Sons of the Skull II: Cyberspace Screwball

Master Index » Logs » Sons of the Skull II: Cyberspace Screwball

GM: Kensai
Players: Gaul
Synopsis: Gaul is hired to edit some footage with a specific image package at a specific time and specific location. What he learns is so much more.
Date: Feb 1, 2084

Sons of the Skull Part II: Cyberspace Screwball

It's the morning of Feb 1, 2084. Barely into the new year. A message drops into one of Gaul's dropbox accounts. 'Thank u for the assist a few months b. Got work available for tonight, if you have the time. Will send deets h3r3 on confirmation. Simple job.

-Armada Ninja

Gaul considers for a moment or two then walks to the fridge, takes a long pull on a bottle of organic (really) milk and scratches his ass. Puts the milk back in the fridge, grabs a couple chicken breasts from the freezer - nukes them then walks back to his terminal and drops the plate of meat on the table next to the keyboard. Taking a bite of the steaming meat product he mutters, "Increased hunger. No fucking joke." then clicks the jack back into his skull and types out a message.

No sweat. Never a fan of Renny sec types…happy to assist. Send me details on your gig.

-Th0R <xxxx;)>

Instant automated response. -CAS grid guide/link infiltration at approx 1am 2-2-2084, specifically near dove valley/ucas warrens border. modify images of probable gunmen with attached images. avoid all detection. contact will be present at Event Horizon private room 93 @ 10pm 2-1-84 until 12 am, for questions and more specific instructions. passcode to private room is contextual, include a white boutonniere in your persona icon for access. job offer is 13500 nuyen, 10 shares of Haephestus Technologies shock valued as of this morning @ 150 nuyen each.-

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "Haephestus Tech? Any pings in the noggin'?":
1 1 2 2 5 5 5 5 7 8
«Plot» Kensai says, "why yes! They are generally innovators in terms of production hardware - electronic forges, manufacturing robots, related simsense know/active softs, etc. with effectively a 5 you're not exactly sure who owns them. Also involved in Heavy Industry/"
«Plot» Kensai says, "…but in the past year you've seen a prototype electronic forge by them. their stock has apparently taken a pounding in the past few months, at a surprising low right now!"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah. The forge we snagged via the Cat from those chaps across the street from the Lantern?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "exactly. that corresponds with the dip in their stock."
«Plot» Kensai says, "you'll have to research if you want to learn more about why. :D or a corporate rumors knowskill."
«Plot» Gaul says, "No, based on time line doesn't appear time for researching all that. And the default I'm going to say was probably my attempt at corp rumors. He will do a quick knowskill default on matrix topography of denver and the genaral area/ask of what they're wanting."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "Defaulting Knowskill - Matrix Geography Denver":
1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 9 11

«Plot» Kensai says, "CAS Sector LTG is Green 3 6 8 7 8 7"
«Plot» Kensai says, "gridguide is listed in R3 as Red-Hard. Denver RTG is Orange 4 8 9 7 6 6"
«Plot» Kensai says, "that area is NOT a high priority zone. Some stiff sensor-suites at the the Warrens Border is pretty tight… gridguide cameras are sensor-based, but you can probably alter records rather than live."

«Plot» Kensai says, "live feeds*"
«Plot» Kensai says, "yes. you got the message earlier yesterday morning - like 5 am early. Your possible conference for more details is at 10pm, that same day, and you have been requested to begin your op at 1am."

«Plot» Gaul says, "Research Task: Determine details on Haephestus Technologies and recent troubles and such. See if any tie ins with Renraku.

Do a dive on any rumors/corps or facilities in that area that tactically make sense to have images doctored, and/or a reason to his something coming through that gate (coming or going) from a facility. Probably could cross reference with various matrix rumors of "Oh yea, so and so brings their crap through that gate"

Run down SAN, exploits and other assistance on Gridguide; anyone hit it recently and has any good details on it. Scouting report basically."

«Plot» Gaul says, "3 tasks basically."
«Plot» Gaul says, "I suspect SL will be very useful, not sure what other know skill might work here."

«Plot» Gaul says, "Search Details
Search Type: Standard
Base TN: 5
Search Dice: 2d6
Metric: Hours
Search Description: Search detailed in log.

Modifiers --------—-
Situation
TN Mod: +2 Conducting more than 1 search at a time (2)

Computer Used Voucher: (#12720)

Search Area
TN Mod: 0 General Matrix
TN Mod: -1 Searcher has Browse utility of 6+ Voucher: #13162/4

General Search Mods
TN Mod: -2 Appropriate database/data haven contact (Shadowland Level 2)
TN Mod: +3 Search requires use of multiple grids ( +3 grids)<CAS, UCAS, Denver>

Search Assist
TN Mod: -3 Frame Used (Agent; Voucher: #12818/1 )
TN Mod: -1 Frame or Agent with Browse 6+
TN Mod: -1 Smart Frame or Agent with core of 6+

Final Search TN: 2
"
«Plot» Kensai says, "no, i'm not sure any of your other knowskills will apply to help. you know we should nab you some 'rumors' chips for just this sort of things."
«OOC» Gaul says, "I tend to rely on my Defaults tbh, I see gaul just relying on it like a Trivia Pursuit kinda person - but yea, some chips would be nice. Too many other things though first heh"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 + 2 (KP) vs TN 2 for "Making the base roll here, apply any hidden TN. I'm at -3 TN after all said and done. 1/":
1 1 1 2 2 4 5 5 7 11 15 = 8 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 2 for "Hours":
11 17
«OOC» Kensai says, "holy shit. tell me that means '12.'"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Hah. Glad I added some Karma dice. 5 to Hits. 3+1 to Time :) And yes, it means 12 hours lol"
«Plot» Kensai says, "so you drop it to 4 hours, right? and that's for the first search, or all 3?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "All 3 searches complete in that time period."
«OOC» Gaul says, "The true power of Agents. Search mastery."

«Plot» Kensai says, "Haephestus Technologies: You Quickly Discover that HT is a subsidiary of Shiawase. They recent developed troubles after their new prototpye Electronic Forge was stolen, and the design magically turned up in the possession of 3 other minor corps. As a result, the entire management has been gutted by their parent company and newly replaced. The market is tentatively hopeful about their prowess. No known tie-ins to Renraku - there was an attempted buyout by SK in november, but that was deflected effectively by shiawase."

«Plot» Kensai says, "the latter information was what took the most digging."
«Plot» Kensai says, "extra juicy bits… the current CEO is actually from Denver, and has spent most of her career working in a much more minor role in Shiawase Atomics. Her promotion comes at the expense of her immediate superior, who has recently faced disgrace after a mining operation in the sioux territory was scrummed by unknown elements - and the following public outroar that they had been allowed to mine for jade in the sioux territory to begin with."
«Plot» Kensai says, "Second search - the corps have largely abandoned this section of town. A lot of it suffers from immediate flyover from denver's airport, dropping property values, and given its proximity to the warrens the CAS has been reluctant to invest sooner. Thus you have the usual - pawn shops, strip clubs with extra surprises, warehouses built like fortresses, no-credit-need vehicle sales. You do find, however, that tonight at 10pm there's a concert in one of the lessor-fortified warehouses, abandoned several years ago by Shinobi Cola. The Red Oni are performing, one night only!"

«Plot» Kensai says, "there has also been recent buying activity. A small pawn shop was bought out three weeks ago and immediately shuttered, all the staff- mostly metahuman - fired on the spot."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah So injecting quick not then there, similar modus operandi to the last time they had a mobile fab"

«Plot» Kensai says, "third question - nobody brings their crap through there anymore, other than the few corporate interests and their warehouses - these typically hold large equipment, resistant to both theft and vandalism that require a lot of space to store. There IS a lot of flyover cargo, coming from Denver Airport, so the skies are relatively well monitored."
«Plot» Kensai says, "see also recent rumors - when the concert was bought out, the entire bottom floor of an apartment building was rented out by a company labeled 'Jade Blossom Security.' the matrix has been abuzz with rumors, talking about a blacked out, armored citymaster moving in, and a good dozen japanese-looking guards with military haircuts."
«Plot» Kensai says, "and yes, this is Red Oni style - underground music scene, renting warehouses for single nights, guerilla marketing. brilliant."

«Plot» Gaul says, "Please remind me. And I apologize for asking but Shiawase was involved in the Toymaker plot as the team Tolstoy was working with? And we took toymaker from the Shiawase sponsored team. and Jade Blossom Security is ringing a bell but not sure. ME3 to see if it was on the Armada host"

«Plot» Kensai says, "the last time you went out with kiki, she bought dinner and all the drinks - apparently sales have been great since the halloweener attack."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence + 3 (me) for "Big brain dump.":
1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 11 11
«Plot» Kensai says, "shiawase took him from renraku, you took him from shiawase."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah. And that's the link with Tolstoy and why he was nosing around Armada"

«Plot» Kensai says, "it's not the same, but the name Jade Blossom does trigger something, especially with Shiawase running through your brain. Mialee Makoyoshi is sometimes called the Jade Cobra in security circles. At age 19 she rose to heading up her father's personal corporate security while he was VP of R&D (biogen), and when he 'retired' she moved with him to Denver, and now heads up his private security… and handles more and more of his business ventures. You've met her at the palatine summit and in the as-yet-unfinished alpine elysium plot."
«Plot» Kensai says, "she wears lots of flower patterns on her clothes."
«OOC» Kensai says, "one of the things i LOVE about having run with the same PCs a lot is the opportunity to have some things interlink."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Any additional rumors on who Oni got for security? Could this be their detail?"

«Plot» Kensai says, "why yes! you're able to connect dots. Kiki mentioned that their manager has recently signed them with someone else, since the incident. She isn't sure WHO, but they now have regular security - disguised as amateurs with those black shirts with yellow 'security' written on them - and there's supposed to be more extensive backup."
«Plot» Kensai says, "checking up a little more, yes. Jade Blossom Security has a Contract with the Red Oni."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Oh third question was actually details on the Gridguide and such but I'll roll that into the next roll if that's ok. "Run down SAN, exploits and other assistance on Gridguide; anyone hit it recently and has any good details on it. Scouting report basically."

Just double check Jade Blossom Security - something is squirrely. Seems convenient. Cross my T's here.
Find San/Cameras in the area where pawn shop is and do snooping, doubt they have a presence but might.
And the third one above with Scouting."

«Plot» Gaul says, "So another trio of searches with the data I currently have. If I am correct it's about 11am ish?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "yup!"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Same TN as last time for this one, give or take - not changing any know skills or such. But he is gonna loop in his Security Procedures (not modifying TN with it though) and some of his Matrix familiariites (again no TN reduction just context)"
«Plot» Kensai nodss. Sounds good!
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 2 for "Making the base roll here, apply any hidden TN. I'm at -3 TN after all said and done.":
1 1 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 2 for "Hours":
4 9
«Plot» Gaul says, "another 5 hours of work. Give or take brings me to around 6pm."

«Plot» Kensai says, "Jade Blossom Security- new outfit, just opened in September. ALSO a subsidiary of Shiawase, and cheap operating officer is - you guessed it - Mialee Makoyoshi. This appears to be their first contract in Denver, but they saw recent use in Seattle. Stopped a shadowrunner attack on a shiawase asset dead in its tracks, TPO. There's actually good footage from it. Black corpsec armor, even with shiawase logos on it, professional tactics, accurate assault rifle fire even against cover."

«Plot» Kensai says, "point 2 : cameras are rare in the area, these days, but a local ares-operated post office a block away has some. There are regular drone flyovers, but those are the Denver Guard (can't remember the name) - they belong to Denver itself, sponsored by Ghostwalker himself. Hacking into their databases for sensor logs may be… dicey. The pawn shop used to have a matrix present - Al's Used Misceallany and Pawn - but was taken entirely off the grid after the buyout. There's a nearby gas and sip that has some cameras, too, but it's 2 blocks away and doesn't have LOS. Your spidey sense tells you this isn't by accident."

«Plot» Kensai says, "point three - you can find a few cameras in the immediate area, including a handful in between the pawnshop and the concert venue. They're all on seperate SANS. Scuttlebut says the local gridguide is as Hard and Nasty as it normally is, but no longer has nearly the amount of security deckers watching it the more well-funded areas are."
«Plot» Kensai says, "also notes that anti-metahuman crime in the area has picked up over the last few weeks. small things. thefts. harassment. nothing Lonestar will bother following up on."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Cool. Gonna send Laura to the Gas and Sip to do her thing. People always use gas stations, food coffee, bathroom. Gonna have her pull camera and do image rec on locals and regulars. Then cut out the regulars after the place was bought and see who starts showing up."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) + 8 (prog) vs TN 8 for "Alright. Here is what I want you to do. TN8 - Impossible with a normal agent.":
1 1 1 1 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 8 10 11 15 = 4 Successes

At his desk the halfer will queue over to the battletac link he keeps up with the persistent active comlink call he's running, » Where are you…no. Never mind. I have something fun when you get a cycle. Head over to SAN454-5, Yep a gas station…no…no you don't h…no listen I don't want bathroom video. No. Well not just that….what I need…«

For probably the one hundredth time this week Gaul mutters, "Cali has the BEST agent programmers…seriously man" miming a strung out hippie as he disconnects and heads to the fridge again.

As the day progresses, the venue makes its preparations. Security moves in early, and then the techs to set up equipment. A familiar red citymaster rolls in, the band makes their way inside with a small fortune in booze and drugs.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) vs TN 6 for "Assuming TN12":
1 1 3 3 3 5 5 5 8 10 13 15 = 4 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) vs TN 6 for "Assuming TN12 - Validate Attempt 1 DF 17":
1 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 8 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 3 10 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 17 (to no one):
3 3 4 4 5 11 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "Meanwhile Gaul will head over to the post office and compromise it, seeing what the Cameras there hold."
«Plot» Kensai says, "i think gaul's apartment is already in the CAS, isn't it? so he wouldn't need to jump to denver to jump to it?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 7 for "Light Urban area 6, -1 Large portable, +2 Bad Weather (snow). Base Time 1 minute":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 7 9 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 1 for "angel, renraku, Tricomglobal p47 Matrix.":
7
«Plot» Gaul says, "TriCom GLobal satellite was linked due to the density of +0"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Decrypt Access M TN: 4( Access: 10-Decrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: Orange_5 10/10/9/8/8 ) Decrypting SAN":
1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 9 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to RTG TN: 4( Access: 10-Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: Orange_5 10/10/9/8/8 )":
1 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 10 = 9 Successes
«Plot» Kensai thumbs up! Today's iconography there is a big international airport.
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 4 8 9 10 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "no issues so far."

Back in his apartment the halfer will slot into a jerry-rigged contraption that connects to his satellite uplink on the roof of the apartment, he's lived here long enough for that at least - the snow is a problem but he eventually locks onto the signal and with his Savior Advanced medkit strapped to his chest goes full RAS and darts skyward into the datalines.

«Plot» Gaul says, "He'll come down in Denver Orange 4, 8/9/7/6/6"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Then shift over to CAS"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Dropping any tally in the process"

The Transcom Global satellite is busy tonight, with endless traffic moving through - how many are other deckers like you? Security, in the guise of customs, casually searches everyone - but th0r greases his way through with little issue.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to RTG TN: 2( Access: 8-Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: Orange_4 8/9/7/6/6 )":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 8 15 17 = 13 Successes

The icon of the Norse god pauses to get his bearings and then simply mounts one of the departing flights like a horse and hangs on tight, arcing down the datatrail to Denver proper.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Rolling the same roll to move into CAS RTG"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to RTG TN: 2( Access: 8-Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: Orange_4 8/9/7/6/6 )":
1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 5 7 7 9 11 11 = 12 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 2 3 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 17 (to no one):
3 4 5 10 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "easy peasy. Denver's RTG is enchanted forest with occasional dragon flybys."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Locate Access Node I TN: 2( Index: 7-Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: Orange_4 8/9/7/6/6 ) Looking for SAN of post office.":
1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 10 10 10 = 14 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "you're able to find it super easy. security here looks pretty taut. even though the post office is privatized, there are certain expectations for security…. now kick its ass."

