[CraterShip]

I went ahead and changed the IC post, I was using the general perception test from earlier to notice something on the chip, which turned out to be the info from Dr Nelson related in the IC post. Hopefully clears things up a bit.

[rednblack]

Ok, wiz, I think we've got some angles here.

Earlier, I mentioned patching Pixel into the host via a Device from a bathroom or something, but now I'm thinking that PIxel could conceivably pose as a visitor for a patient in a coma, or something, and use one of the devices in the hospital room to patch in.  The rest of the team can pose as guards, and if possible, we can have Pixel station us as sentries that have eyes on the service elevator.  Then down we go.

Potential complication: I believe during the meet is was outright said that we'd need our decker on hand to work her magic in the HMHVV lab proper.  That lab is most likely not a part of the Newhaven hospital Host, though it maybe a HIdden Host within the Newhaven Host.  If the latter, Pixel should still be able to work from the hospital room, but if the former, she'll need to leave the hospital room and travel downstairs with us.  @Crater, can Pixel loop footage for X amount of time, so it continues looping even after she's exited the Host?

Other thoughts?

[CraterShip]

I'd allow her to set up a running dumb site essentially if all its doing is looping feed. I think it would usually take an actual device, but in the case of the new matrix, I'd allow it as an agent type program that stays online while she isn't.

[Herr Brackhaus]

Looping footage is actually covered in the rules;

Each action is enough to alter one detail of a file—a short paragraph of text, a single detail of an image, or two or three seconds of video or audio (you and your gamemaster can work out what exactly “one detail” means). Your gamemaster may impose penalties on the test if your edit is particularly intricate or tricky. If you want to perform a continuous edit, such as removing your teammates from a video feed, you need to perform this action once per Combat Turn for as long as you want to keep the edit going.

Fortunately, Edit File is a Data Processing action that uses Computer, which an Agent Program has. So you could conceivably have an agent perform the necessary edits, and even if the edits are gauged by the GM to be too difficult for an Agent program to perform you only need one complex action per combat turn to maintain the edit; Pixel has a Hot-Sim VR initiative of 9+4d6, which means at least two complex actions, possibly three per combat turn.

Also, a data tap should be able to do the trick as long as the hospital host (or hidden, secure host) has a physical device or access port slaved to it. So Pixel could very well do the hack from the hospital room as long as the data tap isn't overwhelmed by noise; at a Device Rating of 2 or 3, that's not a given. Fortunately, Eddie has a DR2 commlink with 3 noise reduction, which means a noise rating of 6 before it loses communication; unless we run into wifi inhibiting paint or the host access is stored in a faraday cage, we should be good.

I still think entering through the roof might be a good approach, at least for some of us; this would also be a possible tertiary exfiltration route, with the basement being secondary and the normal entrance being primary.

[CraterShip]

There we go, set up an agent to continually run the edit, or data tap into the sub basement while outside using Eddie's commlink. Either way should work, and looks like the team may move in separately? Pixel to the patient's room, 1-2 pose as guards, the rest through the roof access port? I'd suggest pale horse and Ichante go through the roof so they aren't noticed by anyone who already saw them on their tour. Unless Chaim can disguise them extremely well?

[CraterShip]

Personnel elevator and service elevator are not directly connected, but are close. Personnel elevator runs to the roof, as does the emergency stairwell. Service elevator isn't on plans, but from the data chip, it sounds like its only between the basement and the sub

[Herr Brackhaus]

Also, do you think this whole thing falls in under the Driven quality? I mean, I think the thought of an organization conducting what is probably illegal research into Spirit's knows what would fall under the classification of "discovering a hidden truth about themselves" or "getting revenge on an old enemy".

From Run Faster:
[spoiler]
The character has an obsession, something that drives them forward. Everything they do is designed to bring them one step closer to solving the enigma in their life. This can be finding a disappeared loved one, discovering a hidden truth about themselves, or even getting revenge on an old enemy. Whatever the cause, when faced with a clue or opportunity to advance their quest, the character must make a Willpower + Logic (4) Test
to not immediately drop everything and pursue this new information. Unless the character succeeds, they will sacrifice anything and anyone to get closer to the truth. On the other hand, such single-minded obsession makes the character a tough nut to crack. As long as the character is actively working a lead, he gains +1 to his Willpower.[/quote]

The obvious problem is the success test; if Eddie fails (statistically probable), he will "sacrifice anything and anyone to get closer to the truth". I think Eddie is rational enough to realize that he likely can't get into Newhaven on his own, but I could see failing the test meaning he literally drops the current line of reasoning and just bolts for the roof access hell-bent on finding out more. A less extreme version would be waiting to do the roll until we get into the basement, and only then determining the result. I definitely think this fits under the Driven quality, though

Thoughts?


