from the Super Warhawk, and replacing them with the APDS rounds from the speedloader.
He looked up and saw Krestov sleeping soundly. "Poor little guy. Must be all tuckered out from chasing bnc around."
[spoiler]Equipment carried for this part of the run,
Custom Ruger Super Warhawk now loaded w/APDS
1 Smoke Grenade
4 Speedloaders (now 2 w/ gel, 1 w/ APDS, 1 w/ Hollow Point)
Helmet, Armor Jacket
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Running silent doesn't reduce your defense pool and yes, you get your hotsim bonus too.
No Databomb
Since Sensors are continuously editing their files the last edit is about a millisecond before you looked. But a foreign edit was made just before you noticed the MARK.
It was a copy action
At the moment there is only your MARK and that the invited one from Wilcox.
Matrix perception is a simple action by the way. So you could look for something else inside the host, too
[/spoiler]
A quick check showed bnc that someone had tapped into the sensors and made a copy of the last half hour - incidentally the whole conversation with Wilcox.
-
Dressed to the nines (or at least relatively so for him), Krestov had remained silent for the trip over, only engaging in small talk. This was, after all, Slobbertooth's mission, and he had nothing to add to it.
The same was said during the meet up with the detective. Krestov gave a respectful nod before standing near the back, hands held behind his back as he listened.
"KE and Lomestar have...edgy relationship." was the only enlightenment that he offered to his team as to the reason for his actions.
Once along, he let their hacker follow up on their leads, remaining attentive and alert, his muscles coiled springs ready to strike...
-
"Verfickte Scheiße! Merde! I'm too late."
[spoiler]When has this been edited? According to the CRB, it's a Complex Action (p241)
Although it's too late, there's no use not doing this:
phase 14: Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/357703): 19d6t5 8
phase 4: Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/357704): 17d6t5 6
This is on the assumption that there is absolutely no way that I could anyhow trace the icon the performed the change.
-
[spoiler]
Oh, wait, I mixed that one up with every other perception check in the book ::) :-[
You successfully edit the file, but you realize that you now have to stay here to do that every three seconds while the sensors keep recording you and the team.
Also the same file has a copy somewhere in the host.
Round two: Matrix Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/357712): 13+4d6 25
Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/357711): 10d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
bnc successfully got to the sensor's file storage and disengaged the alteration protection.
-
[spoiler]XD
Well, I think it's sensible. A matrix perception is more like a close investigation. To be honest, I think it should be an Extended action if you take a closer look at what you acutally do.
I deleted the records at least. But you're right, I have to do it again later.
Sneaking (http://orokos.com/roll/357717): 15d6t5 5
I'll take care of the other file later and leave the host.[/spoiler]
As bnc awakens, she's in a bad mood.
"I'm sorry, boys. I was late. Somebody already copied the file. I will delete this system's file when we leave in order to avoid further traces, but I'm afraid the whole conversation has been recorded, observed in copied.
I'm ... I'm sorry, truly. I failed.
-
Slob sighed in frustration, and shook his head, but still patted bnc on the shoulder with his big meaty paws. There was no point in worry about it now.
"Probably best if you delete the recording of you saying you know we were recorded." Slobbertooth's frown turned into a grin. This setback was actually a potential opportunity. "When you're editing, leave this in, though. Try to make it look like a mistake by leaving some other innocuous stuff in there."
Slobbertooth focused and tried to be very mater of fact and deliberate as he addressed the team. "We've been up all night, everyone sleep in. We'll head back home after we have breakfast. Probably best if we take a day to prepare ourselves and make sure we have all of our equipment. We'll need to get someone to look after our house.
In a couple of days we'll go see that dwarf out in the barrens and try to assense the old home. See what else he remembers."
-
Torrent was in a foul mood.He would have to stay up all night to maintain his disguise but what was worse was that he'd have to stay awake inside the most boring house he'd ever set foot in.
Never met an interesting cop.Even investigators never used their imagination outside their job.
Naturally, his thoughts drifted to the killer.
@team : << Either Scary got sloppy or someone keeps an eye on Wilcox. Our visit was anticipated.Maybe our pirate has a tech-savvy partner.>>
-
"Hai, sempai", she says in a somewhat depressed voice. She knew that it wasn't actually her fault. The deed was done before she could have possibly intervened. Yet it would have been her task to observe the sensors and prevent this from happening. Data security was her job, and she completely messed up.
bnc is not a person to easily cast away self-consciousness. It's going to eat her up. But she's good at pushing uneasy thoughts aside. So she focusses on the task Slobbertooth had given her. Almost frantically, bnc attacked the programs of her cyberdeck to create a realistic, yet false conversation. She uses all her fantasy to add some innocuous details. Once she is done, she once again faces the Lonestar host to exchange the file with the one she created.
[spoiler]While working, I laod Fly on a Wall to keep the OS low.
I don't know what to roll for to create the fake recording, but I guess that'll do:
Computer (http://orokos.com/roll/357797): 17d6t5 7 (still inside her mental limit)
Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/357798): 17d6t5 6
After that, I reboot my deck since there won't be a lot I can do today.[/spoiler]
"Or else, Scary informed somebody. Not that I think he did, just wanna mention the possibility. If we don't allow Scary to be the one who let the information out, Wilcox must be watched."
[spoiler]Are there any drones out there with marks looking like the ravens I saw?
-
[spoiler]
No drones with that MARK within 100m
The fake recording is in place
[/spoiler]
Without the immediate threat the team slowly turned to sleep again. The alarm was set, so they had plenty of time to get the first ferry of the day or the storm - whichever came first.
It was five o'clock when the foodprocessor awoke them with the smell of freshly brewed soykaf. Wilcox seemed to have awoken since the team could hear the shower running.
The team could slink away or use the opportunity to talk to him before they went away.
-
Slobbertooth inserted a standard and gold credstick into his commlink, and transferred 100 Nuyen into it. He put it next to the soykaf machine and headed out the door.
"I'm heading to see Phil Rainier before these ferries shut down again."
-
"Wait! I think we should talk to Willey first. If we're suspecting that he's been under surveillance for quite a time, and we assume that he's a clever and paranoid bastard, shouldn't we at least try to find out whether he has already noticed something some day or has any suspects our anything?"
And shouldn't we warn him? I'm still not sure whether I have fully arrived in the business.
-
"He's the one who mentioned that our faces were archived in the first place. He's aware that he's being watched. He's an ex-lone star cop, in a secluded island retirement home. Lone-star probably installed the cameras themselves.
"You can stay if you want to talk to him about it. We took multiple vehicles to get here."
With that, he was out the door.
-
Jeez, he can be a prick sometimes.
bnc feels terrible. First she screwed up the data security biz and she doesn't have the feeling that she was able to mend anything. Now again, the main character of the theme discarded her idea. And, in bnc's case, this means herself. The thrill of this new adventure begins to wear off. Self-consciousness, being turned down and a bad night merged to a viscious circle of rumination that begins to turn down bnc.
She crawls back to her bed and draws the blanket over her face.
-
The storm had broken off large branches and left quite a mess, but had left only superficial damage on the houses. Just as Slobbertooth left, he noticed a few drones had come out to beginn cleaning up.
bnc noticed the same thing via AR - including a flying drone with the Lonestar logo that had begun once more to circle around the island.
Wilcox had left the bathroom and now entered the living room:
"Oh, I thought I heard the front door. Would you care for a breakfast?"
Meanwhile Slobbertooth had reached the ferry. It would depart in 10 minutes. The next one was scheduled for half an hour after that.
The storm had cleaned the air and beside the cawing of the seagulls it was quite peaceful.
-
It took bnc a short while before she put herself back together and left her bed, still in her underwear, but wrapped into the blanket from head to heel.
"I would. Do you have some synthahol or something?"
bnc sighs, but decides not to give him time to ask any uncomfortable questions.
"Sir. Are you aware that you are under surveillance? And I don't mean Lonestar but some serious dicks.
"Do you recognize this sign?"
bnc sends him an image file, recreating the Raven mark.
-
Wilcox frowned:
"The bar is over there - bit early for that, don't you think? Or are you one of those German fellows who drink beer for breakfast with white sausages?"
He looked at the symbol: "They bugged me? Hell, what are the boys doing. Jimmy assured me that the sensors couldn't be hacked. Just goes to show...
Anyway, no. Never seen that symbol before. Hm. Now that I look at it - that could be Hugin and Munin, thought and memory, Odin's pet spys.
Thanks for the warning. I think I'll have to up my security."
-
bnc makes a face at his comment. "I'm Austrian, not German. And I'm desperately in need of a drink, independend from my nationality." She helps herself to a good cup of soykaf and pours some vodka in it. Or synthahol. Or anything else that makes it more bearable to be bnc.
"Your sensors definitely are hackable. Who are Hugin and Munin? Who is Odin? We need to know."
After a short pause, she adds: "Please"
There's another question that comes to her mind. "That Jimmy... How much do you trust him?"
-
Torrent exited Wilcox's house a few moments after Slobbertooth.He left quietly and without notice.He wandered aimlessly through the streets.
@bnc:<<come pick me up when you're done.I was struggling to keep my eyes open and my disguise was in jeopardy.Please hurry I'm starving!>>
-
Wilcox shook his head: "Jimmy is one of those computer jockeys from special operations. Told me if I subscribed for Level 8 security no-one would ever be able to get electronically into my house if I didn't want it. He wouldn't lie to me.
You don't know about Odin? Norse mythology, head god of the Aesir (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin). His ravens were his spies telling him about everything that happened in the world. What are they teaching you kids in school today?
Nevermind. If anyone understands the need for a little pick-me up in the morning it's me. The trick is to only drink really pure alcohol so your hangover isn't getting worse."
He turned around and opened a cupboard and took out a clear bottle without label. He filled a glas two fingers full of the clear liquid and gave it to her: "Tripple distilled and filtered. Best Wodka you'll get around here."
-
Slobbertooth boarded the ferry without much hassle. He probably stood out considering the usual passengers on the ferry, but his tusks made him do that most days.
He put in his earbuds, and turned on some music (https://soundcloud.com/the-struts-official/could-have-been-me) for the trip (https://soundcloud.com/thisisfed/pulp-common-people-l-i-v-e) back to (https://soundcloud.com/massappealrecs/close-your-eyes-and-count-to-fuck-feat-zack-de-la-rocha) the mainland (https://m.youtube.com/watch?y=4rdOTRBYPXY).
-
Krestov was torn. He did not feel that anyone in the party should be left alone, and for a different reason with each. bnc would be helpless if threatened physically. Torrent would be difficult to keep track of if left out of sight. And Slobbertooth...often found himself in enough trouble to warrant a backup. But here, all three were separating...bnc remaining with the detective, Torrent off wandering, and Slobbertooth driven on his mission. And some unknown entity that is aware of their pursuits.
And so he had to make a decision. And he chose to stay.
Standing outside the detective's home, he wanted to make sure the whole team made it back to Seattle proper, and made a quick note to the team to let them know his intentions.
-
"<@Torrent <Yeah, sure, I'll just have a drink with detective Wilcox and I'm sure that Krestov will prevent me from dating our third contact. ;-P >>"
"Ah, thanks, detective. This is way better than synthahol. Haven't had a proper drink in ages. I assume it's a faux-pas to mix it with soykaf, isn't it?
"So, you are sure to trust this lad? I mean, even I am capable of hacking these sensors. I don't want to say that I don't understand my business, but I haven't even finished school and can rape your appartment if I want. If I were you, that would make me suspicious. So you don't think he might have been bought in or something?
God, Jeez, of course I know that Odin. And a hell of another folks from Norse mythology. Or Greek, or Celtic, or Hindu. I just had someone more worldly in mind, when I asked you whether you know someone who uses this sign."
With a sigh of relief, she empties the glass. "Thanks for the drink, the bed and the talks, detective Wilcox. Fare thee well, oh dweller in the stories of the past."
She bows, then turns to Krestov and leaves to join Torrent in his hunt for food.
-
"Do as you must. I don't judge - at least not when it comes to alcohol.
I sure as hell will call Jimmy and have a stern word with him. I might give you a call for a second opinion.
Sorry no, no-one comes to mind. But I never had much to do with that matrix stuff.
Good bye. If you get to the bottom of this I'd be quite interested in the story. Come over and we can have a BBBQ. The extra B stands for booze."
The rest of the team made it just in time to get onto the ferry before it ventured back to the mainland. The air was clear and the sea calm once more.
The ferry was just docking as Slobbertooth received a message from an unknown code that likely belonged to a burner link:
<<Drop this investigation if you value your and your friends life. This is the only warning.>>
-
bnc nods sternly. "Be a friend and record the conversation with Jimmy. I'd be very interested in his reaction."
She waves Wilcox farewell and joins her party.
When they are safely in the ferry, bnc asks the group, especially Slob: "So, sempais. What's next? One interview or another, n'est-ce pas? There'd be a lot of interesting things I'd like to hear."
[spoiler]We're on the same ferry as Slobbertooth now, aren't we?
-
Slobbertooth chuckled at the commlink message. He sent a response to the dead commlink.
<<Don't show your face if you value yours.
Also it's either "friend's" or "friends'." You've left your threat awfully vague.>>
And then sent a message to the rest of the team
<<@Team
>In a shocking turn of events, my friends and family have been threatened because we've begun this investigation.>>
-
@team:<<So...what's next?Not another pajama party I hope.>>
-
[spoiler]Set Databomb (or similar mechanism) (http://orokos.com/roll/362626): 15d6t5 5
Checking for foreign marks (http://orokos.com/roll/362628): 4#11d6t5 2 4 5 5[/spoiler]
bnc frowns. "Would you mind inviting me to mark your commlink? I don't assume that I can find out who sent the missage, but there's nothing lost if I try."
Regardless of whether or not Slobbertooth actually invites her or she has to get the mark herself, she tries to trace down the icon that sent the message. When the attempt shows to be futile, she sighs in exasperation. "Nothing to be done here...
Wait a second."
bnc quickly checks all her teammates' commlinks. When she can be sure that none of them is marked, she quickly types a message, then joins the team channel again.
<@Gordon Wilcox <Please don't contact Rainier. We might reconsider.>>
"No. Not another pyjama party, if you ask my advice. It's not surprising that we are being threatened. What is ... suspicious is the timing. I would suggest we keep a low profile and slow down the investigation. And here is why:
Unsurprisingly, the death of Mr. and Mrs. Willows has been investigated by Lonestar. Shortly after, key information on the case was closed by Edmont Verres, then Lonestar chief.
Someone put a mark on Wilcox' sensors that hasn't been there before we approached him. This means, that either Scary gave us away, or Wilcox has been watched. Although in this swarm of drones, it's hard to tell whether one more observation drone was there, or not, but we know of one company that sure as hell observed Wilcox, and well: Lonestar. A whole bunch of megapulses of data of our faces has been processed from the very moment we set foot on the island. Minutes later, the marks appear - on a system that, as Wilcox said himself - should have been waterproof. This means, that there was either a professional decker (which we cannot prove or disprove for sure) or someone was invited to the marks - by the Lonestar spider, for example. We then left the island and I think it is safe to assume that we would have noticed if we had been followed by a runner team or something of the like. Still, they knew the exact moment when the ferry arrived - which supports my hypothesis that we are under Lonestar observation.
If I am right - which I might no be, green as I am - the murders have been performed or at least ordered by someone high in the Lonestar hierarchy. Lonestar is not a company I want to cross easily. I'm not saying I want to draw back. I am saying that we should move extra careful, keep a low profile and let, as we put it in Austria, grass grow over matters. I opt for heaving a good breakfast and wait. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox' murderers have not been found for years. They can wait another week.
I already cancelled the meeting with Phil Rainier, who is still working for Lonestar. And I think we should warn Detective Wilcox. If I'm right, he's in great danger, and we're responsible for it.
What do you say, sempais?
-
bnc pauses, the continues.
"So, from here we could go into two directions. One is to investigate Edmont Verres. But I think, as long as we cannot be sure that I'm utterly wrong, this would be a very dangerous move.
Then there is Benjamin Thorin who became bastante grande rich after Mr. and Mrs. Willows deaths. If we wait a couple of days, we could investigate the powerplant that was closed two days after the incident. Anyway, I will do some research. Except for the direct connection of the temporal proximity between the deed and Thorin's rise, there are more small indications of him being involved. One is that we assume that somebody Awakened has been involved and my research showed that rumors say that Thorin's children might have some magical talent. Another one, even thinner, is that the name Thorin can be vaguely related to two things: Firstly, a character from a centuries old book, The Hobbit, by Tolkien who is the one responsible that you guys are called elves and orks and trolls. But secondly, the name has at least phonological proximity to Thor who, after Odin, is one of the most important Asen, or as you say in English ... wait ... Æsir; a god of the Norse mythology, and son to Odin. So there could be a link, since the decker displayed a mark of two ravens which could be, according to Wilcox, Hugin and Munin, servants of Odin. So, maybe this is a jeu-de-mots. It's plausibel that Thor become something like a nickname for Thorin.
But, of course, it could just be accident, and the Hugin-and-Munin mark belongs to a Nazi decker. After all, Nazis are the only group that is both racist and attached to Norse mythology. I just don't believe in chance, and I don't think there truly is a racist motive behind these murders."
-
Slobbertooth growled and pawed his face in frustration when he heard bnc commented that she had already cancelled the meeting with Ranier. He almost yelled over comms, "God dammit, bnc, who the frag-", he stopped himself with a heavy sigh and heavy impact on a nearby wall. After calming down he took the time to consider her words. He didn't want to slow down the investigation, but he wouldn't let an innocent man be harmed because of their actions. "Inform Wilcox."
Before addressing her theories about the killer identities, he chuckled at the prediction of Nazis. "It would also be a tad counterproductive to some Neo Neo Nazis to disguise a murder as a racist hate crime. It would only point more fingers towards them."
We have a Lonestar abated coverup, corporate benefactor, an awakened assassin, an a hacker who likes birds, and two dead orcs we know very little about.
"I'm not putting a coverup and murder past a Lonestar police chief, but I think we have too many players, too little information, and too many motives to pin anything on Lonestar beyond complicity. Just because their tech got hacked doesn't meant their approval, unless you're much more persuasive and charming than you've let on."
Slobbertooth tapped his fingers on his commlink, and begrudgingly gave bnc a mark.
<<@bnc >Send a message to K. Let him know that friends and family were threatened. Encrypt it as best you can. >>
He examined his personal armament and found it lacking.
<<@Team >Now how about we go home and get the big guns. >>
-
At this moment bnc received a call from Wilcox: <<Just had a talk with Jimmy. That little punk had the nerv to scold me for that hack. I mean honestly, how was I supposed to know that Level 8 security referred to the rating of the host. I mean that service is fucking expensive. Anyway, apparently when I signed up and clicked the "save more" button I automatically downgraded to a Level 5 rating. Jimmy says he fixed it - and I'm out 2.5k a year. Just unbelievable how they treat there customers and employees.
Ah. Almost forgot: Jimmy says he couldn't trace the mark but there was definitely some manipulation on the video stream and someone edited a file or something to deactivate my security later this day. I already asked Ron, Tod and Burge to come over with their rifles. If anyone shows up to rob my place, we'll be ready. >>
[spoiler]
All: Have 1 Karma for preventing Wilcox coming to harm
[/spoiler]
-
When the menacing ork let out his frustration, bnc gulps and ducks in fear. "I-I am sorry, sempai." She closes her eyes to gather some courage. And she lets them closed in order not to lose it again. "But I won't allow your personal quest to get us all killed. Your totem should be a boar, telling how stubborn and straightforward you are, and it's reason you need most now ... this is the only thing I can give."
The little girl sighs with relief when Slobbertooth calms down again. She distracts herself from the engagement with Slobbertooth and, biting her lips, creates a message and attaches a databomb that is designed not to wound the reader but only to destroy itself. In the message, bnc warns Wilcox from the threat he is in and recommends taking a few days off. After several seconds, the message removes itself.
When she feels up to taking up the conversation again, her voice is still slightly trembling. "I didn't say that it necessarily is Lonestar who is behind all of this ... I just wanted to point out that it might be, and actually might well be Lonestar. And as long as we don't know, we should keep our heads down."
After she examined the message, she sighs. "Sorry, Slob. As I thought, the commlink is not traceable. I assume that they disposed it right away. As any professional would."
<@Wilcox <Life's a bitch. What exactly do you mean with "deactivate my security later this day"? Please give me details on which parts have been deactivated at which time. Thanks for everything, including the vodka.>>
And now to K...
<@Kazuya Armstrong <Hello, this is one of your grumpiest clients' skinny friend. His friends and family have been threatened. There is reason to assume that they mean it and have the means to it. Take care. Delete this message immediately and thouroughly.>>
[spoiler]Yoohoo! I'm a hero :-)
EDIT: Add the message to K.
Protect file (http://orokos.com/roll/362836): 17d6t5 8 [Data processing limit is 6 (configuration) + 2 (Edit program).
Data Bomb (http://orokos.com/roll/362839): 17d6t5 5
The Data Bomb level rises to 6 because of Demolition. If it's impossible to configure the bomb in a fashion that his SIN allows him access to it, the protection alone will have to do.
-
"That Thorin guy you mentioned.It will take some preparation to get close to him, and his son's coming of age presents a good opportunity. He loves to travel but for the sake of the tabloids I bet he will be there. "
[spoiler] Do I know anything about Thorin Macro-Dynamics and the buyout?
Corporate Politics Check : Corporate Politics (I guess it's an interest?) (http://orokos.com/roll/363106): 6d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
-
"Si, señor, that's why I don't think we shold investigate the thing too directly. I'll try and find out what I can online. But I'd like to hear your thoughts about my Lonestar theory, Torrent and eight-six-eight-two. What do you think? It matters a lot in regard of what we do, when, and how."
If they don't have any big plans, bnc goes online and flies through the data limbo to seek enlightenment.
[spoiler]Matrix search on Edmont Verres, Phil Rainier and the power-plant (http://orokos.com/roll/363677): 3#13d6t5 3 4 5
-
[spoiler]
Torrent knows the following:
- Thorin Macro-Dynamics was an innovator in drone technology - hence why MCT was interested in them
- The buy-out was surprising when it came since TMD was regarded as financially very stable.
- The buy-out did put a lot of people out of their jobs
- The Thorin family did get really, really filthy rich with that deal.
bnc finds the following:
- Edmont Verres is no longer chief inspector but has taken a post as commandant of the Lonestar Police Academy in Seattle. A press release announced that he was one of the initiators of the Cop and Robot Partnership Program (CRPP - yeah, you can pretty much guess what a lot of people are calling it)
- Edmont Verres doesn't keep an active social life, but he is a prominent golfer
- Phil Rainier is a member of Lonestar and is listed as a member of the support staff - nothing particular remarkable: Used to be a beat cop and got promoted after 10 years into a much less dangerous paper pusher job.
[/spoiler]
Wilox responded quickly: <<As I understand it, this hacker inserted some file to my system that would have triggered a test mode to be activated that disengaged all locks and deactivated the sensors. This would have happened at 1500h today. I'll keep you posted if something interesting happens.>>
Kazuya replied: <<Understood. I'll take care of things on my end.>>
-
"Well, concerning Lonestar...I think you're right and there was someone involved, someone who buried the whole investigation on purpose.But I don't know if Lonestar is behind it all.The power plant..the buyout..this shit should normally be out of Lonestar's league."
-
bnc nods. "You might be r-"
She pauses mid-sentence.
"Boys! I just received a message from Wilcox. A decker inserted a molefile into his system that was s'posed to disactivate his home security at 3pm. What do you say? Should we turn the tables and ambush them? We could find out a mucho bastante lot, n'est-ce pas? I ain't got nothing else on my schedule. If we're careful, like plus careful, we can turn the leaf, or however you Amis say."
-
[spoiler]
Regarding the info on the plant (which is a normal manufacturing plant (for drones), not a power plant:
You'll need at least an hour to find anything on that - this info has been buried.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I'll definitely spend the time as soon as it is available. When I wrote the post, I thought we were definitely on our way home and had no more plans for the day.
-
[spoiler]@GM What time is it, and how long would it take for us to go home, get weapons, and come back to Wilcox's
house.[/spoiler]
Slobbertooth looked over his weapon again. "Maybe. What weapons are we packing in the van?"
-
"We should decide now whether we are doing it or not. From here, I'm still close enough to fake a file that looks like the false file they inserted but doesn't do any harm. This way, we can prevent them from finding out that they have been discovered, and prepare for an ambush. I'd vote for yes, but it's your quest, holy crusader."
-
[spoiler]
You can go home and return to Wilcox within 2 hours.
It's now around 0800h
[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth nodded in the affirmative. "It sounds good, but we need to find a way to get some heavier weapons out here first. I don't want to deal with some death squad without a weapon capable of full automatic death."
[spoiler]Is the ferry purely a passenger ferry, or can you get a vehicle across?
What kind of security systems are on the ferry?[/spoiler]
-
Torrent remains silent.It's not his decision to make.But Slobbertooth may be looking for the opportunity to unleash bloody vengeance.For his friend, this is personal.
After a while, he turns to Krestov
"What do you think big guy?A death squad arriving at 15:00,while the sun shines upon this peaceful little island?"
-
[spoiler]
The ferry transports passengers and vehicles. There are no security systems to speak of besides a Rating 1 SIN check to buy your ticket
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Plan: put guns in the vans is a go![/spoiler]
-
Krestov looked up from his reverie as he turned to Torrent. His voice rumbled low as she nodded his head. "Man silenced for speaking truth. I will not back down from protecting, if that's Torrent meaning. I stand ready, thinking term death squad have little meaning.." Flashing a little smirk, he tilted his neck to the side, cracking it.
"As for theory on LoneStar involving, Krestov not lie: opinion having bias. LoneStar believed by KE to be rough, crude, and cutting corners to get jobs done. Surprise me little if Slobbertooth case coverup for something. But, will see"
-
Slobbertooth was glad to have the KE vet's approval. "Well if we're all agreed, let's get back to the apartment and figure out what all we're bringing back with us. bnc set up the spoof message before we leave.
"We've only got 7 hours to work with, so let's make 'em count."
-
[spoiler]As I'm gonna need Signal Scrub, I don't load Baby Monitor (yet). Feel free to subtract dice, should the noise exceed 4.
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/364412): 19d6t5 8 that's still within the limit
Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/364414): 13d6t5 4
Is the file protected or has it got a Data bomb on it? If yes, I'd remove that stuff before I edit it.
Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/364413): 17d6t5 5
Just in case, I roll on computer+logic to prove that she can fake the file thouroughly.
Fake File (http://orokos.com/roll/364415): 17d6t5 2
Honestly, I should just have kept my mouth shut...
If this roll is of any importance, I'll use Edge to improve it. Gamemaster's descretion.
Do I need anything else to profoundly fake that thing?
For protecting the message, I go at the same lengths as I did last time. Shall I roll these again?
[/spoiler]
"I'm ready to go. I'm done here. They shouldn't be warned. Just to be sure, I inform Wilcox not to do anything suspicious. And now ... let's go home."
Grinnig like the teenage girl she actually is (virtually grinning only, though), she jumps into the car, lets the engine roar and drives her teammates home. In order not to lose her enthusiasm, she immediately begins to dig into her research on the plant while the big boys gather their big toys.
-
bnc found out - just in time - that the Lonestar connection of Wilcox had done pretty much the same with the file: Prepared a dummy and set a data bomb on it. And as far as she can see, it's a pretty heavy one at rating 6.
Getting back to their home and loading up on gear as well as driving back to the ferry goes without a hitch. As a plus bnc finds the time to do an in dept search for Thorins manufacturing plant. Buried and erased for the most part, she can nonetheless puzzle the following out:
- The plant was specialized on commercial Anthro drones
- Untypically for this industry they did machine almost all parts beside the electronics at the plant itself, suggesting that they relied on nano-forges and advanced 3D-Printing/sintering for the chassis
- The plant was managed by only 10 people for the last 5 years, suggesting a very high level of automation and computerization in the production process
- Of the other people working there she can only find four, three of them confirmed dead, one missing: Seymore Goldberg, a computer technician. He vanished shortly after the buyout and has since then not made another appearance in the matrix in any form bnc can find
-
bnc takes a closer look at the dummy file. Does it withstand a closer inspection? That is, can we rely on that the fake file is exactly that, and the Lonestar connection didn't himself f*** with Wilcox?
After the research, she shares the intel with the team and digs some deeper. Her new rotodrone will also be stuffed into the van. With that, she's ready to counter-ambush those buggers.
[spoiler]Are the three deaths in temporal proximity to the buyout and Slob's parents' deaths?
-
[spoiler]
In a way: They all happened within a year, but after the buyout.
[/spoiler]
The file seems pretty solid, but without deactivating the data bomb it is nearly impossible to say how it looks inside.
Taking the ferry again only two hours later, the team rolled towards Wilcox house. It lay there just as they had left it in the morning
-
When the team got out of the van, Slobbertooth made sure the coast was clear before pulling the Yamaha out of the van. "I'm going to find a secluded spot to set up and watch the front. Torrent cover the back. Krestov you hunker down and get ready to aid either side. bnc stay in the van and keep and eye out for comms activity.
"I'd rather we intercept the team before they get to Wilcox's home. I'd don't want to explain to a bunch of cops whether or not we have licenses for everything we're carrying."
Slobbertooth moved into some foliage, laid down and set up the tripod, and started to watch over the approach to the front of Wilcox's house.
"We should have remembered to bring snacks."
[spoiler]Slobbertooth would like to sit outside whatever the GM would call "far away" so that the enemies get the maximum penalty on perception checks to hear the suppressed fire and see Slobbertooth as they approach. He can be up to 150 m away without taking a firing penalty, but I'd rather not be that far away from the team.
RC on Yamaha Raiden with tripod deployed: 11
Sneaking to hide in foliage (http://orokos.com/roll/365412): 10d6t5 3[/spoiler]
-
"Roger, chieftain."
bnc makes herself comfortable with a cup of stawberry soyghurt and leans back. She then unjacks her body (for this is basically how she experiences going hot-sim) and strolls around the hill. She hides the most suspicious items of her party using her Wrapper program, while she herself goes looking for any activity that appears to be irregular: commlinks, guns, marks on our or Wilcox' gear, silently running icons, and so on.
-
[spoiler]@Squirrel..was that snacks line meant to be a joke reference to something? feels like it x3
Krestov's loadout: he will carry his (licensed) Crusader with him, leaving the illegal Alpha at home this time around. He will be fully decked, with shield, armor outfit with longcoat and helmet, along with the usual gear accutrements.[/spoiler]
Disembarking from the van, Krestov gave a nod to the ork as he hunkered off, watching the adept slink into some foliage. He turned and saw Torrent do the same in the opposite direction. Looking back, he made eye contact with the skinny human as he flashed a little smirk. "Trouble, you saying Marco, da?" And with that slipped his helmet on and headed out.
Looking for a good middle ground, the troll held the shield loosely to his arm as he took car behind a fence next door..or behind a wall...he was getting better at concealing himself, so he went for the best option..ready to respond where needed.
"In position, General. Ready for signaling"
-
Time went by, drones flew merrily in the sky and even a few cars could be heard driving somewhere on the tiny island - most likely some old folks who had problems walking but didn't like a drone assist.
Torrent was the one noticing it first: The deep resonant droning of a motorboat closing in on the coast. A moment searching allowed him to pin point the noise and made him spot the quickly approaching vessel.
-
If and as soon as Torrent informs the others about the boat, bnc immediately updates the ARO map, then thouroughly inspects all icons on board of the ship.
-
The first indication that something is amiss with the boat is the fact that there are no visible icons. But an active sweep gave her to understand, that at least one silent running icon had to be on there.
-
"OK fellas, we got company.I'll see if I can get any closer, take a better look."
The elf's suit blends in with the island's natural environment making him all but invisible to the naked eye, and his steps are almost lighter than rain drops. "Almost" can separate success from disaster though.
[spoiler]Torrent wears his new chameleon suit and ballistic mask.The mask has vision magnification. How far is the boat?
Any dice penalties for distance?
Perception Test (assuming there are no penalties-vision magnification) (http://orokos.com/roll/366339): 10d6t5 4
Sneaking (Limit 8 ) (http://orokos.com/roll/366340): 17d6t5 6
The newcomers have a -4 dice penalty in perception(listen-Traceless Walk) and -5 dice penalty in perception (spot-Ruthenium Polymer coating)
[/spoiler]
-
The boat was now only 50m out and Torrent could easily see the two men. Both wore Lonestar style full body armor. But something wasn't right.
It took Torrent another moment to realize what it was: Both men carried Ares Alphas - definitively not standard issue for KE's hardest concurrent.