Strolling along a well manicured path the mono-chrome figure pauses and admires a small pond before stepping over the barrier and plucking the flower from one of the pads. Bringing it to his nose he sniffs gently and then plucks a petal from it, turning it over in his pitch hands to reveal a hexadecimal number. He then drifts over to a tree, a massive oak and places the petal on it's trunk - the ancient oak opens and the portal beckons.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Logging into Post oFfice proper.":
1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 11 14
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 3 3 4 5 5 9 11 14 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "no problems so far. the iconography of the new host is… like an old fashioned pony-express station."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 1 for "Sensor pfft":
3
«Plot» Kensai says, "you don't see anything too weird!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Host TN: X ( X - Analyze Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Checking host out - SOP - VM, Rating":
1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 9 9 13
«Plot» Kensai says, "is that against access?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "How many SANs do I see in here? besides the one I came in. re Control"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 2 2 3 5 7 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "there's connections to several different post offices around the city, and a regional one."
«Plot» Kensai says, "it seems ares has the contract for the sector."
«Plot» Kensai says, "no virtual machine"

Striding through the saloon style door to the way-station the Norseman will alter his movement style and actually mosey up to the counter and tip his hat to the well dressed woman behind the bars, she looks up with a severe victorian expression, dressed in the appropriate style she seems unimpressed with the godling. "Identification please?"

Gesturing placatingly the mono-chrome icon will cast a fingerbone onto the counter and flick a finger at it causing runes on it's ivory exterior to glow…

If the scene wasn't so busy, it would be idyllic. Busy workers sorting mail, ponies coming and going. An armed guard sitting sleepily on the front porch, shotgun across his lap. Another worker is busy marking a map with routes yet-to-run and routes finished for the day. The sky is as crystal clear as any in the american west.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Validate Account (Security) TN: X ( X (+2 Security) - Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Attempting Passcoding":
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 7 9 10
«Plot» Gaul says, "Vs Control."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 2 2 3 5 5 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "account validated!"

The woman sees the credentials and heaves a sigh. "Glad you're here," she says in a canned voice, and she passes over a set of simple keys and a colt peacemaker.
Oddly there's an ares symbol on the pistol.
Meanwhile…. «Hey there good lookin',» comes the message. «I'm all aboard this shin-dig rodeo, staring out at a dusty grey snowy day. How's it goin' partner?»

The figure picks up both, twirls the pistol and shoves it in his belt - managing an azure eyed wink to the woman. If only she'd been looking…she's already looking over his should at the next patron. An audible sigh and the digital halfer turns and moves to the mail area, looking through the various sacks of mail and packages for the items he's been "assigned".

«Plot» Kensai says, "the local matrix has been heavily sculpted, to the point where incoming messages seem to be passing through an odd reality filter."

Despite himself the icon looks over his shoulder for his effervescent agent, doesn't spot her then comms » Good. Accessed what I needed here…you get those well painted nails into what we were looking for yet? " he continues to prowl through the mail.

«Plot» Gaul says, "He will analyze the system now, then each subsystem."
«Plot» Kensai says, "Red-9 15/14/14/14/11"
«Plot» Kensai says, "no VMs hiding out in subsystems."
«Plot» Gaul says, "He's looking for hidden nodes, worms and other items on the subsystems before he tries to prowl them."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 (to no one) for "gaul sensors":
4
«Plot» Gaul says, "Drop agent in host, auto an free."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Seems very plausable, that is equivalent to a high end choke point. Very dangerous."

Cowgirl Laura appears, complete with chaps and plaid bodice.

The bouncing glitter disco ball is extracted from the sack on his side and tossed into a corner where Laura emerges after a few cycles in a sparkle twirl "TADA!", hmmphhs at the dreary cowboy related iconography and how it alters her cute little business slacks and tight blowse to a Laura Ingles dress with bonnet and basket. » Ohhh poo what is this stuff…it's overlaying my micropurchases with…with…cotton! « Prada heels stamp down and then appear as leather shoes…practical.

More ponies change place - AresPost operates 24/7, making deliveries when you need them, always - the mail doesn't sleep when it's run by Ares <copyright symbol.>

Cowman Th0R comms » It's exerting some sort of reality filter - they've got horsepower here for sure. Crank your scanner tipity top and keep an eye out while i nose around alright? No sense getting caught with our chaps down…« he waves off the exerted realty - whatever - goofy ass developers.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Laura is dropping to sensor mode and continually scanning for Deckers/Agents/IC :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "sweet! roll some sensors!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Locate Slave I TN: 8( Index: 14-Analyze Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) Automatic But locating":
1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 8 10 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 12 (Sensors) for "Sensors scan":
1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 8 22

Laura puts on her seein' glasses and peers around. «Hey, handsome. Did you know there's a Falcon floating around outside? I don't think it's part of the sculpting, its pretty active.
«Plot» Gaul says, "Analyze Icon is Free/Auto as well."
«Plot» Kensai says, "it's an agent!"

Midway through sorting through the mail the Norse pistolero will look up and around, » Neg. Thats why I bring you and those pretty blues of yours…hard to get past you. Give it a good peep and see who's lurking eh?«

«OOC» Kensai says, "what file are you looking for? camera feeds?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Indeed Camera Feeds and any "security Overrides" related to cameras, ie blackout periods"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Next she'll do a Security level free action of Scan Icon."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + 4 (hp) for "vs Masking + Sleaze of Agent":
1 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 5 8 11 11
«Plot» Kensai says, "the camera feeds are the province of the sleepy security guard. No blackout periods you can find, everything's running all the time. Parking lot, several internal cameras, back door, delivery dock."
«OOC» Kensai says, "2 hits"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Will download x MP of security footage from the cameras that might have the details I need to scan offline."
«Plot» Kensai says, "camera feeds that are roughly on the same side as the pawn shop?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "MXP Address of Agent, MPCP/Pilot"
«Plot» Gaul says, "re Camera. Correct."
«Plot» Kensai says, "you get the address, and that pilot rating is 6."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Analyze Operation (Free/Auto) on the icon now, see what they're up to."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + 4 (hp) vs TN 14 for "Auto/Free Analyze op":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 7 10 11 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + 4 (hp) vs TN 14 for "Auto/Free Analyze op":
1 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 5 11 16 26 = 2 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "takes her a few ticks but she figures it out"

The perky little agent looks up into the bright blue sky and notes a hawk circling, hmphing to herself she pulls out a spyglass…a SPYGLASS really? Where are those cute little binocs she bought the other week? This host is terrible! Angling the glass up to the bird she purses her lips and bites one side as she studies the bird » Oh! It's an agent! Hehe a cute little one too…little fella. Like um…half of me. And he's being sneaky…waiting on something. «

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Trace MXP Address I TN: 8( Index: 14-Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) Security - Free on Agents MXP":
1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 10 10 16 17 17 = 5 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "Ares Macrotech, the local-to-denver Branch."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Security Network Familiarity + Task Pool: 3 for "Hmm Analyzing tactics here assume it's an alert agent":
1 4 4 4 5 10 10
«Plot» Gaul says, "Hey random thought, the cameras - any view to the assigned "area" that I'm supposed to infiltrate? ie is this a missed angle that my J might want covered as well?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "it's … not far from it. it could be applied."
«Plot» Kensai says, "gaul - it seems in position to easily send a message 'back home' under certain conditions, providing a line of communication back to ares that wouldn't ordinarily be covered by a decker. it was -very- hard to spot - stealth patrol!"

«Plot» Gaul says, "Alright. I'll leave it be for now. Gaul is not going to fiddle with any packages at the moment (paydata) and will come back immediately after the run to mine it."
«Plot» Gaul says, "I will however set a command set to apply the images I've been asked to alter on the cameras at the correct time - if that is possible. If not I'll do some programming while i'm here to make it so."
«Plot» Kensai says, "you don't have the full information on what you need to modify - namely the subject - but you can pre-load the imagesets."
«Plot» Gaul says, "No. That's risky. I'll wait till the meet, meanwhile I'll do some snoopin on the video. I will however ask laura to remain- cranked up on max masking."
«Plot» Kensai thumbs up!
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 3 4 5 10
«Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will graceful and head home. after his 3 minute matrix run :D"

The mono-chrome cowboy, as even with the reality filter Gauls programming is such that his iconography bleeds through after a short while, tips it's horned helmet at Laura and winks » Keep an eye out here little lady, don't go gettin' into the whiskey or gamblin…« meatside, "The fuck am I saying." » Stay here. Hide. Wait for orders « he finishes quickly before the lightning ring spirits him away.

Back in his flat the dwarf groans and stands up, three minutes on the clock but hours on his brain as he heads to the shower for some thinking time before the meet at the Event.

The time of the concert nears, and endless questions remain. Is Ninja Armada Tolstoy? If so, who is he working for today? What's the secret behind Jade Blossom? Is this job as simple as it appears… and whose strings are being pulled?

«OOC» Gaul can answer one of those.
«OOC» Gaul 's strings are being pulled lol.

Gaul has just finished a post-decking shower after a busy day of data searching and decking. The clouds have gathered, the winds have picked up…no snow yet, but it's threatening.
A powder-blue mustang rolls up to the venue, still a few hours before the event, and a big japanese man steps out of his car. He's only got a few nights left on his circulation, but tonight he's taken off to go see a girl sing a thing.

Kensai is almost chased off by security, despite protests that he's in the band, but a quick check of his SIN suddenly has his status clarified and he gets to go back to party.

Drying off the halfer moves into the bedroom and dresses in his new normal wear for this incredibly cold winter, a pair of old man thermal knit pants under Russian Mafia style track suit pants, white t-shirt and a grey hoodie sweat shirt. He pads into the kitchen for some more protein and water before angling to his plain sofa and the waiting cyberdeck.

He boots up, the deck still warm from the stresses he put it in Ares, checking the auto-coder to make sure it's not shirking he'll check in with his agent » Any hits on those recordings? Or the Gas and Sip facial rec work? «

His cyberdeck has been analyzing and collating the data he purloined from the Ares host, discarding the empty space time on it and highlighting scenes that might be of interest.

«Plot» Kensai says, "what were you looking for on the recordings? i remember the gas and sip facial rec work."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Programming) + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 6 for "Having banged out a quick code for an hour or so before the shower to do just that.":
1 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 10 11 = 3 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "Right. The Gas and Sip thing was Lauras deal, Gauls point of breaking into Ares was to get access to the cameras that might have seen some interesting stuff facing the building of interest. He pulled the recordings for the past few weeks for that"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Basically on the recordings he was looking for what he might have missed or some details of WHO had taken over that building, plus any goings and comings (vehicles, people, fancy cars, ect)"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Plus maybe some indications on WHY those cameras on Gridlink need to be fiddled with, he's sorta just doing due diligence of paranoia atm"

Laura has served up some information - there are all of three faces that repeat themselves and meet parameters. All three white guys, two in their forties, one maybe in his late teens. Lots of CAS memorabilia. The young guy at one point threatens the ork cashier and gets kicked out, throwing his hot coffee at the ork's car's windshield on the way out and breaking it. Laura is able to highlight indications that all three are carrying heavy pistols, and tend to live in denim and hoodies and heavy jackets.. and combat boots.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Alright, he'll kick off a simple search then on facial recognition of those 3. Should be a fast one."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Hell. Also their SINs since they probably used them in the Sip?"
time

Program Recording-Index Alpha 7 has turned up some interesting hits. There's a minimum of activity there, from day one. But without any vehicles seeming to arrive, one night the lights on the top floor are on. Three days ago a van with blacked-out windows is parked in alley next to it - visible off the shine of a passing car's windshield, believe it or not.

These are GOOD cameras. As of last night (1-31) an audio feed has been added on the top floor, seemingly overnight - laser mic, probably. Voices are low - too low, and the glass is too poor, for much detail of the conversation, but seven different voices are identified last night. Twelve this morning.

Around dawn this morning three ares-redball sized drones parked on the roof.

«Plot» Kensai says, "the sins are : Aleksandr Davis, Tomas Jackinson, and Bobby Lee"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 2 for "Simple Search, Feedign in SINs plus facial recoginition. Searching CAS, UCAS, Military and Militia databases. Shadowland as well for hits on handles related to those SINS with typical permutations of CAS tradition and culture. Gaul has no clue so he's just depending on algo's.":
1 2 3 3 4 5 5 7 7 = 8 Successes

«Plot» Gaul says, "So staging up for /something/ 3 support drones + at least 12 bodies."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Oh I meant to mention it last night, looking at the imagery I'm supposed to overlay, what is it? just rando faces?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "i'm glad you asked! No, it's not. They are full wire-frame based image of corpsec security guards, heavy armor, standard-issue height, full helmets with faceplate visors. Shiawase logos on the left shoulder pauldrons, with big gleaming battle rifles. There's audio, too, beautiful clear staccato battle rifle sounds that really -sing- power and authority."
«Plot» Kensai says, "roll a perception check while you're doing that?"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "Hrmm what do I notice.":
1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 10

«Plot» Kensai says, "couple of things. 1) also included, beyond the scope of most metahuman hearing - like subliminal-level shit - is music. thrilling, imposing, victorious music."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Psychology + Task Pool: 3 for "What memory is this nonsense?":
1 2 2 2 2 3 5

«Plot» Kensai says, " 2) this is preeeem level image editing. Someone has set you up a real nice package, the kind of detail you'd expect for high-end electronic warfare sensor deception stuff. Someone knows their drek, and it's set up to be easy to attach. all it seems like you need to do is find the recordings / images you're supposed to alter, and do the equivalent of drag-and-drop on top of them. the wireframes should 'click to' the original images and adjust. there's also a kind of worm attached that will seek out similar images in the same databases and do the same. top end programming at work."
time
«Plot» Kensai says, " nothing you couldn't do, if you had the time. but it would take time."

«Plot» Kensai says, "re: psych test : it's set up to make the images you're attaching seem heroic, and valiant, and badass."
«Plot» Kensai says, "and draw attention to the rifles."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Then I shall pay extra attention to the marketing data and notice said rifles."
«Plot» Kensai says, "they're battle rifles of a model you haven't seen before. i'll let you roll military tactics on it, it's vaguely close."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Military Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Yea…wait is that a…hmm dunno.":
1 1 1 1 1 2 3
«OOC» Gaul says, "….."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Military Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Yea…wait is that a…hmm dunno. 7/ No way in hell.":
1 2 2 3 3 9 22
«OOC» Kensai laughs wildly.
«OOC» Gaul says, "Dude. Just…holy cow!"

«Plot» Kensai says, "those are very nearly ares omega clones, slapped down with a black metallic finish, japanocorp calibers, shiawase optics, and of course the shiawase logo along the scope."
«Plot» Kensai says, "you have NOT seen them on the market before, but you've heard rumors of a raid at an ares facility at the turn of the year, and an extraction."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ahhh hah. Interdasting."
«Plot» Kensai says, "now, from what you can tell, if this works properly, it should completely disguise the identity of whoever the actual shooters are. into badass corpo-security warmachines with SOTA battle rifles."
«Plot» Gaul says, "That were stolen from Ares, and just happen to be wearing Shiawese equipment"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 1 for "hours for search.":
10
«Plot» Gaul says, "Cuts it to 2."

«Plot» Kensai says, " so we're to 8 o clock, right?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "I believe so yes."
«Plot» Kensai says, "search results : the sins used are almost certianly low-level faked. research on shadowlands connects the names to major figures in the american civil war, and are very popular in north-american hate groups for their fakies."
«Plot» Kensai says, "that's from shadowland."
«Plot» Kensai says, "the younger guy has a record for violent outbursts at the wrong people. somehow he manages to attack well-connected metas. and people of color."
«Plot» Kensai says, "one of the other guys is a ghost, can't find him anywhere. the other fellow, the one using bobby lee, has a mile-long rap sheet. dishonorable discharge from UCAS marines, weapons charges, assault charges, even prosecuted for a double-kidnapping-homicide that he managed to worm out of when the police were 'caught' fabricating evidence."
«Plot» Gaul says, "So typical Shadowrunner material :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "he wants america to be america again, and wants everyone not-aryan (his definition) out."
«Plot» Kensai says, "but he gets caught a lot more. and not all shadowrunner's dishonorable discharges involve immolating an elvish corporal."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Sure sure, made the mistake of dipping his foot then head into the fundamentalist and forgot how to be a merc. Sure but they do if you don't like elves heh or the corporal was a prick. Meh. Gaul is compiling dossiers but not really forming an opinion one way or another about it all. Everyone has an axe to grind or some dumb ass cause to voice in 2084, all of us are puppets of the corps."

