[Jack_Spade]

"I'll take that assertion with a grain of salt. We keep away from them and try to keep our identities hidden.
Incidentally, that leads me to another bit of branding: Add gas masks to our get up either plain or as part of ballistics masks. Get's us a nice industrial image and prevents any jokers from dosing us again with gaseous drugs",
Isaint replied.

#266

[adamu]

"Shee-it, kemo sabe, glad I'm the roadie then cuz a body can't smoke in a damned gas mask. An' mark my words - ol' Al gon' buy it with a Lucky between his teeth. Likin' my cover more an' more. Livin' the rock'n'roll lifestyle without playin' any o' that rock'n'roller bullshit. Scorin' the squaws an' breakin' the laws, baby."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn nods and chuckles, It is always wise to take this sort of information with a grain of salt.  It is more what is supposed to happen and without the benefit of having someone close to the inside of the House."  She collapses the 3D model.  "So should I contact the Mechanica to arrange an escort?"

She shakes her head at Al's words. 

[Jack_Spade]

"Do it. That seems like a thing a tribute band with an underground tour would do.

So, Al, Jackhammer and Half-Pint: What is the status of our hiding smuggling compartments? Are we able to retrieve our gear at a moments notice, or do we need to get out the wrenches beforehand?"

Isaint walked over to the workplace to take a closer look on the two mules.

[adamu]

"Wrenches? Reckon I'll be a dog inna manger afore I trust any o' y'all gun bunnies an' wiz-boys with a wrench. Nah, we doin' nice, easy access here. All the compartments is external, so whether they's a mule or a drum case, ya access from the outside o' the object. They's all chemsealed, an' ya open 'em by applyin' pressure ta the compartment in a three-step sequence. That way nothin' pops out if someone jist accidentally presses it. Now we'll show ya yer compartments an' yer pressure sequences, so remember 'em well, cuz ya won't see 'em with the naked eye. Won't all be done till mornin', but I got my shotgun in here like this, see..."

[Jack_Spade]

"Excellent. And don't worry. My rifles are both modded for easy break down and won't take up much space."
Isaint had already organized his arsenal into a neat little heap with the ammo and explosives securely tidied away in his two new hard shell cases. 
Now he practiced accessing his compartment as fast as possible, his fingers just flying through the motions.
'Seems like this flexibility training really paid off"

#268

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn sends off a note to Arch, asking for an escort into and through the LCZ, giving him the expected arrival time for the band at his side of the Old LB.  Then she walks over to look at the hidden compartments with the others.  She tentatively holds out a hand to Al.  "I have nothing to put in them right now, but I may need to access them later.  Perhaps to retrieve something for someone.  Please show me the compartments and the pressure points."

[adamu]

Al obligingly takes her through the procedure for the ones they've got finished so far, knowing she'd remember each perfectly after one go. "Shotgun's in yer cello case - won't add much weight, mostly jist a tube with a firing mechanism at one end. Butt's the heaviest bit."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn lets him guide her hand, committing the pressure points to her memory.  The touch of his hand on hers brings back memories still fresh after eight years and she has to force herself to concentrate.  "Thanks, Al.  I will try to remember these.  Let me try without you."  She goes to the various pieces of equipment and her mutated brain tells her fingers where to push.  After a couple of tries, she is sure that she can open all of the hidden compartments.  She picks up the cello case and hefts it.  "You are correct; I know there is a difference but it would be hard for someone else to just pick it up and know the weight is off.  Well done, Al."

Alyce puts the cello case on the floor.  "OK.  I just received confirmation that we will have someone meet us just after passing through the sentry post at the LCZ end of the Old LB.  So what do we do now?  I am famished and could use some dinner.  Sasha tells me there is a small pub just a block away.  Any takers?"

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Approach to Nightside Market, London Below]
 
The journey thus far could be called uneventful, if you discounted London traffic, a cursory military checkpoint and then meeting a bunch of heavily steampunked tribals in a converted gothic cathedral on the banks of the Thames.  The depressing LCZ had lived up to expectations, the drab, crumbling housing, vacant stares from chipheads and the fetid stink of a sewage system that was long overdue even the most basic maintenance.
 