The boat began to slow down as the man in the prow got ready to jump on land.
-
Slobbertooth heard Torrent's alert and rushed into the back of the house to take cover opposite of the elf, trying to slip into a new hiding place. He flicked on his smartlink, made sure his tripod was braced against a solid surface and took aim.
Then he checked his watch. Wilcox had friends coming over, and the kill-team won't be arriving before those lock get undone. Better make sure we aren't jumping the gun here.
"Remember, we want one of these geeks alive."
[spoiler]@GM: Is it assassins o'clock?
Sneaking to hide in different foliage (http://orokos.com/roll/366347): 10d6t5 4
Take Aim +1[/spoiler]
-
Despite his haste, Slobbertooth managed to get in position without disturbing the foliage to much.
It was exactly and on the second 1500h when the boat ground ashore and the armored man landed on the ground, raising his rifle and advancing up the narrow stairs to the houses back door.
-
"Sempai, should I try to disenable their arms?"
As always, when encounters get real, bnc is more than nervous. She's glad to be safely in the van, but still she's feeling giddy. Before they land, she once more examines the icons more closely. After that, she activates the rotordrones, opens the car's window and pops out the drone's gun. It's ready for combat any time.
[spoiler]Can I find gun icons if I look for them? What about commlinks?
-
[spoiler]
Threshold 5 to find the comms and guns
[/spoiler]
-
"Go."
Slobbertooth had already aimed, there was no reason to wait any further. He unleashed full-automatic suppressed hell on one of the would-be assassins.
[spoiler]
Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/366360): 4d6+13 31
Full Automatic Attack [10 bullets]: Automatics 8 + Agility 6 + Smartlink 1 + Aim 1 [10+] (http://orokos.com/roll/366361): 16d6t5 6
Damage Code: 11p+6 hits -6AP -9 to dodge.
-
"Remember, we want one of these geeks alive."
"Got it.We'll have to time this. At the moment bnc bricks their guns, I'll paralyze the one in the back. Slob and Krestov, you make sure the one in the front won't use me as target practice.Agreed?"
[spoiler]
We will have to delay our actions.Bnc must go first, I go second, Slobbetooth and Krestov go last
Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/366362): 11+4d6 24
Agility Boost (http://orokos.com/roll/366363): 7d6t5 0 :-\
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I was thinking that Slob shoots one dead, or draws the attention to himself by injuring them, and then Torrent paralyzes one. Krestov finishes them off. Kind of hoping for getting the surprise penalty to initiative so that we all go before them, especially with Krestov's new syanpses.
Let's see where the initiatives fall first. I don't want to give up the alpha strike if we can get it.
I'm inclined to go with your plan because I'm petrified that Slobs shooting lone star cops.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/366435): 13d6t5 4 failed
INI roll (http://orokos.com/roll/366437): 4d6+9 20 crap
@Jack The rotor drone's gun is loaded with gel ammo, btw. bnc still hasn't overcome her unwilligness to kill if not entirely necessary.
If I go first, I delay my action till Slobbertooth's first round.[/spoiler]
"Can't spot the weapons, chief. The rotordrone is ready for action. I'll wait till the first shot has fallen, then I unleash gel hell!"
-
[spoiler]
Surprise (http://orokos.com/roll/366439): 12d6t5 4
Surprise (http://orokos.com/roll/366440): 12d6t5 1
Ok, you have one shot free, than we start Ini.
Goon 1 is not surprised, Goon 2 the boat pilot is, very much so:
Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/366441): 12+2d6 21
Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/366442): 12+2d6 21 -10 due to surprise= 11
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I'm going to make the crazy assumption that Slobbertooth will probably be going first with an initiative of 31. I already rolled my attack and posted it. (http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=22914.msg430053#msg430053)Direct it at the guy who isn't surprised.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/366471): 3d6t5 1
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/366475): 19d6t5 6
Takes 10 P
Remains conscious - barely
Knock down
Ini down to 18
[/spoiler]
The surprise attack hit the armored man square in the side and threw him to the ground. Blood spurted from the holes in the armor, but despite that the man still was conscious enough to turn his weapon in Slobbertooths direction.
-
"I'm taking the shot. Finish off the last man standing guys."
Slobbertooth channelled magic into himself and fired another burst of APDS into the already wounded target.
[spoiler]Simple Action: Agility Boost 6 + Agility Boost 2 [2] (http://orokos.com/roll/366477): 8d6t5 2 & also resets recoil
Simple Action: FA Burst Automatics 8 + Agility 8 + Smartlink 1 [10] (http://orokos.com/roll/366478): 17d6t5 3 :-\
Damage Code: 14P -6AP -5 defense
Initiative goes from 31 to 21. Everyone else also needs to get their surprise action.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/366482): 3d6t5 1
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/366483): 19d6t5 9
7 P
The man is dead
[/spoiler]
The second salvo finished the man - there wasn't even a twitch to see anymore.
-
[spoiler]Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/366551): 3d6+10 22
Hello beautiful :D
If appropriate after Torrent...
Unarmed (charge, kick attack (reach 2)) (http://orokos.com/roll/366558): 12d6t5 4
Damage code 10P.[/spoiler]
As the boat approached, Krestov was ready, advancing to be ready as soon as Slobbertooth made the first move. When the first shots connected, the troll felt his adrenaline rise...under his control, but definitely putting him on edge. On the go, the troll rose as he advanced, his newly enhanced synapses showing their power as he closed the distance. Shield raised in front of him, he would make a leap at the remaining figure in the air, bringing both his legs up for a driving double heel kick into center mass...
-
Torrent allowed himself a millisecond of disappointment but as soon as he heard Slobbertooth's second volley he was on the move.
He saw Krestov charging the boat pilot and felt confident that the giant armored Troll would monopolize the poor guy's attention.
The elf quietly closed the distance and got behind his target.
[spoiler]Assuming I can cover the distance (14m walk)
Nerve Strike (Target :Agility) (http://orokos.com/roll/366642): 15d6t5 5
[/spoiler]
-
The elf slipped on the boat with one smooth leap and had paralyzed the goon before that could even move a muscle.
Just as the man toppled to the floor of the boat the back door was flung open and Wilcox stepped out, carrying a very menacing looking semi automatic shotgun.
"Well, what do you know. Seems like you lot got yourself some impostors." He stepped down and nudged the dead man. "Well, that one won't tell anything. What about the other, is that one still breathing?"
[spoiler]
Goon 2 is surprised, so no defense
Torrent fells him exactly with his 5 successes.
That fight was shorter than expected ;D
[/spoiler]
-
"We should take them inside.Krestov will make this bird sing.Kid, can you scan for any calls to Lone Star from worried neighbours?"
-
"I guess so. Good thinking, Legolas."
"Sempai, is the area clear? There might still be people hidden on the boat. I'd like to find out who hid their commlinks and guns. They were plus quality hidden."
bnc floats around in the nearby matrix, checking visible and (if possible) silent running commlinks in the surrounding. I check for the last performed Matrix action.
[spoiler]Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/366706): 10#13d6t5 6 8 4 5 2 8 6 6 5 2
Theese are some decent rolls :)[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth stood up and walked out of the bushes, but left Torrent to check to clear out the boat. He headed to the front of the house to make sure the approach was clear. 'Yeah, we're good, bnc."
Feeling relatively secure, Slobbertooth moved over to the dead body and started to look for their commlinks and biomonitors, pilfered whatever ammunition they had on them, and deactivated any device he could find that had it's wireless functionalities enabled. "Let's debug these guys before we admit them into Krestov's welcoming party." The boat provided a bit of inspiration though, and he went over to tie up the boat. "Torrent, help me strip the body and load it into the boat. See if you can find something heavy enough to keep their bodies underwater."
[spoiler]What modifications do their Ares Alpha's have/not have?
What commlinks are these guys sporting?
Any other miscellaneous gear that would be interesting or revealing?[/spoiler]
-
"Don't deactive their links and guns. I wanna check whether there is another decker or not."
bnc returns back to her meat body, clears her head and leaves the van. Wrapping the jacket tighter around herself, she walks over to the limp bodies. "This will take just a tick."
That said, she pulls out the glass-fibre cable and plugs it into the guns. Since they have been protected, they should be slaved to a deck or at least a commlink. By attacking the guns, she hopes to get access to the the decker.
[spoiler]Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/366733): 12d6t5 4
Does it have raved-shaped marks on it?
Is it linked to a master?
If yes:
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/366734): 19d6t5 4
What can I tell about the master at this point?
-
The close examination showed that the two men carried both Ares Alpha's with Shock Pads and an after market Gas Vent III. The grenade launchers were loaded with HE grenades while the Extended Mags sported 84 shots of Ex-Ex ammunition each. Both carried two more mags - one regular ammo, one filled with APDS.
Their comms where exquisit: Transsys Avalon. One of them sported a rating 3 Stealth Dongle and seemed to have been upgraded with a program carrier module.
The FB-Armor where equipped with quick access pockets, a full chemical seal and electro chromic modification, giving them the appearance of Lonestar gear. As sidearms both carried Ares Sliver guns.
Whoever those guys where, there equipment was first class and extremely illegal.
The two man themselves revealed to be white man in their late twenties, covered with prison and army tattoos. No obvious cyberware, only trode nets in their helmets.
bnc's hacking showed no master beside the modded commlink. But there was indeed a mark of two ravens - yet even as she looked on the mark vanished, indicating that whoever had kept tabs on the two had just rebooted his system.
-
Slobbertooth put aside both assault rifles, and all the ammunition magazines and the HE launcher grenades. "Hey Krestov, would you like a new Ares Alpha with a grenade launcher on the front instead of a stick? You'll have to modify it to work for your great meaty paws, but I figure it's worth it. Even if Krestov didn't want them, they'd fetch a pretty penny.
Slobbertooth handed the commlinks over to bnc. "I figure that we're keeping them. Torrent, would you like a commlink that even bnc finds hard to detect?" The FB armor was impressive, but they would probably be resold, unless... Torrent, how would you like a brand new Lonestar full body armor disguise?
He dragged the dead one's body into the boat, to be disposed of later.
-
"It seems my birthday presents arrived ealy.OK let's hurry."
-
Wilcox looked on as the team began their looting routine.
"I think I shouldn't see that - should I? I'll just go inside and have a drink than. And you should probably go as well. My neighbors surely have heard the shots and called the real law. I'll cover for you."
Discreetly he shuffled a bit of sand over the spot where the dead man had bled on.
-
Torrent beckoned to Krestov to come closer. The weight of the muscular human would be as nothing next to the towering Troll's strength.
"Take the paralyzed one to the van and let's go find a safe place to question him.There's no time to waste.Leave no fingerprints on the boat."
-
"I'll safekeep the commlinks for the moment, if you don't mind. You try to interview our ... guest. I try to interview the one single thing that is more intimate than his balls - his commlink."
bnc quickly plus herself into the commlink and quickly turns off the wireless functionalities. That way, she prevents Hugin and Munin from deleting any files that might be useful. There's no time for a closer investigation now and she doesn't want the data to be lost, when there is time. She then slids them into pockets. "Let's leave."
-
Slobbertooth handed the gear to bnc. "Take this to the van."
Slobbertooth looked conflicted as his glance flicked between the dead body and the boat. Someone needed to get rid of this body. He knew Torrent and Krestov would be upset that he went off on his own right now, but he felt it needed to be done. He grabbed the body and started to drag it towards the boat for disposal, and then he sighed and grimaced at his own stupidity.
I don't know how to operate boats.
He couldn't shake the feeling that all of this was a really bad idea. "bnc, get your tiny butt over here. You're going to help me dispose of a body and a large watercraft. Torrent, you and Krestov slink out of here and get that guy to wherever you want to interview him. We'll catch up with you as soon as we can.
"I know it's dumb, but I'm not leaving a body filled with APDS ammunition fired from a Yamaha Raiden on Wilcox's doorstep."
-
Yeah, sure, because everybody who had a control rig in their head for like four days knows how to operate a boat. Crap ... I messed up too often to tell them that I'm the only rigger on Gaia's beautiful body who isn't capable of driving a boat.
"Coming, sempai. But I really, really recommend we all take that boat and get out of here. Lonestar will be here in no time, and there is blood, there are neighbors who might have watched what happened, there are security drones and and and. We can't stay here for any longer. The cops will be here like really quickly from what Wilcox said and we are quite suspicious - let alone that our gear would be sufficient to bring us to jail for months. We have to get out from here."
Now let's take care of the boat. I have to stop thinking like a rigger, and start to think like a decker again. That's what I do better.
bnc plugs herself in and starts to dance with the boat. First she convinces it of being a legal user. Then she programs a small routine that acts as a user-interface which translates her input into commands to the autopilot. That way, she would still control the boat - it would even be possible to create an ad-hoc-AI if needed - but the technical details will be left to the dogbrain of the boat. If she edits the autopilots authorizations, she might even circumfere the speed limitations and legal boundaries ... making her virtually driving the boat herself - only that she doesn't.
bnc rubs her virtual hands, smiling a confident smile.
[spoiler]I don't know how many marks I'm gonna need, so I might want to re-roll. On the assumption that two will be sufficient and that I only roll against a very low dicepool due to the direct connection, I attempt to get two marks with one roll. Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/367652): 15d6t5 2 :-/
I might want to use Edge at this point to avoid rising alarm.
Editing the file that limits speed, laws etc. Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/367653): 17d6t5 11 Whew that was probably my best roll ever. A shame that I can only use 7 of them.
Creating a proper interface: Computer (http://orokos.com/roll/367655): 17d6t5 4
She then loads Fly on the Wall.
-
Hacking the rating 1 pilot proved to be no trouble at all. There was even a promt asking if the boat should return to it's staring point or any other coordinates anyone chose to input.
-
Slobbertooth moved to the front of the boat and started tying weights to the corpse's feet. All aboard, no time to lose.
-
bnc starts the engine. As soon as everybody is boarded, she drives off with them.
"Do you guys have any hideout? Or shall we return to HQs?"
-
Krestov glanced to the bodies, one dead and one not, before looking to the others. "Gear with us or no, but all need going boat. Faster exit. bnc, trusting with handling of our vehicles back to home, yeah?"
Without another word, the troll picked up both bodies and whatever else he could carry, trying not to spill any more blood before hopping on the boat.
And hoping that it could support his weight...
Once away, he shrugged a little. "have no idea where to pursue, but interrogating requires secure place for us. Judgment call"
-
"We're not going back to the HQ, yet."
Slobbertooth reflected on any place he knew where it would be possible to interview their guest without being interrupted. It wouldn't be a good neighborhood, but that would probably be preferable when it came to disposing the body.
[spoiler]Sprawl Life (http://orokos.com/roll/368532): 9d6t5 1[/spoiler]
Before throwing the corpse over the side of the boat, he looked over both men's tattoos to see if he found anything identifiable.
[spoiler]Human Supremacist Groups (http://orokos.com/roll/368535): 9d6t5 5
I know that it probably isn't related, but when you've got two human skinheads with tattoos, you might as well do your due dilligence. [/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
The harbor has loads of derelict buildings and/or containers that could be used as an interrogation place.
You yourself have already visited two on your previous runs. It's no problem to find one that is free.
Regarding tattoos:
Both show the insignia of NAN army soldiers - not one of the prestigious regiments. Likewise, the prison tattoos show that they were a member of an native american prison group.
Krestov's knowledge tells him, that those two are most likely mercenaries. They were disciplined enough to be punctual, but not nearly experienced enough to be subtle about it. The gear they sport is most definitely not there own, but brand new stuff they were lend for this endeavor.
[/spoiler]
-
"Sure. For this, the autopilot will totally do. I'll check every now and then anyway."
Once that is settled, bnc drives the boat to the harbor, where we enter our safeplace. After a short check that everything is all right, she deactivates potential security cameras and nods then to the team. "There we goy, boys. This is your terrain now. I s'pose I'm not of much help here ... Torturing really isn't a strength of mine."
She positions herself a bit apart from the team. She doesn't really want to see the mess, or hear it.
-
Don't stray too far, bnc.
Slobbertooth finds a crate for the unconscious mercenary to sit on, and a couple of chairs for the rest of the team.
Slobbertooth takes a chair for himself, puts it behind the ones for Krestov and Torrent, and takes a seat. He begins to deliberately reload his revolver with standard revolver ammunition. "I'll leave this conversation to you boys."
-
Slobbertooth tapped Krestov on the shoulder.
"Hello! Special K! Anybody home?
-
It seemed the troll had slipped into one of his bouts of reverie again. Either that or his mind just didn't work in the same fast gear as most. Depends on who is being asked, he guessed. Either way, he was standing with the mercenary's rifle in his hands, studying it. "hmm." he grunted out his response before nodding, removing his helmet and take the seat, rifle across his lap. "Apologies. Is subject awaken?" he would study the man intently, calming himself and recalling his memories and training before he would begin, activating his pheromones as standard protocol.
-
Only the man's eyes moved in his paralysed state while his breathing was flat and a bit panicky. Krestov could tell from his reaction that the man did understand him and the situation he was in very well indeed.
Torrent guessed that the man would be this way for ten more minutes.
-
Τhe ballistic mask distorted Torrent's voice when he addressed the prisoner.
"You have ten minutes to consider your options : Option A is answering my friend's questions with sincerity. Option B ...you don't really want to know what option B is."
-
Finally the muscles relaxed enough for the man to speak - haltingly and slurred but understandable:
"Hey - this was nothing personal. It was just a job. Yes, we were paid to kill the old bastard, but this asshole had it coming. Got me and Tony booked for five years. Totally trumped up charges - ruined my life just for a bit of dealing. It's not like I really hurt anyone."
Asked after the person behind the hit he replied:
"I don't know the guy. It's an elf with an eye-patch. Walked up to us in that bar - Rotgut - we both like to hang around. Knew a whole lot about me and Tony, especially that we both got caught by Wilcox. Offered us both three grand and some cool gear and a bit of Jazz if we'd take care of him this afternoon. What was I supposed to say to an offer like that? The stuff was all in the boat waiting for us. The money should have waited for us when we got back to pier 47.
Please, please, don't kill me. I don't want to die."
-
"And how was the one-eyed elf supposed to know you completed the hit?"
-
"I don't know, probably he was watching or listening in on the police radio. I don't know. In any case he seemed to be very well informed, so I guess he is some kind of matrix wiz."
-
As their captive watched, unable to move, Krestov sat his troll form down in front of him, the merc's gun in his hand as he held it and inspected the piece. He spoke slowly, letting his accent roll as he added to the effect. "Ares Alpha Mk. III automatic assaulting rifle. Chambered for five point five six millimeter rifle rounds, capacity of forty-two rounds of killing power. Compensated for recoil and outfitted with a thirty millimeter grenade launcher for superior ground control. This is fine weapon. But not yours. Without checking, I tell you this grip optimized for triggering finger of four point 2 centimeters...yours is five point 3. This gun is not yours, but for small price of pain and blood, could make it fit you.." He turned to Torrent, his helmeted visage showing little expression. "Or is it him fitting it? I cannot get that wording right, I swear.." He needed not continue, as the mercenary started to babble without much fuss.
He kept his expression serious as an idea formed in his head. "one-eyed elf known in matrix use, contracted you for job. Where in Pier 47? Would you willing to trade cooperation for life?"
-
"Yeah, sure man. I'll tell you. Pier 47 is just down the harbor. It's abandoned - only trash and devil rats there and the occasional burnouts. There are a few boats there it's where we found our gear."
-
Slobbertooth narrowed his eyes at the captive, made a face, and spoke to the group. "Well no point in wasting any more time here. Let's have him go pick up his reward at pier 47."
-
"You don't expect the elf to show up in person, do you? If he is what I think he is, he already knows they messed up. If anything, we set our own trap if we follow them."
-
Slob shook his head. No, I don't think he'll show up. I just don't want to be the person to grab whatever is in store for a couple of mercenaries who failed a clandestine organization.
-
It's your call, Slobber.This man's life is in your hands.What about that one-eyed elf though? If he's just a decker who's unwilling to get his hands dirty, why was he near the crime scene back then? Did your family's house have top-notch security?
-
"I don't remember the security measures, and I was too young to know what good security was to be honest. Things might have still be wired-only. He gave an apologetic shrug at Torrent for his own ignorance.
"I say we have our mercenary go see if there is anything left for us at the dock. He inspects anything that is there, and then gets to move on his way. We already knew about the elf. He's only given us a place to ask around, Rotgut, and that's probably a dead end. That's hardly enough to risk leaving a loose end."
-
"Maybe Torrent should ask around in Rotgut before we let the mercenary go."
-
"Sounds reasonable. Torrent shouldn't go alone, though. Looks like we're loading up our new friend for a family road trip.
Slobbertooth turned and spoke to the prisoner for the first time. "That bar. Rotgut, you said it was? You don't happen to have an address for it, do you?"
-
"Sure, it's on the exit ramp to the highway next to the airport. Biker bar with a bit of table dance on Fridays."
The man seemed to have regained some hope to come out of this alive, so eager where his answers.
-
"Hop in boys, the engine's already started", says bnc and makes herself comfortable in the driver's seat.
-
The drive to the bar was smooth i.e. there were no incidents beyond Seattle traffic being Seattle traffic.
The bar shared its building with an old gas station, delivering expensive fuel to a lot of road hogs of which 12 filled the parking space in front of the building.
A very retro AR Display of a flashing neon sign, depicting a very buxom waitress declared the place to be called "Rotary Guesthouse".
The outsides promised a very seedy insides with lots of smoke, billiard and very cheap booze.
-
"I'll keep watch from the outside"
[spoiler]Anything interesting in the Matrix? Standard protocol: hidden icons, overall check; I enter a/the host if must be.[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth slightly adjusted his appearance before walking into the bar. He removed his helmet to show off his messy black hair, and made his Ruger Super Warhawk more visible than it normally was. He stifled a chuckle when he looked over at Krestov in his suit.
"I can't wait to see their reaction when they get a look at you.
-
The matrix showed a few hundred icons within 100m. Narrowing it down to commlinks revealed 20 individual links. There was no host connected to the bar. A bit of fiddling with the search parameters gave bnc confidence that no more than 18 individuals where inside.
No hidden icons as far as she could see, but at least five hand guns with two Ruger Super Warhawks, but no Russian made super silent killer guns.
Slobbertooth was greeted by the unmistakable odor of machine grease and unwashed bodies mixed with the sharp scent of copious amounts of half-metabolized alcohol.
The main room was remarkably empty - he counted only 10 people plus the bored looking barman behind a surprisingly well-stocked bar. One billiard table was in use with what looked like a pair of professional pool-sharks honing their skills in friendly rivalry. A closed backroom indicated a members-only part of the local.
Somewhere a cheap music system tried miserably to convey an old country song to a disinterested crowd.
The barman looked up when Slobber entered and gave him a quick once over before asking: "What can I get you?"
-
Slobbertooth sat at the bar, wrasped his fingers on the counter, and then made his request.
"I'll have a glass of Hurlg, and any information you have an elf with an eye patch who hired a regular of this bar named Tony."
-
The barman narrowed his eyes suspiciously:
"A Hurlg I can get you, but about who met whom around here, you'd better ask Tony or whoever.
Anyway, it's not like we've got elves around here. This isn't Ancients territory - and we damn well will stay that way."
With that, Slobber was served a heavy mug of the nutmeg flavored strong beer and the barman went to polish a glass at the other end of the bar.
Slobbertooth became aware of someone nearing his position from behind. A quick look into the mirror behind the bar showed him a rat faced man siddling close to him.
In a low voice barely carrying above the din of the bar the man spoke to him: "You are looking for that one-eyed freak, ain't ya?
I might have something for ya - but it's gonna cost ya."
-
Josiah rolled his eyes at the bartender's comment that he 'ask Tony.' "Yeah, I don't think Tony will have much to say about him."
He didn't spin to face the rat-faced man when he approached him, but he did answer the question. "I sure am, chummer. What is this something that you're offering, and what's your asking price." He then turned around and held up his recently ordered glass of Hurlg, as he had no intention of drinking it, "I don't suspect a glass of the strong, real, liquor would be enough to pry the information."
-
"Well, it would be a start. See, you help me out with 300NY and I can tell you with what car the one-eyed guy came here. What ya say, wouldn't that be worth your time and money?"
Only now did Slobbertooth notice the slight tremor in the man's hand - indicating either an illness or some serious drug abuse.
-
Slobbertooth handed the man a drink, though he wasn't sure he would be able to hold. It was nice to get another reminder of why he stayed away from that stuff, and how lucky he was to have made it out of the barrens.
Slobbertooth held up a credstick. "I'll give you 200¥ for the answer, and another 100¥ if the information is useful."
"Get ready to do some deep matrix diving, bnc"
-
"Oh, you can bet on that. You see, I was a mechanic not so long ago before... well never mind. Point is, the elf came here with a seriously modded SUV - expensive Mercedes with additional concealed armor and a electro-mimetic surface. That shit is serious business, can make your car practically invisible if you know what you do. I'm sure it included a spoof chip and a changing licence plate. More important before he left, I saw him retrieving a bunch of insect like drones. Noizquitos they are called. Nasty combat stuff. Beside that I saw a landing rig for a blimp drone. You know one of those stealth things the government uses to secure the borders with a high caliber rifle on it.
As soon as I saw that, I knew Mike and Tony would get into trouble - not least because it was a fucking elf.
Oh, I just remember another thing. There was a chick inside the car - an elf lady. But she was totally spaced out, probably in VR, but not a rigger since she sat on the right front seat and one-eye drove away.
Eh? Ain't that worth your bucks?"
-
"Well, all that's information is bad for Mike and Tony, but it's goods news for you." Slobbertooth loaded the credstick up with 400¥ and tossed it tot he mechanic. "A bonus for letting me know about the lady friend of his, it should help cover the drink, too."
With that Josiah hustled off the stool and back out to the team's Rover. "Did you get all that, bnc? See if you can find anything."
Slobbertooth hopped into the back of the van, and looked at their newest companion. "Well, Mike, that was certainly very helpful information you gave us. Willingly, quickly, and without even a single broken finger to show for yourself." Slobbertooth heartily patted him on the shoulder. "Good job"
Then he frowned. "So what are you going to do when ol eye-patch comes to ask you about us?"
-
Mike opened his mouth to speak, then thought again: "I'd probably tell him everything. Sorry, I'm really not good with that whole getting kidnapped and threatened by metas stuff. But I tell you, I don't want to meet him again. I fucked up the mission and Tony's dead. I'll get my stuff and leave the city. I swear, you'll never hear from me again. Shit, I'll go to LA and start over.
Please."
-
Slobbertooth sighed, and thought about the situation. Then he thought some more. His code held him to not harm innocents, and this man certainly wasn't one, but he personally didn't like taking life in general. How dangerous could the information be if they were able to kill the elves first? We all deserved second chances.
Slobbertooth went back into the bar and got another glass of hurlg 'for the road.' He sat down in the van and spoke to the mercenary.
"You had a chance to start over. You wasted that chance to take revenge on the police officer who put you in jail. What's to keep you from dusting us after you stop getting scared and get angry? You were gumby to admit that you would tell the elf everything, when he finds you. And he will find you. "
"You're just a ronin. A disposable asset like the rest of us. No one will come looking for your killers. There no reason for us to spare you."
Slobber held up the glass of hurlg to Mike. "So enjoy your last drink in Seattle."
[spoiler]I'm doing this with the expectation that he'll pass out, after experiencing the expected stomach cramps most humans face when drinking the brew.[/spoiler]
-
"Roger, sempai, got everything recorded. I'll try what I can do to find a list of all one-eyed elven bastards who use Noizquitos and modded SUVs"
Yeah. I'll just hack the evil bastards register and filter it for Noizies...
After bnc has allowed herself enough sarcasm to feel Austrian again, she starts to do the actual work.
bnc starts with people known to be close to Thorin. She checks his kids and other close relatives, rumors about confidants or known mercenaries. She digs shadowrunner datahavens for good riggers and class-A deckers. She searches databases of groups known to favor norse mythology. She searches newspapers for rumors about illegal use of Noizquitos or a nigh invisible SUV. In short: She digs, and digs deeply, and digs everywhere a 19 year old genius can think of.
[spoiler]I assume this is gonna take several hours, so I guess that most of the work has to be done from home. And she's gonna make sure that there's a hell of a lot of soykaf in the flat.
Matrix search (http://orokos.com/roll/371811): 13d6t5 4[/spoiler]
-
Mike became white as a sheet at those words: "Please, I'm sorry. It was stupid to do that. Please don't kill me... Fuck is that Hurlg?" He sighed. "Oh well, there are worse ways to go I guess."
Showing a lot more bravery towards intoxicating substances that could kill him than towards trolls, Mike took the beer and drank it down, followed by a long belch.
"Hm, that was actually quite good... ohhh"
And with that the cramps began.
-
As the team headed back home Slobbertooth removed the mercenaries remaining belongings, until all that was left were the clothes on his back and a note pinned to his chest. When they passed through one of the rougher areas of Seattle, Slobbertooth pushed the unconcious mercenary out of the back of the van. He'd wake up confused, and probably greatly harmed, but not dead.
The note on his chest read, "Remember, we had no reason to spare you."
-
Afterwards the team returned to their home for some light lunch, a shower and a change of clothes.
bnc needed a few hours to come up with the info, but with the info they had collected she was finally able to present a report on the assassin:
His street name was Woden, a mystic adept as far as people who had met him and survived could tell. He didn't seem to have a fixed MOA. Sniper rifles on drones, poison, explosives or a simple shot to the head from close distance where all on record.
He was suspected of no less than 56 deaths in the last ten years all over Europe and America. A few records showed that he had strong matrix support that erased his tracks pretty efficiently if not perfectly. In view of their own research, bnc favored the opinion that the female elf was most likely the one responsible.
The only thing everyone was sure about was that he was most frequently seen in the guise of a one eyed elf of about 1.80m size, beyond that details varied.
There was no direct connection to Thorin to be found, but that wasn't particularly surprising considering him being a professional killer.
Most important, she had found the way people usually got in touch with Woden to hire him. It wasn't really feasible to get a lock on his commlink this way, since he used the services of a discreet rating 9 shadow security host to obscure his trail, but she now knew that most often his services were booked by industrials trying to take out the competition.
-
When bnc thinks that she's found out everything there is to be found online, she gathers the team in the living room and shares all information with the teammates.
"I'm quite positive that this is the man we are searching for. In Celtic mythology, Wotan, or Wodan, or Woden, is the equivalent to the Norse god Odin. The Hugin and Munin marks match his name. Also, the combination of one very serious rigger and a competent decker is strikingly suspicious, too.
There are two questions open now:
Firstly, why didn't he do the job himself, but sent the mercenaries instead. If he was half the drone rigger he is supposed to be, he could have snipered Wilcox without drawing any attention to him at al.
Secondly, what's the next step. We could, of course, try to get in touch with him, but I doubt that he will be as blue-eyes as his name suggests."
-
Slobbertooth gave attention to Li, as he tried to answer bnc's first question, "Probably because using a drone inherently ties it to a rigger as the assassin, but mercenaries tie it to anyone with a pocketbook. I doubt it was an accident that he also hired two guys who had history with the officer to make it look like petty revenge and not a hit job."
As for the next step: "Contacting him is certainly a possibility, but he probably already knows your icon, so I also doubt he'll pick up. We'll need to draw him out somehow. Does anyone have a family member dummy and an open field we could leave it in?"
-
"Indeed, Woden's plan was really good.Except from one small detail : Us. So, if this guy is a freelancer and not in someone's pocket why is he still around? Your parents, Slobbertooth, were murdered a long time ago,were they not? "
-
Slobbertooth nodded. "It's been about 10 years now."
Slobbertooth frowned, thinking about what they had done with Mike the Mercenary. "It really is a shame that I decided to let our bait just walk around freely, without any way for us to track him. Oops."
-
Slobbertooth pondered on their problem for a bit, and then threw out some theories to the rest of the group.
"Alright, so here is where we sit. We have an expert hacker/decker and his sidekick of unknown ability that we need to draw out into the open. He still works in this city, but we don't know how to contact him, at least not in a way that would avoid raising suspicion.
"Even if we assume that he knows we picked up his two mercenaries, he doesn't know how much we know. He may have access to the Lonestar database, or at bare minimum was able to access Wilcox's private security system. He'd probably be able to access one of phones if we took it out from under bnc's watchful gaze for a little bit.
"Maybe we should alert everyone we know, and who would have interest in this case that we'll be attending that kid's party? Hope that he also decides to crash it?"
-
"what do we need Woden for? He's only a hired assassin? Maybe I could somehow infiltrate his link though. What do you think?"