«Plot» Gaul says, "So. One young guy that gets away with a lot more things than seems possible, one ghost, and one well trained guy with a hate boner for metas. Got it."
«Plot» Kensai says, "right. the young guy has had quite a few proper busts now. he's basically made himself unemployable around denver. but he should probably be in jail."

«Plot» Gaul says, "So, circiling back to make sure I've got it all. A group has moved in, with significant resources, acquired a base of operations - significant resources both in tech an hardware most likely. They have high level backers or at least someone keeping them out of trouble for the short term and funding them. Look to target metas in the area for something big in the next few days with potential to blame it on Shiawase. OR they could be a patsy and be the target of another hit squad, that Shiawese is gonna get cred for killing the dirty stinking racists, etc etc."
«Plot» Gaul says, "At least got IDs on what's going down and who is involved, also mixed in there is Red Oni. A question, are their concerts typically meta heavy or friendly - is there music considered "risky" or some such ie "Metahuman rights" or "Down with the corps!" kinda stuff?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "the entire band is japanese metahumans from yumi island."
«Plot» Kensai says, "and it's definitely pro-revolutionary meta-rights heavy"
«Plot» Kensai says, "oh yeah. they're hugely popular - especially over the past few months. crimson tokyo's red oni face is EVERYWHERE in guerilla marketing."
«Plot» Kensai says, "they are a big fish without a whole lot of easily-apparent corpsec backing."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Thus the hiring of cutting edge security, and in the same fell swoop hilariously tying themselves with the folks that likely support Yumi island"

«Plot» Kensai says, "which is in turn probably also a psyop move on shiawase's part."
time
«Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul appreciates it all for the delicious irony and psyop screwover factor of it all."
«Plot» Kensai says, "hitomi shiawase, daughter of the current CEO, married the emperor, and she seems to have an eye on supporting his relatively pro-metahuman agenda. it's all over the trid."
«Plot» Kensai says, "…if you pay attention to japancorp politics."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "Defaulting to Headline events.":
1 1 2 2 2 4 5 5 5 15
«Plot» Gaul says, "Yea, Gaul caught that bit while channel surfing for Orichulum Rush 2084 - Dust of Hailey!"
«Plot» Kensai says, "of course, the answer to all of this is follow the money, right? who profits the most from you subbing in these images?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "although, i guess that all hinges on WHO you're subbing them in over, aren't you?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Yep. He's got lots of puzzle pieces but missing some key details."
«Plot» Kensai says, "two hours until the meet becomes available."
«OOC» Gaul nods some, pondering.
«Plot» Kensai says, "there are, of course. other avenues you could go/ask, too."
«Plot» Gaul says, "So, with a bit of time to kill - he's going to browse through the programming for the overlays. See if he recognizes any signatures there that might have been accidently left in to indicate who crafted this."
«Plot» Kensai says, "that's not a bad idea! what skills are you planning to apply for that?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Honestly it would probably be computer background on this, with programming as comp. I've got most of the design stuff - but that doesn't feel right. It's more analyzing forensics."
«Plot» Kensai says, "that makes sense."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computer Background + Task Pool: 3 for "Lets see what they might have left in there….":
2 3 3 3 5 7 8 13
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 4 (Programming) for "As comp, max of Skill 4.":
2 2 3 10
«Plot» Kensai says, "you're… not sure. it's very very clear, and well done. it would take someone really good at manipulating psychology. a skilled graphic artist with good access to the real thing. and either a coder at your level OR an immense amount of computing power. very few deckers that you know have have all of those skills."
«Plot» Kensai says, "oh and either the knowhow on weapons to fake that … or access to databases and arms research you don't have."
«Plot» Gaul says, "So. A corp."
«Plot» Gaul says, "OR an organization of some sort. Deep pockets and ability to gather varied skillsets of significant skill."
«Plot» Kensai says, "so it almost has to be a team. probably at least 2 programmers deep to be able to scrub obvious fingerprints… oh but there IS something )think of this like a narrative as you go). Some of the work uses the same codebase you see in Vector Matrix Services."
«Plot» Gaul says, "So double redundant frame of Shiawese or actually them doing something."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Etiquette vs TN 4 for "Getting in touch with Kiki. Or attempting to.":
7 9 = 2 Successes

«OOC» Gaul says, "Heh. Guess that's a yes."
«OOC» Kensai says, "i was going to give it a higher tn, because she's literally getting ready for a concert, but you nailed it."
«OOC» Kensai says, "what does she know you as?"
«OOC» Gaul says, "Gaul. She met me as Zeus but at this point we've been out a few times and she met me in my original face at the time due to the chaos of it all."
«OOC» Gaul says, "Actually Erwin….that's his first name."

«Plot» Gaul says, "he would have jumped online and done a clean call for these series of phone calls also, actually had Laura set it up bouncing off the CAS rtg."

"Ohhhh Erwin-san!" She answers with a giggle, pulling up full video, showing backstage at the back of a warehouse. There's lots of noise. She drains a can of beer and throws it, and her eyes have that glassy super-tuned in look that tells you she's on something. Or several somethings. "Konichiwa! How are you? Why aren't you here? It's a party!"

Gaul is sporting a 8pm shadow and gives the girl a rugged smile, twitching the scars on the side of his face, he returns in Japanese "Konichiwa Kiki-san. Work. Always work with me." a laugh and a shrug, "But sounds like you're making up for both of us. Where's the afterparty - I'll be there."

He small talks but then digs in, "Hey. I got some things I need to run past your security - some things came up, sorta like the night we met. Wanted to give them a heads up so you don't have to sweat it. You got her comm? Jade Blossom is doing that gig right?"

"Jade Blossom? Hai, I think that is their name. The new guys, right? Pros dressing like wanabbes? I don't have her comm, that all runs through Fatima. HOLY SHIT ERWIN LOOK wHO's playing sticky-hands with tokyo-san!" the girl dwarf switches her camera around to show you none other than kensai, big as life, playing sticky-hands martial arts practice with Crimson Tokyo, both of them grinning and laughing. "It's Kitigawa-san! You're friends, right?" She turns it around. "Anyway, you need to talk to Fatima? I'm sure she remembers you. How could anyone forget that jawline!"

Gaul nods as she mentions Jade Blossom, "Right that describes them to a Tee" he listens and another nod as she gives him a name, he starts to say something then she's turned the camera and the halfer manages not to snort a laugh at seeing the normally doir ronin at the concert - his memory kicking in at about that moment.

"Hai…hai. We are." a chuckle and shake of the head that she catches as she turns the camera back to herself, "If you can tie me in, she'll appreciate it. And flattery will get you dinner…" he starts to say more but there is a hateful PINGGGGG PING PINGGGG from the comm as Laura chimes in with an alert and >:( >:/ messages.

Multi-tasking Gaul will send Kensai a text » You on the job? Message is warded from my end. Need to talk ASAP, another Halloween-esque threat at your venue. «

"Will do," she says, and drops her phone into the sofa as she jumps up. "Hey sellout!" She calls. "Yes, you. Mister Zeus wants to talk to you…. from the night of fire! What? No, I don't know what he wants , something about security… no i don't see any pretty boys with him, what do you mean negotiator? I'll patch you in, mm k? Arrigato!"

She pops back over to the screen. "Okay!" She says. "The stinking sellout will be with you shortly. She just wanted to mke sure your boy isn't going to 'strongarm her out of another few thousand yen."

«Auto-reply : Hai this is Jack. I can't check the phone right do but if you'll txt your name and number i will get back to you soon!??

Gaul grins tightly at the woman and offers a wink, "I'd be disappointed if he didn't try. Listen. If he's finished teaching Tokyo how to "fight" put him on the line, he's dropping me to voice. Give them hell - I've hacked a stream to watch…someone told me a while back drummers are like deckers. We're the glue that holds it all together."

"Sure sure, we have to start warming up soon, i've had just enough nose candy to see me through." She hops up, and in a minute she has kensai on the phone. He's broken a sweat but he's grinning.

"G… E… Z… Buddy!" He says. "How's it going? Aren't you here? I thought we all got sent tix!"

Gaul gives Kensai the "look", he's been around the halfer enough to know it usually involves him using the MGL-6 or staring down a SMG using troll. "Something came up. Something that seems to involve your venue. I am not under contract yet but before I am I thought it best to give you a heads up and send you details on something similar to what we dealt with when we were around Tokyo last Halloweeen. Take a break and hit the head and read it before the concert starts." he pauses and his blue eyes bore into the sam, "I will assist how I can but something is slated to go down at 1am locally. Prepare accordingly based on what I am about to send you."

«Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul sends him tactical data on the property, the threat analysis, the individuals and dossiers and reported police events around the district."

Kensai sobers up for a moment, and then nods. "All right," he says. "I'll take a look. Crimson needed to get ready for the show anyway. Thanks, buddy. I'll keep my head on a swivel, okay? And don't go getting yourself fried. It's good to see you. I should be out more this weekend for a bit."
time

Gaul gives a feint smile at the warning, "If I do I know you'll deal with the arrangements. I've included an emergency contact number. I'll be indisposed around 10 but will get back as soon as possible - if it's not a setup."

Kensai nods. "I'll make V pick out the flowers," and then gets off the phone. He's already being hustled back into the fan area, looks like things are going to start soon…. or at least, it's time for the opening act, Sleazy J and the South Denver Sound!

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Intelligence for "parsing all the information and making a plan.":
1 2 2 9
«Plot» Kensai says, "well, there will be a good reason why Kensai reacts as quickly as he does in part 1. :D"

A few moments later, Gaul gets a message from a different number. Kensai's friend from his last job, the Red Oni's chaffeur, Rigger X. «Heard you talk to KiKi. Aware of impending trouble - but so is our contracting company. I'm standing by for exfil if the fit hits the shan.»

Gaul sends back » Rog. Circles within circles eh? «

time

Gaul sends back a final message, » As long as the Ronin isn't left holding the bag you and I should be able to have a fruitful conversation whenever you like. «

Ten o'clock, the event horizon.

While you can only move in a standard planar fashion, the flooring is invisible and directly below you gapes the maw of a black hole of incredible size, in full high-Rez color.

Comets and bits of starstuff fly past, being sucked towards the center of all things, though none of it ever seems to come near the patrons. It seems as if the entire universe is collapsing past you - an impressive display of the power of gravity, even though the furniture, you and your drinks hang in space as you alone stand in defiance of the singularity below.

Shiny black tables and chairs complete with decanters of simsense wine are scattered around in haphazard groupings. In the background there is the faint hint of music playing, though never enough to distract from the world or people around you. Serving the crowd that is most always gathered at this popular Matrix destination, area collection of Smartframes that are sculpted to resemble cigarette girls; These girls offer high priced BTL's that simulate the effects of 'Old School' pharmaceuticals such as LSD and Ecstacy. A similar such Smartframe resides behind a long black bar, selling virtual refreshments. Off to one side of the bar, floating free in space is a battered old late twentieth century cigarette machine that looks a little out of place amidst all the shiny black and vacuum, that dispenses simsense cigarettes.

Many of the rooms are hopping - and in the main room a big trid is up, showing the big concert, arranged 'illegally' but some wizkid decker out to 'make music free.'
time

The thunderbolt arrives circles the room for a moment before simply coalescing into a ball of the energy - a pop and the mono-chrome figure of Th0R appears in the afterimage. Sensors rake the area, scanning for threat or out of ordinary; outside the SAN to this place Gaul has though ahead and dropped an instance of both Laura and Jorg - synced with battletack they're just a call away if things get hairy…

«Plot» Gaul says, "Make 2 hits on me with 4 or 5 dice TN17 to see if I racked up any tally doing those uploads please."
The previously-arranged private room is already occupied. A single star in… a constellation…
«Plot» Kensai says, "memory roll for me, gaul, mythology related"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence + 3 (me) for "Mythology is sorta my jam…why don't I have a skill in it?":
1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5

«Plot» Kensai says, "a star in a constellation of nine… arranged like, you got it, the 9 realms/ The preassigned room corresponds to the highest place. Asgard."

The norseman drifts up, pausing for a millisecond or two to watch the concert feed as things get started - then he's accessing the node to the star. The feathered cloak he wears covers his form a bit tighter as he drifts in, no point making it TOO easy - reputation and all that.

It seems, no matter how much you fly toward the star, it never gets any closer… until memory clicks and the white boutonniere is applied, and then it's easy as slipping into a dream.

The sculpture of the room, however, isn't asgard. It's a cave. A serpent hangs from the stone ceiling, green-scaled, immense, although not nearly on the scale of the world-serpent. Bound beneath her is an elderly man, bound by intestines and chains. Venom drips from the adder's jaws, into a chalice, held by a woman… but not the blonde sigryn of mythology. This is a shadow of a woman, slim and blade-like, but her face hidden in the shadow of a hood, leaving twin stars of eyes as the only feature. "Mister th0r," she says, her attention focused on her cup. "I am glad you made it."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "Defaulting to symbology.":
1 1 1 3 3 4 4 5 8 9
«OOC» Kensai says, "but clearly someone recognizes what th0r represents - or thinks they do - and is having a dialogue with you from the moment you entered."

Th0R whistles - electronic reverb as he takes in the sculping. "Great intro. I appreciate the attention to detail, didn't realize Event offered that level of sculpting - but then I've never actually looked either." azure eyes cast up at the serpent and a broad white smile breaks the pitch face, "Poor little serpent…should have zagged instead of zigged." and then at the woman, "I really need to work on a Loki…missing from my lineup" a shrug and then he's found a stone, dusted it off and settled - static arcing from his body into the stone and downward. "What shall I call you? Don't tell me Johnson - not in here."

The figure laughs. "Surely, in a setting such as this, a nordic patronymic would be appropriate. But as you wish. If you are to be th0r, then i will be a spinner. Does that suit? Or, perhaps Ran, who keeps the treasures beneath the waves. That's why we're here, after all. Treasure. You want some of mine. I want some of someone else's. So. You have doubtless been at work all day tugging at leads and overturning stones. What questions do you have?"
time

Another broad smile as he spreads powerful hands, his cloak swirling and moving of it's own accord. "I appreciate the details. That's all. Ran then" he studies the icon and ponders a few cycles before replying, "Questions often prove to be a net for the curious…I'm a mercenary at heart though and any digging is done more for my security than for curiosity sake. Well that and to see what I can shake loose from the tree" as he says that the static playing off him arcs up into an image/afterimage of Yggdrasil.

"Significant effort has been expended in creating that overlay, not amateur work at all - corporate level detail and care. The shiawase flavor seems overdone but that could be on purpose - I'd thought to just wait and see who was the recipient of the overlay to solve the puzzle but…" a shrug, "Details could matter…the owners of the pawn shop, target or overlay?"

"An astute observation," she says, even as the world reshapes around them. Now they are in the north sea, long before the current environmental crises, at the ruin of a longship deep beneath the waves. Distantly, the giant njord can be seen, troubling ships and wrestling with sea monsters. But here, a woman waits, half-floating, half standing, surrounded by the corpses of the sailors - even now being picked over by the valkeryies, leaving naught but their shells - and their treasure - to the woman before you. "The owners of the pawnshop. In a perfect world, there would be neither - and while threats have been levelled against the band, should they perform - and there has been an uptake in present force - I am not entirely certain that they will have the courage to make a move. They are cowards. They have never struck at such a public event before. But it is not prudent to go unprepared. In the event of an attack, there are forces prepared to deal with it. However, we have made allowances for what americans would call the 'wildcard factor,' and have taken efforts to ensure that there are private elements in place to respond as well - flexible resources. Innovative resources. Emotionally connected resources. If need arrives, they will be offered contracts on the spot. They are the targets for the overlay. We would prefer all our assets to be represented as such - to protect our reputation, and the identities of what may become reliable assets in the future."

She pauses. "That was a lot of words. To summarize. The owners of the pawnshop are opposing forces. The intent of the overlay is to protect our assets. Does that answer your question?"