Uncharacteristically the sun baked down during the course of the day, but that just served to make the contrast higher when you finally plunge underground…
 
The more-or-less abandoned Kennington tube station takes you down into the tunnels that will lead to Nightside, and away from Hellbound station which Robyn knows to avoid, and you mingle with the trickle of people moving in both directions.  Folk generally become weirder the deeper you go and your senses tingle as adrenalin levels begin to rise…
 
Suddenly and unexpectedly, and without apparent cause, Isaint’s mentor rages an incoherent warning… a hobo is just ahead, a dwarf, or perhaps a child, gauging by the huddled stature rattling a tin at the ‘passing trade’…
 
***
_#06
 
 

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint had used the time to familiarize himself with Robyn's efforts for their cover identity. According to that his name was Johnny Luckless, drummer of the newcomer band Dead Man Walking. It had taken a bit of work to get the face right, but the shining white full beard and long hair were easy to do. His electro-chromic coat now sported with white texture on black background the band's logo: A broken tombstone with visible footsteps leading away.

Now he was walking in front of the group while his Anthro Drone brought up the rear with his brand new myomer backpack, ready to equip him with whatever gear he needed.

When the warning came, he reacted without real thought:

<<STOP! Something is wrong - defensive formation, take positions now!>>

Isaint uttered the warning together with a bunch of ARO markers even while his hand had reached under his coat to free his Savalette Guardian from his jacket.

<<Susi, Arthur: Full Defense, Underground Protocol>>
Immediately his jammer went to full strength, complemented by his agent performing certain settings to hide and protect his gear from the matrix.

Only then did he consciously concentrate on what had triggered the warning, looking at the small figure ahead and its surroundings.

[spoiler]
Small Unit Tactics: Diamond Formation: 15d6t5 5 [15d6t5=6, 4, 1, 4, 6, 6, 1, 2, 3, 3, 6, 5, 1, 3, 4]
Success - Benefits: +1 bonus against any surprise/ambush checks, +2 on Initiative roll (R&G p.100)

Perception (Visual): 18d6t5 6 [18d6t5=1, 4, 2, 5, 3, 1, 1, 6, 1, 1, 6, 1, 1, 4, 5, 5, 3, 5]
[/spoiler]

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Approach to Nightside Market, London Below]
 
Miraculously the tunnel around you empties of all but yourselves and the hunched beggar as the denizens of this place sense it is suddenly not a good place to be...

The 'dwarf' sloughs off whatever illusion was masking it and a tall figure rises to its feet, with some degree of shock Robyn at least recognises the 'Old One', a tall, very old black man whose dreds have turned white...he is carrying a carved wooden staff, walnut perhaps, but it is his eyes that are the most arresting...snake like...

"So, you have come back to Below..."
 
***
_#07

[adamu]

"Aw geez," mutters Al under his breath. "Damned crazy Choirboy king. Already off to a psycho start."

He fades into the background, hoping not to be noticed, and eager for others to deal with the self-styled oracle.

[Jack_Spade]

"Why do I have the distinct impression, that you aren't a fan of our music..."
While he spoke Isaint opened his third eye to get a better look at the figure in front of them.
"Who are you and what do you want?"

[spoiler]
Assensing: 8d6t5 1 [8d6t5=1, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 1, 6]

[/spoiler]

#270

[Mercy Merchant]

It had been a while since Robyn had worked with any military operatives, but the habits came back in a flash as she slid into a place in the diamond formation and froze, using her drone's sensor feeds to see what has caused ISaint to give that command.  The morphing of the Dwarf ahead of them surprises her, but then she sees who it is.  She wonders what The Old One is doing here, but by his words it appears that he has been waiting for them.  She can count The Old One as a friend, but she believes this not to be a social call, but ISaint's tone implies that he does not know who the man is.  She steps forward and bows low.  "ISaint, may I introduce you to The Old One, a respected friend of mine.  He is an extremely influential person in Below.  My friend, this is ISaint, a companion of mine.  What do you wish of us?"