-
"Considering that I'm trying to find the person who killed the Willows, he seems like a pretty obvious get. No harm in just bypassing him and going all the way up the food chain, though."
"We're still going to need to get him close to you so that you can cut through all the noise."
-
"If this Woden is any good, and I bet he is, he will assume we 're going to the party. I say we start preparing for the infiltration OP.As for your question bnc, we must get him before he gets us.It's a cat versus mice game."
-
Slobbertooth nodded, and looked at his clothes, and then looked at Torrent and Krestov.
"Oh crap, I'm going to have to comb my hair and put on a button down shirt, aren't I?"
-
"In that case, we can't afford to lose time. We shouldn't have more gear online than necessary. I can't check everything 24/7.
If we do want to contact Woden, Torrent should do it in disguise.
In the meanwhile, I'll try to find out more in the 'trix."
bnc once more dives into a matrix search, focussing on two more topics: the decker, and the modified SUV.
[spoiler]Under the assumption that the leads with Thorin's family and so on brought nothing new of interest.
Do we still have one of the mercenaries' commlinks? Usually bnc takes every 'link she can get hold on but I'm not sure whether I/she did it this time. If we have it, I'd try and find Woden's contact details there.
Matrix search (http://orokos.com/roll/376114): 13d6t5 4
-
This time the search went considerably faster since bnc had a lot more to go on.
The hacker lady elf was good, but not an outstanding player. What she had going for her was some serious hardware.
Her handle was "Geri" and her matrix icon resembled a rainbow colored she-wolf.
She did solid work for covering her tracks, but seemed to be a bit vain: At a certain secret hacker host, bnc found whole conversations of her, boasting about her experience and social life.
This way bnc was able to create a profile with likely hang outs for the elf lady. As far as she could deduce, Geri liked to spend her Friday nights at a rave club called "Hot Bucket"
The SUV stayed solidly out of the picture, but bnc was able to narrow it down to two shops that could have done such modifications: One was a Vory run establishment in the barrens, the other a freelancer dwarf called Irmgard Schmotzki, located just outside the city in NAN country.
-
"Don't worry Slobber, I don't think we'll get in as guests...though combing your hair is never a bad idea. I think I will be taking bnc out for a drink this Friday. I will need Matrix backup and she probably fits well in a rave club.In the meantime, the rest could find us a way to attend Thorin Jr.'s party as janitors,cooks etc. Or you could visit mr Schmotzki and ask about that SUV."
[spoiler]In order to find appropriate clothes for a rave club :Fashion check (http://orokos.com/roll/376186): 5d6t5 1 [/spoiler]
-
After sharing the info with her team, she produces one more suggestion:
"Maybe - Just maybe, I don't think so - if I could get into the hosts of the car vendors, we might find something useful. I mean, in the interior system, they might have data stored about who bought what when. There might be useful info to get her. At least, the risk is lower than going somewhere and asking questions.
Apart from that, I'm with you, Torrent. I'm not a wizkid, but I can do some modifications on my own to disguise myself. But I better let you do the talking. I'm no good with anything that has feelings. Urgs."
-
Josiah agreed with Torrent's suggestion. "Yeah, it's best you two go to that rave club. I don't think I'd really fit in.
"Just make sure that bnc is able to keep her head clear while she's in there."
We can go visit the mechanics when you two are done.
-
"Jeez, viejo, why do all people think doing drugs is turning one's brain into porridge? I guess, I can think faster than all four of you joined together, when I'm on weed, and three times as face on Golden Mirror. You can trust me to choose the right chemicals for the right occasion, sempai.
All right, so first the club, then the hack. I guess, I'll make myself pretty then."
-
"If you and Torrent are going to the bar, it looks like Krestov and I are playing HTRT. I'll go prep the van."
-
"And the LORD said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake."
(22:9-14)
Seattle, May 27th, early evening
The Hot Bucket resided inside a nondescript industrial area, surrounded by tall commercial buildings with few doors and less windows.
A bouncer and a small AR tag next to a heavy steel door were the only indication that this was one of the hottest underground music temples in Seattle.
The bouncer, an orc in black leather with a visible armored vest and a taser nightstick idly picked his nose when Torrent and bnc made their appearance. They seemed to be here early, since no other guests were currently visible.
-
bnc changes her fibre-optic hair into a series of thorns in the colors of the rainbow, ending in a strand of hair that falls openly over her back. Her wifi-controlled chameleon skin on her neck forms into the shape of the tattoo shown below. The lips are prolonged into a joker-like maniacal grin (though only roughly an inch per side). bnc wears a black leather miniskirt, long boots, a belly-free, shoulder-free T-shirt with a neon-green font saying "tame me if you can" and some cheap colorful plastic jewellery she bought in the afternoon (bnc found it rather challenging to find something in her wardrobe that is not entirely black). She made her face up in the way of a party-addicted teenage girl (which you remember she is).
When they arrive at the Hot Bucket, she bites her lip. "You sure we shouldn't come back in like two hours or three? Seems there ain't a lot o' party in there, and you don't wan't me getting bored in a party temple, you won't!"
-
Slobbertooth laughed at bnc's desire to be late to a party, but tried to keep her focused. "You're not in there to enjoy a party, you're there to pick up an elf decker. You've been given the gift of time for preparation. Take advantage of it.
"Oh, and you two should probably enter separately."
-
"Jeez, viejo, did cubbie bnc not behave?" She sighed in frustration at her team still not appreciating her ability to be focussed despite not looking it.
"Sensor on, sempai. Two hours after lunch, there won't be an elf decker to be picked up. Especially not without drawing attention to us. If we enter this club and hang around, obviously waiting for someone, we, too, will attract attention of those who look. Barkeepers, security personnel - the bouncer. All those will remember us if they are being asked the right questions. That is, if we don't blend into the masses. What preparation do we need? We go in there, party, have fun, dance, talk idle talk to drunk people. The later, the more drunk they are, the less they remember. If we wait till everyone else is in there - including our objective - we won't attract anyone's attention. Well, I hope I do, but you catch my meaning, ole tusker.
So, Torrent, why don't you take a lady out for dinner? I won't be much of an investition. One soyghurt and I'm full to the point of regurgitation."
-
Slobbertooth was eager, but they weren't in a time crunch. "Head to a nearby strip club and see if they have any lunch specials, then.
"If you still have time on your hands, I'm sure that the club has a pretty weak security system that might have information on regular guests."
-
"Τell you what , kiddo, I'll buy you as much soyghurt as you can eat, if you retrieve the guestlist from the club's host.What do you say?"
[spoiler]I'll post tommorrow about my disguise.
Disguise (http://orokos.com/roll/377402): 11d6t5 3
Impersonation (http://orokos.com/roll/377403): 10d6t5 2
5 hits in total
[/spoiler]
-
"That totally sounds like a deal. A hack worth some thousands bucks for a soyghurt worth two. But bought by one handsome elf. I'm in"
She smiles and checks out the matrix security ... in frustration.
"Jeez, bosses. There is no host. The whole drek is running over chips and links and a RCC. However, there's always a weak spot."
bnc takes a short look at the commlinks' contents, then smiles.
"Okay, lemme see. That should be doable..."
bnc turns around to corner and goes limp. A moment later, she wakes up again.
"Oops."
-
"What do you mean, 'Oops'?"
-
What it meant became evident only moments later when the bouncer produced his shock stick and began advancing toward the teams position, he hadn't walked more than 20 steps when the door opened and another two guys - similarly armed and equipped followed him out.
The orcs face did show no emotion when he gently tapped against the tinted window of their car.
"You know, you aren't the first kid that wants to get on the VIP list. Open up, or you can kiss your chances of ever setting foot in there goodbye."
-
"Oh, that's what you meant by oops.
Time to deal with the goon squad.
Slobbertooth slid the door open with force, and let Krestov step out in front of the bouncer. He just gave bnc an understanding shrug. When Slob walked out he put a his hand on his Ruger's grip, but didn't reveal it to the goons.
"Always a pleasure to abide by the request well armed gentlemen."
-
"Now, what the hell are you playing at here? I know a thing or two about matrix stuff and if my defender software tells me I just received a mark from a wannabe hacker across the street, I kinda get curious. So what's this about, eh?"
The ork looked grimmly at the two runners.
-
Slobbertooth shrugged and answered honestly.
"I couldn't tell ya what the hacker that did that was thinking. Don't know much about the matrix myself. You said they were trying to get access to the VIP area, maybe they just wanted access to the good drugs."
-
"You know, it's funny that two tough guys are sitting in their car across this club. What are you? Mafia? In that case forget it - you won't get anything out of this club. So fuck off."
The ork nodded to his two comrades and walked back to the club, but slobber noticed that they did move in a slightly lateral way so they could keep the team in the corner of their eyes.
-
Forget about it guys.Just give me a couple of hours to change my face-in case they feel suspicious about this one- and I'll try to enter the club.
-
bnc tries to give her best teenage-girl-got-caught-doing-mischief smile.
"Uh, sorry that happened, gentlemen. I, uhm, was just thinking, uh... Crap, I should never have wasted my creds for that crappy dongle. Jeez."
Once they moved away from the club, bnc begins to swear heavily. After some indeed very nasty words, she complains: "I told ya we should wait for a crowd to blend in. Next time, sempai, I do the thinking and you do your stuff, capisci? Drek! It shouldn't have happened that this shit of a filthy Hermes detects my mark, but in the matrix this can happen anytime. I say it once again, we wait for a couple of hours and come back here when town awakens."
[spoiler]EDIT: Jack reminded me that the window pane are opaque. Thus, the bouncers have not seen bnc's face.
She breathes in, still not giving their fellow runners time to interrupt her. "Now. I'm the expert for matrix security, but Torrent is for infiltration. Is it wise that I re-dress, change my hairstyle and tattoes and retry entering with the crowd? I think I can blend in easily once the bouncers are distracted by like a hundred people looking all the same, but your turf, your decision."[/spoiler]
She breathes in, still not giving their fellow runners time to interrupt her. "Now. I'm the expert for matrix security and I say we return when there are more icons around; but Torrent is the expert for infiltration. Shall we stick to the plan that enter in disguise? If so, do you agree that it would be wiser to return once we have a crowd to blend in?"
-
"They may be extra cautious tonight after our little incident and if things go south, I don't know if I'll be able to get both of us out.On the other hand, once we're in, we may be able to find a direct link for you.So we wait for the crowd."
[spoiler] (http://data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
this is how Torrent looks atm[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth looks sideways at bnc. "Yeah you guys can leave and come back with new disguises."
"So was the matrix security tougher than expected, which would indicate something interesting going on here, or did you just frag the situation for a couple of hours, bnc?"
-
[spoiler]@Squirrel: We don't even need to change. Krestov and Slob were the only ones seen, since the SUV has opaque windows.
@Sabato: Is i just me or did you not append an image?[/spoiler]
bnc sighs, still frustrated, and grinds her teeth. "It's just me who screwed it. The 'link was an ordinary Hermes piece of chunk. I just ... I just forgot to fucking redefine the extracted dummy authentification key. I will definitely not fuck up a second time, sempai. I don't even think they will be specially aware. Teenagers trying to hack the VIP list will happen every day, presume. N'est-ce pas?
Now, if you'd excuse, I'll be back in one hour or so. I'll need to recollect myself, sirs. No worries, I'll be sober in time."
With that, bnc opens the car door, reply or no, and leaves the driver's seat empty. She looks around for a place where she could find somebody to start a fight with, have fun with, or at least have a quite seat from where she could engage in some cyber fighting or other serious hot-sim overstimulation. bnc hates being beaten, and this feeling is not going to be numbed easily.
-
Slobbertooth slid into the driver's seat and pealed out away from the club for a couple of hours.
"Well then let's go get a shave and a haircut."
-
Krestov stayed silent and stoic as always...he was best at handling situations and dealing with threats...often the former in conjunction with the latter...so all this legwork and fenaggling seemed to make him of little use. At least to his eyes. Still, he muttered an apology to the team as his face was made by the bouncer, rendering him a potential threat. "How say...game is off today. Please forgive, Krestov not sure why"
When bnc stormed out of the van, he snapped his head up, eyes narrowing as he sighed. He couldn't stop her, and following might escalate the situation. Still, he opened up a private comm channel with the tiny decker.
@bnc{Krestov}: malyutka, only seen you behave this way once. Was not good. Want talk?"
[spoiler]A pathetic attempt to get back into the swing, I am several posts behind, it is finals week right now. I am super sorry, and frankly surprised y'all didn't vote to kick me >.<[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]@bnc don't know what went wrong...let me try again :
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/5d1880c59c8fbe49e291aedc635d563a/tumblr_nrh8wf0P5J1sdb0jzo4_250.png)
@SgtBoomCloud
Don't worry mate, we've been playing for a year now...I think it's perfectly understandable if real life overwhelms us from time to time ;)
@GM
So...let me see if I have any ideas about back entrances, security exits etc, if things go wrong
Architecture (http://orokos.com/roll/378798): 4d6t5 2
[/spoiler]
When the wild nightbirds of Seattle start to form a line outside the club, Torrent goes to stand patiently at the back
-
[spoiler]
@Krestov
Don't worry, this game is a Side Quest. No harm if you keep in the background
@Torrent
You are actually standing at a back entrance. Since this is a commercial building, you are sure there are at least two more emergency exits and a fire escape on the roof
[/spoiler]
bnc found her relaxation not far from their vantage point: A VR cafe had a vigorous deathmatch going on the MDK host with its Gothic Horror game: The Vampire factions were under assault of the Hunters who had finally unlocked the fabled Staff of Ra and were now dusting their way into the (un)holiest of (un)holys of the Vampire faction.
When the team returned, a long line of people had already gathered. The bouncers took a good look at everyone, but didn't seem to send away anyone yet.
When Torrent reached the front, the ork from earlier did give no sign of recognition, but checked for obvious weapons
[spoiler]
3 bought successes at perception
If you want to smuggle anything in make an agility+palming check.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I'll take my pistol.
Palming+Agility (Limit 6) (http://orokos.com/roll/378819): 12d6t5 5
[/spoiler]
-
Torrent had no problem to smuggle in his weapon. Despite the line, inside it was still relatively empty. The room was large - easily 30m long and wide with concrete columns as the only obstacles. One wall had a long bar with automated drink and drug dispensers, the other was divided between a wardrobe and the toilets. Illumination was provided solely by black light LEDs so that the people inside provided most of the ambient light. Everything was silent otherwise.
Turning on AR changed the whole thing completely: Flashing lights, and fast beats permeated the surroundings, while the whole room now looked like a mixture of Sci-Fi dungeon and a factory from the 18 hundreds.
A few elven ladies already had occupied a space that was clearly marked as a dance floor and moved rhythmically to the music only those with DNI could fully appreciate.
-
After blowing some wind, bnc feels a lot better. After killing off dozens of vampires (almost without cheating - that is, if you don't count Golden Mirror as cheating), bnc managed to push away the frustrating experience for a moment. It would come back again, and more than once, but no one was an expert like her when it came to suppressing bad feelings. When she came back to the party, she was looking forward to it.
Standing in line with Torrent, bnc keeps babbling about the vampire hunt. She told him every detail of how she outwitted the undead creatures, beat them in single combat and performed some remarkeable (but nonetheless uninteresting) feats. Reminding him that a casual conversation was the sort of cover-up they needed in front of the bouncers, she gives him hardly a chance of changing the topic, before she enters the club alongside with him (unarmed, safe for the implanted, and authorized, shock hands).
"Let's do some party!"
"Let's find out about that bastard. Shall I finish what I began earlier? I know I can do it."
-
Τorrent knew bnc would be eager to prove her worth.The girl was competitive even for decker standards but he didn't mind.If he had to get in a rave club with a decker he would easily pick a hyperactive teenager over a socially awkward wirehead. But patience was at the heart of this game.
" Let's go get a drink first. I need to make sure I'm familiar with this place before we try anything."
[spoiler]Perception Test (Limit 4) (http://orokos.com/roll/378843): 10d6t5 4
Anything particularly interesting? I guess we don't have any kind of description for this "Geri" but maybe one of the elf ladies has an obvious datajack..?
[/spoiler]
-
Indeed, two of the dancing elven ladies sported a subtle data jack at the base of their necks.
One had long blond hair, was tall and quite muscular, the other had raven black hair, an abundance of facial piercings and wore a short vinyl-leather combo.
-
Slobbertooth looked through the image links of the team's comms, and was glad that he wasn't trying to blend in there. Not my kind of scene at all
-
"All right", bnc screamed over the tune of the music, "I'll go have a look myself!"
With that, she went to the bar and bought herself pepper plus, her favourite synthahol coke.
[spoiler]I don't have a description or even an image of the elf lady, do I? bnc checks for hidden icons and is ready to check each and everyone one after another, if must be. She's looking for decks or at least RCCs inside the club.
-
[spoiler]
Nope, there is no description
bnc has 6 successes
vs. a hidden device with 4
Perception check: 2
- There is a hidden deck
- It's a cyberdeck Sony CIY-720
Additional Perception check: 6
- It's configuration is A4 S7+1 D5 F6+1
- There is currently no persona active
- Programms active: Encryption, Sneak, Stealth, Wrapper, Agent Rating 6, Configurator,
- Hardwired multi-dimensional co-processor / program carrier Virtual Machine
- It's a custom form-factor
- The agent is looking for MARKS on his PAN
[/spoiler]
The drinks are not bad, if a bit watery. Still, bnc nearly chockes when her AR search reveals that someone with a really expensive deck is inside the club - someone with a lot of matrix fire power.
-
bnc whistles softly, turns off her cyberdeck and instead boots her commlink. No need to warn anybody that there's a decker around. Her heart is pounding heavily. This is one heavily stuffed goose, carajo. She's biting her lips heavily in an desperate attempt not to stare at the image she drew from the now again hidden icon. She takes a gulp from her pepper plus before she texts her team.
"Lords and ladies. I dunno whether we found Mrs. X but we definitely found one knight in shining armor who's worth of a match for one of her reputation. Gear excellent, software amazing. She's somewhere in the room, or better: somewhere within a hundred meters or so. I can't exactly tell who she is. Her matrix defense is ... remarkable. Or his, to stay correct, since I haven't identified the owner.
I'm not sure whether there is any point in attacking her at this moment."
-
]At bnc's words , Torrent takes his drink and his talents to the dancefloor.He descends upon the unsuspecting elves like a raving raven.
Now kid, this is called "hacking the social OS"
He dances among the ladies, and lets eye contact and body language do the talking.
[spoiler] Dancing: Perform (Dance) (http://orokos.com/roll/379111): 9d6t5 4
Flirting :Etiquette (http://orokos.com/roll/379112): 8d6t5 3
Edge for the Etiquette test: second chance (http://orokos.com/roll/379114): 5d6t5 1
Total Etiquette hits:4
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Judge Intentions check: 4 Successes for Torrent
First of all: All the ladies appreciate your appearance.
Two of which are probably in a stable relationship. Only one of them has a data jack: The blond tall girl
She is flirty but rather teasing. The pierced girl shows real interest.
[/spoiler]
Torrents entry is positively received. The girls seem to be all friends, two of which are definitively single.
After a few moves and close watching of their bodies (only for science of course), Torrent narrows it down to the blond tall girl as the likeliest candidate:
She is fit but very pale, her body language implies that she is not in fact starved for male attention but enjoys it nevertheless. A small ring on her left hand indicates a stable relationship with someone quite wealthy and exquisite taste. Torrent also recognizes her steps as part of Capoeira - she is at least a regular practitioner.
While getting a bit nearer to her, he realizes that her hair is in fact a smart wig and her make up is applied in such a way as to fool facial recognition software.
-
Torrent focuses his attention on the pierced girl seemingly ignoring the blond one.
He pulls her close and yells in her ear above the sound of the booming music.
"Have you seen Molly?I can't seem to find her."
-
"I have no idea who Molly is? What does she look like? My name is Tigra by the way!"
the pierced girl replied.
-
Shit, it seems the raver slang must have changed during the last five decades....that's what too many vintage films do to you Torrent...
"Forget about it.At least I found you, Tigra. I'm Kevaughn. I hope your friends don't mind me distracting you, but you got the moves and I couldn't resist dancing with you."
-
Torrent actually sees the girl blushing at that: "Don't worry, they'll get over it. Haven't seen you here before, are you new in town..."
In the course of the flirting, Torrent learned quite a bit about Tigra: She works as a dispatch agent for a large pizza joint and manages quite a lot of transport drones - rigging them to their destination if necessary.
Careful inquiry brings to light that the other girls are all in similar matrix-related professions. The name of the blond girl is given as Friga.
-
Slobbertooth takes off his headphones to try and get the pounding music out of his head for a bit.
I think i'm starting to see why people take drugs to dull the senses at these clubs.
-
In the meantime, bnc tries another approach to find out who the decker is. By filtering out every commlink she can identify, the girl tries to narrow it down to one or two people who don't run a commlink. So, if the decker doesn't sport an additional 'link, well ... Her hope is faint, but she's willing to try. After a sip of her coke, bnc checks every icon that appears to be close to the elven ladies.
[spoiler]Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/379519): 11d6t5 2
-
bnc's hope is indeed shattered: All four ladies sport commlinks. Noteable - the blond girl has a Transsys Avalon, while Tigra sports an honest to god Fairlight Caliban. The other two girls are both equipped with Hermes Ikons.
-
Torrent excuses himself and goes to refill his and Tigra's drinks.
As he approaches the bar, he quickly sends a message and then turns his commlink off.
@team: <<It must be the tall one, Friga. I'm going silent, we don't know how good she is. Be prepared to follow her when she leaves.Οh, and keep in mind, she's disguised.>>
Torrent returns to the dance floor. He intends on dancing and flirting with Tigra fore the rest of the night, and he's not going to try anything inside the club.
-
It's around 0100 that bnc notices Friga leave once again for the toilets. She immediately becomes suspicious when the icon of the woman's commlink winks out. A few seconds later a woman in black with long raven black hair steps out and walks towards the exit. But thanks to the warning bnc recognizes her as Friga.
Torrent meanwhile is somewhat distracted by Tigra's not so subtle cues to find some place more privat.
-
<@team <Mrs. X is leaving the place. Tall elf, black hair. I'll follow in an instant. Don't let her escape.>
Still only using her commlink, bnc keeps watching Friga's matrix activity.
"One more thing.Frigga is the name of the Norse goddess of beauty and love. It matches the matrix iconography we found. It must be her."
As soon as the woman is out, bnc quickly pays and exits the club.
-
bnc leaves the club just as the elf girl has reached a Yamaha Rapier and is in the process of donning a helmet and an armor jacket.
There she noticed something interesting: The girl had deactivated her commlink - so for the moment her bike was not part of a PAN and only had it's Pilot to defend against attacks.
[spoiler]
Stealth check from bnc.
Also, she has about three combat rounds before the machine starts and is part of a PAN again.
Perception check -6 from Torrent if he notices the departure despite being... distracted.
Rest of the team: Stealth+Reaction check if you want to discreetly pick up bnc.
[/spoiler]
-
Now, here's my chance! I won't blow it this time!
Eager to prove her worth, bnc immediately starts to attack the bike.
[spoiler]Stealth (http://orokos.com/roll/379796): 6d6t5 5
Badoom! I'm pretty sure that I'm capped by my limit. I'm not on my computer, so I'll have to double-check it.
INI roll (http://orokos.com/roll/379797): 1d6+10 15
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/379798): 2#17d6t5 2 4
I use on point of Edge to re-roll in the first attempt.
re-roll (http://orokos.com/roll/379799): 15d6t5 2
3 points of Edge left, IIRC.
Can I "sustain" Trace User or do I have to do it each time I need to locate it?
I'll move on after your response.
EDIT: I got the CRB now and the wording is clear about that. I start tracing:
Trace Icon (http://orokos.com/roll/379809): 11d6t5 4
I used 2 combat rounds now.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Perception (-6 dice,forgot to remove them from my pool) (http://orokos.com/roll/379801): 4d6t5 2
two 1s and two 5s[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth jumped into the driver's seat and turned on the engine. He was hesitant to immediately begin pursuit, though. "You guys want to enjoy the club some more, and have us pick you up later, or do you want to come along?"
-
"Stay for a moment. I might be able to trace her position in a less obvious way. I'm coming, though. You shouldn't face her without a decker."
-
[spoiler]
Defense Pilot: Pilot Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/379973): 6d6t5 1
Pilot Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/379975): 6d6t5 1
Ok, you got your two MARKs
Resist Trace:
Pilot Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/379976): 6d6t5 3
Success. bnc has a lock on the bike
[/spoiler]
Torrent was distracted, but not distracted enough to miss the two girls leaving.
bnc worked fast: Within six seconds she had broken into the upgraded autopilot and convinced him to send her live GPS data.
Then the commlink was back on and the Yamaha sped away, turning south.
-
"I'm in, boys. Don't follow too closely."
As soon as bnc is in the van, she switches to full VR. She can't allow herself to be distracted in face of an opponent like her.
[spoiler]Delayed Action: As soon as she attempts to include the bike to her WAN, I'll try to intervene before it can see me.
-
[spoiler]
Just to be clear: bnc can have her edge back since it was not strictly necessary.
In future just tag rolls with a "if necessary I'll spend edge for a reroll", I'll take care of it from there.
[/spoiler]
With the trace in place, the team had time to come back together and follow the bike without a chance to be seen. Even better, bnc now knew enough about the various devices of their prey that she would be able to find her again with a matrix search.
But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”
Joshua 10:19
--------------
Seattle, June 1st, 0200h
The bike had stopped at a small residential neighborhood - not unlike where the team was living. The last signal - before it was shut down indicated the garage of a one family bungalow.
The front law was trimmed, a two meter high wooden fence surrounded the house on three sides. The three front windows were all dark. A discreet AR-tag disclaimed that this property was a lease and that it had a contract with Wolverine Security.
A casual look into AR did not show anything out of the ordinary - a gardening drone, food processor and a home security system sensor suit - all slaved to a Transsys Avalon commlink. The girls complete PAN except for the silent deck had gone offline.
A quick search revealed that the average response time for KE in this area was around 10 minutes and probably not much longer for the security service.
-
Slobbertooth pulled the van up 100 meters away from the GPS point, parked and killed the lights.
"Alright, bnc, it's your call now. How close do you think we can get to her house without her noticing our wireless equipment? Should we start deactivating our superfluous wireless functionalities now?"
-
When they arrive, bnc turns off her deck and only runs her Fairlight.
"That depends on how closely she inspects her surroundings. I don't assume that she has her agent analyse the surroundings for anomalities, so she's the only one who could spot us. Thus, I suggest we turn off everything suspicious - at least until we have a plan. Turn off all lethal weapons, all suspicious augmentations and basically everything the average citizen wouldn't have. In addition, we shouldn't stay too close, physically. Let's sit down on a park bench - a bunch of commlinks standing in front of her house idly will raise suspicions.
Have everything run silent which you cannot spare. I can slave them to my Fairlight. This should provide amazing protection.
Everything else depends on what's the plan. Do you intend to break in? If so, it would have been better to kidnap her on the street. Observe her? I guess, this would be the best plan. Given that both of them really, really know how to handle matrix threats, Torrent would be my first choice in this regard. I can help, too, since I can change my appearance quite well, too."
-
Slobbertooth began to deactivate what gear he had. There wasn't much of it, as he didn't have any fancy cyberwear to worry about. He turned off all of his smartlinks, and slaved his commlink to bnc's system. The only pieces of equipment that were left on were his glasses, helmet, and earbuds.
"We don't have any need to break in and physically arrest her. We're just looking for information on where Woden is, and if we can get that without making her aware of our presence, all the better."
-
"Then surveillance would be the best for the moment. Normally I'd suggest I have my drones fly around, but given that we deal with a nova-hot decker and rigger, maybe Torrent's magic would do the trick better, wouldn't it? I can stay close and jump in when the need arises."
-
"Alright, you heard the lady, Torrent. You're up. When Slobbertooth didn't hear a response from Torrent he turned around from the driver's seat and looked into the back of the Rover.
"Torrent? Uh... Where's Torrent? We didn't just let him slip of and get some strange elf slot during a run, did we?"
-
"Jeez. This is so typical. You gripe about me doing drugs, and once you guys find a slitch to put your cock in, your off and gone. Jerks."
Sighing, bnc leans back. "You know what, sempai. You really owe me once we find out about this bastard. Apparently the elven slitch is not online. I see what I can do."
bnc commands her drones to fly here. After that, she tries to find out which parts of her house system are connected to or equipped with sensor units, especially for audio and video, and whether they are slaved to a host or another good security system.
-
"I'll buy you a bottle of Orkstaff's XXX Hurlg, when this job is over, kōhai."
After Slobbertooth finished his attempts at appeasement, he split his attention between what he could see through the van's windshield and the drone's image link.
-
The drone took a few rounds to map out everything:
On the four sides of the house standard motion sensors were mounted. A cat had not activated the light, so it probably had some kind of pilot program, able to differentiate signatures.
There seemed to be no security host connected to the sensors - actually there was no wireless signal from the whole array.
The drone had found two places where a data tap was likely to be effective: An exposed cable from the motion sensor behind the house and a small keypad at the side of the garage.
Other wireless signals from household machines like soycaf maker and food processor were not part of a PAN - easy to hack, but not really essential - unless you wanted to create inedible food.
Getting to those exposed spots without triggering the sensor would need a very patient and skillful and stealthy approach.
[spoiler]
To install a data tap on one of the two locations, you need a Stealth+Agility test vs. 4 and an extended Hardware+Logic test of 6 [Combat rounds]
[/spoiler]
-
bnc shares the information with Slob, Krestov and, just in case, Torrent.
"Apparently, there are no cams or any other voice- or image-controlled items inside the building. Thus, all I can do for now is have my FlySpy fly around somewhere a bit more remote and hope that we don't get seen. I suggest, we bug the area, leave, and come back later or when something interesting happens. Right now, all we can do is getting caught."
-
Slobbertooth wasn't a huge fan of "wait & see" plans at the moment, but he had no choice but to concede that it was the best plan. "Alright, plant the bugs, and track her vehicles. When you're done we'll go make sure Torrent didn't get locked in a sex dungeon."
-
"I can't track the vehicles for a long time. GOD's wrath will descend upon me. But I can have my drones fly around."
-
"Do you have any stealth RFID tags you could plant on the vehicles or other items she might carry around with her on a regular basis?"
-
bnc blushes. "Oh. Yeah, sure. I actually think I never used but I should have some ... uhm, somewhere in my bedside table. Darn, I'll get them, sempai."
Since they don't seem to be in an actual hurry, bnc drives home to get the stealth tags and returns.
[spoiler]@Jack: Please tell me, if nothing extraordinary happens in that time. To access the cars, we would have to circumround the motion sensors and the garage gate, right? Is it easier for FlySpy to enter through some window or so? Can they carry and set the tags?
-
Looking at the data feed, bnc could find only one possible inlet into the house: The fireplace in the living room had a chimney and there was a good chance, that the grate inside would be wide enough for a flyspy or similar micro drone to pass.
[spoiler]
Piloting test with a threshold of 4 - 3 with your shiny new rigger interface.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Control Aircraft (http://orokos.com/roll/381686): 8d6t5 1
That would need some more exercise. Does failing mean that I got caught (in which case I'd take Edge) or that I missed the chimney (in whice case I'd retry).
-
[spoiler]Edging would be strongly recommended. Touching the sooth encrusted sides would pretty much destroy the propulsion system of your drone - not to mention it would make a hell of a racket[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Darn. How difficult can it be to fly a mosquito down a chimney...
Control Aircraft (http://orokos.com/roll/381723): 7d6t5 2
That's three in total.
-
With some difficulty, bnc navigated the small flyspy down the narrow, sooth encrusted chimney. Sweat poured from her head when she got to close to the grate half way up and almost lost her left side wings. But thanks to a timely correction and a big helping of luck, she managed to overcome this hurdle and reached the cold fireplace below.
Luckily the glass panel was slightly ajar so the drone could escape into the living room. The door to the kitchens was open but there her luck ended. The door to the corridor was closed and there was no way apparent how to open it by herself.
Everything was neatly cleaned and put in its place - beside a large box of honey crunch loops and a half empty container of soy milk. It seemed Frigg had made herself a late night snack before going to bed.
-
"I'm in. The drone is trapped in the kitchen slash living room. It seems, our lady has gone to bed. I can try and hide the drone somewhere. Let's wait and see. From here, we can observe the matrix and some rooms of the interior. I don't think we can or should do more than that. Agree, sempai?"