With the reshaping of the world Th0R has taken his place in the front of a fishing vessel, the well muscled Hymir in the stern holding it steady and uttering a constant stream of curses at god. A leg on the gunwale as he leans forward and looks down at the giant, arms crossed he lets her finish before speaking, "Uncharacteristically informative but given the pieces in play probably a viable play on your part. Then I see no reason for my refusal to assist - it is straight forward and a pleasure to work with art of this quality." a finger taps his lips and he adds, "Although a thought occurs to me…with the rifles being what they are and Ares having directional cameras on the scene…"

With the reshaping of the world Th0R has taken his place in the front of a fishing vessel, the well muscled Hymir in the stern holding it steady and uttering a constant stream of curses at god. Th0R, a leg on the gunwale as he leans forward and looks down at the giant, arms crossed he lets her finish before speaking, "Uncharacteristically informative but given the pieces in play probably a viable play on your part. Then I see no reason for my refusal to assist - it is straight forward and a pleasure to work with art of this quality." a finger taps his lips and he adds, "Although a thought occurs to me…with the rifles being what they are and Ares having directional cameras on the scene…" (clarity)

The woman smiles. "Shall I be more frank with you, mister th0r? You have looked at the payload, I assume, and you have your guesses. I will give you an insider tip. In two days, on February 3rd, 2084 - Shiawase Armaments will be releasing the Shiawase Hurricane, its own entry into a market dominated by german and north american manufacturers. It is our hope that, if necessary, the rifle's performance in this affair will demonstrate its quality as competitive with the Ares design." If she had glasses, she'd be adjusting them on her nose. "Nothing proves quality like solid use, after all."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "can she resist being heavy handed?":
1 1 1 4 9

"I will point out, also, for your own piece of mind. The rifles are only in the overlay in order to more smoothly interact with the rest of the design. We will not hesitate to arm our contractors with the best we can provide." She leans back, and reaches into a treasure chest, and tosses a bag to th0r. "A pre-payment, for the work you've done already. Provide us copies of the digital intelligence you have doubtless acquired today, and your fee will be doubled upon completion of the task, to a total of twenty-seven thousand of nuyen and 20 shares of the promised stock - redeemable as-is or for components doubtless necessary for your continued success."

A sea serpent, glittering green, bearing striking resemblance to the serpent in the cave, floats lazily by, gobbling up a fish.

Th0R regards the floating giantess for a few cycles then puts another foot on the gunwale and squats down, like a bird balancing above the water - his features sharper as his eyes blaze brightly and cast shadows on the contours of his face. "My mind was only troubled in regard to the potential for viewing of the assets without the exceptional overlays. Say…an Ares invested post office facility un-connected to the Gridguide system? And the rifles seem exceptional in the trials I've read. I wish them luck." he regards the sea serpent drift buy and waggles a hand at it, "I'll deal with the unexpected Ares angle as part of the package of course…all for the low cost of a direct line to you. A woman that knows how to cast a net could prove useful in the future."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "same as earlier":
1 2 5 10 17

The woman smiles, and is about to say something, and then freezes, like an agent put on pause for a flicker of a second… and then the scene is back into the bowels of the nine worlds, but rather than hidden in shadow, her face is there - except the hood is now a cobra's hood, her skin tinged with jade-green scales the same as the serpent's. "I was assuming you'd ask that," she said. "And… if he survive the night, I would have you extend that information to the red-masked samurai as well. His previous employer seeks him with such vigor, I am… intrigued." She raises a perfectly cyber-sculpted eyebrow. "I assume you know enough now to know who you're dealing with. Good Luck, Thunderer. I will be in touch."

The room collapses, and you are returned to the Event Horizon proper.

The godling pauses after exiting the star-node, letting the gravity of the black hole at the center of the bar slowly orbit his icon around the node as he ponders the meeting. A pink flamengo flaps up and parks next to him, squawking loudly at the pitch figure. "HEY! THIS PLACE IS GREAT! YOU NEW HERE? I AM!"

Azure eyes flare as they study the poor res icon then the figure decides that's his queue to get on with biz, "No, just dropped in to kill a guy. But…they didn't show. Though…it was supposed to be arrayed as a parakeet." Another SQWAAAAKKK and the icon poofs. A moment later the god disintegrates into lightning and scores it's way out of the node and back into DEN proper.

«Plot» Th0R says, "Gaul will head over to PCC to dump security tally since I don't recall what RTG Event Horizon is in, then head back to CAS. Might as well get started."
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 (to Kensai) for "Just rolling tn2 v Orange 5 to log in":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 9 10 11 15 = 13 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 (to Kensai) for "Just rolling tn2 v Green4 to log in to CAS :)":
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 9 11 17 = 14 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 2 3 5 8 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 17 (to no one):
3 4 10 19 = 1 Success
«OOC» Kensai rolls in the background. nothing stops you.

The azure lightning scores it' way across the horizon of the PCC RTG a few cycles to cool any security tally he's accumulated and then arcs on into CAS - the afterimage of a world tree the only indication to those able to see it that something passed this way. The bolt strikes three times at the cobbles of a Charleston style city grid, horse drawn carriages and strolling gentry ignoring the pitch-dark figure that emerges from the afterimage of the lightning strike. The norse figure pauses to get his bearings and then angles towards the SAN he's already rooted out.

«Plot» Th0R says, "I figure CAS has at least ONE ltg that looks like Charleston"
«Plot» Th0R says, "Or Savannah mashed together"
«Plot» Kensai says, "that works for me. :D"
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 (to Kensai) for "Just rolling tn2 v Green4 to log in to CAS :) LTG!":
1 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 5 9 9 10 14 20 = 12 Successes

The figure hops aboard one of the passing carriages and scampers onto the roof where it perches on it's haunches, letting the carriage carry him further into the RTG and then eventually on into the LTG, an older district with grand old buildings of marble and stone.

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 9 10 = 0 Successes

There is a lot of buzz in the matrix near the area you're looking for. Pigeons, mostly, clearly representing various trix feeds to that SAN over there- looks like a music venue.

Finding himself before a looming structure built of granite the godling will pause and study the sturdy square facade of the building. A large circular emblem similar to the Masonic crest is displayed on the front eave of the building - a moment it further resolves into GridGuide CAS-E. Various figures flow in and out of the building, pigeons also constantly flowing in and out of the dark recesses of the upper building, the gentle "who who who" of their calls forming a constant buzz.

A dark hand removes a pink glittery disco ball from a belt pouch, this time he tosses it up into the air as he mounts the steps of the building - behind him an icon forms, short skirt, knee socks and tight belly showing knit shirt. A pert nose turns to the figure departing, her blue eyes fix on him and she squeals - does a little jig that scatters glitter all around and takes off after him, "OHH!!! We're working eh? Ohh this place looks super super super duper creeper! Like are we gonna tots smash em up? What we lookin for? SECRETS?!" she chatters as she closes the distance in a flash.

«Plot» Th0R says, "Logging agent in first, then I'll follow. I'll use my skill for her."
«Plot» Th0R says, "Same DF as myself."
«Plot» Th0R says, "6 HP sent to +3 DF on both of us."
«Plot» Th0R says, "Masking Mode."

The node you're looking for is an old-fashioned cabby stand - the kind that hires out horse and buggy. Complete with swarthy men standing around, doing nothing.
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 for "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain":
4 4 4

Th0R, with a bone weary sigh turns to regard his agent and then notes a cabby stand a bit off the steps to the right. A murmer, "Tricky. Yea…secrets babe. Gonna go ninja on this one…no looting until we're done. Oh…the horse stand. Makes sense." turning he makes his way BACK down the steps and up to the cabby stand. Poking the shoulder of the closest driver, "Slave market…2 riders." a little excited squeal and Laura is dancing from one foot to the next, "SOO cooollll…romantic carriage ride in old city! I read about this in one of those old south mags…."

«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 (to Kensai) for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) ~Log on Host for Agent":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 8 15
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 (to Kensai) for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) ~Log on Host for self.":
1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 7 8

Against all odds, and embracing the 'non offensive' 'folksy' racism often present in the CAS government, the cabby that comes out is a pre-awakening style dwarf, complete with a flat cap and an offensive blend of cockney and carolina clip for an accent.

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 8 13 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 9 17 = 1 Success
Laura makes it on, but… th0r finds himself somehow left behind…
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 (to Kensai) for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) ~Log on Host for self.":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 9 10 11 14
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 9 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "success on the second try."
«OOC» Kensai says, "there are rolls going on, ghost, they're just being ping-ponged in private. when you're making a roll, you can go +roll 5/4=<player name>, and that would roll 5 dice against tn 4… but only you and the target player will see them."

Muttering at the damn dwarf ignoring him the godling just waits till he opens the door for the cute little lady and then while the halfers back is turned ghosts in to sit with her, "Did you see his hat? I think I need one of those…I like that accent too!" she twitters

The grid guide host is so different it's almost disorienting. All the fancy sculpting goes away, replaced by grids and wire frames in a very tron-like world. Dots are constantly moving along the grid, some illuminated, some not. There are monoliths here and there, faceless citadels of wireframe.

An open mouthed OHHHHH from he glittered girl next to him is the only sound as the two observe the new iconography, "It's so…OLDDDDD" a scrunched up, pert little nose and her pony tail flops then points in his direction then out to the new grid like rabbit ears. "Lessgo?" a nod from the norseman and they exit the carriage, almost immediatly a flock of crows burst forth from beneath his cloak and head out into the host - sqwauking and cawing as they disappear. Battletac synced the move over to their normal SOP » Alright. Take a peep real careful like, I'm gonna guide you where I can…« he mutters to the agent girly.

«Plot» Th0R says, "Analyzing host here, to get my bearings. How many other SAN do I see from this node?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 (to Kensai) for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Host TN: X ( X - Analyze Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )":
1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 8 10 11
«Plot» Th0R says, "VM and rating."
«Plot» Kensai says, "6."
«Plot» Kensai says, "no vm. rating is 12."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 8 8 9 9 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Th0R says, "Ah it's actually code and Value as a single give."
«Plot» Kensai says, "ah! red-12."
«Plot» Th0R says, "And 6 nodes leaving it? whew."
«Plot» Kensai says, "likely other gridguide networks."
«OOC» Kensai says, "according to r3, gridguide is managed by the local municipality."
«Plot» Th0R says, "So the other nodes are likely other "districts" in the city? (from my research before) just trying to get an idea of is this a chokepoint or the actual host"
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Security Network Familiarity + Task Pool: 3 for "Hmm.":
2 3 3 4 5 5 5
«Plot» Kensai says, "sioux, ucas, pcc, ftz, colorado springs, castle rock."

The crows circle back towards Th0R swarming into his cloak as if seeking protection from what they've found, one of them lands on his shoulder and caws quietly in his ear - caw caw caw then snuggles back out of sight. » Watch your skirts. This one is as red as your nails « a huff as she looks at her ruby red nails then kicks a foot » I should have worn the tight little nurse outfit - the red one, you KNOW. It would have matched. We're gonna have kid glove this one boss…lemme go first? « a nod from Th0R as he walks over and stands next to her.

The monolith, a huge chunk of obsidian stands before the pair - Laura prowls in her purse for a moment for her lipstick then starts to scrawl nordic symbols all over it's face - a hand raised beside her from Th0R as he channels lightning into the red paint.

As simplistic as it looks, that's part of the system's power. Everything is interconnected as it manages and tracks literally thousands of moving pieces. The code is lean but tight, and hatched by grid guide itself, built on pre-crash architecture and only tightened by decades of use.

«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Validate Account (Security) TN: X ( X (+2 Security) - Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Rolling through her! Tally is applied to Agent. Validating!":
1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 7 9
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Validate Account (Security) TN: X ( X (+2 Security) - Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Rolling through her! Tally is applied to Agent. Validating! 7/ I think!":
1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 7 11 21
«OOC» Kensai says, "…but still less advanced than the birdcage."
«OOC» Th0R says, "Yep. That was a REAL UV system ;)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "7 kp is accurate."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 15 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "laura gains access!"
«OOC» Kensai says, "sweating yet?"

Data continues to stream by - all the moving dots seem painfully slow in decker-time, moving through intersections, stopping for lights, hundreds being guided by this very system with thousands more being tracked.

«OOC» Th0R says, "Heh Red_12 is not the hardest I've done but it's right up there!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 3 5 5 8 11 11 11 15 17 = 5 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 8 10 = 1 Success
«OOC» Kensai says, "for my records, what are you and laura's sensor ratings?"
«OOC» Th0R says, "Current 1 and 4"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 10 (to no one):
2 5 5 10 = 1 Success

Even as laura's being validated - without any fancy therapy! - she notices something. A skeleton wearing an archaic grey army coat climbing into the host, hand over hand, its eyes burning with red light.

The symbols glow purple from the red lipstick and blue lightning playing over them, casting both icons in an odd color. Laura places a hand on her hip, kicks it to the side and gives the godling a side eye, » MAD skillz right? Like…I TOTALLY get a raise…not that one perv!!! But a CRED raise after that little flex right? « a broad smile and then it fades slightly as she notes the goofy skele-thing crawling in looking all intimidating and stuff. » Eww. « she mutters and passes the cred deets to Th0R.

Dropping into Sensor mode she does an analyze icon on the figure while Th0R drops the creds into his code stream and scans the subsystems - Slave first.

«Plot» Th0R says, "Automatic system test for Th0R to analyze subsystem Slave. Laura is analyzing ICon :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "both automatic, right? you get all the deets?"
«Plot» Th0R says, "Yes on mine, lemme check on hers"
«Plot» Kensai says, "Subssytem Slave, rating 17."
«Plot» Th0R says, "And yea Analyze Icon is just auto. When I scan it next I'll have to roll - though it also is auto"

«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Small Unit Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Coordinating.":
2 2 3 3 4 5 14

«Plot» Th0R says, "Using Battletac to coordinate with agent."
«OOC» Kensai thumbs up.
«Plot» Th0R says, "Basically the TN is 2 for matrix Battletac lol, we're just moving faster."

A whisper from across the tac-net » Another creepy little decker with that skelly look…I don't GET it, why not dress up in something CUTE right? OHHHMYYYGERRRRDDD I'MSPOOOKKYYY « as Laura has perched herself on top of one of the monoliths (somehow) and peers down at him with a pair of bedazzled binoculars.

«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 (to Kensai) for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Scan Icon TN: 6 ( Opponent(Masking+Sleaze) :12 - Scanner Rtg: 6) ) Scanning Icon! Just for success test, automatic.":
1 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 8 11 11
«Plot» Kensai says, "you've got 2 hits."
«Plot» Th0R says, "Access Privs and MXP please."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 13 (to no one):
2 2 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 8 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 13 (to no one) for "kp":
1 1 1 1 2 3 7 9 9 10 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 13 (to no one) for "kp":
2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 11 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one):
2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 8 9 = 0 Successes

Th0r who's got his hands in the dataflow and shaping it like a potter will look to the side and the new icon and mutter a word, a crow bursts from beneath the clock - black feathers scattering and arcs straight for the figure, circling around then returning to once again caw quietly in his ear.

«Plot» Kensai says, "currently, basic access. he hasn't been able to make more access yet."
«Plot» Kensai says, "does the mxp trace go all the way through the daisy chain of what he's logged in through?"
«Plot» Th0R says, "All I needed to know :) he's not legit."
«Plot» Th0R says, "honestly if he's got some oddball jerry right then maybe not? It would really depened on what MXP they're on and how."

The figure moves through the system like a ghost - or so it thinks, and begins trying to dig around and become one with the system.

«Plot» Kensai says, "you can trace it at least to… the same constellation you're connected through, as fate would have it!"

«Plot» Th0R says, "I am going to hold action and then when it attempts to do operations I'm going to Analyze Operation - or rather Laura will while I snoop this data feed"

From the datafeed Th0R is sweating, there is a LOOOT of data here and it's taking all of his concentration. » ALright. Lock his ass up and just stay on him, max sneaky girl and let me know what he's doing. « a salute and her outfit morphs into a skintight…like painted on black body suite complete with matching purse. She flips off the monolith and lands near him, blue eyes peering and watching.

«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) + 8 (programming) vs TN 8 for "Eh TN8 seems valid.":
1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 13 = 6 Successes
«OOC» Th0R says, "Agent comprehension test."
«Plot» Th0R says, "The goal here is if he does something to inerfere or overlap what I'm doing I'm going to Block his system op"

«Plot» Kensai says, "sounds good to me. she understands perfectly."
«OOC» Th0R says, "Laura does not have a Crash utility - otherwise I'd get her to do it. I need to remember that."

