[reyjinn]

My first though was to check for news reports of Renraku making donations to the Applied Magics Lab, find out if they even have the thing before digging for technical info about it (fully expect them to have the B-43 tho, because GMs do that sort of thing , admit it you only set up a worse alternative so we couldn't whine about them having the next best thing even though they are "publicly funded" ).
The want to get work done on the ride was also an excuse for Breeze not having to listen to the EDM stuff that Loki was blasting.
Besides that I'm thinking that the Lab must have an operations manual somewhere on their host. Can't hardly call up Renraku customer service every time the damn thing needs some work. So that would need to wait until we get down to the campus.
Other than that I was honestly considering the Brute Force method of painters coveralls, monofilament chainsaw and saying 'Fuck You' to the cloud of RFID chips

On a related note I was considering going to sleep as another ~12 hour workday looms.

[Poindexter]

Other than that I was honestly considering the Brute Force method of painters coveralls, monofilament chainsaw and saying 'Fuck You' to the cloud of RFID chips

Long as we've got a really slick entrance and exit planned and backup planned and backup backup planned, it DOES look like an attractive option...

[reyjinn]

Other than that I was honestly considering the Brute Force method of painters coveralls, monofilament chainsaw and saying 'Fuck You' to the cloud of RFID chips

Long as we've got a really slick entrance and exit planned and backup planned and backup backup planned, it DOES look like an attractive option...

Sometimes the direct approach is the right one, having a faraday cage ready might also be an acceptable counter to the RFID problem.

[Horsemen]

What's the cost on the safehouse rental rednblack?

Do you care if I do up the specs based on the safehouses ebook or would you prefer I do that?  Doing it that way will also determine the cost unless you want to just flat fee it for those days?

[rednblack]

What's the cost on the safehouse rental rednblack?

Do you care if I do up the specs based on the safehouses ebook or would you prefer I do that?  Doing it that way will also determine the cost unless you want to just flat fee it for those days?

Ya beat me to it!  Yeah, I was going to consult the ebook and come up with a price based on what amenities Wind requested.  I"ll come up with the fee once I know what it is you guys want. 

admit it you only set up a worse alternative so we couldn't whine about them having the next best thing even though they are "publicly funded" ).

I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about. 

You can give me your matrix search rolls whenever for any info about donations made to Texas A&M from Renraku.  Have a good night, man.  Twelve hours is a long shift.

@Horsemen, no worries on our end.  I hope it's nothing too serious.  Thanks for doing your part to keep the game moving, but do what you gotta go for the fam.

[Horsemen]

What all does everyone want for amenities, within reason?  Once I have that, I'll work out a basic package and give it over to rednblack to give a price on.

@rednblack Thanks.  It is mostly resolved and I am now playing let's get caught up tonight but I may be on only minimally for the next day or two while the aftermath gets dealt with.  Everyone is safe and sound, in good health.

[reyjinn]

Breeze is in the same place as Hopeless where anything with flowing water and stable electricity would be considered the height of luxury.

I may not be able to get a post up tonight and tomorrow is even more iffy, all sorts of shit is hitting all sorts of fans at work.

[martinchaen]

Loki doesn't need much; for all his posturing, he's a street kid who's made it out of the gutters, though he doesn't let that fact slip very often

He's also going to take a look at the campus Astrally. Even with a distance of 300km it'll only take him upwards of 3 minutes to travel there Astrally (5km/CT running rate).

He'll summon a spirit to help him find the building he's looking for, though.
Summoning [3]: Spirits of Man +2, F3 Spirit Resist, Drain Resist: 10d6t5 4 3d6t5 1 13d6t5 2
1 optional power, Fear. 2 Services, no drain. The first service will be to help him find the Applied Magic lab on campus using the Spirit's Search power, showing it a mental image of the campus and an approximate location on a map of the physical world.
Spirit Power: Search (5, 10 minutes): 6d6t5 3 5d6t5 1 4d6t5 2
Takes 30 minutes for the Spirit to locate the lab. At this point, Loki will ask the spirit wait while he takes a closer look, as he may need help finding his body again

First off, he'll check the exterior of the building, as well as the main entranceway, for magical wards.
Assensing [9]: Aura Reading +2: 12d6t5 3
3 hits, enough to spot normal wards and recognize Alarm, Charged, and Masked Wards.