-
"It's not ideal, but you could do it. Can the drone fit through any of the air vents in the room? If not, sit back, observe the matrix, and tag an personal effects that have been left in the living room."
-
The only personal items in the two rooms might be taken somewhere else was an e-book reader and as scarf that lay on the sitting room table.
-
[spoiler]Why would a decker have an e-book reader? Why are there e-book readers in 2075 at all..?
bnc finds that slightly suspicious, thus:
[/spoiler]
She tags the scarf. "I hope, this won't draw attention. At least she obviously used the scarf recently. I'll keep my Microskimmer at hand, should there be any opportunity to smuggle it into the car or so. But I think, less is more hear. Any device, and tag we install, can be seen, and they know a bit about matrix security. If you ask my advice, I'd place the FlySpy running silently somewhere in the kitchen, sit in a park and check every now and then. That'll do - she should be unaware. Let's keep it that way."
-
"Sounds like a plan.
Slobbertooth put the Rover in gear and drove it a few blocks away and parked it. "We'll take shifts every couple of hours. When we change shifts, whoever is taking over should move the Rover to someone else."
-
It took seven hours, before the flyspy noticed activity in the house. Frigg appeared around 7:30 in the kitchen, wearing only a man's cotton shirt. She rummaged a bit in the fridge but seemed to decide to get herself another bowl of cereal instead. She fetched the e-book from the living room and became engrossed in its contents while she shoveled absentmindedly food into her mouth. About five minutes later a man entered the room. A tall elf with black hair, covered only by a pair of wide trousers that Slobbertooth identified as part of a Karate gi. He was slender but well muscled. Some very ugly scars crisscrossed his back and stomach - claw and bite wounds.
The man came over to the girl and kissed her lightly on the top of her head, before he went also to the fridge and began to prepare a very healthy and appealing looking breakfast from stuff that looked like real food: Yoghurt, fresh pressed oranges, crushed whole grain, an apple, honey and some bread that had been backed over night.
The conversation between them indicated that they had been living together for a while now:
He: "Something interesting?"
She: "Nuh-uh. Schusht sche uschual."
He: "Friggy baby, please, not with a full mouth."
She: "Scho, don't aschk me while I'm eating."
He: "Yeah, yeah. Did you have fun with the girls yesterday?"
That seemed to get her attention, because she swallowed a large load and said:
"Yes, you remember Tigra? She's the pizza rigger I told you about. She totally got herself laid yesterday. Some hot elf came on to her. I'm so happy for her - finally broke her dry spell. Told her she just had to go out more. I have to call her later to get all the details."
"Babe, maybe you should restrain yourself a bit. I think that's her business."
"Bah, you don't understand - that's a huge deal for her. She needs my support so she doesn't blow it with this guy. She tends to get clingy. Besides I want to know how the mystery guy was in bed."
"I... a do as you please. But don't take to long. We've got business this afternoon."
"Yeah, yeah..."
And both started to eat again.
Now the flyspy could see for the first time the face of the elf: The right eye had been replaced by a ruby red sphere.
-
As soon as there is commotion, bnc immediately redirects the input data both to a separate online store and a feed which she sends to her team.
"There he is, Slob. We have to act fast, now. As soon as they go online, they might - might! - find the drone, if they search for it. We have the element of surprise. But this is your turf. I never entered somebody's house uninvited. Well, maybe unwanted. Anyway. Shall we wait till they are on the move?"
bnc is nervous. You can tell by the way she's talking. Too fast. Too excited. She's almost giggling with anxiety and hardly manages to give Slob a split-second to answer.
-
Slobbertooth put the van in gear, started activating wireless functionalities of his equipment and headed towards the home as he yelled into the back of the van.
"Wake up Special K. It's time."
-
"Do we have a plan?"
-
@team:<<Hey, I just got back home and none of you are here.Don't get into trouble without your favorite elf watching your backs.>>
-
Krestov straightened up, his helmet brushing the van's roof as he nodded to Slobbertooth. "Action I can do. Thank you for attention" Grabbing his gear, he rechecked that all the wireless functionality was turned off...he would not require much of it in a normal fight anyway. Stepping out of the back of the van, the troll cracked his neck, in full armor gear as he joined Slobbertooth. "Following lead. Front door special, yeah?"
And then Torrent messaged in, eliciting a smirk from Krestov. <<@Torrent{Krestov}: Trouble get into us, comrade. Do not think slobbertooth or I can promise that make>>
-
"The plan is, as Krestov indicated, to go through the front door, knock both of them unconcious if I feel like asking them questions later, or kill them if I don't. It depends on how nice they are."
Slobbertooth sent Torrent the team's coordinates.
>>@Torrent
>>Then get your ass over here buzz turbo<<
[spoiler] @GM can we get an ETA for Torrent?[/spoiler]
-
It was 08:25 when Torrent joined the crew again. according to the flyspy, Frigg had left the room and then returned fully clothed in a pale blue dress much to light for the current weather. She walked into the living room - probably to have her call with Tigra.
The man had taken care of the remains of the breakfast and very conscientiously cleaned everything up. He left the kitchen and presumably entered the office room next to the living room, according to the noise echoes.
A quick check showed that at current levels, Seattle Police/Knight Errant would need about 22 minutes to arrive here after an emergency call.
-
Slobbertooth had anxiously awaited Torrent arrival. His decade-long search was over. When Torrent clambered into the back of the Rover, Josiah addressed the team.
"I can't thank you three enough for helping me with this. I owe all of you more than a few drinks when this is all done.
"Now to the business at hand"
"We've got 20 minutes to get this guy and get out with enough time to clear the scene before the KE HTRT shows up after the suits report some trogs with assault rifles on their neighbor's lawn. Now Krestov might want to say hoi to some old friends, but I'd rather not deal with them. Simple and turbo are the words of the day to keep this from becoming a drek run.
"Torrent get around the back and be ready to break into the house. Don't worry about spending time picking the lock, just knock down a door or go through a window.
"Once Torrent gives the signal that he's in position, I'll pop a flash-bang and then Krestov and I are going through the front door. Torrent go in after the targets are distracted."
"Our target is the man with the eyepatch or the red ruby eye, whichever he's sporting. Almost certainly awakened, and likely has at least one drone prepped for combat. I'd rather not geek him because I doubt we'll have time to look through all of his personal files and I am curious about why the Willows are dead. I don't care about the woman. Geek her if you have to.
"bnc, keep the engine warm. Keep our icons wrapped, distract the decker, and we'll make sure to get your drone out in one piece.
"Any questions? Any objections?"
-
[spoiler]
It's a Threshold 4 test for Torrent to sneak towards the backside of the house without being noticed.
Perception test for the front attackers:
Krestov notices that the front door is most likely reinforced as are the windows. The side entrance to the garage promises a better chance of entry.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Torrent puts on his chameleon suit again.
Sneaking (Limit 8 ) (http://orokos.com/roll/382831): 17d6t5 7 --EDIT: please subtract 2 hits , forgot to calculate my pool without the wireless bonus of my chameleon suit which is turned off atm
Locksmith (Limit 6) (http://orokos.com/roll/382832): 10d6t5 4 (in case the back door is locked)
[/spoiler]
-
"Aye, sempai", bnc responds in a slightly pissed-off tone, "keep the engine warm. Very suitable task for a first-class decker when attacking a rigger and a decker."
Amateur
bnc began with her stuff herself. First she slaved the important gear to the Fairlight: the commlinks and the weapons. She brought the rotor drone in position, loaded with gel ammo. The drones and any left-over attackable gear gets slaved to her cyberdeck. She then starts to examine the icon landscape.
[spoiler]Are there any drones online? Weapons? Commlinks? RCC? Which marks are being protected by an agent?
I'm still running in silent mode but will turn stealth mode off as soon as Torrent gives the signal.
-
Slobbertooth responded to bnc's grouching as he followed Krestov to the garage's side entrance, "Yes, we need our most valuable asset to stay protected in the armored car instead of running into a small area filled with combat drones and experienced assassins."
Slobbertooth moved up against the side of the door, and readied his Raiden. He took a deep breath through his respirator, made sure unnecessary wireless functionalities were off one final time, and nodded to Krestov. "Go."
-
Torrent had moved slowly into position, avoiding sudden movements so he wouldn't trigger the motion sensor. His own motion sense told him, that the male elf sat, probably behind a desk facing the window.
Frig half lay, half sat on the beanbag next to the fire place - probably in AR, since she still moved, using her Commlink.
The master bedroom seemed to be empty - at least nothing was moving inside, although Torrent couldn't be sure: All windows were currently set to be one way see through only.
bnc took a hard look at the matrix. A search for hidden icons revealed that Agent was still active on the cyberdeck. Looking closer she could identify two weapons slaved to it: A semi-automatic shotgun w/smartlink and a Ruger Super Warhawk - both were registered to the house and held the required licences.
The rest was still wireless off, including the pilot program managing the house.
[spoiler]
If you want to kick in the door make an unarmed attack.
Your damage needs to beat a soak of 7 and do at least 3 points of Physical.
[/spoiler]
-
Ready to rumble.
bnc prepared herself by taking a dose of Golden Mirror. She craned her neck, then went full VR, letting a lout Yeeeha! escape her virtual lips.
[spoiler]EDIT (after a Q & A with Jack)[/spoiler]
"Boys, watch out. There's not a single drone running online, but he seems to be in his office. Beware that this can mean two things: Either he is running all drones in a wired connection which would mean that I'm unable to attack them or him. Or it could mean that he is astrally projecting which would mean that he might already know that we are here.
I'm afraid it means both.
-
[spoiler]3 Physical after a 7 soak? So like, 10 Physical damage? Minimum Krestov will land is 11, so if no one argues, I'll buy my 3 hits and nail it for 5. Oorah :) [/spoiler]
Krestov nodded, tapping the shoulder of the ork before nodding to bnc, activating his microtransceiver. "Garage door" Without another word, shield in arm, the troll shuffled quickly over to the door, waiting for the go ahead from the other half of the team before nodding. In the precious moments, Krestov drew a small object he's held since their fateful mission underseas...a stun grenade. "Stay behind me, use if need. Don't worry, Krestov can take" And with that the troll lifted a leg, driving a piston force like a sledgehammer through brick into the door, forcing their entry with style..
-
The door was made of sturdy material, but the frame simply could not keep up with the tremendous force behind Krestovs Kick. The door flew inward and almost immediately a sound like a smoke detector began to start up. On the side of the door a panel lit up and a red LED started flashing.
The garage contained the Mirage motorbike and the SUV. On the opposite wall two workbenches with electronic and mechanical tools occupied most of the space. A small recharging station housed four drones - model aztech crawlers with what looked like a pair of mechanical arms each that were in the process of waking up.
A computerized voice spoke: "Intruder alert - home defense active. Warning the use of lethal force has been authorized. Lay down on your stomach and drop all weapons in your possession. This is your only warning."
Contrary to the last sentence, the voice began to repeat the warning, only this time in Spanish.
Torrent noticed the man getting up as well as the girl.
[spoiler]
Ini time.
The four drones are the equivalent of surprised. The home alert system has detected you and will send them out autonomously.
Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/383091): 8+4d6 21
-10 due to surprise
So they'll be active at 11
bnc notices their icons appearing in the matrix. They are slaved to the house pilot program and enjoy a firewall of 6, so 10 matrix defense dice.
The house itself has a pilot rating of 5 but runs the armor program, this as well just went online to support the drones
It's got electronic warfare active and uses a rating 5 sensor array.
[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth channeled wolf's magic into him again. We're finally here old friend. This hunt is over.
He aggressively sprayed all 4 drones with APDS before they could react and engage the team. Bullets missed the first target he found his mark on the rest of the drones.
[spoiler]
Simple Action: Agility Boost [2] (http://orokos.com/roll/383112): 8d6t5 2
Simple Action: FA Burst: Splitting attack across 4 targets. Spend 1 point of edge to push the limit +3 dice to the pool. Dice Pool of 19, exploding sixes.
Drone 1 Attack Drone 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/383113): 5d6h5 0 :-\
Drone 2 Attack Drone 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/383114): 5d6h5 1 - Damage Code of 12p -6 AP
Drone 3 Attack Drone 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/383115): 5d6h5 6 :o - Damage Code of 17p -6 AP
Drone 4 Attack Drone 4 (http://orokos.com/roll/383116): 4d6h5 2 - Damage Code of 13p -6 AP
Slobbertooth Initiative 30 -> 20[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/383118): 5d6t5 1
Toast!
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/383119): 5d6t5 0
Toaster!
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/383120): 5d6t5 3
Toastiest!
[/spoiler]
The thin armor of the small drones was no match for the heavy rifle ammunition. Only one drone remained and Krestov was still free to act.
-
The deck and the RCC are still offline, the drones are, basically, dealt with. 'fast', he said. Maybe I can get him before he can react.
bnc moves the rotordrone the last few meters to the window of the room into which she saw Woden walk, ready to unleash fire at him immediately.
[spoiler]That is, in game terms, with my second Simple Action I have during this pass, if he happens to still sit at the desk facing the window.
-
[spoiler]
Sensor test with the drone to penetrate the one way window's tint.
Threshold of 3
Deck will come online in Round 2 if Torrent doesn't disable the elf girl before that.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Perception (Push the Limit) (http://orokos.com/roll/383155): 12d6h5 5
Crap. 2nd point of Edge wasted for nothing. How much penalty do I suffer when I shoot him?[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Essentially -6 for blind fire, reduced to -3 for your successful perception check.
Perception test Elf man:Perception check (http://orokos.com/roll/383157): 14d6t5 2
Remarkable bad for this man. If you want you can make a stealth check for your drone against Threshold 2 to see if he notices it
Regardless he has Combat Sense so he gets a surprise test
Perception check (http://orokos.com/roll/383158): 15d6t5 6[15d6t5=3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 6, 2, 5, 3, 1]
Yeah, he doesn't need the +3 bonus from a successful perception check.
He gets his defense:
Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/383159): 17d6t5 6 [17d6t5=5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 2, 5, 2, 1, 6, 2, 3, 6, 1, 1, 2, 4]
[/spoiler]
bnc concentrated on the sensor feed of her drone, enhancing and interpolating until she had a vague outline that was probably the elf behind the window. He seemed to be furiously moving his hands over his clothes.
Yet when she fired she saw him move in response.
-
[spoiler]Well since I'm still outside the house I don't think there's much I can do apart from shooting at the windows...
Simple action : Change clip (regular ammo)
Simple Action: Shoot (http://orokos.com/roll/383182): 15d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Which window?
Regardless, the window resists:
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/383231): 19d6t5 8
3 damage, the bullet did not penetrate
[/spoiler]
Torrent had drawn his gun and changed the ammunition to regular rounds. In one smooth motion he drew and fired at the window.
A spiderweb made the glas blind, but the bullet proof glas kept the manufacturer's promise and stopped the projectile.
-
[spoiler]Gunnery (http://orokos.com/roll/383233): 13d6t5 3
new INI: 15
Even with the -3 from burst and the possible -3 from a stealth attack, he would have dodged.[/spoiler]
bnc doesn't hesitate a split-second but immediately presses the virutal "fire" button. What she didn't reckon with, or calculate properly, was his supernatural reaction. The ammunition sprayed past him, missing the elf by inches.
-
Even more frustrating was the fact, that the gel ammo didn't actually penetrate the window and instead just made úgly smears.
Inside the elf had left the room through the door into the corridor - sensibly since now two people where firing on the window of his room.
-
Krestov noticed at once that one of the drones had survived Slobbertooths assault. With four quick steps the troll arrived at the loading station and stomped hard three times on the small walker.
Slobbertooth heard footsteps outside the garage and the closing of a door.
Meanwhile bnc noticed a sudden strong LAG in her drone connection. Somewhere a massive source of noise had activated at the same time shutters were going down and the light inside the house went out, cancelling even Slobbertooths natural low light vision.
[spoiler]
Noise rating just went up to 6
Both elves have left your field of vision
[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth prepared to do one of his least favorite parts of the job: opening a door when someone knows you're on the other side. Slobbertooth copped the flash-bang grenade that Krestov had handed him, opened the door and crack, and tossed the grenade into the hallway.
[spoiler]Complex Action: Throw Grenade (http://orokos.com/roll/384814): 9d6t5 1
Targets within rang must resist 10s[/spoiler]
-
Slobbers grenade was met with a hazy orange force field, bouncing the grenade right back into the garage.
[spoiler]
You can run for cover for -5 Ini behind the SUV
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Dive for cover of course.
Note to self: start with the smoke grenade next time.[/spoiler]
-
After dispatching the final automated defense unit, Krestov turned to the garage door, opening it for Slobber tooth to lob his grenade.
The resulting bounce back was jnexpected...but not an issue. While the ork dove for cover, Krestov remained, muscles tensing as the blast ricocheted off of him...leaVing him unscathed and ready for the impending counterattack...
[spoiler]Soak vs. 10S (http://orokos.com/roll/384826): 38d6t5 17 no damage[/spoiler]
-
The two runners had just enough time to dive behind the SUV to find cover before the grenade went up. The barrier ensured that the blast was confined to the garage.
The team knew it had to act fast or their prey would have time to go on the offensive.
The metal shutters stopped Torrent's assault on the window for a moment.
[spoiler]
bnc: one logic+sleaze defense check from you, also what's your firewall stat at the moment.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Thems ain't gonna get me!
Opposed Roll (http://orokos.com/roll/385039): 14d6t5 7 ;D
ASDF = 3654 at the moment, but my Firewall attribute is increased by one due to the hardwired Encryption program. So it's 5.
Attacking the house system: Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/385042): 17d6t5 4[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Frigg: Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/385046): 12d6t5 3
Agent: Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/385047): 12d6t5 7
Wow. Never underestimate an Agent.
House defense (Full defense)
Matrix Defense (Full) (http://orokos.com/roll/385048): 15d6t5 5
[/spoiler]
bnc had no problem dodging the probe send out by Frigg's persona for the drone - only to be blind sided by her sneaky agent program. At the same time her own probe towards the house's pilot program was deflected - and made her visible.
As she now realized, since the house pilot program had gone online it had also activated wireless active R6 jammers around the house.
At the same time, Torrent felt something strange: A large mass had appeared in the room behind the window he was standing in front. His guess was a strong spirit had just manifested...
Edit:
The feed from the little Flyspy drone showed, that both Frigg and Woden were now in the kitchen. Woden was surrounded by a red glow, indicating a strong magic armor spell. He was just now supplementing it with a lined coat, he had taken from a hook.
Frigg had gone to ground under the kitchen table - still in AR
-
Slobbertooth watched Torrent prepare himself over the image link, and saw Krestov standing tall in front of the orange force wall.
He stood up and dusted himself off. "Well that was embarrassing" He had a quick look around and cautioned the big guy about the force wall. That wall isn't going anywhere. They're not putting it up to set up an ambush, it's up to keep us out, we'll probably need to come up with another way to get in. I think I might have a solution for that.
Slobbertooth pulled a high explosive grenade out of his pocket and held it up for Krestov to see. "We could try knocking on the front door again."
-
Crap! Why, again, did I not fucking tap that tape? Chinky me!
Battlemode, slitch!
bnc reacted hyper-fast, borne by the drug which pulsed through her veins. On Golden Mirror, she always was in battle mood. Sometimes - well, quite often - she threw it just for this particular reason: to beat up people online, the only place, where she could beat up anyone. Instinctively, she pushed the red button on her bizarre persona, and it transformed. Some of the items around her vanished, but out of her forearm a big gun appeared. She aimed at Frigg's persona, and released a code so viral she almost had to sneeze herself.
-
[spoiler]
Is your Attack roll identical to your HotF roll?
In any case, I assume you are sending a data spike
Frigg Matrix Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/386264): 12d6t5 5
So, either you edge or you take your own damage
[/spoiler]
Frigg's Persona now had the form of a snow white Valkyrie while the Agent still had the form of a crystal clear ice man. The attack connected, but the valkyrie only shined with reflected light...
-
[spoiler]Nope. It's this roll:
I try to get rid of Frigg's device she's running on. Therefore, I use the Configurator to change to battle mode and perform Data Spike with Edge.
Data Spike (http://orokos.com/roll/385083): 19d6h5 6
That's (hopefully)
6 (Attack) + 1 (Decryption) + 2 (Hammer) + net hits = 15 - her hits.
Since I had 6 hits and she "only" 5, she suffers 10 points of damage. Since she should be online with her deck and she's using a SONY CIY-720, IIRC, it should be bricked.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Not quite. There is still the soak roll from her device:
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/386265): 11d6t5 4
So 6 matrix damage total
By the way, if you can get Fork up, you could attack her Agent with the same action - just a heads up
[/spoiler]
... only to flicker and show a serious slash across her face.
The feed from the kitchen recorded harsh curses from the lady decker.
-
bnc, you dumb slitch! Don't get carried away by the impulse to fight on Mirror, goddammit! Can't you tell a fucking pilot from an agent? Drek - finish what you began, you messy oaf.
Driven by her fury about her own mistake of changing into battle configuration, bnc tries to finish what business she started.
[spoiler]
I swap Shell for Fork and hope that I don't kill myself.
Data Spike against Frigg (http://orokos.com/roll/386986): 15d6t5 3
Not quite what I was hoping for. Oh, and I forgot the -2 penalty from the jammer. That costs me another hit.
I'll roll her defense roll right away, if I may.
Opposed roll (http://orokos.com/roll/386987): 12d6h5 4
I begin to think that orokos doesn't love me a lot.
I use edge to re-roll:
re-roll (http://orokos.com/roll/386988): 11d6t5 5
That point of Edge was worth it! :D This leaves me with 2 points of edge left, if I'm not mistaken.
Since my attack value is 7 (6 plus Decryption), I can use all hits.
For Frigg, this is 7 (attack) + 2 (Hammer) + 3 (net hits) = 12M.
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/386989): 11d6t5 6
Why do I alway roll that good for my enemies? Anyway, that's still 6 matrix damage for her, which should fry her commlink for good.
I don't know the stats of the pilot since I haven't yet attacked him. I have 7 hits on my roll and a DV of 9 + net hits.
-
Stepping back, Krestov looked to the ork and his grenade, glancing back at the vehicle behind them once they saw nothing was coming. Shaking his head, he tapped his helmet.
"Not worth. Follow" taking two steps back, he shifted his stance before lunging forward, slamming his weight jto the wall a couple meters from the door, hoping his hundreds of kilos wereally sufficient to break through...
[Spoiler]initiative and attack rolls incoming
Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/387001): 3d6+10 19
Unarmed vs. Wall (http://orokos.com/roll/387002): 10d6t5 2 12P damage[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
The pilot is rating 5, so he defends with 5 + 5 + 5 for full defense (that hasn't chanced), so 15d6 total:
Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/387000): 15d6t5 7
So 10 Matrix damage
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/387003): 10d6t5 2
8 Damage total
You hurt it, but it's still operational at the moment.
Wall Defense:
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/387006): 14d6t5 2Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/387006): 14d6t5 2
Seems like the troll just created another entrance to the corridor.
Ini:
Woden: Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/387007): 18+5d6 39
Attribute Boost +2
Spirit: Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/387012): 13+2d6 24
Frigg: Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/387013): 12+2d6 18
[/spoiler]
bnc noticed the screams through the drone feed - Frigg had pulled a wig from her head, revealing a bald, tattooed scalp. A thin thread of smoke was rising from her hair piece.
The synthetic voice announced: "Warning, matrix threat detected. System under attack."
-
"Oh, sweetmeat, was this headware? I'm terribly sorry."
[spoiler]bnc uses her last Free Action in this round to swap Sleaze and Attack after she sent the data spike. I'm not yet sure whether I want to use or finish off the pilot.
Are these rolls already for the next combat round? Does this mean, that Woden isn't going to unleash his wrath upon us in the first combat round?
-
[spoiler]
Correct, Woden is still armoring up in the first round
Oh and just for your information: The wig is a custom form factor cyber deck...
[/spoiler]
-
"Why thank you Krestov. Now if you'll excuse me, there isn't a force barrier in front of me anymore. There are still two assholes, though."
Slobbertooth poked his head out of the new doorway to see if any more shimmering barrier were still around waiting to embarrass him.
-
No barrier was visible, but the form of a hulking Viking with a very large combat axe - in the process of unleashing a lightning strike at the ork.
[spoiler]
Guardian Spirit in the corridor
Readied action: Elemental Attack (Electricity)
Elemental Attack (http://orokos.com/roll/387023): 14d6t5 4 [14d6t5=1, 4, 3, 1, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 5, 4, 3, 4]
12 P(e) AP-6
Since you are only sticking your head out you get a +4 defense bonus to dodge
[/spoiler]
-
"Hoi Chummer"
[spoiler]While as much as that could hurt, I wont' burn edge on the first roll. I have a 5 dice advantage, I should be able to avoid that
Defense: Rea 8 + Int 5 + Combat Senses 2 + 4 (http://orokos.com/roll/387034): 19d6t5 6 Clean as a whistle[/spoiler]
"Nice to meet you, now frag off"
[spoiler]I'm pretty sure I can still finish out my turn with my movement and actions unless the GM would rule otherwise. Away from books atm.
Complex Action: Throw HE Grenade (http://orokos.com/roll/387035): 7d6t5 2 Let's try and bounce and aim it near the middle of the hallway
Free Action: Move behind the force barrier that blocked the door for cover.[/spoiler]
-
Now, rid of Frigg, bnc turns to the house pilot. But there's no need to destroy it if you can use it.
[spoiler]Swap Decryption for Exploit. (Free Action)
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/387038): 17d6t5 4
Opposed roll (http://orokos.com/roll/387039): 10d6t5 4
Oh COME ON. This is the fourth un-Edged roll I fail although I have far more dice. Crap.
Crap -.- I forgot the 5 dice from Total Defense:
Opposed roll (http://orokos.com/roll/387041): 5d6t5 0
:D
Now, that's fair. My spirits are up again *chuckle*
-
[spoiler]
I assume you have taken the impact explosion option.
Scatter roll:
Scatter (http://orokos.com/roll/387040): 2d6 2
Ups. that is going to fall short.
Scatter (http://orokos.com/roll/387042): 1d6-2 4
Fuck. 4 meters to short
That means it's exploding directly in front of the barrier
16P AP-2
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387044): 22d6t5 8
Barrier takes 8 Damage, 4 remaining, holds
Blast is redirected at the opposite wall
Guardian Spirit uses interrupt action to run for cover, back into the office room (Ini -5)
[/spoiler]
Slobbertooth ducked under the lightning strike, but in this movement he lost control of the grenade he was about to throw. He saw it fall just outside the blocked doorway, while he himself stepped behind the orange force field. From the corner of his eyes he saw the spirit flee back into room he had come from. Than the grenade reached the floor and the motion sensor registered the sudden stop.
The Grenade exploded. Slobbertooth managed to raise his hands to shield his face - a pretty useless gesture, but to his utter amazement the magic barrier actually prevented him from blowing himself up.
The shield held and instead directed the blast towards the other wall, tearing it away like tissue paper and blowing the whole reinforced front door out of its frame.
Light fell again into the darkened house and revealed the kitchen. In the middle of the room stood the male elf - now pretty much clearly identified as Woden.
The man had put on a lined coat and was surrounded by a red, shimmering haze, indicating a strong armor spell.
In his hand the man had a heavy pistol, Slobbertooth identified as the PSK-3.
Woden's left eye socket was uncovered and showed a glowing red orb where an eye should have been.
More important, he was surrounded by a half dome of the same brilliant orange energy that had saved Slobbertooth from the explosion.
Just as the Ork was about to react the barrier in front of him vanished and a bolt of pure agony descended on him.
From inside the car behind him, the cawing voices of four ravens began to scream.
bnc on the other hand was again frustrated by the excellent defense of the house's firewall.
[spoiler]
Woden's first Action at 41:
Cast Force 10 Physical Barrier around him: Spell Casting (Manipulation) (http://orokos.com/roll/387048): 16d6t5 5
Spending Edge for reroll: Spell Casting (Manipulation) Edge Reroll (http://orokos.com/roll/387050): 11d6t5 5
Total 10
Drain Resist: Drain resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387010): 20d6t5 10
No Drain
Woden's action at 31:
Stun Bolt with Witness my Hate
Stunbolt (Limited, Force 7) (http://orokos.com/roll/387046): 16d6t5 10 [16d6t5=5, 3, 5, 6, 1, 5, 3, 4, 6, 3, 6, 3, 6, 6, 6, 5]
Well, lucky you that he didn't up the Force any more
7+2 = 9S
vs. Slobbertooth's Willpower:
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387047): 4d6t5 0 [4d6t5=2, 3, 4, 4]
Do you want to Edge?
Otherwise you take 9 S damage
Drain resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387052): 20d6t5 1 [20d6t5=2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1, 4, 1]
You've got to be kidding me...
Woden takes 3 Stun damage
[/spoiler]
-
As he saw the grenade drop, Krestov turned his body away from the blast, facing the car as the whole house shook. As the dust settlrd, the squawking of the Ravens in the car drew his attention. Now why...
A memory of a class from his Academy came to mind...the lesson: factors in magical threats. Animal conduits. Of course.
"Slob!" he barked out, pistol whipping out as he flung the car door open, leveling his Crusader to let of a 3 round report of fire into the cabin...
[spoiler]Pistol burst (http://orokos.com/roll/387078): 7d6t5 3
Don't have books on Crusader damage codes, but assume normal ammo.[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth reeled from the stunbolt but didn't fall over. He woozily raised a middle finger towards Woden, stumbling into cover when he saw what Krestov was yelling about.
"Oh... there's a problem.... huh? Should prob-probly do something about that..."
"Hey... bnc, when you've got a minute. Gonna need a medic... here."
-
Torrent is tempted to vanish and try another point of entry but he knows he doesn't have the time.
He keeps firing at the window
[spoiler]Last Pass for Combat Round 1 :Shoot (Limit 7) (http://orokos.com/roll/387282): 19d6t5 7
Initiative for Combat Round 2 : Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/387283): 11+4d6 27
[/spoiler]
-
Torrents focused efforts finally manage to break the lock on the window and he steps into the darkened living room, leaving the door open for bnc's drone to fly after him.
Meanwhile, Krestov had shot the four birds in their cage as easy as fish in a barrel. The effect was immediately noticeable: The red glow around Woden vanished and he stumbled noticeable, clutching his head. Only his movements stayed impossible fast.
-
Slobbertooth was still aware enough to notice the stumble at the death of the crows. "Hurts when those close to you get murdered, doesn't it drek-head."
Slobbertooth leaned out behind cover and sprayed bullets at Woden, and then shuffled back to where he was hidden.
Ugh, even banter is exhausting right now. Slobbertooth search around his pockets for a stimpatch, but only found a medkit. "Drek"
[spoiler]Simple Action: FA Burst Agi 8 + Automatics 8 - 3 Injury (http://orokos.com/roll/387392): 13d6t5 4 hits -5 to dodge
Base Damage Code 11p -5 AP
Simple Action: Move into cover[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Woden goes on Full Defense (-10 Ini)
Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/387398): 15d6t5 2 [15d6t5=1, 1, 4, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 6, 1, 4, 3, 1, 5, 1]
Seriously? And almost a Glitch...
Soak Physical Barrier (http://orokos.com/roll/387400): 15d6t5 10 [15d6t5=6, 5, 6, 3, 5, 5, 5, 6, 5, 3, 5, 3, 3, 5, 2]
But the barrier holds with an amazing result...
Now the spirit strikes again with a Lightning Strike at Slobber (again +4 to defense due to cover)
Lightning Strike (http://orokos.com/roll/387404): 14d6t5 5 [14d6t5=5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 5, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2, 6]
12 P(e) AP -6
[/spoiler]
The attack was uncannily precise - Woden jumped aside and rolled on the floor to get clear, but Slobbertooth had expected that move - and it would have worked, hadn't Woden just at that very moment severely strengthened the magic barrier.
Almost immediately another lightning strike hit Slobbertooth's cover and tendrils of electricity danced around the orc...
-
Slobbertooth rolled and danced as lightning crackled around him. "Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope"
Slobbertooth uncoordinated attempts to dodge the lightning strike miraculously worked and the tendrils of electricity passed around him.
[spoiler]Defense Int 5 + Rea 8 + Combat Sense 2 + Cover 4 - 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/387498): 16d6t5 4
Spend edge to reroll failures. Edge Defense Reroll (http://orokos.com/roll/387499): 12d6t5 6
1 point of edge remaining[/spoiler]
-
"Coming, big one. Survive!"
-
"Killing my ravens was a mistake - whoever you are. My defense is impenetrable and once my Berserker is done with you, I'll make sure your remains are food for the next generation of corvids."
Woden answered.