Laura finishes military-correct salute and nabs her binocullars out for extra snoopy wtching.
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 13 (to no one) for "one last try and then he has to do this more sneaky-like.":
1 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 7 14 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one) for "security test.":
1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 7 13 = 1 Success
«OOC» Th0R says, "Oh dang it, it's Snooper. Bah. Hang on"
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (HP) for "TN Whatver no Utility.":
2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 8 8 11 19
«OOC» Th0R says, "wow"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one) for "security on laura":
1 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 9 11 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Th0R says, "if the 19 is a hit she'll just take op being performed as her detail :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "it is! and he just cleared himself a security pass."

The skeleton finishes his digging, and his demeanor changes. Now he wears an officer's cap and carries a saber, and he's moving towards the slave subsystem himself…

«Plot» Th0R says, "she's going to immediately invalidate it :)"

The ninja girl comms details to her man » OH he's a snooper just like us…got a sec id and going to the slave system. I wonder what he's up to? You want me to snuff his creds? « Th0R from his position in the datastream just smiles and nods, » Go get him «

«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Invalidate Account TN: X ( X - Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Agent Invalidating Security Credentials Vs Control":
1 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 8 8 11
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 10 = 0 Successes

The ninja girl manages to keep in a little giggle as she sneaks up to the scary ole skeleton, one step, two steps she's nearly there….

Perhaps it's a second sense but the skeleton turns to look behind him suddenly! But see's only the vast array of old iconography and data flows, he slowly turns back towards the monolith that's his target - never noticing a little thin arm reach down from it's perch on the side of another monolith and remove his battered old hat, a whispered "YOINK".

Th0R has turned his attention fully to the song of the data, the inflow and outflow and the hundreds if not thousands of discordant sensor feeds that make up Gridguide. Eyes glowing a vibrant azure is the only sign that the MPCP is working overtime funneling the data into his brain.

«OOC» Kensai says, "hmmmm. roll me a willpower test, open."
«Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Willpower:
1 1 4 4 4 5 5 8 10

Even as the skelington's hat is knocked off his head and he's knocked back to corporal, th0r enters the datastream of the slave network… so, so many. Every car that's using gridguide for autopilot is hooked in, every street light, every corner-camera - though these last are only reporting, the control from them - and the dozen or so rotodrones zipping around - are controlled in a different language.

It's just so much data- it could be overwhelming, or baffling… or worse yet, seductive. It would be so easy to break the city here, so easy to take control of all those cars…

But th0r contains his hubris.

«Plot» Kensai says, "good roll! was thinking of poking a god-complex psych lim at you, even though those don't exist in shadowrun. :D"

In a flat halfway across the city the still form a beefy halfing stirs on his couch, the Savior medkit strapped to his chest starts to beep a yellow warning as it detects some odd biofeedback. Face clenches and the halfer powers through all the stray thoughts, Mission. He's got a mission, he's not some weak minded fool…singular is his willpower.

Trixside his digital split-personality extends a hand and starts to look for the location he's been tasked to watch - to monitor. But the mercenary side of his brain, fueled by the multi-tasking Encephalon also takes note of other transponders and identifiers….why not?

«Plot» Kensai says, "yeah, i'd guess that too. *checks ic time* i think i had posed it as 1030 when you left the meet, then you took an ic biobreak. so given decker speed you're probably at about 1039"
«Plot» Kensai says, "sifting through all that data to find out which camera data you actually need will take much more time."
«Plot» Gaul nods, "Yep, I'd say so. Gaul is monitoring traffic and looking for interesting flow in and around the event site as well as other "interesting" things going on base don the weather. IE opportunities.
«Plot» Gaul says, "Laura is monitoring operations on the guy still; we're hoping he's not noticed his de-elevated credentials."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3:
1 2 4

The digital world of the grid guide is still moving like elegant clockwork, enough to make one wonder if it is of german or swiss design. From here you can also see the dozens of cameras at work, although to properly access their records may be in another server.

«Plot» Kensai says, "things you find! You locate a spot in the zone, just a block or two away from the Novatech subsidiary, there is no traffic. None. Not even transponders. Oddly, gridguide also doesn't seem to be responding to this."

«Plot» Kensai says, "once you find the section near the event site - it took an annoying amount of time, because from here they're numbered rather than labeled - the cameras work the same way, but their number patterns don't line up. There's an order to that, too - perhaps the reason for this is to limit exactly what you're doing right now, forcing an invader to look through multiple subsystems. but once you find it, there are transponders filling the parking lot - and only two sitting in the back. Both of which seem to change every 15 goddamn minutes. One of them always corresponds to a roadmaster-sized vehicle, though, and the other to a series of mazda sports cars, all the same model."

«Plot» Kensai says, "once you track down where the pawn shop was, you notice no transponders on the roof - no surprise - but there are now three vehicles around it, all but one out of sight of the post office. they, also, shift, but at an increment of thirty minutes and they don't manage to all be for the same kind/class/size of vehicle. Someone was sloppy with their library."

«Plot» Gaul says, "The back being the "secure" area of the venu? So I assume Jade Blossom and one of the crews rides?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "jade blossom is the name of the security company - and maybe. but as they are a registered security company, why would they use a library?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "and yes, it is the secure side of the venue. there's nothing else parked there."
«Plot» Kensai says, "because you're you and i've sure you've checked it out, kensai's car is in the jam-packed parking lot. so is max - i seem to remember you starting to track him after the first scorpion incident."
«Plot» Kensai says, "one other oddity you come across, now that you know to look for it. there are two other vehicles using the same shitty 3-peat library in different parts of the area. one is in a very low local traffic section near the warrens wall, another is near a small school."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct, Gaul would have tried to figure out where Kensai was parked and who would be in that area of the parking lot. And just for my reference the RiggerX friend of his (the name escapes me) is NOT the roadmaster? So we've got 5 unknowns atm, 2 in the back parking lot with legit transponder libraries - and 3 more unrelated with shoddy ones."
«Plot» Gaul says, "I'm also looking for any transponders that keep circling the area in a standard pattern (not cabs or ubers or the like) someone waiting for a call."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Adn are there any cameras with eyes on the Roadmaster/Mazda."
«Plot» Kensai says, "you find -10-. Nine are registered and verified cabbies/ride shares, however. And one is a mobmaster registered to the Jade Blossom Security Company."
«Plot» Kensai says, "actually… yes!"
«Plot» Kensai says, "there's one across the street, with barely a view, but you see… two blacked-out security vans where the transponders are. Which are -not- what the transponders say they are."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Scrolling back over records of movement, when did the 5 vehicles arrive at their current destination and where did they come from? I realize the 3 at the pawn shop might have been there."

Laura tasked to the Ares feeds contacts you: «Hey handsome,» She says. «There are more people in there than there were. Cameras her are recording eighteen different voices.

You locate - the transponders got to the pawn shop right after full dark tonight. One crossed the UCAS border, the other was still here in the CAS. The other two - reports come from one crossing over from the sioux sector at approximately 930 pm, heading straight to wear it was. The one at the school has been there since before school started, and also came from the CAS.

«Plot» Kensai says, "the third transponder at the pawn shop has been there for days."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Quick cross reference on the school and area at the wall - figuring out if there is a point of interest there."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Sorry AFTEr you tell me about the 2 vans at the venue."
«Plot» Kensai says, "okay. running a search?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Indeed."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 for "Searching.":
1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 10

«Plot» Kensai says, "the school has a high percentage - 60 percent - of metas, most of them with foreign backgrounds, primarily flavors of asia."
«Plot» Kensai says, "the poverty-stricken neighborhood, in the same district, also high percentage - including a remarkably large population of elves, many disenfranchised immigrants from tir taingire, and some that have climbed out of the cesspool of tir llwen."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Now. The hell with that. That crosses a line with Gaul - he could care less if they're racist doppleganger gangbangers; hurt a kid? He hobo-murders you.. He's dropping another instance of Laura. Tasking her to get over to that school, check cameras and security and report back."
«Plot» Gaul says, "File Upload as Free Action; takes him about 5 Combat Turns."
«Plot» Kensai says, "the school has also had issues with skinheads and neo-conservatives among the human anglo population. lots of reports of violence against the metas."
«Plot» Kensai says, "no worries, she's on her way. i'm not going to make you roll against her violating a low-income public school's matrix security."

Trix-side the pitch figure of Th0R drops another glowy ball after whispering to it to come in low and slow; as such she only does a little wiggle shake instead of the full on glitter twirl - though her lip quivers in an almost pout. » Darling. We've got some jack-asses loitering at a kiddos school. I need you to get over there and run some nails over the system - figure out what they're up to and let me know. If you see something you can do to stop them or something that might endanger a kid immediately stop it then ask for instructions! « to which she replies » OH HELL NAW! For Great justice and such…or at LEAST for the kiddos!« and she's off.

«Plot» Gaul says, "What is status of our friend the other decker?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Has he triggered yet?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "he remained quiet for some time. now he's attempting to slip into a subsystem… the slave, actually?"
«OOC» Gaul says, "She spent significant time with Little Sister lol"
«OOC» Kensai says, "is there a roll associated with moving into a subsystem?"

«Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will monitor operation to see what he's doing."
«Plot» Kensai says, "so it's locate slave first."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Operation TN: X ( X - Snooper Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) vs Johnnie Decker":
1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 7 7 8 11 17
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 vs TN 10:
1 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 8 8 11 13 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 7 = 0 Successes

«Plot» Kensai says, "he's doing locate slave, and it looks like he's succeeded."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Gonna keep spying to see what he's interested in."
«Plot» Gaul says, "I will monitor Slave on the same slave he just accessed."

While monitoring the decker Th0R will multi-task » L. Take a peek at Transponders 456-4322 and 21TJ-565, figure out where they came from and when they got to their current loc. I didn't get a chance «

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

You have a chance to look at the op data I sent?

School Laura «Well. I have good news and bad news. It doesn't look like any of these murderfucks have gone in yet, but when the school closed today three students went to the transport and climbed on. Two of them had heads so shaved they gleam in the son, the other was a handsome blonde boy in what looks like a letterman's jacket. How crude and preppy, right? I've id'ed them as <name, name, and name>. Blondilocks is a senior, the two baldies are third-year freshmen. » She takes a virtual deep breath. «The bad news. Yesterday morning, a dwarf boy and an elven boy - who had a human girlfriend - were badly beaten up, by the same boys and a few others. Later, while the boys were all being interrogated by the principle, someone painted a skull in the hallway they were beaten up at. Looks like they were almost expelled, but somehow that got kicked back and dropped this morning. Also? The girl's styles have COMPLETELY changed and I'm MONTHS BEHIND and I CAN'T EVEN.»

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Intelligence for "does he notice the text coming in on his arm in the midst of the very loud party, or is he too focused on the mosh pit?":
3 4 7 8
«Plot» Kensai says, "he noticed!"
---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

I did. Things clicked. Crimson didn't realize I had backstage passes. I got them just this morning - I think they were from their manager? I think someone knows something about something going down tonight and wanted me here. Is that hubris?

» DEEP breaths. DEEEEP breaths. You're still on the bleeding edge in here as far as fashion darlin' remember those groups you scraped up at Event? Don't sweat the meat, THEY'RE behind out there…you're ahead! « a pause » Dig into the principle records and terminal, see what dirt he's got - hell just purloin all staff and check for tie ins with known hate groups «

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) + 8 (prog) vs TN 10 for "Comp":
2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 9 11 16 = 2 Successes
«On it, sexy!»
«Game» Backup to offline storage commencing. Game may freeze for a bit…
---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

Neg. I suspect you'll be getting a call soon. Dominoes. When you need intel ask me.

«Plot» Kensai says, "as you monitor the slave, you determine that it's the one working camera on the same street as the pawnshop."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Gonna keep an eye on him and make sure he's not fouling it, that's one of the ones I need correct? Also, I've not had time to check but at some point I need to verify I have the camera, data and feeds I need to complete my mission."

---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

do you have eyes in the building? I have spotted at least one cam. But depending on who they have running the matrix-side it might be pretty gnarly.

«Plot» Gaul says, "If he tries to subvert it, I'll block."
«Plot» Kensai says, "you're not PRECISelY sure of the ones you need, that information hasn't been sent yet - it doesn't take a leap for you as an experienced operative to guess that they're waiting for any action for them to pinpoint what they need."

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

No eyes in building. All slaves have been negated. I have feeds outside still active. Potential 5 hostile vehicles. 18 Hostiles in building. 2 Vans behind your venu. 3 outside the building.

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 vs TN 11 (to no one):
1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 10 13 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 7 8 8 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "he's doing something again. analyze operation again?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Operation TN: X ( X - Snooper Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) vs Johnnie Decker":
1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 8 8
«OOC» Kensai says, "and because it's targeting the host, you don't need to beat his DF, right?"
«OOC» Gaul says, "Correct :)"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 - 1 vs TN 11 (to no one) for "kp":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 10 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 - 1 vs TN 11 (to no one) for "kp":
1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 7 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 - 1 vs TN 11 (to no one) for "kp":
1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "you are currently not getting any information. it's not trying to stop you, but the control subsystem is very advanced."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Operation TN: X ( X - Snooper Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) vs Johnnie Decker":
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 9 20
«Plot» Kensai says, "he is using 'encrypt slave'"

«Plot» Gaul says, "I'm going to do two things. Laura is going to Block his System Operation - stopping his Monitoring. I'm then going to Restrict his Icon - in an attempt to decrease his Detection Factor - so that future attempts to do slave operations will have a greater chance of failing. The reason I'm doing all this and not crashing him"
«Plot» Gaul says, "We will coordinate concurrently"
«Plot» Kensai says, "if you mess with him too bad, it may lead him to triggering system alerts, right?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah. True. I was coming at it form the angle of - NOT directly attacking because they didn't want a fracass here."
«Plot» Gaul says, "But. Now that you mention it, if he kicks off an active alert it accomplishes the same thing doesn't it."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah. Sorry. Block operation meaning, block encryption. I had monitoring on the brain."
«Plot» Kensai says, "right. roll her block op!"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Lets do this then :) I'll have her do the Block Op. Then I will do the encrypt slave, then an immediate Infect. lol"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 8 for "Block Operation":
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 8 13 16
«Plot» Kensai says, "the jade blossom van arrived there an hour before the concert started. the transponder sports car that looks like a van in the camera logs got there as the band did."
«Plot» Kensai says, "she blocks it!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 8 9 17 = 1 Success

«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah! So the 2 Black vans are actually part of the group. I was confused as to that - sorry misunderstood. I thought they were additional unknowns."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Encrypt Slave TN: X ( X - Encrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Encrypting First":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Encrypt Slave TN: X ( X - Encrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Encrypting First 8/":
1 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 9
«Plot» Gaul says, "I'm not going to reroll again. Saving KP"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 11 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF), Infect TN: X ( X - No Utility) vs Host: ? ) Infecting with R9 Data Worm Next Action":
2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 10 10 15
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 4 5 5 5 5 7 9 23 = 1 Success
«OOC» Kensai says, "so it's just versus the slave tn, or does the dataworm help?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Right so the Infect TN is just a Slave Action - it's not Free of course so the Server gets to hit me."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Whenever the Decker accesses the Slave again however it infects him, unless he disinfects it."
«Plot» Gaul says, "BUT since he's been fiddling with it, he probably thinks it's clean."
«Plot» Kensai says, "okay. at the moment, you're not succeeding."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Does it appear the slave is already encrypted?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "nope."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Alright. Nevermind then that # is too silly atm. So I'll just attempt to encrypt again."

Schoolgirl Laura -> «Looks like the the principle got a call from the superintendent this morning, but it's already been deleted! Weird, right? It looks like the gym teacher has donated lots to humanis policlubs, the sleazegirl.»

«Plot» Gaul says, "Also. Gaul would know this. What would be the result of encrypting that slave?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 for "Hmm. Know":
1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 11
«Plot» Gaul says, "Besides messing with anyone trying to look at it. Would it shut down Gridguide? Screw up things in a bigger way?"

«Plot» Kensai says, "well. at the moment, not much. but noone other than you, or the system's automated functions, will be able to access it until it's decrypted."
«Plot» Kensai says, "no, i'd have to say no on that. that's too dangerous for it not to be accounted for."
«Plot» Kensai says, "from what i understand, gridguide expects people to try to deck it."