If there is a regular ward (i.e. not Alarm or Charged) in place on the outer wall and doorway and there is no way in except by pushing through, Loki will deactivate his summoning Foci, tell his spirit to remain behind, and attempt to push through.
Mana Barrier [9]: 14d6t5 4
4 hits, opposed by barrier Force * 2. If the barrier gets 3 or less hits, Loki will get through.

If he gets inside he'll remain on the ground floor and try to find someone who's stationary at a desk, preferably someone who might seem like they're older, or an admin of sorts. Most importantly, the target can't be awakened.
Scanning the crowd of auras:
Assensing [9]: Aura Reading +2: 12d6t5 3

Loki will then try to covertly read the chosen targets mind, casting a Force 1 Mind Probe using reagents to set his limit to 5 (100¥ worth). The spell is resisted with Willpower + Logic, and the target will know that he's been probed though he likely won't know the source.
Spellcasting [5]: Mind Probe: 12d6t5 2
Bah, Edge to reroll.
Spellcasting: Edge to reroll: 10d6t5 2
Resist 2 drain:
Drain Resist (2): 13d6t5 5
OK, 4 hits, no drain, resisted by Willpower + Logic (typically 6 dice, unless I picked the smartest guy in the room...

With 1-2 net hits, I get to read the targets surface thoughts. With 3 to 4 hits, I get to read everything the target consciously knows and remembers for the past 72 hours. I get to ask for 1 piece of information per complex action, as long as the spell is sustained.

Complex Action 1: Anything related to hellhounds in the applied magic building
Complex Action 2: Anything related to medical dispensers in the applied magic building
Complex Action 3: Anything related to astral security measures for the applied magic building
Complex Action 4: Anything related to physical security measures for the applied magic building

As this is a Force 1 spell it'll take a Perception (5) test for anyone currently astrally perceiving in the area to spot him casting the spell, but due to Loki's Astral Beacon quality it will take him 2 Complex Actions to erase his signature. So, he'll spend a maximum of 3 Combat Turns in the area (Astral Initiative is 10+2d6, so I'm guaranteed 2 Action Phases each Combat Turn), and then he's outta there. If he wasn't spotted by anyone, he'll spend about an hour to just hang around campus, get a feel for the astral space and try to pick up on emotions.

Then, it's back to the body, which means another Search test, and freeing the spirit once he returns.
Spirit Power: Search (5, 10 minutes): 6d6t5 4 5d6t5 1
20 minutes. He'll be gone for most of the time the ride takes if no one sees him mind probe. If he's spotted doing the mind probe, he'll be in the car for the last hour of the ride.

Once the team gets to College Station in the flesh, Loki will probably do what he does best; hit the crowds in the mall to see if he can find someone who studies magic and pump them for some info.

Did we get that list of people with access, by the way? I'll just need a name of one of them, preferably someone higher up like a professor so when I tell students I know the person they won't be likely to know him too well.

[rednblack]

Loki doesn't need much; for all his posturing, he's a street kid who's made it out of the gutters, though he doesn't let that fact slip very often

Once we get there Loki will probably do what he does best; hit the crowds in the mall to see if he can find someone who studies magic and pump them for some info.

I'm assuming assensing to see who's magically active at the mall, and then check who looks like a college kid and run from there?  I'm also assuming Loki is going to go for a young lady, all other things being equal?  If I'm right go ahead and make an assensing check.  Assuming some hits, you'll spot a nice-looking young elven lady of Hispanic origin looking for threads at a bougie punk store called All-N.  Feel free to RP the beginning part of the exchange as you see fit.

Did we get that list of people with access, by the way? I'll just need a name of one of them, preferably someone higher up like a professor so when I tell students I know the person they won't be likely to know him too well.

The contact hasn't hit his threshold yet to get that information to you.  It's about 6:00 when you guys get to College Station.  When the data pack does arrive, it should have the list of people with access, and estimated response times

@reyjinn, that shouldn't be an issue.  When you get back to us, we'll RP what you were doing when Loki is out at the mall, etc. 

@Horsemen, glad everyone's healthy and safe. 

@All, who's joining Loki at the mall, and who's doing other stuff?  If you're not engaging in some retail therapy, what are you doing?

[Poindexter]

Loki's driving. Wherever he drops Ian off is where he's going.