Again the red stone in his socket glowed as he sent another wave of intangible force, this time at Krestov
[spoiler]
Witness my Hate Stunbolt at Krestov
Stunbolt (Limited, Force 6) (http://orokos.com/roll/387578): 15d6t5 4
6 S resisted with Willpower
Drain resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387580): 12d6t5 6
no drain
Krestov Willpower Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387584): 5d6t5 2 [5d6t5=1, 5, 4, 1, 5]
4 Stun damage
Do you want to spend Edge?
[/spoiler]
-
Torrent knows his pistol can't penetrate the assassin's magical barrier but he is determined to divert his attention from his friends.
[spoiler]
Simple Action: Shoot (Limit 7) (http://orokos.com/roll/387591): 19d6t5 7 (no recoil penalty yet)
Can I use another simple action to activate the motion sense and search for Frigg?
[/spoiler]
-
Frigg was easy to spot: She had taken shelter beneath the round breakfast table, clutching a shotgun, but evidently to terrified to do anything with it.
[spoiler]
15 P AP -1 vs. Barrier
Barrier resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387595): 19d6t5 4
Yeah, those words just bit Woden in the ass. The Barrier is down
[/spoiler]
Torrent didn't try to hit anything specific inside the barrier. Instead he concentrated an shot at the apex of the dome where the energies were projecting from.
The force field collapsed.
-
"Good shot, brother!"
Concentrating hard, bnc focusses on the new target. She is determined to deliver Slobbertooth his arch enemy. She aims, inhales, and pulls the virtual trigger targeting Woden.
-
One by one Woden's defenses had fallen, but the elf was still incredible fast and alert. Narrowly he dodged the gel round with an impressive side roll - bringing him squarely into sight of Torrent and his gun.
-
[spoiler]Simple Action :Change ammo (stick n'shock) --even if we didn't need Woden alive, Torrent's code prevents him from resorting to lethal violence :/
Simple Action: Shoot (http://orokos.com/roll/387837): 19d6t5 2
Second Chance(1 Edge remaining-I guess I didn't sleep last night to regain the one I spent at the club :P) :Second Chance (http://orokos.com/roll/387838): 17d6t5 9
.....
Total hits : 7
I was kinda hoping I would get a roll like this on my first try, then spend some Edge to push the limit....this Woden guy is lucky
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Yeah, it's almost as if he had devoted himself to a deity or something ;)
Defense 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/387840): 18d6t5 9 [18d6t5=6, 5, 5, 6, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 1, 3, 2, 5, 2]
I really shouldn't joke about that anymore, Orokos is insane - not even a 5 round burst would have affected him.
By the way, I just noticed that Woden doesn't get his last action, since he has a wound penalty.
New Ini.
Woden Ini Round 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/387841): 17+5d6 36
He is getting slower though.
Guardian Spirit Ini Round 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/387842): 13+2d6 20
[/spoiler]
Torrents movements where a blur as he exchanged the round in his gun for stick'n shock and brought it back to bear on Woden. But the one-eyed elf moved with hypernatural grace, jumped and landed back in the eating room - or what was left of it.
-
[spoiler]
Woden's move:
Control thoughts against Krestov:
Reckless Spell Casting (Manipulation) Control Thoughts (Limited Spell) Force 6 (http://orokos.com/roll/387850): 17d6t5 6
Drain resist (http://orokos.com/roll/387851): 12d6t5 4
1 Stun from Drain
Here are the relevant rules to mental manipulation spells:
Mental: Targets resist these spells with Logic + Willpower. Keep track of your net hits, as they determine how long you can sustain the spell. While the spell is sustained, the target may take a Complex Action on their turn to resist by making a Logic + Willpower Test with a dice pool penalty equal to the spell’s Force; every hit the target gets reduces the caster’s net hits by 1. The one being controlled can take this action even if they wouldn’t get an action because of the spell. The spell ends when your net hits are reduced to zero.
Krestov Resist Spell (http://orokos.com/roll/387852): 7d6t5 4
Simple Action: Mental Command: Kill the Ork
-10 Ini to go again on full defense
[/spoiler]
Woden had recovered and made a quick sigil in the air: "Be mine now, Slayer of Thought and Memory"
-
The bastard's fast....no way I can beat him on his terms...
[spoiler]Sneaking (Limit 8 ) (http://orokos.com/roll/387857): 18d6t5 4
Forgot to turn on the wireless functionality of my chameleon suit(+2 dice ).Since Sneaking is a Complex Action (right?), there's nothing I can do about that :/
I assume I'm not in the immediate vicinity right now, since Woden left the room(-2 penalty?).Is he considered distracted from the fight as well(another -2 dice penalty)?
He has at least -4 dice to see or hear me (Polymer+Traceless Walk)
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Oh, I thought you'd just shoot him through the wall (with your motion sense) and take away his ability to dodge ::)
He is not distracted enough to forget that he just left you behind (and you are technically still in the same room, there is just a wall partially separating it)
Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/387859): 8d6t5 5
And he has spotted you.
[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth poked his head over cover, saw the Woden was for once out of sorts and Slobbertooth knew what he wanted to do. He pulled another flash-bang grenade out of his pocket and threw it towards Woden.
[spoiler]Complex Action: Throw Grenade (http://orokos.com/roll/387868): 6d6t5 1[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Deviation:
Deviation (http://orokos.com/roll/387940): 2d6 5
Scattering to 10 o'clock
Deviation distance (http://orokos.com/roll/387941): 1d6-1 5
a full 5 meters
That means its landed right in the corner of the room affecting everyone, including Torrent (bnc's drone is immune against stun)
Woden uses Run For Your Life interrupt to get into cover (-5 Ini)
He is now at Ini 11, so after the Spirit has acted as the last part of this round, you'll all go before Woden.
Frigg stays where she is and eats the full damage: Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/387943): 3d6t5 0
[/spoiler]
Slobbertooth had once again misjudged his throw - the grenade rolled into the corner of the kitchen and exploded. Frigg was caught fully in the blast and got knocked hard to the ground, showing no signs of getting back up again.
Woden for his part had avoided the blast by running to the opposite side of the room - ignoring for the moment the sneaking Torrent.
-
Shit
"Grenades inside the house?Really, guys?"
[spoiler]Run for your life interrupt action: -5 Initiative[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Just noticed: The spirit has also Ini 20 and has the higher Edge attribute compared to Krestov, so it acts before him.
Charge attack on Slobber with it's Combat Axe.
Charge Attack (http://orokos.com/roll/388089): 16d6t5 3 [16d6t5=3, 5, 4, 2, 4, 2, 1, 3, 1, 6, 1, 2, 6, 2, 4, 1]
13 AP -4 Reach 2
Slobber Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/388090): 8d6t5 4
Lucky bastard...
[/spoiler]
At this precise moment, the Berserker charged out of the office, directly at Slobbertooth, swinging his large combat axe at him. With only a hairs wide between them, he managed to duck beneath the attack.
The swing missed and cleaved clear through the remains of the wall behind which the ork had taken cover.
Meanwhile Krestov felt strange. A thought had popped into his mind unbidden: Kill the ork that reminded him a bit of Slobbertooth and everything would be alright. It was the obvious solution to all their problems. For a tiny little moment he wondered why he hadn't thought of that before, but he put it out of his mind. Killing was what he needed to think about now.
-
"Watch out for Krestov, Slob!"
-
Kill the ork...it's so simple...I need to end this
Krestov straightened up, his eyes obscured by his visored helmet as his expression tightened, right foot sliding back as his weight shifted. The effects of the bolt of magical energy left him feeling a bit winded, but nothing he couldn't handle...but there was the ork, his target, right next to him. Just one strike, and all this would be over...
??? As he started to move, he roared as he saw a bright flash, free hand clutching over his visor as if he was having trouble seeing. Gritting his teeth, he centered himself, using his ears and memory as he sprung, a hop-step setting him up for what could be a powerful side kick to Slobbertooth's ribs....
[spoiler]Unarmed (Kick attack, Reach 2, blind, wound -1) (http://orokos.com/roll/388775): 3d6t5 2
Base damage 10P+net hits[/spoiler]
-
"Krestov? K stop. Oh drek."
Slobbertooth magically enhanced sense made him move like a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man to dodge the kick.
[spoiler]Defense Int 5 + Rea 8 + Combat Sense 2 - Wounds 3 - Reach 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/388782): 11d6t5 3[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
You forgot that it's the second attack this round on you, but it doesn't matter since it wouldn't change the result.
Ok. everyone acted. New Ini Phase:
Slobbertooth: 19
bnc: 16
Torrent: 11 / Woden: 11
Krestov: 10
Spirit: 10
If you want a hint: Burst Fire, Full Auto and Semi Auto Bursts are your friends...
[/spoiler]
Slobbertooth evaded again and even closer than before. The number of huge close combatants in his life had just doubled and still no-one had managed to actually hurt Woden. How many people could the man control?
However large the number was, Slobbertooth was sure he didn't want to find out...
-
Slobbertooth was hurt, but that sonovabitch's shield was down and he wasn't going to get a better opportunity to put a hurt on him. Now all he had to do was get away from a giant troll that was swinging steels fists at him.
Slobbertooth did his best to duck under Krestov's fists, reloaded his rifle with gel ammo
[spoiler]Defense against Krestov's reactionary attack Defense Int 5 + Rea 8 + Combat Sense 2 - Wounds 3 - Reach 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/389598): 11d6t5 3 If this ends up not being enough, I'll add gymnastics to the test with Dodge (http://orokos.com/roll/389599): 8d6t5 4
Complex Action: Reload
Free Action: Quickdraw with Rapid Draw Power Reaction 8 + Automatics 8 - Wounds 3 (2) (http://orokos.com/roll/389603): 13d6t5 4
Full Automatic Burst Agility 8 + Automatics 8 - Wounds 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/389604): 13d6t5 6
Damage Code: 11+6S -1AP -5 to dodge
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Woden (Full) Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/389683): 13d6t5 4
Hit
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/389685): 12d6t5 3
10 S
Total 13 S = Unconscious
[/spoiler]
Woden tried to avoid the burst, but this time Slobbertooth had anticipated the move. Gel rounds hit his body and the elf crumpled to the floor.
Immediately the Berserker stopped swinging his axe, looked into the direction of his fallen master, shrugged, let the axe clatter to the floor and vanished.
Krestov's fist came close to Slobbers face but the big troll also stopped, with a confused look on his face.
For a moment everything was silent.
-
"Wooohooo, you made it, sempai!"
I was ready to shoot down that bastard, but I'm happy Slobbertooth could do it himself. After all these years, it would have felt wrong to take it from him. Finding him was more than anyone else has done for him in this regard.
bnc moves the drone a little closer, in case Woden only feinted. Then she quickly checks her overwatch score, knowing it must be a close call till GOD's wratch would deced upon her. If nothing else happens, bnc reboots her deck in AR mode and walks over to her victorious companions.
-
Slobbertooth wanted to enjoy this, but knew they didn't have time. The grenades and gunfire had surely awoken the neighbors.
"bnc, use your 1337 skillz to try and get access to his computer. I don't know how much time we have, and I'd like to avoid letting a mage wake back up." He chuckled as is reference to early aughts internet lingo.
I'm going to go try a more low-tech approach." Slobbertooth kicked the PPSK away from the unconcious mage and then turned his attention to the other party in the room. He felt guilty about getting a third party involved in this, but she certainly wasn't innocent in Woden's killings. Josiah walked up to the decker elf, his revolver readied.
"Hello Frigg. Your boyfriend is going to die, but it's going to be a lot easier on Woden if we don't have to ask really nicely everything he knows about one of his contracts 11 years ago. I imagine that an assassin of his status would have some kind of documentation in that office of his. If you would be so kind as to give us access to all of that information, I'm sure he'd be really relieved.
"It's the least you could do after leading us right to him."
-
At first Frigg tries to fake unconsciousness, but then a sob escapes her throat.
"Please. Don't kill him. I'll give you the info if you let us go. Please, he isn't a bad person, really."
Carefully she moved to her knees and looked at Slobbertooth with tear stained eyes and raised hands, a nasty bruise starting to color the left side of her face.
"Please, there were some jobs where we didn't have a choice."
-
"That option isn't on the table."
"He's a murderer, he threatened my family, and sent killers after us when we started looking for him. He's a bad person. Ultimately, everyone in this line of work is."
-
"We didn't send any killers after you... I... I did spy on that meeting between you and the old police man - Captain Verres set us up to take care of it. He had an agent monitoring Wilcox' calls since some private detective accessed those files from 11 years ago.
He is the one you want.
He is the one who had me arrested twelve years ago. Since that time we had to work for him again and again. He was the one supplying the weapons and armors for those two thugs.
Please. If Sven hadn't done the job Verres would have come after me and our families.
Verres has connections - high up execs and other rich people who want to see someone dead give him a call. He is a wetwork fixer.
I'll tell you the name of the client if you let us go."
-
Slobbertooth laughed and sighed. "I have yet to meet a killer who doesn't say they have a heart of gold or forced to do their work, all while sitting in a home bought with blood. We all profit from what we do. You're no different. "
Ugh, revenge isn't supposed to be this morally complicated. You find the person who killed your parents, and you kill them. None of this "Eh, we were hired by this guy, and are forced to do out job against our will.
"Let me guess, the name of the client is Benjamin Thorin.
-
"Close. It was Eliza Thorin. She is the one managing the Thorin estate."
-
Slobbertooth patted her on the cheek. "Thank you for the correction, Frigg."
"Now if you would please give me the files to the contract you executed for Eliza Thorin, this will all be over shortly."
-
"I won't give you anything unless you let me and Sven go."
She even managed a bit of a defiant look although her voice shakes.
"Al that data is hidden away and encrypted. You won't get any proof without me."
-
I didn't want to resort to this.
Slobbertooth sighed. "You give me the information or Tigra dies, too."
[spoiler]That is a filthy filthy lie. Slobbertooth's code of honor says that he can't harm innocents.
Spend Edge to push the limit (0 edge remaining) Influence Group 5 + Edge 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/389837): 8d6h5 4[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
Judge Intentions (http://orokos.com/roll/389863): 11d6t5 1
[/spoiler]
"You... you monster." She looked at Torrent and her eyes went wide. "You! You are that elf from the club.
No. You can't do that. Tigra has nothing to do with this. Hell, she thinks I'm working as an accountant.
Fuck... Fuck you, Fuck you, Fuck you.
She looked around in total defeat. For a moment it looked like she wanted go for Slobbertooth's throat than she averted her eyes.
"I give you the link. Don't harm her. Bring me my commlink. It's lying on the floor in the living room."
-
Krestov managed to stop himself inches from Slobbertooth's chest, his hand in an open palm strike...a move he has known to deliver enough force to snap a human femur. His eyes went wide as he realized what he was doing, recouping from it as the ork went to work on their quarry.
Pulling all the armaments into one area, the troll reentered the room wideeyed at Slobbertooth's threat. Jaw setting, he nodded and moved to get the commlink, all the while speaking into comms.
"This not you, Slob. That very cold. Give them life or finish job without me. I not accept this technique" his expression was resolute as he silently reentered the room, gently reaching to lift Frigg up to a sitting position before placing the commlink in her hands.
-
"It's called bluffing, big guy."
Slobbertooth narrowed his eyes at Frigg. "Oh, does it hurt when you have your family threatened? I wouldn't know. You killed mine."
-
"I... I'm sorry. Really.
But killing Sven won't bring them back. Maybe... maybe we could give you restitution somehow. A weregild. We have money - you could have it. Or we could vanish, never to be seen again. Please, you can have anything we have, just let Sven live."
She took the commlink, but hesitated to activate it.
-
Slobbertooth voice rumbles out, years of pent up angry rushing out. "You stupid elf slot! Do you have any idea what you did to me? You took my parents from me! Then you did the kindness of hanging up my father's corpse in front of our home for me to see. If it weren't for the generosity of others," decending into his other native tongue as his anger increases "I would have died in the barrens either to starvation or assault from humanis punks if I was lucky. I lost my childhood, I lost my adoptive family, I lost everything because of what you did! (Orzet)
"I don't even need the info you have. You already told me who ordered the hit, who organized it for you, and I know where to find her. I'm allowing you to have a bargaining chip for your friend's life.
"Now stop stalling and give me the fragging link!"
-
Suddenly she screamed at him: "You think you had it tough? You think you are the only one without parents? Try taking care of your three small sisters after your father murder-suicides your mother in front of you.
Sven is the one who helped me get away from the street, who paid to get my sisters into school and helped me become a decker.
I didn't know your parents and I don't care about them. They are beyond pain. I care about the living.
IF you kill him, you better kill me too. Because otherwise I'll come for you for the same reason you came for him."
-
"Don't worry, you were always going to die at the end of this. I wasn't going to have a mage and a decker chase me for the rest of my life."
-
Krestov growled, stepping forward. "Then kill me too. Make word not chase us, need not kill. I will not sit by and let happen." he tore his helmet off, golden locks falling into place as he leveled with the ork.
"we professionals. Both them same. Let lot happen for personal vendetta, but this beneath you. Justice served already to Frigg and Woden" he took his stance, blue cyber eyes fixed and resolute.
-
Slobbertooth snarls at Krestov "Now is not the time for! Woah..." and then suddenly stumbles as he resists wolf's magic leaving him. He suddenly remembers how injured he is. Gotta go. Gotta go. Gotta go.
"Don't worry, we'll talk about that after she gives us the information big guy."
[spoiler]Drain Resist Body 7 + Willpower 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/389929): 10d6t5 2
I was actually kind of hoping I'd fail there to be honest. Wanted an opportunity to use this. [spoiler=Flair flop](http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/2176118/flair-flop-o.gif)[/spoiler]I guess I found one anyway :P[/spoiler]
-
"Yes, yes. I promise. You'll never hear from us again. If you let us live, I'll give you his magic."
-
"Well I wasn't exactly asking for that, but sure, I'll take it." Slobbertooth blinked to clear his vision and continued.
"But seriously, make it snappy. Multiple grenades just went off. KE is on the way, and I don't think anyone wants to be standing around to explain the illegal weapons, explosives, and tech."
-
"His eye, the fake one. It's a power focus and a fetish. It's how he can cast powerful spells without being knocked out. Without it he can't cast almost all his spells The thing is worth more than 100k."
-
"I figured as much." Slobbertooth waved someone over to get it. "That's their payment."
"Now where is the information on the ordered killing of William and Zelda Willows by Eliza Thorin."
-
bnc sat by, listening in silence. She took Woden's link almost numbly, turning it off for later infusion. Then she did the same with Frigg's. Too overwhelmed by this eruption of anger, she never found the right moment to say the right thing. Instead she watched the scene in horror and promised herself never to get in Slobbertooth's way.
-
Woden's link was - unsurprisingly - also an expensive Fairlight.
Frigg logged into her link and a few seconds later gave him a data chip. "The password is "Freethysoulandflyawayonwingsoflightandfire."
She turned around and walked to the prone form of Woden and carefully removed the red stone from his eye socket. With a flick she chugged it to Torrent. Than she heaved the unconscious man on her shoulder and dragged him towards the garage - picking up her wig on the way."
-
"We've got the info, and you guys have a bit of the payment I'll owe you all after this is done. Let's go home."
-
bnc insists on jacking in while she retrieves the data, lest she manipulates a file.
"Hai, sempai. Let's go. Have a drink or such."
bnc makes sure they have no video or any other recordings on their decks, their house system or anywhere else a need like bnc might think of, before she clears.
-
Frigg complies and erases all records of your appearance.
The file she retrieves seems to be on the level. It is secured with a high level data bomb but with the right password is easily disarmed.
Inside is a detailed list of hits the Lonestar man Evans orchestrated - including the file on Eliza Thorin. A cursory glance reveals that she did in fact have most of the staff of the old factory assassinated and had it look like accidents or random crime - all within the span of a year.
bnc was about to report on this find while the team drove away but was interrupted: The house exploded with an impressive fire ball, shattering windows around it. The blaze was so bright that it hurt to look at it. Whatever else had been in the house was now certainly turning to slag.
-
Torrent removes his mask and stares at the flames behind them.
He then turns to Krestov.
"Slobbertooth had the right to kill them.We run the shadows, knowing the consequences of our actions may come back to bite us.That is why some of us follow codes.Others don't. I hope Frigg and Woden didn't escape the blast.
If they did they will only cause more suffering."
-
Slobbertooth did his best to glower at Krestov in the car ride back as he gathered his thoughts. He shifted his eyes towards the incinerated house, and then returned to checking his equipment and trying to get over the pain. After Torrent said he peace, he he spoke to Krestov.
"If you pull the same bulldrek you just did when I go to kill Eliza Thorin-" Slobbertooth pointed at Krestov the way a disciplinarian coach would point to a player, "and let me be fragging clear you giant dipshit (Or'zet), I will be killing/geeking/creasing/de-rezzing/bleeding/murdering, whichever of those words registers through your thick skull, Eliza Thorin. I am going to put a bullet in her brain, or put my fist through her chest, or drive her to suicide if I have to, but I will see her dead. If you can't handle seeing that, get out of the room when I do it.
"If you get in my way then, I will not hesitate and I will shoot you."
-
"Woh, woh, woh, boys, easy... We were all pulling that thing off together.
Speaking of - what the fuck just happened? Did I miss a bomb or something?"
-
Krestov remained silent, again. Not another word was spoken as the team piled into the van, the mission at hand completed. Helmet off, he sat in the back as he was reprimanded for his actions. As the finger was pointed at his face, his blue cyber eyes stared blankly at him, his expression hard set but neutral. He may not even have been listening, until...
"...Understand"
Turning away, he made recognition of the house blowing up, sniffing the air and otherwise retreating to his own world.
-
bnc makes a sad face as her distraction appears to be futile. She then tries another way, a more hearty one.
She leans on Krestov's shoulder, takes his hand, and smugs her head against his arm.
-
"Hm?"
Krestov broke away from his reverie upon feeling the small figure of the team decker at his side, looking down and keeping his arm still. He took a moment to process the gesture. Subtly, his fingers would give a gentle squeeze before he straightened up, nodding his head towards the still fuming Slobbertooth.
"Krestov not in way second time. Slobbertooth handle Slobbertooth business, Krestov here as moving wall. Will not be issue again"
-
Slobbertooth's face softened, and he let out a heavy sigh. "I know you will, Special K, I know you will."
"It's been a long day, I can barely stand up, and I'm usually not up this early. I probably need a nap."
-
The team returned home for R&R.
The news showed some pictures of the burning house. For some reason not KE but Lonestar had arrived and an official spokesman declared the fire to be a result of a gas leak and some improperly stored lawnmower fuel. The fire had been so intense that even the stainless steel appliances had turned to slag. The owners where presumed dead although no body had been found so far.
Time to plan the next steps.
-
Slobbertooth slept for a couple of hours to get the stunbolt out of his system, and to decompress from the emotional strain of confronting the people who had killed his parents. If it hadn't been for the team, he'd be dead now. It was another reminder how far Slobbertooth and the rest of the team had to climb.
After a rest and a cup of soykaf, Josiah nested in the living room with Li, looking through the Eliza Thorin files on the home's host in AR. He kept multiple open, trying to cross reference them for any interesting bits of information. He figured bnc had already looked through them, but wanted to aply his own hand to them as well.
"If any of you see something interesting, please point it out."
-
Back home, bnc cares for everybody's injuries, gets herself a strong drink and passes out until the next morning.
Well, noon. When she finally gets up after this strenuous day, bnc doesn't even care to dress before she walks into the living room, where her comrade sits. Still in her underwear, she grabs her favourite blanket (it's sooo soft!), wraps it around her skinny body and sits next to Slob. "How are you doing, Josiah. Do you feel better now? Woden's eye is shut forever now."
It sounds a bit more caring then her usual self, but it still sounds a lot like bnc. She has never received pity, and never wanted it. She guessed it was the same with Slobbertooth.
[spoiler]@players: Anybody injured? I'll roll any First Aid rools.
@Jack: Have you give the data to us already?
-
Slobbertooth acknowledges bnc by shifting over on the couch to make sure she has some room. "He shot my father with a gun in his hand, not the magic in his eye."
He held up the magical crystal bobble they had taken from Woden. "What the frag are were even going to do with this thing? Torrent and I aren't even groggy, we're just Phys Ads." He quickly lost interest in it and lackadaisically tossed it over to bnc.
[spoiler]Slobbertooth was sitting at 1/10 stun boxes left, and Krestov and Torrent probably took some stun damage. He's got the quick-healer trait to give +2 dice on healing attempts by or on him.[/spoiler]
-
bnc makes herself comfortable. "Fair enough. You had your chance to chop it off. Why didn't you do it? K?"
She sighs. "He has a way of persuading people to restrain from the silliest thing. Still, I think you had the right to do it."
She catches Woden's artificial eye and weighs it in her hand. "What're we supposed to do with it? It's worth an arse full of diamonds, silly. Either we keep it, in case you still want a mage to move in, or we sell it and buy, I dunno, the anthrodrone I was so longing for." She smiles, than runs her hand through Slob's hair. "Well get her. The one who truly is responsible for it, sempai. I found Woden for you. I will find Eliza for you, too."
[spoiler]I don't think it's worth rolling for stun damage. We're not going anywhere today, so the damage should be healed.
I edited the post after I was made aware of a mistake by my flatmate.[/spoiler]
-
Torrent went to the fridge and grabbed a soy protein shake. Even though it was artificially flavored it still tasted like plain ol' soy.
He then joined the others.
He had no words of comfort or encouragement for Slobbertooth. He never had a family to love or hate.
"If Mrs. Thorin knows about Woden's failure, we will have to take the initiative. Can we afford to wait until the party?"
-
"She is bound to have heard it on the news and draw conclusions. I think it is even wiser to wait: She will expect a strike now. Better wait till she grows careless."
-
Li put her head in Slobbertooth lap, and he scratched her ears while he listened to the team talk about when to move.
"Torrent, assuming that the party is the best day to go, how would you recommend we try to infiltrate? How do you think we should try to infiltrate our weapons?"
-
"This is going to be a pretty big party, right? Lots of rich mouths to feed and weird tastes to satisfy. They'll have to hire an outside catering service. We have to find which one and switch places with at least one employee. As for our weapons, there are many variables which are unknown to us at this moment. Τhere are a couple of options though ....garbage bins for example. But if the Thorins' own staff is enough , and they don't hire extra servants or security for the party, then we'll have to try something harder : go in as guests."
-
"I think I'm not bad in disguising and I don't need any weapons, so I think it should be relatively easy for me to get in in comparison to you guys. Also, I'm a girl."
She winks.
"I guess I should dig a bit deeper into Thorin's surrounding. If I find out who organizes the thing - his secretary, his wife, he himself - I might find a way to access whatever commlink has stored infos like a guest list, what he plans in terms of catering, and so on."
[spoiler]Matrix search (http://orokos.com/roll/393392): 13d6t5 4
There were no hits in the last 7 dice, so with the -2 penalty for Obscure and another -2 penalty for On another grid, it would still be 4 hits. Since this kind of information is, I guess, Limited Interest or Not Publicisized, but not yet Hidden or Actively Hunted and Erased, I should find what I need.
Also, how many days are there still left?
-
An intensive matrix search about the party brought some interesting details to light:
- The organization of the party was done by a professional agency - EEE Org - in theory with absolute discretion
- But a gossip magazine had found out quite a lot about the coming party:
- The whole affair wasn't to be held at the main house - a nigh impenetrable fortress - but at the guest/pool house that the birthday boy would be living in from now on.
- Security was to be provided mainly by (anthro)drones with a few riggers and very few human guards.
- The catering was booked with one of the most prestigious chefs of the city: Jean Valmont and the staff of his french restaurant. A gourmet magazine revealed that the chef never worked with less than 10 side cooks and 25 kitchen aids. A full serving staff of 20 was also listed. On its matrix presence the restaurant boasted about its inclusivity program to provide underprivileged meta human youths with the chance to slave in his kitchens.
- The restaurants host (R5) looked like it would be a lot easier to crack than the security host Thorin Manor sported (R7)
- In total 200 guests would be expected to attend the event
-
"That's out of discussion, kiddo.If someone's going in, that's me.Unless we're sure we can secure safe passage for another , you're staying with the big boys."
Torrent spoke in bnc's voice, to make his point clear.
-
bnc looks abashed for a moment when she hears herself chiding her. When she realizes what he just did, she bursts out in laughter.
"Sure, cowboy, and you disactive the security systems from within, don't ya? I didn't mean to go alone, sure as hell. I'll prefer some big guns close to me, and mucho definitivo will let you do the talking. But I guess one man inside won't do, even if it's Jack-in-the-box Torrent and he can do all nice and fancy tricks. You're gonna need me inside. There will be cameras, recordings, messaging systems, defense systems, authentification lists and so on. Check?"
-
"Tell you what, we'll make a deal. You dive into that restaurant host, find us the kitchen assistants who will be present at the party. I want the most recent recruits, the slightly unfamiliar faces. If I'm satisfied that you can match a profile, then you can come with me. You'll earn bonus points if you can ensure that our guys will be driving one of the catering vans."
-
"That all sounds like a pretty good plan, but how am I supposed to get in there, Torrent? You're not just expecting me to sit in the car the entire time, am I?"
-
bnc raises her eyebrow. "You make it sound like I gotta please you, Torrent, to get the allowance to be in there. Maybe you want to remember that, until now, the whole project was basically run by me. I found him Frigg, I traced her home, thus found Woden, surveillanced them until we found the time to hit, got rid of the decker, safed Slob's life und am now delivering him Eliza, which makes it basically read like a summary of the whole revenge plot - While you ... got laid by Tigra?
Okay, here's what I suggest. Slobbertooth darling invites me to a dinner in Jean Valmont's restaurant - no worries, I won't get past a starter - and covers me while I break into the restaurant system. I extract all data I can then we return and think of a proper plan rather than discussing details like where Slobber's gonna sit and wait before we even know what kind of security we are to expect. You may then add you congenious ideas, Torrent.
Roger that?"
-
Unsurprisingly, to get a seat at Valmont's you need a reservation and probably a few weeks time - unless of course you find the right ear to whisper in or the right palm to grease or the right file to edit...
-
Torrent shows a fiendish smirk.
"Τhe way you put it kid, you seem to think you did more than press buttons behind a screen. Do I have to remind you that you were not the one to stick your neck out and find the actual Frigg?That you were not the one to get involved in a shootout against highly trained killers and viking spirits? If this is about feeling unappreciated, please spare me the details. If I'm not confident we got an actual chance, if I'm not pleased with the odds, then you can run the rest of this project without me, because I sure as hell won't plan an infiltration OP according to someone else's standards.Unless that someone is an expert."
The elf turns to Slobbertooth.
"This is why we need the van. There's a better chance to get you inside along with the food, while bnc messes with the entrance scanners, than let you act like a kitchen assistant. If we can get our hands on the manor's security overview I will be able to form a detailed plan. But it doesn't have to be my plan, Slob. This isn't an ego contest. Whatever you decide to do, find yourself an expert. And a mage. We caught Woden unawares, we had him cornered and still he gave us hell. Thorin manor is going to be worse. Magical security is not our forte."
-
bnc glowers a moment at Torrent.
"Yeah, I do. Because I did more then "press buttons behind a screen". Quite apart from the fact that I don't need to actuall push buttons, it was me who stuck my neck out to find the actual Frigg. Not only that I found out the place where we could find her, I was the only one who entered the club without leaving Slobbertooth alone while fucking some elven whore, I was the one who traced Frigg and surveillanced the couple until Woden stuck his neck out. So yes, I did.
Also, I guess it is safe to say that I participated more in the fight than you did. You fought a window, while I brought down the decker and prevented ... Slobbertooth from getting killed. It's not my fault if you need some 20th century meat body to fight effectively, throw-back.
Now. I know that your skills about infiltration are beyond mine and I will happily bow to your plans. But spare me that "If I'm satisfied you can come with me" bulldrek. We managed to pull off a lot without you, buddy. Let's see how far you get without me. Or don't treat me like the teenage girl I actually am because otherwise I'm gonna behave like one and that you won't like. Roger?"
-
Slobbertooth stares blankly forward as the two fight, blinking and tilting his head when bnc says "darling" after his name."
Right. Teenage girl. Clingy.
He pats bnc on the head. "Calm down, paper tiger. Fact is that we will physically need to enter the building to pull off this job on our timetable. At a party for the rich and famous it's going to take more than turning off their cameras to a big ugly orc, an anorexic teenage girl, and a tin-man troll to get us past security, no matter how charming the tin-man might be. We're going to actually need a cover for being there.
"Torrent is also right that we'll need a mage.