«Plot» Gaul says, "Good. Alright, I'll encrypt attempt #2 it again then after the infect. Then pay careful attention to what Mr. Decker is doing - tell Laura to be ready to crash him."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 17 for "him detecting the blocking icon":
1 2 2 4 5 10 = 0 Successes

The norseman watches Johnny Reb closely, working in tandem with the glittered ninja to thwart his actions. When the skeletons back is turned the dark warrior will shove a shriveled fingerbone into a slot on the Monolith that controls the slave. » Get ready to light this wanker up, he's screwing up my groove. «

«Plot» Kensai says, "he will assume he just failed, and try again."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 vs TN 11 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 8 8 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 vs TN 11 (to no one) for "last kp":
1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 9 11 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Encrypt Slave TN: X ( X - Encrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Encrypting #2":
1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 7
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Encrypt Slave TN: X ( X - Encrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Encrypting #2":
1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 9 13
«Plot» Gaul says, "Takes him 2 attempts."
«Plot» Kensai says, "but you got it!"

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 5 5 10 = 1 Success
«Plot» Kensai says, "perception test from you and laura"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 4 (Sensor) for "l":
2 4 5 8
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 1 (Sensor) for "me lol":
1
«Plot» Gaul says, "Glitch :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "your sensor completely crashes, and you don't get to reallocate the mcpc point. it -should- work after a deck reboot."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 10 (to no one) for "scouting the decker":
1 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 10 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 for "noticing?":
1 1 2 3 5 5
«OOC» Kensai says, "to wit: any operation you're running works. you can find subsytems you're looking for, etc. you can even monitor. and yes, you need laura's eyes. :D"
«OOC» Kensai says, "carry on!"
«OOC» Gaul says, "Laura spots, he'll use that. Sensors are how you see visuals."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 vs TN 11 (to no one) for "decrypt":
1 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 1 1 2 2 4 5 5 5 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 10 16 = 2 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "Time for a bit of backup I think. He's going to spend 5 turns uploading Jorg."
«Plot» Kensai says, "laura sensor test again. :)"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 8 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "you're still monitoring him, right?"

The norseman whips his head around at "something" his sixth sense pinging. Something goes wrong, the azure eyes spark and burn out of his face - a growl of static. » Damn it. Fault on Sensor array, you're my eyes darkling «

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 4 (sensors) for "Peeping":
3 4 4 5
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1:
1
«Plot» Kensai says, "oh, and because dumpshock, you're temporarily blind yourself for all of 1 minute. not that it matters."
«Plot» Kensai says, "not… 'dumpshock,' precisely. more because hotsim."
«Plot» Kensai says, "roll your monitor of him!"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Seems fair."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Operation TN: X ( X - Snooper Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )":
1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 10 14
«Plot» Gaul says, "Sorry. Missed the request in the commentary."
«Plot» Kensai says, "he is attempting to decrypt!"
«Plot» Gaul says, "He gets to make an infection test :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "that's a curious question. currently he can't access the system - he failed his first decrypt. does that mean he can't access the worm, too?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (Rating) for "v MPCP":
1 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 5
«Plot» Gaul says, "Bah. Pretty useless lol"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Nah, any interaction with the slave does it. Each time he tries it gets a test."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (Rating) for "v MPCP #2":
1 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 13
«Plot» Gaul says, "However. The issue with it, is against a good deck it rarely works."
«Game» Backup to offline storage commencing. Game may freeze for a bit…
«Plot» Kensai says, "was the second time for his second attempt to decrypt? lemme roll that sec."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Yes. But if he's got at least hardening 1 it fails lol."
«Plot» Gaul says, "So infect is basically v MPCP, and I need Hardening + 1 successes!"
«OOC» Gaul says, "So. *sad trombone*"
«Plot» Kensai says, "for logging: NEED TO CORRECT TN OF FIRST DECRYPT TEST."
«OOC» Kensai says, "just think of all the data you'll get from gridguide!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 + Hacking Pool: 6 vs TN 11 (to no one) for "encrypt x2":
1 1 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 7 10 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 10 10 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 12 (to no one):
1 1 1 3 5 7 9 10 10 10 = 0 Successes
«OOC» Gaul says, "Yep :) it is pretty cool tbh lol."
«OOC» Kensai says, "another sensor test from laura. it's getting nasty in here."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 6 (to no one):
1 1 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 10 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 2 4 4 5 7 = 0 Successes

The pitch-black decker drops a large serpents tooth to the floor - it sinks into the digital medium and disappears from sight but tiny tremors rock the area. A quick comm » Alright. Time to dump this guy - he's gonna be a problem; he's flailing like a monkey «

«Plot» Gaul says, "then init as she springs to attack."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 4 (sensor) for "Peep":
1 1 2 2
«OOC» Gaul says, "Dice are saying. Quit."
Kensai pages: wrong tn on the ic's attack. tn was 3. so 8 successes, drops his sensor to 2.
You paged Kensai with 'wrong tn on the ic's attack. tn was 3. so 8 successes, drops his sensor to 2.'.
«OOC» Kensai says, "lol she doesn't notice shit"

Responding to the commands given and feeling a little giddy at getting to use her bolter she pulls the snub nosed device from her bejewled purse, levels it at the icon and pulls the trigger.

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 for "+10 his matrix init":
4 8 8
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 5 for "+10 her Init.":
2 4 4 5 5
«Plot» Kensai says, "of course, he's unaware of her attack. so i guess that's a reaction test v ambush? hmm"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Small Unit Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Matrix! TN2":
1 1 1 2 3 4 5
«Plot» Gaul says, "It is."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Same as in the meat basically."
«OOC» Kensai says, "so she'll come visible, but the ambush will still happen."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 4 for "what the what?":
1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 7 = 4 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 12 vs TN 4 for "+2 Dice from SUT 2:1":
1 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 5 7 7 10 = 8 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 14 vs TN 5 for "Gaul rolling Reaction as well. SUT Assist 2:1, +1 No sensors.":
1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 8 = 6 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 3 for "+12 Gaul":
1 3 4
«Plot» Kensai says, "ambush complete! he can't counter attack in the first pass."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Laura will do a pair of simples, AttackD R3"
«Plot» Kensai says, "also, is an attack a system test? asking for a security test friend."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Legit vs Illegit, Attack is not a system test no :)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "ahhh too bad."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 3 for "( TN: 3 ( Attacking Icon Status: Legit(Decker) VS Target Icon Status: Illegimate: Host Color: Red ) #1 Blast.":
1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 11 = 10 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) vs TN 3 for "( TN: 3 ( Attacking Icon Status: Legit(Decker) VS Target Icon Status: Illegimate: Host Color: Red ) #2 Blast.":
1 1 1 2 3 3 4 9 = 4 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "She has no more HP left this turn. 6 Were used on DF."
«Plot» Kensai says, "theres no defense roll, so it's straight to bod, right?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "or rather, he can't parry attack,so… yeah."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct. Pretty nasty."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 3 for "this is bad":
1 1 2 2 3 3 = 2 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "I've scouted the books to verify Surprise in Matrix is the same, and as far as I can tell it is."
«OOC» Gaul says, "Scoured, as I've often gone through the mat and it's always bad."
«Plot» Kensai says, "if i'm reading this correctly, that deals D + 4 to his icon."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct."
«OOC» Gaul says, "Panther assault pistol."
«Plot» Gaul says, "The BAD part. Is he takes Deadly dumpshock. 12D I believe."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 12 for "versus D":
2 3 3 5 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "she crashes him into the dirt."

The snub-nosed bolter bucks and the .50 micro-missile exits the barrel in slow motion, spinning clockwise and spraying tiny flecks of glitter. The tiny engine ignites and the armor piercing shell accelerates in a blink smashing into the back of the skeleton and burying itself in it's innards. A CRUMP and a massive spray of blood, bone and other bits occurs a millisecond afterwards - the spatter covering Th0R, the Monolith and several other legitimate icons.

A cute little OHHH and then a huge smile! » I think…I got him? « a giggle as she carefully replaces the bolter in her purse.

Wiping gore off his blinded face the norseman manages a thumbs up at the Monolith, a good 45 degrees from the correct angle of his Agent » I felt the spatter…«

«Plot» Kensai says, "you're still uploading jorm, right? once that's complete you now have less competition to do your thing. Also, he helpfully showed you the right slave for the camera near the pawn shop!"

Th0R will not risk a reboot, things are too fluid right now and he needs to maintain overwatch on several things going down. The van at the School, the van at the Wall, 3 vehicles at a pawn shop and 18 hostiles getting ready to kill some meta's. Retasking Laura at the school (complete in a cute little schoolgirl outfit) to dig into the staff further, especially the PE and Superintendent, » Let me know if the van parked out front pings any of the heat sensors around - if there are any. With the snow you should able to get a good read«

Refocusing on Ares Host, » 18 Voices. Got it darling, you let me know when things ramp up there and start getting hot. We're going to need to run an overlay on that camera too - you should have what you need to do it. «

Finally in the Gridguide host Gaul will decrypt the Slave drive, no sense making it look odd in here and then focus ALL his attention on the slaves and what needs to happen for him to correctly overlay the video.

«Plot» Gaul says, "A note, in case I forget. Gaul will NOT be using his Security credentials to overlay that imagery, that would be "detectable" as a Gridguide Security credential doing it. He needs to do it old fashion no trace hack."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Programming) + Task Pool: 3 for "Programming seems most appropriate to correctly overlay a well done image (done with programming) on a camera feed so it gets saved that way.":
1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 7 7 8 8 10 20
«Plot» Gaul says, "Prep work^"
«Plot» Kensai thumbs up.
«Plot» Kensai says, "looks pretty well programmed."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah a note, Decrypt is a free action so no roll there. Not sure if you were writing something."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Right, he was mostly just making sure he understood HOW to overlay it and if he had what he needed here (access-wise) to do it."
«Plot» Kensai says, "i did not. especially since you were the one that encrypted it. :D"
«Plot» Kensai says, "that's what i figured, which is why i was waiting before writing more back at you. :)"

Th0R covers the monoliths face with his feathered cloak, wiping off the runes he'd painted on it before the Reb was dumped. Stepping back up to it he stars analyzing the dataflow again, making sure things are as expected.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Decrypt Slave TN: X ( X - Decrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )":
1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 7 8 8 9 11
«Plot» Gaul says, "Just throwing some bones."
«Plot» Kensai says, "the 11 was exactly what you needed."

The encryption… is decidedly difficult to crack, considering you're the one you made it, but it eventually parts before you.
Schoolgirl Laura - «Counting six warm bodies in there, mr. headmaster <giggle.> They're starting the engine up, too. Did you now Ms. Whistler was gay? All the other teachers are trixmailing each other about it. The men are all scared she's after their wives, the girls are hoping she'll take them from her husbands, but none of them are keening in on the fact that she's been married since 68. Born in 39? SHE'S SO OLD WWWWHY DOES SSHE EVEN GET TO HAVE SEX EWWW EWWW EWWW."

Laura takes up position in the host, scanning of her own accord - having changed into a body-suit with flowing circuitry all over it's surface…a WHOLE lot like something she saw in this nifty old movie named Tron one evening with Th0R. A cybered band covers her eyes, a small pillar of light sweeping back and forth on it's surface Cylon style as she cranks up her sensors.

Beneath her feet the ground rumbles and the digital landscape shifts as a huge body moves below the surface, scanning the subterranean for trouble.

Gaul chooses to remain quiet and say nothing about having been born in 33 but instead says, » Do some looking around the school cameras, back up and make sure they didn't put any explosive devices or deliveries « a pause as he considers the info » Everyone worries about being deprecated darling…it's human nature. «

Ares-Laura -> "Got it, handsome. Is the fact that three vtol drones just launched something I should tell you about? The system here has them flagged as Ares air-supplies? What does that mean?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "No clue, what DOES that mean? Defaulting to Mega-Corp Delivery procedures?":
1 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 5
«Plot» Kensai says, "it's an ares-version of the redball express."

Th0R ponders, tasking Gridguide cameras near the school to track the van via it's ranging transponder code pattern then responding to Ares-Laura (neat idea for a icon btw) » Yes. I need to know that sort of thing. Give me a feed, let me see what they're packing. «

«Plot» Gaul says, "Paying note to their liftoff behavior (are they loaded down with something) and where they're going, if they're redballs they'll be at Venue in seconds"
«Plot» Kensai says, "if they're loaded down with something, it's not very heavy. You don't see any exterior weapons mounts or cargo routes. They are splitting up and are starting on what appears to be a big patrol, not coming anywhere near their full speed. your military tactics memory tells you that this helps make them get on target even-faster. No waiting for them to warm up and launch."

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

Be advised there are 3 drones on warm up patrol of the venue. 18 potential hostiles in identified building nearby plus another 6 inbound.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Same message goes to Jade Blossom"
---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

That's a lot of manpower for this venue. I've counted maybe … six security guards around here? Four gaurding the backstage area.

Response from Jade Blossom=Thank you, freelance. We are monitoring the situation, and are now taking into account the second team.
---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

Appear to be anti-meta activists with significant experience and protection.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Gridguide has significant EW potential in their towers, or at least I assume the might have. They have to pick up massive signal traffic from the transponders and other radio. I'd like to try to use them as a listening post, as a big Scanner."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Locate File I TN: X ( X - Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Looking for frequency details and band information, as well as tower frequency band details and amplifier strength for something that will fit.":
1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 8
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Locate File I TN: X ( X - Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Looking for frequency details and band information, as well as tower frequency band details and amplifier strength for something that will fit. Try 2":
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 7 9 10
«Plot» Kensai says, "i like that approach. complete success!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 for "Having the skill to do what I want to do. TN?":
2 4 4 5 5 7 15
«OOC» Kensai says, "i was going to place it at 8, and you pulled it off. it would ordinarily take about 10 minutes, but at deckerspeed you get it in 2."

Hands still up to the elbows in the data flowing from the monolith the pitch norseman will toss his head, dark cloak flapping to release a pair of fat black crows who circle the host and eventually bring back a chunk of electronics in their beaks. The drop it on the ground in front of the norseman, he looks down - picks it up and inserts it into the Slave monolith…spooling a thin black piece of rock from the contraption and wrapping it around one wrist.

11:30 and the vans light up as Ares-Laura watches. They're not taking off yet, just getting ready. Their transponders appear on the network!

The one parked near the wall is now moving, too.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Using Gridguide sensors to detect passengers, thankfully cold car - warm bodies, 0 degrees"
«Plot» Kensai says, "6 each."
«Plot» Kensai says, "sensor test from gridguide laura?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 12 (Sensors) for "In Sensor Mode. Laura.":
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 12 (Sensors) for "In Sensor Mode. Jorg.":
1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 7 10
«Game» Backup to offline storage commencing. Game may freeze for a bit…
«OOC» Kensai says, "what's jorg's def?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Fwiw both are actively scanning for intruders."
«OOC» Gaul says, "moment afk"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Masking+Sleaze==7 on Jorg, 10 on Laura."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 7 (to no one):
1 1 2 2 3 8 = 1 Success

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + 4 vs TN 10 (to no one):
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 7 7 10 10 11 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 vs TN 2 (to no one):
2 3 4 4 5 7 7 8 = 8 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "carry on with your actions. :D"
«Plot» Kensai says, "the clock is ticking…although to a certain extent,you're waiting to get more information,aren't you?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Yep, I really am not sure what else he can do. He's using the towers now to Scan radio frequencies in order to intercept transmissions in the venue area. Since he has extra cycles to do this he was going to do it to try to pick up some comm traffic on the bad guys."
«Plot» Kensai says, "one more sensors test from your agents, as they're actively scanning. did you give jorm security credentials?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 for "we'll use this for the rating of the scanner, given it has access to allllll the gridguide sensors in the area":
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5
«Plot» Kensai says, "ahhhh holyshit. statistically that should have hit six twice."
«OOC» Gaul chuckles and shrugs.
«Plot» Gaul says, "Yep, all agents have the creds."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 12 (Sensors) for "In Sensor Mode. Jorg.":
1 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 10
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 12 (Sensors) for "In Sensor Mode. LG.":
1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 9

You can pick up some radio chatter - lots of it, actually, but only two groupings are using encryption.