[martinchaen]

Sorry about that, rednblack, I just posted a revised list of actions Loki is going to take on the trip down.

And yes, I'd want to disguise myself (as usual, but using Reagents to set limit at 5 for a Force 1 spell), and then be looking for someone who's magically active, and preferably wearing an Applied Magics Rule t-shirt (or whatever passes for the student slogan of Applied Magic).
Spellcasting [5]: Physical Mask: 12d6t5 4
Drain Resist:
Drain Resist (2): 13d6t5 2
Assensing the crowd:
Assensing [9]: Aura Reading +2: 12d6t5 4

He'll then introduce himself in Sperethiel.
Language: Sperethiel: 8d6t5 4
And try to con her into spilling some details about whatever's going on at the place. Hellhounds and medical dispensers amidst general chit-chat.
Con [9]: First Impression +2: 18d6t5 7

[Poindexter]

Making his way to the driver’s side of the car he bends forward and starts to ask, "Hey there, got room fo… who the fuck are you?"

You may or may not know this, but i've dealing with pretty severe depression lately, but reading this, i busted out laughing. First real laugh I'd had all day, so thanks for that.

[reyjinn]

Making his way to the driver’s side of the car he bends forward and starts to ask, "Hey there, got room fo… who the fuck are you?"

You may or may not know this, but i've dealing with pretty severe depression lately, but reading this, i busted out laughing. First real laugh I'd had all day, so thanks for that.

Depression is a dick whom I'm somewhat familiar with. Glad to have been of some small help man

eta: PUNY work! Should be able to get a post up with Breeze's activities on the drive south.
ETA2:
Hot-sim VR, not running silent, programs [Signal Scrub & Toolbox]
Bought dice to gridhop.
First search is for general or public knowledge, threshold 1, time 1 min.
Matrix search, renraku donations (B-43): 13d6t5 4
Second search is for limited interest or not publicized, threshold 3, time 30 min.
Matrix search, renraku donations (B-43) (30min): 13d6t5 2
Edge to reroll failures of search 2
EdgeReroll: Matrix search, renraku donations (B-43) (30min): 11d6t5 6
8 total hits, limit is 6.

Same routine as above only searching for info about Dr. Drampe.
Matrix search, Dr. Leonard Drampe [1 min]: 13d6t5 5
Matrix search, Dr. Leonard Drampe [30 min]: 13d6t5 3

Doing a search for public info about department heads, directors of w/e and such of the Applied Magics Lab
Matrix search; head honchos of ApMaLa [1 min]: 13d6t5 4

And finally searching for likely places where building blueprints would have to be submitted to the local authorities
Matrix search; College St, Offices, Building, Housing [1 min]: 13d6t5 4

Such matrix search, much hits, WOW

[Blazrath]

sorry about the subpar posts from me lately. Started college semester and trying to get everything organized. Not dead yet!

[martinchaen]

Poindexter
Sorry to hear about your state of mind, man; I can definitely empathize as I hit a pretty rough patch after I got RFM'd from the Army. All I can say is don't be afraid to talk to someone. Anyone. I've seen a lot of friends go deeper in the hole trying to pull themselves out, and I really can't stress the fact that there is absolutely  no shame in getting help; we all need some assistance every now and again, even if it's just someone who'll listen.

Hope things turn out better for you soon.

I also have to say that that last post from you on Hopeless' dreams was pretty epic; I read that and thought "Well, damn, now I as a player actually feel bad for this fictional guy". You portrayed him wonderfully, even if it's a bit of a downer he's got an incredible depth of character that I don't often see in this kind of game. Well done.


Reyjinn,
You didn't get the Browse program? Along with Virtual Machine, you could easily run both Toolbox and Browse together; halving all your search times can be real beneficial, especially when looking for those hard to find files (threshold 6 is tough to beat even with a good deck), and spending 6 hours instead of 12 can make a HUGE difference.

Other than that, great work! I'm hoping Loki's in-character actions will manage to get us confirmation on the dispenser model they've got, so that you can look for the correct plans without having to hack the campus host. Hosts tend to be a bit of a bother in terms of accessing them (stupid high defense rolls...), and in todays world at least social engineering is still security threat number one

rednblack
Sorry about the extremely long list of stuff to do, by the way

Let me know if you need me to summarize what I need from you in terms of opposing rolls or some such, for instance.