"bnc, we need you to get us those credentials, and also put out an ad for a mage looking for a permanent position. This can be the trial run, and if things go well they can be part of the team moving forward."
-
"But you do behave like a teenage girl. And well you should. Because this way your precious little ass can be saved by disconnecting from the Matrix. Slobbertooth, Krestov and me ...we can't push a button and get out of a bullet's way. You insist on measuring dicks? Alright : You entered the club but without me , Frigg could snap your neck in seconds. You'd never see through her disguise anyway, and I never used your help back there. I brought the magical barrier down-provided the opening. But it was Slob and Krestov who met everything Woden had in store, head on. That's why I don't think my little "accomplishments" are worth mentioning in the presence of other runners. That's why I'd never puff my chest out and make demands when it comes to their field of expertise. And knowing precisely what I can and can't do, I won't take you, Slob or Krestov with me in an infiltration OP unless I am confident that : a)you won't blow our cover and b) that I have a way out for all of us. So yes, you do need my permission if you want to enter the Manor with me, just as I'd need yours in order to accompany you inside the Matrix."
Torrent stays silent for a couple of seconds.
"Did I say that this is an infiltration OP? Scratch that. This is a hit. Wetjob. Our team's first."
Torrent rose and went for the exit.
"Ι think I'm done arguing for the moment. Catch you later."
-
Ever since the incident with Woden and Frigg, Krestov saw fit to shut himself in his room for the recovery. He even refused treatment for the stunbolt that he had eaten. The simple fact that he could be influenced like such to attack his own comrade shook him to the very core, and the unresponsiveness meant he was mostly left alone.
But when he heard shouting from the living room, he knew that something as amiss.
By the time Torrent made for the door, the large troll had stepped out, the living wall blocking the exit. Her expression was solemn, but voice resolute. "And we let job get better of us, no bother trying finish, Da?" He crossed his arms, nodding over the the couches. "Sit. We work this out. 4 of us go through hell together. Multiple times. Is job. Krestov know this now. We handle this and move on."
-
"Oh, sweet Jesus, no group therapy session!
Did I leave förböveln Europe and become a shadowrunner, surrounding myself with hardened orphans and kick-asses in order to habe a 10-feet troll Sigmund-Freud me? What the heck's wrong with the lot of you?
Oh fuck. Here I go:
My name is Bianca Baumgartner. I was born in 2056 and I miss mommy and daddy soooo bqd that I became an anorexic drug-addict who is pissed off by people who treat me like a child after I they witnessed me defeat a bloodmage in a special forces armor, found the long-looked-for killer of our comrade and kept a 800-pound troll intent to geek the very same comrade from turning his beautiful ork head into porridge. I will not lower what any of you pulled off but I do remember that I played a more than vital, sometimes the most vital roll in basically everything we pulled off and if you really have to look at my birth certificate to figure out how to treat me then go fuck yourselves, or Tigra, or anyone else - but not me. Not anymore, eight-six-eight-two!"
-
Torrent saw the tusked giant block his way and the determination in his eyes.
No way out this time. Shit.
He liked Krestov. He sometimes was more cop than runner but he was dependable. That was a rare trait and not just among runners.
He spoke in a low voice.
"The girl is going to get herself killed because she seeks validation for the things she is payed to do. "
He returned to the living room.
"OK, now's my turn to tell a story. It's about a fellow named Woden. Now this guy was a piece of work. An awakened elven assassin with a reputation and a skillset to match his mythical name. He had one small weakness : He loved his partner in crime, a decker named Frigg. A fine lass, and a pro, she would never betray our villain willingly. Frigg liked to boast about her accomplishments. She would never imagine that a talented little spider named bnc was on her trail , that she was already weaving Frigg's own web against her. And so Frigg, imagined herself the Queen of Spiders and was content. But our young ninja-spider, bnc, found the most handsome and valiant knight to aid her in her quest. Enters sir Torrent. Together they followed Frigg into her Palace and saw through a tiny flaw in her disguise. At last, the secret path to the Thunder-God was revealed! The epic battle against Woden and the small part sir Torrent's ugly henchmen played are tales for another time. What we should remember is that Woden was fucking good. Better than me by a mile. A tiny flaw in Frigg's disguise brought him down. He either forgot that ours is a solo act or he found the odds to be in his favor. My modus operandi has nothing to do with underestimating my fellow runners. But the truth is, I don't fucking care about what you've done. You shouldn't care either if every time I change my face and step among enemies, a tiny flaw in my disguise will cost me my life. It is my job, it's not more important than what the rest of you must face. To me, Slob is the Johnson and he asked me to find a way in. He asked me to do my job and If you find my attitude demeaning towards you , that's your problem. You probably think the same when you sound cocky to me. And you're right, It is of no relevance. Our feelings are of no relevance. You can bring up Tigra as many times as you like, It means nothing to me. But if you mess with my job because you feel like it, you're done."
-
Slobbertooth side-eyed bnc at her boasts.
Is that how you remember things, bnc? I seem to remember being the one who shot the blood mage in the head, I remember dodging a troll's punch, I remember taking at least 5 shots of flechette ammunition from a shotgun to the chest and getting back up. I remember Special K breaking you out of Triad mages' webbing so that you weren't a sitting duck. I remember spending 10 years of my life to find Woden. I remember Krestov and I running through hell to get to Woden.
Slobbertooth sighed and petted Li. To say all that would have been too harsh.
"bnc, we treat you like a child because you are valuable and fragile like one. You have puked at the sight of blood. You screamed and panicked when you were first under gunfire. You have sought dates from our employers. You have never been shot or involved in any physical confrontation to understand the pain Krestov absolves us of or that your drones will cause to people.
"We also do it because you are the only person who can do what you do. Not one of us can wrap an icon, spoof credentials, spike a spider's deck, sneak into a host and steal a file, or lord over multiple combat drones.
"That is a very mighty hammer you wield, but not every problem is a nail.(Japanese) You must also know your limits, though. You will not see Krestov or I ask to be undercover operatives. You will not see me ask to take the lead in negotiations. It is not your job to impersonate a manager for a catering company. There are many ways you can aid Torrent and us in that, but it will not be in meat-space."
Slobbertooth turned to Krestov. "Oh, I meant to ask you. What do you think KE would do with evidence that a lone-star captain been moonlighting as a wetwork fixer for the rich and famous?"
-
Krestov was solemn as he followed Orrent back into the living space, eyes lowered as his actions caused the subsequent reactions from his team. If anything, he looked to be enduring the verbal and emotional assault much like any physical one he was known to take. He remained silent intl Slobbertooth posed his question, after which he simoly took a seat, opening his eyes.
"Is interesting thing, line of work we do. Any other place of work, Krestov know never meet people see here. Different we are, and sometimes is forgotten when the tempers fly. But will not complain. Krestov honored to know each one here, and value skills humbly. I stand in font of danger and try talking. Believe me when say that there are more valuable skills present"
He cracked a smile, a rare one lately. "is wet work we do now. But still is job. Let us not change because of job. Slobber, must know KE and Lone Star butter rivals in security contract. That information big for scandal...think KE would jump at opportunity with proof."
-
bnc's stand suffers under the combined assault but she's net yet ready to yield. Krestov might know her well enough to notice that she gets more and more entangled in details, missing the forest among the plenty of trees.
"Wait, wait, wait. What are you talking about, goddammit? I don't get paid drek for this. I do this for justice, and even more for Slobbertooth. Creep, Krestov you totally fucked up. You made me believe that there is something like honor in these drekheads when you brought me here. Slob your Johnson? Another Johnson pays you to get rid of us, I guess, you'd to that, too? Just a job, da? Small wonder you don't have friends.
And what the heck has Schmitt got to do with anything? He wasn't even our Johnson anymore, when I dated him. Check that? What's it to you who I date in my leisure time. I didn't even had sex with him - not that it's any of your business. I don't need to get shot either to know what my drones to. They're loaded with gel ammo, Sherlock."
She gets up, eyes now fixed on Slobbertooth. In an instant, the color of her neck and face change into ebony. The purple tinge in her hair vanishes. Where there were standig spikes a moment ago, now her hair formed itself into braids. Within a moment, bnc doesn't like herself at all.
"I'm not blessed with mojo, but I can do without, and I can do good. I have elecrtochromatic clothing, fibre-optic hair, and chameleon skin implanted all over my face and shoulders. I don't say that I can imitate anyone, but I can get in and out pretty much unnoticed. And it's difficult to see through that. Are you even an initiate, Torrent? Can you Mask you aura at all? I don't even need to.
"I think that's going to be a pretty tough host. I'll see, as I'm going to frigging rape it till it bleeds. But I don't think I can use my full potential sitting in a van and, how did you put it, "keeping the engine warm". Did you asshole even realize that our beloved Special K would have torn you head off if I would have kept out of the fight? Ask the big one if you want.
You know what? Don't. Just leave me fucking be. I don't need to find your parents' killers. You do. I should never have followed Ivan's lies. I should've -"
And softer: "oh crap"
With that, she rushes out of the room, now that the exit is free. She slams her room door shut with a loud bang, and locks it behind herself.
-
Slobbertooth face showed his disbelief at bnc's statement about Krestov crushing his head as she ran into her room.
"pfft. Krestov couldn't hit me if he wanted to." (Or'zet)
I'm just going to ignore what I now know about Ivan.
"Well, someone is going to have try to calm her down...
"NOT IT!"
-
Krestov watched as bnc went on her tirade, his expression betraying a visible pain as she remained silent. As she stormed off, she lowered his head and Slobbertooth cracked his joke. Growling a little lowly, he would slowly stand, his gaze still averted.
"Is right. Lost vision when under influence. Only she knows codes to eyes." He stood still for a moment before relenting with a sigh.
Krestov am sorry. Tried defusing situation. Need to be team. Team look out for each other, lift up, not tear down. Wanted calm situation, made it blow up. Typical Krestov" sighing, he shrugged and walked over to bnc's door, crouching over it before giving a knock. A gentle knock, indicating it was him.
Not bothering to speak aloud, he instead spoke through his datajack, communicating with her on her terms. <<"Malyutka, please open up. Am sorry. Wanted make situation better. Saw stress in team, words meant to anchor and reboot feelings. Was to help finish favor for Slobbertooth without destroy team. Krestov idiot, want to talk>>
-
bnc doesn't open the door.
[spoiler]I answered via PM for two reasons: First, it allows you to react to Krestov before and after he went to the room and continue playing. Second, the team's not going to overhear the conversation, so no need to bother you with my drama queen ^^
-
I'll give you that kiddo : The old reflexes have taken over. I guess that's why I haven't told you that I am an Initiate and I have the ability to mask my aura. Or is it because I've strengthened my connection with Raven? Ιs there a cost for all this? Am I actually becoming more secretive, more detached? Nah, I'd never betray my team...would I?
.....................
"Slob, before we enter the Manor you will have to set priorities. Finding the whole truth behind the murder of your parents and killing the woman responsible are two separate things. Take your time if you need it, but please remember : the operation can't be successful unless its goals are clear."
-
Krestov would eventually reemerge into view, a solemn expression in his face, his breath and stance indicating weariness more than anything. Catching the glances of his teammates, he would shrug and silently head to his rom, shutting the door.
A few moments later, dull thumping sounds indicated he had started a round of training on the practice dummy he had set up, but otherwise he was silent.
-
Slobbertooth saw Krestov's reaction, and yelled in the direction of bnc's room. "So, interviews with mages later this week then? You can choose the place." She could be angry all she wanted, but there was still a job to do.
He then headed off to practice with his Yamaha Raiden.
[spoiler]Unless the team has other things they would like to get done in the meantime, I say we skip forward to after Bluebird joins the team to plan the next part of the plan.[/spoiler]
-
Torrent decided to take a break from his esoteric quest for Raven's secrets and ask Krestov to train with him in unarmed combat.
He needed to blow off some steam.
-
It was three days later that Bluebird entered the team's house for the first time.
The deadline for the party got closer and it became imperative to work on the catering angle.
The team had gathered after breakfast to get their planning done after bnc had managed to phish a reservation for five at the restaurant at 17.00h.
-
[spoiler]If you don't mind, I'll post the way despite Jack forwarding three days ^^ If we skip the scene, bnc will just go out to a disco afterwards, get herself drunk and laid, and will work fine again the next morn - noon.[/spoiler]
The response doesn't take very long, but as a text message rather than herself shouting.
<@team <Sure. Leave it to me.>>
After that, a long sullen silence fills the apartment, everyone brooding on their own thoughts. After a while - an hour or so - she comes out again. Her angers seems to be blown away. Quite the contrary, she seems hollow, empty, worn out. You can tell from the red in her face and eyes that she's been crying, but that's already been a while ago. She looks relaxed, though you can tell from her pupils that she's indeed sober. There are some scratchmarks on her forearms, but apart from that, she seems to be perfectly fine. Her voice is weak, when she speaks up, but steady. There is no unsecurity in her words when she apologizes:
"I am sorry, Slobbertooth. Torrent, to you, too, I want to apologize. I don't wanna say, I didn't mean it. I meant it, and basically I still do, but my behavior was childish and unprofessional."
There is a slightly mechanical sound, as if the words were prepared beforehand. She avoids your glance, save for a short initial eye contact. "I am thankful that you accepted me as part of this team. I - Sorry, that's just all I wanted to say."
She then turns to Krestov, and her eyes change. They show a deep, genuine sadness. "Krestov. Ivan. My one and only true friend. There are no words to express how sorry I am for hurting you, on purpose too. Guys, please forget anything I said or hinted at. Krestov is the best man you will find in this world. I hope, Ivan, you will one day know me well enough to understand that those I hurt most are those I l...ike most. Until then, I honestly don't know why the fuck you don't just kick me out. You're special, K. Don't allow me to drag you down. Don't you fucking get close to me."
She looks around, as she realized that she was pulling off a Shakespeare drama in her underwear in front of a team of hardened criminals. "Oh, sweet Jesus, what the fuck am I saying? I'll spare you the Night in Ohio1 and come back tomorrow."
1 Reference to a kitsch drama that's been flooding the trids recently.
-
Slobbertooth unceremoniously picked his nose while flipping through the restaurant's menu in VR. He hated being up this early in the morning.
"Torrent, you should take the lead here. You've got a decker, a charmer, and a mage to help you. I'll do my best to not make a scene and do my best to watch your backs. I'm no good at dinner parties.
"Or breakfast... parties... whatever. It's too early.
"I'll go make myself another soykaf."
-
The morning of the meeting of the team proper in their home base, Krestov had just gotten out of the shower, cleaning up after his morning physical regimen. Toweling his head off, the troll found himself staring at himself in the mirror, eyes half shut as he recalled the words bnc said to him just three days prior...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-During the exchange, he said little, only making sure his own gaze did not waver from hers. His expression softened as the words registered in his head. No reply came right away...and only when she went to leave did he make any action. Holding out a hand, he gently would place it on her shoulder, barely coming into contact with the skin. "As long as you come back tomorrow" He said. Simple, not much meaning, but the undercurrent of his tone carried so much more weight, his expression flickering into the faintest smile as he let her go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snapping back to and dressing himself, Krestov would step out into the living space, dressed in a casual tank and his usual cargo pants. As everyone gathered, he would pace a bit, mind recalling the training with Torrent the past couple of days. it was refreshing to spar with someone so nimble...it challenged him and his new synapses and allowed him to get creative with his moves. Feeling loose and renewed, he awaited for Bluebird's arrival to their home before their planning started.
-
Bluebird double checked the address, and knocked on the door to the residence. Upon entering she smiles warmly at the team. "Good to see everyone again." The past three days had been uneventful for her - primarily she'd spent it resting and working on her private investigation work. She'd wrapped up a couple more cases. But this was where the real work was. "What's on the agenda?"
[spoiler]Can I get a rough description of what the place looks like? Is there a couch or something for me to sit on, or a chair?[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I'll do my best. This place isn't as well laid out as the place we'll be moving into after this run.
It's a large-enough suburban home. The team is relatively cramped inside its confines, but the doors and archways are large enough for a troll to fit through. There is ample seating gathered in the center of the room, not that the entire team uses it. One of the couches is covered in dog hair from the team's pet. Pieces of gear and equipment scatter the confines, with Krestov's disassembled machine pistol sitting on the dining table.
It feels like the home of people who spend little time entertaining others except for an occasional visitor after a night at a club. [/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]... and a teenage girl who loves entertaining herself, but usually does so in virtual reality or in a club.
But if bnc has any saying in this, Bluebird will never get to know what the appartment looks like. If the team agrees, she'll book an apartmennt/camping wagon/holiday house/whatever there can be had in no time, and has Bluebird set up a ward asap. She doesn't want Woden to know where they are and she doesn't want him to find them. Also, she doesn't think it's a good idea to invite a stranger to your house, especially if it's a vodou priestess. [/spoiler]
bnc has been a little strange the last days, distant in a way. But she was professional in a un-bnc-ish way, doing her job, priority to all Slob needs to be done, doing no drugs (or hardly) and starting no arguments (with the team).
When Bluebird arrives, she smiles faintly and nods her hello. As she was reminded that Torrent was vice chief for now, she just shut her mouth and leaned back on the sofa, cuddling with Li, if she was in a good mood.
-
[spoiler]As a note, Bluebird doesn't know how to put up a ward - but she does have a ritual spellcasting sensei.
What's the consensus on the new location?
Li is a dog?[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Li is a Tibetan Mastiff. A rescue from some Triads we killed. I'll probably start referring to her as Zelda after this run, as that seems like enough time for her to start responding to it[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]bnc will firmly insist on magical protection from spirits or the bond between Woden and the artifact. She leaves it to Bluebird whether she has her sensei put up a ward, creates a manabarrier as a spell, has strong loa sustain Concealment day and night or whatever. If none of these are good alternatives, bnc insists on an underground (or underwater) appartment for the meantime. You can tell from the way she speaks that she really really knows a lot about magic, despite being mundane.
Also she insists firmly on leaving our appartment for the moment. She would stay if each and everyone strongly votes for it, but she will never stop pointing out that Woden would already know where we stay, and that he is a professional killer. If he hasn't attacked yet, she'd said, he'll wait for the right moment, or until he'd have gathered the right support. Is anyone against leaving?
@Jack: How difficult is it to find a place entirely under Earth, that is, shielded from both spirits and magical links?
-
Bluebird notices that the last time she met the team, the male elf had stern asian features and long black hair. This time he had tanned skin, caucasian features and short white hair. She was sure it was the same person since both times he answered to the name Torrent.
"Bnc already knows what she must do. She'll find us those who will be present as assistants , the party schedule and the level of clearance. Then we'll have to pick the profiles which suit us best. Ideally, at least one of them will be a catering van driver. The rest can just enjoy their food. Any questions? Any objections? "
[spoiler]If there are no objections Torrent will start discussing the Manor[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
@Volker and hadaalia
It's pretty easy to hide the focus: Just put it inside a lodge. That acts as a manabarrier in the astral and the physical. Just make sure to make it a R12 lodge.
[/spoiler]
-
"Yes, some. For instance, I can gather these information a lot safer if I can get access to a physical device that's connected to the host.
Who goes in? Who can give me cover?"
[spoiler]So, where are we discussing this now? Does Bluebird have a lodge where we could live for the time being?
@Jack: Can you give me details about the host structure, especially which gear is connected to it?
-
[spoiler]
You can make a temporary lodge with reagents (500xForce nuyen), it covers one room.
To make a lodge large enough to cover an entire house, I'd ask for 1000xForce nuyen.
Being underground wouldn't stop spirits from getting to you. The laws of magic changed over the last editions. Now only dual natured things stop movement on the astral.
The host of the restaurant is Rating 5 with A6 S5 D8 F7
There are 20 commlinks, 15 drones, about 80 devices (from the kitchen appliances to the catering vans) and a bunch of locks slaved to the host.
The commlinks are used by the servers to record the orders.
The host allows you to make a virtual reservation but has a very active patrol ice in the form of a server following everyone around and asking if he can be of assistance.
The architecture is pretty faithful towards the real restaurant - so you'd expect the reservations to be at the front desk and the personal files behind the Privat doors.
[/spoiler]
-
"Once we're inside the restaurant I will try to find such a device for you and lead you to it. Krestov has superb manners, he probably knows how to order in such a place. Perhaps Bluebird's spirits will come in handy, though I'd rather keep this simple."
-
"Do you want me to accompany you in meat-space? I won't wear a dress."
She attempts to fake a smile.
"Otherwise, I can also try to attack it from outside. If we stay somewhere near, I think I could enter that thing over wifi, also. Though it would be less safe, of course."
[spoiler]@Jack How do you play Patrol IC. Do you see it the way I handled it with Mark, i.e. that an agent in a restrictive system can still identify as you as an intruder although it doesn't actually watch you do something illegal? That is, is my presence in the host a problem as long as I don't mess up with checks?
-
"Τhis is your show bnc, you should decide whether you will hack this host from this inside or not. Yours is the main objective."
-
"Then I suggest we go tonight, 3am or so. Worst thing that can happen is that they record an attempted break-in. But it didn't look that tough. If we're lucky we can find a mag-lock linked to the host. If we fail tonight, we try it the other way.
What exactly do we need? We need a guest list and as much info as we can get about the event and general security. We have to find out about the catering service and replace one entry to smuggle you in. Can you think of anything else at the moment?"
-
[spoiler]
@Volker
I'm using the suggestions from Data Trails: As long as you are in the public part of the host there is no problem. But as soon as you move into restricted parts the Patrol Ice will first warn you to go away and than start counter measures.
Sneaking past is of course always a possibility.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]At GM's call, I'm going to sink 1 karma into this foci to break the bond between Woden and the thing and start attuning/bonding it to myself. [/spoiler]
"So, I think I've broken the bond with Woden on this thing - we should be secure."
After updating the team she sat by listening to Volker and Torrent plan.
-
"We should replace at least one van driver in order to try and smuggle the rest of the team and our weapons in."
-
"Good. Then prepare to accompany me to the restaurant tonight."
-
After the team had finished their discussions and preparations it was time to take a look at Valmont's. The restaurant was part of the Empire Hilton hotel right across from Council Island. Security was tight but discreet. Guests about to enter had their SINs scanned and checked up against the reservation file. This was followed by a discreet millimeter wave scanner. According to bnc's research it was an older model with the main feature of being subtly integrated into a doorway. The whole of the restaurant was protected by a mana barrier, supported by a salary mage in the employ of the hotel.
After passing this hurdle you only had to wait in line to be seated or go to the bar.
The decor was a subtle homage to the Tir courts with lot's of silver and forest green as well as heavy, dark, wooden furniture with organic, curving design. Heavy cloth drapes were reminiscent of a leaved canopy and provided a sound dampening, supported by subtle white noise from countless faux springs and desk fountains.
[spoiler]
To enter you have to get past a Rating 3 SIN scanner, an R 4 millimeter wave scanner and a Force 5 mana barrier
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Torrent wears his Executive Suit (+1 Social Limit)
If I remember correctly we got some neat SINs after Pain&Gain (rating 5?)
Disguise (Limit 4) (http://orokos.com/roll/400022): 11d6t5 3
Impersonation (Limit 7) (http://orokos.com/roll/400023): 10d6t5 3
6 hits in total.
Masking (http://orokos.com/roll/400024): 8d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
-
Slobbertooth sees the line outside the restaurant, and realizes how woefully out of place he's going to be if he walked in with Torrent. I need to buy a suit... and get a haircut... and trim my beard.
"I'll be hanging out in the Rover. Call if you need me.
[spoiler]No cyber on me to be detected, no spirits that will come in with me to get broken up with a mana barrier, but I only have a rating 4 SIN (see items to get improved in the upcoming months) and will stick out like a sore thumb. I probably won't be very helpful inside the restaurant unless you needed to me to cause a distraction anyway.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Assensing the Mana Barrier (http://orokos.com/roll/400065): 8d6t5 3
Bluebird is specifically interested in knowing if the mana barrier is on the astral plane, physical plane, or dual-natured.
She also only has a rating 4 SIN, so it's probably best for her not to go in. Also, I have to update the character sheet - I bought a summoner license pre-game, so she does have one but again it's not the best rating. [/spoiler]
"I don't think I can get in there, but I may be able to send a spirit in through the mana barrier. The mage will probably see it, though - so if you want I can just have it on standby." She paused for a moment, "Let me know what you need from me. I'm happy to keep Slobbertooth company."
-
[spoiler]
The barrier is dual-natured.
Also you have a good chance to get through a R3 SIN reader: It's only got 6 dice to reach 4 successes.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I guess I'm just nervous about burning a SIN as the very first thing I do with the team. I'm also not 100% sure what the plan actually is and who all they want going in (in and out of character).[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]With 6 dice, they only have a 10% chance to burn it. You can actually do things to help while you're in there as compared to "guy who shoots things." I'd say it's worth it.
-
[spoiler]Alright. In that case:
Summon F7 Guardian Spirit (http://orokos.com/roll/400094): 12d6t5 3
Second Chance (http://orokos.com/roll/400096): 9d6t5 2 (2 edge remaining)
Resist Summoning (http://orokos.com/roll/400097): 7d6t5 2
Resist Drain (http://orokos.com/roll/400099): 9d6t5 2
Summoned a F7 Guardian Spirit granting Bluebird 3 gifts, take 2 stun.
She'll have it wait outside the mana barrier, for obvious reasons.
I'd still like to wait on Torrent and bnc's thoughts, because they're in the lead with this one, I should think? Unless you'd rather Bluebird go on to keep the thread rolling. [/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
SIN (http://orokos.com/roll/400260): 6d6t5 2 Didn't crack my fake SIN. I don't have any weapons with me. I have licenses for both my cyberdeck (which is turned off and will likely go as a commlink) and my shock hands.
I'll post IC later.
-
[spoiler]SIN scanner (http://orokos.com/roll/400262): 6d6t5 0
Even if I don't have the new r4 SIN , the scanner didn't burn my original r2 fake SIN
thanks Raven, I owe you one.
[/spoiler]
-
The team entered the restaurant without any complains from the SIN scanner. Torrent briefly wondered why the system was so weak until he realized that the guests here probably took offence to having their retinas scanned or DNA samples taken before being allowed to enter the premises - privilege working to the runners advantage.
The millimeter wave scanner also proved to be no problem, thanks to up to date licenses and the absence of any problematic hardware.
Now all they had to do was pass the scrutiny of the hostess
[spoiler]
One CHA+Etiquette test please.
You can teamwork for each other, but everyone entering has to pass the test. The higher, the better
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Just as a rule question: As I don't have etiquette, I have to default, thus I roll CHA-2, i.e. 1 die. Since I don't have a skill rating, I can also not benefit from teamworking, right? In that case I guess I should spend one point of edge...
Etiquette with edge (http://orokos.com/roll/400556): 5d6h5 3
Darn, I wouldn't even have needed edge...
-
[spoiler]Etiquette (http://orokos.com/roll/400560): 8d6t5 4[/spoiler]
-
A line had formed and moved only slowly forward as the hostess - a dark skinned elf with a black pony tail - greeted the guests and looked at their reservations. The overwhelming majority was sent towards the bar.
As Torrent and bnc arrived at the front, they easily bypassed that obstacle by discreetly indicating, that they wouldn't be occupying a table for long. The generous tip that Torrent slipped the man didn't hurt either.
Their table for two was directly next to the kitchens, but otherwise quite shielded from view. The restaurant was packed to capacity and quite a lot of local celebrities could be spotted.
A young ork in a spotless apron handed them their menus - real leather bound ones - and vanished instantly again.
-
Having convened with the team, Krestov cleared his throat as he checked his attire. The Sleeping Tiger and Longcoat combo proved to be a more than effective high class attire on top of being functionally sound, so it seemed a good fit. Making one last adjustment to his tie, he nodded to the team as they head out. Looking to Slobbertooth in the van, he nodded at his decision to stay behind, tapping the microtransceiver at his own ear. "Will be close by"
Once in line, he offered a smile and an arm to Bluebird as he watched Torrent and bnc enter the establishment. Under his breath, he composed himself for a brief moment before they approached the hostess. "Pleasant evening. Believe table for two is doable, yes?" Pheremones at work, he offered a charming smile as he bowed his head to the elf hostess, awaiting her direction for entry.
[spoiler]Etiquette (http://orokos.com/roll/400569): 6d6t5 3[/spoiler]
-
After smoothing out her Ace of Cups, Bluebird took Krestov's arm, happily. At the door, though, her butterflies started building. She'd never been in an establishment like this as a guest - Krestov looked so much more in place than she did. She looked up at him, and tried to follow his lead.
[spoiler]Ettiquette (default) - push the limit (http://orokos.com/roll/400785): 5d6h5 2
Welp, I was hoping for a 6 somewhere in there.
1 edge remaining.[/spoiler]
-
For the troll and the voodoo mage no table could be found at short notice. Instead they were asked to wait at the bar - though at least they got the waiting slot of a couple that had left after having been waiting for an hour.
The bar was staffed by a troll with a nicely fitting uniform. Expertly he handled bottles, flasks and glasses at a speed that made Krestov suspect that the barkeeper was a low level adept.
"What can I get you two?" he rasped moments after they had taken their seats.
-
"Cranberry seltzer, please." She rested her hands gently on the bar, and sighed internally. 'First fish, now a bar. Next we'll just casually grab ultrasounds as a team-building exercise.' She shifted in her bar seat, and looked around the place, avoiding whatever facial expression she was sure the well dressed bartender was making.
[spoiler]
Visual Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/400800): 12d6t5 5
[/spoiler]
-
"At once."
The barkeeper waited for Krestov to decide on his drink, while Bluebird looked around.
The decor was quite tasteful and the bar had obviously been cleaned completely before opening. Bluebird spotted sim-starlette Vanessa Voom with her latest boyfriend two seats over. The man hovering at her side was obviously her bodyguard.
Of other guards there was nothing to see. Beside the main entrance there was only one emergency exit visible and that one was most likely alarm secured.
The waiters and waitresses all moved with alertness and alacrity, letting her suspect that they used some kind of drug to keep up their concentration for such a long time. All used the same gestures and working movements, indicating either a strict training or some kind of skill software or at least training chip. All in all the stuff seemed subdued and more like robots than real people.
-
Krestov stole a sidelong glance at his companion for this jaunt, but casually took a seat at the bar, doing his best to keep at least a wayward eye of wherever bnc and Torrent were placed. After all, they were the backup team and being isolated did little good. And he could even notice that the shorter woman was feeling a bit out of place. At least there isn't pressure to drink from her. Nodding his head to the bartender, he made his order.
"Same for me, please." Casting a reassuring smile, he pervaded his aura of calm as his cybernetic eyes glanced over the place as well..mostly as a protective scan more than anything else.
[spoiler]Perception (visual) (http://orokos.com/roll/400900): 9d6t5 3[/spoiler]
-
Krestov didn't have eyes for the decor or for star gazing, but he also noticed the lack of physical guards - except for the bodyguard - and the placement of the exits. bnc and Torrent weren't visible from his position. If he wanted to see them, he'd have to take a stroll towards the toilets.
-
Carajo - what again do I owe Slobby that makes me come to a förböveln peacock enclosure like that?
"Just to make sure, sempai, you pay the drinks, don't you?"
bnc knew that her only chance to blend in was to shut her mouth and let Torrent do the talking. The very instant they joined the queue bnc realized that everything Torrent had said a couple of days ago suddenly made a horrible lot of sense.
Not that I'm going to admit it to him.
When it's their turn, she somehow miraculously manages to crack a smile, so fake that it kind of fit the environment. Isn't it a perfect world? You can tell from a hundred yards that this smile didn't even reach my nose, yet this is what they expect from each other? Every beetler is more honest than these shits. Speaking of - Torrent wasn't right, after all. I was. Crap, focus, slitch!
She turns to Torrent, whispering in his pointy ear.
Jeez, dude. I need a drink. I ain't got no clue what they drink in these fancy-wholes, so can you just be a gentleman and order me something? If you're about to start a discussion on alcohol and concentration, I'd like to point out that this is the wrong time and the wrong person to argue with about substance abuse.
Not waiting for an answer, bnc turns away from her handsome companion to study the matrix architecture of her surrounding and any possible access points. She herself shut down her deck, running only the expensive Fairlight Caliban she was presented with by Dr. Schmitt. So much for unprofessionalism, Slob. You're just jealous you didn't get a 7-k-nuyen toy although you got twice as much boobs as I have.
-
"bnc, if I pay for your drinks I won't be able to afford rent in a month."
-
[spoiler]Bluebird astrally perceives, and assenses.