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + 4 vs TN 11 (to no one):
1 1 1 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence + 3 (me) for "Trying to recall the encryption standard protocol for Shiawese since he's dealt with it recently during the Toymaker plot (used a scanner)":
1 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 9 9 13
«Plot» Gaul says, "he will ignore the Shiawase style encryption and go with the other one - attempting to utilize his Decrypt utility to cut through that baby crap."
«Plot» Kensai says, "go for it! tn will be 6."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 6 for "Decrypting":
1 1 2 3 4 4 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 6 for "Decrypting 9/":
2 2 3 4 4 5 5 = 0 Successes
«OOC» Kensai says, "time passes, while you wait."
«OOC» Kensai says, "you are successfully tracking all of the vans."
«Plot» Gaul says, "He will continue trying to break encryption - it's not a total fail thing, it just takes longer I assume."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 6 for "Decrypting attempt #2 at some point.":
1 1 2 2 3 4 7 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 6 (Decrypt) vs TN 6 for "Comp":
1 2 2 4 5 5 = 0 Successes

At 1203, on the dot, the three vans at the pawnshop begin to move, taking something like a formation. The van at the wall has parked in front of a random rowhouse, and the other van is seemingly moving on patrol.
At this point, you crack the encryption.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Military Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Yep…looks familiar.":
1 1 2 3 5 9 17

«Rebel moving in. Get the Airforce setting up for their runs.»

«Liberty Moving in on your eight. Terminus is programming the birds - launching Reargaurd in 30.»

«Pureblood on your four. We going to talk about how RebelYell got harddumped?»

«No details over this channel. Those meta-cocksucking japo pukes might be listening. »

«Jade Blossom. What a fucking nippon-name.»

«Purity checking in. We're on location at the witch's house. Waiting for your signal.»

«Pickett is on patrol. Ready to come in if things get wild.»

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 12 (to no one):
1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 7 10 15 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 12 (to no one):
3 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 7 7 9 11 = 0 Successes
Grid-guide Laura -> «Um, babycakes? There's someone looking at the slave system in here. I think it's tolstoy.»
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + 9 + Karma Pool: 4 vs TN 16 for "kp 3/10 used=me~creating superuser account.":
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 10 10 11 11 = 0 Successes

A broad grin breaks out on the goldings face, shiny white teeth a stark contrast to the pitch skin. He likes winning this halfer. He quickly retasks the datastream to multi-plex on his view of the cameras and turns a head at Lauras warning » Hmm. A little double checking on us maybe? Or playing both sides. If it looks like he's going to stomp me - jump his ass. Jorg…meatshield please. « with a flick of his brain he sprays a text to the nonchalant Jades » Be advised. Opfor Encryption schema is Alpha-56-Ultra-Foxtrot-Sigma. Exactly as written. «

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + 9 + Karma Pool: 4 vs TN 16 for "kp 3/10 used=me~creating superuser account. kp 4/10":
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 8 9 9 9 11 11 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + 9 + Karma Pool: 4 vs TN 16 for "kp 3/10 used=me~creating superuser account. kp 6/10":
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 8 8 9 10 10 14 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + 9 + Karma Pool: 4 vs TN 16 for "kp 3/10 used=me~creating superuser account. kp 9/10":
1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 8 9 10 14 14 29 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 12 (to no one):
1 1 1 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 5 8 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "I suppose Laura will monitor his operations? To make sure he's not up to attacking or other shenanigans."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + Hacking Pool: 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Analyze Operation TN: X ( X - Snooper Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) ~No HP on Detection Factor Currently since we own system.":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 8 11
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ignore that preamble, copy past error on my part."

Through the battletac, you can make out the familiar ninja. He is intently focused on something…
and it happens! He is now at LEAST a head taller, and he has four arms, and four katanas are now on his back, arranged to make something like an 8-pointed star.
The band is hitting its big finale! The building's going insane!

«Plot» Gaul says, "Any details from the analyze? I'm guessing he got a validation just by the imagery."
«OOC» Kensai says, "ooh i thought you meant to ignore the whole thing. i misread, sorry."
«Plot» Kensai says, "yes, validate account. current status: superuser."
«OOC» Gaul says, "Nope :) I meant that I had copy pasted a bunch of stuff that didn't apply but she did do it."

His next move is to turn and point out into the nothingness of cyberspace, and another figure, a cobra of immense jafar-thusla doom size comes in,and starts staring at the Slave itself, glowing green eyes narrowing as it studies.

The four-armed ninja points, and the serpent nods, and now they are both logging off… although a smaller cobra, itty bitty and hard to spot, has been left in the big cobra's place.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Scan icon on the Big snake then small snake"
«Plot» Gaul says, "rather, when the big snake comes in Gaul will order Laura to scan him since he's busy."

«Concert's at crescendo. Terminus, start the attack run… NOW. Liberty, take the left. Pureblood, we're going in the back.»
«Plot» Kensai says, "she can scan away!"

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

They are inbound. I have their comm signal and encryption. Select freq 54.56. Alpha-56-Ultra-Foxtrot-Sigma code.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) for "-6 Due to scanner":
2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 9 10 11

«Plot» Kensai says, "we'll give you the analyze for free - it's a decker. Scanner indicates MPCP 12. you got one more hit from the scan."

The live feed from the concert flashes for a moment, as, seconds after the final note is played, windows crash open from small cannisters launched inside.
«Plot» Gaul says, "hmm. I'll check and see on the off chance they are cocky their MXP"

---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

My helmet has my comm. We are being attacked right now. Heading to the back. Have Cyrrius with me by pure chance.

-trixmessage appears from R-X with what looks like a livestream link.
«Plot» Kensai says, "they are, in fact, cocky. sort of. It's that exact same building that the van labeled 'Purity' is at."
«Game» Backup to offline storage commencing. Game may freeze for a bit…
«Plot» Kensai says, "automatic analyze flags the little snake as an agent."

Th0R's hands fly over the monolith and he starts a Make Commcall, linking Kensais phone in with the matrix feed Battletac he and his agents share. Using the massive bandwidth of the matrix channel to feed Kensai what his Helm usually provides him. » Never mind the helm I'm putting you online with me. Be advised you have inbound on…« at the same time he orders his agent to » Invalidate that snake baby, don't have time myself. On my mark crash his punk ass then invalidate the Superuser those jackasses dropped in. Jorg. Kill the Ninja or big snake if they come back. «

«Plot» Gaul says, "So. He's making Commcall via the Matrix to Kensais phone. Full radio on a voiceover; Laura and I sound differently on it. But overlaying both Mine and the OpFor comms."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Also looking at R-X livestream…throwing it up in a window on my image link"
«OOC» Gaul says, "Glad I have an encephalon"
«Rebel - Gas deployed. We are following in. Make sure you have your masks mustard gas is nasty.»

«Confirmed. Purity - hit that house now and -purge- those freaks.»

«Confirmed. Hey Rebel?»

«-What?-»

«Something feels hinky.»

«HINKY?»

«Yeah. The house. I've got like this… foreboding feeling.»

«Fuck your feelings. Put your big girl buttplug and go crucify those metas!»

R-x's feed is actually several feeds all tucked together! You now have all five cameras in the venue running - including the one in the back. It's a madhouse. People madly scrambling as they tear up and cough. You think you make out kenai and his pink-haired friend moving, but they're FAST. Cue to the camera near the anteroom they're taking toward the back. Two men in cold-weather fatigues and skull masks burst through a door. Three seconds later they're dead from a combination of bullets from pink-hair and a belly-stab from Kensai's long blade. The other cameras have more skull masks breaking in, freely targeting metas with submachine gun fire. A whole van's worth has broken their way into the back, and there's a firefight playing out there… the sloppy-looking security staff suddenly wielding cerberus pistols and lasers!
There's another small packet that comes in - transponder info for Red-X's rides, including the cycles to match their switching, transponders for the roadmaster outside the venue and the jade-blossom one that's hurtling down the streets, and two…matrix ids?
Labeled 'Allied assets.'

Th0R's hands fly over the monolith and he starts a Make Commcall, linking Kensais phone in with the matrix feed Battletac he and his agents share. Using the massive bandwidth of the matrix channel to feed Kensai what his Helm usually provides him. » Never mind the helm I'm putting you online with me. Be advised you have inbound on…« at the same time he orders his agent to » Jorg, you keep an eye on that snake and tell me what he's doing. LG you take over my data routing to our friendlies I need to be applying video. « in addition he orders Ares-Laura » Alright, it's go time. you keep those pretty blue peepers peeled on the camera an if you see any friendlies that match who I'm overlaying on the Battletac feed you do the same «

» You saved some Corp decker a headache and a half. I was going to eat them if they came back…or rather Jorg would. Arrogance in spades they had. «

Several are dead in the back room. Three gaurds, four terrorists. Crimson Tokyo's down, Kiki's been thrown into a wall, and the last two are booking it out of the door, dragging the waifish elf keyboardist with them. Kensai and Cyrrius make it in too late. The cameras show another squad of terrorists coming in through, blowing a hole in the wall and setting up firing positions.

The transponder on the Jade Blossom van inbound is moving at high speed, even as the one 'parked' by the back entrance suddenly rolls to life and RAMS one of the badguy's vans. Rigger's First Roadmaster meets Terrorist Van. Van loses.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) + 10 (hp) + 4 (prog) for "Jorg Orders":
1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 9 22
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) + 4 (prog) for "Ares Laura Orders":
1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 7 7 10 10 11 13
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) + 4 (prog) for "Local Laura Orders":
1 1 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 15 16
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Edit Slave M TN: X ( X - Spoof Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) Working on the Overlay!!!":
1 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 9 9 9 11 11

---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

18, hai? Six down by my count. We are being armed and sent after thim… holy shit this GUN.

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

I estimate 30 if adds join. A bit busy. Good luck ronin.

The van labeled 'picket' pulls in at high speed.

The main screen of the venue has been taken over, racist rhetoric being spewed out by a skelington.

«Shit they just hit terminus's Van! he's not answering commcalls, no one in there is!»

«Keep it together Picket. Special Delivery moving to you. Get this keeb out of here and back home. His tongue will make a nice present to this tusker slut and her bangtoys.»

«Cruel laugh- and his balls will make a nice last meal. Tiny as they are. Freak.»
«Agreed. Confirm you've picked up backup control of the birds?»

«Affirmative. I'm no rigger but i can keep 'em in the sky. And there's a preset here.»
«Plot» Kensai says, "you've got the overlay loaded up and ready to go, once you know where. both agents understand their orders."
Both Kensai and Cyrrius are armed with brand-new Shiawase Hurricanes, and they're running into the thing-that-looks-like-a-van-on-local-sensors-but-sensors-call-a-sportscar.

Th0R spools a long dark thread from his pouch, the graphics he's been given to overlay. He starts feeding it into the monolith as the cameras pickup whatever they're picking up. » Ronin. They have the keyboardist and are exfilling him. Tokyo and Kiki are down, unknown condition. Back of building - they are likely going to the vehicle <give direction> that's not disabled «

From the way Kensai moves with a rifle in his arms, if he were blonde and white he'd make a great icon for UCAS recruiting vids. Cyrrius clearly knows what she's about, too.
---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

Spoke with Crimson. She's okay, just a shoulder wound. She told me they took Mishu. Pinkie and I are going to get them. Rigger X has us… fuck. She's got a mask in the glovebox but it's a fucking red mempo.

» RX. 3 drones on active standby, I have no RC from my location. Suggest you take them if possible. Unknown payload « Th0R comms.

» Impressive hit as well. 8 out of 10. « Th0R adds dryly.

RX - «I will be doing repairs on my chariot for months. I had the good sense not to be rigger-controlling it when I rammed. The Mazda is mine.» A moment passes. «The vector-thrust drones? »
«Rebel, ah- bad news. I just lost the thrustbirds?»

«You… lost them? Did you look under the couch? I have no TIME picket. I'm fucking killing metas here. Some of the security staff were better trained than anticipated.»

«No… I just had control, and now they're gone.»

«WHAT? Just get back to home, asshole!»

» Roger. Ares Redball variants. You took out the rigger. Secondary has them on standby doing programming « Th0R comms quickly, still watching the feeds

RX - «I understand that they were just moments ago taken control of by a Jade Blossom Specialist. I am sure they will extract all sorts of information.» She sounds…smug. «It seems,as you say, someone took out their rigger, just in time for the specialist to begin their attack. What fortuitous timing. We are in hot pursuit. Can you tell me their route so far?»

The transponder linked to 'purity' has just… disappeared.
«Plot» Gaul says, "As expected. Using cameras and sensors to keep track of it - or at least try to :)"

The Jade Blossom security van arrives. Black-armored gunmen carrying Hurricanes disembark, and the three remaining of the band - along with Fatima - move on.
There are 8 of the security guards. Heavy Corpsec armor.

«Plot» Kensai says, "roll… a real perception test! not even sensors! now you get to at least 'watch' like a rigger."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence for "!":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 11

«Rebel, flankers coming in from the west! They're fucking lynx…<gunfire> AARARRARFGHGHG»
«OOC» Victor says, "Retroaction!"
«Plot» Kensai says, "you find the sensors you're looking for. The 'purity van' is on its side, cold as the winter night."

Trix-side Th0R has a black cord wrapped around his arm, the other end feeding into a massive monolith from which data pours - directly into his form as he stands in the center of the current dataflow. Nearby Laura and a massive serpent stand watch on their master as he controls the data flow and feeds information back to Kensai and his "team"

» Just about…there.« he mutters and slowly stars winding the thread in to cover up Kensai with the promotional video.

«Plot» Gaul says, "Or he will when Kensai appears on my sensors :)"

Jorm reports back on the analyze: The little snake is doing -nothing-. Just waiting.

The red sports car barrels down the streets at ridiculous speed - getting into pursuit mode, handling the ice, its sudden appearance making the van run even faster… but without a rigger, the driver of the van is unable to deal with it and it can't quite keep the speed up… and suddenly it's side-swiped by the sports car and sent spinning to the side of the road with a massive crash. The sports car spins, but it seems to be a controlled spin, and it stops only 10 meters away from its opponent. The doors open and Cyrrius and Kensai jump out,cyrrius in a kind of a mask (i think) and Kensai in his red mempo.

There's a brief flash of firepower. The van door opens, and drops a smoke grenade even as cyrrius fires one at it. One of the terrorist dies almost immediately. A drone appears out of nowhere, a cheap roto but with a machine gun nonetheless, and opens fire on the pair. Cyrrius blows it out of the sky, and it crashes into a building nearby.

«Rebel, we're under attack! This is pickett, need support now! The driver's dead, Sam's dead, and… Rebel, where are you? Liberty? Purity? Why isn't anyone answering?»

A calm, collected female voice. «You have made mistakes, Gaijin. And now you pay for it with your lives. History will remember you only as fools.»

Kensai charges into the van, bloodied by running across the field of suppressive fire, and jumps inside. There's a report from his rifle. A tense few seconds pass, and Cyrrius lifts her rifle, taking careful aim - and shoots INTO its wall.

A minute later kensai, limping, but carrying Mishu appears. He carries him over to the sports car, putting him in. He exchanges words with Cyrrius, and she gets in… the car drives off, leaving him behind. He looks around - puts a hand into his coat, looks at it - and then ducks down a sidestreet.

At that instant you receive a message from tolstoy, flagging the cameras around that location as the ones that need targeting.

'Pickett' never even made it halfway to the pawnshop.

The venue's cameras show the mopping up of the action. The black-armored security gaurds cut down the terrorists with cold position, with the assistance of four steel lynxes that came in on the flanks, working in pairs so suddenly rebel's team was taking fire from three sides.

Receiving the message he's been waiting for, for what seems like most of the night the halfer/godling will direct the threat into the camera/sensor feeds and let it run it's course. Monitoring it's passage and cleaning up the forensics naturally - he's not leaning on the security account he has just the skill of an experienced decker.

---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

I'm on the move, cutting through the alleys. Not room for three in the car. Hit but not badly. Assuming you're occupied. I'm calling Pav.

«OOC» Kensai says, "jorm gets an analyze operation!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) + 9 (hp) for "Scanner R6! Analyze Operation":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 10 11 11

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

A tad. A familiar task though. I hd eyes on you until you ducked into the alley.

---> Text Message to Kensai from Zeus (#12599) <---

>:D he will appreciate you pulling him into a firefight.

---> Text Message to Zeus from Kensai (#8241) <----

excellent. moving into the alley was the correct move then. Need to focus. Meet me at the afterparty tonight?

The little snake is crashing some slave applications - specifically the cameras around the purity house - all two of them - and several of the cameras in between kensai and said house, including around a location labeled 'Lou's Topless Revue.'

