[imperialus]

@Spirit:  You start to pick up your pace, pulling yourself from ledge to ledge attempting to reach the 4th floor window as fast as possible.

As Aishuku pushes the door open, the rest of you see what is obviously a utility room.  The buildings HVAC unit fills the center of the room and there is an pair of elevator doors with a maglock beside it on one side of the basement with the exit to what you assume is a fire escape a few feet to the side.

[Scarecrow71]

Aishuku sizes up the basement, trying to determine the best route to take to get to the 7th floor.  He analyzes the layout of the building, using his Radar Sensor to try and get a floorplan complete with locations of any people and materials in the building.

[spoiler]Radar Sensor 4.  Per AU page 36:

This device emits ultrawideband and terahertz radar in short stepped-frequency pulses. An expert system analyzes the Doppler shift in the bounced signals and converts the information into a three-dimensional “map” that overlays (or replaces) the user’s visual senses, similar in some ways to ultrasound.  The advantage to the radar sensor is that it can “see” through walls and other materials, which appear as translucent. This system is excellent for detecting motion (even as slight as breathing), calculating exact distances, and allowing the character to visualize floorplans, locations of people, and placement
of materials like weapons. It is unaffected by visual tricks like camouflage and Invisibility spells. It is unable to ascertain colors, lighting, or other visual features.

The radar sensor uses the same Visibility modifiers as ultrasound. It can penetrate its rating x 5 of cumulative barrier Structure ratings (see p. 157, SR4). For example, a Rating 2 radar sensor could “see through” two Structure rating 5 walls. It can be used to detect weapons and cyberware on a person in the same way as millimeter wave radar (p. 255, SR4). Radar sensor cyberware has an effective Signal rating of 2 for determining the sensor’s range.  Radar sensors are vulnerable to jammers and jamming.

I'm using the Radar Sensor to get a map of the building (or as much as I can get), complete with object placement between me and the extended range, to determine best course to get to the 7th floor.[/spoiler]

[Kozak]

Kozak activates both his low-light and ultrasound, to help navigate the building.

<<@Private Chat 552375>>
<<Steady, everyone.  Step lightly.  We don't want them to know we're coming.>>

[imperialus]

Looking around, it appears that the lower couple of floors at least are empty.  The elevator shaft and stairwell both look pretty straight forward.  Both seem to be in order at least.  The only other method of getting around the building looks like its HVAC system.  You might be able to crawl around the ductwork.  It would be a tight fit, and slow going but you could do it.

[Operator]

Operator examined the HVAC duct, then both sets of doors before moving towards the fire escape and slowly nudging the door open.

@Private Chat 552375
"I'm listening for the intruders as we speak. They're in a hurry, so it should not be difficult to detect them if we remain quiet."

[spoiler]
Operator will proceed up the stairs.

Infiltration test to remain quiet: 9d6.hits(5) = 4

Audio Perception as Operator moves upstairs: 12d6.hits(5) = 5
 - Spatial Recognizer (p.333) dice if applicable: 2d6.hits(5) = 1
[/spoiler]

[LeighFox]

Beth offers a quick nod to Operator, moving so that she can peek past him through the tiny opening of the door; activating her low-light vision in the process.

<@Private Chat 552375>
<Let's not crowd up too much; we should try to cover the stairs and the elevator both.>  she sends to the group. Giving Operator's shoulder a light tap, she then moves past him, nuding the door open just enough for her to slip through into the room/hallway beyond. Once through she'll lower her stance and, then slip forward to press against the opposite wall (if a hallway) or close cover (if a room).

[Scarecrow71]

Aishuku starts moving up the fire escape.  He fires up his commlink once again.


<<@Private Chat 552375>>
<<Guys, I'm sending some data your way.  If anyone sees anything in these images that needs investigating, let us know.>>


Aishuku then broadcasts the map of the building as he sees it to everyone through the private chat channel so they can see what he sees, and they can get an idea of the floor plan.  He then continues escalating the stairs until he hits the 7th floor.

[imperialus]

As you move up the stairs pausing periodically to check your radar for threats you pick up a living, not to mention cybered person coming down the stairs just as you are about to reach the 4th floor.  Because of the thickness of the concrete stairs you don't see him until he is just about to reach the 5th floor landing himself.

Initiative:

Bullet: 11d6.hits(5)=4 (Initiative 15)
Kozak: 7d6.hits(5)=3 (Initiative 10)
Operator: 9d6.hits(5)=5 (Initiative 14)
Nightshade: 9d6.hits(5)=1 (Initiative 8 )
Spirit: 11d6.hits(5)=5 (Initiative 16)
Unknown Enemy 11d6.hits(5)=5 (Initiative 16)

You notice the form above you, at about the same time he seems to have noticed you...  At least there is a pause from above, and you hear a loud clanking sound that echos throughout the fire escape as a metal cylinder bounces down the stairs, almost as if it were in slow motion before rolling to a halt on the 4th floor landing a few feet from your faces.  It looks like either a flashbang or a smoke grenade from what you can see.

Spirit: At about the same time you reach the 7th floor window that Aishuku said he saw the light in.  You see a darkened office with a pair of plain looking desks.  No signs of life.