Assensing the Restuarant (http://orokos.com/roll/401211): 8d6t5 1
Assensing a server and a security guard's aura (http://orokos.com/roll/401212): 2#10d6t5 4 2[/spoiler]
-
"One drink, then. After all, it's your chase, is it not?"
-
Bluebird opened her third eye and looked around. The restaurant itself didn't have a noticeable background count - despite the good food. People who came here had such a diverse portfolio of agendas that no one emotion was amplified. No traces of magic besides the mana barrier could be found.
The barkeeper definitely had some magic - a low level adept as she had suspected. The bodyguard was slightly augmented, she suspected some kind of reflex enhancement as well as some implants in his eyes.
bnc was greeted by an enhanced version of the restaurant - even more fairy lights and for the terminally impatient an option to order food without having to wait for a waiter. Discreet numbers on the servers showed for which sections they worked - which of course didn't stop people from asking random staff to care for them.
The equipment in the kitchens seemed to run silent because she couldn't see anything on a casual glance. Only the commlinks of the waitstaff was readily visible.
-
Torrent orders two old-fashioned bourbon cocktails and as the waiter leaves, he seemingly shifts his focus on the menu.
"What do you think?Are you going to hack via wi-fi or should we find physical access?"
-
After updating the team on the bodyguard, dismissing the low-level adept's skills as low to no threat, Bluebird sipped at her drink. She figured knowing that their security was possibly augmented and that they did employ magic users was enough to keep them on their toes if anything happened. She finally noticed Krestov drinking the same. She grinned. "Not drinking tonight either?" She shifted her posture, figuring she ought to relax, and have some conversation, lest she stand out as being too on guard and alert. "Hopefully we'll get a table soon."
Admittedly she was still nervous, but she trusted bnc and Torrent to alert her if something changed.
-
"That depends on how difficult it's gonna be to find physical access. I think I can do it wireless but since we need several things not but one, a direct access would help reduce the chance of any failures. After my mistake with the gorilla, I don't want a lapsus like this to happen again."
[spoiler]What assumption can bnc make about the system at the moment.
I assume that they transfer sensitive data to an archive when the restaurant is closed (otherwised it would be an insane and stupid risk to come her at all).
Is there a host for the restaurant?
Is it sensible to assume that the interesting file are inside the host?
Can I use Matrix Search to find out where the files are stored?
Can I assume that the waiters' commlinks are not directly linked to the host?
Do I know whether or net there is something like a server that keeps the data we are looking for?
-
[spoiler]
Q: What assumption can bnc make about the system at the moment.
A: As mentioned this is a commercial host for the restaurant - there are public accessible areas inside and parts that are restricted. A patrol IC is active and tells everyone it can see if they are trespassing.
Q:I assume that they transfer sensitive data to an archive when the restaurant is closed (otherwised it would be an insane and stupid risk to come her at all).
A: You can assume that - if its true depends entirely on who operates the security of the host and how reliable they are in their work
Q:Is there a host for the restaurant?
A: Yes, as previously mentioned R5 A6 S5 D8 R7
Q: Is it sensible to assume that the interesting file are inside the host?
A: Very sensible
Q: Can I use Matrix Search to find out where the files are stored?
A: Once you are inside the host, sure. But this will bring you in conflict with the Patrol IC
Q: Can I assume that the waiters' commlinks are not directly linked to the host?
A: Why would you? Those are issued by the restaurant, not private links. Of course they are part of the WAN
Q: Do I know whether or net there is something like a server that keeps the data we are looking for?
A: You know there is the Host, as well as all the devices associated with the restaurant. But only the commlinks are visible in the matrix, the rest must run silent, because it is not readily apparent.
[/spoiler]
-
So what's your call, bnc?
-
"My call is that I need a minute to find out about the architecture before I do something stupid."
bnc excuses herself and walks over to the restroom. On her way, she carefully pays attention for
a) any physical access to the host there might be (doors, automats, and so on)
b) who is and who is not allowed to enter the secure area of the host.
-
It takes bnc only a few minutes to find what she is looking for: A small cleaning drone does it's rounds through the ladies rooms, running silent but with its Universal Dataport only shoddily secured.
-
bnc checks for marks on her commlink before she closes the door behind her.
"Okay, unless anybody can conjure up a commlink from some high-rank officer in here, I guess I'll do it from her. I'm in the girls', so place anybody stay close to the restroom. I'm going online."
bnc waits until nobody is there, then grabs the drone. She drags it into the toilet and locks herself up. Then she pulls out the cable of her datajack and plugs it in. Once the drone is hijacked, bnc orders the drone's pilot to search for the files the team agreed upon.
"This might take some time. I can't enter the secured part on my own, alas. Take a drink."
[spoiler]I'll just buy hits to hijack the drone, if it's pilot rating is not higher than two.
I'm not sure how the matrix search runs. It should use the host's stats, but I'm not sure whether the hits are restricted to the drone's data processing, or the host's. GM call, I guess.
-
Hacking the drone was indeed child's play, but having the drone search for a file proved to be futile: The simple software of the pilot was neither equipped nor authorized to retrieve any secured files from the host.
[spoiler]
The drone does not have the computers skill, Pilot Rating 1, ergo 0 dice for a search check.
bnc can gain three MARKS on the host by marking the drone. After that it doesn't serve any more use.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Crap. I was hoping for pilot 2 ^^
Well, anyway. I will then go in with my stealth configuration, and Browse:
ASDF = 3 6(7) 5 4 (5)
Encryption
VM: Configurator, Browse
Exploit
Sneak
Stealth
Silent mode, of course
Matrix search (http://orokos.com/roll/402451): 10d6t5 1
darn. I edge -.-
2 points spent
re-roll (http://orokos.com/roll/402452): 9d6t5 1
really? ;-(
I'll just roll the first five Opposed rolls. It doesn't look like God's on my side, though:
Evade Detection (http://orokos.com/roll/402454): 5#15d6t5 2 3 2 5 6
and the rolls for the patrol IC
Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402455): 5#10d6t5 2 3 3 2 3
Am I right to assume that there are not enough silent icons in the restricted area that it would take patrol IC more than half a minute to attempt three rolls?[/spoiler]
Damn. This could have worked nicely. Well, in the end, if you want a job to be done, you gotta do it yourself.
"Okay, boys. Take off your shirts - it's getting hot now."
-
[spoiler]
Actually, the Patrol IC rolls every 1D6 + 2 Combat Turns
perception for hidden icons
Search Interval (http://orokos.com/roll/402473): 1d6+2 5
Search Interval (http://orokos.com/roll/402474): 1d6+2 3
Search Interval (http://orokos.com/roll/402475): 1d6+2 5
So you are in their for 13 rounds or roughly 39 seconds before the IC notices that there is someone hidden
The file you are after is Not Publicized, so the threshold is 3.
You have 2 successes at the moment
Matrix search (http://orokos.com/roll/402479): 9d6t5 3 [9d6t5=6, 4, 4, 5, 2, 1, 5, 2, 1]
You have two successes more than you need, reducing the remaining search time to 60 sec(/2(Browse)/4(two extra successes)= 7,5 sec or two and a half rounds
But the Patrol IC now starts to go into combat mode, using INI
Ini 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/402480): 10+4d6 25
25 You already rolled that and evaded
15 You already rolled that and evaded
5 Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402483): 10d6t5 3 vs. Matrix Defense vs. Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402484): 15d6t5 3
Evaded
Ini 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/402481): 10+4d6 21
21: Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402485): 10d6t5 2 vs. Matrix Defense vs. Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402487): 15d6t5 7
11: Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402486): 10d6t5 4 vs. Matrix Defense vs. Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402488): 15d6t5 2 [15d6t5=4, 3, 2, 1, 5, 3, 2, 1, 5, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2] - Found you. Do you want to spend Edge?
1: Warning and activating Countermeasures: Launch Probe IC
Probe IC: Ini 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/402482): 10+4d6 19
[/spoiler]
bnc started to wander around the host taking the form of an invisible ghost, while the nosy server stalked around the system and poked his long nosed face into compartments at random.
It took bnc nearly 30 seconds to even locate the administration files for the staff. Suddenly she became aware that the waiter icon had stopped going around at random - it began to close in on her position and had started to throw around what looked like flour, trying to outline invisible icons.
Concentrated on her search she couldn't do much more than hope and wait for her search program to finish.
And then the door to her compartment opened and the waiter began to throw flour in her direction...
-
[spoiler]
I hate to say that, but Matrix Search is not an Extended Test. So I fail the first one, taking 30 seconds, and then spend another 30 seconds for the one I didn't fail.
Thus, there is absolutely no point in trying it any further. I would have to evade 29 more rolls, if you allow the IC to roll again and again without penalty. Normally, it should suffer a cumulative -1 die for every failed hit (which, I think, makes especially sense in situations like this, because otherwise everyone could detect anyone, rl and matrix, if they roll enough rolls). If we play it that way, I spend one edge since it's already down to 6 dice. Otherwise, the IC will detect me automatically, no matter what I roll or do. So I would shut down my deck and accept that I can't defeat patrol IC.
GM call.
-
[spoiler]
I don't see why a search test wouldn't be an extended test. I'd allow it.
Likewise an opposed test in a combat situation is practically never a retry situation - which this is.
But of course you can just jack out without much harm done - the system will be in a state of hightened alert for a few hours and you can try again - or go with option B and acquire the commlink of one of the office people.
[/spoiler]
-
After updating the team on the bodyguard, dismissing the low-level adept's skills as low to no threat, Bluebird sipped at her drink. She figured knowing that their security was possibly augmented and that they did employ magic users was enough to keep them on their toes if anything happened. She finally noticed Krestov drinking the same. She grinned. "Not drinking tonight either?" She shifted her posture, figuring she ought to relax, and have some conversation, lest she stand out as being too on guard and alert. "Hopefully we'll get a table soon."
Admittedly she was still nervous, but she trusted bnc and Torrent to alert her if something changed.
If Krestov reacted to the guard information, he did not show it, but gave an affirming confirmation nontheless. At this stage, our role does not change. We are here for help if they call for it, nothing more Giving a smile back to the human next to him, he leaned back in his seat a bit. "Da. Drink cause regret, and break of two month clean. Would not like me if did, hah." Nodding his head to the tender as their red drinks were served, he lifted his glass and sipped calmly. "Table is preferable, yes. More...ahh, what is word...personal, no?" He shrugged, keeping half an eye towards the restrooms as bnc did her thing.
-
[spoiler]Because the rules explicitly state that it is not an Extended test. I assume it is because they want to prevent players to find every information by just accumulating time. But if you want to houserule this, as GM it's your call.
Same goes for Trying Again. I assume the very reason this rule exists is to ensure that it is not impossible to hide. If the IC can just roll and roll and roll again, even the best hacker has no chance at all to escape detection. "Attempted shots, sword swings and punches" are explicitly excepted from this rule, as it wouldn't make sense. I think, it makes a lot of sense to implore this rule on all kind of detection tests. Otherwise, every attempt of sneaking is futile. Again, if this is your call as GM, I accept it that way. Although I have to admit I find it frustrating that then the last possibility to beat patrol IC is closed.
So, did I get the situation right. I lost 30 seconds with my first failed attempt. Then it takes me another 7.5 seconds till I find the file I'm looking for. So I definitely have the location. Half a combat round later, the patrol IC detects me and launches the probe IC, right? That means, that I have one-and-a half combat round to download the file. Is that correct?
If so, I check the file for protection and/or databombs. If something in the situation is different, please clarify.
Sorry to keep this. I'm still a bit unsecure about both the official matrix rules and your houserules, but I give my best to keep up.
-
[spoiler]
I started a discussion for the issue with the Patrol IC in the rules thread.
My conclusion so far: A Program designed to search for intruders does not get frustrated or sloppy in its attempts. It keeps looking for intruders relentless and ever vigilant.
For the moment I rule that you can - at least within the confines of a host where you only have to content with a large but limited number of files - make a search an extended test.
My reasoning for the former:
"SUCCESS TESTS Success tests generally occur when a shadowrunner has to use her abilities to accomplish something in a single moment of time. This could involve weaving a car through traffic at high speed, looking for a needle in a haystack, or lifting a heavy object. A Success test (also known as a Simple test) is a matter of rolling up enough hits to meet the threshold for the test, then moving on." p.47 core
"EXTENDED TESTS Rather than taking place in a single moment, some tests take place over time. Maybe you’re taking a few days to learn a new spell or you’re repairing your beat-up Americar and you need to determine how long the job takes." p.48 core
You accumulate data and methodical work through directories - a Matrix Search fits rather the second definition than the first.
And I just noticed, that indeed you have found the file before the Patrol found you: It took 39 seconds to find you, your search took 30 seconds for the first roll and 7.5 seconds for the second.
Which means just as you found the file and did your first Matrix Perception looking for databombs, the Patrol IC noticed a hidden icon
Matrix Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/402951): 10d6t5 1 [10d6t5=3, 3, 4, 1, 4, 5, 1, 4, 4, 3]
Yes, the file has an R4 databomb attached
You now roll Ini and compare your actions to my ini charts.
Round 1 you stay undetected - so if you can manage to disarm, crack and copy the file within that round you can log out before you are detected.
[/spoiler]
While Krestov and Bluebird exchanged pleasantries, both noticed a rather angry looking man entering the restaurant from a door marked as privat and making a bee line towards the kitchen. According to the images they had seen, this was no-one else but the owner and master chef Valmont himself.
Whatever had enraged him, it seemed to be important enough that he nearly lost face in front of his guests.
Torrent was able to notice the same thing, but he was able to hear half a sentence he screamed before the kitchen door swung shut again: "Whoever is responsible for..."
-
"Guys, there's something wrong, the chef is pissed off. Bnc , if you want me to get you one of their comlinks, now's the time to ask."
[spoiler]Agility Boost (http://orokos.com/roll/403189): 7d6t5 4[/spoiler]
Torrent orders another cocktail
-
[spoiler]Thanks. I just joined the discussion.
I load Defuse instead of Exploit, then attack the data bomb.
INI roll (http://orokos.com/roll/403193): 4d6+10 25
Disarm Data Bomb (http://orokos.com/roll/403191): 11d6t5 7
I can only use 5 hits due to my limit.
Opposed roll (http://orokos.com/roll/403192): 8d6t5 1
:D this worked
I assume that it doesn't have both a protection and a data bomb because the file is in use regularly. Also, if I'm wrong this just means the copying process will fail.
I don't have marks on each file in the host only because I have marks on the host, do I?
So I Hack the file with my next action, changing my configuration back to what it was.
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/403194): 19d6t5 9
Opposed roll (http://orokos.com/roll/403195): 12d6t5 4
nice
so I have one action left to copy the file:
Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/403196): 17d6t5 7
Opposed roll (http://orokos.com/roll/403197): 14d6t5 3
Whew.
INI for next round:
INI roll (http://orokos.com/roll/403198): 4d6+10 23[/spoiler]
bnc sweats virtual beads of sweat as the waiter droes closer. She wipes it off the corpulent chef's forehead, which she chose to blend in. Taking a closer look at the recipe book before, bnc finds a small diary look on the book. A ticking look, too. She unloads the soft backless slippers she's wearing and takes out a swiss army knife with a pair of pilers with which she quickly removes the look, then takes the book under her arms.
Loading and unloading programs, there's hardly time to answer Torrent. She has to be fast now. "If you can easily"
-
A quick peak into the file confirmed that bnc had the right stuff: All relevant personal information of the staff as well as their security clearances with background checks.
It wouldn't take long to exchange a few of those for her team mates fake IDs, but if she did it now it was likely to contain errors that might get them in trouble later.
If instead she just copied it and locked out now to do it in her own time she could be sure to make it flawless. The drawback to this was of course that she would have to hack the host for a second time...
Meanwhile a waiter took Torrents order and asked: "... and for the lady? Or if you want I can bring the wine menu."
-
Now that she knows where to find the data, the highest priority is not draw attention. A fake entry cannot by forced while someone's pouring flour in your eyes.
bnc retreats from the restricted area and double-checks her overwatch score to decide whether or not she has to shut down the deck entirely.
After a quick double-check for marks on her commlink, you receive a message not from bnc but from Raquel Obermüller-Pauernfeind, the fake SIN bnc is using on the Fairlight at the moment.
"I've got the file. I will forge fake entries now."
-
[spoiler]
That will be one Log+Int test or Log+Forgery if you prefer to determine the quality of your changes (dates of security clearances, time of employment, remarks on performance etc.)
Followed by a simple file edit check - and yes, a reboot would be a very wise course of action right now.
[/spoiler]
-
"The Lady will probably return hungry...I think we'll need the food menu, along with that cocktail.
[spoiler]This is what I intend to do:
When I sense the waiter approaching the table from behind, I'll suddenly push back my chair in order to stand and go to the toilet and make him spill the cocktail on me while I grab his comlink. If I sense a waiter carrying a big tray full of food and drinks I'll go for it.The greater the chaos, the better.
Motion Sense (http://orokos.com/roll/403207): 12d6t5 3
Palming (Limit 6) (http://orokos.com/roll/403209): 16d6t5 6
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Log+Int (http://orokos.com/roll/403210): 13d6t5 4
Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/403211): 17d6t5 5
I only meant that I would like to fake the files and upload them before I shut down. Otherwise I would have to hack the host and file anew. I figured since I only rolled 4x Hacking on the Fly, 1x Edit File and 1x Disarm Databomb, my OS should still be low enough as to not come close to 40. If it's very high again, I will of course roll the whole hacking procedure again. Just lemme know.
-
[spoiler]@Volker
If i manage to take the comlink I'll bring it asap
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]
The waiter will try to evade:
evasion (http://orokos.com/roll/403213): 6d6t5 2
[/spoiler]
Torrents action worked - almost to well. The small Amerindian looking woman avoided running headlong into Torrents chair, but the tray full of cocktails isn't so lucky: Four filled glasses with various alcoholica tumble onto the previously spotless tabletop, splattering everywhere and soaking Torrents right trouser leg.
The shriek of the waitress and the tumbling glass give the elf more than enough access to lift the commlink. But only two seconds later the kitchen door opens and Valmont comes out - even more enraged then before. With a stream of expletives be begins to lay into the girl. With tears streaming she tries to apologize while also trying to stem the flood with a napkin.
Valmont only stops his tirade to tell Torrent that his meal is of course free.
Meanwhile, bnc had left the host for a moment to do her work on the files - a beautiful job she had to admit to herself.
-
Torrent makes sure to explain to the chef that the accident was his fault.
"If you'll excuse me now, I'll have to try and clean my trouser as best I can before my date returns to see me in this mess."
"Did somebody order a commlink?"
-
"Nice job. Whose is it?
In the meanwhile, I managed to fake an entry, so we are in. I will try and extract other interesting data from the commlink. I'm on my way back."
bnc flushes the toilet and returns to her comrades.
-
The commotion could even be heard at the bar, turning heads toward that direction.
Bluebird heard the barkeeper mutter something that sounded very much like a curse towards this boss.
Torrent reached the toilet just as bnc made her exit.
-
"Here's hoping we don't have to deal with that drekhead when we're impersonating his employees."
-
[spoiler] ::) ;D[/spoiler]
-
"Damn, I shouldn't have eaten those oysters. I gotte go again, sorry, honey."
bnc quickly slides the commlink into her neckline, then returns to the restroom. Let's hope this was worth it.
She plugs in the data cable directly and searches for interesting files.
[spoiler]I'm looking for the stuff we agreed upon, e.g. any hints on security, timetables or basically any specifics about the day of the big event.
Matrix search (http://orokos.com/roll/404052): 13d6t5 6
-
The work commlink of Angela Nakuta contains mostly boring stuff, but there is indeed a series of timetables for various catering events. It seems as if those aren't a sought after job: Participation is mandatory unless a worker can find a substitute - and the waitstaff forum buzzes with requests for substitutes. A quick peek reveals why:
The catering event is an all expenses paid job with no tips opportunities. Instead all workers have to arrive one hour earlier than usual (1500h) and stay until morning (0600) to clean up again.
Another list turns up the requirements from security: The waitstaff has to enter the manor from the back where a security post and a metal scanner is established. After confirming identity and registration as caterer, the staff members receive security bracelets that make sure the various Anthro drones at the party don't confuse the staff for intruders. These bracelets also contain RFID chips to track the wearers position and make sure no-one leaves the designated work and serving areas.
The text also warns that the security drones carry tasers as well as lethal weaponry, so everyone should watch out where they are going.
The next part seems to be to good to be true: The staff all have received a floor plan of the pool house
[spoiler]
(http://i63.tinypic.com/6p5ksn.gif)
(http://i64.tinypic.com/3480b2u.gif)
(http://i67.tinypic.com/s4m7ev.jpg)
[/spoiler]
bnc is just about finished with the commlink when a message appears:
<<This was your last mistake.
You are fired. End your shift and return your gear. And be aware that your parole officer will hear about this. >>
-
Bluebird smiled at Krestov. It was admirable that he was trying to shake a habit, and doing so well at it. And, in all honesty, she was happy to have someone she could hang out with and not drink.
"Everything alright?" She checked in with the team over subvocal. She trusted bnc to get her end of things handled - she just worried about the aftermath of the commotion.
[spoiler] apologies, chaos in my life at the moment - seems to be resolving.[/spoiler]
-
"I've got the files we needed. Apart from that, I'm distractet right now."
[spoiler]Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/404225): 13d6t5 6
Please tell me about:
- where exactly is Valmont's commlink
- what device rating does it have
- the host or grid it is on
- whether or not it is slaved to a PAN (and if so, which)
- any marks on it
- I'll leave one hit left in case it's running silent or there is anything else that is so obvious that you would spot it with matrix perception. In doubt, please tell me the last action that was performed with it.
-
[spoiler]
- where exactly is Valmont's commlink
#Somewhere within 100m - the smart money says it's in his pocket
- what device rating does it have
#Unsurprisingly he has one of the best: Rating 6
- the host or grid it is on
#Slaved to the restaurants host, running on Seattle Emerald grid (That one's included in your team lifestyle)
- whether or not it is slaved to a PAN (and if so, which)
#No, it's slaved to the WAN of the Host
- any marks on it
#None
- I'll leave one hit left in case it's running silent or there is anything else that is so obvious that you would spot it with matrix perception. In doubt, please tell me the last action that was performed with it.
#The last action was a message sent to Angela Nakuta's work commlink
[/spoiler]
When Torrent returned with a more or less clean trouser leg, the table was once more spotless and a bottle of wine with a complimentary card from the house had appeared.
The rest of the restaurant had once again resumed their conversations and meals.
At the bar, a couple had been collected by a waiter and led away to a free table. Krestov and Bluebird were the next in line.
The barkeeper had excused himself and had been replaced by a large black elven lady.
Krestov could see the barkeeper enter the privat section of the restaurant, following the unlucky waitress that had fallen victim to Torrent's ploy.
-
[spoiler]I reboot, in case I haven't already.
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/404630): 19d6t5 6
I assume, his personal files will be in a protected folder? What kind of (both protected and unprotected, guessing by filenames, usage, icon, etc.) files does his commlink contain?
Does bnc know whether Valmont is married, and how well his marriage is running? [/spoiler]
You foramen culi. You'll regret that.
-
[spoiler]
Matrix Defense (http://orokos.com/roll/404634): 11d6t5 2
You have a MARK on his commlink and get two more Matrix Perception questions
- His commlink has a number of protected files - most are business related (Leases, contracts, licences etc.), but some seem to be private as well.
- A quick skim of his unprotected files shows, that Valmont is not married but openly gay - and he frequents some very explicit VR clubs
- The protected files have a protection rating of File Protection (http://orokos.com/roll/404635): 7d6t5 4 [7d6t5=1, 5, 6, 5, 1, 5, 1]
- There are no databombs
[/spoiler]
Valmont's commlink is no great obstacle for an accomplished hacker like bnc, but nonetheless Valmont seems not to be computer illiterate. Sensitive files are protected with passwords and he seems to regularly archive any excess data in his host. In short, he does everything you are supposed to do as a law abiding matrix user. A few files he proudly displays are articles of food journalists written about him and his restaurant: They praise his cuisine and his social responsibility program, giving jobs to former youth criminals and being an equal opportunity employer for all meta races. There are also a few texts written by Valmont himself. They show a charismatic and intelligent personality. There is quite a strong hint of narcissism and maybe even a bit of sociopathy.
-
It took bnc only a few minutes to wreak some serious havoc with Valmont's commlink. A few changes in his calendar, some pretty indecent messages using the wrong name to a few of his partners and changing a few file names to hide the contents. Last but not least she registered him for a ton of matrix services.
By now Krestov and Bluebird had also gotten a table and where seated not far from Torrent.
Some time later, Slobbertooth out in the car became aware that a Knight Errant cruiser had stopped in front of the hotel. The cops got out and went towards the restaurant. Only a few minutes later they came out again with a handcuffed girl - which turned out to his relieve not to be bnc but instead a small Amerindian girl...
-
[spoiler]bnc will refrain from anything too obvious, e.g. the matrix services. She wants it to take him two or three days to realize someone did this to him. Her revenge-in-lieu is, as always, subtle. Kind of ^^ the rest sounds marvelicious![/spoiler]
Once bnc is done, bnc lets the waitress' commlink fall to the ground next to the toilet, making it look like the waitress somehow lost the 'link while she was in the restroom. Then she returns to her team and exchanges with them what has happened (she won't mention how she reacted to Valmont's message, though). If Slobbertooth tells her about the girl and sends her an image, she will try to identify her.
-
[spoiler]
That's a bit tough to pull off with a heavy matrix user like Valmont - especially messages to his amorous contacts would get a response pretty quickly. He might not catch all your mischief, but he will find out about some in the next few minutes - and there is a reason why he would check his link carefully, it's just not apparent to you yet...
But you can make a roll on Street Knowledge: Decker Scene if you like
[/spoiler]
-
Bluebird smiled at Krestov. It was admirable that he was trying to shake a habit, and doing so well at it. And, in all honesty, she was happy to have someone she could hang out with and not drink.
"Everything alright?" She checked in with the team over subvocal. She trusted bnc to get her end of things handled - she just worried about the aftermath of the commotion.
[spoiler] apologies, chaos in my life at the moment - seems to be resolving.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]you and me both, hehe. Null sheen[/spoiler]
Krestov gave a tilt of the head in nodding affirmation to her subvocalized check in, keeping an eye and wincing a little at the commotion and the resultant drama that ensued. Taking a brief drink of the fizzy beverage, he sighed a bit and made some small talk...though with his accent, it was a bit more difficult in some endearing way. Fortunately for him, they were called to be led to the table. Politely taking both glasses to carry along, the troll took up the rear as the pair went to be seated near Torrent and bnc's table.
As they were seated, Krestov's instincts made him take a glance back at the door where a pair of KE officers had entered. He raised a brow a bit, but quieted himself. bnc would admit if got caught. Relax. Breathing deep, he waited for Bluebird to seat herself before squeezing into the table, passing the drink back over before covering his mouth, using a cough to mask his subvocals.
"In position to assist as needed."
-
[spoiler]Well, it's not that important. I just thought rather than rampaging like a wild gnu, some subtle changes in his timetable or a slipped message could do some damage, too. But anyway, priority one is to make that PoS suffer. Subtlety is just a nice-to-have.
I don't even have Street Knowledge: Decker Scene. If that makes sense, I can default to Intuition: Default on Intuition (http://orokos.com/roll/404871): 4d6t5 0
The dice gods agree with me that it doesn't ^^ [/spoiler]
bnc returns to Torrent's seat. In the toilet, she gave her hair the command to dye just a bit darker still, giving her face a paler teint. When she comes back, she still looks as if she had vomited the hell out of her (an experience she can play nicely since she's kind of an expert in puking). She takes up her seat next to the elf and fakes a forgive-me-smile. "Whew, sorry to keep you waiting. I'll never ever in my life eat oysters again, I swear to God, Tehlu and the Force."
-
Krestov noticed that the KE cops vanished in the private section and didn't come out again - presumably they used the back entrance to leave.
The rest of the evening went by uneventful - Torrent and bnc could enjoy a free 3 star meal, while Krestov and Bluebird where confronted with a remarkable high bill for 100% real, organic food and drink.
On the plus side, the team had now not only new jobs as caterers at the Thorin party, but also a very detailed plan of the pool house where the party would be held.
-
Back in the flat
"Ew, man, Torrent, you destroyed a life in there. Angela - the waitress you bumped into - lost her job tonight. This Valmont really is a jerk.
Anyway, here's what I got."
bnc displayes a virtual map over our coffee table, including all data she could have gathered (where are which sensors, where do we have to enter, etc.). She explains the security routines to her comrades.
"Alora, sempai (looking at Slob), Grandmaster muesli (looking at Torrent), I'm all ears, and I'll promise to mute myself and behave.
-
"Valmont being so picky and attentive means we'll need to be very careful about how we smuggle in our weapons. If he catches us, we'll lose our new jobs! He'll probably point us out to security, too."
-
"Well, maybe we could deal with Valmont after this is over. Maybe he'll find himself donating some of his nuyen to that Amerindian waitress after he retracts his statement to Knight Errant. Now let me study the map..."
[spoiler]
These are my rolls from the other day.Can I use them now since I got nothing before or should I re-roll?
@GM
So, what do I get from studying the Manor?
Architecture (Push the Limit) (http://orokos.com/roll/399798): 7d6t5 3
Security Measures (Push the Limit) (http://orokos.com/roll/399799): 7d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
"For starters Bnc will have to hack the entrance scanner and our security bracelets. I know the scanner will pose a challenge but there are no two ways about it.We need our weapons. She'll also remotely park our team's truck somewhere close to the manor. So, we'll enter through the back door and I guess we'll park the catering van inside the garage. From there, it's a straight line to the kitchen so our weapons won't be too far away. We'll need Bluebird to spot the guardian spirits and the anchored spells weaved around mrs.Thorin so she'll have to be among the serving staff , with me. Throughout the recon phase Krestov and Slobbertooth should pose as kitchen staff , close to our weapons. "
[spoiler]Bnc has a control rig , right?[/spoiler]
-
While Torrent examined the plans he noticed a flaw that might be exploitable:
Since Anthro Drones would do the main security work, a simple bracelet swap would probably be enough to get access to all relevant areas.
It was impractical for Anthros to use stairs too often, so their patrols would likely not include the stairwells and hacking one drone would make its controlled area "safe".
The media room was also interesting since it was noise insulated and could be blacked out - the perfect place to have a "private" conversation.
Getting Eliza Thorin up there would likely require a good lure...
Getting weapons in would likely be easiest done through the use of an empty propane gas bottle since the scanner wouldn't be able to penetrate a steel flask.
-
"I can do that.", bnc answers flatly.
"How many of us are going to go in? And who?"
-
"All of us are going in.Krestov and Slobber as kitchen staff.Me, bnc and Bluebird as serving staff. Ideally this operation will have four phases :
1.Entrance : most of it's been taken care of - we only need to find some empty propane gass bottles for our weapons.I guess it won't be a problem for Krestov.
2.Recon : make sure the bracelets won't be a problem, find a physical connection for bnc,spot Eliza and her physical and magical protecion-make sure we can bypass it.
3.Get Slobbertooth and Eliza to the media room.This is the tricky part, we may have to improvise.Recon phase will provide an idea, I hope.
4.Exit : Get out of the manor, use our own truck for escape. Bnc's combat drones may come in handy if our escape is contested.
Any questions?Any objections?"
-
"What's on the menu? I need to know how to make some of this stuff so that I can pretend to know what I'm doing."
-
A quick scroll through the information liberated from the commlink showed that the party would have a broad assortment of fish based cuisine, complete with lobster, caviar, shrimp and other delicatessen associated with the rich and powerful. Only a very small section was dedicated to provide beef based dishes - which mainly meant grilling a good steak in front of some of the guests.
-
"Dump lobster in pot. Hope they don't scream too much. Got it."
-
[spoiler]@Sabato Kuroi: Yes, bnc has a control rig. She doesn't sport a RCC, however.
@Jack Do we have details about where which drone patrols? If not, I would like to find that out before we go in.[/spoiler]
"One more question: What is our hierarchy of objectives? Which are how important, which are nice-to-have?
Also, a question about hierarchy: Once we're in: Who gives commands?"
-
[spoiler]
The patrol routes and their timing are not made common knowledge - and you'll likely only find out by observing them directly. They are not determined beforehand.
A knowledge check Security Operations or the like would allow you to estimate where and how those will be most likely
[/spoiler]
-
Krestov provided a small nod to the plan, snoring a bit at Slobbertooth's remarks. "cannot be difficult with our hands, but may practice in next few days. Should be fine, think" he already decided that his firearms were optional in this operation...less things to smuggle that way.