«Plot» Kensai says, "it is specifically avoiding the ones closest to the scene that you were tasked with altering."

Incoming message from Tolstoy - «Can you provide the exact address of their hideout? Jade Blossom would like to pay it a visit, and there are many pawnshops in thearea.»

Th0R with his hands full looks over at the tiny snake doctoring the feeds, » Of course. I will have the cameras left crashed as you're little snake has done. «

«EXcellent. Just make certain to leave the ones closest to the pawnshop live. My employer is… looking forward to the publicity.»

«Plot» Kensai says, "that ends part ii of Sons of the Skull. Also called 'shiawase makes a gun commercial.'"

» Confirmed « to which he will order Laura to save the feeds - doctoring them where needed.

Interlude - Play Ares Games, Win Ares Prizes

– at this point, the mission done, gaul returns back to the postoffice to poke around. For hidden riches!-

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Locate File I TN: 8( Index: 14-Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) ~Digging for items related to cyberware shipments - specifically items going to clinics that can be easily rerouted.":
1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 7 9 11 32 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 9 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "you id 3 potential targets."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 vs TN 17 (to no one) for "agent snooping":
1 1 2 3 3 3 3 8 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "laura has the same DF as you?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Yea."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 vs TN 17 (to no one) for "agent snooping":
1 1 3 3 3 5 7 11 = 0 Successes

The falcon-agent turns overhead - not stooping yet, not keening, just keeping an eye out from the skies.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599)'s Object_Agent (#4802) has the Voucher Item 2 Object Code (4320 MP): Agent 10 (aka Laura) with Loaded Utilities with the following information:
----------—[ Shadowrun Denver ]-
==========================> Item 2 on Object_Agent <===========================
Item Name: Object Code (4320 MP): Agent 10 (aka Laura) with Loaded
Utilities
Item Type: ITEM
Quantity: 1
Fractional OK: No
Clonable: No
Players Can Link: No
Created For: Gaul (#12599)
Created By: Rando (#1923)
IC Location: Carried
-----> Description for Item <------
Object Code for an Agent 10 @ Pilot 8 (B0 E4 M8 S8) and Matrix INIT @ 10 + 5d6 with the following utilities already loaded: Analyze 6 (Sneak 6), Browse 6 (Sneak 6), Deception 6 (Sneak 6), Validate 6 (Sneak 6), Sleaze 3, Attack 3D, Hog 1, and BT ML 1.
Total Size: 4320 Megapulses
-----> GM Notes for Item <-----—
Nov 15 2021 Laura : https://imgur.com/km6Rax7

«Plot» Gaul says, "For logs"
«Plot» Kensai says, "is this before or after the job?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "She has Masking at 12, +3 DF due to HP shift and sneak. This will be AFTER the job is complete."
«Plot» Kensai thumbs up. got it.

Three tasty tidbits. A mitsuhama package bound for nuyu, downtown. They paid for extra security. A bulk order of some kind heading to a startup in cheyenne, routing through the depot here after landing. seems this hub handles some airmail. makes sense with proximity.
And a third shipment heading for a lo-cost clinic named 'second chance prosthetics.'

The mono-chrome god will get to work - scanning the manifests and trying to cross reference the details of items he's looking for, nothing military or crazy - specifically things to help him work. He facilitates the transfers with a flick of the finger and downgrades the warning flags on the shipment to Cheyenne making it viable to leave in one of thos rental post office boxes - funny enough just like this host might control. He swaps some cred trails to mask what he's doing with the rental and assigns it to a Mr. Geralt M Goering - a couple day vacation dropover for packages to be picked up by a secondary mail service vender. Cameras compromised in the office to loop when command sets are set off - SOP really.

«Plot» Kensai says, "edit file?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "hmmm you're doing some sneaky things with resetting data stuff, too."

He earmarks the ones going to Nuyu just in case the return details prove interesting, will take some time to get the manifest SKUs figured out on that one.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Edit File TN: 8( File: 14-Read/Write Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) ~Fiddling with files.":
1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 11 11 15 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Upload Data O TN: 8( File: 14-Read/Write Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) ~Uploading changes.":
1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 5 5 5 8 9 10 11 = 4 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 11 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
1 3 3 4 4 4 5 8 10 = 0 Successes

«OOC» Gaul says, "Might as well set us up another "salvage" run eh?"

Gaul is just about finished his work when the entire system pulse's - see what i did there? - and things begin to tighten down as alerts go off - gunfire going off on the other side of the street, corporate agents across the street! Warning warning!

«Plot» Kensai says, "i'm assuming he rebooted sensors, right?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "I think there would have been time - he'd have done this BEFORE going to the party."

«Plot» Kensai says, "that was the timeline i had in my head."
«Plot» Kensai says, "first off - the system has now jumped to passive alert. and you and laura get sensor tests."

«Plot» Gaul says, "Funny that rebooting is never mentioned as an action in the list of things to do, seems like it would have been a helpful add eh?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 4 (sensors) for "Laura, as she is typically in Masking mode.":
2 2 3 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 1 (sensors) for "G, as he is typically in Masking mode.":
2

The… thing that logs on was not hard to spot. It is not hiding. At all. The falcon keens, like a herald, and new SAN connects. A door in space and time opens, and into the void steps out something like… if someone saw a tank, and said that's not america enough, make it more america. A six-legged walker tank, multiple autocannon turrets, a rail gun for a main weapon, a pilot-pod like something out of a gundam movie. It steps into the environment, and the folksy post office shifts into a 1990s tom clancy movie-esque war room.
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 vs TN 11 (to no one):
1 2 3 3 4 5 9 11 = 1 Success

It 'lands,' sending a shock-wave pulse out across the host, and then, like some sort of transformer god, it transitions into a four-armed upright posture.

«Plot» Kensai says, "your action!"
«Plot» Gaul says, "So what has Gaul managed to accomplish so far. And what in his estimation has triggered this thing?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Security Network Familiarity + Task Pool: 3 for "This probably works since it's close enough to a chokepoint.":
2 2 3 3 4 5 11
«Plot» Gaul says, "Tn is the Rating of the system typically :) He's not going for the HP boost."

«Plot» Kensai says, "you have done your refiling of the data to get the cheyenne delivery dropped off in a rental box, along with redirecting the trail to poor mr. goering."
«Plot» Kensai says, "the cause is obvious - the gunbattle across the street. the jade blossom strike team has just arrived at the hideout."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah! Excellent. Makes perfect sense…wrong place at wrong time. Now the tough questions, has Gaul cleaned up the data for his employees well enough? AND is there anything he notes might need to be completed that he could be held liable for not completing?"

«Plot» Kensai says, "oooh, that's a FUN question. is your patsy mr. goering real?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "He was GOING to be just enough for this little shindig. So my next bit of work would have been to do a L1 SIN to pass the Rental muster."
«Plot» Kensai says, "laura is able to tell you that that's a decker, and the rating is 11."
«Plot» Kensai says, "as for if you've hid your trail cleanly enough… hard to be sure. :D"
«Plot» Gaul says, "I don't want to be discovered lest all my work be for naught. So he will utilize Laura to do a final file upload for the SIN work, simultaneously with himself to make it look more realistic - all while trying to hide from this schmuck."
«Plot» Kensai says, "oh. interesting. that's going to be an init test for her then!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 5 for "+10 init!":
1 1 1 2 3
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 4 for "+11":
2 4 4 9
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Small Unit Tactics + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 2 for "Matrix Init! TN2":
1 1 2 2 2 3 8 = 5 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "Sorry. All my books are in a disarray on this computer. Only provides a +2 init for her."

The megazord turns, sweeping its weapon systems around, and a multi-launcher pops open on its shoulders and fires a salvo of chaff grenades at the file system.

«Plot» Kensai says, "his first action: encrypt file subsystem."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 3 for "+12 Gaul":
2 3 4
«Plot» Gaul says, "So I know when I act in the order."
«OOC» Kensai thumb up. laura's turn, but you still have to direct her, right?
«OOC» Kensai says, "so far no evidence that either of you have been spotted."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Right, I was about to initiate orders for the new "thing" if I want her to do it. OR I can do it through her, let me look up the cost of that."

«Plot» Gaul says, "So Simple to Decrypt File using Her. Then simple to order her to upload the file changes."

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Decrypt File TN: 8( File: 14-Decrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) Decrypting Behind him!":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 8 = 1 Success

«OOC» Gaul says, "New Ares matrix trick. I'm cool with it."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 10 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Decrypt File TN: 8( File: 14-Decrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) Decrypting Behind him! 10/ I believe":
1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 7 8 10 14 = 2 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "Via Agent Command."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Second Simple to Command Agent to complete file system test work (if decrypted)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "decrypt is automatic for your security level, so you were successful on round two with no security test. you just had to scramble for the updated codes, clearly."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Edit FIle is also auto - she will do so if allowed."
«Plot» Gaul says, "(as I think she's up next)"
«Plot» Kensai says, "all of that is allowed."

Within the control room the mono-chrom norseman and black-bodysuit ninja girl (with exposed blond ponytails and excessive glitter of course) flinch in unison and take an offensive position when the Mecha-Tank-O-Doom makes it's appearance. Once they realize they are not immediately going to be rendered into the component bytes they spring back into action.

As the chaff grenade somehow obfuscates the ENTIRE file subsystem Th0R will wink and wiggle a hand at Laura - who seems to immediately understand his commands and removes a magnificent feather duster from her purse, a garter falling to the grid floor. She stares at it then giggles at Th0R, winks then gets to dusting!

As the dust clears she scoots in and stars pressing buttons on the control panel, having morphed into a military gal with an excessively tight bodice and HUGE salad bar.

«Plot» Gaul says, "A simple to do the Edit, then a Simple to Dump the Logs…just in case!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 10 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Dump Log I TN: 8( Control: 14-Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) 0HP for Laura left this turn.":
1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 = 0 Successes
«Plot» Kensai says, "dump log appears to be complex"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Ah! Then she'll have tried that her next phase. Her phase is over then."
«Plot» Gaul says, "This phase is rather"
«Plot» Kensai says, "his turn, thinking that the data is safe, he's going to check for intruders. the system test aspect is automatic, going straight to the sensor+scanner, right?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct! Scanner doesn't actually Help with finding people I don't believe. Let me verify."

«Plot» Kensai says, "ah i think you're right. the utility on the operation says scanner, but i bet that's just for the part that's a system test."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct. Open Sensor test for the finding. I think that's kinda borked tbh, but it is what it is."

«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 10 vs TN 17 (to no one):
2 2 3 3 3 3 7 8 9 17 = 1 Success
«Plot» Gaul says, "12+3 (15 for Laura), 9+6(15 for Gaul)"

The first task in the sop complete, on to the next - searching for intruders. A spotlight appears, sweeping over the area… but did it manage to spot what was hidden?

«Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will do the Edit now as he'd previously instructed her to do. Then she will try(and fail to dump logs)"
«Plot» Gaul says, "That will end both our phases."
«Plot» Gaul says, "So for Plot we have both done an Edit File and Upload file."
«Plot» Kensai says, "right. gaul, you are being targeted with an attack utility!"

«Plot» Gaul says, "Nods. Can't do much about it tbh, so attack away."
«OOC» Kensai says, "no worries. you're currently a legit icon, so tn 6, right? ssuperuser bonus only applies on system tests?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct. TN6 for legit. No bonus other than Targetting."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 8 vs TN 6 for "erosion: revealer on gaul":
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 7 8 9 10 = 4 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 8 - 6 vs TN 6 for "erosion: revealer on gaul kp 1/?":
1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 8 8 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 8 - 8 vs TN 6 for "erosion: revealer on gaul kp 3/?":
1 1 2 2 4 4 5 15 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 8 - 8 vs TN 6 for "erosion: revealer on gaul kp 6/?":
2 2 2 3 3 4 4 22 = 1 Success
«OOC» Kensai says, "i messsed up the third roll, but it was in your favor. crippler utility attacking your masking."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Rating?"
«Plot» Kensai says, "8."
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 6 (shield) vs TN 8 for "Shield v Computer Skill of Attacker!":
2 3 4 5 9 17 = 2 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (Masking) vs TN 8 for "Masking v R8 Crippler":
1 1 3 3 3 4 5 9 10 = 2 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "So I believe that's net 4 for you, so -2 to Masking?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Sorry not Crippler, Reveal."
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 6 (to no one):
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 11 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 4 - 1 vs TN 6 (to no one) for "kp 7/?":
1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 5 5 8 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 4 - 2 vs TN 6 (to no one) for "kp 8/?":
1 3 3 3 4 4 5 8 9 10 = 3 Successes

The thing finishes its sweep, the lights passing over everything… and then its attention swings back, illuminating the THUNDER GOD! There's a splits second of feedback as a ping ripples through him, and then the lights go super reflective mode, eating away at shadows!

«Plot» Kensai says, "the good news is that he acted too quickly to give his agent directions."

Wasting no time the godling will blur into lightning - spinning up to depart and clean up his trail on this host. Azure eyes locking onto the mecha-bot but he didn't come here to brawl it out - the hell with that crap.

«Plot» Kensai says, "and does that take us to fresh +init?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "27 23 20 I think was the order right?"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 5 for "+10 Laura":
1 2 3 4 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 4 for "+11":
1 2 4 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 3 for "+12 Gaul":
1 2 3

«Plot» Kensai says, "laura 25, tank 23, gaul 18"
«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) vs TN 4 for "Hmm Yea that's a pretty easy ask":
1 1 1 2 3 5 8 8 = 3 Successes
«Plot» Gaul says, "Laura is going full bore attack bot on the mecha - He just attacked Gaul."
«Plot» Gaul says, "Actually. with 2 8's she's going to do this, she's smart."
«Plot» Gaul says, "She's going to Delay. If it looks like he's going to "shoot" Gaul she will do something."
«Plot» Kensai says, "tank's action: invalidate gaul."
«Plot» Kensai says, "good call. if she took a shot she'd reveal herself. :D"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Sometimes I do smart things :P lol"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Gauls action he will attempt to Graceful."

The next blow isn't an attack at all - it's a simple rerouting of commands, sent to the system rather than targeting gaul himself, and reality shifts again… suddenly the thundergod's access to the system is shot through with spiderweb cracks, his authority thrown away, and the mechzordbot looks 3x intimidating.
«Plot» Gaul says, "Actually. Tell you what lol, Laura will come off Delay. And validate User lol."
«Plot» Kensai says, "smartgirl!"

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 10 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Validate Account (User) TN: 8( Control: 14(+0 User)-Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) +2 TN applied, Validating!":
1 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 7 11 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#1368) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one):
2 2 3 4 5 5 5 8 8 = 0 Successes
«OOC» Kensai says, "okay, success!"
«OOC» Kensai says, "the df 17 was accurate, right?"
«OOC» Gaul says, "For her yes."
«OOC» Gaul says, "Gauls is 16 atm due to the Reveal :)"

«Plot» Kensai says, "excellent. no problems, then. :D"

There is a HUFF of "Oh…hell NAW" from the soldier girl as she leans forward with her "Angry" face and stares at the mecha-tank-athing…just WAITING for it to do something stupid like attack her guy. But instead it does some reality shifting that causes it to grow in size…

To which the khaki dressed lass looks at the mecha and using her middle finger presses a big red button set into the console….causing the mech to shrink back to it's normal size again. "Like. They TOTALLY make a pill for that." she says as she flicks a pony tail over her shoulder.

«Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 11 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 16 (Base: 7 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Graceful Logoff TN: 9( Access: 15-Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 15/14/14/14/11 ) +2TN, -2 Masking applied!":
1 1 2 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 10 11 11 15 16 = 4 Successes

«Plot» Kensai says, "gaul escapes! Laura's delay moved her initiative to after tank's, right?"
«Plot» Gaul says, "Correct but I believe it goes back to normal order next phase - the power of a delay."

The icon of Th0R shimmers and then turns afterimage as it blurs into chain lightning - the azure sparks flickering around the war-room and into the terminals scouring any trace of the god from the journals and logs. The afterimage of his form is just a memory as the bolt arcs up and away, thunder echoing around the room.

A throat clear and then an "AHEEMMM" as the prissy little colonel struts out of the host, walking around the mecha-tank with her nose held high - disappearing through the door, only breaking character as it slams with a little giggle. "PWWWNNNNEEDDD!"

page revision: 0, last edited: 25 Feb 2024 02:17

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