Also, hmm. If the service elevator isn't on the plans, I think a physical recon may be necessary. If we can't get from the personnel elevator to the service elevator without dragging a ton of water through the hallways, then that's likely a busted approach. I might suggest Eddie heads out after sun-set in his chameleon suit, lightly armed (i.e. pistol only), and rigs up a possible concealed climbing path.

Climbing an 8 story building, assuming an average floor height of 4 meters, is going to be a 32m climb. Eddie can manage at least one hit per complex action, but that still means 16 Combat Turns worth of climbing at worst. He'd have to scope out the physical security to get the timing and interval of guard making their rounds and identify a good location to prepare a path, if nothing else. Drone coverage would be preferable, and maybe some microwire might be in order. In fact, Eddie is going to ask Chaim to see if he can procure 100m of microwire (Avail 4, 50¥) in short order (i.e. before night fall).

[CraterShip]

Hmm, I'd have to say no, cause it's pretty specific about being against a particular organization or self fulfillment type stuff. Similar, yes, but not quite what I'd qualify as fully meeting the criteria. Overall, kind of a good thing though, so you aren't making tests to keep from dropping everything else.

[Herr Brackhaus]

Cool, just checking

[CraterShip]

That's not to say I won't connect it later, but from what he knows so far, it's purely Newhaven right now.

[CraterShip]

Ok, so sounds like Eddie, Ichante, and Pale Horse are going through the roof access into the stair/elevator access, while Chaim goes in looking like a guard in disguise and Pixel is going as the grieving relative of a coma patient? Am I missing anyone? When do you wanna head in? And how are you reaching the top of a ten story building without being spotted?

[Tecumseh]

I see a couple options:

Roof
If we go the roof route, Ichante can levitate people into position. Per this post, the hospital is surrounded by lightly wooded hills. Ichante didn't see any watchers, spirits, or dual-natured paracritters that might notice the glow of a spell. If we go at night, it should be dark enough to avoid detection by the guards on the ground, especially if there's no moonlight due to the rain. Ichante can navigate via her natural thermo vision. She'll pop some psyche to deal with the sustaining penalties. An air spirit can add Concealment while also using Movement to speed up the process. We'll lift-off from the top of a nearby hill and float our way over above the guards' sight lines.

This is a pretty good approach but we still need to figure out how to get from the passenger elevator to the service elevator. Ichante could cast Physical Mask to make us look like guards if the walk between the two is short, or she could use Trid Phantasm to make it look like nobody is there if is really is just a short dash.

Pros: quiet, subtle, bypasses guards on ground
Cons: cold, wet, lightning, team is separated


Sewers
This hasn't been discussed because it's disgusting but there's a possibility of going in through the sewers. Eddie stopped at a door with a key hole in it. A key hole suggests it can be picked. Eddie is quite excellent at picking locks, so that might be a way in. If it doesn't work, I would say that we could force it but collectively we are wet noodles physically. Perhaps Ichante can summon a guardian spirit to do it, or to just pop over to the other side and open it for us.

The advantages of this approach is that it's even more out-of-sight than the levitating approach, plus it gets us directly into the sub-basement without worrying about service elevators. The cons are we don't know what to expect on the other side of the doors, either in terms of decaying bodies or security. The voices Eddie overheard said, "Gonna be a few days before this gets cleaned up and the next one comes in" [emphasis added], which suggests that there won't be activity while we're down there.

Pros: even more subtle, bypasses guards, gets us directly into the sub-basement, team can stay together
Cons: cold, wet, gross

Thoughts?

[gwilym]

roof
cons unknown/new security, unknown exit/secondary rout. also if we go in from the front door we have the security staff cornered (cornered rat syndrome) also we'll be trapped between two groups when the other security close up behind us

pro easy entry on through life door

fixes. eddie could rig a charge on the sewer door that we can blow

sewer
cons enclosed space, we really don't know what directly behind the door (room full of ghouls hmmm yummy....NOT)

pros if we do need a through exit rather than double back exit

fixes is there such thing as a wood bomb?

[CraterShip]

Wood bomb? Was that a typo or something I'm just not familiar with?

[rednblack]

Roof Access: Looks pretty solid.  I still think we should get Pixel in Physically as a visitor to compromise their security systems.  As for gaining access to the Service Elevator, since it's not on the plans I'm not sure if there are any vents, etc. that connect the Service Elevator with the Passenger Elevator.  If not, we'll need to switch from one to the other on a floor, which means bypassing physical security.  I worry that this gets an alarm tripped before we even lay eyes on the target.  Thoughts on this point?

Sewers: I think Tec has good points here.  We won't be able to take advantage of much subterfuge, but we are built to be stealthy, and this route has the advantage of letting us play to that strength.  Not knowing what's on the other side of that door is definitely terrifying.  I don't think Ghouls have Immunity to toxins, so we could consider Neuro-Stun grenades in aerosol form and gas masks, which would be effective against guards and other nasties alike.