When the question came to objectives, the troll turned to the two adepts in the room...it was their question to answer, naturally.
-
Slobbertooth had taken his time to think about the plan, and things were clear to him after the run in with Woden and Frigg.
"Our priorities are as such.
"1. Confirm an exit strategy. I'm not going to last long in the kitchen, so we need to be ready to bail at a moment's notice.
"2. Locate the target and security. Isolate the target
"3. Confirm target's identity and involvement. Execute target.
"4. Time permitting, attempt to garner information about Captain Verres's involvement, and discover more information about target's involvement. I'm betting KE will pay a pretty penny for an easy case that could badly damage Lonestar's reputation, so any info we get here could be an additional pay-day."
-
"Check. I'm ready."
-
“Vengeance is mine, and recompence, At the time when their foot shall slide: For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things that are to come upon them shall make haste."
5.Moses 32:35
--------------
Seattle, June 5th, early morning
After clearing up a few more details, the team went to make their individual preparations - including getting the right uniforms.
The day of the party rolled around and the team found themselves an hour before the official kitchen staff meeting at the parking lot behind the mansion.
The whole private area had to contain at least 2 square kilometers of ground, alternating between densely forested parts and neatly manicured lawns and flowerbeds. A small army of drones was busy keeping the grounds in shape behind a 4 meter high, stainless steel fence, topped with rows and rows of Gothic looking spikes. The canopy of various trees around the area sported security cameras and other sensors.
There destination was the so called pool house - a large villa in its own right, but outright cosy compared to the sprawling mansion about 500m uphill that was equipped with its own wall, which seemed to be topped with barely noticeable mono-wire.
Already a small armada of vans, cars and smaller vehicles had arrived at the parking lot and about half the staff was already unpacking and unloading crates with kitchen utensils and prepared dishes.
At the gate closest to the parking lot a pair of hulking Anthro drones performed the security check: A metal scanner followed by SIN identification to make sure people were on the list of accredited staff.
The distance from the gate to the house had to be about 50m and already a few of the staff members complained that they had to lug all the equipment there by hand instead of driving up to the house, but the robot guards were unyielding, following their programmed protocols to the letter.
-
[spoiler]Are the security drones already patroulling?
If I take a closer look at all matrix icons I can identify, is there anything I wouldn't expect from what we know from the commlink?[/spoiler]
"Whew. There we are...
Bluebird, what magical security can you spot?"
-
Looking around the matrix, bnc recognized that in total ten Anthro drones were within 100m, plus the two at the gate.
[spoiler]
The drones patrolling outside are equivalent to Neonet Juggernaughts, but a in detail examination reveals that they all have R5 pilots and upgraded sensor and handling capabilities. Their armor is likewise stronger.
Inside the house are drones equivalent to SK-Secretaries. Those are likewise enhanced and sport body mods to make them look human.
[/spoiler]
-
Time to dance
[spoiler]Face sculpt (http://orokos.com/roll/407461): 11d6t5 4
Impersonation (http://orokos.com/roll/407462): 11d6t5 4
Torrent disguises himself as mr.Orange from the film Reservoir Dogs
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Inconvenient rules reminder, and a good reason for me not showing up to the restaurant that I forgot. Remember that i have the distinct style trait (or whatever it's called) that makes it easier to remember Slobbertooth because of his big tusks[/spoiler]
Slobbertooth had made sure that he looked the part, as much as he could anyway. He had even gone so far as to make sure that his facial hair was properly trimmed and that his hair was nicely tied back into a ponytail. He checked to make sure that his empty concealable quick-draw holster and other equipment he would need inside was properly stowed away on his person.
"Let's go play house."
-
[spoiler]
Ah, good of you to mention it.
Krestov should probably do something too to disguise himself - there aren't many trolls as good looking as him ;)
[/spoiler]
Slowly the restaurant workers began to make there way through the control. The drones where surprisingly gentle and yet thorough in their search. The team saw them inspect the equipment one after the other, always with the same movements.
The queue moved forward with deceptive speed and soon it would be the teams turn...
-
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."
-
"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."
[spoiler]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 (http://orokos.com/roll/408190): 17d6t5 5
Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/408191): 4#15d6t5 5 6 3 4
-
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...
-
Slobbertooth saw that he was assigned to the grill, all on his own.
Fraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
-
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..."
-
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.
-
Slobbertooth did his best to watch the road and the pool for interesting guests and for security detail while he tended to the charcoal.
-
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.
-
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.
[spoiler]Etiquette(server) (http://orokos.com/roll/410064): 8d6t5 2
Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/410066): 10d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
-
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.
-
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.
[spoiler]It's probably necessary.
Etiquette (Influence Group) (http://orokos.com/roll/410088): 5d6t5 3[/spoiler]
-
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."
-
"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."
-
"Roger.
Pointy ears: The 'link is slaved to a tough security host. How do you estimate your chances of successfully palming it?"
-
"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."
-
"Good man." She took the steak and began loading her plate with a baked potato and some kind of salat before walking away, handing the plate to a drone which instantly began to follow her.
The plopping of champagne corks announced shortly thereafter the arrival of the guests. The staff began to hand out filled champagne flutes while an assortment of various rich and beautiful people began to fill the halls and the outsides. They were followed by a host of young people - all roughly between the ages of 16 and 20. All in all almost 40 people arrived within the span of 10 minutes. As big as the house had appeared it now was almost crowded. The young people flogged towards the north western room and bnc could see that they had started an AR disco, much like the one they had visited last week. The sound was only audible through datajacks and trodes, so that the rest of the adults didn't have to endure their music.
There were a lot of people exchanging fake kisses and even faker laughter during their greetings. Moments later they began to descent on the buffet and Torrent, Krestov and Bluebird found themselves in great demand.
On the plus side, bnc, Bluebird and Torrent were now free to move around to serve the guests and retrieve glasses and plates for the kitchen to wash.
Slobbertooth had lost sight of Eliza, but was busy supplying further steaks, ribs and other assorted pieces of dead animals to the guests.
-
"Don't bother. We can't afford another scene like last time. I will try and do my best not to get caught this time. Pray to GOD that he shut his eyes..."[/color}
bnc walks over to the chef in a hurry.
"Uhm, sir", she begins, and waits 'til his attention is on bnc. "Can I go to the restroom, please. It's kind of, well, urgent..."
If he permits, she'll go the the ladies' and locks herself in. There she boots her cyberdeck, makes sure that the stealth configuration is active and then goes off in search of Eliza Thorin's commlink and buzzer. She makes sure that her icon is somewhere close to the deck. In case someone would spot her, they would only get her icon's location, but still wouldn't have a clue who the real attacker was. She then inhales deeply, before she starts her attack.
[spoiler]I assume that the buzzer is slaved to the host as well and thus will not be easier to pick than the deck. Therefore, I go for the more valueable deck first.
Hacking on the Fly (http://orokos.com/roll/410627): 19d6t5 8 Booyah!
I have an effective Sleaze of 9, so I can use all the hits.
What can you tell me about the deck and its interesting contents?
Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/410628): 13d6t5 2
If nothing indicates that I'm under pressure, I'll take a closer look:
Matrix perception (http://orokos.com/roll/410629): 11d6t5 5
-
[spoiler]
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/410837): 15d6t5 1 [15d6t5=3, 3, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 5, 2, 1, 4, 1]
Wow, almost a glitch.
So you not only have a mark but know practically everything there is to know about her link
[/spoiler]
bnc couldn't believe her luck - the tentative probe she had sent at the link met only nominal resistance. With just one click she had full access to the file structure on the link and by extend an entry code for the security host.
Looking at the files a few things came to her notice:
There was a R7 data bomb protected file that very likely contained the hardwired voice commands for the drone security. One successful edit would mean that her voice pattern could also be part of the command structure.
The other was the R6 protected contact list and the corresponding messages - a treasure chest for every blackmailer or investigator
But most important was she could now spoof a message to her link at any time she wanted - for example to have her go to a discreet meeting up in the media room.
The rest of the link contained a lot of business stuff. Bank statements (She seemed to be an exceedingly capable estate manager: Since the sellout the worth of the family had roughly doubled).
Most important was a plain text message from Commander Edmont Verres to Eliza Thorin four days ago: <<I have lost contact to two of my employees, handling case 01. Last time they reported in, they were in the process of wrapping up a late account. I'm investigating the details and taking care of the remainder of our contractual obligations. No MCT action as far as I can tell. I'll have a messenger in my employment deliver the details - keep him around for public events.>>
-
I think I'd rather be in a firefight...
The adjustment, orientation, and imminent implementation of Krestov's role in this party proved to be, at the best, harrowing. The sous chef would not let him by with any iota of error, and the troll found his attention devoted to keeping the flow of shellfish cooking. His durability proved fruitful...the heat from the pots made things easier, but the speed demanded gave him a few close calls with knives..
He heard the comm chatter in his head, but otherwise kept the channel clear for now. After all, he was the contingency plan. Keeping his eyes open, he watched the festivities unfold before him...
-
Slobbertooths' eyes almost flew out of his skull when he saw the news from Volker.
"We've got confirmation that Eliza has someone here for security that we won't see, and we've got a way to isolate her. Spot that agent. I want to know where he/she is before we isolate Eliza in her office.
"Torrent, start figuring out an exit strategy. I doubt we're going to have much time to chit chat with her."
-
"Check this out, dudes! Big V is on the hunt!"
bnc forwards Verres' message to the others.
"I might gain access to the security drone voice command system. It's toughly secured, though, and might ring an alarm if I screw it up. So I'd rather wait until it's really necessary.
What I could do, however, is to fake a message that might lure her into the media room. I might also be able to dig out some interesting stuff about her. Messages and stuff. However, I'd rather rip her commlink apart once I've got it in my hands. That way, I can't raise more suspicion and the data bomb is less likely to go off."
-
"Nice work V. You don't need to hack the voice command system. Just find the voice patterns which have access to the command structure.I can mimic any voice pattern and use the drones as backup while we make our exit. In the meantime I'm going to find that agent. Once I've spotted him I'll let you know and you can arrange a meeting with Eliza."
[spoiler]
Perception (spot the agent) (http://orokos.com/roll/411118): 10d6t5 3
[/spoiler]
-
Torrent took a concentrated look around, but all people he saw acted more or less how you expected people to act at a party - enjoying themselves or working their ass off.
Flushing a trained discreet bodyguard out would need some kind of disturbance to make him reveal himself through his trained reactions.
Torrent knew that one dropping plate alone wouldn't be enough - a bit of screaming would be required too...
-
"V? V like vonderful?
That won't make a difference. I have to crack that bomb this way or that. Is is necessary at all? Will the drone be in our way?
Boss, you tell me when you're ready for the target to watch a trid.
I can't stay in the restroom forever."
[spoiler]Is it easier to hack the drones? Or do they basically have the same level of security? Their rating might be a bit lower.
Where is the drone patroulling? Do we need to get around it if we want to get to the media room?
-
[spoiler]
Yeah, the drones are also slaved to the host
Pilot 5 + Firewall 10 from the host as their defenses
And yes, since you are not scheduled for the upper stories, your bracelets will tell the drones that you are in fact trespassing. There are three drones up there, making their rounds.
The media room is the top most room, two flights of stairs up.
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]I can't remember which spells does Bluebird have that may come in handy...[/spoiler]
-
"I've got an idea. Torrent, you're able to impersonate basically any male norm, right? Can you manage to vanish into the restroom or something like that? There you change into someone important: Valmont or so. In the meanwhile I turn her commlink to mute, and spoof a message of Valmont where he demands or asks to meet her in the media room right fucking now.
You then approach her, ask her whether why she has ignored your message. She will double-check and find, indeed, a message from Valmont. You urge her to follow her NOW. This way, we assure that she doesn't have a lot of time to reflect about what's going on. Also, we'll have an excuse why she's not there. We have to decide about whom to impersonate, of course.
You can then drag her to the media room and do what has to be done.
Roger? Pointy-ears? Sempai? I haven't got a lot of time left. The cook's gonna skin me alive if I take too long.
-
[spoiler]
Since once again I seem to have navigated you into a corner, I'll allow myself to push this along by remote control
[/spoiler]
Torrent thought about a convenient way to reveal the operative while also staying true to his totem. And just thinking of Raven gave him an inspiration.
He activated the line to Krestov: "Big boy, I need you to smuggle me a life lobster on a silver plate with one of those warming covers."
All it took then was a little detour through the kitchen picking up the plate and walk into the main room of the house, easily accessible from the rest of the party - and more important within earshot.
A particularly heavy set woman with a pudgy double chin looked like she could produce the necessary volume he was looking for. He groped under the cover of the plate and removed the two rubber bands keeping the lobsters claws bound. Passing by the woman who held a plate filled with an impressive assortment of food, he managed to slide the crustacean onto the back of her dress.
He was already up two steps on the stairs to get a better overview when the plate crashed to the floor and the screaming started.
Heads turned at the blood curdling cries. Most looked startled, some - faster on the uptake began to laugh.
One person did neither. Both Krestov and Torrent noticed the other waiter emerge from the kitchen,looking around like a trained observer, taking in the facts of the situation - and having his hand near where Torrent would have worn a hidden shoulder holster.
The guy was large - at least 1.90m with broad shoulders, mixed heritage with black hair and very light brown skin tone. The man could have conceivably been from almost any nation on earth with maybe the exemption of the northern most countries.
The AR tag we wore identified him as Ryan Miller.
Torrent immediately relayed that information to the rest of the team.
-
"Ok team, time to move. We must draw Eliza to the media room. Perhaps a message from "Verres" could do the trick for both her and the agent. In case the agent suspects something I'll move in to intercept him. Krestov, you should be ready in case the agent gives me trouble. Bluebird, If this goes south, ready your sight removal spell, it will come in handy. "
-
"Copy. Volker, send the message and then join me in the media room."
Slobbertooth turned down the heat on the grill so that the meat wouldn't start burning while he was gone. He patted his concealed holster to affirm that his Ruger was where he left it, and headed upstairs to wait for Eliza's arrival.
-
The troll was actually rather surprised the distraction worked so well. Passing off the live lobster as if it came from the pot proved effortless with Krestov's motions, and he watched Torrent maneuver it to cause the identifying episode. As things settled and the plan went together, Krestov avoided eye contact with any other worker as he dropped another one of the shelled creatures into the boiling water.
"Understood. Will be ready"
Using his cybereyes' peripherals, he kept his ally and mark in view as best he can, while still avoiding the shouting cries of his supervisor. He got the feeling that if it was to happen, his role would be needed soon...
-
[spoiler]Spoof message (http://orokos.com/roll/414305): 17d6t5 6
Is she allowed to leave the kitchens? I assume changing my appearance is not sensible, as she will wear a uniform?[/spoiler]
<Verres@Eliza <Sorry to disturb you. I really need to talk to you. Please come to the media room as fast as you can. I'm waiting there.>
bnc shortly waits for a potential reply. If she answers, bnc will try to prevent the message from being sent. After that, she leaves her meat body and heads to the media room.
Done. Pointy-ears: by mimicking Elizas voice you can command the drones. Do you need a voice probe?
-
[spoiler]
Spoof goes through, but you still have to crack the databomb.
Crack Databomb (http://orokos.com/roll/414314): 13d6t5 5
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/414316): 14d6t5 4
You made it.
Edit File (http://orokos.com/roll/414317): 14d6t5 6
Resist (http://orokos.com/roll/414319): 15d6t5 4
bnc is also a server and allowed to leave the kitchen, but since you all don't want to keep your jobs, you are of course free to sneak up the (back)stairs. Just get rid of your armbands.
[/spoiler]
bnc had not only managed to crack the data bomb protection to view the file, but also to enter a new super-user with a few simple commands usable by anyone:
Simon says Shut down
Simon says ignore who I'm pointing at
Simon says shoot who I'm pointing at
Simon says move where I'm pointing at
To use Eliza's voice there were more options, but every statement had to open with "Listen Drone no.#" and end with "Now".
Eliza's reply was short, but she managed to intercept it: <<Ok, but I don't appreciate it that you sneaked in here. I'll be up in five minutes.>>
-
"Block her comms. I don't want Verres explaining that he didn't sneak into anything"
Slobbertooth took a deep breath and prepared himself for whatever awaited him.
-
I already did. That is, I deleted her outgoing message to Verres. I don't want it shut down completely, lest she gets wary. She's on her way. We'll both be up in five minutes."
bnc quickly checks her overwatch status, then returns to her meat body, if the result is not yet alarming. To be sure, she loads Fly on the Wall, before she leaves the restroom. She leaves her wristband at the sink before she heads up to the media room. In the meanwhile, she's constantly online, watching Eliza's commlink activity careful, ready to intervene at any time.
-
bnc was the first to make her way up. Consequently she was also the first to encounter one of the guardians. "Stop - you are not authorized to enter this part of the house..."
but a quick "Simon says ignore me" took care of the drone and its buddy coming around the corner. This way she made it up to the media room.
The room was decorated in a Victorian style with much wood paneling, countless nick-nags along the walls and a very comfy looking love chair/couch combo opposite an old fashioned but nonetheless gigantic trideo screen. It took her only a second to find the controls to close the shutters, turning the room pitch black until the small guiding lights came on.
-
First come, first serve, thinks bnc and makes herself comfortable in the love chair. She then looks for any security sensors or anything of the sort in the room. Once she's sure the room is clear, she again focusses on her team's and Eliza's commlink.
-
Slobbertooth arrived after bnc, after using her commands to bypass the security drones. He simply stood in the corner of the room that the door opened into, doing his best Batman impression.
-
Slobbertooth hadn't closed the door for more than ten seconds when it opened again and against the light background the silhouette of Eliza Thorin became visible for a moment before the door closed.
Her hand groped for the light switch as she said: "Ok, what's so important that you come here yourself?"
The light flicked on and she became aware of Slobbertooth. "Oh..." was all she could say...
[spoiler]
Eliza Ini: Ini (http://orokos.com/roll/416339): 8+1d6 14
[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/416410): 4d6+13 25
Complex: Push the Limit Subdue Unarmed Attack [9] Agility 7-1+3 Edge (http://orokos.com/roll/416415): 8d6h5 6 +strength 5 for a total of 11 to beat her physical limit and subdue. I'll proceed with the assumption that I did[/spoiler]
Slobbertooth's arms struck out grabbing Eliza by the collar and shoulder and throwing her up against the wall. One hand went to grab the wrist of her arm reaching for her commlink and another covered her mouth as he closed the door with his foot.
"First you are going to calm down. Then you are going to hand me your commlink. Then you are going to take a seat in that chair over there. Then you and I are going to have a nice, calm, conversation as my friend over there records it.
"Do we have an understanding?"
-
It followed the usual, she tried to scream, Slobber pressed her mouth shut, she tried to bite, Slobber hurt her arm.
But in the end he had removed the commlink and panic button and deactivated them completely. Eliza set in the chair with murder in her eyes.
"You made a big mistake coming to our house. You can't hope to escape. Give yourself up before you do worse than just trespassing."
-
Slobbertooth pulled out a chair and sat down, drawing his Ruger and resting it on his lap. He spoke softly but condescendingly.
"Yes I'm sure that at any moment Verres's special agent we surely don't know about, but is already being dealt with, will come up here and save you. I'm sure that Verres will be sending his two assassins, the ones you hired to kill Zelda and William Willows, that we neutralized weeks ago. I'm sure Verres will be coming to save you, now that you can't contact him. I'm sure you security is going to turn out in droves and stop us, now that we control it.
"Before all that sure happens, why don't tell me what you know about Captain Verres, and his real job a wetwork fixer for the rich and famous. You can start with your contract on the Willows family."
-
She glanced at bnc to see whether she really was recording. A steely glint appeared in her eyes as she processed this new information:
"Oh, I see. You are a bunch of crack pot conspiracy theorists. Just for the record: There is no murder conspiracy. Commander Verres is a close friend of the family and an upstanding member of the Seattle Lone Star Division..."
She stopped as Slobbertooth cocked the Ruger aiming at her knee cap.
"No, stop, please. There is no need for violence. I'm sure we can come to a mutually beneficial solution for both sides. Stop recording and I tell you what I know..."
-
Slobbertooth tilted his head and looked over his glasses at her. "The two assassins already 'provided' us with the files incriminating you and Verres, so if you can stop pretending otherwise and save us all some time."
"If you don't want to tell us anything, you can simply send us the files you have that would further incriminate Verres. I am curious as to the motive for killing former employees of your husband's company after a sale, but it's not why we're here."
bnc. Do make sure I'm not in frame during this conversation."
-
"Ah, I see. I certainly won't give you info on Verres. A blackmailer will always try to use the leverage he has to get you hooked even more.
Of course I don't know anything pertaining to the death of Mr. Willows, but I do know he was just that: A little black mailing scumbag trying to sabotage the sale of the company, just so that he and his cronies could keep their worthless jobs. I never reported this crime to the police after he was killed, presumably by his criminal friends, but he had learned of the sale and tried to interfere with our stock-buy-back. And all because we made a fair offer with the current market value to get back the employee benefit stocks.
He had the temerity to make the sale public if we didn't guarantee those jobs would be kept after the buy-out. Of course that would have led to the stocks gaining enormous interest from the market, making it extremely unprofitable to buy them back.
I'm sure he just wanted to stall the deal to cheaply buy more stock himself through the criminals he no-doubt was working for, just to release the info and cash in on the stock, hurting his own company."
-
Slobbertooth growled. "Or maybe he wanted the job so that he could feed his wife and son in the barrens, but I guess you took care of that by contracting out the greasing of both of them, too?"
He sighed and calmed down. "We're not here to talk about that though. I want information on Verres. If I wanted to blackmail you, I am armed at a party where your entire family is present, have your commlink, and she has plenty of your personal information available to her already, and I already have evidence that you signed the contract for those murders. I could already blackmail you if I wanted, but I don't.
"Beyond evidence on Verres's activities, there is nothing you can give that I want."
-
"I have no information on Verres - and I wouldn't want to. What I know is that he carries a little paper book with him, containing all his important... documentations. If you want this, you'll have to visit him at the LS academy. Good luck getting in there. Especially after you allegedly killed some of his employees."
Meanwhile Slobbertooth and Torrent had noticed that Ryan, Verres' man had started to follow Eliza up the stairs...
-
Slobbertooth stood up, and showed his dissatisfaction with a shake of his head and a click of the tongue.
"Well I can understand not wanting to incriminate yourself any further. I had hoped you'd be willing to give us more documentation linking yourself to him at least, but I guess we'll just have to use what the assassins gave us."
Slobbertooth gave bnc the signal to stop recording, and spoke while checking to make sure his Ruger was loaded with normal ammunition.
"I had hoped I would be able to package all the information together in a paydata sale that would help pay for the assistance I've received on my way here. Ah well, now to do what I came here for."
Slobbertooth raised his revolver and aimed at Eliza Thorin.
"My name is Josiah Willows. You killed my mother and father. I will give you the mercy you did not give them, and let your children give you an open-casket funeral"
Her fired into her chest.
-
The look of surprise on Eliza's face was instantly wiped away by a moment of terror and disbelief. She had half risen when the bullet slammed into her thin body and sent her back into the chair, toppling it over backwards. The bullet exited her back and struck the opposite wall.
The sound proofing of the room did keep it's promise though: Despite being ear shattering loud, the shot didn't reverberate.
Slobber had aimed well: The bullet went straight through the Eliza's heart and her eyes went blank only three seconds later as her blood soaked the expensive carpets.
Beside the ringing in his ears everything was quiet for a moment.
-
"Time to go."
"bnc, we need a way to quickly distract Verres's man as we move out." He tossed her Eliza's commlink.
-
"Sure...", bnc says slightly destractedly, still glancing at the corpse and the blood forming a pool on the floor. She shakes her head, however, and attends to the task almost mechanically.
bnc quickly downloads a voice simulation program she feeds with some of the recordings of stored phonecalls. She then generates a message she sends to Ryan:
"Security is needed in the parking house ASAP. Intruders are armed. At least three of them. Magical support is possible. Hurry up. And be careful not to disturb the party unless absolutely necessary. Understood?"
"I think we're good to go, sempai."
Just in case, bnc pats down Eliza's body for any interesting objects she might still have in her pockets.
-
Slobbertooth waits a minute for Ryan to have headed down the stairs, and then holsters his Ruger and leads bnc down and outside and to the grill. He throws some meat and wood on the burner and then turns the heat all the way up. In a few minutes it should create a distraction for the kitchen staff as the team heads out.
-
Against all odds, the team made it out of the party without being stopped - mainly due to the fact that they could command the automated security to ignore them.
The drive home was quiet and showed a certain strained concentration on the team's faces.
No-one needed to say it out loud: This had been no normal run and therefore the normal rules didn't apply - this was personal and now the team would have to content with an enemy that had the resources of a small country at their disposal - not to mention Verres and his high position within Lonestar.
A vacation somewhere far away would probably be a good idea around now...
-
Once they are safe, bnc shuts down her cyberdeck and closes her eyes. Pictures are dancing in her mind. Screams that were never shouted ring in her head. Shut it, slitch, you're dead, and you very well deserve it.
bnc bites her lips nervously during the drive. She didn't bring any drugs - the risk of getting caught would have been to high. Also, she didn't want to trust her ability to resist them in a critical moment. Now would be the time. Instead, she turns up her internal sound system with way too loud electro-metal to drown out Eliza's voice.
Back in the appartment, she goes straight for the long-awaited relief. Once the silvery patch is on her neck, she closes her eyes and sighs deeply. Then she throws herself at the couch in the living room and remains there, enjoying the bliss of Whoom rushing through her veins.
-
Slobbertooth inspected the suppressor on his Ruger for errors and then set about filling a backpack with equipment and weapons that would be relevant if there were an incident later these next few days. He'd be out of house the next few days and wanted to be prepared.
He heard and saw what bnc was doing, and slumped his shoulders. He felt guilty that the stress of today and what he had done had probably gotten to her and got her back into a habit she had kicked for quite some time. Maybe it was just withdrawal. Yeah right asshole.
He passed along to Krestov that he was free to move forward with the sale of that contract between Eliza, Verres, and the assassins to a member of KE that he trusted, and that the money made off of it should be split among the rest of the team. "I already got paid for this mission."
Yelling to the rest of the house, "I'm going to see my parents!," Josiah got on his Suzuki Mirage and headed to their resting place in the Barrens. He sent K a text requesting his company there too.
-
It was no small feat to duck out of his post, but when the call to leave was made, Krestov did not hesitate. Slipping away from the cooking table, he grimly left, departing with the team as the van rode away in silence. The playback feed of the revenge...the execution...was forefront in his mind as he kept his gaze lowered. It left a sour taste in his mouth...families and civilians affected by their actions always did. But this time, he let it happen... For the good of this team, I let it happen... He looked ahead to where bnc lay, clearly in distress, and where Slobbertooth sat checking his gun. ...was it worth it?
Back at the house, Krestov unloaded his stuff, still not saying a word until Slobbertooth declared he was heading out. A big hand fell on the ork's shoulder...not forcefully, but enough to denote presence. Looking down at him, the troll's pale blue cybernetic stare met him for a lingering moment, his stony face saying nothing. And then, just like that, he let go. Nothing more to say..he regrets not.
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[spoiler]So K is not coming to the requested place?
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[spoiler]I always forget we have Special K and Slobber also has K as in Kazuya. In this case K was Kazuya. I'll devote more energy to being specific in the future.[/spoiler]
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[Spoiler]thank you for making that distinction before I made an edit under that assumption. Haha. No worries man :) [/spoiler]
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[spoiler]Oops, my bad. Didn't want to spread confusion.
So this is it, then. Or is there any aftermath you guys want to roleplay?
There's holidays before us, isn't there? Like, compulsory ones.[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]Slobbertooth would like to talk his adoptive brother about the past few years he's been away now that what he set out to do is done.[/spoiler]
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"Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written."
Lucas 21:21
--------------
Seattle, June 5th, late afternoon
The little graveyard somewhere in the barrens had accumulated once again a light dusting of sooth, grime and the occasional empty beer can and chips bag. No matter how often Slobber had come here and cleaned the laser engraved brass plaque, it always looked as if nobody had been around since the day they died.
The sun had decided to blink in and out between clouds and city smog.
Since most resting places here where cheap urns, the graveyard at least had no ghoul problem - small mercies. So Slobbertooth could sit still and wait for Kazuya to appear without having to worry about these kind of predators.
When his eldest friend and fixer appeared, Slobber got up to be greeted first with a firm hand shake, followed by a hug.
For a long minute they stared at the brass plate. Finally Kazuya broke the silence.
"So you finally did it. After all those years, you found and killed the one responsible for their murders. Only five minutes ago it made the news. They found Eliza Thorin shot dead in her son's house. Lonestar also has sent out a search and arrest memo for two female humans, one ork, one troll and an elf. KE has so far not acted. Conflicting jurisdictions I imagine." He made a pause.
"I've always told you I'd stay with you for that, but you and your friends really need to lay low for a long while now. Such a high profile crime always comes with a very thorough investigation. Not to mention that the whole family is out for blood now. One of the twin daughters found their mother according to the news.
I've got to run now. There are a few things I need to take care of, but before I go I ask one thing of you: Don't go looking for more trouble in that direction. Your parents are avenged, but whatever else they wanted from life, most of all they wanted that their only child would grow up healthy, happy and whole. I can't imagine that taking more lives will achieve any of that."
---
In the following days, more and more fallout began to appear: Lonestar had a full APB out for the team, based on their short stint as kitchen helpers and their visit on the retired police man's island. Speaking of which: Gordon Wilcox, the helpful retiree had been taken into custody and hadn't been released yet. The whole staff of Valmont's restaurant had also been questioned, followed by two arrests: A previously convicted computer criminal was charged with tempering with the security clearance list and her friend, the barkeeper for trying to help her flee.
Benjamin Thorin and his remaining family had made a public appearance on trideo to condemn the murder and promising a bounty of 50k for information pertinent to the apprehension of the fake catering staff.
All in all, life in Seattle wouldn't become boring anytime soon...
-
Slobbertooth had wanted to ask how the folks and Hiroko were doing, but could see that Kazuya wanted to stay out of the news, and it would be best to let him leave before the orc was recognized as a wanted man.
Slobbertooth put a hand on Kazuya's shoulder and spoke to his brother for what would likely be the last time for while. "I'll try to make it home for Thanksgiving with the whole family this year, Kazuya."(Japanese)
-
Slobbertooth rolled back into the team's garage and returned to the living room to find bnc in the same place she was when he left.
"It looks like I've made all of you wanted criminals now. What's our plan for hiding out the next few months. I doubt that we can stay here."
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"Jeez, relax, sempai", bnc waves him off with a somewhat stretched voice, "ev'ything's gonna be all right."
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"Criminals? Ha! What else is new? But if we have to leave for a while, I say we go somewhere where shadowrunners are needed and nuyen are spent for their services."
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Slobbertooth found his teammate's nonchalant attitudes about the situation unconvincing to say the least. "Well unlike you two, I'm not entirely pleased about our status as wanted criminals likely being hunted by a vindictive law enforcement captain who has assassins at his disposal. Nor am I entirely happy about our current security or ability to be discovered by any of the wageslaves living around us." Josiah acted like the paranoid criminal he was and quickly hit the AR buttons to close the blinds to all of the home's windows.
"Yeah, this just isn't going to be wiz. I'm going to feel like a rat trapped in a cage if we don't do something. I'll take care of it myself."
Over the next couple of months, Slobbertooth would spend most of his time where law enforcement never went: The Barrens. It was dangerous and risky, but he had survived there as a kid, and knew what soup kitchens to go to when he needed food, and which ones to recommend to punks when they deserved to be shooting liquid drek for a couple of weeks. He wasn't home with the team very often, but tried to stay abreast of the news and the developing situation and would go along for jobs when his presence was needed. He felt obligated after getting the team in this mess. He did his best to play Batman in the Barrens when he was given the opportunity, but never going beyond stopping the occasional pick-pocket or hate crime. He had confidence, but he wasn't going to take an entire gang on by himself and draw attention from the true authorities in the Barrens.
It would have been a rather nostalgic trip for Slobbertooth if not for the wish sandwiches, servings of fish-bone soup, burned-down homes and kiosks, and the general stench of depression (or maybe that was sewage) that lingered into every crevice of every building. He found that his teammates were even less eager than before to invite him on the rare nights out of the house. He wasn't sure if it was because he was laying low or because his odor caused every patron to give the team a 5 ft. berth when they entered any room. Regardless, for the time being, Slobbertooth felt safer 100 feet from a murder in progress than he did 100 feet from some wageslave hoping to be come Don Draper