[Scarecrow71]

Aishuku sees the grenade land near his feet on the stairs and pays little attention to it.  Knowing that he has both flare compensation and thermographic vision, the possibilities for smoke or flashing from the object hindering his sight would be minimal at worst and non-effective at best.

<<@Private Chat 552375>>
<<We need this guy alive, so if you can avoid shooting him in a vital area, that would be awesome.>>

Aishuku then races past the grenade, up the stairs, hoping to make it to the 5th floor landing so he can come face to face with the unknown individual.  When he gets a clean shot, he wastes no time in firing at the guy.

[spoiler]Initiative Pass 1/3
Free Action = Speak sub-vocally through commlink to the team.
Simple Actions = Quickly assess grenade (I can roll for demolitions, engineering, or chemistry if needed) and race up the stairs

Per imperialus, I am firing at the guy with the Remington Roomsweeper.

Pistols 2 + AGI 4 + Smartlink 2
8d6.hits(5) = 5
Flechette rounds.  DV 5P + net hits,  AP -1

2 IPs in this combat turn remaining[/spoiler]

[imperialus]

As you clear the stairs two at a time you arrive on the 5th floor landing, coming face to face with a man dressed in a tight, black suit of form fitting body armour, an armoured vest, and a gas mask.  A wickedly long combat knife gleams in his hand.

[ooc]Just as an FYI, for all intents and purposes you're in melee.  Since you have you're gun out normally you'd be forced to use the club skill and do crap for damage.  I'll rule however that you can still attempt to shoot him for the first IP at least.  Roll your firearms skill like normal and he'll fight back with his reaction+blades.  If you win he gets shot and you can open the range somewhat, if he wins you get cut and you're stuck in hand to hand.  Also, the stairs are narrow enough that only two of you could engage him at once.  Second one to join the fight (operator) will suffer from the shooting into melee penalties should they choose to do so.

[Operator]

@Private Chat 552375
"Mind that grenade!"

Operator bounded up the stairs behind Aishuku to face down the man in black, assessing his opponent's armaments as he prepared to take a shot. If the grenade was a flashbang, both himself and Aishuku would be relatively protected from the blast. As it was, they had much more pointed concerns to address.

Drawing a bead on the assailant, he squinted and ignored the false positives from his smartlink's AR feedback, squeezing the trigger on his Predator. Damn, I'll need to tweak it later; it thinks he was a valid target.

[spoiler]Taking a Free Simple Action to aim before pulling the trigger. Also forfeiting smartlink bonus to avoid shooting Aishuku by accident.
The shot: 11d6.hits(5) = 5

Ex rounds are loaded, so base damage is 6P with AP -1.
[/spoiler]

[Ympulse]

Taking large, steady breaths, Spirit stepped into the abandoned office. As he did so, he turned his Wired Reflexes on, and quickly took the Gecko Gloves, Slippers, and knee attachments off, storing them in his pack. Looking about, Spirit removed the Magazine that held the Explosive Rounds and replaced it with Stick-n-Shock in a smooth, practiced motion. With that done, he glanced at the map sent to him.

They look to be on the Fourth Floor. Should find the stairs and--

<< "Mind that grenade!" >>

"Kso!"

Spirit dashed out of the room, moving as quickly as he could towards the fifth floor after racking a round into his pistol's chamber
[spoiler]
Run check for sprint
3d6.hits(5)=2

Weapon Loadout change:  Ares Predator now loaded with Stick-n-Shock. Round in Chamber, 14 Rounds in Magazine.

Active Effects change: Wired Reflexes 2 is now turned on (+2 Initiative Passes per Turn)
[/spoiler]

[imperialus]

Backpeddling slightly, the enemy knocks Aishuku's gun to one side causing the buckshot to smash into the cement wall beside him before slashing out with his knife towards your face.

[spoiler]12d6.hits(5)=6 That's 1 net hit for him.  You're looking at 5P damage resisted with Impact armour.  You're also stuck in melee now, and anyone else trying to shot him will run the risk of hitting you.[/spoiler]

Spirit:  It takes you a few seconds to wrench the window open wide enough to fit through.  Pulling yourself in you hit the ground running and race to the fire escape, your footsteps pounding down the concrete steps as you go to help the remainder of the team. [spoiler]It's going to take you this entire combat round to reach the fight, but you'll be good to go as soon as we roll initiative for next round.[/spoiler]

[Kozak]

Moving quickly pass the grenade, Kozak tries to steady a shot on the enemy.  Unfortunately, Aishuku has engaged him in melee.  Deciding not to risk hitting his new partner, he puts away his Manhunter, and pulls out his stun baton, activating it's electric charge.

<<@Private Chat 552375>>
<<Aishuku, if you can disengage, I can handle him.  I'm handy with a club.>>

[spoiler]Readying the baton is a simple action.  And since I can't do anything, I'm delaying my actual move till a more opportune moment appears.[/spoiler]

[Scarecrow71]

Aishuku takes a half-step backwards as the knife penetrates through the armor and slightly into his flesh.
 
[spoiler]Impact 6 + BOD 3
9d6.hits(5) = 3
 
Short sheet updated.  2 boxes of damage taken.  1 more and I've got a -1 penalty.[/spoiler]